Thursday, May 28, 2020

Top courses to help get you hired April 2019

Top courses to help get you hired April 2019 by Michael Cheary Let’s face it, Easter is a time all about new beginnings. See where we’re going with this?If you’re someone looking to learn something new this spring, look no further. Not only are there more courses than ever available on reed.co.uk, with over 31,000 certifications and professional qualifications to choose from, almost all of them can be taken online. And, yes. A pub garden definitely counts.To help inspire you (and/or make your next bank holiday BBQ even more productive), here are three of the best courses you could be starting in April.Estate Agent Interested in your development? How about property development?If the answer’s yes (and/or tenuous links are your thing), then a career as an Estate Agent may be for you. And this Estate Agent Diploma could just be the perfect way to kick-start your journey.Packed in to 16 easy-to-consume modules, you’ll learn everything you need to succeed in this profession â€" including skills such as negotiation, lettings management and giving valuations, right through to learning the laws and regulations.You’ll even learn how to perform a viewing. Which, at the very least, will be a useful asset to have the next time you have house guests.It’s fully CPD accredited, making it the perfect asset to add to your CV. Especially for anyone completely new to the world of estate agency.And, because it’s available to be taken completely online and at your own pace, you won’t even need to leave your own house to get your foot-in-the-door.Just think of yourself as a bit of a fixer-upper…What do I need?  A natural passion for the property industry.How long will it take?  Around 10 hours.Perfect for:  People who want to unlock the door to a new career (etc.)Estate Agent DiplomaChildcareOK, we admit it. Working with adults can sometimes be a drag.Luckily, this comprehensive Childcare bundle will give you all the tools you need to bypass the older generation completely â€" allowing you to learn everything you need to pursue a career working with children full-time.It’s split into three distinct sections, with certificates in children’s nutrition and behaviour, as well as a certificate in nannying and childcare training.There’s even a diploma in children’s party planning. So even if you’re just looking to throw your own kids the perfect birthday bash, we’ve got you covered.And the best part? The whole bundle is available at 60% off, all throughout the rest of the month â€" so you’ll get all of the above certifications for less than £80.A bundle of joy, to help you look after your own bundles of joy.It works on so many levels…What do I need?  A calm and caring nature, and a love of working with kids of all ages.How long will it take?  34 hours (part-time/self-paced).Perfect for:  People who want to be head and shoulders above the competition. Also, knees and toes.Childcare course  Makeup ArtistSpend all day watching makeup tutorials on YouTube? You might as well get paid for it.Not only is makeup artistry a great skill to have for your own benefit, it’s also a very marketable skill to have when it comes to your career. Whether you’re looking to get into the beauty industry full-time, or even if it’s just to earn a little extra on the side.With this Makeup Artist training course you’ll be able to brush up on everything from basic makeup procedure and techniques, right through to learning makeup for big occasions like weddings.There are absolutely no hidden fees, meaning the price you pay includes all modules, and even the exams and free e-certificate.And did we mention the price you pay is a very reasonable £49 â€" almost 85% off the RRP. Which leaves at least a little money left over to start stocking up on all the essentials (see also: mascara).Want to set yourself up for a career as a professional makeup artists? Just want to finally get your smokey eye application on point?Move over Zoella, Tanya Burr, Patrick Starrr, (inse rt name of favourite makeup vlogger here).What do I need?  An internet connection, and some makeup. That’s pretty much it.How long will it take?  As little as 15 hours.Perfect for:  People who need a better foundation. Literally.Makeup course    Not sure which course is right for you?  View all available 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

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Top 18 Flight Attendant Interview Questions and Answers - Career Sidekick

Top 18 Flight Attendant Interview Questions and Answers - Career Sidekick Top 18 Flight Attendant Interview Questions and Answers Interview Questions and Answers / https://www.edenscott.com/blog In this article, were going to cover the 18 most common flight attendant interview questions from airlines like:DeltaAmerican AirlinesUnited AirlinesSouthwestAlaska AirlinesAir CanadaAviancaThis includes behavioral and situational interview questions, as well as other types of questions that you need to be ready for.Then, well look at some hidden factors the interviewer is looking for, as well as some general flight attendant interview tips, and what to wear to the interview. Common Flight Attendant / Cabin Crew Interview Questions1. What can you tell me about yourself?This is one of the first questions most interviewers ask. Keep your answer professional and talk about what youve done in your recent work. If you just graduated, talk about what you studied and why, and what youre looking for now that you graduated.This article has more details and examples of how to answer tell me about yourself.2. Why do you want to be a flight attendant?You should ha ve researched the job and company as a part of your interview preparation. Then, make sure youre ready to name specific reasons this job is exciting to you and fits with your career goals.If you dont seem like you know what the job involves and/or cant explain why this position is attractive to you, then youre very unlikely to get hired for a job as competitive as a flight attendant.3. Why would you be a good flight attendant?When they ask why you would succeed in this position, its a chance to show confidence and brag about yourself a bit.This isnt a spot where you want to be timid. So think about your professional strengths and what you saw on the job description that seems like youd be good at, and mention that.This can be your customer service ability, interpersonal skills, ability to work as part of a team, etc. (Well talk more about all of these topics and questions later in this article because theyre all VITAL to what flight attendants do).4. Tell me about a situation where you had to deal with a difficult customer. How did you handle it?Next, you can expect a behavioral question or two about how you deliver good customer service, how you deal with difficult customers, etc. This question above is very common, so be ready with a specific example, the approach you took, and why. Finally, describe the result and what you learned from the experience, too!5. Tell me about a disagreement youve had with a coworker. How did you resolve the situation?The airline also wants to make sure you can get along well with different types of coworkers (along with different types of customers). So this is the next type of behavioral question you can expect in a flight attendant job interview.Your goal should be to demonstrate that you stay calm and professional even when disagreements occur and that you realize youre on the same side as your coworkers working toward a common goal. Show that you set aside your ego, stayed calm, and solved the issue.The customer always come s first, so the airline wants to make sure their flight attendants arent letting internal disputes get in the way of giving customers an outstanding experience.6. What do you know about our airline?They may ask a question like this to see if youve done your research. Go to the airline website and read about their history. How big are they? Where are they headquartered? Where are their main hubs?Make sure you know how many employees they have, when they were founded, and their company history (if theyve gone through mergers, etc.) Learn this basic info so you can recite this back to the interviewer if they ask this question.7. Why do you want to work for our airline?Along with asking, Why do you want to be a flight attendant? (mentioned earlier), theyll also want to hear a specific reason why you applied to their company.So make sure you know some facts about their individual airline, and mention what you admire or like about their company.8. What does excellent customer service mean to you?This is asked for a variety of customer service interviews, including flight attendant interviews. Its a very common question, and Ive been asked this myself early in my career.Id recommend talking about how you believe great customer service means going above and beyond what the customer expects and over-delivering on the promises your brand makes.9. What do you think makes our airline different from its competitors?Along with knowing some basics about their company and its history, try to know one or two things that set it apart from competitors.This can be its reputation, the places it flies to and serves, the excellent customer service or reviews, etc. Just make sure youre saying something thats true!10. How would you respond to a customer who was refusing to follow rules and regulations on a flight? (Like unbuckling the seat belt during takeoff)Your goal here is to show that you can stay calm, avoid confrontation, but stand your ground and explain to the passenger what needs to be done and why (for safety reasons, etc.)Show that you follow procedures and would stick to the steps recommended by the airline, too (in terms of escalating this a more senior member of the cabin crew if the situation begins to get out of control).You can also ask them a question about this, like, By the way what type of training does your airline provide to help prepare flight attendants for this type of situation?(Well talk more about what questions to ask in a flight attendant interview soon).11. What type of work environment do you prefer?You should answer this by mentioning that you enjoy a fast-paced, collaborative work environment. If you tell the interviewer that you like to work alone, or that you typically like a very slow environment, it could cost you the job.You can read a full article on how to answer What type of work environments do you prefer? here.12. What are your greatest strengths?Ideally, pick strengths that are related to the job, or will help you in this job. You should be thinking, What will convince the interviewer that Im likely to succeed in this position?Thats how theyre thinking in the interview.For more help, heres a full article on how to answer what are your strengths?13. What languages do you speak?This is a straight-forward question, and you should reply by stating all of the languages you speak at an intermediate level or above. Explain which languages youre fluent or native in, and which youre still learning.14. Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?You should always say you enjoy a team environment because thats how youll be working most of the time as a flight attendant.Its okay to say you like both situations, but make sure you show them that you have the skills needed to handle situations where teamwork is required.15. Tell me about a time you had to juggle multiple high-priority tasks. How did you handle it?Prepare to talk about a situation where you had to prioritize and handle multiple tasks. A nd would you handle this in future situations?Multi-tasking and staying calm when many things need your attention is one of the essential skills, so dont take this question lightly.16. Have you flown as a passenger before? How did you feel about the service delivered by the cabin crew on that flight?They may ask about your experience as an airline passenger, just to see what you noticed during your experience, and how you observe others.Talk about what stood out to you as a passenger, and ideally, how youd use that experience to provide a great customer experience to your passengers as a flight attendant.17. Describe yourself in 3 wordsChoose three positive words and be ready to explain why (in case they ask).Here are some examples/ideas:KindTeam-orientedCollaborativeFriendlyVersatilePatientMotivatedHard-workingResilientEnergeticOutgoing18. What are your thoughts on X? This question is important and comes directly from a flight attendant colleague of mine.According to her, youre lik ely to hear random, opinion-based questions (like what are your thoughts on religion?), which are designed to see if you can be polite and avoid being offensive when answering. Try to give a politically-correct answer without taking a hard stand or sounding too opinionated.They may also ask, Have you seen the news about X? What are your thoughts?You should approach this in the same way.Imagine youre talking to a passenger as you answer these questions. Since youre not sure of their beliefs, you dont want to take a strong stance and offend them.Prepare for Group AssessmentsAirlines also conduct group assessments in which they make you solve problems/scenarios as a part of a group.Heres the most important thing to know about this situation (and again, this is directly from my colleague who worked as a flight attendant): They dont evaluate the outcome or solution you came up with as a whole; they mostly evaluate how you interact with the team during that resolution process.So make sure youre demonstrating patience, strong listening skills, communication skills, professionalism, and teamwork. The situation and the problem youre solving arent as important as showing that you can work well with others!Questions to Ask in a Flight Attendant InterviewIn flight attendant interviews, you should ask questions about the work, how youd interact with coworkers, the day-to-day duties and challenges, expectations, how your performance will be measured, etc. Keep your questions focused on the job and work, and save questions about benefits, pay, vacation time and other perks for a second or third interview (or ideally, once you know they want to offer you the job).Also, make sure to avoid questions that could easily be answered by viewing the airlines website or by reading the job description. For example, you dont want to ask, how long has this airline been in business? A quick Google search could reveal this info, so asking the hiring manager isnt going to impress them.If yo u want ideas for specific questions, here are 26 unique questions to ask an employer.Flight Attendant Interview Attire: What to WearYou should wear business attire for your cabin crew interview. For men, this means a suit and tie. Women should wear a blazer, dress shirt, and skirt.For more information on what to wear to your cabin crew interview, we recommend this article. It goes into much more detail about accessories, hairstyle, and much more (for example, they recommend that if a womans hair is longer than shoulder-length, then they should style it in a french twist or bun).The article also includes great images/examples.Since our article is mostly about interview questions and answers, not what to wear, that link above will take you to a more comprehensive resource focused entirely on interview clothing and styling.Conclusion: Putting it All TogetherIf you follow the tips above, youll be ready for a variety of questions, from how you would approach a certain situation, to why y ou want this job.Remember to ask questions of your own, too (mentioned earlier), because this is a big part of how the interviewer evaluates candidates. Cabin crew positions are competitive, so you could lose out on the job to someone who spent more time preparing questions to ask if youre not careful. Dont neglect this step.Finally, practice your answers at home. Nothing comes out perfect the first time, so you should feel more confident if you practice ahead of time with a friend or family member.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Long Term Career Progression

Long Term Career Progression Over the last decade it’s become obvious that a college education is not always enough to land a job, let alone a long-term career. Attending college classes, partying all summer, and then picking up your diploma is not enough these days. A recession could cost you your job, or economic progress could render your profession obsolete. You need to do more to remain viable as a successful professional in the long term. So how can young professionals today avoid the mistakes of their predecessors? Becoming Employable The first concern is, of course, becoming an employable professional in the first place. There are thousands of books and articles available providing many different and conflicting   “secrets to success” , but at the end of the day it’s all about having a combination of basic competence in a field, combined with the ability to network utilizing social media and personal contacts. What does becoming employable mean? A young soon-to-be professional can become employable by: going to college to obtain an education. doing an internship or two to hone the skills learned in college. creating an online or off-line professional portfolio to demonstrate your skill set. developing your social skills and emotional intelligence to aid you in building relationships and communicating with interviewers, management, and coworkers. Building Flexibility Once you’ve built this basic professional competence it’s time to start developing professional flexibility. For example, if you decided to study a nice general skill like business management at college, you’ll be very employable as a manager in any industry, but you won’t be a stand-out candidate in any of those industries. Career flexibility is developing your skill and knowledge base, so that you’re an attractive candidate for jobs in more than one field. Additionally, if you lose your job you have the ability to work in logistics in any corporation with the freedom to advance into management as your career recovers. To do this you should start to build a secondary skillset. You can start building a secondary skill sets that will make you valuable to for specific, high-paying positions that every major company needs to fill by: expanding your education professional and educational classes that will allow you to work in multiple industries like logistics or supply-chain management classes. start personal research on the ins and outs of skill sets. spend your free time on personal projects like mastering a specific piece of software that will increase your value to a company. Building Up To Your Peak Earning Years If all goes well, by the team you reach your early 30’s to late 40’s, you’ve made yourself an indispensable asset to any business. Congratulate yourself at this point. You deserve it! After your personal celebration, you might want to think about bracing yourself for the next step on the career ladder. What’s that next step? Specialization in your chosen field. Why do you need specialization? Well if you’re a logistics manager in the healthcare field that is looking to maintain that upward trajectory, you will be stopped by the fact that most management positions in the healthcare field require a formalized education in the health care field. The good news? At this point, many companies will pay for you to receive this specialized education. At the end of this long career journey, you’re in a position that required three discrete skill-sets which makes you difficult to replace, and impossible to remove. Beyond that, if your employer closed down, went under or fired you for some crazy reason, you’d have three different fields in which to look for high-value employment.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Be Truly Innovative

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese How to Be Truly Innovative Have you ever considered why you need water to mop a floor? If so, you may have thought that the water doesnt really help clean the floor it just turns the dirt into mud. Mud that then must be cleaned from the mop. Thats exactly what a small research design team realized when Proctor and Gamble directed them to explore how, when and why people mop their kitchen floors. Not only did mopping floors with water mean more time was actually spent cleaning the mop than cleaning the floor but better mops required evenmoremud cleaning from the implement. Thats when the research team questioned PG engineers: Isnt there something better to clean up the dirt? Their answer: dry cleaning cloths that use electrostatic forces to pick up dust no water necessary. The Swiffer was born. The disposable pads and the tool to hold them have made the company billions of dollars. It was solving the right problem a problem that PG didnt even know existed, says Thomas Lockwood, who has a PhD in design management. The Swiffer development is one of the stories he explores with Edgar Pike in Innovation By Design: How Any Organization Can Leverage Design Thinking to Produce Change, Drive New Ideas and Deliver Meaningful Solutions. Solving the right problem, Lockwood explains, is the first tenet to design thinking. So is a deep understanding of the user through observation (read more here)

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The student guide to mindfulness and how to be mindful

The student guide to mindfulness and how to be mindful This post was written by an external contributor. Aayushi breaks down mindfulness and how you can use it to stay zen this Spring. When was the last time you truly experienced silence without a single thought running through your head? Do you remember every single detail of walking from A to B (the sound of birds chirping, the smell of some food from a nearby restaurant, the sensation of the wind blowing through your hair)? If you can, it means you are being mindful of your surroundings and thoughts. The term ‘mindfulness’ probably isn’t new to the majority of you, but for those who aren’t too sure about what it is, why it’s helpful, or how you can become more mindful, below is a quick guide to answer your questions. What is it? Mindfulness is the process by which you become more aware of the present and have a better understanding of your thoughts, feelings and surroundings. We can all practice mindfulness by using various techniques. Why is it beneficial? Life is stressful; though a small amount of stress can be good for us, it is also possible for this stress to take over our lives and affect our mental well-being. This is not only unhealthy in the short run, but can also lead to mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. There are numerous studies out there that have highlighted the significance of mindfulness and the role it plays in improving mental health/stress in a number of ways: Dealing with negative thoughts in a productive manner Allowing us to see early signs of anxiety and stress Controlling our thoughts so we don’t overthink Understanding ourselves better Enjoying our lives more fully According to the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), mindfulness can also be used to resolve social anxiety and even prevent or treat mild depression. What can I do to become more mindful? Breathing exercises Just sit and focus on how your breath enters and leaves your body. Don’t try to control your breathing, just feel the way it naturally comes and goes. Be present in the moment and feel the sensations in your body. Focus on the food you eat As weird as this may sound, turn everything off for 20 minutes including your phone and any other screen. Really focus on every bite of your food; what does it taste like? Is it too hot or too cold? Does it make a crunching sound when you bite? This will make you more mindful of your food and help you get closer to appreciating your present state. Get a colouring book Adult colouring books for mindfulness are becoming increasingly popular. Many studies have shown that one of the best ways to control anxiety and get rid of stress is to colour. Not only will you feel like a little kid again, but by doing such activities you are bringing your mind to focus on the present. Meditation Saying “Ohmmm” is not the only way for someone to meditate. There are many different techniques out there, many of which can be found on various websites. There are loads of apps for beginners that can help you get into meditation such as Insight Timer, Calm, or Stop, Breathe Think. These apps are not only good for beginners but are also useful for advanced meditators, too! How do I fit this into my schedule? It’s completely understandable that taking time out of a very hectic schedule can be difficult. Luckily there are so many ways around it; all it requires is using your time more wisely, such as: 1) On your commute to university, work, the gym, extracurricular classes wherever you get a couple of minutes of travelling time. Instead of listening to music, scrolling through Instagram, or texting your friends, take five minutes to sit in silence and focus on your breathing. If you get a bit nervous about what other people might think, just stick your earphones in and pretend to listen to music. Alternatively, you can close your eyes and ‘sleep’ for five minutes but instead be doing one of the mindful techniques mentioned above. 2) If however, you don’t want to do this in front of people, you can do it first thing in the morning after brushing your teeth, or before your breakfast, or right before dinner, or before you fall asleep… It’s actually very easy to find five minutes to be more mindful if you commit. What you need to remember is that you will most likely not feel like a whole new person overnight. It will be tough in the beginning, and it’s highly likely your mind will wander. But soon you’ll start to feel a lot calmer and see that actually you are able to let thoughts come and go quite easily. Many people are becoming more self aware, confident and happier as a result of using techniques to become more mindful. Why not make 2018 the year to have a more fulfilled and positive outlook? Download Debut  and  connect with us on  Facebook,  Twitter  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Are Your A Cookie Cutter Job Seeker

Are Your A Cookie Cutter Job Seeker As a member of a new community of resume writers and career coaches called the Career Collective, this post is one of many responses to the question, Are you a cookie cutter job seeker? I encourage you to visit other members responses, linked at the end of my post! Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective. Do you face each situation like the same cookie cutter?   Sometimes you need a different shape to best utilize the dough. Do you only search for one job title, like making a batch of all the same cut out cookie? Do you decorate your cookies or eat em plain? My boys love making cookies at Christmas because the get to put their individual mark on each one.   Loads of sprinklers (thats what they call them) are put on top of these cookies that make them uniquely theirs so that when we finally get to eat them, they recognize their decorated cookies like a long lost friend. I hope that you put the joy of cooking into your job search and make it a creation! Here are other wonderful posts answering this question from their perspectives! Career By Choices Expat Success Tips Ongoing Career management is No Longer Optional for the Expat in Todays New World of Work   Top Margin: Gayles Blog Sabotaging Your Prospects: Cookie-cutter Style CAREEREALISM: Cookie Cutters are for BakingNot Job Searching! The Emerging Professional: On the Cookie Cutter Approach to Job Search: Do You Need a Recipe? Sterling Career Concepts: Job seekers: Break out of the mold! Dawn Bugni The Write Solution: Dawns Blog Is your job search cookie-cutter or hand-dropped? Rosa Vargas, Creating Prints Resume-Writing Blog: Being a Cookie-Cutter Job Seeker is a Misfortune Heather Mundell, life@work: How Not to Be a Cookie Cutter Job Seeker Sweet Careers:Passive Job Seeker=Cookie Cutter Job Barbara Safani Career Solvers Blog Cookie Cutter Resumes Can Leave a Bad Taste in the Hiring Managers Mouth Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Career Trend Blog: Eating Bananas Doesnt Make You an Ape   Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers: How Can a Job Seeker Stand Out? Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters Tips Blog:Avoiding Being a Cookie-Cutter Job-seeker In Your Resume and Throughout Your JobHeather R. Huhman, HeatherHuhman.com: Break the Mold: Dont Be a Cookie Cutter Rosalind Joffe, WorkingWithChronicIllness.com Forget the cookies! Start with vision

Friday, May 8, 2020

Tough (Question) Tuesday What are you proud of today

Tough (Question) Tuesday What are you proud of today I am so proud of me by teaforthoughts OK, twist my arm, Ill admit it: Im so very proud of me. To the Newsweek video interview thats supposed to be live tomorrow (aaaaahhhhhh!) to ensuring that my site is ready for re-launch by then to taking many, many, many (many many!) steps in creating this life that is my purpose, even if Im still reaching, reaching, reaching to get there ( while I have an immediate finish line in mind, I know itll be an everlasting journey that is mine to create).Im doing it, Ive done it, and Im proud of me. What are you proud of today? (If its really early by you the days barely begun, then share what youre proud of you for doing/being yesterday. Its not cheating.) It can be big, it can be small, it can be for an action or an intention or a thought or just a word. It all counts! You better comment about it, too I want nothing but love here this week for my birthday on Thursday!