# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

Terrible Bosses And How To Deal With Them!

by
David Blog

Aug 30, 2019

at 11:07 AM

Do you guys have a boss you don’t like? We’ve all been there. At one point in our careers, we reported to someone with a big title, a huge paycheque and a reserved parking space and wonder “How the hell did they get the job?”

Incompetence and bad behavior usually disregards true leadership, and this can affect our work lives. Here are five types of bad bosses and how to deal with them (when you need your paycheque and cannot quit).

1. The Manager That Says “Yes” and Pretends That Never Happened

You were given the “Okay” to move forward with a project.

Then, all of a sudden, your boss has not only changed his/her mind, but it appears he/she has forgotten all about ever having approved the project!

Now if this is a shift in direction based on some new critical information, that is fine!

But if this behavior keeps happening over and over, you have a problem.

How To Deal

How to approach this challenge is to identify what’s causing the problem.

Is it somebody whispering in their ear, and feeding them false information?

Once you get a sense for who else may be involved in helping to change their mind, include those voices in meetings and get their sign-offs before you begin any project.

Getting a sign off and an okay in black and white is even more powerful!

Once you do that, wait. Let everything settle and for your manager to confirm the plans before you start the project.

You might not stop your manager’s behavior, but you will feel more in control and not spend so much time working on projects that may never come to fruitition.

2. The Manager That Never Let’s You Work With Others

Your company has a lot of departments and different ideas and perspectives.

You think the project you are working on would benefit from cross-functional teamwork.

Your boss disagrees. He/she might tell you that it’s better to involve others at the last minute. Then, he/she might say that everyone is busy with other priorities.

All of this may be true to some extent, but if his/her lack of support for collaboration is creating problems, something has to change.

How To Deal

Take the conversation offline and out of the office.

Make a point to visit other departments regularly.

During lunch or after work, share whatever exciting projects you and your team are working on that may impact the entire company.

Transparency and truth are keys to success and to being a real leader (whether you have the official title or not).

3. The Manager Who Doesn’t Just Disagree With Your Ideas, But Takes It Out On You

You pitch an idea or share your perspective with your boss and he/she disagrees.

After that, you’re not included in meetings.

When you do get a seat at the table, you’re ignored.

There is a high chance that your boss is retaliating against you.

It may just be your imagination, but sadly, many times your suspicions are correct.

How to Deal

Although this kind of behavior is illegal, bad bosses know how to subtly intimidate with the end goal of making you so uncomfortable that you’ll resign.

Maybe you should. It is one way of dealing with the unfortunate situation.

Another way is to schedule a meeting with your manager and share your view of what you think is happening and ask for his/her perspective.

Type out a short email after the meeting and reference it, what was discussed, and let him/her know that you understand the priorities he/she has set forth (list them) and that you’re really glad the air has been cleared.

There is no guarantee he/she will stop, but it does give you a record that will put him/her on alert.

With that record, when it happens again, you can reach out to HR for guidance!

4. The Manager Who Likes To Play The Blame Game

You and your team launched a new campaign. Unfortunately, the results were not as good as you hoped.

You report your numbers to your boss and share lessons learnt, but it is still not good enough.

Your boss wants to know who’s to blame.

How to Deal

Come to the table with a reminder of what was agreed upon and what the hopes were for the project.

Share a debrief of how prior projects succeeded.

Then, transition to the current project, sharing the pros and cons and always emphasizing the positives (NEVER point fingers!)!

By focusing on the team effort versus one specific mistake made by one specific person, you make it harder for your manager to single members out.

5. The Manager Who Takes Full Credit For Work They Didn’t Do

You have been working non-stop like a dog to achieve your goals.

The day comes when you have succeeded, and it is time for everyone to know.

But when the press release goes out, you are not mentioned?!??!

While it isn’t unusual for a department head to pat themselves on the back for “overseeing” your success, it is a sign of a bad leader to dismiss those who really did a majority of the job.

How To Deal

If public announcements don’t recognize the right individuals or acknowledge a team effort, the way to approach your boss depends on them.

 If you think it was a very purposeful decision, this is one time you have to let it go.

If people on your own team should have been applauded and weren’t, then do it yourself.

Even if it’s just in an internal email to them or throwing an appreciation lunch, you have the opportunity to do what your boss doesn’t: Be a leader.

But if you feel comfortable, send a quick email to your boss letting them know your team put a lot of work into the initiative and were a little disappointed not to see their names recognized publicly.

 Maybe he/she’ll apologize, maybe he/she won’t—but your team will be stronger because you have their backs.

Anybody can be a boss—it doesn’t immediately equate to being a leader. Keeping an eye out for these warning signs will help you understand the kind of person you report to—and whether it’s worth leaving them.


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

Types Of Recruiters You Will Meet (And How To Handle Them)

by
David Blog

Aug 30, 2019

at 12:23 PM

Almost everyone who has worked before has a story to tell about the recruiters they have talked to and worked with. As everyone is different, you will find different personalities and talents as well.

Some people are great! They’re amazing at what they do and true friends throughout your job search or career. Others? Yeah no. So, who are you going to encounter when hunting for a new job?

Here are five common types of recruiters you are confirmed to run into:

1. The Newbie

All recruiters were newbies once.

Sometimes, they only have three days of training and then it is time to do their job.

Most newbies will asked ignorant questions, interpreted the candidate’s background incorrectly, and stumbled on complicated terms and skills due to inexperience.

Sometimes you can even detect that these recruiters are new!

How To Deal

Be patient, kind and understanding, everyone starts soewhere.

Even better, go out of your way to use your knowledge to help the person understand your role and industry a bit better.

When the recruiter becomes more professional, they will remember you.

2. The “I Only Want Money”

Most people don’t dream of being a recruiter one day. Doctor? Yes. Engineer? Absolutely. Laywer? Sure! Recruiter? HAHAHA right.

Instead, they all go towards the business or fall into it for various reasons.

Sometimes, the reasons are noble (want to help people), other times it is less so (I just need the money).

Now, there is no shame in wanting to earn a good income, however, when “make money” comes at the expense of doing right by the candidates they serve, there will be problems.

How to Deal

If you feel like you are working with someone who seems to just keep pushing to close the deal, especially if you feel something is not right instinctively, request that they slow it down as you need to think about it.

This is important especially if the role requires big changes in your life, like relocation or resigning from a position that you like.

3. The Easily Overwhelmed

Recruiting is typically a fast-paced job that requires amazing organizational skills, multitasking abilities and able to “tahan” uncertainty.

On any given day, a hiring manager will change their mind, a top candidate will accept a job somewhere else, the scope of a role will change, and sometimes even all 3 at one go!

Not everyone is cut out for the fast pace. You will probably be able to spot “The Easily Overwhelmed” pretty quickly.

They will often seem confused or disorganized.

They may fail to follow through as promised.

They may even ask you the same question a few times across 2 days.

How To Deal

It may not be bad if you are working with someone who is showing occasional signs of overwhelm, everyone hits that point sometime in their life.

The problem comes up when it is constant, especially if it carries into the “time to close this deal” stage of the relationship.

You want someone who can handle the heat when representing you, no matter how fast-paced the environment is.

If you really doubt the recruiter that is assigned to you to be able to go far, consider speaking with the person’s supervisor about how you should proceed.

4. The Big Promiser, Small Follow-upper

Sales people—which is really what recruiters are—like to make big promises. They like to get you excited about the opportunity and raring to take a run at it.

 And this is great if your recruiter pumps you up while also following through on everything they said they will do.

It’s not so great when they makes big claims and then fails to follow up the promise with action.

“I’ll call you back tomorrow, right after I show the hiring manager your resume!”

Then nothing.

“I can negotiate at least $10K more for you on salary.”

Then acts like that conversation never happened.

It can be very annoying to deal with this type because you want to trust what they say, but they keep proving you can’t.

How To Deal

I am a believer that big promisers (and small follow uppers) are almost never behaving in this way purposely.

They’re doing so because they, too, want to believe in the words coming out of their mouths.

They have the best intentions, yet a not so good track record when it comes to putting their money where their mouths are.

Feedback may help. Try pointing out—in a kind and constructive manner—how what they have promised misled, confused, or impacted you.

Then ask if there’s a better way that the two of you can communicate going forward.

 It could be an awkward conversation, but it very well may improve correspondence going forward.

5. The Friend

Now we move on to the best-of-the-best of recruiters: The Friend.

 This is the recruiter who has worked like a madman to earn the trust and respect of the clients and hiring managers they serves.

 They look to him for his guidance, recommendations, and almost always perfect candidates.

They follow up when they say they will, and has all kinds of influence with the people they represent.

How To Deal

If you come across this recruiter, don’t ever let them go.

Keep them in your circle for life.

They will give you opportunities you probably wouldn’t have found otherwise, and submit you to their clients (or employer) in a way that excites them from word one.

They will be your partner, your advocate, and your trump card when it comes to advancing your career.

Recruiters can be incredibly helpful, and they can be a pain in the rear. The more you understand who you’re talking with and what his or her motivations, strengths, and limitations are, the better off you’ll be.


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Drastically Improve Your Chances Of Getting Hired!

by
David Blog

Aug 30, 2019

at 3:12 PM

Ever wonder why some people can find jobs so easily? Think there is a formula to it? There is! There are similarities that successful job seekers will do to increase their chances of getting the job!

1. Make A Great First Impression

The first impression we make on a hiring manager starts even before you meet them face to face.

It is your resume and cover letter that get the true first impression, so it is important that you take the time to make both of these perfect for the job you are applying for.

Don’t use fancy fonts, graphics, or too many colors, as these can be hard to read.

Ensure that your resume is easy to skim through and important information is listed fist.

A cover letter should have short paragraphs and a space between each paragraph for easier listening.

The way you introduce yourself to the hiring manager sets the tone for the rest of the interview.

Make direct eye contact, speak clearly, shake their hand, and mind your posture.

You want to come across as confident, not nervous or cocky.

The first impression will carry through the rest of the interview, so the stronger you can start out, the better.

2. Follow Up

Follow up after every single interview.

This is a requirement and you must do it 100% of the time.

It is a gesture that shows your professionalism and dedication to the job search.

Even if you think the interview went poorly, send a follow up note anyway.

Be sure to personalize your note with the hiring manager’s name, position you interviewed for, and something you took away from the interview.

3. Ask Meaningful Questions During The Interview

During a job interview, you want to ask questions that will help you learn more about the role, the culture, the people and the company itself.

Ask open-ended questions that allow the hiring manager to provide you with details.

Avoid questions that can be answered with just a yes or no unless you are just confirming something.

Asking meaningful questions benefits you in two ways.

It shows that you are actively engaged in learning more about the role.

You are actually learning more about the role!

This is a win-win situation!

4. Research

You need to research the company you will potentially be working for.

This is a must before a job interview, but that is not the only time you should be doing research.

Before you apply for a position, it is always helpful to find out a few details about the position, like potential salary range and company reviews.

Sometimes a position isn’t what it looks like in the job advertisement, and by doing a bit of research you can save yourself the time of applying to a position you might not want.

Before a job interview, you will want to search the internet to find out as much as you can about the company.

This allows you to get a better feel for the company culture and what working there might be like.

It also helps you think of questions to ask during your interview!

5. Utilize Your Network

Your network is your strongest asset.

You can tap into your network to get a direct connection to a hiring manager, help you prepare for an interview, and get advice and feedback.

Companies value recommendations, so having someone from your network make a direct connection increases your chance of your resume actually being seen by a person and turning into an interview.

You never know who might be able to help, so put yourself out there and ask for what you need!

Try to incorporate these 5 tips the next time you are out looking for a job and you will realize your chances of getting hired improves significantly!


Merdeka Day Cheap Food Promo!

# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Trending

Merdeka Day Cheap Food Promo!

by
David Blog

Aug 30, 2019

at 11:36 PM

Hey guys, it’s Merdeka Day tomorrow, and you know what that means?!?

MERDEKA DAY DISCOUNTS!!!!!!!! Here are some makan places you can go get fat tomorrow with minimal spending!

1. Kenny Rogers Roasters

Kenny Rogers is offering an all-new salted egg chicken set, available for a limited time only!

In conjuction with Merdeka special, they are offering a purchase-with-purchase. With a set of Eggstra-Sedap Salted Egg Chicken & Soup Meal, you can now get an a la carte Eggstra-Sedap Salted Egg ¼ Chicken for only RM6.20! Just bring this visual to the counter!

Valid from 29th August 2019 to 31st August 2019

2. GrabFood

It seems like 31 is a lucky number for Grab users! In conjunction with their #MakanMakanMalaysia promotion, Grab offers up to 31% off for both GrabFood and GrabPay. The details of the promotion are as followed:

GrabFood – Use the promo code HOTDEALS (Klang Valley area users) and HOTDEALS31(outside Klang Valley area users) to enjoy up to RM31 off with a minimum purchase of RM25. Valid from 26th August – 6th October 2019

GrabPay – Receive a 31% rebate of up to RM10 with no minimum spend. Valid from 26th August – 30th September 2019.

Click
HERE
 for more info!

3. Secret Recipe

Secret Recipe is offering 62% off for every 2nd slice of cake purchased for our 62nd Merdeka Day! Valid for dine-in or takeaway on 31st August 2019 (this Saturday!), starting from 12 noon to 5pm only.

4. Texas Chicken

For 1 day only, you can enjoy 2 pieces of chicken for only RM6.90. The set also comes with a free carbonated drinks of your choice.

Valid on 31st August 2019 (Tomorrow)

5. Chatime

Your favourite local boba tea store will be having a special AEON Merdeka Combo in conjunction with the upcoming National Day this week. You can now get 2 small cups of Chatime drinks for only RM12.

Promo lasts until 2nd September 2019

Applicable at Chatime AEON outlets only (click
here
 to get to know y
our nearest branches)


# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

5 Things You Deserve From Your Job (Not Just A Paycheck)

by
David Blog

Sep 3, 2019

at 10:54 AM

Let’s get straight to it guys, there is no such thing as a perfect job. But regardless of who you are working for, you must have at least some form of employee benefit or “care package”. Anything less is not giving you the respect you deserve as an employee. Here are 5 things that you deserve from your work, regardless of what your job is.

A Safe And Supportive Environment

This is the most basic.

You are at least entitled to feel safe and supported in your office.

You should be able to be yourself (of course professionally) at work and not feel worried or threatened when doing so.

Don’t worry, your expectations of needing a safe place and feeling secure in your surroundings is natural and completely understandable.

Nobody should ever have to go into the office everyday thinking who is going to stab them in the back today.

You are entitled to a basic sense of respect and a company culture that is not overflowing with toxicity.

A Boss Who Invests In Your Growth

When it comes to your job, your manager should be your best ally.

They should know about your desires and plans for professional development and provide necessary support and guidance whenever they can.

If you feel like your supervisor is always undermining your accomplishments, offering criticisms that are not constructive, and is not interested in your growth, know that you are in the right for wanting more.

Your boss doesn’t have to baby you, but they should at least guide you in the right direction.

An Understanding of Your Life Outside Work

Work is a big part of your life, but it is still not your whole life.

It is a percentage, and you have your own personal life, and your employer should understand that fact.

Countless emails and messages when your team knows you are away and unplugged, “kacau-ing” you when you have a family emergency to deal with, guilt trips when you take a well- deserved vacation….

Those are things you SHOULD NOT have to deal with on a regular basis.

You deserve a life outside of your job, and an employer who encourages you to have one!

An Appreciation For Your Contributions

There is dignity in all work. Your job exists for a reason. Regardless of your specific role, you are serving your company in some important way.

That means you should never be made to feel worthless. You should pack up and head home every evening knowing that your contributions matter and are respected by the people that you work with.

You shouldn’t be expecting parties to be thrown for you every week. But there is a big difference between that too much level of recognition vs simply feeling like you are valued as an employee and human being, and for what you have to offer to the company.

A Sense Of Fulfillment

Maybe you are not doing work that you consider to be particularly life changing.

But you still deserve a job that gives you a certain level of fulfillment and sense of purpose.

Maybe you spend your days making things run smoothly in the office, and you find it rewarding that you can make life easier for your colleagues.

Or maybe you interact with your clients and your ability to help and serve them is what leaves you feeling gratified at the end of the day.

What a “meaningful career” is different for everyone, but you should get at least some form of personal satisfaction from what you do.

Work is not always fun, that is exactly why we all get paid to be there. But, just because you go home with a paycheck doesn’t mean that everything else is forgiven. When we all spend so much of our lives in the office, we all deserve more from our jobs than just a month’s worth of rental. So yes, people can call us entitled or needy or spoiled. But in reality, we are all just trying to do the thing that is most important to us, finding happiness.


# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

5 Indicators That You Might Be Selling Your Soul (To An Evil Corporation)

by
David Blog

Sep 3, 2019

at 12:21 PM

Do you feel like your workplace is….not ideal to say the least? Something is wrong, but you just can’t put your finger on it. Your happiness seems to be suffering, you seem to be working like a robot. Well maybe, you’re in a toxic company but don’t even realize it! Well we’re here to help you out. Here are 5 signs that you are working for a toxic company!

You Choose Your Colleagues Over Your Friends And Family

It is great to get along with colleagues, and even better when you are friends.

That being said, you should have a life outside work, and if you do, you should actually be spending time in it. According to science, it can actually define your happiness!

This means you should not be prioritizing your co-workers over your friends, and you should not be constantly cancelling family events because of work emergencies.

Your Happiness At Work Defines Your Overall Happiness

Nobody will argue with you if you say that having a good day at work is always better than having a bad one.

However, if your overall happiness depends on how well your boss treats you, or how you’re recognized by your colleagues, your priorities are kind of in the wrong.

Realistically you are never going to be truly happy if  you are relying on the validation of others.

Instead, you need to find happiness by accomplishing your own goals both in and outside of your career, and following your own chosen set of core life values.

True happiness comes from within yourself, not from your coworkers telling you that you are great.

You’re Having Trouble Sleeping

We all know that when we stop sleeping well, there is usually some kind of reason.

Maybe you are stressing about work you haven’t done, or your mind is stressed with meetings you don’t want to forget, or you are thinking about that bad conversation you had with your boss.

No job is worth sacrificing your ability to rest and recharge.

And to be fair, frequent lack of sleep only makes your life and your job harder.

You Can’t Stop Thinking About Work Outside Work

Sometimes, it is tough not to think about work when we leave the office, even on vacation.

But even people who LOVE their work and love what they do, know that they need to unplug sometimes to recharge.

If there is no way you can ignore emails or messages from your boss, or you find yourself talking about work with friends more often than not, you are giving up too much of yourself to your job.

You’re Setting Up Camp At Your Desk

Your desk probably has a few vital necessities like a water bottle, office supplies, some snacks and an extra pair of shoes.

But a major warning sign that your job is taking over your life is when your desk starts to become a full-on living space.

Maybe you are stashing away full outfits or entire toiletry bags, or maybe you have a whole week of food in the office fridge.

Either way, when you start making your workspace more like your home than your actual home, you are spending TOO MUCH TIME on your job.

The first step in getting out of any toxic environment is recognizing the red flags. If any of these hit home for you, you may be ready to take the leap and find an organization that actually promotes work-life balance—not just pretends to.


# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

Why And How You Should Unplug On Vacation

by
David Blog

Sep 3, 2019

at 1:37 PM

Are you one of those types who desperately need a vacation but always keep making excuses? When you go on a vacation you’re still working and plugged in because you want to perform well? Think your excuses are valid? Well think again! Here’s every excuse you have ever made to not unplugging during a vacation, destroyed and explained.

I’ll Have Too Much Work When I Return

This might be true.

However, unless you are planning on making this a true workcation (work vacation), then there is very little you will be able to get done from your phone.

So constantly looking at and responding to messages won’t help you do much.

It will just stress you out when you see what is waiting for you!

I’d Prefer To Know What’s Going On At Work

Sometimes it is good to know that, but it is better to spend 20 to 30 minutes before you leave work to come up with an actual to-do list for everything you have coming up.

While things will be added while you are on vacation, most of the time, doing this will give you a good idea on what your first few days back will look like, instead of making a to-do list over time.

What If Someone Needs Something From Me, And Because I Don’t Reply, They Get In Trouble?

This one is easy to settle.

First, message your most reliable teammate, and see if they can help while you are out.

Next, make a list of anyone you regularly work with and shoot them an email letting them know the dates that you will be unreachable; ask if there is anything you can do in advance.

Then, a few days before you leave, you can send the same email as a reminder.

But in the second one, you can add a few lines like “I won’t be able to check my work email while I am gone. You can reach out to (coworker) for any requests. If it is an emergency that requires my attention, WhatsApp me.”

Doing this will benefit you in two ways

It gives you the peace of mind that you won’t affect someone’s career while you are gone.

Your colleagues will think twice about whether to “kacau” you and if it really is an emergency or not.

I Feel Guilty Asking For People To Help When I’m Sitting On The Beach

Assuming you’re asking your teammates to simply cover for you (and not do your entire 40-hour-a-week job), you shouldn’t feel guilty.

This is part of working with others! This week, (coworker) handles your clients for you. Next week, (coworker) goes vacation and you handle their emergencies.

I’m A Very Important Person

Think about it, what are you doing that is so important that the whole company will die without you?

Yes, you may be very important and a vital part of your team, but it does not mean your absence for a week or two will change the whole dynamics of the company drastically.

Unless you are a surgeon or a fund manager, most of these emergencies do not require immediate attention.

If your colleague is calling you for an emergency, your lack of response may not be much of a problem, but if it is a client, then you may need to respond ASAP.

This does not mean you MUST answer however, remember the trusted colleagues you asked for help? They can settle your problems while you are away for you.

If that doesn’t work, the “WhatsApp me in case of emergency” plan will come in.

Sometimes I Automatically Check My Work Email And I Don’t Realize It

If this is the problem, here is my solution to you.

Turn off ALL notifications.

Move your apps to a “Do Not Open” Folder, and don’t touch that folder on your vacation.

Just creating this extra step would make it harder for you to mindlessly check your work related stuff.

And that is all there is to it, every excuse you made for checking work related things while you are on vacation, destroyed. Now of course there are some jobs that make disconnecting impossible. If you are one of those, do the best you can. But before you just accept it, ask yourself, who is putting the pressure on you to stay on top of your inbox. Your company or YOU?


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack

5 Things You Need To Know To Be An Adult

by
David Blog

Sep 3, 2019

at 5:25 PM

You think you’re officially an adult? Maybe not, unless you have learnt these 5 things in life!

Cleaning

Cleaning shows at least a bit of responsibility.

If you don’t even have enough sense of responsibility to clean up after yourself, it’s hard to do other adult things in life.

When you automatically do your cleaning, it means you are more responsible as a person, and more of an adult.

Doing Your Own Grocery Shopping

If you can do your own grocery shopping, it shows that you know what you want and you are organized.

Being able to make a list and go out to do something as boring as this basically means that you have the integrity and discipline to do menial tasks and that you can handle harder tasks in life.

Doing grocery shopping also means you know how to manage your own finances, which will be another point later on.

Cooking

Knowing how to cook means you know how to take care of yourself.

The most important thing as an adult is to find your own food and shelter, and if you are able to do this, you are basically already further along the lines that most of your friends who don’t!

Cooking also means you take care of your health as you usually plan what you want to cook and what the health benefits for it is!

Stable Job

As you need a stable job to be able to find food and shelter, having one basically means you are taking care of yourself.

Having a stable job also means that you are able to fully take care of yourself without your parents help, and that is the key step into going into adulthood and being autonomous!

This also means you have a mode of transport and a roof over your head, that you are supporting yourself, which is a key point in adulthood as well!

Banking

Being able to do your banking, your income tax, manage your finances etc, shows that you are able to fully take care of yourself.

You do not need your parents help with these sorts of things anymore, and after you get used to it, you can even take care of other people.

The discipline it takes to be able to manage your finances is proof that you are ready for the adult world!

By the time you are able to do all 5 of these, congratulate yourself. You are an adult who does not need to rely on mommy and daddy to live, and can survive in society all on your own!


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack

What Schools Should Teach Students For A Better Future

by
David Blog

Sep 3, 2019

at 6:53 PM

Our schools always teach us typical stuff like y=mx+C or a^2+b^2=c^2, but let's be honest, when have we ever used that in our working lives? Instead they should teach us better things that allow us to be brighter adults in the future such as....

Communication and Social Skills

Many kids these days are lacking of social skills.

Think about this. How do you handle problems when you are angry with someone?

Do you avoid it or just ignore it?

Do you face it head on and have a discussion?

Do you view it as a competition that you must win?

Those are three of the most common ways people approach conflict.

But are either of these effective? Usually it is not!

We were all taught to approach relationship problems with a “we” or a “team” attitude, we would all be a lot happier.

So as a result, we usually end up mimicking our parents’ conflict styles - or we go the complete opposite direction.

Money

In schools we usually learn basic finances, but they never teach us the real importance of things like what is a credit score, how to invest, how to not go into debt.

What about the importance of a future saving plan, or a retirement account?

Usually no school ever teaches these even if they are crucial for our future.

If there was formal training in finances, our society would be much more wise with our money now!

How To Cook, Eat and Stay Healthy

If you go to any public places like a mall, take a look at people.

Notice how many of them are not only overweight, but don’t look healthy.

Unless you were taught this in school or by parents, you won’t have this habit with you in your adult life.

Most of us grew up with junk food in our lunches, eating ramen or going to get some fast food.

We would have a much healthier society if our schools taught this to us at an early age and our medical system would be less overwhelmed.

How To Fix Things

Unless you took Kemahiran Hidup, you wouldn’t know how to fix things. Even so, most of us who did still don’t know because they don’t fully teach us and they follow a syllabus.

By teaching skills like these, most of us would be much more independent at an early age instead of not knowing what to do other than to call a person to come and repair things when they break.

How To Plan Your Life

Most adults these days still “don’t know what they want to be when they grow up”

A lot of people in University and working adults still don’t know their life purpose.

Most people just fall into some job or line of work because they need to make money.

Not many of them really enjoy their work and feel like they are making a difference in the world.

Our schools should expose kids to more career options and help guide them to find their passion.

Once they do, it is also important for them to know the effective strategies of job hunting and interviewing.

Unfortunately, most schools will not ever integrate any of these topics into their curriculum.

If these were implemented in schools, I think that most people would be much better off as adults at a younger age and our country would prosper so much more!


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

Resume Doctor : How To Make A Golden Resume!

by
David Blog

Sep 4, 2019

at 9:57 AM

Hey guys! It’s time for another “Resume Doctor” series. Today, we’re covering 5 things that may damage your resume, and what you should leave out!

Irrelevant Work Experience

Related experience is usually the number one factor employers use to determine whether you’re qualified for the position.

 So any previous experience that’s irrelevant or not of use will only distract the recruiter.

What does “irrelevant” mean here?

 If the skills you learnt at your previous job are not transferrable to the new role you’re applying to, they shouldn’t be taking up space on your resume.

For example, if you’re applying for a position in marketing, but your experience is a combination of marketing and sales, re-do your resume to focus on your marketing experience and skills, and minimize—or even remove—the sales information.

If removing those details leaves your resume looking kind of empty, try and include transferrable and relevant skills, related academic projects and a great cover letter!

Potentially Controversial Personal Experience

Sometimes you could be putting your application in the “no” pile if recruiters are not interested in the personal details you share.

 It’s best to keep your religious beliefs, political affiliations, and anything else that might be seen as controversial out of the application.

There’s one exception, though, which is information that is so important to your identity that it is part of your core personality.

If so, include the information and use your application as a test to find an accepting employer.

Your Address

Did you know, including your address in a job application is a big deal?

It could hurt your chances of landing a dream position.

 If you are not a local applicant, then hiring managers have every reason to move onto the next candidate, even if you are willing to relocate.

If you are a local applicant, sharing your address could still be disadvantageous because employers consider your commute time.

 This is because in-house recruiters know that people with long commutes have more stress and often eventually quit ‘because of the commute.’”

If your commute would be longer than normal for example going from Sg.Buloh to Bangsar, your resume often finds its way into the ‘maybe’ or ‘no’ pile.”

Sometimes, of course, an address is required as part of your application.

But if not, it’s OK to leave it off your resume and cover letter and list your phone number, email address, and link to your LinkedIn profile instead.

Awards From A Long Time Ago

A lot of college graduates list their high school awards, and the number of mid- and senior-level professionals list their college awards.

The point is, we write about our past achievements more often than we’d think. And it makes sense: You created your LinkedIn profile and wrote your first resume a long time ago.

But that doesn’t mean recruiters will be impressed by an accomplishment you received 10 years earlier.

 If anything, it looks like you haven’t accomplished anything impressive since.

Filler Lines

“References available upon request.” “Please see my enclosed resume.” “Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.”

Every line counts in your cover letter and resume, and you’re just wasting space by writing out anything that’s inherently implied by applying to the position.

 Instead, use any additional room to make it crystal clear why you’re the perfect fit for the position.

With these points in mind, you can make your resume even more concise and clear to be really able to sell yourself!


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Professionally Answer Illegal Interview Questions

by
David Blog

Sep 4, 2019

at 11:26 AM

Imagine this, you are in an interview for your dream job, and everything is going perfect. You answered all the difficult questions nicely, and you and your interviewer becoming buddy-buddy. Then, all of a sudden, your interviewer asks, “So what religion are you?”

Did you know that is illegal? Yes! Any question related to your family, nationality, gender, race, religion and more are all illegal. But sadly, these questions get asked more often than you think. So, before you get into the interview, it is good to know how to respond if you are faced with one.

Here are the best professional ways to deal with these illegal questions when the interviewer decides to drop it on you!

Sexual Orientation

Discriminatory questions about sexual orientation are very common these days in Malaysia, especially given our current social circumstances.

 I’ve had a colleague told me in previous interview they asked him “you seem kind of...effeminate. Are you gay??”

But in reality, nothing related to sexual orientation should be asked in the interview process—at all.

 If it comes up, the best approach is to answer the question, but without referencing sexual orientation.

For example, if you’re asked, “How would you handle managing a team of all men?”, drop the last part of the question and focus on your leadership skills, instead. Try: “I’m very comfortable in a management role. In fact, in my last position, the department I led exceeded its annual sales goals for three years straight.”

Marital and Family Status

Sometimes, interviewers will ask you on your marital status, on the assumption that you need to have someone to ground you or something along those lines.

I’ve had an interviewer ask me if I was planning to get married, because according to him, unmarried people are more likely to jump jobs because they have no commitments to take care of. >.>

There’s a chance that you may be faced with the same question I did, even if questions related to your family status are technically illegal, but employers often ask them to get a read on your future commitment to the job and company.

An appropriate answer to these types of questions would be “You know, I’m not quite there yet. But I am very interested in the career paths at your company. Can you tell me more about that?”

This assures the interviewer that you’re committed to your professional growth, but doesn’t promise them anything in terms of your future—and lets you change the topic of the conversation back to a job-related topic.

Race

Malaysian employers sometimes like to ask about your race.

It is technically illegal to employ someone based on their race alone, and if they ask you for it, you can keep it neutral.

Answer stating your nationality and inform the interviewer that you are a Malaysian or are legally authorised to work in the country.

If the interviewer keeps on pushing the question, you might have to politely spell it out and ask “May I know why my race is a matter of concern and how it would affect my ability to do the job?”

Age

We've all heard of age discrimination for example,

Younger candidates getting passed up for more experienced ones, and older workers being pushed aside in favor of junior employees who might cost less in terms of salary.

Be prepared to address what the interviewer is trying to get at: Do you have the required experience for the position?

A good answer would be to turn back to your job-related skills: highlighting specific accomplishments and how your experience can benefit the company.

Alternatively, if your age does not affect your ability to do the job and has no relevance to the interview, you can also joke with them and say “Old enough to drive!” and laugh it off. Hopefully they will get the idea and move on.

Religion

If this question pops up, you can ask how it is relevant to the job.

You can also lighten the mood by saying something along the lines of “Hey, I thought we aren’t supposed to talk about sensitive topics such as religion and politics during business meetings?”

This way you can kill two birds with one stone, it deflects the question and ensures that the interviewer won’t ask you about politics next!

Overall, the best approach is to determine why the interviewer is asking the question and whether they have a legitimate concern they are trying to address. Then, tailor your answer to speak to that concern, gracefully avoid the illegal part of the question, and turn the conversation back to your job related strengths.


How To Get A Job With ZERO Experience!

# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Get A Job With ZERO Experience!

by
David Blog

Sep 4, 2019

at 12:16 PM

Your dream job just got posted, and you’re super excited. There’s just one problem: You just graduated and literally (and I actually mean literally) have zero relevant work experience. Whether you’re a career changer or a new grad with no internships experience, haven’t even eaten any salt, what can you actually put on your resume that makes you look as qualified as possible?

Don’t worry! There are a few different things you can include, as well as a couple of formatting tricks that will help you present yourself in the best light possible.

Relevant and Transferrable Skills

A lot of resumes will begin with relevant work experience or education if you are a fresh grad.

That is problematic you don’t have any relevant experience!

Rather than waste that space on your resume putting useless info and confuse the recruiter, start with your relevant skills.

Don’t say that you do not have anything, if not why would you be applying for this job?!

You might have transferable abilities from a previous, unrelated experience, or maybe you developed skills while in school doing academic projects.

 In any case, if you’re a career changer, try listing all your skills together in a summary at the beginning of your resume.

 New grads, put your skills section from the bottom of your resume to the spot right under your education.

Related and Side Academic Projects

Speaking of academic projects, it’s important to note that those are fair game and should definitely be included in your resume.

The same goes for side projects that you’ve done outside of work or school.

As long as you are clearly labeling this experience as project work, there is nothing preventing you from including it in your resume—and you absolutely should!

 Don’t make the assumption that only full-time, paid experiences can be on your resume.

One way to do this is to create a “Projects” section. Here, you would write about your project work the same way you would for work experience.

 Think about the experiences you’ve had that helped you realize your career interests. Was it a class project? Maybe you volunteered to help with something that ultimately inspired your newfound career goals.

That’s experience that you can include on your resume under a “Projects” section. Format it similarly to help the recruiter understand that this  is valuable experience that should be evaluated when considering your candidacy for the position you are interested in.

A Great Cover Letter

Okay, this isn’t technically part of your resume, but pairing a resume with a strong cover letter makes it overall stronger.

 This is especially important if you have no relevant experience or a winding career path.

 Find a way to connect your passions and life experiences with the company, then explain how that will translate into you hitting the ground running once you’re hired.

You’ll find that link is exactly the kind of experience employers are looking for from recent grads.

This is true for career changers, too, but you also have a little bit more experience to work with.

 The cover letter is the perfect opportunity for you to show that your life skills and passion is exactly what the company is looking for in an employee. For example, your passion is writing, and you are applying as a content writer. Be specific here.

You want to really spell it out for hiring managers and explain why your non-traditional background might even be an asset, so that when they’re done with your letter they have a good understanding of why it makes sense for them to hire you.

Finding a new career is not easy, especially since many entry-level jobs are now asking for two or three years of experience. The trick to overcoming this is to show that you are a qualified person because of your personality and what you really enjoy doing even without a paycheck. A strong cover letter, resume, networking and luck will bring you the job that you really want!


Cheap MAS Promo, Flights Up To 40% Off!

# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Trending

Cheap MAS Promo, Flights Up To 40% Off!

by
David Blog

Sep 4, 2019

at 12:36 PM

Hey guys, great news!

Malaysia Airlines is the host of MATTA FAIR September 2019.

They are offering discounts up to 40% for domestic and international flights PLUS exclusive travel bundles to improve your overall flying experience with them!

What’s more, book your flights now until 9 Sept 2019 and stand a chance to win a FREE Business Class upgrade!

Sales period: 4 until 9 Sep 2019

Travel period: Now until 15 Aug 2020

Instead of paying for your tickets in one full transaction, you can now choose to pay them off later in an instalment plan that suits you.

With Fly Now, Pay Later, its possible for travellers to fulfil their travel dreams and help ease the financial burden at the same time.

Don’t worry, the plans are offered at 0% interest, so you can pay without having to worry about it later.

The payment option is currently available via Maybank and Public Bank.

Click

HERE

for more info!


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack

Learn To Play Guitar Solo Like A Pro (in 5 minutes)!

by
David Blog

Sep 4, 2019

at 3:21 PM

Hey guys! Let’s try something new today! Have you ever listened to songs, then a guitar solo comes on. You think, “wah dam nice wei I wish I knew how to play liddat!” If this is you, today is your lucky day. In 1 short article, I will teach you how to start soloing on the guitar!

First, pick up your guitar and look at the neck. You see got dots right?

Okay good. Now Focus on the 2nd (and 3rd) dot. Like this.

Now, remember that little box. And then inside that box, there is a small shape that looks like this.

RED
 = okay, not bad

YELLOW

= Nice

GREEN
 = WAHHHHHHH I CAN PLAY SOLO!!!!

For a clearer image here you go!

Any of these notes will sound overall GOOD, but if you want it to sound amazing, it boils down to your creativity!

Anyway, here is the next step.

Click Here For Link

Listen to this, and play the notes however you want!

You will notice that it sounds okay, but then as you practice more you will sound better and better.

If you have a friend who plays the guitar as well, ask them to play C, G, Aminor, F.

You guys can play along together and wow your friends and make them think you very pro at guitar!!!

*If you want more songs to play to, just search up "
A minor backing track
" on youtube!


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Trending

What To Do During The Long Weekend (With No Money)

by
David Blog

Sep 4, 2019

at 4:45 PM

Wah long holiday, no money….dunno what to do? No problem! Here are some ideas on what to do over the 3 day weekend that will cost ZERO money!

Stay Home

Yes! Stay at home! But don’t just be lazy do nothing instead, catch up on things that you don’t have time to do when you are working. For example,

Clean your whole house, spotless. Usually when you are working you either don’t have time to clean or you only clean a little bit. Now, since you have so much spare time, why not spring clean make it nice and sparkly?

Watch some movies with that special person, cuddle in bed, have a hot cup of milo. Wah! What a stress free and love-filled weekend!

Go and exercise! No gym at home? Even better! I am 99% sure most of us don’t even know how our neighborhood looks like. So go out for a nice walk/jog and get a bit of exercise while exploring the place you live more, and familiarize yourself!

Visit Your Family

How many of you guys haven’t seen your parents in a while?

Your parents thinking about you so much! Haiyoh! Go to their house and spend the weekend with them lah! Enjoy mom’s cooking and dad’s lecture. Update them on your life and make them proud of the great person that you have become, and how productive you’ve been!

Spend time with your pets and your siblings, I bet they miss you too! Play with them, bring them out, or even stay at home, have a beer play some mahjong. Song ah!

Do Your Chores

Other than cleaning your house and visiting your family, you can also do your tasks that you have been putting off.

Look at your car, does it look dirty? Give it a wash and scrub, wax it down, then Tuesday drive to work and make your colleagues think you bought a new car!

Got a pile of laundry? Why not slowly take the time to wash it, then fold all your clothes make your cupboard look organized and clean as well!

Play Some Games

Used to be a gamer but no time to game? Well now is the perfect time to do so. Catch up on levelling up your character, do some quest in game, play with your friends etc.

Download a new online game, try something out, you might like it so much you would wish the weekend was longer so you can chiong more levels!

Experiment With Cooking

Fridge a lot of leftovers that you haven’t had the time to cook? Why not try something out of the ordinary and just make a new recipe!

Who knows maybe you might become the next Chef Ramsay with your signature “Banana and Pork Burger In Peanut Sauce” (please don’t do something crazy like that unless you also a crazy person! haha)


# Job Tips

Highest Paying Engineering Jobs With Great Benefits (Company Trips and Allowance) For You!

by
David Blog

Sep 6, 2019

at 3:55 PM

Johor

CISCO CCNA Network Engineer

Total Neutron Solution Sdn Bhd @ Pengerang, Johor

Monthly Income Up To RM6,500 | Various Allowances | Performance-Based Rewards | Overtime Incentives | EPF | SOCSO | Team-Based Working Environment

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2ZHKZtH

Automation Engineer

i-Stone Systems Sdn Bhd @ Senai, Johor

Company trip | Education Support | Medical Benefit | Miscellaneous Allowance | Dental Allowance | Sports | Parking | Insurance Coverage | Bonus & Performance Incentives

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2ZIJUls

Selangor

Computer Helpdesk Cum Support engineer

Total Neutron Solution Sdn Bhd @ Cyberjaya, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM2,800 | Shift Basis | Various Allowances | Shift Allowance | Overtime Incentives

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2ZSP0vy

Design Engineer

ETD Transmission & Distribution Sdn Bhd @ Shah Alam, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM3,200 | Medical Benefit | Annual Leave | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2ZNRlHO

Service Technician

Hongjet Technology Sdn Bhd @ Batu Caves, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM5,000 | Full Time | Medical Benefit | Overtime Allowance | Travelling Allowance | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2ZGmtsR

Pulau Pinang

Project Engineer

Fortress Solution Sdn Bhd @ Puchong, Selangor | Prai, Pulau Pinang

Monthly Income Up To RM5,000 | Training Provided | Bonus | Profit Sharing | Annual Leave | Travelling Allowance | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2ZJ7cHK


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Job Tips

High Income IT Jobs (upwards of RM15,000) With A Chance To Work Overseas!

by
David Blog

Sep 6, 2019

at 4:02 PM

Selangor

Technical Support Engineer

Vipro Solutions Sdn Bhd @ Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Monthly income up to RM3,500 | Medical Coverage | Insurance Coverage | Miscellaneous Allowance

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PMaOoD

Senior Software Developer

CardBiz Solutions Sdn Bhd @ Bandar Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM7,000 | Medical Coverage | Dental Claim | Friendly Colleagues And Management | Comfortable Working Environment | Yearly Increment And Performance Bonus | 5-Days A Week |Flexible Working Hours

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PPfw4S

Apps Moderator (Midnight Shift)

Tantan Hong Kong Limited @ Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Monthly income up to RM3,800 | Medical Leave | Annual Leave | Work From Home | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PNwjoZ

Software Developer

Lockswitch Sdn Bhd @ Bandar Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Casual Working Environment | Young And Talented & Vibrant Team | Flexible Working Arrangements | Exposure To Numerous Technologies And Industries | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PMbwCj

Software Developer

Unisys (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd @ Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM6,500 | Medical Insurance | Working Hours 9 to 6 | Car Park | Education | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2Q5mnrl

PHP Programmer

Ixchel Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd @ Subang Jaya, Selangor

Near To LRT | Medical Coverage | Annual Leave | Medical Leave |

Friendly Staff And Management | Comfortable Working Environment | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PSsDSU

Web Design Manager (Mandarin Speaking)

Sovereign Gateway Sdn Bhd @ Bandar Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM10,500 | Competitive Remuneration Salary Package | Higher Variety Leave Entitlement | 5-Days Per Week Job | Attractive and Competitive Benefits | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PRr47N

Quality Assurance Engineer

Jie Communication Sdn Bhd @ Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM4,000 | Medical | Staff Purchase | Team Building | Annual Body Checkup | Friendly Staff And Management

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2ZKhIP1

Programmer Executive

People Reengineering Consultancy @ Pusat Bandar Puchong, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM5,000 | Medical Benefit | Good Office Location | Chance To Work From Home | Laptop Provided | Annual Leave | Medical Leave | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PQcHAQ

Dot Net Software Developer

Unisys (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd @ Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM7,000 | Normal Working Hours | Medical Insurance | Car Parking | Education | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PNwW1P

Application Developer (C, C++)

CardBiz Solutions Sdn Bhd @ Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM4,000 | Medical Benefit | Teeth Polishing | Allowance Mileage Claims | Flexible Working Hours | Yearly Performance Increment | Bonus | Many Benefits| Friendly Colleagues and Management | Comfortable Working Environment | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PZM9x8

Software Developer (ASP.NET, VB.NET)

CardBiz Solutions Sdn Bhd @ Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Monthly Income Up To RM3,500 | Medical Benefit | Allowance Mileage Claims | Flexible Working Hours | Yearly Performance Increment | Bonus | Many Benefits| Friendly Colleagues and Management | Comfortable Working Environment | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PNwW1P

Kuala Lumpur

Junior .NET Software Engineer Cum Senior Infrastructure Engineer

Innoxoft @ Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM4,000 | Medical Benefit | Insurance Claim | Leave Entitlement | Incentive Trip | Performance Related Increment | Bonus

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PSvDPg

Software Engineer cum Software Developer (PHP)

Avexis Solution Sdn Bhd @ Old Klang Road, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM5,000 | Training And Guidance Provided | Hostel Provided | Team Building Events | Friendly Team And Colleagues

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PMc7Uu

IT Support cum Customer Service (Mandarin Speaking)

Avexis Solution Sdn Bhd @ Puchong, Selangor | Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly income up to RM3,500 | Medical Coverage | Annual Leave | Public Holidays | Team Building | 6-Days A Week (1 Day Off) | 8-Hour Shifts | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PMi6bP

Mobile Developer

RecursiveX @ Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM6,000 | Family-Like Team | No Company Politics | 32’ Monitor | Bring Your Own Device To Work With Subsidy | Midday Outing For Blockbuster Movies | Medical Coverage | EIS | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PPdWzW

Multimedia Cum Graphic Designers

BestWeb Technologies Sdn Bhd @ Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM5,000 | Bonus | Incentives | Company Overseas Trips | Working Hours 9 to 6 | 5-Working Days | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PPu58L

.NET Developer

Cheery International Sdn Bhd @ Bandar Tasek Selatan, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM8,500 | Salary Based On Experience | Working Hours 9 to 6 | 5-Working Days

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PRGwkl

Full Stack Developer (Fintech)

Convoy (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. @ Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM9,000 | Medical Coverage | Annual Leave | Birthday Leave | Miscellaneous Allowances

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PZLJH4

Quality Assurance Engineer

Innotrend Marketing Sdn Bhd @ Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM3,500 | Opportunity For Personal And Career Development | Medical Benefits | Annual Leave | Medical Leave | Special Leave | Health Scanning Package | 5-Days Per Week Job | Free Snacks In Office | Punctuality Bonus | Year End Bonus | Monthly Entertainment

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PMc9f9

UI Designer

Rentas Ara Sdn Bhd. @ Lorong Binjai, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM4,500 | Medical Coverage | Annual Leave | Medical Leave |

Transportation Allowances | Birthday Incentive | Company Trip | Company Outing | Festive Gift | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PMaCWm

Mobile Application Developer (iOS / Android)

Avexis Solution Sdn Bhd @ Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM4,500 | Medical Coverage | 5-Days Work | Friendly Team and Colleagues | Annual Leave

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2POHtdf

iOS App Developer

Rentas Ara Sdn Bhd @ Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM6,000 | Medical Coverage | Transportation Allowance | Performance Incentive | Company Trip | Company Outing | Birthday Allowance | Festive Gift | Casual Attire

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2POHyxz

Software Engineer

Verificer Sdn Bhd @ KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM4,500 | Near to KL Sentral Station | Flexible Working Hours | Open And Friendly Working Environment | Full of Young, Passionate and Nice Colleagues | Opportunity To Travel To Hong Kong and China

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PRXL5d

DevOps Engineer

Globe Asia Services @ Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM15,000 | Meals Provided | Birthday Allowance | Opportunity To Work Overseas

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PMbtGy

Social Media Marketing Executive

Art Deco Fintech Sdn bhd @ Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Income Up To RM5,000 | High Basic | Yearly Bonus | Young And Fun Working Environment | Platform To More Creative Ideas | Welcome Candidate From Advertising Agencies

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PMbD0C

Sarawak

Social Media Marketing Executive

Harbour-Link Group Berhad @ Bintulu, Sarawak

Annual Bonus | Salary Increment | Free Parking | Annual Leave | Personal Or Group Insurance | EPF | SOCSO | EIS | Training Provided | Career Advancement Opportunity (Management / Different Department) | Company Event | Annual Dinner | Medical Claim

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PMbNVM

Pulau Pinang

IT Technician

KP Wellness Sdn Bhd @ Simpang Ampat, Pulau Pinang

Monthly income up to RM2,000 | Incentives | Attractive Commissions | Training Provided | Courses And Training On Company Cost | EPF | SOCSO

Apply Now >>
http://bit.ly/2PKgKhJ


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

6 Things To Consider (Other Than Money) When Accepting A Job Offer

by
David Blog

Sep 10, 2019

at 10:42 AM

So, you finally got that job offer? Congratulations. Even if the money is important, don’t forget to make the right decision before signing yourself off to that corporation. If you don’t know what is there to consider other than the money, it is….

The People

No, the number one consideration is not the money—it’s the people.

 Your boss, your team, and the co-workers that will surround you everyday are crucial for your happiness and success at a job.

 Sure, it’s hard to judge people after only meeting them briefly, but think about how they treated you during the interview process.

Were they friendly?

Did they ask personal questions as well as professional ones?

 Did they call you back in a timely manner?

The answers to these questions may reflect how your co-workers and superiors will treat you as an employee.

I recently interviewed with a company who didn’t call me back for several weeks after our five-minute speed-interview.

When I finally got the return call, we proceeded with a 10-minute interview, and then they made me an offer.

 Is someone who’s ready to hire you after 15 minutes really considering how well you’ll fit into the team? Probably not.

The Environment

Weigh the goods and bads of working for a corporation, an agency, a nonprofit, or a startup.

 They’re very, very different environments, and it’s important to decide which one you would feel most comfortable in.

If you’re more of an individual worker who likes structure and competition, the corporate path may be for you.

If you want a fast-paced environment that’s new every day, an agency or startup may be a good choice.

The physical location is also important to consider.

 A long commute or lack of lunch options may affect your everyday attitude.

Nothing is worse than going to a miserable work environment every morning—and even worse, taking that unhappiness home with you, too.

The Benefits

Having a great benefits package is important for a lot of reasons.

 If a company offers its employees perks like health, dental, retirement, and flexible spending plans, it can mean they’re competitive and doing well financially.

 If a place doesn’t offer benefits package, it might just be because they’re small, but it could also imply that they’re struggling as a company.

Even if benefits aren’t overly important to you, working for a company without them is something to carefully consider.

The Stability

A lot of organizations are able to impress with their past work or current profits, but take some time to do research on the company’s recent success and hiring activities.

Has it been operating steadily during our economic recession in Malaysia?

If so, you’re likely looking at a pretty stable job.

If not, be careful: you could be walking into a hazardous environment and a job that could be gone within a year.

The Money

When looking at a job offer, or comparing two, often the most tempting thing to do is to go for the money, but that’s not necessarily the right approach.

Trust me, I have taken a job for the money and hated it, and taken a massive pay cut to work somewhere I love.

 I’ve learned that salary is only a small part of my happiness at work.

Consider what salary you could live with, as well as the amount that would make a job offer irresistible, and keep those numbers in mind.

Think more about the whole package and less about the numbers on your monthly paycheck.

Your Instinct

Finally, after you’ve weighed the important factors, take time to listen to what your instinct is telling you.

People often say when they’re buying a house, “when you walk into the one, you’ll feel it.”

 Same advice here: if you walk out of an interview and everything feels right (or wrong),  pay attention to that feeling.


What Mask To Wear To Prepare For Haze!

# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Trending

What Mask To Wear To Prepare For Haze!

by
David Blog

Sep 10, 2019

at 11:24 AM

Recently, Malaysia has been suffering from haze again thanks to *cough* cough* our friendly neighbors from over the sea. Thus, the time has come again to protect our nose and lungs from the silent-hill like weather and keep our health in check with a good choice of face mask. Every face mask is constructed for a specific purpose, and choosing the wrong one will only give a false sense of security and little real life protection. Thus this article, I will show you the different types of face mask and how to properly use them!

Surgical Masks

Common surgical masks shown in the diagram are meant to catch the your own bodily fluids, such as saliva and nasal discharge, and prevent any infectious liquid droplets from spreading to others.

For example, if you are sick you wear this so OTHER PEOPLE don’t kena you. A surgical mask should be worn if you are down with a cold, flu, or cough, and when you are working with patients.

They are not designed to protect you from inhaling airborne bacteria, viruses and small particles.

Surgical masks typically have two straps, one on each side, that hook over the ears. Some may come with one strap that goes above the ears.

Surgical masks cannot provide adequate protection against fine particles present in smoke and haze.

Respirators

Respirators, also known as particulate respirators, are devices designed to protect the wearer from inhaling harmful dusts, fumes, vapors or gases.

There are two main forms of respirators:
disposable and reusable.

Disposable Respirators

Disposable respirators are masks that have the word “NIOSH” and either “N95“, “N99“, “N100“, “R95“, “R99“, “R100“, “P95“, “P99” or “P100” printed on them.

The U.S. federal agency recommends this for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. A product that bears the word NIOSH means it meets certain standard recommended by the agency.

The letter refers to the oil resistance of the respirator as indicated below:

N: Not oil resistant

R: Oil resistant

P: Oil proof

The number indicates the minimum amount of airborne particles (in percentage) that the respirator is able to filter. For instance, if a respirator is “N95” certified, it means it can filter at least 95% of particles that do not contain oil.

Disposable respirators should come with at least two straps that go around the head, one above the ears and one below. This ensures a tighter and closer fit to prevent particles from seeping through any loose gap.

It is important to wear the mask snugly over your nose and under your chin. A mask that is worn loosely will not give adequate protection.

Disposable respirators are only meant for single use as their filters cannot be cleaned or replaced. They should be replaced regularly.

It should also be noted that disposable respirators usually come in only one adult size. They will not fit children and toddlers.

Unused disposable respirators are valid for about three years from the date of manufacture, if they are not opened and are stored properly. Some brands may last longer or shorter; be sure to check the expiry date before use.

When used properly, a disposable respirator can protect you from smoke and haze.

Reusable Respirators

Examples of reusable respirators are those used by firefighters and people who work with dangerous chemicals. They come in either full face or half face.

Reusable respirators that come with air purifying feature, as shown in the picture. It can be fitted with different types of filters to provide the level of protection that you need. For example, the pink filters used in the respirator shown is P100-certified.

Reusable respirators come in a few different sizes, usually small, medium and large, to fit different faces. That said, they are usually not meant to fit the small face of young kids.

One major advantage reusable respirators have over disposable ones is that they conform better to the curves of the face, giving a tighter and more comfortable seal (and hence better protection) than disposable respirators.

Unlike disposable respirators, filters on reusable respirators also last longer, can be used multiple times and can be replaced easily.

Some reusable respirators can even be connected to an alternative air supply, such as a high-pressure gas tank, to completely eliminate any chances of inhaling toxic particles.

When used properly, reusable respirators offer the
best protection
 against haze and smoke.

So what are you waiting for? Get yourself a respirator today so you can live a healthier tomorrow!!


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Get Your Colleagues To Respect You (When You're The Office Baby)

by
David Blog

Sep 10, 2019

at 12:57 PM

Are you the baby of your office? Being the youngest one sometimes is hard, nobody takes you seriously and you always feel like the xiao didi/meimei. Don’t worry, here are some tips on how to gain the respect of your colleagues and make them listen to you and respect you even if you are young!

Dress for business, not for college or clubbing

Look at well-respected colleagues in your office.

 Choose your attire carefully, paying attention to every detail.

 Your clothes should not be too tight, too short, or too revealing.

 Just because your friends wear “slekeh/lata/cincai” to the office means you have to too.

Perfect your posture

Stand tall, shoulders back, head up.

Arms up and out above your waist when you speak.

Your posture can be as important as what your attire when it comes to making an impression.

Avoid any inclination to clench your fists, cross your arms, roll your eyes—or twirl your hair.

Don’t say “sir” or “ma’am”

It was a nice gesture when you were in school, but calling colleagues and clients with a gentle "Yes, sir" or "No, Ma'am" sets you up to look like a novice and emphasizes your junior status.

Plus you make people feel like they are uncle/aunty and nobody likes that haha!

Approach and talk to people in the office

Don’t just hang out with same-age colleagues—it’s the office equivalent of sitting at the kid’s table.

Engage with senior execs that will take notice of your talents.

Make statements confidently

Don’t apologize for it, or add a verbal question mark to the end.

 Don’t say, "I apologize in advance if I'm overstepping my bounds, but…" or "I think we should focus this campaign on the two top performing products?"

It will feel like you have low self-confidence.

Speak clearly

Project and enunciate.

 Your brilliant point is lost if others are struggling to hear it.

Don't mumble, and avoid peppering your speech with juvenile words such as “like” and “whatever.”

Make your youth an advantage

You’re in a great position to bring fresh ideas to the table.

Odds are that you know more about technology, social media, and trends than a few of your colleagues.

Maybe you can offer ideas on how to get your company noticed in the blogosphere or explain why Twitter really is a valuable social media tool when used properly.

Don’t criticize to make a point

Saying, “our website sucks" is lot less acceptable than "I've been researching different websites and I have some ideas that I feel certain would benefit our site."

Focusing on what you could do—rather than what’s being done wrong—will make your colleagues much more inclined to want to hear and go along with your ideas.

Be one of the first to arrive, and the last to leave

Sitting at your desk as others file in or out of the office is an easy way to demonstrate your dedication.

It also allows you quiet time to get things done without interruptions.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

It’s how you learn.

When you ask, listen for the answers.

No one is expected to know it all, and asking for further direction or clarification is a sign that you are taking your job seriously.

 Make a name for yourself, but don’t name drop

If your uncle owns the company, work extra hard to make your own mark.

Same goes if you have an “atas” school on your résumé.

You will get further on your own merit and dedication than you will by relying on the family name or your school’s reputation.

Make your personality

Build your credibility by being an expert in a particular area and sharing your knowledge with colleagues.

 Showing the initiative to become that go-to person and putting your talents in the spotlight will only help you.

Don’t be afraid to fail and make mistakes

At some point, we all have made some big mistake—and it’s OK.

If you never fail, it's a sure sign that you’re not taking on new challenges or stepping out of your comfort zone.

Don’t forget to apologize

When you make a mistake, own it.

Go directly to the source you offended.

Explain how you plan to correct the situation and what you intend to do differently to avoid the same mistake in the future.

Remember, you got the job because you have valuable skills and qualities to contribute.

So if you’re young, pay a little extra attention to your mannerisms, and you’ll set yourself up to be a respected and contributing member of the team.


Anger Management For You In The Office

# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

Anger Management For You In The Office

by
David Blog

Sep 10, 2019

at 2:33 PM

Ever had those times when you’re just so angry at work. Evil boss, annoying colleagues, heavy workload etc? Everyone does, don’t worry! But don’t let your anger eat you up and ruin your mood, or worse, bring it home and then take it out on your friends and family :( Instead, here’s a few ways to deal with seeing red at work, so you can go home happy and relaxed!

Breathe

Though your first instinct might be to open your mouth and snap back (or just scream)—close it and breathe instead

. You’ve heard it before, right? Just count to 10.

While it may not remove the stressor,it buys you time to step back, put things in perspective, and lets you bite your tongue before you say something you might regret.

Write It Out (But Don’t Send It)

Sometimes, finding that emotional release can be as simple as getting your feelings into words.

 So grab a pen and some paper and ink out your thoughts—just keep them to yourself.

Emails can be saved, forwarded, and placed in your file for future reference if something goes wrong, so, just write it down, and once you’re done and not as angry, shred and delete all evidence!

Vent to a Trusted Colleague

Most of us have at least one close ally at work, someone we can confide in about everything job-related.

It can be helpful to discuss your aggravation with a person who understands your company’s unique environment and employee dynamics.

So next time your boss really gets under your skin, just complain to your trusted coworker to help put things into perspective.

 Just be sure to do it somewhere private so nobody can hear you.

 And be sure to offer the same safe confidence next time your partner-in-crime is feeling down, too.

Get a Little Love

Sometimes, what you really need is a (virtual) hug.

Good friends or significant others can be the perfect source for support in difficult situations.

 If you can sneak in a quick text or call and hear a familiar, friendly voice for a few minutes, it may be just enough to calm you down.

 Even if your loved ones can’t offer the same inside perspective as a work comrade can, the personal boost can go a long way in cheering you up or reminding you that there is more to life than the current predicament.

Find Your Happy Place

Taking a few minutes to look at memes or something.

It can give you a great mental escape.

 So if you need to calm down after a particularly anger-inducing morning, go on Facebook, see some funny things, or even play some PUBG/ML.

Taking that short break to distract yourself or focus on something that makes you happy can ease your stress and help you to return to work in a better mood.

Take a Break

If things are really intense—say, you’ve just been denied a raise because a colleague stole your credit and took your raise instead, one of the best solutions can be to remove yourself (at least temporarily) from the situation.

Take your lunch, go grab coffee, or just walk outside a bit—leaving your phone and email behind.

 Getting out from the confines of those four walls can provide you the physical and mental distance you need to just be alone and relax.

At one point or another, we all have that day in the office where we get close to our breaking point. That’s OK. But be ready for it: Have a few tactics that you know work to calm you down—and keep your professionalism (not to mention your cubicle) intact, no matter how bad it seems in the moment.


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Job Tips

Office Mistakes And How To Avoid Doing Them

by
David Blog

Sep 11, 2019

at 10:31 AM

It’s come to my realization that some people don’t really understand the unspoken social rules and etiquette of the office. This isn’t a major mistake, but it does reflect poorly on you as a person, and it may make some of your more senior colleagues look at you in a different light. Here are some things that you should not do at work and how to properly behave to look more professional in the office!

Leave The Hoodie At Home

Even though the office aircond can be super cold.

 Same goes for the leggings, unless carefully paired with a a dress or something of appropriate length.

Dress professionally, and don’t wear something that is too improper for the office.

Rule of thumb, dress in a way that if your mother saw you, she’d think, “Now that’s a lovely outfit!”

In a casual or business casual office environment, you might not get in trouble for eccentric style, but you’ll risk not being taken seriously.

Respect The Clients

Client-time at the office means higher stress levels and higher standards of professionalism for everybody.

When clients stop by for a meeting or a check-in, make sure that you’re aware of the code of conduct.

 It’ll be stricter than those casual Fridays when the rules are slightly more relaxed, and the same jokes and banter with your boss may not fly when the clients are watching.

Remember, when clients are around, ALWAYS be as professional as you can be!

Don’t Take Work As A Social Gathering

Sure, it is nice to hang out in the coffee room or pantry all day, especially when there’s juicy gossip going around or when you’re tired and just don’t feel like working.

But work isn’t a party. It’s great to have friends at work and to form relationships with your co-workers—but don’t get distracted by water cooler banter.

By doing this, trust me, at least one of your colleagues would be annoyed at your behavior.

Don’t Make Improper Jokes

In my previous job, I’ve seen one of my kind and intelligent colleague get fired for his slightly inappropriate sense of humor, when another colleague took it the wrong way.

You can’t always judge how someone is going to interpret your jokes, so it’s better that you save the improper ones for happy hour—or better yet, for your friends.

Know When To Let Things Go

Work is not the place to argue with peoples’ personal beliefs.

 At an after-work happy hour, I once learned that three of my colleagues were racist and would talk sh*t about the other colleagues of other races.

I’ve never been a racist, and I did not appreciate the things they said about my other wonderful colleagues, but if I’d shared that with this crew, I’m certain they wouldn’t have appreciated it.

So, try to appreciate (and if you cannot, just tolerate) others’ points of view, and leave it at that.

Don’t Delay Bearing Bad News

You accidentally sent the clients the wrong email, and when your boss finds out, she’s going to be furious.

 You’re tempted to avoid telling her, hoping maybe the problem will go away.

You pray the clients’ email server is down and has deleted everything. There’s one problem: that'll never work.

 When you make a mistake, explain what happened, take the necessary steps to rectify the situation, and move forward.

 Everyone makes mistakes, and your supervisor will appreciate your directness.

Whether you’re scrambling or trudging through tasks on your to-do list, remember there’s also a “to-not-do” list at the office. When you feel the urge to do something inappropriate or short-sighted, realize it'll reflect on you and can leave a lasting impression on your boss and co-workers. So say goodbye to that inappropriate behavior and time wasting, and hello to a more productive work-day.


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

Learning How To Do Everything (With A To-Do List)

by
David Blog

Sep 11, 2019

at 12:21 PM

You know what is great? To-do lists. They help you stay organized and on top of things, and overall makes you a much more reliable person. Not many people like doing to-do list, but here’s a few tips you can use to be able to organize yourself and do everything!

Make a list

If you're crazy like me, your list will have symbols (which only you can understand) and color-coding.

 If you're not, it will be a simple list of things to do.Both are equally helpful!

 The important thing is getting those action items on paper and out of your head, so you can free up your mind to focus on other things.

 It'll also ensure that smaller tasks don't get forgotten—which can help you really impress your boss or be a reliable friend.

Step-by-step

This one is of key importance.

"Clean apartment" and "Finish project planning" are tasks that feel overwhelming, and I always end up pushing them to the next day, until it doesn’t get done. So I do it step-by-step to counter this.

If I see something on the list that's easy to cross off, I am way more likely to do it, for example…

 "Clean apartment" becomes a series of tasks (do dishes, wipe down counters, take out recycling).

"Finish project planning" gets done little by little, be it specific tasks (contact Sha for booking venue/contact vendor for confirmation of goods and services).

Sure, my to-do list may end up with more tasks this way. But I make more progress and feel like I’ve accomplished a lot each day, instead of feeling terrible for having failed to clean my apartment—again.

Vary your tasks

Sometimes our generation gets bored easily, because I know I always do.

When I make a to-do list, I like to mix easy and tough tasks as well as vary between business and pleasure.

My Sunday afternoon list would probably look something like this:

Answer colleague's email

Water plants

Write RiceBowl article

Go to the gym

Go to Kedai Dobi

Go eat Mamak while waiting for clothes @ Dobi

Pay September bills

Honestly, it goes quicker than you'd think!

Take breaks and reward yourself

Productivity is good, but feeling sane and not stressed is even better.

Take a walk, watch your favorite show, eat some junk food.

Some people like to schedule that: "At 4 PM, I'll take a 45 min break." And maybe that works for you.

 But for me, it’s just an excuse to lie in bed and do nothing the whole day.

 I like to say "I'll go play ONE game of League of Legends once I've emailed Sha and confirmed the venue and banked in the money." With an incentive, my productivity and speed skyrocket!

Also, every once in a while, give yourself a full evening or weekend off. Not worrying about anything—because you know you'll get it all done later when you set your mind to it—is one of the best feelings. Rest is as important as productivity!


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

What To Do If You Get Fired From Your Job!

by
David Blog

Sep 11, 2019

at 2:13 PM

Hey did you recently get fired from your job? Are you unsure of what to do next? Don’t worry, chin up! It’s not the end of the world. When a door closes, another one opens, you just have to grab at the opportunity. Here’s some things to do if your boss “fries your fish”!

Expand Your Network

Difficult as it may be to accept, there is one advantage to “getting your fish fried”...

 Everyone who just yesterday was a co-worker is now a networking contact.

Almost everyone can sympathize with the newly laid-off, and your now-former colleagues will likely be as helpful as possible.

 Think about it, it is easier to ask your ex-colleague on asking about a job in a company which they used to work at (and you really want to work there) to help you do some networking than if you asked while you’re still working together!

Say Your Goodbyes

If you can, don’t leave the office until you have your ex-colleagues contact information.

 The best way is to send a short goodbye email to anyone you’ve worked with.

 Keep it classy—now is not the time to bad-mouth your boss or the company’s latest project.

 You want to leave people with the impression that you are grateful, capable, and mature.

Leave gracefully, and you’ll leave with your reputation, your friends, and your networking contacts.

Keep Records of Your Work

Let’s say a big part of your job is designing PowerPoint presentations or events planning and managing.

Ask your supervisor if you can save a few as examples of your work and pictures of what you did.

This will be extremely valuable in future interviews when a prospective employer wants to see a sample presentation of what you have done.

 Do remember though, don’t save anything that has sensitive, financial, or otherwise confidential information, and don’t take anything without explicit permission from your boss, or this could end up backfiring in a big way.

Reflect

Getting your fish fried is an opportunity to reflect.

 What parts of your old job did you like?

What parts did you dislike?

What kinds of skills do you want to develop further?

 Before you start looking for another job, keep in mind that it’s OK to be a bit picky.

If you can reflect and process a bit on what you really want, you can more precisely target your informational interviews and applications for your next job.

If you do that you will feel like you ngam your next job more!

Do Side Projects

It’s your first day without a job, so do something productive like…

 Learn how to cook.

Go to the gym.

 Pursue a hobby you’ve never had time for.

This is a great opportunity to develop self-discipline as well as de-stress a bit.

 Being let go at a young age means you’ll be better prepared to deal with it later in life when you may have larger responsibilities, like having children.

You can also channel some of your free time into building new skills that will help your resume look even better.

Want to move into a more technical position? Learn HTML or coding.

Shy in an industry full of big personalities? Take an acting or communications class.

 Use this time to grow—both as a complete person and as a future employee.

Stay Positive

It’s easy to get discouraged while job hunting.

Create smaller goals for yourself so you’ll feel some sense of accomplishment.

For example, decide that you’ll contact three new people and apply to three jobs every day.

The next time you’re feeling like there are “no jobs out there” or discouraged for “not trying hard enough,” you’ll see all the work you’ve done.

Always remind yourself that your hard work will eventually pay off.

Say Thank You

Keep a list of anyone who talks to you, meet with you or points you in some direction.

When you do land that next job, it’s crucial that you thank everyone who helped you along the way.

Send an email to your contacts thanking them for all their help and let them know where you end up on your path.

Getting “your fish fried” and ending up unemployed is one of the toughest things you can experience. But, the good news is that it can become an opportunity to redirect your career and clear your mind. With a little luck and a lot of patience, you will find another job—and maybe something even better than you had before.


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

How To Write A Polished And Professional Email

by
David Blog

Sep 12, 2019

at 3:05 PM

I’ve noticed quite a significant number of people don’t know how to write an official business email and the results are it looks “dodgy” or not very professional. I know this is not intended, but it leaves a negative impression on the receiver. Here are some tricks on how to make your business email look like its from Google HR.

An Email From Who?

First things first: It’s time to retire your “
[email protected]
” email account.

 It’s not cute, funny or creative, it’s unprofessional.

If it is your personal email that is fine, but sending professional emails from it would look bad on you.

If you're using an email account for any other reason than chatting with your college friends, use an address that incorporates your first and last initials or name and leave it at that.

 Also, be careful when using the numbers 0 or 1 in your email address; it can be hard to tell them apart from an uppercase letter O or lowercase L.

Avoid Greeting Errors

Choosing the first word of an email is easy—“dear” or “hello” both work in nearly any situation. But it can get tricky after that.

In everyday work communcations, addressing the person by his or her first name is usually fine, and using titles can make you look either too formal, or too immature.

But there are exceptions: some upper-level execs prefer “Mr.” or “Ms.” so it’s worth keeping an ear out to hear how other people normally address him or her.

It’s a safe bet when you’re meeting a medical doctor or professor for the first time that they would prefer to be addressed as “Dr.”

When sending emails for your job search, it’s best to use titles. But if you don't know the gender of the person you're contacting, don’t guess—go with the first name only.

Don’t embarrass yourself by mistaking someone’s gender.

Finally, if you don’t have a specific name for the recipient (e.g., you’re sending a job inquiry to a central HR address), a simple “hello” is perfectly sufficient.

Close With Courtesy

You might have your favorite email closing line, but you should always consider your relationship with the correspondent and the reason for the email when signing off.

Here's a quick peek at some commonly used taglines and the message they convey:

Sincerely: This is a universal closing sentiment and 100% appropriate in most situations, but it can be seen as a bit too “atas” with someone you know well.

Best regards: This phrase is professional, but with some warmth. It’s common for business emails that are less formal, such as between co-workers who work together somewhat frequently. This can be shortened further to "Regards" when emailing someone familiar.

Best: This sign-off is widely debated and is seen as everything from sincere to kind of “cold”, depending on the filter of the recipient. It’s simply a shortened version of "Best regards" and can show positive feelings. But, it can also be misunderstood as not being authentic, if you don’t have a previous one-on-one relationship with the person you’re emailing.

Respectfully: This is a formal sendoff that’s appropriate when emailing the CEO, Chairman of the Board, or a high-level company executive.

Fondly: This is definitely a social closing, not a professional one. It sends the message of friendliness and genuine interest—but with a level of familiarity that’s best kept out of professional correspondence.

Warm regards: This is a more formal version of "fondly," but it's still best suited for social emails.

Yours truly: Often considered a bit too much for email, this closing may be best used for more formal setting such as a printed letter.

Make Your Signature Useful

Make sure your signature line lists the basics: your full name, title, company name, and contact information, including phone numbers and email.

A company logo can also be an aesthetically-pleasing addition.

When you’re sending job search-related emails, use your name and contact information.

Be thoughtful about what contact info you give, though—if you don’t want potential employers calling the line your receptionist sometimes picks up, then don’t give out that number.

If you use social media professionally, it’s fine to include that information as well.

You’ll sometimes see emails including quotes or witty asides as part of the signature—but proceed with caution before you go thinking yours needs this kind of upgrade.

Business emails need to contain just that: business. Your signature is not the place to tout your personal beliefs or interests.

When you go to craft an email, be sure you pay as much attention to your opening and closing line as you do the rest of your content.

Don’t let an avoidable packaging mistake annoy or distract the recipient before he or she gets to the most important part of your email—the message.

With this in mind, spice up your emails and make it truly look like the CEO of google written it themselves, and impress your recipients!


# Student Sector
# Lifestyle
# Life Hack
# Job Tips

Getting Ahead In Life With (Proper) Networking

by
David Blog

Sep 12, 2019

at 5:14 PM

As you know, networking is one of the strongest and most important tools in life you can use to get ahead. However, not many people know that there are a lot of networking mistakes that can harm their progress, and are unknowingly doing it! Here are some of the mistakes and how to fix them!

Talking too much about yourself

Yes, you are talented! Eager! Ambitious! You have lots of ideas to share! And you want to make sure that every person you meet knows who you are and what you do!

It is understandable. And yes, sharing your story with new contacts is important. But sharing too much about yourself will actually be negative for you.

 Nothing can annoy a person more than an aspiring professional who takes no interest in anything other than their own ambitions.

Think about it, do you like talking to people who ALWAYS talk about themselves?

   How To Fix:

       Take Some Interest.

Stop highlighting your latest accomplishment and start listening instead.

Find people with industries or careers of interest to you, and ask them questions:

 How did they get their start?

What do they love about their jobs, and what do they wish they could change?

By taking an interest in your contact, you will make them feel valued—and hopefully interested in continuing the relationship.

You would most likely learn some new things along the way as well!

Expecting a job

You’re looking for a new job, so you go out and network every time you can, asking every person you meet to help you find your new career path—after all, it’s not what you know, it’s who.

That is definitely true, but don’t forget to give people some credit:

 If you pursue networking opportunities purely for the job prospects, your contacts will figure you out.

You will leave them feeling used, and they will be less likely to recommend you for an opportunity.

Think about it, if you have a friend who only looks for you when they want something from you, do you like it?

      How To Fix:

      Provide Some Value

If you’re looking for a job, don’t ask for it—work for it.

 Do some research into what your contact does both in and out of work and find ways that you can contribute your time or support.

Perhaps you could volunteer your knowledge in marketing for the big convention they’re organizing, or offer your accounting knowledge for their non-profit.

Provide some opportunity for contacts to see you in a working light, and you’ll be that much closer to a good referral.

Again, if you have a friend who always help you out, and they ask you for help, wouldn’t you be more willing to do so?

Not saying thank you

You attended a large event last week and had coffee with one of your new professional contacts afterward.

 Then—the week got busy, and you didn’t get around to saying thank you. They’ll understand, right? Maybe.

But if you don’t show gratitude, even in the smallest (or largest) event, you risk leaving a negative impression—probably not the outcome you want from your meeting.

  How To Fix:

      Just Do It.

 Set yourself a reminder to send off a quick note, or just insert a quick “thanks for taking time to meet with me!” it will leave a good impression.

Even at the final handshake, you must say thank you.

Not only will you solidify your reputation as a courteous individual, but you won’t be leaving your contacts with a bad taste in their mouths.

Always say thank you, and your good impression will last until your next meeting.

Forgetting to follow up

You meet someone over a networking happy hour and tell them you will send them your portfolio.

But as the night goes on, they have a few drinks and meet more people.

You’re sure they have forgotten all about you, so you decide it’s not even worth emailing them the next day. Bad idea.

Meeting someone is just the first step in networking. In order to forge a lasting relationship (and make sure people don’t forget you), you need to follow up, every single time.

       The Fix:

       Stay Accountable.

If you told a networking contact that you would do something, do it.

Even if you’re not sure she remembers you, you can bet that they will be grateful that you took the time out of your day to send them what you had discussed.

 If you’re worried about forgetting, keep a pen near your business card holder to quickly write out what follow-up actions you have for that contact, and review your cards after the event.

Above all, keep in mind that networking isn’t about short-term gain, but about learning, growing, and forming connections. Adopt good social habits, and you’ll see your skills and comfort improve, your opportunities increase, and your relationships grow—for the long haul.  Building long lasting friendships with people in the right places, and you are confirmed to go far in life!