Saturday, May 30, 2020

What to wear to an interview bloggers top tips

What to wear to an interview bloggers top tips by Michael Cheary What do you wear for an interview?Even the most style-savvy among us can struggle when it comes to picking your interview outfit. So to help answer the age old question of what to wear, we’ve asked some of the UK’s top fashion bloggers what makes the perfect job interview outfit:Perfect interview outfit:Question: What’s your perfect interview outfit? Jessica Psaila is a Journalism graduate, who has worked for Vogue and Grazia. J: A crisp, white, tailored shirt, buttoned up to the top, with a simple, statement necklace. I would team this with a matching suit jacket and skinny- tailored trousers in a classic navy. Shoes are always noticed and never forgotten, so I would choose (depending on the company) a pair of Maryjane strapped block heels in patent navy or navy court shoes to tastefully finish off the look.  Chic, sophisticated, on-trend and stylish.Sarah was voted one of Look Magazines Best Fashion Bloggers in 2013. Sar: I try to balance smart with stylish, but also play it safe. Safe doesnt equal boring, and it doesnt always have to be white shirt, black trousers and a blazer. Inject a bit of personality in to your outfit, even if its a subtle brooch or maybe a coloured bag. Small details like that might not seem like a big deal at the time, but it might just be what sets you aside from everyone else.Sally O’Shea is an HR professional and an official blogger for Manchester Fashion Week. Sal: My perfect interview outfit would be a nice dress or skirt and top. Do a bit of research ahead of the big appointment and get a feel for the office, and tailor your outfit accordingly. For example, a corporate office will probably mean you need to whip out your finest suit, whereas other organisations have more relaxed dress codes and you might not always need a jacket. That said, Id rather be over dressed than under dressed.Kal blogs for a wide range of beauty brands about their latest products. K: When it comes to interviews, my go-to outfit is usually a pair of black tapered trousers, a monochrome blouse and a black jacket. Wear a small pair of heels, no more than three inches, and try to ensure that your outfit reflects your day-to-day style but is just that little bit smarter. A monochrome outfit, complemented with simple make up and nails, is always a fail-safe.Laurent François founded his own digital agency in London and is a fashion blogger and photographer. L: Wear a nice suit but with a twist of originality. Always try to keep a few elements of your own individual style: a pair of premium sneakers can fit well with certain outfits, for example, or a scarf to give balance to your more formal style. Don’t just think about your outfit: the accessories you bring, the pen you pick, the notebook you put on the table, they are all part of your overall style. They are as important as your shirt or your shoes. Ronan Summers is a 22-year-old style advisor, studying journalism. R: Considering my line of work (cr eative), my perfect interview outfit would be a navy double breasted blazer, a pair of light chinos to match the top and a pair of monk shoes, which are very fashionable right now. Id avoid carrying a folder bag, instead, use a classy leather porte ­document to express your attention to detail.Things to remember when dressing for an interview:Question: What are the most important things to remember when planning your interview outfit? J: Always keep it simple but classic with elements of your own style peeping through. Never try and dress to be someone you’re not, as this will just result in an uncomfortable look. Just be you. It never fails.Sal: This is your opportunity to present yourself as an overall package to your interviewers. Check your nails, teeth, makeup, and other essentials. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready and, most of all, relax.  L: What the interviewer really wants is to discover who you are, what makes you wake up in the morning. The perfect outfit can b e an eye-catcher and an ice-breaker. It’s an opportunity to tell a story about yourself.  Sar: Make an effort and dress according to the company that’s interviewing you. First impressions count and you want them to know that you’re going to fit right in.Avoid:Question: What things should you avoid wearing? J: Bright nail varnish keep it neutral with well-manicured nails.Sal: Aside from wearing anything too tight (sweat patches are never a good look), false eyelashes are generally a no-no. Whilst I’m all for them on a night out, they can be way OTT for this kind of situation.K: Wearing high heels if you cannot walk in them. Youll be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Also, steer clear of wearing too much make up or jewellery. Keep it clean cut and elegant.L: Being insincere. Picking the dress or the suit you dont particularly like because you have to is probably the wrong choice. The other bad idea is to figure out what the future employers are going to like or not. Pick your own favourite pieces thats the best way to feel confident.Top tip:Question: What is your top tip for wearing a winning interview outfit? J: Never wear a mini-skirt and always wear shoes you can walk in. Never forget: you are how you dress.S: Do a sense check of your handbag: is there anything in it you would rather not be seen? If so, then take it out. I’ve heard horror stories of interviewers asking for ID and, upon presenting it, the candidate ended up revealing something they would really rather the interviewing panel hadn’t seen…R: Always remember to cover up your tattoos and piercings, as well as everything else that is superficial and might distract your future employers.S: Ultimately, an outfit represents how you want the other person to see you. If you feel good in what youre wearing, you’ll not only look more confident, you’ll feel it too.L: Accessorise. Spending some time on all the little details can tell the recruiter a lot about you.Final thoughtsHere ar e some of our own top tips on how to hit your style potential:Keep it crisp and classic, but don’t be afraid to let some of your own personality and style shine throughResearch the company and align your outfit with the image they representWear something comfortable and that you feel confident inUse accessories to add some characterFinally, never wear shoes you can’t walk in. Just in case…The bloggersJessica Psaila (@JessicaRPsaila) is a Journalism graduate, who has interned at Vogue and Grazia, and has blogged for the Metro. Her own blog can be found at theglossyblog.comSarah (@TempSec) blogs at www.temporary-secretary.com and was voted one of Look Magazine’s Best Fashion Bloggers in 2013.  Sally O’Shea (@sweetiesal) is an HR professional who has conducted hundreds of interviews herself. She’s been an official blogger for Manchester Fashion Week, and is also a qualified manicurist and pedicurist. Find her blog at www.sweetiesal.com Kal (@ClutteredC) blogs for a wide ra nge of beauty brands about their latest products. Laurent François (@lilzeon) is a fashion blogger and photographer who writes for hit-bag.com and for L’Express Styles in France (Le Boulevardier). He also runs a digital marketing agency in London.   Ronan Summers (@xmrbrightside89) is a 22-year-old style advisor, studying journalism. His blog can be found at The Wild Swans. Ready to put your fashion skills to the test? Find your perfect position now.Find 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. Interview Techniques Job interview tips Preparing for an interview

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Reinventing your personal brand-key to successful career transition - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Reinventing your personal brand-key to successful career transition - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career “All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.”  â€"  Tom Peters  in Fast Company People are continuously reinventing  themselves. Taking control of your brand can mean the difference between an unfulfilling job or a rewarding career. Perhaps you’re interested in  a new challenge, a new line of work, or a new image in the workplace.  You may have built a great reputation in one area but what happens if you want to change directions and rebrand yourself? Dorie Clark, a marketing strategy consultant for clients including Google, Yale University, and the National Park Service,  and author of “Reinventing You recommends a five-step approach. Find your destination Check out your industry trade journals, do informational interviews, and even try a volunteer position or an internship that could help you expand your knowledge and skill set in a new area. See if your company offers shadow programs or sabbaticals. Then build the skills necessary for your new path. This all assumes you’ve chosen a new direction already. If youre unsure about the precise direction you want to take but you want to switch gears, I suggest you start  by what I call “strategic brainstorming”. Identify a problem that matters to you and find a job that will allow you to become a part of the solution to it. Then develop a personal mission statement modeled after those businesses use to help you organize your thoughts and gain focus. Many organizations use this structure to describe their mission:   verb, target, outcome. For example, save endangered species from extinction. “Save” is the verb, “endangered species” is the target, and “from extinction” is the outcome. Once you come up with one that resonates with your true objectives you could use it to break from your previous course and forge a new, more fulfilling path. Leverage your points of difference What’s unique about you and your past experiences and what do you want people to remember about you?   Once you identify this you can use it to your advantage.   In “Reinventing You” Clark uses Ann Coulter, the conservative pundit, as an example of someone who leveraged her past to shape a new image. After losing popularity to a newer, even more right-wing talking heads, Coulter had to reinvent herself. “She didn’t entirely abandon her old brand; she reconfigured it to compete in a new marketplace. Leveraging her unique blend of blonde vixen and conservative firebrand, Coulter is now courting gay Republicans who enjoy diva-style smack talk”. Develop a narrative Learn to communicate exactly how your past fits into the present, and focus on the value your experience brings (rather than on your own interests) when explaining your transition. If its difficult for you to identify your strengths and character traits that will appeal to an employer seek out someone who could give you constructive, objective feedback such as a career coach. Tailor your narrative so it specifically addresses a particular employer’s concerns and challenges. Even if you dont know anyone who works in the firm its relatively  easy to ascertain what the primary challenges are for the company today because we can explore their company page on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. You can also gain specific insights about the work their doing by following thought leaders within the company on Twitter and LinkedIn. Once you’ve done your research on the prospective company and the hiring manager who’ll be interviewing you, narrow in on answering these questions: How do my experiences and previous accomplishments apply to his situation? How did you influence others to work together and accomplish a common goal? How did you help others bring out their strengths so they could accomplish their objective? When did you put your colleagues or employers needs ahead of your own? How did this affect positive change? Did you ever help an employer identify and solve a problem that saved him money, human lives or helped avoid a loss of other valuable resources? When you experienced a failure how did you react? Did you learn from your mistake and grow from the experience? If so explain how.Reintroduce yourself Strategically reeducate your friends and acquaintances addressing negative perceptions if necessary. Dont ever assume people understand what youve done in your past nor how your previous work experience is relevant to that firm, especially if its in a new role. The most sophisticated candidate understands that its  your job to understand the needs of a prospective employer and then teases out the most salient stories from your past work that will demonstrate you have the capabilities, skills and experience to resolve matters most pressing to that particular employer. Make sure your narrative is succinct, authentic, compelling, and that it identifies qualities that clearly demonstrate why youre an ideal candidate for a particular job.Prove your worth and think like an employer Associate with the leading organizations, industry expert/consultants and influencers in your field. You can do this by finding influencers on the pulse within LinkedIn. Or by going into companies that interest you, select people whos career paths you esteem, see what groups theyre in, and join those groups. Following group discussions will give you insights on hot topics being discussed so you could begin a meaningful conversation with influencers, first by participating in their group discussions and then followed up with phone interviews or advice appointments. Take control of your career and build a reputation that will open doors for you today so you can live the life you want  tomorrow!

Saturday, May 23, 2020

How to Create Unique Personalized Gifts Online

How to Create Unique Personalized Gifts Online Personalized gifts  are always the perfect idea. Whether it’s just engraving the person’s name on a beautiful mug or adding a heartwarming text on the special present, personalization can make even the most ordinary gift feel special. A custom gift does so much to the receiver than you could imagine. In addition to suiting the occasion, it allows that personal connection to shine through. It also shows more thought on your part. Not only did you take time to pick a perfect gift for your friend or family, but you even thought of ways to make it more special. Several studies show that people perceive personalized items as  more valuable  than non-personalized ones. With this in mind, the question now becomes, how do you create unique personalized gifts online? Customizing a gift â€" especially online â€" is usually the biggest challenge for most people. However, this doesn’t have to be your case, not when you are armed with the right information. Here is how to create your personalized, unique gift online: Select your product Your first step is to find a perfect gift that’s suitable for the receiver. This could be a hoodie, mug, t-shirt, tote-bag, bracelet, phone case, and so on. Just be sure it is the right fit for the person â€" a little research will go a long way. Add clipart and your personalized text Once you have the right item, your next step should be to add your clipart as well as the custom note. As a tip, let the text come from the heart. Don’t copy-paste something from the internet. Remember, it’s all about the connection you have with the person as opposed to perfect (but inauthentic) wordings. Specify technique If you are going for a t-shirt, hoodie, or any other fabric gift, then you have to specify whether you want the text to be printed or embroidered. You also need to be specific about the size and color of the font. Last but not least, indicate where the custom text should appear â€" whether it’s in the front, back, sideways, and so on. Place your order You can then place your order once everything is checked. Note that this process may vary from one site to another. Ideally, you want to find a platform that makes it easier for you to  customize your gift. It is even better if the company has a customer support team that can help out when you feel stuck.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

RBT Job Description - Algrim.co

RBT Job Description - Algrim.co Rbt Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Writing Career Objectives For Resume

Writing Career Objectives For ResumeCareer objective writing is important if you want to get a job with Google, or Google.com. It is also a great way to know how you should write your own resume. If you aren't doing this, you should be.If you can take the time to write the objectives out in advance, it will save you lots of time and hassle on the resume. You don't want to sit down and figure out how to write objectives. You want to save that work for later, when you know you have finished the resume and are ready to submit it.For writing career objectives for resume, there are four different sections that you should make sure you cover. These sections should be complete but not exhaustive. Use them as guidelines and think about what other information you may want to include.When preparing your resume, use the first section to list all the experiences you have. Be sure to indicate the dates you worked on those projects and indicate the number of hours you worked. These are important d etails because they show how experienced you are in your field.The second section is a great way to list other accomplishments. For example, include a 'See you next year' section or 'Commitment to diversity.' Make sure you have included all the 'year-end reports' and other relevant accomplishments in this section. Include them all.In the third section, your career objectives should cover your goals. It is a good idea to explain in detail how you expect to achieve these goals. If possible, use 'Action Plan' to make sure you don't forget what you had planned.For the fourth section, your career objectives should list how you can show that you are willing to learn new skills. You can do this with a question such as, 'Have you taken a certification course for this skill?' Showing that you are willing to learn new skills will show your interest in learning new things, and it will show that you are willing to learn new things on your own.Writing career objectives for resume isn't hard. Jus t make sure you leave them short and sweet. Leave a little room for someone to ask you questions, but don't fill your resume up with too much information.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Career Management Become a Subject Matter Expert

Career Management Become a Subject Matter Expert Career Management Means Become a SME Want to get to the “head of the class” at the office? People practicing good career management know that this means becoming a SME (subject matter expert). No, I didn’t say “become a smarty pants”… that’s different. ?? Being a subject matter expert can help you gain a competitive edge among your office peers, and also position yourself as a knowledgeable resource helping to guide your company to the next level. And serve to boost your image and be considered promotable, or at the very least, indispensable. While there is no guarantee for job security, the more you can do to provide expertise and leadership to the organization will offer you better protection from any future downsizing. So how to become a subject matter expert and practice smart career management? Here are some ways to achieve best practices in career management that establishes you as a SME: Sign up for classes, training, workshops, and seminars.  Understand where you need to update skills, or could benefit from thought leadership. Take on stretch assignments. Take on more stuff to grow your skill sets and knowledge to help build your career management tools. Go to industry conferences. This is the gold mine of information can be found through the people that attend as well as the presenters. Identify where your biggest skill gaps are and fill them.  Having a skill gap is like having an Achilles heel make sure you protect yourself and fill in the holes. Get certified by industry organizations. Industry-generated certifications carry weight with employers as it represents specific learning tied to on-the-job performance. Up your education with a degree.   Employers do value formal schooling, so gaining a degree or advanced degree can make a difference. Push the envelope by keeping up with thought leaders.  Understand whats going on or what is coming down the pipeline, as well as the implications it could have on your company or industry. Ask to be mentored. Most people are generous givers who, when asked the right way, are more than willing to mentor up-and-coming talent.  Know who to ask and how! Be well-read through industry publications.  Being aware of current conditions, breaking news, and industry shifts all are things that can add to your overall body of knowledge. Volunteer for cross-functional training. Knowing how to do more than just your job can add to the depth of your skill sets. By becoming an employee who continues to provide valued contributions to the company, you are helping the business and building up your reputation as trusted resource. And you are engaging in smart career management. And that’s what helps people get and stay hired.

Friday, May 8, 2020

The problem with metrics - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

The problem with metrics - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Can you know something, that you havent measured? Of course you can. I would actually argue, that by far the largest percentage of what you know about the current state of your organization was not something you measured it was knowledge that came to you via some other process than objective metrics. A few recents posts in different weblogs have been talking around this topic. On Intellectual Capital Punishment Sam Marshall (via Smart Meeting Design) wrote about an article in Financial Times: What did disappoint me though, was the quote from HPs CKO, Craig Samuel: If you cant measure it, you cant manage it. Shame on him for using such an outdated cliche. It reinforces the view that management is something you do with spreadsheets. He should be pushing an agenda that changes expectations about what information you need to manage, relying much more on trusting perceptions and qualitative evidence. On Reforming Project Management Hal Macomber wrote that: When a supervisor, manager, or organization declares measurements people will quickly adjust their behavior to correspond to their understanding of the measurements But most organizations have too many measurements the practice of establishing these measurements keeps management detached from the exactly the operations that they are interested in performing well. Try something else: forego the measurements. Get engaged instead. Chris Corrigan took a more political perspective and wrote that: How do I know I have four apples? I count them. This is notable because the subjective truths, the good and the true (in Wilbers terms) are truths that only exist if you participate in them To simply sit back and accept the measured approach (pun intended) is to give up responsibility for the truth, and to become complicit in the system that generates that truth from outside of its subjects. I was thinking about this when a thought struck me that may be painfully obvious to everyone else, but seemed kinda interesting to me. I thought that there are two reasons why we measure anything: 1: To know 2: To become aware Measuring something will ideally give me concrete, specific knowledge, but it will also affect whatever it is that Im measuring. Remember the experiments they performed in the car industry (in the 50s I think) where they modified working conditions to increase productivity? For instance, they turned up the lighting in an area, and that made the workers more efficient. They tried dimming the lights in another area and, strangely, this also increased productivity! What affected the workers productivity in these cases was not more or less light, it was a couple of guys with clipboards in the background constantly taking notes. (On a side note, the notion that you cant measure anything in a system without affecting the system is also a consequence of the uncertainty principle in quantum physics.) So metrics arent bad. Not at all. The problem comes mostly when metrics are seen as the only way to increase knowledge and awareness eg. when HPs CKO, Craig Samuel says If you cant measure it, you cant manage it. The question then becomes whether you will allow yourself to trust knowledge obtained without objective metrics and, frankly, I believe that not to do so is absurd. I would even take it one step further, as I did in a previous post and say that most of the important stuff that goes on in an organization is a) Not measured b) Not even measureable Metrics are used to generate both awareness and knowledge, but to treat metrics as the only trustworthy source is absurd! 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