Mentoring Monday

10 Key points for the Mentoree

1. It's your job, not theirs. The focus of mentoring is on you, the mentoree. Therefore, don't expect your mentor to do all the work. His or her role is to facilitate your development, not do it for you. Take the initiative and follow-up on agreed upon goals.

2. Think commitment, not lip service. Regular, ongoing contact is one of the most important building blocks for successful mentoring. Agree with your mentor to meet on a regular and ongoing basis and avoid canceling appointments.

3. Show up for the relationship. Be prepared before your meeting with anything agreed upon and with an issue to discuss that's important to you.

4. Give back and get more. Mentors don't usually ask how the mentoree has benefitted from the relationship. Take the time to share examples and to say "thank you" on occasion, and you'll often find that the mentor will give more without your having to ask.

5. Keep expectations realistic. Unstated assumptions or expectations can easily derail a relationship. To avoid this, you and your mentor should both discuss your expectations of each other and the relationship.

6. It's risky, but it's healthy. A mentoring relationship is not meant to make you comfortable with where you are. It should challenge you both professionally and personally. This can't happen unless you're willing to take risks.

7. Be yourself; we already have everybody else. You needn't act exactly like your mentor. You are a unique person. Recognize your uniqueness and resist the temptation to clone your mentor. This is especially important when considering diversity initiatives.

8. Don't be afraid of your mentor's silence. You're in a mentoring session and you seem to run out of things to say, and your mentor isn't helping because all she or he is doing is keeping quiet. This is a good thing! Your mentor's silence is inviting you to probe more deeply into what is on your mind, and it's an opportunity to share more deeply in the relationship.

9. The elephant will crush you. Don't sit with an issue that you should discuss with your mentor; otherwise, it will severely impact and could derail your relationship. If something is not working in the relationship, chances are your mentor is feeling similarly, but neither one of you is taking the responsibility to deal with it.

10. Pass it along. Since you're enjoying the mentoring experience, give back by becoming a mentor to someone else. Whether it's a peer, a subordinate, a family member, share with others so that what your mentor has shared with you gets passed along through you.

http://www.management-mentors.com/resources/april-2009/

Freelance Friday

Maintaining Good Customer Service


Always Offer Top Quality Service
No matter how nice of a business owner you are or what credibility you have gotten even being the best in your sector, if you fail to offer top-quality services it will diminish the rate of business offers you get from your clients. Therefore, It is very vital to always offer top quality services so as to keep your client from coming back for more business transactions and refer you to more clients.

Contact with Clients Is Beneficial Should Job Related Changes Be Needed
It is also a good idea to maintain contact with your clients as it keeps the line of communication open should any changes be needed to the job which you are completing for your customers. In addition, this will gives your client rest of mind and assurance that they are dealing with a transparent and honest freelancer that can be contacted at any time they feel it is necessary to discuss changes with you.

Make Conversation with Your Clients
Really it is quite essential to discuss business matter clearly with your clients is as well very important to be open to other discussion aside business matters. By so doing will give your clients the motive that you are not just after the income you generate from them but care about their doing. It is always necessary that you speak less and listen more to your customers when you both are discussing.

Open Space for Comments
You can win a lot of clients with a very good service but if you don't seek for what they feel about your services, you could tend to loose some customers at some instance. Although, you might have done the necessary requirements to satisfy your clients but at some instance you just cant tell what your clients are expecting from you and what improvement they think could change your services for better.


http://ezinearticles.com/?Maintaining-a-Good-Customer-Service-for-Your-Freelance-Business&id=5057874

Tip of the Day

Some tips on Career Growth

1. Do more than is expected of you. Prove that you’re capable of handing more responsibility. Volunteer for special assignments.

2. Take initiative and do what needs to be done, before being asked.

3. Learn the skills you’ll need to advance. Take advantage of on-the-job training, but don’t rely exclusively on that. Consider taking (and paying for) skill-enhancing courses on your own.

4. Be loyal to your boss, your team, and your company. (Yes, you can be loyal without being a “brown-noser.”)

5. Be patient and don’t expect to be promoted without demonstrating your abilities over time.

6. View the big picture and understand your company’s mission. Find ways to help them accomplish it.

7. Save money for your company by identifying ways to boost revenues, reduce expenses, or streamline processes.

8. Offer solutions to the problems you must take to your boss.

9. Show respect to everyone — superiors, peers, subordinates, and especially customers.

10. Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know.” If you don’t know something, say so; don’t try to fake it. Find the answers you need.

11. Take responsibility for your actions. If you’re at fault, admit it and take the blame. If you’re wrong, apologize.

12. Never gossip. Gossip can hurt the careers of two people: the person being talked about, and the person doing the talking.

http://moralsandethics.wordpress.com/2007/02/08/20-powerful-tips-for-career-growth/

Work Abroad Wednesday

10 Working Abroad Tips

1) The first thing you need to do is decide where you want to go and work! This may sound very obvious – but aside from picking a random nation to land in and bestow your skills upon, there is actually a little more thought that needs to go into picking a location.

2) Then pick the region or even town or city that you want to base yourself in. For example, you’ve just finished studying French at university and you want to go to France for the summer and work. Well, do you want to head for the south coast and work in a tourist bar, do you want to end up in Paris working as an au pair.

3) With a nation and a location in mind you have to think about getting a work permit or residency visa – if you’re an EU national and you’re going to work in another EU country then you will not have to worry so much about this side of things. It’s likely that you will have to register your presence in the nation with the local police station of immigration office – but for those going further afield or for Aussies, Americans or Kiwis heading for Europe, there is paperwork to be completed. Contact the nearest embassy to you of the country you want to travel to and work in. Embassies are usually in capital cities and they often have a strong web presence as well which can at least give you a basic grounding in the paperwork you will need to complete to be allowed to work abroad.

4) With the country, the city and the paperwork sorted it’s time to think about actually working abroad and the capacity in which you are hoping to be employed. If you’re simply seeking casual work and you don’t mind what you do, it can be sufficient to just arrive and go from bar to bar, farm to farm or shop to shop asking for a job.

5) Looking for jobs abroad can be done via the Internet – you can contact employment agencies local to the country or even town you’re hoping to head for, you can contact agencies specialising in international recruitment, you can contact agencies specialising in recruiting for the work you’re hoping to secure.

6) Another top tip is thinking about whether you know people who live abroad. If you do, are they in locations that you might like to work in? If so this can be a great way in for you to get acclimatised to living and working abroad. Think about the useful people you know and consider targeting them for advice and assistance with your plans to work overseas – you’ll be surprised how happy people are to help when you show an interest in their lives and their nation.

7) If you want to travel and work abroad, consider getting a qualification or gaining skills in an area of employment that is portable. One of the favourite choices for those hoping to live all over the world and work is TEFL – or teaching English as a foreign language. The best, most recognised courses are those that are accredited by the Cambridge examinations board – steer clear of distance learning or Internet based courses as you will gain no practical experience and employers will not give your resume a second glance.

8) If you have a particular skill or area of expertise and you’re not sure where in the world you want to work abroad, try and find out where your skills or areas of expertise are most in demand.

9) Think about the financial aspect of moving abroad very seriously. Even if you have a job lined up for when you arrive or you intend to bum around and don’t care if you earn all that much, you will have an initial outlay at least for accommodation.

10) And finally – even before you go and certainly when you’re on the road travelling overseas, remember to network actively! It’s not what you know in life but who you know! When it comes to getting on in life, you can never have too many useful contacts.

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/ten-working-abroad-tips

Tip of the Day

Career Building Tips

1. Go out on a limb
If you are still in school, work with the career counselor to set up a "shadowing" program. Contact several business leaders in the community and see if they are amenable to having a student go to work with them for a day. Nothing can compare to following a worker through a real "day in the life." On your assigned day, be respectful and spend the majority of time really listening but assist if you are asked.

2. Build Relationships
Don't hesitate to further establish your reputation by building relationships. Earning your client's and customer's trust will go along way toward shaping who you are and what you hope to achieve.

3. Do Outreach
Who can you possibly help? Anyone who is in a position to learn what you already know. Act as a mentor in your community for those less fortunate. Volunteer and find a way to "pay it forward" for teens who might need some friendly advice.

4. The visibility Factor
Acting as a mentor, working on community projects and building relationships all help to give you a brand---defining who you are. But take your visibility one step further by using advertising, a webpage or writing articles online or in your community newspaper to share more of what you know and what you're up to.

5. In the Loop
Networking is how people find out about the little things. And word spreads fast in our information culture. Look for ways to remain "in the loop." Stay in touch by going to church, joining a rotary club or showing up at job fairs. Pass out your business card, shake hands and find out what others are doing.

6. Stay Motivated
Read management books, listen to motivational tapes, and use positive reinforcement vehicles to keep up your spirits. Bad language, poor attitudes and lack of cooperation can kill branding and your reputation faster than anything.

http://www.ehow.com/way_5154020_career-building-tips.html

Mentoring Monday

Workplace Motivation

1. Know your Goal
It is essential that you and any co-workers understand exactly what you are working towards. Make sure that you have a very clear idea and vision for your business goal, and make it very specific. This needs to be made clear to every person working on the project. Without this understanding it will be difficult to achieve it.

2. Know your Reasons
What are your reasons for reaching this goal? If you do not have a very good reason, you will not be motivated. If you work alone your reasons may be personal, but for your colleagues, your understanding of what motivates them needs to come into play here. This understanding will help you to create powerful reasons for anyone you work with.

3. Know your Strategy
After following the first two steps, the motivation that is created will help you to create powerful strategies for achieving the goal, and those who work with you will be able to contribute valuable ideas because they have a reason for doing so.

4. Review
In order to maintain motivation, make sure that your goals are regularly reviewed by yourself and any others. Check that your action plan is working, and make any adjustments necessary to the goal or the strategy to make sure you are staying on task.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Business-Coaching-and-Mentoring---Workplace-Motivation&id=2115552

Freelance Friday

Easy Steps to start your Freelance Business

1. Develop an online presence as a freelancer.
You can’t get work as a freelancer if no one knows that you are available for projects. One of the best ways to let people know that you freelance is through your blog or portfolio site. If you don’t have a website already, it’s time to set one up.

2. Add freelancing availability to your social media profile.
For many freelancers, one of their best sources of clients is the people they already know. If you keep in touch with friends, family, former classmates, or colleagues through social media then you need to make sure that your social media profile includes the fact that you are willing to take on freelance work. Also, many organizations now use social media to recruit freelancers for projects.

3. Build a professional profile on a bidding site.
While bidding sites may not always offer the best opportunities, if you understand how they work it is possible to land some good jobs there. Remember, many successful freelancers got their start by first finding work on a bidding site. When your profile is complete, don’t forget to bid on some projects.

4. Find freelance job opportunities online and apply for them.
You can use online tools such as iGoogle to search for and find online job postings. The more projects that you apply for, the more likely it is that you will be selected for a project. (Repeat this step of searching for and applying for jobs online frequently.)

5. Offer to do something for free.
While typically working for free is not a very good idea, when you are just starting out as a freelancer taking on a project that you can use for your portfolio and as a sample of your work is not always a bad thing. Also, getting involved in a project (even a gratis one) can help get you into the mindset of a freelancer and give you the momentum you need to keep going.


http://freelancefolder.com/five-ways-to-start-a-freelance-business-right-now/

Tip of the Day

Interview Tips

- Learn as much as you can about the prospective employer by reviewing its Web site thoroughly, reading industry publications and talking to others who may know about the company's culture and what the firm may be looking for in an employee.

- Review your resume. Think about how your skills and accomplishments can be assets to the company.

- Be prepared to answer these standard questions:
1. Can you tell me a little about yourself?
2. Why do you want to work here? What do you know about the company?
3. What are your strengths/weaknesses?
4. Why did you leave your last job and what have you been doing since then?

- Also be prepared for off-the-wall questions, which are increasingly common. Don't be surprised if you're asked a questions such as, "If you could have lunch with someone famous, who would it be?" These questions provide information about your personality and how you think on your feet.

- Practice answering interview questions out loud. You want your responses to sound confident but not rehearsed.

- Prepare your own list of questions to ask the interviewer. Remember: this is your opportunity to learn more about the position and the company's culture.

- Complete a list of two to three professional references, or people who can speak positively about your skills and work ethic. Just be sure to ask if they are willing to serve as your references before you give out their contact information.

- Be prepared to complete a written application, which will likely ask for your contact information and the addresses and phone numbers of your previous employers.

http://www.dressforsuccess.org/careers_careertips.aspx

Work Abroad Wednesday

Work Abroad Tips

The country
The country you choose to move to may well be dictated by your profession and the ability to find suitable employment there - alternatively, if you’re looking for a fairly casual contract of employment your country choice options may be far broader.

Permissions
Depending on the country you herald from and the one in which you’d now like to work, certain visas, permits, permissions and approval may be required to enter the country, reside there and take up a job. Make sure you check out all the requirements before making a commitment to a country and find out whether it’ll be easier for you to get all your permissions if you have an offer of employment already.

Your Qualifications
In some countries many standard university and further education qualifications translate like for like. Some professional qualifications however do not translate and different countries have different standards, working practices and governing bodies that people with certain qualifications operating in certain trades or professions will have to have translated.

Taxation
Don’t forget that some countries have an even more restrictive taxation regime than your own! Check out the rates of tax you’ll be liable for based on the country you’re interested in moving to and the salary you can expect to earn. Remember that as an expatriate living abroad you’re entitled to all the tax breaks offered in your new country of residence and you may also be entitled to more breaks especially if you have to support two households.


http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/tips_for_working_abroad

Tip of the Day

Create a plan

The most important benefit of having a plan is that it gives you a sense of direction in helping you reach your goals.
In real life career planning, we choose the paths that we believe will take us to our destinations, but we have to be open to embarking upon new paths which may emerge in the course of our journey.
Just as having a plan is important, so is the importance of planning to be flexible. It will keep you open to a realm of possibilities and help you arrive at your rightful destination.

http://ezinearticles.com/?8-Career-Planning-Tips-That-Work&id=2162515

Mentoring Monday

Mentoring Tips for the Workplace

Knowledge: Be aware of your roles and responsibilities
- Observe: Watch what is going on around you, be aware of the things that are happening, and not happening in the workplace.

- Learn: Be open to the learning opportunities surround us all the time. Try a different method or approach. Model continual learning!

Attitude: Attitude determines how you interpret the things that come your way. Be positive. Choose to see things positively.

- Get to know people: Strike up a conversation during lunch or break. Work on building trust. Find out what interests people...You might have more in
common than you knew.

- Ask questions: Never be afraid to ask a question. If you do not get what you are looking for, try asking the question a different way. Be aware of what you say, and how you say it.

- Listen: Remember that silence and listening are NOT the same thing. If you ask a question, be sure to really listen to the response.

Behaviour: Be patient with yourself and those that you are working with.Do not be in too much of a rush. Do not rush your work.

- Take action: Show initiative. If you see something that needs doing, do it.This sets a great example for others.

- Give your best effort: Do things yourself the way you would want them to be done - Model best practices in what you do.

- Share: Share your knowledge and experiences with others.

http://apprenticeship.nscc.ca/mentoring/Mentoring.Resource.Handout.Tips.pdf

Summer Job Blitz

How to use your summer job to aquire skills to advance your possible career

1. Identify what you like the most- Decide what tasks that you enjoy the most and what tasks you enjoy the least.

2. Skip the rumors- When you finish your summer job, always walk away with a good reputation and reference.

3. Hone your communication abilities- To learn to communcate effectively choose a job that requires lots of interaction with other people.

4. Learn problem solving- If you are given expectations, you know what is asked of you and you can take the initiative to identify problems in the workplace and solve them instantly.

5. Having a summer job is a good way to learn about networking- Hold on to your network by staying in touch with the people you work with after the summer.

6. Look beyond the immediate- Understand that what you do may seem routine, but to the certain company, its key.

7. Recognize the skills your job is giving you- Look at the most complex tasks you have accomplished and understand what it says about you and to what extent you are able to perform.

8. Develop good habits- Learn about being punctual.

9. Go even deeper- If you had a summer job in the past, work at getting even more skills that are complex than you did the previous summer.

10. Because work can be stressful at times, chill out- Managing that stress can be accomplished by exercising and deep breathing.

11. Get Real- Summer jobs are an opportunity to get a realistic expectation of the workplace and to understand that nothing is perfect.

12. Get personal at your workplace- A summer job can create a chance to develop interpersonal skills in a diverse environment.

13. Once you finish your job at summers end, take notes of the skills you acquire, specifically what skills you have honed and which new skills you have developed- Walk away from your job at the end of the summer with better ideas of what your skills are and what you are good at.


http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Your-Summer-Job-to-Acquire-Skills-to-Advance-Your-Possible-Career

Summer Job Blitz

Some Summer Job search links

Check these out for the latest summer job postings

Job Connect-http://www.loyalistc.on.ca/jobconnect/posting/SummerPostings.aspx

Quinte Student Jobs- http://www.quintestudentjobs.blogspot.com/

Job Bank- http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/intro-eng.aspx

Go Jobs - http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/Jobs.aspx

For more Summer job postings visit The Career Centre in room 2H3

Summer Job Blitz

How to apply for a summer job

1.Begin your search early
Don't wait until school gets out; if you do, you will be facing a lot of competition. Start your search at least a couple of weeks before school breaks for the summer.


2.Have an up-to-date resume ready A resume simply lists your career objective, relevant experience and education information, along with skills or qualifications that make you a suitable candidate for the job. You can learn how to write a resume that will attract the attention of an employer online.

3. Do a thorough search
In order to get summer work you need to look in many different directions. Look through your local classified section in the newspaper, pay attention when you are out running errands for "help wanted" signs posted, and search online using keywords that will narrow your search down to your city and state.

4. Apply during slow times of the day
If you are applying for a restaurant job, it's best not to visit during peak hours when management staff may be busy. Submit your resume and application during times when there is a lull in business, when you may be able to speak with the person responsible for hiring.

5. Follow instructions in the job ad
If you find a job advertisement online or in the newspaper, pay attention to specific instructions. If the ad states certain hours of the day to submit your application, that is when you should take it in.

6. Be persistent
Employers tend to hire those individuals who show a real interest for the job. After submitting your application and resume, follow up. Wait for a few days, then call the person responsible for hiring. When you are in the area, drop by to check on the status of your application. By simply dropping off your application and never contacting the hiring manager again, your chances of landing the job decrease substantially.

7. Present yourself in a professional manner
Most employers will be turned off by applicants who show up dressed in a sloppy manner, or who have tattoos and piercings all over their bodies. Cover up tattoos, remove piercings and dress in a conservative manner. You want to look neat, clean and polished in order to make a good impression.

When applying for a summer job, always be polite and speak clearly. Those who show enthusiasm for the position and follow up frequently usually land the job.


http://www.sampleresume.net/How-to-Apply-for-a-Summer-Job.html

Summer Job Blitz

How do you keep your job search moving forward this summer?

Here are 5 tips to heat up your job search:

1) Capitalize on Seasonal Events: Summer is a terrific time to network. Using personal and social gatherings to let people know you are looking is an excellent strategy.

2) Keep a Job Search Schedule: Yes, it's summer, but don't be lulled into laziness. Even if it is just an hour a day, put structure in place to keep you going.

3) Build a Network: Form a group of like-minded job seekers to keep your summer job search on track.

4) Take Stock of Your Resume and Skills: Summer is the perfect time to assess and update your resume and skills.

5) Get Outside: Warm weather is the prime time for outdoor home improvement projects, and by helping your neighbors you can help your career at the same time. While you're helping that neighbor, you can share that you're job hunting and tap into someone else's network.

When it comes to your job search, you can use the summer months to find an ideal career fit. Your time and effort can reap big rewards and even land you a new job before autumn.

http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/resume-writing-tips/sizzling-summer-job-search-tips/article.aspx

Summer Job Blitz

Are you looking for a summer job?

If you plan on working over the summer, now is the time to start looking for your summer job!

Many employers have already started recruiting for their summer positions. Don't wait until it is too late. Get ahead of the game and start applying now!

Freelance Friday

Branding Yourself

If you’re not a designer yourself, invest the money in someone who knows what they are doing as the difference is immeasurable and the impact of looking professional can make the crucial difference when your potential client hasn’t yet had the chance to know you by your quality of work.

When it comes to your website, make sure you get a domain name that is:
1.Easy to remember. Really long domains can be confusing, as can ones with odd acronyms or letters in them

2.Easy to spell. If you have to say your web or email address over the phone it’s always better if you don’t have to say it letter by letter with things like dashes or underscores mixed in.

3.Appropriately descriptive. A name that says something or ties in with your name or business name is best. Its easy to remember and immediately identifies you
Make no mistake, having a website and particularly a domain name is essential. Freelancing off a hotmail account just does not come across as professional or serious and impressions count.

When it comes to building your website, there are a few key pieces of information that must be on there, they are:

1.An introduction of some sort – usually just a statement is best
2.Your services, or else how will anyone know what you do?
3.Examples of your previous work
4.Contact details

http://freelanceswitch.com/start/a-comprehensive-guide-to-starting-your-freelance-career/

Tip of the Day

Career Success Tips

Set Goals
The formation of achievable targets is key to increasing career motivation and, upon accomplishment of these goals, furthering career success.The employee should set out a career plan, detailing milestones which are to be achieved within certain timescales. This plan should be updated and monitored regularly.

Expand your Network of Friends
Employees seeking success in their career should endeavour to have a broad social network of colleagues, who will support the employee whilst also providing challenges to ensure that the best is being achieved at all times.The employee should seek not only to broaden his or her social network, but maintain ties with current associates, so that a wide range of qualities can be called upon if required during the lifespan of the career.

Find a Mentor and also mentor somebody
The employee should identify a person within the same industry from whom advice and guidance can be sought, as well as assistance in times of need.As well as seeking a mentor, employees looking to further their career should become a mentor themselves, in doing so building a reputation whilst proving to those in higher authority that management skills are possessed.

http://www.suite101.com/content/top-tips-for-career-success-a201803

Work Abroad Wednesday

Looking for jobs abroad can be done via the Internet

You can contact employment agencies local to the country or even town you’re hoping to head for, you can contact agencies specialising in international recruitment, you can contact agencies specialising in recruiting for the work you’re hoping to secure.

Additionally you can often get hold of newspapers from all over the world on the Internet – and jobs are often advertised therein – or the final option open to you is directly targeting potential employers with an application for employment.

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/ten-working-abroad-tips

Tip of the Day

Reflect on your Likes and Dislikes, Needs and Wants

Change is a factor of life; everybody changes, as do our likes and dislikes. Something we loved doing two years ago may now give us displeasure. So always take time to reflect on the things in your life -- not just in your job -- that you feel most strongly about.

Make a two-column list of your major likes and dislikes. Then use this list to examine your current job and career path. If your job and career still fall mostly in the like column, then you know you are still on the right path; however, if your job activities fall mostly in the dislike column, now is the time to begin examining new jobs and new careers.

Finally, take the time to really think about what it is you want or need from your work, from your career. Are you looking to make a difference in the world? To be famous? To become financially independent? To effect change? Take the time to understand the motives that drive your sense of success and happiness.

http://www.quintcareers.com/career_planning_tips.html

Mentoring Monday

Know your goals

As a mentee, you need to be in the driver's seat of your mentoring relationships-not in the passenger seat while your mentor makes all the important choices about your career. To have that control, you need to do a personal inventory and know your career goals. You need to be able to articulate where you would like to go over the next period of your career and beyond and share what passions you have for a particular research field. Once you've articulated your goals clearly, your mentor will be better able to advise and guide you on possible steps and opportunities.

By knowing your goals, you will be in control of the path that you choose to take-and are more likely to be satisfied with your career decisions.

http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2009_08_14/caredit.a0900101
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Freelance Friday

Tips to keep your freelance business running while your on vacation

1.Work in Advance
For a freelancer, going on vacation is doubly expensive. Not only do you have to fork out on flights, accommodation and spending money like everybody else, you have to account for the money you’re not making while you’re away. If you want to maintain a steady income, spread extra work out over the weeks prior to your departure.

2.Choose Your Dates Carefully
An obvious one, but very important nonetheless–make sure you book your vacation for a time when you have relatively little work to do. If you have seasonal downtime in your industry, identifying the best time for a vacation is easy. If you don’t, try and line up your trip to coincide with the completion of several big projects.

3.Inform All Clients
There’s no use just sticking an Out of Office auto-reply into your email the night before you go away. An auto-reply is essential, sure, but you need to inform your clients well in advance of your departure. Important clients should be informed personally–don’t be scared, they’ll understand. Make sure they know that you’re contactable in an emergency. A short message should be added to your email signature, months before you leave, to inform everybody else.

4.Prepare Email Responses
Whether or not you intend to work while on vacation, you need to be sure that you still have jobs coming in while you’re away, to do on your return. To save time, you should prepare some canned responses for any potential new clients that might get in touch. Something like–I’m traveling until the 25th December, but I’d love to take a closer look at this on my return, please send over all the details and I’ll contact you as soon as I get back.

5.Outsource
If you really can’t fit all the work you need to do into the weeks prior to your vacation, consider outsourcing it to a trusted colleague. You might lose money in the short-term, but they’re bound to send work your way when they go on holiday themselves. Furthermore, it’s better to take on work offered by a client and give it somebody else you trust than it is to turn it down. Turn a client away once and you might never hear from them again.

http://freelancefolder.com/15-tips-to-keep-your-freelance-business-going-while-on-vacation/

Tip of the Day

Career Building tips

Always have an up to date copy of your resume
It’s easier to keep your resume current if you add new skills, projects and achievements to it as you go along. This is a good starting point for your career planning as it helps you to review your career path so far, and provides an at a glance picture of where you are at the moment.

Keep copies of job descriptions, appraisals and reviews, work objectives etc
These will provide the nuts and bolts of your career planning, and you can look back over them to see how you have changed and developed from job to job, and year to year.

Gather evidence of your achievements and times when you have done a job particularly well and received positive feedback
This may be letters or emails from your boss or colleagues praising your work, sales or budget figures, or samples of work you have produced. Not only will this boost your confidence and remind you of your successes, you will have these examples at your fingertips in interviews.

Start collecting copies of job ads that interest you
Even if your longer term goal is to stay within your current company, this will help you to identify the kinds of roles that attract you, and you can start to build up a picture of the skills and qualities you’ll need for those roles.

Think about what motivates and demotivates you
What you like and dislike doing. Try to analyse your strengths and weaknesses, in terms of your skills, qualities and experience –be as objective as possible, and base this on third party feedback where you can. Write all this down, and review it periodically– your motivation and strengths and weaknesses can change, particularly if you are aware of them and take steps to address them.

Set yourself objectives in relation to what you want to achieve, and make sure these are SMART
For example, if your long term goal is to become Managing Director, which could take you ten years, you need to break this down into smaller chunks so that you can see that you are moving closer to this goal. So you might set a medium term goal of gaining two years’ middle management experience, or a short term goal of attending a leadership training programme within the next two months.

http://www.aboutcareereducation.com/pages/practical-building.php

Work Abroad Wednesday

Working abroad after college

Finding Work Abroad that Pays
Most bachelor’s degrees come at a steep price, leaving many graduates with hefty school loans to pay back. If you have financial obligations that make it necessary to find paying work abroad, consider the following suggestions:

Join the Peace Corps. Volunteers are provided with a modest living stipend and receive a transition allowance at the end of their service. They can also defer payment of their school loans and may qualify for a 15 percent cancellation of their outstanding balance for each year of service.

Do freelance work If you have experience where work is often contracted, consider marketing yourself as a freelancer. Extensive research in finding employers will pay off with a flexible schedule that allows for travel.

Plan on Changing Your Plan
Plans sometimes go your way but they can change in the snap of a finger, make sure you have a back up plan.


http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0411/how_to_work_after_college.shtml

Freelance Friday

Tips to make working with customers easier so that your freelance business can run smoothly

Choose your customers wisely-There are just some customers that aren’t worth your time. They may have great jobs and great opportunities but if the stress they cause you is unbearable, it’s not worth it. Don’t be so picky that you don’t have any customers but be okay with sometimes admitting that a certain customer isn’t right for you. It

Let the customer be right-Even when the customer is wrong, the customer is right. This doesn’t mean that you let him or her walk all over you but that you’re polite and understanding. A bad reputation can do more damage to your freelance career than you can imagine so you want to make it easy for the customer to like you.

Set appropriate boundaries-The customer might be right but that doesn’t mean they get to control you. Set certain work hours for email and answering phone calls and let your customers know that you’ll be working with them only during those times.

Be creative-Often what causes difficulties in relating with customer is the fact that many people are stuck in the same old model of customer-contractor relations. Break out of the mold, be yourself and be genuinely interested in forming creative relationships.

Get to know your customers-You don’t need to mix business and pleasure but knowing a little bit about your customers can help you to feel more comfortable interacting with them. You’ll like your job more and they’ll like you more.

http://www.allfreelance.com/freelancing_blog/2007/07/02/working-with-customers-as-a-freelancer/

Tip of the Day

Career Advancement tips

Ask for more-Volunteering to help out other departments or teams — or simply asking for more responsibilities — increases your value within the organization. Asking for additional work shows an interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed.

Sharpen your people skills-Strong interpersonal skills play a crucial role in gaining the respect of your boss and coworkers; they will also attract the notice of outside influencers who might open new doors of opportunity for you. Be friendly, outgoing, and personable. Listen carefully to people, and practice being a clear and effective communicator.

Be innovative-Never be afraid to think outside of the box and put your business ideas to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you — and your boss — look good.

Find a mentor-Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside the company. Recent studies have shown that four out of five promotions are influenced by a mentor higher up in the company. Mentors are also great sources of information and career guidance.

Sell yourself-Learn the fine art of self-promotion. If you have had major accomplishments or created successful programs, make sure people know about it — especially those in influential positions who could help you advance professionally.

Keep learning-A proven way to advance in your career is to be continually acquiring new knowledge. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current résumé reflects those needed skills.

http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/careers-career-development/11128-1.html

Freelance Friday

Freelancing while working full time ( Moonlighting)

Keep a Time / Activity LogIf you are going to work a full time job and keep up a productive freelance business, then keeping a time and activity log is essential. With an activity log, you will be able to identify black holes in your schedule that can be turned into productive work time.

Create a Daily ScheduleNow that you have eliminated your time wasters, you should know how much time you have available to you every day. In order to stay on top of your work, it is a good idea to write down everything that needs to be accomplished on a daily basis. Write these activities down by priority level and set a time limit for each task.

Eat While You Work or at Least Skip Eating OutTaking the time to go out to eat is a huge waste of time that could be spent getting your work done.I suggest taking 20-30 minutes to eat your lunch and then utilize the second 30 minutes to get some work done.

Utilize What You Have on HandNot everyone has access to the Internet or even a computer at their full time job. If this is the case for you, then don’t worry. I am sure there are other things that need to get done that don’t require a computer. Taking the time to brainstorm how you are going to go about your client’s project is always a great way to spend your time. This might include sketching down ideas or using mind mapping strategies.

Utilize Your DowntimeIf your job has downtime periods, then by all means take advantage of this free time. If you employer allows you to use the Internet during downtimes, then you are lucky and should take advantage of this for your productivity.

Avoid DistractionsThings such as the Internet, email, phone calls, TV, and friends are distractions from your work. You will need to let them know that things are busy right now and that you will give them a call when your workload lessens. As for the Internet, email, phone calls, and TV, we all know that these are all time-user-uppers. Try to only check your personal emails once or twice a day.

http://www.allfreelance.com/freelancing_blog/2009/01/11/getting-started-freelancing-while-keeping-full-time-work-position/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freelanceblog2+%28Freelance+Blog+2%29

Tip of the Day

The Star Approach to interviewing

Situation
Describe the situation in a concise and informative manner. The problem or situation could be from an education, employment, sport or volunteer situation.

Task
Explain your role. were you working on your own? were you a supervisor? working as a member of a team? what did you need to do in order to resolve the problem?

Action
What was the action you undertook? what skills did you use to resolve the situation? Did you use any skills you had learned during your training? things you learned from school?

Result
What was the result? was everyone happy? Did it result in any change? Were there any further conflicts? What was the feedback from supervisors and colleagues on how you handled the situation? What did you learn from the situation? Would you do anything differently if faced with a similar situation again?

Loyalist College Career Centre

Work Abroad Wednesday

Tips to get a job Abroad

As a college student what did you usually do during summer? Are you spending it on the beach with your family or friends? why not try something unique, memorable and worthy? Working abroad during summer is the best time to do it. Work abroad is a great way to travel great places, learn languages and new culture aside from earning. This is a great opportunity to develop your personality, being more confident, self-reliant and independent; and a great opportunity as well to explore the world while earning. If you think you can manage working abroad despite the possible risks considering the following is important.

■Proper place to stay—this is very important. If you think you don’t have the proper place to stay don’t risk it.

■Payment details—try to find out how will you get paid and how are you going to pay the taxes. Working abroad as a foreign student doesn’t mean you are exempted in paying the taxes. Because wherever you go whatever places you visit or work with, you are accountable to pay for your taxes.

■Look for someone to travel with—if you think you can’t travel alone because you are scared of some unexpected happenings, traveling with someone.


http://www.workexperienceabroad.com/blog/index.php/work-abroad-tips/work-experience-abroad-during-summer/

Tip of the Day

Interview while dining tips

What to WearDress professionally for your dinner interview, just as you would for an interview in the office. The venue has changed, but you are still interviewing for a job and it's important to make a good impression.

Mind Your MannersPlease and thank you go a long way in making a good impression. That means thanking the host or hostess who seats you, the waitstaff, and your host. Follow up with a thank you note to the interviewer which reiterates your interest in the job.

Remember Your Table MannersRemember what you mom told you about not chewing and talking at the same time, keeping your elbows off the table, and sitting up straight? Table manners are important when you're dining with a prospective employer. Don't be too casual and do pay attention to good table manners.

Engage in a ConversationDining interviews aren't one sided. They are an opportunity for the interviewer to get to know you and vice versa. It's important to be engaged in a conversation with the interviewer and whomever else is there. As well as responding to questions about yourself, ask questions, and carry on a conversation. The more comfortable and relaxed everyone is, the better chance you have of moving to the next round.

To Drink or Not to DrinkThere are two schools of thought when it comes to alcohol and interviewing. The first is that it is important to not drink and to keep your wits about you. The other is that it could be awkward if the interviewer orders a bottle of wine and everyone at the table, other than you, has a glass. Of course, if you don't drink alcohol there is absolutely no need to drink just because the host is drinking. If you choose to drink alcohol, don't have more than a glass of wine or so and be very careful to stay focused on the conversation.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviews/qt/intervieweat.htm
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Mentoring Monday

Benefits Of Being A mentor

Make a Positive Impact. Working with a protege allows mentors the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the professional development of less experienced employees. It’s a win/win situation that will enhance both the individuals involved and the organization to which they belong.

Shape the Future. By volunteering to serve as a mentor, you are helping to shape the future. Your suggestions and ideas will have a lasting and broad impact when shared with a protege.

Refine Interpersonal Skills. Mentors will be challenged to develop their own interpersonal skills while working with proteges. Skills such as communication, employee motivation, and human relations will be enhanced. Those with experience as a mentor will be more valuable to their organizations.

Set Goals. By helping another employee establish and achieve meaningful and challenging goals, mentors themselves will learn the skills and value of effective goal setting techniques.

Personal Contact. Mentors relate on a personal level in what is sometimes a large and impersonal organization. Mentors add valuable personal contributions that serve to enrich the work environment of their fellow employees.

Gain Career Perspective. Mentors will gain perspective on their own goals and performance. Mentors will also be able to measure their own achievements and contributions made to their organization.

http://www.usphsengineers.org/Mentoring/mentorinfo.htm#benefits
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Freelance Friday

Brand yourself

One of the first things you will need to do as a freelancer is decide on a brand for yourself. It might be your name or something more grand. Whatever it is you will need a business identity to work under and for clients to know you as.

Along with your new name you will need a logo, business cards and a website. Remember that you are now a business and all your materials need to be polished and professional. It’s nice to be personal, but don’t let your hobbies, rants or photos into the picture, particularly on your website.

If you’re not a designer yourself, invest the money in someone who knows what they are doing as the difference is immeasurable and the impact of looking professional can make the crucial difference when your potential client hasn’t yet had the chance to know you by your quality of work.

http://freelanceswitch.com/start/a-comprehensive-guide-to-starting-your-freelance-career/
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Tip of the Day

Practice Interviewing

Taking the time to review typical interview questions you will probably be asked during a job interview will help give you a framework for your responses and will help calm your nerves, because you won't be scrambling for an answer while you're in the interview hot seat. Practice interviewing with a friend or family member ahead of time and it will be much easier when you're actually in a job interview.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviews/tp/jobinterviewtips.htm
http://www.google.ca/imgres?

Work abroad Wednesday

Coping With Culture Shock

Many people who travel or live overseas experience what is commonly referred to as “culture shock.” Although its intensity varies from one individual to another, most people experience a period of adjustment.

During the first stage, often described as the "honeymoon," most encounters are perceived as exciting and positive. But in the second stage, known as "culture shock," foreigners feel a sense of dislocation and general unease. Symptoms include:

•feelings of anger, discomfort, confusion, frustration or irritability and loss of a sense of humour;
•withdrawal, spending excessive amounts of time alone, spending time only With other foreigners and avoiding contact with locals;
•negative feelings about the people and culture of the host country;
•compulsive eating and drinking or a need for excessive amounts of sleep; and
•boredom, fatigue and an inability to concentrate or work effectively.
During the third and final stage, called "adjustment," foreigners start to accept their new surroundings and make a compromise between the “honeymoon” and “culture shock” phases.

To cope with culture shock, learn to recognize its symptoms.

Also be aware that you might experience “reverse culture shock” after living abroad. Be prepared for a period of readjustment when you return Back Home.

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/abroad_a-letranger/culture-shock_choc-culturel-eng.asp
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Tip of the Day

Look for work options that allow you to use your natural way of Working

Identify and find work activities that are engaging and satisfying. For example, are you at your best when you are creating, organizing, serving customers, researching, solving problems, convincing others, or coordinating people or resources? make sure you are having fun and look forward to going to work everyday.

http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/10-tips-for-finding-your-ideal-career/
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Mentoring Monday

Tips for Finding a good mentor

•Research the field and find out about the people who are in it.
•Create a list of people who seem like good fits for you.
•Start contacting them slowly at first - a polite and formal email, for example - and see who responds.
•Try to form a relationship, and get to know their personalities even as you try to exhibit yours. Like so many other things, when you find the right mentor, you'll know it.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/careeradviceresources/a/career-mentor.htm
http://www.google.ca/imgres

Freelance Friday

Work on your computer skills


You must be able to work independently and meet project deadlines to successful at freelancing and to actually make money online from it. You are the boss in this job and show your skills and qualifications that you have. For doing these jobs, all that you need to have a little bit knowledge about computers and the Internet. And for some jobs it is a little bit high like operating systems and software skills.

This computer literacy will decide what freelance job categories you are qualified for. You can join to number of job sites to bid for freelance jobs to make money online. Lots of web sites are offering these services for free of cost, once you win a bid and accept the project; you need to pay few dollars that you can pay for monthly or yearly basis.

http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/freelance-jobs-the-best-tips-to-make-money-online-1612954.html

Tip of the Day

Dressing for a job interview

In addition to following the general rules for dressing for work,this advice may help when preparing for a job interview:

•Adhere to the employer's dress code: find out whether it's formal (suit and tie) or casual by asking around or by observing employees arriving for work.

•Dress slightly better than you would if you were an employee. For example, if the dress code is very casual, you should take it up a notch.

•Cover up tattoos and remove body jewelry until you know whether they are acceptable at that particular workplace.

http://careerplanning.about.com/cs/dressingforwork/a/dress_success.htm

Work Abroad Wednesday

Consider your Finances

Think about the financial aspect of moving abroad very seriously. Even if you have a job lined up for when you arrive or you intend to bum around and don’t care if you earn all that much, you will have an initial outlay at least for accommodation. So you will need some money behind you before you even leave home and what’s more, you should always have a little in reserve for a flight home in case it doesn’t work out and you don’t like living and working overseas.

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/ten-working-abroad-tips

Tip of the Day

Gather Evidence of your Achievements

Always try and gather information of Times when you have done a job particularly well and received positive feedback. This may be letters or emails from your boss or colleagues praising your work, sales or budget figures, or samples of work you have produced.
Not only will this boost your confidence and remind you of your successes, you will have these examples at your fingertips in interviews, or in that all important appraisal when you want to impress your boss.

http://www.aboutcareereducation.com/pages/practical-building.php

Mentoring Monday

Make your Mentoring relationship meaningful

1. Define your relationship together, including how often and how long you will meet.

2. Respect your mentor's time. Don't call him or her with questions. Except for unusual situations that cannot wait, save it for your scheduled meeting.

3. Stay organized to make the most of your sessions. Keep a notebook binder with the following categories: Mentor Questions, My Action Plan, Mentor Notes/Emails, Items for Discussion and Meeting Notes.

4. If you are given an assignment, get it done on time and ready to present in a professional way.

5. Be early for meetings. If you can afford it, pay for any meals or beverages served during your meeting. Even if your mentor is Bill Gates, don't expect your mentor to pick up the check.

6. Be open minded. You may get feedback you do not like. Take it in the spirit given.

7. Share your appreciation. Your mentor is giving up precious time and sharing valuable knowledge with you. Offer to help them in return. Occasional babysitting or helping with research are just some examples.

http://www.seekingsuccess.com/articles/art154.php

Freelance Friday

Put in more than 40 hours/week

Sometimes you will have weeks with nothing to do and then you will get slammed with three or four projects at once.

Projects never come when you want or need them too. They invariable come at the most inopportune time (eg, when your kid is sick, when YOU’RE sick, two days before vacation, on a Friday afternoon and needed by Monday).

Just know, while your time may be your own, it will be on an unconventional schedule.


http://www.designersmind.com/articles/freelancing-success-tips/

Tip of the Day

Prepare in Advance for an interview

Prepare a response so you are ready for the question "What do you know about our company. Know the interviewer's name and use it during the job interview. If you're not sure of the name, call and ask prior to the interview. Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions.

http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/interviews/a/jobinterviewtip.htm

Work Abroad Wednesday

Check your Skills

If you have the kind of skills and experience that will guarantee full-time employment throughout the world, you may want to think about choosing a country where your talents are specifically in demand. This could lead to a fast-tracked application, an increased salary and more benefits. Being valued in this way will also do wonders for your self-esteem!

http://www.ssw-working-abroad.com/working-abroad-tips/default.aspx

Tip of the Day

The importance of business cards

Business Cards can sometimes be almost as valuable as your resume when it comes to tools available to you in your job search, and are not very hard to make or as expensive as you think to buy. You should always have some handy, becuase you never know when they will come in handy, they are small and can easily be stored in your wallet or pocket.

http://gisjobs.ca/gis_career_tips_and_advice.php

Mentoring Monday

Tips on how to find a good mentor

1.Research the field and find out about the people who are in it.

2.Create a list of people who seem like good fits with you.

3.Start contacting them slowly at first - a polite and formal email, for example - and see who responds.

4.Try to form a relationship, and get to know their personalities even as you try to exhibit yours. Like so many other things, when you find the right mentor, you'll know it.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/careeradviceresources/a/career-mentor.htm

Freelance Friday

Maintain your time limitations

It is very important to follow time limitations when given tasks to do. Submit your work to clients within the given time duration. By doing this clients learn to trust you and you can become a more relaible freelancer. Plan ahead, in order to have enough time to complete tasks on time.

http://www.saching.com/Articles/Tips-to-Start-Freelance-Career-1577.html

Tip of the Day

Always keep your skills sharp

Education is expensive, but don’t forget that over the long run, the lack of crucial knowledge or experience can cause you to loose your job. Given the speed at which today’s increasingly technology-fueled world operates and evolves the best practices change daily.

Keeping one’s skill set current is vital, with the greatest rewards and highest chances of success accruing to those who invest in their own continuing education. “You should be constantly focused on spending your time becoming more well-informed and capable, and therefore of greater worth to any given enterprise.”

http://www.digitaltrends.com/guides/2010-career-building-tips/

Work Abroad Wednesday

10 Tips to working abroad

1. The first thing you need to do is decide where you want to go and work!

2. Then pick the region or even town or city that you want to base yourself in.

3. With a nation and a location in mind you have to think about getting a work permit or residency visa.

4. With the country, the city and the paperwork sorted it’s time to think about actually working abroad and the capacity in which you are hoping to be employed.

5. Looking for jobs abroad can be done via the Internet – you can contact employment agencies local to the country or even town you’re hoping to head for, you can contact agencies specialising in international recruitment, you can contact agencies specialising in recruiting for the work you’re hoping to secure.

6. Another top tip is thinking about whether you know people who live abroad.

7. If you want to travel and work abroad, consider getting a qualification or gaining skills in an area of employment that is portable.

8. If you have a particular skill or area of expertise and you’re not sure where in the world you want to work abroad, try and find out where your skills or areas of expertise are most in demand.

9. Think about the financial aspect of moving abroad very seriously.

10. And finally – even before you go and certainly when you’re on the road travelling overseas, remember to network actively! It’s not what you know in life but who you know!

http://www.shelteroffshore.com/index.php/living/more/ten-working-abroad-tips

Tip of the day

Always make sure you are Prepared

Your dream job might come around tomorrow, make sure you are prepared when it does.

Don't wait around. Update your resume now, and continue to update it regularly.

Tomorrow your dream job may show up. Prepare for it with a professional resume and be ready to describe yourself as a valuable object to anyone that will try to recruit you.

http://www.w3schools.com/cert/career_tips.asp

Mentoring Monday

Finding the right Career Mentor

If you are looking to change your career, it may be in your best intrest to get a mentor in your career field of choice. A mentor should be able to help you through the difficulties that come with a career change. They may also be able to help you with contacts, job leads and other career advice. Finding a mentor is not a difficult process, but you should be wise when chosing your mentor.

Choose a well-established person. If your mentor is deeply rooted in their career, the more help they will be able to give you. Look for senior people within companies in your chosen career field through workshops, seminars and professional associations.

Once you have found a mentor, meet with them weekly for a set period of time. Don't bother your mentor outside that period. Respect their time.

http://www.kellyservices.ca/web/ca/services/en/pages/tip_sep09_finding_mentor.html

Freelance Friday

Examining yourself is a must

After deciding your career as a freelancer, do a in depth analysis of your skills and knowledge. Make sure to study the market carefully. Develop your skills based on your research. By doing this you come to know your position in today's market. make sure you have the edge to beat the competitor.

http://www.saching.com/Articles/Tips-to-Start-Freelance-Career-1577.html

Tip of the day

Build your reputation

In business, your reputation is the most valuable thing you can own. make it known that you cna be dependable, professional, and cooperative. Act and look the part by dressing professionally. Make a name for yourself by attending conferences and delivering speeches.

http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/careers-career-development/11128-1.html