3 Keys to a Successful Job Search

With all the layoffs that have taken place over the last couple of years, it's no wonder that many of those who are still employed often feel stretched to the maximum of their productivity. It can be very demanding looking for another job when your current one is continually stressing you out. After all, when you get home from a long and frustrating day, the last thing you want to do is give any more thought to the world of work. Unfortunately, most new jobs don't just fall into your lap-you have to go out and get them. Approaching your job search as strategically and as systematically as you would approach your next business deal can help keep the process manageable.

Initiation

If you were going to start a huge new project at work, would your first step be to just sit down and start the project? Of course not! A lot of planning and preparation go into any major project, and your job search should be no different. Therefore, the first step is NOT to sit down and start sending out dozens of generalized resumes to any job that sounds OK. Your first task should be to determine exactly what you're looking for in your next position. Just like you can't write a project plan until you know what the project is, you simply cannot write an effective resume or cover letter without some idea of where you'd like your career to go. You may find this part of the process to be the most time-consuming, as it requires some soul searching, however, it's an essential step in the process that must not be skipped.

Planning

Once you've determined your professional goals, you're ready to spend some time assembling your marketing tools-a cover letter, resume, and any other pertinent documents that support your message. This is essentially the same process as setting up a project at work; you need both plans and human resources for an effective job search. A professional resume writer can be an invaluable tool for a job seeker who's incredibly busy with his or her current vocation. Any resume writer will need you to gather and submit information about your past positions and achievements, but then let go of the reins; allowing the professional to agonize over each individual line on your resume will remove that weight from your own shoulders.

Execution

Only when you've established a goal and pulled together the tools needed to accomplish it should you actually start looking for and applying to jobs. Setting up e-mail alerts through sites like simplyhired.com or indeed.com can save you hours of scouring through online employment ads. If you tackle your search in a strategic and systematic manner, you should soon reach a place where you can go to your inbox, look through positions that may be a good fit for you, and then simply customize your polished resume for each application. Consider each quality job application you send off as a deliverable in the project of finding yourself another job. Whenever you successfully land your next position, you'll be able to close out this project and move on to the next one!

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez

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How to Succeed in the Hunt For Newly Qualified Solicitor Jobs

Now that the end of summer is within sight it is an important time for all those trainee solicitors who will soon be finishing their second year of their training contract. There will be many who have decided to continue their career in law and who will be hoping to secure one of the newly qualified solicitor jobs on offer. Given the recent economic crisis however the outlook for many might not be so great.

During the recession many law firms have been recruiting less and their retention rates of their trainee solicitors has gone down. This has meant that even where firms may have ordinarily offered a trainee a newly qualified solicitor job they have now not been able to due to financial constraints.

The knock on effect of this is that there will be a flood of newly qualified solicitors entering the solicitor job market to find another firm who might help them take the next step in their legal careers. The sobering fact however is that if many firms are unable to take on all of their own trainee solicitors upon qualification then they will almost certainly not be taking on newly qualified solicitors from outside the firm.

The reality for many therefore may be harsh in that they are unable to stay at their current firms and they may also be unsuccessful in succeeding in the hunt for another newly qualified role in a highly competitive job market.

If you find yourself in this position you have a few options. The first one is to try and form solid relationships with the key recruitment consultants for the area you are searching in and for the type of law you want to practise. This way they will think of you and contact you when they get a new newly qualified solicitor vacancy.

Secondly, you need to ensure that you are checking the legal press and all the law jobs websites on a daily basis for the new vacancies when they are announced. You can also be spending some time working on your application documents so that they are as good as they can be and are ready to put into action as soon as a vacancy comes up. It is advisable to search the internet for information, resources and tips relating to CV's, covering letters and application forms. What is not advisable is just using the same documents you used when applying for training contracts as this will be apparent to any recruitment consultant or law firm and could count against you.

If after an initial search for a newly qualified job you do not have success you may be advised to consider seeking another legal position, such as paralegal, so that you are still gaining legal work experience. This is often seen as a positive by potential employers and will also help with your continued professional development.

If for any reason you do not want to work in another legal position then you can always consider the option of taking a sabbatical or gap year and then return to the legal jobs market at a later date in the hope that it has improved and your chances of success are greater. You should be warned however that you will need to be able to justify this to a potential future employer and some may not view it in a positive light. Many will be ok with it though.

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Glass Ceiling Blues - What Successful Women Executives Won't Tell You During Their Exit Interview

By Steven Grant

The Customer Research Center (CRC) recently talked with two incredibly successful female professionals about the dirty little Fortune 500 secret that everyone knows about and no one talks about. One of these women, President of her own Internet consulting firm, is a living definition of smarts and tenacity; successfully shepherding her team through the Dot.Com crash and into custom website design efforts for high end brands. The other woman is just starting her own consulting firm; bailing out of a Fortune 500 with one client in tow to launch her own business. Our conversation focused on the large numbers of highly competent aspiring women executives, poised between one or two decades of grinding servitude and the upper echelon rewards bestowed on the top 1%, who are turning their pumps away from the golden ladder and taking the stairs out.

These cadres of highly skilled, highly intelligent next generation CEO's are walking away from the promise of rewards for the certitude of rewarding themselves. Their standard exit line to the puzzled companies who were just getting ready to tap them on the shoulder for that next promotion is: "I'd like to spend more time with my family." What these two career women clued us in to is that line is just a line, the real reason is too awful to reveal. Both of these successful, intelligent women knew that if they told the truth they would be stoned-no, scratch that, that interview was in Iran-they knew they could never go back to the company afterward, if they ever wanted their old jobs back.

The real reason these women are leaving is because the corporate ladder provides an escalator for the men and a greased pole for the women. Yes, Virginia, Santa Claus still thinks you should be baking gingerbread cookies, not running the $1.7 billion toy manufacturing facility in Guangdong.

There is a fundamental cultural distinction at the heart of this unfairness. Women believe in meritocracy, men believe in winning. When a project falls apart a woman is likely to say, "I wasn't a good enough leader." If a project succeeds a woman is likely to say, "I had a great team." We're hoping we don't need to spell out the logical inversion of those statements that would tumble from the tongues of men.

A male executive, hearing these statements from women, begins to think, "Maybe she isn't a good enough leader" or "Maybe the team is carrying her." The male executives, in similar circumstances, are naturally inclined to braggadocio, back slapping, feather preening, and urinating on their beards-no, no that was the article about pygmy goats-to focus attention on them and garner as much credit as possible for the minimum investment of their own energy. This is simple Darwinian logic copied over the millennia from the genes of our woolly ancestors.

In reality most firms are still hierarchical patriarchies, even when they're run by women, and far from the meritocracies for which these women originally forsook hearth and home in search of a career. Instead of saying, "I'd like to spend more time with my family." these women want to say, "I'm sick of all the incompetent jackasses getting the promotions because they kiss your behind. I could make better decisions in less time than it takes them to zip up their pants."

So someone has to tell these clueless guys the truth before they burn out the next generation of females. Wake up and make some coffee guys. There's a clear choice between the Tao of blissfully ignorant backslapping devolution and a whole new generation of career women who are going to skip the butt kissing part and go right for the kicking.

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Conducting a successful job interview

One of the most scary tasks every new writer will eventually face is conducting that first interview. However, an interview need not be a frightening event. The following 10 tips will help to ensure that your first interview --and successive ones--will be remembered as an enjoyable experience.

KNOW YOUR SUBJECT: Find out everything you can about the person you are interviewing before making the initial contact. Show the person that you care enough to have done some research beforehand. For example, if you are interviewing an author about his/her latest book, at least read the book, or enough of it to be able to ask intelligent questions or make references to a certain character or scene.

KEEP THE INITIAL CONTACT SHORT AND TO THE POINT: Identify yourself immediately and explain why you want the interview. If the interview is for a certain publication say so. Once the person has agreed to be interviewed, arrange a specific time and place convenient for you and your subject. Clearly state how long you expect the interview to last. Remember to say "Thank you," and let the person know you appreciate the opportunity to interview him/her.

BE PUNCTIAL AND DRESS APPROPRIATELY: Never make a bad impression by being late for an interview. If you know you are going to be delayed, call the person with an explanation and an apology. Dress appropriately. Don't show up wearing blue jeans, wrinkled tee shirts, and scuffed running shoes.

MAKE YOUR SUBJECT FEEL RELAXED AND COMFORTABLE: Try to create a friendly relaxed atmosphere during the interview. Showing that you find the interview topic intriguing will make the person more inclined to open up.

DECIDE IF YOU WILL USE A TAPE RECORDER, TAKE NOTES, OR BOTH: If you plan to use a tape recorder, make sure you ask permission beforehand. Some people will clam up in front of a tape recorder, but may be less intimidated by a note pad and pen. However, if your subject has no objections to a taped interview, make sure the recorder is in perfect working order "before" you start taping. It's a good idea to take notes during the interview even if you use a tape recorder. Notes can be numbered for easy organization, whereas transcribing from tapes can be time consuming.

PREPARE QUESTIONS BEFORE THE INTERVIEW: Have approximately ten well-constructed questions written out in advance and arranged in the same order in which you plan to write the article. This will give shape to the story and save time, as well as keeping you focused. Leaving several blank spaces between numbered questions gives you plenty of room to write answers to specific questions in the proper place.

ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS: Instead of asking questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no," such as "Would you advise young people to take up acting as a career?" phrase you question as "What advice would you give young people about to start an acting career?"

DON'T BE TOO STRUCTURED; LET YOUR SUBJECT "CHAT": Sometimes a person will go "off topic" and chat. This is fine to a point, and can oftentimes reward you with extra tidbits of information that you otherwise would have missed. However, if you find your subject wandering too far away from the topic, tactfully bring the conversation back to the specific nature of the discussion.

BE EXACT WHEN USING QUOTES: Let your subject know you will be using quotes when you write the article. If you are taking notes, be sure to quote the exact words your subject has said. Break up long quotes by paraphrasing. Never misquote or misrepresent anyone!

END THE INTERVIEW IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER: Conclude the interview as close to the specified time as possible. Ask permission for a follow-up call to verify proper spellings, dates, or other facts that may not be clear from your notes. Assure the person that, if at all possible, you will notify him/her as to when the article will be published. Remember to thank your subject graciously, and assure him/her that you have enjoyed the interview.

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How to write a successful resume

If you are the type of person who excels at job interviews, either by telephone or in person, but you find it difficult to get accepted for an interview because your resume does not quite reach the expected standards, then look no further. With years of experience in recruitment sections of large companies, I can offer you advice that will assist you in claiming an interview for your dream job.

The first step you must take is to study the advertisement for the position you wish to apply for. Many people just take a quick glance at these advertisements and then write what they feel is best to reach the stage of an interview. Read the advertisement carefully as many employers ask you to address a selection criteria. Your resume will be knocked back if you do not address these criteria’s, as it is a vital way for employers to short-list their applicants.

A selection criteria is a list of requirements needed for the vacant position. An example of one might be, “Must have experience using Excel and Word”. To address the selection criteria use the criteria as a heading, then write a short paragraph explaining why you are competent in this field. There are usually between 5 to 10 criteria’s for the position listed in order of importance. If you don’t meet the criteria for the first few listed then there is a good chance you aren’t suited for the position.

There are many positions advertised which do not use a selection criteria but ask you to write a brief summary to describe your qualifications and experience. When writing this cover sheet, I highly recommend you do not use the word ‘but’. Only mention details about yourself that you excel in. You have to sell yourself so your cover sheet must sound positive and full of confidence. An example is the requirement for having a degree in science. Mention only those subjects you excelled in and enjoyed, do not mention subjects that you failed in and had to repeat to obtain your degree. Remember you are applying for a position you know you can meet the standards of. If you aren’t confident in chemistry or physics you won’t be applying for a position that requires you to use these subjects. Your cover sheet must reflect a positive and confident attitude.

When writing a resume, include your personal details, qualifications, experience, and a list of referees. Take time to design your resume respectfully. Your first page should include your personal particulars, such as name, address, contact details, whether you have a driver’s license and your citizenship. You can add details such as personal hobbies and interests if they are relevant to the position. You only need to mention your date of birth if the position you are applying for is restricted by age. If you are asked to send in a photo of yourself it is a good idea to have one taken at a professional studio. Photographers can help cover up those bags under your eyes and assist you with make-up and hair styling.

Your second page should list your qualifications. List these qualifications in date order with the most recent one placed at the top of the page. You do not have to go into great detail. If you have a degree in Science, mention where the degree was achieved, what year it was completed, and a list of units completed which are relevant to the position you are applying for. There is no need to mention units you did not pass.

The next section will be a listing of your work experience. As with your qualifications, list these in date order starting with the most recent. Again you do not have to go into great detail about your previous positions. You can describe them in greater detail when you are interviewed. Mention the name of the company you worked for, the date you worked there, the position you held and an inclusion of duties you carried out. You do not need to mention your reasons for leaving a position.

The last section of your resume should be a list of selected referees. Write the name of the company, the name of the referee, the position they held and a contact phone number. Do not include a referee who you had past disagreements with.

As an optional page for your resume, write a short summary about your work experience. This suits people who have extensive word processing experience as you can list items such as the software packages you have used, your typing and shorthand skills and the use of other office equipment such as a dictaphone and a switchboard.

Your resume and cover sheet must reflect a confident and positive attitude. You have to tell your potential employers that you are the best person suited for the position.

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How to successfully interview for a job

Well, you have made it this far. Unless you have some connections on the inside of an organization, getting an interview can be a difficult feat. Depending on the job and the company, you can be in competition with literally thousands of applicants. Now, your goal is to make yourself stand out among the rest as the best possible candidate for the job. How do you do this? Read on and find out!

Preparation, of course, is the key to the whole thing. Start with your clothing. What is suitable attire for a job interview? Depending on the job you are interviewing for and the company's standards of dress, there is a range of possibilities. The basic outfit for a man is usually a dress shirt, dress slacks, tie, and dress shoes. This would be suitable for a man who interviewing for a number of positions. If you are interviewing for an office position, a business suit would, of course, be called for.

For a woman, a nice dress or skirt and blouse worn with dressy shoes would probably be a suitable outfit. Women can even wear a pantsuit as long as it is dressy and looks professional. There again, the outfit depends on the job that you are interviewing for. Make sure whatever outfit you wear is clean and pressed. Remember to pay special attention to your shoes. Make sure your shoes are clean and polished. And, unless, you are applying for a job as a tennis instructor, hula dancer, or construction worker, do not wear tennis shoes, sandals or thongs, or work boots to your interview.

Make sure, before you leave home, that your face is shaved, (men only, of course), your hair is neatly combed or styled, and that your hands, including underneath your fingernails, are clean and neat. Women can wear make-up if it's not overdone, and both sexes should take it easy on the old stinky stuff.You don't want to offend your prospective employer right off the bat with an overpowering stench of perfume or after shave.

Plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early for your interview. Companies sometimes have paperwork for you to fill out, and, anyhow, you want to make a good impression of being punctual.

Once you arrive for your interview, remember to be pleasant and mannerly to each and every person you come in contact with, and that includes receptionists, secretaries, security guards, etc. Stand up and sit up straight and in a professional, business-like manner. Don't slouch in your chair; act alert and interested.

Answer all of the questions the interviewer gives you. It doesn't hurt to talk yourself up in order to try and sell yourself, but don't overdue it either. Be prepared to answer tricky questions that interviewers tend to ask, such as where you want to be in ten years from now. If you don't answer that you want to be employed at that certain company in a higher position than you started out at, then you are going to fail miserably. Watch out for tricky lead ons such as, "Tell me about yourself..." too. Don't sit there and blab on and on about yourself. Tell the interviewer about a hobby, your family, etc., but be brief.

Be especially prepared to explain any time lapses in your work history. Many prospective employers are very interested in that. Be honest. If you were unemployed, then say so. Don't try to lie by saying you were out of the country or that you were self-employed if you really weren't. Honesty counts, and prospective employers have ways to tell if you are lying or not!

Don't forget to thank the interviewer for his or her time at the end of your session. Then, don't forget to send a written thank-you note to the person who interviewed you. This is common courtesy, and by using it, you can help to put yourself above the rest of the crowd!

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Successful job hunting: the importance of your local paper

In this day and age of the Internet, it can be tempting to ignore the old tried and true method of scouring the local classifieds section when looking for a job. You might think that online job search engines are the best way to find a job, and in many cases you would be right. Posting jobs online is a heck of a lot cheaper and less time consuming than placing ads in the paper, so it is definitely true that searching for a job online is an essential part of looking for employment. However, there are a few good reasons not to count out your local newspaper as part of your job search.

First of all, a look through the newspaper can give you a good picture of the overall job market at any given time. If there are lots of ads posted in widely varying fields, the market is probably pretty good. Employers are hiring, and there are positions available – and this, of course, enhances the odds that you yourself can land one of those positions. If there are not very many ads in the paper, then you may be facing a tight job market – in which case it can be good to adjust your strategies accordingly.

Second, looking through the paper can give you some ideas of specific job titles that might be available in your area. For example, if you have a degree in a field such as journalism, there are a number of titles that you can consider yourself qualified to apply for. You could be a “journalist,” a “reporter,” an “editor,” a “writer,” a “columnist,” and so on. Due to the structure of the majority of Internet Web sites, it can be a little harder to pull the same type of information from browsing job sites as you can pull from browsing your newspaper. Since the newspaper information is all consolidated in one spot that is easy to look over, you can make notes of the different variations of job titles that you can apply for and then later type those job titles into a job search engine.

Third, despite the fact that we are living in a very digital era, do not underestimate the fact that there are still a significant number of businesses out there that do not have a Web presence. This may depend partly on the type of job you are seeking, but if you’re working in a field, for example, that you might land a job with a small business, there’s a chance that some potential employers do not have a Web site or a large digital presence. These sorts of companies might still use the local newspaper as their primary means of announcing open positions – in which case you will not learn of their openings by using the Internet and will thus miss out on a good potential opportunity.

Last, but not least, the local newspaper can offer you some help in your job search beyond the ads in the actual classified section. You should be on the lookout for information in the rest of the paper that might tip you off as to potential openings. For example, if you see an announcement in the paper that there’s a new business opening, consider whether your skills might be matched to the positions they’ll be hiring for – in which case shooting off your resume might get you a jump over other applicants when they later post their open positions. In addition, you might see announcements of career fairs or other events where employers might hire on the spot or schedule interviews. The Internet is indeed a wonderful thing, but it can never completely replace your local paper if you’re aiming to work locally.

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How to have a successful job interview

Even if you are qualified for a job, you still have to get through the ever-dreaded job interview in order to get your foot in the door. It can be daunting to some, but if you know the keys to having a successful job interview, then you are much more likely to impress your potential employer and get the job.

BODY LANGUAGE

Actions speak louder than words. Your body language has to convey confidence and capability, or your words will seem artificial. When you walk into the building where your interview is taking place, the positive body language starts – your good interview behavior is not reserved only for the person who is interviewing you. When you check in with the receptionist, stand up straight, keep your shoulders back, and make direct eye contact. You don’t want to look scared and nervous. People who work together talk to each other about prospective employees, so your impression on the “gatekeeper” is important. When you go into the office for your interview, greet your potential employer with a firm handshake, direct eye contact, and a warm smile. Do not sit down until your interviewer has stepped behind his or her desk. Men, do not cross your legs when you are seated. It will make you look standoffish. Sit with your feet firmly on the floor. Women, if you are wearing a dress or skirt, you should cross your ankles, but not your legs. Sitting with your legs open in a dress or skirt really makes you look silly and sometimes even inappropriate. Do not grasp the arms of the chair because that makes you look very uneasy and uncomfortable. Keep your hands folded in your lap, or place them on your thighs. Never cross your arms during an interview, or you will look like you have something to hide, which is the last thing you would want to project during a job interview. When you are answering questions and conversing, always maintain eye contact – never let your gaze wander around the room, or you will look uninterested and aloof. When your interviewer is explaining things to you, make sure you nod your head to convey understanding. At the close of the interview, extend your hand for a second firm handshake.

BE CONFIDENT, NOT COCKY

During many job interviews, you will be asked to talk about your strengths and weaknesses. It can feel really awkward and uncomfortable trying to talk about yourself in either way, because you have to walk such a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Try to stay away from phrases like: “I’m the best ____.” You shouldn’t be general; you should use factual evidence that proves your competence so that your interviewer has more objective factors to base his opinion on, rather than your subjective view of yourself. For example, if you are interviewing for a management position, you might be able to say, “I managed a team of twenty employees, and under my leadership, sales increased twenty percent from the previous year.” Concrete examples of your experience will speak volumes more than flashy adjectives. As far as the question about your weaknesses, you should never be too forthright. Don’t say, “I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning to make it into work on time” or “I usually hate all of my co-workers.” You also don’t want to say nothing, or that you can’t think of anything negative to say about yourself. Try to put a positive spin on your weakness. For example, “I can sometimes get stuck working on one thing for hours just to get it just right – I am a bit of a perfectionist.”

BE INFORMED

You should try to learn as much about the company and the position that you are interviewing for as possible. It will be very impressive to your interviewer if you are knowledgeable about the company because it shows that you were willing to go the extra mile to get the job. The more you know about the position, the more prepared you will be for the interview. Your interviewer might even ask you what you know about the company, and it is great if you can actually talk about their formation, their reputation, their standards, etc.

ASK QUESTIONS

When your interviewer asks you if you have any questions, have some. If you don’t ask anything, it will seem like you really don’t care and you aren’t very interested in getting the position. However, ask questions about the company and the position you are interviewing for. Do not ask questions about salary, benefits, or insurance during an initial interview. Those details can wait until at least the second interview, and if you ask them during the first one it makes it seem like your motivation to work there is purely financial, not because you think that this will be a great job to have.

FOLLOW-UP

After the job interview is over, you still have some work to do. Send a note or e-mail to thank the interviewer for his or her time and consideration, and let them know that if they need any further information, that you are happy to provide it. It will show them that you are really excited about the position. If they have interviewed many applicants, then following up like this will set you apart from the pack.

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Write Your Way to Success With Article Marketing

Following months of trying to convince his boss that he should invest in a company website, Clive finally gave up and decided to go it alone. The year was 1996 and the internet was still very young. That said, it was already possible to have a professional, online shop built which he was determined to do. He took out a few loans and remortgaged his house to come up with the £12.000 he needed to have the first fully functional online shop for promotional gifts designed and online before any other company in the UK. He did it. The world was going to be his oyster! Or was it?

Following the site’s launch, he began to attract a few customers and a lot of interest from the larger competitors who had millions to throw at such ventures. After just one year in business, he was contacted by a company director of what was at the time the biggest promotional gift supplier in the UK. They wanted him and his company and asked to meet with him to discuss the advantages of becoming part of their huge promotional gifts machine! Needless to say, Clive couldn’t believe his luck and met up with several corporate highflyers over the following few weeks. He could see why they wanted him but also realised that he was still a small-time promotional gift supplier who had only managed to turn over £130,000 in his first year.

The excitement was short lived. Like many big corporations at the time, they wanted people like Clive but they wanted to pay peanuts. His small business was really of no use to them nor did they need his website: they could purchase the best websites money could buy. But as an employee Clive could help propel them into the internet age. They wanted him for his drive but his ambition would be regulated by those at them top. The scenario seemed all too familiar to Clive. He would have to do as he was told again and his aspirations would be limited by those at the top with big wallets but relatively little understanding about what he was trying to do or of just how significantly the world was changing.

The funny thing is, many corporate bigwigs still don’t understand it fully in 2010! They have either grown very comfortable or perhaps they have always been a little too comfortable.

We will return to Clive later in this article.

We live in a new age of business with new rules and a lot more opportunities. Think about it, just a few years ago you still had to be ‘big’ to really make a difference in your industry. The people at the top, those with the money, were in charge. They were the ones who could afford to have new brochures printed every month and sent out to hundreds of thousands of potential customers. They were the ones who could afford the most sophisticated nicely designed websites. They had the power, the sales staff in fancy cars and the impressive offices. And ‘they’ are now the past if ‘they’ don’t wake up and understand the new business world in which many of their smaller competitors are already thriving.

You hold the keys to your own future. No longer should you allow those at ‘the top’ to rule you or your industry. You can write your own future and success story through blogs, article marketing and proper search engine optimization of your own company website or that of your employer. The future has never looked so good for those who used to take the orders and here you will find out how.

Article Marketing

Through article writing you can literally change your world or at least your industry. Whether you work for a company or you own your own business, your articles can help propel you to the top of your profession. It is not necessary to be the reincarnation of Hemingway. What is important is that you offer valuable information to those who seek it. Gain their respect and they will want to read more and your articles could even get republished on blogs and websites offering you even more publicity.

Article marketing is a complex topic which really deserves its own article or book. But we can at least look here at how article marketing can be used by you.

You start by writing articles about your products, services and/or industry. Your articles should be at least 400 words long and keyword rich. The articles are meant to be informative and not simple PR about how great your company is. Most article depositories offer a where you can tell the reader about you and your company. This is called the resource box. When properly utilized you can used the resource box section to get links back to your website and possibly even an order from someone who has read your article and wants to use your services.

The more articles you write the better. Let’s look again at Clive’s company.

Clive’s company may have been the first online shop for promotional gifts but in 2007 he found that he was just like the other hundreds of promotional gifts suppliers who offered similar products online in their own shops. His biggest competitors were still those who had large marketing budgets and could afford expensive online and offline advertising. He was finding it difficult to get new customers but he did have a loyal customer base which he had built up over the years.

He decided to hire four sales reps to try to give his business the boost in needed and deserved. One of the salesmen was Gary. Gary and the other sales reps would be responsible for finding their own leads. They were all offered a small salary, car and of course commission for meeting their targets.

Now Gary was a keen writer and new some basic html so he went to work. As far as Clive knew, Gary would be finding customers the traditional way: knocking on doors, sending the company catalog and brochures to prospects, doing e-shots and picking up the phone trying to convince people to use his new promotional gifts company.

Clive was wrong.

During Gary’s time at the office, he would do exactly that. But when he was at home, he was secretly writing articles, hundreds of them. He wrote articles about promotional pens. He wrote about promotional mugs, mouse mats, stress balls, clothing, you name it, Gary wrote about it. He wrote about all of the products his company wanted to be selling a lot more of. An excellent writer he was not, but he had information to pass on and he got his message across loud and clear.

Within a few months, Clive’s company website began to feature quite highly in the search engines for a lot of the products his company sold. It was actually rating higher than much bigger companies who like his Clive knew nothing about article marketing and the free publicity it offered.

While Clive and his competitors were all spending thousands on expensive printed brochures and fancy cars for their sales managers, Gary was spending no more than his own time and the results were phenomenal.

Clive did not realise it yet but he could no longer do without Gary. Gary’s hundreds of articles belonged to Gary and no one else. The resource boxes were all pointing at his own blog and the URL of his employer. Gary’s articles could be pointed at whatever websites he wanted them to. This gave him the job security few people have.

After two years of employment, Gary had written nearly 2000 articles. Business was booming but his own personal sales were low as were the sales of the three other salesmen working for the company. Clive did not feel he could let all of his sales staff go but decided he should at least get rid of the one whose sales were the lowest. It was Gary.

One afternoon Clive told Gary he would like to meet with him the following morning to discuss business. This could only mean one thing but Gary was prepared.

He coolly walked into the office the next morning and knocked on his boss’s door. ‘Gary, I’m sorry,’ his Clive started, ‘but I am sure you are aware your sales are not amazing. We are going to have to let you go.’

Gary smiled. ‘You are free to let me go if you like, Clive, but first let me show you something that you may find of interest.’ Gary turned on his laptop and keyed ‘promotional pens’ into Google. On the first page alone two of his articles appeared as well as an organic listing to the company website. He keyed in over twenty other keywords each time bringing results either from his articles or organic listing to the company website.

‘You can let me go, but all of this will go with me, Clive. You see, Clive, it is your other sales reps, those who cost you money driving from client to client who should be shown the door. You do not even have a properly optimised site yet you are still featuring quite highly in the search engines and this is all down to me. I suggest you reconsider and perhaps I might just consider staying on and doing something about your site’s search engine optimisation as well.’

Needless to say, Gary was amazed by what Gary had done and was asked to stay on with a nice big pay rise.

Gary’s story is no longer unique. Many people, people like you, have taken their future into their own hands. They are writing their own success stories and they are doing it better and faster than the large bureaucratic companies of old could every dream of doing.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Power is in the words that you use.

Just like article marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) is a subject that really needs to be handled in a thick book and not just one short article. That said, we will touch on it here.

Just like article marketing, it is necessary to ensure each of your landing pages have a few paragraphs of text which describe what is on the page and why it is important. A promotional gift supplier like Gary could write something like the following on their Parker Pens section.

Promotional Parker Pens

Promotional Parker Pens at discounted prices. At OXOXOXOXOX Limited we specialise in express printing and engraving promotional Parker Pens. Here you will find a massive selection of Parker Pens that can be printed with your logo. Our most popular Parker Pens are the Parker Vector Rollerball Pen and the Jotter. Both of these low cost promotional pens are ideal for trade shows, exhibitions and postal marketing campaigns. If you are looking for something a little more up market, you may like to check out our Parker metal gift pens such as the Sonnet and the Frontier Pens….

Do you get them picture? By ensuring that each section of your website has keyword rich descriptions, you can help ensure that Google, Bing and the other search engines find your content of interest. It is important, however, not to write to impress the search engines but to impress the people who arrive on your site looking for information. Keywords are great but if you use too many or you use some too often it will look silly and your website visitor will go elsewhere.

Again, SEO is a huge subject to take on but if you are writing articles anyway, you should be able to use a lot of the content from your articles in the descriptions on your website and this will help you to rate higher in the search engines.

So what are you waiting for? Start writing or get someone who can do it for you today. Remember Clive was the first person in his industry to have an online shop but a few years later most of his competitors had them. It will not be long before a lot of your competitors are writing article as well so beat them to it! You will be happy you did.

Writing article cost no more than your time. If you do not have time, you could look for ghost writers familiar with your industry to do in quite inexpensively for you. The important thing is that it gets done.

Dan Toombs is Managing Director of CompuGift Limited, the UK's leading online supplier of promotional gifts. Compu Gift also offers a ghost writing service for businesses within the promotional gifts industry.

By Dan Toombs

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Job Interviewing: Ten Tips for Success!

Whether this job interview is your first or your 51st, it never hurts to brush up on your skills and do some advance prep work to ensure success. Learn how to play up your key strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and make a great impression overall. Here are ten tips from my arsenal of career advice.

1. Relax, you'll be more authentic and confident if you do.

The best suggestion I can give before an interview is to just relax. Easier said than done, right? It helps to remember that you have education, training, and experience working in your favor. Think of all the ways you provided value to your past employer. Did you land a huge account? Go above and beyond on a certain project? Take a deep breath, recall your accomplishments, and let go of the tension. Know that you're worthy... and who knows. Maybe you're even overqualified for the position!

2. Remember, you're interviewing them, too.

So many people view the job interview as a test - and they'd better pass with flying colors or they're in trouble! On some level, yes, you're being tested - but the "test" is simply to see if you're a good match for the company. It works the other way, too. This is your chance to see if theirs is the kind of corporate culture that fits your style. It's possible that you'll get there and find out you don't even want the job! Or, you might figure out that it's only worth it if they meet you at a certain salary amount. Ask lots of questions... know what you're getting into, and then weigh your options carefully.

3. Be prepared, know the company.

You'll notice that many companies not only have a specific "personality," but they're mighty proud of the little perks and quirks that make them unique. Do they have their own brand of soda, like Microsoft? Do they offer Flex Time for working parents? Find out if they're noteworthy in the news. Visit their company website and do your online research. Were they part of a recent merger? There is no better way to show your sincere interest than actually being interested. You might learn something really cool about this company that tells you, "Go for it!" Or, you could uncover some hidden dirt that makes you think twice before working there.

4. Take the pressure off... you have options!

Think of the job interview as an opportunity to cast seeds and check things out. This is a "get to know you" or feeling out phase, not a contest or do-or-die situation. Try to avoid becoming too attached to any one job. That old saying, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" could not be more true than for the career search. Sometimes things take an unexpected twist or turn. You could be "90% sure" that you'll be on Company X's payroll next month... and suddenly the phone rings with an even better offer.

5. If they ask about your weaknesses, answer honestly.

Each person excels in some areas more than they do in others. If you are honest, you stand a better chance of being placed in the best possible career for you. So when the question about weaknesses comes up, tell the truth. Just be sure to spin it in a solution-oriented way that tells the interviewer you know how to overcome and manage such challenges. For example, if you're not detail-oriented, you could say so - but also add that you always give yourself extra time on projects that involve lots of detail. Or, you could say that you make a great "big picture partner and strategist" when paired with someone for whom little details are their strong suit.

6. Write a list of five key points you plan to express in your interview.

You're almost certain to feel more confident and at-ease if you prepare for your interview in advance. One way to do this is to make a list of your best qualities and accomplishments - what you bring to the table. On the day of the interview, two things can potentially happen. One, the interviewer will ask you specific questions where you can simply "slant" your responses around the points you planned to mention. Or, two, you'll end up talking about other things - but when the time comes that they ask for your questions or thoughts, use this opportunity to make your points.

7. Write a list of questions, things you need to know.

Sometimes when the pressure's on, it's hard to know what to ask. But do take some time to consider what's most important to you in your career and the company where you'll be spending the majority of your time. A good way to remember "what you want to know," is to flash back to the last job you had. Let's say you didn't care for the way you had four different managers to report to. On interview day, you can ask: "Who will I be reporting to and what's the general workflow for the department?" Asking good questions is a great way to find out if this new company offers similar perks as you had before - and if they'll fill the gaps where your old company fell short.

8. Find out who you are interviewing with.

If you know that you will be speaking to the head of Human Resources, keep in mind that you'll be asked more general questions. In this case, be prepared to talk about your career history and background as well as your personality, work style and unique qualities. If you have certain items that you'd like addressed, such as day-to-day responsibilities and what the positions demands of you, know that these questions are better left for your potential boss or the head of the department where you'll be working.

9. Do a quick mini-visualization beforehand.

Professional athletes do it - you can, too. Picture how you want the interview to go and the ideal outcome. Set your intentions. "I am going to show these people exactly why I'm more qualified than any of the other candidates who apply. I will do this by pointing out my accomplishments and core strengths, which are: X, Y, Z." Imagine that at the close of the interview, you're smiling, shaking hands with the hiring manager, and feeling on top of the world - like you really nailed it! Envision getting a callback from them that clearly indicates how impressed they were with your professionalism and capabilities.

10. Dress the part.

Look professional and wear something that shows your personality as well, depending on the type of job. Consider the environment. For example, many jobs where employees meet with clients and vendors require the gold standard suit and tie/skirt and blazer. Other places have changed with the times, and now offer "dress down fridays" or adopt "corporate casual" which means khakis for guys, and skirts or nice pants for the ladies. So If it's formal, be a little more formal. If it's not, tone it down and be casual yet crisp and neat. Look put together, cleaned up. Add a bit of personal style - maybe a favorite gold watch or silk scarf. Try to conceal things like unusual piercings or body art - unless of course, you work in an artistic field and that's the expected look.

Chances are after reading this, you're already feeling more confident about your professional abilities. Don't lose the momentum - go grab a pen and paper right now and begin to formulate your strategy for interview success. Go into this feeling proud of your many accomplishments. Know that even if it doesn't turn out to be the job of your dreams, that's okay. The career search is an ongoing process and learning experience. You're one step closer to landing the job you've always wished for!

Copyright 2007 Hallie Crawford and Authentically Speaking. All rights reserved.

Want free tips, tools and expert advice on finding a career you're passionate about? Visit Certified Career Coach Hallie Crawford, and sign up for Hallie's monthly career newsletter, Creating Your Own Path, right now. Bookmark her career blog for recommendations on resume writers, online career tests and more career resources.

By Hallie Crawford

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Top Five Habits for Career Success at Entry Level

I am blessed to have some of the best bosses coach me when I first entered the working world. They passed to me what seemed like, at that time - pretty obvious things one would do when in the working world.

What seemed pretty obvious as habits for career success isn’t always so. As you start on your career path you begin to forget some of the basic habits. Therefore, it is essential to drill these habits deep enough to remember them.

As I progressed in the corporate world, I noticed that these are good habits that should be passed down to my own people just as I have benefited from internalizing them. Here are the 5 basic yet important habits for career success:

1. Get Organized

Regardless of your work, you need to get organized. If yours is office work, you will surely have filing to do. What about your emails, your electronic documents and folder system? Ever had colleagues who ask you to resend them the email you sent last week? No matter how many times you sent, they seem to have deleted it or lost it? And it is the same thing with electronic documents?

When you organize your clutter, work space and computer, you become more productive. You become efficient and effective. This adds to your good name as you progress in the organization. It is also a good habit to cultivate as you move up the corporate ladder. Imagine having more work to organize as you progress?

2. Manage Your Time

This is another simple and obvious habit amongst the habits for career success list. But I assure you; this habit is some of the biggest weaknesses people have in the corporate world. I urge you as a career newbie to start cultivating this habit of managing your time early.

Managing your time isn’t rocket science. Start with a simple to do list and a daily, weekly, monthly and year scheduler. All you have to do is to pen in all the meetings, appointments and tasks in the scheduler. As you get better you can start to use more sophisticated techniques. Managing your time is all about planning what you do and doing what you plan.

3. Under Promise, Over Deliver

As a career newbie, you would have a tendency to try to impress your bosses, colleagues or even clients. This can be driven by your raw enthusiasm.

However, remember that in your quest to impress, you run the risk of destroying what little reputation you are starting to build. This is especially so when you fail to deliver on your promises regardless of how small. It could be a simple report your bosses asked but if you fail to deliver it on time, the size of the report doesn’t matter. Fact remains that you did not deliver.

Always remember that one of the important habits for career success is to under promise and over deliver. It is about managing expectations and it is about measuring your own strengths and weaknesses. It is also about knowing how to manage your own time. So, while volunteering for additional tasks is a good initiative, you may want to gauge if you can live up to that promise.

Under promise and over deliver means to say "yes" when opportunities present themselves and learning to say "no" when you know you cannot deliver.

4. There Are Always Next Steps

There are always next steps after meetings. Never let any meetings end without a clear action plan that include who to do what by when. We attend far too many meetings in order to let them slip by without clear next steps to follow through. Having clear next steps ensures you become more productive and time is well spent in meetings.

Meetings are important to assign, brief and clarify. You should not let them slip by without clear next steps. If you are chairing one, makes sure this happens. If you aren’t then ask for your set of next steps. This is one of the basic habits for career success you would bring with you for a very long time.

5. Feed Your Mind

Read motivating books; listen to tapes and watch inspiring movies. We are sometimes so inundated with negative vibes at work that you should feed your mind with positive energy. One way is through books, tapes and movies. They need not be self-improvement and self-help oriented although I find them extremely useful.

Of course, a healthy body is important too. Eat healthily and exercise. This ensures you have the energy to take the work-week with a healthy body, mind and soul.

Start cultivating these 5 important habits for career success and make a difference in your work life.

About the author:

Long Yun Siang or Long, as he is popularly known runs www.career-success-for-newbies.com with his wife Dorena as their way of paying it forward. Their website – based on their real life experiences - provides tips, tools and advise for newbies pursuing career success. Download a FREE copy of their mini eBook titled "Career Success Recipe for Newbies" at the website now.

By Long Yun Siang

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Need Help With Choosing a New Career Path? Zig-Zag Your Way to Success

By Bridget Quigg

Would you consider your career path “typical?” Did you move step-by-step from an assistant to a senior director in the same company? Or did you zig-zag from salesperson to set designer to sea captain?

Online salary database PayScale.com decided to take a look at the many leaps, steps and sharp turns people take during their working lives. With PayScale’s GigZig career path tool, you can look at real people’s career path information to see what workers in a certain job were doing five years ago and what they go on to do five years later. Some of the answers may surprise you.

Will working as a lifeguard guarantee you a career in graphic design one day? Not necessarily, but it turns out that graphic designer is the second most common career move for lifeguards, after registered nurse, as reported by PayScale users. While it can’t predict the future, GigZig may help with choosing a new career path by seeing the wide variety of career moves that are possible.

Below is a roundup of real people’s career paths ranging from the predictable to the unexpected.

1. Bank Teller

The median annual salary for a bank teller is $21,900 per year This wage can pay the rent and help you buy some groceries, but not much else. What if you could nearly double that income in five years? It turns out that bank tellers may do just that. Some go on to become staff accountants, earning $42,600 per year. Others become loan officers, earning $42,400 annually. Some make a surprise leap to the healthcare industry working as certified medical assistants, earning $27,400 per per year.

2. Administrative Assistant

Administrative assistants do it all. They stuff envelopes, answer calls, make travel arrangements and manage schedules, all for about $30,300 per per year. An “admin” in any office usually has the opportunity to move up if they show their mettle and ingenuity. Where do they go? Among PayScale users, the majority become executive assistants, earning $35,400 per per year. The highest-paid, former administrative assistants end up as senior executive assistants or executive assistants to CEOs, earning about $50,000 per year. The most creative career shift made by some admins? Working as marketing coordinator, earning $37,400 per year.

3. Medical Assistant

The average salary for a medical assistant is $26,700per per year. Responsibilities include filling out insurance forms and tidying up exam rooms. Where could this healthcare industry gig take you? Some medical assistants moved closer to treating patients as surgical technicians, earning $36,500 per year. The highest paid ones end up as physician assistants (PAs) and typically earn around $76,800 per year. That’s an annual salary boost of $50,100 in just five years. The most unusual switch? Some medical assistants become clinical research coordinators and work on the academic side of medicine earning $41,300 per year.

4. Construction Laborer

Construction laborers feel the blows of seasonal changes and economic downturns more than most. But when they do have work, they earn about $31,600 per year. Within five years, where do they go for bigger bucks? Some graduate to construction equipment operators or cement masons, earning over $40,000 per year on average. But, it’s possible to jump a whole $40,000 annually by learning the skills of a construction project manager, who make an average of $71,600 per year. Typical? Maybe not. Possible? Absolutely. The most unexpected switch comes from those construction laborers who trade in jeans for slacks and become computer aided design drafters, earning $35,700 per year.

5. Musician or Singer

Choosing a career as a struggling musician has long been seen as a gig that gets you nowhere. But, according to PayScale’s findings, it takes people just about anywhere. The majority of the results for former full-time musicians and singers are in the music arena, such as church organist; music director; or art, drama or music teacher. But, other musicians have made career moves that are more unexpected, like working as a grant writer, security officer, staff accountant or bank branch manager. Which choice is the best paid? Professor of higher education earning $73,534 per year.

6. Legal Assistant

This gig gets you plenty of exposure to life in the legal system. Legal assistants earn about $34,600 per year to gather and analyze legal articles, prepare affidavits or other documents, file pleadings, etc. It looks like when they move on, many legal assistants become paralegals, getting a bump in salary to $41,600 per year. The ones who earn the most become lawyers, earning about $81,800 per year, or corporate or senior paralegals, earning close to $55,000 per year.

7. Assistant Financial Consultant

For those who want to one day manage wealthy people’s money, starting out as an assistant financial consultant might work well. You can be trained on the job after completing a finance or related degree and earn $39,800 per year to direct and coordinate financial activities at a branch, office, or department of a bank, brokerage firm, or insurance department. The next step for many assistant financial assistants is working as a personal financial advisor, making about $55,600 per year. Other top earners have become consulting accountants, earning $63,600 per year or senior financial analysts pulling in $73,000 per year.

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Successful Change Starts With a Shift in Perspective

Like so many in corporate America today, Susan needed more balance in her life - but she did not know how to get it. Faced with a 60-hour work week and a lengthy daily commute, Susan was left with little time for outside interests. Her job was literally draining her of energy, and her attitude at work was changing, especially within her business unit.
Who is Susan? Susan is a composite of thousands of executives who are pushed to the brink by trying to juggle demands on the job with demands at home. Susan could be you.
At work, Susan was accepting extra work and projects and was not able to say 'no' to her boss. She became frustrated and drained. By accepting everything and not speaking up for herself, Susan became increasingly frustrated and angry. She became more demanding and less flexible with her own team. Her usual encouragement to 'think outside the box' was replaced by a controlling 'do as I say' attitude.
Micromanagement became her style. As a result, her staff appeared less involved in their work. They began to distance themselves from her.
On the social front, Susan was also making unhealthy choices - spending time with friends and family that were draining and burdensome and then keeping silent and angry about it. She did not have anybody to talk with about her experiences and frustration, so there was no one who could help her develop the perspective necessary to propel her toward greater personal fulfillment.
Like so many other executives, Susan believed that if she increased her hours and worked harder, life at work would get better. Are you just like Susan? Do you think that if you become more demanding and micro-manage your employees, the job will get done? Do you think keeping silent makes the problems go away?
To anyone who still believes this way, this is your wake up call. It does not work. Change is the answer - change coupled with a shift in perspective.
But sustaining meaningful change is never easy. It takes desire, intention, a clear vision, a good plan . . . and commitment. Change also takes time. In our increasingly busy lives we often get overwhelmed with demands on our time. Complacency sets in, and we lose the ability to overcome inertia - the tendency of a body at rest to stay at rest or of a body in motion along a certain path to stay in motion along that path.
To change, we must create structure that encourages and supports change, and it begins with an all-important shift in perspective. Instead of living in silence and hiding - or being overly controlling in our work relationships-or feeling that we need to leave our job - we can start by considering a more fulfilling alternative.
In Susan's case, she looked at what energized her, what she was good at, and what gave her joy. She put limits on the amount of work she was willing to take on and began speaking up to make sure her needs were heard and met. She shifted from being a controlling team leader to one that encouraged risk-taking and 'thinking outside the box.'
The result? Greater group cohesion and less stress for everyone involved. Group members felt less restricted and more empowered. Susan added greater value to her company and the results were visible and rewarded. More opportunities-the kind of opportunities Susan wanted-started coming her way.
At the same time, Susan developed criteria for what she wanted in her relationships. She evaluated her current relationships and determined which ones needed to be addressed. She began to speak up to make her needs known, and in some cases she ended unfulfilling relationships. As she revised her standards and set limits, she gained more energy to try new activities outside of work-re-awakening areas of interest that she had long ago left behind.
Susan's success story can be your success story, too. And it starts with four simple steps.
You must . . .
1. Be clear about your intentions to make a change;
2. Be willing to experiment and to try new strategies to achieve the changes you want;
3. Be willing to learn what works and what does not, and to make adjustments;
4. Not let fear stop you from making these significant changes. 

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10 Traits of a Successful Car Salesman

By Karl Beckham

Selling cars for a living is not for everyone, but if you are the right fit to be a car salesman these ten points will practically ensure you become a successful car salesman. The job of a car salesman is a bit like having a business of your own inside a car dealership. Having your own car selling business allows you to control how much you earn by your level of commitment to the profession. A successful car salesman can earn a six figure income and I have heard of some earning close to $250,000 a year. Implement these car salesman traits and you can join the ranks of the top salesmen and saleswomen that enjoy the peace of mind and security of a six figure income.

1. Commitment: As I mentioned earlier you control your own level of car salesman success in direct proportion to the amount of effort and the level of commitment that you apply to the business of selling cars. Most car salesmen work on a commission basis which can result in an irregular weekly pay check which makes some people shy away from being a car salesman, but the upside is that you will be paid according to your skills, abilities and production. The pay plan of a car salesman allows you to control your car salesman income, but you must make the commitment to being a good car salesperson without second guessing yourself. There is no "I will give it a try" or "maybe it will work out". There is only a full 100% percent level of commitment to becoming a successful car salesman.

2. Positive Attitude: Being a successful car salesman will go hand in hand with your attitude. When you are dealing with a customer your tools are your words, actions, reactions and knowledge. When you interact with a potential car buyer a positive attitude is a must. You need to be positive and confident in order to put the customer at ease so they can make the major decisions that are needed to buy a car. If you have a positive attitude your customer will have a positive attitude and that will make selling them a much easier task.

3. Goals: Setting and tracking goals are one of the common traits of most successful car salespeople. They set goals for their monthly and yearly income along with weekly and daily goals for cars sold, ups taken and closing ratio. A top car saleswoman or man pays close attention to their goals and tracks their progress either daily or weekly. They know their status and there are no surprises at the end of the month or year.

4. Enthusiasm: The enthusiastic auto salesman has an advantage over the average salesman. When you help your potential vehicle buyer in an enthusiastic manner it becomes contagious and your customer becomes enthused with the process of buying a car. Be eager and excited to show them the vehicle and its features and get your customer involved. A higher level of enthusiasm will practically make you a more successful car salesman.

5. Product Knowledge: Granted, product knowledge will not guarantee car sales success, but it definitely helps. Car buyers have a habit of asking questions that they know the answers to as a way to test their sales person. They are rarely important questions, but they try to catch their car salesman in a lie. If they catch you lying to them about something small they will never trust you when it comes to pricing and payments. Knowing the answers to their car buying questions will put you miles ahead of a car salesman that lies to their customer or doesn't know their product.

6. Personal Management: The most successful car salesmen and saleswomen have learned to manage themselves and their time efficiently. They don't hang around with the bottom feeders waiting for ups and complaining about management, traffic or anything else that comes to mind. They are busy calling be backs, doing follow up and arranging deliveries.

7. Selling Cars is about Relationships: Every once in a while selling a car can be a quick business transaction, but more often than not it is a time consuming process. The person that is about to spend $20,000 on a new car is not very likely to feel good about buying that new car from someone they don't like. People like to buy from people they respect, like and believe are the best person to sell them a car. All of the steps to a sale are important, but the successful car salesperson will always look, act and talk like a professional automobile sales person. Sell you, the dealership and then the car.

8. Have a Daily Plan: You know what they say, "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail". The successful car salesman has a daily plan which includes all the things they need to accomplish. Their daily "To Do" list may include calling past customers, scheduling deliveries, ordering accessories and of course taking fresh ups. Whatever it may be, it is a plan to achieve their goals and become a more successful car salesman.

9. Stay in Touch: When car salesmen are successful you will notice that they sell cars to the same customer more than once over the years. They keep track of their past customers through letters, cards, email or the telephone. They let their past customers know of sales, new models and special events that may be of interest to them. The salesman is providing a service to them which they appreciate and then return to buy again and again.

10. Self Improvement: A top car salesman is always learning about new models, new features and anything else that will make them better. They attend auto manufacturer training classes, monitor the competition and are always looking for ways to make themselves more valuable to their new and past car buying customers.

These 10 successful car salesman tips and traits will help you increase both your sales and your income by becoming an asset to your customer. There are always car dealerships looking for good sales people. Top car salesmen and saleswoman can work anywhere because they sell cars, lots of cars.

Karl Beckham is the author of this article on Car Salesman Tips and Traits. Find more information about being a better car salesman please visit Car Sales Professional.

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Have a Great First Day

By Peter Vogt, Monster Senior Contributing Writer

Only a parent could offer the kind of advice Jessica Donnelly got when she started her first job: "My old-fashioned mother warned me to have my clothes ready and bag packed the night before," says Donnelly, a 2005 Marist College graduate who works for a New York City-based public relations firm. "She also told me to eat a good breakfast and arrive early."
But it turns out Mom's seemingly simplistic advice was more valuable than Donnelly thought. "Those little precautions helped to make a nerve-filled morning run more smoothly," she says.
Your first day of work will help define you in the eyes of your new coworkers. Make a good first impression, and you'll soon be viewed as a capable, respected colleague. But a bad first impression could mean months or years of trying to undo the damage. Here's what you can do -- both before and during your start date -- to be remembered for all the right reasons.
Before Your First Day

• Relearn How to Sleep: Two weeks before your first day, start establishing the sleep habits you'll follow when your new job begins. If you're usually out well past midnight on weeknights, get home earlier or, even better, stay home more often than not. And if you know your new job will require you to wake up at 6 a.m. to catch a 7 a.m. train, start going to bed at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.
  "Most new graduates underestimate how exhausting it is to work a full eight hours," says Carol Vellucci, assistant to the president for communications at Towson University.
  
• Study the Organization: The more you know about your new company and its activities before you start, the faster you'll get up to speed.
  "I read everything I could on the company to prepare myself for my first day," says Mike Adorno, an Ithaca College graduate who works for Articulate Communications in New York City. That included not only Articulate's Web site but also its clients' Web sites.
  

On Your First Day

• Bring a Notebook -- and Use It: You'll be meeting new people and trying to remember their names, learning about office procedures, becoming familiar with the work environment and discovering how your work fits in with that of your department and colleagues. All of this information can be overwhelming.
  "No one can remember it all," says Michael Smith, a professor of mass communications at Campbell University who teaches a course for his department's interns. "So write it down."
  
• Listen and Ask Questions More Than You Talk: When you were in job search mode, it probably took awhile to adjust to talking about yourself and your many outstanding skills and achievements. Now it's time to listen and ask questions instead.
  "No one likes a mouthy know-it-all," says Patrick Gray, president of consulting firm Prevoyance Group. "Keeping your ears open can turn into a competitive advantage when you're able to crack the culture of your new home more quickly and become a more productive and insightful employee."
  
• Be Ready for Either Indifference or Instant Action: You might be welcomed to the organization with apparent indifference -- no cubicle, no security badge or even no work to do, says Gray. "Keep a smile on your face, and go with the flow for the first couple of days," he says. "Things will usually get sorted out."
  On the other hand, don't be surprised if you're tossed right into the proverbial fire. That's what happened to Cara Chancellor, a 2006 Yale University graduate who works for public relations firm O'Connell and Goldberg. The company immediately called upon Chancellor's fluency in French to pursue a media placement. "Six French phone calls and innumerable French emails later, we secured an interview with Le Monde, the largest and most popular newspaper in France," she says.
  What a way to start the day -- and a new job.
  
  
  
  
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