Giving notice when you intend to leave an employer.

Giving notice of your plans to leave an employer for a position elsewhere is a delicate task that must be carried out with professionalism and the thinking that if for some reason your new position isn't the perfect fit you thought it would be that you have a good possibility of rehire with your former employer.  So to maintain a positive image and remain elidgible for potentiality being rehired if need be here are some tips to help you achieve just that.

1. For non-managerial or support staff 2 weeks is the typically acceptable timeframe and for managerial positions 30 days and executives 90 days which will give your employer adequate time to find a suitable replacement.

2. If you choose to participate in and your employer offers an exit interview always speak positively about the employer, supervisors and fellow staff.  Although it may seem the time to air all those grievances if you want a chance tpbe rehired it would jeopardize the possibility.

3.  Finish any special assignments unless specifically asked not to because your predecessor will most likely have to start from scratch anyway and there is no need to dump a halfway completed assignment on the new coming replacement whom will most likely already be nervous and under great stress.

4.  Ask if you would be elidgible for rehire if you chose to return it couldn't hurt.

5.  Send your direct supervisor and human resources representative a thank you letter for giving you the opportunity to work as a member of their team this will help greatly if your resume ever crosses their desk again as an applicant for a job opening.

When faced with a significant career change

Changing careers can mark the start of an exciting life change but at the same time can be extremely stressful and a frightening decision for some depending on the reason for the change.  The career path one chooses should be one of interest and meaning were the individual feels a sense of accomplishment each day and also feels they make a positive contribution with their work.  

There are many reasons a person may make such a significant change in the course of their life such as completion of educational program that now qualifies them to fill the new position they are making the change to.  Additional reasons could be simply for a higher salary, relocation, a new found interest, taking the next step towards their ultimate chosen career or it may just be that they are really unsure of what they want to spend the majority of their life doing and are trying new things in the hopes that in doing so something will jump out and grab their attention.  Lots of people make career changes as well due to the numerous career paths that some jobs present them with and in order to turn their job into a career they must select a specialty to hone their skills in such as a nurse, doctor or lawyer.  

One of the most frightening aspects of a career change is the potential for a disruption of their regular paycheck that may affect their budget or their normal payment schedule for upcoming due bills.  Another intimidating challenge tends for most to be a new position were they must demonstrate a greater amount of skill and proficiency in their field which can make a person question if they are truly ready for the greater responsibility and higher expectations which I believe affects 98% of people however over time retreats more and more as they settle into their new role and the majority of people will find that they fill their new role better than they ever would have expected.  

An important thing to remember if faced with this scenario is believe in yourself, take pride in all you do and do everything you undertake to the absolute best of your ability and you should be just fine.  Lastly don't fear great change and do what you have a passion for and what fills you with the positive emotions one feels when they recognize a job well done or take notice to the fact that their efforts made a positive impact in the life of others no matter how small it may be.

Career Hunter: Are The Best Job Candidates Getting Away ?

Career Hunter: Are The Best Job Candidates Getting Away ?: All firms of all sizes in all areas of business want the best candidates for the jobs they have available. However, in recent years, the emp...

Are The Best Job Candidates Getting Away ?

All firms of all sizes in all areas of business want the best candidates for the jobs they have available. However, in recent years, the employee-candidate paradigm has been reversed. Because of a shortage of talented candidates, there is more competition between companies for the talent that is available. So, rather than the job candidate having to sell him or herself to the company, the Hiring Manager's responsibility is to "sell" the quality, financial stability, and advancement opportunities of the company to the candidate.

It is now essential that firms revise their recruiting procedures and do not let the best candidates get away. Some simple adjustments should be enough for your company to stop those high quality candidates from going elsewhere.

Quick Response
Once you decide to fill a position, be committed to that decision and make hiring decisions quickly. View the hiring process like a project and ensure you meet your goal of hiring the "best candidate" in the shortest amount of time. Indecisiveness, time delays, budget reviews, etc., send a message to the candidate about the company's lack of focus. If you wait two weeks following an interview to make an offer, your ideal candidate may have already accepted a job offer from elsewhere - even from one of your competitors.

Streamline the Hiring Process
Do you really need second and third interviews ? If you ensure that all the participants in the hiring process are available for the first interview, then decisions can be made quickly and effectively, ensuring that your firm has a better chance of recruiting the top talent.

If You Want The Best...
If you want the best...then you will need to pay the best. It may not be what most companies want to hear but it happens to be true. Don't misjudge the pay rate, benefits, perks, etc., necessary for the best quality candidate to accept the position; don't play games with lower than market rate offers.

Keep abreast of changing salary scales, and price your jobs competitively. If you don't know what the current market rate is, hire a recruiter who does and who can advise on all aspects of the recruiting process.

Get The Right Help
Bringing a professional recruiter in at an early stage will help prepare your company for the hiring process. A top-notch recruiter will ask the right questions to help you identify your company's needs and will also help you identify human attributes (personality, communication skills, corporate culture, etc.) that the "right" candidate should possess, including "must-have" attributes and "preferred" attributes.

Choose a recruiter to work long term and they will soon be attuned to the exact needs and requirements of your company. Include the recruiter on your company's hiring team. A preferred recruiter is very helpful in structuring job descriptions so they stand out. And finding the recruiting angle that will draw superstars and in presenting the job offer to the candidate so it will be accepted. In addition to recruiting top talent, good recruiters possess skills to help candidates evaluate and accept good offers. This “third-party-input” to the candidate during the decision is critical to avoiding turn down and defusing counter offers.

With a streamlined recruiting procedure and the right approach to the top candidates, your firm will be one of those getting the best talent while your competitors are still wondering how that perfect candidate managed to get away.

Aptitude Test - Know Yourself

It it very important to know ourself well. In my career I have constantly try to figure out what do I want to do and what is suitable for me. Since secondary school time I have started to think hard on what I want to be in the future. During University time I did a lot of reading and test to understand myself more. I wanted to be an entrepreneur. However I don’t know where to start and what industry I should go into. I have tried to start some small business in university time and I learned that passion is very important. I simply need to love what I am doing. So I planned to gain some working experience before I go into any business. I started my career as a programmer. I figure out that I wanted to become an system analyst, which I have already achieve it today, after 5 years of working.

I did an aptitude test on Test You Own Job Aptitude by Jim Barret and Geoff Williams 6 years ago which I think its worth to mention. Following are the results of my test. According to the test I am a mixed of Research and Literary type. Below are some descriptions of the categories:

Research

This attraction shows how much you enjoy acquiring knowledge. As a result of this you seem prepared to devoted a great deal of time to study and the careers which appeal to you generally need academic, professional or special qualifications.

At school, you would have preferred scientific subjects, particularly the main-stream diciplines of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. You will have enjoyed objective problem solving and being able to sift through information in order to draw conclusions. You will have enjoyed experimenting and working with formulae.

Careers in this category: astronomer, bacteriologist, botanist, chemist, dietitian, mathematician, microbiologist, physicist, surgeon, computer scientist

Literary

You are attracted by carrers involving words, ideas and communication. You will be happy reading or writing a lot - probaly both. Other interests or activities might also appeal, but these can be saved for leisure time. It is with a literary activity that you want to spend most of your time.

If you have not been engaged in literary events hitherto, it is possible that your self-awareness has changed. Perhaps now is the time to find out whether you have any talent. Some people have produced a first novel after retirement.

Careers in this category are: actor/actress, editor, historian, interpreter, journalist, language teacher, librarian, literary critic, novelist, proof reader

Research and Literary

You may be able to combine these preferences in a career which fuses science with art. In this case, you are likely to be high qualified: you will be one of the lucky few who are very highly specialised and for whom there are careers available. Most careers will be in an academic or educational environment. If your background is in research you may also have a literary talent which allows you to write about your subject. Additioanl personal skills would be required if you are to be successful in presenting your work to others as a lecturer or trainer.

Careers in this category are: anthropologist, archaelogist, information scientist, science writer, technical writer.

I found that the test result are indeed very true for myself, not only 6 years ago, but even until today it remains true. Today I am a system analyst, but that is not my final destination. I have something else that I wanted to achieve. I wanted to be a writer. I wanted to further my study in master degree. I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I know that I need to focus on one at a time.

Knowing yourself is important. It helps you to keep focus on your lifelong journey.

Apprenticeship - The Best Training In The World

Learning a new, highly skilled profession requires an in-depth, hands-on, committed training experience. This is where the process of apprenticeship occurs. It fills-in the training gap in those places where supervision is needed and provides hands-on help and a solid understanding of how a specific process works. Apprenticeship is one of the most successful methods any person can use to develop new skills, especially in a highly technical craft. 

For example, you don't become an electrician by pulling a few wires off your remote control car and hooking them up to the light switch in your house. Instead, you apprentice under an electrical expert to learn the most valuable, safest method for working with electricity. 

So what is apprenticeship? It generally includes full-time, on-the-job experience where you actually learn to do "a job" while performing the required tasks. In this "hands-on" environment, you are placed under the oversight of a skilled trainer or journey-worker. A big benefit of on-the-job apprenticeship is having an income while you learn. At the same time you can also receive detailed training by taking specific, technical classes that are directly related to your new occupation. This training is often in-addition to your normal job duties, so be prepared for a large time investment. 

By focusing heavily on hands-on work experience and detailed classroom study, long term success is the usual result for anyone truly dedicated to their occupation. Apprenticeship programs create some of the most highly-skilled, highly-paid individuals who work at their jobs anywhere in the world. 

In fact, this method of training may be the oldest form of learning anywhere. Certainly it was used even by early Americans, including George Washington (surveyor), Benjamin Franklin (printer), and Paul Revere (silversmith). Actually, Congress enacted the National Apprenticeship Act in 1937. They did this to recognize the importance of apprenticeship in developing highly skilled workers in various trades, including manufacturing, public utilities, and construction. Later apprenticeship grew to include fire, police, safety, and other emergency related occupations. 

Today, there are hundreds of different occupational apprenticeship programs and categories in and around the United States. Each state oversees and administers the specifics of their own program, but they are federally approved. Once you complete an apprenticeship training program, you will get an apprenticeship certificate which is recognized nationwide. It is also the credential you will find the most useful and portable within most industries around the country. 

But apprenticeship isn't for the faint of heart. Even before your job and classroom training, you will have to apply, and you may have to wait until positions and opportunities are available. In fact, some programs may have waiting lists or they may only accept new applicants at specific times throughout the year. 

Although apprenticeship is a fantastic occupational learning opportunity, it is not an option to be pursued lightly. Weigh your options and make an educated decision about the time and other commitments, before you jump into an apprenticeship program.

Allied Health Work Force Shortages Pose Concern

A shortage of workers in many countries is a major obstacle for health care systems as they attempt to respond effectively to chronic diseases, avian influenza and other challenges, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization. 

The United States is affected by this shortage as well. Acute personnel shortages occur in allied health professions such as medical technology and respiratory therapy. Sufficient numbers of these practitioners are not available to deal with the regular flow of patient needs that must be met. 

Also worrisome is the threat posed by bioterrorism and the additional demands that such acts would place on a system that already is under strain. If such an event were to occur, laboratory technicians and respiratory therapists would be in high demand. Laboratory tests would be necessary to determine how victims have been affected, and breathing difficulties would have to be treated by qualified technicians.

Nursing shortages have received much public attention recently. Depending on what professions and levels are included, allied health is as large as or larger than nursing. Similar to nursing, many applicants to allied health programs are denied admission because of shortages of faculty, clinical training sites and related resources. 

Many students are attracted to a career in a health profession, but the costs of obtaining an education are becoming more of a barrier. Funding for education by the states is at its lowest in 25 years, and support per student has decreased significantly due to increased enrollment and inflation in the economy. Total tax revenues have declined as a percentage of state wealth. 

Another factor is the increased expenses for Medicaid programs, which continue to require a larger share of the overall budget in each state.

As a means of addressing the situation, the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions is working with several other organizations to advance S. 473, the Allied Health Professions Reinvestment Act of 2005, and H.R. 215, a companion bill. Introduced in Congress in 2005, this proposed legislation is designed to furnish a remedy for the allied health work force problems. If something isn't done soon, the organization warns, there will be an alarming increase in adverse events affecting patients because of an inadequate supply of allied health caregivers.

Advancements in Information Technology Lead to Job Growth

The Information Technology (IT) industry is well known for experiencing growing pains related to the technological advancements that are the foundation of the field itself. Advancements in technology, while necessary, often force IT professionals to focus on a particular area of expertise in order to meet the specialized needs of different industries.  This newfound emphasis on specialization has led to the creation of new positions within the IT field with expansion resulting in job diversification. 

Not so long ago, IT managers and administrators were responsible for all facets of a company's data systems, including development, accessibility, storage and security. These rising stars of the computer age were often single handedly responsible for maintaining the systems that businesses relied upon to function. For many, budgetary free reign was allowed for software and hardware purchasing with the singular requirement that all systems continue to run smoothly and effectively. Larger organizations often had in-house IT administrators who worked alongside the employees of companies that provided implementation services. The outsourced agents were a necessity for the maintenance of massive IT installations, while their company counterparts served to relay information regarding the purchased systems to management in a jargon free and palatable manner.

Today, the majority of small to medium sized businesses operate completely in-house.  Even larger organizations are limiting outsourced personnel to the bare minimum, preferring to hire specialized permanent employees to fill the positions that were once manned by a labor force provided by another company. Upper echelon IT managers are more likely to have business heavy education and experience credentials while their subordinates may be experts in either the software, hardware, or security side of IT infrastructures, but rarely all three. With data tampering and theft becoming a major concern in recent years, the job market for data security personnel alone has risen substantially.

As we move forward into the future of information technology, the trend for a specialized workforce in the IT sector of employment will likely continue. Even educational institutions are beginning to recognize this expansive diversification and IT degree programs with an emphasis on even the most obscure facets of the industry can now be found. While the onset of the computer age has certainly resulted in the reduction of many positions in the overall workforce, the weight of its own complexity may yield new positions that can balance those losses as we move forward.

10 sure-fire measures to become the boss’s favorite

Any office has two kinds of people, a group that works hard but is never noticed and the other who immediately spring to mind. The second kind are the ones who are noticed and at the forefront of all activities. Career success means more than working hard, being qualified, meeting crazy deadlines, and being diligent. To be truly successful you need recognition from the boss. 

In order to be remembered and noticed by the boss you will need to:

1. Be friendly and pleasant. Have a nice thing to say to everyone, ooze good manners, and have a ready smile and caring attitude. Don’t be brash and ride rough shod over others or be judgmental.

2. Refrain from gossip. It is the one thing that can make life uncomfortable. Know what’s happening in the office but stay away from discussing it or spreading things however tempting it may be.

3. Update your skills and knowledge constantly. The world today moves at a fast pace and one needs to keep up with technical innovations as well as global business trends. Make all efforts to be ahead of developments in your field of work.

4. Be efficient in your work and have facts and figures at the tips of your fingers. Always prepare for meetings well be a visionary and make suggestions that can be backed up by action. When you speak it must be “pearls of wisdom.”

5. Practice the art of listening. Analyze what others know and can tell you. Absorb knowledge like a sponge. Never restrict yourself to only your department. It pays to know other functions of the organization.

6. Be a leader in all aspects. Be the first to accept extra responsibilities, to take over someone else’s load when they have problems, lend a hand when a team is working to achieve a deadline. Make valuable suggestions. Let people know they can depend on you for just about anything.

7. Respect and obey the rules of the office. Be disciplined and spread the culture to all others.

8. Always be in control, never appear to be stressed. Keep personal life and work separate—never form a relationship with a colleague or boss. Dress well everyday and stand tall.

9. Be methodical and organized in your work. Use filing methods that anyone can use—if you are away anyone in your department should be able to locate the papers. Keep your work area neat, computer files uncluttered. Device a workable backup schedule such that under no circumstance is your work lost. Disaster management measures must be in place.
10. Be poised, stylish, and approachable. Look good and smell good—excellent personal habits are always appreciated. Carry breath mints in your pocket along with a fresh hanky. Keep a laundered shirt on hand for emergencies. 

It takes more than talent to impress a boss. Be ahead in the race for success.

10 Hot Tips On How To Cope With The Prospect Of Redundancy.

It used to be the case that people could get a job and expect to stay there for as long as they wished. That is no longer the case and we should realistically anticipate 3 or 4 job changes in our working lives.

When we are faced with redundancy, we often feel as though we are out of control. Something is happening to us that we don’t want and we feel hurt, sad, anxious and resistant to that change.No matter what our thoughts about it are, we have to deal with it.

I often speak to people who are faced with this issue .What makes it much worse is when people feel that they have given their work  and I quote “their all” ,”the best years of their lives”. There are those amongst us who focus too much on work related aspects and neglect personal areas of their life .In these situations, the void that redundancy creates will be so much greater.

Tips 

1.Ensure that there is balance between your work and personal life.

2.It can be useful even when you are employed to periodically check out what other employment is available. Send off for job specifications as this may indicate to you what prospective employees are looking for. You will also become clearer about how marketable you are.

3.Have some contingency plan.

4.After the shock has worn off, try to look at your situation as an opportunity for positive change rather than as a problem.

5.Take control by taking action, rather than ruminating and worrying which tends to exacerbate situations.

6.Do some brainstorming exercises to generate ideas about what else you may be able to do.

7.Explore whether your skills and experience to date are transferable to other areas.

8.If you can afford to, it can sometimes be helpful to go away for a few days where you are removed from the situation and may be able to see things more clearly.

9.Sometimes sharing your concerns with others is useful as they may have had similar experiences and will be able to empathise with you and perhaps share ideas about how to manage this change.

10.Optimise your ability to cope with this change by paying attention to your general health .Ensure you eat properly, take regular exercise and have adequate sleep.

6 to 20% employers look up your social networking page

Enjoying the anonymity of the internet in social networking? Are you revealing a bit more in Orkut, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, or BlogSpot? Extreme political opinions, photos, college pranks, weekend preferences and more?

An increasingly popular trend, graduates stepping out of universities and looking ahead for their first interviews are closing their social networking pages. Reason: Big brother is watching. Job hunters are increasingly conscious of anything they put into the online sphere-even e-mail, which, of course, can be forwarded to anyone.

These are not entirely paranoia. There is anecdotal evidence and some HR reports talk about corporate recruiters are Googling potential employees, having interns log onto social networking sites to check out an applicant’s profile, and using the online world as another way to check references. This trend, combined with the growing population of sites like Orkut, Facebook and MySpace, has many young people uneasy and unsure about how to navigate a new world.

B-school administrators and professors are beginning to advise students on maintaining a professional presence on social networking sites, in e-mail, on personal Web sites, and blogs. Even if it’s password protected, recruiters have profiles, too, and can get into your groups.

In a survey by AfterCollege.com a little more than 70% of the 60 students say they continue to post the same things they always did, even though potential employers might be taking a look. About 20% of the 90 employers who have so far responded to the same survey, say they investigate new hires by visiting social networking sites. A considerable 6% of employers say they’ve decided not to hire someone based on what they saw online, but another 26% responded to that same question with no comment.

Part Time Jobs: Extra Dough

Some teenagers would like to be able to get a job and earn money.  Since these individuals are still in school, the next best thing to getting a real job is getting one that is part time.

When applying for a part time job, here are some tips one must remember when going up to a potential employer;

• One must prepare a resume when applying for part time work. Even if the person does not have experience, it will show the employer that a little effort was made on the part of the applicant in producing something on paper. The resume may contain highlights or strengths about the applicant which could make the applicant stand out over other people that have applied for the same position and in the end get that job.

• When meeting an employer, being dressed appropriately is important. It shows the sincerity one has in applying for the job. One must be that finger-nails and hair are well groomed for the interview. The outfit worn could be business casual. A polo and khaki pants will be ideal for men and a polo and skirt for the women will do well for the interview. This would mean that moderate shoes must be used to match the outfit. If one wears a lot of earrings, it is advisable to remove some to present the person better.  

• Getting a job is not easy and there will be a lot of times that the employer will say “no.” This is nothing personal but some employers will prefer someone who has some experience. Even if one is rejected, the person must not give up in getting that part time and move on to the next potential employer. 

• When one is already in front of the employer, a firm handshake is always a good start. Walking in and showing ones sincerity in getting the job is another. There is only so much one say in interview so it is best to practice in selling to the person the strengths one possesses in order to get that job.

• In the course of going from one employer to another, the employer will not give the answer at once if the person is hired or not. Other applicants will still be interviewed before making that decision. By keeping a list of the places where one went for interview, one will be able to call and follow up the status of the application.

Part time jobs are available in various places. One might find one while walking in the neighborhood, checking the school bulletin board or local paper and even the web for job postings.

Helping your consumers to gain more profits

Consumers are individuals or households that consume goods and services generated within the economy. Since this includes just about everyone, the term is a political term as much as an economic term when it is used in everyday speech. 

Typically when business people and economists talk of consumers they are talking about person as consumer, an aggregated commodity item with little individuality other than that expressed in the buy not buy decision. 

However there is a trend in marketing to individualize the concept. Instead of generating broad demographic profile and psychographic profiles of market segments, marketers are engaging in personalized marketing, permission marketing, and mass customization.

A consumer is assumed to have a budget which can be spent on a range of goods and services available on the market. Under the assumption of rationality, the budget allocation is chosen according to the preference of the consumer, i.e. to maximize his or her utility function. 

In 'time series' models of consumer behavior, the consumer may also invest a proportion of their budget in order to gain a greater budget in future periods. This investment choice may include either fixed rate interest or risk-bearing securities.

In the context of mental health, consumer is also a term applied to describe a person living with mental illness. Literally, it is not really what is states. They are the people seeking for help in their own profile of their mentality. You can let them gain their life back on track and achieve your goal at the same time.

Problems may also arise when dealing with your possible prospects.

Many patients are frustrated because, despite their best intentions, they seem unable to adhere to an exercise or "diet" program. Actually, there are several proven strategies that can be used to help us be successful in our efforts to improve an aspect of our lifestyle.

First, make a plan and make sure it fits their lifestyle. For example, if you're planning on beginning an exercise program, think ahead about how you're going to carve out the time in their already busy life. In this respect, anything you can do to make the exercise program a regular, daily part of your routine will be helpful.

It's often a good idea to ask those around you to help you in your endeavors. Anything you can do to help assure the support of your family, friends and co-workers will increase the odds of success. 

Remember that most of the changes you make, whether changing what you prefer to eat, or changing your schedule to include exercise, will affect those around you. One of the best examples of this is the difficulty that smokers have trying to quit when those around them are smoking.

If you strictly adhere to a "proven" program that has succeeded for others, however, and fail to produce the results you want, you may become discouraged or filled with self-doubt. There are many reasons to explain why self-help techniques fail, and many steps to take to feel good about yourself regardless of the result. Like every other field, the "experts" in self-help disagree on just about everything. 

Always remember this: no matter how smart or "successful" someone is, how much "proof" you're given, how much you trust or respect someone, or how logical something seems, it's just an opinion, just what worked for someone else, just a possible pathway to success. 

Setting Clear Objectives

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.

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.  What’s 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.

Most Wanted Job Skills

Wanted: Job Skills on the Loose

In today’s competitive life, employers are more inclined to find people who can contribute to the growth of the company and not just boost its productivity.

Hence, most employers tend to look for people who are endowed with the most desirable job skills in order to match the expectations and necessities of the company.

Therefore, for people who wish to make it to the jobs that they have long been dreaming of, it is important to know the most sought after job skills of most employers.

Here’s a list of the important job skills a job seeker must have in order to land a good job and keep it.

1. The ability to research

Job seekers should possess the ability to research not because they wanted to land a job in a research company but in order to do simple searches on the data needed by a particular activity.

2. Logical thinking

Most employers need people who are able to produce effective solutions and to make sensible solutions regarding a proposal or a probable activity.

3. Technologically literate

With the advent of information technology, most job openings require people who are computer literate or know how to operate different machines and office equipments.

Most employers do not necessarily need people who are technological graduates. The simple fact that job seekers know the basic principles of technology is already enough.

4. Communication skills

People who are able to land a good job are mostly those who are adept in speaking and writing. Employers hire people who are able to express their thoughts efficiently through verbal and written communications.

5. Organizational skills

No employer would like to hire somebody who is disorganized. Organization is extremely important to maintain a harmonious working relationship in the company. Hence, most employers find people who know how to arrange scheme and methods that would maintain the orderliness in the area.

Career Hunter: Challenges

Career Hunter: Challenges:      As most entrepreneurs would expect a great challenge one must learn to overcome and become good at is adapting to the new responsibilit...

Challenges

     As most entrepreneurs would expect a great challenge one must learn to overcome and become good at is adapting to the new responsibilities and exercising great discipline.  Being your own boss is not for everyone though and most will fail but the few that do achieve success and maintain it have the traits and skills necessary to prevail.  Of all the required disciplines and responsibilities that one will undertake in my experience the following are in my opinion key to success and were some of my greatest challenges as well.

     Managing finances is an area certain to be dominated by great changes when one chooses to become self employed and tends to be the hardest challenge for most.  Going from a weekly or biweekly paycheck of the same amount or similar on an ongoing basis that one can depend on each payday then suddenly having no idea when your next paycheck will come in disrupts the scheduling of payments you once made and leaves uncertainty that can lead to overwhelming stress and that alone can be enough to break a newbie entrepreneur.  I have found that the difficulty at least in my case was being able to save the small amounts of cash that I was earning instead of considering it my pocket money and relying on the larger checks to cover all major expenses.  This was a bad idea because one delay in a larger project and my budget was blown with no way to cover due bills however had I saved all that pocket change I had been blowing I would have had enough to cover that due bill until that check finally was received.  The second challenge I faced in this realm was counting money that I did not already have in hand which led to numerous financial issues every time a project was delayed or deal fell through so as the saying goes "don't count your chickens before they hatch" because they may just end up in someones omelet instead.  

     Another significant challenge you will be faced with is time management which was something you never before had to manage because you simply punched in and out at your scheduled time and if you didn't clock in all of your scheduled hours you could have faced financial and disciplinary consequences which are for the most part enough to keep the average employee on time and prevent them from leaving too early.  Now however you are free to work when and if you want so its solely up to you to be sure you put in a full days work and don't allow yourself too much freedom at least not at the beginning of your venture when your time is most critical to your own success.  On the flip side know when enough is enough and don't burn yourself out burning the candle from both ends because sometimes less is more and working while fatigued can lead to issues in performance and accuracy that a fresh entrepreneur cannot afford.

     The final challenge is maintaining a desire to learn and grow which will keep your business growing with you.  Some leaders may have a tendency to become somewhat cocky in their new position as the boss and forget the amount of learning and many mistakes they made along the way before obtaining this new position of power and it can show in their attitude and actions.  Always be humble, respect those who work to make your dream a reality and you truly don't know it all so never stop learning and growing as an individual and your company will follow suit.