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