|
|
Beat the Crowd with Winning Resume Cover Letters
Far too many people underestimate the importance of resume cover letters. In a sense, a well written cover letter works like an agent on your behalf. It tosses a sales pitch for you to the employer, explaining why you should be at the top of the...
Call Center Consultants And Their Duties
When we deal with call centers, the term “call center consultant” is seldom used, for instead of calling the people working in call centers "consultants", we refer to them as call agents or call center workers. But despite the common knowledge about...
Get In Career Shape
Research suggests that as many as 8 out of 10 employed adults are in the wrong job or career! They are in poor career-shape or have little or no career-stamina. If you are one of the 8 or your goal is to shape up, it is important to have a good...
The Importance of Your Elevator Speech
You may be trying to get a job as a pharmaceutical sales representative or you may be an experienced rep and looking for a new opportunity. You have done your research on the latest industry news, you have had your résumé updated by a professional...
Wish You Could Finance Your Studies?
Financing College
Many people have avoided college because they though they couldn't afford tuition. While college is expensive there is no reason a student should let money put a stop to their education. There are many sources that help fund...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Study Smartly and not hard: Part II
How to Multiply Time?
Bad work habits usually result from some form of fear of failure or procrastination. You learn, over the time, to protect yourself from the hurt of failing by making excuses. "I would have done better if I had more time" becomes a self-fulfilling reality. In order to have that excuse you unconsciously leave things to the last minute. Watching a otherwise borings how suddenly becomes very appealing when you have work to do. So how can you learn to pack 48 hours into each day? Surprisingly, it's not that difficult. Most bad work habits tend to be sub-conscious. To avoid them, you first need to be aware of them. Try these tips to a more productive way of working.
Break tasks down. It's much easier to get motivated to start and finish a small task than a large one. For example if you need to do fix the cooler for oncoming summers in your study room tomorrow in the new house where you have just moved in, chances are that tomorrow will come and you'll find a dozen excuses why you can't work on it. However, if you break the task down into smaller pieces: (a) Fix the cooler stand near the window (b) Fix the ply or card board on the window (c) Put the cooler in place suitably (d) Fix the water motor and do the wiring. Then tell yourself that tomorrow; you'll start by at least fixing the cooler stand in the place. Chances are pretty good that when tomorrow comes, you will put the stand in place because you know exactly what to do and it's not a big job. If you do that, then, you have just started on your goal of fixing the cooler.
Set achievable goals. Break tasks into bite-sized pieces. Don't say I will revise whole syllabus tomorrow because that's too vague and too big. You'll find a dozen excuses not to get started on that. Far better is to devise a revision plan which you can conveniently follow.
Reward your successes. It's very important to give yourself a mini-reward for achieving your mini-goals. For example, if you tell yourself "I will start by revising first four chapters." And there after I will have a soda ice cream you will be amazed at how fast you finish revising four chapters.
Start on the best tasks first. The hardest thing is to make a start so if you schedule your favorite tasks first then it's much more likely that you'll start on them. Once you make a start, the momentum will carry you over into the other tasks.
Keep records. You can use some kind of record to keep track of the goals, which you have slated for yourself. You can use an index card to list all the things you want to do on any day. In the top left corner of each card you may write the tasks at the start of a day say doing three questions from chapter three of the Science book, solving the last years math question paper, giving a ring to your close friend a ring in the evening on his birth day and finally revise the History lesson for the class test tomorrow. Now list these in order of priority like revising History lessons for the test tomorrow in two hours. Solving the three questions from science book in one hour, ringing up the friend in evening and then solving the last year math question paper. Then expand each of them into sub-tasks like revising the history lessons the most important topic first followed by second most important topic after a gap of fifteen minutes. Start scoring out the sub tasks after you complete those. Some days, you might reprioritize tasks onto the next day's card if those are not finished for example you could solve only half the last years math question paper then you can write it again and keep on adding unfinished tasks till the time you finally finish those. The point of the cards is to train yourself to be more disciplined and remember the tasks in order of priority lest you forget some. After some time you will get completely used to it and let me tell you that this will help you in your first job tremendously that you will find out within one month of joining the new jab whenever it happens.
Technology can also help.
The most underrated piece of technology for managing your time is your watch. It's very easy to spend away too much time on watching TV and too little on doing Chemistry which you hate to study. A glance at your watch or clock every now and then will give you a balanced sense of time. It's OK in the beginning to be way off on your time estimates. But as you make it a habit you will find that you have developed fair sense of timings.
Club smaller similar time consuming tasks together. There are numerous small similar tasks that are time consuming and are also minor irritants. Club these together and do these in one go. This can be best illustrated with an example. In my child hood I was very often required by my mother, father and elder sister to go to the nearby shopping complex. My mother would tell me to get milk first and then after half an hour later she will tell me to get some curd. My father invariably will send me to fetch his cigarettes at least four times a day. My sister being elder to me had all the right to call me as often as she wanted to. I was most of the time irritated due to this and could not concentrate on my studies. And then suddenly one day I found a very good ad simple solution. I stacked up 10 cigarettes packs in my cupboard to cater for sudden and untimely requirements by my father at odd times. And instead of rushing to shopping center when I was told to get milk by my mother I kept waiting lest she remember some thing else after half an hour, which invariably used to happen. This way I saved at least four to five visits to the shopping center every day which amounted to more than two hours a day and I also saved the fatigue and irritation that I used to develop.
Study at the best the day set priorities. You very well know that you are not at your best all the time during a course of a typical day. You also roughly know your habits as to when you are at your best and at what time you will probably be at your worst. Study the most difficult subject at a time when you are at your best and reserve your worst time for your entertainment. I do not find any logic in watching TV when you are fresh and receptive and doing math when you are tired both physically as well as mentally. Try doing this and you will find amazing results very soon.
The Phone and The fridge should not be near by. If you do that your mother/ sister will ask you to attend all the calls and will make you to open fridge many times over and over again. Resist temptations to leave your studies for unimportant and unrelated tasks in between.
Make Your Time Visual. (Gives you more control over your use of time) ·Write due dates on a monthly or semester calendar. ·Create a weekly schedule with designated study times. ·Make “to do” lists – score off items when you have
complete them. ·Keep your calendar and “to do” lists in a highly visible spot – refer to them regularly
How about Lectures. Do you say let us bunk the class, as such I do not understand any thing in the class. But before that study the habits of the toppers in your college, do they always bunk the classes. You will get surprised… are not you????
The key to do well in examinations and interviews is to stay with the teacher always and each time. You may do well in examinations by mugging up the chapters but thorough understanding will come through the regular classes only. You will be rewarded sooner than later.
I understand everything but do not retain anything! Is your memory trained?
Understand and follow Memory Principles Why certain things go in memory forever while others are hard to remember?
Memory Principles:
Selectivity: You cannot memorize every thing in your textbooks. Use chapter subheadings, end of the chapter questions and graphs and charts to help choose what is most important.
Distributed Practice: Recognize that you can concentrate on difficult subjects for short periods so breakdown the topic in small portions and concentrate on one at one time. Move on to next only after you are comfortable with the previous one.
Mental Visualization: You remember and understand the things best when you see them. So try to picture things in your mind that you need to remember. Be quick to make a note somewhere to revise.
Interest: You always understand and remember things in which you are interested. Before studying a subject try to invoke your interest in that subject. Use power of autosuggestion for that if possible. It will run for sure what it requires is a little patience.
Association: Try to connect the information, which you are learning with what you already know and try to establish a connection. At exam time you will be able to use the connection and retrieve the required information.
Consolidation: It takes time for the information to sink in and be secured in long-term memory. So take good notes and review these often. Also plan gaps between two different topics lest these get mixed up.
Recitation: You can learn difficult concepts in any subject you can remember them more clearly if you explain the ideas aloud I your own words.
Meaningful Organization: It is easy to remember is the material is arranged in logical groupings and category wise. Try to break up things and arrange these in various categorical blocks.
Intent to Remember: Half the time you just listen/ study with a mental set up of not remembering it. Make up your mind and fix up your attitude for what is coming. Remember you can do a thing only if you want to do it.
Key to Memory improvement is timely revision
Regular revision improves your memory and gives you a better understanding of the subject. You should aim to do such general revision in week 5 and week 8 of each semester. Remember revision involves attempting questions, writing out definitions, proofs, drawing diagrams etc. and not just reading your notes over and over again. At least 3 weeks before the exams start, draw up an exam timetable and revision plan and stick to it. A good starting point is to summarize the notes you have on each topic. You should try to reduce your notes to key words and phrases. This will form the basis of your revision notes. You can reduce your notes further so that information fits on one side of an A4 page or an index card. Use diagrammatical notes if you memories material more easily in a visual form.
Use your original revision notes to check where there are gaps in your notes. Check your answers by using the original notes. Fill in forgotten facts with another color pen. Repeat the process until all the gaps have disappeared.
It’s the quality of your revision that’s important not the quantity!! Don’t kid yourself that if you are reading something you are revising it- you need to be actively reading in order for your study time to be constructive.
Keep a record of your productivity, not just how long your revision sessions last.
Revision Strategies
Plan your revision: Make a revision timetable at the start of your revision period and keep it up to date. Never forget that a plan should be flexible and should be revised periodically as your work progresses. You will remember far more if you make your revision an active learning process.
Do not plan to study one subject for a long period. Break your study into periods of between 40 and 60 minutes depending on your concentration stretch. Allow for short breaks in your revision - have a snack, walk around for five minutes etc.
Try using Mnemonics. This is the way of remembering by using abbreviations, words or phrases. For each course sort out your lecture notes, handouts and other material. Use all the relevant material available for making notes but be careful WHEN YOU SET OUT FOR REVISION YOU SHOULD RESTRICCT YOUR SELF TO YOUR NOTES ONLY.
Arrange and cross-link: your knowledge in each course. It helps to make "concept diagrams" where you link together groups of separate topics in a course.
Check the format of the each examination: It will give you a fair idea of the examination you will be taking. How many questions must you answer? How long will you have? How many choices you will be having and which are the chapters which require more attention and what is that which can be left conveniently. Look at past examination papers: You should use these as a guide to the material you need to know.
Create a revision group: You can form a group with friends taking the same course(s). Meet regularly to discuss questions and topics. However you should be careful in choosing its members. They should not be wasting your time and their standards should be compatible with those of yours neither too high nor too low.
Put together notes on questions and issues that you cannot jointly answer: Take these with you when you seek advice from tutors and lecturers.
Try writing: Always try to write down the salient points about a question with out referring your notes. It will show your real preparation other wise it may happen that by looking at a question you may feel that you know all about it but when it comes to writing you may fail miserably.
Continued... For consultation and advise please mail me at aknigin@yahoo.com
About the Author
Author has 28 years of experience in the field of Teaching and Management. He is M. Tech from IIT Kanpur and has worked in different capacities including Signal corps Indian Army, Regional Manager for a Telecom Company. Currently he is Associate Professor with ITM, Gurgaon that is rated as best Engineering colleges of North India.
|
|
|
|
|
Time Management from Mind Tools - How to manage time and maximize ... |
Good personal time management skills are essential for a happy, successful career. This Mind Tools section shows you how to manage your time, ... |
www.mindtools.com |
  |
Time Management |
Techniques and strategies for time management and scheduling your work. |
www.studygs.net |
  |
My daily schedule:: time management |
Time management, Learner's Day Planner:. Tasks begun well, likely have good finishes Sophocles 496 - 406 BC. Study Guides index in English as home site ... |
www.studygs.net |
  |
Managing Your Time |
Many students discover the need to develop or hone their time management skills when they arrive at college. Unlike high school where teachers frequently ... |
www.dartmouth.edu |
  |
Time management - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
Time management for personal use is a type of self-management. In a corporate setting, time management software can satisfy the need to control employees, ... |
en.wikipedia.org |
  |
Personal time management and goal setting guide |
The definitive guide to personal time management and goal setting skills and techniques. Includes articles, tips, software and other personal development ... |
www.time-management-guide.com |
  |
A List Apart: Articles: Time Management: The Pickle Jar Theory |
The pickle jar theory of time management can help you get more done with less stress. |
alistapart.com |
  |
Time Management Strategies for Improving Academic Performance |
Virginia Tech. TIME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. FOR IMPROVING. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. Next Page Next Page. |
www.ucc.vt.edu |
  |
Time Management for University Students Contents |
time management icon. 1. Introduction: The Time Management Cycle · 2. Goal Setting · 3. Time Awareness and Time Tracking ... |
www.yorku.ca |
  |
SCRS - Virtual Pamphlet Collection - Time Management |
Virtual Pamphlet Collection - Time Management. The ABC Method of Time Management - Texas A&M University; The A-B-C Value Rating - George Washington ... |
counseling.uchicago.edu |
  |
Time Management Problem Resolution Guide |
Time management addresses various tasks, habits, and time-wasting perceptions and feelings. The most common tasks, habits, and feelings to deal with are ... |
members.aol.com |
  |
Time Management--UIUC Counseling Center |
Before exploring specific time-management techniques, consider several common myths which contribute to poor time management, especially undermining your ... |
www.couns.uiuc.edu |
  |
Leadership & Time Management |
Leadership is about managing time and getting things done. |
www.nwlink.com |
  |
Mind Tools - Time Management Skills |
How to get the most out of your time. Time Management - how to achieve more with your time · How much is your time worth? ... |
www.psywww.com |
  |
Time Management Training Skills and Tips |
Time management training courses and workshops will help delegates increase work effectiveness and productivity, achieve greater control of their daily ... |
www.tsuccess.dircon.co.uk |
  |
Time Management - University Learning Center |
Time management is the managing of your time so that time is used to your advantage and it gives you a chance to spend your most valuable resource in the ... |
www.ulrc.psu.edu |
  |
Time Management: Counseling Services, University at Buffalo |
There's no such thing as time management! So why should you read the rest of this handout? Because there is such a thing as self management and that's the ... |
ub-counseling.buffalo.edu |
  |
MIT Online Learning Modules: Time Management and Organization |
TIME MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION. Students who are pressed for time are often ... There is also a misconception that time management means documenting your ... |
web.mit.edu |
  |
Time Management by Steve Pavlina |
Steve Pavlina: Personal development for smart people. |
www.stevepavlina.com |
  |
Time Management Advice: Small Business Advice - BusinessTown |
Time is one of the most valuable assets to anyone in business. Learn simple steps how to budget your time to maximize your productivity by organizing your ... |
www.businesstown.com |
  |
|