Top 10 Best Job Interview Tips

Job interviews can be a mystery. But you can find success if you follow the right job interview strategies. This post elaborates on the best top 10 tips for your job interview. If you strategically follow these tips you would ace your next interview.

Tip 1: Study the Company

One of the best job interview strategies that most candidates ignore is to research the current events of the company. Knowing what the current events of the company are; is important so that you can ask pertinent questions. Doing so will show the interviewer that you have done your homework, and also have a genuine interest in the company. This strategy will definitely help your job interview and put you ahead of your competitors.

Tip 2: Know your Resume or CV

As a candidate, you should be very familiar with your CV or resume. In any job interview, anything on your CV or resume is at the interviewer's disposal. Implementing this job interview strategy will help build credibility with your interviewer. It is your responsibility to convince the interviewer that you can come in and do the job. Speaking intelligently about each of your previous positions will help do this, and is one of the best job interview tip to follow in order to be ahead of other job applicants.

Tip 3: Prepare an Interview Emergency Kit

Many candidates don't properly prepare for a job interview. Getting together a "job interview kit" is a great job interview plan to follow. Suggested items for the kit include:

·        extra copies of your resume or CV.

·        Original Certificates and copies of each.

·        directions to the office.

·        a bottle of water.

·        Eye drops, pens, and notepad.

But you should only bring the extra copies of your CV into the office with you, preferably in a portfolio.

Tip 4: Study Job Description

After landing an interview, you need to study the job description to truly understand what the interviewer is looking for. If the description calls for attentiveness to detail, you will want to tailor the discussion accordingly. Knowing this, you can navigate the interview and discuss examples from previous jobs that will exemplify this trait. Do this for all significant traits or qualities that you identify in the job description. This is one of the best job interview tips I have used, and know that it can bring you success.

Tip 5: Build Rapport

You know the saying, "There's never a second chance to make a first impression?" That holds very true in the case of job interviews. That is why building rapport is such an important job interview tip. Shake hands, make eye contact, and smile. Put those three (3) together when you first meet your interviewer and it will set a positive tone for the rest of the interview.

Tip 6: Make Eye Contact

Making positive eye contact is one of the best job interview strategies to follow. Eye contact is one of the strongest forms of nonverbal communication. A person's qualities and personality can be detected simply based on eye contact. Making direct eye contact communicates confidence and high self-esteem, two (2) key qualities employers look for in candidates.

Thus, it is very important that you make eye contact when you first meet an interviewer and shake hands. And during the interview, it is necessary to make eye contact, not only when you talk, but also as you listen. Simply using this job interview approach will greatly help your chances of success in an interview.

Tip 7: Body Language

Just as eye contact speaks volumes about you, so does your body language. Proper body language conveys confidence and high self-esteem. During the interview, things like sitting up straight with your chest out and keeping a pleasant demeanour on your face will project confidence. The interviewer will be aware of this, and it will help you stand out in his/her mind.

Tip 8: Display your Skills with Concrete Examples

When it comes to discussing their skills, many candidates make the mistake of "telling" instead of "showing." One of the best job interview approaches is to use concrete examples to demonstrate your skills to the interviewer. For example, if one of your skills is successfully handling multiple tasks at once, providing an example of how you do that will help paint a picture for the interviewer. It also gives the interviewer something to "hold on to" once the interview is over, and this helps him/her to remember you when it comes to decision time.

Tip 9: Be Yourself

A common mistake that many candidates make is not being themselves. Some feel that they need to fit a certain mould and act accordingly. This will only end up hurting both parties in the end when your "true" personality comes out. You will be surprised how easy it is to detect insincerity during an interview. Thus, it is relevant to be professional, but also maintain your true essence. When you do this, your sincerity and genuineness will be picked up by the interviewer. This is one of the best job interview plans to implement, and it will go a long way in determining your success.

Tip 10: Follow Up Quickly

After the job interview, send a thank you note to the interviewer. These days, an email is fine, but traditionally a handwritten card is sent. Whatever method you choose, do it promptly after the interview. The correspondence should be sent the next day after the interview. Many hiring decisions are made quickly these days, so timeliness is very important.

In conclusion, interviews are part of the job search process and therefore, very important when you need that dream job. Now, you have read the top ten (10) of the best job interview strategies to follow. There are many aspects of a successful job interview, but if you implement these top 10 best job interview approaches listed above, your chances of success will skyrocket! 

The interview is the absolute most important part to getting hired and if you want to get hired, you cannot joke! The job market right now is the most competitive, it's been in years. Learn the most up to date interview techniques for today's ultra competitive job market and blow your competition in the dust! Therefore get your copy of Killer Interview Secrets Today!!! 

What Bill Gates and the Modern Philanthropists Do Better

I have witnessed many changes in my long career in the way we approach global challenges – not all of them, sadly, positive. But the resurgence in recent years of philanthropy has been a major change for good.

We have entered a new age of philanthropy and the sick, the poor and the vulnerable of our world are benefiting. Progress is being made on some of our world’s most intractable problems and modern philanthropy has played a significant role in these successes. When, for example, as UN Secretary-General we launched the Global Fund as an international financing mechanism to tackle HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, the early involvement of the Gates Foundation was of critical importance.

It was not just the large additional resources which were provided which made the difference, but also their way of approaching the challenge. Modern philanthropists have brought a determined focus on outcomes and the courage to find and try innovative solutions to deliver results.

They also bring a deep understanding of the need to build the widest possible partnerships with governments, international agencies, civil society and the private sector. Despite fears from some NGOs and multilaterals about their involvement and influence, modern philanthropists rarely operate in isolation but recognise the importance of collaboration.

The new age of philanthropy is also marked by a change in where the successors to Carnegie, Rockefeller and Nobel live. As the economies of Asia, Latin America and Africa have grown, so has the determination of its business leaders to use their wealth for the greater good.

We have seen, for example, the emergence of a growing number of African foundations set up by those whose companies have thrived on the continent. They can bring, as is the case with Mo Ibrahim and the work of his Foundation on African governance and of Tony Elumelu on entrepreneurship, a particular insight into what’s important, a better understanding of the local and regional context, and the barriers that must be overcome.

This experience can also provide a credibility which makes it more difficult for those in authority to ignore and easier to attract the right partners. The work of my Foundation on African agriculture and on elections and reconciliation within the continent – and the wide partnerships we have forged – has benefited hugely from these partnerships.

The Ibrahim and Gates Foundations also underline how modern philanthropists are taking a much more high-profile role in advocacy for the causes in which they believe and the changes they want to see. Many wealthy individuals, of course, continue to keep their giving and efforts private, but this new breed of philanthropy-champions have successfully raised awareness, challenged conventional thinking and prompted decisive action on issues of huge importance.

As we look around our world and the complex challenges we face, it is clear we need not just more funding but the very best ideas that we can get, and absolute focus to make these ideas work in practice. I am delighted to see the next generation of philanthropists leading the way.

This article was written by Kofi Annan, Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation.Credit: https://ch.linkedin.com/in/kofiannan

Top 5 Reasons Why People Work

In the post, we will discuss the Top 5 reasons why people work and see whether these are also the reasons for us working.

Reason No. 1 – People Work For Money

People need money to pay for basics, such as food, clothes and a place to live (accommodation). They also need money for the other things that make life better.  Education, a car, travel, a cell phone, a DVD player, IPod, - all cost something. A lot of people therefore look for the job that will pay them the most money.

Reason No. 2 – People Work To Gain Identity
Identity is the way we see ourselves in our minds and the way we think others see us. For many men and women, a job gives them part of their identity. They can see themselves as people who get things done. Who are responsible, and who are capable enough to be paid for the work they do.

Reason No. 3 – People Work To Feel Good About Themselves

Everyone wants to feel important in some way. Being part of a busy, fast-moving world makes some people feel important. Wanting to feel important may make them work harder and longer than others. It also causes people to work at jobs that seem special to them.

Reason No. 4 – People Work To Be Useful
By working, people feel that they are doing their share. They may work to take of themselves or their families, or they may work to help others in the community. 

Reason No. 5 – people work  to be with others
Most people like to spend time with others. They don’t like being alone for long periods. Work gives them a chance to be with and talk to people.

Do any of the above reasons apply to you? As you can see, work fulfills many important needs and even many individuals who became wealthy overnight still work.

The business and career bookshop is a shop where you can select a book on career planning that will help you to choose the right job that is best for you.

Of course, we all have days when we would rather stay in bed longer or go to the beach. No job satisfies all needs. The right job, however, can be satisfying in a very special way. That is why it is important to think carefully about your wants and needs. This will help you to know which career or job to choose and plan for.

I would appreciate your comments and if the above reasons are also your reasons for working, I will like to hear from you.

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Career, What is it?

We will discuss about a career, job, occupation, career development, career education and career guidance.  

Career

Career is a series of jobs that is related that we do in our working lifetime. One’s career can span from one level to another, example an office assistant to Administrative Assistant to Assistant Manager to General Manager to Executive Director.  It can also be defined as an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress.  

A career can also include all the roles you undertake through out your life – education, training, paid and unpaid employment. In other words it is a sum total of paid and unpaid work, learning and life roles you undertake through out your life.  

Job

A job is a paid position requiring a group of specific attributes and skills that enable a person to perform tasks in an organisation either part-time or full-time for a short or long duration.  

Occupation

An occupation is defined as a group of similar jobs found in different industries or organisations. A career therefore is the sequence and variety of occupations (both paid and unpaid) which one undertakes throughout a lifetime. More largely, “career” includes life roles, leisure activities, learning and work.  

Career Development

Career Development is the process of managing life, learning and work over the lifespan.  

Career Guidance

Career Guidance is an inclusive term that has been used to describe a range of interventions including career education and counselling, that help people to move from a general understanding of life and work to a specific understanding of the realistic life learning and work options that are open to them. Career guidance is often thought to incorporate career information, career education and career counselling.  

Career Education

Career education is the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes through a planned program of learning experiences that will assist students to make informed decisions about their study and/or work options and enable effective participation in working life. Career education encompasses:  

- Learning about the world of work, its changing nature, the general expectations of employers, and the demands of the workplace developing self-awareness in relation to interests, abilities, competencies and values; and  

- Developing awareness and understanding of occupational information and career pathways developing skills in decision-making which can be applied to career choices acquiring the skills necessary to implement the career decisions made. (MCEETYA Career Education Taskforce, 1998).  

In nutshell, we have learnt the definitions of what a career is, job is, occupation is and the various related areas like career development, career guidance and career education.

Are you JOBLESS? - Then read this!!!

Unemployment is the state of being without any job or work that earns you wages or salaries. Unemployment is one of the leading problems facing today’s young people in the 21^st century. I have been through it before and it is not easy at all.

I will like to elaborate on five (5) techniques on how to handle unemployment while you are still looking for employment.  

Technique No.1 – As a youth, try your best to read more about who you are and what you want to do. Find a library in your community or nearby college and go and read about your career choice in order to expand your horizon on that particular subject. You can also check for more information on the internet. 

Technique No. 2 – Write down your reasons for why you want to do that particular job or work, it helps in planning your career path, while still looking for a job; 

Technique No. 3 – Ask people around you what is happening at their workplace, ask them about their job description, that is the kind of job you want to do; it helps to prepare your mind on what to expect when you are employed.

Technique No. 4 – Talk to the self-employed “vocationally-skilled” youth around you, this enables you to get alternatives, that is whether you will want to go into a “white-collar employment” or use your vocational skills (e.g. sewing, writing, designing, etc.) to start your own business.

Technique No. 5 – Search the internet for job opportunities online; now there are a lot of companies who want people to work for them from home. You can also get access to money making websites where you just sign up and follow the directions  given and will start earning money. 

In conclusion, it is good to look for other alternatives when you are unemployed and looking for a job. 

How to Advance Your Career – Seven (7) Disciplines

There are seven (7) disciplines you must develop if you want to achieve all that is possible for you and your career. You can learn these disciplines through practice and repetition until they become automatic in your life. 

Discipline No. 1 - Goal Setting

Every morning, take 3 to 5 minutes to write out your top goals in the present tense. Get a spiral notebook for this purpose. By writing out your 10 goals at the beginning of each day, you will program them deep into your subconscious mind. 

This daily goal writing will activate your mental powers. It will stimulate your mind and make you more alert. Throughout the day, you will see opportunities and possibilities to move more rapidly toward your goals. 

Discipline No. 2 - Planning and Organizing

Take a few minutes, preferably the night before, to plan out every activity of the coming day. Always work from a list. Always think on paper. This is one of the most powerful and important disciplines of all for high performance. 

Discipline No. 3 - Priority Setting
The essence of all time management, personal management, and life management is contained in your ability to set proper priorities and use of your time. This is essential for high performance.

Discipline No. 4 - Concentration on your Highest-Value Activities
Your ability to work single-mindedly on your most important task will contribute as much to your success as any other discipline you can develop. 

Discipline No. 5 - Exercise and Proper Nutrition 
Your health is more important than anything else. By disciplining yourself to exercise regularly and to eat carefully, you will promote the highest possible levels of health and fitness throughout your life. 

Discipline No. 6 - Learning and Growth 
Your mind is like a muscle. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field. 

Discipline No. 7 - Time for Important People in your Life 
Relationships are everything. Be sure that in climbing the ladder of success, you do not find it leaning against the wrong building. Make time for your relationships every day, no matter how busy you get. 

Action Exercise 
These 7 disciplines will ensure that you perform at the highest level and get the greatest satisfaction and results from everything you do. Study these 7 disciplines and then make a plan for how you can incorporate each of them into your daily life. (Courtesy – Brian Tracy).  

I encourage you to follow and subscriber to this blog to help you master the habit of self-discipline and learn more on self-discipline.