A Fresh Start for Your Career

A new year provides a sense of getting a free do-over, so you can try again and get it right. What do you need to do this year to find the kind of enjoyment or progress you want in your career? Joel Garfinkle, founder of Dream Job Coaching, a consulting firm specializing in personal fulfillment and professional transformation based in Oakland, California, offers these suggestions to make this year your best yet.

Determine Which Aspects of Your Job You Like

When you are engrossed in a project you like, your workday will be energizing rather than draining. You may also find that the tasks you enjoy are the same ones a coworker or boss dislikes. Find out if you can work out a win-win situation.

Learn from the Best Around You

Who in your office seems to really enjoy -- and excel -- at their work? What can you learn from them? People who like coming to work radiate positive energy, and their spirit can be infectious. Let the energy rub off on you.

Determine Your Career Signature

If you had to write down one statement that would encompass who you are (or want to be) professionally and personally, what would it say? Take some time to clarify your unique signature, and use this statement as a guiding force in pursuing what you want to do and whom you want to be.

Recognize What You Can and Cannot Control

Write down the things that stress you out at work. Circle the ones you have control over, and cross out the ones you don't. Vow to stop spending energy on the crossed-out items; redirect your energy on finding solutions to the problems you can change.

Do the Job Above Your Current Position

Offer to take on some of the responsibilities in the position just above you. Becoming familiar with that role makes you an obvious choice for future promotion.

Accomplish Projects That Directly Affect Your Resume

When taking on new projects, try to select those that will most likely benefit you. Be sure to quantify the results of your work and add these accomplishments to your resume, which you should be updating regularly.

Cultivate Friendships at Work

Your coworkers can understand and appreciate what life is like in your office better than anyone else. Take the time to develop friendly relationships with them. You'll benefit personally and professionally from the time you invest in getting to know them.

See the Big Picture and the Little Pictures

What is the big picture -- your overall vision -- for your professional life? Now what are the small daily steps or little pictures that will get you there? Make a small goal, like joining a professional organization or finding a mentor -- something you can accomplish today.

Make Sure You're on the Right Path

Are you really doing what you want to do? Does what you think you should be doing interfere with what you want to be doing? None of the above suggestions will work if your career isn't aligned with your true interests, personality traits and natural abilities. If a career assessment is in order, make this your first priority in the new year.

7 Reasons Why People Do Not Set Goals.

Everybody knows about the importance of placing at the top the most important tasks. But yet, even knowing this, many people continue being given up the turbulent currents of life, trusting that they whenever will accidentally get to the island called wealth, health and personal success! But years elapse, and the island has never encounters a way. Let us once again raise the theme of the importance of goals.
The Man Without a goal - like a ship without a helm, drifting aimlessly and continuously at risk raid on the reefs. A person with a goal is similar the vessel leading by an skilled captain with the help of maps and compasses, he knows the destination and he leads the ship directly to the port of his own choice.

The main reason for life success is the ability to set goals and achieve them. That's why people without a goal doomed forever to work for those who have these goals. Simple conclusion.

You work for the achievement of goals either yours or other’s ones. Let's try to define a number of reasons why people do not put the goal. After all, who is warned he is armed, ancient wisdom reads.

The first reason why people do not put the goal is that they are simply frivolous. They prefer the word instead action, want to make great strides to improve their lives, but are unwilling to make an effort required. They lack the "fire" that mobilizes a burning desire to change, to transform their lives into something more, better, interesting.

The second reason why people do not put the goal is that they still do not dare to take responsibility for their own lives. We can not say that they made even one step to setting goals until a moment when people assume full responsibility for their lives and for all that is happening with them. Irresponsible people are the persons who are still waiting for to begin a real life. Such a person is using all his creative energies to think out exaggerating intricate excuses about his inability to make progress, and then buys lottery tickets and goes home to watch TV and drink beer.

The third reason why people do not put the goal is to deep feelings of guilt and low self-esteem. A man who grew up in a particular environment, raised in the sense that he does not deserve anything, is hardly able to raise serious purpose.

The fourth reason for the lack tasking is that they are not aware of the importance of goal. If you grew up in a family where the parents do not rise the objectives and the issue of achieving the goals is not a topic of family conversations, it is likely to become an adult, never learned that the goal is setting not only in the sport.

The fifth reason why people do not put the goal is that they simply do not know how to do this. In our society, unfortunately, it is not possible to obtain a diploma on the subject of goals, and this discipline is much more important than any object ever studied you.

The sixth reason for the non-tasking - it is only the fear to receive a waiver, the fear to be criticized. From the childhood our dreams and our hopes are suffering from strokes, caused laughter and criticism of others. Our enemies and friends laughed at us when we represented ourselves someone. Their influence may leave the imprint on your attitude to yourself, on setting goals for life.

The seventh reason why people do not put the goal - is the fear of defeat. Fear of failure is the greatest obstacle to success in adult life. It keeps people in their comfort zones. It makes they bend down their heads and remain in the security, while the years pass by. The fear digested in early childhood as a result of criticism and punishment. Once deeply rooted in the subconscious, the fear spreads further, paralyzing and killing the dream ambitions, bringing more harm than any other negative emotion attending human soul. That is why people do not put goal.

Once again feel deeply the words of a great Seneca. "When a person does not know which dock his ship is heading due, no one wind will be the fair wind".

Jobs-Gateway

Jobs Interview Tips (for your Success)

It’s almost impossible to receive a job offer without first attending an interview, but then who would want to take a job without first meeting their new boss? The secret of a successful interview lies in preparation, so it’s worth spending a little time doing your homework.

Good employers understand the pitfalls of interviewing, such as the tendency of managers to recruit in their own image, but the process is slowly becoming more structured, sophisticated and fair. In some sectors the interview has become increasingly demanding with candidates not only being asked to answer questions, but to take part in role-plays and complete written tasks or tests.

If you stick to a few guidelines, you can breeze through your next job interview.

Before the interview

Sound preparation is essential. It may sound like common sense but many people, especially first-jobbers, make the fatal mistake of not doing their homework before walking into an interview.

* Research the organisation – look at its website and read its latest annual report.
* Research the sector – take a look at industry association websites and magazines to get a feel for the latest developments.
* Prepare answers to the standard questions that form the basis of most interviews .
* Be ready with a few questions for the interviewer. This shows you’re keen and on the ball.
* Check the format of the interview and find out who will be interviewing you – it could throw you if you unexpectedly have to face an interview panel of six people.
* Make sure you dress appropriately.
* Re-read your CV and application letter and take additional copies.
* Plan your journey and check for any potential delays.

At the interview
You must make a good impression in the crucial first few moments, so be sure not to damage your chances before you begin:

* Get to your interview at least five minutes early. If you are going to be unavoidably delayed, make sure you let your interviewer know.
* Always switch off your mobile phone before you enter the recruiter’s building.

*Some interviewers try to provoke a reaction, often drawing candidates into an argument, or simply turning them into the proverbial rabbit in the headlights. Expect interviewers to throw a few trick questions your way.

Remember, success here depends more on not getting flustered and thinking on your feet than having the right answer. Above all, be honest – and give reasons for your past behaviour or responses. Companies want to hire humans, not robots.

After the interview
Take stock of your overall interview performance, learn from the experience and prepare for the next step.

* Try to remember the questions and how you answered them to see if you could improve in future.
* If you feel it’s appropriate, email the interviewer to say thank you for the interview, but be careful not to be too pushy for a response.
* Remember to use any criticism constructively to improve your chances next time.