So...Whats stopping you?

Have you been talking about making that next career move for the last few years, singing that same old song? You’ve been stuffing a file with places you’d like to travel since you got your first job. You’ve envisioned what your next house look like for years, even driving around searching for the perfect location, just waiting for that next job that will allow you to earn substantially more so you can afford these dreams.

So, we all encounter obstacles that are stop us from moving forward. At least fifty percent of the time, these so called obstacles (Challenges?) are perceived, not real.

Here’s a list of the most popular ones I’ve heard and how to avoid them:

1. I’m too old.

Years ago I heard the story of a 70-year-old woman who lifted a car off her grandchild and saved his life. When she was interviewed, instead of being ecstatic, she was melancholy and admitted that if she could lift a car to save a child what else might she have been able to do that she never tried. The interviewer asked her what she’d always wanted to do, but hadn’t tried. The grandma replied, “Go to college.” The interviewer challenged her, “So why not do it now?” And so she did.

You are only too old if YOU decide you are. There are lots of stories of older Olympians, older singers and older musicians-fields typically associated with youth.

2. It costs too much money.

I have found that most people who make this statement actually have no idea what the item in questions costs. They are operating on some notion that it’s above what they would be willing to spend. Or they are not open to creative solutions and assume that they must pay retail for what they want-be it a new car, travel, or a house. There are many innovative ways to get what you want (and no, they aren’t illegal!)

Don’t make this statement unless you know the exact cost and have made the decision that the cost for the value isn’t there.

3. My spouse or children wouldn’t like it.

First, you really don’t know how someone will react until you actually take an action. In most cases, you are speculating as to how they would react or assuming they will react similar to ways they have in the past.

Second, are you living your life to make them happy or to make you happy? Of course, if you have a family you need to consider how your choices affect them, but not to the point that if they may be uncomfortable with your choice you give it up without seeking a compromise or resolution.

4. It’s too hard.

This statement is another one that is usually based on incomplete information or full out speculation. You don’t know how difficult something will be for you unless you try it. Nothing is impossible.

Stop pushing what you want away until you decide you don’t want it anymore.

5. I’m too fat.

* “I’m too fat to go out to networking meetings and market myself. Who would want to hire me?”

* “I’m too fat to take professional photos for my website.”

* “I’m too fat to get a date. I will meet Mr/Miss Right once I start that diet on Monday and lose 10kgs!”

While weight discrimination may be at play in some cases, the bigger obstacle is how you feel about yourself.

If you believe that you are fat and feel self-conscious you will present yourself differently. When you aren’t confident and someone else is-they will likely get the date or the job over you.

6. I’m not educated enough.

Bill Gates quit college before earning his degree. There are countless stories of high school children who have opened businesses that have hit a million in sales.

Education doesn’t equal success.

If what you want to do requires a higher level degree than what you possess, figure out a way to get it.

7. I’m too OR I’m not .

Are you seeing a pattern here? Search your language and see if you’re shutting yourself down by believing in a perceived obstacle.

If you are, stop now and go take an action to pursue your dream. These obstacles do not need to stop you from achieving success and fulfillment in life.

History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.

Think about the grandma who said that if she could do something she thought impossible at age 70, what else could she have done in her life, then ask yourself, “What could I do if only believed I could?”

Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.

Now with boldness in your heart send me your cv, I’m waiting:- Melinda@hrcorp.co.za

Theme for 2010!!!

Soon we will be blessed with another 365 days to start again, start afresh, an opportunity to make this your best year ever. No repeats - just moving onto better! I read a newsletter the other  day and thought about how short really one year is - if you brek it down into segments - you get 4 quarters - some are taken up holidays like Easter/School Holidays/ Mid Breaks and then Christmas again and before you know it - yet another year has passed. Did you accomplish much in 2009? If you did, thats awesome, raise the bar for 2010! If not --- all is not wasted - The Universe is smiling down on you - you get another chance to create the life YOU want.

1. Evaluate 2009. Areas that need improving. What were your successes? Journal your achievements - this is your story - witness your life and write it. How were you present in 2009?

2. Set your theme...I am following one of my beloved authors here, Robin Sharma with this one! Set your theme for the year! " My year of financial liberation!" " My year for family" " My year for career success" " My year for entrepreneurship!" " My year of being kind to myself"

3. Write down just 4 lines as to how YOU will lead this year, instead of the other way around. Create a strong enough vision for the year ahead, see it and feel it - Manifest it. This will be your personal mission statement.

4. Every year I write down goals and yes they do materialise, maybe not always in the exact way I imagined but I have come to believe that I am the creator of this life of mine, if it didnt come to be, then I just didnt have a strong enough - "Why? So as you write down your goals this year, know why you want those things, let it be strong enough to be the driving force of you being abolutely relentless in achieving your desires.

4. The best suggestion I have heard to date about manifesting these goals in a clear and precise manner is to break them down into quarterly goals...so get yourself a diary for 2010 and write down where you should be at what stage. To break the year down. March is your first assessment/June Assessment/ September Assessment and then December. At each segment you will assess how far you have come and what steps you need to take to get closer. What is working and what isnt? Do you need help? Get it. If there are no results, that means you need to change things up, time will not wait for you, you will need to act. The assessment is to determine how far off you are and what steps you need to get closer.

5. I read a book a while ago by Brian Tracy, "Eat that Frog" ---his advice is to eat that BIG frog every morning before the day plans itself for you...so what is your big frog? Is the 10 sales calls that will take you closer to making your target for the week? Is it your follow ups on your repeat business? Is it merely strategising your week ahead? In simple terms that big frog is ideally that one main action that you need to take that will take you closer to achieving your goal for that day, often it may be the one thing that you put off doing - so no procrastination.

6. Make time to learn this year. Reading great material is like taking your soul on a holiday. I love to surround myself with inspiring books and most importantly inspiring friends and people in general. Learn from the people you admire, read their blogs or books. If you aspire to something find someone that has already attained that, then follow their examples - and make it better! If you click onto my profile on linkedin I have a list of books that I love to read, try some of those authors, they are wonderfully uplifting!

7. Make a commitment. What attitude will you embrace for 2010? Maybe it will be " I will live my best life!" " I will see the good in humanity!" " I will be slow to anger and I will smile more!" " I will be the one who smiles first!" " I will live each day with gratitude!" " I will not make assumptions!" " I will dare!" " I will not let the opinion of others stop me from doing the things I love or living life my way" " I will choose my words, as they have power beyond my imagination!" " I will be kind to myself "...." I will send my cv to melinda@hrcorp.co.za, as one can set 1000 to flight but 2 can set 10 000 to flight!!!!

I wish you all your dreams this year, may you rise to meet every challenge and see them as opportunities. You are the creator of this life, live consciously. Love yourself enough to choose YOUR best life!!!!

Melinda

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to you and yours, or if it is just some well deserved time off all the best.

It has been a tough year this year for many businesses. I have unfortunately seen many companies send me people who have been retrenched after years of prosperous service.

HR Corporation was one of the few that actually grew, not much but enough, and not through luck, but through a whole lot of hard work done by all the people vested in the growth of this company.

To any one that helped us, thank you.

Business has turned around so much in the past two months that it seems that many do not want to close for the holidays. I have actually set up an appointment for next week, unheard of in the past two and half decades of my working experience.

Next financial year looks great already, and I hope your business does fantastic.

Counter Offers

Don’t count on counter offers.

It’s a good feeling isn’t. You resign from your current job, and all hell breaks loose. Next thing you know, the boss is taking you out for lunch and sitting there with tears in his eyes telling you how important you are to the company, and how he had such high hopes for you and that you were like a son or daughter to him. He asks what he can do to make you stay, what if we could beat the offer the new company is making you, would you stay then?

Yes, it feels good. And so it should. There is nothing wrong with letting your ego inflate just a little. You are entitled to feel good about it, but lets just analyze the situation for a moment.


What has just happened here? It isn’t really that they can’t afford to lose you is it? If you think on it, it isn’t much of a company if that were the case. Personally I would be very worried to work for a company that absolutely could not survive without one person even if I was that person. What if that person was hit by a bus? What would happen to the rest of the employees?


So, the chances are that although it feels good to think you are irreplaceable, you probably aren’t. Thinking about it more carefully, you will find that it is obviously just very inconvenient for them to lose you now. They have been caught napping and suddenly the boss has realized that it isn’t likely that he can appoint a new person and have that person trained in your one-month notice period. So it is only natural that they will try to get you to stay (at least for a while longer).


So he must get you to stay. As a smart boss, he is likely to use some pretty intense tactics to accomplish this goal. He may appeal to your loyalty (you are like part of the family?), your ego (you are critical to the business?), your greed (how much are they offering you?), your naivety (we were just about to promote you?) or probably a combination of the above. When they get desperate, he may even try to scare you by telling you every nasty thing he has ever heard about the new company (especially if the company is a competitor).


But, you can’t hold this against him. He is only doing what is best for the company. What you need to do is look at what is best for you.


Lets just say that you do take the counter offer. What is likely to happen? It has been my experience that one or more these things happen:


1.The problems that made you want to leave the company in the first place are unlikely to change, unless the only reason you wanted to leave was for more money.


2.If it was the money, and they now give you a substantial increase, it would be wise to think this out very carefully. You need to analyse why they feel you are worth more money now? If they believed you are worth the extra, then why didn’t they offer you this increase before you resigned? (Maybe you should ask them to backdate this increase and pay you the difference for the last 12 months).


3.It only therefore makes sense that they are buying time. Again it comes down to the fact that it is not convenient for them to let you go now. If they can persuade you to stay they will do it, even if it costs them in the short term, but they obviously won’t let you catch them napping again. They are going to make sure that they have someone understudy you and then when this person is up to speed, but earning far less than you are, then what is likely to happen? Chances are they are going to make your life miserable in the hope that you will resign or they are just going to stop giving you the normal annual increases until your salary is once again where they believe it should be. The problem is that by this time the new opportunity is no longer available and you have let the new company down and they are unlikely to want to talk to you again. So if (you are lucky) and they haven’t been able to get rid of you, you are now stuck in a job where your boss believes that he is over paying you, so he is making your life unpleasant in the hope you will resign.


When you look at it this way, it is just logical. I don’t blame companies for making counter offers. It makes business sense for them. But from the employees point of view, accepting them is like shooting yourself in the foot. Ask anyone who has ever accepted one.






Beware of the counter-offer


Beware of counter-offers no matter how tempting they may be. You may feel flattered but you need to be aware of the pitfalls.


Be sure to ask yourself these questions:


1. Now that you are leaving, why now are you only now worth the increase?


2. Will my loyalty always be in question now that I have changed my mind?


3. Will you be the first to go if there are cutbacks in the future?


4. By accepting the counter offer, are you giving your employer some breathing space to see if they can source a replacement for you?


5. Most importantly, will your career stagnate now that you are getting more pay?


6. Will they give you more responsibilities now that you are getting more pay?


7. Will you have to report to a person you don’t respect?


8. Are you sure that you will receive a raise or bonus next year? (You can bet that the increase they just offered you will be recalculated and you can be sure that your next increase will be less than what it would have been).


9. Has the counter-offer been made to avoid a short-term inconvenience by your employer?


10. Will you be considered for promotions now that you have considered leaving?


Counter Offer Statistics


Some interesting statistics that have been tabled internationally with regards to employees accepting counter offers are:



1. 50-80 percent voluntarily leave their employer within six months of accepting the counter-offer because of unkept promises.


2. Most of the remaining employees that accepted counter-offers involuntarily leave within twelve months of accepting the counter-offer, they are either, terminated, fired or laid off.



3. As attractive as counter-offers may appear, they greatly decrease your chances of achieving your career potential


This was an article I found many years ago when I owned my previous agency, the statistics still ring true today.
 
melinda@hrcorp.co.za

Be Your Best!!!

The only limitations you have
are those in your own mind;

don’t be satisfied with less than

all you can be.

 Don’t compare yourself with others;

draw your own dreams

and design your own destiny.

Live each day to the fullest.

Give a little more than you take.


Make this world a better place to live,

and always – always —

listen to your own heart,

for only you know what is best for you..


I'm waiting for your cv...
melinda@hrcorp.co.za

Questions You May Get Asked in a Sales Interview

• What type of products have you sold?
• Do you have a proven record of accomplishment in sales?
• How do you find prospective clients?
• Have you ever used a consulting firm to find clients or buyers?


Answering the above sales interview questions: The employer would like to know – what is your former sales experience?


What industries or institutions have you worked for in the past? And what is your technical experience?


The interviewer would want to know who you are. Answers to these types of questions need to be very precise.


It is often a good practice to supply existing documentation not otherwise supplied with your resume.


Do you have the proper attitude and behavior to be a top sales Representative? You may be surprised at the amount of questions your interviewer will ask pertaining to just these types of questions.

 Types of Sales Questions regarding your sales behavior:

• Do you often meet your quotas?

• What is your average percentage of quotas met?

• How do you meet your quotas?

• What creative ways have you used to meet quotas and deadlines?

• How do you feel when not making a sale or meeting a quota?

Answers Regarding Sales Behavior: It is best to prepared for these questions with answers you can easily relate with little emotion or drama. They are seeking for your capability to handle a tough situation. Your confidence to overcome a situation and any question are one in the same.

You may explain a case, the action you have taken and the result.

Some Sales Goal Oriented Questions:

• Do you have a sales plan template? How have you planned? Does your template include a forecast for 30/60/90 days?

• Do you have prospective buyers? To whom do you plan to sell our product?

• How do you plan to follow up on your sales?

• If you meet your quotas for your forecast plan, what is next?

• What if you do not meet your quotas?

Answering Sales Goals questions:

It is best to have a solid forecast on paper. Just speculating in regards to any of these questions is not advised. The more sound your presentations the more confident your prospective employer will be in giving you this opportunity.

• What attracts you to a career in sales?

• What motivates you about sales and marketing?

• Why do you want this job?

• What makes a good sales person?

• Please state your likes and dislikes?

Answer: Simply put, these questions may seem easy but is highly definitive to your type of personality. You want to reply with the utmost confidence and integrity. Eagerness and motivation are good qualities to display, such as:

I love a good challenge and each prospective buyer creates that challenge in different ways.

I like to be able to offer a quality product I can believe in, but may become restless if confined to a standard monologue that is too strict.

• Tell me about one of your successive sales and the process used to achieve this sale.

• What creative ways have you used to meet quotas and deadlines?

Answer: Never relay that this challenge was easy. It is fine to state perhaps that you would believe their product might sell itself – complimenting its quality or marketability (although they are searching here, for that drive and desire potential). Use the most complicated sale giving honest but short details. Keep the story upbeat and positive.

Even when responding to questions concerning unsuccessful sales:

• Give an example of negative sales experiences.

• Describe a situation when you couldn’t convince a customer.

• How do you feel when not making a sale or meeting a quota?

• Give an example of the most time consuming sale you have ever made.

Answer: Losing a sale need to be perceived as a motivational prospect to try harder, that there is no challenge to large or wide. Even convey that the harder the challenge the more exciting the sale. The lesson learned is also important.

• Give an example when you initiated/created a new sales/marketing technique and enjoyed the results.

• How do you maintain/initiate a good relationship with clients? How do you keep him satisfied for next sales cycles?

• What makes a product successful?

Answer: These questions also give you the opportunity to provide your personal drive, based monetarily. Do not be overly optimistic and chasing rainbows. Keep answers realistic.

Based on Goals you are seeking to achieve. It is also helpful to forecast a of a five to ten year scenario of expectations and how this prospect plays into your plans and goals.

Therefore, highlight the quality of the product and marketability of the said industry. This aids in giving the interviewer a safe and secure view of your personality and desire to achieve honest and long-term goals.

• Tell me about a successful and formal presentation you made recently.

• How do you present a new product for a client?

Answer: They will want an actual presentation, you have proposed. If you have the experience in sales, you will have a few of these available.

It would be best to highlight areas with in the industry you are applying. Those questions concerning experience are usually fore front in an interview and now are your time of proof.

However, if you do not have experience, you can replace this with knowledge and still maintain a complimentary attitude – it would be wise to know everything possible about the industry you are applying.

Other questions could be:

• How do you prepare for a sale?

• Can you describe your most difficult client? How did you handle this client and you were you able to make the sale?

• If you do not sell to prospective client, do you plan to try to sell to them again? How do you change your approach?

Keep in mind that selling is a positive and outgoing, self-motivating field of employment. Conveying that one has these attitudes will bring success.

Send me Your cv

Melinda@hrcorp.co.za

Make the Right Choice

The are thousands of recruitment agents in the International market, so really as a jobseeker you are spoilt for choice.

There are those who have quotas to meet --- a certain number of placements that need to be done basically in order to meet sales targets, so in essence a jobseeker could very well become a statistical number.

Then there are those agencies that specialise -  HR Corporation is one of them.

This is an agency that has Directors that have a real passion for people, that are not looking to just fill a job specification but are passionate about your career progression. We want to partner with you to point you in the right direction.

Although we understand that the bottom line for any job seeker is to earn that paycheck - we also want to place you in a position where you will have job satisfaction.

We want you to awake racing off to that dream job...where work can actually seem like play. When you work in an environment where you are passionate about the job you have---work does seem like play, which is why I love what I do.

My desire is to help every job seeker that registers with our agency. If you have the right attitude and want opportunities, I have the dedication to assist you.

Let us advise you on your next step in your career. We can advise you very quickly on which industry may be interested in your skills and competencies. You may surprised at the many options you actually do you have in the job market.

We can help profile your cv to target competitors from industries you have gained experience in, past or present.


Enlist with an agency that wants to build lasting relationships with their candidates and clients. We understand the importance of retention business and we have a history of turning our candidates into our clients, thats why loyalty from our clients has ensured our ongoing success.

Dont be number---become a leader in your industry. Partner with us.

I am waiting for your cv.

Melinda@hrcorp.co.za

Interview Preparation - Strut Your Stuff!

First Impressions are lasting in an interview situation, 90% of the time there no second chances.
So the aim is to make the biggest impression in whatever period of time you have, this starts way before you arrive at the clients premises.

1. Prepare with all the information regarding your interview.
2. Time - Date - Address - Person who you will be seeing and their designation.
3. Website address - this is vital, as you need to research the company as much as possible before telling them that you are keen to work for them. Know their products and whether they operate nationally, get a general idea of the culture of the company so that understand the appropriate dress code as well.
4. Get as much information regarding the vacancy from your agent as possilble. Research the company's competitors as well.
5. Always arrive atleast 15 minutes early and wait in your car if you have to, that way you are prepared for any setbacks that could occur like traffic etc.
6. When in doubt regarding dress code, always dress corporately. Grooming is essential, no matter what the job.
7. Take along your best attitude. When you walk into the company, keep a pleasant and friendly but professional disposition. Switch your cell phone off. Firm handshakes, not wet ones and not bone crushing ones either. In other words, we leave nervousness and over dominance out of this interview. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can mae you feel inferior without your consent, never give it."
8. Maintain your consistent eye contact, its a indication of trustworthiness. Listen intently when the interview is talking and try to never interrupt. When given an opportunity to talk about yourself, market yourself as a brand that is worth investing in. Mention key attributes, achievements with humility. Show passion for whatever the job entails, if this is a job you really want.
9. Never talk negatively about present or previous employers. Its a sign of character.
10. Always thank them for the interview, firm handshake and indicate your interest by conveying that you would love the opportunity and hope to hear from them. (If this is of course how you feel).

Dont forget....I want your cv--You Matter.
Melinda@hrcorp.co.za

Attitude is more important than facts.

It is more important than the past, than education than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success,

than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.

It will make or break a company.a home. a relationship.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice, every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for the day.

We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that other people will act in a certain way.

We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90 % how I react to it.

- Charles Swindoll