Sunday, May 17, 2020

My #Rewind2011

My #Rewind2011 I hit up Twitter on my 6:30AM train out to the burbs this morning and saw that #Rewind2011 was a trending topic.   So naturally I thought back to what had happened to me in 2011 and realized a whole hell of a lot has happened in my world this year. March: Bought a new car, resigned from Corporate America/my career in finance and started as the Community Marketing Manager at a start-up. April:   Went on a fantastic trip to Puerto Rico for a wedding and started to realize how bat shit crazy some companies are run. Heres a post I wrote about Interview Liars a few months ago. July 12: Got laid off from the start-up along with a third of my co-workers.   Some of these people hadn’t even been there a month- talk about irresponsible hiring! July 28th: Hold my first Ms. Career Girl Connect event which has approximately 50 women in attendance! July 30: My boyfriend moves into my apartment. July 31: I get engaged!!!   More on The Best Week Ever here. August: Fiancé accepts a new job where he will not be doing 100% travel for the first time in our relationship (and for the first time in his whole 8 year career). Hello togetherness! I meet Kovie Biakolo for coffee and instantly know I’ve made a life-long friend and someone who I can work very well with. September: Host my 2nd Ms. Career Girl Connect event which is approximately 100 women in attendance! October: Take a trip to Naples and South Beach, Florida for another friend’s wedding and freak out about being self-employed.   I send resumes out and start completely doubting the idea of working for myself.  Kovie reels me back in about being self-employed (as does going on a few job interviews). November:  My company,  MCG Media, Inc. brings in more revenue than Ive taken home in Corporate America to date. I try on wedding dresses for the first time and go from the anti-bride to someone who likes poofy tulle ball gowns and wedding planning. December: My business website  is under construction, business cards have arrived, a tiny bit of structure is put in place and the phone even starts ringing for some new projects. This story is to be continued, but wow!- what a year.  I can only imagine what this post will look like a year from today! I hope your #Rewind2011 was a great one too.  And if it wasnt, maybe its time to turn up the heat, get uncomfortable or get weird next year! Nicole

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Smart Freelancing 5 Common Mistakes of Freelancers That You Should Avoid CareerMetis.com

Smart Freelancing 5 Common Mistakes of Freelancers That You Should Avoid Original Image Source â€" Depositphotos.comNo one is perfect. Making mistakes as a freelancer is part of your career and should be seen as a part of learning. The burden of monitoring your progress and your well-being is solely your responsibility.For those who want to start or have just started freelancing, here are five common mistakes of freelancers that you should avoid.1) Not minding emotional and psychological stabilityevalFreelancers are prone to get caught up with their work. They yearn for good profit even though they get overworked and stressed out too much. 63% of full-time freelancers saythat the lifestyle they are living with has brought anxiety. The reasons behind such emotional and psychological distress are because of overworking and the lack of emotional support.evalNot only does overworking lead to anxiety but also a more complicated form of a psychological effect. A study conducted in 2013also explains that long hours of work lead to a higher risk of depression.Esp ecially at times where there are too many works to be done, your client is dissatisfied with your work, and your financial stability is about to break, depression would likely to hit you.This distress is sometimes overlooked by some freelancers, leading to mismanagement of work and unwanted effects especially in physical health.However, avoid overlooking your emotional and psychological health.Take a deep breath.If things are not turning out the way you want it to, stop what you’re doing and take deep breaths. Simply inhaling for five seconds, holding your breath, then exhale in equal counts can stabilize your emotions.Schedule rest and energizer days.It is best to have rest days. Take your mind off work. Allocate a day every week for your hobbies and the things that you love doing.Sleep well. Rejuvenate your body. 8-10 hours of sleep is always recommended to put your body back in shape after a long day of work.Eat right.evalLow-sugar and high-protein foods are essential to maximi zing your energy. Don’t skip breakfast as it is the most important meal of the day.2) Mismanaging incomeSome freelancers lack the financial skills to cope with the expenses in their daily living. Statistics show that 77% of freelancers say that they have not been more financially stable since leaving their jobs to go freelance. One reason is that they treat their income as a regular and stable salary that they can get monthly. However, this is not the financial situation of most freelancers.In freelancing, you have to understand that your income would not come stable. You should not spend your money lightly. With fluctuating orders of your services, it would be hard to predict your everyday income.If worse comes to worst â€" your next payment is not within the present month and you only have a meager amount of money on hand, you have to come up with an irregular income budget.evalCome up with a low-income and low-spend budget. You can start budgeting by determining your income flo or. An income floor is the lowest amount that you might earn from your freelancing.If you have identified your income floor, you can then cross out that those you don’t necessarily need such as entertainment and leisure expenses. Decide on what you really need and what you don’t.After you have a low-income and low-spend budget, the next thing to do is build a typical-income budget. Most of the time, your pay is valued more than your income floor. However, don’t just rush into adjusting your budget into a grandiose one. There are what some freelancers do, which is wrong. Stick with your low-income and low-spend budget and give it time until you can accumulate enough savings to give a level up to your lifestyle.3) Prioritizing quantity over qualityLet’s face it. The better the income, the more we want to do it. Freelancers, due to wanting more profit from their services that they can do, apply for multiple orders from multiple clients. Naturally, this isn’t a bad thing. If y ou are capable enough to do it, then do it. However, sometimes, freelancers take advantage of putting quantity over quality.Prioritizing quantity over qualitymeans having more to do but sacrificing the quality of the outputs. One of the consequences of such action may be losing your finesse in your works. Because you settle for less, you cannot practice your art. You prioritize having many finished works but with less to no quality.Another consequence is that you may lose the trust of your clients. Some clients may feel that you are just passing your projects with mediocre quantity. They may also feel that what they pay isn’t equal to what they receive. This may lead to fewer projects given to you or worse, clients may not want to do business with you anymore.Ditch that erroneous prioritization. Make the maximum number of projects that you can do without sacrificing the quality of your work. In this way, your client may become fond of you and may give you bonuses.Image Source â€" Pixabay.com4) Mismanagement of TimeTime is what some freelancers try to catch up with. Whether it’s catching up on the deadline or trying to finish it before time to get more job orders, freelancers maximize their time. However, this effort of maximizing time for work may lead to mismanagement of time. Instead of having work done by a specific time, there is no work done due to time mismanagement.One common mistake of freelancers is biting off more than they can chew. This means that they take too many job orders from their clients without knowing first their capabilities in handling such orders. They try to fit in an unrealistic number of orders to be done in a day, resulting in only a small portion of the orders done. This ultimately leads to depression and anxiety.evalAnother common mistake is scheduling unrealistic deadlines. If you know that a job order cannot be realistically done in a day, stretch your working time. Schedule a deadline that fits into the complexity of the p roject. Having unrealistic deadlines may constrict the flow of projects, causing delays and unfinished orders.Throw those work attitudes away and straighten up your time management skills. Having good time management comes a long way. Not only does this make your workflow smooth and free of complications, but it also sets you free from emotional and psychological distress. Even better, completing the maximum tasks on time gives you an emotional boost and a feeling of victory. To aid you from achieving good management skills, here are four tips that you can follow.a) Come up with a schedule.Get your calendars and mark those days. The first key to having time management is coming up with a timetable. This lets you fit in the realistically possible number of orders that you can achieve and schedule realistic deadlines. This also lets you adjust your orders if there are unexpected events that may arise.b) Write things down.Take notes of important details, especially those that concern y our orders. You may forget the time your client gives you for an order, leading to schedule your project incorrectly. You can always put notes on your timetable for guidance.evalc) Be in charge of your time.Do not let distractions pull you down. Sometimes, things around you distract you from finishing your work on time. Get rid of those distractions. Put away your phone, turn off the TV, and set aside your hobbies. You are the master of your own actions and time.d) Say no.Distractions come in different forms. These can be a high-paying project that you know you cannot do, an invitation from a friend to go out for a concert, or a conversation with someone. Learn to say no. Know and control yourself.eval5) Avoiding admission of mistakesOne thing that employers or clients don’t like is that their freelancers never admit their mistakes. This is one of the problems that may occur when freelancers think of themselves as the ones who are always right. This disables them from adjusting to what their clients want for the project. However, you must remember that the one who gives the money for your project is your client.Admitting your mistakesshould be seen as a driving force that will help you grow as a freelancer, not something that degrades you as a worker. You must constructively assess where you went wrong. If you see that you are in the wrong, admit it, and adjust your work. Lifelong learning is essential for you as a freelancer.Clients want a freelancer with a submissive attitude but with principles. This means that you should be open to ideas and criticisms that your client throws at you while maintaining your integrity as the owner of the work. You may politely defend your work but also maintaining your respect for your client.TakeawayYou are your own boss.However, this does not mean that you are free from potential mistakes. You make mistakes, but you cannot get away from them. Being smart in your freelancing career is vital, especially when you want to las t as a freelancer.Always consider every aspect of the job and make do with what you have. Being realistic is the key.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

6 Well Paying Jobs You Can Turn Into A Career - CareerAlley

6 Well Paying Jobs You Can Turn Into A Career - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. You dont have to have a college degree to secure a job that is rewarding and profitable. But no worries, a college degree is a necessity in many fields, but there are many occupations that can be turned into productive careers without schooling, from robotics to freelance writing jobs online. If you dont have a degree, you may want to look into these career opportunities. Ambition, enthusiasm and the desire to succeed may be the only criteria you need to achieve your goals, support yourself and your family, and feel fulfilled in your work. Real Estate Broker If a career in sales appeals to you and you are a people person, real estate sales may be the way to go. In the US, certification for your state is required and can be achieved by taking a few courses which can be completed in less than a month. After taking the Real Estate Board Exam for your state, youre ready to go. You will be assisting people who are buying or selling homes, navigating them through the loan process and completing the paperwork necessary to close the deal. Ambitious real estate brokers can make between $70,000 and $100,000 a year. 4 Lucrative Jobs in Real Estate Real Estate Jobs Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash Web Designer or Data Analyst Do you love working on the computer? Put your talents to work developing and designing web pages for companies, small businesses, and entrepreneurs or becoming a data analyst. If you have the experience, programming skills, and a nice portfolio, work will be easy to find. Web designing and app development careers are growing at a rate that makes this a great time to get started. Salaries start at about $43,000 a year. Careers in Mobile Technology Web Designer Jobs There are many occupations that can be turned into productive careers without schooling. If you dont have a degree, you may want to look into these career opportunities. Tweet This Dental Hygienist The licensing requirements differ by state, but a four-year degree is not required to become a dental hygienist. The hygienist cleans teeth, offers preventative care, and provides oral care as per the dentists request. Starting salary is in the $45,000 range. Different Career Opportunities in the Dental Industry Dental Hygienist Jobs Dental Assistants and Hygienists (Practical Career Guides) Price: $35.00 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 The first step for any successful job search is a goal: What kind of job do you want to have? When considering this question, keep in mind the work youd like to do on a day-to-day basis, the salary you need, and what kind of office culture works well for you. (Heres how to find out the right jobs for your personality.) thebalance.com Claims Adjuster Investigate and evaluate a wide variety of insurance claims, from automobile accidents to hail damage on a home. Most companies provide on the job training for their claims adjusters. Salaries start in the $45,000- $50,000 range. 5 Hot Careers in Financial Services Insurance Jobs Truck Drivers This is a great option for any high school graduate who is looking for a career. Salaries usually start in the $50,000 range and depending on what you are transporting, the company you work for, or where you are driving your salary can majorly increase. And there are little upfront expenses for you, you will need to cover the cost to go to truck driving school, which is low. Then the rest of your training is typically given on the job. Is the Trucker Lifestyle Right for You? Truck Driver Jobs Property Manager Oversee the operation, leasing, and maintenance of multi-unit apartment complexes and condominiums. Starting salaries can range from $50,000 $80,000, depending on the location and status of the property. Property Manager Jobs Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash Robotics Robotics will account for 2 million to 3.5 million new jobs over the next few years. It is a fast-growing field and, according to Forbes.com, almost two thirds (60%) of British people believe there will be a robot in every home within the next 50 years. Many jobs traditionally held by humans are now at risk of being done by robots. With all of that, a robotics creator or specialist may be the next hottest career. If you are willing to do some work and receive the proper training, have a good work ethic and plenty of enthusiasm, you can find a career to suit your interests and support your budget. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and find the career youre looking for! ZipRecruiter Price: Never miss an opportunity. On ZipRecruiter, top companies reach out to you. Complete the required steps to get started. Get Recruited We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Friday, May 8, 2020

Who Am I (2-4-6-0-OOOONE!)

Who Am I (2-4-6-0-OOOONE!) Snatch up this magnet for yourself or another sweet n kickass gal you know at allisonstrine. I had to title my post on authenticity with a cheesy musical theater reference* because hey.thats me. A cheesy musical theater nerd. A sassafrass from Long Island. A perky life coach. A silly friend. A loving wife. But something hasnt sat well with me lately. I was reading some old posts, and noticed something, well, off in my tone. Everything I write here is so.peppy! And enthusiastic! And light fun bright! Its optimism at its best, full of sprinkles sunshine unicorns! And ENERGY! And lots lots of exclamation points! Where the fuck is the cursing? Where are my cynical complaints? I know that pessimistic sailor is within me most of my colleagues along the way have met her but shes nowhere in this blog. And that was, well, weird. And worrisome. I thought I wasnt being authentic. I thought I was giving you a fake version of me. But now Ive realized: This IS me. This is me when Im happy. And excited. And passionate. This is me when Im talking about coaching, or I am coaching. Its been so long I forgot. Im tearing up a little as I write this, thinking of whats waiting for me when I become a full-time coach, of enveloping myself in what keeps me peppy, and optimistic, enthusiastic. Without having managers to bitch about or waking up in the morning with a pit in my stomach and sitting at a desk for 9 hours a day. I want to be that girl. Or this girl the one in the blog. Shes now just a little piece of me, but soon shell eat that pessimistic sailor for breakfast. * 10 points if you knew that this lyric ends Who Am I? from Les Mis. And quite dramatically, I must add.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

How to Write Coaches Resume? Tips and Suggestions

How to Write Coaches Resume? Tips and SuggestionsWriting coaches resume for professionals can be a challenging task. The competition is on to become a successful coach. So the competition among coaches, trainers and other professionals is fierce.Coaches are responsible for giving guidance, instruction and advice to people who have failed in their lives. They are the facilitators between the novice and the experienced person. One of the greatest gift that coaching professionals give to others is to share their experiences, knowledge and expertise in order to help them live their dreams.As you search for effective tips on how to write a coaches resume, it is necessary to keep in mind some important factors. These tips are really critical in order to help you attain success in your career.The first and most effective tips to find out are about the contents of your resume. Make sure that your resume is professionally designed and neat. If you want to succeed in your career, your resume m ust be related to the company or the organization and must contain information which is related to the position that you are applying for.In the list of the professions, you must put down your job description along with the duties and responsibilities that you will have. You must also put down the addresses and phone numbers of your previous clients so that the prospective employer may contact you for further details.The next step on how to write a coaches resume is to find out what you want to say in your resume. When preparing a coach's resume, you must include your passion, abilities, achievements and strengths. You can put down your hobbies and interests in your resume, but make sure that it is relevant to the job that you are applying for.The next main section of your resume should be your educational qualifications and certificates. Include all your achievements and awards and list out all your professional affiliations and certifications. Before completing the document, you s hould always double check your work place, previous employers and references.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Citigroup to Give Millennial Workers a Year Off to Volunteer

Citigroup to Give Millennial Workers a Year Off to Volunteer To attract millennial employees in competitive fields like finance and technology, companies are coming around to the idea that young adults value culture and community as much as they do fat paychecks. According to the Wall Street Journal, Citigroup will announce on Wednesday some new initiatives designed to attract and retain young adult employees, including the offer of a year-long sabbatical to do charitable work. Another perk for employees is the possibility of four weeks in Kenya working on microfinance initiatives. Wall Street banking jobs are infamous for their grueling hours and the toll they take on new bankers’ personal livesâ€"which is why the Citigroup initiative is so surprising, and so welcomed by workers seeking more than, well, just work. “When I was a junior banker, it was a rite of passage in terms of how many hours you work,” Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat told the Journal. But today, things are different. Millennials want to have a personal life, and even when they’re on the clock, they want to work for companies that allow them to give back. Calculator: How much should I save to reach my goal? Citigroup isn’t the only company doing this. HR consulting firm Towers Watson Willis identified giving time off for volunteering and participating in community events as top trends in employer perks. According to Glassdoor.com’s roundup of the top 20 perks and benefits employers offer, SaaS company Salesforce gives employees six days off a year to volunteer. Those who take all six get a $1,000 grant to donate to their preferred charity. Content delivery network provider Akamai gives workers paid time off to volunteer in their communities as well.

Saturday, April 11, 2020

Your Resume Professional Awards And Affiliations - Work It Daily

Your Resume Professional Awards And Affiliations - Work It Daily Your resume should include professional awards you’ve received and your professional affiliations (for example, membership in an industry organization). Related: How To Cover Employment Gaps On Your Resume There is no such thing as an insignificant award or affiliation. Whether you stood out from a group of 100 or 10, you still stood out. Whether you showed up at meetings once a year or served as President for three years, whether you were recognized for your individual contribution or for your role in a team effort, you still showed active interest and success in your industry. Often professional awards can be listed under the company which gave you the award (“Best Sales Associate,” “President’s Club,” “Employee of the Month”). If your awards are industry-wide rather than company-specific, you may want to group them under a separate heading similar to that for your employment history. Affiliations can be listed at the end of the resume or in another location, depending on the resume or CV format and the branding for the resume. I have listed affiliations at the top of a resume when they were important to a client’s brand. You might title an awards/affiliations section as “Professional Development” or “Memberships” or “Awards and Affiliations,” depending on the content. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts How To Handle Career Gaps On Your Resume LinkedIn: What To Include In Your Work History How To Cover Employment Gaps On Your Resume Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!