5 Ways To Make A Great First Impression In Interviews

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Krissyar

When you’re trying to change career, everything hinges on that interview. Your experience and qualifications, as well as the way that you come across when speaking with the interviewer, are all going to inform their decision, but they will have already made part of their decision before you even get to any of that. Even though they don’t realize it, people make a judgment about you in the first few seconds of meeting you. After a couple of minutes, they will already have made up their mind about whether they like you or not, which is just as important as your experience and qualifications. If they don’t think that you’ll fit into the team well, they won’t hire you regardless. That’s why it’s so important that you make a good first impression in every interview that you go to. Here are some great tips that will help you along.

Don’t Be Late

This is obvious but it’s still worth reiterating. If you’re late, you’ve got pretty much no chance of recovering from it, no matter how well you answer all of their questions. Even being a few minutes late gives a terrible first impression and they won’t be impressed if you start making excuses. Punctuality is important in the workplace so anybody that’s late to interview isn’t going to get hired. It’s always a good idea to head down there the day before so you know exactly where the place is. On the day of the interview, make sure that you leave with plenty of time to account for traffic or anything else that might go wrong along the way. It always looks good if you arrive early and you’ll go into the interview with a bit of a head start if you do.

Look Smart

It goes without saying that you need to look the part for the interview. If you turn up in a shirt that hasn’t ironed with a badly fitting suit, it shows a level of carelessness and they’ll be concerned that you’ll carry that attitude over to your work. It’s also important to remember the smaller details like getting a good haircut before you go to interview as well. A new haircut is a good opportunity to make yourself stand out as well, you can get some great ideas on   https://therighthairstyles.com/, just don’t go for anything too outlandish, you need to keep it professional. You should also try to inject a bit of your personality into your outfit so they can get a sense of who you are. If they don’t think that you’ve got much of a personality, they’ll be reluctant to hire you. Small details like shoes, ties or pocket squares are all good ways of showing the interviewer who you are without sacrificing your professionalism.

Eating And Drinking

People don’t often think that drinking a cup of coffee or eating a sandwich while you wait is a bad thing but it doesn’t always look that professional. The fact that you couldn’t fit lunch in before the interview suggests that you’re pretty disorganised and chaotic. Visit http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ for more information on the importance of organization in the workplace. It also looks bad if you enter the interview with a mouthful of sandwich or an empty coffee cup. It’s only a small detail but it could be the difference between success and failure.

Remember The Receptionist

You’re probably focused on the people you’re going to meet in the interview and you aren’t going to give a second thought to the person that greets you at the front desk but that’s a big mistake. It’s very common for employers to ask their receptionist about the candidates and how they came across. It’s a good way to get a sense of what you’re really like without you realizing that you’re being assessed. This initial impression is quite a big factor in their decision a lot of the time so the way that you interact with the receptionist is important. Always make sure that you’re polite and even ask them a few questions about the company, it really shows that you’re invested in the company and enthusiastic about working there.

Don’t Touch Your Phone

Even after your initial meeting with the receptionist, they’re still taking note of what you do while you’re waiting. If you immediately reach for your phone, it gives the impression that you’re not that bothered about the job. It looks far better if you take the time to go over your notes and resume and make any final preparations for the interview instead. When the receptionist reports back, they’ll say that you’re enthusiastic about getting the job.

Making a good first impression makes all of the difference in an interview and even if you’ve practiced your questions properly, a bad initial impression could ruin everything.

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Drive Your Way To A Profit With These Uber Tips

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Krissyar

Even though there has been a fair bit of criticism about the gig economy recently, there is no denying that a lot of people find it a great way to earn a bit of extra cash. That’s especially the case with Uber drivers. There is always a high demand for Uber from the general public, so you will be able to easily make this a full-time job. But thanks to the very flexible way you can work as a driver, you will also be able to fit a few hours around your regular job each week, making it a great way to earn some extra pocket money.

Becoming an Uber driver is very easy, and you will find all the necessary steps you need to take on the company’s website. Once you are all ready to go and find your first lift, it’s a good idea to consider some ways you can try and increase your profit while out on the roads. Here are some excellent tips that can help you do just that.

Take A Course

As ride-sharing apps are so popular these days and so many people are choosing to become drivers, there are now a few different courses that you can take if you are interested in this career choice. Even though these can be quite expensive, they are a very good investment to make. One a course, you will learn about the basics of driving etiquette and how you should act around your customers. Not only that, though, but you will learn all about how to maximize your profits during the course as well. If you think that your driving could take a bit of polishing before you do start working for Uber, it’s a good idea to take a few refresher driving lessons as well. That way, you won’t scare any of your customers by taking a hard corner too quickly!

Promote Uber And Other Companies

The more people who know about Uber and use it, then the more chance you will have of finding customers. So, even though the company do a lot of advertising and marketing promotions themselves, you might want to consider doing some of your own promotion of the brand. That’s not the only way you could make some extra cash by advertising while you drive. There are some other startup companies that will pay you to advertise their goods to your customers. One example is http://www.becopilot.com/. This is a tech company that lets Uber drivers show off their latest products in their car to their customers. By joining up to one of their promotional schemes, you could earn yourself a nice bit of extra cash!

Get Plenty Of Insurance

Uber covers its drivers with the necessary insurance, but it’s also a good idea to get some of your own so that you can be 110% sure that you are financially protected from any mishaps. For instance, you might want to get some legal insurance. That’s because being on the road a lot puts you at risk at getting involved in some crashes and accidents. Thankfully, if an accident isn’t your fault, you will be able to see a car accident lawyer like https://www.craigswapp.com/ to help you get a compensation payout. Your legal insurance should cover your lawyer’s fee and any other costs that you may incur. But the legal insurance will come in even more useful if the accident was your fault and you also have to pay the other driver’s legal fees and car repairs.

Offer Snacks And Drinks

Everyone loves getting freebies. It doesn’t usually matter what those freebies are really, but as long as something is free then you can guarantee someone will want it! Therefore, you might want to think about offering all your riders something during their trip with you. Some snacks and drinks will go down really well, especially if you pick someone up from the airport or train station who has been on a very long journey. You don’t have to have an extensive selection of drinks and snacks as you will only have limited storage in the car. At the very least, though, think about getting some bottled water, chocolate bars and potato chips. That way, you can keep your passenger’s hunger at bay, leaving them very satisfied with your ride!

Don’t Drive When Not Necessary

You might have some time to kill in between picking up customers. How long you wait for will depend on how busy it is. There’s not much point driving around while you wait for your next pickup as this will only waste gas. Driving around in such a way could be very expensive as a result! So, it’s a good idea to pull over when you are in between pickups. That way, you can turn the car off and save some money. Don’t forget to take a book or newspaper with you in the car, so that you don’t get bored during these breaks!

Be Choosy With Music

It’s a good idea to have some music on while you are driving people around so that you create a pleasing atmosphere in your car. Some drivers like to leave the radio on while others create a playlist just for when they are driving for Uber. Thinking about your music carefully is very important to do, as getting the right atmosphere in your car will help you acquire a lot more tips. Ideally, you should try and please everyone’s music tastes. This won’t be easy, but there are some genres that will be more accepted than others. For instance, don’t play any death metal as that will rarely go down well with anyone! Preferably, you should play something easy to listen to and that is inoffensive, like ambient music or pop.

 

Making a killer profit is easy when you have all of these great tips under your belt. All of your customers will start tipping you for every ride, and you’ll be rolling in it!

 

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This Is Why You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep Every Night

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Krissyar

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for your overall health and wellness. So many people wake up every morning feeling groggy, tired, and generally lacking energy. More often than not, your nights are filled with constant awakenings as you struggle to really stay asleep for the full 8 hours. If you’re lucky, you manage around 5-6 hours of good sleep per night, which simply isn’t enough.

Why? Why does this keep happening to you? Why can’t you get a good night’s sleep for once? In reality, it could come down to any number of issues with yourself or your surroundings. If you have problems with your sleep, then it’s most likely thanks to one of these issues:

You Drink Too Much Caffeine

I have a love-hate relationship with caffeine. I love how much it wakes me up during the day, but I hate how it continues to keep me awake long into the night. Did you know that if you keep drinking caffeinated beverages beyond 5pm in the afternoon, it will stay in your system until bedtime? This means you’ll struggle to get to sleep, even if your last cup of coffee was at 5pm! I find that this is the cause of most people’s sleepless nights. You take ages to get to sleep, restricting how much rest you get every night. The solution is simple; get all your caffeine in during the morning and early afternoon! Also, try and limit yourself to 1 or 2 cups of coffee per day – 3 at the absolute max! It’s ironic because I’m sure loads of you are now up in arms saying that coffee is the only thing keeping you awake in the morning. Well, if you stop drinking it late in the day, then you can sleep earlier, getting more hours in, and wake up more energised and refreshed!

You Drink Too Much Before Bed

I’m sure there are plenty of you out there that live a caffeine-free life. Or, you might have one morning cup of coffee, and that’s your quota for the day. Regardless, your drinking habits can still be a problem when it comes to how much sleep you get. You see, drinking right before bed causes a fairly obvious problem. Liquid enters your body…and it needs to come back out at some point. This usually results in frequent bathroom trips during the middle of the night, disrupting your sleep. So, if you often have a glass of water right before bed, then you need to stop. Leave at least an hour between your last drink of the day, and your bedtime. This prevents the bathroom trips in the middle of the night, leading to better sleep.

You Have A Bad Mattress

Most people assume that mattresses start off good and get worse over time. Granted, this is a very common problem that you’ve probably experienced. They don’t last forever, and a mattress gets worse and worse, providing you less support and comfort. So, if you have an old mattress, then this is likely the cause of your sleepless nights. But, as it shows on www.mattress-guides.net, you can buy mattresses in varying types of firmness. Some are super soft, others are very firm. Even a brand new mattress can be bad for you if you make the wrong choice. There are people whose bodies respond better to soft mattresses, and others who prefer much firmer ones. If you rush into buying a new mattress and get one that looks cool or has cool technology involved, then you could just buy one that’s bad for your body. Spend time testing different ones out and figuring out the ideal firmness for you. This prevents aches and pains that wake you up during the night.

You’ve Got A Bad Back/Neck

Sometimes, a bad mattress can cause pains in your back or neck. But, other times, you could have those pains to start with. Your mattress may be perfect, but you still have a bad back/neck because you may have arthritis or another health issue. In which case, your pains can wake you up in the dead of night. One way to prevent this is by stretching before you go to bed. There’s some good content on www.shape.com that shows you a few stretches to do before going to sleep. Target your problem areas, such as your back or neck, and get the nice and loose before sleeping. This releases any trigger points and muscle knots, helping you sleep without pain. Trust me, this works a lot, even if you don’t feel much difference after stretching.

You Sleep With A Light On

The environment you’re in will play a huge role in how well you sleep. Needless to say that a dark room is much easier to sleep in than a bright one. A bright light makes it harder to get to sleep, and can also wake you up in the middle of the night. So, if you’re someone that likes sleeping with the light on, then you could be damaging your health as it stops you from getting your full quota of sleep every night. Turn the lights off, or at least have a dim lamp turned on, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

You Have Too Much Noise Around You

Similarly, a noisy atmosphere won’t help you get to sleep and can also wake you up multiple times. People that live in noisy apartment buildings, or next to a busy road, will often struggle to get a good night’s sleep. Luckily, you can address this with earplugs. Buy some earplugs and pop them in your ears to cancel out the sounds you hear. You’ll have peace and quiet, helping you sleep properly

 

As mentioned right at the start of this piece; sleep is essential for our overall health. If we don’t get enough sleep, then our body can’t grow and recover after working out and exercising. Sleep helps us digest our food and regulate our metabolism too, with studies linking sleep deprivation to weight gain! In short, get more sleep every night!

 

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5 Easy Ways to Pull a Room Together

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Krissyar

When INSIDER polled interior designers on the biggest mistakes people make when decorating their homes, they chimed in with responses ranging from cookie-cutter matching furniture to open storage revealing untamed clutter. If you’re looking for ways to create a cohesive look in your home, the good news is you can do it without the need for a ton of new furniture and accessories, nor the price tag of a professional designer.

But it does take more than a fresh coat of paint and a thoughtful throw pillow to give your home a refresh. Here are five ways to pull a room together while still keeping it easy, fun and affordable.

1. Choose a color palette

Get down to business by first choosing a color palette. Winging it with white on white won’t necessarily make your room look like a fresh and breezy beach. Instead, it could just leave it looking sterile. HGTV suggests plucking out colors from the largest pattern in your space. If you’re working on transforming your living room, look at that upholstered ottoman or rug, and look for colors that speak to you. You can also grab a color wheel and use it as inspiration with that pattern you choose. One idea is to contrast warm and cool colors.

2. Focus on small furniture

Your sofa and armchairs are likely the largest pieces of furniture in your living room. It’s easy to overestimate how much space you really have and keep looking for big pieces to complete your room. In reality, smaller furniture can work better and maximize your space. The end result is making your room look bigger and less cluttered.

3. Find the right accessories

One mistake designers see people making is forgoing the home accessories altogether. Leaving a room barren doesn’t evoke a warm feeling and can leave your home feeling less than welcoming. Rely on small accents to tie together the room from colorful vases to wall hangings and a photo gallery. Working with accessories is also an ideal time to experiment with color. For example, a canary yellow light fixture could look fantastic in your dining area with a fresh coat of white paint on the walls.

4. Refresh your floors

Dusty and worn floors aren’t pleasant to look at and won’t do much to inspire your refresh. There are several things to try including painting the existing floors or putting down new hardwood planks. A sky blue floor in your kitchen or entry area can turn an average room into a refreshing gathering spot where everyone feels inspired. Or skip the paint altogether and grab a throw rug with a geometric pattern that incorporates your favorite color palette to jazz up your room and pull it together.

5. Utilize your windows

Instead of going for demure window coverings that fade into the background, refresh them with something bold that makes a statement. Choose curtains with prints and patterns that complement the colors and accessories in your room. For just a pop of color to tie everything together, look for window coverings with a stripe of color at the top, middle or hem to draw your eye without overwhelming the room.

Think of pulling a room together as an opportunity to re-inspire your home and experiment with your favorite colors and styles. You can start small with the ideas on this list and slowly venture into new furniture and bedding as you master the art of pulling a room together with ease. With that said, there are many other ideas available on the web that you can visit and make use of while you go to discover your own. Keep in mind that there are always many ways you can do it but these are our five easy, fun and affordable ways to pull a room together.

 

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Who Else is Ready for Spring Break?!

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Krissyar

This winter so far has been long and harsh – did I mention long?? We aren’t even in the middle of winter yet, and I’m already dreaming of Spring Break! No waking up early to get the kids ready for school, and lunches packed, or driving home in the dark on the way home from work..I mean,who else is ready for Spring Break?

Whether you are going on a road-trip, heading to the beach or the mountains check out Alamo’s Scenic Route page they give you a collection of travel stories, guides and advice that will inspire your family to achieve maximum memories-per-getaway on your next vacation! Like 10 Bucket List Vacations to Take Before Your Kids Grow Up (we’ve already hit up #3 and #8, and the rest is on our list as well – especially Yellowstone!)

Once your Spring Break is planned, be sure to check out Alamo’s tips to staying healthy while traveling (it is that time of year!) One of the worst things is to get sick while you are traveling, and these 5 tips will definitely help keep you healthy on your road to fun!

 

 

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