Thursday, September 27, 2007

Telling Good Stories...Are you good at that?

Acing interviews is like being able to spin a great story about yourself to the big boss behind the desk. Making them believe in you and your abilities.

When someone says, "Tell me about yourself," they don't want to hear you rattle off a list of what you've done or what you've accomplished. Telling stories about yourself takes practice. So the length of your story will depened upon the time you have for the interview.

If you have only a few minutes, color your life in a way that the person listening to you will remember what you just said. Practice the answer to this very "STANDARD" yet very very important question numerous times before you go for any interview. Do it aloud and you will see how you sound to yourself.

I have been asked that many times...here is one of my many responses...

..well, I love to create and I have created a website for Indian Cuisine & Culture Made Easy in the United States, which has recipes, cultural tid-bits and a wealth of information on India. Also, since creativity is my passion, I create Elegant personal and corporate Gift Baskets that people love to give or get that are filled with some very yummy goodies.

Mind you I did write the "schpeel" down and altered it many times before it flowed as if it were not practiced. So sit down and write your "schpeel" and practice the story of your working life so far....interview related, and see how much easier your next interview is.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Fun Careers With An Information Technology Degree

Note : This article caught my eye, as everyone wants a fun career, and nowadays this is realy really possible. With the technology boom and the infinite oportunities because of the new Web 2.o there are careers you would not have taken into consideration years ago. Enjoy !

Fun Careers With An Information Technology Degree
by: Andy West
Reprinted with permission : ArticleCity.com

Are you a technology junkie? Do you have all of the newest gizmos and the most modern cell phone? Do you shake with excitement and anticipation every time a new game system is released? Are you the one your friends call when they have problems with their new laptops?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it is time put your love of technology into a fun and rewarding career. Don't you think it's time you received an information technology degree? An information technology degree will give you the opportunity to turn your hobby into an exciting career. Computer programming, network security, and network engineering are just the tip of the IT iceberg. With an associate's degree in information technology, a successful, not to mention fun filled, future is practically guaranteed.

So what are your options? Your career selection is almost limitless. There is an IT job for all individuals who want to have a fun career, as well as earn a substantial living. The career title Webmaster has a nice ring to it. The Internet is hotter than ever. Everyone wants to be online. Whether you own a small business, such as a pet boutique, looking to expand your clientele by advertising your unique wares online, or a huge international non profit association seeking to explain your mission statement in order to solicit more donations from the tech savvy crowd, you need a web site. As a Webmaster, you will always be in demand. This is why an information technology degree will guarantee you a gratifying career. It's really that simple. With an IT degree as an Internet Webmaster, you will be qualified to build, fix, and expand sites on the Web. Graphic designers are artists who use mostly computer technology to design marketing materials, magazine layouts, websites, logos for businesses, and much more.

So, as long as there are magazines, newspapers and web sites, graphic designers will be in demand. In fact, according to some researches, graphic designers are among the five design professionals that are anticipated to have the newest positions available through 2014. Some individuals are employed as graphic designers after receiving their bachelor's degree, but to receive the best paying, more technical jobs, an information technology degree is necessary. By attending a school that offers an IT track, you will receive all of the software certification necessary to become proficient graphic designer. Do you love playing video games? Why not use your imagination and skills to create your own games? With an IT associate's degree you could concentrate on designing your own video games. When you choose this field, your will be offered a well rounded curriculum that teaches the basics of artist design, project management, digital content creation as well as the more advanced courses in 3D modeling and character design. Imagine playing video games as a career. It is definitely possible when you assert yourself and earn your IT degree.

As fun and exciting as all of these fields of information technology are, earning your degree is hard work. You need to be dedicated to the world of IT because there are always going to be other people fighting for the same jobs you will be striving for. However, the IT world is expanding daily, and more and more jobs are becoming available. Be a part of the web and earn your information technology degree today.

About The Author
Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College offers many Information Technology Degree programs. Please visit Virginia College at http://www.vc.edu/site/department.cfm?deptID=2 to select the IT program that is right for you.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Office Romances become more common place

Abridged: Knowledge@Wharton

In a study conducted by the Society of Human Resource professionals and the Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal.com, 40% of employees surveyed said they had had an office romance at some point in their careers -- a finding replicated by three other recent surveys conducted by private companies. One of those studies, by career website Vault.com, also reported that 19% of employees admitted to having office "trysts," with venues ranging from "the boss's office" to "in my car driving to meet a customer."

Funny video - Free Love Freeway - Office Romance



While that last finding might raise some eyebrows -- and prompt you to knock next time you open the supply closet -- the overarching frequency of office romance should not come as a surprise, says Deborah Keary, director of human resources at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). "The workplace is the new neighborhood. People spend an enormous amount of time in the office, and if romance is going to happen, it will happen there," she says.

Demographic trends feed the phenomenon, note Keary and others. With the average age of marriage increasing, young employees are more likely to be single. As women continue to join the workforce and rise through the ranks, they are more likely than ever to be working shoulder to shoulder with men. Employees have become more confident about pursuing office romance and less careful to some degree about concealing it. In fact, 76% of employees surveyed in a joint Lawyers.com/Glamour magazine survey, said workplace relationships were more common than they were 10 years earlier.

At Askmen.com Curt Smith writes
http://www.askmen.com/dating/curtsmith/getiton10.html

Young professionals often spend more time at the office than at home. Consequently, there are a lot of single men and women who don't have the time to meet new people. Naturally, they seek their potential partners within their surrounding environment -- the office. Single people feel that work is a natural place to meet new people. After all, you spend at least 40 hours a week there, with individuals of similar backgrounds and interests. Relationships with co-workers can be especially tempting because hard work doesn't leave much time for socializing.

The 6 Risks of Office Romances, by Karen Card
http://hr.blr.com/whitepapers.aspx?id=75365
Karen writes about the 6 risks of an office romance !
Good article !

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Analyze your career !

Try this webiste to analyze your career.....

Career Change? Do You Have a Job – Or a Career?

You have a job – but do you have a career? Are you happy with where that career track is taking you? Have you considered a career change?

If your answer to one or both questions was 'no' or 'yes, but...' or just 'well...' – welcome to the crowd.

A lot of us get through life with work that is 'good enough.' 'Good enough' work pays the bills. It provides security. It involves spending 40 hours a week or more on activities we don't mind, with people we like well enough. But 'good enough' work can't provide us with the pleasure and satisfaction we seek out of life.

Some of us even stay in jobs we hate. We feel trapped and unhappy but hesitate to try something else because we are afraid of being without income, or we don't think we can do any better, or we simply don't know what our options or even our preferences are. What many people don't realize is that career changes are becoming more and more popular as we are looking for better opportunities in the work place.

Monday, April 02, 2007

TOP 10 things your boss hates about YOU !

This article hits the nail on the head when it lists the top ten reasons your boss would hate you. Do you know what they are?

Yup this one made the front page of DIGG !

Overworked, mistreated and underappreciated? Think you're the only one with a right to complain? Think again. Mira Katbamna reveals 10 things your boss hates about you !

In short they are.... but you HAVE TO READ THE ARTILCE to understand why !

  1. Lateness
  2. Lack of initiative
  3. Too much initiative
  4. Bitching and whining
  5. Disloyalty
  6. Lack of passion. Or interest
  7. Trying to be their best friend
  8. Petty lying
  9. Childishness
  10. Wanting their job