Mumbai Local Train Map

How to Present Your Resume

One of the most important things you must consider when writing your resume or curriculum vitae is the design and layout.

The first thing to consider is your choice of typeface. You want your resume to stand out, not compete with wedding or funeral announcements. Our advice is that you stick to a simple, clean typeface like Arial, Times Roman, or Helvetica. They are our choice because of their simplicity of design and clarity. Another trap to avoid is combining different typeface styles (like Times Roman and Helvetica). Each of these typefaces offers a variety of light, italic, and bold that can be used to produce an attractive visual effect.

Length

Debate among the “experts” continues as to whether resumes must be limited to a single page. Our take on this reverts to common sense:

• If your work experience is limited, i.e., you are a recent graduate or have only held one or two jobs, there is probably no reason for your resume to exceed a single page.

• If you can reasonably limit your resume to one page, do so.

• If you have held a number of positions and cannot describe your accomplishments and responsibilities on one page, then two pages are certainly acceptable. However, you do not need to provide detailed descriptions of jobs that date back more than eight or ten years, unless they add something significant to your experience and qualifications. Be sure to emphasize your most recent experience.

• Attachments, such as additional pages of publications (for writers, researchers, and academics), are appropriate.

• Exception: Consulting resumes are expected to include all relevant experience, even if they extend to multiple pages.

Layout

When you design your resume, bear in mind that open spaces make it easier to read. Avoid cramming your page(s) with heavy masses of print.

Paper

Standard office stationery is the safe choice of paper on which to print your resume and cover letter, although a quality paper stock may improve the overall effect. Slightly off-white papers is acceptable, but beware of using pastels or darker colors, which look unprofessional.

Print as many originals of your resume as you need on attractive, letter-quality paper. Never send photocopies of your resume to a potential employer. They’re okay for friends or employment agencies, but not the employer with whom you want to win an interview.

Another point is that the resume you mail may be photocopied by a personnel department, and subsequently passed along to other members of their firm. Copies made from copies can lose readability. In an emergency, some professionally maintained office photocopiers may do a good job, but we think it’s better to avoid such emergencies by always having “perfect” copies of your resume on hand.

Accuracy

A final word: Proofread your resume at every step in the process. Get a knowledgeable friend or colleague to help. Mistakes on resumes are embarrassing, unacceptable, and potentially disastrous. No matter how much you may pay to have your resume created, you’re the one who loses if it isn’t right. So be meticulous and don’t settle for less than the very best

Writing A Killer Resume-3 Tips

When deciding to look for a new job and putting together a resume there are a couple things you need to consider, the first thing you need to do is to think about what type of job you want to acquire and use this to write your objective.

Once you have your objective you can build your resume based upon the objective. Your objective will be the “headline” of your resume. Just like a magazine or a news article the first thing that people typically look at before deciding to read the article is the headline. Having a strong objective will entice a hiring manager to read further.

Here are three tips to use on your resume:

1. State your objective clearly

When writing your objective make sure that you use power words and action verbs, words such as increased, managed, developed, and many other action verbs will help your objective stand out from the crowd. As most hiring managers do quick scans of your resume once receiving it these action items will highlight your past accomplishments.

2. Use bullets

When someone quick scans a document, such as your resume, they will be looking for short sentences that stand out. The best way to make sure that your major accomplishments stand out is to use bullets. For each of your past jobs use three to four bullets on some year major accomplishments and use specifics such as grew customer base by 200% in assigned territory.

Using bullets and specifics will catch the eye of the hiring manager and this will be one of the first things a look at after they get past your objective.

3. Use space wisely

If at all possible try to use one page for your resume. Make sure that your resume is easy to read and uncluttered and use a lot of white space. There is no need on your resume to go completely in-depth on all of your past experiences just make sure that you highlight your major accomplishments. When someone sits down to read your resume, since most people have a short attention span, give your information to them in quick bite sized chunks.

The main job of your resume is to catch the attention of the company or the person who is doing the hiring, make sure your resume grabs their attention and they will want to interview you and this is where you should really shine. The resume is like a presale of yourself and your accomplishments make it as easy as possible on the person reading the resume to get to the important parts.

Three Guides To Improve Your Resume

Sometimes your resume can hurt more than help you. In today’s job-search market, you are often competing against large numbers of applicants, and your resume has to be good enough to make it past the first screening.

The first people to view your resume are often lower-level staff looking for a quick way to weed candidates out of consideration. You can minimize the chances of your resume being eliminated during this round by following three simple rules.

LESS IS MORE

Don’t tell too much. A good resume should leave the prospective employer with a whetted appetite, a desire to know more. They will be likely to call and phone-screen you. So don’t fill in all the details just yet. Save that for the interview. Do, however, paint a big picture of who you are and what you can offer.

For example, you may have worked several years at your present employer. Certainly you could fill up several paragraphs with all that you’ve done. Instead, think of the one or two most critical projects, duties or functions that you provide. List the most important and give them no more than a sentence or two each.

Here is an example:

EXPERIENCE: Mar 2003 to Present: XYZ Company, Their City, CA Senior staff design engineer. Products designed/Projects involved: A, B, C. Description of Most Important Project and why Description of 2nd most important project and why

Skip the hobbies and personal info. Avoid mind-numbing detail that will cause a reader’s eyes to glaze over. One page is ideal — two pages only if you are a 15- to 20-year veteran with a significant growth and promotion history.

MORE KEYWORDS

You want the computers to flag your resume for closer examination. Do this by including as many keywords as possible that are relevant to your job and your job skills, as well as specific industry words that may be appropriate. A convenient method to accomplish this is to include a separate “Keywords” section on your resume just below the “Objective”. Think of this as an important catchall specifically for the computers to “see”.

Here is an example from a candidate employed as a medical quality assurance auditor:

KEYWORDS: Quality System, QA, QS, Audit, Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), International Standards (ISO), Corrective and Preventive Action Programs (CAPA), training, QSR, Medical Device, calibration, 510K, TQM, PMA, FDA.

Also, include the names of major companies you worked with or for, as this often is important to employers. Include those in the “Experience” section.

BE SPECIFIC

Don’t just tell them what you did. Move beyond that and tell the benefit of your accomplishment. A good way to do this is to include several specific ways you helped your employer make money or save money. Remember, the only benefit you can bring to the table is past performance. When you interview (either phone or in person) this is what will be discussed.

Think of all your jobs in the past and bring forth examples of some of your best work. How can an employer think of you as a problem solver? If at all possible, try to “monetize” your accomplishments (state them in terms of money). At the interview, you will be prepared to enlarge upon these successes.

SUMMARY

Building an effective resume dosen’t have to be drudgery. Using the above three guidlines will keep your resume lean and to the point standing a greater chance of landing on the “to call” stack and getting you a phone screen.

Positive And Faster Employment With The Right Letter Tips

Mario R. Churchill wrote a very good article about the value of good cover letters. Here’s what the author says.

There are different available work opportunities that are needed to be filled by people searching for jobs. In fact, there are thousands of job seekers applying for jobs but when it comes to applying, writing cover letters are a part of the job hunting process that every applicant must go through in order to assist employers make a decision in accepting the applicants to become a part of their company.

Cover letters are important for job seekers and also employers as well because it helps assist employers choose from the different applicants applying for a certain position in their company. A cover letter can tell an employer a lot about the applicant overview of what they can do and benefit for their company.

Writing cover letters are not easy but with the right tips, you can be on your way to writing a perfect cover letter. Here are tips in making a perfect cover letter that will get a positive faster employment for job seekers.

Perfect Cover Letter Tips:

1. The applicant should write individual letter application for different positions applicable to the applicant choices and the job applied for.

2. You should not think of yourself like other applicants but think of yourself as a special applicant qualified for the job position.

3. Write your cover letter addressed to a specific person or employer in a direct manner.

4. Cover letters should be brief, positive and well-written that explains the kind of person you are and the reason for writing a cover letter. You can also include experiences that can benefit in the company you are applying for.

5. A cover letter should be brief and easy to skim as employers do not have much time to spend reading a cover letter.

6. Make no repetition on your cover letter already included in the resumes attached to the cover letter.

7. Every applicant is advised to make background research on the company and learn the goals or aims of the company before writing the letter.

8. One thing about writing a cover letter is that you or your friends can proofread it so let your letter be proofread by your friends and yourself before submitting it.

9. Attention-grabbing headings are best when impressing an employer and in the end giving impact to the reader that surely will result in an interview or being hired.

10. Minimize using the “I’s” on your cover letter, instead focused on what you can do for the company.

11. Spell check your cover letter and be sure to have it typed and printed in the same paper used also with the resumes. Also, sign your cover letter after its’ been written.

12. Cover letters should have an overview of the abilities and skills of the applicant using the selling method to the employer in order to get the job applied for. Cover letters should be in a formal yet business letter format so that employers will become attentive in reading your letter.

Every applicant should have a cover letter for every job application and with it a resume attached. In fact, employers find it much easier if the cover letters are perfect and impressive but these letters should be in brief details emphasizing what benefits the applicants can do for the company.

The right tips for a perfect cover letter can get every applicant the position desired for. With the tips considered, every applicant will have a better writing ability for a cover letter and most likely be a candidate for a faster employment.

Resume Layouts

A resume is just a basic chronological explanation of your work history, but how its laid out and worded can make a great amount of difference in how much attention you get.

What a resume should look like ?

A great deal of care and much more formatting is necessary to achieve an attractive layout for your paper resume. And, while there is no single appropriate layout that applies to every resume, there are a few basic rules to follow in putting your resume on paper.

• Leave a comfortable margin on the sides, top, and bottom of the page (usually one to one and a half inches).
• Use appropriate spacing between the sections (two to three line spaces are usually adequate).
• Be consistent in the type of headings you use for different sections of your resume. For example, if you capitalize the heading EMPLOYMENT HISTORY, don’t use initial capitals and underlining for a section of equal importance, such as Education.
• Do not use more than one font in your resume. Stay consistent by choosing a font that is fairly standard and easy to read, and don’t change it for different sections. Beware of the tendency to try to make your resume original by choosing fancy type styles; your resume may end up looking unprofessional instead of creative. Unless you are in a very creative and artistic field, you should almost always stick with tried-and-true type styles like Times New Roman and Palatino which are often used in business writing. In the area of resume styles, conservative is usually the best way to go.
• Always try to fit your resume on one or at most two pages. If you are having trouble with this, you may be trying to say too much. Edit out any repetitive or unnecessary information, and shorten descriptions of earlier jobs when possible. Ask a friend you trust for feedback on what seems unnecessary or unimportant. For example, you may have included too many optional sections. Today, with the prevalence of the personal computer as a tool, there is no excuse for a poorly laid out resume. Experiment with variations until you are pleased with the result.

Basically, long story short…

Pay extra attention into designing your resume layout. You wanna make it clear, neat and non-cluttered.

I generally do not believe in those paragrahed description on what your roles and responsibility are. I believe in being clear and concise, straight to the point! I mean, if you are an employer and you have hundreds of resume a day, would you wanna read a story on what your responsibilities are? NO! Keep it simple, use point forms! That’s what bullet points are for my friend

Be clear about your tasks, highlight your achievements. And last but not least, always try to keep it less than 2 pages long..

5 Essential Guides On Posting Resume Online

 

If you are still stuck on the habit of searching job ads on the newspaper then you are certainly missing the great wonder of technology and Internet that makes job search easy, convenient and successful. Through the idea of postings your resume online, you are into great career opportunities that would come to your way. Here are the 5 essential guides on posting resume online.

1. Resume Posting is a service where job seekers post their resumes to an online job search site for employers and recruiters to find. Employers or recruiters usually find you within the resume database, of an online job search site, using key words will put up the chances for most of the applicants to find easily by the employers and finally call for a job interview. However it depends on how you select appropriate keywords for your resume and remember that this service is usually offered free for job seekers.

2. Use a word processing programs such as MS Word that have basic and advanced tools to create and format your resume. You should also create an electronic friendly version of your resume by making a back up data in MS Word based resume to a Notepad. The former application will convert your resume into ASCII text which allows your resume to be read in email format.

In order to ensure that the employers can find you, your resume should contain key words that is strongly related to the position that you are applying for.

3. The primary advantage of posting your resume online is that your resume will be available to a wide array of employers and recruiters in the shortest period of time. Presumably, you will gain access to a large number of job opportunities compared to the access you will have by viewing employment advertisements, company web sites, employment web sites or the newspapers. And it is easy, fast and rather practical.

4. The biggest advantage of online resume posting is also its biggest disadvantage because it makes your resume along with your personal information available to the public. It can result to numerous phone calls from headhunters, agencies, employment consultants or even telemarketers. Its a reminder for everyone to not give too much personal information in their resume online, be careful and wisely before putting any remarks that might become a problem.

5. You should choose your resume bank wisely. Some offers their service for free while others have a monthly free. Aside from the service cost, you should consider the scope of the service that you choose. Some resume bank offers national exposures while others might be run by professional association or network of businesses. Weigh in the pro’s and con’s before finally submitting your resume online to avoid regrets at the end.

Posting resume online through resume banks or job search sites like (monster.com, jobsdb.com and many others) will certainly help you form a wide network in your career search. The key reminders are: prepare a strong resume, search for the best resume bank based on your needs, post your electronic resume and prepare yourself for the great career opportunities that awaits you. Build a confident before and after meeting with an employer and be sure to take all the charges when it comes to present yourself professionally and elegantly.

The end

Interviews

Why Aren’t I Getting Interviews?

Don’t Underestimate The Power Of A Resume

You may have spent hours searching for your dream job and applied for a job in every promising company you came across. In spite of your sincere efforts to find a job, you may not have received an interview call yet. Have you ever stopped to wonder why none of them have ever bothered to call you?

One possibility could be that you did not have the necessary expertise to qualify for the jobs that you applied for. This problem can be solved to some extent by upgrading your skills or enrolling in a course that could make you eligible for the job. On the other hand, it could also be possible that your resume never got noticed. No matter how qualified you are, your resume will not be considered if it is not structured properly. Generally, most companies receive hundreds of resumes on a daily basis. In order to simplify the recruitment process, employers and recruiters generally screen applications on the basis of resumes. All those resumes that are badly written are discarded first – making way for well-written, attention-grabbing resumes.

Is your resume one of the latter? Think hard before answering. And then get your resume evaluated by a professional career coach.

Avoiding Common Resume Mistakes

Most people underestimate the power of a dynamic resume and often overlook their importance during their job search. Your resume speaks volumes about you and can make or break your chance to make that all-important first impression. Avoid writing long and boring resumes, as employers do not have that much time to go through them. Ideally, your resume should be limited to one page. Do not use fancy ink or fancy paper to advertise yourself. Make sure you have what the employer is asking for. If you don’t have the required skills, it doesn’t matter how fancy your resume is. Keep it simple and use normal, legible font.

Resume Content

The content of your resume should be relevant. If you are applying for a job in a law firm, that lemonade stand you ran in the 12th grade has no business on your resume. Think about it – it just makes sense. Outdated information should be strictly avoided when preparing your resume. Make sure that the content is arranged properly and in the right order so that your employers can easily find the details they are interested in. You must have the necessary documents that can support the qualifications and achievements mentioned in your resume. Do not write elaborate explanations to justify why you had to leave your previous job.

Before submitting your resume, ensure that there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Do not forget to attach a crisp cover letter with your resume. A cover letter is as important as a resume and you can’t afford to overlook its significance.

If you’re not getting interviews, you need to stop to think of the possible reasons why. Don’t just keep on doing the same thing that isn’t working. The tips above will help you to correct the problems and finally start landing you some interviews.

3 Job Interview Questions You Must Master

When The Recruiter Asks: “Do You Have Any Questions?”

Usually this question is always reserved for last during an interview, and it’s hardly a fluffy, throw away question. It may just seem like the interview is over and they are asking this question as a courtesy. FORGET ABOUT IT!! This can be the make it or break it interview question. Point is this .. the interview questions never stop until you actually leave the office!

Your answer here will be the last thing they hear from you. You can so easily make it a memorable moment by having a really good question to ask. No self serving questions please, those are killers and reason enough to dismiss your chances. Asking about on going training’ or “‘if hired, I would be very interested in moving to the next level, can you tell me what certifications I would need’ or “‘can you tell me if there is a company policy in place should there be a Pandemic’ “‘ a thinking person asks these type of questions. That’ll be a great impression to leave them with.

If you do proper research on the company first, you’ll come up with great questions to ask them.

When The Recruiter Asks: “What Do You Know About Our Company?”

This is clearly where they get to see if you’ve done your homework. And again, it can make or break your chances for being hired. Remember you got the interview because you were qualified, so here’s your chance to show up prepared, it’ll be your edge over the other guy, remember he’s qualified too.

This is a hiring process, in essence, a competition, go in proactive .. a passive approach to any interview will backfire. Always be assertive, and never ever be aggressive. Qualifications aside, all interview questions / your answers, are in fact deciding your final interview score and you are being scored.

When The Recruiter Asks: “Can You Tell Me About Your Weaknesses?”

Remember, they never really want to hear about a weakness, they do want to hear how well you express yourself and deal with the actual interview question. Your answer always has to end in a solution that can be applied to the job at hand. Here’s a simple and yet great sample I teach all the time. “I used to actually have a problem saying no to people, these days with my time management and setting priorities skill set, I no longer have that problem as my To Do List manages me first, and saying no, is now a non issue”‘. Simple, concise and does in fact mention that you understand time management.

The interview questions and your answers are not hard, they just need prep and solid rehearsing out loud. Out loud because otherwise how will you know how smooth and convincing you are? That in itself will give you that extra confidence you need. Trust me, recruiters can spot confidence and sincerity a mile away. Remember, show them the real you when answering interview questions. Don’t give them template like, cookie cutter answers. Make notes, practice out loud, do more research, ask questions “‘ it all works and will always ensure a high interview score.

30 Things to Do to Improve Your Next Interview

Vanessa Jordan have interviewed candidates at all levels with major corporations and the federal government for over 8 years, and am still struck on a daily basis at how many applicants look great on paper, have all the skills, but can’t make it through an interview.

It is typical that most applicants spend a lot of time preparing their written job application, but don’t put the same time and effort into preparing for the interview. But, a candidate who prepares well and presents well at an interview will always win out over candidates with similar credentials and experience.

To help you ace your next job interview, she’s turned the interview process inside out with a list of 30 ‘must do’s’ that will help you win over interviewers like myself.

1. Do confirm all important details such as time and location the day prior to the interview.
2. Do some background research, or review the research you have already completed. By the time you attend the interview you should be reasonably well acquainted with the organisation and the type of work they do, as well as the details of the position.
3. Do dress accordingly. While it is true that the rules of dress in the workplace have changed in recent years, in most cases you will still be expected to wear a suit and tie (if you are male) to an interview. I once heard it said that you should dress in the workplace according to where you want to be in the hierarchy, not where you currently are. This is even more important in a job interview.
4. Do arrive 15 minutes early. Not arriving early is considered being late.
5. Do give yourself plenty of time to make the journey and park the car, or if travelling by public transport allow for delays or cancellations.
6. Do stay calm, explain and apologise if you are late. The interviewer would rather hear an apology than nothing at all.
7. Do allow for double the time you are told the interview will take. It is not uncommon for interviews to start late and run overtime. While it’s not reasonable for candidates to be late or ramble overtime in an interview, the same rules do not apply for the interviewer. You should therefore ensure your parking meter is taken care of, and do not schedule appointments directly following the interview.
8. Do switch off your mobile. Or better still, leave it behind.
9. Do shake hands confidently. Handshakes have a far deeper significance than most of us would credit. Never underestimate the power of first impressions.
10. Do be yourself. Don’t play roles – you are selling yourself, not something you’re not and can’t deliver.
11. Do smile and be friendly. Try to form rapport with the interviewer. One of the basic rules of human behaviour indicates that someone is viewed more favourably if they are likeable.
12. Do make eye contact. If you are faced with an interview panel (ie two or more people interviewing you), it can be hard to know who to look at when answering the interview questions. As a rule of thumb, focus on the person who asked you the question, however try to address each member at some stage during the interview.
13. Do avoid one-word answers, unless it is obvious that this is all that the interviewer wants to hear. Introduce what you are about to say, and then expand. In my experience, not providing enough information is the biggest mistake made in interviews. If you don’t say it, the interviewer may assume you don’t know it, or can’t do it.
14. Do keep it concise. While it may seem contradictory to the last point, it is important to keep from rambling on. Present all the relevant information while remaining as succinct as possible. Rambling is the second biggest mistake made in an interview. To overcome this, really listen to the question, and answer the question, and answer it concisely. So many applicants get this wrong. They are asked a question, and they go off on a tangent. They might think they are saying what the interviewer wanted to hear, but they didn’t answer the question.
15. Do stay positive. Making negative or derogatory comments about your past employers or colleagues will not make you look any better. In fact it will have the opposite effect!
16. Do agree with the interviewer even if you know they are wrong. An interview is not the place to participate in an argument, and in most cases will fast track your application on the bottom of the pile.
17. Do tell the truth. If you’re caught out lying or embellishing you will ruin all future chances with this employer, and may face disciplinary action for fraud if you are already working for this organisation.
18. Do use the word “I”. Always use “I” when describing the work you have done in the past. Using “we” gives the impression that you may not have done the work independently, or that you weren’t even involved in the first place. Hearing “we” rings alarm bells for interviewers.
19. Do use examples. It is one thing to say you can do something, but it is much better to provide an example of where you have done it.
20. Do ask for clarification if you are unsure about what a question means, or what the interviewer is looking for.
21. Do ask questions about the role early on if it is appropriate. Then fit your responses to what you have learned.
22. Do take a copy of your application and the job specification (if you have one) with you and keep a copy in front of you during the interview. Knowing what the interview question is aimed at will help you frame your responses correctly.
23. Do pause to reflect before answering the question. This will avoid an interview full of “umms” and “ahhs”. If you have been given a glass of water, sit, think, reflect and have a drink before launching into your response.
24. Do reflect the interviewer’s communication style. Allow the interviewer to set the tone of conversation. Mirroring their style can vastly improve your chances of making a favourable impression.
25. Do stick to the topic. Don’t get off track.
26. Do put together a portfolio of your work to present at an interview. It may not always be looked at during an interview, but presenting examples of your work can strengthen your claims for a position, and it also demonstrates your initiative and innovation. Things to put in a portfolio include reports you have written, screen dumps of computer applications you use, certificates, awards, letters of recommendation, performance appraisals and so on. (Be sure that you are not breaching any copyright, security restrictions or intellectual property before including something in your portfolio).
27. DO ASK A QUESTION! If you are asked at the end of the interview if you have any questions, the answer is always YES! More than anything it shows that you have prepared, and interviewers love to see applicants who are well prepared and motivated about the position.
28. Do know exactly what salary you would like to commence at, as it is likely that this will be asked during the interview.
29. Do remain focussed on what the employer wants. Don’t bring up conditions of service during the interview unless someone else brings it up first. The interview is supposed to be about you being suitable for the position, not the other way around. This is something that you can research yourself as most organisations will have their Award, Certified Agreement or equivalent published on the Internet. If it’s really important to you, ask later, once the selection process is over.
30. Do stay professional. Each interviewer is going to be different, and every interview experience is going to be different. Some interviewers will be very straight and to the point, while others will be very informal, laid back, and easy going. A lot of applicants make mistakes in this area, they start to feel too comfortable and think, great, this interviewer is really nice. And then they open up and cross the line. Stay professional!

Success formula

Success is not an accident. Success is not a matter of luck. There is a five step formula that can be followed and, if you have the commitment to follow it you will reap the rewards.

Step 1: Decide What You Want

Make a decision as to what success will be for you. Everyone has a different idea of what success is. If you don’t take the time to define it for yourself then how can you possibly get there?

Your definition doesn’t have to please anyone else; as long as it pleases you then it will be something that you can throw your energy into.

Step 2: Find Out What You Have To Do To Get It

At the time that you set your success goal you may have no idea at all as to what you will need to do in order to arrive there.

Most people realize that they would have to study hard and long to learn how to become a brain surgeon, but they somehow miss the fact that they have to spend time learning how to completely turn their life around and achieve outstanding success.

Fortunately some successful people have taken what they have learned over many years and found ways to help you learn quickly and easily. Studying their teachings can take years off your journey and save you a lot of pain and suffering that you might otherwise experience on your own.

Step 3: Break Down What You Have To Do Into Daily Tasks

Once you have discovered what you need to do then it is important to break that into bite size chunks, that you can accomplish in a day (still leaving time to meet your other responsibilities).

In this way each day becomes a mini-success and that will keep your spirits up.

Step 4: Put Those Tasks In Their Order Of Importance

Each night before you go to bed decide what will be the most important task that you need to accomplish the following day.

Make sure that you organize yourself so that you can complete this task as well as the other things you have to do that day. Successful people know how to make decisions and set priorities. That is the shortcut to success.

Step 5: Complete One Of Those Important Steps Each Day

If you can accomplish one task each day then you will have accomplished 365 tasks in one year. Just imagine how much improvement that could total.

Many people set goals but very few carry out an important, goal focused task each day. It’s not that they can’t do it, they simply don’t do it.

This fifth step is where the power resides. It is the habit of chipping away at your goal each and every day that will bring that goal into reality. If you can’t complete a particular task in a day then that task is too big. Keep the tasks small and achievable and before you know it you will have your success goal.

When you look forward a year it may seem a long way away and that may make you impatient. The interesting thing is that impatient people rarely develop the rhythm of daily action necessary to achieve their goal and so when the year has passed they are no closer than they were when the year began.

Keep taking those little steps, one after the other, and you may just amaze yourself at how much you achieve.

Don’t Be Afraid To Say What You Know

Students of public speaking continually ask, “How can I overcome self-consciousness and the fear that paralyzes me before an audience?”

Did you ever notice in looking from a train window that some horses feed near the track and never even pause to look up at the thundering cars, while just ahead at the next railroad crossing a farmer’s wife will be nervously trying to quiet her scared horse as the train goes by?

How would you cure a horse that is afraid of cars–graze him in a back-woods lot where he would never see steam-engines or automobiles, or drive or pasture him where he would frequently see the machines?

Apply horse-sense to ridding yourself of self-consciousness and fear: face an audience as frequently as you can, and you will soon stop shying. You can never attain freedom from stage-fright by reading a treatise. A book may give you excellent suggestions on how best to conduct yourself in the water, but sooner or later you must get wet, perhaps even strangle and be “half scared to death.” There are a great many “wetless” bathing suits worn at the seashore, but no one ever learns to swim in them. To plunge is the only way.

Practice, practice, PRACTICE, in speaking before an audience will tend to remove all fear of audiences, just as practice in swimming will lead to confidence and facility in the water. You must learn to speak by speaking.

The Apostle Paul tells us that every man must work out his own salvation. All we can do here is to offer you suggestions as to how best to prepare for your plunge. The real plunge no one can take for you. A doctor may prescribe, but you must take the medicine.

Do not be disheartened if at first you suffer from stage-fright. Dan Patch was more susceptible to suffering than a superannuated dray horse would be. It never hurts a fool to appear before an audience, for his capacity is not a capacity for feeling. A blow that would kill a civilized man soon heals on a savage. The higher we go in the scale of
life, the greater is the capacity for suffering.

For one reason or another, some master-speakers never entirely overcome stage-fright, but it will pay you to spare no pains to conquer it. Daniel Webster failed in his first appearance and had to take his seat without finishing his speech because he was nervous. Gladstone was often troubled with self-consciousness in the beginning of an address. Beecher was always perturbed before talking in public.

Blacksmiths sometimes twist a rope tight around the nose of a horse, and by thus inflicting a little pain they distract his attention from the shoeing process. One way to get air out of a glass is to pour in water.

Be Absorbed by Your Subject!

Apply the blacksmith’s homely principle when you are speaking. If you feel deeply about your subject you will be able to think of little else. Concentration is a process of distraction from less important matters. It is too late to think about the cut of your coat when once you are upon the platform, so centre your interest on what you are about to say–fill your mind with your speech-material and, like the infilling water in the glass, it will drive out your unsubstantial fears.

Resume writing

One of the most important things you must consider when writing your resume or curriculum vitae is the design and layout.

The first thing to consider is your choice of typeface. You want your resume to stand out, not compete with wedding or funeral announcements. Our advice is that you stick to a simple, clean typeface like Arial, Times Roman, or Helvetica. They are our choice because of their simplicity of design and clarity. Another trap to avoid is combining different typeface styles (like Times Roman and Helvetica). Each of these typefaces offers a variety of light, italic, and bold that can be used to produce an attractive visual effect.

Length

Debate among the “experts” continues as to whether resumes must be limited to a single page. Our take on this reverts to common sense:

• If your work experience is limited, i.e., you are a recent graduate or have only held one or two jobs, there is probably no reason for your resume to exceed a single page.

• If you can reasonably limit your resume to one page, do so.

• If you have held a number of positions and cannot describe your accomplishments and responsibilities on one page, then two pages are certainly acceptable. However, you do not need to provide detailed descriptions of jobs that date back more than eight or ten years, unless they add something significant to your experience and qualifications. Be sure to emphasize your most recent experience.

• Attachments, such as additional pages of publications (for writers, researchers, and academics), are appropriate.

• Exception: Consulting resumes are expected to include all relevant experience, even if they extend to multiple pages.

Layout

When you design your resume, bear in mind that open spaces make it easier to read. Avoid cramming your page(s) with heavy masses of print.

Paper

Standard office stationery is the safe choice of paper on which to print your resume and cover letter, although a quality paper stock may improve the overall effect. Slightly off-white papers is acceptable, but beware of using pastels or darker colors, which look unprofessional.

Print as many originals of your resume as you need on attractive, letter-quality paper. Never send photocopies of your resume to a potential employer. They’re okay for friends or employment agencies, but not the employer with whom you want to win an interview.

Another point is that the resume you mail may be photocopied by a personnel department, and subsequently passed along to other members of their firm. Copies made from copies can lose readability. In an emergency, some professionally maintained office photocopiers may do a good job, but we think it’s better to avoid such emergencies by always having “perfect” copies of your resume on hand.

Accuracy

A final word: Proofread your resume at every step in the process. Get a knowledgeable friend or colleague to help. Mistakes on resumes are embarrassing, unacceptable, and potentially disastrous. No matter how much you may pay to have your resume created, you’re the one who loses if it isn’t right. So be meticulous and don’t settle for less than the very best