Six ways to make January more bearable

Six ways to make January more bearable by Amber Rolfe It’s fair to say that January isn’t the most popular of months… With ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ just finishing, the start of 2019 has a hard act to follow. But instead of letting the lack of funds and cold weather get you down, you might be surprised by how you easily you can turn the blues around. All it takes is a few simple steps.We’ve already covered how to survive a January ‘money hangover’, but here are six more ways to make January more bearable:Get healthy Hands up if you ate too much over Christmas?Don’t worry, you’re not alone. With the festive season involving an excess of food, drink, and all things mulled â€" it’s no surprise that January can feel like an extended hangover.But instead of getting over the cold by comfort eating (we see you leftover boxes of Quality Street), it’s time to get your body back on track.Whether you want to go all out with a strict diet, or you just want to cut back on junk food â€" nutri tional changes like this will make all the difference when it comes to your wellbeing.Exercise is also a great way to boost your mood. And if the thought of going alcohol free or full-on vegan has you reaching for the elaborate excuses, don’t worry â€" even something as simple as a daily brisk walk is often enough to reduce post-Christmas grogginess.It’s also much, much easier…  Go outside With darkness being one of the main causes of the January blues â€" it pays to walk in the light.Whether you get involved in outdoor sports, go for daily jogs, or simply pick the outside table at lunch (providing you’re armed with a scarf and gloves) â€" your overall mood will benefit.In fact, natural daylight is a proven serotonin (AKA happiness hormone) booster â€" and you won’t get much of that from staying indoors.Of course, we know that braving the outside might be the last thing you feel like doing during one of the coldest months in the year. But trust us, it works. Just as long a s you always check the forecast before heading out.Brace yourselves: thundersnow is coming.  Declutter your life Newsflash: spring cleaning isn’t just for spring.January is also the perfect time to get rid of everything you never use.That means being ruthless with your unneeded stuff, as well as organising the things you do keep more efficiently â€" whether it’s in your wardrobe, kitchen cupboard, or desk. After all, you could be hoarding more than you think (we’re looking at you, those stockpiling food at the first sign of snow).Even if you do find it tough to break away from that stacked pile of paper that’s been sat on your desk for as long as you can remember â€" you’ll feel much better when it’s done.You might even have the motivation to make other areas of your house or office look nicer.Because you know what they say â€" new year, new…floorplan?Make the most of itOK, so the first month of the year is always going to struggle to stand out. In fact, if January was a drink, it’d be that leftover bit of cold tea that you always forget about.But before you lose hope, think of the positives.You only get one January a year. That’s one month to blame all your inefficiencies on a busy Christmas, one month to enjoy discount advent calendars, and one month for your novelty gifts to actually be fun.You can also take comfort in the benefits of winter. Sure, it might feel cold and dark â€" but it won’t last forever. And let’s face it, summer has its flaws too.So enjoy hot chocolates, duvet days, scarves, and impromptu ski trips while you still can.Try something new January can often leave us feeling unfulfilled and disappointed â€" especially if the previous year wasn’t particularly eventful.But this year doesn’t have to follow the same pattern.To make sure you end it feeling happy, think of something you’re interested in doing, achieving, or learning this year â€" and plan the steps you need to take to get there.Whether you want to learn a language, find a new job, or just finish your favourite book â€" giving yourself something to look forward to could give you the hope you need to pull yourself through the bluest month of the year.And, if one of your goals is to travel somewhere new â€" now’s the best time to book it.Because if there’s one thing January’s good for, it’s getting discount holiday deals…Focus on the negatives Sometimes the January blues can act as a disguise for bigger problems.If you can’t seem to shake it â€" ask yourself whether there are underlying issues that you need to acknowledge. Write a list of the aspects of your life that are getting you down, and try to plan solutions to any long-standing problems.These could be that you’re unsatisfied in your career, you need a more active social life, or you’re not engaging in your hobbies as much as you’d like to.Most importantly though â€" set new goals you can actually measure. New Year’s resolutions are often based on guilt, mea ning they’re either totally impossible, or vague enough to slip off the radar (e.g. losing ‘a bit’ of weight or being more organised).And if you’ve failed yours so far â€" don’t lose motivation. There’s still time to turn this month around…Five ways to stick to your resolutionsStill searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

Writing a Resume For Dummies - Steps To Remember When Writing a Resume<|endoftext|>

Writing a Resume For Dummies - Steps To Remember When Writing a ResumeWriting a resume for dummies can be challenging. You have to know that you are not supposed to be a one-man workforce, so you need to find a way to combine the aspects of a resume with the other elements of your business and job application to make it all flow together. There are various methods that you can use to make this possible, but before you decide which method is right for you, you should learn the basics about the different methods.When you are writing a resume for dummies, it is important to note that you do not need to have any special writing skills or knowledge in order to create an entire structure for the resume. It is extremely important that you understand the basics of a resume, and you do not need to know everything there is to know about writing a resume for dummies in order to understand it. However, it is also important that you keep it simple, so that you can easily create a structure that w ill help you get the job that you want.One of the most basic things to remember when you are writing a resume for dummies is that your resume should not be more than two pages long. This is a rather important rule, and it is important that you follow it. Too many resumes are over a hundred pages long, and they only end up having the reader wanting to shred them, because the information that is contained in them is simply too much. This is especially true when you are starting out, as your resume should only be three pages in length.Of course, you will also want to take a look at what type of jobs that you would like to apply for in order to come up with the structure of your resume. The structure can be whatever you want it to be, but you must keep in mind that there are certain standards that are required in order to complete a job application successfully. If you do not comply with these standards, then you will find that you will find yourself out of a job that you applied for.Th e structure of your resume can also be something that you have to determine after you have received your resume from the company that you are applying to. Some employers might want to see something in your resume that only you can provide, so you might find that your resume does not meet the basic requirements that they want to see in order to begin an interview. In this case, you will have to decide on the structure that you want your resume to be, and you will have to fill in the blanks on the job application.Once you have filled in the blanks on the job application, then you can add in some personal information about yourself. This can be anything that you think might give the interviewer an idea of what they are getting when they consider that you would be a good candidate for the position. As you can see, this is not a hard process, and it is simply a matter of figuring out the details of the job application.Many people are surprised when they realize that the major pieces of t he job application are only a few paragraphs long. You can start with the basic portions of the information that you are applying for, such as your education, work experience, and personal experience. These are the three major elements that you are looking for in the job application, and you will have to fill in the blanks once you have taken a look at your education and work experience.When you are writing a resume for dummies, it is important to remember that you should not do too much filling in of the blanks. If you forget to mention a year or even a grade level of education, then you will not be able to get the position that you are applying for. Focus on the information that is important, and you will be well on your way to getting a great job that you can benefit from for a long time to come.

Tina Feys Rules For Improv...And the Workplace

Tina Feys Rules For Improv...And the Workplace Theater Games are a process applicable to any field, discipline, or subject matter which creates a place where full participation, communication, and transformation can take place. Viola Spolin As I finished reading Tina Feys book Bossypants, I came to a realization. We often dont give comedians enough credit for their business smarts, and Tina Fey is no exception. As I read her humor/biography book, I wasnt expecting to come away with too many things I could apply at workbut I was wrong. You see, Tina Fey has come from the biggest business training school on the planet.   Show Business. Sure, a lot of her book was about her life, her take on the world, and what got her where she is today, but one section in particular caught my attention for this blog. It was her reflections on improvisation and the workplace. Tina Feys Rules For ImprovAnd the Workplace Rule #1.   Agree The first rule of improvisation is AGREE. Always agree and SAY YES. When you’re improvising, this means you are required to agree with whatever your partner has created. So if we’re improvising and I say, “Freeze, I have a gun,” and you say, “That’s not a gun. It’s your finger. You’re pointing your finger at me,” our improvised scene has ground to a halt. But if I say, “Freeze, I have a gun!” and you say, “The gun I gave you for Christmas! You bastard!” then we have started a scene because we have AGREED that my finger is in fact a Christmas gun. The Lesson:   Respect What Your Partner Has Created Tina Fey obviously doesnt think youll agree with everything you hear, but the real lesson is in respecting what your partner has created.     The benefit of agreement is an open mind, an environment where ideas can thrive and innovation is welcome. We all know what its like working with the guy who breaks rule #1.   Youve heard him, hes the guy who says, No, it wont work, Thats impossible,   Nope, we cant do that.   Not so much fun working with them, is it? Rule #2.   Not Only Say YesSay Yes And The second rule of improvisation is not only to say yes, but YES, AND. You are supposed to agree and then add something of your own. If I start a scene with “I can’t believe it’s so hot in here,” and you just say, “Yeah…” we’re kind of at a standstill. But if I say, “I can’t believe it’s so hot in here,” and you say, “What did you expect? We’re in hell.” Or if I say, “I can’t believe it’s so hot in here,” and you say, “Yes, this can’t be good for the wax figures.” Or if I say, “I can’t believe it’s so hot in here,” and you say, “I told you we shouldn’t have crawled into this dog’s mouth,” now we’re getting somewhere. The Lesson:   Contribute Something So how does this apply to work? When Tina Fey says, Say yes and it means to contribute.   Dont be that guy in the office who sits in meetings with nothing to add to the conversation. Take what your team has created and add something to it. Rule #3.   Make Statements This is a positive way of saying “Don’t ask questions all the time.” If we’re in a scene and I say, “Who are you? Where are we? What are we doing here? What’s in that box?” I’m putting pressure on you to come up with all the answers We’ve all worked with that person. That person is a drag. It’s usually the same person around the office who says things like “There’s no calories in it if you eat it standing up!” and “I felt menaced when Terry raised her voice. Lesson:   Dont Ask Questions All the Time Statements are about confidence.   Asking nothing but questions is draining.   Its excluding yourself from being part of the solution, its building obstacles instead of bridges, its throwing the ox in the mire and stealing the plow to get him out. Rule #4.   There Are No MistakesOnly Opportunities If I start a scene as what I think is very clearly a cop riding a bicycle, but you think I am a hamster in a hamster wheel, guess what? Now I’m a hamster in a hamster wheel. I’m not going to stop everything to explain that it was really supposed to be a bike. Who knows? Maybe I’ll end up being a police hamster who’s been put on “hamster wheel” duty because I’m “too much of a loose cannon” in the field. In improv there are no mistakes, only beautiful happy accidents. And many of the world’s greatest discoveries have been by accident. I mean, look at the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, or Botox. Lesson: Stay Positive, Learn to Adapt If you do work of any meaning, mistakes are going to happen.   Imagine the difference one simple change in attitude like this can make on having a positive work environment. Just like improv, not every project will go as planned.   You can take the amateur approach; stop the scene, destroy the momentum, and start over.   Or you can be a pro; adapt to the change, make it your own, and do something greater. Work is a Stage As I close, I cant help thinking work has more in common with improv than I even first realized. We all have behavior that comes naturally to us.   We might like to take things slow, mingle with friends, or have alone time. And its not always advantageous to behave this way at work.   So we adapt. We play some improv. We accept things that come our wayeven though we dont like it. We add our personal touch as projects come our wayto make work more enjoyable. We make mistakesand learn to roll with it. In business, it pays to have the qualities of an improvisationist. Respect. Create. Contribute. Adapt. image courtesy of listal

Controlling Bad Habits for a Successful Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Controlling Bad Habits for a Successful Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Habits run our lives. Our behavior has a direct and profound effect on our attitude. Anyone can manage the good times and can cultivate the habits that promote well-being and success. However, every now and again, we gain bad habits that cause fatigue, depression, and create a significant barrier to success. When we act like the person we want to be, we eventually become that individual. Failure in the past to kill bad habits is no indication of future performance. Habits can be changed, but only if we understand how they work and gain a comprehension of the most effective ways to combat undesirable actions. Above all else, it’s important to remember that bad habits are hard to break, but they are even harder to live with. Below, you’ll find a comprehensive study of why habits form and how to break the cycle to achieve what you want. Explaining Self-Discipline and Will Power Willpower and self-discipline ultimately determine the quality of life we lead. Luckily, willpower is a learnable skill. However, willpower alone is not a sufficient tool that will prevent us from engaging in the undesired behaviors. Whenever we plan a habit change, it’s easy to underestimate the level of desire or temptation we experience on a regular basis. The problem with trying to rely on mental strength alone: it will not teach you how to act when when you’re overwhelmed by stress or mental exhaustion. Your willpower is a muscle and as the day goes on, you become more and more prone to going back to your old habits. Ego depletion refers to the idea that self-control and willpower draw upon a limited pool of mental resources that can be used up. When the energy for mental activity is low, self-control is typically impaired, which would be considered a state of ego depletion. 5 Simple Tips to Begin Behavior and Habit Transformation Understand and identify the motivations for why you’re engaging in the undesirable habit. Our sales recruiting specialists stress to be honest with yourself. The more information you have about a habit, the easier it is to eliminate. Below are 5 exercises that should assist with furthering your knowledge and aiding in habit transformation. 1. Create small wins. The most efficient way to make a permanent change is to focus on daily, incremental improvements. Your aim is to wean yourself from the habit by setting target goals that consistently decrease the amount of time you spend doing the undesirable habit. 2. Take digital sabbaticals. Completely disconnect from the internet. Do so for a chunk of hours at a time. 3. Write down the reasons you want to make a change. Know why you want to make the change and what result you expect from this experience. 4. Know the feelings, actions and situations that trigger the undesirable habits. Is it nervousness, excitement, boredom, depression or another feeling that initiates the need to engage in the habit? Once you know, you can systematically save up your will power for when that feeling approaches. 5. Commit to one habit change at a time. It’s almost impossible to make multiple changes at once. Most individuals don’t have the willpower to manage multiple new routines. Depending on what source you believe, cementing a new habit can take as long as 2 months or as short as 3 weeks. In the End Over 40% of what you do on a daily basis is habitual. We perform every action for a specific reason. Habits emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. When a habit emerges, the brain stops fully participating in decision making. However, that can all be changed, it simply takes time, self-knowledge, belief and consistency.

Why Is Electronic Cover Letters Longer Than Traditional Paper Cover Letters?

Why Is Electronic Cover Letters Longer Than Traditional Paper Cover Letters?Electronic cover letters are longer than traditional paper cover letters. But they are still shorter than any other type of letter to get your message across.The reason that they are shorter than traditional paper cover letters is because they do not contain the letter 'o' in the 'e'. Unlike a standard letter, the electronic form is formatted differently and therefore looks like a piece of art. People naturally look at things that are different.If you send a standard form letter, people will read it quickly, but they will not read it thoroughly. And, once they have read it, they will forget about it. People are very visual, and you want to give them a reason to read your entire application package. In addition, this type of letter has the benefit of providing you with more space to explain your skills and abilities.If you do decide to use traditional paper cover letters, you will notice that they take up a lo t of room, are difficult to read, and take up a lot of time to fill out. But they also give you a good reason to say something here and there throughout the length of the letter.Traditional paper cover letters require you to be very organized and precise when you write them. You must type out every part of the letter, just as you would if you were writing a letter in person. You will also have to get the letters typed up the same day as you are applying.Electronic cover letters are easier to write, but the formatting can be a little more complicated because they use a certain layout that is more like a computer program than a piece of paper. This is especially true when you are doing the 'text' portion of the cover letter, where you are typing out your resume.Electronic cover letters also have an advantage over traditional paper cover letters because they provide you with more space to actually explain what you do. This is important, because employers want to know who you are and wh at you can do for them. If you are an expert in something, then your cover letter should provide them with information that will help them understand your talents.These are the reasons why electronic cover letters are longer than traditional paper cover letters. They also have the benefit of providing you with more space to explain your skills and abilities. Since they look like they have been written by a computer, the perception is that they are sophisticated and complex, which helps you get that extra one or two points on your application.

How to get more interviews in a competitive job market - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to get more interviews in a competitive job market In my recruitment job, one of the biggest mistakes I see is job seekers using the same CV for every job vacancy without tailoring it to specific jobs. Tailoring your CV/resume for each job you are applying for might sound like a time consuming task, but it can significantly increase your chances of securing an interview.   For many of my jobs, only about 10% of resumes seem relevant â€" many job seekers seem to think that the more jobs they apply for (even if they are not qualified), the higher their chances of getting an interview.   However, it is a strategy that will get you nowhere fast. Here are some tips to help you get more job interviews â€" even in a competitive job market. Make sure you understand the requirements If you’re looking at lots of job descriptions on a daily basis, it is easy assume that the positions you’re applying to are similar enough that you can just send off your resume without really looking into what that particular job entails. However, this is a major mistake. What one company defines as e.g. “Account Manager” or “Marketing Manager’ may have a completely different set of responsibilities in various companies. Make sure you only apply if you fulfil most of the requirements of the role. On a daily basis I get unsuitable CVs from candidates who have no online experience, even if e-commerce experience is listed as one of the top requirements on the job description. When I look for e.g. Nordic speaker, most of the candidates who apply don’t speak any languages apart from English… you get my point. Ensure your application is keywords-optimized A lot of companies use ATS (applicant tracking systems) which mine data from your resume by looking for relevant keywords or phrases. You will have to make small modifications to your CV to ensure the applicant tracking system identifies your resume for further inspection. Make sure you highlight all of your relevant skills and experience. Your resume must contain keywords that correspond with the description in the job posting, especially if it is industry jargon. Examples of keywords might include specific computer programs or words like ‘e-commerce’ or ‘marketing communications’. Tailor your summary/skills section to match the job description Summary of qualifications or skills should be different for each job you apply for. Make sure you draw the recruiter’s attention to the relevant skills/experience you have by creating a strong Skills section on top of your CV/resume. If you are applying for a technical role, your technical skills (software, databases, programming languages etc.) should appear in this section of your resume. Mention recent and relevant achievements   Many CVs I see in my recruitment job are very ‘duty-oriented’ â€" there are no accomplishments listed and even if they are â€" they are not specific and measurable. If you want to get noticed, you must list some accomplishments that demonstrate the value you bring to an organization and what problems you solve for your employer. If you’ve hit quota for a certain number of months, streamlined a procedure or have done something that’s saved your company time/money or both â€" state that. You only have a few minutes to impress an employer, so make sure you do it. If you want to show prospective employers that you have the skills and experience they are seeking, make sure you ALWAYS make small tweaks to your CV before applying. This will significantly increase your chances of more job interviews and hopefully, more job offers. If youre currently looking for a job, you can view numerous job vacancies at Trud.co.uk And if you would like me to help you with your job search strategy, optimizing your resume/CV and LinkedIn profile and mastering your interview technique, check out my Half-Day Intensive programme. This invitation is for you if You want  immediate clarity  on what unique value you’re bringing to an organization and how to make yourself stand out among other candidates You want to be able to  confidently articulate what problems you solve for your employer You are looking for support in  creating or optimizing your LinkedIn profile  so that headhunters find you easily You want to have  a great resume  that gets you interviews and  makes you stand out  for skills, talents and knowledge. You want an immediate  increase in your confidence  and want a sound  career plan for the year ahead If that’s you, I’d love to talk to you. Click here  to apply for in-person intensive in December: Career Control Half-Day Intensive __________________________________________________________________________ Margaret Buj  is an  Interview and Career Acceleration Coach  who specializes in helping professionals get  hired, promoted and paid more. She has extensive experience of interviewing professionals at all levels across a number of industries and has recruited for global corporations in the technology and e-commerce space across EMEA and the US. Get her  brand new FREE video training series which will show you how to access more job opportunities and how to get more interviews in a competitive job market.

Summary Sunday Job Applications. Are you Doing it Right

Summary Sunday Job Applications. Are you Doing it Right Todays Summary Sunday is dedicated to job applications.   Are you spending your precious job search hours applying for hundreds of jobs online? Still not hearing back? Are you wondering what you are doing wrong? The 9 Best Tips for Submitting an Online Job Application by Miriam Salpeter on   On Careers (US News) First, make sure, when you do invest time, that you follow the advice in this post. Here are some of the top tips: Create an original cover letter. Identify key words and tailor your resume. Make sure your responses are on target and error free. Fill out all fields within the application process. 3 Reasons You Didn’t Hear Back on Your Job Application â€" and How to Fix It! by Chandlee Bryan on WorkCoachCafe The organization’s needs or budget changed after they posted the job listing. Your application was never reviewed. Another candidate received a referral for the job â€" and had similar (or more) experience than you did. Please go read the entire post to learn what you can do to FIX it! And be sure to check out these two posts mentioned. Not Hired: 10 Possible Reasons You Werent Hired That You Can Control You Didnt Get the Job. 10 Possible Reasons that are OUTSIDE of your control Find Inside Connections LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or just plain word of mouth campaigning can help you find connections inside companies where you have applied.   This is a critical step to take after you have applied for a job online! Now, what about Facebook? Did you hear the news? Will this be a game changer for companies and job seekers alike? Facebook Jobs Could Kill LinkedIns Momentum by Forbes Do you see what is going on here? The new job search requires you understand and USE social networks. Dont be afraid. They are supposed to be smart and to be useful. Fear is the enemy!