How to Improve Your Twitter Profile for Your Career

How to Improve Your Twitter Profile for Your Career With time seeming at an ever-higher premium, it can be hard to find time to improve your career prospects whilst studying or working full-time. With Twitter, however, you can do it in only 140-characters. Follow potential employers: If you’re thinking about a career change or looking for a graduate job at a specific company, make sure you’ve followed them on Twitter. That way you can keep up-to-date with anything and everything that is happening with them. Whether they’ve just completed an important purchase or had a huge bake sale, you can use this information to your advantage in applications and interviews. Moreover, companies often have specific career-focused profiles, so follow these for information on vacancies, deadlines, etc. Clear out the dead wood: Once you’ve followed all your potential employers, your Twitter feed might start to become increasingly busy. If you haven’t got time to scroll through hundreds of updates every day, have a look at the people you’re following. We’ve all made the mistake of following amusing accounts which now result in viral spam and clickbait. Unfollowing someone only takes a second but could save you loads of time in the long run. If you really can’t bear to lose all that humour, consider making another Twitter profile, and separating work and social accounts. That way you can have all the career-relevant information in one place. Tweet about what you do: As well as reading other people’s tweets, make sure you are tweeting yourself on a regular basis. Whether you want to indulge in a bit of self-congratulation about something you’ve achieved, or you’re just really enjoying the latest episode of Downton Abbey, recruiters will want to know about you. They will use Twitter in the same way that you do; to find out what you are up to. Just make sure you don’t publish anything you might end up regretting. Watch out for breaking news: Nothing boosts your profile like an early opinion. Keep an eye on the latest news and developments and give your view on anything that interests you. That way you’ll show that you’re engaged with the world around you and you’ll quickly gain new followers. You can use the tool Twilert to set up alerts for certain keywords that will alert you to job opportunities or relevant discussions. Tweet at a company: Don’t be afraid to share your opinions directly with a company. If you want to discuss something they’ve said, just tweet them back. However, steer away from just tweeting generic tweets about job opportunities; they will probably just ignore you and it may reflect negatively on any application. Relevant tweets which engage with the company are much better. Make sure everything links together: Sometimes 140 characters just isn’t enough to say everything you want to. Make sure your profile links to places where you have more information about you. If you have a blog, share your posts via Twitter, or put a link to your website in your biography. Once you’ve put these steps into action, all that’s left is to keep on top of your feed. Check it regularly to stay up-to-date and don’t let yourself get too far behind. Read, tweet and interact and watch your career prospects bloom. Aaron Marchant works for www.allaboutcareers.com, a careers advice website offering a range of information on a variety of industry sectors.

Writing a Federal Resume Example

Writing a Federal Resume ExampleWriting a federal resume is not as easy as you think. Unless you have gone through the Federal Department of Justice (DOJ) Recruitment Process, you are not qualified to fill any of the positions available in the DOJ, and therefore, you will never have the opportunity to know how to write a federal resume. If you want to learn how to write a federal resume that gets you hired, here are some things you need to do first.First, get a few examples of federal resumes from other people, which you can then edit for errors. Write down the corrections you make to their examples. If you have no idea what mistakes you made with them, ask someone who has gone through the process before. When you have a few examples, take these with you to a copywriting convention.The most important thing you can do when you are writing a federal resume example is to understand how the federal government works. Many of the people who handle federal applications are experts in one or two specific areas. You should not assume that any resume that you come across will be the same. Know what it takes to fill different positions, and you will find it easier to create your own personal resume.There are certain words that are used differently in a federal employment application than in a traditional resume. You need to know these words, and knowing them will help you when you are writing your own. Keep in mind that if you know a word, it does not mean you have to use it on your resume.Writing a federal resume is one of the most difficult jobs you will ever take on. It will also be one of the most important, because the people who apply for the positions will make a decision about whether or not to hire you based on your resume. Therefore, you need to be sure to write a good resume so that you stand out among the rest.You should also keep in mind that the most successful federal employment applicants were trained in other fields that are not traditional resumes. In ot her words, they learned how to write a federal resume example that was not in the traditional format. Therefore, they did not have to worry about getting confused by the typical format. A good example, especially a federal resume example, is a lot more effective than a resume that is not fully formatted and all caps, which is the traditional resume that most people today use.Most people go for writing a federal employment application and ending up using the traditional format. However, there are still people who are uncomfortable with using a standard resume. The most important thing to remember is that your resume should be able to speak for itself. Do not try to make a resume as good as it is necessary to be.This job that you are applying for will be published in the newspaper or online, which means you will have an online resume that tells the story of your career in the federal government. In order to truly stand out, you need to make a personal statement in your resume. If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to use the proper format in writing a federal resume example that shows you are someone who is very bright and committed to getting the job done.

Dad, This Ones For YOU!

Dad, This Ones For YOU! My Dad, hes a business dude.   Salesman through and through.   We can talk for hours about strategies for building relationships, earning trust, sales ups and downs.   Its been so cool teaching him how to use technology to make sales more efficient.   Im like, Dad, your customers are sick of going to lunch with you!   Take them to a wine bar or to a shooting range something they dig!   Watching the light bulb go off in his head like, Whoa you are right! is so rewarding because he taught me so much about business. Well, this past trip to St. Louis, he SHOCKED me.   I was sharing stories about a recent business trip and some of my new cool clients.   I told my Dad about the dinners we had, recipes we shared, and insight I learned about what really matters to their business.   He was proud and then he TOTALLY one-upd me! My Dad told me he recently had an upset customer who he really wants to continue working with.   The customer was so pissed, they stopped giving him the opportunity for business.   Good old Dad made the ULTIMATE proposal, showing more passion, investment, and committment than any other sales pitch I have EVER heard My Dad said, Sir, I want to learn the nature of your business and processes through and through.   Please allow me to work as a part of your staff at no charge for a week so I can learn what it takes for my company to add TRUE value to your company. Holy shiz.   My Dad just squashed my business dinner and shooting range visits and propelled into an entire new sales universe!   Here is a man who owns 2 businesses, could easily send someone else to work on staff for a week but no way!   He is so invested in helping his customers see how committed he is, he wants to get dirty and learn how to add value. What company wouldnt appreciate an offer like that?   It makes me think- How can I step outside my box and offer value to my clients that they REALLY care about?   Free lunches are old news.   Its time to switch up our go-to offering and serve up something fresh and meaningful to our clients current business.   Have you added outside the box value lately to your clients and peers?   Did it go along way?   I want to hear it all!

SWOT - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

SWOT - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Instead of basing a SWOT analysis around a product or competitor, lets focus it directly on you as an individual. Focus on maximizing your strengths, reducing your weaknesses, identifying opportunities and stabilizing threats. You may do an exercise, where you brainstorm and write down each of these areas, as they pertain to your current situation. Its all about strategizing ,through foreseeing the future through your current situation. Feedback is a great tool in order to uncover your weaknesses, while strengths are more apparent in your daily life. Opportunities and threats must be analyzed at a deeper level. Strengths Weaknesses: These areas are easily identified through feedback from others and your own view of yourself. Your goal should to be overcome your weaknesses by investing in education and to enhance or increase your strengths by gaining more real world experience. Opportunities Threats: Always be aware of currents threats, such as competitors in your organization or environmental factors that you may not control. Opportunities is the most important part of the equation because without opportunities, you will stay stationary in your current position. Opportunities are open doors, which allow you to progress or gain new experience in different fields or have mobility and move up.

Libraries Can Help You With Your Job Search

Libraries Can Help You With Your Job SearchIf you've been looking for a job in Boston, then you might want to check out some library resume writing classes. These classes are not exactly something that everyone knows about, but that doesn't mean they aren't good.Career services is one of the largest libraries in the world. They also happen to be a community resource, which means that there are many people in this particular school who want to help you with your future. The people in these classes can help you write a resume that gets you a good job interview, and get you hired.These classes are a great option for people who are trying to land a new job. You can get great advice from the experts in the field. They will show you how to write a resume that gets you noticed and hired.A lot of people think that getting a job in Boston is going to be difficult. That's not true at all. If you know what to do, you'll be able to find a job in this town. When you check into these classes, you should make sure that you ask around to make sure that you find someone that is qualified to help you.If you have a professional resume, but you're worried about how to add a little pizzazz to it, then you should check out some library resume writing classes. Most people who write resumes don't have the time to put in the extra effort that's necessary to create a great resume. Luckily, if you know how to write a resume, you can do it yourself. And, you can also take a class in order to learn more about creating the perfect resume.Some of the people in this library resume writing classes might be people who are already working in the business. Theywill be able to give you some great tips on how to work it to your advantage. The most important thing to remember when you're looking for a library resume writing class is that you should check out the curriculum. Check it out for yourself to make sure that it's the right fit for you.Taking a class can be a great way to get rid of those re sume writing woes. Most people make the mistake of assuming that a full-length book that has a list of keywords is a good way to go. But, that's just not the case at all.If you're in Boston, then you should look into these library resume writing classes as a part of your job search. The people in these classes can give you some great tips and also give you some great pointers on how to write a resume that gets you the job you want.

Evaluating the Job Offer - What is Missing [Updated] - Career Pivot

Evaluating the Job Offer - What is Missing [Updated] - Career Pivot Evaluating the Job Offer Copyright: thorstenschmitt / 123RF Stock Photo When you get a job offer what is the first thing you look at? The Money! If all you are looking at is the money in the job offer, you may end up very disappointed a few months down the road. I wrote about determining what you want in ‘non-financial’ terms in a previous post. I wrote about the need to determine what you really care about before evaluating the job offer. Note: This post was originally written in July of 2014 and was updated in February of 2018. The Offer Letter is an Official Document The first thing I want you to remember is the offer letter is an official document. You should scan it and keep it somewhere safe. Carefully, read the document for restrictions on what happens when you leave. This could include: Weeks of notice you are required to give when you resign Non-compete clauses Vesting schedule of options Privacy of information None of these should be taken lightly. Non-compete clauses can have disastrous effects. I worked with a client that was laid off from a very niche industry and they still enforced the non-compete clause. He had a choice to fight them in court or take a much lower level job outside of his industry until the non-compete clause expired. What is Missing or Hidden in the Job Offer? There are two areas of compensation that are changing in the workplaceâ€"Paid Time Off (PTO) and health insurance. When I went to work for IBM in 1978, I was given two weeks vacation that was allotted to me at the beginning of the year, and I had virtually an unlimited amount of sick leave. Pretty generous! At five years, I was allotted three weeks of vacation, and we could carry any unused vacation forward. Listen to the most recent episode Most companies have moved to a Paid Time Off (PTO) model where you earn a certain number of hours of PTO with each paycheck. This way, companies do not have to track whether it is sick or vacation time. What you should be looking for in the job offer as it relates to PTO: Holidays â€" Some businesses have cut the number of paid holidays back to a minimum and expect the employee to use PTO for the rest. Beginning PTO balance â€" Is the PTO balance zero when you start? If you have a planned vacation within the next six months, you will probably not have enough PTO time. You can negotiate for PTO time to be added at your hire date. When does the accrual rate of PTO time increase? Do you have to wait one or three or five years to start accumulating PTO at a higher rate? You may be able to negotiate to start at a higher accrual rate. Can you carry the PTO balance over from year to year? Will the business pay out any remaining PTO balance when you leave? This was a huge issue for me when I left my last corporate gig. I had accrued over 5 weeks of PTO and I had to make sure I would get paid before I left. Time off from work is valuable. You need to look at this carefully. Health Insurance With the current mess in Washington D.C. around the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance from your employer has come to the forefront. What you should be looking for in the job offer as it relates to health insurance: Is your spouse covered? Are you planning to put your spouse on the health insurance plan? Check to see if that is allowed. Many businesses are dumping insurance coverage for your spouse. What happens if the worst case happens and you pass away? Will your spouse be able to continue and at what cost?I know this sounds a bit morbid but for those of us over 60 years of age it could have catastrophic financial effects. Does the business contribute to coverage for your spouse and children? When I went to teach high school math for a couple of years, the school district allowed me to add my wife and child to the policy, but I had to foot the entire bill for the additional coverage. My out-of-pocket expense was double my COBRA payment from my last high-tech position. I stayed on COBRA until we could find alternative insurance for my wife and child. If your spouse is covered, but the out-of-pocket expense is very high, consider going to the Healthcare Market Place. Due to the fact that your spouse is eligible for group health care coverage from the job offer, you will NOT be eligible for any tax credits. This can be a balancing act worth thousands of dollars depending on your decision. Usually, the health insurance issue is not negotiable. What you do want is to be able to evaluate the offer with your eyes wide open. PTO and health insurance benefits can be a large portion of your compensation. Look at these items in the job offer seriously! Other Benefits What else do you want from your employer? This could include: Mobile phone Work from home equipment, i.e. printer, stand-up desk,… Home Internet Take your dog to work Flexible schedule Many of these may not be included in the offer letter but can be negotiated. Be Prepared to Negotiate Everything should be considered to be negotiable. If you want to learn more, check out the following posts: Negotiating for What You Want! You Have a Job Offer â€" Now What? Who is Really Making the Hiring Decision? Art of Questions â€" Nurturing and Reversing Once you have a formal offer, the employer has shown their hand that they want you. It is now in your court to negotiate for what you want. 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 ...

How to streamline your supply chain - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to streamline your supply chain Supply chains are complex. Not only are they made complicated due to their sheer size and often the distance they cover, but they are also made complicated due to the sheer number of options you have available to you. From a wide variety of suppliers to manufacturers to environmental concerns, to raw material choices â€" there are so many different ways that you can streamline your supply chain. The real question is which method is right for your company. You can streamline it by choosing suppliers that are close geographically to each other, but this might result in a loss of quality. You could choose the best but then suffer from long transportation periods. There are many different ways to streamline your supply chain, but the truth of the matter is that it will depend entirely on what your goals are. Do you want it to be more efficient? Do you want to increase supplier collaboration? Whatever your goal, follow this guide and you will be able to achieve it: Drive purchasing efficiencies, increase supplier collaboration and make truly informed business decisions based on real-time, quality data via an SAP Supplier (or Vendor) Portal. Digitise All of Your Data All of your data needs to be digitised in order for you to accurately understand your company and your evolving needs. Even if you have started to keep records digital five years, you will find it instrumental if you go through older records and digitise everything. Big data is big business, and while you might not be able to access all the data produced ever, you can make use of your own. In the supply chain, for example, if you can analyse exactly how your company has grown and how your supply chain needs have evolved, you can better predict future orders. Use the Right Software When you digitise your data, you will want to have a great management software (or several) in order to organise it. The right software will help in so many ways, from automated reporting to processing actions, to even easy-to-use supplier portals that can improve collaboration and reduce admin processing times. Be careful about the software you choose, however. Omnia Software is excellent for improving supplier relations and streamlining your supply chain, for example, but cannot help you with, say, providing personalised newsletters to customers informing them of a new product. Combine the right software tools together so that you benefit as much as possible from automation, transparency, and collaboration. Invest in Raw Material Research New materials are created every day. In fact, new, innovative materials can actually outperform their traditional counterparts at a more cost-efficient price point. If you do not do your part and investigate these materials, you are putting your company at a disservice. A new, cheaper, but better option can help you save money and improve your company’s product or service. Improve Supplier Connections and Collaborations Supplier collaboration will automatically improve processing times, as it allows users to update information with ease and then notify all others in your supply chain of the update. The right software can help with this, but you will also need to notify your suppliers of the portal’s existence. Innovating and improving your supply chain is a never-ending battle. Small businesses need to do it, big businesses need to do it, and it is worth your company doing it too.

Client Case Study Lisa Townsend - When I Grow Up

Client Case Study Lisa Townsend - When I Grow Up Um, do you know that Ive coached hundreds of women since I started offering dream career guidance in 2008? And that these women are freakin rock stars, leaving soul-sucking jobs and traveling the world and launching creative, grown-up businesses and simply doing work that fits their lifestyle goals? Well ya do now and youll hear their stories firsthand in my  Client Case Studies series! Lisa Townsend is the real deal you guys. She just wrapped up my  Dream To Done  program, and exactly one year ago (okay, one year and 11 days ago) she filled out an application and said, I have a dream of coaching and want to find out how to make this dream a real thing. Less than a year later, she clarified who she should serve (and how!), launched said  coaching business, worked with multiple clients, quit her job (!), refined her niche, and is getting ready to continue to slay in 2020! I just cant wait for you to meet her. Why did you decide to work with me? Because I was absolutely fed up of trying and failing to make myself a business all on my own. I had determination in spades but I finally admitted to myself that I didnt know what to focus on first. I didnt want to spend the next zillion years taking courses and tutorials, I wanted to be able to get on with working in my business, earning money and making the move from employee to my own boss. I wanted a women to show me how to do it and also make friends with other likeminded women you ticked all those boxes, Michelle. Plus, I had been kind of stalking you on social media and had read every blog you had ever created and it was getting ridiculous! What were you doing work-wise when we started working together and what are you doing now? When I started working with you I was employed as an Office Manager for a local charity, Sterts Theatre, and had been there for 2 1/2 years. It took 10 months to save for my own severance and I left at the end of November 2019. Now, I’m working on my business, Change Your Badge, full time, coaching women to find a more Holistic path when it comes to making decisions about their career and business. I’m also pleased to say I’ve enrolled in the Build Your Client Base  mastermind group for Jan 2020 where I’ll aim to do just that! What was your biggest takeaway from our work together? I think my biggest takeaway has been learning to embrace the imperfect. Ive always learnt by doing, reflecting and repeating, but there is something about creating your own business that adds the pressure of getting it right. In the past this has been a massive block and Ive kind of dried up here, stayed stuck and done nothing. Working with you has meant Ive had someone to say thats good enough go! and thats made all the difference to getting around the blocks. Think of someone who is currently in the shoes you wore when we first started working together. What advice do you have for her? Oh I want to say so many things! I guess I would tell her first and foremost that asking for help is not a sign of weakness or failure, it demonstrates her strength. I would also tell her what she has and what she knows right now is the perfect amount to get started on her dream. Lastly, she could not do any better than to put her faith and trust in Michelle Ward. Is there anything thats been a game-changer for you when it comes to your business that you can share? Wed love a good resource or a mindset/productivity tip! Changing my mindset to notice the difference between working IN and working ON my business has been a game changer for me. Using the Sacred Business Binder and sticking to weekly and monthly reviews has helped me see how and when I am making progress and identify unhelpful patterns and the things I keep putting off. Whats on the horizon for your business? Wed love to hear about any upcoming offerings or goals!   In the New Year Im going to be focusing on using Creativity Mindfulness to teach women about Resilience. My goal is to create a full calendar of workshops, talks and events, so if you would like a guest piece for your blog, podcast or group drop me a line lisa@changeyourbadge.com Another goal for the New Year is to put 6 podcast episodes together by the end of March this fills me with fear and excitement! If you want to follow along on my podcast journey or keep up to date with workshops and events, then sign up to my newsletter. Where can we find you and your work? Website: www.changeyourbadge.com, Resilient Women Network: www.facebook.com/groups/675566532973410/ or on Instagram @changeurbadge