ODEKUNLE IFEMIDAYO: Avoid These Rookie Interview Mistakes

ODEKUNLE IFEMIDAYO: Avoid These Rookie Interview Mistakes: I recently had a conversation with a hiring manager who personally interviewed 300+ people in the last 2 years. We discussed how uncomfort...

ODEKUNLE IFEMIDAYO: 3 Things That Make Your Resume Less Effective

If you are not receiving a response back from employers about the resume you submitted, there could be a variety of reasons. Perhaps you do not have the particular qualifications the employer is seeking. Or, perhaps you are not properly communicating your strengths, experience, and skills.
Related: The Worst Resume Advice I’ve EVER Heard

Take a hard look at your resume and revamp it for effectiveness. Imagine you’re in the elevator with Donald Trump (or another CEO) heading up to the 18^th floor and you had only 30 seconds to make your pitch, what would you say? If an employer cannot see what you have to offer or understand how your particular experience and skills are applicable to the job, you are not going to receive that callback to come in for an interview.
Common culprits that make a resume less effective include:

1. Poor Opening

If your resume starts with an “Objective” indicating what you are looking for rather than what you have to offer to an employer, you have already lost points right there. Even if your resume does start with a “Summary of Qualifications” or something similar to that effect, you have to ask, “Does it immediately and clearly tell the employer why I’m the right fit for the job?” An effective opening creates a theme that says, “Here is what I am best at.” Then, prove it by showcasing your accomplishments in your various jobs.

2. Not Using It As A Marketing Tool

A resume is used to help get your foot in the door with an employer. It is not a legal document and there is no need to include information that is irrelevant. The more irrelevant information you put on your resume, the easier it will be for an employer to come to the conclusion that you are not an appropriate candidate for the job. Use your resume to help demonstrate particular accomplishments, experiences, and skills that the employer can benefit from. Your mission is to simply put out a sufficient amount of information to garner the employer’s interest. Save details for the interview.

It is similar to when you view a movie trailer – it contains highlights of just enough information to entice you to want to view the movie, but it doesn’t tell the full story. Adding information that does not provide impact immediately on a resume is like viewing dull scenes in the movie trailer, making the overall package less effective.

3. Inappropriate Personal Information

Some personal information, such as hobbies, may be explicitly placed on the resume to help tell the employer more about your character. However, if what you list is unprofessional and inappropriate for the profession, it can ruin your shot at making a good impression with the employer. At the same time, there are instances when personal information is included without you fully realizing it. For instance, be cautious of your e-mail address. Your username or domain for the e-mail address can give off the wrong impression if it reads something similar to, “partyanimal@…” or “… @peoplehater.”

If you are including a website or blog address, make sure the information you have on it is appropriate and relevant for the job. Also, even if you are not publicizing digital information, employers may be screening your activity on sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, so check your privacy settings or make sure what’s on your public profile is appropriate for a potential employer to see.

Securing an employer’s attention is more challenging today. There are many qualified candidates available on the market for employers to select from. Make sure your resume shows impact from the start by telling the employer why you are the right fit for the job. Demonstrate what you have accomplished to show for it, and present a clean digital trail on the Internet for an appropriate impression.


culled from http://www.odekunleifemidayo.com

RAPE!!! A passionate outcry

Whispers

Hmm… why are my people so silent about the things they should speak of? Why are my people just not speaking of the truth?

Again like you will ask, why should I speak of such?

Years ago, after some sad events that happened to me, I was in great need of love and affection, was so lost in the fears of the unknown. Uncle was all I had, uncle was always there for me, uncle always spoke to me about the need for courage and focus and so my heart was always drawing near to him because those words gave me comfort and relief. Little did I know that something was hidden in his subconscious? 

On this faithful day at the age of 12, I was in my room, taking a rest for the day as only I was left in the house. Knock… knock… knock… Who is there? I asked. It is Uncle T. Oh really! I jerked up, went straight to the door  to open it, welcomed him cheerfully, took him into the sitting room and made him comfortable, I then told him I wanted to pick up something form my room, then I took my leave.  I really never knew he was unsettled. Well, I went into the room, was searching for what I needed when he came in. Bammn, the door slammed behind me. Uncle! What are you doing here? Just before I finished the statement, he grabbed my young succulent arms, caressed it as though he meant to console me again, but it felt a little different this time. I shouted Uncle! Then he laid his finger on my lip and said “STOP”. Don’t you understand? Let me take care of you, you know I really like you! Yes Uncle I replied, but never knew what he was driving at because I was young and innocent. Because of the Yes I said, he threw me to the bed, then I tried getting up, but he held me down, I started out struggling for breathe and shouting as there was no one in the house, nobody could hear me out. To avoid the noise, he laid his hands tight over my mouth and touched me below, took his hands down and started touching me without regards, at that moment tears filled my eyes, my eyes boiled with pains, tears gushed out without holding back the pains. I struggled to leave but I could not, then still placing his weight on me, he pulled out something I had never seen before, all I knew was that it was used by the male folks when they want to let out the unwanted water off their body. Fear gripped everything in me, as it was so large, I struggled to find my way out of this, it was so hard and difficult for me, he then thrust the rod on my private and started forcing his way in, UNCLE!!! Please, I cried and shouted but he just didn't listen, UNCLE, uncle!!! He tore me in, the pains were like a rock forced into the eyes of a needle. Please, uncle, please sir, I begged. I shouted Loud in pains, the pains grew, it was so bad, wished someone could come home, I begged, struggled but his strength superseded mine, finally. He let me be. Tears gushed out like heavy rain drops.

The bed was soaked in the tears, in sweat and in blood, ah in tears I shouted “BUT WHY UNCLE”. He rather wasn't interested in what I had said but said: “YOU MUST NOT TELL ANYONE, IF YOU DO, I WILL DO ANOTHER ONE, SO IF YOU LOVE YOUR SELF TELL NO ONE”. Ah!  My heart was torn in fear and did beat very fast. I was scared of the pains he would again put me through and decided not to tell anyone.

Why did my mum never say anything to me about SEX? Why was there nobody at HOME? Why did the people all leave me to the pains of finding LOVE all by myself? Why did I not speak when I ought to? Why UNCLE? Why didn't I tell my MUM? WHY this, WHY that was all the questions I ask in pains each time I think of the incidence as I grew older.

Why is nobody talking about Rape? Why are the law agencies treating such cases with Levity? Everyone seems only interested in corruption or corruption. The only thing they say is they want to fight corruption. What about the other vices in the society? What about the inhumanity to man?

The number of Rape cases in Nigeria is at an ever increasing number and people are just keeping quiet about it. WHY?

Why are the youths not talking, why are they all quiet and silent when they should lead the vanguard for change? When will they talk?

Recent reports say in Ekiti state a man of 34 years was arrested for raping a 13 years old lady, in Plateau state, five men were arrested for raping a 9 years old lady, and a native doctor for raping a 14 years old female patient. In yenagoa, Bayelsa state, an 18 years old Lady committed suicide a few days after she was raped by 3 young men at gun point. (Punch Newspaper, Tuesday, November 5, 2013 pg 24)

The list is endless, you can hardly go through the papers in a week and would not read a report of a rape case, and yet nobody seems concerned.

Hmm! WHY ARE MY PEOPLE SO SILENT?

“May my hands hunt me if I fail to write the truth”

written by Whispers 

tchijoys@gmail.com