Posts Tagged ‘top’

Networking The Right Way

Networking can be a great way of either looking for a job or getting ahead in your career.  However there is some certain unspoken etiquette involved with networking that should be kept in mind…

Below we list some of the most important aspects of networking etiquette that you should keep in mind if you want to get that job you’ve been eyeing up for the past 4 months…

Know Why

You should be able to identify why you have decided to network - you should know exactly what you want from the experience.  Otherwise you will be wandering the networking scene aimlessly and pointlessly.

Have aims of what you want to achieve and realise connections available to you that you can use to get your to specific employers.

Homework

You should make sure that you know as much as possible about the contacts you network with - you should do your research prior to any communication as you should never be asking your contact any questions about their background and company.  The more you know, the more impressed they will be!

Leave Desperation Out Of It

Any contacts that you meet will be much more willing to help someone who has a positive outlook ad vibrant attitude over someone who is miserable and moaning about the lack of opportunities.

Take It In

Make sure that you take in everything that is being said to you - advice doesn’t always come for free and if someone is taking the time out to supply you with their hard learned advice then you should listen properly.

Don’t forget your manners either - be polite and send your contact a thank you note and try and fit in a hint to show that you were listening to what they were saying.

Respect

You should provide your contact with the appropriate respect needed - don’t just rock up at their office and expect pearls of wisdom.  You should make an appointment and even when on the phone you should ask to make sure the contact has time to talk.  If possible don’t rush into talking business straight away, try and work your way into it with polite conversation.

Small Doses

Don’t ask for everything all at once.  It can be annoying to be asked tons of questions all at once.  Think instead about planning to ask questions in stages to make the whole process easier for your contact.  Don’t bombard your contact, there is always next time to ask more questions.

Permission

The aim of networking is to meet more and more people - however, before using your contact’s name to introduce yourself to someone new, make sure you get permission.  Otherwise you can come off looking foolish and immature as they might not have wanted to be included in your next meet…

Networking Properly?

Are you networking to find a job in today’s troubled economy?  Have you found our advice useful?  Let us know…

Summer ’09 - Bring on the barbeque…

We’re creeping closer and closer to Summer ’09 - the sun has been making more and more heated appearances and faster than you could say “game of football?” we’re all down to the park to catch as much UV as possible…

But with the sun comes the BBQ - evenings in the garden, mid-day lunches with a burned burger?  Whatever you do with your barbeque make sure that you know exactly what you’re doing when you get your tongs and chefs hat out…

Don’t Mess With The Meat

One of the most commonly made mistakes when barbequing is the unnecessary patience involved…you feel that you have a duty, because you’re standing by the fire with tongs in hand, to keep picking up the sausages to check if they’re cooked over and over and over again.

Forget it…every time you pick up your chicken to see if it’s done you are slowing down the whole process.  Instead you should let your food cook as it’s supposed to making sure that it won’t get stuck as well as being properly cooked.

Time For Chicken

It sounds a little cheeky but a good way to get the grilled chicken from the BBQ to the belly before you die of starvation you should think about partially cooking it in the microwave before hand.  If I were you I’d keep the trick to yourself and away from your dining guests if you want to keep your street cred…

Not only will you be saving time and precious fire or gas but you’ll also be guaranteeing a better piece of grilled chicken.  Microwaving will make sure that it is cooked on the inside as well as the outside after it has spent its time on the fire.

Grilling Baskets

Sausages, steaks, etc. are easy BBQ delights - you know what to do straight out of the packet, you just plop them onto the barbeque and turn them over before they get burned.  With the likes of vegetables and other delicates the whole process isn’t so simple.  Bits can be lost through the metal forever and no one wants that!

What you have to do it get hold of a grilling basket - fill the basket with your delicate food stuffs and place the basket directly over the flame to get them cooked.  A good tip is to spray the basket with a bit of oil so that the contents don’t get stuck…

Stop the Stabbing

Sharp barbeque forks aren’t your best friend although you might like to think they are - they are actually being quite detrimental to your cooking experience and need to be put down and forgotten about.

Every time you stick your barbeque fork into your steak for example you are releasing some of the natural juices that you would normally keep for texture.  By the time you’re finished stabbing your meat to death you’re left with a warm leather boot to chew on and you’ve just ruined everyone’s day…bad times!

BBQ tips?

Are you enjoying your barbeque already or are you planning on unleashing it over the next couple of months?  Let us know your plans and advice…

Teeth - The window to your soul?

The British aren’t known throughout the rest of the globe for their sparkling white gnashers so don’t you think it’s about time that we started to educate ourselves on the subject?  If you believe that first impressions are everything then you should really be giving some attention to your mouth - if you didn’t know your mouth is right there on your face!

So what can you do when there isn’t an NHS dentist within a 300 mile perimeter and private dentists would cost you both an arm and three legs…follow these simple steps to a healthier and happier smile;

Visit the Dentist

OK - so it’s not easy to get to the dentist in this country…it’s the stuff of urban legends that there was once one available in your area and your ears always prick up when the word is used in case you hear about vacancies.

Your best bet is to call around and do your research - if there isn’t one in your area then there could be one a few miles away…although it could be a struggle to make it there then that’s what it will have to take if you want a healthy set in your gob.

Say No To Acidic Drinks

You might think that you’re doing the right thing by opting for the OJ instead of the can of Coke but both options will be taxing on your choppers.  The acid in the likes of juices, cordials, diet drinks and smoothies attack the enamel on your teeth and leave a sticky residue to remind you of that fact…

Do It The Right Way!

It takes more than a quick brush and a gargle to get your teeth cleaned - you should find out the exact right way to clean your teeth.  You should ask your dentist the correct procedure when it comes to brushing, flossing and using a mouthwash.  As soon as you know then you’ll pick it up quickly and you’ll never look back.

Smoking - Leave It Out

Apart from the old spot of cancer and other diseases smoking can stain your teeth faster than almost anything else.  If the risk of health doesn’t put you off cancer sticks then perhaps the attack they pledge on the whiteness of your teeth is something to keep in mind…and bad breath…

Think About Tea

Tea doesn’t come with the same stigma that cigarettes do - there aren’t many people who have died from drinking too much tea…but tea can be pretty rough on your teeth.  So can coffee and red wine.  You can do everything else right but still find your teeth stained - this is because a lot of teas are black which is pretty much the worst colour for your teeth.

Stains - do they bother you?

DO you care about the state of your teeth?  Do you try to avoid tooth staining drinks and activities like smoking to keep a fresh mouth?  Let us know…

Self-Confidence - how to get it…

Why can’t we all be full of self-confidence and walk out knowing exactly what we want and having the tools inside ourselves to get it - well the secret key to self-confidence isn’t far away and by following these steps you’ll be even closer to a happier, more confident life…

Know Yourself

It may sound like a stroll down ego street but when you have no self-confidence this is exactly what you need to do - get a pen and a pad and write down your top qualities that make you who you are…

Fold up the piece of paper and put it in your pocket so you can take it around with you to remind yourself about just how great you are…and you are great!

Remember Yourself

No matter who you are you haven’t come this far without a single achievement - there is success in all of our pasts!  Look back and think of all your successes and write them down.  Remember what you went through to achieve these successes and you’ll start to realise that you can do great things indeed!  When you believe in yourself then you can do almost anything.

Remember to Be Your Greatest Fan

Don’t attack yourself for trying something - instead give yourself the backing that you deserve.  Instead of beating yourself down and thinking negative thoughts start cheering yourself on and congratulating yourself!  You’ll thank yourself for being so nice…

Remember to Accept

The next time someone serves you up a compliment don’t shy away and refuse to accept it - instead accept the compliment and do your confidence a favour!  But after so many years of feeling awkward around compliments how will you know what to do when someone throws one at you?

It’s easy - when someone compliments your hair, smile or work then simply smile, make face-to-face contact and thank them!  Job done…

Remember Body Language

If you stand tall then your confidence will as well - work on your posture and stance…body language will more often than not say more than simple old words.  Conveying a strong position will allow others to know that you are feeling strong in your confidence and you’re feeling good.

Remember Positivity

It’s one thing to stay positive but positive affirmations are a great way of reminding yourself everyday to stay positive and fight off any negativity ready to attack you when you wake up.

Don’t write a dissertation - instead keep them short and sweet and appropriate to switch a negative belief into a positive one!  Utter them to yourself whenever you get a chance - often standing in front of a mirror can help you connect your words to the person…

Self-Confident or Self-Loathing?

Do you find that your self-confidence holds you back or do you already do your affirmations in the mirror already?  Let us know what you do to give yourself a boost.