Consumer Quartet

Standing out at a Career Faire can make a difference in your job hunt. Career Faires are starting to pick up, and Dice is running some nice ones, called Targeted Job Fairs. At a SF Bay Area Career Fair in early 2010, 10 companies as showing up, and a major job search company has 82 job faires scheduled for this year across the United States.

How do you stand out at a Career Fair? The rivalry can be significant, but you can help yourself jump out from the herd with early preparation. At AA-Careers, we have a simplified six-step process to prepare. Planning to go? Here’s how to prepare:

First, research the organizations that are going and pick your targets. Use the web to research the organizations that are there ahead of time. Go to their sites and see if they have their jobs listed. Pick a limited number to go after, and get ready to spend up to an hour researching each one. It’s hard to do more than 8 in a day, and four to six is a much more reasonable target. For each company, you want to know: executive names, recent news, and key product lines. Try to see if you know anyone at the target companies. You’ll end up with a page or two of research for each company/job.

Second, if there are job openings on the web, read them to see what the company is looking for. Create a mapping of your accomplishments and skills to the demands of the job. Make the language match. If the hiring organization calls customers "clients", your resume should do the same thing. The achievements should be written in the style of the hiring organization.

Third, create a ‘short sales pitch’ for each potential company/position combination. Write down a sixty second ‘thumbnail’ that you can repeat out loud describing why you are a key prospect for that job. You’ll use this in your resume and when you meet people at the job stall.

Fourth, modify your resume for each job type. The objective on your resume should exactly match the job you’re aiming for. The executive summary should be a written form of your “mini sales pitch” for the job. Then choose the accomplishments and skills that most clearly match the job description. Especially at a Career Faire, the purpose of your resume is a sales tool for you – to get you on-site job interviews. It should be obvious to see that you’re a match based on your resume.

Fifth, dress and prepare as if you’re doing on-site interviews. Dress nicely and be fittingly groomed. Don’t overdress (this isn’t a date!) and don’t underdress (no jeans or t-shirts, no matter how much you paid for them). Avoid strong cologne or perfume.

Finally, practice your ‘mini-sales-pitch’. Collect your research and the resume for each spot - bring a couple of copies for each – and put each in a clearly tagged folder. Keep them in a light briefcase or folio.

Remember to smile, and good hunting!

The Internet offers huge opportunities for a job seeker, but also presents several possible challenges. It also adds several complexities, and a lot more things to consider…and be careful of.

Job hunting needs to be thought of as a personal, extremely aimed marketing process where you are the product. Your resume is an advertisement. Your extended network of colleagues is your inside source for information and job leads.

So where does the web fit in? At AA-Careers, we recently posted a job on Craigslist and got more than 650 responses in a week. For a single job. That’s increased job hunting competition.

Had a suitable candidate contacted us before we ran the ad, they could have secured the job before getting all that competition. How? By finding an employee at our company who became aware of the job prior to posting. Everyone knew of the job for at least 13 days before it was posted. Who in your network might know of a job that’s coming available soon?

Be sure to check your cover letter and resume carefully! When we did an analysis of the 650 resumes, we found a large number of errors. 63% of the applicants were easily eliminated with a fast-paced triage process. How? The same way any employer would. By rejecting resumes where the objective didn’t match our job. By rejecting prospects whose cover letters gave us reasons not to employ them, like "I know I’m overqualified but I really need a job". By eliminating job hunters whose documents that didn’t open properly. And by passing over prospects who didn’t bother to spell check their cover letter and/or resume.

So the good news is that job sites give you a feel of what companies are hiring, and for what kinds of positions. But once those positions are posted, the competition is intense. You can still try, if you have a well honed resume, designed to appeal directly and clearly to the recruiter. And if you have practiced interviewing – so you don’t stumble at a critical point.

Another potential problem to be aware of is how quickly you can be investigated on the internet. As we Googled several job hunters, we ran into some pictures and comments that were in questionable taste. Nothing larcenous, but enough to swing our thoughts about who to employ.

AA-Careers provides a encompassing set of services for Bay Area job seekers, providing our clients a personal career consultant, a managed job hunting campaign, modern tools like a personal website, video, highly targeted resume, and much more. Let us know if we can help you.

Be careful out there, and good hunting!

Got back pains, trouble from messed up back, or other wellness problems and are skeptical about seeing a doctor of chiropractic? Join the club! I have been told a myriad times by friends whom have or had spine troubles, "You should find a medical physician!". Just the fact is that the bulk of those whom had offered up their advice either has had to have surgery or is still taking some form of painkillers/muscle relaxers.

I can still recall the pain sensations down my back., felt like an getting hit with a cattle prong, as I was handicapped on the hard wood floor with a bottle of muscle relaxers in hand.

"I have had it, I am going to the doctor". With help of a friend, I managed to limp into the nearest I could find.

<h3>Long Term Relief, Short Term Adjustments:</h3>

I got to the office, anticipating to visit a vast lavish building and wall to wall medical equipment like the recent doctors place, but nothing could be further from my anticipations. It was a pretty plain setup in an office within a shared office; a couple of shelves, some other medical equipment. The beauty of it was that I did not have to wait in the least before he started out asking about what lead to the troubles in my back along with a series of other questions before carefully doing adjustments.

He told me fundamentally that I’m not the only one that’s skeptical. Everyone at first has doubts, especially MD’s, and their patients.Your not alone There are fundamentally two divided groups : a group that meet medical doctor’s that continually prescribe pain relievers/muscle relaxers or surgery and a group that visit qualified chiropractors. Chiropractic has brought results to millions since 1895 and having them to rethink the profession entirely. There are allot of myths floating out there, and maybe for some chiropractors the term ‘quacks’ is even, but for countless others its pain relief and healthier living. On that point, there is a variety of distinguishable abilities in the line of work and mixture of business methodologies. For numerous unnamed doctors its all about the profits, getting customers into an ongoing subscription type of service for extended term profits & for others its about giving proper treatments and relief so they can enjoy their life. Its not about the buck for me, I just want to see them progress!

Only a couple of short months since I started with visiting this chiropractor. Never was it suggested to get a back operation nor was it recommended to take anti-inflammatories for an extended period of time. I feel like a whole new man, working out again and feeling tremendously better. I stop by every so often for a fast checkup and/or to shoot the breeze. I feeling much better now, and it didn’t take long at at. I would recommend &Spinal Adjustments by Jackson NJ Back Specialist Dr. Siwiec:again and again.

Hair loss and baldness can often affect self confidence, causing depression and lack of confidence. Genetics, aging and hormonal imbalances all contribute to hair loss. Nonetheless, people suffering from balding or thinning hair, have many hair loss solutions to select from.

For the males, the doctor-prescribed drug, Propecia (generic name Finasteride) is an option. Balding is caused by a hormone called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and this drug takes down the levels of this hormone. Propecia can reduce DHT levels by 60%, when taken daily. Approximately half of all men who consume Propecia regrow hair on their scalps.

The nonprescription drug Minoxidil (Rogaine) is available for men and women suffering from hair loss. Based on research suggests Minoxidil works in around one out of every three men who apply the product twice daily. While the five-percent strength is not recommended for women, some physicians will prescribe the higher concentration. Patients using the higher dose increased their hair growth.

Natural supplements are also used as hair loss treatments. Flaxseed and primrose oils contain important fatty acids that make hair look thicker and healthier. Vitamin B3, B5, and B6 also stimulate hair growth. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Coenzyme Q10 stimulate hair follicles to improve scalp circulation. Zinc, Kelp and Copper boost immune functions, aiding hair growth.

Another hair loss treatment that is available is laser hair therapy. This procedure uses low-light lasers to repair damaged hair cells. Research suggest that about 90 percent of patients regrow hair. Laser hair therapy also prevents additional hair thinning and loss.

Currently, more hair loss treatments are available to treat male-pattern baldness. However, researchers are conducting studies to further understand which hair loss treatments work best for women. While many options exist, early intervention is the key to improving hair loss and regaining self confidence.

You guys know I hate to say it, but life can be lonesome without a date. I finally bottomed out, merely hours ago I devoured what seemed like a pound of bacon. During my birthday party of datelessness, surprise! You better believe it was great. Is that even legal? Well, that’s the moment when I honestly thought about getting out to date in Dallas or Denver.

Nothing that can’t be fixed. Figured I’d boost my dating life thru a matchmaking service like Great Expectations Dallas. And it isn’t a bad idea. Here’s a story. We were at Julie’s soccer finals in Dallas last week, Richard asked me if I have yet to win my true love. At first I didn’t know what to say to that. So, I said, “I’m working on it, chill out.”

Can you believe that even The Old Tooter (aka: grandpa) opining about my companionship situation. I quipped to the whole group: “Hey look, you would bring that up.”

How can they be so rude? No one knew what I was talking about, as usual. Quite promptly, I called Dave because the dating pressure was too much. Why can’t I stop thinking about this! I would have learned more by asking my son. Nina, who is now a Budist monk or something offered his opinion that I enroll in Great Expectations. I said, “Fine, okay.” Should have thought of it myself. I love the Denver Singles Events at Great Expectations.

When I started, dating services were kinda foreign to me. I showed up already a little anxious, that I noticed I wore mismatched socks by accident. My mess could not bring an end to another incredible Great Expectations event. The evening was bursting with excitement. The gems of the occasion had to be the honest, desirable singles.

It’s been a pleasure to party at these incredibley satisfying singles events in Dallas, I rubbed elbows with a handful of marvelous guys and gals who clearly feel the same way I do when it comes to dating. I really shouldn’t allow my family get on my back about me not dating. Astoundingly enough, dating right the Great Expectations way is a lot of fun and like a dream come true.

Pat

Loneliness is Temporary

Till recently, invisible lace wigs were not forever my personal obsession. Teaching was the only thing I cared about. That was true till the second my hair was falling out during chemotherapy. I decided that I couldn’t condone the outcome of being the shiny-headed version of Demi Moore by sheer dumb luck.

I knew that I lost my identity, robbed of my hair. It became clear that there was nothing I could do to regain great style. Buddy, how foolish. Way before I found my authentic wig, I found a selection of inadequate synthetic hair pieces that didn’t match my scalp. My lover Malcolm found me some dignified wig stores where I could get lace front wigs I would love.

So I jumped into the car and sized up the selection. I found a cornucopia of astonishing, chic real human hair wigs. Their tailored invisible lace wigs fit me perfectly.

Given the right wig, a proud individual in my situation should foster fearlessness when accepting her loss of natural hair. I’ve never been more excited to toss my current earrings. It was exhilarating to actually regain my personality at the family picnic.

It wouldn’t surprise me if things are not as great as they seem, but hair and fashion are essential to your confidence level. Is it possible there’s more things to reality than an amazing flow of hair? Heck, it couldn’t mean much if someone told me otherwise. Its true, medical wigs offer an important option for stylish ladies who can relate.

You couldn’t imagine what these blessings have brought me. No one knows the truth of me and my wigs (I have two now, for different styles). Anyhow that’s how it goes, I’m thankfully set to be alive. Lace front wigs enhanced living for me.

Some could feel that method silly. It’s not. Doesn’t everyone have something small that makes life so amazing? For me, it’s working hard and my lace front wig.

Care for Yourself.

Denise Sullivan

For one, You couldn’t describe me as downright satisfied as an “independent” (aka: naturally single) person and be 100% truthful. But, I’m not unhappy with the reality of life, either. I just mention it in this blog as an intriguing personal tidbit foreshadowing what I am about to reveal to you

Last Monday yours truly met for coffee with Corey, pondering about joining Dallas Personals site. Now, I sit to each of you as a fully satisfied member of the singles network. No kidding, I am. Its very comfortable and full of nice people! If you know me at all, perhaps you’re thinkin’, “You got some ’splainin to do, Lucy!”

So, I noticed this Great Expectations Dating site and liked what I saw. They’re for the serious singles who think dating should mean something.

Quite frankly, I’d never been too big on the ridiculous nightlife ritual a lot of singles have named “The Dating Game.” I faced it more than anyone should. Every night friends nagg, “You’re still single? ” and “Oh I know just the guy for you!”

“That’s rubbish,” I reply, without missing a beat. “Take a look around, I’m not missing much.”

“You’re as ridiculous as you are hilarious,” they say. “How would you know, you haven’t seen Friday Night Magic in a year!”

Thankfully, that’s my friend (she’s the best) hah! Stacey Feldman. She beams the best ideas to my brain 99% of the time. Caring souls you can trust for fresh advice. She made a good point, and I thank her for it.

Returning to the message of this post. As I browsed from more than three hundred outfits (hah) and desirable, honest singles for my first singles event with Great Expectations, a revelation hit me deep. For years, I hadn’t held any emotional great expectations for dating in the adventurous winding course of this world. Single life has its perks, only if you use the freedom to date. Having great expectations does wonders for a caring soul.

+Christy Davis

Here’s a reality crash course for you: No one on this earth is going to help you. A dismal, yet liberating thought. How is it liberating to think that you’re on your own in the universe? Because once you realize and fully accept that no one is here to cater to your needs, you can throw off the chains that bind you and move toward self-sufficiency.

Do you ask many questions of people? If so that’s a good thing. We can never learn enough. But part of learning and growing is hands-on experience. What good are endless questions, if you never turn that information into action? Did you learn something new today? If so, test it out. Never regard someone else’s answer as law. Form your opinions based on personal experience.

I’m always surprised to see folks sitting on their laurels saying, “Help me, help me, I can’t do it by myself!” Of course you can do it! Life is one big buffet table, and you can fill your plate as many times as you wish.

Think about the most helpless in our world. Take the family dog, for example. That poor mutt is so dependent on others to meet his needs, that he can’t even walk himself outside to use the bathroom. Some might say that with humans to feed him and care for him, he’s got it made. But does he? What if the dog wants to catch a scent on the breeze and enjoy the warm sunshine, but his keeper has left him alone and locked in the house all day?

Are YOU the family dog? Do you rely on others to orchestrate what happens in your life? You do if you stay in a job that you hate. You do if you remain single and alone because that special someone hasn’t yet launched themselves into your lap. You do if you complain about how the country is run, yet you take no action for improvement.

If you need some inspiration, look to the Unstoppable Two-Year old as a model of what you should be doing with your life. A two-year-old child has just learned of his own independence. He has recognized himself as a free entity in the world, and is eager to touch, taste, listen, explore, learn, and take action because he’s free to do those things!

Take that mindset, and put it to use in your own life. Take responsibility for your own actions. If you mess up, forgive yourself, move on and right the situation. I repeat: nobody here is going to help you, other than you. So, do yourself the favor of a lifetime and help yourself! The buffet table of life is overflowing with good things. Isn’t it time you dug in?

Copyright 2005 Dina Giolitto. All rights reserved.

Dina Giolitto is a copywriting consultant and ghostwriter with 10 years of experience writing corporate print materials and web content. Trust her with your next e-book, article series or web project, and make a lasting impression on your audience of information-hungry prospects. Visit http://www.wordfeeder.com for more information.

You are so creative.

Don’t deny it. Whether or not you consider yourself a creative type, the truth is that you are constantly creating ideas.

Mindfulness invites you to be aware of this constantly flowing river, and offers an opportunity to choose to sit beside it instead of swimming in it. By watching the ideas from that calm riverbank, you can more clearly see the ones that float to the top and sparkle in the sun.

But mindfulness is more than just mind watching mind. When we are engaged in the process of creating–whether that’s words, numbers, music, art, or movement–without getting swept up in the concept of where it might be leading, that is a very pure form of mindfulness.

If creating is mindfulness in action, the little push that gets things moving is the thrill of discovery. As humans, we are fascinated by novelty, and we are pulled by our joy of seeing something in a new light.

Mindfulness allows us to approach the world with childlike wonder, to play with new concepts, and to see things from a shifted perspective. You can’t always engage in new activities, but through mindfulness, you can look at the same-old same-old with fresh eyes.

The Wow of Wonder is what stimulates us to be creative. Without it, we are likely to come down with our culture’s most prevalent malady–mindlessness. Mindlessness causes us to move through life without really connecting to any of it. It’s living on auto-pilot. It’s living without wonder–or fun.

Here’s a helpful reminder: fun is good. We don’t have to make mindfulness HARD. There is nothing hard about it. We were incredibly mindful and creative as children, and guess what? We had a lot more fun then, too!

The things that captivated you as a child were objects and ideas that triggered your sense of wonder. You noticed something new, and jumped right into the Wow of Wonder. And there were plenty of things that elicited that response every single day.

A bug you’d never seen. A card trick. Something under a microscope. A new musical instrument. A dance move. A song. An animal. A poem. A historical fact. A new flavor of candy.

Mindfulness is a catalyst for wonder. You notice something. An idea is sparked. A distinction is made. A perspective shifts. There is a fullness in that moment, ripe with possibilities but unburdened by expectations.

The Wow of Wonder is what allows us to transcend what we “know” and float in that river of ideas without sinking under the weight of evaluation. In our most mindful moments, it is wonder that saves us from overthinking and keeps things light.

There’s no need to work at making mindfulness a part of your life. It’s already there, and you can glimpse it in all of your favorite memories. Being right there in the moment, full of wonder, and playing with discovery–this is you being a creative person!

Pay attention to your moments of fun, and you’ll see that there’s a hefty dose of mindfulness in there. You are smiling. You are fully present. You are creating ideas and responses. You feel alive.

Becoming mindful is simply getting reconnected to wonder about the world and your place in it. Look for the Wow of Wonder, and you’ll find yourself immersed in mindfulness.

Isn’t it wonder-ful?

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse in Portland, Oregon. Through her company, Real-World Mindfulness Training, she teaches fun and effective eyes-wide-open alternatives to meditation. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://www.MassageYourMind.com

I’m going out on a limb today by writing about the most
successful person that I know. It feels like going out on a limb
because the person is ME, and I’m aware that to others this may
sound egotistical and arrogant.

So, let me explain. First, it’s taken me years, actually
decades, to realize that each of us have the opportunity to
choose for ourselves our definition of success. For the first
30-40 years of my life, I allowed my definition to be determined
by the GREAT AMERICAN DREAM. You know the one that says you’re
not really a success until you have at least one huge house (2
or more is even more successful), a couple of fancy cars, take
expensive vacations to luxury resorts, eat out 3-4 nights a
week, etc.

But now I realize that for me success is having ‘clarity of
purpose,’ really knowing one’s true purpose in life and allowing
that purpose to shape life. The level of success then isn’t
about how much ’stuff’ you have, but how truly you are living on
purpose.

And I’m so very grateful to say that I live a life of
purposeful, passionate, and playful service, a life of mindful
abundance balanced with simplicity and a life of spiritual
serenity. And since I know my life better than I know anyone
else’s life, I can honestly say I am the most successful person
I know.

And last of all, I’d like to thank the CEO of Life On Purpose
Institute, Inc. for making this all possible. BTW, the initials,
CEO, mean the Cosmic Enlightened Officer. I’ll let you figure
out who I mean by that.

Until next time, here’s to your being the most successful person
you know as well.

©2005 Brad Swift of Life On Purpose Institute, Inc. This article
can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article
and this resource box are included.