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Tips on careers, jobs and employment
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Keep your workspace smelling fresh
Hide dryer sheets in drawers, behind computers, and in cabinetry to keep your workspace fresh, and combat your co-workers awful perfume or stale cigarette scent.
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Avoid biggest mistake when E-mailing your Resume
Never attach your Resume to your E-mail. Instead, copy and paste it into your E-mail message. Most prospective employers and employment agencies are reluctant to download documents that might carry computer viruses.
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Never stop learning
The world is constantly changing, and everybody is looking for new ways of doing business. If you have decided that your current skills are good enough, you have also decided that your current job is good enough. But if you want a career in the future, you should add regular updates to your skills and knowledge.
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Ask, listen and learn
Listen to your co-workers, your boss, and your superiors. You can learn a lot from their experience. Ask about issues that interest you, and listen to what they say. Let them tell you about how things work, and what you could have done better. Most people will love to be your free tutor.
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Fulfill your current job as you start a career
It is often very little that separates successful people from the average. If you do your job well and fulfill your responsibilities, this is often the best way to start a new career. Talk to your supervisor about things you can do and ask for help to build a better career.
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Build your network as you explore a new career
More than 50 percent of all jobs are obtained from contact networks. If you have a good contact network, it is also a good place to discover future careers, to explore new trends, and to learn about new opportunities. Spend some time building new contacts, and don't forget to maintain the ones you already have.
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Identify your current job
Your current job should be identified, not assumed. Make sure you don't work with tasks you assume are important. This is waste of time and talent. When you start in a new job, talk to your superior about your priorities. Often you will be surprised about the differences between what you assume, and what is really important.
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Identify your next job
Your dream job must be identified before you start planning your future career. In your dream job, you will be doing all the things you enjoy, and none of the things you don't enjoy. What kind of job would that be? Before building your future career your goal must be identified.
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Prepare yourself for your dream job
Your dream might show up tomorrow so be prepared. Update your Resume now, and continue to update it regularly. Be ready to describe yourself as a valuable object to anyone that will try to recruit you. If you don't know how to write a Resume, or how to describe yourself, start learning it now.
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Pick the right tools for building your future career
You can build your future career using a lot of different tools. You can add a lot to your career by studying books and tutorials. Doing short time courses with certification tests might add valuable weight to your Resume. Your current job is often the most valuable source of building new skills.
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Realize your dreams for building a new career
Don't let a busy job kill your dreams. If you have higher goals, put them into action now. If you have plans about taking more education, getting a better job, starting your own company or something else, you should pursue it now, while you have the energy, to realize your dreams.
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Career Fair success lies in effective preparation, and communication
Make sure to research the employers you want to visit: learn about them, the positions they're looking to fill, and what type of candidates they're looking for.Arrive with a positive attitude and have your 30-second commercial ready. Bring at least 20 copies of your resume.
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Employers only look at resumes an average of 10 seconds
Make sure you’re leaving employers with a memorable impression. The more you know about a company, the more you can converse with the company representative. Get the interviewer's business card. If called for an interview, you will want to follow up with a letter that reinforces the points you made and the facts you learned.
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Maximize for opportunities at a Career Fair
The lines might be daunting but don't fail to maximize this opportunity. Talk to every company that fits your experience and ambitions. If you meet with 20 recruiters, at the end of the day you will know 20 people by name. That sure beats sending a blind resume to Personnel Director.
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Prepare a few key questions to ask prospective employers
Be ready to ask intelligent questions such as how your skills might be utilized within the framework of the company. Also ask questions about relevant news within that organization. Make sure to ask the recruiter/interviewer what he or she likes best about the corporate culture to better assess if that company is right for you.
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Wear proper business attire on your job search
First impressions do count and looking professional can give you an edge on consideration that might be passed over otherwise.
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Dress appropriately for a Career Fair
First impressions are important. While campus attire is acceptable for fairs, you will probably be most comfortable if you at least dress in "business casual."
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Best time for attending a Career Fair
Come as early as possible. Typically, fairs are less crowded in early hours and are busiest during the lunch hour and at the end. Fairs close promptly at publicized ending times to accommodate employers' travel arrangements.
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Get your bearings when attending a Career Fair
When you arrive, take a few minutes to review the map and directory for the fair. You may feel more comfortable if you quickly locate and walk by the employers in whom you're most interested. This will confirm their location and alert you to any crowds or lines of others waiting.
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Prioritize the employers you're most interested in at a Career Fair
You may find it easiest to start with the employers in which you're the least interested. This will allow you to hone your approach and to be most confident when you approach the employers you're especially excited about. Assume that you will need to wait to speak with some employers.
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Be patient and flexible with employer reps at Career Fairs
The fair directory provides a brief summary of employers' opportunities and may not have been submitted by the same people who come to the fair. Some positions may no longer be available and other openings may have just emerged. No single employer representative is knowledgeable about all positions available, especially in a large organization.
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Be friendly at a Career Fair
Introduce yourself. Extend your hand, say a friendly "hello" and state your name. Welcome the representative to the Career Fair. Have your resume ready to give to the employer.
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Take notes at a Career Fair
Write down the names, telephone numbers, etc. of other staff in the organization whom you can contact later. Note specific employer information sessions and projected hiring dates that will affect you. You will not be able to take advantage of this information if you don't record it.
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Respect employers' materials and sample items at a Career Fair
Some employers bring large quantities of print materials or ‘give aways’. Other employers bring a few copies of print materials, sample products, etc. as displays at their tables. Always check with employers before taking materials from their tables and don't take materials still packed in boxes.
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Exercise at your desk!
Sitting on the edge of a chair, straighten your back and hands in support on the seat and cross and uncross your legs quickly!
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