I Just Cant Choose!

“I Just Cant Choose!” Help from our Community “I Just Cant Choose!” * Louis is bored in his career and planning his next move. He's interested in lots of different options, but can't bring himself to choose one in case he misses out on something better elsewhere. How can he move forwards? What's your career history and current job? I'm a tax consultant for a major consultancy company. I enrolled on a grad scheme with them at the end of my Economics degree, mostly because at that point I had very little drive to find a job on my own. I felt pretty disillusioned with my degree choice, and it seemed like an easy way to get a job and pay my bills straight out of university. The trouble is, now that I've got into the grind it's become very hard to leave. How do you feel about your work? I could not be more bored! The company is set up as a real machine; there's plenty of room for promotions and we're always being encouraged to develop ourselves, but I have no interest in developing more skills in a job that sends my brain to sleep. I feel like I'm playing variations on the same theme every single day, and I'm becoming a boring person as a result. The people I work with are nice, and I've got some good friends there, but most of them are resigned to the idea that work is supposed to be dull, and the only thing to do is live for the weekends. I'm not convinced that's true. What would you like to be doing instead? Pretty much anything. I went on an Outward Bound weekend for a friend's stag do, and got chatting to the instructor â€" I'd love to do what he does. But then I also like the idea of using my finance skills for a charity; I'm good at what I do, but I want to make a real difference to people who need it. Plus, I've been writing articles for our in-house magazine recently and that's been a lot of fun. It would be great to do something along those lines. And a friend is setting up a gourmet hot-dog business; he's asked me if I want to get involved and the thought of being part of a start-up is really exciting! What is the biggest obstacle you're facing? I'm interested in so many different things that I can't pin down a single option to go after. If I choose one path, I feel like I'll be missing out on so much else. What if I train as an outdoor instructor, and then get fed up of the rain and the cold? I'll have missed the boat on my friend's start-up â€" indoors, with food! I just can't make up my mind, and I know the longer I leave it, the harder it's going to be. Can you help Louis? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How can he make a decision without feeling like he's missing out on something better elsewhere? Do you know anyone he could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support. Give Louis a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

How to Maintain a Great Reputation For Your Business in 5 Easy Steps - Classy Career Girl

How to Maintain a Great Reputation For Your Business in 5 Easy Steps In business, one of the most important things is your reputation. Once it’s damaged, it can take a lot of work to win back the trust of your customers. In some situations, it might be impossible altogether. Your values have to come first. What do you believe and how do you want your customers to feel? Determining what you want your reputation and values  to be in the beginning of your new business will help you when in a tough situation and need to make a quick decision. In this article, we’re going to look at how you can create and maintain that all-important reputation for your business. How to Maintain a Great Reputation For Your Business in 5 Easy Steps 1. Visualize Your Future Brand Branding is the first step in building your reputation. This means crafting an image of the company that people can identify with immediately. You have to display the values and characteristics of your company and your dedication to your services. Your brand has to create trust and make your customer feel like youve got their back. This is where great visual design becomes vital to your business. You cant just do some research on  good design tips and color psychology to make a quick logo. Instead, you must unify all your publications, online and in real life, and keep your brand consistent. 2. Create Quality Content If the visuals are going to be what grabs the attention of your audience, then your content is going to be what keeps them coming back over and over again. Content is about showing not only your expertise  but also the details of what your business’s values are. Make sure that your content isn’t just about your company. It needs to be relevant and valuable to your audience, not just you. Keeping a quality reputation means ensuring professionalism all the way. This means a prime focus on grammar, ethics and spelling, amongst other things. Try to create content that is inspirational, motivational and encouraging like we do here at CCG. 3. Spread the Word Besides creating the right imagery and content, you need to be able to disseminate your content. Social media and online marketing channels are a great place to start, but it’s not enough. The people looking for your services need to be able to find you. This means things like making a name for yourself in your local community and in-person events. It also means taking the steps to register a new business on TrustLink and similar listings that collect valuable feedback from customers and clients.  Its actually not as important what you say about your products and services. Its more important that your potential customers hear success stories and other clients experiences before choosing to work with you. 4. Deliver Like You Said You Would Building your reputation through the methods above is all well and good. However, you also need to make sure you deliver on your  promises. There’s no doubt you put serious effort towards the delivery of your products or services. But it’s the running of the company behind the scenes, too. It’s your productivity and processes that make it easier to deliver those services. For example, using apps to better organize all the different tasks you and your team have to do in a day. Having regular meetings with your team and having systems in place that notify you when a service is not completed correctly. Dont be afraid to get customer feedback. Feedback will only help you improve in the future. 5.  Serve, Serve, Serve Even after you deliver your product or service, you want that customer to remember and think about you. How can you stay in touch with them? Not just to have them coming back, you also want to use the power of word-of-mouth in your favor. That’s why there needs to be a business-wide focus on customer service. From making sure someone is available to answer questions at all times to having quick solutions on hand for common problems. Reputation is about your brand and how you communicate to potential customers. But, it’s also about how you maintain that relationship after they become customers. Focus on service and effective delivery as much as marketing and getting your name out there.

Tell your career story

Tell your career story At a recent event for a large investment bank, the MD speaking to the audience announced “a CV always tells a story … and you’d better be able to tell that story”.   In saying so, he got to the crux of the difference between a good candidate â€" who is able to provide a collection of facts about what they have done â€" and a great candidate who’s able to say ‘this is my story’ and then use narrative to help make sense of who they are. Stories are important.   Story-telling has been around since we crawled out of the caves.   They help people make sense of the world, learn, understand and connect to one another.     It’s no wonder scientists now think that we’re hard-wired to tell, and listen to, stories. Employers want candidates a) with a good degree, b) who have participated fully in university life, c) who have work experience and d) who have reflected upon and can articulate their achievements.   It’s quite easy to spend a lot of time on a), b) and c) and to forget that the ability to tell your story in an engaging and convincing manner could be the clincher. Not convinced?   Here are 5 reasons story-telling can be effective: Stories elicit emotional responses â€" Connect with someone emotionally as well as rationally and you’re half way to persuading them. We remember stories   Dan and Chip Heath reveal story-telling as one of the key principles of making ideas stick in their book Made to Stick  .   An employer is more likely to remember your story than your list of qualifications, however impressive they might be.   An added bonus is that you’re more likely to remember your stories too as you prepare for your interview. Stories help connect audiences â€" It’s no longer ‘you’ and ‘them’, you can use stories to connect with people and show how you can become part of their team. Stories are personal â€"It’s often difficult for employers to differentiate one candidate from the next.   Stories reveal your personality and make it more likely that a recruiter will remember who you are. Stories are interesting   People recruit interesting people!   A Marketing Manager for a retail company recently said to me “I get to sit with this person for up to 12 hours a day, I really want them to be interesting!”   Yes, recruiters want to employ graduates they think will do a good job, but they also really want to employ people they, and their team, will find interesting and can get on with. So when, and how, can stories be told?   First let’s get one thing straight we’re not talking about tall stories, porkies, or spinning a yarn.   Stories need to be authentic.   A CV tells a story but story-telling will really come into its own when you have a chance to talk with an employer.    There are some common elements to good story-telling so consider these the next time you’re asked to talk through your CV and experiences: Stories have a beginning, middle and end â€" What if you don’t know the ending yet though?   This is your chance to show an employer how working for them becomes part of your happy ending! Classic plot line â€" A classic plot line begins with a status quo.   An event triggers the start of something from which the protagonist embarks on a quest.   They are met with surprise events and make critical choices, the story reaching a climax and ending with the protagonist’s reversal of fortune.   How does your story fit with this plot line?   How do you describe the quest you’re on? Twists and turns â€" No one ever commissions Hollywood films where the characters all get along fine and everything’s plain sailing â€" it’s boring!   Overcoming hardships is a major element in engaging stories so you don’t need to present yourself as being perfect at everything.     One of Pixar’s secrets of storytelling   is that you admire a character for trying more than for their successes. Heroes and villains â€" There’s nothing more classic that the goodies versus the baddies.   So, what sort of hero are you and what adventure are you on?   But don’t forget, even heroes have sidekicks so remember to give credit to those who help you. Story-telling doesn’t happen instantly.   Once you know the stories you want to tell about yourself remember to rehearse â€" an interview should never be your trial run.   Write out and speak out your stories.   Ask friends and family to listen and give feedback.   Has your story convinced them?   Have you convinced yourself?   Will you convince a recruiter? Finally if you’ve got a story to tell then please do get in touch and be our next blogger!

What Happens Next The Five Steps Of Marriage Separation

What Happens Next The Five Steps Of Marriage Separation Marriage separation is never an easy thing, and it can often cause couples and their families a lot of stress. With so many legalities involved, it is all too easy to feel completely overwhelmed during such a sombre time. Since most people in this situation have not been through marriage separations before, it can be difficult to know exactly what you need to do and how to go about doing so. Once you have made the decision to separate, there are a few steps that you need to take. In this article, we will look at the 5 steps of marriage separation, in hopes of guiding you through this rough time in life.  Come To Terms With Yourself and Your Decision Separations can sometimes feel surreal. For years, all you know is a life with your partner, and all of a sudden, this has come to an end. Many people get stuck in phases of denial, and thus never give themselves the time they need to come to terms with what has happened. It is crucial that you are open about your feelings with your friends and family, in order to fully accept what is happening in your life. Only then can you move on to the next steps and look towards a brighter future. The Legalities The next step is considering a divorce lawyer in Melbourne. It is essential that you source the best legal help that you can afford at such a time in your life. Even if you and your partner separate on amicable and friendly terms, there are many legal procedures that need to be set in place when it comes to filing a separation. A trusted family lawyer can aid you in this and help make the entire process as smooth sailing as possible. Deciding Who Gets What If you and your partner share assets or a home, or even children, now is the time to decide what happens in terms of custody, or sharing/splitting of assets. Letting your lawyer know of your decision is the first step in splitting your assets or sharing your children, so always keep in contact with your lawyer and discuss the options available for you. Do keep in mind that the court will take into account things like age, health, financial resources, care of children and ability to earn, so it is best to speak openly with your partner about these things as well, and try to keep things as far from hostile as possible. The Emotional Divorce The emotional divorce or separation involves un-bonding romantic and dependent aspects of your relationship, including the process of mourning. This is the stage at which growth and transformation unfold. The time has come to disengage from role definitions, family expectations and emotional bond to your partner. This can be one of the most difficult parts of separation, and is often highly emotional. However, despite this being a very difficult task, it needs to be done in order to move on with your life and accept that one chapter has ended and another one is about to begin. Embrace Your New Life You now have the chance to reintroduce yourself to the world as a single person. Be free, do the things that you have always wanted to do, and mingle with new people. Build your hopes, dreams and aspirations on your own always remember that you do not need anyone by your side to be amazing. Every cloud has its silver lining, and we guarantee you there is a happy life waiting for you after a separation. Going through these 5 steps of marriage separation can be a very challenging task, but we are sure that once you soldier on through each and every step, you will come out of this experience a stronger, better person than you were before.

Steps of Writing a RSum

Steps of Writing a RSumWhat is the first step of writing a rsum? While this question is based on personal views, there are reasons why these are considered as the right steps. This article will look at some of the reasons why it is considered as the right steps to write a resume.In order to write a rsum, there are certain things you need to remember. The first step of writing a resume is to identify the basics of Rsum and what you want to do. To be honest, the basics will not be easy for most people to grasp. However, if you know what you want to achieve, you can easily research it and use it as a foundation.The next step of writing a resume is to make a plan. You should start with the basics. You need to determine the areas that you would like to address and the extent of time that you would like to dedicate for it. Based on your needs, you can then decide on the length of time. It will not take long before you will be able to come up with some basics that will guide you to get star ted with your Rsum.Once you have the basics, you should start with writing a Rsum. There are many books and courses that can provide you with enough information to get started. However, in order to come up with something really unique, you will need to learn how to think creatively and to think for yourself.With the idea that you have already identified the basics, the next step of writing a Rsum is to continue with the specific details. This should include details such as how to create the outline, the content and the format. Once you have thought about everything, you can start organizing it and doing some organization while you are writing the sum.The third step of writing a Rsum is to actually begin writing. Once you have organized your basic ideas, you can then go back and review them. When you go back and look at them, you can find more ideas that can be used. This is one of the most effective ways to practice your creativity as you organize your thoughts and ideas into writin g form.The final step of writing a Rsum is to have a final draft. After you have finished all of the steps above, you can now see the basic steps in writing a RSum. In order to come up with something that will be successful, you need to continue with it until it reaches the final version.However, you cannot just walk out of the steps of writing a Rsum and just call it a day. In order to achieve success, you need to continue practicing as well as make sure that you are aware of everything that you need to know. Therefore, the steps of writing a Rsum are the best starting point of writing a RSum.

Yes, You Can Earn More - Just Do This! - CareerAlley

Yes, You Can Earn More - Just Do This! - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Our minds are strange places. They lead us to believe the oddest of things. Like certain people are apart of elite groups that we could never join. Or that were not talented or smart or beautiful enough to do what we really want with our lives. Or that we have to play ourselves down, not to offend others. Yet, none of that is true. Instead, when you believe anything, you can achieve it. Its as simple as that. And yes, this is very much the case with your career. If you want a high flying, high paying, or high up job, you can have it. It will not be handed to you, nor will it be easy, but if you want it and you are willing to work for it, its yours. This is all you need to do. When you believe anything, you can achieve it. Its as simple as that. And yes, this is very much the case with your career. Tweet This Add More Value One of the best things that you can do here, is to know how youre going to add more value to your job. So ask yourself, are you going above and beyond? Are you indispensable? You need toshow your value if you are going to ask for a pay rise. Or you want to be promoted. And document it. Collect all of your reasoning in a portfolio so you have evidence when you make your case. Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash Make It Known Next, you need to let your superiors know. Tell them you are interested in climbing the ranks, in a promotion. When they know, they can look out for you. Or you may even get a fast-track route option! Image by terimakasih0 on Pixabay Ask For More Then, you have to actually ask. Ask for that pay rise. Ask for that promotion. Put yourself out there and be vulnerable. If you know that youre deserving, its highly likely that theyre going to say yes! But you have to be proactive about making this happen. Even if you love your work, the fact of the matter might be that you wish you earned more money. Checking up on wage equality at Hired.com is certainly a good idea, but its also best to do everything possible to make employers want to pay you what youre asking for, or at least be willing to offer you a raise. Here are few things you can do to effectively increase your overall earning potential. Tips for Boosting Your Earning Potential Equip Yourself But sometimes, you need to go a step further. You wont always be able to just land a promotion or a pay rise n effort alone. Sometimes, you need to be more knowledgeable or skilled or educated. And when this is the case, you should look into that online MBA program AACSB you need, or teach yourself something new in your spare time. Because if you equip yourself with all of the prerequisites, youll be ready to earn more. Photo by Lost Co on Unsplash Put The Work In Now, when you read through it all, youre likely to find that it seems s easy, doesnt it? Thats because it is. Earning more or climbing the career ladder is simple, thats for sure. Once youve worked out a clear idea of what youd like to achieve, of course. But do not be fooled. You have to put the work in to make this all happen. You need to apply yourself, put the time in, grow as a person, and proactively ask for every single opportunity. But when you do, youll be earning the money you really want in no time at all. 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 identify and land your dream job. 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

Dont Let Tech Issues Bring Your Small Business To Its Knees

Dont Let Tech Issues Bring Your Small Business To Its Knees These days, it’s almost impossible to find a small business that hasn’t welcomed various forms of technology into its office. Laptops are now usually given out to most employees, and some individuals in the company will also be given cell phones for professional use. These are just some of the most basic forms of tech available to companies these days, as things like the cloud and AI are now slowly being adapted for small business use. Most of the time, all of this new tech is a great addition to any business as it can help automate processes and increase the overall efficiency of a company. However, as with most forms of tech, there will be times when things don’t go to plan. Devices can fail and break, and this can cause some significant issues with the workflow, especially when important items like computers and laptops break. In some extreme cases, serious tech issues can end up costing a company huge sums to resolve, and it can even bring some businesses to their knees. It doesn’t always have to be like that, though. Here are some very common tech issues within the professional world, and what you can do about them. File Recover Challenges One of the biggest challenges that many entrepreneurs and business owners live in dread of is file recovery. There are various reasons why your files, data, and information stored on your computers and hardware may be at risk, but one of the most common things that will wipe data from your machines is when the computer malfunctions. For instance, if an employee’s laptop or computer freezes while they are working on it, then they might lose any work that they haven’t saved. Thankfully, that’s no reason to panic. If you do think that some of your files or data is lost on broken or old hardware, it’s worth calling a company like Apex Data Recovery who are experts in retrieving stored digital information. But, generally speaking, as long as your computers and machines are regularly replaced and kept in good working order, then you shouldn’t have too much to worry about. Problems With Integration Whenever you set up a new company or set to work expanding your current one, you will need to bring in more computers and laptops to increase the network. More often than not, entrepreneurs do this when they require new computers for all their new hires to work on. But before your employees can get to work, the computer needs to be integrated into the network. If the new computers are quite new, you might find that a network that uses older software might not be able to support them. This can bring about a whole load of inefficiencies. One of the best ways around this is carrying out thorough planning. By checking all of your systems beforehand, you should be able to find out what you can use and add to your current network. It’s also a good idea to enlist the help of some IT experts who can ensure the integration process goes as smoothly as possible. Online Security Issues Online security is a big problem right now, for both individuals and professional organizations. Companies are often targeted more so than individuals, though, so it really is important that all entrepreneurs and business owners do everything in their power to protect their computer network from hackers and viruses. Unfortunately, though, there are still many companies out there that are making some serious school-boy errors. For instance, lots of entrepreneurs try to save money by rarely updating their online security software. However, as viruses and hackers become more sophisticated, they can quickly learn how to hack older security software to get into computers. So, it really is paying for the newest antivirus and firewall options. You should also make sure that your employees know all about the best practices that can keep them safe when they are working online. Outdated Software And Hardware Technology really is a great benefit to all kinds of companies, but there is a limit to its greatness. That limit usually starts to kick in as the software and hardware begin to age and slow down over time. If you continue to use outdated tech, then you will find it can really reduce your company’s efficiency and overall productivity. Not only that, though, but your products or services could also reduce in quality, which could lead to you losing some of your customers. One way to resolve this is to research the average lifespan of your tech products. Once one of them is starting to come to the end of its life, you should start looking for a replacement piece of tech. Bringing a new item into the office to replace the current one while it is still working will be a lot smoother than waiting until something breaks to replace it. A Lack Of Employee Training If an employee uses a piece of technology in their day to day line of work, then they need to be trained so that they are absolutely certain that they know how to use it. Otherwise, they will become very frustrated trying to use some tech that confuses them. Plus, they might end up spending the majority of their day trying to figure out how to use the tech or device in the first place! So, as you can tell, this isnt very efficient at all. To ensure that any problems and issues such as this are ironed out as soon as possible, you should give all of your team members plenty of training. Some general IT training will help everyone in the company, while it’s also a good idea to offer some job-specific training to make sure that everyone is 100% sure how to use any tech that they work with in their daily schedule. Hopefully, your company isnt affected by any of the common tech problems above. If it is, though, these tips can help you overcome them.