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5 Tips for Managing Job Interview Nervousness

Sometimes, a job interview means so much to you that you just cannot afford to let something to wrong. When it comes to taming your anxiety and getting back on track so you can wow the job interviewer, you'll need a few tips. If you are focused on the opportunities that this job can offer to you and you are worried about what will happen if you do not get it, you are overwhelming your mind and not going to give the job interviewer the best possible chance to see who you are and what you have to offer. Instead, consider a few helpful tips.

1. Know the company well. The more you know about the job and the position you are applying for, the more comfortable you will feel during the interview. If you haven't reviewed anything, you are less likely to know what they want from you.

2. Try to smile and keep a smile on your face throughout the meeting. This naturally puts you at ease and helps you to look approachable to the other person.

3. Do some deep breathing exercises before you go in and keep breathing deeply while you are sitting in front of the job interviewer, too. The goal here is to ensure you are getting the best possible deep breaths in because this will naturally reduce your stress.

4. Realize that you have what it takes to land this position. You can feel comfortable about it because you know it is something you can do. Tell yourself that this is a job you can do well and that you want the job interview to show this.

5. Break the ice yourself. Though most job interviewers will do this for you because they know you are on edge, it is a good idea to find a way to break the ice. No matter if you are talking about the flowers on the desk or the weather outside, give yourself an opportunity to talk to the interviewer informally before you have to start focusing on your job interview.

There is no doubt that nervousness is a given in any job interview. A good hiring manager knows this and they will take every step possible to reduce your stress. Don't count on that, though. Some want to see how well you handle the pressure. Instead, take a deep breath, smile and do the best you can to focus on the goal, getting the job.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com/.

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4 Must Do Activities for LinkedIn

Having a LinkedIn profile is essential whether you are searching for a job or not. LinkedIn is a favorite site for headhunters!

Here are four must do activities for anyone who wants to get the most out of their LinkedIn profile.

1. Make sure you complete your profile in a way that complements your resume. You don't want your LinkedIn profile to duplicate your resume-just agree with it. Remember, LinkedIn profiles often come up high in the list when someone Googles your name. So you want your profile to make a positive first impression.

2. Make connections. When you first start out, look for people you already know on LinkedIn. Don't just ask any and everyone to connect with you. You could be seen as a spammer. Once you've connected with a few acquaintances, you can start looking for individuals with whom you want to connect who are "friends with a friend."

3. Embrace a giving attitude. LinkedIn revolves around the idea that it is more blessed to give than to receive. So give some positive recommendations to individuals who have joined your network. Provide specific details that demonstrated the worth of the person you are recommending (percentages, specific accomplishments, revenue figures, etc.). Many people will reciprocate. Of course, it is also acceptable to ask for recommendations as well.

4. Join a group. You can look for groups connected with your career or trade, alumni associations, and more. It's a solid way to establish yourself as an expert in your career. If you have the time and energy, you can start your own group. Otherwise, just start a discussion in one of the existing groups.

These four activities work together. They leverage your LinkedIn profile's ability to position you as an essential candidate to interview (and possibly hire). The first three activities take very little additional time once you have put them in place. The fourth activity is something worth continuing to invest some time in every week. You never know when a few minutes of group interaction could turn into the one thing that convinces an employer that you are worth calling.

Denise Rutledge assists clients with developing job hunting collateral, including resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles. You may learn more about her services at http://landtheinterviewresumes.com/.

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Championing the Job Search

As March Madness is upon us, it is time to heat up the job search and make the plays to lead you to a job you love.

The talk around town is all about the Final Four and the potential candidates. But this talk is not just about basketball; it is also about the job market. Applying for jobs and championing the job search involves a great deal of competition, and thus you have to be your very best to make it to the final four candidates.

Just like making it to the championship, landing your dream job involves dedication, determination, and hard work. The following tips are guaranteed to get you in top shape and become the #1 seed in the job search bracket.

Get in Shape. The competition to the top is fierce; therefore you need to be in your best shape to get there. Read up on the most recent news in your target career field and the latest job search trends. Network with other professionals and volunteer with organizations that are relevant to your goals. You might also consider starting a blog in your career field. This will not only gain you some attention but also increase your credibility in the professional world.
Get in the Game. Teams do not make it to the Final Four without complete dedication to the game. Searching for a job is a job in itself, and it must be your top priority. When looking for a job, you should spend about seven hours a day conducting research and completing applications. The payoff will come when you get the job you want.
Be a Team Player. Although it is hard work, the champions are those that are team players. Instead of thinking about only yourself and what you want out of an employer, think about what you can give the employer and how you will fit in with your potential colleagues. This is what hiring managers are looking for when they interview you.
Make it Happen. As the famous basketball player, Michael Jordan said, "Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." Only you can make your career dreams come true, all you need is hard work and dedication to champion the job search.

Use the top four tips of job searching to make it past the "Final Four" candidates and into your dream job.

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How to Turn a Job Interview Into a Job Offer

You have a job interview coming up and you are excited about the opportunities it has to offer. Now, all you need to do is to ensure you get the job offer. That's the hard part it seems in today's economy. No matter how many interviews you have or how well you think they went, you never get that call back. It could be you and your actions that are contributing to the lack of communication from your would-be employer. You can do something about it.

Are You Applying to the Right Job?

Perhaps you really do not have the job skills necessary for this position. You may find that this is not the job set for you because you do not have the advanced training necessary. Take the time to really look at what you are doing and determine if this is the right place to interview, type of job to interview for and even the right industry for you to work in. If you don't have the job skills or your heart isn't in the search, you will not get the job offer.

Are You Calling Them?

If the job interview went well, there's no reason why you shouldn't be picking up the phone and calling the interviewer to ask about the application. Chances are good you will get more attention if you do call them back to follow up. Do this three to five business days after the initial job interview. This shows you are interested and serious about the job. That's something employers want to see.
Apply Through Your Network

If there's too much competition in your industry, which is quickly becoming a problem in many industries today, it may be time to turn to your network instead of the job sites for help locating the perfect job interviews. You need to find people who you know who can help you to get your foot in the door. Be sure to use both your personal and professional network to do this. It will pay off in the long term.

As you take on those job interviews and start networking with the people around you, it is important to remain confident. If you come into any job interview already defeated and feeling sorry for yourself, there's no employer who is going to call you back for a job offer. Be the proactive, positive, and motivated go-getter instead.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com/.

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Refuse to Be Your Own Worst Critic - Energize Your Job Search by Altering Self-Critical Thoughts

There are probably few things more stressful than a job search. Typically, hopes are raised and, not infrequently, hopes are dashed. While there are numerous stress management techniques to help you manage your stress during your job search, the most important strategy is to manage your mind and your self-critical thoughts.

As humans, we have an internal voice that hardly ever stops. It is the inner conversation or inner monologue that constantly goes on in our mind, analyzing everything about our lives and our experiences. We each create our own self-critic that can lead us to endlessly question ourselves and actions. During a stressful job search, the inner critic can be especially vocal.

Thinking is a useful activity required for solving problems, analyzing, comparing, studying, and planning. Too often, though, our thoughts are self-critical. While constructive self-criticism and a healthy sense of guilt in small doses can be helpful because they encourage us to take responsibility for our actions and motivate us to improve ourselves, excessive self-criticism can be debilitating and self-defeating. Our thoughts and beliefs influence our reality.

The first step is to recognize what is going on. Because we're so used to it, our self-criticism can be like background noise that we hardly notice. When we accept self-criticism without question, its impact is strongest. Becoming aware of what you are saying to yourself is the first step in changing your thoughts.

Once you are aware of your self-critical thoughts, commit to changing your self-critical habit and what you think about yourself. Do you believe that you need to accept everything your mind tells you because you assume your mind is looking out for your best interests? This is simply not true. Our mind likes the status quo, it likes its comfort zone, and it resists change. What better way to maintain the status quo than to keep us feeling disempowered and weak?

When your internal voice starts criticizing you, create a kinder voice that encourages you and reminds you of whom you really are. Create a voice that treats you as a dearly loved and respected friend to counter that self-critical voice that treats you as an incompetent fool.

Recognize that you have established a lifetime habit of talking to yourself the way that you do. It is certainly possible to change your inner critic habits but recognize that, as with any ingrained habit, it may take some time. With concentrated effort, you can begin to make noticeable changes.

Decide to be your own best friend and refuse to be your own worst critic! Energize your job search by monitoring your mind, changing your thoughts, and switching your self-criticism to support.

Is your resume working for you? For resumes that get results, visit http://www.resumeswithspirit.com/.

Are you a friend to yourself? Visit http://www.friendyourselfproject.com/ to find practical tips on how to recognize your brilliance and to treat yourself as well as you treat your friends and loved ones.

Georgiana Carollus, a Certified Professional Resume Writer, is a career services professional with more than 15 years of experience in career assessment, career development and advancement, and all aspects of resume writing and effective work search techniques.

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How to Prep for a Job Interview So You Score the Job Offer

Job interviews are challenging times for anyone. No matter what your goals are, though, it is a good idea to do some homework long before you actually have to step into that office and start talking about your job skills and talents. In fact, those who do best in these job interviews are those who put in a great deal of time prepping for what they need to know before they arrive. What is there to know?

Check Out the Company Website

A good place to start is with the company's website. Read it. Did you find a mission statement? That has great information in it that can answer your questions about what the company's goals are. You also should look at the hiring page. You should know any information on this page long before you head in for the job interview. To get the job offer, you need to be able to stand behind the company and be willing to work towards its goals. The website can give you an idea of what the company needs from you.

Connection Through Social Media

Another step to take is to connect with the company through social media networks. Most companies have various profiles, especially on sites like LinkedIn. This is a great place to go to get more information. You also will want to connect with the hiring manager in this way if it is possible to do so. That way, you'll be able to know what type of person he or she is and what to expect from the interview. It is a good idea to avoid stalking the hiring manager, but you still can connect and read profiles to get a good idea of what the company is looking for from someone they hire from this job interview.

The more you know about a company, the better you are going to look when you come in for the job offer. However, you do not want to present this information in an arrogant way. Rather, you want to just gather the information and then tailor your responses to the questions answered to you in the job interview to this information. You want to show the company that you have what it takes and this type of preparation can help you to do just that. The more you know, the more likely you are to impress the hiring manager when you go in for that job interview.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com/.

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Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 6 - Trade Shows

Trade Shows

Trade shows can be fantastic, rich resources for the aggressive job seeker. They are full of in-person contacts from a concentrated selection of companies in your field. You may not come away from the show with a job, but you very well could come away with a valuable contact who can point you to the hiring manager you need to be talking to. To make the most of these opportunities, prepare before the show, have a strategy to follow during the show, and follow up after the show.

Before the Show:

Email your contacts to let them know that you will be at the trade show. Tell them you are looking for contacts because you are looking for a new job (and name the position). Maybe someone will be able to give you the name of someone to speak with while you're at the show.

Update your status on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, or other social networks to let everyone know that you are going to the trade show.

Research the companies that will be at the trade show so that you're well-informed.

Set a goal to speak with a certain number of people, hand out a certain number of resumes, or have a certain number of meaningful conversations. Once you get to the show, it can be overwhelming. If you set a goal ahead of time, then you have motivation to do what you set out to do.

Choose a great outfit. You will be meeting many people for the first time, and they should have a favorable impression of you.

During the Show:

Use all the time you have available. Go early and stay late. Make the most of this opportunity. You can even make arrangements to meet with people after the show. If you can get a meeting with them away from the booth, it's like having a personal appointment. It's amazing.

Make conversation. Don't walk up and ask exhibitors if their company is hiring. Strike up a conversation. Ask what they do at that company. You can work your way into saying that you're looking for a new opportunity. If they can't or won't help you (because maybe they're just a temporary helper), ask them who you should be talking to. They might very well know who's hiring, even if it isn't their company.

Respect their time. The exhibitor is there for a reason, and it's not to look for new hires. Don't interrupt a conversation he's already in. Wait until there's a break. Have your elevator pitch ready to go so that you can introduce yourself succinctly and well. All you have to do is say something like, "My name is John Smith and I am looking for a position as a (whatever your job is). My background is in X, Y, Z and I think your company could really utilize my skill sets. Do you know of any opportunities that would fit?" Don't expect a big, warm welcome from them. You're kind of putting them on the spot and they're busy. What you're looking for here is either "You need to talk to so-and-so," or "Oh, OK... do you have a resume?" If they ask for your resume, have it ready to give them, folded neatly into a standard and easily transportable #10 envelope. Don't forget to ask for that person's business card, so you can get their name and email address, because you'll be following up with them later.

After the Show:

Follow up. It won't matter how many people you talk to if you never speak to them again. Make another contact after the show. Send an email with your resume attached that says very clearly, "I am looking for (whatever it is). If you need someone with X, Y, and Z skills, call me. If not, do you know of anyone who might be interested in someone like me? Feel free to forward my information, or give me the contact information and I will take care of it. Thank you in advance for your help."

Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/

Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/

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