Got An Interview? Don't Stress Out!

By http://www.countrysbestresumes.com/

Tip 1 - Calm Down - Although the interview is important, your overall health is more. Interviewing is a mutual process. You are interviewing the company just as much as they are interviewing you.

Tip 2 - Always Bring Samples of Your Work - If you don't have any start calling your old job and get them. Always keep at least one ally at your job, you never know when you will need something. Before you leave a job, create a portfolio and make copies of your work but omit confidential business information.

Tip 3 - Do the Research - Know what you are getting yourself into, this may not be the company you want to spend 40+ hours a week with for a year.

Tip 4 - Fix Yourself Up and Smile! - First impressions are made in 30-seconds or less, don't miss an opportunity just because you got up late or did not neatly present yourself. Employers are looking for people who are organized, if you can't organize yourself, then how can you organize a project? Arrive 10-15 minutes early, smile at everyone - show you have manners.

Tip 5 - Cultivate Your References - Prior to giving the names and contact information of people who you would like to say a kind word about you, make sure you ask them and drop a line or e-mail every once in a while, cultivate your references, you need them!

Tip 6 - Get a Group of Mentors - Ask people to be your mentor, you should have a mentoring group, 1-2 people who can mentor you, 1-2 people who are on your level so that you can learn and swap ideas from each other and 1-2 people you can mentor.

Tip 7 - Use the Right Paper - Always present a fresh copy of your resume on proper rйsumй paper (minimum have two copies). Do not use colors other than Ivory or White. You will stick out if you use blue, pink, orange, etc., but most likely it will not be in the manner that is beneficial.

Tip 8 - Always have questions to ask - Never leave an interview without asking at least 3 questions.

Tip 9 - Practice Interviewing - If you are a client call us and we will gladly do a mock interview with you.

Tip 10 - Send a thank you letter within 24-Hours - Always thank the interviewer for taking the time out to meet with you.

Women - Delaying Motherhood For the Sake Of A Career

I am one of those women who grew up in the age of empowerment. I grew up with the belief that all things are possible. My mother taught me that with determination, a good education and work ethic I could achieve anything. We never discussed one big issue - Family.

I assumed that I would finish my education, get a great job and get married. I had no idea or concern of time. Like many American women, I waited to have children. I had my first son at the age of 31. It was not until, I turned 30 that I learned of all of the horrors surrounding infertility. I had spent my 20's trying NOT to get pregnant. I had no idea that so many women spent their 30's trying TO get pregnant and that I would be one of them.

Now, I am 35 and wondering why I wasted so many years? If you are a professional and a mom over the age of 30 please share your experiences and thoughts.

Tawana Wood, Entrepreneur, Mom, and Wife

1999 vs. 2009 What a difference a decade makes

Okay, so I just read a report titled “Unemployment and Jobs In International Perspective” by two distinguished professors for the United States Congress and it read “The United States has low unemployment rates and substantial job creation, while much of the rest of the industrialized world has high unemployment and little or no expansion in employment. Why?“

The in-depth report went on to show many descriptive statistics and simple econometric evidence to underscore why the U.S. did it better than the rest of the industrialized world due to its untiring attention to controlling labor costs. The report was written 10 years ago when the US economy was labeled the "Goldilocks economy" because things were going just right… not too hot and not too cold. Unemployment and inflation were both lowest they had been in 30 years and the stock market was booming with blossoming day traders all over the place. According to Business Week, the U.S. economy had entered a "new era" in which rapid technological change (especially information technology) will make it possible for the U.S. economy to continue to achieve both low unemployment and low inflation for the foreseeable future.

Oh what a difference a decade makes. Let’s fast forward to 2009 with the highest unemployment rates since the 80’s. Since December 2007 more than 5 million people filed for unemployment according to a recent report from the Department of Labor. The national unemployment rate hit 10.2% not since the 1980’s have we seen such a high rate. The manufacturing sector accounted for 36 percent of all initial unemployment filings during October 2009 compared to 2008’s number of 45 percent, reflecting a slight decrease.

Industries Hardest Hit in 2009:
1. Temporary help services
2. Motion picture and video production
3. Professional employer organizations
4. Automobile manufacturing
5. Construction machinery manufacturing
6. Highway, street, and bridge construction
7. Farm labor contractors and crew leaders
8. Food service contractors
9. Discount department stores
10. Hotels and motels, except casino hotels

States with the highest recorded unemployment rates for Aug, Sep & Oct 2009
1. California
2. Illinois
3. Florida
4. Wisconsin
5. Pennsylvania
6. Ohio
7. Michigan
8. Texas
9. New York
10. Indiana