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There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t receive some sort of announcement about an awards competition. We get so many, in fact, that I have created a special place on my website where you can learn about what opportunities are awaiting.

http://www.womeninpackaging.org/

With all the awards programs out there, how many of you incorporate that into your marketing plan? Yes, I know it�s a lot of work but the benefits you reap outweigh the effort invested. What can an award do for you besides making you feel good? For a start it can lend instant credibility to your or your company. Just think about the words "award winner." Doesn’t that sound important? Wouldn’t you like to see that phrase beside your name? Awards make a good visual to. If you are given permission, use the award�s logo or banner in your promotional material or on your website.

So, how do you utilize the award and promote yourself in your marketing plan?

First you have to make sure you let others know about the recognition. Announce your award to the media, clients, prospects and employees. Write a press release both before and after the competition. Even if you don’t win you can showcase the competition in your material. Just making a commitment to submit is worthy of special notice. Receiving an award is a good way to get points from the boss. In fact even being a runner up or a nominee is fodder for self-promotion. For example, I received a full page promotion in a local magazine mailed to executives in Atlanta when I was a nominee for an award last year.

Second, don�t set the award on the shelf. Use it to continually reinforce your success. Incorporate the award into your promotional material. You can add your award just like a certification to your business card and stationery too.

Third, use the competition�s format a means for evaluation. Entering a competition can give you valuable independent feedback on your performance. Having an external judge review your efforts and provide feedback is worth the entry fee alone. Winning an award is an opportunity to prove to your customers and suppliers just how successful/creative you are. Remember this is an independent and prestigious endorsement of the quality of you and your company. It functions as well as testimonial

Finally, celebrate! Awards generate confidence and pride in employees throughout the company. Have a party to celebrate the accomplishment. You can use an award as a reason to hold a company event celebrating the accomplishment. Don’t forget to invite customers and potential customers.

Awards can open doors – to new suppliers, customers, investors and partners. Enter a competition and see how quickly you end with another great promotional opportunity.

JoAnn Hines’ specialty is PACKAGING PEOPLE.
Whether you want to be paid more, you just lost your job, or you want to progress in the one you have, Ms. Hines advice and expertise can help you transform your personal brand. She can show you how to package yourself and make your brand a hot commodity. It’s easy once you know the ropes and begin to utilize her insider’s secrets. She shows you step by step how to increase your visibility, credibility and marketability with easy to use tutorials and templates.

Get resume from professional, click here.

People often want career advancement for different reasons. Many of us feel the burden of our bills forcing us to desire more, yet for some the ambition alone will push them for advancement. The reasons "why" are many, however the answers of "how" are very few. Up, Over, or Out? If you are unemployed, your goal is simple… "to obtain a new job". However, for those that are already employed there is a large grey area. The first step is to properly identify yourself honestly. By examining your work habits and accomplishments you can better determine the best course of action. More simply, if you have been unproductive you will not likely be up for any serious promotions anytime soon. Sometimes it is better to seek outside employment and start over again fresh. If you are satisfied with your company, but would just like a smaller change, perhaps moving over to a new department within the company is a better option for you. However, if you have been a hard worker and are concerned that it may go unnoticed, perhaps the promotion you have been looking for isn’t too far away after all. Prepare, Prepare, and Prepare… Preparation is key for any career advancement. Most people would be amazed by the hordes of information that can be obtained over the course of a week. Even if you lack experience in your dream job, your vast knowledge in an interview could quite easily leave the other candidates in the dark. And we are not just talking "basic vocabulary" here, learn more than the "surface level"… even consider researching current trends for the industry. If you have some extra time available consider adding professional certificates. Online training and certification is available in many industries and can quickly weed you out from your competition Writing a Good Resume Your resume will be the deciding factor for an interview. The golden rule of a good resume is "never submit the same resume twice". Every job you apply for should have a customized resume tailoring to its description. It may sound like allot of extra work, but the results are priceless. The focus of each resume should be on the skills that would make you the best candidate for that type of job. If the job is in international sales, than obviously any foreign language training and sales experience should be near the top. A designated area listing your skills is key for individuals that lack formal experience. Do not be afraid to list your solid understanding of the job duties (if you lack the solid understanding… much more research should be done). The Interview If all goes well you will soon be sitting across the table from your interviewer. The best preparation for your interview is to list everything in your experience (i.e. best achievement, hardest project, strengths, weaknesses, good work habits, poor work-habits, etc.). Reviewing this information just before an interview will leave you prepared to answer 99% of the questions asked. You should be completely prepared to answer the "standard" questions. Many interviewers like to stick to the basics questions like "how would you describe yourself" and "how would your old boss describe you". Be careful to avoid "badmouthing" your past employers. Often times this will raise a serious "red flag" with the interviewer and may suggest that you can be a difficult person to work with. As for the other 1%, sometimes an interviewer is just trying to see if you will really be a "good fit" for the job. Many times the research you have completed is all the assurance they will need. Employers love nothing more than ambition, and staying on top of the market trends will obviously reflect it. Stay Productive With a little bit of luck you will have hopefully landed the job. Even if you stayed in the same company, with every promotion comes a clean slate. Hard work beginning right from the start is noticed quickly… and the impression it makes lasts a very long time. By staying productive you will quickly climb the ladder of success in no time.

How to make professional resume, click here.

Most of us interact with our co-workers on a daily basis,
its what helps us get through the day. Most employers go to
great lengths to promote the "team", some thousands of
dollars on retreats and seminars and the like. Basically, to
them a group of cooperative, resourceful employees all
working together is as valued as good advertising. And no
wonder, without it their business would fare well. Picture a
workplace populated only by the characters of the show
"Family Guy". How successful do you think this business
would be? One of the biggest problems employers face is
the romantic relationships among their employees. Some
company�s even ban such relationships. Do you think it
matters much? I�ve always thought that when two people
"spark" the rules of the company mean little. At least it
has with me. However, people get fired, sued and accused
of misbehavior all the time in virtually every company.
Sexual harassment has become a major topic in today job
market, and its all about one thing. The harrasee’s
opinion of what harassment is. That�s it, an opinion. The
perception that one is being put down, embarrassed of
manipulated with a sexual pretext. Not a very hard-drawn
line in my opinion. But, sexual harassment is a problem as
well as relationships among co-workers, often the latter
magically transforming into the former. Keeping a
respectable distance from the lives of your peers at work is
the key. How you present yourself to them will directly
influence how they respond towards you. If you show interest
in their life away from work, and start developing a
relationship, emotions and insecurities will soon start
influencing your interactions, and the main problem will be
the fact that neither of you will be aware of it. Our
thoughts are modified by our feelings all the time and when
that happens it seems everybody sees it but us. Be
friendly but not overtly open, avoid pet names and
personal e-mails with co-workers. Always keep in mind the
fact that they will respond to how you associate with them.
I�m not saying having friends at work will get you fired,
im just demonstrating how sometimes over-friendliness can be
Detrimental to your success.

About the Author

Josh Nay
Employment 4u

Analyze your Career here.

Enter into a state of relaxed concentration. This is the
state from which great basketball players or Olympic skaters
operate. You’ll need to quiet the negative self chatter in
your head through meditation or visualization prior to
sitting down in the meeting. You’ll focus on the present
moment and will be less apt to experience lapses in
concentration, nervousness, self-doubt and
self-condemnation.
Expect to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself."
This is a pet question of prepared and even unprepared
interviewers. Everything you include should answer the
question, "Why should we hire you?" Carefully prepare your
answer to include examples of achievements from your work
life that closely match the elements of the job before you.
Obviously, you’ll want to know as much about the job
description as you can before you respond to the question.
Set goals for the interview. It is your job to leave the
meeting feeling secure that the interviewer knows as much as
he or she possibly can about your skills, abilities,
experience and achievements. If you sense there are
misconceptions, clear them up before leaving. If the
interviewer doesn’t get around to asking you important
questions, pose them yourself (diplomatically) and answer
them. Don’t leave the meeting without getting your own
questions answered so that you have a clear idea of what you
would be getting yourself into. If possible, try to get
further interviews, especially with other key players.

Act spontaneous, but be well prepared. Be your authentic
self, professional yet real. Engage in true conversation
with your interviewer, resting on the preparation you did
prior to coming to the meeting. Conduct several trial runs
with another person simulating the interview before it
actually occurs. It’s the same as anticipating the questions
you’ll be asked on a final exam.

Be smart about money questions. Don’t fall into the trap of
telling the interviewer your financial expectations. You may
be asking for too little or too much money and in each case
ruin your chances of being offered the job. Instead, ask
what salary range the job falls in. Attempt to postpone a
money discussion until you have a better understanding of
the scope of responsibilities of the job.
Know the question behind the question. Ultimately, every
question boils down to, "Why should we hire you?" Be sure
you answer that completely. If there is a question about
your meeting deadlines, consider whether the interviewer is
probing delicately about your personal life, careful not to
ask you whether your family responsibilities will interfere
with your work. Find away to address fears if you sense they
are present.
Consider the interviewer’s agenda. Much is on the shoulders
of the interviewer. He or she has the responsibility of
hiring the right candidate. Your ability to do the job will
need to be justified. "Are there additional pluses here?"
"Will this person fit the culture of this organization?"
These as well as other questions will be heavily on the
interviewer’s mind. Find ways to demonstrate your qualities
above and beyond just doing the job.
Follow up with an effective "thank you" letter. Don’t write
this letter lightly. It is another opportunity to market
yourself. Find some areas discussed in the meeting and
expand upon them in your letter. Writing a letter after a
meeting is a very minimum. Standing out among the other
candidates will occur if you thoughtfully consider this
follow up letter as an additional interview in which you get
to do all the talking. Propose useful ideas that demonstrate
your added value to the team.

About the Author

Josh Nay
Employment Solutions 4u

Administrator
Prepared your resume.