You make your own luck!

Some people are successful in matters of love, in their careers, in their finances etc. Yet these people don't seem to work particularly hard. Others repeatedly fail despite their efforts and talents.

Why do some people are lucky and others never get the breaks they deserve? Why do some people are always in the right place and at the right time, while others consistently experience bad fortune? 

Darren Brown in his show 'The Experiments' asked what makes some people lucky and others attract only misfortune. He got a rumour about the lucky powers of a town's statute to see if it changes the lives of local residents. Many psychologists did similar tests and what they discovered was that people have almost no insight into the causes of their luck, their thoughts and behaviours are responsible for much of their good and bad fortune. 

Darren Brown showed that lucky people consistently encounter opportunities, whereas unlucky people do not, due to the differences in their ability to spot such opportunities. Psychologists showed that unlucky people are more tense than lucky people, and this anxiety disrupts their ability to notice the opportunity. They miss it because they are too focused on something else. 'The Experiments' established a well known quote by American writer Tennessee Williams who said: 'Luck is believing you're lucky'. Darren set a rumour about lucky dog statue in town and people believed it was lucky which made it easier for them to spot the opportunities.

These experiments revealed that lucky people generate good fortune because they are skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities, they make lucky decisions by listening to their intuition, they have positive expectations and adopt an attitude that transforms bad luck into good.

At the end of Darren's experiment unlucky people became lucky and lucky people became even luckier.

Professor Wiseman in his book called 'The Luck Factor: The Scientific Study of the Lucky Mind' concluded that the essence of luck is opportunity. In his experiments, he found that lucky people smile twice as often as others, and engage in more eye contact than unlucky people do. Such a behaviour exposes a person to more opportunities due to the increased social interaction. In fact, open-mindedness allows one to encounter a greater number of unique prospects, and makes one to embrace new opportunities. Moreover, Wiseman's study showed that optimistic person is more satisfied with all areas of their lives than an unlucky, pessimistic person.

Luck plays a huge part in every career. If you believe that things are outside your control and that your actions will not make a difference, you make less effort. If you make less effort, you will be less successful and this will just confirm your belief that you can't change anything. This is known as learned helplessness

'Unlucky people' tend to look through newspapers determined to find certain types of advertisements and miss other types of jobs. In the times of recession it is more important to look for benefits rather than salaries. Lucky people build and maintain diverse networks and regularly expose themselves to new experiences and environments. In result, more opportunities come their way. They expect their good luck to continue into the future and they take more calculated risks. They persevere in the face of failure, not giving up at the first obstacle. Lucky people are able to transform their bad luck into good fortune by learning from their experiences and mistakes.

Kat Ciszak

10 Basic Interview Tips

1. First impressions count 

Greet your interviewer with a smile and firm handshake. Give eye contact. Try to make small talk during the walk from the reception area to the interview room. Even if you are not interviewing for a sales position, you have to sell yourself and the first 30 seconds are when the interviewer subconsciously makes decisions about whether they like you or not and whether you will fit into the team. Remember you are being interviewed by the company so everyone is on scouting duty from the Receptionist to the Managing Director.

2. Be prepared 

Always bring an updated CV. Re-read your CV (if it needs updating, do it) and just before the interview make sure you have read the advert. Do your research thoroughly: Look at the company web site or obtain literature. You may be asked about the salary you are after so make sure you research that as well.

3. Don't waffle 

Answer questions properly - even if you need a few moments' silence to collect your thoughts. It's better to say you need a minute to think about your answer rather than speak instantly and regret it afterwards.

4. Why should they hire you? 

Most job adverts will list qualities they're looking for - a team worker, a good communicator - so it's up to you to think of examples of how you can demonstrate these skills. Be ready to talk about your knowledge, experience, abilities and skills. Have at least three strong points about yourself that you can relate to the company and job on offer.

5. Be positive 

Your interviewer will be thinking about what it would be like to work with you, so the last thing they'll want to hear is you talking about your boss or current colleagues behind their back. Interviewers like to see someone who enjoys a challenge and is enthusiastic.

6. Remember your body language 

It is not what you say, but how you say it. During the interview, do not fold your arms and lean back or look to the floor! Sit upright and try to maintain good eye contact. Use your hands and lean forward when making a point. Many people cannot think and control their body language at the same time, which is why you need to prepare.

7. Act ‘As If’ but be respectful 

Act as if you are the perfect candidate but respect the interview process. Remember you are a guest and being over bullish when it comes to interviewing shows a disrespectful nature. When it comes to potential earnings, you will earn what you are worth so take you time to approach the topic. It definitely is on the mind of the interviewer but wait for them to bring it up.

8. Develop rapport 

Show energy, a sense of humour and smile. People like to have fun and always enjoy a bit of ‘banter’ so find out about the interviewer and find a common ground to relate to them on.

9. Clarify anything you are unsure of 

If you are not certain what are meant by a particular question, ask for clarification. At the end, ask the interviewer if there is anything else he or she needs to know about. Do not be afraid to ask when you are likely to hear if you have been successful or not.

10. Have the last word 

Tell the interviewer why you are interested in the company and job opportunity. Summarize your application by a final word selling your reasons why you should be selected for the next round of interviews then follow it up by sending a "thank-you" e-mail or letter, saying how much you enjoyed meeting them and how interested you are. Take the opportunity to detail the key advantages you bring.

By following the three Ps - prepare, practice and perform, you can turn yourself into a candidate who would not look out of place on "The Apprentice."