Monday, October 4, 2010

The 3 Priorities to Achieve Balance for a Happy, Successful Life

By Nan McAdam

I have worked in the business world for many years. The saddest thing, I have witnessed, is to see someone who has work very hard, spending the majority of their time creating a successful career. They finally reach that pinnacle of success in their career that they were striving for and they look around and that's all they have. Their marriage and family is gone, kicked to the curb by over focusing on their career. They had lost all sense of balance. They have achieved the dream career, but their life is in ruins.
Some people, actually, use the above scenario as an excuse to not succeed. They don't want to put in the time and hard work it takes to succeed because they don't want to lose what is precious to them. I believe you can have it all. Does that sound impossible? I have witnessed it. I know many successful people who have grabbed the brass ring in their career and have a solid life with their partner and kids. Don't get me wrong. I have witnessed plenty of the first scenario. It is challenging, to say the least, but it can be done!
If someone achieves their dream success in their career, but loses their family and is spiritually bankrupt, are they really successful? Creating a successful life begins by prioritizing the important things in life. The successful people, I have seen, prioritize their top three things in this order.
1. Spiritual - they have an active relationship with their God or what ever they call their creator. They model their lives by the laws and teachings of their spiritual faith. I don't believe that a certain religion creates more successful people. They may not even be affiliated with a religion. Successful people realize there is something larger than themselves. They acknowledge it and worship in their own way. Their communication with their spiritual side is their first priority. Face it, faith and hope come from a strong spiritual connection.
2. Family - isn't this who we are working for? If we really prioritize our families we will find the time to spend with them. The time might not be quantity, but it should be quality. Four hours of watching TV with the wife/husband and the kids is not quality time. The key is, the time you spend with them should have all your attention. Schedule them in your planner and keep that appointment no matter what crisis happens at work. If we have a great career but lose the closeness with our spouse and children, what have we gained? When we always short change our family for our career, they aren't really the priority they should be. Our families should be our "why" for success. When we move into the winter of our lives, our families will be the ones who keep us warm.
3. Business - I am not naive enough to believe, when creating a successful career, we will always be in balance. Project deadlines and business growth accelerations can take us out of balance. When this happens, communication with our top two priorities is in order. Our family, will understand short changing their quality time only if it doesn't become the norm.
It is fun and exciting to build a successful career! It should be the monetary means to build a successful life, not the life.



Medical Transcription and Scribes

By Kathy Nicholls

The use of scribes has been a topic of discussion quite a bit lately, so I thought it was time to talk about it here and see what your thoughts are.
If you're not yet familiar with the term, a scribe is a person who goes into the exam room with a physician and does the documentation on the patient visit into an electronic record, using a laptop or some type of portable device. It's being sold as a way for physicians to get their information into an electronic record quickly and a way to reduce costs.
Scribes need to have an understanding of medical terminology so that the documentation is correct. They also need to be able to work with the technology that is being used, although, like medical transcription, I imagine systems will vary from provider to provider. My ophthalmologist has been using a "scribe" in his practice now for more than ten years, so I sometimes chuckle when I hear people talking about how new this practice is. Or perhaps he is jut ahead of his time.
The reports I've seen show that scribes tend to make a starting wage of $8 to $10 per hour. It is also reported that while some of the people doing this job have some medical background, many times they are trained from scratch in training programs that take six to eight weeks to complete. Most of the information shows that scribes work for a company, who then contracts with the healthcare facility to provide the services. These companies are charging the healthcare facilities $20 to $24 per hour for the scribe services.
Is this an opportunity for medical transcriptionists? Perhaps. Medical transcriptionists certainly have the skill set necessary to perform this function. While many will protest the pay, remember that these scribes are working for a company, or a middle man, who has to "upcharge" the healthcare provider in order to make money. How would that change if you went directly to a healthcare provider and offered those services?
What do you think? Is a scribe a potential future role for people with medical transcription training?


How To Not Ruin Your Best Resume

By Suzette Dean

For fresh graduates, having the best resume is a big issue. They consider it their key to getting hired by a reputable company. This is actually true since they have little or no work experience. Because of this, many struggle to make the best resume. However because of lack of knowledge and information sources, many are not able to achieve the goal of making the best resume and end up with an average resume instead. But what should a resume really include for it to be the best resume?
First of all, the best resume should always include your educational attainment. Whether you are able to go to a university or just high school, educational attainment should always be included. Why? Since you are a fresh graduate, and have little or no work experience yet, employers will base their decision on the school that you have been to. For most companies, the standards of the schools can help them determine the capacity of the applicant.
Second, the best resume should contain activities that were work-related or internships. This is also important because they could use your internship experiences to determine your working capacity - whether you are hard working or not, if you have perseverance or not, or whether you are determined or not. These qualities are very important for companies because they would want their employees to be efficient.
Third, the best resume should contain any training and seminars that you were able to attend. Why is this important? Training and seminars will definitely give you additional knowledge that you will not be able to learn from the four walls of the classroom. Training and seminars that are written in your best resume will of course give you an edge compared to other applicants who were not able to undertake such privileges.
You see - writing your own best resume is not that hard. All you need is focus and the proper tips of course. Remember, flooding your resume will not make it the best but instead will make it look like a logbook. Choosing the right information to include in your resume is very important so as to not flood your resume. Impressing the employer is the goal, but being able to write the best resume by yourself will not only impress the employer, but give you satisfaction because your hard work paid off in the best way.


Monday, September 27, 2010

Job Searching Tips During War Time

by Nathan Newberger

During times of war, it can be very difficult to focus on your life. Though you may not be on the front lines, war may still affect you. War, in some fashion, affects the lives of every person of every country involved. That means that both job seekers and job recruiters may have difficulty focusing on day-to-day life.
Even though it is difficult, staying focused is vital to the job hunter. This http://www.WorkTree.com career article by Nathan Newberger provides you some key points to consider when examining your job search during turbulent times. Keep the following in mind:

  • 1. Be aware, not obsessed
  • 2. Keep your head up
  • 3. Charge ahead
  • 4. Watch your mouth
1. BE AWARE, NOT OBSESSED
With so many 24-hour news television channels providing non-stop war coverage, it is easy to lose yourself in current events. No matter what the political climates may be, keeping a strong focus on your job search is the best way to find a job. Here are a couple of items to consider if you are suffering from a lack of focus:
  • •SET LIMITS. Although you could probably devote your entire life to watching the news, it
        does not mean that you should. Allow yourself a specific amount of time to read
        articles or watch news coverage relating to the war. If you have boundaries set, you will
        know exactly when you have stopped focusing on your job search and can correct
        the problem immediately.
  • •  SET GOALS. One of the best ways to get work done and keep track of your progress is to
        write down goals for yourself. Crossing off tasks as you get them done boosts
        your spirits and seeing a list of the tasks you have not completed will keep you focused.
        Whether the goals are for the month, the week, or the day, having a list helps.
2. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP
Businesses often move more slowly during times of war. They often reduce spending and postpone hiring decisions. This means your job search may be unexpectedly extended. Maintaining a positive attitude and staying productive become even more important. You are the expert on how to keep yourself motivated, but if you still have trouble, consider these thoughts:

  • •   BE REAL. You know the difficulties of finding a job. You know the complications that
        come with war. Don't expect a miracle to happen. The quickest way to lose
        your motivation is to fall short of your own expectations. Give yourself a fighting chance
        by making your expectations realistic given the current situation.
  • •   STAY CONSTRUCTIVE. Job offerings can be especially sparse during wartime. Even if
        you cannot spend all your time actually applying for jobs, that doesn't
        mean you cannot use your time wisely. Edit your resume, improve your cover letter,
        do more networking- just stay busy.
  • •   TAKE BREAKS. An important part of keeping yourself motivated is keeping yourself
        sane. If you don't take the time to let your mind focus on other (less stressful)
        tasks, you risk becoming slow and inefficient.
3. CHARGE AHEAD
Since companies are more standoffish during times of war, the job hunter must take control of the wheel. Now more than ever, you need to be aggressive. This may be difficult to do given what is going on in the world, but is the only hope you have for finding work during troubled times. To maintain an aggressive attitude and a fighting spirit, remember:

  • •   PERSISTENCE, PERSISTENCE, PERSISTENCE. Recruiters may be less focused on
        hiring, so you need to remind them that you are in the market. Letters or
        emails are the perfect choice. As long as they are not too frequent (about once every
        2 weeks), letters will serve as a reminder, without being an annoyance.
  • •   TACKLE INTERVIEWS. Other people looking for jobs will also have trouble focusing on
        a job search. If you have maintained your motivation, interviews are the
        perfect opportunity to outshine your competition.
  • •   LEARN THE COMPANY. It is especially important to read up on company backgrounds
        to impress recruiters. If you can show recruiters that you are still taking
        the time out to learn the business, you will be a step ahead of the other job seekers.
4. WATCH YOUR MOUTH
Even if the war does not come up directly during an interview, it is still a prevalent issue and is on everyone's minds. That means that during small talk before or after the interview, the topic may come up. Despite what anyone might tell you, the interview starts as soon as you walk in the door. It does not end until you walk out the door. So, if the war comes up during small talk:

  • •   STAY NEUTRAL. Don't let politics become a part of the interview. This does not mean
        that you need to lie; it just means you should be diplomatic. Unlike the rest of
        your job search, this is not a situation where you should be aggressive.
  • •   MOVE ON. Don't dwell on the topic for too long. As long as you are discussing the war,
        there is a chance you may slip up, say something harsh, and get yourself into trouble.
CONCLUSION
The last thing a job search ever needs is more stress and more obstacles. This does not mean that finding a job during wartime is impossible, but it may be more difficult. If you can stay focused, motivated and aggressive, you will have a significant edge over every other job seeker. Hopefully, these ideas will help you stay on the right track.

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Online Job Searching

By Nathan Newberger
 
What are the secrets to finding a job online? The secret is knowing how to tap into this hidden job market with speed and accuracy. There is a vast hidden job market on the internet, and only savvy internet users will find them first, and thus get employed much faster than the average job seeker. A job is considered "hidden" if you do not see it or have access to it. This is where WorkTree.com's PC Job Search Engine comes into play. This job search engine uses the latest technology to scour the internet and pull jobs from hundreds of sites in just a few seconds.


Try It Free - Search Millions of jobs!
 
Real-Time Power Job Finder Scan through millions of jobs directly from your PC. This free download application uses the latest job search technology and will help you find more jobs faster than ever.


Secure Download >>> Free PC Job Engine!
 
To see how this works, just download our PC job search engine, and run as many job searches as you prefer.
You can see in real time the total jobs found, and then decide if you want to join. The average internet user is used to just searching a handful of job sites, like Monster and Hot Jobs, but the reality is there are hundreds of top quality sites that contain millions of jobs, which are never advertised on the widely known sites.
At the same time, you do not want to spend days trying to find out what these sites are and visit them one by one, which is why our PC Job Search Engine is so useful. It does all the work for you

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Tips For Writing Thank You Letters

By Nathan Newberger

It is proper business etiquette to send thank you letters, but many people overlook this matter of courtesy. A thank you letter can make you stand out from the other candidates competing for jobs, and in this tight job market, it is wise to consider every tool that will give you an advantage.

To be effective, a thank you note should be sent before the hiring decision has been made, so it is best to mail it as soon as possible after the interview. When you send a thank you letter, you give the interviewer a chance to remember you (imagine having interviewed 10-15 candidates for a position, and then trying to distinguish each one after the interviews and trying to remember the specifics about each person). It is your opportunity to mention any important information you forgot to discuss during the interview.

A thank you letter allows you to explain, restate, or clear up any potential misunderstandings. In addition, you can redirect your marketing campaign by focusing on something that you learned during the interview and re-emphasizing your strengths, accomplishments, and skills. Sending a thank you letter shows the interviewer that you are a professional who is concerned about details. In the end, the thank you letter is your last chance to leave a good impression!

There are several situations that require a thank you letter:

  • After an employment interview
  • When someone provides you with job search assistance such as referring you to an employer, providing a network contact, or speaking on your behalf to a prospective employer
  • After an informational interview, company visit, or other career exploration activity
Try to follow these hints when writing thank you letters:

  • Keep your letters short and simple - usually one page is enough.
  • Help the interviewer remember you by referring to specific points discussed in your interview: show that you were listening and mention something that will refresh the interviewer's memory of you
  • Be sure your letters are professional, for example: typed, no errors, on quality paper, etc.
  • Send your letter within one day - do not put it off!
  • Emphasize your qualifications, especially those that are most relevant to the position
  • Provide any information that was overlooked during the interview or that which was specifically requested by the interviewer
  • Express your continued interest and enthusiasm for the position
  • Remember, very few people bother to send thank you letters - this can be your edge!
Generally, your thank you letters should include the following information:

First paragraph:

  • Thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet with you (mention the date).
    Remind him/her of the position for which you interviewed.
Second paragraph:

  • Restate your interest in the position and the company/school/organization. Mention something you learned from the interview or comment on something of importance that you discussed. Again, emphasize your strengths, experiences, skills, accomplishments and slant them towards the points that the interviewer considered the most important for the position.
Third paragraph:

  • Once again, thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration. If appropriate, close with a suggestion for further action (if a second interview is a possibility), or mention that you will follow up with a phone call in a few days. Provide your phone number and the hours you can best be reached.


THANK YOU LETTER - Example
(Modified Block Format)
100 Pine Street
Albany, NY 12200
October 8, 1996

Ms. Janet Jones
Director of Research and Development
ACME Computer Company
1234 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12204
Dear Ms. Jones:
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for interviewing me for the position of Senior Programmer in your Research and Development department. I enjoyed meeting with you, and I learned a great deal about the ACME Computer Company.
This position sounds very interesting, and I am confident that my education and experience have provided me with the qualifications necessary to work effectively with your team. I am especially pleased to know that you use the Quadrini programming language, since I completed two courses in it, and I have used it extensively during my internship at General Electric.
Once again, thank you for the opportunity to interview for a position with your company. I am excited about the prospect of working with such a dedicated team of professionals. If you request any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Sign your name
Type your name

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Learn How To Succeed At Career Fairs

by Nathan Newberger


This issue will quickly cover the following:
A) Purpose of Career Fairs
B) How To Best Prepare
C) Tips & Strategies During The Fair
D) Career Fair Follow-Up

 
A) PURPOSE OF CAREER FAIRS
Career fairs are designed to provide job seekers a way to explore career opportunities within a variety of companies at one location. Job seekers should take advantage of these fairs to be better informed about the job market. Career fairs must be a part of your overall job search process. It’s a great way to learn about job openings, research companies and practice your interviewing and networking skills.
 
B) HOW TO BEST PREPARE
Its important to make the most of your time at career fairs. There will be many employers and even more job seekers vying for attention so its critical that you prepare in advance of setting foot into the career fair.
Here are 5 tips that can help you be well prepared:
 
#1 - PRIORITIZE
Find out what companies are going to be attending prior to the day of the career fair and identify and prioritize the top companies that you definitely want to visit.
 
#2 - RESEARCH
Spend a little time researching these companies; the more you know the better. Use the Internet, library, etc. Employers love talking to candidates who are familiar with their company and business. It also makes you look smart. Candidates who are knowledgeable about a company come across as intelligent and interested.
 
#3 - YOUR RESUME
Create and/or refine your resume and bring many, many clean, crisp copies to handout. This is very imporant!
 
#4 - APPROACH
Create a one-minute introduction that summarizes your skills, goals, experience, etc. Practice this until you are comfortable using this as your opening. The career fair will present many mini interviews and you need to be prepared for this. Anticipate interview questions and practice your responses.
 
#5 - APPEARANCE
Dress professionally – don’t wear shorts and sandals. Use good judgement in what you wear and project professionalism. Bring a nice folder to carry your resumes and a notepad and pen for taking notes.
C) TIPS & STRATEGIES DURING THE FAIR
Follow these tips below and you are on your way to a more productive career fair.

  • • &nbspRelax and plan on spending time at the fair. Career fairs are not that frequent so plan
        your time well. Try to avoid standing in long lines. Go early if possible because the first
        hour is usually the slowest.
  • •   Always request business cards or at least get an email address so that you can follow-
        up and pursue leads.
  • •   When you get to actually talk to a company representative – remember to shake hands
        firmly and introduce yourself. This is your chance to make the best first impression.
  • •   Be mentally prepared with a list of question to keep the conversation flowing. Ask about
        the company, the industry, what job opportunities exist, etc. Always try to relate
        your skills and experience to the company or jobs that may be open at the company.
  • •   Visit companies outside your industry. You will be surprised at how many companies
        hire in all types of professions (ie. hospitals, banks, etc.)
  • •   Visit your lower priority companies first. This way you can practice and fine tune your
        approach. When you are ready, then proceed to the top priority employers on your list.
  • •   Network! Talk to both employers and other job candidates. If you are standing in line,
        don’t be shy talk to the people in line. More jobs are filled by networking than any other
        means.
  • •   Conduct yourself with a professional manner at all times. Employers are watching at all
        times. So when you are walking around or waiting in line, always maintain
        professionalism.
  • •   Be aware of time. Don’t stand and monopolize an employer’s time. Its not good for
        them or for you. Ask specific questions, get to the point and most importantly get the
        contact information for later follow-up.
D) CAREER FAIR FOLLOW-UP
Its important to keep yourself fresh in the mind of the employers. To do this, you must send follow-up or thank you letters within two days. Always refer to the date and location of the job fair. Try and highlight any part of the conversation that stood out to make it easy for them to remember you. Always include a copy of your resume. You might also want to follow-up with a phone call.
Also its important to re-group after a career fair and evaluate your experience. Try and understand what you did right and what can be improved upon, as this will help you be more productive at the next fair.
Most importantly, just have a very positive attitude. Always have a smile and thank each person you speak to for his/her time. You have something to sell and employers are there to shop around, and vice versa.


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