Are You A Barrier To Your Success?

If your Job Search has become stagnant you may be in your own way. I will present 4 signs that you could be in the way of your success.

1. You fail to take responsibility for your own actions.

2. You fail to receive help when it is offered.

3. You have adopted an attitude that you know everything.

4. You conclude that you will fail even before you get started.

From time to time we may all become our own worst enemy.

However, the key to success is to continually evaluate yourself.

You must be honest with yourself when you begin this exercise.

Ask yourself questions like:

Am I am giving my Job Search 100% effort?"

Do I have the necessary skills to find employment?

Am I open to constructive criticism?

Do I need an attitude adjustment?

The answers to the above questions should help you determine if you are a barrier to your success. Leave me a comment and tell me what you think.

Tell Me About Yourself

"Tell me about yourself " is a common interview question that you want to be asked. The way you answer this question will help develop the impression the interviewer will have of you. Let's dissect this question.

Don't respond this way

You don't want to answer this question with one word adjectives. You don't want to reveal your age, marital status, or the number of children you have. Don't give false information.

Make sure

As with all interview questions make sure that you make good eye contact with the interviewer because this helps reveal your honesty.

Respond this way

State your name to the interviewer.

Discuss your qualifications and the positions you have held.

Project confidence and capture the interest of the interviewer.

Don't be shy because you want show that you are the best candidate for hire.

In closing

Review this interview question so that you will know how to respond if asked.

You want to be prepared but you do not want to sound rehearsed.

When Opportunity Knocks

Everyday people leave the workforce because they retire, are fired, quit, or are permanently downsized. This revolving cycle represents tomorrow's job opportunities. Will you be prepared to take advantage of the next job opportunity that comes your way?

When Opportunity Knocks you must be prepared to respond quickly. To ensure that you are ready you will need a well-written resume as I listed in my previous blog titled "Ingredients For A Successful Job Search". You will also need to be prepared to answer and ask interview questions . Asking questions at the interview allows you to investigate in advance to determine if the employer will be a good fit for you. I also recommend that you take time to familiarize yourself with your potential employer's website. Read and retain information that attracts you to the employer.

When Opportunity Knocks you are obligated to make the most of the opportunity. Prepare for your opportunity by making sure that you have proper interview attire. Focus on being neat and clean because you will be judged partially on how you present yourself. Remember like the cliche says you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Lastly, When Opportunity Knocks you have to maintain a positive attitude. Holding on to the memories of past employment nightmares will keep you stagnant. Let those memories and feelings go, so that you can let employers meet the best you!

Ingredients For A Successful Job Search

1. Establish and maintain a positive attitude.

A positive attitude is important during any Job Search.

2. Gain control of you personal life.

You need to plan and organize your life so that finding employment is a priority.

3. Consistent Job Search activity.

Finding employment is NOT a part time job. Map out activities for everyday.

4. Network with the people you know.

Put your contacts to work by letting them know what type of job you are seeking.

5. Create an eye catching well-written resume.

Implement bullet points, keywords, and have your resume proofread.

6. Consistently review interview questions.

You can't wait until you have an interview to practice what you are going to say.

7. Evaluate your skills and gain new skills while you are seeking employment.

Improve your typing skills and your computer knowledge as you seek employment.

8. Seek volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer opportunities allow you to showcase your talents to the public.

9. Write down the information about all of your previous employers.

Gather all the information you will need as you complete job applications.

10. Always wear the proper attire to any Interview/Job Fair.

You always want to make a positive first impression.

Your Credit Can Impact Employment Decisions

If you have been searching for employment for an extended period of time you are not unlike many Americans. There could be numerous reasons why you weren't hired. Your resume and cover letter may successfully highlight your background and qualifications. You may make a great first impression in the interview. However, the red flag that stands out to employers could be your credit. Bad credit can stop you from obtaining employment. Let's breakdown the impact of your credit in hiring decisions.

Screening Tool

Employers use credit reports to confirm identity and to determine whether an applicant is responsible and reliable. Employers also use credit reports in hiring decisions to determine whether an applicant will be able to manage their debts with the salary being offered. Furthermore, many employers limit credit checks to management, executive, or positions that will have access to cash, assets, a company credit card, or confidential information.

Your Privacy

Employers cannot obtain a copy of your credit report without an applicant's written permission. Most job seekers generally give them the needed permission when you complete forms authorizing a complete background check. Information found on a credit report cannot be used to deny the applicant of a job until the applicant has a had chance to review the credit report.

Information found on the Credit Report

Negative information found on the credit report will remain there usually for a period of seven years. Information pertaining to bankruptcies remain on the credit report for a period of ten years. Although there are limitations to using a bankruptcy in an employment decision.

Bottom Line

Strive to maintain good credit. If you have good credit, monitor your report closely to ensure that you are not a victim of identity theft. Remember, the information that shows up on your credit report could impact whether you are offered a position.

You Can Have What You Speak

When you operate in faith you need a vocabulary to support your mindset.
Here are some words to ponder over and some words you can speak into your life.

Abundant
Bless/Blessing/Blessed
Change, Confident, Creative
Determination
Expectation, Excited
Faithful, Fruitful, Fellowship
Grace, Growth
Hopeful
Increase
Joy
Kindness
Love
Mercy
New
Overcome
Purpose
Quality
Respect
Strength
Triumph
Unique
Victorious
Wisdom
Yearn
Zeal

Is Going Back To School An Option For You?

The decision of whether you should go back to school can be tough. The mere thought could spark important questions like:

1. Where do I find the time?

2. How would I pay for school?

3. Would it improve my chances of landing a better job?

4. Am I too old to consider going back to school?

In Part I of this blog series we will review time.

Time is precious because once it is gone you can never get it back. In determining if you will have the necessary time to go back to school I am going to use three components to help analyze your time. Those three components are commitment, time management, and support.

Commitment

Commitment means that you are in union with something or someone. If you are considering going back to school you will have to be committed to school. The commitment you may need could be for several weeks or several years. In fact, that means that you will have to plan everything in your life around school. This may mean that you will miss some parties, vacations, or even some of your sleep time. If this sounds like something you are ready to do then let's look at time management.

Time Management

In addition, to having commitment you will need excellent time management if you want to be successful in going back to school. I am recommending that you start to use a calendar or planner to help you with your time management. This will help you planning your school life and life away from school. Furthermore, you will have to discover which times you study best. Some of us study best when our minds are fresh early in the morning. While some study best when they are burning the midnight oil studying into the late hours of the night. It is key that you to find out what works for you. If you think that you have the necessary commitment and you can effectively manage your time then we will examine your support system.

Support

Finally, you will need support so you can stay committed to school and properly manage your time. Communicate to your family and friends and let them know your intentions and what you will need from them. You may need your family to step up and take on duties you were previously responsible for. Let them know that there sacrifice will enable you to allocate additional time to school. You may want to call on friends to help keep you encouraged when you want to give up and to give you space so you that you can give school your best effort.

Conclusion
In conclusion, careful thought about time will give you insight on whether going back to school is the right option for you.