Youre All Qualified. How Being Positive Can Get You the Job

Youre All Qualified. How Being Positive Can Get You the JobYoure All Qualified. How Being Positive Can Get You the JobIf you made it to the second interview, youre likely qualified for the job just like the otherbei candidates that made it that far. Rely on these tactics when youre on level footing.The truth is, if you are one of the top three or four final candidates being considered for a job, you are probably no more or less qualified for that job than the others being considered. Everyone who gets beyond the initial screening interviews can probably do the job and do it well. Employers are too busy to welcheste their time interviewing unqualified candidates.When I was the head of philanthropisch resources at USA Networks and TV Guide, I frequently had to choose among candidates who, on paper, looked pretty much the same. Yet by the time we finished the interview process, there was usually one candidate who all the interviewers agreed was the best candidate for the job. That cand idate found a way to make them stand out from the other candidates.Contrary to popular belief, there is usually no one candidate who is clearly more qualified than all of the rest. What gets someone hired is that heis more likeablefits in better with the corporate culturewows the interviewer with some particular successsimply focuses more acutely on what is important to the person making the hiring decisionThe keys to turning an interview into a job are confidence, a positive attitude, preparation and enthusiasm. To win the job over other, similarly qualified candidates, you need to project confidence.Employers are looking to hire George Clooney, elend George Costanza. So make sure that you that you are unabashedly positive and exhibit a can-do attitude.I was recently at a job fair. What impressed me about some of the attendees I spoke with was their unfailing optimism. Those are the individuals employers want to hire. A smiling Annette Melendez, formerly the director of public oper ations at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, N.J., told me she decided to come to the job fair along with a friend at the last minute because she thought she might get lucky today.That kind of positive outlook is what makes a candidate stand out. Shauna Brice, a recruiter for DCG, looking to fill a number of financial-analyst positions for her company, noted the importance of the attitude a job applicant exhibits. While they have to have the right skill set to get hired, there are some candidates who are so enthusiastic that they make you wish there was something you could give them.Put everything in its best possible light.Always be positive when talking about yourself, even when asked to describe your weaknesses. (I tend to care too much about getting everything right, although a little disingenuous, is a lot better than I have a bad habit of stealing pens from the office.) Never say anything bad about a prior employer, even if its true. The prospective employer wont know if what you are saying is true or false but will wonder if you will talk about them that way after you leave their employ.When your prospective employer looks at you, she needs to see someone she feels certain can help her with whatever is most important to her. You need to give them that sense of security that you can deliver for them. There are a few ways to instill thisAppearanceThis starts with how you look. Update your wardrobe. Get the best-quality clothes that you can afford. Get a new haircut. Polish your shoes. Dress appropriately for the position. Dress like someone in that position at that company would dress for an important business meeting. When you look good, you feel good, and it showsResearchPreparation will make you feel more confident. Learn everything you can about a potential employer. Identify the challenges they are facing. Know who their competitors are and what makes them different from their competitors. Research the job and the interviewers as well. Show a potential employer not only that you really want to work for him but also that you have something to offer them that he needs. Focus on what is most important to the employer. Learn everything you can about the company and the challenges they face. Find out what things at work keep your prospective boss up at night and show how you can help him get a better night sleep by fixing those problems. At the end of the interview, ask for the job. Let him know you want the job, not that you need the job. Remember People want to hire people who really want to work for them.EasePractice interviewing. Go on every interview you can. Practice role-playing possible interview questions with a friend. Know how you will answer the tough questions you will certainly be asked Tell me about yourself. What are your weaknesses? Why should I hire you?The job market remains tough. Competition for jobs is fierce. Yet millions of people are being hired every day. Someone is selected to fill every open job. There is no reason you should not be the one selected. If you are going to be the one selected from the myriad qualified candidates vying for a given position, show the employer that you are the candidate that wants the job the most and will work the hardest to make sure that you help them get the job done.And dont forget to smile. It just might put you over the top.

Surviving Marine Corps Basic Training (Boot Camp)

Surviving Marine Corps Basic Training (Boot Camp)Surviving Marine Corps Basic Training (Boot Camp)Continued from Part 1 Marine Corps training continues to progress and gets tougher. Recruits should be physically prepared according to the official USMC Boot Camp Page. Weeks 2 - 7 As you move away from the first week, you will continue learning the basics of close combat skills, including the infamous pugil sticks. Many recruits are somewhat apprehensive about this phase of training, but then find out how much fun it really is. It is almost impossible to get hurt. The recruits are protected by a football helmet and mask, rubber neck roll and crotch cup, and only two kinds of blows are permitted the slash and the horizontal butt stroke, both to the well-protected head and neck. A clean shot ends the bout. The secret is aggression this is not a defensive sport. Learn to compete as a unit and win awards You will learn field first aid, attend classes on core values (as well as other academic classes), and receive several hours on basic weapon handling. Around week 3, in addition to mora pugil sticks and close combat training, additional classes on first aid and core values, you will participate in a 3-mile march (with packs). The Confidence Course consists of eleven obstacles, designed so that each obstacle is more physically challenging than the last. The obstacles are (1) Dirty name (2) Run, Jump Swing (3) The Inclining Wall (4) The Confidence Climb (5) Monkey Bridge (6) The Tough One (7) Reverse Climb (8) Slide for Life (9) the Hand Walk (10) The Arm Stretcher, and (11) The Sky Scraper. While these names sound daunting, the course is designed so the average platoon can run it in 45 minutes. The Confidence Course is a great morale builder, as most of the recruits find out they can negotiate the obstacles with ease. During the fourth week, there will be even more training with pugil sticks and additional training in close combat skills. In addition to the dai ly P.T., there will be further academic classes (including more core values training). The highlight of week 4 is the individual drill evaluation. Your platoon will be evaluated, graded, and compared to the other platoons. The winning platoon, of course, receives a trophy for the trophy table. The losing platoons receive the wrath of their respective D.I.s. The biggest event of week 5 is Combat Water Survival. All Marines must pass basic water survival skills in order to graduate from boot camp (those who dont pass will receive extensive remedial training until they do). Training in Combat Water Survival develops a recruits confidence in the water. All recruits must pass the extremum required level of Combat Water Survival-4, which requires recruits to perform a variety of water survival and swimming techniques. If a recruit meets the CWS-4 requirements, he may upgrade to a higher level. All recruits train in the camouflage utility uniform, but those upgrading may be required to tr ain in full combat gear, which includes a rifle, helmet, flak jacket, and pack. Also, this week will be a 5-mile hike, a test on Marine Customs Courtesies, more training in first aid, a full-blown inspection (uniforms, rifles, questions, etc.), and (of course) more classes on core values. Weapons Training.Marksmanship training teaches recruits the fundamentals of marksmanship with their Marine M16A4service rifle. This training takes place over two weeks, the first of which is called Snap-In Week. During this week, recruits are introduced to the four shooting positions (standing, kneeling, sitting and prone) and a Primary Marksmanship Instructor shows recruits how to fire, how to adjust their sights, how to take into account the effects of the weather, etc. Recruits also have the opportunity to fire on the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Training machine. During the second week of marksmanship training, recruits actually fire a known-distance course with ranges of 200, 300 and 500 ya rds. Recruits prepare for rifle qualification on Friday of that week. Field Firing Range (FFR). FFR is a portion of training devoted to firing weapons in a field condition. During marksmanship training, recruits learn how to fire at a single target while in a stationary position. During FFR recruits learn how to fire at moving and multiple targets, while under low-light conditions and wearing their field protective (gas) mask. Weeks 7 - 10 During week 7, you will also experience a 6-mile night march, and get another chance at the Confidence Course. Week 8 is called gruppe Week, which means you get to spend all of your time working at the mess hall or some other glamorous detail. This is generally considered less taxing than the previous weeks The ninth week will consist almost entirely of the fundamentals of field firing, in preparation for field training during the tenth week. There will also be a 10-mile march (with packs) during week 9. If you havent experienced blisters yet during your time in boot camp, you most likely will experience it during week 9. During week 10, youll start putting all of your training together during field training. Field Training is practice war. Youll operate and live in a simulated combat environment, and learn the fundamentals of patrolling, firing, setting up camp, and more. Basic Warrior Training introduces recruits to field living conditions. The majority of a Marines field training is conducted after recruit training at the School of Infantry. During the 3-day Basic Warrior Training conducted during boot camp, recruits will learn basic field skills like setting up a tent, field sanitation, and camouflage. It is also during this training that recruits go through the gas chamber. During week 11, you get a chance to put everything youve learned in boot camp to the test. The week starts with the biggest competition of all The Company Commanders Inspection. Not only are you being judged here, but your D.I. is being judged a s well. It will behoove you to give this inspection every single thing youve got (hint to don your trousers without breaking the crease, stand on your foot-locker). The Crucible Once youve gotten the Company Commanders Inspection out of the way, youll experience the event to top all events The Crucible. The Crucible is the final test every recruit must go through to become a Marine. It will test you physically, mentally and morally and is the defining moment in recruit training. The Crucible is no walk in the park unless your idea of a walk in the park takes place over 54-hours and includes food and sleep deprivation (only four hours of sleep per night)and approximately 40 miles of marching. The Crucible event pits teams of recruits against a barrage of day and night events requiring every recruit to work together to solve problems, overcome obstacles and help each other along. The Crucible Event is designed around Core Value Stations, Warrior Stations, the Confidence Course, R eaction Course, and Movement Course as well as other various mentally and physically challenging events. A final foot march will conclude with a Morning Colors Ceremony and a Warriors Breakfast. The famed Eagle, Globe and Anchor Ceremony is conducted immediately after the Crucible. The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor are the symbols in the Marine Corps Emblem It signifies that you are a member, always and forever, of the few and the proud. The ceremony is the most emotional time of basic training, even more so than the graduation parade. Week 11 is also known as Transformation Week. During this week the new Marines are given 1-hour extra free time each evening and wear the rank insignia of the grade to which they were either guaranteed upon enlistment or earned during recruit training. Also during this week, more responsibility is given to the privates and privates first class and the supervision of the drill instructors is decreased. In fact, drill instructors dont wear their duty belts during this time and many of the strenge ausbildung Instructors will allow the new Marines call them by their rank, not as sir or maam. This week helps these new Marines adjust from being a recruit to being a Marine. (One should note that after boot camp, one should never call enlisted sir or maam again, as some senior enlisted hate that. One should also never use the third person when speaking after boot camp.) The final week. D.I.s are no longer yelling (as much). You will spend this last week learning about the Heroes of the Corps, a class or two on financial management, the relatively easy Battalion Commanders Inspection, more (of course) core value classes, and finally, graduation practice and graduation. The minimum (core) graduation requirements are Pass the physical fitness test and be within prescribed weight standardsQualify for Combat Water Survival at level 4 or higherQualify with the service riflePass the battalion commanders inspectionPass the written testsComplete th e Crucible If you fail in any of the above areas, you are subject to be recycled (sent backward in time to another platoon), or may possibly be discharged. After Training If you do a great job, you just might get promoted. Based on the recommendations of the Senior Drill Instructor, the Commanding General can meritoriously promote recruits who have consistently demonstrated superior performance in the following areas and have no nonjudicial punishment infractions. Physical FitnessMarksmanshipLeadershipMotivationAcademicsField Skills All Marines are authorized 10 days of leave, immediately following graduation from boot camp. Your training is not finished. Following your leave, you will go on to further your training at the School of Infantry (East) which is located at Camp Geiger, MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (for those who attended basic at Parris Island), or the School of Infantry (West), at Camp Pendleton, CA, for those who attended basic training at San Diego.Marines who are designated as infantry Marines are assigned to Infantry Training Battalion at the school of infantry for infantry-specialized training. All Marines, entering the Military Occupation Specialties (MOS) of 0311 Rifleman, 0331 Machinegunner, 0341 Mortarman, 0351 Assaultman, or 0352 Anti-Tank Guided Missleman, attend this 51-day course.All other Marines (male and female) are assigned to the School of Infantry to attend the Marine Combat Training (MCT) course. MCT consists of 22 days of battle skills training which enables Marines, regardless of MOS, to operate in a combat environment. Following MCT, Marines attend their MOS schools to learn the trade they are expected to perform for the Marine Corps. The length of MOS training varies, depending on the job. Following MOS training, Marines are assigned to their first permanent duty station.

3 ways to believe yourself more than you doubt yourself

3 ways to believe yourself more than you doubt yourself3 ways to believe yourself more than you doubt yourselfYou need a deep sense of self-belief in order to do any of the things that you dream of doing. You need it in order to take the next step, no matter how big (or small). Youll need self-belief to use your voice. Youll need it to do whats right. And youll need it in the quiet moments where the doubt feels bigger than it actually is, threatening to muddy the belief you built.But trust, when youre tapped into that power, it doesnt matter how much the doubt rains down, self-belief will keep you dry. You might feel shivering with the chills of a wet cold. And you may want to high-tail it out of there. But you wont get drenched, because youve got the poncho of self-belief shielding you.Ive got plenty of days where the scales feel like theyll tip and stay forever on the I totally doubt myself side. Weeks where it feels like the doubting is winning. And you know what? Sometimes the do ubt does win, no matter how much Id like it to be otherwise. But coming back from doubt, and tipping the scales of emotion back to self-belief isnt as much of an orchestrated affair as it seems. Often, coming back to believing in yourself, to believe more than you doubt, comes from reminding yourself what youre believing in.Ask yourself why youre doing all of this to begin with. The thing your doubting. The situation. The relationship. Why are you there? Why are you in it? Anchoring matters.Do the thing. Whatever youre not acting on, whatever youre not saying, because youre unsure. Do the thing. Belief is built in the building.Reflect. Remind yourself of all the things youve done well. All the times youve doubted and it all worked out. Itll all work out again.When you feel like youre walking the tightrope between doubt and belief, keep your eye on you and youll have all the power youll ever need to not just endure, but to rise.This article was originally posted on MaxieMcCoy.com.