48 ways to remain Unemployed

Following on from yesterdays post about Attitude I discovered this at the same friends house.  I am not sure which publication it first appeared in to give proper credit.  If you know please message me so I can update this post.

This is a list complied by the University of New York, taken from reports produced by 153 business, of reasons most frequently given by employers for turning down candidates applying for a job with their company.

1. Poor personal appearance
2. Arrogance, aggressiveness, self satisfaction, superiority complex, know-it-all attitude
3. Difficulty in expressing oneself clearly, a weak voice, poor diction and grammar.
4. Complete lack of any career plans, projects or aims.
5. Lack on interest and enthusiasm, passiveness and indifference.
6. Lack of confidence and poise, nervousness, being ill at ease.
7. No participation in activities
8. Very interested in money, and only interested in the best offer.
9. Poor or borderline academic achievements.
10. Applicant refuses to start at the bottom of the ladder or is too demanding and stubborn.
11. Applicant makes all kinds of excuses for an unfavorable report.
12. Lack of tact.
13. Lack of maturity.
14. Lack of courtesy, bad manners.
15. Applicant criticises his/her former employers.
16. Lack of social insight.
17. Dislike for study.
18. Lack of vitality.
19. Applicant does not look the interviewer straight in the eye.
20. A lifeless handshake, without warmth.
21. High degree of indecision.
22. Marital problems.
23. Inability to get along with parents.
24. Applicant neglects to answer all the questions on application form.
25. Very limited job search.
26. Looking for temporary work.
27. Little or no sense of humour.
28. Insufficient knowledge of his/her area of specialisation.
29. Lets his/her parents make the decisions.
30. No interest in the company or industry.
31. Applicant stresses the fact that he/she is well connected with someone in the company, tries to "pull strings."
32. Unwillingness to transfer to new location.
33. Too cynical
34. A poor moral attitude.
35. Candidate displays laziness.
36. An intolerant candidate.
37. Limited interests.
38. Mismanagement of personal finances.
39. No interest in company activities.
40. Inability to take criticism.
41. No consideration for the value of experience.
42. Radical ideas.
43. Late for the interview without a good reason.
44. Applicant has no knowledge of the company to which he/she is applying.
45. Failure to ask questions about the job.
46. Too aggressive and too insistent.
47. Applicant answers questions evasively.
48. Lack of personal initiative.

This list certainly makes for interesting reading and a great learning tool for anyone in the job application market. It was of interest to me having two teens in the house who have completed school and some tertiary study.

Blessings

The RIGHT Attitude

I was visiting a friend recently when I noticed this little note on the wall and wanted to share it with you.

We get so hung up on academics and teaching our children knowledge that we loose focus of some of the more important things.

This was published in the Wellington Dominion 6 October 1995

Employers Look for Right Attitude

Almost half of all unemployed people hold educational qualifications but in a recent survey employers ranked qualifications at the bottom of a list of 20 desirable attributes for selecting potential employees, the Employment Service says.

In a survey of 500 randomly selected employers, qualifications came last in traits employers considered most desirable for employees. Top of the list was:

1. Attitude followed by:
2. Honesty
3. Tidy Appearance
4. Amiability
5. Enthusiasm
6. Reliability
7. Communication Skills
8. Motivation
9. Punctuality
10. Experience
11. Flexibility
12. Fast Learning
13. Efficiency
14. Commitment
15. Knowledge
16. Education
17. Interest
18. Personality
19. Stability
20. Willingness to work
21. Skills
22. Qualifications

 This list has really encouraged me to keep working on Attitude and to remember that there is so much more to education than qualifications!

Blessings

52 books in 52 weeks for 2012

I love to read.  It's my idea of a good holiday and one of the best ways to recharge and refresh.  When I was at school it was nothing for me to read a 1 000 page book in two days.


In case you are wondering I did not love reading as a young child.  When I was around 10 years old I can remember my Mom offering me R10 (the equivalent of around $100 now) to read one 150 page book.  I tried but gave up after two days.

It was not until I reached high school that I started enjoying reading. I think I was around fourteen years old.  It would take me a whole week to read ONE 150 page book! After about four months I was up to eight books a week and progressed to longer novels.  The library became my new best friend.

Then ....

               new seasons in my life meant that the time was no longer available to read.

Reading for me is as essential as breathing is to live.  I was sitting thinking that I can't remember when last I read for pleasure or learning on a regular basis.  So when I read about this challenge I became inspired to start reading again.

52 Books in 52 weeks 2012 Challenge

So who is up for the challenge and will join me in the new year ?


Look at what I have in my book basket: 

52 in 52.

Blessings

This post will be linking to: Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.