Some people too quickly assume that classes before college aren’t that significantly relevant to their child’s future career, however, it now seems that even middle school and some elementary classes play a significant role on a child’s future career and job decisions. Have you ever thought about what kind of job or career your child might want to eventually find? 

By James Sale

People all have a view on this, and the results of the Luvata poll are clear: maths and the sciences comprise a full 50% and literacy and languages 43%; arts, geography and history are also-runs sweeping up the rear. Of course, these statistics are misleading, especially to parents: they see that doctors or lawyers earn a small fortune and so press for them at school to be good numerically or linguistically, and hey bingo! a successful career beckons. But the trouble is: is it the right career for the child?

As a professional mentor I have met dozens of high achieving, career success orientated individuals who have done it – been a career success only to find midway or later that that is not what they wanted to do at all. They hated it; and they resent their parents for putting them through it, and the teachers who complied – who did not spot their real talent for art or whatever.

There is an expression: nobody on their death bed wishes they had spent more time in the office. How true. And there is another, even more chilling: most people die with their music still inside them. They don’t get to be and do who they are.

So we should really be asking the question not about career success, important as it is, but widening it to include life success? What would a successful life look like? And there are seven core elements which are non-negotiable.

First, high levels of self-esteem: do we feel good about ourselves, or are we always in a state of anger, guilt or fear? Second, do we have high energy and good health, because without it all career success is compromised. Third, do we have high quality relationships with others – a perennial source of joy and happiness.

Then, fourth, wealth – enough money to stop worrying about money. And yes, career success can help here. But can it help with fifth: meaning – purpose, ideals, values which enable us to transcend the pettinesses of life and contribute to a greater good? Some careers can.

Sixth, growth – what Maslow called self-actualisation – becoming all that we can be and not just stagnating. From a career point of view stagnating is just doing a ‘job’ – there is no progression, no vision and no sense of momentum. Finally, seventh, self-awareness; the foundation stone of all growth and furthermore a sign of openness to learning and profound curiosity about the nature of the self.

And this leads back to what schools teach: do schools teach students what they really need to know? Perhaps a subject for Luvata’s next poll!

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By Jessica Butler

Finding a job is hard work. It is a full time job in and of itself. Thankfully, there are tips available on how to find employment in today’s struggling economy. One such tip – Networking.

Networking is key in your job search. You are less likely to be hired for your knowledge and experience alone than you are for who you know.

60% of people are hired because of an acquaintance.

Learn how to find employment through multiple channels of networking.

Online
Social Networks online. Every day there are more and more online social networks. Whatever your interests are, odds are, there is at least one blog, chat room or message board for you.

Google it. Search online for your previous schools, sports teams, organizations, volunteer groups or employment fields. You will see search results from a number of interactive sites offering you an opportunity to connect.

Don’t be selfish. Participate in the conversations on the message board. Be respectful of other’s posts and answer politely. Do not consume the message board with comments and answers solely about yourself. People are likely to return your generosity if you lend helpful advice. Before long, you will have a new group of friends.

Join diverse groups. You know people from all walks of life. Make an effort to associate with a variety of people online as well. Sign up and participate in multiple sites and message boards.

Webinars, online courses. Classes, courses, webinars and telesummits are available both locally and online. Even though you will not meet your peers in person, you still have a chance to interact with them in discussion groups.

Share your need. Post your status, tweet your requests, pin your purpose and link up with others. Now that you have made your contacts it is time to share with your “friends” your need for assistance in your job search. As always, do not hesitate to offer up your help to them.

Appreciate your contacts. The value of your online friendships should not be overlooked. People are more likely to spend a few moments responding to you online than meet up with you in person and take up more valuable time

Person to Person
Spread The Word. Tell all your friends and relatives you are looking for work. They will never know if you do not tell them.

Take the initiative. People do not like to out-step their boundaries, therefore will often

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Are you struggling to get results (as in job leads and job offers) in the current job market? Many people wonder if there is a secret to getting hired in today’s job market. I’m not sure there’s a secret, but there are strategies you can employ to increase your odds and improve your results.

Here are my current top 5 job search strategies for thriving in the current job market – to land the job you want, one that you’ll love. Compare this list to what you are currently doing to find work. To maximize your results, it is important that you apply all five of these strategies at the same time. Using just one or two no longer nets the results you may have experienced 5-10 years ago.

1 - Target your search. Be specific and targeted in your job search. I find that I am often comparing the job search process to dating. You need to court the company/employer: Do your research. Get to know who they are. Express an interest in them, specifically. Show them how you’d be a valuable employee for them to have.

2 - Get current. Update your resumé format and leverage technology (e.g. linked in/Facebook/twitter). Make sure you use keywords! Use a modern (basic sans-serif) font (e.g. Arial). Set up your profile on LinkedIn. Use LinkedIn to connect with coworkers from your present and past and get recommendations. Use Twitter and Facebook to make new connections.

3 - Be confident. Know who you are and what you offer! Know your strengths, skills and goals. Know what you bring to the table.

4 - Focus on your accomplishments*. Speak to your experience and accomplishments on your resumé, in your cover letter, in your interviews. Describe how your demonstrated work experience would benefit the new company. Show the ways in which you’ve “been there, done that”.

5 - Network. Network. Network. Continue to develop your current relationships and form new ones. Rather than apply online via a job search site, use your network to find a way to contact the company directly. Don’t forget to help others find work, and ask for their help find work for you.

I find many people are using some, but not all, of these strategies in their search. If you’re not getting the results you want, are you leveraging each of these strategies in your search?

*For more on accomplishments, visit http://unearthyourworth.com/its-all-about-accomplishments/

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By Clare Mason

By Tom Bodeep

Once you get an interview with a company, you want it to go as well as possible. There are certain steps that you can take to ensure that your interview goes as well as it can, so that you can secure your career and won’t have to go back to the job searching process. Here are a few tips:

Know the Company

Interviewers expect you to have done your research so that you know about their company and their company’s needs, and the job you are applying for, and they will ask the difficult questions to determine whether you’ve done that research or not. It may help to remember that the interview is less about you and more about whether you can help the company with their needs. Focus your research on how you can solve their problem if you are limited on time to prepare.

Prepare Your Answers

Although you will not know the exact questions you will be asked, you can still be prepared with bullet point responses that cover a variety of situations, according to the job you are applying to. Generally speaking, hiring managers want to know about your background, your knowledge of the position (including information about their company), your skills, your personality, your future goals, and sometimes even your job search process. Consider using the STAR method to formulate your answers. STAR stands for:

· Situation – describe what the overall situation was
· Task or problem – what issue did you face in that situation?
· Action – what action or actions did you take to solve the issue?
· Result – offer a quantifiable result of your actions.

This method helps you to accurately and appropriately describe your experiences and ensures that you are able to offer real results from those experiences.

Dress to Impress

No matter how casual the company culture, you should dress professionally for your interview. Your appearance will make an impression throughout your discussion, and you want that impression to underline your professionalism. When in doubt, wear a suit; it is always better to be overdressed than it is to be underdressed.

Have a Conversation, Not an Interrogation

If you believe that interviews should be questions on their side and answers on your side, you’re not making the most of your interview. This is the ideal occasion for the company to get to know you, but it is also the ideal time for you to get to know more about the company and the position you’re applying for. Casually let them know how your job search process has been going and what some of the top career tips you have learned are. Ask appropriate questions as they come up so that you can engage your interviewer in a conversation that allows you both to learn more about each other and whether you and the company are a good fit for each other.

 

Send a Thank You Note

Let your interviewer to know that you are grateful for the job opportunity they’ve given you by sending them a note expressing your gratitude. Though a hand-written note is always the preferred method, you could also send a thank you email. Whichever way you choose to go with expressing your thanks, be sure to thank every person involved in your interview process and make sure that your note presents you professionally. Good grammar, legible handwriting, and high quality stationary all help to make a good impression.

Tom Bodeep is the Senior Vice President of TRC Staffing Services, Inc., a full-service staffing solutions provider with over 30 years of industry experience. Established in 1980, TRC is one of the largest privately-held staffing firms in the country. TRC has 44 locations in 14 states, providing traditional staffing services, professional and technical staffing, and management services to some of the country’s leading companies. Learn more at http://www.trcstaffing.com

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But online applications are a whole different ball game. Sure, they have the standard questions about contact information, etc., but these applications have additional questions and usually a “personality test” that can take up to an hour to complete!

Here are the basic guidelines for completing an online application:

1. Before you start, make sure you are prepared with all the information you need (including names and phone numbers of previous employers). On some applications, taking too long will disqualify you before anyone even sees your application (like if you have to hunt for a name of a supervisor or a phone number). However, it is usually okay to save your application and come back to it if you really need to. I’ve never seen an online application that didn’t have this option. Also, make sure you have a good internet connection and your environment is free of distractions.

2. Do not skip any questions (unless the question says something like, “For Maryland residents only”, and you live in Rhode Island… ) and don’t lie.

3. If you have a criminal history, be upfront about it. You are required by law to report it unless you are a resident of Massachusetts or Hawaii. However, read the question carefully – what are they asking? “Have you ever been convicted of a crime” is a very different question from “Have you been convicted of a felony within the past 7 years”. Even if you’ve been convicted of a crime, you may be able to answer “No” depending on what the question asks for.

4. Several online apps ask for previous addresses and how long you lived there. I’m not sure what the reason for this is – I can only guess it’s to see if you’re someone who moves from state to state every six months. Be prepared with that information and if you have moved a lot, consider listing your parents’ home as your previous address.

5. On the personality test, try not to over-think it. Your answers will end up looking scattered and disorganized. (This is hard, I know! I “failed” the personality test for a job I was eventually offered, for this reason.)

6. Employers want to see extreme honesty – so it’s okay to be honest about your limitations. They are, however, looking for people who have a positive outlook and can have good relationships with coworkers (hint, hint).

7. If the test has options like, “sometimes,” “always,” and “never,” don’t select the middle-of-the-road option too often. It may come off as you not paying attention, and your application may be tossed. Move steadily through the questions. Read each one carefully but don’t idle. Taking too long or changing too many answers may make it look like someone was helping you.

http://workinggirlworld.wordpress.com

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Contracting with employment agencies is the best and most convenient way of sourcing out the finest people to do the job in your company. You need not do the excruciatingly laborious task of looking for people to fill in your requirements for the job. All you have to do is talk to these people, tell them exactly what you are looking for, and they will do the dirty part of the job for you. Aside from that, below are a few more reasons why you should source out people through job agencies.

1. They act as “HeadHunters”.

Employment agencies are specifically created in searching for workers who are then endorsed to clients. These offices are keen on the field of recruitment so hiring their services is important to make sure that you get the best people for the job.

2. They have a variety of applicants.

These agencies, especially those extending their market and applicant reach through on-line recruitment, have the most varied reserve of people. They are visible on-line thus they can engage more applicants to send their resumes for prospective employers. This is beneficial in a sense that if there are many aspiring applicants, the greater is the client’s power to choose which among these people will qualify and fit the job description. The client need not settle with a mediocre applicant due to scarcity in the number of contenders and hopefuls. As the law of supply and demand suggests when the demand is high and the supply is low, the price of the commodity sky-rocket. By analogy, the same law applies in this case. When the demand for an applicant is high and the supply is low, the client will have to settle for what is available and pay a big price for not hiring the most capable.

3. They will work at their best potential.

Third, these employment agencies and offices will work to satisfy what you need of them so you meet client satisfaction. By merely communicating what you need from the person you want to fill a job, these people will automatically screen the resumes at hand and matches the skills of the same with the job requirements set. This is the most difficult part of hiring and selecting process. Applicants have their own field of specialty. You can never force one person to do one job when his skills do not let him to do the same. Doing and insisting on this would spell chaos to the business.

If you are not persuaded yet, just imagine the big amount of savings your company gets in getting your budget for this to more useful company expenditure.

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By Charlie A Mernagh

The necessary ingredients for success in sales are usually tested and sometimes will prevent success happening before we psychically start the task.

There is a saying in life “You become what you think about”

In my personal experience of over 30 years in sales and sales management selling insurance, it comes down to three key areas of focus to ensure a successful outcome is the end result.

Key areas are: Attitude, skill and knowledge It would be very difficult to succeed in sales unless you master all three.

Attitude

The one area we have complete control over is attitude and if we get focused on the end result (Goal, Burning Desire) the rest will follow once there is a plan in place and a process to follow.

Example

Mr Jones (not real name) commits to getting psychically fit and is determined to do just that within a strict time frame. The problem is, he hasn’t focused on his fitness for over ten years which is why his friends and family advised him to get medical advice before embarking on a self-made psychical fitness regime. He followed their sound advice and made an appointment to meet his local doctor who in turn advised him after doing a series of tests to start a professional fitness regime, get a fitness plan and professional dietary advice.

The fitness plan was prepared by a psychical fitness expert based on the medical results received from Mr Jones Doctor and the diet was prepared by a dietician after tests were done on Mr Jones. The process took up to three weeks as Mr Jones wanted to be absolutely sure about the process to follow, including timelines and a plan needed to achieve his burning desire (Goal/s) to get psychically fit.

In exactly twelve months Mr Jones plan is to run a mini marathon and within two years run a full marathon to raise funds for his favourite charity. He has started with an end in mind, has a plan and a process to follow and this all started in the thought process (the mind). He developed the right mental attitude and focused on what he really desired as a positive outcome for both himself and a charity of his choice.

Attitude

Before we psychically do anything it starts in the thought process “Just an Idea”, but as it persists in the mind it starts becoming believable and achievable. All personal achievement starts in the mind of the individual. Your personal achievement starts in your mind. The first step is to know exactly what your problem, goal or desire is”.

Mr Jones has a goal to run a mini marathon in 12 months, his problem was lack of fitness and his burning desire is to support his favourite charity by fundraising. This cannot be achieved without been psychically and mentally fit.

He has a clear goal which is: Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic, Time Bound

He also has a process and plan to follow which ensures his burning desire (Goal) is achieved, this is specifically to run a mini marathon in 12 months and a full marathon in 2 years to raise funds for his favourite charity. This all started in the mind, then it became a burning desire, it then became believable and the pitfalls were analysed and addressed, expert advice was sought and taken aboard, now the goal was achievable once obstacles were eliminated before Mr Jones psychically started the project. For the sales professional it is important to follow a similar process before engaging in the psychical activity of selling. Regardless of your goal/s or burning desire and especially in sales it is vital to get the attitude right before engaging with the prospect because you only have one shot at making a first impression. Top class sales people will not risk failure by engaging with a potential prospect in the wrong frame of mind. Develop a clear picture in your mind as to what the end result (goal, burning desire) looks like and then put it on paper, once in writing what you desire will start becoming a reality and you will start going from just an idea to analysing what skills and knowledge are necessary. This can and will be achieved by:

seeking expert advice – no person is an island, forming a mastermind alliance, a group of people and resources who have the same clear vision and interest as you (select your mastermind group carefully), determining who are your ideal customers (segment your market), developing and agree a plan for the achievement of your goal/s, following an agreed sales process, acting on your plan (follow through), reviewing your progress at regular planned stages, reacting – don’t change your end goal/s change activities to ensure achieving your end goal/s.

Hopefully this article will bring home key areas necessary in developing the right mental attitude in achieving your sales goals and lead to developing the necessary skills and appropriate knowledge for consistent success.

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One of the most challenging and important tasks in human resources is the recruitment and selection of the right employee, who’s perfectly suited for a particular position. It’s not just a long and frustrating process, but it can also be costly. That’s why organisations are now relying more on recruitment agencies to help them find the right people for their job vacancies. From executive to mid-level to contractual employment, and from sales to office administration to healthcare recruitment, seeking the assistance of a recruitment agency is more popular today. It offers a more cost-efficient, effective and beneficial option for both employers and job seekers.

A recruitment agency enables an organisation to manage risks and cost. Investing in a recruitment firm will lessen the impact on the time, effort and money an organisation loses because the agency is experienced in finding the best talent for the role. The agency’s extensive database of applicant records, meticulous testing, and interviews give them the edge in filling the organisation’s vacancies with highly competent and talented people. This minimises the organisation’s costs from poor or failed hires.

Advantages of Partnering with a Recruitment Agency

Organisations can benefit significantly from hiring a recruitment agency. Recruitment agencies have the time, resources and know-how necessary to find the right person for the job. Here are some advantages they can reap from seeking the assistance of an employment agency:

• Expertise

o Has experienced experts capable of assessing each applicant to match requirements and credentials

o Are skilled in giving manpower advice to organisations and in providing efficient solutions to their open positions

o Has long-term and accumulated intuitive experience in profiling candidates

o Has a wide and intimate knowledge of the market and the various industries, allowing them to provide realistic outcomes and identify other success factors

o Has a series of developed techniques and tools to evaluate each applicant, from résumé review to practical and technical exams to personal interviews

o Has a vast network from which they can look for better and more qualified potential candidates

• Cost Efficiency

o Reduces direct and indirect costs of the hiring process

o Reduces the risks of poor selection of candidates

o Reduces lost hours that can be better used to focus on the organisation’s core activities

o Reduces lost productivity because of rehiring and retraining

• Focussed Service

o Has only one core function – recruitment; recruitment is not an ad hoc task for them but their main responsibility

o Their goal is to have a successful recruit because that’s how their success is measured

o Throughout the day, their main focus is to identify, attract and assess applicants suited for an organisation’s job vacancy

The key to access all these benefits is to trust a reliable recruitment agency that has been providing employers and job seekers the results they hope for. When it comes to the best recruitment practices in Melbourne, Devlin Alliance has proven their expertise and knowledge in the recruitment and selection of the right people every time. They specialise in Sales and Marketing Recruitment, Office Support Recruitment, Healthcare Recruitment, and Executive Recruitment, and take pride in ensuring that both employer and job seeker will receive quality and dedicated consultative service.

Devlin Alliance is a boutique recruitment agency specialising in mid-level to executive recruitment for permanent and temporary positions. They are the leading recruitment consultants for marketing, health, office support, and sales recruitment. Devlin Alliance takes pride in setting a high standard and operates in line with their corporate values of integrity, innovation, respect, passion and vivacity. They ensure that every client and candidate experiences a high quality, consultative and dedicated service.

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