5 Steps to Nailing the Informational Interview

5 Steps to Nailing the Informational Interview 5 Steps to Nailing the Informational Interview Informational einstellungsgesprchs are meetings with contacts who you think could help you in your job search, either by providing information or job leads. An informational einstellungsgesprch can make you a desirable candidate for an open job or for one thats about to open up.Once youve decided you want an informational bewerberinterview, the next step islanding one. Dont psych yourself out, its perfectly doable.Justfollow these five tips on how tolandand makethe most of an informational interview at the company of your dreams.1. Comb through your contactsYou might have someone on your contacts list who could be just the person to give you information about your dream job. First of all, decide on the kinds of people who you want to meet, as well as considering how you could meet them. Do you have an old friend from college who works at your dream company? Someone youre following on Twitte r with a contact address? To start, identify who you want to get to know, use LinkedIn groups to find relevant contacts, and start attendingnetworking events in your area.2. Figure out what you want to learnBefore you go to your informational interview, you want to ponder thekinds of questions you want to ask. Do you want to know if your qualifications make you hireable at the company or at a similar company? Do you want to know about the companys benefits and paid leave? Or do you want to know about current hiring trends in that field? Havinga goodidea aboutthe questions you want to ask will makeyour informational interviewmore productive. During the interview, jot down questions in a notebook or iPad, not on your phone or laptop, so you can maintain eye contact with the interviewee. You want to take enough notes so the interviewee doesnt have to repeat himself, but you dont want to take so many notes you look like a reporter.3. Come preparedIn your informational interview you dont want to make the person youre interviewing do all of the work. Rather thanwaste that persons time by asking questions you could have answered yourself by browsing the company website,learn what you can about your interviewee and the company beforehand. Write down notes about the industry, company, and interviewee so youre prepared. Interviewees will be flattered and impressed that you know so much about her career and the company. Remember, most people like to hang out and hire people who remind them of themselves, so coming prepared to discuss your similarities withthe interviewee is also important.Come prepared to your informational interview by researching the job and company.4. Be graciousThe person with whom you had the informational interview is taking time out of his or her busy life to help you. Be enthusiastic during the interview. Remember, this is a casual interview dont ask for too much from the interviewee (i.e. dont ask for a job). Afterwards, thank them for their time with a physical or electronic thank-you note. Once you get home, send a follow-up thank you email to demonstrate how much the interview meant to you. If you show how much you value the persons time, theyll be that much more likely to want to help you again this time, perhaps, by letting you know about job opportunities at their company.5. Prepare your applicationIf you noticean open position after youve had your informational interview, dont be quick to assume that youre ashoo-in to be hired.Instead, tailor your application package in a way that reminds the person with whom you had your interview of your good qualities. Start by using ourresume templatesandresume guideto make sure your materials are appropriate for the hiring process. Next, remind your contact about the details of your meeting so they can remember you.Afterwards, scan the job posting and your resume throughJobscan. Jobscan ensures keywords on the resume and posting match, which, in turn, signals that youve con sidered how your experience matches the qualifications of the hired applicant.Informational interviews have plenty of benefits. First, you can learn more about the hiring trends and expectations in your field. Second, you can think about them as an alternate route to learning about open jobs, as employers dont always advertise every position. Third, you can make sincere connections with individuals you might not otherwise meet, individuals who may be able to help you in your future job search. Make the most of your informational interview with solid prep, good follow-up, and a well-considered application package.

What you need to know before trying a detox

What you need to know before trying a detoxWhat you need to know before trying a detoxDetoxis a huge buzzword these days, but its hard to know if its a healthy practice or just a total gimmick. When it comes to the science behind detoxification, the answer actually lies somewhere in between.Scientists will tell you thatthe body detoxifies on its own, and that pricey juice cleanses and detox supplements are essentially a welcheste of money.While this may have some truth to it, there is evidence that suggests its possible to boost your capacity for detoxification by consuming nutrients that support your bodys natural processes. Heres what you need to know.Detoxification Myth vs. factFirst of all, the body performs detox processes all the time, with no added help from cleanses or supplements.The human body is well designed to eliminate wastes and toxins, and a number of organs play a role, Dr. James H. Grendell, the chief of the division of gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, NY, told theNew York Times.The kidneys and liver do most of this work by excreting toxins from the body through urine and bowel movements, while theskin and lungs expel toxinsvia perspiration and respiration, respectively. Many researchers say that this is going to happen to the same extent regardless of whether or not you drink fancy juices.Its hard to understand because there is no good scientific evidence that a juice cleanse, or any other food for that matter, is particularly relevant to removing toxins, Grendell elaborated to theNYT.However, to say that theres nothing you can do to help boost detoxification wouldnt be entirely accurate. There are ways to reduce your toxic load in the first place by limiting your exposure to toxic chemicals. For example, many people are concerned about the buildup of chemicals likeheavy metalsin the body. Coming into contact with fewer of these metals - avoiding high-mercury fishlike king mackerel and sw ordfish andswitching to an aluminum-free deodorant, for instance - is a smart strategy.Another toxin you might want to reduce your intake of is alcohol. Just like any other toxin (and perhaps more worryingly, since weconsume it so frequently), alcohol must be processed by theliver, and too much exposure to alcohol can lead toliver damageover time.Essential nutrients for detoxificationEating a healthy, balanced diet thats rich in the vitamins and minerals that are important for the liver and kidneys can also be helpful.SF Gatereports thatpotassium and vitamins D and Care key for supporting the organs that regulate detoxification. Antioxidantsare also beneficialfor liver function. Try to get these nutrients into your diet by eating plenty of the following foodsWild-caughtlow-mercury fish(salmon, anchovies, herring, scallops, sardines)Berries(blueberries, raspberries, goji berries), preferably organicOranges, grapefruit, and bell peppers (rich sources ofvitamin C)Leafy greens (broccol i, kale, spinach), preferably organicBeans and legumesYogurtSweet potatoesAvocadosThe role of eliminationPerhaps equally significant is the role of elimination in the detoxification process. Studies have found thatincreasing your intake of dietary fiberis important for keeping the liver and kidneys healthy and aiding in the natural detoxification process.Furthermore, the body naturally eliminates toxins through the breath, urine, and bowel movements, so you have to keep things movingDrinking plenty of waterand eating lots of fiber can help you stay regular, whilesweat-inducing exercisehelps you sweat toxins out of your system.The bottom lineSo, should you do thatdetox dietyouve been thinking about trying? The answer is complicated. If its a diet thats rich in liver- and kidney-supporting nutrients as well as dietary fiber, then it will probably benefit your health by reinforcing your bodys natural detoxification process. But if a product claims to be the secret key to detoxification , or if a diet goes above and beyond simply eating healthy, nutritious foods, youre probably wasting your money. Take a holistic approach to detoxing byeating clean, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly. Your body will thank you for itThis article was originally published on Brit + Co.

Why you Must Personalize Your Applications

Why you Must Personalize Your Applications Why you Must Personalize Your Applications I just posted a small web plan job on getafreelancer.com. Not surprisingly, given the state of the economy, we have been inundated with responses far more than we got the last time I posted something like this. I just spent an hour skimming through them and of the 30 bids I reviewed, ONLY ONE was in any way personalized. Only one person showed any signs of having read my brief and looked at the attached files.Im looking for a design only (no coding) and I specifically said this in my posting. Yet several people have sent me links to look at their previous coding projects. The others have sent me links to work samples that bear no relation to what Im looking for.Their emails to me include things like we have 5 years of experience coding large scale websites. Great If I ever need to code a large website, Ill know just who to call But right now, I need a web designer to create a Photoshop file for me JUST LIKE I DESCRIBED IN MY ADThis is exactly what its like to wade through job applications. Its almost always as though no one even read your ad. You search and search for that resume or cover letter or e-mail introduction that screams I know just what you need and I can help but you rarely see it.Thats where you can set yourself apart. Please, please, please make koranvers your cover letter or email introduction specifically addresses the needs of the employer and edit your resume to address the requirements in the job posting. If they say experience in new channel development is the most important requirement for a sales person, make sure your 5 years of doing that is highly visible.You can guess which designer Im hiring.