How to Use a LinkedIn Job Search

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Even before Facebook became as popular as it now is, LinkedIn was considered to be one of the first online networking websites for career professionals. This has always been a good service for keeping track of the people you have gone to school with or worked with, but it can also be used as a great way to help you to find a job. The LinkedIn job search is becoming more and more popular with people in all industries.

How Does It Work?

If you are interested in doing a LinkedIn job search, then the first thing that you need to do is set up your own account. In many ways, this works as an online resume, so make sure that all of the details are correct and are written in a format that will attract the right employers. Once you have established your account, then it is time to start building your network.

How Can You Build Your Network?

The first thing that you need to do is start searching for current and former colleagues and people you have gone to school with. Unlike Facebook, there isn't much benefit in building a huge network of people who you don't really know. You will be better served by developing relationships online through LinkedIn with real people that you really do know. They, in turn, will give you access to their network.

How Can You Find a Job?

There are a couple of ways that the LinkedIn job search can help you to find your next job. You must, of course, make it clear that you are open to offers on your page, and that can pose a problem if you are currently employed. So be sure that you do this knowing that your current employer may find out that you are looking around.

Another thing that you can do to make your LinkedIn job search go better is to send private messages to those people within your network, letting them know that you are looking. They may forward those messages on to other people in their network to help you out.

What About the LinkedIn Jobs Directory?

Once you have signed up with LinkedIn, you will see that they have a variety of tools that can help you to get the job you want. In addition to a jobs directory, there are actually online recruiters affiliated with the site that can help direct you toward employers who are hiring. Many people are finding that this combination of recruiting, networking, and applying online for jobs is the best way to find a job in today's economy.

If there is one word of caution, it would be that you should make sure that the email address that you have associated with all of your career searches is different than one that you use for personal correspondence. You should use a different email address for any LinkedIn job search that you do online. This will help you to keep better track of your career network and your online applications, but it will also help prevent potential employers from trying to find out personal information about you when you apply for a job.

Jenna Pearson is a personal branding expert and a contributing writer to Career Rocketeer, specializing on the subject of LinkedIn job search. Save time and money by getting FREE in-depth information on personal branding, as well as insightful tips and tricks on turbo-boosting your career, at this website: http://www.careerrocketeer.com/

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Don't Forget the Influence of the Influencers

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You have been called into a company for an interview, perhaps even more than one. You have met with your prospective boss and the two of you have definitely connected and you are sure that he likes you. Perhaps at this point you believe you have a good chance to receive the position. This is enhanced when you are called in for an additional interview. This one will be with some of the prospective peers with whom you would be working. Although not all job seekers may realize it, this round of interviews may be the most important one in the cycle of interviews for a particular position. At this point of the process it is critical that the job searcher is able to "influence the influencers" in terms that they are the right person for the open position.

No person works at any company in a vacuum. The function that your unit performs likely interacts with several functions in the organization. For example if it is a marketing position, it may very well interact with the sales team, the information technology team and the accounting team. Each of these areas (or their leads), has expectations on how that new person coming into the marketing position needs to support their function in order to be able to make the contributions needed to allow their function to run successfully. If they are not convinced that you as the potential hire are able to do that, their input to the hiring manager, (your prospective boss), may have a great deal to say as to whether you get the position you seek or not.

So, just how do you "influence the influencers?" It goes back to a fundamental understanding of just what the interview process is. First and foremost it is a business meeting where two sides are exchanging information. Yes, you may be the new person in the equation. And, as part of that equation you are expecting to get asked a good number of questions so that you can best state how you can support the function that is now looking to be filled. However, in any good business meeting where information is exchanged, "both parties are asking questions"? What are the expectations that the sales team has for example of the marketing area in supporting their function? How is it best for the two groups to communicate and exchange information? What is the timing of the support needed? Are there particularly critical clients that need extra service and support? These and other questions like them should be clearly expressed in such an interview exchange.

As the person coming in being interviewed for the position, you may be new to the ways of the company to which you are speaking. However, you likely have experiences on how you did such interactions in previous companies. Additionally, given an opportunity to understand the issues that your prospective peers face, while you may not have an immediate answer you can always offer to follow-up once you have had a couple of days to think about things and offer a solution or approach. Of course, if you do indicate you will follow-up, indeed do so. Even if all issues appear to be answered during your conversation with a perspective peer, in your follow-up letter with them not only thank them for their time during the interview, but express your anticipated excitement of working with them and moving not only your respective functions but the company forward to meet its goals.

So, much of this round of interviews with peers is about "fit". They're already in place in terms of their position. You are the new person anticipated to join the group. While all people have different styles of working, if your style is drastically different than what is in place as part of the culture of the company, your chances that the rest of these peers will be comfortable with you filling the role you are seeking will drastically be compromised.

As a final word of caution, remember anyone you meet at the company with which you interview is a potential influencer. The receptionist who meets you as you come into the area, your prospective boss' administrative assistant, staff members, other executives outside of your prospective boss' area, even former employers of yourself. It is essential that you not only make the best of impressions on them throughout the interview process but to anticipate the need to reach out to them afterward and thank them for their assistance in making your way through the process.

Yes, it is a major key to make a favorable impression on your new boss to be. However, to overlook the influence of those around them in the hiring process is a mistake that can have you scratching your head for a long time to come as to why you didn't get that job that you thought was all yours.

Tony Calabrese of Absolute Transitions provides suggestions, approaches and information on how you can find a new job, move up to a new position, or change your career. To get his free report, "Overcoming Obstacles to Change Your Life" visit http://absolutetransitions.com/

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Is There A National Exam You Need To Pass To Become A Practicing Occupational Therapist?

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Before you can be an occupational therapist there are certain steps that you need to follow in order to comply all prerequisites. This type of career is becoming popular not only because of the fact that it pays high but also because of the assurance that once you become a certified occupational therapist you will never be jobless or be underpaid.

If you want an exciting career, you should become a therapist. What more are you looking for in a job when this type of work pays well? and it has the assurance of giving you a full time job? The work opportunity of a therapist is great not only in the healthcare sector but also in a wide range of setting like working in schools or charity organizations etc. However, this job would also require determination, patience and passion to help other people. Aside from that you must be willing to study hard while you are still in college. Finding a legitimate school for occupational therapy is easy with the advent of technology. All you need is a stable internet connection and a mobile device that you can use to search for a legitimate school.

Nowadays, going to school is not that hard anymore. You can either obtain your diploma in a conventional way or you can enroll online. Yes, you can now enroll in an online program in order to become an occupational therapist. Once you decide to obtain your diploma online, you have to be sure that you are enrolling in an accredited program.

One of the prerequisites of becoming a therapist is completing a degree and this would mean spending a semester or two in school studying health science like anatomy as well as physiology. Be prepared to face the challenges of science as you will also be required to take advance subjects of this matter. Aside from that you also need to pass the GRE, which isn't easy. That is why once you've decided to be an occupational therapist you must be willing to invest your time in your studies and do your best to pass all exams, both written and hands-on, to ensure that you will be able to learn something so that you can graduate. After completing your degree you will then need to take a national exam in order to get your certificate as an occupational therapist. Being an occupational therapist requires hard work but it is one of the most satisfying jobs in the world.

If it turns out becoming a occupational therapists assistant does sound like a line of business you could be interested in you can explore a occupational therapy school straight away via hitting the highlighted hyperlink to our 100% free occupational therapy school guide.

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Going Freelance: The Ultimate Road to Creative Independence

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As time progresses ahead into the future, the pace of life is becoming faster every single day. The energy spent to survive in this world is growing higher, and it is becoming difficult to survive. The economy has taken a nose dive in the last few years which has changed the trends of business into a more conservative direction. The corporations demand more out of their employees to keep up with the demands of the business. This is a problematic situation because the human capacity has a limit, and going beyond the breaking point is harmful for health. Doing more amount of work for the same amount of money is inequitable, however many people tend to given in to the demands of their employers. They prefer to stick to the benefits that they get with the job profile which is the greatest allure to a full time job. The businesses also have certain need that puts the creativity of the employee into a small box. The limits installed by the employers can be suffocating at times which is why many people are considering Going freelance to make a living. This is an option that many people tend to avoid because the benefits that they enjoy excluding their normal wages will be absent from this path.

Going freelance is not a bad option when people consider the facts that they can choose the type of work they get, and they can ask for more amount of money for specialized jobs. This is an amazing opportunity for those people who want to go into deeper specialization in their line of work. This allows them to achieve a whole new level of skill in their line of work, and make more money per hour compared to their day job.

They choose the time frame of work for maximum flexibility in their work performance. Being a single parent is hard, and a regular day job will never allow them to take care of all the needs of their child. Many single parents prefer this option because it allows them to give more time to their children at the same time. Picking up their child from school, and visiting them at their football game becomes much easier with this line of work. Those professionals who have change their way of thinking and work habits in their life; do not have any regrets. It is all about how well they can manage work, and their personal life at the same time.

For more information regarding Going Freelance, Please visit 123Contracing.co.uk

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Writing Is Fundamental

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AppId is over the quota

Everyone has a basic need to communicate. We can't survive unless we're able to communicate with others, whether that's in a social context or a professional one. Of course, some people are better communicators than others. We all have different skill sets and strengths and weaknesses that differentiate us from everyone else. We've often heard about people who have a fear of public speaking, and they take courses to alleviate their fears and improve their skills. One are that I don't think gets enough attention, though, is our ability to write well.

With the rise of text messaging, chats and email, it seems to me that writing skills have been pushed lower and lower on the scale of things that people care about in terms of workplace abilities. And I'm not just being a crotchety old fart when I say this, either. Last year, I placed an ad for a receptionist for our company. Our receptionist is an important part of the organization - they are often the first person clients talk too, they're certainly the first one they see when they come into our office, and our receptionist needs to be able to act in a professional manner - which includes their writing skills. Having mentioned this in the job ad, this is the verbatim reply I received from one applicant:

i wud like 2 apply for the recptionist job. i'm sending u my resume, i rly want 2 work 4 u

Ok, I admit that this is an extreme example (a teenager looking for their first job, perhaps?). Having said that, I know we've all witnessed cases of poor spelling or grammar in professional correspondence we've received. With the tools that we have today - spell check and grammar check embedded in our word processing programs being chief among them - there's simply no excuse for mistaking "your" and "you're" or using "there" instead of "their".

Very few things reflect so poorly on us as professionals as when we can't write well. And yet, not many of us who could use help take the initiative to get it. There are classes we can take, both online and in person, that will develop our writing skills. Being able to write well is a key talent for people who wish to hold senior-level positions within an organization. If you feel this is something that would help you, I encourage you to look into this write away (yes, pun intended!).

About The Author

Danny Carrao is the Managing Director of Prolumina. He invites you to see how Prolumina can help you prepare for trial and succeed in the courtroom by visiting http://www.prolumina.net/ for all of your jury strategy, trial technology, trial graphics, and litigation support services needs.

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3 Books to Help Finance Your Projects After Film Courses

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You are determined to become a filmmaker. You've already taken your first step: applying to film schools. In Canada and abroad, there are many choices. Your life feels ripe with possibility. But you have one fear that haunts you. You wonder if you will really have what it takes after graduation from film courses to make your dreams come true. You have plenty of ideas for movies, that's for sure. But that doesn't mean that you know how to finance one. Here are three book ideas to calm these kinds of fears, common amongst new applicants to film schools.

1. 43 Ways to Finance Your Feature Film by John W. Cones 

In this book, entertainment lawyer John Cones shares his insider knowledge gleaned from almost two decades helping independent filmmakers navigate the multifaceted world of movie financing. Although the author is based in Los Angeles - where else? - the book includes a discussion of financing from countries other than the United States, and is, therefore, appropriate for new applicants to filmmaking schools around the world.

This book may turn up on the curriculum of your film courses, but there's no harm in beginning your research early. Reading on your own increases the likelihood that when you do finally graduate that you will have a firm grounding in such topics as: 

industry financing (What is this? It is basically funding by your peers, i.e., other, more established graduates of film schools)investor financinglender financing

2. The Fundraising Houseparty: How to Get Charitable Donations From Individuals in a Houseparty Setting by Morrie Warshawski 

Although this book could be of use to any kind of fundraiser, it is written with filmmakers in mind. The author explains how graduates of filmmaking schools can organize a compelling event, touching on such details as: 

planning committeesinvitationsfood and drinkpresentationsthank yous

Warshawski emphasizes the importance of graduates of film courses appealing to the emotions of their potential donors, something to which their craft, fortunately, is uniquely well suited. What is the role of film schools if not to teach students how to appeal to the emotions of their audience? 

3. Shaking the Money Tree, 3rd Edition: The Art of Getting Grants and Donations for Film and Video, also by Morrie Warshawski 

In this book, Warshawski tackles that topic of supreme interest to staff and students of film schools: how to write a winning grant application. This kind of knowledge can even help students in film schools finance their productions for film courses.

If you are anxiously awaiting a wave of fateful letters from film production schools around the world, calm your nerves by advancing your studies on your own. Who knows, it may help you finance one of your film school's productions once you finally do get that longed for acceptance letter!

Visit Trebas Institute for more information on Film Production programs.

Percey Evans is a freelance writer who works for Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.

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On Being A Woman In The Technical Workplace

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Do you worry that you have to give up your femininity in order to fit into the technical working world and be respected? Should you be one of the guys? If you do, will you get or lose respect? Or should you be the lady of the group, all feminine and motherly? My opinion is, you can be both feminine and assertive in your role without losing yourself.

Many articles have been written about the dilemma of women in the workplace. Most conclude that women who are too aggressive and masculine might be successful to a certain degree, but ultimately be looked down on for being too masculine. These articles contend that women who are too aggressive and assertive might be given the "B" word label. On the flip side, they have also written about women who choose to be the mommy type, all feminine and motherly, remembering everyone's birthday and bringing cookies to the office. Neither of these types are given high ratings as they both conjure up negative stereotypes that don't fit well in a technical environment. You can avoid both types by just being yourself and using a common sense approach in the workplace.

Everyone, not just women should be assertive in the workplace. That does not equate to being aggressive. I am not sure if there is ever a time when aggression is needed in the workplace. Assertiveness is knowing what you want, knowing what to do, knowing how to do it, or finding how. Be aggressive with yourself in going after your goal. Know where you are, know how you rank, and how you are viewed in the company. Have some specific goals, and reach for them with aggression. You don't need to exhibit aggression towards others, just towards your goals. Be careful not to get to caught up in the media frenzy of the female being paid less, viewed less favorably when we have kids and promoted less frequently. These are all issues that you need to be aware of, but don't go into the workplace fighting an enemy that is preconceived and could possibly be non-existent for you. Take your time, understand your environment and players, and decide how to behave and build alliances accordingly. If over time, you need to tackle a personnel issue around being female, do so with continued grace and try to maintain a positive attitude.

How about acting like one of the guys. How do the guys act? Cursing? Swearing? I don't think anyone, male or female need to resort to these behaviors in the workplace. Your knowledge of the subject matter being discussed and your contribution to solving problems should be your biggest voice, not how loud or often you can curse or swear. I think some amount of fitting with the guys can be beneficial. You can learn about and discuss football, basketball, some small amount of politics (be careful here!). This point is not about losing yourself as a woman, but about being social and likeable, and someone others want to be around.

How about being feminine, do you need to lose your feminine side? No, I don't think so. If you are someone who like to tell people happy birthday, I think that is good and fine. However, I don't think you should go as far as taking cookies for the office or walking around with goody bags. These are two extreme examples, but the point I am making is you don't need to be the office mom. You can be a kind person, who cares about others. Yes, I think you can have conversation about your kids, and ask about others' kids, these are some of the things that makes being in a place for 12 hours per day bearable, and a bit fun. Another thing, don't be the office gossip, no one should come to you to get the latest office news, on the contrary, let them come to you for information on how to accomplish a task. This will be your biggest winning attribute in the workplace.

In summary, be yourself, hopefully you are naturally a likable person. Be assertive and direct, this does not mean being mean and aggressive. Know your subject matter, if you don't go get the information. Also, be a lady in the workplace and everywhere else. This again doesn't mean being a door mat at work. It just means maintaining an attitude of grace and quite strength. Don't forget, you will make mistakes as you navigate these waters, get back up, brush yourself off, and continue on.

Remember being nice does not equate to being weak. So have fun at work, and be a lady in a man's world!

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Tips on Interviewing Successfully for an Alternate Route Teaching Position

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Whenever I address a group of alternate route teachers, I am always struck by the level of concern that exists due to the understandable lack of actual classroom experience. As one prospective AR teacher asked, "How do I compete against all these other teachers who have two and three year's experience?" It is a common concern, and it is legitimate. For alternate route teachers, the one area where they may seem at a distinct disadvantage to more traditionally trained teachers is that of direct classroom teaching. And it is for that very reason, we need to change the interview dynamics and shift the committee's thinking more in our favor. I know, I know. Easier said than done and just how are we supposed to pull that one off? Let me assure you that it can be done. Better yet, because you are reading this article, you will now know just how!

First let's understand, simply because you are coming to the interview through the alternate route, it does not mean you don't have valuable experience. Do not be apologetic regarding your background during the interview. Point to your experiences in the real world with pride and understand that those experiences have value in the classroom.

Let's consider what the real question is regarding the teacher every school is looking for in its ideal candidate. It is not... that's right NOT... what teaching experience do you have?! The real question is; do you have the capacity to meet the requirements of this position? There is a difference between background experience and professional capacity. As you go through your interview and answer each question, your most important goal is to show where you have the ideas, the skills, and the passion... i.e. the capacity to meet the needs of this position. Using this strategy, it is possible to not only show yourself the equal of other candidates, but the better of those candidates.

Now... I should tell you right off, it is entirely possible that the committee has never actually thought about this concept in exactly this way. In fact, there may be people on the committee who still hold the old paradigm that experience is the determinant factor. For that reason, every alternate route candidate needs to set the table on the very first question. You need to seed the idea that "capacity" is the most important factor in the hiring process, not just experience! You need to make this clear because everything you do from that point on will be to demonstrate your "capacity."

Now, here is a sample of how you can do just what we are talking about. Here is the way that first question might go:

Q. Tell the committee a little about your background and why you think you will be a good fit for this position.

A. Thank you for this opportunity to describe my skill sets and speak to how I will be a great fit for this position in your school. Let me begin by saying that I realize you are not just seeking someone with a little experience and a few classroom ideas. From carefully reviewing your website, I know you are really looking for a person who has the skill sets and ideas that will clearly identify him/her as having the capacity to take this class and make it a truly special place. To do that, I know the successful candidate is going to have to (insert two or three core values or directions you know about the school here). As we go through this interview, I fully intend to demonstrate how I not only have the capacity to be a good match to those goals, but rather a great match.

This sets the interview tone and from here you should match up a few of your background skills and experiences to the school's needs. Provide some conversation about your wish to be a part of staff development programs to further improve your value to the district. Underscore how you intend to be a full part of the school and its programs, not simply a classroom teacher. Keep your answer on target, sharp, and within a timeframe of two minutes. Tick each matched item off in a nice, crisp, organized fashion. You will have ample opportunity to expand on these ideas later. However, by placing this framework in the minds of the committee, you have created an opportunity to step right past the problem of limited experience and ace the entire interview.

My name is Robert W. Pollock. I am an educator, with over 34 years experience, a speaker, consultant, and author of 'Teacher Interviews. How to Get Them & How to Get Hired!. I have spoken to 1,000 of perspective teachers on how to interview and get the job. I have consulted with schools around the country. Currently I am a professor of Education at Tusculum College, Knoxville, TN, where I also serve as the president of their alumni board.

Order my book "Teacher Interviews: How to Get Them & How to Get Hired!" at: Amazon.com
For more information or questions, email me at: Advantapress1@aol.com

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Making It Easier to Make Good Decisions!

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Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Be aware that it is normal for many people to try to avoid the anxiety of their responsibility for making their own decisions. Some do this by letting parents, teachers, friends, or employers decide for them. The normal outcome of this decision trap is a life that may suit these other people but not you. The upside can be that you can blame someone else when things go wrong but is that really worth while the failure?

The following suggestions in relation to decision making can be used for career choices or can be adapted to other situations.

It is important for you to listen and learn from others but to make your own decisions in the end. Formal career assessment tests are useful for increasing self-awareness and suggesting a list of possible options to consider but there is no test that can tell you exactly what you should do. There are too many factors that only you can identify and weigh up. This is now widely recognized by career professionals who are up-to-date in the field.

So let's explore how we can make the decision making processes easier for you. By following these steps you will have a stronger structure and you may find that you don't get lost so easily.

What is a Decision Making Process

DECIDE =
Define the aim
Examine the options
Consider the outcomes
Isolate the best option
Do it!
Evaluate

SUGGESTIONS FOR DECISION MAKING

Define your career related problem. What do you need to decide? Is it, for example: Which occupation or role am I best suited for? (Which would meet my various needs optimally)? OR, How can I best use my current skills or upgrade my skills. OR Are there any existing skills that I don't use effectively?Identify the aspect of this career decision, which are most important to you (your preferences). For example: Earning as much money as possible, in order to save/invest some; having a lot of people contact; meeting and networking with business people who could be useful to my business or career; learning new, marketable skills; taking up residence in a' big city' location (which I enjoy).Rank or rate relative importance of these criteria (the things you want to gain when you implement your decision). For example: First: meeting and networking with business people; Second: relocating to a big city; Third: earning as much money as possible etc.Generate alternative options/decisions that appear compatible with your preferences. For example: options that provide opportunities to meet and network with business people, earn a lot of money, live in a big city etc.Research and investigate these alternatives. Seek information from books, interviews with people working in the positions you are considering or their immediate supervisors; computer programs/Internet, work experience placements, volunteer work by networking with colleagues, etc.Assess the feasibility and desirability of the alternatives. For example: list the plusses and minuses of each of those alternative occupations/activities according to your preferences. (Keep in mind that it is not simply a matter of adding up, you also need to rank importance wise)Rank the alternatives/options from most to least preferred based on all the information. For example: First, Stockbroker's Clerk; Second, Personal Assistant to Business manager; third, position with a Money Market (Currency Exchange) Dealer.Re-investigate all that you need to do, to achieve your top two or three choices.Draw up an action plan to achieve your most preferred alternative and implement it.

And now you can lift your head and smile! You have learned how to make it easier for yourself to make decisions. And you will find that the outcomes are much more satisfying for you.

Would you like a more satisfying and rewarding life? Are you looking to get a great job? Or do you have important choices to make about your future? Then I invite you to explore this web site.

I am passionate about helping people create and live rewarding, purposeful and happy lives. I offer practical and creative services to assist you in finding solutions for your career and personal wellbeing. I provide services that cover a great variety of issues and offer diverse range of approaches.

Please contact me if you need assistance. I work person-to-person, but also by Skype, email or telephone.

Contact me on:
Grace du Prie
ACA, PCDAA, FPCQ, APRCSA
Career & Personal Development Practitioner
PO Box 736, Ipswich. Qld. 4305.
Tel. 07 3812 3807 - Mob. 0438 760 735
http://www.graceduprie.com.au/
info@graceduprie.com.au

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The Top 3 Reasons Why Credit Union CEOs Fail to Lead

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Poor leadership is common among CEO's of credit union and other not-for-profit organizations. The financial and emotional impact on the organization, its stakeholders and the community that relies upon the organization may be difficult to quantify; however, the costs would include reputation risk, high-staff turnover, inability to accomplish approved strategies, and low morale.

Reputation risk may manifest itself in declining membership growth, increased scrutiny by the local press and examiners, and staff turnover can be very costly with estimates in a range of 25% to 200% of annual salary. As the organization fails to grow loyal members, the productivity ratios become stressed and that begins a downward spiral that places undue stress on staff, the board of directors, and leadership.

In my 29 years as a credit union executive, here is what I observed as the most common causes of poor leadership, and how you can avoid the pitfalls:

1. Be passionate about your role awareness and self direction as a leader. What does that look like? Become a lifetime learner, or die. Real and meaningful commitment to remaining fully competent will require hard work and courage. Look at those with whom you interact and have formed the opinion that they are incompetent, not excited or engaged in their work, or they get by on the length of their employment versus skills and knowledge. Are you perceived that way by others?

How do you feel about the many roles you play? Are any of them fuzzy and ambiguous? What if you learned to say "no" to requests to serve on another board, committee, or extra-curricular activity? Leaders are sought out for their ability to get things done, contacts, or pocketbook. Where are your time, talents and money best used? I too served on a lot of not-for-profit boards, committees, and national organizations such as CUES and the scheduling became difficult. I knew it was too much and my organization was the loser for the time I was out of the office. This is the time of year that thousands of credit union leaders are in Washington, DC. Ask yourself why and what are the rewards? Consequences?

Self direction, or the lack of, is almost always associated with role awareness and when I see a person that lacks self direction it is a sign that they have not conducted a long-term strategic plan for their life. Leaders are good at planning other's lives, and planning for their organization, but not so much for themselves.

2. Be a great listener. Listening is not just with your ears. It is you, your eyes, your undivided attention and your heart. Thinking back to that person you perceive as incompetent, they are in all likelihood a poor listener. I met a lot of them and they can be volunteer directors, examiners, staff, vendors, or members. The fact that they don't get it or see it is the challenge. People that talk the most have the least to say. They are not passionate about their job and that is their developmental issue.

3. Build a bridge. Leaders that have not demonstrated a willingness to do so are reluctant to engage because of past failures. Perhaps your board or the examiner does not share your view of success. It is different for all. Theirs is often a world of "one size fits all". To change a system does not need to be adversarial. Unless the other parties are hopelessly incompetent (and I accept that some are), or they have been poorly trained, or simply lack the resources, there is room for compromise. Building relationships across divisions of culture, and honoring what people are compels you to build bridges.

Steps you can take can include commitment, deliberate action, courage to face change, ongoing action, and accountability. All are reasons that you can be a successful leader and take your organization to greater heights.

To correct this problem you need to identify those characteristics in yourself that are possible obstacles to be overcome.

To receive a complimentary assessment of your leadership traits, contact KES Group at info@kesgroupllc.com.

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Which Job Search Websites Should You Trust?

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AppId is over the quota

Most of us are fairly aware of personal identity theft, but when it comes to finding a new job, there is a certain amount of personal information that you are expected to give up, even in the initial stages of searching for a job. So, although you might want to trust all job search websites that are online, you should know that they are not all alike and that by entering your personal information, you could be getting yourself into big trouble.

What Should You Look For?

No matter how desperate you are for a job, you still need to be smart about who you are giving your personal information to and that includes everything from your phone number to your date of birth. Obviously, your Social Security number should only be given directly to an employer if necessary, and not offered up to anyone who seems to have a potential job for you.

Therefore, when you are looking at job search websites online, you will want to make sure that they have a track record, that they have been around for a while, and it also doesn't hurt to go online and see what the reviews have to say about them. If they are truly a legitimate site that offers jobs or advice on jobs, you will undoubtedly find plenty written about them.

How Can Job Search Websites Help You?

With unemployment as high as it is right now, it goes without saying that simply applying for a job that you see listed online probably won't get you very far. Although you might be the perfect person for the job and highly qualified, unfortunately the employer will probably have to work their way through hundreds of resumes or job applications before they ever get to you.

But, when you use certain job search websites, specifically those that pertain to your area of employment, then you will have a better chance of being considered for any job and you will also find jobs that just never get listed on traditional job listings. For instance, if you work in a highly technical industry or your job requires a number of specific certifications, then a potential employer will always be more successful in finding the right person if they go direct to the source, and that is where the highly qualified people will be looking for jobs.

What Else Can You Learn?

In addition to finding jobs that you might not find anywhere else, job search websites can also give you a lot of help on redesigning your resume and making sure that it is not only up to date, but also appropriate for the type of job you are looking for. They can also be helpful in showing you how to use social media, career blogs, job boards, and other online resources to your benefit. If you play your cards right, the information you get from these kinds of web sites will have employers knocking on your door, instead of the other way around.

Jenna Pearson is a personal branding expert and a contributing writer to Career Rocketeer, specializing on the subject of job search websites. Save time and money by getting FREE in-depth information on personal branding, as well as insightful tips and tricks on turbo-boosting your career, at this website: http://www.careerrocketeer.com/

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Can a LinkedIn Job Search Work For You?

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AppId is over the quota

Most of us have a fairly large social network, whether it is on Facebook or Twitter, or on one of the other social media websites. However, when it comes to looking for a job or furthering your career in some way, you will want to make sure that your social life is separated from your career life and that is why a LinkedIn job search is so much more beneficial.

What Is It?

If you have never used LinkedIn before, then you should know that it is a social media tool that is really designed to keep track of your social network of career-minded people, rather than your family and friends. Suffice to say that there are no games to be played on LinkedIn, you don't put up silly photographs of yourself, and you don't post smart aleck comments on your page.

How Do You Build Your Network?

If you are interested in doing a LinkedIn job search, then the first thing that you will need to do is establish your online profile, create resume, and post just what it is that you are looking for. Then, you will want to start making connections with people in your industry, those you may have worked with in the past, and those that you are working with now.

LinkedIn makes it very easy to search for old colleagues and you might be surprised at just how quickly that you are able to grow your network, keeping in mind that once you are linked to one person, you can then link to their friends or colleagues, too.

How Does This Help You To Find a Job?

It is important to keep in mind that the most common way that people get jobs even in this electronic age is through word of mouth. If you come highly recommended by someone that the employer knows, they you will have a much better chance of getting the job than anyone else. The primary way of doing a LinkedIn job search is to let everyone in your circle of friends know what you are looking for, and then they can forward your information (highly recommended, of course!) to their colleagues.

Do People Post Job Openings There?

Another thing that a lot of people don't realize is that many people who are in a position to hire people will post their job openings directly on their profile or send it to all of their friends on LinkedIn. The reason why this is such a successful way of getting a new hire is because you already know that the people you are contacting come highly recommended by someone that you know and since you are all pretty much in the same business anyway, you will get people applying for a job who are obviously qualified.

A LinkedIn job search is an affordable way for an employer to find a new employee and it is one of the easiest ways for a potential employee to find out about jobs for which they are already qualified.

Jenna Pearson is a personal branding expert and a contributing writer to Career Rocketeer, specializing on the subject of LinkedIn job search. Save time and money by getting FREE in-depth information on personal branding, as well as insightful tips and tricks on turbo-boosting your career, at this website: http://www.careerrocketeer.com/

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Physical Therapist Assistant Certification and Licensing Exam

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AppId is over the quota

If you are trying to achieve a physical therapist assistant certification, you will realize that completing the program can be at a rapid pace and you can soon turn your dream into reality and this should surely give you some relief. However, you should know that after finishing your associate's degree, you still have to prepare for exams to determine if you are really prepared in working in this field and this can sometimes be nerve-wracking for some students.

Luckily, most physical therapist assistant schools that offer certification courses also offer prep courses for the state exam and this can help increase your chance in getting a license. To qualify for the licensure exam, you will be required to present your certification from the school that you completed your degree. However, you should know that this cannot be just any school, as it has to be accredited by the CAPTE or the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The program that you went through must be recognized by the state board or you will not be qualified for the licensure exam. But this should not scare you as you should have already done your research when opting for an accredited school before enrolling as a PTA student.

As mentioned above, after getting your physical therapist assistant certification, you will need to take an exam in order to obtain your license. For that, it is important that you are aware of the exam structure and how it looks like, as well as the requirements necessary to pass the exam. All accredited schools will provide you with a class(es) that will prepare you for the licensure exam, although this preparatory course is slightly different from the exam that you will actually take, it can still help you follow the guidelines and familiarize yourself on how the exam will go. You also have to know that although the license fee, as well as the rest of the administrative requirements, may vary from state to state, the core of the examination is the same for all US states. However, each state has a minimum requirement of competency for a physical therapist assistant to be licensed to practice.

After you have finished your associate's degree and once you have your physical therapist assistant certification, you now have to prepare yourself for the state licensing exam. The exam consists of approximately 200 questions and it may or may not be completely computer-based. The questions are given out in multiple choice formats and the score is on a scale of 200 and 800, where 600 are the passing score. The licensing exam will be administered yearly in all states and you will be given 4 hours to finish it. The topics that are usually covered in the licensing exam are intervention, standards of care, codes and ethics.

So while you are trying hard to get your physical therapist assistant certification, you also have to pay enough attention to the preparatory course for the licensing exam, as this will be your key to success. Take note that although some states allow assistants to work even without a license, having one is still an advantage, especially in this tough world in the medical field.

Carol is a physical therapist assistant and co-creator of this popular new web-site: Physical Therapist Assistant

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The Role of an Interim Manager Explained

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AppId is over the quota

With the recruitment of senior level staff requiring the investment of a great deal of time and money, increasing numbers of businesses are turning to interim managers to fill the skills gap. Employed over the short term, these managers help deliver long term results for your business. Discover the true role of a provisional manager, and see how they can help to boost your business:

Independent

Companies of all sizes will benefit from the managers' position of neutrality. As they remain outside of company politics, the interim manager is able to make difficult decisions and work independently of any controversy or conflicts.

Professional

With an extensive portfolio of experience and a comprehensive knowledge of your industry, a temporary manger is a highly professional individual. Their drive and commitment to the job will influence your entire workforce and begin driving change from the beginning of the tenure.

Results Driven

Interim managers are committed to making a significant difference to your business quickly. As they don't need to be trained up, they can focus solely on the job in hand. You will be able to see real results in any project they undertake, and be able to exceed your clients' expectations.

Experienced

With a plethora of experience in all industries and a wide skillset, recruiting a provisional manager is a wise move for both fledgling and established businesses. This extensive knowledge and fresh outlook on your company will help to drive results in a new and innovative way,

Time Focused

Unlike hiring a permanent member of staff, the nature of interim resourcing means managers are available in days as opposed to months. This means they are able to start adding value and driving results right away. Managers are also highly efficient and able to complete tasks in a shorter time than less experienced members of staff.

Senior

As they operate at senior or executive level, temporary manager hold a great deal of influence and credibility. Their industry experience means that they are more than accustomed to driving and leading a particular department or business. Their senior level authority also ensures that managers are best placed to advise on how to transform and boost a company's sales leads.

Executive search and selection need no longer be a daunting task for businesses owners. The recruitment of an interim manager will not only save time and money on recruitment, but also help you set in place long term strategies to boost your business's productivity.

Outcomes UK is a social work recruitment company specialising in interim resourcing for local governments and health organisations in the UK. Visit their website for more information.

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Do You Really Need a Resume in Today's Job Market?

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AppId is over the quota

Though I have no plans to leave my current job and search for another one, every once in a while I call up my resume on Word and update any pertinent information. I find that a resume is one of those things that should remain ready to go...just in the event somebody asks to see it. I view it not only as a good exercise in charging my memory but as an opportunity for nostalgia - I'll find skills listed there that are likely not relevant now. Would a prospective employer be impressed that I know how to use Adobe PageMaker, which was discontinued in 2004? Probably not.

Some aver now, though, that the resume is obsolete, that in certain professions a detailed bio accompanied by a portfolio suffices. While one can argue that companies looking for designers, photographers, and graphic artists would be more interested in the quality of candidates' work rather than lines on a paper explaining their work history, some in Human Resources may still wish to learn how you evolved through employment.

According to a recent article on the website of The Wall Street Journal, sales of resume-style paper have dipped over the last year. Surely the practice of sending resumes via e-mail, or online job applications on company websites and job site, have diminished the need to print your vitae. Does this mean, however, that you need not bother updating your information at all? Interviews with HR personnel in the same article tend to disagree.

When you apply for a job or e-mail a Human Resources manager to express your interest, you may attach your credentials or at the very least paste them into the e-mail. If you are contacted for an interview, you should consider bringing in spare copies of your resume, in print. Here's why:

1) It's a great safety net. If for some reason the person interviewing you doesn't have your resume in front of him/her, you can produce one if necessary so you can go over the finer points of your work.

2) E-Mails do get lost. If your interviewer has accidentally erased your e-mail, you can readily offer a spare for consideration.

3) You should make copies available to multiple people. In some cases, you will talk to more than one person during your interview. Extra copies make it possible for several people to see your resume and help them decide if you're the one for the job.

Above all else, having a resume handy conveys the message that you are prepared, responsible, and ready to work. So don't dismiss the resume just yet.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on accounting jobs and jobs in finance.

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High Anxiety Blues! How to Make Your Cover Letter and Resume Stand Out and Banish Those Blues

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AppId is over the quota

OK...so we know being unemployed and looking for that right teaching job can be stressful at the very least. As one of my students once told me, he had the "anxiety blues" from constantly sending out resumes and hearing nothing! It had gotten so bad that he had already applied to be a car salesman at a local dealership.....a car salesman!! Really? Five years of college, praxis exams, student teaching...the lot! And now we're just trying to be a car salesman? I wish I could say this was an odd story and an exception. Unfortunately, it is not. In fact you might be going through a similar set of emotions. So many young prospective teachers are faced with the daunting task of just getting onto the interview list in a good school district. With over 200,000 new teacher graduates each year, and a growing number of career changing alternate route candidates, the process of getting quality interviews has become extraordinarily competitive. But read on!

Good news is at hand. There is a reason your applications might not be getting a solid response. In fact, there are probably a number of reasons! Understand, depending on just which position for which you are applying, there can be upwards of one or two hundred applications. In one local school district, the superintendent told me he had over 1000 applications for a third grade elementary school position! Wow! That kind of competition means your cover letter and resume better be something special if they are going to stand out from all the others. Usually only 10 - 15 applications survive that initial screening, so what does it take to make yours the one chosen for that coveted interview spot? That is the real focus of this article.

Let's begin by understanding that there is a reason one application is selected over another. The simple reason is not hard to understand. The chosen applications seemed a better match to what the school had identified as its priority criteria. On paper, which candidate looked like they held the best promise to be a highly competitive candidate for the listed position? The closer the match between a candidates application documents and the district's priorities, the higher the probability he or she has for an interview. It is just that simple. Now let's look at just how you can make your application one that meets those expectations.

There is an art to making the connection between you and your target school. The first and most important step is to try and identify just what it is the district sees as important and seeks in the teacher they hire. You can find much of this information on the school website, school report card, or other available print information from the school. From these resources, you can see just what initiatives are underway, any staff development that has taken place, and what the school trumpets as their accomplishments. As you build your resume, select skill sets and background information that is a close match to the direction and priorities of the school where you are applying. The stronger that match, the higher the probability is that you will be selected for an interview. You need to clearly show how you meet their needs.

But we are not quite done. When there are dozens, even hundreds, of cover letters and resumes to review, candidates are often eliminated within 30 seconds of the initial reading. The number one reason someone's application is discarded that quickly is that the cover letter did not clearly identify how the candidate was a match to the position's identified requirements. To avoid this fatal flaw, be certain to carefully read the teacher advertisement and identify every requirement it lists. For example, if the posted vacancy indicates that applicants should have a full understanding of state standards, then you need to identify on your cover letter that you have that knowledge. Whatever the school lists as their requirements, your cover letter needs to identify that you meet each one. By insuring that the reader sees where you meet those listed requirements, you dramatically increase the probability he or she will also look more carefully at your resume. When the reader now sees how your resume sparkles with match after match to other district priorities, you have maximized your chance for an interview. It is just that simple!

So, with this knowledge in hand, get rid of those anxiety blues! Make your cover letter and resume shine by using these ideas. For even more information on how to make your cover letter and resume a blockbuster, read Chapters 2 and 3 in my book, "Teacher Interviews: How to Get Them &How to Get Hired!". Dozens of high power suggestions, sample documents, and great ideas are there for the taking. Get yourself to the TOP of that interview list and go interview like a champion!!

My name is Robert W. Pollock. I am an educator, with over 34 years experience, a speaker, consultant, and author of 'Teacher Interviews. How to Get Them & How to Get Hired!. I have spoken to 1,000's of prospective teachers on how to interview and get the job. I have consulted with schools around the country. Currently I am a professor of Education at Tusculum College, Knoxville, TN, where I also serve as the president of their alumni board.

Order my book "Teacher Interviews: How to Get Them & How to Get Hired!" at: Amazon.com
For more information or questions, email me at: Advantapress1@aol.com

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3 Detrimental Resume Mistakes

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AppId is over the quota

Looking at resumes for a living, I have seen some very detrimental trends when it comes to resume writing. While many would guess these are complex and hard to change, the mistakes are rather quite simple.
Below, I've listed three very common resume mistakes to avoid as a job seeker.

1. Copying and Pasting Job Descriptions - many resume writers get attached to a single phrase or very similar variation of and decide to spread it through the entire document, thus making the resume seem more robust and well-thought out.

However, this carries the opposite effect and what appears comprehensive to the resume writer, seems lazy and thoughtless of the count of the resume reader. Any HR manager who is interviewing for an important position is going to immediately look for these shortcuts because it is a tell-tale sign of that potential employee cutting corners in the future.

Remedy - alter your wording more using more adjectives, varied descriptions, and if need be, keep your resume shorter. Redundancy prevents dozens of job seekers who apply into our recruiting firm from getting to the our clients daily.

2. Overly Vague - when writing a resume, brainstorm all the important questions that a hiring manager may have about your position using a "Who" "What" "Where" "When" and "Why" model.

If you don't feel that you are an exact fit for a position, don't dumb down your resume using phrases such as "managed others," instead of "lead team of 4 sales representatives (2inside) covering the Southeast region."

Being vague does not get you into an interview, rather it prevents you from getting there in the first place.

Remedy - if you don't have all the qualifications for a job and want to avoid an awkward interview, be upfront about the mismatches on your resume compared to that of the hiring company's job description and briefly describe how you can fill these gaps better than those who may be half way there.

3. Too Much Formatting, Not Enough Content - Resume writing is not a graphic arts contest. Alison Ringo expounds on this point by saying, "your resume should showcase your strengths, not how many bullet point styles you know about."

While everybody should strive to have a well-formatted resume, many job seekers come home from the resume writer with three pages of pretty formatting, but empty content. As a matter of fact, the best job seekers tend to have resumes that are sometimes on the more subtle side rather than overly eye-catching.

Remedy - While there is no reason to strip your resume of its good looks, keep in the mind that too much fluff can go against any job seeker in the same manner that a poorly worded resume can.

Stop focusing so much on what the paper looks like. Rather, focus on the story it tells.

If You're Making an Above Mistake

Don't fret, simply change your resume. Once these changes are implemented, any job seeker in any industry should see a world of difference.

Ken Sundheim runs KAS Placement, an executive staffing firm that Ken started in 2005.

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Ken's articles have appeared in, among many others Forbes, NYTimes, USA Today and more.

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How To Write An Outstanding Cover Letter For IT

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AppId is over the quota

Use The Right Format

The cover letter you're writing should be in a standard format. It should consist of three areas - the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

Introduction - This is where you introduce yourself and mention the position you're applying for. Make sure to begin with the name of the person who is advertising the role (or, if you can't find the information, use "Recruitment Manager" or something similar). Mention the position you're applying for and how your experience or knowledge makes you relevant for that position.

Body - This is where you go into further detail about yourself. Mention your technical skills, experience in previous roles and projects, and your communication skills. Be careful with this section - it's not meant to be a repeat of your resume. Stick to a few things that are relevant to this position and use appropriate language to describe them.

Conclusion - The final part of the cover letter is to thank the recruiter or the reader for consideration of your resume, and that you're interested in an interview for the position. Highlight that you can be contacted using the details at the top of the resume, and sign off with your name. A signature at the bottom of the letter is preferred, but as a lot of jobs in the IT industry are handled online, you may not have an electronic version of your signature so this is not essential.

Perfect Spelling And Grammar

The cover letter should not contain any spelling or grammatical errors. Not one. Recruiters spend a lot of time reading cover letters and resumes, so if yours has any spelling errors they will most likely pick up on it - and your resume won't be put into the "good pile". It shows that your work is lazy and inaccurate. Don't rely on the spell checker in Microsoft Word or other word-processing programs to check your cover letter for IT - proof read it yourself or get a friend to. Or do both.

Don't Use A Template

There are hundreds of templates for IT cover letters on the internet. I could easily provide a few links here, but I don't think it's a good idea. Using a template makes your cover letter look standard and makes you look uncreative. By all means, get some ideas on how a cover letter should look, but don't copy a standard template. Change the formatting and styles of any templates you see (within reason, of course) to make it less common - just make sure it's still readable.

Research The Company

One way you can stand out from the other IT cover letters that come across the recruitment team's desk is to actually research the company you're applying for. This not only shows that you're willing to do a bit of extra work, it shows that you're interested in the company - which helps your job chances. Look for information on the size of the company, where they are based, any recent projects they have been involved in, who their customers are, what products or services they provide.

Use this information when suggesting why you would like to work for the company. For example, if the company has a lot of customers in the finance industry, you could highlight that you're experience in the finance industry would be beneficial to them. Or, you could say you have a keen interest in the finance industry and point out that this company came up when looking for finance industry roles.

Give Reasons Why You Should Be Hired

One of the best things you can put into a cover letter for IT is the reasons why this company should hire you. This is where you focus on your strengths - both in your career and how it applies to the job you're going for. You can mention your technical experience, your great personal skills, your enthusiasm, any related experience you have with this company or the field, or anything else you can come up with. You're essentially trying to convince the recruitment team to give you this job over anyone else.

Put Yourself In The Recruiter's Shoes

Finally, before submitting your cover letter, try to think in terms of the recruiter and put yourself in their shoes. Read and re-read your cover letter for IT and ask yourself, "Would I give this person a job?" If not, why not? Make any changes as necessary. Clean up the formatting, make it easy to read, ensure your contact details are on the resume - and hope you've done everything possible to get the job!

I hope these tips have helped you write a cover letter for IT, whether you're writing one now or in the future. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to mention them in the comments area below!

Want more great information and tips on how to improve working in the IT industry? Check out my website - http://www.completeitprofessional.com/.

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Tidal Waves

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AppId is over the quota

I'm standing on a beach surrounded by a vast expanse of dark sand for as far as I can see. Gulls are squawking in the distance. I'm looking into my father's watery blue eyes. He's animated and young, explaining something to me with more passion than I ever saw in the last years of his life. His brother, my beloved Uncle Pete, who died soon after my dad, is standing beside us, laughing.

We're enjoying the vivid openness of the sand and sky and sharing stories when behind them in the distance, I see a huge tidal wave rolling along the sand towards us - maybe 100 feet high and towering ominously over the flat landscape. We turn and see another powerful wave rolling directly towards us from the opposite direction. We're standing in the midst of these two oncoming waves, and in an instant realize there's nothing to do.

I grab their hands. "How will we remember?" I ask staring into their eyes. "How will we find each other again?"

"Don't worry," whispers my Uncle Pete. "We always find each other." He whispers something else, but I can't hear his words from the sound of the crashing waves.

I wake up gasping for breath - still feeling their strong hands wrapped around mine - longing for that moment again, hearing their voices in my head, unable to get back to sleep. Do we always find each other again? Isn't that endless longing the tyranny of grief? Or is it simply our limited perspective on time and space.

Grieving clients constantly seek me out. They fill my appointment book. Maybe they sense I can help them find their footing in the midst of swirling waters. Today, my client tells me about her partner who recently died. She hasn't been able to move forward and is lost in her depression. She needs to make a living, yet she's drowning in pain.

I explain that she's still here because she hasn't accomplished her mission for this lifetime, and her partner is watching, patiently waiting for her to get to it. "You haven't really lost each other," I explain. "It's just a shift of perspective, a different dimension. Nothing is really lost."

As I say this, I get chills over my entire body - a sign that I've tuned into something for her. "Do you know that your partner watches you struggle? I ask her gently. My client nods. "He wants me to teach," she says through her tears. In that moment, I see the spark in her, the life force, rekindling. We both feel it. She laughs softly.

"Let's talk about how to make that happen," I whisper. Months later she writes, "You encouraged me to fulfill the mission for my life, and I'm getting to it. I've woken up."

Later, I'm meditating on a new client. I ask if there are messages from the higher realms to help her move forward. In my meditation I see a gentleman, slumped-over and kind of embarrassed, slinking up to me. He mumbles, "Well it wasn't that great when we were married. Tell her I'm sorry. Tell her she doesn't need to be so angry. I see what I did. I'd like to help. There is money. Tell her to go to school." I write it all down for our session.

Later when I'm working with her, I learn that her husband died and left a trail of sexual and physical abuse in the family. My client is very lost in her pain, grief, and anger. I give her the messages from her departed husband. She is slightly amused that he's slinking around apologizing.

Upon further discussion, she sees that there might be a way to use money from his estate to fund her return to graduate school so that she can move her career forward to get to the great work - the work that her pain has fueled her to do.

Her great shame, that has weighed her down for years, has been that her husband abused the children. She is beginning to see that this is also the great fuel that fires her passion to help others. She looks into graduate school and later tells me, "I feel more clear-headed and focused than I have in years. Thank you so much."

Why does pain drown us? I reflect back on promises made to my dying husband 25 years before - "We'll find each other again," I whispered at his bedside just before his spirit slipped away. Two years later, I whispered the same words to my best childhood girlfriend, Crissie, who was dying of Leukemia at the age of 32. On the last day I spent with her, a hot August afternoon, we walked across our favorite island together, reminiscing about our shared childhood and contemplating death.

"What's the hardest part?" I asked her. "Seeing it hurt my father," she cried. How those words haunted me for years - that Crissie suffered not only from her disease, but from knowing how the grief would weigh down her loved ones.

Perhaps the pain of grief is really the pain of remembering our own home, our true nature, our divinity, and wanting to return there. Aren't we simply longing for that divine realm again - where everything and everyone is luminous and connected?

Yet, until our work is done, our lifetime mission accomplished, we can't go home. And every moment we spend longing, instead of moving forward with our great work, is wasted time. I'm certainly guilty of that - creating a limbo of pain instead of just moving forward and getting the mission accomplished.

I believe this is our universal challenge - overcoming the "pitiful voice" that stops us all at the door of greatness. It's those wasted days of feeling "useless, not good enough, not strong enough, not smart enough" or saying, "I don't care." It's the days when we lay down and surrender to doubt.

And most of the time we look to the wrong sources for comfort, when we're lost in our "pitiful self." It takes courage to focus on the higher self, the divinity, the unseen realms for guidance - instead of looking to our peers for approval and support.

Sue Frederick is a Career Intuitive Coach and author who brings a breath of fresh air and enlightenment to her teachings. Sue's unique practice combines powerful intuition and practical career know-how. She has been featured in leading journals including The New York Times and Real Simple. She has helped 1000's around the world get clear on their career and life path.
Visit: http://www.careerintuitive.org/ for your free gift from Sue.

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Certification for Fitness Instructors

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AppId is over the quota

If you are considering a new career in the fitness industry you will need a recognised qualification to show your competency and ability. When first choosing your qualification it's important to know which area of the fitness industry you want to work in, and how you're going to achieve your goal.

A wide variety of fitness qualifications are available some of which are recognised worldwide, and some with limitations. It is always advisable to take the most comprehensive course you can, making sure it is also a recognised and reputable course. Be sure to order a prospectus or check online for the exact format of your training course, so you know what it does and does not cover. If you have a particular area of fitness training you wish to move into such as pre or post natal fitness or nutrition, make sure these units are part of the qualification.

If you are taking a general fitness course you can often add bolt on units to cover more specialised areas. These extra mini-courses can stand you in good stead when applying for jobs in your chosen line of work. By going the extra mile and learning more than is necessary to pass employers may see you as extra committed as well as the bonus of having an extra qualification. You can continue adding bolt on courses throughout your career, extending your knowledge and desirability to employers as you go. A multitude of these courses are available from exercise-to-music to Pilates, so you're bound to find a number of courses to interest you.

As a personal trainer you will provide 'exercise prescriptions' to your clients, advising and instructing them on the best way to achieve their fitness goals. Through regular measurement and feedback, along with a good working relationship you will educate and encourage your clients to a healthier lifestyle. Often your advice and help will extend beyond the basic physical training for which you were first employed, and into the realms of nutrition and general health.

Once you have qualified as a fitness instructor you have the opportunity to help your clients get healthy, make better life choices, and improve their confidence. Individuals seeking your services may be looking to improve their health levels, lose weight, increase flexibility, or may be combating a medical condition. You job is to determine the most effective types of exercise, frequency, and level of intensity to get the best effect for your client.

Once qualified you may choose to branch out on your own and become a self employed fitness instructor, working either from a studio or in your client's homes. You may wish to join an existing gym or health centre, or a hotel spa. Gaining a fitness qualification opens may doors and offers great flexibility and choice. A career in fitness instruction is a rewarding and sociable role. You can keep adding new courses to your CV throughout your career, extending your knowledge and job desirability whilst learning about areas of fitness that interest you.

Philip Loughran writes on a number of subjects from travel to law, automotive to education. For fitness instructor courses and fitness instructor qualifications he recommends Future Fit.

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Why Pursue a Career in Finance?

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AppId is over the quota

In the olden days a career in finance did not offer anything more than a back-office recording keeping job. A finance person was understood to be a record-keeping person in an organization.

However, with the evolution of business landscape, the role of finance has evolved and become more challenging. In today's organization a finance person occupies a much broader role involving decision-making, planning, controlling the financial operation of a business.

Within finance, one can find a variety of job roles that are not limited to just the accounting field. You can explore financial career options in various industries such as financial service, financial planning, fund management, regulatory compliance, trading, financial management, and so on.

These different jobs require you to have completely different skill sets, and you can choose a financial career that suits your personality and skill level.

If you are analytically oriented, you can choose a career in risk management, where your job is to measure and manage the risk faced by a bank or a financial institution. Alternatively you can also join the insurance industry as an actuary where you ass the risk of loss, and design and price new insurance products. These jobs require number crunching skills. You are also expected to be very diligent as a small mistake can turn into big losses.

On the other hand, if you are a very outgoing person and like meeting people, you may be better suited for selling financial instruments. You may want to join a bank or an insurance company, and promote their financial products to prospective customers. In a bank, you are expected to sell their financial products such as deposit accounts, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, etc. For a career in sales, most organizations provide you a thorough training on their products and common techniques for selling. You are expected to be a go-getter with the ability to close deals quickly. In most financial services institutions, you are paid a decent salary and a commission, which is based on your sales targets.

One more lucrative career option is in trading. As a trader you use your employer or client's funds to trade in financial products such as equity, bonds, currencies and currencies in an attempt to make a profit. Traders study the financial markets and identify opportunities to make profit. This is a high stress job and requires you to have strong analytical skills and a tough attitude. A career in trading also offers good salaries with bonuses and incentives linked to your performance.

While these are a few important career options available in finance, a person interested in this field can choose from a much wider array of job roles. Best of luck with your financial career!

Sam is an expert in finance with over 10 years of experience in finance education industry. He currently writes for Finance Train on various topics in Financial Careers

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What You Need To Know If You Want To Become An Ultrasound Technician

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When doctors need to get a snapshot of a patient's internal organs in order to make sound diagnoses, he asks that procedures such as x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging to be performed on a patient. However, these procedures may be harmful to patients especially if the patient is pregnant; or, another diagnostic imaging procedure is more advisable for a different type of illness.

One of these procedures is sonography, more commonly referred to as ultrasound. This method generally uses sound waves to capture images inside a person's body. Although it is commonly associated with pregnancy, ultrasound has other various uses.

Medical sonographers operate a machine that flashes high frequency sound waves into areas that need to be captured. Ultrasound techs usually look for signs that show unhealthy cells or organs and come to a decision whether what they see on the screen are enough for a physician to come up with a diagnosis. Through the ultrasound machine, they capture images based on reflected echoes that may be stored as images or videos that doctors interpret.

Apart from these, ultrasound technicians also keep track of patient records, organize schedules, maintain equipment at high performance, and keep an inventory of existing machines and purchases for the sonography department.

Various Types of Ultrasound Technicians

If you are considering a career as ultrasound technician, but still thinking of the specific field to focus on, following is some of the different diagnostic imaging procedures that you can major in if you want to be a specialized ultrasound technologist instead of a general technician.

Obstetrics and Gynecologic Ultrasound Technician. Handles taking visual scans of the female reproductive system as well as the development and wellbeing of a growing fetus.

Abdominal Sonographer. Most of the time, this type of sonographer examines the abdominal cavity of a patient for the correct identification and treatment of medical ailments involving the kidneys, gallbladder, pancreas, and liver. In addition, it helps identify problems with the male reproductive system. While abdominal sonographers can also perform scans involving the chest, echocardiographers usually do reading and analysis of results.

Breast Sonographer. This type of ultrasound technician helps in the discovery of breast cancer and other diseases of the breast. In addition, results of tests can also determine inaccuracies in blood supply, keep track of tumors, and precise breast tissue biopsy.

Neurosonographer. Primary concentration of this branch of sonography is the nervous system and the brain. This is especially helpful for babies born prematurely in order to determine development of their brains as well as diagnosis of any brain or nervous system disorders.

Working Conditions

Ultrasound technologists usually work 40-hours per week in darkened rooms in hospitals or laboratories where the imaging machines are maintained. In some cases, they perform the procedures inside a patient's hospital room depending on the health condition of the patient. Likewise, this is a type of work that requires one to always stand up when assisting patients to properly position themselves when using the machine.

On the other hand, some technicians prefer to work with as travelling ultrasound technicians thus, instead of gaining full employment in hospitals, they prefer working for mobile imaging service providers. This means technicians go to locations where such service is unavailable to the local people.

If the job description and working conditions interest you, then start looking for accredited ultrasound technician schools in your area and join the hundreds of students and career-shifters who want a lucrative career that allows them to be of service to their community as well.

If you're thinking about starting a career as a diagnostic medical sonographer, then you'll want to consider the top ultrasound technician training schools. Find all this and more at: http://www.ultrasoundtechnician411.com/

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How to Become a Bartender - Top 10 Characteristics of Great Bartenders

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AppId is over the quota

Bartending is one of the most coveted position of the blue collar professions, which is why it isn't always easy to get in. For starters, you'll need to make sure you possess the right characteristics and skills or you can forget it. Just being aware of them can help you improve in each area so you can better your chance at getting your foot in the door. Let's take a look:

1. Personality - It keeps them coming back again and again. Think of yourself as a theatre performer. People go out to bars in for the possibility of finding something that they don't find at work every day. Do you know why personality is so important to bar owners and managers? Because the bar takes on the personality of the bartenders. Dull bartenders = dull bar. Enthusiastic, entertaining bartenders = busy bar.

2. Knowledge - It's simple: if you don't know the drinks, you're just a jackass with a cool job and a bottle opener.

3. Attentiveness - Attention to details, such as placing a bar napkin under each drink, clearing off empty glasses, and keeping guests drinks full is all about paying attention and giving supreme customer service. Imagine yourself as a personal assistant to someone very important. Every detail counts.

4. Memory - In a fast-paced, high-volume environment, you'd better be able to remember multiple drink orders so you can get them out efficiently or you will have a lot of angry guests, not to mention an unhappy bar manager.

5. Speed and Efficiency - If you have a great memory but you have no multi-tasking ability, the memory does you little good. Guests want their drinks NOW!

6. Personal Grooming - Whether the bar you work for requires full uniforms or if you are allowed to wear a t-shirt and jeans, make sure you are clean and look sharp. This isn't a John Wayne movie. No one wants a dusty, sloppy bartender any more than they want to watch a John Wayne movie.

7. Endurance - Bartending is a job that requires both mental and physical stamina. Not only do you have to know all the drinks and deal with drunken buffoons, you are often on your feet 6-10 hours per shift, depending on the hours of operation. It can wear you down if you're not prepared.

8. Good Cash Handling and Math Skills - You are part of a team back there, so if you have problems handling cash, the other bartenders will not be happy at all. Also, good math skills allow you to add up drink prices in your head so you can call out the total to guests before you even have to ring it in. Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency.

9. A Thick Skin - Remember, you are dealing with drunks all night long. Never take anything personal, and once your shift is over, leave it at the bar. Don't brood over a bad tip or the cheapskate who gave it to you for the next three days. It's pointless, and you won't survive.

10. Eye-Contact, A Great Smile and a Firm Handshake - Those three things will take you a long way in building a clientele of regulars, not top mention the best shifts from the manager.

In his revolutionary new book (now on Amazon.com), How to be a Bartender: Get a Bartending Job in 30 Days or Less With Little or No Experience, Dave Allred (TheRealBarman) has taken his fifteen years of bartending and bar management experience to provide you with a step by step plan for securing a high-paying bartending job with little or no experience.
The book shows aspiring bartenders how to set goals, lay out a plan, and write the perfect resume and cover letter that managers cannot ignore. If you want a chance at landing a high-paying job as a bartender, read Dave's book, eliminate the mistakes that prevent people from being hired, and wow bar managers in the interview.

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Career Change Series - Tip 3 Use Research and Networking to Obtain the Right Contacts

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In Tip 1 I discussed writing your ideal job description and researching potential companies who may offer such a role.

Now you need to narrow your list of preferred employers to 1-3 companies and do some research and networking to find out the best way to contact them.

There are a number of ways to do this:
Check out their website, many companies these days will have their own recruitment section with positions advertised and contact details for the Human Resources Department. URS Asia Pacific for example has a job board, job search function, human resources contact details, information on graduate and vacation programs and recruiting events;
Use these details to ring or email the company direct and ask who is the best person to speak to regarding upcoming opportunities (really it's that easy!). I personally like to send a brief email and then follow-up by phone if I have not heard anything after 3 days;
Use LinkedIn to find relevant employee's at the company in question and message them to ask for their advice about how you might go about getting a job with their company, you'll be surprised how many people are willing to help! By relevant employees I mean those who have roles within human resources or in the specific functional area you are hoping to be employed as they may know of current or future job vacancies;
Attend networking and industry events and track down employees from the organisation in question and pick their brain about their company;
Contact the recruitment agencies identified at Tip 2 and ask them if they know of the best way to go about finding out about upcoming opportunities at this company or better yet are they aware of any unadvertised opportunities?
Make it known amongst friends and family or even publicly on your social media networks (if privacy is not an issue) that you are looking to make a career change into a particular area and seek advice and you never know someone you know might have a contact in your field or some great tips about how to go about obtaining a role.

So select a couple of the above strategies so that you have the best contact details and get ready to write that winning introductory letter. And remember networking is about building relationships so make sure you go out of your way to thank anyone who helps you in this area and offer your support to them if they should ever require it.

In Tip 4 we will look at how to write a direct letter or email to your dream employer that will knock their socks off and have them chasing you!

What did you think of this Tip? I'd love to know so post a comment below!

Kathryn Hocking the Director of Reverie Coaching and uses her passion, forward thinking and creativity to inspire, motivate and encourage working mums and mumpreneurs to pursue their dream careers and dream businesses.

Kathryn's coaching provides support during the return to work transition whether you are trying to find a new job, negotiating return to work terms, adjusting to life as a working mum, considering a career change or setting up your own business.

Kathryn offers the following face-to-face and online coaching programs: "Dream Career Kickstart", "Coaching for the Working Mum", "Life Coaching" and will soon be offering a "Coaching for the mum-preneur" program. Kathryn also publishes a monthly newsletter "The Inspired Mummy".

To see Kathryn's range of Career and Life Coaching Programs please visit http://www.reveriecoaching.com/coaching-programs and connect with her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ReverieCoaching

(c) 2012 Reverie Coaching all rights reserved

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The Importance of a CV

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AppId is over the quota

Your CV is your chance to show an employer you've got the skills and experience they need, and that you're the right person for the job. CV (curriculum vitae) derives directly from the Latin and means 'the course of one's life'. It's your story. At its simplest, it's a list of facts about you and your work, your skills and experience. Good CV writing is essential when looking for employment and it's worth spending time getting it right.

The career industry has a range of consultants in a number of industries who are able to give you specific and tailored advice, about what to include, and critically what to leave out of your CV. With their wide knowledge of industry they are able to give advice that normal recruiter's lack and this is what sets them apart as a consultancy. Working closely with you and within your availability and time scale the can produce results which are sure to have the desired effect.

There are a number of products offered in the market from tailored CV help to help with covering letter writing and interview training. All of which are thorough and can give you the best chance at securing the job that you desire. You may be writing your first CV or you may be improving your existing one. You may be trying to tailor your CV to a particular job. Or you may have specific questions on CV writing such as what to include, how to word your CV and how to structure it. If you want to make a memorable first impression, it's best to speak to one of our consultants about CV writing. They'll be able to help you write a dynamic and targeted CV.

Employers choose who they want to interview from the information contained in CVs. Therefore, it's really important that your CV is easy to understand and that it highlights all your good points. Spelling mistakes, poor grammar and missing information on a CV looks incredibly bad. If it's incomplete or doesn't make sense, employers will simply throw it in the bin. Often, hiring managers will receive hundreds of applications for each post, so it's unlikely they'll read each CV from start to finish. In fact, most will make a judgment about a CV within a few seconds, so keep it as concise and coherent as possible. One stumbling block which many people come across is how to write about their work experience and previous projects and highlight their strengths concurrently. This is a tricky balance and one that is essential to get right. Having reviewed hundreds of CVs career consultants are the perfect people to ask for advice and to give you that second opinion that is often so important when searching out that dream job. CV writing is very much their second nature.

Mahi Shrivastava writing for CV Writing service offered by adducology.

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Things To Consider When Starting A Business - Walk Before You Run

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AppId is over the quota

Starting a business is no-brainer. As long as you have the money, you can start any kind of business. Even teenagers can do it. A lot of people nowadays are earning tons of money while others are still spending all their time figuring out their way to success. Is it fortune that took them up there? What could be their secrets to achieving success?

If you know a person who is very young but already earning ten times of your annual income per month, don't be jealous. It's not too late. It's never too late. Don't feel broke, instead, get inspired and motivated. I am pretty sure they were not just sleeping and then upon waking up, they were already rich. There is a bunch of other possibilities why they are a lot more rich than you. Firstly, they could be selling drugs. Secondly, they could be human traffickers. Thirdly, leader of mafia. Lastly, a corrupt politician. So why spend time selling stuff on eBay, writing blogs, affiliate marketing, internet entrepreneurship and finding out what is the business that will make you rich. It is because, it is not success, it is despair. Despair leads you to nowhere but to desperate measures. In that case, genuine success is unachievable.

Starting small and thinking big, that is one quality successful people possess. When you start small, you will understand everything about your chosen business. It would also enable you to build a solid foundation, which is very important if you plan on making it big. Do not think of getting rich overnight because that is not going to happen unless you start spending thousands playing lotto, then you will have a chance. A rather thin chance. Another reason is that small businesses are not so hard to manage. Patience is all you need to make things work. Learn from every angle and slowly make it big. Obviously, you have to manage your profit correctly.

When you start small, you will encounter mistakes. But don't panic, it's normal. It is better to have mistakes earlier when it is still small than it is big. Committing mistakes in a big business is crippling. However, if you have experienced it earlier when your business is still small, it is very unlikely to have it when your business is already big. Why? because you have already learned from it. Experience is the best teacher, isn't it? It is better for you to stumble while walking than to drop face first because you want to reach your destination ahead of your own time.

Furthermore, using resources available is very helpful. Nowadays, internet has been pretty much providing almost everything. There is no reason for everyone not to learn. Success is not luck. Making money is a game. The only difference is, every human being needs to play it. You cannot choose not to because whether you like it or not, it runs everything for us to live. You have no choice but to play it anyway, why not just develop it. Think big and be a pro! Discover new opportunities and create your way to financial freedom.

Hi! I am Mr. Villacorta and I am new to online business world but I have been learning a lot through the help of an online community that teaches how to achieve success in an honest, ethical and legitimate way. A lot of opportunities are now open for me and I'm gonna grab everything. If you want to grab one and join this community, follow this link Internet Income Opportunity.

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