Take Control of Your Life....Opportunities Await You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Take Control of Your Life....Opportunities Await You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Part of Personal Branding is building your competencies and experience and theres no better way to do this than to jump at new opportunities. Remember that one door can always lead to the next and that your network is your most powerful tool. Another point is to always think outside of your box and by this I mean, if an opportunity lies in a new location or even country, it may be a viable option for you to build your future off of. For instance, if you spent 5 years in marketing in Boston and then traveled to Europe to work, your background strengthens and your network grows. Your life is in your hands and with the millions of businesses around the globe, theres no better time to prepare for the future. Visit recruiting sites, such as Monster.com, Yahoo Hot Jobs or Careerbuilder.com to view job openings around the globe. Call your friends, family, old teachers from college or previous jobs and push that door open. Now is your time to take risks. Remember that the higher the risk, the more potential rewards there are. For instance, if you invest $5,000 on a stock and the stock goes up $5 a share, then your high risk yields substantial rewards. If you have the knowledge and experience, try starting your own consulting company or investing in real estate or businesses. Even some majors, where the competition is fierce, there is such an enormous world out there. Each new opportunity or experience, will help further your brand development and entice employers to favor you over others. Start planning for your future today. Look around. Put yourself out of your stovepipe and into reality. Take Risks. Jump at opportunities.

5 ways you can improve your mental health at university - Debut

5 ways you can improve your mental health at university - Debut Going to university can be a quite challenging and difficult period for many students for a number of reasons. Many people find themselves juggling studying for exams, working part-time to support themselves while trying to maintain their social life and enjoy their time through university life. This can cause difficulties for your mental health at university. All of this can put a lot of pressure on people. Thankfully, there is plenty of advice and support available out there to help you through tough times so that you can get the most out of your time at university. Tip 1. Exercising This may be obvious but engaging in physical activities can be beneficial in many different ways, not only to your health but also to your mood and overall state of mind. It can be a wonderful technique to reduce feelings of stress and worry and improve your physique at the same time. Most times students tend to spend loads of time seated starting at a computer screen. Though this is understandable in times when deadlines and exams are approaching, it can never be a reason to neglect your mental or physical health.  For example, allocating time for revision early on the day and then joining a yoga or gym class later on could give you a sense of balance and would increase your productivity, as opposed to staying up all night cramming and sleeping the whole day after. Tip 2. Eating well Another significant factor in how you feel is your diet. Maintaining a balanced diet is key to ensuring your mental health at university is on track and you’ll find that you don’t need to deprive yourself of the food you love so much. You don’t need to change everything about your diet completely; you can start small by changing a few things at first and adding some healthy options afterwards. Sticking with something for a long time will give you motivation to continue to improve your diet. Tip 3. Reading With the right diet and a good exercise routine you can achieve a lot, but you can always do more when it comes to self-care and development. One more useful tip that you could incorporate can be reading. This one is quite easy as there are so many things you can read depending on what you like. All you need to do is set some time after a long and difficult day, brew a cup of nice tea and open that book you’ve been claiming you will read for a while, and enjoy the peace and quiet this activity can offer. Reading about someone else’s thoughts and problems, immersing yourself into a whole new world is a perfect way to distract yourself from what’s going in your life. Tip 4. Talking Although all of the above can help you a lot, there are just some days when nothing seems right and all you want to do is talk to someone without being interrupted. This is why those are the times it is best to call a good friend of yours to get things off your chest. It could also be a good idea to visit the mental health and wellbeing department at your university and see what services they offer. Also, you can try popping into your Student Union and check if there are services run by students, for students. For example, University of Sunderland offers schemes such as Buddie and Peer Coach which are both aimed at improving students’ mental health. Tip 5. Volunteering Volunteering is strongly encouraged by University as it is one of the best ways to develop new skills and enhance your CV. Nevertheless, volunteering is much more than that; it can boost your confidence and make you more open-minded. You will meet new people and at the same time you can learn more about an industry you’re interested in. The best part is that there are always new opportunities to take part in and if you can do it as often as you wish. This particular activity can give you a sense of fulfillment and make you feel proud of using your time in the right way. So, next time you pass by your student union, make sure you stop by and check out what opportunities they have as there might be something that can spark your interest and bring you a new adventure.

Wikipedia Coolest tool on the net - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Wikipedia Coolest tool on the net - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Of course theres no way you could engage thousands of people world-wide in creating a comprehensive, up-to-date, on-line encyclopedia. If you simply opened up the system, so anybody could contribute to any subject, it would be completely impossible to protect the system against vandalism, jokes and random errors. Such an encyclopedia could never work. Except it does: The Wikipedia may be the coolest application of the internet so far. I use it constantly and I find it to be incredibly comprehensive. But dont take my word for it. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Tough (Question) Tuesday What do you have to offer

Tough (Question) Tuesday What do you have to offer Getting Out Of My Own Way by artsyville Theres probably something in the back of your mind that is calling you, but, for whatever reason, youre letting the phone ring ring ring. Theres a reason that youre not answering, it might just be because youre convinced that youre not The Best. Why answer the call if I cant be perfect? Be right? Be the expert? Be guaranteed to be a success? I have a little itty bitty feelin, though, that you may just be kinda sorta almost selling yourself short just by a little itty bitty teensy weensy bit. Even if youre not the expert on whats waiting at the end of the line, even if this is all new to you, even if youre scared to put yourself out there, you should still ask yourself: What do you have to offer? Meet you in the comments section! Boy, this is a scary one

Writing a Graphic Design Resume

Writing a Graphic Design ResumeWriting a graphic design resume is like putting together a stellar career resume. The great thing about having one is that you have a great deal of freedom when it comes to how you layout your information and create it. Some tips will help you on creating your graphic design resume that will get you started in the right direction for a great career. There are a number of things you need to keep in mind while making your resume, so this will make the entire process a lot easier for you.First of all, you need to determine the type of career that you are trying to go into when writing your graphic design resume. Is it a freelance designer? Or is it the starting position for a new business?After determining the type of work you want to do, you need to look at your career development, professional skills, experience, and future goals. You also need to have a direction for your graphic design resume. Think about what exactly it is that you want to do with you r career.For example, if you are going to be working as a freelancer, then the main points to consider while writing your graphic design resume are your previous work history, previous clients, credentials, and experience. You may also want to include a company's contact information, if you have it. If you are a college graduate, then you should also include that when you write your graphic design resume.Writing a graphic design resume should give you plenty of opportunities to mention any educational institutions you have attended, or any other information. You may also include information on other writing you may have done before, such as copyediting, layout, or lettering. Remember that your graphic design resume will stand out. By using language that shows that you are creative and innovative, you will impress your future employer.In your cover letter, you will want to include some insight into your previous employment, and the areas that you were most passionate about. Your port folio is also important to include but again be careful not to do too much. Remember that your graphic design resume should only be so long, and you do not want to overwhelm your future employer with too much information.As you can see, the writing of your graphic design resume is just as important as your resume. It needs to be very concise, and reflect your passion for the field, plus your goals for the future.

What Employers Look For On Social Media Profiles

What Employers Look For On Social Media Profiles Your Facebook postings might win over your friendsâ€"but they could also cost you a job, a new study finds. Recruiting platform Jobvite has released the 2014 edition of its annual Social Recruiting Survey, and the results might be disconcerting to those who tweet first and ask questions later. The data shows 93% of hiring managers will review a candidate’s social profile before making a hiring decision. And that review matters: 55% have reconsidered a candidate based on what they find, with most (61%) of those double-takes being negative. According to respondents, the worst thing you can do is make any kind of references to illegal drugs. That should probably be common senseâ€"but in case it’s not, know that 83% of recruiters say doing so is a strong turn off. (Perhaps more interesting: 2% of hiring managers think it’s a positive.) Also on the “obviously don’t do this” list are “sexual posts,” which 70% of recruiters say will count against you (only 1% are fans). Two thirds told Jobvite that posts including profanity reflected poorly; over half didn’t like posts on guns, and 44% saw posts about alcohol as concerning. “Okay,” you say, “but I keep my noseâ€"and my postsâ€"clean, and I wouldn’t think of making any of the 10 stupidest social media blunders MONEY recently wrote about. So what have I got to worry about?” Well, you might want to take another read of what you’ve written: 66% of hiring managers said they would hold poor spelling and grammar against candidates. You might also want to consider keeping your political affiliation to yourself, since slightly over 1 in 6 recruiters said that was a potential negative. And hey, while you’re revising your LinkedIn profile, polish your halo a little: Jobvite’s survey said that information about volunteering or donations to charity left 65% of recruiters walking away with a positive impression. The survey also showed what other positive qualities recruiters are seeking on socialâ€"although the results aren’t that surprising. Respondents said they try to determine things like professional experience, mutual connections, examples of previous work, and cultural fit. The study also lends some insight into how recruiters use different social networks. LinkedIn is clearly the king of the hillâ€"79% of respondents say they have hired through the network, vs. 26% through Facebook and 14% through Twitter. Nearly all hiring managers will use LinkedIn for every step of the recruitment process, including searching for candidates, getting in contact, and vetting them pre-interview. In contrast, Facebook is primarily used for showcasing the employer’s brand and getting employees to refer their friends. About two-thirds of recruiters also use the network to vet candidates before or after an interview. Twitter appears to be the platform least used by hiring managers, and is used similarly to Facebook, but with less of an emphasis on candidate vetting. No matter what the platform, however, the takeaway for workers is clear: Best be vigilant not to post anything you wouldn’t mind an employer or potential employer seeing. Make sure to check your Facebook privacy settings, but don’t depend on them because they’re known to change frequently. And remember, just because your social media postings haven’t hurt you yet, doesn’t mean they won’t. When MONEY’s Susie Poppick talked to Alison Green, founder of AskAManager.org, she had a simple message to those unconcerned about their online presence: “To people who don’t lock down their accounts because ‘it’s never been a problem,’ I say, you don’t know whether that’s true.” Read next: 10 Job Skills You’ll Need in 2020   For additional career tips and resume services, visit Monster.com.

10 Things You Should Never Ask Your Boss - Work It Daily

10 Things You Should Never Ask Your Boss - Work It Daily If you have a good relationship with your boss, sometimes it can be difficult to know when and where to draw the line. RELATED: Need some advice for the office? Watch these tutorials! Here are 10 things you should never ask your boss: 1. Can I Have The Day Off? If left up to a boss, you’d never have a day off and you’d never leave the office. That’s why salary was invented, to give employers the opportunity to get as much legal free time from you as possible. I hate to sound like a pessimist, but I’m just telling it like it is. That being said, you should never ask your boss for the day off because personal time is already allotted for this. If you do not have any, do not ask for the day off. 2. Can I Go On Vacation? Assuming you have vacation days available, you shouldn’t ask your boss if you can go on vacation, you should just tell them. This goes against conventional wisdom (or lack thereof) that states that you should ask for permission. Asking for permission insinuates that you’re asking for something that you do not deserve or have not earned. Simply giving your boss an advanced notice is perfectly suitable. If you work in an environment in which this is not suitable and you feel compelled to ask for permission, this job won’t end well. You might want to cut your losses now before you become an indentured servant. 3. What Future Do I Have With This Company? Your boss isn’t a fortune teller. They don’t know what his or her future is with the company, much less yours. 4. Can I Have A Raise? Raises and promotions are earned, not gifted. Therefore, instead of flat-out asking for a raise, you should instead present a proposal that outlines your accomplishments. This proposal should also provide success metrics. If you can throw in some charts and graphs, that would be even better. Once you have a well-groomed proposal, ask your boss to review it in consideration for advancement opportunities. 5. Are There Opportunities For Growth? This question piggy backs off the previous question. Same rules apply. 6. How Do You Feel About My Performance? This question leaves one to wonder if you’re unsatisfied in your current position. It also leads one to wonder if you are incapable of rational thought, as you shouldn’t need a boss to inform you of your level of performance. Also, if you are doing well and there isn’t a reward your boss can provide you in terms of compensation or promotion, this can leave him/her feeling uneasy about answering your question. If you aren’t performing well, you may not receive very good feedback, which could lead to negative consequences. 7. Can I Come In Late? Traffic is a bummer. The kids have a new school schedule. These are some of the most common excuses people use to ask their boss if they can come to work late. Your boss could care less about traffic or your kids because he/she sits in the same traffic you do and they have kids to get to school as well. Have you heard of the school bus? Is there some reason why you can’t drive to work earlier to beat traffic? 8. Can I Leave Early? This question piggybacks off of the last question. No. Your boss doesn’t care that you want to ‘beat traffic’ and they don’t care about you picking your kids up from school either. Sorry. 9. Did You Receive My Friend Request? Do not send your boss a friend request on Facebook, Twitter, or any social media platform. Not even LinkedIn. Your social platforms are your personal space and should remain as such. Your boss does not need to know what goes on in your personal life, what your kids look like and they certainly don’t need to see your vacation pictures that depict you in your 2-piece bikini or Speedo. LinkedIn is dangerous because it’s a tool that keeps you open to new opportunities. These opportunities could lead you astray from your current job. Requesting a connection with your boss on Linkedin would be the equivalent of asking your spouse to connect with you on Match.com. You’re essentially shouting loud and clear that you’re ‘keeping your options open.’ 10. What Are You Doing This Weekend? This question crosses the line between personal and professional boundaries and can leave your boss feeling as though you’re making an advance towards them. This question could be totally innocent, but the mistaken advance may be well-received. This could lead a boss to begin making inappropriate comments or it could lead to inappropriate questions and/or behavior. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts 3 Rules To Managing Up 4 Tips For Connecting With A New Boss 7 Things Your Boss Won’t Tell You About the author Michael Price is the author of What Next? The Millennial's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Real World, endorsed by Barbara Corcoran of ABC's Shark Tank. He is also the founder of Conquer Career Course, where he teaches students how to increase their salary, build a career with longevity and become unemployment-proof. View the trailer below:     Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here. Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!