Why Being Early Is Arriving on Time 5 Reasons for Interview Punctuality

Why Being Early Is Arriving on Time 5 Reasons for Interview Punctuality One of the first interviews I  attended shortly after graduation was for a marketing position for the Disney  Store based in London. Being a typical Northerner, London was a bit like Narnia  to me it was a strange and mystical place which I wasnt sure really existed,  but the letter asking me to attend suggested that there really was such a place! At the time I wasnt that well-travelled and there were no smartphones, so  getting to London and finding my way around was quite a stressful  experience. It seems ridiculous now, but  the Tube completely befuddled me and I ended up going in the wrong direction on  several occasions.  Against all odds, I did actually get to the interview on  time, but the interviewer whisked me into a room the moment I arrived. Unfortunately I was so stressed all I was  able to do was hyperventilate and repeatedly say the words ?Mickey Mouse?. Unsurprisingly I didnt get the position, but  15 years on it has at least provided me with an anecdote to demonstrate the  importance of being prepared and punctual for an interview. I learnt the lesson the hard way but  I have written a few essential tips from my experiences so you don?t have to and, as you will see below, being early is very much the best policy: 1) Don?t wing it: By: Peter In today?s society it is so easy to rely on a smartphone to  get to places, but phone batteries can run out and signals/GPS aren?t always  reliable, especially in rural areas and in the middle of large city centres.  Even  if everything is OK with the technology, it has been known (dare I say it?) for  Google to be wrong (there goes this website?s rankings!). Plan your journey and print out directions. It  is also advisable to print out contact information in case you need to ring  ahead for assistance. 2) Be at one with  yourself: Arriving early to an interview allows you time to de-stress  from the journey and collect your thoughts. It will give you time to go over  the questions you have prepared, run through your presentation (if applicable),  and review the answers to questions that  are likely to be presented to you. It will also give you time to calm your  nerves, have a drink of water and go to the bathroom if necessary. This will hopefully  allow you to enter the interview as relaxed and comfortable as Lenny Henry in a  Premier Inn double bed. 3) A glimpse into the  future: First impressions are extremely important. How you behave at  an interview is a reflection of how you will potentially behave if you were to  be offered the position. Being late for the interview may suggest to the  interviewer that you would be regularly late if you were offered the job and employed  by the organisation. Being late isn?t the only action this may apply to. Nose picking,  putting your feet on the desk and drinking from a hip flask are also unlikely  to be considered as acceptable future traits. 4) The interview before  the interview: In many organisations the interview starts as soon as you  arrive in the building. How you interact with the receptionist or secretary may  well be taken into account when considering you for the position this gives  the organisation an idea of your personality outside of the formal interview  setting. If you arrive late or on time then you may be missing out on the  ?unofficial? part of the interview process. So arrive early and be nice to all  staff you encounter, but definitely no flirting! 5) Ring ahead: If you are running late for any reason ring ahead. It is easy to think ?I?ll explain everything when  I get there? when time is against you but, again with today?s technology, it is  assumed that most people will have a mobile phone and the capability of giving  the organisation an update on your progress. However, you may want to think carefully about  the reason you give for your lateness.  Being scared of escalators, a man stopped me in the street to talk to me  about breakdown cover or I saw a really cute dress in the window of Topshop are  unlikely to be considered acceptable reasons! These are just a few of the reasons why being early is being  on time for a job interview. If you take this advice on board I am positive you  will be setting yourself up for interview success and future employment as the  early bird catches the annual salary, company car and pension scheme, but I wouldn?t  suggest that you adopt this mantra in all aspects to your life as you are  likely to become really unpopular at house parties.

How to Write a Good Resume

How to Write a Good ResumeYou might have read many articles and books about how to write a resume but you might be wondering how to get a job. The fact is that you do not have to learn all of the skills that are needed in order to do so. You can use some skills that you already possess in order to accomplish the task. Below are some tips that will help you understand how to write a good resume:Do you want to know the first thing about how to write a good resume? What is it that you want to tell employers? What do you know about your qualifications? In other words, what are the things that you would like to emphasize on your resume?The main thing that you want to write down is the information that you think would be most important to employers when they are trying to figure out how to write a good resume. For example, if you want to highlight your knowledge of the new software programs then you will write down this. Similarly, if you want to focus on how you know how to treat people a nd you are sure that you can relate with the computer expert job description then you will write down this.However, you should remember that the first impression of your application or your physical appearance might not be able to carry much weight. So do not try to emphasize too much on this aspect.Writing a resume should be like a conversation. As long as you continue this conversation on paper, you will be able to get a better understanding of how to write a good resume. However, the resume is not the only place where you will be doing your job interview. You will also be doing it in the interview for your personal interview.Since you will be going through the interview for other reasons besides a job, then you will also be using your resume as a stepping stone to other forms of interviews. Remember that your resume is only a tool that you will use in order to make an impression on different places. So do not think that you will be asked to do your resume in one specific place on ly.Lastly, you have to have confidence in your resume. There are resumes that have great details but they are a disaster because they make the interviewer think that the candidate has not done his homework well. You have to remember that each and every resume is unique and therefore it should have its own feature.Now that you have read this article, you now know how to write a good resume. You have also learned a few basic tips that you can use in your own job hunt. Just remember that there are other ways of achieving your goal.

What have you learnt this summer University of Manchester Careers Blog

What have you learnt this summer University of Manchester Careers Blog It’s the middle of summer â€" your last day  at university, school or college feels like a long time ago and yet youve still got a month to go. Not bad, eh? We know that you’ll be busy over the summer, whether you’re doing some voluntary work, working a temporary job to get some cash in your pocket or even spending some time  travelling and experiencing new cultures. But how many of you have stopped to think about what youre actually gaining from your summer experiences? Sabrina Tan: Project Support Intern at the University enjoys a team outing at Chester Zoo. Come September, there will be so much going on that you might start to forget some of the valuable things you learnt over the summer. So why not take a minute to reflect on what youve done so far, and what you want to achieve with the rest of your time away from university? You’ll thank yourself for it when it comes to applying for jobs, internships or placements. When considering  your achievements, it’s useful to ask yourself a few questions and note down the answers. We asked our current batch of students taking part in a Summer Experience Internship (SEI) a few questions to help them reflect on their experience. You can use these questions to put your own experiences into words, too. What is the biggest achievement of your summer work so far? Madeleine: Being able to talk on the spot, talking in front of people, and using my design skills (which I dont get to use  in my social sciences degree) have all been achievements. Lucy: So far I would say being able to produce and conduct a full research process. This has given me confidence before going in to my final year and completing my dissertation. Harry: My biggest achievement is learning the editing software needed to create promotional videos from scratch and managing to complete some videos in the eight weeks given. Victoria: I was in charge of a departments social media pages. Seeing the number of page likes going up on a daily basis and seeing people comment that they like my blog were big achievements.  What is the strangest thing youve done, or what has surprised you the most? Lucy: Having full control of a project and total responsibility was a surprise (but a nice one). Madeleine: Getting used to the 9-5 routine was probably the most difficult thing it makes you realise how luxurious student life really is! Anthea: Its surprising how much the work you do contributes to the work of the whole team. Youre not left to make tea all the time or to do odd jobs but given meaningful tasks that make your work seem worthwhile. Anna: I did a presentation to the whole team and really enjoyed it. I was quite nervous, so I was surprised that it went so well!  What have you learnt so far this summer? This could be new or improved skills, greater confidence, or just learning what you enjoy doing most. Adele: Im learning so much  about the voluntary sector. Its been really interesting to learn more about the behind the scenes parts of charities, including how to use the organisations database, which is incredibly useful. This list is definitely limited I know that Ive still got a lot more to learn in my role! Catherine: Ive learnt how to network, how to be assertive in managerial roles, and how to engage effectively with people from all walks of life. Madeleine: My internship is helping me figure out what I want to do when I graduate. Im gaining more skills, and figuring out whats important to me. Anthea: Ive learnt how to organise time better and prioritise different tasks as well as becoming more independent in completing objectives. Ive also become more confident in my own abilities. Annie: My internship gives me a chance to be creative again, which has boosted my confidence about my creative skills in general (its easy to forget about that kind of thing when you do a science degree). I feel more confident in my presentation skills which Im really happy about as this is a skill Im definitely going to need in my career. Harry: My communication skills have improved (ie emailing loads of different people, understanding  how to have a professional phone call, taking part in  meetings). Ive also learnt how to be adaptable and change my style for each video I made for a variety of services. Anna: I have learnt how to network when contacting external companies, how to manage my time efficiently and prioritise tasks, and developed resilience when I have had knock backs. Other skills that our SEIs say that they have developed  are presentation skills, independence, and communication and analytical skills. So I’d encourage you to take 15 minutes out of  your busy summer schedule and ask yourself similar questions about your summer, no matter what youve been doing! When it comes to putting this experience down in words on your CV, it will be incredibly useful to remember exactly what skills you developed. If the answers our SEIs gave don’t inspire you, read up on employability skills and see if any apply to you. And don’t forget â€" even if your summer experience doesnt feel particularly relevant to  your future plans, you ARE gaining transferable skills. All Make The Most of Manchester Student blogs Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted careers Internships summer work experience

3 reasons to get down to the Autumn Fairs University of Manchester Careers Blog

3 reasons to get down to the Autumn Fairs University of Manchester Careers Blog Alright, heading over to Manchester Central Convention Centre may seem like a bit of a trek. But there’s plenty to gain from coming along to one of our upcoming fairs, whatever your degree subject and whether you’ve given your future some thought or not. So why should you make time to attend a fair? To explore what’s out there! It’s not unusual to be a bit unsure about what you’re going to do after you graduate â€" but you could get a clearer idea of what you might like to do by chatting to employers and recent graduates at the fairs. You can find out from ‘big’ recruiters like Deloitte, Jaguar Land Rover, PwC, Shell and Unilever what their graduate jobs and schemes are really like, or discover the opportunities available with organisations like Coca Cola, the Civil Service, Frontline, Warburtons and Sky. There’ll be positions available to students of any degree discipline in a wide variety of sectors, from business, finance and the public sector to IT, marketing, engineering and HR, so the fairs are an ideal opportunity to find out what kinds of jobs are out there for graduates of your degree. To bag yourself an internship or some work experience Even if you’re not in your final year, popping down to the fairs can still be really beneficial. Many of the exhibitors at the fair will also be looking to recruit students for spring and summer internships, whilst there’ll be plenty of placement opportunities up for grabs at the Engineering, Science and Technology Fair. Speaking to employers about what you’re interested in could also help you secure some work experience to boost your CV. To make useful connections and get tips on tackling application processes Make contact with the companies you’re interested in and get your face (and email address!) known. Build up a network of people doing the sort of work you might like to do â€" you’ll be able to ask them for advice on what you can do to increase your chances of getting the job you want, and they might be able to let you know about any opportunities in that line of work. Talking to recruiters can really help with applying for graduate roles. When writing a cover letter, saying that you’ve spoken to representatives of a company about the sort of work you could be doing with them is a great way of demonstrating your enthusiasm for the position on offer. Recruiters and recent graduates can also give you insight into what application processes are like and what you need to do to make a good impression. There’ll be talks throughout the day offering advice on job applications and best practice in interviews and assessment centres, too. And oh alright, here’s one more… We’ve got free buses running to take you to the fairs and back! They’ll be departing every 30 minutes from Brunswick St. Your ticket for the fair is your ticket for the bus. So not being able to get to Manchester Central is no excuse not to go! So which fair is for me? The Business, Finance and Management Fair â€" Tuesday 20 October, 10.30am-4.00pm Contrary to its name, this fair is not just for Business, Finance or Management students. Exhibitors are happy to recruit students from any degree discipline, offering positions in a huge variety of sectors, such as retail, HR and marketing. There’ll be representatives from both international companies like Bloomberg, Coca Cola, Unilever and PwC, and public sector organisations like the Civil Service, Frontline and HM Treasury. Check out the full list of exhibitors here and register to attend here. The Engineering, Science and Technology Fair â€" Wednesday 21 October, 10.30am-4.00pm Bringing together over 80 companies such as Ford, Fujitsu, IBM, L’Oréal, Siemens and Shell, you’re sure to find something inspiring at this fair. Discover a huge range of opportunities in a wide range of sectors, from research and IT to energy and manufacturing. We’ve got a full list of the companies attending here and register to attend here. The Postgraduate Study â€" Monday 16 November, 10.30am-4.00pm Not quite ready to put your student days behind you? Discover thousands of postgraduate courses available to study both in the UK and overseas at the Postgraduate Study Fair, get advice on financing your course and find out what postgrad study is really like from current Masters and PhD students. Register to attend here. The Law Fair â€" Tuesday 17 November, 12.30pm-4.00pm Wondering what a Law career would be like? This fair is a mine of insider insight into the legal sector â€" and it’s open to students of any degree discipline, not just Law. Find out about vacation placements and training contracts, meeting graduates in the midst of their professional training, and get advice from industry leaders and professional bodies, as well as members of The Bar. Register to attend here. All Events and fairs Undergraduate career planning careers Careers fair employers graduate schemes Internships job hunting job market jobs Options summer internships

How a Resume Writing Service for Career Changes Can Help You

How a Resume Writing Service for Career Changes Can Help YouIf you are seeking career changes or are searching for a career change in your current job, it is important to find a resume writing service for career changes. A resume service for career changes will get your resume to the company that you are applying to by using one of the two methods: online or offline submission. The first method is the easiest but requires the most work.One benefit of using a resume service for career changes is that they will submit your resume to the company you are applying to. This allows the client to have a look at your resume before you send it. If the resume is well written and includes what the employer is looking for, the employer will contact you directly. This will allow the hiring manager to interview you for the position.The second method of submitting your resume is called offline submission. This does not require the use of a resume writing service for career changes. The resume will b e sent to the company that you are applying to on your behalf.Many professional resume services for career changes offer both methods as part of their services. The more options you have, the better your chances are of getting the job. This means you can choose which method works best for you. It is important to keep your job and your application letter from going unnoticed.You may want to consider sending your resume via email. A resume service for career changes will be able to email your resume to the company directly. You will not need to worry about writing a cover letter and you can be sure that the company receives your resume.As a matter of fact, many professional resume services for career changes offer online submission as part of their services. Once you have completed the online application, you will be given the option to submit your resume using the company's website. Your resume will be emailed directly to the company.Using a resume writing service for career changes is not difficult if you know how to use them. You can become self-employed by using the service for the first time and gain experience while working in your spare time. It is easy to sign up for a service and start a career change.Keep in mind that a professional resume service for career changes is not required by any company. You must take the initiative to take care of your resume yourself. The rewards can be enormous if you are able to successfully make a career change.

Is Landing a Board of Directors Role Like Landing Any Other Executive Job - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Is Landing a Board of Directors Role Like Landing Any Other Executive Job

The Lure of the Job Boards

The Lure of the Job Boards Ready for a busy day of job searching? Just boot up that computer and get started on the online job boards. After all, there are several hundred jobs to search in your industry and you can crank out those applications until about noon when you decide to take a well-deserved break for lunch. Im sure theres someone at the other end just waiting for your resume to grace their inbox!OK, by now youve sensed my sarcasm. Ive written about this topic before, but I continue to meet people who are lured by the leads on the job boards and convinced that if they just continue to scroll down the list, their dream job will appear. If only it were that easy!Im convinced that people are enticed by the boards for one of these reasons:Using the boards makes them feel like they are productively searching.The boards give them some level of control over their search and dont force them to step outside their comfort zone.People are eternal optimists and are confident that with all those jobs, there must b e something that is right for them.The truth is that less than 5% of people in search find their jobs from the job boards and you can check out Nick Corcodilos article on the reality of the boards and the abysmal sourcing statistics for some of the big boards.Job search is sometimes uncomfortable and even messy, but it can also represent an enormous period of personal and professional growth. But to be successful, you have to be willing to dip your toe in the water, take some risks, and most importantly, take some responsibility for your own career management.So step away from the computer and get out and meet people through affinity groups such as professional organizations, alumni groups, community events, and places of worship. The chances of building relationships with people you know or new people you meet through others and then leveraging those relationships to find job leads is far greater than the odds of finding your next job through the boards.

Im off to Portland (and you can come with me)! - When I Grow Up

Im off to Portland (and you can come with me)! - When I Grow Up By the time you read this, Ill be in Portland, OR gearing up for my 3rd World Domination Summit! You can hear my take on last years event here and 2011s right here. The gist of both of them, though, is that WDS is amazeballs and Im thrilled to be going. If youre gonna be there too, make sure to tweet me @WhenIGroUpCoach and hopefully we can find each other in the crowd of 3,000 (!) attendees! I can also guarantee that Ill be at the Indie Kindred screening, as Im moderating the QA post-movie. Thrilling! Tickets should still be available, so make sure you snag yours before theyre gone. Regardless of whether youre a WDS attendee, all will be welcome at The Declaration of Yous Book Lovin Par-Tay! Jess I will be downstairs at The Pink Rose on Saturday night from 8p onwards and would love to raise a glass with you! Well also have a limited amount of books available to purchase (at a discount!) and sign. Please come if youre local and available it would be THE BEST to meet you!