Monthly Archives: July 2011

Confidence can improve your job performance

Posted on by
Reply

No amount of schooling, studying or financial investment can help one succeed in business if confidence is not present. However, even the most accomplished professionals experience insecurities and other trials to their ego. But according to the Harvard Business Review, these slight lapses in confidence don't have to hinder your career.

Many people shy away from a task or job that they find too difficult of that they may not be good at. But like the old adage says, practice does make perfect. For example, if you have great ideas but you are terrified of presenting them in front of a large group, practice your public speaking in a safe environment. Before a big presentation, try practice your speech several times. You may also want to try some relaxing techniques, such as yoga meditation poses and yoga stretching, to prepare your mind.

"Even people who are confident in their abilities can become more so with better preparation," writes Amy Gallo of the Harvard Business Review.

Confidence can bring a unique challenge in balance for professionals. Sometimes, modesty can hold one back from pursuing opportunities that are a perfect fit, while people who are over-confident risk alienating important business contacts. You must come to terms with the fact that you can't know everything, and that is perfectly acceptable to ask for help when you need it.

According to the Houston Chronicle, setting and achieving short-term and long-term goals can greatly increase one's self-confidence. Each small victory can improve your state of mind, making it easier to achieve larger goals.

For example, if you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, make a point to achieve five phone calls each day rather than dwelling on a monthly call quota. Smaller, more manageable goals can lead to long-term success and added confidence in your abilities. 

Related items

Ways college graduates can successfully enter the job market

Posted on by
Reply

Recent college grads may have difficulty finding jobs in the current job market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the age group of recent college graduates, 20 to 24, has an unemployment rate of 15.5 percent, which is well above the national average. While this may not look promising, there are things prospects can consider to boost their chances. Using dahn yoga meditation and yoga stretching may help relieve some of the stress of the job search.

Business Insider offers advice to college graduates about working with job recruiters. College grads should be careful when dealing with recruiters, according to the media outlet. For instance, prospects should never engage with recruiters who charge job applicants or who do not offer jobs that pay a base salary. However, it is also important to be realistic and realize that you may not find the perfect job upon entering the work force, according the news source.

The Centre Daily Times also provided tips to help recent college graduates in their search for work. Job seekers should focus on developing a good resume and reference list, according to the newspaper. Also, the news source reports that it is important to look for all types of work, such as temporary or seasonal jobs, and to use your personal network in your search.

Jeannine Tanner O’Donnel and Dale Dauten from the Arizona Daily Star offer similar advice to post-graduation job seekers. Dauten stated that it’s important to stay viable in the job market, even if that means taking temporary work. The interview and follow-up are critical as well, according to the newspaper. Tamryn Hennessy, Rasmussen College’s national director of career development, told the news source that although preparing for an interview is important, it is also necessary to follow-up to show your communication skills and commitment.

Related items

Perfecting your resume to land your ideal job

Posted on by
Reply

Although its just a piece of paper, a resume is an important part of a professional life. This document is the first impression left with a potential employer and it can be an essential tool in obtaining your perfect job.

According to Phyllis Korkki of the New York Times, the way a resume is structured and what it says about a job seeker can greatly determine whether one gets the job truly desired.

Korkki suggests that you consider a resume as a way to draw potential jobs to you. As many social media and networking sites often support resumes, many are circulating throughout job boards and company databases. Your resume can't just be a list of where you worked or where you went to school if you want to stand out.

To begin crafting a top-notch resume, think forward, not back. The document should emphasize job experiences that are most relevant to the career you would like to have. Bringing attention to aspects of your previous jobs that you didn't like will only attract new job prospects with similar duties.

Before creating your resume, consider the job you want and highlight aspects of your experience that relate to the skills needed. For example, if you are applying for a job with a yoga company, emphasize your experience with yoga stretching poses and yoga meditation techniques.

A perfect resume can also omit some aspects of your professional past.

"Your resume is not an autobiographical essay of your entire life," Wendy S. Enelow, a resume writer for executives, told the publication.

Companies looking through potential employees' resumes usually prefer documents in reverse-chronological order. For people with gaps in their job history, an emphasis on volunteer work or other activities should be included where paid employment didn't exist.

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Career Development Center, resumes should use action verbs and demonstrative adjectives to make the language pop. Spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors should be avoided. As a general rule, a resume should be kept to one page, unless you have an advanced degree or over 10 years of experience.  

Related items

The upside of searching for jobs

Posted on by
Reply

Although the job search is generally approached with stress and panic, there are positive things about looking for work, according to US News and World Report. Yoga stretching poses or yoga meditation retreats may help to relieve some of the stress associated with unemployment.

According to US News and World Report, it is important to change your perspective on seeking work so that you can see the benefits. For instance, job seekers can take time to consider what an ideal career would be and plan accordingly for the future. Although changing careers is difficult and may not be a viable option presently, the jobless can begin the process of transitioning or simply re-affirming their current career path, reports the newspaper.

Another benefit of unemployment is the competition. Adults rarely get the chance to directly compete with others. The job search can give prospects the opportunity to use the competitive spirit to prove yourself to employers, according the news source.

The newspaper also reports that the job search should be viewed as an exciting time. Finding a job is a new challenge to tackle, and a new job presents an environment with unique problems and opportunities. In addition, networking also gives job seekers the chance to meet new people and create friendships, according to the media outlet.

Unemployment also presents free time to tackle long put off tasks or to spend time with family and friends, according to the newspaper. It is often difficult to find time to do things you have always wanted to do while working full-time. The time off can be used as an opportunity to accomplish any number of things, such as getting in shape, volunteering or simply re-connecting with family, according to the media outlet. 

Related items

Twitter hosts a job search conference

Posted on by
Reply

As the unemployment rate continues to rise, even Twitter has gotten involved in searching for jobs. An American Jobs Conference will be held via Twitter on Tuesday with the goal of explaining ways social networking can benefit job seekers, according to The Sacramento Bee. Unemployment can cause a great deal of anxiety and stress. Yoga meditation techniques and yoga streching excercise may help with the stress of unemployment.

Kat Garcia, spokeswoman for TweetMyJobs, told that newspaper that she hopes the conference will create an open dialogue about employment and give job seekers the opportunity to talk with experts in all sectors of the job market. Garcia stated her belief that social media sites are useful because they allow direct connection with potential employers, which gives prospects the opportunity prove that they are right for the job, according to the media outlet.

The conference will be a daylong online conversation with the hashtag #jobs4US. Job seekers can participate through their personal Twitter accounts or online at conference.tweetmyjobs.com. The newspaper reports that there will be a tweet panel who will be answering pre-selected questions, as well as live tweet questions from participants.

Twitter isn’t the only website assisting the unemployed. A site created by David Kutcher helps job seekers find Requests for Proposals (RFP) online much quicker and cheaper than in the past. The website, www.RFPdb.com, is a database of RFPs that uses a crowd-sourcing model, which has helped to attract a growing membership.

The site permits members to pay $2 to view proposals. Alternatively, they can upload RFPs and earn credits that can be redeemed for access to other proposals. Each month the members of the website post a combined average of $5 billion in projects. The RFP database has recently reached 100,000 members.

Related items

Tips to help get back to work after vacation

Posted on by
1

Vacations can be a wonderful respite from one's day job, allowing for fun and relaxing activities like yoga meditation and yoga stretching. But sometimes getting back into the swing of things at work can be difficult after some time off.

Many people dread getting back to work, but with a few simple tips, the transition can be slightly more smooth, according to a recent column by Caroline M.L. Potter for Yahoo HotJobs.

Before one leaves for vacation, it is important to leave an outgoing message alerting others of the break. This message can also direct callers or emailers to someone responsible for the position while it is vacant, which can reduce the number of pending issues and calls to return.

Also be sure to alert co-workers about any information that must be communicated to you while you are away. As much as you want your time away, some crises and other issues may be best dealt with during a vacation, rather than left for your return.

A return to the office can be a great opportunity to employ the help of eager, junior team members. Younger colleagues who are interested in taking on more responsibility can help cover some of the post-vacation work load that has piled up.

If you are able to hire freelance help, consider doing so. Temporary employees can help minimize the workload you are faced with.

CNN Living suggests that you take it slow upon your return. Work at your own pace during your first few days back at the office. Carefully plotting out your tasks on a to-do list will allow you to stay focused.

Planning another vacation can also help ease the post-break blues. While taking more time off from work will likely exacerbate the overwhelming workload, planning a weekend trip or a relaxing escape can help keep your mind fresh. 

Related items

Pain management techniques may reduce aches, anxiety for cancer patients

Posted on by
Reply

When loved ones are diagnosed with serious illnesses, it is tempting to despair of there being any way to comfort them. After all, having a life-threatening disease can be dispiriting in a way that few other life experiences may be. That said, yoga meditation techniques and deep breathing exercises may help people with rare conditions improve their quality of life.

Some diseases have few symptoms, at least until a medical checkup reveals that an individual has an advanced and potentially deadly illness. Consider a recent letter to the Edmonton Journal, in a which a resident of the Canadian city stated that they had been diagnosed with a rare, asbestos-caused form of cancer.

"Alberta Vocational College-Edmonton, now named NorQuest College, removed hazardous chrysotile asbestos in the late 1990s," the reader noted, adding that this event may have triggered diseases in a number of people, including a serious form of lung cancer called malignant mesothelioma.

This condition is a relatively rare type of lung cancer, which in the U.S. occurs in roughly 3,000 people each year, according to the American Cancer Society. It is an aggressive carcinoma that appears in the tissues surrounding the lungs, and healthcare experts agree that exposure to asbestos is a prime cause of the illness.

People diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma may feel as if they have gone from healthy to all-but-dying, without any intervening steps. This notion is not true – the feeling is a byproduct of the disease's few initial symptoms – but it can lead to anxiety, depression or exhaustion.

Fortunately, yoga-based pain management techniques may help people with mesothelioma conquer their fear and overcome some of their physical aches or inertia. Such alternative or complementary treatments are not intended to treat the disease, but instead to mitigate its side effects.

With a little encouragement from friends and family members, people with such illness may begin to feel strong and happy, even during such a difficult period.

Related items

Confidence can benefit job-seekers

Posted on by
2

Confidence can be important during a job interview. According to Kurt Mortensen, author of “The Laws of Charisma,” confidence is directly related to charisma and trust. These factors that can affect the success of an interview. Yoga techniques may help job-seekers combat a lack of confidence.

A recent article from the San Francisco Chronicle discussed the possible impacts of low self-confidence on the job search. Self-confidence poses a difficult issue for many people looking for work. Being laid off from a past job or being rejected from positions during the job search can be detrimental to confidence levels. However, the newspaper advocated the importance of maintaining the self-confidence and gave tips on how to do this.

According to the news source, self-confidence is beneficial during an interview, because if the individual believes in their own skills and abilities, it is more likely an interviewer will as well. The Chronicle also reports that it is important to not indicate a lack of confidence through body language or other mannerisms. Practicing with a friend prior to an interview may help project confidence to a company, according to the media outlet.

An article from Forbes also gave the unemployed methods to bolster their job search. Career Advisory Board founding member, Alexandra Levit, urged job-seekers to think about looking for jobs from a different perspective. Instead of searching for work occasionally, Levit proposes treating it as a job and devoting a full workday to the job search each day. Candidates may also improve their appeal to employers during an interview by displaying skills that companies are looking for, such as innovation.

Although unemployment can be difficult, there are proactive methods that can benefit job-seekers. As the Chronicle indicates, confidence is essential. Yoga stretching exercise may help maintain confidence.

Related items

Labor Secretary discusses how to change the labor market as unemployment rises

Posted on by
Reply

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis recently spoke about the unemployment rate, which rose to 9.2 percent in June. The economic climate and unemployment levels can create a stressful environment for many people. Yoga techniques are one way to relieve such stress.

Many career fields are continuing to cut jobs, such as the government, which laid off almost 40,000 people last month. However, Solis outlined the importance of the growth in the private sector. The private sector has continued to grow throughout the economic recession and has created more than 2 million new jobs during the last 16 months. Solis urged private sector businesses to continue to add jobs. She stated her belief that these companies should “turn their profits into jobs for the American people.” The private sector should lead the way to economic recovery, according to Solis.

The Labor Secretary also discussed other ways to improve the market, such as investments in various sectors of the economy. Obama has advocated investing in areas such as infrastructure, transportation and manufacturing. Solis, in agreement with the President, stated that these investments will benefit the unemployed by creating new jobs, as well as helping the economy overall.

Another method Solis promoted to decrease the unemployment rate was work-sharing, which allows companies to decrease workers’ hours. The workers can then receive unemployment to make up the difference in their salary. Solis stated her belief that this method was effective because it lowers the number of people receiving full unemployment compensation and allows these individuals to remain viable in the workforce.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, currently over 14 million Americans are unemployed. Unemployment can cause individuals to fall into bad habits or become depressed. Sound body and mind may be achieved by yoga stretching poses or other such activities.

Related items