The top courses to help you get hired December 2016

The top courses to help you get hired December 2016 by Michael Cheary Left your gift giving to the last minute?You don’t have to resort to panic-buying perfume and novelty ties this Christmas. With more than 17,000 courses available on reed.co.uk right now, and certifications in everything from business management to health and beauty, why not give the greatest gift of all â€" the gift of learning*.If you’re looking to treat someone this Christmas (and/or yourself), here are three life-changing courses you could be starting on reed.co.uk right now:Cognitive Behavioural Therapy On the first day of Christmas, reed.co.uk gave to me: An industry-recoginised certification in CBT.CBT, which stands for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, is a type of therapy which helps people overcome their issues by transforming their negative mindset into a positive one.Generally used to treat anxiety and depression, the principles of CBT can be applied to a range of different situations, with thousands of people all over the world suffering from men tal and physical health problems also benefiting from this type of counselling.This fully certified CBT course covers all the basics to help you get started, as well as looking at key modules on theory, introducing change, and counselling skills.And the best part? All this month the course is being offered at a massive 89% off the regular retail price, meaning the whole certification is available for less than £70.Because you can’t put a price on positivity. Oh, wait…What do I need? There are no formal pre-requisites.How long will it last? Around 60 hours of part-time study.Perfect for: People who think, therefore they are.CBT CertificationNutritionist course Ok, so there’s a slight possibility you’ll overdo it this Christmas.But what if we told you that making a few simple changes could drastically improve your chances of maintaining your festive cheer beyond the Boxing Day leftovers and mince pies? And it’s all down to better understanding your nutrition (seamless segwa y).Covering key healthy eating areas such as balancing diets, the principles of healthy eating and weight control management, there’s never been an easier way to help keep your waistline (and your career) in check.And did we mention that there’s a 82% saving on this certification if you get started in the next month? Take that, over-indulging family members.Christmas dinner smugness, just £99 away.What do I need? No formal previous qualifications or experience neccessary.How long will it last? 48 weeks.Perfect for: People who don’t like Turkey sandwiches.Diet Nutrition course  Sage Accounting course Finally this festive season, why not consider taking care of your financial future?Sage Accounting is one of the most popular accountancy and payroll management programs in the world, not to mention one of the most desirable certifications you can include on your CV.Covering core accounting principles such as auditing, balance sheets and verifying financial reports, this package will help build all the foundations you need to start actively applying for accountancy roles, whilst also giving you a conversation-starter at your festive family gathering. Try and judge my lack of stability now, Uncle Keith.And because it’s Christmas, this career-changing qualification is available for just £85 â€" and selected courses are even Buy One Get One Free.Merry Christmas, you filthy animal future Accountants…What do I need? No formal pre-requisites.How long will it last? Around 20 hours (online, and part-time)Perfect for: People who want to manage other people’s money.Sage Accounting Training  *May not be the greatest gift of all.Not sure which course is right for you? View all available courses now.  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

Game of Thrones Careers lessons

Game of Thrones Careers lessons The final episode of Game of Thrones will be broadcast this evening, unless youve already acquired it or got up at 3 am to watch it.   To commemorate a moment most of us hoped would never arrive weve raided the Career Blog archives to re-publish this spoiler free article, written in 2015. There have been significant story-line developments since then of course but this blog still has relevance in terms of what this classic series can teach us in terms of managing a career. So, can any nuggets of careers wisdom can be gleaned from the turmoil, political intrigue, violence and other unsavouriness which takes place in the Seven Kingdoms and beyond? Somewhat surprisingly there are lessons which are worth thinking about. This is my take on what a small selection of characters from Game of Thrones can teach us about building a successful career. Tyrion Lannister â€" The Importance of knowing your strengths and your weaknesses. My favourite character! Tyrion is not without his faults; however throughout the series he has demonstrated superb self-awareness, understanding both his gifts and his limitations. He often advises other characters to reflect on their strengths but few do it quite as well as he does. He understands that his skills don’t lie in battle and never will. He possesses an aptitude for diplomacy, understanding others, (often to manipulate them), and strategic planning. Sometimes he has to fight but his leadership and forethought are what saves the day, not his contribution to the actual fighting. So how can this be applied to careers? Being able honestly and effectively to appraise your own strengths and weakness, gives you an advantage in planning what roles might suit you, and how you might best succeed. There is often a certain amount of experimentation required to understand what you are good (and less good at). Work experience and extracurricular activities at university help. If you use all your experience to reflect honestly on yourself then your answer to, “Why do you want to work for us will be compelling. Check out our blog post on this too. Ned Stark â€" Understanding what you are getting yourself into! The fact that he is played by Sean Bean should have forewarned me about his fate!   Actually, it came as a genuine shock when he lost his head on the steps of the Great Sept. So what went wrong? Quite simply he failed to understand the environment he was getting himself into. Ned certainly had the measure of himself and understood his strengths and weaknesses, but he didn’t understand  court intrigue and the power play in Kings Landing. He didn’t know who’s interests lay where, what motivated other players and what people’s goals were. So what can we take from this? Mistakes while trying to secure a graduate job are thankfully not going to end in public execution! But understanding the environment youre entering is still absolutely crucial. How do organisations make their money? Who does what and what are each department’s responsibilities? In terms of careers we  often refer to this as commercial awareness (we run workshops on this topic so check them out on Myadvantage) a nd we have blogged about it before  several times.  If the first step in planning a successful career is understanding yourself, the second is understanding the environment you are going to be entering and how you are going to fit into it. You don’t have to rely on a network of spies to find out how a company operates (although a bit of legal networking can help). Try researching the internet or come and talk to Careers. Daenerys Targaryen â€" Listening to advice, and learning from experience Daenerys has so far had a rather varied narrative (and inspired people to name their children after her). At the beginning of the story, she seemed to be in rather an unenviable position. Eating that horse’s heart certainly looked challenging! Somehow though, she has found herself taking on the role of queen and ruling in what (by the standards of the series) is a just and fair manner. So how did she do this? Well two things which really helped her get there. Firstly she has had help, support and advice from others. She didn’t always follow the advice but she  sought it and listened. Secondly she learned from, and reflected upon her experiences. During the course of the series she has  made mistakes but has learned from these and moved on. So, the career lessons here? Seek advice from everyone. You don’t need to follow it but it helps to get a picture of what other people’s perspectives are.  Your lecturers will be great at giving advice on working in higher education but might not necessarily be the people to ask about corporate consulting. Accept your mistakes as learning opportunities. When you hear graduate recruiters talking about resilience this is part of what they mean. We learn from honest reflection. Demonstrating this to employers will make you a far more desirable candidate.

Picture Your Personal Branding Strategy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Picture Your Personal Branding Strategy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Christine Chopyaks Picture Your Business Strategy: Transform Decisions with the Power of Visuals shows how you can picture your journey to personal branding success from the present to the future. Visual thinking is one of the most important success strategies in business and personal branding today. Previous articles, like Resume Tips for Projecting a Creative Personal Brand and Visual Marketing for Personal Branding Success, provide examples showing the range of visual thinking. Do-it-yourself approach Christine Chopyaks Picture Your Business Strategy provides a guide to another aspect of visual thinking, showing how non-artists can use hand-drawn sketches as planning tools for your personal branding strategy. Power of simplicity She begins with a story of one of her experiences in China, that emphasizes the power of simple visuals to overcome language barriers. She described how an impromptu simple sketch at a crowded market successfully communicated when words failed. Then, she tells stories about how she has used simple sketches in a variety of business settings to encourage collaboration and build consensus. One of the best examples, which you can view in detail on her books Picture Your Strategy website shows the books table of contents (shown at right). Even though its a relatively simple drawing, it communicates the structure of her book in a highly personalized way that effectively brands her book as a practical tool. The simplicity of simple drawings encourages your creativity while planning projects, like your personal brand strategy. Its far easier to sketch your personal branding journey, or share them in personal or group meetings, when you dont have to be too detailed. With simple sketches, its easier to focus on the ideas! Simplicity is also an equalizer. As Christine Chopyak wrote later in her book: The more sophisticated and perfect a drawing is, the more alienating it is. With simple, clear drawings, the audience gets the feeling that they could do this too!, quoting the authors of The Decision Book. Examples for planning your personal branding strategy In addition to ideas and tips, Picture Your Business Strategy contains examples of dozens of planning examples you can easily recreate and adapt planning your journey to a strong personal brand. These sketched examples include: Gap analysis. A gap analysis map helps you identify missing link between where your brand is today, and where you want it to be tomorrow. Acknowledging the gap is the first step to determining the actions you can take to bridge the gap. SWOT analysis. Another excellent starting point for evaluating your current personal brand is to view it from the perspectives of a grid with separate areas for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Road map with benchmarks. Like the books table of contents, above, a road map sketch can identify the necessary milestones or benchmarks needed to achieve your desired personal brand. You can also quickly create alternate versions, displaying different routes to your goal brand. Environmental scan. Another simply-executed, but highly-revealing sketch can display your personal brand in the context of the various forces acting on it, such as technology, the economy, and competing brands. Force Field Analysis. On page 109, there’s an example of the Drivers (you’re your vision) and the Restraints (like time or budget limitations) that are acting on your personal brand. The example allows you to identify the most important ones for you to focus on, rather than dissipating your resources in too many areas. Other sketched examples include sketching your Organizational History, tracing the challenges, key activities, milestones, and success in your brand’s past. This helps you identify which events should be included in your brand’s story. No software learning curve! One of the most important benefits of the sketching advice and examples that Christine Chopyak shares in her Picture Your Business Stress is the freedom from software learning curves. Although many software programs are available that you can use for planning and project management, theres often a learning curve involved when using them for the first time. The type of hand-drawn sketches described in Picture Your Business Stress, however, can be done using a variety of pencils, pens, and colored marketers on paper, poster-boards, whiteboards, or blackboards. Putting sketches to work Take a fresh look at the role that simple sketches can play in evaluating, planning, or reinvigorating, your personal branding strategy. The simplicity of hand-drawn sketches, compared to typing, can be like a breath of fresh air, freeing your mind to be more focused, but also more creative in seeing connections and opportunities that have been previously overlooked. If youre already using sketch-based visual thinking to plan your personal brand, or you firms brand, share your experiences, concerns, or questions. Whats working well? Have you experienced any problems? If youre not yet using sketch-based visual thinking, why not? Whats holding you back? Share your impressions and questions as comments, below.

Differentiate With The Lost Art Of Gratitude - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Differentiate With The Lost Art Of Gratitude - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career No Thank You’s Then No Thanks! It’s amazing how many people do not know how to say “thank you.” It’s as if they were never taught, the more you appreciate something, the more you’ll get things you can appreciate. It’s like the old adage of “What you focus on, you get”. However, 97% of people never give “thank you” notes or have even sent a “thank you” email. But we want you to say “NO THANKS” to people who can’t say “THANKS”! A story of an image expert Here’s an interesting story. There’s a lady I know who markets herself as an “image expert”. I really liked the information she presented, and she appeared to be quite knowledgeable. So, I went to order a book from her website and NOTHING HAPPENED. I tried, and tried, AND TRIED to buy a book from her website and still NOTHING happened. Most customers would just give up and think “okay, I want to spend my money with you but you don’t want it because you haven’t been professional enough to take care of your website” BUT (there’s that ‘but’ again), I am a technically challenged person and I like to give the benefit of the doubt, so I thought to myself “maybe she just doesn’t know.” So, I CALL HER (now remember I’m the customer!) and let her know that I could not purchase a book on her website. I explained what I did and lo and behold she sees what I see NOTHING HAPPENS! She thanks me quickly and gets off the phone to call her web guru (who is someone who needs a “Texas talkin’ to” because he’s supposed to be a professional at what he does too sounds real professional, right?). The next day, I tried to purchase the book on the internet again, and finally, I get the book that I worked so hard for. I share this story because after all that, she NEVER once wrote me an email or note of thanks or ever called up to say “thank you”…nothing. And get this, SHE’s the image expert. How long would she have gone without business had I not called? She even mentioned that she had not gotten any orders that week and found that “odd”. She gave no thanks at all. What do you think my “image” is of her now? Take-home lesson Use her huge mistake as a lesson for you…say THANK YOU! It is such a lost art and such a powerful phrase. We all work so hard to differentiate ourselves from the competition. And, you actually can with this simple act of gratitude! Here are three simple yet powerful acts: 1. Write a THANK YOU note! Granted, this can be done via email with lots of cute animation song. However, a handwritten personal note is the most powerful “thank you.” It shows that you value the person, you value what they did, and that you are so genuine in your appreciation that you are willing to expend the time and effort to make a personal gesture. You will stand out in the crowd and be the “purple” cow! Action Step: Write one thank you note a day. If you don’t do that now, start with a “thank you email”. However, do just get some simple cards and address and stamp one each day. Carry it with you and find that person to appreciate every day. You will then be the true IMAGE EXPERT and that act of appreciation will make a huge difference to you, personally! 2. Pick up the phone and say thank you! You’re busy, we’re all busy. Pick up the phone and thank the person and explain why what they did was so great; how it made a difference in your life and how you value them. Be sincere (people can smell the predatory “fakeness” a mile away!). Action Step: Call one person each week. Make one moment each week as a “you-make-a-difference” moment! Then ask them, “Now how can I help you?” 3. Recognize people with value! I’m not telling you to shower people with gifts, but do remember what you are grateful for and what is important to them. For example, I have a friend who loves the theater. She once worked on a really difficult client for me and made all of us look so good. I appreciated what she did and gave recognition to her efforts (an important, valued recognition), and then gifted her with two theater tickets. She was thrilled because I remembered that she liked the theater! Like the “image” person I was referring to in the story, a show of gratitude might even have been a short email saying “Thanks and here’s a couple of bucks off your next purchase for saving me from losing further dollars.” (However, if the person you want to give appreciation to has to “tell you” what to do, it totally devalues any appreciation you could possibly muster!) Action Step: Someone made a difference in your life this month. They made life easier or went out of the way. Recognize it! Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of  buzz2bucks.com  â€"  a word of mouth marketing firm.   She helps create connection, credibility, community and cha-ching through mobile marketing and social commerce around your brand. She is co-founder of  #brandchat   a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of branding.

Writing About Achievments On A Resume

Writing About Achievments On A ResumeThere are many benefits to writing about accomplishments on a resume. First of all, you can include this information in your profile if you like to do so. Second, it makes you look good to prospective employers when they see that you have accomplishments to brag about. Third, it does not take up much space on the page when included as part of your resume and that means that it will get noticed.The reason that you should consider including accomplishments on your resume is that many employers may be more impressed by having accomplishments that can be verified. Writing about accomplishments on a resume can help you sell yourself better to a potential employer and this will result in you getting a job. Some employers want to see that you know how to do some things. Therefore, showing some accomplishments can help get your foot in the door.Writing about accomplishments on a resume can also help your chances of getting an interview for a job you reall y want. For instance, if you have been working in a different position at the same company for several years, you may not even be considered for an interview. However, showing accomplishments in a previous job can give you a leg up in getting that next interview. It can also show your potential employers that you are a hard worker and that you will be committed to the company that you want to work for.You may be thinking that you don't have time to write about accomplishments in your resume. While this may be true, there are ways to include them. First, using a professional resume writing service can help you write the right sections and get them to look right on the page.Also, by including achievements on your resume, you can make sure that it is balanced. In fact, there are companies that will allow you to include some accomplishments on your resume but they also have sections that cover a variety of other areas. Therefore, this is another way that you can include accomplishments in your resume.As long as you keep your resume short and focused, it is easier to write about accomplishments and it does not take up too much space on the page. It is also easier to keep track of all of the accomplishments that you have listed. When you go to do a search online, you can use the results to write the section that includes the accomplishments.Many people feel that writing about accomplishments on a resume is unnecessary and that they do not have the time. However, when you are looking for a job and you feel that you have more work to do, it may help to include some accomplishments on your resume. It is also a good idea to list these accomplishments at the end of your resume. It may make you stand out a little bit more when you are reading it later on.Since so many people find themselves writing about accomplishments on a resume, this is another way that you can include them. When writing your resume, you should include all of the information you can about your achieve ments. While you may not want to include all of the information that you want to, including a few accomplishments can give you some more positive points on your resume.

Your job search follow-up stinks! Heres how to fix it

Your job search follow-up stinks! Heres how to fix it Your job search follow up stinks. Heres how to fix it In my experience, job-search follow-up is deplorable! It’s the weakest part of the job-search process. Follow-up at the minimum means sending thank you notes, but most people dont even do that! Job seekers: Thank you notes and follow-up communications are not optional, they are required. Great follow-up can put you ahead of other candidates because: It shows persistence. It allows you to expand, reinforce or clarify something discussed in an interview. Good manners are always valued. It prevents companies from forgetting about you. It reinforces that you want the job. Not following up is risky because some hiring managers will dismiss an applicant who does not send a post-interview thank you note, saying it indicates poor follow-through and a lack of interest in the position. Also, other candidates will follow up, so you could lose the opportunity to compete for the job. Heres how to do world-class follow-up: Send a note within 24 hours while its still fresh in your mind â€" and while you are fresh in the interviewer or hiring manager’s mind. Address a note to each individual person you met. Spell everyones name correctly, including the companys. Start by thanking them for the opportunity to meet, and acknowledge that they took time out of their day to do so. Next, note why you think youd be a good fit for the role. No more than three reasons. Bullet points are optimal as well. This is an opportunity to elaborate on why you are a great fit, in writing, beyond your initial cover letter and interview. In your close, hit these three points: Express your interest, commit to following up with them again within a specified timeframe, and thank them, again, for their time and consideration. Heres what you do after the thank you note: In your next communication, begin with a pleasantry, followed by a sentence explaining where you left off during your last exchange. For example, “You had indicated to me that youd be making your final decision during the week of date , and I just wanted to follow up to see where you are in that decision.” Include something of value in your follow-up instead of being perceived as nagging. Perhaps you just completed some training, closed a big deal, or finished a major project. Highlight those things. If you are volunteering or taking outside courses while unemployed, talk about it. Close with the next follow-up you will initiate. Dont ask them to call you back. Instead, let them know that, “Ill follow up again within a few days, but in case you need to reach me, here is the best contact number: XXX-XXX-XXXX.”

Returning To Studies To Enhance Your Career - CareerAlley

Returning To Studies To Enhance Your Career - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Whether you are looking for a higher-paying career that you can sink your teeth into, or you are looking to step up to the next level in your own career, returning to education might be a great way of you achieving your goals. Whatever stage of life you are at, and whatever your experience level, university education is open to all. If you have already been and completed a degree, you may want to jump back in and get a formal postgraduate qualification in order to really benefit your earnings potential. Learning to study is an important part of the educational process and a short course that helps develop your study skills may be all that you need to show you that education is for you. Tweet This Picking Up The Academic Confidence You Need If you have never been to university, it is never too late to get a degree. You may worry that you dont have enough experience under your belt to get your application seen. Having doubts about your own academic skills is understandable, especially if you are not used to that environment. But, this should not put you off, as there are many courses that will allow you to step up to a degree if you feel as though you are not ready for this. Learning to study is an important part of the educational process and a short course that helps develop your study skills may be all that you need to show you that education is for you. Finding The Right Type Of Study For you There have never been so many different options available when it comes to studying. You could obviously go and study full-time on a taught course if you want. But for those that want to remain within their current career or want to study around childcare, then you have the options of part-time study in so many different institutions, or even online courses. Online courses offer up the best academic resources and even allow you to study advanced level degrees such as this master of finance course at Northeastern University. You may worry that your degree will not be looked on as favorably as a taught degree, however, this is not the case, and an online degree from a reputable institution will stand up against a taught course. What You Need To Decide When Picking Your Course Weighing up your options means answering a few questions regarding what you hope to get out of your degree. What do you want to achieve with regard to your career after your degree? Are you willing to move in order to study? And if so, what areas would you consider? Would you want to continue working alongside your study? How much can you afford to pay for your course of study and how will you fund it? Answering all of these questions may make it easier to pick a course that is best suited to your specific needs. Everyone wants to be successful in their lives and careers- it is what many of us spend decades striving for and what many of us feel proud to achieve. If you want to get ahead in your career and make a difference you must be willing to always keep an open mind, and understand that there will always be something new for you to learn. It is impossible for anyone to know everything, and you need to stay willing to learn new things every single day. Learn Something New Being A Mature Student You may worry that you will be older than all of the other students and that this will cause you problems in some way. It wont, and you probably are not going to be alone in being a mature student. Most courses have a very mixed age group. But even the youngest students have a mature attitude to study give the fact that many are putting themselves into debt to obtain their qualification. Often, younger students are some of the most driven. Understand That There Is A Lot Of Work Associated With Studying For A Degree Students often have this very unfair portrayal that they are not hard-working or productive. People who have never been to university may assume the student life is easy because lectures are known to be quite few and far between and that there is nobody really telling students what to do. Many courses see students only needing to complete a handful of different assignments. These may come in the form of research papers, practical work, or exams. But these few pieces of work often require hundreds or even thousands of hours of work to complete. Allow for the fact that your single pieces of work could take you an entire semester or even longer. Set yourself a strict study schedule that starts you off on reading and researching for any assignments as early as possible. Dont leave it all to the last minute. Be proactive too. Nobody will be stood over you telling you what to do, it will be up to you if you succeed or not. Manage Your Stress If you are to make a success of your time studying, it is important that you effectively manage your workload in a manner that keeps stress at bay. That means that you will need to ensure you get enough sleep. Sleep is vital for the processing of information. Getting eight hours of sleep each night will keep you mentally focused and able to work to the best of your ability. Sleep is also an important factor in keeping stress as low as possible. Take regular breaks in your day. A short break to eat or get away from the books or computer screen could help you to refocus and reduce your stress. Try and find the time to get some exercise in, whether that is just taking a walk outside, or going to the gym, it will help to lower your stress levels. Your diet and water intake will also be important too. Make sure that you get all of the right vitamins in your diet is crucial as these will help lower your stress and raise your ability to concentrate. They will also stop you from getting run-down or ill. Balance Time With Those Who Are Important To You Finding the time in your busy life to maintain your relationships will be fundamental. It can be very easy to neglect partners, friends, children, and other family members when you are so involved in your studies. Keep some time set aside each week to devote to maintaining the important relationships in your life. This also gives you time away from your studies, which will be good to help you clear your head every once in a while. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. 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