The Jet Set Zen

A guide to being well-rounded while keeping your chi intact

Chic bags that fit a laptop April 15, 2008

Filed under: Fashion, Job hunting — Vashti @ 12:05 am
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http://www.stylelist.com/shopping/stylish-laptop-bags

Visit the website and enjoy! There are bags for all budgets. Some are actually quite pretty. Hope it helps find what you’re looking for. :)

 

English Teaching jobs in Asian Countries April 14, 2008

Filed under: Job hunting, Travel, Volunteering — Vashti @ 11:37 pm
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tikkajack.com is dedicated to helping English teachers find jobs in China, Japan and South Korea, and employers find suitable teachers.

Teachers: Use our free service to search our massive online database of English teaching opportunities and find the right job for you. You can also create your very own tikkajack.com resume!

Employers: List your English teaching job vacancies with us and search our extensive resume database to find the right English teacher for you

 

Skills Transferable to Professional Employment April 14, 2008

Filed under: Job hunting — Vashti @ 9:51 pm
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1. Communication and Persuasion
writing concisely
listening attentively
speaking effectively
selling
interviewing
facilitating discussion
negotiating
persuading
training

2. Organizational Management
handling details
time management
coordinating tasks
decision making
coaching
counseling
delegating
meeting deadlines
coordination
administration
applying policies
giving directions
assuming responsibility
interpreting policies
setting priorities
promoting change
managing conflict
selling ideas
3. Design and Planning
anticipating problems
planning
conceptualizing
seeking new ideas
visual thinking
anticipating consequences of action
4. Research and Investigation
identifying problems
defining needs
reading comprehension
identifying resources
data gathering
imaging alternatives
solving problems
forecasting
5. Human Relations
interpersonal skills
sensitivity to needs
listening empathetically
counseling
providing support
motivating
representing others
asserting
6. Information Management
math skills
organizing information
record keeping
attention to detail
logical ability
7. Work Survival
cooperating
enforcing policies
attention to detail
meeting goals
enlisting help
accepting responsibility
setting and meeting deadlines

 

Resume Power Words (M-W) April 14, 2008

Filed under: Job hunting — Vashti @ 9:43 pm
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M
maintained
managed
mediated
modified
monitored
motivated
N
navigated
negotiated
O
observed
opened
operated
ordered
organized
oversaw
P
participated
perceived
performed
persuaded
planned
prepared
presented
processed
procured
programmed
projected
proposed
provided
published
purchased
pursued
Q
qualified
R
ranked
recommended
reconciled
recruited
regulated
rehabilitated
reorganized
represented
researched
resolved
restored
revamped
reviewed
S
serviced
simplified
solved
sorted
sought
sparked
specified
staffed
streamlined
strengthened
structured
submitted
succeeded
summarized
superseded
surveyed
systematized
T
tackled
targeted
taught
terminated
tested
toured
traced
tracked
trained
transferred
transcribed
translated
traveled
treated
trimmed
tutored
U
umpired
understudied
unified
unraveled
upgraded
utilized
V
verbalized
verified
visited
W
waged
weighed
widened
worked
wrote

 

Resume Power Words (A-L) April 14, 2008

Filed under: Job hunting — Vashti @ 9:34 pm
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A
accelerated
accomplished
achieved
administered
allocated
answered
appraised
assesssed
assisted
audited
awarded
B
briefed
broadened
budgeted
C
catalogued
chaired
clarified
classified
collected
commented
communicated
compiled
computed
completed
concluded
conceptualized
considered
consolidated
consulted
contracted
controlled
coordinated
counseled
created
critiqued
D
dealt
decided
defined
delegated
demonstrated
described
designed
devised
developed
directed
distributed
documented
doubled
E
earned
edited
effected
endorsed
ensured
established
estimated
evaluated
examined
executed
expanded
expedited
experienced
explained
explored
expressed
extended
F
filed
financed
focused
formulated
founded
G
gathered
generated
granted
H
helped
handled
I
implemented
improved
incorporated
increased
indexed
initiated
innovated
influenced
interpreted
invented
involved
issued
J
joined
K
kept
L
launched
learned
led
licensed
listed
logged

 

Thank-You Letter Sample April 14, 2008

Filed under: Job hunting — Vashti @ 9:15 pm
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123 Maple Drive
Dubuque, IA 34567

June 12, 2006

 

Mr. Robert A. Roberts
Supervising Technologist
Green River Technologies
12345 Westmark Drive
Dubuque, IA 54321

Dear Mr. Roberts,

Thank you for taking the time on (DATE) to talk with me about the (POSITION TITLE). I learned a lot about your company and I enjoyed meeting the other members of your staff. It would be my priviledge to work with such a terrific team.

After our conversation, I am even more convinced that my qualifications, experience, and career objectives are very well aligned with your requirements for this position. In particular, my (SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, ETC.) match well with your requirements of (STATE SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS). This is just the position that I have been searching for, and I am sure that I can make an important contribution to (COMPANY NAME). I hope that your team feels the same way.

[Use this optional paragraph to add any information that you think might have been passed during the interview process].

Thank you again for interviewing me. I will be happy to provide more information or answer any questions that you or the team might have. I look foward to hearing from you again very soon.

Sincerely,

[signature here]

John Smith

 

Sample Cover Letter Model April 14, 2008

Filed under: Job hunting — Vashti @ 9:07 pm
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April 1, 2007

74 Patterson Village Drive

Dayton, OH 45409

Mr. Bob Patooty

Supervising Technologist

Green River Technologies

12345 Westmark Drive

Dayton, OH 45410

Dear Mr. Patooty,

Paragraph 1

What motivated you to write. (asking the recruiter to review your resume for the posted position).

Specific position/title you are applying for.

How you learned about this position.

What you have to offer this company (brief, but clear).

Make a brief statement that you believe your skills, and/or experience and/or education match those of the job.

Paragraph 2

Your education and training relative to this position.

Your work experiences relevant to this position.

Other experiences relevant to this position.

Statement of why you believe your qualifications to be a good match for this job or company.

Paragraph 3

Restatement of interest in this position and organization.

Request an interview for the position.

Date when you could start.

How you can be reached by mail, fax, telephone, internet.

Paragraph 4

Thank recruiter or screener for the time to consider your application.

Express enthusiasm for hearing about an opportunity to come for an interview.

Express that you look forward to hearing from him/her.

Sincerely,

(sign name in black pen)

(your name here)

 

Nonverbal Communication Clues April 14, 2008

1. Shaking hands: a firm handshake indicates confidence. Downward facing palms indicate control. Upward facing palms show submisiveness.

2. Defensiveness: Closed fists can also be a sign of nervousness. Crossed legs in a slight kicking motion signifies boredome or impatience.

3. Openness: A man, who is open or friendly and feels agreement is near, will unbutton his coat and then take it off.

4. Evaluation: An interested person’s body leans forward and his head slightly tilts. The body leaning forward is a sign of interest.

5. Suspicion and Secretiveness: left-handed gestures are associated with dishonesty. Touching or rubbing the nose, usually with the left index finger, is a sign of doubt or non-truth on the part of the speaker. Rubbing behind or beside the left ear with the index finger when weighing an answer, indicates doubt. Tugging at the left eye with the left index finger says, “Do not see very clearly what I’m saying, because I’m lying to you”.

6. Honesty: Looking in the person’s eye when speaking, touching gestures (also indicates anchoring).

7. Frustration: Short breaths. “tsk”, the sound usually made to communicate disgust. Tightly clenched hands. Wringing of the hands.

8. Confidence: steepling. Hands joined together at waist behind back. Elevating oneself.

9. Boredom: drumming on table. Tapping with feet. Head in hand. Doodling. Wringing of a crossed feet.

10. Nervousness: Clearing throat. “whew” sound. Whistling. Fidgeting in chair. Tugging at pants while sitting. Tugging at ear. Clenched fist. Wringing of the hands. Frequent touching of self while speaking to others. Swinging of crossed feet.

 

 

Body Language in the Workplace April 14, 2008

Filed under: Job hunting, psychology — Vashti @ 8:47 pm
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Here are some movements that you make and then the message that is sent.

1.  Steepling (holding fingers together to look like a church steeple) - self-confident, proud.

2. Stroking chin - thinking, evaluating.

3. Hands on hips - superiority, power, readiness.

4. Arms folded across chest - defensive position.

5. Straddling chair, arms resting on back - domineering.

6. Hands extending outward, palms up - oppeness.

7. Legs crossed, foot quickly kicking - bored, impatient.

8. Coat buttoned, hands in pockets, mouth turned downward - dislike.

9. Locked ankles, clenched hands - self-control

10. Wringing or clenching hands - tension, pressure, anxiety.

11. Leg over arm or chair - indifference.

12. Rubbing left eye and behind left ear with left index finger - lying.

13. Chin thrust out, hands joined behind back - authority.

14. Hands and palms open - sincerity.

15. Hiding hands in pocket or behind back - feeling guilty.

16. Shuffling along, hands in pocket, eyes on floor - dejection.

 

Types of Nonverbal Communication April 14, 2008

Filed under: Job hunting — Vashti @ 8:09 pm
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According to experts, a substantial portion of our communication is nonverbal. Every day, we respond to thousands on nonverbal cues and behaviors including postures, facial expression, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice. From our handshakes to our hairstyles, nonverbal details reveal who we are and impact how we relate to other people.Scientific research on nonverbal communication and behavior began with the 1872 publication of Charles Darwin’s The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. Since that time, there has been an abundance of research on the types, effects, and expression of unspoken communication and behavior. While these signals are often so subtle that we are not consciously aware of them, research has identified several different types of nonverbal communication.

 

 

 

1. Facial Expression

Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of nonverbal communication. Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. While nonverbal communication and behavior can vary dramatically between cultures, the facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, and fear are similar throughout the world.

2. Gestures

Deliberate movements and signals are an important way to communicate meaning without words. Common gestures include waving, pointing, and using fingers to indicate number amounts. Other gestures are arbitrary and related to culture.

3. Paralinguistics

Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language. This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection, and pitch. Consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. When said in a strong tone of voice, listeners might interpret approval and enthusiasm. The same words said in a hesitant tone of voice might convey disapproval and a lack of interest.

4. Body Language and Posture

Posture and movement can also convey a great deal on information. Research on body language has grown significantly since the 1970’s, but popular media have focused on the over-interpretation of defensive postures, arm-crossing, and leg-crossing, especially after the publication of Julius Fast’s book Body Language. While these nonverbal behaviors can indicate feelings and attitudes, research suggests that body language is far more subtle and less definitive that previously believed.

5. Proxemics

People often refer to their need for “personal space,” which is also an important type of nonverbal communication. The amount of distance we need and the amount of space we perceive as belonging to us is influenced by a number of factors including social norms, situational factors, personality characteristics, and level of familiarity. For example, the amount of personal space needed when having a casual conversation with another person usually varies between 18 inches to four feet. On the other hand, the personal distance needed when speaking to a crowd of people is around 10 to 12 feet.

6. Eye Gaze

Looking, staring, and blinking can also be important nonverbal behaviors. When people encounter people or things that they like, the rate of blinking increases and pupils dilate. Looking at another person can indicate a range of emotions, including hostility, interest, and attraction.

7. Haptics

Communicating through touch is another important nonverbal behavior. There has been a substantial amount of research on the importance of touch in infancy and early childhood. Harry Harlow’s classic monkey study demonstrated how the deprivation of touch and contact impedes development. Baby monkeys raised by wire mothers experienced permanent deficits in behavior and social interaction.

8. Appearance

Our choice of color, clothing, hairstyles, and other factors affecting appearance are also considered a means of nonverbal communication. Research on color psychology has demonstrated that different colors can invoke different moods. Appearance can also alter physiological reactions, judgment, and interpretations.

 

Source: http://psychology.about.com/od/nonverbalcommunication/a/nonverbaltypes.htm