When New Graduates Hit The Real World

When New Graduates Hit The Real World I always thought it was funny that professors created a culture of not being in the real world.  They did it by saying when you get to the real world, and then some kind of scare tactic threat. High school teachers did the same thing, only talking about college.  Then you get to college and they did it?  Seriously That a list like this even exists is pretty pathetic: 6 Things Today’s College Graduates Must Unlearn.  Are you saying that after all those years, all that money, and probably blood/sweat/tears, there are things that were a lie?  Check out the list: Your degree is special. Your major matters. All employers want to know is can you do the job? You are graded on your effort. Your career should go as planned. I read these as a jaded 40 year old business owner and laugh through them all.  Ah, if I really could tell my pre-college self something I wish I could turn back time! The truth is, your degree is special, and your major matter, SOMETIMES.  It really depends on what you want to go into.  Although, you might find that what you thought you would love is really a mess, and not where you want to be, and you have to change careers. Not so fun, considering the time/money spent pursuing the first career. Anything that starts out with all employers want is flawed.  Employers are humans, and humans are different.  Employers have different needs and wants. You cant group their wants  by industry (all finance employers want ____), or job title (all programmer bosses want _____) each person is going to be unique, biased, prejudiced, and have their own wants.  Who can tell you what all of them want? Grades are such a facade.  I talk to high school and middle school teachers about grading, and the Common Core standards, and its scary the stuff they say.  Especially 10th through 12th grade teachers who talk about students who cant read or do any math but have been pushed through with passing grades just to get them the heck out of the classroom and make them someone elses problem. It is different in college, but after spending too many years in college Ill tell you, grading is not based on effort.  Sometimes (too often) its based on the whim of the professor.  Plenty of times, grading is a mistake.  Effort, though?  No.  The real world cares about results.  Kind-hearted managers care about effort, and growth, especially if they see potential, but effort without results is not going to take you too far. Career plans LOL.  ROFL.  Sure make them now.  Things will change your plans life circumstances (like you get married and move somewhere away from where you could launch your career in finance).  Government regulations will affect industries, you might get enroned (study what happened to Enron employees, Im now using it as a verb), your health might take a dive, or you might just figure out you dont have what it takes, and want to move to something else.  But yeah, make plans.  Just make sure one of your plans is to be completely flexible and expect change When New Graduates Hit The Real World I always thought it was funny that professors created a culture of not being in the real world.  They did it by saying when you get to the real world, and then some kind of scare tactic threat. High school teachers did the same thing, only talking about college.  Then you get to college and they did it?  Seriously That a list like this even exists is pretty pathetic: 6 Things Today’s College Graduates Must Unlearn.  Are you saying that after all those years, all that money, and probably blood/sweat/tears, there are things that were a lie?  Check out the list: Your degree is special. Your major matters. All employers want to know is can you do the job? You are graded on your effort. Your career should go as planned. I read these as a jaded 40 year old business owner and laugh through them all.  Ah, if I really could tell my pre-college self something I wish I could turn back time! The truth is, your degree is special, and your major matter, SOMETIMES.  It really depends on what you want to go into.  Although, you might find that what you thought you would love is really a mess, and not where you want to be, and you have to change careers. Not so fun, considering the time/money spent pursuing the first career. Anything that starts out with all employers want is flawed.  Employers are humans, and humans are different.  Employers have different needs and wants. You cant group their wants  by industry (all finance employers want ____), or job title (all programmer bosses want _____) each person is going to be unique, biased, prejudiced, and have their own wants.  Who can tell you what all of them want? Grades are such a facade.  I talk to high school and middle school teachers about grading, and the Common Core standards, and its scary the stuff they say.  Especially 10th through 12th grade teachers who talk about students who cant read or do any math but have been pushed through with passing grades just to get them the heck out of the classroom and make them someone elses problem. It is different in college, but after spending too many years in college Ill tell you, grading is not based on effort.  Sometimes (too often) its based on the whim of the professor.  Plenty of times, grading is a mistake.  Effort, though?  No.  The real world cares about results.  Kind-hearted managers care about effort, and growth, especially if they see potential, but effort without results is not going to take you too far. Career plans LOL.  ROFL.  Sure make them now.  Things will change your plans life circumstances (like you get married and move somewhere away from where you could launch your career in finance).  Government regulations will affect industries, you might get enroned (study what happened to Enron employees, Im now using it as a verb), your health might take a dive, or you might just figure out you dont have what it takes, and want to move to something else.  But yeah, make plans.  Just make sure one of your plans is to be completely flexible and expect change

Money Handling Tips for International Travelers

Money Handling Tips for International Travelers The following is a guest post by Veronica Ramirez of NerdWallet.  Her bio follows. Perhaps you’re daydreaming of an exotic beach vacation this summer or pondering which historic sights to visit overseas. Here are four more items to add to your checklist.   Make sure you can pay for things safely and conveniently in foreign currency without getting socked with high exchange fees by using these tips. Look to limit exchange fees. Before you leave, research accepted forms of payment at your destination. Use cards as much as you can and cash only when you have to. Cards with no foreign transaction fees can be a great way to pay when you’re abroad, especially if you request that the transaction be made in the local currency, which means you won’t get charged for two currency conversions â€" by the merchant and by the card processor. Debit cards are good for withdrawing local currency from an ATM if your bank belongs to an overseas network, though you’re likely to pay a fee. Keep in mind that currency exchange outlets in airports and train stations are usually the most expensive way to get cash. Don’t carry too much cash. When you head out for the day at your destination, take only as much cash as you may need and leave the rest in a secure place, such as a hotel safe. Keep the cash you carry in hard-to-reach backpack pockets or a money belt. Find the best way to transfer money. Despite the best-laid plans, you may need to have money wired to you during your trip. If you’re already on the other side of the world, your bank is likely to charge you higher fees than a third-party service. Use this money transfer tool to find out which provider is right for your needs. Prepare for emergencies. Before leaving on your trip, inform your card issuers that you’ll be making transactions outside the U.S. so that your cards don’t get rejected. Also, note down the overseas contact numbers for their fraud departments in case your card gets stolen and you need to freeze your accounts. Keep these numbers on your person in case your phone goes missing along with your cards. These tips involve some effort, but it’ll feel relaxing when you can pay for your admission to the Louvre in Paris without worry or can skip the scramble for cash when sampling adventurous street food. With the right tools, spending while abroad can feel as easy as a day at the beach. Veronica Ramirez is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: [emailprotected]. Twitter: @veraudrey.

Is It Time To Go To Work For Yourself

Is It Time To Go To Work For Yourself By accident, really, Ive been working for myself for a long time.  While I have two graduate degrees, serendipity messed around with my life and I never managed to get a position that directly matched my education. But I know thats not how life plays out for everyone.  For many if not most would-be entrepreneurs, theres a choice.  Do you stay in your relatively safe employment, or go out on your own? Of course, theres no right or wrong answer.  Most people can be happy in either, given the right environment and conditions.  The big question is usually about the financial risk of being self-employed.  If you are in the ranks of the employed and have been pondering making the jump to independence, thats probably the single most important thing youve considered.  But there are other questions, too. Go or Stay? Beyond the financial considerations, there are quite a few others: Is my personality suited to self-employment? How will it affect my family plans and needs? What is my overall tolerance for risk? Do I feel passionate about this venture, or do I just hate my job? And those are just the beginning.  While my own life experience at being self-employed was more like, Okay, I guess this is what Im doing so lets get to it and less of a real choice, had I been presented with all the questions I cannot say for sure that I would have chosen this path.  Because for sure it has not been without bumps in the roads, detours, and even a complete washout. Id sum it up by saying that life in the world of the self-employed is much more of an adventure than what I think the average employee experiences.  For me, it was worth it.  If youre pondering a similar path, take a look at this awesome graphic created by BusinessBacker.  Itll help you examine most of the things that you should consider in deciding to go for it, or keep whats in hand. Should You Work For Yourself? Main Image.

3 Things You Need to Know About The Company Before Interviewing

3 Things You Need to Know About The Company Before Interviewing Going for an interview is exciting but at the same time, it is nerve racking to say the least. You want the job but you have to get through the interview first. Experts will advise on what to wear and what to do but passing the interview begins way before you step in to face the panel of interviewers. It is important to enter the interview room armed with information that will help you pass the interview. The hard part is not when you have to talk about your skills and education. This is information you already have and it is easy to relay it. The hard part comes when you have to answer questions relating to the prospective employer as well as how they will apply to the overall interview. You can get the information from the company website as well as from other sources such as newspaper articles. The information will help you find ready answers to interview questions. You will be able to portray more confidence as you will feel less nervous. Being inadequately prepared adds to the anxiety and this eats away at the confidence that you will show. Here are just a few pointers on what you need to know before you attend the interview. Company’s products or services This information is important as it shows that you have a deeper interest in the company beyond just getting a job. Get as much as you can on the company’s operations, as this will help you understand how the company works. You can use this information to answer interview questions in context of the company. The information is also useful as you can find material to ask questions on at the end of the session. Policies and other information relevant to your area of expertise Find out more on the policies and procedures the company has in place especially those relating to your niche of expertise. This will help you to answer questions especially those tricky scenario ones. You can apply the procedures and policies that the company already uses to answer questions that require a more technical response. For example, if you are a human resource expert, you can answer more accurately when you receive a query on what to do when dealing with a complicated employee case. Any issues or challenges the company is facing and how your expertise can help address them Try to find out if the company is facing any specific challenges or issues. You can then be in a position to answer questions in this context which might win you points. This is especially when you require matching your expertise with the needs that the company has. Most employers are looking to match employees with the existing work environment and knowing how to apply your skills in the interview is a very big plus. If you cannot directly find out the problems that the company is facing, find out challenges companies in this industry face and work them into your answers. Bio Alex Truman is aware that most people fail interviews because they lacked relevant information. He has many other useful tips that you can use as well as more information on national debt relief.

A Career Change from Account Manager to Organizing Entrepreneur. With Kay McManus. [Podcast] - Career Pivot

A Career Change from Account Manager to Organizing Entrepreneur. With Kay McManus. [Podcast] - Career Pivot Episode 32 â€" Kay McManus talks about the steps she took to get to create her successful and rewarding company. Description: Marc first gives statistics about the Repurpose Your Career Podcast so far. The show is in the top half on LibSyn, after seven months of availability. Marc thanks you, his listeners for your support. Kay McManus is the Founder of K-Kan, Inc., a firm that provides, office, home, and record organization, as well as administrative, accounting, and business development services. Kay leads with integrity. She and her staff are detail-oriented, personable, supportive, and effective, whether organizing physical or electronic items, designing efficient storage systems, orchestrating a move, assisting with downsizing efforts, or serving as a company’s marketing rep. In addition to being an active member in the business-related and networking groups, Kay is involved with fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society, other charitable organizations, and working on the family ranch. Marc says, “Let me confirm that Kay can.” Kay discusses her beginnings, the various skills she developed along the way, and the happy accident of a layoff that got her started in her own business helping people organize files, accounts, homes, storage, and processes, in what turns out to be her dream career. Listen in for an inspiring journey to a career with purpose. Key Takeaways: [3:36] Kay has learned to be adaptable, to roll with the flow, and to distinguish a position or a job that will be truly valued, from someone that may just not be prepared to be organized at the present time. Kay has had to walk through a few fires to get to this point. It has been a journey she did not anticipate, but which has truly been a blessing. [4:29] Marc attests that Kay is organized. He tells of a client he sent to Kay for help organizing her taxes and her house, who says it was the best money she ever spent. [4:57] After college, Kay worked in business development marketing in tech, moved into sales, and then account management, where she did a bit of everything. The last employer, Spansion, came to an economic crunch, and laid off a lot of people, including Kay. The layoff propelled her to the idea of starting her own company. Download Link |iTunes|Stitcher Radio|Google Podcast|Podbean|TuneIn|Overcast [7:32] The remaining staff at Spansion became very overloaded, and managers who didn’t know how to do the jobs their people had done, started calling her for advice. She helped one, and got a referral to help others, as a freelancer. She saw how many skills she had, and came up with the name K-Kan, Inc. to signify her many abilities. [8:31] Kay envisioned two parts to her business: the first part would be hands-on, and the second would be virtual, with assistants that would help in various areas. The challenge is always scheduling. Kay describes the kinds of organizing and design jobs she takes. [9:28] 80% of the work is personal, and 20% B2B. In the office, Kay will manage email and marketing or follow-up calls for clients, and enter it into the CRM. For accounting, she will work with QuickBooks, Excel, Quicken, or Mint, and works with CPAs. Kay has been doing Marc’s books for over four years, about two hours each month. [12:44] The mix of business client tasks is 60% virtual, marketing, or staffing a trade show, and 40% physical tasks on site. From helping organize and move offices, she gets referrals for organizing garages and storage units with remodeling and design. [13:41] For design jobs Kay calls on two contractors to do the carpentry and finish work. She has three virtual assistants to do phone calls and other tasks. Working on contract rather than by employment allows them to choose their work hours, and frees Kay from constant payroll. Marc also has a contractor crew, including Kay, to help his ventures. [15:13] Coming out of the corporate world, working with contractors was a change from having a staff. She started with one part-time staffer, but the need was not constant, and they decided an on-call situation would work better for both of them. Kay soon found others who were happy with an on-call agreement. [16:14] Marc is getting ready to launch a Career Pivot online community. For many people, flexibility is more important than the money or what the job is. People just want to work when they want, and with people they enjoy. [17:29] Kay expected to stay in the sales and management world forever. Instead, she had to take a hard look at her skills and talents, and truly what made her happy, and how she could be of service to people. She knows she is making a difference to others. [18:19] Kay started K-Kan with the thought of its being a one-man-band. When she needed help, she learned to let go, and start working with other individuals. Now she not only works to support herself, but has the opportunity to give other people income. [19:05] Kay wishes she had known better how to judge character, and be more forceful about managing individuals, to have the difficult conversations in a nice way, to be more effective as a manager and as a communicator. [19:54] Marc cites Sherry Lowry, who coached Marc to identify the clients he wanted to work with, and the clients he wanted to repel. Kay also met with Sherry, who helped her understand it was OK to fire a client that wasn’t a good fit. [20:35] Marc has only fired one client so far, but he identifies people as they come to him, if they will be a good fit, or not. Kay has a routine where she will do a complimentary interview, and at the end of the interview, she will either accept them, or refer them to someone else. [22:20] Marc met Kay at Metropolitan Breakfast Club, where he also met others who have been on the show, all with a common theme of going on an entrepreneurial path, but not always for an obvious reason. Vicki McCullough, like Kay, was laid off, and, like Kay, is happier for it. [23:02] Kay has really appreciated the challenges, and the opportunities to work with other people, and help them out, and she is grateful for the ‘kick in the butt’ that she needed to get out of a situation that wasn’t the best fit for her personality. [25:01] Marc’s points: Kay listened to people when they said, Kay can, and she made that her brand. She evolved the business, and has surrounded herself with great support people who are not employees. Kay has multiple types of clients, so there is variety. Kay has figured out it is important to work for clients who value her service. Mentioned in This Episode: Careerpivot.com Repurpose Your Career: A Practical Guide for the 2nd Half of Life, by Marc Miller and Susan Lahey Marc is taking on new clients. Contact Marc, and ask questions at: Careerpivot.com/contact-me or call at 512-693-9132, and leave a message with your email address. Marc will respond with a link to his calendar, to find a time to talk. Show Notes at Careerpivot.com/repurpose-career-podcast Jennifer on LinkedIn: Jennifer H. Winter Kay-Kan.com (512) 431-8069 to reach Kay by phone Future Electronics AMD Spansion Sherry Lowry Metropolitan Breakfast Club Vicki McCollough, Episode 011 CareerPivot.com/episode-32 Take a moment â€" go to iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play. Give this podcast a review and subscribe! If you’re not sure how to leave a review, please go to CareerPivot.com/review, and read the detailed instructions there. Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

Landing Your Dream Job How to Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage - Sterling Career Concepts

Landing Your Dream Job How to Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage Landing Your Dream Job: How to Use LinkedIn to Your Advantage Guest post by Jackie Edwards Photo by Nik MacMillan on Unsplash There are currently over 133 million US LinkedIn users with access to around 3 million active job listings on the site. There’s clearly plenty of supply and demand in the online work space but how do you make your profile stand out on such a crowded platform? You are probably aware of how to  employer-proof your social media accounts  but getting your LinkedIn profile just right requires some careful and strategic planning. However, if you get your page set up correctly then you may even find that the perfect employer comes straight to you. How to Build an Effective Profile Be very careful with the language you use on your LinkedIn page. Making your page too generic will just blend it into the background. The word ‘motivated’ is one of the most overused words on the site so make sure you are clever with the vocabulary that you use to sell yourself and show off how unique you are. You can  make your LinkedIn profile powerful  by grabbing attention with a creative headline and an effective summary but you need to  ensure that your page is searchable.  Think about what words you would search for if you were looking for an employee for the type of roles you are attracted to. Employers are Constantly Searching for New Talent A  LinkedIn report published in November 2017  showed that hiring rates are 24.1%  higher than this time last year. As soon as your resume lands in a potential employers inbox, you can be sure that the first thing they will do is check you LinkedIn profile. The unique selling point of the social media platform is its connections, and they really do work both ways. Your new employer can see if you have any mutual connections who can vouch for your skills, while you are able to  virtually network your way to an interview  with just the right person. Job Searching Doesn’t Have to be so Hard LinkedIn is the essential tool for job seekers in today’s working world. It’s not enough to simply have a profile on the site, you need to know enough to be able to ensure you are  using LinkedIn to its full potential. LinkedIn is like a Google for employers and they are always searching for new hires online as it allows them to vet potential candidates quickly and all in one convenient location. Employers are Busy People Getting your page found is only half the battle and in order for employers to stay on your page long enough to see that you are the employee for them, you  need to have the right skills and attributes displayed on your page in an easy to digest way. Recruiters don’t have time to sift through lengthy pieces of text so being concise is really key here. First impressions have never mattered so much and once your new employer has found you, you definitely want them to like what they see.

How and When to Follow Up After Your Executive Job Application

How and When to Follow Up After Your Executive Job Application It’s human nature to want to receive a response very shortly after sending in your executive resume for a job application. However, the reality is an HR manager likely has to filter through hundreds of resumes on top of their other job duties, so a quick response rarely happens. That doesn’t mean you should never follow up though. Your executive resume writing service will tell you there’s a right time to follow up, as well as a right way to go about it. Here are some tips to consider once you’ve sent in your resume. Wait At Least One Week to Follow Up The HR manager or recruiter likely won’t be contacting anyone for at least one week, so give them time to sort through the stack of resumes. Another tip to consider is sending in your follow up in the middle of the week, since Monday’s are generally the busiest days and Friday’s are more relaxed. Choose Email Over Other Communication Methods When writing an effective resume, you likely sent your job application for consideration via email. But even if you didn’t, your follow up should still be sent over email rather than a phone call or an in-person visit. Those two methods demonstrate aggressiveness and could be perceived as pushy. Email shows you’re interested in knowing the status of your application, but will give the recipient time to respond at their leisure. Consider LinkedIn For A Follow Up An HR manager’s email inbox may have been flooded with new applications, including yours, so sending a message through LinkedIn could be a welcoming change for them. Just be sure you’ve focused on your LinkedIn profile development prior to reaching out, since your profile will likely be looked at closely. A LinkedIn message could prompt the HR manager to dig through their stack of resumes to find yours, since matching a name with a face is ideal in most situations. Show Interest Without Being Desperate Desperation doesn’t look good on anyone. Instead of simply asking what the status of your application is, send in a letter of recommendation along with why you’re interested in working for their company. The key to an effective follow up is giving them something to remember you by. Professional Resume Services is here to help you with anything related to your executive job search. Whether you need some assistance with your LinkedIn profile development, writing an effective resume or knowing what to include in your follow up email, we are here when you need us. Feel free to contact us at any time to learn more about our services.