1,000 Blog Posts!

1,000 Blog Posts! I started blogging in June of 2006.  This is my 1,000th blog post (that image shows 999 from before today).  How cool is that? I wasnt sure what I was getting into when I started blogging.  But I was sold early on, and theres NO looking back. Thank you, to each of you who have ever read a post, passed something to a friend or group, left a comment (joined the conversation!), or otherwise supported me. I dont really get paid to blog, but it supports my business objectives, and has helped me think through many issues in a critical way.  It has helped me develop my corporate brand and my personal brand.  It has shown my strengths and my weaknesses, and made me think about who I am and how I communicate. Blogging has helped me develop myself as a professional and prepared me to become an author (2 books published, more coming).  It has given me a place to whine and a place to celebrate.  It has helped me know that, even though I work from home, Im not alone, and that I can touch many, many lives. Blogging has been empowering and in a  weird  way, addicting :p Heres to another 1,000 posts! 1,000 Blog Posts! I started blogging in June of 2006.  This is my 1,000th blog post (that image shows 999 from before today).  How cool is that? I wasnt sure what I was getting into when I started blogging.  But I was sold early on, and theres NO looking back. Thank you, to each of you who have ever read a post, passed something to a friend or group, left a comment (joined the conversation!), or otherwise supported me. I dont really get paid to blog, but it supports my business objectives, and has helped me think through many issues in a critical way.  It has helped me develop my corporate brand and my personal brand.  It has shown my strengths and my weaknesses, and made me think about who I am and how I communicate. Blogging has helped me develop myself as a professional and prepared me to become an author (2 books published, more coming).  It has given me a place to whine and a place to celebrate.  It has helped me know that, even though I work from home, Im not alone, and that I can touch many, many lives. Blogging has been empowering and in a  weird  way, addicting :p Heres to another 1,000 posts!

Resume Writing Services

Resume Writing ServicesResume writing services New York provide professional and efficient work experience submissions and consultation services to various organizations in New York, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, hospitals, professional associations, and social service agencies. The writers for these services are professionals who have years of experience in this field.Professional resume services provide an extensive range of services in addition to getting the job done. Some of the services include:With a professional resume service you get help in crafting a professional cover letter and then receive help on creating a professional resume. The resume writing services of professional resume services New York will explain everything you need to know about the application process to get your job. You will be given guidance on how to write a great cover letter and then follow instructions on how to prepare a professional resume for your job application. These services will guide you through the entire job application process from start to finish.Every potential employer and applicant want to receive a tailored, thoughtful resume that shows their qualities and skills. Most professionals resume writing services New York use software programs to customize resumes for a variety of needs. This ensures that the person who submits the resume has exactly what is needed to get the job. A professional resume service not only customizes resumes, but also advice on best practices when writing a cover letter and helping applicants to prepare for interviews.Resume writing services New York customize resumes for specific positions in government agencies, colleges, hospitals, and other organizations. The New York resumes services not only provide quality customised resumes, but also help with choosing a career or training program to fit your career goals. The professional resume writing services to help people from all over t he world find jobs in the organization they are targeting.The resume writing servicesof professional resume services New York are able to offer their services to individuals who want to improve their chances of landing a job. They also provide help in creating a successful resume for a potential employee to use to get noticed by the employers in their target industries.Resume writing services New York provide experts in the field of resume writing, from resume outline to actual resumes. There are many resume writing services available in the market today, but most of them can hardly claim to be professional. It is important to hire the services of a professional service to have a smooth and hassle free job search.A resume is the first and most important thing that a job seeker will send to an employer. With professional resume writing services New York you will be able to ensure that your resume makes a good impression with the employer.

Three Years On A Fashion Course First year

Three Years On A Fashion Course First year I decided to put the year overviews into 3 separate posts, as putting them all in one post would make for a very long reading! But this is a general overview of the way my course was structured, however, different unis will do things differently, but the basis will still be the same. This is part of the  â€œThe Life and Times of a Fashion Student” Series First Year I think with most courses, the first year is all about going back to basics and getting all the students learning at the same pace. My class had a lot of mixed ability in it, with some beginners and some experienced sewers. I found my first week to be quite daunting, there was so much information to take in all at once, so here are a few tips to hopefully make it a bit easier for you: Take a diary and write down everything; you will get so many dates, etc. thrown at you, that it will be impossible to remember them all. If possible, try and email ahead to find out exactly what equipment you will need to bring during the first week. Chances are that you won’t need anything more than a notebook, pen and diary, but it’s best to be sure. Trust me, it is not fun when you bring all your stuff in to find you don’t need it! Speaking of equipment, get into the habit of packing everything the night before, because everything seems to conveniently disappear when you are in a rush the next morning. Make friends and chat to everybody! Don’t be shy, just get stuck in. In terms of course content, we learnt a variety of things with different projects. Basic sewing and pattern cutting skills were learnt by using calico (cheap canvas-type material) and making things in miniature, and towards the end of the year we moved on to making more challenging items, like a man’s shirt and an outfit of our choice.In terms of design, the first couple of weeks were spent improving our drawing skills and focusing on how to develop a style and draw models. After that we moved on to themed work and learnt research techniques and how to source fabrics. This was actually one of my favourite lessons, and it made a nice change from the technical side of things. We also took 2 specialised subjects for a term each, knit and millinery which I think was quite unusual for a university to do. We learnt the very basics in these subjects and made a hat in each, to give us a taster and then went on to choose the one we wanted to specialise in in second year.   We also had a con textual studies lesson once a week, which was basically about refining our writing skills by doing catwalk reports and group presentations. Like I mentioned earlier, this is just a brief overview of what I experienced over the first year; it will obviously vary depending on your course and university. I also feel it’s worth mentioning that during my first year I didn’t get on very well with a certain lesson, due to not having a lot of experience in that area, and comments were made by a member of staff which made me feel stupid and inadequate. This used to upset me to the point of wanting to drop out. If any of you ever feel this way, then talk to someone like your student reps, union or anybody from the university. I wish I had, because I would have been a lot happier. There’s a lot of support out there, especially within the SU, and it’s not worth feeling crappy and having your confidence knocked out because of a bad experience. I hope you all enjoyed this and, as always, please feel free to email me any feedback at lauracbrandon@yahoo.com, tweet me @misslaurameow and visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/polkadotteapotdesigns Read More of the  â€œThe Life and Times of a Fashion Student” Series  

To Startup Is No Longer the Question - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

To Startup Is No Longer the Question - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Its become so easy to build a startup: all it takes is a $100 or an intro to a group of well connected entrepreneurs to get your juices flowing. Its no longer a question about how to start a company, but rather, what type of company should you start. The following are the different types of companies you can start and the pros and cons associated with each one. Internet Startup Internet startups are the Facebooks and Twitters of the world. These are the startups that get all the press on Techcrunch and raise millions of dollars to hopefully score a multi-million dollar exit or IPO 5-7 years down the line. Weve all fantasized about being the next Mark Zuckerberg and building a company that changes an industry and solidifies your legacy in this world. Pros: Its the big vision the big exit potential Impact an entire industry and change the way people previously did things Cons: Youll need to raise money from angels or venture capitalists to get your company off the ground If youre not an engineer, then youre out of luck The vast majority of internet startups fail Can consume your life, so its easier to run an internet startup while youre young as oppose to when you have a family to take care of and a mortgage Agency Marketing, advertising, SEO, and PR agencies are so easy to start. All you need is a skill that somebody else needs: you can drive traffic to a website, you can get a company press, or you can improve conversion rates for a site. Though its your company, youre always working to make someone elses company better; you always have a boss, which is your client. Pros: The more clients you get, the more money you make No startup cost all you need is a client Results based: make your client money and the more money theyll pay you and the longer theyll keep you as their preferred agency Cons: Though its your company, you still have a boss your client Churn: companies come and go, even if youve done a great job, projects end Hours worked can be excruciatingly long (like an internet startup), except youre working to make someone elses company succeed E-commerce E-commerce stores have  recently  boomed (Refinery29, Nasty Gal, Fab), many of which are raising millions of dollars and being run like internet startups. In addition, with innovative platforms like Shopify and Storenvy, its never been easier to build an e-commerce store and start selling immediately. Pros: Super easy to start a store just sell your own clothing Complete control of your own brand Cons: Costs money to purchase inventory (if you choose to go that route) Fashion e-commerce stores are about building a brand, which means SEO and Adwords dont help Affiliate This is my favorite type of business. In an affiliate business, you sell another companys product. For example, my sites sell tours to South America and Asia. I drive traffic to a site, close a deal, collect the money, and hand the tourist off to my partnered agency that handles all the rest. I have no costs unless I pay for advertisements its a great business model as long as you have the right, trustworthy partners. Pros: No cost to start as youre selling someone elses product or service If you create the right systems, then you can easily remove yourself from the equation and achieve passive income All you need to do is focus on two things: driving traffic and converting the traffic Cons: Can be difficult to find the right industry and the right partner It can be difficult to track conversions and closed deals, so a dishonest partner may skip your commissions Coaching Coaching is teaching individuals how to do things. For example, you can coach people about fitness, how to start a company, how to get out of debt, or picking up women. Its easy to start this type of business, all you need is an expertise, but it can also be difficult to make it a very lucrative  business. Pros: Super easy to start Marketing approach is straight forward: build a blog, write good content, become an expert Make your own hours and work from anywhere Cons: Can be difficult to establish expertise Its easy to start a blog; its difficult to drive traffic and keep consistency with writing What type of startup will you start? Author: Jun Loayza is the founder of How to go to North Korea, an innovative travel company focused on taking to new locations. In his startup experience, Jun has sold 2 companies, raised over $1 million in funding, and lead online marketing campaigns for Sephora, Whole Foods Market, and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Reviews of Pro Resume Writing Services

Reviews of Pro Resume Writing ServicesThere are many companies that provide professional resume writing services to help you get hired in your chosen field of career. These services can cost you a lot of money and require a commitment of time and effort.When you choose to hire such service, you should know the following: they can take over your entire job, they may ask you to be in a meeting with them once a week, they may provide you with a certain amount of material to be used in your work, you have to spend money for their services, you will have to pay an application fee and most of all, you will have to pay for their supplies and work with them for a long period of time. You should not leave it all to these agencies.A Pro's Review is an initiative of recruiting agencies that provide a written review of what has been said and written by Pro-Resume writing companies. If you take advantage of these agencies, you will be able to choose only the best in the industry and save some mon ey. These agencies are not all the same so you will have to make your own choice to avoid losing out on something that is of higher quality.Reviews can be obtained from several sources. Some of the good and reputable review sites include: Jobthority, PayScale, Indeed, Crunchbase, and Glassdoor. These websites, along with others like Tencent, Angie's List, Chasing Moon, Google, Yelp, can be a good source of information and will give you a fair idea of what a company is all about.Reviews will also let you know if a particular company has been around for a long time. Some of these services also have testimonials from clients who have already made use of their services. Check out reviews to make sure that the reviews are unbiased.Professional resume writing services should provide you with a sample resume that you can look at. These samples can be found on several job websites and on the company's official website.When reading through the sample resume, it is important to ensure that th e formatting is identical to the final document and that there are no errors. You should then sign the contract and hand over the contract along with all the necessary documents.You should make sure that the writers of the resumes do not change the format of the samples. It is important that they follow the style guides on the resume sample and any changes should be noted in the reviews so that they do not cause any disputes.

5 Steps to the Career You Want [2020] CareerMetis.com

5 Steps to the Career You Want [2020] With the holiday season coming to an end, and the new year right around the corner, you might be setting some New Year’s goals and resolutions for yourself. While some people want to eat less fast food or make their beds every morning, you might have bigger things on your mind, like switching careers or leaving a current job that makes you unhappy.There’s no time like the present to kickstart the life you want, but if waiting for a big moment to change is your speed, now is that moment. If going to the office is a drag, or you just don’t enjoy what you’re doing, get out of it and spark the change you want to see!evalConsider the following tips to help get you on the path to the career you want for yourself in 2020…1) Do Your ResearchTake some time and look into different things you might be interested in. Whether that’s similar to what you do now or pursuing a passion that has been reserved for when you get home from the usual 9-5.Start by writing down what you like about your current job, and dislike, from there you can start building a list of qualities you’ll be looking for. If you can separate these, it will help you have a clear path in mind about the qualities, or topics you enjoy and what ultimately drove you to look for something new and fresh. Try your best to not just focus on the negatives of your current state. It’s likely you enjoy a few aspects of your current job, even the activities that seem monotonous.If you’re just looking to find a new company, or want to switch industries completely, head over to a site like a Glassdoorto get a feel for positions that are open, stack a salary against another, and learn other industry insights about your potential future employer. There are other platforms you can do research on, including the company’s website or social media, this will help give you a feel of what they stand for, and their culture, which we’ll touch on a little later.Additionally, reaching out to people on platforms l ike LinkedIn, or talking to friends in the industry will give you great inside information on what they do day-to-day. Not only will this give you helpful information about what to expect in certain roles, but they will be more likely to tell you the truth instead of the rehearsed recruiter pitch. When reaching out to people, try bringing something of value to the table. Whether you offer to take them for coffee or begin by complimenting a recent project they just completed. Try your best to stay away from directly asking them for a job, or how to apply, save that until the end when you reach out.Remember, you are still in the discovery phase and want to keep your options and opinions open.2) Perfect Your ResumeA resume that stands outcould be your ticket into your dream job. We aren’t just talking color or design, but the content should be relevant to the position you’re looking to apply for. When applying for multiple positions across several industries, it’s not uncommon to have several different resumés and cover letters. Each resumé should be tailored uniquely to the position you’re pursuing. Even if the same experiences are listed on each, the tasks, or how it pertains to the position you’re applying for might change.evalYour cover letter, though not always required on applications is a good idea to have. This is a chance for you to show your personality a little bit, communicate why you want the job, and touch on a few highlights in your resume. The cover letter should be different for each application and reflect the job description relatively closely. For example, if some of the requirements include time-management, 2+ years of experience and communication skills, it’s wise to include those impactful words in the cover letter and relate how you hold these qualities and can bring the hiring manager value.Image SourceMany hiring managers opt for a resumé that’s one page as this allows them to look it over quickly, so there’s probably no reason to include the summer job you had in high school if you’ve had your current job for a while. If managers are flipping through dozens of resumes a day, you’ll want your important information to stick out. Whether that’s your name, a big-name reference, or a well-known past employer. Finding a way for your resumé to pop out of the crowd is vital to be noticed.If designing a new resumé is out of your wheelhouse, or you haven’t worried about it in years, consider talking to a career coach to get some pointers and have them help you word it concisely while also making an impact. Just remember that crafting your resumé should be done at home so the coworkers at your current job don’t get suspicious and alert your manager.Remember, your resume should reflect you in a positive light, so include some of your best highlights, and don’t be afraid to brag a bit, this isn’t the time to be modest!3) Check the CultureevalWhether you want to move to a new industry complet ely, or just want a company change, odds are that the place you go will be different than what you’re used to. Understanding a company’s culture will give you vital insight into what your future day-to-day could look like.Here’s one place you can find a drastic improvement from your current position. If your current job is stiff and quiet, maybe you would benefit from a louder, more energetic work environment. Culture is one of the biggest buzzwords in the business world relating to jobs, and for good reason.A great culture can make work fun and enjoyable, but spotting a poor culture can be tricky. Stay on the lookout for signs during your interviewlike a sullen office atmosphere, or ask for tips about what the office environment is like from others who have worked there.Some ways to get a feel for the culture is to ask probing questions like “So what do people do together outside of work?” A positive office culture might have an answer like “All of our coworkers go to H appy Hour together on Friday afternoons.” A poor culture answer might reply with “We just work together, that’s it.” We’re sure you could make a better judgment after answers like that!Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comAside from how people interact, understanding a company’s culture can also give you a clue about how to dress for the interview to ensure you make a great first impression. If you’re interviewing for a position at a law firm, odds are you aren’t going to show up in a Hawaiian shirt. The same can be said for a company that has a younger workforce that dresses in business casual. Understanding the culture will allow you to go in and look like them, showing the hiring manager, and current employees you’re comfortable in the setting and allowing them to focus on you and your skills, rather than your dress.Being comfortable from the start is also a sign of a company with a great culture. A welcoming, inviting office scene might be a breath of fresh air if you’ re coming from a company set on competition and secretively trying to outdo coworkers.4) Talk to FamilyHunting for a job can be stressful, but what’s worse is when you aren’t happy. The last thing you want to do is bottle up your emotions, as this can lead you to stress over even the tiniest of challenges. If you’re reading this still, odds are you aren’t happy you’re your current job, so don’t let those feelings stack up. Instead, lean on the family when making big decisions for advice, and to just vent how you feel overall.Whether it’s an initial conversation about what’s on your mind, or further down the line when you’re in a position to choose between a few options, don’t ignore your emotions. Instead, let your trusted friends and family take some weight off your shoulders, who knows, they could have some great ideas!evalNot only will this make the decision a little easier on yourself, but they could have different perspectives which could turn you on to even better paths to look into. By opening up to them, you could inspire them to do the same and set them on a path for something better as well.5) Get in a New RoutineWhether it be working out in the morning, or going to bed earlier, if you focus on things other than just a new job, you’re less likely to become stressed out by keeping yourself busy. So go ahead and try picking up a new routine to care for your body and mind during this stressful time. And, for some people, habits can be formed in just a couple weeksso it won’t take long before a little self-care fits naturally into your day.As you develop new habits, try applying them to the career you want and find different ways they can help you get you where you want to go. Maybe you’re interested in getting into a new industry; find a skill relevant to your potential job, and start practicing it daily in your own life.For example, if you need to strengthen your leadership skills, consider looking for volunteer positions with the opportunity to mentor or manage teams. Not only will this help you weed out what you like/dislike in a role, but it will also show a hiring manager that you’re taking the time and initiative to learn about the demands of the position for which you’re applying.Regardless of the career, you choose, or what you want to do in 2020, picking your own happiness is of the utmost importance. Understanding the process of how to go about changing jobs can be a winding road, but stay true to your goal and you’ll get there!evalNo one point is greater than the other, and they will all help you take the steps towards being happier. As you traverse the roads of changing careers. Or industries in general, you’ll likely find some good practices of your own.So whether it’s doing thorough research on different companies, or new industries, or dusting off your resumé, make sure you take your time on each phase. Culture can be the make or break of discovering new company’s and is likely one of the biggest reasons you want to leave your current job. Culture comes down to how people interact with each other inside and out of the office and what type of environment you can expect each day. The culture will reflect on your overall mood and happiness even more so than the work you do.At the end of the day, you want to walk into a place where you will be surrounded by people who are supportive, and you don’t mind spending 40 hours a week with them. If you can find this while also doing something you love, you’re setting yourself up for a great career.Leaning on family and friends will help take the pressure of the situation while also opening you up to new thoughts. You know yourself better than anyone, but people who see you in a professional environment, or at home might key you into some things you don’t know or wouldn’t necessarily think about when it comes to you. Say for example you might not be a morning person, they could suggest you find a company with flexible work hours, which would be an awesome plus.Regardless of what career path you choose, be sure to reflect on what has gotten you to the point that you’re at now, and understand it’s going to take time, emotions, and tough decisions to get you to where you aspire.By following these tips, and cultivating a few of your own, there’s no doubt you will be on your way to being happier and more fulfilled in your career!

What You Can Learn From Recruiters Bullhorn Reach 2013 Report

What You Can Learn From Recruiters Bullhorn Reach 2013 Report Bullhorn Reach just released their  2013 North American  Social Recruiting  Activity Report and I wanted to help you understand what this might mean for your job search. Theres a lot you can learn from recruiters (both in-house and third-party) and how they source candidates! Who Is Bullhorn Reach? In case you havent heard or seen this name before, Bullhorn Reach was launched in February 2011 and was  designed to help recruiters leverage social media to source candidates more effectively. Over 170,000 recruiters subscribe to this service to tap into social recruiting. If you are connected to recruiters on LinkedIn, you may have seen their Bullhorn Reach status updates in your stream. The Bullhorn Reach report is based on data gathered from over 160,000 North American recruiters in 2012 and it  examines their social media activity    across the “big three” social networks â€" LinkedIn,  Facebook, and Twitter. LinkedIn Reigns Supreme LinkedIn is the g0-to source for sourcing candidates because it produces applications. 5.5X more applications than Facebook and Twitter delivers 1.3X more applications than Facebook (Twitter declined in producing applicants in 2013.)   My take on this is that job seekers prefer to use LinkedIn for job searching because they know their LinkedIn profile best represents them professionally (True? let me know in a comment!) It may also be due to the fact that Twitter locked down their API so users can no longer apply with their Twitter profile through Bullhorn Reach.  What This Means For Job Seekers You have to have a LinkedIn profile and it has to be keyword rich! You need to connect with recruiters on LinkedIn. You also have to monitor your LinkedIn homepage regularly if you want to see the jobs recruiters you are connected to are promoting! What Types of Jobs Are Being Posted using Bullhorn Reach? Information Technology Finance and Banking Healthcare These are the top three categories of jobs being recruited for using Bullhorn Reach however, take a look at the other types of jobs recruiters are sourcing via social networks in this chart. As we see more jobs become harder to fill, you can probably expect more activity through social recruiting. (Some say we are headed towards a war for talent whereby recruiters will be hunting harder for the best and the brightest- perhaps even stealing when necessary.) What This Means for Job Seekers No matter what occupation you are in, you need to be on social networks, specifically LinkedIn. Expect to see jobs moving away from the job boards (or change)  and move towards social networks or become even more integrated with social networks. Learn how these social networks work! What you can lock down, how to interact, where to find jobs, etc. Is Bigger Better? Recruiters with bigger networks did get more applications, but not as a percentage of their connections. So which is better, quantity or quality? That is a question this study doesnt address.  But overall this is a numbers game. Your potential message/reach is only as big as the number of people in your network. If you only know 20 people, that limits the ability for people to know about you and what you are saying, doing and looking for. (Not good during an active job search!) What This Means for Job Seekers Your chances of gaining a recruiters attention by interacting with them on Facebook or Twitter may allow you to stand out since they arent interacting with as many people on these networks. Recruiters want to connect with you and grow their network! It becomes their own private, more targeted distribution channel for jobs. Get comfortable and know the rules of engagement on all 3 social networks so you can maximize your presence on all three.   Take Aways from this Study 1) LinkedIn is a must-use resource for job seekers to discover jobs being advertised by recruiters. 2) Job seekers MUST connect with recruiters on LinkedIn (whether they know the person or not) in order to quickly find the shared opportunities. You must also understand how to work with recruiters, so please read this post! 3) Individual recruiters might have social network preferences, so dont give up on the other Twitter and Facebook (yet!). Just be sure they represent you professionally. If you would like to download a copy of Bullhorn Reachs full report, follow this link. Have you used Bullhorn Reach to apply for jobs? What was your experience?

How to ensure you see what you want to see on Facebook -

How to ensure you see what you want to see on Facebook - Businesses have been noticing their Facebook engagement has been harder to keep up. Perhaps you arent seeing the updates from companies you want to see. Or, you want to see more of your friends vacation photos, but youre seeing another friends political posts instead. Did you know you can influence what you see in your Facebook feed?  Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced that Facebook intends to drive engagement that research shows is most valuable for its users. While passively scrolling through Facebook does not correlate with a better sense of wellbeing, feeling well connected with people who are actual friends does correlate with “long term measures of happiness and health.” As a result, a video from Facebook says the network with determine if the online interaction is between two people or between people and a page. What can you do to keep up with  the information you want to see even if it is from companies.   Maybe you enjoy viewing updates from organizations and companies, or from certain career experts, right? How can you ensure you see what YOU want to see? Click on the arrow in the top, right side of your Facebook profile and select NEWS FEED PREFERENCES (see the column image to the right here). Then, choose “prioritize who to see first,” and choose the pages you want to see. I hope youll choose to see Keppie Careers first on Facebook. The interesting thing many people do not know about this setting is it allows them to choose to prioritize businesses and people whose streams they want to see first. So, if youve been missing images from a dear friend who does not often post, or they are waiting for news from a particular contact via Facebook, you can let Facebook know what they want to see first. If you have a business, consider leveraging the clever way I have seen to help inspire people to follow through with making this change to their settings is for businesses. Ask people, Who is in your See First settings? Let people who follow you know that they can control their newsfeed and request they include your business, company or organization in their priority list. You may be doing them a favor, and you could experience an improved reach as a result.