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Contents Feature Article Finding a Career in today’s market
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Tips for accelerating your search for a new job
Expert Career Tips and Advice Should you use a career objective on your resume?
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It's one of those sticky questions that divides career counselors
Take control of your career
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100 potential interview questions
Just for fun Good humor is the key to career success
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How to tell funny jokes and impress your boss
Some Philosophical questions to ponder For advertising opportunities in our magazine contact us at: Phone: 604.971.3357 Email: info@dynamicbioresumes.com To go to our website Click Here
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Finding a Job in Today's Market
by Richard Moore - CEO, Dynamic Bio Resumes
Less than a year ago, a job candidate with a decent resume and little or no experience could walk into virtually any interview knowing that an offer was inevitable. Candidates would send out 10 resumes hoping to get 2 or 3 responses, but they would instead get 20 responses, many from headhunters, whose business was booming like never before. Back then, it was almost impossible to find a company that *wasn't* hiring. NASDAQ had broken the 5,000point barrier, and thousands of 20somethings fresh out of college had option packages that made them millionaires on paper. That was just a year ago. So close, yet so far away. Today the job
market appears the very antithesis of those glory days. Seemingly endless layoffs, missed forecasts, a major NASDAQ correction and events abroad have led us to an uncomfortable phase of economic unrest. Jobs, of course, are no longer easy to come by; and many of the unemployed have found themselves "on the bench" for weeks, then months. But the cyclical nature of the US economy is a known fact; and a downturn was not only expected but inevitable. Instead of stressing and worrying at such times, we should rise to the occasion and meet the new challenges. In this job race, the only survivors are those who fit themselves with a stellar resume and a die-hard attitude.
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Following are some tips on accelerating your search for a new job: Get a Positive Attitude: While it may not be easy these days, it is an absolute must to remain positive and optimistic. Be Aware of Job Security: Don't wait for your company to go out of business before you start looking for a new job. If you have any reason to believe your job is in jeopardy, update your resume and start testing the waters. When the time seems right, make the jump if it is to a better, more secure job. Search Online: Regardless of the industry you are in, you are missing out on major opportunities if you aren't looking for a job online. Internet use allows you to send out more resumes far quicker than any other way. Be Proactive: If you would normally send out 5 resumes a day, start sending out 10 or even 20. Don't be picky with the companies you choose -- get in as many interviews as you can now, and be pick with the *offers* later. If a job listing has a both a contact phone number and email address, pick up the phone and call them -- it is far too easy for an email to be filed away for later.
landed you a job in yesterday's booming market, today competition is as tight as ever. Your resume is your first impression with an employer; it will get you interviews or cause you to lose them. Consider having your resume re-written by experienced editors -- for example, The Killer Resume offers resume editing and writing by Harvard-educated professionals who have a great deal of experience with what works and what doesn't in resumes. Polish Your Interviewing Skills: Once you begin interviewing, be sure prepare yourself for each meeting. Interviewers are impressed by confident individuals who show strong communication skills and eagerness for the position. When in doubt, always wear a suit and tie to the interview. Mention a willingness to work in groups but the ability to carry your own weight. Research the company's website before the interview, and if you are able to slip in a few facts during the interview (e.g. "I'd particularly be interested in working with your Open Server product") it will score you extra points. Remember -- the more you interview, the better you will get at it. This is particularly true because most interviewers ask the exact same questions. Soon enough, the answers will flow out of your mouth before you even hear the whole question.
Totally revamp your resume: While your old resume might have Dynamic Bio Resumes – Volume 1
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Anyone can get a job when the market is booming, but those who
prevail in tough times like these show true character and spirit.
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Should You Use a Career Objective on Your Resume? by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D. It's one of those sticky questions that divides career counselors. If you got 100 of them in a room, 50 would likely say yes, you should list a career objective on your resume; the other half would probably say no. Those arguing against objectives say they are too limiting and usually poorly constructed. Those in favor say that employers want to be able to determine in just a few seconds what you want to do for the organization, and what you're good at. An objective can help meet that employer need. To some employers, the lack of an objective translates into a jobseeker who doesn't know what he or she wants. On the other hand, numerous employers say they rarely see a well-written objective. There's no doubt that many resume career objectives are poorly put together. To avoid limiting themselves, too many jobseekers write objectives that are woefully vague, thus defeating the purpose of presenting an objective.
Jobseekers also tend to ignore the employer's need to know what the candidate can contribute, instead considering the objective as an invitation to list everything the jobseeker wants, needs or desires
from the sought-after job. A typical self-serving objective is one along these lines: Career objective: To obtain a meaningful and challenging position that enables me to learn the accounting field and allows for advancement.
Before we address the issue of vague and self-serving career objectives, let's look at the pros and cons of using them at all. The argument against limiting oneself is not without merit. After all, if your career objective doesn't match what the hiring manager has to offer, he or she is not likely to give serious consideration to other niches within the company that you might fit into. In this high-tech age, however, fear of limiting oneself need not be an excuse to leave a career objective off your resume. With your computer's word-processing program, there's no reason you can't have several versions of your resume with several different objectives. In fact, you might have two or three versions of your resume in which the Dynamic Bio Resumes – Volume 1
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only difference is your objective. You could even come up with a specific, tailor-made objective on your resume for each job you apply for. With technology, resumes and objectives need not be "one size fits all." Of course, if you go to a career fair, where it's impossible to tailor your objective as you move from booth to booth, or if you're handing out resumes in a networking situation, it may make more sense to leave your objective off. In some situations, limiting oneself actually is a compelling reason in favor of using an objective. In one recent letter to the career doctor, Dr. Randall Hansen, the job-seeker said he used his objective to state his desire not to relocate out of the city in which he was living. Although this limiting factor spoke more to the jobseeker's needs than the employer's, it could save a lot of time. Employers would not waste time interviewing him only to discover that he would not relocate. The job-seeker also had the option of mentioning his desire not to relocate in his cover letter instead of his resume objective.
One survey indicates that about 40 percent of employers want to see an objective on jobseekers' resumes. That 40 percent figure should give the "objecti-phobe" pause; it's a pretty convincing argument in favor of using an objective. If 40 percent of employers would be annoyed not to
see an objective on your resume, using one may be the safest choice. As someone who doesn't care much for objectives, I'm not annoyed when jobseekers include them (unless they are dreadfully and self-servingly written), and I suspect like-minded employers would feel the same way.
On the other hand, those still uncomfortable with committing themselves to an objective on their resume can use their cover letters to help them tailor their resumes to the specific jobs they're applying for. The cover letter can help bring the resume into sharper focus by elaborating on what the jobseeker wants to do and what he or she can specifically contribute to a particular job. Increasingly, jobseekers are supplementing -- or replacing -- their objectives with a section called "Summary," "Skills Summary," "Qualifications," "Profile," or the like. Spotlighting skills can be quite appealing to employers, and the keywords used in such sections can be an important element of a resume that's electronically scanned. •
jobseeker's, and should tell what the jobseeker can contribute. An objective should demonstrate the value the candidate will add to the organization.
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• •
•
Objectives should be as concise as possible. Objectives may help sharpen the focus of your resume, especially if your experience is very diverse, or you are switching into a career not supported by the experience listed on your resume. If you choose not to list an objective on your resume, you may choose to discuss your objective in your cover letter.
Whether or not you choose to include an objective, you may wish to present a skills or qualifications section of your resume.
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Take Control Of Your Career 100 Potential Interview Questions While there are as many different possible interview questions as there are interviewers, it always helps to be ready for anything. So we've given you a list of 100 potential interview questions. Will you face them all? We pray no interviewer would be that cruel. Will you face a few? Probably. Will you be well-served by being ready even if you're not asked these exact questions? Absolutely.
Ok, Here We Go... •
Tell me about yourself.
•
What are your strengths?
•
What are your weaknesses?
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Who was your favorite manager and why?
•
What kind of personality do you work best with and why?
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Why do you want this job?
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Where would you like to be in your career five years from now?
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Tell me about your proudest achievement.
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If you were at a business lunch and you ordered a rare steak and they brought it to you well done, what would you do?
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If I were to give you this salary you requested but let you write your job description for the next year, what would it say?
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Why is there fuzz on a tennis ball?
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•
How would you go about establishing your credibility quickly with the team?
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There's no right or wrong answer, but if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
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How would you feel about working for someone who knows less than you?
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Was there a person in your career who really made a difference?
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What's your ideal company?
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What attracted you to this company?
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What are you most proud of?
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What are you looking for in terms of career development?
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What do you look for in terms of culture -- structured or entrepreneurial?
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What do you like to do?
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Give examples of ideas you've had or implemented.
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What are your lifelong dreams?
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What do you ultimately want to become?
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How would you describe your work style?
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What kind of car do you drive?
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Tell me about a time where you had to deal with conflict on the job.
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What's the last book you read?
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What magazines do you subscribe to?
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What would be your ideal working situation?
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Why should we hire you?
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What did you like least about your last job?
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What do you think of your previous boss?
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How do you think I rate as an interviewer?
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Do you have any questions for me?
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When were you most satisfied in your job?
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What can you do for us that other candidates can't?
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What are three positive things your last boss would say about you?
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What negative thing would your last boss say about you?
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If you were an animal, which one would you want to be?
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What salary are you seeking?
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What's your salary history?
•
Do you have plans to have children in the near future?
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What were the responsibilities of your last position?
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What do you know about this industry?
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What do you know about our company?
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How long will it take for you to make a significant contribution?
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Are you willing to relocate?
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What was the last project you headed up, and what was its outcome?
•
What kind of goals would you have in mind if you got this job?
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Give me an example of a time that you felt you went above and beyond the call of duty at work.
•
What would you do if you won the lottery?
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•
Can you describe a time when your work was criticized?
•
Have you ever been on a team where someone was not pulling their own weight? How did you handle it?
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What is your personal mission statement?
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Tell me about a time when you had to give someone difficult feedback. How did you handle it?
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What is your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
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What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
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What is your greatest fear?
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Who has impacted you most in your career, and how?
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What do you see yourself doing within the first 30 days of this job?
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What's the most important thing you've learned in school?
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What three character traits would your friends use to describe you?
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What will you miss about your present/last job?
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If you were interviewing someone for this position, what traits would you look for?
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List five words that describe your character.
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What is your greatest achievement outside of work?
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Sell me this pencil.
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If I were your supervisor and asked you to do something that you disagreed with, what would you do?
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Do you think a leader should be feared or liked?
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What's the most difficult decision you've made in the last two years?
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What do you like to do for fun?
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Why are you leaving your present job?
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What do you do in your spare time?
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How do you feel about taking no for an answer?
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What was the most difficult period in your life, and how did you deal with it?
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What is your favorite memory from childhood?
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Give me an example of a time you did something wrong. How did you handle it?
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Tell me one thing about yourself you wouldn't want me to know.
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Tell me the difference between good and exceptional.
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Why did your choose your major?
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What are the qualities of a good leader? A bad leader?
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What is your biggest regret, and why?
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What are three positive character traits you don't have?
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What irritates you about other people, and how do you deal with it?
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If you found out your company was doing something against the law, like fraud, what would you do?
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How many times do a clock's hands overlap in a day?
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How would you weigh a plane without scales?
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What assignment was too difficult for you, and how did you resolve the issue?
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If I were to ask your last supervisor to provide you additional training or exposure, what would she suggest?
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•
If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?
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What's the best movie you've seen in the last year?
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Describe how you would handle a situation if you were required to finish multiple tasks by the end of the day, and there was no conceivable way that you could finish them.
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What techniques and tools do you use to keep yourself organized?
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If you could get rid of any one of the provinces, which one would you get rid of, and why?
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With your eyes closed, tell me step-by-step how to tie my shoes.
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If you had to choose one, would you consider yourself a big-picture person or a detailoriented person?
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If selected for this position, can you describe your strategy for the first 90 days?
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Who are your heroes?
•
Tell me 10 ways to use a pencil other than writing.
Put yourself ahead of your competition... Give yourself the competitive edge and advantage of catching the eye of those who review your resume when seeking a career. If you want to get the career of your dreams, you need a ;
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Just For Fun… Dynamic Bio Resumes – Volume 1
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Good Humor is the Key to Career Success How to Tell Funny Jokes By Elise Cooke In this tough job climate, a good sense of humor provides a crucial edge in gaining recognition and a favorable response to his ideas.
How
to Find Material for Humor in Current Events
Keep abreast of the news. Draw between current environment to One example:
what's happening in unexpected parallels events and the work elicit good comedy.
There once was a Californian technical instructor on a business trip to Ontario. One evening, she saw on television that during the opening ceremony at a baseball game, a U.S. soldier accidentally flew the Canadian flag upside down, causing an international dust-up. The next morning, she started her highly technical lecture in her dullest monotone, but there was something wrong. At first, no one said anything. By the second slide a few students started to squirm. Finally, on the third slide, someone spoke up. "Um, excuse me, your slide - " The instructor "Hmmm?"
played
it
cool.
laughter. The instructor went home later that week with a fistful of glowing evaluations.
How •
•
• •
•
Did a Current Event Become a Funny Joke? The subject was bone-dry, which makes any deviation highly entertaining. The instructor was not trying to be humorous to compensate for incompetence in teaching the subject matter. The incident had just caused a local stir. The instructor just happened to be from the offending country, teaching in the offended country. The class was delighted to discover that what looked like an accident had actually been set up for their amusement.
Find the Humorous in Popular Culture
Now several students chimed in, "The slide's upside-down."
Lines from famous movies, cultural icons and other gems from our times make for humorous opportunities. Another example:
The instructor sighed and rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. "Oh, you Canadians are so picky about that sort of thing." The class howled with
A college student interviewing for an internship in city government ably answered all the questions put before her, but knew she needed something, Dynamic Bio Resumes – Volume 1
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anything, to help her stand out from the crowd. Spying the Disney character on the interviewer's wrist watch, she casually pointed out her own, "I see Mickey likes us both. We'll work well together."
•
Later, when told she got the job, the interviewer mentioned that she didn't have as much experience as some of the other applicants, but he decided the internship should be about cultivating an interest in city affairs.
How Did Humor from Popular Culture Secure the Job? • •
•
•
•
Jokes signal that a person is quick on his/her feet. Demonstrating an understanding of cultural mores demonstrates to the prospective employer that the interviewer grasps "the social graces." Guess who this prospective employer remembered every time he checked the time? Employers are naturally drawn to people with whom they share something in common. Notice that the "joke" wasn't knee-slapping hilarity, but it was still good enough to jog the interviewer's memory of that prospective employee.
Humor Don'ts Many people are so worried about causing offense that they don't even attempt humor. Unfortunately, many contributions will be ignored if the one with the ideas is perceived to be dull. In telling jokes, keep a few restrictions in mind: •
Never joke about sex or religion. Not only will coworkers
•
•
•
•
be offended, but if they feel harassed, the teller could be fired. Stay out of politics too, unless the joke can be phrased to amuse anyone. Calling a blow dryer a "campaign speaker," without specifying the party affiliation, will crack smiles all around the room, but humor directed at a particular legislator will likely annoy someone. Insults do not make for funny stuff, especially dumb and fat jokes. And if someone feels harassed…. Don't insult the company, either. The coworkers may agree, but it's career-limiting if overheard by, or reported to the wrong people. Self-deprecation is humorous once in a while, but too much makes one look like he/she's fishing for compliments. Timing is everything. Don't try to be the "meeting clown" when others are trying to communicate to get work done. Humor should invigorate and rejuvenate, not interfere.
Practice Making Jokes A lot of "off the cuff" humor really isn't. Look for situations where a prepared quip would work, then just be ready for it. For instance, a choppy video conference looks like a good place to make a comment about having a "streaming fit." Or describe something repetitive as "Groundhog's Day," a reference to the movie starring Bill Murray where the same day took place over and over again. A good joke teller should rehearse what to say in certain instances to save
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himself from an awkward loss of words or from blurting out something regrettable later.
Employers appreciate a good sense of humor. Consider the ability to tell funny jokes an important job skill.
Some Philosophical questions to ponder…
Philosophical Questions to Ask Someone Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are flat?
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Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle? Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard? Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a gun at him? Are there specially reserved parking spaces for non-disabled people at The Special Olympics? If you send someone 'Styrofoam', how do you pack it? If the temperature is zero outside today and it's going to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be? If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes? If it's true that we are here to help others, what are the others doing here? Do married people live longer than single ones or does it only seem longer? If someone with a split personality threatens to commit suicide, is it a hostage situation?
Really Philosophical Questions If the "black box" survives every plane crash, why not make the entire plane out of that stuff? If the universe is everything, and scientists say that the universe is expanding, what is it expanding into? Instead of talking to your plants, if you yell at them would they still grow, only to be troubled and insecure? Isn't it a little scary that a doctor's work is called practice? Should crematoriums give discounts for burn victims? Shouldn't it be called a "near hit" rather than a "near miss"? There are 24 hours in a day, and 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? What hair color do they put on the driver's license of a bald man? What is a free gift? Aren't all gifts free? When you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? Whose cruel idea was it for the word "lisp" to have an "s" in it? Why is there an eject button on the VCR remote? Don't you have to get up to get to the tape? Why are builders afraid to have a 13th floor but book publishers aren't afraid to have a Chapter 11? Why are there flotation devices under plane seats instead of parachutes? Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?
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Philosophical Questions to Ponder Why do fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing? Why do they call them "apartments" when they are all stuck together? Why do "tug" boats push their barges? Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways? Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game", when we are already there? Why do people without a watch look at their wrist when you ask them what time it is? Why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing? Why do we say things "go off" when they are actually turning on? Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing? Why don't you ever see baby crows or pigeons? Why is it building "buildings", shouldn't they be called a "built" when completed? Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a race car not called a racist? Why is it called "after dark", when it is really after light? Why is it that when you're driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio? Why is lemon juice mostly artificial ingredients but dishwashing liquid contains real lemons? Why is Mickey Mouse bigger than his dog Pluto? Why is there only one commission that determines monopolies? Why do banks charge you a "non-sufficient funds fee" on money they know you don't have? What's another word for thesaurus? What's another word for synonym? What is the speed of dark?
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What do you do when you discover and an endangered animal that only eats endangered plants? Why are there Braille signs on drive-up ATM's? Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections? Why do kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
Philosophical Questions to Ask Friends Did Adam and Eve have navels? Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car, he sticks his head out the window! Do one legged ducks swim in circles? Do atheists get insurance for acts of God? Do vegetarians eat animal crackers? Does anybody ever vanish with a trace? How come Superman could stop bullets with his chest, but always ducked when someone threw a gun at him? How come you press harder on a remote control when you know the battery is dead? How does a shelf salesman keep his store from looking empty? How fast do you have to go to keep up with the sun so you're never in darkness?
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