7 Criteria for Deciding Which Career Test Is Right for You

“I used to feel depressed at work, hate my boss, and was
sometimes so bored that I actually fell asleep at my desk!” — career
test taker

If this sounds like you, then it’s probably time to
consider changing jobs or careers. But before you can make your career
change, you need to figure out what you want to do.

One of the
best ways to get clear is to complete a career assessment. Yet there are
literally hundreds of career tests out there. Is a career test the same
as an aptitude test? What about a career personality test? This article
clarifies the differences and presents 7 criteria for deciding which
career test is best for you.

#1 Career test vs. personality test

Is the assessment specifically designed to provide career guidance?

Personality
tests only tell you about your character traits whereas a career
assessment gives specific career advice. Of course, it helps to know
whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert and perceive by sensing or
intuition. Personality tests such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator
(MBTI) and the Enneagram are quite useful as background information.
Making the leap from simple awareness of your personality type to
specific career strategies is very difficult, however. If you want a new
job or career, it’s better to take an assessment that is specifically
geared to providing career guidance.

#2 Specific vs. general

Does
the career assessment give concrete recommendations that you can use
immediately rather than vague observations that are open to
interpretation and not actionable? Aside from the change itself, the
hardest part of changing careers is narrowing down your choices. But if
you don’t get specific, you won’t be able to take action. A good
assessment should not be general like the astrological horoscopes in the
newspaper.

#3 Motivation rules: why motivation is a better indicator than aptitude or personality

Does the career assessment measure motivation?

Motivation
is a far better career indicator than skill or personality because what
you like to do is what you WILL do and what you will get very good at
(if you aren’t already). Why force a square peg into a round hole?

When you base your decisions on what motivates you, you’ll probably feel much more fulfilled, and be much more successful, too.

#4 Where’s the beef?

Even if you’re a
vegetarian, you’ll want “meaty” results! A good career assessment should
include hard data, as well as sufficient detail and explanation to help
you interpret the results.

#5 Do you believe it?

Is the
career assessment scientifically valid? An effective career assessment
should have a high predictive reliability. Such things can be measured
statistically. Anything over 95% is quite good.

Statistical
validity is important for a number of reasons. Obviously, you want to
feel that the assessment provides an accurate picture of what motivates
you and you don’t want to be misled by grossly inaccurate results. But
another point is that when the results are believable this provides a
boost to your self-confidence. In my case, I was relieved and encouraged
to see from my results that I had chosen the correct career path. It
was a kind of confirmation or validation: “Whew! What a relief!”

Remember
that ultimately it’s up to you to decide whether a set of results makes
sense or not. However, it helps to use a highly reliable assessment.

#6 Can you get from A to Z?

Are additional tools available to help you take your results and develop a clear career roadmap for yourself?

Honestly,
a lot of people take career tests and get brilliant insights.
Unfortunately, many of these same people are never able to turn their
insights into results. What’s needed is a support infrastructure of
materials and people to help you apply your results over time.

#7 Is it fast?

Even
in the internet age, there still are a lot of tests that you can only
take on paper. It takes 30 minutes or even over an hour to take the
test. Then you have to wait while the test is scored and processed. You
may only get your results after several days or weeks.

Personally I prefer career tests that I can take online and that give me my results immediately.

Conclusion

A
career test is just a tool and just one step on your career change
journey. Nonetheless, it’s worth spending some time to understand what
types of tests are available and which is best for you. Just remember
that even the best career test is only a tool. It’s up to you to take
charge of your own career.

Tips For Interviewing Employees for Your Small Business

As a small business owner or manager, when it comes to conducting
good interviews with potential employees, you probably feel like you
already have enough on your plate. Who has the time to learn how to be a
good interviewer when you’re already fully consumed with the day to day
routines at your business? However, this mentality is dangerous: the
twenty or so minutes you spend interviewing a candidate is an important
investment of your time because the employee you choose could
theoretically end up having a huge impact on your business. Therefore,
consider the following few pointers on how to conduct good interviews
that allow you to learn the most about your potential employee:

1. Don’t go into the interview without having actually read the candidate’s resume

We
get it – you’re busy. But nothing reflects more poorly upon you as an
interviewer than looking over the candidate’s resume for what is very
clearly the first time. Even if it is someone else’s job at your
business to select the group of candidates to interview, it is still
your job to spend five minutes taking a good look at the resume and
cover letter of the person they select. After all, it is your business,
so it is up to you to decide whether this employee is qualified to
achieve the goals you have set for yourself.

2. Be prepared

Both
your time and your candidate’s time are of the essence during an
interview. Not only is your schedule most likely packed as a business
owner, but also, your candidate is probably also busier than you
realize. Most candidates take time away from their current jobs or their
busy job hunts to take the time to interview with you – so be
respectful. Along with reading over the resume and cover letter of the
candidate, take some time to prepare detailed and specific questions for
each candidate to make sure they’re perfect for the job.

3. Always check references

There’s
only so much you can learn from a short interview. It is nearly
impossible to present yourself and all your best qualities in the span
of twenty or so minutes, so check references. Your candidates’ former
reference can tell you what you can genuinely expect from the candidate,
including his ups and downs, how he handles pressure, and more.
Although checking references is arguably just as important – if not more
important – than the interview process, keep in mind that references
may be biased. Because the employee was able to decide what name to give
you for reference, it is likely that this reference may give you an
overly-optimistic review of the candidate.

4. Take detailed notes

While
you may think that it’s hard to forget the experience that you had with
each candidate during an in-person interview, you’d be amazed.
Especially when conducting interviews on a daily or weekly basis, you
might realize how your candidates begin to blend together and you can’t
remember who said what. This is why it is crucial to take down every
thought that occurs in your mind during the interview process. It’s only
fair to the candidate and to the rest of your staff that you are able
to give everyone a detailed decision as to why you did or did not select
that employee for the job. It will only make your life easier if you
are able to reference your own notes about each potential employee later
on.

5. Be courteous and friendly

For
small business owners or managers who have always sat in the chair of
the “interviewee,” it may be easy to let it get to your head that you
are finally in the position of the “interviewer.” However, don’t let
this attitude show. It reflects poorly on your business and you don’t
want employees that you turn down to go tell the world that you were
arrogant or mean-spirited during the interview. Use each interview as an
opportunity to practice being professional and practicing your people
skills. It is a craft that every small business owner can continue to
hone throughout his or her career.

Singhania University Rajasthan An epitome of Innovation in education!

Singhania University which is one of the singhania university phd has been established by the Singhania University, Pacheri Bari, Distt. Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan) Ordinance 2007. Singhania University is established by government of Rajasthan and is recognized as per the section 2f of UGC act, 1956. As per the location, above mentioned top university in Rajasthan is about 160 kms from West of Delhi and about 165 kms from North of Jaipur. This top university of Rajasthan is the first placement and research oriented university in Rajasthan. Singhania University Rajasthan comes under one of the top universities in India regarding the wide variety of courses it offers and excellent course curriculum it follows.

Singhania University mainly offers courses in four fields of education and higher studies, namely, Engineering, Management, Bio-Technology and Allied Health Sciences. For example regarding engineering and medical courses, this top university in Rajasthan provides diploma and degree courses in areas like automobile, civil, mechanical, computer, information technology, communication, industrial production and architecture etc. Apart from these diploma and degree courses Singhania University also offers some postgraduate degree courses like MBA, MCA, MSc. and M-Tech. Singhania University also provides some certificate and diploma courses like Medical lab technology (MLT); Up- Vaidya; Yoga; Homeopathy Pharmacy; First Aid; MLT; Electro-Cardio-Graphy and radio Imaging Technology( DERT); ECG technology; Live stock and veterinary Science (VLDA). Some of these courses are really unconventional and equally exciting to pursue. Singhania University is an epitome of world-class infrastructure, highly qualified and dedicated faculties and excellent environment for academic and intellectual growth of students. The singhania university admission , Singhania University focuses on comprehensive growth of the students, working on their hearts and minds by giving full concentration to their academic, cultural, physical and social needs in an environment of continuous interaction and growth that is favorable for the enrichment of mind and body. The faculty of Singhania University Rajasthan is fully committed and extremely talented. Teachers invest all their skills and knowledge to impart quality education to the students as they are the ones who will shape the future of our country. Singhania University is renowned not only to produce excellent academic results but also to produce excellent and successful professionals those can face the challenges of the world. At Singhania University special emphasis is given to communication skills and personality development. The uniqueness of the curriculum and various programmes of this one the most prestigious universities in Rajasthan lies in promoting a strong passion in the students not just for studies but for all round excellence with perfection; for meeting the challenges head on with due emphasis on ethical and moral values which are the most important to build a strong character. Singhania University produces knowledgeable young citizens capable of creating a better and prosperous India through inter-cultural understanding and respect for the humanity.

Get log in to singhania university for more information about singhania university rajasthan, facilities, syllabus of singhania university center and lots more about its faculties and facilities.

The Use of Tech Museum of Innovation Discount Coupons

Imagining
life without technology nowadays is tough. The unanimous answer is a
‘no’ considering its use and its prevalence.. A visit to the Tech Museum
of Innovation San Jose in California only reinforces our belief in
technology. The museum is dedicated to technological influence in our
lives- both positive and negative. Hence, this is one of the most
popular attractions in San Jose. However, visiting the museum can be
expensive without the discount coupons.

The
coupons sometimes come with a deal of ‘buy one and obtain one for
free’. You will get the coupons from the Coupon Book of San Jose
Entertainment and also from websites dedicated to providing coupons and
deals to visitors in San Jose. The coupons are provided inside the book
for free. If you flip through the local brochures on tourist guide, then
also you can lay hands on the discount coupons which will reduce the
admission fee by $3.

If you are traveling in a group, then you
will receive a discount of $3 for a group of 10 people. However, you
have to make reservations prior to visiting the place. You will be able
to get inside the museum for a reduced admission fee if you become a
member of the museum. You will also receive 10% discount on your
purchase from the museum store.

Bank
of America cardholders have discounted entry to the Tech Museum.
However, when you get a coupon, check the dates and get a print out if
it is from a website. If you have got it from a booth, keep it with you
and remember the dates.

Some of the most popular exhibits at this
museum are Silicon Valley Innovation Gallery, and Invention at play.
Permanent galleries include Green by Design, Net Planet, and the
Exploration Gallery to name a few.

Successful Small Businesses In Africa

Doing business in Africa can be profitable and risky at the same time. Small or big businessman, he/she will only become successful only if he will learn/undergo coaching and mentoring. The bigger the business is, the bigger the loss. The loss and gain of one’s business depends on their sizes. But with expert management, some things may turn around. Small business will earn a lot and big businesses will sink big time.

Small businesses in Africa is perceived as the most stable type of business. People believe that smaller ventures face lesser risks compared to huge businesses. In this time of recession, smaller ventures tend to become more flexible than any other businesses. But it does not mean that all small business will soar. Success is achievable only if you have chosen the right type of business. In Africa, investors carefully choose what type of small business they should start. Selection of venture is not an easy task, it is better if you will have a reference of what businesses have withstand the business environment in Africa.

Small businesses in Africa related to manufacturing, health, wholesale and retailing industry and agriculture. Businesses on these categories profit more because of they provide and sustain the needs of Africans. The ever-growing needs of the people is an opportunity that businessmen should enjoy, especially now that the region is on the frontier of economical development. From time to time, their demands for basic commodities will grow.

Manufacturing is nice business to do because of Africa’s abundant resources. Even if there is a presence of large manufacturing companies, there is still a room for small groups because they are the one who can reach more Africans faster. They have a direct procurement on certain materials and machinery. Possible small businesses are weaving, lace making, rug making, retail bakeries, pottery and many more. The labor force for manufacturing in Africa is relatively high, adding up to its potential in the African Market.

Health services, including education aids, can also be appealing because until now, it one of Africa’s problem needed to be addressed. People in the continent are in need of massive transformation on their health and education programs. If there will be an entry of investment on this area, bigger growths are possible. Entrepreneurs will be the one to provide aids and support to Africans.

Wholesaling and retailing industry plays a vital role in the African market. Food products are usually imported and operate by wholesalers. It is a profitable business of the possibility of involvement of foreign trades. Wholesalers are very important in the distributing systems in the market, they are suppliers for independent retailers and informal operators. Common businesses in this industry are stores, dealers of some products like, electronic, farm and construction materials, liquor, home furnishing and a whole lot more.

Agricultural sector is the most positive investment the one can indulge in. Africa is evidently rich in natural resources. The continent is one of the world’s largest landscaper. All that they need is more intelligent farming knowledge and innovations to give way for expansion of the business. There is also a great number of Africans who have been doing farm business ever since.

How Interest rates affect the employment market- The UK Knack Group

The UK Knack Group would like to provide some insight into how interest rates affects employment levels. The association between the two is very easy to understand.

A larger-than-expected decrease in the monthly employment rate causes interest rates to increase.

More employed people are putting more money into circulation. An increase in available cash means there are more pounds chasing the same amount of goods as were available the previous month.

Employers like The UK Knack Group require time to ramp up operations to meet the increased demand. In order to employ additional staff, companies may have to borrow money over the short term in order to meet payroll expenses or acquire more raw materials. In the case of UK Knack Group, people are its product and this effect is more easily seen.

Lenders experience an increase in loan requests. In this case, borrowers like The UK Knack Group are increasing demand on available money which results in higher interest rates charged by the banks and other lenders.

At the same time, central government lending agencies will raise their lending rates after analysing the bond markets, a move calculated to forestall inflationary forces. Banks borrow from the central lending agencies at a higher rate of interest and pass on the additional expense to their own borrowers such as UK Knack Group.

However, lower unemployment may affect interest rates more indirectly. Companies ramping up operations are often short of employees for a time who demand higher salaries.

Higher wages may drive prices higher. Again, more money is chasing fewer goods. Inflation may result, depressing the stock market.

Companies with lower cash flows coming in may need to borrow. Once again, banks begin lending at a higher interest rate to meeting the higher demand for loans.

When unemployment rates are around the -natural rate- of around 5.5% as determined by economists, interest rates remain stable, according to UK Knack Group information. This is called -equilibrium.- When that rate decreases, interest rates go up. Similarly, when unemployment increases, interest rates go down. They are inversely related, in other words.

UK Knack Group gives an example of this process. When the unemployment rate is above 5.5%, those who are out of work cut back on expenditures, lowering demand for goods and services. For instance, a family with an unemployed salary earner is less likely to dine out at a restaurant, which in turn requires fewer staff and food for preparation.

Consequently, farming and food-distribution families cut their expenditures, further depressing demand. There are fewer requirements for goods all along the supply chain, The UK Knack Group explains.

UK Knack Group provides an example of a economic turnaround as well. An office experiences a sudden increase in demand for its services and recalls some staff.

These staff now have higher expenses related to going to work every day such as commuting costs, updating career attire, and buying meals outside the home. Transportation companies, shops,and restaurants experience a higher level of business and call back unemployed workers.

At each level, more staff put more money into circulation and everyone wants to buy something, often at a higher price than before. Credit cards, a form of borrowing, are used to pay for goods and services.

Restaurants and shops may borrow money to meet short-term current expenses. Their suppliers extend credit for a few weeks, but they must add a certain percentage as interest. Suddenly, everyone is chasing money, and increased demand, and the cost of borrowing money goes up as well.

The Knack Group UK hopes these illustrations make understanding the interplay between unemployment and interest rates easier to understand.

About Author The Uk Knack Group consists of some of the most experienced professionals in the UK and abroad who have helped thousands of businesses and people to be more successful through Executive Search and Selection, Headhunting, Transitional Outplacement, Executive Career Management and Professional Training & Coaching. www.theukknackgroup.co.uk

Payday Loan 15 Min – Blissful Cash Support For Working Class Segment

Is it the trouble of financial slowdown that is worrying you? Are you stuck in such a situation that you are not able to cope up with present problems? Do you want to gain financial liberty on as soon as possible basis? If you answer yes then you might be looking for money that can refill your empty pocket with funds that are appropriate for accomplishing tasks that are not fulfilled. Can you even think that gaining cash is now possible in fifteen minutes? Yes, this is now a dream comes true for many money seekers as Payday Loan 15 Min are designed for salaried class segment seeking instant cash help.

There is simply no doubt in the fact that several of your problems get to be attended on an immediate basis. An example of such an urgent need for money is the arrival of electricity bill towards the month end and what is more worrying is the fact that the last date is only a few days away much before your next payday cheque day. In such a scenario what you need is quick money that bills can be paid off. Similarly, there are several other circumstances that seek your attention for other such needs such paying house rent, any kind of medical emergency and car repair to name a few.

Given the fact that these are designed for short term, a borrower is expected to reimburse money taken as loan with his next pay cheque. As the amount sanctioned ranges from 100 pounds to 1000 pounds, you can pay it back within fifteen twenty days of borrowing and be done with the burden of leaned amount. In some cases, it so happens that an applicant is not able to pay back leaned amount within pre decided tenure and thus seeks for extension. That is also given but along with it comes late charges as penalty.

Now that it is pretty clear that Payday Loan 15 Min are designed to help working class segment of the United Kingdom, there is no hassle or difficulty that will trouble you at the time of applying. You are just required to do complete research before choosing the lender. Just fill the online application accessible on lenders website and soon you will be able to get money that you can use for accomplishing any of your urgent and immediate needs. So, if you are looking for cash help without any fuss then this is the loan facility for you.

BCC Chief Warns New Corporate Pension Rules Could Harm UK Employment

The head of the British Chamber of Commerce has warned the Government that the latest corporate pension laws could seriously damage employment prospects in the UK

David Frost, Director General of the BCC, says the new laws, that were passed by the Labour government at the beginning of the year, make for a -complex web of regulations- that bear little resemblance to the original proposals announced in 2006.

Furthermore, Frost claimed that, in the face of so many on-going changes to employment law in Britain, many employers would hold back from recruiting more staff unless the legislation became simpler to understand.

As part of the new legislation, from 2010, employers will have to automatically enrol their staff onto a workplace pension scheme, and be re-enrolled every three years, unless the employee specifically opts-out of it.

In a report published this week by the BCC responding to a Government review, Mr Frost said: -There is a whole raft of changes and employment legislation coming through between now and 2014. At a time when we’re trying to grow the economy, this could dampen demand for jobs in the UK.

-Employers are worried about getting it wrong and then ending up in an employment tribunal.-

The BCC report makes a number of recommendations to the Government in order to simplify the new regulations. For example, the report suggests that employees should not be enrolled onto automatic pension schemes until after their 13th week of employment.

Mr Frost said: -It is absolutely right that we encourage people to save more for retirement. But doing so after 13 weeks would allow for staff turnover or any other changes that go on during the first few months.-

For more information visit employment solicitors http://www.trethowans.com/business_services/employment_hr.asp

Ref: TEL-HS-06910

Easy Payday Loans For Georgia Residents Meet To Demands

Cash carries out your day-to-day money affairs. It helps you in times of emergency. At times, you do not have available cash to meet even your small needs that happens to be the most annoying factor. So in such emergency situation, the lending authority has come up with the easy payday loans for Georgia residents. These are short-term loans for that you do not need to put any collateral.

Basically, easy payday loans are designed to fulfil your urgent requirements in emergency times. You do not have to arrange collateral unlike to other loans. Regardless the fact, the money is approved within a short-time and do not require any collateral. The loan amount is made available within 24 hours after filling the application form.

This amount is directly transferred to your bank account. As it is a short-term loan, the availing amount is also very small. This amount varies in the range of $100-$1,500.

With the easy payday loans, you can meet your urgent demands. These loans are approved instantly and in a very short period. You can make the use of these loans to meet several of your demands like car repair, medical bills, paying of credit card debts. This form of lending is indeed a good option for tenants and non-homeowners.

For easy payday loans for Georgia residents, there are certain pre requisites which are expected to be qualified by each potential borrower. In this regard, you have to provide the banking details, proof of your income and employment status. Other than that, you must be an 18-year old citizen of Georgia. No problem even if you are reeling under credit crisis. You can make the loan application for easy payday loans even in bad credit situation.

Easy payday loans for Georgia residents are perfect lending solutions. This way you can meet your urgent needs.

Informatica Marketplace Innovation Drive

Informatica Marketplace Innovation Drive

Win the Grand Prize and attend Informatica World 2012 in Las Vegas!

Are
you a developer looking to gain exposure as a data integration guru? Do
you have a product or service pertaining to data integration, data
quality, data management or cloud data integration that you want to
present to the world? Are you interested in networking with over two
thousand customers, partners, developers and analysts and expand your
perspective on the industry? If you are, then Informatica World 2012 is
your destination. To be held from May 15-18, 2012 at ARIA Resort &
Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, this conference has offerings for every
role involved in data integration. From training, networking and best
practices to live demos and break-out sessions, this is just the place
for you, and the Marketplace is your ticket to getting there.

Join the Drive

The
Informatica Marketplace is a showcase for high quality solutions in the
data integration space, and we’re providing you with an opportunity to
submit your innovation and be a part of Informatica World 2012! Join the
Marketplace Innovation Drive and win yourself a place at the biggest
data integration conference this year. Here’s all you need to do:


The Contest

If
you have a new solution in the field of data integration, data quality,
data management or cloud data integration, get in touch with us at marketplaceinfo@infomatica.com . The solutions can cover the following categories:

- Solutions
– Reference dictionaries
– Content libraries
– Cloud offerings
– Data models
– Connectors
– Services
– Industry-specific solutions
– Utilities
– Mapplets and Mappings

Submit your Block here.

The reward

The top winner will receive the following:

- A Registration Pass worth $1500 to attend Informatica World 2012.
– An all-expense (travel & boarding) paid trip to the conference.
– One free Informatica certification.
– Entry into Informatica Virtual training or In-Person training in any technology of
your choice from Informatica Educational services.

Two entries will be awarded runner-up prizes, consisting of:

- One free Informatica certification.
– Entry into Informatica Virtual training or In-Person training in any technology of
your choice from Informatica Educational services.

Marketplace Innovation Drive Terms and Conditions

Existing Blocks in the Marketplace are not eligible for the contest.

The contest will commence on the 1st of January, 2012.

The last date for submission of entries is the 25th of April, 2012.

The contest winners will be decided on the 30th of April, 2012.

The winners will be intimated via e-mail, phone and will be featured on the Contest. webpage at http://www.informaticamarketplace.com