Contents:

Editorial

Article: The Interview [© 2003 Lynne Bullen]

Sweet Inspiration

Article: Beat Procrastination With Your Gps (Goal Positioning
System) [© 2003 Angela Booth]

Resources

Inspired Tips

Article: Equip Yourself To Achieve [© 2003 Keith Abraham Csp]

Sponsors

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Editorial

Hello and welcome back. If you're joining us for the first time, welcome also to you.

I hope that your Christmas celebrations were full of joy and that the New Year brings you all you wish for yourself, both personally and professionally.

Happy New Year!

Here in the land of OZ, we've seen out 2003 in grand style, with celebrations in every capital city and country town; and just like that, here we are in 2004!

The whole world has now entered a new era, and with each new year come new beginnings which often heralds change for many. Let's look at it in the context of BUSINESS.

Some will change jobs; others will stay contented in what they've been doing. There will be those who are now officially "retired" and looking forward to doing all those things they never had time to do whilst they were hard at work.

What ever it is that you have chosen for yourself in 2004, I wish you great success.

In this issue I hope to inspire you to take your dreams to the next level to achieve your goals.

We're going to talk about The Interview! Two words that strike fear into some, and cause others jump to the challenge and enjoy the experience.

Whether you're changing jobs, or you've recently been retrenched and looking for new employment; whether you're re-entering the workforce after raising your family, or you're returning to your homeland after being overseas, here are some tips which I hope will help you in your quest for new beginnings.

There are also those of you who may be about to hire staff. Yet others may have been thinking about starting their own business.

If you are about to embark on a business partnership or you're about to ask your bank for a loan which will help you with your new business venture, you can use these tips, too. Just turn them around and be prepared to be "interviewed" by your prospective business partner, or the bank manager; or use them as a guide when you are the "interviewer" regarding various aspects of your business.

Another area where interview skills can be very handy, whether you're the interviewer or the person being interviewed, is when you're looking for a new supplier of goods or services. You need to be sure they can deliver what they promise. You need to know that their products or services are of the standard you expect. You also need to know about their competition!

If you're the Interviewer, you need to know that you're asking the right questions.

If you're the Interviewee, then you need to prepare yourself for difficult questions and have a few alternative answers from which to chose.

The Interview can be a scary thing, but if you've landed an interview, then you must have suitably impressed the person who read your letter of application. Now comes the hard work. It's time to do a little homework. Why? Your interviewer now knows a little about you, but what do you know about the company or organisation that invited you for an interview?

Wouldn't it be great if the company also had to answer certain criteria before interview, so that we could present ourselves confidently and be well informed about them? I guess we can dream, but better to look at the reality and do a little delving.

Being prepared is the key!

Nerves are a natural part of the process. They usually start just before you are summoned to enter "the interview room". If you're well prepared, most of your nervousness will be replaced by confidence. You've done your homework, you're well informed and you're going for it!

Keep this in mind. If you don't succeed, use the experience as " experience". Yes, that's right. Experience is the greatest teacher. Write down the things you felt were difficult and also where you think you did very well. Ask for feedback from your interviewer. Most will be pleased to grant your request.

If you don't get the job, it's not necessarily because you're not good enough. Remember, the job you've applied for probably has at least another 20 (up to 100) applicants. There is just one position, so there can be only one successful candidate.

The hints and tips below are all common sense, but as you've probably experienced, common sense sometimes flies out the window if you're unprepared.

If you're the one conducting the interview, you need to be prepared with some valuable information about your venture, your competitors and your suppliers. If the person you're interviewing has come to you well prepared, no amount of "fancy footwork" will fool you intended partner, supplier or a prospective staff member.

Use from these tips what will work for you. Remember, the better prepared and informed you are, the more confident you will be, and therefore you will have a better chance of achieving your goal!

Go get 'em! Good luck and here's to your success.

Lynne

Article

The Interview

Copyright © 2003 Lynne Bullen

Preparation, Planning, Before and After

Congratulations. Your letter of application has resulted in an invitation for you to attend an interview.

Now it's time for you to do a little research. You know what the job entails, but now it's time to find out more about the company, no matter whether it's large or small. Have someone send you the company's current Annual Report. These documents are full of extremely useful information.

There are businesses that don't produce this type of document, but there will usually be other information available; you just have to do a little digging. There may be brochures about the services or products ... read them. Study the website if the business has one.

Jot down anything you find particularly interesting or that you're not sure about. You will, no doubt, be asked what you know about the company or organisation, so it's best to be prepared. An incentive for your interviewer to choose you will be how you respond to questions, and also the questions you ask.

Interview Day

Make sure your attire is clean and pressed. Wear a jacket/blazer. Shoes should be complimentary to your outfit. Make sure they're clean.

For the ladies, check your hair and makeup before you get out of your car. If it's windy or raining, see if you can find the ladies' room and tidy up the windswept look. Don't overdo the jewellery. Keep it for your personal outings. No heavy perfume!

For the guys, check that your tie is straight and that the end of it is not half way up your chest. Its point should rest on the top of your belt buckle. Make sure that your collar and cuffs are not wrinkled or marked. No heavy after-shave or cologne!

Arrive at your destination at least five minutes early, preferably ten minutes early. This will give you time to compose yourself. The last thing you want to do is be in a rush and find yourself perspiring and panting just as you're about to be introduced to your interviewer. Do a last minute check of your appearance, brush up on your knowledge and plan some more questions.

Breathe!

Sit up straight. Slouching, either whilst you wait or during your interview may convey that you're too casual and not taking your interview seriously. Legs together or crossed comfortably, don't cross your feet, and above all, don't fidget.

When the time comes, stand to greet your interviewer, smile and hold out your hand ready to shake hands. Never offer your hand with your palm down. Hold out our hand, palm slightly up.

The Interview

Introduce yourself: (example: "Hello Mr Smith, I'm Bob. Thanks for the opportunity to meet with you.")

It is not unusual to be interviewed by a panel of three or more persons. Try to remember their names.

Sit where you will be comfortable. Try not to sit on a couch or very low chair. Sit up straight. Remember, slouching will portray a lack of confidence and could even be taken as too casual - not at all business-like.

If you are nervous, remember, that's a natural reaction. If you think your nervousness shows, don't be afraid to say so. Most interviewers know their interviewees will be nervous and will do their best to make you feel comfortable.

If you are offered tea or coffee, it's best to gracefully decline. You may accept a glass of water. Remember that this is a professional situation, not a casual chat over coffee.

When asked a question, answer strongly and with conviction. Try not to hesitate with your answer.

Answer all questions without adding anything extra unless you feel you need to qualify what you're saying. If you have difficulty with a question, ask for it to be repeated or say that you're not sure what information your interviewer is wanting. You don't want to give your interviewer cause to believe you're not paying attention.

It is acceptable to have with you a copy of your letter of application and your Resume or CV, along with anything else you sent. You may have found other documents or examples of your previous work you would like to offer for perusal.

If asked why you're leaving your current employer, let your interviewer know that as much as you have enjoyed the work, it is now time to move on, to grow and develop more skills and abilities. It may be that the job you previously held is now redundant, or the company has closed down.

If you left your previous job (or you are about to give your notice) because of any unpleasantness, it's best not to detail these things. The appropriate answer might be that you were no longer challenged and needed a more stimulating environment where your skills will be put to good use. If you speak ill of the previous or present employer or any of the its employees, that could have you off the short list before you have time to prove yourself worthy of the position.

You don't have to answer questions of a personal nature. If you're pressed to answer any questions of a highly personal nature, let your interviewer know that you feel that these questions are inappropriate have no bearing on the reason you have accepted an invitation for interview. If that line of questioning continues, you may choose to answer if you comfortable doing so, but you should ask what relevance they have to the job. If you are uncomfortable with the line of questioning, don't be afraid to excuse yourself gracefully, saying that you have misinterpreted what the position was about, and leave quietly.

If the interview is going well, you may be asked how soon you can start if you are chosen. One of the best answers I've heard to this question is, "To be fair to my current employer I would like to give at least one, but preferably two weeks' notice as they have been very good to me." Part of your preparation should include the answer about a starting date, whether it's a week, a month or longer. If you're not currently working, explain your situation and invite another question.

Your interviewer may ask you why you think you would be the best person for the job. Now, if you've done your homework and you know it's the job you want, you'll be prepared for this question. Incidentally, it is one of the most common questions asked at interview.

When you feel the interview is nearing its end, make sure that you are given time to ask some questions of your own, unless, of course, you were invited to ask questions earlier on.

Below are some questions you may like to consider asking. Remember, each situation is different, and the questions below are offered as suggestions only. Your questions should be structured, streamlined and specific to the job (eg Sales, Marketing, Reception, Administration, Clerical, Factory Floor).

1. What date has been planned for the new employee to commence?

2. What are the hours of employment?

3. How many other employees are there?

4. Are these employees given their own areas/territories? (Good question if you're applying for a Sales position).

5. What is the rate of pay? Is it a wage or is it a retainer with commission? If it is the latter, ask what the retainer would be. Ask also about whether there is a specific target for you as a new employee.

6. Is your wage free and clear of any expenses incurred in the normal course of the job? If not, what items will be considered for reimbursement.

7. Are you paid on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis?

8. How are you paid? Cash? Direct to your bank account?

9. Ask if you're replacing another employee. If the answer is yes, try to find out why that person left. If it's a newly created position ask what the job is designed to achieve and where in the scheme of things it fits. Remember, the more you know about what's expected, the better equipped you will be to do the job.

10. What sort of equipment will be supplied for the job? Tools of trade, uniform, etc. Does the package include a motor vehicle?

11. Apart from your skill and abilities, what else, if anything, are you expected to supply to do the job?

12. When the interview is over, stand and thank your interviewer again for the opportunity to meet and shake hands. Leave quietly and gracefully.

After the interview

If your interviewer says that a decision will be made shortly, ask when that might be. If he/she doesn't offer that information, you are within your right to ask.

If you are offered the job (on the spot or at a later date) thank your interviewer and ask for your job offer in writing, stating the starting date, rate of pay, the duties you are expected to undertake and what materials will be supplied to you so that you can properly do the job for which you will be paid. This will safeguard both you and your potential employer against any misunderstandings about what you each expect from the other.

Remember, being prepared half way to your goal. The other half is believing in yourself.

Lynne Bullen is a successful businesswoman whose talents include Public Relations; Editorial and Commercial Copywriting; Design and Facilitation of Seminars, Forums and Workshops, Mentoring Services and Secretarial and Administrative support
She is a specialist in Digital Transcription

Contact Lynne via email:
or visit her website at http://www.lynnebullenstrategies.com.au

Sweet Inspiration

[Editor's note: I found these words of inspiration while on holidays. I have no idea who wrote it, but the author has really made me think about the way I approach certain issues, dreams, goals and life in general. Only a person of insight and passion is responsible. If you know who wrote this little gem, please send me an email to so that I can pass it on to your fellow subscribers. I'm sure there are other gems to come from the author of "Steps to Happiness".]

"Steps to Happiness"

Know that...
you can't be all things to all people.
you can't do all things at once.
you can't do all things equally well.
you can't do all things better than everyone else.
your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.

So...
Find out who you are, and be that.
Decide what comes first, and do that.
Discover your strengths, and use them.
Learn not to compete with others, because no one else is in the contest of *being you*.

Then you'll have learned...
to accept your own uniqueness.
to set priorities and make decisions.
to live with your limitations.
to give yourself the respect that is due.
You'll be a most vital mortal.

Dare To Believe that...
you're are a wonderful, unique person.
you're a once-in-all-history event.
it's more than a right to be who you are.
life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.

Then you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.

- Author Unknown -

Article

Beat Procrastination with Your GPS (Goal Positioning System)

Copyright © 2003 Angela Booth

The first article about using your GPS: "Use Your GPS (Goal Positioning System) To Achieve Your Goals", appeared in Issue 28 of CSB. Go to http://www.digital-e.biz/archive.html

Researchers estimate we only use around two to ten per cent of our brainpower each day.

This means that much of the mental processing power you've got is rusting away, unused. This is literally true, because when your brain cells die they aren't replaced. If you could find ways to access more of your fantastic brainpower, what could you achieve? Could you double or triple your current income?

The first article on your GPS (Goal Positioning System) outlined how you use it. Here's the process in a nutshell: you set clear, time-limited goals, you visualize yourself successfully completing tasks and achieving your goals every day, you use your intuition, you write ABOUT what you want, and why you want it, and you create and use a daily task list.

The key to accessing more of your brainpower lies in the tasks that you procrastinate on. When you resist something, the resistance uses up more energy than completing the task. Your resistance also leads to feelings of guilt and unworthiness, and these feelings lower your overall effectiveness, which means you use even less of your total brainpower.

Here's how to use your GPS to tackle your procrastination:

Write down where you are, exactly what you want to do, and how you want to feel while you're doing it

"But I already know what I want to do," you protest.

Yes, that's true. But part of you is weaselling out. Your left brain might want to complete the task, but if you're procrastinating, it's a sign that your right brain and your unconscious mind have other ideas. For whatever reason, they want no part of the task and will do their best to ensure that you don't do it.

Procrastination's insidious. If you're procrastinating, you'll find any number of super-logical reasons NOT to do the task. You'll suddenly remember those phone calls you have to make. Or that you haven't called your mother all week. Or that you really need to check on how your online auctions are doing.

Let's imagine a scenario. Let's say you're procrastinating on mowing the lawn. The grass is almost to your knees and your house-proud neighbours are so peeved that they turn away when they see you.

Take out a pen and paper and write down where you are, what you want to do, and how you want to feel while you're doing it.

You'll find that as you're writing, the other parts of your brain will start to kick in. As you write: "It's Tuesday, almost 4pm, and I'm sitting in the kitchen having a cup of coffee. I want to go and check the mower, and mow the lawn. It will only take me half an hour, and I'll feel energetic and pleased with myself while I'm doing it. The lawn will look great."

Mowing the lawn is a simple enough task, and once you've written it down, chances are that you'll march right out and do it, because the unconscious resistance you have to the task just melted away. I have no real idea why writing things down — where you are, what you want to do, and how you want to feel while you're doing it — works so well in combating procrastination, but it does. Try it.

On the other hand, you may get real feelings of conflict when you write down what you want to do. If that happens, keep writing. Ask yourself (in writing) what the problem is. Maybe you'll write: "I haven't got time to mow the lawn. I should be working on that presentation I'm giving next week."

Aha! Now you're getting to the nitty-gritty. Your procrastination about the lawn-mowing and subsequent frustration with yourself is masking your real problem, which is anxiety about your upcoming presentation.

You can deal with that, now you know what it is. You could write: "I will mow the lawn and feel great while I'm doing it, and then I will work on the presentation for an hour. I will feel relaxed and calm and confident while I work on the presentation."

You'll be amazed that once you've written down the real problem, it's no longer such a big deal.

Keep writing, until you feel an emotional shift. You'll soon get ideas on how to solve the problem, and then you'll hustle right out and get your lawn mowed. And oddly enough, you will also work on your presentation, and you'll enjoy it.

Trick yourself

Nine times out of ten, the above process will work like the proverbial charm.

But what happens if you can't even force yourself to write? This happens because when you procrastinate, you procrastinate for a reason. If that reason is powerful enough to stop you doing the task, and it may also be powerful enough to prevent you using this simple writing process.

All is not lost. Trick yourself. Tell yourself that you're going to list ten places you could go on vacation. Or that you're going to write a shopping list. Begin writing your list, and after you've written a couple of items, start using the GPS process.

Write about where you are, exactly what you want to do, and how you want to feel while you're doing it. You'll be amazed and pleased that you've conquered your procrastination.

A benefit of this process is that once you've used it a couple of times, because you know you can eliminate your procrastination anytime you want to, you'll procrastinate less.

If procrastination is a problem for you, use your GPS. The process works.

Veteran multi-published author and copywriter Angela Booth crafts words for your business — words to sell, educate or persuade. E-books and e-courses on Web site. FREE ezines for writers and small biz: http://www.digital-e.biz/

Resources

These are for job seekers:

http://www.careerbuilder.com From the USA
http://www.careerone.com.au From Australia
http://www.topjobs.co.uk From the UK - a top site!

Try these for assistance with your resume or letter of application:

Resources for DIY resumes and letters of application. http://www.aussieresumes.com/

More help with resumes and letters of application http://www.resume.com

From the USA - this site is filled with lots of interesting information ... while you're there, why not sign up for the free newsletter for even more tips? http://www.dressforsuccess.org

Inspired Tips

Quote of the month

Business Tip of the month

"Honesty is STILL the best policy"
- Lynne Bullen "Inspired to Succeed" -

Health Tip of the month

"Drink at least EIGHT glasses of water each day" — GPs, Dieticians and many authors of publications on health issues recommend this simple strategy as just one towards attaining and maintaining good health.

Article

Equip Yourself To Achieve

Copyright © 2003 Keith Abraham

As I travel around Australia speaking with people in the frontline, people in middle and senior management, I have noticed a lack of desire for people to develop themselves outside of their normal day-to-day operations.

I have a firm belief that it is up to each of us to develop ourselves personally and professionally so we are equipped for the changing times in business. Every professional sports person continues to improve their skills and develop their game. So why do people stop developing themselves?

IF YOU DON'T INVEST IN YOURSELF, YOU'RE A POOR JUDGE OF A GOOD INVESTMENT!!!

I think everyone of us get busy being busy and forget about our own personal and professional growth. In these competitive times, you and I need to continually update our skills, knowledge and attitude in everything we do. I think we sometimes don't know where to start, what we should do first and how to go about it!

I have put together 11 easy to implement ideas that will make a difference in your life, so when you want to develop yourself to achieve you will see extra-ordinary results.

• Listen to Audio Tapes in Your Car
• Read Personal Development Books 15 - 60 minutes per day
• Attend Personal Development Seminars
• Write Out Your Personal & Professional Goals
• Update Your Computer Skills
• Attend a Time Management Program to Improve Your Skills
• Understand How to Use the Internet
• Join Business and Professional Development Associations
• Find a Mentor with Whom You Can Work With to Develop Your Skills
• Attend University or TAFE Courses to Enhance Your Skills
• Get People who are Close to You to do a Review of Your Skills

The point I make is quite simple, don't be one of those people who say's they are in danger of losing their job, it's not fair and it's the company's fault. Instead of blaming someone else you should find ways to enhance your skills and increase your value in your own organisation.

You see, good people that have equipped themselves for today's market place are still in high demand. Take time to develop the qualities, so that you can bring your potential into reality. It will be a sound investment of time and money in the most important asset your business has - You!!!

Keith Abraham CSP is a Brisbane-based professional conference speaker on Creating Loyal Profitable Customers, Customer Service, Strategic Selling, and Designing Your Life. He is the author of Creating Loyal Profitable Customers! and recipient of the Nevin Award which is the highest award given to any speaker by the National Speakers Association Australia. keith@keithabraham.com.au 61-7-3848 5646, http://www.keithabraham.com.au

Sponsors

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