Tips For Improving Your Chances of Getting a Cruise Ship Job

by Mary Bush

As soon as the interview has finished, don’t rest for a second because there are a few effective tactics you can apply that will greatly improve your chances of getting cruise ship jobs.

These top tips will set you apart from your competitors and give you that leading edge.

Send the recruiting company a post interview cover letter

It’s a nice idea to send a letter after your interview, saying ‘thank you’ to the recruiter. This is a rarely used but very effective technique and applying it correctly can get you hired. You can rest assured no one else interviewed has even thought to send a letter such as this.

In the post interview cover letter, re-affirm your enthusiasm and desire to gain cruise line employment. Say how interested you are in working for the company and restate your availability. If your interview went really well, mention that as well.

Keep this letter short and to the point – only a few paragraphs are necessary. Be enthusiastic and friendly when you’re writing and don’t forget to actually ask for the job! Be sure to personalize your letter to the person who interviewed you.

Sending a post interview cover letter will ensure you have a great advantage over the other applicants, who more than likely will be sitting at home just hoping to hear back from the employer. This re-instates your passion and determination for cruise line employment and makes you stand out from the crowd.

Respond to a rejection letter

This may sound unusual if not a bit crazy but believe it or not, it can actually land you cruise line employment! Hardly anybody would ever think to do this and it will give you the edge over your competition and could even secure you the job.

An example of this is a girl who recently had an interview with one of the leading cruise lines and unfortunately received a rejection letter the following week. Of course, she was extremely upset by this, as she badly wanted the job.

The majority of people would dwell on this disappointment and maybe even give up the idea of obtaining cruise ship jobs but not this girl. With great determination she sent a letter straight back to the company, thanking them for the interview and their time. When she replied, she also reiterated her desire to secure a position with them.

Less than a week later the recruiter contacted her. The winning candidate for the vacancy had changed her mind and no longer wanted the job. The interviewer was phoning to offer her the position!

She has since found out she was amongst several other applicants short listed for the job but after receiving her response to the rejection letter, the hiring staff made the decision she was just the person for the job. She’s now enjoying a six-month cruise round South America and the Caribbean – and getting paid for it!

This is an excellent example of where persistence and determination will pay off in the end. You can almost guarantee no other applicants thought to respond to their rejection letters.

When you ooze energy and purpose like this, you’re displaying to potential employers just how desirable you are as a candidate. Persevering, whilst remaining polite, will really show how big an asset you will be to any cruise ship job.

Hospitality jobs online

by Mary Bush

The huge success of international and domestic tourism in India has given rise to pressing demand for quality professionals. The requirement for skilled and efficient human capital is urgent.

Combined with tourism hospitality creates one of the largest service industries in the world. There are opportunities for both good and bad behavior, and right or wrong actions by the service providers. Hence they are guided by codes of conduct, employee manuals, and industry standards whether implicit or explicit. Hotel jobs in India are often overlooked for growth opportunities by regional and international p rofessionals, but its true potential is just begenning to unravel. Indian hospitality managers have built a formidable reputation for themselves and are being hired by international hotel chains and cruise liners in big numbers. The scope of opportunities being offered is unlimited, all that you require is the appropriate qualifications

Hotel jobs are those jobs involved with the Hospitality industry. The word hospitality covers hotels, restaurants, industrial or organized catering for offices, hospitals, educational institutions, private homes, defense services, railways, cruise ships and flight catering. Though the word hospitality itself conjures images of throwing good parties, gracious entertaining hosts, food and drink, hospitality used to be and still is a serious duty and responsibility. The service offered by hospitality institutions such as hotels is moral obligation by the owners of the place to provide the best possible care to its customers. Thus those in hotel jobs have to understand and appreciate the relationship between guest and host and that the actions and decisions originating from either the guest or host have consequences for both agents. The demand for Indian hotel managers and staff in the international industry is very high. This is particularly so in the Middle East, in cities like Dubai.

One reason is that there is acute shortage of locally trained manpower. And there are hardly any institutions offering professional training, in these countries. The shortage of skilled and experienced professionals is also being felt in developed countries in Europe (including the UK), the USA, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong etc. Their preference is for Indian managers because of their high educational level, quality of education standards followed by Hospitality Management Schools of India and the valuable experience they gain by working in India and serving nationals of every country. Official surveys estimate that International employers recruit about 20% of Indian management graduates every year.

Recent years have seen a growing trend towards hiring Indian managers internationally in large numbers in other service sectors like banks, airlines, multiplexes, shopping malls, cruise ships etc. A fairly large number of International companies are now coming to Indian management institutions offering placements for newly trained graduates, in a routine manner. Apart from the new graduates, there is also a high demand for those who have experience working in hotels and restaurants, particularly in areas dealing with customers, like front office and F&B service. In appreciation of their skill in handling customers of all hues a number of hospitality managers with a good records have been welcomed into other service sectors such as banking, airlines, call centers etc. this throws up an more increasing number of job opportunities for hospitality professionals.

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Inspirational Thoughts On How To Find You Dream Career

by katie George

Are you still waiting for your dream career to come? How do you find it in the first place? Do you believe that if you wait long enough, sooner or later your dreams of success will come true?

When it comes to your dream career, you are better off spending your time working toward being successful than losing precious moments thinking of ways to find it. Maybe just even waiting for it to happen.

What are the traits of successful people? They have drive and a belief in themselves. They are confident. They seem to have the touch of gold.

Instead of trying to emulate the qualities that made them successful, people sometimes assume that “they must know someone.” or, “they were lucky.” They forget that these people worked hard to get where they are today.

We did not see they struggle to find that dream career. We just saw the result. But we want what they have, quickly.

Dream careers are not just for the lucky. It is for those who want it and are striving hard to get it. There is no mystery or magic in the process. Follow certain steps and you will be successful.

So how do you find your dream career? Follow these steps

1. Believe that you will succeed

Self-belief is such a crucial and sometimes overlooked element. You have to believe that success is within your reach.

If you do not believe it, who will? The persons who make their career dreams come true are those who believe in their goals.

How can you become a believer? Sit down with a piece of paper in front of you. Write your ideal career and life. Create a picture you can look at every day. Does it inspire you? Belief comes from within. You just have to dig it out every once in awhile.

2. Get the facts

Once you are a believer, back up your beliefs with facts. Find out specifically what steps you need to take to make that picture real. This way, you will be comfortable taking action.

Do you need more training? Do you care about money, or are you more interested in a better quality of life? Write down your questions and get your answers. Then you will be ready to act.

3. Commit to your success

Successful people say “I will”. There is something powerful about making a commitment. First of all, the decision to be successful is made, and the back and forth is done.

Second, you have focus and direction that transforms your outlook and gives you purpose. As human beings we do not always like to make commitments. We feel that we need to keep ourselves open to all opportunities because we are afraid that we may walk away from something better.

Commitment gives you something greater; a reason to get out of bed every day and look for ways to find your dream career.

4. Put a plan in place

Once you are committed, map out how you will succeed. Use the facts you gathered. Break down your success plan into smaller pieces. Put these smaller pieces into your calendar. Make to-do lists.

Manage your priorities and say yes only to those things that will bring you closer to success. Delegate and eliminate those tasks that take up your time.

Career success comes to those who keep moving. Take small steps every day. These small steps now lead you to finding that dream career in the future.

Continuing Your Education Can Enhance Your Career

by katie George

Have you recently thought about enhancing your career? The thought of making more money and having more responsibility can sound very exciting; that is, until you think about what you would need to do to fulfill your goal.

Often times, you can make moves within your field with the experience and education you already have. But occasionally you may find that the qualification requirements of a job you want surpass your level of expertise. If this is the case, you may want to consider continuing your education to make yourself a more pliable candidate. Let’s take a look at some ways you can get this done.

Go Back to School

Going back to school is probably one of the most effective ways to continue your education. Whether you’re studying for your Bachelor’s degree or an even more advanced degree, you will find that going back to school significantly heightens your level of qualification in the eyes of prospective employers.

But some complain that there’s no time to go back to school with having to juggle the current job and family. Luckily, there are now programs available that allow you to take classes over the Internet. You may either meet with your classmates and professor in an online chatroom, or have an email relationship strictly with your professor. Either way, you are not required to attend an actual facility, which affords you the opportunity to stay home and manage day-to-day activities.

Keep Up with Technology

Staying abreast of the latest technology seems like a no-brainer for individuals who work in professions like IT or web development. However, those who are not in technological fields are finding that they too need to become more computer savvy.

So how can you become more educated in the world of technology? One way is by taking classes at your local community college. Whether you’re taking one class as you need it, or going for a certificate, getting educated on popular software like Microsoft Office or Adobe can help improve your chances of securing a better job. Just be sure to note on your resume every new technology you’re proficient in. This way, your application can make its way to the interview stack based on your newly-acquired level of expertise.

Find a Mentor in Your Field

Another great way to continue your education is by finding a person in your field to become your mentor. Whether you’re looking for mentorship to enhance your work as educator, business professional, or even fashion designer, if you approach an expert in your field honestly, you are likely to get that help you want. A great place to find a mentor is within the company you work for. But if you don’t work yet, or you don’t want to find a mentor there, you can look at career-specific clubs and organizations for experts who might be willing to give you a helping hand.

If you’re really interested in making advancements in your career, continuing your education is a great way to go. So take the time necessary to find credible programs and/or the right mentorship. That way, you’ll know that you’ve made the best decision to guide your career toward more fulfilling opportunities.

4 Simple Checks To Choose The Best Affiliate Program That Pays

by MLMAbsolute

Many people find it very difficult to select the best affiliate program for them. These powerful affiliate marketing tips will enable you to clearly determine which affiliate program best suit your unique needs.

When choosing the right affiliate program, consider their:

Check 1: Company & Product

In order to make sure that every of your affiliate program you embark on will give you maximum profits, you have to make sure that the company and its products are easily marketable to users. You also have to find out and know more about the company and products too.

– Is the company stable?

New company?

Is it a company opened to close?

– What do people feel about the product?

What product is it?

Are they selling an E-Book? Or a membership? Or are they selling a pysical product?

You need to make sure that if the company sells information, the information is not duplicated.

Do a study of the company by searching on Google “review of the company” You can also search for affiliate marketers form to check the review of the company by other marketers.

Choosing the best affiliate program for you also dependant on how much effort you wish to put in to the marketing.

Check 2: Compensation / Commission Plan

Check how much is the company paying you for every sale of an affiliate product. It can be generally classified as;

– Direct Commission: This plan gives marketers a one time/ recurring commission with every sale completed through the affiliate link

– 2 Tier Compensation Plan: more and more companies are adopting this new compensation plan. This plan gives you commission on every sale made through your link. And if your customer also becomes an affiliate of the company, you will receive another commission on his/her sale.

Use affiliate directories to find affiliate products. You can search affiliate directories such as ClickBank and Commisssion Junction for products.

Check 3: Support & Training

Another major consideration to look at is the level of support and training the affiliate marketing program is providing or giving. Some important ones:

– Emailing script

– Advertising Banners

– Affiliate tracking system to track your statistics

– Marketing resources

– Existing customer support and backend system

– etc…

Having a good training and support system from the company is crucial for marketers to promote the affiliate product. It helps to increase the skils and ease of promoting.

Check 4: Payment Methods & Punctuality

The most important factor you need to consider when doing affiliate marketing is the payment. Payment system is the one thing that makes a credible affiliate program.

You have to find an affiliate marketing program that pays. There isn’t really any point putting in the countless hours and great effort driving traffic to your websites and making sales, when in the end you don’t get paid. Make sure you check out from existing affiliates of that affiliate marketing program on how they pay out their commissions (e.g. check, PayPal) and if they pay out punctuality.

Finding a program that offers you timely payments and provides the relevant training, tools and support to learn and do well should be a number one priority in your selection process. We wish you best of luck in your online marketing endeavor!

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How to Handle the First Month of Your New Job

by katie George

The first month on a new job is a delicate period, and we cannot afford to spend it just as we please.

It is a trial period for a new employee and the long-term success on this new job depends on how the first few weeks or even the first month goes. So it is important that you prepare before you report to your new job.

The following tips may prove practical and valuable:

Be Punctual

Be punctual and follow the work schedule.

Report on time and don’t leave even a minute before the scheduled time unless you have the permission of your boss and the situation is urgent. Know the lunch and coffee-break schedules.

Dress Appropriately

Follow the dress code, if there is one. In the absence of a prescribed dress code, make sure you wear the appropriate clothing for your position.

For example, if others in a comparable position are wearing business suits, then you should have at least three and keep them clean and well-pressed. Showing up shabbily dressed would give the impression that you have shabby work habits and skills.

Follow Instructions

Before you begin your assigned work, be clear about the instructions. Even if you have the slightest doubt, get it right from the horse’s mouth.

Don’t jump to conclusions and do things your own way. You don’t want your new boss and fellow employees to think you are a “know-it-all.”

Understand the Dynamics of the New Workplace

Whenever a new employee joins an organization or enters a new workplace, it directly or indirectly affects the dynamics of the place. Be sensitive to the dynamics of your new workplace and take your time to understand them before you settle in to your new job.

In short, appear unassuming rather than presumptuous. Don’t be dragged in to any chitchat about politics or the company’s management.

Make sure not to join any faction or group – and don’t participate in any discussion that is tantamount to gossip.

Practice Professional Etiquette

Remember and follow the rules of professional etiquette. A pleasing and courteous demeanor will help you win friends and well-wishers in no time.

Keeping a low profile and appearing unassuming is preferable to being boisterously sociable toward your new associates.

Be Efficient

Be a diligent worker with a conscientious approach, and be sure to meet all deadlines. Never produce any work that is slipshod or sloppy. Your level of output is important but not without quality.

Pursue excellence relentlessly and practice it in all that you do.

Use Personal & Office Items Judiciously

Your family and friends may be keen to know how you are doing in your new job. However, at least in the first few weeks, discourage them from phoning you during working hours.

On the other hand, don’t use office resources and gadgets like the telephone, fax machines, etc., for your personal use unless management expressly permits it.

5 Steps to Overcoming Job Loss

by katie George

Were you recently laid off from your job? Are you confused about where to go from here? Follow these five steps to emotional and financial freedom!

1. Rejoice in your new-found time

If you were just laid off, contact the unemployment office to begin receiving weekly checks. Then, rejoice! When was the last time you were able to sleep in an extra hour? Finish that project you started last year? Take your son or daughter to school? Walk the dog in the middle of the day? Finish going through the piles of paperwork in your office? The possibilities are endless. Consider this the mini-vacation you couldn’t take when you were employed, and make sure to get the rest and relaxation you deserve!

2. Go back to all the things you loved doing before your J-O-B

Remember that hobby you had before you got hired two, five, ten or twenty years ago? The one you set aside because there was too much work to do? It’s time to get back into it. Are you a photographer? An athlete? A fisherman at heart? Something else? Doing what you love clears your mind and opens up new possibilities. And people who do things they love lead longer, happier, healthier lives.

3. Reconsider Your Worth

How much did you make at your job? If you were there for any amount of time, chances are, you deserve a lot more than what you made. Think about all the skills you’ve amassed over the years, as well as all the experience you gained. Then, create a new idea of what you should be getting every month. Be happy that you no longer have to accept low pay for your high-level skills and abilities.

4. Get Refocused

After you get a little bit of mental rest, get refocused and take the steps necessary to secure your emotional freedom. Make a list of the things you enjoy, and then the things you never want to do again. Make a promise to yourself that you will learn from your experiences and never again accept a career that will take you away from what you really love, or force you to deal with things you despise.

5. Consider Starting an Online Business

Chances are, once you get some much-needed rest and actually take time to reflect on your previous life, you will find that staying home is a much nicer option than working for someone else and dealing with the commute, dress code, rules, micromanagement, and stress of yet another impending lay off. Take some time to research opportunities and find a business you can run from home, online. Consider what you love doing, and make sure this business will leave you with enough money and free time for it.

UK Computer Courses

by Scott Edwards

Training prices for computer courses in the UK have been steadily rising year on year since they first started, and are now so expensive that most people who want to train just can’t afford to.

By using modern training methods and keeping overheads low, there is a new type of training company offering a better quality of training and support for hundreds of pounds less.

Training is split into two areas:

* A collection of courses that will train you for very particular roles in industry.

* ‘How-To’ training courses to enable you to master a particular software package.

Updated Computer Courses For Students In The UK…

This new and improved type of training is presented on CD/DVD ROMS that work interactively on your computer. With video streaming, you can learn from instructor-led classroom sessions and demonstrations, then have a go yourself in an interactive laboratory. Although each session is backed up with downloadable study guides, you’ll find little need to pore through them.

Those who are not absolutely certain about what they want to do (and that’s most of us!) should discuss their ideas with a competent training advisor. Modern course providers should have such people available for you, before you finalise your choice. This advice is especially beneficial for those looking to do career training.

Next, and just as importantly, you will need a support system which is user-friendly, and doesn’t hold you up in your studies. This means you need to find a course where you can contact expert mentors anytime of day or night, 24/7, and not be left with an answer phone out of office hours.

The final thing you should look for in your computer course is exam simulation software that’s been authorised by the examining company, e.g. Microsoft. Then you’ll be able to take mock exams that are just like the real thing, and you’ll know exactly when you’re ready to pass!

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Why you want bird dogs finding your deals

by Peter Vekselman

Whether you’re a novice real estate investor or you’ve been at it for years, real estate investing is an endless series of challenges. First, you have to locate motivated sellers. Then you have to buy it right, manage it even better, and still find a way to turn a profit. To top it off, you have to try to do all these things while simultaneously juggling the myriad other details of your life while laying the groundwork to become a full-time investor.

There just isn’t enough time in the day, is there? Wouldn’t it be nice if profitable deals would almost magically come to you? Well, they can. By putting Bird Dogs to work for you there’s more time for you to concentrate your energies on more profitable activities: negotiating with sellers, putting together winning proposals, and moving on to the next deal. In case you’re not familiar with what a bird dog is – or what a bird dog does – they are basically scouts that sniff out deals for you. Their sole job is to locate properties that have motivated sellers and lay the groundwork for you to move in and close the deal. This saves you time for the really profitable aspects of real estate investing. While all bird dogsare not Realtors, Realtorshave a hugeadvantage over non Realtor bird dogs, forobvious reasons: They have access to the local MLS, FLMS listings, they know the neighborhood, they know how long the homes are on the market, they know what buyers are looking for, they know what it will take to get it in resale condition, they have access to motivated buyers and sellersor can find them for you.

Without motivated sellers you can’t put together real estate deals. The problem you have is there are only so many hours in the day for you to do everything that needs to be done. If you still have a full-time job working for someone else you have even less time available for your marketing and prospecting efforts. If you assume that marketing – of which locating motivated sellers is a critical part – takes 20%-25% of your time, you can easily see how little time that leaves for the other activities you need to be doing on an on-going basis to reach your goals. By having a bird dog or bird dogs doing these things for you it allows you to better utilize the time resources you have at your disposal.

A good bird dog isn’t born: they’re made. It’s going to take a little effort on your part to help your bird dogs help you. The best way for you to do this is by clearly articulating to them what you need. Again, here is where Realtors can be invaluable, because you will spend less time bringing Realtors up to speed as they already have had extensive training. The good news is that there are plenty of people willing to be bird dogs. They could be friends, family members, or others you come in contact with. You can also work with novice real estate investors through your local REIA to locate properties for you. It’s also relatively easy to put together larger teams of bird dogs by utilizing message boards, Craig’s List, and other online resources. If all else fails you can run a newspaper ad of your own.

The main point here is that bird dogs will free up more of your time so you can do those things that have a greater probability of earning you money. Bird dogs can be the path to your real estate investing goals. The finder’s fees you’ll pay your bird dogs for bringing deals to you are more than offset by the value – and the wealth – they’ll generate for you. Take the time to learn how to work with bird dogs in reaching your investing dreams. As you get better at working with bird dogs you’ll find that you have more time and money for other pursuits – like deciding what to tell your boss when you quit your full-time job and take the plunge into full-time real estate investing.

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Increase Your Salary Regardless Of What The Economy Is Doing

by Christina Helwig

In the current economic climate it is more important than ever to make sure your skills, habits and attitudes are constantly improving. Your compensation is directly tied to your ability to do your job, the need for what you do and the difficulty people will have in replacing you. Make yourself an exceptionally valuable employee and the last one that would ever be laid off.

Are You A Joy To Work With?

A very important thing to think about is whether your supervisor and colleagues like working with you. Are you pleasant and nice to the people you work with? Do you genuinely care about the success of the people around you? Are you helpful and willing to work on projects regardless of who gets the credit? Never underestimate the importance of a pleasing personality in the workplace. More than anything this simple trait will be a tie breaker when departments want to shrink their workforce. A warm smile and a positive attitude goes a long way to help your career in ways you could never imagine. If you are constantly sulking, complaining or talking behind people’s backs: check your attitude at the door and start acting the way you want people to treat you.

Do You Go The Extra Mile?

I personally believe that whatever I am asked to do I will do. I also will make sure that I ask others if they need help. My standard answer to requests is “Sure, no problem.” Once I am working on those requests I give it my all and I go the extra mile. I work outside the four corners of the project to research, tie things together and make sure that I turn in a great project. If you only do what is required of you, you are only meeting the base standard. Remember that a “C” student is considered average. Average is never enough to distinguish yourself. Average employees do not stand out or shine in front of their bosses.

Can Your Boss Depend On You?

Are you someone that your boss knows will get the job done. Can they rely on you? Do you put their mind at ease? Let’s also take this one step further. Can your co-workers count on you? You want to make sure that the people you work with regardless of whether they are in an authority position, know that they can go to you for projects because you will do the job well and you will get it done on time. Missing deadlines affects more than just your project. Down the line that missed deadline or flawed project could cost your company a client or a sale. While the project might not seem important to you at the time. It might have grave consequences for others.

Are You Playing Your “A” Game?

Are you doing your absolute best at work? Can you step it up a notch? People rarely work at full speed all the time. Most people ease back and forth between highly productive to medium efficiency to close to stagnation. If you are oscillating frequently can you even that out? Working consistently will make your job much easier. If you are going full speed all the time you will burn out and will drop in productivity. By keeping a constant level you avoid the dips. You also produce better work because you are not as tired. Also ask yourself when working on a project: Am I doing my best? Can I improve this in anyway? By always double checking with yourself you will improve your work product and maintain a high standard.

What Have You Done To Improve Your Skill Set Lately?

If you have not done anything to improve your skill set in the last year you are behind the curve. Each year technology changes, the workforce changes and your industry changes. Without staying on top of these developments you will quickly fall behind. Your skill set will become outdated and you will not be innovative. While your ability to do you job might improve, the change will only be incremental. You can only learn so much about the things you already know how to do. What you want to learn is how to do things better, smarter, faster, with less effort, all to produce a superior product. Taking courses or going to seminars on different topics related to your industry or even returning to basics (English courses) will improve your standing in your company. Also many employers will pay for you to take courses if they think that the course will benefit your position and the company. A company that invests in its workers will always improve and will be more likely to keep people who seek this training out.

Lastly think of the type of life you really want to lead and look at how you are living now. Do you think that your current habits, actions and thoughts are congruent with what you want to create in your life? What can you do to bring those three things into alignment?

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