Your Resume: Admission Ticket Through The Door Of Your Future Work Place

Your resume should be viewed and handled as if it is an airline ticket to your destination of choice. This may just be a piece of paper with words on it, and it may not reveal who you are personally but it is the only means by which you are going to get to the interview (your destination) so in that regard it is just as important as the interview is.

Therefore you need to use this document to gain the reader’s trust and not provide any source of hesitation.

As a former employer I can tell you that when I was hiring I often hoped there were mistakes or things that just didn’t strike me right in the massive stacks of resumes that I would have to go through for different positions.

These would allow me to toss that applicant out of sight and out of mind, moving through the pile faster, and narrowing down the interview pool. So these should not be view as mainly a way to stand out in a good way, but rather a way to not stand out in a bad way. No grammar errors, missing punctuation, funny words/wordings, contrived language, outlandish claims!

Simply put what you are on paper in a concise, correct, logical form that doesn’t sound like a sell job but rather like an “about the author.”

That said it is helpful to not appear robotic. It is really the blend of no mistakes and the subtle yet unmistakable personal flair that people added to their resume that resounded with me and got them an interview.

So how is this done? Well be honest!

If you are hesitant to put something in because you see the potential for misunderstanding, then don’t put it in! If you can’t answer all the questions that come to your mind concerning an entry then its best to leave it out.

So to help you understand what I am talking about when I say personal flair or touch let me give you an example. Employers value a good work-ethic right? Well most everyone knows that and I can’t tell you how many times that I read the words “I possess a strong work-ethic,” and nothing else!

You need to explain yourself—something that proves that statement such as “possess strong work ethic, missed only 5 days in 3 years of work, was voted most valuable employee 3 times, and was counted on to assume more responsibility when bosses were out of town.”

Your Career Passport - Teaching English Abroad

Teaching English in a foreign country can be an incredible challenge... and it can also be one of the most fulfilling experiences you'll ever have.

Living abroad, absorbing the culture of another people, and using your native English knowledge to enlighten your students are all wonderful aspects of this rewarding career.

But before you take the plunge and sign up for a job overseas, there are a few things you should consider about yourself and your intended path. Keep in mind... not everyone is cut out for a job like this!

Teaching English in another country is not just a job. It's also a lifestyle choice. Regardless of where you choose to teach (and sometimes, your choices may be limited by what areas are in need at a certain time), it can be a time-consuming and demanding project, and it will definitely test the limits of your sense of adventure.

You will be immersed in a whole new culture and expected to follow it as a citizen. Contrary to popular belief, an English teacher in another country is a far cry from being a tourist.

A job teaching English won't be like a vacation. Depending on what type of school you choose to teach at and what country you're planning on working in, your life will be very different from what you have experienced in the past. Even if you've visited your country of choice before, unless you actually lived as a native you won't have a clear feeling of what it will be like to teach English there.

This isn't to say that teaching English is a grueling job that doesn't allow you to enjoy the native culture, however. You'll still have time to yourself to enjoy the sites, and you should certainly do so in order to gain a better understanding of your adopted life as well as your students. The key to enjoying this experience to its full potential is to keep an open mind. This should become your mantra during the entire duration of your job.

Having an open mind will allow you to experience life in your new country first-hand. If you don't expect special treatment, don't allow yourself to get caught up in feeling out of place, and don't waste your time comparing your new life with your old one, chances are good you'll feel at home before you know it.

You might love to travel, and that's fantastic. But love of travel isn't enough to make teaching English abroad the career for you. You must also possess a sense of independence and self-sufficiency that will allow you to adapt easily to the unexpected. Because your life isn't going to be just about teaching English and returning to a hotel room to await your flight home.

Chances are good you'll be living in an apartment or rented home in your new country for at least a year, and you'll be doing everything from grocery shopping to taking public transit.

You will become, for all intents and purposes, a working citizen of a place that could be vastly different from what you're used to.

Still sound like fun? Congratulations! You're one of a special group of people for whom teaching English abroad may just be the perfect career.

Finding Jobs In San Diego

Finding jobs in San Diego, or anywhere else for that matter, is not as difficult as some people would have you believe. Job searching requires a high level of commitment, attention to detail, and willingness to take initiative.

If you are willing to commit the time and effort, you will discover that finding your next San Diego job is not as hard as you originally thought. The following tips will guide through the process.

Step one for finding jobs in San Diego is to write an effective resume and cover letter.

For better or worse, your resume is the first thing that an San Diego employer will look at, since a cursory glance at your writing skills, attention to detail, work history, and special skills says more about you than you may think.

In order to help you secure the job in San Diego that you are searching for, your resume should include the following information and components:

Your Contact Info: This should include your name, address, phone number, email, etc and be located prominently at the top of the page.

Objectives: Avoid sounding cheesy and generic, and try to update your objective section for all of the San Diego jobs that you apply for. For example, do not say A great job, say a rewarding and challenging career in the (insert career field here)” or something similar.

Education: List your most recent educational experience first, and be sure to mention any degrees, certifications, etc. that you have obtained.

Previous Relevant Job Experience: Start with your most recent job experience first, making sure to list all of the duties you performed and the tasks that you were responsible. If you have an extensive work history, you should only list your three most recent, relevant jobs.

If your work history is limited, however, devote more time to highlighting your career accomplishments.

Special Skills, Awards, Achievements, and Certifications: Be sure to include details highlighting the importance and relevance of each one, if possible.

References: It may be tempting, but do not fall into the trap that so many job seekers do of saying that your references will be available upon request. List your references, and make sure that you include all relevant contact information, as well as a brief mention as to why you are including a particular individual as a reference.

There are many different ways to write a resume, but following this method will ensure that you will appear polished, professional, and prepared, like the dedicated San Diego jobs seeker you truly are.

Also one particular item that should always be addressed in the San Diego area is the work dresscode. Because of the nice weather many San Diego business environments are casual but also they can be business attire as usual. So be sure to ask about the dresscode when making an appointment to go in for an interview.

A Job Isn't For Life - Should You Switch Careers?

Executive search firms regularly come across people who have decided to switch careers. There was a time where you chose your profession and stuck with it until retirement and many people still follow that path.

An increasing number of people, however, are deciding to give up their first choice and try something new. For many, it is a move to a new country, or an exploration of a new skill, but for others, it’s moving the skills they already have to a new sector.

If you’re taking the plunge and switching careers, can you convince an executive search agency that it’s all for the best? How do you demonstrate that you haven’t lost any of your abilities?

Switching careers is a brave thing to do. It can affect your income, your working hours and even where you live. It’s not a decision that people take lightly, and it’s one that’s viewed differently by everyone.

If you take a career break to travel or to study, you should be prepared to turn that experience into positive ways you can contribute to your new company.

Executive search firms look for the right candidates for the job. If you have switched careers or taken a break and want to sign on with an executive search firm, then it’s a good idea to make an appointment to go and see them.

This will allow you to sit face-to-face with the consultant and explain why you took a year out, or why you decided to change from medicine to law. Whatever your experience, you should be able to use elements of it to illustrate how you could be valuable to a company in a senior position.

For example, if you spent your time volunteering for a charity and working in Africa, you will have gained better communication and diplomacy skills than most people.

If you were involved in a building project, you can illustrate how you managed to project, getting people to work together as a team to achieve a common goal. Whilst sorting out a problem business area isn’t the same as building a school, the things you learned from your project can be applied in any situation.

It’s not whether you have changed careers that interests an executive search firm; it’s why, and what you’ve learned that could benefit their clients.

It could be that your career switch gives the client exactly what they’re looking for. It’s up to you to turn it into the positives that could win you your next job.

The Best Job Search Tool Is Your Computer

Have you ever been frustrated at the lack of job possibilities advertised in the classified section of your local newspaper? Large papers may offer more choices, but you will still be limited by the number of openings listed at any one time, not to mention geographical limitations.

Even at its best, this approach just won't cut it anymore. Searching through the classifieds may have been good enough at one time, but today that's about as progressive as pounding out a resume on a manual typewriter. With an impressive array of Internet resources just a few mouse clicks away, your computer is the ticket to that next great job.

As any human resources officer can tell you, the use of the PC as a job search tool has become the norm in the last few years. This includes creative use of e-mail and the Internet, as well as the taking advantage of the capability of any computer for use in producing resumes, letters and other job-related materials.

The Cyber Job Solution

For many employers and job hunters, the Internet has become the common denominator. It connects people from both ends of the hiring equation with ease. Employers can post job openings with the knowledge that they will be available to large numbers of job applicants. At the same time, job seekers can easily explore possibilities for all kinds of jobs offered by companies, government agencies, non-profits and other employers. They can also submit resumes and applications electronically.

A major advantage of this approach is that it breaks down geographical barriers. Instead of being restricted to job openings listed in your community or the region covered by local media, your search can include any number of cites or states, or the entire country, for that matter. You can also pursue career interests in other countries, if that sounds appealing.

Another plus is that the use of online communication is less intrusive than traditional methods. If you're already employed, you can spend time during nights and weekends perusing sites maintained by employers or job search companies, posting resumes and more, all without conflicting with your current job. If you don't have a position, you can work to maintain an electronic presence that far surpasses the scope of other job hunting techniques.

Even if you're tied to a specific location and are only interested in local employment, you'd find plenty of information available online. Many newspapers now include Web-based versions, as do state and local employment offices. You can also visit Websites of area employers for job-related information. In fact, regardless of location, one of simplest approaches is simply to peruse websites of possible employers to look for postings and related information. In looking such a site, you will probably see a heading "jobs" or "position openings." Click here. you will see a list of current jobs openings along with the qualifications for each one, the application deadline and other relevant details.

For a first-class example, a look at the home cage for State Farm Insurance (www.statefarm.com). It shows a heading of "About State Farm." Clicking here will bring choices that include "careers," and then "careers home page." This section provides a wealth of information on current job openings, State Farm recruiting events across the United States and Canada, benefits, and more. In addition to searching current openings (which are listed at HotJobs.com), you can go to an "opportunities" page that describes the various jobs for which applicants might be sought, including position descriptions and a geographical breakdown of jobs available around North America as well as those located at the company's headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois. You can even find info on how to prepare the ideal resume for scanning and submitting to the company's database.

Not all companies offer such well-developed Websites, but most large organizations provide updated information about job openings. The practice has become so common, in fact, that many small businesses and non-profits also offer some type of job information.

In addition to finding information directly related to jobs, you can conduct Internet-based research about potential employers. Obviously the more you know about a prospective employer the better, from determining the kinds of job openings to boning up on the organization's background so you can individualize cover letters or resumes. The employer's Website can often be a great source of such information. If you browse the main page for any but the smallest business or non-profit organization you will find links to items such as news releases, annual reports, earnings reports, executive bios and contact info for company personnel.

You can also obtain corporate profiles from third party business information services such as Hoover's (www.hoovers.com). And don't overlook sites that provide salary information such as nextSource's People Ticker (www.peopleticker. com), those maintained by professional associations and the Bureau of Labor Statistics site at www.bls.gov.

Career Site Solutions

Perhaps the ultimate in Web-based career information is available at a number of comprehensive sites designed specifically to serve job seekers, employers or both. For example, Monster.com (www.monster.com) connects users to hundreds of thousands of job openings. You can create a free account and then take advantages of a number of helpful options. Once you provide information about your particular job interests, e-mail messages about job openings matching your interests will be automatically mailed to you. You can also search online for jobs of interest, and also create resumes for use in applying online for job openings.

In addition to all this, the site offers extras such as the ability to research companies, network with others, and obtain free advice on writing resumes, preparing for interviews, negotiating salaries and more. You can also sign up for fee-based services in these and other areas of career development. Career Journal, offered by the Wall Street Journal at www.careerjournal.com, provides daily updates as well as thousands of archived articles on news, trends and topics related to career advancement. It also features a searchable database of job postings from top companies in areas such as senior and general management, sales, marketing, finance and technology. Basic access is free, but users also have an opportunity to subscribe to WSJ.com, which offers additional resources including an extensive list of "briefing books" providing complete detailed background on a given company's business and recent news.

The Career Journal site also features a confidential resume" database. Here you may create a brief profile or use online instructions to create a full-fledged resume', choosing from a number of formats.

Employers Online (www.employersonline.com) serves employers, recruiters and job seekers by posting both jobs and resumes. It focuses on sales/marketing, computer/IT, medical/professional, engineering/technical and management/executive positions. Those seeking jobs may submit resumes which are entered into a database for viewing by employers and recruiters across the country. Services include access to jobs posted on the site, tips on writing resumes and handling interview questions, and more you can search the database at no cost. Registration is required to post a resume, but that process is also free.

Other useful sites include HotJobs (www. yahoo. hotjobs.com), CareerBuilder.com (www.careerbuilder.com), America's Job Bank (www.jobsearch.org) and Career.com (www.career. com). Some sites, such as that offered by Quintessential Careers (www.quintcareers.com), serve as portals to others, in this case offering links to "the top 10 job Websites for job-seekers." Another is AllJobSearch (www.alljobsearch.com), which acts as a comprehensive, easily used job search engine. All you do is key in a word or phrase (such as administrative assistant or sales manager) and then indicate whether you want to search Websites, newspapers or newsgroups. Next you specify geographic preferences, job type (such as full time, contract, part time or internship), posting dates ranging from one day to thirty days, and job category. Here the choices range from "all categories" to specific areas such as accounting, architecture, biotech and real estate. Once you click on the search key, the engine takes you to a listing of all job open ings matching that profile.

The services offered by job sites vary considerably. Some are free, while others are fee-based. Typically the more basic services will cost nothing, but you will have the option to purchase additional services such as job counseling, resume development and career interest profiles.

One strategy is to use services that broadcast your resume to multiple sources. At www.blastmyresume.com, you can instantly e-mail your resume to thousands of recruiters, headhunters and employers. While the jury is still out on just how effective this approach will prove to be, it does offer the advantage of putting your resume into play on a more diverse basis than would be possible by using regular mail. A fee is charged, but it's much less than comparable postage costs for mailing hard copies.

The Resume Development Solution

Of course, your computer can do much more than simply help you find jobs. It's also a great tool for preparing resumes, cover letters, portfolios or other documents.

Conventional wisdom makes clear that a resume, won't get you a job-just the chance to sell yourself through an interview. Fortunately, the resources available through your PC can help here, too. With Microsoft Word or any other word processing software, you can create professional looking resumes and cover letters that once would have required the skills of a highly skilled typist. Once a basic resume has been developed, you can revise it as often as needed, print any number of copies, or transmit it electronically to potential employers. You can also create individualized versions adapted to appeal to specific employers, or emphasize different qualifications for different types of positions in which you might be interested.

An alternative is to obtain software such as WinWay Resume Deluxe, offered by WinWay Corporation (www.winway.com). This package includes a resume writing program, thousands of sample resumes, key phrases that can be added to the resume, a letter-writing program and sample cover letters.

You can also take advantage of the resume-building services offered at broad-based career sites or those specializing in online resume development. An example of the latter is TotalResume.com (www. totalresume.com), a fee-based service that allows you to create a resume by using templates accessed online. In this process, you complete forms by filling in your own unique personal and professional information while taking advantage of useful action words and phrases, spellchecking, previews of your resume, and the chance to view sample resumes.

Once the resume is completed, you can download it as a Word document, email it to potential employers and add a cover letter. You can also maintain it on site, update it as needed, and make it available as a Web page.

So you can see that your computer can be a very powerful tool in aiding you in your job search. Use your computer effectively and you will find your job search efforts rewarded to your satisfaction.

How About a Culinary Career

Many people are surprised by the broad range of employment opportunities available on completion of a Culinary Degree. When you graduate from Culinary School, you might choose to work in a restaurant, at a resort, or in catering. The job choice you make can set the direction for your career.

Working in a restaurant is very different than working in the catering business for instance. There are different skills required for these jobs, and working in one field does not give you qualifications for the other. Keep this in mind before deciding which Culinary Career you intend to pursue.

After you graduate, you have the opportunity to review the skills you have and decide from there what food service venue you want to focus your career on. During the first several years of your culinary you will spend a lot of time practicing your skills and then finding your niche.

One of the basic skills you will utilize throughout your Culinary Career is your technical skill. This set of skills includes cooking methods, knife skills, and line cooking. Another skill is that is learned is culinary. Budding chefs train to make food taste good. Chefs will learn seasoning, flavor combinations and plate presentations to

The most basic skill, the one that schools are designed to teach, is the technical. These skills are the basis of every chef's talent - knife skills, cooking methods, timing, mise en place, and (the ultimate technical skill) making cooking on the line graceful, even during the rush. The other skill taught in school is culinary.

Most chefs have a good palate to begin, but training for the nuances of flavor and seasoning, new flavor combinations, creative plates and presentations, delving deep in to a cultures cuisine all take training and practice.

The other two skill sets are what distinguish a cook from a Chef. A Chef is concerned with more than his/her own piece of the kitchen - they have the whole kitchen as a responsibility. With this in mind, organization is key. The chef has to stay organized, run the kitchen smoothly and efficiently, and conduct business.

Hand in hand with directorial skills are managerial skills. A chef understands how to work with people and get them to work for him/her. These skills are the highest level because they involve sharing knowledge and skill with those working for you.

The most often-seen method is training, but ultimately being a mentor to a cook and to develop their career is the highest skill a chef can accomplish.

Wrongful Termination: Things a Lawyer May Want to See

Wrongful termination occurs when you are fired in a way that violates public policy and may include situations where you were forced to resign (called constructive discharge).

If your employer fired you, or asked you to resign, or if you quit because you felt working conditions were intolerable, you may have a case for wrongful discharge.

You need to contact a lawyer and schedule an initial conference with him or her. To make that first meeting as fruitful as possible, you need to provide copies of a number of documents for the lawyer to review.

A key item for review is a diary or chronology, or a written journal of events, with dates of important employment problems, any opposition you made to employment policies or practices, any participation you may have had in investigation of any discrimination complaint, meetings, and adverse actions taken against you.

If you kept such a journal, good; make a copy. If not, start recreating the series of events from memory, emails, documents, your calendar, and whatever else can help jog your memory.

This is done most easily on a computer, either as a table in Microsoft Word or as a modified spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel. The advantage of using the computer is that when you remember an event that occurred between two events you already have in the table, you can merely insert a new row into the table and fill in the date and details of the event.

Having copies of documentation for your lawyer to review will help him or her determine if you have been the victim of wrongful termination.

You Show me your Resume and I'll Show you Mine

As much as employers complain of the difficulty finding good employees, few have embraced a formula that assures success. The greater the difficulty finding good employees in your industry, or certain positions within that industry, the greater the need to view the relationship as a partnership.

With these employees observe the Golden Rule, treat them as you expect to be treated. If you extend this principle to compensation, weighing what you’d hope to receive in their positions at the expense of some of your profits, you’ll see the problem disappear.

But aren’t employees with skill sets more common entitled to their share of the Golden Rule, partially setting issues of compensation aside. After all, the complaint that good employees are scarce extends throughout the economy.

Shouldn’t the relationship between employer and employee be similar to that of customer and supplier?

It’s an even exchange, work for pay. Do we unthinkingly accept that the employer has something people want, jobs, therefore their position is superior. If this is truly the way things are, then employers should stop complaining about difficulty finding good employees.

It would logically follow from this that there is an overabundance of good employees. But employers need good employees as much as people need jobs. So let’s stop the fiction that they’re practically performing an act of charity when they make a hire.

But this reality of mutual need is blurred before you even summit a resume’. Ads frequently state, drug test required. There are public policy reasons for some of this, depending on the industry, and the Government has viewed this as a part of its war on drugs for some time. However, often the employer will force you to take a drug screen as a condition of employment without justification. If nothing in your past indicates drug use or abuse, drug screens should be reserved for behaviors on the job that indicate a potential problem. But what of the training costs you ask. We don’t want to devote those resources to someone only to find out months later he or she is a drug abuser. Ok. I’ll accept that without argument..

But you, the employee, has probably left a job to accept this new position. In keeping with my thesis that the relationship is mutually imperative to each party, wouldn’t it be nice if you knew before leaving your current job that the boss wouldn’t be subject to fits of erratic outbursts. The results of the test determine whether or not the employer wants you on the team, wouldn’t a clean sample provided by the boss make an employment offer more attractive? You could put your mind at ease over mercurial behavior that would make your work life miserable. Besides, a boss with psychological problems can create more havoc in your life than the reverse.

This thought came to me while I was working for a family who were all subject to terrible mood swings. Screaming and yelling would be followed by an arm around the shoulder in the blink of an eye. One day I received a list of the psychotropic medications prescribed to the patients in the facility. The person in the office next to mine came to see what had caused my outburst of laughter. After dismissing it as nothing, I felt the satisfaction you gain when a mystery dissolves.

At the bottom of the list were the names of the owners, obviously receiving their prescriptions from the doctor in residence, who was of course in their employ. The mood altering drugs prescribed to them, many anti-anxiety, were far above what any of the other patients received, and this was a facility with a large psychiatric population. After consulting the PDR, I wondered how they maintained verticality during the day. Evidently they had developed a tolerance for those pills, but for little else. Is this situation out of the ordinary? Probably. But I’d like to see some data indicating employees are statistically more prone to drug abuse than their managers before accepting the current state of affairs as reasonable.

Psychological testing, popular with some employers, should be mutual as well. I’ve known my share of managers who insisted you share their roller coaster of emotions, without presenting a ticket during the interview.

Finally, this insistence that we negate the strict mutuality of the employer-employee relationship, illustrates something that’s always puzzled me while reading HR advice in the trades. It is often stressed that a potential employee should be scrupulously honest while interviewing for a position. Sounds reasonable.

But if they’re advising employers to do the same, I’ve missed those articles. How often have you found the organization to be as advertised after a short while on the job? I once had 2 people, an HR Manager and Assistant Administrator, tell me on my first day, after leaving a position I’d be in a considerable number of years, that it was their way or the highway.

During the interviewing process, they were falling all over themselves to convince me to join the ranks. It was obvious within my first week that much of their presentation had been a lie. I’m sure had I been provided with psychological profiles or urine samples of the duo beforehand, I would have declined the offer.

But of course , they had a right to see mine, while I only had the right to hope for the best.

Australian Workplace Discrimination and Harassment

Australian Federal and State legislation states unlawful discrimination occurs when a group of people, individuals are treated less favourably than any other person or group of people because of their ethnicity, race, colour, sex, marital status, age or disability, religion and sexual reference, whether your a member of a trade union and any other characteristic specified under anti-discrimination or human rights legislation.

Workplace discrimination and harassment can occur in: · Employment and selection of staff. · Training and type of training being offered. · Being considered for a transfer, promotion or sacking. · Work place conditions.

What is defined as unlawful harassment? Under Australian state and federal legislation unlawful harassment can occur when a person humiliated because of their race, or intimidated and insulted because of there colour, ethnicity, or any other specified characteristic under anti-discrimination or human rights legislation.

Workplace harassment can include behaviour such as: · Mailing or submitting sexually explicit or suggestive letters, notes or emails. · The making of derogatory taunts or comments about a persons religion or race. telling insulting The making of jokes about particular racial groups. · Nude or pornographic posters displayed. · The asking of questions about a persons sex life or personal life.

The nature of harassment and or discrimination. No matter the seriousness of an incident, whether it be a one-off or prolonged and long termed, it will still be judged as harassment or discrimination. If left unchecked the continued harassment will erode the drive and ability of the individual or group to eventually effect the overall performance of their work performance.

However the absence of any formal or verbal complaints is not necessarily any indication that harassment or discrimination is not occurring. In a lot of cases the person or group being harassed or discriminated against will not complain or report the incident in the belief that they will be deemed as wingers or the incident is too trivial. In most cases the victim of the workplace harassment or discrimination is lacking confidence in their own ability and has fear of retribution or even worse, being dismissed.

Hostile working environment As an employer you will also need to be aware of your responsibilities in making the work environment a safe place from a culture of sexual or racial harassment. Both are deemed as HOSTILE. An example of a potential hostile working environment would include the display of nude or pornographic material, swearing and crude conversations, racially or sex specific jokes.

What can not be classed as harassment or discrimination. However it must be remembered that comments and advice given by supervisors, work colleagues and managers on the work performance or work related behaviour of an individual or group should not be confused with workplace harassment or discrimination.

Feedback during normal performance appraisals and work performance meetings will always be deemed as stressful and will in some cases effect the well being of the person or group being appraised. However, managers and supervisors should always keep these concerns in mind and perform any necessary appraisal with sensitivity without avoiding the need to provide full and frank feedback to their staff.

What is workplace bullying? Sourced the from ACTUQ/QCCI/Qld Govt Dept of Workplace Health and Safety , they claim that workplace bullying is "the repeated less favourable treatment of a person by another or others in the workplace, which may be considered unreasonable and inappropriate workplace practice. It includes behaviour that intimidates, offends, degrades or humiliates a worker".

Bullies will use their status or power of position in a company or business to target both men and women with their bullying practices. Bullying behaviour can range from obvious verbal or physical assault to very subtle psychological abuse.

This behaviour would include: · Psychological harassment. (mind games) · Excluding or isolating targeted employees. · Assigning impossible tasks or jobs to targeted employees. · Physical or verbal abuse. · Inconvenience selected employees by deliberately changed work rosters and shifts. · Yell and scream offensive language. · Intimidation · Undermine work performance deliberately by withholding vital job information.

Writing Effective Cover Letters

Anything being sent to a decision-maker should sell you, not just state facts. When conducting a job search, your cover letter and resume are in a pile for the decision-maker to review, one by one, along with a vast number of other documents submitted by other hopeful individuals. The odds that YOUR document is the very first ones on the pile are about a zillion to one! This means the decision-maker has probably read X number of cover letters (and resumes) before reaching your set of documents. With that in mind, I never recommend you start the cover letter with the sentence used in so many other letters:

"Pursuant to your recent advertisement in the New York Times for the position of Staff Accountant, I am enclosing my resume for your review."

B-O-R-I-N-G!! Plus, the decision-maker probably just read this same (or very similar) sentence about five dozen times. Remember, you want to GRAB the decision-maker's attention and SELL yourself to them.

Since the cover letter is designed to market you to potential employers, don't state the obvious. If the cover letter does not create a sense of excitement and entice the reader, it is a waste of your time for writing it and a waste of time for the reader reading it.

Keep track of how many times you use the words "I" and/or "my". After you write the letter, take a pen and circle all the I's and my's in the letter: more than five? Time to re-write some of the sentences.

Here's an illustration of how to do that: instead of writing "I am looking for an opportunity for advancement with a new employer. My background is in retail management and I feel well-qualified for the Store Manager position with your company" you can write, "A background in retail management and proven record of obtaining results as a Store Manager are key elements in qualifying me for consideration as part of your team."

Remember the PURPOSE of the cover letter: to highlight your background in the right light, sell your skills, and show the potential employer you are worthy of an interview. Explaining what you WANT throughout the letter doesn't tell the reader the BENEFIT of what you can offer, which is imperative for you to be successful.

One of the techniques I like to use in cover letters is to pull out the top 4 or 5 achievements and mention them in bullet form with the letter. It serves as a wonderful focus point for readers' eyes and draws their attention immediately to your strengths. Here's a brief highlight in what would naturally be a longer cover letter:

...Recognized as a top-performer and dedicated professional, my record of achievements include: · Generating a 58% increase in new business during tenure as Regional Advertising Manager · Boosting client media coverage 50% and developing partnerships with previously unsecured media contacts

There are many ways to say things but, as you can see, some words have a stronger impact on readers than others. In cover letters, e-resumes, and traditional resumes, you can change the reader's perception in a heartbeat by substituting various words or phrases for more traditional (and outdated) verbiage. See the outline below:

NON-AGGRESSIVE VERBIAGE

Set up entire department from scratch Worked closely with department heads Helped produce $3 million in sales Helped new employees In-depth knowledge of capital markets and corporate finance Assisted marketing department in strategies and bids Reduced expenses by 10%

AGGRESSIVE VERBIAGE

Established department from inception through successful operation Fostered relationships with department heads Instrumental in generating $3 million in sales Aided new employees Expertise in capital markets and corporate finance Actively participated in formulating marketing strategies Slashed (or cut) expenses by 10%

In short, aggressive writing makes you SIZZLE, while passive writing tells your "story." Remember your goal is to effectively market yourself, not to author your employment biography.

Workplace Agreements In Australia.

A Workplace Agreement (Australian AWA) is an individual written agreement of terms and conditions of employment between an employer and employee and or employees.

Except for Occupational Health and safety, Workers' Compensation or training arrangements an Workplace Agreement can override employment conditions in state or territory laws, but an Australian Workplace Agreement must meet the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard.

Australian Workplace Agreements which fail the test may still be registered if it is in the public interest to do so.

A workplace may be covered by an existing enterprise agreement specifying conditions above the award, which may mean that the Workplace Agreement is a reduction in standard workplace conditions.

On March 27th 2006 new arrangements for a workplace agreements came into effect which meant that different work place agreement procedures had to followed.

When the Liberal Federal Government, lead by John Howard announced the new reforms dealing with new Workplace Agreements and work conditions, Unions slammed the introduction of a system, claiming that thousands of unskilled and skilled workers Australia wide would be sacked on the spot, with no penalties and rights, once available through the old Industrial tribunal system.

Conversations in workplace lunchrooms following the Federal Governments decision to introduce the new WorkPlace Agreement in 2006 lead to fears of mass sacking's, loss of wages and terms and conditions of employment that most workers were not happy to comply with.

These fears were realised in late March, when workers at a regional meat works were sacked on the spot and replaced by imported, cheaper labour until the retrenched workers agreed to a new and much less favorable Workplace Agreement.

A company in South Australia immediately sacked without notice 2 skilled workers with many years experience, giving no reason for their retrenchment, except for claiming that these employees were no longer required.

It is early days in for the new Australian Industrial Workplace system, but signs of worker unrest and confusion are popping up in nearly every workplace.

The workers most effected by the new system are unskilled and semi-skilled labour. Employees that can be are now replaced more regularly each time a company is restructured or streamlined. Wages, work conditions, except Occupational Health & Safety can now be negotiated between employees and the employer.

But Union officials say that this system is bound to lead to bullying by some employers as they introduce an agreement of "either take what we offer of leave".

Time will tell what will happen in the Australian workplace, but disturbing signs are already making the Federal and State Governments move quickly to amend and in some cases change many Workplace Policies.

Working from Home - Managing The Stress

Many people are of the view that home based businesses are stress free. Actually speaking, a person may have to face a lot of stress when working from home. If the stress is not treated properly it might affect the person as well as the productivity of the work.

When corrective measures are taken and the work is organized, some amount of stress is reduced, but the person should remain motivated and try to overcome from it fully. A person working from home may get stressed due to the loneliness nature of the work as there will be no boss or manager to guide or take care of the administrative work.

Friendliness atmosphere is lost due to lack of collegues etc. One of the biggest hassle working from home is the stress it causes. It is really impossible to lead a stress free life. Efforts should be to manage or reduce stress.

There are several ways to cope up with the stress caused by work from home businesses so that the person doing the job can enjoy and excel in what he likes to do at the leisure of the home.

Tips to reduce stress when performing a home based business:

Getting the work area organized and free from clutter will provide a little bit of relaxation to the person. The work area gets cluttered daily and it is unavoidable, but they can be kept in place either while leaving the work place or before starting the daily jobs. It will become a habit in the long run and it saves from stress.

The person doing the home based job should only commit what he will be able to do. Because, the deadlines can be very stressful to the person who has committed when cannot be met. It is better to set a realistic date of delivery and if possible to deliver the project before the said time, but should never delay not deliver beyond the said time. Thus the client and the person doing the job are free from stress.

All the jobs cannot be done by a single person, as it will lead to a stressful life. To avoid that delegation of work needs to be done properly, so that the job does not suffer.

Planning is very important to successfully finishing the job in a better way. It is also very important to avoid unwanted disturbances from others either through phone calls or who come in person to have a chat etc. It is better to see that there are no interruptions while working and plan to work on those undisturbed hours to stay away from stress caused by others.

In between the work time, some time can be taken to meditate or to exercise, or to go for a walk, or do anything which the person likes to do. It can also include a nap if desired which rejuvenates the person to work in a better and peaceful way.

Stress can also be caused due to health problems and sickness which can be overcome by eating a nutritious food, regular exercise and enough sleep. All the above things keep one refreshed and be prepared to meet any kind of day to day challenges at work.

Working For The Enemy � A Lesson In Conflict Management

Have you ever had a boss who you could never see eye to eye?

Did it seem that every thing that you did was wrong? Did you think you were working for the Enemy?

Wait, don’t quit!

There may be a reason why the two of you are complete opposites.

As you know everyone is different in almost every different way. People and the way they act and react are due to their nature and nurture. In other words, they act the way they do because of their genetics and their environments.

Their environment includes the way they were raised as children by their parents, their social involvements with the opposite sex, and their prior work environments. These factors, when all put together, make up who we are and make us unique. The key to getting along with your boss it to first understand his/her values when compared to your own.

I had a boss in a previous company, who for the life of me, I could not get along with. He was a very intelligent individual, who I desperately wanted to get approval from, however I could never understand why he did the things he did and why he could not respect the decisions that I made. Given the same problem, we would come up with two completely different solutions.

Luckily one day, during a team building exercise, my group preformed a personality test call Myers-Briggs. This test can categorize a person’s personality based on four distinctive areas.

They are Extraversion-Introversion, Sensing-Intuition, Judging-Perceiving, and Thinking-Feeling.

Using the information gained from this test, the practitioner can tell you to what degree you fall into these areas and what key personality traits that you are likely to have.

It was scary how accurate this test was for me and the rest of my group.

What was really interesting was that my boss and I were polar opposites in every single category of the Myers-Brigg scale. There was no wonder why we couldn’t get along and see eye to eye.

Both my boss and I learned a valuable lesson that day. We learned that if we were to get along then we would have to view each situation from the other’s point of view.

Using the test results we were now able to understand how each other would handle the problem, and we began to respect each other more and more.

Two years later, we still talk on the phone and hold a lot of respect for each other. If not for Myers-Briggs, I would not truly know myself or my new friend. If you think you are working for the enemy, I strongly urge you to take the test. You many see things in a whole new light.

Working Freelance: Not For Everyone!

I recently responded to a young woman’s thread on another blog regarding what it takes to enter the world of freelance writing.

The questions she asked were interesting, which is good, and something that everyone should do if exploring whether to jump into this dynamic field.

Without going through all the 5 questions again, these were some of my responses to her:

When asked about hours worked per week, I told her I average between 55-70 hours.

When asked the type of work that I am doing now, I responded that I was updating someone’s web site.

Nope, I do have other jobs to do besides writing…I have to pay the bills, right?

When asked what I like best about freelancing, I mentioned not having a boss to answer to and being able to pick and choose the projects that appeal to me.

Finally, when asked about the down sides of freelancing I mentioned the long hours as well as the ups and downs of the business: feast or famine!

So, I guess I have this to say to anyone who is considering entering the freelance world: it ain’t all glamour but if you don’t mind working hard you can make a go of it.

That’s it!

Working At Home: What Options Are Available?

If you've just begun your work-at-home search, you are likely feeling confused and overwhelmed by all the options out there. How do you know what's legitimate? How do you avoid the scams? Are there really jobs you can do from home? Yes!

So many people are happily working from home, and you can too. You just have to know where to look. This article will explain the types of work you can do at home, which basically fall into four categories:

Working for an Employer - (This is often called "telecommuting.") There are many legitimate companies that hire people to work from their home offices, and that number is growing every day. Employers are seeing the benefits of having employees work remotely, and many more will join these ranks in the future. (See our list of companies that hire telecommuters.)

Some companies will hire you as an actual employee; you will fill out tax forms and the employer will take taxes out of your paycheck, just like if you worked on location. Other companies will hire you as an independent contractor. They will send you a 1099 form at the end of the year, and you are responsible for paying your own taxes.

The employer may require you to work certain hours every day, or a set number of hours per week. Pay may be hourly, weekly, bi-weekly, or per piece (as with data entry type jobs). Some telephone jobs will pay you per "talk minute" - in other words, you will be paid only for the time you are actively speaking with customer s.

Freelancing - A "freelancer" is someone who hires out their skills to various companies for a specific project. The skills are usually those of a professional nature, such as writing, computer programming, web design and graphic arts, secretarial/administrative and virtual assisting. Some popular freelance websites are http://Guru.com and http://eLance.com. You can browse the jobs available and bid on them. If your bid wins, you get the job. Note that these jobs are usually temporary, for one project only. However, if you build a reputation for good work and meeting deadlines, you will often get offered other jobs.

Home Business Opportunity - You can also start your own business as a representative for an existing company. Most of these companies are Direct Sales or Network Marketing/MLM (Multi-Level Marketing). You've probably heard of many such companies, like Tupperware, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Avon, and Pampered Chef. There are thousands to choose from. (See our list of home business opportunities.)

There are many benefits to this type of work at home. You are your own boss, you set your own hours, and you are in complete control of how much income you earn (as opposed to earning a set amount of money each week from an employer). There are also some great tax breaks for home-based businesses.

Create Your Own Business - The final option is to build your own company. The possibilities are endless. Just about any skills you have can be turned into a home business. Dog walking/pet sitting, virtual assisting, catering, bicycle repair, childcare, crafts and artwork, etc. The most important thing to consider: is there a market for what you can do? Would people pay for the products or services you can supply? If you set your mind to it, I bet you could come up with dozens of great ideas for businesses you can do.

Avoid the Scams The number one thing to remember about scammers is that they want either your money, or your personal information. Never, ever pay a "fee" to begin working for a company. (Business opportunities do frequently require you to purchase a start-up kit, however I am referring to actual telecommuting jobs here.)

No matter how great they make a job sound, do NOT pull out your credit card and send them money. It is a scam. Rarely, some legitimate companies might charge you for training, but more often they will deduct this from your first few paychecks. If you're really not sure if a company is legitimate, ask around!

Visit work at home message forums and ask about the company. Chances are people have heard of them, or can tell you whether it's a genuiune job or not. Unfortunately, new scammers pop up every day, so even if you can't find anything negative about them, proceed cautiously.

Likewise, if you are unsure whether a company is legitimate, do NOT give them your social security number, home address, or any banking information (for direct deposit). An employer will not need this information unless they are actually hiring you. I recommend people to leave those fields blank when applying for a job.

If the employer likes your qualifications and wants to hire you (and you are absolutely certain they are legitimate) then you can supply that information. Real employers will understand your caution.

The best way to avoid scams is to listen to your gut. There are always warning signs. Even if everything seems on the up and up, and your gut is giving you a signal that something doesn't seem right, LISTEN to that. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say, "I had a bad feeling but I wanted it to be for real, so I took a chance." Don't do that. You have a great built-in warning system. We all do. It's called Intuition. Use it. Outsmart the scammers.

Professionalism, Patience and Persistence Finally, remember that work at home positions have a tremendous amount of demand. Thousands and thousands of people are applying for the very same positions that you are. Make sure your resume is in top form and clearly details your experience and qualifications for the job you are applying for. Consider investing in a professionally done resume and cover letter. It is well worth the money if it lands you the job!

If you haven't heard back after a week or two, why not follow up with the company and check on the status of your application? Send a nice email inquiring, or call them. (Only if the company hasn't requested that you not do that.) Don't whine or beg, be professional about it. Express your genuine interest in working for them. Persistence can pay off, as long as you're not annoying your potential employer.

Patience is important, as finding a work at home position can take many months. If you can't wait, why not consider starting your own business? Don't let lack of experience stop you. You can learn anything you don't know. Talk to other business owners who do what you are considering. Ask them how they got started. There are a lot of great people out there who would be willing to help guide you in the right direction.

Think about what you really want in a home based career. Do you prefer to be your own boss, or work for someone else? Do you need flexible hours, or would you rather have a set schedule? Do you like telephone work, or internet based? Make a definite list of what you do want, and what you don't want. That will make your search much quicker.

Believe in yourself. You can create the perfect career for yourself. Many others have done it, so why not you too?

Working At Home As A Medical Transcriptionist

Medical transcriptionists responsible for transforming various hospital reports from their dictated form to the written form. Every day, thousands of patients are admitted to hospitals around the world. Most patients are seen in any emergency room and in some point would require for various laboratory tests and x-rays. Every time a patient interacts with a medical professional, reports are generated – just imagine how many medical reports are dictated every single day.

Medical transcriptionists transcribe medical reports that are saved as hard copies or stored on computer. As long as there are doctors, medical reports will be created and will need to be transcribed, providing job opportunities for medical transcriptionists.

Working as a medical transcriptionist doesn’t necessarily mean working at a desk in a hospital or medical office – you can have a career in medical transcribing while working from the comfort of your home by applying online to medical institutions. Most medical institutions have web sites where they list job openings.

Be very careful, however, when in filling out the online form. Carefully the instructions before answering questions, since medical companies look at how well you've followed instructions and filled out the form as a basis for hiring. You must be meticulous with your grammar and spelling since medical reports need to be transcribed without any mistakes..

The usual requirements for transcriptionists are as follows: They must have a thorough knowledge of medical terminology, an excellent command of grammar and above-average keyboarding skills. Keyboarding is more than just typin – it means proficiency in using all the keys on your keyboard.

Procrastination is not a trait that works well in this profession, so if you have the habit of putting things off then medical transcription is not the job for you. Home-based transcriptionists must be independent self-starters, should be able to research unfamiliar phrases or jargon when necessary, and should be conscientious, detail-oriented workers.

Most companies would rather hire medical transcriptionists with previous in-house experience when hiring someone to work from home, since they can save time that would be spent training. Many require that applicants have a year or more of experience working in a clinic or hospital.

If you're an aspiring medical transcriptionist without any experience, though, there are some companies that only require their applicants to have excellent listening and keyboarding skills and, of course, good understanding of English grammar. These employers provide their home-based applicants with medical resources that contain terms, abbreviations and medical definitions to assist them on their transcription.

Work in the Company That Suits You

All of us want to make a glorious, fantastic and stunning career. We dream of earning a lot of money and at some definite moment delegating our business to our children. We plan spending the rest of our lives somewhere at the sea shore, in the country of the bright sun, warm climate, delicious fruit and cheerful people.

Each of us has a desire to work and progress, we are full of ambitions, we are patient enough, we are fast learners, smart, energetic… With all these qualities we are a dream of every employer. But never make hasty decisions about joining a new company.

First of all you should find out if your work in this company will be rewarding, harmonious and convenient for you, in brief, how well this company suits you.

Psychologists distinguish four main managing styles: authoritative, marketing, bureaucratic and participative. Being aware of the peculiarities of every style will help you to play cards right when sending out your curriculum vitae to this or that company. The company with authoritative style has a strictly hierarchical structure: relations between the directors and subordinates are predetermined.

This is a company for those who like fulfilling particular orders, those who prefer fixed system of relations and count on long term growth perspective. This is your world if you are used to take into account the slightest details and be satisfied with a definite position in the company.

In marketing – oriented staff everyone pursues his own benefits. Units of brokers’, associations of managers’ refer to this category. These organizations are temporary and their aim is to make the highest possible profit in the shortest period of time. The basic law here is efficiency and the main aim is profitability.

An employee should be independent, self- confident and have his own ideas for making money. Not everyone can stand such a tension. In these companies they value the opinion of every person but only in the sphere of his project. Sometimes your ideas can be stolen with out your permission. Bureaucratic organizations offer paradise for petty tyrants.

It suggests heaps of useless paperwork. You can play either a role of tyrant or of a victim. But both of them are so repulsive, as for me.

Participative managing style is the most well balanced of the four. Every member of staff contributes to the development of the organization. They value your opinion just because a fresh idea is at times better than advice of the professional with thousands of problems.

The company works according to the principles of an ideal team: everyone does what he is best at, besides he adds up to building up the ideal pyramid with small bricks. It is not always better for a person to work in an ideal company than to have his own business or follow the instructions. Before writing your resume objective, think if you will be able to become an independent and indispensable unit of such company. Before taking over a position in the new company, make a preliminary analysis of the company managing style.

If you rely on long term employment in this company, don’t think you will adapt to its rules if they contradict your nature. Only working in harmony with your inner world will bring you positive results instead of cons tant fatigue and self dissatisfaction.

Working At Home, Freelance, Telecommuting - Are They Legitimate

You hear a lot about people making a lot of money working some MLM opportunity but the only problem with these are that you need to make an investment and you have to know a lot of people. I have a guaranteed income each month that covers my rent but I'm at home all the time and not earning any additional money. When my wife and i first arrived in Brunswick we applied at a lot of local businesses but the problem being is that at the present moment we only have one car between us.

I had signed up with Guru over a year ago but pretty much never had pursued it. Guru is a site that says you can make bids on freelance work. The only problem is that you can only have one active profile at a time. With Careerbuilder you can apply for retail sales positions, telemarketing positions, and whatever else gets your fancy. You can do all of this without limitation. I did receive an invitation in some junk mail last week about a low cost trial for a freelance site and i signed up and responded to as many ads as I qualified for.

I got zero replies so I canceled my membership. Otherwise it would have automatically charged my credit card for a full months membership and since I got nothing from the trial i was not about to keep the service. I then did some searches on the Net for articles about freelance, work-at-home jobs, telecommuting, etc. What I learned is that there are a lot of sites that will only give you the right information if you pay a membership fee. These sites are making money off of anybody who signs up but I almost guarantee that none of the members are actually getting and work from these sites.

I spent the day yesterday visiting any freelance work site that didn't charge any fees up front. They may try to get you to sign up for additional services which have a cost but to look at and reply to jobs cost you nothing. Most of the responses i received though were from people trying to get me into some Biz Opp. Or only offering a job where your only compensation is commission after the sale is made.

I have tried commission only work in the past and at first you are all hyped up about the work. This is the same if you have ever signed up for one of theses MLM companies. After a while you get fed up when you find that you were the only person to get really excited about a certain product or Biz. The recruiter's for these opportunities are very good about getting you all excited about the possible money you can make.

I did respond to this one ad that went like this; Make $500 to $1000 a day Just by Returning Calls. Not MLM, No Selling, No Inventory, no Start up

It gave an email address that I replied to and today i received a phone call about it. The lady asked me a few questions like could i follow a specific business plan and after i responded positively she told me to call a certain number at 3:00 PM today. I called the number which was a conference call and you could hear all these other people on the phone talking about how they were now making six figures a year from this. Some of the people said that they used to be Police Officers, Teachers, Lawyers, and managers from other industries. What it all boiled down to was the reason they got you to make this call is because they wanted you to hear all the excitement from the other people which would then get you excited. For a $3500 Pledge you would then get other people that would pay the same pledge placed underneath you. You had to advertise the prewritten ad and call anybody who responded.

To me this is like the old chain letter schemes but instead of getting an envelope in the mail you got an email. No product, no ebooks, no trials to anything. All you got was the satisfaction of parting with your money. They told me that if I didn't have the money to go a head and borrow it from somebody. There are so many of these programs out there on the Internet and it never ceases to amaze me how people can actually sleep at night after they have convinced other people to part with their hard earned money. I call these things Scams. No other way to look at it.

Now, i have found that there are some legitimate telework jobs out there. These are opportunities to work on the telephone from your home and actually get paid an hourly wage. I have received some emails today from a few of these companies and I have filled out their applications and gone through their training. The ball is now in their court but if these jobs end up not working out believe me I will not keep this bottled up inside me.

I have come to the realization that you need to stick with sites like Craigslist, Careerbuilder, and Monster and in the search box use keywords like Virtual Employee, freelance, virtual call center, work-at-home call center, or remote employee. Now there are some services out their that will post what you are looking for on a lot of job boards and this is fine if you have the extra money but please be careful with your money.

When you do a search on a site like Google or Yahoo the results that show up first in a box are paid listings. I am under the assumption that these results are MLM or some other type of Biz opp. Remember, any site that is charging a fee is probably only making money by charging you that fee. Guru at least lets you to bid on 10 jobs per month without paying anything. I am giving some though to creating a job board where freelancers will post their portfolio and a company that has a job would then look at thesite for a freelance person. The only money I would make would be from something like Google Adsense or by becoming an Amazon affiliate and letting them suggest books based on a persons search.

Work At Home Options - Which Is Best For You?

When you first decide you'd like to work at home, you may be tempted to search for a telecommuting job or join a home business opportunity right away. There are certainly benefits to those options, but stop and think for a moment, "Is that the right choice for me?"

While there are some great companies and programs out there, it's important to evaluate your true needs and desires in a home-based career. I see too many people jumping into the first opportunity they see, simply because it promises great income. Money is definitely a major part of our reason for working, but is it the most important? You need to choose the option that will serve all of your needs, not just the financial ones.

How do you know which option is best for you? Consider the typical qualities of telecommuting jobs, home business opportunities and home businesses started from scratch:

Telecommuting Jobs

Pros - With jobs you will usually have less responsibility than a home business, plus a steady paycheck and a structured work schedule. If you are very efficient, organized and "production-oriented", this could be a good choice for you.

Cons - You will have less flexibility and freedom than you would with a home business. You will not be encouraged to "do it your way" -- you will instead need to follow your employer's instructions. Your workload is not guaranteed. Business can slow down and you'll have no work to do, which means no income. You will usually earn less from a telecommuting job than you would from a home business. If you are very creative and free-spirited, and you want to earn a big income, a job might not be right for you.

Home Business Opportunities

Pros - More flexibility and freedom than a job, more opportunity for larger income (if you're motivated), less chance for business to slow down (since you generate your own business), benefit from being part of a team of like-minded people that support you and help you to grow your business. No need to create your own products and marketing materials, as the company provides them for you.

Cons - Still less flexibility and freedom than starting your own business, as the company may have restrictions on how you run your business, how you can promote, etc. You may have sales quotas you need to meet, or other limitations. Choosing a company that has been around for a long time may result in oversaturation of the market, while choosing a newer company may result in instability or the company going out of business.

Your Own Company

Pros - Complete freedom and flexibility in the products you create or services you offer, as well as the ways in which you choose to market. No quotas to meet, build it big or keep it small. Set your own schedule and determine your own income. Be as creative as you wish.

Cons - Great responsibility. You are the President, CEO, General Manager, Sales Director, Marketing Manager, Production Manager, Comptroller, Personnel Director and everything else for your company. No one else is there to help or cheer you on, it's all up to you.

There are certainly exceptions to the qualities listed above. Perhaps you can find a great telecommuting job that allows you complete flexibility and creative work. Maybe some of the "cons" I listed above would actually be considered "pros" to you, or vice versa.

What it comes down to is what YOU want. What works best for you? Make a list of what's important to you. How much do you want to earn? How creative are you? How flexible do you want your schedule to be? What type of work makes you feel most happy?

Build a vision in your mind of the perfect work at home career for you. And then go about finding (or creating) just that!

Why Would a Hiring Company Want to Check Your Background?

Over 90% of companies run some type of background check on their job applicants. Pre-employment screening can be expensive and time-consuming, but most companies feel it is an essential part of the hiring process.

Here are the top five reasons why a company will take a good look at you before making a hiring decision:

1. Fraud – It’s estimated that over half of all job applicants lie on their resumes and job applications each year. Education leads the list, with over half a million people in the U.S. falsely claiming to have college degrees. Many people enhance their job titles, stretch dates to cover employment gaps and even invent employers. By running a complete background check, a company can quickly verify if an applicant is telling the truth.

Veritas asked CFO Kenneth Lonchar to resign following the discovery that his claim to an MBA from Stanford University was phony. George O’Leary, hired as Notre Dame’s head football coach, lost his job when it was revealed that his resume contained falsehoods.

2. Criminal Activity – No company wants to hire an individual who will bring crime into the workplace. Some two million Americans are victims of workplace violence every year. Many companies face theft, embezzlement and drug use by employees on a regular basis. In addition, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 have caused many employers to take a more careful look at their hires.

A complete background check will usually let a company know if an applicant has a criminal record. Not all people with criminal records are hiring risks, but pre-employment screening allows the employer to make an informed hiring decision.

3. Negligent Hiring Lawsuits – A company can be held responsible for the actions of it’s employees if it fails to conduct a background check prior to hiring someone. Lawsuits for negligent hiring are one of the fastest growing areas of litigation. Industry experts say that employers lose almost 80% of these cases.

Seeking to protect themselves from multimillion dollar jury verdicts and enormous legal fees, companies are now very cautious about who them hire. They know that one bad hiring decision can dramatically hurt a company’s finances and reputation.

4. Recruitment Expense – Finding qualified applicants for a job costs time and money. Managers who are looking for new employees must spend their valuable time developing and placing ads, sorting through resumes and interviewing applicants. After a long recruiting process, a company wants to be sure that they have selected the right applicant. They don’t want to repeat the process all over again.

5. Federal & State Laws – Background checks are required for many state and federal jobs. For example, most states must run a criminal background check on anyone who works with the elderly, the disabled or with children. Many federal jobs require an extensive investigation for those trying to get a security clearance.

Whatever the reason, the chances are excellent that a hiring company will want to look into your past. The best thing you can do is to be prepared when it happens.

How To Make A Real Income Working From Home

Millions of people worldwide are enticed by the opportunity to work at home. A job from home allows individuals considerably more flexibility, extra time with family and generally alleviates the immense stress which may result from an active career.

At home jobs are also desirable for individuals who wish to make an extra income in addition to their day job, college students, disabled persons, at home mothers and senior citizens.

Thousands of people search the internet everyday in hopes of finding financial freedom from the comfort of their own home. Unfortunately, the internet is plagued with work at home scams. There are hundreds of companies which promote 'get rich quick schemes' or 'guaranteed' opportunities to make a living from home.

Scams include, but are not limited to, envelope stuffing, mail order, pyramid schemes, medical billing, typist jobs and numerous other ways to make money. The FTC has already charged several individuals involved in managing and promoting fraudulent work at home opportunities. “The dream of owning a business is as American as apple pie, but business opportunity scammers spoil the recipe for success,” said FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras.

According to the Better Business Bureau, consumers may lose amounts ranging from $10 up to $70,000 or more in their search to make money from home. So how do you know which opportunities are legitimate and which are not?

Fortunately, there are actually legitimate money making opportunities available on the internet. A large number of individuals actually do earn a good living on the internet. There are people who make millions on the internet and are living the life all of us would like to live.

Many more, however, earn an income comparable to their salary or, in many cases, higher.

Many legitimate telecommuting jobs from qualified employers exist. A significant number of them do require some type of skill, but that does not mean you need a college degree to earn a living on the internet.

The World Wide Web is full of opportunities, and all types of persons from all over the world are making their dreams come true by working at home.

Women Build Up Their Careers

What do women want? When it comes to their careers, studies show, popular responses include options, opportunity, respect, geographical mobility and good pay.

Fortunately, for many women-and their families-that can describe many of the jobs available in the skilled trades. Trade occupations can include aviation technician, automotive painter, construction equipment operator, welder, carpenter, decorator, chef, horticulturist, IT support analyst, florist, electrician, tool and die maker and water-well driller, to name a few.

Why The Trades?

Careers in the trades can offer a chance to contribute to society and the opportunity to be your own boss. Skilled trades touch every part of Americans' lives, from roads and homes to hospitals and schools. You can get hands-on training and a chance to "earn while you learn."

What Does It Take?

Some jobs need modest physical strength and endurance but most do not. Virtually all require intelligence and creativity as well as good reading, math and analytical skills. Thanks to technology, skilled trades are not "dirty," as they once may have been. Knowledge of computer software and mechanical systems is increasingly important.

Opportunities On The Rise

This nation faces a looming shortage of skilled tradespeople. As the baby boomers retire over the next few years, the construction industry alone will be short more than 1 million workers.

What About Pay?

The salary ranges vary by job, location and experience but a skilled electrician can easily earn $70,000 a year. Apprentices and others may get less and the work for some is seasonal, while union members are often paid more than nonunion workers, report the experts at the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).

The organization was founded in 1955 to create a support network and enhance the success of women in the construction industry. It now has thousands of members around the world and has advanced the causes of all women in construction, from trades-women to business owners.

According to the group, educational and career resources play an integral role in facing the challenges of this evolving industry.

Winning Ways At Interviews

Let’s face it, job interviews are about as much fun as a hot wax with no anaesthetic. After all, attempting to showcase your talents to a bunch of strangers, usually against the clock and on someone else’s turf is not a natural act. Nevertheless, if you really want the job then you have to crack the interview conundrum. Giving ‘good interview’ is all about the three Ps - preparation, presentation and positive thinking. All interviews are basically made of the same hellish stuff, so let's start at the beginning with the introductions.

The interview introduction can be a slippery customer and one that can easily get away from you. Once you enter that chamber of horrors commonly known as the interview room, you’re on your own, never sure if you’re saying or doing the right thing. The harder you try to relax the more nervous you seem to feel. Simply stringing a coherent sentence together seems like one of the labours of Hercules. Of course the room is unbearably hot and your mouth is unusually dry so your tongue swells, cutting off the oxygen to your brain. Panic grips you. Finally, just as you’re about to turn on your heels and make an undignified dash for the nearest fire escape, the kindly interviewer extends a friendly hand and welcomes you. Now what do you do?

Fear not. Introductions don’t have to be embarrassing, distressing or tearful episodes. Introductions can be easy and fun. You simply have to approach things calmly and logically. Stop and think about it for a moment. You’re meeting someone for the first time; it’s a clean sheet, an opportunity for you to write your own ticket without preconceptions or bias getting in the way. All you have to do is arrive on time, dress smartly, check your teeth for remnants of your last meal, be yourself and make sure you’re wearing industrial strength deodorant. What could be simpler? To build up confidence you can always practice introducing yourself in front of the bathroom mirror before you actually attend any interviews. You might want to try this in the comfort of your own home rather than in the washroom of your local pizzeria, where introducing yourself to fellow patrons might be frowned upon.

Having successfully navigated the interview introductions, your next big challenge is to deal with an offer of refreshments. Something as seemingly benign as a cup of tea or coffee can wreak havoc during an interview. Having to juggle hot liquids in flimsy plastic cups while convincing a stranger of your marketing expertise or business acumen should always be avoided. Accepting or declining refreshments is something of a judgement call, as you don’t want to appear ill at ease, but remember the risks are high. Loud slurping or gulping won’t endear you to the interviewer while spilling hot chocolate down the front of your cream and oatmeal business suit is a blunder few candidates can easily recover from. So, if you find fear and anxiety has made your mouth as dry as Death Valley on the hottest day of the year simply ask for a glass of water. It’s probably your safest option.

According to certain eminent psychologists, who study such things, the first few minutes of any interview are crucial in determining the final outcome. It seems that first impressions really do count. With the preliminaries over, it’s time to tackle the main event. By this stage of the game you’ll either be brimming with confidence or desperate for the lavatory, a cigarette and a family-sized candy bar. Whatever happens you must stay focussed on the task at hand. 105 seconds is all the time you’re going to get to make the right impression. The key is not to panic. DON’T PANIC! If you’re properly prepared then nothing can go wrong. You should know exactly what questions to ask, what to say, and when to say it. Try to anticipate the questions the interviewer is likely to ask, and have your answers ready. But remember, before answering pause for a moment. It looks more natural. Keep your delivery clear, consistent, positive, short and simple; then you won’t go far wrong. And try not to get sidetracked or go off at a tangent.

However doubtful you are, take it on trust that having your highly polished, recently manicured fingernails pulled out with rusty tweezers is far worse than your average job interview. Interviewers aren’t the monsters they might first appear. They’re just ordinary people doing a difficult job. If the interviewer makes a poor decision then both you and your new employer will suffer the consequences. The best thing that you can probably do is place your trust in the interviewer’s experience while checking the chair you’re offered for chains and thumbscrews. At the end of all this torment, after saying and doing everything right, you still might not get the job. Sometimes life is fickle. In such a case, try to get some positive feedback on your interview technique and move on.

Typically, just as you start to relax and feel you’re building a rapport with your interviewer you’ll find the whole torturous process suddenly coming to an end. And it’s now, at the end of the interview that you face your biggest challenge. As your confidence levels climb it’s tempting to drop your guard and divert from your original interview strategy. Resist this impulse. Technically known as ‘end-of-interview euphoria’ you must fight the urge to say something witty or clever. In the intoxicatingly thin air of your newly found confidence the chances are that your wit and cleverness will be interpreted as glibness or even rudeness. Take it from someone who has suffered this fate; fight your urges and keep your mouth shut without you’re asked a direct question.

Maybe not the big finale you imagined or rehearsed, but safer by far to conclude your interview with a thank you, a smile and a gentle reminder of your contact details. Before you stand up to leave, especially if you’re one of that daredevil breed who recklessly accepts liquid refreshments, make sure that everything spillable is out of harm’s way. Now, all that remains for you to do is get out of there. At this last delicate stage of the proceedings it’s advisable not to run. Hazards are everywhere and tripping over the wastebasket, upsetting the coffee table or ripping the telephone line out of its wall-socket will usually go against you. Whenever possible it’s best to leave your potential new employer’s office building, fixtures and fittings just as you found them. Play by the rules and you’ll walk out of there with a new job in the bag. Congratulations. Alternatively, tomorrow’s another day and another interview.