How to get on the front page of Google Check out Vizibility.net

How to get on the front page of Google Check out Vizibility.net I met the Vizibility guys at the last career conference I went to, in Baltimore.  At first I saw their product and thought really, thats it? It was enough, though.  There were a lot of career coaches and resume writers who were really excited about them. I got two demos of their software and I can say, its something to check out. I recommend you go to Vizibility.com and sign up on their free level, and take advantage of their simple yet effective way to show the search results you want when someone wants more information on you. The problem? Controlling what people see when they google your name. The solution? A free account on Vizibility lets you determine what people see (kind of if they go through a link you create). I like it.  Its simple, easy, free. An alternative is to blog daily for a few weeks or months and claim your place on Google, but this 5 minute solution will be more practical for most of you. Im still a huge advocate of blogging, though :p Heres the page for you on this page, bottom right, you can see the login for their demo account to play around with it. How to get on the front page of Google Check out Vizibility.net I met the Vizibility guys at the last career conference I went to, in Baltimore.  At first I saw their product and thought really, thats it? It was enough, though.  There were a lot of career coaches and resume writers who were really excited about them. I got two demos of their software and I can say, its something to check out. I recommend you go to Vizibility.com and sign up on their free level, and take advantage of their simple yet effective way to show the search results you want when someone wants more information on you. The problem? Controlling what people see when they google your name. The solution? A free account on Vizibility lets you determine what people see (kind of if they go through a link you create). I like it.  Its simple, easy, free. An alternative is to blog daily for a few weeks or months and claim your place on Google, but this 5 minute solution will be more practical for most of you. Im still a huge advocate of blogging, though :p Heres the page for you on this page, bottom right, you can see the login for their demo account to play around with it.

Creative entrepreneurship 101 University of Manchester Careers Blog

Creative entrepreneurship 101 University of Manchester Careers Blog Thanks to Andrea Michael for her presentation at This is it Manchester event. In the creative industries theatre, publishing, art, music, gaming and creative IT roles, film TV, journalism, social and cultural enterprises to name but a few, its not  uncommon to be self-employed or freelance for at least a  part of your career. Before launching yourself on an unsuspecting world think about yourself and your product and do a bit of research. Know yourself What do you want your life to be as a freelancer? What is your measure of success? Is it money, being published, getting your work into a gallery?? What do you need vs what do you want? What will you sacrifice? What is the minimum you can survive on? What makes a difference to your lifestyle? Know your specialisms and transferable skills Know what you are passionate about BUT also what you are good at. The skills of a successful entrepreneur Tenacity, committment, adaptability, enthusiasm, survival instinct, self belief, curiosity, self-sufficiency, and some business and admin skills will be handy too. Make contacts Recommendations are key in self employment. Its not just about knowing your stuff and being good at it you need to get work. Other people have work and if you want to hear about it you need to be on their radar. In the public sector jobs are advertised and its a pretty formal process but you still might need someone to give you the heads up! For privately funded organisations anything goes, they can give the work to whoever they want to so be the person they want! Networking is just having a chat its not always formal. Be nice and try to offer win-win situations, what can you offer someone what they need in exchange for something you need? Be someone everyone wants to work with be indispensable, word will get around. Promoting yourself What are you offering? What is your unique selling point? How will you be perceived? Who are you similar to? Be consistent and be confident Who is your market? Where do they live, shop, work? What do they spend money on? Do they want you and do you want them? Who else could you target? Understand your worth, value, costs, prices. Understand how to market to them, is it social media, advertising, flyers, websites? You should now be able to write a short bio. Imagine it on your website / album cover / book sleeve does it sell you? The good stuff about self employment You can do what you Be your own boss Be  involved in a variety of  exciting and interesting projects Work when you want to There is no such thing as failure, only learning. . and the not so good No stability Its not a get rich quick scheme.No pensions or paid holidays. How will you fund yourself? Loneliness.   Find a local network or group to join eg CING Creative Industries Networking Group in Manchester Antisocial hours and the danger of becoming a workaholic. Other people perceptions can be negative, disparaging or belittling of what you do. Getting funding for your project Funding via Creative skillset for creative industries including TV film. Ideas tap funding opportunities Ideas tap funding resources Crowdfunding Get enough people to supply a small amount of money and you could get your venture off the ground. More support: Advice from us on self employment and business start-up The thriving creative blog Advice on starting a business from HMRC See also blog post on Getting work in the creative industries All Media Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted career planning careers employability entrepreneurship freelance Getting started self employment

Happy New Year! Happy New . . . YOU!

Happy New Year! Happy New . . . YOU! Now, are you ready?  Ready to start creating the next version of yourself?  The idea of New Year goals is probably either exciting, or raises your not again eyebrows.  Because most of us either have had repeated success at setting and achieving them in the past, or failed often enough to forever quit. If youre in the latter group, rolled your eyes, and are still here, youre obviously hanging onto the hope that there just must be something youve been doing wrong.  And that can be pretty frustrating.  After all, youve been on the planet long enough to have figured this out, right? But what if I told you its more about perspective than the actual goal?  What if you could re-frame your outlook and feel and see success much more often?  Here are three ways to do that.  And you wont have to wait until December 31, 2017 to give yourself a big pat on the back! Forget I Can Be Happy When . . . In case you havent noticed, you dont live in the future.  You live right here, right now.  Not six months from now. Not when you get that promotion or new car or new house.  And not even when youve moved to that paradise youve been dreaming about. While all of those things may in reality turn out to be wonderful,  you cant experience that wonderfulness in the present.  So if youve attached being happy to that future time, youre cheating yourself out of being happy now.  Or at least cut your portion of happiness down to a morsel so small youre going to be starved of satisfaction. So make plans. Dream.  Dream big.  And go for it.  But remember to look around you right now.  In all likelihood, youre living in a moment that you once dreamed about and said, I can be happy when . . .  Be grateful, be happy, for what you have and who you are and where you are right now. Life Isnt Static One of the easiest mistakes to make when setting goals is failing to remember that life is not static.  The world is going to be different tomorrow and next month.  And so will you.   So binding yourself to the notion that your goals are set in stone is not only unrealistic, its likely to leave you frustrated. Instead, be like the navigator on a huge ocean liner.  Know where youre headed.  Be prepared to make adjustments as the currents and weather change. Every little while, make course adjustments.  And even be open to the possibility that unforeseen circumstances may lead you to changing your destination completely.   Why continue sailing to a port that no longer serves your highest aspirations? Celebrate Along The Way Putting your head down and getting to the work at hand is great.  But it can make for a very exhausting and unrewarding journey from where you are to where you want to be.  So remember to take regular assessments of your progress.  Look back to the distance youve come, and reward yourself. Keep a constant perspective of where you are in relation to both your  starting point and your goal.  Its not only okay, its beneficial to give yourself a pat on the back for what youve accomplished.  If you have a hard time with that, consider it like tasting little samples of the gourmet feast youre in the process of preparing.  Youll find it actually is a source of excitement and propels you forward. Use these tips when putting your New Year goals together.  When next December 31 rolls around, youll be able to celebrate not only where you are, but the journey that brought you there. . Image credits. Main.     Progress.  Navigation.  

APPLE dominating the Tech War In Academic World

APPLE dominating the Tech War In Academic World A decade ago, electronics and cell phones in the classroom were considered little more than a distraction. Today, new devices such as tablet computers and smartphones are changing this perception. Educators are finding innovative ways to supplement their lectures with the newest technology, and students are beginning to see their devices as essential components of their college experience. Naturally, major device manufacturers are now battling for dominance in the field. Below, OpenColleges.edu.au explore how Apple is winning the battle for education technology and what gives them the edge over the sizable competition in the market. According to Apple, the iPad is its primary device for education, claiming that sales to educators are doubling the number of Macs the company sells to the same market. [cb type=company]Apple[/cb] 0

How to Build a Successful Career by Building your Personality

How to Build a Successful Career by Building your Personality When we talk about building successful careers, we normally indulge in topics that have been done to death. The same run of the mill advices like going along with your passion, taking initiative, setting goals, educational development among others continue to be thrown at us all the time but are these guidelines enough to guarantee success in your life as an individual?Photo Creditâ€" jeevansehgal.comProbably yes, but that doesn’t mean they are the only things that you have to do in order to becoming successful. There are a lot of other things that weigh a lot more on the scale of your career more than just taking initiatives.When we talk about career development and success, we forget the assess the impact of the personality on your chances to make it big while it is the single most important factor in determining where you end up in your life and your career as an individual.evalCredibility, trust and adaptability, these words are not just relevant to be associated with businesse s but they are equally synonymous with success for the individual as well.Personality development is highly important for female tech geeks looking to make formidable careers for themselves. Here are some great ways to build a successful career by making a paradigm shift in your personality!1. Brand yourself as an individualNothing can undermine the importance of personal branding in today’s world where competition is getting fiercer every single day. When you begin your career, you are delving into the world not only as an employee, freelancer or entrepreneur, you are entering into it as a personal brand which needs to stand out so that it can get noticed in the same manner that business do.Spike up social media presence by updating your LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter profiles according to your personal inclinations on a consistent basis. Employers and other people out there now judge you by the strength of your branding than on your resume.Starting a blog, joining communities or even just posting relevant stuff would immensely help your cause and make people believe that you are really passionate at what you want to do.2. Spike up your Present-abilityGone are the days that workplaces were mundane and were strictly formalized. The current times require for a chic and sleek wardrobe that makes you stand out and look in line with current fashion trends.The whole idea behind the geeky costumes that techies were supposed to wear was to make them look engrossed in their work that they didn’t care about how they looked to other people. Yes it worked back then, but it won’t make the cut now.evalA cool cropped top coupled with a pair of skinned jeans would add immense oomph and the WoW factor to your personality getting those eyeballs rolling cementing your place as much as a fashionista rather than wearing a dull loose black shirt with hair tied back in a plait.Appearances can work wonders for your career.3. Build Sustainable Social NetworksAccording to a stud y, nearly 41% of people get their jobs through great networking, taking an immense lead over other forms of securing an employment opportunity. When you have decided on a field of interest, then work as passionately at building a network for yourself in that sector as much as you do honing your skills.When we talk about referrals, we mean people and its great to get a job through an acquaintance referring you to his/her previous company, this makes the process much faster. When developing a network, take care that you selectively choose people that hold sway or are experts in the field, starters like you come second, while interest groups come third and that makes the most sturdiest chain possible in your climb up the ladder.evalCommunicate frequently and do not make a contact dormant after it has been formed, remain in contact even if you can do it intermittently, but don’t let it slip away.People who don’t like to network can seriously affect their chances of not securing a gr eat job and progressing it but being made to deal with problems like financial security, defaulted student loans, falling credit scores and others which can make it immensely difficult for you to make up for in the latter years of your life.Your career depends on your social skills much more than it does on your technical skills, make the most out of this advice to have an immensely successful career and a happy life.

Social Media Used To Evaluate Job Seekers [Infographic]

Social Media Used To Evaluate Job Seekers [Infographic] It should come as no surprise that employers are using social media to evaluate job seekers. The information on the web is fair game! Heres what you need to know to make sure youve got the right online presence! Anything and everything you find online tells you something about the person. It provides insight into who they are and whats important to them. Now, keeping this in mind, think about the types of status updates you share. What are the themes or patterns of your updates? So it comes as no surprise to hear that employers are checking out job candidates online, right? Whatever you have put out there on social media is fair game public status updates, comments on other peoples updates, mentions of you by others on social media, written recommendations on LinkedIn the list goes on. In order to understand whats out there, go search for your name using Google. And if you discover some less than flattering information, clean it up. CareerBuilder just released their annual survey on how companies are using social networking sites to evaluate candidates (and why). Heres a summary of the survey and what you need to know. Where Do Employers Look? The short answer is social networking sites and search engines. A recruiter, HR rep or hiring manager may log in to LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and search for your name or email address to find any mentions of you (70% use social networks). Or they could simply type your name into their favorite search engine (66% use search engines). Deleting Your Social Media Profiles Wont Help If you are thinking about deleting all your social networking profiles or locking them down so no information is viewable, thats a big mistake. Employers expect to see something. If they dont find you online that is one more reason to reject a candidate according to 47% of employers. Why Do Employers Use Social Media To Evaluate Job Seekers? Employers are looking at your online presence to back up your claims, verify work experience, see if youre a fit with the company and more! Its easy to find this information and it takes less time than trying to reach candidates on the phone and have a conversation. These are the most popular things employers are looking for: 58% are looking for information on social media that supports your qualifications for the job 50% want to see your professional online persona 34% are looking to see what other people have said about you online 22% readily admit they are looking for a reason NOT to hire you You Can Influence The Results Employers say they found information online that positively swayed their opinion to hire a candidate. If you are serious about improving your odds on getting hired, then try some making some of these adjustments: 37% background information supported their professional qualifications for the job 34% was creative 33% site conveyed professional image 31% well-rounded, showed wide range of interests 31% got a good feel for the job candidates personality, could see good fit within company culture 28% great communications skills 26% received awards and accolades 23% other people posted great references about candidate 22% interacted with companys social media accounts 21% posted compelling video or other content 18% had large number of followers or subscribers Now that you realize how employers are using social media and your online presence to evaluate candidates, stack the cards in your favor by adding status updates and content that you know will reflect your best professional image. Some Info Hurts Job Seekers Just as information you share online can help, it can also hurt your chances as a job candidate. Heres what employers said turned them off of a candidate: 40% provocative or inappropriate photographs, videos or information 36% information about them drinking or using drugs: 31% discriminatory comments related to race, gender, religion, etc. 30% linked to criminal behavior 27% lied about qualifications 27% poor communication skills 25% bad-mouthed previous company or fellow employee 22% screen name was unprofessional 20% shared confidential information from previous employers 16% lied about an absence 12% posted too frequently Even Current Employees Arent Safe Employers monitor current employees too (48%)! In fact, 10 percent do it daily! And employees have been disciplined or fired because of what they posted online. (34%) Just Be Smart Now that you are aware of how employers are using social networking sites to evaluate candidates and monitor employees, you can be smarter about what you share. If you are looking for more help in proactively updating your status across social networking sites, this article will help: 10 LinkedIn Status Updates for Job Seekers Heres the full infographic to share! Employers Are Checking You Out Online [INFOGRAPHIC]- 2018

Resume Tips and Skills - Using Personalizing Tips to Create the Best One

Resume Tips and Skills - Using Personalizing Tips to Create the Best OneWhen applying for a grant, there are several steps you can take to make sure you have the best resume possible. One of the most important ways to accomplish this is by developing your own ideas and skills, then sharing those ideas with others and refining them.Grants are not exactly a new idea. What is new, however, is the existence of grants for small businesses. If you have a great idea but need to complete that idea before seeking funding, then you may want to consider starting a business or considering a grant in order to get a business up and running.However, there are many grants available to assist small businesses. The first step is to understand what you can expect to receive from a grant. There are grants to help start a business, grants to make improvements to existing businesses, and grants to educate people in small businesses. Every grant will provide a specific area of focus, but there are also gra nts for larger projects like improvements to existing schools or to expand schools throughout the country.Additionally, there are grants that can be used to fund any activity that has national level appeal. These include creating affordable housing, supporting athletes or sports teams, supporting women in entrepreneurship, or supporting local charities.Finding the best grant writing service is crucial, because a poor quality or non-specific grant may disqualify you from receiving the money. Many people fail to realize that it's the content of the application that they have to worry about. While writing an application can be a chore, the grant writing company can help to simplify the entire process by providing unique grant writing services and thoroughly reviewing each application to ensure that your ideas will appeal to the reviewers.You can use your resume as a tool to show what kind of an applicant you are. An effective approach is to create a brief outline of your experience, sk ills, and training that you can then include in your resume. You can choose between several types of resumes, which allow you to highlight your greatest and least common experiences.Use resume tips + skills for each skill you are most comfortable with and then highlight these skills in your resume. Once you have the best way to show your skill set, you can put your best ideas into action and obtain the funding you need. All you need to do is take action and apply.