Your guide to a great career January 2012
4th Edition
10 JOB INTERVIEW TIPS
FROM A CEO HEADHUNTER
MANAGING THOSE BACK-TO-WORK POST-HOLIDAY BLUES
From Petrol Attendant To Owner WORKWEAR
AT MR PRICE
BACKTO BASICS YOUR 2013 CV TO CLICK VIDEO H WATC
YOUR OWN PERSONALISED VIDEO OF WHERE YOU COULD BE IN A FEW YEARS!
Featured Career
4th Edition:
A Fresh Start
Welcome It’s a New Year!
If you are not in good spirits about the year ahead and feeling slightly overwhelmed, don’t be concerned this is pretty normal. So you were hoping to enter the New Year with a positive mind, new energy levels and get-rich-get-fit goals..that’s great, but be realistic. Although it is a New Year, it is also only a month since the previous year. Walking into the office after a holiday is not easy. Give yourself a break; what is most important is your mindset. If you have goals for the New Year, that is already a step in the right direction. Now you have to get the ball rolling… This edition of CareerSeek “A Fresh Start” is all about helping you to get the ball rolling. It is jam-packed with advice on how to write your CV and cover letter, apply for jobs, prepare for an interview. Get some inspiration from others’ stories and get some guidance on how to get a grip on your mental health. Don’t forget that February is the best time to be spotted by recruiters and employers, so power up by tweaking your online Resume on CareerJunction and setting up Job Alerts!
Best of luck for 2013! The CareerJunction Team
Here’s what you have to look forward to: February: CareerSeek 5th Edition “Spring Clean”
email us with your suggestions or your story.
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CONTENTS Featured Career
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featured articles A Must Read
10 Ways To Improve Your Mental Health
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What’s Your Industry Doing?
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How To Keep Those New Year’s Resolutions
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Q&A With Career Coach Kerry Dawkins
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Career Corner
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Workwear From Mr Price
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18 From Petrol Attendant to Owner
Seek A Mentor
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Back To Basics Your 2013 CV
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10 Job Interview Tips From A CEO Headhunter
My Brilliant Career: A Boss Who Leads By Example
Managing Those Back-To-Work Post-Holiday Blues
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what’s inside...
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MANAGING THOSE
BACK-TO-WORK POST-HOLIDAY BLUES GOING BACK TO WORK AFTER A HOLIDAY IS OFTEN A STRESSFUL AND DEMOTIVATING EXPERIENCE. YOUR MIND AND MEMORIES ARE STILL FOCUSED ON YOUR HOLIDAY WHILST YOUR PHYSICAL PRESENCE IS WELL AND TRULY REQUIRED AT WORK.
Source: www.wikihow.com Link:www.all4women.co.za
Holidays are important for relaxation, inspiration and different experiences, but it can be tough transitioning back to the work place after all that fun in the sun. This seven-point article discusses some quick solutions on how to manage back-to-work post-holiday blues after time out relaxing and enjoying the holidays. 1. Accept the importance of being present Turning up with a holiday mindset can cause problems at work, ranging from lack of concentration on the tasks at hand to forgetting appointments and the names of new clients. Your colleagues and bosses might give you a little leeway, especially if some are in the same position, but not for long! Accept that you’ve had a great break and that you’re marvellously refreshed; now it’s time to deal with back-towork blues and get on with what you’re good at in a work environment. 2. Return to work mid-week to avoid back-to-work postholiday blues If possible, return to work mid-week. The fewer days at work help you to adjust to your post-holiday environment in readiness for the weeks and months to come. 3. Tidy up If you left a mess before you went on holiday, shame on you, but now’s the time to remedy it! Upon your return manage your post-holiday blues by spending a morning or day organizing your space. - Tidy up your desk space, shelves and files. - Clean out the in-box and electronic files.
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- Make use of your current holiday energy to sweep away the cobwebs of the tired, pre-holiday you. - Get updates from a friend at work about what you missed. - Returning to this more efficient and tidy work system and space will make you feel better each day. 4. Exercise will help manage post-holiday blues Exercise whilst managing back-to-work blues will help enormously. Going to the gym or Pilates class, taking a fivemile run, or simply walking for a half hour will make you feel a whole lot better. If your physical wellbeing improves, so will your ability to get back to work. 5. Plan the next holiday You can help manage your back-to-work post-holiday blues if you start making plans immediately for your next holiday experience. Doing this might give you a renewed sense of adventure and make work seem less onerous. 6. Plan the next weekend away Yes, get out again the weekend following your return. This will allow you to unwind and recall those blissful easy holiday days of a weeks before. - Visit a nature reserve, beach, forest, or national park. - Take work with you only if you must and if it does not spoil the experience. 7. Reassess If work is really continuing to get you down on your return, your reaction may be telling you something a lot more serious. Ask yourself some honest and direct questions about whether the job is challenging and fulfilling enough. If not, then maybe it’s time to move on.
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3. WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS? An impressive and confident response shows that the candidate has prepared for the question, has done serious self-reflection, and can admit responsibility and accept constructive criticism. Sincerely give an honest answer (but not a long one), be confident in the fact that this weakness does not make you any less of a great candidate, and show that you are working on this weakness and tell the recruiter how. 4. TELL ME ABOUT A SITUATION WHERE YOU DID NOT GET ALONG WITH A SUPERIOR. The wrong answer to this hot-button question is, “I’ve been very fortunate and have never worked for someone I didn’t get along with.”
BY RUSSELL S. REYNOLDS, JR., WITH CAROL E. CURTIS
10 JOB INTERVIEW TIPS FROM A CEO HEADHUNTER
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Source: www.fastcompany.com Link: www.junction.co.za
Whether you’re being interviewed to be an intern or a CEO, you’re going to run into a few notoriously tricky questions--here’s a road map of what you’ll be asked, and how to craft impressive answers to even the toughest questions.
Focus on what interests the interviewer Do not dwell on your personal history--that is not why you are there. Start with your most recent employment and explain why you are well qualified for the position. The key to all successful interviewing is to match your qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. You want to be selling what the buyer is buying.
No two situations are ever exactly the same, but as a general guide, these are the types of questions that could come up in a typical interview.
Highlight Important Accomplishments Have a story ready that illustrates your best professional qualities. For example, if you tell an interviewer that people describe you as creative, provide a brief story that shows how you have been creative in achieving your goals. Stories are powerful and are what people remember most. A good interviewee will memorize a 60-second commercial that clearly demonstrates why he or she is the best person for the job.
1. WHY DON’T YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF? This question, often the interview opener, has a crucial objective: to see how you handle yourself in unstructured situations. The recruiter wants to see how articulate you are, how confident you are, and generally what type of impression you would make on the people with whom you come into contact on the job. The recruiter also wants to learn about the trajectory of your career and to get a sense of what you think is important and what has caused you to perform well. Most candidates find this question a difficult one to answer. However, the upside is that this question offers an opportunity to describe yourself positively and focus the interview on your strengths. Be prepared to deal with it. There are many ways to respond to this question correctly and just one wrong way: by asking, “What do you want to know?” You need to develop a good answer to this question, practice it, and be able to deliver it with poise and confidence. The right response is twofold: focus on what interests the interviewer, and highlight your most important accomplishments. 8
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2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH YOUR CURRENT (OR FORMER) EMPLOYER? This is a hot-button question if your résumé reflects considerable job-hopping. Excellent performers tend to stay in their jobs at least three to five years. They implement course corrections, bring in new resources, and, in general, learn how to survive--that’s why they are valued by prospective employers. If your resumé reflects jobs with companies that were acquired, moved, closed, or downsized, it is still viewed as a job-hopper’s history. Volunteer and go to events where hiring authorities may be found. Ratchet up your networking to include anything that exposes you to hiring authorities who can get past your tenure issue because now they know you. Your networking efforts have never been so important.
Everyone has had situations where he or she disagreed with a boss, and saying that you haven’t forces the recruiter to question your integrity. Also, it can send out a signal that the candidate is not seasoned enough or hasn’t been in situations that require him or her to develop a tough skin or deal with confrontation. It’s natural for people to have differing opinions. When this has occurred in the past, you could explain that you presented your reasons and openly listened to other opinions as well. 5. DESCRIBE A SITUATION WHERE YOU WERE PART OF A FAILED PROJECT. If you can’t discuss a failure or mistake, the recruiter might conclude that you don’t possess the depth of experience necessary to do the job. The recruiter is not looking for perfection. He or she is trying better to understand your level of responsibility, your decision-making process, and your ability to recover from a mistake, as well as what you learned from the experience and if you can take responsibility for your mistakes.
her leadership style: is the person well adjusted and happy, or is he or she a company zealot? Discuss hobbies or pursuits that interest you, such as sports, clubs, cultural activities, and favorite things to read. Avoid dwelling on any political or religious activities that may create conflict with those of the interviewer. 9. WHY DID YOU LEAVE YOUR LAST POSITION? At high levels, issues that relate to personality and temperament become more important than they might otherwise. The recruiter wants to know if you will fit in with the client company. The recruiter may also be fishing for signs of conflict that indicate a potential personality problem. Be honest and straightforward, but do not dwell on any conflict that may have occurred. Highlight positive developments that resulted from your departure, whether it was that you accepted a more challenging position or learned an important lesson that helped you to be happier in your next job. 10. WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY? Think of a story to tell about how you first became interested in this type of work. Point out any similarities between the job you’re interviewing for and your current job. Provide proof that you aren’t simply shopping in this interview. Make your passion for your work a theme that you allude to continually throughout the interview.
Respond that you’d like to think that you have learned something valuable from every mistake you have made. Then have a brief story ready with a specific illustration. It should conclude on a positive note, with a concrete statement about what you learned and how it benefited the company. 6. WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS? Describe two or three skills you have that are relevant to the job. Avoid clichés or generalities; offer specific evidence. Describe new ways these skills could be put to use in the position you are being considered for.
Adapted from Heads: from an Executive SeaBusiness Lessons by Russell S. Reynolds, rch Pioneer Curtis, ©2012 , McGraw-Jr., with Carol E. reprinted with permissio Hill Professional; n of the publisher.
7. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN YOUR JOB SUCCESS? Be candid without sounding arrogant. Mention observations other people have made about your work strengths or talents. 8. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING? The more senior the position, the more important it is to know about the candidate’s qualities that will impact his or
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Featured Career
MyFeatured Brilliant Career
A Boss Who Tries to What was your first job? I starting working at 13 as a newspaper delivery boy for the local newsagents in the UK. I worked seven days a week with two delivery rounds a day, before and after school. It was my first real exposure to commitment to a job and customer service, because customers wanted their papers and magazines delivered irrespective of the weather and were quick to complain if their delivery did not arrive or was late. What was the first task you had to do on your first day of professional work? My first professional job was as an articled clerk at a firm of chartered accountants in Birmingham. I cannot remember the client, but I do remember having to add up a cash book.
Rene Vollgraaff asks Ariva MD David Smith about his first job delivering newspapers and the benefits of working in different industries. Author: Rene Vollgraaff Source: BD Live
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Link: www.junction.co.za
Did your studies prepare you adequately for your first months in the workplace? I do not think tertiary education ever fully prepares you for your first job. The syllabus generally covers a lot of theory and even those subjects that are more practical often lack the necessary context in relation to the complexities of the real world in which you suddenly find yourself. It is only later in your career that you can really start to apply the knowledge you gained from these studies. How important would you say internships and on-the-job training are? I believe that internships and similar programmes play a vital role in bridging the gap between full-time education and working. Well-designed programmes ensure that trainees are introduced into the business at a pace that suits their increasing ability and the company’s requirements.
What is the most important lesson you have learnt about work? My father always emphasised the importance of integrity and a strong work ethic. Honesty and fairness in doing business and dealing with people were also values that he tried to instil in my sister and me at an early age, normally around the table at Sunday lunch. What was your first boss like? My first two bosses were not exactly inspiring and I probably learnt more about how not to manage. My next boss was very hands-off in his approach to my division. He was finance director of a business undergoing a change from being owner managed to being part of a large corporate, and I was given a lot of freedom and independence. It was here that I really cut my teeth, learning a lot about myself, managing people, being accountable and ultimately delivering results. Indirectly, he was very influential in my career because I was able to develop and hone my management skills without undue interference and discovered a few techniques and tricks of the trade that I still use today.
Do you think there are more benefits in staying with the same employer for one’s entire career, or do you think one can learn more by working for several employers during a career? From my personal experience I can say that I have benefited tremendously from having worked in a number of different businesses and industries. Exposure to both successful companies and others that were in difficulties has taught me a wide range of different skills and competencies. Looking back on your career, would you have made the same career choices again? Hindsight is 20-20 vision and it would be naive of me to state that, given what I know now, I would not change certain decisions or choices. I feel lucky that I have been given opportunities and faced challenges that have been stimulating and largely enjoyable. However, I do wish I had taken advantage of network opportunities earlier in my career and also furthered my studies. Of course, if I could choose my career again, I would probably be a professional musician. I have always fancied being a rock star.
What kind of a boss are you? My leadership style flexes depending on what is required in a business at that time. I have needed to adopt a more coercive style in businesses that were in crisis or turnaround mode. However, in the context of Ariva, where we are building a new business, I think my leadership style is a mixture of authoritative and participative. I share my vision and set the goals and objectives for the business, but the implementation involves input from the Ariva management team and staff and other stakeholders. I would say I am approachable, with an open-door policy. I try to instil a culture of honesty, integrity and professionalism in the team and try to lead by example.
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Seek a Mentor Author: Kerry Dawkins Source: www.patwork.co.za
In this complex and rapidly changing world, the ability to learn is a key success factor. The learning curve is very steep when you move into a new role or job, but it never really flattens out. You’ve got to keep learning new things, relearn things that you’ve forgotten and unlearn things that are no longer helpful. And there’s seldom the luxury of loads of time to learn the ropes. So where does this leave you?
“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.”
Well, find a mentor! There’s little doubt that a mentor can be hugely beneficial when you’re trying to navigate your career and overcome challenges.
- Better preparation for your studies and job. - More realistic expectations of your study and work thereafter. - Introductions to influential people who could assist you with opportunities such as jobshadowing, an internship or a promotion. - An independent support, guide and a sounding board. - Knowledge and understanding of your chosen career (your parents and friends may not be knowledgeable in your chosen career).
What is a Mentor? Views of mentoring have changed over the years. In essence, a mentor is someone who facilitates the personal and professional growth of someone else (the mentee), by sharing their own knowledge, insights and network. Although the focus is always on the mentee’s learning and development needs, there’s a lot of give-and-take. So the mentor also benefits from the relationship. Types of mentorship Because today’s mentoring relationships can take many forms, it is up to the mentors and mentors to develop a plan for building the relationship that will meet their needs. Some relationships are formally established (e.g. HR allocates a mentor to a mentee in a corporate development programme, or students are paired up in a ‘buddy’ system at a school) and usually involve face-to-face meetings for a set time frame. Others are informal, and occur face-to-face, via e-mail or over the Internet, and involve a whole range of junior and senior individuals and groups who are all connected through technology. These interactions can be on-going or relate just to a specific knowledge or skill gap that can be closed very quickly. But whatever the form, you can take your mentoring relationship lightly: you’ve both got to commit a plan that will ensure that you reach your goals through the relationship.
- Opportunity to collaborate, achieve your goals and solve problems. For most people, mentors help them increase their knowledge, broaden their experience, enhance their self-awareness and confidence, and put them in touch with the right people (a network or quality contacts). These are precisely the things that will help you progress and succeed. Who should be your mentor? You’ve got lots of options. Your mentor could be a person who is 2-5 years ahead of you in your chosen career, someone who still remembers their thoughts and feelings when they were in your shoes. It could be a senior person who you see as a wise, loyal advisor or coach. You could also work with a peer (someone in the same or similar situation or role, with the same responsibilities or authority). Instead of looking for the single perfect mentor, you could also think about creating a network of mentors who could help you with different aspects of your life, studies or career.
These questions could help you find the right person/people: 1. Who is successful in my field? 2. Who do I admire and respect? 3. Who are the most influential people I know? 4. Who thinks I have potential? 5. Who has encouraged me? 6. Who has helped me in the past and might help again?
What can you expect from mentoring? As mentioned, you’ve got to set goals, based on your needs. Your mentor can help you with that, because as mentee, you possibly don’t even know what you don’t know! In general, a mentor provides many benefits:
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Conclusion Although it’s important that you and your mentor ‘click’, the relationship is not set in stone and it will change over time. It’s okay to evaluate your relationship and change the way you work together, or even agree to work with someone else. However, what’s more important is that you find a mentor and start fast-forwarding your journey to success.
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There are so many articles on the web about how to write the perfect CV. We all know that having a solid and effective CV can greatly improve your chances of landing that dream job, however one has to bear in mind that employers and/or recruiters simply don’t have the time to read through your every achievement. So where do you draw the line?
BACKTOBASICS YOUR 2013 CV
How Long Should a CV Be?
Education
There are no absolute rules but, in general, a new graduate’s CV should cover no more than two sides of A4 paper.
Educational history and professional qualifications should follow, including names of institutions and dates attended. List these in reverse order, beginning with your tertiary qualifications, as they are more relevant for a potential employer. List secondary school results (these details will matter more if you have recently entered the job market, than if for example you left full time education 20 years ago). Include computer skills and any other recent training / development that is relevant to the role you are applying for.
If you can summarise your career history comfortably on a single side, this is fine and has advantages when you are making speculative applications and need to put yourself across concisely. However, you should not leave out important items, or crowd your text too closely together in order to fit it onto that single side. Academic and technical CVs may be much longer: up to 4 or 5 sides. What Information Should a CV Include? If you are applying for more than one type of work, you should have a different CV tailored to each career area, highlighting different aspects of your skills and experience. Personal Details Normally these would be your name, address, date of birth (although with age discrimination laws now in force this isn’t essential), telephone number and email.
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For example, rather than writing, “designed company’s web site,” you could say, “designed company’s web site, which increased company’s overall product sales by 50 percent.” Work Experience
Interests and Achievements
The most widely accepted style of employment record is the chronological CV. Career history is presented in reverse date order starting with your most recent position. Achievements and responsibilities are listed against each role. More emphasis / information should be put on more recent jobs.
Keep this section short and to the point. As you grow older, your employment record will take precedence and interests will typically diminish greatly in length and importance.
Use action words such as developed, planned and organised.
Don’t use the old boring cliches here: “socialising with friends”.
Even work in a shop, bar or restaurant will involve working in a team, providing a quality service to customers, and dealing tactfully with complaints. Don’t mention the routine, non-people tasks (cleaning the tables) unless you are applying for a casual summer job in a restaurant or similar. Try to relate the skills to the job. A finance job will involve numeracy, analytical and problem solving skills so focus on these whereas for a marketing role you would place a bit more more emphasis on persuading and negotiating skills.
“All of my work experiences have involved working within a team-based culture. This involved planning, organisation, co-ordination and commitment e.g., in retail, this ensured daily sales targets were met, a fair distribution of tasks and effective communication amongst all staff members.” Identify the contribution you made - Rather than just stating a list of duties you had, think about ways of demonstrating success in a particular role. Mention your achievements at work and any concrete results you achieved (in measurable terms if possible).
Bullets can be used to separate interests into different types: sporting, creative etc.
Don’t put many passive, solitary hobbies (reading, watching TV, stamp collecting) or you may be perceived as lacking people skills. If you do put these, then say what you read or watch: “I particularly enjoy Dickens, for the vivid insights you get into life in Victorian times”. Show a range of interests to avoid coming across as narrow : if everything centres around sport they may wonder if you could hold a conversation with a client who wasn’t interested in sport. Hobbies that are a little out of the ordinary can help you to stand out from the crowd: skydiving or mountaineering can show a sense of wanting to stretch yourself and an ability to rely on yourself in demanding situations
Any interests relevant to the job are worth mentioning: current affairs if you wish to be a journalist; a fantasy share portfolio such as Bullbearings if you want to work in finance. Any evidence of leadership is important to mention: captain or coach of a sports team, course representative, chair of a student society, scout leader: “As captain of the school cricket team, I had to set a positive example, motivate and coach players and think on my feet when making bowling and field position changes, often in tense situations”
“Time spent abroad or work placements attended as part of your degree or diploma should be mentioned. “ Career Details / Core Strengths And Skills Briefly specify what you are looking for in your next position: Required Position, Position Type (contract or permanent), Last / Current Salary, Availability and Career Objectives. Include a list of your core strengths and skills.
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Anything showing evidence of employability skills such as teamworking, organising, planning, persuading, negotiating etc. Skills The usual ones to mention are languages (good conversational French, basic Spanish), computing (e.g. “good working knowledge of MS Access and Excel, plus basic web page design skills” and driving (“full current clean driving licence”). References Many employers don’t check references at the application stage so unless the vacancy specifically requests referees it’s fine to omit this section completely if you are running short of space or to say “References are available on request.” • Normally two references are sufficient: one academic (perhaps your tutor or a project supervisor) and one from an employer (perhaps your last part-time or summer job). What makes a good CV? There is no single “correct” way to write and present a CV but the following general rules apply: It is targeted on the specific job or career area for which you are applying and brings out the relevant skills you have to offer? It is carefully and clearly laid out: logically ordered, easy to read and not cramped? It is informative but concise? It is accurate in content, spelling and grammar. If you mention attention to detail as a skill, make sure your spelling and grammar is perfect! Tips on presentation Your CV should be carefully and clearly laid out - not too cramped but not with large empty spaces either. Use bold and italic typefaces for headings and important information. Never back a CV - each page should be on a separate sheet of paper. It’s a good idea to put your name in the footer area so that it appears on each sheet.
Featured Career Mental health is about the way you think and feel and your ability to deal with ups and downs. Making simple changes to how you live doesn’t need to cost you a lot or take up loads of time. It is important to take care of your mental health so that you can get the most from life.
Be concise: a CV is an appetiser and should not give the reader indigestion. Don’t feel that you have to list every exam you have ever taken, or every activity you have ever been involved in - consider which are the most relevant and/ or impressive. The best CVs tend to be fairly economical with words, selecting the most important information and leaving a little something for the interview: they are an appetiser rather than the main course. Good business communications tend to be short and to the point, focusing on key facts and your CV should to some extent emulate this.
10 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Be positive - put yourself over confidently and highlight your strong points. For example, when listing your A-levels, put your highest grade first. Be honest: although a CV does allow you to omit details (such as exam resits) which you would prefer the employer not to know about, you should never give inaccurate or misleading information. CVs are not legal documents and you can’t be held liable for anything within, but if a recruiter picks up a suggestion of falsehoods you will be rapidly rejected. An application formwhich you have signed to confirm that the contents are true is however a legal document and forms part of your contract of employment if you are recruited.
The sweet spot of a CV is the area selectors tend to pay most attention to: this is typically around the upper middle of the first page, so make sure that this area contains essential information. If you are posting your CV, don’t fold it - put it in a full-size A4 envelope so that it doesn’t arrive creased.
Source: www.mentalhealth.org.uk Link: www.all4women.co.za
Talk about your feelings
Keep active
Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled. Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your wellbeing and doing what you can to stay healthy.
Experts believe exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep, look and feel better. Exercise also keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy.
Eat well
Drink sensibly
There are strong links between what we eat and how we feel – for example, caffeine and sugar can have an immediate effect. But food can also have a long-lasting effect on your mental health.
We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary.
Keep in touch
Remember, A good cover letter should always accompany your CV!
Friends and family can make you feel included and cared for. They can offer different views from whatever’s going on inside your own head. They can help keep you active, keep you grounded and help you solve practical problems. Take a break A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work or a weekend exploring somewhere new. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you. Accept who you are
Ask for help None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things go wrong. If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help. Do something you’re good at What do you love doing? Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it and achieving something boosts your self-esteem. Care for others Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together.
Some of us make people laugh, some are good at maths, others cook fantastic meals. Some of us share our lifestyle with the people who live close to us, others live very differently. We’re all different.
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FROM
PETROL ATTENDANT TO OWNER
Twelve years ago Elvis Sithagu was slogging it out as a petrol attendant. But today Sithagu, who hails from Venda, is the proud co-owner of two filling stations on the East Rand. Sithagu said he started dreaming about owning a filling station while he was still in high school. But he thought the dream would never materialise due to a lack of capital. His background as a boy from a destitute family in a rural area did not spark any hope. Since his family had no other breadwinner, he helped sustain his siblings and mother by selling snacks at school. “My financial situation was so tough that I wanted to drop out of high school. But my principal discouraged me from doing that,” he said. When he came to Johannesburg in search of a job his matric qualification helped Sithagu gain entry to a school for petrol attendants. He said he finished the course as best performer in the class but could not get his certificate because he could not pay outstanding fees. So he missed out on a recruitment programme the school ran. When he finally secured a job in 1999 as a petrol attendant in Johannesburg, after nine months of unemployment, his life changed for the better. Eleven months later he was promoted to cashier at the filling station. A year later he secured a job at a filling station in Kensington, Johannesburg, as a cashier. In 2002 he became cashier supervisor and continued to climb the ladder of success to become assistant manager of the filling station in 2003. In 2006 he was appointed site manager at the filling station. Sithagu said business opportunities started presenting themselves when he held senior positions. “People started expressing a wish to invest in filling stations, partnering with me and giving me equity,” he said.
ELVIS SITHAGU, CO-OWNER OF TWO BP FILIING STATIONS ON THE EAST RAND, STARTED OUT AS A PETROL ATTENDANT 12 YEARS AGO
In 2007 BP advertised an offer for a site in Rabie Ridge. He and three experienced filling station owners clinched the contract and obtained a bank loan. Their consortium also won a contract for the Ebony Park BP filling station. Though the filling station started operating in August it was officially launched last week. Sithagu said his aim was to grow his business while motivating his employees to follow in his footsteps.
Author: Mpho Sibanyoni Source: Sowetan Live Link: www.junction.co.za Author: Seth Fiegerman Source:www.mashable.com
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What Is Your Industry Doing? A job is a job is a job. Or is it really? Let’s think about this for a minute; the average person spends approximately 8 hours of his or her day at work. We work 5 days a week, 21 days a month, 12 months a year. Now that’s a lot of working!
To add to this, after entering the job market, most of us spend
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HOW TO KEEP THOSE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
As we enter a new year, most of us have made some New Year’s resolutions. But how will you stick to them for the rest of 2013? Here’s help... Link: www.all4women.co.za
Bet most of you have losing weight at the top of the list
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Losing weight is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions made each year, but is perhaps, one of the most difficult to keep. The key is to establish a firm dietary and exercise plan, then stick to it. By developing a plan, you are committing to reach your goal. By adhering to it you are working toward it. This is how you will see success. CareerSeek
Another resolution may be to spend more time with friends and family Making time for everyone in your life can be hard, but it is extremely important. Set aside time for certain people on certain days. Make a concerted effort to call your friends and family members on a regular basis. Set lunch dates and make them as important as work appointments.
Quitting smoking is another popular resolution
Reducing stress is always a great New Year’s resolution
This one can be especially difficult because here, you are dealing with an addiction. The best way to begin is to just quit. You will probably experience withdrawal symptoms, but they will pass with time. Quitting will improve your overall health and the health of those around you.
Let’s face it, who doesn’t experience stress on a regular basis? Find ways to alleviate the stress you feel at work and at home.
Talk to your family members at home and assign duties to everyone. This will help take some of them off you and help provide some much-needed rest and relaxation. A good idea may be to set only one New Year’s resolution
Follow through This is crucial to your success. It’s how you will work toward your ultimate goal and succeed. You may even find yourself making a different New Year’s resolution next year.
Too many will become overwhelming and will probably result in nothing being accomplished. No matter what New Year’s resolution you have made, come up with a plan. This is the best way to stick to your decision. Begin by setting goals. Start with the main goal, then break that down into smaller ones. That way you can look at each part instead of feeling overwhelmed about the big picture.
If you are feeling overworked, talk to your supervisor. Perhaps someone in the office can help with some of the load.
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Featured Career
Workwear by Mr Price
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Author: Serisha Singh Link: www.all4women.co.za
Dress the part at the office with the latest workwear at Mr Price. Check out these stunning items and hints on how to wear them and work it at work.
Try wearing this gorgeous poplin shirt, R69,99, with this striped pencil skirt, R89,99 and these black platform heels, R159,99.
Most of us are back to work, and if you’re looking to put your best foot forward then it’s definitely a good idea to head down to your nearest mall and check out the latest workwear at Mr Price.
We’ve picked the key items of workwear at Mr Price. We’ve narrowed down the key items you’ll need to look fabulous at the office. Add these items to your wardrobe and be spoilt for choice on what to wear to work each day.
From skirts to slacks, jackets, blouses and accessories, Mr Price has everything you’ll need. Just choose versatile pieces that can work well with each other to create a range of stunning outfits that’ll be a hit in the office. If you’re not sure on what will suit your figure check out Dressing for your body shape for some hints and tips. You can also take a look at Fashion trends for 2013 to ensure you’re definitely on trend.
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Swap the skirt for these skinny cobalt pants, R119,99 or throw this sateen blazer, R129,99 over either outfit for a chic new look. You can even swap the blouse for this adorable textured peplum blouse, R59,99.
If you’re looking for something chic and easy-to-wear, opt for this magenta ponti dress, R89,99 with these nude pumps with beaded bow detail, R59,99. Finish off the look with these gold bangles, R59,99 a pack.
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Q&A with Kerry Dawkins
Featured Career
Q&A with Kerry Dawkins
As part of her role in the business, she has created and implemented a mentoring system that, on an ongoing basis, provides support and guidance to young South Africans. Current mentees include graduates as they enter the workforce in large South African corporates, key talent as they move upwards in a corporate, employment equity candidates and the benefactors of Foundations including the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and Shanduka Foundation. You can follow her on Junction, Facebook – Kerry Dawkins- Patwork and on Twitter @KerryDawkins.
Q We receive many queries from 20-Somethings who are working in an industry that is not their passion, but are finding it hard to make a career change. Does this sound familiar? Perhaps you would also like to make a change? The good news is that it is possible to make a change. In general, you need a particular combination of skill, knowledge and experience to perform a job. If you want to change jobs, you need to prove to the person-who-has-the-power-to-hireyou that you’re capable of performing the job! So here are some ideas on matching what you can do to the opportunities that are out there.
A
Option 1 – Change industries using common skills In many cases, skills can be used across industries. For example, client management or client liaison is a common skill used across industries, as are accounting and many IT skills. The starting point is to make a list of your current skills and then to identify other industries that require those skills. This means thinking creatively or out-of-the-box and making new connections between things that you just assumed were not related. Bear in mind that almost all knowledge is freely available on Google and can be learnt quite quickly but skills are in short supply. So you could approach a potential employer in a different industry with a unique proposition, and explain how your skills could be applied in a creative way to meet the job requirements. (We encourage readers to obtain transferable skills to ensure that you remain relevant and not limited to one industry or company). Option 2 – Secure an interview using referrals In South Africa, corporates receive hundreds of applications from people who are unemployed or who don’t have relevant or worthwhile experience. However, if they get a referral, and that applicant has great credentials (including a good work ethic), they are more likely to consider that application, rather than any of the unknowns. Our advice is to use your friends, your more distant connections (like the people that you went to school or university with) and common business connections to try to secure an interview. Tell people about what you’re looking for and what you can do. You could be pleasantly surprised to find that someone may just be in a position to help you, and better still, that they are willing to help. In the interview itself, you will need to shine to ensure that the company wants YOU in their team (even if your credentials are not perfect). So prepare for the interview carefully, do your research on the company, and know what you want to tell the interviewer.
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Option 3 - Show your value MasterCard recently ran a competition that required all job applicants to creatively promote the benefits of a cashless society. The recruitment process also included engaging on MasterCard’s Facebook page, uploading a resume via LinkedIn and following MasterCard on twitter for further directions. Our point about this story is to make you aware of the power of social media when it comes to changing your career. Using social media, you can prove to the person-who-has-the-power-tohire-you (even if you don’t know them or have never met them) that you can do the job. You can partake in online discussions, you can tweet and you can build an enviable LinkedIn profile with many recommendations. Build your reputation and share what you do each day to maintain it. All of these activities will help you stand out from the crowd, and increase the chances that someone will approach you with a potential job offer. Option 4 – Gain knowledge Before you make a change, you may need to do a course, study further, become involved in a project or do research to learn about the industry that you are interested in and its key players. You could also volunteer to do some work in the industry to gain relevant knowledge. This could prove to a potential employer that you are serious about moving, and give them the reassurance that you are committed and hard-working, just the type of person that they want to employ. You can make a change but it requires planning and a very clear picture of where you want to end up. So start by dreaming of the role you want, really thinking about the kind of work that will make you jump out of bed every day and let you do what you love and also allow you to pay your bills. And then put a plan in place for the next five years to make it happen.
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Featured Career
Hi Kerry, I feel like I am not making any progress in my career.
Q&A with Kerry Dawkins
Q A
You need to analyse and recognise the skills required in the job and come prepared to demonstrate them during the interview. Examples would be speaking, problem solving, analytical thinking, diplomacy, listening, empathising and synthesising. If the job requires clear speaking then your speaking during the interview could be your best (or worst) example.
What would you suggest I do? We spend so much time working IN our careers. That usually involves running around to achieve targets, satisfy clients or make the boss happy. Your question makes me think that you need to take some time out and work ON your career. I would suggest that you take yourself out to coffee and have a ‘career check-up’.
A
You can demonstrate existence of skills by giving clear examples of where you have used the skills in your current job or any previous jobs. So for example “This job requires developing focus groups with employees. I have done this in my present job and found.....”. Remeber to talk about what you have done rather than what you would do.
So what should you cover in a career check-up?
You could also ask for an opportunity to show your skills like giving a presentation or solving a problem.
1. The Past Year: Think back over the past year and consider what you set out to achieve. Now decide whether or not you managed to achieve what you hoped for.
Bring samples of your work to the interview. For example programme reports, publications, photos of equipment created, videos of training material or training material created, videos of physical layouts of stores created, projects from your studies, sales commission payments.
2. Your Current Employer: Think about your current employment situation. Do you like the direction in which your employer is moving? What positions are available that interest you? Are you fairly remunerated? 3. The Industry: Are things going well in the industry? How does your employer compare to other employers? What other positions exist in the industry that interest you?
Remember to link the work samples to the job you are seeking. For example “this brochure shows how I redesigned the waiting area in our car showroom. I could apply many of these principles to how customers are received in your store”.
4. Your Personal Goals: You need to know what you are aiming for, what you consider to be career success. In order to achieve that success, what knowledge, skills and practical experiences do you need to gain? You need to identify the value you can add. 5. Vital Behaviours: Perhaps there are behaviours that are holding you back from achieving career success. Are there relationships that you need to develop in the coming year? Notice what you could have done better in the past year. Maybe you need to focus on managing your social profile more effectively in the coming year. A career check-up is really about getting you past the feeling that you are stuck, and helping you see that your career does not depend only on your boss or on someone in HR. Your check-up should give you some new ideas about your career, and help you identify the knowledge, skills or experiences that will get you closer to your goals. Hopefully, your check-up will also inspire you and give you the energy that you need to start finding or creating these opportunities in the new year. And when you do another check up at the end of 2013, you’ll see some remarkable changes. Good luck with making it happen.
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Demonstrate skills during the interview.
Bring contact details to the interview of people who can vouch for your work.
Q How can I show a prospective employer in an interview that I would be good at a job? This is a great question! The principle “actions speak louder than words” has been around forever and it should be applied more fully to job-hunting and interviewing. Remember it is difficult for an interviewer to judge the truthfulness and accuracy of what an interviewee says and their level of skills. Below are some tips to show the interviewer you have what it takes to do the job.
Offer to provide sample of work after the interview For example “Tell me a product for which you would like me to propose a marketing/advertising plan” “I will be happy to review a manuscript for you to show you my editing skills” Trial Work Experience If you don’t have work experience in the field you wish to enter, seriously consider lining up a trial work experience, part-time work or an internship to gain work experience. A trial work experience can be a day, a week, a month or whatever it takes to display the necessary skills. You may be prepared to do this without pay to gain skills and references. Showing is better than telling. Remember the interview is only one piece in the larger picture of presenting your capabilities.
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