There is one thing that always makes a good impression in a job interview.  However, this thing is almost always overlooked and taken for granted, especially in situations where a solid first impression is a must. This one thing, is a smile.

Even though a smile seems to be such a simple thing, it is one of the most powerful forms of communication. A smile says, “I like you,” or “I am glad to see you.” In a work environment, a smile is a welcomed thing and makes people want to work with you.

From a popular 1930’s book by Dale Carnegie, the smile is identified as one of the principles proven to “win friends and influence people.” When entering a high stress, first interview, it is not easy to remember to smile confidently and warmly.  A fake smile usually makes people feel uncomfortable or even resentful so forget about trying to fake it.

No matter how nervous you feel in a job interview, try and smile with friendliness and confidence. If you try it in all aspects of your life, you will be surprised at how doors will just start to open up for you.

Forget about going to college to study graphic design or computer programming anymore! These are just two of the thousands of jobs that now face cutthroat, global competition, even from companies based in the U.S. Of course this comes as no shock.  We all watched companies like Dell outsource nearly all of its technical support to places like India.  But what I’m talking about here is different.

Something unprecedented is happening in the world’s workforce as a result of the widespread use of the internet and a growing trust in eCommerce.  The world’s workforce is very rapidly becoming globalized. Read more »