Your resume is one of the most important documents you will ever create. How effective it is (or isn’t) can determine your whole career path. It is essentially a snapshot of your experience, skills, and accomplishments that employers use to determine whether or not you are a good fit for the job. And when I say snapshot, I truly mean it. Most recruiters only look at your resume for about 6 seconds, which is approximately the same amount of time it’s taken you to read this far. It’s not really a lot of time, is it? Given the importance of your resume, you want to make sure that it is as strong as possible. Follow these quick resume tips if you want your resume to pass the 6-second glance test and get proper consideration! Resume Do’sIf you want to make a good impression and stand out from the competition, here are a few things you want to include on your resume. 1. Sell YourselfDon’t be modest during your job search – especially when it comes to your resume. Think of your resume as an advertisement for yourself. What are your top “features” that you want an employer to know about you? Use your resume to tell them what makes you the perfect candidate. 2. Highlight Your Qualifications and AccomplishmentsYou want your best attributes and in-demand skills to stand out, so emphasize these throughout your resume. How do you do that? Put your most important and relevant information first (or as close to the top of your resume as you can). Use bold, italics, or underlines to draw the eye. If your resume is more than one page, make sure all your important details are on the first page. 3. Include Numbers, Percentages & FiguresQuantifying your responsibilities and accomplishments on your resume gives them more context. Using numbers is also a great way to highlight anything important. For example, if you say you “trained new staff members” on your resume, did you train 2 people or 200? Because those are pretty different. Just as saying you “increased sales” is fine, but saying you “increased sales by 20% in one year” is much better. 4. Tailor Each Resume to the JobNo, you don’t have to create a brand new resume from scratch for each job you apply to, but you should be making minor changes to it so that it’s tailored to each job. You can rearrange your resume sections, re-word some of your bullet points, or replace any irrelevant information for this specific job. Use the job ad and job description to determine what the job requires, and do your best to make your resume match this. 5. Keep Your Resume Up To DateIt’s much easier to keep your resume up-to-date than it is to update it when you suddenly need it. Because you want to include numbers and data, figuring out these details can be a real challenge if you’ve been let go, fired, or quit and no longer have access to this information. Do your best to keep your resume ready to go, just in case! 6. Use Powerful Action WordsRepeatedly using the same boring words will make your resume boring too. Instead of saying “managed” or “assisted” for every bullet point, change it up! Incorporate the main keywords from the job posting or job description where it makes sense. Find more exciting and powerful words to use that describe what you’ve done. Need some ideas? How about 500 of them! 7. Avoid Typos and Grammatical ErrorsSpellcheck is helpful, but it doesn’t catch everything. Grammarly is a great free tool that will also find grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes. (The premium version also offers things like formatting suggestions, sentence variety, and inclusive language for about $12/month.) Reading your resume out loud is also helpful for catching errors. 8. Ask Someone to Proofread ItAlways get a second pair of eyes to look over your resume to make sure you caught those typos and that it makes sense overall. After reading your resume, if they can’t tell you what kind of job you’re applying for, you need to fix this! Read: Where Can I Get Resume Help? 14 Free and Affordable Options Resume Don’tsThere are a few things you definitely do not want to do when it comes to your resume. 1. Don’t Lie or ExaggerateLying or exaggerating about your experience or education may come back to bite you. If you do not have a certain skill or experience, do not try to fake it. Employers do background checks. They will call your references. If something doesn’t line up with your resume, you will lose credibility and won’t be offered the job. Read: 30 Places to Learn New Job Skills for FREE! 2. Don’t Use “I” or Refer to Yourself By NamePlease don’t use first person (I, me, we) or third person (he, she, they; him, her, them) pronouns on your resume. And please don’t refer to yourself by your name on your resume, either. This is an example of what NOT to do: “With over twenty years of professional experience, Mr. Smith is our sales-team lead. A strong background in sales, customer service, and financial reporting gives Mr. Smith the ability to meet and exceed customer expectations.” (Yes, I’ve actually seen several awkwardly worded resumes like this.) Instead, cut out the points of view and extra filler-words, and follow this example:
3. Don’t Use Slang or Text-SpeakYour resume is a professional document. It’s not the right place to use slang or text-speak such as “lol” or “cuz.” While these terms might be okay in casual conversation, they can make you look unprofessional on a resume. If you want to be taken seriously, make sure that your resume is free of any slang or text-speak and that you write out abbreviations or acronyms in full. 4. Don’t Include Unnecessary Personal InformationThings like your birthday, social security number (or social insurance number), marital status, and race do not belong on your resume. Including details like these can easily lead to discrimination or identity theft. Read: The 1 Surprising Thing You Should Remove from Your Resume 5. Don’t Use a Complex Format or Hard to Read FontsIt’s okay to put a little design or personality into your resume, but keep it simple. A hiring manager isn’t going to bother with an overly designed resume or one that uses fonts that are too hard to read. Read: What Is The Best Font For A Resume? 6. Don’t Copy the Exact WordingYou should use the keywords and language from the job description or ad but don’t copy it word for word. It will make you look lazy and suggests that you might steal or plagiarize other people’s work in the future. 7. Don’t Use an Unprofessional Email AddressAlthough a potential employer should be focusing on your qualifications, an unprofessional email address can make a bad first impression. It’s hard to take “[email protected]” or “[email protected]” seriously. 8. Don’t Go OverboardKeep your resume focused on the job you’re applying for and to the point. It’s not a list of every single job you’ve ever had or every course you’ve ever taken. Aim to make a 1-page resume that is as concise and focused as possible. If you have a lot of relevant experience, it’s okay if it ends up being two pages, but make sure the important information is on page one. 9. Don’t Forget to Include Your Other ExperiencesVolunteer work, co-op placements, internships (paid or unpaid), extra-curriculars, and even your side hustle can be included on your resume – if they are relevant. For example, say you’re applying to be a teacher. Including your volunteer work with a children’s charity will clearly help you stand out and demonstrate your interest and skills in this area. But saying you were on the swim team 15 years ago or mowed lawns last summer doesn’t. It’s just taking up space and taking the focus away from your strongest qualifications. How to Add Your Side Hustle To Your Resume: Your (FREE) Complete Guide 10. Don’t Forget to Provide ExamplesIf you want to convince employers that you possess the skills you claim you have, make sure to back up your claims with concrete examples. For instance, simply stating that you have good communication skills without providing examples of how this is true will likely not be very convincing. Take the time to provide specific examples of how you have used your communication skills to solve problems or connect with others effectively. This will be much more convincing. 11. Don’t Keyword StuffKeyword stuffing your resume is a surefire way to make it look like you’re trying to game the system. It will also make your resume look unprofessional and could cost you the job. So, don’t do it! Instead, include keywords naturally throughout your resume. And no, you shouldn’t try to discreetly sneak keywords to your resume either by making the font color white. This tactic might help you pass resume screeners, but it won’t help you pass the interview. 12. Don’t Add Testimonials To Your ResumeTestimonials are great to have available but save them for your portfolio or LinkedIn profile. Testimonials take up valuable space on your resume. Instead of using that space to highlight your own professional achievements, you’re using it to promote someone else’s opinion of you. This doesn’t give employers a good impression of your self-promotion skills. They may also wonder if the person giving the testimonial is actually qualified to speak about your professional skills and abilities. The last thing you want to do is make an employer skeptical. There is also the chance that including them on your resume will make you seem arrogant and turn potential employers off. If they like you and are interested in hiring you, they will conduct their own reference checks. Quick Resume TipsIn summary, here are the things you want to do on your resume:
And here are the things you don’t want to do:
By following these simple resume tips, you can be sure that your resume will make a great impression on employers and give you a better chance of landing the job you want. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/quick-resume-tips/
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Providing an allowance to your child is a great way to teach reliability, responsibility, and financial literacy. Using creative allowance alternatives to teach kids about money management is a valuable tool that will lay the foundation for budgeting, financial planning, and saving for essential things or life events. Understanding the value of money also helps show your child the importance of generously giving, patience, strategy, goal setting, critical thinking, and maybe even the basic premise of entrepreneurship. However, giving your kids extra pocket money regularly without having that money tied to a sense of accomplishment may create unintended results. The Problem With Giving Kids A Weekly AllowanceToo often, parents become wrapped up in wanting to give everything to their children. While it isn’t wrong to like to provide your children with a small amount of money to buy something they will enjoy, there is a risk of potentially creating unnecessary behavioral hardship. While kids enjoy receiving extra spending money and choosing what to do with it, a fixed allowance system often creates a sense of entitlement and expectation. There are also valid arguments for the benefits for kids living with minimalism, and teaching your kids to value earning money, budgeting, and saving for future events helps prevent your children from growing up thinking they need to spend money to be happy. Honoring Your Budget vs. Keeping Up With Allowance TrendsToo many parents are pressured by what other families are doing by providing an allowance to their children. Often this pressure results in parents taking money away from a limited living expense budget, which will only leave them stressed, irritable, and resentful. Allowance is a learning tool to set your kids up for the future and should not be a point of contention. If you don’t have the capacity in your budget to pay your children for extra work around the house, consider compensation alternatives or barter. Another idea is to ask around the neighborhood to find out whether anyone in your community would be able to pay for extra chores done outside of the home. Keep in mind your bottom line. Only provide an allowance you can afford. Establishing Boundaries For Chores and Compensatable Household AssistanceRegardless of the decided-upon reward system you use for your kids, ensure it is financially sustainable and flexible. If an emergency or additional expenses are required, discuss them and agree on a suitable replacement. To avoid creating entitled expectations and busting your budget while factoring in pre-established money sharing, restructure or set up your allowance system to be more of a reward system dependent on work ethic, extra assistance, or accomplishment. If you’re worried about your child only wanting to participate in working for money when they want something, come up with creative trade ideas. Establish the boundary that their assistance with household tasks is a requirement, and if they don’t want to participate, they can offer to use their earned allowance to pay you or a sibling to do their chores for them. Explain to them that as they grow into adulthood, if there are household items they don’t want to do, they’ll need to pay someone to come over to help, but you’re open to negotiations. The Average Allowance for Kids Varies by AgeAs of 2021, the average weekly allowance for kids was approximately $10, depending on their age.
58% of parents surveyed required their kids to do something to earn their allowance instead of just providing them a weekly or monthly stipend. While most parents questioned mentioned giving an allowance to their kids as a way to teach them money management, only 3% helped their kids with savings plans and establishing a budget. Allowance rates may vary depending on the money earned and whether the kids are making money based on their efforts and accomplishments. For example,
7 Creative Allowance Alternatives To Teach Kids About Money Management And ResponsibilityUsing alternative ideas to giving an allowance helps keep you honest in your budget and helps encourage your child to learn the value of money. It is increasingly important, especially with inflation skyrocketing, for youth to understand that money is directly tied to effort and strategy and provide a valued service to the community (or your family). Remember that earning extra spending money shouldn’t be stressful or overwhelming for you or your child. These are teachable moments that bring together various means of accomplishment and a small sum of money or non-monetary reward. 1. Teach Kids To Earn Money Through Hard WorkPaying your children for doing chores helps reward them for working hard. There are many age-appropriate chores kids can do around the house or homestead. You will want to factor in your child’s emotional maturity before assigning them tasks to ensure the assigned duties aren’t overwhelming or too much for them to handle. Working for their allowance isn’t to test their abilities to get everything done but to encourage them to be helpful and do more than the bare minimum. If you’re concerned about them only doing the bare minimum chore amounts, consider having a core set of chores for each child and offering to pay them an allowance for completing extra duties and their household responsibilities. Appropriate Chores for Kids 2-4While most kids under five don’t usually care about earning money, it’s wise to develop good habits by starting a routine with them, helping you clean around the house. Because toddlers primarily focus on fun and exploration, the tasks may take a little longer to complete or require additional encouragement, but the lessons learned and cleanliness habits gained are well worth the extra time and effort invested in them.
Appropriate Chores for Kids 5-9Depending on your child’s maturity, kids ages 5-9 should be ok handling chores from the 2-4 ages plus:
You should pay attention to your child’s emotional status during these years. It doesn’t take a lot for kids to feel overwhelmed. They might feel overwhelmed having more than three chores to do. Appropriate Chores for Pre-Teens 10-13By the time your child reaches the age of 10, they should be ready for additional responsibilities and have a more firm fundamental understanding of what money is and how to earn it. Depending on your pre-teen’s maturity, young adults ages 10-13 should be ok handling chores from the 2-9 ages plus:
Appropriate Chores for Teens 14+The most significant concern of teenagers is teaching them to understand and respect their physical and mental limitations. Maturity is difficult to gauge since all teens are different. Depending on your Teen’s maturity, kids ages 14+ should be ok handling chores from the 2-13 ages plus:
2. Teach Kids To Earn Money By Helping OthersEntrepreneurs hold a standing belief that states, “if you want to make more money, help more people.” Teaching your kids while they’re young to help other people is essential to develop them into valued members of society. Still, it also enables them to find creative ways to make money by helping others or giving back to the community through volunteer work and random acts of kindness. Help your child strategize ways to be helpful throughout your community to develop a skill. Then as they become proficient with that skill, have them earn extra money by providing that service to neighbors. 3. Teach Kids To Earn Money Through Academic AccomplishmentsA common way for parents to provide an allowance based on academic accomplishments.
Providing cash payments for academic accomplishments isn’t as common among homeschooling families. However, if you homeschool your children, you could offer them an extra bit of money for reading books and their curriculum requirements that will benefit their future. 4. Teach Kids To Earn Money With Reading RewardsA more creative alternative allowance method is to pay your child to read books. You could offer them $5-10 for every nonfiction, finance, business, trade skill, or personal development book they read in addition to their school curriculum requirements. Another idea is to offer a discounted price for any fun or fictional book or novel they read in addition to their school curriculum requirements. 5. Teach Kids To Earn Money Through Business VenturesIf you have a business, there are many ways your child can help you with age-appropriate business activities, whether it’s helping with accounting, stock, customer service, typing, organizing, mail responsibilities, or creating products. Working with you shows them valuable lessons not available anywhere else and enables them to kinetically learn business tasks instead of just reading about them in books. If you don’t have a business, consider helping your child develop an age-appropriate business to help them start and grow. Lemonade stands are popular options, as are creating and selling art projects. If you have a homestead, you could offer your child the opportunity to collect and sell backyard chicken eggs, produce, handmade baskets, or other items you make together. You can also by playing business. Take the idea of paying your child for extra chores done by assigning a monetary value to each assignment in a graph, and allow them to choose which task(s) to complete. Then they can see the additional tasks’ worth and play business by meeting them and giving you an invoice. 6. Teach Kids To Strategize Ways To Earn MoneyEncouraging your child to delve into creative thinking is easily the most significant gift you can give their future. Take a step back from controlling everything they do, and offer them the space to brainstorm and decide what they want to do to make extra money. Your encouragement will help increase their confidence, but you’ll also assist them with developing critical thinking and strategy skills not taught anywhere else, giving them a stronger foundation for success when they become adults. 7. Teach Kids To Enjoy Earning, Giving, and Spending MoneyMoney doesn’t need to be a taboo topic that no one discusses. It also is not the root of all evil (the proper Bible quote is “the love of money is the root of all evil”). Making money should be something they enjoy doing because the tasks kids complete to earn money are appreciated and needed by their family or community. Showing your child that making money is tied to a sense of accomplishment and doing meaningful tasks may be a form of self-care you and your kids can do together. When your child sees the impact and value of contributing in a meaningful way, they realize the value of assisting other people and finding their motivation to achieve their goals. 5 Tips for Helping Your Child Manage Their MoneyGiving an allowance is only half the task of teaching your kids about money, whether they receive a flat rate weekly amount, you’re paying them for chores, or you’re compensating them for academic accomplishments. 1. Teach Your Child To Tithe Their IncomeThe Bible mentions tithing 10% of your harvest, giving a historical foundation to the idea of saving for emergencies, future shortfalls, and assisting less fortunate people. Tithing expresses thankfulness and gratitude. Be grateful for what you receive, and share it willingly. “Honor the Lord with your wealth and the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will burst with wine.” – Proverbs 3:9-10 Use that biblical lesson to teach your kids the importance of saving and giving back to the community. Proverbs chapter 3 verses 9-10 encourages you to keep some of what you earn to help support the most vulnerable members of your community, such as orphans, widows, homeless shelters, or a local nonprofit that aligns with your values. 2. Teach Your Child Advanced Level Budget ManagementMany financial gurus recommend following the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, which is a great teaching tool. This rule tells you that 50% of your income should go towards necessary expenses. 30% of your income should go towards what you want to buy now. The 50/30/20 rule says you should save 20% of what you earn for the future. Discussing this type of spending plan with your child helps them lay the foundation of understanding money management, not just spending everything they have at once. Kids over eight years old who have the maturity and understanding of delayed gratification will benefit significantly from understanding this budgeting technique. With not needing to worry about living expenses, kids should instead invest that 50% into a separate saving account to benefit their future. Establishing a savings account for significant future expenditures helps provide expenses like resource books, a future car, future college tuition, future house down payment, or even starter business equipment expenses. For example, if your child is selling handmade baskets, they may want to save up some of their income to invest in higher quality tools to help them make more complex baskets. The 50/30/20 rule states that 30% of your income should be for things you want. Allow your child to spend 20% of their earned money on items important to them, like a new phone, a new game, a particular outfit, carnival tickets, new toys, a new bike, a special treat at a restaurant, gifts for family members and friends, or new sports equipment. Your kids could even use this spending money to pay each other to take care of their expected chore list. Children shouldn’t need to worry about debt payment unless they compensate you for taking care of their chore list or as a previously agreed upon punishment for low academic performance. Typically, for children, that 20% should go toward building an emergency fund, long-term savings account, creative investments, or even starting a retirement fund. These numbers and spending applications will likely need to change as they get older, depending on how much they make compared to living expenses. But teaching your kids the difficult-to-understand financial fundamentals of not spending every penny burning a hole in their pocket will transform into invaluable lessons when they’re older. 3. Teach Your Child To Manage Money By Setting GoalsIt is only a matter of time before your child will see something they want but can’t yet afford. Use that as a learning tool to save up for something they want. For example, if 8-year-old Sam wants a $200 bike, discuss extra household tasks or mini-business opportunities he could do to earn that $200 (plus tax) needed to purchase it. Help him establish his goal of saving $200. Then, set up a budget with his earned allowance and a plan to earn extra cash to accomplish that goal. 4. Teach Your Child Investment TechniquesInvesting in the future is always a beneficial lesson to learn. Discussing investment opportunities is wise, especially for teenagers. If you have investments, discuss what you invest in and why with your child. As they get older, strategize with them about different ways to invest, and create spreadsheets to track fictional investments to give them an idea of how much they could earn or lose through those investment opportunities. When they feel comfortable starting an investment account, consult with a financial advisor or do what you can to assist them in starting small and building an investment portfolio. You can also discuss the value of diversifying investments through tangible options like real estate or starting silver and gold coin collections. 5. Use Your Child’s Spending Budget To Teach Your Kid About MoneyHelping your child understand the value of money, how to make it, and what they can realistically afford helps them develop a healthy financial perspective and is the cornerstone to becoming financially literate. Take a look at their spending goals and budget, and have candid conversations about the value of money by comparing different ways to earn with the things they want or need to purchase. Talk with your child about the value of different types of work and how helping more people with more complex problems results in higher income. Teach Your Child To Barter Their Skills (Cash-Alternatives)There are several other ways to compensate your child for taking the initiative to do extra tasks in addition to their required household chores or homestead duties.
Teach Your Child To Value Their Time and Effort By Choosing Their RewardAllow your child to choose what they receive in exchange for their efforts. This reward could result in financial compensation or bartering for something they want. Either way, make it more enjoyable for them by allowing your kids to decide what they want to work for or how they spend their earned allowance. Your child taking the time to choose how to use their money also sets them up to learn through practice the natural consequences of money. Honoring their decisions also means giving them space to experience buyer’s remorse and set money-based priorities. What Family Surveys Show About Choosing An Allowance vs. Allowance Alternative SystemAccording to a survey conducted by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), 92% of parents say it’s vital that their children understand how to manage their money effectively, and 66% give their children a cash allowance. T. Rowe Price investment firm found that 62% of kids agree that having financial conversations with their parents make a difference in their 12th annual survey. Are Allowance Alternatives Right For You?Whether or not to give your kids an allowance is personal, and the correct answer will be different for different families. Most importantly, make your decisions together, and keep the financial conversations light-hearted. Our society uses money to measure energy and time to accomplish a task and relate it to its value. Earning an allowance shouldn’t be daunting or provoke anxiety. It should be a fun endeavor to explore developing savvy financial habits. This post originally appeared on Hello Sensible. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/allowance-alternatives-to-teach-kids-about-money/ Remote work has grown exponentially over the past few years. Not only was remote work booming before the pandemic, but the last two years of working from home have shown that remote work is productive and cost-effective. With the increase in technology and desire to work remotely, it’s estimated that 22% of Americans will be working remotely by 2025, which is an 87% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Whether you’re looking to live in a lower cost of living area, travel the world, or simply skip the daily commute, there are many great opportunities for virtual jobs. One type of remote work that is becoming increasingly popular is the digital nomad, which takes things a step further by including regular travel to the job. While becoming a digital nomad sounds idealistic, it takes a particular skill-set to manage this lifestyle successfully. There are certain jobs more suited to it than others. The following will discuss the in-demand skills you need to succeed in digital nomad jobs. Some of these skills are universal to all remote work, while others are specific to digital nomad jobs. Let’s explore the skills you need to embrace the nomad life! What is a Digital Nomad?Historically, the word “nomadic” has been used to describe people without a fixed habitation who instead moved from place to place throughout the year. Nomad could describe individuals (like tradespeople) or a group of people (like hunter-gatherer cultures). Today, technology has allowed the nomadic lifestyle to move into the digital realm. Thus, a digital nomad is a person who lives and works wherever they choose and is free to change locations frequently due to their remote work. As mentioned, digital nomadism takes remote work a step further because the nomad takes advantage of their ability to work anywhere by often changing locations. Whereas a regular remote worker typically has a home base, a digital nomad may not. Their primary motivation for having a remote job is pursuing frequent travel. Universal Skills Needed for Digital Nomad JobsThese are the skills that every digital nomad will need to be successful. Writing SkillsWriting skills will be essential as a digital nomad. Not only will you need above-average writing skills to communicate with your team remotely, but many great digital nomad jobs feature writing as the primary skill of the job. For instance, many remote workers are bloggers, academic writers, copywriters, journalists, or other professions where the main task is to communicate through writing. You could freelance write and offer your services through platforms like Fiverr or build up a clientele. Many larger organizations and websites are also looking for different types of writers. Where to Learn Writing Skills:
Communication SkillsJust because you’re not in an office or working face-to-face with clients and co-workers doesn’t mean that communication skills aren’t crucial for digital nomad jobs. They are even more critical because you will need to coordinate and communicate from afar effectively. Clear and professional communication through verbal and written forms will be necessary for working with clients, co-workers, and others. Plus, you’ll likely still need to attend meetings and other events virtually, so being able to communicate via a conversation is still an important skill to have. Where to Learn Communication Skills:
Organizational SkillsMany digital nomad jobs involve freelancing for multiple clients or having numerous gigs. As a result, organizational skills are essential for nomads. You must keep track of all your clients, tasks, invoicing, and other work-related items and keep track of things related to your travel and living situations. Those without good organizational skills will likely find the digital nomad lifestyle overwhelming and challenging to manage. Where to Learn Organizational Skills: Time Management SkillsAlong with organizational skills, successful digital nomads are also proficient at managing their time. Time is your most precious asset, and you’ll need to be good at scheduling yourself to balance working and making the most of your nomadic life. Without a designated workplace and clock in/out times, it can be difficult for some to schedule their time well. Even though you have flexibility, it’s still important to give yourself a regular “work” schedule to make sure you complete any necessary tasks. For instance, designate 8 am to 2 pm as your working hours and reserve the rest of the time for exploring or relaxing. Alternatively, if you’re a night owl, you could make your working hours in the evening. Where to Learn Time Management Skills:
Social SkillsEven though you’re working behind a screen, having good social skills is important for both your work and your nomad life. Virtual work can make it harder to connect and build rapport with clients and co-workers alike, so displaying good social skills when you have opportunities to interact is critical to your long-term success. Furthermore, regular traveling will mean you’re away from family, friends, and the things familiar to you. Humans are naturally social beings, and you’ll need to muster all your social skills to make new friends and navigate your new environment regularly. Where to Learn Social Skills:
Self-Management SkillsAs a digital nomad, you’re likely on your own most of the time. As a result, it’s vital to have good self-management skills when working digital nomad jobs. You must take responsibility for yourself and make sure you budget your time, money, and resources efficiently. In addition, you must ensure you meet deadlines and can take care of yourself without someone checking up on you. Those who are not self-starters and don’t have experience living or working on their own should consider a trial run before embarking on a full-time digital nomad lifestyle. Where to Learn Self-Management Skills: Research SkillsHaving good research skills is another area that lends itself to digital nomad jobs and the lifestyle. Knowing where to get information and discern which information is accurate is especially useful for writing or marketing jobs. Additionally, you’ll need research skills to find all the information you need to plan your adventures. You won’t be able to make money if you don’t have a reliable internet connection. Where to Learn Research Skills:
AdaptabilityAdaptability is the last universal skill required for all digital nomad jobs and the nomadic lifestyle. It means you can adjust to new conditions and environments, which is the crux of the digital nomad lifestyle. To be successful, you must be able to embrace change, adapt to new environments and situations, and be able to adjust on the fly. Where to Learn Adaptability Skills: Specific In-Demand Skills for Digital Nomad JobsThese are the in-demand skills related to specific types of popular digital nomad jobs. PhotographyIf you have a good camera and an eye for the perfect shot, many digital nomad jobs require photography skills. For example, you could use your own photos as a blogger or social media influencer or freelance and sell your photos on sites like Shutterstock. You could even find work creating content for brands. Where to Learn Photography Skills:
Digital MarketingDigital marketing is product and service advertising done through digital channels. These channels include social media, search engines, apps, email, and websites. If you’re a digital marketer, you help brands design engaging ads and other campaigns that help promote and sell their products or services, build brand awareness, and generate leads. You’ll utilize technology, design, marketing, and a host of other skills to create campaigns and help the brand grow. With so much advertising done through digital means, this skill is in high demand and perfect for digital nomads. Where to Learn Digital Marketing Skills:
Graphic DesignGraphic designers use computer software or by-hand methods to create visual products based on the needs and intent of their clients. Graphic designers conceive the layout and design for advertisements, magazines, reports, brochures, and many other products. Since graphic design uses computer software, it is perfect for digital nomads. If you are proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator, or other software or are fluent in coding and other site design skills, graphic design is a highly marketable skill. You can either freelance your skills, work for a specific brand, or run your own online business. Where to Learn Graphic Design Skills:
EditingIf you’re a good writer, then chances are you also have potential as an editor or proofreader. Editors review various written works and check for organization, grammar, and accuracy. There is plenty of demand for editors for blogs, websites, books, reports, and other writing. Where to Learn Editing Skills:
LanguageDo you speak multiple languages? Or are you learning a second language? As businesses expand globally, there is a continual demand for translation, teaching, and other tasks that require proficiency in multiple languages. Where to Learn Language Skills for Free: TranslatingBuilding on the language skills discussed above, translation is an in-demand career perfect for a digital nomad. As our world becomes more globally integrated, jobs for interpreters and translators are projected to grow 24% over the next eight years. Moreover, translation work lends itself particularly well to nomad life because it can be done entirely independently and from anywhere. Where to Learn Translating Skills:
Virtual AssistantHaving an assistant is not new, but the move into the digital realm means that instead of assisting in office management, more and more people are looking for virtual assistants. Most virtual assistants are independent contractors who assist clients remotely. These tasks could be related to social media, content, marketing, writing, or design. If you are proficient in any of the above skills, you’ll likely be able to find virtual assistance work. Where to Learn Virtual Assistant Skills:
Social Media AssistantThe average person now spends multiple hours a day on social media platforms, and brands have followed suit to connect better with customers. As a result, companies must have a full-time social media presence, and social media marketers are the people who make it happen. These individuals are proficient in social media marketing and help oversee the social media presence of a company. You might work for a specific company, a marketing firm that serves multiple clients, or manage social media for businesses as a freelancer. Where to Learn Social Media Skills:
TranscribingTranscribing is taking speech or sounds and putting them into written form. Anything you see on television or video streaming is transcribed so that the audio can be closed-captioned for those with hearing impairments or who need to see the written form for complete comprehension. Movies, TV shows, commercials, training, YouTube videos, and many other video content need to be transcribed. Rev and TranscribeMe are two platforms where you can get started with transcribing. Where to Learn Transcribing Skills:
BloggingBlogging is the ultimate digital nomad job. Bloggers can work from anywhere, and your travels can even form the basis of your content. However, blogging involves much more than taking good pictures and writing decent content. You’ll need marketing, social media, and SEO skills to build a successful blogging business. You can also use your blogging skills as a foundation for helping other sites grow. Where to Learn Blogging Skills:
Teaching and TrainingOnline instruction has been growing over the past decade, but the pandemic shoved teaching and training fully into the digital world. Much of the training and teaching previously done in person can now be done online. If you have teaching skills and something you can teach, there’s an online job for you. Teaching English online is one of the easier routes to take, but you could tutor or teach almost any subject to either children or adults. You could also provide online training for businesses or other organizations. Where to Learn Online Teaching Skills:
Data EntryData entry involves adding, verifying, and editing electronic data. The data you enter can either be from paper to electronic or from one digital format to another. While data entry is typically an entry-level position requiring little formal training or education, it requires accuracy and attention to detail and can be done virtually anywhere. Where to Learn Data Entry Skills:
E-CommerceE-commerce has become increasingly popular over the past few years and involves buying and selling goods and services over the internet. While many of the digital nomad skills on this list fall under the category of e-commerce, you could also utilize this skill by buying and selling on platforms like Amazon or eBay. In addition, Dropshipping and selling your own products on sites like Etsy are also becoming increasingly popular. Where to Learn E-commerce Skills: SEOSEO stands for search engine optimization and is the process of increasing the visibility of a site in search engines such as Google. Every blog, news site, or brand site out there wants to increase its visibility to draw in more customers. If you know how to improve the SEO of a website, there is a massive opportunity to freelance this skill as a digital nomad. Where to Learn SEO Skills:
ProgrammingProgrammers use programming languages like JavaScript and HTML to design and build websites and apps. As the world goes increasingly digital, programming will only increase in demand. Not only is programming a tremendous digital nomad job, but it’s also very accessible because it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to learn. There are many great online resources for learning this in-demand skill. Where to Learn Programming Skills:
Mobile App DevelopmentOne specific type of programming work is mobile app development. With the explosion of smartphones and tablets, the need for brands and other businesses to translate their services into app form has similarly grown. While many apps are developed for brands or specific products/services, you could also design your own game or create an app that provides a new solution. Who knows, maybe you’ll develop the next viral app game! Where to Learn Mobile App Development Skills:
AccountingAccounting can be simply described as keeping track of financial records and information for a business or organization. While accounting is a skill that requires education, the digital realm has meant more accounting work has moved online or into freelance form. In addition, many accountants are now hired on a contract basis and can complete their work anywhere. Where to Learn Accounting Skills:
Final ThoughtsIf you’ve been bitten by the travel bug but still need a way to fund your adventures, digital nomad jobs might be your ticket. Digital nomad jobs allow you to work remotely from anywhere in the world so you can travel wherever your fancy and funds can take you. However, it’s important to note that digital nomad jobs require specific skills to help ensure you’re successful. While some are universal to all digital nomad jobs, many are in-demand skills in particular fields or types of work. Now that you’ve seen the possibilities, where will the winds take you? Via https://mylifeiguess.com/skills-needed-for-digital-nomad-jobs/ It happens even to the best employees. Your manager asks to speak with you, and a Human Resources staff member is in there as well. They use those dreaded words, “we have decided to let you go.” It certainly isn’t as dramatic as “You’re Fired” with a frosty glare as seen in on the TV show The Apprentice. Nonetheless, the words can be stinging to hear, especially the first time. What comes next can be a blur of official steps you must take before departure, asking questions and wondering what went wrong. It can be a difficult transition to bear. Related: Don’t Let a Horrible Boss Destroy You (Like I Almost Did) I’ve been on the receiving end of this news more than once, unfortunately. It doesn’t get easier any time, even if it wasn’t always a surprise or your fault. Questions that run through my head – and probably yours:
The truth is, sometimes jobs just end – as relationships end. And it’s how you move forward after the loss that will serve you best in the future. The biggest worry is how will this affect my future employment opportunities? And how should I speak about it when it inevitably comes up in an interview? So What Do I Say?Career-based websites, such as Indeed, Job Hunt, and Career Sidekick offer the following as advice when faced with this question. Be HonestThe consensus amongst HR professionals and job-hunting websites is honesty is the number one factor. Companies and hiring managers find you more credible and will more likely consider you for their company and position if you are upfront. Honesty is the best policy. Besides, if they ask and you are caught, it could be far worse. Edit Your ResumeYou do not have to list every job you’ve ever done on your resume. You should tailor your resume to the specific position you are hoping to get, and even narrow the focus for each job and company. If the company or position that fired you wouldn’t be beneficial to the position you are seeking, you can leave it off. If they do show your experience in that area, you can still tailor the description of duties in the resume to more specifically target your position. Again, never lie, but if it doesn’t need to be at the top, you can leave it off. Related: Where Can I Get Resume Help? 14 Free and Affordable Options Keep It SimpleBe concise and present the basic facts. Keep the explanation on the brief side, as there is no obligation to provide full details about the situation. If you are a storyteller like I am, this can be difficult, but writing out the answer ahead of time will help. Stay PositiveHiring managers are looking to make a positive addition to their team, so avoid saying anything negative about your former employer. I have found that a simple smile and keeping my tone upbeat when speaking are essential. Highlight Personal GrowthDescribing how the situation helped you grow as a person and employee will reflect positively with a future employer. After all, every life experience—good or bad—is a learning experience. For example, I use this when asked how I learned to improve communication skills as a learning experience. Focus on Your Skills and ExperienceYou can tactfully change the narrative of the conversation by turning the discussion around to what you can offer the new company in terms of skills and how it relates to the new position. If it played a factor, you could also explain how your skills are a better fit for this position than the previous one. I often mention my advanced skills and forward-thinking were underappreciated or utilized in a previous role and how I am seeking to better that in my new role. Consider Meeting with a Career Counselor or HR ProfessionalI chose to find a career counselor to discuss my situation. Think of it as a therapist for career issues. The first consultation is typically free, with per session fees after that. Alternatively, if you have a friend or associate who’s an HR professional, you could seek advice from them. During my session with the counselor, she put my mind at ease about the reasons for my separation. She assured me there was nothing “wrong” with me. In my case, she believed it was more about issues internally with the organization, and I was likely better off in the long run. The outside perspective was very valuable. She also helped me craft specific answers to many common interview questions, including how to answer about being let go. Anticipating the questions and having them written out, allowed me to practice reciting them aloud. This is one we came up with: “As much as I successfully accomplished the tasks I was responsible for, it came down to a ‘fit’ issue with my boss. Overall, we had communication issues. Expectations were not met or sometimes not communicated. Because, on her end, it was understood that I knew what they were, and on my end, I did not know they existed.” “We worked together to get things done as long as we could, but she decided to let me go in the end. This situation has helped me understand better the importance of clear communication. I’m eager to start again in a new setting where I’d be a better fit.” Another piece of advice the counselor gave me was how to handle that dreaded box on the online application (often required), asking if you have ever been fired or asked to leave a job. Her advice was to type “To Be Discussed at Interview,” but only if required. Related: 5 Good Reasons for Leaving a Job (And How to Explain Why You Left During a Job Interview) As you approach the job market again after a job firing, being prepared to answer why this happened is crucial for preparing for the interview process. Whether you do this on your own or consult with a professional, being prepared will help you confidently step in front of the hiring manager. If you’ve already made it past the application and phone screening, then they must want to hear more about you. A blemish or two on your record—presented honestly and as a learning experience—shouldn’t deter you from getting that position. I have grown as a person—both professionally and personally—from a job loss and now feel more confident in interviews than ever before. More Career Articles from My Life, I Guess:This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/how-to-explain-a-firing-in-a-future-job-interview/ What started as an online video sharing platform by three PayPal employees, YouTube has grown into a $15 billion-a-year business. Co-founder Jawed Karim published the first video, “Me at the zoo.” The platform has over 800 million videos now. YouTube users, both content creators and viewers, are worldwide. To put things into perspective, almost half of the global internet users access YouTube every month. It has 2.1 billion users worldwide watching videos ranging from how to do “things” from gardening to comedy, music, and entertainment. Based on the user base and popularity, YouTube is one of the best platforms to make money online. If you enjoy creating content and want to earn extra money following your passion, you should learn how to make money on YouTube. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you different ways of making money on YouTube and a bonus tip on how you can make money on YouTube without making videos. Basic SetupLet’s first get the basics out of the way. These are the minimum setup you need to start making money on YouTube. YouTube ChannelThe first thing you need is a YouTube channel, assuming you already know your channel category. Your YouTube channel is the place where all your content lives. Now, please do not confuse it with a YouTube account. Anyone can have a YouTube account, but you need a YouTube channel to upload and share videos. A Google (Gmail) account will help you register for a YouTube account. Once you have a YouTube account, you can create a channel. Create And Upload VideosCreating and uploading videos is one of the significant ingredients of becoming a successful YouTuber. Content is key. However, it is not the most challenging part. If you’ve narrowed down your niche in your expertise industry, content ideas come readily. Also, the contents do not have to be perfect. Fineness evolves through repetition. You can refer to the top YouTubers’ early videos to understand the power of consistency and perseverance. The YouTube stars consistently upload videos and are always aiming to produce better content. The willingness to learn and apply can take your channel to a new level. Relevance is a significant element of the contents’ success. Viewers find content through a search query within or outside YouTube. Therefore, you should upload search engine optimized videos using the relevant title, description, thumbnail picture, tags, hashtags, and category. Setup a Google AdSense AccountGoogle manages ads on websites/blogs and YouTube through Google AdSense. You must associate your YouTube channel to an approved Google AdSense account to get paid. Google AdSense will hold your payment till the threshold and then payout through direct deposit or mail-in check. Participate in YouTube Partner Program (YPP)YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is a partnership agreement between the content creator and YouTube to the YouTube’s terms and conditions for videos ads. You must join the YouTube Partner Program to start monetizing your channel. You can join the program through YouTube studio. YouTube does not allow everyone to join its partner program. Your channel must meet the following requirements to be eligible for YPP:
Once you are on board with the YouTube Partner Program, you can enable display ads on your videos. Your channel will start earning revenue immediately with little to no setup time. Different Ways To Make Money on YouTubeWhile YouTube ad revenue maybe the majority of all earnings, it is not the only way to earn money on YouTube. There are many creative ways to make money on YouTube. Below, I’ll discuss six effective ways of making money on YouTube and the YouTube ads. YouTube AdsYouTube advertising revenue is the primary method of making money on YouTube. Once you’re eligible to monetize your channel, you can start generating revenue through display ads. There are four different video ad types based on the ad format. They are:
Based on their internal algorithm, YouTube determines the ad type to display on videos. The content creator has no control over the display ad besides turning it on or off for monetization. How Much Money Do You Make Per 1,000 Views on YouTube?The earnings per 1,000 views (RPM) depend on video length, content category, language, and geographical location. It ranges from a few cents to 15 dollars. RPM represents the total earnings based on the video ads. It is not the amount content creators receive. YouTube only pays 55% of the net revenue through ads and takes 45% of the share. YouTube does not pay per video views, although a video with million views has higher earning potential than the one with fewer views. The total monetized playbacks determine the creator’s earnings rather than mere watch time. Nevertheless, ads are still the easiest way of making money on YouTube. Once set up, it becomes a semi-passive, if not wholly passive, income source. You’ll make money while sleeping. Affiliate MarketingAffiliate marketing has been around for decades. It comprises earning an online referral commission through an affiliated brand or product recommendation. The referral may be a sale, sign-ups, leads, or downloads. Affiliate marketing is one of the quickest ways to start making money online. You can get started with it immediately with no products to sell, zero-cost sign-ups, and a relatively short wait time. YouTube provides an incredible platform to promote affiliate links. You can add affiliate links to your video descriptions during uploads right away. You can get started right away, even if the channel is pending YouTube Partner Program approval. “How to” channels and product review channels produce the best results with affiliate marketing. They already have videos related to the products and can make honest recommendations. You can earn commissions through sales. Channel MembershipsChannel memberships are another great way of supplementing your YouTube earnings. It is a YouTube channel subscription feature that lets your loyal fans join your channel for a monthly fee. You can offer subscription perks and levels to the fans. It can be anywhere from immediate access to the member-only contents, live streams, and community posts to badges and emojis. Channel membership is only available to eligible content creators that are part of the YouTube Partner Program. Kids’ channels do not qualify for the YouTube membership feature. YouTube Patreon is another method third-party membership program. Patreon supports creating membership levels with perks for sign-ups like YouTube channel memberships. Content creators use Patreon to receive donations from their fans. YouTube Merchandise (Merch) ShelfA merch shelf displays content creators’ branded merchandise on their YouTube channel. This YouTube feature allows creators to sell their merchandise to potential customers without leaving their channel. It is available only to the creator with more than 10,000 subscribers and is eligible for monetization. You can activate “Merch” under the “monetization” section on YouTube studio. YouTube lets you organize your shop through third-party platforms like Spreadshop and Spring and then connect them to display products. Promote Business and Drive DalesYouTube is the second largest search engine. Over 2 billion users are on the platform every year. Therefore, it is a perfect platform to promote your product or service. YouTube attracts businesses to showcase their products, educate potential customers, generate leads, and drive sales. Business YouTube channels help companies to reach a larger audience. It will eventually help you convert visitors into customers. Super Chat and Super StickersSuper chat and super stickers are highlighted text and emojis that a viewer can select and send to the content creator for a fee during live streams and premieres. The Super chat text or Super sticker emojis are pinned to the top of the message and displays the sender’s name and donation amount in color (Color depends on the donation amount). Super chat and Super stickers promote interaction between the content creators and fans. It also provides an additional source of income for the creator during the live stream. It is one of the fun ways of making money on YouTube. YouTube Premium and ShortsYouTube Premium is a paid subscription program where subscribers enjoy ad-free YouTube content. That does not mean YouTube will not pay content creators for the views from paid subscribers. YouTube will share the revenue with the content creators. The content creators make money even if no ads are displayed. YouTube premium has features like video downloads and background play. Viewers tend to consume more content if they’re not interrupted by ads. It is also beneficial for the content creator because they also make money for background plays and downloads. Youtube has set up a YouTube Short Fund of $100million to reward creators for creating engaging YouTube Shorts. The best part about the fund is that you need not be eligible for the YouTube Partner program. By taking out the minimum subscriber threshold requirement, YouTube made it easier for anyone to compete for the fund. A creator can get anything from $100 to $10,000 through YouTube Shorts. Related: 11 of the Cheapest Streaming Services for the Cord-Cutters How To Make Money on YouTube Without Making Videos?It might come as a surprise for most because, technically, you must create your videos to upload to your YouTube channel for monetization. While this is generally true, you do not have to make your own videos for YouTube. Stock Footage and Free Audio LibraryMany stock footage websites are available online, either free or nominal subscription-based. Like videos, you can find websites with huge audio libraries. YouTube also has a free audio library that you can use for any videos without restriction. If you pair the stock footage with free audio and/or add voice-over, you’ve got an excellent video to upload on your YouTube channel and start monetization. YouTube Videos Under Creative Commons LicenseYouTube creative commons (CC) license permits the content creator to use the video on YouTube with a credit back to the original creator. Without any copyright strikes, the creator can edit, add, modify, and upload to their YouTube Channel. The content creator can monetize these just like their videos. You should select high-engagement videos under creative commons to earn money from the ad revenue. YouTube’s database has huge trendy videos under creative commons license that you can download, tweak and re-upload to your channel. As I discussed under the Basic setup above, you have to make sure the video is discoverable through the search by adding relevant titles, descriptions, and tags. Trending videos provide a boost in views. You know these contents work because they are already performing well. Fair Use on YouTubeBased on YouTube, “Fair use” is “a legal doctrine that says you can reuse copyright-protected material under certain circumstances without getting permission from the copyright owner. “The term “fair use” is contextual, but basically, the work of commentary, research, teaching, and news reporting falls under fair use in the United States. You can build a YouTube channel using clips from popular movies, songs, research, or news reporting under fair use. Disclaimer: This is not legal advice, and you should seek one if you are not sure about any content to use under “fair use.” Movie reviews and analysis videos are top-rated on YouTube. Socialblade estimates “Screen Rant,” a YouTube channel on entertainment, makes estimated earnings between 100K and 1M US dollars. The channel discusses plots, theories, and reviews about the movie with jump-cut clips from the film itself, and he has been able to do it without any copyright strikes. The Bottom LineYouTube is an excellent platform for starting a side hustle and generating extra income. It gives you an option to take your passion to the internet world free of cost. You can get started immediately with no upfront cost. Once the channel grows, the side hustle can become a full-time income. All modern smartphones are equipped with video recording capabilities enough for the YouTube platform. You can become a YouTuber without leaving your day job. It is incredibly flexible and does not cost a thing to get started. And now you know how to make money on YouTube; you might as well try it out. This post originally appeared on Savoteur. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/how-to-make-money-on-youtube/ You’ve decided that it’s time to quit your job. Maybe you’ve accepted a better position elsewhere, or perhaps you’re leaving to escape a toxic work environment. One of the next things you have to do is tell your boss – which isn’t always easy. While there are some instances where quitting on the spot is the right thing to do, the majority of the time, you’ll hand in your resignation letter and give your two weeks notice. Knowing how to write a resignation letter is important when planning to leave your current job. You need to give your employer something in writing even if you’ve already let your boss know you’ll be moving on. It helps keep everything organized and initiates a paper trail that most organizations need to start the process of finding your replacement. Deciding whether or not to resign can be difficult. Once you are sure, the following tips will help ensure you leave on good terms. What is a Resignation Letter?A resignation letter or resignation email is a formal record for HR and your employee file that you are quitting. It gives your employer notice of when your last day of work will be so that they have time to find a replacement or train someone else to cover the duties they hire someone. It is also a traceable record of the timeline needed for things like payroll. Handing in your resignation and following your contract or company policy will ensure you get the exit benefits you are entitled to, such as severance pay. It also maintains a professional relationship between yourself and your employer, which means you can use them as a reference in the future. Related: Why You Should Apply For Unemployment, Even If You Quit or Were Fired How to Write a Resignation Letter In 7 Easy StepsYour resignation letter should be courteous and professional. Remember that this is not the time to vent about your horrible boss or co-workers or make accusations. Keep the letter positive, and focus on the fact that you are moving on to new opportunities. It should also be brief. It is best to keep it short (two to three paragraphs) and to the point. 1. Start by clearly stating your intention to resign.There is no need to beat around the bush – state your intention to resign clearly and directly. Don’t use vague language or bury the point of your letter. 2. Give notice for your last day.Give a specific date for your last day of work so your employer has time to plan for your departure and find a replacement. Giving two weeks’ notice is typical; however, this is not a legal requirement in most cases. (Please consult an employment lawyer if you have any questions or concerns.) Your employee handbook or contract may specify a different notice period that you should follow. You may decide to give more notice if, for example, you are in the middle of a big project or want to finish the season or term. On the other hand, you might provide less than two weeks’ notice if you need to leave sooner. Either way, clearly state when your last day will be. 3. Decide whether or not you’ll include the reason you are resigning.You do not have to explain why you are resigning, but should you? There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as it depends on your specific situation. Doing so can help you maintain a positive relationship with your former employer, which is beneficial if you need to use them as a reference. If you are resigning for personal reasons, such as relocating, or you don’t mind sharing, offer a brief explanation but don’t go into great detail. However, suppose you are resigning due to adverse circumstances, such as hating your job or receiving criticisms from your boss. In that case, it is probably best to keep this information to yourself. If you are unsure, it is always best to err on the side of caution and leave this information out. 4. Offer your assistance.Offering to train or provide training materials for your replacement will help make the transition period easier for everyone involved. 5. Say thank you.Even if you are not happy with your current situation, remember to be grateful for your opportunities. Thank your employer for their time, and wish them continued success in the future. Saying thank you is a courteous way to end your letter. 6. Add your contact information.Include a way they can contact you, such as your email address or phone number if they need to reach you about any outstanding items. 7. Sign and date the letter.If you submit your resignation over email, you don’t need to worry about dating your letter, as it will be time stamped. Resignation Letter TemplateNow that you know what to include in a resignation letter, it’s time to start writing. Use this resignation letter template to get started: Dear [Employer], I am writing to inform you of my resignation from my position as [position] with [company]. My last workday will be [date], and I have given [notice period] notice. I want to thank you for the opportunity to work with [company]. I have appreciated the experience and skills I have gained during my time here. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach me at [email or phone number]. Sincerely, [Your name] Yes, your resignation letter really can be that simple! Or, you could use the more formal business letter format and include your full address, the company’s full address, etc. Who to Give Your Resignation Letter ToNow that you have your resignation letter written, you have to give it to your employer. For most people, this is the hardest part. Ideally, you should schedule a meeting with your supervisor when you have decided to quit. This meeting gives you a chance to deliver the news in person, have a conversation about your departure, and answer any questions they may have. However, you may not be able to meet in person. Or, if you are leaving on bad terms, you may want to avoid any confrontation. Resigning over email is less formal but is also acceptable. If you choose this route, it’s wise to copy HR on the email when you send it. You should still be prepared for your manager to request a meeting with you to discuss your leaving the company. If you are resigning from a remote position or have a problematic relationship with your boss, you can also choose to have the conversation over the phone. You will likely need to submit your resignation to them and the HR department in writing afterward. While some resigning methods are considered more formal and appropriate than others, the important thing is that you give your employer as much notice as you can. Related: 5 Good Reasons for Leaving a Job (And How to Explain Why You Left During a Job Interview) What To Do After Handing In Your Resignation LetterYour manager or HR representative will advise you of the procedures you will follow to resign officially. The process typically includes filling out some paperwork and returning company property. Next, start tying up any loose ends at work. Complete any unfinished projects, clean out your desk, and start saying goodbye to your colleagues. You will likely spend your last two weeks training your replacement and handing off any unfinished work to them. If they haven’t found a suitable replacement, your manager may ask you to create training materials to ensure a smooth transition. Your coworkers will quickly realize that you’re leaving, even before being told. The chances are high that someone will ask you why you are resigning or what you’ll be doing next. Again, it’s best to prepare a brief answer that only discloses what you want to share. Thank your coworkers for their help and support, and exchange contact information with anyone you would like to keep in touch with. In some cases, surviving your last few days can be challenging. For example, in a toxic work environment, your coworkers might resent that they have to take on your workload, or your manager may exclude you. Again, it is important to be professional and respectful during this time and still do the job you are getting paid to do. You should also be prepared to leave immediately upon telling your employer you are resigning. Your manager does not have to honor your notice period and could tell you that your last day is today. Final ThoughtsQuitting a job can lead to all sorts of emotions, so take some time to process and reflect on your decision. Even if you are moving on to something better, it’s a significant change in your life. Focus on the positive aspects of your decision to leave and what your next opportunity can bring. If you can, take a few days off before starting your new job. Spend time with family and friends, take up a new hobby, or just relax. That can be stressful and challenging, so take care of yourself. Telling your boss you are resigning is not always easy, but following these steps will help ensure you leave on good terms. This post originally appeared on Savoteur. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/how-to-write-a-resignation-letter/ The internet presents employees with a dream scenario: the ability to make money from anywhere, at any time. For many people, though, this remains an elusive concept. After all, just 30 years ago, the internet didn’t even exist! If you had a job, you went to the office. The idea you could earn a living at home in your pajamas or on a tropical beach while sipping margaritas would have been laughable to employees in the 80s, but now, it’s a reality that many people are starting to pursue. Nevertheless, the novelty involved can make it hard to know where to start. So how do you leverage the internet to generate a full-time income? That’s the question we’re going to answer today. Read on for a comprehensive look at making money online for beginners. 1. Perform Your Current Role RemotelyOne of the simplest ways to start making extra money online is to negotiate a remote role with your current employer. Of course, you may be in this position already due to COVID-19, in which case you could request to make the change permanent. Even if you’re still working in the office, you might be surprised at how amenable your boss is to the idea. Prove to them you can deliver the same results from afar, and you could be making money online in no time. There are numerous benefits to this approach. For instance, doing your current job remotely means there’s no need to retrain. You already understand the nuances of the role, allowing you to pick up at home (or abroad) where you left off in the office. You also avoid the stress and uncertainty of changing roles or applying for new online positions, which some people face when starting online. 2. Become a FreelancerFreelance work is another tried-and-tested option for anyone wondering how to make money online for beginners. The idea is simple: you work on a self-employed basis, lending whatever skills and expertise you have to clients who need such support. While you lack the stability of a monthly paycheck, you become your own boss in a given discipline; operating outside the constraints of a full-time contract. There’s no end to the possible roles you can perform online as a freelancer. From writing and marketing to graphic design and administrative support, you’ll undoubtedly find a freelance position to match your talents, interests, and experience. 3. Become a ConsultantConsultancy would be a good choice for people who enjoy their current role but can’t or don’t want to perform it remotely. A prime example of freelancing is you’d start working for yourself in the industry – marketing your services to clients who wish to leverage your insights without hiring someone full-time. The pay does vary depending on factors such as your level of experience and reputation, but there’s no denying that consulting can be a lucrative way to earn cash online. Whether you bill by the hour or project, companies are willing to pay top dollar for skilled consultants who can help them out of a bind. 4. Become a Virtual AssistantAnother possible freelance option is that virtual assistants do precisely what their title implies: working as an assistant online rather than in the office. While the salary is unlikely to get anywhere close to a consultant’s, it’s a much more accessible way to make money online. Generally speaking, you don’t require specific skills or years of experience in a given discipline. If you’re conscientious, good on a computer, and know your way around a spreadsheet, you could start advertising your services as a virtual assistant today. Websites like Fiverr and Upwork are good places to do exactly that. These platforms enable freelancers of any kind to promote their in-demand skills to the countless potential clients who use them. Gaining traction in the so-called “gig economy” can take time, but it remains a viable (and popular) option. 5. Tutoring OnlineOnline tutoring has risen to prominence in recent years to make money online. So whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned professional, budding students are looking for your support at this moment! Websites like TutorMe and Skooli help tutors find clients and take a commission. Classes are usually via video call, and, as you’d expect, what you teach depends on your specific skillset. Language tutors are in particular demand, though, with international students hoping to improve their English. If you’re a proficient English speaker and acquire a qualification (such as TEFL) in teaching it, you could soon be making money online. 6. Create and Sell Online CoursesSelling courses online doesn’t just offer a means of earning an income online. Unlike the options we’ve discussed thus far, it provides a way to make a passive income online. In other words, you don’t have to trade your time for money. The premise is simple. You compile all of the insights you’ve accrued on a given topic into a course that people can do on their computers. You then post it on course-sharing websites like Udemy or sell it directly through your website! However, don’t expect the money to start rolling in overnight. Countless people are selling courses online already (or attempting to), which makes competition fierce. Success takes time, requires strong marketing skills, and usually involves developing a loyal following beforehand. 7. Write and Sell E-BooksThis idea of making money online for beginners follows on from the last. Another popular source of passive income, writing and selling e-books, involves a similar set of challenges to creating and selling digital courses. But, again, competition is intense, standing out from the crowd isn’t easy, and success takes time! But don’t let that put you off. For people with a penchant for writing, e-books present another powerful opportunity to earn a living. Thanks to platforms like Amazon, it’s never been easier to self-publish a book. Furthermore, if you have a loyal social media following or can generate enough interest via a strong marketing strategy, you can and will make money online this way. 8. Start a BlogBlogging has long been a go-to strategy for online entrepreneurs. While establishing a lucrative blog can take years of hard work, the financial rewards justify the time and effort. Thanks to sponsored posts, digital ads, and affiliate marketing (more on this later), webmasters in any niche stand to earn a sizeable income that’s almost entirely passive. Another advantage to starting a blog is that it entails minimal risk. Basic web hosting packages cost a few dollars each month, and the rest is good old-fashioned sweat equity. Platforms like WordPress and Squarespace make the design process straightforward too, which means you don’t have to be a graphic design grandmaster to create a modern and eye-catching blog. Related: Want to Learn the Secret of How to Make Money Blogging? Join a Mastermind Group! 9. Start a YouTube ChannelContinuing with the theme of content creation, YouTube offers another fantastic method of income generation to anyone who enjoys being in front of a camera. Upon gaining 1,000 subscribers and getting 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months, the YouTube Partner Program lets creators monetize their channel with paid advertisements. As your channel grows, you can also attract sponsorship deals from brands who’ll pay you to promote their products/services. Once again, this doesn’t happen overnight. However, for creative people who love filmmaking, opportunities to make money online don’t get much better. Likewise, YouTube’s immense popularity makes it relatively easy to attract viewers. 10. Start Affiliate MarketingAffiliate marketing involves promoting a brand’s products or services on a commission basis. So every time someone purchases through your referral, you get paid! The primary hurdle to overcome with affiliate marketing is two-fold: First, you have to build a following, and second, you have to cultivate a relationship with them whereby they both trust and want to hear from you. Neither is easy- especially in a world where people have grown tired of spam, snake-oil sales, and mass marketing. Affiliate marketing’s 100% possible and can be incredibly profitable when it’s done right. Related: The Secret to Creating Gift Guides that Make Money with Affiliate Marketing 11. Flipping Items on eBay for ProfitThere may be profitable items that you can flip and resell on eBay for profit right in your neighborhood. When the weather is nice, you can almost always find garage sales within a few miles of your home. Often at garage sales, people are looking to get rid of stuff and don’t consider the actual value of the items. That is a great way to turn a hobby into a side hustle. Bring your smartphone, and as you are browsing items at garage sales, you can also look up how much they could potentially sell on eBay. Then you can purchase those items and list them for sale. You might be surprised how many things you can find at garage sales that you can flip online for a profit. How to Make Money Online for BeginnersThe World Wide Web offers employees a compelling alternative to the usual office-based environment. Suddenly, the world is your oyster. With a computer and a Wi-Fi connection, you can work from home, your favorite coffee shop, or a tropical paradise on the other side of the planet. There are so many online business ideas. The tricky part now, particularly for someone entirely new to remote work, is recognizing the available roles. We hope these ideas on making money online for beginners have been helpful if that’s a struggle you can relate to. But, believe it or not, this list only scratches the surface of the slew of online money-making opportunities nowadays. So, if none of these options appeals to you, don’t worry. There are dozens more waiting to be discovered. This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/how-to-make-money-online-for-beginners/ Are you ready to spring into financial stability by giving yourself a budget challenge to complete and follow? What challenges are you facing currently? Are you spending too much each week? How do you know how much you should be spending and saving? It is time to dig deep and figure out precisely what is going on with your finances and get things going positively. How Do You Start Your Budget Challenge?Thinking about the process of setting a budget can be overwhelming for you, and that is understandable. If you have been spending without planning first, it can seem like a colossal task, but it will be a much more approachable challenge if you sit down and get organized. There are so many things to look at; it helps to brainstorm and think about financial goals you have for yourself to start. Once you have goals in mind, you can create a game plan and set up your challenge and get out of any financial mess! Step 1: What Do You Currently Struggle With Financially?Now that you are focused and ready, it is time to start thinking about what you can change regarding your financial situation. It can seem like a lot to think about if you do not go into it in an organized way, so here are some things to start with as you organize your budget challenge:
Now create your lists so you can move on to step 2! Step 2: What Are Your Goals?Are there things you want to do but don’t have the liquidity to do? When you decide on your goals for your spending habits, you can also plan to determine your savings goals. An emergency fund is crucial for financial safety. If you don’t currently have one or want it to be higher, this is an excellent goal to set for yourself. Even if you only have room to save $5 a paycheck for it, it will grow over time and get to where you want it to if you stick with it and save! The same thing goes for anything else you need to budget for overtime. Has it been a while since you got away? Start a vacation fund and save a little out of each check so you can finally go! Try starting your list of goals with three savings goals and three spending reduction goals. Doing this will help you stay organized and will help you achieve what you want with your finances. Keeping a spreadsheet with your goals to document how you are doing each month is also helpful in keeping up with your budget challenge. Step 3: Time To Get Started!Now that you are organized and have a plan, you can get started! Keeping up with your goals can be challenging at first because you will be breaking old habits and developing new ones. You must work through your old habits as you create new ones and not fall back into old routines. Do you usually stop at Starbucks on the way to work? I love Starbucks too, but does that expensive cup of coffee fit into your new budget? Or can you make coffee at home and put that $5 into your vacation fund? What else are you spending on weekly? Spending too much on lotto, dining out, ordering in, shopping, etc.? Now that you know what you need to cut out, stay consistent. Once you reach your new goals, you will be able to set new ones and keep your financial growth going! Are You Thinking You Can’t Create Your Budget Challenge Because You Have Debt?You can tackle debt this way as well! Add your debt amounts into your monthly expense list to make sure you pay at least the minimum each month. As you clear out your budget, you will be able to make room in your new payments to overpay your minimus and chunk out your debt. Depending on your situation, you can also look into debt consolidation or negotiation. There are several ways to approach debt consolidation and negotiation. Keep in mind that if you have debt in collections, you will be able to negotiate out of it and come up with settlements if you choose to. Related: How I Paid Off Half of My $50,000 Debt in Under a Year (It’s Probably Not What You Think) When you call to speak to the debt collectors, don’t let them bully you into paying then and there. You have negotiation power when it comes to negotiations because, by the time the debt gets to the collection agencies, it has been purchased for less than it was initially worth! Make sure you negotiate for the lowest price, and if it is too much to take care of in one payment, set up a payment plan with the collection agency and add it to your new budget. Like your savings accounts, you can overpay and chunk it out over time. If you have debt but it isn’t in collections, you can consider debt consolidation by setting up a balance transfer, refinance, or personal loan. The reason to do this rather than keeping the debt on various lines of credit is to save on minimum payments and interest. Even if you qualify for a higher interest rate, it will still most likely cost you less in interest payments over time because you will have one payment and one interest rate rather than adding up all of your minimum plus interest every month. Always do your calculations first before committing to anything. Also, make sure you can keep up with the monthly payment in your new budget. It is never too late to start budgeting. Setting up a budget challenge for yourself is a great way to set goals for yourself, so you can push yourself into a better situation and keep you growing from there! This article was originally appeared on Hello Sensible. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/start-a-budget-challenge/ Are you fresh out of college and unsure about what job opportunities are suitable for you? Or do you want to make a career change? A career quiz can help you discover which career would best suit your personality, skillset, and interests. Understanding what career options work best for you is crucial. Without a test to help you find a suitable career path, there is a chance you might end up regretting your choice and feeling unfulfilled at the workplace. Read on to learn why you should take a career aptitude test and discover some highly-rated test platforms that can help with suitable career choices. What is a Career Aptitude Test?According to Statista, more than half of the U.S population feel frustrated at their jobs (sometimes, often, and very often). It would be best if you didn’t have to endure or “manage” your job when you can enjoy it. A career aptitude or personality assessment test is a tool that helps participants discover their interests, passion, personality type, and suitability for a career or job. These tests also measure one’s probability of succeeding or performing optimally in any occupation. Career tests are helpful because they don’t only tell you what jobs aren’t suitable for you but can also help you choose a career based on your answers and strengths. There is a caveat, though – you have to answer all questions honestly. No half-truths! It is not an exam, and there are no wrong answers. While career assessment tests are not 100% accurate, they offer objective and sound advice to match your career interests and aid your career choice. Why Take a Career Aptitude Test?Many people choose careers or jobs based on the size of the paycheck or other benefits, but that’s a myopic way to determine a suitable career. You should always prioritize your mental health, passion, interest, values, etc. And an assessment test will help you determine which career path suits your personality type. The following are some reasons to take a career test before going job-hunting or making a career transition. Helps You Understand Your StrengthsThat is arguably the most crucial aspect to consider before choosing any career. Career tests help identify your unique strengths and attributes and explore your interests. With this, you can choose the right career path. It would help if you always played to your strengths and skills, but you can’t do that if you’re unsure what those strengths are. If this is your experience, you need an aptitude test. Some people even have a misguided notion about their strengths. After taking a non-subjective aptitude test, the truth becomes apparent. Helps You Avoid FrustrationNot just frustration, it can help with depression too! Every day, people get burnt out at their jobs, regretting their decisions and looking for an escape. You don’t want to invest time and other resources in pursuing a career that doesn’t bring internal peace and fulfillment. If you want to enjoy your career, an aptitude test should be part of your decision-making process. Since these tests factor in your strengths, personality, and interests, it’s unlikely you’d get harmful recommendations. Remember that frustration at the office can lead to frustration at home and in your personal life. So taking a career quiz is one of the best decisions to find the right job and achieve career satisfaction. Saves Time and MoneyYou can make lost money again. Time? Nope. If you believe both resources are essential, isn’t it a great idea to do something that helps you save both? When you don’t know the best career to pursue, you will spend resources pursuing anything. In exploring and “figuring things out,” you’re losing time and money (and even patience). If you’re not careful, this could lead to frustration too. Now let’s flip it. Knowing the career that suits your personality type means you’d begin to invest your resources in that field. You will also have laser focus which is crucial for success. So, which is better? Go about it blindly, waste time and money, or get reliable data and focus your energy? Choose the latter! Get Objective ResultsWant the best advice? Don’t ask yourself or those around you – friends, family, (and probably the odd passerby). These groups of people will likely be biased, affecting the advice they give to you. Don’t get it wrong; their inputs should count, but let it not be the all in all. Career tests are scientifically objective, and these tools will give you actionable results based on your interests. You won’t only get actionable results but information that isn’t tainted due to affiliation or external factors. And that’s why these tests are highly rated. If you compliment your instincts and friendly advice with the results from aptitude tests, you’re more likely to make the right move. Career Tests are Not DefinitivePeople who get the best results from career assessment tests do multiple tests, and this is because aptitude tests are not definitive or final, or absolute. And so, it is best to try other tests to get a better overall assessment of one’s personality. If the data is consistent across two or three tests, you know what you’re supposed to do. So if you’ve been holding yourself from taking a test because it may not reflect your actual personality traits and career tilts, this settles it. Confidence BoosterThere’s nothing as empowering and motivating as knowing one’s purpose and what one loves doing. It is a massive confidence booster. You’d find that you have more commitment and passion for pursuing your career. That’s what assessment tests can help you achieve. Confidence plays an integral role in helping you excel in your career and workplace. The more confident you are, the more success you will likely achieve. Confidence also helps with decision-making and handling career pressure. Take a test today and boost your confidence. Prepares You for SuccessCompleting a career test, discovering your true nature and career path, and following through will help you succeed. It is almost inevitable that you will enjoy the experience, having gained clarity, confidence, and purpose. If you have atychiphobia (fear of failure), taking a test can help alleviate that fear and position you for success. Consider taking a career test today. Note: It is best to work with a career counselor/psychologist to help analyze the test result and ensure you’re making the right choice. Career coaching is underrated but has many benefits. How to Find Free Career Aptitude Test PlatformsThere are numerous career tests online, and we will briefly discuss the best free ones below. CareerExplorerCareerExplorer is one of the best assessment tools anyone can use to discover themselves and career compatibility. The company boldly claims they help unlock the future you. After taking the assessment, the platform will suggest careers for you to consider. There are also bits of information on each one to guide you. You can even browse industry options, from health to arts, sports, music, etc. Click the Take The Test button at the top of the screen. 123 Career TestThis career assessment platform is another popular and reliable option for you. This tool will help you discover what occupations and work environments best suit your personality. 123 Career Test also provides recommendations you can use after taking the test. And you don’t have to wait for results; you get them as soon as you complete the process. Read the test instructions on the homepage before proceeding to take the test. Truity Career Personality ProfilerYou can find a career you love with the help of Truity career profiler. This tool will assess your interests and skills and match them to real-life profitable jobs. This platform also offers a unique photo quiz section that helps you determine your ideal career through photos. You have to choose the images that appeal to you, and the system will do the rest. CareerHunterCareerHunter helps you hunt down and match you with your ideal career. There are six tests involved in this process, but note that only the first one is free. If you decide to proceed with the other tests, you’d be required to pay a fee. However, how the first test is set up can help you discover your interests and identify suitable jobs. The first test entails 27 questions and 135 statements about work stuff, and it is a comprehensive test and can take up to 15 minutes to complete. For those who want to complete all six tests, the tool will help you discover your ideal career and suggest up to 250 career paths. CareerHunter also provides detailed information about each one, including course recommendations, qualifications, salary, etc. In a nutshell, you get a complete report package to help with self-discovery. Closing ThoughtsCareer aptitude tests are instrumental in helping people discover their personality traits and match them with ideal careers. Whether you’re a student, a job seeker, looking to change your job, or you want to understand your current job compatibility better; assessment tests are helpful. Consider taking a test today and identify your ideal career. This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/career-aptitude-test/ |
ABOUT USMy Life, I Guess is a personal finance and career blog focusing on what it's like being in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and surviving unemployment. We also offer advice and support for others in similar situations - including a FREE library of career & job search resources. We help others find jobs, facilitate career changes, and learn about money and self-care. Follow for financial tips, career tips, personal development, and more. Archives
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