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Inexpensive Self Improvement Join Toastmasters
On of the best ways to develop skills that will help you promote yourself in an interview, to a prospective client or in a networking situation is to become a member of your local Toastmasters Club. Toastmasters International is a world wide organization that helps people become better communicators and leaders. It is easy to become a member. Go to the internet and find a Toastmasters Club in your area. Call them in advance to confirm the meeting date and time and tell them you plan to attend. There are two types of clubs. A closed club which limits membership to employees at a specific place of business and an open club which accepts members from all walks of life, since each club has its own unique culture it is recommended that you visit a number of different clubs to find one that fit your needs and taste.
The role of Table Topics, which is asking a club participant to answer a question in a one to two minute response, is a great opportunity for you to develop your interview and self promotion skills. Table Topics is a standard role during most club meetings and you will not only learn from listening but also from participating as well.
Another great place to learn how to improve your communications is attending a Toastmasters Conference. At the conference you hear world champion speakers while learning communication and leadership skills at a number of workshops. You will also have an opportunity to network with Toastmasters from all over the district. If you plan to be in the New York, New Jersey area on November 8th then I would like to invite you to attend the Inaugural District 83 Fall Conference at the Woodbridge Hilton. We will have Rory Vaden , 2007 World Champion of Public Speaking First runner up, provide 2 keynote speeches. You can obtain registration information at http://tinyurl.com/fall83 . You can learn more about Rory Vaden at http://www.takethestairsspeaker.com/tour.html
Resume Broadcast - Is It Worth It?
I had a reader ask me:
“What do you think of those sites where your resume is sent to hundreds of staffing agencies/recruiters?”
I believe that sending a resume broadcast is a waste of time and money. You want to send a resume targeted to a specific employer and job. You want to use the key words that the employer is looking for. It is like ordering a pizza. Let’s say you want an extra cheese and pepperoni pizza. When the pizza man comes he brings you a pizza with pineapple, anchovies and jalapeños on it.
Do you want this pizza? No, it is not what you ordered. Employers are the same way. They only want what the asked for. When you send a resume broadcast you are sending out a pizza, not knowing what was ordered and hoping that someone will buy it. Your time and energy would have been better spent writing a targeted resume to one of the employers who received the resume broadcast. You would have saved money and had a better opportunity to be asked in for an interview. You not only missed the chance of being asked to come in for an interview but you paid for the pleasure of being excluded!
I believe when you send out a resume broadcast you do yourself and the potential employer a disservice. Spend the time researching the employer, identify what they want, look at what you have to offer and how you can deliver it to them and you will get an offer for the interview.
You can learn how to do this yourself with Mastering The Art Of Selling Yourself. Click the link and take a look at the video to find out how. Best of luck to you in your job search and remember The Interview Teacher is here help you accelerate your success by giving you the individualized attention you desire.
The First Step to Your Professional Success
Having a positive mental attitude is your first step toward your success.
Your mental attitude is one of the few things that you have 100% control of and can make all the difference between you being successful in getting the interview and the job offer or not. What are you willing to do to be successful? How far are you willing to go? How much time and effort are you willing to invest in yourself to be prepared for that interview?
These are the hard questions that you must ask yourself. How you decide to answer them can make all the difference in the world between your success and failure. Are you willing to do the research on the organization you would like to interview with? Have you used your LinkedIn.com contact to get an introduction to a decision maker in the organization you are pursuing? Have you had a mock interview to practice being in an interview situation? Are you willing to spend money on coaching to be successful in ensuring you have a targeted resume and know the right questions to ask the employer?
Success is being willing to take the steps that others refuse to. Success is preparing yourself to be more disciplined and purposeful about your approach to a job search. This is why I have shared the video or Rory Vaden with you. Rory Vaden is a member of Toastmasters, like yours truly, and was the 2007 World Champion of Public Speaking 1st Runner Up. This video is an excerpt for his signature speech “Take The Stairs” which focuses on being willing to do things that others are not to be successful.
You can see Rory perform this speech live at the Toastmasters District 83 Fall Conference which is being held on November 8th at the Woodbridge Hilton in Woodbridge, New Jersey. The theme of the conference is: Achieving New Heights One Step at a Time.
You can get a copy of the registration form at: http://tinyurl.com/fall83
Don’t be a follower, be a trend setter, a leader and be willing to take the stairs.
Colored Career Change
Would you base a career change decision on a set of color preferences? A friend of mine shared the Dewey Color System test with me and I was so impressed I just had to share it with you. This test suggests the careers that you are best suited for based on a series of color preferences that you make. Now I know this may sound a little crazy but it is a real test and it really worked.
Like you I was very skeptical that what seemed to be a childlike game could reveal personality traits and help you see which types of positions you would be best predisposed to do. Well funny enough it seemed to have worked for me. According to the Dewey Color System (not to be confused with the decimal system with the same first name) I am a:
CREATOR
Key Words: Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional
These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.
2nd BEST OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORY
You’re a PERSUADER
Key Words: Witty, Competitive, Sociable, Talkative, Ambitious, Argumentative, and Aggressive
These enterprising types sell, persuade, and lead others. Positions of leadership, power, and status are usually their ultimate goal. Persuasive people like to take financial and interpersonal risks and to participate in competitive activities. They enjoy working with others inside organizations to accomplish goals and achieve economic success.
I think I am a combination of the Creator and Persuader. But don’t take my word for it. Take the test yourself and you may discover a new colorful career. Just click this link. Then select the color you like best and you are on your way.
Key Words - Your Ticket to Your Next Interview
What is so important about the words you use in a resume or cover letter? They are your ticket in the door to obtain an interview. I suggest that you use powerful action words to describe how you successfully met a need of the organization resulting in positive measurable results that improved the outcome of the organization.
You want to make yourself stand out of the crowd, not blend in. The employer that you would like to interview with is looking for someone who took action in the past and can demonstrate how they can take action again in the future that will be a benefit to them. After all why should they consider hiring you? You have to demonstrate the answer to this question on paper. If you are not successful you will not get the interview and stand no chance in getting a job offer.
We can no longer have a resume that is a listing of job duties and tasks, but we need to show that we were instrumental in resolving problems or bringing solutions to the table. This is the reason a future employer would be interested in interviewing you. Words like implemented, developed, motivated and inspired are just a sample of powerful key words that you should be placing in your resume and cover letters.
If you are interested in expiditing your path to an interview and your next job, remember to focus on the use of key words in your next resume and cover letter
