All of us know one or two people who aren’t particularly good at what they do, and yet they always seem to be the ones who get ahead in life. They advance, while everyone else has to sit and watch.
It wouldn’t be so infuriating if they were the most deserving - the most intelligent, the most skilled, or the most hard-working. But it never seems to work out that way.
The simple fact of the matter is that it takes two types of skills to get ahead in the world today: the ability to do a good job and - what is becoming increasingly important - the ability to land a good opportunity in the first place. Unfortunately for most of us, our teachers only taught us how to perform well; they didn’t spend a whole lot of time showing us how to stake our claims - how to make sure we get the credit, rewards, and opportunities we deserve. That was supposed to be automatic.
Well, it’s not!
It’s a jungle everywhere! Throughout your life, you can expect that you will be out there too - over and over again - fighting for your place in the world. It’s not enough to be another good also-ran; successful candidates know they must stand out in a crowded field. They must get noticed before they can ever hope to get offers.
That’s why letters of recommendation are more important now in the job search process than ever before - often more important than your resume. If you’ve ever been involved in hiring, then you know it doesn’t take long before all those resumes start sounding alike. Resume after resume - the whole pile starts to become a blur.
Letters of recommendation are different. Hard-hitting, objective opinions from real-life professionals that have actually worked with you can communicate more about what you offer than you could ever get across in a resume… that is, if you can get the right letter.
PROBLEM: Getting good recommendation letters isn’t easy - even when you deserve them!
People are often reluctant to write letters of recommendation - even when you are more than deserving. Why? Well, a typical excuse is that they are too busy. After all, doing a letter of recommendation can take some time - especially if you don’t do them often.
Even so, often lack of time is just an excuse; it isn’t the real reason why most people don’t like writing recommendation letters. A more common - and more embarrassing - reason managers are reluctant to write reference letters is that they don’t think they can do a good job. In fact, they fear that a letter they write will be so bad that it will make them look unprofessional, and you and the person receiving your letter will lose respect for them and the organizations they represent.
Of course, they won’t tell you that; you just won’t ever get your letter.
Clearly, though, some people have figured this out. They are able to secure the kinds of letters that opportunities the rest can only dream of.
How do they do it?
- Are they just better than everyone else?
- Do they work harder?
- Are they smarter or better educated?
In the vast majority of cases, the answers to these questions are no, no, and no!
They’re not better or smarter; they just know the secret.
Their approach is as simple as it is effective: They write their letters of recommendation themselves!
You’ve probably seen glowing letters of recommendation that…
- get people to stand up and take notice
- impress recruiters and colleagues
- provide the most effective competitive edge available in the war for fast-track opportunities!
Am I saying that these letters are essentially just advertising - as biased as anything else - written by the candidates themselves?
Yes! That’s exactly what I am saying, and for a very good reason… it’s absolutely true! It’s the dirty little secret that all the most successful candidates already know.
Now think about this: How can you possibly compete without doing the same thing yourself?
The answer is: you can’t!
If you are serious about landing the kind of opportunities you really deserve in today’s competitive environment, then you have no option… you must take the initiative. It takes real nerve to write your own letter of recommendation for someone else to sign, but it’s the way the real movers and shakers make things happen.
Tags: Ahead, Blur, Fact Of The Matter, Good Job, Job Search, Jungle, Knock Out, Letter Recommendation, Letters Of Recommendation, Recommendation Letters, Resume, Resumes, Rewards, Search Process, Simple Fact, Whole Lot, World Today, Write Letters
Just because you are a teen doesn’t mean you can’t find a good job to either help you through schooling or to get a few extra bucks for your various hobbies and needs. Here are a few tips on bagging a great teen job
Labor Laws
You, of course, have to follow the law. And there are various laws that govern teen employment across different states. Teens that are hired to do non-farm work will at least have to be fourteen years of age to be allowed to work. Here are a few other restrictions. You will have to do a little research in the state you are at to come up to date with the latest laws and regulations.
Teens that are aged 14 to 15 are only allowed to work three hours per day, and eighteen hours a wee. When there are no classes and during summer breaks, this amount may be increased to eight hours per day, 40 hours per week. Also work for teenagers of this age is limited to up to 7 o’clock p.m. within school days and 9 o’clock p.m. during summer breaks.
Employment Documents
In several states, when one has not reached the age of eighteen yet, it is required get working documents which are officially known as Certificate of Employment or Age to be allowed to work legally. Schools are good venues for one to acquire these important papers. The Department of Labor offers such service, too. Browse on the certification list for Age or Employment to know which rules apply to you. Your school’s Guidance Office can be of great help. One’s state office will assist greatly if one is directed to the Department of Labor. Particular states such as New York, for instance, have special web site sections on Youth Jobs, which will produce the information and documents you are required to have.
Fantasy Jobs
Make sure you take a job you can maintain interest in. You might want to consider after-school programs and working with kids. Or you may want to work part time on the beach, recreational facilities, zoos and other areas. The important thing is that you choose a job that you enjoy and can perform in with the best of your capabilities. It is very important that you do your best in your job and pick one you truly enjoy, as your experience with this job could very well dictate your future career.
Job Search
Your high school guidance counselor may be able to assist you with finding a part-time job that is just right for you. Aside from having contacts among local businesses, they may also help you evaluate which jobs you will enjoy and excel at.
It is also a good idea to tell everyone you know that you are looking for work. Don’t underestimate your network of acquaintances. They may very well have other networks of acquaintances that may help you find good jobs.
Tags: Certificate Of Employment, Department Of Labor, Eight Hours, Eighteen Hours, Employment Documents, Fantasy, Fourteen Years, Good Job, Guidance Office, Hobbies, Labor Laws, Laws And Regulations, O Clock, Part Time, Teen Employment, Teen Job, Teen Jobs, Teenagers, Working With Kids, Youth Jobs
In todays 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.
Heres 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.
6. Interpersonal skills
Because the working environment consists of various kinds of personalities, it is necessary, therefore, to acquire the skill to communicate to people form different walks of life.
7. Professional Growth
Employers hire people who are able to create a plan that will generate personal career growth. This means that the person is willing to improve him or herself professionally by learning new things he or she still does not know.
These are just some of the most wanted job skills by most employers. Hence, it is important for the job seekers to take note of these assets in order to be successful in every endeavor they make.
Tags: Area 6, Communication Skills, Desirable Job, Effective Solutions, Good Job, Interpersonal Skills, Job Openings, Job Seeker, Job Seekers, Kinds Of Personalities, Logical Thinking, Necessities, Orderliness, Organizational Skills, Principles Of Technology, Research Job, Sensible Solutions, Simple Fact, Working Environment, Written Communications
Nowadays, jobs falling under the health care category are one of the most in demand jobs. This is because more and more countries fall short with regards to their employees and staff in the health care industry.
In fact, aside from computers and information technology, heath care jobs are the ones that are greatly sought after by both the employers and applicants.
Aside from the increasing demand, health care jobs are also one of the best paying jobs all over the world. For example, in the United States alone, physical therapist assistants get to earn $27,500 to $ 41,780 in a year. It is also expected to grow by 46% in the years to come.
For people who are dreaming to go abroad and land a job in the health care category, here are some tips that that can help:
1. Know your craft
The problem with most people who are looking for health care jobs is that they do not know the fundamental skill needed in this kind of job: care for others.
There are many instances wherein health care jobs do not necessarily require people who have a higher education diploma in health care. So, people who have a caring attitude, can have a lucrative job in the health care industry.
2. Health Information technicians and Medical Records rank six on United States 10 hottest jobs of 2005.
These positions can work well for people who are looking for health care jobs. These positions pay $19,700 to $27,400 annually.
3. Success is in the keywords, For people who are searching for specific health care jobs on the Internet, it is best to narrow down their searches with some more detailed keywords. In this way, heath care job searches will reap better results.
4. Aim for the best positions in the health care industry
For people who wish to land a good job in the health care industry, it would be better to do some homework first. In this way, they can get an overview on which position has the most demands for employees and which job entails higher salaries.
In the United States 10 hottest job of 2005, medical assistants are the top positions in demand in the health care industry today. In fact, surveys show that the demand for medical assistants will continue to grow and will increase by 59% in 2012.
Indeed, the health care industry continues to saturate the market with a continuous growth for the demands of its services. No wonder why most people are into health care jobs!
Tags: Best Paying Jobs, Education Diploma, Fundamental Skill, Good Job, Health Care Category, Health Care Industry, Health Care Job, Health Information Technicians, Health Jobs, Heath Care, Higher Education, Instances, Job Salaries, Job Search, Job Searches, Lucrative Job, Medical Records, Most In Demand Jobs, Physical Therapist Assistants, Specific Health