Saturday, May 30, 2020

Five of the fastest-growing tech jobs in 2017

Five of the fastest-growing tech jobs in 2017 by Michael Cheary It’s official: tech roles are on the rise… With more and more employers embracing technology and making it an integral part of their business, there’s never been a better time to work in the IT industry. In fact, there are now 18% more tech jobs on reed.co.uk than in 2016 â€" and it isn’t just the traditional roles that are in-demand.We spoke to Cambridge Assessment, which is recruiting for a large number of IT-related roles this year, to find out what tech careers are on the rise in 2017 â€" and how you can stand out to potential employers:Network EngineersWhat they do: Support, maintain and manage computer networks. Their work is absolutely vital in ensuring the smooth running of an organisation’s IT services as the network is a key piece of the infrastructure. New initiatives such as Public Cloud and Big Data have to be met with new and elaborate network architectures, meaning the demand for quality Network Engineers is greater than ever before. What you need: Excellent problem solving skills and an eye for detail are essential, as much of this role will come down to troubleshooting problems. Some employers may require a degree or Network-specific certifications, but apprenticeships are also available.What you can earn: Network Engineers will usually start on a salary of around £20,000, although this will quickly rise through experience. Senior Engineers can earn in excess of £50,000.Perfect for: People who want to be better connected.Our advice: Network Engineering isn’t just about how to make things work â€" it’s also about why things work the way they do.   Having a firm grasp of core networking concepts is critical to diagnosing and resolving complex problems.   Achieving industry recognised certifications, such as Cisco’s CCNA and CCNP, are excellent ways to learn and demonstrate this knowledge to future employers.   You should also expect to be tested on this during the interview process.SAP Consultants What t hey do: Provide expert advice on SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products) software. By communicating with customers, they can better understand their needs and suggest effective SAP based improvements. They’re employed in a wide range of different industries, and their aim is to help businesses use SAP in an efficient way and ensure they stay ahead of the competition â€" one reason SAP consultants are becoming an increasingly popular job choice throughout 2017.What you need: Aside from a technical mind, great problem solving skills, and an ability to communicate well with others â€" you’ll also need to be SAP qualified, with expert knowledge of all aspects of the software.What you can earn: You’ll usually earn around £50,000, with highly experienced SAP Consultants able to earn in excess of £80,000.Perfect for: People who like imparting wisdom.Our advice: SAP is an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution utilised globally across multiple industry sectors by hundreds of thousands of customers to manage business operations. SAP is continually evolving its product portfolio in line with industry trends and, as a result, its support and development spans a wide range of technical and functional areas across business solutions. There’s lots of information on forums and online user groups relating to SAP, which will provide a wealth of information to get started including background, demonstrations, advice and recommendations to anyone looking to fast track understanding.Mobile App DevelopersWhat they do: Work with engineers to develop, build and produce engaging mobile applications.   Whether it’s by writing code, designing interfaces, or troubleshooting problems â€" their role is to use the client requirements to deliver an effective product that results in a great user experience (something which is becoming increasingly important as companies begin to embrace a mobile-first approach). Web Developers who can build responsive sites are also in de mand.What you need: Knowledge of programming languages, alongside excellent analytical and problem solving skills. A degree in computer science is also usually essential â€" and candidates will need to demonstrate good attention to detail combined with a creative approach to work.What you can earn: Salaries start at around £20,000, rising up to £40,000 with experience. Senior Mobile App Developers could earn up to £50,000.Perfect for: People who are always on their phones.Our advice:  Whether you’ve got a great idea for an app already, or you just want to get to grips with the software, don’t wait for the right role to build your skills. There are a number of platforms out there already which will allow you to build your own app from scratch, and most require little or no investment to test out. Not only will you be able to demonstrate your ability to recruiters with a working application, you’ll also ensure you can hit the ground running when you actually get the job.Data ScientistWhat they do: Gather and analyse complex data, using their insights to make recommendations which could help benefit the business. With so much information being gathered by businesses on a daily basis, both online and offline, Data Scientists can use their skills to spot trends and improve everything from UX and UI, through to pricing and marketing.What you need: A highly methodical and analytical approach to your work, as well as excellent attention to detail â€" something which is vital when it comes to working with complex data. A degree will also usually be necessary.What you can earn: Entry level salaries for a Data Scientist could start at as much as £30,000, and double to £60,000 after a few years of working in the field.  Perfect for: People who are data-driven.Our advice:  With more and more companies taking a data-driven approach to their work, data science is becoming an increasingly competitive field. To effectively stand out to recruiters, don’t just talk about the work you’ve done â€" actually demonstrate the impact having that information has had on your current or previous company. By adding real value to your CV (and in your interview), you’ll show what you can bring to the role if you’re hired not just that you can handle lots of different types of information.Application EngineersWhat they do: Supporting a wide range of systems, composed of multiple technologies, to enable the business to build and maintain their market share. This could include working on designing, building, rolling out and supporting software and applications to help improve the organisation’s processes and business needs, as well as fine tuning and upgrading existing systems, in order to improve their functionality and efficiency. With the work application engineers do, the organisation is more productive, and able to perform more effectively.What you need: You will be educated to a degree level, or have equivalent industry experience. The person will need to have the right mindset, proven problem solving skills and up-to-date technical knowledge in order to successfully fulfil the role.What you can earn: Application Engineers will generally earn somewhere between £20,000 and £30,000, although more experienced workers could command salaries up to £50,000.Perfect for: People who like to unravel a mess.Our advice: Keep up-to-date with your technical skills on Windows and Linux administration; Web services such as IIS and Apache Tomcat; Web applications such as .net, Java; database query languages such as SQL query; Automation tools such as Puppet, Chef; Scripting languages such as PowerShell and bash. Above all else, take ownership of issues and have the drive to break through them using initiative and resources.Why work for Cambridge Assessment? Cambridge Assessment is Cambridge University’s international exams group, comprising three exam boards and the largest research capability of its kind.It provides exams and learn ing materials for almost a million students around the globe every year, and a large part of its success comes down to its integration of cutting edge technology â€" not to mention its staff.Benefits of working for Cambridge Assessment include:Generous pension schemePerformance related payEmployee discounts across a range of the UK’s biggest storesDiscounted train travel and cycle to work schemeIntegrated training and development plansChildcare vouchersExcellent access to University facilities, such as the LibraryWant to take your tech career to the next level? Find a job with Cambridge Assessment today.Cambridge Assessment is part of Cambridge University, and is recognised worldwide for maintaining the highest standards in educational assessment and learning.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our servi ce and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features What job suits me?

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Tips on How to Use Quizlet to Write Your RSum

Tips on How to Use Quizlet to Write Your RSumIf you are curious about how to start your job search, then the first step is to do a little research and try to get some job-hunting advice. Quizlet is one of the best guides you can use for this:Quizlet's initial introduction is excellent. It describes itself as 'a fun, interactive education and development platform that will help you learn to think like a professional' and that it 'helps people from all walks of life do a wide range of jobs from Web Designers to Medical Transcriptionists, salesmen to Data Entry Writers.' In addition, there are many information videos featuring real-life examples and quizzes that test your knowledge. That can make it very easy to move on from articles and resume to the next step of the job-search process: trying to land an interview.With this introduction, Quizlet puts you in the right frame of mind to create your own RSum. Quizlet provides an interactive guide to editing, but there are many text editors that can be found online with similar features. Other useful resources include R Documentation, with its capability to create 'bible' classes that are very similar to the Visual Studio extension that is available for this framework, and a single point of entry for hundreds of similar packages.Quizlet is not the only tool for building an RSum. There are other resources that offer a more comprehensive solution to this problem:Ace HR - For Resumes and Cover Letters You can also use Ace HR to create a Candidate's Resume, which includes job history and qualifications. When you complete the form, it generates a unique and keyword-rich resume that you can use for your job-search purposes.EnrolMaster - For A free Class For those who are fairly fluent in English or have a degree, this free class is also a great way to quickly build a resume. This includes setting up a custom-form for handling attachments, applying for jobs and arranging for on-campus interviews.Resumes Guide - For Other For ms To follow the same line, here are some other examples: Career Success Coaching - A straightforward strategy, this guide has detailed information on how to format your CV. Writing Your Resume - a good description of how to write an effective resume, covering such topics as how to format it, include keywords and design your cover letter.However, it is also important to keep in mind that building a RSum can't do the job of guiding you through the job-search process. It's also important to understand how to properly use the tools available to you, and to learn how to choose and employ them.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Entrepreneurs OF MERCER Opens Its Doors For An Evening Of Conversation Hosted By TV News Anchor Betty Liu

Entrepreneurs OF MERCER Opens Its Doors For An Evening Of Conversation Hosted By TV News Anchor Betty Liu When youre looking for suitable work clothingwhere one style fits alland it doesn’t exist; you do the next best thing:  create it!  It’s what co-founders Dorie Smith and Emelyn Northway OF MERCER endeavored to do.   When the business-savvy duo met at a Wharton Business School welcoming event wearing the exact same dress; their retail enterprise was set in vibrational escrow.  The desire for timeless professional attire ignited the attraction for the first year graduate students.   Fast forward with strategic planning, niche marketing, the use of technology and social media; the commissioning of a Parson’s graduate (who is a tailor clothing specialist), and the direct-to-consumer dedicated “workwear” line was realized. The intimate gathering of aspiring minds, with sprinkling of photographers and press throughout, were all hospitably greeted with an offering of Prosecco, along with an opportunity to network.   Among the questions asked on this night: Are women held to different standards than men? What has changed since you became the boss? Tips on handling yourself in meetings. Is there a changing mentality toward women leaders in the workplace? How do we bring men on board to build women around business? Audience took copious notes from the distinguished panel offering advice for successful navigation as entrepreneurs as well throughout the corporate maze.     Jewels of knowledge accessorized the broader issues such as working with competitors and creating a diverse workforce to the number of hours of sleep required to function at maximum potential. Mentorship and coaching are absolute essentials to the dream, the panel contends; a message to burgeoning leaders as well to established veterans. Echoing subtlety throughout the talk:   Backbone and guts does not have to equate with masculinity; the asking for what you deserve is a birthright. While poised and beautiful as front-cover models; the panel stood as towers of manifestation conversing on “game changing” paradigms for women to realize dreams in fields once unfathomable. Glimpses into their personal world mirrored experiences typical of any women, only they persisted with laser focus on what they wanted…not what IS…and they are expanding.   The overarching message to the new generation of women leaders:   You are the creator of your reality!   Then, double your potential, as the women OF MERCER have, clearly demonstrating that “Together, we go further!”

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Houston We Have A Problem - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Houston … We Have A Problem - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career “Houston … We have a problem.” These famous or infamous words were said over three decades ago and close to a million miles away. On April 13th, 1970, James Lovell, commander of Apollo 13, uttered these words following an explosion in the ship’s oxygen tanks. His journey to the surface of the moon was over. His life was literally on the line. What lay ahead was nothing but uncertainty. There was uncertainty with respect to what the obstacles were going to be. There was uncertainty as to whether or not those obstacles could be overcome. And, as you could imagine, he was thinking “am I going to make it?” What Are Your Intentions? Aboard Apollo 13, in the face of this adversity and uncertainty, Lovell turned to his crew and simply asked “Gentlemen, what are your intentions?” In so asking, he wanted to know if his shipmates were content with letting fate determine their destiny or whether they committed to controlling the course of their lives. The crew of Apollo 13 responded. Commander Lovell, John Swigert, and Fred Haise sought to control the situation. Using ingenuity and relying on a network of thousands of NASA employees, contractors and governments from around the world, they guided the crippled Apollo 13 craft a million miles through space into a small re-entry window and successfully back to Mother Earth. Bringing the lesson back to earth So what does this have to do with you, your network and personal brand? Plenty. Although your situation is never anywhere near as dire as that of Apollo 13, nevertheless from time to time you face adversity. In short, your life has troubling times and your life has uncertain times â€" financially, physically and emotionally. So this all begs one simple question, What Are Your Intentions? Just as with the crew of Apollo 13, you should not allow fate or chance to determine your destiny or tarnish your brand. Rather you need to commit to control the course of your life by relying on your own ingenuity. But more importantly, just as the crew of Apollo 13 did, you need to tap into the network of people in your life. All of these people are ready, willing and able to assist you with genuine help, new connections and even simple encouragement. If you do this, your network will flourish, your brand will grow in stature, and there is no doubt that you will have a safe landing whenever times in your life become seemingly out of control. Author: Frank Agin is the founder and president of AmSpirit Business Connections. In addition, Frank is the author of Foundational Networking: Building Know, Like and Trust To Create A Lifetime of Extraordinary Success and the co-author of LinkedWorking: Generating Success on the World’s Largest Professional Networking Website and The Champion: Finding the Most Valuable Person in Your Network.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Writing a Resume: Dont Forget These Tips

Writing a Resume: Don't Forget These TipsWhen writing a resume, there are many things that you should not forget to include. In this article, I am going to share with you some of the things that you should not forget when writing a resume.First of all, I should tell you that you should never include your hobbies and passions as part of your resume. Many employers want to know if you have any hobbies or passions outside of work. It is just too easy for them to pick up on your hobby or interest and assume that you don't have anything else going on in your life that is a little more important than working.If you really want to make sure that you don't bother anyone with your information, then it's best to list your hobbies and passions under the section that states 'Other.' That way, you can only list the hobbies and passions you are most passionate about and that don't affect your work. If you do list anything under that section, the rest of your information will be in an outline forma t and not completely bolded out.Another thing that you shouldn't forget when writing a resume is the date of birth. In many cases, employers may see this information and assume that you were born recently, which may be a surprise to you. If you are working and still searching for a job, it's just good business sense to have this information readily available.You should also list your full name and your address as well. Many people will leave out their address and many employers may even ignore this section of the resume. There are no other reasons for leaving out this section other than to get an instant rejection.There are also two sections of employee research that you should never miss out on. Employer A would like to see where you live, where you went to school, and what kind of job you hold. Employer B would like to see your work history, the number of years you have been employed, and the length of time that you have been working.These tips may seem basic, but they are so very important. You should always be truthful and honest with the information that you put on your resume. If you are not, then your chances of getting the job will decrease drastically.I know that it is very easy to get discouraged when you hear about all of the hard work that it takes to write a great resume. Make sure that you pay attention to these tips when writing a resume so that you don't make a big mistake that could keep you from getting hired. You never know, the person that ends up looking over your resume may be the one that gives you your first real job.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

The Different Faces of Side Hustle

The Different Faces of Side Hustle Photo by Jonas Svidras on Unsplash [Article republished from “Mondays with Mike â€" 2/19/18” email newsletter  ==  Subscribe to get weekly newsletter in your inbox plus FREE REPORT]  Being part of several freelance/side hustle/work from home groups on Facebook, I get to see the different types of questions that come up.   I started to notice a few trends or commonalities around each type of group. Work From Home Theyre focused on opportunities like Virtual Assistant or Transcriptionist  or Customer Service jobs.   These are part time gigs that typically pay by the unit, deliverable, or hour.   And the rates are typically really low.   These are often below minimum wage jobs (if you calculated the rate hourly rather than by the unit). Many of the people here are just trying to survive.   Many have limited skills or education.   Or theyve had major life impacts like divorce (stuck raising kids alone and have lost the second income provider from their lives) or health issues. Here it isnt about doing what they want or reaching their full potential.   Theyre just trying to survive.   Many times theyre desperate to make money.   And make it fast.   This is where many of the scam artists and get rich quick and MLM purveyors hang out and prey on their desperatation. You see the pain and frustration of just trying to put food on the table.   But complex solutions and even paying for a website or web hosting is too much money. Theyre often looking for a work from home option because they have kids and cant work in a normal full time job around the pick up and delivery schedules of their kids.   With the internet this has become a more viable option.   There are a lot of work from home opportunities out there.   But you often have to cull through many bad ones to get to something decent. This is a place the Facebook work from home groups can be immensely helpful.   Many have gone through the frustrations themselves and are more than willing to provide good guidance. Side Hustle The main side hustle crowd often has the basics handled.   They have some spare time on their hands that theyre willing to devote to a side hustle.   But the side hustle or freelance work has to generate something substantial enough to be worth the effort and prioritizing over family time. Here is where online marketing, affiliate marketing, coaching, and freelance tech and design work fits in. Youll see web designers, Amazon product marketers, authors, and people who have their eyes on the big dollars. For these people youre finding most have a good day job and just want an extra couple hundred dollars to a few thousand on the side each month. A handful also want to eventually leave their day job and do their side hustle as their full time gig.   But this is a low percentage of the whole.   The rest are just looking for a little extra money and to learn, have fun, and create something meaningful that their day job doesnt provide. Sometimes the work aligns and supports their day job.   Or it is what they do on their day job just applied as a freelance business.   They may be a game coder during the day and do more coding as a freelancer at night.   Or theyre an internet marketer whos day job is in digital marketing but maybe just a small portion of it. Entrepreneur/Startup Then there is the group who is going full bore to create a new business full time.   They may start as a side hustle but their goal is to create a business that can more than replace their full time income. This is a much bigger operation and often involves more contractors and employees that the work from home or side hustle model requires.   This is true business building.   And it takes a certain personality and mindset.   You have to be comfortable with higher levels of risk.   And you need to be someone who can both sell a big vision and also build and manage a team of people as the operation is often much more complex than the side hustle model.   Many times there is more than one founder as each person brings a different skill set to the operation. This is where big valuation dollars are found and money is made or lost rapidly.   This is where the Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, and Founders hang out.   Theyre looking for the next idea they can leverage to the stratosphere.   Something, that if developed right, can create the next Google.   But typically about 1 out of 10 are hits and the other 9 flounder or go under. Employee Route The final route is typically the easiest to maneuver.   The entire business world is set up to make being an employee easy.   They give you the rules and you follow them just like school.   Youre accountable but typically not to the same level as the founder. The good side of this is predictability.   You know when you go to work.   You know when you leave.   You get a paycheck every two weeks.   You get holidays and paid vacations.   You have most weekends to yourself. The downside of this is you are still at the whim of your manager or the employer.   If they dont manage things well you essentially only have one client (the business you work for).   And you could be out of a job in an instant through no fault of your own. The other problem with this is you arent designing your own future typically within that one company.   You may design your career but the company may or may not be a long term play. Whereas with the Entrepreneurship model you are charting your own course. So what is the right model for you to work? Ultimately it is up to you.   It is your choice.   Only you know your skills, interests, family situation, and risk tolerance. I know for me the side hustle plus employee route has been the best.   It allows me to have a core career that Ive developed and is now coupled with my side hustle that allows me to create and provide value in a different way.   And it is something I can leverage into my retirement years and scale up or down (on the side hustle front) as makes sense. So what about you?   Where are you at?   Have you thought about your situation?   Are you do for a change? If youre considering your options, email me.   You may find it makes sense to work with someone whos been through several of these options and can provide guidance to help you along your journey. Or maybe youve already gotten started on one of these and need help getting to the next level. Either way, have fun and let me know if I can help.

Friday, May 8, 2020

Five Smart Telephone Interview Tips for Success - Hire Imaging

Five Smart Telephone Interview Tips for Success - Hire Imaging Part 1: Before the Interview “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” ~ Bobby Unser With a continued recession-generated surplus of job seekers, phone interviews are becoming more intense and frequently the first-step choice for hiring folks inundated with applicants. If your resume (or other marketing collateral) or networking have earned you a voice-to-voice audience with someone in that decision process, congratulations. Be prepared for the call. You may have only a few brief moments to make a great first impression that will move you to the next step in the hiring process. The phone interview can make or break you as a promising or cross-off-the-list candidate. Here are some tips to help you prepare for the interview; and to make that short list: 1. Manage expectations. Plan for the interview to last from 15 minutes to an hour. Depending on the organization, you may be screened by a human resource professional, a third-party recruiter or another hiring manager. Typically, human resource professionals will ask questions that verify you have the “hard skills” to do the job, sought-for degree/credentials, aligned experience etc. Third-party recruiters or hiring managers will often ask more in-depth questions or even role-play dialogue (next series, Part 2). 2. Arm yourself with information. If you apply to a company, you should always learn as much as you can about that organization. Knowledge is power. Read their entire website. Learn their company stories, how they were founded. Read their mission and value statements. Check out their community outreach and employee programs. Read their News Release page to determine their role in the industry and their perception in the public eye. Google them to check out their online identity, good or bad. Talk to any contacts who have experience working for or with the company. You will now be able to comfortably speak informatively about the company and its activities. 3. Check out your online identity. Many employersâ€"and the number is rapidly growingâ€"screen candidates online. In this era of social media explosion and dominance, you should conduct a Google search on yourself. Type in your name in different ways (full, nickname, with title etc.). See what comes up. Expect employers and recruiters to check out your Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter pages. All information that is public can be used against you during your job search. Be prepared to address any issues. 4. Control your communications. Provide your prospective employers with a land line or cell phone number. If using only a cell phone, make sure that your reception will be good. If you receive an unscheduled call at a bad time or place, buy time to get centered; or arrange for another call. Make sure you have a professional voice mail message on your land line and/or cell phone. Check messages regularly. Return every call as soon as possible. If you end up playing phone tag (common), be proactive and persistent. When you schedule an interview, find out if it will be a phone interview with just one person; or with more than one. This may require a conference or speaker phone. Also make sure it will be a phone interview versus a video interview. If the latter, your personal appearance and conduct will be judged as if it were an in-person interview. 5. Set up your interview space. Avoid having phone interviews at work (not appropriate), in the car (not safe) and in chaos (dog barking not cool). Designate a quiet space without potential for interruptions, where you can have access to your computer and   phone. Other items good to have on hand include a notepad, pen, calculator, appointment book or calendar, water (to quench a dry mouth), and clock   (other than your cell phone). Watching the clock will allow you to pace yourself. Make sure you have easy access to your résumé, SMART stories, company research, questions (next series, Part 2) you’d like to ask the company and those you anticipate being asked . Write a note to get the caller’s name and title, company, address, telephone, email, LinkedIn or other contact information handy for your thank-you letter/emails and follow-up communications. Don’t forget to clarify the position being discussed. Have that job description/posting in front of you if possible. Having this information ready shows the interviewer you are on the ball and the details. A phone interview can be just a preliminary screening or an in-depth interview. The above smart steps should help you be mentally and physically ready to convey a professional and positive first impression. In Part 2, we’ll focus on tips for success during the interview!