Break Your Job Search Slump with LinkedIn

Break Your Job Search Slump with LinkedIn I was recently interviewed about LinkedIn and Social Recruiting in the Australian version of Mens Health and as most of our readers live outside Oz (including myself) I thought Id republish a little bit of the article here. Please note that I only endorse my blog and LinkedIn, the other tips are from Mens Health. Nick Broughall writes: Get Connected Most guys use LinkedIn like a hot but problematic ex: you hook up every once in a while for an intense  encounter, then lose interest again when she starts nagging you in LinkedIns case with invites from former colleagues. If you really want LinkedIn to be a career booster, youll need to put in the effort. That means investing hours into making your profile white-hot. Youll also need to connect to as many people as you can who arent spammers. The fact is, the more you connect, the more people you can find in searches and the more users can actually find you, explains Sundberg. (Free; linkedin.com) Related: How Being ‘Creative’ on LinkedIn Won’t Do You Any Favours

Blush and Pixie The Pink Resume Template Giveaway

Blush and Pixie â€" The Pink Resume Template Giveaway Blush and Pixie â€" The Pink Resume Template Giveaway What’s your personal brand? If you’re going for something feminine, yet absolutely professional, consider our signature Blush and Pixie resume template.Your resume is more than just the document to share your experience, education, and skills. It’s the first thing hiring managers see that represents you. Why not choose an impeccably designed resume template that highlights both your professionalism and the branding you want to represent you. With this template, you can show both your skills as well as your feminine side. In addition to this, it has a space for your professionally taken photograph for ultimate personalization. Then fill in the remaining gaps with your employment history, education and skills.Like what you see here? This template is free to download and customize.Need a 2-page resume, a matching cover letter? We got you covered with the complete set that also includes a job interview tracker. Get the complete pack here. File size: 131 KB Format: .doc Downloade d 9,333 times License: Free, personal use only. Please read the license terms for resources. Download previous article How To Create A Sparkling Resume If You’re Changing Career next article Why Your Social Media Life Could Affect Your Job Prospects you might also likeThe Freelancers Resume Creative Resume Template for Independent Workers

4 Unusual Methods to Train Your Staff

4 Unusual Methods to Train Your Staff Employee training and skill-development is key to unlocking the true potential of your workforce, with most businesses using specific programmes and internal schemes to ensure their talent is firing on all cylinders. But by encouraging your workforce to engage in activities that put their mental ability to the test while also being fun and social, it is possible to develop their skills through alternative activities that are more engaging and effective than some traditional methods. For example, a recent study by online casino comparison site Jackpot.co.uk has found that those who regularly play table games such as blackjack and poker can improve core workplace skills, from arithmetic to risk management. Here are four different ways of helping your employees develop their skills while still delivering results. 1. Climb a mountain   Heavy workloads, manic schedules, impending deadlines; it’s no wonder employees are tired, stressed and overwhelmed. For many, the ability to clear their mind and focus on one task at a time until their to-do list is complete is a skill they would like to improve, but don’t often get the chance to practice. Pilgrimage training has been used by Japanese businesses for several years now, and sees employees transported deep into the wilderness with only a map to guide them back to civilisation. The idea is to teach employees how to focus on just one thing at a time to ensure the task is completed to the best possible standard. 2. Switch off the lights Insurance giant Allianz has pioneered a unique training method dubbed “Dialogue in the Dark” that sees a group of employees given a task such as completing a jigsaw in total darkness or without talking to each other. The aim of the game is to teach staff to think on their feet, and to work more closely as a team. Facilitated by blind trainers, it also helps employees to adapt to unusual or unexpected situations, while providing them with a unique perspective of their own strengths and weakness, as well as those of their fellow team members. 3. Host a casino night Games such as blackjack are very much about numbers, and players with solid numeracy skills stand the best chance of beating the house. Regular play allows employees to practice and improve their mental arithmetic, as well as the ability to remember number sequences and patterns. To master the art of more complex games such as poker, players must also learn how to remain calm under pressure, or at least appear to be. Having the ability to switch on their poker face and think and react logically despite being under the spotlight is a key skill that transfers well to the workplace. 4. Get it wrong A vital element of employee development is improving confidence. Whether that be for a client pitch, a speech, or simply to work more closely with others. There are thousands of ways of developing confidence, with entire books written on the subject, but one interesting technique is to ask employees to get things wrong on purpose. People can often feel embarrassed or become self-conscious at the thought of getting something wrong in front of their colleagues. By encouraging them to get something wrong on purpose, the idea is that over time they will overcome the feeling of always having to be right, and will contribute more to meetings, brainstorms, and day-to-day office life. While these techniques are undoubtedly effective and, perhaps most importantly, fun, they should be used alongside more traditional methods of training that can be tracked and assessed. But when traditional and alternative techniques are used side-by-side, they make for a powerful and successful combination. About the author:  Martyn Hannah is a freelance journalist, copywriter and content marketing consultant with a background in newspapers, magazines and PR.

Why Using an E-Cigarette Instead of Smoking Represents a Good Lifestyle Choice

Why Using an E-Cigarette Instead of Smoking Represents a Good Lifestyle Choice Only true smokers know how challenging it can be to put down the cigarettes for good. Friends and family members may ask you to address your addiction continuously and become frustrated by your apparent failure, but they dont know what its like to be in the claws of addiction. Fortunately, e-cigarettes provide an alternative way to get your nicotine fix, and though more research is required, most experts currently agree that e-cigarettes are healthier than their traditional counterpart. However, its not just for the sake of your health that you should consider switching from smoking to vaping. For starters, e-cigarettes can help you stop smoking in the long run if you use them responsibly, and you can enjoy more freedom regarding when and where you can get a nicotine hit.   Nowadays, you can easily choose a stylish e-cigarette which fully satisfies your needs. You can fully customize your user experience with a wide choice of e-vapors on the market.   Plus, you wont smell like an ashtray, you can say goodbye to dry mouth, and you can protect your local community and the people around you. Weve known for decades that real cigarettes contain thousands of toxic chemicals, and recent research suggests that they contain hundreds of different types of bacteria, too. Fortunately, youll barely find a fraction of such dangers in nicotine e liquid, which is available in plenty of different flavours for you to try. Keep reading below to learn more about why switching to vaping is a lifestyle choice you wont regret. The Benefits of Switching to  E-Cigarettes We know that giving up nicotine can seem almost impossible, but you don’t need to give it up in one go because you can use an e-cigarette that also contains nicotine instead of smoking. Heres why e-cigs are growing in popularity all over the world. A healthier alternative to smoking Starting with the most obvious and perhaps most important benefit, e-cigarettes are healthier than their traditional counterpart, according to most studies so far. They dont contain tar, theres only a fraction of harmful chemicals present compared to cigarettes, and you only exhale water vapour rather than smoke. Protect those around you The evidence to support the theory that second-hand smoke can lead to adverse health conditions is almost conclusive at this stage, so you should do everything you can to prevent people around you from inhaling your smoke. Fortunately, you dont have to worry about taking such measures with an e-cigarette because you only exhale water vapour. Take care of your community Its a shame that smokers are responsible for the most littered item in the world â€" the cigarette butt. Up to 5 trillion cigarette butts are thrown to the floor irresponsibly every year, and the chemicals in them can contaminate habitats and waterways. You dont have to throw butts on the floor again if you abstain from smoking real cigarettes. Fresher air Did you know that smokers emit up to half as much greenhouse gases in a year as all the vehicles in the world? All that pollution contributes to global warming and natural disasters, so if you want to be more environmentally friendly, you should think about the impact that switching to vaping could make. Improve your presentation Non-smokers the world over can smell a smoker approaching from a mile away, which isnt ideal if youre going on a date or attending a job interview. Fortunately, you dont need to worry about the lingering smell of cigarette smoke if you vape instead. Above is a far from exhaustive list of the benefits associated with e-cigarettes, but it should give you an insight into why theyre growing in popularity at a rapid rate. Make the switch today to protect yourself, your loved ones, and the world, and you will undoubtedly lead a happier and healthier life.

What to know when applying to a journalism course - Debut

What to know when applying to a journalism course - Debut This post was written by an external contributor. Seren Morris shares the best advice for anyone who is considering studying a course in journalism.   As a successful applicant of an MA course in journalism, I can tell you that the process was not easy. It began years ago and culminated in a stressful couple of months of writing and rewriting personal statements, reading and researching, and finally, an interview so tough that I was convinced I wouldn’t get in. Fortunately, I will be attending my dream course this September, and would love to share some advice for anyone wanting to apply to a journalism course. Start gaining experience now If you are thinking about applying to a journalism course, the chances are you already have some form of experience in journalism or media. If not, maybe it’s not the course for you. Its not enough to join the student paper in your final semester of university. Top journalism schools will want to see your dedication to the field. So when it comes to gaining experience, take it seriously. Planning on applying to a BA journalism? Start gaining experience in high school. Join your school’s media outlet, and if they don’t have one, start one. Ask to do work experience at your town’s local paper, apply for summer internships or even start a blog. Taking a gap year? Use that time to gain experience in a news room. Do everything you can to start developing your CV now. Not only will you gain valuable experience and develop your journalistic skills, you will be able to prove to your prospective university that you really want to be a journalist. If you’re applying for an MA course, you might have to work a little harder. Join your student media outlets, and actually make the most out of them. It means nothing to simply say that you were a ‘music editor for three years.’ You’ll have to be able to demonstrate what you did as music editor, such as the interviews you conducted, the gigs you reviewed, and how your writing has developed over time. As a student media member, make the most of every opportunity; apply for more senior roles within the outlet, enter competitions, attend workshops and networking events. What you do with your role means so much more than its title. Do your research Firstly, find out which university is right for you. Which journalism courses do they offer? Do you want to go into newspaper journalism or broadcast journalism? Research the school’s alumni and what they did upon graduating. Try talking to other students to find out what the course is like. Attend open days and ask as many questions as you can, including what they look for in an applicant. Once you know what the entry requirements are, you can tailor your experience to fit what they expect of their students. They might require a certain amount of work experience, or a specific grade in a relevant subject. Don’t waste time doing internships in PR if you know they’d value newsroom experience more. If you’re able to construct your CV based on what impresses the admissions board, you’ll be sure to stand out. Prepare for the interview Based on my personal experience, a journalism interview is not easy. Firstly, we had to complete two tests: one to test our general knowledge and the other to test our grammar. If this is something your prospective school asks of you, here’s my advice: a few weeks before the interview, read everything. As a journalist, hopefully you’re already interested in the news and are always reading articles. However, now is the time to step your game up a few notches. In the interview itself, all you can do is remain calm and act confident, even if you’re a bundle of nerves on the inside. It wasn’t a totally relaxing experience watching other interviewees come out of the room looking shaken, but somehow I retained my cool. Answer every questions calmly and honestly. Think before you speak, but know you’re allowed to change your mind. The interview is more to test how you perform under pressure, or how you respond to criticism. Do not be rattled, and remember that if you weren’t good enough, you wouldn’t have been invited to interview. Hopefully these tips will come in handy, and to anybody in the process of applying, good luck! Download Debut  and  connect with us on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Top Tips for Leveraging Your Smartphone for Your Job Search - Part 3 - CareerAlley

Top Tips for Leveraging Your Smartphone for Your Job Search - Part 3 - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. So if you followed Parts 1 and 2, your job search docs are ready for prime time and can be sent at a moments notice. Emailing your job search docs should be the easy part, but even this simple task can sometimes be quirky. Most of the apps we covered in the previous segments provide some functionality for emailing your docs. Much depends on your smartphones operating system (Android or iOS) as well as your email client and the app you are using to send your documents. Part 3 Sending Your Job Search Documents from Your Smartphone: Some key points to consider: This article assumes you have the basics: a smartphone and a wifi or cellular connection. Testing is really important to ensure you are sending the right document and that it actually works. I suggest sending the document to yourself to ensure that it works, the document can be read and you are sending the right document. Even once youve successfully tested sending your documents, you should bcc yourself when sending to a recruiter or hiring manager. Same reasons as given above, plus you know that if youve received the documents theyve probably received the documents. Sending your documents: Again, depending on your apps and smartphone, there are several ways you can accomplish sending your documents. Sending a Link Some apps allow you to send a link to the document (see below). In this case, you are not actually sending the document but are sending a hyperlink to the document. There are several advantages to this. First, the link is to the source document, so if you change the document the most current version is always the one the reader will see (assuming you dont change the file name). Second, if you now longer want people to have access to the document(s) you can either change the name (therefore, the link) or revoke access in some apps. Emailing your documents Some people prefer to receive the actual document and, there is a bit more comfort when emailing the actual document that what has been sent is what you intended. Faxing your documents Yes, many people still use faxes and you are no longer limited to using a physical fax machine if you find yourself needing to fax a document (see below). The good news is that you can fax a document from your smartphone, the bad news is that it is generally not free. Some apps to use: Faxing a Document There are several choices to fax your document from your smartphone. Fax Burnerfor iOSallows you to send and receive faxes. Fax Burnerfor Android allows you to get faxes (but not send them while FaxFile for Android allows you to send faxes from your Android phone. Sharing a Document Sharing usually works by sending a link to a file that is stored in a Cloud storage service such as: Dropbox Select your document, then click the share icon. From here you can email your document or send a link for your document (how this works depends on your smartphone). Box Box also allow you to send your document or a link via email (use the share icon). Google Drive Google Drive also has a document linking function. Documents to Go Another full featured document editing app (Ive not personally tried this product), this product is available across multiple platforms (Windows, Mac, iOS and Android). In addition to editing Word documents, you can also edit Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, Apple iWork and other documents. There is integration with Box, Dropbox, SugerSync and Google Drive (this may require an in app purchase). Purchasing the iOS version gives you free access to the desktop version. Integration with your mail app as well. Microsoft Office An old standard, available on Android. Unfortunetly, if you have not previously downloaded this for iOS, it looks like this is no longer available. Other Choices There are other choices that Ive not listed above. Documents 2 is a free file manager app for iOS or Documents to Go for iOS or Android. If youve read all three parts you should be all set with your mobile job search office. Part 1Part 2 Career Tip of the Day:Executing on Your Job Search Plan Suggested Reading:115 Productivity Apps to Maximize Your Time: Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ what where job title, keywords or company city, state or zip jobs by What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to make a resume and cover letter that gets you hired. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

What is Your My Perfect Resume?

What is Your My Perfect Resume?Do you ever ask yourself the question, 'What is your My Perfect Resume?' My goal here is to help you through the process and reveal exactly what a resume is. You can find a guide at the end of this article that will explain all about resumes for you.The ideal job does not have to be expensive or high status. It doesn't even have to be high ranking. When you get on a resume that tells you that your dream job is a management position in a large corporation, it says that your ideal job is not real. You should learn what the resume is supposed to tell you and what you are worth.A resume is a paper written document that tells the hiring agency what you're capable of doing. It gives the hiring agent something to show when they're trying to decide if you are worth hiring. You will also want to make sure that the hiring agent knows how much experience you have with the particular position you are applying for.If you are confident in your ability to handle the j ob, then you should put emphasis on the qualities that you think will make you the ideal candidate for the ideal job. Be sure to include these in your resume. You can put specific information about yourself in your resume as well, and this could be things like your education and whether or not you have a college degree. If you did attend college, then list out your major and your GPA for reference.Keep in mind that your best chance to get hired is to write your resume very quickly. Make sure that you do a thorough search and follow up to get feedback from others that are using the same type of resume that you are using. Not only will you need feedback on your resume, but you may also want to send in samples of past work that you have done to make sure that you convey the right message.The best way to see your potential for what is called the perfect resume is to do research online. There are some very good templates out there that will guide you through the process of writing a resu me. You don't have to spend a lot of money and make some sacrifices in order to be hired.It all starts with an idea. Once you have a resume, you can put it online, as well as email it to people that you want to get an interview with. You may even want to send it to potential employers. When you put your resume online, you can also start building a network of people that will be interested in what you have to say.Writing your My Perfect Resume is really easy. All you have to do is put in the time and effort into it. As long as you take the time to do your research, you will get a resume that is worth the money you spent on it.