Capricorns named UKs most ambitious employees

Capricorns named UK’s most ambitious employees by Michael Cheary If your birthday is between 23 December and 19 January then you could be one of the most ambitious people in the UK, according to research of over one million jobseekers who registered on leading job site, www.reed.co.uk, over the past year.Some other key results included the following:Male Capricorns expect to earn the highest salariesFemale Cancers expect to earn the least moneyThe average UK male expects to earn 3,248 a year more than the average UK femaleMale Pisces are the most loyal staff members of the workforceFemale Scorpios are the least loyalThe resultsExpecting an average salary of 23,927, male Capricorns were found to be more money motivated than any other star sign. The most ambitious females are Libras (23 September to 22 October), closely followed by summer-born Virgos (24 August to 23 September), and female Capricorns. However, although top of the pile for her gender, the female Libra wants a much lower salary than her male counterpart, expe cting an average of just 20,655. The least ambitious jobseekers of all, when it comes to salary, are also female, and belong to the Cancer star sign. Capricorns also topped the salary expectation poll the last time reed.co.uk conducted the study in 2008. And whether or not we believe in star signs, several studies have suggested that Capricorns are ambitious and goal-oriented, motivated by a desire for success, status, money and position. Famous Capricorns include Tiger Woods, Dame Maggie Smith, and Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.Overall, the results revealed a major difference in the pay expectations of men and women, with men in the UK demanding, on average, 3,248 more than women a gap of 15.8%.reed.co.uk also analysed trends of loyalty within the workforce. Astrologically speaking, Pisces are the overwhelming choice when it comes to hiring a loyal employee, with both male and female Pisces staying in their respective jobs for the longest period (31.1 months and 26.5 months re spectively).Female Scorpios remain in their jobs for the shortest period of time, spending just over two years in a position before moving on, whilst on average, men serve their employers 17.6% longer than women.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 in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

Twitter Introduces New Personal Branding Tool Lists - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Twitter Introduces New Personal Branding Tool Lists - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Within days of introducing Twitter lists into public beta, an estimated 6.5 million lists have already been created. This begs the question, which Dan Schawbel asked on Nov. 1, does it matter how many times you’re listed? As of this writing, I am on 96 lists. Impressive, right? Perhaps, if they were all in line with my personal brand. How do others perceive you? The sign of a strong personal brand is when others perceive you how you want to be perceived. I have a dual personal brand (which is absolutely my own fault): entry-level careers expert and public relations pro. So, I’m included on many lists in both categories. But global business? Where did that one come from? I mentioned I have two personal brands. This is a “do as I say, not as I do” moment. After all, there are people who have no idea I am in public relations, and a (smaller) number who don’t realize I’m an entry-level careers writer. While I’m slowly transitioning my brand from public relations pro to entry-level careers expert, I’ve found it extremely hard to let go of my old life. Thus, the two brands. What’s interesting is, even though I’ve been freely giving my advice for almost a decade, I didn’t really attempt to brand myself until I became Examiner.com’s national entry-level careers columnist in September 2008. Now, more than a year later, I’m still deep in battle with how others perceive me. But I doubt I would have made it as far as I have without the help of social media platforms like Twitter. How can twitter lists help? Although the various ways people will use Twitter lists has yet to unfold, I would like to argue they can be used to solidify your personal brand. Think about it: Instead of finding people one-by-one, we’re going to begin mass following people based on topics/lists that interest us. If you can get yourself on the right lists, the effort will go a long way toward building your follower base and your brand. List first and they’ll list you back When you regularly read and comment on someone’s blog, they are more likely to reciprocate. I predict the same will go for Twitter lists. Do your due diligence in creating lists coinciding with other people’s personal brands, and they will likely take notice and do the same for you. Are you searching for a job? Create a list of human resources professionals, recruiters and hiring managers in your industry. Looking for mentors? Create a list of thought-leaders. The types of lists you can create are nearly endless. Be mindful of traditional Twitter etiquette Particularly if you’re just starting out on Twitter, don’t forget the rules: listen, be relevant, mind your brand, engage, and give more than get. Let people know you’ve added them to a list and why. How are you going to use lists to enhance your brand? Author: Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder president of Come Recommended, an exclusive online community connecting the best internship and entry-level job candidates with the best employers. She is also the national entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com.

3 Ways to Promote Your Brand Without Saying A Word

3 Ways to Promote Your Brand Without Saying A Word You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room for your brand to have a huge impact. And I’m sure quiet introverts can appreciate this. There are numerous ways to stand out in your industry without pressuring yourself to find all the right words to say at awkward networking events. Here are 3 ways to brand yourself without even having to say a word: 1. Create a Digital Brand Strategy If you haven’t started publishing content online, now is the time to start thinking about how you want to brand and position yourself for future success. Your content allows you to build credibility with your target audience, share your unique voice, and give others valuable tips based on your experience. You want to have supporting documentation available on-demand so that others can view the quality of your work even when they don’t have the pleasure of a face-to-face meeting with you. Need help developing valuable content? Answer these four questions to determine what you should write about: Here are four questions to answer: What do I want to be known for? What opportunities do I want to attract? What problem do I want to solve? What skills or unique experiences differentiate me from others in the marketplace? These questions can be the theme for the articles that you write and will allow you to determine your niche. Talk about personal experiences and client success stories, and integrate current events into your niche topics. Then, start sharing your digital content on LinkedIn’s publishing platform, personal blog, guest blog, trade publications, and Medium. 2. Update Your LinkedIn Profile Frequently Don’t be a LinkedIn ghost. Having a LinkedIn account and not saying anything is like going to a party and hiding in a dark corner. You’re constantly saying that you don’t see the benefits of LinkedIn, no one is clicking on your profile, and you feel like you are wasting your valuable time by even having an account. But here is the real problem: How can people hire you if they can’t find you? In order to appear in top LinkedIn search results, you must be active. If you don’t like bragging about yourself in person, LinkedIn is the best way to vaunt about all of your accomplishments without appearing cocky. People are looking to hear the great things that you are doing, because the world needs what you have. So here are 4 ways to build your brand on LinkedIn: Change your default LinkedIn headline to reflect how you add value to others vs. leaving viewers with a two-word description that mimics your job title. Obtain testimonials and recommendations from others. If you are too nervous to ask others for recommendations, simply write them a recommendation first, and most people would be more than willing to return the favor. Share conversation-worthy updates. If someone in your industry has just won an award, share the information with your network. If a company is creating a new initiative to increase diversity in the workplace, let your professional tribe know. You will become known as a valuable source of information. Don’t forget to share the valuable content you have created. Your content can include blog posts, e-books, tips, and interviews with others. 3. Choose Your Preferred Social Media Platforms and Be Consistent If only there were more hours in the day and less work on your plate, you would be a social-media ninja. But because you are actually living life instead of posting about your life every 5 seconds, you may not win the Social Media User of the Year Award. And that’s okay. You should favor quality over quantity. If you are not an active social media user, choose a platform that you want to explore and be consistent. Be strategic about the platform you choose. Where are most of your target users located? Essentially, you want to determine where you can get the most attention for your time. If you’ve been navigating the social media world for a while, it’s time to upgrade what you are doing. For example, if you are frequently posting on Facebook and Twitter, you can schedule your posts in advance by using Hootsuite, or  Buffer. These tools allow you to manage your social-media marketing all in one place. If you are a fan of Instagram, you can take advantage of Grum to schedule and post your Instagram pictures from your computer. Tools like Iconosquare and Sprout Social will allow you to measure the effectiveness of your social-media postings. Then think about how you are engaging your audience on those platforms by taking advantage of Twitter Chats, Facebook Live, and popular hashtags. Image credits. Main.  Brand.

8 Worst Interview Blunders You Can Make

8 Worst Interview Blunders You Can Make No-one likes being taken off-guard. When it comes to preparing for an interview, we all do what it takes in advance to be as ready as we can. We research the company, we dress to impress and fundamentally, we go in there guns blazing and super confident.  So what happens when, despite all your preparations, something goes terribly wrong? Something happens and hits you so hard and out of the blue that you are knocked off your perch and into a never-ending well? Do you go bright red in the face? Do you jump across the table and grab the interviewer by the tie? Do you get up and walk straight out and not look back? The simple answer is no. There will come a time when a question or an event catches you by surprise. The key is to know what to do about it and by knowing what the biggest mistakes you could ever make are, you can avoid them. So without further ado, what are the worst interviewing bloopers on this planet? 1) Not knowing your stuff: Picture the scenario: You apply for a job at a business magazine and are asked “What’s been the biggest breaking business news this year?” Gulp, you don’t know the answer! What’s the point in wasting your time and the interviewer’s time if you don’t know your stuff? If you don’t know anything about business, don’t apply for a position in business. If you haven’t got the foggiest idea about fashion, don’t apply for a job in fashion. Simples. 2) Forget your name/company’s name: It will hardly get you off on the right start if you can’t even recall the name of the firm and they may probably sanction you if you don’t even know your own name. If you apply for numerous jobs at various firms and you can’t keep up with which interview you are actually at, write the name of the company on the palm of your hand.  Then, if you forget where you are at, you can casually look at your hand as a memo. Just remember which hand you’ve marked when it comes to shaking hands, or you’ll get ink all over the interviewer! 3) Keen bean: No-one likes an eager beaver, so don’t arrive too early. You’ll catch the interviewer off guard, straightaway you’ll be in their bad books, and you’ll sit there sweating nervously until they are ready. Try to get there no earlier than 10 minutes. Obviously arriving late is not an option! 4) Use profanities: It is customary to be formal and polite in an interview. Even if your interviewer is being casual and jovial, never swear or use vulgar language. They may be down-to-earth but using expletives just shows that you have a limited vocabulary. Most definitely avoid swearing if it is a public facing position, or if it is a religious organisation. 5) Roll off the same old, same old: Yes you are passionate, yes you are probably organised but blah blah blah blah. So what? The interviewer has probably heard this several times by several other candidates. If you are going to sell yourself, be unique! Gone backpacking across Europe? Volunteer at the local youth school? Have seven cats named after Snow White’s dwarfs? Discover what makes you different and it will set you apart from the rest. READ MORE:  How to Answer Why Do You Want This Job? in an Interview 6) Turn up in the wrong attire: What kind of job you are applying for will affect what you wear. If you have an interview at a reputable law firm, turning up in jeans, converse trainers and a t-shirt is a no-no. This may be acceptable for a Sunday retail job but for an office post a suit or formal outfit is a must. Whatever you wear, make sure it is clean and ironed and that you have matching socks on. READ MORE: How to Dress for Your Job Interview 7) Hit on the interviewer: We’ve all heard the saying “sleep your way to the top” but this is a hopeless case. Whatever you do, do not make a pass at the interviewer. You may be desperate for the job and willing to do whatever it takes, however, it will nine times out of 10 get you nowhere. 8) Have your mobile turned on: Pretty much everyone has a phone. Even one in 10 five-year-olds own a mobile nowadays. It is common courtesy and pure sense to turn your mobile phone on silent before you go into an interview. If you want to be extra cautious, turn it off completely. A phone call from your mum asking what you want for tea in the middle of an interview is a major blooper. So there you have the top 8 worst mistakes you could ever make in an interview. Now whatever you do, avoid them like the plague. Author: Dough Barden is managing partner of barlow-andrews.co.uk, who specialise in financial planning.

How To Find The Best Resume Writing Services

How To Find The Best Resume Writing ServicesLooking for good resume writing services help? In this article, I will list some of the top resume writing services in Washington DC that you can avail of if you need assistance with your resume.The Public Relations Team at Maxims has been helping companies with their resumes for many years. This team focuses mainly on a company's marketing communications and should be one of the first services that you should utilize when you start looking for a professional resume writer. They have been helping thousands of companies all over the United States, find the best candidate for the position that they need.Your resume is your chance to make a real impact on a prospective employer. The quality of your resume will help you land the job and get you on the path to getting your dream job. However, if your resume is not impressive enough, you could face rejection and lower your chances of getting the job.Resume Writing Services are a very useful resou rce if you are trying to find a good copywriter. These writers can not only help you find the right job but also can help you in outlining your qualifications. When it comes to hiring a copywriter, these people offer a much better option because they have specialized in writing and graphic design. This way, the company can get their work seen by thousands of people.Another of the best resume writing services is Diverse Resources that has helped many people land jobs they wanted. With them, you can find a number of different people that can help you out with the job that you are applying for. With them, you do not need to worry about writing your own resume. These people have trained copywriters and other professionals that will do the writing for you and ensure that you get hired by the company that you want to be hired by.Do you need to write a certain job? If so, don't just search for an unknown writer or a freelance writer on the Internet. You should check out local writers that can help you out. If you want to hire a local copywriter, the best place to look for them is the local directories in your area.A Word of Caution: Many employers ask for sample resumes before offering the services of a writing services company. Since employers would like to see samples of previous work before hiring, you should make sure that the resume you send in is all original. You should not include any samples with your resume as they will only add to the charges of the writer.Resume writing services to help you write a successful resume. It can make the difference between getting the job or being rejected.

Job Searching and Dating Similarities

Job Searching and Dating Similarities People are telling me they are being turned down for networking meetings because there are too many other people out there asking for the same networking meetings. OK, so maybe. Lets look at this from a different angle so you can overcome this potential obstacle. Job Search and Dating are quite closely analogous. When you were dating someone, you were off the market, which meant that you werent looking for a relationship. However, you did have a life. While dating, you had your own interests and spent time outside of your relationship doing things that interested you or that you had to do.While dating, did you ever meet someone who caught your interest? Did someone sweep you off your feet even though you werent looking? How did they do it? Did they complement you, did they find common interests, were they persistent in their contact with you, did they begin to build a friend-like relationship? People who are working are similar to those who are dating. They are off the market. They are not looking for a new relationship, unless they are unhappy with the one they have with current employees. Even if they are looking, many people dont like blind dates, and meeting someone they dont know or who may be a referral, can be like a blind date for them. In other words, some people just wont network or dont like to unless truly compelled. In order to find and meet the employed, you need to try your dating approach. First, identify who you want to meet? Then catch their interest by using flattery, finding common interests, persistence, building an non-threatening relationship. To play this out further, lets say you want to meetJim, the owner of a company. Jim doesnt have any job openings. Why would Jim want to go out on a date with you if he isnt looking? He doesnt want a date. He may however have other interests. Where does Jim go or what does he do professionally or outside of work? Does he golf? Does he belong to the Chamber of Commerce? Is he on a board? Do you have any common interests in those areas that could be used to build a non-job-seeking relationship? Or,could you share industry/work related information with Jim until he feels like you are a friend? The point is, that in order for someone, anyone, towant to network or meet with you, there has tobe something in it for them. Some people arejust nice and want to help, perhaps they are empathetic. You still have to give them a reason tomeet withyou, especiallybecause they are probablyreceiving requests to meet with others. Why you? Why are you thebest date they are going to have all month?

Set Your Intentions for Career Success in the New Year - Jane Jackson Career

Set Your Intentions for Career Success in the New Year - Jane Jackson Career CAREER SUCCESS in the New YearDo you set intentions or commit to New Years resolutions for your career success at the beginning of each year?As we come to the end of the year and before we head into 2020, lets reflect back on the resolutions we made at the beginning of this year.Every New Year sees many of us making an annual pilgrimage back to the gym To Get Fit is a popular resolution [yes, it was one of mine too!]   But does it really work?At the beginning of the year I skipped over to my local gym with great intentions of getting back into dance and aerobic fitness. I enjoyed a fabulous SH’BAM class, felt great at the time however … couldn’t walk the next day as, in my enthusiasm, I overdid it.     via GIPHYMy issue was that my knees are a bit dodgy after many years of marathon running, high impact aerobics and overuse. So I decided to take it easy instead, and my realistic fitness goal was to power-walk for 20-30 minutes every morning instead. That was more realistic for me and was achievable with no injuries!I’ve found that resolutions tend to fall by the wayside quite quickly, and so, for career success, I like to focus on INTENTIONS instead.  Have you thought about your career intentions for the new year?As a Career Coach I work one-on-one with career transition clients and deliver empowering Career Confidence group workshops in a corporate environment.That’s why I’m happy to say that setting career goals is a firm trend when the new year arrives and research has found that 45% of us will be investing in up-skilling this year, 37% plan to be more outspoken and take control of their ambitions at work, and 16% are committed to expanding upon our professional network.So, I’d like to suggest 3 intentions to help you progress in your career this year.And for additional motivation, here’s a 3-minute video I recorded on New Year’s Eve last year, just after I moved into my new home,   to discuss the positive intentions that will keep you on track this year:  SPECIAL OFFER: If youve always wanted to start your own business but just didnt know how to begin, Ive joined forces with Ingrid Thompson, author of So, You Want to Start a Business? to create the Build Your Business Masterclass, and offering it to you for free! This valuable masterclass will help you on your way to become an entrepreneur!    Register to attend here. 1. Set Your Intention: Your Learning Potential is Your Earning PotentialAccording to research by GoodHabitz, the biggest career trend tipped for 2019 is personal development. After Family (66%), A Quiet Life (50%), Experiences/Travelling (46%) and Free time/Hobbies (40%), (which are personal values) the top priority for respondents professionally is:/Putting my talents to usePersonal Development/Putting my talents to use   (35%) above Salary, Contribution to the world, Social contacts, an Exciting life and Career.However, only 10% of organisations globally are taking on full-scale projects to up-ski ll their workers.What does that mean for you?  It means that, if your organisation isn’t able to provide you with the training you desire, you have to take matters into your own hands.Take control of your own education. Do you want support to take control of your career? The Careers Academy Online is my membership site where you have access to career resources and training for your professional and personal development.  In The Careers Academy you will find a free ‘How to Get a Job’ online course, numerous free guides and also special offers on ‘How to Write a Resume’, ‘Personal Branding for Career Success’, LinkedIn for Career Success, How to Build Confidence online programs and much, much more.Is your intention to develop personally and professionally this year? Then take action and make Your Learning Potential Your Earning Potential.2.   Set Your Intention: Banish Self-Limiting Beliefs and Trust YourselfHigh self-esteem and confidence is a key component of success.   Whether you are a man or a woman, a dip in your confidence level can have dramatic effects on how you are perceived, and what you achieve at work.I am on a mission to help you to grow your self-belief, develop your ability to handle life’s little (and big) challenges by assisting you to become resilient.Yes, we all experience setbacks (and I have had many in my life) however it’s how we deal with those setbacks that form our character. Every setback is an opportunity to develop resilience.To help you bounce back, in The Careers Academy Online you have the opportunity to explore ‘How to Build Confidence’ â€" an online program I created to help you through those challenging times and ensure your intention: Banish Self-Limiting Beliefs and Trust Yourself is fulfilled.  3.   Set Your Intention: Build Your Network â€" Your Net WorthI know … the word ‘networking’ causes many of my clients to cringe … initially! They think that networking is ‘schmoozing’ or behaving like a sycophant for personal gain.   But, believe me, networking is neither of those!Networking is building genuine relationships â€" not selling, not pitching, it’s the opportunity to get to know another person.  (Remember how good it feels to make a new friend?)If you develop mutual trust and respect with each other then, and only then, may career or business opportunities arise out of the relationship.The primary focus when networking is to GET TO KNOW THE OTHER PERSON â€" the real person behind the façade of ‘being a professional business person.’  We are all genuine human beings.   Let’s get to know each other, human to human!This is why #linkedinlocalsydney events are so popular.   I co-host these events with Jillian Bullock, and at our events you can be the star of the show (if you wish) however, the focus is on making authentic connections in a warm and friendly environment.  No schmoozing allowed!  Follow me LinkedIn for the links to book our 2020 events.Expandin g your network online is a wonderful thing and then taking those online connections ‘offline’ solidifies the relationship.   Combining both is the perfect way to fulfil your intention: Your Network is Your Net Worth.   As a member of The Careers Academy Online you join a group of professionals who are dedicated to expanding their professional network and taking control of their careers.   Monthly Group Coaching Sessions are included and you also receive with membership a one-on-one career coaching session with me, and a wealth of career support resources and webinars.For non-members you can attend one of my Group sessions here: Group Coaching Sessions.    I personally host these career-coaching sessions, and provide coaching and advice in a small group setting.  Id love to know your intentions for the new year and beyond â€" pop them in the comments below and Ill keep you accountable to make them happen.  Together, let’s make next year a happy, healthy and successful year!