Friday, May 29, 2020

5 Tips to Avoid Your Cover Letter Spelling D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R

5 Tips to Avoid Your Cover Letter Spelling D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R Applying for a job is actually selling yourself for that particular position. There would be many other candidates who would try to grab that particular opportunity, but you need to distinguish yourself from the others in a way that the employer feels that you are the best candidate for the said position. For this, it is important for the applicant to write a resume cover letter, and send it along with the resume. The resume gives the employer the details of the applicant’s academics and work experience. However, the employer, if reads the complete resume, he/she would need at least 10 minutes to know everything about you. On the other hand, if you write a cover letter that summarizes your resume in a way that the employer gets a complete idea of your qualification and expertise in less than 5 minutes, is more impactful, and would lead to a positive decision in your case. The letter is aimed at simplifying the reader’s task, but if not written correctly it would rather weaken your resume as well. 1. Overuse of ‘I’ The cover letter is aimed at presenting your skills and potential and communicating to the employer of how you fit in the organizational needs. Over stressing on ‘I’, would make your letter look like an autobiography. Mention what the employer wants, and then answer how you satisfy the same. 2. Weak Opening: Beginning a cover letter is a task of responsibility. The beginning of the letter creates your first impression. This should thus be very impressive, and to the point. For example: Please consider my application for the post of Sales Team Lead â€" this is a very weak beginning. It does not differentiate you. The advertisement read that you need a Talented and Target Oriented Sales Team Lead, and I believe that I match this requirement â€" this is a better beginning as it says how you meet the organizational needs. More on your opening at How To Start Your Cover Letter with a Bang! 3. Do not fail to highlight your USP: USP â€" Unique Selling Proposition is all that your cover letter is about. It must strongly present yourself, and present your key skills that distinguish yourself. Never fail to highlight these points. In absence of this, your letter is like any other normal application letter. Write these USP’s in sync with the employer’s requirement stated in the advertisement, to make your letter more powerful. 4. Long letters: Long letters are the biggest disaster. A cover letter is aimed to save the employer’s time, and put forth your best in a precise manner. If the applicant writes a long letter that goes on for more than a page, the purpose of the letter is compromised with, and is deviated from its aim. Further reading at 5 Rules To Keep Your Cover Letter Simple and Effective. 5. Repeating your resume: While applying for the job and writing this letter, you are writing about yourself. You do not need to copy anything from the resume. You must know what you possess, and present it in a way that puts forth the best of you. If you start copying everything from your resume, it might create a bad impression on the employer and make your letter very boring. The letter should interest the employer to read your resume, and if it has exactly the same information as in your resume, it becomes monotonous. These are some basic cover letter disasters that should be avoided. These mistakes fail to create the impression you wanted to, via your cover letter. Author: Being a professional Resume writer and an advisor on how to make the job applications more impactful, Arion Barry has developed unique expertise in writing of cover letter for resumes. This is an integral part of resume writing as it makes the resume more powerful. Follow Arion on Twitter @arionbarry.

Monday, May 25, 2020

Freelancers, You Need These 5 Money Management Tips

Freelancers, You Need These 5 Money Management Tips According to a Freelancers’ Union study cited by Forbes, freelancers make up about 35% of the U.S. workforce. That’s a staggering figure. To be fair, not all freelancers work independently on a full-time basis. Some simply use side gigs to earn extra income, pad their CVs, or exercise professional itches they can’t scratch at their 9-to-5 jobs. Occasional and full-time freelancers alike face unique financial pressures that require attention and discipline. Those who follow these five money management tips are more likely to come out ahead. Stay on Top of Your Obligations It’s impossible to overstate the importance of paying your bills on time. You can probably think of a few reasons right off the top of your head to stay current on business and personal obligations.   Things like avoiding late fees, penalty interest charges, and service interruptions, to name just three. Timely payments are important for another reason too: They help build credit. If you’ve chosen to house your freelancing business in a pass-through LLC or some other corporate structure, paying your business-related obligations out of designated business accounts (or with business credit cards) can improve your business credit rating. Should you need to invest in your operation in the future, a rosy business credit profile will come in handy. Use a Balance Transfer Card to Burnish Your Credit Reduce Your High-Interest Debts If you don’t yet have a personal or business credit card, check your credit score and apply for a card that fits your needs and financial profile. Using your assigned credit limit responsibly and making timely payments are great ways to raise your credit score. If you’re struggling with existing credit card debt, consider applying for a balance transfer card with a long low- or no-interest introductory promotion. The best balance transfer cards waive interest for as long as 18 to 21 months, providing plenty of time to get high-interest debts under control. Set Up an Account to Handle Your Estimated Tax Payments If you earn substantial income from freelancing, you’ll likely be required by the IRS to make quarterly estimated tax payments. Set up an interest-bearing, FDIC-insured savings or money market account and make regular contributions (weekly or biweekly) to ensure that you’re not caught flat-footed by your estimated payments due date. Launch (and Grow) Individual Retirement Account(s) It’s never too early to begin planning for retirement. If you haven’t already done so, open an individual retirement account (IRA) and begin making regular contributions. Speak with a licensed financial advisor to determine whether you’d be best served by a traditional, Roth, or SEP IRA.     Each has its own set of rules, limits, and idiosyncrasies. Maintain an Emergency Fund Lastly, don’t neglect your emergency fund. You should have at least three months’ income set aside in liquid accounts to address unexpected expenses. Six months’ income is preferable. Stay Lean, Stay Ready No one knows what the future might bring, least of all freelance creatives and independent entrepreneurs. When you’re in the business of making your own way through the world, you have to be ready for everything. That’s why it’s so important for freelancers to follow these five money management tips â€" and be cognizant of dozens of others we haven’t mentioned here. No matter what you do or where you hope to take your burgeoning business, a sturdy financial base ensures that you’ll be better prepared for what lies ahead.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Critique Your Work to Make Improvements - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Critique Your Work to Make Improvements - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Increase success by putting the customer first. Keep the end goal in mind as you dive into the beginning steps to move through the sales cycle. Doing so becomes the guided path to a negotiated agreement that most will embrace. Connect with hearts and minds by a desire to serve. The Online Experience Take time to review your website from the mindset of prospective clients. Is all of your contact information easily found? Check all links to be certain they each click through as intended. Review the instructions for clarity in all downloadable forms. For example, one document requested a domain name and password for logging in. After wasting almost half an hour, a call was made to the company. The rep admitted that an email and password are required, not the domain. Research You Researching clients and sellers ahead of meetings is the smart step to take. Review whether everything you wish to present is up to date to include your website, business cards, photo and social media profiles. Also, review your social media activity for consistency in all postings and communicated thought. Are your posts in alignment with what your audience needs and wants, and in a friendly inviting manner? https://youtu.be/_VEcm1HQjNM Fact Check First Every meeting should begin with a personal note such as interests, family, and holiday plans. While you did research beforehand, it is best to fact check by asking the prospective client the reason for the meeting. Add that you would like to know in their words more about the company regarding the research you did. Letting them know you put some work in ahead of schedule will give you one gold star. By asking for the client information first quickly lets you know whether there is a potential match for doing business together. Questions, answers, and clarifying statements all move the sales cycle forward. Once again, prospective clients are watching you. They watch whether you are fully present and actively listening. They determine if you are honest by asking for meanings of jargon they use. They observe if you respectfully treat all of their employees. And they want to see that you are appreciative of their time both upon entering and exiting the office. All of these acts give an indication of how the client will be treated after the sale, and are among the biggest differentiators from most everyone else. Almost every salesperson is solely focused on making the sale, providing little concern for the client. By taking an active interest in your clientele with interactive conversation, you establish an appreciated personal brand. Your reward is to be shown equal respect and awarded the sale. Sales Tips: Think about goals before the meeting. Focus on client needs and interests first. Be fully present in the conversation. Ask questions about anything not quite understood. Determine common ground and areas requiring further inquiry. Inquire about intended timeline to determine the degree of serious consideration. Following these guidelines will lead you to the Smooth Sale!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

PhDs Want teaching experience and an opportunity to make the world a nicer place University of Manchester Careers Blog

PhDs Want teaching experience and an opportunity to make the world a nicer place University of Manchester Careers Blog Are you passionate about your subject area? Would you like the opportunity to work with local school children? …then the Widening Participation Fellow programme might be for you! The Student Recruitment and Widening Participation Team is currently recruiting Postgraduate students for the position of Widening Participation Fellows. These positions support the University’s widening participation activities with a range of learners from primary through to sixth formers. There are a number of posts available in each Faculty. Hours and Pay: The period of employment is usually from October â€" July (10 months). Fellows are paid at a rate of £12.56 per hour. Payment is monthly: e.g. £125.60   / month for 10 months when working 100 hours in total. Potential applicants interested in fewer hours should speak with the contact person for their area given in the roles and responsibilities document:   WP Fellow Application Form2016 Widening Participation Fellows Role Responsibilities 2016 Interested applicants need to send a completed WP Award Holder Application Form to the relevant Faculty Officer by Friday 26th August 2016: WP Fellow Application Form2016 All Postgrad-highlighted Postgraduate Part-time postgraduate work experience

Thursday, May 14, 2020

4 Career Lessons Dont Let The Fire In Your Belly Burn Bridges - CareerMetis.com

4 Career Lessons Don’t Let The Fire In Your Belly Burn Bridges Photo Credit â€" Flickr.comYou’re a passionate worker with the world at your feet. At times, it’s hard to keep the passion inside and to use it positively.There are times when an employee realizes that the system isn’t going to work out in their favour. There are times when a colleague who isn’t as qualified will get a promotion. Quite simply, there are times when the glass ceiling will smack you in the face.It’s in these situations when you want to lash out, say your piece, and move onto new opportunities.evalMoving on is fine, but burning bridges along the way is a death sentence. Here are the reasons why.1. ReferencesEven the best of the best don’t get a new job without a reliable reference. Employers need to know that the person they see in front of them is legit.Far too many people lie and over-embellish their resumes to the point where they aren’t right for the role. Businesses know this and don’t want to be in a situation where they have to restart the recruitm ent process.Your current/old employer might not be able to provide a bad reference, but they don’t have to say anything at all. Spiteful it may be, yet that is how the industry works.2. Companies Bite BackIt’s tempting to think that a law firm such as Teddy, Meekins Talbert Attorneys at Law will breeze a trial. There is no doubt that a skilful and experienced legal team gets results for employees, especially in 2017.However, it’s important not to take a victory for granted because businesses will fight back. If a dispute escalates and ends up in court, anything can happen in front of a judge and jury.To get the best result, it’s essential to settle things quietly and with tact. Cary Kane Legal can still help but without the fuss of a trial.3. It’s A Small WorldevalYep, even a huge industry has tiny boundaries, and you never know when you will run into an old employer. Usually, it is awkward and fills the room with tension, but they are times when it gets worse.It won’t seem likely now, yet you might need a favour in the future. If this is the case, you can kiss it goodbye because an old employer won’t help. Lots of bosses would rather see you fail than lend a hand if you left on bad terms. At least with a bridge still intact, your options are wide open.4. The Rumour MillIf you drag their name through the mud, your employer will do the same. It might not be in a formal manner, but that doesn’t matter in the industry. Just calling their peers and mentioning your name is enough to tarnish it forever.And, it’s almost impossible to prove. Plus, experienced entrepreneurs have pages of contacts and can reach far and wide. Remember that excrement sticks, particularly in the world of business.evalThere are times when burning bridges is an option, but it’s mostly a bad idea.

Monday, May 11, 2020

4 Ways To Keep Your Team Productive Throughout The Day - CareerAlley

4 Ways To Keep Your Team Productive Throughout The Day - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Keeping your entire team productive is one of the biggest challenges youll have, particularly in the age of streaming music on Spotify and stories on Snapchat. Not only does it require bringing together people with different work habits and personalities, it also requires setting up a workspace that is conducive to productivity. Here are 4 ways to keep your team productive throughout the day: Keep Meetings To A Minimum Unnecessary meetings cost the US an estimated $37 billion every year. Furthermore, even if 47% of employees say excessive meetings diminish their productivity, 37% of total employee hours are spent attending meetings. Talk about counterproductive. Meetings should never be treated as social gatherings. Make each one count by setting a clear agenda and avoiding irrelevant detours. To be even more productive, brief everyone on the details at least a day before the designated meeting time. That way, youll have everyone on the same page even before you get started. Also, keep attendance to a minimum and bar late people from attending. Inviting too many people and accommodating late people to meetings are two major productivity killers. If someone wants a recap of what went on, let him/her do so AFTER the meeting. Lay Out Timelines And Agendas Only 17% of people can accurately keep track of time without external cues. Create a to-do list and assign a fixed time for each task. Software like Rescue Time allows you to track time, block distracting websites, receive alerts, and give you feedback on how you spend your time. Alternate concentrated work periods with strategic rest periods in order to get the most of your time. Research shows that well-thought out mental breaks help you refocus and regain energy. If you want to kick it up a notch, designate exercise breaks to get your blood pumping and improve cognitive activity. Get your whole team on board by setting up a virtual office that holds team members accountable for their time. Minimize Workplace Interruptions The regular office worker is interrupted every 3 minutes on average (Washington Post). In addition, it can take up to 23 minutes and 15 seconds to regain concentration. All this corresponds to about 6.2 hours everyday or 31 hours a week in productive time lost. Taking into account the average 47-hour US work week, thats roughly 65% of total employee hours wasted. Lay down office rules on workplace interruptions. Edward G. Brown, an efficiency and workflow consultant to Fortune 500 companies like Citibank, Merrill Lynch, and Bank of America, says designating quiet time for concentration raises employee productivity by 40% to 60%. All inter-office discussions should transpire outside of that time period. Need a simpler solution? Give everyone a Do Not Disturb sign. Improve Your Office Environment Keeping a clean desk has been proven to drive productivity and creative thinking. Furthermore, surrounding your workplace with aesthetically pleasing objects can raise your productivity by an additional 15%. Declutter your workplace and decorate it with stimulating elements like artwork, plants, and candles that help put your brain at ease. Not only does this increase productivity and performance, it also sends a good message to the rest of your team. If youre having difficulty finding a conducive work environment, you may want to consider an office space for rent or a coworking space. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+

Friday, May 8, 2020

Sample Accounting Resume - Top Tips For Making a Better First Impression

Sample Accounting Resume - Top Tips For Making a Better First ImpressionA sample accounting resume is not only a great first impression, but it can also be a starting point for you in your professional life. This will help to determine whether or not the employer will hire you and give you the chance to prove yourself before you jump into something that might be bigger than what you are qualified for. If you are just beginning in your career or want to change what you are doing to something that will provide more stability and income, then your sample resume can help to get you the job that you are looking for. It will also show that you are serious about your job search and are willing to work hard in order to get the job you want.As soon as you are hired, you need to go out and demonstrate your abilities in the real world. If you get a job as a clerk, there are a few things that you can do that will make a lasting impression that will help get you noticed by your boss. Here are som e tips to get you started in the right direction.Show how organized and punctual you are: If you have excellent records on timekeeping, then you will be a big asset to the company. You can show off this part of your personality by having a good look at your books from time to time. You should pay close attention to what has been going on with your accounts and find out how well you are keeping track of money.Show your sound judgment: There are many things that can affect your job, so be careful about putting your faith in anything that is a sure thing. Show your abilities and your reliability with how you manage your business on a daily basis, and prove that you are always one step ahead of your competition.Come across as someone who is always willing to work hard: No matter how much you might be working on your own, if you want to keep your job and show that you are always willing to go the extra mile, then you should go the extra mile for your employer. Show that you are one who w ill put in extra hours and be ready to work overtime to meet deadlines. This shows that you care about your job and your company.Be outgoing: Always be up front and keep the employer aware of what you are doing and when you are available. If you are not being forthright, then you will put the employee at risk for not being able to perform their duties properly and will take away from the professionalism of the company.Tip number four is not to turn down interviews: Although a credit card can be useful, you should not rely on them when necessary. In fact, you should turn down interviews in order to prove that you are always available and will offer your opinion and knowledge as a reliable employee.Some employers might hire you based on your recommendations alone, and others might require a sample accounting resume before offering you a job. You should make it a point to show that you are a dependable and trustworthy person who will not be easily distracted. By following these steps, you can show that you are a creditable, dependable employee.