Sometimes, Things DONT Work Out for a Reason

Sometimes, Things DONT Work Out for a Reason Ever hear the phrase things work out for a reason? This morning I was thinking about some of the things that didnt seem to work out in my career, and the emotions around each failure, and then think about where Im at today. Where Im at today is not wildly successful, or even where I want to end up. But Im doing better than if some of those things actually had worked out. One of the first big blows to my career plans was when I was in college. I was working full-time for the federal government as a clerk making about $11/hour. That was good enough money back then that I was working with people who were breadwinners. Granted, they werent winning much bread, but it was enough to live on. Older adults, people with kids, etc. I had the opportunity to take a series of tests to be a contract linguist, which would have paid around $24/hour. This was really good money. Just as exciting was the fact that I would be able to work as a contractor, remotely, on my own schedule. This could give me the flexibility to finish school, perhaps do other contract jobs, etc. I got through the first three tests fine. The last test was very subjective, and I barely failed. I think there were some politics involved definitely enough circumstances that I could have brought it up. Instead, I walked away, feeling really bad about missing this super opportunity. Fast forward to when I got laid off in 2006. My career path and plan was defined and going well. But then, some bad stuff happened. I was working in an environment, with a person, that wasnt good for me. My plan changed when The Board decided to let me go and keep the toxic person. Everything came to a halt. Just a business decision, I kept telling myself. Meanwhile, no income, but bills kept coming in. This business decision had a huge impact on my personal business! Things should have worked out, but they didnt. Why?? A few months later we launched JibberJobber. Within a few months of launching JibberJobber I was on the phone with someone who was in a decision-making or big influencing position in her organization, and we were talking about a very good-sized monthly contract. This was it. It would have been awesome. We made all the progress we needed to make, and it felt like we were days away from a signature. Talks of them acquiring JibberJobber were surfacing. And then, radio silence. For months. No return to email or phone. Nothing. I found out later that her division had been sold off, and she couldnt talk about anything. Something great was about to happen, and instead it died. I could tell you more stories like these. Things didnt work out. I think, for a reason. What are your things that arent working out right now? Trust me when I say I feel the pain, discouragement, despair, etc. that you feel when things dont work out. Things youve worked hard for. Things youve invested your time and heart in. But for some reason they just dont work out. The pain you feel is deep, but TEMPORARY. If you keep working, keep trying, stay creative and hopeful, then you might get to work on Plan B, or Plan C, or Plan D. Im not encouraging you to hold out and find your success, however you define that, until you are in your sixties. I am encouraging you to look at why things arent working out with a renewed perspective. Each time the thing I planned for, worked for, and counted on didnt work out, it led me to a time of questioning myself and my future. But, I pushed through it, kept working, and something, somehow, worked out. I can definitely say that some of the Plan B things were much, much better than some of the Plan A things. Keep on it, work through it, exercise your creativity, and just wait to see what Plan B or C or D will bring!

Minor On Resume Mistakes That You Should Avoid

Minor On Resume Mistakes That You Should AvoidMinor on resume mistakes and mishaps do happen, even with the best of resumes. And they can affect your career, even if you have taken great care to create a great resume. As a resume writer, I see them every day and sometimes I get surprised when I am reviewing them. Sometimes the mistakes are funny and sometimes it is devastating.Mistakes such as misspelled names are easy to see and avoid, but sometimes minor errors that make a resume unreadable can be catastrophic. For example, a misspelled name can be an indicator of alcoholism or drug abuse. The judgment of the reader is more important than what the resume says.Errors like missing words, misspelled words, and too many words in a row can be serious errors. We all make spelling mistakes, but if your resume is full of misspellings, misspelled words, or too many words in a row, this is an error that can damage your chances of getting the job. How many times have you sent in a resume and not received a call back because it has been edited?An obvious mistake that is hard to avoid is copying a page from another job. Sometimes it happens when someone accidentally removes a page from a resume and then finds it later on the job hunting site that they were looking for. On the other hand, sometimes it happens when someone starts to fill out a resume and sees a mistake and replaces it. Either way, this is a major error that can damage your career.A resume that looks like an article or newspaper article is misleading and not informative. When a potential employer is looking at your resume, they will see the headline and they will decide if you are the person for the job based on your qualifications and skills. If your resume is very similar to a magazine article, they may not know if you are the one for the job. They may take the cover and think that it is one of the cover-page pictures of the person for the job.Minor on resume mistakes can sometimes be more damaging than ma jor mistakes. For example, a resume that has an outline does not tell the reader anything about what the job is for. It just gives them a general idea of what it entails. This is not much information to write home about.When a resume makes too many spelling mistakes, it is a major mistake and it can hurt you before your application has even been reviewed. There are many programs that have programs to check your grammar and spellings. However, if your resume looks like you wrote it, it will not be able to stand up in court. The employer does not want to hire someone who is not an expert on the job.Minor on resume mistakes can hurt you when you go for interviews or when your resume is submitted to a company. They may not even call you back. Not making mistakes is important to writing a good resume. Make sure you learn from your mistakes and use them to improve your resume instead of covering them up with a different mistake.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Make Your Presentations Much, Much Better

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Make Your Presentations Much, Much Better Everyone can give a fantastic presentation. Not so, you may think. Youve seen plenty of horrible ones, and may even believe that its something youre only so-so at doing. (If youre being completely honest, you may even admit your last presentation sucked.) Thats OK, right? Everyone has their gifts, and for some people, presenting an idea to a bunch of strangers or co-workers isnt one of them. But thats the wrong attitude to take, especially since effective presentations are so critical when it comes tomoving up the career ladder, no matter your job. Dan Roam, author of Show and Tell: How Everybody Can Make Extraordinary Presentations, may be finally able to break you free from presentation jitters and propel you into the world of great speakers and presenters. The first key, he says, is telling the truth. There are a lot of people who are like snake-oil salesmen or deliver such crappy presentations we dont believe a word they say, Roam says. But if you speak the truth as you know it without spinning it or lying then two-thirds of your worry over a presentation will evaporate, he says. Another key is to simply tell a story, he says. Its in our genetic code (read more here)

People, Passion and Persil! Thoughts on the advertising, marketing PR event

People, Passion and Persil! Thoughts on the advertising, marketing PR event Last week saw the first in our series of sector events and we kicked off in style with  â€˜Careers in Marketing, Advertising and PR’ and  Robyn Cooke, final year CAS student, popped along to give us the lowdown. She discovered these sectors offer a huge variety in experiences and a range of diverse opportunities. Whether it’s leading a team project, analysing government data, or creating a new campaign for Persil â€" the evening’s speakers enlightened us to the dynamic world of advertising, marketing and PR. Over to Robyn People Kate Bolton, the self-proclaimed ‘Grad Mother’ of a national Market Research Company (TNS), believes the key to a successful career in Marketing is to be ‘curious about people’.This was a recurring sentiment of most of the evening’s speakers; that jobs in Marketing, Advertising and PR involve thinking about people’s needs, wants and interests. Therefore they require ‘people persons’ as they often entail both individual and team work, networking and presentations; as well as sociable working environments. However, working environments within these sectors are variable as there are a wide range of organisations, from small boutique agencies to large international companies. The speakers at the evening’s events worked for both specific advertising or PR agencies,  and marketing departments within bigger companies. So there are a lot of different opportunities to work in these areas. Passion The majority of graduate schemes or jobs in Marketing, Advertising and PR do not require a specific degree discipline; there is definitely a need for logic but you do not have to be an expert economist to excel in this sector. However one thing that is always needed is: passion. The five speakers talking at the event all showed passion for their jobs and companies, and this was their advice for those thinking of following in their footsteps. The high volume of applicants and limited places mean that being offered a graduate scheme is a lengthy and difficult process. However, the tried and tested advice of the evening’s speakers is to be passionate and enthusiastic, this will make you stand out to employers than just a 2:1 or a First. For those who are struggling to gain internships or graduate schemes in these sectors, there was an interesting presentation by Rob Markwell, the Director of B-Hive. B-Hive is competition for those with a passion for Marketing, PR, Advertising, Graphic Design or Web design, and is an opportunity to present your own ideas to industry experts with the chance for it to result in a work experience offer. Check it out at www.bhive-creative.com. and Persil! Another thing I learnt during the evening was that these sectors are adaptable and evolving, especially due to recent developments in technology and the rise of social media. Therefore a common theme of the work in these sectors is: flexibility and creativity.    The ability to be flexible was shown in particular by, Amy Williams of Ogilvy (also Warwick graduate)  who had worked on a billboard project for British Airways and now was beginning a new advertising campaign for Persil washing detergent. You have to be able to adapt to the client or brief, but it also means it can be exciting as there is variety in your day-to-day work. Amy told us her tips on getting into the world of advertising, an important one being to ‘practise talking about adverts’. This is because the  number one question you will be asked on an application or in an interview is, ‘What is your favourite advertising campaign and why?’ Top tips Although I already had an interest in marketing, advertising and PR before I attended, the evening’s talk did teach me a lot about these sectors and I came away with some great tips. A really positive aspect of the evening was that 3 of the speakers had graduated in the past few years, and two of those were Warwick alumni. So this made the talks directly relevant to those of us sitting in the audience and, more significantly, provided a sense hope for those who are keen to pursue a career in these areas. And to help you (and me!) do that Ill leave you with some final top tips: Go for it! Online applications and screening tests may seem daunting but they aren’t trying to catch you out, so have a go and see what you can do. Do your research.  Make sure you have researched your employer and the industry you applying into. Get some experience. Whether it’s work experience or extra circulars, employers want to know what you have learnt from your experiences and the skills you have developed to make you stand out Show some enthusiasm.  In interviews talk enthusiastically and passionately about yourself, the work, the company; this is more impressive to employers than good grades alone. (It will also help you in the long-term to gain promotion) Practise and polish. Practise talking about adverts, campaigns or industry development, and try to form interesting opinions. Persevere. There is a lot of competition out there so don’t be disheartened by rejection, keep applying and good luck! Share this:TweetPrintEmailMoreLike this:Like Loading...

Writing a Resume For a Soccer Scholarship

Writing a Resume For a Soccer ScholarshipWriting a resume for a soccer scholarship has many nuances that must be considered. While you are not expected to write the resume in your first week of college, you should begin it on the right foot as soon as possible. You may be asked to extend this period and start writing the resume as soon as you hit the campus.One of the most important factors when writing a resume is to consider the type of position you would like to hold. It is a good idea to start off by outlining which positions or courses you have applied for, so you will have a better understanding of what to expect once you begin submitting applications. You should list all your previous positions and have them listed in chronological order.List any hobbies or general skills you may have that can benefit an organization. It is also a good idea to include any awards or recognition you may have received during college. Additionally, it may be a good idea to list any special interes ts or hobbies that you may have. Some organizations have a policy of asking applicants for this information before they make a decision.When writing your resume, you should make sure that you put yourself in the eyes of a hiring officer. Make sure that you present yourself as a team player and show how you will fit in with the company. Also, you want to show why you should be hired as opposed to some other candidate.You should take into consideration all the general organizational skills that you possess. A good resume contains an overview of these abilities. Make sure that you list these in a manner that shows why they are valuable to the position.You should also include some sort of English composition if you have taken one or more classes in the subject. This will help demonstrate how well you read and write. Also, it helps to show how good of a communicator you are.It is also important to list jobs that were held during college, including internships and volunteer work. This giv es employers a sense of your potential for accomplishment. You may also want to include any activities that you participated in that were not related to soccer or the university.The resume you are using will be an important part of your employment search. It is an opportunity to show that you are a self-starter and are eager to take on the responsibilities of a coach. Make sure you focus on getting the job you are applying for by preparing well for your interview and putting yourself in the best possible light.

How to give your employees a great morning - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

How to give your employees a great morning - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog These two Danish bosses wanted to so something nice for their people, so one Monday morning they stood at the reception and greeted every single employee like this. This takes no time and costs very little money but it can still make a team happier because it shows that the bosses care and because it surprises people and positive surprises make us happy. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Why Employers Want to Pay for Your MBA - CareerAlley

Why Employers Want to Pay for Your MBA - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. After leveling off last year, demand for MBAs is resurging in 2013, with both recruitment numbers and pay on the increase, according to MBA.com. The percentage of employers hiring MBAs is up from 71 to 75 percent, while the average number of new hires has grown from 11.4 to 14.6. Meanwhile, median base salaries have risen from $90,000 to $95,000, representing a $43,000 advantage over earnings for Bachelors degree holders. Why do companies want MBAs? Understanding the value an MBA provides can not only help job seekers in their quest to land one of these coveted positions, it can also assist current employees seeking to convince their boss its worthwhile to pay for continuing education. Trained MBAs are a Good Investment Finding skilled talent is the biggest challenge facing small businesses, according to 60 percent of owners and managers surveyed, as Washington Post reports. Offering to pay for employees education addresses this by increasing the odds of attracting top talent. Additionally, paying for your education builds loyalty, making it more likely youll stay with your employer and save them the expense of replacing you. Recruiting a quality MBA can cost anywhere from $500 to $100,000. Because youre worth the return on investment, many companies are willing to pay for you to participate in an MBA program such as that offered by Alliant International University, as Alliant.edu reports. If youre seeking this type of opportunity, major banks are good places to start, since these often participate in local MBA internship programs in cities such as San Diego. For instance, Wells Fargo recruits summer MBA interns in securities, commercial real estate, corporate banking, commercial banking, and brokerage and retirement. Internmatch.com can provide more details about the Wells Fargo internship as in depth information into these kinds of opportunities. What MBAs Offer Employers When employers decide to invest in developing your MBA skills, what do they hope to get out of it in return? A survey of corporate recruiters identified the traits and skills most employers seek from MBAs. Leading the list of most desired traits were initiative, professionalism, motivation, integrity, and the ability to handle pressure. Skills most in demand were communication, strategy, performance, core business knowledge, and ability to manage change. A 2011 study by the Graduate Management Admission Council found nearly 90 percent of employers singled out the paramount importance of communication skills. Employers see a good MBA as someone reliable they can entrust to make good business decisions that yield results. A trained MBA can bring a business the benefits of productivity, performance and growth. The Advantage of Experience When hiring MBAs, employers typically seek someone with experience at their job function and in their industry, with a track record of proven performance, according to MBA.com. This makes another good case for employers to pay for training their own employees instead of hiring an MBA fresh out of school. When a business pays for educating one of their own employees, they receive assurance that the result will be an MBA who understands their industry and company and has on-the-job experience. It makes more business sense for your employer to pay for your training based on your proven work history than to take a gamble on hiring someone they dont know. Byline:Mary DobsonMary is a proud mom and small business owner. She started her ceramics shop from nothing and now runs two locations. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search. Joey Trebif