Food Recipe Cooking Articles >>Excellent References Can Be the Clincher
by Linda Matias
"Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." This childhood chant is familiar to many. It is probably the most famous comeback line in playgrounds across the country. But does this jingle have merit outside of the playground? In the real world, does it matter what others think of you?
You bet it does. In fact, it matters so much that potential employers seek out the opinion of others as part of the selection process. An excellent reference confirms to an employer that his or her assumption about your ability to do the job is accurate; a negative reference will have the employer running for the exit.
Since references can be the decisive factor on whether you are offered a position, it is important to choose referents carefully. The traits of good references are straightforward – they must be credible and provide a fair and balanced representation of your qualifications. Though the criteria is not complicated, choosing someone who can help you can be difficult.
Not only should referents be willing and able to speak enthusiastically on your behalf, they must also have intimate knowledge of your experience and accomplishments. It is not enough to compile a list of your fan base; references must backup their opinions with hardcore facts.
This is why it is important that you not pick your references out of a hat, but strategically choose them based on their power of influence.
Solid references fall under several categories:
- Managers who can provide specifics on your knowledge, skills, and abilities and how your expertise influenced the advancement of the department.
- Colleagues who can provide details on successful projects that you were part of and how your efforts directly impacted the outcome.
- Direct supports that can provide details on your ability to lead.
- Associates or vendors who can provide information on your professionalism and integrity when conducting business.
Once you have compiled a list of references, you must take the time to educate and prepare each one for his or her role in the process. You can easily coach them to provide convincing, realistic testimonials by providing a current resume and filling them in on your career objective. It is also to your advantage to clue them in about the requirement of the job for which you have applied.
During the course of the conversation, describe the position you are seeking, the type of organizations you are applying to, and provide a listing of related skills and accomplishments. In addition, jog their memories by describing the projects that you worked on together and remind them of the end result.
Having a "sit down" with each reference will allow you to get reacquainted and reduce the anxiety that the he or she may feel about saying the wrong things. It will also put your mind at ease because you will be surrounded with supportive players who have your best interests at heart.
Auto Loan Buying Tips
by Duane Lipham
Have you ever felt like you bought an auto and financed it and don't really know if you got the right price or financing arrangements after it was all over? Well, don't feel alone. This is a common experience for many people who make auto purchases.
Guidelines for negotiating the car price can be found elsewhere, but we want to share some helpful tips on getting that vehicle financed at the best rates and terms for you.
The first step is to make sure that you negotiate the car's price separate from the vehicle financing arrangements. Most dealers want to lump it all together because they can hide quite a bit of the actual price of the vehicle in the loan contract, and they will usually just try to meet a monthly payment figure that you can 
Auto Loan Buying Tips
Recipe
.............................................................................
All You Can Stomach
by Ed Williams
I love eating out. Going to a good restaurant is one of the most pleasurable things imaginable. My favorite restaurants serve anything from fast food to continental cuisine, and everything in between. About the only thing better than restaurants is women, and I know better than to get into that here.
It may surprise ya’ll based on what I just said that there’s one particular type of restaurant that I don’t patronize anymore. They’re the “all you can eat, buffet type” ones.
I began wising up about a year ago. Ray, Hugh, and I decided to go to a well known spot one morning to sample their breakfast buffet. At that time, for around five bucks, you could choose from lots of different breakfast items.
We all walked in and sat down. A pretty w All You Can Stomach
Recipe
.............................................................................
What'S That In My Food!
by Kathy Thompson
If you drop a bomb, you kill not only your enemies but your friends as well. This is the effect food additives have on humans.
Man has existed for thousands of years, and only started using additives at the start of the industrial revolution, when women were set free. Most animals eat their food when and where it is grown. Not humans. Man, because of his concentrated urban areas, was forced to ship and process his food.
Food additives are any substances added to food which may have some "useful" purpose, such as protection from deterioration or spoilage.
Additives are also used to improve taste, flavor, texture, and appearance to restore nutritive value and to aide in processing and packaging. There are at least 704 What'S That In My Food!
Recipe
.............................................................................
CookDojo.com
