How to Choose the Right Photo for Your LinkedIn Profile

How to Choose the Right Photo for Your LinkedIn Profile Some people may scoff at the thought of needing a LinkedIn profile in order to get a job, and they might be right. It is not a need, but it would definitely be an aid in getting a good job. Having a great LinkedIn profile, complete with recommendations and job history, would tell a future employer a lot about how an applicant takes his career seriously. The key here is completing the profile and adding every frill that you can add, including a picture. Yes, you read it right. It would be a great idea to add a photograph to your profile. However, you cannot just leaf through your photo album and scan a snapshot from there, or browse through your Facebook profile. You will need to get a great photograph. Below are some of the common options that people have, and the suggestions as to which option to take: Empty or not: A lot of people say that their accomplishments will speak for them, and that is true to a certain degree.   However, that is not the complete picture of an applicant, and most jobs come with the responsibility of giving presentations and sales pitches.   If you cannot show that you are capable of doing such a thing through a picture, then an employer would contact someone who would have more confidence in that area, which would most likely mean someone with a picture in place. A photo of a photo, or an entirely new one: We all have really good pictures in store.   Either a graduation picture or a picture at an equally important event.   Not all of them are digitally captured though, and some may have the bright idea of taking a digital photo of these pictures and uploading them.   Unfortunately, that would come out as pixelated or blurred, and that would not be, in any way, a good representation of you.   Take your time to come up with a good photograph.   Hire a professional if you need to.   Just make sure that the photo itself is impressive. READ MORE:  Top 7  LinkedIn  Profile  Pictures  You Should NEVER Use Black and white or coloured: It is true that some photographs are really good when they are in black and white.   However, you need to remember that your picture has to be a good representation of you, and it has to be as accurate as possible so that your future employer would see what he needs to see in order to hire you.   It may be your preference to get a black and white picture, but it would always be the recommendation to go for a fully coloured picture with a neutral background, so that your features would stand out. Formal or informal: This is a business website, and your profile will get around, especially if you have a good job and people are interested in your services.   A picture of you in a party may show that you are lively and could get along with anyone, but a bottle of alcohol in your hand or a pet at your side would not show your professional side.   Reserve the party pictures for your Facebook page, and put a formal picture in the forefront of your LinkedIn profile to show that you are serious about your business. RELATED:  How to  Dress  for a Job Interview Conclusion: LinkedIn is not your regular social network.   This is a business that has made a business out of keeping other businesses well connected.   Most, if not all, of the fortune 500 company CEOs have LinkedIn profiles, and you would not want them looking at a profile of yours that is half-baked.   Put the right picture in, along with the right documents, and you could land a life-changing job.

Teach First My Experience

Teach First My Experience I was in my second year of university when I first heard about Teach First. Initially, I was interested in Corporate Responsibility, having been involved in volunteering with young people, and co-ordinating a project with students in a special needs secondary school. However, I quickly realised that Teach First offered a fairly unique opportunity: to gain leadership skills in the education sector. After researching the programme, I was resolute that it was the kind of scheme which would give me excellent experience, from which I would have a broader base of opportunities compared with other graduate programmes. Teach First Assessment Centres In all honesty, the assessment centre day was what really convinced me that this was a scheme I wanted to be involved with. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and I have to say there really is a ‘Teach First’ identity which saturates everyone involved. It feels, in some ways, without sounding sanctimonious, more like a ‘movement’ than a graduate programme. Everyone involved really identifies with the mission of the scheme: “To address educational disadvantage by transforming exceptional graduates into inspirational leaders in all fields.” Although we sometimes mock the grandiosity of the message, it really is evident that if you want to be on Teach First, you have to believe in it, and really, first and foremost, want to make a difference to these kids, in whatever way you can.  I wanted to do exactlythis: help improve the education of young people; it is a disgrace to me that wealth is such a directly contributing factor in educational outcome. Why Teach First? The opportunities Teach First offer you are wide-ranging. Firstly, they provide unerring support during the two-year programme. It is really, really difficult when you first start teaching in a challenging school. By far probably the toughest thing you will ever do. Teach First as an organisation is brilliant when I have needed help or have struggled, they have been there. You will have a great network of tutors, leadership development officers, mentors, ambassadors, fellow teach first-ers who are always on hand. I have also found that a lot of companies respect Teach First. Nearly all schools who employ Teach First teachers are really passionate about the programme, so further teaching opportunities are often readily available. Companies in the education, third, or business sectors also all hold Teach First in very high regard. I undertook a summer project with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer through the Teach First summer project programme. I have also been linked with a coach who works for Bentley, and he has given me a series of coaching sessions towards my professional development. After ‘finishing’ the Teach First Leadership development programme, around 50% of Teach First-ers continue to teach for at least another year. Many also pursue careers in educational policy, the third sector, business and there also seems to be a fair proportion who either work for, or set up their own social enterprises. As an ambassador (alumni) group, Teach First are a powerful force as they can help link you with connections for careers which may be of interest. For example, another Teach First-er in my school has been accepted onto the Price Waterhouse Cooper Graduate Audit programme. Teach First has ‘sponsors’ such as McKinsey and company, Credit Suisse, Accenture, Deloitte and many more, who all employ Teach First ambassadors. Teach First Recommended As a post-university option, I would wholly recommend Teach First. However, it is also extremely challenging. Teach First schools are challenging schools, in a variety of ways. The first year on the programme was, without a doubt, the most difficult thing I have done; late nights working, challenging student behaviour, difficult to deal with parents, and a never-ending stream of marking and planning. Nothing can particularly prepare you for ‘being thrown in at the deep end’. Although you improve quickly, each day is different, and therefore difficult to predict. These must also be judged alongside the many benefits of working in a tough school; getting your first Christmas card, seeing your kids pass their GCSE’s, being, sometimes, the only adult who is ‘there’ for these students. I feel a great attachment to all of the students I teach, and they are so rewarding to work with, and so inspiring. They make me laugh, every day, they do brilliant work, they try really, really h ard, and all of them, deep down, want to do well. There is not one kid I have taught who doesn’t want to do well. But they need great teachers to help them do that. Of course you should apply, but only when you are ready to deal with those situations. Sometimes I question whether going immediately from a comfortable lecture-theatre in York to a classroom in Merseyside was too tough a transition. Teach First Application If you do apply, then bear the following in mind: You don’t need school experience, but you need examples of when you have shown leadership skills. The programme is all about developing graduates’ leadership qualities. You need to be a leader in the classroom, and these are the transferable skills that will be priceless when you complete the two years. Therefore you need experience of leading people. I co-ordinated a volunteering project with young people who had special needs, as well as undertook an internship with a charity. You need to want to teach. Unfortunately some people use Teach First as a ‘way in’ to other professions. It can provide this, but don’t forget, you will be teaching for two years. You have to see yourself as wanting to teach, and wanting to be part of a movement to help address educational disadvantage in the long-term. You are also making a commitment to a school for two years. Teach First employ you on the basis that, wherever you end up, you do something to ‘help’ the movement. 1.  If you are at university, can you rise to the challenge of going straight back into the classroom? If not, you could always ask Teach First to do a deferred entry. Apply, go and have some fun, get work experience or travel before you start. 2. Be prepared for lots of hard work, but at the same time, lots of fun. You will make great friends during your training and on Teach First, but you will also face a lot challenges! ______________________________________________________________________________________

What Is UX Design Your Guide To UX or User Experience Design - Algrim.co

What Is UX Design Your Guide To UX or User Experience Design - Algrim.co UX stands for User Experience design. You might have heard the term Product Design or maybe User Interface design. And you’ll be asking yourself what’s the difference? Well, the truth is that there’s usually a unique blend of all of these practices when it comes to someone that you might define as a great designer. But User Experience, in particular, can be described as the most empathetic part of the design practice. It has it right in the name, the user's experience. Since John Maeda and other great design practitioners can tell you, the design is what you experience and feel not what you see aesthetically. Aesthetics are a small fraction of what we classify as good design. User Experience can be classified as the most modern form of digital product design. Here are the three key terms we here often: Product Design, User Experience, User Interface. So what’s the difference between the others and UX Design? If you can envision a paved path for a moment, this path is windy. It has a curvature to it. It's in a park. Its where we are telling our visitors to go and how to go about getting there. But then for some reason, there’s a dirt path. Somewhere that visitors have decided is a better route for them. It has fewer steps but it's not paved with asphalt. That route is what would classify User Experience and the asphalt path is User Interface. Sometimes the path our visitors, customers, and users want to take is one that’s different than what we had originally anticipated. Listening to that, responding to it, and designing for them â€" is UX. The best UX design principles can be listed as follows. You are thinking empathetically about the end user, meaning you are not using purely qualitative hunches to determine the best path for them. You are researching your core audience and demographics to determine how to best mold your solution for them. You are determining clear, simple and well-understood paths for the end user. You are thinking through environmental and cultural patterns which you can fit your solution into, including technology device learning behavior and more. You are thinking through multi-scenario variants and navigation paths which can be simplified to allow value attrition to occur over time. A great example of modern UX design is Uber's mobile application. It delivers the goal with as little steps as possible. You push a button, a car arrives. This process so closely revolves around what we believe to be called “Product” that it can sometimes be confusing. This is why UX designers often sit in the Product Management part of technology organizations. While UX design cannot guarantee that your product will succeed in the market, it is the utilization of the practice that can hedge your bet against how well its received for your core customer.

5 Personal Branding Tips to Help You Gate Jump - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

5 Personal Branding Tips to Help You Gate Jump - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Why does personal branding accelerate your growth both personally and professionally? It is because when you create an influential and credible personal brand you are playing the game and giving yourself the opportunity to gate jump. Here are 5 personal branding tips to help you gain lift: 1.) Identify and introduce yourself to 10 strong personal brands in your niche through Linkedin When you know the people with juice in your niche and you begin to develop a relationship with them opportunities will come your way. A great way to start the introduction is to read one of their blog posts and let them know what you thought of their work in the introduction. This will show you care and make a positive first impression everyone likes to be genuinely complimented. 2.) Begin to comment regularly on the high readership blogs in your space As you begin to comment regularly you will be remembered and your name will begin to run in circles with influence. Other readers will realize you have something to say, the blog author will know you exist and be more inclined to bring you an opportunity in the future. This is one of the best ways to create your thought leader status. 3.) Ask to interview the well known personal brands in your space and post the interview on your blog This is one of the most powerful strategies to gain mind share and credibility. As you begin to interview a wide group of thought leadership in your niche, you will be the beneficiary of some of their personal brand juice. You will also be deepening the relationship with those you interview as well as providing them with more exposure. It is a win for everyone. 4.) Ask to write guest posts on the influential blogs in your space If you have developed a working relationship with the blog author through your Linkedin connect and commenting on blogs you are now in a position to ask to do a guest post. The blog author will know who you are and be pretty likely to allow you to do a guest post as long as it will have value for their readers. You get a link back to your blog, traffic, exposure and they get a break from writing content. Again, everyone wins. 5.) Create linkfests on your blog that link to some of the best articles you read that week in your niche This is a great way to aggregate good content in a central place on your blog. Just put the title of the article and then link to the original blog post to give credit to the author. Your link will notify the blog author and they will usually make their way to your blog to see who linked. You will be providing awesome content and also be driving the powerful personal brands in your space to your blog. When you implement these 5 personal branding tips consistently you will create opportunities for yourself over time. Really interesting things will start to come your way, your personal brand will grow in the right circles, and you will find yourself on an accelerated path to success. What do you all think out there? What are some of your personal branding tips to help you gate jump? *hat tip to Chris Brogan for the gate jump theory Author: Chad Levitt is the author of the New Sales Economy blog, which focuses on how Sales 2.0 Social Media can help you connect, create more opportunities and increase your business. Chad is also the featured Sales 2.0 blogger at SalesGravy.com, the number one web portal for sales pros, the professional athletes of the business world. Make sure to connect with him on Twitter @chadalevitt.

Tips to Writing Resume That Google Loves

Tips to Writing Resume That Google LovesAre you trying to figure out the tips to writing resume that Google loves? Most of the people who use a personal computer every day think that a resume is a very difficult thing to do. If they think so, it's because they've not been to a school where there is a lot of students learning how to write resumes or because they've just never been taught about how to write a resume by an actual person.The best advice you can give is to write the resume yourself. I know this sounds like it will be a pain but it actually isn't. All you need to do is learn some software programs that will help you write your resume. You'll learn how to make the information in your resume easy to read and easy to understand and you'll be able to get the job you want.Here are a few tips to writing resume for Google. They are free and if you follow them you will be in for a treat.First, when you are writing your resume take it slow. Don't try to get it done in less than twe nty minutes. This is something you should have no problem with if you've ever studied English or other written subjects.Second, don't use style as a crutch. Remember that resume writers are human too. If they make a mistake, fix it and don't argue with it because it might show that you're not human, which you are not.Third, use the correct spelling and grammar when you are writing your resume. If you make a mistake or if you get the information wrong and then write the same thing all over again, your chances of getting that job will be slim.Fourth, do not try to create a resume for Google. Google only cares about one thing - how you can make money with Google AdSense.Fifth, you should not write the complete resume online. Do the one thing Google does want to see and then go on your way.

Does Your Personal Brand Need Changing

Does Your Personal Brand Need Changing Are you the exact same person you were 10 years ago or have your aspirations changed? Do people perceive you as you are today or as you were “back then”? As we learn, grow and change, we can get so busy that we neglect to change our personal brand to reflect our new aspirations. This makes it hard for others to see us as we are now, and makes it difficult for them to help us achieve our goals. When your aspirations change, your brand needs to reflect it so that others are operating on the correct information about who you are now. Recently, I had an experience that reminded me of this dynamic. We all want prestige I attended an event hosted by my business school’s alumni association. It was at one of Britain’s oldest, most prestigious private clubs. It’s the kind of club whose membership includes former prime ministers and Knights of the British Empire. There was a time in my career when becoming a member of such a club would have been hugely desirable. As a banker, the business connections and opportunities would have set me apart. It would have been aspirational yet impossible as women have only been admitted in recent years. Yet I still longed to be invited to join something similar. But last week, when I walked into the club as a guest, my reaction was, “this isn’t for me at all.” Yes, the mahogany-lined walls, high ceilings and genuine silver service were beautiful. And the pedigree of the club’s members remains as impressive as ever. But I had moved on. When aspirations change I hadn’t realized until that moment just how much my thinking and aspirations had changed. Back in the day, I was conservative and cautious. Like any good banker! And I valued tradition, security and established ways. Perhaps coming from a Chinese heritage with thousands of years of history also contributed to these values. But these days, I’m an entrepreneur and I feel open-minded and courageous. I like to think of myself as having a “millennial mindset”: open, curious, engaged, and interested in exploring new ideas and new ways of doing things. What’s prestigious to me now is thought leadership and new ideas rather than traditional established processes and structures. My aspirations have changed. And along with that, my brand â€" as in who I am and what I want to project â€" has changed too. So when the club secretary kindly suggested that I consider membership and handed me the packet of materials, I couldn't help but note the irony. Now that I have the possibility of membership, it may not suit my brand and aspirations anymore. Making the shift If you’re learning, growing and changing, this kind of shift will happen to you too. Hopefully more than once! What you need to do as your aspirations and personal brand evolve is to be proactive about shifting the way others see you. That includes what you choose to wear, how and with whom you decide to spend your time, and the clubs or groups you join as a member. It all reflects on you. If your brand is evolving, then be intentional and proactive about who you associate with. Those choices can either accelerate or hinder your progress in getting others to see you for who you have become. What you can do So as your aspirations change, to bring your personal brand and reputation along with you, here are three things you can do. Get in touch with what makes you unique: your strengths, special capabilities, your personality and attitude. This forms the basis for your personal brand. Discover how others perceive your brand: is it accurate or outdated? Or maybe you’re not even on their radar yet? Be proactive and intentional about changing perceptions: put new information out there through your associations, how you behave, how you dress, and the company you keep. It’s up to you to take the lead. If you’re interested in working on your personal brand and discovering what makes you unique, then join us at Career Mastery Kickstart where experts will cover these topics during the week: How to Discover Your Brand and Make It Work For You How to Convey Your Personal Brand Without Looking Like an Idiot How to Outperform at Work by Leveraging Your Zone of Genius ® Get these free Tips and expert interviews to advance your career So, has your personal brand evolved as your aspirations have changed, or does it need changing too to better represent who you are now? Leave a comment and let me know.

The Best Personality Types for B-School - CareerAlley

The Best Personality Types for B-School - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Business school isnt for everyone. Those who identify as left-brains and B-types, who are creative to a fault, likely wont thrive in the rigid structure and stark logic of economics and finance. Even marketing majors who are typically seen as the creatives of the b-school bunch must be analytical and organized with a specific skill set. Business school isnt for everyone. Those who identify as left-brains and B-types, who are creative to a fault, likely wont thrive in the rigid structure and stark logic of economics and finance. Tweet This If you are wondering whether you would excel in the business school environment, you might consider taking the Myers-Briggs personality test and looking for your type on this list. Essentials Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment Price: $41.42 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 INTP Logicians One of the rarest personality types, logicians are defined by their unrelenting logic and precision. Members of this type are known for having a thirst for knowledge that is tempered by perfectionism; they can hardly avoid finding patterns in data and developing efficient solutions to recurring problems. Logicians are reliable, practical and motivated which is why they make excellent B-school students and business leaders. However, members of this personality type might want to research defining features of B-school programs before they apply; aspects like MBA cost and structure will affect them greatly. Because logicians function better under their own direction, schools and organizations that focus on independent learning and autonomy are ideal. source ISTJ Logisticians Conversely, logisticians are considered one of the most plentiful personality types. Like logicians, logisticians rely heavily on facts and logic, but they are also known for their integrity; logisticians tend to be honest and loyal nearly to a fault. Oftentimes, ISTJs will remain in a less-than-ideal work situation for the sake of fidelity and stability. Because logisticians place great emphasis on their reputation taking pride in their work it is important that members of this personality type enroll in a smaller, more prestigious B-school program. When class sizes are limited, logisticians have more time to forge meaningful connections with professors and peers, and they have more space to demonstrate their strengths of logic and fidelity. There are some advantages of seeking to further your education and career by going to business school. Depending on your current situation and the situation you see yourself in for the near future, it may be right. ENTJ Commanders This personality type is comprised of natural-born leaders. Commanders are charismatic and confident, but more importantly, they project authority and compel others to follow their lead. Commanders find joy in overcoming challenges and achieving goals, which is obviously beneficial in a business environment. Though emotional expression can be a weakness of ENTJs, they nonetheless excel at analyzing information and developing strategies to efficiently tackle any obstacle. MBA and B-school programs that emphasize leadership are ideal for commanders, who have natural talent in this realm already. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash ESTJ Executives Executives are also leaders, but they vary from commanders in their focus and their drive. ENTJs might be ruthless leaders, but ESTJs are more compassionate in how they guide teams to success. Executives tend to place greater emphasis on the security of their communities, which means they never work alone. While they are strong believers in tradition and rules, they also want their teams to have high morale and happiness which can be difficult goals to balance. It is wise for executives to pursue more conventional business structures, which means they might do best in traditional, on-campus business schools with predictable environments. Photo by Lost Co on Unsplash ESTP Entrepreneurs With a label like entrepreneurs, its obvious that members of this personality type are destined for careers in business. Entrepreneurs are described as having an immediate and clear impact on their surroundings; they are energetic, social, original and flexible. Though entrepreneurs arent as deeply devoted to logic and practicality as other personality types on this list, they do consider their options before acting most of the time. Often, ESTPs are drawn to risky lifestyles because risks provide an outlet for their energy and enthusiasm. It should go without saying that members of this personality type should seek out B-school programs that focus on entrepreneurship. If you are considering applying to business school to earn an advanced degree, you probably should. The truth is that personality types arent set in stone; most people fall somewhere in the middle of all skill ranges, meaning even if you are an introvert, you probably dont lack all social graces. Undoubtedly, certain business career paths allow certain personalities to flourish, but that doesnt mean your atypical attitude wont also find success. Regardless of whether you are a thinker or a feeler, an introvert or an extrovert or any of the other Myers-Briggs personality indicators, if you have a passion for business, you belong in B-school. Your MBA Game Plan, Third Edition: Proven Strategies for Getting Into the Top Business Schools Price: $17.99 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to launch your career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search