8 Ways to Make a Great Impression at a Networking Event

8 Ways to Make a Great Impression at a Networking Event Whether youre looking for a new job, or seeking business opportunities, networking events are a great way to create contacts in the industry. Theres no use in attending an event if all you do is spend your time  checking out the array of refreshments on offer, without actually speaking to anyone. In order to make it worth your time, you have to focus on making a great first impression that people will remember you for. So how can you go about making a good impression that will stick in peoples minds? 1) Do your research Its always a good idea to do a bit of research ahead of an event, so that you can  build an idea of who you would like to hear speak and anyone in particular you would be interested in introducing yourself to. An itinerary will usually be issued ahead of time, so you can make a plan  before attending. You can often get a rough idea about who will also be attending by checking out the Facebook event page if there is one, or by conducting a search across social media to see who has been talking about it. Once you have made a list of a few individuals you would most like to meet, you will know who to keep an eye out for on the day. 2) Have business cards at the ready If you dont already have business cards, get some made up. It will come across as far more professional if you can offer people you meet a card with your details  listed, rather than scrabbling about trying to write them down on a piece of paper or tapping away at your phone in a frenzy. Make sure that you have enough with you to last the day and exchange cards with anyone that you would be interested in maintaining contact with.  A business card will also work as a little reminder that they have met you after the event. 3) Prepare  an elevator pitch When you meet people at a networking event, theyre going to want to hear who you are and what you do in a nutshell. To make sure that you introduce yourself properly, come up with  a short elevator pitch including all the most important information about yourself that you can tell people upon meeting them. 4) Present yourself smartly Though people say you shouldnt judge a book by its cover, in a professional setting the way that somebody chooses to present themselves can tell a lot about their attitude. This doesnt just refer to your outfit, but also your personal grooming and hygiene. If a dress code has been stated, its important that you  adhere to it. If not, think about what type of event it is,  the nature of your industry and what you think that your clients would expect you to wear. If  in doubt, its better to show up slightly over dressed than looking scruffy. 5) Be aware of your body language Networking events can be a daunting experience and its natural to feel a bit nervous, but try your best to conceal any discomfort. Crossed arms can come across as a bit back offish; whereas an open stance and good posture can automatically give you an air of confidence and make you more approachable. Smiling and making eye contact with people around the room will also work wonders! 6) Show interest in people Nobody wants to have a conversation with someone who is just going to go on and on about themselves for the entire time. Be a good listener and ask them thoughtful questions that will get them speaking. Once you get someone chatting about a topic they are really passionate about, they will light up! You dont need to keep conversation strictly about business, as connecting with somebody on a more personal level is often what will make them remember you. 7) Give them a reason to remember you People will meet dozens of others at networking events, so its your job to differentiate yourself from the others. Clearly define what it is that you do best and be enthusiastic when talking about your work, as people want to work with individuals who are passionate about what they do. Ask what you can do for them, as they are likely to remember you after the event if you can benefit them in some way. 8) Follow up Within a couple of days of meeting them, connect with everyone you met on LinkedIn and send them a quick note via email or LinkedIn to let them know what a pleasure it was to meet them. If you said youd do something for them make sure you stick to your word and act on it before you forget. [Image Credit: Shutterstock]

A Brokes (a.k.a. Students) Guide to Survival

A Broke’s (a.k.a. Students) Guide to Survival While college graduates typically feel proud and relieved once they successfully earn their degrees, the stress of finding a job in a recessed economy often puts a damper on things. Since it takes an average of six months for new graduates to find jobs, maintaining a frugal lifestyle can be the difference between surviving and starving. Heres a few money saving tips to follow while you search for a job. Set Up a Personal Budget Make a list that includes all of your monthly living expenses such as cell phone payments, rent, student loan payments, internet service, groceries, cable and car payments or transportation fees. Categorize each monthly expense as either a necessity or a luxury. Get Rid of the Luxuries Make a commitment to live without those nice little luxuries until you find a job. Get rid of your cable service and watch movies and your favorite programs on your computer. Forget going to the movie theater to see the latest blockbuster and split the cost of a DVD rental to watch at home with your friends. Ditch the gym membership and work out at home. Make your coffee at home instead of stopping off at a coffee shop. Cutting out all of the little luxuries will add up to a big chunk of savings. Now that youre saving money on the small stuff, put money in a savings account to start your emergency fund. Save on the Necessities Look at your list of necessary expenses and determine how you can cut costs. Shop around to find less expensive rates on car insurance, cell phone and internet service. Consider moving in with your parents to save on rent. If living with your parents isnt a viable option, find an affordable apartment that you can share with roommates. Although those two options might seem like youre taking a step back, saving money on rent is one of the most mature, financially frugal decisions youll make. Clip coupons and use them at the grocery store. For even more savings, keep an eye on the store circulars and match your coupons with sales. Stock up on products you use regularly when they reach rock bottom prices. Make Your Own Meals It might not sound like much fun to job hunt all day and then go home to prepare and cook a meal. Eating out can put a serious dent in your wallet, however. Learn how to make at least five simple, inexpensive meals and cook a weeks worth of dinners at once. Store the extra meals in your freezer until you need them. Put Away Your Credit Cards A majority of college graduates already possess at least one credit card. Although it might be tempting to live on your credit cards while job hunting, this isnt the time to be pushing all of your limits to the max. Bear in mind that every time you flash that little piece of plastic, you put yourself in more debt. Start an Emergency Fund With all of the money youve been saving, consider starting your own emergency fund. After youve graduated, youre considered part of the real world, which unfortunately comes with real life problems. An emergency fund allows you to be prepared for unexpected emergencies such as car repairs or medical bills. Fortunately, many college students develop frugal spending habits during the course of their studies. Now all youve got to do is amp up your frugality just a bit and you should survive while you look for your first real job. ________________________________________________________________________________________

9 Best Resume Writing Services in Miami, FL

9 Best Resume Writing Services in Miami, FL If you live in the Miami area, you know that life isn’t all about what tourists may think: sun, sand, and strawberry daiquiris. In fact, you may have already learned the hard truth of the matter:The job market is pretty darn tough.Like, really tough.And we don’t say that to scare you.We say that because we get it.It’s absolutely critical to position yourself as wonderful as possible in order to show hiring managers that you’re proficient at your job. (Or in the case of transitioning jobs, you’ll want to show that you’re proficient in horizontally relevant tasks.)Stop stressing and start searching.Not for a new job in this case. (At least, not yet.) We’re talking about searching for a Miami resume writer that will make the search for a job easier.Our list of the best resume writers Miami has to offer will provide you with access to experts who will take the efficiency of your resume to new heights.Best Resume Services in MiamiIf you are in a hurry and don't want to read our detailed reviews below, here is a list of the Best Resume Writers in Miami:Find My Profession (that's us!) Expert Business Professional Services Higher You Resume Karma Get A Job Resume Write The Resume LilyPad Resumes Refresh Your Step Miami Career CounselingAnd now for the detailed reviews...1. Find My ProfessionFind My Profession is not just a top-notch resume service available in Miami. We are a global company headquartered in the US on a mission to master effective, ATS compatible resumes that convert into offers.A major perk of Find My Profession is that we are not a one-person shop.Collectively, our team of elite resume writers has experience in 85+ unique industries/professions. This allows us to assign you a professional writer (in the United States) based on your unique background and experience.We are also not a resume factory. We will never use “ghostwriters”. You will have your resume writer’s name, email, and phone number for direct communication.With 100+ 5 -star reviews and a 60-day interview guarantee thatspeaks for itself, you can sleep easy knowing that your satisfaction is our #1 priority.Pros:Find My Profession commits to working with each client until they are completely satisfied. Don’t worry about having a limited number of edits, or a set amount of time with your writer.Cons:Find My Profession is a virtual/online company. While we provide services in your city, we don’t have a physical office.Also, with a focus on more senior positions, our entry-level resume service may be a bit pricey for recent graduates.Turnaround: 3-5 business days. Can expedite to 2 business days.Cost: $395-$895Phone: (831) 888-0967Don't take our word for it, check out some of our 5-star reviews.Trustpilot2. Expert Business Professional ServicesExpert Business Professional Services scores high on our list because of their high scores. (You see what we did there?) Wordplay aside, this Miami resume writing service brands itself as “more than creat ive writers.” They design “custom, strategic marketing tools.” While that may seem strange for a resume writing service, it actually makes a ton of sense. Your resume serves as a way for you to market yourself; therefore, you should do so as strategically as possible.Pros: Expert Business Professional Services breaks down exactly which fields they specialize in. From military to IT to federal, their Miami resume writers can tackle resumes for a variety of industries.Cons: Although they list some industries that they specialize in very specifically, there are many common job categories â€" like marketing and education just to name a couple â€" that are left out. This raises the question of whether or not they can aptly write resumes in unmentioned fields.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: $199-$999Phone number: (954) 236-95583. Higher YouHigher You understands how you may be feeling during your job search. You’re job hunting, applying for said jobs, preparing for interviews, only to rinse and repeat. Combine that with the time and attention needed to craft a great resume and cover letter, and there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. Higher You is a Miami resume writing service that aims to take the burden off your shoulders in that area. When everything’s said and done, who knows? You may end up hired.Pros: Higher You specializes in resume writing, so you know they’re good at what they do. Additionally, they write cover letters and LinkedIn profiles, meaning you can get many services at one time if you’d like.Cons: They offer resume writing services for students, which not all Miami resume writers on this list do. However, services start at $99 for a simple student resume. For an all-inclusive package to really get you hired, students will have to cough up $249.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: $99-$550Phone number: (305) 709-57764. Resume KarmaResume Karma goes by a strong adage: “Opportunities don’t happen; you create them.” And how do you cre ate professional opportunities? With a resume that knocks hiring managers’ socks off and catches their attention right away. Resume Karma is a Miami resume writing service that can do just that. Thanks to their great reviews from past clients, you can rest assured that you’ll be receiving a solid resume.Pros: Resume Karma lists the plethora of industries for which they can write resumes. The list is quite long, so chances are they can write a resume for your profession.Cons: Their website is cluttered with what is perhaps too much information, and the turnaround time for services â€" which is an important question for potential clients â€" is unclear.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: $199-$699Phone number: (954) 918-24215. Get A Job ResumeGet A Job Resume has a consistent reputation for putting out high-quality work. It’s that consistency that has earned them a spot on our list of the top 9 resume writers Miami has to offer. Their writers are in the Professional Association of Resu me Writers and Career Coaches, so you know that you’re working with professionals. With an average customer review rating of 4.7, their reputation in the industry is growing stronger by the day.Pros: Get A Job Resume is an affordable resume service, which makes them an attractive option for job hunters who are strapped for cash.Cons: Their website offers an upcharge â€" although it’s a small one, at $1.95 â€" to receive a list of the top 9 job search sites. It may not seem like a big deal, but it’s basic information that some competitors offer for free (directly on their website).Turnaround: 5 days. A 3-day rush fee is an additional $20 and a 24-hour rush fee is an additional $50.Cost: $89.95Phone number: (877) 509-53356. Write The ResumeWrite The Resume is a Miami born and bred resume writing service. If you’re looking to work one-on-one with a resume writer in the Miami area, Write The Resume can provide you with that personalized service. They are building up a reputation and slowly accumulating customer reviews, so you’d be supporting a business from the ground floor.Pros: Write The Resume is one of the more affordable Miami resume writers that we’ve included on this list. This makes them a great option for job seekers on a budget.Cons: They don’t have as many reviews as some of their counterparts. However, the reviews they do have are great. It’s also worth noting that the 24-hour rush service that they offer is solely based on availability. That means they could be a small business without a lot of manpower.Turnaround: 4-5 business days. 24-hour rush service available.Cost: $119-$259Phone number: (786) 287-16967. LilyPad ResumesLilyPad Resumes is owned by Chris Savoie, a marketing professional who boasts having never been unemployed for more than 30 days. It’s this experience, he says, that allows him to craft resumes and cover letters that help job seekers get hired. Although LilyPad Resumes is a one-man Miami resume writing service, C hris only takes one client per day in order to provide personalized service.Pros: Chris strives to respond to all client inquiries within 24 hours, which is helpful if you have questions prior to ordering his services. Perhaps more impressive is that LilyPad resumes has a 60-day guarantee; Chris ensures you’ll receive twice as many interviews with your new resume â€" or you’ll get a free rewrite. Beware, however, that subjective guarantees like “2x more interviews” can be filled with loopholes.Cons: With a 7-day lead time, Resumes By Lily may not be the best Miami resume writing service for job hunters who are crunched for time.Turnaround: 7 days.Cost: $160+Phone number: (204) 960-68958. Refresh Your StepRefresh Your Step offers career consulting to clients who want to improve their career potential. They offer services ranging from college students and recent grads all the way up to C-suite professionals. On the Refresh Your Step website there is also a blog with some posts to help potential clients with job search 101.Pros: If you need career coaching and consulting to provide you with a more holistic view of succeeding in your career, you may like this one-stop-shop.Cons: Executive resumes start at $999, so there are more affordable executive resume writing packages on this list. Refresh Your Step clients have the ability to work with “triple certified Master Resume Writer” Emily Kapit, but explicitly says that the cost will be even higher.Turnaround: 3-5 business days.Cost: $299-$999 and upPhone number: (646) 239-04409. Miami Career CounselingMiami Career Counseling hosts Miami resume writers that are housed â€" professionally, of course â€" in the heart of the city. The firm is led by Dr. Kristen A Tolbert, EdD, LMHC, who serves as a corporate psychotherapist and executive career and performance coach.Pros: Miami Career Counseling offers resume development, yes, but they also offer services like “career reinvention” and “career discovery ” for people who want to pivot in their career(s) and/or are unsure where to go next.Cons: Without answering some basic questions like turnaround time and cost, their website leaves potential clients guessing.Turnaround: Not stated.Cost: Not stated.Phone number: (954) 591-8526This List Serves The Following Areas Near Miami, Florida:Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Naples, Marco Island, Key West, Homestead, Doral, Hialeah, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Port St. Lucie, Belle Glade, Clewiston, Doral, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Aventura, HomesteadBest Executive Resume ServiceNot worried about finding a local company? Want to work with the best of the best? Check out the Best Executive Resume Services.Best Resume Writing ServicesBy Major CityBelow you will find a handful of lists on all of the top-rated resume writing services we could find.Whether you are looking for a local resume writeror you just want to work with a trusted online resume service, these lists should help you find what you are looking for.Allentown Hartford Portland Atlanta Houston Providence Austin Indianapolis Richmond Boston Jacksonville Sacramento Bridgeport Kansas City Salt Lake City Buffalo Las Vegas San Antonio Charleston Los Angeles San Diego Charlotte Memphis San Francisco Chicago Miami San Jose Colorado Springs Milwaukee Seattle Columbus Minneapolis Silicon Valley Dallas Nashville St. Louis Denver New Orleans Tampa Detroit New York Tucson El Paso Orlando Ventura Fort Worth Philadelphia Virginia Beach Grand Rapids Phoenix Washington D.C.

Female Leadership The Career Confidence Workshop - Classy Career Girl

Female Leadership The Career Confidence Workshop Today we are diving into the career satisfaction and confidence modules of our Female Leadership Academy. If you want to be more confident as a leader at work, this podcast will guide you through the necessary self-reflection questions to help you achieve the success you want. This training is a sneak peek of our Love Your Career Formula membership site. We are currently not open to new members but you can add your name to the waitlist to be notified when we re-open. Click play below or  right click here and save link as  to download or subscribe on iTunes  here on this link: If you are enjoying our podcast, please leave us a review on iTunes! It would mean the world. Thank you! Female Leadership Academy Career Confidence Workshop This is the proven formula that I have taught to professional women over and over again. These are the keys that you need to know to achieve that success that you really want in your career. There are little tweaks that you can apply to your career to make you even happier than where you are now. If you’re satisfied with your career, you are going to be more confident, you’re going to be a more successful leader, and you’ll get noticed and get promoted to the next level faster. That’s why career satisfaction leads into every other step that we do later on in the Female Leadership Academy. 1. Your Career Vision Think about these questions: -What is your dream career? -Where do you see yourself? -Where do you want to go as a female leader? -What type of position do you want to have? -How many people do you want to manage? -What type of company do you want to be a manager in? -What type of manager do you want to be? You have to start with these questions because really anything is possible. Your potential is unlimited but you have to see it and you have to believe that it can really happen. Often we think the here and now and only our day-day work. We all have to have the ideal vision in our mind for it to ultimately become a reality. What’s your goal? What is your purpose for your career? You can’t get there if you don’t know what you want. For this month, think about who those amazing leaders are that you have had in your career. Most likely, you have had great leaders and great mentors that have really helped you become who you are today. What characteristics do they have? Were they happy? Your Female Leadership Role Models Looking back your previous managers, identify some of those strengths and weaknesses that each of them had. Separate the female and the male manager’s strengths and weaknesses. Law of Attraction Everything coming in your life, you are attracting. You have to make it clear in your mind what you want because you attract what you think about most. Thoughts become things. If you focus on what you want, you’ll get more of it. If you focus on what you don’t want, you’ll get more of it. Recommendation: Create a vision board or a vision journal. [RELATED: How To Create a Vision Board] Gratitude This is important. When you aren’t grateful, you won’t receive more in return and to receive you have to give. Ungratefulness is taking the things in your life for granted. Don’t focus on anything negative about your job. You want to be grateful for your job instead. If you’re grateful for the job you have, things will begin to change so you enjoy your job and new opportunities will appear. People who practice gratitude have closer relationships, are more connected socially and are looked upon more favorably. Count your blessings. When you’re grateful for the things you have, no matter how small they may be, you’ll see those things instantly increase. The more gratitude you will feel the happier you will be. 2. Career Satisfaction -Happy leaders outperform less happy leaders. -Happier people make more effective leaders. -Happier people are viewed as more assertive and self-confident. Successful leaders have an extraordinary capacity for gratitude and appreciation that fosters happiness. Their contributions make life better for not only themselves, but for many others as well. These individuals find happiness in succeeding with those around them. They really appreciate what they do. They like their work and they like the people that they work with. 9 different aspects that affect your career satisfaction: Interest Motivations Purpose Ideal Workday Favorite skills Personality Career Situation â€" what you like and don’t like now Your Values Your ideal work environment 3. Confidence in Female Leadership Many women don’t realize all the accomplishments they’ve had, all the great things that they’ve done. Women so deeply competent in their skills but so deeply lacking confidence in them. Realize that you already are an effective leader! Focus on what you’re doing right instead of what you’re lacking. Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses. At some point, you must take a look at your skills and strengths and believe them. You have to give yourself that gift you have worked so very hard. So you must acknowledge yourself and give yourself the gift of confidence. Impostor Syndrome Many high achieving females tend to believe that they were not intelligent and they were over evaluated by others. Meaning they felt like impostors or someone’s going to find me out! Listen to the bonus audio: The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women by Dr. Valerie Young Powerful women are both confident and competent! Make sure you routinely acknowledge yourself at work!

7 Steps to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent CareerMetis.com

7 Steps to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent â€" CareerMetis.com Adobe Stock- Licensed ImageThe real estate industry pulls in thousands of people every year. Why? It’s a career in which you can earn tons of money and become highly successful as you sell families their dream homes. And the average real estate agent makes over $47,000 a year. Knowing that, you can see why so many people would want to become one!If showing houses and finding homes for families sounds like a career path for you, then you should consider becoming a real estate agent. However, it does take some time and a lot of dedication to get yourself established in the industry. In fact, roughly only 20 percentof new real estate agents continue after their second year. The rest quit because they’re likely making no money.Don’t let that statistic scare you away, though. Becoming not just a real estate agent, but a successful one, is doable. With the right guidance and the willingness to put in the work, you can make your way up the ladder to becoming one of the best agents in your area.evalTake a look at some of the following steps you should take if you want to become a successful real estate agent.1. Weigh the Benefits and the RisksevalBefore you dive into any courses or purchase your license, you should first weigh up the risks and rewards of being a real estate agent. Becoming one is not a cheap task. Many fees are non-negotiable, including your license to sell homes. You’ll have to provide the money to do all the courses and pay any fees required, not to mention any spending you’ll need to do to sell a house.Decide if the costs and risks of becoming a real estate agent are worth the potential income You cannot simply watch a video on becoming a real estate agent and then start selling houses. There are licenses you must acquire and, again, each state will be different. There likely will be a pre-licensing courseâ€"which can be up to $300â€"that you must complete. This course will teach you the principles of what it means to be a real estate agen t. You’ll have to complete a certain number of training hours provided by a certified institution.Once you’ve done everything needed for the pre-licensing course, you can start working towards the licensing examination. The exam will likely have two partsâ€"one for federal real estate laws and the other for laws specific to your location. Each part could have anywhere between 60 and 100 multiple-choice questions.eval5. Get Your LicenseOnce you’ve completed your training and passed your licensing exam, it’s time to get everything together and get your license. You must do this before you begin engaging with the public. There is a cost to activating your real estate license, and it again varies from state to state. It averages, though, between $200 and $400.After you have obtained your license, you’ll want to become a member of your local multiple listing service. This service is the way that you list properties, so it’s essential that you become a member. The downside, ho wever, is that in some states the annual fee can be over $1,000.6. Look into Being a Realtor ®evalIt’s quite common to use the terms Realtor ®and real estate agent interchangeably. However, there are significant differences between the two that you should consider. A Realtor ®is a member of the National Association of Realtors. If you have this membership, it adds to your credibility, as well as providing many perks and benefits.A Realtor ®has access to more educational opportunities, discount programs, different business tools and market data, as well as many other things that make the job desirable. It also gives you access to an online database that has public records for millions of properties. So, you should consider if becoming a Realtor ®is worth it for you.7. Team Up with a BrokerageJoining a brokerage is not a step you can skip. It is legally required for a new real estate agent to work under the supervision of a broker.Brokers are people that the state licenses to overse e all real estate transactions, as well as ensuring that real estate agents are adhering to all of their state laws and standards. Don’t expect a reasonable hourly wage. Chances are that the brokerage will only pay you commission based on your sales.Every brokerage is different, but all are eager to sign on new real estate agents. It tends to come at little or no cost to the company. You will likely have to front the costs for almost everything you need to conduct business. So, shop around for a brokerage that works best for you.Being a real estate agent can be a rewarding career. Another advantageous aspect is that your hours are somewhat flexible and you can work as little or as much as you want to. With this said, though, it’s important to weigh the cost and time needed to become a real estate agent with all of the perks. You want to ensure that after you make the investment, you will enjoy your new career path.