Do You Need Your Own Website Building Your Future Now

Do You Need Your Own Website Building Your Future Now Websites can easily be created these daysin fact, anyone can have one! Twenty years ago companies paid over $100,000 for a rudimentary site. And today you have a professional site for a few hundred dollars. It is certainly an exciting era of technology. But the question is: Do you really need your own website? You can ask your self a few questions like: are you selling or promoting something? Have you fully realized what you will be showing the world? Do you believe people will visit the site? If you feel there is value that will be derived from your sitethen by all means make one! Regardless, even if you hire someone to do it the whole process can be used as a definite learning experiencemarketing, branding, communication, sales, negotiation are all skills or concepts you will learn. If you want to build one yourself that is an amazing project to start. There are so many great resources you can find on the internet to help you learn how to create one. Take your time. You might consider looking into using WordPress as a good start to building your site. Look into all your options and keep an open mind. Going back to the original question: do you need a website? Truthfullymaybe not! But there are many things you can discover by building one. As they say it is all about the journey and not the destination. Image: FirmBee

Why You Need To Learn To Say No

Why You Need To Learn To Say No When we’re at work, we usually want to please people and help out our colleagues as best we can in order to make a good impression. That means that even when helping others starts to have a negative impact on our own work and happiness, it can be difficult to say no. It might seem awkward at first, but learning why, how and when to say no in the workplace can make all the difference when it comes to experiencing office stress and office serenity. Why say it Wanting to help people out is natural and, for the most part, a good thing, but not if it comes at the expense of your own work and happiness. Learning to say no to someone is more about focusing on your own priorities and workload than refusing to help a colleague. When you are asked to help someone or take on a task, and you simply don’t have time at that precise moment, it is far better to say no than to not perform at your best for fear of offending someone. Part of being in the workforce is learning to prioritize your workload, and if you have a task of your own that requires your complete attention, then it’s important that you give it just that. How to say it Knowing how to say no to someone is probably the most important thing you can learn. Not being able to do something is fine but the way you deliver that information is crucial. Filling an email full of nervous excuses isn’t going to send a good impression, and neither is rudely saying no directly to a colleague’s face. It’s important to be polite to whoever you’re speaking to, but it’s also important to stand firm on your decision, particularly if you are already feeling nervous and feel you may be convinced to change your mind at the last minute. An email telling someone that you can’t do something does not need to be long, nor does it need to be filled with reasons, excuses and apologies. Simply tell the person you are addressing that, whilst under normal circumstances, you would be happy to help them with the task at hand, you are unable to do so on this particular occasion. End on a brief apology and sign off as normal. Remain professional, confident and polite. If you are asked in person to take on a task you are not able to, it can be difficult to say no directly to somebody’s face. Many of us prefer to avoid confrontation and so may find it harder to say what we are really feeling in fear of causing friction. If you do feel able to say no straight away, that’s great. Simply follow the previous rules of remaining confident and professional. However, if you don’t feel able to tell the person directly, say that you will have to consult your current workload and that you’ll get back to them. This then gives you the opportunity to contact them via email where you may feel calmer about not being able to help them. When to say it Knowing when to say no is just as important as knowing why, and the time to say no is at the very beginning. If a colleague asks you to complete a task for them that you know you will not be able to realistically finish without causing detrimental effects to your own work, then you must tell them right away. Saying no is completely acceptable and your colleagues should understand and appreciate this, but saying yes and then changing your mind at the last minute is not acceptable. Obviously, sometimes life happens and we’re not able to do something we thought we could, but if you know that you are not going to be able to take on a task on behalf of someone else then it’s important to tell them straight away. That way they are able to find someone else to ask or work out how they could possibly do it themselves. Saying no isn’t always a necessity and there are times when you will have no trouble taking on an additional task. However, it’s important to know when to prioritize your own work and happiness, and when to lend a hand to someone else. Jess Howard writes for Inspiring Interns, which specializes in finding candidates their perfect  internship. To browse their  graduate jobs London listings, visit their website. For senior roles, see the Inspiring Search page.

Careers advice playlist University of Manchester Careers Blog

Careers advice playlist University of Manchester Careers Blog Along with Liverpool FC my biggest passion in life is music. When I was growing up music was always on in the house and I remember my dad use to tell me how song lyrics related to what I was going through. Whilst on the bus this morning flicking though my I Pod I started thinking about how lyrics in certain songs can actually double up as snippets of careers advice. So I here I present to you my careers advice playlist.   Ive stuck to the music on I Pod so as you will see I like ‘dad music’   but hopefully youll be aware of the majority of the songs Ive picked! Frank Zappa ‘You know what you are, you are what you is’ Ok, so grammatical speaking this advice needs some work but the sentiment is there â€" You are an individual and cannot and should not try to be anyone you’re not. I think this relates to 2 areas in careers. Before you start applying for vacancies it’s important to consider what you want out of a job (e.g. work/life balance or money) what jobs might suit you, what skills you have and where these skills might be required. There are a number of things you can do to help you find answers to these questions the best place to start would be the resources in our ‘I don’t know what I want to do guide’ along with the information our website. Don’t forget as a recent UoM graduate you may be eligible to book a careers appointment to talk this over with an careers consultant. Secondly if an employer asks you to complete a personality questionnaire there is no point in trying to second guess what qualities they are looking for. Answer them truthfully. If you don’t get through this stage chances are you wouldn’t have been suited to the job and if you lie and get through you might not end up enjoying the job. Rolling Stones ‘You can’t always get what you want but if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need’ Chances are you won’t walk into your dream job straight away but each internship or job you get may help you develop the skills you’ll need in order to eventually reach your career goals. If you’re a recent UoM graduate you may be eligible to book a careers guidance appointment to discuss how to reach your career goals. Bob Dylan / Adele ‘Make you feel my Love’ Employers are just like everyone else â€" they love a bit of flattery! When writing a covering letter you need to make them feel your love for them. Demonstrate your enthusiasm by explaining what attracted you to apply and why that employer stands out above others to you. Our covering letter guide has some really useful advice on how to do this. Ryan Adams ‘ Gonna make you love me’   Similarly you also need the employer to fall in love with you… well more precisely the skills and experiences that you have. You’ll need to highlight to the employer that you are the perfect fit for the role by demonstrating that you’ve got the skills and experiences listed on their job description.  Both our CV and Covering Letter guides will help you make any employer fall for you. Lou Reed ‘ Transformer’ I confess this is technically an album name not a song lyric but it follows on from my previous point quite nicely. Job descriptions will vary from job to job with employers looking for their own specific qualities in candidates. Therefore you’ll have to transform in each application you make to meet the individual employer’s criteria.    Our CV and application form guides have advice on tailoring your application and you may also find our industry specific guidelines useful. Fleetwood Mac ‘Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow’ We’ve all been there and know that job hunting can be pretty demoralising at times especially when you are not hearing anything back from employers. But please try not to disheartened instead refocus your efforts and keep thinking about that day when you get that job offer. You never know it could be tomorrow! Journey also made a very similar point when they said ‘don’t stop believing’! Lynyrd Skynyrd  â€˜I’m as free as a bird now’ As a graduate you can’t really afford to be picking about the location of your first job. Yes you’ll probably have a preferred location but if you have nothing tying you down there (e.g. a settled family) you may have to be more open minded to where you look for jobs. I always wanted to stay in York where I went to uni but I learnt I had to become free to move further afield to find the work I wanted. Bob Marley ‘Don’t worry about a thing, coz every little thing is gonna be OK’ Interviews and assessment centres have the ability to strike fear in even the most confident of people. It’s completely natural to have apprehensions (I’d actually be more concerned if you didn’t) but try not to let your nerves get the better of you.  If you make a mistake in a test or fluff an answer in the interview what’s the worse that will happen â€" you won’t be offered the job and that’s it. Keep things in perspective it’s not the end of the world and nobody will die so at the end of the day things will still be OK. Over on the undergraduate blog Mariana has written a really great post on managing and controlling interview nerves. Beck ‘Get real paid’ Most jobs will have a defined salary but you may find some employers ask you what your salary expectation might be.   It’s important that you get back to them with a real(istic) figure. To do this research companies in the same sector advertising similar opportunities. What salaries are they offering? If they are roughly in the same ball park this is the type of figure to suggest. If you find salaries vary widely you could play it safe and suggest a mid-range amount. The prospects website might be of use to you if you find yourself in this situation as it has a range of job descriptions which include information on salaries. Gerry the Pacemakers ‘You’ll never walk alone’ Well not a for a few years! Remember that the careers service is here for all recent graduates and you can check here to find out if you are still eligible to get advice from us / access CareersLink. Remember as a UoM graduate regardless of when you graduate youll always be able to access the Careers Service website and use the resources in the careers library.There are lots of other sources of careers information and advice including the National Careers Service, schemes help nationwide for graduates and adult guidance providers in Manchester. *** Please note that the Careers Service does not condone or agree with any of the   other concepts / themes these songs may contain*** All Careers advice Graduate Applications and interviews career planning job hunting

Employee Background Checks What Are the Limits

Employee Background Checks What Are the Limits A Guest post from LiveCareer image courtesy http://www.backgroundcheck.org If you’re regular job seeker just trying to make your way in a tough economy like the rest of us, chances are you haven’t committed a serious crime, and your past  isnt  riddled with dark secrets. But you may have some issues with creditors (long-term unemployment can wreak havoc on our finances), etc. And you may be wondering how much influence the details of your past can have over your future. How long will you be haunted, for example, by a firing or lay-off? What are the odds that a previous employer will say negative things about you during a routine reference check? Can an unpaid parking ticket tank your job prospects? In some cases, the answer will depend on the nature of the job you’re looking for. Some government positions require high level security clearance, and in cases like these, very little in your past will be safe from scrutiny. But most jobs don’t require this kind of review, and employers who peer too deeply into an applicant’s past may risk damaging their reputations and breaking their budgets on long, overcautious screening strategies. Some investigations are also illegal, and employers who pursue them may face fines, penalties, and the threat of civil lawsuits. Here’s a quick review of the most common types of inquiries. Credit Checks The Fair Credit Reporting Act, or FCRA, protects jobs seekers from discriminatory hiring practices based on credit history, and also protects the privacy of our financial information. All the same, some employers feel that credit information reflects a candidate’s sense of financial responsibility, which may be relevant to some positions. Most wise employers leave credit information alone, but those who choose to investigate credit records may do so as long as they obtain written permission from the candidate. It’s within your rights to withhold this permission. Criminal Background Checks and Health Records Like credit records, criminal background information is protected to a limited extent. For some positions, employers have a responsibility to screen out candidates who have a history of violent behavior. But criminal background checks and health investigations are usually performed only with the written consent of the candidate, and they may typically only reveal medical or criminal information that’s directly relevant to the needs of the position. Reference Checks When you offer a list of references to a potential employer, create the list carefully. Those who are on the list may be asked in-depth questions about your personality and your performance on the job, and you want these people to shower you with praise. Former employers who are contacted without your specific written permission will usually offer only two pieces of unprotected information: Your dates of employment and the title of the position you held. Providing more than this can expose companies to lawsuits and other hassles which most of them would rather avoid. Social Media Companies who use internet search engines to make hiring decisions accept a host of legal risks. If Google reveals a photo of a candidate in a wheelchair, for example, then hiring managers find themselves in a difficult position, since they may face discrimination lawsuits if the candidate is ultimately rejected. But at the same time, it’s common for employers to accept this risk and it’s perfectly legal for an employer to review any information about you that they find in a public venue. So make sure your social media privacy settings are carefully controlled, and remove all questionable pictures and text from public view. What if an employer asks to “friend” or “follow” you in order to gain access to your Facebook profile or Twitter feed? The answer is up to you, but again, adjust your privacy settings before you click “accept”. NEVER provide a potential employer with profile passwords. This is an irresponsible and unethical request that can expose you to hacks and identity theft, at the very least. If an employer asks for personal passwords of any kind, politely decline and seek employment elsewhere. Need general job search help or guidance with a specific employment situation? Visit Livecareer.com and explore our resume building tools, mock interview questions, and other career development resources.  

Tips On How To Format A Resume Writing Class CTP

Tips On How To Format A Resume Writing Class CTPIf you're thinking about taking a Resum Writing Class CTP (Certificate of Training), it might be best to start planning now. Whether it's the first time you have ever attempted to write a paper or your fifteenth, you'll want to make sure that you've got a solid grasp of the subject material before you even sit down to write. There are three major areas you need to focus on when writing and one is how you format your papers.The first thing that any Resum Writing Class CTP student should do is learn how to format their paper before they even start. This doesn't mean just putting words together randomly. You need to take the time to draw up a proper outline or a syllabus that helps you organize your thoughts and ideas. Following an outline will make it easier for you to read your paper later, if you have trouble following the text itself.Having a syllabus is a great way to start when learning how to write a Resume Writing Class CTP. Your s yllabus should outline what you need to accomplish and give you the idea of what direction you should head in. By knowing where you are headed, you can make sure that you won't get lost.It can be tough at first to figure out how to layout your paper, but in no time at all you'll be doing just fine and your Resum Writing Class CTP should be underway. Take the time to get used to the feel of a journal paper before moving on to anything else.It can be easy for students to overthink their writing because they think that their papers will get better when they continue with the cad. However, you're not just learning how to write - you're also learning the theory behind writing. This means that you need to read up on the different points of view and concepts before you begin writing. By breaking your paper down into logical units, you'll be able to follow them properly and be able to share your thoughts with others.When you're ready to start writing your Resume Writing Class CTP, it might be a good idea to learn a quick brainstorming technique before you start your work. This will help you get your thought process rolling and set the stage for your paper. Once you start to write, try to keep your thoughts organized as well as possible. Use a jot down or notebook to take down notes or to stay organized.Take advantage of the various tools available in your home that allow you to organize your paper before you begin writing Resum Writing Class CTP. Have a computer that you can work on while you're working on your paper or have a traditional notebook with a tape measure, pencils, and paper. You'll be surprised at how much you can achieve if you use your own personal items instead of using pre-written materials. It can also help you put the paper down and actually take notes while you work on it.Writing Resume Writing Class CTP can be one of the most enjoyable things you can do as a student. By focusing on the proper formatting of your paper, keeping your thoughts organiz ed, and getting all of your thoughts down on paper, you'll be creating something truly great.

Summary Sunday Interview Help and Online Visibility

Summary Sunday Interview Help and Online Visibility This weeks roundup focuses on interview help and also includes help to create greater online visibility for you. Twitter is a super tool for job seekers and so is having an online portfolio/personal website. You may think youre a natural interviewer but if you arent getting offers, then think again. In a conversation with a job seeker this week, he told me hed had over 5 first interviews but was never invited back for a second. I told him it must be something he is saying or doing during the interview but he firmly believed  that this was  NOT  the case. He said he was good at interviewing. Its been my experience (from a coaching and interviewer perspective) that most people are not naturally good at interviewing.    Everyone can use more help. INTERVIEW 4 Signs You  Are NOT Acing the Interview by Heather Huhman | Glassdoor Blog 5 Lines to Avoid In Your Follow-Up Email After a Job Interview by Sara McCord | Time/The Daily Muse PayScales Negotiation Guide | PayScale This guide  walks you through the three steps of negotiating a job offer and contains 21 articles. If you have an upcoming interview, read this BEFORE you go so you know what to be on the look out for. TWITTER Twitter is the Must Use Tool for Job Seekers by Ryan Rhoten Ryan Rhoten explains the three reasons Twitter rocks for job seekers!  When you use it right you demonstrate expertise,  build relationships and bypass gatekeepers. PERSONAL WEBSITE/PORTFOLIO 35 (More!) of the Best Personal Websites Weve Ever Seen  by Aja Frost | The Daily Muse No more excuses. Get inspired and take action today to create your own personal website. Want Fast, Fresh, Fun Help Delivered To You?

Why Million-Dollar Coaching Promises Should Make You Leery - Kathy Caprino

Why Million-Dollar Coaching Promises Should Make You Leery “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.” â€" Winston Churchill These past few years I’ve been connected with literally dozens of coaches who promise that, if you follow their work and their model, you’ll be a millionaire.    Really? I’ve listened intently to numerous coaching teleseminars these past months about how to make a million dollars, and so many are all about the insider “secrets” to making seven figures, and if you follow their “five easy steps” (or whatever model they’re pitching), you too can do it easily and effortlessly. I don’t know about you, but I’m up to my craw with these ridiculous promises.   Why do they annoy me so much?   Because they’re misleading and unethical, and leading thousands of people down a path that is clearly not in their best interest. I’m not saying that people can’t make a million dollars in their coaching practice, or other forms of business, and I’m not saying that there aren’t some great coaches out there who help people reach the million-dollar mark and higher.   I am saying that there are many more ineffective, self-serving coaches who aren’t capable of helping you reach your high goals.   If you’re broke, and are told you can go from that to a millionaire in a year because you’re following this one coach’s program (and not doing all the inner and outer work it truly takes to be abundantly successful), then you’ll be sorely disappointed and waste a great deal of time and money in the process. Here’s the rundown of my serious complaints about so many “millionaire” coaches: Often millionaire coaches end up telling you exactly how they made their million, and recommend that you should follow their “five easy steps”.   However, my many years of training as a therapist, coach, marketing and business exec, writer and researcher of women tell me that: Easy Steps aren’t the ones that bring about life change: If it were easy, you’d be doing it!   What brings about massive shifting and change is the challenging stuff the actions that make us fearful or take us WAY out of our comfort zone.   And “easy” steps are not necessarily easy or right or aligned with everyone.   Offering specific “easy” tactics to help people make more money is fine as far as it goes, but it’s not far enough without helping the individual identify specifically the powerful internal shifts they need to make to bring about far greater success. Broke to Millionaire â€" it’s doable, but I can tell you, if you’re flat broke, and are given a promise you can make half a million next year, it’s misleading at best, devastatingly off-track at worst.   The reason for that is that we all operate on a level that we’re comfortable at right now, and launching yourself 10 levels higher doesn’t typically work.   What does work is slow and steady progress to the next level higher, then the next and the next, and continuing that process with vigilance and commitment. Cookie-cutter models are ineffective A cookie-cutter model to generate a million dollars in revenue is absurd.   To make seven figures, you have to power yourself up in ways that you don’t even realize right now â€" in your mindset, beliefs, actions, offerings, sense of worth, expectations, financial planning savvy, boundaries, self-advocacy, and in your relationship with money and success.   And you don’t do that by following someone else’s basic tactical strategy.   You do that through intently focused inner and outer work that brings you â€" step by step, day by day â€" to a new place that is right for you specifically.  These promises are entirely self-serving These millionaire coaches want you to think it’s easy to follow their plan and succeed, because that’s how they make their millions!   Signing people up for programs that cost thousands of dollars, when in many cases the individual being coached can’t possibly recoup those thousands of dollars that year (or in the several years to come) given their mindset, capabilities (at the moment), and business modelâ€"that’s just plain wrong. I come from a perspective of social and ethical consciousness, so seeing these promises being made in sleek and sleazy teleseminars and long-copy marketing pages â€" the whole thing makes my head spin.   They talk about offering high value and content in the teleseminar, but literally 60% of the seminar is selling their next event (using a cookie-cutter marketing approach for selling events!). About money I’ve made six figures in many years throughout my  career, and I know what it takes to do it, and it’s not “5 Easy Steps.”   In winning the Make Mine a Million Dollar Business Micro to Millions program award in 2008, that one event in my life stepped up my goals and visions for my company significantly, and took me to new heights overnight.   Of course you can power up your career and your business and make great money â€" and a million dollars is within your reach if the necessary events, factors and ingredients are there, but it’s not through an easy five-step coaching model. If you too are tired of (and disgusted with) these empty, over-simplistic and grandiose claims and selling tactics, you’re not alone!!   And don’t worry you’re not being resistant or pushing away your millions to say that that these coaches and messages turn you way off.   There are other ways and means (and empowering mentors, coaches and consultants) who can truly help you achieve what you long for. The key is in discernment â€" figure out how to tell the difference between a flashy, self-serving promise (that makes the process sound far easier than it is) vs. a heart-felt commitment to your success with the intellectual, spiritual and ethical chops to make it work for you. Find helpers who wish to be of true service in helping you become exactly what you want to be in the world. Thanks for listening to my rant!   And PLEASE share â€" are you tired of these empty, vacuous and absurd promises?   I’d love to hear.