Friday, 22 June 2012
DREAMS
Different stones can encourage us to work with different energies, so find one that resonates you:
Moonstone can help with dreams connected with emotional problems.
Amethyst is calming and balancing, useful if you suffer from nightmares or insomnia
Quartz crystal can help you with problem solving. Think of the expression 'crystal clear' to remind you what this stone's special energy is
Carnelian is useful in connection with health and dietary problems
Lapiz lazulli is a good stone to use dor problems related to children or your inner child
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
HOW TO WRITE A RESUME
1. Apply for a job for which you are not remotely qualified
Many candidates believe the job hunt is a numbers game — drop enough resumes, and you’re bound to land something. But shotguns are for hunting pheasant, not finding jobs. The reality is that recruiters hate wasting time on resumes from unqualified candidates. Morgan Miller, an executive recruiter at StaffMark, recalls the security guard who applied to be a financial risk manager (maybe Lehman should have hired him), while Scott Ragusa at Winter, Wyman talks of the aerial photographer who sought out a position as a tax specialist.
“Sorting through unqualified resumes is frustrating, unproductive and puts an extra burden on staff,” says Katherine Swift, Senior Account Director at KCSA Strategic Communications in Natick, Mass. “It also makes it much more challenging to find the right candidate.” So the next time you’re thinking of blasting out resumes to all 60 of the job listings on Monster.com that have the word “finance” in them , save your time (and that of the recruiters) and only apply for ones for which you’re qualified.
2. Include a lofty mission statement
More than ever, today’s savage job market is about the company, not the candidate. As such, mission or objective statements — particularly ones with an applicant’s hopes, dreams, and health insurance aspirations — will dispatch otherwise fine resumes to the circular file. Employers don’t care about how they can solve your problems — certainly not before they’ve met you and possibly not even after they’ve hired you. Instead, write an “objectives” statement that explains specifically how your skills and experience will help the company you’re applying to, not the other way around. And be very clear about what kind of job you’re seeking.
3. Use one generic resume for every job listing
To stand out amongst the sea of resumes that recruiters receive, yours must speak to each and every specific position, even recycling some of the language from the job description itself. Make it obvious that you will start solving problems even before you’ve recorded your outgoing voicemail message. Your CV or query letter should include a just touch of industry lingo — sufficient to prove you know your stuff but not so much that you sound like a robot. And it should speak to individual company issues and industry challenges, with specifics on how you have personally improved customer loyalty, efficiency, and profitability at past jobs, says workplace and performance consultant Jay Forte. Plus, each morsel should be on point.
“Think hard about how to best leverage each piece of information to your job search advantage,” says Wendy Enelow, a career consultant and trainer in Virginia. “Nothing in your resume should be arbitrary, from what you include in your job descriptions and achievement statements, to whether your education or experience comes first [recent grads may want to put education first] to how you format your contact information.”
4. Make recruiters or hiring managers guess how exactly you can help their client
Sourcing experts want to know — immediately — what someone can offer, and they won’t spend time noodling someone’s credentials. “Animal, vegetable or mineral? Doctor, lawyer or Indian chief?That’s what I’m wondering every time I open a resume. If it takes me more than a split second to figure this out, I feel frustrated,” says Mary O’Gorman, a veteran recruiter based in Brooklyn.
5. Don’t explain how past experience translates to a new position
Though candidates should avoid jobs where they have no experience, they absolutely should pursue new areas and positions if they can position their experience effectively. A high school English teacher applying for new jobs, for example, can cite expertise in human resource management, people skills, record keeping, writing, and training, says Anthony Pensabene, a professional writer who works with executives.
“Titles are just semantics; candidates need to relate their ‘actual’ skills and experiences to the job they’re applying for in their resume,” Pensabene says. An applicant who cannot be bothered to identify the parallels between the two likely won’t be bothered with interviews, either.
6. Don’t include a cover letter with your resume
A cover letter should always accompany a resume — even if it’s going to your best friend. And that doesn’t mean a lazy “I’m _____ and I’m looking for a job in New York; please see my attached resume.” Says Lindsay Olson, a partner at Manhattan’s Paradigm Staffing: “I’d like to know why you are contacting me (a particular position, referral, etc.), a short background about yourself, and a career highlight or two. It’s important to attempt to set yourself apart from the competition.”
7. Be careless with details
Reckless job hunters rarely make for conscientious workers. As such, even promising resumes must abide by age-old dictums: typo-free, proper organization, and no embellishment. Susan Whitcomb, author of Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer, says that almost 80 percent of HR managers she surveyed said they would dismiss otherwise qualified candidates who break these rules. She tells the story of one would-be employer who, when looking for an assistant, decided not to hire anyone because every resume she received contained typos.
“With a 6-to-1 ratio of jobseekers-to-jobs in the current marketplace, you can’t afford to make mistakes with your resume,” Whitcomb says.
Many candidates believe the job hunt is a numbers game — drop enough resumes, and you’re bound to land something. But shotguns are for hunting pheasant, not finding jobs. The reality is that recruiters hate wasting time on resumes from unqualified candidates. Morgan Miller, an executive recruiter at StaffMark, recalls the security guard who applied to be a financial risk manager (maybe Lehman should have hired him), while Scott Ragusa at Winter, Wyman talks of the aerial photographer who sought out a position as a tax specialist.
“Sorting through unqualified resumes is frustrating, unproductive and puts an extra burden on staff,” says Katherine Swift, Senior Account Director at KCSA Strategic Communications in Natick, Mass. “It also makes it much more challenging to find the right candidate.” So the next time you’re thinking of blasting out resumes to all 60 of the job listings on Monster.com that have the word “finance” in them , save your time (and that of the recruiters) and only apply for ones for which you’re qualified.
2. Include a lofty mission statement
More than ever, today’s savage job market is about the company, not the candidate. As such, mission or objective statements — particularly ones with an applicant’s hopes, dreams, and health insurance aspirations — will dispatch otherwise fine resumes to the circular file. Employers don’t care about how they can solve your problems — certainly not before they’ve met you and possibly not even after they’ve hired you. Instead, write an “objectives” statement that explains specifically how your skills and experience will help the company you’re applying to, not the other way around. And be very clear about what kind of job you’re seeking.
3. Use one generic resume for every job listing
To stand out amongst the sea of resumes that recruiters receive, yours must speak to each and every specific position, even recycling some of the language from the job description itself. Make it obvious that you will start solving problems even before you’ve recorded your outgoing voicemail message. Your CV or query letter should include a just touch of industry lingo — sufficient to prove you know your stuff but not so much that you sound like a robot. And it should speak to individual company issues and industry challenges, with specifics on how you have personally improved customer loyalty, efficiency, and profitability at past jobs, says workplace and performance consultant Jay Forte. Plus, each morsel should be on point.
“Think hard about how to best leverage each piece of information to your job search advantage,” says Wendy Enelow, a career consultant and trainer in Virginia. “Nothing in your resume should be arbitrary, from what you include in your job descriptions and achievement statements, to whether your education or experience comes first [recent grads may want to put education first] to how you format your contact information.”
4. Make recruiters or hiring managers guess how exactly you can help their client
Sourcing experts want to know — immediately — what someone can offer, and they won’t spend time noodling someone’s credentials. “Animal, vegetable or mineral? Doctor, lawyer or Indian chief?That’s what I’m wondering every time I open a resume. If it takes me more than a split second to figure this out, I feel frustrated,” says Mary O’Gorman, a veteran recruiter based in Brooklyn.
5. Don’t explain how past experience translates to a new position
Though candidates should avoid jobs where they have no experience, they absolutely should pursue new areas and positions if they can position their experience effectively. A high school English teacher applying for new jobs, for example, can cite expertise in human resource management, people skills, record keeping, writing, and training, says Anthony Pensabene, a professional writer who works with executives.
“Titles are just semantics; candidates need to relate their ‘actual’ skills and experiences to the job they’re applying for in their resume,” Pensabene says. An applicant who cannot be bothered to identify the parallels between the two likely won’t be bothered with interviews, either.
6. Don’t include a cover letter with your resume
A cover letter should always accompany a resume — even if it’s going to your best friend. And that doesn’t mean a lazy “I’m _____ and I’m looking for a job in New York; please see my attached resume.” Says Lindsay Olson, a partner at Manhattan’s Paradigm Staffing: “I’d like to know why you are contacting me (a particular position, referral, etc.), a short background about yourself, and a career highlight or two. It’s important to attempt to set yourself apart from the competition.”
7. Be careless with details
Reckless job hunters rarely make for conscientious workers. As such, even promising resumes must abide by age-old dictums: typo-free, proper organization, and no embellishment. Susan Whitcomb, author of Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer, says that almost 80 percent of HR managers she surveyed said they would dismiss otherwise qualified candidates who break these rules. She tells the story of one would-be employer who, when looking for an assistant, decided not to hire anyone because every resume she received contained typos.
“With a 6-to-1 ratio of jobseekers-to-jobs in the current marketplace, you can’t afford to make mistakes with your resume,” Whitcomb says.
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER SAY IN AN INTERVIEW
Most job interview advice centers around things you should say and do to help position you for success. You've probably heard most of that sort of thing already -- dress appropriately, turn off your cellphone, learn about the company in advance, and so on. But it's also handy to keep a good bead on things you should not say in an interview. If some of this advice sounds like common sense to you, congratulations! You're savvier than half the candidates who wander into conference rooms looking for jobs every day. Here are five no-no's from Oomph, a digital design blog:
Don't talk about how great the job would be for you. If the role is awesome for you, that's, well, awesome. But really, the interviewer's priority isn't making sure this role fits into your life plan -- he or she needs to make sure you're right for the role and the company. To be sure, a smart interviewer will want to be certain that you're interested in the role and not just trying to collect a paycheck. But don't make the conversation about you. Make it about how your skills and experience are right for the position.
Don't badmouth your last job or boss. This is one of the most important and yet often forgotten lessons of job hunting. It's important that you never depict yourself as fleeing your last job -- you're trying to step up to a better opportunity. Certainly, never highlight any problems you had with your last manager, even if you truly cannot work with that individual one more day. No interviewer will ever interpret such comments as anything but unprofessional and immature, and conclude you lack the interpersonal skills to be successful in the new role.
Don't mention religion, politics or any other personal philosophies. Not only is it none of the interviewer's business, but it has a tremendous potential to put you and the interviewer on opposite sides of a divisive issue. And since it's illegal for the interviewer to ask you about that stuff, you're putting him or her in a precarious and dangerous position to discuss it at all. They won't thank you for that.
Don't talk about the rest of your day, for example, calls out that you shouldn't mention your spouse or parent is waiting for you in the car. The bottom line is that this interview is your one and only priority this day, period. You should be 100 percent focused on that, and not ask how soon you'll be done, mention your ride is waiting or that you have a dinner date.
Don't miss an opportunity to ask questions. You'll always get an opportunity to ask questions, and you should definitely take advantage. Not asking questions means you don't have any curiosity about the company, the role or your future -- in other words, you're there to try to collect a paycheck. That makes you relatively less competitive than someone else who appears ready to eagerly climb the ladder from entry level sales manager to CEO, even if you seem otherwise better qualified.
Don't talk about how great the job would be for you. If the role is awesome for you, that's, well, awesome. But really, the interviewer's priority isn't making sure this role fits into your life plan -- he or she needs to make sure you're right for the role and the company. To be sure, a smart interviewer will want to be certain that you're interested in the role and not just trying to collect a paycheck. But don't make the conversation about you. Make it about how your skills and experience are right for the position.
Don't badmouth your last job or boss. This is one of the most important and yet often forgotten lessons of job hunting. It's important that you never depict yourself as fleeing your last job -- you're trying to step up to a better opportunity. Certainly, never highlight any problems you had with your last manager, even if you truly cannot work with that individual one more day. No interviewer will ever interpret such comments as anything but unprofessional and immature, and conclude you lack the interpersonal skills to be successful in the new role.
Don't mention religion, politics or any other personal philosophies. Not only is it none of the interviewer's business, but it has a tremendous potential to put you and the interviewer on opposite sides of a divisive issue. And since it's illegal for the interviewer to ask you about that stuff, you're putting him or her in a precarious and dangerous position to discuss it at all. They won't thank you for that.
Don't talk about the rest of your day, for example, calls out that you shouldn't mention your spouse or parent is waiting for you in the car. The bottom line is that this interview is your one and only priority this day, period. You should be 100 percent focused on that, and not ask how soon you'll be done, mention your ride is waiting or that you have a dinner date.
Don't miss an opportunity to ask questions. You'll always get an opportunity to ask questions, and you should definitely take advantage. Not asking questions means you don't have any curiosity about the company, the role or your future -- in other words, you're there to try to collect a paycheck. That makes you relatively less competitive than someone else who appears ready to eagerly climb the ladder from entry level sales manager to CEO, even if you seem otherwise better qualified.
5 BODY LANGUAGE MISTAKES YOU SHOULD AVOID WHEN GOING FOR AN INTERVIEW
by Dave Johnson
Much of the information that we communicate happens non-verbally via subtle signals we put out with our posture, gestures and attitude. It's no surprise, then, that your success in a job interview depends quite a bit on almost everything except what you actually say. Recently, WiseBread explained the most common body language mistakes people make in interviews -- and how to avoid them. Here are the highlights:
Your handshake makes a critical first impression. Your dad probably taught you how to shake hands and his lesson was more important than you know. Make it firm -- not body-builder-aggressive and certainly not feeble like a dead fish. Also, be sure your hand is dry, so if you're perspiring, wipe it off before you meet your interviewer.
Don't touch your face. People touch their faces instinctively and without conscious thought. But if you want to make a good first impression, you'll need to be very conscious of where your hands are for the duration of the interview. Keep them well away from your nose and mouth, which can be a turn-off to germophobes. And for everyone else, touching your face is sometimes interpreted as a sign of dishonesty.
Don't cross your arms. Even if you only know one or two ways to read body language, you probably know this one -- crossing your arms is a sign of defensiveness and passive aggressiveness. That's not the impression you want to convey, so put your hands on the table where they can't cause you any trouble.
Don't stare. You probably know that making eye contact is a good thing, right? Well, there's a difference between positive eye contact and just plain staring. This is one of those things that should be natural, but if you think too hard about it, it is challenging to do in a natural way. The bottom line is that you want to maintain eye contact in moderation, without letting it devolve into uncomfortable staring. At the same time, don't let your eyes wander around the room as if you're bored.
Avoid nodding too much. You might think it's a good idea to nod a lot, either to appear to agree with your interviewer or to imply you're paying close attention, but the reality is that this can make you come across as sycophantic or spineless. Like eye contact, nod in moderation, and only when it's clearly appropriate.
Much of the information that we communicate happens non-verbally via subtle signals we put out with our posture, gestures and attitude. It's no surprise, then, that your success in a job interview depends quite a bit on almost everything except what you actually say. Recently, WiseBread explained the most common body language mistakes people make in interviews -- and how to avoid them. Here are the highlights:
Your handshake makes a critical first impression. Your dad probably taught you how to shake hands and his lesson was more important than you know. Make it firm -- not body-builder-aggressive and certainly not feeble like a dead fish. Also, be sure your hand is dry, so if you're perspiring, wipe it off before you meet your interviewer.
Don't touch your face. People touch their faces instinctively and without conscious thought. But if you want to make a good first impression, you'll need to be very conscious of where your hands are for the duration of the interview. Keep them well away from your nose and mouth, which can be a turn-off to germophobes. And for everyone else, touching your face is sometimes interpreted as a sign of dishonesty.
Don't cross your arms. Even if you only know one or two ways to read body language, you probably know this one -- crossing your arms is a sign of defensiveness and passive aggressiveness. That's not the impression you want to convey, so put your hands on the table where they can't cause you any trouble.
Don't stare. You probably know that making eye contact is a good thing, right? Well, there's a difference between positive eye contact and just plain staring. This is one of those things that should be natural, but if you think too hard about it, it is challenging to do in a natural way. The bottom line is that you want to maintain eye contact in moderation, without letting it devolve into uncomfortable staring. At the same time, don't let your eyes wander around the room as if you're bored.
Avoid nodding too much. You might think it's a good idea to nod a lot, either to appear to agree with your interviewer or to imply you're paying close attention, but the reality is that this can make you come across as sycophantic or spineless. Like eye contact, nod in moderation, and only when it's clearly appropriate.
Monday, 12 March 2012
COLOUR DIAMONDS
BASEL - Yellow, pink and blue diamonds are catching the eye of investors around the world, according to dealers and industry insiders.
Natural coloured diamonds make up only 1 percent of global production, which gives them "unquestionable value," said Bruno Scarselli, who represents the third generation of U.S.-based coloured diamond specialist Scarselli Diamonds.
"There is a tremendous demand for yellow diamonds, but also blue and pink," Scarselli told Reuters at the Baselworld watch and jewellery show.
"There are not enough diamonds to satisfy one-tenth of the new billionaires that every month are created in China," he said as he handled a $9 million ring featuring a 2.5-carat internally flawless blue diamond and two smaller pink stones.
Scarselli said he expects financial institutions to be increasingly attracted to the diamond industry, which has traditionally been in the hands of family businesses.
"This is associated with the fact that currency is losing its value, government bonds are a risk, and nations are losing wealth."
Coloured diamonds are piquing investors' interest because they are more difficult to find in nature than white diamonds, industry spokesmen said.
Simon Zion, whose father founded Hong Kong-based diamond company Dehres Ltd, said blue diamonds are coveted not because they are the rarest but because there are not many left after a boom in demand.
Investors' relationship with diamonds has been rocky.
The first diamond investment trust, set up by investment firm Thomson McKinnon in the 1980s, was wound up after a slump in the market.
The first publicly traded fund to invest in diamonds, Diamond Circle Capital Plc, has lost more than half of its value since it started trading in 2008.
At the beginning of 2011, investors seeking shelter from a weakening dollar were drawn back to the diamond market, expecting diamonds to go the same way as gold, said Martin Rapaport, whose diamond indexes are used as a reference by the diamond industry.
"In fact, the dollar went up and the store-of-value investment argument became weaker," he said.
Excess liquidity in India, one of the biggest diamond players, pushed up the price of diamonds in the first half of 2011, triggering a wave a panic among Chinese buyers who stocked up on diamonds fearing the price would keep rising.
"Then when credit became tighter in India, the thing that was fuelling the fire settled down," said Rapaport.
He expects the diamond market to be stable for the first half of 2012 as overstocking works itself out, before starting to rise in the second half.
Frédéric de Narp, president and chief executive of U.S. diamond miner and jeweler Harry Winston, said he will increase prices as he anticipates diamonds will go up again.
A Chinese love affair with diamonds has fueled a growing trend for watchmakers to decorate their timepieces with the gems.
Diamonds of all shapes and colours sparkled in the crystal windows of the Basel fair, mainly aimed at buyers from China, the Middle East and the United States.
Swiss jeweler Shawish unveiled a 150-carat ring entirely made of diamond for an indicated 70 million Swiss francs.
A diamond-encrusted gun - even the bullets carried their fair share of carats - sparkled at Diasqua, a privately-owned Indian company based in Hong Kong. (Additional reporting by Caroline Copley; editing by John Wallace)
Natural coloured diamonds make up only 1 percent of global production, which gives them "unquestionable value," said Bruno Scarselli, who represents the third generation of U.S.-based coloured diamond specialist Scarselli Diamonds.
"There is a tremendous demand for yellow diamonds, but also blue and pink," Scarselli told Reuters at the Baselworld watch and jewellery show.
"There are not enough diamonds to satisfy one-tenth of the new billionaires that every month are created in China," he said as he handled a $9 million ring featuring a 2.5-carat internally flawless blue diamond and two smaller pink stones.
Scarselli said he expects financial institutions to be increasingly attracted to the diamond industry, which has traditionally been in the hands of family businesses.
"This is associated with the fact that currency is losing its value, government bonds are a risk, and nations are losing wealth."
Coloured diamonds are piquing investors' interest because they are more difficult to find in nature than white diamonds, industry spokesmen said.
Simon Zion, whose father founded Hong Kong-based diamond company Dehres Ltd, said blue diamonds are coveted not because they are the rarest but because there are not many left after a boom in demand.
Investors' relationship with diamonds has been rocky.
The first diamond investment trust, set up by investment firm Thomson McKinnon in the 1980s, was wound up after a slump in the market.
The first publicly traded fund to invest in diamonds, Diamond Circle Capital Plc, has lost more than half of its value since it started trading in 2008.
At the beginning of 2011, investors seeking shelter from a weakening dollar were drawn back to the diamond market, expecting diamonds to go the same way as gold, said Martin Rapaport, whose diamond indexes are used as a reference by the diamond industry.
"In fact, the dollar went up and the store-of-value investment argument became weaker," he said.
Excess liquidity in India, one of the biggest diamond players, pushed up the price of diamonds in the first half of 2011, triggering a wave a panic among Chinese buyers who stocked up on diamonds fearing the price would keep rising.
"Then when credit became tighter in India, the thing that was fuelling the fire settled down," said Rapaport.
He expects the diamond market to be stable for the first half of 2012 as overstocking works itself out, before starting to rise in the second half.
Frédéric de Narp, president and chief executive of U.S. diamond miner and jeweler Harry Winston, said he will increase prices as he anticipates diamonds will go up again.
A Chinese love affair with diamonds has fueled a growing trend for watchmakers to decorate their timepieces with the gems.
Diamonds of all shapes and colours sparkled in the crystal windows of the Basel fair, mainly aimed at buyers from China, the Middle East and the United States.
Swiss jeweler Shawish unveiled a 150-carat ring entirely made of diamond for an indicated 70 million Swiss francs.
A diamond-encrusted gun - even the bullets carried their fair share of carats - sparkled at Diasqua, a privately-owned Indian company based in Hong Kong. (Additional reporting by Caroline Copley; editing by John Wallace)
Saturday, 3 March 2012
A SECOND CHANCE
Today, I re-read the suicide letter I wrote on the afternoon of September 2nd 1996 about two minutes before my girlfriend showed up at my door and told me, “I’m pregnant.” Suddenly I felt I had a reason to live. Today she’s my wife. We’ve been happily married for 14 years. And my daughter, who is almost 15 now, has two younger brothers. I re-read my suicide letter from time to time as a reminder to be thankful – I am thankful I got a second chance at life and love. ANONYMOUS
TINY LOVE STORIES
My dad is the best dad I could ask for. He’s a loving husband to my mom (always making her laugh), he’s been to every one of my soccer games since I was 5 (I’m 17 now), and he provides for our family as a construction foreman. This morning when I was searching through my dad’s toolbox for a pliers, I found a dirty folded up paper at the bottom. It was an old journal entry in my dad’s handwriting dated exactly one month before the day I was born. It reads, “I am eighteen years old, an alcoholic who is failing out of college, a past cutter, and a child abuse victim with a criminal record of auto theft. And next month, ‘teen father’ will be added to the list. But I swear I will make things right for my little girl. I will be the dad I never had.” And I don’t know how he did it, but he did it!!!! ANONYMOUS
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
These questions are designed to test you in an interview
Top 10 most common questions designed to trick you.in an interview
No. 1: Why have you been out of work so long, and how many others were laid off?
This question may also be followed by the more direct, "Why were you laid off?" Kennedy says it is an attempt to figure out if there's something wrong with you that your former company or that other potential employers have already discovered. The interviewer may be trying to determine if themes of recession and budget cuts were used to dump second-string employees, including you. Rather than answering the question directly and chancing an emotional response or misinterpretation, Kennedy advises punting. Respond: "I don't know the reason. I was an excellent employee who gave more than a day's work for a day's pay."
No. 2: If employed, how do you manage time for interviews?
"The real question is whether you are lying to and short-changing your current employer while looking for other work," says Kennedy. The interviewer may wonder: If you're cheating on your current boss, why wouldn't you later cheat on me? She suggests placing the emphasis on why you're interested in this position by saying you're taking personal time and that you only interview for positions that are a terrific match. If further interviews are suggested, Kennedy advises mentioning that the search is confidential and asking to schedule follow-ups outside of normal working hours.
No. 3: How did you prepare for this interview?
The intention of this question is to decipher how much you really care about the job or if you're simply going through the motions or winging it. Kennedy says the best way to answer is by saying, "I very much want this job, and of course researched it starting with the company website." Beyond explaining how you've done your homework, show it. Reveal your knowledge of the industry, company or department by asking informed questions and commenting on recent developments.
No. 4: Do you know anyone who works for us?
This one really is a tricky question, says Kennedy, because most interviewees expect that knowing someone on the inside is always a good thing. "Nothing beats having a friend deliver your resume to a hiring manager, but that transaction presumes the friend is well thought of in the company," she says. Because the interviewer will likely associate the friend's characteristics and reputation with your merits, she recommends only mentioning someone by name if you're certain of their positive standing in the organization.
No. 5: Where would you really like to work?
"The real agenda for this question is assurance that you aren't applying to every job opening in sight," says Kennedy. She advises never mentioning another company by name or another job title because you want to highlight all the reasons you're perfect for this job and that you'll give it all of your attention if achieved. A good response would be: "This is where I want to work, and this job is what I want to do."
[Also see: In-Demand Careers Through 2018]
No. 6: What bugs you about coworkers or bosses?
Don't fall into this trap. Kennedy says you always want to present yourself as optimistic and action-oriented, and hiring managers may use this question to tease out whether you'll have trouble working with others or could drag down workplace morale and productivity. "Develop a poor memory for past irritations," she advises. Reflect for a few seconds, and then say you can't recall anything in particular. Go on to compliment former bosses for being knowledgeable and fair and commend past coworkers for their ability and attitude. It will reveal your positive outlook and self-control and how you'll handle the social dynamics in this position.
No. 7: Can you describe how you solved a work or school problem?
Kennedy says that, really, no one should be too taken aback by this, as it's one of the most basic interview questions and should always be anticipated. However, all too often interviewees either can't come up with something on the spot or miss the opportunity to highlight their best skills and attributes. Kennedy says what the interviewer really wants is insight into how your mind works. Have an answer ready, like how you solved time management issues in order to take on a special assignment or complicated project, that showcases an achievement.
No. 8: Can you describe a work or school instance in which you messed up?
This one is a minefield. "One question within the question is whether you learn from your mistakes or keep repeating the same errors," says Kennedy. Similarly, the interviewer may be trying to glean whether you're too self-important or not self-aware enough to take responsibility for your failings. Perhaps even more problematic, if you answer this question by providing a list of all your negative traits or major misdeeds, then you're practically spelling out your insecurities and guaranteeing you won't get the job. So you don't want to skirt the question or make yourself look bad. "Briefly mention a single small, well-intentioned goof and follow up with an important lesson learned from the experience," she advises.
No. 9: How does this position compare with others you're applying for?
"The intent is to gather intel on the competitive job market or get a handle on what it will take to bring you on board," says Kennedy. There are two directions to take: Coy or calculated. "You can choose a generic strategy and say you don't interview and tell, and respect the privacy of any organization where you interview," she notes. Or you could try to make yourself appear in demand by confirming you've received another competitive offer, which may up the bidding for your services. Always bring the focus back to this position, by asking: "Have I found my destination here?"
No. 10: If you won the lottery, would you still work?
Admittedly, this one's a little silly. Even so, it's another opportunity to underscore your motivation and work ethic. Kennedy advises acknowledging that you'd be thrilled to win the lottery but would still look for meaningful work because meeting challenges and achieving make you happy. And say it with a straight face.
If at any point in an interview you're uncertain or caught off guard, don't panic, Kennedy warns. Deflect a question by saying you'd like to mull it over and come back to it, or by being honest that you don't know the answer and, as a careful worker, would prefer not to guess. "If you've otherwise done a good job of answering questions and confidently explained why you're a great match for the position," she says, "the interviewer probably won't consider your lack of specifics on a single topic to be a deal breaker."
No. 1: Why have you been out of work so long, and how many others were laid off?
This question may also be followed by the more direct, "Why were you laid off?" Kennedy says it is an attempt to figure out if there's something wrong with you that your former company or that other potential employers have already discovered. The interviewer may be trying to determine if themes of recession and budget cuts were used to dump second-string employees, including you. Rather than answering the question directly and chancing an emotional response or misinterpretation, Kennedy advises punting. Respond: "I don't know the reason. I was an excellent employee who gave more than a day's work for a day's pay."
No. 2: If employed, how do you manage time for interviews?
"The real question is whether you are lying to and short-changing your current employer while looking for other work," says Kennedy. The interviewer may wonder: If you're cheating on your current boss, why wouldn't you later cheat on me? She suggests placing the emphasis on why you're interested in this position by saying you're taking personal time and that you only interview for positions that are a terrific match. If further interviews are suggested, Kennedy advises mentioning that the search is confidential and asking to schedule follow-ups outside of normal working hours.
No. 3: How did you prepare for this interview?
The intention of this question is to decipher how much you really care about the job or if you're simply going through the motions or winging it. Kennedy says the best way to answer is by saying, "I very much want this job, and of course researched it starting with the company website." Beyond explaining how you've done your homework, show it. Reveal your knowledge of the industry, company or department by asking informed questions and commenting on recent developments.
No. 4: Do you know anyone who works for us?
This one really is a tricky question, says Kennedy, because most interviewees expect that knowing someone on the inside is always a good thing. "Nothing beats having a friend deliver your resume to a hiring manager, but that transaction presumes the friend is well thought of in the company," she says. Because the interviewer will likely associate the friend's characteristics and reputation with your merits, she recommends only mentioning someone by name if you're certain of their positive standing in the organization.
No. 5: Where would you really like to work?
"The real agenda for this question is assurance that you aren't applying to every job opening in sight," says Kennedy. She advises never mentioning another company by name or another job title because you want to highlight all the reasons you're perfect for this job and that you'll give it all of your attention if achieved. A good response would be: "This is where I want to work, and this job is what I want to do."
[Also see: In-Demand Careers Through 2018]
No. 6: What bugs you about coworkers or bosses?
Don't fall into this trap. Kennedy says you always want to present yourself as optimistic and action-oriented, and hiring managers may use this question to tease out whether you'll have trouble working with others or could drag down workplace morale and productivity. "Develop a poor memory for past irritations," she advises. Reflect for a few seconds, and then say you can't recall anything in particular. Go on to compliment former bosses for being knowledgeable and fair and commend past coworkers for their ability and attitude. It will reveal your positive outlook and self-control and how you'll handle the social dynamics in this position.
No. 7: Can you describe how you solved a work or school problem?
Kennedy says that, really, no one should be too taken aback by this, as it's one of the most basic interview questions and should always be anticipated. However, all too often interviewees either can't come up with something on the spot or miss the opportunity to highlight their best skills and attributes. Kennedy says what the interviewer really wants is insight into how your mind works. Have an answer ready, like how you solved time management issues in order to take on a special assignment or complicated project, that showcases an achievement.
No. 8: Can you describe a work or school instance in which you messed up?
This one is a minefield. "One question within the question is whether you learn from your mistakes or keep repeating the same errors," says Kennedy. Similarly, the interviewer may be trying to glean whether you're too self-important or not self-aware enough to take responsibility for your failings. Perhaps even more problematic, if you answer this question by providing a list of all your negative traits or major misdeeds, then you're practically spelling out your insecurities and guaranteeing you won't get the job. So you don't want to skirt the question or make yourself look bad. "Briefly mention a single small, well-intentioned goof and follow up with an important lesson learned from the experience," she advises.
No. 9: How does this position compare with others you're applying for?
"The intent is to gather intel on the competitive job market or get a handle on what it will take to bring you on board," says Kennedy. There are two directions to take: Coy or calculated. "You can choose a generic strategy and say you don't interview and tell, and respect the privacy of any organization where you interview," she notes. Or you could try to make yourself appear in demand by confirming you've received another competitive offer, which may up the bidding for your services. Always bring the focus back to this position, by asking: "Have I found my destination here?"
No. 10: If you won the lottery, would you still work?
Admittedly, this one's a little silly. Even so, it's another opportunity to underscore your motivation and work ethic. Kennedy advises acknowledging that you'd be thrilled to win the lottery but would still look for meaningful work because meeting challenges and achieving make you happy. And say it with a straight face.
If at any point in an interview you're uncertain or caught off guard, don't panic, Kennedy warns. Deflect a question by saying you'd like to mull it over and come back to it, or by being honest that you don't know the answer and, as a careful worker, would prefer not to guess. "If you've otherwise done a good job of answering questions and confidently explained why you're a great match for the position," she says, "the interviewer probably won't consider your lack of specifics on a single topic to be a deal breaker."
Monday, 27 February 2012
ONLY FORGIVE!!!!
A Couple's Heartbreak
by Anonymous
A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter.
The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated with its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed, the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband.
When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words.
What do you think were the four words?
The husband just said "I Love You Darling"
The husband's totally unexpected reaction is proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he have taken time to keep the bottle away, this will not have happened. No
point in attaching blame. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.
Sometimes we spend time asking who is responsible or who to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. We miss out some warmth in human relationship in giving each other support. After all, shouldn't forgiving someone we love be the easiest thing in the world to do? Treasure what you have. Don't multiply pain, anguish and suffering by holding on to forgiveness.
If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears and you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think.
by Anonymous
A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter.
The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated with its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child collapsed, the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband.
When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words.
What do you think were the four words?
The husband just said "I Love You Darling"
The husband's totally unexpected reaction is proactive behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if only he have taken time to keep the bottle away, this will not have happened. No
point in attaching blame. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.
Sometimes we spend time asking who is responsible or who to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. We miss out some warmth in human relationship in giving each other support. After all, shouldn't forgiving someone we love be the easiest thing in the world to do? Treasure what you have. Don't multiply pain, anguish and suffering by holding on to forgiveness.
If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world.
Take off all your envies, jealousies, unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears and you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think.
THE BABY MIRACLE
The story of Landina Seignon - the baby pulled from the rubble of the Haiti earthquake in January and brought to the UK for specialist surgery - and the attempt to reunite her with her mother
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-miracle-baby-of-haiti/4od
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-miracle-baby-of-haiti/4od
THE POWER OF THE WORDS
by Priya Sher
Two young kangaroos were playing in the forest when they fell into a very deep pit. They tried to jump out but couldn’t jump high enough to get out of the hole.
Meanwhile, a big group of kangaroos started gathering above the pit – the pit was very deep and the gathered onlookers shouted to the two young kangaroos that it was impossible for them to get out. The older one of the two kangaroos heard the disheartening words of the spectators and after a while gave up and fell asleep, whilst the younger kept jumping and trying harder.
Finally, he managed to jump out of the hole – the spectators were shocked and asked the kangaroo,
“When we had told you so many times that it was impossible to get out, what was the reason that you tried even harder?”
The kangaroo was shocked because as he was partially deaf. He told them:
“Looking at all of you standing there cheering me gave me the strength to succeed in my mission of getting out of the pit.”
Two young kangaroos were playing in the forest when they fell into a very deep pit. They tried to jump out but couldn’t jump high enough to get out of the hole.
Meanwhile, a big group of kangaroos started gathering above the pit – the pit was very deep and the gathered onlookers shouted to the two young kangaroos that it was impossible for them to get out. The older one of the two kangaroos heard the disheartening words of the spectators and after a while gave up and fell asleep, whilst the younger kept jumping and trying harder.
Finally, he managed to jump out of the hole – the spectators were shocked and asked the kangaroo,
“When we had told you so many times that it was impossible to get out, what was the reason that you tried even harder?”
The kangaroo was shocked because as he was partially deaf. He told them:
“Looking at all of you standing there cheering me gave me the strength to succeed in my mission of getting out of the pit.”
Saturday, 25 February 2012
ETHICAL FACE OF THE BOLIVIANITA
According to the statements of M&M, they do not use any child labour, and for safety reasons, the miners must have regular training, which is reassuring for those concerned about ethical jewellery. The following information about the producing process is taken from their website.
Unlike traditional mining, gemstone mining involves the use of non-destructive, selective methods. For that reason, no explosives are used and all the extraction of gems is carefully done by hand. The manufacturing process begins by sawing the stones, followed by pre-forming, which is done by hand as well. During this process the stone gets its special shape. After that the stone receives its faceting and in the end the polish, which gives it its brilliant shine.
Traditionally, the Ametrine is cut into rectangular shapes, trying to divide the yellow and purple colours into two halves. A more modern, experimental style is to blend the citrine’s honey and the amethyst’s lavender in order to have a mix of colours, “where purple and yellow appear randomly throughout the stone” (Ramiro Rivero). It is also quiet popular among artistic cutters and carvers, who love to work with colours in a more playful way, to create landscapes shining through the stone. In addition to these designs, it is getting more and more common to add a checkerboard pattern at the top of the gem to make the most of the glittering reflections.
Independent of size, modern or traditional style, with or without checkerboard: At the very end of the procedure of mining, processing and carving, all of the specialized workers involved have created a unique piece of jewellery art.
The popularity of the gem seems to extend all over the American continent. Due to its range of colours, its availability in different sizes and styles, more prizes for gems have been awarded to the Ametrine over the past few years at the American Gem Trade Association’s Cutting Edge and Spectrum competitions than any other gem stone.
Unlike traditional mining, gemstone mining involves the use of non-destructive, selective methods. For that reason, no explosives are used and all the extraction of gems is carefully done by hand. The manufacturing process begins by sawing the stones, followed by pre-forming, which is done by hand as well. During this process the stone gets its special shape. After that the stone receives its faceting and in the end the polish, which gives it its brilliant shine.
Traditionally, the Ametrine is cut into rectangular shapes, trying to divide the yellow and purple colours into two halves. A more modern, experimental style is to blend the citrine’s honey and the amethyst’s lavender in order to have a mix of colours, “where purple and yellow appear randomly throughout the stone” (Ramiro Rivero). It is also quiet popular among artistic cutters and carvers, who love to work with colours in a more playful way, to create landscapes shining through the stone. In addition to these designs, it is getting more and more common to add a checkerboard pattern at the top of the gem to make the most of the glittering reflections.
Independent of size, modern or traditional style, with or without checkerboard: At the very end of the procedure of mining, processing and carving, all of the specialized workers involved have created a unique piece of jewellery art.
The popularity of the gem seems to extend all over the American continent. Due to its range of colours, its availability in different sizes and styles, more prizes for gems have been awarded to the Ametrine over the past few years at the American Gem Trade Association’s Cutting Edge and Spectrum competitions than any other gem stone.
AMETRINE HEALING QUALITIES
Ametrine is a combination of Amethyst and Citrine and as such unites the master healing properties of Amethyst with the 'feel good' properties of Citrine. The Amethyst energy, in Ametrine, works very quickly to ease and release pain while the Citrine energy encourages a feeling of well-being and mental focus.Ametrine is also known for its ability to stimulate creativity and to encourage you to take control of your own life. It is said to promote flashes of inspiration and is ideal to wear or hold when taking stock and making decisions about your career.
In healing Ametrine is believed to ease gastric upsets and to strengthen the immune system. It is also said to provide relief from chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, fatigue and lethargy, tension headaches and stress related diseases. Ametrine is believed to clear stress and tension from the head, calming the mind and bringing mental focus.
Because Ametrine combines the colours of yellow and purple it can be placed on the Solar Plexus or the Crown Chakra.
In healing Ametrine is believed to ease gastric upsets and to strengthen the immune system. It is also said to provide relief from chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, fatigue and lethargy, tension headaches and stress related diseases. Ametrine is believed to clear stress and tension from the head, calming the mind and bringing mental focus.
Because Ametrine combines the colours of yellow and purple it can be placed on the Solar Plexus or the Crown Chakra.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Real facts of Bolivianite gemstone , known as the eternal love gemstone
The name AMETRINE ( http://www.gemselect.com/ametrine/ametrine.php) was coined for a member of the Quartz family which displays a combination of both Amethyst and Citrine. Natural Ametrine first arrived in the market in 1980 when it was discovered at the Anhai mine in Bolivia. This mine became well- known when a Spanish conquistador received it as a dowry when he married a princess from the Ayoreos tribe in the seventeenth century.
Ametrine is said to aid meditation, to calm and relieve tension, and dispel negativity .
Ametrine is said to aid meditation, to calm and relieve tension, and dispel negativity .
Ametrine is a type of naturally occurring quartz. It is made from a mixture of Amethyst and Citrine. It should be noted that Citrine is Amethyst that has been super heated. Ametrine is sometimes referred to as Trystine or even by its commercial name Bolivianite. Ametrine comes from mines in Bolivia, where practically all of the worlds Ametrine are located.
Since Ametrine is extremely rare, it doesn’t have as an extensive history and origin as other popular gemstones; however Ametrine was said to be first introduced in Europe by Conquistadors that found Ametrine in South America. It is said that Ametrine was given to the Spanish Queen as a gift for a dowry.
Ametrine has only been commercially available for a little more than 25 years. It first was sold commercially in 1980, when Ametrine was put on the market by the Anahi Mine in Bolivia.
Because there is little history about this precious and beautiful stone, most people usually look towards the two minerals present in Ametrine – Amethyst and Citrine. This means that Ametrine can relieve stress and make one feel calm. It can also make one enhance their thought process and mental capabilities.
Since Ametrine is extremely rare, it doesn’t have as an extensive history and origin as other popular gemstones; however Ametrine was said to be first introduced in Europe by Conquistadors that found Ametrine in South America. It is said that Ametrine was given to the Spanish Queen as a gift for a dowry.
Ametrine has only been commercially available for a little more than 25 years. It first was sold commercially in 1980, when Ametrine was put on the market by the Anahi Mine in Bolivia.
Because there is little history about this precious and beautiful stone, most people usually look towards the two minerals present in Ametrine – Amethyst and Citrine. This means that Ametrine can relieve stress and make one feel calm. It can also make one enhance their thought process and mental capabilities.
Bolivia
| |
Bicolor mix of purple and yellow, orange or golden brown.
| |
1.544 - 1.553
| |
SiO2
| |
7
| |
2.6 - 2.7
| |
Hexagonal
| |
Friday, 20 January 2012
Valentine's day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is a holiday observed on February 14 honoring one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. It was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, and was later deleted from the General Roman Calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI.
Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.
Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)