Finally Graduated 5 Ways to Turn Your Skills into Assets

Finally Graduated 5 Ways to Turn Your Skills into Assets University is full to the brim with enjoyable nights out and endless chats with mates,  and it comes with its fair share of nervous breakdowns, stressful exams and  revising into the wee hours, too.  And, now that you’ve finally graduated, you’re probably feeling a bit  worried about where to go from here. Everyone goes through this inner-turmoil. Anyone that has ever been  to university before understands the panicky ‘but what if I’m not good  enough?’ thoughts.  The key to jumping straight from university and into a job is in  knowing which doors are already standing open for you, and which you’ll  need to find the keys for.  Here are a few tips for you: 1) Be articulate: It’s 5.20pm, an employer is feeling tired and hungry, but they still have  a stack of CVs to trawl through. Anything less than perfect simply isn’t  going to cut it from this point onwards. Your CV needs to stand out from the crowd in every way possible. It  needs to be sharp, to-the-point and professional.  Here’s how: Get rid of chunky blocks of text that are hard to skim-read and replace  them with bullet-pointed lists. Filter out any filler and try to keep your CV under two pages. Beware of buzzwords. Overused buzzwords such  as ‘motivated’, ‘innovative’ and ‘dynamic’ can be an instant turn off for  employers. Always, always thoroughly proofread your CV to check for typos,  grammatical errors and unnecessary information. Include up-to-date contact information, including your email address,  phone number and LinkedIn profile. If relevant, add a link to your online portfolio to give employers a  chance to see your work. 2) Get to grips with networking: The word ‘networking’ probably conjures up images of schmoozy  dinners and awkward events, but this isn’t how it needs to be for you.  Networking is the number one way to meet people in the  business, and it can help you to find out who you need to know in  order to get a job. While a lot of recruiters probably don’t want you to know this, it’s really  the people you know that often gets you into a new job. If someone at a  company knows someone who knows you, their boss is much more likely  to hire you over a complete stranger. The personal recommendation that  you’ll come with can do wonders. You don’t need to get to know everyone, and you certainly don’t need to  pay a fortune to attend any swanky dinners, but what you do need to do is  get your name out there.  Start sending your CV out to all of the companies in your area that  you’d love to work for, and remember to craft an amazing covering letter  while you’re at it. You can see some important tips here. 3) Further your skills: Just because you have a degree now doesn’t necessarily mean that  your studies are complete. You may wish to strengthen your knowledge  by continuing to study on your own, or by taking additional classes or  qualifications in important aspects of your chosen industry. In fact, a lot of employers are actually more likely to hire graduates  with a broad knowledge of their field, rather than a narrowed  scope specialising in just one area. 4) Be prepared to get knocked back: It’s sad, but true. You will be rejected at least a handful of times before you get your first  job. Why? Simply because there are so many people applying for jobs at the  moment. Don’t take rejection too badly though. Understand that: It can give you a chance to hone your skills take any feedback and use it to better yourself. It is out of your control. At the end of the day, the employer has the final say in which candidate they go with, so don’t beat yourself up about it. Some employers may not actually know why they decide to hire certain  candidates and reject others. They often simply get gut reactions and feel as though they have to hire a particular person. 5) Keep up the hard work: The number one way to get into work after you graduate is to never  stop looking for jobs. Job hunting should become your job. You should be  looking for work every single day! There are lots of websites out there that you can use, and your  university is sure to be happy to help you with your search. They may even  be able to introduce you to some key people in the business. Have you recently graduated? If so, how will you handle your job  search? Let us know in the comments below. Author: Aurora Johnson works for  EmptyLemon.co.uk, a recruitment website that puts candidates directly in contact with  employers.

A Day In The Life Of A Chemistry Student by Shazmeen Hansrod

A Day In The Life Of A Chemistry Student by Shazmeen Hansrod Take a look at the typical day in the life of a Chemistry student, from tiresome lectures to inspiring lab sessions and extra-curricular pursuits. Image by RDECOM The first of three alarms sounds. Snooze button. Second alarm… snooze button. Third, and the wretched day begins. The Morning Lecture There is the usual rush to leave home with enough time to avoid being the moron that walks into the 9am lecture ten minutes late. If this day is anything like yesterday, I will be that moron once more. All seats taken in the lecture room, I awkwardly squeeze into the tiny spot between two fellow Chemistry students, the whiff of their late night beer lingers as I wriggle into my spot. By now, I have created the mother of all disturbances and I make every effort to avoid the glare of the lecturer. The lecture proceeds. Molecules, chemical reactions, electrons…the lecturer drones on and on and I make every effort to intently listen, understand and make note of all things explained and demonstrated. I am left exhausted and none the wiser with respect to the chemical conversion of reagent X to yield product Y. As the Day Progresses In the short break that follows, I sacrifice a trip to the coffee shop conveniently located on campus to earnestly try to meet my assignment deadline. Yes, I was assigned a week long period for its completion but with having to juggle all the other deadlines, not to mention all the mandatory reality TV, I just havent managed to fit it in. At lunch, the canteen is crammed with a herd of hungry students, trying to make a grab for the last pepperoni slice. Being the rather money-conscious and cash-strapped individual that I am, I find myself a seat and unwrap my home-made sandwich, consisting of some crusty bread and last night’s leftover chicken tikka. It is far from gourmet food but feasting on delicacies and living on a budget do not go hand in hand, and besides, I quite enjoy crusty bread and cold chicken tikka. The practical session follows shortly. I coat up in my usual lab gear, plonk a pair of goggles on and head into the lab. I follow the provided lab manual to prepare an iodide of tin and having successfully done so, I am reassured that there is indeed some justice in the world. Trip to the Heart of the University Having finished for the day, I make my way to the Students Union, which is often referred to as being the heart of the University. Getting involved in the campaigns run by the Union and fighting for student rights has always been a keen interest for me and I make a great effort to make my voice heard. Having been blessed with the gift of the gab, I manage to recruit a number of new members that are willing to become active volunteers for the Union and later head home content with the level of productivity for the day. Before I get dolled up for the Chemistry social planned for the night, I share a pizza with the housemates before tending to my other priorities, one of which is writing for GKBC. Having researched and composed my assigned article, the night is finally mine. Well, at least until the next alarm.

How to Use Free Video to Build Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Use Free Video to Build Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Got video? If you have a microphone attached to your computer, and know how to put together a 5 or 6 slide PowerPoint presentation, you can use free video to build your personal brand and market and sell your book. Its that easy! I can prove it. I went from 0 to 60 in one afternoonand didnt spend a dime to post my videos on Twitter. Want proof? My first video may not be perfect, but its up and running! Ive Tweeted it to my followers, who have further ReTweeted it.   I can ReTweet it at any point. Ive also embeded links to it in e-mails, blog posts, and my websites. Best of all, I can delete it and replace it whenever I want. There was nothing to buy, nothing to read, nothing to set-up and learn, and no files to upload! My first video took several hours to prepare, but my second took about 1/3 as much timeand was much better! All for free! Introducing Screenr.com Screenr.com is a free web-based video recorder designed for instant production of screencasts for Twitter.com.   There is no software to purchase or download. It works equally well on PC or Mac computers. Screenr.com hosts your videos, and automatically uploads them when youre satisfied with their quality. This means there are no files to upload. Screenr creates a unique URL for each video, plus copy-and-paste HTML text for embedding links in your e-mails, blog posts, and websites. Theres virtually no learning curve; Screenr.com uses an easy 1-2-3 interface. Screenr.com is the perfect entry point for individuals who may have shied away from more complex video solutions with longer learning curves. What do you need to get started? There are a few things you need to get started with Screenr: Twitter. To take advantage of Screenr.com, you need to be registered at Twitter.com. Microphone. Youll need a microphone, or headset, connected to your computer. I recommend a headset so your hands will be free to advance the visuals. Presentation software. I recommend getting started by basing a presentation program like Powerpoint as the basis of your initial videos. You can also use mind maps, or any other program you can use to illustrate your points as you describe them. 3 steps to success Heres how to create your first videos: Step 1: Identify your core message and main ideas. Use a 5 or 6 slide presentation to plan, illustrate, and pace your message. Start by creating a title slide which youll display as you introduce yourself. Next, create 3 or 4 blank slides that you will use for the 3 or 4 main ideas that you want to describe in your video. Think in terms of 3 or 4 tips, steps, recommendations, or strategies for the core of your video. Finish by creating a closing slide that youll use for a next step, or call to action. Step 2: Flesh out your ideas. The next step is to add text and graphics to your PowerPoint slides and prepare a word-processed script to accompany the visuals. Script is perhaps the wrong term, because it implies youre going to read it during you visual. Youre not going to literarly read it, like a speech, but youre going to use your word-processed document as a guide to discussing each of the visuals. Keep your visuals simple; a few keywords and simple graphics that illustrate your key points are enough. Step 3: Record, delete, and re-record. No one gets it right the first time you record. Chances are, youll have written far more words than you need. Watch the elapsed time indicator on Screenrs recording screen; continue to edit and delete until youre down to a few short sentences for each visual. Soon, youll be discussing your ideas with your market, instead of reading to them. Dont over-complicate things! Construct your videos around a brief introduction, followed by 3 or 4 examples, recommendations, steps, suggestions, and tips. Conclude with a call-to-action. Moving on If you havent been using video, because of its presumed complexity, and are looking for a free video solution to build your personal brand and sell your book, youll find Screenr.com the perfect starting point. It gets you started with no cost and minimum hassle. It will encourage you to distill your messages down to a few, short, message units delivered as concisely as possible. Working with Screenr.com will help you get comfortable in a new medium. After that, the skys the limit! In the meantime, if youre already working with Screenr, or know of other, similar, options, please share your experiences and recommendations with others interested in using video to build their personal brand. Author: Roger C. Parker is book coach who shares ideas for planning, writing, promoting, profiting from brand building books in his daily writing tips blog. His latest book is #BOOK TITLE Tweet: 140 Bite-Sized Ideas for Compelling Article, Book, Event Titles.

Personal Branding Weekly - Text How to Add Your Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Weekly - Text â€" How to Add Your Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Everything we say or do represents our brand. We make an impression on others when we communicate with them, whatever way we do that. When you post your contact details on your webpage or people find them on your social media site, they will try to reach you personally. Some customers would prefer to text message you to ask about basic things. Your reply is going to be crucial because it may be the only chance you have with that person. You want to make a strong first impression even when it’s through text messaging. When you decide to place your mobile number out there for your customers, you have to be ready to communicate with them effectively. Keep in mind that all those who reach you are potential customers. A mobile phone is different from a computer â€" it’s harder to write messages on smaller devices, especially without the keyboard. Make sure to use it wisely. Here are some tips on how you can make an impression through text messaging: Turn off your auto correct  â€" all phones come with auto correct; it’s a feature that is supposed to help a user text faster because of the predefined words saved on the phone. However, auto correct jokes are becoming a form of entertainment today because of how wrongly the words are placed in the text. Since you are doing business, it’s better to turn your auto correct off so you don’t risk saying the wrong things to your recipient. But be sure to still spell your words correctly, no shortcuts because this can be really annoying to someone who is isn’t especially experienced in using “text language”. Keep it short and simple  â€" typing is hard, and since your auto correct is turned off, keep your message short and simple. It will save you and your recipient time and energy. Give them what they need, or you can ask them if you can call to further explain your answer. Make sure to review your message before you hit send. You don’t want your customer to be misled in any way. Check the recipient  â€" after checking your message and you’re ready to send it, check the recipient. Sometimes we’re busy thinking about other things that we send messages to wrong recipients. It’s an easy away to keep a good impression with everyone you’re connected with especially when you have numbers of your customer saved on your phone. You don’t want them getting the wrong message. If you are the one who receives a wrong message, respond to that message to inform him/her that they sent a message to the wrong person. Be courteous  â€" at all times. Take note of your tone when you are composing a text message, make sure that your recipient doesn’t get a chance to misinterpret it. When you know that they don’t have your number, do introduce yourself before proceeding with your message. Also, when you’re in a face-to-face conversation with someone, text messaging is as rude as taking a voice call. Choose a proper time to respond. Time of response  â€" Watch the time you respond to a text message. Waking someone up or texting late comes with a lasting impression on who you are as a person. Don’t depend on text messages  â€" text messaging is informal. And, don’t deliver bad news using text. Or, anything that could be misinterpreted â€" the smartphone can still be used as a phone. Be patient  â€" when you send text messages, don’t expect your recipient to receive your message right away. Just like you, your recipient might be busy with their daily tasks. Here are last weeks posts from your Personal Branding authors: What Every Woman Needs to Know About Personal Branding  by Crystal Washington Today’s Very Bad Rap On Millennials’ Reputation  by Nance Rosen Never Work Just For Money  by Ceren Cubukcu Asking Creates Unlimited Opportunity  by Elinor Stutz Thinking of Getting a Job?  by Alex Freund The Discomfort Zone: An Interview with Dr. Marcia Reynolds  by Bill Connolly How Universities Are Failing Their Graduates, Part 2  by Richard Kirby Is the Hiring Process Really a ‘Game’? Yes, it is!  by Skip Freeman Staying Personal While Expanding Your Business  by Maria Elena Duron Plan for a “Tech Day” when Starting a New Job  by Jeff Shuey Facebook Groups Pages Benefit Personal Brands  by Susan Gilbert Don’t Become a Victim Just Because You Work in a Toxic Workplace  by Dr. Paul White Freelancers, Make Sure You Get Paid  by Leslie Truex What Executives Can Learn From Dog Owners  by Beth Kuhel 15 Behaviors and Traits of Great Leaders  by Ken Sundheim Perfect Fit for the Position? Expect to Lose!  by Mac Miller

How does a company prove its really committed to diversity - Debut

How does a company prove it’s really committed to diversity - Debut When you’re thinking about the most important part of a new job, money is probably the first thing on the agenda. And, rightly so, we all need to eat. Perhaps after that you might think about the commute and the working hours, or even the perks of the job (though they probably aren’t what you should be focusing on). But there is another key factor which appears harder for companies to get right â€" and one which is just as vital to employees. Diversity has been on the agenda for a while now, and we’ve talked about it long enough to know that it’s not only the right thing to do, but also something which comes with massive benefits for businesses. We know it’s good for innovation and we know it’s good for profits â€" but it’s also a massive deal breaker for workers.   A survey of more than 1,000 people last year found that more than half would up sticks if their company didn’t take it seriously, while LinkedIn’s Global Recruitment Trends report also found it was the top priority for recruiters in 2018. But that doesn’t mean everything has sorted itself over night, with many top companies struggling to make real changes within their business. So, how does a company move past tokenism and lip-service? ‘It’s Very Easy To Pay Lip Service To Diversity’ It’s a question which has important implications across industries, however, it’s especially relevant in investment and finance. Just this year an Investment Week study found that the sector is 82 percent male, compared to a population average of 49 percent. What’s more, when you look at the seniority of the women who have made it, things get even worse.   Just a quarter of female employees have been in the industry for 20 years or more, compared to some 42 percent of men. “It’s very easy to pay lip-service to diversity,” says Robyn Grew, the Chief Administrative Officer of Man Group. “However, to see real change, we need to take action across the industry.” It’s something the company have invested heavily in during the past few years, with Robyn pointing towards their Paving the Way initiative.   “[It’s] our way of taking action,” she explains, “creating a pathway for diverse candidates to enter and succeed within our industry.”   The project was born in 2018, the same year Man Group signed the Government’s Women in Finance Charter. Now with more than 350 signatories, the charter was introduced to help drive sustainable change within finance. Companies who sign on the dotted line aren’t just making a public statement though â€" they’re also expected to make real changes within their business. ‘We Need To Make Sure There’s Meaningful Change’ Amongst other things, this includes setting internal targets for gender diversity in senior management and publishing them annually. It also means agreeing to have a senior executive who’s directly responsible (and accountable) for gender diversity, as well as linking senior executive pay to delivering on diversity targets. And, informally, the charter reaches even further, with a recent survey of signatories showing that four-fifths were also looking to improve diversity across other areas such as race, sexuality, disability, and socio-economic background. “It’s great to see so many financial organisations signed up to the Charter,” Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, said earlier this year. However, he was keen to stress that it wasn’t something to be “complacent” about. “We need to make sure this is translated into meaningful change across the sector,” he added. And, for Man Group at least, it seems to be paying off. In 2016, women made up just 16 percent of senior management at Man Group, a figure which has since increased to 22 percent in 2018, leaving them on track to hit their target of 25 percent female representation by December 2020. And it’s something they put down to both an internal strategy which works across three areas â€" diverse recruitment now, outreach to the next generation, and a strong suite of support to help internal progression. ‘What Really Stood Out To Me Was The Long Term Development’ Romy Shum joined Man Group on their graduate scheme in 2016, and for her the companys culture was one of its biggest selling points.   “Something that has really stood out to me is the extent to which people across the firm take an active interest in your long-term development,” she explains.   “I have regular catch-ups with my mentor and have been able to develop an open dialogue with many senior people across the business.” As well as being assigned a mentor, employees are also able to benefit from further academic studies such as chartered accountancy, flexible working policies and dedicated career events. All in all, it allows for a much more cohesive route to the top.   And, it’s an attitude that’s stuck with Matilde Monticelli, who joined the Sales Analyst Programme: “When the firm brings you in, they really care about you,” she adds. “If they see you have a good attitude, they will support you. People are good to you and support you in your career.” While it’s undeniable there’s still a long way to way to go for diversity in finance, it’s clear that getting things right is about much more than principles and lofty statements. Creating meaningful change means actions on many levels â€" it’s about tying together targets with career support, addressing the diversity pipeline, and being proactive with diverse recruitment. And, to be honest, we think it’s about time more companies got the memo. This piece was produced in conjunction with Man Group. You can find more details about their investment management graduate scheme and internships here, which is open for applications until November 3.

Australian Train Driver Interview Tips - Research - How 2 Become

Australian Train Driver Interview Tips - Research - How 2 Become As you can imagine, in the build up to the interview you will need to carry out plenty of research. Research that is, in relation to the role of a Trainee Train Driver and also the Train Operating Company that you are applying to join. Here are some areas and Australian Train Driver interview tips for improving your research skills.Job and Person Specification â€" Australian Train Driver Interview TipsThe job specification is the description and details of the job you’re applying for. This will include details such as responsibilities, working hours, training, and so on. Make sure you’ve brushed up on these before going into the interview.The person specification is the description of what the TOC is looking for in a candidate. This can include information of core competencies or values or required qualifications. Make sure that you meet all of these, and have examples of how you meet the expectations set by the TOC.Your Responses to the Application Form QuestionsIf you’ve answ ered competency-based questions in your application form, then you will likely be asked to expand on them during your interview. So, if you gave an account of a time you delivered excellent customer service, be ready to speak about it and expand on what you wrote. The best way to prepare for this is to keep a photocopy or another digital copy of your application form, and then read over it before attending your interview.The Website of the Train Operating Company You are Applying to JoinWhat is their customer service charter? Do they have a mission statement? What services do they provide? What is their geographical area? How many people work for them? Who is the person in charge? What stations do they operate out of? What trains do they operate? Do they operate any schemes in order to improve customer service? What are the future plans of the TOC?Try to visit a train station that the TOC operates out of. Speak to some of the staff at the station and ask them questions about the rol e they perform. Try to find out as much as possible about the TOC you are applying for. If you get the opportunity, speak to a qualified Train Driver who works for the TOC. You may also decide to telephone the TOCs Human Resources department and ask if you can go along to find out a little bit more about their organisation and what they expect from their employees. This entry was posted in Career Advice, 'How To' Help, Interviews. Bookmark the permalink. Jacob Senior Australian Train Driver Interview Tips â€" Interview TechniquePolice Final Interview Pass Rate: How To Impress The Assessors

How to Write a Resume - The Most Important Tips For Writers

How to Write a Resume - The Most Important Tips For WritersA resume is an important tool in the job hunting process. It must be professionally written and must clearly display relevant experience and skills that could help in getting the desired job.There are many common mistakes that people make when writing a resume. Those mistakes can delay the hiring process or even cause a job rejection. If you want to avoid those mistakes, this article will show you how to write a resume in the best way possible.When writing a resume, it's important to remember that the job interview is the most important part of the entire process. The interviewer will see the content of your resume on a first impression basis. Therefore, you should have clearly outlined all your accomplishments and strengths. Your accomplishments should not only list your job titles, but also the jobs you've held, years you've worked at them, and the titles of the companies where you've worked. Be sure to include any degrees or certifications you've received that are relevant to the position.It's important to remember that when you're writing a resume, a resume format is absolutely necessary. Do not use a two page resume as a start. Instead, make a solid list of your accomplishments, skills, and education. This will help you be sure that your resume does not look like a blizzard of data.One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they use a resume format that is too long. The resume should always be brief, concise, and professional. It is advised that you do not include a job history that goes back for a long time. Also, avoid including a list of all your education and certifications, unless you are specifically applying for a college or university job.There are a lot of free resume examples online that will show you how to format your resume properly. They are very helpful when it comes to writing a resume that displays your most appropriate skills and experiences. Aside from teaching you how to write a good resume, these examples can also be useful for you when trying to land a job.Don't forget to keep your resume updated throughout your job search. Always make sure that your resume is current and organized. Be sure to submit your resume and cover letter to as many employers as possible.Finally, keep in mind that the right type of resume is one that can help you get the job you want. So, always make sure to follow the tips above to help you create a resume that will help you land that job of your dreams.