I am doing what you do, sitting at my computer, trying to get my
thoughts out of my head and into a written form that will help
you make a decision. In this particular case, I am trying to
write a few intelligent remarks about sounding conversational on
paper. You know, how to write a fundraising letter that sounds
like it came from the mind of a person and not an institution.

I suppose the first thing I can tell you is that you should
write the way you talk, unless, of course, you talk in halting
sentences punctuated with “ya knows” and “like, you know what I
mean?” And if you usually write fundraising letters that are
signed by someone else, your executive director, for example,
then you need to write the way that person speaks.

The secret to sounding personal and conversational on paper is
to imaging that you are actually having a conversation with your
donor. A back-and-forth exchange where your donor asks questions
and you supply answers. That way, your letter sounds like it is
written by a living, breathing person, since it addresses issues
that are important to the donor, and does so in a warm, lively
style.

Which reminds me, try to keep your sentences short. Not like the
one that ended the last paragraph. What else can I tell you?

Rhetorical questions are one device at your disposal. Rhetorical
questions, as I am sure you know, are questions that are asked
for rhetorical effect, not expecting an answer. You can use one
or two in your letter if you like. Rhetorical questions create
the sense that a conversation is taking place between you and
your donor.

I don’t have to tell you that another way to sound
conversational is to use the first person a lot. That means you
say, “Your gift today means a lot to me,” instead of saying
“Your gift today means a lot to us,” or, even worse, “A gift
from you designated towards our Annual Fund will be appreciated
at this time.” Remember, people give to people, not to
establishments, so you want to sound like a person, not an
organization when you write your donor appeal letters.

I just thought of another one. Without being fake or insincere,
mention that you thought of your donor today, or yesterday, or
recently, showing that there is a relationship between the two
of you. Naturally, only say “I was thinking of you this morning”
if you actually were. Otherwise you will be making stuff up.

You may be relieved to know that that you can be colloquial,
too, which is a humdinger of a way to establish rapport and
sound genuine. If your donors know what a humdinger is, then by
all means throw one into your letters at least once a year. You
goal, if I may say so, is to sound authentic without being
overly familiar or coarse.

Another way to sound conversational is to be open in the way you
talk about things. Give your donors a glimpse into what life is
like at your organization. You probably want an example of what
I mean, so here it is (here are two examples, actually):

Institutional: “Your membership is about to expire.”
Conversational: “I see from our records that your membership is
coming up for renewal soon.”

Institutional: “Prayer meetings were held today at head office
about Hurricane Katrina.” Conversational: “All of us here at the
office in London met this morning to pray for the victims of
Hurricane Katrina.”

Another sure way of avoiding “bureaucratic-speak” is to say
everything in the active voice. Don’t say “funds were raised”
when you can say “we raised funds.” Avoid writing “100
scholarships will be created” when you can instead write “we
will create 100 scholarships.” See the improvement? Passive
voice sounds institutional. Active voice sounds conversational.

I suppose if you went back to the start and began reading this
message again, you’d pick up a few methods that I did not
mention (using parentheses like this, for example, which look as
though you are lowering your voice and whispering a piece of
inside information to your donor). I hope that these tips help
you write effective fundraising letters. Ones that come from
your heart, and are effective mainly for that very reason.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/direct-mail-articles/write-effective-fundraising-letters-by-being-conversational-includes-examples-samples-886.html

About the Author:

What is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)?

When search engines decide what pages to show in response to an inquiry, they consult their indexed database of millions of web pages and decide which are the most relevant results, and in what order they should show them. A job in SEO involves figuring out what search terms a particular website should try to rank highly for and then helping the site to move up the rankings for these terms.

In some industries, like travel, high rankings in Google and Yahoo can provide a huge increase in sales and revenue, and SEO is becoming increasingly regarded as the form of marketing that provides the best return on investment for many niche businesses.

What does an SEO job involve?

Search Engine Optimisation begins with keyword research, finding out exactly what people are typing into search engines, and then evaluating these keywords and key phrases on a number of criteria (frequency of search, level of competition, relevance to the client website and so on.) A number of key phrases are selected for each page on a site, and the content and code of a page are enriched with these key phrases.

For seriously significant increases in rankings, however, you need to increase the number of one way links coming into a site. Links are regarded as votes of confidence by search engines - the more links you can get, the higher that page will rank (although individual links vary greatly in value). A job in SEO focuses heavily on attracting links to a client’s website, often by creating viral content (articles, videos, applications and so on) that spreads around the internet and generates links.

How do you get into it?

There are no specific qualifications required for a job in SEO, although a degree is preferred by many companies. Typically, if you want to work in-house at a large company they will require you to have several years experience, while an agency may be willing to take you with no experience and train you up if you display some of the right skills. Entry level jobs in SEO are advertised through a number of online sources, and there are even recruitment agencies (like mine!) that deal specifically with online marketing jobs.

What skills do you need to succeed?

A job in SEO requires a broad range of skills. You’ll need analytical and organisational skills to do keyword research and understand website statistics, combined with the creativity to produce great content and think up effective strategies for link building campaigns. Strong writing skills are very useful, as you will be expected to produce plenty of written material, and some degree of HTML and basic web design knowledge can also come in handy.

Above all, if you want a job in search marketing you’ll need a passion and understanding of the internet, including concepts like social media and Web 2.0. SEO is a rapidly evolving business, and you’ll have to be able to stay on top of all the latest online developments in order to be good at your job.

How much does it pay?

Salaries for search marketing jobs vary greatly depending on your level of experience, location, size of company, and whether you are working in-house, for an agency or as a freelancer. An entry level job in SEO might pay between £20,000 - 25,000, but as your experience increases, so does your earning power. Higher level people could potentially earn over £50,000 if they’ve got the right skills and experience.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/getting-a-job-in-seo-502107.html

About the Author:

Gail Kenny is the managing director of Puregenie, an online travel jobs website. The site deals with jobs in the ever growing travel sector and offers a wide selection of PPC and SEO jobs, as well as other roles involved in maintaining a presence online. Although the site is mainly travel focussed, it also displays vacancies in the hospitality and leisure industries.

One suggestion is this; Become a geologist which are paid Record High salaries!

High prices on commodities such as oil, gas and other mineral resources combined with high retirement rates and low enrollments assist in a boost of salaries for geologists.

Times are right for being a GeoScientist

We read in the news stories full of the petroleum and mineral resource companies offering geologists unprecedented salaries.

These demands are driven by high commodity prices that traditionally drive geoscientist’s employment in these sectors. Oil is above $100 per barrel, gold is closing up to $1000 an ounce and the price of many other important fuels and metals are at or near all-time highs. These are the right times for geoscientists seeking work within the energy and minerals sector. The offerings are varied and there are many interesting and high salary opportunities out there now.

What is the payment for a Geoscientist these days?

Geology salaries vary by sector you talk about. Now that fuel and metal prices are rising, oil and mineral resource companies respond by hiring a full staff of geologists who can find the commodities that are bringing potential reserves to be exploited quickly. In order to achieve this, they turn to offers of unprecedented compensations. This is what we observe these days.

The AAPG salary survey illustrates the average starting salary of a petroleum geologist with zero to two years experience. It clearly indicates that oil companies make good starting offers to new geoscientists. This is a trend we have seen over the last 8 years at least. The new geoscientists are earning an average of about $83,000 today. We can see the same trend in the mineral resource sector. The new geoscientists earning these salaries are a mix of B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. geoscientists.

There is a trend that a larger number of geologists find work within the environmental and government sectors. These employers tend to pay 10 – 40% less because of a less demand-driven market within this sector. However, seen from a stability point of vies, employment in the environmental and government sectors is usually more stable than the prices of commodities. In the energy and mineral sectors a sharp drop in the price of a commodity usually trigger lay-offs in larger scale.

If I have not yet taken my educational choice – what are my chances in the future, and how long time will it take me?

To qualify for a geoscience’s position you must earn a bachelor’s degree at minimum and many earn a master’s degree to compete more effectively in the job market. This education path takes four to six years to complete. So if you enter the education now you will not reach the job market for at least four more years. In addition you can find a different employment environment when the diploma is received down the line.

However we do not see a long line to become a geoscientist in the university enrollments. We do not see a larger amount of new graduates on their way to meet the demand for new geoscientists in the global market as we see it today.

We see a need for the expected number of degrees per year to be much higher than we observe in the next four years. However these are challenging programs, often requiring calculus, physics, chemistry and demanding geoscience courses.

So what are the chances that the High Rates of Pay for Geologists will Continue?

We can not predict the future with 100% accuracy. Commodity demand as well as prices will drive the demand for geologists within the petroleum and mineral resources sectors.

However resources become sparse and it becomes harder to find and growth in both population and affluence should put upward pressure on prices. However, temporary lows can occur as seen in 1986 and 1993 as a response to oil price declines. In both instances, prices recovered and were driven past levels. Similar trends occur in the mineral resource sector. The conclusion: based upon history: employment and salary levels are cyclical, but overall we see that the prices are rising to new highs.

Aging amongst the geoscientists is another perspective in the oil and gas as well as within the mineral industries.

A lot of geologists began oil industry careers during a previous time of high geoscientist’s salaries in the 1970’s. These geoscientists are now reaching retirement age and a larger number of them will leave oil companies over the next few years than amount replacing them. One of the major challenges for the oil and gas industry as well as the mineral industry, will be to be able to replace the accumulative knowledge and people.

Another perspective is the public spending within the government sector. Sine environmental geoscientists’ jobs are driven by their spending and regulations. Therefore the legislatures rather than commodity prices will drive employment of geoscientists within this sector. Public spending and regulations has lead to a steady growth in employment in these areas. Public offices had become more environmentally vigilant as there is an attempt to protect and improve the environment around us.

What should I do then – being my university degree within Geoscience now?

We have always as adults given our children the novice advice, follow your heart and you will succeed in your choice of career, and do not follow the money. Well, it is easier said than done. Whether we like it or not, we do work because we need the money, and love to your work can only do so much for you.

However we know that economic conditions change over time and the demand for geoscientists will go through cycles, although the demand is very high at the moment. We will also expect times in the future when jobs are hard to find within these sectors mentioned in this article. We do however see one picture, the demand for good geoscientists never go out of fashion, so if you think you love geosciences, there is a good chance you will become a successful one as well, and will find a good job within these sectors.

Do not enter into a career as a geoscientist only for the money as you most likely will be disappointed in the future.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/where-should-i-start-in-my-career-we-have-a-hot-tip-for-you-here-385259.html

About the Author:

He has a background as civil engineer and geoscientist. He has worked mainly within the oil and gas industry from the mid 1980s. He has written some few fictional novels as well as author of some professional litterature within oil and gas sector, he is now an editor of some web sites, mainly within the travel business.

How many of us actually bother to keep our resume regularly updated? If you were approached for the job of your dreams, the job you have always wanted, would you have your resume updated and ready to be sent?

Update It Yearly

This is what most people should be doing but are not. It is good to update your resume every year. What happens if there is a job opportunity and you find that your resume hasn’t been updated in years? You will lose out on a great offer because you could not submit your resume in time or update it accurately with the relevant information that could have been beneficial. It is best to update your resume every year so that you can keep adding your accomplishments or new projects. Do not wait for years to do what you can do for your resume now. Who knows - you may forget important information and that will definitely be detrimental to your career.

Update If Switching Careers

If you are thinking of switching careers then it is time to change your resume. Your new updated and improved resume should focus on skills that will benefit new career opportunities - these skills are called transferable skills. This helps in presenting yourself as a stronger and more capable candidate for a job in the new field. Match your accomplishments to your transferable skills, which will make a better impression on the interviewer.

Update When Anticipating Layoffs

Layoffs are becoming more and more prominent in every organization in every field, largely due to the state of the economy. So in the worst case scenario where you are laid off, you should at least have your resume updated.

What happens to most people is that they are not prepared for a layoff. They think it will not happen to them. If you expect it and are not laid off, great! But if you are laid off; you may end up jobless - and without an updated resume. If you know that your organization is in the process of layoffs then prepare for it. Keep your resume updated. Look out for new job opportunities. You are a better candidate while you are employed as opposed to laid off and unemployed.

Update If Not Happy With Your Job

If you are unhappy with your job, if you are dissatisfied and frustrated with the job you are doing, then you are losing more than you would if you just quit. If you are planning on quitting, it is best that you keep your resume updated so that you can submit it as and when the need arises.

Updating your resume is a task that is quite time consuming. You need to decide on what kind of update your resume requires. While updating your resume you can also change the look of your resume in terms of the format. A well-written resume makes all the difference. It is your best sales tool in finding that better position that you have been looking for.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/the-importance-of-keeping-your-resume-updated-321468.html

About the Author:

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution’s Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Find Business Schools in the United States and Canada. Teaching a wide spectrum of business-related topics, business schools are higher-education institutions that offer training and education in accounting, finances, human resource management, marketing, office management, and more.

Did you know that the popular MBA program offered (at business schools and colleges) was developed in the United States in the late 1800’s, and is taught worldwide today? Applicants interested in enrolling in these particular programs must meet educational prerequisites prior to enrollment into one of any number of business schools and universities. Once all academic standards have been met, applicants can enter into an MBA program where they will gain a wealth of knowledge and skills specifically designed for those candidates seeking lucrative careers as professional business consultants, accountants, and marketing strategists, among many other related fields. MBA programs in business schools entail foundational studies in capital markets, probability and statistics, financial and managerial accounting, corporate and marketing strategies, micro and macroeconomics, corporate finance, management, and more.

Additional educational opportunities exist at business schools and colleges, including transferable Associate in Business Administration degree programs, as well as specialized programs like Business of Health Care MBA, degrees and certifications. For example, some of the available undergraduate programs in business schools include courses in information technology, human resources management, entrepreneurship, customer/public relations, medical billing and coding, health information, and even veterinary practice management classes, among many others.

If you like working with numbers, accounting programs are also available at most business schools. Before you can pursue a career in accounting, you must have earned your MBA or equivalent education and experience from an accredited educational institution. Once candidates have completed accounting training at one of a number of business schools or colleges, it is essential that graduates earn certification and/or licensure to become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant); as this serves to bolster career prospects. Salary prospects are good for accountants and other business professionals, with the potential to earn well above $85,000 annually.*

Other career prospects for those who have earned a quality education through one of many business schools or colleges include occupations as budget analysts, bill and account collectors, bookkeepers, loan officers, financial analysts, personal financial advisers, business managers, payroll accountants, and entrepreneurs.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding business schools, let professional education within fast-growing industries like business administration, medical billing and coding, massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

*Occupational Resources: BLS (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Business Schools

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The CollegeBound Network

All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/business-schools-242908.html

About the Author:

Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd - Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com - Educational Resources for Business Schools, Business Administration Programs, and other Studies.

As 2007’s crop of college graduates find work or decide to further their education, it leaves one question open for debate: How hard will it be to find a job this fall? According to industry experts and the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, the average American holds nine jobs between the ages of 18 and 34, when compared to Baby Boomers who held around 10. This indicates a huge shift in the attitudes of younger employees in their job search process.

To begin with, more employees are bouncing among different jobs, trying out several career paths and bettering their skills in diverse industries. Who wants a blank resume when they can decorate it with five work experiences, all teaching them new things and requiring different responsibilities? For this reason alone, the job market should see improvement, as employees are more open to change, leaving room for prospectives to take their place when they leave.

Many Baby Boomers and their counterparts are coming close to the age of retirement, if they haven’t given in their two-weeks yet already. This leaves the younger labor force with even more of a chance to excel where their elders passed the torch. Education, health and business services are expected to see the most growth in employment opportunity, according to government statistics.

With promising job market statistics in effect, a beneficial way to land these careers is through job search engines. Technologically-driven graduates are using mega-job search sites such as Monster and CareerBuilder to sift out potential career possibilities that match their skills and interests.

6StarReviews.com reports that Monster even gives job-seekers the benefit of using online networking tools, mobile phone job updates, resume uploads and virtual career advice. In this day and age, complete career resources are available via the Internet. When combined with a new wave of job openings, workers and recent grads are sure to reap the benefits.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/job-search-trends-204679.html

About the Author:

Kelly Liyakasa is staff writer for 6StarReviews.com. Kelly Staller is site manager at 6StarReviews.com, a site dedicated to giving YOU, the consumer, the best product and service reviews around. If you like saving time and money by having someone else review leading sites and products, then Visit our site at 6StarReviews.com. Also, if you have the time, check out the 6StarReviews Blog for product updates, new site reviews and to give us suggestions or feedback! Visit 6StarReviews.com Blog!

My wife was a practical and thrifty woman, so it was agreed that we would put twenty five percent of our salaries into the mutual fund that I had started a few years back, it would still leave us enough to enjoy our lives. Years later my son finished high school and searched for a good college to go to. He asked me for a loan of two hundred thousand dollars. That was the four year cost of the college he had chosen. Upon graduation he would need another hundred thousand dollars to get his masters degree. I sat him down and opened up the statement from my mutual fund. He gasped when he saw a million dollars. I told him that he could also be a rich man if he followed in his parent’s foot steps. I opened up a mutual fund for him and deposited the three hundred thousand dollars that he was going to spend on college. He was hired by the same company that I worked for and started work the next week.

He is now married and the owner of his own home. His wife works as a saleslady, and is also a practical and thrifty woman. They put away twenty five percent of their income in a mutual fund. They have a young son, who I am sure will never go to college.

http://360.yahoo.com/melvin_polatnick

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/getting-rich-without-college-193719.html

About the Author:

single and retired recluse

The first and most damning mistake a job seeker can make is to assume that simply applying for the position will be enough to get an employer’s attention. These days, mass communication means that any job has a large number of applicants applying. Some employers even find themselves in the unenviable position of having to distinguish real applicants from applicants who are applying for the job in order to fulfill a requirement of a welfare program.

Knowing that there’s an arduous screening process involved in filling an open position, you should always contact your potential employer via telephone, email, or if possible, in person, asking a simple question, such as whether your application was filled out correctly or if your resume was received, to show that you’re interested in the job. One call, visit, or email should be enough to show that you truly do want to fill the position available.

A major mistake some people make is either lying about or covering up parts of your resume that may not leave a good impression. Phrasing can certainly be important in saving face, but lying or denying any shortcomings on your resume can be fatal to your chances of success.

If your embarrassments in your prior work history must be addressed, try to put a positive spin on them, or at least make sure that you don’t put a negative spin on past bad relations. Try to discuss past situations neutrally without sounding like you’re trying to gloss over shameful secrets - employers have a sixth sense about denial.

A mistake that’s almost as bad as lying on your resume is hard-to-decipher buzzwords to highlight good points of the resume. Unless a buzzword is part of a title, it’s best to find a more traditional way of phrasing your strengths. The opposite extreme of using hip, trendy words is sounding too dull and legalistic, which is something else to avoid when applying for a job.

These same rules apply to cover letters as well. Ease of reading and professionalism can be hard to balance, but it’s very possible, so strive to achieve that tone. It never hurts to be just a little friendly (but still professional) in your choice of words for a resume or cover letter. Slang and buzzwords are mistakes, but the right tone will go a long way.

There are many more mistakes people tend to make when searching for a job or attending an interview meeting. Some of the worst errors are eating during an interview, or making crude jokes about someone’s race or gender. Of course, there are many small, subtle mistakes people make when job seeking that are often unconscious, so if you want an extensive list of what not to do when trying to land a job, look up the information on the internet.

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About the Author:

John Edmond owns and writes regularly for Careerbuilder Jobs where you can find more information and advice on how to survive the job interview and succeeding in the job selection process.

Adults want their education to be relevant to their specific needs. What they are learning must be applicable to their job, values or other responsibilities. Once they see the relevancy in their learning, adults want to create goals for their education. They will desire to see the path that leads them from the beginning to the end of a course, or even a whole curriculum. Each step of this path must make its value evident to the adult learn - why its important, how it will help them on their job, or how it will help improve their life. Finally, adults already have many life experiences and have acquired knowledge from a variety of sources outside of a formal educational environment. So they want to understand how they can connect this prior knowledge, what they already know, with what they will be learning.

Here are the steps to take to select the best value in an adult education class depending on what your specific needs are:

1. Determine whether the location of the class is convenient for you. This includes taking into consideration the time class begins and the time it ends. Typically, continuing education classes will be held in the evening due to adults working during the day.

Ask these questions: How will I get to class (driving, public transportation)? Will I leave for class directly after work, or do I need to make a stop at home? How far is the location of the class from my home and my job? Will I have to allow extra time before or after class because of traffic? Is there parking near the class (college campuses usually have limited parking for commuters) or will I need to walk a distance?

2. Determine whether the class and the institution offering the class allow for flexibility that you need. Often these requests will be handled by the individual instructor, but if a diploma or certification is being offered at the completion of the class, the institutions offering the class may have certain guidelines you must follow.

Ask these questions: How many days am I allowed to miss? Does the instructor offer a make-up class for those who might miss? Am I allowed to leave class early or arrive late?

3. Identify the prerequisites for the class. This simply means understanding what you need to know before enrolling. If you do not have the basic background for the subject matter being taught, a great class can end up being a frustrating experience. The prerequisites are normally listed along with the class description and will indicate other classes that should be taken first or skills you should already have before enrolling.

4. Identify all of your required materials and determine their costs. Most classes will require a textbook. The prices of textbooks are rising all the time and are often not affordable for many students. Depending on the subject matter of your class, your books can cost upwards of $100 each, particularly in technology, accounting and nursing. You may also need materials other than books such as access to a personal computer, special types of calculators or other equipment, certain types of paper or portfolios.

5. Determine your instructor’s availability to respond to questions and meet with you. Find out the instructor’s office hours, phone number and email address. Most of the time the instructor will give this information in the first class, but you should be able to easily find this information if you are considering enrolling in a class. You can test the responsiveness of your instructor by contacting him prior to the first day of the class.

6. Review the course description and outline. This is the most important step. You want to make sure that the class you are investing your time and money in is what you really need or want. The course outline is your map of the class. It should describe the objectives of the class (what you will know once the course is over) and the topics you will cover (how you will reach the objectives).

You may attend an adult education course for many reasons: it is required by your job, it is an initiative you are taking to further your career, to increase your general knowledge of a topic, to network with your peers, or to even just get away for a few hours a week. Whatever your reason, you need to make sure you are getting what you need from the course. If you review the course outline and find that only one topic is relevant to your needs then this is probably not the class for you. Search for another course that perhaps focuses specifically on that topic. In some cases, this course may be required for the particular curriculum you have chosen. If you feel you have enough experience with the topics of the required class, you can often discuss with your instructor about “testing out” of the course.

7. Determine what you get for completing the adult education course or curriculum. You want to see the value of having taken the class or classes. At the end of a class you may receive a certificate of completion, diploma or even a professional certification. If you are attending a college or university, you will most times end with a degree, graduate certificate or continuing education credits.

Try to understand what these completion “rewards” mean to you, your career and your life. It could mean a new designation you can place on your resume or a diploma to display proudly on your wall, but it should be something to make you happy and appreciate the hard work you have put into the class.

Being an adult learner is exciting, but can also have serious negative effects on a person. Self-esteem can be lowered if performance in the class is not as expected, frustration can occur if there is lack of convenience, and boredom is evident if the class does not seem practical. So be sure to thoroughly review all of the information you can about a class you may be interested in enrolling and be certain you feel you will get what you need out of it.

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About the Author:

Free Adult Education information booklet at http://adultslearnmore.com

Preparation is everything in life and as well in preparation for job interviews. You may think that it is fine to “run by the seat of your pants.” In your mind it may even be admirable.

However employers and your prospective employer who is sitting across the desk or hotel room at you may not. A major component of fire departments is to prevent rather than fight fires. Preparation and planning shows an employee with traits and skills that they admire and hire. You may think that it is just great to do things at the last moment.

However have you ever considered the extra effort and meager results that usually results? By waiting to the last moment you are severely limiting both your options as well as your success rate.

A major way to demonstrate your planning skills as well as your ability to implement your plans is to do an in-depth investigation of the company that you are planning to work for. In the end you should know more about the company - its strengths, shortcomings, goals, customers and products than even the person interviewing you.

What questions should you focus on in your research?

First of course what is the ownership of the company, Is it privately owned, a public company on the stock exchange or a government institution. Public companies have a wealth of information available from your stock broker, online or at your public library.

Private companies are somewhat more guarded. You can shine in your research skills here. Again online searches and the public library may be useful. Newspaper searches or clippings again at the library may also yield results. Seeks out customers and even competitors for your targeted company. After all who knows better about the sales and problems of the aspirin company than the salesman of the competitive product Tylenol?

Government organizations present a challenge in that some information is available and even more is supposed to available but may be well be shielded from public view by a possessive protective beauracy. Again your research and interpersonal skills and contacts come into play.

Find out what the main stated goals of the organization are. Is this consistent with their appararent actions and direction. Consistency down the line is important. The captain may be sailing in one direction yet the staff is paddling like mad in another direction to stay out of harms way.

Prepare for questions as to what skills, education, experience and knowledge you will bring to the organization. It is important that this meshes with the job position.

The employer may well ask you what salary you are asking. Again research industry standards in that particular field. Total salary including benefits, bonuses and perks are what count.

Be prepared to discuss ongoing concerns in the specific field and industry involved as well as current trends. Ongoing educational needs in the field, particular field and the firm are important.

Finally at the end of the interview it is always best to ask for feedback. Are there any questions not covered? Are there areas for improvement in your presentation, education or skills? Assuming you are successfully hired what areas of emphasis should you have - training, skill development and personal development?

It is said that those that do not plan plan to fail. Don’t fall in that trap. Be proactive. Plan and follow through. Woody Allen’s comment that “95 % of life is just showing up” is more than appropriate. However it must be stressed - show up fully prepared.

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