Cv for Interviews

Archive for the ‘CV Writing Tips’ Category

Always be Positive
Remember that cold calling is a powerful business strategy. First be
positive with your self. Your co-workers and your prospects you’re
about to make the cold call should be next to feel positive about.
There must be enthusiasm in your voice the people can feel right away.

Prepare to be Prepared

It’s not enough to know the procedure and having the right attitude.
Prepare the list of whom to be called or visited, how the introduction
should be done, learn what prospects do and the most important part
of all is that your offered product or service should be something that
could be of good use for them. Being well prepared can turn a simple
cold call into real business.

I am what I am
Never sound too over reactive or obviously nervous on the phone or
when you shake your prospect’s hand. Never try to be somebody you
are really not with an aim to getting the attention you need. Assume
that talking to your prospective customer for the first time should be
the key to a lasting relationship.

Calm Down
Anticipate that you’ll be declined. That’s it. It’s really hard but never
take it as a personal attack on you. Don’t let the feeling of being
dismissed put you down and roll you back. Be patient and learn from
your mistakes. You will reap a good harvest if you commit yourself to
being persistent. This will also help you find a strategy that will work
in the long run. Look at each turn down as if it were the next stepping stone.

The Art of Questioning
You cannot expect someone to believe you right away and just sign up
after describing your company’s objectives. You have to ask the right
questions. Ask what they do correctly and promptly to help you use it
along the conversation. A sure attention getter when opening a
conversation can be “May I ask you about something MsMr?” People
want to help and this question lowers their guard. The next question
will be “Can you help me out about this thing sirma’am?” This
question does not ask for a yes or no answer but would definitely give
you a valuable response that you can use all through out the interaction.
It’s possible that the little Girl Scout on the street asked the same
question and left the doorway with 2 less boxes of cookies at hand!

To achieve a goal, there is a process that you should implement. This process is to streamline and analyze your objectives. Begin at the
very beginning at the smallest, specific part. These are the most important steps to take to meet the guidelines. An objective is a way
of knowing what action or plan is to be taken and identifying the expected results. This plan provides a set of directions so that making
the decision will not be as complicated as when the goal is just being considered.

Here are some resumes tips that would give you not only one but more calls for interview:

1. The position that an applicant is interested in should be placed right
at the start of the resume. Having this as an objective shows that an

applicant is really focused and career oriented tells that he or she
knows what is exactly the perfect career for him or her.
2. One of the best significant ways to get the employers’ attention is
by using words that are really powerful that denotes strong capabilities
of the applicant. An example of this is, instead of writing, “assigned to
be”, write instead “in-charge of,” indicating that the applicant has
active leadership skills that can be a step to the management position
if there is any.
3. A bullet catches the eye of an employer at one look. Use these in
itemizing achievements, career highlights, recognition, qualifications,
and skills and interests. Words in bullet form forces the employer to
read the information provided. These also create more clear space on
the paper making the application form or the resume very neat and
astounding.
4. Make sure that the resume is very selective. Only apply for a
certain position in one company or organization one at a time. Do not
submit resumes with different job interests and positions applied for at
one time. This will be a complete waste of time.
5. Ask a pro. Resumes are written with the help of experts who can
actually see the applicant’s strengths and opportunities.
Aside from preparing an impressive resume carefully follow and read
all the special instructions like how many spaces are provided for a
specific answer or the number of words for the answer. Keep in mind
that this is also a test to see how well an applicant can follow simple
rules. Not only does it have to follow the steps, the application form
should also be neat. Handwriting is also being considered and using a
black pen will greatly add to the formality of the answer. As much as
possible, never use a liquid paper or fold and bend the application
form and paper.

When answering, be careful not to leave blanks unless it really does
not apply. Use NA only if necessary. Be truthful will all the answers
but this does not mean that you have to provide a complete or
thorough answer for every question. Always adapt the answers to the
job being applied for. Only provide the skills and recognition received
that will be beneficial to the new company or employer. However, see
to it that the answers provided indicate the reason of being more
qualified than the other applicants.

Choose references that can provide the applicant an objective
description and information, teachers, friends, and previous employers
can be willing and honest enough to provide that information. The
application form must be consistent with the resume. Since many of
these employers standardize and gauge the information the applicant
is providing in his application form and resume, these must be full of
complete and honest information. This will be their basis when
considering a one on one interview to see if what they read is true
enough.

Arm yourself with positive strategies and knowledge to get those
invitations for interviews come after you. Remember that this will also
be a marketing tool that any applicant can use for other future job
hunting experience. Since many of these employers standardize and
gauge the information the applicant is providing in his application form
and resume, these must be full of complete and honest information.
This will be their basis when considering having a one on one interview
to see if what they read is true enough. Arm yourself with positive
strategies and knowledge to get those interview invitations coming to
you. Remember that this will also be a marketing tool that any
applicant can use for other future job hunting experience.

The interview is the only place you will have an opportunity to sell yourself in order
to land your perfect job. If you fail the interview you will not have a second chance
to prove yourself. That means you have to know what to say and do in order to
make sure you get hired for the job you want. You can have the greatest skills in
the world but if you cannot convince the interviewer that you are the best person
for the job, you will not get the job.

You have to project confidence when you are talking to the interviewer. That means
you maintain eye contact and dont perform nervous gestures such as twiddling
your thumbs, squeezing your hands, playing with your hair or staring around the
room. Your job is to convince the interviewer you are the best person for the job,
and you cannot do that unless you stay focused on what he or she has to say. The
interviewer deserves your full and undivided attention and unless you are willing to
provide that, you greatly reduce your chances of getting the job you want.
Dress is very important at an interview. Unless you are going into a dirty area of
the company and are advised to dress casually, dress professionally or at the very
least in business casual attire the latter of which does not include jeans, shorts,
sweats or running suits. However, if you know the company is strictly professional
as is the case with many law firms and executive offices, dress professionally rather
than business casual. You receive evaluations on not only skills and knowledge but
also on the way, you present yourself.

Showing you know something about the company and what they do is always good
for some points with the interviewer. It shows you took time to do some
investigation before your interview thus showing the interviewer you have an
interest in working for his company. Even if you dont do anything but read the
annual report, you will have some idea of what the company represents thus giving
yourself an edge over someone who doesnt take the time to find out anything
about the company. It does not take very long to do a little research on a company
you are considering as an employer, and it will definitely not hurt your chances of
being hired.

When you have prepared your warm contact list, it will be easier to select the people who you prefer to call first. These are the
people who you think have some information about the job. They may be former employers, colleagues and members of the
professional organization belonging to the same industry. They usually have first-hand, up-to-date and reliable information.

* Calling a warm contact

When you call a warm contact, inform them that you are actively seeking a job. Ask them to let you know if they heard of job
openings you might be interested in. It is better to inform them what type of job you are looking for. And don’t forget to leave
your contact number with them, so they can get in touch with you if they hear of anything. It is also better if you can leave a copy
of your resume with them so they can show or submit it to someone who will be able to help you in your job search.

* Assess yourself before calling your contact
You warm contact may ask about your skills, experiences, abilities, interests, expectations and career goals. You should be
able to talk about these sincerely and you should be able to describe what information you would like to have from your contact.
To help you prepare, you can practice by drafting a script on what to say. That way, you can articulate what you would like to
communicate to your warm contact. Anticipate questions about yourself, so you should also practice
answering questions about your previous job and what you can contribute to the company.

* Ask for referrals
If your warm contact was not able to provide you information that will be helpful to your job search, ask for the names of at
least two people who they think will be able to help you. Ask for their contact number, and if possible, the time which they will be
free to talk over the phone.

* Contact referrals immediately
When your warm contact gives you referrals, they may even call this person to inform them that you will be asking for more information.
Sometimes, the person you were referred to will be calling your warm contact. Therefore, it is better to call your referrals within a few days
after you have spoken with your warm contact.

When you make a call, introduce yourself and inform the person who referred you to himher and how you are related with the person who
referred you. Be polite, but straightforward, in informing the person what information you are seeking.

Networking really isnt a difficult thing to do. With enough practice and experience, you can maximize the benefits that you can get from
networking.

Peter Ducker documented a book published in 1954 entitled Practiced
Management wherein MBO which stands for Management by
Objectives, was introduced. This is a program that consists of simple
but very useful processes in order to meet commitments in an
organization. Never worry, as this is also applicable to personal plans.

MBO consists of 5 steps:

1. It should be SPECIFIC. It is better to accomplish one goal at a
time rather than thinking of several different plans at one time. A
single objective cannot be derived if there are two or more results
expected. Whats important is that there is a need to clarify what is to
be achieved and should have your full attention. This must be taken
as seriously as possible.

2. It should be MEASURABLE. A lot of things that are not tangible
are hard to measure and there are things that are really measurable
for the mere fact that it includes numbers or ratings. Take the service
crews for example, it is hard to measure how the service was delivered
but if the number of complaints is counted then there is a specific
number that can be used to rate the effectiveness of the service.
In offices, the number of tasks or assignments that were accomplished
is used as basis for the measurement. Cooperation, though a very
vague word can also be measured by means of getting a subordinate
and peer survey. How fast or delayed assistance was provided to a
certain individual is enough to provide information on how situations
can be measured. Try not to use general terms when making an
objective statement. It should be something clear and specific like: to
write, to recite, to perform, to fix, to process, to designate, to
purchase, to choose, to reprogram, etc.

3. It should be ATTAINABLE. The resources available give
information on how an objective can be attained. This must be
something that is derived from fact and very realistic. It could be that
a certain objective is indeed realistic but the time frame to reap the
result may not be. It is better to say objectives that can be factual for
this promotes motivation rather than an objective taken from belief as
this may cause unexpected failure and feeling of discouragement.

4. It should be RESULT-ORIENTED. An objective should be stated
clearly so that the expectation is clear. Focus on the end result as this
will be the guide whether or not the objective to reach the goal is
effective and meaningful. Is this objective going to help an individual
grow or succeed? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Once the
success has been attained and all the plans were completed then it is a
success.

5. It should be TIME BOUND. There should be a limit to all the
things needed to be accomplished. This matters since the root of any
plan can be traceable. This will also tell if the objective is effective
enough not to cause any delay. There will also be more of the sense
of fulfillment once a goal is attained with the objectives set earlier than
a deadline.

To sum it all up, develop an objective that is easily measured, can be
attained, with a limited time, this will help in determining if the
objective is realistic enough, meaningful, and proven to be worthwhile
to everyone involved. A chart or journal can be kept to keep track of
any opportunities and strengths that were met along the way. This
will also indicate the time that was consumed and the length of the
objective developed. A successful objective helps motivate the
individual or the group involved toward greater achievements.

However, depending on your level of association with them, they may
think twice about giving their opinion or thoughts about their contacts.
Their opinion can sometimes help you in making a strategy on how to
approach and ask for help from their contacts.

* People who sell you things
You may think that your relationship with these people is purely based
on trading goods and services, then paying for them. However, people
who sell you things are also sources of information when networking.
Since these people sell their goods to different types of persons, they
may have associated with somebody who belongs to the same field as
you do, or have heard information about your target job from their
other clients.

These people will also be happy to help you, since they know that
maintaining a pleasant relationship with you means a stable business.
Also, if you have a good job means you have increased your
purchasing power, and then it could also mean that you may purchase
more from them.
* Former employers, colleagues or co-workers

When applying for a job, it is ideal that you identify your strengths and weaknesses and get prepared to address them. By knowing your
advantage, the chances of getting the job that you want will surely get easier. But you should not get too confident since this is one of the
common mistakes that plague job applicants. Appearing too confident or as somewhat of a know it all person will only get you labeled by
your interviewer as unfit for the job.

Identifying your skills
First thing’s first. You should identify your skills. This is your ticket to get that job and you should be able to articulate your abilities and
expertise as best as you can. Many people have a hard time telling their skills and abilities as this may seem to be bragging. But you
should not be shy or afraid to discuss your skills. In fact, it is important that you convey to your potential employer what your
talents are. You should be able to sell your abilities to your employer. That is how you will get the job that you want. It is important that you
don’t appear arrogant or condescending but you should also avoid selling yourself short. If the interviewer asks you about your strengths
or what separates you from the other applicants, you should be able to readily give a good answer. But before you even go to the interview,
your resume should highlight your skills and talents for your prospective employer to see.

What are you passionate about? We didnt ask if you are passionate. But what are you passionate about? What stirs your emotions? What is it you cant stop talking about whenever someone asks: What are you passionate about? Whats the fire in your belly? What really turns you on? What do you love doing most?

What is it that you love doing so much that you forget time? You forget others. You are so focussed that you dont hear anything. What is it that gets your creative juices going? What is it that you love more than anything else?

Graham is passionate about books. He loves them. He just loves books. They are all placed in their respective homes on the shelves. Each has a neighbour. He fondles them. Cares for them. Places book marks in them, never folds the corner of their page.

A bookshop is like a magnet to him. He will spend hours with his head tilted to one side as he scours the shelves for works that interest him. He loves books that have a different angle on coaching and developing people. He loves reading unusual biographies. He loves books where people have beaten the odds to survive. It doesnt matter whether they are fiction or non fiction. They have to be about improving self.

At least thats what it appears to the outsider. But, you see, books arent really his passion. It just looks like it. He loves books yes of course he does. But really the books are a vehicle. A method of giving him what he truly craves for..

And that is learning. Graham has a passion for learning about the human spirit. How to get the most out of it. How to tap into it. How to push it to new heights. How to get to its potential. How to climb out of the feelings of mediocrity. How to, excel at what ever he does.

His Passion is for the human spirit.

Often, that which appears as a passion, at first, is just the vehicle for the real deep down passion that lights you up.

Florence Nightingale is known for her nursing in the Crimean War. And most people know that Nursing was her passion. But it wasnt.

Believe it or not Florence Nightingales passion wasstatistics. Yes good old fashioned Statistics. She was so good at it, in1858 she was the first female elected member of the Statistical Society of the UK and an honorary member of the American Statistical Association.

When you think about it you can see the connection. Because she was passionate about Statistics she was able to see and prove that disease was killing more troops than battle and then do something about it.

What about you? What is the deep down passion that lights your life up. What is it that you love doing and being beyond all else.

Michael Jordans passion is basketball. But most are unaware that his passion was such that he had written into his contract that he could play pickup games whenever he wanted. (For us non Americans this is playing with whoever is available on public sites) He just wanted to play basketball whenever he felt like it. There is no doubt that it was his passion that made him so brilliant, so extraordinary.

Go on.. you can tell yourself. There is no need to tell others. Just have a go and tell yourself.

What is that love that stirs you up – that love that others may not be interested in but is so important to you. What is it that makes you forget time? What is it that you love doing?

We all have it. We all have at least one thing that we are passionate about.

Whats yours?

The bottom line is; passion is motivating. Passion is more motivating that money.
Passion energises and transforms you. When you are passionate about something then you enter that flow state where time stands still. You are so focussed. You are really in tune with yourself.

Go on try it.

Good Luck

Graham and Julie
www.desktop-meditation.com

The world is your oyster. Where you decide to take your career after this is entirely up to you. There are some things to consider depending on your geographic location. If you happen to live in or near the larger populated cities, competition for entry-level technical positions can be fierce. More and more IT graduates enter the workforce each day. By obtaining your A+ certification you can have a substantial advantage over your competition in the career world, as well as having a good foundation for adding more certifications too.

Computer repair and technical support can however be quite lucrative. Here are some of the common fields that your A+ cert can make you a part of:

*Field service technicians
*Help Desk and Customer Service
*PC technicians
*Computer Manufacturing (DELL, HP, IBM etc.,)

However the opportunities for advacement and alternate fields are virtually endless. Here are some areas where specialized training and skills are in large demand:

- Computer Forensics
(Due to an increase in computer related crimes such as identity theft etc., lead to a greater need for people to analyze data without corruption.)

- Disaster prevention and recovery
(Oh-No!, I forgot to back-up my files. Now what do I do?)

- Personalized Training
Teach corporate and home users how to use software applications, prevent data loss and identity theft.)

- LSDBMS and VLSDBMS
(Large Scale Database Management Systems and Very Large Scale Database Management Systems) otherwise know as terabyte data warehousing.

Other Career Paths:
Once you have gone through the IT industry right of passage, the CompTIA A+ certification. Your career path can go in any direction you decide to take it. Let’s take a look at some different paths to follow.

The Hardware Path:
You can go from simple computer repair to manufacturing high-end workstations and servers.

The Technician Path:
The next step is taking the Net+ Exam and installing network cabling, supporting corporate end users and managing the corporate desktop.

Administration:
Network support, configuring routers and managing user accounts on the corporate servers. This is also the well known Nework+ MCSENOVEL CNACisco CCNA track.

Development:
Design and manage the companies web presence and intranet.
(.NET, ASP, MsSQL, PHP, MySQL, Oracle, ColdFusion)

As you can see from just this small list the possibilities are astounding. This is only a small percentage of the technologies and career paths for you to choose from. The table below lists various other certifications that you can combine with A+ to take your career in a new direction. Also visit Comptia’s Related certification page for more information on how to apply A+ towards advanced certifications by vendors such as Cisco, Microsoft and more.

* Hardware: Server+, Manufacturing

* Technician: Net+, MCDSP, MCPMCSA (Microsoft Track)

* Administration: Network+,CCNACCNP,CNACNE,Linux Track, MCSE

* Development: .NET, MCDBA, PHPMySQL (Open-source Track)

Information technology is an ever changing arena. And while you may have decided on a specific career path, the benefits of the CompTIA A+ certification will remain a solid foundation for you to build on.