10 Steps to a Successful CV (Curriculum Vitae)

Writing a good CV can be one of the toughest challenges of job hunting. Most employers spend just a few seconds scanning each CV before sticking it in the 'Yes' or 'No' pile. Harsh.

But never fear! We've compiled our Top 10 hints on how to show the world 'this is me!' and get that all-important interview.

 1. Keep it real!
Usually a CV should be no more than two pages – and that's two pages of A4 paper! Employers spend, on average, just 8 seconds looking at any one CV, and a surefire way of landing yourself on the no pile is to send them your entire life story. Keep it punchy, to the point, and save those niggly little details for the interview.



 2. Tailor it
We've all done it. Whizzed the same CV out to lots of employers to save time... Stop! Take the time to change your CV for each role that you apply for. Research the company and use the job advert to work out EXACTLY what skills you should point out to them. They will appreciate the obvious effort.


3. Include a personal statement
Don’t just assume an employer will see how your experience relates to their job. Instead, use a short personal statement to explain why you are the best person for the job. This should be reflected in your cover letter as well see our tips to the perfect cover letter


4. Don't leave gaps
We are a cynical bunch and leaving obvious gaps on your CV immediately makes employers suspicious – and they won't give you the benefit of the doubt. If you’ve been out of work it can be a worry but just put a positive spin on it. Did you do a course, volunteer work or develop soft skills such as communication, teamwork or project management? If so, shout about it!
For more information, check out our CV template for the currently unemployed


5. Keep it current
You should keep your CV up-to-date whether you’re looking for a job or not. Every time something significant occurs in your career, record it so you don't later forget something that could be important.

 6. The error of your ways
Employers DO look for mistakes on CVs and if they find them, it makes you look really bad. David Hipkin, head of recruitment and resourcing at Reed Business Information, warns, 'With most employers experiencing massive volumes of applicants right now, giving them the excuse to dismiss your application because of avoidable errors is not going to help you secure an interview.' If you're unsure then use a spellchecker and ask someone else to double-check what you've written. And don't ignore the most common CV mistakes

 7. Tell the truth
Everyone lies on their CV, right? NO! Stop! Blatant lies on your CV can land you in a whole heap of trouble when it comes to employers checking your background and references. The last thing you want is to start work and then lose your new job for lying. You also may get caught out at the interview stage when you suddenly can't answer questions on what you claim to know. And that can be VERY awkward!

 8. The maths
This may sound dull but by backing up your achievements with numbers it makes selling yourself much easier. When writing your work history, don’t just say that you increased sales; tell them you increased sales by 70% over a six month period. Get it? Big numbers are especially good (although don't forget point 7 of our list!).


9. Make it look good
We live in a world where image is everything, and that also goes for your CV. Take some time to pretty it up... Use bullet points and keep sentences short. Use the graphic design trick of leaving plenty of white space around text and between categories to make the layout easy on the eye. Alternatively, get creative with your job application!

 10. Make it keyword friendly
If you’ve uploaded your CV to a job site so recruiters can find you, keywords are very important. Job titles and job buzzwords will help a search engine pick out your CV from the pile. Confused? Don't be. A marketing candidate might mention SEO (Search Engine Optimization), direct marketing and digital marketing among their experience and skills, for example... If you're not sure, have a search online and see what words are commonly mentioned when you input your job title.

Curriculum Vitae Example

Curriculum Vitae Example
The following is a curriculum vitae example for a job seeker with international work experience.  This CV includes employment history, education, competencies, awards, skills, and personal interests.

Allen Yan
(86)1338-1111-420
yhnasa@123.com

EDUCATION

Sept. 20XX–Present, Shanghai University, BE

• Candidate for Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering (ME)
• Major academic course highlights: Company Property Management, Marketing, Technology Communication, Information Management System, Modern Fabrication System

May 20XX, Certified Public Accounting Training (CPA)

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Dec. 20XX–Present, ITT Flygt Investment, China
Application Engineer, Sales & Marketing

• Achieve sales budget goals through application support and new industry market application research.
• Pay visits to end users and DI for seminars and technical presentations with salespersons or distributors while collecting marketing information and competitor information analysis.

July 20XX–Sept. 20XX, Intel Products Co., Shanghai, China
CPU Assembly Engineer (Internship)

• Analyzed yield ratio trends, documented and solved current problems.
• Participated in and helped oversee the training of marketing, business process modeling, and analysis at Intel University.
• Developed and led a project review with multi-media animation, which was highly appreciated by department manager.

June 20XX–July 20XX, GF Fund Management Co., LTD.
Campus Intern 

• Analyzed investment principles and related financially derived products.
• Formulated the scheme of market popularization and network marketing.

AWARDS

• 20XX–20XX, Scholarship for Excellent Students of Shanghai University
• 20XX–20XX, Imagine Ambassador of Shanghai Tennis Popularization Prize

COMPETENCIES & INTERESTS

English Ability: Band 6; intermediate competency
German Ability: 600 hours of Germany lessons at TongJi University

Computer Skills:

• National Computer Lever 3rd Certificate (Network Communication)
• Professional Certificate of Assistant Information Officer (AIO).
• Fluent in: C++, VBA, Provision, JMP, AutoCAD, 3Dsmax, Photoshop, Solidworks, Aftereffect

Personal Interests:

Basketball; Speed Skating; Snooker

Source:The Balance

Curriculum Vitae Template

Curriculum Vitae Template
The following template will give you an example of what to include in your CV and shows the appropriate format for a curriculum vitae.

Make a comprehensive list of the information you will need to include, and use it to compile your CV. Before you start, also review these tips for formatting a curriculum vitae.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Name
Address
City, State, Country
Telephone
Cell Phone
Email

PERSONAL INFORMATION (depending on country)
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Citizenship
Visa Status
Gender

Optional Personal Information (depending on country)
Marital Status
Spouse's Name
Children

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
List in reverse chronological order (most recent experiences first), include position details and dates.
Work History
Academic Positions
Fellowships
Internships
Research and Training

EDUCATION 
List in reverse chronological order and include dates, majors, and details of degrees for each institution attended, training received, and other educational programs. You can include specifics about your dissertation in this section, if applicable.
Post-Doctoral Training
Graduate School or Program
University
High School (if no university education)

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Include your certifications and accreditations, as well as the skills you have that are most relevant to the position for which you're applying.
Certifications and Accreditations
Computer Skills
Language Skills
Other Skills


HONORS AND AWARDS

RESEARCH AND/OR PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

INTERESTS

Source: Thebalance

Smart Answers to 15 Common Interview Questions

Stand Out with Your Answers to These Interview Questions
The number of questions that can be asked by Human Resources or the hiring manager is limitless. Here are some of the most popular questions and my thoughts on how to answer them.

1. Tell me about yourself
One of the most common questions in an interview is “Tell me about yourself.” Actually, it is not even a question--it is an invitation. It is an opportunity to share with the interviewer whatever you think is important in their hiring decision.

More importantly, it is your chance to differentiate yourself from other candidates. In most cases, the standard questions offer the same opportunity.


2. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Employers don’t necessarily care to hear that you expect to climb the corporate ladder and be a supervisor. If the job you’re interviewing for is not a supervisor, they probably aren’t concerned about your management skills. You can share how you’ve been a mentor to others and led projects with little to no supervision. That should indicate you have leadership potential.

Focus on them: In five years, you should have made a significant impact to the company’s bottom line. Think about how you can achieve this in the role you’re interviewing for. In technology careers, advancing your skills is important, too. You should be able to share what areas you want to strengthen in the near term (but be careful that they are not areas of expertise that the company needs now).



3. Why should we hire you?
This is a differentiation question. What you want to tell them is: they'd be crazy not to they hire you.

Focus on them: You need to only share how you meet almost all the criteria they seek, and also have two to three additional abilities that they might not even know they need…yet. They need to know you are a candidate who can not only meet their needs now, but will also be valuable for where they want to go in the future.

Are they likely to need another skill set as they grow as a company?
Or maybe you have skills that you noticed are in another job description they are looking to fill?
You can help out with those deliverables until they find someone (or be a backup to the person they hire).

Have you been down a path already that they are currently starting? Having “lessons learned” to offer them is a very strong plus for a job candidate.



4. Why do you want to work here?
The answer to this question has two aspects: the content and the delivery.

Focus on them:

Content -- Employers want to know you feel you can fit in at the company quickly. That means not only deliverables in the job description, but also your fit with the company culture. You will likely have to do some homework to answer this one. You need to understand the reasons why others enjoy working there. Is it a great place to advance your skills, have great challenges to add to your resume, or will it allow you to grow as a professional?
Delivery -- The delivery must be genuine. If a hiring manager feels you’re just “telling them want they want to hear,” but don’t mean it…well, the interview is over in their mind. They want to know this is not just a job and paycheck. They want to hear this is what you want to do and the best place to do it.


5. What do you know about us?
This is actually a test. If you know very little, it is an indication that you are not very serious about working there.

Focus on them: Candidates who are really excited about the prospect of working there have done their homework. If you really want to stand out, learn more than what is listed on their web site. Do some heavy research—perhaps find some articles on the company that not many would know about. It may even come up in conversation spontaneously, and you can show them a copy of the article (I have had this happen to me).



6. How do people describe you?
Here’s another opportunity to differentiate yourself. Everyone claims to be: a hard worker, good communicator, and team player. But how many are a: problem-solver, game-changer, leader in the industry? Be creative, and have stories to back it up. The interviewer will want to know why someone thinks you are one of these things.

Focus on them: You want to present attributes that make you sound like the go-to guy or gal wherever you work. Even the standard answers can be taken a step further to be more valuable:

Yes, they want hard workers, but most likely that’s commonplace at their office. Maybe you work hard, but also help others work fewer hours (by helping them do their job better or making their jobs easier).
Good communicators are everywhere. But this doesn’t mean just speaking well. It includes listening. Do you hear things that others don’t? Do you understand things quickly? Can you figure out what people are trying to tell you through other clues (body language, for example)?
Being a good team player is expected, too. But what does this really mean? Getting along with everyone? That’s not hard to do if you’re a nice person. Pulling your weight in the office? Again, expected. What have you done, beyond your job description, that saved the team from a disaster or helped them make an impossible deadline? Have you won an award for this?

7. What is your greatest strength/ greatest weakness?
Your greatest strength is something they need. Don't choose something irrelevant to the job or the employer, like your skill in sudoku (unless that is a requirement for this job).

Focus on them: You have many strengths, but pick the one they need help with the most. Is it your expertise in a particular skill? Is it your ability to turn low-performing teams into high performers? Share something that makes them think they need to hire you…right now.

I hate the “greatest weakness” question. Everyone knows it’s a trap, and everyone knows the candidate is going to say something trite (popular example: "I’m a perfectionist"). When you give a real answer, you are being genuine. You are admitting you have some growth opportunities and are not perfect. But you can include that you already have a plan to overcome this weakness through training or practice.

Some people even insert a little humor in their answer—“I wish I was better at tennis.” You can, too, if you feel like the interviewer has a sense of humor. But, be sure to quickly follow with a serious answer. Showing you have a lighter side is usually a good thing.



8. When can you start?
Be careful about this question for a few reasons:

It doesn’t mean that you “got the job.” They may be just checking to add that to their notes. You must keep your guard up until you are in your car and driving away from the interview.
If you are currently employed, you should be honest about the start date and show professionalism. You should tell them you would have to discuss a transition with your current company to see if they require a two-week notice (or some other timing). If you currently have a critical role, your potential new employer would expect a transition period.
If you can start right away (and they know you are not currently employed), you certainly can say you’re able to start tomorrow. Sense of urgency and excitement about starting work at the new company is always a good thing.


9. How did you find this job?
You may have found the opportunity through research on ideal jobs where you can make the most impact and hope to grow professionally. I would also hope you looked for companies that you feel meet your standards for corporate culture, investment in employees, successful business model (or perhaps giving back to community), and any other aspects you feel are important to you. Make sure you can go into a little detail on what you found in your research.

The “job” may have found you. In that case, you can say you were contacted by HR or a recruiter who felt you were a good fit. But don’t leave it there. You should still mention you did your homework and verified that this is right for you -- as a potential contributor to the company’s success, and as a good match for what you’re looking for in an employer.



10. Why do you want this job?
There should be a heartfelt answer on this one. Your gut should be giving you the answer. Although, if the reason is about money, location, work schedule, benefits, and other factors not tied to actual role, you may want to think a little more about your answer. None of those reasons are important to the hiring manager.

Focus on them: They want to hear that this job is exactly what you’ve been thinking about as a next step in your career.

Of course, the follow-up question they’ll ask is: How so?

Be prepared to answer that with your rationale for how this job meets your professional needs and how you can contribute at your highest potential while in this role. People want to feel like their work means something. There is nothing wrong with sharing that feeling in a thoughtful way.


11. Why do you want to leave your current job?
This can be a deal-breaker question. Obviously:

If you say you hate your current boss or company, the interviewer will naturally believe you will hate them eventually.
If you say, your current compensation or role is below your standards, they will again assume the worst.
Although these may be legitimate reasons to leave a job, there must be other reasons, too. Your current company or department may have become unstable (hopefully the interviewer’s company is very stable). Your current employer may not be able to offer you any professional growth (the interviewer’s should be able to do this).

Do you see a pattern here? Highlight a reason that the hiring manager cannot be concerned about.

Of course, if you have an issue that is very important to you that could be a deal-breaker (like company culture), you can mention it. Just be prepared for them to take one extreme or the other. For example, maybe you only want to work for companies that buy from vendors in your home country. The hiring manager will let you know if their company does this. And if they don’t, I guess the interview is over.



12. Why did you quit your last job?
This is a tough one. Typically, you should not quit a job until you have accepted another job. However, life doesn’t always allow that to happen. Did you quit because you couldn’t spend enough time looking for your next job? Perhaps the company you worked for was close to shutting down and you didn’t want to waste valuable time waiting for the last day of operation.

Certainly, there are common reasons that are understood as necessity:

Had to move to a new location for various reasons.
Family or health reasons.
Unbearable work conditions (careful here, as already discussed).
The key to answering this question is to keep it short. Don’t feel the need to expand your answer to include a lot of details.



13. Why were you fired?
This is another danger zone. This is not the time for defending yourself with a long story about you being the victim.

If you made a mistake, you are going to have to try to minimize the severity of the situation. An argument with a boss could be described as a difference in opinion. Not following orders because your moral compass told you not to could be described as “taking the high road.”

Just be careful not to cast blame on others. Consider including a “silver lining.” Did you learn a lot from the experience and now possess knowledge that will mitigate the chances of this happening again?

 Laid off is not fired: If you were part of a layoff, this is different from being fired. It was likely a financial decision by management, and you were part of a group that was targeted as part of budget cuts. Layoffs are typically not personal -- they are just business. Hiring managers know this (and likely have been involved in one at some point in their careers).



14. Explain your gap in employment
I’ve dedicated a whole article to this topic. The bottom line is you should make sure to paint a picture that you were productive, improving yourself, helping family, or something constructive.

Hiring managers don’t want to hear that you felt it was time for a “long-awaited break from the rat-race.” Or "time to recharge your batteries." The first thought that will pop into their heads: When is your next break coming? Probably in the middle of a big project we’re working on.



15. Do you have any questions?
My simple advice is: yes, you had better have questions. When I hired people to work on my teams in the past, I expected interviewees to have questions.

This is your chance to “interview the interviewer.” In essence, to learn about the company, the role, the corporate culture, the manager’s leadership style, and a host of other important things. Candidates who are genuinely interested in the opportunity, ask these types of questions. Those who don’t ask questions give the impression they’re “just kicking the tires” or not really too concerned about getting the job.

When given the floor to ask questions, you should realize the interview is not over yet. Good candidates know this is another time to shine. It is imperative that you ask questions that do three things:

Show you did some research about the company.
Mention something else (related, but interesting) about you.
Will have an interesting answer or prompt a good discussion.
After you have had a chance to ask your questions, you will want to validate that you are an ideal candidate for the job. To do this, you should probe into the minds of the interviewers and see if there are any concerns they have about you.

The key question to do this can be along the lines of:

“After discussing this job, I feel as if I would be a perfect fit for it. I’m curious to know if there is anything I said or DID NOT say that would make you believe otherwise.”

The answer you get to this question may open the door to mentioning something you did not get to talk about during the interview or clarify any potential misconception over something that was covered. You may not get a chance to address shortcomings in a follow-up interview -- it is imperative to understand what was missing from the discussion while still in the interview.

Africa Grant Advisors (AGA), Associate Consultant Easy Apply job

Location
Other District Other Location
Description
Job description
Africa Grant Advisors (AGA) is a premier financial and fundraising consultancy headquartered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. AGA helps companies plan, finance, and execute innovation and growth projects, primarily in the energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. AGA has helped firms in 11 countries in Africa plan significant expansion projects and raise over $100 million in debt, equity, and grants.

AGA is seeking an Associate Consultant to join its Dar es Salaam office. Candidates should have excellent finance, research, and writing skills, and experience managing client relationships.

Responsibilities

•  Advise clients on financial and strategic initiatives, including by developing feasibility assessments, financial models, and research reports
• Support client capital raising by developing business plans, pitch decks, funding proposals, and related materials
• Research and evaluate suitable investors, funding opportunities, and other potential strategic initiatives for clients and prospective clients
• Assist clients with fund management, including systems analysis and design, investor and donor reporting, and change management support
• Research potential candidates for investment and funding opportunities
• Develop new business relationships for AGA through prospect research, communications, and networking

Qualifications
• Accounting or finance experience
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent research and analysis skills
• Living in or willing to relocate to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Prior consulting experience (preferred)
• Financial modeling experience (preferred)

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

How to Study Mathematics

Before I get into the tips for how to study math let me first say that everyone studies differently and there is no one right way to study for a math class.  There are a lot of tips in this document and there is a pretty good chance that you will not agree with all of them or find that you can’t do all of them due to time constraints.  There is nothing wrong with that.  We all study differently and all that anyone can ask of us is that we do the best that we can.  It is my intent with these tips to help you do the best that you can given the time that you’ve got to work with.

Now, I figure that there are two groups of people here reading this document, those that are happy with their grade, but are interested in what I’ve got to say and those that are not happy with their grade and want some ideas on how to improve.  Here are a couple of quick comments for each of these groups.

If you have a study routine that you are happy with and you are getting the grade you want from your math class you may find this an interesting read.  There is, of course, no reason to change your study habits if you’ve been successful with them in the past.  However, you might benefit from a comparison of your study habits to the tips presented here.

If you are not happy with your grade in your math class and you are looking for ways to improve your grade there are a couple of general comments that I need to get out of the way before proceeding with the tips.  Most people who are doing poorly in a math class fall into three main categories. 

The first category consists of the largest group of students and these are students that just do not have good study habits and/or don’t really understand how to study for a math class.  Students in this category should find these tips helpful and while you may not be able to follow all of them hopefully you will be able to follow enough of them to improve your study skills.

The next category is the people who spend hours each day studying and still don’t do well.  Most of the people in this category suffer from inefficient study habits and hopefully this set of notes will help you to study more efficiently and not waste time. 

The final category is those people who simply aren’t spending enough time studying.  Students are in this category for a variety of reasons.  Some students have job and/or family commitments that prevent them from spending the time needed to be successful in a math class.  To be honest there isn’t a whole lot that I can do for you if that is your case other than hopefully you will become a more efficient in your studies after you are through reading this.  The vast majority of the students in this category unfortunately, don’t realize that they are in this category.  Many don’t realize how much time you need to spend on studying in order to be successful in a math class.  Hopefully reading this document will help you to realize that you do need to study more.  Many simply aren’t willing to make the time to study as there are other things in their lives that are more important to them.  While that is a decision that you will have to make, realize that eventually you will have to take the time if you want to pass your math course.

Now, with all of that out of the way let’s get into the tips.  I’ve tried to break down the hints and advice here into specific areas such as general study tips, doing homework, studying for exams, etc.  However, there are three broad, general areas that all of these tips will fall into.

Math is Not a Spectator Sport

You cannot learn mathematics by just going to class and watching the instructor lecture and work problems.  In order to learn mathematics you must be actively involved in the learning process.  You’ve got to attend class and pay attention while in class.  You’ve got to take a good set of notes.  You’ve got to work homework problems, even if the instructor doesn’t assign any.  You’ve got to study on a regular schedule, not just the night before exams.  In other words you need to be involved in the learning process.

The reality is that most people really need to work to pass a math class, and in general they need to work harder at math classes than they do with their other classes.  If all that you’re willing to do is spend a couple of hours studying before each exam then you will find that passing most math classes will be very difficult.

If you aren’t willing to be actively involved in the process of learning mathematics, both inside and outside of the class room, then you will have trouble passing any math class. 

Work to Understand the Principles

You can pass a history class by simply memorizing a set of dates, names and events.  You will find, however, that in order to pass a math class you will need to do more than just memorize a set of formulas.  While there is certainly a fair amount of memorization of formulas in a math class you need to do more.  You need to understand how to USE the formulas and that is often far different from just memorizing them.

Some formulas have restrictions on them that you need to know in order to correctly use them.  For instance, in order to use the quadratic formula you must have the quadratic in standard form first.  You need to remember this or you will often get the wrong answer!

Other formulas are very general and require you to identify the parts in the problem that correspond to parts in the formula.  If you don’t understand how the formula works and the principle behind it, it can often be very difficult to use the formula.  For example, in a calculus course it’s not terribly difficult to memorize the formula for integration by parts for integrals.  However, if you don’t understand how to actually use the formula and identify the appropriate parts of the integral you will find the memorized formula worthless.

Mathematics is Cumulative

You’ve always got to remember that mathematics courses are cumulative.  Almost everything you do in a math class will depend on subjects that you’ve previously learned.  This goes beyond just knowing the previous sections in your current class to needing to remember material from previous classes. 

You will find a college algebra class to be very difficult without the knowledge that you learned in your high school algebra class.  You can’t do a calculus class without first taking (and understanding) an Algebra and a Trigonometry class.

So, with these three main ideas in mind let’s proceed with some more specific tips to studying for a math class.  Note as well that several of the tips show up in multiple sections since they are either super important tips or simply can fall under several general topics.

• General Tips for Studying Mathematics
• Taking Notes
• Getting Help
• Homework
• Problem Solving
• Studying For Exams
• Taking An Exam
• Learn From Your Errors

effective technique before, during & after to pass an exam

Love them or hate them, it’s hard to get away from exams.  All that preparation before the big day, a race against the clock as you sit at the desk, and the aftermath that sometimes feels as stressful as the exam itself.

Effective technique goes beyond the exam hall.  You’ll never be stress-free from the examination process, but you can limit it greatly by following these tips:
Before the exam – Preparation

    Link relevant concepts together. You need to see the bigger picture, not isolated facts.  Immersion in the subject itself is better than remembering individual facts.
    Don’t fuss about rewriting your notes again and again. Simply copying your notes out won’t help you revise effectively.  Rewriting does help some people take in key concepts, so restrict it to writing the main point as an anchor rather than regurgitating everything.
    Use all your senses.  Don’t just read; write out brief points that you want to solidify.  Don’t just use your eyes; discuss key topics with other people on your course.
    Revise in different locations to vary your intake.  It also helps you recall later, because you’ll store different information at the different places.  In the exam, you could recall more by picturing the different places you were and remembering what you studied in each place.
    Use pictures and diagrams in places you’d usually rely on words alone.  If nothing creative is forthcoming, at least try setting out your ideas in a mindmap of some sort.
    Don’t go to heavy on the memorising.  Some detail does need to be in your head clearly and correctly, but much of what you study is about arguing and analysing a subject, as opposed to exact recall of specific points and quotations.
    Read (and attempt) past exam papers.  This advice is often dished out, but many either don’t bother, or don’t take it seriously enough.  When you do read through the papers, see how the questions are worded and try to grasp what is being asked of you.  Look for any recurring themes across past papers so you have an idea of the kind of topics that crop up again and again.
    Time yourself at writing answers to essay topics.  You may be confident that you’ve got the knowledge, but it’s no use when you know it’ll take four hours to write that knowledge in a two hour exam!  Learn to gauge the time you have and get the important factors written out first.
    If you can’t access past papers, set your own questions or ask tutors if they’d suggest sample questions for you.  If tutors are willing, don’t automatically expect these to be the questions you’re going to get! Tutors may have alternative ways of helping you revise, so hear them out.
    Refer back to past lectures to get an idea of what the lecturers wanted you to focus on.
    Understand the layout of the exam. Understand the logistics so you’re prepared on the day.  I’m amazed at how infrequently this is done.  I’ve known module handbooks handed out at the beginning of the year with the exam layout explained…yet some students haven’t bothered reading it.  Guess what, they’re less prepared than everyone else!
    Focus on what you *don’t* know. You don’t need to waste time on what’s already firmly planted in your head.  I’m sure you feel good going over that stuff, but it’s not actual revision!
    Practise writing basic notes on topics you think may crop up.  This will help your initial preparation when in the exam.  As soon as you start working on a question, you’ll have learned to list main points to cover.  That way, forgetfulness won’t be an issue halfway through your. You can simply refer back to your brief list that took you a minute or two of your time.  Yay!
    Pack the stuff you need to take in advance.  Don’t leave it until the last minute.
    Make sure you know where you’re going.  When I assisted in setting up exam halls, a surprising number of students came rushing along at the last minute and were clueless about where they needed to be.  One or two were in the wrong place entirely and had to run to the other side of campus.  Not a good way to ease into an exam!
    If you’re allowed to take textbooks, notes, specialist equipment, or calculator in to the exam, remember to bring them along!

    Give plenty time for getting to the exam.  Even if it’s just a one minute walk away, get there with time to spare.
    Don’t revise as you’re walking into the exam! If it’s not in now, it won’t go in with seconds to spare…
    Read the question properly.  The difference between taking five seconds to read the question and half a minute is not that big.  The difference in your answer will be huge…
    Wasting time on less important points is pointless when you’re against the clock.  Stick with the big issues.  Mention minor detail in passing and move on.
    Try to retain your focus on the bigger picture.  C. A. Mace wrote about the psychology of study in 1932.  Now it’s 2010 and the information is just as relevant:
    “The failure to recall what is well known may be in large measure due to a type of over-concentration of attention and consequent restriction to the free play of the mind over the total field of relevant information.”
    In short, try not to panic and close your mind off to the many possibilities.  It’s similar to reading the same two or three words again and again as if you’re not taking them in.  Let go and feel the flow!
    Spend the right amount of time on each question.  If marks are equally weighted on questions, give them roughly the same amount of time.  If one question is worth 10% and another is worth 90%, it’s pointless spending half the exam worrying solely about the 10%.
    Explain each point as clearly as possible.  It’s no use burying the important stuff halfway through a paragraph.  Markers are only human.  If they don’t understand the point you’re making, or if they miss exactly how vital your point is, you’ll miss out on marks unnecessarily.
    Set aside time for notes before you tackle the question.  Before you get writing, spend a few moments preparing your answer with brief notes and key features you want to mention.
    Read over the answers when you’re done.  Give yourself a few minutes before the exam ends to make sure you’re happy with what you’ve written.  Even if you don’t change anything, you’ll feel better having checked.  And if you do change something, you’ll be happy you spotted it. Either way, you win.
    Present your work neatly. Don’t rush your writing so it can’t be read by the markers!  And if you need to make additions or changes, make sure it’s clearly set out.
    If you have selection of questions to choose from, take them in carefully. Don’t rush into a choice.  When you think you’ve made your choice, carefully read the question again to make sure you didn’t just pick up on a key word. Be absolutely sure you’re happy to answer that question.
    Answer the questions in the order you want to.  It’s often best to start working on the question you’re most comfortable and confident with.  Many exams don’t force you to answer in number order.  For instance, question 2 before question 1 should be fine.  If in doubt, ask!
    Don’t bash the point home too much. This isn’t a lengthy essay or dissertation effort.  Make the point, justify and show working, then move on.
    Keep a basic sense of order, but don’t worry about a beautifully planned work of art. Timed essay answers still need to have some flow, but you’ll be forgiven the occasional stumble.  You writing doesn’t need to be as tight as in your coursework.
    Don’t panic! If you can’t think straight, stop trying to concentrate for a few seconds.  Take a few deep breaths and start again.  If you’ve calmed down slightly, make some basic notes to help get back on track.  If you still feel a mess and it’s getting worse, have a toilet break or ask to be escorted out the room for a breather.  Walking away from the exam may sound like wasted time, but a massive panic is likely to waste even more time!
    When short on time, do a mind dump.  Briefly list the points you would have made and give short examples if you can.  Expand on is as you can until the exam’s over.  You may not have produced a fully formed answer, but that list should gain you some extra credit.

After the exam – Letting go

    Give yourself a break.  When it’s all over, some students act like they’re still in the exam and think up more points they could have made.  It’s like they can’t switch off.  But there’s not point in stressing further.  You’re through it, so breathe a sigh of relief.
    Don’t beat yourself up.  No matter how you did, it’s time to let go.  You did what you could and you have to draw a line under it.  Look to the future, not the past.
    Students around you will be comparing notes and how they fared.  You don’t have to join in.  What other students wrote in the exam is irrelevant and only serves to worry you and make you second guess your own effort.
    Keep your performance in isolation.  If you have more exams to go, it doesn’t matter how well or badly you think you did in this exam.  Each one is different.
    Take a break.  Stop for a moment, even if you’ve got another exam that day.  Always leave a gap.  Due to crazy timetable issues, I’ve seen some people (fortunately not me!) who’ve had three exams in a day.  Can anyone beat that!?  Have a breather, even if it’s for a mere 5 or 10 minutes.  Your brain deserves a rest!

Popular Disciplines to Study in 2017 and Lucrative Careers After Graduation

When it comes to choosing the discipline or subject area you want to study at your future college or university, you may stumble or get blocked in your route towards finding the right answer. Many of you, who just finished or are about to complete a Bachelor’s degree, simply don’t have a clear idea about your future career path, and that leads to confusion in terms of what’s the best study option for you.
The good news is you’re not alone; many students face this problem, but you can always find a way to figure out a solution.
1. Engineering – become a skilled technologist and build better, safer products

Engineering is one of the most popular Master’s these days and universities worldwide provide numerous specialisations in this area. Engineering degrees lead to interdisciplinary careers and the demand for professional engineers increases each year.

Engineers are the ones that make our world a little more efficient, smarter and quicker.

You can become a great engineer, depending what degree you choose, like:

    Mechanical Engineering - rail system engineer, maintenance inspector, engine designer, patent clerk;
    Electrical Engineering - power generation tester, electrical systems engineer, electrical safety inspector;
    Civil Engineering - construction engineer, structural engineer, building control surveyor;
    Biomedical Engineering – bio-mechanic engineer, bio-materials engineer;
    Chemical Engineering - plant systems operator, production technician, food scientist.


Compare Master programmes worldwide
2. Computer Science – translate machine codes and unravel web puzzles

It’s no news to anyone that we are living in the digital era. Global companies from anywhere in this world have a high demand for computer geniuses, and, for this reason, most universities provide Master’s degrees in Computer Science in a wide array of specialisations. Some of the most popular specialisations are:

    Video Games & Multimedia
    Business Information Systems
    IT Security
    Data Science

You'll be prepared for a multitude of career opportunities, such as:

    software developer,
    network engineer,
    web designer,
    game tester,
    database manager.

3. Design – make the perfect transition from sketches to appealing images

If you’ve always thought of yourself as a creative person that also has a keen eye for details, a Master’s degree in Design might be the perfect fit for you. Designers focus on the appearance and physical aspects of a product without overlooking the functionality and usability, and overcoming customer satisfaction. Designers are “the brain” behind every concept or idea of a logo, food package, website, and more.

As a graduate, you can become:

    graphics designer,
    copy-write visual artist,
    advertising editor.

4. Fashion – be the expert on what’s hot and what’s not

Are you the kind of person who buys tons of fashion magazines and is deeply interested in fashion trends, clothing, and accessories? Why not make a career out of this hobby and start with a Master’s degree in Luxury Goods and Fashion or Master’s degrees Fashion Design?

These study programmes are not specifically dedicated to people who want to be the next fashion designers: you will learn all there is to know about this industry and for instance, combine your talent for writing with your fashion knowledge and become a fashion journalist or critic.
5. Law – take up the challenge of keeping an even balance

Do you want to bring your contribution to making justice in the world and fight for peoples’ rights? Then maybe you should study Law choose from several subdisciplines in this field, such as:

    International Law deals with international treaties and settling or mediating disputes between nations and organisations.
    Criminal Law involves preventing and defending the society from behaviour that is considered harmful such as robbery, murder or drug trafficking.

With a Master’s degree in Law, you can become a:

    mediator,
    lawyer,
    prosecutor,
    judge,
    legal counsellor,
    bailiff.

6. Business – learn what it means to call the shots and run ventures

Always imagined and thought of yourself that you could successfully run a business? Start building your dream with a Master’s programme in Business and Management. You can decide for an MBA, a Master’s degree in Marketing, Risk Management, Supply Chain and Logistics, and more.

Some of the most popular study areas in business are:

    Public Administration – where you learn how governmental policies are made and implemented, and understand how public resources, budgets, and public agencies work. You can become a clerk, department manager, or local counsellor.
    International Business – where you learn how to build and manage a business in a global environment, and how to adapt it to different cultures. You can join the board of a multinational corporation or become part of the middle management.
    Finance - find out how to maximize company profit and growth. Learn to analyse financial records and statements, and use your math to create financial evaluations. You can become an auditor, actuary, accountant, tax attorney, or financial inspector.

7. Social Sciences – Piece together history, culture, politics, and economics

Social Sciences Master’s degrees are some of the most versatile in terms of the knowledge and skills, as they provide future graduates great career options.

Top disciplines connected to Social Sciences are:

    Economics - learn basic elements of microeconomics and macroeconomics, and gain insight on financial markets, issues of the global economic world, and factors that influence it. You can become an economics analyst, financial journalist, or teacher.
    International Relations - find out how international organisations influence government policies and how different cultural and economic factors contribute to international relations between states. You can join the ranks of the diplomatic service, or become a freelance consultant for international business.
    Political Science - learn how governments are managed and gain insights on political systems and political parties. Choose between becoming a counsellor, analyst, political journalist, lobbyist, or NGO activist.
    International Communication - learn the principles of verbal and non-verbal communication in any international context, like during negotiations or when mediating a conflict between nations, in a trade affair, during a political speech, etc. You can be a PR officer for companies, institutions or political figures.

8. Hospitality and Leisure – how helping customers can be a piece of cake

If you’ve experienced working in tourism, or have been attracted to the idea of making a career in this field, you’ll be pleased to find out that you can start preparing with a Master’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality. The overall tourism industry is one of the most prosperous worldwide, and specialists in the field will always be in high demand.

A Master’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality will teach you how to run a restaurant or a hotel, how to become an expert in customer service, and how to attract a large number of clients.
9. Art and Art History – Decipher the mystery behind magnificent art masterpieces

If you were always passionate about anything that is related to arts like paintings, sculpture, visual arts, or even photography, you can learn more if you apply to a Master’s degree in Art.

If you study Master’s degrees in Art History, you can understand how social, cultural, and even political factors have contributed to the ideas and work of famous painters and artists, in general. You can become an art critic, art broker, art consultant, or professor.
Decide what you want to become and you’ll know what you should study

These are just a few examples of disciplines you can select if you want to become a true professional and have a thriving career. However, there are tonnes of other available fields of study, and new ones are introduced each year. Once you decide on your study plans, you have managed to overcome the greatest challenge; the rest are just small steps you need to go through.

 Check out Master's degree courses worldwide

So, think long and hard, and do an imagination exercise: figure out what type of career would fit you from top to bottom and you’d enjoy the daily duties of. Start searching, explore your options, and you’ll soon find out what you’re meant to do.

Best Degrees to Graduate with in 2018

 It’s time to leave the past where it is and set out action plans for the future. So, what are some of the best degrees for salary potential and job satisfaction to graduate with in the brave new world of 2017? Read on for a roundup of 10 of the best degrees for a happy and lucrative career. 
1. Biomedical engineering

Combining the engineering sciences with biomedicine and clinical practice, biomedical engineering is a fast-growing sector. In addition to enjoying high salaries ranging from US$62,700 to US$104,000, a high percentage of professionals in this field (75%) report deriving a high level of meaning from their occupation. And that’s not all. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the field are expected to grow by 72% by 2018! Not so surprising, given the mind-blowing research being carried out in this field, and increasing number of patents and commercial applications.
2. Occupational therapy  

Want to help others? Occupational therapy is without doubt one of the best degrees to achieve that. Occupational therapists (“OTs”) help ill, injured and disabled patients to access the workplace and various other aspects of daily life. One important component of the job is to evaluate the patient’s workplace and home, identifying any health needs and possible improvements. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapists will grow by 27% from 2014 to 2024, as the human population continues to age and baby boomers seek to maintain their independence later in life. Salaries may range between US$49,532 and US$84,970 in the US. 
3. Structural engineering 

Many of the best degrees for strong salary prospects are found in the engineering sector, including structural engineering. A sub-branch of civil engineering, structural engineering is concerned with the design and erection of large buildings and structures, and is an area of significant demand. An impressive 71% of working professionals in this field report a high level of meaning from their work, while salaries typically range between US$58,700 and US$104,000! 
4. Translation and/or interpretation

According to this 2016 study, translation and interpretation services are expected to grow by 28% in the US by 2021, as businesses continue to expand overseas. Geography, skillset and experience can have a huge impact on your paycheck, with salaries ranging between US$24,000 and US$72,000. Skills that will boost your earning potential include localization (the process of adapting vocabulary or content to specific regions or markets), and fluency in an in-demand language. 
5. Physician assistant studies 

A physician assistant is a mid-level doctor who works under the supervision of an MD or DO. Duties include physical examinations, lab tests and follow-ups. With high salaries ranging between US$85,200 and US$103,000, 86% of physician assistants report a high level of meaning from their work. Featured in PayScale’s ranking of the highest-earning bachelor’s degrees, physician assistant studies is a happiness-inducing major with an impressive earning potential. 
6. Environmental engineering 

The branch of science concerned with protecting humans from the effects of climate change, environmental engineering involves improving recycling, the disposal of waste, health and reducing air, soil and water pollution. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 15% increase in environmental engineers from 2012 to 2022 in the US. Environmental engineers earn between US$53,900 and US$92,800, and 66% report deriving a high level of meaning from their job.
7. Web development

Unsurprisingly in today’s digital world, web development and related fields are amongst the best degrees for secure career prospects. Earning between US$37,800 and US$84,900 depending on location, employer and experience, web developers report a high level of job satisfaction on PayScale, rating their jobs on average five out of five stars. The number of roles available in this field is expected to grow by 27% from 2014 to 2024 in the US, as mobile and ecommerce continue to grow. 
8. Aeronautical engineering 

Working with cutting-edge technology in the design, construction and maintenance of aircraft, aeronautical engineers earn between US$63,000 and US$113,000, with 61% of professionals in the field saying they find a high level of meaning in their work. Like many engineering subjects, this is another of the best degrees for great salary prospects, career progression and ongoing development as the sector evolves.
9. Computer science and mathematics

There’s a great deal of opportunity in today’s economy for STEM students. Graduates with a BSc in computer science and mathematics, for instance, often go on to work in technical and data-based professions as software engineering, robotics programming, numerical analysis, bank credit management, applications programming – the list goes on! Employees with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics earn on average between US$63,500 and US$111,000. However, only 36% say they derive a lot of meaning from their job, so make sure this path really is for you before selecting your major!
10. Nursing 

Earning between US$71,728 and US$113,050, nursing practitioners are registered nurses who also perform some of the duties typically carried out by physicians, such as medical prescription and diagnosis. Predicted job growth rate in the US is about 30% from 2014 to 2024, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

How optimistic do you feel about career prospects in your field? Comment below to share your story!

Reasons Why Candidates Fail Interviews

  Avoid giving the interviewer rational for a decision – “this candidate failed and s/he is not good for the job”. There are many job interview failures and mistakes that you’ve probably heard. This article summarizes these ‘horror stories’ for you.
You’d be surprise to know what employers tell about ‘bad things’ job applicants make during job interviews.
Read further..

50 Job Interviewing Failures/Mistakes

You absolutely don’t want to make these interview mistakes in your upcoming interview.

    
   - Arriving late.

    
   - Arriving too early.

    
  -  Bringing a friend to the interview, or your mother...

    
  -  Being rude to the receptionist.

    
  -  Smelling like a cigarette.

    
    -Being dressed inappropriately.

    
    -Wearing sunglasses.

    
    -Wearing too much perfume or aftershave.

    
    -Wearing the cell phone Bluetooth earpiece.

    
   - Leaving the cell phone on.

    
   - Shaking hands too weakly or too strong.

    
    -Complaining that you were kept waiting for the interview.

    
    -Sitting before invited by the interviewer (not waiting to be invited before taking a seat).

    
   - Sitting in a sloppy manner.

    
    -Chewing gum, a pen or playing with your hair.

    
   - Forgetting the name of the interviewer.

    
    -Forgetting to bring a copy of the resume.

    
   - Forgetting about what is written in your resume. Which is even worst…

    
    -Not matching yourself to the style of the interviewer’s communication.

    
    -Failing to listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions.

    
    -Being unprepared to the standard job interview questions.

    
   - Failing to do your homework about the potential employer.

    
   - Lying on qualifications, experience and your knowledge.

    
    -Not showing enthusiasm/interest on the job.

    
   - Bad mouthing you previous boss.

    
    -Explaining in detail about the cause of the job layoff.

    
   - Sharing too much..

    
   - Failing to explain how your skills match the job in question.

    
   - Speaking for most of time of the interview.

    
   - Interrupting the interviewer speech.

    
    -Asking too many questions or irrelevant questions.

    
   - Failing to ask good questions.

    
    
    -Waving names to boast or sounding like you think you know everything.

    
    -Asking to use bathroom during the interview.

    
    -Being too humble.

    
   - Not making eye contact (or maintaining prolonged eye contact).

    
    -Getting angry or defensive.

    
   - Laughing, giggling, whistling, humming, lip-smacking.

    
   - Saying phrases like “you know", "like a", “I guess” and "Hmm".

    
   - Showing nervousness.

    
   - Showing apathy.

    
    -Complaining.

    
    -Being "Laughy" and "Giggly".

    
   - Sounds desperate.

    
   - Checking the time - looking at the watch.

    
    -Too early asking questions about salary/bonuses/benefits.

    
   - Placing salary requirements too early.

    
   - Being too prepared. Blurting your answers out. These “home prepared / ready made’ answers.

    
   - Not specifically show an interest in the job + Failing to ask for the job.

Application Letter Mistakes That Make Hiring Managers to disapprove

Application letters don’t get a lot of love. And considering how tough it is to write a good one, it’s kind of understandable that people tend to throw them together at the last minute (or update one they wrote last month), attach it to their resume, and call it good.

But this, my friends, is the biggest cover letter mistake you could make. In fact, this document is the best chance you have to give the hiring manager a glimpse of who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you—above all those other candidates—are the one for the job.

Don’t give up your chance to share your best qualifications in a fresh, unique way. And while you’re at it, don’t make these seven other common cover letter mistakes I see all the time.


1. Starting With Your Name

How do you start a cover letter? Let me set the record straight now and say it’s not with, “My name is John Smith.” Unless you’re already famous, your name just isn’t the most relevant piece of information to start with. Not to mention that your name should be listed on your resume, the sign-off in your cover letter, and in other parts of your application.


Instead

Start with a relevant qualification as a way to introduce yourself. If you’re a recent grad with a passion for environmental activism, go with that. Or, maybe you’re a marketing professional with 10+ years of healthcare industry experience—introduce yourself as such, and connect it to the position you are applying to. (Here’s a bit more about kicking off your cover letter with an awesome opener.)


Get a free, simple guide from The Muse to help you easily craft an amazing cover letter.



2. Rehashing Your Resume

If your cover letter is basically your resume in paragraph form, you’re probably going to need to start over. Your resume likely the first thing a recruiter looks at, so you’re wasting your time (and the recruiter’s) if your cover letter is a harder-to-read version of something he or she has already seen.


Instead

Focus on one or two (OK three, max) examples of your work that highlight what you can bring to the position, and try to help your reader picture you doing the work by really diving deep and detailing your impact. You want the hiring manger to be able to imagine plucking you out of the work you’re describing on the page and placing you into his or her team seamlessly.


3. Not Being Flexible With the Format

Remember those three paragraph essays you wrote in middle school? Your cover letter is not the place for you to be recalling those skills. Rather than fitting your message into a particular format, your format should be molded to your message.


Instead

Consider what message you’re trying to get across. If you’re going to be spending the majority of the letter describing one particular relevant experience—maybe that three-paragraph format makes sense. However, if you’re thinking about transferable skills or want to explain how your career has taken you from teaching to business development, a more creative approach could be appropriate. I’ve seen cover letters use bullet points, tell stories, or showcase videos to (successfully) get their point across.


4. Going Over a Page

There are always exceptions to the rule, but in general, for resumes and cover letters alike, don’t go over a page. Unless you’re applying for a managerial or executive position, it’s unlikely a recruiter would look beyond your first page of materials anyway.


Instead

Keep it concise and, ideally, wrap up around three quarters of the way down the page. Remember that you’re not trying to get everything on one page—you’re trying to entice the hiring manager enough to bring you in for an interview. Think of your cover letter as the highlights reel of your career.


5. Over Explaining

Are you a career changer or doing a long distance job search? No matter how complicated your reasons for applying to a job are, it would be a mistake to spend an entire paragraph explaining why you’re moving to San Francisco from New York.


Instead

If your reasons for applying to a position would be made clearer with some added explanation, add them in, but keep them short. Limit yourself to a sentence either in the first paragraph or the last paragraph for a location change, and no more than a paragraph to describe a career change.


6. Focusing Too Much on Training

Maybe you just finished your master’s degree or finally got the hang of coding. Great! But even if your most relevant qualification is related to your education or training, you don’t want to spend the majority of your time on coursework. At the end of the day, what hiring managers care about most is your work experience—what you can walk through the door and deliver on Day 1.


Instead

Certainly mention your educational qualifications if they are relevant, but focus the bulk of your cover letter on experiences. Even if your most relevant experience is education, present it more in the form of projects you worked on and job-related skills you gained, rather than actually explaining course content.


7. Sharing Irrelevant Information

Cultural fit is one of those big buzzwords in the recruiting world now, and there’s no question that it’s important to tailor your cover letter to each company to show your compatibility. But it starts getting a little weird when you start writing about your bowling league or active social life. (And don’t try to tell me this doesn’t happen—I’ve seen it.)


Instead

A better way to show that you’re a good cultural fit for the job is to focus on values—not activities. Mine company websites for the way they describe their company culture, then use that intel to show how your own values align. (Here’s some more on how to show you get the company culture in a cover letter.)



For the companies that have moved away from a cover letter requirement, an additional opportunity to show off what you have to offer is lost. But, for those that require cover letters or at least make them optional, you should absolutely make the most of them—and, of course, avoid these all-too-common mistakes.

Do you know the answer for Running for Office?

Why people are you Running for office? Do You Have a Good Answer?

For some, "why are you running for office "is an easy question to answer because you feel innately passionate about your political pursuit. For others, they may have a murkier answer. But knowing why you are running for office and what you want to do when you get there is critical to being a successful candidate. And having a canned answer to the question is not good enough.

Ted Kennedy's famous non-answer (link is external) to the why he was running for office in his 1980 presidential campaign is a historical lesson about not having your heart in the race.  But there are countless examples in less high profile races of candidates not being able to successfully answer the “why are you running political for office” question.

Running for office for the right reasons is critical, not only to gain support but also to win.  If you lack the passion and really don't want it, that will be evident to voters. Think long and hard before you launch your campaign, because you don't want to commit to a race you don’t want to be in or a race in which you can’t win. Or even worse, be elected to an office and realize you really don't want to do the job.  With that said, here is a break down of the right and wrong reasons to run.

Right reasons:

    To help your community. This is the USA classic reason of running for office. You see your community needs help and you believe you have the skills to fill that need.
    Advocating for causes. There is a specific cause or policy that is affecting your community and you feel that you can have a real impact on the issue by running for office.

Wrong reasons:

    The party asked me to. Just because someone asks you to run does not mean they have your best interest in mind. This could be a great start if you have other reasons for running, but running for office to please someone else is always a bad idea.
    Revenge against the incumbent. The reason that “he did something to me so I’m going to beat him” is not a good reason to begin running for office. Revenge is a horrible reason to run, no matter how bad the opponent is. Make sure there are other motivations that drive you.
    Because I can win. It’s important that you have a chance of success but don’t run just because you think you will win.
    This will be my only opportunity - I get that there is a lot of luck in politics and picking the right opportunity is important but that is different than thinking you will only have one opportunity. Be thoughtful about why you are running and make sure you pick the right opportunity to win, not just the opportunity that is in front of you.

A canned answer to the "why are you running for office question" is not good enough. If your heart is truly not in the race you will know, and so will voters. The bottom line is, don't run if you don't know why you are running.

Psychology-why Would Anyone Run For Office? nowdays

I’ve spent many of my adult years around or studying politicians. And for the life of me I’ve never understood why someone would want to run for office. Candidates often spend a great deal of their own money (and their family’s and friends’) to go around talking to a lot of people, most of whom don’t want to talk to them. What’s the result? Usually they get accused of being evil or stupid by political opponents.

Then, if they win, they spend countless hours raising money, wallowing in the minutiae of legislation, and talking to a lot of people, many of whom they don’t want to talk to. What’s the result? Usually they get accused of being evil or stupid by political opponents, and they rarely, if ever, cast a decisive vote.

No! Thank! You!

SO WHY WOULD PEOPLE VOLUNTEER FOR THIS?

We political scientists offer a number of factors that contribute to someone deciding to run for office: personality type, a sense of civic duty, opportunity… But anybody who thinks about all the family political dynasties must have a gut sense there’s something else going on, too.
Remember the Bushes (two US presidents and one state governor)? The Adamses (two US presidents)? The Trudeaus (two Canadian prime ministers)? The Nehru-Gandhis (three Indian prime ministers)? The Kenyattas (two Kenyan prime ministers)? And these are just at the national level. Think of family dynasties at lower levels (e.g., the Cuomos of New York, Daleys of Chicago…). And those at the level of siblings (the Kennedys, Roosevelts…) not parent-child pairings like above.

YAP, I’M NOT SURPRISED

A nice article in Political Behavior from researchers at Uppsala University and New York University suggests there’s a biological factor as well. Specifically, Sven Oskarsson, Christopher Dawes, and Karl-Oskar Lindgren show that “pre-birth” factors like genes and pre-natal environment are related to people’s decision to run for office.

And the effect is not trivial. Their results show that people who have a biological parent who ran for office are more than twice as likely to run themselves. In Sweden at least, where this research took place, about 2.3% of people ran for office when they didn’t have a biological parent who ran, but having a biological parent who ran more than doubled that percentage.

How do they know this? Sweden keeps a Multi-Generation Registry that allowed these researchers to identify very large samples of adopted children and their biological and adoptive parents as well as non-adopted children and their biological parents.

To estimate the pre-birth/biological effects and post-birth effects like political socialization, the researchers looked at the adopted children to see how much, if any, having a biological parent who ran for office increased the child’s likelihood of running for office. Not surprisingly, having an adoptive parent (post-birth effect) who ran for office increased the child’s probability of running by 3.4 percentage points, but also having a biological parent (pre-birth effect) who ran for office increased the child’s probability of running by an additional 3.5 percentage points, even though the biological parents had no contact with the child since s/he was one year old.

Note that I’ve vastly over-simplified the description of this study. If you want to read the article for yourself, it’s open access and available here. (Loud applause for these authors for making this possible!)

YOU KNOW I CAN’T RESIST

So biology matters in the likelihood someone will run for office. Don, Jr.? Ivanka? After their political experiences so far, genetics are the only reason I can imagine they’d run.

LOVE-more than10 Psychology Studies Every Lover Should understand

   Psychology of love: Brain map of love, the role of kissing, how couples come to look similar, what kills a relationship and more…  “Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

From the initial moment of attraction to growing old together, here are 10 psychology studies that all lovers should know.

1. Falling in love takes one-fifth of a second

It takes a fifth-of-a-second for the euphoria-inducing chemicals to start acting on the brain when you are looking at that special someone.

Brain imaging studies of love suggest that 12 different areas of the brain are involved.

When looking or thinking about a loved one, these areas release a cocktail of neurotransmitters across the brain, including oxytocin, dopamine, vasopressin and adrenaline.

The brain gets a similar ‘hit’ from love as it does from a small dose of cocaine.

2. Brain map of love and desire

The first study to look at the neural difference between love and sexual desire finds remarkable overlaps and distinct differences.
The results showed that some strikingly similar brain networks were activated by love and sexual desire.

The regions activated were those involved in emotion, motivation and higher level thoughts.

This psychology of love suggests that sexual desire is more than just a basic emotion, but involves goal-directed motivation and the recruitment of more advanced thoughts.

Love is built on top of these circuits, with one key area of difference being in the striatum. This area of the brain is typically associated with the balance between higher- and lower-level functions.

3. Kissing helps us choose

Two new studies of kissing have found that apart from being sexy, kissing also helps people choose partners–and keep them.

In a survey, women in particular rated kissing as important, but more promiscuous members of both sexes rated kissing as a very important way of testing out a new mate.

But kissing isn’t just important at the start of a relationship; it also has a role in maintaining a relationship.

The researchers found a correlation between the amount of kissing that long-term partners did and the quality of their relationship.

This link wasn’t seen between more sex and improved relationship satisfaction.

4. Couples look more similar after 25 years together

People who live with each other for 25 years may develop similar facial features.

One study on the psychology of love has found that over 25 years of marriage the facial features of couples became more similar, as judged by independent observers.

This may be because of similarities in diet, environment, personality or even a result of empathising with your partner over the years.

5. Long distance relationships can work

Contrary to the received wisdom, long distance relationships can work, according to new research.

Two factors that help keep long distance relationships alive are that these couples:

    Tell each other more intimate information.
    Have a more idealised view of their partner.

As a result, those in long distance relationships often have similar levels of relationship satisfaction and stability as those who are geographically close to each other.

6. Four things that kill a relationship stone dead

For over 40 years the psychologist Professor John Gottman has been analysing the psychology of love.

He’s followed couples across decades in many psychological studies to see what kinds of behaviours predict whether they would stay together.

There are four things that kills relationships stone dead: repeated criticism, lots of expressions of contempt like sarcasm, being defensive and stonewalling, which is when communication almost completely shuts down.

7. Modern marriages demand self-fulfilment

The face of marriage has changed significantly over the years, according to new research.

It used to be more about providing safety and solidity, now people want psychological fulfilment from their marriages.

More than ever people expect marriage to be more of a journey towards self-fulfilment and self-actualisation.

Unfortunately in the face of these demands, couples are not investing sufficient time and effort to achieve this growth.

The study’s author, Eli Finkel explained:

    “In general, if you want your marriage to help you achieve self-expression and personal growth, it’s crucial to invest sufficient time and energy in the marriage. If you know that the time and energy aren’t available, then it makes sense to adjust your expectations accordingly to minimize disappointment.”

8. A simple exercise to save a marriage

If your relationship needs a little TLC, then there may be no need to go into therapy–watching a few movies together could do the trick.

A new three-year study finds that divorce rates were more than halved by watching movies about relationships and discussing them afterwards.

The study’s lead author, Ronald Rogge, said:

    “The results suggest that husbands and wives have a pretty good sense of what they might be doing right and wrong in their relationships. Thus, you might not need to teach them a whole lot of skills to cut the divorce rate.

    You might just need to get them to think about how they are currently behaving. And for five movies to give us a benefit over three years–that is awesome.”

9. The post-divorce relationship

Even after divorce, relationships don’t necessarily end, especially if there are children.

A study of co-parenting post-divorce has found it can go one of five ways, the first three of which are considered relatively functional:

    Dissolved duos, where (usually) the father disappears.
    Perfect pals, where parents continue to be best friends.
    Cooperative colleagues, where couples move on but remain on a good footing with each other.
    Angry associates, where the fighting continues after the divorce.
    Fiery foes, where children become pawns in the fight and usually suffer as a result.

10. It’s the little things

Finally, as we live in a highly commercialised world where we’re encouraged to think love can be bought and sold, it’s worth remembering that often it’s the small things that can make a difference.

A recent survey on the psychology of love of over 4,000 UK adults found that simple acts of kindness are often appreciated the most.

Bringing your partner a cup of tea in bed, putting the bins out or telling them they look good naked may all do a lot more than a box of chocolates or bunch of flowers (although these won’t hurt!).
Psychology of love

As the German poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke said:

    “Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue, a wonderful living side by side can grow, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against the sky.”