Thursday, May 28, 2020

15 Jobs That Didnt Exist 30 Years Ago

15 Jobs That Didn’t Exist 30 Years Ago A lot has changed in the last thirty years and perhaps some of the most noticeable changes have occurred with technology. In 1986 the Macintosh computer was in its infancy, Google didn’t exist and DVDs were still a thing of the future. In fact, if you were reading this article thirty years ago, chances are that you would have read it on printed paper, rather than a desktop, iPhone or print out. There have been so many changes and advances in terms of innovation in recent years that it has become hard to imagine what effect they have had on society and business. Enter: internet Technology has had an effect on every aspect of our lives and has transformed the way we communicate with others, how we spend our leisure time and it has also had a huge impact on business and our careers. Possibly the most notable advance in technology was the birth of the internet, an innovation which has created an industry and subsequent new technologies. The internet connects people, regardless of their location, it saves time and it has also created an immediate source of knowledge and information. For businesses big and small, technology and the internet in particular, has become an essential feature â€" it allows them to communicate internally with colleagues, externally with clients and also to track their progress and various trends. Owing to the importance of factors such as social media and online marketing for businesses, a whole host of completely new job roles are constantly being created around these areas, as they become essential for the operations and success of a business. These include several jobs that just a few decades ago people would never have heard or dreamed of; SEO Consultant, Drone Operator, Blogger. Enter: suite of new jobs This infographic from Colonial Life looks at a number of jobs that didn’t exist thirty years ago, from App Developer to Virtual Assistant. As many technological jobs are quite specialised, often requiring a specific skill set and knowledge base, their salaries are often very high. For example, a User Experience Designer can earn up to $92,000 a year! However, these ‘new’ jobs are not just limited to technology, there are also many new roles coming about relating to fitness and nutrition, as a result of changing attitudes and lifestyle. Just a few years ago Zumba became the latest fitness trend, with women (and men!) all over the world taking part in the Latin-inspired dance classes. So to meet this demand, it’s no surprise the number of Zumba Instructor roles at gyms and leisure centres increased and is now a legitimate career. Similarly, the rise of ‘clean eating’ and high profile food bloggers has seen a rise in Nutritionist and Wellbeing Expert roles. Our changing attitudes have also led to the invention of more eco-friendly career paths, such as Offshore Wind Farm Engineer whose role it is to construct wind turbines to provide an alternative energy source. Nowadays, it’s hard to think of a job that doesn’t already exist in one form or another. However, no doubt in another twenty or thirty years’ time we’ll be faced with a whole host of new jobs that we could never have dreamt on, whether owing to further advances in technology and innovation, or perhaps to cater to the ever-changing world we’re living and the demands of the planet itself. Take a look at the infographic below to find out more about these modern jobs and their salaries! Are there any that come as a surprise to you? And, what jobs do you expect to see appearing in the future? About the author:  Jessie Avery is an insurance agent and representative of Colonial Life. They regularly provide advice and opportunities for small business owners.

Monday, May 25, 2020

Networking Interview #26 How To Figure Out What To Wear To Work

Networking Interview #26 How To Figure Out What To Wear To Work Today in my networking challenge I am interviewing Dr. Anna Akbari. Anna is the founder of Closet Catharsis, her fashion, and image consulting company. I am very excited to speak with her today, so thanks so much for being here, Anna. 1) What is Closet Catharsis? Closet Catharsis is my wardrobe and image consulting company. I like to brand myself as the thinking person’s stylist. What I do is help people become more conscious of the way their self-presenting and use that to empower them in many different contexts. I also founded an email newsletter and website that offers smart commentary on image related issues. We focus specifically on topics relating to fashion, body, and culture. It’s really about helping people become aware of the social significance of visual self-presentation and help them rethink who they are and who they want to become so they can harness the power of aesthetics. 2) What are some starting steps that you would recommend for people as they became more conscious of what they wear? One of the things I do with my clients is I help them to go through their closets and identify the things that aren’t serving them and get rid of them. Most people wear less than 10% of what’s in their closet. From there, I help them to make a list, and that list identifies foundational pieces that would help them create a more cohesive wardrobe so that they don’t have that  I have nothing to wear syndrome. Then they know when they go shopping, either with me or on their own, what they’re looking for, so they’re able to stay very focused and not spend money on things that they don’t need or don’t actively contribute to creating again this cohesive look. 3) Why and how should we think when we are deciding what to wear? A couple of factors but the most significant one is your audience. Who’s your audience? What do they look like? What do they think like? How can you tweak what you’re wearing so you demonstrate they can connect with you and you have something in common? It doesn’t mean that you drastically alter your self-presentation in a dishonest way but just being aware of what the expectations and what the social norms are will help you to be effective in whatever environment you’re stepping into. One of the other things that it does is help you to be comfortable. We always talk about being comfortable physically in what we wear, but I think too often we don’t talk enough about being mentally comfortable and not being preoccupied with what we are wearing. 4) Do you recommend paying attention to someone else’s opinion? Some people have a friend; some people hire people like me to converse with them. This is a check-in point. Too often, people ask the wrong individual for assistance. People that are going to say “Oh that’s great!” or they might not be thinking about your look. So be very careful who you’re asking advice from. When we think about how we can use fashion to our advantage, particularly in a professional environment. Looking polished matters! It’s not just a superficial formality, it sends a very particular message, and studies have recently proven that people who demonstrate a polished appearance are most highly rated with regards to their competence. It doesn’t mean that you have to look perfect all the time but there should be a certain self-awareness. 5) How can we save money revamping our wardrobes? Many people don’t wear most of the things that are lurking in their closets. Sometimes those pieces should be eliminated, but there are a lot of pieces that could be re-introduced and mixed with a few newly purchased items. Think about how you can re-work the items that already exist in your closet and pair them with in new ways. One of the things that I have my clients do is look at the pieces that are the great quality that look good that are still somewhat current. I will often take them in to have them tailored just to update them slightly or to refine the fit just a bit and that can make a world of difference. I regularly do that to my items in my own closet. Every year I go through, and there are few things that I haven’t been wearing, and I realized that if I just change one or two things, it would feel very fresh and up-to-date. Another easy way to do that, let’s say you have a coat, maybe you purchase a new button and have those sewed on that can be done for less than $20. It can make it an entirely new outfit piece. Its not so much about how you revamp it but how you can affordably keep your closet intact and not always have to buy new pieces and that’s to take care of your items. One of the primary ways that I encourage people to care for their items before they need to care for them or before they think they need to care for them is with their shoes. I suggest you take all of your shoes immediately when you purchase them and have sole put on them, a little rubber sole, even if before you’ve worn them. What it does is that it allows you to keep wearing your shoes or otherwise, especially with heels, once that one part has worn away your shoes are done, there’s no repair. So, you need to do it right away, take them there, and then when your soles wear up you can put new ones on. Shoes are expensive and that’s a nice way of maintaining a really key wardrobe piece for a very long time. I also talk to my clients and get an idea of their preferences. The way they get dressed. What are they comfortable in? I get the feel of their current pattern and their frustrations and what their goals are, professionally, personally, etc. From there, when I have some sort of a mental picture of how they operate then I have them go category by category. 6) Do you have some top stores you recommend for working ladies? I work for all budgets. I’ve had some women who do well what stores like J. Crew. Others who are on a tighter budget we go to Zara and find great things or Ebay. Depending on what your budget is, there are a lot of different outlets that you can explore and find great pieces at. Personally, I am a fan of small local boutiques. For some foundational pieces, like jeans, tank tops, etc., there are a lot of bigger brands that do it well and so its OK to invest in those. But then you want more special pieces or some accessories I suggest that you look at your local boutique and find pieces that will help to differentiate you. Some that can also allow you to use fashion to distinguish yourself and create a little visual flair and I think boutiques are the best for that. 7) How can we use fashion as an asset to navigate challenges in our careers? It really is about creating a sort of self-awareness and understanding how you’re being perceived. Creating a plan for yourself whether its OK, I know this works for me and this is my best way to look polished every day and then stick with that because it can convey confidence and competence. Whether its going to boutiques or whether its statement jewelry or whatever your outlet is to find a way to differentiate yourself. Find a way to stick out from the masses. Everyone has their own thing; some people might be shoes or beautifully tailored blazers. Everyone has something that they are known for. Make when you pick what to wear, you choose something that has a little bit of originality to it and that resonates in the workplace. Obviously, you have to be careful of not going over the top. 8) What do you wish you would have known as a young professional woman just starting out in her career? I work with a lot of young women that are starting out in their career. I am also a professor and am very involved with the college network. One of the things that I always tell them is to think outside the box. Dont just think about disciplinary possibilities for living and working between the lines. Its OK to go outside the line. I also encourage them to live and work fluidly with that. Moving between different peers, having different conversations. Going broad like that but also creating a niche area for yourself simultaneously is really important. Making and nurturing connections is also very important. Sometimes young women don’t understand the power of connections and the way that they can really branch off to many opportunities and friendships. Thanks so much, Anna!

Thursday, May 21, 2020

11 Content Marketing Secrets You Never Knew - Classy Career Girl

11 Content Marketing Secrets You Never Knew While there may never have been quite so many alleys into marketing or as many ways to attract the attention of your consumers, there has also never been so much competition. Content marketing on all platforms is competing with thousands of other businesses, it’s no longer possible to gain undivided attention during a commercial break on radio or TV. This means you’ll need to adapt to the changing times in order to thrive, and there are some super simple ways of doing that. 11 Content Marketing Secrets You Never Knew 1.  Start As You Mean To Go On A winning headline and a killer opening line are essential to a successful marketer. No matter what you’re looking to market, or how awesome your content is, without drawing in your audience with a great headline, your content may be overlooked. Be as engaging as you can to really hook your reader. 2.  Always Focus On Your Audience Never forget that you are writing for an audience, not simply to write a great company profile. You will quickly lose the interest of your readers if you ramble about yourself, without providing any information on how they can benefit. You need to make your posts relevant and focused to your audience, or they will quickly move on. 3.  Picture Your Reader Focusing on your audience is much easier when you have a person in mind. Think of your audience as one person, and talk to them on a personal level, contemplating their opinions and interests. 4.  Utilize Online Writing And Editing Services There are plenty of businesses that don’t have the capacity or resources to run a successful online marketing campaign. Many businesses, therefore, delegate their writing and editing services in order to keep consistent high-quality content. There are websites where you can post an ad, interview candidates, and find a writer, such as Upwork or  Freelancer. There are also automated services that can provide confidential editing and writing services from a professional. 5.  Use Online Editing Tools It can be really worthwhile to find a guide or courses to improve your writing. A great example of such a course is available with Academized. You can also make sure your posts match you word limits and target with Easy Word Count. 6. Make The Most Of Guest Blogging Try to appear on different sites, and invite other experts in the industry to appear on your blog too. This can really help to expand your audience. [RELATED: How to Create a Marketing Plan in 4 Easy Steps] 7.  Make A Schedule And Stick To It Consistent content is key. Quality is always a priority when you post, however sporadically submitting amazing updates will not lead to success. You’ll need to post regularly on a schedule determined by analytics in order for your marketing to be successful. 8.  Devote Time To Promotion You should spend as much time promoting your content as you do writing it. This includes emailing contacts, newsletters, and clients themselves. 9.  Use Plugins To Share Content Quickly Sharing your content across social media quickly and efficiently is essential and a plugin can upload your posts to network platforms instantly. 10. Be Genuine There may be times when it’s appropriate to thank someone or write about a day in the life or how you got started in the field. This is personal and interesting. 11. Post Sequels and Series Single blog posts can be great, but you can generate more traffic and improve the user experience by starting to write series or chains of posts. There’s no quick fix or easy way to succeed, however following the above tips van give you a huge head start in marketing your business online.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Improving Self-Confidence to Help Your Career

Improving Self-Confidence to Help Your Career Do you struggle with self-confidence? This is something which many people battle with and it could be having a bigger impact on your life than you might think. Those that struggle with confidence and self-esteem often find it harder to progress their career which, in turn, can only make matters worse and create a vicious cycle. Getting Ahead If you are the type of person that doubts themselves and holds back then it can be hard to get ahead in the world of business. The business world is one which can be ruthless and it is the ones that seem to ooze self-confidence that quickly make it to the top because they are forthcoming and they believe in themselves it is hard to be a leader if you do not believe in yourself. Improving Self-Confidence While there is a fine line and you certainly do not want to come across as over confident and arrogant (which can also hold you back and create issues in the workplace), it is important to identify ways in which you can improve your self-confidence if this is holding you back in your career. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to do this although some can be confronting and push you outside of your comfort zone.  Change your Mindset First, you should try to change your mindset and start to practice positive visualisation. Changing your mindset is hard and will take a long time but it is possible and many people find practices like meditation, therapy and mindfulness to be of great help in building self-confidence. Body Language The saying “fake it till you make it” is one which can certainly be applied to confidence. Changing your body language to that of someone with a healthy amount of confidence can make a big difference to how you are perceived and, in time, how you perceive yourself. Physical Appearance Similarly, many people struggle with confidence because they are self-conscious. Taking a few steps to improve your physical appearance can give you a boost and change the way in which you are perceived. This could be dressing smarter each day, getting a haircut or using veneers if you are self-conscious about your teeth. Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone It is easier said than done, but you will never become more confident if you do not step outside of your comfort zone as it is here where you truly learn and confront your anxieties. It is a good idea to take baby steps with this and to find something that challenges you as often as possible. Before long, you will get used to stepping outside your comfort zone and start to develop new skills and ways of thinking. These are the key steps that you need to take to improve your self-confidence. This, in turn, should help you to find greater success and happiness with your career.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Blog Comments Part of Your Online Executive Brand Communications Plan - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Blog Comments Part of Your Online Executive Brand Communications Plan How Blog Commenting Helps You Build Your Online Executive Brand

Sunday, May 10, 2020

174 Angela Vithoulkas - Leader, The Small Business Party - Jane Jackson Career

174 Angela Vithoulkas - Leader, The Small Business Party - Jane Jackson Career What an honour to interview Angela Vithoulkas who is a second term independent Councillor at the City of Sydney, a multi-award winning 30-year small business owner, entrepreneur and advocate.In this podcast episode, Angela and I discuss her early career aspirations, how she was born into a family business environment and how she made the transition from entrepreneurship (she has grown and sold many businesses in her career) to politician as the champion of small business owners, and Leader of The Small Business Party.Angela will also be speaking at the next #LinkedInLocalSydney event on 15th May 2019 held at The Executive Centre at Barangaroo. Book your tickets to this important networking event hereAlongside her small business and council responsibilities, Angela built Australia’s first small business podcasting platform â€" Eagle Waves Radio, which has since produced more than 2000 hours of content.In 2018, she formed The Small Business Party, with a mission to represent small businesses and local families in the NSW Parliament at the 2019 NSW State election and successfully registered the party on a national level to contest the 2019 Federal Election â€" this is political history. Many have tried to set up a small business party previously only to fall short. Today, there is a growing divide between small business and government. Despite being Australia’s largest employer, there is no suitable advocate in government for small business. Through Angela’s work in advocacy, policy and leadership she is looking to fill that gap.During our interview we discuss the challenges of balancing a political career with all the other responsibilities that Angela holds â€" she is a phenomenally inspirational woman who is truly making an impact for all small business owners!Angela believes that if small businesses come together behind The Small Business Party, we can all work together to Save Small Business and help our communities thrive. Are you with us?Where to find Angela:Website Angela Vithoulkas Website The Small Business PartyAngela TwitterSmall Business Party TwitterMeet Angela at #LinkedInLocal Sydney on 15th May 2018 Book your ticket here

Friday, May 8, 2020

How to Write a Resume Objective That Makes a Difference

How to Write a Resume Objective That Makes a DifferenceIf you're applying for a job and you want to ensure you get noticed by your prospective employer, you should craft a well-written resume objective. Your objective is just like your cover letter, but it's just a one-page section that introduces you to the interviewer.To write a resume objective, you need to be familiar with the way resumes work and what you should include in your cover letter. Many people don't bother putting this information on their cover letters, because they think it doesn't matter. It does matter, and you need to put a strong resume objective on the first page of your resume.A resume objective can highlight your skills, accomplishments, and leadership qualities. Many employers will use a resume objective to check whether you have what it takes to handle the position that you're applying for. If you do, you'll stand out from the crowd and show the employer that you are qualified for the job.In your cover lette r, make sure you don't forget to include your resume objective in a sentence or two. This is just like a professional resume cover letter. You can add one to your other resume cover letters to help your chances of getting hired.Your resume objective is also an effective way to communicate to the employer that you have the skills and experience they are looking for. Many employers will notice this feature and will think you've done a good job in your cover letter. The more you make the employer aware of your skills and the strengths you have, the better chance you have of being hired. Using the objective to show that you know what you're talking about in your cover letter will help you stand out from the crowd.When you're writing your resume objective, you should start with the positive attributes of yourself and then develop them in order. Remember that you can only go so far in your resume. It's important to always build on your positives and stay away from negative characteristics .It's also important to understand that there are many different companies and jobs out there, so you have to do a little research before deciding on your resume objective. The objective should be based on how well you match the job that you're applying for and what you are specifically looking for in the position.You need to always be sure to keep this point in mind: a good thing to write on your resume is always a good thing to put on your cover letter. If you do, you'll be much more likely to get hired.