Are You a Confident Job Seeker

Are You a Confident Job Seeker In my job search my confidence level started out pretty high. With time, though, that changed. While being in a job search can be exciting, because there are so many directions you can pursue, its easy for self-doubt to creep in. Should I really pursue that industry? Im not sure Im qualified. Im not sure Im good enough. Im not sure Id be able to do that job. Should I go to that networking meeting? What if no one likes me? What if no one talks to me? What if I say something stupid? Should I apply to that job? Im probably too late, and there are hundreds of others who have already applied. Should I send that email? What if they think Im dumb? What if they dont see it? What if they feel like Im spamming them? Should I get out of bed today? What if today is like yesterday: completely useless? What if I try things, like applying online and emailing people, and it continues to be useless? The list can go on and on and on. You might start out strong, but as you get rejected, or see non-responses from people, your confidence levels decrease.  As the months go on, your confidence level vaporizes. The questions change from what you read above to statements that have these words: I cant. if only nobody wants me I wont be able to I dont provide any value I cant learn That nasty list goes on and on, too.  The self-talk is self-destructive, and this is evident in the way you act around others, treat others, treat yourself, and what you are motivated to do. I, too, could go on and on about the negative thoughts and negative self-talk.  But instead, I want to share a phrase I read somewhere: Self-control builds self-confidence. These three (or five, depending on how you count them) words had, and still have,  a PROFOUND impact on how I thought and think and I act and acted. We can change, or build, our self-confidence by having and practicing self-control?  How does that work? Self-confidence is a funny thing. It can change on a dime, and it can increase or decrease because of what others might consider to be superficial. Consider the emotional 14 year old boy or girl, trying to get a date or catch the attention of a potential flame.  Their self-confidence hinges on a look, a smile, a kind word or response, or what they perceive to be the other person ignoring them.  In fact, the other person might not notice them at all, might have gas, or might have had a bad day. Or maybe that other person is emotionally unstable, or just as worried about how you look at them!  How is it that self-confidence can be so fickle, and controlled by things that are so insignificant and out of our control, even whimsical and superficial?  Why cant we be more in control of our self-confidence? I suspect that even the most confident persons self-confidence can be influenced by superficial, meaningless things, and take a hit. The formula, above, though, tells us how we can build, even strengthen, our self-confidence.  It is through our self-control. For me, this has meant going on my three mile walks, even when the temperature is about 15 degrees (about 10 degrees Celsius). The good news is that you have the sidewalk to yourself, since no one else is loco enough to be out there walking around town! It has also meant doing the hard things on my list that Id rather roll over to next week, or the week after. It means apologizing to some people, forgiving others. It means biting my tongue, or disciplining myself to do that really hard project. Instead of ignoring my list of to-do and must-do items, it means going through them, one by one, making progress, crossing things off.  Im feeling more confident as I write this just the idea of having the self-control to work through my tasks is building my self-confidence a tiny bit! I CAN DO THIS Thats the new mantra. Instead of all of the negative self-talk from above, my I cant becomes I can.  The Im not good enough becomes I AM the right person to do this. The Im not smart enough becomes I can learn this! When you do things when you practice self-control (or, when you put self-control into practice), your self-confidence is built. When you DONT do certain things (like refrain from wasting four hours playing games online, when you have a host of other things to do, or saying unkind things about others, etc.), your self-confidence builds. Its important to note that Im not saying doing things builds self-confidence.  Rather, practicing self-control, which might mean doing some things and not doing other things, can build self-confidence. If you need to, talk to someone, even a therapist, or go to the book store and peruse the self-help section.  Theres tons more to read about this stuff.  But for me, that simple three word phrase has had a significant impact on my thinking, and my actions, and ultimately, my self-confidence. I hope it can have that kind of impact on yours, too. Are You a Confident Job Seeker In my job search my confidence level started out pretty high. With time, though, that changed. While being in a job search can be exciting, because there are so many directions you can pursue, its easy for self-doubt to creep in. Should I really pursue that industry? Im not sure Im qualified. Im not sure Im good enough. Im not sure Id be able to do that job. Should I go to that networking meeting? What if no one likes me? What if no one talks to me? What if I say something stupid? Should I apply to that job? Im probably too late, and there are hundreds of others who have already applied. Should I send that email? What if they think Im dumb? What if they dont see it? What if they feel like Im spamming them? Should I get out of bed today? What if today is like yesterday: completely useless? What if I try things, like applying online and emailing people, and it continues to be useless? The list can go on and on and on. You might start out strong, but as you get rejected, or see non-responses from people, your confidence levels decrease.  As the months go on, your confidence level vaporizes. The questions change from what you read above to statements that have these words: I cant. if only nobody wants me I wont be able to I dont provide any value I cant learn That nasty list goes on and on, too.  The self-talk is self-destructive, and this is evident in the way you act around others, treat others, treat yourself, and what you are motivated to do. I, too, could go on and on about the negative thoughts and negative self-talk.  But instead, I want to share a phrase I read somewhere: Self-control builds self-confidence. These three (or five, depending on how you count them) words had, and still have,  a PROFOUND impact on how I thought and think and I act and acted. We can change, or build, our self-confidence by having and practicing self-control?  How does that work? Self-confidence is a funny thing. It can change on a dime, and it can increase or decrease because of what others might consider to be superficial. Consider the emotional 14 year old boy or girl, trying to get a date or catch the attention of a potential flame.  Their self-confidence hinges on a look, a smile, a kind word or response, or what they perceive to be the other person ignoring them.  In fact, the other person might not notice them at all, might have gas, or might have had a bad day. Or maybe that other person is emotionally unstable, or just as worried about how you look at them!  How is it that self-confidence can be so fickle, and controlled by things that are so insignificant and out of our control, even whimsical and superficial?  Why cant we be more in control of our self-confidence? I suspect that even the most confident persons self-confidence can be influenced by superficial, meaningless things, and take a hit. The formula, above, though, tells us how we can build, even strengthen, our self-confidence.  It is through our self-control. For me, this has meant going on my three mile walks, even when the temperature is about 15 degrees (about 10 degrees Celsius). The good news is that you have the sidewalk to yourself, since no one else is loco enough to be out there walking around town! It has also meant doing the hard things on my list that Id rather roll over to next week, or the week after. It means apologizing to some people, forgiving others. It means biting my tongue, or disciplining myself to do that really hard project. Instead of ignoring my list of to-do and must-do items, it means going through them, one by one, making progress, crossing things off.  Im feeling more confident as I write this just the idea of having the self-control to work through my tasks is building my self-confidence a tiny bit! I CAN DO THIS Thats the new mantra. Instead of all of the negative self-talk from above, my I cant becomes I can.  The Im not good enough becomes I AM the right person to do this. The Im not smart enough becomes I can learn this! When you do things when you practice self-control (or, when you put self-control into practice), your self-confidence is built. When you DONT do certain things (like refrain from wasting four hours playing games online, when you have a host of other things to do, or saying unkind things about others, etc.), your self-confidence builds. Its important to note that Im not saying doing things builds self-confidence.  Rather, practicing self-control, which might mean doing some things and not doing other things, can build self-confidence. If you need to, talk to someone, even a therapist, or go to the book store and peruse the self-help section.  Theres tons more to read about this stuff.  But for me, that simple three word phrase has had a significant impact on my thinking, and my actions, and ultimately, my self-confidence. I hope it can have that kind of impact on yours, too.

Careers Library What books have you got then University of Manchester Careers Blog

Careers Library What books have you got then University of Manchester Careers Blog We have a catalogue like any other library so you can find out what books and resources we have before you come in. We are  currently buying loads of new stock. We have just had a big trawl through all our resources and thrown away loads of books and other materials that are out of date or are available online. Recent purchases include: Commercial awareness 2013/14  The Voluntary Agencies Directory  Uni in the USA definitive UK guide to Universities in the USA  The complete guide to getting a job for people with Aspergers Syndrome So, you want to be a forensic psychologist Becoming a psychologist Teaching English Abroad Working in the City A gude to starting a successful career in the city How to become a police officer The london Diplomatic List- incorporating directory of international organisations How to master the UKCAT To become an investment banker Becoming an occupational therapist Chris McKenna Credit Suisse investment banking jobs Amrit Rao Goldman Sachs Investment banking jobs Becoming a nurse Aimee Aubeeluck Know the City 2013/14 Telephone Interview Questions and answers Becoming an accountant Becoming a chiropractor Lots of new books for media and performance related careers this time too:  Contacts  So you want to be a theatre producer ?  So you want to be in musicals?  Wildlife film-making looking to the future  Working with your voice The career guide to becoming a professional singer  The music management bible, the definitive guide to understanding music management The insiders guide to getting your book published So you want to work in the theatre? Theatre careers handbook 2013 The gap year guidebook Its not just books! Lots of useful  guides are  no longer published in print they are either PDFs or entire websites, so where we find something useful we will catalogue it so that you can find it even if there isnt a direct link to it on our website. Coming soon some new psychometric test books books on teaching interviews and getting a job. A couple on finance and investment banking We are  always looking . We tend to buy books written for a specific country so that students and graduates can easily identify the information that applies to them.   Most of our books are published in the UK  simply so that entry routes, professional standards and salaries are correct for those aiming to stay and train or get experience in the UK. We also try to buy books that are easy to dip in and out of, good indexes and contents pages make it easier for you to find the piece of information you need quickly. If you see something useful and we havent got it let us know, we can check it out and if it would benefit a good number of students then we are usually happy to purchase. All Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted Applications and interviews commercial awareness employability Getting started job market media Options

The Benefits of Napping at Work

The Benefits of Napping at Work We all know the feeling of waking up for work and just not wanting to get out of bed. Either a late night, a heavy schedule or even the thought of leaving the warmth of the duvet, are just some of the  reasons why getting out of bed for work sucks. But sometimes even when you get to work, you can’t take your mind off returning to bed  and this is why you need to find a great opportunity to take a nap at work. Why nap at work? OK, so I understand that napping at work sounds pretty risky, but doing it is so much fun! It gives you the chance to take a little time, get back in the zone and recharge your batteries. I’m not talking about taking a 2 hour nap but a great 20-30 minute stretch can do you wonders, so why not give it a shot? What are the benefits of napping at work? Improve productivity: If you’re getting a little tired, or your legs are starting to drag a little, taking a nice nap to refocus your energy is the best way to improve your results for the rest of the day. According to NASA scientists you just need to nap for 26 minutes. Its a great amount of time to sleep during lunch, or leave the desk without catching anyone’s attention  and you’ll return to your job feeling ship-shaped and ready to tackle the afternoon with a newfound determination. Helping your mental health:  Working can be very draining, and while most of us have got to do it, this doesn’t make it any easier at all. The stress of your job can easily get you down, and if you’re not sleeping great at home, then it can affect your work too.  You need to be in the right mental state to conduct your job properly, so in order to try and regain a little control, it’s worth turning to the land of nod to get some well-earned rest. When can I nap at work? While big meetings are going on: I know this sounds very risky, but I don’t mean while you’re in a big meeting, I just mean while they’re going on around you! If you’re in a smaller office this works perfectly. Everyone goes off for an hour meeting about this, or that, and only  a few friends or some admin workers are still around. While the big-wigs are in their meeting, you can get a little shut-eye in one of the smaller rooms. If your office/workspace has a gym or a TV room, or your car is close by, these are perfect places to hide away and nap at work. During your lunch break: This is your time so do with it what you please. You’re most likely to have at least half an hour, maybe even an hour, so make sure you use that time well and nap if you want to. But just remember to set an alarm! When the boss is away: A great time to nap is when you know your boss is away for the day. Whether theyre on holiday, or during an external meeting, if you know they’re not in, you can catch some sleep for sure. What you don’t want to do, though, is make it look obvious. Some people in the office might well have their eye on you while your line manager is elsewhere. Be sure to be cute with your time and sleep under the radar. Home working: Working from home is the best way to nap on the job! If you’re allowed to work from the comfort of where you live, then you would be crazy not to slip a nap or two in, but just make sure you keep your phone on loud so that if you’re sleeping and your boss rings you, you can jump up and answer it like nothing was wrong. Is it easy to get away with? If you’re napping on a break, then go nuts! You’re allowed to do it then. But if you’re choosing another one of the ways above, you’ll need to be at least a little sneakier. If you’re smart and don’t get too cocky (anything over a 30-minute nap in work is just asking for trouble!) then you can easily get away with it. If you’re in a big office, then there’s too many people to notice you’re gone, and if you’re in a small office then people are usually too busy to notice you’re not there. Perfect! What if I get caught? Well that’s just hard luck. The chances of you getting caught sleeping in work are pretty slim, but it’s worth just being honest. It’s also worth knowing when you’re beaten. Telling the truth as to why you’re sleeping on the job might just be the best way to get out of that situation unscathed! If napping becomes a regular thing Genuinely, you shouldn’t find yourself napping every day. You shouldn’t really find yourself napping weekly at work, either. And if you find it tough making your way to the end of the day without a nap, it’s well worth chatting it over with your employer. Tips on napping at work Set an alarm and stick to it. You’re in work, so no pressing the snooze button. This is a sure enough sign you will sleep the day away! Be careful! Put your phone on the loud setting If someone from work needs to get hold of you, you need to be able to answer. You don’t really want them to know you’re sleeping, so leaving the phone to ring out will most likely result in them coming to hunt you down. Which is never good, especially if you’re asleep. Be tactical about it   Nap in the right place, at the right time, and tell the right people. A work friend is never going to rat you out, but they can also look out for suspicious eyes coming from across the room. Plan your nap carefully. Napping at work is an art form that is often practiced with great caution. But if you can get it right, you can genuinely improve your working life by redefining how you go about the rest of your day. About the author:  Frank Apodaca is the lead editor of The Sleep Judge. A website that provides honest reviews of a wide range of sleep products as well as information for those looking for a better nights sleep.

Digital Branding for the Job Seeker Part 3 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Digital Branding for the Job Seeker Part 3 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Part 3: Registering, Naming, Designing and Optimizing Your Career Blog Understanding the importance of having a positive web image is half the equation, the other half is being able to execute on that knowledge. Below, you’ll find the first few steps on how to create a digital brand via formulating a career website and taking the necessary steps so it appears in the search engines. Creating Your Career Blog and Making it Visible: 1. Register, create and choose a design for your WordPress blog. While there are options other than WordPress available (Joomla for one), WordPress is the most reliable, widely used content management system. I have played around the alternatives and they are not as user friendly nor do they have as many customization options. Choose a reputable hosting company and register a domain that is relevant to the content you plan to write. When it comes to choosing a hosting company, there are dozens upon dozens that exist. I would strongly recommend a mainstream hosting service similar to that of GoDaddy as they tend to have more robust and knowledgeable support. If something goes wrong with a site you’ve spent countless hours on and you need help, you’ll appreciate spending the extra few dollars. The majority of internet companies will provide a downloadable version of WordPress (also known as a content management system) free of charge with your hosting registration. The better ones will walk you through set-up via the phone as to how to download WordPress. Since the content management system allows the user to incorporate and customize different themes (predesigned website templates), the individual has endless choices as to what the overarching design will look like. Sites such as themeforest.net sell premium WordPress templates (themeforest.net has over 17,000 design templates for around $70 or less each) while WordPress provides less robust options free of charge. Be aware that while some of the premium themes may look phenomenal and claim ease of use, they’re much more complex than they let on to be. 2. Prior to starting the project, lay out the design and outline the content of each page. Use only high quality images and ensure that the content is relevant to your career, is interesting, relatable and robust. Our recruiters strongly suggest that you not create a blog if you don’t have the time or are unprepared to follow through with it. An unfinished, poorly written and designed website has the opposite of the desired effect. For individuals with a common name (i.e. Mike Smith), our headhunters recommend that they either use a middle initial or full middle name (and change the corresponding name on their resume) in order to be able to register an available .com url. By implementing basic search engine optimization tactics, you can increase visitor numbers and ensure that the site appears when people search for your name. For those new to the topic, there are countless articles available. Keep it simple. Also, keep in mind that while the site should be written naturally and for the entertaining for the reader, the content should have your full name sprinkled throughout the main pages. Install some form of web analytics on the site. Web analytics will tell you how many visitors your site receives as well as more advanced information that could be leveraged to enhance the user experience. Google provides users with a free system by the name of Google Analytics. 3. Create social media profiles which promote the blog’s content and are utilized for solely professional reasons (a Twitter account should be registered at a minimum). The majority of social media sites will allow you to link back to your personal career blog and will serve as a traffic source. The site can also be referenced from your LinkedIn profile. If keep relevant and frequently updated, social media will serve as a rankings boost and way to connect with like-minded individuals. Remember that the most successful social media sites are popular because they share content that is informative and relevant to their topic of expertise. The social media urls as well as the website url should be put on resumes as well as included in email signatures.

Start Up Experience is Important For Your Resume

Start Up Experience is Important For Your ResumeWriting a resume with startup experience will be the first step towards landing that job. However, even a student who has good grades can find it hard to find a job. With this in mind, you should always remember that employers are looking for more than just good grades, and this is the reason why they hire students for many positions.In fact, this can be the key to getting that job and keeping that job. As you know, the first impression will last forever. Even if your resume has good grades, there are chances that your chances of getting hired would be decreased if the employer finds out that you have more experience than him. So, it is important that you give your best.However, as a student, you cannot afford to waste too much time making your resume. If you are not able to do it all yourself, then you should go for hiring an employer's assistant or a resume writer. They will help you a lot and you can get the job without so much hassl e.Although, when you do start looking for a resume writing service, there are some things that you need to consider. For example, if you want to start from scratch, you must get a good writer to write your resume. You should not make the mistake of hiring someone who knows nothing about resumes. This is because their work would be incomplete.First of all, you need to understand the meaning of experience. Experience means that they have been writing resumes since they were young. They are the ones who were trained to do this. So, you can consider that this is the best choice when looking for a resume writer. However, if you are not very good with words, then you can choose another person to do the job for you.It is important that you ask for the resume before you start the work. This is because if the resume writer fails to produce a resume that is satisfactory to you, you would not want to waste your time on something that is not good enough. The point here is that you need to evalu ate every part of the resume.Another thing that you need to understand is that most people do not use their resume for anything except advertising. Some use it for their job application, some use it for the placement of their resume, some use it to show to employers that they are serious and some use it to show that they have good communication skills. And, this is the reason why you should check for those things when writing your resume.By doing so, you will have the right resume with start up experience. This way, you can get the job without any problems.

Your Dreams Arent As Crazy As You Think

Your Dreams Arent As Crazy As You Think Have a dream job or idea youve been wanting to go for but think its crazy? Lots of crazy ideas have become successful businesses or led people to successful careers. In this episode, hear the real life example of Karen Mainenti who changed careers to follow her dreams and now feels as if her career has evolved in exciting and amazing ways. Shell share specific steps you can take right now to give yourself permission to make your crazy career move.Also in this episode, crazy ideas that became wildly successful and some of the biggest product failures by the biggest companies (because they werent crazy enough).Listen in and youll soon be reconsidering your crazy career idea as something innovative. You might really be onto something!Links to resources mentioned in the episode:Project Bold Life video with career advice tips Holiday Specials and Gift ListAdditional link for Karen: www.karenmainentidesign.comMentorlyHappy holidays and always follow your dreams!Check out this episode!

Career Crisis What Career Crisis - CareerAlley

Career Crisis What Career Crisis - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. In todays modern world, a rewarding career is something that most adults aspire to achieve. However, life isnt always easy, and there will inevitably be several stages where things seem to be going wrong. Still, you dont need to throw the towel in just yet. A perceived career crisis can take many forms. Worse still, it can leave you feeling bereft of confidence and fearing for your future happiness and financial status. While its possible to encounter a variety of problems at work, theres nothing worse than being without a job. Competition for places is fiercer than ever, which is why you need to go the extra mile. Creating a personal website can help you stand out from the crowd. This is especially true when working in a creative field. source The need to stand out shouldnt end there, though. Investing in your personal image and practicing your interview techniques can have a telling impact too. Coaches can help you prepare for those challenges, which can make you more employable. While out of work, it may be worth taking on some voluntary work. Not only does it look great on your resume, but it also keeps you motivated and in good spirits. A perceived career crisis can take many forms. Worse still, it can leave you feeling bereft of confidence and fearing for your future happiness and financial status. Tweet This Internships can be another great option, especially when looking to break into a new field. However, trying to start a new challenge isnt only for the currently unemployed. The average person has seven career changes, and there are many reasons why you may wish to make one of yours. Whether youve grown tired of the current job or feel you could earn more money elsewhere doesnt matter. With online learning, you can acquire the right skills. Combine this with strong networking, and you wont go far wrong. Credit: A career crisis may sometimes be your fault due to poor decisions. Then again, you are just likely to become the victim of someone elses negligence. When left unable to work due to injuries, you will be faced with many worries. Financial problems are the last thing you need, which is why experts can be lifesavers. By gaining the justice you deserve, it removes a huge weight from your shoulders. These elements arent limited to traditional workers either. Contracted staff and freelancers may benefit from them too. Weve all been there. The feeling that youve lost interest. The spark going out of things. The routine feeling over-familiar and dull. But its not a broken relationship with a partner. Its losing your lust for your career, and it happens to all of us from time to time. How To Fall In Love With Your Career All Over Again The reasons for feeling unsatisfied work can come from many sources. In truth, though, money is likely to be the chief reason. Its important to remember that employers have a duty to make their budgets work harder. As such, they wont offer you increased salaries unless they need to. Photo by Jeremy Dorrough on Unsplash Knowing how to ask for a raise and get it is a crucial skill for unlocking your full earning potential. With online facilities, finding out whether you are worth more than youre currently getting paid is easy. If you are being unfairly treated, its vital that you fight for what you deserve. Its not uncommon for career problems to feel like a major issue. In most cases, though, there is light at the end of the tunnel. As long as you follow the right pathway, theres no reason that you cant get back on track in no time. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. 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. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search