Love Your Job - Helping you to love your job or to find a job you do love

October 2009

Welcome to this issue of Love Your Job. I started my first newsletter back in 2001 but alas never kept copies, they got lost in different computer updates. But does it matter? I still have the memories, and the newsletter has developed over the years. I have now hit the 2000 mark of subscribers, with 2003 when I checked as I prepare this edition. I carefully remove bounced emails, and those which are spam subscribers because I see no point in having 10,000+ subscribers if most of them are false.

Integrity is VERY important to me, and I wrote a blog entry about this a few weeks ago. I wrote this following listening to Jacqui Smith, MP at a networking lunch. I normally avoid this type of event, but thought she would make an interesting speaker. I was disappointed, read my blog entry and let me know what you think via the blog.

Just over a week ago I found out that someone had ripped off huge chunks of my web site. I had an email from a career coach, with a link to his web site. I followed the link to find out more about him and found myself reading exactly the same words as on 8 pages of my web site. I was furious and wondered how any one could possibly pass off someone else's work as their own. I took action, and the web site is closed down.

 
 
Key Links

 

Visit My Web Site

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Quote of the Month

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.

William James

I later found that his web designer had 'written' the copy, but how could you possibly agree to words appearing that don't relate to you? It's like with CV's, many times what people write is not supported by what I see at interview. You need to produce a CV which is a great version of you, not a rip off of somebody else.

This is another bumper issue, I've included 2 articles, plus details on my two books - the 2nd is now out on 13th October, and a chance for you to win a free book, just write a short review of any of these books on Amazon.

I've also included something for fun, a link to a Black Eyed Peas video. This is the sort of thing I come across and tweet about, so if you are on twitter please follow me to get very short notes on useful information.

In this months issue:

Please don't forget to get in touch if I can be of any help. I look forward to talking to you again next time.

Kindest regards,

 

Article 1: Making a presentation as part of an assessment centre

I’ve helped 2 clients yesterday with their forthcoming assessment centres. Both had to make presentations and both were over wordy on their first attempt.

I really enjoy helping people with presentations; so much easier to critique someone else’s than do it myself! I’ve assessed so many that I know what assessors are looking for and how to help people stand out from the rest.

Firstly it is about addressing the question – think of exams, it’s not saying what you want to say on the topic but making sure you address the, for example, 3 points in the instructions.

Secondly it is about not being overly wordy – this is not to be ‘death by Power Point’ you are not to stand and read out each slide – that’s why you have your cue cards. Cut them back so they make more of an impact.

Thirdly it is about being confident in what you are saying. If you have been given the topic in advance the assessors will expect a finished product with you pretty much word perfect, so practice, practice, practice.

Fourth is keep to time. One of my clients took 23 minutes for a 10 minute presentation, on the trial run, this is not ok. If I was assessing her I would have cut her off at 11minutes. So make sure you keep to time, and cut out slides if necessary.
Finally it is about branding, can you use the company logo and colour scheme? Make the presentation fit with the company you are applying for and they will begin to see you as belonging to the company.

My third book (out in January) - Now you’ve been short listed devotes a whole chapter to this topic.

If you have a presentation coming up, and you would like my help please get in touch.
 

Denise's Books

book coverHow to get a job in a recession

If you want some expert guidance to help you get a job, order my book from Amazon. It’s very comprehensive, and if you forward me your receipt (by email) I'll send you an eBook with all the forms in so you don't need to write in your book.

Winning Interview Answers for First-time Job Hunters

 

Winning interview answers for first time job hunters

My latest book, and it’s been subject to a number of delays will be published on Tuesday 13th October.

Looking for your first job, whether it is a part-time weekend job or your first full-time job after leaving school can be quite a scary process in itself, so thinking about what to say at the interview can be even more daunting. This book will take you through the most common interview scenarios, helping you to understand what it is the interviewer wants to know and how to give them the best possible answer.
You can pre order this book at http://bit.ly/Je4r6 for £7.16, this is cheaper than I can buy with my authors discount!

Don't waste your talent

hab book

Have you come across this book? It’s written to accompany the Highlands Assessment and provides examples of how other people used the knowledge of the highlands ability battery to reach career decisions and also ‘thought exercises'. I wrote a comprehensive review on Amazon, which you can access here http://bit.ly/1anjuo

Competition – Win a free book: write a book review

I'm offering a free book – your choice of any of the three books covered in this issue

  1. How to get a job in a recession
  2. Winning interview answers, for first time job hunters
  3. Don’t waste your talent

All you need to do is to write a review on Amazon against any of the books. It doesn’t have to be long, and I'm giving you till the end of the month. I'll then have one person chosen at random. If you have already done a review, thank you, you will also go into the draw.

I'll check who has done the reviews on line on 30th October, and then ask someone to choose a number at random. Read the newsletter next month to find out if you have won.

 

Article 2: Before you resign

Even in a recession people are still leaving jobs without another job to go to. Some people do this as the job is so stressful, their boss is so awful that they need to leave for their health. Others will leave because they are working such long hours that they really don’t have any time for job search so they need to make some time. 

This is an article I wrote a while back and seems useful to share again now

It’s too easy to resign and then regret it. Use these clear tips to make sure you resign for the right reasons.

1: Know why you are leaving
Have you outgrown your job, decided you want to specialise in a new area or have you had a fall out with a colleague or feel miffed because you have been passed over for promotion. It can help to talk through the reasons for this with an objective outsider to make sure the same things don’t go wrong again. 

2: Don’t quit on a whim
Think it through. Make sure you find out everything you can about the new company and location. The grass is not always greener, and once you have gone it’s unlikely you will be able to go back. People can then feel worse when the new job doesn’t live up to their unrealistic expectations. 

3: Don’t resign without a job to go to
Many people resign with no job to go to as they feel unfulfilled and think that this will change with a new job. It may, but it is much harder to get a job when you are not working, and companies may view you suspiciously and think you could also resign on a whim from them.

4: Think about what you do want
Go beyond the job to think about your ideal work and personal environment, and how much money you need for your chosen life style. Some professionals will take on a low level job thinking they will be happier
without the pressure of the previous job. However, not enough job responsibility, or working in a menial role with little autonomy creates a different type of stress.

5: Don’t threaten to leave unless you mean it.
You may be offered more money, or the offer of a company car, but you may just be wished well for the future.

Read more here: http://www.amazingpeople.co.uk/pdf/before-resign.pdf

 

*** JUST FOR FUN ***

This is one of the most fun videos I've watched in ages. The Black Eyed Peas perform I've got a feeling to 21,000 people - watch the crowd, the dancing, then Oprah

http://bit.ly/18SJnv

*** JUST FOR FUN ***

 

In the Media in September

Twittertwitter image

 

Here are a few of my interesting tweets - why not check them out? And why not 'follow me' on twitter or book mark this link so you can keep up to date with interesting short links

http://twitter.com/amazingpeople

DOWNLOAD DENISE ON THE RADIO

I was a guest on City Talk Radio in 24th August. Pete Price has a phone in session and this one was called ‘Giz a Job’. I was on for about 45 minutes answering a range of questions. I also spoke about this topic on Radio Gloucestershire

You can right click these links to save these audio clips to your desk top so that you can listen at your convenience.

city talk image Listen to Denise on City Talk Radio answering questions on a phone in programme about job hunting. Right click to download a 40 minute discussion in a zip folder


radio glos imageListen to Denise on Radio Gloucestershire discussing how to geta job in a recession - Right click to download a 23 minute interview in a zip folder

 

MEET DENISE AT THE ADULT SKILLS EVENT

Adult Skills - logoI'm speaking at the Adult Skills event to be held at Earls Court on 18th and 19th October. It's aim is to 'promote national and regional training and career development opportunities, as well as new and exciting job prospects. National and regional employers, training and career organisations will help visitors to develop their skills and improve their future job opportunities.' There area number of seminars, and I'm the keynote speaker, talking on Sunday 18th at 12.45 for 30 minutes on How to get a job in a recession.

If you can get to London, come along, it's free and do say hello to me, would be great to meet you.

 
 

What Denise did last month
  • Undertook 18 client sessions, including interview coaching, and taking clients through the Gold Programme
  • Wrote 19 entries on my blog
  • Wrote lots of Tweets
  • Attended Women on their way networking lunch in Birmingham
  • Days consultancy recruiting senior marketing professionals
  • Attended my 1st Society of Authors lunch
  • Went to see Muse at the seaside
  • Last two festivals of the season: Bestival on the Isle of Wight with Kraftwerk as my favourite headliner and Alchemy festival

In the Blog

I write my blog most days. Why not sign up to receive articles direct to your in box or follow me on twitter for a short link to follow

http://www.amazingpeople.co.uk/blog/

You can subscribe to the feed using this link:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/AmazingPeopleBlog

Here's a selection from what was on the Blog in August

 

Get in touch

For a confidential chat about how we could work together email or call me on 01684 772 888

Amazing People - Tewkesbury, GL20 8HL - Career Coaching, Counselling and Guidance - Assessments - Job Search Support - Assessment and Development specialist: denise@amazingpeople.co.uk

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