Freelance Friday

Get Noticed at your Job by Doing it with Flair

How do you go about doing your job with flair? The first way to make sure you are doing your job with distinction doesn't involve much flair at all - it simply involves doing your job and doing it well. Know exactly what your responsibilities are and attend to them every day. Don't let any of the things that come under your job description fall by the wayside because you think they are unimportant. If you are unsure exactly what all of your responsibilities are, ask your boss for a meeting and discuss your job description with them. You will get noticed simply for your desire to make sure you are covering all of your bases and not letting any of your responsibilities fall by the wayside.

Another way to do your job with flair is to add to the good morale in the office. Everyone has at least one person in the office that is like a black cloud hanging in the air. Gloom, doom and pessimism don't really have a place in the office. Even if you feel like you are heading for a fall with the way a certain project is coming together or because someone on the team is not pulling their weight, look for solutions instead of standing around and complaining about it. When your attitude can help people stay on track with their work and not dread coming into the office every day, you are bound to get noticed.

If you really want to add some flair to your work performance, learn how to manage your time and avoid procrastination. Time management is one of the biggest problems all employees face, and when you don't manage your time efficiently, you are not being as productive as possible for your boss, which never wins you any fans among the management team. If you find yourself always rushing through your work at the last minute trying to meet your deadline, try keeping a journal of all of your activities at work for a few days. When you see how much time you spending doing things like talking with co-workers by the water cooler and surfing the net, you might see ways you can improve your work habits, so you can get things done well before the deadline is pressing down on you. Increasing your productivity by managing your time is a surefire way to earn some praise from the people over your head.

Another way to add flair to your work performance is by being a team player. It can be tempting to thing that to have flair you have to go out on a limb and try to do everything yourself, but that is not the case. Employers don't like to see an employee trying to hog credit for things that everyone has worked on together or trying to one up everyone else on the staff.

When you work together with the team, you show your employer that your interests are with making the company a success and not trying to advance you own personal agenda. If your employer understands that you see the bigger picture of making the company succeed, you are sure to get noticed and rewarded.

http://www.squidoo.com/characteristics-of-a-good-employee

Tip of the Day

Summer Job Search Tips

Target industries that boom in the summer
Entertainment and tourism-oriented businesses do better in the summer as people go on vacation, everyone knows that, right? Yet there are lots of other industries that boom in the summer too for less obvious reasons. Read on for ideas below.

Be the first to apply …
Many summer jobs require little to no experience. To save time and money, many employers will hire the first reputable candidates that apply.

… But you don’t have to be the first to apply
Many summer job openings are already filled by April, but with all that time until the jobs actually begin, things can come up and plans can change. Candidates may decide they prefer other jobs or not to work at all, and employers may realize they need more help than anticipated.

Treat application forms like resumes
Many summer jobs, such as at fast-food restaurants or retail stores, will want you to submit an application form instead of a resume (which many teens might not have anyway).

Spend the time to complete any forms correctly. If the form needs to be filled in by hand, take a few copies in case you make a mistake you can’t correct. Like with a resume, have someone reliable proofread your applications before you submit them.

Stay open to working multiple jobs
If you keep your eyes and ears open and stay ready, you can quickly jump to a better job or just another one if your first one ends early.

Experiment and take risks more readily
Are there are any job search tactics you’ve been too shy to try on your long-term career job search? Give them a shot during the summer when there’s less at stake. You’ll learn what works for you and what doesn’t, and build more confidence for when you really need it.

Play up your specific qualities
If you’re a teenager or student, aim for jobs where having a flexible schedule is important, or dealing with other teenagers and students.

If you’re an adult, aim for jobs where employers will feel more comfortable by your experience, or where you’ll need to work with people who might be uncomfortable dealing with teenagers and students.

Don’t start your own business unless…
… you can clearly make money immediately, or you won’t need to.

Summer is short and if you try the wrong idea, you might waste the whole summer without any returns for your efforts.

DO start your own business during the summer if you’re not desperate for cash right way and are hoping to time things so that earnings will arrive after the summer when you’ll need them more.

Aim to return next summer
Make this your last summer job search by impressing your employer so much they’ll want you to come back next summer.

When the summer ends, ask about returning and try to get a date during the year when you can followup for confirmation.


Job Mob, http://jobmob.co.il/blog/summer-job-tips/

Working Abroad

5 Things you Should Consider Before Accepting a Job Abroad

1) Understand Your Host Country
Quite often expatriates actually have no real choice in which country they live. The majority of people who move abroad for work purposes are transferred with their jobs or respond to a job advertisement and quite often find themselves relocating to where that job takes them. Before accepting any work overseas you should thoroughly research the policies, cultural expectations, social environment and politics of the country to which you are considering relocating.

It is crucial that you are aware of what you will, and will not, be able to do in the host country and that you are fully versed in the political risks, both long term and short term, of living there as an expat.

2) Understand Yourself
Are you truly ready for a move overseas? Are your family and your spouse ready? You should never underestimate the stresses and strains that moving abroad can place on an individual and you need to be 100% sure that your family unit is strong enough to cope with these. It is imperative that you know and understand your motivations for wanting to move overseas and ensure, where relevant, that your partner shares these. If you are opportunistically looking for a move abroad as a short-term solution for solving any marital problems you have at home then you really should think again.

You also need to consider if you are personally ready for the challenges of working abroad. Do you really have the leadership and personal skills that will be needed to work successfully in a foreign environment? Do you understand the cultural challenges you will face and the variations in working styles you will be expected to embrace? If you are not entirely sure that you have the personality required to deal with the challenges overseas, seek advice and honest feedback from people who you have worked with in the past. Their input will assist you to understand yourself and raise your awareness of any areas you will need to develop in order to make your move a success.

3) Understand the Implications for Your Family and Friends
When you make the decision to accept a job overseas it is not just your own life that you are impacting, international relocation affects everyone in your family. Here are some of the things you should consider when deciding whether or not to take a job abroad:

• The age and health of your parents and other family members. Will there be someone to look after and care for them in your absence in the event of ill health?
• The impact that living abroad will have on your children and your partner. Although a move overseas may advance your own career how will it impact the long-term prospects of other family members?
•What social opportunities are available for members of your family?

4) Understand the Implications for Your Career
Going abroad is often viewed as a career opportunity and something that will be of great value to an individual’s resume. However, resist the temptation to snap the job up immediately and take some time to consider what the real long-term career implications may mean. Here’s some things you may wish to deliberate:

• The extent to which you will be able to maintain your professional network with colleagues, senior executives and company headquarters. If you work for a big corporation, will you still be provided with exposure to the people who count?
• The job security in your role overseas. How secure will your job actually be? What will happen if your job is made redundant for one reason or another, will alternative options be made available to you?
• Will you be in a position to keep abreast of developments in your home country? How easy will it be to remain connected?

5) Understand Your Contract
A major impact on whether a move abroad will be a success or not is determined by the contract that you negotiate and the terms, benefits and bonuses that will be applied.

Moving abroad really can represent a great opportunity and, despite some of the warning messages in this article, constitutes an extremely positive experience for the majority of expatriates. Providing you make the decision with the due consideration that it warrants and you are positive that the move is the right thing for your family, yourself and your career then there is every possibility that you will look back one day and say that it is the best thing that you ever did.

http://www.expatinfodesk.com/blog/2011/02/14/5-things-you-should-consider-before-accepting-a-job-abroad/

Tip of the Day

Dress for Success

Why are clothes so important?
- Most companies have dress codes and professional expectations of employees.
- If people are focused on your clothing, then they are not focused on you, and the good work that you do.
- Research shows that your physical appearance counts for 55% of your overall communication.
- Many people succeed when they dress for their desired job.

How do you decide what to wear?
- Do not dress down because others are- focus on those in leadership roles.
- When in doubt, over dress.
- Ask for the company policy.
- If you have a mentor, or someone you admire in the field, take note of how they dress.

Where to Shop for Work Clothes
- Thrift Stores such as Value Village
- Have a clothing exchange with friends or family
- Borrow clothes from friends of family
- Walmart, Zellers and Giant Tiger all sell dress clothes at reasonable prices
- Many stores in the mall carry business attire

Start Now!
As a student, now is the time to start building a professional wardrobe. By doing so, this will also help you prepare for placement or internship opportunities.

Mentoring Monday

How to Be A Great Mentor

Make a deal. Set up an agreement from the very first meeting that outlines your expectations of each other and how you will work together. Agree on what is acceptable to discuss and what is not, agree on appropriate behaviours, boundaries and confidentiality. Let them know when it is okay to contact you and when it is not and how they should contact you -is phoning alright or do you prefer email? Can they contact you during business hours only or after hours too? Agree on a length of time for the mentoring relationship - perhaps 6 to 12-months at the beginning. And, make a commitment to always be completely honest and expect them to do the same. Mentoring is not about making friends; it is about sharing your wisdom and experience.

Focus. If you commit to spending time with them, don't be distracted by your surroundings or mobile phone. Give your mentee your undivided attention when meeting with them.

Set homework. Set tasks or actions for your mentee to complete between meetings. Give them activities, challenges and questions to think about and complete between your mentoring sessions.

Provide examples. Your mentee will get most out of the relationship by learning from your experiences - commit to share both your good and bad experiences. Share your templates, tools and processes with them too and help them to develop their own.

Point them in the right direction. Recommend resources, books, websites or networks that your mentee might benefit from. This will help guide them in how to spend their time and money.

Make introductions. Introduce your mentee to others in your network or business - fast track their career with introductions to influential and valuable people you believe they can learn from or be exposed to for future opportunities.

Promote your mentee. Don't forget if you are in a situation where it is appropriate for you to recommend your mentee's talents or services to do so and help their career to flourish.

Keep it to yourself. Your mentee may discuss issues, challenges and concerns with you. It is important that they feel they can do this in an atmosphere of confidentiality - keep all discussions between yourself and your mentee private.


Article Source: Neen James, http://EzineArticles.com/21410

Freelance Friday

Interview Preparation

Once you have received a call about an interview, you must prepare. This cannot be emphasized enough. Many job applicants spend very little time preparing for an interview and, unsurprisingly, this often leads to poor results. Thorough preparation will increase your confidence and help you improve your performance and job prospects.

1.Know yourself – review the self-assessment work you completed when writing your CV and cover letter. Carefully consider how you want to convey this information verbally and think of specific examples from your past experiences which highlight your skills, qualifications and achievements.

2.Research – researching the industry, the employer and the position for which you are applying for, prior to an interview, is extremely important. It reflects well on your enthusiasm and the information you gain from professional organizations, business councils and relevant websites will help you prepare questions for the employer and give you a good sense of salary levels, working conditions and current market trends.

3.Practice – prepare and practice answers to possible interview questions. You can schedule an appointment for a mock interview with a career advisor or you can practice with a friend to get feedback on your verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

4.Contact your references – it is a good idea to reconnect with your references during the job search process so that they know what positions you are applying for and are aware they may be contacted in the near future.

5. The day of the interview - dress for success and bring along any documents or information you may need, such as extra copies of your CV and a list of references. Arrive ten to fifteen minutes prior to the interview and be friendly, respectful and positive with everyone you meet.

6.Follow-up - once your interview is over, you can breathe more easily, but your work is not quite finished. Many candidates miss a valuable opportunity by failing to follow up with an organization after an interview. Send a thank-you note to the interviewers within a day or two to thank them for their time and indicate your continued interest in the position. Do not be afraid to follow up with the interviewers and inquire about the status of your application if you have not heard from them within the agreed time frame.

http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/job-search/interviewing/

Tip of the Day

Ten steps you can take to find a new job

1.Focus Your Job Search
Use the job search engines to find jobs by using keywords that match your interests and the location where you want to work. Narrowing your search criteria will help you focus your job search and will give you more relevant job listings to review and less non-relevant job listings to weed through.

2.Build Your Brand
Create profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, and VisualCV. A strong personal brand that portrays you in a professional light will provide recruiters, employers, and contacts with a strong positive impression of you.

3.Connect With Your Contacts
Now that you've created profiles on networking sites, use them. Connect with everyone you know, because you never know which contact may be able to help you with your job search or put you in touch with someone who can.

4.Use Job Search Tools
There are a variety of widgets, gadgets, and tools that will help expedite your job search and manage your career. Use them to organize your job search and save valuable job searching time.

5.Create a List of Companies
Do you have a list of companies you would like to work for? It's a good idea to research company information and create a list of companies to target in your job search. All the information you need is available on the web, and it's easy to find detailed information about potential employers online.

6.Find Job Listings
Check job search engine sites, job banks, company web sites, networking sites, niche job sites, and sites listed by type of job. Consider working with a recruiter to maximize your opportunities.

7.Target Your Resume and Cover Letter
It's important to take the time to write targeted resumes and cover letters that specifically link your qualifications to the hiring criteria for the jobs you are applying for. The hiring manager will be able to see, at a glance, why, and how, you are qualified for the job. You'll have a much better chance of getting an interview than if you send a generic letter and resume.

8.Ace the Interview
Research the company before you go for the interview, dress appropriately, practice answering and asking interview questions, and make a concerted effort to impress the interviewer with your skills, experience, confidence, and expertise.

9.Follow Up
It's important to follow up after an interview by thanking everyone you met with. Also reiterate your interest in the position and remind the hiring manager why you're an excellent candidate for the job.

10.Accept (or Decline) a Job Offer
When you receive a job offer, it's important to take the time to carefully evaluate the offer so you are making an educated decision to accept, or to reject, the offer. You don't have to accept a job just because it was offered to you, but do carefully evalute it and if you decline, do so politely.

Alison Doyle, About.com Guide, http://jobsearch.about.com/od/findajob/tp/tensteps.htm

Working Abroad

Benefits of Working Abroad

For a fresh college graduate in Canada who does not want to explore the corporate world yet, working abroad is an attractive endeavor. There are opportunities to work in various countries.

The concept of travel has indeed changed. In the past, travel has been viewed solely as a leisure activity. However, travel is now associated with work and pursuing greater opportunities. Aside from the possible monetary gains, working abroad brings many benefits. Some of them are the following:

Earn and Save Money

Traveling is expensive. However, finding time to work will keep you from draining your bank account. In working, you will be able to provide for your needs while overseas and even save money. This will assure that you will not return home with an empty pocket.

Acquire New Skills

A fatter bank account is not the only thing you may gain while working abroad. It will also be a great opportunity to learn new skills. Different countries offer different jobs of all sorts, from teaching English to picking strawberries. You may find yourself trying out your luck in odd jobs and in the process learn new things.

Be Independent

Away from your families and friends, you will have no one to depend on but yourself. Being able to live and survive overseas is an achievement that will hone your independence. It is wise to expect the problems and trials you will experience along the way as you struggle in a foreign land. Look at it in a positive light, as it will make you stronger, wiser, and generally a better person.

Broaden your Horizon

Travel will expose you to a different culture, different language, and different people. In short a totally new way of living.

Improve your resume

Working abroad will give you an edge over other applicants. In this age of globalization, employers find applicants that have overseas work experience engaging.


Carmela Bignotia, http://www.workandliveabroad.com/article_item.php?articleid=396.

Tip of the Day

Ten Resume Mistakes to Avoid

It's deceivingly easy to make mistakes on your resume and exceptionally difficult to repair the damage once an employer gets it. Thus, prevention is critical, especially if you've never written one before. Here are the most common pitfalls and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Typos and Grammatical Errors
Your resume needs to be grammatically perfect. If it isn't, employers will read between the lines and draw not-so-flattering conclusions about you, like: "This person can't write," or "This person obviously doesn't care."

2. Lack of Specifics
Employers need to understand what you've done and accomplished. For example:

A. Worked with employees in a restaurant setting.
B. Recruited, hired, trained and supervised more than 20 employees in a restaurant with $2 million in annual sales.

Both of these phrases could describe the same person, but the details and specifics in example B will more likely grab an employer's attention.

3. Attempting One Size Fits All
Whenever you try to develop a one-size-fits-all resume to send to all employers, you almost always end up with something employers will toss in the recycle bin. Employers want you to write a resume specifically for them. They expect you to clearly show how and why you fit the position in a specific organization.

4. Highlighting Duties Instead of Accomplishments
It's easy to slip into a mode where you simply start listing job duties on your resume. For example:

- Attended group meetings and recorded minutes.
- Worked with children in a day-care setting.
- Updated departmental files.

Employers, however, don't care so much about what you've done as what you've accomplished in your various activities. They're looking for statements more like these:

- Used laptop computer to record weekly meeting minutes and compiled them in a Microsoft Word-based file for future organizational reference.

- Developed three daily activities for preschool-age children and prepared them for a 10-minute holiday program performance.

- Reorganized 10 years worth of unwieldy files, making them easily accessible to department members.

5. Going on Too Long or Cutting Things Too Short
Despite what you may read or hear, there are no real rules governing the length of your resume. Why? Because human beings, who have different preferences and expectations where resumes are concerned, will be reading it.

That doesn't mean you should start sending out five-page resumes, of course. Generally speaking, you usually need to limit yourself to a maximum of two pages. But don't feel you have to use two pages if one will do. Conversely, don't cut the meat out of your resume simply to make it conform to an arbitrary one-page standard.

6. A Bad Objective
Employers do read your resume's objective statement, but too often they plow through vague pufferies like, "Seeking a challenging position that offers professional growth." Give employers something specific and, more importantly, something that focuses on their needs as well as your own. Example: "A challenging entry-level marketing position that allows me to contribute my skills and experience in fund-raising for nonprofits."

7. No Action Verbs
Avoid using phrases like "responsible for." Instead, use action verbs: "Resolved user questions as part of an IT help desk serving 4,000 students and staff."

8. Leaving Off Important Information
You may be tempted, for example, to eliminate mention of the jobs you've taken to earn extra money for school. Typically, however, the soft skills you've gained from these experiences (e.g., work ethic, time management) are more important to employers than you might think.

9. Visually Too Busy
If your resume is wall-to-wall text featuring five different fonts, it will most likely give the employer a headache. So show your resume to several other people before sending it out. Do they find it visually attractive?

10. Incorrect Contact Information
I once worked with a student whose resume seemed incredibly strong, but he wasn't getting any bites from employers. So one day, I jokingly asked him if the phone number he'd listed on his resume was correct. It wasn't. Once he changed it, he started getting the calls he'd been expecting. Moral of the story: Double-check even the most minute, taken-for-granted details -- sooner rather than later.

Copyright 2011 -- Monster Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. You may not copy, reproduce or distribute this article without the prior written permission of Monster Worldwide. This article first appeared at: http://career-advice.monster.ca/

Mentoring Monday

"A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could." - Unknown

Building Trust-Based Mentoring Relationships

Everyone enters mentoring relationships with varying degrees of trust in their partners. Some people trust immediately and openly, some need for trust to be earned, and some fall in the middle of the spectrum. These differences often stem from personal experiences and background.

In general, trust provides the ability to risk while relying on the experience, understanding, and guidance of another. In a mentoring relationship, you have to trust your partner in order to effectively learn, take advice, and put that advice into action in your life. If you do not view your partner as a trustworthy source of information and advice, then little progress will be made in the relationship.

A mentoring relationship rooted in trust can be a powerful and transformational experience. A positive mentoring relationship forms when each party is willing to view their partners as reliable sources of information, knowledge, and support. This makes gaining your partners’ trust, and giving them your trust in return,a critical component of any mentoring engagement. Mutual respect, admiration, appreciation, and reliance often occur as a result and can lead to swift and meaningful sharing.

We will explore three main components to build trust-based mentoring relationships: competence, integrity, and caring.


Competence
It is safe to say that most mentoring relationships revolve around competence. One party has something they want to learn, and they find partners who can help them gain the knowledge that they need. The competence of these advisors centers around the degree of proficiency they are able to demonstrate in their areas of presumed expertise. Trust emanates from those who are good at what they do and who are able to relate that experience to others. In a mentoring relationship competence is demonstrated through the ability to share experiences with others.
It is competence that supports acquiring talent, skills, or knowledge in the context of a mentoring relationship.

Integrity
Integrity speaks to the wholeness of an individual’s character. Those who do what they say they are going to do inspire trust. The same can be said of those who speak truthfully regarding their opinions, thoughts, and experiences. Integrity is evidenced by the way in which confidential boundaries are maintained, which is vital to mentoring relationships. Integrity also means aligning actions with values.

Caring
Caring is the ability to show concern and interest regarding the needs and desires of another. In mentoring relationships, care is most commonly displayed through showing regard for the expressed learning needs and aspirations of your mentoring partner. This is done through keeping discussions developmentally focused, practicing active listening, and honoring accomplishments. It is also shown by allowing room to unload burdens and process challenging situations.

Competence, integrity, caring—all three areas are critical to developing and maintaining trust. No matter how impeccable someone’s character is, if they cannot demonstrate competency, trusting them is difficult. Similarly, a competent person who shows no personal interest in your well-being is hard to trust with confidential information. Finally, without integrity, competence and caring would ring hollow. Attention must be given to the actions and conversations that support all three of these dimensions of trust in order to build successful mentoring relationships.


Randy Emelo, http://www.3creek.com/index.php?/Newsletters/building-trust-based-mentoring-relationships.html

Tip of the Day

When creating your cover letter there are many things which you want to include, and then there are some things that you need to avoid. Here are five helpful reminders of what you want to avoid putting in your cover letter.

1. Using a non specific form of address

When addressing the hiring manager you want to avoid using terms such as “to whom it may concern” and” Dear sir/madam”. Taking the extra effort to find the names of the hiring manager shows that you are interested in the position and not taking the short way out by not researching the information further.

2. Repeating what’s on your resume

You never want to repeat the information that you’ve put on your resume onto your cover letter. You can highlight points from your resume if they are directed to the job posting, but other than that leave the information on your resume. Your cover letter is a chance for you to sell yourself to the employer on knowledge, skills, and abilities that are not included in your resume.

3. Using standard language

You do not want to use one cover letter for every job you apply for. Cover letters should be made specific for each job that you apply for, even if they are similar. Read the job posting carefully, be sure to add any knowledge, skills, or abilities that you acquire in order to let them know that you have what they are looking for.

4. Using weak or inactive language

Skip phrases such as “I believe” and “I feel” and replace them with phrases such as “I am”. This is a much stronger form of writing and shows the hiring manager that you know that you have these skills rather than thinking you might have them.

5. Failing to check for errors

Avoid obvious and not so obvious spelling and grammar errors throughout your cover letter. This will be the first form on written communication that the employer will see from you and will be able to see the level of clear written communication you have. With errors it could show that you have either poor communication skills, that you do not pay attention to detail, as well as that you did not take the time to proof read the letter for any errors.

Working Abroad

Returning to Canada

Leaving a foreign country

Transport companies, such as air, rail, and bus services, are required to ensure that all passengers travelling to Canada can produce valid, universally accepted travel documents. This includes Canadian citizens returning to Canada from abroad. Transport companies, especially international airlines, may be fined if they carry improperly documented (pdf) travellers and are often liable to return those passengers to their point of origin.

A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s license, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.

Re-entering Canada

Returning to Canada means a stop at a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) check point. Be sure to declare everything acquired abroad, whether purchases for yourself or gifts, as well as goods bought at a Canadian or foreign duty-free store. Keep original receipts. The booklet I Declare describes what you can and cannot bring back to Canada if you have been away for less than a year.

If you are planning to bring back gifts or other consumer products into Canada, make sure that they comply with Canadian regulations. Some products can have safety requirements and may be prohibited in Canada. For more information, please consult Health Canada’s Information for Canadians Travelling Outside of Canada.

Permanent residents (immigrants living in Canada who are not yet Canadian citizens) travelling outside Canada need a valid permanent resident card to return to Canada. Travellers are reminded to check the expiry date on their card. For more information on permanent resident card processing time, please visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/abroad_a-letranger/return-canada-retour-eng.asp

Tip of the Day

Top ten tips for acing your interview

Many people are nervous and anxious gearing up to the big interview that they might have. Here are ten helpful hints to set you as ease and remember for acing your interview:

1. Always be polite and friendly to anyone you meet throughout the interview. This also includes the receptionist who greets you.

2. Enter and leave the interview with a firm handshake.

3. Make eye contact throughout the interview. If it is a panel interview, be sure to engage every panel member.

4. Remember to smile. Smiling will show that you are out going and will be a friendly member to join their team. Smile and nod your head to emphasize points and to finish answers.

5. If you are offered a drink, take it. It will help you to have a drink of water in case it you are nervous, and also helps when you need to take a moment to pause and think about the question and your answer.

6. Sit up straight and try not to fidget. This shows that you are interested in the interview, and not giving off bad body language.

7. Speak up, but never interrupt the interviewer. Be enthusiastic, without being pushy.

8. Laugh and relax, most employers are looking to hire someone with a good personality. Laughing at appropriate times shows that you are able to have a good laugh during the appropriate timing.

9. Breathe. Being aware of your breathing focuses your mind and calms you down.

10. Thank them for their time and meeting with you.


How to Prepare for an Interview - The Career Centre Loyalist College Kente Building Room 2H3

Mentoring Monday

How to implement a new Mentoring Program

When new employees join an organization it is always helpful for them to have someone that they are able to go to ask questions about their new job and also find new resources. By starting a mentoring program within your workplace allows current employees to develop new working relationships with newer employees and help put them in the right direction relating to the company.

Sit down and define the goals of the mentorship program within the workplace and set out how you will be able to track the program’s success. Setting goals helps identify what you want to gain from the mentorship program and how you will achieve these set out goals.

Create an identity for the mentorship program. Decide on a name in order to identify the program easily with employees, stakeholders, colleagues and potential employees. Also, a logo can be made to be able to easily identify the program visually.

Decide how you will place mentors with mentees. Will they be places with one another based on skill or experience level, personal interests or job function within the company, then match the pair.

Create an event, or schedule a meeting with employees of the company to introduce the new program and educate them on the functions of it. Without educating them, they will not be aware of the new program that is very beneficial for everyone within the organization. To add excitement trying serving refreshments, and have giveaways. It is possible that you might be able to offer some sort of bonus for employees that sign up for the new mentorship program to as extra incentive for joining.

Once you have employees sign up for the mentorship program, you then must place the mentor with the mentee. Having the first meeting in order for both mentor and mentee to meet and discuss their desired outcomes from the program.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6543079_start-mentor-program-workplace.html

Freelance Friday

Service and Reliability

There are four defining characteristics to a business; quality, price, reliability and service.
As in any other business, service sets you apart, keeps the client and relationship happy and justifies your cost. In freelancing service takes four main forms:

General Relations
This means the quality of your face to face relations, your phone conversations and your emails. It means being approachable, affable and easy to get along with. It means taking an interest in your client and their business above and beyond the job. It means being someone they want to work with.

Accessibility
Clients want to be able to get in touch with you. There is nothing worse than not being able to get a hold of a person in a critical moment, so make sure you are available by phone, email, internet chat and possibly even at your business address. Different types of work will entail different levels of accessibility in terms of after hours, but all freelancers should be available during business hours at the minimum.

Occasionally Over-delivering
Over-delivering on a job means going the extra mile for a client, it might be an extra feature in a software job, an extra application of their graphic identity, or some written copy they needed but didn’t ask for. It is work that when delivered makes the client feel they are being taken care of and that you have their best interests at heart.

Saving the Day
In freelancing you will often get the chance to save the day for your client and I recommend taking advantage of these opportunities when they come up. It occurs often for a freelancer because your client will often have their own client that they are working for, and all clients have deadlines. So when your client comes to you with an emergency deadline that no-one else can handle, it looks great if you can produce results at that critical moment.

http://freelanceswitch.com/start/a-comprehensive-guide-to-starting-your-freelance-career/

Tip of the Day

Dressing for Success

your office has a written dress code, your problems are solved, and you can dress cookbook-style. If necessary, go shopping with the dress code in hand and pluck appropriate stuff from the rack.

For men, traditional attire includes:

—A button-down shirt.

—Polished black shoes.

—A blue, black or gray jacket.

—Slacks that complement the jacket.

—You can't go wrong with a conservative tie.

—Don't forget the socks. buy two dozen pairs of identical black or blue socks so you can pluck two at random from your drawer each morning and always have a match.

For women, the traditional look includes:

—A skirt that hits just above the knee, slacks and perhaps pantsuits.

—Simple jewelry.

—Just a hint of makeup. Skip the perfume, especially during a job interview or the first few days at a new job.

—Polished flats or moderate heels.

—Sweaters.

—Pantyhose may be the office standard. Ask.

Keep an eye out for regional differences; what's standard in the Northeast may be seen as stuffy and impractical in the Southwest.

http://www.forbes.com/2006/04/11/office-dress-codes-cx_sr_0411officedress.html

Work Abroad Wednesday

Staying Healthy During your work abroad

Visit a doctor before you leaving
The first thing you may want to do is consult a travel doctor 4-6 weeks before you go abroad to get the appropriate vaccinations and medications, if necessary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a great resource for getting all the information you need about travelers’ health.

Before you go overseas, contact your destination country’s Embassy to get a list of English-speaking doctors in the areas to which you will be traveling. That way, if you do get sick, you will be able to get treated even if you don’t speak the local language. You should also make sure you are covered by international health insurance and always carry your insurance information with you.

You should bring any medications with you that you are currently taking as your prescription medication may not be available or could be very expensive. Call your airline to ask how much of the medication you can bring. You should also get copies of your prescriptions to take with you.

Pack a first-aid kit
Put together a small bag filled with specific items you may not be able to find abroad. Your first-aid kit may include the following: prescription medications such as anti-malaria pills (carry copies of prescriptions), anti-diarrheal medication,sunscreen, hand sanitizer, pain relievers, antihistamine, antibiotic ointment, band-aids, mosquito repellant with DEET, Germol. You may also want to spray your clothing with a special repellant and sleep with a mosquito net if you are going to a place with a high risk of malaria.

Eating food overseas
If you’re not sure how your digestive system will react to eating different types of food, start taking acidophilus supplements about two weeks before you go. Acidophilus is a probiotic that aids in digestion. You can take one before each meal.

Once you are abroad, only eat food that is fully cooked and avoid food from street vendors. In developing areas, only eat fruit and vegetables that you can peel yourself and avoid salads.

Drinking water overseas
Do not drink tap water or fountain drinks in developing areas. Pass up ice at restaurants unless you know the water has been filtered. Don’t brush your teeth with tap water and, when you bathe, avoid getting the water in your mouth.
At the same time, you must stay hydrated, especially in hotter places you may not be used to. You should carry bottled water with you wherever you go.

Other risks
Avoid touching animals, unless you are in a program dealing with wildlife or helping stray animals. In these cases, always abide the rules of the project to avoid getting infected.


http://interexchangeworkingabroad.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/top-5-tips-for-staying-healthy-during-your-working-abroad-program/

Tip of the Day

Career Advancement Tips

Apply Yourself
A great idea alone will not succeed as much as a good idea with great effort. Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb with a single stroke of genius, but rather with consistent applied effort to test, study the results, and try again. Inspiration springs from busy hands and busy minds. Keep challenging yourself, keep applying yourself, and you will amaze yourself.

Some people allow themselves to be limited by accepting lower expectations or making minimal commitments, but not you. You have talent, skill, and experience that make you unique. As you apply your talents, you will learn more about how to use your skills. Like a professional athlete or an artisan, consistently exercising your talents will not exhaust them, but rather make them even better. Surprisingly, the more that you do, the more that you are capable of doing. You do not need to wait to be challenged, or wait for responsibility to be thrust upon you. Rather, set very specific goals for yourself and apply yourself to attain those goals. Every achievement will build more confidence, more excitement, and more desire.

Helpful
If you want to get ahead, hone your personal skills, but keep constant attention on opportunities to help those around you to succeed. It may seem contrary to think that building personal success is predicated on supporting the success of the people around you, but it is a fundamental truth. Some people call it Karma, and some people call it common sense. The way that you treat your peers, your partners, your customers, and your coworkers will all come back to you.

Ethics
Act with integrity. Regardless of what position you have or what you do, ethical behavior is critical to your personal success. Integrity is built on ethics and is the cornerstone for credibility. If you can be trusted, then your commitments can also be trusted. Customers are reluctant to make purchases, even at discount prices, from an individual or an organization that does not have a reputation for ethical behavior. Why is this so? How can a good price commitment be trusted if the quality, commitment, or integrity of the individual or organization can not be trusted? By contrast, if the individual or organization can be trusted and continually demonstrates a commitment to ethical behavior, then isn't it more likely to have confidence in a good offer? The same logic applies to customer service, finance, and even management.

http://www.executiveblueprints.com/tips/080224_getahead.htm

Mentoring Monday

Tips for being a great mentor

Encourage Your Protégé to Communicate Openly:
He/she might see you as an intimidating authority figure; it may take time for him/her to open up to you. If after your third or fourth meeting you still feel like your protégé is hesitant about speaking up, try asking him/her some tough questions to encourage breakthroughs in conversation, possibly questions about their views or passions.

Set Firm Guidelines and Expectations from the Beginning:
Determine how frequently or infrequently you will meet. You should have
a specific idea about what the person hopes to gain from the relationship, and he should know what you are hoping to accomplish. Find out what skills your protégé wants to develop.

Provide Clear Performance Measures: This way, your protégé can chart his/her career progress. Follow up with him/her the next time you meet.

Practice Active Listening:
Don't dominate the conversation; be an engaged listener and respect what your protégé has to say.

Be patient:
Building trust takes time. A young person may not show it at first, but your help may
be just what is needed. Be persistent.

Praise is power:
A word of praise in a critical world works miracles in the life of a student.

http://www.uccs.edu/~mosaic/mentortips.pdf

Freelance Friday

Delivery and Time Frames

When a client pays you to do a job, it is your responsibility to do not only a good job, but also to do it on time. In fact the quality of the job and the efficiency with which you do it all are almost equal in the sight of many clients and you will get an extremely high reputation if you always deliver on time. In business most people want something they can rely on, even if it means sacrificing some level of quality. Of course having the highest quality work delivered on time is even better!

Determining when work is due must happen at the beginning of the job. For this reason it is a good idea to do some form of scoping to determine what the job entails. This is more important in some fields of work than others; in particular software and programming often require very in-depth analysis before work commences.

Once you have a good idea of how much work there is to be done and you and your client have agreed upon its nature it is time to provide delivery dates and time frames for the work. These milestones will usually have deliverables for the client to inspect and can include payment schedules as was discussed previously.

After committing to a schedule it is absolutely imperative that you stick to it. I cannot stress how important delivering on time is and how much repeat and referral work it will get you.

http://freelanceswitch.com/start/a-comprehensive-guide-to-starting-your-freelance-career/

Tip of the Day

Keep your resume up to date


You never know when opportunity will knock. Even if you aren’t actively job searching, your resume should always be ready to go so you don’t get stuck making last minute updates.

Your resume is one of the most important documents you have to offer so you don’t want to rush it or ignore it for years on end. If you haven’t looked at it since starting your current job, pull it out, brush off the dust, and add the relevant information. If you’re not extremely proud of it, keep working. Your resume is no place to slack off. Now—while you’re not in a panic searching for a new job—is a great time to work on it.

You never know when the perfect position will open up and you’ll want to jump on it immediately. If you’ve been proactive about keeping your resume updated, you’ll be ready to pounce.

http://www.ibtimes.com/blogs/articles/25441/20110331/5-simple-career-management-tips-everyone-should.htm

Work Abroad Wednesday

Make New Connections before working abroad

You want to make your new connections as diverse as possible. Don’t restrict yourself to your own field or your own profession. Get to know people from all walks of life, all ages and all backgrounds.

You never know who may have the information or the contacts you need. You never know who will come up with the genius suggestion or the fresh perspective (“Hey, did you know about this? Sounds right up your alley”) that will lead you straight to your dream occupation.

Besides, folks who work outside of your own field have no reason to feel threatened. You’re not directly competing with them, so they can give freely of their advice and support. By contrast, those in your field may be less forthcoming with help… just in case you end up going after their own job!

http://www.winningaway.com/looking-for-a-job-abroad-5-tips-to-start-off-on-the-right-foot/

Tip of the Day

Smart Career Tips

1. Look out for "number one."
Take responsibility for your own career development. Many large organizations have scaled back on training and development--a common outcome of the economic downturn--and small companies can rarely provide significant support.

2. Be strategic.
Have a long-term career strategy or, at the very least, a sense for where you’re headed. Ask yourself, “What do I really want to do?” or “Where do I see myself in five to ten years?”

3. Work in step with your company’s goals.
Connect the dots from your role to your company’s vision and key objectives. How does your work align with the organization’s goals? What can you do to maximize your contributions?

4. Be customer-centric.
Whether your customers are internal or external, know their wants and needs, and be fervent about meeting them. Bring the voice of the customer into your day-to-day work and let it enhance your decisions and deliverables.

5. Collaborate.
Working with and through others is requisite to innovating, creating, and producing business results. Adopt a mindset for teaming and collaborating, and put it into daily practice.

6. Hone your communication skills.
Communication skills can make or break careers. Pick one area that needs your attention--considering skills such as listening, presenting, influencing, persuading, or distilling a message--and commit to improvement.

7. Cross over functionally.
Many successful executives have risen through the ranks by taking cross-functional roles, such as moving from finance to sales or from marketing to IT. Follow their lead, and you can grow your skills, your network, and your political capital.

8. Expand your experience.
Volunteer for special projects or assignments that are outside your everyday role. Discuss your goals with your boss, an HR representative, or a senior leader, and ask for help in finding opportunities to broaden your experience base.

9. Find a guide.
Mentors can serve as influential role models and provide important guidance for your career. Reach out to a potential mentor within your company or industry, and see if he or she would be open to mentoring you for a specific purpose and timeframe.

10. Network--now.
The best time to increase your network is today. Starting now, get involved in groups such as professional associations, charitable organizations, or even sports leagues. Step into leadership roles, and make your expertise known.

11. Specialize.
Today, companies look for specialists, not generalists. Develop a personal brand, distinguish your skills and strengths, and determine how to best market yourself.

http://monster.typepad.com/monsterblog/2011/01/11-smart-career-tips-for-2011.html

Mentoring Monday

Tips on Mentoring Students


Develop and Sustain Trust
To be an effective mentor, you must establish a line of communication and build a solid foundation of trust. One of the easiest ways to build trust is to be consistent and keep promises, even if the student does not. Let him/her know that you are there for him/her and what he/she tells you stays in confidence between the two of you.

Be a Friend
A mentor is not the student's substitute parent, guardian or an authority figure. Leading by example, a mentor should inspire his/her student to make good, solid decisions and allow his/her student to form his/her own opinion rather than preach personal values and morals. Criticizing his/her actions or shared opinions puts distance between the mentor and student, stifling the flow of communication. Focus on establishing a bond, a warm friendship.

Be Positive
A few encouraging words can lift the self-esteem of a young person. When helping a student with schoolwork or discussing grades, find a positive aspect to build on before tackling challenging issues or negative marks. Building his/her self-confidence is as important as assisting with fractions and ratios. Asking the student to explain his/her solution to an academic task is an example of how to build self-confidence because it allows the student to show off his/her knowledge of a particular subject.

http://www.ehow.com/list_7623745_tips-mentoring-students.html

Freelance Friday

Recognizing Trouble clients

Not all clients are the same, and with experience you will find you become adept at recognizing clients who may be troublesome later on down the track. Here are a few potential tell-tale signs

1.Clients who are overly protective of themselves.
Sometimes you will get clients who ask you to sign lots of legal documents, such as non-disclosure agreements; terms of supply agreements; contracts and so on. Generally speaking these are not a bad idea with a lot of careful reading that is; however over time it has been my experience that clients who are worried about being ripped off tend to start thinking they are being ripped off.

2.Clients who ask a lot of questions about whether they will need to pay for things if they don’t like them.
This happens a lot in the design business, a client will say something like “What happens if I don’t like the logo designs you do, do I still need to pay for them?” This shows the client does not value your time, does not trust your service, and almost always means they will be hard to deal with.

3.Clients who say they just had a very bad experience with the last writer/developer/designer.
Sometimes they really have had a bad contractor, however sometimes they were the problem themselves. This is a bit like people who seem to always have bad relationships; when you look carefully often the common factor in all their relationships is them.

Paying attention for these and other warning signs may help you to protect yourself against trouble in the future.

http://freelanceswitch.com/start/a-comprehensive-guide-to-starting-your-freelance-career/

Tip of the Day

Dressing For Success

Rules for Casual Dress at Work
Although in theory most people love the idea of not having to wear a suit to work, they are often confused by the casual dress policies some employers have instituted over the last few years. Here are some simple rules:
•Casual doesn't mean sloppy. Your clothing should still be neat and clean.

•You can't go wrong with khakis and a sport shirt or a nice sweater.

•If you are going to a meeting or making a presentation, professional attire may be in order.

Dressing for a Job Interview
In addition to following the general rules for dressing for work, heed this advice when you go on a job interview:

•Adhere to the employer's dress code: find out whether it's formal (suit and tie) or casual by asking around or by observing employees arriving for work.

•Dress slightly better than you would if you were an employee. For example, if the dress code is very casual, you should take it up a notch.

•Cover up tattoos and remove body jewelry until you know whether they are acceptable at that particular workplace.

http://careerplanning.about.com/cs/dressingforwork/a/dress_success.htm

Work Abroad Wednesday

Benefits of working Abroad

Earn and save money
Traveling is expensive. However, finding time to work will keep you from draining your bank account. In working, you will be able to provide for your needs while overseas and even save money. This will assure that you will not return home with an empty pocket.

Aquire new skills
A fatter bank account is not the only thing you may gain while working abroad. It will also be a great opportunity to learn new skills. Different countries offer different jobs of all sorts, from teaching English to picking strawberries. You may find yourself trying out your luck in odd jobs and in the process learn new things.

Be Independent
Away from your families and friends, you will have no one to depend on but yourself. Being able to live and survive overseas is an achievement that will hone your independence. It is wise to expect the problems and trials you will experience along the way as you struggle in a foreign land. Look at it in a positive light, as it will make you stronger, wiser, and generally a better person.

Broaden your horizon
Travel will expose you to a different culture, different language, and different people. In short a totally new way of living.

Improve your resume
Working abroad will give you an edge over other applicants. In this age of globalization, employers prefer applicants that have overseas working experience.


http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8377101709673517492

Tip of the Day

Interview Tips

1. Thoroughly research the job and company. Try to know as much about their product(s) and services as you can. Preparation will make you feel confident and you won't be nervous if you are asked specific company-related questions.

2. Be prepared to describe your Strengths and Weakness.

3. Maintain eye contact. It shows that you are focused and confident.

4. Demonstrate interest and enthusiasm about the company.

5. Dress professionally. "Professional" can be interpreted in many ways these days. Basically, whether the company's style requires a suit or is laid back, make an effort to look presentable. It REALLY matters.

6. Try to respond to questions within 60 seconds. You don't want to give very short answers but lengthy responses will make the employer lose interest and you might lose your own focus.

7. Listen and respond to answers directly. If you are unclear about a question, ask for clarification.

8. Be prepared to discuss how what you've done in the past will affect how you'll perform in your future position. Give examples that show your value.

9. Ask questions. Sharp questions show that you are proactive and want to make sure that this company is the right place for you.

10. Bring an extra copy of your resume.

11. Send a thank you note within two days of the interview. Express your interest in the position and thank the interviewer for his or her time.

http://www.jobsearch-in-canada.com/12_tips.html

Mentoring Monday

How to be a good Mentor

Teach by Example
A mentor's focus should be to help a less experienced person acquire the knowledge and character needed to meet his or her goal. They provide opportunities for growth and new experiences.

Counsel the mentee wisely
Provide the benefit of your knowledge and experience keeping in mind that because of unique personalities every situation is different. However, an explanation of how you handled certain situations can get the mentee thinking about how to solve their own problems.

Offer encouragement
Most people become stagnant out of fear. Fear of failure, fear of success and fear of something different. The mentor will need to encourage the mentee and help them over self-doubt.

Encourage professional behavior and confront negative behavior
Teach the mentee how to dress and act professionally. Teach him or her social graces and proper etiquette. When the mentee performs poorly or act badly, call them on it - in private. But as a mentor, you must let them know when certain actions are unacceptable.

Challenge the mentee
To encourage growth, you must challenge the mentee. Give them opportunities that they would not normally have at their level. Be with them throughout the project to make sure it is going well. At the end, publicly acknowledge their contribution, if appropriate.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4513054_be-good-mentor.html

Freelance Friday

Freelancing your Expertise

Let Freedom Call
Freelance doesn't start with the word "free" for nothing. Freedom is a major perk of freelancing. As a full-time freelancer, you'll work when you want. You can take vacations when you want, for as long as you want. Weekend getaways won't have to be confined to weekends, and business suits are mostly a thing of the past. There's no boss breathing down your neck, nagging you.

The best way to ensure your freelancing future is to offer a service you know people want. Just because you'd like to do something doesn't mean that there's a readymade market for it.

Don't Quit your day job just yet
A good rule of thumb is not to give up your day job until you have between six months and one year's worth of savings, more if you're the sole support for your household.

Of course, moonlighting while working for your current employer can be tricky-especially if you're freelancing in the same field.

Generating Business
As in any business, your freelancing career is only as strong as the sales you make. Finding clients is the number-one challenge for any freelancer just starting out.

1.Develop a portfolio to demonstrate the scope of your skills.
2.Tell everyone you know--colleagues, friends, family, neighbors--about your new freelance gig.
3.Join professional organizations--online or in the community--that serve your field.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessideas/article79088.html

Tip of the Day

Tips to Career Success

Set goals
Be clear on where you would like to go with your career and formulate a 1, 3 and 5 year plan to get there. Set realistic milestones and targets, take inventory at frequent intervals and update these plans regularly.

Work on your interpersonal skills
Treat others as you would like to be treated - manners, respect and generally courteous behaviour travel a long way in the workplace.

Develop a reputation as an expert in your field
Seek to become known as a true professional, a star player, someone who goes an extra mile in his/her job and who is a genuinely invaluable resource in a particular area. A reputation as an outstanding performer is your best asset in negotiating raises and promotions.

Be passionate about what you do
The best way to excel is to be genuinely passionate about what you do. Enthusiasm is both visible and infectious and you will find others in the organisation as well as clients naturally gravitating towards you as your eagerness and passion for your job makes itself known.

Look the part
The most accomplished professionals are not necessarily the best dressed but good grooming and professional attire do convey the image you want to portray and leave an important lasting first impression.

Be a team player
Today's workplace necessitates being a teamplayer and working well with others. Be co-operative, eager and always willing and prepared to pitch in to make a project succeed.

http://www.bayt.com/en/career-article-1301/

Work Abroad Wednesday

Things to research before you plan to leave

Housing
Think about what type of housing you want to live in. Do you want the comforts of home, such as air conditioning, TV, and a washer and dryer? Or would you rather live as the locals do?

Transportation
What is the transportation like in your new country? How will you get around, especially from your home to your new job? You should also consider how much plane tickets from your home country to the country you’ll be working in will cost.

Money
It’s important to note the conversion rate from the currency of the country you’re moving to.Are ATMs available? Will your credit cards work?

Communication
How will you communicate with your friends and family back home? Can you get a cell phone and/or the Internet?

Visas
Learn what the Visa requirements are. How easy is it to obtain a Worker’s Visa? If you don’t get a Worker’s Visa, how often do you have to leave the country? Will the company you work for pay these expenses?

Cultural Differences
Every country is different, and so are their citizens. Be aware of how people interact in your new country. What kind of lifestyle are your new coworkers used to living?

Medicine
If you’re not going to get insurance through your company, you should look for insurance specific to your country. Some insurance providers have worldwide coverage; however, they may be pricier.

http://www.choosewhat.com/blog/working-abroad-tips-beginning-your-journey

Tip of the Day

Job search Tips

Be Prepared. Have a voice mail system in place and sign-up for a professional sounding email address. Put your cell phone number on your resume so you can follow up in a timely manner.

Be More Than Prepared. Always have an up-to-date resume ready to send - even if you are not currently looking for work. You never know when an opportunity that is too good to pass up might come along.

Get Help. Utilize free or inexpensive services that provide career counseling and job search assistance such as college career offices.

Create Your Own Templates. Have copies of your resume and cover letter ready to edit. That way you can change the content to match the requirements of the job you're applying for, but, the contact information and your opening and closing paragraphs won't need to be changed.

Use Job Search Engines. Search the job search engines. Use the job search engine sites to search the major job banks, company sites, associations, and other sites with job postings for you.

Time Savers. Strapped for time? Consider getting help writing or editing your resume.

References Ready. Have a list of three references including name, job title, company, phone number and email address ready to give to interviewers.

Use Your Network. Be cognizant of the fact that many, if not most, job openings aren't advertised. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work.

Don't Stop. Don't limit your job searching to the top sites like Monster or CareerBuilder. Check the smaller niche sites that focus on a particular geographic location or career field and you will find plenty of job listings.

http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/jobsearchhelp/a/jobtips.htm

Mentoring Monday

10 Key points for the Mentoree

1. It's your job, not theirs. The focus of mentoring is on you, the mentoree. Therefore, don't expect your mentor to do all the work. His or her role is to facilitate your development, not do it for you. Take the initiative and follow-up on agreed upon goals.

2. Think commitment, not lip service. Regular, ongoing contact is one of the most important building blocks for successful mentoring. Agree with your mentor to meet on a regular and ongoing basis and avoid canceling appointments.

3. Show up for the relationship. Be prepared before your meeting with anything agreed upon and with an issue to discuss that's important to you.

4. Give back and get more. Mentors don't usually ask how the mentoree has benefitted from the relationship. Take the time to share examples and to say "thank you" on occasion, and you'll often find that the mentor will give more without your having to ask.

5. Keep expectations realistic. Unstated assumptions or expectations can easily derail a relationship. To avoid this, you and your mentor should both discuss your expectations of each other and the relationship.

6. It's risky, but it's healthy. A mentoring relationship is not meant to make you comfortable with where you are. It should challenge you both professionally and personally. This can't happen unless you're willing to take risks.

7. Be yourself; we already have everybody else. You needn't act exactly like your mentor. You are a unique person. Recognize your uniqueness and resist the temptation to clone your mentor. This is especially important when considering diversity initiatives.

8. Don't be afraid of your mentor's silence. You're in a mentoring session and you seem to run out of things to say, and your mentor isn't helping because all she or he is doing is keeping quiet. This is a good thing! Your mentor's silence is inviting you to probe more deeply into what is on your mind, and it's an opportunity to share more deeply in the relationship.

9. The elephant will crush you. Don't sit with an issue that you should discuss with your mentor; otherwise, it will severely impact and could derail your relationship. If something is not working in the relationship, chances are your mentor is feeling similarly, but neither one of you is taking the responsibility to deal with it.

10. Pass it along. Since you're enjoying the mentoring experience, give back by becoming a mentor to someone else. Whether it's a peer, a subordinate, a family member, share with others so that what your mentor has shared with you gets passed along through you.

http://www.management-mentors.com/resources/april-2009/

Freelance Friday

Maintaining Good Customer Service


Always Offer Top Quality Service
No matter how nice of a business owner you are or what credibility you have gotten even being the best in your sector, if you fail to offer top-quality services it will diminish the rate of business offers you get from your clients. Therefore, It is very vital to always offer top quality services so as to keep your client from coming back for more business transactions and refer you to more clients.

Contact with Clients Is Beneficial Should Job Related Changes Be Needed
It is also a good idea to maintain contact with your clients as it keeps the line of communication open should any changes be needed to the job which you are completing for your customers. In addition, this will gives your client rest of mind and assurance that they are dealing with a transparent and honest freelancer that can be contacted at any time they feel it is necessary to discuss changes with you.

Make Conversation with Your Clients
Really it is quite essential to discuss business matter clearly with your clients is as well very important to be open to other discussion aside business matters. By so doing will give your clients the motive that you are not just after the income you generate from them but care about their doing. It is always necessary that you speak less and listen more to your customers when you both are discussing.

Open Space for Comments
You can win a lot of clients with a very good service but if you don't seek for what they feel about your services, you could tend to loose some customers at some instance. Although, you might have done the necessary requirements to satisfy your clients but at some instance you just cant tell what your clients are expecting from you and what improvement they think could change your services for better.


http://ezinearticles.com/?Maintaining-a-Good-Customer-Service-for-Your-Freelance-Business&id=5057874