Candidates should take the Prior Employment tests seriously, even if they are not necessary.

Some of the delineated points, the job aspiring candidates should know:

1.Senior Executives are not exempted :

If you aspire to climb the ladder of success, the more you are evaluated in the aspects of personality, skill, competency, etc. The companies administer these personality assessment to see whether the prospective individuals fit into the company’s culture . Some companies critically scrutinize the assessment of the candidates , as they opine, " We have the most to loose if they are a bad hire".

2.Curb your Antagonism :

Most of the senior candidates scoff at having to take a test & also express their unwillingness. They feel it unnecessary and dispute verbally with the interviewer. They may derail their candidacy , if they show their displeasure. Complaining says a lot to an employer about your attitude , tolerance level, flexibility, amicability and how open you will be to future opportunities.

3.Your Candidacy can benefit :

The bottom line of your candidacy may match their specific requirements, which may promote you to the next round. Your general traits may match the overall requisites of the position , if failed specifically. 4.Clear your schedule :

Inquire the assessment duration from the recruiters, helping yourself to schedule your activities. You may need to devote anywhere from a few minutes of several hours of time. Some assessment are oral and administered on site by an industrial psychologist, while others may be completed online from any location. If it is a telephonic test, ensure there will be no interruptions / distractions.

Normally , candidates who have successfully completed the first round interviews are administered a brief personality assessment by phone.

5.Exercise your brain:

Familiarize yourself with the different types of tests available in the free tests portals . Take up mock plays, tests, chats, discussions, etc under supervision of a personality trainer in your city. This helps you to remove the fear out of taking a test and makes you confident. Playing - Chess helps you to sharpen your mind.

So, you want to take the next step to being competitive in the security arena. You know others who have successfully earned their ISP and you want to join the ranks of the very few professionals with ISP after their name. Great, I hope this article motivates you. So keep reading and enjoy some background information and keep posted on a proven method of studying for and passing the exam.

The Society of Industrial Security Professionals identified with the acronym NCMS is the primary professional organization for Department of Defense contractor security professionals. This organization is unique and has a different clientele than other security professional organizations such as ASIS International. The NCMS is dedicated to equipping, training and providing this unique group of professionals and their support of the National Industrial Security Program.

The NCMS currently has 2,000 members which are made up of those working with Department of Defense, Department of Energy, contractors, members in NATO countries and many others. The business challenges are unique and this organization helps to meet them by providing training in Operation Security, Information Security, document classification, personnel and facility security clearances and much more.

Much of the training is conducted through the network of professionals as well as in annual training events and seminars. These annual events provide opportunities for hands on demonstrations, latest in industry news and award ceremonies. The newest addition to the annual seminar is the Industrial Security Professional Certification test.

Out of the 2,000 members only 6% who hold the ISP certification. In July 2005 there were only 75 ISPs and as of October 2006 the number has increased to 117. The test is challenging and the pass rate is 80%. However, this pass rate is expected to improve as a result of the mentor programs developing within the organization as well as time saving techniques offered with the on-line testing.

As with most professional organizations, the ISP is recognized as a prestigious title. As mentioned earlier, there are only 117 people carrying their business cards to job interviews and hanging certificates on the wall. The ISP does indeed distinguish the bearer from others and as a result there is currently a drive to have all leaders in the organization certified.

The ISP demonstrates a high level of knowledge for the holder. It is based strictly on the NISPOM that the government governs compliance with. It also covers electives dealing with communications security, Operations Security, and others specific to the industry. Because of the intense study involved it demonstrates willingness for self-improvement and dedication to the profession. This tells upper management that you are committed to the business, the industry and the protection of national interests. It puts the company in a stronger negotiation position while bidding on contracts and lends credibility to relationships with the oversight agency the Defense Security Services (DSS). Most of all, it gives the recipient confidence in knowledge base and the ability to apply the knowledge to make vital decisions.

As this certification program evolves, more and more employers will recognize the bearer during job interviews. According to the book, "Now, Discover Your Strengths", the difference between mediocrity and excellence is a small margin. For example, a horse wins a race by fractions of a second and employees excel faster by completing only one more small action a day. The ISP is the difference between which applicant gets the Facility Security Officer job offer or which security administrator gets the extra one percent raise.

This isn’t to say that this is an easy certification. This just demonstrates that a little discipline; 20 to 30 minutes a day, can make a huge difference. In my case, I studied for approximately 20 minutes per day during the work week for five months. Since I don’t like to cram, I take it slow. Some people have different philosophies and take a more intense approach. Through out this book, I will give you hints and techniques that other people have used to give you the skills necessary to couple with your knowledge to help you pass the certification.

Writing a professional, polished résumé can be considered an art. Your canvas is the blank piece of fine linen paper and your concept is your background, skills and abilities. Understanding the right way to write your résumé is very specific to your background. This guide will explain the various layouts that will help you create your masterpiece.

1. Chronological Format

This format is organized by job titles and companies and presented in reverse chronological order, with the most recent work experience appearing first. It usually contains bulleted descriptions of work duties that are relevant to the job objective. It is the most common résumé format.

2. Functional/Combination

This format is organized by job skills or functions, with the emphasis on transferable skills that apply to the job objective. The "combination" in the name refers to the inclusion of job titles, company names and employment dates.

3. Executive Format

This format emphasizes career achievements, such as improvements, innovations, cost-saving efforts, percentage increases, company recognitions, etc. Proven capabilities are often listed in a separate section near the beginning of the résumé.

4. Curriculum Vitae

This format lists publications, presentations, seminars, research, etc. for scientific and academic professionals. Educational background and special credentials are placed near the beginning of the vitae.

5. Information Technology

This format contains a descriptive list of computer skills near the beginning of the résumé. This list would include such skills as Operating Systems, Databases, Protocols, Networks, Languages, Software, Hardware, etc.

When you use a resume, you should use one that specifically targets the job you are applying for. Don't recycle the same old resume that you've been using for the past 2 jobs and just tack on the most recent job experiences as you go along. If you are applying for different types of jobs, you need to update your resume to reflect that difference. Effective resumes are not "one size fits all", and you should target the particular company and job you want with your resume.

That may mean revising it multiple times, or creating a totally new one. But it also may mean that you get the job because you used a more effective and appropriate resume. For example, if you used to run a real estate office and then you worked as the manager of a restaurant but now you are applying for a job in human resources at a hotel, you will want to create a new resume. Your new resume will be intentionally designed to showcase all your people skills and abilities to hire and manage employees. You can explain how you've had a variety of experiences with different kinds of people in different professions -including hospitality - and how you've had human resource responsibilities at other jobs. A fresh resume, designed to highlight your transferable skills and talents as a hotel's human resource person - as opposed to someone who has specific restaurant and real estate skills - will speak more to your current career interests.

By speaking to the job you seek, and drawing on experiences from past jobs to highlight how those jobs taught you the skills you need for the new position, you enhance your chances of getting noticed when a potential employer reads your resume. Keep in mind, employers often think - and hire - outside of the box. Just because you don't think you have the right background for the job, don't throw in the towel. A good resume writer will tie your past talents and skills in nicely to the new role despite areas where your experience is distinct from the role in question. If you're concern about your ability to do this, consider some help from a pro resume writer.. Many people get hired across professions and a good resume writer can help you design a resume that brings out your best qualities for the job.

However, the reality is that it depends solely upon the person and his personal traits and abilities to succeed at any kind of job. To start with you should ask yourself the same sort of questions as if you where looking for a regular job. On top of that in the internet community, there are always certain questions that you should ask yourself when you start with a work at home job.

The first question you should ask yourself is, why are you opting this route? Once you are clear with this, you can proceed easily without having any doubts in your mind. You should know the reason behind your longing to take up a work at home job. Is it money, extra income or your own personal satisfaction to do something? Any of these answers are suitable to follow your dream with a work at home job.

Second step is to choose the right type of work at home job. You should consider the market potential of the business you wish to carry out. Think it with a long-term perspective in mind, will the job eventually produce the profits needed to reach your goals or not? This is not easy to find out. You can always conduct some type of personal research about the work at home job involved. A common technique of test marketing is to actually start the work at home job on a part-time basis to measure the income potential.

The next step is to get accustomed with the best work at home job of those available and decide whether or not you have the right type of skills for the job. If you need to learn some of them, go ahead with them. Many successful people working at home used their previous work experiences, education, and/or training. If you need more skills to carry-out your new work at home job to your best abilities, then you will have to either join classes or find a similar regular job to gain experience. You should certainly try to find an experienced mentor who already became successful in a similar work at home job.

Next make a proper plan of attack, including scheduled hours to invest in your new job which you decided to start with. Make sure you start of at a steady pace which will help you to stay focused on your goals without loosing interest.