What Are Your Long Term Career Goals - Job Interview Question

What Are Your Long Term Career Goals - Job Interview Question
This open-ended question, and others like; "Where do you
see yourself in five years?" throw most candidates off
balance. The object of the question is to check for your
self-awareness and communication skills.

Dan Harrison is the staffing manager for Wesco Corporation
and is about to interview three candidates for a project
manager position. He is looking for someone with planning
and long-range vision skills.

Phil Holmes describes his goal - "To be a Marketing Manager
within five years, and have a hand picked team reporting to
him."

This is a very specific and narrow goal, which may not be
an option at this company. The "hand picked" team
demonstrates a lack of flexibility. Best to stay away from
too specific a goal.

Shawna Green answers - "I have been so busy with my
responsibilities and achieving company goals, that I have
not focused on personal long-term goals.

While a strong work ethic is certainly desirable, this
answer does not demonstrate vision or planning.

Marsha Severson states- "I plan to return to school to earn
my MBA, and have my own consulting business one day.

While it pays to be honest, this answer could turn the
interview in the wrong direction very quickly. The employer
is looking for someone to stick around for the long run,
not to stop over on the way to a new career.

Focus - Exercise

If you are the type of person who prefers an organized way
of life, you may find this question a "piece of cake". But,
if you are among the majority of persons who let life
happen as it comes along, you will probably not have a
smooth answer without some forethought.

* What are your goals? - The best answers will come from
you thinking about what you want. Most successful business
people will tell you that a key success factor is the
ability to set and achieve goals.

Begin by setting short-term goals. Right now your goal may
be "to get a job". But, what kind of job? And, where do you
go from there?

* Be employer-centered - The employer is looking for
someone to come in and solve problems. Since planning is a
key factor in this job, think of examples where your
planning has made a difference in results.

Scripting

After giving some thought to where you want to go and how
you can help the employer achieve results, try scripting
your answer to focus.

I have learned that long-term goals are best achieved when
I break them into shorter goals. My short-term goal is to
find a position that will place me in a forward-moving
company with solid performance and future projections. As
part of a team, I want to add value and continue to grow
the company. My long-term goal will depend on where the
company goes. My plan is to move into a position of
responsibility where I can lead a team.

No one can tell you exactly how to answer this question -
it will come from what is important to you. However, the
more and focused and employer centered you can be about
your goal, the better your chances will be of steering the
interview in the right direction.

----------------------------------------------------
Carole Martin is America's #1 Interview Coach. Celebrated
author, trainer, and mentor, Carole can give you
interviewing tips like no one else can. Her workbook,
"Interview Fitness Training" has sold thousands of copies
world-wide. Sign Up to Receive Free Weekly Interview Tips
at http://www.interviewcoach.com

Want To Start An Easy Home Based Business - Try Network Marketing

Want To Start An Easy Home Based Business - Try Network Marketing
Starting a home based business has never been easier. With
the emergence of electronic tools and other gadgetry,
coupled with the Internet, the daunting tasks of running a
home based operation has been chopped down in dramatically.

So what is one of the easiest home based businesses to
start? Well the truth is that nothing can beat the business
model or opportunity that a network marketing or MLM home
business can provide. How do you beat working at home in
your blue jeans, never going to an office, and making more
money than the people you might have worked for? Most
business models cannot provide this type of luxury and
benefits.

Once you've established your business and are well on your
way, a typical work week might take 5 to 15 hours of some
form of enjoyable work to keep your business running
smoothly. Quite a difference from the 40 hour+ work week
and remedial pay of a Job.

It does not take a rocket scientist to make a home based
business work either. There are no magic bullets, books,
software, devices, meetings, and tapes that can make it any
harder or easier than it really is. Many years ago, just
the thought of network marketing, affiliate programs,
franchises and other types of home businesses scared people
off simply because they were really hard work. Again,
thanks to the Internet this is no longer the case.

How to find the best network marketing home based business
for you!

There are many home business programs available that say
they are the best. Unfortunately words are only words and
claims are only as good as the company that backs them up.
Hundreds of new network marketing opportunities are started
every year and many of these programs will go under within
the first 24 months. This often gives the entire network
marketing industry a black eye although it shouldn't be
justified.

Network marketing companies are just like any other company
in the respect that only a 10 to 20 percent will succeed.
The key for you is to choose a company that is a winner and
reap the financial rewards while you mutually help each
other become successful.

When choosing a home based business for you it is important
to ask yourself a few key things:

#1 - Is the product you are selling something you are
passionate about and does it have a unique selling point?

#2 - Is there training and mentors available to help you
out along the way?

#3 - Does the compensation plan make sense to you and what
kind of financial commitment will you need to make? Can you
make that financial commitment?

#4 - Who is behind the company and do you believe and trust
in their vision?

By asking these four questions you should be able to guide
yourself into a smart decision about potential
opportunities. Having confidence in your decisions will
make succeeding with your new venture much easier.

It's a business not a hobby!

In order to build a network marketing home based business,
you need to understand one simple aspect. It is a business
and definitely not a hobby. Also remember that nothing is
free. So it is best to understand up front that you are
going to spend some time and money in order to see some
results. Understand that things being offered for free are
not likely to be useful and effective, plus there is always
a catch.

Learn the skills of the trade!

Network marketing is a lot like any other type of business
to the extent that you will need the necessary skills to
run your new venture. The great thing though is that you
can learn as you go and you don't need any special skills
to get started.

Any skill can be acquired while actively building your
business and learning from your mentors. Just another
unique characteristic of this type of business that truly
makes it an easy home based business.

Final thoughts...

A network marketing opportunity is an easy home based
business model that truly makes sense for the average
person. There are many benefits to this type of business
including the fact that it cost next to nothing to get
started, you get a proven system like that of a franchise
opportunity and you can be in profit in months rather than
in years.

Therefore, if you desire more income while still working a
9 to 5 job, or to build your retirement income then should
seriously consider network marketing as your vehicle for
you and your family's financial well being.

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More resources related to this article:
http://easyhomebasedbiz.blogspot.com
http://www.squidoo.com/easyhomebasedbiz
http://www.easy-home-based-business.net

The Three Magic Questions to Avoid Hiring the Wrong IT Consultant

The Three Magic Questions to Avoid Hiring the Wrong IT Consultant
I often hear horror stories from business people in all
types and sizes of organizations about I.T. consultants.
It's not necessary to dwell on the bad experiences, but
there's no doubt that the I.T. consulting field has more
than its share of incompetent or just downright shady
characters. In this article, I'm going to share the three
magic questions you can use to ensure you don't hire the
wrong I.T. consultant. Here they are:

Number one: Are you certified (not to be confused with
"certifiable")?

Insist on certification: Microsoft offers several levels of
certification including the new Microsoft Certified
Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT
Professional (MCITP) credentials, the former MCSE
(Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer), and the Microsoft
Small Business Specialist. The MCSE was Microsoft's
premiere certification requiring a very broad base of
knowledge on systems and networks. The MCSE required the
candidate to pass as many as seven tests. The newer
credentials are even more rigorous and they allow an
individual greater ability to specialize. The Small
Business Specialist is a narrower certification focusing in
a specific area. The Small Business Specialist
certification requires the candidate to pass two tests. All
certifications require extensive training. A Microsoft
Small Business Specialist will be more attuned to the needs
of small businesses (obviously), but may not have the
breadth and depth of training of an MSTS, and MCITP, or an
MCSE. When you ask about certification, make certain that
the individual holds current certifications (such as
Windows Server 2003). You should ask for a copy of their
transcript. Also request certificates of completion of
formal training. The people who don't have certifications
do have lots of reasons why it's not necessary. There are
other certifications in addition to Microsoft such as those
from Cisco or CompTIA (Computer Technology Industry
Association) that can help you determine an individual's
level of competence. There are also, in fact, competent
individuals who do not carry professional certifications,
but as a business professional you don't have the time or
resources to sort them out. Insist on current
certifications.

Number two: What is your experience?

Insist on experience: We've all heard the stories about the
genius computer kids. While the stories may be true, your
business requires someone who is not just a smart computer
person, but someone who also understands your business and
who has extensive "real-world" experience. Insist on
someone who is a legitimate business (ask to see their
business license) with several years of experience (I'd say
a minimum of five years.)

Number three: May I call your references?

Insist on references: Get at least three references. Your
computer network is your business's digital nervous system.
Talk to at least three companies or sole proprietor's who
have had successful experiences with the prospective
company or individual.

Be prepared to budget enough to get and keep quality
consultants. Remember, you'll pay for good consultants
whether you hire them initially or not.

----------------------------------------------------
President and chief technologist at Seattle,
Washington-based IT training firm soundtraining.net, Don is
a writer, speaker, trainer, and veteran IT guy with over 35
years experience in technology for the workplace. Today,
he delivers keynote speeches, workshops, and seminars to
business people on how to go digital without going postal.
Reach him at 206.988.5858 or don@doncrawley.com. He's
online at http://www.doncrawley.com .