Career Education Is Your Goal With Every Interviewer

Career Education Is Your Goal With Every Interviewer
Don't waste your time with an incompetent Interviewer.
Every interview should expand your career education and
choice for future employment decisions.

Your goal is to learn everything you can from the
interviewer as well as from your research on the Internet.
Don't be bashful, ask whatever you want to know.

Sure, timing is important but you should have all the
details about every career position before you leave the
interview.

Never ask about compensation within the first 5 minutes of
your interview. You probably don't want to appear only
interested in CASH rewards, but the answer needs to come
somewhere in the process.

No need to spend time when there is no possibility of
meeting your bottom line money requirements with a
particular Interviewer.

Sure, there are many avenues of interest to discover. The
first questions that need to be answered are.... can you do
the job? Do you have the skills? Talent? Education?
Knowledge? Do you have experience already in this field?

Obviously, you have more questions.... assuming you
answered YES to our initial questions. Once you have met
with the interviewer and he believes you have "what it
takes" to do the job, then we can begin to sneak in the
important questions... about compensation, benefits, work
hours, job assignment, supervision, the title you'll have
as an employee, etc.

There's usually an understanding that if you don't ask for
"it" upfront [before your new job begins] you may as well
forget about "seeing" it in your future.

For example, 2 weeks vacation may be the "norm" but maybe
you can negotiate a better agreement with 3,4 or 5 weeks;
start other benefits immediately rather than in 90 days....
worth thinking about during the initial interviews with the
executive staff or owners.

Leave NO lingering questions ~ ask if you don't know or if
you don't understand. Your interviewer will certainly
respect you for having the tenacity to ASK when questions
remain unanswered.

If you get rejected or made to feel foolish, then I would
think long and hard before hanging my hat with this company.

The real truth about a firm is often hidden, covered-up, or
a bad situation not revealed. It's important that you dig
deep for any underlying skeletons, bad publicity or press,
dishonesty within the ranks, especially at the executive
level of the firm or the owners behind the scenes.

Don't be afraid of diversity, doing something new, even if
it's usually another "gender" position, at least in the
past decade or two. Women are doing jobs formerly filled by
men most of the time and now men are doing jobs "normally"
filled by women in the past, i.e. ... secretaries, nurses,
wait staff, etc. are non-gender focused today.

Life focus is changing everyday in the career choice arena,
so don't turn away from an opportunity that has the
potential to turn into your very own dream job or career
choice for the future.

Be open to change, new exposures in the business
marketplace are happening and offer career choices in every
field of enterprise.

Keep your notebook handy, especially when you're
interviewing with the competition in your niche industry.

Write down all the questions you are asked, think about
your answers, right or wrong, it becomes added ammunition
in your own arsenal of Q and A, to have on the very tip of
your tongue for an easy response next time around.

Ask for the firms EMPLOYEE MANUAL and any additional
"propaganda" advertising or financial reports that may be
available in the public eye.

Don't be shy, "ask and ye shall receive" or keep moving to
your next interview until you find the right firm willing
to give you the facts and history of their past and future
goals.

I'd take the EM and reports home with me and spend a little
time reading all the fine print. You may turn up a few
surprises that the interviewer overlooked telling you about.

I'd want to know if the company promotes from within or
always goes on the outside to look for a new employee.

Think about it! You've got to get promoted to reach your 5
year goals, at least that's my assumption as you find a
beginning place to start your climb up the corporate ladder.

In conclusion, let me suggest visiting several local
organizations, especially the Chamber of Commerce and
others to discover if the firm is a good citizen, do they
support local groups, i.e. the United way, the BBB [Better
Business Bureau] and there may be other places this firm is
well connected to in the community as a good citizen.

----------------------------------------------------
Don Monteith spent 32 years as co-owner of several
franchises and a personnel/staffing business. Every year,
his firm placed hundreds of job candidates in their dream
job. Today, Don shares his business and career expertise
through his newest websites on the Internet. Lots of FREE
ideas - suggestions - ready for your perusal and study.
http://www.Career-Coaching-Central.com

Product Launch Tips - Tools of a successful launch

Product Launch Tips - Tools of a successful launch
Special Reports and E-books are some of the great tools
used to launch products into orbit.

Another popular product launch tool is the use of a blog.
Many marketing gurus, use blogs to drive traffic to their
websites ... which leads to an increase in their merchant
account sales.

Blogs and ebooks stimulate interest in your product.

The benefits of a BLOG.

Blogs create an "on-line" open communication between the
marketer and the customer. They engage people in
conversation-a novel idea.

They give POWER to the people:
* Power to ask questions.
* Power to give their opinion.
* Power to praise your product.
* Power to suggest new products.
* AND ... the power to drive visitors to your website.

Visitors who convert to customers.

They are part of your "social proof" community; valuable
assets to a successful launch of your product.

The Blog's function is invaluable in launching a new
product. When used in conjunction with other advertising
vehicles; ebooks, radio, newspaper, public appearances, etc
it creates a frenzy about your upcoming product launch.

The BEST use of your BLOG is to SHOWCASE your product. You,
as the marketer/creator of your product, can provide
"behind- the-scenes" facts that make your readers eager to
BUY.

Those special tidbits of history behind your product that
only a few, select, people know. You place them in a
special "social proof" club that rewards them with secret
knowledge. That special club that loves to "share the news."

The benefits of an e-book

Any size will do. As long as it pertains to your "social
proof" community, it works.

They are being used more and more in launch sequences
strategies. But don't stop at the product launch. They can
be used throughout the launch process.

E-books are great promoters when used correctly and in the
correct sequence. Use them as "gifts" for joining your
list, e.g. rewards for referrals, thank-you gifts for
purchasing.

Be warned --- don't use e-books full of affiliate links. A
few is ok ... make your e-book appealing to your customers
to showcase YOUR product. Make it valuable. Educate them.
You want to hear, "I didn't know that!"

Other tools you can use are teleseminars, public speaking,
direct mail and video presentations.

To take advantage of new media possibilites consider making
a video and uploading it to a video sharing site. Most
video sharing sites have the option of comments.

Initiating and maintaining a rapport with your customers
will help your product launch meet its target.

----------------------------------------------------
Visit: http://www.ProductlaunchFormulaReview.com for more
effective product launch formula tips.

10 Reasons for Scripophily Growth

10 Reasons for Scripophily Growth
Scripophily is the collecting of financial documents such
as bonds and stock certificates. Such documents, even from
a century or more ago, have been preserved and collected by
thousands of people who love them. Though less well known
than numismatics (coin collecting) or philately (stamp
collecting), Scripophily is a growing pursuit for a number
of reasons. Here are some of them:

1.Developed Marketplace
Scripophily is a well-developed area of the collectible
world, with prominent collectors, dealers and industry
associations to help people learn about the different
certificates available and the companies behind them.

2.Variety
There are so many variables to each certificate that it is
engrossing and downright fun to analyze, categorize and
pursue them. You can always find a personal connection to
some of them.

3.Historical Significance
Many certificates are legitimate antiques that were made,
used and passed down by our ancestors. They were
personalized and prized possessions of hard working
ranchers, brave miners, steel tycoons, manufacturing
innovators, brilliant inventors, oil drilling dreamers, and
millions of others.

4.Aesthetics
Certificates generally have vignettes (intricate artwork,
usually from etchings), ornate borders, elaborate
calligraphy, company seals and a size (about the size of a
sheet of paper) that makes them ideal for framing for
display or as a gift.

5.Rarity
Though there are lots of bonds and stock certificates
available to collectors, there are far fewer of them than
there are of other financial collectibles such as coins,
paper money or stamps. As a group, certificates are
becoming rarer as fewer companies issue paper in this
electronic age.

6.Affordability
Because this section of the "money" collectibles is not
well known to the masses, most certificates, including very
nice ones can be had for less than $100.

7.Collector Value
Though no one can predict the future, as with any
collectible, it is possible that some stock certificates
may increase in value over time.

8.Ease of Handling
Since certificates are essentially thick pieces of
specialized printed paper, they are easy to store, ship,
look at, and handle while keeping them protected in clear,
flat sleeves.

9.Uniqueness
Every certificate is a unique document, sometimes similar
to, but never exactly the same as, any other. Just like
people!

10.Giftability
Certificates can be the perfect unexpected, yet
personalized, gift for that hard-to-buy-for person.
Someone whose first car was a Packard, for example, might
get a kick out of receiving a stock certificate from the
Packard Motor Car Company (and it is nearly impossible
someone would give a duplicate of that gift).

The specific reasons for appreciating collectible antique
stock certificates are as broad as the thousands of
collectors. For you, browse and learn - you may secretly
turn out to be one of them.

----------------------------------------------------
Larry Crain is a collector, blogger and auther on
Scripophily (the collecting of antique stock certificates).
Images, values, articles and research tools for old stock
certificates can be found at
http://www.realstockcertificates.com . Old company and
industry histories can be researched at
http://www.realstockhistories.blogspot.com .

How to Network Your Way to Success

How to Network Your Way to Success
When you think of looking for a job, you probably think
immediately about newspaper classified ads, or perhaps
online job boards where employers can post vacancies and
review online resumes. But did you know that a significant
number of jobs are filled not through advertisements but
rather through personal contacts—otherwise known as a
network?

A network is basically a big web of contacts in your
professional field or area of interests. The individuals in
your network might be current or former colleagues,
employers, or acquaintances with expertise in particular
areas that you are looking to get into. They might be high
school teachers who have friends in high places, or a
family friend who works at a company that you'd like to
land a job at. There is virtually no limit to who can be a
potentially useful contact.

Keep your options open and make friends, not enemies,
wherever you go. I have heard of people sitting next to
useful contacts on the train, or on a bus—you never
know when a cordial exchange with the stranger next to you
may wind up in a trading of business cards.

Remember that any "in" at a company is a useful way of
stepping ahead of the pack of competitors and getting an
advantage over them. If a friend of yours is at a low level
within a company, for example, at the bottom of the
corporate hierarchy, he may not be able to secure a job for
you. Still, he will be able to pass your resume on to
someone at a higher level who may have more authority and
the power to offer you a position.

In order to make a network work for you, you have got to be
persistent. Success in the job market is all about timing,
and it may not be the case that a contact will have a job
for you the moment you inquire about one. But you should
make a point to stay in contact—send an email or make
a phone call every couple of weeks to check in. That way,
you will be strongly in the contact's mind if a job does
open up.

Of course, you should be judicious in terms of deciding
which contacts to follow up with and which contacts are not
likely to lead anywhere. If you've put in multiple phone
calls or send several emails to someone who you thought
might be able to help you, but they haven't responded, it
may not be worth your while to continue pursuing them. In
this case it may be a better use of your time to focus on
contacts who are more responsive and who reply to your
inquiries and correspondence.

The key to great networking is to build relationships over
time. Don't give your contacts the impression that all
you're out to do is secure a job. Rather, make them feel as
though you're sincerely interested in building a
friendship—which, of course, is what you should be
doing. If the contacts feel a connection with you, that
will make them all the more likely to help you in your job
search.

----------------------------------------------------
Ken Anczerewicz is an author and publisher devoted to
providing time & money saving resources designed to help
students of all ages achieve their financial goals. Learn
how to create your own income stream by clicking here now:
http://www.resourceriver.com

How to manage absence in your business

How to manage absence in your business
Innovative ways to manage absence

Absence management has always been a thorny issue for HR
professionals, who do all they can to alleviate the costs
and issues surrounding this emotive and complex area.
Traditionally this has consisted of policy work,
health-related expenditure such as private medical
insurance (PMI) and group income protection, and line
management training.

The problems with this approach are as follows:

The policies themselves may not be helpful to line
managers. Phrases like: "an unacceptable level of absence
will be investigated" could mean that different
interpretations will emerge from different line managers.

Most HR systems can provide good reporting of who is
absent, when and sometimes why, but often this information
is reliant on line manager input into the system and
ongoing reports and prompts from HR. How will the line
manager remember that this is the fifth occasion in the
last/rolling 12 months that the employee has been absent
and they now need to be seen?

What about outputs? What does the line manager do to record
what is agreed and said, and how do these vary across the
organisation?

The new breed of outsourced sickness absence management
services seems to be the answer to such challenges and can
provide a prescriptive, quality-oriented and best-practice
solution.

How can you manage unless you measure?

Having someone other than the line manager taking
notification calls is one of the key benefits of outsourced
absence services. There is an increase in accuracy of
measurement, and by adopting a set of defined and possibly
clinical categories, the employer can really begin to
target absence types and expenditure to prevent recurrences.

There are two very different approaches to taking
notification calls: those services who use nurses, and
listening services. While there are pros and cons for both
approaches, the use of nurses to take calls can be
restrictive: many services only operate from 9am to 5pm,
while the listening services tend to be 24/7, 365 days a
year. For the employee who is having a rough time at night,
calling in when they would like to and not having to wait
until the morning could mean that they have a better
night's sleep and return earlier. It can also help with
resource planning. The cost of such clinical resources
should also be borne in mind.

What should happen in a notification call?

The first area that the contact centre should be asking is
for core information: why is the employee absent, when will
they return, is there any on-going work and what the
call-back number is. The line manager can then make contact
if they need to discuss any aspect of the work. The second
area is to optimise the employee benefits that an employer
has purchased. The two most consistently used benefits on
Day 1 are the PMI/cash plan and the Employee Assistance
Programme (EAP). Whilst it is likely that the employer has
all employees covered under the EAP, it is rare that all
will be covered under the PMI and so the IT system used by
the contact centre should be able accurately to record who
is and is not a member of different schemes. Once this is
done, employees should then be provided with the EAP
helpline or PMI claims number so they can then see what
support is available to them.

How much are you losing due to absence?

Having an effective EAP in place is the starting point of a
real opportunity to manage each and every absence in a
professional and consistent manner. All that should have to
change is a different number to call for employees. Once
this is achieved, the employer can then accurately monitor
the cost of absence and presenting issues.

An effective absence management system could pinpoint the
truth about how much absence is costing your organisation.

In some cases your perceived absence rate may even
increase, thanks to accurate monitoring, and removing the
line manager from taking the calls - in which case a
timeous intervention would be imperative. The real question
is: how serious is your organisation about attendance
management? If you want to operate on an efficient,
consistent and best-practice basis, an efficient and
outsourced absence-management service may be the key to a
turnaround in staff absence levels.

----------------------------------------------------
http://www.ceridian.co.uk

Building with Fabric: Material Choices

Building with Fabric: Material Choices
Today's Architect has a tough decision to make when it
comes to choosing materials. There is steel and glass and
concrete and wood. What about fabric! Architectural Fabric
Structures are fast becoming a very common and visible part
of the built environment. No longer used for garden parties
and traveling circuses, these structures come in many new
forms and uses.

Fabric structures are being designed for as few as one
person as in a boutique resort hotel in the outback of
Australia, to covering 50,000 plus at the Super Bowl in
Houston, Texas. Fabric Structures are now also being
designed to cover animals as well like at Seaworld, Orlando
where these structures cover dolphins to prevent them from
sun burn (they get sun burn too?). And let's not forget
Man's newest best friend, the automobile. More and more,
the automobile has taken center stage where valet parking
attendants, airport parking owners and car dealers are
discovering the advantages of covering automobiles.

Fabric Structures are beings used as roofs, sails, walls,
lights, shades and even signs. With all these different
uses and forms, there are a variety of materials to choose
from depending on one's needs, budget and design.

The best way to determine which material to use is to see
what has already been used for the building type you are
considering.

If you are interested in structures such as tents or
umbrellas where the main objective is to provide temporary,
nomadic shelter, you are probably looking at vinyl
laminated or coated polyester.

If you are researching awnings and canopies, the options
are endless. You are most likely to hear words like acrylic
canvas and backlit fabrics and materials which you can
apply graphics to.

If shade is your primary concern, the buzz word is
structural mesh, high density polyethylene (HDPE),
perforations and percentage of light transmission.

For warehousing, industrial applications and temporary
buildings, a common term may be clear spans or
pre-engineered fabric building with materials that are mold
and mildew resistant like polyolefin.

The interior and lighting industry have their own variety
of fabrics where flame resistance, UL ratings and
percentage of reflectance are the most important issues.

Air and Tension Fabric Structures rely heavily on the
fabric's structural characteristics so tensile strength,
sound absorption and solar transmission play a major role
in their selection.

So, What material do you use?

Is your project near the water? Is it meant to last 20
years? Do you want to see it from afar or do you want it to
be dark inside at noon? These are all important questions
one should answer before you even start. Fabric Structures
have very few components. In most cases, it is just steel,
fabric, cables and hardware. The choice for each component
will most certainly affect the others. Other issues
include: span, size, availability, cost, codes, etc.

In most States, permanent, totally enclosed structures
require a "non combustible" or Class A/B rating according
to Building Codes. The most recognized and accepted
material used for Architectural Applications is Teflon
Coated Fiberglass or PTFE.

Recognized manufacturers include Saint Gobain, Verseidag,
FiberTech and Taconic. Teflon comes to the site brown like
a pair of khakis but bleaches to a milky white over time
(usually 4-8 weeks). The biggest problem with Teflon is
that it is stiff and brittle and must be handled very
carefully to avoid breaking the fibers. The best part is
its life span (25+ years) and its "self cleaning"
attributes.

Other "non combustible" materials include Silicon Coated
Fiberglass, Gore Brand Tenara Architectural Fabrics and
Ethylene tetra ethylene or ETFE.

Silicon has been out on the market for quite some time.
Unlike Teflon coated fiberglass which can be heat welded,
Silicon must be glued with a special adhesive. The
advantage of silicon over Teflon is its translucency, cost
and availability of colors. Gore Brand Tenara is also in
the "non combustible category". Its advantages include its
high translucency, long life span and it is more pliable
than silicon or Teflon so it can be used for retractable
structures.

ETFE is not really a fabric but a film presently being
promoted as an alternative to structural glass. It is
"green" friendly and is the new hot material to Architects
world wide today. It is being used in FIFA Stadiums in
Germany, the Olympic Games in China, being specified for
commerical buildings and retail and the choice for creating
artificial rainforests for zoos and Science Centers.

The majority of fabric structures being considered today
are for uses which do not require complete enclosure. That
means, they are most likely "open air" or do not require a
Class A rating. Class C is the most common rating and NFPA
701 is the most accepted certificate for most Fire
Marshals. Vinyl coated polyester (PVC) is the most common
material used on the market today.

What's not to like. The material comes in a variety of
colors, strengths, weights, thickness, perforations,
translucency and textures. The material is pliable and
stretches quite nicely. You can find material with 10, 12
and even 15 year warranties. You can find material that is
50 to 100" wide so you can have few, fewer or the fewest
amounts of seams.

Manufacturers include Ferrari, Mehler, Naizil, Seaman and
Verseidag, to name a few. These are the names most seen on
Specifications, which means that these companies are
directly marketing and assisting the Architect in the early
stages of the design.

PVC comes in a variety of top finishes: acrylic, PVDF and
PVF film. There is much debate about top finishes but all
manufacturers agree that they are needed to protect the
base fabric from UV degradation, water and wind. Frankly,
it's all about the coatings. PVF is a film applied to the
main fabric while acrylic and PVDF are coatings. Both PVF
and PVDF claim to be "self cleaning" or provide the base
material with a much cleaner and maintenance free surface
but both require additional work in the shop which may be
unknown to the Architect. Both top of the line PVF and PVDF
require that the top coat or film where two panels are to
meet be grinded off in order for them to be RF welded. This
is time consuming and requires great care in order to keep
the seams clear of dirt, model and mildew. There are
"weldable" PVDF but their warranties are not as long as the
high tech top coats.PVC Structures love graphics and
provide a great backdrop for projected images.

Today, more and more fabric structures are being designed
for shade only. Structural mesh and perforated fabrics are
being specified because of the need for shade, the need to
allow the elements to go thru the material and the need for
a space to "see thru and be seen". The material most often
used is high density polyethylene (HDPE). Manufacturers
include Multiknit, Coolaroo and Shadetex. This material is
a higher grade mesh than what one would see at a home
improvement warehouse or at an outdoor furniture store.
HDPE is used for playgrounds, areas requiring hail
protection, schools, day care centers as well as theme
parks and spaces of public assembly. Mesh is hot so you can
stay cool. Mesh comes in colors, fire rated and with
different perforations. It has a life span of 8-10 years
and in most cases lowers the size and loads on the
structural system and foundations because it takes less
wind.

If you want to keep it simple, then work with materials
which do not rely on their structural characteristics for
its stability. These materials are usually clad on a frame.
The materials are usually vinyl laminated polyester,
acrylic coated canvas, and materials with a light topcoat.
Sunbrella is a common brand name. The material has less
technical information available for applying them to fully
engineered lightweight structures but when used as a
cladding on a frame, they offer many opportunities to the
Architect. One can apply graphics to the material, bring
texture to the surface or make something truly unique.

If you want to look at materials for interior application,
look no further than the industrial fabric industry and
Theatrical Drapery. There are lightweight PTFE materials
used for ceilings in dome stadiums, PVC fabrics are used
for interior tensioned fabric sculptures while theatrical
drapery materials from companies like Rosebrand and Dazian
are used for a softer look. Spandex/Lycra is another common
material used for transforming temporary and permanent
spaces but require the material be fire treated prior to
fabrication.

Lastly, it doesn't hurt to dream about the future of
architectural fabrics. The wish list would include "Smart"
fabrics, fabrics that change color according to weather,
light or mood. Fabrics made with optic and photovoltaic
fibers, materials with longer life spans, higher tensile
strength, improved self cleaning, higher translucency and
environmentally friendly.

The future of Architectural Fabric Structures depends on
the continuing effort of manufacturers to improve its
existing products and to introduce new materials.

----------------------------------------------------
Samuel J. Armijos, AIA is Vice President of USA Shade and
Fabric Structures and author of Fabric Architecture:
Resources for shade, signage and shelter. He resides in
Fairfield, NJ with his wife and two children.
http://www.fabricarchitect.com

Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Luxury Watch

Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Luxury Watch
Purchasing a luxury watch is as much of a treat as it is a
necessity. There is a wide array of watches you can opt to
purchase, but having something as magnificent as a luxury
watch requires care and attention. Because of this, there
are several things you can and should be doing to extend
the life of your watch.

Proper care and maintenance of the watch will help you not
only extend the life, but also help keep it in pristine
condition. There is too much money put into a watch of
this quality to let it go to waste by not taking care of
it. Everything from keeping it in the right temperatures
to storing it when not in use should be taken into
consideration.

The first thing you have to realize when caring for a
luxury watch is that every watch is different from one
another. Therefore, each watch should be attended to
differently. Every watch will come with an instruction
manual that will include instructions for how to properly
care for your particular watch. It is essential that you
pay close attention to these details after making your
purchase.

One of the many things you should focus on is the water
resistance. There is a wide array of water resistances
that watches have. If you do not plan on wearing the watch
in water then this is not important to you. But the last
thing you want to do is ruin a quality watch by taking it
too deep in water.

Not only should is water resistance a concern, but salt
water can ruin a perfectly good watch as well. Salt water
can cause corrosion making it vital to get your watch
looked at if you do come in contact with salt water.

Aside from water, temperature is another area of concern
with luxury watches. You should never leave your watch in
extreme heat or cold for an extended period of time.
Extreme heat tends to shorten the battery life while
extreme cold temperatures can cause the watch to not keep
track of time efficiently.

Lastly, try to avoid contact with any chemicals, solvents
or gases while wearing your watch. There are a number of
problems that these can cause to your watch including
discoloration, deterioration and damage to the watch.
While most household appliances are ok, static electricity
can cause damage to your watch as well.

There are many things you can do to extend the life of a
luxury watch, but these are a few basic rules to follow.
It is certainly not a cheap price to pay for a luxury watch
which makes it essential that you take the time and
consideration to care for your watch.

----------------------------------------------------
Luxury watches (http://www.watchesonnet.com ) have been a
passion for the owners of watchesonnet. SInce 2007 Patrick
Bedford has been selling high-end watches at discounted
price. Please see the luxury watch blog
(http://www.watchesonnet.com/luxurywatches ) for more
information.