The 3 Priorities to Achieve Balance for a Happy, Successful Life

By Nan McAdam

I have worked in the business world for many years. The saddest thing, I have witnessed, is to see someone who has work very hard, spending the majority of their time creating a successful career. They finally reach that pinnacle of success in their career that they were striving for and they look around and that's all they have. Their marriage and family is gone, kicked to the curb by over focusing on their career. They had lost all sense of balance. They have achieved the dream career, but their life is in ruins.
Some people, actually, use the above scenario as an excuse to not succeed. They don't want to put in the time and hard work it takes to succeed because they don't want to lose what is precious to them. I believe you can have it all. Does that sound impossible? I have witnessed it. I know many successful people who have grabbed the brass ring in their career and have a solid life with their partner and kids. Don't get me wrong. I have witnessed plenty of the first scenario. It is challenging, to say the least, but it can be done!
If someone achieves their dream success in their career, but loses their family and is spiritually bankrupt, are they really successful? Creating a successful life begins by prioritizing the important things in life. The successful people, I have seen, prioritize their top three things in this order.
1. Spiritual - they have an active relationship with their God or what ever they call their creator. They model their lives by the laws and teachings of their spiritual faith. I don't believe that a certain religion creates more successful people. They may not even be affiliated with a religion. Successful people realize there is something larger than themselves. They acknowledge it and worship in their own way. Their communication with their spiritual side is their first priority. Face it, faith and hope come from a strong spiritual connection.
2. Family - isn't this who we are working for? If we really prioritize our families we will find the time to spend with them. The time might not be quantity, but it should be quality. Four hours of watching TV with the wife/husband and the kids is not quality time. The key is, the time you spend with them should have all your attention. Schedule them in your planner and keep that appointment no matter what crisis happens at work. If we have a great career but lose the closeness with our spouse and children, what have we gained? When we always short change our family for our career, they aren't really the priority they should be. Our families should be our "why" for success. When we move into the winter of our lives, our families will be the ones who keep us warm.
3. Business - I am not naive enough to believe, when creating a successful career, we will always be in balance. Project deadlines and business growth accelerations can take us out of balance. When this happens, communication with our top two priorities is in order. Our family, will understand short changing their quality time only if it doesn't become the norm.
It is fun and exciting to build a successful career! It should be the monetary means to build a successful life, not the life.

job, jobs, career

Medical Transcription and Scribes

By Kathy Nicholls

The use of scribes has been a topic of discussion quite a bit lately, so I thought it was time to talk about it here and see what your thoughts are.

If you're not yet familiar with the term, a scribe is a person who goes into the exam room with a physician and does the documentation on the patient visit into an electronic record, using a laptop or some type of portable device. It's being sold as a way for physicians to get their information into an electronic record quickly and a way to reduce costs.

Scribes need to have an understanding of medical terminology so that the documentation is correct. They also need to be able to work with the technology that is being used, although, like medical transcription, I imagine systems will vary from provider to provider. My ophthalmologist has been using a "scribe" in his practice now for more than ten years, so I sometimes chuckle when I hear people talking about how new this practice is. Or perhaps he is jut ahead of his time.

The reports I've seen show that scribes tend to make a starting wage of $8 to $10 per hour. It is also reported that while some of the people doing this job have some medical background, many times they are trained from scratch in training programs that take six to eight weeks to complete. Most of the information shows that scribes work for a company, who then contracts with the healthcare facility to provide the services. These companies are charging the healthcare facilities $20 to $24 per hour for the scribe services.

Is this an opportunity for medical transcriptionists? Perhaps. Medical transcriptionists certainly have the skill set necessary to perform this function. While many will protest the pay, remember that these scribes are working for a company, or a middle man, who has to "upcharge" the healthcare provider in order to make money. How would that change if you went directly to a healthcare provider and offered those services?

What do you think? Is a scribe a potential future role for people with medical transcription training?

job, jobs, career

How To Not Ruin Your Best Resume

By Suzette Dean

For fresh graduates, having the best resume is a big issue. They consider it their key to getting hired by a reputable company. This is actually true since they have little or no work experience. Because of this, many struggle to make the best resume. However because of lack of knowledge and information sources, many are not able to achieve the goal of making the best resume and end up with an average resume instead. But what should a resume really include for it to be the best resume?

First of all, the best resume should always include your educational attainment. Whether you are able to go to a university or just high school, educational attainment should always be included. Why? Since you are a fresh graduate, and have little or no work experience yet, employers will base their decision on the school that you have been to. For most companies, the standards of the schools can help them determine the capacity of the applicant.

Second, the best resume should contain activities that were work-related or internships. This is also important because they could use your internship experiences to determine your working capacity - whether you are hard working or not, if you have perseverance or not, or whether you are determined or not. These qualities are very important for companies because they would want their employees to be efficient.

Third, the best resume should contain any training and seminars that you were able to attend. Why is this important? Training and seminars will definitely give you additional knowledge that you will not be able to learn from the four walls of the classroom. Training and seminars that are written in your best resume will of course give you an edge compared to other applicants who were not able to undertake such privileges.

You see - writing your own best resume is not that hard. All you need is focus and the proper tips of course. Remember, flooding your resume will not make it the best but instead will make it look like a logbook. Choosing the right information to include in your resume is very important so as to not flood your resume. Impressing the employer is the goal, but being able to write the best resume by yourself will not only impress the employer, but give you satisfaction because your hard work paid off in the best way.

job, jobs, career

13 Job Interview Mistakes To Avoid

By Nathan Newberger

 The wrong move can cost you the job! You have worked hard to get to the interview stage. You passed the cover letter and resume screening process...maybe even a few telephone interviews.
Now it is time for the face-to-face interview with the employer itself. Any number of items can go wrong, but you have to be in control and must have confidence. Go into an interview with the feeling that you are going to impress them so much that they will have to make you an offer.
The interview is the most stressful part of the job hunt for many people, because now they cannot hide behind the cover letter and resume. The real face-to-face human connection between possible employer and job candidate takes place. But for starters, if you simply follow these 13 tips below, you are on your way to interviews with results.
A big part of a successful interview is avoiding simple mistakes. Mistakes are deadly to the job seeker and easy to avoid if you are prepared.
These are the most common interview mistakes and their antidotes.

1. Arriving late. Get directions from the interviewer or a map. Wear a watch, and leave home early. If the worst happens, and you cannot make it on time, call the interviewer, and arrange to reschedule.
2. Dressing wrong. You make your greatest impact on the interviewer in the first 17 seconds, an impression you want to make powerfully positive. Dress right in a conservative suit, subdued colors, little jewelry (but real gold, or silver, or pearls), low heels (polished), and everything clean and neat. Hygiene includes combed hair, brushed teeth, deodorant and low-key scent. Check everything the night before, again, before walking out the door, and once again in the restroom just before the interview.
3. Play zombie. OK, you are nervous, But you can still smile, right? And make eye contact, yes? Sit up, focus on the interviewer, and start responding. Enthusiasm is what the interviewer wants to see.
4. No smoking, no gum, no drinking. This is all comfort stuff for you, and none of it helps you here. Employers are more likely to hire non-smokers. At a lunch or dinner interview, others may order drinks. You best not.
5. Research failure. The interview is not the time for research. Find out the company's products and services, annual sales, structure, and other key information from the Internet, the public library, professional magazines, or from former employees. Show that you are interested in working for the prospective employer by demonstrating knowledge about the company.
6. Cannot articulate your own strengths and weaknesses. Only you can recognize your most valuable strengths and most hurtful weaknesses. Be able to specify your major strengths. Your weaknesses, if such must come up, should only be turned around to positives.
7. Winging the interview. Practice! Get a friend, a list of interview questions and a tape recorder, and conduct an interview rehearsal. Include a presentation or demonstration, if that will be part of the real interview. Start with introducing yourself, and go all through an interview to saying good-bye. Write out any answers you have difficulty with, and practice until your delivery is smooth (but not slick).
8. Talk, Talk, Talk. Rambling, interrupting the interviewer, and answering to a simple question with a fifteen-minute reply - all of these can be avoided if you have thought through and practiced what you want to communicate. Good answers are to the point and usually shorter.
9. Failure to connect yourself to the job offered. The job description details the company's needs. You connect your experiences, your talents and your strengths to the description. It answers the essential reasons for the interview : "How my education/experience/talents/strengths fit your needs, and why I can do this job for you."
10. Not asking questions - and asking too many. Use your research to develop a set of questions that will tell you whether this is the job and the company for you. This will help you limit and focus your questions, But do not overpower the interviewer with questions about details that really will not count in the long run.
11. Bad-mouth anyone. Not just your present employer, or former employer, or the competition. You do not want to look like a complainer.
12. Asking about compensation and /or benefits too soon. Wait for the interviewer to bring up these issues, after the discussion of your qualifications and the company's needs and wants.
13. Failure to ask for the job. When the interviewer indicates the interview is over, convey your interest in the job, and ask what the next step is

 employment, careers, Indonesia vacancy

How To Master Telephone Interviews

By Nathan Newberger

Don't be afraid to pick up the phone!
The telephone interview is by far becoming more and more popular. Many job hunters still get that adrenalin rush even with the phone interviews. But following the tips and advice in this article will help you master the phone interview and get you to the next step - the face to face interview.
Often, the first step in the hiring process is the telephone interview.
Companies and the recruiters they employ use the telephone interview to develop a pool of candidates to look at closer, and to pare down the number of applicants for a job opening.
 
The advantages to the company are:

•   the cost is less.

•   the list of questions can be standardized.

•   the interview can be delegated to a lower level (cheaper) employee.

•   it can be done quickly.

The aims on both sides of the telephone are limited. The caller wants a selection of qualified candidates, and the process screens out many candidates. If the call is a straightforward screening call, the caller will likely ask about your experience, availability and salary requirements. Your strategy is to provide facts that support your resume, with some context about your performance. Try using numbers and facts to be effective, however, you don't want to volunteer anything that could disqualify you . Make every effort to sound professional but not personal, as this call is not to establish rapport.
Since you are unlikely to win the job from a telephone interview, your goal is to secure an in-person interview with the person who has the authority to hire. Approach the call with that attitude.
 
Managing the Telephone Interview
Try to reschedule surprise interviews. Say that you have a conflict and suggest a time you can call back. When you call back, be prepared for the call just as you would for a full-dress interview.

Have ready

•   pen and paper, a calculator

•   the job ad and the resume and cover letter which you sent in response to the ad.

•   a list of your accomplishments which relate to the job you are discussing.

•   research you have done on the company.

•   a short list of questions about the job.

•   your calendar.

The Techniques of a Pro

•   Smile - it comes through in your voice.

•   Speak directly into the phone.

•   Don't smoke, chew gum, eat or drink anything. It all telegraphs to your listener.

•   Stand up. Your voice sounds stronger.

•   Avoid ah, er, hum. This habit is especially noticeable on the telephone. This takes

    practice. So practice.

For a winning performance

•   Confirm the caller's name and company. Get the caller's telephone number.

•   Be aware that the caller can't see you - can't see your hand gestures, can't see you

    taking notes.

•   Pace the call. Let the caller do most of the talking, without interruptions.

•   Do use the technique of repeating or re-phrasing questions. It tells the caller that you

    listened carefully, and gives you time to think about your answer.

•   Avoid the simple yes or no; add selling points at every opportunity.

•   If you need time to think, say so - as in radio, silence during a telephone conversation is

    dead air time.

•   Compensation issues come at the end of the interviewing cycle, never at the telephone

    stage. You can truthfully say you don't know enough about the job to state a salary figure.

    And, of course, you would need a personal interview to really talk with the company.

    Which is another way to go for the personal interview. Re-affirm your qualifications,
    express your interest in the job and the company. Say you would appreciate the
    opportunity to talk about the job further - in person.

employment, careers, Indonesia vacancy

Dress For Success

By Nathan Newberger

Its true - You Are What You Wear! Especially when it comes to the job interview.
Believe it or not, you are examined from head to toe in all interviews. Not only is your experience and personality sized up...but also your appearance. The dress code for men and women differ substantially so this article is broken up into seperate sections for each gender.
Before you go on that job interview, make sure you read these dressing tips! Many people take for granted the appearance aspect of the job hunting process. The better you are dressed, the more confident you will feel and exude.
There's no impression like the first impression. Initial decisions made about you in the first three minutes of the job interview are nearly irreversible.
The purpose of your clothing is to project an image of professionalism. Consider:

• •   Your clothes should subtly add to your appearance. More importantly, clothing shouldn't
      detract from your business persona.
• •   Much as you may want to stand out, wearing the business "uniform" communicates
      instantly that you are a mature, stable professional and a member of the team.
• •   Even if the internal dress code is very casual, your interviewing attire should adhere to a
      conservative standard.
• •   Dress up - the best you would ever dress when actually employed there.

Here's how to dress for the best possible outcome:

• •   Research the prospective employer - companies and even industries have definable
      corporate cultures. Find out what the corporate uniform is - and wear it.
• •   Select an outfit you have worn before and are comfortable wearing.
• •   Try on the outfit a few days before - enough time to have drying-cleaning and repairs
      completed.
• •   Check the ensemble for missing buttons, frayed cuffs and other needed repairs.
• •   Everything must be clean, neat and ironed.
• •   No bulging pockets or sagging coat lining.
• •   Hair and nails must be clean and groomed.
• •   Scent should be low-key or absent.
• •   The favorite color of most Americans is blue - it conveys trust, calm and confidence.
      Blue is a very good interview color.

The Fine Points

• •   Shoes should be comfortable and polished. Shoes that are well cared-for signal "Good
      attention to detail."
• •   Be parsimonious with scent - many people are allergic and too much perfume is an
      instant interview killer.
• •   Jewelry - real jewelry, if you have it. No jewelry is better than fake. No rhinestones
      cufflinks, no cloth watchbands, no novelty tie tacks.
• •   Clean and polish your briefcase or purse; organize the inside.
• •   A winter coat must be cleaned and pressed, particularly since a coat may be the main
      item your interviewer first sees.
• •   Your umbrella should be in conservative colors (black, tan, navy, gray) and in working
      order. Do not leave it to drip on the company carpet.
• •   Bring a pen and paper; check that the pen works and doesn't leak. Store them in the
      inside jacket pocket, where you can easily find them.
• •   Allow time to dress with care and deal with emergencies. Examine the results, front and
      back, in a mirror.

Men - Consider These Tips/Advice

• •   tailored suits in navy, gray, beige. (black is a funeral color, avoid it.)
• •   dark suit, light shirt
• •   natural fabrics - wool/wool blend for the suit, cotton for the shirt, silk for the tie
• •   business shoes and over -the-calf dark socks
• •   matching silk tie in low-key colors

Women - Consider These Tips/Advice

• •   simple, tailored suit
• •   tailored dress
• •   dress & jacket combination
• •   simple blouse
• •   natural fabrics - wool/wool blend, cotton and silk
• •   conservative colors - blue, gray, beige or black
• •   avoid loud or flashy styles and colors
• •   use makeup sparingly.
• •   low -heeled pumps, flesh colored stocking

employment, careers, Indonesia vacancy

Watch out for ILLEGAL Interview questions!

by Nathan Newberger

I’ll quickly cover the following:

A) Why Employer Ask Illegal Interview Questions.
B) Examples of Illegal Interview Questions.
C) Tips on How To Respond to Illegal Interview Questions.

Job Interview Fact
U.S. law prohibits certain types of questions and you are by no means required or obligated to answer these questions. These questions are prohibited for a reason: to keep employers from unfairly trying to weed you out as a possible employee.

A) Why Employers Ask Illegal Interview Questions.
The interview is where you get your chance to sell yourself directly to the employer. During the interview the employer is obviously trying to learn more about you and how you may or may not fit in the company. The main reason why an employer might purposely slip in some illegal questions is basically to try and get information to keep you from getting a job. Most illegal questions revolve around personal information and asking them is usually not related to the job and is often discriminatory in nature.

Another reason some employers ask illegal questions is because they just don’t know any better. Many interviewers are not trained at all and simply don’t know what is legal versus illegal. Please keep this in mind, it may just be a poorly trained, inexperienced or just curious interviewer and not meant to be harmful or discriminatory at all.

B) Examples of Illegal Interview Questions.

Illegal questions generally fall into 4 categories:

1. Disabilities & Physical Skills
2. Personal Background
3. Race, Creed, or Color
4. Family & Relationship Items

10 Sample Illegal Questions:

1. How tall are you?
2. Are you a US Citizen?
3. How old are you?
4. Are you really a man?
5. Are you Chinese or Japanese?
6. What religion are you?
7. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?
8. Have you ever been arrested?
9. Are you married?
10. How many children do you have?

C) Tips On How To Respond To Illegal Interview Questions.
First and foremost, avoid reacting in a hostile fashion remember that you can always decide later to decline the job offer. Your goal during the interview is to try and get the job offer.

Response 1:
Go ahead and answer the question. If you don’t feel uncomfortable and you think your answer is in your favor, why worry? Go ahead and answer the question and make no mention that you think its improper or illegal. Just remember that you run the risk of harming your candidacy if you give an answer not favorable to what the interviewer has in mind.

Response 2:
Refuse to answer the question. You are within your rights but in a delicate and sensitive area with regards to the potential job offer. You can say politely that you don’t feel comfortable answering the question and ask to move on. You may even want to mention to the interviewer that the question is illegal and doesn’t pertain to the job. The key here is to be as tactful as possible. But keep in mind, you may come across as confrontational or not a "team player" in the eyes of the interviewer. CONCLUSION
Generally speaking, its better not to confront or debate the interviewer about the legality of a question. But if you have any uncertainty about the questions, you should be alert to any pattern of discrimination especially if you notice several illegal questions. Try and remember the questions and speak the employer’s HR director and get answers to what may have happened.

employment, careers, Indonesia vacancy