The top courses to help get you hired May 2015

The top courses to help get you hired May 2015 by Michael Cheary Looking to learn? May the course be with you…Ok, so aside from terrible Star Wars-related puns, did you know that reed.co.uk also offer over 7,000 opportunities to learn something new this month? No? Well, you’ve come to the right place.Whatever your area of interest, current level or budget, we’re confident that we have something for everyone. To prove it, here are three of the hottest courses you can find on the site this month:So you want to be surrounded by cash…If all you’re interested in is getting paid, we may have found the perfect career for you.The IAB Level 1, 2 3 Computerised Payroll for Business course will provide all the vital knowledge and skills to get started in the Payroll profession, including learning how to use Sage one of the most popular bookkeeping and payroll management programs in the world.And it isn’t just other people’s salaries you’ll be sorting out. By completing all three IAB levels together, you’ll qualif y to become a Payroll Team Leader or Payroll Manager, and have the potential to earn up to £45,000 per annum.Need more convincing? Enrol by May 15th, and you’ll receive a free tablet, free NUS card and a free career package.What do I need? A good basic knowledge of maths and English, as well as access to your own PC.How long will it  last? Around 290 hours of online, part-time study.Perfect for: People who are convinced they’re not being paid properly.IAB Level 1, 2 3 »So you want a better mortgage…Always dreamed of becoming a Mortgage Advisor, but never knew how to take the plunge? No? Ok, stay with us on this one.Although admittedly not necessarily a childhood ambition for many, being a Mortgage Advisor is actually an incredibly rewarding career move. It’s your job to help clients get the best mortgages available, and help them make the move of their dreams. You also get paid pretty well, which helps.The CeMAP Mortgage Advisor training bundle brings together three essen tial papers which, once passed, will certify that you’re a fully qualified Mortgage Advisor in your own right. So whether you want to start applying for jobs right away, or build up your own business, you’ll have the key qualifications needed to back you up.The best part? There’s almost 50% off this qualification for the entire month.What do I need? There are no formal requirements to get started with this course.How long will it last? Somewhere in the region of 45 hours of part-time study, taken at your own pace.Perfect for: People who want a career that’s safe as houses.CeMAP Mortgage Advisor Training Bundle »So you want to learn a language…Learning a new language is like learning to ride a bike. All it takes is a good teacher.*Luckily, we know where you can find a few. In fact, in May we’ve added a brand new page to our site, specifically designed to cater for our language offerings.Options range from intermediate and refresher courses, through to those aimed at abso lute beginners. So whether you’re on the cusp of full-on fluency, want to finally get that pass in GCSE French (take that, Mademoiselle LaChapelle-Fontaine), or you don’t know your cerveza from your cabeza, there are options available for everyone.Whichever course you go for, you’ll be opening yourself up to more job opportunities, and dramatically increase your earning power. And when you put it like that, they’re worth every peso.So what are you waiting for? Say ni hao to the new you, today.What do I need? Enthusiasm and the desire to learn something new. Also, possibly a dictionary.How long will it last? Completion times will vary from course to course, but the majority can be taken at your own pace, and at times that suit you.Perfect for: People who want to turn Japanese.Language courses »Five languages you should be learning »*Unless you’re particularly prone to falling over. In which case, we’d also recommend some kind of kneepads, and possibly a helmet.  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the

Personal Branding Weekly - 8 July 2013 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Weekly - 8 July 2013 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Happy Canada and Independence Day to our readers in Canada and the United States! During the weekend, more of the people Im connected with on social networks seem to take to share memes, funny quotes, quirky status updates and videos of that vary from interesting to strange. Many brands observe the massive sharing of these types of updates and they try to mimic these updates on their own pages or personal profiles. As a personal brand, you do want to be sure to match your updates with your unique promise of value.   What are you known for? Does your update match what peoples perception of your brand is? Does it express your true brand? Last weeks #brandchat, we discussed Brands Humor.   Take a look at the chat transcript which is loaded with tidbits that will help if you are considering incorporating more humor in your business social updates and expressing your personal brand. Last week we also covered: Personal Brand Internal Controls by Kevin Monahan Personal Branding Interview: Mike Zammuto, Brand.com President by Dan Schawbel 9 Startup Leaders With Brands to Emulate by The Young Entrepreneur Council How Do You Increase Your Personal Brand Value? by Nance Rosen 6 Signs Your Ego Has Taken Over Your Brand by Heather Huhman Become a Better Networker in 4 Simple Steps by Ceren Cubukcu Moving to an Inspired Business Model by Elinor Stutz Is Age Discrimination an Issue in Job Search by Alex Freund Four Strategies for Your Job Search Networking by Richard Kirby Webinars, Conference Calls and Your Brand by Maria Elena Duron Can You Spare 40 Minutes to Learn a New Trick? by Jeff Shuey Boost Your Personal Brand with Courtesy by Kate Southam Tips for Quarterlife Entrepreneurs by Christine Hassler Lessons From Parenting: Rewarding Good Values/Character Spurs Motivation by Beth Kuhel Three Ways to Create Luck by Erik Deckers Paying it Forward to Establish Your Personal Brand by Marc Miller Key Salary Negotiation Tips by Ken Sundheim This week look for: Insights on developing your strategic narratives Eliminating the negative in your personal brand Writing not typing Tools to leverage your clients brand (that you can apply to your own, too) Repositioning your power within Tips for developing your online brand Thank you for your readership! We look forward to your comments! Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of  buzz2bucksâ€"  a word of mouth marketing firm, and a professional speaker and trainer on developing social networks that work. She provides workshops, webinars, seminars and direct services that help create conversation, connection, credibility, community and commerce around your brand.   Maria Duron is founder  and moderator of  #brandchat   a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of  branding  that is recognized by Mashable as one the 15 Essential Twitter Chats for Social Media Marketers. Are you busy? Here’s some quick and easy tips on  Social Marketing for busy people.

5 Sales Techniques to Get Hired - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

5 Sales Techniques to Get Hired - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Have you ever had a job that you wished you had not accepted? The follow-up question is, did you take the time to analyze if signs were present that you chose to ignore? Poor job selection happens to the best sometimes, but it is from these lessons that repeat scenarios may be avoided. Consider the following strategies to help you do better in the future: 1. Itemize your perfect job Do you sometimes wish you could find a job that…? The next time this type of thought occurs, list every element of the job associated with that thought.  Two important reasons exist for this suggestion. While on an interview, and with your list in mind, you will quickly recognize disqualifiers as an in-depth description of employment requirements is provided. On a more positive note, although it may seem a stretch that your visualized perfect job exists, on occasion it will appear. Excitement takes hold and your enthusiasm will serve to make you the preferred candidate. 2. Hunt, qualify and match opportunities to your list The specifics of your perfect job will serve to help you communicate to others what you are seeking. Once understood, your peers will be in a better position to help you. So let everyone know the details of what you are seeking. When possibilities arise consider the commute, job and travel requirements, potential stress, company personality and environment, as well as monetary consideration. If you have ever purposely ignored any of this because you needed the job, I’m sure you will agree these are important factors before saying yes in the future. 3. Schedule practice interviews and ask for feedback If a long while has passed since your last interview, you may not have the comfort level required for conducting a friendly insightful conversation. Specific questions to keep the interviewing process on track may have been forgotten. Keep these questions in mind as you interview: “What are the next steps in your process?” “What is your timeframe for filling the position?” “Do I appear to be the type of candidate you are seeking?” As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Each succeeding time, you provide improved examples of your capabilities and are able to ask more insightful questions. You may also receive multiple offers for enhanced negotiation. 4. Why do you want the job? Somewhere in the interview process, you will need to either volunteer or answer what attracted you to the posting. Enthusiasm is an important ingredient for attracting further interest in you. Your talent gets you in the door but your personality is typically the deciding factor. Create a one-minute story including the highlights of your ideal job and how the opening appeals to your interests and talents. Relay your story with excitement in your voice and on your face for the other party to hear and see the dynamics and benefits you will bring to the company. 5. Get the offer and the better package By incorporating these tips into your repertoire with your personality stamped on them, you will also identify your personal brand. Allowing hiring managers to gain familiarity with you and your talents, the awaited offer will come more readily. It is in this moment where you are able to negotiate an improved package. Reviewing your transition to hearing “Hired”, it will seem as if it were a very Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC, (800) 704-1499, was honored by Open View Labs with inclusion in their international list of “Top 25 Sales Influencers for 2012.” Elinor authored the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, Sourcebooks and the best selling career book, “HIRED! How to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews”, Career Press.

Creating the Perfect Home Office

Creating the Perfect Home Office My decision to switch to working at home from the corporate life brought on many challenges as much as it brought on advantages. While the commute is shorter (literally a few steps) and the overhead is smaller, there are some things that are important in optimizing your work that are amiss. Even as simple as  the right chair and table is important in making work easy and organized, so creating the ideal perfect home office is a big priority. Working from home is often designated as telecommuting, and it has many advantages for one’s working life.  Not only is it convenient, saving on time spent commuting to an office and the associated costs for a business owner, it also cuts the owners expensive office overheads such as rent and additional related bills.  As a permanent arrangement, its good for the boss and the employee. Other benefits for the employee looking to work at home include the ability to control the day’s workload and the flexibility to balance family and work commitments.  Working families often have different working patterns so the ability to fit them around each other comfortably can be a great boost to productivity for the employee and promote a happy family home as well. Dividing space is never easy and when working with a partner or spouse there usually needs to be some separation, especially when each worker is doing different things.  One solution is to create the right atmosphere and make a bright space, attractive in terms of its light and its furnishings, making a positive contribution to a working environment that is conducive to high productivity. Its hard to deny that many offices with a lot of people working in them can be depressing places where people are competing against each other in circumstances that do not necessarily reward productivity.  The home office solution is ideal for people who are passionate and committed to their work, allowing them also to enjoy the benefits that home working through technological advances have made possible. People working in a comfortable environment are often far more productive than those shoehorned into a corporate setting.  By setting up a home office that allows in light and is airy and uncluttered an employee can have control of the environment and organize furniture and other essential accessories for work. In the end, the decision is a bargain between the employee and management.  Management will get a real bargain by encouraging home working. If it is an option that is available to you, take it. You will get a kick out of designing your space and experience big practical perks of working from home both for you and for your company. Do you have tips on working from home? Comment below or tweet us @mscareergirl!

What Is the Best Advice When Writing a Career Objective For a Resume?

What Is the Best Advice When Writing a Career Objective For a Resume?With all the buzz and debate in the media about what is the best advice when writing a career objective for a RESUME, it's probably safe to say that most of us would rather put our focus on having the best skill sets, or the best qualifications for a job. However, in order to achieve success in life, you must first be successful in your career!Even if you don't know what career objective to write, you can still use the same strategy and approach as any other professional and create a career objective. The key to a good career objective is to use a skill and knowledge to create a listing of how you can get the best job out there and make the most money for yourself. Let's take a look at a few tips that can help you achieve success in your career!First, what is the best advice when writing a career objective for a resume? It is very easy to come up with a list of skills and qualifications, but if you don't know how to communicate those qualifications and talents, then they are just words on a page. Writing a career objective for a resume is a very real process of communicating what you can do for a company. Although the employer may not realize it, the most important skills that you need to show them are those that relate to your natural ability to help others.What are some of the top skills that you have that the employer will see? In order to sell your talent, you need to create a list of skills and talents that relate to the specific position that you're applying for. You want to give them examples of your past work, your enthusiasm and overall attitude about the work that you've done.Next, do your own research into the job and the industry that you are applying for. Your future employer will want to know what you know and how you can add value to their company.You can research these skills and talents using your school studies, college and universities and online resources. These types of re sources can help you create a list of skills and talents that may include: Service Industry- Certifications, volunteering, Volunteer and Education programs, Health Professions - like social Work, or Nursing.Lastly, you should consider going back and reviewing your past positions to see what was accomplished there and how it relates to your current job. Sometimes, what is the best advice when writing a career objective for a resume is to go back and review the current job that you're currently doing to see what skills were acquired or skills that were developed and how well they were put to use.The key to creating the best advice when writing a career objective for a resume is to use a combination of your own knowledge and skills, and the experience of your previous jobs. These will help you create a career objective that will help you get the job that you want!

Leveraging your Signature Talents

Leveraging your Signature Talents Leveraging your Signature Talents Leveraging your Signature Talents March 25, 2010 by Career Coach Sherri Thomas 8 Comments Identifying your signature talents is crucial for two reasons. First, these talents help define who you are professionally, boost your credibility, confidence, and uniqueness. They are the value you provide to your company or client. Second, if you identify your signature talents you can leverage them when you want to transition into a new role, company or industry. Signature talents are more than specialized skills. They are advanced skills that, when combined with your experiences, knowledge and talents, are as unique and distinctive as your own signature. For example, after spending a few years out in the field, many sales people develop their own unique style of selling. It’s a style that is difficult to teach to others. They may use common selling strategies and tactics, but combined with their personality, experiences, and knowledge they have created their own unique signature talent of selling. Another example is that when I graduated college, I love writing and knew I either wanted to be a television news writer or write radio and TV commercials. After several years in radio, television, and advertising, I honed my writing skills and developed my own writing style. Writing is one of my signature talents. My employers can always hire someone else, but that person wouldn’t have my same signature style. So, what are your signature talents? In which skills or areas of expertise do you stand out from your colleagues or peers?

Its A (W)Rap How Great Packaging Boosts Business

Its A (W)Rap How Great Packaging Boosts Business As soon as a customer sees a product, they are being influenced. Yes, product packaging is this powerful when used correctly. Think about the major brands that grab people’s attention from miles away, the likes of Nike, Adidas, and Apple. Branding revolves around delivering their items in a perfect package with a neat little bow, and it works. Oh, it works. SMEs like to make excuses. “But they are huge corporations. The same wouldn’t work for a small firm.” The reality is that package marketing can increase leads, improve sales and help lift the business’s bottom line. These are a handful of the reasons why. Subconscious Advertising Some experts believe that the subconscious is the key to conversions. Shoppers on autopilot are less likely to think and therefore more likely to buy. The key is to tell them something without saying a word. Do it nice and subtle, like. Custom shipping boxes are the answer because they reflect the thought processes of the company. Taking time to develop a design and be creative is something plenty of firms will dismiss out of hand. Instead, they focus on other, “important” areas. The right blueprint will appeal to the innovative cool kids because you’re on their level in their minds. Emotional Connection Subconscious advertising and an emotional connection work along the same lines. Both try to elicit a response that is hard to explain. All customers know is that they want a product. The outcome you are looking for is pretty basic. The difference between the two is you can build an emotional connection through small details. Subconscious advertising is about the packaging as a whole, whereas this method relies on color on logo placement. For example, the right shade of orange will instantly grab a person’s attention, or a blue hue will relax and calm them. These emotional responses are integral to purchases. Quality Commitment The likes of Apple, Nike, and Adidas have already got a mention but they deserve a second shout out. See, even that statement was a tick in the box of quality commitment. Over the years, these firms have used packaging to say “we’re the best in the business.” Shoppers see the logo and the ad campaign and they forget the other brands. In many ways, a big part of package marketing is delivering an unbelievable product along with the design. The iPod was sleek and pretty, yet it was powerful and superior to the competition. Fluidity Businesses that view packaging and marketing as two separate entities are wrong. Both are inextricably linked because one influences the other. Once you realize this, it’s easier to merge the parties and grab the attention of the customer. Packaging has to be part of the plan and convey the same message because: â€" It makes it hard to ignore â€" It shows intelligence and attention to detail When a package cleverly reflects an advert on TV, the shopper looks and it and is impressed. Fluidity changes their perception of the brand. Are you investing enough into package marketing?