How to Learn a new language

How to Learn a new language by Michael Cheary There’s really no excuse for bad language… Being able to speak in speak in a foreign tongue is something that probably appears on a lot of peoples’ bucket lists. And despite some popular misconceptions it’s never too late to learn â€" no matter what your current experience level is, or how busy your schedule might be.We’ve already covered some benefits of being bilingual, but here are a few of our top tips on how to learn a new language (flashcards on standby).  Set yourself a targetLet’s be honest â€" you aren’t going to become fluent in a foreign language overnight.But instead of simply focussing on the end goal, setting yourself realistic (and measurable) targets will help you stay motivated. Not to mention keep track of your progress.Ask yourself what you actually want to achieve â€" and when you want to achieve it by.Do you want to be able to read a book in your new language? Or just have a conversation with a native speaker? Do you want t o immerse yourself on an upcoming trip? Or do you just want to understand what the hell Despacito actually means?You don’t need to know every word in the dictionary. But having some clear, measurable goals â€" with realistic timeframes attached â€" will definitely help you focus.Use the right resources There aren’t any fool proof ways to learn a language. It’s what works best for you.Some people find that they need to have a set syllabus to stick to, or work better learning alongside other people. But taking a structured language course isn’t for everyone.Luckily, there are a wide range of resources out there you can try, which will help you find out the best way for you to learn. Apps such as Duolingo and Babbel are great places to start, and allow you to study on-the-go â€" at a time that suits your schedule.And it isn’t just apps. Listen to a podcast. Go old school and grab some text books. Switch the language on your social media, and see how long you can last. Do what ever it takes.Because a ‘gusta’ looks the same in any language…Immerse yourself One of the easiest ways to learn a new language is to not give yourself any other option.For some people, that could mean experiencing the culture first hand. But even if you can’t afford to take time off to travel, there are plenty of other ways to make your new language a part of your everyday life.Examples could include everything from reading foreign magazines or news sites, binge watching your favourite films or TV shows with the subtitles on, or listening to music from your country of choice.Still not sure? Another genius lifehack used by multilinguals is labelling everything you possibly can in the language you’re looking to pick up.Just make sure you tell your family before you get started.The truth about working abroadFive lesser known benefits of working abroadDon’t be self-conscious Newsflash: you’re going to screw up. And, you know what? That’s OK.In fact, making mistakes is a ctually how you learn. It’s just that as you get older, you become much more easily embarrassed about saying and doing the wrong things.To combat your self-conscious, take any new opportunity to practice your skills. Whether it’s trying sentences out in front of (patient) family and friends, or even just practicing your pronunciation out on your own.Or why not go one step further, and actually talk to native speakers directly? There are plenty of online forums which will help you connect, and you’re much more likely to pick up on any bad habits if you have someone else their helping. You could even try local businesses to test out your skills.N.B. No, Nando’s does not count as a local business.Stick at itFinally, never underestimate the importance of perseverance.It can take a whole lifetime for people to master their own mother tongue, let alone branching out to learn a new one. And even the most dedicated students can find it difficult to cram a brand new vocabulary into t heir brain.So don’t be tempted to put yourself under too much pressure, or even get angry at yourself for your imperfections.Above all else, learning a new language is supposed to be fun. And it actually can be too â€" just as long as you open yourself up to it and don’t take yourself too seriously. If you enjoy it, you’re much more likely to remain motivated and actually want to learn.So play stupid games. Read comic books. Learn all the rude words. And be patient.Remember: Rome wasn’t built in a day (insert Italian translation here).Five reasons to learn a new languageHonourable mentions: Mnemonics, intervals, spaced repetition software, volunteering abroad, speaking louder and slowerReady to learn? View all available language courses now. 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 Features

Resume Writing - Changing Fields of Interest

Resume Writing - Changing Fields of InterestChanging fields of interest in the job market is a major trend. When you do change careers, it means that your previous career is out of vogue and can't be used as reference for an interview. If you have been performing at the same level of performance for a very long time, you may be wondering what to do to make the best of a difficult situation. Your current employer will probably be anxious to keep you.The majority of the jobs that you were working on are now moving into new fields. In fact, most of the jobs that you held before being out of vogue. Some of these jobs are already being replaced by the new technology, and the additional expertise. There is always going to be more demand for someone with more experience and specialization. You can still retain the same position, but it will no longer be a great fit for you.An example of this happening is when you find yourself facing an increased workload for which you were not prepared. Th e task is not just new for you, but it is also difficult. At first, you may think about switching to another job, but when you are faced with this type of situation, you have to take the time to determine whether or not your job is still needed.Your colleagues may have been working in the same field of work for several years, and you are now wondering what to do to maximize your earning potential. It is important to realize that you are far better off taking some time and reflecting on the career change. You need to be honest with yourself, and consider the current trends in the industry. You can also enlist the help of an employment counselor, to see if your career is still viable in this field.Your skills will likely be in demand, and you might be earning more than you were before. If you are not comfortable with a new role, don't rush into changing fields. It is much better to take a little time and explore what your options are, before you move ahead and choose a new career.You should also keep in mind that you should not change fields until you are absolutely certain about what it is that you want to do. This is especially true if you are a woman who was formerly employed in the same field as you are now. What you were doing before, could now be very different from the job that you are choosing. You should evaluate your interests and decide whether or not you want to choose a new career.If you change fields, you should not make any sudden decisions. Instead, be willing to take some time off and let the new job find you. Make sure that you are familiar with the job that you are applying for, so that you will not feel unprepared. If you aren't comfortable, then you will not do well in the interview.Changing fields is more difficult than most people realize. You may find that you really need to reconsider the choice that you made previously. You need to make sure that you make the right decision for your career, so that you can retain the current position an d make the most of your efforts to secure a new one.

Six Steps To Defeat Mediocrity and Anonymity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Six Steps To Defeat Mediocrity and Anonymity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career I have a wish for you. That is to rise above mediocrity. To do something more amazing than getting your next promotion. To not be a faceless cog in someone elses machine. To actually grow your personal brand enough that you are known for being awesome, not for keeping your head down or not making waves. I spent nearly a year and a half working in state government in crisis communication, and met a lot of people there. The stories youve heard about government workers being underpaid and overworked is true. But the stories youve heard more often about government being a hotbed of mediocrity are also true, maybe more so. The system breeds mediocrity. It doesnt encourage people to excel, to do good work, to go above and beyond the call of duty. Extra effort is not rewarded. Instead, people quickly learn to get along, and do what theyre asked, not what they know is right. I left to pursue a new opportunity so I could quit being a nameless cog. But there are people who were there for years before I showed up, and theyll be there for years after I left. I dont want that for you. I have a wish that you will create your own identity, find a job that you love, and make a name for yourself, not make a warm spot and an ass-print on an office chair. Personal branding helps rise above This is why personal branding is so important. This is why we tell you to do things we tell you, like use LinkedIn and Twitter constantly, to connect with people in the industry you want to work in, and to network with people who can provide you value, and you can provide value to them. Here are six things you can do right now to launch your personal brand to its next level, and avoid being a faceless cog. Read or listen to the following books: Linchpin by Seth Godin; Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi; Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk; Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders; Trust Agents by Chris Brogan. Read them in that order too. If youve read them, read them again. Once youve read them, start getting other books on social media and networking, whether its Dan Schawbels or mine or anyone elses. Grow your Twitter followers to the next thousands mark. If youre at 2,000, grow it to 3,000. If youre at 7,000, grow it to 8,000. And dont just grow it with anyone you can find. Connect with solid people who can teach you something. Use ManageFlitter.com to unfollow people who arent following you and arent contributing anything to your personal branding efforts (i.e. if youre following a bunch of celebrities, chances are theyre not helping you. Drop em). Your goal is to fill your network with a lot of smart people, and with people who want to know how smart you are too. Start a blog and commit to writing in it at least twice a week. Put in valuable information that will be of interest to your network. If your Twitter followers and LinkedIn connections are in your industry, write stuff that will be valuable to them. If your followers and connections (or Facebook friends) are in your hobby, write about stuff that will interest them. Become a notable figure in your industry or hobby by writing frequently about that niche. Own it. Promote your blog like hell to your Twitter and LinkedIn network. Show people that youre doing some amazing stuff in that field. Join two LinkedIn Groups that have something to do with your industry, and drop three that are either a waste of time or have nothing to do with your chosen field. I belonged to seven LinkedIn groups, and only three of them were worth following. The other four became filled with spam or people asking inane questions that could only be answered by signing up for their webinar. Focus on those two LinkedIn Groups and spend time answering questions. Become well-known within them. If youre unemployed and not working in any field, pick a group for the industry you want to work for. Become known to the participants there. Maybe one of them will be your new boss. Cut the amount of time you spend per day on Facebook by one-third. If you spend two hours a night on it, cut it by 40 minutes. If you spend an hour on it, cut it by 20 minutes. Use that time to read one of the books I suggested, to write a new blog post, or to engage in a LinkedIn discussion. Facebook is a great way to connect with friends and find people with common interests. But people dont go there to find jobs or look for candidates. They go there to have fun and relax. So cut out the games â€" being a Farmville expert wont get you a new job â€" and start using that new time to build your brand. Join a networking group. A real life networking group. One with real people who stand around, eating crappy hors doeuvres or breakfast pastries, and asking each other so, what do you do? Even if youre not the most outgoing type, or you work in a field where the more forward and outgoing people look at another persons shoes when they talk to them, you need to be out meeting people in your community and your industry. It may be the Chamber of Commerce, it may be a business networking group. But find people who can help you. They will become the influencers in your life. Theyre the ones who will have a major impact in the growth of your personal brand. Engage with them, get to know them, and make a couple of them part of your circle of trusted advisors. Author: Erik Deckers is the co-owner and VP of Creative Services for Professional Blog Service in Indianapolis. He has been blogging since 1997, has been a published writer for more than 24 years, and a newspaper humor columnist for 17 years. Erik co-authored Branding Yourself: Using Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself (Pearson, 2010) and also helped write Twitter Marketing for Dummies.

What Your Interview Style Says About Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

What Your Interview Style Says About Your Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Although it often takes time to cultivate an online personal brand, it’s easy to watch what you say on social networking sites to ensure your communications align with the brand you hope to create. However, in-person communication is not so simple to control. While you might be an outgoing individual on Twitter or LinkedIn, you may be shy or reserved in-person. So, when it comes time for that in-person job interview, what does your personal style say about your brand? If you’re sticking to a script, this might indicate that you are nervous or unsure about your exact fit in the position or the organization. An interviewer will often choose the candidate that seems like a natural fit at the company, which won’t come across if you seem like you’re rattling off the “right” answers as opposed to being yourself. This may cause your interviewer to think your brand is not genuine. If you don’t ask many questions about the organization and its practices, this might tell your interviewer that you’re not all that interested in the position or didn’t do your research prior to the interview. Although this seems like a small slip-up, it can affect your chances at landing the job more than you may think. Your interviewer may end up viewing you as someone who’s just looking for any job, as opposed to viewing you as someone who knows what they want and won’t settle for less. If you seem like a confident, capable professional, this shows you have a handle on your brand and the benefits you bring a company. This person often does a lot of research prior to applying for the position (to ensure well tailored documents) and before the interview. That way, they can ask questions about the organization, its employees and the position to walk away with a better understanding of their fit within the company. What else does someone’s interview style say about his or her personal brand? Has your brand ever been affected by a poor interview experience? Author: Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder president of Come Recommended, a  content marketing and digital PR consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and/or employers. She is also the author of Lies, Damned Lies Internships: The Truth About Getting from Classroom to Cubicle (2011), #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), and writes  career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.

Top Federal Resume Writing Services

Top Federal Resume Writing ServicesThe top 10 federal resume writing services are not easy to find. There are many services that will offer your resume a quick once over and then throw it away without even a second thought. These services are quite dishonest and tend to get away with this kind of thing quite often.These top federal resume services have a great deal of experience at dealing with various types of employers. They know how to write effective resumes and which questions to ask.The top federal resume services can easily tell you what they find wrong in your resume and what should be changed. They can often avoid giving you the impression that they are biased or are trying to help you. In fact, most of these services are reputable and do not want you to get rid of the resume so quickly.Many people are faced with the need to start a new career. You may be dealing with a layoff, retirement, an illness, or the death of a family member. You may want to be sure to get that resum e back on the right track.This is an excellent service. Their resume writers know the ins and outs of the industry. They have a lot of experience and know what people will be looking for when applying for jobs.They will save you time because they will narrow down your job search to a smaller number of positions. They will also give you tips and ideas to make your resume stand out from the crowd. There is no limit to the amount of information that these professionals can provide you with.It is important to be careful when dealing with the top federal resume writing services. It is possible that they are only concerned with providing your resume a quick once over. Since this is their job, they may leave you with the impression that you need to get rid of your resume to get it out of their way.They may also try to convince you that the amount of information they will give you is not very useful, or that they do not know what the best answers are. These types of services are more intere sted in filling your resume with any information that they have available. Beware.

Resume Lingerie and 10 Other Guerrilla Job Search Strategies - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Resume Lingerie and 10 Other Guerrilla Job Search Strategies Are you having a tough time landing an executive job? Maybe it’s time to consider shaking things up and innovating an unconventional search campaign to position yourself above the crowd. Yesterday I took an eye-opening Reach Personal Branding teleseminar, “Job Search Secrets Revealed”, featuring Guerrilla Job Search Gurus Kevin Donlin and David Perry of Guerrilla Job Hunting. David and Kevin guarantee that, because most people don’t use guerrilla tactics, you’ll blow the competition away. 1.   You must have clarity. Know what job you seek and where you can get that job. Zero in on a job title and/or the 2 or 3 skills you need for the job you want. Pick 10 to 20 companies where you’d like to work. Don’t be concerned if you don’t know anyone at these companies. You’re going to work on that. Now you know your target audience. You’ll need to research and uncover what their issues and problems are, then develop and pitch your unique value proposition. 2.   Get a subscription to ZoomInfo’s FreshContacts. They boast a database of 45 million professionals at 5 million companies. Start compiling a list of key decision makers at each of the companies on your list. 3.   Zig when everyone else is zagging. With the average job search today taking 28.5 weeks (the highest since they started keeping data in 1948), you can’t do what everyone else is doing. Realize that in job search, youre in the middle of a sales and marketing campaign. 4.   Resume Lingerie or Guerrilla Resume. Create a resume that captures attention and, just like lingerie, is designed to tease them into whats possible â€" a one-page, highly-charged, full-color branded resume. On the lefthand side, place 3 or 5 (always an odd number) logos of current/past employers, universities attended, snapshots of awards, etc. People are drawn to graphics. They prefer to look at pictures instead of read words. They buy based on emotions. 5.   Use your recommendations to sell yourself. Put 1 or 2 snips of quotes in your resume. (Note: I do this frequently with my clients’ resumes and it’s a powerful, brand-reinforcing strategy!) 6.   Add a P.S. to your cover letter â€" they always get read. Two ideas for the P.S.: Write Call me today to learn why my [insert person’s title] said [insert quote and include year person said it].” Insert your most provocative bullet point. 7.   Send your resume and cover letter by regular mail, not email. Two reasons: Too much email gets caught in spam filters. Your email may never reach hiring decision makers and recruiters. Direct mail is having a resurgence because most people only use email. This gives you a competitive advantage. 8.   Clean up and brand up your ZoomInfo and profiles. What do hiring managers, HR professionals, and recruiters do to fill a job? They go to ZoomInfo and to run a search. Using the following two innovations, David and Kevin got 2 people into jobs in 7 weeks in Detroit,   where unemployment is 2 to 3 times higher than the rest of the nation: 9.   The Coffee Cup Caper. Send your resume and cover letter in a package along with an empty Starbucks coffee cup with a note saying, Can we meet for coffee, Id love to discuss your [title of position] job. Add the P.S. I will call you very soon to follow up. How soon you may be surprised. Send your package by overnight mail. You’ll be able to determine when it will arrive, so that you can place a call to the recipient within an hour or so of their receipt. 10.   The Trojan Thank You Letter. Instead of sending your resume and cover letter in a standard envelope, use a smaller, thank you note-sized one, with the card reading “Thank you for reviewing my resume and cover letter”. The envelope will suggest an invitation or thank you note. Both are mail people love to receive. You’re practically guaranteed the recipient will open it and read it. 11.   Now is the time to be proactive and go for it. The hiring decisions that will be made in January are being contemplated now. Other job seekers are sitting back during the holiday and waiting. And hiring decision makers arent as busy now as they will be in January. Check out Kevin and David’s initiative Put America Back to Work. Theyre offering to speak to any group of 50 or more people about their guerrilla job search secrets and waive their customary $5,000 speaking fee. What do you think of their aggressive strategies? Related posts over at my Executive Resume Branding blog: 6 Essential Strategies To Land Your Next Great C-Level Executive Job How to Target and Network into Hidden C-Level Executive Jobs   00 0

Utilizing Non-Degree Skills for Temporary or Permanent Employment - CareerAlley

Utilizing Non-Degree Skills for Temporary or Permanent Employment - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Your earning ability today is largely dependent upon your knowledge, skill and your ability to combine that knowledge and skill in such a way that you contribute value for which customers are going to pay. Brian Tracy We all have an innate set of skills that develop as we go through life. They develop as we grow and learn, and have a lot to do with how we are brought up and raised. Skills such as communication, organization, and professionalism, are very underdeveloped but with experience become stronger. Whether a degree is in your future or not, these skills are housed somewhere within you; thats not to say that experience from college or university wont strengthen them. Knowing how to correctly use these fundamental skills will be an advantage when looking for temporary or permanent employment. Communication When looking for employment, effective communication is a key ingredient to landing the job. In fact, employers who took part in a 2011 job survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers placed communication skills at the top of desired skills among future employees. As a prospective candidate, effective communication with employers is necessary employers are interested in those who can speak, listen and write, in addition to think and communicate above their job title. Communication is considered a soft skill, which means that its a skill employers desire regardless of the type of job or your knowledge. With experience, we are able to strengthen our communication skills as we interact with different types of people; when it comes to employment, how we are communicating with future employers needs to be perfection if we desire a seat at that new desk. Organization We all know people who are sloppy, unorganized, and never have a plan and sometimes in their personal lives that works for them; however, it often transfers over to your career. Some people can separate the two, but employers really want someone who can think logically, and in an orderly fashion. Organization is a skill some people really have to work at, for others it comes naturally, or outsiders see it as OCD. For those who have some problems with organization, it can be developed in a way that can benefit you. Any employer wants to see prospective candidates as put together, with their own organization method. This comes especially handy when in a job where youre multi-tasking being able to differentiate different projects to items you are working on in absolutely necessary, especially in a busy work setting. Professionalism Professionalism is another natural skill we possess that only continues to develop as we go through life. Professionalism encompasses two different areas appearance and behavior. I dont know anyone that would attend an interview dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with their hair looking like they just rolled out of bed. In this society, thats not even considered an option when it comes to finding temporary or permanent employment. Its always been said that when you look good, you feel good so knowing how to properly dress and look when it comes to work is important.1 Sometimes, the job you are applying for has a very casual and laid back attitude, but making yourself look professional for the interview, and even if you land the job is vital, at least until otherwise noted by your superiors. Secondly, professional behavior is a crucial skill when it comes to finding employment. Respect, politeness, punctuality, and being well spoken are all very important. There are many factors within professional behavior, and being aware of your actions and manners when in a professional setting will be to your benefit. In order to gain employment knowing how to utilize these skills will be to your advantage. Good luck in your search! Source: 1 monster.com Britania Starr is a content writer for College.com, and enjoys writing about online education and career planning. For more information, her posts on the College.com facebook page. This is a Guest post. If you would like to submit a guest post to CareerAlley, please follow these guest post guidelines. Visit me on Facebook

10 Ways to Be a More Inclusive Co-worker - Career Advice Blog for Millennials

10 Ways to Be a More Inclusive Co-worker - Career Advice Blog for Millennials Though you may not be the jokester or the loudest employee in your workplace, you can still get on everyone’s good side. The secret? Make them feel valued. Recognition motivates 94% of employees, which leads to higher engagement and productivity. Here are 10 foolproof ways to become everybody’s favorite co-worker. Welcome New Employees With a Drink Since many of us spend the majority of our days with co-workers, getting to know who they are can foster a more meaningful working relationship. Invite the new employees out for happy hour or a coffee together and learn what makes them tick. Sharing personal experiences with each other reminds you how each employee is more than their title at work. You are unique and have the power to make someone else feel unique and welcome, too. Make (and Use) a Birthday Calendar Use those small personal facts you learned at happy hour or coffee to give small personal gifts. Whether or not your company sends out birthday cards to everyone, offering a unique gift of your own speaks volumes about your investment in your co-workers and how much you value their friendship. Hint: It also tells them that you’re a good listener. Listen It’s easier said than done. But when done whole-heartedly, listening can be the most powerful positive connection between co-workers. Let them finish their thoughts before jumping in. React to what’s being said rather than editing what you’re already waiting to blurt out. If you’re an overachiever, think of solutions to their situations and offer more to the conversation when you meet again. Say Thank You Often, new workers are underappreciated since they either fill a void or relieve a previously unassigned workload. Take notice of the difference they’ve made in the office and say a sincere thank you. They’ll remember your recognition and feel more connected to the work when they know it makes an impact. Avoid Gossip If you don’t know something, don’t assume anything. You know what happens when you assume, and it rarely turns out well. Colleagues will respect your ability to hold your tongue and may even follow suit. If they don’t, it’s often easier to walk away rather than restraining yourself when others are begging you to join. Answer Messages Don’t leave a co-worker hanging. If you have voicemails, emails or instant messages awaiting a response, catch up within 24 hours to take care of any urgent business. Prompt responses also reassure colleagues that their voices matter and you are a reliable listener. Respect the Boss Even if it’s not cool to do, you need to do it. Word travels fast, especially in close quarters. Although co-workers may not agree on the outside, they will respect your stance and respect your team mentality within the company. This doesn’t mean surrender defeat no matter what type of leader you have, but that they are just as much a part of the company as you and deserve a conversation before unsolicited judgment. A positive perception of your boss is your own way of being a leader. Good leadership doesn’t talk smack. Neither should you. Extend Social Media Invitations When appropriate, include the same co-workers you chat with during the day in your online presence. Keep your private media private, but don’t hesitate to treat co-workers as friends who may want to get together outside of the workweek. This is especially true of career-specific social media sites. When 91% of people spend more than 30 hours each week with colleagues, developing work friendships is super important to your happiness. Sharing today’s social personas is a win-win in that case, as any good co-worker can give and receive professional recommendations. Greet Co-Workers Every Morning Beyond the explicit check-in to announce your non-tardiness, it’s polite to say good morning as you make your way to your desk. This lets co-workers know you are free for conversations, both scheduled and spontaneous. It also builds the communal relationship within the office and encourages the shared motivation of working to help each other toward a common goal. Be a Reference If you’ve followed all nine of the above tips, it should be no surprise when somebody asks you for a recommendation. After all, you’ve been the best co-worker they’ve ever had! You don’t need to be the boss to be a fantastic reference. But, to uphold your stellar reputation, frame the letter or conversation in a positive light and be honest. Who knows, maybe they will do the same for you one day. Make a Difference Tomorrow This quick guide can help you on your way to becoming a stellar co-worker overnight, but you have to do the heavy lifting. When you show up to work tomorrow, greet everyone with a cheery hello and make your way over to a colleague you don’t know very well. Ask a simple question about their work or their day before you settle into your routine. Starting with one small, but genuine, change a day is all it takes to help foster a friendly, engaged team and win over the entire office. What are you doing to be a better co-worker? Share your tips and stories in the comments!