Job Hunting Tips: Taking Care of YourselfWritten by Virginia Bola, PsyD
Looking for work is generally a miserable undertaking. No matter how much education and experience you have, you are in a powerless and vulnerable position.You spend days preparing for an interview, trying to build up your self-confidence, create a relaxed, competent demeanor to disguise turmoil and anxiety inside, and practice answers to questions you hope interviewer will ask. Is there any way to feel really calm as you approach receptionist, uncomfortably aware that there are other people waiting, perhaps applicants for same position? Sit down, take a deep breath, and listen to your inner voice. Welcome anxiety that is coursing through your veins. It is a free, non-addictive stimulant that is going to keep you on your toes and keep you hyper-alert throughout interview. Remind yourself that without that anxiety, you would present yourself as lifeless and flat. Remember lists you have made: of your personal qualities, your strengths, weaknesses you have identified which can really be presented as additional strengths. Let your mind slowly scavenge through mental picture of your resume and pound those bullet-pointed skills into your skull. Focus on your worth as a human being, your importance to those who know you and love you. You are about to be judged by someone who doesn't know you at all and who will have less than 60 minutes to assess your qualities. Self-preservation requires that you don't buy into that judgment. You may, or you may not, be offered be offered position. Whatever result, remind yourself that it is not entire you being accepted or rejected, just your skills and qualities matched against a company's needs. The job interview is a dynamic process with everyone present involved in flow. If you feel awkward or very uneasy, it may be that company or interviewer(s) are not a good fit for you and not being offered job may, in long run, be a blessing in disguise.
| | Cell Phone Abuse. Are You A Victim?Written by Andrew Lawrence
Like millions of others, you may be victim of cell phone abuse. What is cell phone abuse? Let's say you're in a public place trying to concentrate on something or having a face-to-face conversation or just enjoying a peaceful moment when a stranger 5-10 feet away starts talking on his or her cell phone. If, as a result, your concentration is broken or your conversation is interrupted or your peaceful moment ruined or you are otherwise disturbed, then consider yourself victim of cell phone abuse. Making or receiving one or two short calls in public among strangers is okay but extensive cell phone use or long cell phone chats which disturb other people is an invasion of privacy. It's inconsiderate, it's annoying, it's discourteous. And worse, it's abuse. And if victim of cell phone abuse politely (or rudely) interrupts abuser (as they talk on and on) and asks them kindly to take their cell phone elsewhere, or kindly be quiet; it's disturbing, victim is all too often met with a perplexing look or even more abuse, as in "what's YOUR problem, I'm on phone here!" Sure. Right. Every cell phone call is important and meaningful; so important and meaningful that people expose it to total strangers in public! Pul-eese.
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