Ask James How do I get back into work after travelling

Ask James How do I get back into work after travelling by James Reed Not sure how to explain a gap in your CV?  In his monthly column, career coach and Chairman of reed.co.uk, James Reed, shares his expert advice to help you tackle your biggest career concerns.In this month’s column, James gives his advice on how to get back into work after travelling…The Question:  Dear James,After taking a year out to go travelling I’m back in the UK and ready to apply for jobs. The only problem is I have a huge gap on my CV and don’t know what to fill it with. I had a couple of bar jobs on my travels when I was running low on cash, but other than that, I don’t have much work experience. I haven’t applied for jobs in a long time and I’m really out of practice when it comes to interviews. I’m scared that employers will think I’ve been out of work for too long. Can you please give me some advice? Best,Ivan  The Answer:  Hi Ivan,You may think that you are out of practice when you start applying for jobs and it’s understandable to have reservations about job hunting after taking a year out, but look at the positives, you’re actually in an advantageous position to start your job search. You don’t have to complete a notice period or worry about scheduling interviews outside your working hours you can focus your full attention on job hunting.You have also worked and lived in a different country, which demonstrates valuable qualities that employers look for. It shows that you’re adaptable and able to embrace a different culture, so be sure to emphasize this on your CV. Even better if you can provide examples of when you have shown these traits, for example you made an effort to learn a bit of the local language (shows discipline and willingness to learn new skills), or you organised and booked travel and accommodation for a group of people (shows your ability to organise and manage a group).When you are offered an interview, expect to be asked about your travels and what you gained from the experience. It’s important to prepare answers to these kinds of questions before your interview so you’re not caught off guard. Think about why you want to work in a particular industry and prepare a concise answer that conveys both your passion for the job and your transferable skills gained from your time spent in another country.The most important thing to remember is to be honest on your CV. Don’t extend dates from previous employment to cover the gap. There’s a high chance that your new employer will find out when they check your references, which could cost you the job. Dishonesty doesn’t sit well with employers, or anyone in fact!Remember to focus on the positives and emphasize your transferable skills to employers when you’re applying for jobs and I’m sure you’ll have a lot to offer in any role you choose to pursue.Best of luck.JamesFive of the best things to do in your gap yearHow to: Explain a gap in your CVHow to: Start work after your gap yearIf you’d like James to answer your career query, tweet your question to  @James_A_ReedLooking for more CV advice?  Download ‘The 7 Second CV’ nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Ask James

Want a Better Career Smile More. - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Want a Better Career Smile More. - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I have been leading a volunteer job seeker workshop for the past six years. My mission in this workshop is to help active job seekers improve their job interview effectiveness. By now, you are probably guessing that the first thing I tell the participants in my workshop is to smile more. This is also the first item I list in my job search book, Fast Track Your Job Search (and Career!): “Smiling and appearing friendly without interviewer coaxing makes you more appealing, regardless of your credentials and work experience.” What if you are not looking for a job right now and don’t need to worry about doing well in a job interview. Should you really consider smiling more? According to 15 Fascinating Facts about Smiling posted by nursingschools.net, some of the benefits include: Forcing yourself to smile can boost your mood: Psychologists have found that even if you’re in a bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits by forcing yourself to smile. It boosts your immune system: Smiling really can improve your physical health, too. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system. Smiles are contagious: It’s not just a saying: smiling really is contagious, scientists say. In a study conducted in Sweden, people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own. Smiles Relieve Stress: Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress. Smiling helps you get promoted: Smiles make a person seem more attractive, sociable and confident, and people who smile more are more likely to get a promotion. If you want to gain some of these benefits, then start smiling more! Here are a few ideas to help you pull this off: (1) Listen to more humorous programs on radio or television, (2) associate with more positive people, and (3) exercise more… within the limits of your doctor’s advice. Last, but not least, smiling makes you instantly more attractive. You can even win more friends and influence more people. Smiling not only benefits you â€" it benefits others. Your contagious smile will improve the lives of others around you.

The MBA Career Creator Or Game Changer

The MBA Career Creator Or Game Changer Why get an MBA? For many people, the MBA is an end in itself, a way to rise through the ranks in their current career, but for many, the path isn’t so straightforward. Rather, in the course of completing a degree, some find that an MBA is just the beginning of a whole new career. Every MBA candidate is different, as is every MBA program, but you should prepare to come out of your degree a different person than when you began, regardless of whether your career path is altered. So what road will you take? Here are just a few of the possibilities. Opportunities For Advancement The most common reason to pursue an MBA is for professional advancement. Having this degree can significantly increase your leverage during salary negotiations or when opportunities for promotion arise. Because having an MBA gives you the big picture perspective on the field, you’ll also be better positioned during an executive search. New Roads To Explore One of the most exciting things about getting an MBA is that it opens students up to new experiences and new applications of the same material. For example, Santa Clara University’s MBA prepares students for work in nonprofits, law, and the arts, among other fields. So while you may arrive with plans to advance at a Fortune 500 corporation, you may come to realize that’s now what you’re passionate about â€" it’s just what you know. The more experiences you have through the MBA process, the more likely it is you’ll find a field where you will thrive because education is fundamentally about self-discovery. In fact, the degree of excitement and inspiration that thrives in MBA programs is precisely why so many startups get their start in the academy. MBA students have the professional training and the creative instincts to carve out a niche in a fiercely entrepreneurial environment, but those instincts can also make them serious competitors in a range of fields. A Career Reboot Sometimes bad things happen. Sometimes you’re fired or laid off or the company you’re working for goes under. And what can you do then? Some find themselves lost or wallowing without the sense of identity offered by their job.   Others see it as an opportunity to make a career pivot by getting an MBA. A successful career pivot takes more than an MBA.   But it’s a good place to start because your degree program can help inspire you, introduce you to people you want to network with, and help you build a personal brand. Pursuing a degree is the first step in a bigger process, one in which you stop wondering what’s next and act decisively. You Don’t Have To Know Ultimately, pursuing an MBA should be about fulfillment â€" in your career, your personal life, or both. That doesn’t mean it an easy thing to take on, though. Many people work on their MBA over a period of years while holding down a job and  doing their degree online. And even if it takes you a little longer than the average, just know: there’s no wrong way to get an MBA and there’s absolutely no wrong outcome

Web Development; DIY or Pay a Pro

Web Development; DIY or Pay a Pro Web development is basically another term for creating a website from scratch for use on the Internet or Intranet. So youre a new business, you are all excited about your shiny new website and know exactly what you want. Do you do it yourself or use a significant chunk of your start up budget and look at online services such as php web development at fastfwd.com? There are pros and cons with both but hopefully this guide will help you make an informed decision as to which is best for you and your business. Cost DIY wins hands down in this area. There are dozens of do it yourself platforms online where you can literally create your own website and manage it yourself for very little outlay. The website building itself can be done for free and all you pay for is the hosting and web address or URL. Even this can be free if you take one that has the name of the host platform in it or you can buy your own. If you are like many new businesses with a very strict budget the undeniable cost effectiveness of doing it yourself is very appealing, but it could end up costing you down the line. Time Building a new website can be a time consuming business, especially if its intended to be for E-commerce. The free website creating sites are designed for ease of use by those with no kind of training and it is extremely satisfying to see your website come together before your eyes. The problem is that while they are easy to use they are also incredibly time consuming as the way they have been built tends to go from A to B via D to ensure its simple enough for everyone to use. IF you have several weeks, or even months, to spare to create your site then great, but this is one of the main reasons why people go to the professionals. Appeal We have all visited websites with the wow factor. The home page has you hooked and by the time youve browsed around a bit and visited several areas of the site youre hooked and it becomes your go to website. Do DIY sites have this appeal? Well, not so much. There is a general rule of thumb that the web development should reflect the audience. So if you want your own blog site, for example, then the free sites are perfectly adequate as you dont need hundreds of pages packed with products and features such as shopping cart and checkout. For a top notch professional website or online store you really need a professional to make your web dreams come true. UX You get one chance to make a first impression, and if your website blows it then the users arent going to come back. From the second they arrive your visitors should feel special, as if the website has been created just for them. The searching should be quick and responsive, the check out seamless and the user left satisfied from a great user experience. Hiring a professional web developer is definitely money well spent. You could try to do it yourself to start with but by the time you have the money to get it done professionally you will be on the back foot by having to try and attract back all those users who have come,hated and left again.

How to Choose Top Canadian Resume Writing Services

How to Choose Top Canadian Resume Writing ServicesWhen searching for the top Canadian resume writing services online, you will be provided with all the information that you need in order to make a successful hiring decision. The most important thing you need to keep in mind when looking for the best resume services is to ensure that you choose a company that can provide you with solid service.Of course, not all companies offer the same services, so you should take some time to compare and contrast the resume services they offer. It will not be difficult to find an online service that will help you write your resume. As long as you take the time to compare and contrast their services, you should have no trouble finding a company that can provide you with the most effective resume services.To find the top Canadian resume writing services, the first thing you will want to do is determine the amount of experience you are looking for. The most experienced service will be able to provide y ou with the best services, since they have been writing resumes for a longer period of time. They will also have more years of experience and education to draw upon when it comes to writing a successful resume.The next thing you will want to do is choose a top Canadian resume writing service. Many people will simply choose a resume writing service based on the name of the company or the way the website looks. If you want to get the best services, it is important to determine which company has the most experience and education to offer.Once you have determined what level of experience and education you need, you will want to choose which services you want to use. Most of the top services offer a variety of services, including writing cover letters, cover letters editing, creating resumes, applying for jobs, and adding items such as professional photos.Services are a very important aspect of applying fora job, and it is important to choose the best services. You want to ensure that yo u take the time to compare the different services offered by various companies so that you are able to choose the best company to hire to help you with your resume writing needs.If you want to hire the best services available online, you will want to look at reviews from other individuals who have used the services. You will want to make sure that you read as many reviews as possible before choosing the services you want to use.There are many companies that offer excellent resume services. Whether you are looking for the top Canadian resume writing services or want to simply find the best resume services available, it is important to compare and contrast the services of various companies.

Off to EuroGEL - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Off to EuroGEL - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Today is EuroGEL and Im really looking forward to the whole day. Ive spent the last couple of days hanging with my friends from the US and Bahamas who have come to Copenhagen. Yesterday we had our pre-EuroGEL presentation which went just great. 35 people turned up for a presentation on festivals, happiness and democracy in the workplace. Thamk you to Joachim Oschlag for live-blogging it (in danish). And thank you to Thomas Davidsen of OneOpenWindow for filming it. Video from the event will follow. We also met with Jesper Just Jensen of LEGO Serious Play, a strategic process that uses LEGOs to develop and capture peoples ideas. Later we met with Mads Kjaer, the CEO of Kjaer Group who told about his new company which aims to eradicate poverty in Africa by making it extremely easy for you and me to invest in Africa. Thats invest not aid. I like it. I apologize for my absence from the site these past few days. Fortunately I set up some blog posts ahead of time, so thats what youve been seeing since tuesday. Im still reading (and loving) everybodys comments and will respond as soon as things turn a little less hectic round here. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Cover letter secret #4 Stand-out formatting - Sterling Career Concepts

Cover letter secret #4 Stand-out formatting Cover letter secret #4: Stand-out formatting Okay, so I said the third tip would be my last, but I have one more bonus tip to share with you when writing cover letters. We discussed earlier how the letter should be laid outâ€"three paragraphs: intro, strengths, next steps. One of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid a full page of text is to use formatting to break up that second, potentially long paragraph: * Break up the mid-section of the paragraph with indented bullets listing the details of your top three strengths, and while you’re at it, try starting off each bullet with a lead-in phrase in bold or italics. The bold phrases will jump off the page, so make them count. * If you have a really strong match of skills for each of the position’s top requirements, try a two-column comparison approach, labeled as “Position Requirements” and “My Background.” If you truly can go tit-for-tat on the requirements for the position, there’s no more blunt way to show that you meet or exceed the qualifications. Lastly, keep that second paragraph short, sweet, and to the point. Yes, I know I said that’s your opportunity to toot your own, but assume the reader is busy. Keep your letter brief for optimal effectiveness. Make every word count. Your reader will appreciate it. So while you may stress over writing your letter, remember to take a step back and look at the document with a fresh perspective and employ formatting to your advantageâ€" bullets, two-column set up, short paragraphsâ€"to get your strengths across to the reader.