From Banking to Helping Entrepreneurs

From Banking to Helping Entrepreneurs Success Story > From: Job To: Solopreneur From Banking to Helping Entrepreneurs “The corporate environment was stifling.” * From Banking to Helping Entrepreneurs Ever feel that you're simply not cut out for the work you're in? Natalie Robinson had always wanted to run her own business, but didn't know where to start. Then, a week-long company retreat woke her up and propelled her into action. Here's her story. What work were you doing previously? I worked in corporate banking. I started in the Finance team, then moved to Treasury and finally Institutional Banking before quitting to start my own business. What are you doing now? Now I'm the founder of a company called Mum's Garage. We teach people how to execute on ideas and develop businesses that enable meaningful work and a positive impact. Our product is an online learning and community platform. I spend most of my time working with budding entrepreneurs to help them start and grow companies. Why did you change? I always had my own ideas and aspirations to start a business; I just didn't know how to get started. So, I finished a business degree and fell into corporate banking. Although I worked with some great people, banking wasn't for me. The corporate environment was stifling and I didn't find the work fulfilling. I had many ideas that I wanted to make happen. So, after four years I quit to focus on starting my own business. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I had the opportunity to attend a week-long leadership camp, which the company I was working for at the time kindly sent me along to. During that time I was immersed in an environment of interesting, entrepreneurial people. It was one of the first times I'd experienced an environment and community like that. It snapped me out of my current world and I realised that I couldn't keep going on the path I was heading down. Are you happy with the change? Yes. A hundred times, yes. What do you miss and what don't you miss? At times, I miss not having a stable income. Starting a business can be hard and stressful, especially when you're responsible for paying other people. So, I have appreciation for the peace of mind that a 9â€"5 job provides. But at the same time, that's what I love about running your own business. The value that you receive is driven by the decisions you make, by what you create with the resources you have. What I don't miss is having to conform to a culture I don't align with, and doing work that utilises a very small portion of my capabilities. How did you go about making the shift? I saved enough money to last six months without needing to find another source of income. While I was working I also invested in programmes and learning opportunities to help prepare myself for starting a business. I found people who could hold me accountable to taking action on my ideas and who were also working on starting their own businesses. I handed in my notice which meant I had to figure out what I was doing within six weeks before my job ended. This forced a lot of things into action. What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take? I have taken a lot of wrong turns, but fortunately I haven't yet taken any that I haven't been able to correct. I'm a 'yes' person, so I've said yes to far too many things for far too long, which has meant that the business hasn't grown as fast as I'd intended. But at the same time, I have learnt far more than I could have imagined along the way, which adds to the value of what we do. And I haven't focused enough on making or acquiring money, so growing has taken longer than expected. But at the same time, I'm happy with where we are right now, and the trajectory we're on, so maybe we're on a better pathway because of it. How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible? As I mentioned earlier, I saved enough money to last six months (on a very strict budget). This meant I didn't have to get another job, and I was able to invest in opportunities to develop myself and learn more about starting a business. I've also taken on some part-time work along the way, as needed. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Making the decision to do it. It took me a long time to get to that point. If I think back on it, I knew very early on that banking wasn't for me, I just didn't know how to go about making the change. So, I took the easier path of changing roles within the bank, hoping that I would find the job that satisfied me. But I was looking in the wrong place. What help did you get? Before I quit I joined another programme to learn about starting a business. The best thing about that was connecting with like-minded people. That made a big difference. It was also the first time I'd invested a decent amount of money in myself, which committed me to the journey. I also had a mindset coach for a period, which was a big help in the early stages. Mindset is a very important part of starting your own business. What have you learnt in the process? I think the most interesting things I've learnt all stem back to human behaviour and what drives us. We're highly adaptive and most of our decisions are driven by an innate survival instinct. Many people are brought up in an environment that promotes a 9â€"5 job as the pathway to success, and that's if they're lucky. To risk losing that by doing something dramatically different is a scary thing. So, people continue to exist as they are, in jobs, relationships, and situations that make them unhappy. I've learnt that personal development and, in many cases, success come from being able to take action despite the fear. This is what successful entrepreneurs become good at. Initially it's about just taking a very small step â€" maybe going along to an event that interests you, even if you don't know anyone else going. The next step might be talking to people about your ideas or passions. Then it might be talking to the people who could be your customers. These small steps when compounded can make a dramatic difference to how a person lives their life and what they're able to accomplish. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Get help. There will be many people who have been in a similar position to you, or organisations that have built products to solve the problems that you're facing. Use them, and don't be afraid of investing in yourself. You are your own greatest asset, so give yourself the time and resources you need to be able to take the next step towards where you want to get to. What resources would you recommend to others? As a general resource, I recommend Quora for finding answers to some of your problems, and YouTube for the same reason. When I started out, I watched a lot of Alan Watts YouTube videos, which I highly recommend if you're trying to figure yourself out. To find out more about Natalie's business, visit www.mumsgarage.com. What lessons could you take from Natalie's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Work Force Resume Writing - How to Improve Your Chances of Success

Work Force Resume Writing - How to Improve Your Chances of SuccessIf you are looking for ways to improve your chances of landing a new job in your field, working on your work force resume writing can be quite helpful. With some of the tips that you learn, you can increase your chances of success in this area. Take a look at some of the tips that you can use when you are doing your resume writing. These are sure to help.One of the first things that you need to remember is that you need to be objective when you are writing your resume. You will want to be able to write about the skills that you have that will allow you to do the job well. It may also be helpful to take a look at other resumes that you find and note which of the people who have filled out these documents has found the position that they wanted.Another tip when it comes to work force resume writing is to be realistic. You will not want to lie about something that you know to be true. You will want to keep your resume as factual as possible and you will also want to be honest with all of the information that you include.When you are doing your resume, you will want to make sure that you put the most important pieces first. This means that the most important information should be at the top of the resume. It is important to remember that there are two important sections that are used when a person is filling out their resume. One of them is the contact information, and the other one is the education section.The contact information is usually at the very top of the resume and this is where you will want to start. It is important to include your name, your title, your company name, your full address, and a phone number. Then you will want to go over the education section.You will want to highlight any awards or honors that you have received that are related to your education section. You will also want to put in the dates that these were given. The rest of the information that you include should be thi ngs that relate to your work history and job duties. Remember that you should be truthful when you are doing your resume writing.One other thing that you need to remember when you are working on your work force resume writing is that you will want to make sure that you are taking your time when you are creating your resume. You will want to be sure that you are not making up anything that you might need later on. This is especially true if you are working on your resume using a computer program.As you can see, there are a lot of ways that you can improve your chances of success when you are doing your work force resume writing. Remember that if you do everything that you can to be truthful, you will be much more likely to get hired. Use these tips and you will be much more likely to succeed in this area.

So Tell Me, What Are Your Weaknesses - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

So Tell Me, What Are Your Weaknesses - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career This is one of the most dreaded interview questions, but if you understand the reason interviewers ask it and what they’re looking to uncover, you’ll see that you can certainly prepare for it. The question about your weaknesses comes fairly soon after the interview begins and typically after such a question as, What are your accomplishments? or What are your strengths? Those two questionsâ€"if delivered correctlyâ€"let you sell yourself. They’re positive questions. Thenâ€"to contrast themâ€"comes the awkward question about weaknesses. This question is not easy for the interviewer to ask, and it’s even more difficult for most people to answer. So, what is the interviewer after? He wants to test several things: at face value, he hopes you won’t be so very honest as to provide a blatantly and hugely negative weakness that cancels your candidacy. An example would be an accountant who admits not liking working with numbers. The interviewer will also weigh whether your answer could have a potential consequence in the future. You’ll also be watched carefully to determine whether the words you say and the communication your body language conveys are aligned or are contradictory. Above all, the interviewer wants to see whether you present as an honest individual with a capability for healthy reasoning. This is probably the most important aspect of all. The reason is that a dishonest person or a person who does not exercise good judgment puts the hiring manager in danger. And that could have significant consequences not only for the candidate but also for the hiring manager, the hiring manager’s boss, and probably several others in the chain of commandâ€"all the way to the CEO, depending on the severity of the issue. Two concrete examples come to mind. The first incident happened in 2008, when a French trader at a major bank Société Général caused a loss of some $7 billion through an allegedly unauthorized trade. The trader was tried in court, but beyond that, several of his supervisors got dragged into the mess as well. The other exampleâ€"is the alleged sexual misconduct of a coach at Penn State University. The issue caused the firing of a very well-respected and long-tenured university president; the school’s head coach, Joe Paterno, who had been revered for decades and died in the meantime; and several other senior executives at the school. So, the question remains: What is a good answer? Simply put, any answer that conveys honesty and healthy reasoning is a good answer. But to make your response even better, I suggest that between hearing the question and giving your answer, you pause for three to five seconds, take your eye away from the interviewer in order to pretend that you’re thinking of a reply, and then look the interviewer in the eyes because that kind of body language projects honesty. Then you should recount an incident that happened sometime in the past and that you’ve had a chance to correct since. Then add that moreover, you’re now so good at whatever the surmounted weakness was, that others in your organization seek out your advice on this subject. Turn lemon into lemonade.

What To Do If Your Flight is Cancelled or Delayed

What To Do If Your Flight is Cancelled or Delayed When making travel plans for your next vacation, you should be prepared for the unexpected. No trip is ever perfect and flights are occasionally canceled or delayed for reasons beyond our control. If for some reason your flight is cancelled or delayed, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline or your insurance company so you will not be out the money you spent. In the EU, if your flight is delayed more than 3 hours the airline should compensate you for the time you spend waiting and any expenses you incurred. You a legally due compensation if you were flying into or out from Ireland or any country in the European Union. You could receive up to £532 in compensation depending on the length and duration of the disruption. No Coverage for Things Outside the Airline Control The EU regulations allow compensation for delays, cancellations, and otherwise disrupted travel. But it has deemed that airlines cannot be held responsible for things that are outside of their control such as severe weather, mechanical issues, air traffic delays or airline strikes. Last year thousands of flights were canceled when employees of Ryanair staged a 24-hour walkout. Strikes are, unfortunately, out of the control of the airline and although you cannot be compensated by a monetary award, you should be offered food and refreshments until the airline can find alternative transportation for you. Does Travel Insurance Cover Cancellations? Even though you can’t be compensated by the airline, you still may be able to recover your costs through your Insurance Company If your flight is canceled for any of the reason mentioned. The compensation will be equal to the amount agreed on under the policy. Cheaper coverage often will not cover delayed or missed departures. However, more comprehensive travel insurance policy from theaa.ie can insure you for all out of delayed or record bags, delayed flights and may refund you for a vacation you are not able to continue. If an airport, road, rail service, or tunnel is closed for an extended period or if public transport is down, you may be eligible to make an insurance claim to recover your costs. Some travel policies may also partly reimburse you even if you caused the delay.  What If I Need to Cancel a Flight? An unexpected event has occurred and I need to cancel my seat on the flight. Is this covered? Your travel insurance may cover you if you need to cancel a flight due to events like these: If you have been burglarized and the police request you to remain at home so they can conduct an investigation, or because of damage caused by fire or flood. Emergency service workers like police, firefighters, nurses, or ambulance techs, armed forces, or Government employees no longer able to travel because authorization has been canceled. The sudden illness of you, your traveling companion, the person you were going to stay with during your trip, or a close relative. You have a court appearance or are scheduled for jury service If you are traveling for a job in another country and the position is no longer available. Where should I File a Claim? Your first step in seeking compensation for delays and disruption should be the airlines. If the flight is canceled and no attempt is made to re-route you or re-book at a different time, they are required to compensate you. Your travel insurance policy could also reimburse you for additional expenses that were incurred because of the delays.   You can be reimbursed for food, transportation, and hotel accommodations. Travel insurance can help you recover your costs when the airline won’t. However, you can’t purchase travel disruption coverage after the fact. It is like closing the barn door after the horse ran away, it does you no good. So, if you do not currently have travel disruption cover, call your insurance representative and ask to have it added to your policy. It may take a week or more to take effect, so be sure to add it before the next time you plan to travel.

Core Competencies Resume Writing

Core Competencies Resume WritingOne of the important things in core competencies is that they should be based on one's talents and capabilities. An individual may possess many talents and abilities, but because of limited knowledge, talents and abilities will not be utilized to their fullest. When seeking a new job, it is imperative that you identify the core competencies that you have, as they will help determine which type of position or opportunity you are seeking.In core competencies, you will find knowledge and skills in six areas. Some of these areas include: technical proficiency, interpersonal skills, communication, commitment, motivation, and decision making. You will also find that these are in addition to the four areas of experience. All skills, talents, knowledge and abilities must be applied in order to meet the demands of the job.Core competencies are important because they are crucial to gaining employment. This is because a good candidate does not just apply their ab ilities to a given task, but rather uses them in a way that makes them stand out from the competition. The companies who are hiring will recognize these individuals as valuable assets. Employees who demonstrate expertise and ability in their field are often more desired by the company. This is because they will bring skills to the table that the company is missing.There are some important qualities that are required to get jobs that cover core competencies. These characteristics include; patience, self-discipline, critical thinking, attention to detail, time management, ability to manage time, personal goals, and self-confidence. The employee must be able to identify problems and fix them. They must also be able to understand and interpret what they read. It is essential for them to be able to communicate effectively.It is essential that the resume be written in such a way that they can be used by someone who does not have a background in the office or who does not own office equipm ent. The first thing that you need to do is to identify the job that you wish to seek. You must consider your own interests, goals, talents and skills. The core competencies resume writing will be based on this.This is the most important step in the process because you will want to know what information you need to include in your resume. While some employees may need to include a list of all their prior jobs, this is not the case for every employee. You must determine your needs and then incorporate these needs into your resume.Core competencies are different from other resume writing programs. They have a different format. The interviewers in the companies want to know if the person will fit in well with the environment they are creating. They will want to know how you will carry yourself during the interview, and how well you will be able to communicate with the other employees.Core competencies are important because they are very different from regular resume writing programs. T hey will give you an edge over the competition because you will be providing them with information that they cannot get from another resume writer. What you must do before you write your core competencies resume writing is to carefully research the company that you are working for. They will want to know what your core competencies are and how you will be able to contribute to the company.

Job Search Is Social

Job Search Is Social The key to a successful job search is being open to new ideas and meeting new people!   Job search is social! And these arent just trends in job search. In the world of work and in our personal lives, we are more connected than ever before. You can’t run a job search (or career or business) in a vacuum.   You need to evolve and embrace new ideas. Here are four ways to think about your job search differently…socially. Learning Learn what you don’t know from those who hold a position or work for a company you are interested in. Learn about new job search techniques and strategies, learn new technology and in-demand skills! Be a life-long learner! (Learn ways you can keep your skills fresh here).   As you learn new things, you will feel more confident and you will be able to add value to future conversations. Sharing Stop being stingy with your intellectual property. SHARE. Sharing is caring. You dont have to give away everything you know, but be helpful, share resources or be a resource. Your knowledge is valuable, but only if you are willing to share it. Youll face two problems. First, who needs your expertise and second, how will you get it out there? Lets address the second issue. Here are a couple of ways for you to start building awareness of your expertise. 1. Write about what you know This could be starting your own blog, writing an eBook, commenting on blogs, or even writing a book review on Amazon. You could even try writing about what you know on LinkedIn. (Learn how to get that started writing a LinkedIn Long Post here) 2. Speak about what you know Give a presentation to a professional association or group.   Make your slides public on  Slideshare. (Learn more about the power of SlideShare here). And if you do decide to write or present, update your LinkedIn profile and include a status update! Showing samples of your work proves  you have the skills and expertise you claim.    LinkedIn becomes your online portfolio. Business isn’t Competitive. It is Collective! Think about Open Source software, Wikipedia, and online forums. These solutions are open and collective.   People freely provide their expertise and knowledge to HELP OTHERS. Why do people give away information for free? It helps build awareness of their expertise, helps people, it could lead to future business. People do business with people they know, like and trust! The same is true for hiring employees. Space and Time (zones) No Longer Limit Joining forces with the global community is possible, even easy, with social networking and social media. Join forces with like-minded individuals scattered across the world. Not only does this help with your job search, these global forums also allow you to solve work-related problems in a flash! Find your tribe! You can do this through: Twitter chats (How To Use Twitter Chats) LinkedIn groups (3 Ways to Use LinkedIn groups) Even Facebook groups (How To Use Facebook groups) The Sum Is Greater than Its Parts Work together with other job seekers. Learn and share with each other. Youve experienced the power of collaboration in work! Teamwork can be inspiring and motivating! Tap into local resources and meet IRL (in real life) to grow and foster your network and job search efforts. What I know and have seen first hand is that those job seekers who engage in a group to hold themselves accountable are always far more successful (meaning they find a job faster) than those who go it alone. Nothing takes the place of face-to-face interactions, like job clubs. However, you can supplement in-person experiences by joining LinkedIn discussion groups and Twitter chats designed to help job seekers. Keep Learning and Be Social So my hope is that you will want to build a collective job search strategy. Remember, job search is social! Step into new territory and learn from others. Share your expertise. And work collaboratively!

The Biggest Resume Mistake You Dont Realize Youre Making

The Biggest Resume Mistake You Dont Realize Youre Making The Biggest Resume Mistake You Don’t Realize You’re Making LinkedIn Profiles / Resume Writing There are hundreds, if not thousands, of articles on resume do’s and don’ts. Make sure there are no misspelled words or typos, Take out the Objective Statement. Put in a Summary Statement. Don’t forget to include complete contact information. I’ve probably written over a dozen myself. However, there is one resume mistake that many job seekers make without realizing. It’s one that can raise questions with a potential employer. People don’t write about it as often. Although it’s easy to avoid. The resume mistake is inconsistency. Your first introduction to 99% of recruiters and potential employers is either your resume or LinkedIn profile. If a recruiter sourcing you LinkedIn likes what he or she sees they will contact you and ask for your resume. If you send in a resume, an interested recruiter or potential employer will check out your LinkedIn profile. They are looking for a lot of things. Additional information. Some insight into your personality. Maybe how you like to spend your free time. What they are not hoping to find are inconsistencies. While it’s true that your resume and LinkedIn profiles should not be mirror images of each other. Everything lifted word for word from one document to another. However, current and previous employers, job titles, and dates of employment should be the same. Many people keep a running record of their work history on LinkedIn. If they start at ABC Company as a webmaster, move to marketing associate, and get promoted to marketing manager it’s all documented on their LinkedIn profile. Unfortunately, when it comes to writing their resume they “lump” all the jobs with ABC Company under their current, and likely most prestigious title. This is bad for a number of reasons. First, it makes employers wonder if this is an honest mistake or if you are trying to hide something. Not a good thing. Second, indicating that you held one position at ABC Company, even if it may be the highest position, shows lack of career advancement. That doesn’t look good either. Finally, it doesn’t show that you’ve grown over the years, taken on additional responsibilities, and met, or exceeded, expectations during your tenure. It doesn’t tell a career story. So if you’re thinking that an employer will be more impressed by eight years as marketing manager instead of how your rose through the ranks think again. Also, if employers spot inconsistencies they may wonder what else they will find. Raising suspicions isn’t the ideal way to begin any relationship. Why would it be different with a potential employer?