I'm Not One To Humblebrag, But Here Are Some Amazeballs New Words

Well, August 2014 has seen some more new words added to the online Oxford Dictionary. We will have to see if they stand the test of time, and are eventually added to the paper dictionary, but if you want to be hip and trendy you can use these in informal situations. Let’s just take a look at a few of them.

The use of acronyms in social media, such as facebook and twitter, continues to grow and the following are just a sample of my favourites that are now included in the dictionary:

YOLO = you only live once, and is most often used to explain reckless behaviour eg “I have just spent my rent money on the most fabulous pair of shoes but YOLO!”

 

ICYMI = In case you missed it. This is used to highlight an important point.

SMH = Shaking my head/shake my head, when the word “no” just isn’t enough. This really let’s someone know that what they are suggesting is a bad idea!

Then we have abbreviations such as “adorbs” which is short for adorable and can be used to describe anything from a person to a fluffy kitten!

For all the men reading this if you are described as a “hench” take this as a real compliment, as this describes men who are seen as strong, fit and muscular. However, when you are talking to women please do not “mansplain”, that is explaining something to a woman in a particularly condescending or patronizing way. An example of this could be something like “He told me my car wouldn’t run properly without petrol, wow I’m so glad he mansplained that!”   

 

Another thing to watch out for is the “humblebrag.” This has also made it into the dictionary and refers to a statement that appears to be modest, but is made with the intention to draw attention to a quality or achievement that the person is really rather proud of. The humblebrag can be seen as bragging in a humble way!      

Were you aware there are many new ways to watch television? Now you can binge-watch, meaning to watch many episodes (maybe even the whole series) in one go! This often involves losing a day of your life sitting in front of your television or computer with drinks and snacks. Alternatively you may hate-watch a programme. That is to say that you only watch it for the enjoyment that is derived from making fun of it. If you are tech-savvy (another newly added word, meaning that you have a good understanding of technical terms), you could even live-tweet (tweet as it is happening) about the programme that you are hate-watching- lol!

 

Perhaps my most favourite of the new words that have been added to the online dictionary is “amazeballs” which can be used to describe anything that is not just good, it’s better than good, it’s truly amazing.

We wanted to share some of these words with you as they are different and fun, but please remember to keep their use to informal situations, like talking to your friends on social media or by email. In more formal situations, such as completing college work or applying for jobs, it is prudent to use more formal language. We hope you enjoy trying out some of these new words on your friends and family!     

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Tips for Attending a Job Interview

As promised today we are looking at something for all you job hunters out there! As you will remember, last week we looked at a few tips for completing a job application, now we are ready for the next step, the interview.  

Okay so you have received a reply to your job application and you have been invited for an interview, that’s great news but now you need to start to prepare. If you are a serious job hunter with many applications outstanding I suggest you keep a diary logging all important dates and times to make sure that nothing gets overlooked. Treat looking for a job as a job!

There are several things you need to do to prepare for an interview. It is important to make sure that you know exactly where the interview is taking place; how you are going to get there and how long it is likely to take you! If you are driving make sure there is somewhere close by to park or if you are taking public transport carefully check the timetables. It is well worth having a trial run to make sure you are going to arrive in good time. Believe me you will not create a good impression if you are late, and if you are rushing and panicking you are not likely to produce your best ever interview performance!

So to recap, read the letter carefully, make sure you know where the interview is taking place and how you are going to get there, so you will arrive calmly and in good time.

You obviously have the qualifications/experiences that the company is looking for as they have invited you for interview, this should help you feel confident. However, take another look at exactly what is involved in the post you have applied for and the personal attributes they are looking for. You need to be able to show the interviewers that you are able to match all aspects of the personal specification. By giving this some thought beforehand you are more likely to be able to answer any of the “can you tell us when......”questions that may be asked. For example can you tell us when you have successfully worked in a team; can you tell us what you consider to be your most important achievement ...etc etc.

Make sure you thoroughly research the company you have applied to work for. This may help you answer the interview questions more fully. Also it is very likely that you will be given an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the interview. A couple of thought out, reasonable questions will impress the interviewers and possibly make you stand out from the crowd.

Although I do not believe that anyone should be judged by the way they dress, it is certainly true that “inappropriate” dressing can work against you at an interview. I am not suggesting for one minute that everyone needs to wear a suit to be successful; just think a little about the post you are applying for and wear something that is suitable for that position, and comfortable for you.

Finally when interview day arrives there are a few things to remember. They have asked to see you, so they feel you are suitable for the position they are looking to fill. Try not to be too nervous, remember, the interview panel have all been on the other side of the table at some point, they will not be trying to catch you out, just looking for the right person.

Don’t forget the interview is also about you finding out if this is the job you would really like, and if the company is one you would like to work for. Of course you should always be polite and respectful (as should your interviewer), but if you have prepared and are confident that you are the right person for the job relax, answer the questions and let your personality shine through!

Good luck with the job hunting, and remember: if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

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Tips for Completing a Job Application

With so many people leaving school, college and university at this time of year we thought we would look at the right way to complete job applications, to give you the best chance of landing your perfect job!

Firstly, do not just jump in feet first! Many job applications will be accompanied with instructions, it is important to read and follow them. For example you may be asked to ring first for an informal chat. If you are given this opportunity then take it as it will give you the chance to pick up lots of valuable information. By asking the right questions you should be able to find out more about the type of strengths and skills they are looking for, and then be able to tailor your application accordingly. On the other hand it may say something as simple as use a black pen or complete online. It is most likely that the employer will receive many applications for the vacancy so anyone that can’t follow the most basic of instructions is most likely to be disregarded at this point.

 Remember to write clearly and precisely, the employer is likely to be a busy person and will not have the time to wade through page after page of waffle picking out the salient points. If you are given a copy of the job description and personal specification follow these to highlight the reasons that show why you are the best candidate for the job. Do not lie on your application; if you do and you are found out at a later date then you are likely to lose your job and credibility. However, there is no reason why you cannot stretch the truth a little, and give non work based experiences to show that you possess the qualities that the employer requires. For example if it states that you must be able to work as part of a team then you can give an example that is not work related. It could be that you have been part of a sports team, and you can explain why it was necessary for you all to work together to make the team successful. Similarly, they may be looking for someone with good budgeting skills. Okay you may have little experience in the field of employment but I’m guessing all you guys who have been students for a number of years have a lot of experience of living on a budget! You see most life skills and experiences are valuable and transferrable to the world of employment. 

Although the picture says that this applicant was hired, we would not suggest being this truthful in your application!

Obviously, you need to complete the application in draft first. Read and re-read to check the spelling and grammar are correct. Do not rely on an auto corrector to pick up your mistakes. Although they are fine for picking up the odd typing error, none of them are perfect and will sometimes change grammar that does not need changing, and loses the sense of your work. Similarly they will often try and change your spellings to the American version. This is fine if you are applying to an American company but otherwise should be avoided. It is important to spend some time making sure the application is correct, it displays to a prospective employer that you take a pride in your work, and are treating the search for employment seriously.

Lastly, be yourself. If this is the right job for you and you can show that you have the necessary qualifications and experiences then be confident in showing the employer who you are. Let your personality shine through, so that your application stands out from the others and encourages the employer to invite you for an interview to discuss your abilities in more detail and learn more about you.

Do not be discouraged if you do not receive a reply to your first application or do not get asked for interview, there are many, many candidates applying for each position. Just stick at it and keep trying. The more applications you complete the more confident you will become and the whole process becomes easier.

Good luck to anyone on a job search at the moment!

Next week we will take a look at tips for attending interviews.   

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