Appetite for expansion signs of a return to confidence in the private sector

Appetite for expansion signs of a return to confidence in the private sector by Michael Cheary Tired of hearing the same old gloomy stories about the UK economy?Most of us are. But a look at last months Reed Job Index report shows more than a few signs that the picture isnt as bleak as the one portrayed in the media. In fact, some areas are showing signs of a real return to growth and confidence.In the past year, demand for new staff has increased significantly: up 20% compared with November 2010. Whats more, the number of new job opportunities is now at its highest level in nearly two years.Novembers growth continues Octobers upward trend and marks the highest level of job opportunities recorded by the Reed Job Index since it began in December 2009.But is this genuine growth or just a re-calibration of the market?Looking at the sectors enjoying the most positive changes, there are signs that the economy is re-balancing towards more industrial disciplines. Demand for technical staff, such as Engineers and IT specialists is 90 per cent higher now than when the index was first set 23 months ago.Other areas of private sector growth include service areas like Accountancy and Leisure Tourism, whilst the Public Sector continues to witness a decline: demand dropped six points month-on-month in November.But, lets remain cautious. Average salaries have stayed low marginally less than their level in December 2009 against a backdrop of rising living costs, whilst some regions have continued to endure tougher conditions than others.Nevertheless, whatever our take on economic forecasts and media doom and gloom, Novembers figures suggest the underlying appetite for growth in the private sector is bigger than many would have us believe.Find jobs in your area 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 i n accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

Create a Consistent Brand Image for More Visibility - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Create a Consistent Brand Image for More Visibility - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career A professional brand presence is just the start to showing your community what your business has to offer. Having a recognizable image is important as well, but the goal is to have a design and message that will bring loyal followers. What type of branding attracts attention? A fresh, informative, simple, and clear description will be more likely noticed. In order to be memorable you need to be consistent on all online platforms. An eye-catching and inviting design is your personal brand’s calling card where everything else funnels from. Whether you are redesigning or starting from scratch there are a few ways you can improve your presence and attract a larger audience. Create a Consistent Image for Your Personal Brand Here are several ways you can effectively build a consistent brand image: Choose your color scheme carefully Depending on your industry you will want to pick a design that reflects your niche. Hire a graphic designer to help you accomplish this task or research what the competition is doing in order to project the right persona. For example, heal related brands will often use green and blue colors while a marketing business may want to choose red tones. Create a professional logo Your brand needs to stand out and this all begins with a great logo. Its important to take the time and money to craft something that your community will easily recognize. There are many great resources and freelancers available to help make this happen for you. Have a VBL or visual brand language in place Once you have a good design ready the next step is to compliment this with the right typography and content. This will help better communicate your brands personality and message. Modify for mobile With all these elements completed you want to make sure your website is responsive so that all of your online properties view easily on mobile phones and tablets. This is especially where consistency will get you noticed as more people rely on their smart devices to gather information and shop. Creating a successful image for your personal brand does not have to be expensive with the many tools available today. When choosing a freelancer or company to work with be sure they have a thorough knowledge of not just design, but also the right message that fits your business.

University Degree - The Choices We Make

University Degree - The Choices We Make Most of us have experienced that terrifying moment when we are faced with determining our immediate future, though it starts a long while before we perhaps realise. education (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee) The carelessness afforded to us by youth snatched away from us in that moment as we plunge into adulthood without truly having the chance to reflect on what lay before us. Maybe you think these words a shade overzealous considering that what I have in mind is that process of choosing what our higher education is to entail. Making Hard and Fast Decisions In my own experience I feel it came far too soon, the onus placed on choosing a University course immediately and playing to my strongest subjects was not the best advice my teachers could have offered. On reflection it seemed that despite the willingness of my educational gurus to help us on our paths to adulthood and bliss, that instead they panicked me into making hard and fast decisions that now I regret in their entirety educationally speaking. The blatant and most painful example of this is of course that by now age old exchange… “So what did you study at University?” “English” “Oh so you plan on going into teaching then?” To which my reply is now rather more tempered with calm than my previous record of outbursts and furious tirades would have been. If any of you have had the displeasure of my company you will realise that teaching, though a truly admirable and worthwhile profession, is not exactly up my street to say the least. It is not even a street I’d venture to go down if all other routes offered by my life’s SatNav were unavailable due to road works. Look Back In Regret Anyway, enough of the road analogies. My point remains that we are cornered into making such far reaching choices much too early in our educational development or in our development as individuals with any kind of life plan mapped out. I realise, for many these choices play out beautifully and life continues on, joy and success abound thanks. However, us exceptions then must either look back in regret at the choice once we have let it run its course, or back out prematurely from University and frantically reassess what direction to take whilst having to pay in part for a course we were never really passionate about. Either of these unfortunate circumstances ultimately boils down to making a single choice. A choice that we, at the time, assumed was the right one to make without considering what jobs that degree would ultimately lead too, is the course one that you could enjoy for 3 â€" 5 years, and is this the right time to enrol on this course. Often this choice is also flung at us during our final months of schooling where we are still yet to find out what results we have achieved in our A levels (or equivalent exams). Realisation of wrong choice It is the failure of the education system to prepare us to achieve our dream job or even to give us chance enough to realise that we have a dream at all! This huge decision is thrust at us by our teachers and education system without a second thought as to if we are individually ready to make the decision. I for one should have taken the opportunity to take a year out, earn some money and ponder long and hard on what University course if any would have best served the future me. As it stands, I sit here typing away a slightly embittered graduate who now realises he should have studied Journalism rather than English. 3 years too late boo hoo. It is not simply a case of what your best subject was at school either, so don’t immediately assume that this is the way forwards on your quest for educational glory.   Universities have a far greater array of degrees on offer than you may originally think.   This is why it is crucial to assess what careers you would like to pursue and factor this into the decision you’re making; again I feel this is a simple truth that is often overlooked to a large extent by those who claim that they have our best interests at heart when advising us on our education. A degree may not necessarily translate directly into a job either; this much should be obvious to most. Arts degrees in particular are something of a mountain to climb when it comes to transforming that hard earned degree into your dream job, much to my dismay. And please, do not think I am discouraging Arts degrees for this, I would choose an Arts degree every time, it is my passion and that is where I see my future, though it sho uld be said that I believe much more care should be taken when selecting an Arts based course as I said previously, jobs will be hard come by and highly sought after by a great many others particularly in the current climate of the graduate job sector. I therefore, urge you all, graduate or not, to encourage family and friends to consider what they want from their education and how best to go about it, rather than be swept away by the rapid and frantic University application process that is such a fixture in the education system, not just here in the UK but the world over. Take your time, learn about what you want from University and then make your choice, take it with both hands and good luck. Mike Perry 3

4 Challenges That You Could Face In College (And How To Overcome Them)

4 Challenges That You Could Face In College (And How To Overcome Them) Going to college is a massive step for anybody to take, especially if you’re moving to a new town or city. Whilst it can be scary (and there are many challenges), it is certainly a worthwhile experience, and we’ve put together this guide so that you can make the most of it and overcome any hurdles you face. As with anything, time can usually fix your ills, and you’ll get used to this different way of living. However, try out these tips first if you want to make sure that you have the best time possible at college! You don’t have enough money The biggest problem that most people have in college is not having enough money. Yes, you can take out a loan (and most people do) but it might not cover every expense that you have, and your parents may not have the money to pay for them either. It can be quite daunting, and it causes many people to drop out, but don’t do this until you’ve looked at every option possible! Even if you work in a bar or restaurant for 2 nights a week, you’ll see a massive improvement in your finances. There are also many on campus jobs out there, and the wages are usually pretty high (and this is super convenient if you live nearby). Make sure that you don’t take on too much work as it could stress you out, and make it clear that you’ll have to have a few weeks off when it comes to finals week. Your mental health isn’t great College can be difficult, but there are so many sides to it that you may not have considered. It can be a shock to your system, and you may find yourself struggling with mental health problems. This is nothing to be ashamed of, as around 35% of college freshmen struggle with some kind of mental health issue, and the stigma around it is decreasing rapidly. There are many ways that you might try to deal with this yourself (like going to a party every night to try and forget it), but most of these things will only make it worse. Facing it head on is difficult, but will be extremely worthwhile in the long-run, so seek some teen depression treatment from an organization, or from your college. They’ll know exactly what you’re going through, and talking to someone about it will make you feel a lot better. You feel super homesick Ok, you probably feel ready to flee the nest now, but don’t underestimate how much your family and friends at home have supported and loved you whilst you were there. Whilst you may not even think about home for the first week or so, you’ll soon miss your Mom’s cooking, and that special person you had at home to tell all of your worries to. Over half of college students suffer with homesickness in the first few weeks (and the other half are probably not telling the truth…) so don’t feel embarrassed or weak because of it. A phone call can help this, but a visit home after the first few weeks will make you feel better. It’s also important to get out of your room and socialize with the people you’re living with, and getting out and exploring your new city should keep you busy! It will get better, we promise. The work is hard Going to college is a big jump from high school, and you may be a bit uncertain about what the professors are expecting from you. Not only is the writing style quite different, but the work is more independent, so you need to motivate yourself to get it done. There are many distractions, and it’s hard to balance work, studying, and socializing with your new peers, so don’t worry about getting this right straight away. Don’t be afraid to ask for some help if you’re struggling with the work, even if you just send your professor an email. They may be a bit more distant but they won’t bite, and it’s better to sort it sooner rather than later. Just try your best and don’t spend 12 hours a day in the library; speak to somebody if it’s all too much. You’ll get the hang of it, so don’t give up! So, there are many challenges to face in college, but don’t give up, and don’t be afraid to seek help if you need it. Good luck, and have fun!

Writing Research Articles on a Resume

Writing Research Articles on a ResumeWriting research articles on a resume is not as difficult as it may sound. You have to know what you want to say and you must be confident that the information you present on your resume will come across as truthful. Here are several steps you can follow for effectively writing research articles on a resume.The first step you need to take in order to write research articles on a resume is to write a research paper. You can use this time to research the topic of your research paper. If you're trying to sell a product or service, you may want to find a market that sells similar products or services. If you're researching a topic that you know nothing about, research it on your own.When writing research articles on a resume, do not give away too much information or too much detail. A research paper is not a sales pitch. You want to tell your reader something they want to know. You want them to be attracted to you, but only in the most subtle ways.Don 't put personal experiences or even sexual experiences on your resume. You want to make sure you get noticed by a hiring manager. They are looking for someone who knows a lot about a particular subject matter.You should always write your research paper in a very clear manner. It's important that your writing reflects your ideas clearly. Make sure the wording of your paper matches the keywords that your employer will use when they go through your resume.You don't have to send your research paper directly to the employer. Have someone else do this for you. This way, you can be assured that your writing doesn't get lost in the shuffle.When it comes to writing research articles on a resume, make sure that the resume has a proper format. It should be well organized. Once your resume is formatted, you can move on to your research papers.Writing research articles on a resume requires that you pay attention to details. Your resume should be appealing and reader friendly. If your resume isn' t professional, it's difficult to sell your ideas.

Happy at work on flickr - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Happy at work on flickr - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I recently posted some pictures you can find if you go to flickr and search for happy at work. Greg Knaddison saw that post and suggested that we create a flickr group where everyone can post pictures of people who are happy at work. No sooner said than done: Heres the group. Please join me in that group (it feels kinda lonely being the only member :o), and post lots of pictures of people who are obviously enjoying what they do for a living! Ill feature some of the best pictures here on the blog weekly or monthly depending on how many pictures get posted. And thanks again for the idea Greg! 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

Create Google Plus Circles for Your Job Search

Create Google Plus Circles for Your Job Search OK, I got you with the headline, but first, can we talk about your job search approachreactive or proactive? Proactive Job Search Defined by me (and others as well) as one in which you are seeking information from target company contacts about opportunities that may not yet be public.   A proactive job search is one you have control over.   Miriam Salpeter of Keppie Careers writes for On Careers and her post The Best Way to Take Control of Your Job Search has more detail (plus she references some of my tips!) Reactive Job Search This is the type of search where all you do is apply for jobs that are announced on job boards.   You spend most of your time just applying to jobs and are most likely one of hundreds or thousands applying.   Obviously, this type of search requires less effort and also nets poorer results. Define Your Target Audience Just ask yourself, Who are the employers that would hire this type of position?.   If you dont know that answer to that question, ask people you know if they have the answer.   You can also visit your public library or check out some of the resources in Going Directly to the Source. Now, On to the fun stuff! If you havent heard about Google Plus (Google+) yet, you will probably want to check it out.   Whether you are an active or a passive job seeker, this tool has some great features and Search Engine power (it is a Google product!). You can read more about the features and benefits of Google Plus on Google+ Opens UpShould You Jump On for Job Search? Finding Targets on Google + After you have created your branded Google Plus profile and shared at least one interesting/on brand post/update on Google+, you are ready to create circles and start adding people to your circles. I suggest creating circles by target company to make it easy and clear to follow what they are saying and doing.   If it is easier for you to create a circle called Target Companies thats fine too. UPDATE: People on Plus NO LONGER AVAILABLE Find People On Plus Find People On Plus  is a directory of GooglePlus accounts which you can search multiple ways. For your purpose, finding people who work at target companies! I live in the Rochester, NY area and so searching Eastman Kodak as a potential employer seemed the obvious choice (well, not any more). As you can see from the shot below, there are 282 people who work at Eastman Kodak. (Careful, databases are not always 100% accurate) It will take you some time to add all these 282 people to your circles and actually, I wouldnt recommend that.   Add people who are actually using Google +. As of yet, there is not an easy way to add mass numbers of people.   Building requires time! You could also create circles for: Recruiters Friends Your city Your industry Your occupation Endless opportunities to network and expand your sphere of influence! Google Plus Of course you can search for the company name from Google+s search window as well.   You will find all sorts of people and companies talking there! Select different filters everything, from everyone or from everywhere.   Go see what happens! Now What So youve got these people in your circles, big deal?! Step 1: Go to your Home Step 2: Select a circle Step 3: See what they are saying See what they are talking about (personally and professionally). Look for opportunities to join their discussions or share information they are sharing.   (Theyll see you do that!) What you are trying to do, subtly, is get their attention. I dont recommend contacting them directly and bombarding them with your agenda/your need for a job/you stuff in general. Are you wondering, So how do you begin talking to people about your job search?   Social networks are about networking and the number one rule of networking is to put other peoples interests and needs before you own!!!! Add These Career Guides and Gurus It is as simple as clicking on this image below (once you have a Google+ profile).   You can add my circle of career experts to your collection of circles and always be up to date on job search and career advice. I plan to post several more of these How To posts for finding targets via Facebook and Twitter.   Ive already written one on 3 Ways to find people on LinkedIn.