Use Holiday Parties To Network

Use Holiday Parties To Network
By Cecile Peterkin

Many people view the holidays as a "slow" time for any
business, except retail. A time when businesses prepare for year
end, putting new projects on hold and instituting hiring freezes
until after the holidays. But viewing this as a time to put away
your business cards and shelve your resume could be a big
mistake.

The holidays are a great excuse to network and because of the
often relaxed and jovial atmosphere of a party, you can be
poised to make a lasting impression in a much more personal way.

Even though businesses may not be buying or hiring at this time
of year, the people that populate those businesses are primed
and ready to make new connections - connections that could end
up generating leads for you in the New Year.

Dress for the Part

Whether you’re going to friend’s house or a business gathering,
make sure you’re dressed appropriately in clean, dressy and
circumspect attire. Though this is after-hours, it’s still a
first impression, so make it a great one. You don’t have to wear
what you would to the office but you should definitely leave the
club clothes in the closet. Most important of all - wear a
smile, it’s everyone’s best accessory.

No Hard-Sell

Networking doesn‘t mean marketing, selling or advertising.
Networking is a friendly and informal way to let people get to
know you and what you have to offer. If the boom of social media
has shown us anything, it’s that people like to deal with
someone they know and trust. So enjoy yourself, meet new people
and when the topic invariably veers towards work - share what
you do, whether you’re starting a new business or looking to
branch out. If you make a connection or they’re interested
enough to ask more about your venture, leave them with a
business card. Just don’t palm your card to every person in the
room - it’s tacky and won’t win you any new contacts.

Limit the Libations

It’s a party, invariably there will be drinks, but remember
this is not happy hour with your best friends. Keeping your
wits about you while maintaining a fun but professional demeanor
will serve you well when that next potential client or future
supervisor asks why you’re a better fit for their job
opportunities than the competition.

Listen

People enjoy sharing about themselves. You endear yourself to
others by being a good and interested listener. Nervous about
how to approach someone new? Ask questions about them. Excellent
icebreakers are those that get people sharing stories like, "How
do you know (the host)?'" Avoid questions that only leave room
for yes or no answers.

Relax

This is not a job interview, go ahead and have fun. Laugh,
dance and chat people up. Be yourself - just at your best. Go,
not with the intention of landing a new job or client, but
rather a new friend or connection. Be genuine and of course,
helpful. If the host needs an extra hand carrying out a tray of
snacks or if you have a tip for your new acquaintance - share
it. Give generously, by helping them solve a problem or just
sharing your experience with a similar situation. There is no
better way to make a great first impression than by being kind
and generous of spirit (while networking) - especially during
the holidays.

You never know what gifts those holiday parties could yield in
the New Year.

Copyright, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

About the Author: Cecile Peterkin is a Certified Career, Life
Coach and Speaker. Feeling stuck in middle management or mid
career? Claim your FR-EE Assessment and complimentary career
guidance coaching session at:
http://www.CosmicCoachingCentre.com/careercoach.html

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=729524&ca=Career

Use Body Language For A Successful Job Interview

By Cecile Peterkin

Job Interview success depends on more than what you say. What you do can also determine whether you become a new employee or remain in the unemployment line. Pay close attention to your body language, for a successful job interview.



Attention to Details



During the interview, the person(s) conducting the meeting will be looking, as well as listening. Sometimes, what is not said speaks louder than the actual spoken words. Therefore, it is extremely important to pay attention to the following details:



Clothing

The Handshake

Feet Positioning

Seating

Arm Position

Space between you and the Interviewer

Eye Contact



In fact, if the position is truly desirable, using body language for a successful job interview is worth practicing.



Professional Interview Tips



The "Do’s" and "Don’ts" of successful job interviews have been compiled by knowledgeable people that normally sit behind the desk. The advice is almost universal; and, it begins with the clothing chosen for the occasion.



* Clothing



It is vital to wear something physically and emotionally comfortable. People who feel good about how they look tend to experience a more successful job interview. Of course, it is also important to dress appropriately for the appointment. While some individuals feel at ease in their best bathrobe and slippers, or shorts and a t-shirt, looking like a future employee of the company is a better plan.



* The Handshake



Something as seemingly simple as the handshake can ultimately set the tone of a successful job interview. In general, it’s best to wait for the person conducting the interview to offer his/her hand first. When a hand is extended in greeting, grasp the entire hand firmly and palm up, so not to appear aggressive.



* Feet Positioning



Sitting up straight, with feet planted firmly on the floor, is the best posture for a successful job interview. Women should avoid crossing their legs, and men should not sit with their legs too far apart. Casually sitting with ankle resting on the knee is definitely taboo.



* Seating



The best interview tips suggest waiting until a seat is offered by the interviewer. In the event a person is left standing, it is important to ask which seat to take. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to sit where all participants of the meeting are clearly visible.



* Arm Position



Amazingly, one of the most coveted interviewing tips regards arm position during the meeting. Typically, with so much at stake, people tend to have trouble knowing what to do with their arms and hands. So, the best rule of thumb is basically to do nothing. Relax. Allow the arms and hands to rest naturally in the lap. Of course, animated hand gestures while speaking is still a good idea, as long as it is not overdone.



* Space between you and the Interviewer



While it shows an interest in the conversation to lean slightly forward, it’s never a good idea to crowd personal space. Job interview success often depends on appearances. So, it is vital not to give the perception of being aggressive. Allow 30-36 inches of space between the interview participants. However, leaning into the conversation, with enthusiasm for the potential position, is a great attribute.



* Eye Contact



Finally, maintaining eye contact is vital to a successful job interview. When addressing and individual, look him/her straight in the eye. It conveys honesty and a straightforward personality, which is a much desired trait in good employees.



In short, preparing for a job is much more than showing up on time and having the right answers. Your body languageoften speaks louder than your words. Use it for a successful job interview!



Copyright, Cecile Peterkin. All Rights Reserved.



About the Author: Cecile Peterkin is a Certified Career, Life Coach and Speaker. Feeling stuck in middle management or mid career? Claim your FR-EE Assessment and complimentary career guidance coaching session at: http://www.CosmicCoachingCentre.com/careercoach.html



Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=563960&ca=Career

Can the world ‘cope’ with climate change? - 1 - Green News - Article - MSN India

On a brief visit to Pakistan this week, I noted that the devastating floods had left deep impressions on the country’s policy and political leadership. They spoke about the scale of the event. They explained the human suffering and the massive challenge of rehabilitation of the flood affected. They also noted, interestingly, that in their view there was a link to climate change.


Can the world ‘cope’ with climate change? - 1 - Green News - Article - MSN India: "- Sent using Google

AOL Launches New Homepage | WebProNews

AOL has rolled out a newly redesigned homepage with more of a focus on video and local content.

The redesign includes local news headlines for the first time and moves video closer to the top of the homepage.

AOL Launches New Homepage | WebProNews

How to Lose Weight Fast at Any Age

Now that I know how weight loss really works, I can lose it fairly quickly when I want to. However, it wasn't always that way. Sometimes it took me months to lose about one pound. That's because I had no idea how fast weight loss really worked. For example, I thought that if I just went hungry, that would cause quick fat loss.

However, I didn't know that caused my body to go into "survival mode" where it tried to hang on to as much body fat as possible. So yes, there are ways to lose weight quickly other than going hungry. However, many people go about them all wrong. First there is no such thing as a fast weight loss shortcut. You can try a bogus body wrap, sweat suit, etc, but with these all you loose is water weight.

You can also try to use other useless fast weight loss shortcuts like diet pills, herbs, teas, patches, lotions muscle contractors, etc.- but again, all that's going to happen is you're going to waste money and time- time you could be spending losing weight quickly the way it works in reality.

If your skeptical about weight loss shortcuts not working because all the advertising says they do work, just remember this: Nearly two out of three Americans are overweight or obese, while spending over 50 billion dollars annually on weight loss products. So if anything you could buy really made you lose weight fast, would this many people still be overweight?

So what are some fast way to lose weight?

You have to burn off that fat. Nothing else works. Meaning, you have to use more calories that you consume. The faster you burn them off, the faster you will lose weight. It really is that simple. Let me give you an example of super fast weight loss:

Several years ago there was a a cable documentary about a man that lost fourteen pounds in around twelve hours. How? He swam the English Channel. Since he didn't eat while swimming, his body had no choice but to use fat stores for energy. Calories consumed as energy depends on the person and the activity. In his case, around 49,000 calories of energy were consumed from fat in twelve hours.

Now note I'm not saying you should try this. This guy was is really good shape. As a matter of fact, he put those extra pounds on intentionally, because he knew fat was going to be needed for energy. I'm just providing an example of how fast weight loss can work in the "real" world.

If you want to lose weight quickly, you can do something similar, just not so extreme. The first thing you need to do is change as many weight gain habits as possible over to weight loss habits. The more habits you change, the faster the weight will be burned off. If you don't have any interest in giving up double cheese supreme pizzas or going running instead of sitting on the sofa- then you're wasting your time. You have to burn off as many calories as you can- while you reduce the calories that are coming in [without going overboard and throwing your body into survival mode].

So don't try to starve yourself and don't go on a special diet. [Dieting is just another useless trap that has been PROVEN not to work. Just eat more foods that fill you up with far fewer calories, like fruits and veggies. To lose weight as fast, easily, and safely as possible- you need to keep an eye on calorie density. This just means instead of filling up on Big Macs, you fill up on healthy natural fibrous foods like fruits and veggies, along with other natural foods that are low in carbs and high in protein like cold water fish, lean meats, eggs, etc.

Don't go overboard and cut out carbs, your body needs carbs for energy. However, it does NOT need the man made carbs that come in cake, candy, donuts, chips, sodas, energy drinks, etc. You are trying to burn fat for fuel. If you fill up on junk food, your body will NEVER tap into your fat stores for fuel.

So eat natural carbs, just keep an eye on them while you are in fast weight loss mode. Here's my best how to lose weight fast [http://www.how-to-lose-weight-fast.org] tips:

Do not drink colas [even diet] sport drinks, or energy drinks. These are filled with carbs that keep you from tapping into your fat stores. Milk is also loaded with carbs in the form of lactose- a sugar. If you want to drop weight as quickly as possible, stick to water or tea [no coffee].

Eat your natural carbs early in the day. That way you have the entire day to burn them off.

Eat NO carbs after around 6 PM- especially the carbs in junk food- or bread and pasta.

Do some cardio before you go to bed, this way you burn off any left over carbs and don't store them as fat when your metabolism slows way down as you sleep.

Do at least a 20 minute cardio workout first thing in the morning on a empty stomach- or with a very small amount of protein, say 25 grams max. Then wait about an hour before you eat. If you can, don't sit down for that hour. Then eat nothing but protein- like eggs or lean meat- for breakfast. Do you see why this fast fat loss tip works so well? You wake up with no fuel in your system, so when you get active, your body has no choice but to burn fat for fuel.

If you want to make weight loss as fast as possible, let food do the work for you. Eat unprocessed foods and three or four natural snacks a day. When you go to have your main meals, eat bulky and fibrous foods first- like fruits and veggies. This way you get full before you eat too many calories- and the more calories you eat, the more you have to burn off.

Be careful and use your common sense. In my humble opinion, talk to your doctor first. Tell him / her what you have in mind. Your doctor knows your health history better than me, and will able to give you specific advise on how many calories you can safely cut back on- and how much physical activity you can tolerate without hurting yourself.

So yes, there are fast ways to lose weight. However diet products sold by the giant weight loss industry are not one of them. You have to burn off more calories than you consume- nothing else works.

If you read this and just thought "whoa- this sounds like a lot of work. I don't know if I can do all this" all I can tell you is this:

It's all in the habits. The more weight gain habits you change over to weight loss habits, the faster you will lose weight.

Sure, I could tell you that I lost 30 pounds in thirty days by using Acai berry, hoodia, a patch, or a colon cleanse.

But that would be a lie.

Gaining control of your weight habits can change your entire life so much, that I'd rather die poor than to lie to you. Know why? Because I know that if you buy a fast weight loss shortcut, it won't work. Then you might give up on losing weight- permanently.

I don't want that to happen.

If you don't like what you just read, bookmark this page and come back when you're ready. I promise seeing your habits as they are and changing them can transform your life and future in ways you can't begin to imagine.

There's no secret lose weight really fast tips, it's all the common sense things that I just told you about- that work in the real world.

It's nothing you won't be able to learn too. Fast weight loss is just like trying to learn any new skill, like swimming. The slowest and most frustrating part in the very beginning. After that, it's easy, and you have a skill that will serve you the rest of your life.

I write about honest health, fitness, and weight loss solutions. Everything I know about how to lose weight quickly came from New Body New Life.

How to Lose Weight Fast at Any Age

Quick And Easy Weight Loss - How To Lose Weight Quick And Easy

The big question of the day is..."How do I lose weight quickly and easily?" Can it be done? Well, yes it can be done. The key is determination and consistency.

First of all we have to tell ourselves that we really want to lose the weight. Then we have to be consistent with whatever program we go on to lose weight. There is no weight loss program out there that is going to work for us if we do not utilize it properly and consistently.

Anytime we start a program and do not see results as quickly as we would like,then we stop or try something else.. Then we will not get the results we want.

So the key to quick and easy weight loss is first of all find the program that is right for you,then stick to it for the long haul. For instance if you start a diet with protein drinks,you need to stay on that program long enough for it to actually be successful for you.

Then you also need to walk everyday. Walk at least 3-5 miles or an hour at a brisk rate. Get the heart pumping and the blood flowing. While you are exercising,you also want to make sure to do exercises that will affect your entire body not just a certain area.

The best thing you can do to lose weight quick and easy is to get your metabolism going faster. This helps you to burn more calories each day and lose more fat. In the process you lose more weight. Often times people will eat less when they want to lose weight. That will actually have the opposite effect than what you are going for. To really lose weight quickly and easily you really need to eat smaller portions more often during the day. This helps to keep your metabolism working much faster. At the same time it is actually helping you to lose weight. For instance if you are on a 1800 calorie diet,instead of eating 600 calories 3 times (3 meals)a day,try eating 300 calories 6 times (6 meals) a day.

When planning your diet you want to incorporate proteins, fresh fruits,vegetables and plenty of fiber. I would recommend that you try to stay away from all those sweets such as pastries, cookies & cakes. Try to go more for fruits, not juices, Eat raw vegetables such as carrot sticks,celery sticks,etc. Add some nuts for protein and don't forget the fiber.

In conclusion remember everything in moderation. Smaller portions at meal times, lots of water and plenty of exercise. Being a couch potato is no help with weight loss. So get out there and make it happen. And remember determination and consistency is key.

Rosa is an internationally respected health and wellness coach to The Overweight and The Under Energized. To find more about Rosa see Weight Management Goals. To learn more about developing a significant Weight Manage Profile see Weight Management Profilet. Rosa Troyer Health and Wellness Coach

Quick And Easy Weight Loss - How To Lose Weight Quick And Easy

How to Lose Weight Fast While Having Fun

Yes, you are reading right. The journey to weight loss can be lots of fun and if this sounds good to you please read on.

I have always been very slim both as a child and as an adult until I had my second child. I don't know about you but I never stopped when I was a child. I lived by the sea side and our house was so close to the beach that my mum only had to call me in through the window whenever lunch or dinner was ready. I spent most of my time playing with other kids on the beach, running around, playing games, etc. Just having lots of fun...

I was always tanned although I didn't sunbathe and I was so skinny you could count my ribs! I guess that when we grow up everything changes and we forget how easy it is to keep fit just by having fun and not giving it too much thought. When I grew up, I continued with a similar lifestyle where I was always busy going to places, playing sports (I used to love playing beach tennis), and swimming in the sea with my friends... Not just swimming, we used to do all sorts of silly things in the water, like somersaults underwater and things like that.

How could I not be so slim? Of course I was! I was constantly active and thinking what was I going to do next? I was also hungry all the time so I used to eat several times a day and I loved nuts so they were a big part of my daily food intake. I had the perfect diet I think but I will leave that to another article...

This is what we need to remember. I am not suggesting that everyone should look at when they were a child or a young adult in order to see how to lose weight now but in my experience there is no better and faster way to lose weight than to have fun whilst doing it. You have to agree, if you're doing something you enjoy, you will do it more often and for longer. For example, I hate running, especially if I have any wobbly bits to get rid of. Isn't it horrible to go jogging and feel everything in your body going up and down as you run? Lol

On the other hand, I love playing tennis and dancing. So much that although I know my wobbly bits must be going up and down I never think about it when I'm playing or dancing. I wouldn't care anyway as I would be having too much fun to be bothered.

Can you remember what you used to love doing when you were younger? Maybe climbing trees is not the best for you to do now but there are climbing centres if that is what you fancy! Or perhaps you enjoyed playing football. If so, you can try and join a local team or play with your kids. Dancing is also a great way to get fit whilst having fun and if you're single you can join a club and who knows if you'll meet your other half in there?

So, go ahead. Put your thinking caps on and find what type of activity used to take your fancy when you were younger and give it a go.

I promise there is no better and faster way to lose unwanted weight and keep you happy at the same time. Good luck!!

Thanks for reading

Anna is a psychologist with a special interest in the Weight Loss & Fitness industry. For more about how to effectively loose unwanted weight and to receive Anna's FREE weekly tips and delicious recipes please subscribe for FREE by going tohttp://www.slendermenow.com How to Lose Weight Fast While Having Fun