The working parent trap bloggers top tips

The working parent trap bloggers top tips by Michael Cheary Feel like you’re fighting a losing battle when it comes to juggling your work and family life?Whether you work from home, you work flexible hours or you’re back in full-time employment, finding the perfect work/life balance can be a struggle. And when you have young children, knowing how to switch off after work and enjoy some dedicated downtime can be easier said than done.We spoke to some of the UK’s most popular parent bloggers to get their advice on how to achieve the perfect balance, and learn more about their top tips for working parents:How to deal with childcare dilemmas:Question: Do you have any tips for balancing childcare and work responsibilities?Becky Gower is a Social Media Manager, living in Kent. She has two children.BG:  Make sure that  you use your childcare effectively. Sometimes a Childminder can give the flexibility that a nursery cannot so it may be worth looking into.Emma Button is a mother of two, and writes software for the fin ancial services industry.EB:  Dont ever feel like you have to stay at work longer than the normal working hours.   I have found that making a hard stop at the end of the day has not only helped me ensure that I find time to spend with my daughters in the evening, but it has benefited my career too Ive learned to make sure that every minute of my working day is effective so that I can get all of my work done without having to stay late.Tom Briggs is a freelance writer, father, blogger and podcaster, based in East Sussex.    TB:  Defining boundaries for yourself is essential. Inevitably youll spend more of your waking hours at work and, however fantastic your colleagues are, its no substitute for family time. Try and ensure that you dont bring work home with you if at all possible and, similarly, its essential to keep family issues at home people quickly get annoyed with colleagues who are spending more time in the office sorting out family plans than working.The Parent Trap:Questi on: In terms of your work and career, whats the most difficult thing about being a working parent?BG: I think the most difficult thing is learning to switch off, especially when working from home.   I have had to make an effort not to think about the children too much when I am trying to work and not to get too distracted by work when I am with them.   The boundaries often blur, but I think it’s always best to try and maintain some distinct lines.EB: Switching off is a challenge, but I also find myself all too frequently applying the same approaches to managing my team as I do to parenting let’s just say parenting tactics dont always work!TB: The lack of time with your family is the toughest thing. You feel it particularly in the winter months when you dont seem to see your children in daylight until the weekend and then youre really tired and feel like youre letting them down.Learning to say no is also hard, especially when working from home or jobseeking. Even when I think I h ave a few minutes to concentrate, my sons inevitably want to see what Im up to, and it can be difficult to refuse a bit of impromptu playtime.Kids say the funniest things:Question: What’s the most memorable experience or episode you’ve had as a working parent?BG: During an important conference call with a client whilst working from home, my son yelled very loudly to me that he needed to use the toilet â€" unfortunately, they were not his exact words…EB: In our office, we sometimes have grapes, strawberries, sweets and chocolates on a Friday afternoon and the girls would often look forward to coming to the office simply to help themselves to treats.   Shortly after my eldest daughter started school, one of the teaching assistants asked me what I do for a living.   She was very confused because my daughter had told her that I go to work to eat fruit and chocolates all day!TB: Having to go in to work when both my sons due dates were fast approaching sticks in the memory. At the t ime, I worked in the middle of nowhere and relied on a combination of a 20-minute bus ride (which was only every 90 minutes and highly unreliable) followed by a 45-minute train journey. It was nerve-shredding and, every time I got a text message, I jumped out of my seat. Fortunately, my older son arrived in the middle of the night and my wife went into labour with his younger brother at breakfast time, but until their arrivals I was constantly fretting about missing it all!Top tips:Question: Overall, what are your top tips for working parents?BG: Go with your instincts you will know the limit if you are working too much and there may come a point where you feel ready to take on more. And getting friends to help out with childcare can be a lifesaver, whether they do the nursery run some days to give you extra time in the morning, or you take it in turns to collect the little ones from preschool and bring them home for a snack allowing both of you the chance to work a bit later.EB: Dont let anybody make you feel guilty.   Everyone has different reasons why they want or need to work so stand by your decision and do what you need to do, not what others think you should do.TB: Striking a work/life balance is essential. Attempt to go to bed as early as possible during the week and ensure that quality time at the weekend is just that. If you have the type of job that does spill over from the standard nine to five, using time to answer emails while commuting (if possible) saves some precious family time too.Our top tipsHere are some of own top tips on how to achieve the perfect working parent work/life balance:Switch off No matter how hard it seems, always attempt to draw a line between work and home lifeBe realistic â€" know your limits, both at work and at home. Things will be easier if you don’t expect too muchDon’t feel guilty â€" and don’t measure yourself by anyone else’s expectationsUse your friends and family whenever and wherever you can (in the n icest way possible)Never get too busy to enjoy being a parent â€" it might be hard at times, but it’s worth it…Here are a few more tips on how to achieve the perfect work/life balance.The bloggers:Becky Gower (@mummyadventure) is freelance writer and Social Media Manager, who lives in a rather remote corner of Kent. She blogs at The Mummy Adventure.Emma Button (@jumblymummy) is a Software Writer and mummy blogger, based in Berkshire. She’s blogged for brands from Persil to Leap Frog, and is part of the Tots 100 blogging community. Her blog can be found here: http://www.mellowmummy.co.uk/.Tom Briggs (@DiaryOfTheDad) is a Digital Content Editor. He’s also an award winning blogger at his own blog, Diary of the Dad, and part of the @LoveAllDads podcast team, who recently won the innovate category at the Brilliance in Blogging Awards. Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

No leads to Yes! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

No leads to Yes! - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Most professional salespeople freeze when they hear the word, no, let alone those seeking to advance their career or trying to build their entrepreneurship.  The next time you unexpectedly hear the word no, heed this age-old wisdom: Stop, look, and listen and then re-negotiate. Stop Quickly gain composure and strive to comprehend  what was just said.  The sad part is most salespeople kill the sale themselves by becoming argumentative.  When you hear no, there are generally several reasons for that answer. Not enough upfront research was completed regarding need, wants and desires of the client Budget wasnt asked upfront but was instead, “assumed” Generic solutions were offered rather than a customized approach The prospective client felt the sale was more important to the salesperson than truly being of service It is up to the person selling services or themself on an interview to figure out where the big question mark(s) remain. Look Take a 360-degree view of the situation.  Do you honestly believe you listened fully to what your prospect or hiring manager was telling you?  What is their face telling you right now?  Do they seem approachable to figure the situation out or do you need to move on? Listen Question and answer is always your best answer both on initial meetings  all the ways through to the end of the sales cycle, referred to as “the close”.  Upon hearing no, return with Why?  Very often there is a miscommunication that needs to be ironed out.  Delve into what you might have misunderstood, left out, and ask for suggestions.  Its quite possible further research needs to be done or the proposal revised.  When you operate in this manner, you will frequently be provided with a second opportunity to make it right and get to “Yes!” Renegotiate Before you offer alternative ideas, make certain all of the prospects ideas are listed in full.  Ask them to prioritize and then secure a targeted budget.  Ask what else needs to be in place for a decision in your favor.  Adhere to everything requested as best you can. Get a timeline for the revised proposal.  Returning with a renegotiated contract usually moves the no to Yes! Strategically Sell The best advice ever received was that one person doesn’t make the answer so. Therefore, when you are selling to a company of more than one person, ask in your first meeting, “who else will be involved in the decision making process?” Attempt to meet as many decision makers as possible, and then get them to agree to a “meeting of the minds”. The negative person may be persuaded or over-ruled by peers to move forward. Take the leadership position by directing the conversation so that you receive a consensus of what is needed, wanted and truly desired. Working in this manner will more frequently lead you to the  Smooth Sale! Strive to Improve Observing the best, self educating and subscribing to programs fast tracks performance. For example, an improved profile on LinkedIn was observed, adapted and posted which received nice comments. Learn more by clicking this link. (http://learnaboutlinkedin.com/?ap_id=Elinor_Stutz )

The Work World is a Harsh Place-Deal with It.

The Work World is a Harsh Place-Deal with It. I received a package from the fabulous GL Hoffman on Saturday with two books and a very nice hand written note. GL is the founder of the revolutionary job site Linkup.com and of the blog, What Would Dad Say. He thought Id really enjoy reading Debra Shigleys The Go-Getter Girls Guide, and he was so right! I havent been able to put this book down and therefore I will be doing a series of weekly blog posts on exceptionally useful chapters for you Go-Getter Girls. Im going to start by reviewing Chapter 2 which is titled The Work World Can Be a Cold, Hard Place- You Must Learn to Deal with It. This title alone made me so happy. For once no one is sugar coating the truth, telling you to go to HR, or saying that they are wrong and you are right. Sure, your co-workers might be jealous, catty and ridiculous but why should you care? Here are the major takeaways from Chapter 2: There are a hundred reasons why your co-workers may not like you. Stop focusing on WHY and instead make it your motivator to keep moving your career forward. Do all of your co-workers like YOU? Do you feel tension at the office? How will this new way of thinking help you? There might be some truth in your colleagues critiques. You are NOT at the top, so there is probably some truth in what they are saying. LISTEN. Fake it till you make it, sister! Walk in the office each day like you won the lottery. That feeling will get you through the tough days. Again, not every person at work is going to like you. Be prepared when going into a meeting that may result in mean spirited attacks disguised as feedback. Keep the meeting on track and if things get off course, offer to schedule a different time to discuss those issues. Your friends at work arent necesarily your friends. In some industries, they may be your competition. Keep that in mind so you arent surprised if they undermine you or disappoint you. Have you ever been double crossed by a co-worker that you thought was your friend? DO NOT GOSSIP EVER- NO EXCUSES! Politely deflect and after a few times people will stop bitching to you. This is a tough one. What tips would you have for other girls on how to handle and avoid gossip? In the same respect, stop bitching to your cubicle mate- save that for your friends and family after work hours. Try your hardest not to ever cry at work. If it does happen, dont obsess over it. Pretend it didnt happen and move on. Have you lost it at work? How did you deal? Ladies, Id love to hear about situations like this that have happened to you. Do you think Debras advice is too harsh?

How Interacting in Professional Groups on Facebook Can Help Your Brand Grow - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How Interacting in Professional Groups on Facebook Can Help Your Brand Grow - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career For years groups on Facebook have been a hub of activity, especially for brands. These are places where you can can actually help attract new Fans without paying for advertising. Groups can help build your personal brand’s visibility and create more social interactions. By engaging in groups that are relevant to your niche you can bring in professional contacts and prospects just by interacting and sharing valuable information. In order to start making new connections you need to be spending quality time in these places, and eventually launch your own professional group. Is it possible to have organic growth and reach on Facebook? The answer is most definitely yes, and the influence from groups for your personal brand is a tremendous asset to that strategy. When you become active in groups on Facebook your business is building long-lasting relationships. A simple branding image is important if you host your own group, which I highly recommend. The bottom line here is if you want to increase the activity for your Page and build more brand awareness, groups are essential to your growth. Here are several ways your business can benefit. The Benefit of Niche Facebook Groups Use these tips to create an effective networking strategy for your personal brand: Engage in active communication Groups are considered communities they allow you to discover the needs of your audience and answer some of their questions. This provides a way for your brand to forge lasting relationships through authentic interactions. Gain content topics of interest If you need to find new content ideas that speak to your audience then groups are a great place to discover what people are interested in. By sharing insights you can determine which topics get the most reactions â€" this will ultimately help you better reach your prospects by writing articles that speak directly to them. Attract attention to your events and launches Mention both events and important announcements to your group members. The approach should be different as it is still a community where people exchange ideas and information. After you have built interest your brand can then approach people in a post that is more of an announcement than a sales pitch. Cross promotion Sharing information directly from your Page and/or blog will help increase visibility, and bring in more engagement. This will help your business can engage in conversations related to the topics that you are sharing that you may not otherwise be able to do on your Page. While a Facebook Page is more focused on content, images, video, and promotions a group is all about creating meaningful conversations to build a strong community. The key is to stay focused and only join the groups where the members are numerous and active. Over time this powerful marketing strategy will flow into your other social networks as your business builds more connections.

Why Should You Hire a Resume Writing Service?

Why Should You Hire a Resume Writing Service?Professional resume writing services are usually offered by a staffing company or a professional writer. They can write and edit your resume for you.Professional resume writing services are a great way to create a polished, professional document that will convince a potential employer of your worthiness. It may not be possible for a single person to produce a resume that stands out from the crowd. Resumes are often rewritten and edited by the hiring manager in the interest of fairness, accuracy, and efficiency. Because they work with a great deal of professionalism, they can produce the most professional-looking document that you can.Resume writing services provide a way to keep your resume up to date and fresh. A good resume will contain your best work experience, educational background, and employment details. The person reading it should have a good idea of who you are and what you can do for the company. They should be able to get a fe el for your writing style and see if you are a good fit for the job.A professional resume will demonstrate how you can contribute to the company and how well you fit into the workplace. A sample resume can be helpful in creating your resume. Many companies require a resume sample for interview purposes. In addition, you can find sample resumes online in many professional writing guides and books. These samples give you an idea of how a resume should look.Resume writing services offer resume editing, proofreading, and writing. You will get multiple versions of your resume. Each is edited and rewritten so it meets the needs of the hiring manager.Most professional resume writing services will work with the company to develop a proposal for the hiring manager. They will analyze the need for the position, create a resume, and get you a quote for creating your professional resume. They can also provide information on hiring practices for different companies, which can be beneficial to you as a potential employee.Resume writing services can also help the hiring manager understand your expectations for your career. You can tell them what is expected of you, and they can explain why you are not meeting those expectations. The more clearly you articulate your goals, the more likely you are to get the career change you seek.Professional resume writing services are usually provided by a staffing company or a professional writer. They can write and edit your resume for you. They can work with you in order to create a professionally written document that will convince a potential employer of your worthiness.

3 Common Mistakes that Stop You Getting Promoted

3 Common Mistakes that Stop You Getting Promoted Going after a promotion is not a straightforward process and there’s no way to be absolutely certain until the very end. So, the last thing you want is to make simple mistakes that could cost you your promotion. We care about promotions because they’re usually accompanied by very positive outcomes. Like greater recognition and respect, higher pay and status, extra perks and motivation to keep going. But getting promoted is stressful because it’s not something you can control. And not getting promoted can feel like a very public loss of face, or being sentenced to mind-numbing boredom. No wonder most of us experience anxiety and late night worrying in the lead up to the big announcement. Promotions get harder to land Looking back on my investment banking career, the first couple of promotions were almost automatic. Even though everyone in our cohort was stressed out about the process, the reality was you got promoted as long as you hadn’t lost a lot of money or killed a client. But the more senior I got, the more nerve-wracking it became. By then, I had a family to support, so the rise in pay would make a big difference. There were many talented, deserving people but fewer openings. Even though the criteria were written down in the performance evaluation system, it wasn’t clear what it would take to land that promotion. Whatever sector you’re in, over time the stakes keep getting higher. So what can you do? Avoid these 3 common mistakes Aside from being excellent at your job and showing you’ve got great promise, one of the most important things you can do is avoid making simple mistakes that could cost you your promotion. Over the years, from having been promoted 10 times in my 24-year career and from helping many others get promoted, here are the three most common mistakes people make. Mistake 1 â€" Leaving it to the end One of my team members waited until two weeks before promotions were going to be announced before he came to my office to make his case. By then, decisions had been made and new information wasn’t going to help. Another team member spent the first half of the year operating at half effort. Then, he kicked into high gear a month before performance evaluations. While it was great that he was calling on clients more actively and participating in our internal meetings more proactively, it was too little too late. Start thinking early, know what promotion you’re aiming for a year from now, and carve out some time to make a plan. And if you’re worried it’s too late, there’s no better time to start than right now. How to Get Promoted: Start thinking early about your next promotion and carve out time to make a plan Mistake 2 â€" Being invisible One of my unsuccessful promotion attempts could be traced back to not being visible enough. Having landed the two promotions before this one, I used the same strategy that had worked twice before, which was keeping my head down, working hard, and doing a great job at my job. But when my boss took my promotion case to the committee, it was rejected. When he presented my case, no one around the table knew who I was. His was the lone voice in the wind. And in a tough year for the business, that was enough to cost me my promotion. Don’t hide your light under the proverbial bushel. Show up at events with senior people, speak up in meetings, and let people know what you’re working on. How to Get Promoted: Be visible to senior people â€" show up at events, speak up in meetings, update people Mistake 3 â€" Upsetting your boss I’ve had people tell me, “My clients love me, the senior department heads think I’m terrific, I get along great with my colleagues and my team. It’s just my boss that I have a problem with.” I’m thinking, “And you expect to get promoted?!” Unless your boss is about to be fired, I’ve never seen anyone get promoted when their boss doesn't rate them. If you haven’t figured out the care and feeding of your boss, this would be a great time to do it. This is the time to be doing your job well, which includes making your boss look good and making their life easier. How to Get Promoted: Get your boss on your side by making them look good and their life easier What’s your next step to getting promoted? While you can’t promote yourself, you can put yourself in a position to be promotion-ready. As you look toward your promotion, keep working hard but also keep your eyes focused on the promotion prize. When you keep those lines of communication open and steer clear of these common mistakes, you’ll have less to be anxious about and you’ll be ahead of the game. So, what’s your next action to take? If you’re unsure about what to do to be promotion-ready, then join me on Wednesday, September 20th for a special online workshop. It’s called: How to Get Promoted â€" Insights and Strategies I Learned From Landing 10 Promotions in My 24-Year Career In this special workshop, I'm going to reveal what it takes to land your next promotion. If you’re stressing about an upcoming promotion, wondering why you were passed over for the last one, or simply wanting to advance your career and get prepared for the stages ahead, then this workshop is for you. Get the full details and reserve your spot here ?

Changing Economy, where are the stable jobs

Changing Economy, where are the stable jobs Service jobs arent off-shore-ableyet.   In other words, the jobs that physically provide a service are difficult to send overseas, where the labor is less expensive. In-Demand Jobs Every once in awhile, I check in with The Perfect Labor Storm 2.0 to see what Ira Wolfe is seeing and saying.   In a recent post, he wrote that there are still jobs that are in-demand.   These are jobs that seem to have growth potential and a shortage of qualified talent to fill them. Side note, projections are from 2008 to 2018 and I dont think anyone really knows for sure if this is right, it is only a calculated estimate based on the knowns.   Just for fun, here are some of them: Carpenters Computer Software Engineer, Applications Management Analysts Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks Truck Drivers (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer) Elementary School Teachers (Non-Special Education) Post secondary Teachers Accountants and Auditors Registered Nurses Huge Possibilities Here are some of my own projections for service sector employment opportunities that I feel are going to be in demand. If you see yourself as an entrepreneur, starting companies that provide these services could be an option. Plumbers Electricians HVAC/Green Energy/Energy Efficiency Geriatric Services (taxi drivers, errand runners, money managers, companions) Personal Trainers (Physical, Technology, Adaptability) WHY? Heres my logic. All the jobs above cater to the changes and problems we face every day. When was the last time you had to call a plumber? At some point, we all do have to. With water becoming more scarce, there will be new toilets to be installed, new ways of using our water at home and work.   The same is true for electricity and our the energy we use. Our society is aging and will continue to do so as life expectancy increases.   Ive seen first hand how difficult it is for the elderly to adapt to the limitations of their age.   They need lots of help in many areas. Finally, personal training beyond the evident physical training/work out type could be a potential.   As technology quickly changes, some are unable to adapt without help.   Think about how difficult it is to make a reservation for a flight (or any reservation for that matter) without a computer. There is still a large portion of our population who could be described as technically illiterate.   They will need help.   Going out on a limb here, but, self-help may be required to help people adjust to the rapidly changing world.   These wouldnt necessarily be mental health professionals, but thats a thought.   I am talking about a trainer of life skills. Adaptable and Innovative My favorite statistic is that the Department of Labor cannot even predict what the top jobs will be in 10 years because they dont exist yet.   In our world, where things are changing so rapidly, the key to survival is not hunkering down and looking for a stable/secure job, but in our ability to be adaptable and innovative in all that we do and are!   We WILL have multiple jobs and careers.   Many of them. Any thoughts?