h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Bel
Duye to my work load etc. I am on much less than I used to be but I have seen your stuff about your work and so on and just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you. I hope everything turns out as you would like it or even better.
Take care
Vestie

Duye? I meant due!

Thank you, much appreciated.

As you can see, I'm not much around in my own account, either. I spend far more time with the Post hat on.

I have now an appointment (Friday in three weeks).

I don't expect them to be able to offer my something suitable, but I'll see.

Very good luck with your job hunting.
I'm thinking that I don't want to stay with my current job, but there doesn't seem to be much else out there that attracts me at the moment.
I went to a talk by a motivational speaker last week and one of the tips he gave us was that when we say something "the brain completes the picture".
What he meant by that was that what we say can become a self fulfilling prophecy. If you say, "I'm no good at ..." then your brain listens to that and sure enough you won't be any good at it.

You can say positive things to yourself, best done in the present tense, to improve your self image and your performance. I'm certainly going to give it a go.
"I am thinner and fitter!"

Thanks. I've got some pretty good advice here so far.

I got the forms now and am immediately stuck:

they want to know my aims, and how much money I want to ear. I have no idea.

Hard questions... I aim to be ruler of the world and have no need for money!

I think I am too moderate.

Think big - it's the positive thinking that makes the difference!

I guess going to a potential employer without having an appointment, asking for a job without having the required qualifications *is* thinking big.

They should snap you up!

We'll see. I haven't heard back from them yet, but I'm not overly optimistic.

That's a fine piece of British understatement!
They'll love you!

Awwww.

Still nothing, but then I'm not yet in a hurry.

Tell me when you are and I'll step out of the way.
*starts making sign saying "Stand Back while Bels Sells herself"

Wait until after my appointment with the job office (this coming Friday).

How did it go? I've been away for a couple of days so sorry for the delay.

Hope you had a good time.

It's all in my latest journal.

F127730?thread=7394474

HI Bel, I've had a streak of luck in the past helping friends apply for jobs.

My guess is that in Germany businesses use a similar approach to recruiting as they do in the UK. The application form comes with a person specification and a job description. The person specification will have some items marked as essential and others as desirable.

In writing your accompanying statement - the one which allows you to sell yourself - my trick is to take each of their headings:
Education - educated to (insert level) standard (Essential)
Skills - Current Driving licence (Desirable)
Well skilled in IT particularly Word and Excel
and so on.

Copy the headings into the space allocated for your personal statement and answer each of them with examples of when you have used particular skills.

E.g. Well skilled in IT particularly Word and Excel
I use Word on a daily basis and can lay out documents, create mailmerge letters and lay out tables as well as letter writing and report writing (with hyperlinked contents pages). I did the layout for the newsletter at work which was distributed to all clients.
I use excel on a regular basis and can set up formulae and create charts and graphs from collected data. We used the graphs to show which items were popular among customers and changes in sales from month to month.

If it a softer skill, such as customer care you can tell a very short story.

Good level of customer support skill (Essential)
I deal with customers every day. Recently a customer found that there was a fault with an item we sold them. They were very angry when they came in. I listened to them and found out exactly what they wanted me to do. I was able to calm them and they were happy to take a suitable replacement. They have been back to the shop since to purchase more items and commented on the high level of customer care.

This isn't rocket science but the person reading the piece doesn't know you from Adam and so they only know what you tell them. Reassure them that you are exactly the person they are looking for.

Vestie

Thanks vestie, that really is helpful.

I'll research more once I have my Pc back.