Turn Your Teacher Weaknesses Into Assets to Get the Job

Turn Your Teacher Weaknesses Into Assets to Get the Job One interview question that can stump even seasoned job-seeking educators is What is your greatest weakness as a teacher? This question may come at you disguised as What would you most like to change/improve about yourself? or What frustrations did you encounter in your last position? This weakness question really tags as an opportunity to Describe your strengths. Your response can tip the interview in your favor or send your resume to the bottom of the pile. Forget Conventional Wisdom In the past conventional wisdom recommended putting a spin on this question by describing an actual strength camouflaged  as a weakness. For example, you might have tried to be clever and offered perfectionism as your weakness, explaining that you refuse to quit until the job gets done right. But in responding to your weaknesses, you should should stay away from any personal qualities. Save your personal qualities such as perfectionism, enthusiasm, creativity, or patience for describing strengths. In responding to a question about a weakness, you should offer more professional traits. For example, you may recall how you noticed your attention to detail, organization, or problem-solving may have needed improvement. Once you have provided the trait, you should provide details on how you purposefully worked to address this weakness. Include any of the steps you have taken or are currently taking to mitigate this weakness. Here are two examples of how you might respond to a question about your greatest weakness. Corrected Weakness: Organization For example, you can state that you have been less excited about the amount of paperwork that comes along with a classroom of students. You may admit that in the past you tended to procrastinate on assessing classwork or homework. You can also admit to having found yourself on more than one occasion scrambling to catch up right before the grading period ended. You might feel like your honesty leaves you vulnerable. But, if you go on to explain that in order to combat this tendency, you set a schedule for yourself this past school year that dedicated time every day to paperwork, you will be viewed as a problem solver. You might include other strategies you used such as self-grading assignments whenever practical, which allowed students to assess their own work as you discussed the answers together in class. As a result, you can acknowledge that you learned to stay on top of your grading and needed a short time at the end of each period to compile the information. For new teachers, examples like this could come from student teaching experiences. Now an interviewer will see you as self-aware and reflective, both highly desirable attributes in a teacher. Corrected Weakness: Seeking advice Teachers are independent, but that can lead to isolation in problem solving, and some problems may necessitate advice from others.This is particularly true in dealing with confrontational situations such as dealing with an irate parent or a teachers aide who arrives late to your class every day. You might admit that you may have tried to solve some problems on your own, but upon reflection, felt it was necessary to seek the advice of others. You can explain how you found the teacher next door to you or an administrator was important in helping you address different kinds of uncomfortable confrontations. If you are an educator looking for first job, you may not have classroom experiences to use as examples. But dealing with confrontations is a life skill and not limited to the school building. In this case, you can provide examples of problem-solving confrontations you may have had at college or at another job. Seeking the advice of others shows that you can identify people or groups that can be resources instead of trying to tackle confrontational problems on your own. Self analysis Employers know job candidates have weaknesses, says Kent McAnally, director of career services at Washburn University. They want to know that we are doing the self-analysis to identify what ours are, he writes for the American Association for Employment in Education. Showing that you are taking steps to improve is essential to making a positive impression, but more importantly, it is essential for developing your personal and professional goals and development plans. And THAT is the real reason for the question. Tips to Master the Interview Be truthful.Do not try to guess what the interviewer wants to hear. Answer questions candidly and present your authentic self.Prepare for the question but do not let your answers sound coached.Remain positive as you explain how your weakness could be seen as a positive in the job.Avoid using negative words like â€Å"weak† and â€Å"failure.†Smile!

Management Response Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Management Response Questions - Assignment Example This adds value to their as it is coupled with a wide range of both hardware and software products that they manufacture that contributes to its strength (Iliev, Lindinger, & Poettler, 2004). Apple has rare technology: the aluminum machining technology that they use in the manufacturing of their computers. This has makes them manufacture computers with unsurpassed strength and lightness. This rare technology has given them the strength they need to move forward because none of the other firms have access to it. Apple has been enjoying skills from their now former CEO Steve Jobs who had vast knowledge in mass hardware production (Muro, Murray, & Goode, 2010). He led the company into producing the best designed gadgets like the iPhones and the Mac’s. The strength here lies in the difficulty experienced by other competitors in imitating his skills (Iliev, Lindinger, & Poettler, 2004). Thus it is can be concluded that actually value rarity and imitability are three aspects that co ntributed highly to the strengths of an organization in the SWOT analysis. Question two The evaluation of any company helps assess the company in terms of effectiveness, functioning, problems and achievements. Therefore it is an important tool in trying to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of any organization. In the same light it helps the mangers to come up with better policies that could be used in improving the organization (Duncan, Ginter, & Swayne, 2005). Organization assessment following the SWOT analysis requires a keen look into various aspects of the organization so as to avoid a biased assessment. Having this information is essential as it will help in executing various tasks that can be used to improve the functioning of the organization or could identify problems that exist and thus help in solving those problems that could otherwise have been threats to any organization (Duncan, Ginter, & Swayne, 2005). Through this assessment the organization gathers information that is crucial in decision making that could help an organization decide on the mode of resource allocation, policies required to be put in place and this data could also be used for future planning. Conducting this exercise needs to be done in a careful manner so as to avoid overlooking other sides that may potentially affect the organizations operations (Duncan, Ginter, & Swayne, 2005). Question three According to my analysis in the computer industry, I have come to the conclusion that Apple Inc. has a strong SWOT analysis. Its strength factors outweigh its weaknesses and threats in the computer industry. This company has made use of the various opportunities it has identified in the computer industry and has thus remained at the top of the ladder. It has been able to balance all aspects of its SWOT analysis to ensure that its strengths are far much far than those of any other company (Muro, Murray, & Goode, 2010). The weaknesses are few such that they have been overshadowed by t he strength factors and this makes their customers to overlook this aspect thus making the company one step ahead of their competitors in the industry. Some of its strength factors include the $60 billion reserve that they use to acquire anything that they consider important for their operations. Secondly the technological advantages puts it ahead of others in the industry as they are able to produce products that

EC320 CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSIGNMENT 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

EC320 CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSIGNMENT 2 - Essay Example This is because everyone wants to meet the baby. As the first few days pass the newborn child’s day becomes less hectic and it begins to settle into normal routines with feeds and sleeping patterns. Throughout its early life it will get comfortable with the people that it interacts with on a regular basis. This is usually the mother, father and siblings. By feeling comfortable the child may cry less and be more settled. The mother is the person who goes through the actual birth; therefore it is understandable if she is slightly shocked and overwhelmed at the occasion. The mother is usually the first person who holds the child. As a result there is that automatic bond between mother and child. The female gains a lot of responsibility from the birth of a child due to the fact that a mother is responsible for the breastfeeding of the child at different intervals during the day. The mother in particular will be very over protective of her child and will not want to let the newborn child out of her sight. If the newborn child is the mother’s first child then the female has a massive shock to her life. She will have to feed the child, be kept up by the child during the night and change the child’s nappy when it needs to be. Simple procedures like changing a nappy can be demanding for new parents. Father’s reactions are very similar to that of the mothers. However it seems that the father views things from a distance compared to the mother. The mother spends more time with the child, as she is in hospital with the child. If this is the first child then the male gains a huge amount of responsibility. One example is financially as children do not come cheap. The father has to financially analyse how the family are going to support the extra person while trying to spend as much time with his new child as possible. Also parents to a newborn child are really protective. For example if the newborn child has a rash, they

Artist Statement (Describe all the photos with the following Essay

Artist Statement (Describe all the photos with the following sugestion) - Essay Example Natural or not, they still share the same colors. The imagery conveys the themes quite clearly since when the images are laid next to one another the colors can easily be seen and compared. Blues and silvers are similar throughout each photo. The framing and composition does not have any affects on the work. Each photo regardless of how the photo is framed contains similar theme since each photo represents life in some way. The photos are very straight forward and do not have too much going on. Each photo is simple and easily portrays the photographed object without having to guess what the object is. The photos are clear and easy to see, which makes the themes easy to figure out. The colors in the photos have many cool earth tones. There are few hot colors. The color creates a soothing affect in the imagery that makes the viewer feel relaxed. Some of the images are very sharp. The images that are taken from a further distance are sharper then images taken close up. The photographer can adjust the lens according to distance to improve the sharpness of the

Organizational Strategies for Quality Assessment and Improvement Essay Example for Free

Organizational Strategies for Quality Assessment and Improvement Essay Ambiguous medical notations are one of the most common and preventable causes of medication errors (Grissinger Kelly, 2005). Drug names, dosage units, and directions for use should be written clearly to minimize confusion. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and the Food and Drug Administration recommend that error-prone abbreviations are considered whenever medical information is communicated (Institute for Medical Safety, 2012). Medication errors result in thousand of adverse drug events, deaths, and preventable reactions every year (Grissinger Kelly, 2005). Healthcare personnel, IMSP, the pharmaceutical industry, and The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are some of the groups responsible for determining how these medication errors occur and designing strategies to reduce these errors (Institute for Medical Safety, 2012). ISMP is a nonprofit organization made up of nurses, pharmacist, and physicians. IMSP was founded in 1944 and are dedicated in educating and increasing awareness of medication error prevention and safety measures (About ISMP, 2012). They base their non-punitive initiatives on five key areas: analysis, communication, cooperation, education, and knowledge (About ISMP, 2012). The IMSP get their data by healthcare professionals reporting so that they can assist in learning and understanding the causes of the error and everything is confidential (About ISMP, 2012) IMSP Objectives The objective of the ISMP is to help the healthcare providers clarify any order that is not clearly legible or obvious especially with error-prone abbreviations, dose designations, and making sure that orders with abbreviations are clarified and written out completely, and verbal orders are read back, repeated if misunderstood, and spelled out (About ISMP, 2012). Also to hold webinar educational programs and medication safety issues. They offer tool kits for healthcare facilities to get the word out like posters, videos, patient brochures, books, and other drug safety tools. IMSP will conduct risk assessments on-site risk of medication safety in healthcare facilities and respond to sentinel events (About ISMP, 2012). IMSP Propose Strategies or Recommendations Suggest for the Acute Care Setting Here are some strategies that healthcare facilities can employ to  help eliminate the use of dangerous abbreviations. One is encouraging all healthcare professionals to avoid using medication error-prone abbreviations in all electronic and written communication (National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), 2010). Another is identifying and promoting Physician Champions who will not only support accreditation-related activities but also advocate for full compliance. Healthcare facilities can assist in providing educational seminars and webinars to update all healthcare professionals and staff at the beginning of their employment period. Another way is for healthcare management and safety personnel to use advertised posters, create laminated cards with error-prone medication abbreviations, and dosage classifications throughout the acute care facility. The healthcare professionals should have these items at their disposal and distributed out at the beginning of employment (National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), 2010). Lastly, making sure that the healthcare personnel avoids the use of medication abbreviations on CPOEs, labels generated from the system and bins, drug storage, and shelves. All the while making sure that the facility and personnel are adhering to guidelines, charts, and protocols (National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), 2010). Reference â€Å"About ISMP.† (2012). Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Retrieved from http://www.ismp.org/about/default.asp Grissinger, M., Kelly, K. (2005). Reducing the risk of medication errors in women. Journal Of Womens Health (15409996), 14(1), 61-67. doi:10.1089/jwh.2005.14.61 Institute for Medical Safety. (2012). Acute Care. Medical Safety Alert!†. Retrieved from www.imsp.com National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). (2010) Rapid response report NPSA/2010/RRR009: reducing harm from omitted and delayed medicines in hospital. Retrieved from www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/type/alerts/?entryid45=66720

Influence of the Chinese in International Relations

Influence of the Chinese in International Relations When one refers to country like China the first thing which comes into mind is country of old civilisation and hard work. The word China or Shina in Chinese means the middle country and is pronounced as Zhon Ghua. It is in a reference to the Chinese faith that their state was the geographical epicenter of the earth and the oldest true evolution of humankind. One of the most noteworthy growths after the cold war is perhaps the rapid progress in Chinas economic potential and the subsequent national power it has begun to exert. Since the initiation of economic reforms and trade liberalization 30 years ago, China has been the worlds fastest growing economies and emerged as a major economic trade power. The Chinese economy has been maintaining an average growth rate of about eight percent per annum for the last two decades. Today China has become the second largest economy in the world.  [1]  The concurrent modernisation of the Peoples Liberation Army would enable China to assert its perceived rightful place in near future, as the next super power after the United States of America. The late eighties in last century saw a lot of political and economic changes, Iran- Iraq war, unification of Germany and the rise of concept of European Union which itself was changing the world order. The most important of the event was disintegration of erstwhile Soviet Union in 1991 which resulted in disassembling of the bipolar formation. This resulted in emergence of a unipolar world which was totally dominated by the United States of America (USA). During the early nineties though the USA was sole super power in the world, China was seen as the potential to emerge as rising economic and military power who is going to bring bi/multi polarity in near future. Ever since its creation the Peoples Republic of China has sought to increase its power in relation to its regional neighbours and other international powers, especially the United States and the now defunct Soviet Union. It did not take long for the Chinese Communists to amply demonstrate their importance in regional and international stability with their intervention in the Korean War. As Chinas invasions of Tibet and Vietnam demonstrate its Communist regime will take military action when it considers it necessary. However to a large extent Chinas rise has been based upon avoiding military actions although it is not averse to causing regional and international instability. Whilst China has attempted successfully to become a major economic power it has not reduced its powerful armed forces, or stopped its support for rogue states and that does worry its neighbours, especially Taiwan. The realists who express concerns about the threat posed by Chinas rise claim it is potentially dange rous due to the decline of the United States and its own unpredictable foreign policy, not to mention its backing of countries that are also determined to undermine global stability.2 Chinas Growing Influence on International Relationship One of the greatest challenges the West now faces is how to get China, a habitual free rider, to pull its weight on international issues. Ever since the country reemerged as a great power in the last decade, the United States and Europe have courted it, hoping that if Chinas leaders felt they held a stake in the existing world order, they would work to sustain it. But things havent worked out that way. The recent Chinese hacker attack on Google, which underscored Beijings efforts to suppress information, was only the latest example of Chinas rejection of global norms. At the Copenhagen climate conference in December 2009, the countrys opposition to mandatory carbon cuts helped eviscerate an agreement. Economically, Chinas refusal to strengthen its currency is threatening the global recovery. On Iran, Beijing has repeatedly rebuffed the Wests call for tougher measures, putting its own interests (Tehran is one of its key energy suppliers) above nonproliferation. The more likely explana tion for the countrys obstreperousness is that despite its rise, China is no more comfortable with the Western-led international system now than it was 10 years ago. The Communist Party still openly rejects democracy and human rights, and U.S. leadership is viewed as a reality-but an illegitimate and unfortunate one. Yet the days when China can have it both ways-freeload on global public goods while enjoying international respect-are about to end. Disillusionment with its self-serving policies is setting in. As Google shows, even some multinational corporations are beginning to openly challenge Beijing, and many more are secretly applauding Googles defiance. Similarly, Western governments are cracking down, levying anti-dumping charges against Chinese exports and contemplating other retaliatory measures if Beijing keeps its current exchange-rate policy. Chinas image has also taken a beating because of its lack of cooperation on climate change. The Beijings response to any international problem has been, first we will help our self then we will help the world. The result is emerging tension between the international community and China. Become of the huge economic rise of China, she has become a truly global actor. Is Beijing ready for global leadership? Is a question which keeps haunting the international community. Chinas policy makers regularly point out that their foreign policy serves domestic goals of reform and development. The world wants China to do more while Beijing gingerly gropes its way forward with its newfound status, influence, responsibilities, expectations and constraints.4 China and South Asia: Implication on India Chinas increasing interest and engagement in South Asia, Including in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has been manifest in recent years. Indeed, the Chinese invariable asserts China is linked to South Asia by mountains and rivers. However, the Chinese occupation of Tibet and declaring certain parts of India and Bhutan as part of China raises suspicion over her influence in Asia. The twenty-first century has the potential to be known as the Asian Century. India and China are simultaneously gaining salience in the international relations. The unfriendly foreign approach of China especially, covert support of military and nuclear hardware to Pakistan, staple visas to Kashmir, growing military bases all around Indian border and unresolved border dispute has been seen as a threat to Indian peace and economic growth. How does India deal with growing influence of China in around its neighbouring countries? Is a big challenge for India. Statement of the Problem Post disintegration of erstwhile Soviet Union, the impressive rise of China as an economic and military power has resulted in changes to the unipolar world dominated by USA and lead to the formation of a bi/multi polar world. China has grown as great actor, in influencing international relationship. This paper seeks to analyse the effect of Chinas rise as an economic and military power and its role in the international relationship, including the impact on India. Justification of the Study The end of this century has seen sleeping dragon as phenomena, the rise of a major economic and military power of the world. She has already become the second largest economy in the world. The Chinas growth and its influence on economic powers of the world, its strategic collaboration with various countries have changed the new world order. China as an economic and military power has result in changes to the unipolar world dominated by USA and lead to the formation of a bi/multi polar world. Her status permanent member of the United Nation Security Council (UNSC), most power member of World Trade Organisation and Association of South East Asian Nation indicates her potential national power and influence on the international relationship. Considering the Chinas growing demand of Oil, food grains and natural resources, she is mainly dependent on Africa and littoral countries of Indian Ocean region. China understands the importance of geo-strategic position India in an Indian Ocean region and capability of India to choke the trade routes. Therefore China is influencing her relationship in South Asian region in a big way, by establishing military and economic bases in an around India. Hypothesis Post disintegration of erstwhile Soviet Union, the impressive rise of China as an economic and military power has resulted in a major impact on the growing influence of China on international relationship. The growing interest of China in Africa and South Asia, her perception of India as her potential competitor in new world order has great impact on her relationship with India. Scope The scope of the dissertation is intended to be limited as under: (a) Rising Red Dragon. In this section it is intended to analyse Chinas rising power as economic and military giant. (b) China and its influence on World. In this section, it is intended to study the various measures taken by China to influence international relationship, her positive or negative impact on world order, is she ready for global leadership? (c) Chinas impact in South Asia. In this section, it is intended to bring out the impact of Chinas rise as a super power in South Asia and her dependence of Indian Ocean region. (d) Sino-Indian Relationship. In this section, it is intended to analyse the impact of greater Chinese influence in South Asia on India, her strategy to keep the economic and military rise of India under her influence. Methods of Data Collection The information for this dissertation has been gathered through study of various books, periodicals and journals available at Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) library. Bibliography of the sources is appended at the end of the text. In addition the medium of INTERNET has also been exploited extensively to gather latest information on the subject. Organisation of the Dissertation It is proposed to study the subject under the following sections: (a) Introduction and Methodology. (b) Rise of Sleeping Dragon. (c) Chinas Growing impact on international relations in the new world order. (d) Chinese impact in South Asia. (e) Sino India relationship. (f) Conclusion.

Virginia Woolfs To The Lighthouse - Portrait of a Real Woman :: To The Lighthouse Essays

To The Lighthouse - Portrait of a Real Woman Until To The Lighthouse, I had never read anything that so perfectly described women: wives, mothers, daughters and artists. I felt like shouting "Eureka!" on every page. These were my thoughts, beautifully written. Virginia Woolf writes of the essential loneliness and aloneness of human beings. In the first passage I am examining Mrs. Ramsay is the heart of the group gathered around the dinner table. It is because of her that they are assembled. She is the wife, the mother. "And the whole of the effort of merging and flowing and creating rested on her." But she feels disconnected, "outside that eddy" that held the others, alone. She views her husband almost as an inanimate object. "She could not understand how she had ever felt any emotion or affection for him." The room has become shabby. Beauty has dissolved. The gathering for which she is responsible is merely a group of strangers sitting at the same table. "Nothing seemed to have merged. They all sat separate." Mrs. Ramsay understands that she must bring these people together. "Again she felt, as a fact without hostility, the sterility of men, for if she did not do it nobody would do it." So she drifts into the eddy to do her duty -- albeit reluctantly. "...she began all this business, as a sailor not without weariness sees the wind fill his sail and yet hardly wants to be off again and thinks how, had the ship sunk he would have whirled round and round and found rest on the floor of the sea." This passage is so true! In a traditional family (my family) there is a man (husband and father), a woman (wife and mother), and children. The woman is claimed by all. She is held responsible, both in the eyes of her family and in her own eyes, for the happiness and well-being of all. She is the glue, the anchor, the spark, the damper. She is lonely but never alone. The idea of drifting to the bottom of the sea can seem inviting Ð to be free and alone! This short passage aptly illustrates a real woman's very complicated feelings about the demands of family and society upon her. I think it is no less valid now then it was in the 1920s when the book was written.