Is part-time the new full-time

Is part-time the new full-time by Michael Cheary Part-time job opportunities have risen to a three year high, according to the latest figures released by the Reed Job Index. But does this shift reflect a fundamental change in the way Britain works?Its been widely reported that part-time work is on the up and reed.co.uks own data backs this trend. Whilst the number of full-time vacancies available has risen by a promising 8.5% in the last year, the number of part-time positions has risen by more than 18% over the same period.But why the change and whos benefiting? Weve explored some of the issues below as we attempt to understand whether part-time is, in fact, the new full-time.A changing workforceIn some respects the rise in part-time positions reflects a changing dynamic in our lifestyles. For many of us, working shorter hours means more flexibility, allowing us to fit our careers around our increasingly busy schedules. The standard 40-hour working week has become too impractical and outdated to apply to every jobseekers situation.So whether its raising young children, caring for a disabled or elderly relative, or even undertaking unpaid voluntary positions to gain experience within an industry of choice, having the versatility to work less traditionally can be an attractive option for many people seeking work.A rise in part-time jobs could, therefore, be seen to highlight the importance many of us place on maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Sometimes, the perfect career is simply the one that suits our lifestyle, and own individual needs.A stepping stoneAside from adding flexibility to our lives, part-time positions are becoming more and more important for candidates who are looking for work within especially competitive industries. With a growing number of graduates and skilled workers applying for the same roles, standing out from the crowd can be a challenge. For some employers, having previous experience can make all the difference.Part-time positions are a great way of g aining valuable knowledge in a more practical and hands-on fashion, and can really help reinforce some of the skills mentioned on your CV.Additionally, taking a shorter term or temporary position allows some individuals more time to study or receive training in an area they are interested in. In other words, gaining a professional qualification while working part-time can open the door to a career which may have been unattainable if working longer hours.Underemployment vs. Unemployment While for many of us working part-time may be a lifestyle decision or career move, for some people, working shorter hours may not be out of choice. Whilst the current economic outlook suggests a slow recovery is under way, unfortunately, not all businesses have been able to weather the storm. However, instead of full-scale redundancies, many employers have been able to survive by cutting back on hours.This has given rise to those termed underemployed (i.e. those in employment but who are not working a s many hours as they would like). Often seen as a negative by-product of the recession, and not suited to everyone, being underemployed is, nevertheless, often more desirable for employees than the alternative.Although this compromise is by no means a perfect solution, working part-time does allow workers to look for a more permanent position while still being able to maintain an income (even if that income is reduced).What it means Latest official figures estimate that more than eight million of us are now working part-time (Office of National Statistics, March 2013). Thats nearly a third of the whole working population of the UK.Theres no denying that the current economic situation has been a major reason for the rise in part-time jobs. According to the ONS, the first substantial signs of growth occurred between 2008 and 2009, when the impact of the recession hit the jobs market. But, although many have been forced to reduce their hours, our shift to part-time employment, rather t han redundancy, demonstrates a resilience and flexibility in the nations workforce. The idea of the traditional working week is evolving over time and is no longer exclusively limited to individuals working 40 hours or more per week. Britains workforce is adapting to the needs of the job market to include a wide variety of permutations of full-time, part-time, temporary and self-employed workers, ultimately leading to a more diverse working environment for all. So whether youre a marketing graduate, working part-time at an advertising agency to gain invaluable industry experience, a student taking on part-time bar work to fund the pursuit of a professional qualification or a parent looking to fit their income around the school run, having the flexibility to work part-time can have a multitude of benefits.So is part-time the new full time? Share your opinions here, or tell us on twitter @reedcoukFind 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. Flexible working

Hot Water and Stretching are Good for You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Hot Water and Stretching are Good for You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Besides the obvious uses for hot water and stretching in your personal and physical  life, there are business and career benefits from both too. Two of my favorite metaphors involve both of these points. They involve Hot Water and Stretching and when applied to your career will help you stand out, get ahead and to develop a reputation for getting things done. The first one is: People are like tea. You never know how good they are until they get into hot water. How do we test someone’s mettle? How do we know they can handle the task at hand? What kind of indicators are there before the gauntlet is thrown down? Often times we don’t. We don’t know how someone will react in a specific situation. However, we can make inferences based on past behavior. Even though the situations are different the behavior, the demeanor and the outcomes may be able to be inferred from past performances. In a sense you may not want to be in “hot water” on a regular basis. The way I interpret this metaphor is in the sense that when the situation demands it, people will rise to the occasion. For example, Gene Krantz of Apollo 13 mission fame. If you’ve seen the movie or read the book you know a little bit about the situation. He received a terrible, and now (in)famous,  transmission from the space craft. It said “Houston, we’ve had a problem” Gene Krantz was the flight director. It was his job to figure out a solution. He, along with some of the brightest and best scientists, engineers and fellow astronauts had to think fast, work fast and under tremendous pressure develop a solution to get the astronauts home safely. As part of this effort he uttered an equally famous five words. He said “Failure Is Not an Option” and meant it. And, he delivered. As you can imagine he was in the hottest of hot water. He (and as mentioned a lot of very talented people) had the eyes of the world on them and they had a very short window of time… which only upped the water temperature… to design, develop and deploy a solution… in space. Peoples lives hung in the balance. The best way to prepare for situations like this is to get involved at various stages of challenging tasks. Not everyone can be (or should be) a Gene Krantz. But, everyone can do something. Everyone can step up their game and lend a helping hand. The best of the best can do this over and over again with predictable and repeatable results… even when the situation (aka the rules) change every time. By insinuating yourself into challenging situations you’ll be ready when one presents itself. So, What kind of hot water are you putting yourself into? The second one is: People are like rubber bands. You never know strong they are until stretched. I really like this one because it’s true. Until someone is put to the test they themselves often don’t know what they are capable of doing. That big presentation that needs to delivered to a client in the morning. That “impossible” task that no one has been able to accomplish. That challenging client that no one likes to deal with because they are demanding and keep changing the rules. When you were early on  into your career someone took a chance on you. Not just in hiring you (people don’t often just hire warm bodies anymore), but they saw something in you and took a chance that you had the potential to deliver something really big. Potential Energy… just like that which is available  in a rubber band applies to people too. Hence, the meaning of this metaphor. If you are that young person just getting started. Seek ways to stretch yourself. Just like with your physical and personal well being there are preparatory steps along the way. Take the time to learn new skills (often on your own time 20 hours or 10,000 Hours â€" you decide). Whether it’s joining a Toastmasters group or learning how to write computer code or to become better at some piece of technology. Take the time to learn how to use them, tweak them, and make them perform now. Because you never know when your boss or your best customer might be looking for just that skill set. Even if they don’t come calling you’ll have another skill in your arsenal. And the Benefits Are The business and career benefits associated with these two points are applicable to anyone at any stage of their life. There are some that may seem quite obvious and they are. However, doing each of these consistently and repeatedly  takes focus, fortitude and often the ability to take on tasks that others can’t or wont. Communications  â€" The best leaders can do these two things extremely well. Communicate in a way that everyone can understand what needs to be done Delegate. The best leaders know they need to involve others and make it as simple as possible to accomplish the task and mission. Stand Out  â€" People will call upon you because they know who they can rely upon. There is an old saying “If you want to get something done, assign it to a busy person” This saying holds true because in order to get something done they will often invoke point 1 (communications) and point 3 (innovation) in order to Get It Done! When this happens consistently you will Stand Out in Your Career Innovation  â€" In order to put yourself to the Hot Water test and the Rubber Band test you will need to innovate. Not everything needs to be developed from scratch. Stand on the shoulders of giants and seek new ways to deliver something and solve a problem that has been.

Best Ways to Anticipate Your Customers Needs (INFOGRAPHIC) - Classy Career Girl

Best Ways to Anticipate Your Customers Needs (INFOGRAPHIC) If you own any kind of business, you’re clearly focused on evaluating the needs of your target audience. That’s a challenging thing to do, and it involves a lot of market analysis. You pay attention to the way people interact with your business, and you constantly ask for their feedback. You also monitor online mentions so you can see how satisfied they are by the products and services you provide. That’s  evaluation of needs, and it’s definitely an important part of the way you do business. But should you stop there? Absolutely not! There’s something that’s even more important than evaluation if you intend to become a leader in the industry:  anticipation. Leaders don’t just follow trends; they create them. They predict the audience enthusiasm to a particular innovation, and they deliver that innovation. When Apple promotes an incredible new feature in their upcoming products, rest assured they did not choose that feature by accident. The brand’s team did a lot of work in analyzing the needs of the audience and anticipating the way they would react to such an offer. That’s what makes successful brands successful. [RELATED: Keeping Customers Happy, Loyal, and Wanting More] That extra step of anticipating needs and developing trends definitely requires an investment. However, that’s the only way for you to generate a loyal base of customers who will not only keep coming back to your brand, but will also spread the good word around. Is there a specific way of doing this? If you mostly focus on noticing and remembering the desires of your customers, keep doing that. To identify the needs that haven’t been solved and test the market for new solutions, use other methods like surveys. This process is all about defining the future needs of your current customers, so you’ll be developing your business in the right direction. Keeping the connection alive is important! Needless to say, you won’t be doing that through random attempts. You need a strategy to set the tone of your brand’s expansion and measure the progress. The marketing experts from ProEssayWriting created a great infographic that teaches you about the foundations of such a campaign. See what methods you can implement to anticipate customers needs and how you can develop a specific campaign that takes your brand to success. Best Ways to Anticipate Your Customer Needs (INFOGRAPHIC)

Your Personal Marketing Plan - Part 4 of 5 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Your Personal Marketing Plan - Part 4 of 5 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Your Personal Marketing Plan Post Series Section 1: Situational Analysis A detailed description of exactly where you are in your life, as well as your mission, vision and life cycle. Section 2: Audience Analysis Researching what the market is for your brand, with both primary and secondary research and quantitative and qualitative measurements. Section 3: Competitive Analysis If youre branded properly competition is irrelevant. If youre still discovering and developing your brand, then you can only estimate who your competitors are by past data (Colleges) and from the strength of the brand youre applying to (GE, Reebok, etc). ________________ Now for the most comprehensive piece of your personal marketing plan: youre marketing strategy. Youre marketing strategy is composed of the personal marketing mix (4 Ps), along with your target audience, positioning statement, objectives/goals and integrated marketing communications plan. The 4 Ps of personal branding (Spoke about this in 2006) Person you Place your desired workplace Price your brand value Promotion selling yourself Person (formerly product) is as simple as YOU and as complex as your strengths, personality, appearance and competencies. Place is the location where the person is applying for a job or seeks employment. Price is the total perceived value of the person or candidate and promotion are the strategies that the individual must implement in order to gain visibility for his or her brand. Target Audience Once you research your audience (as I spoke about in part 2), you need to segment it to find your niche. Businesses locate their target market. Product managers must hone down on a single market per each product. Your personal brand cannot please nor is relevant to everyone walking this earth. There are some people that will cling to it, while others will be repelled and attracted to other brands that have more in common with them. There are four main areas of segmentation that I will go over. Geographics regions, countries, city/town size and climate Psychographics peoples lifestyles and behaviors Demographics age, income, education, status, type of occupation, region of country, or household size Behavioralistic befits sought, purchase occasion, user status, loyalty status, usage rate Here is an example: You want to target people who live in Boston, MA, who exercise 3-5 times per week, with a household income of $150,000, between the ages of 28 and 40, who are extremely loyal and purchase your type of product 10 times a year. You dont have to be that descriptive. You could say College students in the Massachusetts area that like to read often. The idea here is to think about exactly who you want in your audience and who you dont. 60 year olds arent going to want to read a college magazine and a fortune 500 company isnt going to hire someone with no experience. From both the corporate and individual level, one thing remains consistent, you need to research, observe and direct your marketing messages at a specific target. Positioning Statement In the personal branding regime, this is commonly known as a personal brand statement. Basically, you want to match your brand to the audience in a single sentence. Mine would be Im the leader in personal branding for the next generation of worker. Here is how I break down my personal niche: Business Marketing Branding Personal Branding Personal Branding for Gen-Y. Since Im only 24, I know I cant cater to CEOs, executives or legacys, but I know I can speak to just about any college student or young professional about personal branding. This works because Ive been in their shoes and not that of an executives, therefore I can connect on a closer level. Also, people usually work with others that are more successful than themselves. It would be impossible for me to teach an executive that makes over $500,000, has won industry awards and shows up in the newspaper every day. People want something that can provide them what they cant already get themselves. Youre positioning statement is who you are and what audience you serve. Goals /Objectives How are you going to measure your outcome? How do you define success? When writing down your goals and objectives think short-term and long-term and make sure they align properly. I want to be a millionaire is not detailed enough. You really want to think about what measurable goals you can have, such that they are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely). Integrated Marketing Communications Plan When I did these plans for businesses it was a blast. You get a budget and then divide it up amongst delivery channels for your brand, devising a strategy that you can execute. Businesses can spend thousands of dollars on their communication budget (Coca Cola spends millions). If youre a premature brand, then you need to budget more wisely. My tripod approach to personal communication is: awareness, adoption and retention. Awareness is when people know your alive and what you can do for them. Adoption is when they take the first level of investment in your brand, meaning they could subscribe to your blog or give you a job offer. Retention is an ongoing relationship between you or your supervisor or the attention you can weild with the people that have already invested in you (life-time value of a customer). Here are some of the strategies you can use Social Media The cheapest way to build your presence online, offer thought leadership and be visible on Google. Social Networking Als0, very cheap and effective. Once you have a message, you can just push it through your network. Email / Newsletters / Lists Build or purchase lists of people that would be interested in your services. Radio This area is dying at some level, but if you have a select audience and go on-air, it can help you gain presence. SEM Pay-Per-Click If you have a website already, then you may invest in Google Adwords, so that when someone Googles a keyword that is relevant to your brand, you will appear at the top. Public Relations Placement in magazines, websites or even blogs can lend you a lot of credibility, traffic, customers and happiness. PR has become the dominant force in marketing communication plans.

Tips on Writing Resume Summary

Tips on Writing Resume SummaryDo you need some tips on writing resume summary? Do you want to make a point in your resume and also give specific information about your work experience? What's your dream job? Here are some tips on writing resume summary.Always start with resume introduction and then move on to your work experience and skills. Writing resume summary is not easy because it requires your full attention. You have to be determined to write a good and effective resume. The chances of success of your resume depends on the summary written by you.The main point of resume writing is that it should catch the attention of the employer. Before writing your resume, you have to know the importance of writing and any mistakes might spoil your work experience. If you want to improve your writing skills, start with practice. Good writing skills also require good grammar and punctuation.As you are writing your resume, check your spelling and punctuation before you submit it. You should have a correct understanding of English grammar and how to write a paragraph or a sentence correctly. While writing a resume, always remember to keep your resume simple. Avoid using any unnecessary words like 'advice', 'satisfied' etc.To start your resume, start with a short introduction to your working experience. You should put first with your name, your present address, and your present title. For a good and clean resume, don't forget to put the address at the beginning. After your name, you can add your name in the upper part of the page and your last name in the lower part of the page. Your date of birth, rank and qualification should be put here too.After the details about your work experience, the next section is the summary. In this section, you can add the important skills which you have acquired while working in different positions. If you have some knowledge about a certain field of job, you should mention it in this section. Any positive thing that you can do for the com pany should be mentioned here. It will help the employer understand the difference between the applicant and the hired person.Tips on writing resume summary include putting the name of the company and the salary you were paid, and then adding the salary category of the position. Finally, you can add the length of your service to the company, current position held, year of work experience, and previous jobs. This is the part of your resume which shows the present employment situation of you. You can even include another sentence about the new position and the qualification that you have acquired in it. Make sure that you add every single detail required in a professional way.While writing resume, it is always recommended to understand the job description. The appropriate and useful information given in the resume reflects your skills and qualifications that the employer wants to see.

4 tips for a cover letter that gets you interviews - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

4 tips for a cover letter that gets you interviews In my recruitment job I see a lot of cover letters. Unfortunately, a lot of them aren’t very good â€" either too generic or way too long. However, if you write a compelling cover letter, you will significantly increase your chances of being invited for an interview. Here are my 4 tips on how to write a great cover letter: Keep it brief Recruiters are too busy to read very long cover letters, so it is best to keep it concise. Succint paragraphs are much better than long essays! If you only had 15 seconds to tell the employer why they should meet you, what would you say? Put THAT in your cover letter. All you need to put in the cover letter is why youre interested in the job, why youre qualified (dont forget to mention specific accomplishments) and finish with a call to action and a request for information on the next step in the hiring process. Customise your cover letter Customizing your cover letter is just as important as customizing your CV/resume. If you don’t take the time to customize your letters, you might as well  not send them at all. You need to make sure you relate  your qualifications to the job requirements in your letter. Make sure you talk about specific accomplishments and results you have achieved that are relevant to the qualifications listed on the job description. Show you’ve done your research Show you’ve done your research by including company-specific content â€" hiring managers will be looking for details that show you’ll be a good fit. Simply make note of any industry-related news, new products, or recent announcements you’ve seen about the company to demonstrate you’re paying attention. Make sure your application is error-free and professional quality As with the CV, it is important your cover letter is well laid out, has no spelling or grammar mistakes. Some candidates show no attention to detail at all and I’ve seen many cover letters where the candidate hasn’t even removed the job title of the previous application or they’ve even used the wrong company’s name! A lot of job seekers feel it is too much work to customise their CV and cover letter for each position to which they are applying for. However, it is better to apply for less jobs but tailor your application accordingly, rather than send the same resume and cover letter to too many jobs.  To find out more about how to tailor your applications to specific jobs, sign up for my FREE video training “Smart strategies to help you get interviews.”

12 Ways To Use Social Media When Switching Careers - CareerEnlightenment.com

6. Pinpoint other industry-specific Twitter handles to follow.A few examples are  professional organizations or associations, niche job feeds, or publications. These Twitter users will help acclimate you to the industry and provide key networking opportunities.7. Use TweetMyJobs to get a personalized feed of jobs based on your interests and locale.TweetMyJobs is especially helpful for newer job seekers and people switching careers because it does some of the research for you while you learn the ropes.Facebook8. Clean up your Facebook profile and privacy settings.Hopefully you’ve already done this, but if not, it’s time to do some spring cleaning. While your profile may have been acceptable when you were steadily employed in your old job, when making a career switch, it’s even more important to put your best foot forward.9. Follow company Facebook pages of interest.This might seem repetitive, but following key companies via each social media platform is important. You never know when an opportunity will present itself.10. Utilize the Facebook Social Jobs app.Facebook recently launched a new job board app with 1.7 million jobs as of November 2012. Check it out to see if your new industry seems to be taking advantage of this tool.Meetups11. Use Meetup groups to connect with local professionals or people with similar interests.For example, if you’re looking to transition into the fitness industry, there are hundreds of fitness groups and career change groups on Meetup. Take this Philadelphia area career group for example.12. Be an active, interested, and thoughtful participant of all of these forums.This guide isn’t meant to be done once and never looked at again. These tips are meant for job seekers who are ready and willing to be consistently active in these groups online. Building an online networking presence as well as an understanding a new industry doesn’t happen overnight.By using social media, you can gain a professional network and learn abo ut your industry, making you more knowledgeable and insightful than before!Have you made (or considered making) a career change? What techniques have you found helpful to make this process easier?