How Do I Break Into A Competitive Industry

“How Do I Break Into A Competitive Industry” Help from our Community “How Do I Break Into A Competitive Industry?” * After years of listening to people tell her it couldn't be done, Sophie has decided to take the plunge and try to land work in a tough field: the music industry. But (as people have been telling her all her life) it's competitive, often badly paid, and usually requires some big-shot contacts. She's sure it can be done... but how? What's your career history and current job? I studied psychology at university, and, since graduating six years ago, have been working in marketing and fundraising for NGOs and charities. How do you feel about your work? I went into the charity sector for two reasons: because I thought it would be a fulfilling, rewarding occupation, and because everybody told me that my passion (music) would lead me to a lifetime of banging on closed doors and a bright red bank balance. I do like my work, but working for charities is exhausting and frustrating at times. We're constantly financially stretched, and you never really get to see the results of your work. It's not as rewarding as you'd imagine it to be. On top of that, I feel guilty for giving up on my dream of working in the music industry, which is going to be an uncomfortable feeling however much you like your job. What would you like to be doing instead? I want to work in AR for a record company. I love finding new music, meeting a variety of people and keeping an ear out for new trends and possibilities. All my spare time is spent at gigs and in record stores, and I'd love to work somewhere where people respect my judgement on a topic I care about. Plus I can actually see the results of my work when my new talents rocket to the top of the charts! What's the biggest obstacle in your way? For every person who gets paid to work in the music industry, there are 50 who will do the dirty work for free, and for years. I don't mind starting at the bottom, but I do have a mortgage and student debts to pay, and I couldn't afford to do it for long. I feel like I've wasted valuable time and it's going to be tough for me to make the change financially. It's also really useful to be connected in the industry, which I'm not. I think it would be much easier to find work if I had someone I could talk to about getting started, but music professionals must get thousands of cold calls and emails a day from people who want a piece of their time. Why would they pay any attention to me? Can you help Sophie? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? What could Sophie do to get her foot in the door of the music industry? Do you know anyone she could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support. Give Sophie a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

How to Build Out the Sale and A Loyal Clientele - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Build Out the Sale and A Loyal Clientele - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Paying respect to clients is something that is not normally done. The strategy is comprised of simple acts of kindness, but not everyone thinks to do this. Your added thoughtfulness becomes a classy differentiator for building your personal brand. By treating clients with respect they reciprocate in kind by making business highly rewarding. Let’s Have Lunch Should you already have loyal clients, on occasion, treat them to lunch at a nice restaurant. Be certain not to talk about work or new services for sale during the meal. Make the conversation more personal by inquiring of their activities during the holidays, the summer, etc. Upon waiting to complete payment for the lunch, update your client on what’s new. If there appears to be interest, ask when a good time will be to have a serious conversation regarding it. Introductions As conversations become comfortable and ideas strike you, ask whether your client might be interested in pursuing. And whether an entrepreneur or a salesperson, as introductions of possible interest occur to you, offer them to your clientele. Your History Examine how you have treated your steady clientele. Do you show appreciation for continued business? Are you occasionally checking in to see how your client is doing with what was sold? Do you readily fix issues that arise to increase appreciation shown to you? Doing all of the above increases client loyalty. The truth is, most professionals are too focused on getting the sale versus actually caring they did right by the client. Make it a habit to check in with a few current clients every day. Establish a running list of those clients to contact. 10 Sales Tips: Entrepreneurs â€" those of you who host a radio or TV show, offer those clients who may benefit your audience, as a featured guest. Offer to highlight those clients whose business model includes community service in your column. When you come across research that could be helpful to your client, send it over with a personal note. Invite your clients to company events and make personal introductions as they arrive. Introduce your clients to executive management at special events. If your client lives elsewhere, and they do a lot of business, send an appropriate gift of thanks during the holidays. Treat your valued employees to a day of fun that includes a team event. Encourage suggestions for business improvement and highlight those employees who provide the ideas to be implemented. After a sale send a handwritten note to say “Thank you”. On occasion check in with your clients to simply say, “I was thinking of you and was wondering how everything is going.” These suggestions will lead to both client and employee loyalty. You will see begin to see improvement in ROI. The encouragement will have you creating further ideas for both enhancing business and your clientele. Following these tips will have you enjoying the Smooth Sale!

The Healthier Side of Modeling An Interview with Victor Surma - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Healthier Side of Modeling An Interview with Victor Surma - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career [Sponsored Post: This post is brought to you by Victor Surma] Traditionally, model and trainer Victor Surma has known the modelling industry as a cut-throat, unhealthy atmosphere where young women are forced to maintain a skeletal figure , and children are conditioned to believe that what they see in the magazines is what they should look like. These problems havent only existed for women, to be sure, men have faced similar negative self-reflection as a result of the modeling world. Fortunately, today, this paradigm is shifting to a more positive place. Companies like Dove with their Real Beauty campaign are putting the focus back on what people actually look like. And some are attempting to bring a healthier mentality to the modeling world. Recently, I connected with Victor Surma, a well-regarded model and a pioneer in bringing a healthy energy into his industry. According to him, there are a few things that are improving the landscape for young models, and they can benefit everyone in todays society, not just those who are walking down a catw alk. Here are three reasons why modeling is becoming healthier: Awareness of the mistreatment of models is greater than ever before. According to the Daily Globe, there has been increasing public backlash in the use of younger models in provocative and sexually explicit photo shoots, and this has made the industry more conscious of what is and is not acceptable for underage models. Victor Surma has been a leader in this cause, and helps to promote better standards for taking care of models and helping them to recognize how they should be treated. Other notable models, such as Kate Moss, have come out and shared their horror stories which has shed a light on these less-than-flattering practices of the past.  A new generation of talent is entering the field. Photographers, designers, and models of today are entering an industry that is very different than it was several years ago. Again, according to the Daily Globe, Greater support networks are in place for these individuals, and as people grow more aware of the fact that problems do exist more is being done to correct them. As with any current industry, modeling is experiencing a turnover, and the new crop of professionals is being taught what they should and should not put up with in the process.  Victor Surma is an active member of this community, working to develop healthy ways to stay in shape, and teaching young models that achieving a certain look no matter what the cost is not the way to succeed. There is a recognition that this is a problem for models regardless  of gender. Like we discussed previously, there has been an emphasis on the negative impact of modeling on the female psychology in our country, and a pressure on women to maintain an unhealthily slender physique. However, today we are starting to recognize that this issue exists for men as well, and that men can sometimes engage in even more unhealthy practices to achieve the type of look that is expected of them. Of course, if we extrapolate that out further, all men feel a pressure to keep up and are vulnerable to these same unhealthy habits, like over-exertion workouts, steroids, and unnatural supplements with less-than-desirable side effects. Victor Surma has made it his mission to ensure men, not just women, understand how to achieve results without risking their long term health. There you have it. Modeling, thankfully, is changing for the better. Still, there is much work to be done in our society so that young people have a better approach to health. Hopefully these changes at the top will also lead to less instances of bullying, eating disorders, and other negative behavior toward one another. Victor Surma is continuing to use his abilities and credibility as a model to push that agenda, and I hope he continues to see progress. Author: Bill Connolly is a marketing/personal branding expert, career advisor improvisational comedian. He is the author of  Funny Business: Build Your Soft Skills Through Comedy,  and host of an online radio show by the same name on the  UR Business Network. For more information, or to contact him, visit his website at  TheBillConnolly.com, or follow him on Twitter:  @billconnolly.

Four Exciting Job Options for Math Lovers

Four Exciting Job Options for Math Lovers While math can be an interesting field of study, it isnt always a field with a directly obvious post-graduation career path. There are several possible ways for a newly minted math degree to help you make a living. If you are having trouble finding which of these jobs you are interested in, take a look at this list of dream jobs. Computer Game Designer Although computer games are flashy and full of vivid imagery on the surface, under the hood, they run on complicated mathematical models. While programming degrees may seem the most directly applicable to the occupation, there are several uses for the related field of mathematics as well. This is particularly true of people who have studied game theory, the complicated mathematical modeling of the decision-making process. Moreover, 3-D game environments need designers who are fluent in geometry and trigonometry to make sure the objects function properly. Those interested in the field are advised to pick up a programming language course or two, whether through formal education or online programs. Civil Engineer Behind every element of modern social infrastructure, youll find a small army of workers marshaled around the plans and designs of civil engineers. A civil engineer is someone who constructs the necessities of civilization, from buildings to bridges to roads. The job is math-heavy, requiring people capable of crunching the numbers to make sure that the bridge holds up to traffic and the building can withstand the strains of extreme weather. While specialized civil engineering programs exist, a math degree is certainly applicable as well. Most engineer postings train new hires on the job in the specifics of the position. Economist As anyone who has ever balanced a checkbook knows, money is ultimately nothing but a number. Money drifts between countries and corporate entities, floating in and out of financial institutions, and this movement is the source of motivation for many human endeavors. Economists watch these transactions, theorizing on the meaning of the activity and the underlying trends they represent. Again, economics is a separate major, but there is nothing stopping a mathematical prodigy from applying their understanding of numbers to the numbers that make or break fortunes. Animator Modern animated features have by and large moved from their cell-shaded routes into the realm of computer-generated 3-D features. And, much like with video games, making these features requires those skilled in geometry and trigonometry to design their environments on computers. While most animation teams incorporate people with animation design skills and experience with the associated programs, such experience can be acquired by methods other than degree programs. Mathematicians on animation teams will find themselves relied upon to fill in some hard science and numbers expertise to their more creatively oriented colleagues, while also being able to let their own creative sides out. Whatever path you decide to follow, your math degree is an investment that can point the way to success in your life. Think about what kinds of things you enjoy, and certainly youll be able to figure out what you should do.

Finding the Right Nursing Resume Tips

Finding the Right Nursing Resume TipsWriting a great nursing resume can be challenging. Not only are there many different career options but nursing is also one of the most physically demanding fields that people enter in their lifetime. So, it's important to get the right information out in order to get a job.First and foremost, you need to develop an idea of what kind of resume you should create. Keep in mind that your resume will be used by many different individuals and companies, so it's important to make sure that you create one that is comprehensive, up-to-date, professional and extremely professional looking.The first thing you need to do is look around your home for things that you can use as a way to showcase your education and experience. It's not always easy to pick up all of the books, certificates and diplomas you need for a resume. In fact, many people find that they have more than enough when they get into college. However, you can still display them on your resume in the most professional way possible.Computer is great, especially if you are taking college courses. Having a resume on a computer screen can be a great way to show your degree of education. You may be surprised to see just how many colleges now have these types of programs available to help them attract the right people. Most employers don't want to be the one who placed them in a position where they were dealing with a poorly formatted resume.In addition to computers, there are other ways to showcase your education and experience in a tremendous amount of detail. There are many different computer programs that allow you to input information about your education and experience in chronological order. This is an extremely convenient way to display the information.There are even programs that allow you to display personal photos. There are even programs that allow you to include any awards or accomplishments you may have. Once you start looking at all of the programs available online , you can easily find a program that will accommodate your needs and keep them up to date.Make sure that your resume is impressive in every way, including your formatting. You can easily hire someone to format your resume for you, but this can be expensive. You can save a lot of money and time by yourself.When it comes to great nursing resumes, it's important to make sure that you choose the best way to display all of the information about your education and experience. Using software programs such as these is the easiest and fastest way to get everything up to date. You can easily save money and time with the programs that are available.

Treat Your Search Like a Real Job

Treat Your Search Like a Real Job Job search requires discipline and structure. You have to treat is as if it is your full time job. Hanging around the house wont cut it, there are too many distractions. GET OUT OF YOUR HOUSE. I cant take credit for this ideaa professional job coach recommended that job seekers find a friend with extra office space and ask if you can use it. Of course it has to be the right friend, with the right office. Just imagine the feeling if you were to actually get dressed and out of your house to report into an office. The benefits include: 1) You are holding yourself accountable 2) Your body and mind begin to develop the sense of routine they crave 3) There is a sense of self-worth 4) You will be forced to interact with other people who are working 5)You wont be distracted by household responsibilities 6) Family members wont be able to ask you to dofavors for them as easily 7) You wont be overlooked or forgotten I am sure there are other benefits too. The important part of this is that you get into a productive routine-no excuses. Heres what I bet many of you are thinkingI dont know anyone with extra office space or I am embarrassed to ask. Get over it, of course you dont know and are embarrassed. Just start asking. It is a small favor to ask of those who truly care about you. Just ask! IF, and this is a last resort, you cant find space, where else could you go? The library, the coffee shop, identify a spot and use it as your new office! Pack your laptop, cell phone and charger, office supplies and take off!

How to Become an Industry Disrupter - lessons from Transportation Startups

How to Become an Industry Disrupter - lessons from Transportation Startups Did you have the idea for Lyft when you were out late looking for a cab one night, or maybe you wanted to go out with friends but none of you wanted to drive? Do you seem to have the knack for coming up with the next industry disruptive idea and then watching it grow to national prominence, only to regret not coming up with it yourself? These days it seems like everyone gets around in a different way, whether its by traditional means, ridesharing, car sharing, or even scootering! These industry disruptors began as startups and quickly changed the way we get around major cities and sometimes even small towns. Theyre called industry disruptors because of they tend to impact other industries, the way Lyft changed how taxis operate. Lately, these new modes of transportation have impacted three key industries: public transportation, taxi and limbo services, and of course, the automotive industry. First, breaking down the immense projected profits of ridesharing companies should be solid motivation to glean as much as you can from this. One thing that might be good to keep in mind is that while there might seem like a natural evolution in an industry, let’s not forget the lessons that can be learned from laser disks, blue ray players, and betamax machines. Just because something seems a little better, doesn’t mean that consumers actually want it. Instead, it’s crucial to look at user experience for inspiration.There is a specific connection between customer pain points and how these innovations come about. Whether the issue is cost, in the case of car purchasing or convenience, or incorporating existing tech more effectively, there is precedent that will teach you how best to approach your next idea. In the following visual, we break down startups and their impact as an  industry disruptor  and transportation startup. And while some industries may not survive these innov ative periods that change how people view transportation, others turn to investing into it. For example, looking at  Toyota, they adapted to the rideshare industry by investing in Uber and Grab, both of which received billions in funding overall and proved to be immediate successes. So, if you have one key takeaway here, its that if you cant beat them, join them!