7 Ways Birthdays Can Affect Job Search

7 Ways Birthdays Can Affect Job Search 17 Today is my 34th birthday, so let's take a look at how birthdays impact the job search process. Your birthday When you become legally able to work Growing up in Montreal, the minimum age to work a full-time summer job legally is 14 (it still is today) and I took full advantage, starting my first job working the summer of 1990 in the shipping department of our sportswear family business. I was lucky that I didn't have to look for that job, and I remember how good it felt to get my first paycheck earning exactly $5.00 per hour (minimum wage back then).eval If you're curious, the minimum legal age to work in the US is generally 14 too. Israeli law is similar to Quebec law, allowing 14 year-olds to work full-time only in the summer (Hebrew), otherwise the minimum is actually 15. When you become legally able to do everything at workeval Sometimes, part of a job requires a higher age than the legal minimum, and the typical examples are ones where parts of the job are off-limits to minors. In the UK, although it's illegal for a minor to work in a bar, they can apprentice there. Changes in benefits Although this is a very questionable practice, it is sometimes legal to condition job benefits based on someone's age instead of other criteria such as company seniority. This is when people start watching their calendars very closely. Ageism “Also called age discrimination, is stereotyping of and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age”. (Wikipedia) This is the white elephant in the room, of course. Since it's based on other people's perception, someone might be a victim of ageism regardless of their birthday. Typically though, once a person turns 45+, the unfair reality is that ageism can become a real problem in finding a job. Others people's birthdays Culture clash What if your profession is popular for birthdays in one country but not another? A friend of mine does balloon arrangements for parties, very popular in the US but less so in Israel when she started out years ago. Luckily for her, the culture has been changing. Networking Birthday parties and other birthday events are a great place to network and meet people who might be able to help with your job search. Being the friend of a friend can be a pretty strong link. Getting a foot in the door Targeting a company? Send their human resources department flowers or a gift for the company's birthday. On the card, leave a message that says something like “Need a great [whatever you are]? Call me!” Even if they don't contact you right away, they're almost guaranteed to recognize you when you followup as the “person who sent the flowers”. How has your birthday or someone else's come up in your job search? If you liked this article, you'll enjoy 3 Unusual Tips for a Successful Birthday Job Search.

Presentation or death University of Manchester Careers Blog

Presentation or death University of Manchester Careers Blog “According to most studies, peoples number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, youre better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” (attributed to Jerry Seinfeld) Most of us dread public speaking of any sort and yet it is something we can’t avoid as often we’re required to make presentations to our peers or even to a prospective employer. How can we overcome the fear? Well, as with most things in life, practice makes perfect: the more you do it the better you’ll become. Therefore avoiding it is not helpful as sooner or later you’ll have to do it. Conquer your fear now! Start now taking the steps that are going to lead you to become a confident public speaker. Take small steps like asking a question during a lecture. Take inspiration from the people around you who you consider good speakers: what do they do? Can they give you any tips? Public speaking is a performance, you don’t actually need to be yourself when delivering a speech, you can emulate somebody you admire. Be prepared Become familiar with what you want to say. This sounds quite obvious but it’s the main point. The more you are confident about what you’re going to say, the better you’ll do. Even if the nerves take over your brain or your body, if you know what you’re talking about you’ll go on automatic mode and deliver. Prepare your script in advance and practice. Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend. Look out for voice tone and little mannerisms that will get in the way of your message. Many years ago, when I was a trainee teacher, my supervisor videoed one of my first classes and I couldn’t believe how much I run in front of the room, from one corner to the other while speaking. You would think my students were watching a tennis match, their heads turning left and right very quickly to follow my movements! If you have the chance to video or record yourself while practicing, do it. Yes, it is very embarrassing but also very useful. Visualize I find particularly useful to be in the place where I’m going to speak the day before or at least sometime before the presentation. I go to the exact place where I’m supposed to be delivering my speech and visualize what will happen. I mean visualize my surroundings and delivery, not my audience in any state of undress as it is so often suggested. In my visualization, the audience is always interested in what I have to say and yes, they’re fully dressed. I also make myself familiar with the “machinery”- where are the lights, how to turn on the equipment and make it work, etc.  If this is not possible, I try to at least be at the venue a few minutes before to take everything in and to actually see the audience coming in, making eye contact, smiling, maybe chatting if appropriate so that they are not strangers when I start speaking. Most audiences are friendly; they want you to succeed so try to connect. Be human Let’s assume your audience can read. It’s not particularly interesting for them hear you read slides, they can do that themselves. If you put all the information in your slides and read from them; then what’s the point of your presentation? You might as well just print out the information and disseminate it. Your audience wants to see the human.  A good presentation is about you being there delivering a script. Don’t let the slides replace you.  Have three “take away” ideas The average adult attention span is 5 minutes! What three main ideas do you want your audience to retain? People are more likely to remember information that come in threes so don’t overbear them- if possible trim your script down to the three main ideas you want them to retain and work around that. Repeat yourself Tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them and then tell them what you’ve just told them (see what I did there? Three things!). This helps the audience to remember the most important points of your message. Think of the most memorable speeches in history like Martin Luther King’s he repeats the word “freedom” twenty times, the word “dream” eleven times and “I have a dream…” eight times in a period of only a few minutes. Repetition helps to retain the message. Have a contingency plan There will always be things out of your control that can go wrong. Think them through beforehand so that you’re prepared. Do you have a backup of your presentation? Perhaps you can email yourself a copy. What can you do if you can’t use your slides due to a technical issue? Can you have backup handouts? Make sure to have a plan B. If you need support, there are resources available to you at The University. You can find workshops and online resources on My Learning Essentials. Recently they advertised two workshops that sounded really useful: “Speaking out in groups” and “Group work: play to your strengths”. They also have a few short courses online about presentations: “Present like a pro: the art of delivery”, “Present like a pro: visual victory” and “Start to finish: present like a pro”. Keep an eye on what is advertised on My Learning Essentials. The Careers Service has a Presentation Skills Starting point guide. Keep in mind though that no amount of reading can replace experience in a practical matter as this. You can’t learn how to swim without getting in the water. So dip your toes first, start today to take little steps towards conquering your fear. All Graduate International Postgraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted Positive thinking presentations public speaking

CHECKLIST 10 Easy Tips to Rock Your Next Job Interview - Classy Career Girl

CHECKLIST 10 Easy Tips to Rock Your Next Job Interview So…you scored the job interview. YES!  The hours you spent crafting the perfect resume has paid off and the hiring team has called you to request an on-site meeting at their company headquarters. That first job search hurdle,“FIRST IMPRESSION”, has been accomplished. Now, your next mission is to win these people over in person. How do you guarantee that you get everything right? Has it been awhile since you’ve had to succumb to interviewing? Don’t worry. I’ve been to plenty of interviews to know the right and the wrong way to approach them. Here is my 10-point checklist you need to follow before arriving at headquarters: 10 Easy Tips to Rock Your Next Job Interview 1. Dress appropriately. This may seem obvious, but I have been to one too many career fairs and professional environments where shorts and sandals were surrounding me everywhere! This is not okay. That old saying, “Dress for the job you want” is true and dressing too casually will look lazy and like bad manners. If you are unsure of the company dress code, it is appropriate to ask Human Resources beforehand. Ladies: Wear a dress at the appropriate length, pants suit, pressed slacks and a blazer, closed-toed shoes, etc. 2. NO GUM! Chew all the gum or breath mints you want during the car ride over, but once you enter the building, throw it away. Not only will it look sloppy to your interviewer, but worse, it will be distracting. The company invited you to interview with them because they were impressed by you, so don’t let the gum showing in your teeth distract them during your answer to “Why should we hire you?” 3. What time is it… are you early? Always arrive 5-10 minutes early to your job interview. This is key. Everyone’s time is precious and should not be wasted. If a candidate arrived even 5 minutes late to my interview without a good reason, or a head’s up phone call, they’d be immediately disqualified for the job. Why?   Because I need to know that I can count on you. 4. Get directions. Expanding on step #3, always know your final destination ahead of time. Use the GPS on your phone to calculate the arrival time AND consider all possible traffic scenarios. Again, I would much rather wait 30 minutes in the parking lot for my interview time, than to be 5 minutes late due to unforeseen circumstances. 5. Have printed copies of your resume. I cannot tell you how many job interviews I’ve been on where the hiring team says, “I have also brought in Jane Doe from Accounting to sit in on this interview.   You’d work very closely with her in this position.” If I were a gambling woman, I’d guess that she has no idea of my past experience and probably had very little notice that she’d even be a part of this interview. This is your opportunity to showcase your professionalism and preparedness by saying “Hi Jane, here is a copy of my resume for you to review during our conversation.” Score one point for you! Also, it can be your cheat sheet for answering tough job interview questions. (see step #8) 6. A pen and paper. Arrive at your job interview prepared with your resume, contact cards, and something to write with. You will be provided with a lot of information that, if not written down, will be forgotten amidst the nerves. Be prepared to jot down quick notes about the names of the people you talked with (to follow up with and thank later), directions on next steps in the process, and job description details. 7.  Perform high-level company research. I once had a college professor tell me he never hired someone to work in his private practice if they asked a question where the answer could have been found on the company website. Asking questions is great but only when the questions are quality questions. My favorite question for someone interviewing for a sales role is: I know that your company is a top leader in selling and providing commercial grade carpet nationwide, can you elaborate on the benefits of how this type of carpet sets you apart from your competitors in the area?  Nice, right? 8. Know the highlights of your resume. The purpose of a job interview is to see how your skills listed on your resume will transmit in person. Spoiler alert:  They WILL ask you about details of your past experiences and supporting examples of your qualifications. Know your resume inside and out, and practice good ways to describe your last few jobs effectively. You wrote your resume with your key strengths in mind, so use it! The more versed you appear to be about your past, the more likely your meeting will simply be a conversation, rather than a stoic interview. 9. Smile! A good attitude is just as important as your resume itself. People hire people they like and that they would enjoy working with every day. Smile. Be genuine. Be REMEMBERED. Show some personality and even crack a small (appropriate) joke. 10. BRING A Strong Handshake! If you take nothing else away from this article, please READ this last tip!!! Adopt a good, strong handshake. As a woman, my biggest pet peeve is when a man gives me a weak handshake. Please… no floppy fishes or lady fingers. If you actually shake my hand, I won’t break! Maybe this is etiquette that is lost in today’s world, but I feel an obligation to bring it back. The trick is for both parties involved in the handshake to use their full hand from fingertips to palms, grip the other persons hand with a firmness like you would a doorknob, shake 2-3 times, and then release. Good luck! Let us know how it goes in the comments below! Related Post:  How to Answer the Top 10 Interview Questions Cheat Sheet

Make the world a better place from the job you have right now

Make the world a better place from the job you have right now At some point in their work life most people start wondering about the bigger questions: How can you support yourself with enjoyable work and still make the world a better place? I have had discussions about this topic with my husband. He was working at a grassroots agency that struggles to save people from poverty and prison. I told my husband that since I was supporting our family while he worked for a nonprofit that pays peanuts, I was doing enough to save the world. He said, Youre not saving the world. Youre saving us. I know, I said. Im an enabler. Im enabling you to save the world. He said, You can do what you want. But grassroot action makes an immediate difference. Grassroot action. This is the kind of language you hear all the time if you live with an activist. To be honest, I wouldnt be able to handle seeing the sadness my husband saw every day: Like the juvenile offender who was not going to school because the prison forgot. But I still want to make sure my work has meaning. And I am not alone. In the book, The Altruism Question, psychologist Daniel Batson reviews approximately twenty-five studies that all show that people have an inherent need to help others out of a sense of altruism to make other people feel better. And Stephan Bodian, who often writes about Buddhism, explains, Each of us must find our own right livelihood by following our hearts while facing the reality of our unique situation. What I take this to mean is that we all want to do good, but you have to take care of yourself first, then your family, and then the world. Most of us have enough trouble with the first two. For some people right livelihood will mean a life of environmental activism. For other people, it might take the form of creativity. For many of us, it might simply involve doing what we can, at the jobs we currently have, to add to the worlds collective store of peace, love, happiness and material well-being, writes Bodian in Yoga Journal. In case you are wondering, my husband is typical of social activists in that he has a spouse working in a more lucrative sector. We found this out the hard way, when we tried to depend on his job for insurance. The human resource person actually told my husband, The premiums are sky-high because no one here needs to use the insurance. Fortunately for those who do need insurance, the business world offers a surprising range of opportunities to honor ones need for right work. I have mentored people who have been able to make huge changes in their lives, and I have changed corporate policies to accommodate single mothers and gay job applicants. These have been high points in my career because I felt like I was doing good. But you dont actually have to make a monumental contribution to the world in order to feel good about yourself. Small acts of kindness add up. Sonja Lyubomirsky, professor of psychology at University of California at Riverside, found that being kind makes you feel more positive about yourself and the world. She has an exact prescription for how to be kind that reminds me of my husband doing good at the grassroot: In our daily lives, we all perform acts of kindness for others. These acts may be large or small and the person for whom the act is performed may or may not be aware of the act. Examples include feeding a strangers parking meter, donating blood, helping a friend with homework, visiting an elderly relative, or writing a thank you letter. In order to optimize the good feelings that come from good acts, Lyubomirskys research indicates that you should load up your acts of kindness so you do five in one day. You can follow these instructions from any job, no matter how big or small. Write a note to yourself on one day each week, and count your deeds until you get to five. Your job will bring deeper meaning to your life because you will be using it to directly cause positive feelings in the world. As for me and my husband, I am never going to work in a prison, and hes never going back to corporate life. But we are striking a balance. Winston Churchill once said: Make a living by what you get, make a life by what you give. The best careers can combine both, and this is true of a marriage, too.

7 Job Search Mistakes that Keep You from Success

7 Job Search Mistakes that Keep You from Success Photo Credit â€" Research Job prospectsOn average, every job application attracts 250 candidates. An average company will invite 4 in 6 people to an interview and only 1 person will get a job.This one person is a lucky one, who either did a great and well-planned job or simply caught a break. What does the rest of the candidacies do wrong?The fact is that there are certain job search mistakes that keep you from getting your dream job.evalSometimes we do them without even a realizing that something goes wrong. It’s never too late to change your strategy and reach success.Moreover, you can do it! Start with reading this article and analyzing your job search mistakes: do you make the following ones?1. Surprising Truth about Online Job AdsFord R. Myers, career coach, speaker and author of “Get the Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring” revealed a surprising truth about online job postings.He doesn’t consider them to be effective and suggests spending no more than 5% of your e ntire time on searching through the online job boards, social media, and other resources.It would seem ridiculous but the Jobvite 2014 Social Recruiting Survey proves his words.According to its results, 60% of the 1,855 employers and HR managers found their best employees through “networking, referrals, reinforcing”.The key point you should learn from it: the right acquaintance can make your job search 200% successful.2. Sending “Blind” RequestsevalUnsolicited resumes are those resumes that won’t bring you any result. Career consultant, speaker and job search expert Rick Gillis says that none of the job seekers will get a feedback from a company by sending unsolicited resumes.It’s better to channel the energy into deep networking and other activities that do bring result.It’s not easy to trick the Applicant Tracking System Many job seekers underestimate the role of career coaches, job search experts, or resume writers considering them to be quacks willing their money o nly.Their importance lies in experience and a help “out of the box”. There are many kinds of career support that can help. Of course, it’s crucial to apply to real professionals.4. Weak and Wrong NetworkingMyers emphasizes on the competent and well-planned networking. Jayne Mattson, senior vice president of Client Services at Keystone Associates, says that a successful networker is the one with a clear agenda, who is able to listen and set the right questions.Mattson also says that quality and fruitful networking is a “long game” and a “slow process”. It requires time, patience, and dedication. Therefore, starting it as early as possible would be a good idea.Networking can be in person or via the Internet. If you pay enough attention to it, it will still bring result no matter where it takes place. If you manage to reach a face-to-face conversation, don’t be shy to invite a person to lunch.5. Be Wasted on Many Types of JobsA person that knows what he wants and sets c lear goals and priorities attracts the attention of recruiters and HR managers. Yes, it’s important to be open to promising opportunities rather than be focused on job openings but you shouldn’t be too uncertain in what you want to deal with.Before starting a job search, you should understand what type of work you want to do.6. Not Following a Certain PlanEvery job search approach should well planned and systemized. Myers suggests paying attention to such details as the number of a job application or the time to spend on networking. You will reach success if you come up with a certain methodology.Every strategy includes tracking your results. If you are too slow in reaching a goal, then you might reconsider your plan.7. Weak Preparation to the InterviewevalMyers picked out five important components of the successful interview:Articulating a valueconveying a knowledge of the companyasking relevant and smart questionsnegotiating compensationfollowing up.It’s important to conduct a research about the company and interviewer or talk to the workers of the company, who have already gone through that. Mitchell recommends showing your interest in the job.The other thing it’s important to emphasize is awareness of your market value. After employer understands that you can become their top candidacy, you will start making money. Research the market and understand your value.

Why Networking Gets a Bad Rap and What to Do About It

Why Networking Gets a Bad Rap and What to Do About It Many people think that networking during a job search means calling everyone you know and asking them for a job. They associate networking with being pushy, overbearing, and an overall pest. People often shy away from networking because they dont want to be labeled as this type of person. But research shows that 70-80 percent of all jobs are filled through networking. How can this be so, if networkers are such an annoying, self-serving lot?Successful networkers are not egocentric, aggressive jerks. They show a sincere interest in their networking contacts. They work hard to develop a relationship, establish their credibility, and share information. They follow the rules of the game where everyone has something to gain. Like the lottery, you have to be in it to win it. Below are seven tips to follow for successful networking.1. Dont ask for a job ask for information.Networking is not about asking everyone you know for a job. As a matter of fact, when you network you should never ask s omeone for a job You ask them for information that will help you in your search. Your goal is to build a relationship and establish rapport so that if a potential opportunity becomes available in the future, they will want to refer you. Compare these two scenarios:Scenario OneJoe, Ive been out of work for six months and Im really strapped for cash. Do you know of any open positions in your department?Youve put Joe in a very difficult position. Sure, he can sympathize with your situation, but he may not be able to offer you a job. Perhaps hes not in a position to refer you, or theres a hiring freeze, or there arent any openings right now. Whatever answer Joe gives you, its bound to be disappointing. So to redeem himself, Joe says, I dont know of any open positions, but why dont you give me your resume and Ill send it to the HR department where I work. Bad move. Unless your skills match a specific opening in the company at that point in time, its bound to never be looked at. Joe will feel that hes done what he can for you, but you will be no better off.Scenario TwoJoe, as you know, I most recently worked for a medical device company in their marketing group. I know that youve been in pharmaceutical sales for the past 15 years and Im very interested in learning more about marketing roles within your industry. I dont expect you to know of any open positions in your organization, but Id like the opportunity to speak with you briefly to learn more about your organization and the pharmaceutical industry in general.Joe may think, OK, heres a friend that wants some information and sees me as some sort of expert on the topic. Thats kind of flattering. I guess I could spend a few minutes with him. Does Joe know youre looking for a job? Probably. But you are not asking him for a job; youre just asking him for advice and insight. The stakes are low and the expectations are reasonable, so he is more likely to help you.2. Dont take up too much of the other persons time.Have an agenda and keep the meeting on track. Nothing scares people more than the prospect of someone eating up a lot of their time. Many people dont want to cram yet another meeting into their already jam-packed day. Contrast these two situations:Scenario OneYou meet with Mary after a mutual friend has agreed to help you set up a brief 20-minute meeting. You neglect to prepare for the meeting, ramble, get off topic and spend an hour and a half with her. Mary feels that you have abused the use of her time and you havent gotten to the critical questions youd hoped to ask during the meeting. Mary feels burned and vows never to network again.Scenario TwoYou walk into the meeting with a prepared mental agenda that includes:* A reminder of who referred you and perhaps some brief chit-chat about that mutual acquaintance. * A statement that you have no reason to believe Mary can offer you a position * An explanation of your agenda. Today Id like to tell you a bit about myself and get your persp ective on the future of the high-tech industry. Remember to discuss your skills and accomplishments and show how you can add value to an organization.By planning out your meeting ahead of time, you establish your professionalism, gain credibility, and cover all the critical agenda items.3. Give the other person a chance to speak. Ask questions.When you network it is imperative that you do not do all the talking. If you have asked another person for advice, make sure they have the opportunity to offer it. Also, when you do all the talking, the other person might feel confused and unsure of what they are supposed to do with the information you have supplied. Here are some questions you can ask to keep your exchange balanced and establish rapport.* How long have you been with this company/field? * What do you like/dislike about your job? * What type of training do you need for positions such as yours? * What is the culture of this company and what are its guiding principles?4. Ask for suggestions on how to expand your network.One of the main goals of networking is to tap into the network of the people you are meeting with. Each person you meet knows 200 or more people. If you can gain introductions to some of them, you quickly increase your network and your chances of finding the right connection. Ask your contacts if they can recommend a professional organization or the names of some other people you should be talking to.5. Create a vehicle for follow-up.If you want to establish rapport with another person, you need to create ways to keep the relationship going. Ask the person if you may keep them informed of your search progress. If you read an article that pertains to a discussion you had at a networking meeting, cut it out and send it to them with a brief note. Try to find at least two to three opportunities per year to reconnect with members of your network.6. Find ways to reciprocate.Building a network is about creating a genuine, caring relationship. Thank your contact for the information they have supplied and see if you can help them in some way. Maybe your contact is interested in living in an area that you are familiar with or has a child interested in attending the same school you just graduated from. Share your knowledge of the school and your experience there as a way to help the other person. Keep notes on what you learn about your contacts so that future correspondence can have a personalized touch like How was Janes first year of school?7. Send a thank you letter.Always thank your contacts in person and follow up with a letter. If your handwriting is legible, the personalized touch is always appreciated.Networking is an ongoing process. It requires persistence, attention, organization, and good will. Incorporate the art of networking into your job-search campaign now, and you will gain opportunities and build relationships that will last a lifetime.

No Experience, No Job

No Experience, No JobWhen you have a resume for someone who has never done anything before, how do you make the most of your time and effort? It's not so much a matter of a bit of extra talent, as it is a matter of copying the formula for success that worked for other job seekers before you. Here are some resume writing tips for the no experience no talent candidate.One of the first things to remember when writing a resume for the job opening is that it should match the job description of the employer. If the job description is for something that requires a lot of writing and then you have no experience or writing experience, don't forget to mention this in your resume. You also have to be able to provide your experience on the job in a way that is related to the job description of the position.If you have little experience, try to put your best foot forward in your resume. While there is nothing wrong with claiming a little skill for a job that you have had a great deal of, don't ov erdo it either. If you have done something for years and someone is looking for a fresh face, they are going to be very suspicious of you. Make sure you provide enough examples of your writing skills that will show the reader that you have what it takes to write for the job in question.When you do have experience, try to write in a way that makes it clear that you are still learning something new every day. Write the 'information' section about the job you have had. The skills you learned at work will help you when you apply for the job.Use jargon and acronyms wisely in your resume. If the job description does not use those terms, then don't try to put in the same ones in your resume. However, if the employer knows what they mean, and can tell that you have read about the job in some of your previous resumes, then you can probably put them in your resume without too much difficulty.Another tip is to use the job title in the resume. In most cases, you may be applying for a job where the job title is another form of the title you applied for. Don't try to throw the ball back to you in this situation. Just go with the job description and keep the job title in the resume.When sending out your resume and application materials, be sure to be courteous. Don't make it a point to send your resume to the person who will be interviewing you because that means the person could go to the post office and look for it instead of you. This is just a bad example.You may not know how to write a resume for someone who has little experience. That's okay, because there are plenty of other people who know exactly how to do it. So, have a little patience and don't give up until you have written a well-structured, appealing resume for the job you are applying for.