When it comes to using your resume to apply for a job, it’s important to remember that form matters just as much as content.  A nice looking resume can’t make up for one that is full of spelling errors, typos, and factually incorrect information.  However, an unattractive resume can completely undermine even the most impressive and well-documented credentials.

In almost every situation, it is advisable to limit your resume to a single page.  There are a few circumstances where longer resumes are acceptable, but not many.  The layout of your resume should allow for a sufficient amount of white space around the edges of the page.  One inch margins all the way around the document are ideal, although it may be acceptable to shrink margins a little bit if necessary to fit the document on a single page.

The font that you use should be clear and easy to read.  Ideally, you should use 12 point type.  If you need to use a smaller font to make your resume fit on one page, you can go to a 10 point font, but never smaller.  You  can make your name and contact information a little bit larger so that they stand out on the page.

Verdana and Arial are excellent resume fonts because they are easy to read and the transmit well via fax.  You should never use ornate fonts on your resume, such as Algerian or Bradley Hand.  These fonts are nice for invitations and other casual communications, but they are not appropriate for a resume.

If you are going to fax your resume to prospective employers, it is advisable to print it on plain white copy paper for ease of transmission.  If you are going to hand deliver it or mail your resume, you should invest in high quality resume paper, which you can find at any department or office supply store.  Stick with white, beige, or gray paper.  Pink paper does not send a professional message, nor does any other pastel, bright, or patterned paper.

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“I know I need to know how to create spreadsheets and update my database, but I just can’t find the time!”  Does this sound like you?  So many professionals and small business owners need to learn more about computer applications in order to function more effectively in their jobs.  Finding a good time to get the training you need to do your job can be challenging for many business owners and professionals.

If you find yourself registering to attend computer classes, but then having to cancel because something always seems to come up at the last minute, you are not alone.  Many business people have a hard time planning ahead of time to attend training sessions that are scheduled for specific times.  However, finding training classes at the last minute is nearly impossible, because good classes fill up quickly.  It can be very frustrating to know that you need to improve your skills, but to be unable to find time to do so.

That’s where online training comes in.  E-learning classes are available in every topic imaginable, from basic computer skills through how to design and market your company’s website.  By selecting an online training option, your computer can become your classroom.  Instead of leaving work or home to go to class, literally your class can be delivered right to your desktop, any time that you want it.  Whether you have time to work on developing your skills first think in the morning, last thing at night, or even in the airport between flights, you can fit e-learning into your schedule.  

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Would you say that your customers are satisfied with the products and services provided by your organization?  Do you think that having satisfied customers indicates that your organization is one that provides exceptional customer service?  If so, think about what the word satisfaction really means.    When your customers are satisfied, it simply means that you have met their service and performance expectations.  It’s like earning a “C” on your report card.  Your performance is average – not worse than expected, but not better either. 

If you want to be recognized as an outstanding provider of customer service, you have to consistently exceed the expectations of your customers.  This is how your organization can build customer loyalty, which is much more important than customer satisfaction.  Satisfied customers aren’t angry or upset with you, but they still may choose to do business with your competitors.  Loyal customers, on the other hand, are those who choose to keep coming back to you, and choose not to purchase from your competitors.  Customer loyalty is based on the relationship between your organization and its customers.  

Organizations that are recognized as exceptional providers of customer service are the ones that have incorporated customer-focused behaviors into their daily operations.  You can do this at your organization.  

Customer focused behavior requires:

1. Make the Customer #1· Positive initial contact· Establish rapport· Don’t keep customers waiting.

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Ask yourself if you have anything to worry about right now? Are you anxious at this moment? Not tomorrow, not an hour ago, now. No, I didn’t think you were. You have just had a taste of being present. If you want to learn how to eliminate stress from your life, to have better relationships with others and most of all, a greater connectedness with yourself…learning to focus on the present is a powerful technique to do so. When I first heard the expression being present, I didn’t know what it meant? But I have discovered since then, that it is one of most powerful distressors you can ever use. It simply means that you give your full attention to the situation or person in front of you right now.

If you ever slow down and check your thought processes you will notice that you probably spend vast amounts of time brooding on the past and maybe even more speculating about the future. This all means that you are not paying attention to the very task or person in front of you that needs to be attended to. If you are obsessed with the past or wondering about the future it is very easy to miss the opportunity, the delight and joy that are right in front of you. Speculation can cause great mental suffering. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, I’ve been through some terrible things in my life….some of which actually happened.

In fact, if you watch your own thought processes, it’s interesting to observe how we can rapidly concoct a whole saga from random incidents. Next time you try on a garment in a shop and it doesn’t fit, watch how your thought processes can rapidly move from “it doesn’t fit” to “I’m fat and ugly” to “No one will ever love me” in the space of milliseconds and the suffering that causes you.

Being present doesn’t mean that you stop wanting to achieve and be ambitious.

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We’ve all had it…two weeks of sun, sand, sangria and whatever you are having yourself. No thoughts of work (unless you are self-employed…and in that case work is rarely far away!). And then here comes Monday again, the dreary routine, same old ding-dong and your heart sinks….” is this it?” you ask yourself. Well, here are some tips to change how you feel after coming back from the holidays.

1. Admission: Just admit that you feel despondent and squashed after coming back from your holidays. But it will pass. Notice the feeling rather than trying to deny or change it. It is what it is.
2. Clear the backlog: With the advent of e-mail, voice messaging and technology, the chances are you will have a backlog to clear. Let people know that you have a backlog to clear, and let them know you will deal with their issues when that has been done.
3. Short week: A good idea is to choose your days so that the first week back is a short one. This will make the transition easier.
4. Make the change: Often when we are on holidays, we can more clearly see what changes we need to make at work. (That might include looking for a new job!) Identify one small step you can take today to begin implementing that change. Take another small step tomorrow.
5. Prioritize your self-care: Identify ways in which you can begin to take better care of yourself at work. This could include drinking more water, staying away from toxic people, saying NO more often, having a major declutter of your work area.
6. Overcome overwhelm: One of the most powerful enemies of feeling calm and delivering good work is feeling overwhelmed. Two ways in which you can tackle overwhelm are: (a) stop, close your eyes and take a rest for 3-5 minutes.

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Why not take some time this year during the quiet days after Christmas to identify what you really want to achieve in 2009? Make it real, concrete, achievable and imagine what it will be like this time next year knowing you have achieved these goals. Use the following points as a way to get ready for a brilliant 2009.

1. Acknowledge the previous year’s achievements: So few of us take the time to acknowledge and amaze ourselves at how much we have done over the previous 12 months. Take the time to write down what you are proud of, how you have grown, what you have learned, and then read it over. Surprise yourself!
2. Fewer Goals: Only choose 3-5 goals at the most. If you feel as though there are so many areas of your life where you want to set goals, fine. You can focus on the other areas next year. Choose 3-5 areas where you want to set goals. This is setting yourself up for success.
3. Make it specific: It’s not much good saying you want to lose weight. If you lost one pound over the year, you have met that goal! No, make it specific (e.g.,  I want to lose 15 lbs and add a deadline.
4. Benefits of achieving this goal: You need to write down at least three benefits of achieving this goal. Keep it near you so that when you falter, this will keep you going.
5. Failure is not an option. It’s inevitable.  A Japanese proverb says: “Fall down seven times; stand up eight times.” Of course you are going to slip, make mistakes and not always do what you want. Accept that as the reality. Then, ask yourself how you are going to get back on track. Don’t waste time on beating yourself up, it’s pointless, and will not get you to your goal any quicker. 
6. Write them down, write them down, write them down.

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Yep, folks, it’s that time again - a time to set resolutions which we seem to assume we won’t keep, a time to think about really getting the job of our dreams. Here are some ideas/steps for making 2009 the best year of your career. So, why not take 2-3 hours to think about how you can make 2009 the year of your career. 

Acknowledge the Accomplishments of 2008

Begin by reviewing what really worked for you in 2008. What were your triumphs? What did you do that you were really proud of? Did you get a new account? Increase your sales? Streamline the systems in your job? What did you enjoy doing during the year? Identify the parts of the job that you really got a buzz out of. Write them all down. The chances are you will begin to remember triumphs and achievements that you had forgotten. Acknowledge them. Even if you think you had no triumphs–you survived without getting fired–that counts, as well.

        
Identify Your Strengths – Know What You are Good At

What do you do really well? What do you do so well that it’s effortless for you and you assume any plonker could do it? What do other people give you really positive feedback on? These are some keys to your strengths. Another useful way to identify your own strengths is to take some of the psychometric tests available. Some of the better known ones are: DISC, Myers-Briggs and the Enneagram. Do a google for any of them, and you should be able to do one online free or for a reasonable price. Self-knowledge is a key component of finding your dream career. Knowing what you are not so good at is useful, as well.

Where Can You Contribute? Make the Present Better

Given that it’s unlikely that you will have an invite on Monday morning to your new job, what can you do in the meantime to improve your contribution to your current position.

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When I began to write this article, I decided to go back to basics and check out the dictionary definition of “resolutions.”  I got “A thing resolved on, an intention.” To me, the word “intention” is preferable to “resolution.” Somehow intention resonates with the idea of “definitely going to do,” whereas “resolution” has more of an air of doing something because it is good for you, and that’s not always the most inspiring. So, I decided to focus on New Year Intentions. I think for intentions to work, they need to have the following three elements:

• Inspiring
• Achievable
• Get support

Inspiring, Not Perspiring

Have you ever noticed how some tasks can be done so easily and effortlessly at some times, and at other times–it’s like pulling teeth. The difference is inspiration. I believe inspiration comes when we are doing something that we feel really serves others and the wider world. So, when you choose this year’s intention, choose something that you feel will contribute to the benefit of others, not just yourself. Ask yourself where your passion lies–what would you do without getting paid for it?

Achievable – Make It Real
The first step in beginning to make your intention real is to take some time to actually visualise life AFTER the achievement of the goal. This could take a number of forms. For example, you could devise a treasure map (assemble pictures out of magazines and newspapers that represents your goal) in a scrapbook that you could look at every day. Another way would be to imagine yourself after you have achieved the goal. Write down what you are doing, how you are feeling - all in the present tense. Now, ask yourself what steps you could take to begin making this a reality. Also, begin thinking about what you could do AFTER you have achieved this goal.

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