Our once a month feature, where we take a break from the serious business of job searching, continues today, last month we looked at 10 Funny Quotes About Work, today we focus on 15 Previous Jobs Of The Rich And Famous which will hopefully not only brighten up your day but also serve as an inspiration for you to never give up on your dreams irrespective of what career you work in.

01. Mick Jagger, ice cream salesman.

Maybe this was the inspiration behind their recent album titled “40 licks” !

02. Sylvester Stallone, lion cage cleaner.

Proof if it was needed that Sly Stallone was a hardman long before he became Rocky or Rambo.

03. Rod Stewart, gravedigger.

Rod has always been a natural performer on stage though singing in front of 40,000 people every night may be less scary than his early job as a gravedigger.

04. Simon Cowell, mail room clerk.

Before becoming the music mogul that he is today Simon Cowell used to be a mail room clerk with EMI Records.

05. Michael Dell, dishwasher.

The founder of Dell once worked washing dishes in a Chinese restaurant before becoming one of the world’s most successful businessmen.

06. Harrison Ford, carpenter.

How ironic that the self-taught carpenter would go on to play the character of Hans Solo in Star Wars.

07. Demi Moore, debt collection agent.

Long before Demi Moore became a member of Hollywood’s Brat Pack in the 1980’s, she was a debt collection agent before becoming a model.

08. Walt Disney, paperboy.

Before Walt Disney delivered some of the most famous cartoon characters of all time, he delivered newspapers for a living.

09. Cindy Lauper, dog kennel cleaner.

I’m not sure whether it is her idea of fun but the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” singer once had a job cleaning dog kennels.

10. Brad Pitt, refrigerator mover.

Brad Pitt has always been a cool customer even before he became a famous actor as one of his early jobs was as a refrigerator mover.

11. Sean Connery, milkman.

The thought that the future James Bond once worked as a milkman is a bizarre one indeed, I wonder if he preferred his milk shaken not stirred.

12. Jim Carrey, security guard.

Probably not the scariest security guard you are likely to encounter but before he became Ace Ventura Pet Detective, Jim Carrey spent time working as a security guard.

13. Danny DeVito, hairdresser.

Before embarking on an acting career, Danny DeVito was a qualified hair stylist and worked as a hairdresser in his sister’s beauty parlor.

14. Hugh Jackman, clown.

An unlikely career for one of Hollywood’s hottest actors but Hugh Jackman once worked as a clown entertaining kids at birthday parties.

15. Jack Nicholson, messenger boy with MGM’s cartoon unit.

He doesn’t look like the type of guy who would take orders from anyone but Jack Nicholson did exactly that when he was messenger boy in MGM.

Feel free to add to this list in the comments section while next week we return to the serious side of being a job-seeker and provide tips to help you improve your chances of getting an interview.

Writing a resignation letter is not an easy task but in order to exit your company on good terms it is recommended that you do write a resignation letter in a respectful way irrespective of the reasons for your resignation. The resignation letter outlined below is concise yet provides clarity on the reasons why the employee is leaving, the employee shows gratitude by expressing his/her appreciation for his/her time there and provides the final date that he/she will be working in the company. The employee furthermore expressed his/her willingness to help ensure a smooth hand-over with his/her replacement, which the company will appreciate.

Dear John,

I wish to put in writing my letter of resignation as HR Manager in Sample Company Ltd. As of today’s date I plan to work my notice period of 4 weeks as specified in my employment contract. I want to let you know how much I have enjoyed working here and to thank you for all your help and guidance during my 4 years here.

The reason I reached the difficult decision to leave your organization is because the company where I have accepted the job is a lot closer to home meaning my daily commute is shortened by over 2 hours allowing me to spend more time with my young family.

My final day working with Sample Company Ltd. will be July 6th and I will, of course, work hand in hand with you in training my replacement to ensure a smooth transition period. I want to thank you for the support and opportunities during my tenure here and it is with a heavy heart that I leave having made many wonderful friends while working here.

I wish to offer the company my wishes for continued success and again acknowledge my appreciation for all you have done during my time here.

Sincere regards

Dave

Aside from the fact that it is common courtesy to write your resignation letter in a dignified tone if you write a disrespectful letter, before asking for a testimonial, then you may find that your employer’s testimonial will not be as glowing as you had expected.

The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Working From Home.

The opportunity of working from home would have most workers drooling at the very thought but if given the opportunity it is important to take a balanced view of the advantages and disadvantages that remote working provides. Today’s post outlines a list of the advantages and disadvantages of working from home to help you make a clearer choice should you the opportunity come your way.

Advantages.

1. Less time commuting means you get to spend more time with your family.

2. You save on the cost of travel expenses to and from work.

3. Your working hours are (usually) more flexible.

4. You have no dress code so can wear whatever you feel comfortable working in.

5. Less pressure with no boss looking over your shoulder.

Disadvantages.

1. It can be lonely working 8am to 5pm without the social interaction which you may have enjoyed in the office.

2. It takes a disciplined type of individual to avoid the constant distractions at home that can divert your attention from your work.

3. Work is constantly at your doorstep.

4. Just as having family around you is an advantage it can also be a disadvantage if young children are in the house and are too young to comprehend that you are working.

5. The fear that you being away from the office may impact future promotion opportunities.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Whether you are considering setting up your own home based business or have the opportunity to accept a role telecommuting from your current company spend time weighing up the advantages and disadvantages before making a decision that suits you best.

If you are interviewing for a job that allows you to work from home then the interviewer will be looking for candidates who show responsibility, reliability and trustworthiness so have examples ready where you have demonstrated these traits in previous roles.

It is important for candidates interviewing for a job to be aware not only of the things they say, but also of their nonverbal communication which can be just as telling as the answers they provide during the interview. The first impression you make on the interviewer will go a long way to deciding whether you will be considered for a second interview or not.

By now you should be aware of the importance of being dressed appropriately for the interview which is one method of nonverbal behavior your interviewer will take into account. From the moment you walk in to the interview room the interviewer will be scrutinizing your body language to see if you show confidence, or if you are the type of person that gets easily distracted, for example.

 1)  Make eye-contact.

Making good eye-contact during a job interview is important as it implies confidence. When making eye-contact do so in a natural manner don’t stare in a constant gaze at the interviewer as this will be off-putting for him/her.

2)  Smile when appropriate.

Smiling at the right time will work in your favor when interviewing though avoid laughter unless the interviewer initiates it. Smiling portrays a positive, confident demeanor so be sure to smile at the appropriate moments during your interview.

3)  Keep your arms relaxed rather than crossed in a tense position.

Aside from what could be viewed as a defensive position, having your arms crossed does not easily allow for taking notes or using your hands to gesture. You are best served by leaving your arms rested on the armrests on the chair or resting on a notepad on your lap.

4)  Get your posture right.

It is important to avoid slouching in your chair as this may be perceived as showing a lack of interest in the job which will seriously harm any chance you had of getting the job.  Try to sit up straight and refrain from fidgeting as this will be annoying for the person interviewing you.  Avoid looking overly relaxed as this could hint at an air of cockiness on your behalf, which is a trait that your interviewer will not be seeking in prospective employees.

Most interviewers will allow for the fact that interviewing can be nervous occasions for most people so won’t be too harsh on you if your non verbal behavior is not 100% correct but be sure to adhere to the important ones outlined in this post if you want to give a successful interview.