Nothing Says Welcome to the Real World Like an Influx of New Graduates (congrats anyways)

Nothing Says Welcome to the Real World Like an Influx of New Graduates (congrats anyways) Not to be a Debbie Downer, but when I saw this headline this weekend my first thought wasnt congratulations!!!!  If one school graduates almost 6k people in May how many new grads are getting dumped into our economy? To the almost 6,000 new graduates (from undergrad to PhD) welcome to the real world.  This is the real world your professors and adjuncts talked about for years you see, there was this illusion that you were not in the real world while in school. At least that is what I was told: when you enter the real world What a load of bull. Heres the deal: youve been in the real world for a long time.  And you made a business decision.  For many of you, the degree will be instrumental in helping you get your first or next job.  For many of you, it will settle in sometime in the next year that the degree was not helpful at all.  Looking at the years to pay off your student loans, youll wonder if the decision you made was a good one.  Yes, going to college was a decision it was a business decision.  The college sold you a package, you paid for it (mostly likely financing it, like a business might). Now is not the time to have buyers remorse! So dont get discouraged that over 2 million people will earn degrees this year (1.8M undergrads alone, according to NACE).  Dont be discouraged that there will many many hundreds of thousands of people who will get laid off, otherwise lose their jobs (companies dissolving), change companies, etc. Dont become disheartened because many jobs have bounced out of your country to other, cheaper countries (and sometimes bounced back).  Its not that you arent more talented or qualified for a career-level job, its just that, well, I guess, this is the real world. Heres something I learned, after having gotten a degree in CIS and an MBA, and having had job titles including manager and general manager: your education is about to begin. Most of the facts and stuff you learned at school can be filed into the trivial pursuit box in your brain.  You wont use much of it. What you will use is the collection of skills that helped you get that degree.  Hopefully you worked hard, and pushed yourself beyond what you thought you could achieve.  Hopefully you learned about negotiation and persuasion, two key skills when working with others.  Did you learn anything about time management, while you juggled classes and work and social responsibilities? Did you learn about leadership, and how to be a follower, and team-player? Did you learn how to communicate effectively, whether that is written, verbal, etc.?  I hope you learned how to research, learn new things, find practical applications, and just dig in and study. Those are the skills that youll need to tap into now. You see, once you land your job, no one really cares where or what you studied.  They want to know what you can do, and if youll carry your weight.  Thats about it.  The other stuff is fun, but trivial. Maybe your degree will matter for a little while, but the romance of it all will wear off.  If you are a crappy worker, no one will care (but they will think that your alma mater puts out crappy people so now you have the burden of not tarnishing the brand of the school that you paid so much money to).  If you are an exceptional worker, people wont care where you went to school, or what your GPA was. I know, there are certain companies and industries that do care.  But those companies and industries probably dont offer much more job security than any other company. If you cant do the job, are distracting, inflict their culture with garbage and pompousness, then youll find yourself polishing up your resume. I dont mean for this to be a discouraging letter.  I just want to welcome you to the real world.  This is a world where what you can do, and how you communicate your brand, and how you nurture personal and professional relationships, is the new job security.  Or as I like to call it, the new career management. And of the 2,000,000+ people who will graduate like you did this year, I guarantee that most will not get it.  Ive seen this for years theyll take years, or decades, to figure out personal branding and networking.  If you want to have an easier career path, its time to transition into taking personal responsibility for your career, and get serious about your future. The great thing about this is, if you start now, you wont have to get student loans for this next phase of your education. Nothing Says Welcome to the Real World Like an Influx of New Graduates (congrats anyways) Not to be a Debbie Downer, but when I saw this headline this weekend my first thought wasnt congratulations!!!!  If one school graduates almost 6k people in May how many new grads are getting dumped into our economy? To the almost 6,000 new graduates (from undergrad to PhD) welcome to the real world.  This is the real world your professors and adjuncts talked about for years you see, there was this illusion that you were not in the real world while in school. At least that is what I was told: when you enter the real world What a load of bull. Heres the deal: youve been in the real world for a long time.  And you made a business decision.  For many of you, the degree will be instrumental in helping you get your first or next job.  For many of you, it will settle in sometime in the next year that the degree was not helpful at all.  Looking at the years to pay off your student loans, youll wonder if the decision you made was a good one.  Yes, going to college was a decision it was a business decision.  The college sold you a package, you paid for it (mostly likely financing it, like a business might). Now is not the time to have buyers remorse! So dont get discouraged that over 2 million people will earn degrees this year (1.8M undergrads alone, according to NACE).  Dont be discouraged that there will many many hundreds of thousands of people who will get laid off, otherwise lose their jobs (companies dissolving), change companies, etc. Dont become disheartened because many jobs have bounced out of your country to other, cheaper countries (and sometimes bounced back).  Its not that you arent more talented or qualified for a career-level job, its just that, well, I guess, this is the real world. Heres something I learned, after having gotten a degree in CIS and an MBA, and having had job titles including manager and general manager: your education is about to begin. Most of the facts and stuff you learned at school can be filed into the trivial pursuit box in your brain.  You wont use much of it. What you will use is the collection of skills that helped you get that degree.  Hopefully you worked hard, and pushed yourself beyond what you thought you could achieve.  Hopefully you learned about negotiation and persuasion, two key skills when working with others.  Did you learn anything about time management, while you juggled classes and work and social responsibilities? Did you learn about leadership, and how to be a follower, and team-player? Did you learn how to communicate effectively, whether that is written, verbal, etc.?  I hope you learned how to research, learn new things, find practical applications, and just dig in and study. Those are the skills that youll need to tap into now. You see, once you land your job, no one really cares where or what you studied.  They want to know what you can do, and if youll carry your weight.  Thats about it.  The other stuff is fun, but trivial. Maybe your degree will matter for a little while, but the romance of it all will wear off.  If you are a crappy worker, no one will care (but they will think that your alma mater puts out crappy people so now you have the burden of not tarnishing the brand of the school that you paid so much money to).  If you are an exceptional worker, people wont care where you went to school, or what your GPA was. I know, there are certain companies and industries that do care.  But those companies and industries probably dont offer much more job security than any other company. If you cant do the job, are distracting, inflict their culture with garbage and pompousness, then youll find yourself polishing up your resume. I dont mean for this to be a discouraging letter.  I just want to welcome you to the real world.  This is a world where what you can do, and how you communicate your brand, and how you nurture personal and professional relationships, is the new job security.  Or as I like to call it, the new career management. And of the 2,000,000+ people who will graduate like you did this year, I guarantee that most will not get it.  Ive seen this for years theyll take years, or decades, to figure out personal branding and networking.  If you want to have an easier career path, its time to transition into taking personal responsibility for your career, and get serious about your future. The great thing about this is, if you start now, you wont have to get student loans for this next phase of your education.

The Most Sought-After Work Benefits to Attract Talent

The Most Sought-After Work Benefits to Attract Talent With people in the US reportedly switching careers once every 4.2 years on average in the US and every five in the UK, it’s never been more important to look at how major corporations advertise themselves to prospective employees, and what employees really look for in an ideal workplace. Although flexible working, generous sick pay, and company social activities are some of the most-often highlighted benefits according to employee reviews, the fact remains that businesses need to focus on improving work/life balance in order to retain staff Promote a healthy work/life balance According to recruitment partner Karen Dykes, the benefits companies choose to advertise on job adverts play an essential role in determining how successfully they accumulate and maintain quality staff. She said: “With talent shortages reported in many sectors, top candidates are looking beyond basic salary offerings to attract them to certain roles. Benefits packages are most certainly in the spotlight, with a particular focus on those that support work/life balance. These include generous holiday entitlement, healthcare advantages, and flexible working. “If a skilled candidate has multiple interview offers, benefits packages will come into play. They may be time-poor in terms of interview preparation time, so narrow the field by evaluating the overall package.” There’s a common misconception in recruitment that employees should be lucky to work for a business when in reality a business is arguably only as good as its employees. Therefore, it’s critical that companies use job advertisements and recruitment pages to highlight what they can offer applicants, rather than just what they want to gain from employees. Follow through on promised benefits An analysis of employee reviews left for organizations featured on LinkedIn’s 2019 Top Companies report reveals that an attractive work environment, comprehensive benefits and flexible working hours are the most attractive benefits for employees, while long days and a poor work/life balance are the most common complaints. While it’s essential to clearly advertise the benefits of your business in order to attract applicants, it’s equally (if not more important) to make sure that these benefits are evident to and appreciated by current employees. Review sites like Glassdoor, Indeed and Trustpilot are playing an increasingly larger role in helping job seekers narrow down their career choices, as current employees are naturally seen as a more trustworthy source for summarising a workplace than the organization itself. While it’s impossible to control what every employee writes in an anonymous review, businesses can and should regularly check in with their workforce to identify potential areas for improvement. This will result in more positive employee reviews to attract recruits, while also working to retain staff. Don’t rely on notoriety to attract new recruits Although being a household name undoubtedly helps when it comes to workplace desirability, companies shouldnt just rely on their notoriety to attract valuable applicants. Earlier in the year, it was revealed that more than a third of Europe’s fastest-growing tech companies are based in Britain, with London leading digital growth. These ‘unicorn companies’, named for their rarity, are private startups valued at more than $1 billion ( £785.8 million) and although benefitting from quick growth, are rarely as acclaimed as big-name brands. Despite this, the Power House Truths report reveals that smaller startups score better when it comes to work/life balance, business outlook and senior management ratings, which can only contribute to their rapid growth and eventual notoriety. In comparison, companies like Amazon, Samsung, and Apple are critiqued for lacking compensation and benefits, difficult interviews and smaller average salaries. This shows that while it’s advantageous to be a well-known established business, how you’re perceived by your current and prospective employees will have a huge impact on future growth. For those that have been toying with the idea of introducing flexi-time, adding an additional day to holiday allowances or organizing more socials to show your employees that you care about them, don’t put it off any longer. The pen is sharper than the sword, a happy workforce is a productive one, and no business should ever settle for mediocre employee reviews. About the author: Emily Garner, is Content Specialist of Blueclaw Media.

Staying Productive While Living Abroad - Classy Career Girl

Staying Productive While Living Abroad Thanks to technology, more people are building their careers while living wherever they want to live. Self-employed or otherwise, you can climb the corporate ladder while living abroad. The biggest challenge for anyone who works remotely is the luxury of setting your own work hours because its tought sometimes to not fall behind on deadlines. Resisting the opportunity of play to meet the demands of work is easier said than done. After all, who in the right mind would choose boring deadlines instead of pristine beaches, exotic performances, and mouth-watering flavors? For me, productivity is key when I need to balance between work and play. Learning how to do so effectively has allowed me to travel more frequently and complete my bucket list without jeopardizing my career. There are many ways to approach this but here is a compilation of five ways to stay productive while living abroad. How To Stay Productive While Working and Living Abroad 1.  Travel Slowly Learn to love slow travel when you plan to work remotely in order to see the world; this simply means living in a new destination for more than a few days. The more frequent you uproot yourself, the harder it will be to be productive as you will need to find new accommodation and internet connection, and establish a new routine every time you arrive at a new destination. Slow travel also prevents travel burnout that would push back your productivity even further while you recover. I used to travel between Great Britain and Turkey frequently because Turkey was a great experience for me. I would spend a couple of months in Turkey and spend some time in Great Britain before deciding to live in Turkey for a few more months after that. While my productivity was low during the transitional period, it was consistently high as I settled in as the weeks go by. 2.  Hunt For The Best Internet Make sure you hunt for reliable internet provider once you land in your new destination. It may seem to be rash but your productivity depends on it. Always remember that while the internet may be abundance in the city, it can be unreliable when you are traveling into rural areasâ€"I learned my lesson while traveling around Turkey! Never rely completely on the internet provided by hotels and guesthousesâ€"they can be really expensive and extremely unstable and slow. It is a good idea to sign up with a mobile internet plan to avoid being unproductive while you travel to different places in a new country. [RELATED: Why Every Successful Woman Should Travel Abroad] 3. Find a Co-working Space Most big cities have at least one coworking space tucked away in a corner of the city. Good news is that most are very welcoming of foreign visitors. Experienced nomadic professionals find coworking spaces increase their productivity because it is designed to do soâ€"you will be surrounded with like-minded people. It is a great way if you need to bounce ideas for a new marketing campaign or reach out for help with a line of coding error. I bet you will also be able to expand your work network with the locals and other nomadic professionals. 4. Become a Morning Person No one wants to wake up early when they are on vacation. So remember that you are abroad not just for a vacationâ€"you are earning a living too. Wake up with the locals as if you need to be in the office at 8.00 a.m. Exercise and eat breakfast before dedicating the rest of your morning in front of your laptop. By lunchtime, you would have completed a significant amount of work and still have some time exploring your new destination in the afternoon without worrying about your deadlines. 5. Be Selective With New Friends Remember when your parents said to choose your friends carefully? This is especially true when you work remotely while traveling. The great thing about traveling is meeting new people, but remember that not everyone is working and travelingâ€"most are there for a work-free vacation. Therefore, learn to say no to your new friends and not to be peer pressured to join group activities or attend weekend-long parties. Try to stick with others who work and travelâ€"they understand that you are there not just for a vacation. They will be a great source of emotional support and motivation because they understand what you are going through. They will also be there to remind you to make the most of your free time. Additionally, you will be able to trade skills and ideas with them. As a person who works remotely, you have the amazing opportunity to see the world without the restriction of an office cubicle. It would be a shame to throw it away because your inability to stay productive. Following these tips will require some time to get used to but once you get used to them, you will find your days to be more productive, not only with work but with experiencing your new destination as well. How do you stay productive while living abroad?

Pets on Planes What You Need to Know

Pets on Planes What You Need to Know This article was originally published on Hipmunk’s Tailwind Blog on April 27, 2017 by Kelly Soderlund. Pets On Planes It’s probably pretty obvious that Hipmunk loves animals (I mean, we have one as our mascot. We also boast a dog-friendly office). And as a travel company, we’re highly sensitive to the conflicts that arise between wanderlust and the love for one’s pet. We’re also pretty good at mitigating the risks when we choose to take our pets on planes. Following the news of the  untimely death of Simon the Giant Rabbit, I asked around the office for tips on keeping your furbaby safe on flights. Make Sure They Are Healthy Enough to Fly This one should be pretty obvious, but a proper evaluation of your pet’s current health condition is maybe the most important step a pet owner can take before taking them on a plane. Especially since underlying or pre-existing conditions  make up the vast majority or the incident reports the Department of Transportation is required to post on its website as part of the  Animal Welfare Act. Keep Your Pets With You According to the 2017 Department of Transportation’s  newly released annual report, a little more than half a million pets flew in cargo in 2016, and of those that flew that way, 26 died and 22 were injured (about one for every 10,000 pets). So while the chance of death or injury is minimal, for some pet owners the risk is still too high. There are three ways to transport a pet by air: in  cabin, as cargo, or as baggage. If a pet can fit under the seat in front of you, many airlines will allow you to take it on the flight like a traditional carry-on bag. Check the airline on which you are flying before booking a ticket  to see if you can bring the pet with you, and what the airline’s requirements are in terms of the carrier. Also, book in advance: airlines have a limited number  of allowable pets on board a flight. In addition to carry-on sized pets, service animals and  emotional support animals  are also allowed in most aircraft cabins for emotional support; however, you’ll need them to be certified as such. Emotional support animal certifications for pets can be obtained for such disorders and phobias as the fear of flying, panic attacks, dyslexia, social phobias, autism, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. Practice Purchase a well-made carrier or kennel (if you are placing them in cargo) and then have your pet practice getting in and out, as well as spending time inside of it. Make sure they can sit, stand, and turn around inside of their temporary enclosure. Make sure their nails are clipped, and that the lock works properly. The more comfortable your pet is, the less likely they will have an incident. For travelers bringing a pet on an airplane in any form, a few more tips can go a long way toward ensuring a smooth trip for all parties: Opt for a direct flight whenever possible Attach both a permanent and travel ID to the pet’s collar Avoid feeding the pet for at least four â€" six hours before the trip Utilize the pet relief areas at airports When in doubt, leave your pet at home with a trusted caretaker Finally, use this nifty checklist we put together a while back to help you as you prep your pet for the plane ride:

How being in an improv troupe at uni can enhance your employability

How being in an improv troupe at uni can enhance your employability Every student has that one thing that defines their university experience. Be it the place, the people or the parties. For me? I found my calling in my improv troupe. For those who aren’t aware, improv is an abbreviation of ‘improvisation’, a style of performance that is often skewed towards comedy. It can be presented in a number of styles including games, a series of scenes or even a musical (I know, they are amazing). Personally, improv was like a haven for me each week. No matter the pressure  that I was facing, I knew that every Thursday I could retreat to Room 4 in the union and muck around with The Leeds Improfessionals. They were like my little comedic family, and we did some phenomenal shows during my time at university that will stick with me forever. However, it’s not just your social life that improv can affect; there are a plethora of career-based skills that you can gain from practising this unique and quirky hobby. So come and take a look how being funny on the fly can improve your employability. Thinking on the spot   Well duh, right? Improv is the art of spontaneity. Performers have to be able to cope with unusual and challenging suggestions from audience members. The first rule of improv is to always say “yes”, embrace whatever direction the scene is taking and support your fellow comedians. This is a skill that you can absolutely apply in the workplace in a number of different scenarios, perhaps in a meeting, a presentation or a conference call. Improv will give you the confidence to react quickly and calmly, no matter how challenging the issue. After all, if you can deal with a rude or racy suggestion from an audience member tastefully in a performance (whilst your mother is watching, nonetheless), then you can cope with anything my friend. Being a creative mind Rehearsing with other performers is a naturally creative environment. It’s not just about creating scenes; sessions in improv often include spit-balling new game and scene ideas amongst the team and analysing what works for audiences. It’s an experimentation process. This in turn refreshes those creative juices, demonstrating how performers are thinking from a consumer’s point of view. Improv troupes are constantly trying to better their work and ensure that their content is of a higher standard than the last time it was performed. Again, this is applicable in the corporate world. Companies often ask for fresh approaches to working strategies, particularly in the worlds of advertising, marketing and communications. You may have the chance to attend brainstorming sessions, and this is a chance to showcase your ‘blue-sky thinking’ (excuse the buzzword terminology). Events management and marketing This point is especially pertinent if you are on the committee for an improv group, but it can be relevant for any other members as well. To put on shows, you have to get bums on seats. Therefore, members will get involved in a number of different methods to bring audiences in. These include creating and promoting the events on social media, or getting artistic and editing photos and graphics for posters. Performers are also often asked to assist in the logical parts of a production, including setting up equipment or running the ticketing booth on the doors. These are unique skills that are hard to experience in university, and especially valuable in demonstrating your organisational and promotional abilities. Just be sure to muck in for all the shows, and you can check this off on your CV.  All those hours of flyering can pay off after all! Confidence and communication I’ve seen both extroverts and introverts take part in improv, and both perform to an extremely high standard. I’ve also seen people grow personally through the group, as throwing yourself into scenarios on the stage can make day-to-day occurrences suddenly feel much less pressurised. Building relationships and connections in the workplace is vital, and an improv background can be used as a support in all conversations. If you can draw on the energy that you have in a scene in a working environment, you’ll be sure to make a lasting impression. Plus, you can always pull out that one joke you always relied on in shows to make the audience die with laughter (if it’s appropriate, of course). Entrepreneurial abilities Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “This all sounds fab, but my university doesn’t have an improv troupe.”  Well, why not create one? That’s what I did. I’d always been a massive fan of the art form (born from my obsession with Whose Line Is It Anyway?) and I saw a gap in the Comedy Society for a new group. This was of course a lot of responsibility, but it was probably one of the most valuable takeaways from my time as a student. I was in charge of teaching the classes, scheduling the practice rooms, producing the shows and leading the marketing campaigns for productions. These are experiences that I have repeatedly drawn on in my career, and are gold dust on a CV. So if you’re ready to take on a new challenge, I’d say go for it. Equally, if your university already has an improv troupe (get in!), then why not run for a committee role? The power is there, go out and seize it! Download Debut  and  connect with us on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Are You the Victim of a Tough Job Market Dont be Sam!

Are You the Victim of a Tough Job Market Don’t be Sam! Are You the Victim of a Tough Job Market_Dont be Sam Copy On a LinkedIn group discussion board, Sam complained recently: “The reason that I see companies cant find a qualified person is because they wont train people and expect people to have everything they are looking for, and then they wont pay the people what they are worth. Ive not had a full time job since 2007, and have worked part-time since early 2011. I want an outside sales position or Account Manager position in the Chemical Industry, and my needs are reasonable, but no success yet.” Really? Don’t be Sam! Check your victim statements; have you used any of these recently? There are no jobs out there. Companies won’t hire unemployed people. I’m doing everything right; the companies don’t see my value. I’ve never had to look for a job; I just put the word out with my buddies that I’m available. Job descriptions are horribly written; they should do a better job. Okay, time to snap out of it! Here’s what to do: Step 1: Fess Up. Admit that the accountability is YOURS and yours alone. If you’re not willing to do it, then stop here, delete this article, and go back to what was (not) working for you. Step 2: Learn. Stop everything you are doing and re-learn how to find a job. It’s a new era of job search out there, for every level, whether you are a fresh college graduate or a senior executive. Yes, you! When is the last time you bought a book on how to find a job? When did you go to the internet and type “How to interview?” When is the last time you learned the latest trends about résumés then updated yours? Have you taken great LinkedIn tutorials on how to have a GREAT profile? Step 3: Re-Start Your Entire Approach. Yes, from beginning to end. Start. Over. Start with writing out your job search goal statement, outline your job search plan daily, weekly, monthly with goals assigned to each activity. Re-do your résumé, ensuring you are using the industry’s key words, not words used by your prior companies. Make yourself relevant! Practice the most common interview questions NOW; not the night before the interview. Write a brand new cover letter that uses less, “I, I, I, me, me, me,” and more, “you, yours, your company.” Broaden your activities, ranging from online applications to face-to-face networking, to online connecting via LinkedIn, to cold-calling your target company senior executives. And much more. Build your Job Tracker tool so you capture every step of the process, follow-up brilliantly, and keep the process moving forward. Now that you have a process, juggle ten real job opportunities at the same time. If you need help with any of these steps or more, get the help! My book, Cut the Crap, Get a Job! comes with 9 free downloadable Job Search Tools to help you with every step of your BRAND NEW job search effort. It’s time to stop the whining, stop being the victim, and get employed FAST. Please ask your questions and leave your comments below; I’d like to hear from you!

Writing an ESL Writing a Resume

Writing an ESL Writing a ResumeWhen I am asked if ESL writing a resume can help one get ahead in the business world, I tell them, yes, it can. It doesn't matter whether or not you are looking for work in your home country or in another country. The same skills and attributes which make you an excellent candidate for other positions will translate into a good resume.There are two main categories of resumes. First there is the one that contains many job and education data points. The second type of resume is the one that focuses on just one or two particular areas of expertise. Both can be very beneficial to the employer.When you are writing an ESL job or position resume, you need to look at the job as a whole. Do not list all the jobs you have held. The point of an ESL resume is to give the prospective employer a broad view of your skill set. If you list every single position you have held, you will only end up confusing the interviewer. They will not know how to proceed if you give t hem too much information.You can also avoid this problem by listing the jobs in chronological order. This shows the employer that you have done all of the jobs in chronological order. After all, the interviewer will never ask you to do this if they have any doubts about your expertise in a specific field.The other important aspect of an ESL resume is that it must include your education. No matter what your position is, you should include the information on how you obtained your degree or diploma. This will allow the employer to have a better idea of what they are getting.Lastly, what you need to include is your work experience. It might seem odd to include work experience but that is because there is some value in knowing what you have done outside of your classroom. So do not be afraid to include this. It shows that you have knowledge of the job. Some employers might want to see how well you performed in an interview or other such tasks.When I am asked how can one write an ESL writ ing a resume, I tell them that one has to be creative and imaginative. The information that is included should make the employer see a young and talented person who can be a success in their company. If you can draw attention to those areas, the employer might be impressed enough to hire you. This will bring your resume a long way.The best advice for anyone who is trying to start a job search in a foreign country is to have an excellent resume. If the employer knows that you have been properly trained and that you have had experience on your resume, then they will be more likely to hire you over a college graduate who has no job search experience. If you don't know how to write an ESL resume, I recommend hiring a resume writer. However, if you don't have the money for this kind of expense, there are many online resources available for you to use.