Dress for Success!

The phone rings and you get an unexpected call. You’re scheduled for a job interview the next morning! So you got your resume ready and you’ve researched on the typical job interview questions to help you give smart answers. Now, you need to ask yourself “What should I wear?”

“Dress for success,” might be one of the overused phrases in job hunting. But this still holds true. Remember, first impressions in job hunting are critical. You’re marketing yourself so you can be part of company that you applied to.

The safest route in dressing for a job interview is to dress conservatively. Wear simple yet comfortable clothes. For men, a solid colored (gray or navy blue) suit is a must. Your long sleeve shirt should be coordinated with your suit, or just be safe and wear white.

For women, a suit is also ideal for a job interview. Use a solid colored blazer matched with a skirt to show sophistication and professionalism. Use a coordinated blouse as an inner shirt to complete the “business” attire. Make sure the skirt you’ll be using is long enough so you can sit down comfortably and not expose too much skin. Avoid wearing too much jewelry and make-up because they might make you look too flashy or even cheap.

After choosing the right apparel, remember to polish your shoes, trim your nails, and have a professional and neat hairstyle. Dressing properly in a job interview will not guarantee your acceptance but it certainly gives you a competitive edge and a good first impression.

Finding the appropriate attire for your job interview doesn’t have to be expensive. Now as you rummage through your closet, keep these tips in mind. Just dress conservatively and you will look professional.

Click here for more career advice!

Bag the MVP Medal at Work

The old catchphrase, “There is no ‘I’ in team,” still holds true for any group. To achieve the goal of winning, teamwork is pivotal in any sports team, in a company or association, or even between friends.

Major companies constantly look for a candidate who upholds teamwork and camaraderie. Top executives from Robert Half International, the first and largest staffing firm in the world, stated that team play is crucial in an organization. It enables the employees to meet deadlines, avoid office politics, and sets a positive office vibe.

Now, if you already have technical skills at hand, follow these tips to help you earn you Most Valuable Player medal. It might even make you indispensable to your company:

Focus, focus, focus.
The ability to multitask is a good skill, but make sure that you can focus on your priority tasks. Everyday, you face overwhelming and urgent demands at work, each of which screams for your attention. But don’t let the first thing labeled “urgent” that falls on your desk distract you from accomplishing your more important tasks, such as making a phone call to your client to seal a deal. Remember, an urgent task may not necessarily be a priority task.

Take time to talk to your colleagues and superiors. Get to know your priority tasks, deliverables, and deadlines. This will help you to keep your eye on the ball.

Stop politicking.

Given the varied and sometimes conflicting personalities of employees, gossip and politics are inevitable in the workplace. But don’t use this as an excuse for joining rumor sessions and becoming a gossip-monger. It may help to be aware of political episodes in the office, but be discreet about it, and don’t add fuel to the fire. Having a long tongue makes you unprofessional. Make it a point to practice diplomacy and open and respectful communication with your colleagues.

Don’t join the blame game.

When a colleague makes a mistake, don’t start or join in a blame game. Instead, think of ways to help solve the problem. This will help the entire team go forward. If you made a mistake, be accountable for your actions. This doesn’t make you cocky. Recognizing your mistake makes you mature.

Click here for more career advice!

Give public kudos.

Being singled out for a job well done by your manager is a very good boost to your career. But more often than not, you work with a team and you were able to accomplish your task and exceed your manager’s expectations because of the effort put in by your colleagues. So remember to give credit where it is due. Share the kudos and the spotlight with your teammates. Sharing the company’s glory builds an excellent rapport between colleagues within an organization.

If you have time, try to do more for the team. When you see a coworker having a difficult time with his task, offer a hand. Have a can-do attitude and show your will to go the extra mile. It can give you extra points that can definitely earn you the MVP medal, even the congeniality award!

How to Outwit Non-Traditional Job Interviews

Job interviews have changed dramatically, thanks to advanced technology. It is now possible to hold virtual or online job fairs and conduct job interviews through video-conferences, phone, and chat. are also becoming more common these days. Never has it been easier, faster, and more convenient for companies to connect with jobseekers.

If you want to shine in these non-traditional job interview settings, read on!

Phone Interview
Remember to minimize distractions. Make sure to have a quiet and private spot for your phone interview. You can’t impress the employer if he hears your caterwauling pet, a blaring stereo, or the local TV soap in the background. Use the landline because its signal is more stable compared to mobile phones. You wouldn’t want to get disconnected in the middle of your interview.

During the phone interview, speak up. Since the interviewer can’t see your facial expression and body language, you will be only judged by how you verbalize your thoughts. Talk with confidence and enthusiasm. People who can articulate their thoughts will leave a lasting expression.

Also, make sure your resume is within reach. This can help you to remember your work experience, skills, and accomplishments, especially when you feel a bit jittery. Keep a pen and paper handy for taking notes as well.

Video conference
Being in front of the camera can be nerve-wracking. Ask your friend to do mock interviews with you using a video camera. The recorded interview can help you study areas that you need to work on. Focus on your posture, speech, and confidence. Rehearse, rehearse and rehearse. This way, you’ll be ready during show time.

Also, wearing an outfit that you would wear for an on-site visit or interview can help put you in the right mood. This will help you look professional even if you never left home for the video conference.

Virtual Interview
Second Life is a popular online community that holds virtual job fairs. If you are keen in joining this community, make sure to display professionalism. Use an appropriate avatar: Choose one that precisely depicts your character. Don’t use vampires, space alien or animal icons. You joined this virtual job fair to find a JOB! And don’t forget: always send messages with care, because you won’t be able to take them back!

And since you’re only communicating through instant messaging, refrain from using cyber slang. Emoticons can be cute and liven up conversations with your friends, but they can be a distraction when you’re trying to convey a professional image. Also, always proofread your messages. Focus on accuracy, spelling, and grammar to impress potential employers.

After your interview (and whether you got hired or not), show your class by sending a thank-you note to your interviewers. In this age of technological sophistication, a handwritten, personal note is still highly appreciated.

More career advice? Click here!

Five Things You Can Do to Beat Stress at Work

Stress is part of our lives, and undeniably, one of the primary sources of stress is work. Our body’s natural response to stress, which is to pump more adrenalin into our system, may give us enough energy to meet deadlines, hit our targets, deal with a demanding boss, and remain on top of our game. However, there’s only so much that adrenalin can do. Constant stress can cause our body to break down, exposing us to greater health hazards like cardiovascular diseases.

How do we continue to be effective employees without risking too much of our health? Follow the tips below to beat stress at work:

1. Participate in Stress Management Activities.
Large American corporations have been using Employee Assistance Programs or EAPs to help its workers cope with stress brought about by personal problems or work-related issues. An EAP is a confidential program that provides activities like counseling, workshops, and legal and financial assistance. If your company doesn’t have one, suggest it to the management.

2. Improve Communication with Management and Colleagues.
Share information with your colleagues. When you feel uncertain about your workload, discuss it over your supervisor. It’s your supervisor’s job to help you. Be sure to make your communication friendly yet professional. Avoid whining and don’t be too crabby.

In need of more career advice? Click here.

3. Help Create a Friendly and Conducive Work Environment.
You may not like how your co-worker dresses or speaks, but instead of making an issue of it, why not let it slide and concentrate on how both of you can accomplish this week’s report? A friendly and positive environment can help everyone in your office work effectively. When you interact more with your colleagues and bosses, they get to know you better and learn to trust you. This makes it easier for you to relay issues with your boss or colleagues. You can also ask for help when your work is getting too tough for you to handle.

4. Foster a Positive Vibe at Work.
Have a positive attitude. Smile more. Share a funny story a joke when things get too serious. We all know laughter can reduce stress. Remember, negativity sucks your energy and motivation in any situation.

5. Set Realistic Expectations.
Make sure that your goals and expectations can be achieved. Don’t kill yourself trying to finish tons of work in just one day. Don’t waste time worry on things that you can’t change or are above your reach. Unrealistic expectations often lead to failure and so much stress.

Get the Salary You Deserve!

Whether it's your first job or you've been part of your company for a decade, salary is still a hot topic. Everyone wants and works for a higher salary! But how can you get what you want?

You need to be practical when it comes to compensation. You need to evaluate yourself whether the amount of labor you put in is well compensated for, and of course, you also need to make sure your company gets back fairly what they pay you for.

The following are things you should consider in facing the age-old challenges of work compensation:

• Information Helps!

You need to remember that salary, especially for entry-level positions, is based on the whole compensation structure. In this phase in your career, your salary flexibility is limited since your monthly earnings are based on the standards set by the company. What you can do is to monitor where you are now and ask the human resource department about the actions you need to take to take the step up. Be proactive! You might even get promoted and deserve to earn that extra cash!

• There's No Harm in Asking.
Every company has its own way of handling compensation, but don't be afraid to ask. You might just receive what you're asking for. Just be careful with how you articulate your claims. Instead of coming across as too obnoxious, make your contributions recognized. Make sure your accomplishments are acknowledged so you have a strong case to initiate and continue negotiating about your compensation.

• It's Not Just About the Cash.
Remember, money isn't everything especially when you've just entered the workforce. If your company cannot accommodate an increase in your salary, try to ask for other additional incentives, such as flexible time, more vacation days, or performance bonuses. Seek trainings you can attend, skills you can acquire, and a network that will help you advance your career.

Need more career advice? Click here!