Great Ideas for (Cheap!) Professional Development

Great Ideas for (Cheap) Professional DevelopmentGreat Ideas for (Cheap) Professional DevelopmentInvesting in your professional development is one of the best ways to advance your career. Just like the time and energy you put into earning a degree got you to where you are today, taking the time to sharpen your skills or learn new ones can help you reach the next level at work.Thankfully, you dont need an expense account or a six-figure graduate degree to stay at the top of your game. There are dozens of classes, webinars, and resources out there to continue your education- even on an entry-level salary. Here are some of our favorite ways to get smart for less.Getting Started Find Your FocusFirst, identify areas where professional development activities can fill gaps in your knowledge (if youre a absatzwirtschaft professional who isnt up to speed on social media, for example) or where it can complement and strengthen your existing skill set (if youre a web designer, consider learning t o shoot videos).Need some help? Check out Eat Your Careers DIY Professional Development Plan program. For less than the cost of one personal career coaching session, youll get seriously handy tools on analyzing your background and developing a plan that will keep you on track with (and accountable to) your career goals.Once you know what youre after, try these sites and programs to build the skills youre looking for.Tech TipsNeed to brush up on the Excel skills you told your boss you knew inside and out? Or want to learn new skills in animation, design, or video? Check out Lynda, an online library of 1,000-plus video tutorials on every software skill you could imagine. (Unlimited access starts at $25 per month.)If youre a Mac gal, hop over to your Apple retail store for free workshops on building a website, creating a training video, or managing your business finances. (But remember, if youre trying to save money, being talked into buying the latest iPad and all of its accessories i snt exactly what you came for)CommunicationsAt some point in your career, you will be asked to write, and its likely going to be for the web. Ace the task with communications firm Ragans How to Write Killer Content for Your Website (only $29.95).And if the communications world- PR, advertising, journalism, or social media- is your world (or you want it to be), youll love Media Bistros video courses. To date, the site boasts 563 videos in how to build a career in these fields as well as more broadly applied skills such as improving your writing or developing a social media policy for your company. Take a free two-week trial, then pay only $19 per month after that.Mad Math SkillsTurns out, knowing the difference between mean, median, and mode does come in handy in real life (yes, high school math teachers, I am eating my 10th-grade words). If youre faced with (and stumped by) how to multiply or divide fractions or any other algebra, geometry, or trig skills you promptly forgot after g raduation, check out Khan Academy for quick refresher courses on tons of common math problems.General EdWorking for an industry you know nothing about? Or just missing your sophomore-year Asian History course? Plug in your headphones and download free online courses in- literally- any topic you can think of on iTunes U. Browsing the online library can be more overwhelming than, er, an actual library, so check out Open Cultures list of great courses by topic.Business Basics Everything ElseSome people think you cant learn career skills in a classroom. We say, check out MindTools, which offers courses on essential skills for an excellent career, such as time management, decision-making, and creativity. First-time managers will love courses on building virtual teams, dealing with conflict, or understanding leadership styles. Many resources are free, and subscription plans get you extra resources like participating in a coaching clinic.Or, watch one of CareeRealisms free webinars- most are an hour long or more- on topics like How to Make Everyone Love you at Work and 7 Things Your Boss Wants You to Know on Day 1.Tell us what we missed What are your favorite resources for cheap professional development? How else do you advance your career without spending a lot of cash?Photo courtesy of Ray from LA.

From Negan to Voldemort Career lessons from classic villians

From Negan to Voldemort Career lessons from classic villiansFrom Negan to Voldemort Career lessons from classic villiansRemember how shocking it was when we first encountered - and subsequently, all became mesmerized with - Don Draper, the charismatic anti-hero of Mad Men? If that wasnt bad enough, many of us succumbed to the humor and charm of Negan, the barbed wire wrapped, bat-wielding leader of the Survivors in The Walking Dead.From serial killer with a twisted heart of gold Dexter Morgan, to biker momma Gemma Teller Morrow on Sons of Anarchy, to a charming Lucifers new incarnation as a suave crime solver, why are these awful fictional characters so incredibly appealing? And more than that, is there anything we can actually learn from them?Voldemort (Harry Potter) The Branding geniusUnlike Madonna and Beyonce, who still need their first names to identify them, Voldemort is so famous you dont have to use his name for people to know exactly who youre talking about. In J.K. Rowlin gs Harry Potter series, He Who Must Not Be Named inspires so much fear, Ive always thought that beyond all the evil, Voldemorts brand is not really having one. In the work arena though, its probably a good idea to have people remember you both by name and by impressive deed. And not for being awful and ending the world and stuff.Darth Vader (Star Wars) Dont lead with fearDarth Vader is a terrible leader compared to some of the other generals in the Galactic Empire said Dr. Tom Epperson, president of InnerWill Leadership Institute a national non-profit committed to transforming individuals and organizations through values-based leadership. For example, in the early Star Wars films, other evil generals under Vaders command are able to run the army and lead their forces. It seems like every time an evil plan is moving in the right direction, Vader comes in ruins everything. Epperson explains that fear ultimately inspires no loyalty from his people. Some of the other leaders in the empi re, like those at the head of legions of Stormtroopers, are able to inspire loyalty otherwise, they wouldnt be able to keep a group of highly suspicious combative people together.Negan (The Walking Dead) The appreciatorEpperson points out, In the Walking Dead, Negan actually values people. He sees people as resources that are crucial to his success. So while he inspires through intimidation, he generally wants to get the most out of people. Epperson believes that while his methods are through intimidation, Negan wants people to use their strengths on the path to a future past the zombie apocalypse. He wants to see people coming together in well-established roles. Yes, hes an evil sociopath, yes hes narcissistic, yes hes out of his mind - but he fundamentally believes in people.The Wicked Witch of the West (Wizard of Oz) Stand up whats yoursHenry DeVries, CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) of Indie Books International LLC, and author of Persuade with a Story, said, Some people unfair ly call this the ultimate chick flick - two women fighting over a pair of shoes. Unfair. Those slippers belonged to her sister, so the witch of the west was the rightful heir. DeVries takeaway lesson? Sometimes in your career you have to stand up for what is rightly yours.Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs) Learn how to barterNever work for free if people dont appreciate it. Instead of just giving the FBI what they wanted, the good doctor was willing to bargain, DeVries says. Give and take is what win/win deals are all about. And if you are ever invited to the have dinner at the home of your boss, never underestimate the goodwill of bringing a good bottle of Chianti.Norman Bates (Psycho) Loyal to a faultDeVries explains that Norman was loyal to his dead mother, but he was still loyal. However, customer service at the Bates Motel left something to be desired. A good lesson though, is even though you no longer work with someone, its good to try to do everything in your power to ke ep the relationship going.Professor Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes) Go big or go homeDeVries says about Moriarty, If you are going to commit, then commit whole-hog. No one advises dedicating your life to the downfall of others, but if you do plan on doing something, allow yourself to think big.

The Myth of the Perfect Resume, and How to Create One You Can Tweak

The Myth of the Perfect Resume, and How to Create One You Can TweakThe Myth of the Perfect Resume, and How to Create One You Can Tweak2Undeniably, each resume you submit should be tailored to the situation and job youre applying for. And if you can nail the formatting, youre on the right track.Heres how to put together a perfect resume that you can tweak for differentsituations.Figure out your format.For the most part, the format that you choose for your resume will largely depend upon what stage of your career youre at. For example, an entry-level job candidate or recent grad might opt for a reverse-chronological resume, which is really considered a traditional resume. It includes, in descending order contact info, a career objective line, professional experience, education, and other skills.A functional resume, on the other hand, has a different framework, focusing more on the skills and experience that satisfy the requirements of the job posting. This format can be great for hidin g those pesky employment gaps, and help employers to quickly identify if the job seeker has the necessary qualifications for the position.Much like its name implies, a combination resume blends the best from both the reverse chronological and functional resumes. It starts on top with the summary of qualifications (which includes skills and experience that relate to the job), and is then followed by a listing of experience, education, and skills.Dont forget your fontsWith so many fonts to choose from, you might be tempted to pick a pretty or artistic font to use on your resume. But experts agree that resume fonts should be simple and easy-to-read, since your application has to be legible for the applicant tracking system (ATS), which might reject your resume if the font is too flowery, for example.So even if youre a diehard Lucida Handwriting fan, opt for more traditional typefaces instead, such as Calibri, Cambria, Times New Roman, Verdana, and Arial.Size up the sizing.Sure, you wan t to pack a lot of info on your resume, but reducing the typeface to 6pt isnt going to cut it. The standard size font to use is 12pt- if you need to squeeze in a little more info, you can drop down to 10.5, but no lower, since it will make your resume harder to read.If youre still running out of space, it might be a good idea to give your resume a read through to see what information you can eliminate.Keep it current.When you go to list your previous work experiences, keep dates in mind. You dont want to include prior work thats over 10-15 years old (unless, of course, youve been working in the same job for that length of time).Adding older jobs on your resume can confuse a potential boss- they might think that you dont have enough relatable work experience for the job, and its also going to make your resume way too long. Remember, employers want to know about your current work experience, not stuff you did back in the 80s or 90s.Edit your work.Sometimes, spending too much time read ing, writing, and revising your resume can make you blind to big ol errors, like misspellings or other grammatical errors. Before submitting your resume online, take some to do some serious resume editing.Start by reading it aloud- it can help you catch mistakes that you might miss by scanning it instead. If possible, have someone else proofread it as well. That way, your talents- and not your typos- will shine.Check Out More Resume Tips

How to Fail at Everything You Do

How to Fail at Everything You Do How to Fail at Everything You Do 1. Do you already have an end goal in mind for that new project that you want to fail? Scrap it, forget it. A great way to fail is to have no idea of where you are headed when you start. Dont see the puzzle as a larger image waiting to be constructed, but as a collection of isolated pieces that have no relation with each other. The more you visualize your goal, the lesser you chances at succeeding in failing and the only goal here is to fail.2. Never do your homework. Why study the behavior of an investment before sinking funds into it? Why tempt success in such a way? Failing is about being as little informed as possible about your endeavors. No research. No reading. No preparation. Ever.3. Failing well also involves ignoring your costs, be it money, time or effort, from the get go. Failures have no need for initial assessments and should jump head first into everything they do. Youll find out what you did wrong lat er once you are neck deep in failure. Remember no looking before leaping.4. Dont worry about getting a head start on your tasks, always wait to start until the last minute. It is much easier to fail when you procrastinate until the deadline before starting to work. Better yet procrastinate, but be sure to let the task hang over your head, stress you out, and make you entirely unproductive for weeks.5. Who needs organization skills? bedrngnis a failure, thats for sure. Organization is a habit for successful people. Make your life as cluttered and disorganized as possible. Keep everything in the most secure depository on the planet, your brain. Or, better yet, write everything down on 1,000 Post-It notes and keep them tucked away in forgotten jacket pockets, lint traps, and junk mail piles. Just make sure you never have a clue what needs to be done and when it needs to be completed.6. Keep to yourself. You can fail at everything all by yourself. Never ask for help for anything. Why s hould you? You already know everything better than anyone else. The more you have to accomplish the better you can fail at all of them.7. You know what they say go with your first guess. That means the first idea that comes to mind is the best, right? Just let your mind run where it may and whatever happens to come out is good enough. Brainstorming is for suckers.8. Lets talk about constructive criticism. Thats the kind of thing people need only when they cant do something right, by themselves, the first time. Dismiss assessments, ignore feedback, and never listen to customer complaints. They just dont understand that you know what they want better than they ever could.9. Finally, if at first you dont succeed, quit. After all, you cant succeed if you dont try. Something is only worth doing if it works the first time through. The more you try something, the more likely you will eventually succeed, so never try anything a second time youre just tempting fate.

The Run Down on What to Put under Skills on Resume Revealed

The Run Down on What to Put under Skills on Resume Revealed The Characteristics of What to Put under Skills on Resume The competitive climate of the work market has gotten to a fever pitch recently. Essentially a reason you specifically wish to be in their industry. Made sales revenues growth in the very first month. You are also able to get a feeling of the internal language used within a specific industry or company. Computer skills are essentially essential today. Students frequently work in internships as a means to have a jump on establishing themselves in the market. To start with, pick the appropriate student resume format. To start with, select the school student resume format. The What to Put under Skills on Resume Chronicles There are lots of openings waiting for the proper candidates, and tons of prospective employees seeking openings pertinent to them. For one, and youll greatly increase your odds of landing that regional keywords manager position. If youre fighting to think of any, you can attempt employing the job descriptions of ads in your industry, along with looking at LinkedIn profiles of folks working in similar roles. Resume a few short-term freelance gigs. What You Need to Do About What to Put under Skills on Resume Starting in the Next Nine Minutes Put the Education section of your resume on top of your resume so that its the very first thing the employer sees. You could add an individual section if you received many awards in school. Because colleges receive a lot of applications. If you are able to, have someone from your campus career office, or maybe an alumnus in the area that you want to know more about, have a look at your resume to make sure you have included as much pertinent information as possible. Without such a section, the prospective hiring manager may be left wondering why he or shes reading your resume in any respect. Employees can learn a wonderful many things when theyve gotten started, but they g enerally will need to have at least some foundation from which to commence. The Nuiances of What to Put under Skills on Resume Key skills are work-related skills that you want to do a job. Hard skills arent skills that are really hard to learn. Soft skills are valuable in just about any position. Communication skills are required for each job. A great sample of skills is vital for each student resume. For example, if you try to apply for a Chinese-English interpreting job, you need to be fluent in both languages otherwise you would just not qualify for the position. Sample resume skills as youre confused on how best to write assistant resume you may just. Sample resume skills as youre confused on how best to write assistant resume it is possible to just pinterest. Even if your skills only fill one or two lines, it is possible to still format it the exact way. ur writing writing you can create your resume here will supply you with tips and examples about how to compose yo ur resume summary or some other section. Our resume builder youll be able to create your sales here will supply you with tips and examples about how to compose your resume expert summary section. Our resume builder provides you with tips and examples on how best to compose your resume summary. If youre not certain which skills that you want to share, consider your prior experiences. In case you have skills that and specific to every job you had, like working a particular type writing equipment, they are called job-related skills. Show hiring managers your abilities and experiences are awarded and appreciated by other people. Many essential at-work skills are transferable, meaning that they are easily able to be applied to a wide range of distinct circumstances. 3 First, you must pick the best skills for your resume. Listing your skills provides a chance to showcase your abilities and experiences to prime employers for the remainder of your resume. Simply take a web-based cl ass or two.

Who is Talking About It Resume Writing Reviews and Why You Should Be Worried

Who is Talking About It Resume Writing Reviews and Why You Should Be Worried So you opted to begin applying for employment, and you needresume help. When youre asking for work, the resume is not the one thing you demand. Or perhaps you simply must locate a new job. Our job here is to supply you with a comprehensive description of what a provider is about. A Secret Weapon for It Resume Writing Reviews You may generally get the best keywords to utilize in the work description. Yur resume content ought to be guided by who you are interested in being and how you would like to be perceived. There are times that you proceed through the site of a specific writing service and it seems just perfect. You searching for a few basic questions about services. Spending a while researching a resume writing service can help set your mind at ease and lead to a top quality new resume for yourself. When you would like to find the best resume help, its possible to simply follow our lead. Yo u will need assistance with making a resume. Resume can grow to be a physician or a lawyer because most of us get exactly the same education. Free cover letter examples are a fantastic means to move yourself into the center of the pack. A good resume writing service is one which supplies you with everything needed to acquire the interest of prospective employers. It Resume Writing Reviews No Longer a Mystery When you employ a professional writer to assist you with the application documents, the results will differ. When a resume writing service improves its site, its always an excellent thing. The ideal thing about its that it provides one-on-one support from professional writers. Resume writing services often provide a whole package strategy to resume writing. Which professional resume writing service on the internet is the very best. When you have questions or you should present extra instructions, you should have the ability to speak to a customer care agent. Remember our reviews are completely unbiased. When you read a review at our site, you get a comprehensive impression about the service youre going to hire. Careers Plus is confident they can help you receive interviews. If youre serious about employment, look no more. If it comes to resumes, different types ought to be available. Whether you are a newcomer to writing resumes and cover letters or your written resume doesnt appear to secure you invited on a lot of interviews, were right here to assist you. When you compare various reviews, you will be able to discover the top resume services that fulfill your standards. Its also important to review what kinds of services are provided by the organization. Editing services arent readily available for any of the goods. As a consequence, you can select among the best services at a price thats realistic to you and get invited to all the interviews you wished to enter.

The 5-Minute Rule for How to Create a Good Resume

The 5-Minute Rule for How to Create a Good Resume Once someone knows of just what they will desire to do, they need to make certain theyll know precisely how to reach their own targets and also could want to get help so they best resume writing service is going to have excellent possibility of acquiring the career they want in order to start their career. For your information, its important to platzset your resume as concise and short as possible so as to create a great impression in a fast glance. Group bullets according to tense, therefore it does not look as a mistake. Should you do any one of these things above, you will stick out and find the recruiters interest.You wish to maintain a duplicate of your master resume, or CV, because different jobs are likely to necessitate you include different info, based on the job. Finding a job can be difficult for everyone, even an extremely seasoned professional who has successfully navigated several job changes. Each time you submit an application for a new job, check your resume to make sure that it is not only targeted, but in addition current. If youre making a resume for a very first job then you might not have a good deal of experience yet to complete your work history. Well, a resume letter is the principal important requirement that will support you to receive your favourite job. A resume thats too long could also hurt your probability of being chosen. When applying for employment, theres not anything mora important than a resume. Infographic resumes are impossible to comprehend, states MacIntyre. Your call might be just what it requires to pull your marketing resume to the peak of the heap. A superb Internship program will help you save you a great deal of energy in the interviewing process by aiding you to add on valuable candidates who know the way the business works. The How to Create a Good Resume Chronicles Resumes are a rather important region of the job application procedure. Most resu mes are only screened for a couple seconds. Strong resumes dont need to be lengthy. Each entry in the sections should get an asterisk or bullet at the start. The trump in applications You do have now an amazing CV, but theres another element you may use. As soon as its only a page or two in length, a resume is among the most important elements of a work application. If youve got many abilities, the previous skill paragraph may be called Additional Skills. You may experiment with unique templates, but its a great idea to stick to basic black with the font. The first resume layout is a true challenge The theme is full of special features like an organization events planner, donations tool, email integralrechnung with MailChimp and lots of widget locations. No matter which sort of political website youre building, theres inclined to be a WordPress theme thats appropriate for your undertaking. You can construct your own blog to showcase your marketing and advertising skills. Ev ery job wants a tiny touch of perfection. Resume writing can be challenging for anybody, particularly when youre just out of school and dont have any expert experience to speak of. Needless to say, it may be not possible to create such a short resume. Needless to say, youre totally free to decide on a different focus for your homepage. You didnt choose to be a teacher since you wished to turn into rich, you did it since you have passion for education. The same is true for your education. The Dos and Donts of How to Create a Good Resume Heading Should include your contact info, which a possible employer will want to get in touch with you. An excellent resume needs to be standard. A good resume is not easy to come by.

6 pros and cons of joining a co-working space

6 pros and cons of joining a co-working space6 pros and cons of joining a co-working spaceIf youre afull-time freelancer, budgeting for taxes andsaving for retirementarent the only things you have to worry about. You also probably have to buy your own health insurance, plan around missed income for time off and, of course, force yourself tostay productiveduring the day. Self-employed bosses who crave office interaction often turn toco-working spacesto satisfy this need, but there are pluses and minuses to replicating an office environment by renting a desk. Weve collected the biggest pros and cons youll want to consider.Pros1. NetworkingIf you decide to invest in a co-working spot, be sure to bring along your business cards, because working from a spot thats packed with other freelancers and entrepreneurs can be great for building connections. Not only will you have the opportunity to make new friends, but more importantly youll also expand your professionalnetwork. If youre a writer , there may be a graphic designer at the desk next to yours who can whip up graphics for a killer website if youre a web designer, you could meet an editor who can ensure your sites verbiage is fit to impress.2. Meeting SpaceIf your business includes meeting regularly with clients, a co-working space could practically be a necessity. Most spots arebeautifully styledand convey a professional ambiance And theres a certain suggestion of professional success thats communicated by taking meetings somewhere more upscale than your living room.3. ProductivityMany freelancers struggle with stayingproductivewhen they work from home. Its not surprising - with no one looking over your shoulder, itswaytoo easy to scroll through your Instagram feed for a lot longer than you planned. And taking a nap is SO tempting when your bed is right there looking all warm n comfy. Getting yourself out of the house and into an office where everyone else is working could be just the push you need to keep you f ocused.Cons1. CostWorking at home is essentially free (and can even get you a tax credit if youre careful about blocking out a work-exclusive space), while reserving a spot at a co-working space is like tacking a second rent line onto your monthly budget. Prices will vary by location, buteven unassigned hot desks in prime locationscan start at $300 per month, with fancier options such as reserved, dedicated workspaces topping $700 per month in cities like New York where space is at a premium. Considering that coffee shops are also free (minus the cost of your lattes), shelling out for a co-working space may look less than attractive, especially when youre still in the startup phase.2. Dedicated Desk AvailabilityAll co-working spaces are different, but most offer at least a couple of different pricing plans. One option will simply include hot-desk access to the office, where you plunk down for the day wherever you can find an open spot, while another, pricier plan will include reserv ing a dedicated desk for only you to use. If you dont splurge on the latter, you wont have a desk of your own, which means youll have to cart all your materials to and from the space every day and wont have any predictability about whom youre working near.3. CommuteAlthough you may be more productive at a co-working space, its worth noting that youll have to *get* there. Unless youre lucky enough to find an office spot right down the street, this can take a sizable chunk of time out of your day. It will also increase your transportation spending - and since youre going to and from a regular workspace, unlike business travel, your commuting costs wont be tax-deductible.Thisarticle first appeared on Brit + Co.

How to Get the Salary You Want

How to Get the Salary You WantHow to Get the Salary You Want Throughout your professional career, you will experience changes in compensation. In some cases, it will be a great experience and youll landsee your salary increase as you get promoted or gain experience but in other cases, your pay might not equate to your level of experience, or you might find that youre underpaid compared to colleagues.Getting the salary you want or determining how much you deserve to be paid is tough path to navigate, especially when youre not koranvers if you should negotiate for a higher salary at your current job, or seek a better offer from another company.If youre leaving your current job because you feel you arent being paid well , the most important thing to keep in mind during your new job search is to make sure you receive a fair salary at your next company. Negotiating salaries can be tricky, nerve-wracking and confusing. Therefore, its incredibly important that you do the research and financial planning that goes into landing a job with fair, equal pay.But, how do you do that, especially if you have no idea what you want or how much youre worth? Here are a few pieces of advice to consider.We cant say it enough, if you want to get a good salary, you need to know your worth in the current job market . This is why we built our Know Your Worth tool to give you the opportunity to understand your value in the workforce. Whether you went to school, have years of experience or skills that can translate to relevant experience, you deserve to be paid fair, regardless of your age. Part of figuring out the ideal salary includes personal financial planning . When you factor in all of your living costs (rent, utility bills, insurance, car payments, etc.,) hopefully your salary isnt just enough for you to make ends meet. Before you can determine the salary that fits both your living costs and equates to your job experience, you have to have your personal f inances in order. The goal is to find a balance that will allow you to both cover your monthly costs and save some of your earnings.Once you have a handle on your personal finances and know how much you can command in the marketplace, youll have a much better idea ofthat target number.If you are in the interview process, a strategic move is to research the company to find out how well they pay their current employees, especially those in similar roles to the one you are applying for. Look up salary information on Glassdoor , which is an essential step to preparing for future salary negotiation. For example, if you see that the company is underpaying for the position, you can use that to make a case for why you deserve a higher salary .4. Let the company make the first offerOne of the most important rules of thumb to salary negotiations is you do not have to tell employers what you are or were earning at your previous company. Let the employer make the first offer, then you ca n follow it up with a higher number, and further showcase why you not only deserve to be hired, but that you deserved to be hired at a better pay rate because of the value you are bringing to their team. If you walk into the interview already agreeing to the salary they have listed or mentioned, then youre likely losing money because they assume they can get a highly qualified candidate for lower pay. You dont want that to happen. So if you are asked during your interview about what you expect to earn or what you were making in your previous job, kindly decline to answer and instead shift the focus to your experience and what makes you the absolutely best candidate for this position. 5. Know what other companies will pay you for the jobOne of the biggest mistakes people make during a job search is focusing on one company. Sure, you really want to work at your dream company and thats fine. However, that doesnt mean you shouldnt interview at other places too. Doing so can actua lly be helpful because it will giveyou a chance to see what other companies are paying , so if and when you get an offer from your dream company, youll know how their offer stacks up to those from other companies.