Saturday, November 12, 2011

How to Write an Email Interview Thank You Letter

1How to Write an Email Interview Thank You Letter Do a quick follow up with the employer by learning how to write an email interview thank you letter. Typically, only about 5% of those looking for a job send out thank you letters. Be one of the few and get a second interview or land the job.The key to success is to send out a note the same day or no later than the next. This way you can get your name in front of the employer as quickly as possible.Career experts and employers are not in total agreement on whether or not sending a thank you letter through email is proper protocol. Technology has changed the job search market with today's online job boards, email, and web resumes. Let the company's culture guide you when making your decision about emailing a thank you letter. Your best bet is to send an email and then follow up with a formal lette through snail mail.Follow the tips below and keep your thank you note brief: Be sure to check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Thank the interviewer for his or her time. Tailor the letter to the company and the relationship you established with the interviewer. If during the interview you forgot something of importance mention it in your email. Do reinforce important information provided during the interview. State your interest in the job being offered. Quick and to the point, that's how to write an email thank you letter. This sample can serve as a model when you write your email thank you note:Dear Mr. Jones,Thank you for the opportunity to interview for the position of Loan Officer at Bloomington National Bank. I believe my education and experience are a fit for your organization. I look forward to helping your bank expand its market share and achieve its goals as it expands into the commercial mortgage field.If I can provide you any additional information, please let me know.I look forward to working with you soon!Sincerely,James Lichner(123) 456-7890email addressFollow up with your thank you note as soon as possible and place yourself ahead of the competition in the job search race.

How To Write A Private Equity Resume

1How To Write A Private Equity Resume Just landed an offer in the world of investment banking? Excited to start your full-time job?Great. Congratulations.But guess what - you will have to soon think about your resume and interviewing skills once again if you want to get private equity and hedge fund jobs following your 2 years as an analyst.In many ways tailoring your resume for private equity jobs is similar to crafting your resume to get investment banking jobs.But it's different in one critical aspect: you have to focus entirely on your investment banking experience and more specifically, the deals you worked on.If you're going for non-finance jobs or MBA admissions, then definitely show the whole picture. But private equity firms only really care about your deal experience, so focus on that.Private Equity Resume StructureHalf your resume should consist of your investment banking job experience, including your overall responsibilities and the deals you've worked on.Move education to the bottom now that you're in the real world. Contact information should still be at the top, followed directly by work experience and your banking job.Writing About Your Investment Banking JobAt the start of this section, write a few brief sentences about your overall responsibilities and summarize the deals you've worked on. "Special projects" could also go here.You want to get across the number of deals you've worked on, the types of deals (M&A, IPOs, debt, etc.), and the skills you've gained - leveraged buyout modeling, accretion/dilution modeling, discounted cash flows and valuation.Following this, you'll go into the heart of your resume - your investment banking deal experience.Choosing Your DealsClosed deals don't matter. What you personally contributed to a deal does matter. While it's nice to list high-profile deals, you should pick transactions that you learned a lot from and had a lot of responsibility on, even if they are on the smaller side.For private equity jobs in particular, try to write about M&A deals rather than capital markets transactions. Debt could also be fine to write about, but stay away from equity because private equity firms basically look at M&A and debt deals on a daily basis.Writing About Your DealsAvoid the generic and hone in on what made each experience unique. Here's an example of how NOT to list a deal on your resume:$5 Billion Sale Of Company Y To Company Created Offering Memorandum and Management Presentation and tracked deal status Managed due diligence process and responded to all inquiries This is way too generic and makes the transaction seem very generic as well. There's nothing here that looks particularly interesting or makes me say, "Wow looks like he learned a lot!" It also doesn't have much in the way of results.The Right Way To Write About A DealFocus on the unique aspects. Did you influence the negotiation process? Did your analysis result in a higher price or generate additional interest in the market? Did you analyze the market in a way that led to a better price?If you don't have anything unique or interesting to say about a deal (and some are like this), skip it and write about something else.Here's how I would re-write my example above:$5 Billion Sale Of Company Y To Company X Worked with CFO to build operating model of company involving 40 different properties across the US and Europe Created market analysis showing favorable trends in casino construction; led to 2 private equity buyers remaining in the auction process until the final round Despite being the same length, this is about 500 times better because it showed what you did that was unique to the deal as well as the results of your work, while leaving out the generic bits.Writing About Unannounced Or Dead DealsThis is fine as long as you don't mention any names. When most analysts interview for buyside jobs, they don't have any announced or closed deals anyway.If it's a very large or well-known deal, I would avoid mentioning specific numbers/dollar amounts and instead use percentages to make it more generic while still quantifying what you've done.Closing ThoughtsThere's no magic to private equity resumes. Much like any other type of resume, quantify, be specific, and focus on results. Make sure you pick your best deals to write about, and write about your most impressive accomplishments on each deal.

Friday, November 4, 2011

How To Succeed At Your Investment Banking Interviews

1How To Succeed At Your Investment Banking Interviews It's your time to shine! Your success at your investment banking interviews is you ticket to the lucrative world of investment banking career. Think of the perks and salary scales. Think of the prestige. Don't mind the stress. That can be handled. Just step into the interview area, confident and excited. Release your power and knowledge and engage your interviewers interestingly at your answers. Remember to leave behind an approving impression and expecting the call for the final interview.Investment banking interviews are manageable if you work hard at conquering it before the big day comes. Mindset, attitude and patience are values that you need to arm yourself with to get through. Explore and exploit all possible resources that you can lay your hands and start to build your network of contacts to help you carry out your action plans.Tips On How to Succeed At Your Investment Banking InterviewsLanding on your dream job as an investment banker is not a remote thing to happen. Coaches and experts have shared their experiences and tips on how to succeed at your investment banking interviews, your first personal contact with the people who will either recommend you or nail you down.- Preparatory StagesPreparation is the initial step of the ladder. There is absolutely no substitute for it. Prepare a well crafted and powerful resume. Get in touch with the contact person, either by email or a visit. This is the initial base that you need to establish rapport with.Draft your action and plan on how to go about it. Get your hands on every resource material, possibly on finance matters and those related to investment banking. Establish a study habit. In between studying, spend time having a chat with recruitment specialists and banking professionals with your own set of related questions. Gather as much information as you can. Structure your guide around the interview scene. Conduct mock interviews with banking experts and people who have experienced investment banking interviews. Make sure that you don't miss out any relevant information. Take heed of all advises and tips. Jot them down, if possible. Master your resume, every technique, the questions and the answers.- The Big DayStep into the interview room with ease and confidence. Niceties are important. This your real big day. Remain cool and composed and never give yourself in to pressure. Remember that you have prepared for this and the goal is to get hired.Before the actual interview, establish rapport with the interviewers and show interest. Use the information you have gathered to your advantage. Be articulate, structured, confident and precise with your answers. Relax and engage in an interesting interview. Show your interviewers that you are bent to win them over.Make it a point to remain comfortable and relaxed for the duration of the interview. This will also reflect how much you know, what your into and where you are heading to. Confidence is an issue and will be a good asset to your potential employer.End the interview with your most interesting question. This proves your interest in them.

How to Frame Resume Objectives

1How to Frame Resume Objectives Resume objective is a brief introduction of your resume or profile with specific details. It provides details about your experience, qualifications and achievements related to the applied post. Hence, any professional resume writers suggest that a professional resume must contain a clear and brief objective for making an employer easy to find the required information of the candidate.Whenever you are applying for a job, you must consider the skills, experience, qualifications and necessary knowledge of the field related to the desired job. Your resume objective plays an important role in promoting your resume for the applied post. Following are some important tips to write a good resume objective:* If you are a fresher and looking for starting your career in a specific field, your resume must have an objective that can clearly show your professional goal and your expectations from the organization you are going to apply.* Your objective should suggest how you can contribute to the company's improvement with your unique qualities.* Your objective will help an employer to understand how much you know or how much you are updated about the related field.* Don't use general statements to suggest your objective, as they cannot give a clear idea of your profile and aspirations. Numbers of candidates are rejected by the hiring managers because these candidates fail to mention their objectives in a concise and clear way.* Some candidates use the same resume objective which is given as an example on various resume websites. They must revise and modify their objective as per the requirements of the job and company's profile.* Generally, a resume objective is supposed to contain not more than two sentences. These sentences should be apt to read and should make the readers feel your personal aspirations and positive approach.Finally, you must consider your career plan while writing your resume objective. An effective resume objective makes easy to get more job opportunities among a numbers of qualified job seekers.

How to Find a Great Job - Making the Internet Work for You

1How to Find a Great Job - Making the Internet Work for You You've had a great career, you have recently updated your resume, and now you are ready for a new job. Now what? Do you post you resume on a major online job board like Monster.com? Do you email your resume to recruiting firms? What about networking? Why don't recruiters call when you email your resume to them? Never fear, this article will provide a few insights and helpful tips to get your job search off the ground.The internet is a great job search resource if used properly.The internet, in my opinion, is the greatest tool in the world for doing in-depth research on almost any topic. Jobs included. However, the internet seems to have confused a great many job seekers. Many people, no matter how successful and well-educated, send their resumes out into cyberspace in the hopes that a recruiter will call them about a great job. This strategy is tantamount to asking a magician to wave his magic wand over your resume and to make your dream job appear. The fact of the matter is this: the internet is a great tool but the fundamental process of searching for a job hasn't changed much in the past 15 years.The internet has made the communication of job openings less expensive and more convenient for employers and job seekers alike. But the internet has also made it so easy to apply for jobs that even more applicants apply to jobs than before. And many of the online job applications jumble up the data from resumes so that the formatting is lost and resumes are extremely difficult to read. So, the point is that if you are relying on internet job posting sites to land your next job you are overlooking some good old fashioned techniques for getting your foot in the door.Here are a few tips to utilizing the internet to conduct a smart and targeted job search.1. Network with colleagues, through professional associations, college alumni associations, and with recruiters. Networking never goes out of style and the internet can enhance the networking process. It's easier than ever to peruse online alumni directories, or to utilize online networking tools such as LinkedIn.com. The fundamentals of networking never change though. You have to get out there and spend the time and effort to get to know other people. There are no shortcuts to creating strong interpersonal relationships through work and in social settings. Let folks whom you trust know that you are in the job market so that they can keep you in mind when they hear of a great job. Most people want to be helpful to colleagues who are looking for jobs because they realize that grateful people return favors!2. Use job posting boards as a way to find out which companies are hiring. Don't worry about the jobs that are actually posted. Just look at the companies that have jobs available and I think you will be surprised at how many companies exist about which you may not have heard! Then go to Google or Ask.com and type in the company name. Find out more about these companies and look to see if they have a "careers" portion of their site. Some companies list a few jobs on big job boards like Monster.com but have a much larger list of openings on their private website. If there is a job for which you think you are uniquely qualified you can apply via the company website.3. Use the internet to research companies that interest you. Create personalized application packets for selected companies. If you run across a terrific company for which you think you would be a great cultural fit but you don't see any job openings that are right for you, don't despair! Peruse any information about the company's management team that you can find. Then communicate with your network to find out if you have any links to someone at the company. If so, ask your contact to make an introduction and then politely ask the company contact if you can meet them for a cup of coffee. If your network isn't liked to someone within the company, a second alternative is to create a personalized application package that emphasizes your knowledge of the company, explains your interest, and clearly articulates the value proposition that you bring to the table. Send your personalized packet with a well written cover letter directly to the company president or CEO. The chief executive may not read it but, generally, any letters sent directly to the president are reviewed and considered. If your skill set and experience could benefit the company it is very likely that someone will contact you to set up time to talk. While you may not get a job with the company immediately, you will probably make some good contacts and you may lay the groundwork for landing your dream job.4. Market yourself! When you are conducting a job search your only job is to sell "You Inc.". Think about all the unique features of You Inc. and come up with a great sales pitch. If you are in a creative field such as advertising, marketing, public relations, or even sales you can create a binder in which you show samples of your work. You could show brochures from programs you managed or collateral material you designed. You can include writing samples or web pages. If you are in sales use lots of numbers...show your results. Anything that highlights the skills and accomplishments listed on your resume is fair game for your binder. Sometimes having a binder for "show and tell" really helps to bring your background and skills to life for potential employers.5. Create a personal website. This tip isn't for everyone. If you are a creative professional, particularly if you have created a large body of creative or written material, a personal website can be a great way to showcase your skills. I have a client who is a star marketing and communications professional. He created a series of binders (see tip #4) which described the myriad of successful programs over which he has presided during the course of his career. He found that sending out binders to numerous potential employers was costly and inconvenient. So, he is creating a website to showcase the materials and in the future he is planning to send a URL to anyone who wants see examples of his accomplishments.I hope that these tips are useful and help you to land the job of your dreams.

How To Develop Professional Networks

1How To Develop Professional Networks Employers favor hires from personal references above all other procedures, because they are thought to result in an employee who is more productive, and who will stay with their company for longer. All recruiters like the idea of networking, but approximately two-thirds of job seekers are not able to correctly utilize this asset, because their networks lack relevance and depth. This can be one of the most time-consuming job search approaches to get started, so it is very important to build relevant networks.How To Develop Professional NetworksDeveloping effective networking methods will help you get a new job, advance your creditability and visibility in your field, expand your abilities, and dramatically improve your employability and promotability. Through your networks, you will meet mentors, as well as become a mentor yourself, which will further expand your abilities and your connections.To get personal references for job openings with employers in your area requires that you become connected with both your professional community and the various networks that make up your local community.When you connect with your professional community, beyond the immediate people that you work with, you will get to know the best-connected and most committed professionals in your area, and in turn they will come to know you. It is best to think in terms of networks, rather than a single network. Everyone has a number of networks available to them, any of which has the potential to produce a job offer. The following are networks that are available to everyone, and should be utilized:Professional Networks* Supervisors, past and present, and your personal references. These people can be very useful to you throughout your job search.* Other job hunters. Professionals looking for employment in the same profession or industry can be very important resources. It is not necessary for these professionals to be looking for the same type of employment position.* Colleagues. This includes all professional co-workers, both past and present.* Other professionals in your industry. Professional associates are a good starting point for making these type of contacts.* Company former employee associations. Companies are increasingly seeing value in maintaining contact with ex-employees.* College alumni. Educational school networks, from community college to Ivy League, can be a beneficial resource.Community Networks* Friends. This list should include close friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and people that you know through hobbies and personal interests.* Family and relatives. This group should not only include you immediate relatives, but extended family, and your spouse's family and relatives.* Civic, spiritual, and social associations. This list would include religious groups, business groups, volunteer groups, Little League, and so on.* Service industry contacts. This list should include people like your lawyer, insurance agent, banker, hair dresser, dentist, doctor, Realtor, and other such contacts.* Hobby groups. This can include anything from a bowling league, golf club, chess club, or really any activity that you enjoy that involves a group of people with similar interest.Now that you are aware of the groups of people that are relevant for developing your professional networks, you should begin thinking about the people that you know that fit into these networks.Check back with Employment Genius regularly for more information on different approaches for networking, and building relationships with these people.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Employer Job Interview - Clincher Clues

1Employer Job Interview - Clincher Clues In today's barren economy --with 10% unemployment-- everyone looking for a job needs every possible edge. We are in what economists call "an employers' market," in which employers can choose from a large pool of candidates. The edge often is within you: you must come across as a likeable individual, as someone who will "fit in;" someone who will add to the company rather than subtract: an asset rather than a potential liability. In short: ย You want to be liked!Don't be overconfident that the expensive resume that highlights you incredible skills and talents will do a killer job: it might just kill your chances if you don't pay attention to the little things that screeners and interviewers look for.Assuming that you have been careful with your appearance, make-up, grooming, and personal attire, what will give you're the edge are these "little things." If we often hear the expression, "The first 10 seconds will make you of break you," it is because there's some truth to that.1. The handshake and eye contactWhile in many cultures touching and looking at people straight into their eyes might be offensive. In this country, a good handshake and establishing eye-to-eye contact is really the ice breaker. Your handshake must be brief and vigorous; practicing this act with friends will give you confidence. Be up-front with your friends and ask them to critique your handshake. How many times have been introduced to people who just lay their hand on yours and leave it there lifeless like a dead fish? Practice until you get it just right.2. Speak with full sentencesIn today's environment --the age of communication-- employers want people who can speak and write well; they want workers con can participate in meetings, who can express their opinions, who can be players rather than observers from the sidelines. So, in your interview, when possible speak in full sentences:"I see you your minor is in Accounting. Nice. And that you can prepare trial balances... what is a trial balance or balances?""Accountants prepare several types of trial balances, but let me tell you about the main one: 'A trial balance is a list of the accounts and their balances prepared in order to prove the equality of the debits and the credits."Of course not always should you sound like an encyclopedia. During the interview, and taking your clues from the interviewer you can do a bit of small talk. And maybe allow yourself a few hot expressions. "Cool" is acceptable but only once.Stay away from telling jokes, punning, or even colorful language. Pepper your language with accepted business expressions such as: "I'm a team player," "I'm a work horse, but I can also lead the way-when needed."Toward the end of the interview, pick up signals and clues that the interviewer is winding down. Use this pre-closing period to say, "I'm careful with wasting anyone's time. And I know you are a busy person with a full schedule... thank you for talking to me today."3. Take advantage of the expected standard questions Because many interviewers in the Human Resources department are college grads with degrees in psychology, they are trained to use what they learned in textbooks. One model they often use is SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis. Knowing this you should prepare answers ahead of the interview:Strengths Tell me about your strengths Our company is doing well, what do you think are our strengths?Weaknesses What do you think we do poorly? What are your weaknesses?Opportunities If you were skipped over for promotion, would you see it as a weakness or an opportunity? If you get this job, will you see it as a job or a career opportunity? Threats Since you're not familiar with Excel, would that be a threat or an opportunity? What threats make you uneasy in a work environment?ConclusionCompanies are seeking candidates eager to take on challenging projects, who aren't afraid to learn by their mistakes in doing something new. The candidate must project this eagerness.Practice the above mentioned points. Practice the handshake. This little practice will tell a lot about your personality. Just remember learning this concept is easy, but it is the good execution of it that will distinguish you from many others.Be honest and sincere with your answers; lying, embellishment, or exaggeration shouldn't take space in your mind and heart-or your resume.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Effective Leadership - Your Personal Performance Scorecard

1Effective Leadership - Your Personal Performance Scorecard In any leadership role in business, many other people are judging you on your effectiveness every day. If you run a small business, a home office or a solo consultancy, or have a virtual team of independents, the same standards apply to you too. Clients judge you for the sales and service they receive. Staff and vendors judge you for how well you communicate needs, objectives, and requirements as well as corrective measures. Peers in your market and industry judge your success. Your accountant and banker judge your financial performance.Here are ten characteristics that distinguish effective leadership regardless of the industry you are in or the size of your business. Striving for excellence in these 10 areas is not only admirable but also essential in this fast-paced global marketplace. In this new economy, recheck your scorecard. How are you doing?1. Reset the bar - aspire to ever evolving higher standards for yourself and your business; you can't afford to rest on past successes.2. Know your strengths - when you know what you do best, it becomes clearer what you need to off load to others. Only then can you hire the best to do the rest.3. Communicate clearly - KISS still works (Keep It Simple S____). In written form, bullets work better than a treatise no one reads. Direct language conveys the message and the meaning without confusion or difficulty.4. Communicate appropriately - use email to pass on information. If you need an answer or want a dialog, meet them face-to-face or call them.5. Help your people do their best daily - Your personal performance depends a lot on your people. Your job as the leader is to make it as easy as possible for them to excel at their job for your business, which in turn makes you look good and the business succeed. If they don't excel at their work, it's your problem. It's also your responsibility not theirs to fix.6. Lead your team to achieve the business mission - not only must you walk your talk, but you have to imbue your team with that same passion and purpose for the business.7. Leadership takes brains and a vision. But great heart, courage and wisdom are also essential parts of strong leadership - the business can't work automatically on its own. Effective leaders build relationships all the time to get results from vendors, clients and their team.8. Leadership of your business is not static but evolving - when you look around, you see that the best leaders are continuously learning - to stay ahead of the curve. That learning can take the form or classes, conferences, books, articles, consultants, coaches, mentors and business advisors - at work and outside of work.9. Require and expect abundant energy of yourself and for yourself. Require and expect nothing less from your business and your team - the discipline and commitment you invest will give you a good return.10. Create growth opportunities for each person on your team - which in turn will create more and new opportunities for you to grow into a better leader. There's no need to be threatened by the development of outstanding people on your team. Help them succeed on your team so they'll never consider moving on.For each characteristic, what will you do to be more effective this year, this quarter, this month? Write it down. Accountability is a great way to focus on what you set out to achieve.You now have a rubric for your own performance appraisal. With effective leadership, you are in a position to set the bar so you and your whole team (clients, vendors, virtual helpers) all end up winners.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Effective Guidelines for Writing Retail Banking Resumes

1Effective Guidelines for Writing Retail Banking Resumes Retail banking is a huge industry that encompasses variety of roles in accordance to the various needs and requirements of different customers. As a retail banker the individual handles financial services, takes care of account opening and closing, monitors transactions, and also offers personal loan services.When writing a resume for the retail banking position, all the skills that enable the individual to handle these responsibilities. The resume should clearly reflect all these abilities and the essential qualifications required for the same.Here are some of the most effective guidelines for writing retail banking resume:• The resume begins with your name, contact numbers, contact address, and email in bold.• Then you need to write an objective that reflects your key skills as a retail banker along with your attributes.• Try and add quantity or numbers to your objective. This means you can mention, '10 years of experience in retail banking', or 'result-oriented leader with 8 years of retail banking experience'.• On the other way round, the objective can also define your career goals in the banking sector and what you wish to aspire in life as a retail banker.• For this kind of job, you can also create a separate section for mentioning your key skills and talents. This section would include your abilities and your key strengths. For example, you can list down your extensive knowledge of banking policies, your interpersonal skills, excellent ability to solve financial issues, a deep understanding of the changing financial market, ability to handle multiple task, computer proficiency, ability to solve banking related issues, and comprehensive knowledge of banking products.• Then list your professional history with detailed explanation of your job responsibilities. This section should include your experience in terms of transactions, account operations, making drafts, regulating loan payments, and monitoring other bank activities.• Banking sector requires a degree or diploma in finance. Any education earned in this field should be mentioned at the top in the section. Following the key qualification you can list other qualifications with the name of your degree, university, and your percentage as well.• When the resume is written, proofread and ensure that there are no errors and mistakes in the resume.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Do You Include Your Transferable Skills When Writing Your Resume

1Do You Include Your Transferable Skills When Writing Your Resume The purpose of your resume is to get you an interview with your potential employer. In addition, once you are invited for an interview, the recruiter will almost certainly use your resume to find out more information about you.When you are writing your resume you will have highlighted the areas that you thought were important to the employer, such as your academic achievements or your previous employment experience. However, the employer may be interested in other areas that are also relevant to the job, particularly any transferable skills that you have. You must therefore spend sufficient time when you are writing your resume to include your transferable skills as well.There is a balance to be struck when writing your resume, as you have to project the correct image and get the message across on one or two pages that you will be a valuable asset to the company, but you also have to avoid going overboard.Your resume forms the first impression for the company and it is essential that you take this opportunity to present yourself in a professional manner to get companies interested in learning more about you.Recent surveys have shown that close to 80 percent of all resumes do not make it on to the first short list. This makes it essential that you pay extra attention to content, presentation and formatting when writing your resume, and think specifically about what qualities or abilities you have that will make you stand out from the crowd.It is also well known that many recruiters do not spend more than 30 seconds on each resume. You should therefore consider including a concise career or experience summary at the top of your resume to catch the recruiter's attention and encourage them to keep reading. This can also include a brief bullet point summary of your transferable skills.In today's job market, there are around 30 applications for every vacancy, which puts more emphasis on the resume as a way of getting your foot in the door. You should think specifically about the transferable skills that the recruiter would use to decide which of the candidates they are going to interview, and make sure you can demonstrate in your resume that you have these skills.So, do you know what transferable skills you have?The easiest way to work out what skills you have is to make a list of all the activities that you have been involved in, and the tasks or duties you undertook to complete these activities.Once you have done this, identify what skills you acquired or demonstrated when you were carrying out these tasks or duties, and group these under the categories of transferable skills that employers look for.The main skills that employers look for can be summarized into 10 broad categories, which are:1. Planning and organizing 2. Organizational Awareness (i.e. understanding of the company) 3. Communication (oral and written) 4. Interpersonal skills 5. Analytical ability 6. Problem solving 7. Customer service 8. Teamwork 9. Leadership / Influencing skills 10. Personal motivation and developmentYou will see from this list of transferable skills that you are likely to have achievements in the majority of these categories. These are generic transferable competencies that employers use to determine job requirements and compile job specifications.This works to your advantage, as you will have had the chance to demonstrate these skills in many walks of life, not just work related areas - and now you can include these transferable skills when writing your resume.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Create A Business Plan To Ensure Success In A New Job

1Create A Business Plan To Ensure Success In A New Job A client of mine called yesterday to say that he is on the verge of getting an offer from a large bank. Before they will extend him an offer the recruiter has requested that he submit a business plan outlining his plans to achieve his goals. The job is a wealth management role which would require that my client bring about $10 million in investment dollars to the job within the first year. If you are not familiar with this type of job it means that he needs to find and solicit individuals with that much money to invest and persuade them to invest the money through the bank.My client is a relative newcomer to the community in which he currently resides so the potential employer wants to make sure he has a plan for finding and selling individuals in his new community on their wealth management services. Seems fair. But it got me thinking that, really, anyone starting a new job should create a plan before taking the job. The plan will probably have to be modified once you take the job because jobs frequently change over time. With that said, if you create a plan for adapting, learning, and succeeding in your new job before you start it will give you a good starting point and the associated confidence that comes with having a plan.To give you a sense for how you might think about creating a plan let me walk you through a few elements that my client and I are incorporating into his plan:Goal - we have a stated goal that is a specific, measurable, and achievableTactics - the specific actions that will be taken to achieve the goalAnalysis - we have analyzed our local market to determine which civic and professional organizations, philanthropic, and social/sporting groups my client should get involved with in order to meet people who have the characteristics of potential clientsTargeted List - we created a list of organizations that my client will join or has joined to start meeting potential clientsEvery job is different so each plan is going to be different but you can use some of the thought process and some of these elements to help you get started when you create your own roadmap to success in your new job. I don't necessarily recommend that you share your plan with your new boss or co-workers until you are sure you understand the expectations, politics, and goals required in the new job. The business plan is something you can create to give you a jump start before you commence work for a new company.

Choosing A Career In Banking

1Choosing A Career In Banking It was 7.00 on a Monday morning and as I sat on the train on the way to work I found myself sitting behind two gentlemen who I instinctively expected to work in the financial industry. Both men were well dressed in designer suits and watches and were talking about a recent IPO and about each of their workplaces.As I eavesdropped on their conversation, I was intrigued at the banter of both men as they each tried to convince each other that they should quit their jobs and go work at each others' firms. The first man worked at a well respected global investment bank. Big things were going on inside the bank and 2011 was "going to be a big year for the firm." Bonuses were going to be even greater than ever, however on the flip side this meant more time away from his family (which didn't see as the worst thing in the world).The second man worked for a smaller boutique firm one that I had never heard of. He too provided arguments as to why his firm was a superior place to work, and with the introduction of a new wealthy investor there was a lot of money to be made in 2011. He was happy that his travelling days were behind him, but moaned about the lack of training that the firm was providing to new hires, especially on the graduate level. Being at a smaller firm, he was spending a lot of time working one on one with new employees, which he wasn't happy about.The gentlemen at the global investment bank spoke about the new gym membership that was available for all employees, but suggested that with his hours, working out was not on the agenda. The gentlemen at the smaller boutique firm had no free gym membership, but had vowed that he would work less hours this year and make more time for himself and his family.Listening to both men discuss their respective jobs got me thinking about the pros and cons of the big global investment bank vs. the smaller boutique bank as a place to work. The large "supermarket" versus the "speciality corner store". From an employee's perspective is one place better to work at than the other?As a job seeker deciding on whether a larger bank or a small boutique bank is the right fit for you, there are many factors to take into account. While the fundamentals of your work will be the same, the application of that work can vary. Generally speaking, at a larger firm you receive far greater exposure to different industries and functions. In boutiques your exposure can be a lot narrower (this can be a pro or con).No matter where you're working, both places have a demanding atmosphere. This is the very nature of the banking industry, which can be described as a "sink-or-swim" culture.The major difference I find is culture. In a smaller boutique run bank, employees are more like family with everyone knowing your name. Although a boutique will offer a far more limited range of services than the big banks, in the big bank culture it is more than likely that you only interact with members of your team and find that you know very little about other people or their duties.A smaller boutique can therefore have a friendlier feel to it. Rather than the small fish in the pond mentality, it is more a team environment with a feeling of working together as opposed to a feeling of competition with fellow co-workers. As a more family-orientated business you have a greater support network that can be accessed a lot easier.Working for a large firm will typically see you have one direct role which you perform, while a smaller company can expose you to several different roles based on current projects or the needs of the firm. With less hierarchy and fewer processes employees have greater opportunity to expand their knowledge base. Being part of a smaller team can also give you the opportunity to stand out and be recognised for your valuable contribution.From the perspective of a large corporation, the prestige of working for a well respected name in the business name can be a huge advantage, and they offer fantastic perks and benefits that cannot be matched. Although there is a feeling of small fish in a large pond, having a specific role that you are responsible for can provide more future opportunities, including greater exit opportunities, than a smaller firm. Training opportunities are generally much greater and more regarded with large corporations as well.Overall, you need to find the right niche for you. If you enjoy the smaller working environment with less hierarchy, a smaller company could very well be the vehicle that serves you best. If you enjoy great benefits, opportunities to grow and a diverse culture, a larger organization could be right for you.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Car Wash Loans - Pre-Qualifying For Car Wash Financing

1Car Wash Loans - Pre-Qualifying For Car Wash Financing Having done many car wash loans, gas station and convenience store loans over the years, it never surprises me why people do NOT get their car wash loans financed. People call and frequently say "We have a full package on this deal."I'm not sure what they consider a "full package" but it is rare that we see a full package for financing. As a matter of fact, truth be told, bankers initially do not want to see any full package. There is a saying "A sermon doesn't have to be eternal to be everlasting." You don't need everything initially. Bankers do not want to go through reams of papers or faxes or pdf, Word docs and Excel spreadsheets to figure out if there is a deal there or not. Think of it as eating a food for the first time and you're not sure if you're going to like it or not. You take a little taste, then if you like it, you dive into it. Bankers are the same way. They don't want to dive right into it, they just want to take a little bite and see if they like it.The Five C's of credit have not changed over the years. Capacity Capital Collateral Conditions CharacterFundamentally bankers really want to know if the potential borrower is qualified to buy and run the business and if the business in question can verifiably cash flow to service the loan and if there is sufficient collateral for the loan. That is it plain and simple.A clear and concise executive summary with a usage of the proceeds will answer many of their questions right up front. Many times lenders will move forward or stop based solely on the executive summary and usage of proceeds.Normally when you submit to a lender for financing any type of property or business, you are submitting a personal financial statement, a resume, a recent copy of your credit report and information about the cash flow of the business in question. This will answer many questions right up front and will indicate whether the lender will want to proceed to the next step.One of the common denominators and main reasons for defaults in the past few years has been that borrowers have had insufficient non-borrowed equity into the transaction. When you have little into the deal, it's easy to walk away from it when times get tough. The days of having minimal equity into a deal with large seller held seconds are pretty much gone. As well they should be. Would you really want to lend your OWN money to someone that had hardly any equity into a deal? Why should a bank?Next, lenders want to know if they are qualified from an industry experience point of view to run and manage a business. It's one thing if you have managed a business for years and have found one that you would like to purchase, it's another thing I've you neither managed nor owned one and are trying to convince a banker that you are qualified. Some people seem to know how to make money with anything they do, but most people do not fall in that category. There are only two ways to make more money in an existing business, increase revenues, decrease expenses or both. There is no other way. If you do not have the experience to do this, the learning curve will be steep and difficult.It goes without saying that a borrower should have decent credit and not have an inordinate amount of personal debt. To an extent, personal debt is more important than a person's credit score, although the credit score is definitely important.Lastly, will the business service the debt based on current revenues and expenses. If this is not, what will the borrower do to change that trend. Many business will service the debt but much of the revenues might not be on the books they claim on their tax returns. Lenders can only go by what they declare, not what they have in a separate ledger.If you get past these initial steps, you have a very good chance of obtaining financing for the commercial property or business you are evaluating.

Beat The Investment Banker Interview Questions

1Beat The Investment Banker Interview Questions Are you ready to step into one of the world's most challenging and lucrative professions? Being an investment banker is no mean feat. The position calls for someone who is keen, critical, skilled and sharp to manage the finance portfolios, futures and investments of private citizens, businesses and families. The challenge lies in the investment banker's ability to sustain or enhance the financial status of his/her clients, even in the midst of economic adversities.The application procedures for this position are prerogatives of the institution you are applying with. An application letter is the entry point along with the resume or curriculum vitae. This is the take off point for an interview schedule which is a more intricate procedure in the application process. Interviewers will be shooting questions based on their criteria incorporating the standards for an investment banker. This step is the most crucial of all. Your preparedness and anticipation of the investment banker interview questions matter.Top 5 Interview QuestionsYou want to get the job? Get ready for the interview. Every single investment house has its own set of criteria and standards, norms and ethics. Generally speaking, there are standard investment banker interview questions that most of these institutions ask. Questions can sometimes be tricky. However, be prepared for a different scenario.What do you think of this bank? This is a tricky question. They just want to know if you know about the company and if you know what you are getting into, which can actually give you an advantage if you get it right and not lose yourself in the process.What are the most valuable traits needed in investment banking? Generally refers to your academic background, most likely what have you learned theoretically and if you see yourself having the qualities needed for the job.What was the worst situation with your clients that you were confronted with? This question is crucial because crisis management is a skill that an a person involved in investment banking must have.What are your plans for securing your client's investment portfolios? How do you go about your daily responsibilities? When asked about this, you should be relieved. You're out of the critical interview portion. This refers to your work ethics, conduct of responsibilities, and performing the job, on a daily basis.Do you have general strategies on investment banking? How will you implement? What are the systems you will set up? Look at how you will be able to contribute to the achievement of company goals and how well you know your job.The interview can go on the pretext of procedural application but it is more of knowing what your personal traits and qualities are. The basics are over.The investment banker interview questions are the salient elements based on career, educational background, competency, finance and the banking industry and logic. There may be more investment banker interview questions that are equally important to ask during an interview. The top 5 are the basics where your answers are given more weight. Keep your composure, presence of mind and confidence. Do away with gestures to express what you want to say. Beat the odds and let them feel that you are the right candidate for the position.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Certified Phlebotomy Technician - Get Employment in the Allied Overall health Sector

1Certified Phlebotomy Technician - Get Employment in the Allied Overall health Sector Nonetheless, you will never get bore although accomplishing the duties as a licensed phlebotomy technician. There are numerous critical duties which often these people today have to complete.* These duties are generally connected to the principal stream of health care sectors and at the exact time supplying a large salary job format for these specialists. Keep in mind that healthcare sector has been regarded as as the foremost 1 in creating worthwhile occupation possibilities.* So, completing training course for licensed phlebotomy technician and joining healthcare sectors can surely add more values for your existence. In the course of the teaching programs you will learn couple of crucial operates that normally as a certified phlebotomy technician you will have to complete.* These schooling sessions will lesson you up about tasks such as gathering blood samples from individual. Right here you will also know how you can obtain blood from patient's system without having supplying a lot discomfort.* Understanding these core strategies will make it possible for you to get superior position possibilities as a certified phlebotomy technician in the healthcare sectors.You will have to take math and science courses in the significant college for preparing phlebotomy technician teaching. When you have been enrolled in the program then you can study anatomy & physiology, blood and mobile composition, laboratory systems as properly as security, and tactics to draw blood. Also, you will have to be conscious of the safety when you perform, as you can doubtless arrive in make contact with with the contaminated blood and other contagious illnesses.Also, aspect of schooling for the phlebotomist can involve working with the patients to calm & reassure them, seeing that this is the stressful elements of the go to to a doctor or hospital emergency space. Several of these programs for the phlebotomist instruction is taken through the on-line university, on the other hand you will also have to in reality, practice drawing the blood, stain laboratory slides as perfectly as do the microscopic research, and substitute approaches of the blood sampling like heel sticks for the infants & capillary blood draws.Just like any style of career, those that have their phlebotomy certification as a can find each complete-time and element-time positions. Relying on your desires, you may well be hunting for a job that will fit your particular schedule. Nonetheless, being a aspect time phlebotomist does not always signify that you will require much less practical knowledge in the phlebotomy field. In truth, numerous of the prerequisites for component time phlebotomists are the similar as they are for total time phlebotomists. Here is some common data about part time phlebotomist employment.Job DemandsMost hospitals like to retain phlebotomists that have earlier practical knowledge, though this is not always the situation. A hospital may be far more inclined to hire a phlebotomist that has been educated in their facility, or by a single of their reliable affiliates. If you want to get the job done at a unique hospital, it's finest to verify with them ahead of beginning your original teaching. Not all teaching applications are acknowledged by all hospitals. You may well have to have to have evidence of your coaching, so be sure to acquire a certificate or your transcript from the course (or other valid document), and include things like it with your resume when applying for a phlebotomist job.

Becoming Certified As a Phlebotmist

1Becoming Certified As a Phlebotmist You can receive phlebotomy training at many hospitals, which usually advertise these training classes on their website or in their publications. However, training alone is sometimes not enough for you to become a certified phlebotomist. At the end of a training program, you may opt to be certified by a medical association. This certification usually requires that you take an exam, which is then submitted to the association for grading and analysis.Why Become Certified?Currently, only one or two states actually require that a phlebotomist working in hospitals be certified in phlebotomy. However, being certified is often seen as a positive point on your resume, especially when you are planning to apply for employment as a phlebotomist at a hospital. The certification process is not difficult, as long as you were attentive to your phlebotomist training. Even though it's not required, it's highly recommended that all aspiring phlebotomist obtain certification by taking the phlebotomy certification exam.Most phlebotomy training programs will be advertised as being phlebotomy "certificate programs". This usually means that upon completion of the training program, you will be awarded with a certificate that proves you completed the training. However, this certificate should not be confused with the certification that can be obtained by taking a phlebotomy exam given by a medical organization. In most cases, a hospital may suggest that you present them with the certificate that you obtained upon completion of a training program (as a prerequisite to them hiring you as a phlebotomist). The board certification that is obtained by taking the phlebotomy exam is a different type of certification. Board certification by exam is usually seen as being a trustworthy route.Depending on the association you plan to be certified by, you will have to approach preparation for your phlebotomy certification exam a bit differently. For example, if you are taking one of the ten different exams that are currently used to certify in phlebotomy, you need to ensure that you are fully prepared by studying the correct materials. The different types of phlebotomy exams currently include the AMT, NHA, NPA, NCCT, NAHP, IAPA, ASPT, NCA, ASCP and ACA. It's highly recommended that you purchase a review or study book for the specific exam that you plan to take, in order to ensure that you are fully prepared. Most study books for phlebotomy exams cost from $30 - $50, though may cost significantly less if you are able to find them used. There are also many resources available online that can help you to be fully prepared for your phlebotomy exam, such as study guides or timed practice tests. Becoming a Medical Assistant Phlebotomist is a great way to jump start your career!

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Advantages Of Phlebotomy Certification

Advantages Of Phlebotomy Certification Phlebotomy jobs are in high demand throughout North America-especially for those whom hold a phlebotomy certification. Interestingly enough, only two states in the USA legally require you to be certified in order to practice phlebotomy, however, most employers are hesitant to hire those without it.Simply put, if you are serious about starting a career in the field of phlebotomy, getting certified should be considered a top priority.Here are 3 reasons why you should consider obtaining a phlebotomy certification:1. Increased Salary - those who hold a certificate in the field of phelbotomy will typically earn a higher starting wage than those who don't. By having a phlebotomy certification, you will be able to make more money right out of the gates-a big bonus no matter how you look at it.2. Better Experience - In order to become certified, you typically have to attend an 8-12 month course that teaches you the ropes of the phlebotomy field. You will learn anatomy, venipuncture techniques, medical laboratory administration practices and more. This will truly put you ahead of those who have not been educated in phlebotomy.3. More Job Opportunities - Those with a phlebotomy certification will find employment much more easily than those without it. Although only Florida and Louisiana are the only two states that legally require a certificate in order to practice phlebotomy, very few hospitals, clinics or laboratories will take the risk of hiring those who do not hold one. Having your certification will make your resume stand out, because your potential employer knows that you have been trained in the field, and have passed the government mandated testing that is required.So why not get a phlebotomy certification? Like most things, it usually comes down to time and/or money. You may not have the time that is required to complete a certification course. This is understandable-especially if you already have a family that relies on your income. Simply quitting your current job and going back to school may not be an option.Money is another major factor in one's decision whether or not they should become certified. Some do not have enough money to fund their phlebotomy courses, or do not have credit records that will allow them to obtain a student loan.The bottom line...If you are serious about pursuing a career as a phlebotomist, a phlebotomy certification is an essential, and you should consider doing all that you can to obtain one. Your certification will help you earn more money, ensures that you have received the necessary education to fulfill job duties, and will make your resume look that much more attractive to prospective employers. Don't be scared off by the cost of tuition. If you do not have the funds available, consider applying for a student loan. The amount you spend for your phlebotomy education will be an excellent investment in your future.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Finding a Self-Fulfilling new Job

A lot of us entered careers believing that effort and loyalty would be acknowledged and rewarded too. But we discovered that jobs become routine without any motivation or promotion and no relief in sight. Due to shrinking profits, promised benefits packages were taken away which were offered as the antithesis of a raise by many industries.
Auto workers, Wall Street brokers and bankers, as well as newspaper personnel found their dreams destroyed right in front of them. The time has come to wise up and plan to look for a new job in a different field. Any number of factors could cause you to seek out new job opportunities, regardless of your age. When surveyed, people cited corporate downsizing or restructuring as the top reason for making career changes, accounting for 54% of those who change careers.
Other reasons given for leaving a job include lack of challenge, poor leadership, conflicts with the management, offer of more pay and better benefits elsewhere, instability of the current company, and moving out of the area. Evaluating your objective is the initial stage in switching a career. You may want to consider taking a self-assessment test to determine your preferences and inner strengths and weaknesses.
Myer-Briggs Personality Test, the Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential (MAPP) Test, and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter are a few of the more popular ones. If you are searching for new employment that will be more rewarding, be certain to think about the activities you like the most, your favorite school courses, and the locations that bring you back to life.

A big obstacle to get over when you are switching career paths is actually yourself. While many people are not happy in their current positions, it takes lots of courage, motivation and determination to look for a satisfying, new position. If you are not successful at first, you feel the pain of rejection and it is easy to get frustrated and discouraged. The main thing is simply to continue trying and don't quit.
Network with others in your field, go to seminars, improve your skills by taking classes online or at a local college, challenge yourself, understand what you like and dislike, and look into only the job alternatives that will give you the most self-fulfillment.