Benefit: 401(k) (United States)

In your first couple of months on the job, preferably sooner than later, do one big project that goes above and beyond what is expected. The project should be something that will last and you can be directly credited for. Make sure your boss is aware of the project and this will give you a great first impression as well as boost your confidence from the positive feedback you receive.

School in this field is not worth it. I've been sent by my dealer to technical institutes for manufacturer training and watched the kids that were enrolled there at work. Schools are so afraid to get sued they teach you to work in an un realisticlty safe manner... and the end result is the kids who get hired out of a technical institute start out as helpers just like the kids that get hired out of high school. Don't get me wrong I love what I do but don't spend $40,000 do get a $40,000 a year job. Take whatever job you can get with no experience and get paid to learn instead of paying to learn. This field pays for the certifitcations you got after you got hired not the ones you payed for before hand.

Computer based training is a great way to learn new technology quickly and it is affordable for anyone. I am not big on certifications, but I must say they will open doors especially when dealing with inexperienced recruiters, managers, human resource people.

First I would like to say that coming from the rank and file it was a big eye opener when I took this job. I was in another position as a maintainance Planner and I had left a job as a Senior Operator that I had for 12 years. What I learned as a planner I took back as a Supervisor and things I learned as a operator I also included them in how I treat the team that I supervise.

First all Pray every morning that God keeps you humble, because the first thing that happens to new managers is being impressed with ones self. You need to know that if you don't produce results you won't last long.

Second Dress for the job you want to have look good, smell good and be well groomed. Even though I work in a enviroment that is very relaxed in the dress, I still try and look my best everyday.

Now I have left this for last but not because its of lower priority than the two above but because it will be what makes or breaks you. I took over a team that had a bad rep. Lots of personalities on this team and I was asked to see what I could do. Now I got alot of advice from the supervisor that was leaving but I truily wanted to make up my own mind. When I came in I gave them my expectations of what I wanted and needed from them. Next I told them what they could expect of me and what I know that I could do for them. I used lots of words like respect,credit,and honesty. I let them know about what was being said about them, how I wasn't listening to any of it that they was going to make my mind up for me.

I let them know that I needed to learn as well, I didn't know anything more than they did, just that I had a desire to be the best at what I was undertaking. If I looked good I promised to make it known how and why I was where I was. Six months later bcecause of them I received the highest rating among the 5 of us on our staff. Respect and how you treat people, saying thanks and please goes a long ways. Just some advice from someone that learns something new everyday. Lastly know your people, say someting kind, ask with meaning how they are doing and be able relate to them on some level.

Nothing will grab attention like a lucrative business opportunity. I recently sold my business to Rite Aid and have retained several accounts that had been a significant source of income in the past. A local Infectious Disease Clinic and a Mental Health Crisis Center have proven to be good accounts for Rite Aid as well. I enjoy catering to the needs of these accounts while having unprecedented support (third party administration/contracting, a/r department, better purchasing, deeper inventories of costly HIV drugs).

It benefits the corporation, the community and myself.

1. Be glad to be there. A realistically positive attitude will cast you as a welcome addition to any group.

2. Keep eye contact with your interviewer(s). If you appear distracted or somewhat disinterested, all of your credentials won't matter much.

3. Stay relaxed and flexible. When that tricky question comes, if you're comfortable, turn it into a positive response with you as the hero.

4. Follow up on the interviewer's questions occasionally. It'll show you're totally in the game.

5. If this really sounds like your dream job, towards the end of the interview, tell him/her that you "want this job". Determination and self-direction are always remembered after you've left the room.

I have had 2 other jobs working for different Engineering companies where you dressed in jeans, t-shirts, tanks and shorts. It didn't matter if there were holes or stains either. The engineers were out in the field 75% of their work year and got dirty very quickly.

From these experiences and being the only female in the department I followed suit in my dress. Very casual, jeans frayed at the ends a casual solid t-shirt perhaps a little too tight at times and a casual jacket to keep warm. No one seemed to mind, care or think a second thought about it, I was one of the guys.

But now I'm moving to a MUCH better job, again in Engineering but no field work. With this job I have decided to dress more fashionably and put on a more professional appearance.

I believe in the past that my dress and lack of style was detrimental to my career. Even though men in the office can walk in unshowered and smelling on last nights binge drinking and still get a promotion, a woman is not so lucky. We are looked at differently and judged more on our professional appearance than our abilities to do the work at hand.

So even though you aren't looking for a date and aren't trying to impress anyone in the office it will benefit you to take a little more care in your appearance. Be showered and do a little something with your hair, wear light make-up (Cover-up and foundation would be enough), if your hell bent on wearing jeans dress up the look with some cute comfortable shoes, not steel-toed boots (put the boots on when you arrive to the jobsite and not to the office). Wear some casual sweaters or tailored blouses. If you have to work on a jobsite wear an undershirt and remove the blouse and put on the dirty T-shirt when you get to the job site.

Yes it is a hassle to be a women in the work force but it is a great thing too.

This is general information which will apply to work in most retail perishable departments.

Persons wishing to enter this type of work MUST be FOCUSED, DETERMINED, INDEPENDENT AND TEAM WORKERS.

This means that you must learn how to play by the company rules and regulations, as food safety and lawsuits are on retailers minds now more than ever. You must demonstrate your ability to work with fresh, highly perishable merchandise.

Cleanliness is a must. You must also demonstrate an ability or a willingness to learn how to properly clean and sanitize the meat processing equipment (the saw, tenderizer, grinder, tables).

Impress your employer with your knowledge of stock rotation, key retailing (organization, organization and organization!) and your people skills. Butchers are generally asked questions of how to prepare meat and poultry products so you must know proper marinades for each cuts as well as how to properly cook them. Generally you must be willing to also work other perishable departments in the retail environment such as the deli or the produce department depending on their needs. Flexible scheduling is always a plus if you want full-time/overtime hours!

Safety is also a must for retail meat cutters. Since meat cutters handle sharp objects such as knives and saws everyday in their routine work you must be able and willing to demonstrate your ability to work safely.

Meat cutters are generally held to a higher standard than the rest of the store employees and must demonstrate their ability to be in compliance with OSHA standards (proper code-dating on fish, meat, hamburger, primal cuts and cry-o-vacs). Improper code dating can lead to shrink and lawsuits!

Dress in business attire for the interview and for any contact with the company. Be polite but not stuffy. Listen to the interviewer and other staff carefully. Answer questions politely and to the point. Be self-assured but not arrogant even if you feel you are overqualified.

Always be on time and be willing to work with many personalities.