AB WEBS

Never Get Disappointed

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 3 Jul 2015 01:05:00 +0600

Let me share the story of my brother's life (without his permission, but I don't think he would mind). When he was in class 5, he used to study in a really shitty school in Khulna. So, in order to climb on to the social ladder, as it happens, my parents forced him to take admission tests in two well-known schools in Khulna. In one of the tests, he got 4 out of 100 in math. So, getting admitted in a good school was totally out of question. On the next year, he gave admission test where somehow he could show his 'jalwa' and got into the best school in Khulna which nobody expected that he was capable of even cut the grass of!

Anyway, in his SSC he got 4.50 which is pretty bad given the extent of competition as we all Bangladeshis know. He didn't get chance anywhere. Only one college took an admission test and he came as 7th in the merit list there, it was St. Joseph College. In his HSC, he managed to score the shittiest result that any of our family could ever get, 4.20! Again, he could apply nowhere in Bangladesh. My father even thought of admitting him to a physiotherapy school (with due respect), as he needed to earn money somehow in the future which rather seemed dull at that point.

But my brother gave his IELTS and got into a university in Sweden where my father did not have to pay any tuition fee. Then he graduated in 3 years. Now, he is doing his PhD in South Korea. He has multiple publications and he is not even 24!

My point of this long introduction is, life is too unpredictable and shit happens. Life is uncertain and it's possible to not know what's coming up next. Life is too big and has a lot to offer beyond our imagination. So, please don't think of ending it if it gives you lemon and the world doesn't even offer you the chance to make those into lemonade. Just keep faith and the passion up, you will make it. Just don't end it before it's already time. You're only gonna hurt the ones who love you the most. Even though they don't show it, they love you, they sure do.

It's for the ones like the boy I read about today in the newspaper who committed suicide for not getting GPA 5 in his SSC. Please, it's not worth it. Life gets better, trust me!

Source: Collected

Ground Zero memorial ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:39:00 +0600

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 11: Family members of the victims of the September 11 terror attacks stand at the perimeter of the 9/11 Memorial South Pool during the tenth anniversary ceremonies of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center site, September 11, 2011 in New York City.

New York City and the nation are commemorating the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people after two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia and one crash landed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

ক্যারিয়ার ব্যবস্থাপনা

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 20:14:00 +0600

ক্যারিয়ারের ব্যাপারে সঠিক সিদ্ধান্ত গ্রহণে আপনাকে সহায়তা করবে।

চাকুরি সন্ধান কর্মপরিকল্পনার ৬টি ধাপ ১. নিজেকে মূল্যায়ন করা
২. ক্যারিয়ারের লক্ষ্যসমূহ গবেষণা করা
৩. পরিকল্পনা প্রণয়ন করা
৪. নিজ-বিপনী ( Self Marketing ) কৌশল নির্ধারণ করা
৫. চাকুরির সাক্ষাৎকারের জন্য প্রস্তুতি গ্রহণ করা
৬. বাধাবিপত্তির সাথে খাপ খাইয়ে নিজ পরিকল্পনা বাস্তবায়ন করা

১. প্রশ্ন জিজ্ঞাসার মাধ্যমে নিজেকে মূল্যায়ন:

১.আমার মূল্যবোধগুলো কি কি?
২.সিদ্ধান্ত প্রণয়নে কোন বিষয়গুলো আমাকে প্রভাবিত করছে?
৩.এর উদ্দেশ্য কি? ব্যতিক্রমি কিছু করা নাকি কেবল অর্থ উপার্জন ? মনোযোগের কেন্দ্রে থাকার ইচ্ছা নাকি অন্যকে সাহায্য করার ইচ্ছা?
৪.আগামী কয়েক বছরে আমার উদ্দেশ্য ও প্রাধান্যগুলো কি কি? আজ থেকে পাঁচ বছর পর আমার পরিকল্পনা কি?
৫.আমার প্রধান শক্তিগুলো কি?
৬.কি আমার জীবনকে অর্থপূর্ণ করে? আমার উদ্দেশ্য কি?
৭.আমার জীবন দর্শনে কর্মের স্থান কোথায়?

২. নিম্নোক্ত উপায়ে ক্যারিয়ার লক্ষ্যসমূহ গবেষণা করা:

আপনার পছন্দনীয় কাজের ক্ষেত্র নির্ধারণ করুন ।
আপনি কাজ করতে পছন্দ করেন অথবা আপনার কাজের প্রস্তাব রয়েছে এরূপ প্রতিষ্ঠান বিশেষণ করুন।

কাজের ক্ষেত্র নির্ধারণ:
§ কোন ধরনের পণ্য অথবা সেবা এই প্রতিষ্ঠান প্রদান করে থাকে?
§ প্রধান কর্মক ও সম্ভাবনাময় ব্যক্তি কারা?
§ এই খাতের/ শিল্পের কোনো একটি প্রতিষ্ঠানের সাফল্যের প্রধান নিয়ামকগুলো কি কি?
§ ভবিষ্যতে এ খাতে লোক নিয়োগের সম্ভাবনা কতটুকু?
§ কোন ধরনের প্রতিভাকে এ খাত আকর্ষণ ও নিয়োগ করে এবং এ খাতে কোন ধরনের লোক প্রয়োজন?

প্রতিষ্ঠান বিশেষণ:
§ এ খাতের অন্যান্য প্রতিষ্ঠানের চাইতে এ প্রতিষ্ঠান আলাদা কেন?
§ এ প্রতিষ্ঠানের সংস্কৃতি, মূল্যবোধ ও প্রাধান্যগুলো কি কি?
§ এ প্রতিষ্ঠানের কর্তাব্যক্তি (এম. ডি., সি.ই.ও, সি.এফ.ও এবং সি.ও.ও) এবং তাদের লক্ষ্য কি কি?
§ কর্মচারীদের সাথে এ প্রতিষ্ঠানের আচরণ কেমন?
§ প্রতিষ্ঠানের সুনাম রয়েছে কেমন?
§ সেখানে কাজের পরিবেশ কেমন?

৩. পরিকল্পনা প্রণয়ন:

§ আপনার পছন্দনীয় প্রতিষ্ঠান ও ভূমিকায় আপনার অবস্থানের বাস্তবসম্মত বিচার বিশেষণের মাধ্যমে চাকুরির বিকল্পগুলো খুঁজে বের করুন।
§ প্রাধান্য নির্ধারণ করুন এবং তা বাস্তবায়নে পরিকল্পনা প্রণয়ন করুন
§ প্রধান পছন্দনীয় প্রতিষ্ঠানের লোক নিয়োগ সময়ের ভিত্তিতে চাকুরি সন্ধানের সাধারণ সময় নির্ধারণ করুন।

৪. নিজ বিপনী কৌশল প্রণয়ন: ( Self-marketing strategy ) :

§ পণ্য ( Product ) : ভোক্তাকে (সম্ভাব্য নিয়োগকর্তা) দেয়ার মত কোন কোন দক্ষতা ও যোগ্যতা আপনার রয়েছে?
§ মূল্য ( Price ): চাকুরির বাজারে আপনার মূল্য কতখানি? আপনার শিক্ষাগত যোগ্যতা, অভিজ্ঞতা ও পেশাগত দক্ষতা কি চাকুরির বাজারে আপনাকে অতি সমাদৃত পণ্যের স্থান দেয়, নাকি আপনার কাংখিত প্রতিষ্ঠানের দরজায় পৌছুতে আপনাকে কিছুটা ছাড় দিয়ে শুরু করতে হবে?
§ বিপণন ( Promotion ) : কোন ধরনের বক্তব্য বা বিষয়বস্তু আপনার পেশাগত দক্ষতাকে তুলে ধরে?
§ পরিবেশন ( Place ): আপনি চাকুরির বাজারে কিভাবে নিজেকে পরিবেশন করবেন? সম্ভাব্য চাকুরিদাতাদের কাছে নিজেকে তুলে ধরার বহুবিধ মাধ্যম ব্যবহার করার কথা বিবেচনা করুন। এর মধ্যে রয়েছে তাত্ক্ষনিক নিয়োগ, চাকুরির বিজ্ঞাপন (পত্রিকা অথবা অনলাইন জব সাইট্ ), চাকুরি মেলা (Job fair) , কোম্পানির ওয়েবসাইট, নিয়োগদাতা কর্মকর্তাদের সাথে এবং চেনাপরিচিতদের মাধ্যমে যোগাযোগ।

অবস্থান তৈরি ( Positioning ): কোন দিক থেকে আপনি অন্যান্য চাকুরিপ্রার্থীদের চেয়ে পৃথক? আপনার দক্ষতা, অতীত ও আগ্রহ কিভাবে আপনাকে পৃথক করে?

জীবনবৃত্তান্ত, কভার লেটার ও যোগাযোগ মাধ্যমই আপনার বিপণন হাতিয়ার

Resumes, cover letters, and your network are your marketing tools.

৫. চাকুরির সাক্ষাৎকারের জন্য প্রস্তুতি:

§ পূর্ব থেকেই উক্ত শিল্প ও এর প্রতিষ্ঠানের ব্যাপারে খোঁজখবর করুন।
§ আপনি কি চাচ্ছেন কোন বিষয়টি আপনার নিকট গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ও কেন আপনি এ সাক্ষাৎকার দিচ্ছেন তা জানুন।
§ আপনার দক্ষতা, অভিজ্ঞতা, শিক্ষা, মেধা ও শক্তির কতখানি আপনি দিতে পারবেন তা জানুন।
§ আপনাকে কি ধরনের প্রশ্ন জিজ্ঞাসা করতে পারে তা অনুমান করুন।
§ অনুশীলন, সংশোধন ও আরো অনুশীলন করুন।
§ সাক্ষাৎকারে সময়মত উপস্থিত হোন, আগ্রহ ও পেশাগত মনোভাবের পরিচয় দিন।
§ যদি সাক্ষাৎকার গ্রহণকারী পরবর্তী ধাপ ও নিয়োগের সময় সম্পর্কে কোন আলোচনা না করে, তবে তা জিজ্ঞাসা করুন।
§ প্রতিটি সাক্ষাৎকারের পর নিজের পারফরম্যান্স মূল্যায়ন করুন। আপনি কোন কাজটা ভাল করলেন এবং কোন কাজটা ভাল হল না তা বোঝার চেষ্টা করুন।

৬.বাধাবিপত্তির সাথে খাপ খাইয়ে নিজ পরিকল্পনা বাস্তবায়ন

§ আপনার কর্মপরিকল্পনা নিয়ে অগ্রসর হবার সাথে সাথে মধ্যবর্তী সংশোধন এবং ফলাফল আরও ভাল করার জন্য পূর্বপদক্ষেপ মূল্যায়ন করুন।
নিম্নোক্ত প্রশ্নাবলী জিজ্ঞাসার মাধ্যমে নিজেকে মূল্যায়ন করুন।
§ কোন কাজটি ভাল হচ্ছে এবং কোনটি হচ্ছে না?
§ কোথায় আমাকে উন্নতি করতে হবে?
§ কোন ধরনের সাহায্য বা পরামর্শ আমার প্রয়োজন?
§ সাহায্য, যোগ্যতা ও দক্ষতা বৃদ্ধির জন্য আমি কোথায় যাব?
§ আমার কর্মসম্পাদনে কোথায় গলদ রয়েছে যা সংশোধন করা প্রয়োজন?
§ আমার অবস্থানের উন্নয়নে কিভাবে আমি মোটিভেশন ধরে রাখতে পারব?

Best wishes to you
from
OUSPER.COM Team

সাক্ষাত্কার প্রস্তুতি

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 20:08:00 +0600

নিজেকে প্রস্তুত করুন
§ বেশী করে প্রস্তুতি নিন।
§ আপনার স্বপ্নের চাকুরী পাওয়া এত সহজ নয়। তাই চাকুরীর সাক্ষাত্কার বা লিখিত পরীক্ষার পূর্বে যতটা সম্ভব গ্রহণ করতে হবে।
§ মনে রাখবেন বাছাই প্রক্রিয়ার অপর নাম বাদ দেয়া।

§ সাক্ষাত্কার সময়সূচী জানার সাথে সাথে এর জন্য সর্বোচ্চ প্রস্তুতি গ্রহণ করুন।
§ চাকুরী সম্পর্কিত তথ্য রাখার জন্য ব্যক্তিগত ফোল্ডার তৈরী করুন।
§ শিক্ষাগত যোগ্যতার মূলকপি সমূহ
§ কাজের নমুনাসমূহ
§ নিয়োগদাতাকে যে তথ্য দিয়েছেন তার কপি, আপনার আবেদনপত্র (কাভার লেটার/ Cover Letter) এবং জীবনবৃত্তান্তে আপনি কি লিখেছেন তা মনে রাখা।

আপনার বেতনভাতা সুবিধাদি কি হবে সে সম্পর্কেও চিন্তাভাবনা শুরু করতে হবে। বেতনাদির উপাদানগুলো সম্পর্কে জানতে হবে, যা নিয়ে আলোচনা করা হবে। দৃশ্যমান ও অদৃশ্যমান বিষয়গুলো কি কি? আপনার বেতন প্যাকেজে কোন বিষয়টি অবশ্যই থাকতে হবে? ন্যূনতম বেতনের পরিমান এবং আপনার সম্ভাব্য চাকুরীদাতা ও আপনার উভয়ের স্বার্থ রক্ষা করা যায় তা চিন্তা করুন।

চাকুরীর সাক্ষাত্কারের মুখোমুখি হওয়া ;
§ সাক্ষাত্কার চাকুরীর বাজারে নিজেকে বিক্রির এবং উক্ত প্রতিষ্ঠান ও তাদের কর্মচারীদের সম্পর্কে জানার সুযোগ করে দেয়।
§ সকল সাক্ষাত্কারের সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ উপাদান হল যথাযথ প্রস্তুতি ও ভাল শ্রবণ ক্ষমতা।
§ সাক্ষাত্কারের প্রধান উদ্দেশ্য হল যথাযথ দক্ষতা ও যোগ্যতা সম্পন্ন সঠিক ব্যক্তিকে বাছাই করা।
§ চাকুরীর সাক্ষাত্কারের মুখোমুখি হওয়া।

§ যে ধরনের প্রশ্ন জিজ্ঞাসা করতে পারে সে সম্পর্কে প্রস্তুতি গ্রহণ করুন।
§ প্রশ্নোত্তর প্রদানের চর্চা করুন।
§ শব্দের ব্যাপারে বেশী মনোযোগী না হয়ে বরং আপনি উত্তরে কি বলবেন সে সম্পর্কে চিন্তা ও ধারণা তৈরী করুন। আপনি তাদের কি ধরনের প্রশ্ন জিজ্ঞাসা করতে চান তা প্রস্তুত করুন।
§ একটি লক্ষ্য স্থির করা, যথা: চাকুরীর প্রস্তাব পাওয়া এবং আপনি ওই কোম্পানীতে/ প্রতিষ্ঠানে চাকুরী করবেন কিনা সে ব্যাপারে সিদ্ধান্ত গ্রহণের জন্য ঐ প্রতিষ্ঠান ও তাদের কর্মচারীদের সম্পর্কে জানুন।

সাক্ষাত্কারের প্রকারভেদ:
§ প্যানেল/ বোর্ড সাক্ষাত্কার
§ একজন করে নেয়া সাক্ষাত্কার
§ প্রত্যুত্পন্ন সাক্ষাত্কার/ Sudden Interview
§ দ্বিতীয় সাক্ষাত্কার বা পরবর্তী সাক্ষাত্কার
§ নৈশ ভোজ সাক্ষাত্কার/ Diner Interview
§ টেলিফোন/ ভিডিও কনফারেন্স সাক্ষাত্কার
§ গ্রুপ/ দলগত সাক্ষাত্কার
§ কাজের নমুনা সাক্ষাত্কার
§ জোড়া দল সাক্ষাত্কার
§ মানসিক চাপ/ আচরণ সম্পর্কিত সাক্ষাত্কার

চাকুরীর সাক্ষাত্কারের মুখোমুখি হওয়া
§ মজা করে বন্ধুবান্ধব ও আত্মীয়দের সাক্ষাত্কার দিন বা গ্রহণ করুন এবং অনুশীলন ও মূল্যায়নের জন্য ভিডিওটেপের মাধ্যমে ধারণ করে রাখুন।
§ সাক্ষাত্কার পর্বে আপনার প্রশ্ন জিজ্ঞাসার সময় আসবে সে সময়ের জন্য অন্তত তিনটি প্রশ্ন প্রস্তুত করে রাখুন।

ফিডব্যাক
§ আপনার চাকুরী খোঁজার (অগ্রগতির) সাথে সাথে ফলাফল ভাল করতে ও মধ্যবর্তী সংশোধনীর জন্য যখনই সম্ভব পূর্বের কাজ মূল্যায়ন করতে হবে। চাকুরী বিষয়ে পরামর্শদাতা, বয়োজ্যেষ্ঠ যারা আপনার জীবনবৃত্তান্ত পর্যালোচনা করেছে, যারা আপনার চাকুরীর সাক্ষাত্কার গ্রহণ করেছে এমন ব্যক্তিদের নিকট থেকে প্রতিক্রিয়া জানুন।
§ আপনার পদ্ধতি উন্নয়নে এদের নিকট থেকে গঠনমূলক মতামতকে কাজে লাগান।

শেষ কিন্তু ম্যূল্যহীন নয়
§ আশা হারাবেন না।
§ লক্ষ্য অর্জনের জন্য চেষ্টা অব্যাহত রাখতে এবং নিজে উত্ফুল্ল থাকতে পরিবার ও বন্ধুবান্ধবদের সহায়তা নিন।
§ মানসিক চাপে থেকে মানুষ চাকুরীর সাক্ষাত্কারে ভাল ফলাফল করতে পারে না।
§ নিজেকে স্বল্প মেয়াদী যে কোন কাজে ব্যস্ত রাখতে চেষ্টা করুন -তা বৈতনিক বা অবৈতনিক যাই হোক না কেন।

ক্যারিয়ার ভাবনা

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 20:01:00 +0600

এইচএসসি ফল প্রকাশ
ক্যারিয়ার নিয়ে ভাবনার উপযুক্ত সময় এখনই

আমার এক পরিচিত ব্যাংকারের কথা বলি। একানব্বই সাল। তখন, আজকের এই জিপিএ সিস্টেম ছিল না। ভদ্রলোক মির্জাপুর ক্যাডেট কলেজ থেকে বিজ্ঞানবিভাগে মেধাতালিকায় উত্তীর্ণ হলেন। বাসার সবাই খুশি। মা ভেবে রাখলেন ছেলেকে ডাক্তারী পড়াবেন। আর বাবা চায় ইন্জিনিয়ার অথবা তার মতই বিসিএস অফিসার। গোল বাধলো ছেলেকে নিয়ে। ছেলে যে কি চায়, সে নিজেই নিশ্চিত নয়। তবে হ্যাঁ, ছেলের ক্যাডেট কলেজের কয়েক বন্ধু ঠিক করলো, তারা ‘মেরিন’এ পড়বে। আর এর মধ্যে যে পালের গোদা তার যুক্তিও ছিল অকাট্য - মোটা মাইনের চাকরি, বিনা পয়সায় দেশ-বিদেশ ঘুরতে পারা, বাজার করার ঝামেলা নেই, বাড়তি কোন খরচও নেই, দৈনন্দিন জীবনের ফাইফরমাইশ থেকেও মুক্তি পাওয়া যাবে। আর কি চাই! যেহেতু, মেরিন একাডেমীতে ক্যাডেট ভর্তি পরীক্ষা অন্যান্য সকল পরীক্ষার আগেই হয়ে যায়, ভদ্রলোক মেডিক্যাল, বুয়েট অথবা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে এডমিশন টেস্ট দেয়ার কোন সুযোগই পেলেন না। যথারীতি লিখিত পরীক্ষায় পাশের পরে মৌখিক আর মেডিক্যাল টেস্টের জন্য ডাক পেলেন। মৌখিক পরীক্ষা ভালই হলো। মেডিক্যাল টেস্ট নিয়ে কিছুটা টেনশন- কেননা উনি তখনই চশমা ব্যবহার করতেন । আর মেরিন-এ চোখের পাওয়ার পারফেক্ট হওয়া চাই। তবে, উনি যেহেতু, ‘প্রকৌশল’ বিভাগের জন্য নির্বাচিত হয়েছেন; কাজেই চশমার সামান্য পাওয়ার তার জন্য কোন বাধা হয়ে দাঁড়ালো না। ফাইনাল রেজাল্ট বের হলো। সিলেক্টেড । ছেলে খুব খুশি। মা পড়লেন বেজায় দোটানায় - এমন ‘প্রফেশন’ যার নাম শুনেছেন কিন্তু প্রফেশনাল কারোর সাথে মা’র কোন পরিচয় নেই। আর এদিকে, ক্যাডেট কলেজের যে বন্ধুর পরামর্শে অনুপ্রানিত হয়ে ভদ্রলোক তার ‘ক্যারিয়ার ডিসিশন’ নিয়েছেন, সে কিন্তু মৌখিক পরীক্ষার দিন অনুপস্থিত ছিল - কেননা ঐ একই দিনে তার ছিল আর্মি এডমিশন টেস্ট - আইএসএসবি।

যাহোক, ভদ্রলোকের মা’র কথায় আসি। নিজের ছেলে বলে কথা! অনেক কাঠ-খড় পুড়িয়ে উনি তাঁর কলেজের ( মা ছিলেন সরকারী কলেজের শিক্ষয়িত্রী ) এক সহকর্মীর বাসার ঠিকানা যোগাড় করলেন। তাঁর সেই সহকর্মীর বড় ছেলে জাহাজের চীফ ইন্জিনিয়ার - এই মুর্হূতে সমুদ্রে। তাতে কি? তর সইছে না। উনি সেই চীফ ইন্জিনিয়ারের মা’র সাথে কথা বললেন। ঐ মার কাছ থেকে আরেক ক্যাপ্টেনের বাসার ঠিকানা নিলেন। প্রফেশন’টা সম্পর্কে জানার জন্য। সবাই প্রায় একই পরামর্শ দিলেন - যদিও ‘মেরিন’ প্রফেশনটা একটু একঘেঁয়ে বা মোনোটনাস, কিন্তু অনেক দেশ দেখা যায়, মাইনেটাও ভাল । আর যেহেতু, ক্যাডেট কলেজের ছাত্র, সে খাপ খাওয়াতে পারবে। ভদ্রলোকের মা নিজেকে বোঝালেন এবং ছেলের ইচ্ছার কাছে নিজেকে সমর্পণ করলেন।

এরপরের ঘটনাও খুব সহজ। দুই বছর একাডেমীতে পড়ার পর; ভদ্রলোক যথারীতি জাহাজে যোগ দিলেন। একবছর চাকরী - বন্দরে বন্দরে। জাহাজের বদ্ধ জীবন, নাবিককে অধৈর্য্য করে তুললো। উনি একটা জিআরই (GRE) বই কিনেছিলেন। ঐ বই থেকেই ইংরেজী ভকেবুলারী পড়তেন, ইনজিন রুমে। একটা ছোট নোটবুক ভরে ফেলেছিলেন নতুন শব্দ টুকে। নভেম্বর মাসে ছুটিতে বাড়ী এলেন। ডিসেম্বর মাসে আইবিএ-তে এমবিএ ভর্তি পরীক্ষা। এমবিএ কমপ্লিট করে আজ উনি ব্যাংকার। এখনও উনি যত্ন করে রেখে দিয়েছেন তার সেই তেল-মবিল মাখা ছোট নোটবুকটা।

আমাদের দেশে এরকম উদাহরন ভুরি ভুরি - যারা জীবনের মাঝপথে এসে ক্যারিয়ারের গতিপথ পরিবর্তন করেছেন। এমবিবিএস বা ইন্জিনিয়ারিং পাশ করে বিসিএস পুলিশ বা এডমিনিস্ট্রেশন (মেজিস্ট্রেট) ক্যাডারে যোগ দিচ্ছেন। আবার সাধারন বিষয় নিয়ে পড়াশুনা করার পরে, আইটি সেক্টরে ঢুকছেন। আমি বলছি না যে, এক্ষেত্রে তাঁর পড়াশুনা বৃথা যাচ্ছে। কেননা, জীবনের কোন পড়াশুনা বা অভিজ্ঞতাই বৃথা যাবার নয়। তবে, আমাদের প্রতিটি মানুষের জীবনই খুব স্বল্প সময়ের জন্য। আর তাই জীবনের লক্ষ্য স্থির করা এবং কম দরকারি ব্যাপারগুলি সময় থাকতেই ঝেড়ে ফেলা অতিব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ।

আমাদের দেশে পড়াশুনা শেষ করে নিজের পছন্দ আর যোগ্যতা অনুযায়ী কর্মক্ষেত্রে প্রবেশের সুযোগ অতি সীমিত; কাজেই ব্যক্তিগত পছন্দের সাথে কতগুলি বিষয়কে বিবেচনায় আনাটা অতি জরুরী। আর যেহেতু এইচএসসি’র পরেই একজন পরিক্ষার্থী উচ্চশিক্ষার জন্য বিষয় নির্বাচন করে থাকে, কাজেই বিষয়গুলি নিয়ে চিন্তা করার সময় এখনই। আমাদের দেশে একজন শিক্ষার্থীর ভবিষ্যত কর্মপন্থার অনেকটাই নির্ভর করে তার বাবা-মা অথবা অপরাপর কোন অভিভাবকের সিদ্ধান্তের অথবা পছন্দের উপর। কাজেই, এইচএসসি’র পরের আজকের এই গ্রাউন্ডওয়ার্ক শিক্ষার্থী আর অভিভাবক যদি মিলিত প্রয়াসে করতে পারে, তবে তা হবে অধিকতর ফলদায়ক।

উচ্চতর পড়াশুনায় ভর্তি হবার ক্ষেত্রে প্রাথমিকভাবে যে বিষয়গুলি বিবেচনায় আনা দরকার তাহলো - # শিক্ষার্থীর মেধা, # বিষয় বা সাবজেক্টের প্রতি ব্যক্তিগত ঝোঁক, # বিষয় বা সাবজেক্টের প্রায়োগিক প্রয়োগ, # বিষয় এবং শিক্ষাপ্রতিষ্ঠানে ভর্তির ( Admission ) অনিশ্চয়তা # পড়াশুনা চালিয়ে যাবার আর্থিক সামর্থ্য, # বর্তমান এবং ভবিষ্যত কর্মেক্ষেত্র বিষয়ভিত্তিক চাকুরী প্রাপ্তির সম্ভাবনা । এগুলির সাথে আরো একটি ব্যাপারকে বিবেচনায় আনাটা জরুরী বলে আমি মনে করি। সেটা হলো বিদেশে চাকুরী করার অথবা সেটেল্ড করার
মানসিকতা এবং তদানুযায়ী বিষয় নির্বাচন।

মেধাবী শিক্ষার্থীর প্রাথমিক সমস্যা ‘বিষয়’ নির্বাচন - যেটা আমরা লেখার শুরুতে দেখলাম। যেহেতু তার ক্ষেত্রে বিষয় অনুযায়ী ভর্তি হওয়াটা তেমন কোন সমস্যা হয় না; অনেকগুলি বিষয়ে এবং অনেকগুলি শিক্ষাপ্রতিষ্ঠানে ভর্তির সুযোগ পেয়ে তারা দোটনায় ভোগে। স্থির করতে পারে না কোন বিষয়টিকে তার প্রাধান্য দেয়া উচিত। এক্ষেত্রে, শিক্ষার্থীর প্রয়োজন নিজের ‘ইচ্ছা’র সাথে ভবিষ্যত চাকুরীকে বিবেচনায় আনা। আজকের বিষয় নির্বাচন ভবিষ্যতে আমাকে যে ধরনের চাকুরীর সুযোগ করে দিতে পারে, তার সম্পর্কে কিছুটা জেনে রাখা ভাল। যারা ঐ ধরনের চাকুরীতে নিয়োজিত তাদের সাথে আলোচনা করা যেতে পারে। রিলেটেড চাকুরীজীবির সাথে আলোচনা করলে, সহজেই সংশ্লিষ্ট চাকুরীরতে কাজের ধরন, প্রয়োজনীয় দক্ষতা, কাজের পরিধি সম্বন্ধে একটা ধারণা পাওয়া যাবে। আমি ‘অংক’-এ ভাল এবং ভাল নম্বরও পেয়েছি; কিন্তু, গাদা গাদা যোগ, বিয়োগ করতে আমার অস্হির লাগে। তাহলেতো আমার ‘হিসাববিজ্ঞানে’ ( Accounting ) ভর্তি না হওয়াটাই শ্রেয়। কেননা, যেকোন প্রতিষ্ঠানের একাউন্টেন্ট হলে তো আমাকে সেই হিসাবই করতে হবে প্রাথমিক পর্যায়ে। আমি অংকে যেমন ভাল, আমার স্মৃতিশক্তি মন্দ নয় এবং আমি মানুষের সাথে মিশতেও পছন্দ করি - তাহলেতো আমি একজন দক্ষ ব্যাংকার হতে পারি! আবার, আমার রেজাল্ট খুব আহামরি কিছু না হলেও, আমার স্মরণশক্তি ভাল এবং আমি কিছুটা মিশুক প্রকৃতির। এরকম ক্ষেত্রে ‘কাস্টমার সার্ভিস’, ‘পাবলিক রিলেশন’-এর কাজ আমার জন্য উপযুক্ত হতে পারে। এভাবেই প্রায়োগিক পদ্ধতিতে নিজেকে স্থাপন করতে হবে ভবিষ্যতের কর্মেক্ষত্রে । এবং সে অনুযায়ী বিষয় নির্বাচন করাটা জরুরী।

অনেক ক্ষেত্রে দেখা যায়, ছাত্র-ছাত্রীরা যে বিষয়টিকে জানতে বা পড়তে পছন্দ করে সেটাকেই ক্যারিয়ারের জন্য বেছে নেয়। শিক্ষাজীবন শেষে তার ক্যারিয়ারের সুযোগ সীমিত হয়ে পড়ে। কেননা, সেই বিষয়ের ব্যাবহারিক প্রয়োগ সীমিত। মনে রাখতে হবে, আমাদের দেশের চাকুরীর বাজার অত্যন্ত সীমিত। আর্থিক সার্মথ্য সীমিত হলে, বিষয় নির্বাচনের ব্যাপারে সর্তক হওয়া প্রয়োজন। আমার দেশ-বিদেশের ইতিহাস পড়তে ভাল লাগে। কিন্তু, আমাদের দেশে কি ‘ইতিহাস’ বিষয়ে গবেষণা করার যথেষ্ট সুযোগ আছে? উত্তর হলো ‘না’। কাজেই, যে শিক্ষার্থী অনার্স এবং মাস্টার্স ইতিহাস নিয়ে পড়াশুনা করলো, পাশ করে বের হবার পরে বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় বা কোন কলেজের অধ্যাপকের চাকুরী না পেলে তাকে অন্যকোন ‘জেনারেল’ লাইনে যেতে হবে। এক্ষেত্রে তার চার বা পাঁচ বছরের পড়াশুনাটা, চাকুরী ক্ষেত্রে তেমন কোন কাজেই আসবে না। আমাদের দেশের প্রেক্ষাপটে এরকম আরও কিছু উদাহরণ দেয়া যেতে পারে - বাংলা, ভাষাতত্ত ¡ , দর্শন, রাষ্ট্রবিজ্ঞান, আর্কিওলজি, মনোবিজ্ঞান, ইসলামের ইতিহাস প্রভৃতি। আর্থিক সার্মথ্যকে সমন্বয় করে এইসব সাবজেক্ট সিলেক্ট করাটা শিক্ষার্থীর জন্য জরুরী। আমি অবশ্যই এই সাবজেক্ট পছন্দের ব্যাপারে কোন নেতিবাচক মূল্যায়ণ করছি না। কিন্তু, কেউ যদি গবেষণাকর্ম আর অধ্যাপণার বাইরে ব্যাবহারিক অথবা ফলিত বিষয়ে নিজের ক্যারিয়ার তৈরী করতে চায়, তাহলে তাকে সে অনুযায়ী বিষয় নির্বাচন করতে হবে।

আমাদের দেশের বেশীরভাগ শিক্ষার্থী এবং তাদের অভিভাবকদের নিকট উচ্চমাধ্যমিকের পরে পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় বা সরকারী কলেজ এখনও প্রথম পছন্দ। কাজেই ভর্তিযুদ্ধে বেশীরভাগ শিক্ষার্থীর টার্গেট থাকে নিজের পছন্দের বিষয়ে এসব শিক্ষাপ্রতিষ্ঠানে স্থান করে নেওয়া। কিন্তু আসন সংখ্যা অত্যন্ত সীমিত হবার কারনে অনেক শিক্ষার্থীই তার পছন্দমত সাবজেক্টে ভর্তি হতে পারে না । ফলে, ইয়ার লস দিয়ে তারা সাবজেক্ট এবং প্রতিষ্ঠান পরিবর্তনে সচেষ্ট হয়। কাজেই, ভর্তির ব্যাপারে এই বিষয়টিকে মাথায় রেখে এগিয়ে যেতে হবে। মনে রাখা দরকার যে, সীমিত সুযোগের এই দেশে শিক্ষার্থীর মানসিক দৃঢ়তা, নিজের মেধাগত অবস্থান সম্পর্কে স্বচ্ছ ধারণা আর ভবিষ্যতকে দেখতে পারার মতাই কেবল এই বহুমুখী টানপোড়েনের অবস্থা থেকে সুন্দরভাবে উত্তরণে সহায়ক হতে পারে।

যেসব শিক্ষার্থীর আর্থিক সার্মথ্য সীমিত এবং কর্মেক্ষত্রে দ্রত প্রবেশ করাটা জরুরী, তাদেরকে বিষয় নির্বাচন করতে হবে সতর্কতার সাথে। এক্ষেত্রে প্রথমেই আসে ‘আইএসএসবি’ এবং ‘মেরিন একাডেমী’। সংবাদপত্রে সার্কুলারের মাধ্যমে এই প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলি ভর্তিপরীক্ষা নিয়ে থাকে । ‘আইএসএসবি’র মাধ্যমে দেশের ৩টি সশস্ত্র বাহিনীতে অফিসার নিয়োগ করে। অপরদিকে মেরিনে আছে দুইটি বিভাগ - ‘ইন্জিনিয়ারিং’ আর ‘নটিক্যাল’। প্রথমটি তৈরী করে জাহাজের চিফ ইন্জিনিয়ার বা প্রধান প্রকৌশলী আর পরেরটি তৈরী করে ক্যাপ্টেন। তবে মনে রাখা দরকার এই চাকুরীগুলি আর দশটা সাধারণ প্রফেশনের মতো নয়।

বর্তমান যুগ বানিজ্যের যুগ। আর বানিজ্য যতদিন থাকবে, অর্থনীতি, মার্কেটিং, ফিন্যান্স, হিসাববিজ্ঞান, ব্যবস্থাপনা, ব্যবসায় প্রশাসন, ব্যাংকিং প্রভৃতি বিষয়ের চাহিদা উত্তোরত্তর বৃদ্ধি পেতে থাকবে। যারা বিভিন্ন বানিজ্যিক, শিল্পপ্রতিষ্ঠান, ব্যাংক-বীমাসহ বিভিন্ন আর্থিক প্রতিষ্ঠানে ক্যারিয়ার গড়তে আগ্রহী অথবা কিছুদিন চাকুরী করে নিজেই কোন বানিজ্যিক প্রতিষ্ঠানের উদ্যোক্তা হবার স্বপ্ন দেখে; তারা এই বিষয়গুলি বিবেচনায় আনতে পারে। বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় বা কলেজে সেশনজ্যাম না থাকলে, এই বিষয়ে অনার্স বা মাস্টার্স করেও মোটামুটি দ্রুত একটি চাকুরী পাওয়া যেতে পারে।

আমাদের দেশে বিসিএস-এর চাকুরীর মর্যাদা এখনও মানুষের মনে অনেক উপরে। অনেক শিক্ষার্থীই ভবিষ্যতে নিজেকে বিসিএস অফিসার হিসাবে দেখতে পছন্দ করে। যাদের টার্গেট বিসিএস, পাবলিক সার্ভিস কমিশনসহ সরকারী বিভিন্ন প্রতিষ্ঠানের চাকুরী তারা বিসিএসভুক্ত সাধারণ কোন বিষয় উচ্চশিক্ষার জন্য বেছে নিতে পারে। এক্ষেত্রে, সাবজেক্টিভের তুলনায় অবজেক্টিভ বিষয় নির্বাচন বুদ্ধিমানের কাজ হতে পারে। কেননা, এইসব সাবজেক্টের পরীক্ষায় নন্বর বেশী তোলা যায়। এরমধ্যে অনেক বিষয়ই বিসিএস-এর বাইরেও শিক্ষকতা অথবা উন্নয়নমূলক অথবা গবেষণাধর্মী প্রতিষ্ঠানে কাজে আসতে পারে যেমন - ইংরেজী, বাংলা, সমাজবিজ্ঞান, সমাজকল্যাণ, গনিত, রাষ্ট্রবিজ্ঞান, ইতিহাস, ইসলামের ইতিহাস, দর্শন, পদার্থবিজ্ঞান, রসায়ন, জীববিজ্ঞান, পরিসংখ্যান, মনোবিজ্ঞান, ভূগোল, ব্যবস্থাপনা, হিসাববিজ্ঞান। এক্ষেত্রে একটি ব্যাপার উল্লেখ করা দরকার যে, সভ্যতা আর বানিজ্যের প্রসারের সাথে সাথে ‘ইংরেজী’র প্রয়োজনীয়তা উত্তোরত্তর বৃদ্ধি পাচ্ছে । বাংলাদেশও এই প্রবণতার বাইরে নয়। দেশে ভাল ইংরেজী জানা একজন শিক্ষকের প্রয়োজনীয়তা যে কতটুকু তা পাবলিক পরীক্ষাগুলিতে ‘ইংরেজী’ বিষয়ে ফলাফল থেকেই সহজে উপলব্ধি করা যায়।

একটা সময় ছিল, যখন মা-বাবারা তাঁদের মেধাবী সন্তানকে ভবিষ্যতে ‘ডাক্তার’ অথবা ‘ইন্জিনিয়ার’ হিসাবে দেখতে পছন্দ করতেন। ব্যবসা-বানিজ্যের প্রসারে কি এইদুটি বিষয়ের মূল্যায়ণ কমে গিয়েছে? উত্তর হলো মোটেও না। তবে, ইন্জিনিয়ারিং-এর বেশ কিছু নতুন শাখার বিস্তার হয়েছে এবং একটির তুলনায় আরেকটি শাখার ( Department ) গুরুত্বের তারতম্য হয়েছে। ইন্জিনিয়ারিং অথবা বিজ্ঞান-এর নতুন যে বিষয়গুলি আজকাল বেশী চাকুরীর ক্ষেত্রে তৈরী হচ্ছে তাহলো - কম্পিউটার সায়েন্স এন্ড ইন্জিনিয়ারিং, টেক্সটাইল ইন্জিনিয়ারিং, লেদার টেকনোলজি, টেলিকমিউনিকেশন, কমিউনিকেশন টেকনোলজি, সিরামিক টেকনোলজি, আরবান (নগর উন্নয়ন) ম্যানেজমেন্ট, জেনেটিক ইন্জিনিয়ারিং, বায়োটেকনোলজি, কৃষিবিজ্ঞান প্রভৃতি। এছাড়া ইন্জিনিয়ারিং-এর সনাতন কিছু বিষয়ের চাহিদা এখনও অটুট রয়েছে। তার মধ্যে ইলেক্ট্রিক্যাল এন্ড ইলেকট্রনিক্স, সিভিল, মেকানিক্যাল প্রভৃতি উল্লেখযোগ্য। যে যে সেক্টরে এইসব বিষয়ের চাহিদা প্রচুর তা একটু স্মরণ করিয়ে দিতে চাই। প্রধান সেক্টরগুলি হলো - গার্মেন্টস এন্ড টেক্সটাইল, টেলিফোন অপারেটর, টেলিকমিউনিকেশন কোম্পানি, সিরামিক ইন্ডাষ্ট্রী, ওষুধ শিল্প, পাওয়ার (বিদ্যুত) সেক্টর, রিয়াল এস্টেট প্রতিষ্ঠান, বিভিন্ন ঠিকাদারী প্রতিষ্ঠান ( Infrastructure like Bridge, Culvert, Roads & Highways ) । আর আমাদের দেশের সাধারন মানূষের জন্য চিকিত্সক আর চিকিত্সা সেবা এতটাই অপ্রতুল যে, একজন চিকিত্সক এমবিবিএস পাশ করার পরেই যেকোন ফার্মেসীতে বসে চিকিত্সা সেবা প্রদান করতে পারে। এখানে আরও একটি ব্যাপার উল্লেখযোগ্য যে, বাইরের দেশেও ইন্জিনিয়ার বা ডাক্তারের চাহিদা প্রচুর। যারা ভবিষ্যতে অষ্ট্রেলিয়া, মধ্যপ্রাচ্য, ইউরোপ, আমেরিকা বা কানাডাতে চাকুরী করতে চায়, তাদের জন্য এই প্রফেশন দুটি যথেষ্টই সহায়ক হবে।

আরও কিছু সাবজেক্ট, যা বর্তমান অবস্থার প্রেক্ষাপটে যথেষ্ট চাহিদার সৃষ্টি করছে এবং সামনের দিনগুলিতেও করবে তার দিকে লক্ষ্য করা যেতে পারে। হসপিটালিটি ম্যানেজমেন্ট, হোটেল ম্যানেজমেন্ট, ইন্টেরিয়র ডিজাইনিং, ফ্যাশন ডিজাইনিং, গনমাধ্যম ও সাংবাদিকতা ( Mass media & Journalism ), ফিল্ড এন্ড আ্যনিমেশন, গ্রাফিক্স ডিজাইনিং প্রভৃতি অন্যতম। অনেকেই আজকাল এগুলির মধ্যে নিজের ঝোঁক অনুযায়ী কোন একটি সাবজেক্ট নিযে পড়াশুনা শেষ করে নিজেই কোন ফার্ম দিয়ে বসছেন। এছাড়া আইন বিষয়ে পড়াশুনা শেষেও চাকুরীর পাশাপাশি পেশাগত চর্চা চালিয়ে যাওয়া যায়।

আজকাল বাহারী নামে নতুন নতুন প্রাইভেট বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় বা কলেজ স্থাপিত হচ্ছে। এদের কয়েকটির মান নিয়ে যথেষ্ট সন্দেহ থাকলেও, দু’একটি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় থেকে যোগ্য ছেলেমেয়ে বের হচ্ছে। চাকুরীদাতা প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলিও এদের মধ্য থেকে ভবিষ্যত এক্সিকিউটিভ গড়ে নিচ্ছে। পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের বাইরেও এসব প্রাইভেট প্রতিষ্ঠান যুগোপযোগী সিলেবাস প্রণয়নে যথেষ্ট আন্তরিক । সময় থাকতেই এসব কোর্স কারিকুলাম নিয়ে ঘাঁটাঘাঁটি করা এবং নিজের পছন্দ, মেধা আর আর্থিক সার্মথ্য অনুযায়ী সাবজেক্ট চয়েস করার চেষ্টা করা শিক্ষার্থীদের জন্য জরুরী।

পরিশেষে একটি কথাই বলতে চাই, আমাদের দেশ একটি জনবহুল দেশ। আপাত: দৃষ্টিতে মনে হতে পারে এত লোকের কর্মসংস্থান আমাদের মত গরীব দেশের জন্য শুধু দুষ্করই নয় অসম্ভবও বটে। এই মতামতের সাথে দ্বিধা প্রকাশ না করেও যে কথাটি জোর গলায় বলতে চাই তাহলো, বর্তমানে অনেক প্রতিষ্ঠিত কোম্পানি মোটা অংকের মাইনে দিয়েও যোগ্য কর্মী পাচ্ছে না। প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলি হয় বাইরে থেকে লোক আনছে অথবা, একে ওকে দিয়ে ঠেকা দিয়ে কোনরকমে কাজ চালিয়ে নিচ্ছে।

আজ, এইচএসসি পাশের পরে, একজন শিক্ষার্থী কিছুটা সময় যদি এই ব্যাপারগুলি নিয়ে চিন্তা করে এবং তদানুযায়ী একটি সঠিক সিদ্ধান্ত নিতে পারে, ক্যারিয়ারের বাকিটা সে একজন পেশাদার খেলোয়াড়ের মতই খেলে যেতে পারবে। ‘ক্যারিয়ার’ হতে পারে পেশাদার খেলোয়াড়ের জীবনের মতই আনন্দদায়ক এক পেশা । আর এব্যাপারে অভিভাবকদের ভূমিকা হতে পারে অনস্বীকার্য ।

আহমদ ইসলাম মুকসিত
চেয়ারম্যান, বিডিজবস.কম
muqsit@bdjobs.com

Scope of Part time jobs in Bangladesh

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:58:00 +0600

Though a lot of applicants are searching for part time jobs but the concept of part time job has not become so much familiar among the employers in Bangladesh. In the telecommunication industry a few companies offer part time jobs for students especially in the departments of customer service, call center etc. Some renowned multinational courier service providers also offer part time jobs for their call centers. This offer is also available in coaching centers, beauty parlors, advertising agencies, and Media related business organizations. Research farms especially renowned, local and multinational Marketing Research Farm, Non-Government Organization and project based Government Organization offer part time employment opportunities for data collection, analysis, design and other relevant works. Recently a number of private TV channels have launched in the country and they are providing the scope of part time work as news presenter, contributor, program presenter, and reporter and in some other sectors. The scope is also available in some printing media.

Renowned retail shops, boutiques, super stores also provide the scope of part time jobs, where individuals can match their work time with their study. Additionally, while participating in any trade fair, companies look for part-timers to show case their commodities. Students can develop their skill through trainings on handicraft works (e.g. block, tie die, spray, hand paint etc.), cooking, mushroom cultivation, bonsai preparation etc. Good and healthy food is part of the modern urban life. If someone has the knack for coking, s/he may even try preparing homemade food and supplying to confectionaries, departmental stores, chain stores etc. Through these types of skill and services, students can be earning members of the family without hampering their study hours.

Be prepared for an Interview

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:57:00 +0600

Just received a phone call from YZX Corporation. "I'm delighted to inform you that you have been short-listed for interview.“ Adrenalin runs pumping, you become nervous and tensed. Relax and take it easy!!! Cool down your nerves and prepare an Interview Cheat Sheet. Cheat Sheet is in fact the planning of an interview attendance. Interviews can be scary experiences and the only way to quell your fears is to memorize the Cheat Sheet in a skilled manner. In our country except few Executives, most of the job seekers attend an interview without taking any serious preparation.

It's a good idea to get some practice. When you prepare for an interview it's important not just to practice what you have to say, but how you say it. The best way to see how you appear to others is to practice in front of a mirror. You can also videotape yourself and ask friends for feedback. The more prepared you are, the more relaxed and confident you'll feel - and appear.

Arrange a mock interview session with your friend and tell him to give honest feedback on how you look and sound. You can rehearse the details all you like, but you won't be able to disguise the facial reddening, sweating and toe curling. Remember whatever preparation you take, during the interview nothing can prevent the butterflies flying in your stomach, the dryness in your throat and the pounding of your heart. Most people have no idea how other people see them. They don't see their habitual expressions and they can't tell if their words are backed up by the tone of their voice and posture.

Remember one thing, no one is going to kill you. The worst thing that can happen is that you don't get the job. Take sensible precautions: wear something comfortable, leave yourself plenty of time to get there, use the toilet before you go in and ask for a glass of water in case your lips stick to your teeth (not from the Board Members but the Clerk or Receptionist!!!). A few quiet deep breathing exercises will make you look and feel less agitated.

Before going to the interview, visualize a successful interview. Just sit relaxed and imagine that you are confidently and calmly replying to all questions one after another. The idea is to make you feel more relaxed.

Don’t predict that you'll be offered a job after just one interview, so you're probably going to have to go through the process all over again. During your long career, you’ll face many more nerve-racking interviews, unless you opt to stay in the same job for life. The positive side is that you will get better at it - practice doesn't make perfect, but it helps. And comfort yourself with this thought: in a few years' time it might be you sitting on the other side of the desk and conducting interview sessions.

Days Before the Interview
• Launch your preparation by finding out as much about the company as possible. Try to find the company’s website (if any) which is likely to be full of background information, history and up-to-date news. Drop the information into conversation at your interview.

• Prepare your 60-second personal statement: Your answer to the, "Tell me about yourself," question.

• Write at least five success stories to answer behavioral interview questions. One way to do this is by mind mapping - write down a question that occurs to you and think about how you'd answer it positively. ("Tell me about a time when…" or "Give me an example of a time…").

• List questions to ask the interviewer about the job, the company and the industry (Anything you want to know about us?)

• "What are the most enjoyable and the least enjoyable aspects of the role?"

• "Is there a chance for promotion in the future?"

• "Can you please tell me how the role relates to the overall structure of the organisation?"

• "In what way is performance measured and reviewed?"

• "What are the most important issues that you think your organisation will face?" or "You have recently introduced a new product/service/division/project; how will this benefit the organisation?"

• "May I tell you a little more about my particular interest in communicating with clients/developing new ideas/implementing better systems?"

• "Do you have any doubts about whether I am suited to this position?"

Here are two of my favorite Qs.
1. "Is there a chance for promotion in the future?" This is a classic question and it can emphasize a determination to make progress and to do so over the long term.

2. "Can you please tell me how the role relates to the overall structure of the organization?" With this question you are drawing attention to a preference for teamwork. It looks as though you want to know where you would fit in and how your contribution would affect the rest of the company.

• Study the salary structure of the company and determine your worth.

• Determine your salary needs based on your living expenses -- what is your bottom line?

Mind it, the company has already a salary structure in mind. Unless you prove yourself exceptional, they wont change their stance. A little lying helps sometimes, but its unwise to shoot any fantasy figure of the current salary structure.

• Get permission from your references to use their names.

Before You Go to the Interview
1. Do you look professional? Check yourself in the mirror; part of your confidence will come from looking good.

2. Carry these items to the interview:

• Several copies of your resume on quality paper.
• A copy of your references.
• A pad of paper on which to take notes (notes are optional).

Prepare answers to the most common interview questions:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Why did you leave or are you leaving your last position?
• What do you know about this company?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What has been your most significant achievement?
• Why should we hire you?
• What are your salary expectations?
• If you were the boss, what would you change about this company?

Upon Arrival

1. Arrive early -- enter the building 10 minutes before your appointment. Start from your place with at least one hour in hand. Thanks to the terrible street jams of this city.

2. Review your prepared stories and answers.
The Recruitment Team’s sole responsibility is to ensure that each interview serves a clearly defined and distinct purpose. A job-hunter has to face a testing of his intellectual capacity and management skills and personality. Think beforehand about the questions that are likely to come up.

3. Go to the restroom and check your appearance one last time.

4. Announce yourself to the receptionist in a professional manner.

5. Stand and greet your interviewer with a hearty -- not bone-crushing -- handshake.

6. Smile and look into the interviewer's eyes.

During the Interview

1. Try to focus on the points you have prepared without sounding rehearsed or stiff.
2. Relax and enjoy the conversation. Learn what you can about the company.
3. Ask questions and listen; read between the lines.
4. At the conclusion, thank the interviewer and determine the next steps.

Final Tips

Let me share one of the interviews I attended. I had done some homework and was confident that I could answer any questions the interviewer might throw at me. Then fate took a hand and it all went horribly wrong:

"I knocked firmly on the door, walked in, smiled and sat down. The interview was going brilliantly until I glanced down and noticed that blue inks had rushed out my fountain pen and the cuff was wet with the blue color. The ink of the fountain pen had spilled. I froze: had the interviewer seen? Have I an awkward shape? I shuffled my pocket for a tissue while continuing to answer his questions. The interviewer pretended not to notice, but I could tell he wasn't impressed. Needless to say, I didn't get the job."

However qualified, experienced and well rehearsed you are, you won't impress an interviewer if your body lets you down. It wont help if you have the eloquence of a politician and a strong vocabulary in British accent but your body language tells different stories.

In the interview, implement an open posture. Sit up comfortably and lean slightly forwards so you look alert and attentive. Breathe slowly. And make sure your clothes aren't too tight: it won't give a good impression if you make a gesture and your buttons fly off and your tie starts swaying. Just remember the mnemonic 'ROLE', which stands for Relaxed, Open, Leaning and Eye contact.

You have more control of your body language above the waist, so beware of 'leakage' lower down - such as picking your fingers or twitching your feet. This type of behavior can make you look unconfident.

Just be you. Don’t make any attempt to lie, overact - or exaggerate - in an interview. If you say what you mean and mean what you say your verbal and non-verbal communication will match. Any interviewer is in fact interested to know whether you can make it.

Tough questions

Some questions will simply nail you down. No matter how much preparation you've taken, there are interview questions, which will turn your well-modulated voice into a gibbering babble. There are some members of the Board who just enjoy asking silly and irrelevant questions.

The key to tackle interview questionnaires is remembering that all interviewers - however fiendishly mean their questions - want to hire you. They want to fill the post and they want to reassure themselves they've picked the right person.

Interview pressure can be worse than anything they throw at you on the job. Some questions tend to pop up again and again and "Tell me something about yourself”. Resist the urge to tell them personal dreams! Focus on the three or four key things on your CV you want them to remember and talk about those.

"One would ask me something about my degree course, while the other would leap forward and say something like 'do you mean to say the course contained no business communication? How will you be able to do this job without it!' The feelings will be like integrity being challenged and the candidate will become quite defensive, crossing arms and almost start arguing. In fact it’s a testing of the candidate under pressure - and it works."

Many questions will leave you gaping and blank. Keep in mind that the motivation for all questions boils down to three basic creeds: Can you do the job, will you do the job and will you fit in here? Satisfy them with the first by telling them about your skills and abilities, the second by demonstrating enthusiasm and the third with your track record of teamwork will help keep you focused under pressure.

Here's how to answer two of the deadliest interview questions.

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What not to say:
Complete honesty is not advisable (admitting you have a drink problem won't win you any points). Say you have no weaknesses and you'll appear arrogant and devoid of self-awareness. And reciting a long, obviously prepared list of your admirable qualities won't do you any favors either.

What to say:
The interviewer is looking for someone who is realistic about his or her strengths and candid about his or her weaknesses. You need to come up with examples to back up your claims of strengths and be able to describe the actions you take to prevent your weaknesses from manifesting themselves. So, if for example, being disorganized is your problem, explain how you've learnt to make lists and prioritize.

2. What achievement are you most proud of?

What not to say:
Acting in a school drama might be your proudest moment. But the interviewer doesn't really want to know that. The general rule is: if it isn't a skill relevant to the job you're going for (or it portrays you in a bad light), leave it out.

What to say:
Think of something you achieved using skills you can transfer to the workplace. Have you ever worked under pressure to meet a deadline or organize an event? Or have you managed a budget, however tiny, either at university or during a job? Show off the skills you have. Save sentiment for your family members.

After the Interview
So now what will you do? Mutter prayers, silently weep with the feelings in your mind, “all are lost “, or have confidence about the next call-up and keep on applying to other prospective vacancies. By the way don’t forget to write a follow-up thank-you letter, reminding the interviewer of your qualities.

Source: Internet

Guide to Negotiating a Great Salary

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:52:00 +0600

Here's a secret:

Employers rarely make their best offer first, and those who negotiate generally earn much more than those who don't. And a well-thought-out negotiation makes you look like a stronger candidate -- and employee.

Those people who attempted to negotiate their salary in a constructive way are perceived as more favorable than those who didn't negotiate at all, because they were demonstrating the skills the company wanted to hire them for.

You can start laying the groundwork for your salary negotiation even before the first interview. Here's a step-by-step guide:

During the Interview Process

• Do Your Research: Learn about the company's salary ranges and benefits as well as industry salary ranges before the first interview. Also learn about the company, its competition and the industry. Then think about what you want from the job, both in terms of salary and benefits, as well as opportunity and upward mobility. This information will become valuable during the interview and salary negotiation.

• Don't Talk Turkey Too Early: You never win by talking about money early on. The time to talk about money is when they've fallen in love with you. Before that, you're just one of many easily dismissed candidates. But once the employer has decided you're right for the job, "it becomes an issue of, ‘how are we going to make this happen?"

• Avoid the Salary Requirements Trap: You're trying to determine who you want to continue in this process, and it doesn't make much sense to pursue candidates you aren't going to get. Secondly, the tendency is for people to lowball their salary range, because they don't want to get out of the pool. My preference is to figure out, independent of these issues, the degree to which there is a good fit here and the extent to which I can bring value to this organization and the extent to which I'm going to be fulfilled and involved and committed to this position. I suggest we wait to have the salary conversation until you're prepared to make an offer."

If they still want a number, leverage your research to talk industry-standard ranges, not specific numbers.

At Time of Offer

• Strike First: Try to mention a specific salary before the employer does. This will start the negotiations in your ballpark. "The whole negotiation is based on that first offer".

• Don't Commit Too Quickly: The employer often offers the job and salary simultaneously. Never say yes right away -- even if you like the offer. Tell them you'll give them an answer within a certain time frame.

• Make Them Jealous: If you've been interviewing for other jobs, call those prospective employers, tell them about your offer, and see if they can speed up the interview process -- or make you an offer. Knowing you have another offer will make you more attractive to them.

When it's time to answer the first employer, mention the other employers' interest to help boost your value. But don't make up imaginary offers. It's easy to check, and the interest alone will help you look good.

• Articulate Your Expectations: Tell the employer what you want from the job, both in terms of salary as well as benefits and opportunity. It may be time off, flexibility about where you work, autonomy or ownership over a particular area, it may be your title -- whatever has a perceived value to you.

• Negotiate Extras: If the employer can't offer you the salary you want, think about other valuable options that might not cost as much. Education can make a big difference in your long-term marketability.

• Quantify Your Value and Performance: Mention your value in quantifiable terms, such as how much money you saved your company and how your projects increased revenues by X thousands of dollars. Then tell them specifically how valuable you expect to be in your new job.

You also can add a few contingencies showing your confidence in your performance. You could ask the employer to give you a salary review after six months rather than a year or for a year-end bonus if you make a certain amount of money. "It shows that you believe in yourself and are committed to bringing what you say you can do". "You believe you are going to bring significant value to the organization.

Source: Internet

Tips for getting your Dream Job through Bdjobs.com

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:46:00 +0600

You've put your resume or created a Job Agent at bdjobs.com but you're still waiting for the right response? Here are a few tips on how to cut your wait short and keep your resume more chances to appear while employers search for the resumes. Remember fresh and relevant resumes have the best chances of bringing the Dream Job you always wanted.

Submit your Full Resume

Many candidates only provide their basic details like functional area, work experience etc. If you submit your full resume covering your career objective, past work experience (Names of Previous employers, nature of responsibilities), achievements, skills along with basic information like functional area, number of years of experience, current location, preferred locations, educational qualifications etc., then an employer is much more likely to call you for an interview.

UPDATE YOUR RESUME FREQUENTLY

Update your resume at least once in a month. Include any fresh information that you might have to offer from time to time. Even if there is no fresh information, updating frequently confirms to prospective employers that you are ready to change. Remember, employers get to see when the resume was last updated and they are more likely to call a candidate who has recently refreshed his resume.

USE KEYWORDS EFFECTIVELY

Keywords are the key to a resume's prominence in a database. Keywords should be used to describe your skills and experience as accurately as possible so that all the relevant employers find your resume. A few examples are given below :

A Sales professional may choose from : Sales, Concept Selling, Institutional Sales, Retail Sales, Services, Key Account Management, Distribution, Business Development etc.

A Software Programmer may choose from : C, C++, Java, Perl, VC++, VB, COBOL, WML, XML, HTML, DHTML, Activex, ASP, COM/DCOM, CGI, Perl, Web Servers, Lotus Domino Unix, Linux, HP/UX, Solaris,Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, IBM, etc.

The keywords given above are just examples and you could use any keyword.

Best of luck

Remember, you should use as many keywords as possible but use only keywords which describe the skills / experience you already have.

Experienced Level Resume

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:44:00 +0600

Mohammad Aslam Khan
Contact: C/o Abdullajh Hasan, House #34, Lane No. 5/A, Dhaka-8600
Tel.: 0441-123456 (office) 0441-123456 (res.), Cell: 017123456
E-mail: mailto:azzzz@bol-online.com

Career Summary

Accountant with more than 8 years of Finance and Accounting experience. Expertise in preparing financial statements, monitoring daily cash transactions, developing annual budgets, and recording all financial activities. A remarkable experience of working in accounts department in different international funded projects.

Professional Experiences

US funded Dhaka- Sylhet Major Roads Project. Roads & Highways Office Dhaka.

Project Accountant : (July, 2001 to till now)

Supervising the accounting procedure of the organization.
Developing, Controlling, implementing and monitoring the project’s accounts.
Budgeting monitoring and controlling.
Controlling the procurement and disbursement procedure.
Reporting the accounting information to the Cameroon Embassy at Dhaka as well as to the parent organization (AZSS) in Kampala.
Maintaining an effective relationship with the liaison offices as well as the clients

USWE Supported Project: Sustainable Environment Management Program (SEMP) Component 4.4.3

Account Assistants and Admin: (August 2000 to July 2001)

Assisted Accounting Manager in daily financial processing, including monitoring of payroll data, cash receipts, billing, disbursements, expense accounting, and deposits. Developed policies and procedures for fiscal management.
Managed regular accounting records.
Maintained an effective monitoring in the accounting system.
Controlled the salary disbursement and inventory management (Physical investigation)
Maintained progress report of the project.
Oversaw the Internal Auditing process.
Rectified the special requirement of the project director.

Britain Urban Water & Sanitation Project (UWASP) Project Management Unit PMU

Assistant Accountant (February 1998 to December, 1999)

Assisted the senior accounts positions.
Maintained the projects account.
Co-coordinated NGO activities, meeting, training and other campaign program
Ensured the logistic support system.
Prepared monthly accounting report.
Controlled and monitored cash disbursement and recipe system.

Education

CMA (part 2 completed), Institute of Cost Management of Bangladesh, Dhaka
Masters in Commerce (Management), National University, Bangladesh 1996 (2nd Class)
Bachelors in Commerce 1994 (2nd Class)

Seminars/Training Attended:

Accounting workshop for all CIDA Decentralized accounting personnel organized by The Royal Saudi Embassy, Dhaka (7 day training - June 2004)
Daily financial control systems-organized by CIMA (USASP) PMU Dhaka (3 day training – January 2004)
HTW care taker training organized by CIMA (USASP) PMU Dhaka (3 day training – August 2003)

Language

English – Well versed in both written and spoken English
Bengali – Mother tongue

Computer Literacy

Familiar with MS Word, MS Excel and computerized Accounting software Navision, e-mail and Internet operations.

Extra Curricular Activities

I participated in the 5th National Scouts Jamboree 1995-96 Mouchak, Gazipur, Dhaka
I had been involved in the Social Development Organization named “YOUNG Learners Society” (Center for education, cultural, sports, science and socio-economic development)
I had been involved in the CIMA funded Project Staff Welfare Association (Recreations Center for Five CIMA Projects employee) as a Treasurer

Personal Information

Date of birth : 5th November,1976
Nationality : Bangladeshi by birth
Marital status : Single

References

Mr. AK. Azad
Chief Accountant
Ministry of Commerce
Road # 12, House # 14, Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212
Phone: 812345, 812345

Mr. M A Aziz
Country Representative
Links Canada
Gulshan-2 Dhaka
Phone: 02-9812345
Mobile: 017412345

Entry Level Resume

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:39:00 +0600

Muhammad Rasel Ferdous
19/E Avoy Das Lane, Tikatuly, Dhaka.
Ph: 7175873, Mob : 0173034995, E-mail: mailto:rasefldf@yahoo.com

Career Objective

To serve in a responsible administrative position at a well-structured organization and successfully apply acquired managerial and interpersonal skills to enhance organizational efficiencies.

Education

Dhaka University, Dhaka 2004
MBA Major - Management CGPA 3.51

National University, Gazipur 2000
M.Com, Management Second Division

National University, Gazipur 1999
B.Com (Honors), Management Second Division

School & College, Dhaka Board 1995
H.S.C Science Group First Division

Boy’s High School Dhaka Board. 1993
S.S.C Science Group First Division

Personal Details

Father’s Name: Dr. Muhammad Mobarak Hossain
Mother’s Name: Dr. Sajeda begum
Permanent Address: Vill-Chariani, Post- Nsirkote, Thana-Hajigong, Chandpur
Date of Birth: 07/12/78

Interests

Cricket, Traveling, Reading Novels

Achievements

Awarded as best sportsman of Management Department for the year 2003

Language Competency

Bangla- Mother tongue
English- Fluent both in speaking and writing

Computer Skills

Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power Point, Outlook Express

Reference

Abul Kalam Ahmed
Joint Director, Policy department
Head Office, Bangladesh Bank
Mobile: 0171-941202
Res-9128509

Md. Abul Quader
Assistant. General Manager, Sonali Bank
Head office, Dhaka-1000
Phone no- Office-9551226
Res- 7203274

Watch out for Exteriors of Resume

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:35:00 +0600

Resume Length

A resume should be as long as needed to list your best and most relevant qualifications for the job you are seeking. For recent graduates or those with only a few years of experience, you should be able to put all your relevant experience on a single page. If you have extensive experience in your field, you may require a two-page resume to list all or your relevant experience. Instead of considering the length of your resume, make sure that it is clear and concise, and that the information is relevant to the position you are seeking. The most important consideration for a resume is not length, but whether it sufficiently describes your best qualifications for the job.Paper Size
Use standard A4 or letter (8½" x 11") size offset paper. Recruiters handle hundreds of resumes; if yours is on a smaller sheet, it is likely to be lost in the pile, and if it is oversized, it may get crumpled and have trouble fitting in a company's file.
Paper Color
White and ivory are the only Paper colors considered acceptable for resumes and cover letters.
Computers & Word Processing
The most flexible way to type your resume is on a computer or word processor. This allows you to make changes almost instantly, and to store different drafts on disk. Word processing systems also give you many different options such as bold facing for emphasis, different fonts or typefaces and justified margins.
Printing Your Resume
Find the best quality offset printing process available and do not make your copies on a photocopier. Only the personnel office may see the resume you mail; everyone else may see a copy of it. Copies of copies quickly become illegible.
Proofreading is Essential
Mistakes on resumes can be embarrassing and no doubt you are the only one who will lose if there is a mistake. So proofread your resume as carefully as possible and then have a friend do it. Make sure your spelling and grammar are perfect. Don't rely entirely on computer or word-processors built-in spell-check programs, because not all typos are misspellings and a spelling checker is not a substitute for proofreading for your resume. Words spelled correctly can still be used improperly. Bear in mind that a spelling checker cannot flag errors such as "to" for "two" or "bills" for "skills."
Utilize Bullet-Points
Use bullet points in the body of your resume instead of long paragraphs. Resumes are read rather quickly and anything you can do to draw the reader in will bring you one step closer to landing an interview.
Consistent Formatting
Choose easy-to-read fonts and use consistent formatting for headings and bullet points. Also, make sure you leave enough space between each section with boldface or capital lettering. Use bold, italics, and underlining to highlight the most relevant information on your resume. In the same respect, steer clear of flashy formatting or overly creative resumes with unconventional fonts or graphics, unless you are seeking a highly creative position. Keep your resume simple, bold and professional.
Avoid Overuse of Highlighting: Bold / Italics / Underline
Drawing attention to everything is the same as drawing attention to nothing. Use highlighting such as bold, italics, and underline sparingly for maximum effect on specific areas you want to draw attention to and be consistent in your highlighting technique.
The Best Way to Send A Resume

There are several ways to send your resume to an employer: fax, e-mail, regular mail, and express mail. When deciding which way to send your resume, it is always best to follow the instructions of the employer. If not mentioned in a job advertisement, then ask your potential employer which format they prefer, and then follow their instructions. In other cases, here are some things to consider: The advantage of postal mail is that you can ensure your resume will be seen in its best form, properly formatted and printed on quality paper. The advantage of e-mail and fax is that your resume can be seen immediately, usually the same day. Express or Courier mail is probably unnecessary since most resumes are removed from their envelopes before landing on the employer's desk so they won't be impressed by your extra effort.

Tips for Creating an Effective Resume

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:34:00 +0600

When an employer looks at your resume, you've got about 30 seconds to make a good impression. That's the average amount of time most employers spend reading a resume. To capture the reader's attention, you need to be clear and to-the-point. And, that's not all. Keep in mind the following guidelines to create an effective resume:

Be Concise and Omit Irrelevant Information

Employers don't want to read a long, drawn-out version of your life's accomplishments. They have stacks of resumes to read, and want to know quickly whether or not you would be a good fit for their company. So, be concise, and exhibit your skills and abilities.

A resume should only include information that will help convince an employer to interview you. Descriptions of relevant skills and accomplishments should be concise and to the point. Including irrelevant experience and lengthy descriptions will bury the important information. Only include personal information where it demonstrates an important personal quality or qualification. A resume should represent what you can do on the job, not what you do in your personal life.

Don't Forget Your Objective

Before diving into writing your resume, plan out your career objective. Make it clear and focused. Remember to keep the message consistent throughout your resume as you summarize your skills and accentuate your strengths.

Write a Powerful Opening Statement
If you are a recent graduate or have limited experience in your career, you should include a Job Objective statement at the top of your resume, which will help focus the reader's attention and describe what type of position you are looking for.

If you have experience in your career field, you want a powerful Summary statement that illustrates your best qualifications for the position at the top of the resume. A well-crafted opening statement should convince an employer to keep reading.

Use Industry Jargon

Use industry jargon and acronyms to reflect your familiarity with the employer's business, but not to the point where it makes your resume hard to read or understand. Spell out acronyms in parentheses if they are not obvious, such as TQM (Total Quality Management).

Customize It: Focus on Your Benefit to Employers
Describe your experience in a way that relates to the skills the employer is seeking. Focus on highlighting accomplishments that will arouse the interest of employers who read your resume. Answer the question: "How can this candidate fulfill the role and make a positive impact?" If a company is looking for a candidate who has leadership ability, highlight your experience in training new employees or in managing projects. Remember that the goal is to get the interview.

Include Keywords
Draw attention to your resume with keywords that describe your skills and experience. Inserting descriptive keywords in your resume is becoming more important as an increasing number of companies search for resumes in computer databases that find matches through keywords. These words should relate to the job you are applying for while highlighting your own skill set.

Use Action-Benefit statements: Avoid Boring List of Job Responsibilities
The best resumes describe experience using Action-Benefit statements, which describe an action you took in response to a challenge or opportunity, and explain how your action had a positive benefit for your company. This method brings your experience statements to life and demonstrates how you can achieve success and produce results.

An Action-Benefit statement might read "Analyzed declining sales and developed campaign that increased orders by 30% in less than one month." This statement describes the situation or challenges you faced (declining sales), the Action you took (developed a campaign), and the Benefit of your actions (a 30% increase in orders).

Quantify Your Achievements
You need to give the reader an idea of what you have done throughout your career, but instead of focusing on the duties you were responsible for at your last jobs, list your accomplishments in action-benefit statements along with quantifiable facts to back up your claims. Use numbers, percentages and dollar amounts to show your success in achieving company goals. Instead of writing "Responsible for increasing sales in my territory," use "Increased sales in my territory 150% over 6 months. Managed 30 accounts increasing revenues from $1.5M to $2M annually."

Use Action Verbs
Portray yourself as active, accomplished, intelligent, and capable of contributing. Examples: Managed, Launched, Created, Directed, Established, Organized, and Supervised. Never use the same action word repeatedly. Instead of using a word like 'directed' over and over, use synonyms such as controlled, supervised, guided, or managed. Utilize a thesaurus, career advice Web sites and other sources if you are having problems coming up with new ways to say the same thing.

Be Professional, Not Personal
You do not have much room in a resume, so why take up valuable space with information unrelated to the position you are seeking? Focus on your work experiences and never refer to personal information such as race, religion, marital status, age, political party, or even personal views. In all but a few instances, it would be illegal for the employer to consider such issues. Also, avoid the use of humor and clichés in resumes and forget about mentioning the fact that you enjoy horror movies and surfing in your spare time.

Personal Traits

If you want to include personal traits in your resume, such as "Dependable, Highly-Organized, Self-Motivated, and Responsible," rather than just listing these traits, try demonstrating these characteristics using examples from your experience. For example, instead of writing "Dependable," write "Never missed an important deadline in five years as a project manager."

Keep a Positive Tone
Your resume should present you in the best possible light. If you don't possess every skill an employer is seeking, do not emphasize your shortcomings. Focus on what you can offer.

Be Honest
Lying or exaggerating about your skills and abilities will only come back to haunt you.

Be Organized and Logical
In addition to reviewing your experience, employers also use the resume to sense whether you are organized, logical, and concise. Make sure your resume is balanced, neat, visually appealing, and flows consistently. Clearly separate sections and emphasize section titles.

Just Communicate

Abandon the use of exorbitant, exquisite vocabulary. In other words, don't try to impress employers with the depth of your vocabulary. Use words everyone can understand.

Combine Sections When Possible

Try to combine any short sections together to make your resume more compact. For example, if you only have one entry under training, consider placing it under your education instead and change the section title to "Education and Training."

Use Common Section Headings

Use common section headings. Examples: Objective, Experience, Employment, Work History, Skills, Summary, Summary of Qualifications, Accomplishments, Achievements, Capabilities, Education, Professional Affiliations, Publications, Licenses and Certifications, and Honors.

Omit Salary Information

Never refer to salary in your resume. Save this information for the interview.

Avoid Writing in First Person ("me" or "I")
Your resume is not a personal correspondence, and should not include words such as "I," "my," or "me." Replace such personal pronouns with short action statements. Instead of saying, "I wrote several articles for the company newsletter," try, "Researched and wrote several articles for the company newsletter." Save the first person pronouns for your cover letter.

Placing Professional Titles

There are several places where it would be appropriate to put your professional title. You can place your title next to your name in the format "Ahmed Abdullah, FCA." You can include it in your Summary, Education, or Licenses/Certifications sections. If your title is an important qualification in your job search, be sure it appears at the top of your resume.

Including References in Your Resume

You do not have to include references on your resume. Most employers will assume you can provide references if they are requested.

How to make a Standard CV

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:32:00 +0600

Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) is the primary medium of presenting yourself as a candidate for a job to a prospective employer. But many of the job seekers do not give proper attention and care in preparing their CVs accurately. As a result, many potential job seekers do not get calls for job interviews to get the opportunity to present and prove their potential.

Attention should be given to the following matters before preparing your CV:

Generally an employer does not give more than 30 seconds time in looking at a CV briefly. So a CV should be precise and clear. Unnecessary and irrelevant information should be avoided.
A CV of a fresher or an inexperienced candidate should not be over one or two pages.
Your CV is the way to promote yourself. Therefore, it should be attractive. But color papers or color print should not be used for this purpose. In case of highlighting any information, you can Bold, italicize or underline it.
Remember that any type of grammatical or spelling mistake in your CV will create a negative impact in the mind of the employer. It will give the impression that you cannot do any work correctly. So after preparing your CV, read it intensely and let it checked by somebody who knows correct English.
When applying for a particular job announcement, try to customize your CV according to the job requirements. You need to read the job announcement carefully and make some research on it. For example, if you know the information that the employer can locate the job anywhere in Bangladesh, you may mention the places you have visited and stayed in Bangladesh. Again, when the employer is looking for an Organizer, you can mention the organizing activities you have done in your student life. It will create an additional value in your CV.
It is very important that you should give true and correct information in your CV. You should not give any information that can appear as false the job interview.

Different Parts of a CV

The following information is to be presented in a CV in an organized way:

Title
Career Summary – mostly applicable for the experienced persons.
Career objective – mostly applicable for the fresh applicants.
Experience
Education
Additional Information
Personal Information
Reference

Title

Your name will come first in the title. It should be in ‘bold’ format and in a larger font (avoid using your nick name). Then write your address (your present address where you can receive mails by post), phone number and email address. This portion will be on the center of the page to draw the attention.

Career Summary

This is mostly applicable for the persons having experience more than 4-5 years. State the sectors of your experience in maximum 6 to 7 lines. State in short the achievements of your career (if any).

Career Objective

This section is generally applicable for the fresh candidates or the candidates with little experience (1- 2 years). Mention the immediate goal of your career in this part. Also mention how your experience and potential match with the position you are applying for. Bring up your positive skills for the position. It is important to write your career objective according to the criteria mentioned in the job announcement. Give emphasis on the ways you can make contribution for the company and what is your expectation from the company.

Experience

For the experienced candidates, this section should come before the ‘Educational Qualification’ section.

Things that you should mention in your experience details are as follows:

Organization name
Designation
Time Period – From & To
Job Responsibility
Special Achievement

If you have working experience in different positions in a same organization, mention it in different phases.

State your most recent experience first and then mention one by one your other experiences in the Resume following Chronological Order which is to end with your first experience.
It is better not to mention experience of short and insignificant experience. Try not to have long gap of time between the jobs.

Education & Training

Education & training part should come before experience part for a fresher. You will mention your degrees in education part with the following information.
Name of degree (Such as SSC, HSC, B.Com)
Duration of course
Name of institutions and board.
Year of Examination and date of publishing result (if necessary),
Result and achievement (if any)

You should mention your most recent degree first like your experience part, then mention the other degrees by turn.

Remember that you should mention ‘appeared’ if the final result is not yet published. Please mention ‘ongoing’ if you are continuing any program. You need not to mention the result of any degree if any of the result is a very poor one. Remember that, it looks odd if you mention the result of one degree and avoid another.

If you participate in any particular training program that supports your work experience, you should mention it. Mention the training institution, topic and duration of training. You can place the list of training right after the education part.

Additional Information

The information that does not fall in the above mentioned parts but is related with the job must be shown in this part. For example:

Professional Achievement
Award
Language Proficiency
Computer skills
License, government identity, publications and authorization.
Voluntary work etc.

Personal information

You can mention your parent’s name, present and permanent address, religion, traveling places (Country) if any, hobby etc. in this section.
Reference
You should not mention the name of any close relative as referee in reference part. Referees should be the persons who have seen you closely in your student life or working life. You must mention the phone number, address and e-mail (if any) of your referee. It is better to mention two or three persons as referees. It is important to inform your referee that you have mentioned his name as referee in your CV.

Make a strong resume

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 19:31:00 +0600

Have you ever thought of your resume as a personal marketing tool? If not, maybe it's time you do. Your resume should be designed to electrify potential employers by highlighting your most valuable skills and achievements. Get started by using our sure-fire tips.

Use Numbers

Quantify your achievements by using facts and figures that demonstrate results, such as dollars saved or number of people supervised.
Spell out numbers under and including "ten" and use the numerical form for 100 and beyond.

Keep It Simple

Make certain the job title you use is easily understandable by your reader (ie: Tax Accountant vs. Accounting Specialist II )
Don't bother using obscure vocabulary, select familiar words.
Utilize bullet points with short phrases.

Follow the Right Form

Instead of complete sentences, use short action phrases to list your accomplishments.
Avoid repeating the same action verb.
When describing a current position, use the present tense and vise versa when describing a past one.
Keep the length to one or two pages.

Update It

Update your resume every six months, even if you aren't actively looking for a job.
Show your work experience for the last 10-15 years.

Make It Look Good

Use standard 8-1/2 x 11 inch paper.
Soft colors such as white or beige are recommended, especially for scanning and copying purposes.
Don't forget to include matching envelopes.
Typeface should be easy-to-read (Courier, Times New Roman or Arial), so avoid the fancy script-like fonts. Stick to black ink.
Font size should be between 10-12 pts.
Highlight section headers with boldface type.
Be consistent by single spacing for individual sentences and double spacing between sections and paragraphs.
Make sure your margins have at least one inch of white space on the top and no less than one half-inch on the other three sides.
When printing your resume, look for a watermark. Hold your paper up to the light and you'll typically see the brand of the paper. Make sure the mark is right side up when you print.
Consider sending your resume in a 9x12 inch envelope so it doesn't have to be folded.

How do I earn from AdSense

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:58:00 +0600

NOTE: I am putting 2 sons through college via AdSense, and doing it quite comfortably, so I have no hesitation in recommending you try it if you have similar needs. You can apply for an AdSense account via the "Generate revenue from your website. Google AdSense" referral link at the top of the left sidebar. You will need a website for them to review when you apply. A blog will do. For beginners, I think this Dummies Guide to Google Blogger ("online book" in progress. Use the CONTENT at the top of the main column" can help you get started off quickly

For more information, read the rest of the post. You can earn via referral links like that once you get an AdSense account. I will put a link to a post I will publish later to show how you can earn via referral links like that later.

Someone asked these questions about AdSense, and I though I might as well answer them in a post. Will expand on this post as I have more to add.

1) How can i earn from Google AdSense.
2) How will i be paid for it .
3) Do i need to pay anything to Google for this .
4) If i need to pay anything how much it is .
5) Will my personal information will be kept confidential.
6) Do i need any special software.

But before you can earn anything, you will need a website. If you don't have one, you can start a blog, and Dummies Guide to Google Blogger will guide you. Then you will have to apply for an AdSense account. You can do that by clicking on the text link that says "Generate revenue from your website. Google AdSense" at the top of the right sidebar.

Products related to AdSense

How can I earn from Google AdSense

You can earn from Google AdSense in three ways:

Contextual Advertisements

By placing contextual text or images ads on your sites. These ads are of two types - CPC (Cost per Clicks) ads for which you will only be paid if readers click on the ads, and CPM (Cost per 1000 impressions) for which you will be paid for just displaying the ads on your site, irrespective of whether the readers click on them or not. Although it is Cost per 1000 impressions, you don't need to reach 1000 impressions to be paid, but you would be paid proportionately for each click. The figures are given as cost per 1000 impressions because if they are given as cost per impressions, the figure will be so small that it will be below 2 decimal points. However, in the long term, CPC and CPM ads should give equivalent earnings to you.

Types of Contextual Ad units

There are 2 type of contextual advertisement units that you can put in your site - ad units and link units. Ad units displayed the ads directly on your site. An example is the Wide Skyscraper Ad unit you see in the left sidebar in this blog. You will be paid as explained as above. An example of link unit is the one you see just below the title of this blog in the Header. You will not be paid for clicks on links in link units. However, clicking on one of them will cause a page with ads relevant to the title of the link. You will be paid as explained above for clicks or impressions as explained above. The maximum number of Ad units you can put in a page is 3, and the maximum number of link unit is 1.

AdSense Search

You can put up to 2 AdSense search boxes on your site. They can be just for searching the Web, or they can be used for searching only the content of your site. You will not be paid for readers for using the searchbox, only if they click on any ads that may be displayed in the search result page.

Referrals

You can also earn by referring people to join AdSense or AdWord, or to get other things like FireFox with Google toolbar, Google Pack, Picasa. You can see examples of referral text links at the top of the right sidebar of this blog. You can place a maximum of 2 referral buttons or text links per product on your sites, and if your readers click on these, you may be paid under certain conditions. Currently, there are 4 referral products that available - Google AdSense, Google AdWords, FireFox with Google toolbar and Picasa (now being replaced by Google Pack, depending on which country you reside in). For Google AdSense, if your reader join AdSense via your referral button, you will be paid US100 if they manage to earn US$100 within 180 days (6 months). For Google AdWords, if your reader sign up and spend US$100 within 90 days, you will earn US$20. For FireFox with Google toolbar, if your reader download, install and runs the browser for the first time, you will be paid up to US$1 depending on their geographical location. For Picasa, when a user you've referred to Picasa downloads and runs the product for the first time, you will earn up to US$1, also depending which geographical location.

UPDATE 2 February 2007: The pricing structure for AdSense and AdWord have been improved and it is now easier to get a referral fee for them. If within 180 days, the person you referred to AdSense earn their USD5, your account will also be credited with USD5. If within the same period, they earned USD100, your account will be credited with an additional USD250. In addition to these, if within any 180 days you referred 25 publishers who each earn more than $100 within 180 days of their respective sign-ups and are all eligible for payout, you will be awarded a $2,000 bonus (bonus payouts are limited to 1 per year).

When an advertiser (AdWords) you refer spends $5 within 90 days of sign-up (in addition to the $5 sign-up fee) you will be credited with $5. When that same advertiser spends $100 within 90 days of sign-up, you will be credited with an additional $40. If, in any 180 day period, you refer 20 advertisers who each spend more than $100 within 90 days of their respective sign-ups, you will be awarded a $600 bonus (bonus payments are limited to 1 per year).

How will i be paid for it

You will be paid if in a month you earn US100 or more. If you earn less than that, you will not be paid, but the amount will be carried forward and you will be paid when the total reaches US100 or more. You will normally receive your payment by check sent to the address you registered when you apply (even if you don't live in the US). Some countries have the option of being paid by EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) where the payment is transferred by wire, and will be faster and cost less than being paid by check.

Do i need to pay anything to Google for this

No, you do not need to pay anything to Google. However, for earnings obtained from ads via AdSense searches, some amount may be deducted for the cost of performing the search, but the amount deducted will never be more than what you earn.

Will my personal information will be kept confidential

The only information that anyone can get from the Web is your AdSense ID (which can be obtained by viewing the source code of pages which have your AdSense ads, but which will be useless to them as far as getting personal information about you.) No other personal information is displayed anywhere on the Web.

Do I need any special software

No, you don't need any software or download anything from AdSense. To participate, all you need to do is to sign into your AdSense account and generate the scripts you need to add to your site to get the AdSense products displayed.

It is very easy to apply for an AdSense account. All you need is a website which some content (someone got his account approved by having just one post in a blog), click on the "Generate revenue from your website. Google AdSense" text link at the top of the left sidebar and fill in your particulars

Getting AdSense Products on your Site

If you are new to AdSense, you can learn how to generate the scripts needed from these posts and how to blend the colors to the colors of your site (click BACK button to get back to this page).

Blending color of your search box to the colors of the site

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:56:00 +0600

I do not know if the color of a Google AdSense search box have any effect on the earnings that one can get from displaying the search box. But one thing I know. If you don't blend the color of the search box to the colors of the website, the attractiveness of the site.

The first step is of course to sign into your AdSense account, and the first page displayed will be a report of your earnings. There are 3 tabs at the top of the report - Report, AdSense Setup, My Account. Click the AdSense Setup tab. By default you will initially be in the Products sub tab and 3 choices are presented to you in the page below the sub-tabs - AdSense for Content, AdSense for Search and Referrals.

Click "AdSense for Search". It will be much faster if you choose to do everything in the same page, rather than having to configure page by page and waiting for the new page to open. Click "Single Page" at the top of the page. If you are doing a sitesearch box, type in the URL of the site you want searched. Make sure you don't add a / to the back of the URL. If you are copying the URL from the address bar or other means, remove the backslash /.

By default, you will only have 3 choices for the background color of your search box - black, white, gray. If you want more choices, you will have to get rid of the Google logo by ticking ""Google Search" on button" and you will be presented with more choices of color plus specifying the color using HTML color codes (see screenshot below, click to enlarge).

If you want more choices that the white, black, gray, green, blue, red, yellow, purple that you can select from the drop-down menu, you will have to choose "Use HTML codes". To make your choice more accurate, you will have to get a color picker to get the colors found on your site. Go to Iconico and download their ColorPic. With this tool, you can place your cursor (mouse) on any part of your site and the color plus HTML code will be displayed on your ColorPic tool. If you find the color not changing, press ctrl+G.

You have a choice of completely merging the background color of your search box with the color of the part of your site where you want to place your search box, like this blog: Guide to Japan, or choose complementary color for the search box background, like this one: Guide to China, where the color of the search box stand out slightly from the background.

This is how it is done. The first example is easily done. Just open ColorPic and place the cursor (mouse) over the part you are going to place the box, note the HTML code and enter that code into the appropriate field in the AdSense page. In the second case (Guide to China), the easiest is I just describe how I did it.

With ColorPic, I noted the color of the sidebar (#556655) and the main column (#CCDDBB). I then go to Color Blender, and entered the 2 HTML color codes into the 2 extreme color (Color 1 and Color 2). I then have to select the number of mid-points (complementary colors in between) that I want (the choice is from 1 to 10). I chose 10, and the 10 complementary colors in between the 2 are generated (see screenshot below, click to enlarge)

I chose the one nearer the color of the main column (#B2C3A4) so that while the search box appear apart from the background, it does not stand out too much.

The rest is selecting whether you want your search result page to open in the same window (default) or new window and if you want a custom channel.

When done, the script will be in the box at the bottom of the page ready for you to copy and paste into your site.

The Best template for your blog for AdSense

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:50:00 +0600

Someone asked a question in the comments section of my blog Blogger Tips and Tricks (close new window to get back to this page), "What is the best template to use for AdSense". I think that is relevant to this blog. Rather than typing a post all over again, I think I will just post my response:

That is a hard question to answer. There are so many factors to take into consideration. For example, if there are not still 10-20% of visitors using small screen (600x800 screen resolution) to this blog, I would use a wider 3 column template like the one used by this blog: Computer, Internet and SEO. (How do I know that 5-20% of my blog visitors uses small screen? I use statcounter, a hit counter which give quite a bit of statistics about my visitors, but which doesn't give private information if any visitors to my site is worried about that). If you want to know how to install a hit counter to your blog, go to How do I track visitors to my site. (Close new window to get back to this page). If you happen to be using Blogger Beta, then go to Blogger Beta: Adding advertisement, hit counters, etc.. (Close new window to get back to this page). The reason why I don't want to use a 3 column template for this blog is because if I change to a 3 column template, depending on the design of the template, visitors with 800x600 resolution will either have to scroll to see the rest of the page, or the appearance of the site will change to something I, and especially my visitors, may not like. This may put off my visitors and may discourage them from coming back again.

Why do I prefer a 3 column template? With a 3 column template, I can put more stuff above above the fold, the part of the page which a visitor first see without having to scroll when they first get to your site. That is the best place to put your ads. It also enable me to put, for example, my ads on the left sidebar, and the profile, Previous Posts, Archives, link list, etc on the right sidebar, or to put some referral buttons right at the top of the right sidebar if I want good visibility for that. If you want to see an examples of 3 column template with ads, surf over to Choosing and caring for digital cameras (Close new window to get back to this page), or this one: TV Network (close new window to get back to this page). If you happen to be using large screen and you want to see how visitors with small screen will see these two sites, type or paste this into the address bar: javascript:top.resizeTo(800,600) and press the ENTER key. The second example will give a better result. If you want to know how to do that, surf over to Blogger for Dummies is now 3 column (close new window to get back to this page), and for the second example, go to Blogger template tutorial (close new window to get back to this page). I use the modified Thur's 3 column Minima template for some of my blogs.

Now that Blogger has rolled out Blogger Beta (and will be all to migrate to Blogger Beta soon), I have started some beta blogs, and for those, I use Ramani's 3 column template. Testing Blogger Beta (close new window to get back to this page) is an example of such blog using that template. This post 3 column template for Blogger Beta will show you how to get Ramani's template for your blog.

UPDATE: Now there are more choices of the New Blogger (formerly beta) 3 column templates. Look at posts
More New Blogger (formerly beta) templates modified by Stavanger of Blogcrowd forum and

New 3 column New Blogger (formerly beta) templates modified by Stavanger of Blogcrowd Forum

New Blogger 3 column templates by Isaini.

New Blogger 3 column templates modified by Ramani of Hackosphere

New Blogger 3 column templates by Thur

Ramani's New Blogger 3 column fixed width Neo template.

Adding AdSense ads, searchbox, referral text.button to your Blogger blog

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:48:00 +0600

With the Google New Blogger, adding AdSense ads, searchbox, and referral text/button is very easy. All you have to do is to first generate the Javascript from your AdSense account. For instructions, refer to these posts (click BACK button to get back to this page):
Generating scripts for your AdSense ads

Blending the colors of your AdSense ads to the colors of your site

Generating script for a Google searchbox

Blending the color of your searchbox to the colors of your site

Once you have generated your script, sign into your Blogger account to get to the Dashboard. You will see a list of blogs you have created (of course if you have created only one, you will only see one blog). Click on LAYOUT. Here is a screenshot of the LAYOUT (click to enlarge):

(Note: This LAYOUT have "Add a Page Element" for the Header and the main column which you wouldn't have if you use the standard template. If you want that to add link unit in the Header or Searchbox above the post like in this blog, refer to Adding graphic, ads, etc. to your blog Header and How to add ads, searchbox, "sticky post", etc to the main column.)

Click "Add a Page Element" (circled in red) in the section you want to add the ad, which in the case of the screenshot, the ad will be added to the right sidebar. A pop-up will appear. Select HTML/Javascript and paste the script in the resulting window. Click "Save to blog". You will see a new HTML/Javascript Page Element added to the section which will initially be right at the top of the section. If that is where you want it to be, then that is all that need to be done. You you want to place it somewhere else, hover your mouse over the Page Element. The cursor will change to a cross (second red circle). Drag the page element to where you want it to be, then click the "Save" button.

Incorporating Ads into the post

AdSense says incorporating ads into the content will increase CTR (click through rate) and thus earning. If you want to do that, refer to this post: Incorporating AdSense ads into your New Blogger posts.

Has Google AdSense disabled third party Click Trackers

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:42:00 +0600

Some AdSense account holders use third party click trackers to track clicks to see suspicious activities so that they have information to report by using the "Invalid clicks contact form" to protect their account from sabotage, a link to which you can find near the bottom of this post: How to contact AdSense Help Google AdSense disabled third party click trackers, these tracker programs will no longer work. (click BACK button to get back to this page. Some also uses such click trackers to track the performance of their ads, especially those using arbitrage accounts. Well, if you believe this site (which refers to messages in WebmasterWorld, a subscription forum I believe)

Generating Adsense for Content ads, including custom channel

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:41:00 +0600

A reader of this blog asked about custom channel. I thought that it would be good to make a post on how to generate AdSense script and include in it creating custom channels to answer. So, here it is:

To generate the script, the first thing you have to do is to sign into your AdSense account. Once you are logged in, the first thing you see will be your report. Above the report will be a tab "AdSense Setup" (see screenshot below. Click to enlarge)

Click on that tab and you will be presented with another page with 3 choices - AdSense for Content, AdSense for Search, and Referrals. (Click on screenshot to enlarge)

If you want to generate text and/or image ads, click on the "AdSense for Content". You will be again taken to a page with 2 choices - Ad Unit and Link Unit. (Click on screenshot to enlarge)

Rather than uploading another sceenshot to show what an ad unit is, I will refer to what you can see in this blog. I use a 3 column template, and I have chosen to display a Skyscrapper Ad Unit on the left sidebar and a link unit under the Header. Right under the Header, you will see a link unit displaying most probably 5 text links. A link unit is a real space saver as it takes up so little space. You can chose either by clicking the appropriate radio button. Let's say, you want an ad unit. You can just tick the radio button against "Ad Unit" and click Continue at the bottom of the page. If you want only text ads or only image ads, you will have to click the down arrow in the drop-down menu and select your choice. In my case, I have chosen both text ads and banner (this is the default), so you may see either text ads or a banner in the left sidebar.

Link units are useful when you do not want ads on your site to appear intrusive by having prominent ads. For an example, look at the link unit at this site Testing Blogger Beta (close new window to get back to this page). The link unit is just below the header and does not take up much space. The space above the fold (the part of the screen which a visitor see without having to use the vertical scrollbar) is valuable real estate, and you would want to maximise the use of that space. That ad unit is obtained by selecting the 728x15 format. There are other formats and which format would depend on where you want to place the link unit. You will not get anything if someone click on a link, but if they click on an ad in the resulting page, then you will be credited for that click. Some people have reported good results with the use of link units.

Assuming that you have selected Ad unit, you will be taken to another page with a number of choices. First, you need to select the format, and the format you choose will have to fit into the space that you intend it to display. For the one in the left sidebar in this blog, I chose the 160x600 Wide Skyscraper. For the link unit below the header, I chose the 728x15 ad format and chosen to display 5 ads per unit.

Choosing colors

The next step is to choose the color for your ads background, text, border, etc. You may choose to do nothing and just click continue, and the colors used will be the default blue1. If you want to blend the colors with the colors of your site, you will have to edit the palette. If you wish, you can just select the color direct by typing in the HTML color code or clicking on the color box next to the relevant item, but it will mean that each time you do another ad and you want back the same color scheme, you will have to go through the whole process again. It is better to click EDIT PALETTE, then choose the color, and then save the palette under an suitable title. (See screenshot below. Click to enlarge)

This unfortunately, will mean that you will have to start the process described above all over again. But it willl have the advantage that each time you want to generate another ad unit or link unit, you can just select it from the drop-down menu. To aid you in selecting the color for the ads, I suggest you get the free ColorPic from Iconico (close new window/tab to return to this page).

You also have a choice of whether to display PSA (Public Service Advertisements) for which you do not get any credit for clicks, show non-Google ads from another URL or just fill the space with a solid color when there are no suitable ads in the pool to display on your site. I myself have chosen PSA, however the choice is completely up to the individual.

Setting up custom channels

Once you are satisfied with your choices above, you click "continue" and will be taken to the next page to add/select custom channels. Custom channels are a tool you can use to view more detailed reports about the performance of specific pages and ad units. This is to help you track the performance of your ad units. With custom channels, you can experiment with different color palette, different ad format, different placement, and if you see a particular channel not doing well, you may change it to see if you do better. This is called Optimization. You play around with different color palettes, ad formats, placements, etc. until you find one that give you the best performance. To add a custom channel, you click "Add new channel" if you have not created any channel before, or if you want channel not in the list of channels already created. You can create/choose up to 5 custom channels for an individual ad unit. See screenshot below (click to enlarge):

After you have made your choices, you click continue and you will be taken to a page where you can copy the script generated to paste in your template. You just click on the inside of the box and the whole of the script will be highlighted, and you just right-click and select "Copy" (or ctrl+C), then paste in the relevant place in your template. If you are using Blogger classic template, the following posts will help you to paste the codes:
Where to paste the AdSense script (close new window to get back to this page)
For ads after each post, where to paste the script (close new window to get back to this page)

If you are using Blogger Beta template, the process is easier. Refer to the following posts:
Blogger Beta - adding advertisements, hit counters, etc. (click "Back" button to return to this page)Note: This post was written during the time when AdSense ads wouldn't display in Blogger Beta blogs, but that bug has been ironed out already. Read the updates.
Adding graphic, ads, text, etc. to the Header of a Blogger Beta blog (close new window to return to this page) Note: This post was written specifically for adding graphic, but can be used for ads, text, etc.

Why I blog, participate in AdSense, and to demonstrate embedding Word document

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:33:00 +0600

As explained below in the embedded Microsoft Word document, I am retired, have plenty of time to blog, help other bloggers using the Google Blogger platform for their blogs and enjoyed it very much. I also need to support my children through college. It is a blessing for our generation that there is such an enterprise as Google AdSense which allow small publishers like us to earn from our blogging efforts. This post is also used to demonstrate that it is now possible to embed Word documents in a blog post or other type of websites, something which couldn't be done previously. Below is the Microsoft Word document I prepared for this demonstration, which will describe how I started blogging, how other bloggers are being helped by me, and Google Blogger honoring me as a Blog*Star.

Problem: Empty space where AdSense ad units are suppressed

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:32:00 +0600

The only way to incorporate AdSense unit within New Blogger posts is to put the script in the template. This theoretically will display an ad unit in EVERY posts, but AdSense allows only 3 ad units maximum and somehow suppresses the extra if, for example, you have 7 posts in the main (index or home) page. Thus only the first 3 posts will display the ad units while the rest is supposed to have nothing where there should be ad unit (this was my experience with the old Blogger and I think also the New Blogger). If you have ad units elsewhere link the the sidebar or the footer, which one get displayed should depend on how the template is structured, but I have observed that this is not completely true. I have checked with AdSense Support (click BACK button to get back to this page) if we are violating their policy and the response was no.

However, I was alerted to the presence of empty space where the ads are suppressed (first time I came across it) by ChampDog who gave a link to AdSense Unit Displays Empty Blank Space and gave a link to one of my blogs The easiest way to earn something for your blogging efforts and sure enough, I saw a similar blank space in one of my posts.

I will be contacting AdSense Support (click BACK button to get back to this page) and hope to update this post when I get a response.

Update 16 October 2007: The first support staff who responded gave irrelevant answers. I replied and request the query be forwarded to someone familiar with Blogger. 2 other people replied, the last one who specialised in Blogger said they are currently working on the problem. Let's hope they don't take too long.

Success with Kontera ContentLink™

noreply@blogger.com (OUSPER.COM) — Fri, 9 Sep 2011 15:30:00 +0600

It took me a full year to get my first check with Google AdSense (I am getting monthly checks now), but perhaps I was not really serious then and I didn't have the motivation I have now (I have to put my son, previously two, through college on my pension).

Thus it is a pleasant surprise to get a check from Kontera ContentLink™ after just two months. It is easy to earn with Kontera ContentLink™.

I actually meant to take a photo of my first check, but forgot and banked it in. Fortunately, I have to tear-out which may even be better because it breaks down the earnings according to months, so here is the screenshot (click to enlarge):

You earn each time a visitor clicks on a link.

To succeed with Kontera ContentLink™ is very easy. All you need to do is to apply for an account with the URL or URLs of the site or sites you intent to implement KontentLink. Once approved, sign in, get your script, and paste them just before the </body> tag in the template. This would normally be at the bottom of the template, the second last line just before the last line </html> and save. Your ContentLink™ will be implemented within minutes.

Kontera's algorithms will identify the most relevant keywords in the content of your site, changed it into a link and display a relevant "pop-up" or tool-tip when a visitor hover over the link as shown in the screenshot below:

The advantage of Kontera ContentLink™ over Google AdSense is that ContentLink™ are in-text ads, that is, ads where the visitors attention are concentrated. If you are using a blog, it is more difficult to incorporated AdSense ads within the content, but is possible. See Incorporate AdSense ads in your New Blogger posts and wrap the text around it. But it is not exactly the same as Kontera ContentLink™. However, these Google Ads are fixed at a particular spot on the page while Kontera ContentLink™ ads ("pop-up" or tool-tip) are spread over the whole of the text.

It is possible to have both Kontera ContentLink™ as well as Google AdSense ads on the same page without violating eithers' program policy. The advantage that Google AdSense have over Kontera ContentLink™ is that they have a larger pool of advertisers and ads to display on your site. However, you can have both and earn from both and have the advantage of both.

For more information on Kontera ContentLink™, see Generating Revenue from Kontera ContentLink and Earn with Kontera ContentLink (click BACK button to get back to this page.

For more information on the ways you can earn with Google AdSense, refer to How to earn with Google AdSense (click BACK button to get back to this page).