1. 10 Sticky Job Interview Situations and How to handle them 

Job interviewing can be an unnerving experience, but if you know how to handle some of the stickiest situations encountered in interviewing, you can be that much more confident. Here are 10 of the stickiest.

1. The Bad Interviewer. Not every professional who conducts job interviews with candidates knows how to conduct an interview effectively. In fact some are downright lousy at it. A bad interviewer might be unfocused, disinterested, unprepared. He or she might dominate the interview by doing all the talking or might ask inappropriate and illegal questions.

The unfocused, unprepared interviewer probably hasn’t read your resume and maybe can’t even find a copy. This miserable soul doesn’t even know what to ask you. Be sure to offer this disorganized interviewer a copy of your resume while asking, “May I take you through some highlights of my career?”

For inappropriate and illegal questions, see No. 6 below and try your hardest to keep the interview focused on your qualifications for the job.

 2. The "Tell Me about Yourself" Question. Of course, this question is not a question at all but a request for a command performance. It’s the most commonly asked interview question, yet it frequently still rattles interviewees. The trick is to make your response a brief summary of information that is specifically targeted to the job you’re interviewing for.

The interviewer is not looking for your autobiography and probably is not interested in your personal life unless aspects of it are relevant to the job you’re interviewing for.

 3. The "Weakness" Question. The conventional wisdom about responding to “What are your weaknesses?” used to be that the candidate should spin a weakness into a strength. Other approaches include offering a weakness that is inconsequential to the job or denying that you have any weaknesses that would stand in the way of your performing the job effectively. The former approach may work but be seen as shallow, while the last sometimes lacks credibility. After all, everyone has a weakness.

An approach that seems to work well is to talk about an area that was once a weakness but that you have worked to improve.

4. The "Why should I hire you?" Question. The unspoken part of this question is: “Why should I hire you [above all the other candidates]?” This is your chance to shine, to really make a sales pitch for yourself. Use your Unique Selling Proposition to describe what sets you apart from other candidates. The employer will make a significant investment in hiring and training you, so tell the interviewer that this investment will be justified.

5. "Off-the-wall" Questions, also known as "Wild Card" or "No-Right-   Answer" Questions.

Occasionally you’ll be asked an interview question that’s just downright weird and certainly doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the job. Others, unfortunately, ask them because they enjoy seeing interviewees feel shame. Still others are amused by the range of creative -- and not-so-creative -- responses they receive.

Don’t let an off-the-wall question rattle you. Take a moment to gather your thoughts and respond the best way you can. There is rarely a wrong answer to this type of question, but quick-thinking candidates can turn the response into an opportunity to impress the employer. A response given by one of my former students has always stuck in my head as being a standout answer.

6. Illegal Questions. It’s illegal to ask about age, marital status, children, childcare arrangements, and the like, but employers still do -- or come up with subtle ways to ask, such as by inquiring about when you graduated from high school/college.

7. Salary Questions. As a screening device, interviewers often ask early in the interview what salary you are looking for. If you ask for more than the employer is willing to pay (or occasionally, on the flip side, undervalue yourself), the interviewer can eliminate you before spending a lot of time with you. That’s why the best tactic for salary questions is to delay responding to them as long as possible -- ideally until after the employer makes an offer.

8. Questions about Being Terminated from a Previous Job. It’s always uncomfortable to be asked your reasons for leaving a job from which you were terminated. Don’t lie about it, but don’t dwell on it either. You could explain that you and the company were not a good fit, hence your performance suffered. Or that you and your supervisor had differing viewpoints. Emphasize what you learned from the experience that will prevent you from repeating it and ensure that you will perform well in the future.

9. Questions about Reasons for Leaving a Current Job. This question is similar to the previous question, even if you haven’t been fired. Responses about fit with the company and differing views from your supervisor can also work here, but remember never to trash a current employer. Always speak positively about past and present employers even if your experience has not been positive with them. Another good response in this situation is to say that you determined you had grown as much as you could in that job and you are ready for new challenges.

10. Questions about the Future. Interviewees are often asked, "Where do you see yourself in five (or 10) years?" Strike a delicate balance when responding to this kind of question, with just the right mix of honesty, ambition, and your desire to be working at this company long-term.

Avoid responses such as starting your own business, running for Congress, which suggest that you don’t plan to stay with the company.

It’s not totally inappropriate to mention the personal (marriage, family), but focus mainly on professional goals. Mention your career and company goals first, and tack on any mention of marriage and family at the end.

Final thoughts...

Job-seekers need to think of each interview question as an opportunity to showcase an accomplishment or strength. Every response should build momentum toward convincing the interviewer that you deserve to advance to the next level, whether that level is another round of interviews or a job offer.

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2. 5 Tips for Dealing with Jealous Co-worker

Many negative emotions can rear their ugly heads in the office, but one of the most common is jealousy. Most professionals have been on one side of the jealousy coin at one time or another. You know what it is like to feel slighted by the boss's constant praise of another employee or passed up for a deserved promotion. But being on the other side is just as troubling. If you are the target of office jealousy, it is probably coming your way simply because you are a stellar performer. So what can you do if a co-worker is out to get you just because you are enjoying some well-deserved success? Here are five tips to help you keep your sanity – and your success – in tact in the face of office jealousy.

1. Concentrate on being a team player.

Sometimes, we work so hard to earn that coveted promotion, special assignment or praise from the boss that we forget to pay attention to the environment around us. But even if you haven't ignored everyone on your team or tried to take all the praise, you probably can make more of an effort to think of others. For example, work on using the word "we" in team meetings more than "I," and enlist the help of co-workers on big projects. Even if you are the real star, spread the credit around your team and give out praise as much as you receive it. While this doesn't mean that you should shy away from doing what you do best, being sensitive to the feelings of your teammates will make the environment more comfortable for everyone.

2. Enlist help.

There is no rule that says you have to go solo in all of your battles in the workplace. If you are uncomfortable because of the actions of a jealous co-worker, speak to your manager. While you do not want your co-worker to be put on the defensive, you need to make your manager aware of the situation. In fact, your co-worker might feel the way he or she does because of your manager. For example, maybe a co-worker is jealous because she feels that she has been repeatedly passed up for a promotion and given no feedback on how to move up. While this has nothing to do with you, it is easier for her to take her feelings out on you than on her superior. If your manager is made aware of the issue, the two of them can address the potential cause. Be sure to approach this conversation carefully and professionally. It will not help your cause if it comes out that you have "tattled" on a team member.

3. Stay out of the gossip trap.

Jealous co-workers often do no more than vent to their friends and gossip about employees who threaten them. Whatever you do, don't be tempted to join this negative back and forth. If you hear gossip about you or others, stay out of it. Stay above the fray of petty office politics. If you do, others in the office will take notice and may come to realize that rumors are just rumors and that the gossip is always coming from the same bitter person.

4. Document your concerns if the situation is harmful to your career.

Some jealous co-workers can get downright nasty, trying to sabotage a successful person's career. If you find yourself in this situation, all bets are off and you need to look out for yourself. Keep detailed notes if harmful things are being said about you and make sure you have evidence to disprove any negative rumors about your performance. Hopefully, your boss is smart enough to realize a false rumor when he or she hears it. If not, you will have the ammunition to back up your case.

5. Maintain your professionalism.

While office jealousy can be hurtful, the best thing you can do to fight it is to remain professional and to keep doing your job the best you can. This means trying not to take nasty comments personally and avoiding any opportunity to shoot back your own biting remarks. Others are jealous of your success. Make sure you demonstrate to them just why you are successful. Set an example that professionalism in the office is the real way to win.

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3. 8 Signs your Job is Doomed

Have you been feeling uneasy at work lately? Is your sixth sense telling you that there is some impending doom related to your job? Are co-workers avoiding you or whispering when you walk by? Follow your hunches and watch for these eight signs to determine if your days at work are numbered.

1. You've been cut out of the loop.
Have you seen your whole team walking out of the conference room after a meeting you were not informed of? Have you become the last to know anything and everything that is going on in your office? In the workplace, knowledge is power. Your company's act of keeping information from you and keeping you out of the loop might be one way of preparing for life without you.

2. You are losing responsibilities.
Has your workload gotten a lot lighter in recent weeks while your colleagues seem to be taking on more? Is your input suddenly not needed in planning sessions for next year's budget? If your projects and past responsibilities have been passed on to others, it is another good sign that the team is making sure your work gets done once you are out the door.

3. Your job title has been changed, and it's not an upward move.
If you have received a new job title or new job description, pay attention to the differences. Is the new job a lateral move? Have you been demoted? The way you want to be moving in an organization is up -- not sideways or down.

4. Times are tough at your company.
Have you noticed several closed-door meetings full of executives with concerned faces? Are the HR managers and the head of compensation and benefits pulling all-nighters? Is your company experiencing mounting losses or declining profits? Is there a hiring freeze in place? Many companies' first money-saving measure in difficult times is a personnel cut. If your job function is not essential, you might be one of the first to go.

5. You are suddenly being micro-managed.
If you have always had a great deal of autonomy in the past and are now being scrutinized at every turn, there might be a serious reason behind this new form of management. Whether you feel you need your hand held or not, new scrutiny in the workplace can sometimes mean less confidence in your abilities.

6. You have received one or more negative reviews.
Good companies try to help employees recognize and understand ways in which they need to improve. Most have some kind of review system in place to help employees track their progress. If you have received a performance review that is negative, you need to take it to heart and make some changes. If you have multiple bad reviews under your belt and still haven't learned from them, your days probably are numbered. Just as bad, if you've had stellar reviews in the past and suddenly you are no longer regarded as a star performer, watch out!

7. The company is "reorganizing."
Mergers, acquisitions and restructuring can all be good for business, but bad for employees. Are there rumors about another company buying your business? Is your company merging with another that has employees who do the same job as you? Pay attention to what you hear in the grapevine regarding the future of the business -- it can also have a dramatic effect on your future.

8. You just haven't been performing.
When it comes right down to it, you know your performance better than anyone. You know that you've been surfing the Internet when you should be finishing your reports; that you have spent hours making personal calls; and that your once hour-long lunches have grown increasingly longer. If your heart just has not been in your job lately, your superiors probably have taken notice. Think about it -- if you were the boss, would you fire you? If so, you might want to start making plans for your exit strategy.

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4. 9 Strategies for winning at Office Politics

Office politics can cast a dark shadow in the workplace, but is often an inevitable phenomenon no matter how big or small a company is. Most of us want to believe we don't have to play the politics game to get ahead at work. But the truth is, there are subjective aspects to every business decision, and successful business people learn that it helps to know how to play the game. If you haven't yet mastered the art of office politics, it's not too late. Here are nine rules to help you play the game in the office while keeping your reputation intact.

1. Play nice. We've all heard that nice guys finish last, but that's not the case when it comes to the business world. It pays to not make enemies in the workplace. If you have a positive disposition and are nice to your coworkers, others will take notice. While it might be tempting to tell the chatterbox across the partition to shut up, you never know who that person is close to. Don't run the risk of angering someone who is best buddies with a senior vice president!

2. Remember the "Golden Rule." Remember when your mom told you to "do unto others?" Office politics is really all about building relationships, so lend a hand if you need to. Do a favor for someone when they need it. Stay late to help finish a project or take the time to answer questions for someone. Doing these things will build your reputation as a team player, and will ensure that you will have the support you need down the road.

3. Pick a mentor. It pays to have friends in high places, so find a mentor in your company who has influence within the organization and ask that individual to have lunch with you from time to time. Most people like to have their egos stroked, and will feel good about the fact that you look up to them. You can learn a lot from a mentor, and it never hurts to make sure someone in the company "penthouse" knows your name. However, pick your mentor carefully. Don't align yourself with someone who has a negative reputation.

4. Make an appearance. While you don't have to spend all of your free time at work functions, it does pay to make an appearance at office social events. Office gatherings give you the opportunity to get to know coworkers in a more casual and relaxed setting. So even if you're extremely tired at the end of the day, try to go to a happy hour or company dinner every once in a while. Putting in some face time will pay off.

5.    Be visible, but not too visible. It's one thing to achieve success in the workplace, but it's another thing when higher ups know about your successes. The more you put yourself out there and make your talents known, the better your chances are of being recognized or selected for promotions and other rewards. Do what you can to make sure managers know who you are, what you are doing, and when you have succeeded. This might mean speaking up and asking good questions at a meeting or proactively sending out a follow-up email after a brainstorming session. However, there is a fine line between making yourself visible and becoming an overt attention seeker. Pick your occasions for recognition wisely.

6. Avoid the rumor mill. It can be tempting to join in a conversation about a piece of juicy gossip, but resisting the urge will help you in the long run. The more you indulge in office gossip, the more likely you are to end up being the subject of the gossip someday. So bite your tongue when it comes to water cooler chatter, no matter how intriguing the topic!

7. Learn how to communicate. Many offices are a microcosm of society and include a wide variety of personality types. One of the biggest challenges people have in the workplace is communicating with those who are unlike themselves. Do yourself a favor and learn about different personality types and how to communicate with each of them.

8. Make your boss look good. One of the best ways to get ahead is by doing whatever you can to make your boss shine. When you help your manager succeed, chances are, his or her success will trickle down to you.

9. Talk to people. In today's business world, technology has made it possible to never have to leave your desk. You can get your work done during the day by utilizing your voice mail, email and interoffice mail. But face-to-face interaction is still valuable. Give yourself a break from the email and talk to people in your company in person. This personal interaction will help you build valuable professional relationships.

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5. 6 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

Every day, brave men and women set out to start their own businesses with the hopes of turning a passion into a successful career. However, not every start-up business succeeds. Although successful entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes and their businesses are as varied as their owners, there are some secrets that these successful businesspeople share when it comes to getting a business off the ground. The following are six secrets to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Secret #1 - The most important work happens before the business is started.

The first thing that successful entrepreneurs do before setting up their business is extensive research to make sure they understand the market, the competition, and what needs they can meet. These individuals know that they cannot effectively provide a service without knowing what challenges they are up against and what opportunities they have to succeed. Good entrepreneurs do their homework. They create business plans, set goals, and lay all the necessary groundwork before taking the plunge.

Secret #2 - You can make money by working for free.

Many entrepreneurs got their businesses of the ground by taking on volunteer projects in their communities. Doing this gave them the opportunity to add to their portfolios, make connections, and begin the all-important networking process. Susan Keuhnhold, who owns a graphic design firm, got her business started by volunteering to do design projects for her children's school and other organizations with which she was involved. "I would go to a meeting, hear about a need and speak up to let them know what I could do," she said. "I completed a couple of great volunteer projects and eventually more and more people who were in need of graphic design learned about my services. Soon I had developed a base of clients, many of which I still have today."

Secret #3 - A good opportunity can come up at any place and any time.

Sometimes opportunities present themselves when we least expect them. Successful entrepreneurs learn to keep their eyes and ears open for these opportunities at all times. "You never know where business will come from." Being ready to talk about your business anytime and in any place. The secret is to keep yourself tuned to potential opportunities and not be afraid to sell yourself when they arise.

Secret #4 - Small business can lead to big business.

Sometimes business owners spend all their time looking for the big fish and ignoring smaller opportunities. "It is much easier to grow relationships than to start new ones," Therefore, takes on projects even when they are small, completes those projects with flair, and then proactively works to turn those little opportunities into big ones.

Secret #5 - Passion is important.

It's no secret that becoming a successful entrepreneur is hard work. Business owners tend to put in long hours when they are starting out, and often find themselves working on their business - or at least thinking about the business - all the time. That's why it is vital to love what you are doing. Other successful entrepreneurs agree. Starting your own business is a challenge, but it is well worth it if you have the opportunity to fulfill your career dreams on a daily basis.

Secret #6 - Personal networking is the best kind of marketing.

Entrepreneurs agree that the best kind of marketing is not paid advertising, but personal connections. "You can spend money advertising or developing marketing materials, but you get much more bang for your buck just by networking" This means participating in community organizations, joining local business groups, and attending events to meet new people" "try to be as active as possible in boards and committees, and this will led to much of the work."

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6. 10 Career Resolutions for 2006

Time to make New Year's resolutions! If your career is losing direction, maybe it's time to make not only personal resolutions, but some professional resolutions too!
Making a resolution about your job or any other aspect of your life is really nothing more than goal setting. A goal as: "The end toward which effort is directed: AIM." The secret to success is setting goals that are achievable. They should make you stretch, but with effort they should be within reach.

List of 10 Resolutions for the Business set.

1. Brush up on skills. Take a class or go to a seminar. "It is essential to set learning goals on a regular basis. As the saying goes, 'If you're not green and growing, you're ripe and rotting.'"

2. Learn more about new technology. "Technology is here to stay. If you're a novice, shame on you" Holland says. "Communication is essential for business success. Take stock of where you're the weakest and change that."

3. Update that résumé. The time it takes to do a résumé well should support doing it only when you truly are planning to find new opportunities outside of -- or within -- your company." (In this day and age, change is often unplanned. It is a good idea to be prepared.)

4. Learn a foreign language. This is particularly important if your work puts you in contact on a regular basis with people who speak another language, Holland says. "Spanish in particular is a good choice these days, as there are many areas of the United States where Spanish-speaking populations are dominant."

5. Clean out old files, e-mails and your Rolodex and automate. "Cleaning up old files is a great way to revisit priorities and gain perspective on what's really important. Not only will it give you a fresh start to the year ahead, but if you pay careful attention to what you keep and what you toss it may help you manage your workload more effectively in the future."

6. Network with five people a month. Commit in expanding your knowledge base and understanding of your company or industry in broader ways. Once you've identified what you have to learn in those areas, determine the people who will help you realize those goals and meet with them accordingly.

7. Read best-selling business books. "It's important to be well-versed on business trends, even if it's nothing more than to find your way to a healthy debate with others."

8. Find more time for self/family each week. "More and more effective leaders that I know are looking for a 'blend' of family and work life versus a balance of the two. Look for ways to integrate both aspects of your life. Let family join you on a business trip, leave the office early on an afternoon to attend your child's sporting event, or share family reading time by catching up on that New York Times best seller on business while sitting next to your children or spouse."

9. Put more money in a 401(k) or savings. "Saving for retirement is critically important. Simply commit to yourself to take that next pay increase and put in your 401(k) before you ever have the chance to miss it." Making this part of your career goals will give you peace of mind that you're building toward a more comfortable retirement.

10. Exercise, eat healthy and find your best way to invigorate. "Find ways to exercise with your family, and pay attention to what you're eating. Take time to reflect on what activities invigorate you and commit more time to doing them."

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7. The First Step in Career Management

Why You May Want To Refine Your Career Goals ?

Perhaps what frustrated your acquaintance the most was that we had at one time been following a career mission, but we felt that the last couple of years had not contributed much to getting her where she wanted to go.

Most of us start our careers with a picture of some future day when we will be making great sums of money and generally enjoying the fruit of our early labors. Usually, this is more of a visualization than something that has been laid down in writing. I remember struggling through final exams and picturing the day -- not too far down the road -- when I would be in the corner suite of some major corporation. Although my vision and goals changed a few years after graduation, I think that I could have fared much better at the time if I had committed this vision to paper. Keeping in touch with those goals at regular intervals over the years would have acted as a rudder.

A career vision statement will provide guidance to your career that you may need to fall back on from time to time. Certainly, a one-page-or-less document cannot serve as a road map through every twist and turn of your career, but it can point out a desired destination and help you remember the reasons why you set that course in the first place. It is certainly worth spending a few hours on initially, and then reviewing it annually. The Career Vision Statement that I will describe here will help you put your next five years in sharp focus.

The Process of Writing A Career Vision Statement

Writing a vision statement is a cross between writing down your long-term goals, and writing a "mission statement." Big corporations have written mission statements for years; sometimes they print the company's mission in short form on the back of business cards. This is the ultimate in concise writing. Although you won't be trying to fit your vision statement on the back of your card, brevity will still be important.

Questions To Ask while Visualizing Your Career Ambitions

As you sit down with a note pad or a laptop, put yourself into a contemplative mood and be prepared to do some creative visualization. The following nine questions will help guide you in the process, so that perhaps the next time you are in an interview and the Director of Human Resources asks, "Where do you want to be in five years?" you'll be able to give her a better answer than your competitors!

1.        If I had unlimited time and resources, and could channel them into developing any type of career I desired, what would it be? 

-       It's always fun to find out if the career track we have developed bears any similarity to what the ideal circumstances would produce.

2.        What do I most deeply enjoy doing?

-  When thinking about this question, ask yourself if this aligns with what you believe to be your major strengths.  

3.        When I look at my work life to-date, which activities seem to be of greatest worth? 

-  Where have you provided the most value to your employers? Is there any synergy between this area and those activities which you most enjoy doing? In general, what can you do best that would be of value to others?  

4.   What are the three or four most important things to me in my work life? 

-  For example, do you believe that you will always be happiest in a hands-on science position rather than in management? Is problem solving one of the most important aspects of your work?  

5.        What strengths have others who know me well noticed in me?

-   Go back through your past conversations with mentors, bosses, family, and friends who have discussed your career with you and made recommendations based on strengths that they have identified. What were these strengths?  

6.        Who do I most admire, and which qualities have been most responsible for his or her career success? 

-  Think about the people you have met over various stages of your career and identify those attributes that you believe might be worth emulating. Have any of these people made an impact on your life? Why?  

7.        How would I change my current job or improve it to suit me? 

-   What do you see yourself doing with your current job in order to fully utilize all of your unique skills and abilities? Are there talents that you have which no one else really knows about? Is there a way that you can implement some of these into your career vision statement?  

8.        How do you feel about the type of company and the environment that you are in?

-   Would a big corporation with unlimited resources be best for you, or perhaps a smaller, more entrepreneurial organization? Entrepreneurs aren't found only in the corner office -- they are often inside Fortune 100 companies, working away on championing their projects as "intrapreneurs." 

9.        How do you feel about your involvement with people?

Do you enjoy managing, mentoring, and directing the activities of others? Or, does your best emerge when you are given a project to carry through to completion on your own? Can you see yourself managing people and projects in today's popular "matrix" management style, in which you have to influence without authority? Would you be good at this?

Your Completed "Career Vision Statement"

A career vision statement is a free-flowing document that you will use to crystallize your ideal career progress. It is a vision that has been committed to paper to guide you in making future choices.

Carry it around with you for a few days in draft form, before finally going in and finishing the job. Although you may choose to share it with those you are close to (a spouse, mentor, etc.), in order to get their input, remember that it is an intensely personal vision and one that doesn't need any critical appraisal from those on the outside. One of your long-term goals might well be to fully develop what psychologists call the "internal locus of control." This is a unique ability -- present in the successful from all walks of life -- to manage your career entirely by drive and ambition, rather than surrender to the winds of fate. Perhaps your career vision statement can be one tool that will help you develop this rare quality.

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8. Do the Smarter people always Succeed?

Why do some people do well in this world while others go through life with limited opportunities? Many scholars claim it comes down to IQ. Professional people say that a high IQ is more predictive of economic success than any other factor and a low IQ is more predictive of poverty and social breakdown.

But how does that explain our incompetent superiors? Not to mention the Mensa members who have made livings as plumbers, Playboy bunnies or professional domino topplers? And let's face it: Brilliance is not always easy to spot. Who would guess, for example, that at 168, Marilyn Monroe's IQ was significantly higher than John F. Kennedy's 129? (A score of 100 is considered average and 150 to be highly gifted.)

According to the Ace High Intelligence Society, high-IQ individuals are found in all walks of life. Conversely, even traditionally exalted group ? like physicians -- include those who would be measured as having only average intelligence. And what about the "C" students who have gone on to occupy the White House?

I therefore concludes that while IQ is important, it accounts for no more than one-third of an individual's success.

Daniel Goleman, Ph.D., who made the term Emotional Intelligence (EI) a household word, says our ability to manage ourselves and handle relationships matters twice as much as IQ. In his book Working with Emotional Intelligence, Goleman contends that 67 percent of the abilities deemed essential for effective performance are emotional competencies, which include self-awareness, self- regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills. And he says this holds true across all job categories and types of organizations.

Goleman also writes that EI is as much about knowing when and how to express emotion as it is about controlling it. As a believer that the capacity to manage and positively channel emotions can mean more than cognitive ability. "Anyone can be become angry -- that is easy," Aristotle wrote. "But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree at the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way -- this is not easy."

Emotional Intelligence is becoming the most important factor in determining the suitability of a prospective employee. A senior partner at the executive recruiting firm Leaders Unlimited Korn/Ferry International. According to Coetzer having a high IQ is great, but "in my experience, nine times out of 10 the executive who succeeds is the one who is optimistic about life and the job and is capable of confronting failure or adversity with a smile and positive attitude."

And unlike IQ, which researchers say is pretty much fixed at birth, EI can be improved profoundly through training and practice.

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9. Knowing When to say "Yes" and How to say "No"

When you are good at what you do, people take notice. Often, professionals who excel become targets for extra assignments, volunteer positions, advice and mentoring. These opportunities can be career boosters, giving you the chance to build your contact list, gain new experiences and add to your resume. However, saying "yes" too often can have serious consequences. In the end, it may be better to shine at a couple of things than to spread yourself too thin and be average at many things.

While turning down offers to participate can be wise, it is not always easy to say "no." That's why it is so important to learn how to recognize when you should agree, and know how to decline with dignity.

Knowing When to Say Yes

The best way to decide is to think about your future. You probably have a long-term plan for your career; why not develop a plan for how you will spend your free time, too? There are many options for involvement. You can give your time to nonprofit organizations for social and environmental causes, to professional or governmental organizations, to your family and friends or to your own company. But you need to think in advance about what you would like to do most and create a plan that will guide your activities.

If you have an interest in volunteering or serving on a board of a non-profit organization, think about what matters most to you. Make a list of issues and causes you really care about. Then you can research charities that would have good opportunities to get involved.

But don't just think about what you can give. You also need to be realistic and consider what is in it for you. If you plan to volunteer or participate in a volunteer capacity, it is OK to think about how the time you spend will benefit your career. For example, serving on the board of directors of a large local charity will allow you to give back, and to network and meet influential people in the community. Getting involved with your professional organization will provide you with new resources and help build leadership skills.

Consider where your professional or personal life needs a boost, where you could use some extra contacts, or what your long-term goals are and learn to say yes accordingly.


How to Say No

Once you have thought about your goals for involvement, it's time to learn how to say no with class. Here are a few tips:

1. Set ground rules and stick to them. Create guidelines for yourself about what you do and do not want to take on. For example, maybe you have decided that you want to work with organizations that promote environmental causes. This will make it easier to turn down the invitation to serve on a board of another type of charity. You can tell the organization that you are focusing your time and energy on one area. But be sure you follow your own rules. This will help keep your credibility in tact.

2. Be confident in your decisions. When you have to say no, do so politely and with confidence. Don't apologize for your decisions. Simply deliver your decision with professionalism and grace. For instance, "Joan, I must decline your offer to join the board this year." Similarly, don't give others a false sense of hope with statements like "let me think about it," or "I'll try to make it," if you really want to say no. Being straightforward with others will earn you respect, no matter what your decision.

3.    Keep it simple. 

Don't fall into the trap of over explaining. If you have set ground rules for yourself, simply let the person know what they are and leave it at that. For example, if you have been asked to head up a volunteer bake sale for a school band but you are committed to running fundraisers for a homeless shelter, say "Thank you for asking me, but I cannot get involved at this time. I have decided to dedicate my volunteer efforts this year to homeless-related causes." You do not need to give more explanation than that.

If you still feel guilty about saying no, just think of it as any new learned skill. It might take some practice and getting used to, but soon you will be handling every request with professionalism and confidence.

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10. How to get Noticed at Work?

Top 5 Moves From an "Apprentice" Vet

1. Get face time. Once you've decided exactly what you want recognition for, people need to actually see you doing it.

Being physically present lets key decision makers know who you are and put a face to your accomplishments.

2. Communicate up. "To move up, make sure you communicate to managers beyond your boss," Henry writes. It is much easier to interact with senior executives in smaller organizations that don't have as strictly defined hierarchies. However, in larger companies, you should make yourself known through the established procedures. Some examples to get you started:

1. Distribute e-mails that softly tout your accomplishments but are disguised as status  reports.

2. Verbally communicate positive progress by using language such as, "Let me update you on what we've accomplished...."

3.    Verbally communicate potential risks management should be aware of. Surface and address the issue, and you get credit for thinking "big picture."

Overcome intimidation.

Sometimes you need to need to take bold, creative steps to get the attention you deserve. Instead of treating senior executives like royalty (i.e. avoiding eye contact and treating everything they say as gospel) it pays to take any opportunity that presents itself to get to know your company's leaders.

Create a personal sound bite.

"A brief, memorable message encapsulating your character and skills can go a long way toward making your personal brand more widely known," Henry writes. Unfortunately, many people who are experts at selling their image on their cover letter and during interviews drop their efforts once they're hired.

Have a statement about yourself prepared for when you introduce yourself to new people. The tone and language with which you describe your job reflects upon you as a professional. When you subtly add in how your daily tasks affect the company, you show awareness of your company's goals and vision and that you have a handle on your daily activities.

Tell stories.

Personal stories are often used in interviews, and they can show off your professional abilities and mind set when you don't have much business experience. Wrote a personal story like on graduate school application, how you not only got an admissions letter, but the professors also they remembered you!

"Use stories as a comfortable and memorable way to communicate and translate you professional image," she says.

Once you have obtained the image you crave, cherish it! Enjoy the credit you receive for your work, and don't downplay accolades. Train yourself to simply say "thank you" when someone raves about your work.

11. Could working less land you a promotion?

One of the greatest career-killing mistakes women make is believing that if they work hard enough, reward and recognition will follow. The problem is that hard work is usually rewarded with more hard work, not necessarily a promotion.

We can't promote you. You're too valuable.

After six years as her company's top salesperson, a software sales account manager was disappointed when a younger peer was promoted and became her manager. The newcomer had been with the company six months and had never met his sales quota, but he was popular with the young staff on the team. The sales account manager suspected the executive team did not promote her because they could not afford to lose her significant contribution to the company's revenue. Meanwhile, a person who performed poorly moved up the ladder because his superiors could visualize him as a leader.

Position yourself on the radar for promotion.

What are the factors that can help you attract more responsibility, and not more hard slog?

In 1987, Published report on minorities, equal employment opportunities and institutional barriers. Their paper provides valuable insight into how you can position yourself for career advancement that is still relevant today.

Braddock and McPartland wrote that the three types of information considered to be most important by decision makers when identifying candidates for promotion are:

- Performance ratings.
- Internal recommendation.
- Production or sales record.

When deciding who to promote, decision makers look at your workplace results, work output and sales and production records. They also look at qualitative information such as your performance evaluations. But the significant difference can come from subjective information such as word-of-mouth recommendations from other leaders and stakeholders.

Credentials give way to visibility.

A great pedigree and hard work may get you recognized initially, but it won't guarantee advancement.

Early in your career, you will be evaluated largely on credentials. Decision makers will look at factors such as your education or successful performance in your current job. As you move up through the organization, decision makers overlook results and credentials in favor of more subtle interpersonal signals such as trust and working with people they are familiar with. To be considered for promotion, you need to be visible. Show your superiors that you are on their team and that they can count on you.

Hard work alone will not get you on the slate for promotion. In fact, if you are burying yourself under an immense workload, you may be neglecting to transmit those other vital signals.


Action you can take NOW!

In their 1999 paper "Women and the Leadership Paradigm; Bridging the Gender Gap," Emphasize the fact that work performance makes up only part of the recipe for promotion. Four techniques that you need to be aware of are:

- Be able.
- Be seen as able.
- Know what you want.
- Help others to help you.

To get promoted, show that you understand what your job entails, and be dedicated to those tasks. Visibly display the competencies that you know will be valued and rewarded. Set career goals, then plan and strategize how you will get there. Let them know you are ready, and expect to move up the ladder. Use mentoring and networking to engage others who can help you.

Hard work alone will not get you promoted. Good work plus visibility will.

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12. Fire your Boss in Four Easy Steps

The best way to take charge of your own work life is to fire your boss and hire yourself as manager of your own work life. That means adjusting your attitude and your approach. On the outside you'll seem even more dedicated than before. On the inside you'll be the one pulling the strings.

1. Write your own job description

What do you do each day, each week, and each month? Describe your activities in as generalized a way as you can, eliminating jargon and terminology tied to your company, industry, or profession. Focus on the words which describe activity. Reduce this to a single sentence. Rewrite it in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS: it's your own job description.

2. Give yourself a performance review

Become an expert, not just on your company or your industry, but on the job market in general. Research what others who fit your job description earn in salary and benefits. Contact your college's career office for any comparative information. What skills and achievements are stressed in these other fields?

3. Define alternate courses

Brainstorm about all the fields and occupations that would fit your general description. Don't worry about being realistic. Give your imagination free rein. Ask your family and friends for their input too.

4. Put your plan in writing

Odds are you'll need new skills or achievements to pursue other courses. Think about how you can do that. Speak with family, friends, mentors, career counselors, even clergy. Just make sure you don't do anything to risk your standing at your current job. Write your thoughts and findings down and you've got a personalized work plan.

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13. Career Management for Women

Women are gaining more power in corporate America. According to Catalyst, a not-for-profit research and advisory organization focused on advancing women in business, women now hold twice as many senior management positions in large American companies as they did in 1995.

Yet despite such progress, boardrooms and executive suites are still largely a male domain. Women form just 16 percent of senior management ranks at major corporations and lead just 1 percent of the companies in the S&P 500 index.
 

It's not for lack of ability. In fact, in newer industries like technology where it's strictly qualifications that count, women (and minorities) are well represented at the higher echelons. Of the seven S&P 500 companies with female leaders, four are high-tech outfits. she has been judged by performance alone.

But women in more entrenched industries like banking, insurance or manufacturing say that has not been their experience. Sharon, who has worked the trading desk at several major investment banks, says she is asked to do more than her male counterparts, but believes she is paid less. "It's not a meritocratic culture on Wall Street," she says. "It's more who you know and how good you are at playing the game."

Whether you're tapping on the glass ceiling or just want to climb the corporate ladder a few more rungs, here is some general career management advice for women:

Know the Rules. If you're playing in a man's game, learn how they compete. When offering your ideas or opinions, speak in terms of goals and objectives. Don't take things personally. Don't be too quick to compromise or cave-in. And if you do lose a battle, don't brood; move on to the next event with a positive attitude.

Find a Mentor. We learn through emulation, so having a mentor is crucial. Look for people in your company or industry whom you respect. Then, volunteer your time to work with them, listen to them and associate with them. Remember, mentoring relationships work best if you think of your mentor as a role model, not a personal guru.

Just Ask. Passivity gets you nowhere. If you believe you're qualified for a certain project or position, ask for it from the company's point of view. Say why elevating you is good for business, and do it with conviction.

Believe in Your Self-Worth. Women tend to discount their own value and abilities, while men tend to overestimate theirs. As the bumper sticker says: "Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a pot belly and think they're hot stuff!"

Use Your Feminine Strengths. Studies show women are more adept at multi-tasking, holistic thinking and relationship building and have greater intuition and receptiveness. What's more, as managers, they tend to build more supportive and cooperative environments.

Indeed some women credit their success to their feminine side. A vice president of marketing for a food company says, "Because of my intuitive sense, I am better able to connect with consumers. And with women making 85 percent of the buying decisions, who can ask for more power than that?!"

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14. Earlier Retirement hurts later

Baby boomers' exit creates void as businesses face dearth of young workers

Early retirement policies and frequent cutbacks that target older workers help companies reduce costs, but could ultimately backfire when a big wave of baby boomer retirements creates a labor shortage.

For decades, the policies of governments and private employers have encouraged early retirements. The thinking has long been that these policies are good for older employees, who should enjoy the fruits of a long working life, and they're good for younger workers, who are making their way up the corporate ladder.
 

What hasn't yet sunk into the corporate mind-set is that there won't be enough younger people to replace the boomers.

Consider: 76 million baby boomers will be retiring this decade and next, but only 45 million Generation Xers are in the pipeline to take their places.

Ironically, one of the forces that could help rescue employers facing a dearth of talent is the federal government, which is trying to keep people contributing longer to Social Security so that it remains solvent.

 Although the age for collecting full Social Security benefits will gradually rise from 65 to 67, many corporate pension plans today make it fiscally attractive for employees to retire before the mandatory retirement age. And, companies trying to reduce costs often offer early retirement packages to reduce the number of layoffs.

Take Joe McGrath. For 30 years, McGrath worked as a scientist and manager for 3M and was making a six-figure salary when he retired. At age 58, the Ph.D. chemist, who has many patents to his name, knew that he had productive years left. His plan was to retire at 60.

But in September, he and five other older scientists in the laboratory of the commercial graphics division acceptedearly-retirement packages too attractive to turn down as 3M cut its work force.

"I could get 45 weeks of pay for retiring two years earlier than I wanted to," he said. "That's a pretty good inducement."

According to a report the typical defined benefit plan may state that the normal retirement age is 65, but a worker starting at 25 is likely to find that the expected value of the pension accrues most rapidly between ages 51 and 55. Soon after age 55, the accrual might turn negative.

Experts are predicting a major wave of retirements in this decade and next by the roughly 76 million people born between 1946 and 1964. But just 45 million so-called Generation Xers followed. As the number of retiring boomers gains momentum, companies are likely to find themselves in the same position they did during the labor shortage of the 1990s.

According to a report from the Conference Board. "It is thus highly likely that industry will have to develop stronger incentives to persuade many more still-motivated, capable veterans to fill the gap by delaying their retirements,"

The problem is, several legal and institutional barriers prevent more flexible arrangements for older workers.

Phased retirement plans, which allow workers to gradually reduce their work schedule as they age, are fraught with risks for employers under tax laws, benefits regulations and age discrimination rules, experts say.

Given the current tight job market and economic pressures, the issue isn't on the radar screens of many employers.

"Everyone is trying to downsize,"  "When the economy picks up and companies realize there's not a hell of a lot of younger workers around, they may look at the incentive structures in their pensions."

The Society for Human Resource Management recently looked at how companies are preparing for the impending labor shortage. In a word, they're not.

"The most significant findings were that 79 percent of the employers that were polled in the survey indicated that they were doing nothing essentially to prepare for this huge growth of experienced-worker retirements."

 

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15. Combating Entry - Level Boredom

The Boredom Epidemic

One of the most common complaints we hear from young professionals in entry-level positions is that they are bored out of their minds. They are generally assigned menial tasks which, thanks to the wonder of word processing, do not take up much time, and their supervisors are reluctant to assign any substantial work.

Compounding the problem of boredom is the ever popular "face time" requirement. Everyone feels pressured to hang around the office for eight hours or more, out-waiting the boss or each other, regardless of their workload. This essentially trains us to be less efficient, because we feel penalized for finishing our work too quickly.

 Consequences of Boredom

• After leaving school filled with enthusiasm and ambition, the letdown of insignificant workloads can cause feelings of depression and worthlessness. And our twenties are a dangerous time to be bored at work because we are now forming on-the-job habits which, like smoking or biting our nails, will be hard to break.    

Tips on Battling Boredom

While most bored employees automatically turn to the Internet for entertainment gossip and solitaire, there are more constructive ways to both fill up time and further your career:

• Start out the day by writing down your "five before five" – a list of things you want to accomplish before the day is over – and tape it to your monitor as a constant reminder.
• Be honest with your supervisor and ask for more work. Hopefully, he or she will appreciate your efficiency and ability to get the job done fast and reward you with a more challenging set of tasks. If your employer does not value efficiency, then perhaps it is time to look for a better fit.
• A mentor can help you think of ways to increase and diversify your tasks by explaining the various roles and skills required in your industry or organization. A mentor can be any person with a career track to which you aspire, whether that is a co-worker, friend of the family, or fellow alum. Visit your alumni Web site get in touch with some alumni in your field who could act as mentors.
• Try online courses to further your job skills and association Web sites for research and literature relevant to your field. Keep up with the news in your industry, and you'll be prepared with some impressive small talk next time you run into your boss' boss in the elevator.
• Set up a meeting with a co-worker or supervisor to discuss the status of a project. Let them know that you are interested in becoming more involved.
• If you've made the above attempts to enhance your job and still run out of things to do, chase your wild dreams. Got a book or movie idea? Well start writing already! Want to build a personal Web site? At least those skills are applicable to your present or future jobs.

When you pass the time at work with work-related activities rather than personal errands, you feel better about yourself at the end of the day. You feel that you have really earned your paycheck, and you learn more that you can apply to other jobs in the future. And most importantly, the time really flies by.

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16. Be Popular at Work: Four Steps

For years we've heard that it's more important to be respected than liked. Yet study after study is proving conventional wisdom wrong -- finding instead that the road to success is more often a series of popularity contests.

Research at Columbia University shows that jobs, pay raises and promotions are more apt to be awarded based on a worker's charisma than on his or her academic background or professional qualifications.

Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas found that during corporate downsizings, hiring and firing decisions boil down to how well people are liked by their supervisors. "It's not enough just to do a good job; you have to be likeable in the eyes of your employer,"

 "When people encounter you, they subconsciously ask themselves four questions that determine your likeability or 'L-Factor'." "at first, they seek friendliness. Then, they ask themselves if you are relevant to them. Next, they ponder whether you have empathy for them. Finally, they ask themselves if you are 'real' -- that is, authentic and honest. If the answers to those four questions are affirmative, you receive a high Likeability Factor."

To up your "L-factor," Four-step process offers you:

Step One: Increase Your Friendliness
Your friendliness is a function of your ability to communicate openness and welcome to others. Make an effort to greet people cheerfully, smile often and adopt a friendly mindset that you communicate through positive body language and words.

Step Two: Raise Your Relevance
Your relevance has to do with your connection to others' interests, wants and needs. The more relevant you are, the more people like you. Relevance has three levels:

• Contact. The odds are, likability will increase with "functional distance," such as sitting next to someone at a party or living nearby.
• Mutual Interests. Having common interests or experiences makes people feel validated and generates a sense of community and personal respect.
• Value. Relevance is strongest when the value you offer meets another person's wants and needs. This produces positive attitudes in the person's mind and contributes to your allure.

To become more relevant, find ways to connect with the interests and needs of others. Know what they're passionate about outside of work. Be aware of their emotional needs and willing to respond to them.

Step Three: Show Empathy
Your empathy reflects your capacity to see things from another person's point of view and to experience his or her feelings yourself. When you connect with someone's feelings, and they believe you're "with them," it delivers a psychological hug. Ask yourself, do I:

• Know how that person is feeling about his or her life situation these days?
• Understand what it must feel like to perform the person's tasks day after day -- be it caring for an elderly relative at home or managing a heavy workload?
• Share the same emotions about key issues?

By making yourself more emotionally available, your connection with people -- and your likability -- will grow dramatically.

Step Four: Keep It Real
Realness is consistency between your beliefs and actions. To be true to yourself and others, you need to:

• Do what you want to be doing in life.
• Live with purpose.
• Commit to the principles of your work.
• Be the same person on the outside as you are on the inside.
• Be direct and honest with others.

The more you live by your values, the more your perceived realness will elevate. Conversely, if people decide you're not real, they will discount your friendliness, relevance and empathy -- and probably dislike you.

"Basically, liability comes down to creating positive emotional experiences in others," Sanders concludes. "When you make others feel good, they tend to gravitate to you."

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17. Do single workers have an edge?

Does it seem as if five o'clock is the witching hour at your office, when the employees with children dash out to retrieve their tots before daycare closes? Does this inevitably leave you stuck with the urgent projects that absolutely have to be completed before you leave for the night?

You may merely be suffering from a case of the grass is always greener, or you may have a legitimate gripe. So how do the long-held assumptions about marital and familial status in the workplace hold up in today's corporate environment?

Assumption: If you're not married and don't have any familial responsibilities (i.e., kids), it is assumed you will work longer hours.

Reality: Yes and no. Bill, an official at an investigative government agency who is not married and does not have any kids thinks this is somewhat true. "There have been many times I was asked to work late or on holidays because I didn't have the same obligations married co-workers with children had."

Tina, an underwriter at a national insurance company, however, doesn't see it that way. "When I came back from maternity leave, I had to dive right back into my work. I'm as busy as I was before I had my baby." Tina says she is supposed to work four 10-hour days, but often spends her day off working.

Assumption: Single employees without children get better promotions and plum projects.

Reality: It depends. More often the nature of the job drives which employees are willing to take on a particular assignment. For instance, in Bill's job, many of the assignments require working odd hours. Having no family responsibilities increases Bill's willingness to volunteer for these more demanding assignments, increasing his visibility and value to the organization. "I have been involved in a number of high-profile projects and I feel it's because I was consistently able to be perform the difficult jobs, like responding to calls at 2 a.m.," he remarks.

According to Frank Scanlon of the Society of Human Resource Management, Bill may have a point. "Face time is still pretty valuable in the workplace," he notes. Whether you're single or a working parent, you can't discount the positive effects of a little extra recognition.

But in an office environment where jobs don't require such extreme work conditions as Bill's organization, Scanlon says flexible work arrangements and technological advances have helped level the corporate playing field between working parents and other employees. Laptops, e-mail and home faxes make it easier for employees with responsibilities outside of work to stay connected and productive and excel at their jobs.

Assumption: Employees who have families to support make more money than those who don't.

Reality: Years ago, this may have been the case. Peyton, a communications professional, remembers 15 years ago when she challenged a raise she received. "I mentioned that a co-worker made more than me, and I was told: 'But he has a family to support.'"

Today, however, because more women are the sole wage earners for their households, that antiquated argument is no longer valid, and in fact, would most likely be met with a discrimination lawsuit. (Of course the gender pay gap issue is another story.)

While you can always find individual cases to support any workplace policy triumph or gripe, for the most part, companies try very hard to be fair to all their employees -- not just a select few.

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18. You got the offer. Now what?

You wrote an excellent resume and cover letter, practiced interviewing and networked. You just received a job offer – now what?

First, get the offer in writing if possible, and then take a moment to congratulate yourself. The job search process is both difficult and time consuming. Take a deep breath and analyze the offer before you accept.

Options
You might want to consider asking yourself some of the following questions:
• Do I have any other offers?
• Am I willing to forgo this offer and continue my job search?
• Is this realistically the best offer I will receive at this time?
• Can I work with the person I will be reporting to? Will I learn from her?
• Is this position a good match with my interests, skills and values?

Assuming that you want to accept this offer and that you want to negotiate, consider the following points:

I Can Make Your Life Easier. To a large extent, your ability to complete this sentence and help the employer understand how you can add value to her firm, how you can make her life easier and why you are the best candidate for the job, will determine your success in negotiation. Since you have researched the company and industry even before writing your resume, you should be able to convey your value to the company with relative ease during the offer evaluation and negotiation phase.

Know the Employer. By the time you receive an offer from an employer, you should have a good sense of your strength as a candidate (how much the employer wants or needs you) and of how flexible the employer is. In other words, evaluate your interest in them and their interest in you.

What (Might be) Negotiable
Assuming the job meets your criteria for experience and culture, research the company’s policies on:

Employers tend to be less flexible with policies that apply to the entire company and might be prohibited by law from offering you something they don’t offer other employees. Therefore, flexibility on policies such as sick leave, insurance and retirement plans might be limited. The employer often has considerable flexibility with salaries, performance reviews, bonuses, review dates, start dates and responsibilities.


Prioritized. Make a list of the points you would like to negotiate before calling the employer. Prioritize the list in terms of each point’s importance to you. Since you probably will not be able to negotiate more than three or four points without seeming demanding, carefully consider your list.

Know Your Value. Before you call the employer, you should understand your fair market value for this type of job with this type of company? If you are a recent graduate, you might want to ask your college or university career center if they have an employment report that tracks salary statistics.

Is the offer acceptable, or do you want to negotiate for more money based upon your research? If you chose to negotiate for more money, tell the employer how excited you are about the opportunity and give her a salary range. For example: "I’m really excited about this position. I feel that this is an environment where I can thrive and add value to the team. Although salary is not my only consideration, it is an important consideration. Do you have flexibility with the salary?

The Employer Won't Budge on Salary.

You can decide to refuse the offer, but if you feel the company will provide you with the experience that will help your long-term career, consider other options such as bonuses and performance reviews. Try to negotiate performance reviews at pre-determined intervals.

Regardless of whether or not you chose to negotiate and what you choose to negotiate, always remember to stay calm and professional. If the employer is a tough negotiator, it is probably business, not personal. You might be able to learn something from her!

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19. Job Interview Do's and Don'ts

Here are the keys to successful job interviewing. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success in this important phase of job-hunting.

• Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview -- or be sure you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there.
• Do your research and know the type of job interview you will be encountering And do prepare and practice for the interview, but don't memorize or over-rehearse your answers.
• Do dress the part for the job, the company, the industry. And do err on the side of conservatism.
• Do plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable. If you are running late, do phone the company.
• Do greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression.
• Don't chew gum during the interview.
• If presented with a job application, do fill it out neatly, completely, and accurately.
• Do bring extra resumes to the interview. (Even better, if you have a job skills portfolio, do bring that with you to the interview.)
• Don't rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer.
• Do greet the interviewer(s) by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you're not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview.
• Do shake hands firmly. Don't have a limp or clammy handshake!
• Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. And do remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times. Don't fidget or slouch.
• Don't tell jokes during the interview.
• Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s).
• Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company.
• Don't smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette. And don't smoke beforehand so that you smell like smoke. And do brush your teeth, use mouthwash, or have a breath mint before the interview.
• Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as "like," "uh," and "um").
• Don't be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects confidence.
• Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don't be overly aggressive.
• Don't