Losing your Job? How to Handle Layoffs.

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Are you going to lose your job or have you lost your job? The last thing that you want to talk about is “why” you lost your job. In fact, the question

“Why did you leave your last job?”

is one of the toughest questions to deal with - especially if you’ve been let go in one form or another.

If you are one the thousands of people who have been laid off in the last year and a half, you can simply say: “I was laid off.”

The more specific your answer, the more effective it will be. This answers the question, but still leaves a lingering doubt in the mind of the interviewer, - “Why were you laid off?”

“I survived five rounds of the six rounds of layoffs at my last company, but when it came to round six they had to cut deep. My position was eliminated along with half of my group because the project we were working on was cancelled.”

Your situation will be helped by including facts and figures to explain the circumstances surrounding your layoff. Not everyone will have such a definite statement to make.

“10% of the workforce was let go,” or “One out of every ten jobs was affected, company-wide.”

When you quantify a statement it has more depth. When you tell the interviewer whether it was 10 or 1000 people were laid off helps put the situation in perspective.

Were you fired?

If you were fired, you probably dread being asked this question. Not only have you been fired, you have to talk about it - over and over. How you deal with questions about being fired will depend on how you have resolved the issue with yourself.

Here are examples of how two candidates answer the question:

Candidate #1 “From the very beginning it was clear that my new boss and I were going to be at odds. We just had different types of personalities. She kept changing the rules. One day she would want it this way, and the next day another way,” rambled Karen. “I don’t usually have problems with bosses but this woman was really overbearing in her management approach. I had a great boss, but he left.”

Badmouthing former employers during the interview is a bad idea. This is not the best way to present the situation. This candidate could be classified as a “whiner.” No one wants to hear about someone else’s shortcomings, particularly someone they don’t even know.

A better example of how to handle the situation:

Candidate #2 “The merging of different cultures had caused a major change in the way things were done. There were some differences of opinion between my boss and myself and, in the end, I was fired.. I take responsibility for my part in the way things turned out. I was let go after a major reorganization. I learned a lot from the experience, and in retrospect, I would have handled it differently. But, that is behind me now, and I am ready to move on with a new perspective.”

This is a much better answer because it demonstrates strength and self-confidence. Candidate #2 takes responsibility and deals with the question honestly.

Scripting your answer ahead of the interview will help you whether you were let go under unfair circumstances or for something you did and regret. You don’t want to bad-mouth your former employer or sound like a victim (even if you were). Practice your answer with someone in a mock interview and obtain feedback on your comfort-level while discussing your situation.

Telling untruths

One lie usually leads to another, and before you know it you are in over your head. You always take a chance whenever you put a lie on an application. The application usually has a signature line on the back where you sign, stating that the above is true, and that any false statements could be grounds for termination.Probably the worst way to handle this question is by lying.

Perspective

People lose their jobs every day. They move on and get new jobs. And, you will too. No matter what the circumstances, put it behind you and move on. Being prepared will make you feel more confident and less emotional about the situation. Deal with your feelings about the lay off or firing, and prepare your answer to the question before it is asked.

Thinking About Hiring A House Cleaner?

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Are you considering hiring a house cleaner? Some people believe it to be a luxury item, but others consider it survival.

The reasons people hire help to clean their home vary widely. Some people work such long hours at their careers they find all their free time spent in doing chores. Many times it is worth every cent to hire it done in order to truly have your free time, which creates a better work life balance.

Some people hire help because of health issues, or the elderly many time do for assistance with larger tasks, and some people simply because of time restraints in their lives.

When thinking about hiring help, consider if you lean towards a cleaning company, or a single owned business person who does their own labor. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

The advantages to hiring a cleaning company is if you are not happy with the work, you have recourse in complaining to a supervisor. They many times also have extra training for their employees. The negatives can be that sometimes they are more expensive in that they have more overhead they have to cover, and if you find someone you like, you may not get them the next time.

On the other side, sole propriety owners that do their own cleaning can be a great option too. It’s their reputation on the line so they usually work hard to keep that good reputation that is priceless, and to keep their customers are satisfied. Find out if they are bonded and insured. If they are not, you have to decide if that’s a chance your willing to take or not.

Interview your prospects. Here’s some things you’ll want to ask? What do they charge? What does that include? How long does that take them? Do they supply the cleaning supplies or are you expected to? Ask for references and check them. Do they clean while you are home or away?

It’s very helpful for them if you have an idea of what you’d like, such as which tasks, how often and any of your expectations.

Many people are surprised once they research that it may be very affordable to them. Perhaps it means giving up a few lattes, but that might be a price you’re very willing to pay in order to gain more free time. Alot of people who hire house cleaners find it worth every cent!

Looking For A Great Part Time Job? Try Valet Parking Attendant

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Looking for some extra cash? Sure, we all are in this economy. Who doesn’t need additional income right now? But you’re probably employed full time already. Or, maybe you’re a student, or just someone’s who more laid back, and you just need work that’s flexible but pays well. Well, in both cases, valet parking attendant might be just what you’re looking for.

If money is your main consideration, well, that’s one of the best reasons to get a parking job. You’re not going to be the next Bill Gates, but you can do pretty well at this job. It’s common knowledge that tipping is expected when someone parks and retrieves your car. The vast majority of people honor this. If you’re out there when it’s raining, expect to do even better. Plus, your employer will be paying you a base amount.

Another reason is atmosphere. Who wants to be tied down inside a factory or retail business when you can be out meeting people, making them happy, and collecting cash the same day? You’ll be working at fancy restaurants, museums, charity balls, weddings, etc. And people will be glad to see you!

Doing your own scheduling is another great benefit. Many valet companies will let you pick what days you’re available. Want to take your wife out to see that new chick flick that’s all the rage? Don’t sign up to work that night. Your daughter has a big volleyball game this weekend? No problem. Pretty sweet, huh?

What makes a good employee? The main thing employers are looking for, besides dependability, is someone with a clean background. As in no criminal history, and a good driving record. They want drivers who they can trust not to have a collision while parking, and not to steal the car, or valuables from it. If you’ve kept your nose clean, you’ve got a head start against many other applicants.

One of the main things valet companies pride themselves on is professional looking employees. Got lots of tattoos? Well, you can talk to them about wearing long shirts, but that’s going to be strike against you, if not three. Lots of piercings? Don’t even waste your time. One or two small ones might be alright, but nothing major, or excessive is going to fly. And if you’re morbidly obese, you’re probably not going to get the job. Sorry; just trying to be honest. But if your height and weight are proportional, and you look sharp and professional, you’re just what most valet companies are looking for.

Preferably, you should be a non smoker. It goes without saying that you won’t be smoking on the job, but many companies won’t hire you at all if you use tobacco. People are very finicky when it comes to their cars, and they notice strange odors right away. And drugs? Let’s not even go there.

So, if you don’t smoke or get high, have a clean driving and legal background, and you look halfway decent, you should probably have no trouble landing a valet parking job. So forget the local burger or pizza joint. Become a valet parking attendant!

Automating Software Testing

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Tomorrow you’re computer will yield only a black screen, your cell phone won’t connect, the TV won’t have anything airing, and even your calculator won’t complete the easiest equation. Alright, maybe that’s not the truth; but can you image if it were? Whether you realize it or not, our entire society relies on technology.

Today companies would be asking for the light at the end of the tunnel if they ignored the testing step of the software development cycle. With consumers demanding products that do more, there’s more complexity than ever before. With this complex nature comes an increased amount of flaws that are harder to find. To keep up with the newest technology, improvements in testing equipment and tools have been made.

Without these outstanding tools, our standard of living would be significantly lower. Consider every piece of technology that you rely on every single day of your life. Now picture tomorrow with all of it gone! Professionals in the industry must do their jobs with great care and attention to detail, in order for us to rely so heavily on these resources.

Individuals and businesses are always looking for products that make something easier or faster. This drives developers to create innovative products that eventually become considered necessities. An integral part of this process is software testing automation.

Everybody is looking for tools that make every aspect of life easier and faster. In many cases, developers can offer these features with innovative technology. All of these new products must be carefully searched by testing teams before they are released to the public. Testing automation tools speeds this process significantly.

It also means that customers can expect more reliable products. With growing competition among companies, products have to be spectacular in order to gain customer interest. Companies are investing more than ever before in making their software products more marketable and attractive.

A feature that is important to new software products is the ability to reprocess and reuse the functions of it. This is exactly why software testing automation is so helpful.

This is impacting the availability of products that have features that can be reprocessed and reused. Without automated testing, this wouldn’t be nearly as common.

With fierce competition in the technological field today, software testing automatic helps products stand a chance. Adding levels of complexity to products make this automated method a necessity if there are to be the fewest flaws possible.

You can find more about the software testing automation process online.

Oil & Gas Jobs, Am I Suited?

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The oil and gas industry is having to face up to an huge problem, and that problem is that people working within it are simply getting old. OK that in itself might not seem a problem, but the average age is going up as they fail to attract new people to the industry. The problem came about as a direct result of the downturn of the 80s

Due to this lack of recruitment, the average age of the Oil worker is 50. it is a dilemma that not many human resource managers would want to have on their to-do list

Fortunately students have been drawn to the geosciences, despite the powerful draw of the computer sciences. The companies that operate in the field of Oil and Gas Industry have seen this change as the perfect opportunity to ‘refresh’ their aging workforce.

High level qualifications are not the only way into the industry though, for those less qualified there is a still a pathway to a good wage.

Most companies offer on the job training as a route to employment within their ranks. this also offers a promotional development pathway.

Positions for the industry are available in refining, production, administration transport, and various supervisory and technical. most people when they think of the industry think of someone covered in oil or with the waves beating against them as they struggle to connect pipework

While the above is still the case, a larger range of jobs is available, such as physicists, engineers, procurement. So there is no need to get your hands dirty to earn oil money

New recruits come from many different employ, many come to the industry to change career, many ex armed forces fit nicely there. The best way to find out if you are suited is to submit your employment history Cv, and take a look at what is offered. Specialist recruitment companies operate in the oil and gas jobs arena, and they will advise you of potential employment and earnings.

Web Software Testing: Ensures that the Web Software Works

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Software testing is an important stage within the software development cycle (SDCL). There are different testing types and they are useful at different stages of the software development cycle. From the initial development of the application until it reaches the marketing phase different testing types will be used. In addition, all the different versions of the software have to be tested before they are delivered to either the customer or the target market.

One variety is software for web applications. With the advent of the Internet web software has significantly increased in importance, as the Internet has had a substantial impact on our daily lives. Most security risks come from Internet. Therefore it’s crucial to test the software thoroughly prior to releasing it on the market.

The time available to develop and test web software is always limited. While the web software is being designed and developed it is also being tested by the testing’s engineers using different types of tests. The different types of tests can be grouped in code testing, load testing, compatibility testing, functional testing and regression testing.

The standard pattern for the release of web software consists of two main stages, alpha and beta testing. The first stage or alpha testing takes place at the developers’ site where either potential users/customers or a purposely created independent test team will interact with a simulated or actual operational version of the software being tested. Because during alpha testing the software is actually still being developed only small modules of the software are tested during this stage. When of-the-self software is employed, alpha testing is often used as an internal acceptance test. After being alpha tested software will only be released when all the main functional sections have been both coded and tested.

After the alpha testing is completed the software is permitted to undergo the beta phase of testing. In beta testing the web software I completely built. The software is made available for use to a restricted number of customers intended for software testing previous to the official release. In case of website design it is easy to put together the various pages as the website design uses HTML. So the alpha/beta technique is generally not used for website development. This imply that it is possible to build and test one page at a time and later go to the next one with independent testing for each one.

Code testing refers to the process where the testing or development engineer verifies the code and make sure that there are no software bugs. Because the time involved in web development is small it is important that the software is free of bugs. A popular method used by experienced programmers for bug free coding is the paired-programming.

Two coders working at a single workstation it is at the core of paired programming. The developer typing the code is called the driver while the programmer that checks every line of code as it is produced is called the observer or the navigator. Support for this methodology is provided by some research data produced by Laurie Williams at University of Utah in Salt Lake City. According to this research, paired programmers produce code with 15% less bugs while only being 15% slower than individual programmers.

The fact that the software is tested many times during the development process should provide bug free software by the end of it. Load testing is used to check if a web-site/application will fail or loss performance under the added pressure of heavy loads or inputs from multiple users log-in, mail servers, etc. Load testing will provide information regarding the amount of users that could connect simultaneously to a site, the number of transactions that the system can cope at the same time and its responsiveness under different circumstances or amount of traffic.

The testing done to estimate the compatibility of the application with the different interacting hardware of software is the Compatibility testing. This method tests how good the software is in interactions with operating system, peripherals, database, browser etc. It also tests the computing capacity of the hardware platform and the peripherals.

Functional testing asses the alignment between the application and its specifications checking that it provides all the required functions. To do that an extensive range of both normal and erroneous data will be input to validate the behavior caused by each of the software features. Regression testing is carried out to check that any changes made to the code in order to enhance it or to fix defects has not affected any functionality.

Regression testing is very important whenever there’s iterative development of software. In this type of development, the developer adds another module with some functionality to the existing module that’s running. One should make sure that adding this module does not ruin the existing functionality. Regression testing is performed for the purpose of discovering regression bugs. The above tests are essential for completing web software testing.

Create a Division Between Work and Family Life

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There is a simple code that I abide by to help ensure peace and balance in life, and that is what happens at work stays at work there, and what happens at home stays at home. Mixing the two worlds often can have troubling effects on both areas of your life. This can be especially difficult for people that work from their homes and be even more difficult to manage.

Many people work long hours in their jobs or home business and find they don’t feel like they have much left over for their families after a long day. Yet, the families are the priority, how to give your best to both can be a struggle.

Tip One: Use your commute time to shift gears mentally from letting go of the day at work, and begin thinking about your family.

This strategy is more geared for people who work outside of the house, it’s important. However long your commute from work to home is, use that time to work through work issues somewhat and then focus on what you have to look forward to at home. Think about your loved ones and what their day might have been like.

Strategy Two: Create a Schedule

You might need to think outside of the box when you work from home. There’s a tendency to put in more work hours when you work from home, simply because there’s not clear boundaries of work hours. Maybe you can work after the kids have gone to bed, or early in the morning. But look at the schedule of your family and see if you can find times in their day when their needs are less and use that for work hours.

Strategy Three: Get Separate Phone lines

Fortunately for me, with my business I rarely have to be on the phone, almost all communication with clients is done via email. But if you are finding that you are getting business phone calls at all hours, having a separate number for them to call is great. You also have the option of making your cell phone your business phone and the home phone is personal. This way when your work day is done you can put the phone down and walk away from it. You can also separate the rings for people you know personally and business so you don’t accidentally answer a business call after working hours.

Tip Four: Create a space that is separate from the house.

I know this isn’t always possible. What you can do is create a work space. There are really beautiful little room partitions that you can get to help create a separate workspace. It’s important for you to be able to get up and walk away from work.

Babysitting Rates: How Much is Just Right?

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A lot of people would want to know about current babysitting rates. How much is enough? You may think that this can be answered in a straightforward manner. Unfortunately, determining the rate of your sitter is not as easy as asking the question. Here are some important facts that may help you find the right rate for your sitter.

Fact #1: There are no set rates.

No Uniform Rate - There is no law that sets a uniform rate for sitters. Various households pay their sitters different rates. There are some online resources that can help you find possible sitter rates. Some sites offer data of current average rates per region or area. Often though, sitter rates do not just depend on what most households are paying at the moment. The rates also do not depend on your personal whim. If you want to be fair to your sitter, you would consider a couple of important factors.

Fact #2: You have to consider the kind of work.

Babysitting is not easy. Some sitting jobs are also harder than normal. Before you settle on a sitter rate, note the kind of work that you may require from your sitter. Babysitting your kids for example may be especially difficult if you have more than one kid or if you have very young kids who are difficult to manage.

Time Involved - In some cases, the difficulty level of handling kids may not be the main concern. Sometimes it is the time of work and the amount to be done. Sitters who have to stay long hours or stay over the night may have to be paid a little extra. Some sitters may also have to do other things besides sitting and watching kids. Some sitters have to cook meals for kids, tutor them, fetch them from school and clean them up before they go to bed. If you plan to let your sitter do a lot of things, then prepare to pay higher babysitting rates.

Fact #3: Sitter experience counts too.

Experience matters. You would have to pay a steeper amount if you have someone who has many long years of babysitting experience. Someone who has a lot of experience would know better how to handle kids than an inexperienced sitter.

Her Qualification - Aside from her years of experience, you may also have to pay extra for her qualifications. A sitter may have taken special courses in child care and first aid. These naturally increase a sitters market value. You shouldnt mine paying extra though. A sitter who knows what to do in emergency situations can help ease your worries.

Fact #4: Rates also depend on your negotiating skills.

Discuss the rate with you sitter. You can give her a rate that you would be willing to pay her. You can outline the reasons why you think you should pay her a certain rate. A good sitter on the other hand would also know when she has to ask for more. If your sitter asks for a higher rate, negotiate with her until you reach an agreement.

Is AN RN Career For You?

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An RN can have several different job duties and career paths. When most folks think about an RN they probably picture them working in a hospital or maybe working in their Dr.s office. This is common as that is how most people experience face to face contact with a registered nurse.

Patients cares is not the path for all registered nurses as some later go on to supervisory positions and manage other RNs.

A significant number of registered nurses work at hospitals in one of several different departments. Many people may think of the emergency room or the maternity ward but there are many other specialized departments such as pediatrics.

If you are wondering what type of RN roles exist where someone can really specialize there are several. For instance some work with Alzheimers patients and others work with stroke victims to name a couple.

Traveling to a patients home is common as well in a role called a home health nurse. They may go to someones house to help who is recovering from surgery or other illnesses.

Where else do nurses work? Nurses may also work for companies as industrial nurses and occupational health nurses. Or they may work for the government or a private organization for public health.

Ordering supplies and maintaining the medical equipment may be a job responsibility for head nurses. They also manage nurses under them and plan their schedules.

Other careers in nursing to consider include that of a nurse practitioner. This is an advanced position that will require licensure and additional training. Nurse practitioners are becoming more common place in a doctors office to help see and treat patients for common illnesses.

Job Interview Tips That Lead To Job Offers

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A job interview is considered to be a very challenging task by most job seekers. There is big fear factor, because of which, candidate get nervous while interviewing, and ultimately it results in a bad outcome. Having successful job interviews requires good preparation and good presence of mind. Job interview is the key factor from which companies judge candidates and make sure that the company is running in talented and safe hands. From this interview, an employer attempts to get in to your mind and draws out your past, present and future lloking for a match to the jobs they have available. Therefore, if you show up without any strategy or preparation for your employment, then you will mess up the job interview and it will affect your impression and overall career.

When you are preparing for the job interview recruitment process, remember one important thing that you are preparing for the job interview and the interviewer is also preparing for taking your interview. In addition, to this the interviewer will plan some points based on your career and will try to test you every moment of the interview. The interviewer will try to trick you with various types of questions and you must prepare yourself for such tricky questions. Prepare for your answers. Put your answers based on the facts and your qualification. Because, the entire outcome from the interview is dependent on how you answer the questions and how smartly you justify yourself. You want to make it easy for them to justify their careers of achievement by choosing you.

Always be ready to be able to say why you are looking for this job, why you want to do this job in this particular organization and salary if asked. Questions like what are your accomplishments, what are your skills, according to your previous supervisors, what you expect from this particular job are asked in interview. You must answer the questions honestly and in descriptive manner.

In fact be ready to point out some examples by which you can describe your answers. Have detail study of examples you are going to point out. Cracking job interview requires some skills like how you build the rapport with your interviewer, as there is general tendency that we like the one with whom we like to talk.

Be prepared when you walk in for a job interview. Have at least (preferably more) two copies of your resume, three references and if applicable, your portfolio. This is not just a conversation you’ll be having, but you will have the opportunity to let the interviewer get to know you and make as strong of a case as possible for yourself.

A very important thing to prepare for a job interviewer is a few company-specific questions for your interviewer. Asking these questions will work for you by demonstrating that you have put some thought into this position and are serious about this job and this company. Your interviewer will take note of this.

Don’t forget to dress up. You only get on e chance to make a first impression. While you needn’t go overly formal, dress in as professional of a manner as you can while maintaining a relaxed demeanor. This will give you an appearance of confidence, something which interviewers look for.

In Closing

This article has attempted to cover the many aspects that go along with having a successful job interview outcome. If you were to sum up this entire article you could say the job interview is what connects the expectations and needs of the employer with the skills and resources of the job seeker. To the degree that you can sell the OBVIOUSNESS of the fit through your WORDS and ACTIONS then the easier and better your job interview experiences will be.

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