New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s is the time when we leave the past behind and look forward to the future, and as we plan to make the days to come ahead even better and more fruitful, one of the most common tradition and practice that comes to mind is to make a New Year’s Resolution.

A resolution is basically, a task or goal that you make for yourself and set out to achieve and since the beginning of a New Year is the perfect time for new beginnings making a New Year’s Resolution is actually the perfect time to kick-start changes that you want to bring in your life.

Even though making resolutions might seem like a modern phenomenon it actually has ancient roots, as the ancient civilizations too had customs and practices in their times which may be comparable to the modern New Year’s Resolutions. For example the ancient Babylonians and romans would begin the New Year by making promised to their Gods, and the knights of the Medieval era would take vows which are known as “Peacock vows” at the end of Christmas week, and the beginning of the new Christian year. Modern religions too have similar traditions where at the end of the year, redemption is sought for the altercations that might have been committed the previous year, and promises, resolves are made for the future year.

Resolutions can be for anything, they can be for personal goals that one has set out to achieve or even professional things, there are a plethora of issues that people make resolutions for, so here are a few of the most popular resolutions that are seen around the world:

·         A Resolution towards getting fitter:

It’s a funny yet statistically proven fact that the first of January is perhaps the most packed day for gyms, and the month of January fetches in the most profits as most people resolve to exercise more and get fitter, however by the month of February things come back to normal, so in the resolution fever do not set up extreme goals, the point is to make an activity enjoyable so that it is sustainable, once you become regular, attaining your fitness goals would be the easiest thing.

·         A Resolution to lose weight:

Apart from the resolution to getting fitter the other most popular resolution is to lose weight, and probably the only way to achieve that is to set goals that are realistic and set small targets that can be achieved sooner and hence keep motivating you. Dieting is perhaps the unhealthiest way to go about it, since giving up things usually leads to binging later.

·         A Resolution to try enjoying life and not being stressed out:

It’s a common complaint of the working class that they are constantly plagued by stress, so it is time to take matter in your hands and try to relax by indulging in your favourite activities more often. Doing so not only makes you feel more relaxed but also enhances your performance in the working stage.

·         A Resolution towards acquiring new skills and learning new things:

Learning new things helps us evolve constantly, and only makes us richer and more knowledgeable, so learning a new language or activity is a good idea, not only does it keep things interesting but also helps you acquire new skills that can come handy at any point of time.

Now that we have compiled a list of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions here are a few pointers on how to achieve them without losing motivation and focus:

·         Try to start slow, one resolution at a time

·         Try to be clear about what you want it’s easier to lose drive about a vague resolution.

·         Chalk out a plan, organizing and managing generally produces better results.

·         Don’t wait to start planning on New Year’s only, chalk out the plan earlier so that you can begin with the New Year.

·         Learn from the past, and try to avoid making the same mistakes again.

·         Be positive about your resolution, it’s a great motivator.   

Have you set your New Year resolutions.

Online job search: 7 common mistakes by job-seekers

Lot of students become job seekers by the time they complete their education or are in their final year. DESPITE a barrage of online applications from job-seekers through job portals, recruiters are often left with very few ‘worthwhile’ applications. Most candidates commit seven cardinal sins and lose out on a good opportunity. Therefore, it’s very important to avoid some common mistakes.

Sin 1: Application is incomplete

Instead of keeping recruiters guessing, as is the case often, do your bit and provide all relevant details. Time-crunched recruiters who are swamped by hundreds of  résumés every day, usually end up spending time on applications that are complete, and which do not need them to ferret out information.

When creating a profile, register yourself by filling in your details on the job board, then upload your résumé, and finally, write a cover letter. On the job board and in the résumé, it is best to give all the information sought - from educational qualifications and particulars about current and previous organisation/s to relevant personal details. “The biggest blunder one can commit is to send the application without contact phone numbers. We have no way of getting in touch with and are compelled to reject the candidate even if they make the cut,” says ParamaBiswas, HR Generalist, BOC India. 

  

While filling in particulars, candidates often omit details regarding salary or location assuming that those can be discussed at a later stage - during a telephone or face-to-face interview. This can leave matters to chance and your fate will depend on how the recruiter takes it. While many are willing to oversee it and arrange an interview, some recruiting agencies find this annoying as salary is one of the chief deciding factors. Hence, even if the application is not rejected immediately, it may not be the first preference. As Cindrella Vincent, HR Executive, Praxis Interactive Technologies Ltd., points out, “All recruiters have a budget for each position and not knowing whether an application makes the mark salary-wise, makes it all the more difficult. If someone is already drawing more than the allocated salary, then we will obviously not get in touch with him or her, thereby saving the candidate’s and our time.”

Sin 2: Not following instructions

For instance, if a recruiter specifies that phone calls are not welcome, it is best to adhere to it. It not only ensures that the résumé reaches the right person at the right time with the right information, but also underlines your willingness to take instructions. Take care that you follow instructions about mentioning the correct subject and the correct format.

Sin 3: Getting generic

Job portals give you the option of applying in the quickest manner to all jobs by clicking just once on “Apply” (may be known by a different name across portals). This practice, however, is best avoided. Instead, use the preview option and edit it to suit the position on offer. “It is very important to customise the job application. Many job searchers often send group e-mails and generic résumés to recruiters. This is the worst mistake one can make, and cuts a very shabby picture and shows the applicant’s desperation and lackadaisical attitude. He or she will, in all probability, never be the first preference,” shares Sebastian Rodriguez, Manager Resourcing, Datamatics Global Services Limited.

Though the details you fill in while registering on a job portal and the résumé you upload there will be a broad-based one, ensure you customise your application whenever you apply for a particular position. Go through the job description, figure out the job requirements, and accordingly highlight why you are best suited for the profile in terms of your experience and skill set in the cover letter and/or the comments section.

The cardinal rule is to address your application to the right person, mentioning the profile you are interested in and the Reference ID/ Job Code. Cindrella Vincent advises, “Even if a candidate thinks he or she fits into more than one of the advertised roles, the position must be specified. It will show your focus and area of interest as well as how well you understand the job specifications. For example, profiles of writers and editors are often quite similar, so if the candidate leaves it blank, the candidate may not get what he/she prefers.”

Sometimes, placement agencies place such advertisements and they do not disclose the name of the organisation. In such cases it is advisable to get in touch with the recruiting firm for information on the position and the organisation before sending your application.

Sin 4: Applying in a hurry

Organisations hire on the basis of what the candidate brings to the table and not on a first-come-first serve basis. So never rush! Double check your application - details on the job board, résumé and cover letter before sending them. Applications and cover letters filled with typos, accompanied with an unformatted résumés will create a negative impression. “The icing on the cake is of course forgetting to attach the résumé altogether,” says Parama. Such bloopers give the impression that they are disinterested and casual.

Sin 5: Getting gimmicky

In a bid to attract a recruiter’s attention, many candidates resort to flashy formatting including fancy footers, flamboyant language or even a personal pleas in the comments section. Recruiters do not spend more than a few seconds perusing a CV and only if it evokes their interest are they likely to go through it in details. So ensure smart formatting and the correct choice of words.

Sin 6: Not following up

Online applications also need follow-ups. For instance, if you do not hear from the recruiter within seven to 10 days, it is best to follow up on your application. However, Sebastian Rodriguez cautions, “Don’t keep badgering recruiters by calling or mailing every other day. Be sharp enough to gauge when you have not made the cut and the recruiters are too courteous to say it directly.”

The key is to be polite and show interest in the position while enquiring about your application. In case you do not get any response that acknowledges the receipt of your application, you can try other means of forwarding your application - through another job portal or by directly contacting the appropriate person in the placement consultancy or the organisation.

Sin 7: Not blocking current employer

It is best to keep your job hunt under wraps until you resign.

Firstly, your manager will be displeased if he or she gets to hear of it from any other source. Also, your organisation will assume that you are in exit mode and may leave you out from business meetings and office events. Hence, staying on in that organisation, till a good offer comes up, can become very difficult and may even compel you to take up the first offer that comes your way, even if it is not the kind you wanwt. Also, remember that searching for a job from your workplace is a complete no-no. Most offices, these days, have firewalls which not only prevent access to such sites but also log access requests to those sites and report them to the HR department or the reporting manager.   

The situation will grow worse if your job search does not yield immediate and expected results - you will be hounded by smug questions about the status of your job search and whether it has yielded any results, which can be extremely humiliating. So, be discrete by blocking your current organisation from viewing your profile online till you get a concrete offer and are in a position to put in your papers.

Good luck!

Networking: Improve your Linkedin profile

Professional networking site LinkedIn has over 135 million members, and counting. A beginner’s guide to making meaningful connections for career growth.

Students listen up!

While LinkedIn is commonly thought of as a network for professionals, students should take it seriously too. Several employers are looking at LinkedIn profiles while hiring freshers. According to LinkedIn, students are the fastest growing demography on the site.

Expand your network

The world’s largest professional network enables you to connect with a large pool of people from many walks of life. You can exchange knowledge, ideas, and seek out opportunities. Simply put, it is the most successful and vibrant of all professional networking sites, used by members for various reasons – finding a job, promoting products/services, attracting talent, connecting with experts in a chosen field.

Step 1: Build your profile

Once you create an account (it is free of charge), get started on your profile with the summary which should be no longer than two paragraphs at best. It must  highlight your professional accomplishments and strengths. If you have no work experience, then use this section to talk about areas of interest and what is your initial plan to build a career in the chosen field.

Choose a tagline that describes your line of work. It’s best to avoid putting company specific designations as it’s easier to find a ‘Sales Manager’ than an ‘Associate Regional Sales Manager – North India’ when you are running a search. Likewise, it’s easier to find an ‘IT Project Manager’ than a ‘Web 2.0 Platform Lead’. Keep it broad.

Add a pleasant but professional looking photo so that people can put a face to the name. Describe each job assignment and the key achievements in a single paragraph at best. This is not a résumé so avoid the mundane details like the nuances of your job but for students, it’s good to add details of any high impact or interesting projects that you may have done. Add details about your education right at the end followed by your contact details. Remember that LinkedIn is professional networking so don’t use the ‘Updates’ section on the home page for posting personal things, such as which party you attended over the weekend.

Step 2: Add connections

Get a headstart by uploading your Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook or other databases where your contacts’ email addresses are stored. LinkedIn will throw up these contacts, if they are already on the network. Invite them to connect. Search for specific individuals by typing their names on the ‘Find People’ section on the home page and send them an invitation. Start by connecting with colleagues, supervisors, college mates, professors and alumni. When connecting with a person you do not personally know, make sure that you add a short but personal note as it helps the other person understand your reasons for connecting.

Step 3: Join relevant groups

Groups comprise members with similar interests. For instance most corporates have groups, where they post jobs, updates and members would include HR heads and employees. You will find several relevant groups that interest you depending on your line of work or field of study. Start by signing up for these groups and participate in open discussions.

You may not have an expert opinion or a breakthrough idea but you can start appreciating the ideas and discussions you like of others. I usually drop a line ‘Great views, very insightful, appreciate your opinion or just simply – thanks for sharing this’. You will be surprised, how even experts drop by your page to check you out and that gives you an opportunity to connect with them. Remember it’s only human to check out people appreciative of you.

Step 4: Grow your network

Stay in touch with your connections; drop in a line once a month. The last thing you want is for people to jog their memories when you reach out for help.

Participate as much as possible in Q&As, this is how you can know people better and also demonstrate your expertise or understanding of a subject.

Get recommendations from your colleagues, supervisors, clients or professors. Don’t reach out for recommendations from people you don’t know.

Networking works on reciprocation so be prepared and willing to offer help before you reach out to others.

Update your profile frequently. For example if you have achieved something or finished an internship/project, then you should add it and make sure you get recommendations too.

How Your Thoughts Program Your Cells

There are thousands upon thousands of receptors on each cell in our body. Each receptor is specific to one peptide, or protein. When we have feelings of anger, sadness, guilt, excitement, happiness or nervousness, each separate emotion releases its own flurry of neuropeptides. Those peptides surge through the body and connect with those receptors which change the structure of each cell as a whole. Where this gets interesting is when the cells actually divide. If a cell has been exposed to a certain peptide more than others, the new cell that is produced through its division will have more of the receptor that matches with that specific peptide. Likewise, the cell will also have less receptors for peptides that its mother/sister cell was not exposed to as often.

Thus if you have been bombarding your cells with peptides from a negative attitude, you are literally programming your cells to receive more of those peptides in the future. Even worse, you are lessening the number of receptors of positive-attitude peptides, making yourself inclined towards negativity.

This is why it takes more than a few days of positive thinking to make a significant impact on your long-term attitude patterns. Every cell in your body is replaced every 2 months. So if you have a history of negative thinking, depression, pessimism or perpetual frustration, plan on working on yourself for longer than a few days before you see more permanent results. 

Start today. Start reshaping the biological structure of your cells and become inclined to happiness and optimism instead of whatever emotion your are physically addicted to right now.

Moon to become next hot vacation destination?

Golden Spike, a company full of ex-NASA people, announces ambitious plans to launch commercial spaceflights to the moon by 2020.

I feel sorry for all those whoblew $20 million and only got a lousy trip to the International Space Station. If they had held out, they might have had an opportunity to invest many more millions on a trip to the moon. 

Golden Spike Company announced yesterday a venture to launch commercial voyages to the moon by 2020. Of course, this sort of experience doesn't come cheap. Golden Spike is expecting a trip to cost $1.5 billion per flight. 

At that price, most private clients would be left out in the cold. As awesome  as moon tourism sounds, Golden Spike is mainly focused on offering its  services to governments that would like a lunar lift, much like Russia helped other countries get to the space station. Still, I'm guessing Golden Spike  would think twice about turning down a multi-billionaire with the dough and desire to buy a ride.

For those of us who don't bathe in tubs full of hundred dollar bills, Golden Spike has announced its intention to make moon visits frequent and affordable. The definition of affordable is up for debate.

If you're going to take a chance on a private moon transportation company,you could do worse than Golden Spike. The chairman of the board is Gerry Griffin, Apollo flight director and former director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. The president and CEO is planetary scientist Alan Stern, former head of all NASA science missions. NASA resumes are all over the Golden Spike team listings.

On the front page of its site, Golden Spike says, "Private sector human expeditions to the moon are now feasible and profitable without government funding." That's a bold statement. Let's keep an eye on Golden Spike and see if it can deliver.

We all need a little of a lot of inspiration

We all need to feel inspired so we can continue on our journey to create and do big things. But what is inspiration and what does it really mean? What is that fuel that ignites our creative fire? Its literal definition is a ‘motivating action or influence that results in creative works and productivity of all kinds.'

This “motivating action” can be thin, fat, funny, scary, a figment of imagination, a face, a word, a number or an unidentified sound. It could be found on the street, in a book, a picture or even on a cloud.  It could visit you on the days you least expect it and sometimes you don’t get to meet it even if you desperately search for it. You could go an entire year without coming across it or find different kinds of inspiration every hour of the day.

All you have to do is keep your eyes, ears and heart open. Never discriminate against things that might inspire you because does inspiration discriminate against you? 

Things you might term as strange or unfamiliar could help you transform your inner creativity into external wonders for people to marvel at, scoff at or even laugh at. 

So you could be a writer, an engineer, an actor, a singer or someone new everyday. Your inspiration will help you move in the direction you wish to move in, helping you lead the way for others. Or in other words, become an inspiration yourself.