Laid Off or Fired Why It Matters Which

Laid Off or Fired Why It Matters Which 46 Stop shooting yourself in the foot. Fired vs. Laid off: What's the difference? The word ‘layoff' gets thrown about very easily, especially when times are tough and the unemployment rate is high, but getting laid off and getting fired aren't the same thing. Getting fired â€" when a person is let go from a company, often due to their poor performance, without any hope of being rehired Example: if he hadn't resigned first, David Sokol probably would have been fired by Berkshire Hathaway for violating their ethical code of conduct by buying shares in a company that he knew Berkshire would purchase. Getting laid off â€" when a person is let go from a company, usually due to their company's poor performance, with the possibility of being rehired if the company's performance improves Example: my entire team of web developers and I were laid off in early 2006, as my employer hoped to save money by outsourcing our work.eval When I was laid off, it took me a little while to feel comfortable talking about it, and that was after knowing the layoff was coming for over 6 months (!). However, once I got used to the idea that the layoff wasn't my fault and I couldn't have prevented it, it became a lot easier to answer every job interviewer's 2nd question of “why did you leave your last company?” (the 1st question being “how are you doing today?” of course).eval Why you're not allowed to be embarrassed about your layoff Here's what I mean. I regularly encourage job seekers to blog as a great way to build their personal brand by showing off their expertise, meeting and networking with new professional contacts, learning new skills and improving old ones, etc., and hopefully even attracting the attention of their eventual employer. I try to do my part as a blogger by inviting and allowing job seekers to come guest post here. I was once contacted by one such job seeker who had successfully blogged his way to a job. Now that he was working, he wanted me to remove any mention of him from his layoff-connected guest post. Of course I respected his wishes and anonymized the article, but I also told him: “I don't think this is a good move. There's no reason to be embarrassed by having been laid off. And, by covering up your job search achievements â€" and guest posts of this quality are such achievements, proof of continued productivity, expertise and more â€" you're essentially creating more of a resume gap.” This guy had done a good job on his job search and now he wanted to sweep this success under the rug, because he still hadn't overcome the embarrassment of why he was on the job search in the first place. Why is this a bad idea? Aside from the reasons I gave him in my reply, there's one more that's a secret of good employers. Good employers are always a little worried that their good employees will leave them, and to prevent that from happening, the employers go the extra mile to keep those employees happy. If the proof of your successful job searching abilities are available for all to see, your employer will know that you'll be less hesitant to leave than your colleagues, and as a result, your employer will go that extra mile to keep you. Question of the article Are you embarrassed about your layoff? Why? Tell us in the comments. If you don't want to leave your name, that's fine. I originally published a version of this article on the terrific Personal Branding Blog.

3 Quick Ways to Destress When the Week is Too Much - Classy Career Girl

3 Quick Ways to Destress When the Week is Too Much All of us are busy, but sometimes it becomes too much to handle. Your job is seriously stressing out, you have too many deadlines, you’ve taken on too many projects â€" whatever the case, you’re not sure if you’ll make it through this week. Kidding of course, but sometimes it feels that way. Right now, it feels like you have a lot of factors working against you. If you can just overcome this or that, you’ll see the light at the end of the tunnel and some of that stress will go away. We’ve all been there and it’s not a pleasant place. Not to mention, when you’re in that place, it feels like there’s very little time to even have a moment to yourself. If you can sneak away for just a few minutes, here are some quick ways to relieve some of that midweek stress.   3 Quick Ways to Destress When the Week is Too Much 1. Meditation (Hear Me Out Here) If youre suffering from chronic stress, you know that it’s easier said than done when trying to rid yourself of it. That’s why I suggest focusing on another activity that requires practice. You’ve heard of meditation, but maybe it seems like it isn’t your style. However, I think everyone can benefit from a little bit of mind training and that’s what it is. Meditation is all about training your mind to let go of stressful and unnecessary thoughts and focus on something else more positive. At first, it’s easiest to focus on your body. Focus on your breath and how your body is physically feeling. Then you can move on to more complex thoughts and ideas. There are plenty of guided meditations for beginners out there that can help you relax and find some peace right now. Just find any comfortable spot! It doesn’t have to be on the floor on a yoga mat, and consciously try to focus on something other than your stress.   2. Listen to a Podcast One of my absolute favorite ways to unwind when I’m feeling very wound up is to listen to my favorite podcasts. Even if I can only squeeze in a few minutes or listen on my drive home, it really helps me to get out of my current state of mind and lose myself in another world. My current favorites are true crime podcasts, but there are so many genres out there for everyone. It’s so important to let your mind not think about work 100 percent of the time, which I know is hard to do when you have a lot of work to do. However, it can be done and podcasts are a great way to escape. If you don’t have a favorite podcast, search around and find one that sounds appealing and just lose yourself for a little while. Work will be there when you get back. [RELATED: 6 Quick Tips To Handle Stress at a New Job] 3. Read a Good (Fiction) Book Similarly to a podcast, I feel that reading is an incredible way to relieve some stress. Your mind is transported to another world in a matter of seconds. The stress you were just feeling is gone for a few minutes while your worries are now solely placed on the characters in your book. I highly suggest that you read a fiction book or at least a book that is not self-help. There’s nothing wrong with self-improvement, but right now your mind needs some release from the tension you’re feeling. I feel that fictional worlds tend to demand our full attention and really make our brains work to imagine the world that the author has created. Sometimes, when my stress is really high, I can’t even focus on the words I’m reading. In those cases, I opt for an audio book instead. Either way, a book is simply fantastic for relieving stress, plus I am a believer that reading regularly improves your vocabulary. I find that the things which help me de-stress the most are activities that I cannot ignore. I have a very hyperactive mind and when I’m feeling stressed, a moment of nothingness is a moment my mind will fill with anxious thoughts. So, in order to combat that I need to unwind with something that occupies my entire mind. If I choose to listen to music or watch a movie, for example, my mind chooses to ignore it and will continue to think on all of the stresses of the day. Find something that requires your full attention and that you highly enjoy. I’m right there with you, mid-week stress isn’t a good time, but you’ll make it through and you’ll be so proud of yourself that you did!

Investing In Silver Is A Long-Term Game

Investing In Silver Is A Long-Term Game The world’s silver supplies are being used up faster than the metal’s being mined. That’s a recipe for a commodity bound for higher prices. Silver has been undervalued for years, and that means it’s an opportunity for investors looking for a safe investment with a lot of upward potential. Understanding Volatility of the Silver Market One thing that potential investors should know about silver before investing is that the silver market is volatile. The price has a wider range than gold and regularly bounces between highs and lows. For some investors, volatility is opportunity and silver offers a chance to benefit from regular trading. The fluctuation in prices mean that well-time buying and selling can deliver a great return on investment even after paying bullion premiums. With a volatile precious metal, it helps to buy from a silver and gold dealer that you can also quickly and easily sell to. One such dealer, Silver Gold Bull, makes it easy to get a quote on your transaction and liquidate your silver. Long Term Silver Investing Despite the opportunity provided by volatility to active traders, many believe that silver makes a better long-term investment, and there are a few compelling reasons why they expect the value of silver to increase dramatically in the coming years. Silver Extraction is Down: The undervaluation of silver means that when silver prices go low enough, mining companies have no interest in extracting it or finding new deposits. They’re even shutting silver mines down, further reducing silver’s supply above ground. When silver is particularly low, it costs money to take silver bullion out of the ground. When prices inevitably rebound, it takes time to find new deposits and resources to get mines up and running again. Industrial Demand is Up: Industrial uses of silver are on the rise, with silver playing an important role in the manufacturing of smartphones, refrigerators, computers, keyboards, countertops, as well as in water purification, hygiene products, and medicine. That’s all besides its use in jewelry and bullion investing. Even while supply shrinks, demand keeps going up; when that inevitably causes the price to jump, it will still take mines time to pick up the pace of production. With silver scarcity a growing possibility due to a lack of extraction and increased industrial demand, holding silver as an asset may be a better idea for now than trading it within smaller price fluctuations. It can take patience, but given the undervaluation of silver right now, it can pay off in huge rewards. RRSP Silver as an Investment Silver buyers can also invest in RRSP-eligible silver from dealers like Silver Gold Bull, putting taxable income away until their retirement when they can cash in at a lower bracket. RRSPs are the kind of long-term investment that you want to put away, not worry about, and watch grow over many years. Despite silver’s volatility, like gold, as a precious metal it performs well when stock markets perform poorly, and it keeps up with inflation, protecting your wealth where money does not. Silver can make a great long-term investment that at worst protects your wealth and at best could provide huge growth in value.

What Would Your LinkedIn Profile Sound Like Out Loud

What Would Your LinkedIn Profile Sound Like Out Loud How would your LinkedIn profile sound if someone were to recite it out loud? Is it something that you would feel proud of, or perhaps make you feel a little bit silly? Well thats exactly what LinkedIn Out Loud have done! They have  created a hilarious video series and Tumblr page using genuine LinkedIn summaries from profiles that they have come across when browsing the network. Careful what you write on your profile, or you may fall target next! Here are a few examples of some of the funny profiles that they found: They  must have been so busy working harder than everyone else to write a decent summary. No Im notNo I dontNope I havent done that eitherOh wait I see theyve done there. If youre looking for a tennis playing economics major with a boxset addiction to work night shiftsheres your man!   Oh gosh, maybe they should see a doctor! Im not sure what kind of job this ones after! Check out the first video of the series below for some more great quotes.

Self-Employed Courier Work What You Need to Know CareerMetis.com

Self-Employed Courier Work â€" What You Need to Know In an era of online shopping and home delivery offered as standard, it’s unsurprising that so many people are taking the jump and becoming self-employed couriers. And with a market value of over £10 billion in 2016, it’s equally unsurprising that so many are making a success of their venture.However, as with any self-employed undertaking, it’s not always plain sailing. So if you’re eyeing up the field and thinking you’d like a slice of the action, it’s worth asking yourself these simple questions about becoming a successful courier first.Have you got what it takes?evalevalAnd by this, we don’t only mean the attitude. Of course, you’ll need to figure out if you are able â€" or even willing â€" to spend the majority of your time alone, driving the roads of your locality. That said, you’ll also need some people skills. After all, you’ll be interacting with the people you deliver to, as well as with the companies you contract yourself out to, so having the rudiments of small talk can help.But we also mean: do you have the actual tools of the trade? A courier needs to be able to get places â€" can you do that? They may need to go to isolated houses and farms, as well as cover long distances, so relying on public transport is a big no.You’ll need a car at the very least, if not a small van for any bulkier items you might be given. Doubling up on your personal and business vehicle isn’t always a great idea either, as if it breaks down then you’re stuck, and having a van means more room for parcels â€" potentially leading to a higher income.Can you handle paperwork?There are two kinds of paperwork you’ll need to deal with. The day-to-day stuff â€" the electronic signatures, receipts and the ubiquitous ‘Sorry to have missed you…’ calling cards â€" is easy enough to pick up.The other is, in some senses, the more critical variety â€" and it’s the paperwork that means you’re legally allowed to do what you’re doing. It’s ensuring e ach year that your vehicle, be it car or van, is taxed, as well as having a valid MOT certificate to show it’s road worthy. If you’re not sure about the tax or MOT status of your vehicle, you can do a quick check at GOV.UK. An MOT also gives your garage the chance to check your car or van for any defects, which can be fixed to ensure it’s in top condition.Another vital piece of paperwork you’ll need before you dash out on your first delivery is the appropriate insurance. It’s not the easiest thing to arrange, as not only do you have to insure yourself and the vehicle, but also any contents that may be in the vehicle at any given time, as well as ensuring you’re covered against any accidental breakages. There is also an emerging number of insurers offering dedicated courier insurance for van owners who are just entering the courier market space for the first time and are willing to offer sensibly priced policies.Finally, you’ll need to make sure you have the right licen se documentation. A full, clean UK driving license is a standard requirement â€" if you’re still a learner, you’ll need ‘L’ plates and a qualified driver in the passenger seat, which somewhat defeats the object of working for A typical category B Keep an eye on local fuel prices, especially when you’re out and about. Fuel costs can vary dramatically from region to region, or even across town, so don’t just fill up at your local forecourt for the ease of it. After all, it might only cost you a few pence now, but if you’re doing that every week of every year, you could be depriving yourself of a substantial amount of income.Equally, take fuel prices into account when working out your delivery charges. Don’t short-change yourself â€" but don’t go overboard and charge unreasonably. £0.40 per mile is what most companies are prepared to pay their staff to cover fuel expenses and general wear and tear on a vehicle, so that’s a relatively safe estimate.Invest in a cheap but practical mobile phone contract. You’ll need a reasonable amount of data as well as minutes, with texts being less critical, but by shopping around and considering some of the lesser-known contract providers Is it worth it?If you’ve answered ‘yes’ or ‘sort of’ to the questions above, then chances are being a self-employed courier something you could succeed at. But is it worth all the hassle?According to the National Careers Service, a novice courier earns on average between £14,500-18,000 per year, rising to between £25,000-40,000 when they’ve gained some decent experience. Of course, what you make depends on how much you’re prepared to work. Doing overtime, traveling longer distances and combining multiple deliveries into one trip can all help to boost your earnings.However, it is worth pointing out that â€" as with any job where you are self-employed â€" there is no guarantee of income. Courier work varies from month to month, with the lead-up to Christmas by far is the busiest time of the year, and there may be some months where you only earn half of what you might typically expect. Being able to manage your finances â€" setting money aside when work is busy to make up the shortfall when things get quiet â€" is crucial.Where to start?If you’re set on becoming a self-employed courier, then your first steps are to approach existing courier companies, who may take you on in a self-employed capacity under their umbrella. They may also offer to advertise your services.You should also think of a suitable business name, and get some business cards made up. You won’t need many to begin with, but being able to offer companies a formal introduction to your business will make you look more professional. It also gives them a means of contacting you again in the future.evalThen it’s a matter of organizing all of the above aspects â€" the vehicle, the insurance, the tax â€" to give yourself the best chance at success. After that, it’s down to you to get behind the wheel. Good luck!

Jobs in Finance - Targeted Job Search - CareerAlley

Jobs in Finance - Targeted Job Search - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Whatever you do for a living (or whatever you want to do for a living) requires focus if you want to be successful. The shotgun approach to job search does not really work (as in applying for every job). Job search requires a focus, whether it be industry, job function or location. Method of search (job boards, networking, recruiters, etc.) not so much. You need to conduct a targeted search with a diversity of approaches if you want to increase the likelihood of success. Building your Job Search Marketing Toolkit is one of the keys to this success, but deciding what you want is a great first step. Robert Half Finance Accounting The worlds leading recruitment specialist in accounting and finance is the tag line for this recruiting firm. Very well known in the industry (and international in scope), their site is easy to use and very diverse. The top of the page has links for Jobs, Services, Register and more. The left hand side of the page allows a quick search while the very bottom of the page allows for country selection. Select Jobs at the top to get to their job search engine. Click Jobs at the top of the page to access their job search engine. Their Apply button to the left of every job opportunity makes it really easy to apply for a job. Morgan Stanley This financial services giants careers page has links on the left hand side for Careers and company information. This is followed by a map that is interactive (where you can explore the company by location). The center of the page includes a company overview, followed by links for University, Experienced hires and Branch Opportunities. The right hand side of the page has information on Diversity and profiles on several employees. Clicking on the Experienced Level link leads to a full page where jobs must be searched by division. BankingCareers.com This is a job search site that focuses on the Banking Industry (so, Finance in the broader term). From the main page you can register or sign on (left hand side), see the latest listings, or view all jobs. Click view all jobs to see the full selection. From here you can narrow your search using the refine search function at the top of the page. You can also sort by relevance, position and date posted. JP Morgan Chase Another well known financial institution, their career site provides an overview of the company and then has links for Experienced Hires and University Programs. There is a link for Jobs in Demand as well as a Search Jobs tab. As with the other sites, it is worthwhile to register. HSBC Adding branches even during the recession (which is a good sign), HSBCs career page starts off with a map of the world, you click where you want to work (or where you live) and then the site takes you to a more focused view for your region and country. You must search by location (not across all jobs). The site includes Tips Guidelines for candidate preparation as well as job search, recruiting events, career development and areas of opportunity. Blackrock Blackrocks career site provides background on their business groups as well as Blackrocks culture. The job search section is split between entry level/less experienced hires and professional opportunities and you must pick your region to search for jobs.Once into the site, you can narrow your search by country and job type. SimplyHired Finance This link uses a targeted search on SimplyHired.com to return a list of finance related jobs. You will need to narrow your search depending upon what you want. You can use save this search at any point during the process. At the top of the page you can narrow the search by either entering a more specific job category /or a locaiton. You can also use the left hand side of the page to further target your search. You can sort by date or relevance. Career Tip of the Day: Suggested Reading: We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regardingCareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ Visit Joeys profile on Pinterest Job Search job title, keywords, company, location jobs by 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 identify and land your dream job. 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

How to Write a Biotech Resume

How to Write a Biotech ResumeBiotech resumes must not only match the requirements of the company but must also be dynamic. A lot of research has been carried out to improve the writing and presentation of bios of biotech companies. The main objective is to ensure that the target audience has enough information to get a feel of the company and what it offers.The key aspects to writing a good bios are that it should be innovative, relevant and specific. Good research should be done before writing bios. The good quality biotechnological resume needs to demonstrate the characteristics of the company. Good bios must also highlight the key benefits offered by the company.The first stage of writing bios is to find out the niche and target market. The target market will determine the focus and areas of expertise and development. The level of knowledge and information required from the applicant for the job application and the process will determine the level of detail that should be written about the company. All details must be clear, concise and reflect the professionalism.Next stage of writing bios is to focus on the field of specialization that will be used by the company. This must be reflected in the detailed resume itself. These specialists will need proper understanding of the target market and the scope of specialization and therefore differentiates themselves from the rest of the competitors.Writing bios will require the candidate to have a solid understanding of dissimilar applications, medical practices and new developments. These should be checked over the academic background of the applicant. While writing the bios, the applicant must make sure that it contains the facts, figures and data necessary to be accepted as a competent individual.The one thing that the company should not be afraid of is that they might make a mistake or omit some vital information. Therefore if there is a need to correct any data, they must know where to access it. It is their ri ght to question the information provided by the applicant and this may cause them to lose their job.By following these tips, good bios for biotech company can be produced. All the applicant has to do is find a good talent and to bring it to the company to have a better chance of being hired.