How to Turn Your Blog into a Side Career Building Your Future Now

How to Turn Your Blog into a Side Career Building Your Future Now Have you ever considered starting a blog? There are countless reasons why you should start one now. Its relatively to easy to do so even if you dont have a clear-cut idea! Coming up with a niche Are you good at photography? Or do you like fashion? Maybe you simply love to write fiction? Base a blog on something that you like doing and write about it. Try to be consistent on your blog posts. If you are committed to writing two a week then do it. If you might have some trouble coming up with interesting posts check other successful blogs. Also, find out what reader find interesting to read when it comes to your subject. Growing your blog Use your blog to show others your expertise. Connect with other bloggers and specialists. Grow your blog through social media and other online channels. Use your blog as a springboard to other opportunities like side gigs or simply building your career. A new career? The amazing thing about a blog is you dont need much to start one. As you develop it and grow it you start to see the power of what you can do. You can use your blog to start a side career by connecting with people you may need your expertise. Try it. Utilize email and social media to start your outrech and post ads up on Craigslist for example. Image: Raw Pixel

Soft Skill Resume Writing Reports and Proposals

Soft Skill Resume Writing Reports and ProposalsSoft skill resume writing is a new and growing trend in today's workforce. It allows those who lack technical skills to show their true capabilities. So many of the jobs of today require some kind of technical expertise. If you are able to give your job an extra edge over your competition, this could be just the ticket for a promotion or a raise.In the past, this was not even a hard task. As long as you had a job, you could write technical resumes for positions that would normally require one. However, in the past, if you weren't a computer person, you would have been out of luck. Computers were pretty much a luxury item. Only rich people could afford them.However, with the computer revolution of the last fifty years, the world has become a much smaller place. Those of us who had jobs without the benefit of computers and who grew up with the 'old' attitude are now entering the workforce. The old way of thinking was that a computer person was somehow 'stuck.' It seemed 'immature' to them to have to learn how to use a computer.With the advent of this type of soft skill resume writing, however, everyone has the opportunity to use their skills and knowledge to get ahead. Those of us who grew up with the 'old' way of thinking must change our attitudes and learn to use the computers that we have. Those of us who never grew up and only knew how to use computers while they were at home, have also a choice: Learn how to use a computer, or get stuck.Fortunately, this means that computer skills are now widely used throughout the economy. For those who have the technical knowledge, this means opportunities abound for employment. Those who do not have the technical skills are given a new opportunity, since it's possible to use the computer to prove your soft skills.Soft skill resume writing reports and proposals are a great place to start. These are required documents by most employers. You can use them to prove your worth to a ny employer. A simple, no-nonsense approach that gets your point across with a lot of success.Don't limit yourself to just one resume format, however. There are several different styles to choose from. Write a single resume report, then compose several different reports and proposals. This will give you the opportunity to prove that you can accomplish more than what you initially expected.It's not hard to prove hard skill with a little help. While it can be intimidating to tackle soft skill for the first time, just remember that it can be accomplished. Don't let anyone tell you that it cannot be done. Once you start, your confidence level will skyrocket.

Personal Branding Interview Tony Schwartz - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Tony Schwartz - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke to Tony Schwartz, who is President and CEO of The Energy Project, and author of The Way Were Working Isnt Working: The Four Forgotten Needs that Energize Great Performance. In this book, Tony talks about why workers are disengaged, how to treat workers differently in the workplace, the four forgotten needs of that energize great performance, and more. What is The Energy Project and how did you originally get involved in it? The Energy Project helps individuals and organizations better deal with demand by teaching them how to manage personal energy rather than time. Time is finite, and few of us have any left to invest. Energy can be systematically expanded and renewed. In physics, energy is just the capacity to do work, so if we can give you ways to increase your energy, we’re giving you ways to increase your capacity. The company was founded 8 years ago, and our work is deeply grounded in the science of high performance. I It so happens that human beings have four separate energy needs: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. We teach individuals how to systematically build and regularly renew energy across each of those dimensions. We’ve done this in a range of forward thinking organizations including Sony, Google, Ford, Ernst and Young and many others. Now we’re beginning to make these strategies available to individuals. Why are workers disengaged these days, even despite new technology? They’re disengaged because they’re overwhelmed by the volume of demand and the overload of information. When we move into overload, we begin to shut down. It’s an instinctive response to the experience of threat. We start to feel anxious, or frustrated, or hopeless, and those aren’t emotions that serve high performance. Everyone knows that the way we’re working isn’t working â€" that’s why I gave my new book that title â€" but no one knows exactly what to do about it. We’ve layed out a roadmap by which people can take back their lives â€" become more productive and more satisfied. We help organizations invest in meeting their people’s needs to help make that possible. Do you believe in pushing people to do more in less time? We believe in a paradigm shift from treating people as if they’re computers â€" capable of working at high speeds, continuously, for long periods of time â€" to recognizing that human beings are designed to move between spending and renewing energy. We’re hardwired to make waves â€" to pulse. We know people are indeed capable of getting more done in less time, but not by pushing themselves harder. Instead, the key is to work for short periods, intensely, with singular focus, and then take true renewal breaks to refuel. Build that rhythm into your life and you’ll quickly see how much more you get done, while still feeling refreshed at the end of a day. What are the four forgotten needs that energize great performance and why were they forgotten? The forgotten needs are sustainability (physical); security (emotional); self-expression (mental); and significance (spiritual). These needs have been well known for thousands of years â€" Aristotle talked about them, in his own way. The psychologist Abraham Maslow described them as the “hierarchy of needs” using his own language for them. To address these needs requires an awareness of what we’re feeling, and what’s going on inside us. Many of us are moving too fast for that. We’re too busy getting things done, and racing to try to keep up. To make that possible, we often go numb to our needs â€" and to the costs of not addressing them. Ironically, it’s only when we truly meet these needs that we’re capable of truly operating at our best. The specific strategies for doing so are at the heart of the work we do with individuals, leaders and organizations. What are some ways to get people energized at work, without overworking them? They follow from what I’ve already said. The first key is recognizing that we can’t just spend energy and expect that we’ll always have plenty available. At both the individual and the organizational level, we need to begin to value and honor the role that refueling ourselves plays in performing at a high level, sustainably. We’re hardwired to work in 90 minute cycles. Go longer than that and you’re drawing on your reserves â€" stress hormones such as adrenalin, cortisol and noradrenaline, which are unhealthy when they circulate in the system too long, and also serve to shut down the prefrontal cortex, so we become more reactive and less reflective. With that in mind, taking time to renew throughout our days serves us well personally and professionally. The second key way to energize people at work is to meet their four core needs. When people are healthier, happier, more focused and more passionate about what they’re doing, they’re plainly more engaged and they perform better. In the face of high demand, we tend to try to get more out of ourselves, and so do the organizations that employ us. The paradigm shift in this case is to focus on investing more in ourselves, so that we’re freed, fueled and inspired to perform at our best every day. Tony Schwartz is President and CEO of The Energy Project, a company that helps individuals and organizations fuel energy, engagement, focus and productivity by harnessing the science of high performance. Tony has spent 30 years studying, writing about, teaching and coaching people in how to perform at their best. Tony’s most recent book, The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy Not Time, co-authored with Jim Loehr, was a #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller, spent four months on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into 28 languages. He co-authored the #1 worldwide bestseller The Art of the Deal with Donald Trump and also wrote What Really Matters: Searching for Wisdom in America. Tonys new book, The Way Were Working Isnt Working: The Four Forgotten Needs that Energize Great Performance, is due out in May 2010.

Effective Immediately Meet Emily Bennington!

Effective Immediately Meet Emily Bennington! Todays post is an interview with the one and only, Ms. Emily Bennington.   Emily and I met in person for the first time in Columbus, Ohio about 2 weeks ago.   We spent the day sharing story after story about work, life and  our first few years after college.   As you can imagine, we laughed just as much as we talked! Meeting with Emily was not only a lot of fun, but  it also showed me how much I still have to learn.   Ten years her junior, I  really  admire  women like Emily.    She knows  her stuff and she does it all: she  has a family, volunteers in her community, rocks at work,  is a part-time college professor  AND writes books.   Um, bring on the caffeine! Im very excited to announce and support Emilys  first published book, Effective Immediately: How to Fit In, Stand Out, and Move Up  at Your First Real Job. Ive been reading  this little gem  and  find it fun,  easy to read and extremley relevant whether you are still in college or have been working for 5 years. Emily had a rough start to corporate life.   Her stories are pretty funny and all true.   Emily co-wrote  Effective Immediately with her first post-college mentor,  Skip Lineberg,  who was there to witness and guide her through  many rookie moments. Theres also a second reason I want to introduce you to Emily Bennington.   Youll be seeing a lot more of Emily here on Ms. Career Girl.   Why? Welllll,  Emily and I are currently working on a proposal for an absolutely AWESOME book for young women in corporate environments.   Ive done lots of  research (and lets be honest, Ive probably read  35 of our new books competitors)  and there is  NO book out there like the one we are working on.   Get excited ambitious ladies! On to the interview, please meet Emily Bennington! Tell us about your most embarrassing entry-level career moment. I was working PR on a grassroots advocacy campaign for a regional airport project and I sent out a press release stating that Senator Rockefeller endorsed our position. Problem was, I failed to run the release by the senator’s staff. As it turned out, he didn’t endorse it at all and so my mistake became the story. I knew I was in trouble when the reporter called me for a quote and, sure enough, the next day I was greeted with a front page, above-the-fold article quoting the President of our County Commission saying, “I don’t know who sent that release, but whoever it was should be fired.” I seriously thought I was going to lose my job. Fortunately, my boss understood it was a rookie mistake and let me slide with a warning, but my dad calls me “Miss Information” to this day. A lot of recent grads have trouble transitioning their wardrobe from class to classy.   What was your concept of business casual back in the day? Haha. I know this is a loaded question because you already know the answer! When I entered the workforce, I obviously made a physical transition, but it took me a while to make the mental one.   In many ways, I still saw myself as living the college life (going out dancing on a work night for example) and my wardrobe was a reflection of that. I wore things I thought would easily go from day-to-night, but were really just inappropriate for the office. One time I was changing in the office kitchen and my boss’ husband walked in on me! The first question is, of course, why was I changing in the kitchen? (The answer is: I have no idea.) However, I look back on that and see someone who was still more concerned with having fun than being taken seriously as a professional. I’ve learned a ton since then about the importance of being in control of the image you project, and it definitely starts with how you dress. Youve told me a bit  about your co-author, Skip Lineberg, who was also your first post-college mentor.   What role did Skip play in your early career and life? Skip was the first person to take a proactive interest in my success and professional development. At the beginning of my career, Skip really spent a lot of time coaching and challenging me to be better. One example I’ll never forget was when I had my first performance review and asked for a raise, Skip made me “demonstrate I was worth it” by successfully completing a series of projects ranging from writing a review of How to Win Friends and Influence People to finding a logistical “problem” in the office and solving it using TQM processes. At the time, a lot of my friends and family were puzzled by this, wondering why he didn’t just give me the raise I’d already earned, but I knew better. I saw Skip’s challenge as an opportunity to prove to him that I was not only worth more money, but more responsibility as well. Since then, our relationship has evolved into more of a partnership than a mentor / student connection, but I’m so blessed that we’re still able to wor k together after all these years. How important do you think mentors are for ambitious young professionals? Mentors are incredibly important but they are also an endangered species. Businesses are just so lean these days and everyone is busy enough doing their own jobs, so they don’t have much time to coach someone else along. I was talking about this today with a group of friends at lunch. All of us are in different fields, all successful in our own right, yet NONE of us had been trained in the jobs we hold currently. I think this “sink or swim” mentality is an epidemic in the workforce and really reinforces the need for employers to devote more resources to training and staff development. However, young professionals need to know that, sadly, the odds of having a great mentor aren’t good and they should be prepared to invest in their own success as well. For young women who are looking to become working career Moms in the future, how do you think we can best set ourselves up for this path from the start? This is a tricky question because the answer is different for everyone. Personally, I was 29 when I had my first child and I can say with complete certainty that â€" yes â€" waiting a little longer allowed me to become more established in my career. I’d be lying if I said there weren’t times I wish I would havehad them earlier, but the flip side is that kids are expensive and it’s nice to be able to afford the two I have. I don’t harbor any regrets about being a working mom and I definitely don’t allow anyone to make me feel guilty about it either. So the best advice I can giveto career moms is to be 100% present where you are. In other words, if you’re at work, give100% to your job. If you’re at home, give 100% to your family. I promise you it won’t be a perfect 50/50 split all the time, but your work will make you appreciate your children more… and vice versa. Check out Emilys blog professionalstudio365.com, follow Effective Immediately on Facebook and buy her book on Amazon.com!

Writing Intern Resume

Writing Intern ResumeWriting a writing internship resume is a crucial step in your preparation to get into the field. Your resume should not only be accurate but should also show your potential as a writer.There are many types of writing intern positions available in the world. While they might be related, each position is different. A resume should also be specific to the job that you are applying for.Writing intern resume is a lot like that of an actual job. You are writing to apply for a job or inquire about the current job and the deadlines. If you are applying for a summer internship then the dates should be listed.One of the most common mistakes when writing an internship resume is writing a placement letter. An internship is an opportunity to gain some experience in the business. By asking for a meeting at a certain time or being an extra at a certain event you will give them a good impression of you. Just be sure that you do not mention the position itself.It is very importan t to realize that writing resumes and cover letters does not end when the work day is over. You should also know what to do with your resume after you receive it. Many students overlook this vital aspect.Applying for another internship and getting a great time on the first one is one of the keys to your success. The same rules apply for writing a writing internship resume. You will want to be creative and show your expertise in the field.Be sure to include any references and ensure that your reference will be able to contact you in case the position change due to a shift in industry. Always include an email address so that they can get in touch with you.Writing intern resume should be done correctly. As long as you follow the basic guidelines and keep in mind the purpose of the application, you should be on your way to your next writing assignment.

Shades of Gray - Offer Letters - CareerAlley

Shades of Gray - Offer Letters - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Today, there is no black or white, Only shades of gray Barry Mann Cynthia Weil (recorded by the Monkees, et al) One of my friends received a job offer last week. The position was with a stable company, higher pay (after lots of back and forth), better benefits and more responsibility. This particular opportunity was through a headhunter (there is a reason Im using this phrase, read on) and there was some negotiation required. Unfortunately, the headhunter could care less about ensuring the fit was good on both sides (employer and candidate). He was only interested in my friend (lets call him Paul) accepting the job no matter what the concerns. At first there was no question, Paul was going to take the job. But the more the headhunter pushed back on negotiating the terms, the less interested Paul became (and the more concerned). By the end of the day, Paul decided not to take the offer. This, of course, just set-off the headhunter, who called and emailed Paul no less then 20 times in the span of a few hours (not a very professional way to conduct business). So whats the point (there are actually several)? First off, not all headhunters are professional recruiters. Some headhunters are only out for their commission and are only interested in getting a warm body in the role. Second, job offers are not always cut and dry. Most require additional negotiation and some level of tweaking is expected by the hiring manager as well. Of course you need to be reasonable, but you would not get to the offer letter stage if all of the particulars (your comp, your experience, your qualifications, your willingness to see the interview process to its logical conclusion) were not in line with overall expectations. Likewise, very few people get the perfect job with the perfect offer. It can happen, but generally does not. There is always give and take and some level of trade-offs on both sides. Job offers are very often shades of gray. So how do you know if the job offer is right for you? The Job Offer Everything has come together and youve gotten a job offer, now what? How do you know if it is a good offer? How do you know if there is some room to negotiate? The following links will help you through the process. How to Evaluate a Job Offer Great article from Alison Doyle. Alison covers the major items to consider: Compensation, Benefits and Perks, Hours and Travel and Flexibility and Company Culture (plus a few more). There are additional related links at the bottom of the page that will help you get the best answer for you. Job Offer Sound Too Good? 10 Tips on How to Avoid Job Scams and Schemes You know the old saying, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Job offers may not always be what they seem. Take a look at this article, posted on Quintcareers.com, the article covers 10 items you should consider in both your job search and any job offer. To Negotiate or Not to Negotiate (that is definitely the question) One bit of advice I always give job seekers is that everything can be negotiated. You might not get everything you want, but you will come a lot closer if you ask for what you consider to be fair requests. There is a delicate balance between pushing too hard and not pushing enough, but in any negotiation you need to be prepared to either settle on some items or walk away. Evaluating and Negotiating Job Offers Evaluating a job offer is also covered above, but you must complete this step before you can negotiate. This article, posted on The Riley Guide, provides advice and links for evaluating your job offer, Negotiating and declining the offer. Lots of links, lots of great information. How to Negotiate a Job Offer Some more of the same, with some different twists. This article, posted on Jobsjournal.com, covers the basics of negotiating as well as preparing your counter offer. Counter Offers So, you got your offer, you successfully negotiated the fine points in your favor and youve accepted the job. Now comes the hard part (depending on your current situation), giving your notice. What happens if your current company is just not ready to see you go? What happens if they make you an offer that is difficult to refuse? You thought you had it all worked out, now what do you do? There is no right answer. My personal view is not to take a counter offer (does it take a resignation to get better pay or a promotion?). There are very good arguments on both sides of this question. The following link is but one of them. Receive A Job Counter-Offer? Dont Take It Posted on Forbes.com, take a read. Good luck in your search.Visit me on Facebook

How to Stand Up For Yourself at Work (with Bonus content on How To Soul Search Into Your Ideal Career)

How to Stand Up For Yourself at Work (with Bonus content on How To Soul Search Into Your Ideal Career) Do you feel youre getting pushed around at work?   Is too much is being asked of you? Are you not feeling supported?   The universe conspires to help us and these challenges are an opportunity to stand up and assert yourself.   Included in this podcast are tips for being assertive and examples to inspire you to stand up for yourself at work in a way that is respectful and effective.*Bonus content: Start you own Soul Search with my monthly tip.   In this episode, I offer practical steps to identify the skills you want to utilize in your ideal career (not just the skills you have.)   If you feel trapped by a resume that doesnt match the work you want to do, this tip will help you make note of your transferable skills and unique genius.To finish this latest installment of Making a Living, I share details of a team success exercise from a recent motivational talk I delivered. If you work with others, youll want to complete this exercise for yourself and with your team.   We all too often hear about what were doing wrong and I love this exercise because it presents you with a chance to acknowledge yourself and your team for what youre doing right! Check out this episode!