Monday, January 19, 2009
Job interviews...
Surfing the web and came across this very interesting article about what questions you shouldn't ask when you're at a job interview... I hope this helps you job seekers out a lot! I know when I was looking for a job, the worse part for me was the interview process, I never knew what to say!
The Savvy Networker
10 Questions Never to Ask in Job Interviews
by: Liz Ryan
You know enough to bring a list of questions to a job interview. When the interviewer asks you, "So, do you have any questions for me?" the last thing? You want to say is "No." But that could be the best option if you're at a loss for words, because some interview questions are better left unasked.
Here are 10 highly unsuitable interview questions that should never make an appearance, unless you don't want the job:
1. "What does your company do?" This was a reasonable interview question in 1950 or in 1980, before the Internet existed. Today, it's your job to research any company you're interviewing with before setting foot in the door. We need to show up for a job interview knowing what the employer does, who its competitors are, and which of its accomplishments (or challenges) have made the news lately.
2. "Are you going to do a background check?" It is amazing how many job candidates ask this question, which provokes alarm on the part of the interviewer, instead of the more general, "Can you please tell me a little about your selection process, from this point on?" Lots of people have credit issues that cause them worry during a job search, or aren't sure how solid their references from a previous job might be. If you're invited for a second interview, you can broach any sensitive topics from your past then. Asking "Will you do a background check?" makes you look like a person with something to hide.
3. "When will I be eligible for a raise?" Companies fear underpaying people almost as much as they fear overpaying them, because a person who's underpaid vis-a-vis his counterparts in the job market is a person with one eye on the career sites. Instead of asking about your first raise before you've got the job, you can ask (at a second interview) "Does your organization do a conventional one-year performance and salary review?"
4. "Do you have any other jobs available?" A job search requires quick thinking about straight talk, and if a job is far below your abilities, you're better off saying so than beating around the bush with this question. You don't have to take yourself out of the running; you can say, "The job sounds interesting, but frankly I was earning 30% more and supervising people in my last job. Could you help me understand the career path for this role?" That's the cue for the interviewer, if he or she is on the ball, to highlight another job opening that might exist.
5. "How soon can I transfer to another position?" You're broadcasting "I'm outta here at the first chance" when you ask this question. If you like the job, take the job. If it's not for you, wait for the right opportunity. Almost every employer will keep you in your seat for at least one year before approving an internal transfer, so a job-search bait-and-switch probably won't work out the way you'd hoped.
6. "Can you tell me about bus lines to your facility?" Get online and research this yourself. It's not your employer's problem to figure out how you get to work.
7. "Do you have smoking breaks?" If you're working in retail or in a call center, you could ask about breaks. Everyone else, keep mum; if your need to smoke intrudes so much on your work life that you feel the need to ask about it, ask your best friend or significant other for smoking-cessation help as a new-job present. Lots of companies don't permit smoking anywhere on the premises, and some don't like to hire smokers at all. Why give an employer a reason to turn you down?
8. "Is [my medical condition] covered under your insurance?" This is a bad question on two counts. You don't want to tell a perfect stranger about your medical issues, especially one who's deciding whether or not to hire you. Ask to see a copy of the company's benefits booklet when an offer has been extended. This is also a bad question from a judgment standpoint; no department managers and only a tiny percentage of HR people could be expected to know on a condition-by-condition basis what's covered under the health plan. Anyway, your pre-existing condition won't be covered under most corporate plans for at least a year.
9. "Do you do a drug test?" If you have a philosophical objection to drug tests, wait until they ask you to take a drug test and tell them about your objection. Otherwise, your question sounds like, "I'd fail a drug test," so don't ask.
10. "If you hire me, can I wait until [more than three weeks from now] to start the job?" Employers expect you to give two weeks' notice. If you're not working, they'd love to see you more quickly. If you ask for tons of time off before you start working -- unless you have a very good reason -- the employer may think, "How serious is this candidate about working?" In any case, a start-date extension is something to request after you've got the offer in hand, not before.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
MINI Nars & mac haul
Allure best of beauty 2008 (lips and liner)
LIPS
Dark Lipstick
Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Creme Lipstick in Vamp, $27.
The Châteauneuf du Pape of wine lipsticks, this is still the classic.
Sheer Lipstick
Three Custom Color Specialists Lipstick in Ballet Russe, $18.50.
Many sheer lipsticks deposit so little color, you might as well be wearing ChapStick. But this smooth formula creates a translucent cherry stain on lips.
Nude Lipstick for Medium and Dark Skin
M.A.C. Lustre Lipstick in Fresh Brew, $14.
Nude shades tend to look dead, but this shimmery peachy tone is perfect.
Bright Lipstick
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Lipstick in Provocative Pink, $34.
As smooth as butter, this pink makes our eyes seem brighter and our cheeks rosier.
Nude Lipstick for Fair Skin
Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Sheer Lipstick SPF 15 in Natural Pink, $29.
Tinged with pink, this nude will warm up your pale complexion, not wash it out.
Red Lipstick
Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in RD 165, $23.
Unbelievable—a red that looks good on everyone. The best part? It's as hydrating as a balm but stays put for hours.
Clé de Peau Beauté Lipstick in 13, $55.
If you've been burned by Barbie-ish, chalky, or overly glittery shades this soft rosy tone will restore your faith in pink.
LIP PALETTE
Pixi Lumi Lux Lip Palette, $35.
Most palettes are all pinks, all reds, or all awful but this one's 20 shades offer nearly every lip color under the sun.
Lauren Hutton First Kiss Lip & Cheek Stain + Lip Balm in Larry, $24.
This tube has the prettiest strawberry hue on one side and a clear balm on the other. And the sponge-tip wands mean no drips.
LIP GLOSS
Clinique Long Lasting Glosswear SPF 15, $14.
Each of the 18 pigment-rich, nonsticky glosses makes it possible to go two hours without reapplying. (Ask any gloss junkie—that's a big deal.)
LIP BALM
Nivea Sun Protection Lip Care SPF 30, $2.99.
We expected this high-SPF balm to feel like a mouthful of zinc but were pleasantly surprised with the smooth results. Previously only available in Europe, it's now stocked at U.S. drugstores.
TINTED LIP BALM
Vincent Longo Baby Balm Lipstick SPF 12, $23.
Some tinted balms look too seventh-grade, but this soft, sheer formula comes in a sleek black tube—with colors from pale pink to translucent berry.
LONG-WEARING LIPSTICK
Revlon ColorStay Soft & Smooth Lipcolor, $9.99.
Some long-wearing formulas can be a drag, literally, on lips. But not this one. It glides on, stays soft for hours, and doesn't require a scrub brush to remove.
Black and Brown Eyeliner
Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Matte Brown and Pearly Brown ($16) don't set too quickly, giving you time to get the line right. Then they sit tight, even through heat or tears.
Color Eyeliner
Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Midnight ($16) is a rich indigo that's brighter than navy but just as tasteful.
Liquid Eyeliner
CK Calvin Klein Beauty Electric Edge Liquid Eyeliner Pen ($16) is a long, thin pen that's as easy to apply as pencil and stays smooth until the tube is empty.
Cream
Not only does Shiseido The Makeup Accentuating Cream Eyeliner ($25) never flake, it comes with a full-size brush for a flawless line.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Mac Haul =] 1/15/09
I'm really diggin' purple right now and when I saw Fig. 1(Matte²) e/s I knew it would be a great crease color for smokey looks. Its an eggplant purple and is very pigmented love it!
Humid(Frost) e/s- I've been meaning to get Humid for the longest time! Every time I go to MAC, I always get caught up and forget about getting it.. And today when I went to MAC I dropped their humid display on the floor and it broke! I felt soo bad! Humid is an intense vivid green with shimmer & I love it, I know I'm going to use it a lot with my green looks.
Gesso(Matte) e/s is another color I've been meaning to get for a while, but always forget! I needed a Matte white color and Gesso is perfect.
Viva Glam V Lipglass(frost) Neutral pink with pearl and Looks a little brownish. I wish it was a little more pigmented, but the color is very pretty.