10 hobbies you can do at home (without breaking the bank)

10 hobbies you can do at home (without breaking the bank) by Amber Rolfe Suddenly found yourself with extra time on your hands?If so, now could be the ideal time to take up a new hobby or revisit a past passion. By choosing the right hobby you could save yourself money, have fun, learn something new and boost your career prospects.  To help you make the most of your free time, we’ve put together a list of 10 great hobbies that you can start today:Learn a languageLearning a language can be a fun and practical way to boost your career prospects not to mention enhance your communication skills on your next holiday.  Not sure which language to choose? You might not have to decide on just one. For example, this three-course European Languages bundle allows you to learn the basics of French, German, and Spanish, in just 30 hours.  Alternatively, you could challenge your reliance on speech by learning British Sign Language. An estimated 151,000 people in the UK are using BSL, and a British Sign Language course could give you all the bas ic skills you need to communicate with them.  View all language courses  Start creative writing  If you’ve got a way with words, creative writing could be the right hobby for you.  As well as being a fun and therapeutic activity, today’s digital world means there are also plenty of career opportunities out there for budding writers.  If you want to keep your options open, consider studying a broad Creative Writing course that covers all kinds of writing styles. Or, if you’re interested in something a bit more niche, a specific area of focus (such as creative writing for children’s books) could be the perfect route for you. Watch out, Roald Dahl.    View all creative writing courses  Take up photography  Almost everyone is capable of snapping a picture on their smartphone and slapping an Instagram filter on it, but it takes real skill to master a DSLR camera.  Whether you already know your way around a lens or youre a complete novice, there are a range of photography courses (like the Ultimate Photography Bundle) that will give you the skills you need to excel in this timeless industry.  But why stop there? This Adobe Lightroom Photo Editing course will allow you to make your expertly taken photos fit for a postcard, enabling you to master a range of editing techniques from adjusting exposure, white balance, and flash photos, to editing saturation, silhouettes, and sunsets.View all photography coursesGet a green thumbSick of wading through long grass to get to your garden? You should give it some TLC.  Luckily, there are a number of courses that could help. For example, this Garden Maintenance course provides you with everything you need to plan, manage, furnish, and maintain a garden. Already an expert? Take it to the next level by studying a Food Gardening course, and learn how to grow your own fruit, vegetables or herbs.  And let’s face it, there’s nothing better than eating food you’ve grown and hand-picked from your own garden. Mostly becaus e you won’t have to fight anyone for it.  View all gardening coursesPerfect your cookingEnjoy cooking? Now’s the time to really nail it.  Whether you’re already a decent chef, your cooking skills could use some work, or you’re looking to specialise in a particular cuisine, there are a number of courses to help you make meals that impress even the fussiest of eaters.  Want to learn how to make great pasta? Study Italian Cooking for Beginners. Looking to create healthier meals? Take a course in it. Ready to embark on your vegan diet, but aren’t sure how to make anything but oven chips? Develop your vegan and vegetarian cooking skills. It’s as simple as that.  View all cooking coursesStart computer programming  HTML, CSS, JavaScript. What does any of it really mean? That’s what you could finally find out.    Whether you want to use it to build your own website, boost your career prospects, or just impress people at parties, coding is an extremely useful skill. However, it ’s not always easy to get to grips with, especially if you’re a beginner.  This Introduction to Coding course is the perfect choice for people who are new to the world of computer programming, as it cuts through the jargon to give you a comprehensive and easy-to-understand overview of a number of coding languages.  View all computer programming coursesWork on your DIY skillsWhether your skills lie in painting walls, you’ve once dabbled in furniture making, or you haven’t touched DIY since the hammer and nail incident of 2012, becoming your very own handyperson could be a great hobby to take up this Spring.  Not sure where to start? This DIY Home Improvement and Maintenance course will teach you how to carry out basic home repairs, allowing you to learn how to use a range of tools that’ll help you keep your home in shape.    And if saving money sounds good to you, why not take up furniture restoration and throw out the need to buy anything new ever again? This Furniture Res toration course will teach you how to bring new life back to old furniture or heirlooms, and you’ll actually enjoy doing it.    View all home improvement coursesTake up creative stitching  If youre looking for a hobby that’s creative, low-cost and great for your mental wellbeing, creative stitching could be the answer.  By learning to make beautiful pieces of artwork, you can create hand-stitched designs for yourself, your friends and your family. You could even sell them as handmade gifts. That’s Christmas 2020 sorted.  This Creative Stitching course is the perfect way to get started, providing you with knowledge on everything from the basics of stitching and what tools to use, to all kinds of embroidery stitches, techniques, and patterns.  View all creative stitching coursesDo some home fitnessJust because the gyms are closed, doesn’t mean you can’t get fit.  Focusing on home fitness can provide a huge range of benefits for your life, boosting both your physical and ment al wellbeing. Before you know it, your hobby could turn into a healthy habit, or even a fulfilling career.  So if you want to get healthy, it’s time to hit the weights. This Home Bootcamp course could get you qualified in as little as nine weeks. You could also become a world-class yogi with a Yoga Practitioner Diploma. The possibilities are endless.  View all home fitness coursesLearn floristry  Always felt the urge to arrange every flower display in sight? This hobby is for you.  Whether you do it purely for fun, or you’re looking to start a career in floristry, or even your own business learning the art of floristry could open up many doors for you. And we’re not just talking about the patio ones.    For example, if you took this Professional Floristry course, you could learn a wide range of floristry skills and techniques from basic cutting and care, to displays, special occasions, and principles of design. That’s one way to make the neighbours jealous.    View all flo ristry coursesStill searching for your perfect course? View all online 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 COVID-19 and work Features

Welcome to Classy Career Girl Video Launch!!

Welcome to Classy Career Girl Video Launch!! Good morning!  Today is a great day!  Not only are we relaunching our monthly newsletter today (read more about it and sign up here), but we are also launching our Welcome to Classy Career Girl video!! I know you may have been reading for awhile (THANK YOU!) but I wanted to create a great introduction to new readers who stumble upon this site in the future.  So pretend you are a newbie and watch! Here are the 5 most frequently asked questions that I answer in the welcome video: What is your blog about? What is a classy career girl? Who is this classy career girl? How do you find time to blog and work full time? How can I get involved? Do you have any more questions?  If so, I would love to answer them in a video!  Please leave a comment!

How Music Affects Your Productivity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How Music Affects Your Productivity - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career While listening to music helps cut down the background noise in the office, it can also be a distraction and may prevent you fully concentrate on the task that you are working on. Many people see listening to music as a method of spicing up their boring day to day routine. Although studies show that music improves work performance in some situations, it can hinder it too under other conditions. Let’s look at what you should listen at work when you are working on what kind of task. When you are working on repetitive or boring tasks such as entering data or cleaning out your inbox after vacation, it is best to listen to pop music. This type of music increases your performance and helps you get the work done by motivating you in monotonous tasks. Researches have proven that music makes the tedious tasks seems more fun. Lyrics are generally too distracting if you are trying to write something such as a report or an important email. Since lyrics trigger the language center of your brain, trying to do another language related task like writing would be similar to trying to carry a conversation with someone at the same time a third person is talking over you. Therefore, avoid music with lyrics while working on something that requires you to use your language skills. Listening to classical or instrumental music works best for writing tasks. On the other hand, listening to music is not recommended when learning anything new. Generally, you need all of your concentration when gaining new information. Music on the background, in this case, creates distraction and inhibits your ability to absorb new material. Therefore, it is better not to listen to any type of music while working if you are not familiar with the task. If you are an expert on a task or working on something you have done many times before, your performance can increase and your errors can decrease with the help of music. Another point that needs attention is to listen to the music you already know or used to listening. If you listen to new songs or a new melody you have never heard of before, your brain will start to focus on the music rather than the task you need to complete. For this reason, it is best to stick to your favorites list while you are working.

Guest Post Grad celebrations are over now what

Guest Post Grad celebrations are over now what Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'-7-O_8rNSNBxpswXo4eHzg',sig:'1ltkLstFcKwDvcOdMLV_kk6TLmnQWzbOf1G-bssIxtU=',w:'507px',h:'338px',items:'530683257',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Now that you have successfully walked across a stage without fainting in public, have toasted with your loved ones, and partied with your friends…. now what? You’re probably just now slowing down enough to be looking over the precipice that is your nonexistent job-offer. In fact, you are among the vast majority of newly minted professionals (86%) who do not have a job offer after graduation (Gradstaff / CNBC, 2016). After you catch your breath… now where do you start looking for jobs?  Here are some of the best places to begin your search as a new graduate. Talk to your College Career center Most colleges and universities have a career center to serve current students and recent alumni (and sometimes even alumni who graduated a while ago). These centers provide a range of services from resume help to lists of employers who are looking to hire graduates of the school. This is a great first stop for any grad, plus who doesn’t love an excuse to get back on campus one more  time? If you are already back home, get in touch anyway. Most career centers will also communicate with you via email, telephone, or Skype. Dig into online job boards There are TONS of online job boards listing opportunities locally, state-wide, nationally, and worldwide. Finding a job board that has  what you are looking for can take some skill. Some only list entry-level opportunities with major franchises, for example. And as a college graduate, you may have more to offer than these types of jobs require. One way to narrow down your options is to google “job board + x.” Or, in other words, x stands for something unique about you, your skills, or your degree. As a Latino, for example, you might search for “job board + Latino.” As a medical student, I might search for “job board + medical.” There are many options for niche job boards, which offer a more nuanced approach  and put you closer to employers who are more likely to want you specifically. You can of course always search on the big heavy-hitter websites. Find these just by googling “job.” To avoid getting trapped by a fake job board or scam, check out the social media acco unts of the job board if they regularly post and have a decent following you are probably safe to use their site. Hit the streets The “old fashioned” way of searching for jobs may help you stand out from the crowd. There is nothing wrong with going out there with a stack of resumes and greasing the pavement. Basically, what you do is dress uber-professionally, and walk into companies you want to work with. Do your homework a little first, and at the front desk, ask for a manager or someone you have researched online who you think might have hiring powers in your field of new expertise. Normally you will probably be told that everyone is busy but that they are happy to take your resume and let them know you stopped by. This is great, because you still stand out for making the extra effort either way. If you actually get to speak with a person even better! Ask good questions about any possible opportunities, express your interest in the company, and display your professionalism. Don’t forget to send a followup email or make a phone reiterating your interest and thanking them for their time or consideration . Network Sit down and think of everyone you met in college (who was not in college), or even people you knew in High School. Professors, teachers, places where you did your internship, family friends, parents of friends, etc… Do any of them have connections with companies or within industries in which you would like to work? You never know who might help you through your first professional door, and it never hurts to ask. Just let them know you are excited to start your career, and are looking for any connections people might have that could help you get started. Explain that you are only looking for an introduction or the opportunity for someone to look at your resume. People tend to love helping out new graduates, especially with the excitement surrounding this special time of year. Special BONUS for minorities If you are a woman or a minority, there are special tools to help you land a great gig. Diversity recruiting is now a thing, and you can use job boards online, local organizations that provide minority resource offices, or work with a recruiter who can help you. There are also many professional associations for specific minority groups. Associations are an awesome way to develop lifelong professional connections and continue your professional development, plus they are a great added line on your resume. Many companies are specifically hiring minorities to diversify their workforce, since research shows they benefit. This means they want you specifically as part of their team.  You can position yourself as a skilled asset with extra value. About the Author: Cherise Tolbert enjoys her role as an influencer for DiversityJobs.com and LatPro.com, both part of a network of award winning employment websites working to connect talented job seekers with employers who value diversity. She has written articles for countless top-ranking employment-related blogs including CareerMetis, Latino LA, The Voice of Jobseekers, CareerPivot, and Hispanic Trending. Cherise has her Master’s in Media Studies from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and a B.S. in Public Communications with a minor in Community and International Development from The University of Vermont. She has worked in communications for almost a decade including in higher education and non-profits. She also is a collegiate adjunct instructor teaching courses in Mass Media, Digital Culture, and Professional Writing.

How to Give Your Resume a Boost with Metrics CareerMetis.com

How to Give Your Resume a Boost with Metrics The easiest and most effective strategy for highlighting the achievements in a resume: with metrics!There are several reasons for quantifying your accomplishments on your resume with metrics. Numbers tend to jump off the page, they add specificity to actions, and above all, they are more persuasive than words alone.evalEmployers want tangible proof that you can deliver results. And results are typically measured in numerical terms.You’ve probably heard the term KPI, which stands for key performance indicator. This is how companies judge their existing employees. It’s how they attribute value to people, helping them make decisions on promotions and raises.As a job seeker, a good way strategy for getting hired is to try and guess which KPIs are most important for the role and company you are pursuing. Then include metrics on your resume that seem to align well with these KPIs.Here’s a simple example: a company is hiring a new business development manager. They want someone who ha s a track record of landing new clients and expanding existing client accounts. How do you tailor your resume to this job description? Well for starters, you better make sure it mentions how many clients you recruited at your last job or how you grew particular account by a certain percentage.The types of metrics that are relevant for your resume will depend on the company and job you are seeking. But here are 5 metrics that recruiters love to see:GrowthevalMost organizations pursue some form of growth: revenue, clients, clicks, influence, etc. That means they want people who can help them get from where they are now, to somewhere even better. Again, this growth is probably measured in KPIs.Use the job description to determine the types of growth the company might find valuable. This includes click-through rates, revenue, new clients or staff increases.Here are some examplesof what these might look like on a resume:Grew annual revenue from technology client accounts by an average of 10 percent annually over five years.Developed email marketing strategy that drove 700,000 click-throughs from e-newsletters to company’s online store. SavingevalWhether you are applying to a small business with two employees or a multi-national corporation, chances are good they appreciate money saved. That, or they appreciate saving time Using metrics that compare your results against others is a great way to demonstrate the significance of your achievements. It may seem a bit boastful, but hey, that’s what resumes are for!Consider using metrics that express a ranking, typically using terms like “best”, “most”, “highest”, “top”, etc. This might include comparing your results to industry or company standards, to other employees, or how you helped your company outrank its competitors.Examples:Executed more than 50 sales call per day, with the highest conversion rate of any employee for three straight years.Launched multiple web-apps through Product Hunt that achi eved top three ranking amongst thousands of daily product releases from competitors.evalFrequencySimilar to impact metrics, frequency metrics give significance to your resume statements. They prove to recruiters how familiar you are with a certain job function.Look to include metrics that quantify your accomplishments in terms of time. How often did you do a certain task or achieve a specific result?Examples:Organized weekly meetings for senior management team by coordinating schedules, booking facilities and developing required meeting materials.Dedicated 30 percent of daily work time towards proofreading sponsorship request letters.Conducted monthly audits of internal financial management procedures, contributing to a perfect compliance record each month.Using Multiple MetricsBy now you’ve probably realized that many of these metrics overlap with one another. In fact, it’s a great idea to try to use multiple metrics simultaneously to try to make your statements even more convi ncing. Just don’t take it too far: having four numbers in one resume bullet point will look like a robot wrote it.Examples of combining metrics:Organized and promoted monthly social media seminars involving between 50-100 prospective clients.Managed a team of 15 engineers working on automating systems for an agriculture client, with the final project being deliver ahead of schedule and 10 per cent under budget.Practical Tips for Using Metrics on Your ResumeFinally, some additional tips to remember when using metrics on your resume:Quantify, quantify and quantifyAs a general rule for your resume, quantify statements whenever possible. This will make sure you avoid speaking about your skills and experience in vague terms, which are easy for recruiters to ignore.Use the right format for numbers Resumes are worthless without clean writing. If you are using numbers on your resume, make sure you use the correct format. Numbers from zero to nine should be spelled out; 10 and above should be in number format; same with any number that contains decimals Don’t just use metrics for the sake of using metrics. Make them as persuasive as possible by including enough context around them to appeal to the employer. (Example: “Wrote 7 articles for the company’s blog” versus “Wrote 7 advice pieces on front-end development for the company’s blog over the course of two months.”)Numbers can tell a pretty compelling story. And telling an impressive personal story with your job application is your ticket to getting hired. So follow the advice above and be sure to weave metrics into your resume.

Corn on the Job turns 2 and gets a facelift! (Under maintenance for a few days)

Corn on the Job turns 2 and gets a facelift! (Under maintenance for a few days) 32 Flares 32 Flares It was two years ago this time when I was feeling very lost in my career.  I was unemployed, unsure of the career path I was moving towards, and quite honestly, bored.  One of my best friends in the world suggested starting a blog.  His blog was doing amazing things for him, and knew how a blog could be life changing, or even just keep me occupied during this awkward time. Not long after his suggestion, I logged into wordpress and created my first free blog, Corn on the Job.  My cute little blog baby was born, and just like a new parent, I had no clue what I was doing.  My initial blog posts were rather boring, I wasnt sure how to use social media tools to expand traffic and build a community, and my blog was the new kid on the block. The first weeks were rocky, but after a couple months I started receiving traffic and more importantly, making great friends who I still talk to today.  In October of 2009, I met Matt Cheuvront, who at that time was in many ways starting out himself.  I was impressed by his blog, and the blog design services he offered.  Corn on the Job needed a facelift, and Matt needed his first paying client.  But it was more than that, and we became much more than a business transaction to each other.  After his work was done, we continued to talk through Social Media and Skype.  When we needed it, we gave each other advice and pushed each other to go bigger.  Hell,  I was even in Matts bachelor party when he was married in 2010.  Im sure we both would have found success without that initial business relationship, but I can honestly say it would have taken me a much longer to find it without making that friendship. While Ive only detailed this one friendship, Corn on the Job is responsible for dozens of other friendships across the country.  Ive met people that mean the world to me and continue to inspire everything I do.  Sarah White is someone that for probably over a year I talked to everyday.  She helped introduce me to HR conferences and pushed me to think outside of the box about my career.  Jessica Miller-Merrill teamed up with me for #JobHuntChat, and we continue to make it better every week.  Marty McDonald, has become much more than an old work colleague.  Hes become a mix of a business partner for Bad Rhino Inc., mentor, and most importantly, a great friend.  I could write about every connection Ive made, but there just wouldnt be enough room. To the readers, thanks for sticking with me through controversial posts, leaving comments on my work, and joining the communities on Twitter and Facebook.  The best things are coming.  I promise. Nearly 2 years later, Im calling on buddy Matt and his company, Proof Branding, to give Corn on the Job a facelift.  Its the blogs 2 year anniversary on Monday, July 11th, and Im going to celebrate it with a new look.  Corn on the Job is going down for maintenance starting tomorrow and you can check back on Monday to see whats new here.

Resume Writing Achievments Vs Duties

Resume Writing Achievments Vs DutiesDo you know the difference between resume writing accomplishments vs duties? There are a lot of things that can be listed in a resume, but this is not the only thing that needs to be there. In order to be successful at the job search, you need to be able to tell the difference between the two, and you need to be able to find the differences and make a determination of whether or not your accomplishments line up with your responsibilities.The first major point to remember is that you cannot write your way through a job interview. You can tell people what you are capable of doing, but if you are not able to do it, you will not get the job. This means that you have to prove to them that you can do it by having a great resume. Here are a few tips on how to be successful in the process.Use Your Name - Don't let this be forgotten. A resume is only as good as the name it uses. You need to know who you are talking to and what they are looking for when they look at your resume. If you have a memorable name, then you will have an easier time getting hired.Keep It Short - Remember that a resume is not a long essay, it is just meant to be read quickly. You need to be able to get across what you are looking for in the job. Using your name is a great way to do this.Keep it Concise - Think about how long you can comfortably read a document before you start to get frustrated. This is not the same for resumes. The length of a resume is often dictated by the amount of information that is needed to get the point across.Build it Like a Floor Plan - Remember that the purpose of a resume is to help you to be prepared for the interview and to determine if you have the skills needed for the job. It is not supposed to be the entire description of you. Do not be afraid to make yourself seem organized is very important.Keep it to the Point - This is another one of those things that we all get so tired of hearing. Be concise, simple, and direct when you are writing your resume. You do not want to bore the person reading it to death. If you have to spell everything out, make sure you do it in a way that is easy to read.Remember that you do not have to limit yourself to writing accomplishments vs duties. In fact, you should try to write both so that you can see if you are able to pull it off. Just because you are able to write about what you are capable of does not mean that it is accurate. Make sure that you have both your accomplishments and your duties in order to be a success.