The world has gotten competitive; there will be many other graduates from various educational backgrounds applying for the same job as you. So what will give you an edge over your competition? There is no sure way to ensure that you get the job but what you can do is give your best at the interview.

Here are five ways that if followed wwill help ace your job interview.

Brag modestly

It may sound confusing and yes, it is self contradictory but this tip is one of the most important ones. Make sure the interviewer knows all the skills you have that would be perfect for the job. Mention all the relevant experiences that you have had, but do not be boastful. Convey your achievements in an informative manner, but don’t brag too heavily on it. Don’t forget to mention what you can bring to the job.

Be enthusiastic

Companies need to know that you would like to work for them. They don’t want to hire somebody who doesn’t really want the job in the first place (and therefore would give a mediocre performance) so make your enthusiasm known.  Show that you’re passionate about the job and would give it a hundred percent. Your interest and passion is what will set you apart from other candidates. If they ask whether you have applied for any other jobs, make sure you let them know that you give their company the priority and are excited to be a part of their team.

Ask questions

At the end of the interview, the interviewer usually asks if you have any questions. Don’t wave that opportunity away; ask questions like how would the position help you achieve the goals you have set for your life or how it could help you develop as a person. Also ask much do you live up to their expectations of their ideal candidate. Asking questions and asking for feedback shows the interviewer that you are not only interested in the job and hence want to know how it aligns with your personals goals but also are willing to take feedback and improve upon what you may be lacking.

Ask for clarifications

If the interviewer poses a question that you don’t fully understand, don’t be afraid to ask him/her to clarify. It is possible that the interviewer might want to ask one thing and you understand it completely differently and give an irrelevant answer. Answering the wrong question can be disastrous for your interview. Politely ask the interviewer to explain the question or rephrase it. This can not only save you from answering incorrectly but will also save you from giving off an unwanted arrogant attitude.

Be concise

Give an answer that is “to the point” and ensure that you do not give long explanations unless you are asked. Interviewers are not usually interested in your life stories. Refrain from giving additional details like “my brother’s fiancé’s uncle’s sister” etc, substitute these lengthy phrases with “a friend”. But only give examples from personal life if inquired. If a question can be answered with a simple yes or no, then there is no need to give any additional details unless they really accentuate your qualities and are highly relevant.

Keep these simple tips in mind next time you go for an interview to ensure that you stand out amongst the other candidates. After getting a job, the next step is to create a personal budget using your income ratio.

Staz Johnson has been passionately blogging about personal finance, investing, bugeting, economic news and more.

According to Ken Blanchard’s theory of leadership, there exist four different types of employees, each requiring a different style of leadership. Blanchard calls it “situational leadership” and its goal is to increase the frequency and quality of conversations leaders are having with their protegés. Effective leadership (and by extension, management) is not about telling employees what to do, it’s about having useful conversations that are focused on who that employee is, what tasks they’re doing exactly in the office, and what tools they may need in order to get the job done in the most effective way. The four types of employees each require a unique approach to these conversations.

The “Low Competence, High Commitment” Employee: This employee is possibly new to the workforce or returning after a long hiatus. Perhaps she has recently embarked on a career change. This employee has little on-the-job experience but also a real enthusiasm to learn and do a great job. She needs to be directed. She needs to be told what to do in plain language, including the how, the when and the why. Do not overlook basic skills like organising (the desk, the calendar, and the workload), especially if this employee does not have a formal education. Systems should be put in place for ensuring the work gets done, while also allowing the new employee to track her performance.

The “Some Competence, Low Commitment” Employee: This one is also lacking in the skills department, although he may or may not be aware of it himself. Likely he does not know what he is doing on the job and has little or no desire to actually succeed at it. Short of firing him on the spot, your best bet is to coach him, give him direction in his work and provide support for all of his daily activities. His self-esteem is low, which explains the lack of desire to succeed. He needs to be inspired from the ground up. Restore his commitment to the job by involving him in the decision-making progress. Before you invest that time, however, explain where things have gone wrong and ask for an explanation. There may be something happening in the office that you are unaware of. Something at home, perhaps. Be compassionate but lay down the law; explain that things have to change.

The “High Competence, Variable Commitment” Employee: This employee is competent but needy. He knows exactly what he is doing and he does the job spectacularly if he feels like it, but perhaps not all the time. You get glimpses of his impressive capabilities, though he does not always bother to put them in action. He must be given regular encouragement and strong support. You must recognise when he has completed a task with a certain flair and encourage a similar style of work. Communication is paramount with this one. Track his progress with precision and discuss it with him regularly.

The “High Competence, High Commitment” Employee: This employee is the main event; she’s the one every employer hopes to find and she is the reason HR teams go through six round of hiring and eight rounds of salary negotiation to get her. You can delegate freely and be confident the job will get done. She can be trusted with important projects because she delivers results consistently and on time. Don’t hover over her shoulder. Ask her what style of direction she prefers. Does she like to have daily one-on-one meetings? Does she prefer email check-ins? Would she be more productive working from home? Make sure she’s happy because she otherwise she will not stay at the job for long. Make her career development your priority.

Blanchard reminds us how important it is that employees know about your management/leadership philosophy. Rather than wondering, “Why doesn’t my boss ever contact me anymore?,” the employee should know this is a sign that you are confident in his work and understand his ability to work independently. In order for situational leadership to be effective, all employees must understand the theory. Leadership should be done with the employee and not at them.

Amy Knapp is a business blogger based in Sydney, AUS, writing regularly for InsideTrak. Educated in Law and the Fine Arts, her work champions the marriage of the creative and the corporate. Follow her on Twitter @JoyofWords.

It’s as good as in the name that you only get one chance to make a first impression, and with most of us having it hammered in from a young age that first impressions are everything it’s unsurprising that we spend so long agonizing over what to wear and what to say at interviews.

We usually try to second guess interview questions and plan answers for weeks before dedicating no more than an evening to choosing what to wear, but research suggests that we might be doing it all the wrong way round.

Implications of the research

The figures say that as much of 55% of the opinion people form of us is based on how we look and how we behave, and that there’s only a 7% weighting on what we actually say. For most of us this will come as a slightly unbelievable shock – does it mean I can go into an accountancy interview and discuss my favourite musician so long as I’m dressed well?

Well, no, it certainly doesn’t. If you’ve made it to the interview stage then it’s generally assumed you’ll know what you’re talking about on the subject, and the things you say will, sadly, probably be at least slightly similar to hundreds of other candidates – interviewers are bound to turn off when they hear the same things over and over.

That means that they’re looking for other things to distinguish you from the pack, and that’s why that 55% figure is so high. So with that in mind, what sort of colours should you be wearing?

The colours

The first thing to emphasise is that you should wear colours you like and that you feel you look good in; most of us fall victim to buying a horrible top at some point or another just because we ‘don’t have anything in that colour’, but inside the world of work there’s nothing wrong with sticking to a few staples. ‘How we look’ is not just the colours we’re wearing, but also how well the clothes fit.

When deciding on what exactly these staples should be then, you should consider the kind of impression you want to give off.

The best colours – in order

If you’re going for a calm, authoritative and trustworthy impression then blue is the best choice. Because of these properties and the fact that blue is more people’s favourite colour than any other, it’s often heralded as the ultimate interview colour. That said, there are arguments that blue is forgettable, and that because everyone’s told to wear it you’ll make more of an impression in something else.

That ‘something else’ is often grey. Grey denotes a similarly confident and commanding character, and looks chic without being overwhelming.

Your third choice is brown – which is good for making the wearer seem trustworthy and honest, though it can be a bit drab if overdone.

What to avoid

One colour to avoid is black. Wearing small black accessories such as scarves can be elegant, but full suits or dresses appears distant and closed. Red suffers at the other end of the scale because it seems wild and impulsive.

Of course, all this should be taken with a pinch of salt. A good guide on what to wear is to study the environment of the company – if it’s creative or casual you can often get away with a little more.

Rob likes to write about fashion for Direct Sight – a supplier of cheap prescription glasses.

Job relocation can be exciting an invigorating experience…or at least it should be. If your spouse is less than thrilled with the idea of moving, relocation can instead be difficult, stressful, and sometimes even damaging to your relationship.

After all, while you get to enjoy a new career opportunity and all the excitement that comes along with it, your spouse is being asked to turn his or her life completely upside down. It’s not easy to accept change, even if the opportunity is ultimately worth the effort.

If you’re considering relocation and your spouse is reluctant to move, here are some things you can discuss:

Discuss Their Concerns, No Matter How Small

When you discover that your spouse is reluctant to relocate, it’s a good idea to talk about why. Is it the fear of something new? Concerns about finances, distance from family, loss of a favorite activity or hobby, or a change in lifestyle? Talking through your spouse’s concerns about relocation – even the most trivial concerns – is a great way to make your spouse more comfortable with the idea.

For example, losing the NFL package might not seem like a big deal to you, but your husband might be genuinely upset about that loss. Talking about it out loud is a great way to find a compromise.

Recognize that Change is Hard and Sometimes Even Scary

At some level, all humans have difficulty with change. We are creatures of habit, and we can become set in our ways so much that the thought of uprooting our lives is very upsetting. Some of us suffer from substantial anxiety when we’re asked to move, and it’s important for you to recognize that natural human feeling in your spouse.

Put another way, moving is tough on almost everyone. The great unknowns of moving include:

• What the new city is like
• How the move will happen
• How often you will be able to see your friends and/or family that live nearby
• What new schools will be like for kids
• How you will adjust to a new climate

These concerns can quickly compound and create an overwhelming level of stress that can paralyze your spouse. Therefore, it’s essential that you treat your spouse’s feelings with respect and compassion. Your job isn’t just to help them deal with the actual details of moving – you also have to help them overcome their natural anxieties and fears.

If Necessary, Slow Down the Process

When you’re offered a new position and a relocation package, your excitement can make it seem like relocation can’t happen soon enough. However, for your spouse, the relocation process may feel like it’s progressing at warp speed.

If this is the case, you need to try to slow down the process. Sometimes this is just as simple as taking a few days off to help your spouse with moving and arrangements, but other times it might be a good idea to arrange for temporary housing for a few weeks or months while your spouse gets to a place where they’re ready to move. (Your company relocation policy, though, will likely encourage (and incentivize) you to complete the move as quickly as possible, so as to get you in place and focused on your new job).

Take Advantage of The Resources Your Company Offers

Most companies now outsource their relocation function to third-party relocation companies. You will typically have a dedicated counselor who will walk you through your relocation benefits and help you through every step of the process; for example, by coordinating the movement of your household goods or your homefinding trip. Your counselor is also there to simply listen to your concerns and to help allay any fears or reservations you might have.

Create a Positive Experience

Before you make the big move, visit the city once or several times with your spouse. Try to create positive experiences by:

• Visit cultural places like museums
• Go out for a special dinner
• Spend time walking/driving around the city
• Have a picnic in the park near your new home
• Find a festival or sporting event that your spouse enjoys

By following these tips, you can help reduce your spouse’s fears and anxiety and help prepare him or her for what lies ahead. Remember that while a new job might be exciting for you, your spouse might be anxious, nervous, and stressed out about your move. You’ve got to work all of that out together.

After two cross-country job relocations, author Jason Lancaster understands how stressful a relocation can be. Jason also writes for TRC Global Solutions, an international employee relocation service that offers free sample corporate relocation policy documents.

cc licensed flickr photo shared by bpsusf

Top companies often use very creative methods to evaluate management candidates. These methods are often subtle and easy to miss. Top companies developed these clever evaluation processes because it costs a lot to make the wrong decision when hiring someone. Moreover, these methods are based on management research studies as well as the hiring manager’s experience dealing with a wide variety of candidates.

Naturally, there is no playbook by which these methods are devised and each company has developed its own unique formula. In addition, there are numerous methods used to decide on the best candidate. However, these methods are used because they are simple to implement yet often yield astonishing insight into the person under evaluation.

Five Popular Screening Methods

Five methods that are often used are pre-employment tests, insisting on honest answers, asking for verification of achievements, talking about high school jobs, and noticing how candidates dress and conduct themselves.

1. Issuing pre-Employment Tests

Considerable research has gone into devising pre-employment tests with the results that they are often surprisingly accurate in predicting how an applicant will behave on the job. These tests are also fairly useful in helping a company evaluate the future potential of an applicant.

In fact, top companies often will not even consider interviewing someone who did not do well in a pre-employment test. While some pre-employment tests do ask for subject knowledge, most mainly focus on developing a psychological profile. Questions asked in these tests are often repeated in different ways to gauge whether the answers are consistent.

2. Insisting on Honest Answers

Hiring managers often understand that jobs applicants are liable to exaggerate their talents, abilities and work ethic. It is often difficult to know when someone who is lying, exaggerating, or telling the truth. For this reason, a hiring manager may begin the interview by making a declaration that any answers they receive that later turn out to be false if the person is chosen for the job are grounds for instant termination. Research has shown that just making this statement has improved the quality of information a hiring manager receives during an interview.

3. Asking for Verification

If a management candidate begins to boast about their accomplishments, then one technique used to discern the truth is to ask for the names and telephone numbers of people who will verify the story. If the stories are indeed true, then the applicant is almost eager to share this information; or, if they don’t have it on hand, they are eager to report back with it. Conversely, those who have been exaggerating their past performance, tend to become suddenly subdued.

3. Talking About High School JobsAlthough it may seem off-topic to ask a person who has had numerous careers since high school about what jobs they liked when they were young, there is actually a high correlation between jobs people did in high school and their talents and preferences. For instance, one study showed that people who apply for management jobs often pursued customer-service jobs when they were in high school, rather than mechanical or physical labor jobs.

5. Evaluating Physical Appearance

There appears to be a high correlation between someone who is neat and wears the appropriate attire for an interview than someone who has more casual attire. Observing if someone is well groomed and dressed well may seem like a superficial way to assess their character. After all, most people are often told that they should dress up before an interview. However, someone who dresses up shows that they take their role in society seriously and do their best to make a good impression.

Dory Miller is a HR administrator and guest author at Human Resources MBA, a site with information and resources for potential students.

If you are wondering how to make the most of the professional networking event you are about to attend in a few weeks, the following tips can help you become more effective.

Research Rigorously

The very first step of ensuring that your trip to a professional networking event is successful is to prepare yourself for it around a week prior to the event. Find out who is attending the event. Which companies are being represented? What is the ratio of employers and those who are searching for jobs? How many CEOs and upper management professionals are expected? How long is the event expected to last?

Also, you may contact these people a week or so prior to the event. Ask them questions you think are appropriate – these questions may or may not be related to the upcoming event. Once you reach the venue, you will already know people there and this will make it easier for you to introduce yourself to people you want to talk to. This will give you an edge over those who don’t know anyone and will help you build networks faster and more easily.

Prepare Perfectly

You have to set certain things in order before leaving for the event. First comes clothing. The research you’ve done about the people attending the event and other details will help you decide the level of formality your attire must exhibit. When in doubt, it is preferable to be on the formal side than casual.

Carry items such as notepads, pens or electronic devices that will help you note down points between or after conversations with important people. Receptions at events often give out material to be used by the attendees, but they can’t be trusted so keep your own stuff.

Keep Company

The ability of starting a conversation comes very naturally to some people while others have to go through quite a struggle (much of it internal). If you consider yourself part of the former category, you must go alone to a professional networking event. Your company would do nothing but become an excuse for you to not interact with people at certain times. However, if you are part of the latter category, it would be better for you to take someone with you who gives you company at the event in a way that attracts more people to talk to you. People prefer talking to someone who they think is social rather than someone whose sociability they have no idea about.

Communicate Creatively

Creativity is one value that is always appreciated.

Use the nametags given out to you at the reception in a way that attracts positive attention. Present creative ideas to get people you talk to. Give them ideas related to whatever they are up to. This will show how you can be of use to them. However, beware of appearing as too pushy. If creativity doesn’t come to you naturally, converse in a conventional way.

Follow Up Faithfully

If you fail to follow up with the people you met at the event, consider all your efforts washed down the drain. Since you are the one in need of contacts, you must consistently make an effort to keep in touch with those who you think are relevant to whatever you are looking for.

Paul Cook writes for Masters in Accounting, a career resource for individuals interested in getting started in the accounting industry.

One of the most dangerous jobs you could ever do is becoming a stunt person. Their job is always understated because the viewer of a movie never pays attention to what goes in to producing certain dangerous scenes. The actors and actresses usually don’t perform those highly dangerous stunts, instead they hire someone to do it for them. Some of the job requirements include flying a jet, jumping off a building, and driving a car over an open bridge.

Any action movie you see will have someone doing all of the stunts. Many stunt people have died performing the stunts, which is surprising why this job is never mentioned as being one of the most deadliest. I realize construction workers have it rough but stunt people literally go to work everyday risking their lives. One incorrect step or one technical mishap could easily result in the stunt person losing their life, and that makes their job one of the deadliest.

Source: www.becomecareer.com

Whether you’re a contractor, a business owner or a virtual employee, working from home may be one of the best things happening for you. You can work at your own pace, your own hours. You can work in your PJ’s and no one will really care. You can set standards for yourself and be your own boss. But, while working at home can be fun, it may also drain you out or make you feel lazy especially with all the distractions surrounding you. Here are some simple ways of getting you back to your work mode.

Clear the clutter

Whether the clutter is in front of you or inside of you. Clear your mind. Visualize the task on hand. Make mental notes and tackle the day’s work. But before doing that, make sure that you have a clean, wide space to work on. Don’t let yesterday’s trash settle on your table. Throw old papers, finished documents, soda bottles from yesterday’s break and other clutter. Be sure that only work-related things are on your desk to keep you focused.

Prepare as if you are going to work

Sure it’s nice to work in your PJ’s or loungewear but making the extra preparation will make you feel more motivated and more professional. Simple things like taking a bath, fixing your hair and changing clothes will make a world of difference to your work attitude for the day.

Organize

Whatever organization method that works for you, do it. Make a list, keep a journal or make an online organizer. It’s fun to tick off tasks as you finish them. You’ll have a sense of pride and accomplishment at the end of the day when you see that you finished everything on your list.

Stop when you’re in a rut

Stand up, walk around, get something to drink when you feel stuck. Can’t solve a problem? Look out the window and watch nature or watch the people on the street going about their day. Then go back to your desk and you will be able to see your task in a different perspective.

Give yourself frequent breaks

Just like in a normal office, have coffee or tea breaks, bathroom breaks, 15-minute breaks or whatever break it is that you fancy. Take a power lunch if you have flexible working hours. You will feel refreshed and ready for action after each break.

Don’t get distracted

Just because you’re working at home means that you can sneak a TV show or two or check Facebook every 5 minutes. You have to be responsible enough to finish your tasks for the day at the given time. Don’t let friends and family distract you while you’re in your “work hours”. Inform everyone to treat you as if you are in the office during these times.

Start and finish your work on time

If you need to start working at 9 am, be at your desk at 9 am. If your work day ends at 5 pm then finish at 5 pm. Do not extend your working hours if you don’t need to. Many employers think that because their employees are working from home that they get cheated on the work hours. This is commonly not the case as people who work from home tend to work longer. This is because (most of the time) they don’t need to go out to eat, they don’t need to commute, they don’t need to catch a bus or a train to go home or they want to hurry home to spend more time with their family. All these things are no longer a problem when working from home so an employee tends to do over time work. Stick to your schedule. Don’t be tempted to go back to your work after you feel rested. This kills your creativity and can lead to burning out.

Reward yourself

At the end of the day, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. You can do small things for yourself like having an ice cream or watching TV (because you’ve been deprived all day). You can also go out to get some air and do a little socializing. Take your family to dinner or watch a movie with a friend. This is good for you as it gets you out of your work environment.

Working from home is very rewarding. You just need to have enough discipline, focus and motivation to keep you going.

If you are a contractor and looking for a contractor mortgage be sure to check out the best rates with Contractor money.

In a survey of young people in today’s economy, 79% believe that a college education is a vital factor in their future. With this many people planning on attending college, and that number likely to increase, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the availability of careers upon graduating will increase as well. Unemployment rate for recent graduates has reached 9.1%, the highest rate in recent history. The fact of the matter is, whether these people are able to secure a career or not, the debt accumulated while in college will be present either way. The majority of this debt is from student loans, with only an astounding 21% of students graduating with a manageable amount of student loan debt. This has led to 8.8% of 2-year cohort students defaulting on their loans at the end of 2010 (over 320,000 people). Financial Aid options, such as the Pell Grant, offer money to low income students, but politicians today are even looking to lower these grant amounts to reduce the U.S. deficit.

From: topcollegesonline.org

The rise of the smartphone has only meant one thing; the rise of the smartphone app. Now you can pretty much get anything you want on your phone and, what’s more, you can get it on the move. Hunting for a new job has never been more accessible, so we take you through 10 of the best smartphone apps to help your job hunt.

C-V Library

This free app allows the user not only to search over 50,000 live job vacancies, but also apply directly via the app itself. Users can narrow their search by looking at specific industry vacancies and they can save jobs as well as email them to themselves or a friend to save for later application. New vacancies are added all the time and you can edit your cover letter on the app itself and tailor each application.

Job Compass

If you want to search jobs within your region then Job Compass is an extremely useful app. Free to download it uses the iPhone GPS locator to find your location and then searches for jobs within a radius which you can set yourself. The app can then give you additional information about the jobs which you are interested in and also the ability to apply from your iPhone itself.

Career Bliss

Career Bliss is an app that not only helps the user to search job vacancies, but is there to ensure happiness in the workplace. It is an online career community with over 3 million vacancies and allows access to independent company reviews and salary expectation to ensure that you know the most about the company that you are applying to.

BusyBee

BusyBee is an app aimed at freelancers, and features companies who want to out-source temporary jobs or one-off specialist roles. You can search roles via specific locations or narrow the search to your specific skill set. It is a great app for those job seekers who want a more flexible approach.

Jobs and Career Test

If you are unsure which jobs you should be applying for, and indeed which jobs you are suited to, then this free app is for you. Through a series of questions this app will help you find out your personality type and tell you which workplace you would be suited in and what jobs you should look out for.

Linked In

Linked In is a professional social networking site and this app makes your Linked In profile accessible on the move. Your professional profile can be used to find other like professionals and career opportunities. With over 161 million worldwide users you can share content and connect with people from all industries. The app will also keep you up to date with all the latest industry news.

Monster Jobs

Monster Jobs is already a popular jobs website and the app allows you to access your account from your iPhone. You can search and apply for jobs as well as having jobs that fit your criteria emailed to you. As well as being able to edit your pofile it connects to other social media sites such as Foursquare, allowing you to search for jobs near the locations that you visit frequently.

Business Card Reader

Face to face networking is often a great way to meet new business contacts and find new job opportunities, and now exchanging information by business card, has never been easier. As opposed to the conventional business card which is often impractical and may be misplaced, the business card reader available on your smartphone can scan in the information on the card and store it to your phone so the contact will never be lost.

Good Job

Being organised will help you stay ahead in the job market. This app allows you to track and save all to do tasks as well as interviews and job contacts. Having all this information in one place makes it easier prioritise to and work out when you have interviews booked or CVs to send off to. It is fully customisable and allows you to assign “priority statues” to each task.

Job Finder

Job Finder allows you to search jobs via location and type but also taps in to other jobs sources such as Monster Jobs and Indeed.com making the jobs available a very comprehensive list of the jobs available. You can also contact the employer directly from the app itself and save jobs you wish to apply for at a later stage.

Jonny D loves collecting apps, gadgets and anything else tech related that he can get his hands on! He currently works for Ladbrokes.