jobdate plan of idea 4u: how to prepare you for a job interview?

JobdatePlan

www.idea4U.be Experts in the art of mo0va0on

By Yvan Dierckxsens

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15 steps for a successful job interview

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Gather informa0on It is important that you gather as much

informa0on as you can before the interview. Also, analyse the jobs offered by the companies where you plan your jobdates. Consequently, you’ll be able to choose the elements from your CV on which you should focus during the interview!

Check the company’s website and search for addi0onal informa0on about the developments which have recently occurred in the sector. Do you know someone who did or does work in this sector? Know the content of your cover leJer & CV

To be persuasive, avoid constantly reading your CV during the jobdate. If you say something different than what is men0oned in your CV, the interviewer will probably think that you are trying to hide something. Of course, you can bring a copy of your CV to your interview! Know the name of your interviewer

Your interviewer will no doubt find you very pleasant and professional if you address yourself to him by using his/her correct name.

Prepare specific ques0ons that you want to ask Is there anything else you want to know about the job, the growth opportuni0es offered by the company…

See the separate module in your JOBDATE PLAN 0tled ‘10 ques0ons you may ask’ Wear the appropriate clothing.

Take also into account which style you want to reflect and if this style is adequate to the company’s culture.

If you think that your interviewer will wear a suit and a 0e, you should wear the same kind of clothing. Create posi0ve thoughts and images

Posi0ve thoughts create posi0ve mooth and is contagious. Irradiate with posi0ve vibes your interviewer

Remember: look clean and well groomed!

Read and study your JOBDATE PLAN from A to Z

Preparation Is the key

for successful jobdates

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reproduc4on in any form, without permission, is prohibited.JobdatePlan

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Visualize your future

www.idea4U.be Experts in the Art of Mo0va0on

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Happy to meet you! Incredible but true: studies reveal that the interviewer forms his opinion of the interviewee in the first minutes of the interview. The first impression is crucial and should not be spoiled.

Smile, be happy to meet your interviewer, it will boost your confidence and your posi0ve abtudes Show your best side! First impression Don’t immediately hold out your hand to the interviewer! It is beJer to wait that she/he takes the ini0a0ve.

Properly introduce yourself with a good handshake, not too flabby, not too hard! And look at the other right into his/her eyes.

Give clearly your name and listen carefully to the other’s name... And try to remember it!

The

first

im

pres

sion

Break the ICE: Show immediately your interest in the person you meet and engage in conversa0on. Make a posi0ve remark about the building or its loca0on. These types of comments give a good impression and break the ice.

Adapt your tone and speech pace to the one of the interviewer.

Wait un0l you are invited to sit down. Don’t slump in your chair and don’t sit on the edge of your seat.

If you are offered a drink, you can either accept it or refuse it and thank the person for the offer.



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Be Positive



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Believe in you You must believe in it. You must believe in you. To strengthen your posi0ve abtude, you’ll find here some good advice:

Make a list of your achievements and success stories! Start this list with a moment of your life chosen at random. You can take topics such as your rewards, appointments, associa0ons/clubs, exams, successes, dis0nc0ons, jobs, promo0ons, successful tests, speeches, special missions, specific knowledge, things that you created or developed Make a list of the reasons why Jobdates are “nice” Laugh, laugh, laugh: Laughing is not only healthy...laughing also strengthens the posi0ve abtude. And a laugh can be so contagious and seduc0ve! Go to bed early. Par0es, too much drinking and sleepless nights before a jobdate are not recommended if you want to be posi0vely radiant Don’t skip meals: if you don’t eat, your stomach will start rumbling, but if you eat and drink too much... you feel sleepy

Say it with your hands... the bodylanguage The words and the voice you use give an accurate picture of your posi0ve abtude. But don’t forget that your hands and your body language also tell a lot.

Your hands behind your head: your message is “I’m the boss”. Leaning back on your chair with crossed legs strengthens this feeling. Finger0ps on finger0ps: you know what you are speaking about and you give a feeling of confidence, focus and authority. Thumbs up signals that you are someone op0mis0c and self-‐confident. Show your thumbs: don’t leave your hands in your pockets, nor your thumbs: this means uncertainty. Neck rub: rubbing one’s neck and avoiding looking at the interviewer right is his/her eyes reveals uncertainty and a feeling of general discomfort Hands folded. With your hands folded, you’ll make people feel at ease with you. Par0cularly if you also 0lte your head to one side, paying full aJen0on.

Positive attitude


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JobdatePlan©Believe in you


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Varied tasks I prefer a variety of tasks and different responsibility areas. I don’t want to have always the same ac0vi0es. Administra0ve job

I prefer a job that 100% uses my administra0ve and computer skills. Crea0ve job

I prefer a job that allows me to create and innovate Opportuni0es to learn new skills

I prefer a job that gives me the chance to learn new skills and that offers me con0nuous training. I can improve myself in my branch or learn a new job. Growth opportuni0es

I prefer a job that gives me the chance to get passionately involved and to achieve my goals Recogni0on and respect

I would like to be recognized and respected for my work, performance and involvement

Wha

t

Do

I w

ant

Work/life balance My job, my family and my private life can live together very well. I prefer to work for an employer who takes my personal situa0on into account. Physical efforts

I prefer a job that allows me to use my hands and my physical force. I like moving and staying on a chair all the 0me is really not my cup of tea. Outdoor job

I prefer a job that allows me to stay in the healthy open air or with nature and for which you need a good resistance to the changing weather condi0ons. Control of my work:

I prefer a job that allows me to keep on eye on things and situa0ons, and to supervise the processes and procedures. Certainty and security

I like security, also financial security. I prefer to know what will happen in the future and not to face any unforeseen situa0ons Quiet job

I prefer a job that allows me not to worry about too many things, not too stressful or where others put me under pressure.

Tick the items you consider as important in a job

When you have a job interview, it is important that you know precisely what are the most important aspects of the job to you



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Make your dreams true


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Social contacts I like communica0ng with people and I enjoy being in company. I like people!

Team work Working together as a team to achieve the same goal is important to me. I like posi0ve team spirit. Yes We can!

Services & Aid I prefer a job where I can help the others and contribute to the improvement of their situa0on.

Sales I like being in contact with customers. I want to nego0ate with customers, analyse their needs and promote the advantages (Unique Selling Points) & the services or products of my company

A wise whole I prefer a job where I can follow a project from the beginning 0ll the end. I want to see the results of my own efforts. My contribu0on really means something

Autonomy and independance I want to organize my work as I wish, in total independance and without permanent supervision.

A challenge I prefer a job where, facing changing situa0ons, I can test myself and achieve success. Compe00ve challenges are really what I want in a job

Use of technical / industrial arts I prefer a job that allows me to use my specific knowledge and skills in my branch

People management I want a job where I can be a team leader and be responsible for the management and the coaching of my team

Independant entrepreneur I prefer to run my own business. I dare take risks.

At management level As a management member, I want to be responsible for solving company’s problems and to par0cipate in the strategy and the final decisions.

Solidarity with the direct superior I need a direct superior who shares informa0on and who makes efforts to communicate with me.

Tick the items you consider as important in a job

When you have a job interview, it is important that you know precisely what are the most important aspects of the job to you



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JobdatePlan©

Develop your gratitude

Wha

t

Do

I w

ant


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1) You have to be flexible to be self-‐employed. If you start a business, you no longer have "one" job with clearly defined du0es and responsibili0es. You'll suddenly have mul0ple jobs, which will be ooen interrupted by unforeseen crises (par0cularly in the startup phase). Many employees are used to having days filled with predictable ac0vi0es; many self-‐employed people don't. 2) You have to be a self-‐mo0vated ini0ator. When you're an employee, other people tell you what to do, either directly or indirectly. You get used to having your ac0ons directed by others. But you have to direct your own ac0ons as a small business owner. You can't just sit there and hope that maybe some clients stroll in or that someone will drop by out of the blue with inventory for your retail store. 3) You have to be able to recognize opportuni0es and go aoer them. If you start a business, you need to be the one constantly watching for opportuni0es -‐ and be able to recognize them when you see them. you have to keep scanning the horizon yourself and posi0oning yourself to benefit from the opportuni0es that you find. As an employee, you may be used to opera0ng in a "head-‐down" posi0on; if you're going to start a business and become successfully self-‐employed, you need to start opera0ng in the "head-‐up" posi0on.

4) When you're self-‐employed, you have to be able to plan ahead. If you want to start a business, you need to develop exper0se in both short-‐term and long-‐range planning; it's about to become a big part of your life. When you start a business, one of your first tasks will be to work through a business plan. As your business becomes opera0onal, you'll find that this plan (however detailed) needs to be revised and that other plans need to be created, as you work towards the long-‐range goals that you've set for your business 5) You need to be prepared to put in a constant and consistent effort. Star0ng a business takes energy, and you need to be able to give it 100 percent., you need to deliver this constant and consistent effort without the employee safety net. Many employees are used to being able to "call in sick" and have someone else cover their job, for instance. As a self-‐employed business owner, you'll have to go in and give it your best effort . 6) You have to be able to deal with uncertainty. As a self-‐employed entrepreneur, there's no guarantee that the products or services you offer will be in demand six months from now. There's no guarantee that your customers will pay their bills on 0me or even pay them at all. There's no guarantee that your current big client, who seems to be perfectly happy with your work, won't drop you next week. There's actually no guarantee that you will make any income this month or the month aoer.

6 traits to start a

business



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Create your Own future


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What are the

advantages of working for an

SME

?

Early responsibility: it’s possible that you’ll have the opportunity to take on responsibility early on in the job. Value and recogni0on: being part of a small team allows for a greater transparency in your involvement of a project or process. Seeing the final result: usually the process between the ini0al idea and the end result is quick and it’s likely that you will be involved in each stage of the project. Opportuni0es for quick progression: because there are fewer posi0ons to work through, promo0on can come quickly. Being part of the team: the opportunity to work as part of a small team working towards the same goals can be fulfilling and can lead to an increased sense of camaraderie.

Working for a small-‐to-‐medium sized company benefits, such as:

Gaining varied experience: because of the size of the company, there is less dis0nc0on between roles. It’s likely that you’ll get involved in a wider range of ac0vi0es and there is the possibility of taking on extra responsibili0es as and when is necessary.

Work/life balance: many SMEs can be flexible and offer family-‐friendly policies, such as job sharing, working from home and flexible or part-‐0me hours.

Gebng involved: working for an SME, it’s common to be given more opportuni0es to get across your ideas and opinions. This could lead to being involved in informing the company policies and strategies.



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El secreto

Small is beautifull

More than 99% of all European businesses are, in fact, SMEsThey provide two out of three of the private sector jobs. SME’s are the true back-bone of the European economy, being primarily responsible for wealth and economic growth, next to their key roll in innovation & R&D .Nine out of ten SMEs are actually micro enterprises with less than 10 employees. Hence, the mainstays of Europe's economy are micro firms, each providing work for two persons, in average. This is probably one of the EU's best kept secrets!


h"p://ec.europa.eu/small-‐business

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http://ec.europa.eu/small-business

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1. Tell me about you!

This is an open-‐ended ques0on which is asked very ooen. It gives the interviewee the opportunity to speak about his/her personal life. What you need to prove is that :

you have other points of interest aoer your working 0me you are able to establish interes0ng links between your points of interest and your skills you and the interviewer are on the same wavelength and you can speak together about something you are both interested in your private situa0on is stable

What you can men0on : your life in some words – the places where you were born, where you grew up, where you studied, where you worked, etc your career path, YOUR PASSIONS your favorite hobbies and points of interest the clubs and associa0ons you are a member of Remark: this ques0on can also be asked by the interviewer in order to start the interview and the CV can serve as a guide.

2. What experience do you have?

Briefly summarize your work experience to date and go deeper into the elements proving that you know the job and can do it. Insist on the following points:

the skills you used the machines and devices you worked with the responsibili0es you had the people you worked with the 0me you had this job (only if you had this job for a while) if you were promoted if you were given addi0onal tasks or responsibili0es aoer some 0me the tasks which are par0cularly relevant for the job you are now applying for if your experience in this specific branch is poor or inexistant, speak about:

your degrees the courses you aJended The points of interest and hobbies which are closely related to the job

top 10 interview ques0ons



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You are what

you think


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3. Why do you want to work for our company?

The employer wants to hear all the posi0ve reasons showing that you have the inten0on to stay should you be hired. Take this chance to show what you know about the company. This way, you prove that you prepared yourself for the interview. Speak about the good reputa0on of the company as an employer, and its pleasant work atmosphere. The loca0on of the company can some0mes play an important role (near your home) : with this easy accessibility, impossible not to arrive on 0me! Say that the work they do does especially interest you or do you perhaps have a specific point of interest in this sector? Say that this job is your dream job Give the reasons why you claim this: you can adapt your specific skills (say which skills). Prepare your arguments perfectly

4. Why should I hire You?

Answer quickly! If you seem doubwul about the fact that this job should be yours, how could the interviewer be sure? Give 3 prac0cal posi0ve features proving that you are the ideal candidate in the company’s point of view, also if you need to repeat things that you have already said. Insist on the quali0es which the company considers as important e.g.: I see three reasons why you should hire me immediately: 1. I can work very hard. My former boss (my former employer) par0cularly appreciated me for this reason. 2. You can always count on me, I don’t run away from my responsibili0es and I have no problem to always make more efforts, as my former employer (my parents, friends,…) could tell you 3. I can adapt myself quickly to new colleagues and to new work circumstances. Thanks to this, I can be quickly produc0ve in my new job




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Be an opportunity


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5. What are your Strengths?Speak about your strengths rela0ng to the job that you aim at (see module: what do I want?). It is important to think about: “What would the employer like to hear?” You have the chance to summarize all your assets:

Your skills Your experience The languages you can speak Your posi0ve abtude Your enthusiasm Your reliability Your efficiency Your crea0vity and problem-‐solving ability Your social skills / team work Your ability to work independently Your craving to learn Your sa0sfac0on for good performance

For each asset, give a prac0cal example or a situa0on proving your strength

6. What are your weaknesses?

Admibng you have weaknesses is not always easy. However, this proves that you know yourself very well and that you are honest. Turn your weaknesses into strengths During this personal conversa0on, it is important that, when summarizing your weaknesses, you try to turn your weaknesses into strong skills. For example:

I am ooen “too hard on myself”, BUT this makes sure that I always get the best of myself. I am someone “quiet and silent”, BUT this makes sure that all the things I say are well-‐thought-‐out. I am not a talka0ve person. I am an extreme perfec0onist and consequently I am never sa0sfied with the results I achieve, BUT thanks to this, I pay always aJen0on to detail and I never do the work half heartedly. I am quite un0dy, BUT I am incredibly crea0ve.




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You are The best


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7.Why did you leave?Give clear answers. This is an obvious ques0on and the recruiter wants an obvious answer. The answer "I wanted to move forward with my career“ is not sufficient. Tell which precise elements you missed in your former job & what you aim at with this new job The magic word is “more”: I had the ambi0on to have more challenges, to learn more, to grow

Another ques0on could be: have you ever been fired?

“No" is – of course – the easiest answer to this ques0on, but a “yes” is not automa0cally a bad answer. If you can prove that you learned a lot from this experience, your answer will become posi0ve. Each failure is a richfull experience If possible, try not to say that you were fired because of disagreements. Make sure that you don’t lie during the interview. Never cri0cize your former employer! The interviewer will probably contact your former employer in order to carry out a reference check.

8. How much?

Don’t try to nego0ate your salary during the first interview, especially if the person you are talking to is not the one who will make the final decision about your salary. By asking to give an idea of the salary you wish, the interviewer will only check if your expecta0ons are realis0c. Don’t set your standards too high or too low, but prove that you can make out your value in the job market. Try to know in advance what is a fair salary for this job.

Return the ques0on to the employer: what salary do you have in mind for this job? Or try first to get more informa0on on the salary package: will you receive meal vouchers or any other advantages? What does the company also offer: any training that you can aJend, what are the growth opportuni0es, etc




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Be ambitious


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9. “What do you want?” Ques0ons? See the module “ What do I want”

What is important to you in a job? What mo0vates you? What do you absolutely not want to do? With what types of people do you want to work? What do you like to do as work? What do you know about the job you are applying for? Why did you decide to pursue this degree? How do you imagine the ideal job/ dream job? To answer these ques0ons, refer to elements that your ideal job must offer or to a feature that will be decisive if you had to choose between two jobs.

Are you willing to aJend courses? Are you willing to work over0me? What are your objec0ves and ambi0on? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

10. 10 other ques0ons

1. For which classes did you get the best results? The worst? Which subjects did you find interes0ng and why?

2. Why did you choose these subjects? 3. What do you know about our company? 4. Why did you leave this job? 5. What types of people do you get along with or

don’t you get along with? 6. How do you perform under pressure? (Or: Give

me an example of when you performed successfully under pressure)

7. Did you have some conflicts with your colleagues/friends? For which reasons?

8. When can you start working for our company? 9. Do you have ques0ons? 10. What other jobs have you also applied for?




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Smile You happy


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What are the 3 most important skills/strengths we should have for this func0on? Which objec0ves does the company consider as the most important and which contribu0on am I supposed to offer in order to achieve these objec0ves? According to you, which added value do I offer? What are the most important things that I could do to help during the first 3 months? Which performances will be considered for appraisal during my trial period? What is expected from me during the first 6 months?

By asking the right ques0ons during the interview, you also prove that you have a good knowledge of the job/the company/the sector, and that your mo0va0on for this job is high

Why are people happy to work for your company? How do you see me? Why would you decide to hire me? What can you say about the company culture and the people (colleagues, hierarchy, ... ) whom I would work with? If you should give me the job, why would you do this? Are there any points that I can clarify upon in order to become a top candidate? Avoid asking the following ques0ons during the first interview:

How many holidays / make-‐up days am I en0tled to? How is the schedule arranged and when can I take some holidays?

Do you have

ques0ons ?



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Carpe diem


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Arrive on 0me What do you need to bring: bring your CV, your covering leJer, leJers of recommenda0on, appraisal forms from your former employers, a wri0ng pad and a pen to take notes Be concrete and specific Most candidates give common and general answers. During the job interview, try to convince the interviewer by giving measurable informa0on and precise details rela0ng to your achievements. Give examples coming from your career and create links with the func0on you are applying for Repeat your “strengths” three 0mes It is crucial that you insist confidently on your strengths. Put forward which advantages your strengths represent for the requirements and objec0ves of the company or department for which you will work An interview is a dialogue: Don’t speak too much but try to respect the 50-‐50 rule: you speak 50% of the 0me and the interviewer speaks 50% of the 0me.

Listen carefully to the ques0ons and make sure to give concrete answers. Don’t start talking about this or that or about anything not rela0ng to the interview. If you are afraid that your answer to one difficult ques0on was not enough or sufficiently concrete, just ask if you answered to the ques0on. Dare to leave some silent moments. It is recommended to think about the answer you want to give to a difficult ques0on rather than just saying some non-‐sense. Most of all: don’t become nervous! Ask for some more explana0on if the ques0on is difficult or unclear. This way, you can win some 0me in order to prepare your answer. What you should keep in mind during the conversa0on: convince the other that you represent an added-‐value and assure him/her that you are made for this job. Not too close. Try not to be too familiar at the end of the conversa0on



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Jobdate

TIPS

Self suggestion makes you

master of yourself


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Prepare 3 success stories. Make a list with your skills such as: you can work in a team, you are willing to have responsibili0es, you are reliable, you are crea0ve… In your career, find concrete situa0ons where you successfully used these skills. Image is as important as content. The image you give and the way you talk is as important as the things you say. Studies reveal that 65% of the message comes from the non-‐verbal communica0on. (see module on posi0ve abtude) Ask ques0ons. Don’t wait for the “Do you have ques0ons?”. The ques0ons you ask and the manner in which you ask them can give an incredibly posi0ve impression. The good ques0ons require some prepara0on: you can refer to the module from your JOBDATE PLAN named The Top 10 ques0ons that you can ask. Find the right moment to ask them

Avoid asking personal ques0ons even if you precise that you have a ques0on which does not relate to the job What’s next? Ask what are the following steps in the selec0on procedure Keep a JOBDATES book. Aoer the JOBDATE, summarize what happened, your posi0ve abtude, the way you answered the ques0ons, if you received all the informa0on you needed, what you would like to do differently next 0me, etc Follow-‐up your JOBDATES: Aoer the jobdates, send an email or a leJer to thank the interviewer. Repeat again your skills and strengths and the importance they can represent for the company



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Jobdate

TIPS

Just do it!


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Mo4va4on is the force which moves us into ac4on. Are you looking for a new way to mo4vate yourself, your team, your company What mo4vates You? What gives you the right energy to move forward every morning of the year? Why do you feel down today? Who,what is responsible for your mo4va4on? Are you responsible for the mo4va4on of your family, your team, your partner? Do you know how too keep the best mo4vated team members on board? Is boos4ng the Mo4va4on, mission impossible?

learn to recognize “demo4va4on at first sight “ and all the modern demo4va4onbugs (absenteeism-‐presenteeism) The wisdom of the 4 mo4va4on laws Define your own Mo4va4on DNA. Design your Personal Mo4va4on Plan (PMP) Crack the mo4va4onal code of your family and team members Develop crea4ve and authen4c mo4va4on strategies for your team, your boss Discover the secret of emo4onal rewarding and the intrinsic mo4va4on The power of the 4 T of Autonomy 9 ways to boost Mo4va4on of your organiza4on to the top Create your own mo4va4onal cockpit

In you must burn What you want to

ignite in others

www.idea4U.be Experts in the Art of Mo0va0on Workshop the ART of Motivation

WHY? this workshop WHAT? will you learn

Yvan Dierckxsens is owner and Chief Engagement Officer of IDEA 4U since 2008. As formal CEO of Unique Belgium, his company was elected five 0mes as “great place to work” .

His mission: to inspire people and organisa0ons to a higher mo0va0on, success and trust in the future

For more information: www.idea4U.be

http://www.yd4U.be

http://www.yd4u.be/IDEA4U/Tiener_en_Ouder_Gemotiveerd.html


jobdate plan of idea 4u: how to prepare you for a job interview?

Self Improvement

successful job interview

specic knowledge

yvan dierckxsens

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laughingisnotonly healthy

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