10 great questions to ask during an interview

10 great questions to ask during an interview 10 great questions to ask during an interview At the end of fruchtwein interviews, you will be asked if you have any questions for the interviewer.This is the perfect opportunity to learn even more about the job, the company, and the culture. But more importantly, the interviewer will form judgments about you based on the questions you ask. As an interviewer myself, Ive had candidates change my mind (for better and worse) just because of the questions they chose to ask me.Here are some good questions you can ask to learn more while also impressing the interviewer as someone who is smart, dedicated, and committed to success. (Dont ask all ten at once I recommend taking this list with you and then choosing the two or three that seem most appropriate given your conversation so far).What are the most important characteristics for success in this position?What do you see ahead for the company in the next five years?What have been the departmen ts best successes in the last few years?What are the most immediate challenges of the position that need to be addressed in the first three months?What do you see as the most important longer-term opportunities for improvement?How does upper management view the role and importance of this department and this position?What do you most enjoy about your work with this organization/company/agency?Could you describe your companys management style and the schrift of employee who fits in well here?How would you describe the experience of working here?And the most important questionBefore I leave, is there anything else you need to know concerning my ability to do this job?This question is especially powerful because it gives you insight into the managers decision-making process, and gives you a chance to answer any doubts before leaving.One more thing . Be sure to make notesJot down notes on the answers to these questions as soon as you leave the interview while the information is fresh in your mind. This will give you the edge if youre invited back for another interview, as youll be able to demonstrated some great insights into the job, the department and/or the company.If youre currently preparing for an interview, dont miss this piece on how to beat interview nerves.

Layoff dos and donts

Layoff dos and dontsLayoff dos and dontsTo law firmsDont be cheap with severance payoutsDo offer generous packagesDont keep staff on pins and needlesDont try to pass off layoffs as performance-based cuts (see also last years PR firing fiasco)If you have to lay folks off, do it with classTo lawyersDo retain a sense of humorBut dont get too creative with your cover letterIf youre in debt, do look into renegotiating interest paymentsBut dont skip out on your law school loansAnd dont spend your salary advance too quicklyDo consider rebranding yourself for a tighter job market- posted by vera

10 Biggest Lies Advertisers Told You

10 Biggest Lies Advertisers Told You10 Biggest Lies Advertisers Told YouAdvertising has to meet certain ethical standards. It is elend allowed to blatantly mislead, or tell an outright lie. Most of the time, that ordnungsprinzip works well. It is self-governing when it has to be, and at other times, institutions like the FTCor the UKs Advertising Standards Authority keep things in check. Lies slip through the cracks. Sometimes, the blame can be put squarely on the shoulders of the client, who told the ad agency information that welches untrue. On other occasions, it can be poor communication or just outright deception. Here are 10 such examples, in no particular order, of those times advertising tried to pull the wool over everyones eyes. Apple iPhone 3G Twice as Fast, Half the Price In 2008, Apple released a brand new version of its flagship iPhone and made two claims in six words that made the entire nation sit up and take bedrngnislageice. The new iPhone 3G was double the spee d of its predecessor, and cast half as much or does it? Apple customers quickly reported dropped calls, slow speeds, and a host of other issues. That made then twice as fast claim bogus. Then there was the price the initial $399 fee was dropped to $199, butthere was a catch an expensive, 2-year contract catch. Apples lawyers were quick to point out that youd have to be a fool to believe the ads verbatim. Apple never made those claims again. Enforma Exercise in a BottleLose Weight Without Diet or Exercise Anyone who tells you that you can lose weight without adjusting your calorie intake and exercise regime is flat-out lying. In the 1990s, when Enforma brought in baseball player Steve Garvey to promote fat trapper diet supplements that absorb the fat, people naturally refused to believe it, right? Wrong. It was all bogus, and the FTC took Steve Garvey to court. They lost the case as the appeals court ruled that he was not at fault for citing claims he was told were genuine. The c ase made way for new regulations making it illegal for celebrities to make false statements in advertising. Hoover Vacuums Buy a Vacuum, Get Two Free Flights to the USA They do say that if something looks too good to be true, it is. People reading the small print on the Hoover offer, back in 1992, couldnt find the catch. Was this a $1,500 vacuum cleaner? Was this a gold-plated sucker? No, the deal was unbelievable but true spend 100 on a vacuum cleaner, and you get two free flights from the UK to anywhere in America. Of course, the general public realized this was a steal, and Hoovers sold out in record time. The company realized it had done some very bad math, and so it decided to pull an even worse stunt to follow the already awful promotion. It would send consumers on a wild goose chase, filling out form after form, until they eventually gave up. The charade was so bad, the British parliament stepped in, and the stunt cost Hoover over 48 mio ($60 million). Nutella Spread H ealthy and Part of a Balanced Diet If youve ever tried Nutella spread, youll notice something as soon as it hits your tongue its incredibly sweet. How could this delicious chocolaty spread be a healthy part of anyones diet? Well, it couldnt. At least, thats what the $3 million settlement decided. The problem with the advertising is that it shows a busy mom choosing Nutella as the perfect breakfast snack (when served with multi-grain toast or whole wheat waffles). Trouble is, the only healthy part of the breakfast is the not Nutella ingredient. Nutellas main ingredient is sugar, followed by palm oil, and then hazelnuts and cocoa. Skechers Shape-Ups Get in Shape by Just Walking Around Skechers pulled out the big guns for this one. They brought in social media superstar Kim Kardashian to front the campaign. They produced a multi-million dollar ad that aired during the 2011 Super Bowl. They also pulled in big athletic names like Karl Malone, Wayne Gretzky, and Joe Montana. The mess age was clear - forget the gym, just walk around in a pair of Skechers Shape-Ups and youll soon be in great shape. The claim was complete hogwash. The ads were full of huge lies to support this flat-out-wrong claim. Kim Kardashian did not get into the shape she was in by wearing Shape-Ups. You had to do way more than just tie your shoes. And the medical studies cited were cherry-picked to support the false narrative. After a while, wearers of the shoes realized they had been taken for a ride. A $40 million settlement was announced, and people who bought the shoes were entitled to a refund. POM Wonderful Cheat Death Yescheat death.That was the headline the ad agency and the client thought was going to sell a lot of the pomegranate drink. Why not? After all, who wouldnt want to live forever by drinking a few bottles of juice? The ad leaped over the usual exaggerating the benefit boundaries and went straight for a complete and utter lie. POM Wonderful was not going to prevent anyo ne from cheating death. However, the lie was not considered to be the issue. Although it was obviously not true, it would make people think the drink had a lot of health benefits, and that was considered deceptive by the ASA. The ad was pulled. Classmates.com Your Classmates Are Looking for You Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn are hugely popular because they allow people to connect from all over the world. Classmates.com offered the same kind of reach out and touch them service but for a price. The advertising told you that someone, a former classmate, was looking for you. But to find out who that classmate was, youd have to sign up for the gold membership. After signing up for gold and entering credit card details, it became quickly apparent that no one was looking for you at all. It was a complete fabrication used to sell monthly memberships. Classmates.com had to fork over almost $10 million in a settlement. Extenze Male Enhancement - Take Supplements, Increase Your Size Size matters, and the claims that Extenze and its spokesperson Jimmy Johnson made did not fall on deaf ears. The ads stated that Extenze supplements were scientifically proven to increase the size of a certain part of the male body. The FTC decided to step in because the language was not claiming may or might. No, this stuff was scientifically going to work, and it didnt. And after a lot of time in court, Extenze had to pay out $6 million in a false advertising class action lawsuit. Vitamin Water Drink This, Its Good for You Vitamins, whether taken as supplements or a part of a food or drink, they are essential for life. By that logic, a drink like Vitamin Water must be great for you. Its literally the combination of two of lifes vital ingredients - water, and vitamins. Add to that claims that it would boost your immune system and help fight free radicals and you really have one seriously healthy drink. But as it turns out, its just a fancy name. Its another sweet drink, with a typical bottle containing 120 calories and 32 grams of sugar. Coca-Cola, the makers of Vitamin Water, found it a little odd that people thought Vitamin Water was healthy. No consumer could be reasonably misled into thinking that Vitamin Water is a healthy beverage, Coca-Colas lawyers stated. Soon after that, they settled a $9 million lawsuit. Wrigleys Gum Chewing This Gum Kills Germs Bad breath is nothing to be proud of. Finding out that simply chewing a piece of gum would eliminate it was music to consumers ears back in 2009. But there was one small problem. The gum didnt kill germs at all. The gum, called Eclipse, was touted as a product that kills the germs that cause bad breath. It even had a name for the ingredient MBE. But the National Advertising teilen did tests on this magic ingredient, and could not replicate this germ-killing behavior. Wrigleys had to take the claims off the packaging and paid up $6 million in the settlement.

Google is making email live and interactive

Google is making email live and interactiveGoogle is making email live and interactiveWe tend to think of email as a static, unchanging format. Once you hit send, what goes out is exactly what the recipient will see. But what if your email was a living, breathing thing that updated automatically? On Tuesday, Google announcedit was moving towards that future,debuting Accelerated Mobile Pages for Gmail that will make email a real-time, live experience for users.With AMP for emaille, youll be able to quickly take actions like submit an RSVP to an event, schedule an appointment, or fill out a questionnaire right from the email message, Gmail product manager Aakash Sahney said in the announcement. AMP for Email will also make it possible for information to easily kept up-to-date, so emails never get stale and the content is accurate when a user looks at it.The engaging, interactive, and actionable email experiences Google uses as examples are ones that allow you to browse websites without ever having to click a link to a new tab on your browser and leave Gmail. You fill out a form, you make that appointment to meet with your boss, you book a business flight, and you do it all within Google.What this could mean for how employees use emailYour office likely runs on emails. The average employee spends one-third of their working hours reading and responding to email.Although there have been instant messenger challengers, email remains the superior method of workplace communication. With this new update, Google is aiming to combine the real-time advantages of instant messaging platforms with the dominance of emails.As an open-source feature available now to all developers, the new technology may gain mainstream use the way Googles AMP for web pages already has by creating an instantaneous, speedy standard we now expect from web page loading.Time will tell if Googles AMP feature will radically change how we consume information. Will employees be able to edit emails to kee p information up-to-date, as Google says, and use emails the way they use instant messenger platforms like Slack? What if clients could change offensive content before (or even after) a reader opens an email.If we see email as a real-time activity, it would change how we judge the information within it. Email would no longer be the conclusive receipt it is today, and couldnt be used to document employees behavior.

Dirty Facts About 2017 Resume Trends Uncovered

Dirty Facts About 2017 Resume Trends Uncovered It isnt until later down at the base of the story youre going to receive the remaining portion of the specifics. Youre made to include everything, and the outcome is usually a resume that doesnt capture interest since it is not focused. This section is a string of questions developed to assist you quantify your performance in a place to write much better accomplishment statements. Showcase your very best self by abiding by the top 2017 resume trends to receive your CV to the peak of the pile. Continuous professional development is essential in the area of cybersecurity because the essence of the threat continuously evolves. So, theres just ONE and SIMPLE rule to steer clear of situation above. You are able to communicate you have the most suitable experience utilizing challenge, action, result statements. A collection of 40 creative resumetemplates from those who understand the ability of resume. What You Should Do to Find Out About 2017 Resume Trends Before Youre Left Behind Its possible for you to decide the buzzwords to include in your resume by reading the work description and receiving a concept of what it is that they want in a perfect candidate. The very brde thing you wish to do is receive a job that you cant do. If youre thinking about how to create a resume, youre in the proper location Bear this in mind when building your on-line brand. Life After 2017 Resume Trends Optimize your resume for an ATS Gone are the times when jobseekers could be certain that a human being would review work application. If you think hiring managers are only on the lookout for a highly-skilled and professional hire, think again. Recruiters will figure out if it isnt. Personal branding In the time of blogs and social media, it is about personal branding. At times its a really little edits, which may help you to acquire the job. If youre thinking about looking for a new job, you ought to be conscious of the hot test new resume trends. Resume templates which you find on the internet may do the job. 2017 Resume Trends - What Is It? In that video, you ought to be in a position to link to your social networking profiles, your portfolio and your sites. Social Media Branding Almost everyone is on a minumum of one of the social networking platforms. Try to remember that recruiters may see the name of the file that you send them and also dont forget they get a great deal of resumes every single day. Regardless of the demand to advertise oneself uniquely, remember that many major organizations utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan submitted applications. It is projected that the bulk of major companies now apply these systems to screen incoming resumes. If you are in an industry for at least 10 decades, you can look at a two-page resume. On top of that, there arent any memberships to cover Moreover, in some specific fields (e.g. social media marketing analytics), experience is just relevant if its recent. Essentially, you wish to quickly portray that youre a perfect candidate for those forms of jobs youre pursuing. Youre able to use an assortment of structures to organize your CV and make it simpler to navigate. Furthermore, you ought to be in a position to demonstrate that competence in your resume. All About 2017 Resume Trends There are several different courses of action you may take to enhance your resume so weve resolved to list our top five tips to provide the very best possibility of making it to the interview practice. So if youre planning to submit an application for a new job in 2019, you must have a foolproof plan to construct or update your resume. For each work application, pick the layout that most represents you in the context of the job that youre applying for. If youre junior or fresh grad reverse-chronological resume isnt a fantastic alternative for you.

How to Embrace Your Hiring Concerns - Spark Hire

How to Embrace Your Hiring Concerns - Spark HireIts a well known fact that hiring can be stressful. As a hiring manager, you are held responsible for not only finding the best talent but also attracting talent to your job openings,and then making the right hiring decision.There are 3 key concerns that all hiring managers have and there are ways for you to embrace each of these hiring concerns, minimizing the stress they cause. 1. Attracting the right talentAttracting top talent to your small business can be a challenge when you are competing with larger corporations with mora established brands.However, there are many things you can do as a small business hiring manager in order to attract the right talent before your competition snatches them up.Today, a large majority of top talent is interested in more than high salaries and big brands. While a competitive salary is important, you also need to consider other benefits that you can provide as a small business.Research health benefit s and different options that fall within your company budget. Do not take the cheap way out in this area. Look at it as an investment in your employees. After all, when your employees have good health care coverage you will in turn see healthier and happier employees. These benefits do not have to be top of the line, but it is necessary to demonstrate to top talent that you consider their health important.In many small businesses there is the option for flexible schedules. Take into account that by offering your employees a flexible schedule you are allowing them the weg to work efficiently while also allowing them to take care of day to day personal items as needed.Including these items in your job advertisement and brand advertisement will catch the eye of top talent and attract them to your company.2. Holding the candidates interestThe interview process can seem like a game of cards. It can be difficult to be certain of a candidates true interest at times and this is partly due t o communication.The first step in holding the candidates interest is to provide them with solid information on the job, the work day, and the company culture. Include your key kollektiv members throughout the interview process. This interaction with your team will allow the candidate to better visualize what it would be like to be part of your small business.In addition, if you want to make sure you are holding a candidates interest while you go through the decision making process, you need to stay in constant communication with that candidate. When you stop communicating with the candidate, she may think that you are no longer interested and she may lose interest.Keep in contact with candidates on a weekly basis, providing updates. Throughout the interview process it is important to make sure that the candidate understands how interested you are in considering her for your team.3. Choosing the right candidateAm I making the right hiring decision? This can be one of the largest conc erns you will have as a hiring manager. Hiring the wrong person can be a waste of time and funds for your small business. However, there are ways to overcome this fear and have a better chance of making a good hire.In the final interview stages, make sure that you are qualifying your candidates as followsRequest references both personal and professional and do your due diligence by checking each of these references.Require each candidate to provide a portfolio of past experience, accomplishments, and reviews.Profile each candidate using personality assessments which will tell you the type of training and environment that the candidate works best in.When you qualify your candidates you have a better chance of making the right hiring decision.What are some other concerns you have as a hiring manager and how can you embrace those concerns?

Entry Level Restaurant Management Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Entry Level Restaurant Management Resume Template 2018s Top FormatEntry Level Restaurant Management Resume Template - 2018s Top FormatAside from knowing how to sell products and services to hungry diners, restaurant managers must know how present themselves as accomplished professionals. A strong resume can help you gain an bewerbervorstellungsgesprch with a potential employer.Use the highlight section of your resume to explain your unique approach to managing people. Also, be sure to include the different types of restaurants youve had experience with and what restaurant point of sale systems youre familiar with. Because you work with a wide range of employees and customers, detail any additional languages youre fluent in.Consider the following entry-level restaurant management template as a guide on how to outline your own document. Create ResumeRenee Ellington100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019(C) (555) 322-7337(E) example-emailexample.comSummaryHardworking, dedicated Restaura nt Manager with over 4 years experience in operations and delivering an exceptional dining experience. Seeking to advance professional career in restaurant industry.HighlightsStaff development talentCustomer-orientedStrong leaderSupervisory skillsHiring and trainingOperations managementSelf motivatedAdaptableExperience04/2013 CurrentCotton Patch Cafe Bryan, TX Waiter/ServerEnsure customers have an excellent experience through great service, food, and atmosphere.Being fully knowledgeable of menu, ingredients, and how each item is preparedInteract and work well with other staff membersCorrectly execute side-work duties and cleaningEffectively handle cash, checks, and credit cardsPromptly and politely handle customer issues01/2009 03/2013Freebirds World Burrito College Station, TX Assistant General ManagerDeveloped and trained 12+ Shift Managers and Team Leaders within the restaurant.Certified Trainer in both FOH and BOH operations. Attended 5 new restaurant openings to train new m anagement, kitchen staff, and oversee operations during opening weeks of restaurant.In charge of hiring and training of hourly employees. Used appropriate interview and training practices to best give new team members the chance for success.Improved and maintained great food quality by direct supervision of kitchen manager and staff, ensuring proper practices and recipesRan exceptional labor costs by effective scheduling, forecasting upcoming sales, and empowering shift managersAchieved great COGs by reducing food waste, ensuring correct portions and recipes, and an intelligent system of weekly inventory and ordering.Maintained a profitable restaurant year round by keeping a strong focus on finances, guest experience, restaurant cleanliness, and a strong team of motivated individuals.08/2008 01/2009Reynolds Reynolds College Station, TX Warehouse Associate03/2007 07/2008Movietown Waller, TX Shift Manager01/2006 03/2007CVS Pharmacy Waller , TX Cashier/Photo LabEducation2008-20 10 Blinn College Bryan, TX, USASome College Completed Business Management2008 Rosehill Christian School Tomball, TX, USAHigh School DiplomaReferences available upon request.Customize ResumeMore Food and Beverage Resume TemplatesRestaurant Management Resume TemplatesExperienced Restaurant Management Resume TemplatesFood Processing Resume Templates

6 ways women can get hired and promoted

6 ways women can get hired and promoted6 ways women can get hired and promotedIts no secret that broadly, women experience disparities in pay and promotions.Promotion rates for women lag behind those of men, and the disparity is largest at the first step up to manager- for every 100 women promoted, 130 men are promotedIn addition, external hiring is not improving the representation of women. At every level, companies hire fewer women from the outside than men, and this is especially pronounced in seniormanagement, according to the Women in the Workplace 2016study of 132 companies and more than 34,000 employees by McKinsey and Lean In.Its an ongoing project to get women on equal par with men at work. In the meantime, here are some tips for speaking up and getting what you want in the office - like some of these inspiring women who set an example for every worker.Set your intentions who do you want to be?Success means something different for everyone, so nailing down what goals are mo st important to you is key.One of the most important things you can do is to figure out what success means to you. Keep doing it over time- it doesnt stay the same. Try to be as concrete about it as possible, career and life management consultant Ruth Schimel told Ladders.Being clear about your goals and revising them as you evolve can fuel your confidence.Talk about your successes dont hide themRecognizing your own potential for greatness can pay off.If you cant describe and sum up your best accomplishments, you cant use them to your advantage, according to womens career coach and leadership trainer Kathy Caprino. Companies are hiring you to provide skills, so staying quiet about your best work in buchung to look humble doesnt give employers a good idea of what capabilities theyll be paying you for.Keep a list of your successes - both individually and as part of a team, to show you can collaborate with others. Then refer back to your Success List often and bring it with you when y ou ask for a promotion. Sometimes you may not even know youve done something special, so make sure to check with your boss and colleagues for feedback youll learn more about yourself.When trying to go for a promotion, know the outcomes you yourself have created and why that matters to you, Caprino told Ladders. To remind yourself, refer back to that Success List of your best accomplishments and why they were important. Then you can make a stronger case about your talents to your boss, or your next employer.Create a Success ListWomen should stand up for themselves- especially when it comes to their paychecks. Leanne Meyer, director of The Carnegie Mellon Leadership and Negotiation Academy for Women, told Forbes that womenshould come prepared with the most airtight reasons why theydeserve what theywant.You need to say, for instance, I think I need a salary raise because if you look at all of the positions in my grade, and you look at the revenues I have generated, and look at the goa ls I have achieved Meyer told Forbes.It doesnt hurt to have concrete examples that you can confidently talk about whenbargaining with a higher-up, which is why that Successes List is so important.Start asking for fame in your fieldProminence can help you achieve a lot more. Dont be afraid to go big. Even if you dont get exactly what you want, visibility helps you have influence. You can do that by joining industry associations, speaking on panels, networking, and sharing ideas in your field that go beyond your job.Make yourself well-known among the anthroponyms mentioned in your field, and the job offers and promotions are likely to follow.Meredith Fineman, CEO and founder of communications and leadership company FinePointtold the Huffington Post about the importance of exposure.Put your name in to be quoted. Put your name in for a speaking engagement. What do you have to lose? Fineman told The Huffington Post.She added that even if you dont get every public nod, your name is out th ere It matters to get your name in the hat, for influencers to then pick from later, she said.Speak powerfullyIts easy to feel edgedout of conversations - especially at meetings - when you are talked over or your ideas go unappreciated. Dont sink into the well of feeling disrespected, which will slow you down with resentment in the moment. Move on to the next idea. Its important to keep talking, and being confident about it.Career and life management consultant Ruth Schimeltold Ladders that to speak decisively, words like just or maybe sound apologetic. She suggested that women use lines like I want to add and I wonder what you think of tobe more direct abouttheir ideas.Schimel told Ladders that when someone talks over you in a meeting, women should consider saying thisI have something else to contribute that I think would benefit us all, so let me finish, adding that you can even throw in a little humor.Rhythm also matters. Speak in complete sentences and be sure to end them. Its easy to ramble or, worse, trail off after every sentence. Crisp, clear sentences give you authority. That means not ending your thoughts with so. or other long pauses that leave your ideas stranded and forgotten. Give your ideas structure that supports them.Schimel also said that creating common ground can be a solution.Relate things youre saying to things someone else said- then youre creating a bridge with the other person, Schimel told Ladders.Experiment and find the method of presenting your ideas that is effective for you. There are multiple ways to stick up for yourself at work. All that matters is that you do so.Say what you meanThere is no question that men benefit from being forceful, while women are frequently penalized for it.Research study after research study has shown this women are viewed more negatively than men when they are perceived as forceful- especially when it looks like theyve lost their temper. Society doesnt like that,womens career coach and leadership tra iner Kathy Caprinosaid during a TED Talk.She suggestedthat many women fear being considered forceful or boastful. But she insisted that sharing is not bragging.Caprino gaveLadders a line that women can use when they want to assertively challenge the status quo.Try saying thisI believe in honesty and transparency, and I want to be honest here I dont believe in the direction were going in, she said.No matter which method you try, confidence is a great equalizer that helps both men and women get ahead. Work on building yours. It wont smooth over every bump, but it goes a long way.Thisadvice can be summed up with one more pearl of wisdom thatcareer and life management consultant Ruth Schimelshared with LaddersNo matter how you feel, act as if you are who you want to be..bxc.bx-campaign-1012255 .bx-group-1012255-lyDBLV9 width 900pxheight 550px

Answering the So What Interview Question

Answering the So What Interview QuestionAnswering the So What Interview QuestionTips on how to serve up your accomplishments with context in order to ace the senior-level interview.In the last article, Stop Taking Yourself for Granted, we looked at strategies to acknowledge and appreciate the impact you have had on organizations and individuals. Now, well take that to the next level with a four-part formula for quantifying your accomplishments and telling your stories in a memorable and compelling way.The single biggest mistake people make when it comes to sharing their accomplishments is providing results without context. Saying that you grew revenue by 15 percent without notlageing the market conditions or goals doesnt say much.In other words, you havent answered the question, So what?How did your approach compare to what the average person might have done? This is an important point many people miss.Without the benefit of a in gleichem abstand nebeneinander universe in which to te st our theoretical comparisons, this may be difficult to assess with any accuracy. Nevertheless, the temptation on the part of many humble souls is to believe that anyone faced with the same facts and challenges would have done the same thing. Not necessarily.Why didnt anyone think of this sooner? People may have recognized the aufgabe or opportunity. They may even have come up with a way to address the issue. But if they didnt take action, the insight is meaningless. Ideas are everywhere. Credit rightfully goes to the people who make things happen.Converting your accomplishments into the STARs format will solve this problem.What welches the SituationWhat was your specific role or Task?What Action did you take?What were the Results?What was the situation? This is where you explain what the real problem (or opportunity) was, why it was a problem, how long it had been a problem and what might have happened had the problem not been addressed. How and when did it become apparent that th ere was an issue?What was your specific role or task? Describe your role. How did you find yourself in a position to address the issue? Were you selected? Appointed? Elected? If you were selected or appointed, what was the title of the person who appointed you? Did you volunteer? Did you take on the project on your own initiative?What action did you take? How did you address the problem? What specific steps did you take?What were the results?This part is relatively straightforward, since it requires quantifiable evidence of your effectiveness. The biggest mistake people make in this area is limiting their thinking to dollars saved or earned. Money is just one quantifier. Challenge yourself to incorporate the other fiveTimeQualityQuantitySafetyCompliance(By the way, if you cant imagine how safety and einhaltung apply to you, dont worry. They probably dont.)Heres an example from one of my clientsSituation/ChallengeTo address the waste and expense associated with the disposal of 30 55- gallon drums of waste coolant from machine operations per month. Disposal expense $4,500/month ($150 x 30)TaskSelected by Operations Manager to streamline operations and reduce waste coolant expenditures.ActionResearched opportunities to recycle coolant and recommended a $10,000, one-time investment in coolant recycling equipment.ResultsTotal annual savings $162,000. Recycling process eliminated$54,000/year in disposal costs$108,000/year in coolant purchases.ROI on $10,000 investment Less than one month.When quantifying is a challengeIn some cases, the quantifiers may not be obvious. One receptionist I coached insisted there was no way to quantify her accomplishments. On the surface, that would appear to be true. After all, it isnt helpful, or particularly enlightening, to say, I smiled at 87 percent of the people who walked in the door. However, when I probed further, she revealed that her company, on three separate occasions, had eliminated her entire division. Each time, she was hand-picked by the executive team and became the only employee to survive the layoffs. From a potential employers point of view, that quantifier is like a third-party endorsement that saysShes great. Thats why we went out of our way to keep her.As you may notice, this isnt about bragging its about evidence. People who come across as braggarts are the ones who cant offer anything other than glowing generalities with no reasons to believe.Stick to the facts, and the STARs approach will minimize the likelihood that your stories will come across as bragging. Instead, you will be leaving it up to the listener to judge the value of your efforts. I call this the Its a Wonderful Life Approach to marketing yourself. In the movie Its A Wonderful Life, George Bailey is given a chance to see what life would have been like for his family, friends, and town had he never been born. That is exactly what every job hunter needs to imagine as well. How are things different, preferably better, for your companies, co-workers, friends, and family? What happened- that might never have happened- were it not for your efforts?If you can answer this simple question, you will be well on your way to uncovering the gold in your background and telling your story in a compelling way. Your goal is to find a way to get people to thinkWow, if she can do that for them, just think what she could do for us.Do that and you will have succeeded in doing something most job hunters never do.