Daily dose of inspiration…

10/08/2008 by admin.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Thomas Edison

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Job search help for unemployed

10/08/2008 by admin.

A Wrexham group is running a scheme designed to help people looking for work. The ILM (Intermediate Labour Market) programme, run by Groundwork, provides opportunities for people who are unemployed in the areato get involved in training in woodwork or construction. The aim is to support the development of environmental regeneration projects by Groundwork.

Participants will receive a minimum wage, help with job searching and additional qualifications including first aid and health and safety to help ensure further employment.

If you are currently unemployed contact the NEWGO team at Groundwork on 01978 757524.

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Work your way up…

31/07/2008 by admin.

All problems have a solution. So feel that fear…but don’t let it stop you…As Richard Branson says in his book Screw It Let’s Do It: “If you recognise something is a good idea, or if there’s something in your personal life that you want to do, but aren’t immediately sure how to achieve your goal, I don’t believe that little word “can’t” should stop you. If you don’t have the right experience to reach your goal, go in another direction, look for a different way in. There’s always a solution to the most complex problem. If you want to fly, get down to the airfield at the age of sixteen and make the tea. Keep your eyes open. Look and learn. You don’t have to go to art school to be a fashion designer. Join a fashion company and push a broom. Work your way up.”

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The Art of Persuasion…

30/07/2008 by admin.

I recommend this book which shares some very influential techniques that can perform almost-miracles ~ make people instantly like you, resolve any conflict, “wow” any job interviewer (even the most awkward!), attract the opposite sex, persuade your boss to give you a promotion and raise (all while he thinks it’s his idea!), and make your life easier in almost any area. http://tinyurl.com/business-persuasion

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Design your own life plan…

23/07/2008 by admin.

If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someoneelse’s plan. And guess what they might have planned for you? Not much.

Jim Rohn

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Job Interview Questions and Answers

22/07/2008 by admin.

Below are some of the questions an employer may ask you during the interview:

General Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself

2. Why did you become a ____?

3. What are your strengths?

4. What is your greatest weakness?

5. How well do you work under pressure?

6. Why do you want to work in this area of ____?

7. Why do you want to work for us?

8. Describe your perfect job

9. What is most important to you in a job?

10. Where do you see yourself being in five years time?

11. Why did you leave your last job?

12. What have you been doing since you last worked?

13. Describe your relationship with your last manager.

14. What qualities do you admire most in people?

15. What are your most important career accomplishments?

16. Describe a difficult situation you’ve had to handle and what the outcome was.

17. Why should we take you on?

18. Do you belong to any organisations?

19. What specialist journals do you read regularly?

20. Describe a time that you have read a piece of research then implemented the findings into your workplace.

21. How do you stay up to date with current practice?

22. What do you enjoy most in your current job?

23. Describe the biggest challenge you’ve faced at work.

24. Why do you want to leave your current position?

25. What do you think the role of (position you are applying for) is?

26. What do you feel you can bring to this job?

27. How would your colleagues describe you?

28. How would your friends describe you?

29. What interests do you have outside work?

30. Why did you choose ____as a career?

31. Have you ever been fired or asked to resign?

32. What latest piece of research have you read and what did you think of it?

33. How do you feel about shift work?

34. What have you done that shows initiative?

35. Are you aware of your limitations and prepared to ask for help when needed?

For more information on interview questions and answers click here.

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Work from home - start your business for just £10!

20/07/2008 by admin.

Usborne Books at Home offers a fantastic earning opportunity. With Usborne Books at Home you can build a home-based business selling over 1000 Usborne books to families, schools, pre-school organisations, libraries and community groups.

Usborne books sell themselves!

Usborne books earn glowing reviews and prestigious prizes and are respected by parents, teachers and librarians. Most importantly, children of all ages love to read Usborne books.

As an Usborne Organiser you can earn at least 24% commission on everything you sell from day one. As your business grows your commission can increase to 39% plus cash bonuses.

Join my Team before 21st July for the fantastic price of just £10! It usually costs £38 for the Starter Kit but this month you can take advantage of this great offer. For £10 you will get over £100 worth of books and stationery, so you’ll be ready to start making extra cash from day one.

See www.usbornewrexham.co.uk for more information.

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Wrexham Jobs Fair 2008

02/07/2008 by admin.

Wrexham Jobs Fair takes place in the Memorial Hall today between 10.30am and 3pm. Over 300 jobs will be on offer thanks to the development of a new retail park.

There will be twenty major employers at the jobs fair, organised by Jobcentre Plus and Wrexham County Borough Council, to fill vacancies at the new Eagles Meadow development and in the town centre.

Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and Next are just a few of the big names that will be there.

For more information contact Deb Sauer on 01978 316654. Anyone not able to attend the jobs fair should contact Jobseeker Direct for details about vacancies on local rate telephone number 0845 6060234. The Job Centre Plus website is at www.jobcentreplus.co.uk.

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Be the Best

01/07/2008 by admin.

“The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is not to try. Once you find something that you love to do, be the best at doing it.”

Debbi Fields.

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New Year New Job…

01/01/2008 by admin.

With the start of the New Year you might be thinking about a fresh start and a new job, especially if you had to work over the Christmas holidays.

Always remember - procrastinators dream about what they would like to do but never actually do anything about it. As W.L. Bateman said ‘If you keep on doing what you have always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got.’ If you are serious about achieving your ambitions you need to set yourself targets and start on them straight away.

Make a list of what you want to achieve in your working life i.e:
• Improve your performance
• Promotion within the next six months
• More family friendly hours
• Part time work
• More money

Make a list of immediate challenges / blocks which could stand in your way and look at ways you can overcome them. What development skills, training, qualifications, experience or further information do you require? For example you might not be very confident when dealing with colleagues, allowing yourself to be easily undermined, so you could look at ways of improving your communication skills. Send off for the job description and application form if you see an advert for a vacancy that matches the description for your ideal job. Fill it in and see where the gaps are and start looking for ways of filling them in.

If you have all the necessary qualifications already – what are you waiting for? – Get it in the post! The more information that you have on the job you have in mind, the more able you are to make informed decisions about it.
Once you have worked out what goals you need to achieve you need to set a time frame for achieving them. Don’t leave it open ended or the goals will remain out of reach. Decide when you want to achieve your goal by and then break it down into smaller sections of things that you need to do to achieve it. Then try and do something positive, ideally every day, that takes you closer to your target. Reflect back at the end of each day and write down something new that you have achieved that day. Keep a diary so that you can see yourself getting closer and closer to your goal.

What can you do now to help you achieve your goal?

• Look at ways of gaining more experience in other areas
• Start doing occasional bank shifts in your chosen area on days off / in holidays
• Apply for a secondment to study full time or to work in another area
• Attend relevant courses / study days

You may have an idealistic view of the job you fancy doing. To get a clearer idea ask someone who is already doing the same or a similar job if you can shadow him/her for a day. As well as being able to give useful advice they may also have inside information on any jobs that are going to be available. Also you will have demonstrated you interest and enthusiasm to the people you may be working with in the future.

Ask for support. Seek other people’s views about your strengths and weaknesses but choose people who will encourage you to reach your goals. Avoid negative people who will hold you back simply because they haven’t got the guts to do it themselves.

If you ask your boss for a transfer or secondment to another area - the worst thing he/she can say is no. Accept change and help others through it – experience of change will look good on your CV.

Many people fear failure, but many also fear success - they are frightened that they are not good enough and are afraid that one day they will be found out and exposed as a fraud. Even the most successful people feel fear sometimes – they just don’t let it hold them back. Is fear dominating your life, stopping you doing things you really want to do, preventing you getting that promotion or applying for a new position?

Most people say that they need to increase their confidence before they can hope to find another job but it actually works the other way around. Confidence comes from competence – if you are able to do something well, you’re confident about it. To do something well you’ve got to practice and that’s how you’ll build confidence.

Change of any kind is a risk and feels uncomfortable – even when the change is for the good. We leave behind the old familiar ways and step onto new ground. But life rewards action, not intentions. Nothing in your life will change until you start doing different things. You will meet new people and new possibilities will become available to you. So get support and get the training you need but above all go for it.

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