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[T1110]Top 10 Travel Guides

by Katie George, Kat

When there is a 'credit crunch' with the prospect of recession the finance and banking sectors are at the sharp end of the stick and ultimately the first markets to feel the squeeze. Whilst experienced bankers and financiers will always be able to find employment, graduates looking to gain a position in the banking industry are finding that the current economic climate is proving tough, with a high level of competition in the marketplace amongst other graduates, whilst financial organisations are also less inclined to recruit at a time of downsizing.
When there are large-scale redundancies in the banking sector and recruitment budgets are already cut then competition to find jobs becomes increasingly difficult. As profitability in the banking sector is being hit companies have to cut costs and often graduate training and marketing budgets are the first to be rescinded. Therefore graduates looking to move into the banking and finance sectors need to set themselves apart from other candidates.
Here is a top 10 guide to help find a banking job and survive the credit crunch.
1. You shouldn't send out the same curriculum vitae to every potential employer, instead tailor your CV for each specific job. There's no need to lie- individual employers are potentially looking for candidates with different skill sets therefore highlighting those specific skill sets in either your CV or covering letter will potentially get you noticed and set you out from the crowd.
2. Understand the company that you are applying for a role at. Nothing irks an interviewer as much as a candidate who hasn't carried out any research. If you aren't interested in the company then why should they show interest in you? At a minimum do your research, explore the corporate website, learn about what the company offers, discover what's unique about them and read all the latest press releases and aim to 'fact-drop' in your interview. It may be an obvious tactic, which will be picked up by an interviewer, but a tactic which will hold you in good merit.
3. An interview is prime time to ask the company questions too. Prepare a range of questions so that you'll have something to hand if you're prompted. Not having any questions can look negative, as if you're not really interested.
4. Consider broadening the types of companies you apply to, there can be a lot of people competing for the same jobs at the largest banks and financial institutions, so look to mid-tier investment houses or hedge fund providers.
5. Graduates should look for financial training schemes, however in a credit crunch these schemes can be harder to come by, so if you've just left university consider internship, or work experience. A couple of months working for free may not be of immediate financial benefit but could pay dividends long term as relevant experience can be very important and employers are looking for candidates who can hit the ground running, or show the kind of dedication it takes to decide to do work experience. Those that cannot take a financial hit by working for free should look at taking part-time or related work that can be used to show commercial awareness and business skills. Charity work or a job where you can provide that you have entrepreneurial abilities can also set you ahead of your competition.
6. When you get an interview don't act desperate, as if you need the job. Being keen is great, but if the interviewer thinks that you'll take any job because you need it, the image you a portraying is of someone who may 'jump ship' once you get back on your feet.
7. You can't avoid the fact that sometimes it's who you know and not what you know. Anyone can use this to their advantage by utilising social networking, contacting friends and ex co-workers to see if there are any opening where they work.
8. Your personal statement on your curriculum vitae can be one of the first things a potential employer may read about you, so you need to take this opportunity to impress. Keep your personal statement fairly short and snappy and highlight your professional attributes and goals. Remember to sell yourself and avoid typical clich and empty phrases such as 'team player' etc
9. Highlight key corporate success stories that you have accomplished. Businesses like facts and figures, so if you're produced some impressive results in previous employment then state them in your curriculum vitae. This separates you from the other candidates and moves you from the 'potentially could do' to the 'has done' thought mentality in the employers mind.
10. Industry sector recruitment firms can also help graduates find Banking Jobs and graduate placements. Many companies turn to these recruitment specialists to help them find appropriate candidates.

I recently read two articles about travel fitness. One said that while you're traveling, you should keep up with 50% of your normal training and the other said you should keep up with only one-third. Both were written by well known fitness professionals and both said that you should NOT expect to keep up your regular exercise program while you are traveling. That struck me as kind of "lame" and I said to myself, "Why the heck not? Why do people have such low standards and demand so little of themselves? Why do they let themselves off the hook and scale back?"

Sometimes, of course, traveling is purely for a vacation ? including a vacation from training. Occasional time off from intense training is beneficial and necessary to let your body recover and rejuvenate completely from chronic training stress, just as time off from the office is needed to disengage your mind for a while. It's also true that it really doesn't take much to maintain fitness once it is developed, and an abbreviated, but still effective, workout routine could certainly be used, if you choose, when you're on the road.

However, you still have healthy eating to think about and just because you're traveling doesn't mean you can't follow your regular exercise regimen. Why settle? If you want to continue to improve your physique while on the road, you can! Here are 10 ways that I did it on my last extended business trip that you may find helpful as well. It begins with a simple decision.

1. Decide to improve while you're traveling and to come home in better shape than when you left

Nearly every time I travel (the exception being if it's a complete rest and relaxation vacation), I set a goal to come home in better shape than when I left. The only reason most people usually come home with lower fitness and a few extra pounds than when they left is because they didn't make a decision to do otherwise. In fact, many people hold a belief that it's "impossible" to stay on their eating and exercise program while they are traveling! Why not get in better shape no matter where you are? The truth is, all it takes is a decision and some planning. I find it a fun and exhilarating challenge to improve myself no matter where I am in the world.

2. Write out your workout schedule in advance

There's nothing like writing your goals down on paper to keep your mind focused and keep yourself motivated. In addition to writing out goals regularly, preferably every day, you should also commit your training schedule to paper and especially when you are traveling. Write down the days, the time of the day and the exact workout you plan to do and you will be amazed at how easy you will find it is to get to the gym and have great workouts.

3. Get a hotel with a kitchen

The single most important part of my travel arrangements was to book a hotel with a kitchen. For me, not having a kitchen is not an option. If you don't have kitchen, you will be much more likely to skip meals, it's very difficult to eat 5 or 6 times a day (as required by any good fat burning or muscle building nutrition program), and you may end up at the mercy of restaurant, hotel or convenience store food. For my most recent trip, I stayed at Homestead Studio Suites, one of several national hotel chains in the USA which includes a full kitchen including a refrigerator, microwave, stove ? the whole works. Exteneded Stay America and Marriot Residence Inn offer similar accomodations

On previous trips, if there wasn't such a hotel with a kitchen in the vicinity, I searched the internet for apartments for short term rental. You may be surprised at the type of lodging you can find and often you will be pleased with price as compared to hotels. I once booked a luxury condo for 7 days and it ended up costing less than the hotel I was first considering, and the hotel didn't even have a kitchen. Nothing beats a full kitchen, but you may also find that many hotels will provide you with a microwave and mini-refrigerator if you ask for them.

4. Go food shopping immediately after checking in

The FIRST thing I did after checking in was to make a beeline straight to the local grocery store. I took a shopping list with me because on past trips I found that I nearly always seemed to forget one or two small items if I didn't have the written grocery list. Once you have a fully stocked refrigerator and kitchen, your meal planning and preparation is NO DIFFERENT than it is when you are home.

5. check the local restaurant locations and menus and commit in advance to making healthy choices when dining out

Since I had a kitchen at my disposal, the majority of my meals were just business as usual. I cooked them right in my hotel room and brought them along with me wherever I went. However, when traveling, it's likely that you will probably be having quite a few restaurant meals.

I make it a habit to scope out the local restaurants in advance and even check their websites. Most have their menus online these days. I make a decision in advance whether it will be a regular meal or a "cheat meal." If it's a cheat meal, I enjoy whatever I want, but I always keep portion sizes in mind. For example, last time, I split a slice of cheesecake with a friend. Was I guilty? Heck no, it was my planned cheat day, I only ate half a slice and it was the first cheesecake I had in 12 months!

If you walk into a restaurant without having made a decision in advance whether you are staying on your regular meals or having a cheat meal, you are much more likely to have a "diet accident" and make a poor choice on impulse, especially if you're influenced by non-healthy-eating companions (don't under estimate the negative peer pressure factor). All it takes is one unplanned cheat meal and that can often lead to guilt. Then "all or none thinking" tends to set in and you may tell yourself, "Well, I blew it," so the next meal and then the rest of the week tends to completely fall apart as well.

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Both Katie George & Tom Venuto are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Katie George has sinced written about articles on various topics from Credit Cards, Loans for Home Improvement and Banking. . Katie George's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.

Tom Venuto has sinced written about articles on various topics from Vitamin and Mineral Supplement, Fitness and Wellness. Tom Venuto is a natural bodybuilder, certified strength coach (CSCS) and author of "Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle,? which teaches you how to get lean without drugs or supplements using secrets of the world's best bodybuilders and fitness models. Learn how. Tom Venuto's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.