5 ways to cut down on workplace stress (so your employees dont quit)

5 ways to cut down on workplace stress (so your employees dont quit) 5 ways to cut down on workplace stress Tight deadlines, increased workloads, poor work-life balance, long commutes â€" these are just a few factors employees face in todays hectic workplace. But employees can handle only so much. When they reach the breaking point, it results in stress, which is an issue thats becoming an increasing concern for their managers. Stress not only leads to absenteeism, diminished productivity, and increased healthcare costs for businesses, it can prompt employees to quit. Randstad, the third-largest staffing organization in the U.S., recently conducted a survey and found that stress was cited as a top reason to leave a job. When asked to select up to three out of 10 possible factors that might push an employee to leave a job â€" including excessive workload and difficult working relationships â€" a high stress level was the third most-selected reason, behind pay and opportunity for advancement, according to survey respondents. Randstads study also examined how the impact of stress varies among gender and generational groups. When it comes to gender, 27 percent of women, compared to 22 percent of men, cite a high stress level as a top reason to leave their current jobs. Within generational groups, one quarter of Gen Y/millennial employees say stress is a likely reason they would leave their current organization, similar to Generation X and Baby Boomers, both at 24 percent. So whats the solution to managing workplace stress before it pushes employees out the door? Randstad has outlined five tips to alleviate workplace stress, giving managers practical steps to ensure that employees are effectively handling workplace pressure. 1. Communicate often By effectively communicating with workers, managers can better gauge the stress levels of their employees and work to diminish pressure before it affects morale and productivity. 2. Promote workplace relationships Employees who actively connect with one another often create a better office environment. Its important to set aside time for staff to socialize and get to know one another. 3. Encourage wellness companywide Wellness programs have been proven to help relieve workplace stress. Give employees access to wellness programs that help relieve stress, whether its a company workout facility or reimbursements for yoga classes. 4. Set an example Healthy stress management starts at the top. If employees consistently see their boss as being stressed, the negative energy can trickle down and impact the entire team. 5. Empower your employees One of the most stress-inducing triggers is feeling out of control, so allow employees to take ownership of their work and give them as much control as possible when it comes to making decisions on how work gets done. The good news about workplace stress is that it can be managed, especially when employers provide support.

Im Laid Off

Im Laid Off Editors Note: Kristi Musgrave is an associate and companion of mine, just as the present Guest Blogger. She has heaps of the board understanding just as fascinating stories to share. Appreciate! ++++ I'm laid off? I could barely handle it. I had worked for an enormous biopharmaceutical maker for a long time. I adored my activity. I worked up from a transitory representative in the Microbiology Lab to the Laboratory Supervisor, and eventually the Quality Operations Manager. During that time the plant had formed into an effective assembling activity. Be that as it may, presently we were shutting. I comprehended the budgetary explanations for the choice yet it was a stun. Presently I had a choice to make, do I remain with the organization and move to one of different offices or do I end up laid off? I was laid off and it was probably the best thing that could have transpired. Being laid off was the start of totally extraordinary piece of my life. It allowed me a chance to reexamine my life and vocation objectives. Subsequently, my significant other I streamlined pieces of our lives and figured out how to live with less, I included a new position title Mother, and I changed vocations. Much the same as most significant occasions in our lives this was a learning experience for me. I found out about various assets I never thought about, programs with the expectation of complimentary preparing, broadened joblessness advantages, and free vocation counseling.I even discovered that I could cheerfully live without a portion of the additional items I had become use to. Things being what they are, what did I explicitly do to make this an effective progress? Here are a couple of interesting points doing in the wake of being laid off: Take points of interest of all joblessness benefits accessible â€" notwithstanding the standard number of long stretches of joblessness pay, a few states offer broadened paid advantages in certain situation. There are additionally state supported projects with the expectation of complimentary preparing. Uprooted laborers who fit the bill for the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) program can get an assortment of advantages and administrations, including work preparing, pay support, quest for new employment and movement recompenses, an expense credit to help pay the expenses of medical coverage, and a pay supplement to certain reemployed exchange influenced laborers 50 years old and more established. That is only one case of the numerous projects accessible. Assess your profession objectives â€" This may be something done casually while sitting on the mentor at home or progressively organized with a lifelong advisor. I had the option to partake in free profession advising through a nearby college. Understudies endeavoring to finish their graduate degree in advising are required to finish various long periods of regulated work preceding completing their program. I had the option to meet with an advisor one on one and talk about my circumstance. I approached distinctive vocation fitness tests and character inventories that helped me to more readily comprehend what I looked for from a profession and offered vocation proposals. Smooth out your life â€" Once we got some answers concerning the cutback we searched for approaches to dispense with all the superfluous additional items that gradually emptied cash out of our financial plan. We dropped our satellite help. Since we live in the nation this implied no TV. This is something we discussed doing yet simply didn't have the guts to do it. We likewise wiped out home telephone administration since we both previously had phones. We cut staple bills, drove the more eco-friendly vehicle rather than the more up to date less proficient one, and picked home prepared dinners rather than do. We searched for approaches to make ourselves less subject to two full time livelihoods. Search for nontraditional chances â€" notwithstanding searching for occupations like the one I had, I searched for employments with interchange work courses of action, adaptable calendars, and locally situated chances. I even recognized a few occupations that I could do where the consolidated pay would be like what I made previously. Being laid off can be troublesome, yet it can likewise be a period for reexamining what's essential to you and rolling out certain improvements throughout your life and vocation. For me the final product is an occupation that I appreciate and additional time doing the things that I love.

The Macro- and Micro-Level Reasons Why Salespeople Are Struggling to Make Their Numbers

The Macro-and Micro-Level Reasons Why Salespeople Are Struggling to Make Their Numbers Deals has never been a simple calling, yet our exploration shows that more salesmen than any other time in recent memory are battling to make their numbers. In the course of the most recent five years, the level of salesmen making standard dropped by 10. The level of organizations accomplishing income additionally dropped by almost 4 focuses. In the event that youre in senior administration, this exhibition decay can be fantastically disappointing. Youve contributed a huge number of dollars, if not millions, in CRM arrangements and different innovations intended to make your sales reps progressively gainful and powerful. Youve put extensive financing into creating preparing projects and deals security. Youve sharpened your employing practices and tried to draw in first class ability with a demonstrated rack record in your industry. So why arent you seeing an arrival on your venture? Our answer is basic. Todays deals associations are not staying aware of and adjusting to the pace of progress. We as a whole expertise rapidly things change. Simply consider what you can do with the telephone you use today when contrasted with the one you utilized only five years back. From the innovation itself to the applications that are accessible, the thing that matters is night and day. In any case, not many of us set aside the effort to consider the full scale powers of progress surrounding us and how they sway the calling were in. Were not discussing the little things like the arrival of the most recent iPhone. Or then again significantly progressively emotional occasions like a monetary downturn that can have a genuine, however regularly impermanent, sway on our chances. Rather, were discussing the huge changes that unavoidably reshape the world we live in and how we sell. The Macro Forces of Change To get this, we have to begin with five significant large scale level changes. Youll presumably be acquainted with each of these somewhat, yet what we need to take a gander at is the manner by which they are affecting the business calling. Advanced first: disturbance and utilization. The arrival of the most recent cell phone innovation unquestionably falls into this class, however it is a lot more extensive than that. McKinsey gauges that the Internet of Things can possibly affect the worldwide economy by as much as $11 trillion by 2025. This effect will be the aftereffect of changes in the manner organizations gather and influence information for better dynamic and the manner in which buyers use innovation to interface with dealers. As deals turns out to be all the more innovatively determined, alluring ranges of abilities will move from carefully delicate aptitudes like relationship-working to incorporate more earnestly aptitudes like information examination. At times, the best competitors may not originate from the field of deals. Developing white collar class. In the created world, the quantity of individuals with white collar class purchasing power has remained generally stale and, now and again, has even declined. Nonetheless, in many rising economies, the inverse is valid. By 2025, the white collar class is required to have expanded by 153 percent around the globe, with the best builds originating from nations in the Asia-Pacific district. To take advantage of this new purchasing power, organizations will need to set up a business power with experts from nations and societies that might be altogether different from those of their present deals power. These recently recruited employees will have one of a kind enablement needs. Expanded urbanization. Numerous geologies are additionally moving from principally agrarian-based economies to vigorously industrialized economies bolstered by developing urban communities. Upwards of 65 million individuals are moving to urban areas consistently. That is what could be compared to including seven new Chicagos (counting encompassing rural areas), five-and-a-half new urban areas the size of the Paris metro zone, or just about two new urban areas to match Shanghai each year! What were once little urban territories will develop into trade power focuses as individuals and industry run to these urban communities in the desire for new chances and an improved way of life. Organizations should adjust both their market and go-to-client methodologies to adjust to new chances and new contenders that make certain to develop. Profitability and the maturing workforce. In progressively develop markets, laborers are hitting retirement age quicker than they can be supplanted with newcomers. The work showcase throughout the previous 50 years has seen a consistent development of around 1.7 percent, however McKinsey predicts it will drop to simply 0.3 percent throughout the following 50 years in its report Global Growth: Can Productivity Save the Day in an Aging World? For organizations, this converts into more rivalry for an ever-littler pool of qualified ability. To be effective, organizations should show signs of improvement at drawing in more youthful ability and profiling recently recruited employees. When ability is employed, enablement should locally available these newcomers as fast as could be expected under the circumstances and offer the types of assistance important to drive deals experts to ever more elevated degrees of profitability. Undetectable area limits. The capacity to reclassify your industry has for some time been a conspicuous rule of business endurance. In the event that you took any business classes whatsoever, you presumably recall the cart whip maker model or how railroad organizations left business since they considered themselves to be being in the railroad business and not the more extensive transportation advertise. The absolute best organizations today are aces at intersection division limits. Ten years prior, Amazon simply sold books. Today, the retail mammoth is effectively working on built up retail and coordinations organizations over a scope of areas. For merchants, the serious scene shifts like the sands of the Sahara. Salesmen should show signs of improvement at intersection these limits, selling into new markets and going up against organizations that they never envisioned would enter their space. Deals Is Changing at the Micro Level, Too Its not simply the full scale powers that are affecting our capacity to sell. There are various miniaturized scale powers at fill in also. In the event that youre in deals, you presumably have stories you could tell in every one of these classes, however our examination puts a few insights behind the progressions you see each day. More purchasers included. In complex B2B deals, confronting a group of purchasers is the same old thing, yet throughout the years, the size of that group has been consistently developing. Our 2018 examination shows the quantity of purchasers on the normal purchasing group has ascended to 6.4. Our customers additionally reveal to us that these groups are comprised of purchasers from a more extensive scope of controls also. Salesmen should show signs of improvement at dealing with a bigger number of purchasers and recognizing their special difficulties, wins, and thoughts for how to accomplish their own and business destinations. Progressively formalized procedure. As the size of the purchasing group expands, organizations will in general follow an increasingly formalized procedure. This is one reason we will concentrate such a great amount on the way the client follows to settle on choices and execute arrangements all through the remainder of this book. Political and business-driven choices. Expanding the quantity of individuals in the group quite often builds the measure of governmental issues required as interrelationship elements become increasingly perplexing. Groups are likewise centered more around the business parts of the choice, and the level of clients requiring a ROI examination has gone from a five-year normal of 40 to 61 percent in 2016. Advancing purchaser desires and needs. Todays purchasers have more prominent access to data than any time in recent memory, yet while that may mean they are considerably more educated when they draw in deals, it doesnt consistently mean they are better educated. Moreover, purchasers are less keen on what an item, administration, or arrangement is as in what it does. They need to know how it will assist them with understanding their difficulties or arrive at a business objective. That requires a totally different selling approach that makes an interpretation of capacities into business esteem. This need can't be met by including a smidgen of client driven shading to an in any case item driven methodology. Longer deals cycles. The CSO Insights 2017 World-Class Sales Practices Study found that 60 percent of deals cycles with new clients endured more than a half year. That is up from 41 percent only a year prior. This is intelligent of different patterns, for example, bigger purchasing groups, just as the expanding modernity of the arrangements sold. While deals enablement can now and again help abbreviate deals cycles, when all is said in done, sales reps and associations should figure out how to adjust their way to deal with these more drawn out selling cycles. The Rise of Sales Enablement The changing needs of todays purchasers and the descending slide in deals execution have prompted an expanded spotlight on deals enablement in numerous associations. In 2013, just 19 percent of organizations we considered had a devoted enablement individual, program, or capacity. In 2017, that rose to 59 percent. How effective deals enablement is has an enormous effect. In our latest investigation, just 35 percent of associations announced that their enablement discipline met or surpassed desires, however inside this gathering, 67 percent of sales reps accomplished share (see Figure I.1). Associations that detailed gathering just a portion of their enablement desires saw 60 percent of sales reps accomplishing quantity. Associations that revealed accomplishing not many of their desires, basically neglecting to empower their business power, saw just 42 percent of their sales reps accomplishing share. Standard achievement in this last gathering was even lower than the studys normal portion accomplishment of 58 percent. Things being what they are, whats turned out badly? CSO Insights research and our encounters in the field with many deals associations lead us to a few principle ends: - There is next to no understanding (even inside associations) on what precisely deals enablement is, the thing that it does and how to make a viable order. - Even when there is understanding inside the association, most deals enablement activities are formed around obscure and muddled results. - Most

20 Best Christmas Gifts to Get Your Coworkers Ideas

20 Best Christmas Gifts to Get Your Coworkers Ideas Making sense of what to get your father or high school niece for these special seasons is sufficiently intense, yet purchasing Christmas presents for associates can be a significantly more laden test. For what it's worth, there are a lot of vocation specialists out there who express it's smarter to avoid occasion presents in the work environment totally for Christmas 2017. Why? One individual's concept of an interesting or helpful blessing might conceivably be wince initiating or even hostile to another person. My preferred methodology is some adaptation of the 'impractical present' trade, says profession master Todd Dewett. I would not for the most part suggest purchasing presents for some individuals at the workplace. Be that as it may, we get that if your activity has an occasion blessing giving convention, you're presumably not going to change that short-term. Regardless of whether you need a senseless present, a conventional one for a visually impaired trade, or you're searching for a keen however reasonable present for a colleague, we have you secured for Christmas present thoughts. Since most get pack or cooperative trades have a value top, we've hailed our top picks under $20, and some considerably under $5 in the event that you need extremely modest presents for collaborators. We additionally have a few proposals for hilarious blessings that will get a chuckle yet won't get you in a tough situation with HR, and some more pleasant presents you could blessing to your chief or work life partner. Modest Coworker Christmas Gifts Under $20 Wood-Grain Dry-Erase Calendar: $15 This is conceivably the chicest dry-delete schedule we've at any point seen, and the never-ending schedule group implies it very well may be cleaned off and re-utilized every month. Graciousness of Nordstrom Words Cubed Desk Game: $17 Dewett says straightforward games are normal office blessings, so you're in a safe area with this classification. This eight-3D shape wooden unit welcomes the beneficiary (or whoever else drops by their work area) to make unconstrained verse. Civility of Uncommon Goods Squeeze Provisions Minimergency Kit: $18 In the event that you need little Christmas presents for colleagues, present giving master Robyn Spizman recommends Pinch Provisions' first aid packs. This blessing packs fundamentals like self clasping pins, an emery board, clear nail clean and stain-evacuation wipes in a happy sack highlighted with a fluffy pom-pom. Graciousness of Urban Outfitters Above all, Coffee Travel Mug: $19.99 Let's be honest, the majority of us are increasingly gainful after we've gotten some caffeine into our frameworks. This 16-ounce mug has a slide conclusion on the top to forestall spills, so the cupholder or console will remain dry. Politeness of Amazon Ghandi Quote Inspirational Pencil Set: $8.99 Since who couldn't utilize a mantra or a reflective idea during those circulatory strain hoisting conceptualizing gatherings or customer telephone calls? Politeness of Amazon Least expensive Coworker Christmas Gifts Under $5 Earbuds With Ear Hooks: $3.95 These were the most elevated explored earbuds we could discover on Amazon at a sub-$5 value point â€" on the grounds that everyone needs to simply put on certain tunes and get into the zone once in a while. Civility of Amazon Yogi Stress-Relief Tea: $3.99 Spizman likes tea as a decent ease present for associates. We're huge enthusiasts of Yogi's smooth lavender and nectar stress-help natural mix. Graciousness of Target Striped Binder Clips: $3.49 Documenting administrative work is exhausting. Breath life into this unavoidable errand with these vivid cover cuts. Graciousness of Amazon Column Candle: $3.99 This column light layers occasional vanilla-woodsy aromas and consumes for to 30 hours. Graciousness of Target Little Cord Winders: $4.99 Stop a headset string or charging link from rambling all over a work area or gathering table with this arrangement of two winders, which have a pull base for simple tying down. Politeness of Amazon Interesting Coworker Christmas Gifts Star Wars Pencils: $8.99 You likely never acknowledged how foolishly suitable statements from a world far, far away are as current working environment moving truisms â€" as of not long ago. Contingent upon the vibe in your office, you can likewise get ones with cites from the films Mean Girls or Anchorman. Graciousness of Amazon Most exceedingly awful Yankee Swap Gift Shirt Ever Tee: $17.98 This facetious T-shirt says everything, while guilefully making jokes about the lasting office occasion party custom. Civility of Amazon Pack of Coal Soap: $10 This blessing might be entertaining, however these dark chunks of cleanser get their dull tone from actuated charcoal, which is not kidding business with regards to cleaning and explaining your skin. Civility of Uncommon Goods You Had One Job Book: $9.99 For some point of view after an indiscretion or screw up: Hey, in any event you weren't the laborers liable for the epic falls flat aggregated in this book. (We despite everything wouldn't prescribe offering it to an associate just after they break out some silly move moves at the occasion party, however.) Graciousness of Amazon Mythical person Santa Tee: $21.75 For that one work mate who's snide as can be, this gives an approach to get into the occasion soul without being cutesy or cloying. It's right now 25% off the typical $29 cost, as well. Mythical being Santa Tee Elite Coworker Christmas Gifts MacBook Air Sleeve: $49.95 This delicate case has a scratch-forestalling downy covering and comes in two nonpartisan shades that will go with whatever shading envoy pack they convey. Civility of Nordstrom Multi-Tool Clip Watch: $55 You may be in the urban wilderness, however you know your collaborator would prefer to scale a pinnacle, hitting the path or traveling up a stream. Recognize that they have an actual existence outside of work with this limitlessly convenient multi-apparatus and watch combo. Politeness of Uncommon Goods Three-Month Audible Subscription: $45 Spizman recommends a membership to a book recording administration like Audible â€" make the blessing increasingly close to home by proposing a couple of titles you truly love. Label Lightning Cable: $49.99 With regards to your work BFF, Give them something with an individual touch, says Gary Beckstrand, VP at corporate prizes and acknowledgment firm O.C. Leather expert. In the event that they're out and about a great deal, this unrealistically chic Italian cowhide tag contains USB and Lightning connectors for in a hurry iPhone or iPad charging. Civility of Nordstrom Plaid Cashmere Scarf: $39.95 For your work bestie who's continually freezing, these comfortable scarves get raves from analysts on Amazon, and the cost genuinely can't be beat. (In case you're contemplating getting one for yourself, as well, we wouldn't accuse you.) Politeness of Amazon We've included associate connections into this article. Snap here to realize what those are.

Motivation Monday Create the Right Day

Inspiration Monday Create the Right Day Monday can be a troublesome day in the event that you dont like your activity or you are in pursuit of employment. Theres the fear of going somewhere where you either dont like the work you are doing as well as the individuals you work with. For work searchers, theres the anxiety of not having an everyday practice and feeling like you are flying without a net. Leave today alone the day you reclaim control! Your Emotions Drive Your Thinking Would you be able to take control? Possibly not of others, however you can assume responsibility for how they affect you! Is it accurate to say that you resent a languid associate? It is safe to say that you are pissed at your director for not giving you a raise that was guaranteed? Is it accurate to say that you are feeling like there are no open doors for headway? Is it accurate to say that you are commonly distraught that you arent getting reactions when you go after positions? Whenever you feel any of these things, ask yourself thisWhat would i be able to do to change this circumstance? In the event that you are cheerful being a machine gear-piece in a wheel, at that point quit perusing at the present time. Decisions When you ask yourself that inquiry, is your first reaction nothing? That basically cannot be valid. You generally have options. For instance, you could decided to disregard your feelings. You could decided to begin searching for a new position. You could decided to meet with the individual and have a conversation about the progressions you might want to propose. Fundamentally, you could decided to accomplish something in an unexpected way. Negligence the things you have attempted previously. Start today with a new viewpoint. Perhaps you tried to cure the circumstance previously and it didnt work THEN. Attempt it an alternate way NOW! Self Leadership Self authority implies you are making moves to ceaselessly create yourself as well as other people. You are similarly centered around positive results for both. It implies that you realize you are a work in progress and you constantly look for chances to develop and improve. Self initiative additionally implies that you esteem respectability and regard associations with others. The individuals you realize that are pioneers (genuine pioneers, not supervisors), are interested, kind, arrangement searchers. Evolving Start today off in an unexpected way. Tune in to your preferred music. (Sounds basic, however attempt it!) Go for a brief stroll Change things up Email an old companion you havent addressed in for a little while Ponder Gradually have a sound breakfast Ride your bicycle to work Do one demonstration of arbitrary generosity Watch Steve Jobs address Stanford University in his beginning location What would you be able to do any other way to change the wave of your day?

Blog Review... What Would Dad Say

Blog Review... What Would Dad Say I read a great deal of online journals. A great deal. I need to peruse much more, however it gets overpowering when I see my Google Reader flooding with new blog entries. Thus, I got to feeling that in the event that I did it for investigate it would really be work related. Truly, I am supporting my blog understanding fixation. In any case, who cares. Im not an expert commentator clearly, so I am simply going to give my contemplations on the blog and how it helped me, or how it may support you. Some will be vocation related and some not, on the grounds that let's be honest, few out of every odd thing I read is profession related. Wheeze! You never realize my next audit may be YOUR BLOG! Along these lines, right away, I give you. What Would Dad Say? by GL Hoffman What Would Dad Say was one of the principal websites I got dependent on when I was in my quick and irate I love perusing online journals mode. I despite everything recollect the main post I discovered of his about Megan Joy, the American Idol contender shrouded in tattoos. Its creator, GL Hoffman, is the Chairman of JobDig, a vocation search and work direct. He additionally made and propelled the extraordinarily fruitful LinkUp, a pursuit of employment motor that searchs occupations from just about 22,000 organization sites! In any case, it wasnt just the valuable destinations to offer customers that intrigued me, however GL himself. As a veteran vocation master, business person, and speaker, he offers a silly interpretation of everything profession. The primary sentence of his vision explanation on his blog says everything, I am having a ton of fun here. GLs blog consistently guarantees a laugh, some mockery, and a much needed refresher. He makes these pie outline funnies he calls, Gruzzles (charts + puzzles) which have as of late been highlighted in Fast Company. I love these. I dont realize some other method to disclose them but to simply go to this connection and see with your own eyes. Sharp and clever, they offer a break from the dreariness of day by day exercises while giving you something to consider. GL rushes to answer to your remarks on his blog and realizes how to prop a discussion up. BTW, his visitor bloggers are fascinating, as well. In this way, remove time from your feverish day to peruse GLs blog or laugh at his Gruzzles. Youll be happy you did.

Interviews and how to do well at them at them

Interviews and how to do well at them at them As part of the application process interviews are a sign that we have done well. We have offered clear evidence of our suitability and have mastered the stage that takes out most applicants. Our application is a strong one and on paper we have all that is needed for the role. What can go wrong? Then our nerves trip us up. We should feel delighted, now we have the chance to dazzle the recruiter with our talents. Yet we dread them and often focus on past interview disasters and future potential scenarios rather than remain in the present. Sometimes we will replay previous disasters in our minds and convince ourselves we cannot do something that actually we can. Let’s explore the regular interview nightmares: I get so nervous during an interview, what if I dry up? Have you dried up before? Or are you panicking over a potential scenario? Preparation will help you to focus on how you fit a role and the company. Looking at the evidence of how your skills and previous experience fits the role will help you to think of answers to the questions. Nerves are a sign of how importantly you are taking the process. Everyone gets nervous but some are better at hiding their nerves. You can use relaxation techniques such as counting backwards from a certain number or mindfulness exercises. Take a deep breath in tell your inner critic that you are capable of this. By preparing carefully and fully reflecting on your skills and previous experiences that you have previously used you will have evidence to give. The key point is what you have learned about yourself from these experiences and how you can use your skills in the future. If you do dry up ask for a glass of water and use the time to compose yourself. They want you to succeed and they are willing you to recover and tell them why you are a fit. How do I tackle difficult questions effectively? I was asked why I had applied and had no answer If the question “why have you applied to this company? brings you out in a cold sweat then you need to think about what motivated your application. Consider the need for proof and avoid vague statements. Use a technique such as CARR or STAR. Practice potential questions. Sometimes a question appears a little confusing and it is okay to seek clarification, particularly on the skill that sits behind the question. A question around a time limit is more focused on your ambition. No one is going to say ‘no you won’t achieve that goal’ but they may ask ‘how will you achieve that goal?  Break down your response into stages. I feel that if I talk about myself I am bragging and I feel self conscious People can feel that talking about themselves is a little bit strange or even boastful. The interview is very much a performance where you are demonstrating your motivation and understanding of not only the role but the company as well. It is not usual in our daily life to sit and think about what is we have done, self-reflection is not taught but it is a vital skill to have. Once you practice this skill you can give clear evidence for your suitability. The interview is not to brag but to explain and give the proof of how you meet the criteria. Give strong evidence based examples to the questions. I always get past the application stage but never the interview stage â€" it’s become a block Then this is a block you have to overcome in your own mind first. The fact you can get to this stage demonstrates that on paper you have everything that the role needs. What you need to do now is to think of the answers that will give depth to this evidence.  Think about what evidence you need to offer in terms of skills and expand on the answers with clear proof you are exactly what they need. Seek feedback (even when you are successful) so you can learn from the process. How do I show my motivation? So, think what do you know about the role? How are you a fit for it? Are you a fit for the company? If this is a yes, think exactly how you fit â€" is it values or skills â€" give clear evidence of how you meet the needs and with what? Treat it as you would an assignment and pitch yourself. Think exactly what the requirements are and where you have previously demonstrated them? Research the company and their products and services and match yourself to them. Expand on how you fit the role and how you would use previous experience to build on your current skills. Be enthusiastic, that energy is key to a potential recruiter. I can never think of a question to ask at the end of the interview. What can I ask You should avoid asking questions that are linked to holidays and cash. Asking about how much holiday leave you get looks like you aren’t motivated. Questions about wages should wait until you have been offered the job and then you need to research what the role should be offering (graduate job info is available via the job profiles on Prospects  . You could ask about training you may need and whether you will be working with clients early on. It may be that you had questions and on the tour of the office they answered them so say that. I am a very shy person and hate interviews Okay, many people do have strong feelings about interviews and many hate them but they have to be completed to measure you to the job role and its needs. It feels a very false situation and it is but it is a necessary one. Break it down by focusing on your research and preparation for the role. Give clear, logical evidence to show you meet the employers requirements. If you need specific support do not be afraid or embarrassed to ask for it. Take the opportunity to get a mock interview and check out the Moodle apply course to get ideas and resources to help you to prepare. Seek feedback where you can and accept that this is a process that you will master and succeed at. If you have a ruin of rejections see what the common thread is and how you can tackle it.   Good luck.