A sure fire method to answering these questions

When I was a journalism major I wrote countless papers. Many of the papers that I would get back had the words, “Show – don’t tell” written on them. It took a while to figure out what I was not doing and why I was getting this feedback. But once I got it there has been a profound improvement in my writing and ability to tell “stories.”

I now find myself telling my clients the same thing – “Show – Don’t Tell.” The secret to doing well in a “behavioral interview” is showing the interviewer what you have done — not just telling him or her.

It’s the difference between your stories being flat and uninteresting and sometimes even boring and your stories being fun and interesting to listen to.

As an example, you could say, “I was very angry.” That would be telling. Or, I could show with the words,

“I stormed into the room and slammed the door and threw the books on the table.” I am no longer telling – I am showing my actions. The difference is that when those are used most people would get the idea that there was some emotion going on.

Action is very important in answering behavioral interviewing. The number one mistake made in behavioral interviewing is not showing the Action. Most people want to focus on the problem or event and not the action.

Let’s go back a step and talk about “Behavioral Interviewing.” This method of interviewing is not new – it’s been around since the 70′s when industrial psychologists developed a way of “accurately” predicting whether a person would succeed in a job. They concluded that if candidates were asked questions that requested examples of past behavior it would be an indicator of their future behavior.

So, employers began using this interviewing technique to determine whether you were a good fit for the job. The technique is of growing interest to companies who would like to choose the “right” candidate, especially in today’s market with so many candidates to choose from.

The types of questions that are asked using this technique are used to find out how and what you did in the past and the skill sets you used in the process – if you did it before you can do it again!

The difference between a behavioral question and other questions is what the question asks for. A behavioral question will ask for a very specific incident –”a time.”

For example when asked, “Tell me about a time when you solved a problem,” the key words are “a time.” This answer calls for a “specific” example of a “specific” incident.

When traditional questions are asked they usually include the word “if.”

If a situational questions like, “What would you do if…” is asked you can use your imagination to come up with an answer.

For example, “What would you do if you had a problem to solve?” The word, “if,” is the clue word that indicates the interviewer wants to hear your thought process – how you think through a problem. This question does not require a past experience example.

While preparation is important for every interview, it is essential to prepare for the behavioral interview. You must have examples or stories for anything you have claimed on your resume or that you say in an interview.

One example would be, if you claimed you were very organized on your resume. A natural question for the interviewer would be: “Tell me about a time when you organized a project.” It is now your task to let the interviewer know that you have had success when organizing a project or event. In other words, prove what you said you did by giving a specific example of your behavior.

There are several methods and acronyms suggested for formatting your stories but the main point to remember is that any story has three key elements:

A beginning – “There was a time….”

A middle – “The action steps I took were…”

An Ending – “The end result was…”

Stories should be interesting and full of action. When you show and don’t just tell – this will happen by itself. Give the interviewer something to remember about you. A savvy interviewer will be able to hear skills from the stories and judge your behavior from your past actions.

The more details and skills you can show and work into your story, the more convincing your story will be. The interviewer will be able to “see” you in action. You will be showing them what you can do.

Preparing your stories before the interview will take the mystique out of behavioral interviewing and allow you to tell the success stories you want your interviewer to see and hear.

By showing them what you can do and who you are you will enable the interviewer to get a clear picture of you and they will be able to decide whether you are the right person for the job based on your past experience and successes.

- Carole Martin

The Interview Coach, Carole Martin, is a celebrated author, job coach, and speaker on the subject of interviewing and recruiting. Contributing writer at Monster.com and featured on talk radio. Carole is using her proven methods for coaching job seekers on competitive interviewing skills in technical and non-technical industries. www.interviewcoach.com

Follow The Interview Coach on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin by visiting her blog at www.interviewcoach.com/blog to learn about current workshops and seminars Carole is offering.

Source: http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/crossroads/index.htm?op=view&id=4654&newslett\ er_id=1051&archive=1

]]> http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-the-ultimate-secret-of-acing-behavioral-interviews/feed/ 0 http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-how-to-create-a-job-resume-that-sparkles/ http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-how-to-create-a-job-resume-that-sparkles/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:00:14 +0000 suzanne http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/?p=1230 Continue reading →]]> © Written By Jimmy Sweeney Author of the brand new, Amazing Resume Creator

Isn’t a resume just a list of previous employers and dates and a description of job skills? Yes and no. It should include this vital information but it should be presented in a clear and concise manner that causes the hiring manager to sit up and take notice. How you state the facts and the words you choose to do so can make the difference between getting the job and getting passed over.

Keep in mind that hiring managers receive thousands of resumes each month. Their responsibility is to locate the nugget in this slush pile of fool’s gold. Will your resume sparkle enough to catch their eye or will it move through their hands with barely a flicker? It’s up to you.

Va-va-voom Verbs!

Action words tell your employment story, so get your resume moving with verbs. Which of the two following examples would you pick if you were a hiring manager?

Example #1:

I have been working over the last decade training employees in the sales management department to be more effective when communicating sales techniques to the team, which has led to fewer employees leaving the company, and greater financial benefits to the firm.

Example #2:

Sales Trainer:

•Conducted effective sales trainings with sales managers

•Reduced staff attrition by such and such percent

•Increased company revenue by x number of dollars

•Resolved conflicts between managers and subordinates

Notice the verbs. They communicate actions taken and results produced. A resume that sparkles like this will lead to a call and a job interview.

- Jimmy Sweeney

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the brand new “Secret Career Document” job landing system. Jimmy is also the author of several career related books and writes a monthly article titled, “Job Search Secrets.” Visit our friends at Job Interview “Secret” and discover Jimmy Sweeney’s breakthrough strategy that will have you standing out from the competition like a Harvard graduate at a local job fair . . . DURING your next job interview. Visit our friends at Amazing Resume Creator for your “instant” resume today. In just 10 minutes flat you will have an amazing resume guaranteed to land you more hot job interviews next week.

Source: http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/crossroads/index.htm?op=view&id=4655&newslett\ er_id=1051&archive=1

]]> http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-how-to-create-a-job-resume-that-sparkles/feed/ 0 http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-beat-the-job-search-blues/ http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-beat-the-job-search-blues/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:57:06 +0000 suzanne http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/?p=1228 Continue reading →]]> Okay, admit it. You hate job-hunting. Lots and lots of people feel that way. The economy is lousy, there aren’t that many employers hiring for someone like you, and you’re thinking this could be a long job search. Too often, discouraged job hunters project a gloomy outlook.

Face facts. Today’s job hunt is likely to take longer than six months. For high level executives, or those in failing industries, it can be over a year. It’s easy to sink into the blue but they can paralyze your job search. You must change the negative self-talk and get a handle on your fear and anxiety. Devaluing yourself or moping – and feeling sorry for yourself will not land you a job.

Here are some action steps that will enable to you to fight back and take control over your future, and to get rid of the job search blues:

•Try a new approach. If something’s not working, don’t just mope around. Try something new. Begin your day with at least one hour of exercise – walking is a good way to start the day. This gets your endorphins going and lifts your mood. When you are working out listen to feel-good music; it’s a universal mood improver. Then tackle your job search activities for the day. Be sure to customize your resume and target your cover letters to really address the perspective employer’s needs. It’s the only way to stand out in such a crowded job market. Be very specific and document the results. Practice interview skills so when your chance comes, you’ll excel. If you are not working, spend 25-30 hours each week on the search; then tackle some other constructive projects. Tasks where you feel you’ve accomplished something — painting a room, redecorating, putting photos in an album — will help you to feel that you are making progress even if the job search is slow.

•Implement Internet Know-how. Bookmark the best websites which are company sites in which you have an interest. (Go to www.RobinRyan.com and look under tools for my current recommendation on job hunting websites). Niche sites – such as those specific for your field, for executives, and association sites are terrific to explore.

•Network! 63% of all jobs are found thorough contacts! Use the Talk to everyone you know. Ask specific questions to find people who can direct you to others inside companies that could possibly hire you. Getting an internal person to forward your resume is an ideal way to get your search moving into high gear. Click for more info on networking…

•Concentrate on promoting Brand You. Your career identity – AKA personal brand – must define your strengths, your innate talents, and illustrate the results you can achieve by using these on the job. Your resume, cover letters, and all employer conversations must emphasize how you can contribute to the company. You must be able to discus past accomplishments concisely, but effectively. Learn more at: www.SoaringOn.com

•Have a good action Plan.Write out your goals, read some articles and books to improve your job search efforts. . Visualize success for yourself. Hope is only a wish, unless it is backed up with a solid enacted plan that turns your dream into a reality. You have great talents to offer an employer, so begin today to repackage yourself. Go in with a success attitude that will make others want to hire you. Great opportunities are out there and one has your name on it!

•Develop a Can-do. Will-do. Done! Attitude. This is the attitude so many CEOs live by: Can-do – meaning they believe they resolve problems; they’ll find a way to do it, or they will find some expert to direct them to the solution. Will-do –- they implement the action steps to achieve a successful outcome. Done! –- they accomplish the goal. Follow the lead of successful people.

- Robin Ryan

Robin Ryan has appeared on Oprah and Dr. Phil is considered America’s top career coach. Robin has a busy career counseling practice providing individual career coaching, resume writing services, interview preparation, salary negotiations, and outplacement, to clients nationwide. She is the best-selling author of: ” 60 Seconds & You’re Hired!”, ” Soaring On Your Strengths”, ” What to Do with the Rest of Your Life”, ” Winning Resumes” and, “Winning Cover Letters”. A dynamic national speaker, Robin has spoken to over 1200 audiences sharing her insights on how to improve their lives and obtain greater success. Contact Robin at: 425.226.0414, or email: robin@robinryan.com, or visit her website: www.robinryan.com

© Copyright 2012 Robin Ryan. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/crossroads/index.htm?op=view&id=4656&newslett\ er_id=1051&archive=1

]]> http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-beat-the-job-search-blues/feed/ 0 http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-are-your-job-hunting-skills-rusty/ http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-are-your-job-hunting-skills-rusty/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:54:49 +0000 suzanne http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/?p=1226 Continue reading →]]> Dear Joan:

I have recently been the victim of a downsizing. It’s been difficult to mentally deal with it, since I’ve been at the same company for more than 15 years and I haven’t looked for a job in 20 years. The last job I got, I didn’t even have to find—it found me. Someone I know recommended me and I interviewed and got the job.

I was a good worker at my last job but the company lost so much business due to the downturn in the economy, they had to let our whole department go. I will get a good recommendation (my boss told me) so I’m not worried about that, at least.

So now I am facing a job hunting situation and I’m pretty rusty about the whole process. Can you give me some pointers to get me started?

Answer:

You are going to need a resume that sells you—not just a resume that lists your jobs and responsibilities. And you will also need to do some aggressive networking.

Your first task is to write a resume that positions you as a results-oriented candidate, with a successful track record. This is not the time to be modest. Think in terms of “CAR stories.” CAR stands for Challenge, Approach, and Results.

For each responsibility you had in past jobs, ask yourself, what challenges you faced, how you approached that challenge and what your results were. Here is an example: “Changed sales support from an outdated reliance on email and phone, to an intranet-based system. Distributors credited this change with 10 percent increased sales during the first six months in operation, due to more immediate product information and faster response to input and inquiries.” The CAR story can be in any order, but you must always include the R=Results. (Contrast the CAR story format with the typical responsibilities statement: “Implemented a web-based intranet communications tool.” No comparison.)

You will likely have to do some editing, since you have many years of experience. The trick is to have lots of CAR stories to choose from and mix and match them to fit the jobs to which you are applying, and get in all on two pages. Yes, that does mean you should customize. One-size-fits-all resumes don’t lead to as many interviews as tailored resumes.

You can take the same CAR story and emphasize different components, to better match the job requirements in the position. So, if you find a good job posting online, for example, study the three or four main criteria and select the CAR story that best illustrates how you match what they want. Let’s say they are looking for someone with team leader experience. In the CAR story I used above, you could tweak it to emphasize how you worked with a team to get those results. Example: “Lead a cross-functional team challenged with developing an intranet-based sales support system. Despite initial resistance, the team successfully launched the distributor’s sales support system, under budget and on deadline.”

Once you have the resume finished –or even 80 percent finished—it’s time to take it on the road. Call and email your colleagues, friends, vendors and suppliers from your former job, former managers…anyone who can give you their opinion about it. Ask them to be honest when they evaluate it. This achieves several purposes. Not only are you getting great advice on how to market yourself; you are starting the networking process.

People will become vested in your job hunt if you ask their opinions and advice. Ask who you should be meeting with and what online sites would be best for building your network and searching for jobs. Ask them to refer you to people they know for more advice and input. Don’t ever ask anyone in your network,” Do you have a job?” You don’t want to pressure them and all they will do is back off. If your resume is filled with CAR stories, and you talk about your CAR stories in your informational interviews, people will want to help you by introducing you to even more people.

Most people still find jobs through people who introduce them to other people—not by sitting home surfing the net and sending out resumes. If you find the idea of “networking” daunting, just think of it as starting with the people who know you and building out in concentric circles from them. There are probably Six Degrees of Separation between your closest associates and your next employer.

- Joan Lloyd

Do you need answers to tough job hunting questions? Are you looking for some added punch to help you stand out from the crowd? Joan Lloyd’s has developed job hunting tools that can help you to maximize your job search:

About Joan Lloyd

Joan Lloyd & Associates provide

Joan Lloyd’s management, career & job hunting tools

subscription to receive Joan’s article by “Special Delivery”

Email Joan at mailto:info@joanlloyd.com to: submit your question, for consideration for publication, request permission to reprint an article for distribution, or for information about carrying Joan Lloyd’s weekly column in your publication, or on your Internet or Intranet site. © Joan Lloyd & Associates, Inc.

Source: http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/crossroads/index.htm?op=view&id=4657&newslett\ er_id=1051&archive=1

]]> http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-are-your-job-hunting-skills-rusty/feed/ 0 http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/pastors-column/give-poor-parenting-a-time-out/ http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/pastors-column/give-poor-parenting-a-time-out/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:47:40 +0000 belinda http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/?p=1219 U.S. Catholic Magazine. I thought it deserved a rerun because it contains a lot of wisdom. Please share it with parents still raising children. Continue reading →]]> This is a reprint of my column from three years ago which a very few of you may remember. It consists of excerpts from an interview given by Barbara Coloroso to U.S. Catholic Magazine. I thought it deserved a rerun because it contains a lot of wisdom. Please share it with parents still raising children.

Coloroso, a former Franciscan nun and parent, has served as a classroom teacher, a laboratory school instructor, and a university instructor. She has written two international bestsellers: Kids Are Worth It! Giving Your Child the Gift of Inner Discipline (Avon Books, 1994) and Parenting Through Crisis: Helping Kids in Times of Loss, Grief and Change (Harper Resource, 2001) and provides resources on her website www.kidsareworthit,com.

Coloroso is an internationally recognized speaker and author in the areas of parenting, teaching, school discipline, nonviolent conflict resolution, and reconciliatory justice. She is an educational consultant for school districts, the criminal justice system, and educational associations in the United Sates, Canada, Europe, South America, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and Iceland.

In her work and as a mother of three, Coloroso’s goal is to raise kids with inner discipline and inner virtue. “I want to teach kids to stand up for values and against injustices and not be easily led.”

Barbara Coloroso holds kids in high esteem. She believes in them and knows what they’re capable of. This profound respect for children underlies all her work with parents, teachers, and school administrators.

The following are excerpts from some of the questions U.S. Catholic asked Coloroso.

What do kids really need from their parents?

We have to look at what our goal is in parenting. Is it to control and make children obey us? Or is it to empower and influence them? My goal is to empower and influence them in a way that they will become responsible, resourceful, resilient, and compassionate human beings who know how to think, not just what to think. We need to raise children who can stand up for values and against injustices, who are not easily led, who don’t do things to please others.

All my work with parents and kids is based on three philosophical tenets. The first is, “Kids are worth it.” They’re worth the time, the energy, the resources it takes to help them become all that they can become. Second, “I won’t treat them in a way I myself would not want to be treated.” I went through the nine major religions of the world and found that tenet in each one. It’s not new stuff; this is of the ages. The third tenet is, “If a technique works and leaves my dignity and my child’s dignity intact, I’ll use it.”

I’ll take anybody’s technique, and there are a lot of them around, and bounce it off those three philosophical tenets. If it won’t bounce, I don’t care who said it or what kind of research is behind it, I’m not going to use it.

The goal is to give your child the gift of inner discipline. That takes years and years of giving kids responsibilities and letting them make choices and decisions that have been guided by you with limits and boundaries that grow smaller and smaller over time.

Does this approach come naturally to parents? It seems that many parents go about raising kids in a reflexive rather than reflective manner. What was done to them, they continue to do.

We all have a parenting toolbox in our heads, compliments of the parents who raised us, the community we grew up in, and the culture we live in. People who grow up in vital, functioning, healthy families and communities can reach into their parenting toolbox and pull out a hammer; and it will serve them well. Those of us who came from less than vital, functioning, healthy families will often reach in for a hammer and pull out a hatchet, and we make a mess of whatever we’re trying to do.

My role as a parenting educator is to help people replace the family heirloom tools that aren’t working and keep the ones that are good—because if you’re functioning today, something went right. If we don’t replace the ones that don’t serve us well and replace them with something that works, when we’re tired and worn out and frustrated, even though we said we wouldn’t hit our kid, that comes out as a reflex.

What should parents do when they do react with the wrong tool?

When we’ve blown it, we need to pull back and say to our kids, “I’ve made a mistake.”

Won’t that undermine your authority?

On the contrary. If you say, “I need a time-out here to calm down and to come up with something that makes sense—and I will,” you accomplish two things. You teach that when you make a mistake, you own it and fix it. You don’t blame it on your kids or others. And you also model how when they make a mistake, they can own it and fix it.

Now if every day you’re saying, “Kids, I’ve blown it,” you better get help. Because sometimes you need help to break out of the old patterns.

Is there a difference between punishment and discipline?

We often use those terms as if they’re synonymous, and they’re not. Punishment is imposed from without, arouses resentment, and basically teaches kids to respond with fear, fighting back, or fleeing. People often think that if they don’t punish, their children are just going to run wild. But there is a middle ground called discipline. The Latin roots of discipline mean, “to give life to learning,” and that’s our goal.

What’s different about discipline?

Discipline accomplishes four things that punishment will never do: It shows kids what they’ve done wrong; it gives them ownership of the problem; it gives them ways to solve the problem; and it leaves their dignity intact.

Can you give an example?

Our son in grade three did something that wasn’t on the approved behavior list on a field trip. He broke the beaver bait jar at the Natural History Museum. I was pleased that he wasn’t punished. He wasn’t paddled, which is still allowed in my state and 23 other states in this country. He wasn’t sent to the principal’s office, he didn’t have to write 550 times “I will never break a beaver bait jar” and he didn’t get banned from the next field trip.

What did happen?

His teacher wisely said, “Joe, you have a serious problem, I know you can handle it.” Joe had to write a letter to the Natural History Museum. He had to replace the beaver bait jar, and before he could go on another field trip he had to have a written plan of how he would handle his feet, hands, and mouth creatively and constructively on the next field trip.

I tell you, replacing that beaver bait jar was a trip unto itself—beaver bait is female beaver urine. So you can bet he’ll never break a beaver bait jar again! The Saturday morning he went with the game warden, he got up early and happily got his little knapsack ready. Then the game warden very patiently explained to Joe how he had to collect female beaver urine. Joe’s eyes got huge, and he looked at me, looked at his dad, and said “I have to do that?” I thought the game warden’s comment was classic: “Well, I didn’t break the beaver bait jar.”

So what happened here? He was shown what he had done wrong, given ownership of the problem, given ways to solve it, and his dignity was left intact. Did he have fun? Yes. And this really burns people who are into punishment. How dare a kid have a good time fixing the mess he’s in!

What about when misbehavior turns more serious?

Many communities and schools today are moving toward zero tolerance policies, which I think represents zero thinking. If any kid does anything wrong, he or she gets punished rather than disciplined—sometimes severely punished.

When the incident involves mayhem, or the potential for mayhem, I continue to advocate discipline, but I add three “R ‘s” to it: restitution, resolution, and reconciliation, which constitutes reconciliatory justice. In other words, you have to fix what you did, figure out how you’re going to keep it from happening again, and heal with the people you’ve harmed. That third step is not a part of Western culture, by and large, but it’s in all of our faith traditions.

How does this play out in the home?

OK, say a 5-year-old bops his younger brother over the head when his little brother won’t share a toy. Liz Loescher from the Conflict Center has a motto, “Conflict is inevitable, violence is not.” And so you say to the older boy, “It’s all right for you to be angry; it’s not all right for you to hit your brother. You need to take a time-out-to calm down. You can calm down in your rocker, your room, or on my lap.”

You give them choices?

I always like to give kids three choices. You give a strong-willed child two choices, and they’ll try to figure out which one you want them to do and they’ll do the other just to spite you. So I give them three. Rocker, room, or my lap. And the lap option really upsets people who are into behavior modification because it seems like a reward. But as Catholics we should be models of God to our children, and God is always there, in the good times or the rough times. So parents, be there when they need you.

Does the choice technique work?

Well, a really strong-willed child may say, “I’m not moving.” And I just look at that kid and know that wisdom went out the window and all I’ve got left is wit in parenting. And I’ll say, “You know what? That’s a really good place to calm down too. I hadn’t thought of that one.”

That works because the goal is to get the child to calm down, not to get him to go where I told him to go. The goal is to teach inner discipline. So when the time-out is finished, the process begins.

There’s more?

Many time-out programs are just going through the motions—the time-out, the “I’m sorry,” and that’s it. That’s not enough. I even had a woman tell me her son was on a great time-out program. “He hits his sister and goes and sits. I don’t even have to tell him any more.” And I wonder, “Who’s conning whom?”

Now, once the child has calmed down, the work starts. If you threw a toy across the room, now is the time to pick it up. If you wrote on the wall, now is the time to clean it up. And some offenses are hard to fix—like shunning another person, or verbally or physically abusing someone. In those cases it starts with an apology, “I’m sorry.” But that only goes so far.

I saw one elementary school teacher explain it well to her students. She took a block of wood and hammered a nail in it. She said, “Every time I hit this I want you to think of a time you shunned or verbally abused or physically abused somebody.” She pounded away at the nail. Then she pulled out the nail and said, “This is the ‘I’m sorry.’ But,” she asked, “what are we going to do with the hole that’s still left in the wood? When you abuse another person or shun them, you make a hole in that other person that ‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t fix.”

So what’s the next step?

The second step is for the child to figure out how he or she is going to keep it from happening again. All children will typically say, “I won’t do it again.” But what I want to know is what you will do when you want your brother’s toy and he doesn’t want to give it to you. And this is where our teaching comes in. Giving life to learning.

And the third step is the one that is so critical and often left out of most time-out programs. Over and above restitution, you must go to the person you’ve harmed and offer something to them to heal them.

So I say to the older one, “Your brother didn’t get off to such a good start today getting bopped over the head. What can you do to help him have a better day?” And the older boy says, “He likes being pulled in the wagon.” So here’s the 5-year-old pulling the 3-year-old in the wagon, the 5-year-old knowing his own goodness and the 3-year-old knowing his brother’s goodness. And they’re healed—only to go back and fight later in the day, because it’s normal for kids to fight.

If we could go through those three steps in our judicial system and in conflicts with our neighbors, there would be so much more healing.

And they need signs of affection?

Kids need a smile, a hug, and humor every day in rough times. In the days after 9/11, I saw many articles about whether we can get our humor back, if we can ever laugh again. Laughter is very healing, so we need to laugh with our children.

How do you convey optimism while grieving?

I’m not talking about a rose-colored-glasses type of optimism here, where everything is all right with the world. Optimism doesn’t deny anger, frustration, sadness, or intense sorrow. It is willing to give each one its due, but only its due.

I marvel when people say America lost its innocence on September 11. That was lost a long time ago. It’s our sense of safety that’s been lost. And in that sense we need to be able to get through our dark night of the soul, get up in the morning, fix our children breakfast, and say to them, “We’re going to make it through this.” And we will get through it, though we may never get over it.

There’s a difference?

“Getting over it” and “closure” are words we need to be rid of anytime there is a major loss. People say, “How do I help my children handle a divorce?” I tell them they’re using the wrong word. You handle losing your mittens. You get through a divorce. And you don’t get over it.

My daughter put it so beautifully after her cancer. She said, “That’s a big ugly thread in my tapestry, but I won’t let it frame my life.” We all have ugly threads in our tapestries, they just can’t frame our lives. That’s the kind of optimism we need to model and teach to our kids.

Reprinted by permission of U.S. Catholic magazine (http://www.uscatholic.org). U.S. Catholic is published by the Claretians. Call 1-800-328-6515.

Reflection Questions:

What spoke to you most in the above article? What challenged you most? Was there anything said that you disagreed with? Share with your spouse or another parent.

Catholic Appeal Update

Our assessment is $281,000. Last weekend 357 parishioners pledged for a total of $107,000. Thank you.

Have a blessed week,

tobin2@live.com

]]> http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/pastors-column/give-poor-parenting-a-time-out/feed/ 0 http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/pastors-column/hhs-mandate/ http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/pastors-column/hhs-mandate/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:35:33 +0000 belinda http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/?p=1213 Continue reading →]]>
I believe that we should not allow the government or the liberal media to frame this as merely a contraceptive issue (90+% of Catholics do not follow this teaching of our church). Rather, we need to fight this issue because it is another attack by the government on religious liberty and conscience. It is amazing that the government is attacking an institution that has been a champion of healthcare benefits for all, an institution whose hospitals care for one out of six Americans, an institution that does provide very good health insurance for its employees who work 30 hours or more a week. Now the government sees fit to seek to force our church to include in our healthcare benefits abortifacients often called ’the morning after pill’.

Let me be clear, I am not one of those priests who believes that it is a sin to vote for a pro-choice candidate (unless of course one is voting for the candidate because he is pro-choice. That would be a serious sin). There are many issues to consider when one goes into a voting booth and while the abortion issue is certainly a huge issue, there are many other issues as well—such as, which candidate has policies that will provide for the poorest of our people (high on Jesus list). Our concern is not just for the unborn, but also for the already born.

Having said the above, I am personally outraged at this attempt by the government to attack the moral beliefs of a church that does so much good for millions and millions of our people. I believe every person who values religious liberty and doesn’t want the government attacking the beliefs of his church, should fight this issue. It has been said “all that is needed for evil to succeed is for good people to stand by and do nothing”. I hope, when it comes to this issue, we will not be guilty of standing by and doing nothing. Make no mistake: this is not a case of furthering women’s health benefits, as the administration’s spin would have us believe, it is a case of ordering the violation of conscience. If unchecked, what will they dictate next?

Concerning this issue, our Bishop John Noonan has written the following letter to the people of our diocese.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people – the Catholic population – and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.
In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

We cannot – we will not – comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build American’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God-given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.
And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing: with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting:

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/index.cfm to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision. (End of letter)

1.Focus on your “transferable skills.”

When you change careers the focus will be on the “soft” skills – referred to as “transferable” or “portable” skills. These are skills you have used at any and every job or situation you have been in, including volunteer work and school.

Examples of transferable skills are: communication skills, ability to work with a diversity of people, ability to plan and organize, time management, analytical problem solving, customer service skills, etc.

Make a list of your transferable skills, keeping in mind that these are the skills you could use regardless of what company you worked at, or what position you are applying for. A good source of desirable transferable skills can be found in job postings. Print out several postings and highlight words that reoccur. These are “key traits” that the employer is seeking – don’t underestimate them.

2.Find your uniqueness.

Each candidate is unique. What makes you unique? Think about your personality and your personal traits. One of the things that the interviewer is looking for is “someone to fit in” – who is likeable with the ability to work well with other team members. Your personal traits could be the tie-breaker between you and an equally qualified candidate. Think of at least five personal traits that make you unique. Some examples are: friendly, flexible, quick learner, reliable, responsible, easy to get along with, detail-oriented, loyal, etc.

3.Believe in yourself.

Once you have established what you have to offer, you will begin to see the value you can bring to the job. When you believe in yourself and the fact that you have something of value to offer, it will be easier to show confidence and to convince the employer that you can do the job. Any sales person will tell you that when you believe in your product and its reliability it is far easier to sell and influence someone to buy.

4.Listen and read between the lines.

Prepare five to ten questions to ask about the company. The best questions will come from your ears. It is also important to listen to what is said as a way of formulating questions. For example, if several of the questions they asked you centered around a certain topic, for instance “databases,” be sure to ask questions about the database and the challenges and the problems with the database. Showing an interest by asking questions demonstrates your interest in the company.

5.Prepare stories about your past experiences.

When you can show examples of past successes, you will have a better chance of showing the interviewer that you have used similar skills in past jobs, even if the job duties are different.

Changing careers is not easy to do in any market, but in a tight job market it will take that extra step to differentiate yourself from the next candidate. Remember, the employer has a problem – there is work to be done. It is your job to listen to what the interviewer is looking for and then to sell yourself as the solution to the problem. Letting the interviewer know you heard and understand the job will make you appear more interested in what is going on at the company, and in turn will make you appear to be a more viable choice as the best person for the job.

- Carole Martin

Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and an interview coach. Her books, “Interview Fitness Training Workbook” and “Boost Your Interview IQ” (McGraw Hill) have sold thousands of copies world-wide. Receive Carole’s FREE job interview tips by visiting her web site at: www.interviewcoach.com

Source: http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/crossroads/index.htm?op=view&id=4641&newslett\ er_id=1047&archive=1

]]> http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-changing-careers-basic-preparation/feed/ 0 http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-new-years-resolutions-for-job-seekers/ http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-new-years-resolutions-for-job-seekers/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:52:26 +0000 suzanne http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/?p=1209 Continue reading →]]> It’s 2012 in case you hadn’t noticed. Did you make your New Year’s resolutions and, more to the point perhaps, have you already broken them? That’s the trouble with good intentions – our actions (or inactions) often mean that we quickly start falling short of our lofty goals and then, frustrated with ourselves, we simply give up.

However, don’t worry. There’s still plenty of the year left in which some very worthwhile job-seeking goals can be reached through a few straightforward resolutions. These are ones which you can definitely keep and which will dramatically boost your chances of finding worthwhile and lasting work.

For example: have you checked your resume through thoroughly? Are all of your contact details current? An employer faced with more job applications than they know what to do with is not going to waste their time trying to figure out if you’ve accidentally reversed two digits in your phone number or that you’ve left a full-stop out of the name in your email address. If they draw a blank with their first attempt, they’ll just write `Can’t be contacted’ on your application and that will be the last you ever hear of them. Your first resolution is that, having got your resume up-to-date, you’ll now keep it that way for the rest of 2012 and hopefully beyond.

Your second New Year’s resolution should be to make sure your cover letter is always targeted towards the specific job you are actually applying for. Too many job applications arrive in front of employers looking like they’ve been generated in a huge batch before being summarily stuffed in the nearest envelope irrespective of its color, condition, or size. While there is really no need for expensive hand-made vellum stationery, using good qualify white or maize-colored paper and envelopes is professional looking and more tactile to the interviewer. Decide that you will carefully dispose of your old resumes, and that you will henceforth only use the right size envelopes.

The third New Year’s resolution is to just get out there and never say die. When you’ve had the door shut in your face more times than you can remember, it’s all too easy to concede defeat. However, faint heart never won fair lady and if you don’t persevere, you definitely won’t succeed. Decide that, despite what may have gone before, 2012 is the year that you’ll be truly pro-active.

To complement your pro-active resolution, make a list of all the companies who might have suitable job vacancies, get together a bespoke package for each of them, and then pay them a visit during their off-peak hours. This would normally mean avoiding Monday mornings or Friday afternoons, first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening, and the day before or after a Public Holiday. When you arrive, ask if there is a relevant manager you could see and, even if you are turned away, get the person’s name, a direct phone number, and their job title. Leave your cover letter and resume and then, a day or two later, call at an off-peak time to see if they’ve got it and if there is any possibility of coming along – not for an interview, but just for a quick informal chat and an opportunity to see the company. While this may seem one step back from an interview, you will be making a potentially valuable contact and also personalizing your application.

Don’t let a refusal put you off. Accept it politely, dust yourself off, and move on to the next.

Your fourth resolution is to network. If you don’t already do this, you are missing out on an estimated three-quarters or more of all job vacancies. Incredible, isn’t it? In this age of instant electronic communication, it still isn’t a case of `what you know’, it’s more `who you know’.

Networking can be very enjoyable as well as rewarding. The thing to bear in mind is that you cannot tell which contact is going to come up trumps – that’s part of the fun of it. Dead certs prove lemons and long shots romp home. That’s the basic law of networking, therefore `throw no-one away’ must be the rule of the day. Faithfully record the name, phone number and email address of every contact you make in either a `Little Black Book’ or on a spreadsheet and, having gone this far, keep in touch with them.

Make sure you’re going the right way.

My fifth and final New Year’s Resolution is aimed at the long-term unemployed. If you’re unfortunate enough to live in an area with high unemployment or one where your skills are no longer in demand, finding work can be tough; very tough. If you haven’t already tried it, I’d like you to start thinking laterally. Go back to basics. I know it’s stating the obvious but answer the question “Why do I need to go to work?”

It’s the money of course. But just consider the bottom line instead of how the sum’s arrived at. What I’m suggesting is that, if you can’t find full-time work, why not piece together a combination of part-time and temporary jobs propped up with some work from home? There are plenty of jobs which can be done without leaving the house and, even if they aren’t particularly well-paid, there are no associated traveling costs nor wasted commuting time to consider. Think it’s a silly idea? If so, read one of my earlier blogs about the cash benefit of working from home and you’ll see how it stacks up.

Getting the right job isn’t just a numbers game; it’s also a case of hitting the mark. It’s a bit like one of the underlying principles behind self-defense where a small force applied with accuracy can overcome a much larger force which lacks discipline or direction.

The Boss ran an employment agency for 12 years before selling it to a rival company. During the years of his directorship, the business received over 15,000 job applications and had nearly 1,000 active outworkers at any one time. Before that, The Boss was a senior officer in marketing and management. As a key part of his work, he has both devised aptitude tests and interviewed extensively. He is now a busy careers journalist working from home.

- Heather Eagar

Recognized as a leading expert in the employment search industry, Heather Eagar is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. If you need to hire a resume writing service, Heather offers reviews of the top companies in the industry at www.ResumeLines.com

Source: http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/crossroads/index.htm?op=view&id=4640&newslett\ er_id=1047&archive=1

]]> http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-new-years-resolutions-for-job-seekers/feed/ 0 http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-one-resume-technique-makes-you-stand-out/ http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-one-resume-technique-makes-you-stand-out/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:49:26 +0000 suzanne http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/?p=1206 Continue reading →]]> A Human Resources Manager, working at a Fortune 500 company, asked for my help in writing her resume. She told me: “Thousands of resumes have passed through my hands but when it comes to writing my own I have a difficult time doing it.” She isn’t alone in her concerns. Most people find resume writing challenging. A resume is nothing more than a slick piece of advertising, but an important piece, especially in today’s job market.

Employers report that most resumes get only a 15-20 second glance. If you don’t capture the reviewer’s attention and interest quickly they will pass you by and call in someone else for the interview.

There is one effective technique that you can use that dramatically improves your resume. In our national survey of 600 hiring managers, the overwhelming majority said the most important part of your resume is the SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS section. Employers reported that this was one of the very first areas they read and when the summary demonstrates solid ability to perform the job it catches their attention and they slow down and give the applicant more careful consideration.

Hiring managers also reported only about 5% of resumes received contained this key section, and I never write a resume without it. It’s just too powerful to leave out. This section usually consists of four to six sentences that present an overview of your experience, accomplishments, talents, work habits, and skills. Think of it as a mini-outline of you; a highly influential summation of the specifics you bring to the job.

Here is a good example from one of the resumes I wrote for a client:

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Proven track record serving as corporate counsel with eight years experience dealing with intellectual property and partnerships in a global environment. Responsible for a broad range of legal matters including: copyright and trademark protection, contract negotiations, compliance, and litigation. Led legal team in completing sophisticated joint venture negotiations that delivered millions to the company’s bottomline. Recognized for superior problem-solving, project management, relationship building, and strategic planning skills.

It’s easy to see by reading this brief summary how this candidate is qualified to perform as a corporate attorney. Indeed, she got several interviews and accepted a Fortune 100 company’s offer, which included a very significant salary raise and signing bonus.

The SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS, which speaks volumes by consolidating the best you have to bring to the job, really makes you stand out and pulls the employer in for a closer look. Be sure that your resume has this essential section. It comes right after your name, address and career objective. One caution – employers complain that many people lie on their resume. Exaggeration! Misrepresentation! LYING is a deadly error. Don’t do it! Employers do more background checks now than ever before so when you get caught, and sooner or later you will get exposed, you’ll likely be fired. Only solid facts and verifiable experience should highlight your experience and accomplishments.

- Robin Ryan

Career Counselor and Best-Selling Author

America’s most popular career counselor, Robin Ryan, is the author of four bestselling books: 60 Seconds & You’re Hired!, Winning Resumes, Winning Cover Letters, and What to Do with the Rest of Your Life. She’s appeared on over a thousand TV & radio shows including Oprah, Dr. Phil, and has been published in most major newspapers and magazines including USA Today & the Wall Street journal. Contact her at 425.226.0414; email: info@robinryan.com.

Copyright 2012 Robin Ryan. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/crossroads/index.htm?op=view&id=4639&newslett\ er_id=1047&archive=1

]]> http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-one-resume-technique-makes-you-stand-out/feed/ 0 http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-things-to-avoid-in-an-interview/ http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/js-resources/3-articles-new-things-to-avoid-in-an-interview/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:45:53 +0000 suzanne http://www.ascensioncatholic.net/?p=1203 Continue reading →]]> In a job interview, always remember that your first impact is your last impact. Even a small mistake can turn out to be very pricey for your career. Every individual tries to be at their best for an interview, but sometimes we underestimate the small things. The ultimate goal of the interview is to get a good job, so be well prepared on both the job and the company. Below are a few small things you should follow before and during the interview.

•Don’t be a clock watcher as it annoys and distracts the interviewer. If you are sincere about the job you have applied for, give it your full attention.

•Don’t turn up for an interview without knowing anything about the company. You should be well prepared for the job you are applying for and the company.

•If you have a criminal background, speak to the interviewer before applying for that job. If they still wish to work with you then go for it!

•Interview attire is one of the most important parts of an interview. Get one or two professional suits for different rounds of interviews. Men should go for two or three piece suits and women should go for a skirt and blouse, with or without a jacket.

•Never show up late for an interview. Be on time, or even better, early. It shows your real interest in the opportunity and respect for the interviewer’s time.

•Some interviews are executed during lunch or dinner hours. Avoid drinking alcohol even if the interviewer offers.

•Stay away from using slang. Jargon used in your particular field is of course fine, such as medical jargon or technical language.

•Never lie about your education or previous work experience. Employers can and will verify this information.

- Jennifer Anthony

Jennifer Anthony is the Director of ResumeASAP,offering professional and affordable resume writing services.

www.ResumeASAP.com

If you have comments about this article, or if you are interested in learning more about professional resume writing, please contact Jennifer Anthony by e-mail (resumeasap@gmail.com).

Source: http://www.net-temps.com/careerdev/crossroads/index.htm?op=view&id=4638&newslett\ er_id=1047&archive=1

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