Positive Mantra

1. What is a resume?
It's a tool which gets you to the employer's table. It bags an interview for you, not a job. It's not a biographical piece of work or a confessional.

2. What's a resume about ?
It's all about you - your education, employments, accomplishments. A true resume predicts the way you'd perform in the next job.

3. How to make my resume refreshing ?
Remove every sentence that starts with " my responsibilites included" and replace them with accomplishments at the workplace.

4. What's the commonest mistake made in resumes ?
Lack of a 'job objective'. You must reveal a sense of direction or your exployer would have to use the paper shredder.

5. How to start a resume ?
Outline your job objective, then begin writing the resume.

6. What you should not put on a resume ?

A> The word "Resume" at the top of the resume.
B> Salary information.
C> Complete address of former employers.
D> Reasons for leaving previous job.
E> Personal saction
F> References
G> Father's name and occupation.

Use the resume to promote your new career objective. The resume, should reveal your passion for the job, the kind of work you were always searching for. They can't refuse someone with such an enthusiasm for a particular kind of job. Give a brief on how the interest crept up and how you kept it alive all these days.

7. Are summaries at the beginning of the resume good ?
Definitely. The employers gets the complete picture about you in a jiffy. Write about four to five lines only.

Write about your experience, relevant degree or training, achievements, strong skills and something uniquely personal.

Four successful years in marketing. MBA with emphasis on marketing. The top sales guy of the company for two years in the running. Extremely good at negotiating and closing corporate clients. Team man with lots of initiative and an unmatched drive for success.

8. Should my resume be in the chronological format or the skill-based functional one ?
The chronological format is fine if you're continuing in the same field and moving up in your career, especially if your work history shows continuous progress.

The functional resume works better when you're changing fields.

9. What skills areas should I put on my resume ?
The skills must relate to the job being applied for. Read the recruitment advertisement carefully to find out what the employer wants, find out what the employer wants, then design your resume to suit the employer's needs.

10. What if I have stuck to one employer for a long time ?
You can show how you have grown in the organization. List job titles and accomplishments. Focus on the changing responsibilities, your ability to handle them with success and the continuous growth in your career graph.

11. What if I'm overqualified for a job ?
Be smart, its not necessary to list all your academic achievements and degrees in the resume. Use headings like "Relevant Work History" or "Recent Work History" and give only as many years of work experience desired for the job you're applying for. The same thing about education. Even if you are a Ph.D, use "Relevant Education" to show that you're MA/ M Sc. Once you get to the interviewer's table, you can convince them about your candidature.

12. How can I put my summer part-time jobs on my resume ?
Summer part-time jobs, summer internships, summer weekends could be used to explain your early ambitions, sense of responsibility (say you footed a part of your school or college fees through this).

13. What if I haven't completed my degree as yet or I'm waiting for my results ?
Use BE due in may 2000 or degree anticipated soon or BA, Loyola College, Chennai pending.

14. What about gaps in my work history ?
Don't hide things. Be positive about what you were doing.

15. What if I have different job objectives ?
One size does not fit all. Design a resume, say for marketing, using skills and accomplishments that the job requires. If you're applying for a career in software, change it accordingly. Show up computer skills, team work, initiative etc.

16. Should I put an objective at the top of my resume or not ?
An objective is a must. It reveals your ambition. Employers don't spend more than 30 seconds going through resumes. It would be disastrous to ask him to find out your objective by going through your entire resume.

I want to work in a new field in which I have a lot of interest but little or no experience.

17. How should I design my resume ?

Work experience
This part will trigger most of the questions during the interview. Here your responsibilites, accomplishments, and professional achievements must be put down succintly. List the dates of your employment, name of the organisation, and a brief description of your accomplishments. Begin with your recent job first.

18. What if I have gaps in my employment history ?
You must be prepated to face the question at the interview. Be honest. Most interviewers appreciate this.

19. I have been working for many years, do I have to include all my jobs ?
Choose only the jobs relevant to the one applied for. Keep the resume brief. Things can be explained at the interview.

20. If I've had only one job, and it is not directly related to the job I'm applying for should I list it ?
Definitely. Put down the accomplishments in that job. This could point to the stuff you have.

Computer skills
In this 'Internet Age', computer skills are mandatory. Prospective employers would like to know what specific packages you have experience in. List the software package and the version. If you were responsible for setting up any systems, writing programs, or training employees on software, you must include that. All formal training in software packages should be listed.

Publications
This category is necessary when applying in the academic or research areas. Title of articles, magazine / news papers / journal published in should be listed. Books authored should be highlighted.

Professional Memberships
Professional licenses, memberships at professional organizations and awards received from such bodies must be listed.

Education
For those applying for their first job, this is vital.

Start with your most recent degree first. It should include the degree awarded, major, date of graduation. High school should not be listed on a resume once you have completed a degree, unless the school where you studied is very prestigous enough to merit the attention of your employers.

In case you have done some part-time job to fund your studies, it could be mentioned here. Those who have a few years of experience must put the work education section first, if it relates to the career objective or else shift the education section below work experience. Avoid giving percentage of marks, unless its exceptional.

Just follow these steps and we are sure with your winning resume, you will get your DREAM JOB :-)
Good Luck...!!!

Posted by JayRaj at 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Listen to them

Everyone has a lot to say about their triumphs, tragedies and dreams. People want to be heard. And the one who listens in earnest is bound to gain the honour of being a good friend. Sometimes it could be a joke, a personal problem or an opinion on something. By providing an outlet to someone's thoughts and emotions, you help the person feel good, after he has unwinded his thoughts. You may not be able to solve his problem, but you can give him a feeling of being wanted.

Learn to appreciate

Compliments create a feeling of goodness. It's a positive stroke on the person's confidence. It's a stimulant to self esteem. You needn't wait for someone to scale Mount Everest to pat his back. It could be a new hairstyle or salwar kameez, a task completed, small favour done or even a joke well told.

Take them with their faults

Nobody is perfect, there will be flaws of one or another kind - laziness, forgetfulness, lying about small things, not fulfilling promises, being behind the clock, short-tempered or selfishness. Infact, you yourself may have some flaws in you. One must be like a mother who loves her child despite all this. Don't encourage them when they are at fault. Learn to put them on the right track, but over a period of time. Tell him it's quite normal, but he'd be better off without it. This way they'll not only respect you, but look upon you for help and advice.

Take the lead

People always rally behind leaders, who are the cynosure of the group. Whether it's a friend birthday bash, a community clean-up operation, raising resources to help someone, pulling your friend through a tragedy, organising a cricket match or arranging an electrician to repair a neighbour's fan, take the initiative and people will remember the gesture.

Care for the small things

Friends always remember a nice gesture, a kind word or gentle remark more than anything else. The first call on her birthday, the shoulder lent on the day he failed to crack a big interview, a joke that soothed a friend's tense nerves, coming to his rescue during a heated argument with colleagues, or a compliment on her dress sense, are all unforgettable moments. Have a good word for all, anytime, anywhere. They could soothe a tensed nerve, put a smile back in place or restore confidence in someone. Don't forget birthdays, go back on promise or fail to keep an appointment. Erase bad memories of friendship.

Posted by JayRaj at 01:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Your friend has become pregnant. How does the news reach you.

A> She invites you to a cup of tea and breaks the news to you.
B> You meet her husband who says "we're now three in the family".
C> You bump into her at the gynaecologist's place, where you've gone to undo the wrongs of your boyfriend.

When you're in financial trouble, do friends

A> Say "I'm in the same boat".
B> Advise you to go to the pawn broker, when your wife is asleep.
C> Help you with even the pocketmoney, or atleast accompany you to the nearest Countrywide Finance office.

When friends plan a party, do they

A> Invite you as a replacement for someone who's unable to come.
B> Put your name on the organising committee's list.
C> Tell you after the party that someone told them you were sick.

When you call a friend's place on a Sunday. Does he tell you...

A> He's busy playing with the cat.
B> Picks up the phone and say's "Wrong number".
C> "Its nice to hear your voice dear".

Do friends seek you...

A> When they need some money to go bowling.
B> When their spirits are down.
C> When they're downed by spirit.

When you drop in at a friend's place. Does he...

A> Ask you "how come this side yaar".
B> Comes to the door to welcome you.
C> Invites you in and then tells his wife "We're leaving in five minutes to Mr. Kuppusamy's house".

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Answers

1> A 2> C 3> B 4> C 5> B 6> B

Scores

5 and above Good. Friends indeed love you.
Below 5 only you Love your Friends.

Posted by JayRaj at 07:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Most of us experience tension headaches under extreme stress, anxiety, conflict or tension. The other type of tension headache is caused by chronic anxiety or hidden depression. Most often there's no reason to worry. Just follow these tips.

1> Take a few deep breaths and relax on a sofa. This may relieve your headache. Take a deep breath, hold it and then slowly let your head, arms and shoulder relax, as you exhale.

2> Brush your tension headache off. Put hair brush on your right temple and brush in small circles, working towards the back of your head. Repeat it on the other side. Then brush in small circles from the top of the head towards the back of the head. Brushing improves the blood circulation in the head, the lack of which may be causing the headache.

3> Exercising is a great way to keep off tension headaches. It tones up the system, improves circulation and generally makes you feel good.

4> Shut your eyes and relax. Just imagine you are lazing on a hammock close to a lake by the mountains. Hear the birds chirp and the wind rustle through the trees. In a few minutes your tension world have dissolved by the healing powers of the mind.

5> Take a walk. Many doctors suggest walking as a way to reduce tension headaches, since the body releases endorphin, the natural painkillers.

Posted by JayRaj at 12:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Learn simple and easy techniques for improving memory.

1> You must take interest in what you want to remember, A student must be interested in what he studies, to recall things during an exam.

2> Concentrate. Do one thing at a time. When you're studying or working focus on the task at hand, instead of letting your mind wander on family problems or unfinished weekly reports.

3> Learn to relax. Before you read, research, analyse or work on your computer, take a few deep breaths to soothe your nerves.

4> Stop worrying and start remembering. Memory problems are often not directly related to concentration, but due to a worry or problem nagging you. Solve the problem first and you'll be able to remember things better.

5> Unless you want to remember something, you're most likely to forget it. You must tell yourself that these are details you would want to store in your memory.

6> Understand what you learn. This way you'll remember things better.

7> Read aloud so that the sound registered will help you remember.

8> Telling yourself that you CAN remember is vital.

9> Do not overload your memory. Take periodic breaks while preparing for your exam or public speaking contest.

10> Repeat at regular intervals what you want to read.

11> Take notes and refer them often.

12> If you can't remember something, just let it pass over. You will most probably remember it a little later.

13> When you can't remember something, just sit down in a quiet corner and think of things associated with the person, number or event you want to recall. Chances are you'll stumble upon your answer.

14> Try to associate what you'd like to remember with something similar or contrasting.

15> Use a memory peg. For example, I remember a friend's phone number (2356493) like this. 235 is the exchange number. 64 is the year in which he was born (1964, I mean). And we joined the same company in 93 (1993). This way, till date I haven't forgotten his number.

Posted by JayRaj at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Are you embarrassed at a party being unable to remember a person you've met before? Do you have a problem in recalling numbers? Are you frustrated because you forget what you want to remember? Well, there is nothing to worry, your memory can be improved.

Why we forget?

Lack of concentration

Most often we fail to remember because we don't pay complete attention to what we want to remember. Attention is like focusing a lens while shooting an object. If the lens is not adjusted well, you don't get a clear picture.

If the original impression of something seen heard, touched or tasted has not been clear, the recall is bound to be distorted. So when you meet someone or attend a sales talk, pay attention to the activity so that you'll remember it later. Attend to one thing at a time, don't be thinking about something else.

Memory not refreshed

Most us tend to forget what we have learnt within a few hours. Unless we have recalled, refreshed and revised the matter.

So, the next time you don't want to forget something, just recall the face, words, situation or object regularly and you will remember it for a long time.

Interference

Sometimes what happened before an incident, or a period of learning, and what happened after interferes with our ability to remember. We tend to forget some things because we have learnt newer things subsequently.

Interference is greater when there is similarity between the recent learning and the past learning. People tend to remember a dream vividly when they wake up in the night, but fail to recall the same in the morning. The reason being the interference by some other dream that happened later.

Repression

There is natural tendency of the mind to forget certain incidents, mostly those that are painful, unpleasant, hurt our self-esteem or conflict with our values.

Sometimes what is repressed may not be unpleasant in itself, but might be associated with something unpleasant. A child may forget the math teacher's instructions about homework, but remember his aunt's promise to buy him chocolates.

Drugs

Those who swallow a lot of pills for various illnesses experience faulty memory over a period of time. Sometimes taking drugs without medical prescription could also damage our ability to remember.

Posted by JayRaj at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)