Get help writing your resume

In this marketplace, a great resume can get you anywhere. The problem is, there are not that many great resumes out there. Most resumes contain at least one mistake, and most have more than one. The trick to writing a good one is to carefully craft each section to reflect your particular talents. Use the following steps to create a concise, inspired resume:

1. Heading

This is your name, address and telephone. Place your name in the middle of the page at the top in bold. Make sure it is larger than all of the other text. Give a permanent home address and a temporary one, if necessary, and provide all of the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses that you own. If you have a webpage, add the URL here. Employers will be looking to contact you, and don't make it harder for them.

2. Education

This is where you place your education experience, starting with the most recent. Carefully label your section, and include degree, date of graduation, major and minor. If you've studied abroad, add that here. Always place the name of an institution in bold, and if you've taken part in any special programs or workshops, indicate that here. Your GPA should be clearly noted here.

3. Work Experience

Again, place all work experience in order of the most recent to the least. Carefully label this section so that the employer will be aware that this is your work experience. The most important work experience that you can place here is a steady job held for some years, or for students, an internship at a major firm in your field. Basically, an employer is looking to see if you can handle the work environment that a regular job provides. Summer jobs can also be listed in this area, but be sure to provide only those jobs that are necessary to get across your experience to an employer. Include the number of years you've worked during each job, and a summary of your position and its duties.

4. Additional Interests and Information

Use this area to put down an volunteering work that you've done. List also any special talents and interests that you have. This area is important because it indicates to the employer that you have balanced, active lifestyle. It hints at good people skills, and diligence in certain areas. Therefore, if you are applying for a computer position, but sing opera as well, let them know! Chances are, they will be very impressed. If you are applying in computers, use this area to highlight all of the computer programs that you know, and familiar applications. In any case, make sure you use this area to list any awards and honors that you may have received.

5. References

Place in this area the names of at least two people that an employer can contact for a summary of your performance skills. Pick people that will give you a glowing reference, and include all details, such as e-mail, phone number and cell phone number. Make sure to clear this with the person that you are using as a reference, or you may not receive so glowing a reference as you expect!

6. Use Active Words

Use active words in your resume. Words like "created," "managed" and "achieved" will make you sound like an active, successful person.

7. Be Careful

A resume tells all about you, so be careful to check for mistakes and grammar before sending it out. For a general resume, get beige, card stock resume paper. For a computer resume, get thicker card stock white resume paper. Make sure to use the same paper for envelopes and cover letters.

8. Don't be Shy

When preparing to write, think of your talents. Don't hesitate to express them aloud to yourself and be proud. Employers are not looking for someone that is not interested in impressing. Be assertive about what you can do, and employers will want to use you. Good luck!

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Thank you note after an interview

If you’ve been on a recent job interview, it’s probably a good idea to follow up with a thank you note to your prospective employer(s). There’s only one problem. What to write? You really don’t know what to include besides the obvious to make your note “stand out”. Here’s what to do:

Think about your last interview with your last prospective employer. Ask yourself what type of a position it was, who were you interviewing with and what kind of company/industry was it. Answering these questions will help you to formulate an appropriate thank you note tailored exactly to the employer and their tastes. Was there a specific topic of discussion that you hit on with this employer? What might “float their boat” or pique their interest? You have to know who your audience is in order to write the perfect thank you note peppered with taste and style.

Also, consider what you are knowledgeable about and interested in. Is your employer interested in the same? For example, you may want to forward some interesting articles to your employer displaying your tastes in reading material. Based on what type of position and company it is, you’ll know what and what not to send. If it’s a marketing company, you can get creative and send all types of clever articles and things pertaining to the job and field along with your thank you note. Don’t go overboard. Just add a little something that will separate the boys from the men.

By no means should you write a standard, cookie-cutter note saying, “I appreciate your taking the time to interview with me on (such and such a date). I’m very interested in the position. Hope to hear from you.” Please avoid this type of response. It is obviously too typical and standard. The employer will probably either fall asleep reading it or toss it in the garbage. You need something specific to grab their attention.

For instance, if you were given a brochure, some type of pamphlet, or literature pertaining to the company and samples of what they’re about, what they’ve worked on, or a publication or newsletter of theirs, by all means include what you have learned in the thank you note. Give back what you have been given. Employers like to hear all about themselves, but make it sound genuine. Do not write verbatim off of their recent newsletter or brochure. Simply reflect on what you’ve taken in and comment on it in a positive way. Add your own insights, suggestions, or support.

As for stationery, make sure you use a business-like or formal looking envelope and letter set. You may have more leeway if you’ve applied to a company which is more creative and honors the arts, advertising, or media. But, for general businesses, it’s best to keep it conservative and neat. Also, make sure your note goes out immediately following the interview. Don’t hesitate. You don’t want to be forgotten.

Thank you notes are not tickets to a good job. They may improve your chance of getting into a position. Thank you notes reflect good manners and reveal your true nature. Thank you notes show reliability and responsibility.

Final tip: Always use good grammar in your thank you notes. Proofread them before they go out.

www.essortment.com

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Job interview hints

One of the most important parts of getting a professional job is giving a good interview. To make sure you are fully prepared while interviewing, follow these tips:

1. Research the company thoroughly to get a good idea of their background. Work this information into the interview to show how serious you are about the position.

2. Practice answering questions. Get a friend or family member to pretend to interview you or practice your answers in front of a mirror.

3. Make a list of strengths and weaknesses in relation to the job you would be performing. If asked for these during the interview, present weaknesses that could appear as strengths. Ex. Working too hard, too involved in the job, always staying late, and taking work home.

4. Update your resume to include all current information. Double-check it for any spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Take a clean copy to the interview, even if you have already sent on in advance.

5. Wear suitable clothing related to the job you are applying for. Try to follow the dress code if you know what that is beforehand. No matter what you wear, make sure it is clean, free of holes or tears, missing no buttons, and not wrinkled.

6. Prepare several questions that you can ask during the interview to prove interest in the position.

7. When setting up the interview ask if you are required to bring any additional materials such as a driver’s license or social security card for proof of I.D.

8. If the salary is flexible, have an amount in mind to aim for. Always start higher to allow room for negotiation.

9. Go to bed early the night before the interview and get a good night’s rest. Everything should be ready to go the next day so you are not rushed.

10. On the day of the interview, call the company to confirm your appointment and the correct time. Also, review the address and directions if you need them.

Follow these tips to succeed once you are at the actual interview:

11. Allow extra time in getting to the interview in case of unforeseen circumstances such as heavy traffic or an accident. Arrive early especially if you are required to fill out a separate application before the interview starts. It is expected that you have it finished by your scheduled appointment time.

12. Be especially nice to the receptionist or anyone you meet who can later give positive feedback to your interviewer about your attitude and enthusiasm.

13. When meeting your interviewer, give a firm handshake, polite and enthusiastic greeting, and smile.

14. During the interview, be sure to make eye contact, smile and nod your head. Don’t be afraid to take notes for later reference.

15. Be aware of your body language. Don’t slouch, cross your arms, or look uninterested.

16. Listen to the information and questions carefully. Nothing makes a bad impression that making the interviewer repeat sometime again and again.

17. Think before you speak. Concentrate on what you want to communicate in your answer and speak with confidence.

18. Don’t lie or exaggerate about anything either on your resume, application, or during the interview. It is grounds for immediate dismissal when the falsity is discovered.

19. Ask to tour the office or see the place you would be working. Introduce yourself to others you see working there.

20. If hired, be sure to get all of the important company policy information such as the dress code, sick days, holidays, benefits, work schedule, etc.

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Conducting a successful job interview

One of the most scary tasks every new writer will eventually face is conducting that first interview. However, an interview need not be a frightening event. The following 10 tips will help to ensure that your first interview --and successive ones--will be remembered as an enjoyable experience.

KNOW YOUR SUBJECT: Find out everything you can about the person you are interviewing before making the initial contact. Show the person that you care enough to have done some research beforehand. For example, if you are interviewing an author about his/her latest book, at least read the book, or enough of it to be able to ask intelligent questions or make references to a certain character or scene.

KEEP THE INITIAL CONTACT SHORT AND TO THE POINT: Identify yourself immediately and explain why you want the interview. If the interview is for a certain publication say so. Once the person has agreed to be interviewed, arrange a specific time and place convenient for you and your subject. Clearly state how long you expect the interview to last. Remember to say "Thank you," and let the person know you appreciate the opportunity to interview him/her.

BE PUNCTIAL AND DRESS APPROPRIATELY: Never make a bad impression by being late for an interview. If you know you are going to be delayed, call the person with an explanation and an apology. Dress appropriately. Don't show up wearing blue jeans, wrinkled tee shirts, and scuffed running shoes.

MAKE YOUR SUBJECT FEEL RELAXED AND COMFORTABLE: Try to create a friendly relaxed atmosphere during the interview. Showing that you find the interview topic intriguing will make the person more inclined to open up.

DECIDE IF YOU WILL USE A TAPE RECORDER, TAKE NOTES, OR BOTH: If you plan to use a tape recorder, make sure you ask permission beforehand. Some people will clam up in front of a tape recorder, but may be less intimidated by a note pad and pen. However, if your subject has no objections to a taped interview, make sure the recorder is in perfect working order "before" you start taping. It's a good idea to take notes during the interview even if you use a tape recorder. Notes can be numbered for easy organization, whereas transcribing from tapes can be time consuming.

PREPARE QUESTIONS BEFORE THE INTERVIEW: Have approximately ten well-constructed questions written out in advance and arranged in the same order in which you plan to write the article. This will give shape to the story and save time, as well as keeping you focused. Leaving several blank spaces between numbered questions gives you plenty of room to write answers to specific questions in the proper place.

ASK OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS: Instead of asking questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no," such as "Would you advise young people to take up acting as a career?" phrase you question as "What advice would you give young people about to start an acting career?"

DON'T BE TOO STRUCTURED; LET YOUR SUBJECT "CHAT": Sometimes a person will go "off topic" and chat. This is fine to a point, and can oftentimes reward you with extra tidbits of information that you otherwise would have missed. However, if you find your subject wandering too far away from the topic, tactfully bring the conversation back to the specific nature of the discussion.

BE EXACT WHEN USING QUOTES: Let your subject know you will be using quotes when you write the article. If you are taking notes, be sure to quote the exact words your subject has said. Break up long quotes by paraphrasing. Never misquote or misrepresent anyone!

END THE INTERVIEW IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER: Conclude the interview as close to the specified time as possible. Ask permission for a follow-up call to verify proper spellings, dates, or other facts that may not be clear from your notes. Assure the person that, if at all possible, you will notify him/her as to when the article will be published. Remember to thank your subject graciously, and assure him/her that you have enjoyed the interview.

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How to be prepared for unemploment

Downsizing is a word that all of us have become familiar with. More and more companies are doing it everyday. No matter what field you are in there might be a possibility that you could lose your job. People are laid off or jobs are totally eliminated all the time. One of the things you have to do is accept you might lose your job. How do you prepare for this?

Losing your job can be intense and not being prepared is the worst thing that could happen to you. Everyone in these days and times should be prepared if they lose their job. The first thing is to always have a six to twelve month emergency savings account saved up. Start now by setting aside money just for that. You might want to have two savings accounts. One to save for things that you want in the future like a new house, car or that fantastic vacation you have always been wanting to take.

The other savings is strictly for if and when you lose your job. Make sure you have enough money saved up for living expenses to live off of for the next six to twelve months. If you see a track record of people losing their jobs where you work, pay attention. Don't be in denial thinking that it couldn't happen to you. If you are in a lot of debt start trying to get out of it now. Try to pay off as many credit cards as you can.

Don't get into any new debt. If you need a new car, try to hold off as long as possible. If there are signs of people losing their jobs at where you work, don't buy anything that will put you deeper in debt. Postpone any vacations and any other plans that you might have that you have to spend extra money on until you feel secure again about your job. One of the most important things you can do to prepare yourself that you could lose your job is to accept that it could happen to you. Don't think just because you have been with a company for a long time or you have a certain position it couldn't happen. That's your first big mistake. If you don't accept that it could happen to you, you won't feel like you have to prepare for anything.

Preparing yourself for when you might lose your job can be a lot of hard work and discipline. You might have to change your life style to start preparing for this. There will be things you will have to cut back on to accomplish that goal. When you take the time and effort to start preparing yourself for if you lose your job you can't lose. You will have gotten out of debt and have money saved up to live off of until you find another job.

That will give you comfort while you are out of work. But if you are one of the lucky ones who do stay employed, by preparing yourself to be without a job, you will have become debt free and money sat aside to do some of the things you want to do. Either way it go you can't lose if you are prepared.

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How to open a successful restaurant

Whether it is a full-size buffet restaurant in the busiest section of town or an intimate bistro by the lake, new restauranteurs hope that their establishment will attract and hold a solid base of repeat customers. Many restaurants do in fact thrive, while others find themselves struggling to keep their doors open a year after their debut.

What qualities do all successful restaurants have in common that keep them thriving while others close up around them? Here are five considerations when opening a new restaurant in your area.

1. Location, location, location. Not just limited to real estate, this maxim applies to restaurants as well. You may have the best food, the best staff and the best prices, but if you are not located in a convenient area for potential customers, you will be out of business in a year. A new restauranteur's first instinct may be to lease the abandoned property of a former restaurant. This may work, if the traffic is heavy and the location is acceptable, but will work against you if the former restaurant went out of business for lack of customers. Research the history of any property you are considering for your new restaurant. You are not necessarily limited to buildings designed specifically for restaurant use. If the building codes allow it, consider putting in a restaurant near the court system or other high-traffic areas. You may have to do some heavy renovations at first, but the client base should make up for the initial investment. New restaurants stand a better chance of survival if you go to where the people are, instead of waiting for the people to come to you.

2. Advertise like you have never advertised before. A new restaurant is usually a highly-anticipated event in many smaller cities. Heighten this anticipation by promoting the restaurant even while you're still working on construction. Make sure you hang a banner announcing the arrival of a new and exciting restaurant. Generate positive word of mouth advertising through radio spots and print media. By the time you are ready to open the doors, you should have a crowd of hungry customers waiting. Restaurants typically enjoy a 'honeymoon' period where business is booming and new customers are pouring in. What you want to do is keep enough of those customers coming back for more. Within reason, promote your best dishes with 'two for one' deals or other heavy discounts. You want this first wave of customers to recommend your food to others who take a more conservative approach to choosing a restaurant. They will be your customer base once the honeymoon is over.

3. Never price yourself out of existence. Pricing your food can be a challenging process from start to finish. You must take into account any number of fixed or variable costs, including actual cost of the food, salaries, and advertising. You'll want to adjust for a healthy but reasonable profit on each dish, while keeping the prices low enough for the customer. This is a delicate balancing act to pull off, but you must remain proactive during the first few months after opening. If the customers seem to be avoiding your higher-ticket items altogether, you may have to lower prices in response. If your customers seem to be ordering one or two items in mass quantities, you may have priced them too low.

Get a feel for the going rate on certain standard items and charge accordingly. You'll still be closing your doors in a year if you continue to sell food at a loss, despite the number of customers who are taking advantage of your generosity.

4. Seek out and keep quality employees. From kitchen managers to dishwashers, maintain the best staff you can afford. Customers react much more positively if the staff is friendly and professional. In fact, customers can often sense tension among the staff even before management does, so it pays to keep interdepartmental relations cordial and professional. Any restaurant that runs continuous classified ads for new employees becomes suspect in a potential customer's mind. Whatever the current wage for restaurant employees happens to be, be willing to pay it. If customers seem to prefer a certain cook or an especially good hostess, do everything you can to keep them happy and satisfied with their jobs. Disgruntled employees will lead the way when it comes to negative word of mouth, so make every effort to retain key employees early.

5. Find the right theme and stick with it. You certainly don't want to open the fifth Mexican restaurant on the block or the twelth Italian bistro. You'll want to find a theme for your restaurant that is exciting and innovating, or at least different than the competition. Basically, a good restaurant environment seduces the customer into ordering higher-ticket specialty foods and also encourages return visits. But you must keep 'gimmicks' to a minimum if you want long-term success. Decorate the walls with theme-related items, such as antiques or movie posters. Select uniforms that match the theme and decor of the restaurant. Background music is essential, and offers you a chance to emphasize the theme even more. Find your strongest connection to the overall theme and exploit it in advertising. Are you more authentic than other ethnic restaurants? Are you more child-friendly than the other family restaurants? Do you have more entertainment than the other 'fun food' establishments? Instead of trying to promote your new restaurant as all things to everyone, concentrate on what makes you special- work on building a niche market of customers who prefer your style of food consistently.

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Successful recruitment strategies

In a labor market where employees are hard to come by, recruiting becomes essential. It is no longer possible to just post a ¡§help wanted¡¨ sign and expect the unemployed or underemployed to line up at your door¡Xespecially if your business is computer-related or service-related. Many service managers say that they are now in the position of constantly recruiting, even when they don¡¦t have an immediate opening.

The first step to effective recruiting is to fully understand the type of employees you need and what skills and knowledge your employees need to succeed at your business. Skills are those abilities needed to perform the job while knowledge is what the employee needs to know to perform the job.

The second step is to identify potential employees who have the necessary skills and knowledge. It is important at this point that you think beyond the traditional employee groups from which you have always hired. Yes, graduating students and workers with experience in your industry is one place to draw from. But with an ever-shrinking market and with an increasingly competitive economic environment, you need to draw people in from outside your traditional pools. Consider some of the following categories:

„h Former employees

„h Volunteers

„h Homemakers

„h Students

„h Family members of present employees

„h Legal immigrants

„h Military personnel and their dependents

„h Older workers

„h People with mental or physical disabilities

„h Ethnic minorities

„h People looking for a new career

„h People new to the community

„h People looking for part-time or telecommuting work

„h People currently on welfare or assistance

Now you have to determine how you will reach the people in these groups and let them know about opportunities at your business. Don¡¦t ignore traditional methods such as job postings or classified advertising, but be prepared to expand beyond this¡Xespecially if you are trying to reach groups of people who have NOT been reached through your traditional recruiting techniques.

Here are some creative ways you could notify people about your employment opportunities:

„h Sponsor work-study programs.

„h Invite students at local high schools or colleges to spend a day at your business shadowing an employee.

„h Provide mentored internship opportunities.

„h Post notices at churches in your targeted communities.

„h Meet representatives from minority agencies within the community.

„h Post notices at youth centers.

„h Advertise on bulletin boards, at the supermarket, library, health club, Laundromat, child care center, family restaurants, etc.

„h Place fliers on car windshields in parking lots.

„h Speak at ¡§English as a Second Language¡¨ classes.

„h Distribute leaflets at immigrant settlement centers.

„h Have an older worker whom you employ speak at a senior citizens center.

„h Distribute fliers at senior citizen housing complexes and meeting locations

„h Publicize in your employee publications or on employee bulletin boards information encouraging present employees to recommend family members for employment.

„h Offer a cash award for employees recommending a family member who is eventually hired and remains on the job for a specified time.

„h Visit schools that train people with disabilities.

„h Become acquainted with directors of local agencies offering services to people with disabilities.

„h Speak at adult evening education classes.

„h Go to businesses that are closing and tell employees there about your employment opportunities.

„h Post on electronic bulletin boards where there seem to be a high concentration of employees with the skills you are seeking.

As the job market continues to shrink, you may find that you need to be creative to reach even your traditional pool of employees. Managers in the service industry have shared some of the following creative strategies:

1. Turn your best employees into headhunters for your business. When there is an opening, ask your high-quality performers to refer people they know who would make good job candidates.

2. Look for good service no matter where you are. If you receive good service from a grocery store clerk, bank teller, restaurant, dry cleaning attendant, write them a thank you note that concludes with a comment that you could use someone with the commitment to service that they demonstrated and to call you if they are interested in talking about job opportunities.

3. Look among your customers. If you have a satisfied customer, find a non-obtrusive way (such as a card or sign in your business) telling them that you¡¦d like to talk to them about job opportunities.

4. Set up an employee hotline and keep it updated. When prospective job seekers call the hotline, they get a recorded message giving them a list of job openings and a brief description of each.

5. Sponsor a recruitment day each year and advertise it on a local billboard several weeks ahead of time.

6. Hold career fairs¡Xnot just at colleges but at high schools with career programs as well.

7. Partner with welfare-to-work programs who will train and mentor people whom you can employ.

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How to quit your job

Quitting your job means two things. First, you are ending a business relationship. Secondly, you are quitting, not bargaining. Let’s explore each one of these.

Despite the friendships and camaraderie (or antipathy, for that matter) you may have developed at your current job, you are still ending a business relationship. For that reason, you need to quit in writing. Even if you’re leaving a job flipping burgers, crafting a resignation letter will make you look more professional. If anything, it gives you good practice.

Your letter should be in business format, and it should include the following items:

* your intent to leave

* the date on which you will leave

* the date on which you are submitting the letter

* your signature

That’s it. You don’t need to apologize, say thank you, or explain why you’re leaving. All that needs to go in your personnel file is the bare facts.

Your letter may end up being quite sparse, and that’s okay. While you do need to address the letter to an individual, the real recipient of it is the business.

Here’s an example of a resignation letter:

Jane Doe

1234 Main Street

Anytown, USA

555-555-5555

Human Resources

The Company

1234 Big Business Street

Anytown, USA

[Date you submit]

Human Resources Manager:

This letter is to inform you that I am resigning my position as [Position Title] with [Employer Name]. My last day will be [Date of last day].

Sincerely,

Jane Doe

Whoah, the address takes up more room on the page than the resignation itself. Make sure that your effective date is at least two weeks from the date you turn it in. Longer if you’ve signed a contract with a specified time. Resist the urge to pad and apologize. Put the letter in an envelope, addressed with the name, title, and department of the appropriate person. Place a copy of it with your personal papers. You are ready to handle the niceties in person, where it counts.

Be sure to hand over your letter to the appropriate individual in person. You want to be up front about what you’re doing. On a differently practical level, you want to make sure that she receives it. Tell the individual that the letter is time sensitive, and that you will be available for the remainder of the day to discuss its contents. Be available.

Different companies and people react differently to resignations. Depending on your job and your relationships, some companies will escort you out the door. Others will try to tempt you to stay by offering more money, promotions, lateral transfers, and so forth. If you are escorted out, so be it. It doesn’t mean that you’ve done anything wrong or ruined your relationship; it just means that’s how they do business. Turn down offers. They seem attractive in the short term, but few people who rescind their resignations are happy.

Some companies will ask you to perform an exit interview. Avoid criticizing your employer or harping on suggestions you’ve offered in the past. In a sense, you are no longer responsible for anything other than wrapping up your work. In your absence, criticisms you make may be misinterpreted, and you can end up accidentally burning bridges.

When pressed, say that you think you’ve found an opportunity that fits you better. Don’t gloat over a new salary or benefits package. Don’t bad mouth the place you’re leaving. Do enjoy going out to that farewell lunch or party with your coworkers. Be generous with information about your job, projects, and responsibilities on your way out. One of your goals of leaving is not just to make it smooth for you, but also for the place you are leaving.

Finally, after you’ve left, continue to maintain your personal relationships. Don’t push too much for work gossip; you aren’t a part of that pack anymore. Do let people know that your life is all right and that you think of them.

About those thank-you’s that you were tempted to put in your resignation letter? Write them now. Thank the personnel department for any assistance with exit paperwork. Thank your old boss or supervisor for easing your transition—even if they didn’t. If appropriate, pass business their way, and make sure they know who it came from.

If you stick to these guidelines, you’ll end up leaving a job. But you won’t end up stepping on toes, offending people, or cutting off a part of your life.

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How to conduct a successful and effective business meeting

The bane of every worker or volunteer is the meeting that lasts for hours and accomplishes little. While some people simply stifle inner groans and tolerate whatever contortions managers, the board, or a committee wants to make, other people have identified and implemented ways to make meetings more meaningful for the participants.

Several talented managers have defined meetings as falling on a scale between rambling and unstructured to focused and structured. The goal of most of these managers is to get their meetings as far over toward the focused and structured as possible. In that vein, an effective meeting might be defined as one that:

-Takes only as much time as is needed to accomplish its goals

-Sticks to the subject

-Meets its objectives or goals

There are several practical tools that anyone chairing a meeting can use to make a meeting more effective. These tools are ones that have been suggested by top-level managers, meeting experts, association resources, and books and articles on the subject. They are intended to be practical resources that can be used immediately to make meetings more effective.

Agendas

It is nearly impossible to talk about effective meetings without discussing agendas. A properly prepared agenda can have a tremendous influence on the meeting¡¦s outcome. Some agendas are more effective than others. Cyril Houle, author of ¡§Governing Boards¡¨, says that a meeting agenda should be carefully planned: ¡§The items listed should not be merely sketchy notations indicating generally what is to be discussed but should be described at such length that the board will know what to expect. The person responsible for the presentation of each item should be noted, as should the expected length of time for its consideration at the meeting. Due care must be given to keep the agenda of the board meeting from becoming too full. If matters can be handled outside the meeting, they should be.¡¨ (Houle, Governing Boards, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA 1989)

Many managers recommend that the meeting agendas be as detailed as possible. Simply putting down ¡§Treasurer¡¦s Report¡¨ is too vague and allows for too many unexpected issues to be brought up during a meeting.

Another manager suggests listing only committees on the meeting agenda that have something to report. Traditionally, an agenda might list every single committee, which leaves the committee chair feeling that they have to give some sort of report, even if they don¡¦t have anything to say.

Communication

Communication between meeting attendees is important. Letting all participants see an agenda before the meeting starts helps them come prepared to each meeting. It gives them a chance to review issues before the meeting begins and even get questions answered outside of the meeting.

Meeting Calendars

A meeting calendar can help a manager running a meeting determine when reports will be given and schedule issues to be discussed. This keeps participants from feeling that every issue must be discussed at every meeting. One manager said he uses the meeting calendar to help impose discipline at meetings. While the manager may not want to forbid anything that is not scheduled, he or she should encourage participants to stick to it.

Controlled Environments

Many managers have found that they can manipulate the meeting¡¦s physical environment to have a positive effect on the efficiency of meetings. Some managers even go so far as to remove all chairs from a meeting room, forcing participants to stand so that the meeting will go faster.

Even those managers that don¡¦t take things to such an extreme note the difference in length and meeting efficiency based on when they are held, where they are held, and the amenities available.

Meeting Procedures

Every meeting must have some sort of procedure by which it is run. General Henry Robert developed meeting procedures in 1876 by adapting the rules followed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Since that time, Robert¡¦s Rules of Order have been generally accepted as an efficient way to run a group meeting.

Some people, though, may resist Robert¡¦s Rules of Order as too stifling or because they inhibit debate. However, when used correctly, Robert¡¦s Rules can do just the opposite. They are ultimately meant to ensure that the majority is able to accomplish its goals while the views of the minority are protected and heard.

A danger to Robert¡¦s Rules of Order is what Edward Scannell, director of the University Conference Bureau of Arizona State University and past president of Meeting Planners International, calls ¡§motion sickness.¡¨ He points out that not all items require motions. If participants can agree to something quickly, then they should do so and save the procedures for when they are needed.

Consent Agendas

For every item opened for discussion, someone will feel obligated to say something. However, not all items that come before a group need to be discussed. There are always routine actions that must be voted upon due to tradition, bylaws, or policies. These might include contract renewals, ceremonial decrees, setting meeting times, etc. One way to reduce the amount of time spent on these routine items is for the chairperson to develop a consent agenda.

The consent agenda is given to all participants before the meeting. When the meeting starts, any participant can request that an item be removed from the consent agenda and opened for general discussion. All other items are voted on together, without further discussion.

It is important to note that the consent agenda should be used only to save time, not to push something through on an unaware team or board. The only items that should be placed on a consent agenda are those that are highly likely to pass unanimously without discussion or amendment.

Straw Votes

A straw vote is as much a consensus-building tool as a time-saving tool. A straw vote involves introducing an issue and allowing a moderate amount of discussion. When the chairperson senses that there is a majority or consensus on an issue, he or she can ask for a non-binding¡Xor straw¡Xvote on the issue using a show of hands. This enables participants to see whether there is a consensus and how other people are voting. If there is a clear majority, the chairperson can ask, ¡§Are you ready to vote?¡¨ The straw vote can cut down on discussion time as it reveals when a group is ready to vote, often long before they realize they are ready.

Discussion-Only Items

Some group shave found they can save time by bringing up an item at separate meetings. The first time an item is brought up it is either introduced without discussion (preferably at the end of a meeting) or introduced for discussion only. At the next meeting it can be brought up for a vote without any discussion. This method allows participants to work out any problems they have with the item between meetings instead of on the spot. They can then come to a meeting more prepared and comfortable with their decision.

The reward to implementing the tools discussed here can be a more effective meeting style.

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How to ask your boss for a raise?

You get the feeling at your desk. You’ve done so much in the past six months. Has anyone noticed or appreciated it? You want to find out and now. You desire to ask for a raise, but, is the timing right? You get paranoid...don’t want to mess up your chances; don’t want to seem to pretentious. You feel that you’re doing so much more than your co-workers and you want to be noticed and appreciated! What’s wrong with that? Absolutely nothing. But, one thing, you’ve got to get your ducks aligned before you attempt to do the dirty deed...

Timing It Right

If you have been in the position long enough to feel confident, comfortable, and able to handle an additional workload and your time spent there exceeds six months or more--by all means, considering asking for a raise. If what you desire is a change of position or a promotion, DO NOT consider this type of situation if you have been with the company for less than six months. It looks too hasty and gives the impression that you are not fully “into” your current position, which you should be with all of your heart at this point. It is great to show ambitions, the willingness to move around, or usefulness in different sections of the company, but too much ambition may actually be a “setback” in certain situations and frowned upon by certain skeptical employers.

Document Everything

Documentation and keeping “record” of what you do and what you’ve accomplished is key. Take notes on good things people have said about you. Is there anything specific in writing that reflects a good job you’ve done? Save everything that you do.

Meeting with “The Boss”

Before you meet with the boss, do some research on salaries for your position and use that as a guage for the raise. Usually, you won’t get more than 15 percent. Choose a day that is midweek, to make an appointment with your boss. If you feel that other events such as, the birth of a new baby, a new apartment or any extra responsibility in your life should be mentioned, by all means mention it. You have nothing to lose.

A Couple of Pointers Around the Office

Know who is who (who is important and who isn’t). Watch who you relate and associate with everyday if you are a newcomer to the company. Sometimes, you may initially be misled by certain individuals who have no scruples regarding a bright, green, and eager “new person” on the block. Take a couple of lumps, but don’t act out the naive newcomer to all around you. People only feed on that; they don’t support or nourish it.

Don’t Worry; Be Happy

Stay away from all negative people in your daily workday. Life is hard enough, as is adapting to new positions and you do not need Mr. or Mrs. Cynical going off about “this lousy place” in your presence. Do not allow anyone to color your view of things too much; but, be wary and shrewd. Do not entertain information about past employees, firings, harrassment, etc. You have too much at stake. Usually, employees will reveal this information all their own out of sheer ignorance. Be smarter than that!

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