Dont Count Your Job Offers Before They Hatch

Dont Count Your Job Offers Before They Hatch I was sitting at my computer wondering when I would start my new job. I was really excited, and the night before I even dreamed about my first day on the job. I was going to be a project manager at a really cool, bleeding edge high tech company that was recently funded. My new boss had worked managing project managers at Microsoft. I think he left there relatively wealthy, but he couldnt not work. He would be the perfect mentor: structured, experienced, etc.  The technologists at the company were senior scientists of the like I had never seen or worked with before. As I was sure I was going to start soon, I pretty much stopped doing everything else in my job search.  I sent an email to my future boss asking where we were at, expecting him to say come in on Monday!  Lets do this thing! Instead, I got a reply back that said something like we have decided to go with someone else.  Sorry, and good luck. I stared at the screen. This was the lowest point  of my job search. I was sure that the job was mine.  I was excited about this new chapter in my life. I was ready to move into a more structured project management environment, and get great training from this new boss. I had ignored the yellow flags because I was so hopeful.  Turns out the ex-MS guy had all of the characteristics of a narcissist and would surely have been a horrible boss.  The two other project managers that interviewed me didnt even know there was a job opening (the were surprised to even be interviewing me).  There really wasnt an opening at that company, and Im not sure why I was allowed to interview. Within a year the company had closed down.  Good riddance.  Karma.  I wasnt sad one bit. But that morning, reading the rejection email, my already frail world had shattered.  I remember going into a trance. I got on the treadmill and just walked and walked and walked.  I had been neglecting my physical self as I focused on my job search.  It had become my center.  In 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey warns us about choosing our centers.  He says that we have to be careful because if we choose a center (like a job, family, school, church, etc.), and that center fails us, then what happens?  We are left without grounding, direction, etc. I walked on the treadmill, trying to make sense of the rejection.  It had to be a mistake.  He had to have lied from day one.  Nothing was true anymore.  I couldnt trust my own judgement. But I must figure this out.  No one else is going to get this money situation solved for me.  I had to do it.  I had to pull myself together. Job search experts say that even though you have interviews, keep networking.  Even if you have job offers, keep interviewing.  Even when you have a job, keep looking for a job! And the rest of the world would say dont count your chickens before they hatch. Dont Count Your Job Offers Before They Hatch I was sitting at my computer wondering when I would start my new job. I was really excited, and the night before I even dreamed about my first day on the job. I was going to be a project manager at a really cool, bleeding edge high tech company that was recently funded. My new boss had worked managing project managers at Microsoft. I think he left there relatively wealthy, but he couldnt not work. He would be the perfect mentor: structured, experienced, etc.  The technologists at the company were senior scientists of the like I had never seen or worked with before. As I was sure I was going to start soon, I pretty much stopped doing everything else in my job search.  I sent an email to my future boss asking where we were at, expecting him to say come in on Monday!  Lets do this thing! Instead, I got a reply back that said something like we have decided to go with someone else.  Sorry, and good luck. I stared at the screen. This was the lowest point  of my job search. I was sure that the job was mine.  I was excited about this new chapter in my life. I was ready to move into a more structured project management environment, and get great training from this new boss. I had ignored the yellow flags because I was so hopeful.  Turns out the ex-MS guy had all of the characteristics of a narcissist and would surely have been a horrible boss.  The two other project managers that interviewed me didnt even know there was a job opening (the were surprised to even be interviewing me).  There really wasnt an opening at that company, and Im not sure why I was allowed to interview. Within a year the company had closed down.  Good riddance.  Karma.  I wasnt sad one bit. But that morning, reading the rejection email, my already frail world had shattered.  I remember going into a trance. I got on the treadmill and just walked and walked and walked.  I had been neglecting my physical self as I focused on my job search.  It had become my center.  In 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey warns us about choosing our centers.  He says that we have to be careful because if we choose a center (like a job, family, school, church, etc.), and that center fails us, then what happens?  We are left without grounding, direction, etc. I walked on the treadmill, trying to make sense of the rejection.  It had to be a mistake.  He had to have lied from day one.  Nothing was true anymore.  I couldnt trust my own judgement. But I must figure this out.  No one else is going to get this money situation solved for me.  I had to do it.  I had to pull myself together. Job search experts say that even though you have interviews, keep networking.  Even if you have job offers, keep interviewing.  Even when you have a job, keep looking for a job! And the rest of the world would say dont count your chickens before they hatch.

Technical Writing Resume Samples

Technical Writing Resume SamplesThe list of writing samples is very long, and often technical writers can take advantage of several samples before deciding on the right one. They will look for common mistakes like grammar and word usage, punctuation, spelling, clarity and comprehensibility. Having access to different samples is also helpful when it comes to brainstorming and defining their scope of the project that they are going to write.It is important to keep in mind that a writing sample has the general purpose to improve the writer's confidence and progress. Another benefit is that the samples are the point of reference for the writer to determine if they can perform the task or not.Writing samples can be obtained from the writing service that specializes in writing. They would do most of the work in advance, and would then give the writer a hard copy of the application for the writing service, and the sample resume sample.The samples can also be downloaded from websites that sp ecialize in samples. These samples are usually given out to professionals who want to know how to do a certain job and how to do them well. There are many reasons why technical writers choose this source of samples.The samples are usually free and these sites have paid writers who would often refer customers to their samples. If the samples are given for free, you can be sure that the writer is less likely to charge a referral fee.Writing samples can also be found on the Internet. Since so many professionals in this field often post their samples, it is recommended that you obtain them from websites that offer these samples for free. This is because you do not want to waste your time looking for the right writing samples, especially since it can sometimes be difficult to find them.Writing samples are also available in print form. This method of acquiring samples is the most economical way of obtaining samples of your own. Since the writing samples are mostly for free, it is advisabl e that you seek the assistance of a technical writer who can give you samples at a low price.After you have acquired the samples, you should write an original one for each one. The sample must be a few sentences longer than the written resume and can highlight your skills and abilities.

6 Things You Should Know About Intern Etiquette

6 Things You Should Know About Intern Etiquette There’s one reason, and one reason only why we put ourselves through low paid or unpaid internships. It’s to build enough experience to get a job â€" and in an ideal world you’ll be offered a job with the company you’ve been interning for. Failing that, you need to ensure you do everything you can to get a glowing reference from them, which is what UK youth volunteering charity vInspired  work to do with 18-25 year olds. Your intern mission is to stand out, and stand out quick. Here’s vInspired’s 6 ways to make sure you get into your boss’s good books…and stay there. 1.       Be on Time, All the Time Being a stickler for punctuality is a basic requirement of any employee. If you don’t demonstrate that you’re capable of the basics, you won’t be trusted with any big responsibilities. That means the time you’re spending there becomes less valuable. Take precautions to make sure you aren’t late. Get an earlier train in the morning to avoid commute delays. If you can’t avoid being late, call in and tell your supervisor. 2.       Ensure You’re Always Busy Prove that you are pro-active enough to assist your colleagues when your current tasks dry up.  If you can see some filing that needs doing or a document that needs to be prepared, don’t wait to be told to complete it (though perhaps check you’re allowed to do it in advance). Getting on with something of your own accord shows that you are no time waster, as well as being an incredibly helpful person to have around. 3.       Don’t Get Caught Slacking To follow on from the above, getting caught doing a sneaky online shop or tweeting your mates is a very bad move. You may be able to convince your boss that the ASOS website opened on your screen “by accident”, but you can’t erase the footprints left by a string of tweets. Avoid social media during work hours and, as above, make sure you’re too busy to be surfing the web at will. Then you can’t go wrong. 4.       Be Positive Working with grumpy people is the worst. It’s a sure-fire way to stick out for all the wrong reasons, and stops you from gelling with your colleagues. Interviewers look for good personality traits just as much as skills and experience when hiring a person. So smile all the time, be talkative and make sure your workmates would hate it if you left. 5.       Say Yes to Everything …Within reason, of course. Don’t give yourself a breakdown, but do take on extra tasks. Manage your time effectively so you can complete everything without letting your current tasks slip. If you’re given something extra that takes you out of your comfort zone, say yes but ask the delegator to go through the process with you before you start. This will avoid major mistakes from the off. 6.       Be Professional Even if you’re being given the naff jobs that no one else wants to do, respond to everything with the utmost professionalism. This includes addressing and signing off emails properly, using industry jargon and proof-reading your content. There’s nothing worse than looking lax about your work â€" treat it with pride. Want a great way to work in your chosen industry and learn more about preparing for the world of work? vInspired  have hundreds of opportunities for young people to gain experience. photo credit: pasukaru76 via photopin cc 13

Four Vital Steps To Protecting Everything Youve Built

Four Vital Steps To Protecting Everything Youve Built When you’ve invested the amount of time, money, and sheer effort it takes to create a business and build it into a successful enterprise, the last thing you want to happen is for that business to fail because of circumstances you can’t control. Your business plan and budget should include provision for defenses that will help you protect your business, such as insurance cover, and you need to make sure your cover gives you exactly the protection you need should the worst happen. For instance, if you’re setting up cyber security systems, consult the Hiscox Cyber Liability Security FAQ Guides to familiarize yourself with the coverage and how to get the most from your software. The kinds of protection most businesses require are physical security systems and protection against external threats, such as: Cyber liability and security. As mentioned above, this is an essential protection if you use any form of electronic storage or communication, which applies to most businesses these days. Cyber insurance policies protect you against the increasing problem of digital threats like data breaches and malicious or fraudulent hacking of your computer systems. Look for policies like Hiscox’s that cover both first and third party financial and reputational costs should data or systems get stolen, corrupted, lost, or damaged. Buildings and contents insurance. If you have any kind of business premises, then you need to have protection in place against theft and damage. While it’s not pleasant to think about thieves getting in and robbing you or a fire breaking out and destroying the building, it’s considerably worse to face a problem like this without having any way of covering the replacement costs. Check your insurance policy covers you for as many potentially damaging scenarios as possible, and if you have a specific risk factor, for example, the likelihood of flooding, look for a specialist broker who can take on the risk. Protection against theft and vandalism. The most effective way of dealing with problems that could cost your business, like theft and vandalism, is to avoid them in the first place. That means installing security systems to deter thieves and vandals, including secure locks and entry systems, CCTV, and alarms. Protection from physical threats. Accidents and natural disasters can also be prevented by making sure your building meets every recommendation to reduce its flammability and preserve its stability. You also need to make sure you have safety equipment like fire extinguishers, that they’re serviced regularly, and that everyone in the building knows how to use them. Sorting out insurance, security systems, and cyber protection may not be the most thrilling of the tasks required to run a successful business, but you’ll appreciate their value if you ever encounter an attack of some sort or need to make a claim. Without these kinds of protections in place, you risk losing everything you worked so hard for, so protect your business and avoid the heartache and financial calamity of being unprotected.

Writing a Sample With Resume

Writing a Sample With ResumeWhile a resume is supposed to be a professional form of advertising, it is also a necessary document that must also carry the subject line and the short writing sample with resume. Sometimes, it is very difficult to identify exactly what you are applying for, as well as who you are applying to. The focus of your resume should be clear.For this reason, do not try to stand out from the crowd of other applicants by making your resume too long or too complicated. The focus of your resume is to advertise your qualifications and potential. Therefore, if you wish to receive call backs or interviews, the shorter you make your resume, the better.It is not necessary to submit a full length version of your resume. The most important thing to remember when compiling your short writing sample with resume is that it should convey the information in a concise manner. You are not seeking a facsimile job, but it is important to get the first call backs and the first interv iews.For this reason, do not submit your resume under more than one category. The key to obtaining interviews and the first call backs are to offer to send out an additional resume or cover letter. When you consider the volume of resumes you will receive, you are likely to send two or three e-mails and send out three or four letters. This will overwhelm your potential employers.Your writing samples with resume can be an excellent example of what you intend to put on paper. Avoid using the personal touch. In the writing sample with resume format, the first paragraph should include a statement about why you were asked to contact the company. This is where you must take the necessary steps to put your best foot forward.After that, give a brief overview of your work experience. Although not required, it is helpful to write in your own words about what you have done and how you plan to use your talents in the future. On top of this, you should not omit to state that you understand the po sition that you are applying for.The writing sample with resume should contain the basics of a standard letter. The first paragraph should be a request for an interview, followed by an introduction of yourself, followed by an explanation of what you would be asked to do. A positive and convincing conclusion should be stated next.Do not try to rehash the same information that you wrote in your work history section. This makes it look like you were writing as if it were a resume. In addition, make sure that the opening sentence is a statement about why you were hired. Finally, give the reader a clear direction about the type of job that you are interested in.

Alumni Networking on LinkedIn.com

Alumni Networking on LinkedIn.com www.linkedin.com/alumni is a relatively new LinkedIn feature that I have found quite valuable for tapping into my alumni directory and alumni networking. This feature allows you to see a visual representation of where your fellow university alumni live (i.e. their location), work (companies), as well as what they do for a living (career). Powerful Alumni Networking A good portion of alumni are happy to help out fellow alumni in their career or job search. Whether an individual graduated in the same year or 30 years before, many are happy to help a fellow alumnus achieve their goals. You share a connection and a common experience. Alumni Networking in a New City Did you recently move to a new city and youre looking for a job? Many individuals move to a new city without a support system or a job. Finding career opportunities without a set network in a new city can be very challenging. Use this linkedin.com tool to find alumni that may be able to provide information on the city, a popular industry, the state of the work force, or tips for a job search in that city. If you are still considering a transition to a new city, evaluate who will be part of your local network. Alumni may be a great source of information as you consider the job market and the move itself. Researching Career Transitions If you are contemplating a career transition, use this feature to identify alumni who work in the career you are considering. They would be great individuals for you to conduct informational interviews with to learn more about the career field or even run your potential career transitions by. Increase Alumni Networking Even individuals who are happy with their career may want to increase their network for many purposes, including skill assessment, developing relationships, etc. Or you may want to connect or re-connect with individuals from your university to discuss their career transitions too. The alumni networking feature of LinkedIn has many features that can be useful for individuals in all aspects of their career. Take a look and see what information you find useful! Also find out how we can help you optimize a Linkedin profile to get a job.

My Epitaph Predominant Intention - Hire Imaging

My Epitaph Predominant Intention - Hire Imaging Life Lesson: Be a Perpetual Learner One of my favorite college courses was a poetry class taught by a published writer and 18-year-old in a 60-something-year-old body.   One of our assignments was to write a two-line epitaph each in 10-syllable rhythm. What I would want others to know about me when I could no longer tell them. I penned: Predominant intention in this urn She always knew how much she had to learn ~ Barbara Hoye Poole, 1975 My professor pulled me aside after class the day after our submissions. “Yours is my favorite, Barb. If you can live this intentionally, you’ll achieve what so many do not. It is truly the key to a life full of wonder.” Equally flattered and inspired, I carry my self-prescribed epitaph around decades later. I’ve tried to be a lifelong learner. Dance and cooking lessons to professional and community education. Confession: I’ve always struggled with fear of making mistakes, even for the sake of learning. And I’ve had more clients than I can count who were afraid to “goof up”. GE’s former CEO, Jack Welch, said, “I’ve learned that mistakes can often be as good a teacher as success.” The success stories I love are when people tread unknowns, fall down, freeze or thrash about. Then they get back up, push through, hit a goal, and the juices of confidence flow. Stuff happens. Employers love these stories. “Don’t just tell me you’re a quick learner. Show me how. Better yet, show me a time when it was hard, and you did it anyway. Make me care!” Two clients’ stories: 1) Heather. Tuned in to mistake-related revelations. As a software developer and hopeful entrepreneur, she watched her former college classmate poised to start his first software development company. He wanted everything to be perfect. Realty check: it never is. He took so long to make the software flawless that Google launched a competing product first. And it was free. Oops. Lesson learned: Launch your idea before someone beats you to the punch. Time is not your friend. Heather went on to do just that, and has a strong software product niche and profitable business. 2) Jon. Adopted the mindset of a trapeze artist. A financial planner and bright guy, Jon lacked confidence stemming from his stutter and ADHD. At one point, he was given a book about Winston Churchill. A life-changing moment. Churchill himself said, “Failure is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” Churchill knew this lesson firsthand. He had dropped out of school at age 12, suffered from depression, was a poor student, and had a speech impediment. He was also a gifted political writer, peacemaker and painter. He authored 12 books, served in Parliament and as Prime Ministerâ€"and painted. Lesson learned: Jon became the trapeze artist, still experiencing failures (recession hits, divorce). He soared ahead. He served on boards, wrote a blog and moved up the corporate ladder. He reached heights he didn’t think possible. Failures inevitably shape learning. Albert Einstein took 10 years to answer the question, “Is light a wave or a particle?” Michael Jordan missed 9,000 shots and lost 300 games in his career. The point? They became experts through their mistakes. Childhood brings important learning. But life is a classroom. I’m trying to show up each day. Right now, I’m in a live-lab class of career professionals who discuss that the way people find, get and keep work is changing. So one of our key messages is to strive for learning, unlearning and relearning. The average person will have career changes and multiple jobs before the age of 40. Today’s work world is characterized by change. The model of lifetime employment is long gone. This demands a passion for lifelong learning and skill updating. Is that the key? Nothing’s forever. What do we take away from what we learn? How do we use it? How do we make it better? Do we know when it doesn’t work for us at all? I look at my well-worn scrap with my epitaph reminder. And try to figure out what I need to know next. What’s holding you back? How might you swing forward in 2011. Please share your comments!