JOBS / topic

Office problems. Stress at work. Applying for a job.

1. Give some advice on how to apply for a job. 2. How to write a resume? 3. Have you come across any office problems? 4. What ways of handling with stress do you know? 5. What’s your sphere of interest?

1. When one is applying for a job, I think one of the most important things to think about, is the type of work that you would like to do, so each person has a skill set, that they want to utilize, when applying for a job, and the most important thing you want to do, is to gather your paperwork and start building a resume, and have your information and your accomplishments, any recognition that you had in your career, in front of you, so when you begin to apply for a job, you can be able to fill that out accurately. You would want to have the names and addresses of companies that you’ve worked for. The name of the manager, the phone number, the contact information, because when applying for a job, oftentimes you fill out an application. That could be a handwritten application, or it could be an application online, so my encouragement would be, to get the documentation that you need, prior to applying for a job, so that you can have all that gathered up, and then you can be ready to actually apply. You want to remember, to think about the value that you bring to the organization that you’re applying for, so jot down on a piece of paper, what you believe are the best skills that you have, for the particular job that you’re applying for. I would write down things such as detail oriented, trustworthy, and responsible, that you’ve been on time for work, that you have maybe, the specific technical skills that you’re looking for, that you are diligent in your research. What is it that you bring to the table that they would look at that application, and what separates you from someone else, as they review your application? How to apply for a job is important, from a standpoint of actually having accuracy in the spelling. Make sure you edit it for commas, misspellings, and clear, crisp handwriting, that's understandable and readable. If you can write the documentation, or actually create the documentation online, that’s going to end up being more professionally presented, so if you have to handwrite the application, print. If you find that your handwriting is not as legible, put it online, so if moving forward and applying for a job, I would certainly encourage you to be honest, in what you put down. Make sure the information is accurate. The people that they call will speak well of you, and the work that you’ve done, and go for it, and you’ll enjoy hopefully, getting lots of interviews, and that’s how you apply for a job.

2. Your resume is one of the most important things when you’re applying for a job. It consists of several key components, and to write a good resume you need to cover all these aspects. The main items that are required on a resume include your name, contact details (address, telephone and optionally email), your objective, education, previous work experience and references. You may also include other additional information that may be relevant to the job you are applying for such as special interests, computer knowledge, and if you are multilingual you may write down the languages that you speak.

Name and contact details. It is important to put your real name on your resume, and not a nickname. This is to show that you are serious about the position you are applying for. It is also best to give your permanent, residential address so that employers can see where you are located. It is a good idea to list both your home phone number, and your mobile phone number in case you are not available at home when the prospective employer rings.

Objective. This is often the focus point on your resume, it outlines to the employer what type of work that you are after and why you are after it.

Education. This is often one of the most important areas when writing a resume. It is important to list all the education you have achieved so that you distinguish yourself from other applicants. It may be worth providing your grade average, and also any special awards and achievements that you have.

Work Experience. Work experience is also another very highly important category when writing a resume. It shows employers if you have had relevant past experience to the job you are applying for. Ensure that you list the name of the organization, location of the organization, your position with them and the dates you worked with them.

Additional Information. This is the area in which you can list anything else that may be relevant, or put you ahead of other applicants. This could be for example if you are multilingual, you could list the languages that you speak. You can also list computer knowledge that you have if computers will be used in the workplace.

References. It is almost essential to include a reference list when writing a resume. References are most often people you have previously worked for, or if you haven’t had a job before you could list teachers or family friends. You must ask references if you can put them on your resume before including them. It is best to have at least two people, and include there name, phone number, what relation they had and organization they work for. If you do not wish to provide references when you first submit you resume, you can write “References available upon request” in which the potential employer will ask you for them when they are ready.

3. My friend recently had a dispute between two employees who wouldn’t work together. She could see the problem wasn't going to sort itself out; Mary realized that if she didn’t intervene and sort it out, she’d be accused of passing the buck. However, Mary didn’t want to blow it up out of all proportion, so she just had a quiet word with them. It turned out to be a prudent decision, because the problem was resolved quite quickly.

My friend Alex had a month off recently; she left very specific handover instructions for her colleague Olga, so that after such a long absence, she wouldn’t come back to find a mountain of work had piled up. However, Olga’s pretty lazy and she neglected to do the things Alex asked her to. She also neglected her own work and spent most of the time standing round the photocopier gossiping, or poking her nose into other people’s business or just giggling at Mark’s silly jokes. Alex’s back now, furious with Olga, and, with all the work they have to do, life is as hectic as ever. I don’t think Olga will have her job much longer.

4. Workplace stress, with its physical manifestations, is one of the major reasons people miss work. Experts suggest five ways to help lessen the physical effects of stress at work.

Exercise: Make time to get some exercise at least three times a week. This will not only reduce stress, but it can also help you be more productive at work.

Eat right: Have small meals frequently to keep your energy level up.

Get enough rest: Stress tires you out mentally and physically. If you don't sleep enough, you may get sick more easily.

Meditate: If you have a hard time settling down at the end of the day, try meditating. Close your eyes, take in slow, deep breaths, and release. You will feel unwind.

Socialize: Schedule some social time. Just talking with friends for a few minutes in the middle of the day can help you relax and feel better.

If you follow these tips, you are sure to feel less stress at work. However, if you are given more work than you can handle, even these solutions may fail. If you feel a high level of stress at work, talk to your supervisor. Perhaps you can reach an agreement about changing your timetable or lessening your workload.

5. As for me I’m at the university right now studying Economics. I am studying real hard and trying to improve my English. I want to meet people from all over the world, that’s why I study languages. I like reading too … and meeting people … I want to go to every continent, maybe learn some more languages … maybe Chinese or something… When I finish my studies, I hope I will get a good job. I’m a very ambitious person. To be honest money is quite important to me when it comes to work. That’s why I’d like to work for myself, may be I’d arrange some kind of business.

Well, that’s more or less what I wanted to tell you.