Subway Traffic

Do you hate all this crowdy commute on your subway to and from work each day? Then maybe you should watch this video on Moscow Subway. You will appreciate your daily experience for sure!

Claustrophobic, isn't it?

Landing a new job: Behind the scenes - [4]: "Why did you leave your last job?"

This is by far the most commonplace job interview question of them all [maybe with "Which is your biggest disadvantage/weakness?"]. There are really no fixed answers. Maybe you should judge by the cover on this one, i.e. try to figure out what type of person the interviewer you are dealing with is and go accordingly.

For example, with men it is easier to tell the truth, whereas with women you will inevitably have to come up with fancy answers. The case is, in any case, that this is a very stupid question because you only leave a job for one of the following reasons:

1. Get fired
2. They are idiots so you quit
3. You see no light at the end of the tunnel so you leave to try something better

I cannot see the point in having to give some beautiful answer [in our case this is answer 3] only because the interviewer expects to hear one. This is more like taking your SAT rather than actually being interviewed for a job.

In any case, some nice answers to this question include:

• When you have been fired:
  
• I left my former employer because I was downsized.
• I left my former employer because the offices moved and I could not follow.
• When you resign:
• I left because I could see no professional perspectives and I am a really ambitious and hard working person.
• I left because I had completed my route in that company and I felt it was time to move on.

I am waiting for your comments and suggestions. Maybe we are able to come up with some killing answer after all.

Landing a new job: Behind the scenes - [3]: The networking

In order to land a new job nothing can help you as much as networking. Fortunately or unfortunately, no matter what university your degree was earned in, how many years of job experience you possess or how many skills you have acquired through the years, it is much much easier to appoint a job interview through one of your friends or acquaintances.

This is why once down and out the first thing you should do is call your friends and acquaintances and let them know you are on the lookout for a new job. Nothing to be ashamed about.

Furthermore, it is very important no matter what the circumstances of your disappointment, downsizing, laying off etc. that you keep a working relationship [even if this is limited to new year's wishes] with as many people as possible. You may as well do the following:

• Buy an agenda and keep it for life. Note down everyone you meet and write his job, phone and position with a pencil. After all, you are not the only one whose details change over the course of life!
• You may achieve the same result as above by using an address book software such as Microsoft Outlook or the Mozilla Thunderbird address book or even the Windows Address Book. CAUTION! Before you pledge allegiance to one software you like be sure you know how to back it up and transfer the data in case of a format, software data migration etc.
• You may also use some networking website such as LinkedIn.com. I will provide an overview of LinkedIn.com soon. For now, a YouTube video on LinkedIn may be found by clicking here.
  

Landing a new job: Behind the scenes - [2]: The interview negotiation

I cannot point out how commonplace this is but should you be having a job and looking for a new one the most important card up your sleeve is exactly this: That you already have a job.

Going to an interview as an out-of-market fella does just one thing: Tear down all your negotiating power, because let us face it: no matter how good you are, no matter how experienced you are, your future employer [or the representative of your future employer] sees you as yet another supplier of their company.

That is, they will try to buy your services on discount. And by being out of the jobs marketplace you give them a pretty good reason to ask for that discount and insist on it.

Landing a new job: Behind the scenes - [1]: The cover letter

Almost everyone [ok, EVERYONE] specialized on interviewing, personnel recruiting and selection and HR will most definitely tell you to accompany your resume with a cover letter when you send one for a position you are interested in.

Well, guess what! I have sent over 250 resumes in my life and no email accompanied by a cover letter was answered but one! And guess what this one cover letter was stating: "I am willing to work very very hard"!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, do not lose time writing this pathetic type of letter just to state your goals, your skills etc etc.

Should you be good enough for the job they will call you and give you a try. It is that simple. OK?

P.S. And for those of you out there who just had the thought crossing their heads: NO, I am not a lousy cover letter writer at all!