Category: Career Advice

As a Virtual Assistant, you face a computer majority of your working hours. Working most of the time in front of your computer, you must know how to operate the basic programs and applications since your computer is your primary work tool for Virtual Assistant work. You may also need to know a little basic computer maintenance as well. These are important because if your computer goes down, both you and your client’s work will face a significant downtime.

One primary job of a virtual assistant is as a Content Contributor. It is either as a ghost contributor, creative writer or layout artist. With these tasks, you need a web publishing tool like Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher or Wordpad. Knowledge of the basic to intermediate functions of these applications would be your magic wands to do good as a virtual assistant. These tools allow you to produce a wide array of jobs. The list is endless: from creating books, brochures, business cards, calendars, letterheads, logos, magazines, newsletters, postcards and even websites

From basic web publishing, you can also learn advanced graphics applications to have a better grasp of the interactive design space. One of the most sought-after skills for Virtual Assistant work is being an adept in Photoshop, Corel or Quark. Being equipped with skills on either of the three makes one virtual assistant a prized asset. Having control of your interactive design space is very easy when you have skills using graphic design applications. Like the palm of your hand, design, manipulations, and conceptualization are easy to complete.

There are also a lot of clients in need for people to do Data Entry work. In reality, the competition is very high for this gig. However, it is an additional armament of an online services provider if you possess the skills needed for data entry. Data entry tasks require typing and entering data into forms. Some data entry work needs verifying and then editing current information. Some need to do proofreading and updating databases. Knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and other spreadsheet applications is vital for this role.

On top of having proficiency in specific applications and programs, it is also important to have good communications skills and a good grasp of the English language if you want to excel as a VA. It is imperative for a virtual assistant to have good communication skills, both written and spoken. Being away from your client, the medium for communication is mainly through email, web talk and instant messaging. You may be required to communicate to customers and your client constantly for feedback and follow-ups. Your client may also ask you do tasks on his behalf like calling customers for appointments, confirm meetings or relay messages of customers to the “boss.” The understanding and delivery of messages are vital for Virtual Assistant work. One miscommunication would hamper trust and credibility. Therefore, your writing and verbal communications skills should be excellent.

Early in the career of a young man, the dream job of traveling the world and learning about a high-tech industry happened. The imagined opportunities to experience different cultures, stay at the finest hotels, eat exquisite cuisine, and get paid to do it became a reality! An added benefit was that the three other men in this field engineer group were all older and experienced and willing to train and guide this young man. Does it get any better than this?

The new trainee accompanied each of these men on at least two trips and soon realized most international travel was not fun for them. Guess who happily volunteered for all the overseas trips? The technical and administrative parts of the job were just a matter of textbook learning, but other “gray” areas arose that employees had to determine for themselves.

One of those gray areas was expenses. Maximum amounts for meal costs were predetermined for each day and did not require receipts. All three men gave the same instructions on what was to be recorded as the daily per diem for meals – overcharge to get some extra cash.

The new guy in the group was uncomfortable with lying about the cost, but wanted to fit in so gave in to the peer pressure. Compromise in one area soon led to a decision to continue down that path or make integrity a priority. When confronted by the manager about the meal expenses, the young man admitted to overcharging on the expense report. Fortunately, the manager was understanding and challenged the young man to be honest and not give in to the outside pressure to conform.

A valuable lesson was learned because that young man kept integrity a priority from that point on. Verification of this story is easy, because that young man was myself. The beauty of being a person of integrity is that it is simple. Just be honest and a person that keeps their word. However, simple does not mean easy.

There is a price to pay for being honest. Some property damage was done in a camping area by the boys in a program I supervised unknown to my staff or the camp ranger. Later after leaving the camp ground, one of the boys confessed. The right thing to do was report the incident even though it was likely the privilege to camp there again would be lost. A very convenient place to camp was gone, but personal and organizational integrity was maintained.

The price of losing a convenient place to camp was minimal. The cost of not being able to look troubled boys in the eye and say, “do the right thing” would have been huge. These contrasts are a matter of core values. Building a reputation of integrity takes years and is solidified when the right thing is done despite paying a price of inconvenience, monetary loss, or embarrassment.

Reality TV has good and bad examples of integrity. Survivor involves lying, cheating, back stabbing, and people selling their soul for a million dollars. The winner is determined by the participants already voted out. Ironically their decision is based on the person that could be trusted… at least a little.

Contrast that with Undercover Boss where owners of companies are disguised as regular employees. The most touching moments occur at the end when the boss is revealed. Owners of companies are deeply touched by people with integrity and who do a fantastic job even when seemingly nobody is watching. The workers are moved because somebody, especially the boss, recognizes their integrity and hard work.

Establishing virtuous core values at an early age is the ideal, but anytime is a great time to work on integrity. A key part of integrity to start with is honesty. Your word is the only thing you can both give and keep. Be faithful and honest in little things and people will trust you with bigger things.

These simple, but not easy core values serve society well and lead to a conclusion. Integrity is not only a priority, but a necessity that cultivates authority and authenticity as well.

Summer has arrived and with it, our most popular vacation season. Nevertheless, a surprisingly large number of American workers, whether full-time employees who receive benefits, business owners, or other self-employed professionals, will not take time off to relax and get away this year, in summer or any other season.

There are many of us who apparently feel that stepping away from work responsibilities now and again signals a lack of discipline or commitment to our jobs. Many of us brag about the number of hours we work each day and more is always better. Could it be the legacy of the Puritan work ethic?

Furthermore, U.S. companies on the whole are stingy about granting paid time off, as compared to their counterparts in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Latin America. Even in Great Britain, birthplace of the hard-working, pleasure-avoiding Puritans, employers large and small traditionally grant to their full-time employees three paid holidays at Christmas, while U.S. companies typically grant only one paid holiday.

Easter is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar, but in predominantly Christian America, there is no paid holiday for Easter. In contrast, paid holidays for Good Friday and Easter Monday are standard in Latin America, New Zealand, Australia and European Union member countries.

The Center For Economic and Policy Research reports that 25% of U.S. workers receive no paid time off of any kind—sick time, holiday, or vacation time. An increasing number of companies that employ primarily low-wage workers restrict the number of hours that their employees receive, to keep benefits out of reach for as many as possible.

U.S. workers are ourselves complicit in the anti-vacation time practice. According to the jobs and recruiting site Glassdoor, 75% of employees who are eligible to receive paid vacation time do not use all of their benefit days in a given year. Sadly, there may be a method to the madness.

The global forecasting organization Oxford Economics (part of Oxford University) found that 13% of managers are less likely to promote staff who use all of their vacation days and that employees who take fewer vacation days on average earn nearly 3% more pay than employees who use all vacation time granted.

Yet Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix, is considered the thought leader of a trend that advocates for offering unlimited vacation time to employees. He believes that leaders should trust their employees to make wise decisions about when and how much vacation time to take, and balance the companys’ needs and their personal needs.

Full Contact, a Denver, CO software company, now offers a $7500 bonus to employees if they actually leave town when on vacation. Conditions apply. Those employees must refrain from using tech gadgets such as mobile phones or computers and refrain also from sending emails and texts. Employees cannot work while on vacation.

Finally, Jim Moffatt, CEO of mega consulting firm Deloitte, extols the benefits of vacations, stating “By taking a break from day-to-day operations, not only was I spending more much-needed time with my family, but also I was able to focus on the bigger picture of where we (Deloitte) were and where our business was going.”

Are you convinced yet? It’s not easy for independent business owners and Solopreneurs to take time off, but make it a point to get out of town for a weekend trip or two this summer, if possible. Your clients will be better served when you are rested and ready to deliver the solutions that they need.

Thanks for reading,

Kim

There is nothing worse than receiving a phone call or an email to inform you that your application for a position has been declined and that you have not moved to the next stage of the recruitment process.

Reviewing, considering and then putting in a job application can be time-consuming and can create emotions of excitement and hope in regards to getting that role, which could be your dream role and company.

No matter what stage of the process, be it the first communication from the hiring manager/recruiter via email to inform you that you have not been successful, right through to the final stages of the process and informed by a call, how you deal with the rejection can be as important as having a strong resume and cover letter.

What people can forget, normally, your application is tracked each step of the way, each and every communication that you have; phone, email or in a face to face interview is recorded in your candidate file in the recruitment software. Leaving a lasting and professional impression each step of the process is critical.

With any rejection, emotions, understandably can bubble to the surface – for some, a quick hit of the reply button on email could have long-lasting impacts on any future applications with the company.

• If you receive a rejection email, don’t reply immediately. File it and come back to it once you have had time to think.
• Only reply to an email rejection once you feel in a more positive frame of mind and know that any reply you put forward will be a one that is professional.
• Remember: a recruiter/hiring managers time is just as important as yours. They could have spent two to three weeks working through the process including reviewing and informing you about your application.
• As emails are often recorded in recruitment software, you could consider sending a “thank you” email for taking the time to consider your application and wish them well with the search and filling the role.
• With an email rejection, you could consider asking “is there anything I could do, or gain experience in/with that could improve my chances of gaining employment with the company in the future?”

Remember!

Your emails interactions could be logged against your candidate file. When you apply for future roles in the company, even if its much further down the track and with a different department, your communications could be viewed. Keeping it professional and engaging will certainly be a positive for you.

Many recruiters and hiring managers have seen time and time again, applicants react through emotions, stress or because they are unemployed with a quick email that can include highly inappropriate language of even physical harm threats.

No matter what your situation, or circumstances, take a moment, don’t immediately reply. Communicating in such an unprofessional way will simple close off any future opportunities with that business.

Phone Rejections

Normally, phone based rejections are completed when you have undertaken a face to face interview. Usually, you would have built a connection/rapport with the person your dealing with, but it’s important to handle rejection professionally.

Unlike an email rejection where you can take time to consider any reply via email, over the phone you will need to think on your feet.

• Once again, thank the individual for their time and thank them for giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and experiences.
• Feedback: Ask for feedback, what did you do well, what did you not do so well, what could you have done differently and what can you can do professionally that would help you in future applications for such roles.
• Be forward: Ask them if they could consider you the position in the future, should the role become vacant again (if you want to work for the company). Let them know that you are interested in the role in the future and working with the business.
• Always have a rejection plan in place: this will ensure that if you do receive such a call, you can quickly deal with it head on.
• Follow up: Think about sending a thank you email. Let them know you appreciate their time and consideration and hopefully in the future you will get to work with the company.

There are other things to consider and that you can do to handle rejections. These will be based on the role, company and where you are in the process.

The most important thing, which is hard, don’t let your emotions take over. Doing so could lead you to react in a way that is not professional.

Dealing with a job application rejection in the right way, could help you further down the line. This is very important when applying through a recruitment agency that recruit for a wide range of roles and companies.

A momentary lapse of emotions and professionalism could cost you, not one company, but many.

When you feel that there is no more movement or satisfaction in your current career, a change may help you to open up new opportunities and life experiences. Such a change does not happen in an instant, though. You cannot leave your current position and find another with wonderful results throughout. There are things to consider prior to and during the transition. When it comes time to make a change, be ready. This is the only way to ensure that you get to a new career where you are happy and can live to your fullest potential.

Before doing anything, make sure that you are ready to make a change. Some people are unhappy for a moment and equate that to a lifetime of unhappiness. Do not get caught up in one of these moments and make a decision that you might later regret. Take a step back to examine the path that you have led thus far. Look at how the career has challenged you, how you have felt during tasks, how you have risen through the ranks, how you have changed the organization or even the industry, how those in and out of the organization have treated you, and what you have taken away from this time. Take an objective look at your entire experience in your current career.

There are times when the need for a change is obvious. Underappreciated, bored, and unmotivated, your job may not fulfill you the same way it did before. You might think that none of your work really matters or that the money is not worth what you put into the job. Maybe you do not feel like you belong there, or you are too exhausted to feel like you belong. When this happens, you have to figure out what type of move suits you. You can move through the same organization or find an employer in the same industry, or you can find a new career. Figure out the type of change that works best for you.

When taking the first step to changing jobs or careers, do research. Find something that you like. If you want to stay within the same organization, look into openings or potential openings. Talk to other people in the organization. When switching jobs in the same industry, look into and compare organizations. Find a place that offers what your current job cannot. If you want a new career, look into what will ignite your passion and give you the happiness you cannot have now.

Start building up your skills, training, and education. Update everything so that you can remain an attractive potential employee. For a change in your current industry, try to focus on the applicable skills and knowledge for your new job. In a new industry, begin learning and building up your resume to show that you have developed a foundation for growth and future success.

As you look into building up your resume, network. Start getting to know people in the industry or profession that you want. Find people who can help you with the transition, finding a new job, and improving your abilities in the new job. Head over to conventions and any area where you know these professionals are likely to go.

Begin trying your hand at volunteer or low-level work. This may not be the big, promising position that you want, but it does give you some insight into the new job. You will have relevant experience that will help you as you take on the new career. When doing this work, try to find someone who will help you to understand more about the career. A mentor will give you knowledge and understanding that you would not have otherwise.

Start finding your dream career. If this is something that you want, go for it. With an updated resume and your newfound knowledge and skills, you can take on this task. It might take a little while to get everything sorted, and you will have to be flexible and patient since you are starting from the bottom again, but it is worth it once you are happy in your chosen career.

The hospitality industry covers a very diverse range of jobs with a common theme of helping and looking after people. It involves catering to people, looking after and providing their various wants and needs. Generally, people in this industry are hired for their personal ability to get on with others their cheerful disposition and their individual skills such as a chef, housekeeper, kitchen assistant, waiting staff or such.

Many people in the hospitality industry are extroverted, vibrant, lively and fun people. If you enjoy the idea of a nine to five office job and the same routine the same group of people day in and out day after day, then probably the hospitality industry is not for you.

No matter which level or area you start at in the hospitality industry there is always room for personal improvement and career advancement, this industry opens the doors to endless possibilities and options for many people.

The huge diversity of jobs in the hospitality industry includes restaurant and kitchen work, hosting tours and reception work, economics, sales and marketing, management maintenance and engineering fields. Many of these areas overlap and people find they gravitate naturally to the areas that suit them the most. Some top achievers in the hospitality industry such as managers and heads of departments started their career in the kitchen or the concierge area of hotels and through hard work, ambition opportunity and self-improvement very quickly advanced into the top tier areas.

This wide range of different fields and opportunities is open to all people regardless of their socioeconomic background, who decide to choose the hospitality industry as their career option. Hospitality work is often fun, very dynamic and changeable, it includes the opportunity to change your location and position or advance yourself in other establishments either in your area, different centers or even countries. Hospitality is definitely an energetic vibrant industry so implement a trendy and functional uniform. For the hospitality industry, this means considerations like pockets on aprons for pads and pens, easy tie straps for comfort. A well-designed hospitality uniform is now really an important element of brand building for almost any venue.

A career in Hospitality can literally open the door to the world for you while you gather experience and qualifications which are usually considered universal, allowing you to see the world as a waiter, cook or housekeeper, especially when working within one of the international hotel chains who are renowned for looking after and rewarding their loyal workers.

After all is said and done customer satisfaction means a return customer and that is the backbone of hospitality. Many hospitality workers find that the salaries they receive are reasonable and the tips can be considerable.

So if you are looking for a rewarding career both in the areas of job satisfaction and financial remuneration then the hospitality industry has a lot to offer for many people. Whether a first-time school leaver or seasoned worker, there are rewarding opportunities available in hospitality in virtually every location around the world as everyone needs to eat and sleep. The hospitality industry has proven over the years to be very resilient even in times of economic difficulties as seen in the last decade or so where many industries were hit hard, hospitality has maintained and even prospered.

When you start to knit a sweater or scarf, you only have needles and yarn. As each stitch is completed, rows emerge and it starts to take shape. A career journey is very similar in that you start with yourself. Later you add a college degree or two, other technical skills, your responsibilities, awards, etc. so that you are now known as (add title). All that may be well and good but many people are starting to question if that title is really what they are all about. Aren’t you known for other things as well, but others have a tough time identifying you outside of your title?

Here is an exercise I suggest you try. In Column One, list all of the things you are good at. In Column Two, list the things you could be better at. In Column Three, list the things you are good at from Column One but hate doing. Finally in Column Four, list the things from Column Two that you truly want to excel at. If you are struggling compiling any of these lists, look at past performance reviews and ask others what they think. Once the lists are finalized, figure out how you want to be known. It would be awful if you are known as a great report writer but that skill falls under Column Three, or worse yet is that your boss does not suggest you get training/experience for things in Column Four because you never told him or her.

Just like knitting, it takes patience. You have to concentrate to knit otherwise you will drop a stitch and you may have to start all over again. You don’t necessarily want to do that with your career unless you plan on doing something completely new. The point is that you need to take that yarn and knit it into the career of your dreams. Changing colors or using different types of stitches is always challenging at first but over time it does get easier. This is the same with your career. Trying new things, meeting new people, taking a course that you never would have considered before, and also planning on how you will acclimate to the “new normal” (whatever that may look like) is exciting but you have to knit that first stitch. Trial and error works for both knitting and your career but having a pattern or plan always helps!

Everybody dreams of having a rewarding career- that kind of career that is rewarding in both sense professionally a monetarily. Today biology offers a lucrative market world-wide. Whether you are a simple graduate with the Biology subject or you have some PhD kind of degree in Biology you are way ahead from the other professionals from the job prospectus of view point.

The beauty in pursuing the career in the Biology is the jobs are offered almost in every field. For example a biologist can work in a laboratory, R & D department, hospitals and clinics, Healthcare sector etc. A wide array of job opportunities such as:

General Health Care

A biologist can work in this sector, this is as common as becoming a director in some company to more complicated like research and development. Also, with this degree you can opt for veterinarian which can be lovely with different twist of work responsibilities.

Biotechnology

Another emerging trend to make a lucrative career, it is a mix of bio and technology- a background with physics or technology. Taking up this course certainly increases your job prospective. Especially, if you are opting to have a career in health sector this career turns out to be the best one to reap you innumerable benefits.

Research

The demand of biologist never stops when it comes to research and development field. A research biologist career usually focuses on a natural world. They are supposed to work with various tools in order to understand how the living world works.

Education

Another amazing career to pursue for a biologist, switching to a teaching field will be an interesting choice. After all teaching students and helping them to build their careers as doctors, physician, researcher, or biologist is more than rewarding. Not to forget the fact that this field puts an array of the knowledge to great use.

The most important thing to remember is that the above mentioned career fields aren’t just sake of pursuing just because they would rake in big bucks. Just because your peers are pursuing you should pursue Biology will be wrong thing to do. Browse over the Internet to know the importance of Biology in real life, study in-depth about Biology related certifcations, educational programs or courses. This will help you to determine to pursue the right degree relevant to Biology as it takes immense dedication and series of persuasion to become an expert biologist.