5 Tips for a Safe Online Job-Search

Conducting a job search using the Internet has definitely transformed how jobseekers contact hiring companies. The availability of copying and pasting a text version resume into a form at a company’s website has laid the foundation for an easier and more convenient process. No longer does a jobseeker need to spend hours with the traditional method of printing and mailing his resume to countless recipients.

With the Internet’s convenience, a breeding ground for scam artists continues to grow each year as well. Identity thefts have increased to an overwhelming 10 million cases per year, and many of them are the result of phishing — not surprisingly, the employment industry is under attack as well.

Phishing is an attempt to extract personal information through what appears to be authentic emails. If you are job searching, an email from a seemingly interested recruiter, for example, may not raise a red flag with you. You may think that the contact person and company listed are legitimate, yet looks can be deceiving. Knowing what to look for and how to spot fraud (or potential areas for abuse) can be the best deterrent to ensuring you have a safe experience while conducting your job search.

Be leery of submission invitations.
Scammers and spammers follow the same patterns. Mass emails are sent to an enormous list of recipients. Not everyone on the “hit list” is searching for a new job; however, only a small number of people need to be convinced, or tricked into believing, the email is authentic in order for the scam to be deemed successful. Receiving an email from a recruiter who states, “We saw your resume on the Internet, and we find your skill set to be perfect for one of our clients. Please complete our online application through the below link.” Ask yourself a series of questions: Did you send your resume to this recruiter? Visit the company’s website (type the web address into your browser, avoid clicking the link in the email); upon further examination are they reputable? How did they hear about you? Call the company if necessary. Always proceed with caution when you receive a cold-contact email from someone.

Avoid responding to requests for personal information, such as a social security or credit card number.
Let’s say you receive an email from what appears to be a well-known job bank. The email states that your account needs your contact and payment information to be updated in order for service renewal. You click on the link and you’re taken to a page that looks, feels, and “smells” right. You proceed by submitting the requested information. The link appeared safe, but you were taken to a site designed to defraud you. Reputable companies will rarely ask for personal information via email so examine every incoming email for validity.



When purchasing from a resume writing or resume submission service, for example, ensure information is encrypted upon hitting submit.
Encryption, in short, ensures the private information you submit online is kept safe. When at your browser, you can recognize an encrypted form when the root URL starts with “https:” instead of “http:” or seeing the padlock present in the bottom right corner of your screen. Purchasing from companies having added security measures in place can ensure your private information avoids the hands of ill-willed people. Learn more about encryption by reading Jeff Tyson’s article titled, “How Encryption Works,” at howstuffworks.com.

Read and understand the privacy policy of sites you patron.
The Better Business Bureau possesses a strict policy for members who do business online. A privacy statement must be displayed on the company’s website, no exceptions. High business practices are a necessity for maintaining the trust of online buyers; and the BBB understands the critical importance of trust among consumers. A privacy statement outlines what type of customer information is collected and how it’s used. Alliances and partnerships, for example, arrange for Company A to sell or pass on client information to Company B. The information transferred or sold could be basic, like name and email address, or far more in-depth like name, address, social security number, and phone number. No matter how basic or detailed the information, the company must have the logistics spelled out in their privacy policy.

Tell!
Reports show an estimated 80% of online fraud goes unreported. If the proper authorities aren’t aware of the magnitude of fraud that actually exists on the Internet, then getting the much-needed funds to battle the problem will take more time. The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (ifccfbi.gov) has an online complaint feature for individuals to report phishing attacks. The IFCC report process requires basic information, including information on the perpetrator and type of fraud.

In addition to filing a complaint, forward the fraudulent email to the legitimate company. Phishing is smearing the good names of countless companies, and notifying the company about the scam can also help the fight. Companies being brought onboard will ensure well-rounded efforts to this epidemic.

Avoid giving your information out freely. Whether you’re at the end of a phishing attack or the job application requires more information than you’re willing to provide, proceed with caution. Much like you’ll analyze job opportunities; intensely examine each person who receives your personal information. With safe online practices, you’ll get the best return from your job-search efforts — instead of spending hours filing a police report and calling credit bureaus and credit card companies.

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Written by Teena Rose, a columnist, public speaker, and certified/published resume writer with Resume to Referral. She’s authored several books, including "20-Minute Cover Letter Fixe" and "Cracking the Code to Pharmaceutical Sale".

Get Your Positive Income From The Internet

Copyright © 2006 John Woon (Sung-Liang Woon)
http://www.johnwoon.com

Which would you prefer -- working for the rest of your life and getting paid with miserable monthly salary or working only once but continued to be paid for the rest of your life?

If you work only once and get paid many times over, you're earning a "residual" income. Of course you would and should choose the latter.

Therefore in order to build wealth, you need to tap into "residual" income.

Very often this is also referred to as "passive" income because you could afford to be passive or non-active (i.e. not having to work) and still continue to receive income.

Many of us have been brought up to have only one major objective in life -- that is to get a good job for life! We work hard in schools so that we could get good grades to advance to colleges and universities where we work even harder so that you could get a good and secured "job". And this quest is never ending leading many to fall into the trap of "rat race" despite the fact that many could be drawing quite a handsome salary!

However many of these so-called "rich" employees are not "free' to spend badly needed valuable time with members of their families because of their very demanding jobs. Even medical doctors could not really relax and enjoy a long vacation for fear of the loss of income or patients while their clinics remain closed.

With the huge and expanding audience (600 millions, at least), many companies have now aligned themselves with the Internet which has created many new paradigms in the past few years. Residual Incomes are made available to people from all walks of life. You can now make money online with simple and proven formula used by many to earn multiple streams of residual income.

Many programs have been designed for new Internet marketers who have no time or interest to learn HTML, Java, PHP and ASP. With a simple Control Panel, they aer only a few clicks away from having a complete and professional website to start your online Internet home-based business! There is absolutely no worry about computer programming, webpage design and product creation! Affiliate programs make life so much easier now.

This includes credit card authorization, order fulfilment, product shipping, and customer service.
Also, there is no worry about inventory. There is no staff to hire and pay, no merchant accounts to set up, and no costly and time-consuming application process for licenses and permits to go through.

Sometimes a fully functional website could be created free of charge. It captures visitors automatically and follows up with them 24 hours a day and 30 days per month for 365 days a year! The visitors' names and email addresses are automatically recorded and follow-up automatically with a pre-written email marketing campaign.

The following is a general guide one can follow in order to develop good habits for achieving one's goals:

1) Create A Plan
We should have a plan to set an achievable short term, medium term and long term objectives, prepare a budget and stick to them as far as possible. Carry out periodical checking to determine any deviations from the plan and take the necessary remedial actions.

2) Good Organisation Skill
We need to download a lot of software, ebooks or PDF books from specific individuals or organizations for your continued education along with a lot of contacts that could be our potential leads or customers. We therefore need to have a systematic procedure to keep all these vital information and data in the right and proper folders for efficient and ease of retrieving without waste of time.

3) Be Consistent
Do not fall into the trap of countless of seemingly very attractive offers promises that you would inevitable encounter. Stay consistent with a handful of strategies that work and stick with them.

4) Be Focused
Once you have decided to start working online, you must stay focused and do not allow any distraction to affect your concentration. Stick to a schedule but do not get carried away and spend too much time in front of your PC because your loved ones, including deserve your attention and time too.

5) Be Steadfast And Persevere
Failures and disappointment would be inevitable. Do persevere as this is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time to see the fruit of you effort although it'd definitely come. Use any failures to your advantage by learning from them.

See success in every failure and opportunity in every threat. Passive income from Internet business is a real possibility!

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This article was posted at iReprint.info on 2006-03-29. Webmasters and publishers are free to reprint this article as long as the resource box and all the links remain intact.

Ten Tips to A Powerful Resume

A new resume can jump-start your career. Your network contacts may ask for a resume and some industries absolutely, positively demand a resume as the price of admission.

Does your resume come across as wimpy as a lettuce leaf -- the kind that hides under your salad and nobody notices? Create a powerful resume that demands to be noticed -- and earns kudos for great style.

1. Your resume is a sales tool. It is not a place for therapeutic self-disclosure or true confessions. Be honest but present your accomplishments in the most positive way.

2. Leave tricky questions ("Why did you have six jobs in ten years?" "Why are you applying for an entry position after you've been running the show?") for the interview. Practice interview responses with a support group, friend or career coach.

3. If chronology works against you, opt for a sales pitch letter or use your network to get past the screener. If you can't avoid a resume, some experts will advise a functional resume. However, once you show up for an interview, expect to be asked for a chronological review.

4. Focus on accomplishments. "Supervised ten people on a project that finished three weeks before deadline and saved megabucks."

If you're over fifteen, you do not have "duties." You have "responsibilities" and "accomplishments." Anyway, nobody cares about what you were supposed to do. They want to know what you contributed.

5. Exploring multiple jobs? Tailor your resume to each position and each field. Show that you understand your target firm's problems -- and are uniquely equipped to solve them.

6. Do not let anyone write your resume for you. Accept suggestions and feedback but the final product should be in your own words.

7. Use your network to review the final product. Ask at least six people in your field for candid feedback. Learn more about networking.

Post your Resume at Oz Free Online Job Search Listings.

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This article was posted at iReprint.info on 2003-12-31. Webmasters and publishers are free to reprint this article as long as the resource box and all the links remain intact.

Five Biggest Resume Mistakes You Can Fix Your Self

By: Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.

A career consultant can diagnose and overhaul a troubled resume. But you can check off many of the killer mistakes yourself.

Mistake #1. "The mystery applicant." No contact
information.

Fix: List a daytime phone number and email address, right at the top of the page. Create a professional-sounding message for your answering device.

Mistake #2. "The scrunchie." Loads of detail crammed together in eight-point type.

Fix: Add lots of white space, avoid tiny type and use bullet points instead of long paragraphs. If you've got a story to tell, most employers will happily turn to a second page.

Mistake #3: "The snoozer." Obituary of a boring employee.

Fix: Sell yourself by focusing on accomplishments.
Demonstrate the impact of your achievements. Describe actions, not obligations.

Mistake #4: "The expressionist." Doesn't follow the rules and sets off alarm bells.

Fix: Choose chronological rather than functional resumes, especially if you use traditional job-hunting sources: HR departments, recruiters, and advertisements. Off the beaten path, use a sales letter or network your way to in-person
presentations.

Mistake #5: "Creative language." Spelling, grammar and punctuation errors.

Fix: Proof-read and ask a friend to help. Computerized spelling and grammar checks won't catch everything. A carefully-prepared resume will stand out more than you can imagine.

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This article was posted at iReprint.info on 2003-12-31. Webmasters and publishers are free to reprint this article as long as the resource box and all the links remain intact.

Managing The Fear And Anxiety Of Finding Another Job

Layoffs in today’s business world are common and with it comes the fear and anxiety of finding another job. With this in mind, here is a list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their stresses and anxieties in finding a new job.

A technique that can be used to reduce the stress of finding another job is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps and then complete each of the smaller tasks one at a time. For instance, the first thing you should do is to determine what kind of job you want. Once you know what you are looking for, the next step is to update and prepare your resume. Once that is finished, you should then concentrate on finding the companies that interest you and send your resume to them. Once you submit your resume, the next step is to prepare for the job interview by completing these smaller tasks, you will reduce your stress and anxiety and increase your chances of finding another job.

Sometimes we may get depressed during our job search. Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that make us feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket. Whenever you feel depressed, open up your small notebook and read those statements.

In addition, it also helps to write down a list of things you are thankful for in this world. For instance; good health, a good marriage, lots of friends, being smart and resourceful, and a good education are things that any person can be thankful for. Whenever you get discouraged in finding another job, take out your list and focus on the things that make you happy. This technique will make you feel better and give you more encouragement to continue with the job search.

Finding a new job can be tough, however remember to take it one day at a time. While the consequences of a particular fear may seem real, there are usually other factors that can not be anticipated and can affect the results of any situation. Focus on the present and do your best each day. Next week will take care of its self.

As a Layman, I know that our anxieties and stresses can be difficult to manage when finding a new job. Managing your stress during a job search takes practice. Be patient and in time you will become better in dealing with your anxieties.

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About The Author: Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods”-a book that presents a overview of techniques in managing Fear. For more info go to: http://www.managingfear.com For free articles on managing fear please go to: http://www.managingfear.com

Article Source Freezine Articles

Resume and Cover Letters - What's the Difference?

According to the dictionary, a resume is "a summary, as of one's employment, education, etc., used in applying for a new position." Conversely, a curriculum vitae (C.V.) is noted as "a regular or particular course of study of or pertaining to education and life."

In other words, a RESUME is a career and educational summary meant to highlight your skills and experience and a C.V. is a list meant to document every job and degree you've ever received in your life.

When professionals working abroad decide that they want to seek out job opportunities in the U.S. and send out their C.V.s to American companies, they have no idea what Human Resource and Personnel Directors are looking for when reviewing these documents. In a typical C.V., the first category is Education, listing preparatory/college/university information and dates right up front. If the mechanical engineer or CEO sending this document graduated from university in 1974, that is not the most important piece of information that a headhunter or HR Director needs to know about this person.

The C.V. continues with Work Experience, often listing jobs going back to college days, and often listing them in chronological order (starting with 1976 for example, and ending with the 1997-Present position somewhere down on page 2 or 3). The C.V. is quite simply a listing of company names, job titles, dates of employment, and job responsibilities. Just the potatoes, without the meat and gravy, so to speak. A professional resume, on the other hand, does not require that you include every job you've ever held since being a counselor at Camp Thanksalot.

The C.V. is written in a paragraph style, not broken up with bulleted or italicized information to highlight any skills, accomplishments, or achievements for each specific position like a resume. Each paragraph lists the responsibilities from a first person perspective "I" and "my" - which is just not done in a professional resume. On this side of the Atlantic, a resume is written in the third person so as to appear more objective and factual.

The next faux pas of the C.V. is to include personal information in the document. The applicant lists marital status, nationality, height and weight, date of birth, and other information which is just not necessary or warranted when applying for a job in the U.S. Hobbies and Personal Interests are also often listed on C.V.s. But whether you play acoustic guitar or spin wool for cardigan sweaters, it does not belong on a resume.

A strong, professionally written resume, however, starts out with a brief Summary of Qualifications, next is a key word section listing your Areas of Strength or Industry Expertise, then Professional Experience where your career experience for the past ten to fifteen years is focused on and any experience prior to that may be summarized. The information listed under Professional Experience is written in reverse chronological order (most recent or present job first and going back from there) and includes a balance of responsibilities and accomplishments for each position.

After the work experience, Professional Affiliations, Computer Skills, and Education sections should appear. The best strong, to-the-point resumes should be one to two pages. Conversely, oftentimes C.V.s go on for three or four pages.

Keep in mind that resumes are intended to present a summary of highlights to allow the prospective employer to scan through the document visually or electronically and see if your skills match their available positions. A good resume can do that very effectively -- a C.V. cannot.



This article was posted at iReprint.info on 2003-12-30 by Peter Newfield

Cover Letters – An Important Introduction

Your resume can present your skills, education and experience to a possible employer, but your cover letter must encourage the perspective employer enough to consider you from hundreds of candidates competing for a particular job opening.


Your cover letter must be a presentation of your qualifications and abilities and must be presented in a professional yet personalized format that says you are serious about getting hired. It is your first chance to make a good impression and makes the hiring manager want to continue to read your enclosed resume.


Do You Really Need a Cover Letter?


You bet that you do! It is the first chance you have to market yourself to a perspective employer. It is the most important way to introduce yourself and give a brief highlight of why you think you are right for the position.


Think about this, you would never show up at a perspective employer’s door uninvited, therefore your resume should never just show up on the hiring manager’s desk without some kind of introduction. Your cover letter is that introduction. Through it, you introduce yourself, sell your qualifications and show them that you are a strong candidate for the position. You don’t put too much information into it, just enough to make them interested in learning more about you and what you can offer the company in terms of your abilities and experience.


Cover letters should be created with care. Don’t rush it, take your time to think through what needs to be mentioned in it and write a draft on paper. Go over it afterwards and edit it for spelling and grammar. You don’t want to send a cover letter that is full of errors. Here are some steps to help you create your own cover letter.


Creating a cover letter


1. Get personal

The cover letter should be directed to a specific individual whenever possible. Because many companies recruit for many positions at the same time you should also indicate the position title you are applying for.


2. Why do you want this job?

The cover letter should also say “why” you are interested in the position. Be clear and get to the point. Cover letters should be specific but concise. The letter should not be more then one page. Perspective employer’s are not looking for your life history in a cover letter, just a brief introduction and overview of your qualifications. Include a few reasons why you think your skills are a good fit for the job and briefly mention the highlights of your career. State your intentions and qualifications. Hiring managers do not want to read a list of skills that have nothing to do with the position you are applying for. They want to see that you have the skills needed to do the job well.


3. Talk about your strengths

Hiring managers want to know why you think you are right for the position. Tell them in a big way by listing some of your major career accomplishments. The point here is to make the best impression that says how much value you can bring to the job. Some examples may include:


Examples:

· Increased sales by 93 percent in first quarter.

· Renegotiated leases or loans at a reduced interest rate that resulted in a yearly savings of $50,000.

· Implemented new processes that resulted in savings of 100 man-hours.


4. No Negative Information

Never include any negative information or remarks of any kind. Especially about your current or past employers or coworkers. This will turn off the reader and your resume will never get read.


5. Salary and/or Relocation Information

Include this information only if the perspective employer requests it and do not include it on your resume. If requested, the cover letter is the place where you should include it or create a separate sheet listing your salary history. Salary is usually negotiated once you become a clear choice for the position. Never ask how much the position pays. The interviewer may ask you what starting salary you are looking for, but rarely will tell you how much the position pays until you become a clear choice for the job.


6. Take charge

Make sure that you mention in the cover letter that you are available for a personal interview. Include all your contact information so that the perspective employer has several ways to reach you, E.g. email, phone, cell etc.


A professionally written, error-free cover letter can open the door to your dream job or to a new career and will increase your chances of getting the interview.



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About the Author: Simone Emmons is a human resources professional of 18 years and founder of http://Hispanic-Jobs.com and http://Asian-Jobs.com, 2 niche job boards for bilingual professionals. At http://www.hispanic-jobs.com & http://www.asian-jobs.com we provide thousands of job opportunities for bilingual English/Spanish and English/Asian-speaking professionals ranging from entry level to executive level – nationwide.
The author has given full permission to publish it either electronically or in print, free of charge, in its entirety, as long as the article content remains unchanged as is published here today and that the authors copyright with resource box are included.

Source: www.isnare.com

Find Job Opportunity in Australia

Interview Tactics - Stand Out From The Crowd

Going into an interview without a plan is like committing employment suicide. There are several things that you can do to prepare for an interview that will make a lasting impression in the interviewer and make your skills stand out from the crowd.

Once you get a call to go in for an interview, your number one priority becomes PREPARATION. You can never be “too ready” for an interview. The more prepared you are, the harder it will be to make mistakes. Here are several things that you can do to prepare for an interview.

· Know Your Contact

When you do get a call for an interview, ask the name of the person or persons that you’ll be talking to. It’s a nice edge to be able to greet your interviewer by name at the beginning of the interview without waiting for them to introduce themselves. It’s the first indication that you’re on top of things, and have prepared beforehand.

· Do Your Research

Before going to the interview, make sure you do some research on the Internet. First try to do a search to see if the company has an established website. Read about their products or the services the company offers. Also do more research on the search engines to see if there are any articles that come up mentioning the company. You be amazed how many information you can find out from search engines. While you do your research and learn about the company you can prepare your questions to take to the interview. It is ok to ask questions and it will show that you have a genuine interest in the company.

· Practice Your Responses

If you’re the overly nervous type, it’s best to practice your responses to the questions that you may be asked by the interviewer. You should practice your wording and the tone of voice that you plan to use. You can also role-play with a friend or family member. Try keeping your responses as brief as possible and do not mention any of your personal information. An interviewer is only interested in your work experience not your personal life.

· Dress the Part

“Dress for success” is a phrase that I’m sure you have heard a thousand times or more. Never has there been a truer statement. It really does matter what you wear and how you’re groomed. Again, we get back to first impressions. As soon as the interviewer sees you, he/she is already forming an opinion about you simply by the way you’re dressed and groomed.

· Get Organized

Make sure that all of the things that you’ll need for the interview are laid out the day before. Make a checklist of the things that you’ll need if you have to search for them.

· Attitude & Body Language

There are many things that you can do to focus on the interview. Keeping your body language under control is at the top of the list. It’s not just the words that come out of your mouth, but often the mannerisms that you use that will give the wrong impression. Moving around in your chair, playing with you hair, tapping, crossing your leg and swinging it or any other thing that you do out of nervousness will be distracting to the interviewer and he/she will notice.

· Show Your Confidence

You’ll need to put yourself in the right frame of mind before entering the interview room. Attitude and confidence count and you need to have the right amount of both. You can’t enter into an interview with a defeatist attitude or lack confidence in your abilities. Again, you won’t come off as the professional that you claim to be.

Remember that during an interview, you’re a sales person. You’re there to sell your skills and expertise to your prospective employer. You want to market yourself in the most interesting and appealing way possible. Solid preparation for the interview gives you that advantage. A sales person that is knowledgeable, friendly and positive always closes the sale, remember that!


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About the Author: Simone Emmons is a human resources professional of 18 years and founder of http://Hispanic-Jobs.com and http://Asian-Jobs.com, 2 niche job boards for bilingual professionals. At http://www.hispanic-jobs.com & http://www.asian-jobs.com we provide thousands of job opportunities for bilingual English/Spanish and English/Asian-speaking professionals ranging from entry level to executive level – nationwide.
The author has given full permission to publish it either electronically or in print, free of charge, in its entirety, as long as the article content remains unchanged as is published here today and that the authors copyright with resource box are included.

Source: www.isnare.com

Find a your career at Australian Job Search

Working Under Stress And Distraction


Ever had a week, or month or how about a summer that was so overwhelming, so chaotic that you simply didn't know where to start to get back on track?


You may not have any control over the thing (or things) that set off the chaos but you still have to deal with the ramifications. Often on top of the physical presence of the chaos there is also internal emotional turmoil that suddenly boils up from who knows where.


For example, this is going back to school time. For those of you who have young kids it often means the end to summer…sanity is around the corner. But for those of you whose kids are "coming of age" it may mean they are off to college and that could mean they're moving out of the house and sometimes out of state.


Regardless of how often you thought you'd be glad when the day came that they were leaving…now that it's here it can be a real emotional ringer. I've got several clients that feel like they are on an emotional rollercoaster for just this reason.


Added to that emotional turmoil is the feeling they have left so much undone during this time, they don't know where to start.


Or maybe you've been away for close to a week attending your company's annual event. You've been exposed to a lot of information. You're excited and rearing to go. But you're feeling overwhelmed. "Where do I begin" and feeling behind in your day to day life. So what do you do…often we do nothing.


Neither of the above examples are what train wrecked me this last week. But that is exactly how I feel overwhelmed and on an emotional rollercoaster. What caused the sky to fall for me? Technical difficulties.


My email account (Outlook) went down and I've been unable to access any of my files nor can I get or send emails. This is huge for me as I do a lot of my business using email. Believe me for the first couple of days, the sky was falling.


Loosing my folders would be awful and being virtually off line for a week has sent things into a real tizzy.


I felt so far behind that it seemed I'd never catch up and I was really at odds as to where to begin.


Where do you begin when this happens?


This is what I did and I hope the process helps you. I made a list of all the things I could think of that were lurking out there playing on my mind. All the things that were left undone while the distraction was taking my time…this newsletter was one of them. It was "due" on the 15th and here it is the 18th and still not out.


Once I got the list of projects in front of me that were undone (and making me crazy) it was easier (and much less frightening) to choose the first one to do.


In this case it was the newsletter. I decided that was my first project.


Did that fix everything?


No, I'm still behind and feeling angst (and Outlook is still not working right). So the next thing I did was stand back a bit and take a look at how I was dealing with the situation.


Here is what I heard, "You need to tell those Microsoft guys that you're out of time, and they need to do whatever it takes to get this fixed." Clever huh, do I really think these guys are not doing everything they can to fix this problem? Here's another gem, "Everything is still sitting there, when will it get done. You're going on vacation next week, how can you do that with this mess?"


What I heard was all the negative chatter reinforcing how far behind I was and all the things that I "should" be doing. It became apparent that this was a job for the "Tom and Jerry" solution. For those of you who don't know the Tom and Jerry solution see my ezine # 6. It was time to "thank it for sharing, flick it off my shoulder and listen to something constructive, something positive."


Don't be so hard on yourself


And this ladies and gentlemen is really the entire reason for this article. So many of us think we are supposed to "get perfect" and stay that way. When the real trick is to recognize when you are off schedule, off kilter or in anyway out of sorts or out of focus … and simply come back to focus.


As soon as I decided I was going to put the "distraction" on the back burner (even for just a little while) and focus on something I knew I had control over, things began to clear for me.


Oh the negative chatter didn't stay away very long - at first. But what did happen immediately, I was able to refocus much more quickly. So the amount of time I was "spinning" doing nothing of real value got shorter and shorter.


And that's the trick. It isn't how much is undone, or how long you've been off track, that really makes for failure. What trips us up is not coming back to focus.


Everyone gets off focus. What makes for success is to keep coming back.


And here's one last thought on that. Come back congratulating yourself. Yep, congratulating yourself.


You have a couple of choices in this situation (at least). You can be really annoyed with yourself for "being off focus again." Or you can congratulate yourself for recognizing you were "off" and bringing yourself back.


Which do you think will be the most productive? (Let's see, is the glass half full or half empty?)


Remember the hash mark exercise from the last ezine and try that here. When you realize you're "off focus" add one of those hash marks to your collection. But do with congratulations for being aware that you were off focus.


What happens as soon as you are aware you're off focus?


Right, you back on track.


Be good to you when things out of your control suddenly take over. And as soon as you can, take a break from the chaos and do something that moves your life forward. The chaos will still be there waiting for you…(or maybe not) when you return to it.


Recap of steps


In its essence pretty simple really:


1. Stand back from the situation and make a list of everything that is undone

2. Pick something that's important to you from the list. (Everything important? Choose something you can complete fairly easily and quickly.)

3. Using the Tom and Jerry exercise from ezine #6 and break the negative chatter pattern.

4. Congratulate yourself for recognizing when you're off focus. Great job, you're aware!

I'd love to hear how this works for you, please email me and let me know.


May all your hassles be little and your (re)focus strong! :)


© 2006 Jillian Middleton All rights reserved.


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About the Author: Jillian Middleton is a Mentor Coach and Trainer, and author of the courses '5 Steps to Working Less and Making More in Network Marketing' and Setting Up Your Store Hours. As creator of the 'Savvy Sponsoring Strategies' Program, Jillian trains network marketers and direct sales consultants the same strategies she used to build two 6-figure network marketing businesses in 5 years. For more information on Jillian or her programs visit http://www.SavvySponsoring.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Look for your career at Australian Job Search

How You Can Use The Internet In Your Job Search
By Laura Adams

If you haven’t already starting using the internet to assist you in the job search, then you are missing out on a huge employment trend. There are numerous reasons to take advantage of this powerful tool, the most important one being that employers are using the internet more than ever to find candidates. If recent internet usage studies are accurate, nearly 48% of businesses do at least some of their recruiting online. Not utilizing the internet in your job search means that you are flying under the radar for many potential job opportunities.

The internet is useful for a number of job search-related activities including:

-- Searching for Jobs Online

-- Posting your Resume Online

-- Networking

-- Company Research

Searching for Jobs Online

Million of job openings are posted online each year, many times more openings that you could possibly access on your own outside of the internet. There are a number of general employment sites that allow postings in all professions, industries, and experience levels. These sites are very large in both size and scope, but are popular with employers and job seekers alike.

If you are able to narrow your job search to a specific profession or industry, niche sites will be incredibly valuable. Niche sites are those websites that specialize in a particular industry or profession, as opposed to allowing for the postings of any position imaginable. The advantages of using a niche site are (1) that you will not need to sort through nearly as many job openings to find those that fit your qualifications, and (2) that traffic is much less at niche sites. As a result, the competition for these positions is not nearly as fierce.

In addition to standard online job boards, many government agencies (from the local to federal level) now list all available positions online. Companies with corporate websites also frequently post any job openings on the company’s job announcement board. You can use any major internet search engine such as Google or Yahoo to find a specific government or company website.

A final note on online job searches: a large majority of newspapers with widespread circulation publish classified ads, including job openings, on the internet now. These ads can be accessed for free in most cases, and will give you direct access to any local position openings.

Posting your Resume Online

Resume banks are large online databases that allow you to post your resume to be accessed by recruiters and potential employers. The advantage to keeping a copy (or copies) of your resume online in a visible location is that allows employers actively seeking candidates to consider your credentials without you having to submit your resume directly to the company. Individuals worried about confidentiality can opt to leave personal identifying information off of the resume and simply provide an anonymous email address at which interested employers can reach them.

Many job boards also have resume banks, so take the time to browse around your favorite job sites to determine your options for posting your resume. Resumes can frequently be uploaded directly to the site or cut and pasted for quick posting. In the event that the site does not support this technology (or if you only have a hard copy of your resume), you will need to manually enter your resume into the site by filling out a form or typing into a pre-designated text box.

Technically-savvy job seekers may also choose to post their resume on their own hosted website, on a free personal site provided by your Internet Service Provider.

Networking

Networking is one of the most successful ways to find a new job, since personal relationships often lead to opportunities that you might have otherwise never knew existed. The internet offers innumerable opportunities to network with other professionals in your field. Online forums, newsgroups, and professional journals/blogs allow you to connect with professionals who may be able to point you (and your job search) in the right direction. You may even be able to find a mentor to help guide you in your career development.

Company Research

The internet is a powerful tool for conducting research on a specific company in which you are interested. Using a major search engine to scour the web for information on a company will turn up a company’s corporate webpage (if they have one) as well as a variety of other web sources disclosing information that may be highly pertinent to your job search. Use the internet, for example, to research the company’s products and services, industry, competitors, financial information, history, and reputation.

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Laura Adams is a qualified careers advisor with 11 years experience. Teaching Employment Information - Resources, News, Tips and Views to help Teachers find their dream jobs. http://www.Teaching-Job.info

Copyright Teaching-Job.info This article may be reproduced as long as the resource box and live links remain intact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Adams

10 Tips For Writing A Professional Resume


1. Start with an attractive layout. Use bold and italics to
highlight key points.

I do not recommend downloadable templates because they are very
generic and dull. Get creative but not crazy. You can use a
little touch of color if you are modest.

2. Justify the text instead of using left align.

Most people are accustomed to reading justified text. This will
make your résumé easy to follow.

3. Choose a common font. Times New Roman, Arial, and Verdana
are some of the best fonts for a résumé.

Now is not the time to experiment. Most computers do not have
600 different fonts installed so the file will not read
correctly if you use your decorative fonts.

Do not use cutesy graphics such as candy canes or teddy bears
if you want to be taken seriously.

- Yes, I have really received a résumé with teddy bears and
candy canes on it.

It is NOT appropriate for business correspondence, and I
guarantee your résumé will be canned if you do this.

4. Do not use the word "I" in your résumé. Start each sentence
with a powerful verb.

- Organized annual student symposium by securing speakers and
working closely with marketing department executives.

- Implemented production bonus incentives and "best practices"
matrix for all divisions raising overall productivity by as
much as 40%.

5. Write a proper cover letter for each position you apply to.
Do not ever send out a résumé without a cover letter.

This is basic business etiquette. Personalize each cover letter
directly to the position you are applying to. A generic cover
letter will not work to your benefit. If possible, address the
letter directly to a person. If you do not know the hiring
managers name, use "Hiring Manager".

6. Print your résumé and read it word for word.

You can use the grammar and spell check function, but don't
rely on it.

7. When you have a degree, list only the year that you obtained
your degree.

When you list your dates of attendance, many résumé scanning
systems will not recognize that you obtained a degree, only
that you attended college for a period.

8. Deactivate all e-mail links and web addresses in your résumé
and cover letter.

To do this in MS Word, highlight the link with your mouse, go
to the "Insert" drop down menu, scroll down to and click
"Hyperlink", and on the lower left-had side of this screen
there should be a little button that says "Remove link", when
you find it, give it a little click and voila! Alternatively,
you can highlight the link with your mouse, right click on it,
and scroll down to "remove link" to deactivate the link.

9. Be consistent!

For example, don't list one date as 1/2004 and then list
another date as 9/22/2004.

List software consistently. MS Word and Microsoft Excel are
both correct, but not consistent when used together.

10. Adhere to punctuation and capitalization rules.

Use a reference manual if you do not understand standard
punctuation and capitalization rules.

Post your resume and Let employers know you.
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About the Author: Jennifer Anthony is the owner of
http://www.ResumeASAP.com, offering professional and affordable
resume writing services. She also moderates the forums over at
http://free-resume-advice.com/resume-advice/index.php Come
visit us if you need resume advice or have specific questions
about your resume. E-mail: jenn@resumeasap.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com