Friday, May 29, 2020

Unemployment Insurance Dancing with the Devil

Unemployment Insurance â€" Dancing with the Devil I have a lot of opinions on unemployment insurance (UI). I went through the process from start to finish while looking for my job. I worried that the state would cut off my UI, or after-the-fact would do an investigation and want me to pay some of it back. I wasnt doing anything wrong but, hello, were dealing with a system that is broken, and many people abuse it, and I think there is little fairness or recourse for state misconduct. Its scary. Its humiliating and humbling. For me and my family, it was necessary to carry us through. A long-time reader has recently lost their job after just a couple of months (and before that, a long bout with unemployment). Heres a question from her: I was let go (fired) because of unsatisfactory work performance according to the employer. I am trying to fill out the unemployment form asking my side of why I was let go. I am wondering what I can put on the form that is the truth, but will help me get unemployment. When I was hired my boss told me I might need to work a few extra hours a few days a month. I was there 55-60 hr every week and still couldnt get everything done that they wanted. The expectations were too high. The company went in and fired everyone in another location and sent us boxes of stuff that was far from organized. They expected us to figure everything out in a few days, which is very hard since this other branch did things their way and didnt have organized files. I was told when I started that it takes 3-5 months to figure out what you are doing and they let me go after 2 1/2 months. I am a hard worker and willing to put in overtime, but this definitely wasnt a good fit. What do I write on the unemployment form, so that I can get some money for a few months until I can land another job? Ill have my biased thoughts on UI later how would YOU handle this problem? Unemployment Insurance â€" Dancing with the Devil I have a lot of opinions on unemployment insurance (UI). I went through the process from start to finish while looking for my job. I worried that the state would cut off my UI, or after-the-fact would do an investigation and want me to pay some of it back. I wasnt doing anything wrong but, hello, were dealing with a system that is broken, and many people abuse it, and I think there is little fairness or recourse for state misconduct. Its scary. Its humiliating and humbling. For me and my family, it was necessary to carry us through. A long-time reader has recently lost their job after just a couple of months (and before that, a long bout with unemployment). Heres a question from her: I was let go (fired) because of unsatisfactory work performance according to the employer. I am trying to fill out the unemployment form asking my side of why I was let go. I am wondering what I can put on the form that is the truth, but will help me get unemployment. When I was hired my boss told me I might need to work a few extra hours a few days a month. I was there 55-60 hr every week and still couldnt get everything done that they wanted. The expectations were too high. The company went in and fired everyone in another location and sent us boxes of stuff that was far from organized. They expected us to figure everything out in a few days, which is very hard since this other branch did things their way and didnt have organized files. I was told when I started that it takes 3-5 months to figure out what you are doing and they let me go after 2 1/2 months. I am a hard worker and willing to put in overtime, but this definitely wasnt a good fit. What do I write on the unemployment form, so that I can get some money for a few months until I can land another job? Ill have my biased thoughts on UI later how would YOU handle this problem?

Monday, May 25, 2020

Career Progression How To Work Out The Right Path For You

Career Progression How To Work Out The Right Path For You When it comes to careers, things can get complicated. Not only do you feel like you have to figure out what you want to do in life at a very young age, but you also have to keep on working at it as you grow. Sometimes, you know exactly what you want to do when you’re a child. Whether you’ve got big dreams or you’re following the family business, things can seem easy. But, if you’ve never really known what you want to do in life, you can feel a little lost. As hard as it can seem, you can pick yourself up and figure out the right career path for you. Even if you’re part way through a career and already in the working world, you can still change your mind and find a career path that feels right for you. So, to help you figure out your options and the path that you’d like to follow, take a look at these points, and you should find it all that little bit clearer. Go To Your Passions First things first, you’re going to want to start with something easy. When you start trying to work out what career is right for you, it can seem a little overwhelming, so it’s best to ease in gently. Think about your passions. What do you love? What drives you? If you write everything down that you’re passionate about, you can start to see yourself a lot better. Then, you stand a much better chance of working out what it is you want to do in your career. Play To Your Strengths Then, you’re going to want to take a look at your strengths. It might not be as easy to work out as the things that you’re passionate about, so you might want to try researching online or reading up on how to discover what your strengths are. By considering your strengths, you’re able to work out what you’re good at, and that could be a big indicator for a career option. Image Source Consider Your Options Now it’s time to combine both of those. When you work out what you love and what you’re good at, you can cut out a lot of bad career choices and start to home in on the ones that just might work for you. If you’re in college, you can often use your major to determine the career options you have. And if you’re still trying to work out what your major will be, you can let your interests and strengths guide you. Overall, you want this stage to point you in a starting direction. Research, Research, Research At this point, it’s likely that you’ll know exactly what career you’re interested in, or at the very least have a few solid options. When you feel almost certain, you need to research whether that’s one career path or multiple. It’s a good way to test your choice and weed out unsuitable alternatives that you might be considering. Doing research with not only allow you to discover the career’s full potential but also determine whether it is right for you. Image Source Plan Prepare Then, you’re going to want to get your study on. Some career paths can be highly competitive, so it’s always a good idea to work on bettering your chances as soon as you can. You might want to read the news in your chosen field to stay up to date with the sector, intern or even start a blog in the area to give yourself an edge. Regardless of what you decide to do, make sure you start early and add your efforts to your resume. Ask Questions Then, you’re going to want to ask questions. You’ll never know what your chosen career path is really like until you get there, but you can try to find out more in a range of different ways. Meeting people in the industry is one of them. Try to have a coffee with someone you admire and pick their brains. Most people will be happy to help you. You might even want to find a mentor so that you can stay on track while on your career path. Image Source Be Prepared As you start to research and ask questions, you’ll find a lot of information floods into your brain. It can seem overwhelming, but you’ve come a long way, and you’re probably itching to get on the ladder now. But first, you’re going to want to work out the logistics and be prepared. Does the job require a lot of travel? Is it likely that you’re going to need to relocate? If that’s the case, do some research using sites like Roomhere to find the cost of living in different areas, just to make sure you know what to expect. Get To Know Yourself At this stage, you’re probably sure on your decision. But, now that you know a lot more about the job and what it involves, you’re going to want to get to know yourself a whole lot better. You might think that discovering your strengths and identifying your passions is enough, but it’s not. Make more time for yourself and really delve deep. What are your weaknesses? What makes you sad? How do you cope with stress? What are your priorities in life? When you ask these questions, you’ll know in your heart whether your choice is right. Think Ahead Then, when you’re sure, you need to plan ahead. Take a look at the entire career path available to you. Use the information you got from people in the industry, research and internships to help you plan. You might start out at one point, but what you want to know is where you’ll end up and what you need to do to get there. You could do this as you go, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to get caught up in day-to-day life and forget about that end point. Image Source Make Goals After you’ve figured out your end goal and have a loose idea of the checkpoints along the way, you’re going to want to make some career goals. They don’t have to be set in stone, but when you have some idea of where you want to be, and how you’re going to get there, you’ll have a better chance of making it happen. Title Image Source

Friday, May 22, 2020

How To Really Lose Weight

How To Really Lose Weight For those of you that do not know, I used to be overweight.  Even worse, I had high blood pressure and high cholesterol ever since I was 13 years old.  I struggled with my weight for years and tried every diet, every shake, every wrap, every thing!  I was desperate to lose weight. When I finally lost all the weight 3 years ago, I posted a picture of myself in a bikini on Facebook (I was a bit more adventurous and daring in those day).  The questions starting rolling in: How did you lose all that weight? What special kind of diet were you on? Whats your secret? Well, ladies, Ive decided to reveal how I managed to lose weight and keep it off.  Hold on to your hats because the method may surprise you.  Are you ready? Here is my secret: I ate healthier and exercised more. WHAT?! Thats all? Yes, its true.  Not only that, its the best way to lose weight, maintain your weight, and be healthy.  If you ask any reputable personal trainer or nutritionist, they will all say the exact same thing. But what about those cleanses? My friends moms brothers teachers second cousin twice removed said she lost a ton of weight by doing XYZ cleanse! Ive tried cleanses before and yes, they do help you lose weight (which is a no-brainer because all youre consuming is a bunch of liquid with very low calories).  BUT, what happens when you stop your cleanse and go back to eating regular food? Yep, you guessed it.  You gain all of your weight back and maybe a few extra pounds.  Plus, do you really want to go the rest of your life only consuming some sort of liquid for each meal? What about those wrap things I keep seeing on my Facebook feed? No matter what anyone tells you, wraps only do one thing: help you get rid of excess water in your body.  Thats all.  As a result, you drop a few pounds, but, keep in mind, that its only water weight.  If you really want to burn fat, you have to increase your metabolism and lower your calorie intake.  Slapping on a wrap and waiting an hour before you remove it will not increase your metabolism. What about weight loss pills? Same concept as above.  You cant expect to take a pill and watch your pounds melt away.  You have to actively burn your pounds away. My point is, its very easy for us to be attracted to those lose weight FAST! programs and products.  I mean, who wouldnt want to lose X amount of pounds in a week?  But like anything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The old-fashioned way of losing weight takes more time and effort than all of the lose weight FAST! methods.  This is the main reason why so many people opt for faster and more extreme ways to lose weight, like wraps and cleanses.  But what would you rather do: take longer to lose weight and maintain it for the rest of your life (and consequently, practice healthy fitness and eating habits) or lose weight in a very short amount of time and end up gaining it all back (and then some)? So, if you want to lose a few pounds for whatever reason, its simple: decrease your daily caloric intake and increase your metabolism.  You can easily do that by: -Stop eating foods with high calories and replace them with foods with lower calories (aka quit eating junk food) -Start (and stick to) an exercise regimen. -Make sure you drink enough water. -Stay active take the stairs, park your car further, take stretching breaks every 30 minutes when youre sitting at your desk, etc. Remember, dont fall into the trap of fast weight loss schemes.  Do it the right and healthy way!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

3 Ways to Be a Marketable College Grad - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

3 Ways to Be a Marketable College Grad - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Trying to set yourself apart in the entry-level job market can be a challenge. Although the number of jobs are increasing, employers are still looking for talented candidates with in-demand skills. Are you a college student wanting to go above and beyond the rest? Here are some tips for students who want to be marketable college grads: Multiple Internships College students who want to truly want to stand out will make sure they have several internships on their resume. Internship experience connects to personal branding because it provides the foundation for what makes you an ideal entry-level job candidate. If you can learn in-demand skills during your internship, this will provide you with something unique for your personal brand and make you a marketable candidate. Employers are looking for entry-level candidates who already have industry experience. By building up your resume with a variety internship experience, you will be ahead of the game. Most college grads already have one or two internships on their resume â€" but if you can have three or four solid internships â€" employers will automatically put you at the top of their list of potential candidates. These internships will give you the extra push in the job market and contribute to your personal brand. Personal Brand Employers want to know what makes you unique as well as your marketable skills. Students who want to be marketable college grads can build their brand through a blog or personal website. This will allow you to add something to your portfolio that showcases your personality and experience to recruiters and employers. However, this can be hard to do for college students in their first year of school. If youre only a freshman or sophomore in college, you may not know what kind of career you want. When beginning your personal brand as a college student, start building it around a hobby you are passionate about. This will be one of the easiest ways to find inspiration for your personal brand. For example, lets say you enjoy baseball. Start up a blog about your experience going to games and your favorite players. As you develop your brand, evolve your blogging into news and opinion pieces focusing on the latest trends in baseball. After having a few internships in sports communication under your belt , you are able to provide industry advice in your blog. By the time you graduate college, you will be known as the passionate, baseball-loving college grad ready to work in sports communication. Online Presence Type your name into Google and see what pops up. Do Facebook photos from last weekend’s party appear or does your professional photo on your LinkedIn profile show up? It’s common sense what to post on the internet, but many college students aren’t concerned about their online presence until they graduate college. Hopefully, there won’t be much damage control you have to do, but make sure everything you have online is clean and professional. It’s time for college students to start thinking about how they  want to be perceived online. No matter what field you are going into, recruiters and employers are going to search for you to discover what your online reputation is. If college students can provide a strong and positive online presence, including social media profiles and online portfolios that portray their brand, recruiters will be impressed and most likely contact you for an interview. If you do these things, you will have a leg up on your competition. You can’t just apply for jobs during your last semester of college; you have to put some effort into it. By having valuable experience, a strong online presence, and a strong personal brand, you will be a marketable college grad and land a job after graduation. What are your tips for college students who want to be marketable in the entry-level job market? Author: Heather R. Huhman  is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder president of  Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for job search and human resources technologies. She is also the instructor of  Find Me A Job: How To Score A Job Before Your Friends, author of  Lies, Damned Lies Internships  (2011) and  #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle  (2010), and writes career and recruiting advice for  numerous outlets.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

6 key things to remember when doing internships abroad

6 key things to remember when doing internships abroad Internships. Theyre a roller-coaster ride in themselves. But internships abroad? Thats a whole other story. Its all the fun that comes with preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime. Then, the added dynamic of being miles away from home and, more often than not, learning another language. All that being said, it can be quite difficult to stay, well sane during when living and working abroad. Its a huge adjustment and there are several thing you need to keep in mind before taking the plunge. Its okay though. Many have cracked the abroad life before you and many will crack it after. All you need to do to make sure everything goes swimmingly is remember these golden rules. Keep on top of the admin The thing about internships abroad is they often require a ton of paperwork. Some youll do at home where its easy. Some youll do in a strange place where you dont speak the language and has different cultures. Theres nothing like getting a French council building with the intent to hand some forms in, only to find they still have two hours of lunch break. Best to be organised. Know which forms youll need before you go.Then once youre there, figure out exactly who needs to sign them and what the deadlines are. Get serious Seems silly to have to say, but its not. Upon moving to a foreign country for the first time, you will have the honeymoon period. And it doesnt matter how much work you do, you will feel like youre on holiday for about a month. Dont you believe your sick lies. Youve come out to whatever country youre in because youve got a job to do. While you should have fun and make the most of being in a new place, remember that fact and dont let it interfere with your work. Take the initiative How about that? Turns out internships abroad are just like internships at home in some ways. Particularly in that employers love people who take the initiative. Ordinarily, people who create their own space in the workplace and stay busy/productive are desirable. Thats universal. But doing so in a place where youre not at home? Even better, it shows that you understand the culture and youre attuned enough to the country as to feel comfortable in the company. And speaking of Nail the target language Just do it, guys. Take it from me, you can get by in a foreign country with a tenuous grasp on the language. But to truly unlock all the potential for working and social relationships, you have to actively try and improve your language skills. Hell, if youre interning somewhere as part of a Modern Languages Year Abroad or Erasmus exchange, thats literally the whole reason youre there. So say yes to native-speaking buddies and extra classes if you need them. Explore all the time Yeah, youre there to work. But this is an opportunity like no other; one that you may not get again. Be sure to take time and explore the country youre in as much as you can when youre not working. Take a train somewhere on the weekend, try out a restaurant youve never seen before. Its easy to settle into a routine but harder to get out of one. Before you know it, your internship abroad is over and you havent done anything youll remember for the rest of your life. Dont make that mistake. Keep in touch The worst, the absolute WORST thing you can do on internships abroad is not keep in touch with the people you met. Keeping the people who showed you the way in mind after you leave shows compassion and might lead to a future opportunity abroad. But never mind making contacts. These colleagues  might be some of the best people you ever meet. And that will enrich your life in a way thats way more important than any internship. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Summary Sunday Things You Should Know About Job Search

Summary Sunday Things You Should Know About Job Search Things You Should Know About Job Search The world we live and work in continues to change. Keeping up with these changes can be overwhelming and time consuming, but thats what I love to do, so relax. This roundup of posts should shed some light on things you should know about todays job search (and career) trends. Things You Should Know About Job Search JOB SEARCH What LinkedIn Data Reveals About Who Will Help You Get Your Next Job by Vivian Giang | Fast Company Here are some highlights from the article: 40%  of (or two of every five) newly hired people were referred to their new employer by one of the company’s employees. People are more likely to be referred for jobs by their second ­ and third ­ degree LinkedIn connections Unsurprisingly, the data concluded that as job-hoppers got closer to their start date, they added more first-degree connections, which is likely from interviews and active networking, says Berger. Still, only 18% had first-degree connections one month before starting their new job, which means that people are getting jobs through their second and third degree connectionsâ€"people who might know you through someone else, but probably don’t have an intimate knowledge of working directly with you. NETWORKING Networking. The “Hidden” Job Market by Denise Anne Taylor |  CAREERMEDIC Here are actions you can take to get the inside scoop on upcoming opportunities. No one said it would be easy, but it is definitely do-able! INTERVIEWING Massachusetts Makes Asking About Salary History a Thing of the Past by Alison Green | US News World Report On Careers Fingers crossed this catches on! FYI, there are some ideas on what to say if you are asked what you previously made! CAREER 5 Signs It’s Time To Ask For A Raise by Jenny Che  | Huffington Post Dont hold back from asking for a raise. If you do it right, the worse that will happen is nothing.

Friday, May 8, 2020

What Is A Prophretium Experience For Resume Writing?

What Is A Prophretium Experience For Resume Writing?For most graduates, it is a good idea to get a preceptorship experience for resume writing for the soon-to-be professor. The hiring manager may ask you to write a letter of recommendation that will support their hiring decision. By including the time you spent teaching, you can convince the hiring manager that you are very responsible. However, it is important that you do not include all of your responsibilities, as some preceptorship experiences can be too personal to include in your resume.First, there should be no mention of how much money you made as a result of this letter. This means no mention of 'full-time'part-time' income. Additionally, it does not matter how well you performed, unless it is tied to your performance of your responsibilities. You should not mention the number of students who took one of your classes, unless you are able to provide personal records to prove your effectiveness in class.For all other informati on, it is best to include some specifics. Whether it is the time spent in your own home, classes taught by your faculty, or times spent working on a team, those specifics should be included. For example, if you spent six months working with children, this information should be included. However, if the main goal was to teach meditation and yoga, this information should be included.A preceptorship experience for resume writing is sometimes used to express an interest in working with students. It can also be used to say that the person is ideal for the job. It can be said that this person has a lot of things to offer. As long as the specific responsibilities are covered, you can go forward with this wording. On the other hand, if you are still undecided as to what preceptorship experience for resume writing really means, it is best to discuss it with a person that knows you well.A preceptorship experience for resume writing is not the same as being a trainee or something similar. It c an mean that you have a lot of responsibilities to keep track of. For example, if you are responsible for supervising other staff members, you have preceptorship experience. Therefore, the time commitment involved can easily be portrayed as a number or time devoted to each preceptorship. In this instance, it is best to do a little research to see what exactly is required.This is a term that can be used in many different situations. Some examples are: conducting data analysis, providing curriculum and information standards, and facilitating cross-disciplinary relationships. This can be used in teaching, research, assessment, and more.A preceptorship experience for resume writing may be less defined than for other areas of education. However, it can be a good indicator of a good fit. When these things are included, it will help you get that higher paying position.Many prospective professors find this term helpful when they write a faculty cover letter. It can be difficult to write you r own because of the specifics that can be difficult to put into words. Having a document to show that you were in this situation before can be a valuable tool. You can't make this up but, it can help the hiring manager know that you are a competent person.