The 5 Best Business Networking Strategies - Classy Career Girl

The 5 Best Business Networking Strategies Networking is a true investment in your business. If you are well connected, you will be able to find what you need in 1-2 phone calls. You can save time because you will have the right people and resources at your fingertips when you need them. Clients will come to you effortlessly and you don’t have to work so hard when you are effectively implementing the correct business networking strategies. But, networking can also waste a lot of time if you arent doing it the right way. The goal of business networking is making sure that you are focused on  your goal at all times. This isnt just about meeting cool people. It is strategic. Also, remember that online networking is not the same as in person networking. A lot of people are hiding behind their computers right now but you will get the best results if you can meet someone face to face. My best friends and mentors have come from networking in person.  The 5 Best Business Networking Strategies 1. Change Your Networking Mindset This is crucial and where a lot of mistakes are made by new business owners desperate to make some cash. Instead of thinking, “How can I push my agenda? How can I get or keep attention on myself? What can I say to really impress or manipulate?” Think instead, “What can I give and offer to others? How can I help others to be successful? How can I start and continue friendly conversations? How can I put others at ease? How can I best express my sincerity and generosity?” 2. Know Your Goals You must know why you are networking. Do you want more clients, mentors or new friends? Remember to surround yourself with positive influences. Try your hardest to learn from and surround yourself with people who are where you want to be. Up level your circles and gain more access to people who can help you further your success. Previously, I used business networking to get new clients. That didnt always work so well. What I do now is focus instead of networking on finding new mentors and partners. When I stay focused on this, the clients thing always happens anyways and I can focus more on helping and surrounding myself with people I admire and motivate me to be better. An event I am attending in March is surely to get me more knowledge and training.  The plus is that I will also meet a ton of new people at the event, too. I know the type of people at the event will be great partners, but I didnt make the decision to go based on who I would meet. I made the decision based off knowledge I would learn and the motivation I would get at the event. So try to pick some events that are a mix of your goals including training, new mentors and partners. [RELATED: How to Start a Mastermind Group] 3. Get Started Now Get out there and go! Find the conferences, business networking events and trade shows that will help you reach your networking goal. But, be realistic with your time. Don’t wear yourself out. The best thing you can do is to book the event ahead of time. If you wait, youll never go. Right now I have a conference booked in March in Arizona that I booked back in September. Be looking 6 months ahead for events and ask other business owners and friends what events they recommend attending. Once you book it and pay for it,  you have to go! But if you dont pay for it, there are a million excuses not to go, right? 4. Make a Great Impression Get your business cards ready and get ready to start handing them out. Business cards are not dead. You should always have them on you even if you are at the grocery store. My favorite place to find business cards that stand out is Moo.com. Then, youll want to make sure you look your best so that you can be confident throughout the event. You also will want to save time getting ready in the morning by having your clothes ready to go. Another idea I had for this next event is getting my hair done right before the event, so I dont have to worry about my hair for a few days since blow-outs usually last that long! Also, have your elevator pitch down pat  and questions ready to go to start asking people. [RELATED: Business Networking Mistakes] 5. Follow up Its always about the follow-up. This is the difference between meeting your goals with networking and not meeting your goals. Heres the secret. You have to keep track of who you are networking with and what they are telling you! I have an excel spreadsheet where I keep track of what advice people tell me when I am out networking, who I  have met and when I need to follow-up with them.  Create your own follow-up system, but make sure you use it. I actually use this system even when I listen to podcasts from my online mentors. If they say something that I need to take action on, I write it down. You can learn a lot from so many experts these days virtually. If you found a client that is interested in what you do and could be perfect for your services, always email them with something free like a free blog article or PDF. Even better, follow-up with a free session so you can talk with them more and learn more about their frustrations and desires. Then, you can tell them how you can help. Also, know your process for turning people you meet into customers. Youll want to implement a sales funnel and make notes on each business card you collect. Know what you are going to do with those cards the minute you get home. Don’t wait.

Why Do Employers Require Writing Education on a Resume?

Why Do Employers Require Writing Education on a Resume?Every day, more employers are demanding the use of professional writing education section of a resume. This is not only because it improves your chances of getting the job but also because it helps in improving your chances of persuading the employer to hire you for the job.Job seekers have so much of work ahead of them. We need to find our right niche, hone our skill sets, make good contacts, and learn about the market dynamics. Therefore, writing and completing the educational course of most of us has been ruled out by most of us. But there are some who still resort to writing or learning while writing a resume.It seems to be a very difficult task. Is it really? Well, a writing education section is absolutely necessary for everyone. Every person who wants to be successful in this field should start his career as a writer. Therefore, writing education section is compulsory for all.The use of professional writing is a great advan tage and should be used in every resume. One can certainly think of many reasons to include a professional writing on a resume. However, the most important reason for including professional writing in a resume is that it makes a difference in the chance of getting the job.The self-education provided by writing education section of a resume makes your resume look more professional. The benefit is that, it puts your writing in a class. You are already a professional by just using it. If you include professional writing in your resume, you are already more qualified for the job and you are just giving them more reason to hire you.Writing education section on a resume makes your resume appear more professional, as compared to any other person who is putting up a resume. It also gives a different aura and appearance to your resume. Therefore, it is one of the best things that could be included in your resume. This is one of the most important reasons why every resume must contain a writi ng education section.As part of professional writing course, you must have a proofreading and editing facility along with a school certificate. This would be very beneficial for you. You would not have to hunt for an editor or proofreader. You will get everything done at the side of your employer. This is very much necessary for writing professionals and most of them are always looking for ways and means to get professional editing services.The writing education section of a resume is the best way to increase your chances of getting hired and this is the only thing that needs to be included in a resume. Therefore, take it into consideration.

How to Stop Feeling Sorry for Yourself

How to Stop Feeling Sorry for Yourself Have you ever felt sorry for yourself? Or found yourself wallowing so deeply in self-pity that you couldn’t even gather the energy to find a shoulder to cry on? I have. It’s usually after a setback related to something I expected to turn out great but ended in disappointment. And most of the time, it’s related to my work. Here’s a recent example. From flying high to landing with a thud My team and I had just put the finishing touches on a major project and we were delighted. It had gone better than we imagined. Our results far exceeded anything else we’d ever done and we were flying high! On the wave of that excitement, we jumped straight into a new project thinking, “hey, we’ve got this project thing down to a science!” About three quarters of the way through, we were nowhere near our targets and time was running out. Let’s just say that gravity kicked in and we landed back to reality with a thud. Fortunately, it was just a thud and not a crash! That night, I started to get really down on myself. After all, I was the leader and it was my responsibility. So, I got into my comfy clothes (the kind you don’t want to be seen wearing in public) and curled up in a blanket on my couch to write an email to my team. It was along the lines of woe is me â€" I’m at a loss for what to do, sorry I’ve let you down. But then a blessing occurred â€" my laptop battery died. By the time I threw off my blanket, leapt off the couch and plugged in the charger, my draft email had disappeared. Only the government will be able to retrieve that one! Leaders can’t afford to be pathetic Although I do my best not to judge, blame or label things, a big fat judgmental labeling thought popped into my head. “Stop being so pathetic!” Who wants to be pathetic, right? It's totally uncool. Pathetic is for those guys with sad puppy eyes that nobody wanted to date in high school. It’s definitely not something you want from the fearless leader of your team. Rise up and take action That's when I challenged myself to rise up and take action. Actions always make me feel better. My challenge to myself was to make a list of 20 actions that I or my team could take right away to turn the project around. Frankly, I didn’t think I could think of even 10, but this was supposed to be a big enough challenge to shake me out of my doldrums. So I doubled the number to 20 and stretched my imagination. Get others involved In the end, it took just 5 minutes to come up with 19 (still missing that last one, but that's okay). Nothing beats writing with what one of my mentors calls a hot pen! Then I posted the list on our team’s shared messaging platform (we use Slack). Over the next 30 minutes, my team and I messaged back and forth. We decided to implement 16 of them and came up with a new idea in the process. While we didn't know how things would turn out, it felt satisfying to know we would have done everything we could think of to put ourselves in a position to succeed. As my father says, “once you’ve done all you can do, you can let the chips fall where they may”. We also learned a ton, which matters since that won't be the last project we do. Challenge yourself So, if you find yourself in a similar situation one day, don’t give in to wallowing in self-pity and feeling sorry for yourself. Instead, challenge yourself to take an action. Most importantly, get your team or community involved. When you get your challenges and ideas out into the open, it’s amazing what can happen. And whatever you do, keep learning, keep growing and keep going! Now, I’d love to hear from you. What do you do to stop feeling sorry for yourself? Leave a comment and let me know.

5 Careers that Didnt Exist a Decade Ago - CareerAlley

5 Careers that Didn’t Exist a Decade Ago - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Say goodbye to the oldies, but goodies, because the good old days werent always good and tomorrow aint as bad as it seems Billy Joel Whether youre a graduate on your first employment hunt or a young professional looking for a career change, you want to pick a job thats got a future. One way to do this? Pick a career in a new or developing field. Here are five career choices that hadnt been invented when you were in grade school: Digital Journalist Digital journalists are like the energizer bunnies of journalism: you find stories quicker and deliver news faster by blogging, micro-blogging, vlogging, texting, tweeting, and generally feeding the social media frenzy. This is a relatively new field, born from the publics ever increasing consumption of on-demand, easy-to-digest news. As such, the new breed of reporters must distinguish which stories are best told through what mediumwords, photographs, video, audio recording, or visual graphics. A word of warning: because youre often working without the safety net of an editor, digital journalists need a strong knowledge of journalism ethics and media laws. That way, you can avoid career-killing situations, like getting sued for libel.Average salary: $25,480$51,210 Environmental Economist Mathematically minded folks who are interested in greening up their jobs should consider becoming Environmental Economists. This career choice marries ecological and economic sustainability: you perform cost/benefit analysis of government policies that deal with air pollution, water quality, waste, and global warming. Environmental Economics has been around for a while. But now that everyone and their mother are concerned about shrinking their carbon footprints (and rightly so), this career field is developing into a professional hot spot.Average salary: $60,990$119,630 TSA Officer The Transportation Security Administration (TSA for short) was created exactly ten years ago in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Since then, TSA agents have been screening passengers, baggage, and cargo to protect our friendly skies. At first glance, this job might not seem a littlewell, boring. Going through some ladys bag to find her illegal tweezers isnt a job most people dream about. However, TSA officers often receive extensive training in the fields of security, intelligence, and counter-terrorism which can lead to other career openings. And youre the first line of defense against any and all threats.Average salary:$21,980$39,990 Forensic Accountant If youre a math whiz but have always secretly fantasized about investigating and bringing down criminals, why not combine your two interests and enter the world of forensic accounting? Investigating insurance claims, tax evasion, money laundering, and fraud are all part of the daily grind. But its not all paper trails and numbers; forensic accountants are often called as expert witnesses in court. Technically, this job is more than ten years old, but the demand has grown exponentially in recent times (Bernie Madoff, anyone?).Average salary:$46,740$79,470 Online Reputation Manager Anyone whos Googled themselves understands the value of an online reputation manager. Whether youre deleting Facebook photos of a CEO smoking something strange, or responding to complaints about a companys product, online rep managers works to maintain a pristine online image for their clients. Whats it take to succeed in this position? Not a lot beyond a firm grasp on social media, strong communication skills, and the willingness to spin a story. The field is so new that even the experts have only been working there for a couple of years. more Five Unusual Vocational Career Paths Annie Favreau works forInside Jobs, a career exploration site that helps people discover a career theyll love and build strong, successful futures. Join the conversation@InsideJobs! This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search.

Spa Line Maker

Grown-Up Gigs Designer / Wedding Boutique Owner/ Spa Line Maker From left to right: Custom stationary that Sarah makes on The Sweet Unfoldings Etsy shop; a gift box of spa wonderfulness at Matilda Mae; The Sweet Unfolding logo, which has all your wedding needs I met Sarah Schultz via Etsy, when I hired her to design custom stationary for a blogger who was super sweet to me. My blogger friend loved her gift, it started a chain of emails between Sarah I that led to us asking each other for mutual blog interviews (mines here)! As a creative entrepreneur that designs stationary, has her own spa line has virtually opened a wedding boutique, she was meant for Grown-Up Gigs. 1. What did you want to be when you grew up? I always knew I wanted to work for myself doing something creative. My ideas of how that would play out have changed a lot over the yearsâ€"they’re still changing, I thinkâ€"but working for myself and creating has always been my goal. I say on The Sweet Unfolding site somewhere that starting my own business has long been my favorite dream, and it’s so true. In all the various stages of my past, whether in school or at any of my previous jobs (I used to work in advertising and as a writer for nonprofit organizations), working for myself was the dream I kept coming back to. Even though it’s been tough at times, I feel really fortunate that I have the opportunity to work on turning that dream into a reality. 2. As a creative entrepreneur that designs stationary, has a spa line has virtually opened her wedding boutique, how the heck did you come to dip your pen in all of those pots? I think it’s because I have a short attention span! And I also just really love to design. If I see something that inspires me, whether it’s a cute little bottle or a pretty quilt or a pattern on a tea set, I almost immediately have an idea for a product, followed by ideas for the packaging, product name, etc. I always end up really wanting to see the idea come to life, so oftentimes I’ll just go with it and see what happens. My thought is I can’t lose anything by trying; even if something doesn’t work at least I’ll know I gave it a shot. Also, all of the various ventures have grown from the wedding boutique I set out to start in 2007. Early on I made mini spa products for wedding favors and then got some requests for larger sizes so it grew from there. The stationery designs were done for fun, since I love designing, and many of those notecard designs have become the prototypes for my line of wedding invitations that I hope to launch in the next month. 3. With so many businesses to run having a day job how do you balance your life? (I put balance in quotes because Im starting to believe that it doesnt exist) I’m hoping to figure that out someday! Honestly, I am not very good at the balancing act and on more than one occasion I’ve paid the price for over-committing myself. Most significantly was during the first part of this year, when I quietly shut down the businesses for a couple of months. I felt like I hadn’t slept in months, and I hadn’t spent any time with my husband or family. The economy was bad and business was bad and I felt like I had to pour everything I had into it to keep going. I finally just got exhausted and I was on the verge of being depressed. It was a risky thing to step away for awhile but I needed to do it for my own health and for the health of The Sweet Unfolding. Like so many other small business owners, it’s just me doing everything and if I burn out the company will burn out, too. I want to keep that from happening! So I’m doing less of some of the things I startedâ€"limiting the spa lines, for example, to focus more on the stationery. And I’m making myself take time off regularlyâ€"without guilt! I try to regularly go for walks, spend time with my husband, and I have started reading and writing for fun again. It’s nice, and I always feel ready to get back down to business again after a few hours to myself. 4. The main thing I hear from clients that have many different interests is that they have to pick one. People just dont tend to think that one can be successful as, say, a yoga teacher who performs improv with an Etsy shop selling homemade jewelry. How did you rise above the voice(s) that told you that you cant capitalize on all these passions? And was the voice mostly coming from outside sources, or within yourself? I have always been a dreamer, I think, and I’ve always been able to see myself doing so many things. I’m also sort of stubborn in that I don’t like to be told I can’t do something unless there’s a really good reason not to (e.g., don’t run into the street, as there is a car coming). I don’t see why, if we have the passion and the energy to take things on, we should limit ourselves. I love possibility and anticipation and all the what-if-I-tried-this moments in life. That said, when I first started The Sweet Unfolding, I wanted it to work so badly that I just tried everything I was interested in and waited to see what people liked. I had this vision of a wedding boutique that offered unique fair-trade/organic/handmade items, but I didn’t narrow my focus to one thing, such as just favors, or just accessories. I wanted to do it all, of course! So I wish now that I would have focused on one or two things to start with. It would have been a lot less expensive and a lot less stressful to start small and grow gradually. Regardless, I’m having fun and that is what’s most important. I’m trying to look at all of it as a learning experience and give myself the grace to find my way. Some things are successful and some are less so. The Sweet Unfolding is a new company, and I’m new at this, too. It’s okay to make mistakes and figure it out as I go. 5. If you can have your present self give your old self the pre-Sweet Unfolding self advice, what would you say to her? I think about this all the time! Here are my top three, spoken directly to myself: Do not spend so much money on start-up. SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! You will thank yourself a thousand times over in the future. Plan for every situation you can think of. Think through every decision and every purchase. Get every detail of every contract in writing, even if you think you don’t need to. Listen to your gutâ€"trust your instincts and don’t ignore themâ€"but don’t worry about everything. Trust that things will always work out, regardless of what comes up. Don’t be afraid to dream of all the interesting, awesome things you can do. Don’t be afraid to believe in yourself. Don’t worry that you’ve failed if things don’t turn out just like you imagined, and don’t stop imagining. The path may take you to a different place than you’d planned and will probably be bumpier than you thought possible. But that doesn’t mean it’s the wrong path. Don’t lose your confidence and hold on to your vision. And remember to have fun and celebrate the fact that you’re living your dream!

Academic Writing on a Resume - What is It?

Academic Writing on a Resume - What is It?Academic writing on a resume is one of the most important ways to get an interview with potential employers. If you are going to complete academic writing on a resume, then you are going to need a resume writing program that is full of quality skills. It's never a good idea to rely on off-the-shelf resume writing programs. You'll end up wasting your time and money because you will have to take a lot of unnecessary steps in order to get a decent resume.Academic writing on a resume consists of one or more resume copy services. When you pay for resume writing, you are going to get an original resume for each position you are applying for. Most of the time, academic writing on a resume is done using the standardized application package. If your prospective employer uses the standard application package, then you're stuck using the standard resume templates that most other applicants have been using for years. Unfortunately, some of these resume t emplates do not really reflect the expertise of the resumes being submitted.The best way to use academic writing on a resume is to write it yourself. There are thousands of excellent academic writing on a resume programs available to help you accomplish this. Most of these programs are on the internet. You will have a complete opportunity to select the resume template that you want for each position that you are applying for.Academic writing on a resume also includes a great number of editing options. You will be able to add multiple sections to your resume to reflect your academic expertise. Most resume writing programs allow you to include every pertinent data for each section that you would like.The resume you submit will be compared to the standards that you have set out for yourself. Since academic writing on a resume is generally going to be a portfolio of your skills, you will be expected to show that you have the skills that are required for the position that you are applyin g for. If you feel that there is something missing in your resume, then you should go back and edit it from scratch. There are many available, resume writing programs that will allow you to do this.Academic writing on a resume has many unique benefits. Most resume writing programs do not include any hyphenated letters, but you can still add in an academic letterhead and type all of your credentials under it. With the use of an academic writing on a resume, you will make it very easy for employers to see your academic expertise.Resume writing on a resume is great when it is done by someone with great academic writing skills. Don't make the mistake of getting into a position simply because you have credentials that are worth talking about. This type of resume will only get you so far. You will need to put in the effort to write the resume yourself, and it's a good idea to find the right academic writing on a resume program that is fully equipped to get the job done.

The Lost Secret of Writing a Brief Resume

The Lost Secret of Writing a Brief Resume Based on your degree of experience and the jobs you're applying for, what you decide to concentrate on in your resume summary can fluctuate. If you're planning to compose a resume as you want to know more about work, it's important and necessary to know first what makes up a resume. Whether you're looking for your very first job or seeking to earn a career change, the practice starts with your resume. You really need to find out more about the job and company (starting with the work description) and set the abilities and keywords THEY mention. What You Need to Do About Writing a Brief Resume Starting in the Next Nine Minutes A great resume format is simple to scan. Well it is all dependent on whether the job posting instructions specify a specific format. Your writing sample ought to be the very best legal writing you've done. If it has been accepted for publication be sure to indicate that. Selecting a professional writer is an in vestment in your career that may exponentially boost your likelihood for a telephone interview by turning your previous experiences into your special story. Getting your work in print for the very first time is hard. Taking the opportunity to work on your resume is crucial. The intent of writing a resume is usually utilized to make an application for a part-time job while you're still in college. If you do decide to move forward with a resume summary statement, be sure to take care of it as your personal highlight reel. 1 A resume summary is a brief, snappy introduction paragraph that gives a summary of your very best work. You may want to think about a qualifications summary which we outlined in last week's postbut if only you need to have a summaryhere are a couple of examples to help you begin. The absolute most efficient summaries target one career objective. The secret to success is brevity. A strong summary statement at the peak of your resume can increase the possib ilities of them noticing what you've got to offer from the beginning. You only receive a very short quantity of time to generate an impression and a well written resume summary can make a big difference. Resume headline is a short phrase that highlights your value for a candidate. Whether you're a recent graduate or a career changer, understanding how to compose a resume whenever you have zero work experience may appear daunting. Your jobs could be varied, your experience and abilities vast, and it can be hard getting it all on paper. Since you might not have plenty of experience, it's important to include information that's pertinent to your intended job like coursework, projects, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work. It's particularly important if writing your work experience.