How To Negotiate Like A Pro

Jackisms, Third Anniversary

2012-01-27T12:33:00.000-08:00

Jackisms
These are my Dad's sayings, which we call Jackisms

After three years, I am still adding to the list. Now that Mom has "slipped her moorings, too" (my Dad's expression), I will be writing "Peggyisms" as well. Almost every day I tell a friend, " As my Dad (or Mom) used to say, " and I quote one of their phrases. There was a lot of wisdom in those two.

JACK GREENWOOD’s Jackisms 1915-2009
A Gentleman and A Scholar

1. If you stick with me, you will be wearing diamonds.
2. Keep your snorkel up
3. Keep your chin up
4. Better than a sharp stick in the eye
5. Oppydildock
6. Bellyup (like a fish)
7. Don't take any wooden nickels
8. Let it roll off your back.
9. Roll with the punches.
10. As I live and breathe.
11. You are a sight for sore eyes.
12. Go get 'em tiger.
13. Connecticut is God's country
14. Connecticut is the banana belt of New England
15. The head gink.
16. Never get into a pissing contest with a skunk.
17. Put your best foot forward.
18. Always dress your best.
19. Go pound sand
20. Knock themdead
21. You can always tell a Greenwood, but you can't tell him much.(on pens at 90th birthday party)
22. What have you done for your country today?
23. Hold the fort.
24. Rigamarole
25. discombobulated
26. Don't forget your mittens. (from Shaggy Dog movie and when Marnie rented the porch to live)
27. Good on you.
28. Everyone is a critic
29. Give me high test (coffee)
30. That will grow hair on your chest
31. That will stick to your ribs
32. That is good for what ails you.
33. Have a hot toddy.
34. Pipe down
35. Hold the phone (stop)
36. Hold your horses
37. He's a peach of a guy
38. Trust in the lord
39. You don’t know how to eat.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com

Mango Writers Conference, February 4, 2012, Miami

2012-01-27T06:02:00.001-08:00

Mango Writers Conference 2012

I will be giving a presentation at the Mango Writers Conference at 2:00 on "How Book Awards Can Help Your Marketing Effort."

The Second Annual Mango Writer's Conference
Sponsored by the Miami-Dade County Health Department

Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012

8am-5pm

to be held at the:

Miami-Dade County Health Dept.

4th Floor Conference Room

1350 NW 14th Street

Miami, FL 33125

**************************************

$40 per adult includes all events, light breakfast and lunch.

$20 discounted price for students includes all events, light breakfast and lunch.

2012 Handout-All Info on Feb. 4, 2012

Fill out Registration Form and remit payment by mailing check or money order to:

Attn: Mort Laitner, Chief Legal Counsel

8323 NW 12th Street, Suite 214

Miami, FL 33126

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com

Book Review of How to Interview Like a Pro by Jackie Paulson

2012-01-27T05:41:00.000-08:00

How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job

Author: Mary Greenwood, JD, LL.M is an attorney, Mediator, and Author of many books. Mary has a BA from New School for Social Research, an MA in English from the University of Southern CA, and a Law Degree from California Western School of law. Mary lives in Florida.

Publisher: iUniverse

Genre/Market: Law, Business, Economics, Psychology

5 Out of 5 points

How to land your next job.

Quote: “Getting a job is like parking, you have to be at the right place at the right time.”

When this book arrived I was very happy because I have been looking for a job for quite some time in 2011. I believe so many people have either lost a job, got laid off a job, or the company downsized that learning how to properly interview from Mary Greenwood would benefit everyone.

In the book there are many rules but the first few rules seem to narrow down the basics for anyone new to the interview process.

RULE 1: In order to get a full time job it is best to apply online to the many job boards as possible and check back with them daily. It is very important to have your resume’ up to date. *For example, I just moved into a new place and totally forgot to update the address on my resume! It is also important to go out and talk to people and stores and network.

RULE 2: Prepare your elevator sentences. This will tell in 30 seconds or less who you are, what you offer, and what you can bring to the new job.

RULE 3: Make a list of (EVERYONE) you know.

RULE 4: Let everyone know you are looking for a job.

RULE 5: Make sure you use social networking sites such as LinkedIn.

RULE 6: Make sure your resume and cover letter fit the job you are currently applying for.

RULE 7: Be Flexible and Professional and prepared so that the unexpected is an invitation you are well ready for whether you are out shopping or what have you.

What I loved best was the 27 Do’s and the 26 Do Not’s of Interviewing along with the “Glossary of Terms.” As I was reading this book I realized it would be a great reference or even a great stocking stuffer for a friend or relative as the holidays approach. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking employment at any stage they might be in.

© 2011 by Jackie Paulson

website: www.marygreenwood.org

How to Interview Like a Pro Awarded Readers Choice by iUniverse

2011-12-06T10:05:00.001-08:00

i

Universe Publishing has just announced that How to Interview Like a Pro; 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job has been awarded the Readers Choice designation based on its sales in retail outlets.

Greenwood's book already has the Rising Star and Editor's Choice designation. How to Interview Like a Pro has won eleven book awards.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards and How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards.

Email: howtointerview@aol.com; website: www.marygreenwood.org

Second Column on Book Awards at WritingRaw.com

2011-12-02T17:30:00.001-08:00

How Book Awards Can Boost
Your Marketing Campaign

There are over 1.4 million book titles in print and about 200,000 new titles each year in the USA and Canada. Being a new author with a new book can be daunting especially if you are self-published and responsible for your own marketing. Being a winner of a book award can instantly bring you credibility and help you promote your book. Winning book awards can really help boost your marketing campaign. Readers want to read award-winning books; book sellers and librarians want to stock award-winning books and journalists want to write about award-winning books.
In this column, I will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of applying for book awards.

Advantages:
First of all winning a book award is a morale booster for the writer. It gives recognition for a solitary profession. A writer may have doubts about whether a book is any good, but a couple of book awards can dispel those doubts. You can now call yourself an award-winning author and this is a relatively inexpensive way to get publicity for your books. (Book awards cost $50.00 to $150.00 to enter.) When one gets an award, one can make it a media event. If you win more than one book award, you can call yourself a multi-award winning author and that is even better!
Being a award-winning author can help you open new doors and get new contacts. You can attend book festivals and galas when you win the award. You can also get some good tax deductions. It can help you get a Book Club gig or be a featured speaker. It can help you sell foreign rights or make the leap from self-published writer to a writer with a publisher. It is also a nice way to meet other award-wining authors.
Book awards are a good alternative for shy writers who don't want to be in the public eye and speak about their books. Winning book awards speaks for itself. Book awards are also a good alternative if the writer is unable or unwilling to go on the book tour/lecture circuit.

Disadvantages:
Of course, not winning book awards can be demoralizing and can get fairly expensive so start slowly. We are not talking about the Pulitzer Prize or the Booker Award so look out for book awards that might not be prestigious enough for your book. Many companies that sponsor book awards are businesses and provide services, which they are also selling. Once your know the pros and cons, you can decide whether to go forward.

Mary's Tips for Entering Book Awards

1. Do your research and go slowly.

2. Look at the categories to see if you have a match. (Look at last year's titles). For example my titles are in "How to", "Self-Help.
"Business", "Career" and "Law."

3. Enter one or two and see how it goes.

4. To increase your odds, enter in two categories. Usually there is a discount for the second entry.

5. Pick a category where there may be fewer entries.

6. Be aware of cost. At $50.00 you can enter two or three contests instead of one $150.00 one.

7. Read instructions carefully. How many copies? What is deadline? postmark date?

8. See if list of books already entered (Florida Book Awards.)

9. Look at what is offered to winners: comments, free website listings, press release, stickers, book festival, award ceremonies,
and literary agent.

10. See if there are book awards just for your discipline or for your state (New Mexico Book awards.)

Next month, I will cover specific book awards.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards; How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards; How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of eleven book awards.
Email: Howtointerview@aol.com. website www.marygreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood an Exhibitor at the Melbourne Florida Book Fair for Authors

2011-11-08T16:29:00.000-08:00

Mary Greenwood will be exhibiting her books: How to Negotiate Like a Pro, How to Mediate Like a Pro and How to Interview Like a Pro at the Authors Book Fair in Melbourne, Florida.

Here are the specifics:

Saturday & Sunday, November 19 & 20, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Coincides with the Eau Gallie Art Festival

Eau Gallie Civic Center
1551 Highland Avenue
Melbourne, Florida 32935

In conjunction with Art Works:
Eau Gallie Fine Arts Festival

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards, How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards, and How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of eleven book awards. Email: howtointerview@aol.com; website www.marygreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood is one of the New and Emerging Authors at the Dahlonega Literary Festival November 12-13

2011-11-06T17:57:00.000-08:00

The Dahlonega Literary Festival would like to welcome our New and Emerging Authors for the 2011 Festival. Come check them out and support our authors! WE will be exhibiting our books on Saturday, November 12, at St. Lukes Catholic Church Parish from 9:00 to 6:00 and on Sunday November 13, at Hancock Park. Please stop by and say hello if you are in the area.

New and Emerging 2011

William Anderson, God’s Arm
Tori Bailey, Coming Home
Chuck Barrett, The Savannah Project
Kenn Bivins, Pious
Dyan Crawford, Christina and the Lazy Day Surprise
Shane Etter, Bottom Dwellers
Amber Evans, The Wrath
Robert Faulkender, Filtered by Time: A True Story of Success in Vietnam
Sharon and David Goodwill, The Chief Executive Survival Kit, Simple Foods for Complex People, Peter Geter and Friends
Jonathan Grant, Chain Gang Elementary; The Way It Was in the South: The Black Experience in Georgia
Mary Greenwood, How to Mediate Life a Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes; How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job
Chad Hepler, Intervention: Anything But My Own Skin
Katandra Jackson, The Diary of a Bride to Be
Emory Jones, White County 10; Distant Voices: The Story of the Nacoochee Valley Indian Mound
Elizabeth Madson, Pieces of the Past; Tuffy; The Favor; The Contract
George W. Martin, I Will Give Them One More Shot”: Ramsey’s 1st Regiment Georgia Volunteers
Ashland Menshouse (Robert Thompson), The Last Seer and the Tomb of Enoch
Jeremy Owens, What is Life and Who Am I?
Angela Sasser, Angelic Visions
Melody Scott, Auraria Dead
Richard L. Stewart, Jr., The Amherst Protocol (Richard Lionel)
James R. Tuck, " He Stopped Loving Her Today," (short story in One Buck Horror anthology); Blood and Bullets, 2/2012
Luanne White, Thief of Innocence

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, winner of six book awards; How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards; email, How to Interview@aol.com; website: www.MaryGreenwood.org

How to Interview Like a Pro by Mary Greenwood is Finalist in Business/Career Category in USA Books News Book Awards

2011-11-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro; 43 Rules For Getting Your Next Job is a finalist in the Business/Career Category in the USA Book News Book Awards. This is the 11th book award for Mary Greenwood's latest book.

Here are the other ten book awards:
1. Winner, Reader Views Awards
2. Winner Pinnacle Achievement Awards
3. Winner, Indie Excellence Awards
4. Winner, ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards career category
5. Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards
6. Finalist, Eric Hoffer Awards
7. Honorable Mention DIY Book Festival
8. Honorable Mention Readers Favorite, business/finance category
9. Extra Mention, Millennium Puboishing Book Awards
10.Honorable Mention Mention, New York Book Festival

http://www.usabooknews.com/images/637_usabestbooks2011awards.jpg

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, winner of six book awards; How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards; email, How to Interview@aol.com; website: www.MaryGreenwood.org

My First Column on Book Awards for Writing Raw

2011-11-01T09:22:00.001-07:00

It Is Nice to be Recognized

Like many things in life, my best book award was my first book award so my first column is about that experience. Future columns will be about individual awards and what to do when you get one.

When I won my first book award (Best "How To" Book, DIY Book Festival) for How to Negotiate Like a Pro, I was very excited and felt validated as a writer. I had been involved in the lonely art of writing a book with little feedback from others. I was not sure if it was a "good" book or not. I liked it and it really boosted my spirits to know that someone else liked it, too. I was thrilled that I could now write, "Mary Greenwood, award-winning author" on my marketing materials.

All the winners of the DIY (Do It Yourself) Book Festival Awards were invited to an awards banquet in October in Los Angeles, California. It was only a few weeks away and I could hardly afford it, but I said to myself, "Mary, you may never win another book award so you owe it to yourself to go." I made my airline and hotel reservation using frequent flyer miles. Since this was Hollywood, I thought I might get discovered just like all those famous actresses at Hollywood and Vine.

When I arrived at my hotel in the Hollywood Hills, it had no record of my reservation and even worse it was totally booked. I must have sounded desperate. "I am a writer and I am getting an award tonight and I really need a room." The desk clerk, who was also a budding writer, said that there were apartments above the hotel that they owned and that there was a vacancy.

He said that he would show me the apartment, which Jerry Bruckheimer used when he needed peace and quiet to write. I was thinking that if it was good enough for Jerry Bruckheimer, it would be good enough for me! The apartment was very sparse and a little dumpy, but it did have a killer view of the Hollywood Sign. I was wondering where exactly Jerry Bruckheimer wrote in this apartment and what he was working on. Of course, I said I would take it and forgot about the nice hotel room below.

I went to the Awards Ceremony and got my award; it was very nice to be recognized. However, It was a little anti-climactic because the highlight of my trip was the "fact" that I stayed in the same apartment as Jerry Bruckheimer. Since then I have had a nagging feeling that the desk clerk made up a story so I would take the apartment, but it could be true.

Whenever I see the closing credits of CSI, I ask myself whether he was working on the script for that or was it the Pirates of the Caribbean?

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards; How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards; How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of ten book awards.
Email: howtointerview@aol.com; websites: www.howtointerviewlikeapro.org;
www.marygreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood exhibiting at Dahlonega GA Literary Festival November 12 and 13

2011-10-28T05:54:00.001-07:00

I will be exhibiting my books: How to Interview Like a Pro, How to Mediate Like a Pro and How to Negotiate Like a Pro at the Dahlonega, Georgia Literary Festival. On Saturday, November 12, the Book Fair will be held at St. Lukes Catholic Church Parish from 9:00 to 6:00 and on Sunday November 13, the Book Fair will be held at Hancock Park. Please stop by and say hello if you are in the area.

About the Dahlonega Literary Festival & Writer's Seminar:

The Dahlonega Literary Festival is a yearly event that takes place the second weekend in November. Set in Historic Downtown Dahlonega, the festival continues to grow and become more and more entertaining as the years go on. All festival events are free and open to the public. This year (2011) marks the first year of the correlating New Directions Conference on the campus of North Georgia College and State University. The conference, while connected, is a seperate event and does require registration. For more information, check out our "Writer's Seminar" page.

History of the Dahlonega Literary Festival and Writer's Conference

Begun in 2004 by Kate Quigley McElliott, the Dahlonega Literary Festival celebrates books, writers, literacy, storytelling and literary performance art. Late in December, 2003, Kate called together a group of interested community and university people to begin The Dahlonega Literary Festival & Writer’s Seminar.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards; How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards; How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of ten book awards.
Email: howtointerview@aol.com; websites: www.howtointerviewlikeapro.org;
www.marygreenwood.org

Kindle Highlights from Amazon for How to Interview Like a Pro

2011-10-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Kindle Amazon Highlights from How to Interview Like a Pro

Amazon's Highlights program is a real eye opener for the author. It gives the author a window to those passages that resonate with her readers. If you are not familiar with the program, scroll down any Kindle listing and you will see the Highlights. It is great tool for authors and readers.

Here are the highlights from How to Interview Like a Pro; 42 Rules for Getting the Job You Want:

1. Ask what the company’s expectations are for this position. This allows the applicant to see what the company is looking for and can respond accordingly.
Highlighted by 5 Kindle users

2. This is not just a job for me. This is the place I want to be, and I am passionate about working in this field.
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

3.What is your management style and how do you interact with your employees?
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

4. Ask questions about the organization chart.
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

5. Ask what brought the interviewer to this company and what he or she likes best about working there. I love this question because you are doing the interviewing now but in a positive way.
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

6. What kind of training will be provided and who will do it? 3. Who was formerly in the position and why did they leave?
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

7. I can be a perfectionist, but I am taking measures to overcome this. I realize that everything I write does not have to be perfect to be acceptable.
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

8.In this economy, you need to show the future employer why it needs you and how your experience and expertise are going to help it. This is where your research comes into play.
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

9. What exactly will be my job duties? I have read the job description, I but don’t know what the priorities are.
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards; How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards; How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of ten book awards.
Email: howtointerview@aol.com; websites: www.howtointerviewlikeapro.org;
www.marygreenwood.org

How to Interview Like a Pro Reviewed by Mir Haynes, Resume Expert

2011-10-18T12:36:00.001-07:00

“How to Interview Like a Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job” by Mary Greenwood is the latest how-to book from the author of “How to Negotiate Like a Pro” and “How to Mediate Like a Pro.”

"How To Interview Like a Pro" delivers the kind of instructive and sound advice that job candidates need. It’s a quick read, too; I envision job seekers downloading and reading it one day, then acing an all-important job interview the next. For readers of the digital version, like myself, the book is available within moments of purchase and its page layout and font are readable and screen-friendly.

Whether you buy the eBook or paperback, Greenwood delivers a superb interviewer’s toolkit. Her advice ranges from the detailed and practical (if a company you interviewed with said they'd let you know in two weeks, wait three to call) to the philosophical and subtle (be observant when you take a tour of the office where you're interviewing, watching interactions, environment, and personnel for “red flags”). She maintains this balance throughout the book, as she covers all phases of the interview process: Getting organized and prepared ahead of time; researching the company you’re interviewing with (and, importantly, their competitors); making the most of your professional, personal, and online social networks; the nuts and bolts of the interview (everything from the right handshake and what to wear to useful advice about out-of-town interviews and reimbursement for travel expenses).

Job seekers will appreciate the entire chapter Greenwood dedicates to common interview questions and sample answers. Providing actual verbiage you can familiarize yourself with and customize to suit your situation, Greenwood draws from her years of experience interviewing with law firms and high-power executive offices to give you answers to sticky questions like “What is your greatest failure?” and “What don’t you like about your current job?” and “Tell me about your best boss.”

The book wraps with a chapter dedicated to knowing the law and whether you are in a protected category (did I mention that Greenwood is a lawyer?), sensible tips on how to navigate the post-interview waiting game, what to do if you did—or didn’t—get the job, and appendices on interviewing do’s and don’ts, terminology, federal discrimination laws, and state fair employment agencies.

Greenwood’s book is absorbing, timely, and informative. She writes in a “helpful friend” voice and sprinkles in numerous anecdotes, which makes the book entertaining and easy to read. As a professional resume writer and online job search expert, I have been looking for an interview-preparation book that I can recommend to my clients. I have finally found it!

Mir Haynes is a professional resume writer, social media expert, and author of “Resume to Payday: Online Secrets to Find and Land Your Dream Job.” Connect with her via Twitter (@RTP_Resumes) or www.rtpresumes.com.

Mary Greenwood, email: howtointerview@aol.com websites: www.marygreenwood.org, www.howtointerviewlikeapro.org

Mary Greenwood Will be Exhibiting her Multi-Award Winning Books at the Deltona Authors Fair Saturday October 15, 2011,

2011-10-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

The Deltona Authors Book Fair will be held Saturday October 15, 2011, at the Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Avenue, Deltona, FL. from 11:00 to 3:00 P.M.

Over 50 local authors will be exhibiting and selling their books. Some of the authors attending are John Ayers, Donna Banks, Kathleen Beals, Barbara Cameron, Doroty Dubel, Diana Hartling(who is at my table 10A,)Lucy Tobias, and Kimberlee Williams.

I will be exhibiting How to Negotiate Like a Pro, winner of six book awards, How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards, and How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of ten book awards, which has been quoted in the NY Daily News, Kiplinger Retirement Report, Career Column MSNBC, CBS Money Watch, State Farm Good Neighbor Magazine and many career blogs.,

My booth is 10B. There are some great workshops for authors, which I am attending, before the Book Fair. I am very interested in hearing about how to do a book tour.

If you are in the area, stop by and say hello. It should be a lot of fun!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, winner of ten book awards, How to Mediate Like a Pro, winner of twelve book awards, and How to Negotiate Like a Pro, winner of six book awards. Email: howtointerview@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org

Review of "From Resume to Payday: Online Secrets to Find and Land Your Dream Job by Mir Haynes

2011-10-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Mir Haynes Has Done the Work So You Don't Have To.

Mir Haynes has written "From Resume to Payday: Online Secrets to Find and Land Your Dream Job," based on her experience as a professional resume writer.

Her philosophy is simple "Discover > Position > Share. Ms. Haynes' ebook is no-nonsense, practical and reassuring. Right from the start, she says, "You've got a job to find and time is of the essence." By her own admission, she is very organized and, if you read the book, some of those organizational skills will rub off on you.

She gives common sense advice, but as we all know, common sense is not all that common. She points out that her plan is "beautiful in its simplicity." Here are some examples: 1. Don't waste time surfing the net; 2. Have a plan; 3. Strategize.

Ms. Haynes has some tricks of the trade up her sleeve that she is willing to share. She explains how to use google alerts to find out about your dream job. I use google alerts for articles about me or my books, and I never thought of using google alerts for job leads, but I think it is genius. She explains how you you can do a detailed google search and find out information others might miss. She also gives tips on a "failproof way to find niche job boards."

Ms. Haynes explains how social media can help you get a job. She gives down to earth advice about Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter. I always think of Linkedin as a Facebook for professionals and agree that Facebook, if continued, should be private. We have all heard of stories about a picture on Facebook that shows the applicant in an unflattering light and guess who does not get the job? She even explains how to get rid of tagged pictures on Facebook. One has to be vigilant as to what is included.

Ms. Haynes goes into great detail on how Linkedin recommendations can help your job search. The resume picture and your name should be the same on all these forms of media. Ms. Haynes is very strategic. There are certain types of information that can be used on Linkedin to supplement what is in your resume.

Her conclusion tackles five areas. 1. Make technology work for you. 2. Target and customize. 3. Do personal branding. 4. Be proactive and 5. Be professional. Finding a job is a daunting task and many don't really know where to begin. Ms. Haynes takes away much of the mystique of finding a job. Buy this book, take her advice, and find a job.

by Mary Greenwood, Attorney, Human Resources Director and Author, How to Interview Like a Pro; 43 Rules For Getting Your Next Job. website:www.marygreenwood.org and email: howtointerview@aol.com. Mary has been quoted in the NY Daily News, Kiplinger Retirement Report, CBS Money Watch and State Farm Good Neighbor Magazine, among others.

by Mir Haynes, Professional Resume Writer and SEO Consultant. Find her online at www.rtpresumes.com and www.AnaboStudios.com.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of ten book awards
www.marygreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood, author of How to Interview Like a Pro quoted in "11 Warning Signs Your Career Has Stalled" in NY Daily News

2011-10-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

11 warning signs your career has stalled
By Charles Purdy
Monster Senior Editor

Thursday, October 6th 2011,

Your career can lose power for many reasons: a lack of opportunities, industry changes and plain old boredom are just a few of them.

Are you wondering whether your career has stalled? Here are some of the top warning signs, according to experts:

1. Your role and responsibilities haven't changed in a few years or more.

2. You've bounced from employer to employer without much change in job title or salary.

3. You can't remember the last time you learned something new about your industry or field.

4. People hired after you have been promoted faster than you.

5. You're not invited to important discussions or meetings of the kind you used to attend.

6. You have fewer job duties than you used to.

7. Your performance reviews contain terms like "consistently meets expectations" or "adequate performance."

8. No one at work asks for your help -- or no one in your professional network asks for advice.

9. You dread going to work in the morning.

10. Your manager and coworkers stop communicating with you -- in general, your phone rings less and you get fewer emails.

11. You spend a lot of time complaining about work, or and when you tell stories about work, you are the story's "victim," not its hero. Sound familiar? Never fear -- there are plenty of ways to get your career back in the fast lane. Here are some ideas:

Talk to Your Boss

A first step is to address problems head-on. For instance, if you've been stalled in the same position at the same employer, request a copy of the title hierarchy and job descriptions in your organization, says Debra Yergen, author of the Creating Job Security Resource Guide. "Work with human resources and your boss to find out what steps you need to take to move from where you are to the next step up,” she says.

Alternatively, tell your boss you're ready for new challenges and new assignments. If you've been quietly doing your job and keeping your head down, he may not realize that you're feeling unfulfilled.

Ask for What You Need

Alan G. Bauer, president of recruiter Bauer Consulting Group, says you can ask your manager for tips on what you need to improve. Also, he says you can ask your HR department what's going on with an overdue raise. "If your merit increases are lower than your coworkers', there may be an issue,” he says. "The company budgeted a certain amount for salary increases -- if you aren't getting your share, you need to find out why."

Brad Karsh, founder and president of the career-services firm JobBound, says to look for ways to be more effective, efficient and strategic. "Ask your manager about the possibility of a rotational program to see the inner workings of the company and gain fresh perspective and new ideas," he says.

Take Initiative
Karsh also suggests figuring out what keeps your boss up at night. "Find a way to solve that problem,” he says. "You need to be a key player."

You can also take some classes or work toward a degree, suggests Mary Greenwood, author of How to Interview Like a Pro.
Or consider on-the-job training. "If you value continuous learning, you can volunteer for a project that will require new skills,” says executive coach Elene Cafasso. "Perhaps you can transfer to another area of the business or learn what's needed to back up a coworker."

Rick Dacri, author of Uncomplicating Management, suggests getting actively involved in a professional association. "Get a leadership role, speak before the group or write an article for the newsletter, for instance," he says.

Adjust Your Attitude

Negativity is one of the worst career killers. "If you are spending a great deal of your energy moaning and whining about your circumstances, it's time to try and make a new start before you become so emotionally expensive that the organization feels the need to cut you," says Cy Wakeman, author of Reality-Based Leadership.

Identifying your dissatisfaction and taking steps to resolve it is the first step. The next step may be to update your resume and start looking for a new job. "It may be that hanging on to an unhealthy or unproductive employment relationship is what's holding you back,” Yergen says. "I've witnessed a handful of people this year who have identified their dissatisfaction and set a date to quit -- even without a job waiting -- and found something just before or just after the date of their resignation. Sometimes you just have to take that step."

If your career is stalled, perhaps a new career is the right answer. Start exploring options by reaching out to your professional network, job shadowing or talking to your HR department about an internal transfer.

Mary Greenwood, email howtointerview@aol.com website: www.marygreenwood.org

Pictures from Heritage Book Festival, St. Augustine

2011-10-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the Heritage Book Festival in St. Augustine, Florida
You can see beautiful Flagler College and my Boston Terrier, Annabelle

howtointerview@aol.com www.marygreenwood.com

Review of How to Interview Like a Pro by Carolyn Howard-Johnson at MyShelf.com

2011-10-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Another Review at MyShelf.Com

How to Interview Like A Pro
Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job
Mary Greenwood. JD. LLM

iUniverse
release/ ASIN: B004JHZ26C
Kindle Edition
Kindle / paperback

Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson

A book for its time…

The Feel-Good Guide for Getting a Job and
Learning Negotiating Skills

Who would have guessed.

I read this book because I thought I might be able to recommend it to my retail clients, but it turns out, getting a job is very much like selling a book! So it’s suitable in many ways for my author-clients, too.

Getting a job isn’t much different than it was back in the days when I interviewed at PR firms and magazines like Good Housekeeping. Though we have many tools at our disposal that weren’t available back then, the basics are similar. And industry-to-industry, we can learn so much from the general (yet detailed!) information Mary Greenwood gives us in How To Interview Like a Pro. Basic business skills like Greenwood imparts here, are useful at some level for almost anyone who must earn a living.

Mary’s number two rule is that a job hunter must “prepare a good elevator speech.” She also says, “Make a list of everyone you know.” Ajob hunter would then use that list to find influential people with contacts of their own who will lead them to other jobs, recommend them to others, and generally hold their hands through the process.

Going hand in hand with this process is Mary’s rule “Telling everyone you know you are looking for a job.” She, expands this rule by adding: “Tell everyone whom you would like to know you are looking for a job.” Here she covers making new contacts using social networking.

Mary’s rules are born of experience, both general and legal. Her book moves us along from rule to rule—lickety split—right down to the never-nevers like: “Never say you don’t have any more questions.” Interviews go both ways. If they don’t, the interviewer may form some opinions you’d just as well he or she didn’t.

One of the reason things move so quickly is Greenwood’s anecdotes. You’ll come away from this book feeling as if you aren’t alone in your search and knowing how to make sure you aren’t. You’ll know the basics and the details, like how to answer about any question an interviewer is likely to ask.

One of the best things about this book is Greenwood’s Introductory Rule: “Getting a job is like parking. You have to be at the right place at the right time.” If you keep that in mind—along with her little protractor story (yes, this is a tease—I think you should read this book!), you’ll hang in there and know one day you’ll be exactly in that place at that time.

Now, here’s the thing. I believe that almost anyone in the business world could benefit from this book, from interviewee to interviewer. from author to retailer to IT guy or gal. Sometimes the books we get the most from are the ones we don’t think we need in the moment. Have it ready. It’s way more than a get-a-job book.

Reviewer & Columnist Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the award-winning author of The Frugal Book Promoter
Reviewed 2011
© 2011 MyShelf.com

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards; How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes, Winner of twelve book awards and How to Interview Like a Pro; 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job, winner of ten book awards. Email: howtointerview@aol.com website: www.marygreenwood.com

Review of The Guide to Getting Paid: Weed Out Bad Paying Customers, Collect on Past Due Balances, and Avoid Bad Debt by Michelle Dunn

2011-09-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

The Guide to Getting Paid: Weed Out Bad Paying Customers, Collect on Past Due Balances, and Avoid Bad Debt (Hardcover)

Michelle Dunn is an expert in her field and has won many book awards and honors and it shows. Her new book, The Guide to Getting Paid, is a must-read book in the credit field. Dunn draws on her expertise in the field as well as her own credit issues while going through a divorce. What I like most about this book is how thorough she is. She has lots of lists, explains the common mistakes, gives definitions of terms, and anticipates most questions.

She walks the reader through the process in down-to-earth language in a format that is very readable. She has done her research and has lots of interesting quotes. One that surprised me was that "Americans spend 70% of gross income repaying debt."

This book really is the soup to nuts of credit management. She explains how to manage credit the traditional way as well as how to use email and social media in the 21st Century. I predict that this book will be the "go to" book for any question concerning credit management. Congratulations on a great book. You have written another winner!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of ten book awards, How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards, How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes, Winner of 12 book awards, email: howtonegotiate@aol.com, www.marygreenwood.org

Review of The Frugal Book Promoter Second Edition on Amazon by Carolyn Hooper-Johnson

2011-09-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

Everything you wanted to know about book promoting and much much more., September 25, 2011
By mary greenwood

This review is from: The Frugal Book Promoter: Second Edition: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher.

When I saw the Table of Contents for this promoting bible, I was hooked. There was a chapter on everything I wanted or needed to know. I have written three "How To" books and have had a number of reviews and awards, but I am looking to go to the next level with some fresh new ideas. In other words, I had reached a plateau and did not want to repeat the same old methods.

When I first started reading the book I immediately liked the tone. It was as though the author was in my living room saying: Mary, why don't you try this and maybe you don't want to do this." Her books, like mine, are based on her personal experience. She has done book fairs; she has taught classes and consulted with authors; she has written award-winning books. She is an expert. That is what makes the book so powerful. I have read books that make me feel guilty if I haven't done ten things for my book that day.

Yesterday, I exhibited at a book festival and most of the authors were complaining that they had few sales. I looked up the topic in my new book. The author says "Book festivals are for readers." I knew intuitively that she was right. She goes on to say that these are really networking opportunities for the writers and not that many books are sold. That shift made me feel encouraged rather than discouraged at the book festival's results. Even though I did not sell tons of books, I did meet a lot of people: readers, writers and bookstore owners. I got a few tips and gave a few tips. I reconnected with people I had seen at previous events and got some recommendations for the best venues for future events. The author was spot on.

I also checked the chapter on book awards. I have won a total of 28 book awards for my three books and thought I knew all there was to know about awards and have spoken on the subject. However, after reading that section on book awards, I realized that I was not doing enough publicizing after I won the book awards and I am going to remedy that situation. Another tip I picked up. I am now going to say Mary Greenwood, multi-award winning author, instead of award-winning author.

Of course, I wished I had seen this book when my first book came out, but I can see that this book is useful for all authors, those working on their first book and authors who already have published several books and need some new ideas. I know I will go back and reread a chapter when I am starting a new task such as a press release or am thinking about doing a new blog or sprucing up my website.

I am just starting on my new book about "How to Negotiate With Your Dog" (hint: you don't.) I am going to use The Frugal Book Promoter Second Edition, the whole way. I can't wait to get started!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards; How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes, Winner of 12 book awards, and How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of 10 book awardsl. Email, Howtointerview@aol.com and website www.MaryGreenwood.org

How to Mediate Like a Pro Listed in University of Michigan's List of Resources for Mediators.

2011-09-23T06:47:00.000-07:00

University of Michigan

Resources for Mediators
•Beer, Jennifer E. with Eileen Stief. The Mediator's Handbook 3rd Ed., New Society Publishers, 1998.
•Bush, Robert A. Baruch and Joseph P. Folger. The Promise of Mediation: The Transformative Approach to Conflict, Revised ed., Jossey-Bass, 2005.
•Cahn, Dudley, and Ruth Anna Abigail. Managing Conflict through Communication, 3rd Ed., Allyn & Bacon, 2006.
•Cloke, Kenneth. Mediating Dangerously: The Frontiers of Conflict Resolution, Jossey-Bass, 2001.
•Cloke, Kenneth. The Crossroads of Conflict: A Journey into the Heart of Dispute Resolution, Janis Publications, 2006.
•Friedman, Gary and Jack Himmelstein. Challenging Conflict: Mediation Through Understanding, American Bar Association, Section of Dispute Resolution, 2008.
•Furlong, Gart T. The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models and Maps for Analyzing, Diagnosing, and Resolving Conflict, Jossey-Bass, 2005.
•Goodman, Allan. Basic Skills for the New Mediator, 2nd Ed., Soloman Publications, 2004.
•Greenwood, Mary. How to Mediate Like a Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes, iUniverse, Inc. 2008.
•Herrman, Margaret S., ed. The Blackwell Handbook of Mediation, Blackwell, 2006.
•Kaner, Sam and Lenny Lind. Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making. 2nd Ed., Jossey-Bass, 2007.
•Katsh, Ethan and Janet Rifkin. Online Dispute Resolution, Jossey-Bass, 2001.
•Kolb, Deborah M. and Associates. When Talk Works: Profiles of Mediators, Jossey-Bass, 1997.
•Kochman, Thomas. Black and White Styles in Conflict, University of Chicago Press, Reprint edition (August 1, 1983).
•Kritek, Phyllis Beck. Negotiating at an Uneven Table: Developing Moral Courage in Resolving Our Conflicts, Jossey-Bass, 2007.
•KLang, Michael, D. and Alison Taylor. The Making of a Mediator: Developing Artistry in Practice, Jossey-Bass, 2000.
•Mayer, Bernard. The Dynamics of Conflict Resolution: A Practitioner’s Guide, Jossey-Bass, 2000.
•Menkel-Meadow, Carrie; Lela Porter Love; and Andrea Kupter Schneider. Mediation: Practice, Policy, and Ethics. Aspen Publishers, 2006.
•Moffitt, Michael L, and Robert C Bordone. The Handbook of Dispute Resolution, Jossey-Bass, 2005.
•Moore, Christopher. The Mediation Process, 3rd Edition, Jossey-Bass, 2003.
•Stulberg, Joseph B. Taking Charge, Managing Conflict, Wooster Book Company, 2002.
•Ury, William L., Jeanne M. Brett & Stephen B. Goldberg. Getting Disputes Resolved, Jossey-Bass, 1988.
•Warters, William. Mediation in the Campus Community: Designing and Managing Effective Programs, Jossey-Bass, 2008.
•Winslade, John and Gerald Monk. Practicing Narrative Mediation: Loosening the Grip of Conflict, Jossey-Bass, 2008.

howtomediate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood's books have won 28 book awards

2011-09-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro has won ten book awards and is designated Rising Star and Editor's Choice by iUniverse.

1. Winner, Reader Views Book Awards, How to Category

2. Winner, Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards in Business Category.

3. Winner, Indie Excellence Awards, Career Category

4. Winner, Silver Award, ForeWord Book Awards,

5. Finalist, Eric Hoffer Book Awards

6. Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Career Category.

7. Hnorable Mention, Readers Favorites, Business Category

8. Honorable Mention, DIY Book Awards, "How to" Category

9. Honorable Mention, New York Book Festival, "How to" Category

10. Extra Mention, Millennium Publishing Book Awards

How to Mediate Like a Pro has won twelve book awards:

1. Finalist, Next Generation Indie Books, Business Category

2. Winner, Reader Views Book Awards

3. Winner, Best Naional Book Award, Law Category

4. Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards

5. Best How to Book, Beach Book Festival

6. Best E-Book, New York Book Festival

7. Winner, Pinnacle Book Achievement Award

8. Silver Prize, ForeWord Book Awards

9. Runner-up DIY Book Festival

10. Sprit Award, South Florida Writers Associaton

11. Runner-up New England Book Festival

12. Runner-up London Book Festival

How to Negotiate Like a Pro has won six book awards

1. Best How To Book, DIY Book Festiva, How to Categoryl

2. Finalist Best National Book Awards, Self-help Category

3. Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards

4. Runner-Up New York Book Festival, E-Book Category

5. Runner-up New York Book Festival, Self-help Category

6. Honorable Mention, London Book Festival

email: howtointerview@aol.com website: www.marygreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood is Exhibiting How to Interview Like a Pro at Florida Heritage Book Festival in St. Augustine

2011-09-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Heritage Book Festival will be held on September 24 at Flagler College

The Marketplace will be open to the public
September 24, 2011

9:30–5:00

Location

The Ringhaver Student Center Building
50 Sevilla Street
The Virginia Room
St. Augustine, Florida

MARKETPLACE PARTICIPANTS

Alyson Richards Author of "Enlightened"
Early Learning Coalition
The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society
The Amazing Word of God
Catherine Anderson DBA Sidneys Word
Florida Book Awards
Illana Educational Press
Llumina Press “The Busy Brides Book”
Nancy H. Murray & Cynthia Euton
Whittington & Associates LLC
Latitude 29 Publishing, Inc
Out In Left Publishing
University Press
Jewels Rogers Author (A True Productions)
Authors William and Peggy Bailey
Friends of the Library
St. Augustine Historical Society
Anastasia Books
Barnes & Noble
Florida Classics Library
Phil King
Maxkat Distributors
Well Loved Books
Dementi Milestone Publishing
LJS&S Publishing
Publishing Success on Line.com
Mary Greenwood “How To Interview Like A Pro”
The Rogues Gallery Writers

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com

How to Interview Like a Pro Wins Honorable Mention in Readers Favorite Book Awards in Business Category

2011-08-31T13:40:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro wins Honorable Mention in the Business/Finance Category in the Readers Favorite Book Awards.

This is the Tenth Book Award for How to Interview Like a Pro:

Here are the other nine book awards:
1. Winner, Reader Views Awards
2. Winner Pinnacle Achievement Awards
3. Winner, Indie Excellence Awards
4. Winner, ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards career category
5. Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards
6. Finalist, Eric Hoffer Awards
7. Honorable Mention DIY Book Festival
8. Extra Mention, Millennium Puboishing Book Awards
9. Honorable Mention, New York Book Awards

How to Mediate Like a Pro has won 12 book awards and How to Negotiate Like a Pro has won six book awards.

Mary Greenwood, HR Director, Mediator, and Attorney. Email: howtointerview@aol.com website: www.marygreenwood.com

New book review of How to Interview Like a Pro by author, Jeannie Walker, on Amazon

2011-08-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest Amazon Book Review by Jeannie Walker, author of Fighting the Devil.

A Must Read for Job Seekers- Highly Recommend, August 27, 2011

This review is for: How to Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job

This is an excellent book! Any person looking for a job (and there are plenty of us to go around) need to get this book and read it before they submit resumes or go on interviews. The author carefully points out the hows and whys of having a positive and optimistic outlook along with many other aspects of successful job hunting.

In this important book, no detail is too small to mention and each is covered in an excellent way that is straightforward and easy to understand. Job seekers need to read Mary Greenwood's book and learn what to do and what not to do before and even after a job interview.

To further understand language that some might not understand, the author has thoughtfully put an appendix with a glossary for terms a lay person might not comprehend.

I believe it is a must read book for job seekers and even employers.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards Best How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes Winner of five book awards, Best National Book Award, Law Category Best E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards, Spirit Award, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtointerview@aol.com, www.marygreenwood.com

Mary Greenwood is featured in State Farm Good Neighbor Magazine

2011-08-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Baby boomers are pioneering a new approach to retirement. They're leveraging their work history, learning new skills and searching for meaning--even in second careers--in their quest to get HIRED

Karen Stein, the author, starts the article with this statement:

"On her 65th birthday, the day she became eligible for Medicare, Mary Greenwood started a new job. She had retired in 2002 as a human resources director, but seven years later, driven by the economic downturn, she opted to re-enter the job market.

Mary Greenwood currently serves as head of human resources for the City of Winter Park, Florida and recently wrote a book, How to Interview Like a Pro; 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job. She says it's especially important for older job seekers to tailor cover letters and resumes to each job oopening, explaining how their experience makes them a good fit for the position."

The article goes on about how two other retirees restarted their careers.

If you have already received the article as a policy holder, please let me know.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards Best How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category Honorable Mention, London Book Festival How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes Winner of five book awards Best National Book AWard, Law Category Best E-Book, New York Book Festival Best How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards Spirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtointerview@aol.com, www.marygreenwood.com

How to Interview Like a Pro is Finalist in Readers Favorite Book Awards

2011-08-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

Mary Greenwood's How to Interview Like a Pro is a finalist in the Readers Favorite Book Awards in the Business/Finance Category. The winners will be announced on September 1, 2011 and there will be an awards ceremony in Las Vegas in November.

This is Mary Greenwood's tenth book award.

Here are the other nine book awards:
1. Winner, Reader Views Awards
2. Winner Pinnacle Achievement Awards
3. Winner, Indie Excellence Awards
4. Winner, ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards career category
5. Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards
6. Finalist, Eric Hoffer Awards
7. Honorable Mention DIY Book Festival
8. Extra Mention, Millennium Puboishing Book Awards
9. Honorable Mention, New York Book Awards

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards Best How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes Winner of five book awards Best National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book Festival Best How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit Award, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtointerview@aol.com, www.marygreenwood.com

Mary Greenwood featured as Interview Expert in new E-Book by Kevin Kermes

2011-08-19T11:45:00.001-07:00

Here are my tips:

The biggest complaint I get from employers is that interviewees don't know anything about the companies where they are interviewing. This is really viewed as an insult and lack of interest in the job. Here are some suggestions:

1. Read the employer's website. It is amazing what you can find there.

2. Look for annual reports for the company or the department for which you are applying.

3. Check out the organizational chart.

4. Google the company to see if there are any current issues or controversies.

5. Check the local newspaper archives for the local story.

6. Find out who is interviewing you and Google them.

7. Ask for employee handbook if not on the website.

If you follow these tips, you will be interviewing like a Pro.

Mary Greenwood, HR Director, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro; 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards Spirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtointerview@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood quoted in Kiplinger Retirement Report

2011-08-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

Head Off Age Bias in a Job Interview
Kiplinger.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in the May 2011 issue of Kiplinger's Retirement Report.

Your résumé rose to the top of the heap, and you made it through preliminary screenings. Now all you have to do is ace the interview. Job interviews can be nerve-racking, especially if you haven't been on one in many years. And, as an older applicant, you may have to prove that your age is not a drawback.

But if you know what kinds of questions you'll be asked and you have savvy answers ready to go, you'll be several steps ahead of the game. Here are four questions you should be prepared to answer on your next job interview.

Do you have the energy and skills to get the job done? Stereotypes that older workers are slow or out of touch do exist. Bill Coleman, a vice-president at RetirementJobs.com, says you can combat that stereotype before you even open your mouth by dressing in polished and modern attire. That doesn't mean you should borrow clothes from your grandchild -- you can look current in age-appropriate clothing.

You can also demonstrate that you are energetic by walking briskly and speaking enthusiastically, Coleman says. Another tip: Pulling out your iPhone or Blackberry to turn it off before the interview begins will send a message that you have embraced current technology.

Of course, you will want to offer plenty of examples of your professional accomplishments. However, it is critical that those examples be recent and tangible, says Bruce Hurwitz, chief executive officer of Hurwitz Strategic Staffing, a New York City executive-recruiting firm. You may be proud of the major client you landed two decades ago, but that is unlikely to impress your interviewer. Instead, Hurwitz recommends giving an example from the last few years, such as, "in 2009, I increased sales 500% to $175 million."

Why are you reentering the workforce, and what have you been doing during your time off? If you were laid off, took some time off to care for a sick spouse or are going back to work for financial reasons, you can be honest about that. What’s more important is how you’ve spent your time away from the office, according to Mary Greenwood, author of How to Interview Like a Pro (iUniverse, $15).If you've been volunteering or working in your industry as a part-time consultant, talk about the experience you've gained from those endeavors. You can show that you are up-to-date in your field in subtler ways, such as using the latest industry jargon. "Mention a cutting-edge book you've read, or make reference to some new industry regulations," Greenwood says.

Why are you willing to accept a demotion or lower salary? You indeed may be overqualified if you have worked three decades in your field. Greenwood says you can turn your experience into a selling point. She advises saying: "I've done everything in this field. I saw this job, and this is the part I enjoy the most, so for that reason I am willing to take a pay cut."

If you've been out of the workforce for a few years, Charles Purdy, a senior editor for Monster.com, says to admit you have a few things to learn and therefore are willing to take a job with less prestige and a lower salary. Purdy says to reframe your career move in a positive way by saying something like, "I don't think of this as a step back; I think of it as a step to the side."

Will you fit into the company's culture? This is a question that you're unlikely to be asked directly, but one that you can be sure is on your interviewer's mind. "On paper, everybody can do the job, so they're going to pick the person who seems like they're going to fit best with the boss," says John Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a staffing and career counseling firm based in Chicago.

Even if the person on the other side of the desk is young enough to be your child, that doesn't mean you can't establish an authentic connection. You may discover that you and your interviewer share the same hometown, love skiing or have volunteered for the same charitable organization. You can learn a lot about your potential employer before the interview by researching him or her on professional networking Web sites, such as LinkedIn.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in the June 2011 issue of Kiplinger's Retirement Report.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com

Book Review of How to Interview Like a Pro

2011-08-15T07:50:00.001-07:00

5.0 out of 5 stars
No book could possibly be timelier., August 11, 2011 By Readers Favorite "Book Reviews and Award Contest" (Hawesville, KY USA) -
This review is from: How to Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job (Paperback)
Reviewed by Anne B. for ReadersFavorite.com

No book could possibly be timelier than How To Interview Like a Pro. With the economy in shambles, many people are competing for the same jobs. Each hopeful interviewee must put him/herself in the best possible light. Author Mary Greenwood brings her experience and expertise to this much needed manual. She offers assistance on how to dress, shake hands, and project the right attitude and makes suggestions on preparing and delivering a good speech. In this small book the readers will find 43 tips including reference materials, examples, resources and lists.

One of the important lessons readers will find in this book is how to prepare before the interview and what to do after the interview. Greenwood writes in an easy-to-understand, crisp and clear manner. I think asking questions may be the most important and most overlooked part of an interview. Ms. Greenwood covers the topic in an excellent manner; no detail is too small for her to mention. She keeps a positive slant in this book; interviewees do not need to go into an interview with negative thoughts. By keeping a positive attitude the reader/interviewee will come across in an optimistic light. The appendix has a glossary of terms, laws pertaining to discrimination and whom to contact if you think you have been unfairly treated.

This book would make a great gift for anyone looking for a job. It would also be an asset in a high school or college life skills class.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com

How to Answer: Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job? How to Interview Like a Pro

2011-07-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job and Why Do You Want to Work Here?

This is really a tricky question, a kind of chicken or egg question and can be difficult to answer. If the new job is truly a progression and can be viewed as a "step up" from your current position with more money or more duties, this is fairly easy to explain. If you have been at the current job for less than a year, you may have a job-hopping problem. If you are having problems at the old job, you may need to be very diplomatic about explaining those issues. When you tell your prospective employer why you want to work there, don't mention money or benefits.

Here are some examples:

1. I have been here over five years and I am doing the same things over and over. I need a challenge and I believe this job will provide that.

2. I love my current job, but this new job is an opportunity with more responsibilities. It is a natural progression of my experience and expertise.

3. This is really not about leaving my old job. I see this as a great opportunity for my career. In addition, my widowed mother is sick and lives nearby. (Never give your personal situation as the first reason.)

4. Your engineering department is the best in the state and I believe this is where I want to learn about my profession.

5. I have talked to friends that work here and they have always said this is the best place to work.

6. This is really my dream job. I have always wanted to work for your company after I got some experience elsewhere.

7. I like the job. I like the location. I like the people.

If you follow these, tips, you will be interviewing like a pro.

Mary Greenwood, Human Resources Director, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of nine book awards; How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards; How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes, Winner of twelve book awards.
Email: howtointerview@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.org

How to Interview Like a Pro Author at Decatur Book Festival September 3-4

2011-07-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

Mary Greenwood will be signing her books on September 3, 2011 at 3:00 at the Decatur Book Festival in the Emerging Authors Tent. Her books, How to Interview Like a Pro, How to Mediate Like a Pro and How to Interview Like a Pro will be on exhibit all day on September 3 and 4, 2011.

About AJC DBF
The Largest Independent Book Festival in the Nation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival presented by DeKalb Medical is an annual, free book festival that takes place over Labor Day weekend in Decatur, Georgia at several venues located in and around the downtown Decatur Square. Conceived in 2005 and launched in 2006, the festival brings more than 300 authors to Decatur for the holiday weekend. The authors give readings, talks, and panel discussions. The event is free and open to the public.

Authors include Pulitzer Prize winning and best-selling authors of fiction in many genres and nonfiction on diverse topics. The authors come to Decatur from across the country and international points as well.

Directions
From the MARTA rail line:
Go to Decatur Station (E–6). Take east exit for Church Street and west exit for bandstand.

From I–285 Southbound:
(Stone Mountain, Snellville, Athens, Conyers) Take Stone Mountain Freeway (US 78) west (Exit 39A). About 1/2 mile after divided highway ends and becomes Scott Boulevard. Bear left onto Church Street. Continue on Church Street about two miles to downtown Decatur.

From I–285 Northbound:
(College Park, Fayetteville, Henry Co, Airport) Get off at Covington Highway (US 278) (Exit 43) and turn left. Continue through downtown Avondale Estates (where Covington Highway becomes Main Street) past the Avondale MARTA station. Turn right onto E. Trinity Place.

From I–85:
Get off at Clairmont Road Exit (91) and go south on Clairmont about 4 1/2 miles until it dead–ends at the Old Courthouse. Turn left onto E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, go one block and turn right onto Church Street.

From North (Chamblee, Toco Hills):
Take Clairmont Road south until it dead–ends at the Old Courthouse. Turn left onto Ponce de Leon Avenue, go one block and turn right onto Church Street.

From I–20 (South):
Take Candler Road (Exit 65) north about four miles. After crossing railroad tracks, the road bears to the left and becomes E. Trinity Place.

From East (Clarkston, Scottdale):
Take East Ponce de Leon Avenue west. Just past Avondale MARTA station, turn left onto Sycamore Street.

From West (Midtown, Virginia–Highland):
Take Ponce de Leon Avenue east to downtown Decatur. After passing Old Courthouse, turn right on Church Street.

From West (Downtown Atlanta):
Take DeKalb Avenue east to downtown Decatur (DeKalb Avenue becomes Howard in Decatur). Turn left on McDonough Street at Decatur High School.

Transportation and Parking
With the historic Decatur Square located directly on MARTA’s East–West transit line, transportation to the book festival couldn’t be easier! Go to www.itsmarta.com to plan your route to the festival.

If you decide to drive, parking is plentiful in decks, metered spaces, and paid private lots. Do not park in lots posted as ‘no parking.’ Your car will be booted or towed.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, Winner of eight book awards, How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards Best How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category Honorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes Winner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association
Email: howtointerview@aol.com website: www.marygreenwood.org

Be Persistent; What I learned from my grandson

2011-07-08T15:38:00.001-07:00

I always learn something about negotiating after a visit with my grandsons, ages 2 and 4. One of my grandsons was very interested in obtaining a special car from the Cars and Cars 2 movies, which are his all-time favorites. He was very insistent that he wanted a special car and was unwaivering in his desire for his father to buy it for him. Watching him, I learned a lot about persistence and have incorporated some of these rules into my own negotiations.

Rules on Persistence
1. Don't give up.

2. Have a one-track mind.

3. Ignore whatever is being discussed and go back to that issue every chance you get.

4. Remind the other party frequently that this is all that you want.

5. Tell the other party that you are willing to have a tantrum if you don't get it.

6. Tell the other party that there is no substitute for the item you want.

7. Keep talking about this item no matter what is being discussed.

8. If you see it, pick it up in the store and don't put it back.

9. Make it clear that you are not leaving unless you get this item.

10. If there is discussion you don't want to hear, put your fingers in your ears and say "la-la-la-la-la."

11. Explain that you do not have an identical one at home; the one at home is green and this one is blue.

12. Explain that even if this is expensive, it will be worth the cost because you will not ask for another one.

13. Even if this won't fit in the suitcase, it can be shipped home.

14. Explain that this is the only thing that can make you happy.

15. If all else fails, say,"I know you are, but what I am I."

16. If offered another item, don't look at it.

17. Don't get distracted and focus on your goal.

18. Keep saying the same thing over and over no matter what.

19. Don't compromise. Why should you?

19. Point out that your birthday is coming up.

20. If all else fails, say, "The heart likes what the heart likes."

21. I might be running away from home.

22. I really need this.

23. In fact, I really need two of these so they can race each other.

24. I really need the carrying case, too.

25. Timmy's Mommy lets him have one.

I have watched these strategies in action and am going to try them in the adult world. Try these techniques in your own negotiations and see where it takes you.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of nine book awards; How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards Best How To Book, DIY Festival Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book Award, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book Festival Best E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org

Illegal Questions in a Job Interview: How to Interview Like a Pro

2011-07-08T13:51:00.001-07:00

As an applicant, the most important thing you should know is that all questions should be job-related. If the question is not job-related and has to do with sex, race, national origin, or age, it is probably illegal. If an employer cannot ask a question directly, it cannot ask that same question indirectly, either.

Here are some illegal interview questions:

1.Illegal Questions About Race
A.Are you Asian?
An interviewer cannot ask a question about an applicant’s race as this is prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Asians and Pacific Islanders are one of the five groups recognized by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which administers Title VII.

B.What race is your spouse?
Asking about a spouse or relative’s race is also prohibited by Title VII.

C.Are you an American Indian? What tribe?
Under Title VII, an interviewer cannot ask a question about race. American Indians and Alaska Natives are one of the five groups recognized by the EEOC.

D.Are you bi-racial?
Again this is prohibited by Title VII. After someone is hired, an employee can be asked to fill out an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) form, but this is prohibited in an interview.

2.Illegal Questions about National Origin
A.What kind of accent is that?
Trying to determine where someone is from by their accent is prohibited by Title VII. You cannot ask indirectly what you cannot ask directly. An interviewer may think he/she is just making conversation, but it is an improper question

B.Where were your grandparents born?
This question is never job-related and is prohibited by Title VII. An interviewer can only ask whether you can work in the US. It is a yes or no question. Anything else about national origin is inappropriate.

C.What is your native language?
Again this is illegal and is national origin discrimination. However, it is proper to ask an employee what languages he or she speaks and what his/her proficiency is in those languages.

Again this is prohibited. Even if the interviewer thinks he/she is getting to know the applicant, this is national origin discrimination.

3.Illegal Questions About Sex
A.What does your spouse think of you working at night or traveling?
There is no job-related reason to ask this. This goes back to a more patronizing time when an employer had stereotypes about working women and somehow wanted to get the spouse’s (usually husband’s) approval. An employer cannot even ask you if you have a spouse.

B.What is your spouse’s salary?
This is clearly not job-related. Companies in the past wanted to know what the husband’s salary was so it could offer the women applicant a lower salary. This is also a violation of the Equal Pay Act.

C.Are you pregnant?
This is not job-related and is specifically prohibited by Title VII and pregnancy is a protected classification under Title VII.

D.Do you have children or are you going to have children?
Any questions about children or daycare are prohibited by Title VII. There are some sexual stereotypes that women with children will have more absences than those without children. The only valid question that can be asked is whether you can work the hours of the job.

4.Illegal Questions About Age
A..How old are you?
This is not job-related and is prohibited by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, which prohibits discrimination of anyone forty or over. There is generally no mandatory retirement now (there are exceptions for pilots and other safety sensitive positions), but an employer can ask age after an applicant is hired for retirement and health insurance purposes.

B. When were you born? When did you graduate from high school?
Again, you cannot ask indirectly what you cannot ask directly. This is not job-related and is age discrimination.

C. Don’t you think you are too old for this position?
Again this is age discrimination based on age stereotypes. If the job is a physical one, you can ask all applicants to demonstrate that they can do the job duties as long as the older applicants are not singled out.

D. Are you a grandparent?
Again the employer may think he/she is making conversation, but it can be perceived as age discrimination. Again there is no job-related reason to be asking this.

1.If you are asked one of these illegal questions, how do you respond?
The answer to this depends on how much you want the job. If you still want the job, you may want to give an answer that lets them know you know it is illegal.

Here are some examples:
A. I am sure you know that you cannot ask that question. However, I have nothing to hide. I have two children three and four, and they go to daycare.
B. Not that this is job-related under federal law. I do have two children. Their father takes them and I pick them up from daycare.
C. I know that this is an illegal question and I am going to refuse to answer it. It is not job-related so I assume this refusal will not be taken against me in the interview process.
D. If you are really mad and are no longer interested in the job, you could say something like this: “I know these are illegal questions and I am going to stop by the EEOC office on my home to file a complaint.

If you follow these guidelines, you will be interviewing like a pro.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, Winner of nine book awards; How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards Best How To Book, DIY Festival Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law Category Best E-Book, New York Book Festival, Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival Best E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtointerview@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org

Most Highlighted Passages on Kindle by Jane Austen and Suzanne Collins

2011-07-03T06:13:00.001-07:00

Amazon Kindle has a new feature of keeping track of the "Most Highlighted Passages of All Time." Here is the latest, which includes Jane Austen in the first and fourth place and Suzanne Collins of the Hunger Games in second and third. There is also a daily listing.

Most Highlighted Passages of All Time
1. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
Highlighted by 4743 Kindle users
Pride and Prejudiceby Jane Austen

2. It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.”
Highlighted by 4390 Kindle users
Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)
by Suzanne Collins

3. Because sometimes things happen to people and they’re not equipped to deal with them.
Highlighted by 4001 Kindle users
Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)
by Suzanne Collins

4. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us."
Highlighted by 3965 Kindle users
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen

5. Those three things—autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward—are, most people agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying.
Highlighted by 3918 Kindle users
Outliers: The Story of Success
by Malcolm Gladwell

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association
Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.org

"Popular Highlights" feature on Kindle Amazon a good tool for Readers and Authors

2011-07-03T05:45:00.000-07:00

I just noticed a new feature on Amazon Kindle. The listing shows some of the sections highlighted by the readers. There is a pop-up that says " five other people highlighted this part of the book." The following are some of the Popular Highlights from How to Mediate Like a Pro. This is a very helpful feature for the author as well. It shows which sections resonate with the reader.

Popular Highlights

"If we are going to resolve this, we need to look to the future, not the past. You need to get beyond the hurt you are feeling and look at the impact. I know that this has been painful, but we need to discuss these issues."
Highlighted by 5 Kindle users

"What if the other party rejects this? How can you sweeten the deal?How can you close the deal? What if the other party rejects this? What is your backup plan?"
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

"Let’s not get bogged down with all the details; let’s look for solutions. Dwelling in the past can be counterproductive. Let’s look at the present to see what can resolve this case."
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

"How can we get beyond this blame game and move forward to a solution? Is it important to you that the case get settled? It is not really important as to who is right or who is wrong."
Highlighted by 4 Kindle users

"I am trying to understand what you really want. I think you are joking, right? Tell me what you really want."
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

"A take it or leave it approach has no place in mediation. An all or nothing approach does not allow both parties to participate."
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

"What is important is how to resolve the dispute so both parties can walk away somewhat satisfied."
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

"I try to explain that fault is not the essence of the mediation. It is not a question of who is right or who is wrong but how to resolve the situation."
Highlighted by 3 Kindle users

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, Winner of nine book awards; How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards Best How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtomediate@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood quoted in Interviewing Blog by Resume Target

2011-06-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

How To Really: Ace Your Phone Interview Posted by amos , filed in: Career Advice strong>

See the section on buzz words

When it comes to job-hunting, phone interviews are tests. Everyone has them. They are sometimes the standard first step in the hiring process. If you pass, you’ll be offered a deeper, face-to-face interview. If not, that’s the end of your candidacy.

But phone interviews can be nerve-wracking. Only 30 per cent of the meaning we get from people comes from verbal communication. The rest comes from non-verbal cues. So, it’s tough when you have solely the voice to work with. But, surprisingly, job-seekers tend to undervalue the significance of phone interviews, considering it not as important as face-to-face interviews.

Since phone interviews can happen at any time during your job search, here I share my top tips to help you during your phone interview and make sure you do great and move on to next phase:

Develop a rapport.Selling yourself is not easy.
Building rapport is one of the most fundamental sales techniques. In a sales capacity, rapport is used to build relationships with others quickly and to gain their trust and confidence – this means establishing a bond – or some sort of common ground – with your interviewer.

It helps if you do some research on them. Know their alma mater, their specialties or even hobbies – if you have anything in common with them, that would make a good icebreaker. This means doing your research on whoever will be interviewing you and looking them up on LinkedIn to see where their background lies.

Keep your answers simple.
Be clear, concise and structured with your communication. After all, hiring managers typically have dozens of phone interviews to get through.

Part of being simple and compelling is being organized.
As you share your accomplishments and skill sets with the interviewer, it’s a good idea to use what’s called signposts – words like firstly, secondly and thirdly – to signal where you are to the interviewer.

Highlight unique accomplishments and results that are relevant to role and industry.
You should aim to highlight specific achievements in your past experiences. It could be anything being the first in the industry to launch a specific initiative, being among one of the top sales reps (if you’re in sales) or achieving a record-breaking promotion X years. Remember, you want to stand out from the dozen or so phone interviewees as much as possible.

Use buzzwords, industry jargon in your answers.
Know the buzzwords for the job and the field, advises Mary Greenwood, human resources manager for the City of Winter Park in Florida. According to Greenwood, if you don’t understand a question because you don’t know what one of the buzzwords is, that could hurt your chances for the job.

Speak slowly.
As you know, phone interviews are clearly not the same as face-to-face ones. It’s much clearer to listen to someone when you’re standing in front of them in flesh and blood. That’s why it’s important to “speak slowly and allow for pauses,” according to Kathleen Brady, career coach with Career Planners LLC, based in New York, and former director of recruitment of Jackson Lewis LLP.

Be enthusiastic!
It’s always important to be enthusiastic in any interview. But it’s even more important in a phone interview. “The interviewer will not have the benefit of non-verbal communication (and) nor will you,” says Paula Soileau, former CFO of the American Heart Association and co-founder of Affintus, a recruiting and predictive job matching service. But Soileau recommends not to overdo it. Strike a balance between sounding passionate and blatantly sucking up.

Part of your checklist should be reading through the company’s annual report to see how they present themselves in the market using specific keywords.
Keep in mind to make a list of questions based on your homework on the organization. It speaks to your curiosity and interest in the position. And remember not to undervalue the importance of phone interview. You want to do your best to sound enthusiastic, professional and right for the company. That way, you’ll pass the test and the hiring manager will want to pursue you further.

————————————————–

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtointerview@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro Silver Winner in ForeWord Book of the Year Awards

2011-06-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

ForeWord Magazine announced that How to Interview Like a Pro is the Silver Winnter in their Book of the Year Awards. The awards were announced on June 25th at the American Library Association Conference in New Orleans.

Mary Greenwood has won nine book awards.

This is Greenwood's ninth book award:
1. Winner, Reader Views Awards
2. Winner Pinnacle Achievement Awards
3. Winner, Indie Excellence Awards
4. Winner, ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awardscareer category
5. Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards
6. Finalist, Eric Hoffer Awards
7. Honorable Mention DIY Book Festival
8. Extra Mention, Millennium Puboishing Book Awards
9. HOnorable Mention, New York Book Awards

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro Wins Millennium Star Book Award

2011-06-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro Wins Extra Mention at the Millennium Star Publishing Book Award. This is the ninth book award for Mary Greenwood's book on interviewing. Here is the list of the six books winning the award.

Extra Mentions

Point Deception - by Jim Gilliam
How To Interview Like a Pro - by Mary Greenwood, JD, LL.M
The Zen Game - by Nancy Pristine
Tales in the Insulin Vial - by Steve Beriault
To Live and Die for Dance - by Francine Paino
Opulence Among Us - by Gary D. Henry

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Jackisms: Happy Father's Day.

2011-06-18T16:25:00.000-07:00
Happy Father's Day
As Father's Day approaches, I like to repost my list of Jackisms, which my sister Sara and I have compiled. There are probably more. I wake up thinking of new ones, but often forget to write them down. They are mostly sayings of optimism and humor, which often get me through any bad day. I miss you, Dad!

JACK GREENWOOD’s Jackisms 1915-2009
A Gentleman and A Scholar

1. If you stick with me, you will be wearing diamonds.
2. Keep your snorkel up
3. Keep your chin up
4. Better than a sharp stick in the eye
5. Oppydildock
6. Bellyup (like a fish)
7. Don't take any wooden nickels
8. Let it roll off your back.
9. Roll with the punches.
10. As I live and breathe.
11. You are a sight for sore eyes.
12. Go get 'em tiger.
13. Connecticut is God's country
14. Connecticut is the banana belt of New England
15. The chief
16. Never get into a pissing contest with a skunk.
17. Put your best foot forward.
18. Always dress your best.
19. Go pound sand
20. Knock them dead
21. You can always tell a Greenwood, but you can't tell him much.(on pens at 90th birthday party)
22. What have you done for your country today?
23. Hold the fort.
24. Rigamarole
25. discombobulated
26. Don't forget your mittens. (from The Man in the Grey Fannel Suit with Gregory Peck and referred to when Marnie rented the porch to live)
27. Good on you.
28. Everyone is a critic
29. Give me high test (coffee)
30. That will grow hair on your chest
31. That will stick to your ribs
32. That is good for what ails you.
33. Have a hot toddy.
34. Pipe down
35. Hold the phone (stop)
36. Hold your horses
37. He's a peach of a guy
38. Trust in the lord
39. You don’t know how to eat.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Book Review of How to Interview Like a Pro by Deborah Cavitt of Cavitt Reviews

2011-06-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Interview Like a Pro, June 14, 2011

By Deborah Cavitt (Duncanville, TX)
This review is for: How to Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job (Paperback)

How to Interview Like a Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job by Mary Greenwood, JD, LL.M is for job seekers from age 18 to 80. Whether you are a novice or an expert, there is information for one and all. The book takes you from getting started, preparing for the interview, how to answer questions, various laws, and what to do after you get the job.

Mary Greenwood has four appendixes: Do and Don'ts of Interviewing, Glossary of Terms, Federal Laws Prohibiting Discrimination, and State Fair Employment Agencies. Each rule is in bold face type. Each page pops with great advice and exciting resources.

Best of all, the book is a quick read, uncomplicated, and easy to understand. Mary Greenwood also wrote How to Negotiate Like a Pro and How to Meditate Like a Pro. If you bought only one book about interviewing for a job, this would be your #1 choice. Happy interviewing and job-seeking. Be sure to pick up Greenwood's other books too.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award Winners Will be Announced June 25, 2011 in New Orleans

2011-06-11T18:07:00.001-07:00

ForeWord Magazine will announce the Winners(gold, silver, and bronze) of the Book of the Year Book Awards in 60 categories at the American Library Association Conference (ALA) in New Orleans at the Morial Convention Center Auditorium. Librarians, booksellers, publishers and Award Finalists are all welcome.

How to Interview Like a Pro; 43 Rules For Getting Your Next Job
is a finalist in the Career Category. The winners are picked from the eight finalists in each category. How to Mediate Like a Pro was a winner in the Law category in 2008.

Laissey les bon temps roulez!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of nine book awards, How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY Festival Runner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book Festival How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes Winner of twelve book awards Best National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards Spirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtointerview@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

The Reason You Did Not Get The Job May Not Have Anything To Do With You

2011-06-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons why you might not have gotten the job and many of them might not have anything to do with you or your performance at the interview. Here are some possibilities:

1. Maybe the employer never filled the position.

With the bad economy, it is not unusual even after posting a position for the employer to merge the position with an existing position and have someone else take on the extra duties. Sometimes the person who is championing this position has left or been transferred. Meanwhile the position might be on the back burner while someone is figuring out whether is enough money in the budget or whether it can be part of a reorganization. Sometimes the employer will let you know it has changed its mind and sometimes it won't. I have gotten calls six to nine months later asking me if I am still interested in the position. Usually the position has been frozen and now they are trying to fill it again. There have been times when I never got a call.

2. Maybe there was an inside person.

Sometimes there is an inside person that the company wants to hire, but it is going through the motions to make it look fair and legal. In another twist, there may be an inside person, but the company wants to make sure that he/she is the best qualified and opens it up to outside candidates just to make sure. Usually the inside candidate gets the position because of his/her on the job experience.

3. You had a negative check off interview.

The interviewers want someone else, but because of your sex, age, race, education or experience, the employer feels that for legal reasons, it must interview you. The point of each question is to give you negative points so you will be disqualified and not get the job. The questions can almost sound accusatory. Once I had someone ask me five different ways whether I had litigation experience. The job notice did not have this requirement and if it had, I would not have applied for the position. I got the impression that I was the most qualified person for the position according to the job description and that the employer was giving me a negative check off interview so it could offer it to someone else.

If you follow these tips, you will be interviewing like a pro!

Mary Greenwood, Attorney Mediator, and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, Editor's Choice and Rising Star, winner of nine book awards How to Negotiate like a Pro, Winner of six book awards

How To Mediate Like A Pro, Winner of twelve book awards Available at http://www.amazon.com Visit http://www.Marygreenwood.org Email: Howtointerview@aol.com

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Mary Greenwood Conducts Mediation Training June 6 at Oakland Mediation Center

2011-06-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

Oakland Mediation Center, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Event Information Name of Training : 8 Hour Advanced Mediator Training

Training Description : Mediate Like a Pro!

In this highly interactive training, author of the books How to Mediate Like a Pro and How to Negotiate Like a Pro, Mary Greenwood, will review the mediation process, discuss the roles of the mediator, and emphasize the neutrality and ethics of the mediation.

Participants will learn how to talk like a mediator and deal with difficult parties. In addition, participants will learn about different types of mediation and how to employ the skills in the marketplace.

Start Date : 06/08/2011
End Date : 06/08/2011
Start Time : 08:30:00 AM
End Time : 05:00:00 PM

Location : Oakland Mediation Center
Trainer : Mary Greenwood
Comments :
Class Limit : 16
Grade Level : Adult
Audience : Mediators who have completed the 40-Hour Mediator Training.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category Honorable Mention, London Book Festival How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awards Best National Book AWard, Law Category Best E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards Spirit Award, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro Wins Honorable Mention in New York Book Festival

2011-06-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro wins Honorable Mention in the New York Book Festival. The Winners Ceremony will be held at the Algonquin Club on June 10th, 2011.

This is Greenwood's eighth book award:
1. Winner, Reader Views Awards
2. Winner Pinnacle Achievement Awards
3. Winner, Indie Excellence Awards
4. Finalist, ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards (Finalists announced in June)
5. Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards
6. Finalist, Eric Hoffer Awards
7. Honorable Mention DIY Book Festival

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Get the Employer to Make the First Offer: How to Interview Like a Pro

2011-05-28T13:16:00.001-07:00

Get the employer to make the first offer, but under no circumstances accept the first offer. This can be a little tricky, but it is usually a big advantage.

Why is it so important for the employer to make the first offer? Here is an example. Let's say you are willing to take a position for $75,000. If the employer's first offer is $85,000, you are already $10,000 dollars ahead of the game and you may be able to negotiate even more money since it is obvious they want you for the position. If you had asked for the $75,000 that would be the most you would ever get. You would have left a lot of money on the table. If the company offers $75,000 or even less, you can still try to negotiate to get something more. You can always make a counter-offer or ask for some benefit other than money. IF possible, take the weekend to mull it over. That is a respectable amount of time and most employers will respect your request. No matter how high the original offer is, chances are you can get some more money. Remember that the company wants to hire you and you are the top candidate.

There is usually some wiggle room left on the table after the offer is made. After you have had your time to reflect, go back in and ask for five thousand dollars more. Show that you have done some research based on your current salary, the salaries in the area, your added responsibilities, or the cost of living in your area. If the company wants you, it will probably make you another offer. If the company says that it cannot go any higher, then you have to decide whether to accept or not or whether to ask for something else other than money.

Some employers may not want to increase their offer because they are concerned about internal pay equity with other employees. Here are some things you may want to consider that do not affect the base salary:

1. Moving Expenses.

If you will be moving, ask for moving expenses. This will give you money now but won't affect your base salary. You can either ask for money for moving expenses or reimbursement for actual expenses incurred.

2. A Different Title.

If the salary is sufficient, but you hate the title, you can suggest a better title before you accept the offer.

3. Travel Expenses or Association Dues.

Money is tight right now, but maybe you can get a commitment to go to a national conference or have the dues to a national or regional professional association paid by the company.

4. Health Insurance Buyback.

See if you can get a payment if you purchase health insurance elsewhere. This may be feasible if you are already on Medicare or if your spouse has coverage.

5. More Vacation.

Time is money so see if you can get an extra week of vacation.

6. Something Else.

Is there anything else you want that would make this job more appealing?

You are the number one candidate and the company may be willing to give you something extra to take the offer. However, these are tough times so don't push the envelope too much so that the company decides to go on to the second or third choice.

If you follow these rules, you will be interviewing and negotiating like a pro!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards, Spirit Award, South Florida Writers Association
Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro by Mary Greenwood Wins Seven Book Awards

2011-05-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro has won seven book awards:
1. Winner, Reader Views Awards
2. Winner Pinnacle Achievement Awards
3. Winner, Indie Excellence Awards
4. Finalist, ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards (Finalists announced in June)
5. Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards
6. Finalist, Eric Hoffer Awards
7. Honorable Mention DIY Book Festival

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards Best How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Who Was Eric Hoffer? How to Interview Like a Pro is Finalist in Eric Hoffer Awards

2011-05-28T12:35:00.001-07:00

Who was Eric Hoffer? Here is his biography:

Former migratory worker and longshoreman, Eric Hoffer burst on the scene in 1951 with his irreplaceable tome, The True Believer, and assured his place among the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. Nine books later, Hoffer remains a vital figure with his cogent insights to the nature of mass movements and the essence of humankind.

Of his early life, Hoffer has written: “I had no schooling. I was practically blind up to the age of fifteen. When my eyesight came back, I was seized with an enormous hunger for the printed word. I read indiscriminately everything within reach—English and German.

“When my father (a cabinetmaker) died, I realized that I would have to fend for myself. I knew several things: One, that I didn’t want to work in a factory; two, that I couldn’t stand being dependent on the good graces of a boss; three, that I was going to stay poor; four, that I had to get out of New York. Logic told me that California was the poor man’s country.”

Through ten years as a migratory worker and as a gold-miner around Nevada City, Hoffer labored hard but continued to read and write during the years of the Great Depression. The Okies and the Arkies were the “new pioneers,” and Hoffer was one of them. He had library cards in a dozen towns along the railroad, and when he could afford it, he took a room near a library for concentrated thinking and writing.

In 1943, Hoffer chose the longshoreman’s life and settled in California. Eventually, he worked three days each week and spent one day as “research professor” at the University of California in Berkeley. In 1964, he was the subject of twelve half-hour programs on national television. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983.

"America meant freedom and what is freedom? To Hoffer it is the capacity to feel like oneself. He felt like Eric Hoffer; sometimes like Eric Hoffer, working man. It could be said, I believe, that he as the first important American writer, working class born, who remained working class-in his habits, associations, environment. I cannot think of another. Therefore, he was a national resource. The only one of its kind in the nation’s possession.” - Eric Sevareid, from his dedication speech to Eric Hoffer, San Francisco, CA, September 17, 1985.

What an honor to receive an award with Eric Hoffer's name!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes Winner of 12 book awards Best National Book Award, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro is a Finalist in Eric Hoffer Awards

2011-05-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro has won its seventh book award: its latest award being a finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Awards.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Press Release: How to Interview Like a Pro Wins Sixth Book Award

2011-05-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mary Greenwood at Mgreen464@aol.com

Mary Greenwood Honored by National Indie Excellence Awards
Contest recognizes outstanding independently published books

Orlando, Fl – How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job by Mary Greenwood has been selected the WINNER of the 2011 Indie Excellence Award in the category of Career.

The Indie Excellence Awards are reserved for the “best of the best” in books published in various genres. The criteria for recognition are stringent and include overall excellence in presentation. This award celebrates the highest achievements in independent press and self-publishing, a sector of the industry that has grown exponentially in recent years.

Winners and finalists were announced on Sunday, May 15. For a complete list of the honorees visit: http://www.indieexcellence.com/indie-results-2011.htm.

How to Interview Like a Pro has won six book awards, How to Mediate Like a Pro has won 12 book awards, and How to Interview Like a Pro has won six book awards.

Mary Greenwood is a Human Resources Director and Attorney and lives in Orlando, Fl. with her Boston Terrier, Annabelle Lee.

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Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro featured in Omaha.com

2011-05-22T13:50:00.000-07:00

Infoomaha.com

Published Sunday May 22, 2011

Don’t talk money too soon when seeking a job
By Melanie Wanzek
CTW FEATURES
Though the bottom line is important, determining when to disclose salary history and future salary hopes to a potential employer can be tough to navigate.

“You want to delay revealing your salary history and your salary requirements as long as possible,” said Mary Greenwood, author of “How to Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job” (iUniverse, 2010). “Revealing them too soon removes all of your power to negotiate later.”

Disclosing too soon also could cause employers to assume salary expectations that aren’t accurate.

“Just because you’re making X amount of dollars right now, doesn’t meant that’s what you’re willing to accept at next position,” said Stephanie Toley-Gove, owner of Urban Sherpa, a career coaching firm based in Cranston, R.I. “You might have acquired a ton of knowledge and experience that elevated your value.”

Many employment applications, both paper and online, include blanks for salary history. Resist the urge to reveal all about salary history or future expectations sooner than is required.

Writing alternatives — such as “negotiable” or “willing to discuss if interest in interview is expressed” — help to appropriately delay the discussion to a more beneficial time. If the blank won’t allow words and must be filled in to advance, such as in some online applications, attempt to enter a range if possible.

“Then you’re not pigeonholing yourself into one specific number,” Toley-Gove said.

If an employer requires a salary history before a candidate is to be considered, jobseekers must decide at that point whether they are truly interested. If so, the early revelation is worthwhile but should be done correctly. Rather than including it in a cover letter or résumé, Toley-Gove suggests creating another sheet that mimics the style of the cover letter (using the same font and formatting), but is included at the back of the application. Then list previous positions chronologically as in a résumé, but include either a number or a range for each.

Though money can be a sticky subject, delaying the discussion can allow a great candidate’s qualities to shine through first.

“The main point is that you want to first impress them with your passion for the job, your job skills, how you fit in with the job description and get them to really want you as their employee,” Greenwood said.

“Then move on to negotiating money, at the end of the first interview or even later in the process.

“Doing this presents a positive image to an employer and can result in a higher salary.”

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Interview with Mary Greenwood

2011-05-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

Interview: Mary Greenwood, Author of How to Interview Like a Pro

Book Titles:
How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules For Getting Your Next Job, How to Mediate Like a Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes and How to Negotiate Like a Pro; 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes

Website URL:
www.marygreenwood.com

Social Media Links:
Twitter: @Marygreenwood

What is your book about?
How to Interview Like a Pro offers strategies and practical tips about the interview process based on the author’s experience as a Human Resources Director, Employment Attorney and thousands of job interviews.

What inspired you to write your book?
I had written How to Negotiate Like a Pro and How to Mediate Like a Pro and had an aha moment when I realized that the interview process is one big negotiation. That is when I decided to write a book on interviewing.

How did you come to do what you’re doing today?
I started as an attorney forty years ago. Then twenty years ago, I switched to being a Human Resources Director using my legal back ground. Then after I retired the first time, I became a mediator, arbitrator and author of my first two books. Then two years ago, I went back into the workplace and am now working as Human Resources Manager of the City of Winter Park, Florida and going to book events on the weekend.

Can you describe a typical day in your life?
Typically, I walk with my Boston Terrier every day and go swimming several times a week. I love to travel and go to the movies and theatre.

I am always working on a project whether it is preparing for union negotiations at work, preparing for a class I am teaching at Barry Law School or preparing for a training session on mediation. My favorite time is that spent with my grandsons, Jack and Gage, who love to come to Orlando to visit me and Mickey Mouse.

What do you most enjoy about what you do?
I am a problem solver and anything concerning problem solving is what I enjoy most.

Are there any people and/or books that have inspired you along your journey?
My greatest inspiration were my parents. They encouraged me to go to law school when it was very unusual for women to go to law school (there were 3 women in my class.) My mother loved reading and literature. She and I were both English Majors. My father was an engineer and when he died two years ago, we compiled a list of “Jacksims” which were his favorite expressions, which we still use all the time. He was a very optimistic person and would always say things like: 1. Keep your snorkel up! 2. Don’t Give Up the Ship and 3. That is better than a sharp stick in the eye. They both were very funny and that humor carried over to everything they did.

Can you share some business tips for our readers?
Here are some of my best interviewing tips.

1. Expect the question you don’t want to answer. You know what it is.
After Tim Russert died, people that he interviewed said that he always asked the one question that they did not want to answer. Think it through and know what that answer will be. In most cases, you will want your side of the issue to be told first.

2. Learn something about the company where you are applying. That is one of the biggest complaints I get. When asked what they know about the company where they are interviewing don’t have anything to say.

3. Finding a job is like parking; you have to be in the right place at the right time.

Can you share something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
I used to be a big collector of Mr. Peanuts items and old tin sand pails. After enjoying these items for many years, I sold it all on eBay.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I have really learned a lot about the world of self-publishing the last five years.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Interview: Mary Greenwood, Author of How to Interview Like a Pro

2011-05-20T17:01:00.000-07:00
Interview: Mary Greenwood, Author of How to Interview Like a Pro

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro featured in Philly.com with The Money Talk

2011-05-18T07:49:00.000-07:00
The Money Talk by Melanie Weznak features How to Interview Like a Pro and quotes Mary Greenwood's philosophy of salary negotiations.

"You want to delay revealing your salary history and your salary requirements as long as possible." and " The main point is that you want to first impress them with your passion for the job, your job skills, how you fit in and with the job description, and get them to really want you as their employee, and then move on to negotiating money later, at the end of the first interview or even later in the process. "

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro, Winner of Indie Excellence Book Award

2011-05-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like A Pro-43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job is the Winner of the Indie Excellence Book Awards in the Career Category. Awards were announced on May 15, 2011.

Here are the Finalists in the Career Category:

Getting to the Top-Strategies for Career Success
Kathryn Ullrich
Silicon Valley Press
www.gettingtothetop.com

No Sneakers at the Office-A Practical Handbook for the Business World
Adam T. Scholl
Landmarc Press
http://ceremarkcreations.com/NoSneakers/

This is the sixth Book Award that How to Interview Like a Pro has won. Here are the other awards:

1. Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book Awards, Winners will be awarded in June at the American Library Association Conference in New Orleans.
2. Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Career Category; Awards Celebration at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, May 24, 2011.
3. Winner, Reader Views Book Awards, How to Category
4. Honorable Mention, DIY Book Awards
5. Pinnacle Achievement Book Award

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How to Interview Like a Pro; Winner of five book awards
How To Negotiate Like A Pro: Winner of six book awards
How To Mediate Like A Pro: Winner of twelve book awards
Email: howtointerview@aol.com
Website: www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro a Finalist in Next Generation Indie Book Awards

2011-05-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Mary Greenwood

I am writing with great news! Your book has been named a Finalist in the Career category of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Congratulations!

To acknowledge this achievement we will be sending you a Finalist Certificate by email prior to the end of May. We will also be mailing* you a Finalist medal in June.

Your achievement will be published at www.IndieBookAwards.com along with the other Finalists and Winners in the next few weeks. Also, we will be sending out a press release within the next month announcing the Grand Prize Winners and advising media and others where they can see a complete list of Winners and Finalists.

Additionally, your book will be listed as a Finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards catalog which will be distributed at Book Expo America (“BEA”) in New York later this month to thousands of attendees including book buyers, library representatives, media, industry professionals, and others. Our intention is to promote the Winners and Finalists to as many people as possible.

All Finalists and Winners are invited to attend an awards reception at the Plaza Hotel in New York City from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24th (during BEA). Once again congratulations from all of us at Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Catherine Goulet Shelley Anderson

Awards Chair Awards Co-ordinator

www.IndieBookAwards.com www.IBPPG.com

CAREER Category

WINNER ($100 PRIZE): TIE

How YOU™ Are Like Shampoo for College Graduates, by Brenda Bence (Global Insight Communications, LLC) (ISBN 978-0979901096)

Inspired to Dance: Everything You Need to Know about Becoming a Professional Dancer without Breaking a Leg, by Mande Dagenais (iUniverse) (ISBN 978-1450201834)

FINALISTS:

Finally Growing Up: Recognizing and Releasing Patterns of Limitation, by Ed Morler, MBA, Ph.D. (Sanai Publishing) (ISBN 978-0976864332)

How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job, by Mary Greenwood (iUniverse) (ISBN 978-1450270892)

Recess Is Over!: No Nonsense Strategies and Tips for Student Teachers and New Teachers, by D. Sherry L. Meinberg (CreateSpace) (ISBN 978-1439258347)

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro Finalist in Indie Excellence Book Awards

2011-05-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro Wins Fifth Book Award.

Greenwood's book is a Finalist in the Indie Excellence Book Awards in the Career Category. Awards ceremony will be at the Plaza Hotel on May 24th, 2011.

Greenwood's other awards are the following:

1. Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book Awards
2. Pinnacle Achievement Book Awards
3. Honorable Mention, DIY Book Awards
4. Winner, Reader Views Book Awards

How to Mediate Like a Pro has won 12 book awards and How to Negotiate Like a Pro has won 6 book awards.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtointerview@aol.com. www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Negotiate Like a Pro With Your Mother on Mother's Day

2011-04-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Ever notice that when you get together with your Mother, you end up playing the same roles that you had in junior high? No matter how sophisticated and worldly we have become, we revert to those same roles we had at sixteen. We all love our Mothers and appreciate what they have done for us by raising us; however, the same arguments and resentments can bubble up and despite the lovely flowers, cards and chocolates, the best intentions for a pleasant day can disappear in a flash. Here are some tips for getting along with your Mother this Mother’s Day.

1. Don’t Let Your Mother Push Your Buttons.

There are always a few hot-button topics between Mothers and Daughters that will generate an emotional response. It might be hair, weight, style of dress, child-rearing, or choice in men. For me that topic is hair. My short-cropped hair has always been too short for my mother. When she would visit, sometimes her first comment would be, “You could be beautiful if you let your hair grow." I would usually say something nasty in response; one of us would give the other the silent treatment and the first day of the visit would be ruined. If I knew then what I know now, I would have focused on the goal (having a nice visit) and checked my emotions at the door before my mother’s visit. Anger can make one lose control and losing control is not what I want to do in the first five minutes of my mother’s visit. Now I make a light-hearted comment and go on to some other topic.

2. Look Forward, Not Back. The Past Is Called The Past For A Reason.

If one gets too involved in what has happened in the past, it can be counter-
productive. Don’t try to settle old scores during Mother’s Day. Remember your goal is to get through Mother’s Day without any flare-ups. Even if you feel that you have a grievance against your Mother, try to get beyond that, at least for now, and give yourself a reprieve from thinking about that issue. If you are still angry, take a few deep breaths and this will help relax you. Try to stay in the present and build new memories.

3. Be Willing To apologize.

If you have an argument with your Mother, make the first move to reconcile. Be prepared to shoulder some of the blame even if you don’t believe you did anything wrong. A sincere apology, and I mean sincere, can go a long way. When considering whether to make the first move, keep in mind that people do make mistakes, especially Mothers. When we are young, we think that our parents can do no wrong. As we get older, we realize that they are human and make mistakes, too. Also consider that your first move may be rejected and don’t be upset by that. Try at least one more time. Then you know that you made the effort and tried to take the high ground.

4. Try Something New

Ever notice that when you negotiate or argue with your Mother, that you use the same techniques and even the same arguments over and over. There is often a sense of déjà vu. Try something different. If you want your Mother to do something but you are afraid to ask, ask anyway. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. The worst that can happen is that she says "no". If there is something very important to you don’t take no for an answer, even if it is your Mother. As they say, there is more than one way to skin a cat. Don’t be intimidating but try to think of a different way to convince her to give you what you want. Make a minor change, or compromise or suggest a trade off so that she gets something she wants as well. For example, if you want your Mother to take care of the kids for a weekend, then think of something nice you can do for her.

5. Be Thankful

Be thankful for being able to share this Mother’s Day with your Mother. Remember that she may not be around next year or the year after and that those very maddening habits you dislike now, you might even miss when she is gone. Try to remember all the good things now and thank her now.

If you follow these tips, you will have a Happy Mother’s Day.

postscript
I originally wrote this blog four years ago. My mother is now 94 and has advanced Alzheimers. Recently she told me that "you are too old to be my daughter." In the past I might have been upset at the comment, but all I could do was chuckle and feel thankful that some of my Mom's wit is still here (she was voted the class wit in her highschool many years ago.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Mary Greenwood Debuts Interviewing Column at WritingRaw.com

2011-04-30T09:00:00.000-07:00
See my new weekly column on interviewing at WritingRaw.com

Every Monday Morning, Writing Raw's website issues a new issue of Fiction, non-fiction and many tips and columns for writers and readers. Last week, April 25th, was the debut of my first column on interviewing called,(drum roll) How to Interview Like a Pro. Check it out.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, winner of four book awards, How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro: Details, Details, Details.

2011-04-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

1. Be on time:
The worst thing you can do in an interview is to be late. If you are late to the interview when you are trying to impress your prospective boss, then you will probably be late to work at your prospective job. Being late is disrespectful. Even if you have an excuse for being late (flat tire, late train, lost cab), there really are no good excuses. Get an alarm clock and leave yourself plenty of time to anticipate the unexpected. You should really arrive at your destination about thirty minutes early. If you are a little early, then you can reward yourself by getting a coffee at a local cafe.

2. Make sure you know the location of the interview:
This goes along with rule one above. You need to know where you are going, both literally and figuratively. Make sure you have the address and the telephone number of the person you are meeting, just in case you need last-minute instructions. Plug the address into your GPS and print out driving instructions, too. Sometimes the GPS instructions or the directions are wrong so it is good to have both. Do not rely on someone else to find the address for you, especially a taxi driver.

3. Wear the right outfit for the interview:
Try to wear an outfit that you think would fit into the work environment of your prospective company. You might even want to check the company's website to see how other employees are dressed. Look at the picture of your prospective boss to see what he or she is wearing. A nice suit or a jacket is usually a good choice for men and women. For a woman, it should fit properly but not be too tight or too revealing. If you think something may be too loud or bright, it probably is. You need to know the culture of your prospective employer. At Google or Facebook, employees dress much more casually. If you are interviewing at one of these companies, you do not want to overdress.

4. Give the right handshake:
In the era of hand sanitizers and H1N1 Influenza, some people don't like to shake hands, like Donald Trump. I still believe in a good handshake for both men and women. You have to have just enough oomph. A limp handshake is just wishy-washy and won't get anyone a job. A firm-but-not-too-firm handshake is just right. I have had people shake my hand who, I believed, were trying to hurt me so don't be a bone crusher. If you are someone who does not like to shake hands, try it anyway. However, if you really can't muster a handshake, say something witty so you can go on with a modicum of dignity. "I would like to shake your hand, but I sprained my hand." "My child is sick so I don't want to risk spreading the germs." While you are shaking hands, look the person in the eye and smile and say something pleasant like "It is nice to meet you." or "What a nice view." The most important thing is the eye contact and the smile.

5. Be careful with the jokes:
An interview is serious business, but you should still try to have fun. It is an interview not an execution. Cracking a joke can sometimes break the tension. Just make sure it is approrpiate. Your future employer does not want to hear a job that has a double entendre or is insulting to one of the people interviewing you. You have to find the right balance. Try to show your personality but don't be too outgoing. On the other hand, don't be boring and mumble in a monotone.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro; Don't Assume the Interviewer Has Read Your Resume

2011-04-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

1. Don't assume the interviewer has read your resume.
Don't assume that the interviewer has actually read your cover letter, resume, or anything else you may have provided. Even though you have written a full explanation in your cover letter, don't be surprised if the questions cover what you have already included in your packet. There are many explanations for this. Maybe the material did not get from human resources to the individual panel members. Even if it did, maybe the interviewers have not had the chance to read your information. Some interviewers may feel it is a waste of time preparing when they can just ask the applicant what they want to know.

If you get asked an obvious question, don't roll your eyes. Consider this a second chance to convince the committee that you are the best candidate for the position. For example, I mentioned in a cover letter that I had written two award winning books pertinent to the position. I was asked when the books were going to be published. I realized very quickly that the interview had not read my letter. However, it did give me an opportunity to toot my own horn and explain what the books were about and show how they were related to the job.

2. Ask what you can do for the company.
Of course, I am paraphrasing the famous John F. Kennedy quote. It is your job to show the interviewer what you can do for the company, not what it can do for you. That is why talk of benefits and salary are usually not appropriate at the first round of the interview unless the employer brings up the subject. In this economy especially, you need to show the future employer why it needs you and how your experience and expertise are going to help it move forward. This is where your research comes into play. You can show what you can bring to the table. You may be able to give some good suggestions on improvements that their competitors are using or suggest ways to save money.

3. Be observant.
The conventional wisdom is that a picture is worth a thousand words. While you are walking around the offices of your prospective employer, you are probably rehearsing your answers to hypothetical questions. You also need to be attentive and see what is going on behind the scenes. First impressions are not always correct, but they can give you a glimpse of what working at this company will be like. Look at the interaction between your prospective boss and associates. Observe whether the employees seem engaged. Usually a company will put its best foot forward for a prospective employee. If that is not happening, you may wonder why. What is the diversity of this employer? Who is making the coffee? Can you tell the management style of your future boss? This may be your next job so you need to pay attention.

You need to be super vigilant about finding out everything you need to know about this company and more specifically about your boss and co-workers so that if you do get a job offer, you will be informed enough to make a good decision.

If you follow these tips you will be interviewing like a pro!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro gives tip to Moneywatch Blog

2011-04-21T09:02:00.000-07:00
My tip is Number 5

7 Ways To Increase Your Salary Now
By Amy Levin-Epstein | Apr 21, 2011 |

In business, it’s all about the Benjamins, right? Certainly, we’re all aware that securing salary increases are essential to career progression, but many of us don’t know how to make it happen. Whether you’re negotiating a new job offer or re-negotiating your salary at a current job, my experts have great ideas about how to earn what you’re worth — ASAP. Because no matter how much you love your job, you’ll struggle to be satisfied if you’re not being paid your market value.

1.Wait Until You’re Wanted
Particularly after an interview, you need to know they want you before they’ll fight for you (in the form of more money). “Employers don’t like to go back and forth about money any more than an applicant wants to. If they have decided to hire you and you are firm in your statement, you will [most likely] receive the higher salary,” says Monique Tatum, CEO of Beautiful Planning Marketing Group & PR.

2.Search Salary Info Online
“The internet has changed [negotiating] in that it is way easier to find what comparable salaries are,” says career coach Jack Chapman, author of the recently updated Negotiating Your Salary: How To Make $1000 a Minute. His favorites sites? Salary.com, PayScale.com, Glassdoor.com and Indeed.com. “Once you have that info, you’re able to have a better conversation with your boss. You can make an argument with some facts behind it other than your own individual value,” says Chapman.

3.Ask For More Time, Then More Money
A day or two will help you figure out what you think of a job offer or re-negotiation number — and what your next move should be. “Ask for at least 24 to 48 hours. Silence is golden when you just let it hang there awhile following an initial offer. Don’t rush to fill the quiet void!” says Meg Montford, career coach and CEO of Abilities Enhanced, a career coaching service.

4.Lay Out Your Value
If you’ve been at your company for awhile, schedule a meeting separate from your annual review, which can be a hectic time for managers, to discuss your successes and how your salary should reflect that. “Having a solid list of accomplishments showing what you’ve made saved or achieved for the organization helps keep you focused on facts not emotion,” says Carolyn Thompson, author of Ten Secrets To Getting Promoted.

5.Get Another Offer
This is an oldie but a goodie, says Mary Greenwood, author of How To Interview Like A Pro. Just like with dating, looking desirable to others can make the one you’re with want you more.

6.Never Let Negotiations End With a “No”
You’ve gotten a job offer or salary increase number that’s lower than what you want, but you hear “the money just isn’t there.” Time to start searching for another opportunity? Not so fast. “Say ‘I don’t know if I can accept it but is there some other way, like time off, or performance bonuses or something else that could make the package worthwhile?’” suggests Chapman. You might even offer to add a few responsibilities in order to increase your worth to the company, or ask about forgoing health insurance if you can buy it elsewhere for less.

7.Know When To Say When
“Know when it’s no longer in your best interest to keep negotiating and then move on to the next opportunity,” says Montford. If you feel like your company is consistently getting the better end of the deal, they probably are. Eventually, you’ll want to go where you’re valued.

Have a good salary negotiation tip? Please sign in below and share.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Mary Greenwood Shares Interviewing Tips at 12:30 - 12:50 at UCF Book Festival on April 16 From her Book, How to Interview Like a Pro

2011-04-09T06:22:00.001-07:00

Mary Greenwood has a booth at the second UCF (University of Central Florida) Book Festival held April 16th at the Arena at UCF. In addition, she will be giving a reading at 12:30 to 12:50 at the SPA Zone with interviewing tips from How to Interview Like a Pro.

Here is a list of the Exhibitors. It looks like a great Book Festival. I was at the inaugural Book Festival last year and this year looks even better!

Author David Talon
Barnes & Noble
Early Learning Coalition of Orange County
Florida Virtual School
Hilton Garden Inn
Lands Atlantic Publishing
Nemours, Bright Start!
The New York Times
Orange County Public Schools
Orlando Sentinel
Scholastic Book Clubs
UCF College of Education
UCF College of Sciences
UCF Office of the President The Florida Review
101 Reasons to Live
AIL Child Safety Kits
Always Willing To Create: A Journey Through Poetic Expression
Burrow Press
The Busy Brides Bible for Planning a Fabulous Wedding without the Expensive Cost of a Wedding Planner
The Contractress
Dancing Lilies Press: Children’s Book Publisher
DARE BOOKS
Educational Song Books
FDLRS-TSLL Hands On Mini Lab
Florida Writer's Association
The Happy Hollisters/Svenson Group, Inc.
Harry Douglass Press

How to Interview Like a Pro

Ian Randle PublishersJB Heart
Koala Koala And Friends
Leedy's Books Inc.
Literary Threads
Montooth Books
MoSon and ECity Publishing
One Foot in Two Canoes Series
Orange County Reading Council
Orlando Area Science Fiction Society
Pirates, Vampires and Werewolves…The Lore Triology by Chad T. Douglas
Secret Gardens
Teganjaz Books Presents Author, Tracy L. Darity
University Press of Florida
Vesuvius – The Jet-Pack Bat
Wolf's Head Books

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Book Launch of How to Interview Like a Pro March 29th from 5:30 to 6:30

2011-03-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

The Book Launch of How to Interview Like a Pro will be held at Starbucks March 29th, Winter Park, Florida at 400 Park Avenue South from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Starbucks is located opposite City Hall in Winter Park, Florida.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro Wins Honorable Mention in DIY Book Awards

2011-03-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro wins Honorable Mention in 2010 DIY Book Festival Awards, Hollywood, California, in the "how to category." This is the fourth award for How to Interview Like a Pro. Previous book awards include: 1. Winner, Reader Views Awards, how to category; 2. Finalist, ForeWord Book Awards, career category and 3. Pinnacle Achievement Award

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author
How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes,
Winner of six book awards, Best How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book Festival
How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes
Winner of 12 book awards
Best National Book Award, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book Festival
Best How To Book, Beach Book Festival, Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards
Spirit Award, South Florida Writers Association
Email: howtointerview@aol.com, www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro Finalist in ForeWord Book Awards in the Career Category

2011-03-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job is a Finalist in the ForeWord Book of the Year Awards in the Career category.

Book of the Year Awards
ForeWord Reviews' Book of the Year Awards were established to bring increased attention to librarians and booksellers of the literary and graphic achievements of independent publishers and their authors. ForeWord is the only review trade journal devoted exclusively to books from independent houses.

Our unique awards process brings readers, librarians, and booksellers together to select their top categories as well as choose the winning titles. Their decisions are based on editorial excellence, professional production, originality of the narrative, author credentials relative to the book, and the value the book adds to its genre.

If your books expand a reader's world, introduce a voice society needs to hear, offer practical knowledge where none existed before, or simply entertain so compellingly that all distractions fall away, they should be submitted for the Book of the Year Award.

Judging Criteria
Keeping in mind the standard used by booksellers and librarians for purchases/acquisitions, judges will take note of the following:

■Editorial excellence
■Intent of book met by author
■Originality of subject matter
■Accuracy
■Author credentials
■Professional packaging
Finalists will be determined by a jury of judges consisting of editors and reviewers of ForeWord Reviews, booksellers, librarians, and other industry professionals.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit Award, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro Wins Pinnacle Book Award

2011-03-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

Spring 2010 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards Announced, including Mary Greenwood's How to Interview Like a Pro; 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job in the business category

NABE announces the winners of the Spring 2010 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards.

Cottage Grove, OR, May 04, 2010 --(PR.com)-- NABE, the North American Bookdealers Exchange, now celebrating 30 years of helping publishers market and promote their books, has just announced the winners of the Spring 2010 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards.

These awards have been given for more than 20 years and honor some of the finest independently-published books in a wide variety of different fields including Children's Interest, Business, Novel, Memoir, Self-Help, Health, How-To, Cooking, and more.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category,Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book Festival, How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit Award, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro a Winner in Reader Views Book Awards

2011-03-01T17:23:00.000-08:00

Reader Views Book Awards announced today that How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job is the winner in the How to Category. The annual literary awards were established to honor writers who self-published or had their books published by a subsidy publisher, small press, university press, or independent book publisher geared for the North American reading audience.

Second place was The Medical Bill Survival Guide, by Nicholas Newsad and Honorable Mention was Love More, Feed Less, by Randi Lee Levin.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Interview Tips to Nail Your Next Interview

2011-02-25T13:37:00.000-08:00
Please note my comments listed as Comments 1.
Lots of good tips.

Job Interview: 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
By Amy Levin-Epstein | Feb 24, 2011 | 19 Comments

Get ready to nail your next interview, job seekers. I’ve asked my experts for their A-list advice to get you a second interview. I suspect you’re already savvy enough to send a thank you note and avoid lying on your resume. Let’s take your technique to the next level.

What follows, in no specific order, is a tried-and-true list of job interview tips. And by all means, if something else has worked even better for you, please sign in below and share it in the comments section.

1. Ask them upfront why they wouldn’t hire you.

The interview is coming to a close, but make sure you stick your landing, says Roberta Chinksy Matuson, President of Human Resource Solutions and author of Suddenly in Charge: Managing Up, Managing Down, Succeeding All Around. “Always end the conversation with the following question: ‘Is there anything about my background that gives you concern?’” says Matuson. Now you’ve bought yourself a bonus round to derail any doubts.

2. Prepare sound bites.
Successes and skills need to be displayed clearly. “A sound bite is succinct and direct, catchy and easy to remember. An example is ‘I’ve designed logos for three Fortune 500 companies,’ or ‘My efficiency plan decreased product-delivery times by 15 percent without costing the company one cent,’” says Charles Purdy, senior editor and career expert at Monster.com. Implant these one-liners in your brain, and you won’t be grasping for words.

3. Ask for homework.
Until you’re hired, you’re an unknown to your potential employer. You sound great, but can you perform? Erase that question by asking for a trial assignment, suggests Sara Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of FlexJobs. “Ask whether there’s any job-related task that you could do for them that would allow you to showcase your qualifications and maybe even save them a little time,” says Sutton Fell. Do a good job, and you’ll be getting paid to do the same work soon enough.

4. Mirror your interviewer.
You might feel like you’re in the hot seat, but if you can match your interviewer’s speed of speech and mannerisms, you’ll both feel more like you’re old friends and less like you’re in an NCIS interrogation room, says Ken Sundheim, CEO and Founder of KAS Placement, a New York City-based staffing agency. Not sure how you’re doing? “If you’re following their tone, speed and breathing correctly, validate your pacing technique by taking a sip of water - the interviewer will take a drink as well,” says Sundheim.

5. Be a stalker (within limits).I hope you’re already Googling the person who will interview you, and reading about the company - but you need to feel it out further. “Dig deep by using tools like Klout and Pipl,” says public relations executive Meryl Weinsaft Cooper co-author of Be Your Own Best Publicist: How to Use PR Techniques to Get Hired, Noticed and Rewarded at Work. “Lurk around LinkedIn. Do some investigations by interviewing people who work there, or those who have left, to get the skinny on the culture and crowd.”

6. Record a pre-interview practice.
Ever wish you could tell how you sound in an interview? Find out, suggests Marlene Caroselli, Ed.D., author of The Critical Thinking Toolkit: Spark Your Team’s Creativity with 35 Problem Solving Activities: “A week ahead of the interview, record your reply to expected questions. Play the tape back and analyze your responses. Would you hire you?” If the answer is no, press rewind and try again.

7. Lean in for the kill.
OK, we’re exaggerating slightly. But you do want to lean slightly forward so your interviewer can tell you’re game. “Slouching or leaning back may send the wrong signals. When you sit down for a formal interview, lean forward to show interest and active listening,” says Kathryn Minshew, co-founder and editor-in-chief of PYP Media, an online career consulting tool for women.

8. Use the word “we.”
Look, I trust you when you tell me you’re a team player - but during an interview, you can come across as a total narcissist by using only the word “I,” says Kimberly Schneiderman, job search consultant and owner of City Career Services. She suggests talking about what your last team created, and only then describing your particular role. An example: “At ABC Company, the New Projects Team, of which I am a member, created a new app that would identify bakeries by location for our users. My role on the team was to identify bakeries within a specific radius of New York City and categorize them by specialty.”

9. Bring props.
Think of an interview as show and tell, suggests Jenni Luke, national executive director of Step Up Women’s Network. “Bring a ‘brag book’ of career accomplishments which demonstrates the quality of your work. [Or] if you see great work that a competitor is doing, bring that to the interview and critique it,” says Luke. This will clearly show what you can do and how you think. Bonus: Having a prop can also calm jittery nerves.

Do you have any no-fail interview tips you’d like to add to this list? Please sign in below and share. For more career advice, follow @MWOnTheJob on Twitter.

More on MoneyWatch:

COMMENTS
1 marygreenwood
02/25/11

Some more tips by Mary Greenwood, Author of How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules For Getting Your Next Job.

1. NEVER DISCUSS MONEY AT THE FIRST INTERVIEW. If you do, you will probably not get the second interview. You want to spend the entire interview explaining what you can do for the company. The money discussion should come much later after they know they want you.

2. NEVER SAY YOU YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
Not having any questions shows a lack of interest. This is your opportunity to show your in-depth knowledge of the company and that you are genuinely interested in the company. I make a list the night before and then ask the ones that have not been asked. Here is my favorite: What brought you to the company and what do you like most about the company?

3. HOW DO YOU ANSWER THAT WHACKY QUESTION?
Some employeres like to ask those whacky questions. Remember when Barbara Walteres asked Katherin Hepburn what kind of tree she was. When you get one of those questions, don't take it too seriously. See if you can answer it humorously without appearing flakey or insincere. If you don't understand, perhaps you can ask them to rephrase.

2ExecCareerCoach

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
As an executive career coach I would like to add the following tips to the list above:

RESEARCH THE INTERVIEWERS WHO WILL BE CONDUCTING THE INTERVIEW. Usually you will get the names of the people who will be interviewing you from the person who schedules the interview. Find these people on Zoominfo, Jigsaw, LinkedIn, and Twitter so that you can find points of common interest. This will help you establish rapport during the interview and give them the idea that you will be a good fit in this organization.

FIND OUT ABOUT ANY NEW INITIATIVES THAT THE COMPANY IS INVOLVED IN. Use this information in the interview to show the interviewers that you are not simply desperate for a job, any job. You are very interested in working for this company, and you have thought about how your position might promote the success of these new initiatives.

USE LINKEDIN TO FIND NETWORKING CONTACTS THAT YOU HAVE AT THAT COMPANY. Hiring managers prefer to hire people that they know something about, so if you come recommended, that will increase your chances of landing a second interview and even the job. These contacts can also give you inside information about the company that can help you in the interview. And they may be able to tell you about the interviewers as well as give you information about the company.

You can visit my website at www.calltocareer.com or email me at admin@calltocareer.com.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Palmer

3cvainrub

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
When choosing three tips to guarantee a second interview,
here are some suggestions:

1- Practice makes perfect - when interviewing, the more
practice you get, the better prepared you will be to fully
represent yourself. The interview process can be very
stressful, practicing will take part of the stress out of the
equation, allowing you to feel more comfortable with yourself
and focus on your story, and not your nerves. Practicing
doesn't mean scripting! It means thinking about questions you
will need to answer and understanding what could be good
answers to help the interviewer know how you can have
added value in their company.

2- Be true to yourself! Although times are tough for many,
our goal should be to find a job that provides the right fit
with our career goals, working style and interests. Think
Richard Branson! If he would have to look for a job and he
would act the part, he probably wouldn't last a month! So
represent yourself fully and remember, an interview goes both
ways.

By Claudine Vainrub, Principal of EduPlan - www.eduplan.us

4mdumaine

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
Some insight from career coach and Aspyre Solutions founder Dana Leavy (http://aspyresolutions.com):

Be THE Problem Solver

Hiring managers want to know how you (and only you) can solve the needs of their organization. Read between the job description lines. What are you bringing to the table that the next person with a similar background is not? If you educate yourself and build awareness around what keeps your next potential boss up at night, and you clearly communicate how you can help to solve that, chances are you've got their attention.

Qualifications in the form of experience and tangible skills aren't enough to grab a hiring manager's attention these days. You need to be a creative, proactive problem solver.

5tlinde

02/25/11 | Report as spam

nexus IT group, Inc
1. Ask questions that elicit positive responses from the employer. Also, the questions should bring out your interest in and knowledge of the organization. By asking intelligent, well-thought-out questions, you show the employer you are serious about the organization and need more information. It also indicates to the hiring manager/recruiter that you have done your homework.

2. During the interview, you may be asked some unusual questions. Don?t be too surprised. Many times questions are asked simply to see how you react. For example: ?Tell me a joke? or ?What time period would you like to have lived in?? These are not the kind of questions for which you can prepare in advance. Your reaction time and the response you give will be evaluated by the employer, but there?s no way to anticipated questions like these. While these questions are not always used, they are intended to force you to react under some stress and pressure. The best advice is to think and give a natural response.

3. DEFUSE RED FLAGS: Be upfront and honest about your past.

a. Resume doesn?t show continuous employment: ?I didn?t work in 2006 because I went back to school to finish my degree. I feel I made the right decision: when I returned to work my salary was considerably higher.?

b. Laid off: Explain in a way that dispels any shame or guilt you may be harboring. ?I was one of 80 people laid off last May when XYZ Corporation started downsizing.?

c. Fired: Be straightforward. ?To be honest with you I didn?t fit into the organization. My supervisor and I decided it was for my best interest to leave.?

www.nexusitgroup.com

6FrancesCole

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
As the author of two books on interviewing ("How to Wow" and The Wow Factor": www.thewowfactor-thebook.com) I'd like to add the following three tips:

Have two answers for "What's your greatest weakness?" Why?
Because HR Directors now know everyone has one answer ready so they simply wait for you to finish and say, "Great, tell me another." You need to out prep them.

2. Being rude, dismissive, or condescending to the wait staff at a lunch interview guarantees you will not make the next cut. No, it doesn't make you seem important, it makes you seem like a jackass. No one wants that behavior on their team.

3. Don't close your interview by asking, "How did I do?" It makes you seem very young/inexperienced. Instead ask, "What are my next steps?"

7badjobinterviews

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
A job interview story of not being prepared:
I went to an interview recently where the recruiter had failed to send me the job description. I had to start off the interview with "So? what position am I being interviewed for?"

Not a good start to an interview. Read more stories about bad job interviews and see some examples of what not to do.

8annspoor

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
So many great tips! Here are 3 more for your readers Amy.

1. Preparation is the key to success! Know the company- read news and press releases, listen to a recent earnings call. Understand the role. The more you know, the more credibility you have.

2. If you have a phone interview first, which is common practice, energy and clear communication is critical. Whenever possible, use a land line to ensure a good connection. Find a quiet place- no dogs barking or kids crying. Stand when speaking. This projects better energy on the phone.

3. Dress appropriately. Take a look at the website and LinkedIn for pictures and images of current employees. Dress in a similar fashion but a step above. Example, if this is a high tech company in the Silicon Valley where everyone is in a tee-shirt and jeans, don't wear a suit and tie. You won't fit in.

www.executivelattice.com

9fuhrsd

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
Amy,

Great piece. I particularly like #2, about the sound bites. How often do candidates find themselves showing-up for the interview, only to be thrown off by distractions like the bustling office environment that day, phones ringing, etc.? Sound bites are a great way to access impressive information fast.

-Scott

10Philip Farina, CPP

02/25/11 | Report as spam

Manta Security Management Recruiters
1. DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE - RESEARCH THE COMPANY, INDUSTRIES THAT IT SERVES, PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS, CULTURE AND KEY PLAYERS WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP AND SELECTION TEAM. BRING THIS INFORMATION TO THE TABLE AND BLEND IT THROUGHOUT THE INTERVIEW.

2. TAKE OWNERSHIP IN THE POSITION BEFORE IT'S EVEN YOURS - PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS FACING YOUR POTENTIAL EMPLOYER AS IF YOU WERE ALREADY PART OF THE TEAM.

3. FOLLOW UP AND THANK YOU NOTES - ENSURE THAT YOU OBTAIN BUSINESS CARDS AND/OR FULL CONTACT INFORMATION FROM EACH OF YOUR INTERVIEWERS. SEND BOTH AN EMAIL AS WELL AS A HARDCOPY "THANK YOU" NOTE, EXPRESSING EXCITEMENT, QUALIFICATIONS AND FURTHER INTEREST IN THE POSITION. INVITE THEM TO CONTACT YOU FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

4. KEEP THE DOOR OPEN - IF YOU ARE NOT SELECTED FOR THE POSITION OR AN ADDITIONAL INTERVIEW, DON'T BE DISCOURAGED. MAINTAIN THE RELATIONSHIP BY REPLYING WITH FURTHER INTEREST IN THE POSITION OR COMPANY. MENTION THAT IF THE CANDIDATE SELECTED DOES NOT MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS, YOU WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THEM AGAIN.

Philip Farina, CPP
CEO, Manta Security Management Recruiters
http://www.manta1.net
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manta-Security-Management-Recruiters/389269133746

Author of:

Antiterrorism Careers - THE Ultimate Guide to Professional Employment Opportunities in Specialized Security

Effective Strategies for Mastering Success on Linkedin.com - The Security Professional's Guide to Capitalizing on the World's Best Business Network

11Jenny Schade

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
Great tips! And here's my own Single-Best Interviewing Tip: ALWAYS add value, right from the first encounter. That means do your homework ahead of time and bring in an article you think will interest the interviewer or even an idea for the company. In your follow-up communication, send an article you think the interviewer will find of interest and value.

Other people won't do this - they'll just send a regular old thank you note. You be the one to send an interesting article that addresses a business or personal interest of the interviewer. You'll stand out in the crowd, I promise.

Jenny Schade
www.JRSconsulting.net

12ShawnGraham

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
Great suggestions although the first tip is very risky. Asking someone if there's any reason why they wouldn't hire you is like asking someone at the end of a date if there's any reason they wouldn't go out with you again.

Typically, people avoid situations that could lead to awkward exchanges or possible confrontation...so that means they'll typically say "Nope, you are great" even if they don't really mean it.

Shawn Graham
www.CourtingYourCareer.com

13ronkaufman

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
Tips from Ronald Kaufman, author of "Anatomy of Success," anatomyofsuccess.com:

1. Everyone knows you should research a prospective employer, and yet very few people go deep enough. A key to getting hired, is to convince the interviewer that you want a career with their company, not just a job. Like dating, I want someone who wants me, and who?s looking for a long-term relationship.

Research the company as if you were buying their stock. What are the earnings, what are the products, what?s the corporate culture, what are their values and mission statement, what?s the outlook for their products and for their industry, where are they located, what?s their debt rating, what changes have occurred in the last 12 months, what?s the stock been doing if they?re public, who?s their competition, what marketing are they doing (TV, radio, print, blog, twitter, Facebook, YouTube), who?s their leadership and how long have they been with the company, etc.

2. Know yourself thoroughly in terms of skills, traits, values, talents, beliefs, and accomplishments. Who are you, and what do you have that is unique that will be a resource for them to achieve their goals? And be prepared with examples to prove what you say about yourself is reliable.

3. Have a positive attitude, learning what their perceived problems are, what their goals are, and how you can help them to succeed. Assume whatever you?re saying in your mind about yourself or them, is being heard by them. Only say things in your mind that you would be okay with them hearing out loud.

14ihirsch

02/25/11 | Report as spam

Lydia Whitney
Great tips ! As the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Winning STEP and the author of the Winning STEP? Comprehensive Career Entry Preparation Guide, Comprehensive Career Entry Independent Study Workbook and Career Organizer & Journal, as well as a number of customized career preparation curriculums, I would like to offer a few more job interview tips.

My first tip would be to make sure that you have a more modern formatted resume which focuses on skills, experience, and accomplishments and not dates and chronology. If the interviewer must take time to search for what you are able to do, you may not get that second interview.

Secondly, during an interview, when you are asked a question, before you start your answer, try to determine why that question was asked. What is the interviewer trying to learn about you? The interviewer wants to learn more about you as a person, and how you might help the company. Make sure you state how you will be a benefit to the company.

Thirdly, learn all that you can about your interviewer. Try to find out his/her name, title, and job before the interview. Also make certain you can pronounce his/her name correctly
Lydia Whitney
Winning-STEP.com

15Hillary O'Keefe

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
Amy, these are all such great tips, and so many unusual ones as well! When I spoke with Josh Gampel, Senior VP of Staffing at Onward Search, he recommended the following tips as sure fire ways to get to that next round.

Tip #1: Set objectives and a goal before you interview.

Establish ahead of time what elements of your personal brand you are selling to the company. The interview is, after all, really about what you're bringing to the table, not what you'll get out of the job. Figure out your selling points in advance so you're prepared to explain exactly how you'll improve the company when hired.

Tip #2: Use the STAR format.

When answering a question, try to frame your answer in the STAR format, which stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. In doing so, you will give the interviewer the type of specific and measurable evidence of success/experience they are looking for.

Tip #3: Ask Open-Ended Questions

Arrive at the interview prepared with open-ended questions that are based on the research you did on your prospective employer. Their responses will give you insight on what they're looking for in an ideal candidate, how the role will be measured and what types of obstacles they hope to overcome. Use these insights to tailor your responses from there on out.

Josh also mentioned that many job seekers don't express enough interest in the job. He suggests separating yourself from the crowd by making it crystal clear that you want the job and ask about what the next steps are.

16Lynn Taylor

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
Nice article, Amy! Here are some more tips. More at my author site: www.TameYourTOT.com and blogs:

TIPS

1) PRESENT YOUR UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION (USP)

Every savvy marketer knows that a product or service has one foremost distinction above its competitors. If you can sell yours in the first interview, and relate it to the opening, you'll stand out. More specifically, how will adding you be a good ROI or return on investment? Put yourself in the hiring managers shoes. The Domino's Pizza classic USP was: "Hot, fresh pizza delivered in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed." In your past career, were you known for streamlining business costs? Over-delivering on customer service or having outstanding staff retention? These are all great USPs.

2) MANAGE THE INTERVIEW

Yes, you read correctly! Just because you're on the other side of the desk doesn't mean you can't gently guide the conversation. You are there to listen first (and carefully) and answer questions. But this is your opportunity to lead the dialog into why you are the best fit for the job - and highlight key points. It takes skill and tact. If you don't believe you're the best choice, why should the interviewer?

3) ASK INTERVIEWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR CAREER

You'll have a much better idea if you want to work for the person and company, and in the process, the hiring manager will be flattered. Its the rare person who doesn't want to talk about their own career. By taking an interest in any person, they will automatically take a greater interest in you.

Best of luck!

17SpeakEtc.

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
Great points! I'm a Communication and Presentation skills coach and video tape my clients before their interviews! Here are 3 things my clients always seem to need reminders about:

1) Remember to bring your personality
So many people feel they have to strip away their personality as soon as they don their interview clothes. Not so? Many interviewers sit in a room all day talking to job applicant after job applicant. Imagine how boring that might be. Bringing your personality to the interview is one way to be memorable.

Instead of: Walking in as though you?re going to a firing squad, sitting down, folding your hands and staring at the interviewer waiting to be grilled.
Try: Walking briskly in, (always give them a few seconds to ?check you out?), sit toward the front of the chair with your chest slightly forward. * SMILE and start the conversation yourself! Comment on their office, something their wearing and yes, maybe even the weather. As long as your comment is positive and authentic, it could really serve to break the ice and make you both feel more comfortable and engaged.

Remember it?s a conversation not an interrogation:

There?s a tendency for people to make interviews like one person tennis games. The interviewer serves, the interviewee gives a one sentence answer which lands with a thud on the other side of the net, forcing the interviewer to bend down pick up the ball and serve again. That gets a little tiring and would be really boring to play or watch.

Instead of: Answering the interviewer?s question with the answer, the whole answer and nothing but the answer.
Try: Giving the answer and then bridging your answer to a topic that highlights your strengths.
Example:
Q. What social media sites do you feel are essential?
A. I really like working with twitter, facebook, linkedin, ning and several other of the popular sites. (good answer but don?t stop there!) I also work with a lot of the applications that simplify and aggregate content because I like to be as efficient and effective as possible. At my last job, I was able to increase the companies? unique users by 40% in three months. (PAUSE - If there?s no sign that the interviewer wants to interrupt, add) - I know that this company prides itself on being transparent and I?d love to apply my skills toward your social media marketing. (I know this example might sound bogus to real social media folks but I hope you get the picture.)

NOTE: Of course, you also need to be aware of talking TOO much!

Remember they really want you to be right for the job:

When you send out hundreds of resumes and lose out on interview after interview, it?s very normal to get negative, discouraged and bitter. Trust me, I know. As an actor I probably got less than 1% of the roles I auditioned for. However, it?s very important not to bring that bitterness into the interview. One piece of advice that really resonated with a current client was something casting directors always tell you: They really want you to be good! Think of how much easier their job would be if they found the perfect candidate without a lot of hassle. Although it may not seem that way, it really is not in their best interest to call you in just to waste both of your time.

Instead of: Answering questions in a monotone voice that sounds like you?ve said the same thing a million times. (My clients were particularly struck by how their voices and vocal tone came across)
TRY: Infusing your voice with energy and passion. Letting them know that you love what you do and can?t wait to do it for them.
Instead of: Getting defensive when they ask you about your experience.
Try: Feeling proud of everything you?ve done and grateful for the opportunity to share information that is going to prove how right you are for this position.

And remember you?re sizing them up too. Is this really a place you want to be for the next few years, few months or even few minutes? Remember to ask questions and check out their body language, strengths and personality.

18gerardfr

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
One of my favourite questions when interviewing for staff runs along the lines of: What I have to do at the end of the day is decide between various candidates, so help me out here, why should I employ you?

The number of times that this has stumped interviewees or forced them to think on their feet amazes me.

The question totally sums up the interview process and before going into an interview you need to have thought through clearly the answer that you want to give.

If you are not asked the question directly, you need to make sure that you have conveyed all of the information in your answers to the questions asked or as a statement towards the end.

This is the question that the interviewer needs to answer at the end of the day. The more that you can assist in providing a clear answer in your favour, the more likely you are to move forward.

By the way, try to steer clear of generalities and banalities - if I did not think that you would be honest and hard working, then I would not have asked you in for an interview.

19Amy Levin-Epstein

02/25/11 | Report as spam

RE: Job Interview? 9 Great Tips to Get You to Round 2
Thanks everyone, for all of these fabulous comments. It just
goes to show that there is no "right" way to nail an interview.
Job seekers simply need to find out what techniques or tricks
work for them. It's also worth noting that many of these tips
can be used for many important meeting situations, not only
job interviews. Amy (Twitter @MWOnTheJob)

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Signing Event at Winter Park Borders on March 12, 2011 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

2011-02-24T13:32:00.001-08:00
On March 12th, there will be a signing event for How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

Borders at Winter Park Village is located at
600 N.Orlando Avenue, Winter Park, Fl. 32789
tel. 407-647-3300

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Mary Greenwood is leading 8 hour training at Oakland Mediation Center in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan on March 21, 2011

2011-02-24T07:35:00.000-08:00
Oakland Mediation Center, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Event Information Name of Training : 8 Hour Advanced Mediator Training

Training Description : This training will review the mediation process, discuss the roles of the mediator, and emphasize the neutrality and ethics of the mediator. The participants will learn how to talk like a mediator and deal with difficult parties. Additionally, participants will learn about different types of mediation and how to employ the skills in the marketplace.

Start Date : 03/21/2011

End Date : 03/21/2011

Start Time : 08:30:00 AM

End Time : 05:00:00 PM

Cost : $325.00

Location : Oakland Mediation Center

Trainer : Mary Ann Greenwood author of the books How to Mediate Like a Pro and How to Negotiate Like a pro

Class Limit : 16

Grade Level : Adults
Audience : Mediators who have completed the 40-Hour Mediator Training
CEUs :
Meals : Breakfast, lunch, snack

Questions : Please contact Camelia Ureche at (248) 338-4280 ext 211.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Mary Greenwood speaks at South Florida Writers Association in Miami on March 5

2011-02-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

SFWA Membership Monthly Meeting

Guests are welcome!

Next Meeting: Saturday, March 5, 2011

Time: 10 am to 12 Noon

Subject-SFWA member, Mary Greenwood will cover awards and special extras for your books

Book: How to Interview Like a Pro, 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job plus a discussion on additional publicity and recognition for her books.

Where: New Location! South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Lodge

6304 SW 78 Street

Miami, FL 33143

(US 1 in back of Taco Bell and BP Gas)

Map of Elks Lodge location

Cost: $8 for members and $10 for guests. Food will be provided by Andy's Catering for breakfast brunch. No price change for meeting. You may pay with cash or check at the door. You may also renew your SFWA membership or become a member at the door.

For questions: Contact Teresa Bendaña, e-mail: terebend@yahoo.com

Parking: Free in front, sides and back of building.

Synopsis:

(written by Jonathan Rose, Program Director and paraphrased by Lynn MacKinnon, Secretary)

SFWA member, Mary Greenwood, returns to speak about her third new book How to Interview Like a Pro, 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job which earned the Editor's Choice and Rising Star designation by iUniverse. Her two previous books, How to Negotiate like a Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes won six book awards and How to Mediate Like a Pro, won 12 book awards. Mary Greenwood is a a Human Resources Director and Attorney. She has a BA and MA in English, a Law Degree and an LL.M. in Labor Law. Greenwood lives in Orlando, Florida. For further information, her website: www.Marygreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards Finalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit Award, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtonegotiate@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Feathered Quill Book Review gives How to Interview Like a Pro a 5 star review

2011-02-19T13:01:00.001-08:00

Self-Help/ How To/ Business
How To Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules For Getting Your Next Job

By: Mary Greenwood
Publisher: iUniverse
Publication Date: December 2010
ISBN: 978-1450270892
Reviewed by: Eloise Michael
Review Date: February 2011

How To Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules For Getting Your Next Job begins with “Rule 1. Getting a Job is a full-time job” (pg. 1). It may be disappointing to realize that it takes work to find work, but the good news is that this book will make the job easier. How to Interview Like a Pro includes all the information you will need with nothing extra to take up your time. Author Mary Greenwood writes clearly. The rules are numbered, arranged in a logical order, written in bold, and divided into chapters, making the book exceptionally easy to navigate.

Greenwood allows readers to tailor her advice to their own situations. Of course there are many different jobs out there, and readers will have diverse backgrounds. Greenwood has considered the job-seeker just out of school, the person moving from one high-level managerial position to another, and everything in between. She advises on using your credentials to gain a higher salary at a new job. She also gives ideas on how to explain the fact that you have a criminal record. In short, if you are looking for a job, whoever you are, this book is for you.

Readers will not find, however, that they are wading through lots of information that does not apply to their own situation. Greenwood has isolated forty-three rules that are almost universal. Below each rule are lists of sample questions, answers, or scenarios. Readers can easily scan through the list and pick those that are a good match.

We have all encountered “How to” books that repeat good advice we have heard already. This is not one of those books. How to Interview Like a Pro will have some new information for anyone, whether you are just out of school and interviewing for a first job or have changed jobs several times. Greenwood does not leave out the conventional wisdom; she offers new insight into the old rules.

One section that will be particularly useful is a list of twenty-six common interview questions. Greenwood follows each with some suggested answers. The list of questions allows job-seekers to think about the best response and to rehearse it in advance. Readers have the opportunity to develop their own style and presentation around the framework of Greenwood's suggested answers, which will allow them to be more focused and more confident later at the interview.

Realistically there are some jobs that you will not get, even if you interview like a pro. Greenwood explains the hiring process from the inside, pointing out that sometimes, for legal reasons, companies interview candidates they have no intention of hiring. Sometimes they do not hire anyone. Though it is helpful to remember that there are many reasons why a company does not hire candidates, rejection is still hard to take. How to Interview Like a Pro can help with this, too. Greenwood offers encouragement and a positive spin on the jobs you don't get. She suggests practical ways to gain from each interview experience and to apply that new knowledge to the next interview.

These forty-three rules are not a one-size-fits-all program for getting hired. Instead they are a framework to help readers identify their own strengths and think about how best to present them. Reading the book is an interactive process. Greenwood provides choices, and gives readers the opportunity to put the pieces together, following the forty-three rules, so that they may obtain a job that will fit with their skills, experience, and interests.

Quill says: How to Interview Like a Pro provides practical advice in an easy-to-use format. If you are looking for a job, this book is for you!

For more information on How To Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules For Getting Your Next Job, please visit the author's website at: www.MaryGreenwood.org

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro,Editor's Choice and Rising STar and Finalist in Reader Views Book Awards, How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help Category, Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book Festival How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book Festival, Best E-Book, Indie Excellence Awards Spirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtointerview@aol.com www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro is Finalist in How To category in Reader View Book Awards

2011-02-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

How to Interview Like a Pro; 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job is a finalist in the Reader View Book Awards. The finalists will be selected in March. The annual literary awards were established to honor writers who self-published or had their books published by a subsidy publisher, small press, university press, or independent book publisher geared for the North American reading audience.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Look for Red Flags During the Interview Process

2011-02-05T17:24:00.000-08:00

As part of your debriefing after an interview, you should list any red flags that may make working at this company unacceptable. You may have seen things at this employer that gave you pause about working there. In the excitement of going for an interview, do not overlook these red flags and go with your gut.

Here are some potential red flags:

1. I am not sure my management style is compatible with my new boss.
It is important that you and your new boss work well together. You may want to ask your prospective boss what his management style is and how he likes to work on projects. If you like to work independently and he/she likes to micromanage, there may be a potential problem.

2. I want to know how long my new boss intends to work before retiring.
Once I took a job and my new boss almost immediately announced his retirement. I immediately started looking for a job. It was a good thing I was proactive because after I left, they eliminated that position and did not reinstate it for at least twenty years. This is a tricky subject, but you might want to discreetly ask what your prospective boss' future plans are.

3. I would like to know if they will train me and pay me for conferences.
With budget shortfalls, cuts in travel and training are some of the first to be eliminated. If this is very important to you, this may be a red flag. You should ask before you accept an offer whether they will pay for you to go to a national or regional conference. You should explain how important it is to you to keep up to date in your field.

4. I heard someone mention layoffs during my interview.
You might wonder if the rumors are true. If you have already been through a layoff, you probably want to avoid putting yourself in that position again.

Everyone's red flags will be different depending on his/her comfort level on these issues. Of course, things will happen that are not foreseeable, but make sure you find out as much as you can on these red flag issues before making your decision to accept an offer.

Mary Greenwood, Attorney Mediator, and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro, Editor's Choice and Rising Star, How to Negotiate like a Pro, Winner of six book awards and How to Mediate Like a Pro, Winner of twelve book awards.
Email: howtointerview@aol.com
Website: http://www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Review of Networking for the Novice, Nervous, or Naive Job Seeker by Tom Dezell

2011-02-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

Tom Dezell is a fellow iUniverse author. He has written Networking for the Novice, Nervous or Naive Job Seeker, which is an excellent "must have book" for a jobseeker. A few weeks ago Tom asked me to do an interview on his radio program. While discussing our books, we discovered that our tips and rules overlapped in many areas. His focus is networking and mine is interviewing.

The review can be found on Amazon.com. "What makes Tom's book unique is that he provides true life anecdotes to illustrates his points. As an author of a recent book on interviewing, I really appreciated his tips and found myself nodding in agreement throughout the book. For example, he quotes Penelope Trunk, who said, "Hiring Managers do not hire the most qualified; they hire the individual they most want to work with." Tom recommends adding your military service, like the Marines, because that may be a plus for the hiring manager. Your interest in film or dogs, (I have a picture of my Boston Terrier Annabelle on my cover) may help the hiring manager decide he/she wants to work with you.

Another thing I loved about the book are the chance encounters that got people jobs: The engineer whose neighbor was an HR Director for an Engineering company; the Little League Dad who sat next to another Little League Dad, who ended up giving the first Dad some leads for another job. You just never know where your next lead is going to come from and so you should tell everyone your situation. It is nothing to be ashamed about,especially in this economy.

Tom Dezell gives a lot of pragmatic, practical and down-to earth tips about networking. I give it my highest recommendation."

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job; How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law Category, Best E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtointerview@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Feathered Quill Book Reviews lists How to Interview Like a Pro as a Friday Find

2011-02-04T17:15:00.000-08:00

Feathered Quill Book Reviews list How to Interview Like a Pro as a Friday Find. http://featheredquill.blogspot.com/2011/02/friday-finds.html

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Sandra Johnson, the photographer of my book cover

2011-01-29T14:39:00.000-08:00

I want to introduce you to the photographer, Sandra Johnson, who took the picture of me with my Boston Terrier puppy, Annabelle, for the cover of How to Interview Like a Pro. Here is a picture of Sandra with her husband Chris with their dogs,Goblin, the brown dog, and James, the poodle.

Mary: I know that you primarily photograph weddings. Can you tell me something about how you got into that part of the business?

Sandra: I have been taking pictures for as long as I can remember and in high school I was asked to photograph a wedding for a friend's older sister. I was hooked at that point! I really love all things weddings - magazines, TV shows, websites, movies - I can't get enough of them!

Mary: I met you at The Doggie Door in Winter Park where you were doing photos of dogs with or without their owners. I know that you donate the proceeds to a Greyhound rescue group. Can you tell me more about photographing dogs and how you got involved with animal rescue organizations.

Sandra: A friend of mine owned a grooming shop and she said it would be a great idea to take photos of dogs. We tried it and loved it and when we approached The Doggie Door about doing photos with them they asked for the proceeds to go to the Greyhounds. That was 10 years ago and they now have the Sebastian Haul Fund and all of the photo events we do with The Doggie Door help raise money for the Sebastian Haul Fund. From there we also did a few photo days for the SPCA and also for the Greyhound Ranch. Most recently we donated a private session to Hound Haven and we hope to work with them more in the future.

Mary: How is photographing dogs different from photographing people?

Sandra: With people I can communicate exactly what I want to them. I can get them to pose exactly how I want and I ask them to smile or laugh. With dogs you get what you can - you have to trick them into posing and staying put (and we try to do this without treats since that is a distraction). Some dogs like sounds, some prefer movement and some dogs we have to surprise. The good thing is all of the tricks we use on dogs usually make their owners smile, too!

Mary: You make it look so easy. How many photographs do you usually take for the one perfect photo that your client loves?

Sandra: In one of the sessions for The Doggie Door we usually take about 10 photos - but I know when I got "the shot" in that group and usually there is one outstanding shot that is better than the rest. But we always give the clients all of them since they all show the dog's personality. We used to delete the ones where the dog snuck in a kiss or something silly but now we leave those in and they have been a big hit!

Mary: What is the best way for people to reach you? What is your website? Anything else you want to add?

Sandra: Our website has all of our contact information - it is www.SJFoto.com and there is also a contact form there. We are always looking for new ideas and groups to work with - feel free to contact us!

Mary: I have really enjoyed finding out more about you. Annabelle is 8 months now. Maybe I will have to come in and have a Valentine photo. Stay tuned for more photos.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How to Interview Like a Pro, Editor's Choice and Rising Star,
How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes,Winner of six book awards:Best How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help Category Honorable Mention, London Book Festival;
How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes, Winner of ftwelve book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law Category, Best E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit Award, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail:
howtointerview@aol.com; vist my website www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

What Not to Do In An Interview Part 2; How to Interview Like a Pro

2011-01-17T07:32:00.000-08:00

Here are some more tips about what not to do in an interview from my new book, How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job.

Part 2

4. Don't Ask How Long the Interview Will Take.
If you start off the interview asking how long the interview will take, you are sending the message that you have someplace better to be or did not put enough money in your parking meter. Either way, it does not make you sound engaged in the interview itself. It will take as long as it takes. If you are lucky, it may take longer than the 30 or 60 minutes allotted; that would mean they like you and want to ask you more questions. Don't do anything that may cut the interview short.

5. Don't Drop Names in the interview.
If you know someone at the company, don't say something like this: "Yesterday I was talking to the Senior Vice-President and his view on this position is ______." First of all this sounds very arrogant. Secondly, it might look as though were asking that person to influence the hiring process. Thirdly, if the interviewer does not care what the Senior Vice-President said, you have put your foot in your mouth for nothing. If you must, put that person as a reference, but don't mention him/her in the interview.

6. Dont flirt with the interviewer or ask him/her on a date.
Yes, I have seen this happen. This is an interview, not speed dating. If you appear to be flirting, you are, by definition, not being professional. Of course, you can be charming, funny and smart but don't overdo it and don't cross that line even if you believe in "love at first sight."

If you follow these tips, you will be interviewing like a pro.

Mary Greenwood, Attorney Mediator, and Author, How to Interview Like a Pro, Editor's Choice and Rising Star, How to Negotiate like a Pro, Winner of six book awards, How To Mediate Like A Pro, Winner of twelve book awards, Available at http://www.amazon.com. http://www.Marygreenwood.org
Email: Howtointerview@aol.com

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

What Not to Do In An Interview; How to Interview LIke a Pro

2011-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

For my new book, How to Interview Like a Pro, I included a list of Do's and Don'ts. The following are a list of some of them. It might not seem possible, but I have seen all of these:

1. Don't Use Your Cell Phone.
This might seem obvious. Recently I was interviewing a candidate and on his way into the interview, he was texting. He was completely oblivious to his surroundings, had his head down and did not come up for air until he was sitting in his interview seat. So much for a good entrance! He had lost the position even before he opened his mouth. When I say "don't use your cell phone," that means at all times, not just when you are answering questions.

2. Don't Use a Weird Tagline on Your Email.
If your email is something like Sexy Momma or Big Hog or worse, don't use that account to conduct business for your job search. If you are wedded to that email name for your personal emails, then get another email account with a professional sounding tagline or one that just has your name. Most providers will let you have more than one account. It is good to have one that is easy to remember. I have an email tagline that is "How to Interview." Having an account just for your job search also helps keep you organized. When I see an inappropriate tagline, I immediately think that this candidate does not have good judgment.

3. Don't Speak Negatively About Your Boss.
When you are asked why you want to leave or how you get along with your boss, never say anything bad about him or her. That will reflect negatively on you because it may seem as though you are a whiner or cannot get along with people. Instead say something more neutral like "We sometimes agreed to disagree, but generally have a good working relationship" or "My boss agrees that there are not any promotional opportunities now and he knows I am looking elsewhere." Of course, don't say something that may be contradicted if your boss is called for a reference.

If you follow these tips, you will be interviewing like a pro.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of
How To Interview Like a Pro, 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job, Rising Star and Editor's Choice;
How To Negotiate Like A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards;
How To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of 12 book awards.

Email: howtointerview@aol.com, website: www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Getting a Job is Like Parking

2011-01-02T08:21:00.001-08:00

Getting a job is like parking. You have to be in the right place at the right time.

Just like with many things in life, timing is very important. You have to be at the right place at the right time. One thing that is always interesting about the interview process is that you really don't know what is happening on the other side of the interview. You don't know where the company is in the interview process or what they are really looking for. You don't know where the company is in the interview process or what they are really looking for.

Once when looking for a job, I took a map ( this is before Google and GPS systems) and used a protractor to arc the distance from my new apartment to see what towns were nearby. I saw that if I went over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a neighboring city was only ten miles away. I picked up my briefcase with resumes, got dressed for a job interview, and drove over that bridge. I found that the county administrator was looking for an attorney. I knocked on his door and introduced myself. He looked as though he could not believe his good luck; he read my resume and interviewed me on the spot. It turned out the county administrator had already advertised for the position, did not like any of the candidates, and was getting pressure to hire someone quickly. He asked me to come back, and I started my new job within the week.

That was when I first realized that getting a job was like parking. Was I the best candidate? Probably not, but I did have experience. I was available and I was there. It is amazing what a protractor can do. My point is to get out there so that when somebody pulls out of his or her parking spot, you are ready to drive in that spot and get the job.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.com, www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Reader Views Five Star Review of How to Interview Like a Pro

2010-12-31T12:33:00.000-08:00

How to Interview Like A Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job (Paperback)
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views (12/10)

Award-winning author Mary Greenwood puts her skills and experience on paper yet again in her latest `like a pro' installment, "How to Interview Like a Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job." Within the pages, she gives practical and realistic recommendations on how to act, what to say (and even not say), when to follow up, what to wear, and much, much more. Greenwood's book makes for a quick and easy read with the implementation of her advice just as simple.

"How to Interview Like a Pro" is relevant and widely applicable, especially in today's struggling economy. Jobseekers need the right tools in order to stand out from other applicants and Greenwood offers exactly that. Each of the forty-three rules can be used by the young and old, the new and experienced, and even the entry-level to executive hopefuls. Ultimately, the book seeks to prepare the reader for what they could potentially encounter, such as questions, interviewing arrangements (i.e., one-on-one or panel type scenarios), and even the out of the ordinary situations. Further, readers are armed with a list of questions and subjects that employers cannot, by law, bring up in the interview process. These questions include information on race, religion, health and genetic backgrounds, sexual orientation, and even marital status. Greenwood concludes her book with helpful contact information for each state's employment agencies.

"How to Interview Like a Pro" is organized in short, helpful rules which makes learning each of them quick and painless. Greenwood writes with authority and experience while giving plenty of encouragement and support. She also includes some fun anecdotes of her own interviews and what she's learned from them.

"How to Interview Like a Pro: Forty-Three Rules for Getting Your Next Job" is THE `down and dirty' for learning how to interview in the most professional and prepared way possible. Author Mary Greenwood already has two, multiple-award-winning books under her belt and this latest release is sure to garner the same type of attention and honors. Today's tough economy calls for applicants who know how to make themselves stand out in a sea of nameless, faceless resumes and Greenwood's book gives those elusive `hows' and `whys' to make for a more successful employment search. A must read for any job seeker!

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtointerview@aol.com
www.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Launching How to Interview Like a Pro, 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job

2010-12-11T07:07:00.001-08:00

I have been working on How to Interview Like a Pro for the last few months so that it would be published in December. It is based on my experience as a Human Resources Director, Head Hunter, and lawyer. I also used my personal experience and anecdotes from my own job searches. At lastest count, I have had 25 jobs and hundreds of interviews.

How to Interview Like a Pro was written for anyone looking for a job, especially recent college graduates. I am launching How to Interview Like a Pro on Amazon.com. Anyone who purchases How to Interview Like a Pro on Amazon will get a free How to Mediate Like a Pro, which has won twelve book awards and I will pay the postage for the free book. All you have to do is send me a receipt of the Amazon purchase to Mgreen464@aol.com.

Happy Holidays.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro just published

2010-12-09T04:28:00.000-08:00

How to Interview Like a Pro: 43 Rules for Getting the Job You Want has just been published with Rising Star and Editor's choice designation by iUniverse.

The book is based on my 25 years as a Human Resources Director and Attorney as well anecdotes from my experience as an applicant over the years.

There are tips on preparing for the interview, answering those unusual interview questions and knowing which questions are illegal.

Soon I will put some excerpts from How to Interview Like a Pro on this blog.

My first book signings will be in January 2011.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit Award, South Florida Writers Association Email: howtointerview@aol.co website: mwww.marygreenwood.org
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How to Interview Like a Pro selected as Editor's Choice by iUniverse

2010-10-16T08:27:00.000-07:00
My new book, How to Interview Like a Pro, 43 Rules for Getting Your Next Job has been selected at Editor's Choice by iUniverse, who is publishing the book. The new book is based on my experience as an attorney, human reources professional, and search firm interviewer. It also includes many tips and anecdotes from my own experience getting 30 jobs over my career and surviving hundreds of interviews.

How to Interview Like A Pro is still in production and will come out in December, 2010. I will be giving more information about the book in weeks to come.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awards: Best How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Peter Diamond of MIT wins Nobel Prize in Economics but is not experienced enough to get on the Federal Reserve

2010-10-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

Peter Diamond won the Nobel Prize in Economics today. His research on unemployment is good enough to earn him the Nobel Prize in economics but not enough to get him on the Federal Reserve. His research is on the gap between the number of jobs available and the number of people who are still looking for jobs. What is wrong with this picture?

Do you think Congress will change its mind and decide he might be qualified to take the position on the Federal Reserve Board?

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author of How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Be Persistent in Your Negotiations

2010-06-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

Be Persistent

I always learn something about negotiating after a visit with my grandsons ages 1.5 and 3.5. One of my grandsons was very interested in obtaining a special car from Disney's Animated Film Cars. Watching him, I learned a lot about persistence and intend to incorporate some of these rules in my own negotiations.

Rules on Persistence

1. If you really want something, don't give up.

2. Have a one-track mind.

3. Ignore whatever is being discussed and go back to that issue every chance you get.

4. Remind the other party frequently that this is all that you want.

5. Tell the other party that you are willing to have a tantrum if you don't get it.

6. Tell the other party that there is no substitute for the item you want.

7. Keep talking about this item no matter what is being discussed.

8. If you see it, pick it up in the store and don't put it back.

9. Make it clear that you are not leaving unless you get this item.

10. If there is discussion you don't want to hear, put your fingers in your ears and say "la-la-la-la-la."

11. Explain that you do not have an identical one at home; the one at home is green and this one is blue.

12. Explain that even if this is expensive, it will be worth the cost because you will not ask for another one.

13. Even if this won't fit in the suit case, it can be shipped home.

14. Explain that this is the only thing that can make you happy.

15. If all else fails, say,"I know you are, but what I am I."

16. If offered another item, don't look at it.

17. Don't get distracted and focus on your goal.

18. Keep saying the same thing over and over no matter what.

19. If all else fails, say, "The heart likes what the heart likes."

20. Point out that Timmy's Mommy lets him have one.

I have watched these strategies in action and am going to try them in the adult world. Try these techniques in your own negotiations and see where it takes you.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author

How To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book Award, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.com blog: howtonegotiatelikeapro.blogspot.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Have a Yes Day in Negotiation

2010-05-31T14:54:00.000-07:00

I was reading Yes Day! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld to my three year old grandson, Jack. After reading it to him only once, it is now his favorite book.

The tag line is "What do you call a day when every answer is yes?" The answer is "Yes Day!" There are questions such as: 1) Can I please have pizza for breakfast? 2) Can I clean my room tomorrow? and 3) Can we stay up really late? In the real world outside our book, the answer to such questions usually is "no", but the book advocates saying "yes" on "Yes Day."

The alternatives to "Yes Day" are the thirty-four ways to say "no" such as 1)"No way, Jose Day", 2) "Hands on Hips Day, 3) "Not Today Day," 4)When Pigs Fly Day," and 5) "Read My lips Day". You get the idea. We are so programmed to say "no" that we hardly ever say "yes" anymore.

Yes Day! is a children's book, but it is really geared toward the parents and grandparents, who are reading the book to the kids. They are usually the ones saying "no."

I was thinking that "Yes Day" also has application to adult negotiations. We are conditioned to say "no" to any idea or suggestion that someone else makes. We almost automatically say no to an idea that is not ours. Somehow "no" is much easier to say than "yes" and that continues throughout our lives. Why is that? Is it just easier to use one of the 34 "no" excuses? The people in the "Yes Book" look as though they are having fun by staying up late, having food fights and getting piggy back rides. Maybe we could have more fun saying "yes" more often and we are missing out saying "no" all the time.

In an adult negotiation, you might take the other side by surprise by saying "yes." You might catch them off guard since we usually expect an argument. What are we afraid of? Is there some commitment in saying "yes"? Are we hesitant to agree to trying something new? Do we think we look weak? Do we think we are the only ones with good ideas? That reminds me of the pillow I recently saw that says, "I am not bossy, I just have better ideas!"

If you don't want to be perceived as "giving in", You can always say we will try it this once or we will put in a pilot program to see if it works.

Try having a "Yes Day" and see where it takes you!

Let me know if it works.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

Don't Let the Parties Get Bogged Down With the Principles or With the Facts

2010-05-25T19:49:00.000-07:00
When someone says, "it is not the money, it is the principle," I know that the mediation is in trouble. That is because the party is making a judgment call that it is more important to be a martyr than to settle the case. Feeling that you are right can be heady, but it has no place in a mediation.

When a party is obsessed with the principle of a situation, that person is still emotionally invested in his or her feelings. Unless the mediator can help the parties get past those emotions, the case is very unlikely to be resolved.

However, this knowledge can be used to good advantage. Since one side has stated that money is not an issue, other strategies might work. The mediation may be resolved by one party giving an apology, changing procedures, or doing something else within the party's principles.

I try to explain that fault is not the essence of mediation. It is not a question of who is right or who is wrong, but how to resolve the situation.

Some parties will be so obsessed with the case that they want to go through chapter and verse as to what went wrong. This party may have a chronology of every date and time and who said what and where. These parties may relish going through every terrible detail.

The mediator cannot let the party get bogged down with the facts. Going through every detail this way is counterproductive. These "facts" need to be replaced with some solutions. The mediator can allow a party to vent in caucus but in joint meetings he has to get back on track. If one side is only interested in the facts and what went wrong, he probably won't want to compromise and chances are the situation won't be resolved.

I like to ask questions like:

1. Is it important that this case get settled?

2. How can we get beyond this blame game and move forward to a solution?

3.Can we forget the past and look to the present to resolve this?

Unless the parties can get past their principles and not get bogged down by the facts as they know them, they will be unequipped to resolve the mediation. However, if they are willing to get beyond figuring out who is right and who is wrong, they may have a chance at arriving at a resolution.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How To Negotite Like A Pro on the Phone

2010-05-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

Negotiating on the phone has some disadvantages and advantages. Obviously, unless you have a video phone, you cannot see the other party's facial expressions or body language. You are dealing solely with a voice.

When negotiating over the phone, try not to let your voice give your position away. If you come to an agreement, it is a good idea to send an email or letter to the other side confirming what was said.

Even though you will probably be negotiating with a customer service representative, any call can turn into a negotiation.

Here are some rules that will be useful for phone negotiations:

1. Only negotiate with someone with authority.

The person answering the phone will generally not have the authority to give you what you want. Ask to speak to that person's supervisor at the earliest time without insulting the representative. You do not want to waste your time speaking to someone who cannot help you.

2. Set the tone.

You only have your voice in a phone negotiation so it is important to literally set the tone. Modulate your voice and try to sound professional.

3. Say what you want.

A telephone customer service rep handles all sorts of calls. It will be helpful if you say what you want if you know. Tell them you want a new item, a total refund, or an apology. Be clear as to what you want and tell the rep why you want it.

4. Never take no for an answer.

Even when you are told that something cannot be done, be persistent. If you are not yet speaking to the Supervisor, ask for the Supervisor. If you believe that you are getting nowhere, ask for the address of the President or Customer Service Manager to contact so you can continue the discussion with someone else.

5. If you don't ask, you don't get.

Asking for something on the phone can be harder than asking face to face. However, if you are speaking to a hotel or airline, for example, do not be afraid to ask for a free flight or upgrade. Many of the chains are customer-service oriented and some, like Nordstrom's, empower their employees to make their own decisions about customer service.

6. Keep track of all the paperwork.

The person on the other end of the line can be lost forever unless you get contact information at the beginning of the call. That is a good safeguard in case you get cut off. It is also a good idea to get the rep's telephone number, especially if you have been transferred a few times. You need to keep track of all calls, with the customer service rep's name,ID number, email address, and postal address so you can send a letter to confirm what was said.

7. Be careful what you say and how you say it.

Prepare what you are going to say. You may even want to write it down in advance and read it so you cover all your points. Be courteous when you call and do not let your emotions get the better of you. It is not in your interest to get upset with the rep.

Remember, the customer service rep is there to help you. If you alienate the rep, he or she is less likely to want to help you. The customer service rep is probably not the one who is at fault so it is not fair to get mad at him or her.

If you follow these rules, you will be able to negotiate like a pro when negotiating on the phone.

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com

How To Mediate Like A Pro Wins Next Generation Indie Book Award--Reception at the Plaza Hotel on May 25th

2010-05-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

All winners and finalists are invited to a reception at the Plaza Hotel in New York City as part of the Book Expo America.

How To Mediate Like A Pro is a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Business Category.

The winner in the Business category was Business Law Battle Plan for Entrepreneurs, by Marjorie Jobe (Aviva Publishing)

Here are the other finalists:

1.Building Business Value, by Martin O'Neill (Third Bridge Press)

2.Selling Change, by Brett Clay (ARIVA Publishing)

3.Small Business Rules, by Mathew Dickerson (BookSurge)

Mary Greenwood, Mediator, Attorney and Author ofHow To Negotiate LIke A Pro: 41 Rules for Resolving Disputes, Winner of six book awardsBest How To Book, DIY FestivalRunner Up, New York Book Festival, E-Book and Self-Help CategoryFinalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year AwardsFinalist, Best National Book Awards, Self-Help CategoryHonorable Mention, London Book FestivalHow To Mediate Like A Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating DisputesWinner of five book awardsBest National Book AWard, Law CategoryBest E-Book, New York Book FestivalBest How To Book, Beach Book FestivalBest E-Book, Indie Excellence AwardsSpirit AWard, South Florida Writers AssociationEmail: howtonegotiate@aol.comwww.marygreenwood.com
Mary Greenwood, Author of How To Negotiate Like A Pro, winner of six book awards How To Mediate Like A Pro, winner of 11 book awards Available Amazon.com and Barnes&Noble.com