Saturday, May 30, 2020

JibberJobber Faster and More Intuitive

JibberJobber Faster and More Intuitive When I work with my Product Manager, Liz, and the developers, my consistent theme is to have JibberJobber load faster and to have the UX be more intuitive. This might seem like an easy task, but its really a combination of a thousand easy tasks which is why we cant just get this initiative done all at once. Nonetheless, we continue to move in that direction. An example is the new interface you get when you click on a link to add a new Contact, Company, or Job. There are various places that you can do this from in this example, if you click Add Contact from the big icon on the main menu: Instead of immediately going to the Add Contact page you will see this interface, with the four most commonly added data points for a new Contact: You can add any of the four data points (First Name is required, as usual), and then it quickly saves and doesnt change the page you were on (which is great!), or you can click on More Options and you can go to the big Add/Edit page. This makes the user experience much faster, and more intuitive (because you are now asked for four fields instead of over 20), and the code is a lot smaller so its faster to execute. Expect to see more of this simplification and cleaning and speed improvement! JibberJobber Faster and More Intuitive When I work with my Product Manager, Liz, and the developers, my consistent theme is to have JibberJobber load faster and to have the UX be more intuitive. This might seem like an easy task, but its really a combination of a thousand easy tasks which is why we cant just get this initiative done all at once. Nonetheless, we continue to move in that direction. An example is the new interface you get when you click on a link to add a new Contact, Company, or Job. There are various places that you can do this from in this example, if you click Add Contact from the big icon on the main menu: Instead of immediately going to the Add Contact page you will see this interface, with the four most commonly added data points for a new Contact: You can add any of the four data points (First Name is required, as usual), and then it quickly saves and doesnt change the page you were on (which is great!), or you can click on More Options and you can go to the big Add/Edit page. This makes the user experience much faster, and more intuitive (because you are now asked for four fields instead of over 20), and the code is a lot smaller so its faster to execute. Expect to see more of this simplification and cleaning and speed improvement!

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Quitting a Job Everything You Need to Know

Quitting a Job Everything You Need to Know At some point in your career, you may need to quit your job.That is perfectly normal!However, you need to do it as respectfully and professionally as you can.But first, let’s explore possible reasons for quitting your job.10 Best Reasons for Quitting Your JobSo, one thing is clear. You want to quit your job.Before you do, it’s important to understand that there are acceptable reasons and unacceptable reasons to quit a job.Below we’ll show you some of the best and most acceptable reasons to quit a job:You have a new job that offers better opportunities and/or pay. This may be receiving a permanent full-time position somewhere when you work part-time, or a job with better pay or the potential for growth. Family matters. If your job does not offer flexibility for family obligations, it may not be a good fit for you. Relocation. If you have moved to a new place or your work requires you to move when you can’t. The health of yourself or a family member. Perhaps the job itself is h aving a negative effect on your mental or physical health, or you need to care for an ailing family member or yourself. Schedules and hours may not line up with your current needs. If the services that you need in your personal life change their schedule, you may need a job that accommodates this change. Mistreated. If your boss or colleagues do not appreciate you, this can make the position stressful. Dread in the morning is not sustainable. Studies. You may be in school again full or part-time. This may create an unreasonable strain on your schedule, and something has to give. Job insecurity. If your position is at risk, you may wish to leave. Either because the company is struggling or because those in charge are reshuffling staff, you may wish to find another option before you are forced to. Values not aligning with the company. If your job has you defend what you are unable to stand by, then you may wish to leave. Need a change. Maybe your situation does not completely line up with a reason stated above. However, needing to move on is a reason in and of itself. Sometimes your gut just tells you to go.All the reasons above will be suitable reasons to quit your job.If you want to see some of the worst reasons to quit a job, just keep on reading.Top Tip: Having a good reason to quit does not mean that you must quit immediately! Be sure that quitting is something that you are prepared for.(Learn the signs that it's time to quit your job forbeing overworked or underpaid.)5 Worst Reasons for Quitting Your JobAfter specifying some of the best reasons to quit your job, it is worth remembering that there are bad reasons too.If you quit for the wrong reasons, it can actually hurt your chances of getting hired elsewhere.If a decision is made to quit based on a reason stated below, perhaps you shouldreconsider.Not promoted. Your job has not changed and you may clinch the promotion next time. Hard times. If you do not have another job lined up, then adding financial i nstability does not help your situation. Colleagues did not like me. This can make it seem that you are personally hard to work with if you are citing this reason to a future potential employer. If you do not like the details that you agreed to. Hours, overtime, duties â€" anything that you agreed to at the beginning does not reflect well on you if you cite it as a reason for leaving. Mom told me to. While she may have your best interests at heart, this is not an acceptable motivation, especially if there are no other issues.It is certainly not good to be leaving for any of the reasons above.Future employers will have access to references to why you left your job, ensure that your explanations line up with what your former boss says.Having to leave without having something new lined up will show an employment gap on your resume.Be sure to have an explanation for this.Also, be aware that volunteering is an option when you are between jobs.Top Tip: Remember that job searching can be a long and stressful process, so try to prepare financially and mentally!(Learn things to consider when you want to quitand whether it's the right time to quit.)How to Properly Quit Your JobIf you decide that you have sufficient reason to quit, be sure to try to limit any damage that may be caused.That can be to your reputation, to relationships, and to references.However, with the correct approach, this is not an issue for people.It is important to recognize that there are many additional effects as you leave your job. Because of that, it is important to do so without burning bridges.You do not want to slip up.We’ve included this graphic to help summarize how to properly quit your job.Keep on reading and we will walk you throughdetails on how to quit your job.Tell Your Boss FirstBe careful!First, inform your boss before any colleagues.If colleagues are told first, they may spill the beans even if you tell them not to.You don’t want that.Your boss should find out from you, rather than through the grapevine.The best way to approach this is to email your boss and set up a meeting about your future.Quit in Person, Then Follow Up in WritingIt is more daunting, but it is also more professional!You can send a letter of resignation via email after resigning in person.Do not go into detail about the negatives behind the position but be gracious and firm.Be thankful!Even if negative reasons have influenced your final decision greatly, it does not help you to emphasize them now!Be polite.Do not talk negatively about the company or your job.Top Tip: Your employer may want to keep you in your position rather than lose you. You may receive a better offer from your current employer. Be ready, know what you need to stay, or if you would still like to go no matter what the counteroffer is.Letter of Resignation Sample and TemplateAfter you have given your notice in person, here is a sample letter of resignationto follow up and provide the information in writing.?Download a Word Version of this Template?Can you see what this letter accomplishes?All the essential information is there.You do not have to go into depth.Additionally, there is written evidence now of the date of your final day.Try to keep negativity to yourself.Offer to help make the process smooth.(Check out this article for more resignation letter samples.)Two Weeks NoticeBe sure to give notice of at least two weeks. Transition is not something that should be rushed.That is at least two weeks.It might not go down well if you don’t give ample time to be replaced.Take into consideration that the wheel keeps turning and your former employer needs to continue functioning without you.Maybe there are pressures in the job right now which make resigning very inconvenient for your employer.In cases like these, offering even more time, if possible, will be appreciated.Some jobs in general (like in management) also require a longer time to fill. Accommodate these needs and it will be appreciated.Ge nerally. there is no legal obligation when quitting to give notice. However, it is common practice to do so.Some employers have a notice policy wherein the outgoing employee may forfeit accrued benefits. These are penalties rather than law.It can reflect badly on you if you leave a job high and dry.Top Tip: Choosing to resign at a less busy time is advantageous for everyone. Work will better deal with replacing you if they are not swamped. Additionally, your final 2 weeks will be significantly less frantic in trying to tie up loose ends.How to Leave a Good Last ImpressionLast impressions are very important. It says a lot about you as a professional.There are numerous benefits to leaving your employer on good terms.Leave a good last impression by doing the following:Help in the Transition Process as Best as You CanReplacing you will put more on the plate of your employer.Because of this, it helps to ensure that you do what you can to make this as smooth as possible.Tie up the loose e nds you can and offer to get your replacement up to speed.This is partly why giving sufficient notice helps a lot.Underperforming in Your Final Days May Over-Shadow Other ContributionsIf you do not end your time with your employer professionally, the end of your tenure is more likely to be remembered than your contributions throughout your employment.Because of this, do your best to end on a high note.You do not want to mishandle this!You Are More Likely to Get Good References If You Work DiligentlyRemember that there are positives in it for you too if you work diligently until your last day.You will come across as being much more professional and trustworthy.Giving references and getting references will likely happen, and you can help control that vital last impression!Make sure you represent yourself well every day with your employer.Returning One Day Is Easier If You Left on Good TermsBurning bridges makes it significantly harder to return down the road if needed.You want to be d oing all you can to give yourself options in the future.Even if you do not currently see yourself returning, that may change â€" so try to keep the door open!Offer to continue answering work emails and questions for a time.Offer to help beyond your last 2+ weeks, this helps solidify this last impression as you leave.Doing this shows that you want your employer to succeed and are willing to assist in accomplishing this.This also increases the likelihood of receiving good references as discussed above.Top Tip: Even if you do not get a glowing reference from your supervisor, you can still get onefrom colleagues!(See three absolutely wrong ways to quit a job.)How To Quit a Job You Just StartedSometimes starting a new job doesn't go exactly as planned. Obviously, this is a situation that you do not hope for when looking for a job.However, it is still very real for many people, so the advice here may come in handy for you.Resign in person, submit a letter of resignation. Be sincere and ap ologetic. Give the best reason you have and apologize for the inconvenience. Make sure that it is clear that it is not a situation you wanted. Give notice and work to the best of your ability for the remaining time. Realize that this is an inconvenient time as your employer just put forth the effort and expense of hiring you. Do your best not to burn bridges. Be careful next time. To repeat this multiple times will look bad on your resume.As stated above, although it is not advice that is expected right after the job starting, in some cases it is advice that is needed.If you handle this in a professional way, hopefully, your employer can sympathize with you.How To Quit a Job Without NoticeIt has been stated above that it is good practice to give an employer at least 2 weeks notice. However, this is sometimes not possible.In any case, tick as many boxes as you can, especially if you can’t tick this one.Make sure that leaving immediately is what you need most. Remember that notice w ould help your employer be better prepared for your departure. Resign in person, submit a letter of resignation. If health or other situations beyond your control make it impossible for you to stay for 2 weeks, make sure that this is made clear. You don’t need to go into detail about these matters. Do your best throughout not to burn bridges.Damage control comes to the forefront when unable to allow your boss time to prepare for your departure.If what prevents you from giving notice is something small or irrelevant, do not go into the specifics. Only explain if it is a good reason.How To Quit a Job You HateThis is a situation that can look quite different at first glance. Hating a job feels very different thanloving a job. It might be really easy to talk negatively about what you hate and leave hastily.However, the key to leaving professionally from a job that you hate is to treat it as you would leaving a job that you enjoy.See if your issue(s) with the job can be resolved. If a solution can be found, then you may not need to quit. Resign in person, submit a letter of resignation. Do not go into detail about what you hate. Stay positive and tactful. Give appropriate notice and work to the best of your ability for the remaining time. Hating your job does not take away from the positive effect of assisting with the transition. Do your best throughout not to burn bridges. Try to ensure that future jobs are a better fit for you.It does not help you to be negative through this process.It will be easier and smoother to simply remain professional throughout.How To Quit a Part-Time JobGenerally, part-time employment may not offer the same benefits as full-time employment.However, that does not detract from the importance of quitting in a professional manner.Resign in person, submit a letter of resignation. Resignation does not need to be detailed, be sincere and to the point. Give notice and work to the best of your ability for the remaining time. Do your best thro ughout not to burn bridges. Benefits and hours aside, the reality is that you are still quitting your job.Consequently, it is a good idea to approach this with the same kind of care as a full-time position.How To Quit a Job Over the Phone or EmailSometimes, you are unable to resign in person. This may be because you are working remotely or it maybe due to health reasons, for example.Whatever the reason, it is not ideal to quit over the phone or email. Consequently, try to follow the advice below as best as you can.This is not the most polite or professional way to resign so ensure that you do not have the option of doing it in person. After getting in touch about quitting, write a letter of resignation. Send this to your boss and to HR. Give notice if possible, try to make the transition period as smooth as you can. If you are calling/emailing because you cannot return, be as apologetic as you can. If it is due to circumstances that are beyond your control, say so. Do your best thro ughout not to burn bridges.It is not ideal to quit when you can’t do it in person, but you can still do your best to quit in as professional a way as possible.Checklist For Quitting Your JobQuitting can be a difficult and stressful process.However, quitting unprofessionally opens you up to escalating and prolonging the stress.To sum up the key information aboutquitting your job professionally, below is a checklist:Decide if you want/need to. It is vital to be sure that leaving is the best or only option. Tell your boss. Your boss should hear first. Upon achieving this, others at work can be informed. Submit notice for 2 weeks or more. This allows your employer to make the necessary preparations for your departure. You may be asked to just go, but it is important to offer. Write a letter of resignation. Send this to your boss and to HR. Include necessary information, be positive and grateful. Keep negativity to yourself and don’t be long-winded. Find out the date of your last pay check. The date may not necessarily be the same date as usual. Check all unused leave/benefits. From holidays, overtime, expenses and bonuses - ensure that these benefits are paid to you if applicable. Work the remaining time you have there to the best of your ability. Leave the position for someone else as you would like to walk into it. Attend the exit interview. You can expect questions about the job, why you’re leaving, your thoughts on the job, etc. Be prepared to answer questions, remember that resigning gracefully includes your exit interview as well. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. It is best for these to not be outdated. It is easier to make these changes when they are fresh in your memory.If you need professional assistance with updating your resume, check out resume writing services near you. Get and give references. Request for references to be written for you, especially if you have been sure to leave amicably. Offer to write references for others too. Learn more about writing and asking for Letters of Recommendation. Tie up any loose ends. This includes leaving an address to forward any items that are sent to your old work. Also remember to take what is yours with you. Ensure that colleagues are up to speed on clients/projects that you were working on. Figure out retirement plans. Generally, you can roll these over to your next employment once your employer starts you on their plan. Alternatively, you can withdraw your funds, but usually there will be taxes and penalties. Look into this in more detail to decide what is best for you. Learn about health insurance unemployment. Finding out where you stand on entitlement in these matters is very important. Do your research.If you tick the boxes above, you can rest easy in the knowledge that you did your best.You are required to do some research about your individual situation on your own. Be sure to do this, as these are not details that you can make decisions without.Additional Pointers About Quitting Your JobWe are almost there!All the key information about quitting has been covered, but there are still a few pointers below:Stay in touch. This shows that your former job is not something that you are wanting to just leave behind, it can be an important chapter in your life. Return what the company owns. These things do not belong to you. Everything that belongs to them should be returned. Goodbyes. Send messages individually to people who ought to hear from you as you go. Be positive and thankful. Avoid negativity. Even after your job ends, it does not help you to talk negatively about your former position, colleagues or boss. You may accidentally burn bridges. You do not want to appear negative to a new employer either.Upon completing the checklist and following the advice of this article, you will have quit your job professionally without burning bridges.Summary ConclusionSo to wrap up, the key take-aways to quitting a job are listed below.Tell your boss first. You can tell colleagues after, but you do not want your boss to hear this from someone else. Resign in person. Tact and professionalism are accomplished by doing this face to face. It may not be the easiest option, but it is the best option. Follow this up with a letter of resignation. Give at least 2 weeks notice if possible. Do not leave your boss and the job high and dry, it will not lead to the best outcome for you or them. A seamless transition is appreciated all round. Work as best you can for the time you have left. The final impression that you leave is very important.We have given ample advice throughout this article as to how to best approach this situation.Do not make the same mistakes others make.You do not want to regrethow you conducted yourself in this transition.Good luck to you!

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Risky business becoming an actuary

Risky business becoming an actuary The actuarial profession is a big draw for Warwick students and there are many others who might be interested but dont have a clear picture of whats involved. Thanks to a guest post from Michael Hennessy, Marketing Editorial Assistant at Inside Careers,  weve got a concise and precise summary of the profession, including useful hints and tips. Of the main professional services offered by The Big Four â€" accountancy, tax, consulting, technology and actuarial â€" the latter tends to be the least familiar to career-planning students. To quickly summarise, then, actuaries explore emerging risks and assess the potential costs associated with them. They subsequently advise businesses on the safeguards that should be put in place to minimise these costs. What skills do you need to become an actuary The profession is almost exclusively the domain of numerate graduates. An actuarial science or MORSE degree might provide you with some exemptions from the necessary professional exams, but you will still be eligible to enter the profession if you’ve studied maths, statistics, economics, engineering, physics or chemistry. However, while you may feel secure in your ability to comprehend complex mathematical forecasting, your clients may not. You’ll need solid communication skills when explaining your findings and suggestions to clients and colleagues alike. Tenacity will ensure that you rise to the demands of the exam process, but an inquisitive nature will help mean you learn from experienced colleagues along the way. Actuarial internships As with other highly competitive financial professions, the internship is the most effective way of securing an actuarial graduate job. Whether you’re a doing a three or four year course, you want to spend the summer before your final year gaining experience at a firm with actuarial services. Where internships in many industries are undertaken with successive recruiters in mind, actuarial internships  are much more likely to lead to a job offer with the very same firm. For actuarial recruiters, internships aren’t so much stamps on your professional passport; they’re more like a ticket to your career destination. Alternative work experience While the penultimate year summer placement would be the ideal centrepiece of your CV, places are competitive. If you don’t manage to secure one, there are still alternative forms of work experience that can greatly improve your prospects. Around a third of actuaries work within the insurance industry, where they determine the cost of insurance premiums and advise companies on pensions plans. Seek out formal work experience programmes with insurers, and consider creating your own opportunities by approaching them speculatively. You can use our employer directory as a jumping off point and also check your own vacancies database, myAdvantage. A work experience placement in insurance can provide you with invaluable insight into the industry. It might not give you sustained access to actuaries and their work, but it presents a great opportunity to network. You could gain similar “parallel” work experience from a placement at a consultancy or an investments firm. Both are types of business that employ actuaries. Learn from your peers Take it from Emma and Mallika    your fellow Warwick alumni making headway in their young actuarial careers. They have the following tips to share with would-be actuaries: Do your research. Spend some time looking at the website of the companies youd like to target and keep an eye out for relevant actuarial stories in the news Work on your communication skills , as a great part of the role is explaining results and methods to non-actuaries. Practise your interview technique. A mock interview can help highlight areas you need to work on. The qualification process is long and requires a great amount of dedication, so make sure you are comfortable with giving up your social life for large chunks of the year. The early years are demanding, but bolstered by excellent pay packages and a fostering mentality from senior staff. All this and you get to go home at five oclock most days! If this post has sparked your interest then head over to http://www.insidecareers.co.uk for more in-depth information on actuarial and other financial careers.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

12 Twitter Accounts You Should Follow for Content Marketing Tips

12 Twitter Accounts You Should Follow for Content Marketing Tips One of the more recent obsessions in the HR world is “content strategy,” but few in the space know how to execute it. As usual, the consumer space is ahead of HR in this area, so that’s where we can look for the best resources. Here is a list of the top 12 Twitter profiles I follow for content strategy, advice and tips: Jeff Bullas: One of the most famous influencers in content marketing and social media, Jeff has won a ton of awards and recognition in his time as a blogger and author. One of the very best around.   How to Optimize Your Social Media Posts for Search Engines https://t.co/XlFxygJdq5 #socialmedia #SEO pic.twitter.com/B11y7kxn2G Jeff Bullas (@jeffbullas) February 16, 2016 Content Marketing Institute: I consider this to be the foremost content organization out there. Unbiased and extremely helpful, they provide case studies, how-to’s, conferences, trainings and more. Follow their Twitter feed, bookmark their website and pay attention to what they do. Seriously.   7 stolen content marketing ideas you can use today. https://t.co/gRbnWwJiQA pic.twitter.com/5vryAPJpyj Content Marketing Institute (@CMIContent) February 16, 2016 Joe Pulizzi:   The founder of the Content Marketing Institute (above bullet). Joe is a publisher, speaker and quite a fan of the color orange. [Dont miss our interview with Joe  about creating great content marketing.] Marketers: Create the min amount of #content with the max amount of behavior change in your customers. https://t.co/QDHEaGI9sE Joe Pulizzi (@JoePulizzi) February 3, 2016 Ragan Communications:   I’ve learned a lot from Ragan Comms over the years, regardless of my industry or area of focus. A truly fantastic resource for social media, content, PR and overall communications. One of my favs. Infographics for non-designers: the complete guide https://t.co/ERuD3VEMzA pic.twitter.com/5bir3zSTuV Ragan.com (@RaganComms) February 12, 2016 Contently: They are in the business of running content software, so naturally their own conversations will revolve around content strategy itself and what successful content looks like. A good platform, and a good resource. #Storytelling helped this billionaire get to where he is today (on his private island): https://t.co/mpHkxEwzhK pic.twitter.com/LC3P2OWT6y Contently (@contently) February 16, 2016 NewsCred:   Another company in the business of selling content, the folks at NewsCred are marketers, writers, journalists and techies who want to tell great stories. Adding videos to your social campaign? 5 tips to get your audience to actually watch: https://t.co/jLVGAABqkt pic.twitter.com/iOs2pVM7cZ NewsCred (@newscred) February 16, 2016 Rand Fishkin: The founder of Moz, Rand tweets about all kinds of marketing strategies, including content and SEO. Best way to sell something dont sell anything. Earn the awareness, respect, trust of those who might buy. Rand Fishkin (@randfish) February 4, 2015 Recruiting Blogs: A wealth of a resource for recruiters and HR folks alike. Not specifically geared towards content marketing, but lots of good content tips sprinkled in. Our week in one sentence. #RCNVSTexas pic.twitter.com/hxGwav1Mhu RecruitingBlogs (@RecruitingBlogs) February 12, 2016 Matt Charney: Matt is the Executive Editor of Recruiting Daily, and his opinions on Twitter range from snarky/personal to insightful/professional. No such a thing as a rock star in recruiting but looking forward to spending a week on a tour bus with drunk Brits @Reconverse. Close Nuf. Matt Charney (@mattcharney) February 6, 2016 HubSpot: One of the most widely known marketing companies, HubSpot has a lot to share in the content and SEO arena. 7 Easy Morning Motivation Hacks to Kickstart Your Day https://t.co/7yZbdzRHWq #mondaymotivation pic.twitter.com/Vm8oq0isD9 HubSpot (@HubSpot) February 15, 2016 Skyword: A global content platform, Skyword shares content strategies, tips and lessons. Had a lot of fun with CMO Tricia the @Skyword team #whodoyoulovepop #lovepop pic.twitter.com/X8Ft3xCGRd lovepop (@lovepop) February 12, 2016 Jay Baer: Another widely known author and speaker, Jay shares a host of digital marketing tips with an emphasis on content and SEO. How to Reverse Engineer Competitors #SEO Strategyhttps://t.co/ZKDHtJujjb @RowenaHeal pic.twitter.com/sNUOIvNyNO Jay Baer (@jaybaer) February 16, 2016 Did I leave any out? Which Twitter feeds do you follow for content advice?

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Writing a Resume For a Graphic Designer

Writing a Resume For a Graphic DesignerWriting a resume for a graphic designer is a little different than writing one for an architect. A designer has more responsibility than an architect in this field and requires more specialized work skills and training. It is not as easy as simply listing all the jobs you have had before. You can do that if you have applied for several jobs.If you have designed many advertising campaigns for a specific client, this will help you when it comes to creating a resume for a graphic designer. Showing past clients and previous jobs that you worked on will help your potential employer to determine whether or not you are the best candidate for the job. Even though you are a designer, you are a service person and your skills may not be comparable to those of an architect.The design industry is generally divided into two types - those who are graphic designers and those who are artists. A graphic designer is someone who makes drawings, pictures, logos, and graphical designs. An artist is someone who creates things through paintings, sculpture, or any form of art that has a visual representation. The two fields are very different and hiring someone from the wrong category could cost you a job. Be sure to tell them you are a designer when you start out.You would be surprised at how many people will tell you they are a graphic designer but don't know what it entails. They don't know the difference between making a logo or a painting, which will make their resume look sloppy and unprofessional. Your work should be professional and current. You should show examples of your work and be willing to provide samples.If you are going to be a graphic designer, you will need to be well versed in Photoshop and Dreamweaver. If you don't know either of these programs, you might want to hire someone who does sothat you can learn at the same time they are learning. It will be very helpful for you to have someone who is experienced in these programs.Wh en it comes to designing resumes, it is important to note that most employers prefer to interview candidates who have submitted a resume to other employers. However, you can still get noticed with a resume. One of the things to remember when you are designing your resume is to keep it concise and to the point.The way you explain your background in graphical design is very important. Make sure that you have some explanation of how you got the job and why you are the best candidate for the job. Using bullet points and avoiding long paragraphs can help you do this.Writing a resume for a graphic designer is not difficult. You will need to get an understanding of what the company is looking for and be able to demonstrate your skills. This is something that you should practice over again until you feel comfortable with the basics of creating a resume.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

How to Supplement Your Income While Working in the Music Industry - CareerEnlightenment.com

How to Supplement Your Income While Working in the Music Industry Musicians with a passion for their craft just want to perform â€" and get paid for it. The good news is that professional musicians like singers can expect to earn approximately $30 per hour, or $45,000 to $65,000 per year, as reported by Recruiter.com.However, some musicians make significantly more if they license their work, and others struggle to break into a wage they can live on. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to supplement your income while working in the music industry. From teaching your skills to selling products you love, here are five ways to get started building your side hustle.Teach a Unique SkillMost musicians already know they can teach voice, guitar, or a variety of other skills to earn money. However, you can also stand out from the competition by teaching a highly specialized, unique skill.Instead of just teaching guitar,teach aspiring musicianshow to create a presence on stage and give a fantastic show. You can also teach voice online through Skype but focus on a specialty like jazz singing. The more you can narrow down a valuable skill few people are teaching, the more you can earn and command a client base.Sell Products You LoveWhen professional drummer Jeff Jones wanted to supplement his money as a musician, he noticed the untapped market of brightly colored, customized drum sticks. Today he has sold over 400,000 sticks to customers around the world, as reported by Forbes.Selling band merchandise and digital downloads is also a smart way to leverage your assets. But you can also think about the products you already use and love and develop a sales strategy around it. Selling journals or guitar picks on a Shopify store is one place to start.Or you can tap into an existing business model where you can sell products directly to customers when partnered with Amway. People curious aboutAmway scam rumorscan research how the rumor got started, how it’s dispelled, and how to earn money as an independent contractor selling products you alr eady use.Cover GigsCover gigs are a fun way to earn money in the music industry, whether you want to hit the road or stay in your hometown. Ask managers of bars, restaurants, clubs, and wedding venues about playing for their audience.Some cities have such a demand for music like Austin or Nashville you could end up playing several gigs a day from brunch to the late-night crowd. Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. Leverage the Gig EconomyThere are plenty of odd jobs in the gig economy that will pay you to do everything from packing up boxes to helping someone move to delivering packages. Look at sites like TaskRabbit to pick-up jobs, or drive cars across the country to destinations you want to do more cover gigs with a site likeGo Nomad.The gig economy even allows you to flex y our music muscles and get paid for it. Sell unique music services through a platform like Fiverr to create jingles, intro music for podcasts, commercial voice-overs, and more.Enter CompetitionsMusicians who love writing, performing, and practicing music can earn more money simply by entering competitions.Although the competition can be fierce, musicians who do all of these things anyway can look for regional, national, and international competitions to try to earn more money. There’s also an added benefit of raising your profile as a musician and becoming known in new areas as a result of your competition efforts.The good news is gigging in the music industry is a long-standing tradition. Musicians are accustomed to picking up odd jobs and reinventing themselves as music teachers, product makers and sellers, and performers. Combine your favorite new gigs to earn the income you’re looking for.

Friday, May 8, 2020

How to Restart Your Career in a New Industry

How to Restart Your Career in a New Industry How to Restart Your Career in a New Industry I have 30 years of progressive success in the retail and parking industries. Id like to move into residential or commercial property management. How do you suggest getting started in the market? As a leasing agent, assistant property manager? Advice from Dana Bravo to you and other career-changers who aspire to move from one industry or function into another. Unfortunately, I dont think youll find one person who knows how to enter every industry, and I certainly dont! However, I can give you three steps to figure it out yourself. Step 1: Separate your target industries from your target functional roles. In your case, you want to get into property management. However, within that industry, you need to determine the type of role you want to play. Industries and functions are apples and oranges, and many job seekers mush the two together, which equals, well, mush. Step 2: Do hours of online research. Then double the hours and do more. Collect and save the following in a paper or digital folder: Basics of your target industry, websites to read, blogs of experts to follow, anything you can find providing industry details. Identify local leaders in the industry you want to join and who are performing your target function. You can find these people in your local Business Journals “People on the Move” section and by searching LinkedIn. Go to the big job boards such as Indeed, Monster, etc. Search for job descriptions for the types of jobs you “would” apply to. “Would” is the key word since you are just doing research. Do NOT apply yet! Find at least 10, print them out, and spread them all out on a table to find the common requirements, skills sets they are looking for, consistent key words, and more. And, dont forget “offline” books on the industry, too! Step 3: Meet with people in the field you want to enter. Meet with leaders who are in the industry but who may not be in the exact job. Ideally, find people who are doing what you would like to do, now that you have the knowledge from your research. Not only will these people share their knowledge, they may know about open positions. This is called “tapping into the hidden job market.” Making a complete career change will add time to the already-long job search, but it is worth every step to do it the right way.