Happy birthday SMS - Text Messaging Turns 19 [Timeline]

Source: Tatango SMS Marketing

7 Simple Tips To Deal With Negative People

“The people who are the hardest to love are the ones who need it the most.” ~Peaceful Warrior

Tip #1: Don’t Engage in the Negativity

One thing I found is negative people tend to harp on the bad things and ignore the positive stuff. They also have a tendency to exaggerate issues they are facing, making their predicament seem a lot worse than it actually is.

The first time you converse with a negative individual, provide a listening ear and offer help if needed. Provide support – let him/her know he/she is not alone. However, be sure to draw a line somewhere. If the person keeps harping on the same problems even after the first few conversations, then it’s a sign to disengage.

For starters, try to switch topics. If he/she goes into a negative swirl, let him/her continue, but don’t engage in the negativity. Give a simple reply, such as “I see” or “Okay”. Whereas if he/she is being positive, reply in affirmation and enthusiasm. When you do it often enough, he/she will soon realize what’s going on, and will start to be more positive in his/her communication.

Tip #2: Hang Out In Groups

Speaking to a negative person can be extremely draining. When I spoke to my negative co-worker, I would be mentally drained for several hours, even though we talked for only 20-30 minutes. That was because I was on the receiving end of all her negativity.

To address this, have someone else around when conversing with the negative individual. In fact, the more people, the better. This way, the negative energy is divided between you and the other members, and you don’t have to bear the full brunt of the negative energy.

The plus point of having someone else around is that people bring out a different side to an individual. By having another party around, it may bring out a more positive side in the negative person. I experienced this before and it helped me to see the “negative” individual in a different, more positive light.

Tip #3: Objectify the Comments Made

Negative people can be quite critical at times. They tend to drop insensitive comments that are hurtful, especially if they are directed at you.

For example, I once had a friend who was quite tactless. She would drop jarring comments which were dismissive and critical. Initially I was bothered by her words, wondering why she had to be so critical every time she spoke. I also wondered if there was something wrong with me – that perhaps I wasn’t good enough. However, when I observed her interactions with our common friends, I realized she did this to them too. Her comments were not personal attacks – it was just her being the way she was.

Recognize that the negative person usually means no harm – he/she is just caught up in his/her negativity. Start by learning how to deal with critical comments. Objectify the comments made – Rather than take his/her words personally, recognize that he/she is just offering a point of view. Sieve out the underlying message and see if there is anything you can learn from what he/she said.

Tip #4: Go with Lighter Topics

Some negative people are triggered by certain topics. For example, one of my friends turns into a self-victimizer whenever we talk about work. No matter what what I say, he’ll keep complaining about everything in his job, which becomes quite a conversation dampener.

If the person is deeply entrenched in his/her negativity, the unhappiness may be too deeply rooted to address in a one-off conversation. Bring in a new topic to lighten the mood. Simple things like new movies, daily occurrences, common friends, hobbies, happy news, make for light conversation. Keep it to areas the person feels positive towards.

Tip #5: Be Mindful of the Time You Spend With Them

As Jim Rohn puts it – “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”. What this quote means is that who you spend your time with has an impact on the person you eventually become.

I find it to be very true. Think about the times you hang out with negative people – Do you feel more positive or negative after that? Same for positive people – How do you feel after spending some time with them?

Whenever I’ve an encounter with negative people, I’d often feel negative after that, like a bad aftertaste. Whereas with positive people, I’d feel extremely upbeat and exuberant. Clearly, there is a spill over effect that takes place even after the interaction! By spending more time with negative people, your thoughts and emotions will slowly become negative too. At first it might be temporary, but over time it’ll slowly become ingrained in you.

If you feel certain people in your life are negative, then be conscious of how much time you’re spending with them. I recommend to limit the duration where you can help it. For example, if they want to hang out with you but you don’t enjoy their company, learn to say no. If it’s a meeting or phone call, set a limit to how long you want it to be. Keep to the objective of the discussion, and don’t let it extend beyond that time.

Tip #6: Identify Areas You Can Make a Positive Change

Negative people are negative because they lack love, positivity and warmth. A lot of times, their negative behavior is a barrier they erect to protect themselves from the world.

One of the best ways you can help a negative individual is to usher positivity into his/her life. Think about what’s bothering the person at the moment, and think about how you can help him/her in your own way. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, and you definitely don’t have to go out of the way to help if you don’t want to. The key here is to be sincere in your desire to help, and to show him/her the upsides in life.

A while back, I had a friend who was unhappy with her job, due to the stagnating environment and culture mismatch. There was a job opportunity that arose in my (now former) workplace, so I introduced that opportunity to my friend. She eventually got the job, and she has been working there for over 3 years now, and doing very well.

Today, she’s a lot happier, forward-looking and proactive in life. She’s definitely a lot more positive than she was a few years ago. While I do not take any credit for what she has carved for herself in her career, I feel very happy knowing that I helped in a small way at the right time. Likewise, there’s always something you can do for others too – keep a look out and help where you can. Just a small act on your part may well make a huge difference in their lives.

Tip #7: Drop Them From Your Life

If all else fails, reduce contact with them or drop them from your life.

Rather than spend your time with negative people, focus on the positive people instead. In the past, I spent a lot of time with negative people, trying to help them with their issues. It drained up a lot of my energy and was often futile, which led me to rethink my methods. Ever since then, I worked on cultivating positivity by hanging out with positive friends and business partners. This has turned out to be a lot more rewarding and fruitful.

Remember that your life is yours to lead, and it’s up to you on how you want it to be. If there are negative people who make you feel bad about yourself, work on those issues with the 7 steps above. With the right actions, you can create a dramatic difference in what you get out of your relationships.

Top 10 Most Expensive Cities in the World

Tokyo, Japan: The capital of Japan, Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live. It is also the world's largest metropolitan city both in terms of population and economy. Many of the multinational companies have their regional offices in Tokyo due to which there are a lot of highly paid jobs. The Tokyo Stock Exchange is one of the largest in Japan and in the world. There is also a massive demand for space due to the ever growing population which has made it one of the most expensive cities in the world. 

Osaka and Kobe, Japan: The second city that can be included in the list of the costliest cities in the world are the twin cities in Japan - Osaka and Kobe. Both these cities are densely populated, leading to a high cost of living and other expenses. Moreover, many multinational companies like Panasonic, Mitsubishi, Sharp, Sanyo and Mizuno have their headquarters in these cities. They also have a large financial industry, leading to high wages. All these factors combined with the cost of land and high wages make these cities the second costliest cities in the world.

Paris, France: Paris the capital city of France is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It has many satellite townships and the metropolitan area is quite large. Tourism is a flourishing industry in this city, which generates huge amount of money for the economy. There is a dearth of space for residences and commerce that pushes the cost of rent further up. Apart from the tourism industry, there are also many high tech manufacturing and finance industries which contribute to the strong economy of Paris.

Copenhagen, Denmark: This capital city of Denmark is not only the political capital of the country but it is also dominant in economy and culture. Copenhagen has head and regional offices of many large companies like Microsoft and Maersk. The largest wind turbine manufacturer, Vestas is located in Denmark putting Copenhagen and Denmark as a whole on the economy map. The corresponding high wages and extremely strong economy make Copenhagen the fourth most expensive city in the world.

Oslo, Norway: Norway, which has large gas and oil reserves, is one of the most developed countries in the world. Oslo which is the Norwegian capital, has a large population and a strong economy. It also has a large income in the form of insurance, tourism and maritime engineering. Due to high wages, the basic commodities have to be imported, making Oslo an expensive region. The tax rates in Norway are also very high. Due to the high rise buildings, the living space has become a premium thus increasing the cost of living in Oslo.

Zurich, Switzerland: Zurich, which is the main commercial center is also sometimes called the cultural capital of Switzerland. There are many top educational institutions in Zurich. A major portion of the Swiss economy is based on the Financial Services and many multinational companies like Credit Suisse, UBS and Zurich Financial Services which are based in this city. There is a diversity in the population of Zurich, which is the main reason why international companies like Google, Microsoft and IBM have their facilities in the city.

Helsinki, Finland: Enlisted in the top ten European cities - Helsinki, apart from being the capital of Finland, is also the economic center of the Finnish economy. It has a large shipbuilding industry and also has many hi-tech industries like Nokia. The tax rate of Finland is relatively high and the generation of large amount of wealth probably makes Helsinki one of the cities having the highest cost of living in the world.

Frankfurt, Germany: A major city in Germany, Frankfurt is considered the economic powerhouse of Germany. Many of the European and German central banks are located in Frankfurt. The Frankfurt stock exchange is also the biggest stock exchange in the world. All this wealth makes Frankfurt one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Geneva, Switzerland: Geneva, a popular city in Switzerland is located between The Alps and Lake Geneva. The International Committee of theRed Cross has its headquarters in Geneva. This city is also famous for the location where the Geneva Conventions, the treaties in international law which set standards for treating prisoners of war. Many of the United Nations departments also have their bases in Geneva. Geneva is a main attraction for tourists for its picturesque locations and is also the sixth important financial center in the world. Due to a high revenue and cost of living, Geneva is also the second most expensive city in the continent of Europe.

Singapore: A small island located in south east Asia, Singapore is a city as well as a country. This small country has a dense population of about 7000 people per sq. km. It has one of the busiest waterways in the world connecting east Asia with south Asia, Europe and Africa. Singapore has a very strong economy due to its various business policies and being a base for many international corporations. The Singapore port is also one of the busiest ports, due to the transshipment of goods. The cost of living is also very high due to a lack of living space. Singapore is growing in stature due to its strategic importance on the world map of business and growing economy, making it one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit.

Though there are many other cities in the world which have a high cost of living, according to a recent survey these ten cities achieved the most expensive cities in the world distinction.

Amazing 51 Facts 

1. People who ride on roller coaters have a higher chance of having a blood clot in the brain.

2. Black bears are not always black they can be brown, cinnamon, yellow and sometimes white.

3. People with blue eyes see better in dark.

4. Each year 30,000 people are seriously injured by exercise equipment.

5. The placement of a donkey's eyes in its head enables it to see all four feet.

6. The sun is 330330 times larger than the earth.

7. The cow gives nearly 200000 glass of milk in her lifetime.

8. There are more female than male millionaires in the U.S.A.

9. A male baboon can kill a leopard.

10. When a person dies, hearing is usually the first sense to go.

11. Bill gates house was designed using Macintosh computer.

12. Nearly 22,000 cheques will be deducted from the wrong account over the next hour.

13. Almost all varieties of breakfast cereals are made from grass.

14. Some lions mates over 50 times a day.

15. American did not commonly use forks until after the civil war.

16. The most productive day of the week is Tuesday.

17. In the 1930's America track star Jesse Owens used to race against horses and dogs to earn a living.

18. There's a great mushroom in Oregon that is 2,400 years old. Covers 3.4 square miles of land and is still growing.

19. Jimmy Carter is the first U.S.A. president to have born in hospital.

20. Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.

21. Cleopatra married two of her brothers.

22. Human birth control pill work on gorillas.

23. The right lung takes in more air than the left.

24. It is illegal to own a red car in shanghai china.

25. A hard-boiled egg will spin. An uncooked or soft-boiled egg will not.

26. Astronauts cannot burp in space.

27. The snowiest city in the U.S.A. is blue canyon, California Lake Nicaragua in Nicaragua is the only fresh water lake in the world that has sharks.

28. Kite flying is a professional sport in Thailand.

29. The great warrior Genghis khan died in bed while having $ex.

30. No matter how cold it gets gasoline will not freeze.

31. SNAILS have 14175 teeth laid along 135 rows on their tongue.

32. A BUTTERFLY has 12,000 eyes.

33. DOLPHINS sleep with 1 eye open.

34. A BLUE WHALE can eat as much as 3 tones of food everyday, but at the same time can live without food for 6 months.

35. The EARTH has over 12,00,000 species of animals, 3,00,000 species of plants & 1,00,000 other species.

36. The fierce DINOSAUR was TYRANNOSAURS which has sixty long & sharp teeth, used to attack & eat other dinosaurs.

37. DEMETRIO was a mammal like REPTILE with a snail on its back. This acted as a radiator to cool the body of the animal.

38. CASSOWARY is one of the dangerous BIRD, that can kill a man or animal by tearing off with its dagger like claw.

39. The SWAN has over 25,000 feathers in its body.

40. OSTRICH eats pebbles to help digestion by grinding up the ingested food.

41. POLAR BEAR can look clumsy & slow but during chase on ice, can reach 25 miles / hr of speed.

42. KIWIS are the only birds, which hunt by sense of smell.

43. ELEPHANT teeth can weigh as much as 9 pounds.

44. OWL is the only bird, which can rotate its head to 270 degrees.

45. In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

46. On average, people fear spiders more than they do death.

47. The c!garette lighter was invented before the match.

48. Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different.

49. Tapeworms range in size from about 0.04 inch to more than 50 feet in length.

50. German Shepherds bite humans more than any other breed of dog.

51. A female mackerel lays about 500,000 eggs at one time.

.

Americans spend most time on the internet

Figures for March show the US leading the way for time spent online, with the average user spending almost an hour a day surfing.

Americans spend more time surfing the internet than anyone else in the world, with users clocking up an average of nearly 28 hours a month.

This obsession with the net sees Americans spending almost double the amount of time online than users in Australia.

The data, from Nielsen Online, shows the rest of the world has yet to become quite so fixated with the world wide web.

Europe lags behind, with the French spending just under 20 hours connected to the net.

Spain comes in third with the average Spaniard spending just under 18 hours online.

Users in the UK spend 17 and a half hours online, just above Germany and Italy on 16 hours.

But the US may soon see another nation vying for the top spot however.

China has overtaken the West in its love of the internet and is now home to more internet users than the US.

The comparatively unfettered internet, while still subject to certain amounts of censorship, is proving more attractive to Chinese than ever, with 61 per cent more people going online in the past year.

There were more than 221 million Chinese online at the end of February, compared to the 137 million surfing at the start of 2007.

Video-sharing websites are the most popular.

What does your Signature mean About you

WHAT DOES YOUR SIGNATURE MEAN ABOUT YOU… The various types of Signatures you come across & the attitude of a person are listed below: # SINGLE UNDERLINE BELOW THE SIGN!! These persons are very confident and are good personalities. They are a little bit selfish but believe in "Happiness of human life" # TWO DOTS BELOW THE SIGN!! These persons are considered to be Romantic, can easily change their fiancées as if they change their clothes. They prefer beauty in other persons & they themselves try to look beautiful. They easily attract others. # SINGLE DOT BELOW THE SIGN! These persons are more inclined towards classical arts, simple & are very cool. If you loose faith with them, then these persons will never look back at you. Hence its always better to be careful with these people. # NO UNDERLINES OR DOTS BELOW THE SIGN!! These persons enjoy their life in their own way, never pay attention to others views. These are considered to be good natured but are selfish too. # RANDOM SIGN, NO SIMILARITY BETWEEN NAME & SIGN!! These persons try to be very smart, hide each & every matter, never say anything in straight forward manner, never pay attention to the other person of what he is talking of. # RANDOM SIGN, SIMILARITY BETWEEN NAME & SIGN!! These persons are considered to be intelligent but never think. These people change their ideas & views as fast as the wind changes its direction of flow. They never think whether that particular thing is right or wrong. You can win them just by flattering them. # SIGN IN PRINTED LETTERS!! These persons are very kind to us, have a good heart, selfless, are ready to sacrifice their life for the sake of their near & dear. But these seem to think a lot and may get angry very soon. # WRITING COMPLETE NAME AS THEIR SIGN!! These persons are very kind hearted, can adjust themselves to any environment & to the person they are talking.These persons are very firm on their views & posses a lot of will power.

Tick Tock: A Brief History of Clocks

Throughout the millenniums various groups of people have developed ways in which to record time. The Sumerians and Egyptians used Sundials, although telling time during the night was somewhat difficult. In order to keep track of time when no sunlight was available, waterclocks were developed in Greece. The clock as we visualize it today evolved in the Far East and Europe from approximately 100 - 1600 AD. Early inventors struggled with the dilemma of finding a reliable power source as sun, water, and sand can be somewhat undependable. The power source “turns a wheel and a system of gears that move the hands of the clock and are controlled by an arresting mechanism called an escapement, which allows the teeth of one of the gears to ‘escape’ one by one.” (trollvalley.com) A major breakthrough came in 1500/1510 when Peter Henlein developed “spring power.” This was followed by Christian Huygens’ pendulum clock in 1656, although Galileo is credited with the original design. Huygens again advanced the clock’s evolution by inventing a balance wheel and spring assembly, similar to what we use in wrist watches today. The size of timepieces has changed radically over the years. Many early clocks were large due to the need to encase large group(s) of mechanisms. Finally Peter Henlein’s development of a ‘spring powered’ clock allowed for a reduction in the size of the clock. ‘Spring powered’ clocks could be made mantle or table size. In fact, Henlein went so far as to develop the first portable watch; it was six inches high. The development of the long pendulum ushered in a new era, not only in timepieces but in furniture. To house and protect this long pendulum and its mechanism required a tall case. Why shouldn’t that case be reflective of current furniture styles?

Time Line of Clocks c. 3500 BC “Shadow” clocks or Sundials first appear. c.325 BC Waterclocks are invented. 100 - 1300 Clocks evolve in Far East & Europe 1088 Complex mechanism using water driven power source first used. 1500 - 1510Spring powered mechanism designed 1505 Peter Henlein designs first portable timepiece. 1577 Minute hand mechanism designed. 1582 Design for long pendulum invented. 1656 Development of long pendulum clock . 1657 Christian Huygens invents balance wheel & spring assembly (as used in wristwatches today). 1660 Longcase or tallcase clocks become popular. 1660 - 1730 “Golden age” of clock making. 1671 Anchor or “recoil” escapement invented. c. 1685 Tall case clocks imported to American Colonies. c. 1695 First tall case clocks constructed in American Colonies. 1721 New design to improve accuracy developed. 1880 Term “grandfather’s clock” becomes popular based on a song Grandfather’s Clock that was popular in England and America.

The “golden age of development” (Edwin) of English tall case clocks was from 1660 to 1730. The first of the tall case clocks was made for kings, queens, and nobles. Early clocks were constructed using the popular classical proportions of the day. These clocks were characterized by a narrow pendulum cabinet and a portico type bonnet. Eventually cabinet and clock makers developed ways to bring down the cost of these tall case clocks making them more widely affordable and thereby developing a greater demand for tall case clocks. Early American tall case clock construction was based on the English tradition. Having no trained clockmakers in the colonies, the first tall case clocks were imported from England. Eventually only the mechanisms of the clocks were imported for ease in shipment, requiring a craftsman for assembly. The first clocks made in the American colonies were copies of those being made for the English market in the “then popular Baroque style.” New York, New England, Pennsylvania and Virginia were colonial clockmaking centers. Benjamin Chandlee from Philadelphia developed a case under seven feet in height for colonial homes which often had lower ceilings. (Johnson) Each early American-made clock was constructed using hand tools and took months of work. Machinery that might have aided colonial production was “prohibited by law from being exported to the colonies” (Johnson). Therefore, tall case clocks were found in the most well to do homes in the colonies and would have been a symbol of one’s socio-economic status within the community. John and Elizabeth Chads were well-to-do Chester Countians. John oversaw several businesses and owned a quantity of land. Elizabeth came from a family equally well established. The architecture of their house and, I’m sure, its furnishings were symbols of their success and position within early Chadds Ford society. While we are far from determining if our “new” clock was, in fact, John and Elizabeth’s, those who have seen it can attest that it looks right at home in its surroundings. By Elizabeth Rump

Dont change your Blog Template

Whenever you feel bored with the template of your blog and want to change it, you immediately take the hazardous step of replacing the template without even thinking of its bad impact. 

While doing so, the look of your site changes as per your likings BUT this is the starting point of the endless problems.

 Search Engine Optimization get disordered affecting your Global Alexa rankings.

 You may loose your visitors too from sources like Google keyword search and Google image search. Not only Google other Search engines like Yahoo, Bing, Ask may also get affect. 

 Apart from it you have to wait for a long time to regain your previous status until the search engine updates there indexed pages.

Hence whenever you want to change the template of your blog -

JUST THINK OVER IT

and even if it is necessary then re-design it properly as you think best and use it forever.

Don't change template so often.

Smoking and Non smoking

Smoking INJURES your Health
No-Smoking INSURES your health

Smoking BATTERS your Health
No-Smoking BETTERS your health

Smoking ENDURES poor Health
No-Smoking ENSURES good health

Smoking TORTURE your Health
No-Smoking NURTURE your health

Smoking PACK-UP your Health
No-Smoking BACK-UP your health

Smoking MEDDLE your Health
No-Smoking METTLE your health

Smoking SHOOT your Health
No-Smoking SOOTHE your health

Smoking SLICE your Health
No-Smoking SPLICE your health

Smoking BEND your Health
No-Smoking MEND your health

Smoking BEND your Health
No-Smoking TEND your health

Smoking END your Health
No-Smoking M END your health

Smoking SCARES your Health
No-Smoking CARES your health

Smoking DE-LIGHT your Health
No-Smoking DELIGHT your health

Smoking UPSET your Health
No-Smoking SET-UP your health

Smoking FAIL your Health
No-Smoking BAIL your health

Smoking TEAR your Health
No-Smoking STEER your health

Smoking STALL your Health
No-Smoking INSTALL your health

Smoking DEFORM your Health
No-Smoking REFORM your health

Smoking EXCEL your Health
No-Smoking EXPEL your health

Smoking IMPAIRS your Health
No-Smoking IMPROVES your health

Smoking bring a CLOWN image
No-Smoking bring a CLEAN image

No Smoking Slogans

• Arsenic kills if you swallow it; tobacco kills if you smoke it.
• Be Cool - Don't Be a Smoking Fool.
• Be smart don't start.
• Breathe healthily, live happily.
• Cancer cures smoking.
• Chicks really dig pre-cancerous lungs.
• Cigarettes burn holes in your pocket.
• Cough twice for Philip Morris.
• Did you know your mouth is on fire?
• Don't be a butthead. Smoking kills.
• Don't be a Kool Fool.
• Don't puff your life away.
• Don't smoke you will choke!
• Don't smoke - there are cooler ways to die.
• Everyone has a right to clean air.
• Hang Tough, Don't Puff!
• Health is wealth.
• How the Tobacco Industry Killed American Soldiers
• I like smoking. It kills off a lot of stupid people.
• I quit because my kids love me.
• I would give up smoking but I’m not a quitter.
• If God had wanted us to smoke, he would have given us a separate hole for it.
• If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.
• If you can’t stop smoking, cancer will.
• If you don’t smoke, I won’t fart!
• If you smoke, you're a joke.
• If you think smoking is cool, you're a fool.
• Is smoking good for business? Not if you want long-term customers.
• Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray.
• Live it or Burn it...
• Make your choices, it's your life.
• No smoke no life, but No life with smoke.
• Please keep smoking. Our planet is overcrowded.
• Put it out before it puts you out.
• Put your money where your butt is.
• Quit smoking. It kills!
• Quit smoking before smoking quits you.
• Save a fortune on Botox - quit smoking now!
• Save Money - Quit Smoking!
• Save your lungs, save your life.
• Share clean air.
• Smoke away your worries, not your lungs.
• Smoke can cause a slow and painful death.
• Smoke. Stink. Die.
• Smokers are Jokers - Don't Smoke.
• Smokers don’t get to smoke, they have to smoke.
• Smoking - Suicide for Cowards.
• Smoking cigarettes is so yesterday.
• Smoking is a stupid habit for really stupid people.
• Smoking is bad for your sex life.
• Smoking is like paying someone to kill you. They’re rich; you’re dead.
• Smoking is very glamorous, if you like deep wrinkles.
• Smoking kills.
• Smoking makes no cents.
• Smoking makes you ugly.
• Smoking Stinks!
• Smoking? You must be joking...
• Stop smoking, or you will be croaking. 
• STOP...and take a step in the right direction!
• QUIT NOW...Your life depends on it.
• THINK... about it.
• Tar the roads, not your lungs.
• Thank you for not smoking.
• The Cigarette is dead.
• The Marlboro Man Died of Lung Cancer.
• There are cooler ways to die than smoking.
• Tobacco companies kill their best customers.
• Too much smoke will leave you broke.
• Trash the Ash.
• Weapons of mass destruction.
• When you smoke, everyone can smell you coming.
• When you smoke, you are not cool. In the end, however, you are extinct. 
• Who’s going to retire on your hard-earned dollars… you or some tobacco company executive?
• Winston Tastes Good, Like a Carcinogen Should.
• You don't want to smell my butt, don't make me smell yours
• You smoke, you die early, you save the government money.
• You take my breath away. 
• You're a fool if you think smoking is cool.
• Your freedom ends where my nose begins.
• Your Money Going Up in Smoke

50 COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Review these typical interview questions and think about how you would answer them. Read the questions listed; you will also find some strategy suggestions with it.

1. Tell me about yourself:

The most often asked question in interviews. You need to have a short statement prepared in your mind. Be careful that it does not sound rehearsed. Limit it to work-related items unless instructed otherwise. Talk about things you have done and jobs you have held that relate to the position you are interviewing  for. Start with the item farthest back and work up to the present.

2. Why did you leave your last job?

Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

3. What experience do you have in this field?

Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.

4. Do you consider yourself successful?

You should always answer yes and briefly explain why. A good explanation is that you have set goals, and you have met some and are on track to achieve the others.

5. What do co-workers say about you?

Be prepared with a quote or two from co-workers. Either a specific statement or a paraphrase will work. Jill Clark, a co-worker at Smith Company, always said I was the hardest workers she had ever known. It is as powerful as Jill having said it at the interview herself.

6. What do you know about this organization?

This question is one reason to do some research on the organization before the interview. Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues and who are the major players?

7. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?

Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety  of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good  ones handy to mention.

8. Are you applying for other jobs?

Be honest but do not spend a lot of time in this area. Keep the focus on this job and what you can do for this organization. Anything else is a distraction.

9. Why do you want to work for this organization?

This may take some thought and certainly, should be based on the research you have done on the organization. Sincerity is extremely important here and will easily be sensed. Relate it to your long-term career goals.

10. Do you know anyone who works for us?

Be aware of the policy on relatives working for the organization. This can affect your answer even though they asked about friends not relatives. Be careful to mention a friend only if they are well thought of.

11. What kind of salary do you need?

A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That's a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.

12. Are you a team player?

You are, of course, a team player. Be sure to have examples ready. Specifics that show you often perform for the good of the team rather than for yourself are good evidence of your team attitude. Do not brag, just say it in a matter-of-fact tone. This is a key point.

13. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?

Specifics here are not good. Something like this should work: I'd like it to be a long time. Or As long as we both feel I'm doing a good job.

14. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that?

This is serious. Do not make light of it or in any way seem like you like to fire people. At the same time, you will do it when it is the right thing to  do. When it comes to the organization versus the individual who has created a harmful situation, you will protect the organization. Remember firing is not the same as layoff or reduction in force.

15. What is your philosophy towards work?

The interviewer is not looking for a long or flowery dissertation here. Do you have strong feelings that the job gets done? Yes. That's the type of answer that works best here. Short and positive, showing a benefit to the organization.

16. If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?

Answer yes if you would. But since you need to work, this is the type of work you prefer. Do not say yes if you do not mean it.

17. Have you ever been asked to leave a position?

If you have not, say no. If you have, be honest, brief and avoid saying negative things about the people or organization involved.

18. Explain how you would be an asset to this organization

You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

19. Why should we hire you?

Point out how your assets meet what the organization needs. Do not mention any other candidates to make a comparison.

20. Tell me about a suggestion you have made

Have a good one ready. Be sure and use a suggestion that was accepted and was then considered successful. One related to the type of work applied for is a real plus.

21. What irritates you about co-workers?

This is a trap question. Think real hard but fail to come up with anything that irritates you. A short statement that you seem to get along with folks is great.

22. What is your greatest strength?

Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples:

Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills,  Your positive attitude

23. Tell me about your dream job.

Stay away from a specific job. You cannot win. If you say the job you are contending for is it, you strain credibility. If you say another job is it, you plant the suspicion that you will be dissatisfied with this position if hired. The best is to stay genetic and say something like: A job where I love the work, like the people, can contribute and can't wait to get to work.

24. Why do you think you would do well at this job?

Give several reasons and include skills, experience and interest.

25. What are you looking for in a job?

See answer # 23

26. What kind of person would you refuse to work with?

Do not be trivial. It would take disloyalty to the organization, violence or lawbreaking to get you to object. Minor objections will label you as a whiner.

27. What is more important to you: the money or the work?

Money is always important, but the work is the most important. There is no better answer.

28. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?

There are numerous good possibilities:

Loyalty, Energy, Positive attitude, Leadership, Team player, Expertise, Initiative, Patience, Hard work, Creativity, Problem solver

29. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor

Biggest trap of all. This is a test to see if you will speak ill of your boss. If you fall for it and tell about a problem with a former boss, you may well below the interview right there. Stay positive and develop a poor memory about any trouble with a supervisor.

30. What has disappointed you about a job?

Don't get trivial or negative. Safe areas are few but can include:

Not enough of a challenge. You were laid off in a reduction Company did not win a contract, which would have given you more responsibility.

31. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.

You may say that you thrive under certain types of pressure. Give an example that relates to the type of position applied for.

32. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?

Probably this one. Do not give fuel to the suspicion that you may want another job more than this one.

33. What motivates you to do your best on the job?

This is a personal trait that only you can say, but good examples are:

 Challenge,  Achievement,  Recognition

34. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?

This is up to you. Be totally honest.

35. How would you know you were successful on this job?

Several ways are good measures:

You set high standards for yourself and meet them. Your outcomes are a success.Your boss tell you that you are successful

36. Would you be willing to relocate if required?

You should be clear on this with your family prior to the interview if you think there is a chance it may come up. Do not say yes just to get the job if the real answer is no. This can create a lot of problems later on in your career. Be honest at this point and save yourself future grief.

37. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?

This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. Do not worry about the deep ethical and philosophical implications. Just say yes.

38. Describe your management style.

Try to avoid labels. Some of the more common labels, like progressive, salesman or consensus, can have several meanings or descriptions depending on which management expert you listen to. The situational style is safe, because it says you will manage according to the situation, instead of one size fits all.

39. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?

Here you have to come up with something or you strain credibility. Make it small, well intentioned mistake with a positive lesson learned. An example would be working too far ahead of colleagues on a project and thus throwing coordination off.

40. Do you have any blind spots?

Trick question. If you know about blind spots, they are no longer blind spots. Do not reveal any personal areas of concern here. Let them do their own discovery on your bad points. Do not hand it to them.

41. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?

Be careful to mention traits that are needed and that you have.

42. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?

Regardless of your qualifications, state that you are very well qualified for the position.

43. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?

First, if you have experience that the interviewer does not know about, bring that up: Then, point out (if true) that you are a hard working quick learner.

44. What qualities do you look for in a boss?

Be generic and positive. Safe qualities are knowledgeable, a sense of humor, fair, loyal to subordinates and holder of high standards. All bosses think they have these traits.

45. Tell me about a time when you helped resolve a dispute between others.

Pick a specific incident. Concentrate on your problem solving technique and not the dispute you settled.

46. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?

Be honest. If you are comfortable in different roles, point that out.

47. Describe your work ethic.

Emphasize benefits to the organization. Things like, determination to get the job done and work hard but enjoy your work are good.

48. What has been your biggest professional disappointment?

Be sure that you refer to something that was beyond your control. Show acceptance and no negative feelings.

49. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.

Talk about having fun by accomplishing something for the organization.

  

50. Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on? are examples.