What You Do When the Boss Isn't Looking

By Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer

"When the cat's away, the mice will play," is a term most of you can relate to. As employees, when your manager is gone be it on vacation or just away from her desk you're like a teenager whose parents are out of town.

You sneak out early or come in late. You chitchat with co-workers more frequently, usually about nonwork-related things. You make personal phone calls, take extra-long lunches – heck, maybe you'll even enjoy a cocktail with your meal.

Perhaps the most frequent misbehaviors that occur when your boss isn't looking happen on the Internet. Whether you're surfing the Net, checking your personal e-mail, paying bills, shopping or updating your personal blog – it's all happening under your boss's unsuspecting nose.

Or is it?

Fifty percent of all employers report they monitor employees' Internet usage, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey. Eighteen percent of employers have fired an employee for using the Internet for nonwork-related activities.

Another survey by the American Management Association and The ePolicy Institute shows more than one-fourth of employers have fired workers for misusing e-mail and nearly one-third have fired employees for misusing the Internet in general.

When the boss is gone, the world of technology is a worker's oyster. Here are the most common things we do when our bosses aren't looking.

You "research"

Sixty-one percent of workers use the Internet for nonwork-related research and activities while they're at work, according to CareerBuilder.com. On average, 20 percent of these workers spend more than an hour of their workday on nonwork-related online activities and 9 percent spend more than two hours.

With those stats, it's no wonder employers are concerned with employees searching inappropriate Web sites from work computers. Sixty-six percent of companies monitor employees' Internet connections, while 65 percent use software to block connections to inappropriate sites, according to the management association. Employers who block content are concerned workers will visit sexual or pornographic sites (96 percent); games sites (61 percent); social networking sites (50 percent); entertainment sites (40 percent); shopping sites (27 percent) and sports sites (21 percent).

Of the 30 percent of bosses who've fired employees for Internet misuse, 84 percent did so because the employee was downloading, viewing or uploading inappropriate or offensive content; 48 percent because of a violation of company policy; and 34 percent due to excessive personal use.

You e-mail

Many workers use e-mail as their only form of communication – not only with co-workers but also with friends and family. Sixty percent of workers say they send non-work related e-mails at work, with 20 percent saying they send six or more e-mails per day, according to CareerBuilder.com. Twenty-two percent of those workers spend more than 30 minutes during the workday doing so.

The 28 percent of employers who have fired workers for e-mail misuse did so for the following reasons: violation of company policy (64 percent); inappropriate or offensive language (62 percent); excessive personal use (26 percent); and breach of confidentiality rules (22 percent), according to the management association.

You instant message

Everyone engages in a little chitchat now and then, but workers are using methods other than their mouths to do so. Twenty-one percent of workers say they send instant messages while at work and 45 percent of those people say IMing makes them more productive, according to CareerBuilder.com.

You socially network

Instead of opening your Outlook first thing in the morning, do you update your Facebook status? You aren't alone – 37 percent of employees surveyed by CareerBuilder.com have a social networking profile and one-third of them spend time on their social networking page during the workday. Nine percent spend 30 minutes or more doing so.

Fifty percent of employers surveyed by the management association block social networking sites.

You talk on the phone

Are you calling Mom every morning from the office to check in? Start using your cell phone instead – 45 percent of employers monitor the time you spend on the phone and the numbers you're calling, while an additional 16 percent record phone conversations, according to the management association. Six percent of employers have fired employees for misuse or private use of their office phone.

You blog

The "blogosphere" is taking over the Internet and becoming a "must have" space for employers and employees alike. Twelve percent of workers have a personal blog and 20 percent of them update it at work, according to CareerBuilder.com. Of those people, 6 percent spend 30 minutes or more blogging.

Rachel Zupek is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Copyright 2008 Careerbuilder.com. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.

Tips to Launching Your Career As a Financial Advisor

By Tim Bock

They're no question that we're at a financial cross roads. Now more than ever there's a need for qualified financial advisors to help lead us down the path to financial security. These careers are not only lucrative but rewarding as well. It's important to understand everything that goes into becoming successful. Let's take a closer look at some important tips that should be followed when building your career.

Independence

With all the financial problems facing people today, there is no single best solution. By being independent of any set financial institution, you'll have the freedom to choose the right financial products to meet your client's needs.

Don't go it alone

While you should be independent of a specific financial institution, it's important to make sure you you're not totally along in your endeavors. There are several independent marketing organizations that will give you the training and tools required to succeed in this competitive business.

Build a referral network

Networking and word of mouth is the best form of advertising. By being referred by a friend, your clients will be more willing to trust your judgment. This is why it's important to team up with qualified professionals in your area.

Selling isn't import

Contrary to popular belief selling yourself isn't that important. It's all about positing and taking care of your clients needs. By satisfying your customers, not only will they keep coming back but they will tell their friends and business associates about the services you provide.

Ask the right questions
When meeting prospective clients, don't spend a lot of time talking about yourself and your qualifications. Instead focus your attention on your clients needs by asking the right questions. What are their goals? What is your risk tolerance? How do you feel about...?

Communication is key

Stay in touch with all prospective clients. It could take several meetings for them to agree to work with you. Don't be pushy. Many times this will turn people off. Always be polite and keep their needs in the forefront.

Start small

While it's true that you need to spend money in order to make money, don't go overboard when starting out. Try to keep your start up cost to under $500. Limit your risk in the beginning and then you can expand your business after it becomes profitable.

Don't be unprepared when you launch your career as a financial advisor. Get all the fact by reading: Considering a Career in Finance as soon as possible. This is an excellent article that will give you all the facts you need before launching a financial career.
http://www.topfinancecareersonline.com is dedicated to helping people find the successful career they deserve.

Solutions - To Having Questionable Job References

By Paul Godines

There may come a time when you or a friend of yours needs a new Job but you realize that you need Solutions - To Having Questionable Job References. Don't fret; this article will solve your dilemma once and for all.

It's happened; you have a former employer you feel will not be a shining reference because they fired you. So what do you do?

Begin by understanding what it is you need, begin with the end in mind, what you need is positive and enthusiastic people who can vouch for the your quality of your work and specific periods of employment. Let's start with obtaining dates of employment, well, that shouldn't be hard to get at all, right? Start there, once you have all the dates than its time to move on to finding enthusiastic people to vouch for your quality and experience of work.

Start finding enthusiastic people to vouch for your quality and experience of work by collecting contact info from anyone in the company you were fired from, start with people that you know would likely give you a positive and enthusiastic reference. Lets say your issue was with your former Supervisor, well go to another department that you have a friend in and ask that Supervisor for a written reference. Collect as many references from as many Supervisors and Managers as you can. The purpose is so that you can demonstrate that your issue most likely was with your former Supervisor and not with the overall Mission and Goals of the Company.

Every company knows they have difficult people within their ranks and that sometimes there are personality conflicts that create the need to separate employees and that's the point you want to share with your prospective employer. This is a simple get Solutions - To Having Questionable Job References, get prepared ahead of time Good Luck, let me know if I can help.

Paul Godines from Adapt on a Dime Consulting http://www.adaptonadime.com asks if you have Career Goals? Visit us at http://www.adaptonadime.com

5 Telecommuting Job Interview Tips

By Wendy Betterini

When seeking a legitimate telecommuting job, finding good leads is only half the battle. Even more important is knowing how to present yourself well during the interview process and convince the employer that you are the best person for the job. There is usually a fair bit of competition for any good job opening, but this is especially true for telecommuting jobs! Work at home positions that pay well are in high demand, so don't be surprised if you find yourself among many hundreds of applicants all vying for the same position!

The question you need to ask yourself is: How can I be sure I'm putting my best foot forward during the interview?

This article will share 5 easy tips for making your telecommuting job interview great.

Tip #1 - Be on Time

This should go without saying, but telephone and internet interviews should be taken as seriously as on-site interviews. Be sure to plan, prepare, and be there on time. If your interviewer is supposed to call you, be sitting by the phone (or computer if online) at least 15 minutes before your interview time. If you are supposed to contact your interviewer, try to call at exactly the time your interview was set for, or even just a couple minutes early - but no more than that. Calling too early will just annoy your interviewer because he or she may be trying to wrap up a few things before your interview.

Also, be prepared by having a copy of your resume and cover letter in front of you, so you can quickly reference it for answers you may be asked. You may also want to jot down some responses to common questions the interviewer may ask.

Tip #2 - NO Background Noise!

If your interview will be done by phone, I cannot stress enough the importance of having a totally quiet background. That means no children yelling or talking or begging for your attention, no dogs barking, no television or stereo blaring. This will be even more important if you are applying for a job that requires telephone work. Make arrangements to be sure you can give the interview your full attention without any background interruptions.

In addition, be sure to use a landline telephone, not a cell phone. The interview won't go well if you and your interviewer have to keep saying, "Pardon, can you repeat that?" Also be sure to TURN OFF CALL-WAITING if you have that on your phone. That would be another big annoyance if you keep getting clicks and beeps on the line while you're trying to talk.

Tip #3 - Slow and Steady

Sometimes nervousness can make you talk a lot faster than you normally would, which can make you seem scattered or flighty. Be sure to pause before answering questions and keep your rate of speech moderate. Breathing properly can help you feel calmer too, so while the interviewer is asking a question or recording your answers, take that opportunity to take a nice deep breath - quietly, you don't want to breathe heavily into the phone! ;-)

Also, keep your answers brief and to the point. Avoid rambling (another sign of anxiety!). Answer only the questions you are asked, unless the interviewer indicates he or she would like you to expand on a particular answer.

Tip #4 - Honest but Positive Answers

Probably the most challenging thing about interviews is figuring out how to respond to questions honestly without casting yourself in a negative light. For example, if the interviewer asks why you left your last job, you definitely don't want to launch into a tirade about what a jerk your old boss was and you "just couldn't take his crap anymore". Instead, you want to find a way to make all of your answers positive but still honest. This can take a little creativity sometimes!

Using the above example, you might answer: "I really enjoyed that job for the first 6 months but gradually I began to feel that the position didn't allow me to use my strongest skills to their full potential." That would be a general answer, but you could be more specific too: "I felt that the position wasn't challenging enough in allowing me to build my problem-solving skills and improve customer relations." That doesn't negate the fact that your boss may have been a jerk - but you don't have to focus on THAT aspect of the truth! :-)

Overall you want to be truthful with your answers, but also find a way to put a positive spin on them. Whatever you do, avoid blaming, pointing fingers, or expressing bitterness about previous jobs, employers, managers, or co-workers. You want to portray yourself as being mature and professional, which you can't do with a negative attitude!

Tip #5 - Be Yourself

Finally, remember that your interviewer is trying to determine one thing: whether YOU are the right person to join their team. But he or she will not be able to tell that if you're busy trying to be someone else! Interviews can be intimidating and you may think that you have to become this super-polished professional that "wows" the interviewer, but it's really not necessary.

Instead, be yourself. Certainly you want to be professional and mature in the way you communicate, but you don't have to be an emotionless robot to do so. Strive for a balance between warmth, friendliness and businesslike composure. You want to be relaxed but not too casual; friendly but not gushy; professional but not stiff.

If you would like more information about increasing your chances of being hired for telecommuting jobs, visit http://www.telecommuting123.com for step by step guidance in finding legitimate jobs, writing a powerful resume and cover letter, and more.

Cabin Crew Qualities and Suitability For the Job

By Albert Tay

Embarking on a journey to become a full fledge cabin crew is an exciting journey but not without it's challenges. Hence, it is important to be sure why, where and what the job entails in order to generate satisfaction from the career, financial and experience from the job as a cabin crew.
The objective of this chapter is to provide guidance and evaluation if this job is suitable for you. Very often, we leave this part of the job fit to the airline recruiter or interviewer. Of course, each of us would hope the interviewer accepts us regardless on whether we are a good candidate for the job. It is also possible that we try to mould ourselves to fit the job, as it is common for many to justify why the job is suitable for them.

Without proper evaluation, the journey of looking and working in this job can be frustrating and in many cases, disappointing due to the lack of understanding of the job requirements and it's implication on career growth, mindset, financial management/behavior and lifestyle. It also affects longer term career interest, transition to ground positions and personal quality of life.
In the following paragraphs, we hope to provide into insights on what the cabin crew job entails as well as some of its advantages and disadvantages.

Knowledge and Suitability for the Job

Role of a Cabin Crew

1. What do you think the role of cabin crew involves / What do you think is the primary responsibility of a cabin crew?

Cabin crew are on board an aircraft for safety reasons. In case of a real life emergency, the cabin crew must ensure that passengers follow the captains instructions, use safety equipment correctly, and stay as calm as possible.

During the flight, the cabin crew spends a lot of time looking after the comfort of the passengers. This involves giving special attention to children traveling alone, disabled people or people who are ill. Crew must appear friendly and sympathetic to anyone needing help, advise, reassurance, sympathize or even, at times, firm persuasion.

Other duties during the flight includes preparing and serving meals and drinks and cleaning up afterwards, selling duty free goods, and helping passengers use in flight entertainment system. There is also paperwork to complete, this can include flight reports, customs and immigrations documents, accounts of duty free sales and meal and drink orders.

At the end of the flight, the crew makes sure the passengers leave the aircraft safely.

2. What kind of individuals would fit this role?

An individual who has the following ideal qualities:
a. Dedication to details
b. Assertiveness
c. Adaptability
d. Cross Cultural Understanding/Sensitivity
e. Organized
f. Rule oriented
g. Good listening skills
h. Stable Emotion
i. Discipline
j. Friendliness
k. Humble disposition
l. Honesty
m. Sincerity
n. Warm personality
o. Approachability
p. Sense of humor.

The successful candidate will also need to have the ability to remain calm and level headed in emergency situations and be totally flexible about working with new people, flying different routes and working on unsociable hours.

3. Is the role of a cabin crew job glamorous?

Well, it certainly is perceived as glamorous and it certainly has its benefits of travel. People see cabin crew in action, jetting around the world and form an immediate impression of what they think the job involves. In fact, the customer sees only a fraction of what goes on in order to make each flight a success. The truth is, cabin crew has to combine working as a flying waiter or waitress, mobile shop assistant, cleaner, plus all the emergency services rolled into one. It can be an exhausting and disorienting lifestyle that places tough demands on family and social commitments. It is also physically demanding and many crew who do not have the right physical build (appropriate Body Mass Index or BMI) typically suffer lower back injuries on the job due to the amount of bending, squatting and lifting required to support the baggage, kart, trolley and equipment used on the aircraft.

Combined with the irregular flight time, sleep and meal times, cabin crew typically has irregular sleep pattern and meals. Hence it is not a glamorous job except for the perks of travel, hotels and nice uniforms for some international airlines.

With the onset of budget carriers, many cabin crew do not even travel beyond the aircraft that lands in the other countries only for transition before heading back to their home country. These are called turnaround flights and typically affects short haul flights of not more than 3 or 4 hours from the country of origin. The flight allowance, per diem, meals or layover allowance are also lower due to such quick turnaround patterns that are short haul flights.

4. What are the disadvantages of this position?

a. Jetlag
b. Irregular weight gain/loss
c. Minor cuts and injuries inflight
d. Lower back ache
e. Lack of mental stimulation in the long term
f. Physical fatigue
g. Dehydration
h. Rash due to overseas travel and weather changes
i. Allergies to hotel and aircraft environment
j. Harassment from opposite gender
k. Relationship commitment
l. Motion sickness
m. Financial and lifestyle habits
n. Hierarchy reporting structure
o. Irregular or unsociable work hours

5. What are the advantages of this position?

Working as a cabin crew member is not just a job, but a way of life and provides an alternative and very stimulating lifestyle where no two working days a likely to be the same. The sheer dynamics of different crew, passengers' profiles, destinations and roster structure ensures that there will always be variety. Furthermore, there are opportunities to visit places and experience cultures that are beyond most people reach. Cabin crew go to places they always dreamed of and find interests in destinations they would not necessarily have chosen to go to.

Additionally, it is a good feeling to deliver businessmen to their meetings on time, reunite family and friends; deliver newly weds to their honeymoon destinations, or vacation airs to their dream holiday place. There is genuine feeling of doing something worthwhile, in a unique way which not many jobs regularly produce at the end of a hard day.

p.s. From the desk of The Best Cabin Crew Recrutiment Site @ http://www.CabinCrewRecruitment.net - Latest Interview information, Answer to Myth and Rumours, ebooks, free recruitment date alert service.

Make a Successful Start on Your New Job

By Randy Place

Your Career Service presents this article about how to make a successful start on your new job because success will be judged by the impression you make during the all-important first week.
How to make a good impression and survive your first week at work? By hitting the street running in order to make a successful start and to prevent the first week from becoming your last.

When you make a great first impression at work, you'll achieve a good and lasting imprint. Just follow these four rules on your first week --

1. Make sure you and your boss are on the same page by reviewing your job description together. And talk to other employees who have held the same job. Ask supervisors for tips that will make you a better performer.

2. Your first week is also the time to develop office relationships. But do not share intimate secrets. Your co-workers are also you competitors. For example, if a dozen of you are in a training program, only a few may end up getting the super positions.

3. Remember to carry a notebook to record what goes on at meetings. Your manager will consider it a sign of respect that her words are worth writing down.

4. After meetings, take a few minutes to review what you heard. Then chat with the person who led the meeting to restate your understanding of the action plan.

For more great tips about how to start a new job, Read, "How to get ahead during your first week at work," a previous post on Your Career Service.

Randy Place, a career management consultant in private practice, and Internet host of Your Career Service -- http://www.yourcareerservice.com - Daily posts feature job-finding tips and career management advice. Topics include job interview tips, networking strategies, dealing with job loss, resume writing and personalized cover letters, getting ahead at work, how to handle standard interview questions and much more.

Becoming a Personal Trainer - Know the Big Picture of Your Business

By Matt Mc Dermott

If you are interested in becoming a personal trainer, or have just become a personal trainer, then most likely you have some advanced knowledge about the human body and optimal health.
Many aspiring trainers and recent training certification graduates, however, do not have an advanced understanding of the business side of the industry.

As a new trainer you have four primary routes from which to choose for your career:

• Working as an employee for a branch of a corporate-owned gym or other health-related facility, such as working as a trainer in the fitness center of a hospital chain
• Working as an employee of a small-chain (or independent) gym or health-related facility
• Working as an independent trainer where you train people in your own facility, their homes, or at a neutral site such as a gym where you pay a fixed amount or percentage for you to use the facilities
• Working as an online personal trainer and helping your clients over the phone and internet

While each route has its own challenges and nuances, they all share several similar functions. It is up to you to determine the best choices for you to meet these requirements. You can handle them yourself or have them offset by working as an employee and/or outsourcing these tasks to qualified professionals. In no particular order these similar functions are:

• Content: What information do you offer your prospects and clients? Do you offer free reports, books, ebooks, your expertise in one-on-one training situations, tele-seminars, etc?
• Continuing education: As time progresses and new developments are made in the health and fitness industry, you will need to continue your education. Do you have a budget for acquiring new knowledge, or is it something that your gym provides you?
• Prospecting: How do you get more clients? Does your facility do all the marketing and provide them to you? Do you have to go out and attract new business? If any of the responsibility is yours, do you have a system for continuous prospect generation?
• Finances: Do you have to create budgets for your training business? Do you have to handle insurance and taxes? Do you have other trainers working with you, and therefore have payroll and employee taxes concerns?
• Technical: Do you require any technology for your business? Are you running your own website in order to attract business and/or serve your current clients? If so, do you have systems for maintaining technical security and ensuring that your systems are up and running?
• Advertising: Do you have to create your own advertising or does your gym handle that for you? If you do your own advertising, do you test and track which ad campaigns work and which do not? Do you have to select which advertising and traffic-generating methods work best
• Legal and Compliance: Do you have to do the work to ensure that your advertising is compliant with all regulations? Do you have to set up your own Limited Liability Corporation or other corporate entity? Do you have to get business licenses? Do you have processes set up to prevent "spam" e-mails?

This is just the beginning of the list, and it may seem daunting at first. Just know that by becoming an employee of a gym or health-related facility that many of these functions are handled for you so that you can focus mainly on training clients and getting new clients.
Whatever path in the industry you choose, it is useful to understand the big picture so that when you become a personal trainer you have a greater appreciation for the business side of your industry.

If you are a personal trainer and want to add an easy revenue stream by simply referring books to strangers who ask you for health and fitness, then get a free report at
http://www.FitnessMoneyMachine.com Once you get the report, build up your personal training and business marketing knowledge with free articles to help Personal Trainers.

Top Skills Employers Want - How to Get the Job

By Peter Fisher

In today's competitive job market, made more difficult, employers are only interested finding new people who can not only contribute rapidly to the growth of the company, but also help to boost its efficiency and productivity.

What this means to you dear job seeker is that most employers will be looking for people who already have the most desirable job skills that meet the requirements of the organization.

So if you are one of those people who wish to make it to the job that you have been dreaming of, it is important for you to know the top skills that employers want.

This is a list of the important job skills a job seeker must have to be sure of landing a good job and just as importantly, keeping it.

1. The ability to find relevant information: Research Skill

Job seekers should possess the ability to systematically find relevant information through research not because they want a research job, but in order to do effective searches for the data needed by a particular activity.

2. Logical thinking: Information Handling

Most businesses regard the ability to handle and organize information to produce effective solutions as one of the top skills employers want. The ability to make sensible solutions regarding a spending proposal or an internal activity is valued.

3. IT Skill: Technological Ability

Most job openings will require people who are IT or computer literate or know how to operate different machines and office equipment, whether a PC or multi-function copier and scanner.
This doesn't mean that employers need people who are technology graduates. The simple fact that job seekers know the basic principles of using the technology is sufficient.

4. Getting your words understood: Communication Skills

Employers tend to value and hire people who are able to express their thoughts efficiently through verbal and written communication. People who land a good job easily are usually those who are adept in speaking and writing.

5. Efficiency: Organizational Skills

Organization is extremely important to maintain a harmonious working relationship in the company and the opposite, disorganization costs money. Hence, most employers want people who know how to arrange their work through methods that maintain orderliness in the workplace.

6. Getting on with others: Interpersonal Skill

Because the working environment consists of various kinds of personalities and people with different backgrounds, it is essential to possess the skill of communicating and working with people form different walks of life.

7. Career Advancement: Professional Growth

Employers prefer to hire people who are able to create a plan that will generate maximum personal and career growth. This means that you are willing to improve yourself professionally by learning new skills to keep up with developments in the workplace.

These are just some of the top skills employers want. Take note of these skills which demonstrate how to get the job and be successful in your every job seeking endeavor.

Peter Fisher is Coach and Webmaster for http://www.Your-Career-Change.com where you can download your free Special Career Change Report and 63 page PDF e-book "Big Book of Job Hunting Tips".

How Identifying Your Skills Will Get You the Job

By Peter Fisher

When you apply for a job, it is essential that you understand your own personal strengths and weaknesses and get ready to address them. By knowing your strengths and special skills, the chances of you getting the job you want will be much higher, so this is how identifying your skills will get you the job.

However, don't get too confident since appearing to be too confident or as a know-it-all will make your interviewer think you are not the type of employee they want and unfit for the job.

Identifying your skills

Start by identifying your skills. This is the way you get that job and being able to talk about your abilities and expertise gives you the best shot.

Lots of people have a hard time talking about their skills and abilities as it can sound like bragging, but you should not be shy or afraid to discuss your genuine skills.

It is important that you convey to your prospective new employer what your talents are. You should be able to sell your abilities to your employer, because that is how you will get the job that you want.

Whilst it is important that you don't appear arrogant or condescending, you must also avoid selling yourself short. When the interviewer asks you about your strengths or what separates you from the other applicants, you need to ready with a good answer. Of course, make sure that your resume highlights your skills and talents for your prospective employer to recognize.

Hard Skills and Soft Skills
There are two main types of skills, hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the things that you do such as knowing how to operate different kinds of machinery; having detailed knowledge of a specialized computer program, the ability to type fast or ability to use different types of tools.
Soft skills are abstract in nature and include personal qualities; being a good team player, having the ability to work on your own, being enthusiastic or organized and decisive. Work out how you can describe yours and you will get the job.

How To Start Identifying Your Skills That Will Get You The Job

Make a list of your previous jobs and experience you gained.

First thing to do is to make a list of all the organizations that you previously worked for and the things that you learned from these jobs. In other words, what can you now do (better) than you could before. There will be a lot of things to list and you should be careful enough not to forget even the smallest things or activities that you were involved with or organized yourself. It is also a good idea to list the volunteer activities that you participated in.

Look at your hobbies:
Although it might sound trivial at first, it is also very helpful to write down a list of your hobbies. There are a lot of abilities that your prospective employer may get from your hobby list. This will also give an idea of your personality. For example, if you were part of the college debating team, then your employer will understand not only that you have speaking and communicating skills, but that you have good analytical skills too. If you were a good cricket player, then your employer will see that you are good at team activities.

Think also of your daily life and the things that you do. Are you a well organized person who always keeps your things in proper order? Are you an extrovert that makes friends in a matter of minutes? These may seem ordinary and normal things to you, but your future employer will learn something about your personality from this.

Deciding what career you want:
After listing all your skills and all the things that you do well, you can think about what field or career you want to take up. Select the skills contained from your list and match it with the employment you are interested in. Looking at ads in the newspapers is a good way to find out what skills are wanted. Always take time to consider if your skills are relevant to the job that you are after.

It is important to know your skills every time you are job hunting as this is how identifying your skills will get you the job.

Peter Fisher is Coach and Webmaster for http://www.Your-Career-Change.com where you can download your free Special Career Change Report and 63 page PDF e-book "Big Book of Job Hunting Tips".

3 Resume and Job Interview Mistakes That Will Keep You Unemployed

By Freddie Johnson

You've sent out a ton of resumes but barely get any calls for job interviews.

When you do get a job interview, you never get a call back with a job offer.

Maybe you're making some crucial resume and job interview mistakes that are huge red flags for potential employers.

Red flags that tell employers not to hire you. Here are three resume and job interview mistakes you must avoid.

1. Long Employment Gaps

There are a lot of legitimate reasons for having gaps in employment.

The key is to make very clear, on your resume, why you have these gaps.

If a potential employer sees gaps and there isn't a reason on the resume or in the cover letter that explains why, they most likely won't even bother calling you for the job interview.

They'll assume you have something to hide.

Be sure to explain any gaps in employment.

2. No References

You don't need to place references no your resume.

But you definitely need a section that says something like "References: Upon Request."

Let your potential employer know that you are ready, willing and able to provide references.

3. Don't Be Negative About A Previous Employer

Potential employers don't want to hear all your negative thoughts about your previous employers.

It does not send a good signal and says a lot (in a bad way) about your attitude.

You can spin negatives into positives. Did you think your previous boss was preventing you from getting a promotion?

In your job interview state something like "I felt that I went as far as I could go at my previous job and I'm looking for an opportunity to move my career forward and face new challenges."

Don't try and hide things from a potential employer, either on your resume or in the job interview.

Learn more about how to write a resume that lands you the job you want at http://www.resume-cover-letter-and-career-tips.com

Chef Certification Basics - Entering the World of Professional Cooking

By Dean Forster

It is very rare to see a working chef that doesn't have a degree in the cooking field. These chefs study at cooking schools to learn the skills associated with working in a kitchen. They then work their way up through the world of cooking or start their own restaurant. Before a chef even begins to work in a kitchen though, they first need to obtain their chef certification.

A chef certification is exactly what it sounds like: a degree or certificate that entitles the student to work as a chef. Unlike other fields, it isn't necessarily mandatory, but it is highly beneficial.
This little piece of paper proves to potential employers and restaurant owners that the individual has trained as a professional chef. Those with the degree know that they have a better chance at landing a high profile job than those individuals who decided to skip cooking school.

The American Culinary Federation offers a different type of chef certification for working cooks and those just out of school. An individual who goes this route can receive their piece of paper, without first attending school. Anyone who wants to take the tests to receive the chef certification can do so as long as they fill out the application and pay the fees to take the test.

This program forces the chef to showcase or highlight their skills in the kitchen. A trained instructor will show the individual the things they need to do and then grade that person as they do them. The day of the test the test taker will work in a real life kitchen, showing the instructor their skills. They'll be asked to do basic things such as chopping vegetables, peeling fruits and filleting a bone. Then they'll move on to more difficult things such as creating a stock or recipe from scratch under the watchful eye of the instructor. Those that meet a minimum score from the instructor will receive their chef certification documents in the mail.

Not everyone who attempts to get chef certification through the American Culinary Federation have a diploma and not all who have a diploma get certified. Often times an individual only picks one because both will show that they have the skills needed to work as a chef. Restaurants know that applicants with one type of certification are far better because they already know the ins and outs of working in a kitchen. That makes them a more valuable applicant.
Learn more about Culinary Scholarships and achieving certification as a qualified chef at => http://www.chefschoolsinformation.com

Surefire Tips to Getting a Job in the Competitive Job Market

By Diane Demetrio

With the economic climate as it is today, it's no wonder that unemployment is rising and more people are out looking for a job. It is a more competitive market than ever, as there are not only a tremendous number of layoffs, but also a rising number of college graduates who are all competing for the same positions. Many people are out searching for "tips to getting a job", as the job market has significantly changed in the past few years.

The firs tip to getting a job is to make sure that you are employing all of the resources available to you. Networking is as important as ever, and you should also check newspapers as well, but don't forget to regularly check internet job sites as well. These are updated daily, and can hold a number of positions which are unavailable through more traditional resources.

Once you find a number of jobs to apply for, the next tip to getting a job is to make sure that your resume is polished and ready to go. Opt for sending out a shorter resume at first, leaving a more detailed resume to be presented at the first interview. A shorter resume is more likely to be read in depth than a longer one, and your talents are more likely to "jump off the page" and be noticed.

The last tip to getting a job is to be prepared for your interview. Whenever possible, try to be interviewed towards the end of the process, and make sure to practice answering many of the typical interviewing questions you are likely to be asked. Follow these tips to getting a job, and you'll have surefire success.

Need more great advice and information? Check out this job search blog, where the authors discuss resume formatting, interviewing, the job search process, and more.

http://www.jobsearchhelpforme.com

A Chance to See the World - Jobs on Cruise Ships

By Jenny Claire

It's not surprising how many people are so desperate to find out about different jobs on cruise ship. The cruise industry has changed a lot since I spent a couple of years working on a cruise ship many years ago.

However there are certain things that haven't changed and although working on a cruise ship can be an exciting adventure and the chance to see lots of new places and meet new people - it is also only really suitable for certain types of people.

Like everything in life there are pros and cons to getting a job on a cruise ship - the chance to be able to travel for free without spending months saving up beforehand is just the obvious benefit. Working on a cruise ship often appeals most to the younger generation as it seems like a chance to escape from their home town and see the world and in fact it is.

What people often don't think about though are the practicalities of getting a job on a cruise ship. The first one is quite obvious but it is surprising how many people don't think about this - space.
Sure you're working on a huge floating hotel with lots of room and luxury amenities but for the guests. Every square foot that is used for employees facilities is one less square foot that can be used for the guests and to make money on. This usually means that the staff living quarters can be on the small side - unless you're senior member of staff you're likely to have to share a room - even single rooms will normally be fairly compact.

You have to be a 'people' person - you'll spend all your time with people both on and off shift - cruise ship patrons can be quite demanding so being pleasant and friendly can be a challenge unless your customer orientated. Appearance is also crucial - you have to look your best at all times when on duty and those hours can be quite long.

If you think about those sort of ideas you'll probably get an idea if working on a cruise ship is for you. It's hard work and long hours and if you're the sort of person who needs to clock off and forget about your job after finishing then a cruise ship job is definitely not for you.

For flexible hard working people though the job can offer great rewards - you'll get to meet and socialise with people from all over the world. You'll also be able to see and visit places all over the planet. Financially the jobs usually play pretty well but when you remember that your entire income is essentially disposable with your board, bills and food all covered it does become extremely lucrative.

But perhaps the best way to think of getting a job on a cruise ship is to consider it an adventure and a chance to travel the world.

Trying to find a job on a cruise ship can be quite daunting - as employers they are often very careful for obvious reasons - once they set sail they can't get a replacement for a lazy worker.
If you want to learn some tips and advice from some one who was a recruiter for cruise ship jobs - take a look at this report. It could be the best investment you ever make.

Jobs on cruise ship

How to Measure the Success of Your Job Search

By Tim Tyrell-Smith

Being in between jobs for an extended period of time can be frustrating, financially painful and confusing.

You can lose perspective. You are so busy "doing" that you forget to analyze results and, as necessary, make adjustments.

So, how do you measure the success of of your search? A few things that strike me based on my own search process history as well as discussions with fellow job seekers along the way:

1. Do you have an actionable strategy?

In my opinion, job search success comes when hard work and preparation meet up with good timing. If you are without a strategy, you will likely be "finding acorns" by accident and in ways that deliver a result but not a good one. My advice? Set specific goals for the week that include phone calls, networking events, networking calls or coffees, etc and then rate yourself at the end of each week.

2. Are you taking smart action, each and every day, to move your search process forward?

While it is true that you can't search for a job 12 hours a day and 7 days a week, you need to be proactive. If you find yourself sitting in front of your computer waiting for e-mail alerts to arrive or scanning and re-scanning job search sites with different keywords, you are not working smart.

3. Are you getting your phone calls returned?

This is a highly measurable and important metric. The reality of this metric is important though. In my experience, a really good result is 3-4 people out of 10. A pretty good batting average in baseball, but a very frustrating result if you act diligently, put out a bunch of well thought out communications and get very little back to show for it. This includes calls into recruiters, networked hiring managers, employed people who work at a target company. If you are getting no calls back - NONE - you are either reaching too high (wrong level in a company) or too far (reaching out to people that are too distant from you relationally). If you are getting 2/10 that's not bad, but ask yourself why those two called back and see if you can, on your next round of calls, target folks that may have a better reason/motivation to help you out.

4. Are you getting recruiter calls?

Here I am not talking about while you are working - those are easy to get (everyone likes to call people who are employed, right?). I'm talking about calls specifically seeking your interest in an open search while you are unemployed. So, if you are getting these calls, what does it mean? It means a couple of things. First, people are networking for you and sharing your name with recruiters. They do this because they are aware of your availability, but more importantly, they are willing to share your name because they believe in you. Your recruiter calls are a measuring tool not only of a successful search effort but also a measurement of how well you have nurtured and respected your network.

5. Are you someone people seem to want to talk with?

If you go to a typical networking event where everyone gives their elevator speech*, there is always a period of informal networking at the end. Pay attention and you'll notice 7-8 smalls groups of 2-3 people forming. At the center of each group is one of four people. They are: the event organizer, the speaker, an employed networker who decided to show up and the 4 or 5 people who had really interesting things to say in their elevator speech. They delivered it well, displayed a confidence and made eye contact with everyone in the room as they spoke. How was your speech? Would you have approached yourself after your speech? Without a dynamic elevator speech, you will join the rest of the crowd waiting in line to network with one of the four folks mentioned above (a hard start to separate yourself).

*(an elevator speech is a 30-60 second presentation that includes a summary of your work experience, your target industry, target geography, target position, target companies and, hopefully a few memorable anecdotes about your successes - be memorable! It also never hurts to offer a few job leads to the group as it makes you valuable to others).

6. Are you getting phone interviews?

Phone interviews are a measurement of your resume's ability to quickly and substantially communicate your credibility and fit with the company's published job description. If you are getting no phone interviews, it is likely you are either applying for the wrong jobs (you are over or under qualified) or your resume is not strong enough at creating an impression. Also, a poor record on getting phone interviews can also be a reflection of an over-written, "trying too hard" cover letter. Get too cute with your cover letter and you can stand out in a negative, immature or unprofessional way - landing your resume/cover combo in the trash.

So, pay attention to the results you are getting and how people react to you. Are they introducing you to others or finding a convenient reason to move on ("Hey the buffet looks good, nice meeting you")? How do your results compare to other job seekers in your network. If everyone else is interviewing and you are busy filling out your Linkedin profile to get to 100%, you have work to do!

Take the time once a week to stop "doing", review your results and plan for adjustments to get back on target.

Tim Tyrell-Smith is a veteran consumer packaged goods marketing executive with a passion for ideas and strategy. He writes the blog Spin Strategy™ - Tools for Intelligent Job Search, a new efficiency-based job search strategy and tool set that is based on the concept of "plate-spinning".
It helps place the right efforts against the right resources to maximize the return in job search.
He created Spin Strategy in 2007 after coming out of his own job search experience with a desire to share his new found methodology with anyone needing support in finding that next great role.

You can view Tim's blog at http://quixoting.typepad.com/spin_strategy

Holiday Or Hard Work - Finding Employment on Cruise Ships

By Jenny Claire

If you're looking for a nice easy job with low working hours then you should stop looking for employment on cruise ships. Seriously - working on a modern cruise ship is extremely hard work and the hours can be very long. Also because they are in the hospitality industry all this has to be achieved with a smile on your face.

Also if you're expecting a nice large staff cabin with a big window out to sea then you are going to be again disappointed. Unless you are an officer or a very senior member of crew then expect to be sharing a cabin and possibly not a very big one at that. It has to be said that only certain sorts of people are suited to working on a cruise liner - you have to be a hard worker and reliable, like people and have a genuinely helpful personality. To provide the huge range of services and facilities that modern day cruise holidays supply then the crew has to work together 24/7.

But that's enough of the down side of employment on cruise ships - the fact is that the advantages can far outweigh the disadvantages.

Financial
Cruise ship employment pays reasonably well but the main advantage is that you have virtually no bills on board. Food, board and lodging are all paid for by the company even most of your entertainment is free as well. Although you get chance to spend on shore leave the reality is your salary will mostly build up untouched whilst you are away at sea.

Travel of course
Obviously the main attraction for many - how many other jobs will you get to see the sunset and sunrise in many different spectacularly beautiful spots all over the world. The chance to see and interact with different cultures and see new places can be genuinely life changing.

Friends and fun
If you are a sociable person - you'll probably love working on a cruise liner. There is a huge sense of camaraderie on board between the crew and the potential to make lots of new friends and meet people from all over the world.

For a young person it can be a fantastic way to see something of the world and to experience some aspects of working life. It certainly does teach a sense of responsibility as even the lowliest positions on board are essential to the smooth running of the ship. If you don't do your job properly you'll let down your colleagues as well as your employers. For older people it offers the chance of new experiences and the chance to see different parts of the world.

Trying to find your first opportunity for a cruise line job can sometimes be difficult - there are easy ways to achieve your goal. An ex-recruiter for cruise ship jobs has compiled this guide that can help you - check it out on the link below.

Employment on Cruise ships