How to Promote Yourself 6 Lessons from the Edinburgh Fringe

How to Promote Yourself 6 Lessons from the Edinburgh Fringe The Edinburgh Fringe Festival  2014 is now in full swing. Thousands of  shows take place throughout August across the city, from stand-up comedy and sketch shows to street performance, cabaret and kid?s clubs. Every nook and cranny within the Scottish capital has had a black curtain draped across it to create a place for people to perform. Every year I go up to the Festival for a few  days to take in some shows and it always amazes me the lengths people go to promote their work and how many people make the simplest, but potentially catastrophic mistakes when trying to promote themselves. Coincidently, the principles of promoting yourself whilst looking for new job opportunities are very similar to attracting an audience for a Fringe performance. Here are just a few lessons which can be taken away from the world?s largest arts festival: 1) As seen on TV: It obviously helps if you already have a profile. Comedians who have been on T.V such as Frank Skinner and Al Murray will need little promotion to sell out big venues as people will have already heard of them and are reassured (if they like the performer) that they will deliver a show they will enjoy. Similarly, it is possible for you to improve your chances of getting hired by increasing your profile within the industry you work in. This can be achieved by engaging online with relevant peers and influencers through discussion groups, commenting and taking part in conversations on Twitter and LinkedIn and blogging on subjects relevant to your chosen industry. This will increase your chances that a potential employer will have already heard of you when your C.V lands on their desk or at the very least you will have some proof that you are actively involved and interested in the sector. 2) Five stars: Reviews, quotes and testimonials are all important as they are an indicator of your skills and ability. You should be proactive in asking people to provide them and collecting them for CV and online profile. However, it is crucial that all the sources are relevant i.e. sector specific if possible or at least from people who have actually worked with you (no friends or relatives allowed). Also, don?t be tempted to doctor quotes to change how they can be interpreted. A 5  star review isn?t a 5  star review if the scoring system is out of ten. Manipulating testimonials may get your foot in the door, but if your deception is discovered or you don?t live up to expectations then your reputation may be permanently ruined. 3) Standing  out from the crowd: For those who have been to the Edinburgh Festival you will know that it is impossible to walk down the Royal Mile, due to the sheer numbers of street artists, performers and drama students singing, dancing and juggling in front of you whilst also trying to thrust promotional flyers into your hands. It is extremely difficult to stand out from the crowd, but also by being too outlandish or appearing too desperate, there is a danger of alienating your potential audience. Make your CV stand out by its content succinctly selling what is unique about you, but what is also relevant to the employer not by adding lots of different colours, fonts and a zany photo! It may also be beneficial to try channels that the majority of other people haven?t tried (i.e. away from the Royal Mile) such as a video, Slideshare or a Prezi presentation. 4) The  devil is in the detail: It is amazing how many people miss off important information from their flyers and posters such as where the venue is, how much it costs, who the target audience is and even what the show is actually about (sometimes a title just isn?t enough). With so much competition around no-one is going to go out of their way to see a show unless they know exactly what they are letting themselves in for. The same applies to your C.V. Make sure it contains all the required information and is relevant to the position you are applying for. In a competitive market it is unlikely that you will be contacted for further information if your CV lacks the relevant details. It will be destined for the same location as the majority of the flyers in Edinburgh. 5) A dalmatian in the rain: Endlessly promoting yourself and competing against some many other shows for a month can be relentless. As you can probably imagine, flyering around Edinburgh dressed as a Dalmatian in the pouring rain to attract an audience of four on a daily basis can be extremely demotivating. However success will come to those who continue to have self-belief and persistence, and who continue to learn and improve By being determined, learning from your experiences (CV advice, interview feedback etc.) and adapting your processes accordingly you will gradually get closer to landing the job role that you desire. 6) Call  my agent: In the entertainment industry an agent can help  you to promote yourself. Unfortunately it comes at a fee (at least 10%!). There is also the chicken and egg scenario that you can?t get an agent until you have the experience, but it?s difficult to get experience without an agent.

Tips For Writing a Slp Cfy Resume

Tips For Writing a Slp Cfy ResumeThere are many tips for writing a set cfy resume, but what does it really take to write one that stands out? What do you need to do to get your resume noticed? In this article I will give you some tips for writing a set cfy resume.Your resume should be creative. You don't want it to be a cookie cutter resume that everyone else is writing. If your resume is boring and predictable you won't stand out and people won't even look at it. Make sure you use style and proper grammar.Formatting is important as well. Most people who submit resumes will use the same format. Do yourself a favor and make sure your resume looks professional. I am not saying that you should go overboard, but make sure it looks neat and professional. If you don't like it, it will look awkward and people won't notice that you have used the same format for years.Ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish with your resume. Is it to get a job or do you want to be in a particular posit ion? Are you in a position that you want to be in or are you just out to become a better employee? It is very important to think about what you want your potential employer to know before they read your resume. You need to make them feel like you are confident about your ability to do the job.Think about what position you are in and see if you are fit for it. Look at how your skills match up with the job position and think about if they are even needed for the position. Some people are good at certain things and can't get by on other things, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try to get byon them if you are in a position where you are having trouble.Back up your resume with examples of other resumes. Sometimes you will find something in a job posting that will make you look like a qualified candidate for the position. Use those examples to give you some insight into what other people are looking for.Another thing that you should be aware of when you are writing a set cfy resum e is that you need to write the 'bottom line'. This should be a statement that summarizes what your resume is all about. Be honest and concise, but remember that you want the employer to read your resume without having to read a million words!Remember that you can write a great resume for any job. Use these tips for writing a set cfy resume and you should do just fine! Good luck!

Pay increases make a comeback in 2010

Pay increases make a comeback in 2010 0 Flares 0 Flares Many of those still lucky enough to be working these days have seen their company slash raises and bonuses this year.   Ive come accross some hopeful news for those of you feeling like your hard work should earn you a thicker wallet.   Please see the link below from ResumeBear, which  discusses a 2010 salary survey report  completed by Watson Wyatt, a leading global consultant firm. Check out the article then stop back to leave your  opinion.   Feel free to also share some of your salary/bonus horror stories from 2009 as well, keeping it annonymous if youd like. Click here to read article

Good endings make good beginnings with Maggie Mistal

Good endings make good beginnings with Maggie Mistal Happy holidays!!  Heres to closing out 2012 on a high note. To help, I have an inspiring show lined up this Friday (12/28) 5p ET/2p PT SiriusXM 110.  Check out my guest line-up via Making a Living with Maggie Mistal on Facebook!I hope to be on Martha Radio and on SiriusXM in 2013.  Just in case my show doesn’t continue there, however, you can always find me here at MaggieMistal.com. I want to take the opportunity now at holiday time to say thank you to those whove been tuning in, sharing their comments about the show via email and on Facebook:Susan said: Your show really opened my eyes to the fact that I get to create my own path. I dont have to be a part of a reality that was created by my family, teachers, or expectations from another time.  I often hear the tagline for Martha Stewart Radio, Learn something new every day. And every show you taught me something valuableIm so glad that youve been in my orbit every Friday afternoon for all these years!! To say thank you, Im offer ing an unprecedented Follow Your Dreams giveaway. For all who enter starting today through 1/31/13, I will be choosing at random one lucky winner to receive a full 9-session Soul Search, Research and Job Search coaching program (a $5000 value).How To Enter the Follow Your Dreams Giveaway:Go to MaggieMistal.com, sign up for my newsletter (see bottom left of homepage) and then use the Contact button to share why you’d love some help with your career.I’ll randomly choose one winner from all the entries.You have until Jan 31, 2013 to sign up for my newsletter and contact me with your career needs and goals.I’ll let the lucky winner know via email on Monday Feb 4th, 2013.All are eligible to enter including people who dont subscribe to SiriusXM.Even if you don’t want to participate in the giveaway, you can still sign up for my newsletter get on my mailing list. This way we can stay connected and I can share with you my latest tips on how to Soul Search, Research, Job Search and k eep the right mindset, while also highlighting trends in the marketplace, and career success stories.  I’ll be sharing some new audio tips in 2013 too!Happy New Year!  Heres to you being inspired to not settle and instead, create your dream career in 2013.Always follow your dreams,-MaggieThe foolish man [or woman] seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his [or her] feet. James Oppenheim. Good endings make good beginnings with Maggie Mistal Happy holidays!!  Heres to closing out 2012 on a high note. To help, I have an inspiring show lined up this Friday (12/28) 5p ET/2p PT SiriusXM 110.  Check out my guest line-up via Making a Living with Maggie Mistal on Facebook!I hope to be on Martha Radio and on SiriusXM in 2013.  Just in case my show doesn’t continue there, however, you can always find me here at MaggieMistal.com. I want to take the opportunity now at holiday time to say thank you to those whove been tuning in, sharing their comments about the show via email and on Facebook:Susan said: Your show really opened my eyes to the fact that I get to create my own path. I dont have to be a part of a reality that was created by my family, teachers, or expectations from another time.  I often hear the tagline for Martha Stewart Radio, Learn something new every day. And every show you taught me something valuableIm so glad that youve been in my orbit every Friday afternoon for all these years!! To say thank you, Im offer ing an unprecedented Follow Your Dreams giveaway. For all who enter starting today through 1/31/13, I will be choosing at random one lucky winner to receive a full 9-session Soul Search, Research and Job Search coaching program (a $5000 value).How To Enter the Follow Your Dreams Giveaway:Go to MaggieMistal.com, sign up for my newsletter (see bottom left of homepage) and then use the Contact button to share why you’d love some help with your career.I’ll randomly choose one winner from all the entries.You have until Jan 31, 2013 to sign up for my newsletter and contact me with your career needs and goals.I’ll let the lucky winner know via email on Monday Feb 4th, 2013.All are eligible to enter including people who dont subscribe to SiriusXM.Even if you don’t want to participate in the giveaway, you can still sign up for my newsletter get on my mailing list. This way we can stay connected and I can share with you my latest tips on how to Soul Search, Research, Job Search and k eep the right mindset, while also highlighting trends in the marketplace, and career success stories.  I’ll be sharing some new audio tips in 2013 too!Happy New Year!  Heres to you being inspired to not settle and instead, create your dream career in 2013.Always follow your dreams,-MaggieThe foolish man [or woman] seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his [or her] feet. James Oppenheim.

Writing your own Resume. Up to the Challenge

Writing your own Resume. Up to the Challenge Writing a resume for yourself can be challenging, at best. That is why most people these days hire a professional to do it. Its much easier for the professional because they arent you! Its hard for people to figure out what information should stay or go. How many pages? What about this job or that job? What about if I went to several colleges? What if I didnt graduate from college? Should I omit that job in 03 because it was only a few months? How do I put this accomplishment into words? Functional? Chronological? Im terrible at writing, what am I going to do? Its hard enough suddenly finding yourself unemployed, but now the task of writing a resume? Forget it! Take a deep breath and relax, dear reader. Here is a brief synopsis that will help even the worst writer in the world overcome writers block and put the pen to paper. Keep in mind though that this really is brief and you will probably want to discuss any finer points with a Certified Professional Resume Writer. 1.   When starting your resume, the first thing you need to do is put yourself in the mind of the reader. What do they want to see? What do they really want to hear? Are you in sales? Then its numbers. Operations? Then its process improvements or cost cuts. Business Development? New opportunities, revenue pipelines, partnerships and so on. Always keep your reader in mind. They want to know what you have done and can you do it for them? 2. After you add your contact information, you need to determine your job objective. What is it that you really want to do? You need to have a clear understanding of your focus. You know what you have been doing, or what you are good at, but what do you really want to do? What is your brand? If you are uncertain, you need to dig deep within and explore your skills, core competencies and what inspires you. Fill your career summary with keyword action phrases and value-added snippets of what you do best. Summarize. Be bold and confident (not cocky) in your language. 3. Getting to the meat of the resume= your work history. It does not have to be a career obituary, Here lies Erin. I did this, this, and this every day, all day. I did this all with boring bullet point after bullet point, and ended each job without a bang. Hire me? You can talk about what you did at your job without putting the reader to sleep. Mix it up a bit. You might add a mini-paragraph after the job title, as your narrative (what you were brought in to do). You dont want your mini-paragraph to be too long, because the reader may skip right over it. Keep it brief and to the point. Follow it up with your accomplishments, or deliverables, in an action verb, bulleted format. Show enthusiasm in your tone when writing about your accomplishments. Get the reader excited, create a story! Paint a picture of what was going on in the company when you were there. Were you brought in to clean up a neglected department? Had to put in new processes where none had been in years? Created synergy among a previously hostile union/management environment? Thats a lot of work and it should show on the resume. Bring it out and show it on the resume. Keep it interesting. 4. Education Professional Development. If you are out of college, you dont need to add your high school. Personally, unless you are IN college, I never put high school on a resume and sometimes even then I wont.   Why? If you have a college degree it is a given you went to high school. What if you went to several colleges? Add the one you graduated from and omit the rest, unless they were for more specialized courses. Ive seen some resumes with 5 different colleges, no real majors and only a semester here or there. You dont need to add those. It looks like you were/are wishy washy and cant stay focused. Add your professional development and training courses. They add credibility to your resume and show that you are always eager to learn and/or improve. 5.   Miscellaneous. Volunteering is a great thing especially when it relates to your job or future job. Add it. Hobbies, interests, height, weight and zodiac sign? Omit it. DO NOT add any political and religious affiliations. As for your format, I would stick to a reverse chronological style. This is the most popular choice by recruiters and hiring managers. I also create a chrono/functional hybrid style depending on the clients situation. These are some ideas to help you in the writing process.   Once you start writing, you may not be able to stop! Be confident, have fun and just do it.

How to Improve Resume Writing Skills With the Help of Resume Writing Services

How to Improve Resume Writing Skills With the Help of Resume Writing ServicesWriting a resume is not an easy task for the employer. However, with the help of resume writing services, you can be sure that your resume is written in the most professional way. There are several online services that offer an alternative to writing resumes that are much cheaper than hiring a professional writer.The resume, in a nutshell, is a document that lists your achievements and skills. It also lists your achievements and skills that can be used to boost your chances of getting hired. One of the things you need to do if you want to write a resume is to list the important information. You have to describe your accomplishments, skills and experiences that can make you stand out from the rest. Make sure that your resume can be used for reference purposes by the employers as well.The job market has been tight these days. With a tight job market, employers are giving more importance to professional resume writing services. If you want to get the job done in a professional manner, then you should hire a resume writing service.These services are being used by the employers in order to improve their chances of hiring good candidates. They are using resumes in their job applications. If you are going to use resume writing services for enhancing your job application, you will need to hire a professional.The professionals in resume writing have some background in writing resumes and job applications. They can provide you with job seekers' advice as well. These services also have different types of services. You can hire a resume writing service for writing the general information. This type of service includes writing about past work experience, qualifications, areas of specialization and additional skills that you can showcase on your resume.In addition to this, there are also a variety of services that can help you improve the level of detail about your skills and experiences. You can be assured that your resume will reflect your exact personality. These services will also help you decide whether you need more information or if you can focus on the job requirements for your specific position. Some of the professional services can help you edit your resume and even give you feedback about the changes that you need to make.Resume writing services can really help you in improving resume writing skills. You can be sure that the professionals can help you improve your skills in making a good resume. As such, they can give you the best services at affordable rates. All you need to do is to find the best professional resume writing service provider in your area and start improving your resume.

Writing a Resume without Word Ideas

Writing a Resume without Word Ideas The New Angle On Writing a Resume Without Word Just Released If you own a college degree, you're going to need simply to pay attention to your college education, not on high school. Employment objective Indicate the sort of job that you are trying to find. You do not have to list every job that you've ever had on a resume. Again, higher school jobs do not will need to get listed on resumes. What You Don't Know About Writing a Resume Without Word The target of your resume is to secure you a work interview, or so the info needs to be detailed, well-organized, easy to read, and totally free of errors. There are a couple things you should check at before you truly begin your resume. Think about getting expert help If you're having a difficult time to create your resume, or in case you're receiving no response whatsoever from companies, you could look at employing a professional resume writing service. Besides updating your resume for accurac y every six months, it's also advisable to be updating it each time you submit it to a brand-new company. There's a difference between tweaking your resume to stay current and viable, and lying to acquire work. Resume paper isn't needed. All you include in your resume must reinforce how you're an acceptable job candidate. Produce and save the resume you would like to send in Microsoft Word. Utilizing the following advice can help achieve the big goal of any resume scoring an interview. Using resume examples can be quite helpful too. Use Keywords Keywords are an essential part of your resume. The Writing a Resume without Word Cover Up Letters of application will vary considerably based on the circumstances in which they're used. Your resume was made to sell you. As a cover letter when you're mailing resumes. The History of Writing a Resume Without Word Refuted It's likely the very first connection you'll have with your upcoming employer, and an ideal chance to generate a long-lasting impression! Try to remember, the start of a resume objective shall communicate straight to the reader at a very first glance with its striking and strong statement. The principal goal of updating your resume for an internal job is to demonstrate the employer you've grown with the business. Which is the reason why it's essential for your resume to get an eye-catching headline that will keep employers interested. A little sound advice to keep in mind while crafting a winning resume is that a resume does not have to be wordy as a way to showcase your talents and techniques. You want to reveal all your relevant strengths and abilities, and you should come across strong and confident. Experience is next as they are going to want to realize your experience. The majority of the times your prior work experience will be absolutely the most significant part the resume, so put it at the top. There are quite a lot of books, articles and consultants to help in writing sup erior resumes. In any event, it's crucial that you include the crucial keywords and phrases in the content of your resume. So a resume that's crystal clear and precise will surely make you stick out from others. There are many websites with tips around the internet, but most bring just a small number of them. You too may have a good resume. It is a resume, not a work description. If you're asking for a job which has unique requirements, you might need another edition of your resume to totally demonstrate your qualifications. The keywords that you want to include on your resume will be contingent on the particular job to which you're applying.