Sunday, May 31, 2020

TOP 5 COLLEGES FOR ECONOMICS HONORS IN INDIA

TOP 5 COLLEGES FOR ECONOMICS HONORS IN INDIA Home career TOP 5 COLLEGES FOR ECONOMICS HONORS IN INDIAcareerCollege CampusesTOP 5 COLLEGES FOR ECONOMICS HONORS IN INDIABy Simran Bhola - November 13, 2017110851Facebook Economics is one of the brightest subjects. As a result, Economics Honors is one of the most sought after courses. The course suits the best to the students who have a flair for quantitative aptitude, statistics, and skills of memorization logical thinking as; the subject is overly stuffed with facts and figures. Despite of being a non professional degree, it has great value and economics graduates get great opportunities and a good salary after graduation itself.Here’s a list of top 5 colleges for Economics Honors in India. If you wish to become an economics graduate, you should aim for getting into one of the following colleges.1. Lady Shri Ram College For Women, DelhiLady Shri Ram College is a college only for women. It was established in 1956 in New Delhi. It is one of the best colleges to pursue a B.A. Ec onomics Honours degree. It is affiliated by the Delhi University. The cutoff for all the undergraduate courses is very high which implies that students should have a well built academic base and marks to get into this prestigious college.2. Shri Ram College Of Commerce, DelhiShri Ram College of Commerce was founded in 1926. It is affiliated to the University of Delhi for granting graduate and postgraduate courses.  The cutoffs required to gain admission in this premier institute are often much higher than other colleges affiliated with University of Delhi. So, the brightest students are able to secure a seat in this esteemed college.3. St.Xavier’s College, KolkataFounded in 1860, it is a Christian minority educational institution. Admission in this renowned college  is open to all communities   irrespective of caste, creed and nationality but some preference is given to the educational needs of the minority community.    St. Xavier’s College offers UG and PG courses under five f aculties : Arts, Science, Commerce, Business Administration, and Education. It also offers  various professional certificate and diploma courses.4. Loyola College, ChennaiLoyola college was established in 1925 by a French Jesuit (member of the Society of Jesus), Rev. Fr. Francis Bertram SJ. Admission into the college is based on performance in academics and personal interview.  The college has been accredited with A grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).  It offers around 18 undergraduate courses.5. Hindu College, Delhi  Established in 1899, it offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in science, humanities and commerce. The cut-offs remain extremely high for this esteemed college. The college is affiliated by Delhi University. Also, it is one of the oldest colleges of India.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Restaurant Resume Skills Can Help Get You That Job

Restaurant Resume Skills Can Help Get You That JobRestaurant resume skills are not just something that is hidden or never discussed, but you have to be conscious of them if you are to land the job. Having your resume be a reflection of your character is what will make a difference between you and that empty booth in the corner.There are those who are looking for what they do not need in order to land the job. They may not even know the job they are applying for is only for a position within the restaurant. With all the headaches, can you blame someone for wanting an easy way out? You can.In my opinion, restaurant resume skills are important because they can mean the difference between getting the position you desire and one you may not. You must know how to show them that you are worth the time and effort. There are things that will get them excited about you that you never could have thought of.There are those who are intimidated by the idea of business resume skills. They fear that there will be mistakes and they will not be able to correct them, and therefore they think they should not bother. They cannot have it both ways.Getting a customer service resume skills is not like other job applications because the person applying for the position has already been screened, and there is no human being involved. It is just paper and pens. You will only learn how to do this through experience.However, you can still develop your resume skills if you take advantage of the opportunities. If the position you are applying for is one where you will actually be responsible for food service, for example, you will find that there are some rules and regulations regarding what you can say in your resume. They are written specifically to prevent you from misrepresenting yourself, and you can use them to your advantage.Another example of restaurant resume skills would be if you were looking for a position where you would be the first person that a customer sees upon entering the establishment. This could be considered the type of job where you need to be able to communicate with customers so you may be asked to handle other jobs as well. You may want to spend some time researching this area before you apply for the position.Most of all, be confident in your abilities and be prepared to meet them head on. Be willing to show them that you will be ready to work with them, and you should be successful in landing the position you are applying for. Take the time to learn about restaurant resume skills before you apply so that you can have confidence in the information you provide when you submit your resume.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Happy Franchise Owners, Part 2 - VocationVillage

Happy Franchise Owners, Part 2 - VocationVillage This article features happy franchise owners from Kiddie Academy, Labor Finders, Postal Connections, Primrose School, and World Adult Kickball Association. Part 1 features happy franchise owners from Anytime Fitness, CruiseOne, Elevation Burger, Fetch! Pet Care, Golden Corral, and Ikor.Stephanie Waszazak, Kiddie AcademySince 2008, Stephanie Waszazak is the owner of Kiddie Academy of Delran, New Jersey. Ms. Waszazak says she is 100% involved in the day-to-day operations of the business, aided by a Director and an Assistant Director to help her run the center.Ms. Waszazak says the best part of owning her own business is to be involved in the daily learning and growing of her own two children. She is also the room mom for her second grade son because the flexibility of her job enables her to be involved in his school.She says on the flip side, the most challenging part to owning her own business is that she has a difficult time leaving things at work. When she is at home, she finds hers elf reading resumes, paying business bills, figuring out schedules, answering parent or staff emails, making sure the school has all the needed supplies, running to the store, etc.Ms. Waszazak enjoys the pride of business ownership. Her advice to anyone considering buying a franchise is to make sure that the franchise that you are buying into allows you to run your own business and not just manage someone elses.Ms. Waszazak has always worked in the childcare field. She says that she didnt go into the education field to be rich, but she does make more money now than when she was a preschool teacher. She explains,My husband and I wanted to live comfortably and be able to take vacations once in a while. I am sure that there are other franchise owners out there that make more money than we do, but we choose to put money back into the school to make sure we have the best center in the area. Owning my own childcare center has always been a dream of mine!Melissa Bunt Dabney, Labor FindersM elissa Bunt Dabney is the franchise owner for Labor Finders New Mexico, covering the entire state of New Mexico. Ms. Dabney has owned her business since mid-2010.Ms. Dabney says she participates 100% in the day-to-day operations of her business. In a typical day, she dispatches employees to jobs, makes appointments to see customers, handles invoices, and manages accounting. She says the best part of owning her staffing business is that it is rewarding to match employees with employers. She explains,I have many years experience helping people find jobs and matching employees with careers that make them happy. Now I also work on making employers happy and hopefully less stressed by placing an employee that is happy. Its a one two punch of satisfaction.Ms. Dabney identifies the most challenging part about her business is finding sufficient capital, especially in relation to the financial meltdown the U.S. experienced in the last three years of business. Ms. Dabney expresses gratitude t hat she knew people who were willing to help her when banks wouldnt take a risk. She also recommends alternate financial institutions such as ACCION and the local SBA as resources for potential franchise owners.Ms. Dabney considers franchise ownership a long-term investment rather than a short-term one. She says that in the first two years of franchise ownership, she earned less than she would have in a non-franchise career path. Now, however, she is excited because she views the compensation as having the potential to grow exponentially.For anyone considering purchasing a franchise, Ms. Dabney states,My advice for people that are considering buying a franchise is first, get to know the people that own and operate the franchise you are considering. My franchise is extremely supportive in many ways. I would recommend the Labor Finders franchise without hesitation. You will need them to help you succeed so its important you have the same goals, values, and understanding of how the bus iness can succeed. Also, make sure you will have the financial resources in place because this can seriously affect the growth of your business. Once again, I strongly recommend your local SBA to help with many of the challenges that franchise owners face.Jim Bowe, Postal ConnectionsJim and Elizabeth Bowe, 2011 Postal Connections Franchise of the Year Award WinnersMr. Bowe purchased a Postal Connections franchise in 2003, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and then a second one in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, in 2012. Together with his wife, Elizabeth Bowe, Mr. Bowe is responsible for all daily operations. Ms. Bowe is always on site and Mr. Bowe multitasks between Postal Connections and his full-time job managing safety at a local amusement park.Mr. Bowe says he enjoys having a lot of control in his business and building something that can provide for his family now and be passed down to them in the future. He says it is challenging to keep up with the U.S. Postal Service changes in policies an d services, but it is worth it.He describes his career background and motivation for buying a franchise,After 14.5 years as an Air Force officer, I was a pilot with American Airlines for 5 years and started this business as a backup plan in case there was a layoff. I was furloughed from the airline in 2005 and found that our business thrived when we focused on it as a livelihood instead of a hobby. I have had, and still have, the opportunity to return to American Airlines but I have enjoyed the job security of my own business and as well as a reasonable income. In addition to the direct income, I am also building a significant asset for the future.Mr. Bowes advice for new franchise owners is to be sure to follow the model and use the tools and training provided. He says that the franchise provides a proven method and mix of products that work. He concludes, My experience has been that we began to succeed when we decided to quit trying to do things our way and listened to the experie nce of others.Jana Radtke, Primrose SchoolJana Radtke purchased her first Primrose School in North Lewisville, Texas, in 1995. Now she owns four franchises. Her third Primrose school will open in South Tampa in August 2013 with a fourth under development.Ms. Radtke oversees all of the schools and the school management teams. She describes the diversity of the job functions she fills, You have to wear many hats â€" CEO, CFO, Human Resources, Accountant, Marketing and Advertising. The list of jobs you have to do goes on and on when you are directly responsible for all aspects of your business.Ms. Radtke is very involved in day-to-day operations. She explains, With such a fun job, working with young children, you can always find me at one of our schools! She continues, The most rewarding aspect of owning a Primrose School is the sincere thanks that a Primrose parent expresses to me about our caring program for their children. Our entire family has been involved in our schools; they gen uinely care about our parents and our Primrose children.Echoing what many other franchise owners say, Ms. Radtke considers the flexibility of her job to be the best part, even though the overall hours are long. She appreciates the success of Primroses business model, citing as evidence that Primrose has a 98% SBA loan success rate. She observes, Once you open one franchise, you have a solid blueprint to further develop your brand through new locations.Regarding the compensation of owning a Primrose franchise, Ms. Radtke commented, Someone once said, You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give, and I could not agree more. You can make a nice living (compensation) with owning a Primrose School, but nothing compares to the satisfaction you receive when you’re able to make a difference in children’s lives, give parents peace of mind, and contribute significantly to your community both financially and by being a good community partner.Ms. Radtkes advice to potential franchise owners:First, determine what is most important to you. If money is your driving factor, then franchise ownership may not be for you. Once you determine what you most want from franchise ownership (i.e. making a difference in others lives, having more time with family, etc.), you can narrow down what type of franchise might fit with your lifestyle. Do your due diligence: (1) Request a copy of the Franchise Disclosure Document; (2) Determine how youll fund the business; (3) Talk with other franchise owners about the process, ups and downs of the business; and (4) Always meet the executives and go through an in-person Discovery Day where you learn about the brand. The people behind the organization are just as important as the brand vision at the national level, which impacts your business locally.Sean Gaubert, World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA)Since 2011, Sean Gaubert has owned a WAKA franchise in New Orleans, Louisiana. Owning a WAKA franchise is demanding. Mr. Gaubert says his typical work day is 8 hours in the office plus 3 more hours every weekday evening for games and social events. Because of the hours, Mr. Gaubert notes that it is tough to free up time for friends and family.Despite the long hours, Mr. Gaubert says, The business I own is something I am passionate about. When you do something you love, a bad day can still be fun.Mr. Gauberts advice for anyone considering buying a franchise,Spend time running the numbers with multiple scenarios. These scenarios should include a high and low forecast. Another important thing is to seriously ask yourself whether you are willing to give this a 100% effort and whether you are well balanced with all the needed business skills. Many business owners out there don’t have what it takes and they use a book of excuses as a crutch for their failure. That failure can painfully complicate their lives for several years.Mr. Gaubert says that for him, franchise ownership has been the right decisi on. He concludes, I am grateful that the compensation exceeds my previous career paths. As an owner, an individual takes a big risk so there should be more reward than simply being an employee.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Preparing for a Millennial Work Environment

Preparing for a Millennial Work Environment If your career began more than 17 years ago, there are things you should do now to prepare for a Millennial work environment. People are starting to retire later than ever and live longer. This means you will be a part of tomorrow’s Millennial workforce.The Millennial workforce is a smart and diverse bunch. They have more college degrees than any other previous U.S. generation (and college loan debt). They are globally sensitive, diverse and often challenge anything that looks “status quo”. A Millennial workforce is also the quickest to offer tech solutions to problems. And you will not find them wearing suits to work.Anything that seems constricting, unfair, too expensive to justify, or dictatorial will be ignored or dismissed. Instead, a Millennial work environment will search for a new, better way. They cannot fathom life without the Internet. So, how do you prepare for an environment like this?Invest Time in Learning the Latest TechnologyYour Millennial work environment wil l be filled with younger people who really know the ropes of technology. A modern Millennial workforce does not remember life without the Internet or global connectivity on phones that never leave your side.Preparing for a Millennial work environment means knowing what they prefer, what’s new, and what they prefer to communicate with. It also means understanding their style of communication.It is a good idea to keep with the latest technology for both Windows and Apple, and how to use both iPhones and Smartphones. As crazy as it sounds, spend some time a tech store doing your research and don’t be afraid to hit up the kids and relatives for advice.Update Your Work WardrobeTwo decades ago, going to a job interview meant making sure you had the proper professional suit or outfit. Wearing suits and ties will always be professional, but in some Millennial work environments, it will be viewed as overdressing or too much. They may even say, “It does not fit with our culture.”The M illennial workforce wardrobe is centered more towards “business casual”. And business casual clothes must either be a bargain, trendy, functional, and part of the culture of a company.When meeting in a new Millennial work environment it is a good idea to pay attention to how people are dressing from top to bottom.Prepare for an Active and Open Work EnvironmentThere are varying opinions on whether or not the Millennial workforce disconnects from their phones after work. Some do and some do not.Regardless, they all work “smarter” than before. If you are in a work environment with Millennials you may receive texts and emails after work hours. And the expectation is that you reply to it. It is a lifestyle, as much as, a job.In addition, you will not find cubicles separating desks. That is too old school and represents an outdated work culture. You can expect something more that invites open communication. A good example of an active, open work environment is what you find at WeW ork locations. Multiple companies rent open space in one co-working space where they can network with each other. It is an active and open environment that the Millennial workforce has used globally.Don’t Beat Millennials Over the Head With Your ExperienceThe strength of being an older worker in a Millennial work environment comes more from having soft skills. Life experience, wisdom, and interpersonal skills go a long way these days. All your knowledge can be found on Google making your book smarts somewhat trivial.What you cannot teach through Google searches is how to communicate with others, empathy, storytelling, and the wisdom to predict consequences of actions. These are “people skills” that can only be learned through the study of people.So, Millennials do not need to know that you have 20+ years experience every time you disagree. They want to know how you effectively communicate with other people to get things done that a device cannot. Help the Millennial work envir onment this way and they will let you into their world, as long as you remember to practice your interpersonal skill of listening to and reading people.(For more tips on working with millennials, check out 5 Tips To Keep Millennials Engaged In Today's Workplace.)

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Finding the Best Online Professional Resume Writing Services

Finding the Best Online Professional Resume Writing ServicesThere are many ways to approach online professional resume writing services, so it is important that you take the time to find the one that best fits your needs. Online services are going to do an excellent job, but the job is up to you! Take the time to narrow down your search to a few top choices.When writing your professional resume, you need to consider the uniqueness of your qualifications. The first thing you should consider is if you have the skills and experience you are looking for. Have you ever thought about taking a class that could help you in your work or for career growth? If so, think about taking these classes as they will probably be listed on your resume as volunteer activities.Make sure you list all your freelance jobs that have you working from home. Many online professional resume writing services offer online freelance writing. You can find a great job writing online in the same way that you would find a great job writing offline. You should focus on the services of a service with a long track record for finding and delivering fresh and quality work for companies.Some services specialize in specific businesses or industries. If your business is in healthcare or the legal field, for example, you may want to look at services that focus on the industry. Other services offer content for an entire sector. In the online world, an entire industry can be covered in just a matter of minutes.Once you have identified the companies you are interested in using, make sure you conduct some research online. Check out reviews of each company to see what other people are saying about their services. Check out their track record and contact their previous clients to see what they have to say about their experiences. Read some of the blogs and reviews to get a feel for how well these companies have done for their clients.Online services are always ready to answer any questions you may have. The more information you can provide them with, the better. Do not hesitate to ask any questions that you may have, and also do not hesitate to compare your services with another service.Once you have completed your resume, submit it along with all the necessary contact information to ensure it gets to the right person. Your resume is only as good as the person who reads it. You may be surprised at the number of resumes that get tossed out of the window because the person reading them does not know what to do with them. Have the proper networking skills and contact your potential employer.If you do not have these skills, there are several companies that offer free assistance through email, phone, and face to face. Your resume writing services could be the difference between your dream job and being laid off from your current job. It is up to you to find a great resume writing service.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Resume Writing List - Education First Or Master First?

Resume Writing List - Education First Or Master First?Do you think that your resume writing list consists of just education first? If so, then I suggest that you stop now and look over this article.This is because I believe that an education-first approach to resume writing is a waste of time and should be considered to be one of the most ineffective ways of writing a resume. I have seen some of the worst resumes I have ever seen in my life and those were all education first. These resumes used their education as a point for showing their worth. They gave only the education first list because they wanted the employer to feel they are confident and that they can get the job done.So what is the reason for not listing the education first on the resume? You see, many employers do not care how well you know the subject you are applying for as long as you are competent enough to do the job. The best way to convince an employer that you know what you are doing is to list the subject of the work you are applying for first on your resume. That way he or she will see you have experience and will want to hire you.Now if you are applying for a job that requires a master's degree then go ahead and list the graduate degree second on your resume. It is now considered a professional courtesy to include this kind of information. Employers understand this and will gladly reward you for it.So you see that there is a right way and a wrong way to go about getting a job as a good copywriter. And the right way is to go about your resume writing list based on the subject of the work you are applying for and the most important thing is that you know what your subject is.It may also be necessary to spend some time and effort crafting your own resume ifyou do not know your subject very well. However, to make your resume as effective and marketable you need to get some professional help.Just remember, don't ever list your own education as the most important things on your resume, always i nclude the subject of the work you are applying for. Just go ahead and get a couple of good copywriting tips from a good resume writing company that will teach you how to craft a quality resume.In closing, do not do your resume writing list at all with the assumption that just because you have a master's degree that you have a better chance of getting hired for the job than someone who doesn't. It does not matter where you go to school or what subjects you studied, it is still the same as everyone else. Just be confident and show that you can do the job.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Brian Williams and Others Who Damage Their Careers by Lying

Brian Williams and Others Who Damage Their Careers by Lying NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams has been suspended without pay following news that he misrepresented his account of an Iraq War mission in 2003. Unfortunately, Williams is not alone; many have misrepresented themselves on the job and some have escaped the career consequences better than others.1. Chief Executive of RadioShack, Dave EdmondsonEdmondson claimed to hold degrees in psychology and theology from Pacific Coast Baptist College in California. He never graduated from this school. He handed in his resignation after the Fort Worth Star-Telegram broke the story. Edmondson went on to found EasySale, an Internet-based consignment and liquidation company.2. CEO of Bausch Lomb, Ronald ZarrellaZarrella claimed he had a masters in business administration from New York University. He started the program, but never graduated. Following the revelation, he forfeited his $1M bonus (but retained $1.1M in salary, incentives and stock), and still got to keep his job, where he stayed unt il 2008. He left following an extensive product recall and hundreds of product liability lawsuits.3. Presidential Candidate, Joseph Biden Jr.Biden claimed he attended Syracuse University College of Law on a full academic scholarship and graduated in the top half of the class. He actually received a partial scholarship based on financial aid and finished 76th in a class of 85. This incident, coupled with charges of speech plagiarism, resulted in Bidens termination of his 1988 bid for the presidency. As we all know, his 2010 campaign had a different outcome.4. FEMA Director, Michael BrownFollowing the mishandling of the response to Hurricane Katrina and Browns resignation, discrepancies in Browns resume were uncovered. Brown claimed to have overseen the emergency services division for the city of Edmund, Okla. Sources revealed that Brown was an assistant to the city manager, which is more like an intern. Brown also claimed to have been a political science professor at the University o f Central Oklahoma, but school officials said he was never a member of the faculty. Brown is now a radio show host.5. Host of Dinner Impossible, Robert IrvineIrvine claimed he made Princess Dianas wedding cake and worked in the White House kitchens. Food Network asked Irvine to pack his knives and leave after he was outed. Two years later, Irvine is featured on Food Networks Worst Cooks in America.6. Notre Dame football Coach, George OLearyOLeary claimed to have a masters degree in education from New York University and to have played college football at the University of New Hampshire. OLeary attended NYU but did not receive a degree. He never earned a letter playing football and never played in a game. His first and last day on the job were just five days apart. OLeary now coaches for the UCF Knights.7. Harvard student, Adam WheelerAfter being expelled from Bowdoin College for plagiarism, Wheeler was admitted to Harvard University claiming he attended an elite high school and MIT. He claimed he wrote several books and he won prize and grant money with plagiarized work. He was outed when he applied for Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships and a professor noticed similarities between his application and the work of a colleague. After he was expelled, he crafted fictitious resumes that he planned to use to apply for an internship or to Yale or Brown University. He was arrested and charged with larceny and identity fraud.8. Connecticut Attorney General, Richard BlumenthalWhile campaigning for Connecticuts U.S. Senate seat in 2010, Blumenthal claimed he served in Vietnam. He served in the Marine Corps reserve, but he never went to Vietnam. He won the election anyway.9. MIT Dean of Admissions, Marilee JonesJones, who had been employed by MIT for 28 years, never received an undergraduate degree, despite allegedly claiming both masters and bachelors degrees on her resume. She later landed a job as a consultant for the Berklee College of Music.Well have to wait and see how Williams actions will ultimately impact his career.

Friday, May 8, 2020

Why youre not getting the job -

Why youre not getting the job - Why arent you getting the job? Its one of the most difficult and frustrating questions to face. Job seekers usually dont receive feedback from hiring managers or interviewers, let alone hear why their resume may not have been selected for an interview. Instead, they are left to wonder if there is something wrong with them. I dont advise job seekers rely too much on the old stand-by reasons why they didnt get the job: ageism (they want a 25-year old, and Im 45), the economy is so bad/no one is getting hired (even if they are). There are no jobs in your town, and it would be impossible to sell the house right now. Your situation is unique you took time off to care for an elderly parent, you want to return to paid work after retiringThe list goes on and on. There are plenty of reasons you can identify to explain away why you arent getting the job. No matter what, though, in my experience, it usually comes back to several factors, and these factors are always in the job seekers control (unlike the items in the paragraph above, which are more difficult (although not impossible) for the job seeker to address). Your search itself are you looking for a job or a company? Even if you are getting interviews, it is possible youre not connecting with the types of opportunities looking for someone like you. If you switch the way you are conducting your search, and instead of focusing on looking for job announcements, you look for companies with problems you know you can solve, you may have much more success. Searching for a company instead of a job puts much more control in the job seekers hands. It can be very empowering to realize you can learn about an organization (via traditional and online research as well as networking) and, instead of trying to apply for a narrowly defined job, you can work on meeting people in the company and getting to know more about the organization. The goal? To be the go to person for the job before they even have posted a job. (Maybe before they even know they need to hire someone.) Your networking and social networking If your network isnt working, think about making a change. Are you running around, telling everyone you know you need a job, and asking for their help? They probably have no idea how to help you. Instead, focus on letting everyone know about your expertise, take the focus off of the job. Explain what companies, industries or fields you are researching and ask if your contacts know anyone in those companies. However, try to remember not to make your job hunt the key factor when you meet with people. Think about projecting your expertise and leaving people with the impression that you are an expert in your field. While social media wont get you an interview, having a complete profile on LinkedIn and engaging on platforms such as Twitter can help you expand your network, which helps you improve your chances to land interviews. How you are applying When you do apply for jobs, make sure your materials make it obvious that youre well qualified and can do the job. If you are applying for a marketing job, make sure the entire resume isnt about your sales accomplishments. You dont want to confuse the reader your materials should address their needs. Target your resume, online profiles, cover letter and all of your materials to their needs. Preparation for the interview Prepare for an interview, even before you have one scheduled. How often will an employer expect you to be available tomorrow or the next day to discuss the job? Make sure youre prepared to explain why you are qualified and why they should hire you. Youll also need to know as much as possible about the company (which wont be a problem if youve been looking for a company instead of a job!) Have stories to describe working with teams, leading, having problems with other people, overcoming difficult situations and a time when you came up against an obstacle. Be able to describe your successes and accomplishments and identify some weaknesses. Have questions for the employer. These should be questions you cannot find answered elsewhere. It makes all the difference in an interview to sound well-prepared and interested in the job. Less prepared candidates will not make the cut in this competitive market. How you follow up If you interview with six people, do you go the extra mile and send different, targeted thank you notes to each person? Or, are you emailing out the same messages, copied and pasted from one to the next? (Are you even sure you changed out the names correctly?) Making the extra effort to address each interviewer and mention what you discussed or clarify something you may have forgotten to mention can make a big difference when employers are trying to find evidence that you really are the type of candidate who will go above and beyond the call of duty. Think about your follow up materials. How could you improve them to try to solidify your chance at the job? Take a look at some of my other ideas on my U.S. News World Report blog about this topic. photo by Ciccio Pizzettaro