Careers

How Military Service Can Set You up for a Good Education/Career

August 19, 2021 by Tim McMahon

Military service usually lasts more than two years, which will put you in a good position to apply to schools. Military service can provide students with skills and opportunities that they wouldn’t have otherwise. It could be easy for them to get into a school after their service because they already have the experience and connections that are necessary for admissions.

Benefits of Joining the Military

Military service often means leaving home and moving away from family members, friends, and other personal supports that may not be easily replaced elsewhere. After serving your country, you have two options. For some, military service is a way to become more independent and make a career for yourself. Others become officers in order to continue to serve their country. In short, there are many opportunities that can help you with your current financial situation.

Acquiring a Military Education

Online colleges for military education are not just a means to help students get into a good university or college. [Read more…] about How Military Service Can Set You up for a Good Education/Career

4 Finance Jobs That Can Make a Great Career

July 17, 2021 by Tim McMahon

For those who are interested in making a significant amount of money, it should come as no surprise that a career in finance can be a good path to take.

Listed below are some interesting finance jobs that you could consider when pursuing a career in this field.

1. Credit Analyst

For those who are unfamiliar with this role, it involves working for a bank or similarly large financial institution. Credit Analysts are responsible for collecting a loan applicant’s income information, credit history, and payment history to determine if they are eligible for loan approval. Once the credit analyst has compiled this information, they create a loan application and submit it to a loan officer for final approval. According to indeed, a credit analyst makes an average of $56,193/yr. A Credit Analyst generally requires the “Certified Credit and Risk Analyst certification”.

The National Association of Credit Management offers other certifications that can improve your career opportunities as a credit analyst:

Credit Business Associate
Certified Credit Executive
Credit Business Fellow

Other Certifications include:

Credit Risk Certification, offered by the Risk Management Association
Credit Risk Analysis Professional Certificate, offered by the New York Institute of Finance

How to Become a Hairstylist: A Career Guide

June 7, 2021 by Tim McMahon

When your friends need help looking great before they go out on the town, they turn to you. You’re not an experienced hairstylist by any means, but you do know how to cut and style the hair to some degree. You’ve always thought about going to beauty school, but you’ve been worried about what goes into it.

You’re not sure how to become a hairstylist. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get to the point where you can have your own salon, but it’s doable.

We can help you get started down this exciting career path. Check out this guide to unlock all the secrets of becoming a hairstylist.

Get the Proper Training

Before you can become a certified salon stylist, you’ve got to get your license which often involves going to school. There should be community colleges in your area that offer programs in the field. Depending on what route you go in, your schooling could last anywhere between a few months to a few years.

It takes a while to learn everything you need to know about coloring, styling, sanitation, and shampooing. Some programs also offer classes in skincare, nails, and other areas of beauty.

Obtain Your License

You can’t begin working at a hair salon until you get your license to do so. You’ll qualify to take a licensing exam as soon as you exit school.

The exact specifications vary from state to state. In most cases, [Read more…] about How to Become a Hairstylist: A Career Guide

A Career as a Web Developer

June 7, 2021 by Guest Contributor

If you enjoy the creative process you might consider becoming a Web Developer/Designer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “web developers create and maintain websites and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability”. Some web developers work in the computer systems design and related services industry. Others are self-employed… many work from home.

Educational requirements for web developers and digital designers vary, ranging from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree. But the important point is having the skills necessary and not necessarily a certain educational path. The BLS says the median annual wage for web developers and digital designers was $77,200 in May 2020. Employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand will be driven by the continued popularity of mobile devices and e-Commerce.

One of the key factors in web design these days is creating a “responsive format”. Responsive Web Design is about using HTML and CSS to automatically resize a website automatically so that it looks good on all devices ( i.e. desktops, tablets, and phones).

A Brief Overview of Responsive Design

Responsive Design works on the premise that online content should scale to the user’s screen – no matter how small or large. [Read more…] about A Career as a Web Developer

What Qualities Do You Need for a Career in Political Marketing?

June 2, 2021 by Tim McMahon

The world of politics is known for being ruthless, fickle, and incredibly stressful. While many people would run the other way from this career path, but, there are those who embrace the challenge, the excitement, and the possibility of ushering in real change. Perhaps you don’t like the idea of being a political figure but still want to be involved in politics. Perhaps you’d like a career where you get to remain behind the scenes? Then perhaps political marketing is the field for you.

What is Political Marketing?

Political marketing is a key component of politics. Every politician needs a political marketer from Presidents to members of local governments. Market research is used to decide on policies, to understand what the people they serve want. Voter profiling helps decide which segments to target and what political brand is necessary to attract that segment of the population. Internal marketing provides volunteer involvement, etc.

With that said, it takes more than just an interest in politics to succeed in political marketing. There are some specific qualities that can help you to excel in this career path and really make your mark. So, let’s take a look at the qualities needed to be a successful political marketer.

Be Extremely Digital Savvy

In today’s highly reliant digital world, it is absolutely imperative that you [Read more…] about What Qualities Do You Need for a Career in Political Marketing?

Fleet Management 101: What Does It Take to Do It Well?

March 30, 2021 by Tim McMahon

Being a fleet manager is no easy task. It can be stressful, fast-paced, and it’s easy to stumble. Experience counts, but so does the personal character of the manager and how they approach each day. But being a Fleet Manager can be an excellent career choice.

As a Fleet Manager you make a difference by leading and developing a group of drivers. You lead your fleet in achieving safety and meeting service, revenue, and retention goals. As a leader, you develop strong relationships with your drivers, anticipate needs, take proactive steps to ensure positive outcomes, and manage performance. This is incredibly rewarding work that will provide you with a high level of personal and professional satisfaction. A fleet manager with a few years of experience can make between $50,000 and $65,000.

Here is what it takes to be a great fleet manager.

Adaptability

Being adaptable to changing demands, the ability to drop everything to troubleshoot a problem immediately, and to confidently work the problem, is key. Being stuck in the mud and unwilling to adapt won’t cut it as a fleet manager.

The demands will come thick and fast. There might be supplier issues, driver management problems, or issues with the vehicles themselves. Changes in legislation, budget cuts, and technology upgrades all play a role here. It’s the opposite of a static, never-changing situation when working in fleet management.

Therefore, it’s best when the person savors the challenge and doesn’t want every workday to be the same as the one that came before it.

A Strong Communicator

As someone in a senior position, the fleet manager will be dealing with upper management who will expect much and have little tolerance for excuses. When something does inevitably go wrong, he or she must be able to discuss it clearly, explain the issue and how they aim to resolve it (or did resolve it).

With drivers, there’s a need to not just see the job as cars and fuel needs. Drivers, their needs, their strengths, possible weaknesses, and other factors all play a part. Matching the right driver to the right assignment gets better results too. So, being too distant from the drivers will be a hindrance.

Talking with suppliers and other contacts is also important. Some will be a little rough around the edges. Therefore, the fleet manager must be adaptable to different styles of communication too.

Protect the Vehicles from Damage

The first line of defense with fleet management is to protect the value of the fleet itself. Certainly, there’s Fleet insurance but rates increase if your drivers are “high risk”. So your responsibility is to ensure that your drivers drive safely not just for the company’s benefit but for the driver’s own safety as well. A company like Quotezone.co.uk can help you access a range of ideal policies from different insurers to find the right one.

Ensure Fleet Vehicles Are Checked & Maintained Well

A driver is only as good as the vehicle they’re driving. When the fleet vehicle has been poorly maintained and infrequently checked for fresh issues, that leads to breakdowns on the road. This is especially true when the fleet is rented out rather than used by the company itself.

Also, drivers should have a way to report problems with the vehicle. These must be quickly followed up by a workshop to look at the problem, replicate it, and then resolve it.

An effectively managed fleet of vehicles can support a business in a variety of ways. But when fleet management is done poorly, things can quickly fall apart. So, the right person must be put in the position to get the right results.

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Start a Career in Financial Risk Management

February 23, 2021 by Tim McMahon

If you are business-minded and good with numbers, consider making a career change to financial risk management (FRM).

As the name suggests, a risk management analyst assesses strategies for businesses and determines appropriate risks. So, how do you start a financial risk management career?

Understanding Financial Risk Management

There’s almost always a risk when it comes to spending money. Typically, businesses and organizations have guidelines to manage those risks and attempt to protect their financial interests.

The roles of financial risk management specialists are:

predicting market trends that relate to the company
using risk management tools to study potential financial risks
potentially influencing company decisions

There are several categories of [Read more…] about Start a Career in Financial Risk Management

Jobs That Are Readily Available If You Need One Quickly

December 15, 2020 by Tim McMahon

Finding a job can be quite a hassle since many people have exceptional talents in the market. The good news is that if you have unique skills, you can easily land a job. Here are some jobs that you can get with sheer simplicity.

Customer Service

If you are good at connecting with people, you can work at customer care service. This way, you can help customers solve the problems that they have. The good news is that the payment is per hourly rate, and it’s appealing. Plus, you can work remotely from home without spending bus fare.

Driver

Driver jobs in companies are [Read more…] about Jobs That Are Readily Available If You Need One Quickly

Digital Nomads: Reasons Why the Future of Work is Remote

December 9, 2020 by Guest Contributor

Even before the pandemic of COVID-19, many IT specialists started working from home more than before, and the luxury behind this idea is that it gives you a chance to work remotely from any location you want. Combining working remotely and being able to travel the world is why becoming a digital nomad is so popular among young entrepreneurs today. This is the future in the business world and many companies see this as a benefit because they cut down lots of expenses when it comes to using and maintaining their office space. For employees, the main benefit is that they can work at their own pace and still dedicate their time to non-work-related things as well.

Money-Saving

Employers save money on office space, especially those who rent huge offices or even buildings. There are also huge savings when it comes to bills, paying extra money for employees’ transportation to work, and all the amenities in the office. Many employers use that money to invest in the future of their business or to give their employees bonuses.

For digital nomads, the money-saving part is a huge advantage, especially because they can cut almost everything. They can cook their own food, drink their own coffee, and wear their own clothes without having to spend additional money on work clothes. All these cuts motivate them to work and finish their tasks done on time, even though they are not physically present at the office.

Creating Your Workspace

If you work in an office, there’s a small chance that you’d be able to make a change when it comes to office layout or decor. On the other hand, if you decide to create your own workspace, you’ll be able to organize it in a way that makes you feel more productive. This is one of the biggest benefits because you can change anything you want as often as you want without asking for anyone’s permission. You can use different motivational notes anywhere in the office to help you continue working when you’re not in the mood.

Anyplace is an Office

The main benefit of being a digital nomad is that you can work anywhere in the world and if you’re organized, you can even travel the world while doing that. Asia has become popular when it comes to digital nomads and many workers opt for its largest cities because they’re one of the most important business capitals in the world. That’s why many Hong Kong serviced apartments are the working/living solutions for business people who need all the amenities these places offer but also want some privacy. In addition to that, these apartments are usually located in prime locations which is an important factor for people who want to be close to big business centers.

Constant Learning

Many digital nomads have to find new job opportunities and they know that the ability to adapt and learn new things is what all companies are demanding at the moment. If they want a steady income and a great job, they need to be ready to learn new skills and do more than before. Maintaining this sort of life isn’t easy because many remote workers eventually turn into freelancers which means many job opportunities are short-term and they’re in a constant search for new jobs.

Less Stress

Working with people and being in close contact with your superiors might be stressful sometimes. Digital nomads don’t feel this burden and they have better communication with their colleagues and employers. The same goes for employers who don’t have to think about so many factors when it comes to working in the office so they can relax more and focus on their employees. This is especially important when it comes to being healthy and safe. In addition to that, the stress of coming to work and dealing with all that traffic stress is eliminated so employees have more time to focus on themselves before starting to work.

There will be more digital nomads in the future, especially with the rise of the IT industry. Feeling free to do things on their own is what will attract young people to working remotely and as soon as the employers understand the benefits of this approach, they’ll think about hiring more people from all across the world straight away.

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A Guide to Avoiding Unemployment After High School

November 20, 2020 by Tim McMahon

College is the default option for many after graduation, but college isn’t right for everyone. Many students who leave high school believe that they are unable to further their education because they can’t afford the hefty student loan that goes hand-in-hand with the college experience. But there are alternatives to student loans including Community colleges, trade schools, and night classes that allow you to “pay-as-you-go” i.e. while you are working a regular job. Some employers will even help out with the cost of additional education if it will make you a better employee.

Another possibility to consider is looking to secure a scholarship. If you excel at a particular subject or sport, you may be able to gain a free education, and it is easy to apply for many of these opportunities. For instance, at ASM Scholarships, their college wrestling scholarship will allow you to combine both academic studies with your talent for sports to enable you to secure a bright future and to gain the education that employers are looking for.

Use Your Family Connections

Although you might feel like [Read more…] about A Guide to Avoiding Unemployment After High School