Unemployment Rate is Bunk. Despair is Strong.

Unemployment Rate is Bunk. Despair is Strong. One thing that I didnt understand during my job search was the unemployment rate. Seems like it was around 3% or 4% when I was looking (right now its at a record low 2.5ish% in Utah). Politicians love this because it means they are doing their jobs wonderfully, and its great cause for celebration. Employers hate it because they say they cant find their talent (and you hear things like war for talent muttered more often). I imagine recruiters love/hate it because it means more business opportunity for them since employers are more apt to bring them in, but its really, really hard to find the right person for the job. I absolutely hate it because I think it misleads society hey, if we are at 2.5% in Utah then things are great! We can sustain this forever, cant we? The term bubble burst comes to mind. Detroit is going through a huge employment bubble-burst right now. I also hate it because it discourages those that are in the job search. If there are only 2.5 people out of 100 that cant find a job, and Im one of them, whats wrong with me? Why does someone talk about this great job seekers market and I cant even get a real interview? It must be me, right? Thats what the government and economists are telling me This unemployment rate is merely a metric devised by economists to help get a pulse on where we are at with jobs. But its just like any other metric it has its problems and I choose to scoff at the rates. It suffers from garbage-in-garbage-out because people that dont apply for unemployment, or otherwise report it, arent counted. It also neglects the huge difference between finding jobs at McDonalds vs. executive or professional positions. It also neglects people that are unhappily employed, or looking for some other reason. I hear about a lot of people that are not in the unemployment rate numbers but are moving around. This is normal stuff, as far as I can see. But the numbers dont reflect it at all. Why am I on this subject? Yesterday should have been a really quiet day at JibberJobber. I was expecting record-low signups because of the holiday. But just the opposite happened. I got record-high signups, due to a newsletter that went out to a popular executive job board list. Its uncommon to get more than 100 signups in one day, but it happened on the Fourth of July all day long, from early morning and into the night. It was exciting because we continue to grow. It was discouraging because I realized that there were hundreds of people who are extremely concerned about their careers, enough to take time to (a) read the newsletter, and (b) pick out the expert advice that says use JibberJobber and (c) signup for an account. Maybe thats a half-glass-empty observation. The flip side is that over 100 people understand long-term career management and are really interested in taking it to the next level. Ya, maybe thats it. Unemployment Rate is Bunk. Despair is Strong. One thing that I didnt understand during my job search was the unemployment rate. Seems like it was around 3% or 4% when I was looking (right now its at a record low 2.5ish% in Utah). Politicians love this because it means they are doing their jobs wonderfully, and its great cause for celebration. Employers hate it because they say they cant find their talent (and you hear things like war for talent muttered more often). I imagine recruiters love/hate it because it means more business opportunity for them since employers are more apt to bring them in, but its really, really hard to find the right person for the job. I absolutely hate it because I think it misleads society hey, if we are at 2.5% in Utah then things are great! We can sustain this forever, cant we? The term bubble burst comes to mind. Detroit is going through a huge employment bubble-burst right now. I also hate it because it discourages those that are in the job search. If there are only 2.5 people out of 100 that cant find a job, and Im one of them, whats wrong with me? Why does someone talk about this great job seekers market and I cant even get a real interview? It must be me, right? Thats what the government and economists are telling me This unemployment rate is merely a metric devised by economists to help get a pulse on where we are at with jobs. But its just like any other metric it has its problems and I choose to scoff at the rates. It suffers from garbage-in-garbage-out because people that dont apply for unemployment, or otherwise report it, arent counted. It also neglects the huge difference between finding jobs at McDonalds vs. executive or professional positions. It also neglects people that are unhappily employed, or looking for some other reason. I hear about a lot of people that are not in the unemployment rate numbers but are moving around. This is normal stuff, as far as I can see. But the numbers dont reflect it at all. Why am I on this subject? Yesterday should have been a really quiet day at JibberJobber. I was expecting record-low signups because of the holiday. But just the opposite happened. I got record-high signups, due to a newsletter that went out to a popular executive job board list. Its uncommon to get more than 100 signups in one day, but it happened on the Fourth of July all day long, from early morning and into the night. It was exciting because we continue to grow. It was discouraging because I realized that there were hundreds of people who are extremely concerned about their careers, enough to take time to (a) read the newsletter, and (b) pick out the expert advice that says use JibberJobber and (c) signup for an account. Maybe thats a half-glass-empty observation. The flip side is that over 100 people understand long-term career management and are really interested in taking it to the next level. Ya, maybe thats it. Unemployment Rate is Bunk. Despair is Strong. One thing that I didnt understand during my job search was the unemployment rate. Seems like it was around 3% or 4% when I was looking (right now its at a record low 2.5ish% in Utah). Politicians love this because it means they are doing their jobs wonderfully, and its great cause for celebration. Employers hate it because they say they cant find their talent (and you hear things like war for talent muttered more often). I imagine recruiters love/hate it because it means more business opportunity for them since employers are more apt to bring them in, but its really, really hard to find the right person for the job. I absolutely hate it because I think it misleads society hey, if we are at 2.5% in Utah then things are great! We can sustain this forever, cant we? The term bubble burst comes to mind. Detroit is going through a huge employment bubble-burst right now. I also hate it because it discourages those that are in the job search. If there are only 2.5 people out of 100 that cant find a job, and Im one of them, whats wrong with me? Why does someone talk about this great job seekers market and I cant even get a real interview? It must be me, right? Thats what the government and economists are telling me This unemployment rate is merely a metric devised by economists to help get a pulse on where we are at with jobs. But its just like any other metric it has its problems and I choose to scoff at the rates. It suffers from garbage-in-garbage-out because people that dont apply for unemployment, or otherwise report it, arent counted. It also neglects the huge difference between finding jobs at McDonalds vs. executive or professional positions. It also neglects people that are unhappily employed, or looking for some other reason. I hear about a lot of people that are not in the unemployment rate numbers but are moving around. This is normal stuff, as far as I can see. But the numbers dont reflect it at all. Why am I on this subject? Yesterday should have been a really quiet day at JibberJobber. I was expecting record-low signups because of the holiday. But just the opposite happened. I got record-high signups, due to a newsletter that went out to a popular executive job board list. Its uncommon to get more than 100 signups in one day, but it happened on the Fourth of July all day long, from early morning and into the night. It was exciting because we continue to grow. It was discouraging because I realized that there were hundreds of people who are extremely concerned about their careers, enough to take time to (a) read the newsletter, and (b) pick out the expert advice that says use JibberJobber and (c) signup for an account. Maybe thats a half-glass-empty observation. The flip side is that over 100 people understand long-term career management and are really interested in taking it to the next level. Ya, maybe thats it.

Should I Charge Sales Tax on My Resume Writing Service?

Should I Charge Sales Tax on My Resume Writing Service?Many people ask me if they should charge sales tax on their resume writing service. My answer is that there is no rule about charging sales tax on your job. It depends on the person, but mostly on the type of business that you are running.When I first started my small home-based business, I did not charge any sales tax. I really didn't know much about it so I just took the word of the person who took my job when he told me that we could not charge sales tax because we were in a state where there was no income tax. He also said that we had to be very careful because the Internal Revenue Service can take our business away, so we better be very careful.Well, I was wrong on all counts. The IRS was very friendly to my small business and they allowed us to continue working. We could not charge sales tax because I had a tax ID number on file and we did not collect from consumers, but we still received our money. In fact, we received mor e money than before because the state of New Hampshire even offered us incentives that helped us sell more of our products and services.I have no problem with charging sales tax on my resume writing service. I will make sure that I charge the correct amount and I will not charge the lowest amount of sales tax that the government will allow. We cannot make the salespeople at the government any better than they already are, so why would we want to make them worse?If you are in a state where there is no sales tax, then I suggest that you let the salespeople collect the sales tax. You can use the money that you earn from your sales to pay for your taxes.I guess that I need to add one word to the rule that I gave above: Consult with the government first. If you are in a state where sales tax is charged, then it would be easier for you to collect taxes than it would be to try to collect sales tax at the federal level. It would also be easier for you to collect taxes from consumers than it would be to try to collect it at the state level.What if I am in a state where sales tax is not charged and I am trying to get a new job in that state? It is best to simply charge the minimum sales tax amount and no more.My final thoughts are that I do not believe in charging sales tax on my resume writing service or in my own business. I recommend that you charge the sales tax as you would charge it to a consumer and avoid the headaches of the IRS.

How to Start a Learning Culture

How to Start a Learning Culture What you need to try to avoid when building a learning culture We all know that lifelong learning is now something that needs to be the norm if we are to remain current, or even to advance, in our careers. The challenge is however for HR Professionals globally is how to build a learning culture that not only talks about lifelong learning but instills this across all levels of the business. Although all organizations a different, there are some activities that all organizations can undertake that can start to build a learning culture. Promote learning as lifelong One of the greatest struggles for engagement in learning starts from not understanding why we need to learn. All of the future assessment promotes the importance of lifelong learning, but what do I have to learn throughout life to achieve this. Promote life-long learning as something that is not only important but enjoyable and beneficial. Increase individual self-awareness By starting with providing all your employees an opportunity to increase their own self-awareness, you allow them a chance to understand what they need for their own growth. You can achieve this through tools such as Scheins career anchors, a skills development assessment, or providing a coach before any annual development planning. Talk about personal learning strategies By promoting a standard, all of business learning strategy without promoting personal learning strategies, you may not achieve engagement in learning. Analogies of the 70-20-10 learning approach could benefit your business but need to be promoted as to the benefit of the individual, not the business. Learning needs to be individualized as all of your employees need to be supported to learn in a style that suits their personal and professional needs. Promoting your learning strategies as a personal learning strategy can assist in achieving this. Keep the conversation alive The occasional poster will not assist in driving a positive learning culture but finding ways to keep the conversation active overall business channels can assist in keeping the conversation alive. Look at how learning can become part of each internal marketing activity and how you can effectively utilize business forums, online social networks, email communications or promotions and competitions to keep the conversation alive. What you need to try to avoid when building a learning culture Don’t make the conversation part of annual performance planning By only promoting career development as a conversation that happens once a year, you are making it appear unimportant. A good learning culture can plan to learn annually, but discuss progress, analyze goals and reflect on successes a monthly conversation. Educate your managers in career development Many organizations do a great job in promoting the coaching conversation, but it is important to ensure your managers are educated in career development and the future world of work. The leaders across your business must be the advocates and champions to keep the conversation alive; this means they also need to demonstrate their team their approach to their own career development. Don’t report on non-compliance The greatest way to engage individuals is to promote success and celebrate the wins. You can achieve this by using a great story on team member learning each month in business communications. By communicating to others how learning is being achieved, not only will you be demonstrating commitment, but you will be providing evidence of how learning is supported across the whole of the business. Learning for the future is important, actually, it is imperative. A learning culture will not be achieved overnight but through the consistent effort, it will become part of the culture.

Want To Save Money On Your Online Purchases Use Discount Codes!

Want To Save Money On Your Online Purchases Use Discount Codes! Using online discount codes, coupons, promo codes and voucher codes when shopping is just like using ordinary coupons over the counter. Unlike ordinary coupons which you have to hand to a cashier to redeem, online stores provide a code to enter during the checkout process for a specific discount which is taken off the total price. Where to find online discount codes When coupon codes first began circulating on the net they were often only found on retailer’s websites. Today discount codes, coupons, promo codes and voucher codes are widely available on specialist sites like Plusvouchercode.co.uk. You can visit this type of website and compare any coupon savings that are available on a wide range of categories. This can include anything from motoring to finance and insurance, flights and hotels, video games to jewellery, health and beauty. How to redeem a discount code Depending on the online store there are a few different places to enter discount codes. Generally, the code can be entered in the shopping cart before checking out. In some cases, the code is entered on the order review page, prior to checking out, it all depends on the website you’re on. Redeeming a discount code is straightforward enough to do. Usually called “promo codes”, check out the promo code submit area before completing your online purchase from a particular store. Save money on nutrition products A good example is MyProtein, one of Europe’s leading sports nutrition companies. They excel in providing their customers with top quality protein products, ideal for modern living. And there is a    Myprotein Discount Code. MyProtein rewards its customers with a discount code during the purchase process. Once you have chosen your promotion code, enter it in the appropriate section on the shopping cart and you will save on the total price.   Like most sites, they also have a newsletter you can sign up for and theyll often send promos and discount codes right to your inbox. Exclusive savings Specialist discount code sites will help you with exclusive savings across more categories than ever before. What could be better than paying less online for home and garden products, sport, fitness outdoor items, fashion and accessories along with food and drink? The great news is the majority of specialist discount code sites are completely free to use. You don’t have to make a contribution to use the codes, just click on the perfect coupon without paying a thing. Is the code working? Some people worry that when they click on a discount code, it won’t actually work. Usually a link promotion will take you directly to the product that is being promoted at a special price or the page advertising the discount. Once the discount code is applied, you should see the amount updated directly on your online shopping cart. If the code doesn’t work, check the terms and conditions. Updated daily The beauty of discount codes, promo codes, special offers and online coupons is that they are updated daily. In many cases you can save up to 70% off a whole host of products.

The Three Major Areas of Focus for Writing a Good Tech Resume

The Three Major Areas of Focus for Writing a Good Tech ResumeThere are three major areas of focus for writing a good tech resume. These include what you know, what you have accomplished and what you have the skills required to do. When you understand what you know about the technology you will be able to write an effective resume that shows you are the right person for the job.Know what you know. Start by knowing the areas you need to cover when writing a tech resume. By knowing these areas you will be able to prioritize your work and not forget anything that is needed to cover each section. This is your chance to let the employer know you are the right person for the job and you should use every opportunity to show your worth.Experience. Your experience is often the first thing they will look at when reviewing your resume. Make sure you show that you have worked on a variety of projects by including projects you worked on in your resume. Showing that you have experience in all areas of computer programming will help get you further up the stack.Skills. When writing a tech resume include skills you have gained through different training courses. This will give you more of a chance to show the employer that you have more of a knowledge base to offer than someone else who may not have as much experience. Experience is important but being able to learn new things is something that comes from experience.Make sure you are looking at past work with current projects. Being able to show you have several projects under your belt will give you more credibility and a chance to move up the ladder of advancement. To highlight your skills in projects, list only those projects that can show how well you have worked with others in similar situations.References. Having references to show include past employers that are professional within the industry. Using past employers to show how long you have been with a company will show that you are willing to look beyond what is immedi ately listed on your resume. These references can show that you are willing to progress to higher levels of advancement.Skills. Using the skills you have learned from years of work in technology shows that you are well versed in the field and ready to take it to the next level. It shows that you can not only do the job but you are also ready to perform the duties that are asked of you in the field.Make sure your skills are in line with the requirements of the position. Most jobs don't require much technical knowledge so it can be hard to know what to show. You will want to include details of some of the projects you have worked on and any projects you have completed in the past. By showing what you can do and how you perform it you will be ahead of the game.

Get paid to hang with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - Debut

Get paid to hang with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - Debut We stand here on the final day of January, already bruised and knackered from 2018, and yet the quest to get a graduate job is only just hotting up. The main recruitment season is at an end, but competition continues among soon-to-be graduates over the remaining spots. Heres a pitch, though. Wouldnt it be nice if you didnt have to worry about a graduate job at all? What if you could guarantee yourself something a bit more regal? Well, the good news is you can, because you can have a job with the UKs wealthiest landowners. Become the Royal Familys communications assistant Yep, just like Meghan Markle herself, all the dreams of your childhood can come true with this great role. The Royal Family are currently seeking a communications assistant. If that sounds like your bag, youll be based in Buckingham Palace (probably the most expensive office in the world) with your day-to-day comprising of managing news briefings, social media and press releases.   And get this you may be required to accompany members of the Royal Family on international trips and important visits. Who would say no to that? With the salary at £22,000 per annum, this prestigious role is very competitive compared to other graduate jobs (though youd think the Royals would be able to fork out a little more). In addition though, you will get 33 days of holiday and a 15% pension contribution. Its only available on a one year contract from April 2018 to April 2019 however so it seems like this too, like all fairy tales, wont last forever. That being the case, its going be one  hell  of a year, with Kate and Wills third baby on the way and not one but two Royal Weddings coming up Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, and of course Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. What kind of person are they looking for? You might think that you need to be a special kind of person to work for the Royal Household, but the skills required for the this role are definitely withing reach for a graduate. The Windsors are looking for someone educated to degree level with energy, enthusiasm and potential. Other skills theyre looking for include: Excellent interpersonal skills Articulate, engaging and accurate writing skills Good news sense Good judgement, sensitivity and a willingness to help others If you think that youre the prince or princess that the Royal Family are waiting for, theres still time to apply via their website. After all, who knows where it could lead? If youre after something a little bit more traditional however, the Debut app has a palace full of graduate and internship opportunities, all of them fit for royalty. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Stop Wondering When You Should Follow Up

Stop Wondering When You Should Follow Up Have you ever wondered when you should follow up after an interview or submitting a resume?   This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions I hear from job seekers. I dont want you to wonder.   I want you to feel in control and so I put together some concrete guidelines to help make this a no-brainer for you and give you back some of the power and control! Stand Out in the Right Way Most of us want to follow the rules yet at the same time, we want to stand out from the crowd.   These sometimes seem to be contradictory concepts.   Stand out and be remembered for the right things! Put a System In Place Be Politely and Patiently Persistent Track Back To learn the details behind these, youll want to read the full article I wrote on Job-Hunt.org How to Stand Out by Following Up for Job Search Success! While you are there, I hope you poke around a bit.   I am so fortunate to be blogging with great job search experts.   There are tons of job search resources, online guides and job boards, lists of professional associations, free eBooks, and amazing articles on everything you can imagine related to job search.   Consider it your first stop if you are looking for an answer related to your job search!

Client Case Study Anabell Bender - When I Grow Up

Client Case Study Anabell Bender - When I Grow Up Um, do you know that Ive coached hundreds of women since I started offering dream career guidance in 2008? And that these women are freakin rock stars, leaving soul-sucking jobs and traveling the world and launching creative, grown-up businesses and simply doing work that fits their lifestyle goals? Well ya do now and youll hear their stories firsthand in my  Client Case Studies series!  Since I started working with Anabell in February (through  Discover Your Dream Business), shes zeroed in on her business idea, quit her job, started a new part-time one, worked her butt off and TODAY shes launching  Personal Dreamcatcher  through  90 Day Business Launch! Read more of her story below and  definitely  click through her links if you need help, support and inspiration on making your creative dreams come true! Why did you decide to work with me, a creative business coach?   2 years ago, I discovered that there is such a thing as people helping you find the career for you. I first saw a career counselor and the biggest takeaway from the first session was that I needed to do something creative. Hearing someone say that made me cry because I have been suppressing my creativity since teenage years (being told that this is not a way to earn money.) When I saw you for the first time on the Pivot Assembly I instantly thought WOOOOOOW, I cant believe that there is someone that I can so identify with! Plus she is a career coach! Thats a sign, so I signed up to both of your creative live classes (thanks to which I came up with the name Dreamcatcher Coach) plus I dont remember how many webinars. Still, I felt that I needed to really get the needle moving much moreâ€"I can share so much but dont know how! So, I made the investment in myself to sign up for the program after doing the group coaching program before. I am so ready to be my true, authentic self. What were you doing work-wise when we started working together and what are you doing now? Moving, moving, moving hahaha. I am a typical multi-passionate person. I am a trained hotel expert, beautician, make-up artist, massage therapist, holistic health and nutrition counselor, happiness coach and life coach. I mainly used to work as a receptionist, as that job allowed me to still have the energy to study. I also worked as a cook, a terminal security inspector at the airport and others. In the past 5 years, I have been working as a receptionist in a private bank, but I resigned because rules prevented me from building my own business (asking for permission on how to run my life is not an option). I got a part-time job now in an educational centre as a reservations/admin agent. On 2-3 days I work half-day so that leaves me great time to build on my own business. What was your biggest takeaway from our work together? You bring me back to the main tasks on which I need to focus. I get so lost when I start talking to others about my business, they ask me thousands of questions that leave me feeling like it is impossible to handle this. Working with you makes me feel like it really is manageable ?? Think of someone who is currently in the shoes you wore when we first started working together. What advice do you have for her?   What is your option if you dont do it? Just do it, people are always going to talk and judge but that shouldnt bother you. Allow yourself for just this time to be the badass CEO of your dream business and see magic happen ?? You are going to grow in ways you didnt even imagine and, who knows, this dream might just continue to unfold after the program ?? Is there anything thats been a game-changer for you when it comes to your business that you can share? Wed love a good resource or a mindset/productivity tip! A game-changer for me was to talk about my dream business to people who I considered strangers or aliens from another world lol. I was so stuck in self-doubt that I thought that everyone would start judging me and telling me that I shouldnt even bother trying. But then I realized that once you are confident and have the actionable steps in your head (that we elaborated on our One Perfect Day), people are seriously interested and supportive. It is all about your passion, conviction, commitment, love etc. If you carry and discover/find that in you and reconnect to it regularly, it will automatically attract the right people including potential clients and collaborations. Its crazyyyyyy. Whats on the horizon for your business? Wed love to hear about any upcoming offerings or goals! I am just launching my 8-week program called Catch Your Creativity where I help people who are suppressing their creativity to unlock that part of themselves to achieve their big dreams. My main goal is to be location independent one day soon, so I can help people everywhere, anytime, all while seeing my friends and family all over the world (because that is just as important, too 3.) Where can we find you and your work? Website: Personal Dreamcatcher Instagram: personal.dreamcatcher FB Group: to us dreamcatchers 3