Saturday, May 30, 2020

How to Master Your Memory

How to Master Your Memory If youre not gifted with a supersonic memory, dont fret, most of us arent! There are however a few tricks that you can try to train your brain to remember things more easily. Davitt have put together a few handy tips for giving your memory a bit of a boost. What have studies found about memory? Most of our memory consolidation occurs when were asleep and it is one of the most important elements of having a good memory. Exercising for as little as 20 minutes a day can give your memory a boost. Research has found that adding blueberries to your diet can improve performance on spatial working memory tasks. Taking a caffeine pill after a learning task can help to retain information. Two weeks of meditation can improve working memory abilities. Memory hacks Take a walk through a familiar place and associate objects with things you need to remember to do. This can help you to remember long sequences. You can also retain information better if you listen to it rather than read it. So recording voice memos could be more effective than written notes. If youre worried about remembering passwords, create a base password and then create a system for changing it between different accounts. E.g. using the first 3 letters of the website name. Memory improvement exercises Complete a crossword puzzle. Memorise phone numbers of your nearest and dearest. Memorise the words to your favourite song. Learn more below. [Top Image Credit: Shutterstock]

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

3 Ways to Excel in Finding a Suitable Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Ways to Excel in Finding a Suitable Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Just two decades ago, finding a suitable job was simplistic. People wrote their own résumés, had them edited by trusted friends, and walked into the interview with confidence about having been for a long time in the previous job that he must have been good at because of a lengthy tenure. Since then, though, the job-finding process has evolved dramatically. In the current job market, where competition is the modus operandi, job seekers must excel at everything they do. Otherwise, they will be outshone by others. Finding a job nowadaysâ€"in this era of specializationâ€"one must excel in the following three areas. The Résumé Endless articles and books have been written about how to create a winning résumé. They were written by experts of course. But are you an expert at writing your own résumé? Are you that good that you can read an article or even a book and become able to follow the expert’s advice and subsequently produce a fantastic, exceptional, and outstanding résumé? I think I know what your answer is. And that’s the reason that for several years I’ve been recommending that job seekers hire a certified, professional,  résumé writer. There are loads of them out there, but only a few have proved themselves time after time and are being continuously recommended. Those are the only ones you should engage. Interview Preparation Because so many well-qualified candidates are competing for the same single opening, employers have had to become more sophisticated in their selection processesâ€"and they have. That fact places a heavy-duty burden on the applicant to be well prepared for tough interview questions. Again, many articles have been written such as “How to Ace an Interview”; and it’s most likely that experts have written them. Are you one? Are you ready to face that tough and very selective hiring manager? Yes, you might be, but not until you’ve prepared for many hours for that interview. And I do mean for many hours. And then there’s a stint of practice with a qualified personâ€"preferably a career coach who has expertise in the specific area of interview skills. Could you imitate Fred Astaire by reading a book about dancing? Participation in Social Media Probably this is the most difficult part. Social media have evolved in the past several years to become the differentiators among job seekers. Your knowledgeable participation in and use of social media effectively increase severalfold your chances of getting an interviewâ€"same as the reason that people buy several lottery tickets. However, social media are evolving so fast that neither candidates nor employers are expert at manipulating them. For both job seekers and employers, LinkedIn is the predominant medium, and Googling for information is the norm. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: The world of social media is actually the 80 percent of the iceberg that lies hidden under the water. And ignoring that 80 percent is not the answer, because if it manages to cause a hole in your boat, it will surely sink you.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Avoid common mistakes when applying for a job. University of Manchester Careers Blog

Avoid common mistakes when applying for a job. University of Manchester Careers Blog Its the time of year when new graduates and  returning students alike are  all looking ahead to graduate jobs or internships. Make sure you avoid some of the top application mistakes.   What does the employer want? The employer has a job to fill, they know what makes a good employee and will have a list of skills, experience and attributes they are looking for. Your job is to correctly identify these and provide evidence that you have them AND information about why you are right for the job. How many boxes on my checklist can you fill? Most job applications will use a CV,  cover letter, application form or some combination of these. Lets start with the CV A good clear layout, tabulated nicely.   Dates easy to find, clear chronology and headings. Bullet points usually help. Im not fussy about the order of the headings or what you call them so much, as long as it makes sense. Dont get too creative with boxes, fonts, underlining etc. Its just distracting. TAILOR TAILOR TAILOR.   This is the biggest mistake and the most common.   You see a perfectly nice CV and when you read it,  there is  nothing relating to what you asked for. Its not because the applicant has no experience, its they just havent bothered to match it to the skills you are looking for. Dont waffle on about responsibilities and duties of the role you were in, tell me about the actions you took and  what skills you used. Cover letters and in at number 1 the most common mistake is not telling the employer why you want  THAT job.   Its all very well banging on about the company and the wonderful work they do, but why does that interest you. More importantly why does that particular role interest you.   Its called motivation and it shows that you have correctly identified what is important  and that it matters to you too. What skills do you have that are relevant?   Entice me to read your CV. Please dont just cut and paste from your CV , Im going to look at that too and who wants to read it twice. Dont be negative about yourself, I dont want to know what you havent done and skills you dont have,  I can work that out for myself. Tell me what you have done successfully so that  I see you in a positive light. Application forms with competency questions or personal statements READ ALL THE QUESTIONS FIRST This will help you identify the breadth of what they are looking for and what sections you can use to highlight which evidence. If there are strength or competency questions try to understand why they are asking them. They relate to the role somehow,    this will give you some context and help you think about how to frame your answers.   Perhaps one of your skills  examples is better than others?   For example if they are asking about communication skills and  it is a job  where you have to be able to communicate to different stakeholders or to a particular group, have you got an example of where you have done something similar? If the bulk of the application after basic details about your education and previous employment is given over to the why do you want this job section then aim to write 1-2 page A4 UNLESS they state otherwise. It can be useful to write down all the elements of the person specification as headings and then write a short paragraph for each one. You can decide if you remove the headings later. Dont leave any questions blank Dont say   see my CV Some applications will involve all 3 elements CV, cover letter and application form.  It may be a judgement call how you split the information in a personal statement out from the cover letter.   Be led by the phrasing of the questions and dont leave any information out. Finally Recruiters are not stupid, we know its time-consuming to write a great application and we appreciate it when it is done well.   It makes our job easier and gives you more chance of getting an interview. All Applications and interviews Graduate Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted applications Applications and interviews cover letters CV graduate schemes Internships work experience

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

How to Build a Career in Construction

How to Build a Career in Construction The IMF has estimated that the growth of global construction in 2018 was 3.8% and the numbers show that the construction industry has no intention of slowing down. This makes it one of the most promising areas to build a career in, for women, too, especially considering the fact that construction work is something people are always going to need. Just like with any other industry, if you are looking to build a career in construction, there are a few things you should know beforehand to help you get started on the right path. Choose an area to specialize in There are many areas within the construction industry that specialize in different types of work. And, while having some general knowledge in most of them can definitely prove to be beneficial, the best way to get started is to choose one and specialize in it. The area you choose should first and foremost depend on your personal preferences and something you believe you will be good at. Once you’ve found something you are passionate about, it can be a good idea to do some research, just to see how the market is doing and what your chances of success are. With that being said, if you think you found something that really interests you, even if the market situation isn’t too favourable, you should still follow your heart and give it a shot. Acquire the needed certification Once you found the area you want to work in, the next step is to get certified. Pretty much all areas of construction work require some sort of certification as it is, after all, skilled and at times dangerous work. This will mean you have to go through some sort of internship or graduate job to provide you with the on-site experience needed in order to get certified. Furthermore, when looking to start your own construction business, you will also have to register with the proper authorities in order to get your building licence. In Australia, each state has different requirements for builders looking to get licenced, so it’s important to make sure you meet all the requirements before moving on. Obtain the essential equipment you will be needing The construction industry can be very capital demanding because of the heavy equipment needed for the job. Because of this, when you are getting started, it can be a good idea to rent it out until you found a stable base from which you will be able to grow. This is especially true for big equipment like cranes and bulldozers which can be too big of an investment for a small business. Luckily, finding crane hire in Brisbane, Melbourne and other major cities should be an easy task, especially if you are located in one of those cities. With that being said, there is still some essential equipment that can be worth buying like excavators, dump trucks and backhoe loaders which will help you organize your projects with maximum efficiency. Never stop learning The construction business is best learnt through experience, so always strive to improve and learn new things that will help you take your career to the next level. Try to start projects and build partnerships with people who have been in construction for a long time, as they can prove to be a great source of knowledge and can provide you with the direction you should be heading in. On top of this, you should always look to keep up with the latest trends and technological advancements used in construction. Even if you don’t have the money to implement them, having an understanding of the latest techniques and methods being used can make you come across more professional and serious about your business. Conclusion At the end of the day, the most important thing you need to possess in order to have a successful career in construction is a positive attitude. Yes, there will be hard days where you start feeling like you should just give up, but you have to push through them. Remember that you are doing something you love and nothing good was ever achieved without a few sacrifices along the way.

Friday, May 15, 2020

How You Can Write a Resume For Alcohol Tobacco And Firearms

How You Can Write a Resume For Alcohol Tobacco And FirearmsWriting a resume for alcohol, tobacco and firearms has been made easy with the help of the internet. This is where you can upload your information and get your resume noticed. There are many sites that provide services that can help you in getting your resume noticed. These sites offer writing services to people who are looking for a new job and want to showcase their skills.It is important to note that before you even begin writing a resume for alcohol, tobacco and firearms, it is important to get a detailed list of your skills. These should be stated in chronological order from the most important to the least important ones. The reason for this is because it will help you write a resume for alcohol, tobacco and firearms in a systematic manner.You can either hire writing service providers to do this for you can do it yourself. You can also include your likes and dislikes. If you are fond of painting, this would be an added a dvantage for you. It will help you impress the hiring manager with the kind of skills you can bring to the table.When it comes to hiring writing service providers, you need to make sure that they have excellent experience in writing resumes. They should also have sufficient experience in handling this kind of project and be able to execute them well.A good service provider will be able to create a great looking resume for alcohol, tobacco and firearms. On top of this, he/she should also have enough knowledge in this area and be able to comprehend what you are looking for.A good service provider should also be able to create a resume that is an eye-catcher. You must include your personal details in your resume, as well as details of your achievements. The goal is to make sure that you include everything you can in your resume, which will help you land a good job.Remember that the main objective when writing a resume for alcohol tobacco and firearms is to land a job. This is why you s hould make sure that you include everything in your resume that your employer needs. With all the details that you have to list, you need to make sure that you include all the important information.These services can help you get a new job if you need one. You can either use these services for free or pay for them to do the job for you. You can either use them to design a resume for alcohol, tobacco and firearms or do it on your own.