5 Lesser-Known Interview Tips - CareerAlley

5 Lesser-Known Interview Tips - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. During this prolonged recession, those in the job market must make it a point to capitalize on every opportunity for quality employment. With more qualified candidates than ever lining up for the same positions, its important to exhaust all avenues in distinguishing yourself from the crowd. Beyond the old-favorite tips everyone knows, like bringing extra copies of your resume or rehearsing your answers so as to project confidence, here are five more subtle measures that can make the difference in the end. 1. Make a Warm First Impression When you walk into a meeting with someone who has the power to hire, you want to dress for success, be courteous, and have warm hands. Warm hands? Yes, many studies show a warm touch has a much more positive effect than a cold first embrace. So take measures to avoid having your first impression be an icy handshake that can send a subconscious message and turn an employer off. 2. Bring a Trump Card Besides toting the prerequisite resume, pen, or ECQ examples into an interview, bring along anything that will help you support your case for employment and make a memorable impression. By having examples of your past work, a portfolio, or document you prepared in advance, you can inject an extra element that demonstrates you abilities, resourcefulness, and knack for preparation. 3. Keep Your Comfort Zone Everyone wants to look their best when they go calling for a job, but its important to wear clothes you feel confident and comfortable in. An interview is never a good time to try out a new pair of shoes, and you should always do a test run on what you are going to wear to make sure everything not only looks right, but feels good too. 4. Walk the Walk More than just making eye contact and sitting up straight in your chair, body language can be a powerful alley in your quest to make a positive impression. Focus on going to your meeting walking tall and feeling good, taking the time if necessary to get yourself into a relaxed frame of mind. Listening to music, taking a stroll outdoors, or even mediating will often do the trick. 5. Have Fun with Words Words can be powerful tools in the interview room, whether its a simple thing like remembering the names of all of the individuals youve met throughout the process or knowing the most vital terms in the business. Do your research and reference your knowledge by pointing to recent studies, news about competitors, or the individuals that mean the most to the industry. Final Thoughts You arent going to get the job every time, but youll have a higher success rate by taking extra measures to make yourself an ace interviewer. By considering subtle things like a handshake or your body language, and coming prepared to put your best foot forward, youll make a memorable impression and separate yourself from the competition. Book Corner [easyazon_link asin=1475019556 locale=US new_window=default nofollow=default tag=caree07-20 add_to_cart=default cloaking=default localization=default popups=default]Resume Help For Success: Simple Resume Writing Tips, Resume Examples Sample Cover Letters[/easyazon_link] Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publicly voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience. This is a Guest post. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by

Wreck This Journal A Hole Lot of Messes

Wreck This Journal A Hole Lot of Messes I cracked open Wreck This Journal on Saturday afternoon, leafing through the pages knowing I needed to start somewhere. Every page held another choice, and I knew I could pick whichever one I wanted. So, where was the perfect place to begin? I already took my shower, so showering with the book was out. I didnt have a piece of string handy and I was on a tight schedule so I couldnt take the book out for a walk. I didnt feel confident with starting with something artistic, like tracing my hand (dont I have to make it something afterwards?), so I was happy when one of the pages called to me, Pour, Spill, Drip, Spit, Fling Your Coffee Here. I was drinking coffee! I still had some at the bottom of my cup, and left in the carafe! I could paint this page with coffee! I didnt have a paint brush, but that didnt stop me. I had what all dutiful Jewish girls from Long Island have: make-up brushes! I grabbed one, cracked the spine of the book, dipped the brush in the coffee, and started painting. Hm. Too light. I couldnt do anything, make anything, see anything! Maybe if I took the brush and splattered the page like all those spin art sweatshirts I made in 1988eh. Nothing too exciting. Maybe if I take the carafe and pour the coffee onto the page, and then paint from there? Yeah, thatll work! Well, it didnt really workit made a mess! It leaked through 6 pages of the book AND onto the spine! And ya know what? That wasnt enough for me! I laughed as I closed the book on The Giant Coffee Mess of 2009 watched the remains spill onto the kitchen counter. I then opened the book back up tried to makeup-brush the coffee into something art-like, but realized the mess was just as it was supposed to be. A mess. An ugly mess at that! And I loved it! I was having fun, and trying something new, and enjoying the journey with my journal. So thats what Im going into this crazy, fun, scary project with: Allowing myself to make a giant, ugly mess. For a recovering perfectionist like me, its the best way to start. It takes the pressure off that anything needs to be pretty, or nice. If I focus on mess, I can focus on the artist in me that wants to get out, have fun, find her voice, and enjoy the process along the way. Look at all the messes I made this week ( you can see the remains of the coffee on each every one)!:

How to Write a Resume That Puts the Employer First

How to Write a Resume That Puts the Employer FirstWhen writing a resume and cover letter, it is easy to just let all the information you have written overwhelm you, but if you want to save time and money, there are some things you should consider. Maybe you have gotten lost in your list of accomplishments and their dates, but maybe you have overlooked one important aspect of your resume or cover letter. Here are a few tips for helping you find the information you need to make a strong first impression.As you read and study all the information you have compiled, decide what should a student go for help writing a resume and cover letter. Ask yourself if you are most proud of your school or community service work or if you are most proud of the different job experiences you've had or started. And then you will be able to focus on the things that will help you make a better impression and not just on the current facts.One important factor you should consider is the length of your resume. If you have chosen to do an online application, you will want to look at the length of your resume. The length of your resume may need to be no longer than three pages and there should be room for a table of contents. In addition, your resume should also contain a listing of your education, which can be no more than five lines long.If you really want to look professional, it would be helpful to have a title on your resume as well. It may seem redundant to include a title on your resume, but it will let the hiring manager know how much effort you put into the resume. This is another place where the length of your resume will determine how many words you can use. And even though many employers will want to see the full description of your skills, remember that you should also be clear on what you don't have.Another important factor in your resume and cover letter is the fact that you are sending it in the first place. Since your resume and cover letter are just that - a communication between you and the person who is reading them, it is up to you to make sure they get the message. So your resume and cover letter should be professional but brief so that they get the message.If you have chosen to send your resume and cover letter to an employer who you know well, this will be the best way to make sure they receive it in a timely manner. By doing this, you can leave it on their desk until it is time to submit it. Of course, they may be more willing to accept it if you have told them it will be sent on a day when it is not too busy.The use of these tips for helping you write a resume and cover letter will give you a chance to build a great resume and cover letter. You will be surprised by how much time you save by using these simple steps.

Executive Assistant Cover Letter Example - ZipJob

Executive Assistant Cover Letter Example Spread the loveAre you looking for a good executive assistant  cover letter example? Well look no further! Here is an example of a good cover letter sample for an executive assistant  position.Executive Assistant Cover Letter ExampleDear (List full name of recruiter or hiring authority and their title here),Please consider my enclosed resume and credentials as my application for the Title of Position Here position at Company Name Here. Review of my qualifications will showcase years of demonstrated experience providing exceptional executive-level administrative support, ensuring projects are completed on time and with high confidentiality. These experiences have enabled me to relieve executives of managing their busy schedules by organizing their calendars, liaising with clients, preparing documentation and planning meetings and events. I am certain that my motivation, academic experience, bilingualism/multilingualism, executive support expertise and professional demeanor will make m e an excellent addition to your team as your Title of Position Here.Other highlights of my career that succeed expectations of Company Name Here would be:Exceptional academic qualifications, including a Full Degree name from School.Supported members of the executive team by promptly and accurately fulfilling administrative and business needs.Maintained CEO’s calendar â€" scheduled appointments, and planned and organized meetings, teleconferences and travel.Exercised negotiation skills to secure favorable terms and pricing agreements with vendors, hotels, caterers and other service providers, saving at least $XX annually.Improved office efficiency by implementing an electronic filing system which introduced additional time-saving measures.Enhanced communication between staff department and executive team, fostering a sense of teamwork and collaboration.In particular, the strong relationships cultivated with clients, team members, upper management, and the community has resulted in significant increases in the success of numerous projects and a stellar reputation in the industry. It would be a pleasure to work at your organization where teamwork, efficiency and customer satisfaction comes first. My resume will provide additional details concerning my accomplishments. I welcome the opportunity for an interview to discuss the performance you can expect from me.Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.Sincerely,NameYou should also check out our post on how to write an awesome cover letter. We also have a great executive assistant resume here. Executive Assistant Cover Letter Example Spread the loveAre you looking for a good executive assistant  cover letter example? Well look no further! Here is an example of a good cover letter sample for an executive assistant  position.Executive Assistant Cover Letter ExampleDear (List full name of recruiter or hiring authority and their title here),Please consider my enclosed resume and credentials as my application for the Title of Position Here position at Company Name Here. Review of my qualifications will showcase years of demonstrated experience providing exceptional executive-level administrative support, ensuring projects are completed on time and with high confidentiality. These experiences have enabled me to relieve executives of managing their busy schedules by organizing their calendars, liaising with clients, preparing documentation and planning meetings and events. I am certain that my motivation, academic experience, bilingualism/multilingualism, executive support expertise and professional demeanor will make m e an excellent addition to your team as your Title of Position Here.Other highlights of my career that succeed expectations of Company Name Here would be:Exceptional academic qualifications, including a Full Degree name from School.Supported members of the executive team by promptly and accurately fulfilling administrative and business needs.Maintained CEO’s calendar â€" scheduled appointments, and planned and organized meetings, teleconferences and travel.Exercised negotiation skills to secure favorable terms and pricing agreements with vendors, hotels, caterers and other service providers, saving at least $XX annually.Improved office efficiency by implementing an electronic filing system which introduced additional time-saving measures.Enhanced communication between staff department and executive team, fostering a sense of teamwork and collaboration.In particular, the strong relationships cultivated with clients, team members, upper management, and the community has resulted in significant increases in the success of numerous projects and a stellar reputation in the industry. It would be a pleasure to work at your organization where teamwork, efficiency and customer satisfaction comes first. My resume will provide additional details concerning my accomplishments. I welcome the opportunity for an interview to discuss the performance you can expect from me.Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.Sincerely,NameYou should also check out our post on how to write an awesome cover letter. We also have a great executive assistant resume here.

Why The Military Is A Perfect Stepping Stone For Career Advancement - Work It Daily

Why The Military Is A Perfect Stepping Stone For Career Advancement - Work It Daily Sometimes high school graduates leave their secondary school experience with a lack of focus. They aren’t sure if college or a vocational school is right for them, but the appeal of jumping directly into the working world also leaves them wondering where will they be in five years after choosing one or the other. Can they combine an education track with military service? Yes! For many, having the experience of entering the military brings their aptitudes, skills, and preferences into alignment, so that their educational choices are more accurate, productive and fulfilling. Depending on which branch of the service one chooses to enter, the possibilities for career and college choices actually expand post-military. Read on for five benefits of the military as a stepping stone for career advancement. 1. Education Ever since the enactment of The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (known informally as the G.I. Bill), U. S. citizens have been able to use this legislation to help offset the cost of higher education for those who have served in the military. Under this bill, benefits may be used to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university, a cooperative training program or an accredited independent study program leading to a degree. The coursework covered includes college, business school, technical or vocational courses, correspondence courses, apprenticeship/job training and flight training. For the most recent information about educational benefits of the G.I. Bill, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ website. 2. Monetary Benefits Besides salary and compensation, there are different ways to benefit financially from a career in the military. There are bonuses and special pay determined by your area of expertise and the branch in which you choose to enlist. What’s more, “invisible pay” in the form of health insurance, food, pension and life insurance are costs that you will not pay as a member of the military. 3. Teamwork Mentality Although this may seem like a “soft skill,” the simple truth is that more than likely, you’ll work with other people in your professional life. Very few jobs allow for complete solitude. Therefore, learning how to achieve common goals, delegate and work as part of a team are very important to your career satisfaction, promotability and, ultimately, your earning capacity. Team players fare better than those who cannot thrive in a group environment. Leadership, decision-making and other intangibles are benefits of having a military background. 4. Travel And Global Perspectives The saying “it’s a small world” has never been more true than it is today. We live in an increasingly shrinking world, where things like social media bring us closer together. We see shared experiences on Facebook, YouTube or Twitter. That being said, there is no substitute for travel or living abroad to experience other cultures. While stationed abroad in the military, you’ll have access to other languages, cultural observations and landscapes. If you’re a kid who grew up in the desert of Arizona, being stationed in Japan will give you an entirely new perspective about the world in which we live. Click here for a complete list of U.S. military bases. 5. Structure, Maturity, And Discipline It’s also a simple fact that sometimes, having the experience of an ordered environment brings dormant skills to the foreground. Being entrusted with the safety, training and even lives of others engenders a certain amount of maturity and poise where it may not have been previously necessary. These skills are directly applicable when pursuing an education. Knowing how to discipline yourself to apply yourself to a program of study is much easier if you have experienced the hierarchical structure of the military. This article was written by Social Media Outreach Coordinator Joshua John on behalf of CAREEREALISM-Approved Partner, 2tor â€" an education technology company that partners with institutions of higher education such as the University of Southern California which provides a Masters in Military Social Work degree online. Enjoy this article? You've got time for another! Check out these related articles: How To Apply Military Leadership Skills To Civilian Employment Military To Civilian: 3 Tips For Career Success Why Military Spouses Are Underutilized Assets   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!

Free Range Parenting Is It Okay

Free Range Parenting Is It Okay As parents, were always trying to figure out the best way to raise our children. We keep a running list of parenting dos and donts based on our desire to help, leid hinder, our childs growth in the long run. We believe that our hopes for our children will enable us to answer any question that may come up, questions as fundamental as Should I breastfeed or formula-feed? When do I start to bottle-feed, and which bottle is best? Should I sleep-train or co-sleep? What toys are best for my child developmentally? How much freedom should I give my baby and kids to explore?There is a ton of debateboth online and in real lifeover how much independence we should give our children, and when we should first grant it. My earliest experience with this debate, as I recall it, welches when I took my baby to the park shortly after she started walking. My daughter could now get herself up and down the toddler-sized slide with ease, but as I sat back and proudly watched her do her thing, I bedrngnisiced the visibly concerned parents looking at me. One woman even asked if I had other older children (apparently I didnt strike her as a first-time parent). No, but I do have three nephews I replied, a little too cheerfully.Immediately, anxious thoughts flew through my head Should I get closer to her? Do I need to spot her on the slide? Nah, thats being too much of a helicopter parent, right? But what if she does fall? Then Im that neglectful parent who isnt paying attentionthe worst mom ever. That brief conversation at the park sparked a worry spiral.The debate over how we best parent our children isnt just happening in conversations between moms at the park or in a thread within your neighborhood moms facebook inc group. Parentingand parenting philosophyhas become everyones business, from your local busy-body who will notify the assekuranzbrief if you leave your children in the car unsupervised for two minutes, claiming you are engaging in neglect pare nting behavior, to your local lawmakers and police officers who are doing their best to ensure child safetyand everyones safety. But has the best parenting debate gone too far?You may remember this story Free-range parents allow their children to walk home from the park unsupervised. The children are pulled over by the police. Ultimately the state government passes a law protecting parents who allow their children to walk to and from school by themselves from prosecution. But even though children now have that freedom and are allowed to exercuse their independence, statistics shows very few13 percent at mostactually do walk to and from school by themselves.In a recent article, Lenore Skenazy, a writer and nonprofit president, and Professor Jonathan Haidt explored how parenting philosophy has shifted over the last 40 years to create what they call the fragile generation. The article confirms what we already knowthat the freedom Baby Boomers and many Gen Xers had in their childhoods i s gone, replaced by structured and heavily supervised official activities. Essentially, helicopter parentsthe overly protective schriftart who insist that obsessive parenting is the same thing as protecting child safety. The writers cite examples that seem outlandish but are all too real. A public library that wont allow children under 12 to enter without an adult, a school playground that removed the swings because they were determined to be the most unsafe of all playground equipment, and a science fair that restricted chemicals, plants in soil and organisms (living or dead).In my own childhood, in elementary school, I remember how excited I welches to be given a key to our house and the ability to walk home from the bus stop and go home on my own. Was that child neglect? I just learned not too long ago that my nephews, who are elementary school-aged, are not allowed to get off the bus if there isnt a parent or some form of adult supervision standing at the stop to pick them up. T his, in spite of the fact that you can literally see the bus stop from their house.As parents, of course, we want our children to be safe. But at what point do we need to find it in our style of parenting to let go a little and stop being so overly protective? At what point are we truly restricting our childrens opportunity to learn, to problem-solve, to become resilient so that they can enter into and navigate adulthood successfully?According to Wikipedia, free range parenting is the concept of raising children in the spirit of encouraging them to function independently and with little parental supervision, in accordance of their age of development and with a reasonable acceptance of realistic personal risks. This definition makes free range parenting sound totally reasonable, yet it continues to face criticism as a form of child neglect. Back in 2008, when Skenazy published an article about letting her nine-year-old son find his own way home in New York City, she was deemed Americ as Worst Mom.While Skenazy is absolute in her commitment to free-range parenting, as a mom of young children Im not always so sure myself. The idea of someday letting my own kids ride the subway at nine years old makes me a nervous wreck. At the same time, as an older millennial, Im very aware of how helicopter parenting has turned into mora and more adults still relying on their parents to pave the way to success. Helicopter parents are synonymous with parents who call college professors to debate their childs grades or parents who have tried to participate in interviews or negotiate salary on behalf of their child. unterstellung children need adult supervision long after they are childrenand that style of parenting debilitates them.Shifting my research focus to psychology and child development, I discovered the work of Diana Baumrind, a development psychologist who researched child behavior and determined it correlated to three distinct styles of parenting authoritative, authorita rian and permissive. In 1983 Maccoby and Martin divided permissive parenting into indulgent (permissive) and neglectful (uninvolved) parenting. Today these four parenting styles are often called the Baumrind Parenting Styles. Here they are in more detailAuthoritarian Authoritarian parents often have strict rules that, when violated, result in punishment for the offending child. These parents often do not explain the reasoning for the rules and may frequently use the phrase because I said so. Authoritarian parents are often seen as very demanding and harsh. They are not typically thermisch or nurturing toward their children and use punishment instead of positive reinforcement to direct their childrens behavior.Permissive / Indulgent Permissive parenting is the near-opposite of authoritarian parenting. Permissive parents have very few rules, and therefore allow their children to be in the drivers seat. While these parents are typically warm and nurturing toward their children, Baumr ind says they are more responsive than they are demanding. They are nontraditional and lenient, do not require mature behavior, allow considerable self-regulation, and avoid confrontation.Neglectful / Uninvolved This parenting style is exactly what it sounds like. These parents only worry about ensuring their childrens basic needs are met (e.g., food and shelter). These parents are not involved in providing guidance, structure, rules or support. Child welfare is not much of an issue to these parents.Authoritative Authoritative parents create rules and boundaries for their children much like an authoritarian parent, but they do so in a way that involves their children. These parents expect a lot from their children but also listen to them, provide them with choices, answer questions, explain the rules and discipline using methods that are more nurturing than punishing.As researchers have continued to test and study these four parenting styles, theyve seen strong evidence of each st yles direct impact on a childs academic and social performanceas well as child welfare. While these studies dont completely account for various cultural differences, overall the results do encourage parents to take on an authoritative style. Children raised by authoritative parents often have higher self-esteem, perform better academically, manage their emotions more effectively, and are more capable and more successful.While free-range parenting may not always be considered synonymous with the authoritative parenting style, the benefits of free-range parenting clearly overlap with those of a more authoritative approach. Free-range parents give their free range kid some choices, allow them age-appropriate freedom, and teach them safety skills. Free-range parents and those who follow an authoritative model similarly allow their children to make mistakes and accept responsibility for their actions. All of this inevitably fosters resilience. In one of Skenazys blog posts, she likened f ree-range parenting to giving your child a helmet but allowing them to ride and fall off their bike. Its the best way, in her view, for a child to learn to get back up and keep going.In todays America, we will still have concerned passerby who may call the police if your children are left unintended even for a moment. And as parents, we still need to be aware of local laws. For example, in Illinois the law defines a neglected minor, any minor under the age of 14 years whose parent or other person responsible for the minors welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety or welfare of that minor. However, there are clear benefits to giving your child some freedom within a semi-structured environment.While my children are still preschool-aged, and the thought of sending a nine-year-old boy into the New York City subway system alone still seems a bit crazy to me, I do know that I want my children t o build resilience, be able to manage their emotions, and live happy, successful lives. So, for now, that means backing off at the park, letting them fall down, encouraging them to navigate play dates without too much hovering and finding ways to continue to set them up to create their own success.--Mary Beth Ferrante is the owner and founder ofLive.Work.Lead., an organization dedicated to working with companies to retain top female talent by supporting women navigate their first critical year of becoming a new parent.Live.Work.Lead. works with new and expecting moms through 11 and through group programs.They also provide training to managers on the maternal wall and how to better support their employees planning for and returning from parental leave. Prior to founding Live.Work.Lead., Mary Beth was an SVP of Business Strategy for a Fortune 100 company. In addition, Live.Work.Lead. offersVirtual Mommy and Me Classes designed for Working Professionals.

The Honest to Goodness Truth on Resume Two Pages

The Honest to Goodness Truth on Resume Two Pages Read below for mora in depth info on the length of time your resume should be, and strategies for making your resume the ideal length. Youre able to edit the color along with the content with no trouble. It is better to use columns as opposed to a table. The very first solution is preferred because it gives the employer together with all of the important info about you on a single sheet of paper. Where to Find Resume Two Pages CVs are typically a couple of pages, minimum. If you choose to go with a few pages, make sure to include your name and suitable page number at the very top, suggests Ann Baehr of Best Resumes. If you get a wide skill set and plenty of career achievements then its only natural you will attempt to cram them in to earn a huge impression. A two page resume is sometimes an issue of choice and at times an issue of dignity. You are able to alter the fashion of the words also. If You Read Nothing Else Today , Read This Report on Resume Two Pages Many struggle with the question of the number of pages ought to be in a resume. Although theres no single, definitive rule, the overall consensus is you should attempt to keep it as close to two pages as possible. Its simple enough to master 2-page resume format. The Awful Side of Resume Two Pages In the event the text on the second page is just a couple of lines, you might want to think about reformatting and sticking to the 1 page rule. Always make certain it reaches the comprehensive length of the anfangsbuchstabe or the second page. Including your name near the page number is extremely desirable in case resume pages become separated from one another. In reality, 1 page is better. To fully grasp the way the amount of your CV affects your capacity to land job interviews, youve got to appear at it from the perspective of the recruiters. The duration of your resume ought to depend on your experience and the sort of job that youre see king. Top Resume Two Pages Choices In truth, it is common, in case you have more than ten decades of experience in the exact field. Youre searching for an internship or entry-level job, which usually means you have only two or three years experience. If youve got plenty of experience, you can just list your oldest roles to conserve space. Even in case you have a whole lot of internship experience, it probably doesnt all must be on your resume. Additionally, your cover letter is the ideal distributions-mix to elaborate on how your experience fits. If you own a lot of experience to put facing the reader, you need to be certain they read that, particularly if its something which can provide you with an edge on getting the position. Business cards are also included to finish the look. Looking at how others wrote their resumes can offer you some great ideas.