Friday, May 29, 2020

Summer sale the best deals on courses 

Summer sale the best deals on courses   by Amber Rolfe Our big summer sale 2019 is now on. Heat? Check. Iced everything? Check. Studying at discounted prices? We’ve got you covered. Because with thousands of courses in almost every subject on sale this summer, getting qualified just became a whole lot easier.Here are five subjects you can study for less this month with our big summer sale:  Office skills What’s available? Microsoft Office qualifications (in everything from Excel to Word), along with courses to help boost your skills in admin, data entry, and more.Why study office skills?  Office skills are a prerequisite for roles in a number of industries â€" with Microsoft Office software acting as the foundation of many organisations. Not only is getting qualified a great way to progress in your career or break into a new industry, it’ll also help you learn new skills and techniques to make using the programmes a breeze.Perfect for:  People who want to Excel in their career.Top deal:  Ultimate Microsoft Ex cel Bootcamp for £25 (save 87%) from Excel with Business.How much  are the courses?  Under £50.View all discounted office skills coursesProject management What’s available?  A range of globally recognised project management courses, providing industry recognised qualifications in PRINCE2 ®, Six Sigma, PMI, and more.Why study project management? Project management qualifications such as PRINCE2 ® are an essential benchmark for anyone looking to excel in the field. As well as expanding your knowledge and learning essential project management frameworks, they also prove your credentials to employers.Perfect for:  People who lead instead of follow.Top deal:  PRINCE2 ® Foundation for £199 (save 55%) from Study365.How much  are the courses?  Under £200.View all discounted project management coursesTechWhat’s available?  A number of Tech courses, providing qualifications in everything from CompTIA to Cisco. So whether you want to study IT security, coding, game design, or anything else, we’ve got you covered.Why study tech? Tech is an extremely lucrative field, with a number of different roles available. So you’ll be able to play to your strengths by finding the right role for you, whilst also developing skills that are useful in almost every industry.Perfect for:  People who want to F5 their career.Top deal:  ITIL ® Foundation V4 for £216 (save 57%) from The Knowledge Academy.How much  are the courses?  Under £250.View all discounted tech coursesAccounting finance What’s available?  Accounting courses for learners of all levels, allowing you to get qualified in essential accounting certifications such as AAT, CIMA, Sage, and much more.Why study accounting finance? Industry-recognised qualifications are absolutely essential for anyone wanting to progress in the field of accountancy. Certifications like AAT are the industry standard for proficiency in the profession, and also allow you to increase your earning potential. Not to mention that they can be taken with absolutely no previous experience.Perfect for:  People who can do the math(s).Top deal:  AAT Level 2 (Foundation) Award in Accounting Software for £270 from ICS Learn.How much  are the courses?  Under £300.View all discounted accounting finance coursesSomething new What’s available?  A wide range of courses in almost every subject. Whether you want to learn marketing, interior design, animal psychology, or anything else, you can do it all for under £20 this summer.Why study something new?  Learning something new isn’t just a great way to expand your knowledge on something you’re passionate about, it could also boost your CV and help you stand out to employers. And with courses from just £10, studying couldn’t be easier (see also: cheaper).Perfect for: People who want to read their cat’s mind (or you know, learn other stuff).    Top deal:  Animal Psychology CPD Certified for £10 from International Open Academy.How much  are the courses?  Under £20.Vie w all discounted courses under £20    Still searching for your perfect course? View all discounted courses 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 Features

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Sprucing up Your Graduate CV

Sprucing up Your Graduate CV CV (Curriculum Vitae) (Photo credit: r(t.)) As employers and recruitment agencies are inundated with graduate CVs, it is imperative for any aspiring job seeker to make sure theirs is in pristine condition to get the attention it deserves. Common CV myths, such as holding everything on one page, hinder young grads and job hunters before they’ve even put a foot through the doorHere’s a recap to help you stay ahead of the game: 1.  Make sure your contact details stand out: highlight them in bold, place your mobile phone number before your email address (make sure your email is professional get rid of any funny/novelty usernames and create a named account if you don’t have one already), say when you’re available on each lineMany candidates focus solely on the content of the CV, and although that is important, you mustn’t overlook your header this is your chance to make your name stick in the minds of the reader. Include your career objective, a one-liner, at the top to show the employer what you’re after. 2. Layout is key if you pack a page with too much information, it looks too busy and messy. Instead, make the most of white space to emphasise certain points on your CV. Bullet points, instead of long-winded paragraphs, also work best. Divide and conquer: if you place your previous work experience into skill-based categories, as opposed to job listings, you can highlight the most relevant achievements, without wasting valuable page space. 3. Mention course modules and achievements: If you don’t hold that much work experience, make sure you mention your course modules and university achievements, whether that’s critical thinking applied to essays, presentation skills in seminars, or helping to run a society you joined. 4. Make sure that whatever you emphasise holds relevance to the job. There is no point in claiming you have done X or Y, if you don’t mention the end result those actions had on the task at hand. 5. Try to use action verbs as much as you can and speak of yourself in the 1st person “I budgeted”, “I managed”, “I led” etc. Pick up on the keywords in the job description and try to include these or synonyms in your set of skills, where you can. Be sure to remain truthful on your CV inventing or over-selling yourself will not play in your favour, come interview stage. 6. Remember to read your CV out aloud to catch out awkward phrases and convoluted paragraphs. Have a couple of friends and family members look over it to get an idea of what may need tweaking. Make sure you don’t go over 2 pages though, as that is the common maximum length for graduate CVs. ________________________________________________________________________________________

Friday, May 22, 2020

Why Spelling and Grammar Can Ruin Your Job Hunt

Why Spelling and Grammar Can Ruin Your Job Hunt If you’re hunting for a job, you’ve likely been told hundreds of times about the importance of good spelling and grammar. But why are spelling and grammar such sticking points for employers? Surely even they make the odd spelling mistake from time-to-time? We’re all prone to human error, right? Well yes. However, when you are applying for a job (like it or not) the recruiter is in the position of power! Your lack of written proficiency tells a recruiter more about you than you might imagine. Here are 5 reasons why a ‘their’ instead of a ‘there’ will fast-track your application to the shredder: 1) First impressions count: There’s tons of advice out there about how to make a good first impression at interview    the importance of a firm handshake, the correct clothes and the mega-watt smile. However, don’t forget that the first contact you make with a potential employer is almost always written: your application form or your CV/cover letter are your real first impression. Poor spelling and grammar are the written equivalent of turning up to an interview late, or with a stain on your shirt. The danger of a written first impression is that if you present yourself poorly, you can’t go back and fix things. Make a bad impression at the start of an interview you can spend the rest of the time trying to change the interviewer’s mind but fail to woo with your words and you don’t get the chance to redeem yourself and your bid for the job is stopped in its tracks! 2) Written communication is important for almost every job: Effective communication is crucial in business and is listed amongst the essential requirements in most job descriptions. If your spelling and grammar are poor, your ability to communicate is hampered. Most of us will spend a decent chunk of our working day writing whether that’s sending emails, preparing proposals or writing reports. Since the job you’re applying for likely involves writing it’s understandable that an employer will favour a candidate with superior writing skills. After all, wouldn’t you? On top of this, an employer has to consider the impression your writing skills will give of them. If (for example) you’re emailing clients and customers, your mistakes will in turn reflect badly on your employer and their brand. 3) You give off an ‘I don’t give a damn’ attitude: Employers want to give a job to someone who really wants to be at their company because that person is going to: stay with them for longer and work harder. A slap-dash application littered with errors paints the picture of someone who doesn’t really want the job and has sent out dozens of applications that day.  Ultimately if you care enough about the role you’re applying for you’ll triple check your work, you’ll look up any spelling/grammar queries you have on the internet and you’ll give your application to someone else to proof read. 4) You fall foul of ‘The Horn Effect’: As well as portraying an ‘I don’t give a damn’ attitude, poor spelling/ grammar suggests some other undesirable traits about you, e.g. a lack of attention to detail, laziness and a lack of pride in your work, none of which are going to be on an employer’s wish list!  Beyond the traits that employers may reasonably associate with bad spelling/grammar, a lack of effort in the writing department will actually dampen other completely unrelated achievements, courtesy of the horn effect. The horn effect is a powerful psychological curiosity in which if a person seems particularly lacking in one trait, then that person will often be assumed to be deficient in many others.  For instance, people will consistently rate those who are less ‘attractive’ as less kind and funny than their more attractive counterparts, despite there being no evidence of this. Likewise, your poor spelling and grammar will mean employers will underestimate your other abilities too. While you may have outstanding achievements and incredible qualifications, spelling and grammar mistakes will cast a grey shadow over everything else. Unfair, yes, but true! 5) You turn yourself into a sitting duck! Most vacancies nowadays receive dozens, if not hundreds of applications. As a time saving measure recruiters will start by weeding out the definite ‘NOs’ before comparing the ‘maybes’ and the good applications. Since poor spelling and grammar are some of the easiest things to spot on a CV or application form, a rogue ‘your’ rather than a ‘you’re’ puts you in the firing line for the first cull! Refuse to play by the spelling and grammar rules and you immediately give your competition the upper hand; you’ve unwittingly turned yourself into a sitting duck. Author: Jenna Allcock works for GradTouch.com, the UK’s fastest growing graduate careers site and recruitment agency.

Monday, May 18, 2020

What Countries are Best at Attracting Talent [STUDY] #GTCI2014

What Countries are Best at Attracting Talent [STUDY] #GTCI2014 Talent is moving around the world faster than ever before. Countries that remain open to it are building a competitive edge. The pace of change in the knowledge economy is reaching unprecedented speed. Rapid technological change, coupled with a globally mobile workforce is bringing benefits to countries able to harness the energy of the young and ambitious, and raising challenges to those unable to attract and grow this precious resource. The second edition of the Global Talent Competitiveness Index, created by INSEAD, in partnership with Singapore’s Human Capital Leadership Institute and Adecco confirms that talent competitiveness is closely linked to wealth: high income countries again lead the top-scoring countries in the GTCI 2014.   With world-class universities, rich countries also have a greater ability to attract foreign talents through better quality of life and higher remuneration â€" all of which drive up diversity. In the ranking of 93 countries, which measures their ability to attract and incubate talent, European countries continue to dominate this year’s list with 16 of them in the top 25.   Switzerland maintains its number one spot, while four non-European countries are among the top ten: Singapore, the United States, Canada and Australia. Small country advantage By virtue of their small size, Switzerland, Singapore and Luxembourg â€" the top three â€" have no choice but to be open economies.   They show a high degree of openness in terms of trade, investments and people, where their small population, geography and lack of natural resources have meant that they have had to play the game of globalisation from early days. Other countries which have realised that an attractive talent pool encourages multinational corporations to invest within their borders include the Nordic countries which are all in the top 20. A practical approach One of the main findings in this year’s GTCI is that vocational education and training is neglected in most countries with the real exceptions of Switzerland, Germany and Austria.   In Switzerland, some 70 percent of young adolescents choose the apprenticeship track rather than the university route which manifests itself even within government where half of Swiss ministers come out of the vocational stream.       Starting from age 12, pupils at Swiss schools are encouraged to think vocationally and consider how to make themselves employable early in life.   The same is true in Germany and Austria and the results of this are seen in the youth unemployment figures where the rates are as low as 3.6 percent and 8 percent in Switzerland and Germany respectively.   This is in stark contrast to many other European countries which are plagued by youth unemployment â€" with rates not uncommon at 50 percent and above in countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece. Africa’s potential unlocked In many African countries, policymakers have also started to recognise the critical role that technical and vocational skills can play in national development and have begun to address the mismatch between training and labour market needs. With Africa’s economies growing quickly, they are witnessing one of the fastest-growing youth populations and middle classes in the world.   The time is ripe to ensure that this perfect storm of new consumers, new job opportunities and large numbers of youth seeking employment comes together for true socio-economic progress. Seeking a ‘job rich’ recovery A further key finding of the GTCI is that technological advances in the form of big data and business analytics are affecting new segments of the labour market. Leaders need to consider this reality not only in terms of how it is affecting the labour market today, but also how it will affect workers’ employability into the future.   The “big data phenomenon” is starting to impact the 250 million knowledge workers globally as their specific talents are either given more value by this trend or made redundant by it.   Given the rapidity with which technological changes take place, employers will have a central responsibility in adapting their labour forces to such challenges â€" in emerging economies as well as sophisticated OECD countries.   In countries which have been forward in developing their business process offshoring activities â€" such as India, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt â€" considerable efforts will be required to grow “e-skills” and “e-leaders” and to foster t he “job-rich recovery” sought by economies today. Preparing the next generation It has been clear for some decades that globalisation combined with technological change will affect the economic and talent landscapes of the future, but this appears to be happening much faster than anticipated.   Equipping youngsters with digital skills, team and networking capabilities and a spirit of “learning how to learn” needs to start at primary school level in order to meet labour market requirements. Ultimately, these youngsters will be seeking employment in economies which are attractive places to work and live.   Such places will embrace diversity. To be among such destinations, national economies need to be open to trade, investment, immigration and new ideas.   Switzerland, Singapore and Luxembourg have indeed shown themselves to be “champions of openness” in this year’s GTCI. Download the full Global Talent Competitiveness Index report here. By  Paul Evans, Academic Director of the INSEAD Global Talent Competitiveness Index and Bruno Lanvin, INSEAD Executive Director for Global Indices with Sarah Wachter, Knowledge Contributor.

Friday, May 15, 2020

15 Preparations You Should Do to Be A Successful Presenter CareerMetis.com

15 Preparations You Should Do to Be A Successful Presenter â€" CareerMetis.com Have you seen The King’s Speech?It’s based on a true story about King George VI’s brave feat in public speaking. He sought the help of a speech therapist to help him overcome his stutter. In the end, he was able to confidently deliver a monumental speech for his people in the midst of war.So how does one conquer their fear of public speaking? Of course, it’s through ample preparation and practice. No magic potion will transform you into a successful presenter overnight.When you were in school, presentations were in the form of such as class reports or your thesis defense. As a professional, your presentations progressed into team meetings, client reports, training sessions, sales pitches, and more.evalThis goes to show how vital it is for your professional and personal growth to have great presentation skills. If you want to further your career and climb to the top of the corporate ladder, being an effective speaker is a valuable asset.Make sure to arm yourself with everythin g you need beforehand, including a well-researched and engaging topic. Next, consider the materials you have at your disposal (i.e., audio-visual aids, speakers, projector, LED screen, laptop, etc.). And finally, don’t forget to prepare an effective icebreaker or other interactive exercises to keep your audience interested and engaged.When it comes to creating slideshows, remember to keep everything straightforward. Don’t go overboard with animations and text. Audiences like it when they can just scan or skim slides that don’t have too much going on.Remember: you’re there to tell a very important story. Keep a casual and conversational (yet professional) tone so as not to bore your audience. Make sure that you speak clearly so everyone in the can hear you. Don’t rush as it may appear that you don’t care whether you conveyed the right message or that you’re uncomfortable.Most importantly, just breathe. The final moments before you walk up to the podium will be nerve-wra cking. It’s normal, and everything will flow nicely once you command the floor. Don’t beat yourself up too much when you stutter or fumble during a presentation. Getting good at it takes time. Even prominent figures like Mark Zuckerberg had to learn from one hard-hitting blunder to get better at this skill. Now, when he speaks, the whole world listens.Here, we’ve got an infographic guide that illustrates a few tips that can help you nail your next presentation. With preparation and practice, you, too can become a successful presenter who can make your audience listen in awe.Infographic Source : guthriejensen.com

Monday, May 11, 2020

Tips To Help Get That Promotion Youve Been Wanting - CareerAlley

Tips To Help Get That Promotion You’ve Been Wanting - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. We all try and work our hardest in life to achieve those work promotions or positions where we enjoy the fruits of our labour and have a well-balanced work and social life. When youre working towards a promotion, there are a few things that can help you. So here are some tips to help get that promotion youve been wanting. We all have the ability to do and learn more in life. And even though you might want a promotion, that doesnt mean you have all the life skills and experience available to do the job. Tweet This Show Your Interest No one will know youre after a promotion unless youre willing to make it known to your boss and those wholl have influence over the decision process. So whether the position is filled already or there are plans to open it up, express your interest in climbing up the work ladder. You can express this in social situations or whenever you get the opportunity to speak to those who matter when it comes to the promotion. An ideal time to do this can also be when you have an annual review to discuss your work and how youve been getting on. Build Your Skills And Experience We all have the ability to do and learn more in life. And even though you might want a promotion, that doesnt mean you have all the life skills and experience available to do the job. Think about the position and whats required in terms of qualifications, skills or experience. You should then look at fulfilling those to ensure you make the best person for the job. Whether that be a bookkeeping certification or shadowing someone in your workplace, look for these opportunities. Showing this willingness to learn is going to reflect very well on those who are looking at your progress. One of the biggest ways to really wow your boss is to always go the extra mile in work. Thats not just when it comes to customer service if thats part of your job, but when it comes to all the other tasks that you do. Employers tend to promote employees who they can trust to not only do what is asked of them but also go above and beyond when possible. This will prove to your employers that you are passionate about doing the best that you can in your line of work. How to Get a Promotion at Work Always Be A Team Player No matter what job position you have, theres always likely to be some degree of a team to work with or lead. Therefore, its essential youre a team player that can also work alone. Having the best of both worlds is important because, without the opinions of others, mistakes can happen. A collaborative process can sometimes be needed, so look at how you can improve your skills when it comes to being a team player. Take training sessions to help or start asking others in how you can help make their jobs easier and to help them with other projects theyre working on. Keep Positive Not everything in life comes to us easily, and sometimes things might not pan out as we wanted them to originally. However, if youre willing to work hard at it and continue to do so, you will get there in the end. Remember to stay positive and always to put good vibes out when youre working and thinking about your career. Being negative isnt going to bring you anything good, and so its important always to keep your spirits up. Getting a promotion can sometimes be hard work, and you may have to wait your turn until you get the opportunity. However, with perseverance, you will get there in the end and reap the benefits of your hard work. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? 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

Tips For Using thesaurus For Resume Writing

Tips For Using thesaurus For Resume WritingThesaurus for resume writing is a tool that can be used to get your resume ready for the professional world. Having the right kind of skills can open doors to lots of opportunities. But with the appropriate skills, you can learn how to use the skills to earn your next opportunity. Here are some helpful tips for you to know how to use the thesaurus for resume writing:Do not create a resume where you state that you have the 'best skills'. You should state that you have the 'most skills and experience in this area'. Your prospects will take a look at your list of skills and judge you on your experience. They will tell themselves that if you have the most skills, you would be the best candidate for that job.Second, you need to write a personal statement that can be compared to a job description. In fact, this is one of the keys to being a good writer. You need to describe what you want to achieve in life. You need to tell your audience exactly w hat you want to do. This is done through your summary.Summary and format are the most important parts of resume writing. You need to write these things in a way that is easy to read. Some examples of thesaurus for resume writing include bullet points, tables, lists, and large letters. It would be good to have some examples at hand so that you can find a style that suits you best.Aside from these vital parts, you need to add a portfolio or sample that can give you more confidence. Let your resume speak for itself. Do not try to use thesaurus for resume writing when it comes to your experience. You need to focus on the abilities that you have. Besides that, you need to make sure that your experiences and skills are comparable to others who are applying for the same job.Put emphasis on your strengths and leave technical details out. You need to focus on your strengths and hobbies. People love to have a glimpse into the personality of a person because they have experienced that person a nd they know how he/she thinks.You can also include your contact information and highlight how you managed to land the job because of your skills and experience. Also, mention that you are flexible and willing to work on projects. In doing so, you will be able to impress your audiences on the things that you have achieved in your career.These tips can be useful for those who want to improve their writing skills. Through these tips, you can be sure that you are on the right track to achieving the goals you have set for yourself.