High-Fiber Foods

Many of us associate fiber with digestive health and bodily functions we’d rather not think about. However, eating foods high in dietary fiber can do so much more than keep you regular. It can lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, improve the health of your skin, and help you lose weight. It may even help prevent colon cancer. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t eating nearly enough in our diets. By using these tips to add more fiber to your diet, you can help prevent serious disease and look and feel your best.

What is fiber?

Fiber, also known as roughage, is the part of plant-based foods (grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans) that the body can't break down. It passes through the body undigested, keeping your digestive system clean and healthy, easing bowel movements, and flushing cholesterol and harmful carcinogens out of the body.

Fiber comes in two varieties: insoluble and soluble.

Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It is the bulky fiber that helps to prevent constipation, and is found in whole grains, wheat cereals, and vegetables such as carrots, celery, and tomatoes.

Soluble fiber dissolves in water and helps control blood sugar levels and reduce cholesterol. Good sources include barley, oatmeal, beans, nuts, and fruits such as apples, berries, citrus fruits, and pears.

Many foods contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. In general, the more natural and unprocessed the food, the higher it is in fiber. There is no fiber in meat, dairy, or sugar.

Refined or “white” foods, such as white bread, white rice, and pastries, have had all or most of their fiber removed.

The health benefits of fiber

The latest figures show that nine out of ten Americans are not eating enough fiber; and people in other parts of the world are also falling well short. Part of the problem may be due to the association between fiber and bathroom habits. Yes, fiber offers a healthy and effective way to stay regular. But that’s not the only reason why we should be including more in our diets. Many different studies have highlighted how eating a diet high in fiber can boost your immune system and overall health, and help you look and feel your best. Some of the benefits include:

Digestive health. Let’s get this one out of the way first. Dietary fiber normalizes bowel movements by bulking up stools and making them easier to pass. This can help relieve and prevent both constipation and diarrhea. Eating plenty of fiber can also reduce your risk for diverticulitis (inflammation of the intestine), hemorrhoids, gallstones, kidney stones, and provide some relief for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some studies have also indicated that a high-fiber diet may help to lower gastric acid and reduce your risk for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) and ulcers.

Heart disease. Fiber, particularly soluble fiber, is an important element of any heart-healthy diet. Eating a diet high in fiber can improve cholesterol levels by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol. A high fiber intake can also reduce your risk for metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors linked to coronary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Fiber can help to lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, improve levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, and shed excess weight around the abdomen.

Diabetes. A diet high in fiber—particularly insoluble fiber from cereals—can lower your risk for type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes, eating soluble fiber can slow the absorption of sugar and improve your blood sugar levels.

Cancer. There is some research that suggests eating a high-fiber diet can help prevent colorectal cancer, although the evidence is not yet conclusive. Diets rich in high-fiber foods are also linked to a lower risk for other common digestive system cancers, including stomach, mouth, and pharynx.

Skin health. When yeast and fungus are excreted through the skin, they can trigger outbreaks or acne. Eating fiber, especially psyllium husk (a type of plant seed), can flush toxins out of your body, improving the health and appearance of your skin.

Fiber and weight loss

As well as aiding digestion and preventing constipation, fiber adds bulk to your diet, a key factor in both losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. Adding bulk can help you feel full sooner. Since fiber stays in the stomach longer than other foods, that feeling of fullness will stay with you much longer, helping you eat less. High-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables tend to be low in calories, so by adding fiber to your diet, it’s easier to cut calories.

There are other ways that a high fiber intake can aid weight loss. By regulating your blood sugar levels, it can help maintain your body’s fat-burning capacity and avoid insulin spikes that leave you feeling drained and craving unhealthy foods. Eating plenty of fiber can also move fat through your digestive system at a faster rate so that less of it can be absorbed. And when you fill up on high-fiber foods such as fruit, you’ll also have more energy for exercising.

To know what are the foods that contain high fiber, especially for Malaysians, wait for next week's article.

Source : HelpGuide

5 Essential Steps To Create Career Fulfillment

Career fulfillment  can often seem like an elusive beast. Figuring out what it is and how to find it is a difficult process for many.

The first thing about career fulfillment isn’t something you FIND, it’s something you CREATE. And the process, while different for everyone, involves five essential steps:

1. Know Your Needs

The vast majority of the people know quite clearly what they don’t want from their work. More often than not, it’s everything they’re currently experiencing. But that’s not enough. Knowing what you don’t want doesn’t give you a big enough picture. You have to know what you do want and, more importantly, what you need.

Your career goal isn’t to simply sidestep misery. You want to achieve (at least some level of) fulfillment. In order to do that, you must have a clear understanding of your unique personal and professional needs. However, it takes a lot of self-reflection.

2. Listen To Your Gut

Intuition is something many of us take for granted. We push it aside and bury it because we’ve been trained to use logic instead. Your gut isn’t always illogical, though. In fact, it’s often telling you the most basic, fundamental truth your logical brain is trying to avoid.

When it comes to career fulfillment, listen to your instincts. What makes you happy doesn’t always sound logical at first. But, if you listen to your heart and set out on the right path for your soul, your brain will find a way to keep you safe on the journey and get you to your destination. This might sound a little hokey to some of you. That’s fine. Just go with it. Try listening to that quiet voice inside you, the one you’ve been ignoring, and see where it takes you. Then, let me know what happens.

3. Make Changes Thoughtfully

Many people looking for career fulfillment end up job hopping. They bounce from one thing to the next in search of the perfect match. Unfortunately, they often end up in a vicious, anxious cycle. The moment they feel restless, it’s on to the next thing.

Instead of taking the time to carefully analyze what is and isn’t working and why, they simply paper the city with resumes and take the first offer of a decent paycheck. Before you know it, they’re right back where they started, looking for the next job to hop to.

Don’t fall into this trap. When you’re ready for a career change (whether big or small), take your time. Think about it carefully and make decisions based on well thought-out strategies. This isn’t a race. You don’t have to jump NOW. Take your time, analyze your situation, and make slow, methodical progress towards your goals.

4. Learn From Others

Many of us are afraid to ask for help and this is such a horrible waste of wisdom! You are surrounded by so much experience and knowledge. All you have to do is tap into it. Your family, friends and colleagues have all been where you are. The things you are going through, no matter how unique they feel, are actually quite common. The people in your support network are dying to share their stories with you. Listen closely. Learn from their mistakes and triumphs.

And, should you find a more objective point-of-view is what you need, consider working with a professional career coach. We’re trained to remain (relatively) neutral, present ideas with deep democracy, and help you clarify and act on what you already know—the feelings and ideas you’ve been burying.

5. Work At It

Finding career fulfillment isn’t a quick or easy journey. It takes time and effort. Engage yourself mentally, physically and, yes, even spiritually. Put yourself into the process. Be active. Don’t expect things will change without significant work on your part. What? Are you afraid of work? Snap out of it. You have everything you need. It’s up to you to make it happen. Don’t give up when it gets hard. Don’t pretend it’s not worth the hassle. You are—most definitely—worth it.

6 Traits Of Bad Bosses

Just as there are bad employees, there are bad bosses. And yes, even stupid people can climb up the corporate ladder. What qualifies as a bad boss?

Perhaps, bad isn’t quite the right word. The better word would be ignorance. These are ignorant bosses who do not know better.

If the boss you are working under “passes” these tests, then he or she qualifies as a bad boss. These are the six most notable traits of bad bosses.

(Let’s assume, for this article, that your boss is a man.)

1. NEGATIVE

He is always negative about everything. Not just about you. He can be negative even with the most positive things – as if there is nothing in this world that will make him happy.

If you feel he is just negative about you, watch properly. In all likelihood, he is negative somewhere else, too. He does not know how to look at things from the right view – work or otherwise.

2. SELFISH

Here, goal means the collective goal, not his own selfish goal. The goal of your unit and company he is supposed to help achieve.

If he is always plotting to move up even at the expense of the people under him, he must be a very ignorant person. He does not know that the better his team, the better he is in rising to the top.

3. RUDE

I am not just talking about lying. Your boss is likely not to just indulge in lies, but he is also likely to spread gossip, talking behind everyone’s back.

Even if he speaks well about you, beware. If he speaks ill of someone to you, he is likely to speak ill of you to someone else. He is likely to be rude, too!

He even calls you stupid. How can someone who uses his mouth like that be smart? Why would anyone be willing to be led by him?

4. UNETHICAL

He is most probably unethical in his conduct and the way he runs his unit is detrimental not just to his team, but also to your company.

He takes credit from the team. He is not afraid to present to the boss. But when it is a tough presentation to a client, he will figure out an excuse to get out of it. You often wonder, why doesn’t his boss notice? He will create excuses when he makes a mistake and punishes others for the same mistakes. Leading by example is not in his vocabulary.

5. LAZY

Don’t ask him to do anything. He will act smart and look busy. He knows no effort. He will tell everyone to do everything and one wonders what he does. But he gets away with it from his bosses as he is very good at putting up an act for his bosses. He thinks he is working smart. But you know he is a bad boss because he does not even know his own role and work. His motto is, “A boss doesn’t have to work,” which is dead wrong! He just doesn’t work because he doesn’t know how.

6. IGNORANT

He confuses his perception for reality. It seems like he is in a world of his own. He thinks he is smart. He thinks he works hard. He thinks he has employed the worst people in the world. If he has a chance he would change so and so and such and such. But he makes no effort at all. He has a warp sense of reality. Everybody is at fault and everyone needs him. When in reality the company is better off without him.

Does your boss have all of these qualities? Or even half? Then, he (or she) qualifies as stupid for all his ignorance. Does he also have toxic leadership qualities? If he does, you should think twice about your future under him.

Original article : Careerealism

Guide to a Successful Career

Know what you really want to do

EVERYBODY wants to have a successful career. But the path to the top isn’t always plain sailing. Mishaps are bound to happen.

But while some mistakes are necessary to help mould us into the individual we aspire to become someday, there some which should strive to avoid.

The following are some career mistakes many of us make - and what to do to avoid them.

Start early

According to Heera Training and Management Consultancy principal consultant Heera Singh, many people do not put much thought into what they really want to do and end up “wandering” from job to job.

Because of this, they actually detest what they do, only to end up not having good careers, he says.

“I believe that every working person must put in a lot of thought into what they really want in terms of a career. This should start as soon as they get into the job market.

“They must decide what they really like to do in terms of a job for the rest of their lives. Their talents and aptitudes must be taken into consideration.”

The earlier they make this decision, the better it will be.

“Academic qualifications are just an intellectual capacity indicator and an inroad into the job market. It must never be allowed to chain you to a career in any one field.

“For example just because you are an accountant, does not mean that you must stay in that field for the rest of your life. There are so many opportunities in the corporate world today, namely in business, in the sales line, in online business.”

Using a metaphor, Heera says that “if you are a duck, you should find a career where it entails swimming; and if you are a monkey, you should have a career around the climbing of trees.”

“What this means is that you will do a job that you have the talent and natural inclination for and this will translated into a better career.”

Not willing to keep learning

Climbing up the ranks requires one to continuously keep learning - a process that can be challenging, says Leaderonomics chief executive officer Roshan Thiran.

“Each time I ask people if they love to learn, they all answer yes. What most people forget is that learning is very painful and tough. It requires hard work and practice.

“Try learning a new language or a new skill. It requires hours of focus, dedication and persistent practice.

“You can’t be CEO instantly. You have to learn so many thing before making the grade to run an organisation. But learning requires sacrifice and time. Getting the big job involves hard work and learning.”

Riding on past successes

According to Eric Jackson, in his article The 8 Dumbest Career-Ending Mistakes That Smart People Make on Forbes, many people take it for granted that their past successes can be replicated in future jobs.

“There’s an arrogance that can take hold in really smart people over time. They’re used to being the stars. They’re used to having an audience of admirers.

“Their whole lives have been a series of one success after another. Why wouldn’t this pattern continue, they think? This over-confidence breeds lots of blind spots.”

Money as a major influence

Heera says that money is a usually a key factor when it comes to selecting a job.

“Let’s say that a person has to make a decision in terms of two job offers. I would think that the salary offered will play in huge role in his choice. But is this wrong? My view is that money is important but must never be the overriding factor in choosing a job.”

Heera provides an example of a young graduate that takes up a job because of the high pay.

“The company may pay him better but the career prospects and personal development opportunities will be minimal. So by taking up the job with the higher pay, it actually hinders his long-term career prospects.

“On the other hand, if he takes up a lower paying job in a big company, it enhances his career as there will be many opportunities and prospects for career advancement.

“Most people do not take into consideration factors like career opportunities or personal development when making decisions on job offers.”

Roshan concurs that many people are influenced by salaries and nothing more.

“People like to follow money. What is more important is not money but experience. Go where you will get the richest experience.”

Neglecting the people that helped you

According to Jackson, many people forget that you are able to “catch more flies with honey rather than vinegar.”

“There’s an old saying - be nice to the people on your way up, because you’ll also be seeing them on your way down. There’s a lot of truth in that. We all have highs and lows in a long career.

“At some point, no matter how successful you are in the moment, you will get knocked down by something or someone.”

He adds that at some point in time, we will need allies and supporters.

“Therefore, don’t alienate people by telling them how brilliant you are and stupid they are — even if it never seems like you’ll need their support in the future. You never really know who you might have to call on for a favour in the future.”

Source : The Star

Amalan Gaya Hidup Sihat

“Sihat sebelum sakit, hidup sebelum mati”. Itulah ungkapan yang cukup untuk menggambarkan kepentingan menjadi sihat. Kesihatan diri; luar dan dalam yang baik akan membawa kita ke arah kehidupan yang lebih bermakna. Kehidupan yang bermakna adalah satu pencapaian yang perlu untuk menyiapkan diri dengan bekalan yang cukup sebelum melangkah (samada dengan rela atau tidak) memasuki alam mati. MATI adalah penghujung bagi setiap kehidupan. Tiada makhluk pun yang mampu hidup berjuta tahun selamanya kecuali DIA yang MAHA ESA. Kita manusia tidak terkecuali untuk mati. Mati dengan cara yang mulia atau mati yang mengaibkan? Kita yang tentukan. Kerana kita telah diberi otak untuk berfikir, dan hati untuk meneliti setiap buah fikiran yang difikirkan. Namun, ada pepatah berbicara ikut rasa binasa, ikut HATI MATI. Justeru, penelitian berlandaskan panduan dan teladan adalah contoh terbaik untuk kita mencorak kehidupan kita ini.

 Amalan gaya hidup sihat dari sudut rohani dan jasmani adalah sangat penting. Selain mengejar dunia, akhirat yang pasti juga perlu untuk dijadikan keutamaan. EMPAT elemen utama untuk panduan asas kea rah gaya hidup sihat adalah MAKANAN, IBADAH, AKAL dan HATI.

1. MAKANAN

Carilah makanan yang BENAR HALAL dari segala sudut nya. Dari asas sumbernya, persiapannya dan penyediaannya. Ini kerana makanan akan menjadi darah daging kita. Darah yang mengalir dalam badan kita adalah untuk semua sel dan organ kita berfungsi. Darah ini juga yang akan mengalir turun ke generasi kita. Justeru, darah ini perlu dihasilkan dari sumber yang baik, bersih atau dengan erti kata lain nya, HALAL untuk memastikan hasil nya juga baik dan bersih. Di Malaysia, rujukan untuk makanan/produk makanan yang halal boleh didapati dari laman web; http://www.halal.gov.my/v4/index.php/en/.

Contoh pemakanan seimbang yang boleh dijadikan panduan untuk memiliki amalan gaya hidup sihat melalui makanan.

2. IBADAH (Amal baik; Ma’ruf).

Sebutan yang mencakup seluruh apa yang dicintai dan diredhai Allah, baik berupa ucapan atau perbuatan, yang zahir maupun yang batin adalah Ibadah. Perlakuan yang baik dari asalnya, niatnya, dan perlaksanaannya turut menjadikan kita tergolong dalam golongan yang menjalankan ibadah. Bukan sahaja perlakuan ibadah di atas tikar sejadah, malahan di waktu sehari-harian. Renungkanlah ibadah lain yang telah kita lakukan..atau langsung tiada? Bertindaklah segera… Antara ibadah lain yang boleh dilaksanakan untuk mengajar diri kita ke arah gaya hidup sihat adalah:

1.  Menjalinkan hubungan baik dengan keluarga, jiran, rakan- rakan dan masyarakat sekeliling

2.  Menjaga kebersihan diri dan juga persekitaran

3.  Menghulurkan bantuan dengan tiada mengharapkan balasan duniawi.

Setiap agama menitikberatkan perlakuan yang baik untuk kesejahteraan hidup bersama. Antara contoh perlakuan baik, adab dan perilaku yang berlandaskan Islam boleh dibaca dalam entri blog ini; http://almanhaj.or.id/category/view/71/page/1.

3. AKAL

Buah fikiran manusia adalah satu keajaiban yang dikurniakan oleh-Nya. Akal fikiran yang dikurniakan ini kepada manusia perlu digunakan dengan sebaiknya untuk mengatur perjalanan kita ke jalan yang lebih baik dengan izin dari-Nya.

     “Imam Ghazali di dalam kitabnya 'Ihya Ulumuddin', mendefinisikan akal sebagai sumber ilmu, tempat timbul, dan sendi ilmu. Ilmu itu berlaku daripada akal sebagaimana berlakunya buah-buahan daripada pohon kayu, sinar dari matahari dan penglihatan daripada mata. Akal juga sering ditakrifkan sebagai alat perubahan berfikir, menimbang buruk baik, atau merasakan segala perubahan keadaan, sehingga dapat mengambil manfaat daripadanya. Tegasnya, akal ialah nur (cahaya) yang dibekalkan oleh Tuhan kepada manusia.”

Justeru itu, buah fikiran yang terhasil dari pemikiran seharian-harian kita hendaklah berlandaskan jalan yang betul dan hendaklah dilaksanakan kepada/untuk jalan yang betul. Perlakuan yang dilaksanakan daripada pemikiran yang baik dan betul boleh membimbing kita kepada amalan gaya hidup sihat.

4. HATI

Hati ini bukanlah ‘liver’. Bukanlah organ. Ia adalah perasaan. Perasaan yang mampu mengaburi pemikiran akal yang logik. Hati sering dikuasai nafsu yang sentiasa membawa kita ke jalan yang salah. Ini kerana kita sering mengalah kepada nafsu yang jahat.. Nafsu secara umumnya bermaksud  keinginan, kecenderungan atau dorongan hati yang kuat.

Kita perlu mencorak keinginan hati kita. Berpatutan dengan nilai-nilai yang mulia. Dengan itu, baru lah kita dapat membentuk haluan hidup kita ke arah gaya hidup yang lebih sihat.

Artikel ini disumbangkan oleh Ieqa Juahari

Top 10 Self-defence Tips

1. Escaping from someone mounted on you 

If someone mounts himself on top of you, yap says the victim can throw the person off. He should keep his knees bent and raise his hips while simultaneously placing both hands on one side of the attacker’s arm and shoulders before pushing them off to the opposite side. raising one’s hips can put the attacker off balance while pushing him aside can give you room to escape and call for help. 

2. use everyday items as a weapon

Yap says items like ballpoint pens  can be used to protect oneself. Make it a habit to carry one around
with you and place it somewhere accessible, such as your breast pocket or collar. The sharp point of your ballpoint pen can be used to strike your target in any part of his body such as the eye or neck,  and
inflict pain, giving you more time to escape. Yap advises against using car keys to injure your assailant as they are too short while pens which are longer can help you reach out further.

3. Be observant of your surroundings

This advice has been repeated on numerous occasions with good reason — many fail to remain aware
of their surroundings, and are often glued to their mobile devices. This makes them susceptible to
attacks. Observe those around you and avoid walking close to corners to give yourself time to respond
during an attack. yap does not let people walk behind him whenever possible.

4. Protect yourself from multiple attackers

When surrounded by a group of attackers, yap says never stand still and try to find an escape route. As far as possible, try to separate the attackers as there is strength in numbers. using pepper spray will also help to break up a group of attackers. 

5. Identify the likely key areas of attack

Not everyone has the physical strength to overpower an attacker, making it useful to learn some of the key areas to hit a target, such as the eyes and groin, yap says you can strike the heel of your palm to the nose or jaw of your attacker which can cause their head to bounce back and possibly snap their neck. You can also try pushing the assailant’s face with both hands to destabilise them. Targeting other vital points such as the joints, fingers and elbows are not recommended as it requires technical expertise to execute the move p

6. Snatch theft

Victims not only lose their belongings but can fall and injure themselves badly during a snatch theft.  Whether your thief is on foot or a motorcycle, yap advises victims to place their feet apart and bend their knees  to stabilise themselves so that they will not fall when their bags are snatched. If you can, try pushing the thief with your hands to throw them off balance and make your escape. 

7. Take precautions

While this may sound simple enough, many do not put into practice habits that can enhance their safety. “early detection of potential danger puts you in a better position to escape,” said yap. This includes driving or walking away if you notice a suspicious-looking character lurking around . You should also lock your car door when filling up at a petrol station to prevent a stranger from getting in when you are not looking. be cautious when someone walking near you has their hands in their pockets as you never know what they may whip out

8. Protect yourself against a punch

According to yap, the face is one of the most common parts of the body that gets attacked. Protect yourself by placing your palms outwards in front of your face and step backwards to avoid a punch. You can use the heel of your palm to strike the person’s jaw or nose, or add another move by thrusting your knee at the attacker’s groin before escaping. additionally, placing your palms out to protect your face may be better than putting up your fists. you might cause more injury to yourself if the attacker hits you, causing your knuckles to punch your own face.

9. Defend yourself from a bear hug

When an attacker bear hugs you from behind, yap’s advice is to move your body to your right or  left side, giving you space to strike the person’s groin with a hammer fist, which will likely inflict enough pain for the attacker to loosen his grip and for you to make an escape. 

10. Protect yourself from a knife attack

If someone is attacking you with a knife from behind, act passive and put your hands up and go, “ok, ok,” as though you are surrendering. Move backwards to create some distance between the knife and your neck, then grab the attacker’s wrist and twist his arm so that his elbows will lie on your shoulder. Pull his wrists down as this move will inflict pain on your attacker, causing him to loosen his grip on the knife and leaving you with an opportunity to flee. This technique will require some practice.

Credit to :  http://www.thestar.com.my/Metro/Community/2015/02/28/Top-selfdefence-tips/

15 signs your job interview is going badly

Most people think it’s difficult — or even impossible — to determine how well they’re performing during a job interview. But if you look closely, the hiring manager’s body language and subtle cues will probably tell you exactly how they feel about you as a candidate.

“It behooves you to read between the lines and gauge the interviewer’s actions and responses, so you can shift your approach, presentation style, or better clarify your answers,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of “Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job.”

For example, you can take note of what appeals most to the hiring manager about your background and what triggers a yawn, such as long-winded answers — and take a different direction. “Other times the fit just isn’t there, or you had an off day. In the worst-case scenario, by looking for subtle cues, you’ll be better prepared at the next job interview,” she says.

If you detect any signs that the interview is going horribly, it’s important to maintain your confidence and a positive attitude, no matter how discouraged you may be.

“The hiring manager may just be distracted for other reasons or could be having a bad day,” Taylor says. “So don’t give up and shut down.”

Here are 15 telltale signs the interview may not end with a job offer:

1. The hiring manager doesn’t maintain eye contact.

If you feel like saying, “Hey … I’m over here!” as your interviewer seems to be looking everywhere but at you, that’s not always a great sign. “Gauge what is going on and whether and how you can improve the situation,” Taylor says. “Maybe you need to take up the energy level a notch, or perhaps you should find a way to connect with the interviewer on a more personal level.”

2. They display negative body language.

If the interviewer is crossing their arms, leaning away from you, or looking at the door, it could mean they aren’t impressed or interested.

“This is a good time for you to lean forward with enthusiasm as you speak; it’s likely to get attention and exude confidence,” says Taylor. 

3. They seem distracted.

If the hiring manager is texting or checking email, surfing the web on his or her computer, or walking around the room as you speak, this is never a good thing.

“Try to make your presentation and dialog more engaging,” says Taylor. Then ask yourself, “Would I really want to work for someone who is this distracted?”

4. They cut the interview short.  

If the interview comes to an abrupt end, just minutes after entering the room, you probably aren’t going to get the job. Of course there may be a special circumstance, like an emergency — but if the hiring manager wraps things up quickly and doesn’t explain or apologize, that’s not a great sign.

“You can’t ask for more time, but you should thank the interviewer for his time and remain poised,” says Taylor.

5. They don’t smile, ever.

“Maybe this is just their personality — but if you noticed the hiring manager laughing and smiling prior to entering the interview room, and then they suddenly look like their cat just died, it could mean they’re simply not excited by you as a candidate,” Taylor explains.

“If you feel daring, try a few lighthearted comments. And if that doesn’t work, consider whether this is just the tip of a very chilly iceberg. You might want to run for the hills while you can, anyway,” she says.

6. They go on the offensive.

When you feel like you’re playing a battle of the wits, as the hiring manager tries repeatedly to put you in the hot seat, this isn’t great. “Don’t play the game and challenge back. Remain calm and determine if this is an aberration in the discussion — or the sign of a merciless tyrant,” says Taylor.

7. They pause often as they try to think of the next question.

“Sometimes in a bad interview, it seems like it takes five minutes for the hiring manager to come up with the next question,” she says. “This happens because hiring managers don’t always know how to handle their lack of interest.” You don’t have to be reactive, however. This is your opportunity to take the floor and ask questions.

8. They don’t listen carefully to your answers or ask pertinent follow up questions.

If you feel like you’re speaking to a wall, try a different tack, such as asking for their opinion on the topic: “How do you structure your team for those kinds of projects?” Once you get the interviewer talking, they’re more likely to perk up, Taylor says.

9. The interviewer mentions there are other qualified candidates in the running.

“This is a warning of sorts so you’re not too let down later,” she explains. Remain undeterred; as long as you’re in the interview, you still have a shot. 

10. It seems as if they’re reading your resume for the first time.

It’s possible that a hectic day is at fault and your interviewer wants to be thoughtful about his questions, but if they seem somewhat clueless about your background, or detached, you can assume the interest level is dwindling.

11. There’s little discussion or enthusiasm about your skills, accomplishments, or goals.

This one may seem obvious — but it’s worth mentioning, says Taylor. “When this happens, ask about what would define success for them in the job and at the company.”

12. The conversation doesn’t flow, and there are lots of pauses or interruptions as you try to respond.

“Chemistry is measurable … by your gut,” says Taylor. “You know when the conversation flows and you have a feeling of camaraderie and when you don’t. Don’t discount your own emotional intelligence or how you physically feel during the interview.” 

13. They don’t mention ‘next steps’ or ask about your availability.

“If you’re not introduced to other managers or the interviewer fails to show interest in moving forward, you can be proactive,” she says. For instance, if you feel like you still have a shot at the job, you can always say: “I’m very interested in the position; what would be the next step?” It’s at least another data point on where you stand. 

14. You get the limp handshake.

If on your way in the interviewer had a nice, firm handshake, and then on your way out you get a “cold fish handshake,” which seems obligatory at best, you probably won’t be getting an offer.

But, still be firm with yours and smile, regardless, Taylor suggests.

15. You’re asked to follow up with an assistant.

“This may be a sign that the hiring manager doesn’t want to spend further time evaluating you for the position, unless the follow up is about a second interview,” she says.

“By taking careful note of job interviewer indicators, you can shift your approach and take action in the moment, when it counts the most,” Taylor adds. “Also remember that just because you didn’t feel you performed well doesn’t mean you lost out. The job interview is also your opportunity to vet the prospective boss and company, so remain objective.”

Original article were published in the World Economic Forum website.