9 Job Hunting Tips for Graduates

9 Job Hunting Tips for Graduates Graduating from university and entering the real world  can be a scary time.  The job market is still tough for grads in 2012, 284,000 students graduated into minimum wage jobs, according to the Wall Street Journal. But staying positive is the first step to success. Take a look below at some of our top tips for graduates. 1. Be prepared to work your ass off: Being a young and relatively inexperienced worker, means that youre going to have to prove yourself in whatever  role youre in. Youre going to have many skills that your older counterparts are going to lack, and vice versa, so be prepared to dive in and embrace yourself for a learning curve like no other! Its going to be hard at times, but its definitely going to be worth it! 2. Keep living like a student: If youre savvy with your savings, graduate life is going to be a whole lot more fun. Lots of new graduates employees waste their first payslips but the trick is to keep acting like a student. This means youll save money and give you more options later on. 3. Think of your career as lumps of experience: When graduates are first exposed to the real world, it can often feel like your career path must be chosen immediately, and once youve been employed in your first job you MUST stay in that industry for life. The real world can be scary, but its best to think of your employment as snippets of experience, that fit together, even if theyre not in the same industry.4. Spend more time with people than your laptop: Become a people person and youre half way there. Shut the laptop and arrange a coffee meeting with the hiring manager from your favourite company. 5. Use your social networks to your advantage: Most graduates these days have a pretty strong presence on social media. Instead of hiding it, use it to your advantage! Network with influencers, sniff out what positions are available and create a network online. Its the perfect way to show off your skills and personality. 6. Dont forget about the small guys: Many graduates only think about the big-dogs when it comes to their first graduate jobs, but sometimes its best to check out start ups and smaller companies first. Usually theres much more autonomy and responsibility in smaller companies! 7. Tailoring your CV is vital: The graduate job hunt can be a pretty desperate hunt, but dont just blast out your CV to everyone and anyone. To really stand out, make sure you tailor your CV to each specific  role your apply for. 8. Showcase yourself: Creating a website is the perfect way to showcase your skills and experience. 9. Graduate recruitment agencies: The term recruitment agencies may strike fear into your heart, but dont let them scare you! Sometimes signing up to a recruitment agency makes the job hunt easier, so research your options to see if there are any that suit you. Image credit: Shutterstock

5 Free Marketing Ideas for New Business Owners

5 Free Marketing Ideas for New Business Owners So you’ve started your small business and its time to dig into marketing. Unfortunately, like most other small businesses, your marketing budget is probably minimalâ€"if you have one at all. Luckily, there are no shortage of free marketing ideas to test out. Focusing on small opportunities and staying local is not only inexpensive (I.E. free), but will also be the perfect first step into marketing.  Use these five ideas to share your business with potential customers without reaching into your pockets. Snapchat It’s no longer a question that your customers are accessing most of their information via mobile devices, ranging from cell phones to tablets. In fact, 56 percent of millennials and 53 percent of people aged 55 and up agreed that they prefer mobile to do their research and online shopping. While you’re likely already on Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms, you probably haven’t jumped on the Snapchat train. Snapchat, the newest video sharing app, is not only super easy to use, but your potential customers are probably already snapping on the daily. Not to mention, Snapchat allows you to be fun and show followers who you are (without selling them). The best part, it’s an inherently engaging platform. Sign up for free and start snapping today. Online Listings When I started personal training, I found as many places as possible to list my business online. I learned to start with broad listing sites, such as Yelp, and then dig deeper into niche sites. Most allow you to add details about your experience, what you’re offering and a photo. While you may not get a lot of referrals at the start, it’s an easy thing to do while watching a movie or relaxing on a Sunday that will drive passive traffic and interest over time. Don’t forget to look for local listing sites as well. Alignable is one that I’ve signed up onâ€"you can connect with other local business owners, create specific offers, and get recommended by others in the local business community. Tear-Off Flyers This may seem a little old school, and it is. However, if your business relies on the local communityâ€"whether you’re a personal trainer or a computer repair businessâ€"this is one of the simplest  free marketing ideas that will  help  drum up business. I customized this pre-made template I found with a quick Google search for my own marketing efforts. Once finished, take one day to go out and find as many places to hang it as possible. Some local businesses that are not direct competitors may have a space for something like this in their storefront. Other places to try: telephone poles, library, laundromats, grocery stores and local college campuses. Don’t forget to include your contact information and keep your CTA short and straight to the point. Local Business Partnerships Many small business owners want to connect with other local business owners to bring in more potential customers. In most cases, it ends up being a win-win situation, not to mention it gives you a chance to network with more people within your community. Write a list of local businesses that complement what you do, then reach out about how you can work together. For example, I recently did this with a local juicing shop. After reaching out and we decided I would run group-training classes at his shop, and all of my participants would get a free juice at the end. MeetUp Groups The best way to market yourself is to talk about what you do. It’s in these conversations that your passion about the work comes through the most. I heard a piece of advice once that I really loved: Talk to at least one person a day about what you do, because you never know who you’re talking to. MeetUp groups are a great way to talk about your business and show your passion. While you shouldn’t show up and immediately start promoting yourself, you can create genuine connections and in conversation your business will more than likely come up. Tip: Don’t forget to bring business cards. If someone is interested in what you do, or knows someone who is, you don’t want to miss a chance to make sure they can get in touch with you or pass your information along. Free Marketing Ideas = Growing Your Business There are hundreds of free marketing ideas you can use to spread the word about your brand new small business. While many times we focus on the big picture, like continually driving leads or reaching a mass amount of people at once, it’s important to consider the smaller steps you can take. Getting involved in your community, networking with others and reaching out to local small businesses are easy ways to market yourself for free. Also consider promotional items, such as magnets, business cards, and banner pens Images:  Ideas  Celestine Chua

Legally-related jobs for all Graduates University of Manchester Careers Blog

Legally-related jobs for all Graduates University of Manchester Careers Blog I went to a meeting recently where I met a number of graduates, some with law degrees, most with degrees across the disciplines, who have landed jobs that have a legal element to them. I have listed details below but a common theme was how each graduate describes ‘falling’ into the role â€" none of them even knew the roles existed before they saw them advertised and it was very much a shot into the unknown. The general message from these graduates was to keep an open mind, keep networking and keep your eyes and ears open. Have a look at these:  Trademark Attorney Lara applied for this role that asked, ‘Do you love languages and cryptic crosswords?’ As a PhD graduate in languages she was looking for a career outside of academia but didn’t know where to start. By speaking to people, and searching for vacancies, she eventually came across this role which protects their clients’ Trademarks. She protects some of the most famous brand names on the planet and combines her love of words with love of problem-solving. Have a look at     http://www.insidecareers.co.uk/career-advice/a-careers-as-a-trade-mark-attorney/  Company Secretary Fabia told us that these roles are found in most companies, to make sure the Directors are doing what they should be doing and the business is well organised and fulfilling its obligations to shareholders, the taxman and Companies House. They are not advertised in one single place so the route in needs imagination, perseverance and chatting to people to find out where the roles are. No previous experience needed, but it would suit someone with strong organisational and analytical skills. It is a role that sits right at the heart of the business, but with good work/life balance. See https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/279089-company-secretary-job-description  Civil Service I met a History Grad whose first application to the Civil Service was rejected, so he spent a year working for a Housing Office before re-applying. He has held positions in diverse areas, including Police Pay Review, Immigration, Operation Cobra… the diversity of opportunity is endless and you can forge a very unique career to fit your own talents and aspirations. Start your research at  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-fast-stream  Costs Draftsperson There is an advantage here to having an LL.B but equally important is an attention to detail, able to work to deadlines and an interest in the process of litigation. No previous experience required and this is a very buoyant and growing sector so there are real opportunities for graduates in law firms and in independent Costs Companies. Start your research at http://www.associationofcostslawyers.co.uk/ and also look at individual law firm websites.  Risk Analyst This is such a growth area at the moment â€" risk is a hot topic and the trend is continuing. Lauren completed a law degree but did not want to be a lawyer so started in a very junior role in risk to see how she liked it. She did like it so has now developed into a more senior position. The role is basically to advise the business on how to limit its exposure to risk â€" things like money laundering, conflict of interest acting for 2 competing businesses, data protection. All high level stuff, and requiring an interest in legal aspects of running a business. Look at   https://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/financial-services-and-insurance/283705-regulation-and-compliance-graduate-area-of-work. Also explore the websites of individual law firms. And finally … remember to connect with your Careers Service, available for 2 years after Graduation. By Bernadette Lyons Careers Consultant All Careers advice Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted graduate schemes job hunting jobs legal Options

14 Ways to Personally Thank Customers and Boost Loyalty - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

14 Ways to Personally Thank Customers and Boost Loyalty - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Whats your favorite strategy for thanking your customers in a way that creates brand loyalty? The following answers are provided by the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only nonprofit organization comprised of the worlds most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, the YEC recently launched #StartupLab, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses via live video chats, an expert content library and email lessons. 1. Always Go the Write Way We send handwritten thank-you cards to each client immediately following a service. In the tech era, anything written by hand stands out. It shows you’re taking the time to appreciate their patronage the right way. Sincerity and gratitude go much further in building loyalty and real relationships than anything else, whether with clients or in your personal life. Nick Friedman, College Hunks Hauling Junk 2. Hallmark E-Cards In addition to handwritten cards, I love sending out e-cards to my clients to thank them for signing up, to congratulate them on a win, or to mark a special occasion. Elizabeth Saunders, Real Life E ® 3. A Little Luck Goes a Long Way Rather than sending cards at Christmas when many do, I send mine for New Years Day (handwritten) to my best 100+ clients and insert a scratch-off lotto ticket. Heres to a prosperous New Year! While most lose, everyone loves and remembers it. Darrah Brustein, Finance Whiz Kids | Equitable Payments | Atlanta Under 40 4. Customers Love Incentives When a customer makes a purchase from you, offer them a discount for future orders even if its as little as 5 percent. Ak Kurji, Gennex Group 5. Feature Your Best Customers Highlight your clients and the success they experience working with your program, service or product. Youll align their success with your brand and bring them a little celebrity and acknowledgement. Kelly Azevedo, Shes Got Systems 6. Logo Coffee Cups for Daily Reminders I had one project where we sent all the customers coffee mugs with our logo, and it was a huge hit! The customers felt cool with their exclusive mugs, and it was a great way to remind them of our company every morning. Plus, a bunch of people voluntarily sent in photos of themselves holding up their mugs. That was an unexpected bonus that could provide great imagery for marketing materials. Laura Roeder , LKR 7. Create a Personal Connection! We call every client after their first service and ask them for feedback. This also gives us a chance to thank them and gives them a point person in our company. Its great because it makes the customers feel valued and gives them a personal connection to the brand. After doing this, we saw increased personal engagement in our Facebook page and built those customers into a brand loyal community. Nikki Robinson, Gloss and Glam 8. Cross-Promote Your Clients In any way that I possibly can, I like to promote my clients. That goes far beyond the work I specifically do for them: I routinely offer them up as suggestions to writers, set up introductions and generally create situations that help my clients companies overall. Helping their bottom line creates brand loyalty in a way that nothing else can compare to. Thursday Bram, Hyper Modern Consulting 9. Make Their Day in Any Way Surprise your customers with little bonuses, discounts or gifts when they least expect it. Zappos does a great job at this by sending a package by next day air, dropping the shipping cost or slipping a coupon into the delivery box without a customer asking for it. This tactic will really resonate with your customers. Kevin Tighe II, The Brand Stars 10. Send Beautiful Love Letters I buy gorgeous papers, Papyrus cards, and amazing stickers to create stunning love lette r/thank you so much cards for clients and people who help me bring my brand to the world. The response I get from people when they receive one of my creations is awesome. People are usually shocked that someone put so much thought into saying thank you. Natalie MacNeil, She Takes on the World 11. People Love Surprises! A great way to show your customers how much you appreciate their business is to include a little sample of a product that you think theyd like. Its very important to make sure they realize right away that the freebie didnt end up in their box by mistake. Attach a little note or business card and tell them that this little extra is on you. Fabian Kaempfer, Chocomize 12. Provide Added Value Provide them with added value beyond what they pay for. By continually emailing customers about time-saving tools, new trends or advice, customers will appreciate your business even more. You show youre taking an interest in them without selling them on a service. Blake Beshore, Tatroux 13. Random Gifts Just Because Give them a free gift at random Just because. Show that your company sees its customers as human beings. The excitement of an unexpected gift can reinvigorate a relationship. Peter Nguyen, Advertiser360 14. Throw in a Free Prize When you order from the photography site Photojojo, included in your order is a tiny plastic dinosaur, and on the packing list is a line item saying 1 Rawwrrrr! Hundreds of photos have been uploaded to Flickr with Photojojo dinosaurs doing dinosaur things. It builds loyalty and gives customers a great reason to talk about them. Sean Johnson, Digital Intent

Want to Help Your Finances Move CareerMetis.com

Want to Help Your Finances Move â€" CareerMetis.com Saving up might be quite a challenge if you are living in San Francisco, New York or Los Angeles. Whether you are a banker or a bartender, you’ll eventually be faced with tough choices when it comes to your career.As someone who has moved all around the country, I know what I’m talking about. If you don’t particularly enjoy living on the edge and you like to take root in one city, you have to consider the financial benefits your future hometown offers.evalIf you’re prepared to relocate in order to achieve your financial goals you are much more likely to succeed. Though, it’s important to point out, we’re not just talking about netting the largest digits. Take a look at a next few cities and you’ll know exactly what I mean.1. Phoenix, ArizonaIt seems that the hegemony of Silicon Valley in the IT business might be close to it’s end because the new tech hubs are rapidly emerging across the country. Everyone wants to be a tech whizz these days, but should you really pack up your bags and head to Silicon Valley?Common sense says yes because it’s where you’ll get the highest wages. However, Phoenix has a growing tech scene and the rent is much more affordable. In fact, by the time you deduct monthly rent from your salary you’ll walk away with more if you live anywhere in Arizona as opposed to San Francisco.2. Denver, ColoradoThere are lots of exciting opportunities popping up in Denver, which makes it an attractive place to earn a great income. It’s also perfect for anyone who loves spending time outdoors. When you’re not working you’ll be focusing on your hobbies, which makes the city a wonderful choice. It’s less expensive than spending your free time in numerous cocktail lounges scattered around Manhattan.3. Austin, TexasAustin is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, but the prices still haven’t caught up with the growth. You can live somewhere like Pflugerville, which is a little more than 10 miles outside the city, an d it won’t take you too long to commute.It’s great because the median house price is only $165,100, so you’ll be able to get a lot of bang for your buck if you want a large home.4. Oklahoma City, OklahomaIt’s also important to consider the opposite of earning a big. Where in the country is it possible to save the most money? The saying goes: “A penny saved is a penny earned.”evalOne of the best places to put it in a practice is Oklahoma City. The price of groceries and gas is low, and lots of other essentials as well. It means it’s a place worth considering when it’s time to move.5. Columbus, OhioWhat is your biggest expense every month if you eliminate rent from the equation? It’s the money you spend on food, especially if you have a large family.Columbus is one of the best cities in the country to go out hunting and catching your own food. There is no reason why you can’t grow vegetables at home too, so large portion of your grocery bills could be wiped out liv ing in this prosperous city.6. Washington, D.C.Washington is one of the easiest cities in the country to find work at the moment, which has a lot to do with all the government jobs available. It’s also second on the list of the healthiest cities in the country.evalIn addition, as you get older more and more of your income will go towards medical costs, so rest assured once you need assistance you’ll be covered.7. Minneapolis, MinnesotaThe only tested path towards gaining a true financial freedom is going down the entrepreneurial route. When you want to start a new business, ideally, you want to live in a city offering two specific things. It needs to be affordable and Minneapolis is cheaper than the national average in the Cost of Living Index.Also there has to be abundance of networking opportunities. Building a network is crucial in any business, and in Minneapolis you’ll meet a lot of fellow entrepreneurs.Based on their individual preferences people will fall in love with d ifferent cities, and there declaring the best one is an ungrateful talk. I’ve lived in four out of the seven cities mentioned above, and I always look forward to going back for each one has it’s uniques kind of charm.Use this list once you start contemplating your next move. And remember that you always have a choice other than letting yourself feel trapped.

When your boss saves your job - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

When your boss saves your job - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Bob Sutton, author of the excellent book Good Boss Bad Boss tells this story from the very early days at Pixar: The company was under financial pressure and much of this pressure came down on the heads of the Divisions leaders, Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith. The new president, Doug Norby, wanted to bring some discipline to Lucasfilm, and was pressing Catmull and Smith to do some fairly deep layoffs. The two couldnt bring themselves to do it. But Norby was unmoved. He was pestering Ed and Alvy for a list of names from the Computer Division to lay off, and Ed and Alvy kept blowing him off. Finally came the order: You will be in my office tomorrow morning at 9:00 with a list of names. So what did these two bosses do? They showed up in his office at 9:00 and plunked down a list. It had two names on it: Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith. Remember, there are many great managers out there. If you work for one who isnt great, dont just accept that as the natural state of things. Do something about it. Related posts It pays to be nice to your employees How to handle tough times without layoffs Serving your employees 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

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Ready for Todays Job Search

Is Your LinkedIn Profile Ready for Today’s Job Search LinkedIn is a platform you can use for many different aspects of your career. One of the most important ways to use it is when you’re on the hunt for a new job. Whether you just created a new executive LinkedIn profile or you’ve had one for years, you need to make sure it’s updated and optimized for your job search. As much as your profile can help you, it can hurt you just as quickly if you don’t display the right information. Here are some tips to consider before you actively begin your job search. Optimize Every Section For SEO Recruiters and hiring managers have certain keywords and phrases they search for online. Knowing which words those are takes a little effort and research on your part, but you’ll have to do that anyway if you have a fully targeted resume. Any professional LinkedIn profile writer will suggest optimizing every section for SEO, since you don’t know which section a recruiter will place the most emphasis on. The more relevant keywords you have, the easier it will be for a recruiter to find you. Balance Personal Branding With Hard Skills Your executive LinkedIn profile is the perfect place to highlight your personal brand. Sometimes it’s not appropriate to demonstrate your personal brand in your resume, but LinkedIn can be used to build on the resume itself. You can still mention your qualifications and hard skills, while also showing who you are as a person and a professional. Having a balanced LinkedIn profile like this will help differentiate yourself and you’ll have a better chance of piquing the interest of recruiters or hiring managers. Increase Quality Connections Part of your LinkedIn profile development should be increasing the amount of quality connections you have. The more connections you have, the more credible you’ll seem. However, randomly asking people to connect with you won’t do any good. Quality connections can come from previous co-workers, classmates, people you’ve met at networking events or even people from common LinkedIn groups you’re involved with. Be Active Most recruiters will look at how active you are on LinkedIn and what your activity entails. Commenting in groups and sharing content are good examples of engaging activities. Not only do these activities demonstrate your interest in certain topics, but they also can show your expertise and leadership, depending on your interactions with the content. You don’t want to be overly active all the time, but commenting and engaging with a few pieces of content daily is just right. Professional Resume Services understands the importance of LinkedIn profile development in today’s job searching climate. In fact, many employers require applicants to include a link to their LinkedIn profile when they apply for a job, so it’s critical for you to have yours updated and optimized. We have a professional LinkedIn profile writer ready to assist you in this regard, so feel free to reach out to us if your profile is in need of a quality revamp.