How to Develop an Online Blog No Matter Your Job Title - The Muse

How to Develop an Online Blog No Matter Your Job Title - The MuseHow to Develop an Online Blog No Matter Your Job Title Creating an online blog today is easier than ever for people outside of the design or product world. Weve partnered with Squarespace to show you how its done. Remember to use code THEMUSE17 to get 10% off your first purchase when creating your own personal website.We understand that if you arent a writer, designer or photographer, launching a blog can be daunting. Especially when it comes to that first, most pressing question what do I put on it?But trust us on this one, you do have the skills necessary to whip up a blog.And thats important because its a great way to bolster your personal brand and set yourself up as an authority in your industry (no matter what industry that is). Blogging also provides recruiters- and just about anyone else youd like to know professionally- a glimpse into your personality.Here are some ideas to make your blog happen once and for a ll.Marketers Market Yourself By Showcasing Your absatzwirtschaft SkillsWhat it shows outside of your resume We want to know that youre a connector and clear communicator.You dont have to be a writer Marketing is a wide umbrella that covers a range of different roles and skills which is why you may be tempted to do it all on your blog. Instead, try to focus on a key aspect of your experience or create content that represents where you see yourself going in your career. If you are interested in lead generation, you can share opinions on the latest analytics tools using a format that highlights the pros and cons of each. If PR is your trade, get into the habit of posting any new learnings you find during events or conferences that you plan to apply to your current role.Your blog could look like thisMarketing is all about looking good, right? Because of that we recommend strong visuals that tie to the blog post titles. If your post is discussing the best conferences for marketing profes sionals, use an image from that conference To keep your page cohesive, think about using photos that have colors within the same palette. For example, love the muted look? Try to stick to pastels or washed out photos.Food and Hospitality Workers Put Your Photos Where Your Food IsWhat it shows outside of your resume Instead of bullet points listing your work experience, why not get your reader drooling over your creative recipes or past travels?You dont have to be a writer When it comes to a food or hospitality blog, strong images are key. An effective blog for a chef will be driven by food photos that take presentation into account. The colors and textures of dishes, as well as, how food is plated can set you apart from the rest. While you dont want to give away all of your secrets, its a good idea to offer cooking tips so readers remain engaged. It could even be as simple as a post on the five ingredients you always buy from the farmers market and how you like to use them.In the ho spitality business, you can focus behind-the-scenes information that reveals how the service industry runs smoothly. Travel sites are a dime a dozen, but if you have a unique perspective on making your way around a new destination, wow your audience with some unique insider tips. Or try sharing a review of a favorite hotel and details on an itinerary in the region.Your blog could look like thisAs we mentioned, images are gold for food and travel blogs. Thats why we love a blog format that places the photos front, center and full scale.Accountants Use Words to To Show Youre Good With Numbers (Really)What it shows outside of your resume If you deal with numbers, chances are youve been asked to simplify your findings for colleagues in other departments. Your blog can really shine by offering financial analysis in an easy-to-understand way, demonstrating you have the know-how to communicate with anyone.You dont have to be a writer An accountant might consider creating a post in a timeli ne format, breaking down a list of mobile apps (from travel to grocery shopping) you rely on throughout the day to monitor your budget and save money. Another post we are dying to see clever or surprising ways to reduce monthly bills. You can use free tools online, like Canva, to add simple charts and graphs that illustrate your advice. Alternatively, you can tailor content to a specific niche you have a good track record in. Have you had wild success repaying your student loans? Share that wisdom with the world fr tip schedule your financial advice with seasonal headaches like graduation or tax time for an SEO boost.Your blog could look like thisIf you dont have time to create custom images for your posts, dont fret This kind of layout is for you. Salespeople Close The Deal with Your ReadersWhat it shows outside of your resume Show us the money Your blog is all about how you tick as a sales machine.You dont have to be a writer Jump into the blogging world by sharing some of your tr ied-and-true sales tactics. Whats your favorite networking technique? Do you have a fool-proof plan for getting high-level executives to respond to your LinkedIn messages? How do you go about following up on a lead? Whether youve discovered a great way to strike up an engaging phone conversation or never fail to close a deal over a dinner meeting, your blog is the place to organize your experience. You may even want to show off your presentation skills by crafting your advice on slides and embedding them into your blog with tools like Slideshare.Your blog could look like thisThis layout from Ally Behnke puts your freshest face forward. Sales - at its core - is winning over people with a first impression. Why not bring that same approach to your blog? Put a professional portrait on your homepage and a short biography to let readers know your background.With a clear strategy and thoughtful posts, theres no reason why your blog cant land you the the career opportunity of your dreams.

How to Make Big Career Decisions With No Regret - The Muse

How to Make Big Career Decisions With No Regret - The MuseHow to Make Big Career Decisions With No Regret What makes big decisions so hard? As a decision coach, I see many people struggle with tough choices, because they really, really want to have no regrets. While Ive never met anyone who felt they got it right 100% of the time, going back to the basics can help you get clear on what you want and feel better about moving forward. Here are five simple strategies Ive learned for lessening the odds that youll look back and wish you did it differently. 1. Youve Got to Collect All the InformationThe first step is research. If you make a decision without the proper information- like joining a company without learning what the culture is really like- youre setting yourself up for disappointment later on when you learn something that wouldve made a difference. Putting the time in on the front end means fewer chances for regret down the line. You dont want to be thinking, If only Id checked out the website more closely or I shouldve asked that in my interview You want to be thinking, I did my research and made the best decision I could.2. Youve Got to Chill OutMaking a choice is stressful by nature, but doing it from a place of calm consideration lowers your chance of making the wrong one. Thats because the calmer you are, the less likely you are to make a hasty, emotional decision.Try to get into a relaxed state of mind, remove any stressors- including people- from the room, and think through your decision with a clear head and an open mind. Dont rush, dont freak out instead, take deep breaths and think about the facts. If youre not in the right state, ask yourself if you have to weigh your vorkaufsrechts right then, or if you can wait until a better time (i.e., sleeping on it usually helps).3. Youve Got to Know All the OptionsA client recently asked me to help her think through a big, cross-country move. Her husband had a job offer with a higher salary in the new lo cation and while they loved where they were, they were struggling financially in an expensive city. I pointed out that her options werent simply to take the job or to stay and continue to barely make ends meet. There were other ways she could change her situation her husband could ask for a raise, she could look for part-time work, or they could downsize their house. Dont leave any option unexplored, no matter how unlikely it seems You want to know the full range of choices and not limit yourself to two.4. Youve Got to Keep a ListInstead of just going through the pros and cons in your head, write them out in list form. Its not just a matter of clarifying important points and picking a side. Keeping the list will help you minimize regret, because if you start to second-guess yourself later on, youll have evidence for why you made the decision you did. Sometimes, a simple reminder that your choice was based on concrete factors and the best information you had at the time- and wasnt ju st made on a whim- can help re-configure your thinking so you feel better about the path you took.5. Youve Got to Keep Things in PerspectiveThis is important both during decision-making and afterwards. We often get so caught up in finding the best option that it consumes us. Reminding yourself that things are going to be OK no matter which choice you make- which is true fruchtwein of the time- puts you in the right mindset for a regret-free decision. Youre not perfect- and thats OK, no one is. Sometimes, we choose badly, or circumstances beyond our control mean that a decision we made wasnt the right one. Regret is usually unproductive and pointless, and although that doesnt help when you feel like you made a huge mistake, the less time you spend dwelling on what could have been, the better. If all else fails, try to channel that regret into something useful. Making a poor decision prepares you for better decision making in the future. Analyze what went wrong, refine your process, a nd move forward.Photo of person reflecting courtesy of alvarez/Getty Images.

This natural pink chocolate is about to be available in the U.S.

This natural pink chocolate is about to be available in the U.S.This natural pink chocolate is about to be available in the U.S.If milk, white, or dark chocolate wasnt for you, theres another coming to the United States - an all-natural pink.Two years after unveiling the discovery abroad, Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut will introduce US and Canadian consumers to its ruby chocolate, silky-smooth new chocolate derived from ruby cocoa beans.The new chocolate is the first new shade to hit the market since Nestle introduced white bars in the 1930s.Courtesy of Barry CallebautBarry Callebaut said the new chocolate is unlike any other, which was discovered in 2017. Its a new taste experience that features a sweet and sour taste, rather than just strictly being bitter, milky, or sweet.As for the pink appearance, its all natural and no added colors or flavorings were added to the unique sweet. Ruby cocoa beans can be found in Ecuador, Brazil and Ivory Coast.Barry Callebaut told The Was hington Post that the pink chocolate is available in more than 40 countries. The company is working with the Food and Drug Administration to be able to label to treat as chocolate.For now, it will be called ruby couverture.There have been variations of pink chocolate both in the US and around the world. Nestle infused ruby chocolate in its Ruby Kit Kat bars in Japan. Some US retailers like Target and Trader Joes have sold variations this year.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

8 Ways to Research a Profession Before Changing Careers

8 Ways to Research a Profession Before Changing Careers8 Ways to Research a Profession Before Changing Careers One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a career changer is to tischset your intention on a specific profession without properly researching it first. You too might have met people who went to graduate school (and sometimes borrowed a lot of money to do so) only to discover after graduation what their chosen profession was really like, or professionals who burnt out so badly at their job that they ended up leaving their career, only to rush into another one that is equally unfulfilling. This is why I cannot stress enough the importance of researching a possible new career before taking the leap. While nothing is 100 percent guaranteed, you can definitely hedge your bets by taking the following steps to research potential professions.In the past, people tended to be trained a lot mora on the job, and college degrees were relatively affordable. Nowada ys, however, companies expect individuals to bear the cost of their own training, and the price tag on college education has soared. This means that often, even the fruchtwein entry-level jobs require job seekers - and especially career changers - to invest significant time and money in learning new skills. But before you make that type of commitment in the hopes of changing careers, why not trying things out as inexpensively as possible?Lets say, for example, that you are thinking of project management as a possible new career. You can look for an introductory course on Coursera, Udemy or Lynda.com, and if you really enjoy it, only then look into longer and more expensive programs.Remember, you are not taking the inexpensive course to get a degree or become an expert. You want just enough information to choose whether to pursue it further.You can tell a lot by reading industry-specific blogs and books. Do you find them interesting? Do you enjoy learning more and more about the most important trends and topics within the profession? This step will also help you come up with more interesting questions to ask during your informational interviews no need to ask for what you can easily read up on. Use the time you get with a fellow human being to dig into the least understood aspects of a possible career.You can meet lots of people in your field of interest by joining facebook inc groups or going to live events that have a specific professional focus. What do these professionals talk about? What are their concerns? How friendly are they? How welcoming are they of newbies? Pay attention to whether you relate to their way of communicating, how you feel when interacting and whether the conversations and content tend to be mostly solution or problem-focused. Its up to you to make these spaces work for you.A few tips when joining a Facebook group, introduce yourself and then observe things for a while. Do not ask random and very general questions such as, Shoul d I freelance? Nobody in the group knows you well enough to give you that kind of advice. Instead, keep your eyes open for interesting people you can approach for an informational interview .When at a live event, take some time to say hello to fellow attendees. Often, we think the speakers are the only interesting people present, when in reality, the most amazing connections can happen just by turning to the person sitting next to you. Notice again how you like the general vibe does it feel open, welcoming? Do you like the topics and conversations? These can all be clues as to whether you would enjoy being part of the community. Remember, a career is not just the skills you use at work, but also the way you relate to your colleagues, and they to you.Its also important to get a sense of what experience people usually have before they get a foot in the door, or any other indication of how your present skills and job experience/education fare compared to others in the industry. Does e veryone you see working in your chosen profession have a graduate degree? Are there a lot of career changers?Some industries and professions are more open than others. For example, the tech industry tends to be more results-oriented than other fields, partly because of necessity, as technology is evolving so fast that new professions are created before traditional colleges can establish programs to teach the new skills. Additionally, there are usually no legal requirements to join its ranks. Some professions, on the other hand, are more tightly regulated and require specific degrees and licenses. So make sure to find out what is mandated by law vs. what is at the discretion of employers before investing in a new career.No one can tell you more than the people working in the field. The reality of working in a specific profession is often not what the media portrays, or as you imagine it to be. For example, many people go into the arts because they like creativity and aesthetics, wi thout realizing that many artists are self-employed. As a working artist, you will have to learn how to negotiate fees, find clients, market your work and do business. In other words, a lot of what professional artists do is marketing and business development, so you better be open to learning these skillsWhatever profession you are thinking of entering, it is imperative you talk to 10 people who are in that same profession. Why 10? Because thats enough people to notice some consistent trends in their answers (e.g. lack of work-life balance). One word of caution informational interviews need to be set up and conducted right in order to give you the inside information you need. So make sure to avoid these common mistakes and set yourself up for success.Sometimes, we focus so much on negotiating skills that we forget that profession and industry are the two most important factors in the amount of money we can get paid. Sure, there are actors who make millions of dollars per year - but we all know the vast majority of actors are underpaid. On the other hand, even junior-level positions for some professions can be very well compensated. For example, UX Designers and Software Engineers can start their careers at salaries much higher than average.Estimating your earning potential is very important, especially if you have specific financial goals in mind, or you are considering taking out loans to go back to school. If you borrow way too much compared to what you can realistically expect to make after graduation, you risk setting yourself up for failure in the long run. Glassdoor is one of the top resources online to research salary ranges, and I highly recommend you spend plenty of time researching their database. Tip always research profession and location - salaries can vary a lot from city to cityAnother reason to spend time on Glassdoor is to browse their anonymous employee reviews they can tell you a lot about a company and the culture they are buildi ng. Pick a few different companies in your area and see if you can find reviews from people who have the profession you are thinking of entering. See if you notice specific recurring complaints or positive comments. Look for insights into the way people interact with each other, work-life balance, etc. While a lot depends on specific teams and organizations, you might notice recurring issues across different companies, indicating more systemic issues within the profession or industry. You can then dig a little deeper during your informational interviews.And last, but not least, each city has its own ecosystem of opportunities. Whether you are open to moving or set to stay, make sure to look up data on each city you are considering living in their most vibrant industries, biggest employers, median income and cost of living. Check also whether state, local governments or organizations offer programs to enter the workforce, learn new skills or support entrepreneurship. Vermont, for exa mple, is offering grants to remote workers who relocate there, and Newburgh Heights, Ohio, helps you pay back your student loans.If you take time to work through each of the steps above, you will have a much better idea of what any specific profession is really like the skills you get to use, industry-specific trends, the way people relate to each other, openness to career changers and more. Work through this process, and what you want to do will appear clearer and clearer until the right next step appears. Happy journeyingAurora Meneghello is a Los Angeles-based career coach and the founder of Repurpose Your Purpose . She works with groups and individuals who want to change careers.

The Most Incredibly Overlooked Solution for Building a Resume

The Most Incredibly Overlooked Solution for Building a Resume After you have your online resume prepared to go, dont be scared to share it Your resume needs to be professional, but it doesnt have to be boring. Too many resumes are very wordy and difficult to follow. Go straight for whats pertinent to you. The Awful Secret of Building a Resume Having a plan will allow you to breathe easier... because now youve got direction and understand what you desire Group bullets according to tense, therefore it does not look as a mistake. Even if youre sending your resume to a business in the identical segment, the particular person who will read it for the very first time may not have any technical expertise. If youre sending a resume to a company, it needs to be a given that youre obtainable for an interview and you will provide references if requested. A simple resume template is going to be your very best bet. You are likely to love our work. Making certain your categories are well organized is a fast means to help set you in the yes pile and keep you from the trash pile. For almost whatever you want to include on a resume, theres a category to help organize it. The incorrect hire can send things spinning, while the best one can totally transform their enterprise. Speaking of unique, the most important target of your resume is to make you stick out from the remainder of the folks applying for equal job and another means to create that happen is to use action verbs and power words (also called resume verbs). However tempting it may be to stretch the truth, lying on your resume is always a poor idea. 1 day it can be the very same in the US but as of now there is truly no indication of change coming soon. The Most Popular Building a Resume Writing the ideal food service resume objective or summary can be challenging. Building a resume isnt a task you are able to leave up to option. Writing is a present that comes naturally. Creating your resume is vit al. If your work involves social media, you can incorporate the links to other social networking accounts including Twitter, Instagram, and so on. The ideal resume layout also is contingent on the organization and role youre pursuing. If you have a look at resume building as a step-by-step procedure, it is going to be a lot easier to do and not as overwhelming. Developing a resume when youre a first-time worker can be challenging. The most essential part of an internship resume is making sure the abilities and experience you do have, although you might be very early in your career, are great for the job which you need to do. The objective of a resume is to find an interview, but a lot of people dont understand what employers are interested in. As a consequence, such students start looking for the best essay help to make certain that their project is going to be produced at the maximal level in accord with all academic standards. The sole exception would be if youre changin g careers and dont have work experience in the new field. Why Almost Everything Youve Learned About Building a Resume Is Wrong Next, you should avoid resume mistakes which make recruiters angry. Part time jobs can likewise be included. For health related jobs, you are able to look for related job sites that are exclusively catering to the individuals that are interested in finding work in the health sector. Actually there are various methods to present your resume to a brand-new job opening. The point is to not only underline the skills you have that are related to the job that youre applying to, but in addition provide your possible employer with a chronological record of the jobs youve held before. Whether you are searching for your very first job or seeking to earn a career change, the method starts with your resume. The process for finding new customers shouldnt be radically different from locating a job. The Building a Resume Trap The very first think that has to be o n your resume is your contact details. You do not have to be concerned about your personal details that may be viewed, as we handle the matter on a safe network. Even better, youre likely to learn to compose such food service resume yourself. So its always preferable to be extra cautious when picking out a website. Ok, I Think I Understand Building a Resume, Now Tell Me About Building a Resume Who knew essay writing might be so tough. Theres a great chance it wont include all the keywords set out in the work description. Usually, your latest job should take up the largest space on the webpage. Well, a part of software analyzes your resume for sure key phrases and provides you a score based how well your resume matches a predetermined collection of keywords chosen by the business youre interviewing with. Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that will allow you to get your fantasy job. The task ought to be fun and a learning process in regards to p reparing your first resume. There can be a number of talents and skills you may list on your resume, but you have to make certain your resume is focused. Create a master resume that will get the job done for a variety of positions.

How Social Media Can and Should Change Your Recruiting Process - Spark Hire

How Social Media Can and Should Change Your Recruiting Process - Spark HireSocial media has changed the way we communicate, land new clients, and find out about new products. Additionally, its also changed the way we find new talent. In order to find the best fit for an open position within your organization, embrace social media and use it to enhance your recruiting efforts. Here are some ways to do this most effectivelyPost open positions where your candidates are spending their timeIf you want the most desirable candidates to find out about your open position, deutsche bundespost the listing in a spot where theyll see it. This could be Twitter or LinkedIn, or it may be on an industry-specific job board. This greatly increases your chances of catching the eye of top-tier talent.Make sure your recruiting efforts are mobile friendlyPeople are becoming increasingly dependent on their smartphones, so you want to make sure that youre reaching them in this way too, and not just through l aptops or desktops. Your companys website should look great when loaded on a tablet or a smartphone, and you may also want to consider creating an app if it makes sense for your business. If a person has to pinch and scroll to try to load your businesss site on their phone, theyll probably think twice about going through the trouble of finding the job listing.Embrace non-traditional interview methodsYou should embrace technology that makes interviewing easier, particularly when it allows you to reach a broader scope of candidates. Video interviewing, for example, enables you to chat with professionals from all over the country without having to fly them in to talk. You can also have these people pre-record their answers so you can still hear from them even if schedules dont line up due to scheduling conflicts or time zone issues. As an employer, this is a huge perk. Youre no longer forced to find a person within your city or state to fill the job. You truly can search the world to f ind the most talented individual to fill an open position.Give a peek into your companys cultureCandidates today are interested in the behind the scenes at a company. Beyond the salary and vacation time, whats it actually like to come into work each day? Use social media to give some insight into your company culture. This can help to draw a potential employee in, especially if they see that your values truly align with their own.How do you use social media to help with your recruiting efforts? Let us know in the commentsImage Twin design/BigStock.com