From Account Manager to Portfolio Careerist

From Account Manager to Portfolio Careerist Success Story > From: Job To: Portfolio career From Account Manager to Portfolio Careerist “My friends all seemed to know what they were doing with their careers, while I felt stuck and unfulfilled.” * From Account Manager to Portfolio Careerist Thea Partridge had spent years pursuing a 'sensible' marketing career, but wasn't happy. Here, she shares how she found the confidence she needed to make opportunities for herself, and to develop a creative portfolio career that fits. What work were you doing previously? I was an account manager, at a social media marketing agency with a lot of blue-chip clients. What are you doing now? I've got two roles now. I'm Communications Director of a medtech start-up by day, and in my spare time I'm a sculptor, which involves creating a range of my own figurative sculptures and running workshops for children. Why did you change? The agency job was very stressful and creatively unfulfilling. It was a great place to further my digital marketing skills, but I had little ownership over the projects I was assigned to, and I felt that the work was very prescribed. While it was a fun and lively place to work,there was also a lot of pressure and high staff turnover, which I found unnerving; we never knew who was going to be next out of the door. I'm very creative and I've always loved sculpting in my free time, but I was living in London in a tiny flat and I didn't really have the space to create anything. Plus, I had a job that I felt I had no real control over. My friends all seemed to know what they were doing with their careers, while I felt stuck and unfulfilled. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I'd begun to use my digital marketing skills to promote my sculptures. I created a Facebook page, Instagram channel and, eventually, a website (www.sculpturesbythea.com). I loved promoting my own brand rather than the blue-chip clients that I worked with at the agency. It gave me the sense of ownership that I longed for. Having received some positive feedback on my social media channels, my confidence in my sculpting skills grew a little. So, I approached one of the organisers of the Spring Exhibition of Arts in Surrey to see if it would be possible to exhibit there, in addition to helping out behind the scenes. He reviewed my work and agreed to me exhibiting; he even featured a piece of mine on the marketing flyer. At the exhibition I overheard someone complimenting my sculpture. I was so happy! That compliment and the feedback I got from this event (my first exhibition since art college) gave me the confidence to believe I could sell my work; it spurred me on to follow my passion more seriously. How did you choose your new career? I handed in my notice at work, and I used my contacts on LinkedIn to set up as a freelance marketing consultant, so that I would have the flexibility I needed to concentrate on sculpting. I decided I didn't want to sell all my original sculptures (each once takes so long to create, I find I get personally attached to them), so I went to investigate 3D printing them at a local event. It was there that I got talking to an entrepreneur who was in charge of a medtech start-up. He helped me to explore 3D printing my sculptures. In return, I offered his start-up marketing advice and guidance. A year later, he offered me a role as Communications Director. A couple of months ago I exhibited a range of limited-edition 3D-printed sculptures, in addition to some originals. By the end of the exhibition I'd sold four pieces of my work â€" something I'd never thought would happen. But it doesn't stop there.In a previous attempt to change my career, I'd completed a teaching qualification, because I really enjoy working with young people. I wanted to use these skills in some way, but outside of a school setting, so I decided to start running sculpture workshops. I love the fun environments that I get to work in for these: festivals such as Latitude, Folk East, summer carnivals, etc. Are you happy with the change? My life has changed completely, and I'm really happy! I used to see my career through other people's eyes. I'm a 'people pleaser', and would ask my friends and family what they thought I should be doing, rather than asking myself what I wanted. That had given me a narrow-minded outlook that stopped me from seeing new opportunities and being creative in my approach to career. Now, I'm working for a meaningful cause, with a passionate entrepreneur who has taught me many new skills â€" things like the product invention process and securing investment. He also encourages me to pursue sculpting, so I'm free to be as creative as I like. What do you miss? I do miss the buzzy atmosphere in my old job. I worked with a lot of people my age, so there was a lot of fun and socialising â€" plus I got a free breakfast on Fridays. But I don't miss the lack of control over my work, or the fact that I wasn't doing anything particularly meaningful. My work at the medtech start-up is very rewarding, because we're developing new technology that will help a lot of people. How did you go about making the shift? I discovered Careershifters, and decided to sit in on an introductory call to find out more about the Career Change Launch Pad programme. I heard some really interesting stories and insights, and I realised that there were lots of others who felt the same way as me. I joined the course because I thought other people's situations and stories could inspire my own progress â€" which they did! During the course I developed the confidence I needed to charge people for my sculptures, to market them, and to jump in and make the most of new opportunities. It had never occurred to me that you could make a living from a portfolio career, in which you do a bit of this and a bit of that. That way of working really appealed to me, and now it's exactly what I'm doing. What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take? I sometimes wish I'd kept my freelancing career going for a little bit longer, to see how far I could have gone with it. I worked on some great projects and I really liked my clients. But practicality took over. I wanted to buy a house, which meant getting a stable job. How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible? I drew up a vision board of all the things I wanted in the future, including a cottage and a sculpture studio in Suffolk. I needed regular paid work to get a mortgage, so I stopped freelancing and took a full-time Brand Manager role for a ski and snowboarding company. I'm a snowboarder myself, so it was a great fit for me. A year later, I was offered my current directorship, which was a big step up. What was the most difficult thing about changing? The financial instability of freelancing. It was also hard to see how it would all come together, but the visualisation task really helped with that. I drew a picture which I looked at every now and again to keep me on track. What help did you get? My contacts were very willing to help me with my new freelancing career â€" I found some great work almost immediately. Friends and family were really supportive too. When I began my career change, one of my friends described me as a 'creative problem solver'. I had never seen myself that way before, and it gave me a new way of looking at what I could do for work. What have you learnt in the process? Not to be so narrow-minded about career options. In fact, when I see others in the same stuck situation I used to be in, I feel really frustrated. I want to tell them that change is possible â€" you just have to change your mindset! What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Don't be afraid to jump in and try new things! You'll increase your confidence and expand your outlook on what's possible, then you can plan some practical steps to take you where you really want to go. I'd also say that change doesn't necessarily happen overnight, from one big 'Aha!' moment. Sometimes it comes from lots of positive little moments, just as it has for me. Thea took part in our Career Change Launch Pad. If you're ready to join a group of bright, motivated career changers on a structured programme to help you find more fulfilling work, you can find out more here. What lessons could you take from Thea's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

The Perfect Way to Build Your Resume

The Perfect Way to Build Your ResumeThere are many forms of resumes that can be used, however a certified professional resume writing services provider makes it easy for any employer to find the most appropriate option. A professional resume is required when applying for any type of job or position. Since many of these applicants have vast amounts of experience in a variety of fields, it is necessary for them to create a professional resume that will make the employer take notice.An experienced resume writer with a Channing Resumes resume writing service will help you put together a professional resume that is quick and easy to read and understand. When using this form of resume writing services, it is important to have a copy of your resume and make sure that all of the necessary information is included. You should be able to download your resume from their website and can be rest assured that you will not be missing anything.With a large selection of different types of resumes avai lable, it can be difficult to choose the best type to use and an expert resume writer can help find the right one for you. The certified professional resume writing services offers a wide range of various professional and executive resumes that are tailored to suit every applicant. This means that regardless of what you need a professional resume for, they will be able to help you achieve a successful outcome.Channing Resumes can help ensure that you get the best result possible when creating your resume. Having your resume designed and written by a qualified resume writer is not only cost effective, but also provides you with a much better outcome. When the results are good, so is your application.By providing an effective and efficient way to create your resume, the certified professional resume writing services will ensure that your resume is well written and accurate. A professional resume has to be able to stand out, and to be effective it has to be unique. A good resume writer understands how to write effective resume that will attract attention and create a positive outcome for the applicant.Every applicant for any job has different requirements, as well as various experiences and skills that are needed to show off to employers, and as a result many companies and professionals have used resumes as a means of advertising their qualifications and experiences. An exceptional certified professional resume writing service can help the applicant to create a unique resume that is fit for their chosen career path. If you are looking for the best possible resume options available, then seeking the help of a skilled professional resume writer is recommended.Many resumes are used on different times, and while it can be important to update your resume in order to ensure that you look professional, you can never go wrong with a standard or classic style resume. Channing Resumes can help you make sure that you are updated with the current employment market and can he lp you get the best type of resume possible. Most all professionally written resumes will be geared towards improving the chances of getting an interview for a specific position.With a large variety of resume types to choose from, it is important to hire a qualified and experienced company to ensure that you get the right kind of professional resume and cover letter written. Your resume should include every important detail that the employer will be looking for and Channing Resumes is one of the best resume services available on the market. Get started today and receive the help you need to create a resume that is designed to stand out.

5 Ways to Use Emojis in Recruitment

5 Ways to Use Emojis in Recruitment Nowadays its virtually impossible to send a text, instant message or email without using an emoji ever since they exploded in to our digital worlds in the late 90s. The man behind them is  Shigetaka Kurita, who as an employee of NTT DoCoMo back in the day, sought to revolutionize Japans means of communication. And the rest as they say.. is history. While most are used amongst friends and family, they are increasingly being used in the world of recruitment from hiring to firing. 1. Recruitment campaigns In 2015 a number of companies used emojis in their recruitment campaigns. One of the most high-profile companys to do it was the beauty group LOreal. It launched a campaign asking people to apply for jobs with them using just emojis. https://twitter.com/lorealtalent/status/788351049195192320 2. Job title Last year a UK translation company advertised for an Emoji Translator and the response was huge. It was advertised as a consultant role and CEO and Founder Jurga Zilinskiene  says theyre ready to place someone in the job imminently.  She said: All the media coverage the advert generated resulted in us receiving well over 400 applicants. Of course this took quite some time for us to process, so we are still in the interview stage at the moment, but the shortlisted candidates look very promising. The internet allows you to connect with people in every country of the world, and the biggest brands often have local teams to handle marketing and PR in any given country. If you’re not a multinational, then you will need help to translate your message for foreign markets. But what if you publish a great message, only to find out the emoji you included doesn’t mean what you think it did? Or even has quite negative connotations in a particular country or region? For example, the ‘thumbs up’ is very offensive in the Middle East. That’s why we need a specialist. 3.  Attracting the right talent Some companies have used emojis to recruit a specific type of talent to their company. Irish software company Intercom used emojis in its advertising campaign in a bid to attract Dublin-based engineers, developers and other emoji-fluent people to the company. It placed poster adverts along the commuter routes that lead into Dublin’s “Silicon Docks” area where companies like  Facebook, Google and Airbnb, among others, are based. Cool to see @intercom hiring through emoji in Dublin. That kind of brevity would impress Beckett. pic.twitter.com/89lkAYaaXT paul hayes (@paulhayesman) October 9, 2015 But emojis werent only used to attract technical staff, a French advertising agency used them in an online video campaign called Guess the ad, get the job to try to get the best creative talent through its doors. 4. Increase response rate A  survey  by Jobvite found that 43% of job seekers use mobile devices for their job search and people are searching for jobs anytime, anywhere. In fact, a recruitment firm in New Zealand was born out of the fact that more people are using their phones than their computers for the first time ever. Erik Kostelnik, is TextRecruits Co-Founder and CEO.  He says: When used correctly, emojis are a great way to break the ice and add personality to candidate communications. Recruiters that use emojis in their texts experience higher response rates because their messages become more personalized, making it that much easier for a candidate to quickly respond. One of the most successful TextRecruit stories is the U.S. Marine Corps who included American Flag emojis in their texts, which served as a great call to action for recruits and drove a tremendous response in their hiring campaigns. 5. Candidate feedback Now technically this isnt one of the best ways to give candidate feedback (and well come on to why in a bit) but there are some recruitment companies who have started using emojis to discuss potential candidates. Lever  introduced this last year as a way for co-workers to use them to do just that. Leela Srinivasan is the Chief Marketing Officer at Lever.  She says: Lever allows for the use of emojis in notes on the candidate profile, because hiring is a team sport. The combination of @-mentioning and emojis serve to engage more of the team in sharing feedback, and in general, we see overall team engagement in hiring skyrocket when customers roll out Lever, because we make it so easy (and fun) to participate. Its not possible to push that to the candidate however, since candidate communications are pushed from a different part of the platform. You cant @-mention a candidate, only your team mates. Once a candidate is hired, their profile is locked and access is restricted only to those with specific Admin access, so even as a hire you cant access feedback about yourself. But even using emojis to discuss candidates with colleagues can sometimes prove risky. A British teenager was recently  rejected for a job as a waitress in a steak restaurant via an emoji. The company claimed it was sent in error and that it was meant to be sent to a co-worker and had to issue an apology. Have you ever used emojis to discuss clients or candidates? Or maybe youve found a better use for them. Tell is in the comments section (with our without emojis).

5 Small Business Mistakes You Should Avoid (Podcast #68) - Classy Career Girl

5 Small Business Mistakes You Should Avoid (Podcast #68) Today I want to go over the most common mistakes small business owners make when they want to start their business and quit their day job. First, I have to tell you that I have made pretty much all of these mistakes. You aren’t alone if any of these you have made. Many of the things we are going to talk about are all foundational and include mindset of going employee to an  entrepreneur as well.  Listen in! These are the things that might be in your way of making your dream business happen. Note: If you are ready to become your own boss in 2017 or grow your business while having less stress, check out corporaterescueplan.com to add your name to the waitlist and you’ll be notified when we open doors very soon! 5  Small Business Mistakes You Should Avoid Mistake #1: No Business Plan The first mistake is thinking you have a great idea and it’s time to start without a solid plan. An idea isn’t going to make you rich. You have to have solid action steps and a business model that is actually going to work. Instead, create an easy business plan here. Mistake #2:    Spending Too Much Money Some investment is necessary. There are startup costs but you can keep it simple. You don’t have to go big and invest in a nice fancy website for thousands of dollars. I actually do not recommend that. Instead, you can start with a small budget. Start hustling and find those first clients. Once you are making an income, then put more cash into your new business. Mistake #3: Making Things  Perfect Before Launching Mistake #3 is waiting too long to launch. Taking too much time for thinking and not enough time taking action. When I started, I sold a course I hadn’t even created yet.  I didn’t wait and think about it. I’m all about the action. I put my course out there, someone bought it and I HAD to create it. I recommend that you test, sell and create as you go. If I think too much I get paralyzed! Instead, how can you start selling right now a beta version of your product or service? Start now! Mistake #4: Not Surveying Potential Clients Mistake number 4 is not really understanding who your ideal client is. This is a big mistake if you do not solve an actual problem and an urgent problem that your ideal clients have. Instead, create your products and services with your clients and survey them as you go! I enjoy creating as I go because it becomes a much better product than me in my office creating this program I think that people will want. Trust me, I ‘ve done the do it alone process and those products always flopped. So learn from me! Mistake #5: Not Being Passionate About Your Business Idea The fifth mistake is starting a business you aren’t passionate about just to make money. It’s really important that you know your interests, values and motivations before starting your business.  Start a business that you  will love doing because it’s really never just about the money. Its tough growing a business and you need to be passionate about it in order to get through the tough times when you feel like quitting.

Finding the Best Resume Writing Company

Finding the Best Resume Writing CompanyWhen you are creating your own resume, or you want to hire a professional resume writer, finding the best resume writing company is essential. Once you have decided what type of cover letter or resume to create, you will need to find the best resume writing company that will provide the right resume writing service. A good resume can make the difference between an interview and not having an interview at all.Many different types of resume writers exist today. However, when you do decide to hire one, it is important to choose a reputable company that has experience working with these kinds of documents. The experienced professionals at the best resume writing company will know how to properly structure the document so that it is not only properly formatted, but it also provides the information needed for the employer to look over the qualifications of the candidate. In order to hire a professional resume writer, look for a company that offers sup port from an on-staff professional who can help you throughout the process.While there are many types of cover letters available on the market today, it is still important to remember that not all of them are created equal. You may have been able to use some of the templates available, but they may not work for you. Finding a good online resume writing service is an easy task, because you can visit many different sites that offer an array of templates and samples.When you are seeking the services of a resume writer, be sure to ask them about their rates. Some of the best resume writing companies will offer their services for free, while others may charge for their services. Look for a reputable company that is affordable and offers excellent service.When you are looking for the right writer, be sure to ask for references. You should also request a sample of their work. You should also find out if they offer copywriting or if they specialize in internet marketing, or any other area o f resume writing. When you are looking for the perfect resume, it is important to keep several factors in mind. First, if you have any previous experiences in this field, you may want to point this out. Second, some resume writing services offer more extensive services than others.The best resume writing services can use your skills to create a truly unique document. One professional can make your resume unique and can offer recommendations for where you may be able to further improve your chances of being hired. Be sure to discuss all of the details that you would like your resume to include, such as educational and training background, or any related experience.Try to find out if there are any sample resume writing documents available to be used by potential candidates. You can also get additional information about the style and format of the best resume writing company you are considering using. This is a good way to ensure that you are choosing the right company for your resume.

How to Get a Job in Retail - CareerAlley

How to Get a Job in Retail - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Whatever you are, be a good one. Abraham Lincoln If youre looking to work in a fast paced and dynamic environment then retail is the industry you need to be in. With flexible hours, you can choose to work full time or part time and choose between mornings, during the day or even at night. Working in retail also isnt limited to just serving on the shop floor, there are a variety of retail jobs to choose from such as forecasting trends as a Merchandiser, designing product displays as a Visual Merchandiser, searching for new products and predicting demand as a Buyer and many, many more. This industry is all about being responsive in predicting consumer demand and forecasting future trends so if these sounds appealing to you, here are few tips to increase your chances of getting a job in retail: Track Down Vacancies If youre struggling to find companies with retail job vacancies, it isnt because they arent out there. Its simply because companies tend to advertise vacancies on their own website. So you will have to search and visit each individual companys website and click on their careers section. This also creates the impression that you are particularly interested in working for their company which is a plus point. Also do not be afraid to go to every store you wish to apply for yourself and hand in your CV. Appearance is Key In retail the majority of the time is spent interacting with customers especially when working in customer service, so your appearance is very important. Do your research and take note of what staff are wearing in store. Take note of whether the dress code is very smart and professional or casual and trendy. Especially if the company is a clothing store make sure you wear in-season clothing from their store. When handing in your CV or going for an interview first impressions is vital so present yourself well and be confident. Sell Yourself The first thing you need to is highlight your key skills and achievements in your CV and in interviews. Especially if youve worked in sales or marketing, give examples of what you have produced and achieved. It is important to always focus on what you can do for the company not what they can do for you. People tend to write Id like to work for your company to further develop my skills in this isnt going to help you stand out. What you need to concentrate on is what value you can bring to the company and how you can help them improve their business performance. Use a CV template to guide you and get ideas. Dont Give Up Finally, dont give up on your search. With the current economic climate its going to be tough but not impossible. The more companies you apply to the greater your chances are of getting an interview. Keep focused, motivated and remain positive. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Good luck in your search.Visit me on Facebook

3 Surprising Reasons Why Your Company Should Use FBA

3 Surprising Reasons Why Your Company Should Use FBA Would you like someone else to pay for all of your shipping, packing and storage? Find out how being an FBA seller can save your company money today. Amazon is gearing up to expand their FBA seller program in a major way. They will be speeding things up for both shipping and receiving by using 3rd party warehousing. This move will be a huge opportunity for sellers, lowering costs and speeding up deliveries. If you havent considered doing fulfillment by Amazon yet, its time to take a serious look at it. FBA grants you many benefits, some more obvious than others. You get the reliability of Amazon shipping and open up a greater potential to scale your business. If you are looking for a simple breakdown of what it means to be fulfilled by Amazon, this guide should help you. Lets learn what FBA includes and how it can enhance your business. FBA 101 In its most basic form, FBA allows you to sell products without handling inventory. You send your products to a nearby Amazon fulfillment center and let them sort, store, and pack all your deliveries. Amazon also does all the logistics for returns and customer service. FBA Fees To become an FBA seller, youll need to pay for their service, of course. Amazon takes a cut for packing, shipping, and customer service provided. Youll also be paying a separate fee for storage, which will vary based on how much product you have and season rates. Depending on the type of product, Amazons FBA rates will vary. Youll need to refer to their fulfillment calculator to get an exact idea on how much it will cost to have your product fulfilled by Amazon. Lastly, as with any product sold on Amazon (i.e., whether Amazon fulfills the order or the seller does), FBA sellers pay a referral fee on each unit sold. This fee depends on the category the product belongs to and is calculated using a percentage of each units total price. 3 Reasons You Should Be An FBA Seller Now that you have a good idea as to how FBA works, its time to start talking business. Would your business benefit from having inventory handled by Amazon? Would it increase your sales? These questions and more will be covered under just three ways that Amazons FBA can give you the advantage. 1. Professional Packing Matters If youre running your online retail business out of your home, you will know that packing and shipping is a huge overhead. You wont have the capital starting out to buy all the packing staples like packing peanuts, padded, waterproof mailers, and various boxes. Amazons packing and shipping are among the best in the industry. Youll notice that they waste very little and keep shipping weight low. Most people just dont have the space to carry all the various shipping materials to compete. Its also worth noting that if your package doesnt contain the proper labels for weight, fragility, or other handling warnings, you could be penalized. Letting Amazon handle everything is the best way to stay compliant. Quality Control Not only is packaging and shipping difficult to do alone for small businesses, maintaining quality control is tough, too. Quality control becomes more important as you undergo business expansion and growth. It also takes a large portion of time to do it properly. If you arent careful, your Amazon rating can take a nosedive as defects and decreases in product quality arent caught. Businesses that arent confident in their product quality often settle for paid reviews to pad their ratings. Paying for reviews isnt a realistic solution, for many reasons beyond the ethical dilemma, learn more about this slippery slope, if you have doubts. 2. Scaling and Glass Ceilings Scaling with a virtually unlimited inventory space takes the physical logistics out of the equation. If the numbers make sense, you just do it, but if youre playing Tetris with boxes in your garage, thats a different story. When you first start a business, these obstacles and glass ceilings can hold back your true potential. Buying in bulk is the only way to get the best margins on products. Price per product goes down, as does the cost of shipping. With FBA, you kill two birds with one stone. Being able to calculate your profit margins becomes much more straight-forward on Amazon. 3. Thinking Like a Business Owner Micromanaging everything from reordering inventory, packing supplies, physically moving everything, and working within the confines of your space saps your energy. Your creative energy is also affected by being preoccupied with all the logistics. Planning for the future of your business is much harder when you only have an hour or two out of each day not dedicated to moving products. The FBA service saves you time, money, and your sanity. So many online retail businesses fizzle out within the first year. Part of this is due to lack of capital, poor sales, or bad products. What is harder to quantify is the stunting of business growth from not being able to look past the present. Its much easier to experiment and invest for long-term success when you can brainstorm all day. Overhaul Your Business Strategy As you can see, becoming an FBA seller has plenty of benefits. A lot of entrepreneurs make the mistake of focusing purely on how much they will earn on each sale by switching. This is thinking small-minded in todays business world. Unless youre already getting all your inventory drop shipped, youre limiting your growth potential without FBA on Amazon. Of course, its not as easy as checking off that box to become a successful FBA seller. Theres plenty more to running an online business, including more helpful automation tools and strategies. You can find more advice and business strategy from Mike McRitchies resource guide and professional consulting here. Great for those looking for a cohesive business strategy, including branding and logistics.