Settling Successfully Into Your New Job

The euphoria of getting a new job can sometimes be overcome by apprehension about what comes next. After all, you're "the new kid on the block," and there's much to learn--about your new job duties and much more. But here are some things you can do to make the process go smoother. >vacancy

1. Dress for success. You'll want to look professional. Dress on the conservative side for the first week. Once you've got a good idea of what's appropriate and what isn't, you can adjust your style. 

> job vacancy indonesia

2. Be on time. You never want to start your new job by being late, so make sure you allow plenty of time for your commute. Plan the most direct route, but be aware of alternates in case of an accident or other traffic snarls.

3. Get to know people. Be polite and friendly to everyone you meet, whether it's the receptionist or the general manager. Introduce yourself, smile and make eye contact. Make a positive first impression. Ask about your coworkers' interests. 

4. Ask questions. From "Where's the bathroom?" to "Which tool do I use for this task?" It's OK to ask for help! Your coworkers will feel good about doing whatever they can to assist you. Let them. It's always better to have to ask the right way to do something than to try to figure it out on your own, mess up, and have to do it all over again.

5. Remember your place. You may feel "qualified" to tell your new coworkers that there's a better way to do something, but be patient. Every workplace has its own way of doing things. Never say "That's not how we did it at my old company!" (You're coworkers may invite you to return to your old company!) Be patient and become an accepted member of the team before you make suggestions for improvements.

6. Be careful about office politics. Pay attention to the grapevine, but don't contribute to it. Do not accept at face value what one employee says about another; form your own opinions based on your own interactions and judgment. Never complain about anyone at your old job or your new one. Figure out who has the real authority to give you work to do, and who is trying to take advantage of your newness.

Above all, keep a positive attitude, do your work to the best of your ability, and keep an open mind. Before you know it, you'll be climbing the career ladder and giving advice to newcomers! > employee

Use the Personal Touch to Get a Job

A recent study showed that sales people who used their prospects' names generated a 239% increase in sales.

The simple act of using a name can have a dramatic impact on your own ultimate success in landing a new job! 

During your next interview, focus on remembering the names of the interviewers. Find a reason to say their name at least three times during your conversation. Repeat their name at the end of the interview to make a lasting impression. >vacancy
But don't stop at that. Make it a point to remember and use the names of the other people you meet -- the receptionist, the HR person, anyone you speak to during your visit. They'll remember YOU and maybe nudge the boss in your direction when it's time to make the hiring decision!  

> job vacancy indonesia 

Here's a personal step that you must plan ahead for. After the interview, go out to your car and take out the nice notepaper you've brought along for this purpose. Write your thank-you notes while the interview is fresh in your mind.

In today's high-tech world, a handwritten note is becoming a scarce -- and appreciated -- commodity.

Place the note in an envelope and write the name of the interviewer on it (do separate notes and envelopes for each interviewer, if more than one). Go back inside and hand-deliver them to the receptionist... smile and use his/her name when asking that the notes be delivered.

Do you think any other candidate will do this? Heck no! (Not unless he/she reads this article!)

Have an instant advantage by using the personal touches of: (1) remembering and using names; and (2) handwriting and immediately delivering thoughtful thank-you notes! > employee

How To Tap Into the "Invisible" Job Market

Is there a company in your area that you'd love to work for? Do you assume that, because you don't see them advertising in the classifieds or posting jobs on their website, they have no openings? That may or may not be the case. That truth is, only about one-fifth of job openings are actually advertised! 

job vacancy indonesia

Here's how to tap into the huge "invisible" job market.

1. Make a list of companies you'd like to work for that are likely to have positions in your field. When composing your list, do some research and take notes about each company. You'll use that later. 

2. Obtain the names of the people in those companies who have the power to offer you a job. Simply call each company’s main number and ask for the name (ask them to spell it) and title of the manager in your field of expertise (or check to see if this information is available on their website). If possible, also get their email address and direct phone number. Don’t let the receptionist give you the name of the Human Resources manager (unless that is the department where you are trying to get a job) because your first point of contact should be with the hiring manager in your field.

3. Write and send a attention-grabbing cover letter with your resume. Address it specifically to the hiring manager in your field. The saluation should include his/her name and title. (Using something like "Dear Hiring Manager" in an unsolicited letter will likely cause it to be tossed in the garbage.) Say something specific about the company (to show you have a genuine interest and did some research) and explain how your skills and qualifications would help them achieve their goals. vacancy

If you can refer to someone the addressee knows, this will give your letter a big boost. For instance, "Jim Jones in your accounting department mentioned that you might have a need for someone with a background in direct marketing" (or whatever your field is). Yes, this is name-dropping, and it works! If you don't yet have a name to drop, do some networking... talk to everyone you know and see if they know anyone who works at that company; join associations that may have members who work for that company; go to trade fairs in which they may participate... and so on and so forth.

Your cover letter is extremely important because it's your first contact with the hiring manager.

4. Follow-up with the people you sent cover letters and resumes to. You can do this through email or by calling them. Here's a general idea of what you want to say (don't use this word for word): “My name is _________. I'm a graphic designer (or whatever your job title is) and I recently sent you a cover letter with my resume. I realize you are very busy, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could verify that you received it. I am very interested in working for your company and am eager to show you how I can be a contributing member of your team. I'd love to speak with you in person (if doing this by email) or come in for an informational interview."

If you're sending them an email or leaving a message on their voicemail, conclude with: "Please contact me at your convenience..." (leave your contact info; 24-hour phone number and email address). Any other steps you take will depend on the success of this one.

You might want to follow-up one more time after about 10 days if you don't get any response to your first contact. But don't continue pursuing it after that. Focus your job search activities elsewhere.

Even if the majority of people you contact say there are no current openings, these are not necessarily wasted steps. You are demonstrating a proactive approach, and employers admire drive and ambition. You may make such a great impression that you'll be remembered as soon as a vacancy opens up! employee

Presentation

Soon a presentation? Your thesis presentation / defense? Sweaty hands and knees? A presentation is often perceived as a stressful and nerve-racking task. Many people can greatly dread holding a presentation. Why? And why many people do not like to present? And how is a presentation a success? This article will present you can find answers to these questions. You can also find several tips for successful presentation.

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee
Presentation
During a presentation, you give an oral presentation on your research and the derived results. During the presentation you can use different attachments such as PowerPoint or overhead projector.Why do many people at present?
When does a presentation for a group of people, then the attention you get during your presentation of the group, seem very uncomfortable. The silence during the presentation, the sound of your voice, all eyes are on you and you feel your body respond differently than normal. In short, you feel insecure, and furthermore, you're all alone. At least, that seems so. During a presentation to the audience exactly what you want to hear them say. Otherwise they were not present in your presentation. A presentation, you so nice and interesting to tell and nerves are hereby entirely unnecessary and also lead just wondering.
Another reason for nerves during a presentation can be found in test anxiety. Some people feel insecure about their performance and will therefore present here in the face. Furthermore, a presentation usually seen as a test in which the speaker feels that everything depends on this single presentation. Fear of failure for a presentation you can fix. Often find by following a simple course quickly remedied.Presentation Preparation
To be successful presenting is an essential preparation for your presentation. Just because you really can see from the presentations, the chances are that your presentation (and preparation) until the last minute delays. This is not a good presentation and it will certainly not benefit. Especially not when you have done your presentation, you will find that your nerves are more affected by it during your presentation. How do you prepare for a presentation? By carefully thinking about your topic. Make sure the subject well in your head. Do you remember enough about the subject you are about to present? Read Up. For example, no longer know how to research your thesis had just broken? Read this section is equally well. Once you know enough about the topic, you must ask yourself what your listeners want to tell your presentation. Try this out of your head and just write key words on this. The full launch of a presentation is certainly not a good idea. The main goal is to create a story where you make a chronological format. Make sure that the story in your head right and you can play the story in mind. This can thrive when you're in the shower or the dog walking. This way you learn the story you want to present in your head. Case is that you, the focus on the main hold. If you want eight cases treated during your presentation, make sure you have in mind these eight cases and that you can explain during your presentation. The exact details of this you do not have to scoop. But then you look for yourself the order of eight things to have in your head down. If you do a presentation in this manner are well in your head, your preparation for your successful presentation!The presentation
There you are. For the group, the moment of silence falls and you will begin your presentation. Many sleepless nights might have preceded. And now it's come: you must be present. You have your presentation well prepared, so you have no fear. You start talking and you notice that everyone looks at you. You tell a funny story and you find that the public good pick. Your nerves are cut off. You come back to consciousness and let your nerves. How should you go? Here are some tips for each item that you hold in your presentation can keep.Eye contact during presentation
The most important during your presentation is to maintain eye contact. Over the crowd watching is no longer an option. It can be intimidating, but eye contact during your presentation is a confirmation of your audience's attention. So go do not avoid eye contact. Try as much as possible from person to person about to jump and not too long someone right in his / her eyes to see during your presentation. When someone asks a question during your presentation, make eye contact with the person first and give him / her the floor. Take your time for. The idea is that you start answering the question correctly, so you should fully understand the question. Eye contact is important.Hands
Hold objects, such as a pen or a piece of paper, during a presentation are not recommended. Avoid this as much as possible. If you're nervous, you give through your fumbling with a pen here demonstrate. Do not do it. During a presentation it is just that good to make gestures with your hands. To make the presentation more lively. Do this also in moderation. Beware, lest your hands the key role to play during your presentation.Visual aids to support your presentation
During your presentation, it is advisable to use visual aids SUPPORT. Do not use too much text and be economical with pictures and figures. Be aware that not everyone jumping frog in your PowerPoint presentation just like it. Do you use visual aids during your presentation, make sure that people see your resources. In other words, do not stand for. It sounds very obvious, but it's a common mistake during the presentation. It is positive if during your presentation when you refer to your device, the audience asks if anyone can see it and whether it is legible.

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Hot Tips for Projecting Professionalism at Your Next Job Interview

By Sara Parent

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy

A job interview can be a stressful experience if you don't know what to do, or if you aren't used to being in that situation. But there are some things you can do to help you interact with your interviewer more professionally. A successful interview has as much to do with how you present yourself as the skills you bring to a company.

When meeting someone for the first time, there are some simple rules to remember. We went to Anne Sowden of Here's Looking At You, a Toronto-based image consulting firm, for some suggestions on how job seekers can project a professional image.

She offers these tips for your next interview:

• Stand up straight and keep your shoulders back. This makes a huge difference when making a first impression AND you'll feel better.
• If you're not sure how to shake hands properly, get someone to help you. There's nothing worse than a bad handshake.
• When shaking hands, stand up, make eye contact and smile. Smiling conveys an accepting attitude towards others.
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewer but look away at regular intervals to make sure you aren't staring.
• If you're concerned about clammy hands. Keep a tissue in your pocket and gently squeeze it before shaking hands.
• When receiving someone's business card, leave it on the desk/table in front of you and look at it during the meeting. It's one way to make sure you get the person's name correct.
• When sitting, don't slouch. This sends a message that you don't care about being with someone.
• Be prepared. Whether it's an interview, meeting or networking. Have a plan of what you want to accomplish and do it.
• Practice introducing yourself. Get a friend to help you.

Remember that, for better or worse, first opinions are formed very quickly. Sowden says that the image you project can affect your ability to inspire trust and confidence. She adds that it also gives others information by which they judge our credibility and professionalism.

Knowing how to act and presenting yourself professionally through your attire are critical image builders. Sowden offers these tips on dressing for business:

• Buy the best you can afford in classic styles.
• The more skin you show, the less professional you look.
• Err on the side of caution-dress up rather than down; dress conservatively.
• Research the dress code, the position you're interviewing for and the person you will be meeting.
• To project expertise, wear a jacket.
• Wear clothing that is comfortable and makes you feel good.
• Focus on basics-jackets, skirts, slacks in a neutral colour. Black, navy and charcoal project power and authority.
• Check skirt lengths. A skirt around knee length is flattering for most women and looks professional. It also doesn't expose too much leg when sitting down. If your skirt has a split, check how much leg you expose when sitting down.
• Avoid plunging necklines, sheer fabrics, and clinging knits. Knits cling and find body fat even if you think you don't have any.
• Keep jewellery simple. No clanging, dangling or jangling items.
• Carry either a briefcase or a purse, not both. No knapsack.

Always Wanted to be a Police Officer?

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy

You've decided this is the path you want to take. You've watched enough NYPD Blue and COPS to know this is the life for you. What do you do now?

Dig In:

Call your local police force or your local RCMP detachment. Ask to go on a ride-along. This will give you a better understanding of the job. What you don't see on NYPD Blue you might get to experience on your ride-along. 

Talk To Those on the Job:

Get to know your local police officers. Make some contacts at the station by telling them you're interested in the job and in pursuing a career in it. Ask them what they like about, what they dislike, what skills they needed, how they got into it, what skills they think you should have, and anything else you can come up with.

Decide on Which Force to Join:

If you are interested in local police in your town or municipality, check their websites or give them a call to see what qualifications you need to work as a police officer for your town or city. Ask them how many officers they have hired lately and how they see their needs in the future. Education requirements differ from city to city. Some will require you to have a policing course completed. Some hire you first and send you to a police college. As well, many colleges and universities offer preparatory courses to help you get into policing. Ask the force what they are looking for as this could save you a lot of time and money.

If you are interested in joining the RCMP, they have a detailed requirement of what they need. First, you must attend a training session. They are held throughout the country. Contact your local detachment for information on the next available training session. Then you must write the RCMP Police Aptitude Test, do the Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (called PARE, which is used by most police agencies in Canada), then a series of tests, investigations, and evaluations are performed. If you are successful, you will be selected to enroll in the cadet training program at RCMP Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan. 

Get Ready:

The process to join a police force can be intense. You've got to be prepared to deal with physical fitness testing, personality and aptitude testing, background checks, and lots of paperwork.

Policing can be a satifying and rewarding career. A little research now will help you prepare yourself and get you closer to fulfilling your goal.

Careers : Top 10 Hot Jobs Among All Internet Sources

By Patty Inglish, MS

Jobs Indonesia,  Careers,  Indonesia Vacancy

In February 2010, 3,000,000 job listings were gathered by Indeed.com. Among them, these ten positions were most frequently listed on the job trending sites SImplyHired.com and Indeed.com.

1. Physical Therapists
2. Sales Associates and Sales Representatives
3. Assistant Managers - Includes Retail and Restaurant.
4. Store Managers - Retail, Finance, and Restaurant/Food Service.
5. Family Practice and Internal Medicine Physicians
6. Occupational Therapists
7. Tax Preparers and Census Takers (tied)
8. Sales Managers
9. Registered Nurses (RNs)
10. Project Managers - Domestic and International Business, private, government, and government contractor. 

Careers Tips : Creating A Personal Career Map

by Nathan Newberger

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

Whether you are unemployed or have an unfulfilling job, you probably suffer from an ailment that plagues many people: career disorientation. You are not where you want to be professionally. Somewhere along the road to professional happiness you veered off course and lost your way. If you are driving and become lost, a map is a handy tool to help get back on course. A career map is just as useful in curing career disorientation.

This article describes how to develop your own personal career map. Once you know the path you want to take, it is much easier to get where you want to go.

These four key elements will be covered:

1. Finding The Big Picture
2. Do Some Research
3. Start Marketing Yourself
4. Plan For The Unexpected

 

1. FINDING THE BIG PICTURE
To create a career map, you must be able to take a step back and examine your position. More often than not, you may need to take many steps before the big picture becomes visible. The whole purpose of a career map is to create a path to your end goal. Being able to envision the entire path is crucial. As you step back to examine your situation, ask yourself these questions:

• How far into the future do you want to plan? One year? Five years? Ten years?
• What job characteristics are most important to you? Location? Salary? Room for Promotion?
• Is there flexiblity for unexpected detours? You never know when a spouse will find a job in another city or when a new boss will make your current job unbearable.

2. DO SOME RESEARCH
Planning should not be a stationary act. A vital part of effective career mapping is gathering information. After all, you cannot fully prepare for a journey unless you have a detailed understanding of the places you want to go. Determining the path you want to take for the next few years requires a lot of legwork. You must identify the specific actions you need to take on the road to success and fulfillment.
There are numerous methods to obtain all the information necessary for creating a sound career map. Some of the most popular choices include:

• Reading trade magazines and professional industry analysis.
• Interviewing industry experts.
• Finding a mentor that is already successful in the job you hope aspire to be in one day.

3. START MARKETING YOURSELF
As you examine your path to success, you must determine how to get yourself on that path. This means you need to be in contact with the companies and/or industries you see in your future. As you already know, landing the job you want is not an easy task. That is why marketing is an essential part of career mapping.
Above all else, a self-marketing strategy for career mapping should address these three issues:

• Market Identification: Just like a business must decide on the customers to whom it will sell its product, you must decide on the companies and industries to which you will sell yourself. Be specific, having only a general idea will leave you unfocused. Make a list of specifics so you can properly allocate your time and effort.
• Strength/Weakness Identification: When a business sells its product, it does not just to tell you the product's name. Advertisements emphasize the advantages of a product. You need emphasize your strengths and downplay your weaknesses as you market yourself. Have your closest friends and colleagues help you compile a list of your positive and negative characteristics.
• Mission Statement: It may seem trivial to actual develop a mission statement for yourself, but they perform a very valuable function. Creating a mission statement requires you to concisely explain your goals. In doing this, you remove frivolous details and better focus yourself.

4. PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED
Often times, as a person develops their career map he or she realizes that they are far off course. This perfectly normal, but it also means that getting on the right road will require a change of direction.
What the future holds is always a mystery. Drastically changing your life can only complicate things. A very important concern to have is your financial stability. A career map is only valuable when it is realistic, so it should address any of your financial concerns. As you plan for the future, ensure you have a financial plan to tackle the worst-case scenario. With each step along the way, you career map should answer the question "Can I afford to continue on?" And the answer must be yes.

 

CONCLUSION
Planning before you act allows you to make focused moves. Once you've plotted your course, you must act without hesitation. Don't forget to check your career map regularly to ensure you have not veered off course. Make forecasts and continue to plan. When the job market is rough; the people that do well are those that have a strong idea of where they are trying to go. Remember, driving is a lot easier when you keep your eyes on the road. Happy planning! 

 

 

 

Careers Tips : Assess your skills and interest

By mappingyourfuture.org

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

Think about your interests

• What do you like to do? Think about experiences you have enjoyed. What kind of school, religious, social, or sports activities do you like?
• Make a list of 10 activities you have enjoyed doing in the past four years.
• Evaluate those interests. Think about what you liked about the activities. What challenges did the activities offer? What skills do you need to develop further to continue in those activities?

Consider your skills

• Evaluate school, volunteer, work, or leisure experiences.
• Make a list of your school activities (clubs, organizations to which you belonged). Make a list of any volunteer work you have done (either through social, civic or religious organizations).
• After you have assessed your interests and skills, determine the relationship between skills and interests and possible careers. You may need to research different careers.

Quirky Ways to Get Your Resume Read

By Bruno Deshayes

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy  

Unless you want a quirky job you probably don't want to go quirky about your job application. Do you want to be paid with real money or monopoly currency?
The first pitfall to avoid is putting a photograph of yourself. Leave that to your facebook page if they want to check it out. Unless you are applying for a role as an actor or performing arts where a whole press-book is required a photo of yourself can be detrimental. People will hire you for your skills and your brains - not for your good looks. Remember more and more women sit on recruitment panels and your sex appeal might not cut it with them...
Next pitfall are unsubstantiated claims. Trust, honesty and loyalty are in short supply in our confused world. What you say about yourself need to be corroborated by circumstantial evidence. Don't say you are the fastest, the tallest, the quickest, etc... simply state the challenge you faced, the action you took and the result it produced. That's all an employer is interested in and they just want to know if you can do it again for them - simple, huh?
Next pitfall - going wild with fonts and colours. Your application might be passed around to various people on the recruitment committee, emailed to an iPhone, a Blackberry or an android smartphone. How mangled you will look through a not-so-perfect email program on those devices? If you want your layout and composition to remain unaffected then stick to the PDF format. Recruitment agencies hate it because their databases can't scan it for keywords.
Next pitfall - confusing your resume for an essay or a monologue. Unless you apply for a role as a writer and are asked to submit samples of your prose, you should not bore your audience with your introverted view of the world since you became unemployed. Employers are not interested in your moods, your political or religious views - all they want to know is if you can be productive from day one without any need for training or induction.
Next pitfall - ignoring your industry lingo. The best way to be rejected is to show a lack of grasp for your industry values. New lobby groups are forcing employers to comply with more and more regulations and standards. What is best practice in your field? Do you use due diligence? What about occupational health and safety? What about anti-discrimination laws?

How to Get Started on Your Resume: A Five-Step Primer for Established Job-seekers and Career-Changers

by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.

Careers , Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

As an established job-seeker, you probably have a resume. Thus, getting started on the resume that will take you to the next rung in your career ladder may be a simple matter of spiffing up your existing document using guidelines in this article and many other resume resources on Quintessential Careers.

But some established job-seekers do have to start from square one. I sometimes hear from job-seekers that they have been recruited into most of their jobs or obtained them through networking and have not needed a resume. Or they have not needed one in such a long time that the resume they have is quite outdated.

Most people find the idea of creating a resume overwhelming. Even the notion of revamping an existing resume can be daunting.

This article takes you through the steps to getting started on your resume and provides a refresher if you have a resume that needs updating and polishing.

Step 1: Consider whether you really want to tackle your resume on your own

Consider hiring a professional resume writer. An investment in a professionally crafted resume can pay off big time. There's no shame in hiring a professional resume writer. You hire doctors, lawyers, financial advisers, and tax consultants when you lack the expertise in those areas, so why should resume-writing be different? Many employers and even more recruiters actually encourage the idea of professionally written resumes because hiring managers want to obtain your information in a reader-friendly form that clearly tells how you can benefit the organization.

See our article Why Hire a Professional Resume Writer?.

Step 2: Review resume samples to get ideas for wording, layout, and current resume trends.

If you decide to take on your resume without professional help, looking at sample resumes will give you ideas that you may want to apply to your own document. For content, you'll want to review resumes in your own and similar professions, but resumes for other occupations can offer ideas for resume organization and layout.

By looking at samples, you'll get a sense for the sections that are typically included on a resume and how those sections are organized. You'll see how resume bullet points are worded. You'll get ideas for distinctive resume designs that will help you stand out.

You can find samples in many resume books, all over the Internet, and of course, here at Quintessential Careers. See our resume samples here.

Step 3: Prepare to craft your resume by brainstorming and gathering information.

The resume-preparation step comprises several sub-steps:

1. Determine the focus of your resume. What kind of job or jobs will you be targeting? Your resume must target your desired career goal with precision. Job-seekers tend to forget that employers review resumes extremely quickly -- often in just a few seconds. An employer taking such a quick glance should be able to immediately grasp what you want to do and have a sense of the value you can contribute to the organization. Your resume must focus on key strengths that position you to meet a specific need and target specific jobs/employers. In other words, employers give little consideration to one-size-fits-all resumes that aren't focused on a job's specific requirements.

2. Decide whether you will need multiple versions of your resume in your quest to target different types of jobs. Since specifically targeted resumes are much more effective that "general" resumes, you may need more than one resume if you are open to more than one type of job. At the very least, you'll want to tweak and customize your boilerplate resume for each job you apply for. See our Cover Letter and Resume Customization Worksheet. You may also need more than one resume format. While chronological resumes are the strong preference of most hiring decision-makers, you may be in a situation in which a chrono-functional resume would be more effective -- or you may want to experiment with both formats. Read our article What Resume Format is Best for You?

3. Identify the audience for your resume. Will it go primarily to recruiters? Directly to hiring managers? Will you use it mostly for networking and career fairs? Each audience will require small tweaks in your resume presentation. For example, you'll probably want to stick to one page for networking and career fairs. For recruiters, provide substantial information about each organization you worked for and your reporting relationships. Research the preferences of your target audience.

4. Brainstorm your accomplishments and results. Your resume must -- with a future-oriented flavor -- emphasize results, outcomes, and career-defining performance indicators. Using numbers, context, and meaningful metrics (e.g., previous years' performance, competitors, counterparts, forecasts/projections/quotas, industry trends), the resume must paint a picture of you in action -- meeting needs/challenges, solving problems, impacting the company's big picture, growing the business, enhancing revenue, and driving profits. Concrete, measurable accomplishments are the points that really help sell you to an employer -- much more so than everyday job duties. If you can achieve the important step of identifying your accomplishments, the rest will fall into place as you work through the remainder of this article. Read our article For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments and use our Job-Seeker Accomplishments Worksheet to help.

5. Compile your employment data. For the experience section of your resume, you'll need the name of each employer, location (city and state), and dates of employment (starting and ending month and year). Resist the temptation to refer to employer-supplied job descriptions in composing your resume; job-description language is the antithesis of accomplishments-rich verbiage that makes a resume effective.

6. Develop a branding message that you will execute not only in your resume, but also in all your other job-search communications. Today's resume communicates a brand relevant to targeted employers. The branding expressed in your resume captures your career identity, authenticity, passion, essence, and image. "Branding is... best defined as a promise," says my partner, Randall Hansen, founder of Quintessential Careers,"... a promise of the value of the product… a promise that the product is better than all the competing products… a promise that must be delivered to be successful. Branding is the combination of tangible and intangible characteristics that make a brand unique. Branding is developing an image -- with results to match." If you have not already developed a personal brand for your job search, do so as you prepare to craft your resume. See our article Branding Your Resume and our branding resources.

Step 4: Just do it. Get words on paper.

Sometimes the best way to get started on your resume is to just start writing in a Word or text document (Notepad or WordPad, for example). Just jot down your version of the typical components of a resume (that you've seen in the samples you've reviewed) and worry about formatting, fine-tuning, and polishing later.

Also consider developing the components of your resume through our worksheets:

* Keywords Worksheet -- use this worksheet to help identify keywords for use in your resume and cover letter. These keywords will likely vary according to job/type of job you are seeking.
* Resume Components Worksheet -- a critical worksheet to help you develop every aspect of your resume. Whether you're starting your resume from scratch or just tweaking an existing document, use this worksheet to make your resume sparkle.
* Resume Professional Profile/Qualifications Summary Worksheet -- use this worksheet to help you develop bullet points for this very important resume section. You may want to tweak the section slightly for each job/type of job you apply for. (Not aware of this section of a resume? Check out: Fundamentals of a Good Chronological Resume.)
* Especially vital for career-changers is our Transferable Skills Worksheet -- use this worksheet to develop lists of skills and examples of how you've used them. Determine which skills are transferable and applicable to each job/type of job you plan to apply for, and plan how to portray those skills in your resume and cover letter.

Now, put all the components together, using the organizational and layout models you've admired in the samples you've reviewed. As you'll note in most sample, the majority of items on a resume are presented as bullet points, and most of those bullet points kick off with powerful action verbs. See a list of sample verbs here and samples of action verbs in use here.

Step 5: Edit, proofread, and polish your resume.

Edit your resume to make sure the wording is the best it can be. Cut out all unnecessary words. Ensure that each bullet point packs a punch.

Typos, misspellings, missing words, and weak grammar can kill all your good efforts in constructing your resume. Proofread, and then put your resume down for a while before proofing again. A good technique for catching errors you would not otherwise notice is to read your resume from the bottom up. Then ask friends or family to proof it for you.

How does your resume look? Is it pleasing to the eye? Is the type size and font easily readable? Can the reader's eye easily follow the resume's organization? Are the margins wide enough? These are all aspects of polishing your resume.

Polishing can also include getting the opinion of others. Enlist members of your network (especially those who share your profession) to read your resume with an eye toward answering the question, "If you were hiring for the type of job I seek, how would you respond to this resume?" You can also self-critique your resume using our Resume Critique Worksheet. Finally, consider having your resume critiqued by a professional resume writer. Resume critiques are usually quite inexpensive or even free because resume writers use them as tools to promote their resume-writing services.

Finally, consider file formats (beyond the standard Word .doc) that you may need for your resume -- such as ASCII text, HTML, or PDF. See our article Your E-Resume's File Format Aligns with its Delivery Method.

Final Thoughts
Don't forget all the other components of your job search as you craft your resume.

A resume is an important part of your job search, but it's far from the only component. Remember that you'll also need a cover letter for each job you apply for and a references sheet separate from your resume. You may want both a print and an online career portfolio. You'll also want to shore up your network and prepare for interviews.

How Teen Girls and Young Women Can Leverage Gender Trends in the Workplace

by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.

Careers , Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Our article, Women Are the New Men: Reviewing and Leveraging Women's Bold New World of Work listed five trends that are reshaping opportunities for women in the workplace. This companion article suggests ways that teen girls and young women can get an early start on making the most of these trends:

Commit yourself to higher education. A college degree is the single most powerful tool young women can deploy to ensure a leg up in the world of work. With women enjoying a 60 percent to 40 percent majority over men in earning bachelor's degrees, women's career fortunes have reached a real turning point. As reported in Women Are the New Men, young women in major metropolitan areas are already out-earning men, and women's educational advantage is said to be the reason.

Consider science, technology, and engineering. Sue Shellenberger reported in the Wall Street Journal: "Prospects for long-term job growth in these fields are relatively good, and many employers expect a talent shortage, partly because of high quit rates among experienced women."

Participate in sports. Wharton business and public policy professor Betsey Stevenson researched the relationship between high-school sports participation and educational/employment opportunities, noting in her paper Beyond the Classroom: Using Title IX to Measure the Return to High School Sports, that working women who were high-school athletes earned 14 percent higher wages than those who weren't. As reported on Knowledge@Wharton, "the skills associated with athletic participation and success later in life 'may include the ability to communicate, the ability to work well with others, competitiveness, assertiveness and discipline,' and "sports participation may be especially helpful to girls because it gives them skills that they can use later in the business world." Stevenson also asserts that "a roughly four percentage point rise in female labor force participation is attributable to increased opportunities to participate in sports. In turn, this suggests that up to 40 percent of the overall rise in the employment of 25 to 34 year-old women is attributable to Title IX [a 1972 amendment to the Civil Rights Act that expanded athletic and educational opportunities for girls]."

Pursue a career in a large metro area. As noted above, in New York City and several other major cities (such as Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Dallas) women 21 to 30, working fulltime, are making more money than men. Thus, Gen Y women may find salary advantages in living in a large metropolitan area. Also consider some of the best-paying careers for women, such as the 25 reported on CareerBuilder's Work Buzz blog, even though men still earn more than women in almost all of these professions.

Get a mentor, or better yet, a sponsor. Mentors have long been seen as a particular boon to women's career prospects (Learn more.), and now economist Sylvia Ann Hewlett takes the mentor concept a step further. Hewlett, founding president of the Center for Work-Life Policy, writes:

To successfully make [the leap to the next professional level] requires something more specific: a sponsor. More than a mentor, this is someone in a senior position who's willing to advocate for and facilitate career moves, make introductions to the right people, translate and teach the secret language of success, and most important, 'use up chips' for their proteges. One woman describes a sponsor as someone who can 'directly intercede on your behalf to create a different reality for you.'

Network. Networking is not only the most effective way to get a job, but one of the best ways to get noticed and promoted at a current job. It's also especially valuable for women. One of the best networking techniques for younger women is informational interviewing (because prospective interviewees are often more open to being interviewed by students and young people). Learn all about how to conduct informational interviews with our informational interviewing tutorial. Another highly effective technique is joining professional organizations, which often offer student or "young professional" memberships. Check out QuintCareers's Professional Organizations and Associations for Networking. And don't forget to network once you're on the job so your co-workers know what you hope to do next and are poised to give advice and referrals.

Final Thoughts
Teen girls and young women are in a prime position to take advantage of the current "turning point" era for women in the workplace because they can leverage opportunities that would be difficult or virtually impossible for more established career women to pursue. This is your time. Go for it!

How to Build and Expand Your Career Network: 10 Proven Techniques

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

Careers , Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

Just about every article on job-hunting you'll read on Quintessential Careers or any other career site says the same thing -- almost to the point of making it a job-seeker mantra: "the most effective method for finding a new job is through networking." Listening to job-hunting gurus and career coaches results in the same call to action -- to contact your network of contacts and enlist their help in uncovering job leads.

The problem for many job-seekers, though, is not so much in understanding the extreme importance of networking, but in the execution of networking. More specifically, job-seekers wonder, where do all these networking contacts come from -- and how can I get people to be part of my network? The key point to remember is that networking is relationship-building. Your network consists of people you've met (either in person or online) -- and you build your network by going out and meeting more people.

Then the question becomes, how do I meet people to add to my network? The thrust of this article is to provide you with 10 proven techniques for building and expanding your career network.

1. Ask members of your current network for referrals. There is probably not an easier way to expand your network than to simply ask your current friends, family, and associates for the contact information of others whom they think would be beneficial for you to know. The "friend-of-a-friend" connection is quite strong and usually very successful. "Who else should I be talking to?" is a good question to use when asking for referrals.

2. Join professional or trade organizations. No better method exists for finding people who share the same professional interests and goals than joining one or more industry organizations. Once you're a member, you'll usually get access to the membership list, which can open up many new prospective network contacts. Most organizations also run regional or national meetings and conferences, which leads to the next technique for building your network of contacts.

3. Attend professional/trade meetings, shows, etc. The great thing about trade shows and industry meetings and conferences is that you'll encounter new people to meet -- and opportunities for both "meet-and-greets" and more in-depth meetings. Seek out peers as well as more experienced members -- and even speakers -- to add to your network.

4. Volunteer. Providing your time and effort to a needy cause is perhaps one of the strongest venues for networking -- because you are working side-by-side with people who share your passion for helping others -- but often overlooked by job-seekers either too busy or too focused on finding industry contacts. Find an organization that needs your help (and there are many) and start volunteering.

5. Attend networking events. This technique is a no-brainer for adding more people to your network of contacts. Various groups hold networking events, including colleges, professional and industry associations, chambers of commerce, and the like. Review community calendars online or in your local newspaper for details.

6. Contact former professors, college alumni association, and/or career services office. One of the strongest ties that help in building new and strong network contacts is sharing the bond of a college or university. Making additional contacts with people affiliated with your college gives you a solid base of shared experiences -- and a strong connection to build upon.

7. Join or ramp up your activities on social and professional networking sites. Once you're a member of Facebook, LinkedIn, or a similar networking site, you'll immediately be provided with strategies for adding friends or connections, such as reconnecting with people who attended the same schools. Electronic connections are not nearly as strong as personal connections, but that should not stop you from at least trying this technique. You can use your virtual connections to grease the wheels toward face-to-face meetings. (Remember to develop and keep a professional profile on these sites.)

8. Join or start job club. In some ways, a job club is the ultimate networking experience because the people you meet there all have shared experiences and the desire for a new job. Run the right way, a job club is a very positive and rewarding experience, a chance to help yourself and others. Learn more in our article, For Networking and Support, Join or Start a Job Club.

9. Conduct informational interviews. There is no better strategy for entry-level job-seekers and career-changers to find and add people to your professional network than to conduct several (or many) informational interviews. As the name implies, it's an interview you initiate with someone in your profession/industry whose brain you can pick about how s/he got their start, moved up the ladder, and so forth. Interested in learning more? Go to our Informational Interviewing Tutorial.

10. Contact former co-workers, vendors, customers/clients. Many times as we move from job to job, employer to employer, we lose touch with former co-workers, customers, and the like. These people all had a relationship with you before and could again -- you simply need to reconnect with them.

Final Thoughts -- and Strategies
Above all else, remember that networking is a reciprocal relationship. You may be seeking help uncovering job leads today, but tomorrow someone in your network may be asking for your help. Never be afraid to ask people in your network for help; don't ask them to get you a job, but do ask them for possible leads, other people they know that you might add to your network, and any advice or other information you seek. When meeting people for the first time, don't make it all about you; ask about the other person and what s/he does for a living.

Finally, always be prepared for networking -- because the opportunity to meet someone can happen literally anywhere… and the person could change your life. To be fully prepared for networking, always carry networking or business cards, have a short elevator speech introduction at the ready, and keep a copy of your resume with you (electronically or in print) just in case a networking encounter leads to deeper possibilities.

Quick ways to improve your resume

By content.mycareer.com

Careers , Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

There's no doubt that jobseekers are creating better resumes than ever before. But, while most of us are au fait with resume etiquette, there are still one or two bad habits that can creep into our style and content from the get-go.

“The number one way to improve your resume is to tailor it to the job you’re applying for,” says Steve Walton, chief psychologist at Hallis Recruitment. “It's a simple improvement, but accentuating relevant skills or experiences communicates a high level of interest and encourages a positive perception.”

Indeed, when it comes to resumes, the old adage that it takes less than 30 seconds to make an impression rings true. Many jobseekers unwittingly sabotage their chances of success by failing to recognise that their resume is their best tool for selling their talents.

But this doesn't mean you have to spend hours on a total overhaul to make a difference. By following our quick and easy tips, you can improve the marketability of your resume within a matter of minutes.

Rewrite it
Rewrite your resume using a tone that’s enthusiastic, upbeat and professional. As a general rule, it’s better to be too professional than too casual; and clear, concise wording works best.

“You want to adjust the tone of your resume for the industry and environment you’re interviewing for,” says Walton. “For instance, a formal tone will win you points if you’re applying for a job at a law firm, but could work against you if you’re applying for a job at an ad agency.”

Banish bashfulness
If you want to get a bit more creative with your rewrite, then use action verbs and strong adjectives to accentuate your skills or work history. High impact words and phrases can give your credentials a boost and strengthen your achievements.

“Whether we like it or not, applying for jobs is a competition. And when it comes to resumes, whether or not you speak highly of yourself effects how an employer perceives your potential against other candidates,” says Walton.

Embrace convention
If you want to take revising your resume a step further, brevity will open doors, and clear formatting is a must. But bear in mind that coloured paper, ‘creative’ fonts or clip art will distract the interviewer from your talents, and may even trigger an outright rejection.

“Employers may have to sift through a large number of job applications in a short space of time, so in order to get noticed you need to make sure that you pay attention to correct resume format and business etiquette,” says Walton. For this, he recommends applying a standard structure (e.g. chronological, functional, or combination), using no more than two conventional fonts, using consistent alignment techniques, and leaving at least two lines between each section.

Use a fine tooth comb
If all that sounds a little too complicated for your liking, a simpler option is to double-check your grammar and spelling, which Walton recommends for establishing a minimal rapport with the employer. Keeping sentences short and simple, organising paragraphs, and using short, direct sub-headings can also work wonders.

Cut through the clutterFinally, don’t forget that keeping it simple is a key component of resume success – so set a two-page limit and stick to it.

“Long-winded resumes only increase the chances of your talents being overlooked,” says Walton. “Ultimately it’s presenting your skills and abilities clearly, confidently and succinctly that will increase the chances of your resume being read,” says Walton. 

31 Ways to Improve Your Career Today

By Jeffrey Strain

Careers , Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

While I currently work for myself, there was a time when I actually worked for a large corporation.

My time there taught me that corporate life wasn’t the career path that I ultimately wanted to walk down, but that didn’t stop me from learning a lot of solid advice from the mentors I met there that continues to be helpful to me to this day.

When it comes to your career, it is usually small things over a long period of time that add up to the success that you achieve. Getting into the habit of making small improvements on a daily basis will reap huge rewards in the long run. If you find yourself with nothing to do, whether at work or at home, here are 31 actions you can take to help improve your career. 

Who Do You Respect?

If you do nothing else on this list the first time you find yourself with some free time, find yourself a mentor. Pick someone (or preferably several people) that you respect and ask them to mentor you. Most people will be more than happy to pass along advice that they have learned over the years which can be invaluable in helping your career. They will also be great people to use as a sounding board with ideas you have and help you figure out the best way to obtain the goals you are seeking to accomplish. A mentor can help you in many other ways during your career including making your advancement much easier. Finding a mentor is actually sound advice for all aspects of your life including finding a financial mentor. 

Support The Support

Learn who the support staff are and go out of your way to be helpful to them. They do a lot of the grunt work and don’t get nearly the amount of appreciation that they deserve, so they notice when someone treats them well. When an emergency happens (and they always do) having the support staff on your side can be the difference between failure and pulling out success. From clerks and secretaries to cleaning staff, treat them well and you’ll never regret doing so when crunch time comes. 

Get Them To Come To You

This is a little trick that I learned that produced great result for little effort and just a bit of money. Create a candy jar for your co-workers. Don’t get the cheap candy. Get the good stuff that you know everyone loves. It took me some time to perfect my method of deploying the candy jar and you may have to experiment to get your deployment right. I put it out only when I had free time to chat, otherwise I would be interrupted too often. I also learned to lock it away when I went home or it would be empty when I arrived the next morning. What it did do was keep me up to date on all the happenings in the office. When people stop by to grab some candy, they will tell you things that are going on that you may otherwise miss. I found that keeping abreast of this information helped me to better understand the dynamics that were taking place which helped with my career. 

Don’t Do It Later

Procrastinating has always been a major problem for me and something that I still work on today. If you can identify how you’re procrastinating and create a system to discourage yourself from doing so, you will dramatically increase your productivity. My big vice was watching TV far too much and I’ve had to ween myself from spending too much time on social networking sites as well. Once I find one place where I procrastinate, I’ve learned that I will eventually replace it with another, so it’s a continual process. I have a whole list of things I have done to improve my productivity. Once you have identified places that you are spending too much time, take steps to reduce the amount of time you spend on them and instead use that time to further your career. 

Timing Is Everything

It may not seem like a big deal to be on time when all meetings start 15 minutes late, but it is if you are the person that is causing the meeting to start late. One boss I had would actually lock the door of the meeting room once the meeting began. If you were late, you were out of luck. While this is a great way to quickly learn to be on time, it’s not a method that most people are subjected to and they may not realize that being a few minutes late can get them a bad reputation.

Being on time actually means arriving to meetings a few minutes early. Co-workers that are running the meeting will appreciate your promptness and you will get a reputation of being reliable. The same goes for work that needs to be handed in to your boss. Learn to hand it in before it’s due — this will show your organizational skills and get the reputation of being highly responsible. If you find that you are always a bit late or rushed to get things done, use your free time to get ahead instead of waiting until the last second. 

Pinpoint The Essentials

One of the biggest myths in business is that those who work the hardest are the ones that get ahead the most. Working hard is important, but working smart is just as important. Working smart means pinpointing the areas within your job that are essential to your group and to the company. Once these have been identified, focus most of your resources in those areas. This is one of the best pieces of advice I ever received from my mentors. Take some time to look at your job and understand what parts of it are the most essential to others both inside and outside your work group. If you can pinpoint those important areas, you become the person that people come to when things need to get done. 

Become A Listmaster

I used to think that making lists was useless, until I started making them myself in a way that was useful for me. I actually have two lists – one is a list of all the things I want to do and one is my daily must-do list. On the daily must-do list, I only place the three most important things I have to do that day and I will work on those three things until they’re done. Once finished, I can go to my general list and choose projects from there. If I don’t finish, then I keep working on that list of three the next day and until it’s done. This ensures that I get done the things that I may not like to do as much so that they don’t constantly get delegated to the end of the longer list. How you develop your own list may be very different, but creating a system will help you to accomplish more at work in less time. Once you complete something, don’t throw the list away. Instead, date and file them in a work completed folder. This will allow you to have a documented list of all the tasks you’ve accomplished which you can take out at your next performance review or when asking for a raise. 

Who’s The Boss

I’ve had both bosses I liked, and ones that I could have certainly lived without. Even the ones that I didn’t particularly like, I found that talking with them and discussing their expectations was always a better career move than trying to avoid them. For the bosses I did like, it was a great way to get their support for the career advancements I wanted to make. No matter what the relationship, being able to talk with your boss about work expectations will almost always help your career much more than not talking. If you haven’t talked with your boss lately, set up a time to do so and spend some time writing down the topics you would like to discuss. 

Second & Thirds Can Be Good

Even though I was the worst student ever when it came to foreign languages in school, I’m living proof that absolutely anyone can learn a second language. I have no doubt that all of my high school language teachers would roll over in their graves if they knew I was proficient in Japanese. Being proficient in a second language can open up a lot of career opportunities and is well worth pursuing if you have an interest in one. There are plenty of resources online including those developed by the Foreign Service Institute to help you along. Learning a foreign language can give you a huge leg up if you have thoughts of working for your company in a foreign country. 

Class Act

There are far too many people who believe that education ends as soon as they walk across the stage and receive their college diploma. In fact, education is a never ending pursuit even if you aren’t taking formal classes. There are a large number of classes that you can take, or skills that you can obtain, that will make it easier for you to advance in your career. Even if you are not sure, take classes that you have always wanted to try. You’d be surprised at how knowledge that doesn’t seem relevant to your career can end up being useful down the road. It’s definitely worthwhile talking with your personnel department to see if they will help pay for you to obtain these skills. Many will. Best of all, it’s easier than ever to take classes while working full time with online education. 

Redo Your History

It’s always wise to have an updated resume on hand just in case. If you haven’t done so in awhile, take some time to look over your resume to update it and improve it. Make sure that you have a few copies in your briefcase so that they are always ready to hand out. Having a resume ready is a great way to make a quality first impression and instantly shows your organizational skills to anyone that may be interested in hiring you. 

Get Linked

It used to take a lot of effort to network. While you still need to spend time and effort doing so, Web 2.0 has made it a lot easier to make new contacts with people that have similar background and career interests. If you haven’t signed up yet, consider joining Linkedin (and feel free to add me if you get the urge) which can greatly expand your networking resources. If you have already joined, take some time to explore and find some other people you may want to contact. 

Email Love

One of the most important things I’ve learned over the years that will help you in any career you choose is to stay in contact with people that you meet. This can be an easy way to improve your career, keep network lines open and create new network contacts. There are probably more than a few professional contacts that you have made that you haven’t touched base with in awhile. There are probably a number of people that you have never met, but that you would like to make contact with. Spend a few minutes sending out emails to some of these people to reestablish contact or create a new contact. 

Call To Arms

For the exact same reason that you should send out some emails, you should also make a few phone calls to catch up with peers and others. Calling is a more direct approach that will make sure that your message doesn’t get lost in all the other emails the recipient receives. It’s surprising how many times a contact phone call can lead to a new career opportunity that would have never developed had you chosen not to make the call.

 

Business Dating

An easy and effective tool which I often used when I was working for a large company was the lunch break. When I first arrived, I found myself in a new city and at a new company where I knew nobody. Inviting people to talk over lunch conveniently solved the problem of me not liking to eat alone. Later I continued to make lunch dates because of all the advantages that came from it. Lunch dates give you an opportunity to talk with people about ideas you have in a more informal setting than in the office. Making a lunch date is also a excellent way to network and catch up with peers and mentors, or to meet someone new you’ve wanted to talk to. If everyone seems to be too busy with their work schedule, lunch (and even breakfast) is an excellent time to set up a get together.

 

Make Things Eventful

Take some time to research what meetings, presentations, talks or events are taking place in your field of expertise and sign-up to attend. Not only will you likely gather some good information that will be useful in your job, these are excellent places to meet new contacts and expand your contact network.

 

Don’t Be Afraid To Associate

If your career has an association, go beyond joining it and make an effort to be a regular participant in it. Most local chapters are always looking for people willing to lend a helping hand and doing so can easily put you in the position to meet those higher up in the organization. Again, this will expand and open you up to a wide variety of new contacts. It will also help you keep up with the newest developments in your chosen career, which has many advantages.

 

Show Some Appreciation

It’s amazing what a sincere, hand written “thank you” note can do for the amount of time it takes to create. With email and the paperless office concept, hand written thank you notes stand out these days and definitely leave a positive impression on the recipient. Furthermore, when you give thank you notes, the recipients know that the time they spend helping you was appreciated and therefore will likely be more than willing to help out in the future. If someone has recently helped you out in any way, take a moment to thank them. This is one thing that is hard to do too much of, so if you have any doubt, always choose to send the note of appreciation.

 

Reread The Writing On The Wall

This one is a big one for me. I rely on my spell checker far too often when it comes to writing. Sure, it will find misspelled words, but it won’t find those that are spelled correctly that are incorrect or sentences that contain poor grammar. I had a terrible habit of not rereading my writing before showing it to others, but I learned to after a number of embarrassing mistakes that should have never happened. Assuming that your writing is fine if it passes a spell check is a bad assumption to make. Get into the habit of rereading everything that you write whether it be an email, a report or any other work related document, especially after a spell check. You will avoid a lot of amateurish writing mistakes and look a lot more professional in all your work.

 

The Write Stuff

Along the same lines as rereading your documents, it’s well worthwhile to constantly work on improving your writing skills. Being able to put together reports, letters, proposals and other written information which draws attention to the important points among all the information presented is a great skill to have and will get noticed. Take some time to go over basic writing techniques when you have some free time.

 

Get Carded

Spend some time thinking about the impression you want your business cards to make and see if there are some changes that you can make to the ones you have to achieve what you want. I’m always looking for new business cards that are creative and will leave a lasting impression on anyone who receives them. Take a bit of time doing this and it may lead to an opportunity that would have never appeared if your business card was lost in the pile with everyone else’s.

 

Impress From The Start

One of the many reasons I decided the corporate world was not for me was because I hated dressing in a suit everyday to make a good first impression. That being said, there is no doubt that first impressions count. Dressing appropriately and having good hygiene and manners is important. It’s often the little things that will set you apart from the average person. Learn to make eye contact when speaking to people, smile, and know how to introduce yourself confidently. Always arrive to business meetings or appointments on time (or even better, a little ahead of time). Take a few moments to make sure that you are making a good first impression with everyone you meet.

 

Speak Out Loud

One of the things I used to fear most was to do public speaking. Over the years, I have learned to relax and don’t get quite as nervous, but when I first started teaching, even going in front of a classroom of high school students would have my stomach churning the entire morning before classes began. Being able to make a quality presentation is an important way to get noticed and improve your career prospects. Listen to the way that your favorite speakers deliver their information and make the effort to adopt that style into your own speaking. Join your local Toastmasters group to help you improve these skills.

 

Know The News

One of my mentors told me that I should read something about current events everyday before coming into work and it’s a habit I’ve kept to this day. I try to read at least an hour a day on a wide variety of topics. Some of the reading is related to my chosen career and issues that pertain to it so that I keep up on the latest news and trends, but I also read a lot of information that is outside my career. Reading helps to spark new ideas, it will challenge your thinking process and expand your knowledge base – all things that can be helpful in your career advancement.

 

Switch To A Higher Gear

I am one of the slowest readers in the world and struggled in college with all the reading that needed to be done. Being able to consume a lot of information is a skill that will always be a positive for any career, so learning to read and comprehend at a quick rate is a skill worth pursuing. There are a lot of speed reading tutorials on the Internet. I have been using Spreeder for my daily reading that has allowed me to get through a lot more information than I previously was able to do. Whatever method you choose, learning to read faster will ultimately help your career.

 

Clean Sweep

If your work area looks anything like mine, it needs a good cleaning at least once a week or it will quickly get out of control. I actually mark down on my calendar to clean my desk area every Friday afternoon, and it’s amazing what 15 minutes a week will do to keep your desk organized. Depending on the current shape of your office, it may take a bit more time to get to the point where all you need is 15 minutes to clean everything up. Start today putting aside 10 minutes a day to clean your desk until you have your work area in the condition you want, then you can move to maintenance mode. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much time you save looking for things, and an orderly office leaves a positive impression on co-workers and bosses.

 

Score Some Goals

This is one of those things that seems obvious, but I think a lot of people don’t spend the amount of time or effort on them that they should. I know I didn’t for the longest time. I thought I could get away with general career goals that I had in my head, but soon realized the power that comes with taking the time to write them down. What really helped me was to give myself a time limit to achieve these goals. While you may not always reach them, writing down specific career goals you want to achieve will get you a lot closer to them than not doing so. Consider setting them for various time periods: 3 months, 1 year , 5 years, etc. and then begin working toward them.

 

Establish Your Identity

Since I make my living this way, it would make no sense for me to leave it out. Creating a blog or website about your chosen career can be a great way to meet new people and share ideas. It can also be an excellent way to begin that part-time business that may eventually end up being your full time job, which is exactly what happened in my case. I have personally found that creating content helps to crystallize the things that are truly important to me. This, in turn, helps me realize what goals are most most important for me to achieve. Starting any type of blog or journal can help you to do the same. Just be sure that doing so will not get you in trouble with your company.

 

Give Yourself A Break

Taking breaks is something which took me a long time to realize really does work. It’s not the time you spend doing your work as much as how focused you are when you are working. Taking breaks, stretching and taking short walks can all dramatically improve your energy level so that you work better. Take some time to think about the signals. Mine happen to be going to my email (instead of finishing what I should be doing), closing my eyes to try and refresh them and my shoulders getting sore. Spend some time learning your personal signals that you aren’t performing at your peak. Know when to take a break and you’ll find that your productivity will dramatically increase.

 

Part-Time It

I’m a firm believer that if you want to have the perfect job, you’re going to have to go out and create it yourself. While I have had many jobs over the years that I have truly enjoyed, it wasn’t until I started building my own sites and blogs that I realized what true passion for something was. Begin part-time and build slowly when you have some free time, but start the process today. Five years from now you will be so thankful that you did and you might even find that it ends up being your full time work.

 

Fall In Love

Learn to love what you’re doing, or begin looking for something else. Life is far to short to do something that you don’t truly enjoy. There are times when you may have to take a job that you don’t particularly like, but there is no reason that you have to be stuck there. If you don’t thoroughly enjoy what you’re doing, start implementing steps to get a job that you do love. There is nothing better than to get up every morning knowing that even if you weren’t getting payed a dollar to do so, you would still be doing the same thing that you are doing. It’s also much harder not to improve your career opportunities when you love what you do because the energy and enthusiasm you have for what you do tends to be infectious and draw people to you. If for some reason you don’t know what you love, start experimenting. That’s the only way to find out.

There are always plenty of things that you can begin doing that will improve your career as the above list shows. Pick a couple that you know you need to work most upon and keep at it. The more that you try to improve yourself, the more opportunities that will present themselves.