11 interview questions and their possible answers

Interviews usually bring tense to job seekers. The more confident you feel, the more chances of gaining the interviewer attention. Be poised and hold your head high with these useful interview tips:

interview tips

1.   Why should we hire you?

If you hire me, it will be a great platform to showcase my skills. Whatever goals I set, I ensure to complete them within stipulated time.

2.   What is the reason behind leaving your last job?

In order to enhance my skill set, I am looking for better opportunity.

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25 Factors to consider in choosing a career

It is relevant here to state that the choice of a career is not as easy as we sometimes think. The student should be able to answer the following career choice questions before choosing a career:

choosing a career

a.     Do you possess the required intellectual ability for the career?

b.    Will your present subject offering lead you to your desired career?

c.      Do you have the needed and sustained interest for the career?

d.    Do you have the needed aptitude for the career?

e.     Do you have the necessary personality qualities for the career?

f.       Can your health conditions and constitutions carry you in the career?

g.     Can you last the period, stress, risk and inconveniences expected in the training or preparation for the career?

h.    What are the primary reasons for choosing the career? (Monetary, status, helping others to contribute to societal advancement, etc.)?

i.    Do you or your parents/sponsors have the financial resources to carry you through the training or preparation period?

j.       Is your chosen career relevant to the needs of the environment/nation?

k.     Can you find employment in your chosen career after training/preparation?

l.      Are you familiar with the importance, nature, history and definition of the career?

m.  Do you have other necessary qualifications for the career e.g. age, sex and the general education for the career?

n.    Do you know how to enter into your chosen career?

o. Is your career offered (for participation) in the available institutions or workshops?

p.    Do you know the general conditions of service for the career?

q.    Are there prospects of advancement and fulfillment in the career?

r.      Would you be able to adjust to the environments and sociological environments of the career? i.e. would you be able to adapt to the geographical location and persons the career could expose you to?

s.      Would the career jeopardize or conflict with your religious and cultural values and beliefs?

t.      What are the advantages and disadvantages of the career?

u.    Do you know about the job hazards associated with your career of interest?

v.     Will the career make you self-employable or dependent on other employers of labour?

w.   Will you be ready for service, re-training or on-the-job training in the career if the need arises?

x.     Assuming you are thrown out of the career/job (retrenched) can you adjust to any other job or a career if the need arises?

y.     If your retire from the career, what plans could you make to survive?

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15 Common mistakes in choosing a career

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15 Common mistakes in choosing a career

Choosing a career is generally not a one-time decision; it’s a series of decisions, made as you progress through different stages of life, experience, and responsibility. Below are the various mistakes in choosing a career.

choosing a career

1.     Choosing a career because of the prestige attached to it.

2.     Choosing a career in which one does not possess the  necessary ability, interest, aptitude and personality traits.

3.     Choosing a career because a friend has chosen it.

4.     Choosing a career in which employment is either scarce or non-existent.

5. Choosing a career the preparation/training for which the family/personal resources are not able to carry.

6.     Choosing a career just to please parents and other family members.

7.     Choosing a career out of frustration or as a last resort.

8.     Choosing a career that may not be actualized with the school subjects offered by the student.

9.     Choosing a career without consulting professional guidance personnel.

10.    Choosing a career that one may not be committed to but choosing it for the fun of it.

11.    Choosing a career because of the monetary advantages.

12.    Choosing a career without full knowledge about the career.

13.    Choosing a career that would not help to lead one to self-actualization or self-fulfillment; i.e. achieving one’s career goals.

14.  Choosing a career for which one lacks the necessary training, skills and dispositions.

15.       Choosing a career that is not relevant to the needs of the society.

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13 Must have Inter-personal Skills at Work

Interpersonal skills are those skills that are connected with relationships between people. These skills are very important in the work place to ensure smooth and efficient team work. They are:

inter-personal skills at work

a.     Language: A strong working knowledge of English language enables a worker to interact with other people.

b.    Critical thinking and decision making skills: These constitute the ability to think abstractly, to organize materials and follow instructions.

c.      Dependability: Dependable workers come to work every day punctually, follow through on project, keep their word and contribute their fair share to the work load.

d.    Relating to others: Being able to work well with other people; helps to get the job done.

e.  Good judgment: This is the ability to ensure that all work are accurate and logical.

f.  Maturity: Employers want employees who can handle matters in an adult manner, develop confidence and exercise self-control.

g. Flexibility: Office workers must be receptive to new ideas, procedures, specifications, tasks and equipment. Learn to adapt easily.

h.  Discretion: Avoid discussing the information with which you work, inside or outside the office.

i.     Receptiveness: No one expects a worker to know everything. Admit what you do not know and need to learn. Be receptive to other people’s advice.

j.     Integrity: Be loyal to your employer. Come to work early but don’t leave early. Do not excuse yourself from the job unnecessarily for one reason or the other. Do not waste your employer’s time. Time is money in business.

k.     Personal appearance: A lot can said at this point; however, note that the image you portray also reflects on your office. Dress neatly and appropriately. Watch your body language.

l.    Positive attitude: Employers prefer positive people to negative people because positive people think confidently and generate positive results.

m.  Team member: An effective office requires group effort. Help others when you are not busy. Offering help to a colleague may bring you a return favour at a time you need help most.

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The Importance of Self-evaluation in Job hunt/search

Self-appraisal can encourage employees to become mindful of areas where they need to improve and it can reveal attitudes and biases a manger might never guess from observation. Below are the needs for self-evaluation;

self-evaluation

i.                   Self-evaluation helps the job seeker assess his capabilities in respect of the job he intends doing.

ii.                 The applicant is able to know whether he has the right qualification for the job.

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10 Ways Of Organizing Your Home/Office

Office administration is a set of day-to-day activities that are related to financial planning, record keeping & billing, personnel, physical distribution and logistics, within an organization. Organization breeds success. A clean and well-kept office makes a strong impression on how employees view their jobs. To get started the following tips will help you;

organizing your office

1.     Develop a system for tracking your daily activities, such as a "things to do" list.

2.     Eliminate clutter, allot time for periodic sifting and sorting: discard, give away, or sell surplus possessions.

3.     Organize your office and home so everything is accessible; use active and inactive criteria for placing items.

4.     Use an organizing principle for organizing your files; alphabetically, by number, color, chronologically etc.

5.     For a few, a messy desk is the sign of genius. for most, a messy desk is the sign of disorganization and neglected paperwork. Budget regular time to file and clear off your desk.

6.     Get into the habit of dating what you are working on so it will be easier to keep it organized. Date written material on the front or back; incorporate a date into the name of a computer file.

7.     To avoid lateness, give yourself an extra 10 or 15 minutes to get to appointments.

8.     If you need additional help organizing and getting rid of clutter, take a course or a seminar, hire a time management consultant, read articles or books, or watch a related video.

9.     Create your own days or dates, on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis, to clean off your desk, your files, your closets, or to overhaul your organizing system.

10.                        Have a handy the names, addresses, phone numbers and pick up schedule for charities, recycling, or resale shops that will welcome your old stuff or reading materials to get rid of your clutter.

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5 Tips To Boost Confidence at a Job Interview

Job hunt is a very stressful aspect of one’s life; it takes motivation and being positive to get the right and dream job. Interviews usually bring tense to job seekers. The more confident you feel, the more chances of gaining the interviewer attention. Be poised and hold your head high with these useful interview tips:

1.     Body Postures

Usually the mind controls all our actions and movement, but it is possible to use the body to trick the mind into feeling a certain way. Slouching or slumping and crossing your arms are all examples of closed off postures, and when we feel small, we tend to exhibit these poses. If you spend a little time opening yourself up and

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Ten Things You Can Do To Improve Your Mental Health

Mental health is a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of mental illness. It is the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment.

Try these tips to help find the right balance in your life.

how to improve our mental health

1. Value yourself:

Treat yourself with kindness and respect, and avoid self-criticism. Make time for your hobbies and favorite projects, or broaden your horizons. Do a daily crossword puzzle, plant a garden, take dance lessons, learn to play an instrument or become fluent in another language.

2. Take care of your body:

Taking care of yourself physically can improve your mental health. Be sure to:

• Eat nutritious meals
• Avoid cigarettes
• Drink plenty of water
• Exercise, which helps decrease depression and anxiety and improve moods
• Get enough sleep. Researchers believe that lack of sleep contributes to a high rate of depression in college students.

3. Surround yourself with good people:

People with strong family or social connections are generally healthier than those who lack a support network. Make plans with supportive family members and friends, or seek out activities where you can meet new people, such as a club, class or support group.

4. Give yourself:

Volunteer your time and energy to help someone else. You'll feel good about doing something tangible to help someone in need — and it's a great way to meet new people.

5. Learn how to deal with stress:

Like it or not, stress is a part of life. Practice good coping skills: Try One-Minute Stress Strategies, do Tai Chi, exercise, take a nature walk, play with your pet or try journal writing as a stress reducer. Also, remember to smile and see the humor in life. Research shows that laughter can boost your immune system, ease pain, relax your body and reduce stress.

6. Quiet your mind:

Try meditating, Mindfulness and/or prayer. Relaxation exercises and prayer can improve your state of mind and outlook on life. In fact, research shows that meditation may help you feel calm and enhance the effects of therapy.

7. Set realistic goals:

Decide what you want to achieve academically, professionally and personally, and write down the steps you need to realize your goals. Aim high, but be realistic and don't over-schedule. You'll enjoy a tremendous sense of accomplishment and self-worth as you progress toward your goal. Wellness Coaching, free to U-M students, can help you develop goals and stay on track.

8. Break up the monotony:

Although our routines make us more efficient and enhance our feelings of security and safety, a little change of pace can perk up a tedious schedule. Alter your jogging route, plan a road-trip, take a walk in a different park, hang some new pictures or try a new restaurant.

9. Avoid alcohol and other drugs:

Keep alcohol use to a minimum and avoid other drugs. Sometimes people use alcohol and other drugs to "self-medicate" but in reality, alcohol and other drugs only aggravate problems.

10. Get help when you need it:

Seeking help is a sign of strength — not a weakness. And it is important to remember that treatment is effective. People who get appropriate care can recover from mental illness and substance abuse disorders and lead full, rewarding lives.

*Adapted from the National Mental Health Association/National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

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6 Steps To Kickstart Your Career As A University Freshman

So, you and your parents have just invested a significant amount of money for your university education. As a freshman, what can you do to make sure you get your money’s worth? How will you assure a return on your investment (ROI)?

Step 1: Get Organized

Developing a strong, structured time management routine is crucial to being successful in college. Your first semester will set the tone for your following four years. It is imperative that you establish a strong GPA that first semester because maintaining a high GPA is much easier than trying to bring up a low one.

Being organized will also keep you healthy, reduce your stress levels, and prevent fatigue.

Work on maximizing your time between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. Take advantage of free time between classes to work on homework, projects, career development, and exercise. This will free up your evenings and weekends for additional activities, rest, and relaxation. Then, spend a few hours at the end of your weekend to review and plan for the following week.

Step 2: Schedule Monthly Meetings With A Career Coach Because career development is a process that takes as many semesters as your established major, scheduling career coaching appointments monthly will benefit you tremendously. Every college has a career development office. Locate it and visit your first semester. Then, establish a relationship with this office

and keep consistent appointments with a career coach. He/she will help you plan out your professional

development goals for each semester.

If you do not do this, you will not be educated on how to transition from student to professional. Would you dare wait until your final semester of college to visit your professors, attend class, and follow through with your major requirements for graduation? Of course not! So, why would you dare make the mistake of doing this with your career development?

Step 3: Engage In Your Career Development

The majority of students who fail to attend and participate in career development events do so because

they choose not to engage and prioritize this development. Again, it is imperative that students educate

themselves on how to transition from student to professional. Establish and keep consistent appointments with a career coach so you can identify professional interests, build strategies for out of classroom experiences, identify strong, mentor-based internships, and establish a strong professional brand. Learning to be professional starts freshman year, not senior year.

Step 4: Investigate Extra Curricular Activities

Once you have identified professional interests, it is time to celebrate those interests and meet others who have those same interests. This is where extra curricular activities come in. As a freshman, finding a community that celebrates these same interests will help you learn more about yourself, your goals and passions, and your interpersonal style. College provides an abundance of clubs and activities for students to choose from, so investigate these choices and participate starting your freshman year. This will set the

stage for future leadership opportunities within these clubs or activities and will help strengthen your

professional interests.

Step 5: Create Your LinkedIn Profile

Establishing a professional on line presence begins freshman year. Yes, students need to clean up their Facebook page and even lock it down, if preferred. However, the main focus freshman year, is to establish your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a professional networking site every bit as relevant to first year college students as it is to seasoned professionals.

The difference is in the strategies used by freshman versus seasoned professionals. Freshman can research

alumni, learn about their majors and subsequent careers, research those careers and the companies in which they work and learn tons about the professional world. And, the career development coaches and staff can assist freshman in building their profiles and using the site strategically.

Step 6: Get A Mentor

Because your first year in college is a huge transition, it can be a tremendous help to build a relationship with someone a bit ahead of you. Someone who has recently been in your shoes, can guide you, give you advice and support you through this transition. This is where mentoring comes in. Ask the career development office if they can assist you in locating a mentor. Alumni can be fabulous mentors for freshman and a career coach can assist you in making connections with alumni through LinkedIn.

These are six easy steps to accomplish during your freshman year. Remember, you have made a significant financial investment to attend college, so follow these steps and you will be on your way to gaining a huge ROI.

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21 powerful lessons to remember in life

Yesterday is a beautiful reflection. Today is a new beginning. Tomorrow is a limitless possibility. On my birthday am sharing 21 life lessons i have experienced while living.

life lessons

1. Never give up on anything. Miracle's happen everyday.

2. It is better to strive for excellence than perfection.

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