When a Bad Writer Has Something to Say

When a Bad Writer Has Something to Say We may not all be great writers.   Thats OK.   If I had allowed the negative feedback to get in my way, I wouldnt be blogging today.   I know I am not a strong writer. I make spelling and grammatical mistakes a lot.   But I have things to say and messages to pass along to those in job search, which override my concern/fear that I am not a great writer. When I was entering my senior year of college, I went to the registration desk to get my class assignments.   Instead, there was a note which required me to get remedial writing help through the colleges writing center before they would give me my classes.   Let me just say, I was M A D.   Here I was, three years into college, and NOW the school thinks I need help? (By the way, my major was Humanities.   I had written hundreds of papers and reports by this time and had a GPA somewhere in the 3 range on a 4 point scale).   I dragged myself into the Writing Resource Center and explained my situation.   I had to make several pre-scheduled appointments in order to get my class assignments and off I went. Then, in my first job after college, I worked for a law firm.   I worked on a tax litigation case and had to write summaries for the junior partner.   One day she called me into her office and said something along the lines of your writing stinks. I guess I chose not to remember her exact words.   Then she handed over a copy of Strunk and Whites Elements of Style and encouraged me to use it! If I had let these events prevent me from writing, I wouldnt be doing this.   We all have a voice and something to saya message to share.   Writing is just one way to share this message. You can chose to avoid writing, develop your writing skills or like me, just plunge forward. You have the choice to do anything you want with these voices continue to believe what they are saying,work really hard to overcome a weakness, or ignore them! What feedback have you received which prevents you from doing something you really want to do? What voices do you hear in your head as you think about doing something new or different?

How to Take the Plunge and Start Your Own Business

How to Take the Plunge and Start Your Own Business January is the time of year when lots of ambitious entrepreneurs decide to start their business. Starting a business can be a risky proposition, but it’s always exciting to start out on your own and let yourself be the one making the decisions. In order to have a successful business venture you need the right resources and help, including checklists, tools and services you will need. If you’re ready to take the plunge, make sure you have everything in line before your business is up and running. There is a lot of groundwork that needs to be laid before you can even find your first customer, so make sure you have everything lined up before you start your business. Create your businesses identity You need something that sets you apart, and your logo and brand image are what represents your business. They are the most recognizable, tangible part of your business. Before you start a business you need to create a unique, standout logo for your business identity. Select your legal status Depending on how your business will be structured, you will need to form a legal structure. Some of the most common legal statuses are incorporated (Inc.) and limited liability corporations (LLC). Decide what type of business model is right for you business before you begin. Get some customers online Your potential customers are out there…online. You need to create a solid website, have it submitted to search engines and even start some small advertising campaigns. If you can establish an online presence, your business will see sales in no time. Paying your employees There are payroll services available that will calculate checks and taxes; it’s one of the easiest ways to pay employees. You can find plenty of suppliers online that will make it easier to write paychecks all on your own. Manage your finances, seriously! Make sure you keep an eye out on your finances, money does not grow on trees but it sure as heck burns like them. You can blow through a pile of cash quickly without even paying any necessary bills or expenditures. Get a solid accountant or software that will manage your finances correctly. Enable credit card transactions for your company Look up some merchant services account companies. They enable you to run a credit card online, through you computer or over the phone. It’s a simple process that doesn’t require that much information from you, but really helps out with generating revenue. Most people pay for goods and services online through credit cards, they aren’t shoving cash in their modem, so make sure you have the ability to process their transaction. You might also consider PayPal as they also have merchant services for a monthly fee and a transaction fee. Your bank may also provide a merchant service with less fees (mine does I just made the switch- what a savings!). Have a brick and mortar store If your business requires it, have a physical location, but if you’re starting an online company a website is all you need. Just have point-of-sale equipment so that you can process payments as they come through the store. Tracking and maintaining customer records allow for faster processing times, this allows you to estimate future expenditures. Having and running your own business has its ups and downs but in the end, if answering only to yourself is a strong motivator for you, then I would say GO FOR IT!

Law School Resume Writing

Law School Resume WritingLaw school resume writing is a matter of great significance, and it is not an easy task to do. In fact, law school applications are the most scrutinized part of one's entire legal career, and it is imperative that a student gets the job done with maximum efficiency and appropriate attention to detail.That is why it is not unusual for a law school application to be sent to more than one law school. After all, as one enters into this profession, he or she must realize that the first step can land them in a fierce competition for certain slots in this line of endeavor. So, where does a student go for help?While there are many types of law school resume writing available, the answer is to find the one that will best suit the needs of a law student and his or her future employer. Although some very good students may find their way to a certain school, they will probably still receive a scolding in the form of an 'unacceptable' response. It would be advisable for a student to go online to conduct a little research in the field of the potential employer's field, so as to find out what type of work experience, grade point average, etc., he or she may enjoy.While a law school application will not be the sole determining factor for which schools will accept a student into the program, it is very important that the law school resume is short and sweet, and it does not include too much information. There are plenty of law students who have spent several years at the same school but who did not enjoy their time there. This could be because the employer was not accepting of an applicant who was no longer able to excel academically, had dropped out, or simply because the law school had been unable to maintain the academic standards set by the faculty.When going through the law school application for admission, it is important to see how a student has accomplished the bar exams and what was expected of him or her in order to become a lawyer. Those who have taken the bar exam and earned their degrees must indicate this in their resume. Other information included in the law school application includes the graduation date, the number of law schools attended, the name of the law school, and the amount of law school study required for graduation. All this information is quite important.The law school application for admission also contains information about the student's entrance and exit from the program. This is important, especially if there were any disruptions within the program during the student's time there. Some of the possible issues include a disruption of a family situation or career responsibilities, disciplinary action taken against the student, or failure to live up to program requirements.Finally, when researching the Law School Application, one should carefully check to see whether the school has any fee waivers for applicants. Most schools have these as part of their admissions package, and this is a helpful suppleme nt to one's application.

10 Signs Youre Financially Ready to Quit Your Job

10 Signs You’re Financially Ready to Quit Your Job Almost everyone dreams of quitting their job to snag a promotion and boost their paycheck at another company, launch a money-making startup, retire early or maybe take time off to travel. But if you fantasize about triumphantly proclaiming “I quit my job!” at your next happy hour with friends, you should have an exit strategy. To map out the best route to a new beginning, consider these questions first to make sure you’re ready to quit your job. Do You Have a Plan to Quit Your Job? It’s easy to say, “I want to quit my job.” But, unless you have a trust fund or permanent dibs on your parents’ basement bedroom, it’s critical to have some sort of plan in place. If you want to be your own boss, that might mean putting together a formal business plan. If you want to hit the road, it probably makes sense to have a long-term itinerary in mind. And if you’re taking time off to be a stay-at-home parent, maybe you want to start a side gig to keep your skills sharp and your resume ready for when you re-enter the workforce. No matter what your dream is, putting in some financial forethought can go a long way toward making your resignation a reality. Can You Legally Leave Your Job? Check your current contract for conditions related to resigning. Is there a mandatory notice period? Are there data security details you need to keep in mind? Does your employment agreement include a noncompete clause that might prohibit you from moving to a rival for a raise or starting your own business in the same industry? Although such noncompete agreements were once mostly found in executive-level contracts, an increasing number of employers are writing them in for workers up and down the salary scale, The New York Times reported. Violating one could lead to a lawsuit by your ex-employer, so it pays to check the fine print before deciding how to quit a job. Are Your Resignation and Resume Ready? While you might feel like screaming, “I quit!” and peeling out of the parking lot at top speed, the best way to leave a job is on good terms. Some contracts don’t require a certain notice period, but conventional career advice recommends giving your boss two weeks’ notice and a written resignation letter. Depending on the circumstances, your employer could ask you to stay on for a stretch or request you pack up your pens and go. In case you find yourself immediately out of the office, it makes sense to have a resume ready before you call it quits. Even if you’re planning to travel or take time off for other reasons, it never hurts to have updated versions of your resume, individually tailored to highlight specific talents or experience. Do You Know When Your Last Paycheck Arrives? Another factor that could dictate how to resign from a job is your state’s rules regarding final paychecks. Some states require employers to compensate you on your next regular pay date. Others call for compensation as soon as you turn in your resignation. And some states specify payment for unused vacation, while in others it could be an employee’s loss once they resign. For example, California workers who don’t have a written contract that ends on a certain date and who give at least 72 hours notice should be cut a check for their work and unused paid vacation time on the spot. Those who leave without giving 72 hours notice should be paid everything they’re owed, including wages for accrued vacation time, within 72 hours of calling it quits. But only 24 states have specific laws on unused vacation time, so you should know the rules before counting on any final paycheck perks. Do You Have Startup or Travel Costs Covered? For people with entrepreneurial aspirations, it’s critical to have startup costs covered before you quit your day job. Founders needed a median of $17,500 to launch a business in 2015 and put up 57 percent of the capital themselves, according to the most recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor U.S. Report produced by Babson College. But startup costs can vary significantly depending on various factors, including location and industry. For instance, running a brick-and-mortar retail store or restaurant will most likely require a higher initial investment than operating a service industry business from a home office. Similarly, leaving your job to travel will take some financial planning, even if you aim to live on a backpacker’s budget. There are a number of resources and tools online that can help you create a budget blueprint. For instance, because you won’t be tied down by a weekly work schedule, visiting popular vacation spots on weekdays or traveling during the off-season can add up to significant savings. Do You Have Debt? Carrying credit card balances and other high-interest debt isn’t ideal under any circumstances, but it’s especially important to get your balance sheet in the blackbefore leaving a job. If you have major debt-driven expenses, take a long look at your spending and income well before you quit your job. Are there any unnecessary expenses you can trim to divert those dollars to your debt load? Is there any way you can earn more money to pay off debts faster? For example, if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, you might be able to clear clutter and make way for a home office while selling some underused items on eBay or Craigslist. Or, you could begin ramping up your business after hours while holding down your day job, building a client base and earmarking extra earnings for debt repayment. If your dream is to quit your job and travel for extended stretches, consider renting out your place through a home-sharing site like Airbnb or VRBO. Do You Know the Score? While demolishing debt, take the time to review your credit reports and do what you can to boost your credit score. Under federal law, you’re entitled to a free copy of your report from all three major credit reporting agencies once every 12 months. Get a copy of each and check for misspelled names, accounts you never opened or paid-off debts that haven’t been updated in the record. Dispute any errors you see with the creditor and the credit reporting agency. The data on your credit report can affect your ability to get loans, the interest rates you receive or even whether or not you land a new job. So if your credit score still stinks after correcting errors, you might want to work on it before penning a resignation letter. Paying your bills on time and maintaining a respectable credit utilization rate â€" the percentage of available credit you’re using â€" are good places to start cleaning up your credit act. Have You Broken Down Your Budget? Before giving up your regular paycheck, you should know exactly how much you owe every month in fixed expenses. Fixed expenses include bills such as mortgages, car payments, auto insurance and other regular financial responsibilities. Although you can reduce these expenses, it’s unlikely they’ll go away entirely. After all, you’ll still need a place to live after leaving your job, and your friends might not be happy to have you crash on their couches. Although some variable expenses â€" like groceries â€" might not be entirely optional, you can also squeeze some slack out of your budget by spending less at the supermarket. You can also eliminate extras like gym memberships and subscription services for everything from cable to Amazon Prime. It’s also important to study the other side of the balance sheet. Do you know exactly how much you make each month? It might seem like a simple question, but your employer could be covering much more than your salary. Likewise, a portion of your own pay could be going toward retirement accounts and healthcare costs. Find out exactly what all those columns on your pay stub mean and consider how you’ll handle health insurance, retirement savings and other adult essentials once you leave your job. Do You Have Enough Savings? If you’re leaving your current career to pursue another profession right away or seek a dream job in a different city, squirreling away enough cash to cover three to six months of expenses might provide an adequate savings safety net. If you’re leaving a day job to travel or launch your own business venture, it probably makes sense to set aside even more money for a rainy day â€" or quarter. Do You Have Other Income Sources? If you’re wondering how to quit your job without resorting to a bare-bones budget, certified financial planner Phil Dyer, chief executive officer at Dyer Financial Advisory, recommended looking at your other income sources. You might be prepared to stop slaving for a salary if your annual guaranteed income from all sources, such as pensions, annuity payments, Social Security payments and investment income, cover your living expenses on an after-tax basis, said Dyer, who specializes in helping clients reach financial independence. Or you might be ready to retire â€" or resign for an extended sabbatical â€" once the annual earnings on your investment portfolio surpass your salary. “The caveat I would add is that if you retire prior to Medicare eligibility, then you’ve got to have a plan in place to cover healthcare expenses, which can easily run $900-plus per person just for health insurance, not counting co-pays, deductibles, etc.,” said Dyer. “This is one of the biggest challenges for those looking to retire early.” This article originally appeared on GoBankingRates.com.

Audrey Morris - Work It Daily

Audrey Morris - Work It Daily Recruiter Info Name: Audrey Morris Title: Recruiting Manager Email: audrey.morris@roberthalf.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/audreymorris1 Phone: 405-236-0225 Company Info Company: Robert Half Finance Accounting Location: Oklahoma City, OK Website: www.roberthalf.com/oklahoma-city/accounting-finance LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/1682?trk=prof-exp-company-name For Job Candidates Preferred Method To Be Contacted By A Candidate: Email Preferred Process For Following Up On Application: Email is usually the best way to get in touch, especially in the initial stages of communication. Once we get a chance to have a phone call about your background and career goals, we can move forward in the process by meeting in person and having a more in-depth discussion about your objectives and potential opportunities. I meet all my candidates and clients in person - I am a big believer that it is not just about a great resume on paper, it is about a long-term culture fit with an organization. Things That Impress You In A Candidate: I am impressed with people that are very open and honest with me in our discussions about potential career moves, as well as people with great communication who get back with me quickly when we are in the midst of an interview or offer process. I am also impressed when someone can make a strong case for why they chose a certain salary target as their goal in order to make a career move - some people choose that number blindly and I think that is a mistake. The final thing I would say is that if one of my receptionists or administrative staff mentions that my candidate was very friendly when checking in for our meeting, I pay special attention to that and it makes me impressed with them as an individual and confident that they are a great person. Things Candidates Must Include To Be Considered For Job: I ask for a resume and three supervisory references - I do check these references, so it is appreciated if those people have been notified that I will be calling ahead of time.   Recruiter's Perspective What's your favorite quote? “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” - Steve Jobs What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy trying new restaurants with my husband, going to the lake in the summer, traveling, drinking tea, and meeting new people. In a sentence, why do you enjoy working at your company? Robert Half has been around for 67 years (and counting) and I think we provide both excellent service to our clients and candidates, as well as awesome opportunity for growth for internal employees. In a sentence, how does your company have fun on a regular basis? We are big on volunteering, we have multiple events throughout the year to celebrate our employees, and we just like being around each other! In a sentence, how would you describe the employees at your company? Our employees are: driven, committed, friendly, and smart. Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!

5 Resume Tips for Your Career Change

5 Resume Tips for Your Career Change 5 Steps to Crafting a Resume When Changing CareersWhen changing careers, you need a different resume-writing strategy.If youve decided to start a whole new career, congratulations While its not easy to break out of your comfort zone and start something new, having the courage to pursue your dream can be richly rewarding. In the case of changing careers, the journey starts with a single step creating a resume tailored to your new career target. Starting from scratch can be daunting, so here are five steps you can take to start yourself off on the right track during your career change.Step 1 Update your titleOften times, your professional title is the first thing on your resume after your name. Chief Financial Officer or Executive Assistant clearly let your prospective employer know the role you see yourself playing in their organization. It also strongly implies that you have fulfilled that role in the past. If you are transitioning to a new career , however, it can be misleading to title yourself a Chief Financial Officer on your resume if you have never actually been one. You can add the word Objective in front of your title to indicate that this kind of role is your goal but not necessarily a position youve previously held.If you dont feel comfortable putting your target title at the top of your resume, replace the traditional professional title with a Qualifications Profile and create a list of your strongest attributes that are applicable to your new job goals. Work the name of your target role into the first bullet point of your qualifications profile or professional summary.Step 2 Craft a new professional summaryIf you were applying for a job in your current field, this is where you would write a brief paragraph about what youve done and how you can benefit your future employer. When changing careers, however, you can use this space to highlight your most relevant transferable skills or educational credentials and indic ate that you are seeking to leverage them towards whatever your target role is.Step 3 Focus on transferable skillsCarefully review job descriptions for your target job. What kinds of skills are they seeking that you already have? Communication, vendor selection, negotiation, staff management, and development, for example, are all transferable skills that are highly desirable and not pertaining to any one industry. Make note of all your transferable skills that are prized in your new target industry and include those front and center.Step 4 Highlight education and certificationsSometimes when people are changing careers, they have educational backgrounds or certifications that suit them more to the position than their actual job history does. If this is the case, it is perfectly appropriate to place the education section before the professional experience section. This will direct the employers eye first to qualities that are directly applicable to the new job target and will work in your favor.Career Change Resume SampleStep 5 Identify accomplishmentsFinally, comb through your previous job history to identify the accomplishments that are most relatable to the new job. If you were staying in the same industry, you would want specific accomplishments that mirror the requirements of the new role. But when determining how to change careers, you may need to be a little more flexible to show your versatility.Rest assured, no matter how dramatic a change you are making, your previous experience has not been in vain. By taking the steps above, you can best leverage your previous career to help launch you into a brand new one.TopResume will give you feedback on your career-change resume. Submit for a free resume critique todayRecommended ReadingLooking to Change Careers? First, Make a Skills ListCareer Quiz Is It Time for a Career Change?OfficeHours How to Successfully Change CareersRelated Articles

Writing a Resume Objective for a Student Services Coordinator Position - Is it a Scam?

Writing a Resume Objective for a Student Services Coordinator lage - Is it a Scam? The War Against Writing a Resume Objective for a Student Services Coordinator Position To compose a resume for the place of a student services coordinator, one has to underline the coordination abilities and abilities. Not only does your resume have to make you appear more appealing than a less costly worker, but additionally it needs to be eye-catching. Administrator coordinators make, normally, 39,000 dollars each year. Most high school students have a tendency to make an application for a food services position. How to Find Writing a Resume Objective for a Student Services Coordinator Position Online Skills To devote a Coordinator Resume Objective Coordinators play a significant part in a number of work environments. As an Event Coordinator, you need to be thorough. Project coordinators can discover opportunities in a wide selection of industries. A Project Coordinator is important to la rger companies since they manage the work the Project Manager isnt able to do while running massive projects. The Death of Writing a Resume Objective for a Student Services Coordinator Position A resume objective can explain why youre qualified for the job, even if its the case that you do not own a lot of related experience. The best method to make sure your resume isnt set aside is to ensure your very best accomplishments, skills, and experiences are the principal focus of your easy-to-read document. To begin with, consider the job description to landsee whether it indicates the form of skills the provider is seeking. A crystal clear statement about how you are going to utilize your strongest relevant abilities and professional experiences to satisfy the specific role youre applying for 3. The Writing a Resume Objective for a Student Services Coordinator Position Pitfall Using your coordinator resume objective statement to affirm you have the necessary skills to carry out th e work successfully will greatly increase your odds of securing the job. Browsing for work or transitioning to a greater position is extremely challenging. As a result, while your resume objective should consist of information on the career you want, you also wish to spell out why you are the perfect candidate for the job. The absolute most efficient objective is one which is tailored to the job youre applying for. For instance, the use of an administrative coordinator is to take care of quite a few secretarial and administrative responsibilities, though an advertising coordinator has the job of producing new advertising and marketing concepts and ensuring the consistency of the corporations promotional messages. Reading through the activities coordinator resume sample and writing tips is a good method to find out whether your document is powerful enough. If youre looking to apply to get a part-time position at a retail shop, utilize the next objective examples as a guide tha t will help you create one that is right for you. Utilizing an objective to abflug your resume is something which is quite debatable.