Top Interview Questions

There are some really common interview questions that are asked by many interviewers. Top job interview questions and answers have been compiled below in order to help interviewers and interviewees, to conduct a successful interview. Apart from interview questions that can be asked to the potential employee, top interview questions for employers have also been included.

Of recent, that is in the past two decades, the concentration of corporate power has slowly decentralized and almost every employee is empowered with certain rights. Hence, during the job interview a candidate should also actively question his interviewer. This helps the members of the human resource department to connect with the candidate. The candidate in return is able to grasp the ambiance and atmosphere of the workplace and decide whether he will be able to work comfortably in there. During the time period of the interview, body language, tone, politeness, courtesy, confidence and the employees interest in the job are some factors that are observed by the interviewer. On the other hand the candidate observes some factors related to the company such as the behavior of the employer/interviewer, the employee empowerment in the company, doctrine of behavior, etc.

List of 10 Top Interview Questions

The following are some really good interview questions that can be asked during an interview by the interviewer or the interviewee.

Top Interview Questions to Ask a Candidate

If you are going to be interviewing the candidate, then you need to be prepared and alert. Impressing the candidate is an important task that you have been bestowed with. At the same time, you will have to come up with really good questions with which any average candidate will be comfortable. Here are a few ideas:

* So what do you know about the company? - a perfect ice breaker

* From were did you come to know about this job opening

* Tell me about your last job - read why did you leave or why were you fired, were you competent enough?

* What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

* What would the previous co-workers comment about you and your work?

* Will you be able to stay late in the office for pending work?

* Describe yourself in just one sentence

* Do you feel that you are competent for this post if yes, why?

* Which part of your knowledge do you think you will be able to apply for this job?

* Would you describe past jobs to be a good experience, what did you learn from it?

While taking the interview, bear in mind not to infringe certain personal boundaries. However make it a point to get to know some things about the candidate such as the marital status, whether the candidate has kids, etc.

Top Interview Questions to Ask the Interviewer

It has become customary for interviewers to take a 'interview the interviewer', session in the interview. In most of the cases, some simple questions can be asked by the candidate.

* Do you believe in empowering the employees?

* How do you deal with under productive employees?

* What are your views on over time work?

* Do you prefer to maintain an informal approach with the employees on a daily basis?

* How do you deal with unacceptable behavior at work place?

* What is the doctrine of behavior in this organization?

* How can I solve may grievances that are related to behavior or work?

* Would you describe yourself to be a good boss?

* Would you consider yourself as a people's person?

* Do you consider personal problems while dealing with an employee?

There are several other knowledge based most common interview questions that you can refer to. It is a convention to ask all basic and intermediate questions to candidates, hence, make sure that you brush up and revise your basics (irrespective of the fact that you are an interviewer or candidate). Remember, maintain an all time down-to-earth approach, pleasant tone and relevant matter in your speech in order to have a very good interview. I hope that you find the top interview questions list satisfactory and effective.

By Scholasticus K

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Networking for Career Success

Heading off to another conference and dreading the schmoozing scene? It might help to know that networking is a critical element of a successful job search. In fact, there is a lot of truth to the saying, "It's all in who you know." In this articles we'll highlight the key things you need to know about networking and how to use this skill to your advantage.

Many jobs, particularly high-level and executive, fill through word of mouth, rather than through traditional channels. A solid grasp of networking basics keeps you in the loop and helps avoid the urge to skip networking opportunities.

Network here, there, and everywhere

Conferences and seminars are great places to meet influential people, but making contacts doesn't necessarily have to take place in hotel conference rooms. Day-to-day functions and events in your current job, as well as during free time, offer many opportunities to meet important people. An invitation you received to your neighbor's holiday party could be the perfect chance to meet that CEO or HR manager living around the block. Don't hesitate to ask others what they do for a living and reciprocate. If you'd don't let others know about your career, you're not making progress.

In this age of technology, your laptop is an invaluable friend when it comes to job searching. With a little Internet surfing, you will find an abundance of message boards and chat rooms that are industry-specific and provide not only the advice of other professionals, but also contacts that could prove useful down the road. Over time, networking helps you build a list of valuable contacts. Put yourself out there and see the results.

Networking is not a bad word

Some people dread the idea of networking because they equate it with "schmoozing" or "sucking up," but it is simply a process of getting to know people. If you are friendly and good at making small talk in social and work-related settings, then your list of "Who's Who" will grow quickly! Don't stress yourself by the idea of having to be "on" and making a good impression.

Basic social skills will get you through your first few rounds of networking, and while you may not impress everyone you meet, you can avoid leaving bad impressions altogether by doing your best to make sure people remember your name. Rehearse your "elevator pitch" about what you do. This can help if you're nervous or uncomfortable promoting yourself. What are the three most important parts of your career, yourself as a person? Having these things at your ready can go a long way in promoting yourself effectively.

Try sticking with these basics:

Relax. People can tell if you are nervous or anxious, but you don't need to be - most of them are doing the same thing as you. Don't get hung up on titles. For the most part, everyone is approachable, and if they aren't, move on.

Be yourself. You know how to talk to people. Don't over think it. Talk about whatever makes sense. Wander the room, hit the buffet, do what seems natural. Inevitably, a situation will arise where you can break the ice and start a conversation. There is always something to talk about, even the weather!

Make eye contact and smile. It makes you appear sincere and interested. If you come across as distracted, or let your attention wander, it will show and it is downhill from there.

Be polite. Put your best manners on display. Be a good listener and don't interrupt. Avoid making rude or biased comments, and end conversations gracefully. If you've done the job right, you might even score a business card before you go.

Follow up. If you connected with someone and discussed the possibility of working together, follow up with him or her a few days later. Schedule lunch or arrange a formal meeting to discuss future endeavors.

If you leave a function empty-handed, don't be discouraged. You win some, you lose some. There will be other opportunities to meet people and hone your networking skills. The key is to keep going. Each time you place yourself in a situation and are ready to discuss your career, your future, or your skills, you are opening up numerous possibilities for your future.

By Michael Fleischner

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

How to Deal with Stress at Work

Mark is a 27 years old management executive, working in a globally recognized firm, has climbed the ladder of success with lots of hard work and effort. Being among the top performers, Mark is the most sought after name in his firm, for handling the challenging projects of the firm. Recently, Mark was given some crucial projects by the senior board of directors. Obviously, Mark did his best, he tried to balance his long hours of work and the extra stress at the workplace, but somewhere he lost the delicate balance between his work and life. His performance deteriorated and the company had to suffer serious losses. Luckily, since Mark was a top performer, the firm managed the losses and gave him another chance. Mark zeroed in on his problems and it was after a brief chat with his psychologist friend, that Mark identified the stress that was plaguing him and then learned how to deal with stress at work. Few months later, results were evident and Mark was back with his great performance.

The above story is a hint at one of the most common issues, that the new age employees have to bear at some phase of their career. The dynamics of professional working has changed to a large extent, since the liberalized economy came into existence. Job stress is now prevalent in almost every industry. According to the health reports of The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a branch of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it had warned organizations and workers that long term stress may have a disastrous effect on the health of the workers and this may be counter-productive for the growth of the firm. It has advised the firms to follow certain guidelines that preserve the occupational health of the workers and keeps them stress free. If the employee is not aware of how to deal with work related stress, then he/she may show some physical or psychological health problems. How to deal with stress at the workplace is not a difficult task. It is a fact that a suitable amount of stress is necessary for the mind and body, to stimulate them and help the worker to perform his best. This is the positive effect of stress. However, stress also has negative dimensions and that can be a problem to the employee, who is unable to manage stress at workplace. It is not easy for a few employees to understand how to deal with work stress, as different individuals have varied tolerance levels.

How to Deal With Stress At Work: Tips

How to deal with stress in the workplace; this question can be answered when we analyze the root cause of the problem that is causing the stress. I have mentioned some tips on how to deal with stress at work.

Identify the Problem

First of all, understand the problem and identify it. Recognizing stress is the first step you can take in order to eliminate it. This involves understanding the symptoms that are affecting you. Depression, erratic mood swings or simple irritation and loss of interest in your personal life are some of the symptoms of stress due to work. Relax and just think about it, you will get the answer.

Relax and Learn To De-stress

Stress does not strike you immediately, instead it gathers slowly and gradually, and bursts out on you with sudden mood swings and health problems. So, the best way to deal with stress in the workplace, is to take frequent breaks. Now don't confuse breaks with idle time. When you feel you are getting stressed out or burned out, just go out for a short walk or listen to some soft music. If your workplace ethics do not allow you to do these things, then just close your eyes and relax. Stress is more of a mind game, so frequently keep telling your mind and understand the signals it sends out to you.

A simple coffee break or talking to the colleagues can just make you feel better. Even if you can just sit silently and give yourself a break from the work, it works. If time allows, a power nap of ten minutes isn't a bad idea. Another idea is to ask for a couple of days of leave from your employer, so that you can rejuvenate and come back with a new vigor and enthusiasm at your work. The reason should be genuine and you must convey it to the employer. If your stress is taking a toll on your health, then better be fit and then return to work. Carry your favorite books, read them to relax or when getting stressed, pen down your thoughts! It would be a sort of catharsis, wherein you release the negative energy building inside your mind. Last but not the least, try to understand the limits of your body and mind and adhere to them. This does not mean that you can't push yourself an extra mile, it only means, just find your balance! Nobody else can do that for you!

Yoga and Meditation

Exercises have a magical effect on the psyche. It's a scientific fact that mental stress is reduced drastically in the people that follow healthy living techniques. Yoga and meditation have been known to offer a unique solution to the modern age stress. Nothing is more important than your health, so be responsible for it.

Talk to Your Seniors

Well, we all at some time, feel pissed off at the targets and the deadlines of our work. But the fact is, that stress will always be, and we can't avoid it. However, firms and organizations don't blindly set targets for you. They train you and then give you targets. So, at the core, you must be ready to learn the necessary skills instead of regretting later. If you feel certain projects or tasks need assistance and help of seniors, then don't hesitate in talking to them. Right communication among employees fosters a unity and understanding in the company. Talking out your problems with your seniors is not a bad idea, unless your concerns are genuine and based on facts. A good rapport with your seniors will help you learn from their experiences and they will also feel happy to guide in the tough projects. They may even help you in increasing the team members, so that the task is broken out into small sub tasks. If you have ethical issues inherent with the workplace stress, then it's the right time to talk to your team leaders and tell them your problems.

Smiling Costs Nothing

It's logical that you can't keep a cheerful face all the time, especially when meeting deadlines, but still, trying to maintain a positive attitude and keeping the spirits of the team members high can elevate the mood of the entire team. Remember, humor is the best medicine ever invented and a simple way to de-stress.

It is to be remembered that removing stress completely in today's fast paced life is not possible, however, it is possible that we evolve and develop a lifestyle that is natural and healthy. This way, we can tackle the stress at work with full ease. If required, counseling from psychologists and life coaches must be taken. Be cheerful, make good friends at your workplace and keep your professional and personal lives separate. Though, it's not always easy, but still, the motto should be to 'try, try and try, until you succeed'.

By Kundan Pandey

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Careers in Financial Planning

Financial planning refers to a scheme or method to plan your investments in the short and long terms. Either, you can make your financial plans yourself or you could get the help of a financial planner. A financial planner would be in a better position to help you plan your future financial investments, such as putting aside a certain amount of your finances for old age, or finance the college education of your children and so on. Today, there is a great demand for financial planners around the globe. The skills required if you are planning for a career in financial planning are excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Various Careers in Financial Planning

The two main careers that are suitable for people who are interested in taking up careers in financial planning are financial planner and financial analyst.

Financial Analysts are the people who analyze financial statements of an industry or a company belonging to a particular industry. Financial analysts study and also analyze the statements such as sales, cost, tax rates and also the various expenses of an organization to evaluate a firm’s current and projected value. There is a great demand for financial analysts in organizations such as banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, security firms and so on. Financial analysts are in demand in organizations that assist people through the financial process.

Financial Planner is also known as financial advisor or financial consultant. A financial planner helps his client in planning his finances. He would also offer advise on various types of long term and short term planning. A financial planner would focus on areas like real estate planning, retirement plans, education plans as well as general investment plans. There are financial advisors who concentrate on particular areas of financial planning such as asset management and protection, retirement planning and estate planning. While there are many financial planners who sometimes act as stock or insurance brokers dealing with various financial and investment products such as stocks, shares, mutual funds, insurance and so on.

Qualification and Skills Required

Whether you are planning to become a financial analyst or a financial planner, you need to possess a bachelor’s degree in finance.

To become a financial analyst, apart from bachelor’s degree you need to possess a degree in business administration and also, specialize in accounting, finance or statistics. A specialized training in economics is strongly suggested. Additional courses that are recommended include risk management, bond valuation and options pricing.

One of the skills that should be possessed by a financial analyst is the drive for research. He should have a keen interest to pay attention to minute details and also understand tax laws and have wide knowledge about the money markets.

It is strongly recommended that financial planners and advisors be certified. It would be a good idea to get a "Certified Financial Planner" designation, a certification offered by the "Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc".

The common skills that are required to become either a financial advisor or a financial analyst are analytical and problem-solving skills. Apart from these skills, you also need to have a good presentation skills, self-confidence and an ability to work independently.

By Maya Pillai

Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Financial Planner Career

If you have good communication skills, and are excellent at written and spoken English, then a financial planner career is right for you. With more and more people investing in the stock market, the demand for financial planners is increasing by the day. There is a lot of competition for financial planner jobs, with security brokers and dealers paying top dollar, for skilled financial planners.

Financial planners should also be able to work with numbers, because they need to use math to analyze data. Financial planners make recommendations and give guidance to individual investors regarding financial planning. Financial planners have knowledge of tax laws and use it to provide tax advice.

Financial planners also help in estate planning. They use marketing strategy and sales techniques to get more customers. A financial planner can get clients at events such as seminars, lectures or conferences.

A financial planner has to advise many clients in order to be considered successful. There is a difference between financial planners and financial analysts. Financial planners work with personal investors while financial analysts work with organizations.

If you want to know how to save money for a college education, you will need the services of a financial planner. If you want to write a will, you will need a financial planner. If you want to plan for a secure and comfortable retirement, you will need a financial planner.

Financial Planner Job Description

How does a financial planner work? First, they have a face-to-face meeting with their client. Then they give verbal advice to their client. They help the clients meet their short-term and long-term goals. If their clients are going through life-changing events such as marriage of disability, financial planners have to take that into account.

If their clients change jobs or get fired, financial planners help with that. Financial planner also sell life insurance to their customers. Private bankers are financial planners who help rich people manage their money. They manage their portfolios of these wealthy people.

How to Become a Financial Planner

To become a financial planner, you have to get a degree in economics, business or mathematics fields. It is even better if you have a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA). You can also take courses in taxes, estate planning or risk management. There are certain colleges and universities too, which offering degrees in financial planning.

Before working as a financial planner, he or she may work as an accountant, auditor or even a lawyer. There are also certifications available such as Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). The job outlook for financial planners is great, as their demand is projected to increase by 41%, according to the United States Department of Labor.

You can also get a license by taking the Series 6 exam, to become an Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Limited Representative. You can take the Series 7 exam, to become a General Securities Representative. Or you can take the Series 63 exam, which is the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination.

All three of these exams have been developed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which was previously known as National Association Of Securities Dealers (NASD).

Financial planners, who are also called personal financial advisors, work in the banking, finance and insurance industry. A financial planner can also be self employed, offering their services on their own, rather than working for other companies. These financial planners can also work from their own homes.

The demand for financial planners, as already mentioned, is supposed to increase a lot. Now that you know about the financial planner career, you can start studying to become one.

By Mukul Deshpande

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

The Economy is Recovering: Make Your Executive Job Search Count

After a long couple of years of continuous job losses, the economy is finally beginning to recover. Of course, employers still have a long way to go before all are hiring again - or even bringing back their benefits packages - but at least there is now room for more people to find new jobs without competing against the world for the same positions.

As a top-level executive, now is the time to dive in and begin reviving your job search as the economy revives. With employers creating new positions, you want to take the steps necessary to make sure you stand out.

Clean Up Your Resume
One of the first steps to take when jumping into your executive job search is cleaning up your resume. Hopefully, you’ve made attempts to regularly make updates to it as your career has evolved, but this doesn’t mean that your resume isn’t still a work in progress. There are things you can do to continue to clean it up and make it stronger.

For instance, you could make sure that your job summaries quantify your best results (money made, workers managed, project time frames). In addition, if you’ve done anything in your interim period that could be listed on your resume (created a blog, added a new social networking profile, spoke at an event) these are things that you could mention that could give it more strength.

Strengthen Your Executive Brand
Now’s also the time to make sure that your executive brand is strong and visible. With many years of experience under your belt, you should have a great enough career focus to brand yourself specifically within your industry. Who are you? What are your specialties? What type of leader are you? How many people/businesses have you affected? Who is interested in hearing what you have to say?

All of these questions could be easily answered by getting out in front of people at speaking engagements, become a board member of one or more organizations, developing an online presence through social networking profiles (LinkedIn and Twitter) and blogging, as well as creating a website under your name. You could even try to get yourself interviewed with local newspapers or other publications, while giving yourself a title that will tell the world who you are.

Take Unconfident Language Out of Your Executive Bio / Cover Letter
One major mistake that some job seekers make - even at the executive level - is to showcasing low self-esteem in their paragraph-based documents like executive bios and cover letters. The intention is to not look unconfident, but it occurs anyway through the use of words and phrases like "Hopefully," "I’m just," "I’m only" and "I should." These words not only make you look unconfident, but make you look unprofitable. If you’re not sure of your capabilities, how could an employer feel good about them?

It’s a great time to get back in the swing of things as more employers look for competent and driven executives to lead their companies back to a profitable stage. So take advantage of this period of recovery by making the most of your executive job search.
Executive Resumes
Compare the top executive resume writers in the industry.

By Heather Eagar

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy
 

 

How to Make It After You've Lost Your Job

There are ways to minimize certain realities on your new resume, and make it an effective tool to get you past the door and to the interview. Losing your job can be a blessing in disguise and these tips will help you land that dream job. Use these pointers for creating a resume that gets results.

1. Use the resume format work that works for you, downplaying the loss of a job.Instead of using a reverse chronological format that accentuates employment dates, use a functional format that showcases what you know rather than where you attained that expertise. For an accountant that would mean highlighting skills in reconciling accounts, generating tax returns, implementing internal controls, etc. The fact that these skills were attained at XYZ Company is minimized as employer names are not mentioned until the very end of the resume.

2. Never explain on a resume that you were let go. As much as hiring managers want to be fair and open-minded, they are only human and will tend to dismiss any candidate who admits to being fired. No matter how you try to explain your dismissal (i.e. "It was office politics." "My manager didn't like me; I have no idea why." "It's because I'm old; they wanted someone younger." "They didn't want to pay me a living wage so they hired someone less expensive."), the explanation will still sound negative.

3. Use dates of employment to your advantage.If you were fired from a job of short duration that fell within the same year as your last position, it can be completely excluded. For example - you worked at ABC Company from March to September of 2007. Before that, you worked at DEF Company from July of 2002 to February of 2007. Simply list the second company (DEF) with the years of employment (2002-2007). This will show an unbroken employment record.

4. Don't confuse being laid off or let go due to downsizing as being fired. If your company was bought out by another firm and you were let go, that's not the same as being fired. If your position has been eliminated (for whatever reason), you weren't technically fired. Hiring managers tend to look at "being fired" as a negative that was caused by the employee (eg: they stole company funds, they were always late to work, they didn't fulfill their daily duties, etc.) It's important to note the distinction and to list those jobs on your resume when economic conditions, beyond your control, were a factor.

5. When there's no way to avoid the fact that you've been fired. If the industry you're working in is a small one and everyone knows about your job loss, then it's essential to showcase the positive (what you achieved at the job or what you learned), and to minimize the negative (confrontations with management or co-workers). A job search is not the time to prove that you were treated unfairly at the last company - rather, it's the time to prove to the new company that you can excel because of your unique set of skills and qualifications.

These tips will ensure that you make it through the initial screening by a hiring manager. Once you do, its up to you to focus on your strengths and what you can bring your new company.


By Michael Fleischner

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy
 

 

Best Careers Without a Degree

t is not necessary that for earning a good income one has to have a degree. There are many professional requirements in the society, where short-duration training courses and certification programs can be helpful. The job of a web designer is one of the high paying careers without a degree; there are many such top paying jobs without a degree. An attempt to enlist best careers without a degree is made in the following paragraphs.

Great Careers without a Degree

Here are few of the best careers without a degree. The job that come out of these career opportunities are those that are related to basic needs of day-to-day life and are in great demand. One can benefit from choosing these careers mentioned below.

Career in Police Service: The police service is best for those who like to passionately serve people and protect them (and their property). It is one of the best careers without a degree. The basic training period required to a become a police officer is less than 4 months. The main responsibility of a police officer is to carry out law enforcement activities. The basic thing which is required for a police officer's job is physical fitness. Candidates are also checked for a criminal background. Salary of police officers depend on their post. Detectives and supervisors earn more than other police officers. The average annual salary of police officers is $47,000. More information about police officer job description can be obtained through this link.

Plumber: This is another job which doesn't require a degree. A high school diploma followed by industrial training at a junior college is enough to become a plumber. Once the schooling is completed, the candidate should go for an apprenticeship program where he/she is given theoretical as well as practical knowledge related to plumbing. Obtaining a license should be the last step before starting off with work. The job of a plumber is not very easy. One has to be very skillful and patient in his approach towards understanding the problems. Ability to get to the root of the problem is an important point of the plumber job description. One should also be physically fit in order to squat, stoop and crawl for carrying out the work without trouble. The annual plumber salary of $39,079 is the average as specified by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (for 2009).

Web Designer: A web designer's job is in great demand these days with the growth of Internet (websites). It is one of the fastest growing careers without a degree. Knowledge of coding languages like HTML, JavaScript, XHTML and PHP is necessary to get into web designing. Becoming a 'Certified Web Professional' by means of a certificate offered by 'International Webmasters Association' should open many paths for web designers to start their career. A web designer's job doesn't just require technical knowledge. He should be a creative person with the ability to visualize and create appealing graphical interface and content for a website. The average annual income earned by web designers as listed by a source called Payscale is around $47,000.

Commercial Driver: The job of a commercial driver involves driving different types of vehicles including vans, trucks and freight vehicles. It is one of the best careers without a degree, since, a driver's job would always be in demand. The vehicles are also categories as light and heavy, based on their weight capacity. High capacity vehicles can bear a weight of more than 26,000 pounds and those categorized as light vehicle can handle a lesser load. A certification program offered by the 'Professional Truck Driver Institute' should be useful to get a good job. Apart from the driving skills, other responsibilities that drivers need to handle are inspection of vehicles, truck servicing, securing the material, etc. The average truck driver salary is around $50,000.

List of Best Careers without a Degree
Here are few other

Air traffic controller	Operations manager	Funeral director
Transportation manager	Industrial production manager	Computer technical support specialist
Storage and distribution manager	Nuclear power reactor operator	Gaming manager
Computer specialist	Real estate broker	Nuclear technician
Commercial pilot	Fashion designer	Power plant distributor and dispatcher
Ship engineer	Nuclear medicine technologist	Radiation therapist
Dental hygienist	Elevator Repairer	Home Health Aide
Fitness Trainer	Fraud Investigator	Event Manager
Writer	Occupational Therapy Assistant	Salesman
Mechanic	Immigration and Customs inspector	Nuclear medicine technologist

Description of the best careers without a degree provided in the article above, should be useful for readers to choose the right direction for a great career. A good career is one which helps us enjoy the work we do and also provides a decent income. It is not always necessary to have a best jobs without a college degree to land a good job and lead a good life. Finding out the skills and applying them in the career we pursue, is the key to success.

By Shashank Nakate

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Changing Lanes: Managing Hearth & Career

Work, bonded Labour

At the outset of my career, there was one definitive feeling that I experienced the most, that of spending a large part of my life within the four walls of my office! I mean I had hardly got out of the organization that the day ended and I was to report once again after a tired, disturbed cycle of sleep! It almost felt that I was married to my desk, clattering away endless hours of work. Work, that seemed less as a form of worship and that more related to pure, unadulterated torture! I think now that at the beginning of each one’s career, all of us feel the same.

Marriage changed this completely

While getting married is a wonderful thing and every earthly soul who seeks to lead a normal life should get married, I also think that you need to give a really good thought in case you need to pursue it after marriage as well! For a lazy nut like me, marriage and the life after marriage within the office constraints made hell break lose! For a moment I thought I was over playing my game of tennis! (Or was that Badminton!)

Every moment, I was either dabbling with whoever served me first at the office canteen, or at home amidst the routine, (read as mundane and monotonous) household chores! I think every woman needs to first examine her life, go deep into introspection within herself and then take the plunge! Though many of us learn on the job and many of us are made to learn the hard way, although it may seem as an initial task to accomplish, it sure isn’t an easy way to manage both hearth and home!

My advise to all women out there is that if you’ve got courage (and I tell you, you need loads of it!) and the conviction to carry it through, you can manage both fronts and with great amount of efficacy. It’s more like learning MS Word, if you’ve mastered the basics, you can find your own short cuts in following through the course. Although there are certain natural calamities that also form a part of your way to success, the important task to remember is that you will succeed! Besides, another important and useful tip is to meditate.

How would that help, you ask? Well meditation does two things. One since you are into meditating you need to bear in mind the time when you do and stick to it for best results. And two, meditation relaxes you, makes your mind more fertile to feed in new data for additional planning of living life to the maximum.

Moreover, if you can manage the work front, you already know the method to control your emotions. And if a woman is known, as the one who is not ruled by her emotions, then you are the ‘girl in control’! Way to go ladies!!

By Prerna Salla

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

5 Smart Steps to Changing Careers

A new year is when many people ask themselves, is it time to change careers? People in this generation will change jobs more often than in any previous generation, and fewer jobs are offering the kind of security enjoyed by our parents. Sometimes changing careers means going to work for yourself. Indeed, one study by economists at Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin found that people who change careers to work for themselves feel more secure in their self-employment than those who work for others.

More than 30 million workers in the United States today are self-employed or own their own businesses. So changing careers is not just limited to changing employers; it also can be about making your new boss yourself. Whether you want to work for someone else, work in a different field or become self-employed, following an action plan and organizing your step-by-step progress will help you make a smoother, more productive transition.

Here are five smart tips that will help you reach your goal:

1. Create an Action Plan.
Pro-active steps can put you in charge of your career, instead of the high stress than comes with not being in control of your own destiny. If you are unhappy with your job, and find that you cannot make changes that will allow you to be happier at your job, then decide right now to change jobs, and get started on your action plan. Create a chart on paper. Give yourself a week to research career change options. Ask yourself, what am I truly interested in doing in my work and in my life? During week two, whittle down your findings to one or two potential careers that fit your goals. Then, "go deep" during the third week exploring the advantages and disadvantages of each. Next, start looking, and chart your progress each week to keep yourself on track.

2. Network.
Networking still is the most powerful way to find a rewarding job. If you are changing careers, then change your professional networks to zero in on the career you really want. Invest in a membership at your local chamber of commerce, and join committees or subgroups related to your next career, not your current one.

3. Integrate your Lifestyle Goals.
Don’t just think about changing careers; think about how you can reach your lifestyle goals, incorporating your career change. For example, if you want to spend more time with your family, consider changing to a career that might pay less, but provides the priceless dividend of time. If you want to be healthier, consider changing to a career that does not force you to sit at a desk for ten hours a day. It’s ultimately more rewarding to downsize your budget to accommodate a lower-paying, but less stressful job, than to shorten your life with an unhealthy career.

4. Enlist a Coach.
Enlist an outside coach to help you integrate your lifestyle goals you’re your career search. I’ve helped hundreds of people change careers and lifestyles through Ruth Klein’s Dream Maker’s Circle with 180 days of personal consulting, monthly and weekly tele-coaching sessions, seminars, and hands-on help with changing careers or starting your own business. Visit www.ruthklein.com, and click on Dream Maker’s Circle under "Upcoming Events" to learn more.

5. Organize. To change careers, you must organize your time to allow you one hour each day to focus on your career change. Make a schedule and stick to it, creating one hour each day to devote to career research, networking, to your coach or to other tasks you have outlined in your action plan. Simplify chores, meals and other responsibilities to create this extra hour in your day.

By Ruth Klein

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Home Business Marketing

Nothing can be more comfortable and luxurious than a home based business where you can do your work from the home and get paid for it. Home based business opportunities are spread across a variety of fields like sales, entrepreneurship, programming and counseling. But they can be lucrative only with effective Home Business Marketing.

The most popular reason for a work at home job option is freelancing. If you are a freelancer then you are your own boss. Your work routine is not like that of a regular employer. You have the freedom of choosing your work hours and work assignments as well. You can be flexible, creative and dedicated to your work and make profits.

On the downside you don’t have a fixed income being a freelancer. Your income will depend on the number of projects you get. You have to take sincere steps to advertise yourself or your business. The marketing of your home business is essential for the growth and establishment of the business. Home business marketing will also make you known as an entrepreneur.

With the fast paced growth of technology internet has become indispensable in the present day. No work is complete without the help of the internet which eliminates boundaries and limitations caused due to geographic conditions. The role of internet is extremely important in home business marketing.

You can advertise your business plans and your potentials online by creating your own website. Internet helps you to create a professional image and a business identity which is essential for the existence of your free work at home job business.

You may set up your independent home based business and get prospective clients through home business marketing. You can also work for any organization from your home. In that case you have to find a suitable organization through the internet which promotes and helps in work at home careers.

Setting up a home business is a serious affair and involves a lot of investment from the entrepreneurs end. You can get sponsorship for setting up your business but for that you have to be proficient in home business marketing. You have to get hold of the right people who will be convinced the moment they hear your business plans. A thorough research on the internet can be very fruitful in such cases.

Home business marketing also enables you to analyze the market conditions to help you understand the chances of your survival in the market. This analysis is required to see if at all your services are welcomed in the market. You can also choose your work category after finding out the market conditions.

The internet also helps you to stay informed about all the current events that might facilitate your home business marketing. You can also become a part of a discussion forum to let different companies know about your existence. You simply have to fill up a form and this will enable interested organizations to get in touch with you with work at home business offers as per your choice.

Discussion forums also play a key role in home business marketing. It enables a home based business entrepreneur to communicate with people who are in the same business and been successful for many years. This way you can gather tips for improving your business to enjoy more profits. You also learn better ways to market your business for far reaching effects in the future.

A thorough analysis of the market allows you to set your primary targets before starting your business venture. Home business marketing increases your networking and builds strong business relationship with your potential clients and other business entrepreneurs. This way you can stay alive and kicking in your free work at home business for a long period.

Article by Jayden Harris owner of Home Job Alert a FREE work at home job service. Over 2,500 companies listed. Visit us at http://www.home-job-alert.com
By Jayden Harris

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How to Promote a Business

Tips on How to Promote a Business Online
Promoting a business via the Internet can be a cost effective technique, provided the product is known to have a good online market. In other words, consumers prefer buying the product online rather than visiting a store for making the purchase. The products that have the potential to generate online sales are as follows: books, music, electronic goods and software. Of these, books, music and movies have a market share of 34% while software has a market share of 30%. Electronic goods also have a substantial share of 14%. In fact, once we have determined that the products, that the company is producing, have a good online market, the question of how to promote a business locally on the Internet assumes a great deal of significance.

How to Promote a Business Through Pay Per Click Advertising?
Promoting a business through pay per click advertising is also known as affiliate marketing. It is the process of driving traffic to a business' website by placing an advertisement in a website that generates high traffic. The host (website) is paid a commission for actual conversions that are measured in terms of clicks. Cost per action (CPA) or clicks that result in driving traffic to a business' website have a high probability of getting converted to revenue provided the host and the business are not producing substitute goods. Again, from the perspective of ensuring the visibility of the host, the business (affiliate) should provide text links rather than graphic links since the former is ranked higher by search engine optimizers. Greater host visibility would mean greater chances of the affiliate getting noticed.

How to Promote a Business Using Social Media?
Social networking is one of the most effective ways of promoting a business since it forms the basis for establishing a symbiotic relationship between like minded people. Social networking helps people connect with each other by allowing them to create an interesting profile that draws the viewer's attention. The section that is dedicated to the user profile can be used to promote one's business by providing links to the company's website and blogs and mentioning the products that the business intends to promote. Starting a group and joining other groups and expanding the chain of interdependency can be a wonderful way of promoting one's business. In addition to social networking, social bookmarking is another useful tool to promote a business.

How to Promote a Business Through Social Bookmarking? Identifying a social bookmarking site, that is appropriate for business marketing, is the first step in social bookmarking. The next step is creating a free account on the chosen website and posting links to the company's or the business' website. People have the option of posting links privately or publicly. In the former case, the links to the website are only shown to designated users.

How to Promote a Business Through Press Release?
A good press release begins with a compelling title that enthuses the reader to continue perusing. Search engine optimization ensures that the writer includes the necessary keywords and models the content accordingly. A press release with a maximum of 500 words is desirable although this does not mean that the writer should compromise on the quality of information. The news of the launch of the product, the relevant details about earlier editions, subsequent improvements and company information make a good read. The concluding paragraphs should definitely provide additional references and links that may be useful to the potential consumer. Company details like contact information, the goals and objectives should also be included to give the consumer a fair understanding of company ideals.

As mentioned earlier, the marketing strategy, that is adopted by a firm, would be contingent on the scope of the market for the product. People selling perishables should focus on marketing these using the local newspaper or by handing out fliers, since these methods of promotion have a greater chance of yielding results as compared to Internet marketing.

By Aparna Iyer

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8 Steps To Marketing Success

Unless and until you master the art of marketing, you will never take your business to the next level - and that's a fact!

For example, just because you're a decent copywriter with a few clients, doesn't mean you know jack about marketing.

Why? Because copywriting in-and-of-itself is not marketing.

Copywriting merely falls under the umbrella of marketing - the same way advertising falls under the umbrella of marketing.

So what exactly is a marketing umbrella?

The marketing umbrella encompasses all eight steps of marketing:

1. Advertising

2. Copywriting

3. Networking

4. Promotion

5. Publicity

6. Public Relations

7. Selling

8. Telemarketing

None of the eight steps is more important than the other. They're all vital.

Master each one of the eight steps, and your business will skyrocket!

So what exactly is marketing?

The best definition of marketing I've seen is contained in this quote:

"If the circus is coming to town and you paint a sign saying, "The Circus is coming to the Fairgrounds Sunday," that's Advertising. If you put the sign on the back of an elephant and walk him through town, that's a Promotion. If the elephant walks through the Mayor's flower bed, that's Publicity. If you can get the Mayor to laugh about it, that's Public Relations. And, if you planned the whole thing, that's Marketing!"

Dale King is the author of the new Internet Marketing website, GuruKnowledge.org

Want More Sales? Get A Free Sales Copy Evaluation Today!
By Dale King

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When Promoting Your Small Business Which Comes First, The Chicken or the Egg?

Finally, my business has reached that famous five-year landmark and we are busy preparing for our 5-year anniversary celebration. The party starts at the crack of dawn as our team arrives early to the ballroom to set up for a quarterly big event featuring world class motivational speaker Omar Periu. I will take the stage next and following the keynotes will be an elaborate reception with complimentary hors d’eouvres. The festivities will be held at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia September 14, 2006. To learn more, visit http://www.FBLiveEvents.com. But it hasn’t always been so easy.

At a time when so many small businesses fail, what is it that has made Freedom Builders soar? I have learned so much in the past five years. And I believe there are definitely very specific skills that are essential to ensure the success of any small business. The first key is to believe in what you are doing. I know my business helps people and I believe in Freedom Builders as much as if it were my child. This leads me to the second key, persistence. You must do whatever it takes to see each crisis through. As an entrepreneur or small business owner you are the captain of the ship and everyone is counting on you. There is no such thing as failure. And the third key is fun. You have to truly enjoy what you are doing. This is the winning formula; belief, persistence and fun.

Our upcoming five-year anniversary party is really going to be fantastic. Our keynote speaker, Omar Periu came to this country from Cuba with his family when he was a little boy. They did not speak English and they had only the clothes on their back. Now Omar is a famous world-class speaker. I can’t think of a better person to share this day with. So many of us are so much more fortunate, but we lack vision and don’t appreciate what we have. Omar believed he was destined for greatness. Did he ever hit pitfalls? Absolutely and that’s where persistence comes in. You must choose to take the pitfalls, learn from them and allow them to make you stronger.

I believe in the little guy. I believe in the person who really wants it. This is who Freedom Builders is here to help. Our 2007 plan is absolutely incredible. We are rolling out a new training division designed to share all of the critical areas the entrepreneur and small business owner need to master to ensure success. This tour will cover 7 cities in the U.S., 2 Canadian cities and 5 countries overseas. I want the world to learn the strategies for success. This is why I have recorded a free 60-minute CD to share how any business can grow from local to global in six months or less. Just visit http://www.PowerfulProspectingTips.com and register for my free newsletter. Once you do so, a secret page will come up where you can request your free copy of my 60-minute Massive Referral System CD. This is my gift to you.
Here’s the bottom line. Your software or your mindset must be set firmly in belief, persistence and fun. This is what it takes to survive when the going gets tough. And your hardware or systems must recognize this -- the amount of money in your bank account is directly related to the amount of exposure you have. You must know how to market your business in ways that create massive amounts of exposure. Why settle for one or two leads per day when you can be generating hundreds or even thousands?

Every successful entrepreneur I know thinks business versus product or service. And the only way to create a business is to have enough money to do so. This comes with more customers, which only come from more quality leads. This is not a question of which comes first, the chicken or the egg. The leads come first, then the customers and ultimately the money.

By Ann Preston

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Cold call or not to cold call for your small business

I hate cold-calling. In fact, there are a lot of horrible pains I would suffer before cold-calling someone. And I think that many small business owners feel the way I do.

It’s true that there are a number of means of small business marketing – direct mail, personal letters, advertising, networking, public relations, internet marketing – and alas, cold calling is one of them. When it comes to small business marketing – any business activity, really – at some point you just have to buckle down and do what you gotta’ do if you want to succeed. But is cold-calling one of those small business marketing activities that small business owners simply have to suffer through in order to succeed in business?

Some experts say, loudly and with vigor: "Yes!" Others say, "Absolutely not."

The truth about the value of cold-calling as part of your small business marketing strategy is that it’s somewhere in between, and it depends on your particular business. If, for example, you retail small-dollar items through a catalog and on the Internet, cold-calling your potential customers probably isn’t cost-effective: if each customer might spend $10 with you, spending 20 minutes or more on the phone with that prospect doesn’t make sense. If, on the other hand, you’re a manufacturer of small-dollar items that you sell to retailers who may spend $1,000 or more buying your products in bulk, then picking up the phone and making a call may well be worth your while.

If you decide to make cold-calling a part of your small business marketing strategy, there are a few things you can do to maximize the chances that your cold call will turn into a new client:

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #1: Take initiative. When you ask the potential client at the other end of the line "When would be a good time to meet?" you open the door for them to say "Never!" Instead, ask "How would next Tuesday at 11:00 work for you to meet?"

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #2: Approach the call with the idea that your goal is to help your prospective customer. Resist the urge to make the call about you – what you do, what you want. Instead, make the call about the prospect at the other end of the line. Ask the prospect about his needs and wants. Then suggest that you can help – and if he meets you next Tuesday at 11:00 you’ll tell him how.

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #3: Get to the point. The prospect at the other end of the line is going to feel, right off the bat, that you’re wasting her time. So, by all means, be brief. Be clear and concise. Avoid saying "um."

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #4: Ask questions. This tip reflects back to small business marketing tip #2, making the call about the prospect, not about you. Asking questions also helps steer you to the right information and will help you tailor your sales pitch – for you to deliver at the appointment.

Cold-calling small business marketing tip #5: Save the sales pitch. Effective cold-calling isn’t about selling your product or service. It’s about getting an appointment so that you can sell your product or service in person.

As with any small business marketing strategy, the best way to figure out if it works is to try it. Make enough cold calls so that you can accurately measure their effectiveness. Then compare that measurement to your other small business marketing tools.

Brandt Stohr, The Small Business Marketing Genius has brought startup one man operations to billion dollar corporations by using creative marketing techniques rather then investors and capital. Brandt Stohr has been helped hundreds of entrepreneurs to get their small businesses exploding with sales without the use of expensive traditional marketing techniques. For more information and a free report on the ten deadly mistakes most small businesses are still making visit Brandt Stohr's site at http://www.smallbusinessmktng.com.

By Brandt Stohr

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Business Promotional Items

It is quite well known that in business it is important to create lasting impressions. Business promotional items, or gifts, can be a great way of making that long lasting impact on your customers, both current as well as prospective ones, and business associates. For example, a suitable corporate gift has the ability of enhancing a business relationship by generating goodwill. Most businesses give these corporate giveaways in recognition of the contribution made towards their business’ growth. Employees and partners can also be given these business promotional products as a token of appreciation, which also helps in promoting better results in business.

Give a Business Promotional Item that is Durable

However, choosing the right kind of business promotional item can often be a difficult task. Creativity, quality, and the ability of enhancing your business’ image should be the primary factors in your business promotional gifting strategy. Thus, when deciding on a business promotional product, you need to think about how it will portray the distinctiveness of your business, while also making the recipient pleased with it, so that it reminds them of your product and company. Thus, a two-pronged strategy has to be employed for a business promotional item to work: choosing a gift that reiterates your company’s image, while it also panders to your recipient’s tastes. This involves finding out about your recipient’s likes and dislikes. And since the business promotional item is going to be something that is representative of your product or company, it is essential to see to it that it is a quality product. If the gift you give falls apart or deteriorates in a few days, it tells your customers that quality is not high in your priorities. Hence, gift something that is durable.

Use Creativity when Choosing a Business Promotional Product

Another important factor to take into consideration while choosing a business promotional item is creativity. Avoid giving something that everybody else is, or your gift will be lost in the crowd. Instead, find business promotional products that show your recipient your creativity and innovativeness. For example, if your company deals with technological products, you could give small electronic giveaways that not only reflect your company, but also can be useful for the recipient. Every time your recipient uses your gift in front of others, it advertises your company.

All of us are quite aware of how much curiosity and attention an interesting gift item can stimulate. Other people often do notice interesting gift items. The gift is often examined, along with questions about it and the company that gave it. This can result in introductory opportunities, a discussion about your company and products, and the starting point of creating new clients. Thus, a little extra care and thought in selecting a business promotional item can help to promote your business quite substantially. Apart from generating goodwill, a thoughtful and unique gift also establishes loyalty towards your company.

Business Promotional Items need not be Expensive

While it is indeed true that some business promotional gift ideas are more successful than others, it does not have to entail a whole lot of expense. You can also choose a simple and inexpensive gift that stays within the parameters of the broad theme you have in mind, which delivers your company’s slogan or message, and is enhanced with effective packaging, text and colors. By using creativity and concentrating on the message being projected, along with the implication of the overall significance of a product, the simplest of business promotional items can accomplish its role of promoting your business or product.

However, also keep in mind, cutting down the cost should not be the sole factor. Giving a business promotional product that is obviously cheap can have a very negative impact. In fact, in order to maintain the reputation and image of your company, it is better not to give a gift at all, rather than giving one that is not appreciated because of its cheapness. Remember, a negative impact is also remembered for a long time.

Use Intuition when Choosing a Business Promotional Product

Basically, you will have to use intuition in a large measure to decide on your business promotional product, for there is no such thing as the perfect gift item. Your gift can either be high end or flashy, as long as it serves its marketing purposes. It could be top quality products like a deluxe golf set or a super sophisticated gold plated desk set, or conversely, even simple items like digital calendars or planners or digital photo frames can be equally effective. There are innumerable sites on the Internet that feature innumerable types of business promotional products, which you can choose from according to your budget and aesthetics. Of course, it goes without saying that whatever you choose as your business promotional product, it should be engraved with your company’s logo and slogan.

Whether you want to enhance the brand image of your company, generate interest and awareness in your products, build strong relationships in business, or display appreciation towards your employees, giving the appropriate kind of business promotional item is the right way to go about it.

By Rita Putatunda

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Teen Business Do's and Don'ts

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.


This article is all about providing great tips and suggestions to help younger teens earn some money and get work experience by starting their own neighborhood businesses.

• Do get the advice of an adult family member before starting your business.
• Don't try to compete directly with any big businesses; the key to finding success with your business is to find a niche -- find something that is lacking and fill it.
• Do consider coming up with a cool name for your business -- it will make you seem more professional.
• Don't get too discouraged if your business starts slowly; it takes time to get your business known.
• Do make detailed plans about how you will run your business, including the types of services you will perform (babysitting, lawn care, errands, tutoring, etc.), prices, cancellation notices, payment options, and the like. And do consider writing a mission statement or philosophy to help guide your actions.
• Don't let any of your customers cheat you out of your money. And do consider enlisting an adult family member to help you handle any customer disagreements.
• Do consider developing agreements for each customer to sign. In fact, do get everything you do or plan to do in writing.
• Don't let a competing teen stop you from opening a similar business. If you don't want to compete, do consider forming a partnership. With multiple partners, you'll have a bigger network of potential customers and perhaps more time flexibility because you'll be sharing the load. But do be aware that having partners can also add lots more hassles and aggravations.
• Do use every available resource to spread the word about your new business, including posting flyers around the neighborhood, in community centers and religious organizations, and local stores. But remember that the best source will be the network of your family, friends, and neighbors -- and current customers, once you get your business established. You can consider going door-to-door to announce your service, but don't do it by yourself -- have an adult go with you.
• Don't let a dissatisfied customer stay dissatisfied. One of the key rules to business success is satisfying the customer. Ask what you can do to make the customer satisfied -- and then do it, if you can.
• Do get organized, including developing a daily/weekly/monthly planner. Try not to ever accidently forget a customer appointment, but if it does happen, try to find a way to make amends (such as a discount on the next appointment).
• Don't fall in the trap thinking that starting your own business will be extremely lucrative and fun; running your own business is a lot of hard work, but it will be great experience for future jobs and college applications.
• Do be prepared to leave your friends behind when you go to work; and don't ever skip a customer appointment to hang out with your friends -- your business has to come first.
• Don't spend all the money you make from your business; do put some money aside to save for the future. 

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Network Your Way to a New Job or Career

When Cookie Burkhalter relocated from Colorado to Wilmington, Delaware three years ago, she thought finding a new job would be easy. With first-rate qualifications and more than twenty years of professional experience at Fortune 500 companies, she figured she would land a new position quickly by surfing a few Internet job boards and sending out her résumé.

But Burkhalter, an IT project manager, quickly discovered that it wasn’t going to be so easy. After months of applying for open positions, “I never got a single interview from a posting on the Net,” she declared. “Applying for all those jobs was a complete waste of my time.”

Her job search began to turn around for Burkhalter when she realized that the missing element in her job search was the human factor. “Even though I grew up in Delaware, I had been living out of state for a long time,” she recalled. “I had almost no local contacts, so I was relying on postings and ads to find out about available jobs. But by the time I saw the ad, so had thousands of other people, and one of them was always just a little more qualified than me.”

Network Your Way to A New Job

So Burkhalter set about rebuilding her business and social network. She joined two women’s groups made up of others who shared some of her personal interests and hobbies, and began to meet new people. When she let her new friends know about her job search, all of a sudden, she began to hear about jobs before they were advertised, and interviews started to materialize. When she finally did land a new job, it was the direct result of a referral from a friend.

You may not recognize what Burkhalter did as business networking, but that’s exactly what it was. Many people think of business networking as circulating around a room and exchanging business cards. But a broader view of business and social networking is that it creates a pool of contacts from which you can draw leads, referrals, ideas, and information for your job search. You can network without ever attending an official business or social networking event, although attending events is useful in networking.

Texas resident Maria Elena Duron found an executive job as a result of working as a community volunteer. “I was volunteering at the Midlands MexTex Fiesta, and I found myself flipping burgers side-by-side with a board member of the Austin Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation," Duron remembers. "He asked me if I had ever been involved in fundraising, and when I said I had, he asked for my résumé. He forwarded it to the Foundation with his personal recommendation, and three weeks later I was hired as Executive Director for the West Texas Region."

Find Your Job and Career by Business Networking

Your career network can and should contain current and former co-workers, alumni from your school, a wide range of people in your industry, and personal friends. Making time for lunch or coffee with these people can be much more productive for your job search than reading the want ads or surfing the web. In fact, surveys consistently show that 80-85% of job-seekers find work as the result of a referral from a friend or colleague, and only 2-4% land jobs from Internet job boards.

If you have been out of touch for a while with people you already know, don’t let that stop you from re-establishing contact when you start your job search. Everyone you speak to will have had to look for work at some point in their career, and most of them will be sympathetic and helpful.

To spread your business and social networking net even wider, you may need to start making the acquaintance of new people also. Every time you talk to a friend or colleague about your job search, ask for suggestions of other you might speak to, and follow up on their referrals.

From **C.J. Hayden

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Top Ten Reasons to Quit Your Job

You've done everything you can to make your current job work. But, your current job is not working. These are the top ten reasons why you might want to quit your current job. These are difficult, if not impossible, to solve. You need to look out for your best interests. Your job consumes too many hours of too many days of your life for you to stay where you are miserable. No excuses, now. If these issues exist with your job, make a plan, and change jobs.

* Your company is experiencing a downward spiral, losing customers, losing money, and rumors of possible closure, bankruptcy and failure prevail.

* Your relationship with your manager is damaged beyond repair. You have sought help to mend the boss relationship but you know it is too damaged for recovery. (Perhaps you were untrustworthy, missed work on too many days, or the manager acts like an untrustworthy jerk.) Whatever the reason, the relationship is irrecoverably damaged.

* Your life situation has changed. Perhaps you have married or had a baby, and the salary and benefits no longer support your life needs. You need to move on to better opportunities to support your family.

* Your values are at odds with the corporate culture. Perhaps your company is egalitarian and you believe in assigned parking spots for salaried employees. Your company does annual employee satisfaction surveys and you think these are a waste of time. Your company is hierarchical and you want to influence every aspect of your job. No matter where the clash is occurring, a lack of congruence with the corporate culture will destroy your attitude at work.

* You've stopped having fun and enjoying your job. No matter what changed, when you dread going to work in the morning, it's time to leave your job.

* Your company is ethically challenged. Perhaps, the managers lie to customers about the quality of the products or the day on which product will ship. You become aware that the company is stealing information from competitors. Whatever the issue, don't stay in an organization where your ethics are out of sync.

* For whatever reason, you have behaved in ways that are considered improper at work. You've missed too many days of work, slacked off on the job, failed to maintain needed skills and just generally developed the reputation of a loser. That reputation, once earned, is unlikely to change, so you might as well move on, while you have the opportunity.

* You've burned your bridges with your co-workers. Your group is not getting along in an environment that requires people to work together well. Again, at some point, the reasons don't matter; start fresh in a new job and resolve to not let this situation happen again.

* Your stress level is so high at work that it is affecting your physical or mental health and your relationships with your friends and family. Watch for the signs of burnout and if they can't be cured, move on. Read this article, Tips for Managing Stress and Change at Work for some ideas about managing work stress.

* And the top ten reason for leaving your current miserable job - you are unchallenged, need more responsibility, and seek opportunities that just don't exist for you in your current organization. You've explored the current and potential options, and they are limited. It's time to move on.

Ready to leave your job, or looking for ways to improve your current situation? Have golden handcuffs and feel that you are stuck in your current employment? Whatever you are thinking or feeling, please post in the forum.

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Managing Age, Currency, and Impression When You're a Mature Worker

by Jean Baur

Among the common myths I hear over and over in my work as a career counselor is "I can't get a job anywhere because I am too old."

If you're a baby boomer like me, you were raised to believe that the worst thing you could say is those two terrible words: "I can't." So when I hear these phrases from my clients (who have been downsized after very successful careers), I tell them the story of my client -- we'll call him "Bill" -- who groaned.

Bill comes into my office, stunned, unable to believe that after 24 years at a leading pharmaceutical firm, he's been let go. We go through the initial process: I explain the details of his outplacement services, as he tells me about his work and how he was notified that he was no longer needed. We talk a bit about his goals -- what he would like to do -- and then I go over the materials that he'll need to support his search.

As Bill and I get to know each other, and get his resume completed, I discover that he, like me, loves tennis. He's been playing longer than I have, and we interrupt our discussions about recruiters or Internet postings with updates on our latest games. I'm thinking to myself that it's really good that he's active as that will help him in the interview process. And the physical and mental challenges of tennis will keep him sharp.

Bill is worried about interviewing since he hasn't done it in more than a quarter century, and he's not sure how he'll be perceived. Under this concern I sense the age issue and ask him directly if he's worried about age discrimination. He says that he is but that he really wants to continue working. As he puts it: "I'm way too young to sit at home."

I never ask my clients their age, but Bill tells me that he's 65 and would like to work for at least five more years. So we begin drilling the answers to typical interview questions, and I make sure that his answers are clear, concise, and include a selling point or result when possible. He gets pretty good at responding, and I'm beginning to feel that he may do all right.

Then one day as Bill joins me at the small, round table in my office, I notice that he groans as he sits down.

"Hey," I say to him, "what was that?"

"What was what?"

"You groaned."

He bursts out laughing. "Oh, I played an extra set of tennis last night and can barely move."

"Up you go," I tell him. "Come back into the office and sit down without groaning."

"What?"

"You heard me."

He sees by my face that I'm serious, so he humors me and gets up and sits down again in the chair, this time with no creaks or moans. I thank him, and then we talk about the power of first impressions and that we "mature" workers (as I like to call myself), have to be especially careful to come across as energetic, up-to-date and motivated. Maybe a 25-year-old can slump in the chair, but not someone over 50.

Bill gets this concept and never groans again. He sits up straight and leans slightly forward -- a great way to show interest and motivation. Before long he is interviewing, and his strategy is to take any interview anywhere although he really doesn't plan to relocate. So one week he's out on the West Coast interviewing with a new biotech firm, and the next he's in New England meeting with a well-known pharmaceutical company, and with practice, his interviewing improves.

He and I go over the questions he was asked, any areas that gave him trouble, and soon he has an offer from a local company. We celebrate this great news and are both relieved that for now his search is over. He does well with this company, but a year later, has a better offer from another company and decides to take that. As far as I know he's still there, happily working.

When you look carefully at age, especially as it relates to looking for a job, I believe three basic issues arise. The first is your chronological age, which you can't do much about. The second is how current you are in your field, and the third is the overall impression you make. Let's look at the second and third issues to see what you can do if you're a mature worker in job search.

To ensure you're current in your field, network with people in your industry and attend professional meetings so that you're aware of new trends, new technology, etc. Through unemployment benefits (Department of Labor), you may be able to get a grant or tuition waiver so that you can get additional training if you need it. (This benefit varies state by state. In New York State, for example, you'd go to Unemployment Insurance Benefits Online and then click on either "Career Service Locations" or "Workforce Professional Tools" to get the contact information for the nearest One-Stop Career Center). You can also find One-Stop Career Centers and other workforce services. Or speak to your local unemployment counselor. Another way to find out what training you may need would be to shadow someone for a day so that you learn the critical issues of a new function or industry.

The third issue, the impression you make, is exactly what Bill and I were working on together. We create an image of a person in a fantastically short amount of time -- probably 3-5 seconds. So your posture, gesture, voice, and facial expression all contribute to that initial snapshot. Of course what you wear and your overall grooming are part of this picture, so I tell my clients to ask someone they trust to give them feedback on their hairstyle, clothes, and other aspects of appearance. It's important to look up-to-date and age appropriate. So if you're a 50-year-old woman, and are wearing your teenaged daughter's clothes, you may appear uncomfortable about your age.

Interviewing is a dance -- an exchange of impressions and information -- and our function as job-seekers is to do everything we can to show that we fit in and can help solve the problems facing the company. It's also important to remember that no one bats 1,000 and that rejection (and ideally learning) is part of the process.

So don't start off by telling yourself that you'll never get hired again, don't groan when you sit down, and fasten your seatbelt as this is an unpredictable process. And use tennis or volunteering or baking a cake for a neighbor as ways to keep yourself motivated and balanced while you implement your search, remembering that you're working toward an important goal: the adventure and satisfaction of a new job.

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