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.

As regular readers know once a month I lighten the tone of my posts with a funny entry, such as our post in October on The Top 10 Funny Quotes About Work , rather than one centered on recruitment advice, so it seems fitting that the final post of 2009 falls into the lighthearted category so we can end, what has been a difficult year for many jobseekers, with a smile.

01. Teamwork is essential, that way you can always blame someone else.

02. Planning is the art of putting off until tomorrow what you have no intention of completing today.

03. Budgeting is a method of watching your money disappear methodically.

04. I never said it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

05. Computers will never replace human stupidity.

06. If it wasn’t for the last minute, nothing would ever get done around here.

07. To err is to human but to really mess things up requires a password.

08. Your true value depends entirely on what you are being compared with.

09. Of course there is no logic, it’s just company policy.

10. Due the cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.

I’m sure many of you readers can relate to some of these phrases and hope they provide you with a few laughs over the festive season, I will end by wishing Happy Holidays to each and every one of you and will be back in January when we return to the more serious business of helping you to improve your interview skills.

When a potential employer offers you the chance to give a presentation during a job interview then make sure you don’t let the opportunity pass you by. From an employer’s perspective a confident presentation will be one step nearer a job offer for you, so preparation is important to allow you successfully achieve this.

This 3 step guide will help ensure that your presentation is confident, that it leaves nothing to chance and that you leave the interview having created the right impression.

Step 1 – The basics.

1. Make sure you are dressed to impress so wear business attire for your presentation.

2. If you are using powerpoint bring a cable for your laptop, the last thing you want is for your battery power to weaken as you are presenting.

3. Bring a copy of your presentation on a memory-stick should you encounter any problems with your laptop.

4. If you are giving handouts make sure that they are free from errors and that you have enough for each interviewer.

Step 2 – The presentation.

1. Speak cleary using descriptive language and be mindful of the pace of your speech, don’t talk too quickly.

2. Make use of examples when making a point.

3. Be sure to make points that are a match to the interviewing company’s core values (these could be related to ethics, teamwork etc).

4. Don’t allow your visual aids to overshadow your performance, you want the interviewers to focus on you, not your handouts.

Step 3 – After the presentation.

1. Thank each person and open the floor for questions regarding your presentation.

2. Answer these questions as honestly as possible.

3. Shake each person’s hand,again, expressing gratitude for the opportunity.

4. Send each interviewer a short thank-you note.

Building a rapport is important so give your presentation in a likeable manner and show an enthusiasm for the role as these are two important traits in any new hire. I have lost count of the amount of times candidates came in with great handouts and props only to give a disappointing presentation so remember to focus on your presentation first and everything else after.

If you are called for second interview then congratulations, the hiring company have obviously been impressed by you.  Don’t rest on your laurels however as a second interview can often be more intense than a first round one.  To begin with there may be more than one person involved in the interview, and questions may be a little more in-depth and probing than the first interview so good preparation is important if you are to impress at this stage.

The interview may focus on areas of your first interview where perhaps you didn’t perform as well as you liked.  If you stumbled through a few answers then expect questions in that area again, also given that there may be new people involved in the interview don’t be surprised if you are required to answer some questions that you were already asked in the first interview.

With your credentials as a potential candidate verified by the fact that you have been called for a second interview, you may also be asked questions to establish whether you fit the culture of the organization.  In this regard you may be brought on a tour of the company and introduced to current employees along the way. 

There is one other reason for calling you back for a second interview, that being they want to offer you the job but more often than not it takes at least two interviews before final decisions are made on who to hire.  If by chance you are made an offer during your second interview thank the interviewer, express your delight, ask the interviewer to talk you through the package and then tell him/her you need a couple of days to think it over.

To best prepare for a second interview you need to find out who you are meeting and if anything is required on your behalf, you don’t want to arrive at the interview unaware that you are meant to be delivering a presentation at it.  That would not be a particularly welcome surprise, so try to find out as much information about the meeting before you attend.

In summary, during a second interview you can expect some of the following scenarios:

• you may have a panel of interviewers involved in the interview.
• you can expect probing questions based on weak responses you gave in the first interview.
• you may be introduced to existing employees or brought on a tour of the organization.
• you may possibly be offered the job on the spot.

Be prepared for each scenario to give yourself the best possible chance of being successful in the interview and don’t forget to have intelligent questions to ask the interviewer so you can make an informative decision regarding whether the role is right for you.

Don’t arrive overconfident to the interview as this could be misconstrued as cockiness and harm your employment chances.  Arriving armed with further research on the company will impress the interviewer(s), as would positive comments about staff members you had met to date.  If lunch or dinner is part of the second interview be mindful of your alcohol intake, as you need to ensure you have your wits about you throughout the interview process.

After the interview thank the interviewer and if new people are involved in the interview politely ask for their business cards so you can send each of them a thank-you letter.

The difference between getting hired for a job or not can sometimes hinge on the tiniest factor, with this in mind today we focus on the do’s and don’ts of a job interview to help you achieve a successful job interview. The best prepared candidate ensures that he/she leaves nothing to chance when it comes to interviewing for a job, so once you read this post you may find The A to Z of Job Interviews a worthy read.

DO

Do arrive on time.

Do dress appropiately.

Do provide a firm handshake.

Do turn your phone off before going in to the interview room.

Do show a friendly positive attitude.

Do have questions ready to ask the employer.

Do display a high level of interest in the position.

Do focus on portraying your strengths and achievements throughout the interview.

Do suggest your goals for the role should you get the job.

Do send a thank-you letter following the interview.

DON’T

Don’t criticize former employers.

Don’t chew gum.

Don’t provide false answers to questions.

Don’t smoke before the interview.

Don’t answer your cell-phone during the interview.

Don’t lose your cool during the interview, if tough interview questions are asked, remain composed at all times.

Don’t forget to maintain eye-contact throughout the interview.

Don’t wander off topic when answering questions.

Don’t allow yourself to come across as cocky or over-confident during the interview.

Don’t forget to reiterate your interest in the role when shaking hands at the end of the interview.

The more research that you undertake on both the role and the company will allow you become more confident about the interview which is a good thing once you ensure that you channel that confidence into enthusiasm for the position.

Management level interviews tend to focus on questions relating to your ability to lead a team, including questions about your supervisory skills along with questions about your ability to manage performance. These interviews can be testing but with a management position at stake this is to be expected. The 6 questions outlined below are along the lines of the questions that you can expect to face during this type of interview.

Name 3 important traits that describe your management style?

Fair, thorough and determined. My determination does not take away from my ability to be fair when dealing with staff and customers alike, whilst being thorough does not hamper my ability to make decisive decisions when such decisions are needed.

Give me an example of when you have had to discipline an employee, how did he/she react?

I had a colleague whose late time-keeping became a regular occurrence, I brought him into the office and provided the dates that he was late and warned him that he needed to improve his time-keeping or risked getting a written warning. His reaction was fine, he apologized for his tardiness and ensured he would be on time in future. I have not had any further issues with him.

What element of your management technique would you like to improve upon?

As a manager I believe that you are on a constant learning curve as new challenges arise on a daily basis, from a personal perspective I would like to remain open to emerging technologies.

How do you motivate employees?

I make a habit of verbally complimenting employees on a regular basis, I listen to team members in order to encourage and inspire while I ensure team spirit is positive at all times.

Have you ever had to fire an employee? If so how did you break the news to him/her?

As a manager laying off staff is part and parcel of the job, when faced with this task I bring the individual into my office and explain the reasons why he/she is surplus to requirements.

How do you handle criticism?

Constructive criticism is welcomed as it can only help increase productivity, criticism in a work environment is not something I take personal.

Being successful at interviews for managerial positions means being able to answer questions that may not have encountered in previous job interviews you so it is imperative to prepare properly. Should the interviewer seem like he/she is challenging you, it is vital to remain calm, this is in all probability a tactic to see how you react when under pressure.

Being fully prepared for a job interview is vital if you want to be the winning applicant, today we look at the A to Z of Job Interviews to help you with your research and to allow you focus on your interviewing skills.  Please excuse the creative leeway I took on the letters X and Z, my vocabulary alas, is not as creative as it once was!

A) Answers.

Have research done so you are able to impress the interviewer with your interview answers particularly answers to tough interview questions.

B) Behavioral interviews.

This type of interview will usually have questions beginning with “describe”, “give me an example”, “tell me about a time”, open-ended questions where yes/no doesnt suffice.

C) Charm.

Charm plays an important role when interviewing so be polite to all from the minute you arrive at the interview destination.

D) Dress for the occasion.

To impress at an interview one of the most important tasks is to ensure that you are dressed appropriately for the interview.

E) Examples.

There are fewer more compelling ways to convince a prospective employer of your talent than by providing examples of your work, so provide examples either physically or descriptively to enhance your application.

F) Former employers.

It is crucial not to criticize former colleagues /employers during a job interview, this will serve no purpose other than to harm your chances of getting the job. Criticizing former employers features amongst the biggest job interview mistakes. 

G) Go in with confidence.

Don’t be nervous when going for your interview, after all they selected you based on the skills in resume so go in confidently but don’t appear cocky.

H) Have your research done.

Be prepared for questions like “why do you want to work for our organization?” and use your research to your advantage when explaining why you want to work for the company.

I) Interview pack.

Bring an interview pack with you which may include  copies of your resume, samples of your work along with a pen and notepad so you can scribble notes during the interview.

J) Job spec.

Having the job spec with you will allow you to ask questions that you may have regarding the job itself. In advance of the interview highlight parts of the spec where you wish to seek more clarification.

K) Know who you are meeting.

It is important to know the name of the person you are meeting so you can greet them with a firm handshake addressing him/her by their name.

L) Location.

Ensure you know where you are going so you don’t run the risk of being late for your interview.

M) Mind your language.

Be careful not to use slang terminology in your interview as this may portray a lack of professionalism about you and damage your employment prospects.

N) Notice-period.

If asked “if successful when would you be able to start?”, be sure to have a clear definite response so the interviewer knows what notice-period you must serve should you be offered the job.

O) Outline your main skills and achievements.

You should go into the interview focused on highlighting some of your finest achievements, wait for the appropriate question to be asked then wow the interviewer with your experience to date.

P) Passion.

You need to transfer your passion for the role to the interviewer, explain why you want the job and provide the credentials that prove why you deserve the job.

Q) Questions.

There is a good chance that the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions, so it is important to have some relevant questions to ask relating to the vacancy.

R) References.

You should make sure to bring a copy of your references with you to provide if asked. These should provide the name, job title, company and contact details of each referee.

S) Salary.

During the 1st interview stage allow the interviewer to bring up the issue of salary initially. When discussions over salary begin be sure to come across as confident, not cocky.

T) Timing is everything.

You cannot afford to be late for a job interview so make sure you know your route (allowing for traffic issues depending on time of day) and arrive with time to spare.

U) Understand that you may be asked difficult interview questions.

Don’t take it personal if difficult interview questions are thrown at you, they are commonplace in interviews so answer each one honestly and be careful not to over-exaggerate your abilities.

V) Vision for the role.

Providing an insight into the ways in which you plan to add value to role will impress the interviewer if done in the correct manner.

W) Why you should we hire you?

Have an answer prepared for this question as it crops up time and time again in employment interviews.

X) X-Factor.

If you can provide good answers, great examples, get on well with the interviewer while showing an overwhelming desire for the role then you will certainly have the X-factor for the second interview.

Y) Your biggest weakness?

This questions is often considered amongst the most difficult interview question to answer, so be prepared with a winning response.

Z) Zzzz.

You should come across in an enthusiastic fashion, speak with passion as a mundane interviewee will be more likely to send the interviewer asleep rather than encourage him/her to hire you.

Providing great answers is 60% of the work, transferring your enthusiasm for the role while showing how you can add value make up the other 40%, if you manage to get that blend right then you should be able to look forward with confidence to a positive response.