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Do you have a creative mind and talent? Are you one of those who are looking forward to making a career in the creative field? Do you have a deep inclination or passion towards art? Well, if your answer is “yes” then making a career in the art and design could be the right idea. Carrying a passion towards art or design can actually let you experience or observe the world in whole new dimension. It can further help you present them in unique manner. In fact, having a passion towards art can act as one of the few keys that may help you transform your simple ordinary life to extraordinary ones. It can help you reprogram your attitude, habit or behavior and lead a successful personal and professional life in the field of art and design. http://www.careerberg.com/

Making a career in the art and design largely depends upon your creativity and your creativity cannot flourish until you carry a passion. Your passion and curiosity act as the driving force, and may help you experience some of the best rewards in art and design career. Today there is no career that can claim to be as creative as art and design. No other profession can let you experience a deep sense of satisfaction and attainment when you actually see your ideas come to life in the final finished product. It is one of the few careers that have a critical control on how you look at or enjoy your life. Being ‘artistic’ is something you have initially started as a special interest or pursued as a hobby, but getting paid to do it is something you won’t expect in any other career.

Apart from all this, an art and design background also allow you to work in different variety of careers ranging from Fine Arts in any media including Film and Video, Painting, Advertising, Fashion, Architecture, Three Dimensional Design and Film and Television. It even offers a wide range of work, diverse working environments and different ways to make a earning. You may work for an advertising agency or a design agency as a specialist where your role may revolve around working on a campaign, project or account basis. Adding to this, you could also be self employed or do freelancing assignments, but at times being a self employed can be difficult as it largely depends on the status or recognition you make for yourself.

In terms of salary, it varies greatly in the world of art and design industry. While the art directors can earn a median annual salary of $68,100, fine artists, such as sculptors, painters, and illustrators may enjoy a median annual income of $41,970. Adding to this, the employment scope of different fields in art and design also vary from one another. While artists like art directors, craft artists or animators hold roughly 218,000 jobs, interior designers, which is one of the most preferred careers in art and design holds 72,000 jobs in the United States. Overall, the employment of artists and professionals related to art and design in the United States is expected to boom 16% in the next few years.

Today this creative industry does not lack job opportunities and provides plenty of alternatives. It does not matter whichever field you select, if you have the passion and dedication to make an occupation in art and design, you can enjoy a great professional life. At the end it is your enthusiasm that gives you the energy to be creative and innovative. In addition to this, a well defined professional training will further help you make your existence in this extremely competitive art and design industry. http://www.careerberg.com/

Considering a Career in Computer Programming As long as technology continues to develop, the demand for trained and skilled professionals in the IT sector will continue to thrive. Businesses and industries are always searching for professional programmers in departments like administration, security, and management. The growth of the Internet has seen a rise in wireless operations, networks, and client/server developments. With technology rapidly changing, the need for computer programming jobs is expected to increase to fulfill the growing demand. http://www.careerberg.com/

As a programmer, your responsibilities evolve continuously. When choosing a computer programming degree>, look for a course that is up to date with latest developments, advancements and equipment. In order to succeed, programmers need to constantly brush up their skills and knowledge in the field. Job applicants can also enhance their chances in the competitive job market by becoming certified in various languages. Many computer programming degrees also train their students for relevant certifications.

So, what exactly do computer programmers do? In short, they develop the instructions and languages that computers need to function smoothly. These functions could range from a short program to a lengthy process that could take a few years to create and implement. Programmers are also responsible for testing systems for errors and resolving issues and problems that may crop up. This process involves the use of complex technological codes or languages. Most programmers know and specialize in a variety of languages. Programmers may also be called to write manuals and instructions for other program users of a particular system or mainframe.

Many computer programmers work on a contractual basis or independently as consultants. Companies that require professionals specializing in a particular language or application may then outsource the job to computer programming consultants. Contracts could run into a few weeks to more than a year so commitment levels on such jobs are extremely demanding and high.

Programmers can be categorized into applications programmers or systems programmers. Applications programmers are those that create and modify programs for a specific purpose or cause. Systems programmers on the other hand work on a larger scale and deal with developing computer networks and operating systems. They are responsible for the effective functioning of computer hardware as well. With the rise in software packages, a new breed of software development programmers has emerged. They work with other programmers in order to create customized or packaged software such as games and other programs used for financial management and educational purposes.

Computer programmers account for nearly one and half million jobs and the numbers continue to grow. Computer programmers are required in telecommunications, management, education, the government and finance, to name a few. If a degree in computer programming> is what you think you want to do, you can be sure of one thing – there’s a bright and lucrative future for such candidates. http://www.careerberg.com/

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Your cover letter shows employers how well you express yourself. It can also demonstrate that you are savvy in the ways of marketing yourself and selling your best qualifications. A good cover letter can entice the recipient to review your resume. A bad cover letter, on the other hand, can nip your chances in the bud. Here are 10 mistakes that contribute to bad cover letters. To ensure that your cover letter is effective, avoid these mistakes:

1. Sending your resume without a cover letter.Sure, there are some employers that don’t read them or place much importance on them. But since you don’t know whether the employer you’re writing to reads and values cover letters or not, you must include a letter.

2. Failing to address the letter to the specific name of the recipient. Addressing the letter to “Dear Personnel Director/HR Director,” “To Whom It May Concern,” “Dear Sir or Madam” (or worse, “Dear Sirs”) instead of a named individual are all lazy approaches that show the employer that you were not concerned enough to find out the name of the person with the hiring power. It’s not always easy to find the name of the specific hiring manager, but try to do so if at all possible. Usually, you can just call the company and ask who the hiring manager is for a given position. Tap into your personal network to learn the names of hiring managers. Let’s say a company post an opening online. You know someone who works at the company. Ask your contact to find out the name of the person hiring for that position.

The worst-case scenario is that your letter will begin “Dear Hiring Manager for [name of position]:” It’s not the best approach, but if you absolutely cannot find a name, this salutation does at least provide some specificity.

3. Telling the employer what the company can do for you instead of what you can do for the company. This mistake is particularly common among new college graduates and other inexperienced job-seekers. In most cases, employers are in business to make a profit. They want to know what you can do for their bottom line, not what they can do to fulfill your career dreams. Tell the employer how you can meet his or her needs and contribute to the company.

4. Leaving the ball in the employer’s court. Too many cover letters end with a line like this: “I look forward to hearing from you.” Proactive cover letters, in which the job-seeker requests an interview and promises to follow up with a phone call, are far more effective. Don’t be vague about your desire to be interviewed. Come right out and ask for an interview. Then, take your specific action a step farther and tell the recipient that you will contact him or her in a specified period of time to arrange an interview appointment. Obviously, if you say you will follow up, you have to do so. If you take this proactive approach and follow up, you will be much more likely to get interviews than if you did not follow up. This follow-up aspect is another good reason to obtain the specific name of the hiring manager. Here’s a sample closing paragraph requesting specific action and describing the writer’s planned follow-up.

I would like to be considered for a sales position in which someone of my background could make a contribution. I will contact you soon to arrange for an interview. Should you require any additional information, I can be contacted at the phone numbers listed above.

5. Being boring and formulaic. Don’t waste your first paragraph by writing a boring introduction. Use the first paragraph to grab the employer’s attention. Tell the employer why you are writing and summarize the reasons you are qualified for the position, expanding on your qualifications in later paragraphs. Don’t use such cliches as “Enclosed please find my resume” or “As you can see on my resume enclosed herewith.” Employers can see that your resume is enclosed; they don’t need you to tell them. Such trite phrases just waste precious space. Write a letter that will make the employer want to get to know you better.

6. Allowing typos, misspellings, or incorrect grammar/punctuation into your letter. Your letter reflects your ability to write and communicate. Be sure your document is letter-perfect before sending it out. Proofread your letter. Put it down and proof it again a few hours later with a fresh eye. Then enlist a friend to review it for errors.

7. Rehashing your resume. You can use your cover letter to highlight the aspects of your resume that are relevant to the position, but you’re wasting precious space — and the potential employer’s time — if you simply repeat your resume.  http://www.careerberg.com/

8. Failing to specifically tailor your letter to the job you’re applying for. If you’re answering an ad or online job posting, the specifics of your cover letter should be tied as closely as possible to the actual wording of the ad you’re responding to. In his book, Don’t Send a Resume, Jeffrey Fox calls the best letters written in response to want ads “Boomerang letters” because they “fly the want ad words — the copy — back to the writer of the ad.” In employing what Fox calls “a compelling sales technique,” he advises letter writers to: “Flatter the person who wrote the ad with your response letter. Echo the author’s words and intent. Your letter should be a mirror of the ad.” Fox notes that when the recipient reads such a letter, the thought process will be: “This person seems to fit the description. This person gets it.”

A particularly effective way to deploy the specifics of a want ad to your advantage is to use a two-column format in which you quote in the left-hand column specific qualifications that come right from the employer’s want ad and in the right-hand column, your attributes that meet those qualifications. The two-column format is extremely effective when you possess all the qualifications for a job, but it can even sell you when you are lacking one or more qualification. The format so clearly demonstrates that you are qualified in so many areas that the employer may overlook the areas in which you lack the exact qualifications.

9. Rambling on too long and telling the story of your life/career.Keep your letter as brief as possible. Never, never more than one page. Keeping to four or five paragraphs of no more than three sentences each is a good guideline. Using bullet points in the letter is a good way to break up blocks of text and interest the reader. Some job-seekers tend to use their cover letters to provide a narrative of their life or career. That’s not what the letter is all about; it’s a marketing tool that should focus on the qualifications that will sell you to the employer. Your letter should answer the question that the employer will be asking while reading the words you’ve written: “Why should I hire this person?” Answer with your Unique Selling Proposition. Use simple language and uncomplicated sentence structure. Ruthlessly eliminate all unnecessary words.

10. Using wimpy language. Avoid such phrases as “I feel” and “I believe.” Your statements will be much stronger without them. It’s best to either leave off the qualifier or use a stronger qualifier, such as “I am confident,” I am convinced,” or “I am positive.”

http://www.careerberg.com/

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Are you considering changing your career? Are you bored, fed-up, lost, or otherwise unhappy in your current career? Are you facing a crossroads at which you need to decide between staying in your current field and moving to a new one? Do you have skills that you are not using in your current career? Have you been promoted to a point where you are no longer doing what you love?

Changing careers is one of the biggest decision job-seekers face, and with many possible outcomes and consequences. Before you make that jump to a new career field, consider these common career change mistakes so that you can avoid them as you make the transition from one career to your next.

Making a career change without a plan.Probably the biggest mistake you can make is attempting to change careers without a plan. A successful career change can often take months to accomplish when you have a strategy, so without one, you could end up adrift for an even longer period. Having a detailed action plan (including items such as strategies, finances, research, and education/training) is essential to your success.

Changing careers because you hate your job.

Don’t make the mistake of confusing hating your current job with hating your current career. Take the time to analyze whether it’s just the job/employer/boss that you hate, or whether it’s the career/skills/work that you dislike. The same goes with if you are feeling bored or lost with your job; review whether it’s the job/employer or the career. Whatever you determine, it’s best not to leave your job — if possible — until you have a plan for finding a new job/career.

Making a career change solely based on money/benefits.

Certain career fields are very alluring because of the salary and other benefits they offer, but be very careful of switching careers because of all the dollar signs. Keep repeating to yourself, “money won’t buy me happiness.” Remember that you may make more money, but if you hate your new career, you’ll probably be spending that money on stress- and health-related expenses. A career that’s hot today could be gone tomorrow, so dig deeper.

Changing careers because of outside pressure.

Don’t let your parents, significant others, or anyone else influence your career choice. They don’t have to live that career every day; you do. If you love what you do and earn a reasonable living, why is it anyone’s business but yours? If you switch careers because of outside pressure to have a “better career,” and then hate your new career, you’ll end up resenting the person(s) who pressured you to make the switch.

Making a career change without refreshing your network and finding a new mentor.

Don’t ever attempt a career change alone. As soon as you have identified the career field you want to switch into, begin developing new network contacts. Conduct informational interviews. Join industry associations. People in your network can provide inside information about job-openings and can even champion you to hiring managers. Networking is essential for all job-seekers, but even more so for career-changers. And use a current or new mentor as a sounding board to help guide you in the transition. Learn more about networking and the value of a mentor.  http://www.careerberg.com/

Changing careers without examining all the possibilities.

Don’t jump career fields without first conducting thorough research into all the possibilities, including career fields you may never have considered. By conducting research into careers you have never considered or been exposed to, you may find the career of your dreams. Talk to people in your network, read career and job profiles, meet with a career management professional.

Making a career change without assessment of likes/dislikes and without self-reflection.

Self-assessment (of your skills, values, and interests) is a critical component to career-change success. Make a list of the skills you love doing (in your job, in your hobbies, in all aspects of your life) and the skills you never want to do again. Next, consider taking one or more assessment tests, especially those with a career component. Preparing a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) Analysis is also a useful activity. All these activities are designed so that you better understand yourself — your product — so that you can find the best career for you and then sell yourself to employers in that new career.

Changing careers based on the success of others.

It’s human nature to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Just because your best friend or neighbor is successful in a certain career does not mean that you will be — or that you will be happy doing it — so certainly consider the career field, but make sure you do the research before jumping into it. Finally, just to add yet another cliche, too many job-seekers switch careers on the assumption that the grass is always greener — and often times find out that is not the case.

Making a career change without necessary experience/education.

As a career-changer, you must find a way to bridge the (experience, skills, and education) gap between your old career and your new one. While transferable skills (skills that are applicable in multiple career fields, such as communications skills) are an important part of career change, it is often necessary to gain additional training and experience before you can find a good job in a new career field. Research whether you need additional training, education, or certifications. And try to find time to volunteer, temp, intern, or consult in your new career field — what some experts refer to as developing a parallel career — before quitting your current job and searching for a full-time position in your new career field.

Changing careers without updating job-search skills/techniques. If it’s been a while since you were last on the job market, take the time to polish your job-search skills, techniques, and tools. Review your resume-writing techniques, master networking, and polish your interviewing skills. What’s the sense of doing all this research and preparation in attempting to change careers if you are not current with your job-search skills?

Final Thoughts
You have so many resources at your fingertips, both here at Careerberg and other career sites, that there is no excuse to making any of these career change mistakes. But if you do make one of them, step back and see if there is a way to fix it and move on… a career should not control you; you should control your career.  http://www.careerberg.com/

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Losing a job is never easy, no matter what the cause. A large recession may get you a lot of company but that never solves the problem of how you can get back on the path to work and a steady income. Coming from the formerly heavily industrial city of Pittsburgh, you probably won’t return to that steady income by waiting to be called back to work. And really, the key word here is work; that is what you are looking for — the system to turn your labor into money. Maybe now is the time for you to work for you.

I am not talking about building an empire — starting with a small idea and growing it into a major force employing many. That may happen, but it is very rare and accomplished by those who have a real entrepreneurial drive. You do not need a major venture order to earn a living by being self-employed. This article offers five smaller ideas to work on.

1. Become a contractor to the company that you just left. If your employer had work but needed fewer hours or people, you may be able to come back as a subcontractor. You do the work when it is available and find something else when business is slow. This technique works in only some industries — building contracting, IT services, graphic design and professional services, home healthcare, and more — as you must be a true independent employee to comply with the current tax laws, which means you control your own schedule and your own tools.

The value to the employer is that the extra employees do not become overhead when business is slow, and the value to you is that you will make more money for fewer hours if all of your time is spent o n productive work.

2-Do the same work for several companies. If you have been a valuable asset to your former employer and can provide the same value to others in the same industry, set up a single-member limited liability corporation (LLC), the easiest way to form a corporation, and market your skills to all businesses that may need them. Your projects will be shorter, but your payments will be higher. The key to success here is in the marketing.

3-Look for a small company to buy. By small, I am talking about fewer than five employees. Owners looking to retire may be willing to finance the purchase, and then you can pay for it out of increased cash flow as it grows. Some businesses just need new energy to drive them on to better results.

4-Consider a franchise. The prepackaged business startup comes in many sizes and many price ranges — from consulting programs to full-scale restaurants. You will get assistance in all phases of the business and ongoing support. Lenders sometimes are more comfortable making loans to a franchise because of the existing track record of the other similar operations.

Remember that you will have to follow a prescribed business path which may keep you from exploiting some of your personal strengths, and you will have ongoing royalties to pay. Make sure that you are getting value in terms of corporate marketing for those fees.

5-Look for Strategic Partners. If the skills you have at not quite enough to cover all of the bases, you may be able to find someone whose strengths are complementary. For example, you have the technical skills but weak sales and marketing skills, or you could sell virtually anything but don’t do well with details. Find someone who is compatible and consider various forms of joint work. You may form a business together or may function only as a joint venture. The main difference between the two is one is permanent, and the other has a timeframe and a goal; when the goal is reached, the venture ends.

An economic downturn is a great time for all kinds of creative collaborations, building virtual businesses that operate to meet the current level of demand. With little overhead, you can be very flexible and make comfortable profits.

Final Thoughts
At a time when companies are reluctant to hire, we all need to get out of our comfort zone and find new answers. Self-employment may be a temporary solution or a permanent change of direction. http://www.careerberg.com/

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Many of us are so busy these days that it’s hard to find time to do errands or complete our to-do list. There’s no need to feel overwhelmed however. Getting your tasks done is a matter of planning and organizing your list and daily schedule in an efficient manner. Learn how to manage your to-do list and get errands done quickly by using the 8 time-saving tips listed in this article.

1. Keep a running list of things you need to buy such as groceries and household supplies. By adding errands as you go, you won’t have to add much to the list by the time you’re ready to go shopping.

2. Take your errand or to-do list with you wherever you go. When you have your list with you, you may find a little time to fit in something scheduled for later in the day or week.

3. Group errands together so you can get several things done in one trip. You’ll save you a lot of time if you can do your shopping at a central location such as a shopping or business center that has all (or most) of the stores and service providers conveniently located in one place.

4. Do errands when traffic is light. Whenever possible, try to do your errands when traffic is light and the lines are short. Best times are usually between the hours of 9 AM and 3 PM on weekdays, because this is when most people are at work or in school. Other good times to do errands are generally evenings and all day Sunday, because of generally lighter traffic and fewer shoppers.

5. Use proximity. Along with grouping errands together, try to shop at stores and service providers that are in close proximity to your home, work, or en-route between home and work.

6. Schedule Back-to-back appointments to eliminate additional trips. When you have appointments and errands that are at several different locations, schedule them so you can go from one to the next with a minimum of time and travel.

7. Early appointments. Try to schedule appointments early in the morning. This is especially a good idea for doctor and dentist appointments, hair and nail appointments, etc., as these are the kind of appointments where you can be delayed by a patient or customer that is ahead of you. By getting tasks done early, you will still have the rest of the day left to do other things. http://www.careerberg.com/

8. Get Your Family to help with errands. If you have a long list of things on your list, get your family members to help out. Divide up the tasks among the family members, and make it their responsibility to get them done by a certain time. For instance, if you have 8 things on your list and there are 4 people in your family, dividing 8 by 4 (8/4) gives each person only two errands that they have to do. This takes some of the load off of your shoulders, and also gives each family member ownership and satisfaction of contributing to the family.

http://www.careerberg.com/

If you suffer from forgetting things whether it’s paying bills, people’s names or where you put your personal belongings, then it’s a good idea to find out how your brain is reminded. It’s perfectly normal to forget but it doesn’t make it less stressful.

Memory is triggered by personal experiences.
Certain situations are more memorable than others depending on the amount of emotion it brought to us. For example: if on a certain day you go to a park and break your leg, you will remember that event a lot more than if you went to that park and simply tripped. It may be that for the rest of your life every time you think of that park you’ll associate it with pain.

This is how the brain remembers things: by revisiting the experiences and situations that we’ve gone through. If you want to retrieve more information from your memory you need to concentrate on that event and try to relive it so that more facts will come to you.
Certain “cues” evoke emotions and this can help people remember.
The other way that the brain is reminded is through association. There are specific games where one person says a word and everyone else has to say all the words that are associated to that first word. These kinds of games are actually playing on factors that remind the brain. They’re called cues. These are used a lot in marketing and in movies. Certain images, colors, sounds and words are connected to different things which bring out emotions in people. Unfortunately many times this information is used to “manipulate” others and influence them into doing what is not always in their best interest. However, we can use association and cues to help remind ourselves of daily tasks.
It’s important to incorporate “cues” to help us remember things in our daily lives.
Here’s a list of a few ideas for you to to be cued into remembering: Tie a ribbon around your wrist or finger and associate that ribbon with something that you need to get done that day and can not be postponed.
If you work on the computer all day then place a post it on the right side of your monitor when you need to get something done.Don’t forget to take down the post it after you have completed the task.
Call your answering machine and leave yourself a message so that you won’t forget to do something important.
Being organized is also a great way to stimulate memory.
When there’s a system in place, finding information is much easier. Categorizing is like building a pathway in your mind to facilitate the retrieval of the information. By being organized, incorporating personal experiences and cues into your systems, you will remember exactly where things are when you need them the most.

Eren Mckay is a work at home mom to 3 boys. She loves to help others learn about goal based ethics and how to organize office files in order to have a more stress free life.

category : self improvement
sub category: memory-training

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Are You Not Remembering Things – How Does Your Brain Remember ?

If you suffer from forgetting things whether it’s paying bills, people’s names or where you put your personal belongings, then it’s a good idea to find out how your brain is reminded. It’s perfectly normal to forget but it doesn’t make it less stressful.

Memory is triggered by personal experiences.

Certain situations are more memorable than others depending on the amount of emotion it brought to us. For example: if on a certain day you go to a park and break your leg, you will remember that event a lot more than if you went to that park and simply tripped. It may be that for the rest of your life every time you think of that park you’ll associate it with pain. http://www.careerberg.com/

This is how the brain remembers things: by revisiting the experiences and situations that we’ve gone through. If you want to retrieve more information from your memory you need to concentrate on that event and try to relive it so that more facts will come to you.

Certain “cues” evoke emotions and this can help people remember.

The other way that the brain is reminded is through association. There are specific games where one person says a word and everyone else has to say all the words that are associated to that first word. These kinds of games are actually playing on factors that remind the brain. They’re called cues. These are used a lot in marketing and in movies. Certain images, colors, sounds and words are connected to different things which bring out emotions in people. Unfortunately many times this information is used to “manipulate” others and influence them into doing what is not always in their best interest. However, we can use association and cues to help remind ourselves of daily tasks.

It’s important to incorporate “cues” to help us remember things in our daily lives.

Here’s a list of a few ideas for you to to be cued into remembering: Tie a ribbon around your wrist or finger and associate that ribbon with something that you need to get done that day and can not be postponed.
If you work on the computer all day then place a post it on the right side of your monitor when you need to get something done.Don’t forget to take down the post it after you have completed the task.
Call your answering machine and leave yourself a message so that you won’t forget to do something important.

Being organized is also a great way to stimulate memory.

When there’s a system in place, finding information is much easier. Categorizing is like building a pathway in your mind to facilitate the retrieval of the information. By being organized, incorporating personal experiences and cues into your systems, you will remember exactly where things are when you need them the most.
Not remembering things can lead to anxiety which can lead to gaining weight.So this aspect will influence all areas of your life.

http://www.careerberg.com/

The world economy has just experienced one of the biggest jumps in to recession ever seen, the UK has suffered huge job losses, the country has no idea what’s going to happen next with regard to the economy and you find yourself in the lucky position where you need to try and find a marketing job. Do you give up? Throw the towel in? Or just put your head in the sand? No, follow these 10 tips on what to do when searching for a marketing job and you may find yourself saying hello to your new boss, before you know it!

1)    Research the market. With numerous degrees available in marketing and business, an old or rookie perspective job hunter needs to know what qualifications, desired experience or skills are required by employers. For those already in marketing positions, you more than any should know that the world of business changes quickly, really quickly. Don’t make yourself look like you don’t know what you are doing by sending out CVs that have no updated training, skills or education from the time you joined your current company, ask to go on courses, check to see if your qualifications are still appropriate for the companies you would like to work in and research who it is that attracts you as an employer. Research salaries, there is no point in jumping from a position you want to leave in to a position that is going to create more difficulties for you financially even though you are in “marketing”. If you are new to marketing, research exactly what it is someone does who works in marketing. If you are seasoned marketing professional investigate what other avenues of marketing interest you if you want to have a change of professional scenery.

2)    Be up to date with what’s going on in the world of marketing It is important to be on top of your game, whatever your profession. Be aware of current marketing topics, what’s happening in the world of marketing, innovations, figureheads and leading companies.

3)    Network. Whether you are new to marketing or not, networking can never be thought of as a waste of time. It’s a skill and exercise in used in the business day that allows relationships to be built outside of the pressurized sales pitch or interview.

4)Pay very close attention to your CV and have others proof read it. There are few jobs that have a greater emphasis on the CV of their prospective candidates than marketing. Make sure your CV has been read, re read and checked for every minute detail. Remember, the CV is often your only way in to a company, so make it good. Other people often see blatant errors that we don’t in a document we are familiar with or may indeed, pick up on a writing style or tone used in you CV that doesn’t portray the real you or doesn’t do you any favors. Be prepared to take constructive feedback.

5-Prepare to door knock. Job hunting, whether it be in marketing or not, is all about numbers. The more CVs you send out, companies you contact, interviews you go on the greater the chance of your being hired in the marketing job you want. Send speculative CVs, make speculative calls and be your very own agent, after all, who better to sell you than you.

6)Ask for referrals. If companies are not currently not hiring and tell you so when you cont.ct them, ask them about other marketing roles they are aware of that have come up recently, or good recruitment agencies that specialize in marketing roles.

7) Make sure you are ready at short notice. Interviews often come up at short notice. Once you send your CV, application form or make a phone call to a company and they show interest in you, be sure to make yourself available for interview. The longer the window period from the discussion of the interview, to the time of interview allows for other developments to occur that don’t include yourself, in what could be your perfect job.   http://www.careerberg.com/

Consider temping. If you are new to marketing and have the ability to work on long term or short term temporary marketing jobs, then this can be a great way to get on the ladder and try out the whole concept of marketing for you as a your new profession. People are often hired on to permanent contracts when they have been temps within a company and at the very least you are gaining valuable experience and knowledge that makes you look even more like a marketing professional on paper.

9) Practice your interview skills. While you are busy networking, talking to perspective employers and recruitment consultants, you can use this time to rehearse your interview technique and how you come across to others in a professional setting. For new graduates this can be invaluable and for the more seasoned business person, just watching other people’s reactions to how you interact with them can be a great way to hone in on areas that you can improve on.

10) Preparation. Whether making a phone call, going to visit a recruitment consultant or having a job interview, know the company you are meeting before you get there. Google them, look at company web sites, ask about them through networking, do this all in advance and you will not only come across as someone who is astute, but you will feel more confident in your abilities and your interview.

http://www.careerberg.com/

With the dotcom boom of the past decade, call centres have become buzzing hives of activity in almost every industry. From bookings to customer support and sales management, everything that does not necessitate in-person contact is being outsourced to call centres.

This has led many of today’s youth to apply for call centre jobs – whether as part-time work to earn pocket money in college days, or for full-time sustenance.

While applying to a call centre job, here are some tips that one should keep in mind:

1. At home or in office? There are a number of at-home call centre jobs available, and for no sign-up fees whatsoever. You can work full-time or part-time, but you may have to submit to an in-person background check or occasional reporting to meetings at the company’s office.

2. Have excellent listening skills. Train yourself to listen – to people with different ways of speaking, to people who stammer, to people who don’t want to see reason, and to people with less-than-fluent language. This is the first prerequisite for a call centre job.

3. Look online. As a lot of call centre jobs are location-independent or offshore, they are usually advertised online rather than by word-of-mouth or the local papers.

4. Apply to call centres in areas of your own expertise. Nothing can substitute learning gained by experience. If you are deeply familiar with a subject thanks to schooling or simply exploring it as a hobby, choose that area to apply to. For example, someone interested in cars could apply to a car company’s customer support call centre.

5. Office hours. Night shifts are not always safe or feasible for everyone, so do not apply for night-shift-only jobs if this is the case for you. Even at home, fix your hours – do not bite off more than you can chew.

6. Look at organisations’ pages, not just job portals. Keep track of the organisations who typically hire at-home or in-office call centre workers. They will probably advertise on their own pages a precious few hours or days before putting up the same job on a portal.

7. At the interview, stay focused. A lot of young people go into call centre jobs for a quick buck. This attitude seeps into their manner at the interview too. DO NOT let this happen to you – stay serious, stay focused, and show that you are dedicated to the job you are applying for.

8. Get some experience in customer service. Most of us have had at least some experience in customer service. This could be at the neighbourhood fair, volunteering at school events, or during a brief internship. You can put this to good use in your call centre job.

9. What makes good customer service? Evaluate what you would do to give good customer service to people accessing your call centre, as your interview panel is very likely to ask you this question.

10. Make the best of what you have. Experience and training, in curricular and co-curricular fields, will all come to use when you place your job application. Get your resume professionally written, to present the talents you have in the best way to get a call centre job. Even if the job is just for your pocket money, apply for it with speed and sincerity – call centre vacancies never stay long!

http://www.careerberg.com/

http://www.careerberg.com/

The New Year Resolution Reality.

After some casual digging on a Sunday afternoon, I discovered that only 40-45% of adults make resolutions each year. After one week, 75% of those people still have faith that they will make it through the next 51 weeks. However, this also means that 25%, sadly, convinced themselves that their goal was so not worth their time and effort. I am hesitant to admit that I have been one of those twenty-five percent for – oh – the past two decades or more. Oh well, “better luck next year,” I used to say.

The thrill of resolution making, for me, had been conjuring up the really great goal – which was enough work in itself. Reaching that goal had always been thought of as ‘almost’ impossible. After all, this is a classic case of man versus himself, and we are either the worst people to go head-to-head with or the best. Fact remains, we are always thinking about what is best for us, and will work tirelessly with the All Mighty Conscience to justify all our decisions… even if it means bowing out of a poorly thought-out choice.

Yet, there are some wonderfully strong-willed people whom have gone toe-to-toe with the beast and seen personal success — for 46% percent of January’s go-getters will still be dedicated to their goals after a whole six months!

That’s both impressive and promising. So how do we make sure that we are among the forty-sixth percentile?

1. “You will become what you think about.”

I’d like to say to set ‘realistic’ goals; however, your and my idea of a realistic goal could vary to a degree. Aiming for something a little more believable for you to achieve is okay; however, low-balling yourself in the process is not. If what you truly want is good enough for you to wish and dream about, then I would think it warrants the effort of manifesting, don’t you think?

2. Pre-plan your goal, and preferably not in the final hours before switching to a new calendar. Think it through. Think of everything that this goal entails – the pros and the cons. How will you handle yourself when you face a challenge – like, say, your negative days? How will you pick yourself up and keep going? Do you have support from someone else? Don’t let the possible obstacles stop you from achieving your goal; instead prepare yourself ahead of time with how you will handle them.

3. Write down your goal with all the bells and whistles. Write it in as much detail as your mind can conjure up. Hey, you are the one that has been dreaming of this very moment – you know better than anyone else what that looks and feels like. So write it down! Journalize affirmations such as “I deserve and am ready to receive…” or “I am so very grateful now that I…” You fill in the blanks. http://www.careerberg.com/

4. “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Baby steps, my friend, baby steps. If your goal is to shed twenty pounds in twelve months, then break it down into something less overwhelming. Focus on losing five pounds. Then the next five pounds and so on. The overall long-term goal doesn’t change just because you chose to reach it in increments.

5. Be kind to yourself. Cut yourself some slack by allowing a little leeway.

Should you cave one day and have the piece of chocolate you vowed January 1st to not have, know that this isn’t considered a condemnable breach of contract. A little slip isn’t a reason to say “better luck next year” and abort your mission.;) Consider it part of the accepting, learning, growing, and manifesting process!

As we embark on a brand new year of fresh ideas, big dreams, and glorious goals, I wish you all the very best with realizing your aspirations, as well as kindness to yourselves in the process.