How Can I Make a Good Impression on My First Day at Work

How Can I Make a Good Impression on My First Day at Work You put together a great resume, rocked the interview, and received a job offer. Thats great! But, before you know it, your first day has crept up on you and it’s time to head into the office and meet your co-workers for the first time! You are excited and nervous, and that’s normal because the first day at work is critical for making a good impression. So no pressure! Check out this video for a  few tips to help you have a successful first day at  a new job. 1. Don’t be late Source Get a good night’s sleep before your first day at work to make sure you are feeling refreshed and alert. You don’t want to look bleary-eyed and even worse, arrive in the office late! If you are a night owl, retrain yourself to be an early bird (unless you work the night shift). That means you may have to wave goodbye to the  late night Netflix binges during the week Im afraid, Orange is the New Black  will still be there come Saturday. 2. Dress appropriately Source Depending on the company culture at your new workplace, you may not be required  to wear a suit to work, however, in most office environments, tank tops and shorts are not considered appropriate, especially on your first day. If your company doesnt have a dress code in place, use your best judgement to decide whats most appropriate to wear for work. Its always better to overdress on your first day than to show  up looking untidy and most importantly, make sure that your clothes are clean.   3. Know your company Source If youve accepted a role at a company I would have thought it goes without saying that you should know what exactly the company does, but if you are slightly unsure  make sure that you have a clear understanding of what your company does before you head into the office. You should also read up on the  latest news about your company so you are in the loop when you start and this will hopefully save you from saying something stupid! 4. Get to know your coworkers Source Don’t just sit in your cubicle all day on your first day. Be friendly and introduce yourself to your coworkers. These are the people you’ll be working with for a while so learn their names and what they do. Plus work is a much more pleasant experience when you get along with the people you work with and form friendships.   5. Take notes Source On your first day at work, you’ll likely be bombarded with tonnes of information which may be hard to digest all at once. Someone will show you how the various equipment and systems in the office work, and there may be special rules that you have to follow. To make it easier to remember write them down and then you can refer back to your notes when necessary. 6. Ask for help Source As a new hire of the company, you are not expected to know everything. If you have questions or need help with a task, don’t be afraid to ask, as Im sure people will be more than happy to help. Don’t feel that you have something to prove and spend a whole day trying to figure something out and getting yourself wound up if you cant. You may end up doing something incorrectly and wasting a whole day on it. 7. Shut up and listen Source Don’t act like a know-it-all on your first day (or any day after that for that matter). When you are new to a company, it’s better to listen than talk. After all, these people have been there longer than you and probably know what theyre talking about.   Image: Shutterstock

Finding Great Resume Examples - Will They Help You Out?

Finding Great Resume Examples - Will They Help You Out?Great resume examples are everywhere on the internet, but what good are they? Do they help you out in finding that perfect job? Are they even worth your time? Can you make a difference by learning to create your own?First off, the job ads are not looking for these candidates. The resumes they send out are actually sent out by potential employers who have never seen your work in the past.You will be surprised to know that this is a general principle. At least this is the way the law of attraction works and it is the greatest secret for landing that dream job. It works for everyone and is the best way to get hired.The other secret is not to be limited by your knowledge about how to write a great resume or to find great resume examples. The most common mistakes people make when writing resumes are deciding which skills they should emphasize and then concentrate on those. It takes away the urgency of the resume and lets the employer take control of it all.If you are like most people you are probably only going to try and use examples that suit your skill level. I am sure you already know how to write a great resume for a recent college graduate. If you are like most people, the skills they want to emphasize are probably based on your experience.If you are focused on getting that next position, you will have little to no chance of getting hired at a company that is focusing on that future employer. There is one exception, in that this method of searching may not work for every single company. If you are with a larger company, then your resume is going to get you a better chance at landing that job than if you were looking for that certain position at a smaller company.You do not have to worry that your resume will not be professional enough for your potential employer. You should have plenty of confidence in yourself and be confident that your resume will make a difference.If you are serious about making a diffe rence and landing that dream job, I highly recommend that you learn how to write a great resume and to make the most of the amazing resource that is available to you. You do not have to use the information you will find on the internet. You just need to be willing to go outside of your comfort zone in order to get the results you want.

Things You Need to Know About Debt Consolidation

Things You Need to Know About Debt Consolidation What is debt consolidation? Simply put, it is the process by which all debts are consolidated (collated and aggregated) into a single repayment through a debt consolidation loan. According to market research, the average US household is in debt to the tune of $134,643. This debt is comprised of a combination of good debt and bad debt. The good debt comes in the form of student loans and mortgages, while the bad debt is typically from credit cards and automobile loans. Unfortunately, all debt needs to be repaid at some point or another.   And failure to make payment can have serious repercussions. For starters, collections agencies will start coming after you, liens and judgments could be issued against you, property and assets could be seized, and your credit score will invariably suffer the consequences. Getting blacklisted through non-payment of debt is a serious personal failure. It can have far-reaching repercussions for your household, family, job prospects, and ability to plan for the future. The Debt Consolidation Alternative to Bankruptcy Filings Fortunately, it isn’t necessary to file Chapter 7, Chapter 11, or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Your get out of jail free pass may well be another lesser-known option â€" debt consolidation. Consider for a moment that the average US household is paying around $1,300 every year in interest payments alone. That money can be put to better use paying down the principal of loans, rather than interest repayments. The principal is the initial loan amount without interest that needs to be repaid. The functionality of debt consolidation loans is worth discussing.   A debt consolidation loan is a loan at a lower rate of interest than the current interest rate on the outstanding credit. There are several benefits to applying for these types of loans. Most notably, easier management of your financial affairs and debt obligations. Since you are no longer dealing with multiple credit cards, personal loans and other lines of credit, you can aggregate all these debts into a single loan, known as a debt consolidation loan. This makes it much easier, and more cost-effective to manage your debts. Perhaps the most important benefit of this type of loan is that you are actually paying less every month for your debts than before. Instead of allocating an increasing portion of your limited disposable income to the high APRs on credit cards, you can use the cost savings for an emergency slush fund for a rainy day.   Or even better, use it to pay down the principal on the outstanding balances. Don’t Delay with High APR Debt Debtors who procrastinate beget nothing but financial misery and lower levels of personal disposable income. If you find yourself in a situation where it is difficult to repay your outstanding credit card debt, the first thing you need to do, is take decisive action. For starters, paying only the monthly account minimum is not recommended by debt management experts.   It is recommended by credit card companies as a way to get you to pay more over a longer period of time. If possible, you should at least double your monthly minimum.   Or, if you have the funds available, repay the debt entirely (in full every month). It’s important to be honest when it comes to debt management. How much do you owe? What type of debt do you currently have?   (credit card debt, personal loans, business loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, other debts) Don’t be afraid of generating a single figure for all your debts. It’s foolhardy to look at individual accounts and be dismissive of them if the totals aren’t too high. Psychologists and debt management consultants recommend trying to understand the reasons why debt levels are rising. Retail therapy is one thing, but excessive overspending is an entirely different animal. The first thing to do when debt levels become unmanageable is to stop spending. Cut up the credit cards, or put them in the freezer and ice them. When you have brought down your debt, you can slowly start using your cards again. However, the goal is to never return to a situation where you have to consult with financial experts for debt relief.

Why Your Candidates Are Accepting Late Counter Offers

Why Your Candidates Are Accepting Late Counter Offers For a recruiter, obtaining verbal acceptance for a job offer and securing someone into a role is the pinnacle of success. Especially when placements feel  few and far between, the  satisfaction that comes with watching  your candidate sign the dotted line with your client  makes the dry spells worth it. Needless to say,  there is nothing more disheartening than having a candidate accept an offer, start their new role and then accept a late counter offer to go back to the company they came from. They resign only a few months in, leaving you with a hefty refund payable to your client, a few disgruntled hiring managers and disappointment within your own office when you have to  rub a name of the deals board. Recruiters are aware that they need to  prepare candidates for  being counter-offered by their current company when they resign. This is relatively straightforward to manage when theyre at offer stage, but what about when the blow comes only weeks into them starting their new role? Its important to understand why they might accept the counter offer, and  stay close to candidates to ensure they experience a really positive introduction to their new company, one that makes it impossible for them to leave. More money + better benefits If your candidates previous company buys them back with a huge salary increase and a more attractive overall package, it can be difficult to come up with an argument as to why they shouldnt accept it. For some candidates, money is everything, and  if this is the case, you might  have to admit defeat. If this scenario arises, its important to re-highlight the following points: Why they wanted to leave the company in the first place Why  it took their  resignation to come up with an attractive retention strategy How it will feel walking back into the office theyve just  mentally checked out of How the indecision will look to their new employer Mis-selling of the role As a recruiter, its not immediately your fault for the mis-selling of a role. Your client has to take responsibility for failing to live up to their new recruits expectations.  Candidates are often promised the world, and then when they step foot into their new workplace, are quickly faced with the harsh reality of deception, and realise they have been lured in on false pretences. This can manifest itself in a lack of development opportunities, or even a lack of authority / decision-making power. Candidates might find that their day-today is not what they were promised. This is where it is important to make sure a candidate has a really good understanding of what they are getting themselves into. Its also important to make the client aware of what ca happen if a new hire feels underwhelmed by their new position. By making hiring managers and HR aware that candidates are likely to face counter offers from previous employers, it will  encourage them to constantly wow their new recruit, to make it hard for them to ever look back. Warning your client of the  potential  for your  candidate to  accept a counter offer will also take the edge off if this worst-case scenario eventuates. Terrible on-boarding Candidates may have spent years working for their previous company, and perhaps underestimated how comfortable they were. They may feel daunted by the new company, and have a shaky start. Having a good onboarding process is extremely important for making sure new hires have a strong, positive introduction to the company. If they are left to their own devices and not successfully integrated into the team, the result can be a huge loss of faith in the new company and the role theyve accepted. With  little allegiance to the new business, they may feel the best thing to is to follow the path back to familiarity and go back to what they know is safe for them. Finally, it could just be that your candidate never really wanted to leave their previous company, and got caught in a long, drawn-out moment. Learn how to spot  the early warning signs.

Writing Resume - What is a Resume Writing Rubric?

Writing Resume - What is a Resume Writing Rubric?Resume writing rubric is the guide that helps you to create your resume. This guide has been designed with a lot of points so that it will help you to easily make a resume.First, the checklist is used to determine what should be included in your resume. These points are provided to you on a checklist. Each point should be written in the format of a checklist. Some examples of these include:You can use the letterheads for the cover page. Some examples of these include the letterhead with your name, title and contact information. The format of these letterheads is very easy.The formatting is also defined by the checklist. This is an important step because the structure of your resume is important to make it complete. You should always go through the checklist before writing the resume.The second point is the heading for your resume. The headings in your resume are also defined by the checklist. Therefore, this step is very important.Thir d, the key section of your resume is provided to you on a checklist. This section is often called the meat of your resume. The structure of this section is also defined by the checklist.Fourth, the narrative or the introduction is also considered to be the heart of your resume. It is the first part of your resume. It has a theme and highlights the fact that your resume is different from others.The last but not least important step is the summary of your resume. This is the time to reveal how you fit in your company. This should be short and to the point. This is usually included on the resume.

11 life-defining lessons I learned working in retail - Debut

11 life-defining lessons I learned working in retail - Debut This post is written by a member of the Debut Student Publisher Network. Read on for  Chars  reflections on how her work in retail shaped her: Finally. After a long and grueling search, I have escaped the world of retail and acquired a salaried job that doesnt involve dealing with the general hell storm that is the general public. In other words, I now have what older generations refer to as A Real Job. Personally, I never understood or liked that term, because it implies that working in retail isnt a real job. Its not like it pays in Monopoly money (although some jobs Ive had may as well have.) Working in customer service is, in my opinion, a fundamental experience with an abundance of life lessons that will ground you and enrich your understanding of humanity, as well as teaching you how to hide the yearning for death emanating from your gaze. Here are some things I have taken from my six years in retail, to hold forever in my heart as a reminder that if I can come out being a sales assistant for the better, I can basically do anything. 1. To appreciate my spare time This was particularly acute in my third year of university, where I was working around 20 hours a week as a supervisor whilst juggling a degree and print team commitments. In hindsight, I have absolutely no clue how I didnt have a total mental collapse. Every second you have to yourself is precious, and must be cherished even if all youre doing is sitting at home doing nothing. Time goes by so fast. Well, unless youre on your feet in the same place for nine hours a day, in which case it ceases to move and traps you for what feels like millennia. 2. How to stretch a pay check No matter how many hours of overtime you do, and no matter how high your pay check may seem, you still experience that crushing reminder that it has to last you an entire month. Payday is an exercise in self-control. Its tempting so very, very tempting to splurge and buy all those things youve been eyeing up for the past thirty days.  But really, its for the best if youre careful and dont blow it all at once. Your stomach will be thankful when you dont have to stretch £50 over a fortnight. 3. How to be more assertive Every single person who has ever worked in retail has had that one customer that just point-blank refuses to accept what youre saying. It could be that what they wanted is out of stock, or theyre asking you to do something against the rules. The exact situation rarely matters; it makes no difference to such donkey-brained individuals. Dealing with such bull-headed pests is a masterclass in sticking to your guns and refusing to be bullied. Sorry, Sharon, you dont get special treatment. My word is FINAL! 4. Helping others makes you feel good One of the more cheesy answers, but a valid lesson nonetheless. Whether you did the bare minimum or decided to go the extra mile, helping somebody out and receiving thanks for it makes you feel all fuzzy and warm inside. You have assisted in the smooth running of someones day. The world is one step further away from descending into anarchy. Well done you. 5. There are millions of ways to be rude and annoying Im unsure whether my fuse has always been so short, or if working in retail has drastically reduced my patience.  It turns out there are a plethora of behaviours a customer can exhibit to be the most annoying person on the planet. Throwing money onto the counter instead of in your outstretched hand. Talking on the phone. Fruitlessly tapping their card against the machine and ignoring your reminder that its not contactless. Never did I think so many miniscule actions could make me contemplate murder. 6. How to manage my palpable rage As well as providing me with anger issues, retail also taught me how to control myself. I cant count the times Ive had to endure an absolute idiot screaming into my face, but every time it happens I manage to remain perfectly composed, nodding in sympathy with an understanding smile on my face. I enter a zen state, unaffected by Patricias beetroot face and spittle flying in my face. I have an unbreakable will. 7. How to be a better customer I am 99.9% sure I have never been a nightmare customer in all my life. Even so, working as a lowly peon myself has really groomed me into being the ideal customer. Having been on the brunt of the worst people you can possibly imagine, I feel like Ive been made more empathetic, more patient, and more respectful to service workers than ever before. Also, after enduring work days that have been absolute carnage regardless of clientele, I feel no inclination to complain if my server hasnt got a smile glued on or if they seem a bit ruffled. You never know what could happen behind the scenes unless youve been there, and it really teaches you to keep an open mind. 8. People lose their minds at Christmas My God. There are no combinations of words that can properly encapsulate the Dantean pandemonium that is Christmas in retail. You think its bad enough shopping in the festive season? Working during it is an entirely different story. People just absolutely lose their nut. They panic. They push and shove. They fight each other for the last product. They bulk-buy out of sheer hysteria. They give you arbitrary details about the person theyre buying for, and scream at you when you cant piece those cryptic clues together and find the perfect present for them. After Boxing Day, retail workers collectively weep with relief. The ultimate lesson here is to always buy online. 9. Kindness goes a long way As Ive said, helping people out makes you feel nice and good inside, but sometimes it goes even further. There have been several customers I was on first name terms with because I served and helped them out so often. Theyve even come into my workplace with a gift to say thanks. Ive been given tea and cakes as gratitude for our stores service. One elderly lady always used to give me sweets. At my old job I used to live for the people who would come back and thank me for listening to and talking with them, and they almost always passed word on to my manager, which meant I got a glowing reference when I left. Being kind to people can leave you with more physical treats, and an enhanced sense of happiness and appreciation. 10. Some people are just the worst On the flipside, there are some people that are just, well, the worst. Its more than having a particularly difficult customer. There are genuinely people whose faces are burnt into my mind forever purely because of how unnecessarily spiteful they were, because they genuinely dont view retail workers as people, but mindless robots destined for a life of monotony and failure. Ive made a resolution that if I ever see such people giving a workers a hard time, Ill embark on a personal quest for revenge and destroy their livelihood. Or just call them out on it, whatever. 11. The importance of turning the other cheek Ultimately, however, working in retail has taught me that theres almost always an explanation for how somebody acts. Sometimes, people have come back in to apologise for how they treated me, and explained theyve been having a bad day. Nothing ever excuses or justifies mistreating somebody, but theres always an explanation somewhere, even if its something grandiose like they had a terrible childhood and now dont know you to communicate with others. So dont sweat it. You got bigger fish to fry. Feature Image ©   Download the Debut app and get Talent-Spotted by amazing graduate employers! Follow Char  on Twitter  @charlubby Connect with Debut on  Facebook  and  Twitter

Is Your Boss Your Friend...On Facebook

Is Your Boss Your Friend...On Facebook I just read a great article about  the pros and cons of friending a boss or colleague on Facebook  in last weeks Globe and Mail. It can be hard to decide if sharing your more personal side with co-workers and supervisors is a good thing or a bad thing. The article recommends some strategies for accepting and declining invitations without sabotaging your professional relationships. Here are some other points to consider when deciding how to use  Facebook  or other online networking tools.  Every online networking site has the potential for good and bad. Even if your boss or colleagues arent connections, you still need to manage your online identity responsibly. Each time you post something online, think about how you would feel if others outside your social circle could view it. Sometimes a phone call or a face to face conversation just makes more sense.Whether you like it or not, Facebook is now a mainstream social networking site. Recruiters use it, hiring managers use it, and compa nies build corporate groups on it. One day someone who is in a position to share a job lead with you may find you on it. Use it to build meaningful relationships based on trust and reciprocity, not to share every random thought that you have. Its fine to share experiences, photos, personal victories, insights, and recommendationsthis is what makes Facebook so valuablebut its best to share them in a mature and tasteful way that adds value to someones life.You dont have to share everything with everyone. Facebook allows you to create closed groups. This feature can be used quite effectively to create exclusive circles based on certain interests without offending other connections.Facebook is not the only game in town. If there are certain aspects of your personal life that you prefer to keep private, perhaps Facebook isnt the right forum for every side of you. For example, you can create a closed group on Ning rather than sharing everything on Facebook.Its important to become an educa ted consumer when it comes to any business or social networking site. Two great reads on online networking are  Im on Facebook.Now What???  and  Im on LinkedInNow What???

Do You Have Transferable Skills

Do You Have Transferable Skills What are transferable skills? They are the skills and abilities that transfer from job to job no matter which position you have held in the past. One of the things that make these skills so valuable is that they can be used in such a wide array of work settings. For instance, everyone needs problem solving skills, whether you are a general contractor or a financial analyst. That skill transfers from position to position regardless of what the job title is. How can this be used to benefit your resume and your job search in general? When you create or revise your resume, there are a number of things to consider. The first and most important consideration is how you are going to ensure that your resume specifically speaks to the prospective employers needs. This could be if you are qualified to do the job, can you get along well with people, mutually agreed on salary and will you stay with the company. As is true with all aspects of writing a resume, each and every word on your resume should be tailored to the position you are applying for. If you are seeking a job as a computer programmer, you probably will not want to list your public speaking ability. You would, however, want to emphasize your ability to organize, plan and/or work well under pressure. Each job has certain qualifications that are best suited to it. Job duties may differ from job to job, but there are a myriad of skills needed that transfer well from one to another. Being able to identify and clearly relate those transferable skills to a prospective employer is a huge benefit to you. When you can incorporate these transferable skills into your resume and cover letter, you will be making the job of a hiring manager much easier. He or she will see that you have a lot to offer that will be over and above your specific job qualifications.