Career Articles & Advice

Sarah Palin And The Art Of Answering Hard Interview Questions Part 1 Of 2 by Herman Collins

You feel prepared for the interview. You know about the company, know about the job and know who you’ll be speaking with. You’re 10 minutes into the interview and unexpectedly blind sided by questions you don’t know the answers to.

First you fumble for responses and try to ‘wing it’, but the interviewer senses your confusion and presses you further. Finally, when you’re completely flustered, you realize the interview is almost over and your chances of getting the job have been diminishing by the minute.

Sound familiar? If you’re Sarah Palin you not only lived this nightmare situation, but also became an object of public mockery as a result. Thanks to the internet and the comedic talents of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler of Saturday Night Live fame, the entire world could watch the failure again and again.

Imagine if all of us had our most embarrassing interview moments blasted all over TV and the internet. Ms. Palin’s interview with Katie Couric is a blueprint of potential disasters waiting to happen when you do not properly prepare for interviews. But her rebound during the vice presidential debate a few weeks later is a testimonial to great interview preparation what it can do for you.

Sarah had been chosen a few weeks earlier by Republican presidential contender John McCain to be his running mate for the vice presidency. As we all know, they were pitted against the eventual winner, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama and his running mate Joe Biden.

Sarah was automatically expected to be a savvy, competent political player to go against that level of competition. Every question Ms. Palin was asked by Katie Couric should have been expected and prepared for. Katie did not throw any questions at her that were either ‘below the belt’ or even ‘out of left field’. These were legitimate questions which could have been turned into real home runs for Sarah if she had been ready.

You may remember Katie’s question asking Sarah to name some Supreme Court decisions with which she disagreed. While this may be a common question at interviews in certain legal firms, you could see that one leave the Alaskan Governor looking for the exits. Can you imagine having that question sprung on you during your interview at the local bank?

However, a potential vice presidential candidate should have been prepared to answer Katie’s question. Her team should have anticipated that one and have an answer ready and waiting. They did not anticipate the question and as a result Sarah got blind sided.

I use Sarah Palin’s experiences as an example precisely because they were so public and are so familiar to most of us. We can relate as we have all been in uncomfortable interview situations. But what can you do to prevent the awkwardness and the potential harm to your job chances and career caused by unexpected and difficult interview questions?

What you do is exactly what Sarah Palin’s handlers did a few short weeks later. To prepare her for the vice presidential debate against Joe Biden, her team worked hard. Before the debate, Sarah was given a crash course in every expected subject likely to be discussed in the debate and possible questions. In addition, she was prepped on how to incorporate discussion points that she wanted to get across to voters into her answers. Her improved preparation was obvious and well done under the circumstances and considering the time available.

Having prepared many thousands of candidates for interviews in my career, I knew what to look for. Most of it was text book preparation techniques with debate tactics thrown in. The outcome was a reasonable showing for Sarah, she didn’t win but she didn’t lose. She did what she needed to do in this instance. Considering the expectations at the time, not losing was akin to a successful interview.

And make no mistake about it, that debate and the Katie Couric interview were interview situations for the job of Vice President of The United States. In this case the American People were the hiring managers and they were watching press sit-down interviews and the debates closely. In your job interviews you should incorporate similar preparation techniques only without the debate tactics. Good interview preparation offers many advantages:

A) You won’t lose job offers because of an inability to respond to clear, logical questions.

B) Preparation allows you to showcase yourself by turning hard questions around to your advantage.

C) Your confidence level in interviews will significantly improve.

D) You will feel more relaxed.

The keys to successfully answering the hard job interview questions are anticipation, strategy and practice. First, you must look closely at the situation and then anticipate what questions might possibly be asked of you. Consider the job, your experience, the company and with whom you will interview. Second, you should devise a strategy to answer all questions in such a way that it helps you achieve your goal of a job offer. Finally, you must practice, practice, practice the answers until they becomes second nature.

This might sound like a lot of work and it can be, but having experience with the job in question makes the preparation easier. If you already have related job experience then you just have to prepare for difficult questions which are more general in nature. However, if you do not have any related experience, you must also prepare for difficult questions specific to the job, along with the more general ones.

A great thing is that if you prepare correctly once, it becomes part of you. In future interviews you’ll only need to customize your answers to fit other interview. You will not have to redo ninety percent of this preparation, just some tweaking will be enough. With each interview, you’ll get better and the answers will flow more conversationally in an unscripted manner.

Herman Collins http://www.realjobtips.com is an acclaimed executive recruiter and known around the globe as The Job Search Specialist. His proven job hunting strategies have helped 1,000’s. Find out how you too can put his free powerful tips to use today

Article Source: Fun Personality

Playing Doubles Or Singles In Tennis Changes The Game by Tyler James Ellison

Singles, the greatest strain in tennis, is the game for two players. It is in this phase of the game that the personal equation reaches its crest of importance. This is the game of individual effort, mental and physical.

A hard 5-set singles match is the greatest strain on the body and nervous system of any form of sport. Singles is a game of daring, dash, speed of foot and stroke. It is a game of chance far more than doubles. Since you have no partner dependent upon you, you can afford to risk error for the possibility of speedy victory. Much of what I wrote under match play is more for singles than doubles, yet let me call your attention to certain peculiarities of singles from the standpoint of the spectator.

A gallery enjoys personalities far more than styles. Singles brings two people into close and active relations that show the idiosyncrasies of each player far more acutely than doubles. The spectator is in the position of a man watching an insect under a microscope. He can analyse the inner workings.

The freedom of restraint felt on a single court is in marked contrast to the need for team work in doubles. Go out for your shot in singles whenever there is a reasonable chance of getting it. Hit harder at all times in singles than in doubles, for you have more chance of scoring and can take more risk.

Singles is a game of the imagination, doubles a science of exact angles.

Doubles is four-handed tennis. Enough of this primary reader definition.

It is just as vital to play to your partner in tennis as in bridge. Every time you make a stroke you must do it with a definite plan to avoid putting your partner in trouble. The keynote of doubles success is team work; not individual brilliancy. There is a certain type of team work dependent wholly upon individual brilliancy.

Where both players are in the same class, a team is as strong as its weakest player at any given time, for here it is even team work with an equal division of the court that should be the method of play. In the case of one strong player and one weaker player, the team is as good as the strong player can make it by protecting and defending the weaker. This pair should develop its team work on the individual brilliancy of the stronger man.

The first essential of doubles play is to PUT the ball in play. A double fault is bad in singles, but it is inexcusable in doubles. The return of service should be certain. After that it should be low and to the server coming in. Do not strive for clean aces in doubles until you have the opening. Remember that to pass two men is a difficult task.

Always attack in doubles. The net is the only place in the court to play the doubles game, and you should always strive to attain the net position. I believe in always trying for the kill when you see a real opening. “Poach” (go for a shot which is not really on your side of the court) whenever you see a chance to score. Never poach unless you go for the kill. It is a win or nothing shot since it opens your whole court. If you are missing badly do not poach, as it is very disconcerting to your partner.

The question of covering a doubles court should not be a serious one. With all men striving to attain the net all the time every shot should be built up with that idea. Volley and smash whenever possible, and only retreat when absolutely necessary.

When the ball goes toward the side-line the net player on that side goes in close and toward the line. His partner falls slightly back and to the centre of the court, thus covering the shot between the men. If the next return goes to the other side, the two men reverse positions. The theory of court covering is two sides of a triangle, with the angle in the centre and the two sides running to the side-lines and in the direction of the net.

Each man should cover overhead balls over his own head, and hit them in the air whenever possible, since to allow them to drop gives the net to the other team. The only time for the partner to protect the overhead is when the net man “poaches,” is outguessed, and the ball tossed over his head. Then the server covers and strives for a kill at once.

Always be ready to protect your partner, but do not take shots over his head unless he calls for you to, or you see a certain kill. Then say “Mine,” step in and hit decisively. The matter of overhead balls, crossing under them, and such incidentals of team work are matters of personal opinion, and should be arranged by each team according to their joint views. I only offer general rules that can be modified to meet the wishes of the individuals.

Use the lob as a defence, and to give time to extricate yourself and your partner from a bad position. The value of service in doubles cannot be too strongly emphasized since it gives the net to the server. Service should always be held. To lose service is an unpardonable sin in first-class doubles. All shots in doubles should be low or very high. Do not hit shoulder-high as it is too easy to kill. Volley down and hard if possible. Every shot you make should be made with a definite idea of opening the court.

Hit down the centre to disrupt the team work of the opposing team; but hit to the side-lines for your aces.

Pick one man, preferably the weaker of your opponents, and centre your attack on him and keep it there. Pound him unmercifully, and in time he should crack under the attack. It is very foolish to alternate attack, since it simply puts both men on their game and tires neither.

If your partner starts badly play safely and surely until he rounds to form. Never show annoyance with your partner. Do not scold him. He is doing the best he can, and fighting with him does no good. Encourage him at all times and don’t worry. A team that is fighting among themselves has little time left to play tennis, and after all tennis is the main object of doubles.

Offer suggestions to your partner at any time during a match; but do not insist on his following them, and do not get peevish if he doesn’t. He simply does not agree with you, and he may be right. Who knows?

Every doubles team should have a leader to direct its play; but that leader must always be willing to drop leadership for any given point when his partner has the superior position. It is policy of attack not type of stroke that the leader should determine.

Pick a partner and stick to him. He should be a man you like and want to play with, and he should want to play with you. This will do away with much friction. His style should not be too nearly your own, since you double the faults without greatly increasing the virtues.

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Article Source: Fun Personality

Site Vs. Vision – Are You Blind to Opportunities? by Debra Wier

I’ve heard it said that if you were to take all the money away from the wealthy and redistribute it evenly among everyone, that within one year an upper class, a middle class, and a lower class would re-emerge. I believe this to be true because some people would see opportunities and take advantage of them as they arise. Others would save or invest their money and possibly take advantage of a few opportunities. The remainder would blow their money, ignore opportunities, and make excuses as to why they no longer have the kind of life they desire.

Have you ever noticed that so many of the wealthy people in this country weren’t even born here? This is something I have always found very fascinating. I’ve heard story after story of people who immigrated to this country and came here with very little or no money. Yet many of them became very successful people, at least in terms of amassing wealth. They do whatever is necessary to acquire their dreams. Many of them achieve this success by initially living as cheaply as possible, working 2 or 3 jobs, and saving their hard earned dollars. Then they learn everything they can in a given field and often go into business for themselves. Sometimes they get small business loans if necessary. Once they achieve initial success with one store, they often go ahead and open a second and then a third. They find good managers to run the additional stores. The power of duplicity is a great way to create wealth because once you train someone to do exactly what you do you can continue duplicating this success over and over again.

Why do so many foreigners take advantage of these opportunities while the rest of us do not? I believe it’s because they see opportunities where we do not. Many of these people grew up in countries that don’t have the endless luxuries that we do.

Imagine if you lived in a shack that you shared with 10 other people. The place has no heating or air conditioning, no refrigeration, and a dirt floor. Food is scarce and you have no running water and have to walk a mile just for fresh water. Suddenly the idea of working two jobs in exchange for living in a place that has flooring and refrigeration would seem like a dream come true. The opportunity to learn about business and actually be able to get a loan for this purchase would be unheard of where you came from. So naturally, when you arrive in this country all you can see is opportunity, everywhere you look. There are even fountains with fresh water and coins in the bottom! This is obviously a place of great abundance.

Now this may be an exaggerated example but I use it to illustrate a point. Why don’t we see the many opportunities that surround us? It’s because when you’re comfortable and all of your basic needs are met it’s harder to see the opportunity. We simply don’t want to take advantage of opportunity because sometimes what’s really an opportunity feels like a tremendous sacrifice. We’re just too comfortable to see what we’ve got. So, we make excuses as to why something won’t work to avoid making what we perceive to be a sacrifice.

We use negative self-talk; getting my degree will take too much time, or owning my own business would require too much work, or getting a loan involves too much risk. Oh, and then, pursuing a certain course of action might take up too much of my time and I’d have to give up watching my favorite TV shows, and so on and so forth.

We’re like spoiled children who get everything handed to them only to take it all for granted. It drives me crazy when I see parents give their kids everything, which teaches them the value of nothing. There, I said it. This opinion might not make me too popular with some, but I don’t care; it’s what I truly believe. We tend to place much more value on things that we have to work for and pay for with our own money especially if we earn them the old fashioned way. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to give your children opportunities and provide them with a wonderful life. However, teaching them the value of working and seizing opportunities is one of the best gifts you can give them.

The following quote is attributed to Helen Keller. “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.” If a blind and deaf mute could see opportunity then surely all of us can learn from her remarkable attitude. While she may not have had the gift of sight, she certainly possessed vision.

People have been coming to America for years in search of a better life. After all, this is the land of opportunity. Once you realize this, the possibilities are limitless! If you have sight, but lack vision you might not see every opportunity. If you have vision, you can take advantage of opportunities and create the life you desire.

Having sight allows you to see what is. Having vision allows you to see what can be!

Debra Wier shares her passion for personal development and self improvement on her blog at www.TheMetamorphosisCafe.com. She also believes that one of the contributing factors to happiness is the ability to earn a living doing something you enjoy. This belief led her to research the possibilities of making money online and she is the author of the popular 40-page ebook:”How To Flood Your Bank Account With Multiple Streams Of Internet Income.” Head over to ==>http://www.TheMetamorphosisCafe.com to get your FREE copy now!

Article Source: Fun Personality

Three Keys To Self Improvement And Motivation by Deborah Schaefer

What are the three keys to self improvement and motivation?

1. INSPIRATION
Inspiration is critical to staying motivated and improving oneself. If you are not interested in your business, your motivation level will never be high and you will not be able to sustain interest for very long.

Take an honest look at your inspiration level. Are you excited about going to work or is it an obligation? You would be surprised at the number of people who choose a business that looks good on paper, but in reality does not interest them in the least.

These individuals will grow weary and uninterested pretty quickly because they have no inspiration or passion to sustain them during the difficult times they will encounter as a small business owner.

If you do not like your work, then think how you can re-focus your small business to better match your needs. Or consider making a change entirely. Without inspiration, there will not be motivated to even try self improvement.

2. SETTING GOALS
Short and long-term goal setting is vital for any business owner. If you do not set goals, you would have no definite purpose on which path of self improvement to take.

How could you possibly be motivated if you were unsure about the direction of your company?

Take the time to put your goals in writing. A business plan may sound daunting, but it is really nothing more than goals, strategies, implementation and a budget. Write your own business plan and update it at least annually.

Include “mini-goals” that can be accomplished in a matter of hours, days or weeks as well as the more ambitious “grand-goals” that may take years to complete. Refer to this plan throughout the year.

But can a business plan really help motivate you? Of course. Written goals will make you feel more professional and certainly more connected to your business. It will also free you from having to reinvent your business goals every single day.

3. NETWORKING
Another key factor in getting and staying motivated is networking with other small business owners. No one person knows all the knowledge.

However, when a number of people begin working together, the challenges will just be there waiting to be conquered.

In fact, the isolation of working alone is of one the most difficult parts of being an entrepreneur. You can never be on your way to self improvement without the help of others. Mutual support is motivating.
Make it easier on yourself by connecting with others either in your community or online. Even when businesses are not related, you will often find common ground and ways to work together.

Many successful entrepreneurs report that finding the right networking group was a turning point in the growth of the business. Working together, a networking group can help its members generate more qualified sales leads and solve problems faster and more efficiently.

Sharing ideas, expertise and experience is also an invaluable aspect of motivation and self improvement.
Your own personal team of business owners will help re-energize you when the burdens of running your own business seem too much.

With your networking team to rely on, you can accomplish more in less time and probably have more fun in the process. You will feel motivated to accomplish self improvement when you know you are not alone.

Deborah Schaefer, publisher of http://www.SuccessOrate.com
the Personal Development Planning Center, is living her passion by helping people improve their lives through her informative, inspirational and motivational writing and resources.

Article Source: Fun Personality

Men’s Lab Coats Can Add More to Your Personality in the Medical Field by Max W Johnson

Any man in a lab coat is identified immediately as a practitioner in medical field. It is the most common medical uniform item that people working for any hospital and medical institution is known to wear. Any man like you in the medical practice has instant status when seen in men’s lab coat.

Like you, any person in the medical practice prefer to wear the very comfortable medical scrubs, but when you wear your men’s lab coat on any scrub suit or street clothing, you will surely get instant respect. These men’s lab coats, however, are not just worn to get more respect for yourself but actually serve a purpose. The most important function of the lab coat is actually to protect you from germs and infections that you may be in close contact from your sick patients.

Most men’s lab coats are designed to provide you with comfort and ability to move faster. They also come in different lengths depending on the requirement of the hospital or the hospital department you are working in, as well as the position you have in the hospital. You can be easily identified with the length of the coat you have.

The material of men’s lab coats are usually cotton and polyester cloth. The difference of the two materials is that cotton will require ironing, but polyester is not easily wrinkled. However, both materials can be treated in high temperature for the sanitation purpose. The white color the lab coats used by medical professionals are for the clean-look and at the same time an easy detection of dirt.

Some men’s lab coats come with slit at the back for freedom of walking. It does not constrain your legs from making long strides, especially on emergencies. Pockets are also included in the design of the men’s lab coats to allow you to carry most important items for your work like thermometer, stethoscope, notepad, pens and many more. These pockets come in different sizes and number. You may look for a lab coat with more than two pockets, or you may even prefer the ones with the pockets in the inner coat and none on the exterior of your coat.

Men’s lab coats also come in different sizes. You can have whatever requirements you may prefer for your lab coat, yet you must never forget to have your embroidered name on the chest part of the coat. This is very important because there are some hospitals that require them. If your size is too small, too big, too tall or too short, many shops that specialize in manufacturing medical uniforms can have a made to order lab coat for your size. It is very convenient way for you to get what you want in your lab coat if you visit such shop. Special requirements like extra pockets, length, and size, as well as cloth material for the lab coat can be specifically matched to your requirements. You may even ask for belt slits and a belt to come with your coat.

Click for more Scrubs. Click for more Men’s lab Coats.

Article Source: Fun Personality