How to Conquer the First Impression

When you walk into an interview, remember this: It only takes 30 seconds to make a lasting impression.

Research has shown that the first impression you make on an interviewer really sticks. In one study, untrained subjects were shown 20- to 32-second videotaped segments of job applicants greeting their interviewers. When the subjects rated the applicants on attributes like self-assurance and likeability, their assessments were very similar to the interviewers' -- who had spent more than 20 minutes with each applicant.

Fortunately, there are some actions you can take to help master the first impression:

Timing

Few things give a worse impression than showing up late for an important meeting. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to the interview in case you have trouble finding the office.

But earlier isn't necessarily better. If you arrive more than 15 minutes early and beeline for the reception area, your interviewer might feel rushed and you might appear desperate, according to Emily Post's book "The Etiquette Advantage in Business." If you arrive early, go to the restroom to freshen up or have an espresso and muffin at a nearby coffee shop.

Ideally, you should check in five to 10 minutes early, and always be courteous and professional to everyone you meet -- you never know how much influence the receptionist may have on the hiring decision.

Appearance

Like it or not, people make judgments on appearances, so it's important to arrive at the interview looking like a seasoned professional. But if you dress too formally, you'll look stuffy, and if you dress too casually, the interviewer may think you're not serious about the job.

Never wear anything sloppy, tight or revealing to an interview. High-quality, tailored business suits are always appropriate for both men and women. And don't forget the details: Make sure your shoes and any other accessories are clean and polished. Clothes may make the (wo)man, but hair and hygiene are crucial. You never want an interviewer to smell you before they see you, so always bathe the morning of the interview, use a good-quality bath soap and deodorant, and avoid wearing perfume or cologne.

Be sure your hair is clean and well-groomed -- nothing spiky or wild -- and keep your makeup minimal. Cover any tattoos, and limit visible piercings to one in each earlobe.

Handshake

According to Emily Post's book, your grip speaks volumes. Offer a limp hand and your partner will think you're hesitant or meek. Give a bone-crunching squeeze and you can appear overly enthusiastic or domineering -- and it hurts! But when you shake with a medium-firm grip, you convey confidence and authority.

Extend your hand and grip when the webs of your palms touch. Then, pump your hand a couple of times.

Body language

Don't underestimate the importance of your posture and subtle movements. A study by Albert Mehrabian of UCLA found that 55 percent of communication is received from body language.

To ensure your body language signals your confidence, sit up straight with your shoulders back. Avoid crossing your legs and don't adopt a casual pose -- even if your interviewer does.

Even if you're nervous, try not to fidget. Don't play with your jewelry, twirl your hair or cross your arms, and try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer. If staring straight into the interviewer's eyes makes you uncomfortable, look at the bridge of his or her nose instead -- it looks like you're still making eye contact, but might be less distracting.

Action Words to be used in resume

Action Words

Nearly every book on article on the topic of résumé writing will advise you to use high-impact action words, and avoid the passive tense.

When you sit down and actually write, it is tough to come up with some original words.

Here is a list of powerful action words.

-A-

Accelerated
Accomplished
Achieved
Adapted
Administered
Advised
Analyzed
Arranged
Assembled
Assumed responsibility

-B-

Balanced
Blazed
Billed
Built

-C-

Carried out
Channeled
Collected
Communicated
Compiled
Completed
Conceived
Conducted
Controlled
Contracted
Coordinated
Counseled
Created
Cut

-D-

Delegated
Demonstrated
Designed
Determined
Developed
Directed
Dispatched
Distributed
Documented

-E-

Earned
Edited
Effected
Eliminated
Enabled
Energized
Established
Evaluated
Expanded
Expedited

-F-

Facilitated
Found
Functioned as

-G-

Gained
Gathered
Generated
Graded
Graduated

-H- Handled
Hired

-I-

Increased
Influenced
Implemented
Improved
Initiated
Innovated
Inspected
Installed
Instituted
Instructed
Interpreted
Interviewed
Introduced
Invented
Issued
-L-

Launched
Lectured
Led

-M-

Maintained
Managed
Mastered
Met with
Modernized
Motivated

-N-

Negotiated

-O-

Operated
Optimized
Originated
Orchestrated
Ordered
Organized
Oversaw

-P-

Participated
Performed
Pinpointed
Planned
Prepared
Presented
Produced
Programmed
Proved
Provided
Published
Purchased

-R-

Recommended
Recorded
Recruited
Reduced
Referred
Reinforced
Represented
Researched
Revamped
Reviewed
Revised
Revitalized

-S-

Saved
Scheduled
Screened
Served
Set up
Simplified
Sold
Solved
Spearheaded
Standardized
Steered
Structured
Suggested
Supervised
Supported
Surpassed

-T-

Taught
Tested
Trained
Translated
Tripled
Typed

-U-

Underwrote
Updated
Used

-W-

Won
Wrote

Five Things New Grads Should Know About Job Hunting

The class of 2006 is looking at a bright future with promising job prospects and salary increases.

Seventy percent of hiring managers say they plan to recruit recent college graduates this year, up from 62 percent in 2005, according to CareerBuilder.com’s "College Hiring 2006" survey. Plus, nearly one-in-five hiring managers expect to hire more recent college graduates in 2006 compared to last year and one-in-four plan to increase starting salaries.

College grads can also expect a bigger payoff this year. Twenty-seven percent of hiring managers anticipate increasing starting salaries for recent college graduates in 2006 and only 5 percent plan to decrease them. How much should new grads expect to earn? Thirty-four percent of hiring managers expect to offer between $20,000 and $30,000 and 28 percent expect to offer between $30,000 and $40,000. An additional 10 percent will offer between $40,000 and $50,000 and 7 percent will offer more than $50,000.

New grads won't have to pound the pavement for too long. Thirty-six percent of hiring managers say they will do the majority of their hiring of recent college graduates in the second quarter. Thirty-one percent say the majority of their hiring will take place in the third quarter.

With promising job opportunities, favorable salaries and plenty of free time, new grads should have no reason not to look for that first job. Make sure you know these top five things hiring managers look for when sizing up a candidate:

1. Relevant experience

Twenty-three percent of hiring managers say the candidate's ability to relate their experience to the job at hand is the most important factor in the hiring decision. Unfortunately, new graduates often underestimate the experience they have through internships, part-time jobs and extracurricular activities, but 63 percent of hiring managers say they view volunteer activities as relevant experience.

2. Fit within the company culture

Just because you look good on paper doesn't mean you're a shoo-in for the job. To 21 percent of employers, the trait they most want to see in a candidate is the ability to fit in with co-workers and the company. Offering up a blank stare when the interviewer asks why you are the right fit for the job will not go over well. Just be yourself, but mind your i's -- never insult, interrupt or irritate the interviewer. This can also be evaluated by that "unimportant" small talk at the beginning of an interview or non-job-related questions like "What was the last book you read?"

3. Educational background

Nineteen percent of hiring managers place the most emphasis on your educational background: the institution you attended, major, minor and degree earned. Be sure to also include courses taken and completed projects if relevant to the job. With grade point average, it's tricky. A good rule of thumb is to omit it unless it is 3.0 or higher and denote if it's your overall or major GPA.

4. Enthusiasm

Passion for the job is the top characteristic 19 percent of employers look for in a candidate. Employees who are passionate about their jobs tend to be more productive workers. The answer to "Why do you want to work here?" should always focus on the strengths of the company and the challenge of the position, not the perks. A "take or leave it" attitude about the job will leave the employer feeling the same about you.

5. Preparedness
Eight percent of hiring managers say the ideas you bring to the table and the questions you ask carry the most significance. Come in prepared to discuss how your qualifications can specifically contribute to the success of the company. Actually put yourself in that role and explain how you would perform your work and ways to improve it.

Ten Easy Steps for Email and Web Best Practices

Any time you allow your employees to access the web and email, you put your organizations at risk. Accidental misuse and intentional abuse can create potentially costly and time-consuming legal, regulatory, security and productivity headaches for employers of all sizes and in all industries. View this FREE guide from the ePolicy Institute to developing and implementing Effective Email and Web Acceptable Usage Policies here.

here is the pdf

British hacker loses U.S. extradition appeal

Accused by U.S. of being the all-time biggest military hack, Gary McKinnon could face 70 years in prison if convicted.

A British computer expert accused by Washington of the "biggest military hack of all time" lost an appeal on Tuesday against plans to extradite him to the United States to stand trial.

Gary McKinnon was arrested in 2002 following charges by U.S. prosecutors that he illegally accessed 97 government computers--including Pentagon, U.S. army, navy and NASA systems--causing $700,000 worth of damage.

Two of Britain's leading judges rejected a High Court challenge by McKinnon to an earlier court order backed by Britain's Home Secretary that he should be extradited.

"We do not find any grounds of appeal against the decision," said one of the judges, Lord Justice Maurice Kay.

"Mr McKinnon's conduct was intentional and calculated to influence and affect the U.S. government by intimidation and coercion."

"As a result of his conduct, damage was caused to computers by impairing their integrity, availability and operation of programs, systems, information and data on the computers, rendering them unreliable," Kay said.

McKinnon's lawyers had argued that sending him to the United States would breach his human rights and should not be allowed on the basis that his extradition was sought "for the purpose of prosecuting him on account of his nationality or political opinions."

McKinnon, whose hacking name was "Solo," has admitted gaining access to U.S. government computers but denies causing any damage.

At the time of his indictment, Paul McNulty, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said "Mr McKinnon is charged with the biggest military computer hack of all time."

If found guilty in the U.S, McKinnon could face up to 70 years in jail and fines of up to $1.75 million.

He is expected to apply to the House of Lords, Britain's highest court, for permission to challenge Tuesday's ruling.

Microsoft targets more software pirates

Legal action aimed at groups that sold copies of Windows and Office discounted for academic use to regular users.

Microsoft said Monday that it is taking action against groups that sold copies of Windows and Office discounted for academic use to regular users.

The Redmond, Wash., software maker has filed nine lawsuits and sent more than 50 letters threatening such action, it said in a statement. The suits were filed in the United States, but they target groups that operate internationally, posing as academic resellers in Jordan and elsewhere in that region and then reselling discounted Microsoft products in the U.S.

"These companies reaped millions of dollars in illegal profits by allegedly selling the software to Internet retailers in the United States rather than supplying it to the students," Microsoft said in the statement.

Many of the Internet retailers, in turn, allegedly made hefty profits by selling the software at retail prices to unsuspecting American consumers who were deceived into buying software that was not licensed for their use, Microsoft said.

One of the largest offenders, EDirectSoftware.com, has already agreed to settle Microsoft's lawsuit for more than $1 million in cash and property, Microsoft said. Other merchants that received letters have agreed to stop selling the software, the company said.

Software piracy resulted in a loss of $34 billion worldwide in 2005, a $1.6 billion increase over 2004, according to a study commissioned by the Business Software Alliance. Microsoft has been fighting software piracy for years, taking a multipronged approach that includes action against pirates and tools that check licenses on PCs.

The products for education are marked "Student Media" and "Not for retail or OEM distribution. Not for resale."

interview tips

10 Ways to Blow the Interview

Information abounds regarding what you should say in an interview. But it can be just as important to realize what not to say. It is also imperative to note that what you say say can be communicated through both your words and actions.

1. You arrive late to the interview.
What it means: "I really don't care about getting this position."

Arrive a healthy 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to give you time to collect your thoughts, review your notes and make a good first impression.

2. You're rude to the receptionist.
What it means: "I'm difficult to get along with."

Receptionists are the gate keepers and it's their job to be the eyes and ears of the company," cautions Lauren Milligan, founder and CEO of ResuMAYDAY, Inc. Besides, if hired, you may need their cooperation one day.

3. You answer questions with trite or cliché responses.
What it means: "I'm just one of the crowd."

Telling the interviewer you are a perfectionist and expect too much of yourself is sure to elicit a yawn, if not a discreet roll of the eyes, Milligan warns. Prepare potential responses ahead of time to avoid relying on the usuals.

4. You don't ask questions.
What it means: "I'm not that interested in your company."

The interview should be a two-way conversation "to determine if you are the right fit for the company, and if the company is the right fit for you," Milligan says. Use the interview to gather as much information about your potential new position as possible.

5. You answer the standard "Tell us about yourself," with "What would you like to know?"
What it means: "I have nothing special to offer this company."

This is your opportunity to steer the conversation into areas where you truly shine. Don't waste this chance by appearing to lack any outstanding qualities you want to share. And please don't start with where you were born. Focus on your career unless your birthplace is relevant to the job.

6. You use inappropriate language.
What it means: "I'm unprofessional and if it shows in the short span of an interview, imagine what I'll be like in the office."

Even if they're only mild and somewhat acceptable words, there still is no place for them in the interview.

7. You trash-talk your former boss.
What it means: "I have no discretion; I'll blab any inside information."

"If you left your prior job on poor terms, you need to put this relationship in a positive light for the interview," Milligan advises. "Even if your boss was to blame." You never want to bring negativity or antagonistic emotions into the interview. Keep it positive and upbeat.

8. You ask the interviewer to not contact your former employer.
What it means: "I have something to hide."

Even if you do not get along with your boss, you can always name someone else in the organization as a reference.

9. You exaggerate your accomplishments or credentials.
What it means: "I'm not good enough on my own merits, so I need to lie to make myself look good."

A skilled interviewer can easily identify fabrications in your background or experience. State your qualifications with confidence. You don't have to be Superman to get hired; you just have to be right for the job.

10. You don't thank the interviewer.
What it means: "I have no manners."

Forgetting to thank your interviewers in writing for their time can take the luster from even the most stellar interviewee.


Interview Tips for Computer Science Students

I interviewed bunch of fresh graduates for number of software development positions. Interview graduates can go two ways - It’s interesting if they’ve done something outside their course work which can show their passions and skills. It’s tiring to hear about what subject they have studied and what are the school projects. Frankly there aren’t any interesting things to talk about school.

Dan Kegel has similar thoughts. Even better, in this article, he helps the fresh grads to understand what interviewers really looking for, and suggests number of quick ways to make you stand out from the pack. As I work in an open source company, I enjoy his suggestion on contributing to an existing open source project as a way to demonstrate your programming skills:

Whether or not you’re in college, nothing is stopping you from contributing to an existing Open Source project. One good way to start is to add unit or regression tests; nearly all projects need them, but few projects have a good set of them, so your efforts will be greatly appreciated.

I suggest starting by adding a conformance test to the Wine project. That’s great because it gives you exposure to programming both in Linux and in Windows. Also, it’s something that can be done without a huge investment of time; roughly 40 work hours should be enough for you to come up to speed, write a simple test, post it, address the feedback from the Wine developers, and repeat the last two steps until your code is accepted.

11 REASONS FOR REJECTION IN THE INTERVIEW

1. Poor attitude. Many candidates come across as arrogant. While employers can afford to be self-centered, candidates cannot.

2. Appearance. Many candidates do not consider their appearance as much as they should. First impressions are quickly made in the first three to five minutes. (For details regarding Appearance, refer to the message 'Interview Etiquette' which I had posted earlier in "http://www.careerenclave.com/-JOBS" group).

3. Lack of research. It's obvious when candidates haven't learned about the job, company or industry prior to the interview. Visit the library or use the Internet to research the company, then talk with friends, peers and other professionals about the opportunity before each meeting.

4. Not having questions to ask. Asking questions shows your interest in the company and the position. Prepare a list of intelligent questions in advance.

5. Not readily knowing the answers to interviewers' questions. Anticipate and rehearse answers to tough questions about your background, such as recent termination or an employment gap. Practicing with your spouse or a friend before the interview will help you to frame intelligent responses.

6. Relying too much on resumes. Employees hire people, not paper. Although a resume can list qualifications and skills, it's the interview dialogue that will portray you as a committed, responsive team player.

7. Too much humility. Being conditioned not to brag, candidates are sometimes reluctant to describe their accomplishments. Explaining how you reach difficult or impressive goals helps portray you as a committed, responsive team player. www.careerenclave.com

8. Not relating skills to employers' needs. A list of sterling accomplishments means little if you can't relate them to a company's requirements. Reiterate your skills and convince the employer that you can "do the same for them".

9. Handling salary issues ineptly. Candidates often ask about salary and benefit packages too early. If they believe an employer is interested, they may demand inappropriate amounts and price themselves out of the jobs. Candidates who ask for too little undervalue themselves or appear desperate.

10. Lack of career direction. Job hunters who aren't clear about their career goals often can't spot or commit to appropriate opportunities. Not knowing what you want wastes everybody's time.

11. Job shopping. Some applicants, particularly those in certain high-tech, sales and marketing fields, will admit they're just "shopping" for opportunities and have little intention of changing jobs. This wastes time and leaves a bad impression with employers they may need to contact in the future.

GOOD LUCK FOR YOUR INTERVIEW

Recruitment

What are Recruiters looking for?

General personality: For many employers, the personality fit with a company is as important as your skills to perform the job!

Personal appearance: A neat, pleasant appearance is important for a good first impression.

Grades: Many employers use grades as a way to evaluate candidates. Make sure you can explain marked deficiencies.

Work Experience: Be able to articulate the importance of past job experiences in terms of the job for which you are interviewing.

Verbal communication skills: This includes the ability to listen effectively, verbalize thoughts clearly, and express yourself confidently.

Skills to perform the job: It is important to emphasize the skills, which you feel the employer is seeking, and to give specific examples of how you developed them.

Goals/Motivation: Employers will assess your ability to articulate your short-term and long-term goals.

Knowledge of the Recruiter's Company and Industry: You are expected to have read everything the company has put in the placement library. Don't waste interview time asking questions that could have been answered by the printed material.


Responding to a Job Advertisement


Sample Letter:

Responding to a Job Advertisement

Mr. Richard Vega
Director of Human Resources
Berry Berry Good Juice Company
2502 Richmond Blvd.
Dunsbury, Illinois 60629

RE: Customer Service Representative position
Posting #6892-A


Dear Mr. Vega,

I was excited to see your advertisement for a Customer Service Representative on monster.com.

Berry Berry Good Juice Company has an impeccable reputation as a quality all-natural juice maker and a supporter of the community it serves. I attended the health fair your company sponsored at the Oaks Mall, and it was impressive.

I am very interested in the Customer Service Representative position. My background includes two years as a part-time airline phone Reservationist, and two summers working at Hovendale's department store at the return desk. I pride myself on my ability to empathize with the customers and my sense of urgency when dealing with their concerns.

I would enjoy meeting with you to share what I could do for your customers and I will call you in a week about the possibility of an interview.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

< sign here >

Terese Washington

Gain confidence in your presentations by following these tips

For most of us, effective public speaking requires a bit of discipline, preparation, and practice. These suggestions will help you develop your delivery skills and overcome presentation jitters.

here is the pdf

Public speaking can be very stressful. I know that whenever I get up in front of a crowd I go through a panic moment. It takes a lot of discipline, practice, and preparation to put on a good presentation and even knowing what you need to know can be hard.

A year or so ago, I wrote on the subject of first-time speaking. Since that time, I've been able to use many of those tips as well as some new tricks to help get myself ready for speaking engagements. I also had a chance to spend time with a speaking coach, which helped more than I'd have ever guessed.

Now when I'm speaking, while not 100 percent comfortable, I do feel much better. I'm able to make it more fun for me, and I think I pass along that good feeling a bit more to my audience. I've got several useful tips, tricks, and resources I hope will help some of you. These things should help whether you're speaking at a large conference, giving a small internal presentation to you coworkers or classmates, or giving a sales pitch. They're pretty universal.
Mental and physical preparation before your presentation

I've found that the more prepared I am, the more confident I feel. This makes for a better presentation. As you get comfortable speaking, you'll naturally feel more confident and the need to prepare (and time it takes) will not be so important. For newer and first-time speakers, I think you should spend as much time as you can getting ready. Well, don't make yourself crazy; just make sure you know and feel comfortable with your material and practice a few times.

If you've never spoken before, a meeting with a speech coach can really help. They talk with you and get an idea of your style and then offer some specific advice on how to address the crowd, what your particular problems might be, and more. For example, when I went I was told:

* Speak slower.
* Talk to individuals in the crowd.
* Think before you speak. Take pauses.

These things were (and still are) very, very helpful for me to remember when I'm speaking. Going over them before I get up there reminds me and helps me be more calm and confident.

A few other ways to prepare yourself:

* Drink lots of water.
* Get a good night's sleep.
* Avoid the urge to go out drinking the night before. If you do, moderate yourself. (Especially if you're at SXSW.)
* Eat.
* Breathe.
* Visualize a positive outcome.
* Hang out with the other speakers (if there are any) and ask them questions and for advice. This always helps me as they will usually build you up.

Preparing your support materials

The key to preparing your actual presentation is to remember that less is more. If you want to share your information with people who couldn't be there, try writing an article. Even detailed presentations have something missing. A few common, and good to know, guidelines to a good presentation:

* Keep text to a minimum. No more than five bullet points per slide. If you can keep them to one core idea, that's better. People will tend to read this stuff and not pay attention to what you're saying.
* Check the contrast and font size. Make sure that if you have text on the screen, people can read it.
* Use pictures to get your idea across. They're easier to remember, less distracting, and make more impact. Have stories ready and use imagery to set the backdrop.
* Avoid complicated charts and graphs; they're hard for your audience to follow. Keep visual ideas very simple.
* Check the resolution of your presentation. Maybe go with 800 x 600 to be safe. I don't know how many times I've seen slides that don't fit on the screen. You never know for sure how it's going to work out when you get things set up if you don't have full control over the environment.
* Have simple-to-follow notes to go along with your slides and major talking points. They should serve as a reminder, not something for you to read from.
* Prepare more than you can speak to, but also be prepared to get cut short. Time flies up there.

Giving the presentation

Although you don't want to spend too much time while in the midst of your presentation thinking about what to say or do, there are a few things you should remember when speaking:

* Think positive.
* Tell stories. Stories will get your idea across much better than charts and graphs and numbers. They also have the added benefit of helping to engage your audience.
* Don't read your slides. They should support what you are saying, not be what you are saying. The same goes for your notes.
* Keep your intro short and strong. People want to know who you are, but they also want to get into the meat of your talk. A quick, solid, and clear intro is better than a meandering joke or list of accomplishments any day. Chances are, most people in the audience know a bit about you already.
* Keep it slow and steady. Pause when you need to take a breath; you'll think better.
* Don't agonize over mistakes, and don't say your sorry. Keep confident and if you mess up, move on.
* Pause to let strong ideas sink in. This can be hard to remember, but your audience needs time to absorb and take breaks too!
* Smile, joke, and laugh if appropriate. A little humor can go a long way, but don't overdo it.
* Learn from your mistakes. I know that I learn a little every time I get up and speak.
* End strong. Make your finally crisp, clean, and powerful.
* Be prepared for interruptions and questions. If you are doing well, you'll have lots of questions.

I hope this stuff helps some of you. I know that the advice I've been given over the years has helped me quite a bit. I'm still not a great speaker, but I'm getting better and I sure as heck feel more comfortable about it than I used to--which to me is more than half the battle.

D. Keith Robinson is a writer, designer, artist, and publisher living in Seattle. He's been a Web professional for nearly 10 years, and his career has included work with Boeing, Microsoft, and Sony. His Getting To Done column appears on Lifehacker.

the jist is here....
* Visualize a positive outcome.
* Hang out with the other speakers (if there are any) and ask them for advice.
* Avoid complicated charts and graphs; they're hard for your audience to follow.
* Check the resolution of your presentation. Maybe go with 800×600 to be safe. You never know for sure how it's going to work out if you don't have full control over the environment.
* Prepare more than you can speak to, but also be prepared to get cut short.
* Don't read your slides. They should support what you are saying, not be what you are saying.
* Pause to let strong ideas sink in. This can be hard to remember, but your audience needs time to absorb and take breaks too.

ORKUT---- Dhoom~Crazy Kiya re..

copy-n-paste following code in ur browsers address bar / navigation bar / url bar N hit enter!

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