career development Tag

Write a winning cover letter There's no doubt a well written cover letter can boost your chances of being invited to an interview. In contrast to your CV, your cover letter enables you to explain why you are a good fit for a position and your reasons for wanting to work for an organisation. If you’ve never written a cover letter or it’s been a while,the following guide will take you step by step through the process of writing a winning cover letter. First things first Your first task is to understand what the employer is looking for. Identify the key criteria which you’ll find in the job ad and in the job description. List all the skills, experience and qualities they have mentioned so that you can be sure to include these in your cover letter wherever possible.   Writing your cover letter Your information:  Your name, address, email address and telephone numbers. You...

12 December, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18423" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Make those changes!"] [/caption] Transform your headline If you’re still allowing LinkedIn to auto-populate your Headline with your current job title you’re missing out. The most dynamic and impactful profiles use their Headline statement to communicate a powerful branding statement. With a 120-character limit you’ll need to choose your words wisely being sure to include a mix of relevant key words, impactful (and truthful!) adjectives and as much detail as you and about your niche if you have one. Customise your URL When you signed up for an account with LinkedIn you will have been allocated a generic URL containing your name followed by a series of numbers. You can boost your brand and search ranking results in LinkedIn by customising your URL. Keep in mind that you will need to have a minimum of five and a maximum of 20 characters. Learn more about the reasons why this is...

28 August, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18417" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Making LinkedIn your own is easy"] [/caption] When you first set up your LinkedIn account, you are allocated a randomly selected URL consisting of your name followed by a bunch of numbers. This not only makes your URL long, it is difficult to share with others and looks unprofessional. Since most employers will review your LinkedIn profile as part of the hiring process, it’s vital you do everything you can to ensure your profile shines. Customising your LinkedIn profile URL is a simple and quick way to shows: You’re a professional Have good attention to detail You care about making a good impression Another reason why you should customise your LinkedIn profile is that it makes you easier to find which is particularly important if you have a common name. Customising your LinkedIn URL can make the difference between coming up in the first page of search results for your name rather...

16 August, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18457" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="CPD ensures you remain competent"] [/caption] What is CPD? Continuing Professional Development or CPD refers to any career development activities which develop your professional skills, knowledge or experience. CPD is important because it ensures you remain competent in your profession throughout your career. CPD activities can be formal or informal and gained either on the job or outside your work environment. It’s a good idea to keep track of your CPD by recording and reflecting upon the resulting learning and development. Advantages of CPD Ensures that your skills remain up to date and relevant Helps you maintain and develop the knowledge and skills needed to do your job effectively Keeps your up to date the current standards and best practice in your field of expertise Helps you be more effective in your role leading to higher levels of job satisfaction, productivity and professionalism Facilitates career progression by ensuring you constantly learning and developing Enables you identify further areas...

05 June, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18493" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Be happy at work"] [/caption] Do more of what you love Re-crafting your work to do more of what you love can be simpler than you might think. Start by identifying what it is you enjoy most about your job. Even if you think there’s nothing you enjoy about your work think carefully and list those work tasks you enjoy the most. Now list the things you dislike about your job. Looking at this list, is there anything you can do differently? Can you do these tasks less frequently, more effectively or is it possible you can avoid these altogether by delegating or making changes to your role? Reconnect What attracted you to the job in the beginning? See if you can reconnect with what made the job attractive in the first place. If the reason was purely financial then honour that, think about all the benefits having this job...

25 April, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18497" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Don't make these common LinkedIn mistakes"] [/caption] Are you using LinkedIn effectively? With more than 546 million users (*as of 24 March 2018), LinkedIn is one of the world's largest on-line communities. It's important that you use it responsibly so it can continue to be the powerful professional networking tool it was designed to be. Here's five things you shouldn't do on LinkedIn: 1. Don’t send random connection requests Send connection requests in a mindful way. Think about why you want to connect with the person and personalise your connection request message by explaining why you think you should connect. 2. Don’t give fake endorsements You should only endorse people for skills you know they have and generally speaking only for those skills you have witnessed first-hand. Don’t feel obligated to endorse your connections just because they have endorsed you or if LinkedIn suggests an endorsement. 3. Don’t be an over-poster We’ve all seen them, the LinkedIn addicts who...

15 April, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_16442" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Boost your career through networking"] [/caption] When I talk with my clients about how important networking is I’m often faced with a look of terror as they envisage themselves anxiously walking into a room full of strangers and awkwardly trying to network with them. I'm quick to reassure them that networking has changed a lot over the years and doesn't need to be the horrifying and daunting task they fear it will be. The biggest changes that have happened are the result of technological developments as well as the huge growth in range of networking opportunities. There really is something to suit everyone no matter how shy or lacking in confidence you might be. I prefer to look at networking as an opportunity to connect, learn and develop. Viewed in this way, networking becomes far less fearsome and much more fun. Now that’s got to be better than anxiousness,...

05 April, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18503" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="A satisfying life with more than one job"] [/caption] Our fast-paced lifestyles, quest for work-life balance and economic uncertainty has led many of us seeking alternatives to traditional ways of working. For a growing number of people, the answer has been to adopt a portfolio career. What is a portfolio career? A portfolio career is the term used to describe how rather than having a single job, you can develop a portfolio of different jobs to meet your personal, career and financial goals. A portfolio career can be made up of part or full-time employment, casual work, contract work, freelancing or running your own business. The number of jobs you have is up to you. Your portfolio career could be made up of two or more roles carrying out similar types of work, or pursuing activities in different sectors and roles. Portfolio working allows you to tap into your skills, attributes and experience in...

25 March, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18518" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="These tips will help you at your next interview"] [/caption] Job interviews can be nerve-wracking at the best of times but especially so for parents returning to work. You might feel self conscious about your appearance, unsure of your skills and uncertain about how your interviewers will see you. The best way to overcome any fear and anxiety is to prepare well. Here’s a step by step guide to getting you ready for your next job interview: Get the details Once the date has been set for your job interview, make sure you have all the necessary details to hand including the physical address, interviewers name(s) and contact number in case you are running late or need directions. Ask about the interview format and the length of time that has been allocated for the interview. The last thing you want is to be worrying about getting back in time to collect...

15 February, 2018 /

[caption id="attachment_18523" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Do you have an elevator pitch ready for when the opportunity arises?"] [/caption] What is an elevator pitch? The term elevator pitch evolved as a way to describe a 30 second spiel about who you are, what you have to offer and why someone should hire you. The premise is that if you were ever lucky enough to share a 30 second elevator ride with someone with the potential to hire you, you could confidently describe why they should. How do I create a good elevator pitch? By far the easiest and most effective way to create your own elevator pitch is to first identify your unique selling points. Try brainstorming on a sheet of paper or digitally if you prefer. Identify all those things that describe your skills, abilities, experience, interests, passions etc. Think about your accomplishments and include these in your pitch to really make you stand out. Have...

05 February, 2018 /
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