Grammar lessons all job seekers should know

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-2824-Resumes-Cover-Letters-Grammar-lessons-all-job-seekers-should-know/

When applying for a job, there are few faster ways to get your résumé and cover letter thrown out of contention than by making a glaring grammatical error.

"In an era of spell check, easily edited documents and instantly shared 'can you give this a look' emails, typos and grammatical errors on résumés and/or cover letters are pretty much unforgivable," says Sean Smith, president of Third Street, an Indianapolis-based marketing company. "The message sent by typing 'too' when it should be 'to' can literally be the difference between getting the nod or getting a no."

Checklist for your résumé and cover letter. 

1. Know your homophones
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings, like too, to and two. Using the correct version on your résumé is crucial.

"The misuse of your/you're, there/their/they're, and to/too/two occurs more times than I care to dwell on," says Marisa Brayman, a Web developer and blogger for Stadri Emblems, a company that designs embroidered patches. "If someone uses one of these incorrectly on a cover letter, he can say goodbye to his chances of ever landing a decent job. If this is due to a simple typo, that is one thing; however, in my humble opinion, if the individual doesn't know the difference between these basic words and has never bothered to take an hour out of his or her life to learn it, he or she is not deserving of landing a decent job."

A quick refresher:

Their, they're, there
Their: The possessive form of "they."  ("Applicants submitted their error-free cover letters.")
They're: The contraction of "they are." ("I think they're getting the hang of this grammar thing.")
There: A location. ("The pile of cover letters is over there.")

Two, too, to
Two: A number. ("There are two applicants in the lobby.")
Too: Also. ("I'd like to be interviewed for the job, too.")
To: A preposition or infinitive. ("I'm going to apply.")

Your, you're
Your: The possessive form of "you." ("Don't forget to proofread your résumé.)
You're: The contraction of "you are." ("I have a feeling you're going to get this job.")

It's, its
The best-selling grammar bible, "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" by Lynne Truss, best describes the difference between these two words:

"To those who care about punctuation, a sentence such as 'Thank God its Friday' (without the apostrophe) rouses feelings not only of despair but of violence. The confusion of the possessive 'its' (no apostrophe) with the contractive 'it's' (with apostrophe) is an unequivocal sign of illiteracy and sets off a simple Pavlovian 'kill' response in the average stickler.

The rule is: the word 'it's' (with apostrophe) stands for 'it is' or 'it has.' If the word does not stand for 'it is' or 'it has' then what you require is 'its.' This is extremely easy to grasp."

Some other common homophones you should know:

Whose and who's
Every day and everyday

2. Use apostrophes properly
Apostrophes are used for a few reasons:

• They indicate the possessive: "In my last job, I managed the CEO's calendar."
• They indicate the omission of letters in words (i.e., in contractions).
• They indicate the exclusion of numbers in dates: "I graduated college in '05."
• They indicate time or quantity: "I must give my current employers two weeks' notice."

Be sure to check your résumé for proper use of apostrophes, as well as for any erroneous punctuation. Apostrophes do not, for example, indicate the plural form of a singular noun. It is incorrect to say "I developed orientation programs to help new employee's get acclimated to the company."

3. Keep tenses consistent
"Building lists correctly is important," says Christina Zila, director of communications at Textbroker.com, a Las Vegas-based content-creation firm. "Use consistent verb tenses: If you start your job duties with 'managing multiple employees,' don't have your next point as 'prepared annual reports' but 'preparing annual reports.'"
Similarly, as a general rule, all activities or accomplishments that you completed in the past should be in the past tense. Activities that you perform now should be in the present tense. This should be kept consistent throughout your résumé.

4. Proofread and then proofread again
The bottom line is that proofreading your application materials before submitting them is a must.
"There are enough people with bad grammar pet peeves that there is virtually no position out there where grammar doesn't matter," says Debra Yergen, author of the "Creating Job Security Resource Guide." "Since a basic search-engine inquiry for 'grammar pet peeves' nets more than 400,000 returns, it's safe to say that hiring managers are paying close attention to grammar and other résumé and cover-letter errors. Read and reread everything you write for a job application, and if you doubt yourself even slightly, run your submission past someone you trust."

Top 10 Things to Avoid In an Interview

        1. Arriving Late

Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Take the time to freshen up in the rest-room.

2. Saying too much-or too little

Speak when it is appropriate.  Do not try to take control of the conversation, but DO ask enough questions to demonstrate your interest in the company and its values.

3. Inquiring about vacation time

It’s really not appropriate to ask these types of questions on a first interview.  Wait until a time that you feel certain you are a top candidate for the position before getting down to the nuts and bolts.

4. Not being clear that you want the job.

Your attitude throughout the interview should signal to the interviewer that you are enthusiastic and   interested in the job.

5. Not being thorough in your answers regarding skills and qualifications

Give clear examples of your experiences and skills in a way that directly relates to the job you are applying for. Where and when possible use the opportunity to demonstrate your skills through a portfolio presentation.

6. Using these phrases “Umm”, “you know” and other street slangs

This is a BIG turn-off for employers.  Take a few seconds to thinking through your answer before you respond to questions. Practice before the interview, either in front of a mirror or with a friend.

7. Wearing Street clothes to an interview.  

Never wear jeans, or other casual wear to an interview.  Dress conservatively, and do not over-do it with the jewellery, make-up and perfume /cologne. Tattoos, where possible, should be hidden Portray a professional image.

8. Weak Handshake

Your handshake must be firm but not too vigorous.  You want to show that you are confident.

9. Not being prepared ahead of time

Potential employers are impressed when you demonstrate that you have done some research on the company, and that you are aware of its challenges and how you as an employee can positively impact these challenges. 

10. Don’t try to change the tone of the interview.

If the interviewer is all business or very direct, respond in the same manner.  Never try to lead the conversation in a different or more casual direction. Keep in mind that your resumé most likely landed you the interview, but acing the interview will be what will most likely land you the job!

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Adapted from http://tbassociates.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/top-10-things-to-avoid-in-an-interview/

Common Communication

Mistakes

 We have recently explored the topic Communication however its importance in the business environment cannot be over emphasized. This post focuses on one form of non-verbal communication, that of Body Language. 

Body language can positively or negatively impact effective communication. Often times however, the impact is unintentionally negative and this is not always readily recognized by the (potential) employee. Below are some of the most common examples of negative body language. These detract from one’s professional image and so keen attention must be paid in correcting same.

Examples of Negative Body Language	How does one address them
NOT SMILING/ FAKE SMILING	Remember to smile with everyone with whom you interact. You can make a great impact on your communication process through this simple habit. Ensure that your smile comes naturally, artificial ones does not impact positively on your communication effectiveness. A genuine smile wrinkles the corners of the eyes and changes the expression of the entire face. Fake smiles only involve the mouth and lips. Smiling regularly tells your employer and colleagues that you are personable and that you enjoy what you do.
POOR EYE CONTACT/UNEVEN OR TOO MUCH EYE CONTACT	Keeping the right amount of eye contact is crucial during any conversation. Too much eye contact may signal the wrong information such as sexual interest, which may make the other person uncomfortable. However, too little eye contact may imply a general lack of interest. It is therefore important that eye contact be punctuated with nods of approval and/or brief statements of affirmation.
POOR BODY POSITIONING	When communicating, it is best to sit or stand uprightly. Slouching around your chair or standing akimbo when communicating shows a lack of professionalism.
TOUCHING	Avoid touching your nose, face, ear and other places on your body unnecessarily when talking with someone. Further avoid unnecessary touching of the person with whom you are speaking, it creates a negative impression about you in others’ minds which can impact negatively on your professional image.
MULTI-TASKING WHILE SOMEONE IS  TRYING TO TALK TO YOU	Be attentive. Focus your attention on what your co-worker or boss is saying to you. If you must continue to work while being spoken to, ask permission to continue your task.