How to Make a Good Career Decision Faster - The Muse

How to Make a Good Career Decision Faster - The MuseHow to Make a Good Career Decision Faster We all like to weigh our options carefully when were making decisions. How many times have you browsed six different sites to find the perfect hotel for your next trip? Or, crowdsourced opinions from four different friends to pick the best outfit for an event? Or, asked 10 different co-workers whether you should, in fact, order the noodle bowl from that sketchy restaurant down the street?Theres certainly nothing wrong with this- the mora information we have and the more red flags we eliminate, the more likely were going to make a smart decision. But what is wrong is believing that this information will ultimately lead us to the right decision.And thats because theres no such thing. A recent article on Raptitude.com says it well Choices can be well reasoned or poorly reasoned. Their results can be surprisingly beneficial or surprisingly damaging. But theres no such thing as a categorically ri ght course of action, just an array of possible ones- and for each, a sprawling, endless web of consequences.The author suggests we look at it from another angle to better understand this Even after weve made a decision- for whatever reason we chose that path- when were living with the consequences, we dont know what the right choice was. All we know is whether we like where we are or dont like where we are.This is such a simple concept, but one we tend to take for granted. Thinking about our decisions from this angle relieves so much of the pressure. When theres not one perfect answer, its a lot harder to go wrong The key to this mindset, the author points out, it to remember that just because there isnt a right decision doesnt mean you cant make one thats wise for your situation. You have every right to choose a hotel thats way out of your price sortiment and infested with cockroaches, but youll probably be a lot happier and have a better trip staying in one thats cleaner and more affordable. Whichever clean and affordable hotel you choose, however, becomes irrelevant as long as it covers your needs.The point of all this is- as the author astutely states- to let yourself off the hook. Try to get all the facts, but then just take your pick. Stop spending so much time figuring out whether your decisions have hit the mark on the head. This goes for your career, too. Maybe youre easily stressed about taking the right job offer, or deciding whether to quit your job, or if you should pursue your passion. These are big decisions, I wont deny that. But youll never know if theyre the right path until you actually make a decision. You might mess up, you might have to deal with some bigger consequences (both of which are incredible learning experiences), but you might also have made the best decision of your life. And isnt that enough to feel like you did something right?Of course, if decisions arent your forte, this article and this one are great for helping you make the most informed ones you can.

How to Support Your Resume with a Digital Portfolio

How to Support Your Resume with a Digital PortfolioHow to Support Your Resume with a Digital Portfolio22So what is this new entity and how can it be beneficial to your career? Theres no need to feel threatened. Your resume and titelblatt letter can still perform to their full potential, but the digital portfolio is now readily available to function as the T to your BLT or the Pop to your Snap and Crackle. Its an additional source that you can use to fortify your achievements, work history, and personal interests, which will ultimately help you stand out from your competition.A digital portfolio can be especially beneficial for those working in creative fields. Some would even go so far as to call it a necessity in todays ever-expanding digital era. For one, it can serve as an alternative resume that showcases direct examples of your creative talents, such as photography, videography, or graphic design. Additionally, a digital portfolio is easy to create and shouldnt come with a hefty price. In fact, there are a plethora of free services available that offer user-friendly platforms enabling you to simply drag and drop a variety of cool features into a pre-designed template.Most platforms (e.g., Wix, Weebly, WordPress, and Dropr) will allow you to upload PDF files, Word documents, videos, photos, and other miscellaneous content you wish to display. Youll also receive a unique web address that can easily be plugged into your current resume and cover letter. And just like youve likely browsed around for the perfect resume template, you can do the same with a digital portfolio. The idea is to consistently update your profile like you would (or should) refresh your resume with recent projects and achievements.Heres how to get stspeciesed adding pages to your digital portfolioAn About Me pageYou can leverage this page to discuss your professional background, personal interests, and primary skills. Try to keep it under 200 words by offering immediate insight about your strengths, general work history, and ambitions.A Work Samples pageStart with one page for now. As you learn to master the art of digital portfolio creation, you can start adding links to a variety of categorized work samples, including published articles, videos, academic projects, and whatever else youd like to showcase.A Contact pageThis should be complete with email address and social media accounts (if applicable). The more connected you are, the better. Most platforms provide contact forms and/or a pre-designed contact page, so its simply a matter of keeping your personal information up to date. As always, use your discretion when adding personal contact info- a standalone email address should work fine.A Hobbies Personal Interests pageHeres where you can boast your creative talents outside of work. While the space in your resume is generally restricted to your career progression and professional achievements, a digital portfolio awards you the freedom to publicly display you r interests and passions. Whether you wish to share your photography, poetry, online blog samples, or photos of your home garden, you are no longer confined to a two-page Word document.The main goal is to elend be too far-reaching or overbearing. Just as you dont want to overwhelm the reader by cramming too much information into your resume, you should try to limit your digital portfolio to your best and proudest work. Its a surefire way to capture the interest of hiring managers and a perfect resource to supplement the traditional resume and cover letter.Readers, have you ever used a digital portfolio to supplement your resume? Share with us in the comment section belowResumeTarget.com provides professional resume writing services for clients of all career levels across North America. We are the only resume writing company that offers a professionally written resume- coupled with the guidance of recruiter- to guarantee that your resume will get results. Tweet us with any resume que stions you have at www.twitter.com/ResumeTarget, were here to help

How to Be a Good Radio Personality

How to Be a Good Radio PersonalityHow to Be a Good Radio PersonalityA memorable radio personality breaks through the clutter of the airwaves to become an icon on air and off. Focus your efforts beyond the microphone to stand out in a competitive industry. Become a Recognizable Face Announcers whose voices may be familiar often become anonymous when they step out of the radio booth. Set a goal of becoming visually recognizable in your city. Look for opportunities either as part of a station project or on your own to be photographed at events, charity drives or festivals for various nachrichtenpapers or websites. Get comfortable talking with people in ways that dont involve the radio microphone. Look for a style that will set you apart from other announcers in your community maybe you can always appear in cowboy boots or with rings on every finger. You have more leeway than a typical TV personality, so use that advantage to be unique. Develop a Partnership with a TV Station A TV station can give you the visual outlet you need to be seen and not just heard. If your radio station already works with a TV station, half your work is already done. If not, get to know the reporters and anchors at one of the top news stations. By developing these contacts, you can get involved with the TV stations community projects, maybe even co-hosting a telethon or appearing on a morning news show. A news/talk radio host might be used as an election night commentator or sports analyst. Be Your Citys Music Expert Most cities have one radio announcer who is the go-to authority on music. Strive to be this person. If you appeal to a younger audience, become the person who knows the club and concert scene. If youre a seasoned veteran, position yourself as the one interview who can talk about Elvis Presley or The Beatles. Maybe you can showcase your expertise on your radio station website as a way to advertise your knowledge. You will be amazed at how often TV reporters come c alling once they know your expertise. This strategy also works for non-music announcers who can talk intelligently about politics, business or sports. Host a Special Event Getting your name connected to an event is an ideal way to get people talking about you. If you have a passion for music, you could host a live remote to collect listeners unused band instruments to distribute to schools in need. Like to play meerbusen? Host a tournament for charity. Make sure to contact news organizations in your city to get coverage. You will need to sell your event as something that helps the community and not just make it a self-serving publicity stunt. Be Flexible in the Face of Radio Industry Changes Radio is a volatile industry. You may be your towns 1 country music jock and wake up to find your station has switched formats to hip-hop. But most established personalities weather these storms. Develop yourself as a personality thats larger than the format you present, so that you can switch from Top-40 to Oldies as you get older. Your value will come in your longevity in your city, because the majority of radio announcers are in a constant state of starting over with new jobs in new cities. Becoming a beloved radio personality takes work beyond your air shift. By putting in the extra hours, youll get the affection of your community and hopefully a larger paycheck by being an indispensable asset for your station.