The Key to Getting Hired?

Avoid the mistakes most applicants make and prepare yourself better than them!

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Marketing communications copywriter Charlie Trumpess takes a humorous look at how best to tackle that age old terror, the job interview. Let’s face it, job interviews are about as much fun as a hot wax with no anaesthetic. After all, attempting to showcase your talents to a bunch of strangers, usually against the clock and on someone else’s turf is not a natural act. Nevertheless, if you really want the job then you have to crack the interview conundrum. Giving ‘good interview’ is all about the three Ps – preparation, presentation and positive thinking. All interviews are basically made of the same hellish stuff, so let’s start at the beginning with the introductions. The interview introduction can be a slippery customer and one that can easily get away from you. Once you enter that chamber of horrors commonly known as the interview room, you’re on your own, never sure if you’re saying or doing the right thing. The harder you try to relax the more nervous you seem to feel. Simply stringing a coherent sentence together seems like one of the labours of Hercules. Of course the room is unbearably hot and your mouth is unusually dry so your tongue swells, cutting off the oxygen to your brain. Panic grips you. Finally, just as you’re about to turn on your heels and make an undignified dash for the nearest fire escape, the kindly interviewer extends a friendly hand and welcomes you. Now what do you do?Fear not. Introductions don’t have to be embarrassing, distressing or tearful episodes. Introductions can be easy and fun. You simply have to approach things calmly and logically. Stop and think about it for a moment. You’re meeting someone for the first time; it’s a clean sheet, an opportunity for you to write your own ticket without preconceptions or bias getting in the way. All you have to do is arrive on time, dress smartly, check your teeth for remnants of your last meal, be yourself and make sure you’re wearing industrial strength deodorant. What could be simpler? To build up confidence you can always practice introducing yourself in front of the bathroom mirror before you actually attend any interviews. You might want to try this in the comfort of your own home rather than in the washroom of your local pizzeria, where introducing yourself to fellow patrons might be frowned upon.Having successfully navigated the interview introductions, your next big challenge is to deal with an offer of refreshments. Something as seemingly benign as a cup of tea or coffee can wreak havoc during an interview. Having to juggle hot liquids in flimsy plastic cups while convincing a stranger of your marketing expertise or business acumen should always be avoided. Accepting or declining refreshments is something of a judgement call, as you don’t want to appear ill at ease, but remember the risks are high. Loud slurping or gulping won’t endear you to the interviewer while spilling hot chocolate down the front of your cream and oatmeal business suit is a blunder few candidates can easily recover from. So, if you find fear and anxiety has made your mouth as dry as Death Valley on the hottest day of the year simply ask for a glass of water. It’s probably your safest option.According to certain eminent psychologists, who study such things, the first few minutes of any interview are crucial in determining the final outcome. It seems that first impressions really do count. With the preliminaries over, it’s time to tackle the main event. By this stage of the game you’ll either be brimming with confidence or desperate for the lavatory, a cigarette and a family-sized candy bar. Whatever happens you must stay focussed on the task at hand. 105 seconds is all the time you’re going to get to make the right impression. The key is not to panic. DON’T PANIC! If you’re properly prepared then nothing can go wrong. You should know exactly what questions to ask, what to say, and when to say it. Try to anticipate the questions the interviewer is likely to ask, and have your answers ready. But remember, before answering pause for a moment. It looks more natural. Keep your delivery clear, consistent, positive, short and simple; then you won’t go far wrong. And try not to get sidetracked or go off at a tangent.However doubtful you are, take it on trust that having your highly polished, recently manicured fingernails pulled out with rusty tweezers is far worse than your average job interview. Interviewers aren’t the monsters they might first appear. They’re just ordinary people doing a difficult job. If the interviewer makes a poor decision then both you and your new employer will suffer the consequences. The best thing that you can probably do is place your trust in the interviewer’s experience while checking the chair you’re offered for chains and thumbscrews. At the end of all this torment, after saying and doing everything right, you still might not get the job. Sometimes life is fickle. In such a case, try to get some positive feedback on your interview technique and move on.Typically, just as you start to relax and feel you’re building a rapport with your interviewer you’ll find the whole torturous process suddenly coming to an end. And it’s now, at the end of the interview that you face your biggest challenge. As your confidence levels climb it’s tempting to drop your guard and divert from your original interview strategy. Resist this impulse. Technically known as ‘end-of-interview euphoria’ you must fight the urge to say something witty or clever. In the intoxicatingly thin air of your newly found confidence the chances are that your wit and cleverness will be interpreted as glibness or even rudeness. Take it from someone who has suffered this fate; fight your urges and keep your mouth shut without you’re asked a direct question.Maybe not the big finale you imagined or rehearsed, but safer by far to conclude your interview with a thank you, a smile and a gentle reminder of your contact details. Before you stand up to leave, especially if you’re one of that daredevil breed who recklessly accepts liquid refreshments, make sure that everything spillable is out of harm’s way. Now, all that remains for you to do is get out of there. At this last delicate stage of the proceedings it’s advisable not to run. Hazards are everywhere and tripping over the wastebasket, upsetting the coffee table or ripping the telephone line out of its wall-socket will usually go against you. Whenever possible it’s best to leave your potential new employer’s office building, fixtures and fittings just as you found them. Play by the rules and you’ll walk out of there with a new job in the bag. Congratulations. Alternatively, tomorrow’s another day and another interview.

Having the appropriate skill sets is not sufficient until and unless a person has the pre-interview preparation. IT is necessary to have an idea about the type of questions that may arise and the answer to the same should be a heart winning one and not merely blame or highlight a problem.

What is an interview?

From the job seeker’s perspective, an interview is all about marketing one’s skill and talents, thereby projecting oneself as the most suitable candidate for a given post.

From the Employer’s perspective, interview is a tool for judging the employability of candidates for a given post.

In an interview, the questions that are put before a candidate are specially formulated by the employer to draw out some insights into the candidates’ personality traits.

There are a number of questions such as “why were you fired?” etc that are often enough to baffle a fresher and take the wits out of them. Paradoxical as this may sound, but the best answer is not always the right answer. The best answer is one that is objective and focuses on solutions and positive outcome rather than blaming and dead analysis.

Keep in Mind Always

• To remain calm when faced with tough interview questions.

• To remain objective and focus on the solution not the problem

• Not to bad mouth or blame any of your past colleagues or bosses

• To check and beware of body language during uncomfortable questions

• To practice every possible uncomfortable question regarding your past job before the interview

• To identify and beware of what regards uncomfortable reactions regarding your past job

• To have sufficient questions for the interview to ensure that the past job experience does not repeat here; the question should be subtle but which can give you the sufficient information to help you to decide whether you should or not take the job if offered.

• Never to tell lies – even if you are sorely tempted during a tough question

• Not to show frustration, anger or disappointment on circumstances of leaving the past job.

• To show that you have outgrown the past and gained out of the experience even if it was not a pleasant one.

ICA believes that pre-interview preparation is as important as acquiring the skill sets in communication, personality development & overall thorough knowledge in the Accounting field. Students are trained in such a way that they acquire practical knowledge in topics like Basics of computers, Financial Accounting packages, Advanced Accounts Training, Taxation, Excise & Service Tax, R.O.C., Payroll & Investment & Banking, which is actually required at work.

A group of highly competent faculties which include CA, CS, ICWA, MBA & highly qualified computer professionals nurturing each and every individual in a very affable way. The class studies include assignments with real projects on live data in order to enable them to reconcile theoretical knowledge with practical exposure.

Our ever-active Placement division with their technically strong recruitment perception has already placed 30000+ candidates successfully across the vertical. In the recent months a new feather has been added to this cap through the overseas placement of our candidates.

You just got the call – an interview at that company where you have applied. You want the job. You know you can do the job, but, are you prepared to tell the company why you’re the one they should hire?

You know yourself, you know your skills and you have excellent references. Now it’s time to sell yourself.

How you present yourself during an interview is the final step before getting hired. It’s important that you make an impressive “first impression”. Sure, you could walk into the interviewer’s office wearing the most stylish and expensive fashion for the office, but if your initial behavior is negative, those clothes won’t mean a thing.

Body language is the key. Knowing how to say hello and how to sit properly are important, but even more so are your handshake and your posture. They are paramount to giving that great impression of confidence and intelligence.

Q & A – Time to be Upfront

The interviewer is usually well-prepared with fact-finding questions for the applicant. There will be many hard-hitting inquiries regarding your thoughts on timeliness, work ethics, and behavior in the workplace. You could sit there like a robot and answer with a monotone voice or you could show positive body language and a vocal inflection that shows confidence and knowledge. You must use caution, however, on how “confident” you want to appear. Over-confident behavior is frowned upon, and will not give the interviewer a positive view of your character. Be yourself, but reign in any negative characteristics.

It’s important to gain the confidence of the interviewer, not to make her/him uncomfortable. The questions they may ask might be:

What makes you such a good candidate for this job?

How do you feel about calling in sick frequently?

What can you contribute to this company?

What are your strong/weak points?

Your Body is an Open Book

One of the most important things an interviewer notices right away is body language. You must walk into the interview not only mentally prepared, physically prepared, too.

So, sit up straight, look your interviewer in the eye while answering, and use a calm, assured voice while answering questions. Positive body language will leave the interviewer thinking about your abilities, your maturity and your confidence!

However, bad body language can shut down an interview quickly. Bad body language will leave the interviewer wanting to shout “NEXT!”

Here are some examples of body language that can damage an interview:

Loud speaking and boisterous hand gestures can only make you appear too aggressive, something that most employers shun in the workforce.

Timid behavior, like looking down or slumping your shoulders while answering questions can only lead the interviewer to think of you as having low self-esteem, not a very good indicator of a productive personality.

Not making eye contact, or too much eye contact, can either show deceptiveness or make the interviewer uncomfortable.

Giving the appearance of looking too relaxed, or “at home”, in the interviewer’s domain can show a lack of respect, which could possibly make the interviewer feel insulted.

In conclusion – be yourself! You know you can do the job, show your confidence! Just be aware that the person across from that desk is watching you very carefully, searching for negative signs. Give out only positive ones!

Statistics have shown that home based businesses are on the rise. This is no surprise since technology like the internet is making it easier to access information and do business without ever leaving your home or your pajamas.
Home based businesses are often small businesses consisting of under 10 employees and often only one. The pressures of being both employer and employee can be enough to make most people want to close up shop shortly after hanging out their shingle. A little preparation prior to jumping in with both feet can make the transition from tradition employee to extraordinary business guru go much more smoothly.
A careful self evaluation, however, is in order before embarking on your journey to self employment. If you really want an honest indexing of your strengths and weaknesses, you can quiz your friends and family. Do you have what it takes to be successful in business and get the work done. In essence, you need to be a jack of all trades and a master of at least one.
Being your own boss has its definite advantages but you also must consider if you are a self starter. Do you have the determination to push yourself and keep working on those clear, sunny days Can you effectively stay focused on your work when the laundry lies in heaps on steps from you office?
Perseverance is key to surviving even the first week of a new home based business. Organization may be an issue, especially if quarters are cramped and you find yourself setting up your new office in the hall closet.
Enlisting the help and support of your family before making your decision may help keep the peace during those long hours when the work finally starts to roll in.
Information is vital. Research your chosen field of business. Interview others with experience in setting up home businesses. Read everything you can find about marketing your business, providing superior services and products and managing your business.
Consulting both an accountant and a lawyer are wise decisions, especially if done during the planning phase of your business. They may be issues with zoning ordinances and licensing and obtaining permits that you will not be readily made aware of. These items vary by geographic locations and should be researched thoroughly to ensure compliance with local, state and federal laws.
Choosing a specific home based business can keep you awake many a night. The popular rule of thumb, is to choose an area that you are passionate about. This will inspire you to stick with it during the challenging times ahead and help ward off boredom. Loving what you do can make the difference between a business that survives and a business that thrives.

After studies are over and you have survived through your prom night, you focus on one thing: where to use that tremendous amount of information you possess now. Certainly, you look for a job to realize your ambitious plans and reach your potential you were told so much about at university. There are several points to consider before applying for a job and submitting your Curriculum Vitae to your potential employer.First of all you are to choose a profession in your field, a field that you majored in. that way you can be sure that you have all necessary qualifications and skills. Once you’ve decided on this, you may start looking up advertisements. They may be placed in magazines, newspapers, on-line or just on the walls of public places. Don’t pick dozens of variants; choose two-three vacancies that meet your requirements if to consider salary, conditions provided, location and skills required. You can start on working on your CV immediately. You have to mention everything that is going to present you as a very useful employee that will be very helpful. Send your resume and the cover letter after checking it twice and wait for results. If you are certain of the impression it may give, you may also use references form you previous job that can show you as a nice co-worker and experienced professional. Once everything that is above-mentioned is completed, you’ll get an invitation on your job interview, a final step towards the beginning of your career. This is the part when you have to be very attentive and careful, considering every possible variant. Your excellent dissertation writing and thesis writing skills may be not enough to gain trust of your potential employer. You have to demonstrate everything that can prove that you are the most suitable candidate for this vacancy. Appearances are deceitful, but they matter when making the first impression. Take a closer look on what are you going to wear and see if it is in formal style. Try to rehears your job interview with one of your friends or acquaintances so they can give you advice too. Try to ask yourself all possible questions your employer might want to ask and see if you are capable to respond properly. If you have samples of your works or a thesis, don’t forget to bring them along. They might be useful proof of how good you are.If you have demonstrated everything you are capable of doing and still were refused, try not to lose your face and get depressed. This is not the only place experienced specialists are required. Try to understand what was wrong last time and delete the mistake as soon as possible, so you can be prepared to your next try to get a vacancy. The most important thing is not to loose self-confidence. If you are to get a job you will and then remember your strain with a smile on your face.

You’ve done the work, and now a reporter wants to talk to you. You probably think the interview is the easiest part of the process. But you’d be wrong.

Reporters need to get a story, and often they won’t stop if they think they are on to something big. That’s why you need to brush up on your interview skills, before your faced with the big day.

Here are some of the secrets journalists use to get you to talk more, and how you can make the most of your interview time.

1. From the get-go, take the lead. When a reporter calls you to be interviewed, don’t be afraid to ask questions before you get started. Who do you represent? What’s the focus or slant of the story? Are you interviewing anyone else? What’s your deadline? These questions will give you information to prepare.

2. Allow yourself some time to think. No reporter actually thinks a person just stop what they are doing to be interviewed. But often, the interviewee thinks that’s the case – and when he or she does, the reporter can get some ‘off the cuff’ answers that look and sound juicy but may put the interviewee in a bad light. Arrange a mutually convenient time to get back to the reporter, just to get all your ducks in a row.

3. Silence is golden. Silence is a tactic reporters use to get you to keep talking. And that often means saying things you may not really want to say. When you’re done answering the question, stop. Allow for the silence and if the reporter wants more information, he or she will ask for it.

4. Holding a mirror. Some journalists will use a technique called mirroring, which can help an interviewee feel comfortable. But getting too comfortable may allow you to blurt out something you normally wouldn’t say. If you are finding a reporter mimicking you in verbally and nonverbally, you may want to take your time answering or changing your position.

5. Throw away questions. Many reporters have what’s called ‘throw away questions’ that they ask that really mean nothing to the story. These can be used to feel an interviewee out.

6. Pretending to know. Some journalists will ask question that make you think they know more than they really do. If the reporter has made a false assumption, speak up. If not, don’t help the journalist confirm it unless you’ve made a conscious choice to do so.

An essential part of non-verbal communication, body language is often a defining element in interviews. Positive body language goes a long way in conveying a good, suitable impression during an interview.

Here are a few tips that can help you project the right non-verbal message when facing interviews. Make sure you practice them well before facing an interview.

Body odour and bad breath are a real no-no. A few dabs of perfume or a spray or two of a faint deodorant along with a few pieces of mint should do the trick. Never use strong, overpowering perfumes or deodorants. You’ve to just smell pleasant, and not a walking-talking room freshener.

Prepare well and be on time. Reach the venue before hand, relax, have a cup of coffee. Tidy yourself and think about how you are going to perform instead of imagining how to difficult the interview is going to be.

If you are a construction worker looking for a change of job, then you need to cautiously chalk out a plan. Good construction workers are in big demand, and if you can bring certain skills to your new workplace, you can expect to get a new job and a good rise in the salary. But when you are going for the interview, you need to convey to your prospective employer that you are the person he or she is on the look out for. So how do you go about doing this? There are various ways by which you can prepare yourself for the interview, which will help you to come out successful.
When you are going for an interview, it makes sense to research about the company and try to find out as much as possible. For this purpose, the internet always comes in handy. You can also look through previous company reports, and scout for news related to the company. If you have any friends or family members that work for the company or have previously worked for them, you should ask them about their experience, work conditions etc. Doing your homework conveys to the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in the job, and you do take pains to know about things that interest you. Though you don’t need to mention all the facts and figures in your interview, basic background knowledge does work wonders during the interview, and the employers really appreciate that.
You should plan your route, whether you plan to drive or take a public transport, well in advance of the interview and get familiarized with the place. This will help you to reach on time, and the familiarity will bring comfort, which will help you ease your nervousness jitters. Arrive ahead of time in order to regain your calm before the interview. Appear relaxed and confident at the interview. Always remember, it is only an interview, and irrespective of how badly you need the job, it is only one of the many interviews that you are going to appear for in your lifetime, unless you stay with the company till you decide to retire. Never appear desperate for the job. You are a talented individual, and the company needs you as much as you need the company.
Proper care should be taken with the way you dress for the interview. Dressing professionally, but in a conservative manner always makes a good first impression. You should also know the name and the position of the person interviewing you. During the interview process, make it a point to convey a professional and positive attitude. In case there are more than one people interviewing you, you should always direct your answers to the person who asked you the question. However, you should also make it a point to maintain proper eye contact with everyone else. You should never stare at anybody, nor turn away your gaze to some of the objects in the room, or towards the ceiling.
Always keep some questions ready for the interviewer, when he/she is done with you. This again shows your interest in the job position, as well as inquisitiveness. Remember, positive attitude, and confidence in yourself and your skills are the qualities that will get you the job. Maintain these throughout the interview, and you are bound to succeed.

(Copyrighted)While you are thinking about getting your taxes done, you might think about doing one or some of the following:1.    I teach my clients what they need, how to prepare their taxes and how to become organized.  Possibly you should start by asking your tax preparers detailed questions about every line item of your return.  Also during tax season, go to the post office near you and pick up the forms and some publication or go to the www.IRS.gov and pick up some forms and its instructions and start reading in order to gain knowledge about taxes.  Most people need the instructions associated with forms 1040, Schedule A, Sch. B, Sch. C (if you have a self-employment business), Sch. D (if you bought/sold stocks, bonds, real estate properties, or carrying over previous years stock losses,…), Sch. E (if you had rental real estate property), Form 4562 (relates to Sch. C and E- if you have self employment or rental real estate depreciations to include vehicles/trucks), Form 8829 (if you used your home for your self employment or rental property management), Form 2106 (if you are a w-2 employee which some of employee related expenses were not reimbursed by your employer OR you were doing job search and had job search, interviews and other expenses to include vehicle, meal, travel…)2.    In my previous articles, I mentioned a website and a couple of books.  One of the books was “Your Credit = Your Life, Fix It Now!”  There is a CD included that describes some of the tax liabilities.  You MUST read.3.    Take some classes and get yourself paid by doing your taxes instead of paying a tax preparer.4.    Buy a tax preparation book, read and learn.5.    While you are doing any of the above to increase your knowledge (about how to prepare your taxes), you can also call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and choose the option relating to tax questions (NOT the option about refunds or owing taxes).  I know, a lot of people are afraid of calling the IRS because they think the IRS agent is going to reach through the phone or the satellite and get to the person claiming money. For that reason, since you don’t know if the IRS is going to hang you and shake you upside down to get all your money, then make an anonymous call.  All you want to do is to get some correct information on how to prepare your tax return and a better understanding of how things work.  So, call from a blocked number and don’t give your name.  Since you want general information about how to prepare (not relating specifically to your tax returns), then the IRS representatives are not going to ask for your names or SSN.6.    MOST importantly, buy a tax software such as Intuit (Turbo Tax) or H & R block (TaxCut) software to do your taxes.  Both of these software packages which are less than $30.00 each have all sorts of information and instructions and take you through “INTERVIEW” steps even in more detail than your CPA or Tax preparer would.  Now, if you are not sure about a questions, you can read the pop up help instructions or call the IRS 800-829-1040 number and select the option about having questions on how to prepare.7.    You also have the choice of having you local IRS office help you prepare the tax-return.  However, be careful.  The preparing representative, may tell you that some of your expenses are not allowed.  I had to argue with the IRS auditors, show them publications, etc. for them to see it my way.  Therefore, I do NOT suggest you taking your tax return to the IRS rep. (if you have many sources of income and deductions) to prepare.  You can have the IRS prepare your return if it is very simple, if you have low income and a lot of mouths to feed (dependents).  I assure you, the same way that some of the tax preparers and CPAs are clueless, some of the IRS representatives who provide information and prepare taxes may also lack full knowledge.  This is based upon my extensive experiences researching information for others.SO.  Whatever you do, learn about how your taxes are done so that you will know what to save, spend or store during the year.  Buy one of the software packages I talked about under paragraph 6 (above).  They take you through a step by step interview and teach you as they ask you detailed questions.  If you still have some unanswered questions, then call the IRS help line.Now, when you call the IRS, you must know the best time to call.  If you are calling during the tax season, expect to stay on the phone for a minimum of 20 minutes before you get started.  If you call in the evening when everybody else is calling; again, expect to remain on the phone for a long time.  The best time to call IRS for questions (whatever your question may be –refunds, amount owed, or preparing) is either in the morning and Saturdays and Sundays.When you call the IRS to get some questions answered and do not want your number revealed, then block your number.  The bottom line is when asking tax preparation questions, the IRS agent will not ask you for your name, but every agent will provide his/her name and ID number.  For consistency of receiving correct information, write the person’s name and ID down and if you are not satisfied or think the answer may not be correct, then call back, you’ll get someone else then ask the same questions and compare.  I’m certain you’ve heard about the “Second Opinion” concept.Now let’s say you are not sure if you correctly prepared your return. In that case, print it, take the return and all your supporting documents that allowed you to do the return to your tax prepaper, tell him/her to review the information in detail and even offer to pay, or pay for time to review.  This way, you will know how good or bad you have done.  IF you made mistakes, then you can correct those mistakes and learn new things for the following years. There is so much more to say about tax preparation, your preparer, your refund or taxes owed.  It would be impossible to address all here.  The book, I mentioned, “Your Credit = Your Life, Fix It Now!” talks about refunds, some scams and tax liabilities.  The money you spend buying this book is minimal in comparison to the knowledge you gain. I hope this information has been helpful.With best wishes,

Mike Samadi

Any questions?  Go to Q & A of http://www.MasterCreditRepair.net, read and post.  Go to the “Comment” page and post your story or comment.  Your personal information will remain confidential.  Joint my membership club (coming soon).

Millions will be looking for job listings in 2006. It’s a big help to know where the most openings occur.

Why?

Well, if you’re new to the job market . . . or this is your first job . . . of it’s time for you to get serious about making a change . . . then understanding where your are likely to find job openings can help you focus.

Even if you have no direct expertise in these careers, there are opportunities for transferable skills. These are your work-related capabilities and assets that have application no matter where you work. These would include managing, accounting, factory work, warehousing, consulting, finances, sales, etc.

According to recent reports here are the six areas where you can expect to find an above average number of openings:

1. Medical Assistance. The exploding health care industry simply doesn’t have enough certified talent to go around. So there are unique opportunities to break into this industry if you’re able to show how you can translate your capabilities into a response to employer needs.

2. Teaching. Because of the critical shortage, if you ever had a dream about becoming a teacher at any level the are fast lane certification programs to get you into the classroom ASAP. If you fancy yourself a teacher be prepared to think outside the traditional classroom.

3. Pharmacy Work. While it takes years to get the required degree and be certified as a pharmacist, there is an amazing array of technical support jobs that require only a minimum of technical training.

4. Retail Sales. The holiday season is a terrific time to break into retail sales on a part-time basis. Many of these jobs are converted into full-time after the holidays. Moreover, because the turnover is high, employers are offering flextime schedules and huge employee discounts, especially if your friendly and like being helpful to customers.

5. Consulting. Opportunities for corporate consulting are especially good in cost control and information technology. Local government and non-profits are using significantly more consultants to cut payroll costs.

6. Self-employment. If you like to be in control of your time and income, maybe this is the time to consider an entrepreneurial venture. But if you’re not quite ready for your own business you can achieve a similar independence by working for a temp agency.

This is an incredibly good time to be in the job marketplace if you focus your attention on employment areas where you have a much better chance of landing a job.