In my previous topic of informational interview which I had divided into two succeeding posts (part one and part two), I have shared my knowledge about why informational interview helps a job seeker understand the industry where he could be a part of in due time. Gradually, it will help him find his own place within his career field.

By learning the basics, a job seeker could easily start adopting informational interview as a powerful tool in gaining a competitive edge in his search for employment and eventually, career. All he needs to do is start from the beginning and use the available traditional and online resources to his advantage.

Here is an informational interview tutorial from QuintCareers.com to point you in the right direction.

Promotion is a measure of every worker’s success. There are many strategies to get promoted. With the right timing and good execution, employing them always ends in victory.

Aside from self-promotion and establishing good working relationships with the head honchos, there is one thing that can also provide you with bright hopes –quantifying results. By that, I mean keeping a detailed record of your past and present accomplishments. Career experts say those who get results surely get ahead.

Remember that your achievements and accomplishments are what every organization wants. It makes them look at you in a different light and sets you apart from the rest. By quantifying results, you help yourself stand out and get the career advancement you have always been wanting

An informational interview happens when a job seeker talks to someone working within his career field to get a better understanding of the industry and how it works. The job seeker’s job search success depends on how he will be able to relate to the job he is applying for. An informational interview substantially fills that need.

More than that, an informational interview helps build a network of professional contacts all working within the same career field. It fosters strong networking relationships because the process is replicated over time with the coming of new batches of job seekers wanting to learn the tricks of the game called career.

Most, if not all of us, are familiar with a job interview. This interview is an integral part of the hiring process. But how about informational interview? What kind of interview is it? Does it affect a person’s job search, or his career path for that matter? Should a job seeker learn it? If yes, why?

Just like in a job interview, an informational interview is a kind of interview where information is acquired by the interviewer from the interviewee. However, it is not mutually beneficial like the job interview where the company gains an employee and the job seeker lands a job. (to be concluded

by catherine s.

Having the working hours divided in an organized way will make things easier. Here are some tips in managing your time at workplace:
1. First is first. Know the priorities in which the risks are pretty huge. Do the things in a simple way, but not simpler. Also, consider that if the work given to you is very important, even though the deadline is still ahead of time, it will be better to start some of it. Usually, minds can think of solutions during adrenalin rush, but then it will not work well if it is really under a great pressure.
2. Set goals. Setting goals will be able to help someone in making the work more organized.
3. Make a daily planner. Make a list of the things that has been done for the day and list also those that are not. By this, you can prevent yourself from getting confused.
4. Discipline. One of the major things that should be observed is discipline. If not, all the things that you have planned will be subjected to change, eventually it will result into something which is unpleasant.

Job stress is a part of every worker’s life. However, it is manageable when you know how to detect it before it gets the best of you. Coping with job stress is very important as it greatly affects your work performance, your attitude towards people and things and your well-being in general.

Here are the three tell-tale signs of job stress according to experts:

1. You become irritable. It is a natural response of your mind to a seemingly intolerable pressure around you.
2. You easily lose focus. You become confused as to how you should do accomplish your tasks. This leads to your committing mistakes left and right even when dealing with simple stuff.
3. You tend to forget things. When you lose focus, the next thing that weakens is your memory. When you start forgetting about things, then it is a clear sign that there is something amiss.

by catherine s.

Nowadays, the world is at its extreme. People have turned into busy bees because they do not want to be left out in the fast moving world. Sometimes, because of this reason, a person will need more time to work than spend it into waste. But how will a person divide himself or herself in doing his or her work not merely affecting other aspects of life?
Time Management is actually one of the simplest ways to spend your working hours well. Simple as it is but oftentimes neglected, because some people think that crossing the bridge when they get there is a better idea. Another thing is procrastination or leaving an unfinished work for tomorrow, for some, having an attitude like that can motivate them but usually, it ends up with negative results which can lead to some unwanted circumstances such as quality time with the family, social life and also meeting certain deadlines.
The thing is if we do not do certain actions in managing our time, many aspects will be affected that may lead others to question the credibility in doing the job.

The last thing that the employers would like to hear from their applicants is that of someone boasting about his/her accomplishments/abilities. There is a thin line between being a “show off” and being realistic. If you really do have those kinds of accomplishments/abilities, then tell your employer about it modestly. Remember, that you are no superman, so bragging about things like “I have been this and that, I can do this and that” will not merit you any points. Always remember to be yourself during those dreaded interviews. Employers are wary that this kind of attitude of yours might spark some office clash in the future.

Photo taken from http://www.cartoonstock.com

When starting on a job, keep in mind that you are being watched by prying eyes. Learn to act properly to win the hearts of your employer and coworkers.

Here are some tips to help you cope during your first few weeks in the job:

1. Evaluate your routine and work habits. As we work in different companies and organizations through the years, we develop a certain routine or work habits that we usually bring with us when we switch to a different job. Check your routine and work habits and remove those that encourage tardiness and poor performance.
2. Be aware of your surroundings. This is done through observation and social interaction. Things that you should be aware of include office etiquette, management system, social practices within the office, etc.
3. Know your coworkers. This is very important when starting a job as they are the people whom you will work with and see every single day at work.

Say you have hit the jackpot of getting hired, the next thing to prepare for is the adjustment period in your new environment that is the work place. Generally, the first month in your job is the time when your employer and coworkers form their opinions of you.

If you show unpleasant behavior, your officemates will brand you negatively. If you perform poorly, this will surely earn you the reputation of a slacker.

On the other hand, if you will go the extra mile and reach out to them in a nice manner, they will certainly be friendly towards you. Also, if you will work hard and do your job properly, it is highly possible that they will overlook your poor performance later on.