| CAREER RELATED TIPS |
Bryan Thorby
Publisher
webmaster@career-related.com
http://career-related.com |
| Date: March 2, 2005 |
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| In This Issue: |
| Thoughts of the Day |
Article : Answering the Weakness Question
By Michelle Roebuck |
Article : 5 Steps To A Successful Resume
By Jonathan R Taylor |
Article : Six Fatal Mistakes to Avoid While You Still Have a Job
By Joseph Lee |
| Disclaimer & Privacy Statement |
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| I hope all is well with you today. |
When you are writing you resume you need to identify your
strengths. Things that you believe you are really good at.
You can list between 5 and 10. Strengths can be identified as
either Intangible or Tangible. |
Intangible strengths are subjective or personal opinions such as
"Good communication skills" or "Enjoy working in a team
environment" |
Tangible strengths are factual and verifiable such as
"Specialized training as ....." or "10 years experience as...." |
The important thing to remember is that your strengths must
also be backed up with some evidence in other parts of your
resume. Unsubstantiated statements lacks credibility. |
Ideally you should be highlighting strengths that are specific
to the position you are applying for. |
| I hope you find the articles a valuable resource. |
| All the best, |
| Bryan |
| Sponsor |
Wanting to know more about job interviews?
Learn about job interview questions, job interview follow ups,
job interview advice, job interview tips, sample job interview
questions, preparing for the job interview, questions to ask at
a job interview, and how to prepare for a job interview,
Read my eBook "Your Basic Guide to Acing ANY Job Interview"
Go to http://career-related.com/interview |
| Thoughts of the Day |
"What the mind of man can conceive and believe,
it can achieve!"
-- Napoleon Hill |
"Hope ... is the companion of power, and the mother of
success; for whoso hopes strongly has within him the
gift of miracles."
-- Samuel Smiles |
"Thoroughness characterizes all successful men. Genius
is the art of taking infinite pains. ... All great
achievement has been characterized by extreme care,
infinite painstaking, even to the minutest detail."
-- Elbert Hubbard |
"Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start
thinking of yourself as a success."
-- Joyce Brothers |
| Article |
| Answering the Weakness Question |
| By Michelle Roebuck |
| "Tell me about your weaknesses." |
This interview question comes up in just about every job
interview you will have. When asked this question, some job
seekers will list their weaknesses and that‘s it, but they don’t
turn this question into an advantage for them. |
When a potential employer asks you this question, they are
trying to find out what are your shortcomings and if they will
be liabilities if you’re hired. Your job is to reassure the
interviewer that your weaknesses are not detrimental to the job
your applying for. |
The best way to handle this question is to talk about a weakness
that you corrected or are trying to correct. For example, you
lost a job because you did not have technical skills like being
able to work with certain computer programs. Since then, you
have been taking classes to learn different computer programs
and have used your experience in a different job. |
Another example is, you didn’t know Spanish to deal with Spanish
customers, so you learned the language in your spare time and
ended up getting a promotion or a higher salary as a result. |
Don’t be afraid to let the interviewer know you have some
weaknesses. We all do. The important thing is to show him/her
how you dealt or are dealing with that weakness in order to make
you a better employee. |
About the author:
Michelle Roebuck provides information on job interview tips and
strategies and how to write a resume that gets noticed at
http://www.job-interview-and-resume-tips.com
Sign up for her free newsletter at
http://www.job-interview-and-resume-tips.com/newsletter.html |
| Article |
| 5 Steps To A Successful Resume |
| By Jonathan R Taylor |
1. Choose Your Format Correctly - There are two main resume
formats - chronological and functional. If you are seeking a job
in a field in which you already have work experience, you will
probably want to choose a chronological format where you will be
able to showcase your job history. If, however, you want to
transition into a different field, you definitely need to use a
functional format. This will allow you to focus on your
strengths and transferable skills and not box yourself into a
certain field. |
2. Be Specific - Too often, I see resumes with experience stated
this way, "Sold used vehicles" or "Negotiated claim
settlements." Use real numbers to improve your resume. "Sold 20
used vehicles in first 3 months of employment" or "Increased
overall customer satisfaction by 25% in claim settlement
negotiations." |
3. Be Accurate - Don't stretch the truth just to impress. Make
sure you use completely accurate numbers in your claims. You
cannot build a solid career on a shaky foundation. |
4. Be Precise - Always proofread your resume. Spelling, grammar,
or punctuation errors will disqualify you quicker than anything.
A well crafted resume is an essential tool in the job search
process. Find someone else to proof it for you as well. Often,
other people will catch something you overlooked. |
5. Be Brief - Be careful to write a resume that is not "wordy"
or "superfluous." It is very obvious to anyone reading one of
these resumes that there is not much substance to them. Make
each word count. |
Ultimately, even a well crafted resume rarely gets you hired by
itself. Click here for more info on the 3 Step Job Search
Process that always gets results. |
To access the links in this article, go to
www.careercalling.com/Archives.htm and read the February 25,
2005 edition of The Coach's Career Tips and Resources! |
About the author:
Jonathan R Taylor is the author of The Coach's Career Tips and
Resources. He helps his clients Love Their Work! You can
subscribe at www.careercalling.com/ssubscribe.htm. |
| Article |
| Six Fatal Mistakes to Avoid While You Still Have a Job |
| By Joseph Lee |
Good for you if you currently have a job. But NEVER take it for
granted that you’ll have a job forever! You could lose this job
because you have lost favour with your boss or your boss’ boss.
You could lose your job because the company you work for is
filing for bankcruptcy. You could lose it because the company
has been bought over by a competitor and your position has been
taken over by someone else from the acquiring company. Fire,
flood, changes in government regulations and many other reasons
and circumstances could cost you your job. |
This article highlights 6 fatal mistakes most people make while
they still have a job and why they should avoid them. |
| Fatal Mistake 1 Did Not Lock-In Credit Cards & Loans |
Martinez was frustrated and fuming. The bank officer had just
informed him that his loan application was rejected. He was
counting on this loan to pay for much-needed equipment to start
his new venture. Worse still..he was told that his new credit
card application was also rejected. Reason: He did not have a
job. So he was considered a credit-risk based on the bank’s
credit policies. |
Only two months ago Martinez had left the company he had worked
as a Warehouse Manager for six years. He used to receive mail
from banks inviting him to apply for one of their credit cards.
Even pre-approved card applications..all he had to do was to
agree! |
IF ONLY he had applied for the loan and the credit card before
he resigned. |
Don’t make the same mistake. A loan, a credit card and a line of
credit will always be handy when you start or run a business -
especially on those low or no cash inflow days. |
| Fatal Mistake 2 Did Not ‘Improve Self’ |
Have you tried cutting a piece of wood with a blunt saw? If you
have you’ll understand what Stephen Covey the author of "7
Habits of Highly Effective People" meant when he used the phrase
‘Sharpen the Saw’. |
What a difference a sharp saw makes in the results. Not only is
the sawing effort much easier, but also the sawn pieces look
smoother and cleaner. Just like a saw, a skill is just a tool.
Whether it’s in basic writing or public speaking or photography..
alternative nutrition..computer repair..carpentry..or another
skill, sharpening a skill produces better results. |
You can sharpen a skill by taking a course, reading a couple of
books, learning from a mentor or from years of doing it.
Soon..you’ll be an expert in that skill. With some imagination
and guidance, you’ll be able to make some money with this skill. |
Sharpening the saw is not limited to sharpening a skill. It
includes other areas of self-improvement such as: ·becoming a
member of a professional body (example: if you’re a manager in
your company, apply to be a member of the Institute of
Management). ·completing the last couple of examinations and
projects to get that degree (which you’ve been procrastinating
for too long). ·learning a new skill from scratch (in an area
that you’ve always dreamed about). |
While you have a job, you have opportunities to use your skills
and sharpening them. For example, to sharpen your writing
skills, you could volunteer to be the editor of your
organization’s monthly newsletter. Or to improve your computer
repair skills, you could come to the office on a weekend to
repair some of your company’s damaged computers. |
It would also be almost certain that you’ll be admitted as a
member of your professional institute if you’re currently
working in a related position. For example if you’re working as
a Cost Accountant, don’t you think the Association of Cost
Accountants will easily admit you as a member when you’ve
clearly stated your position and job functions in your
application? You’ll most likely be rejected or at best appeal to
be a member if you do not have a job. |
When you’re out in the ‘real world’ (my meaning of this is the
world outside the ‘comfort zone’ of a job) and perhaps starting
or building a business, you will be so pressed for time in the
race to make your first buck to stop the leaking money bucket of
limited savings...that it is unlikely that you’ll be in the state
of mind to sharpen your saw. At that time...talking to customers,
meeting a supplier or simply checking your inventory will most
probably be a higher priority than attending a class on auto
repair techniques (for example). |
You’ll be saying to yourself: "If only I did it..." while had a
job. |
| Fatal Mistake 3 Did Not Put Money Aside for a ‘Rainy Day’ |
My beloved mum always reminded me that if I spend one dollar and
five cents for every dollar I earn, I’ll end up broke..But if I
spend ninety five cents and saved five cents for every dollar
earned, then I’ll have money in reserve when a need (‘a rainy
day’) arises. |
How true it is because there will always be rainy days in your
lifetime. And the bigger rainy days will be the months after you
quit or lost your job. Then you’ll begin to feel the financial
pinch on expenses that you never used to think about while you
were working for someone else and they were paying the bills. |
Most people make calls from their work phone, use company
equipment (such as the company photocopier, laser printer,
mobile phone, comb binder and computer) for personal purposes
and the even ‘luckier’ ones get petrol and parking
reimbursements. |
When you no longer have these benefits, then you’ll begin to
realized how much money comes out of your pocket when you’ve to
pay for them. |
Put aside money while you’re still receiving a paycheck. Don’t
wait until it’s too late. It’s much easier and less stressful to
quit your job and to start something when you’ve adequate money
in reserve. |
Fatal Mistake 4 Did Not Have a Systematic Strategy for
Developing ‘People Assets’ |
‘People Assets’ are defined here as your valuable contacts and
relationships that can be leveraged to generate income. |
A good source of valuable contacts is your job. Besides office
colleagues, you’ll get to meet customers, suppliers and service
providers. Depending on your position in your organization, you
may have the opportunity to attend seminars, travel overseas and
participate in trade shows with more exposure to all kinds of
people. |
Outside your job, you’ll also have many opportunities to meet
people. In your neighbourhhood, religious organization, social
club, PTA, your mechanic, hairdresser, plumber, former
classmates, etc. etc. |
Therefore it’s not the lack of exposure that causes most people
to fail to develop people assets...BUT most people fail to
develop ‘people assets’ due to some of these reasons: |
·Sloppy with gathering and recording details of all the people
met. (Details should include much more than just the person’s
name, contact details and company name. It should also include
the contact’s interests, spouse and children’s names, favourite
food, car he/she drives, etc. etc. Gathering these information
is an ongoing process and requires a contact management tool).
·Did not develop relationships due to unwillingness to invest
time on new contacts (by having activities together like playing
games, going for family outings, trips, get-togethers, drinks).
·Did not take the opportunity to go the extra mile to help
others while you had a job (and you were in a position to do
so). The good feelings and goodwill that are generated from your
acts of service are assets that you could ‘cash in’ as returned
favours long after you’re no longer in the company. Your
strategy is to convert as many of these contacts to ‘people
assets’ as possible from a casual ("Hi" and "Bye") level to the
F-Level (that is, the Friendship level) where both parties can
mutually call upon each other at anytime for a conversation.
>From the F-Level nurture these ‘people assets’ to the
Relationship level (or R-Level). At this level people will go
out of their way to help each other. Finally, the highest level
is the P-Level where people become business, social or life
Partners with one another. |
| Fatal Mistake 5 Wasted Too Much Time on Unproductive Activities |
When you have a good job especially one that pays you more than
your total monthly expenses, it is very human to feel a sense of
security. There is no urgency in your money situation. You tend
to ‘enjoy life’- indulging in all kinds of activities many of
which are unproductive as far as money is concerned. These
unproductive activities include such time wasters as... |
·Frequently hanging around entertainment joints (like pubs,
night clubs, discotheques); ·indulging in unhealthy vices (such
as gambling); ·talking, talking, talking with the same group of
friends during working hours; ·going for lunch with the usual
clique instead of with different people to nurture new
relationships. (Imagine going for lunch say 3 days a week for
four years with the same people. This equates to over six
hundred lunches. How many other people could you have spent
those time with?); ·talking on the phone for too long; ·internet
chat, net surfing, etc.; ·behaving like you’ve made it and
you’re on holiday during company-paid trips - instead of
learning about the local market, meeting local business people,
gathering local business information. |
The key word here is ‘moderation’. You are not expected to
forego every little joy of life completely or to indulge only in
actions with an ulterior motive. Life would be rather boring
then. |
Just remind yourself that time is limited and precious. Every
person has 168 hours a week. What you do with these hours while
you still have a job could impact your life when you don’t have
a job. |
| Fatal Mistake 6 Did Not Start and Develop a Parallel Career |
A parallel career is here defined as something you do while you
still have a job with the end goal of working for yourself. It's
not merely a sideline, second income or part-time job. If you
take on a sideline or a second job just to supplement your
primary income and your end goal is NOT to change career...NOT
to work for yourself...then this sideline or second job is NOT a
parallel career. Many people who had left or lost their jobs
look back with regret. They missed opportunities and made
mistakes. How they wished they did not bask in the sunshine of a
false sense of security with a job. They should have started and
developed a parallel career while they still had a job. Their
career change transition from employee to entrepreneur would
have been a less stressful one because they had the ‘comfort’ of
a paycheck. |
Regards Joseph Lee Infopreneur, Writer, Engineer and Consultant.
Former company high-flyer - shares tips, ideas and information
on how to avoid these fatal mistakes and to start considering a
parallel career at: http://www.parallelcareer.com/ |
About the author:
Infopreneur, Writer, Engineer and Consultant. Former company
high-flyer - shares tips, ideas and information on how to avoid
these fatal mistakes and to start considering a parallel career
at: http://www.parallelcareer.com/ |
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profitability or legality of any published articles or
advertisements contained within the |
| Career Related Tips newsletter |
And, although all of the articles have been selected for
their content, the publishing of such articles within
this newsletter does NOT constitute a recommendation of
the products or services mentioned or advertised within
those articles. |
Be responsible! Always do your own Due Diligence before
responding to any offer. |
I respect the privacy of my readers.
I will NEVER supply or sell your personal
information to any Third Party! |
| Contact |
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Marton, New Zealand
webmaster@career-related.com |
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