Insiders Tips for Finding the Best Remote Jobs

Insiders Tips for Finding the Best Remote JobsInsiders Tips for Finding the Best Remote JobsThe evolution of technology has made work-from-home jobs more and more common. Thanks to apps, tools, and platforms like Google Hangouts, Skype, and Slack, many companies run successful businesses in which employees work-from-home, from co-working spaces in different cities, or from anywhere with good WiFi and a decent environment. Ten years ago, a search for work from home jobs would more likely lead you to a scam artist than to a legitimate opportunity. Today, the landscape has totally changed - but have your job search tactics changed along with it? Work from home, remote opportunities are out there - you just need to know where, and how, to look. 6 Tips for Finding the Best Work From Home Jobs 1. Remember these keywords - completely distributed or 100% distributed company - and search for them. Research completely distributed or 100% distributed companies, and youll find a list of orga nizations that dont even have a main office. Their employees work from different locations all around the world. While many of these businesses are start-ups, others are established, medium and large companies - and all offer remote employment opportunities. Bookmark their Careers pages and check in regularly. 2. Use job search engines dedicated to WFH jobs. Though you can always search the mainstream engines with the keywords remote or work from home, job search engines like FlexJobsare teeming with remote opportunities, and are vetted to ensure the quality and the legitimacy of the position. FlexJobs especially is a great resource to find telecommuting positions with established companies like Aetna, Amazon, Microsoft, Dell, and many more, whereas WorkRemote.ly tends to focus more on the start-up, tech scene. 3. Tap your local market. In some cases, employers are more willing to hire remote or work-from-home staff if they know that their employees are physically accessible if abso lutely necessary. This is especially true with freelance or contract positions. Filter local listings with keywords like remote, flexible location, or work-from-home. If the listing doesnt specify a location and the job sounds like it could be done remotely, you could always ask if remote work is an option. Though keep in mind, this could jeopardize your chances of getting the job, so if you really want the job regardless of whether or not WFH is allowed, it may be best to hold off on the question. 4. Search niche career sites. Youd be surprised by how much traction youll get by searching niche sites that focus on specific fields. On Idealist.org, a non-profit employment opportunity website, you can find multiple work from home, flexible location jobs and you can filter specifically for these positions. MediaBistro.com also offers the option to search for WFH jobs, as does GoodFoodJobs.com, and many others. Angel.co, which is a job search engine for start-ups, is another great place to look. 5. Dont just job search from home - build (and tap into) your network. When it comes to work from home job opportunities, networking and referrals are more important than ever. After all, an employer has to have more trust established at the outset than they would if their employees were co-located and could be supervised at an office. Tap into your network and try to find out if you have any connections to companies that hire work from home or remote employees. If you live in a city, keep your eyes open for work from home networking events. You might even consider buying a day pass to job search from a co-working space, where you are bound to meet entrepreneurs, employees and other people in a flexible work situation. 6. Be smart about how you use freelance sites. If youre looking for freelance work, its very easy to find work from home, remote gigs. In the freelance economy, thats generally how the workplace works. The downside is that these may not be continuous opportu nities and may not pay well. Of course, this depends on your field, but since many of these jobs are easily outsourced they do not offer great compensation. However, if you search specifically for ongoing or contract-based positions, youll have better luck. If you land a client you particularly jive with, nurture that relationship as it could evolve into a more permanent position in the future. Read More Top 10 Jobs to Work Remotely Top 10 Job Search Tips 10 Things You Need to Know to Start Freelancing

9 Unconventional Careers You Probably Didnt Know Existed

9 Unconventional Careers You Probably Didnt Know Existed9 Unconventional Careers You Probably Didnt Know ExistedAre you interested in a second job or a side gig? Maybe youre playing with the idea of changing careers. Corporate life isnt for everyone. Maybe its notlage for you. Dont limit yourself to traditional careers and jobs. Here are some part-time and full-time opportunities you might not have considered yet.1. Dog WalkerAverage Salary $36,000 (all salaries according to Simply Hired)A day in the life Frolic with dogsRequirements A way with animalsFlickrA relatively new profession, this job is a chance for animal lovers to work with animals and also get paid for it. The amount of money you make will depend on the number of dogs you walk, the length of each walk and the city you work in. Its fairly easy to enter this profession, but its beneficial to take a few classes in dog training programs. There are a variety of opportunities. You can become an individual for hire or join a d og-walking business. Best of all, you get to have a positive impact on a dogs life.2. BloggerAverage Salary $32,000A day in the life You make the rulesRequirements As long as you have a talent, anything goesThe age of the netz has ushered in professions not imaginable two decades ago. If youre creative or have a specialized skills, such as a passion for makeup and fashion or a killer sense of humor, you can capitalize with a blog. Bloggers have the option of working for a company blog or monetizing a personal blog. For those of you who would prefer to talk to your audience instead of write to them, blogging can also be done in video form, such as YouTube vlogging. Full-time or part-time, this can be a personally- and financially-fulfilling career path.3. Theater electricianAverage Salary $36,000A day in the life Shine the spotlight pleaseRequirements Apprenticeship is recommended. On-the-job training is sometimes provided.FlickrIn the theater world, electricians help create lighting design and fixture installation for shows and productions. Electricians can work freelance on small gigs in local theatres or seek employment by prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Hall. Generally, these electricians read the script and work with the lighting design director to set up the lighting equipment. You can take pride in knowing that you are critical to the production. After all, the performance would not be the same without the lighting that you expertly implemented.4. Location Scout or Location ManagerAverage Salary $59,000A day in the life Where to today?Requirements A sharp and aesthetic eyeFlickrThis type of job presents the opportunity to travel everywhere. Location scouts need to find proper locales and backdrops for every distinct scene in a film, TV show or other work that is filmed or photographed. The role requires a bit of creativity and understanding the bigger picture, as the location should complement the cast, scene, theme and possibly any props. In t he end, you can say proudly that you contributed to a work of art. The most common way to enter this career is by getting a foot in the door into the film industry.6. Child Life SpecialistAverage Salary $45,000A day in the life Play with kids to improve their well-beingRequirements Certification for the Child Life Profession, as well as tender loving care and a knack for cheering up kidsFlickrMake the world a better place by tending to children who need emotional and physical help dealing with hospitalization and illness. In this profession you will erleichterung children and their families and promote the development and growth of children with special needs. However, this isnt a happens overnight kind of career. Becoming a child life specialist involves meeting academic requirements as well as completing an internship. If you enjoy the idea of interacting with kids and are looking for meaningful work, this could be a good opportunity for you.7. Foreign English TeacherAverage Salar y $50,000A day in the life Educate and learn at the same timeRequirements Top-notch grammar, speaking and writing skills, as well as patienceFlickrAs a foreign language teacher, you can help educate those around the world with your mastery of the English language. Work abroad, experience other cultures and even learn a new language yourself. There are different programs in many countries, from Nigeria to Thailand to Austria. Some programs will require a TEFL or TESOL certification. Many programs cover your rent, food and a stipend, allowing you to explore a new country while making a difference in the lives of children.8. Professional OrganizerAverage Salary $42,000A day in the life A Tetris battle of turning chaos into orderRequirements Attention to detail and problem-solving skills. Certification is available.FlickrAre you a pro multi-tasker? An expert coordinator? A process improver? Capitalize on the organizational skills that come naturally to you and apply them to any number o f challenges, from time management to home staging. Your work may be methodological, but it will be interesting because you get the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and with a variety of people. One way to enter this field is to join a professional association, which will help qualify you for projects and connect you to a network.9. Uber DriverAverage Salary $38,000A day in the life Explore your city as you help people get to their desired destinationsRequirements A drivers license, insurance, and background checkFlickrThanks to technology, drivers today have the opportunity to turn this ordinary skill into a full-fledged profession. Working for any rideshare company, whether it be Uber, Lyft or Sidecar, allows you to learn the nooks and crannies of your city while meeting new people. Opportunities with rideshare employers tend to exist mostly in large metropolitan areas and your income will be based upon the time and effort you allot to picking up riders. The best way t o get started is to see if a rideshare employment opportunity exists nearby your area of residence.

How to Find a Lawyer - Tips on Hiring a Good One

How to Find a Lawyer - Tips on Hiring a Good OneHow to Find a Lawyer - Tips on Hiring a Good OneIf you are looking to hire a lawyer, youll find no shortage of legal talent. The United States holds 5% of the worlds population and 70% of its lawyers. Law schools awarded 43,588 J.D.s per year on average, up 11.5 percent since 2000, and the United States boasts one lawyer for every 200 U.S. citizens. With a record number of practicing lawyers in the U.S., finding a lawyer for your legal needs is no easy task. The best way to find a lawyer is through word of mouth and referrals. Wide variations exist in the skill level and expertise of each lawyer so recommendations from friends and acquaintances are a good way to locate quality legal talent. The nature of your legal problem will determine the font of lawyer you need to hire. Most lawyers concentrate their practice in a few legal specialties such as family law, criminal law, employment law, personal injury law, bankruptcy or civil litigat ion. Therefore, it is important to retain a lawyer with expertise and experience in the practice area for which you require his services. Below are a few of the best resources available to help you find a lawyer that fits your needs. Word of Mouth and Referrals Word of mouth and referrals from friends, relatives, neighbors, business associates, and acquaintances are the best way to find a lawyer. These individuals have no vested interest, financial or otherwise, in recommending a certain attorney and can communicate any positives or problems they encountered in their dealings with a particular attorney or law firm. While it is tempting to hire a friend or relative for your case, this may notlage be your best strategy. If the friend or relative specializes in an area of law outside your needs, he or she may not be competent to address your particular legal issue. Local Bar Associations Another great resource for finding a lawyer in your area is your local bar association. Mos t county and city bar associations offer lawyer referral services to the public although they do not necessarily screen for qualifications. The American Bar Association also maintains a database which offers assistance to consumers seeking legal help. Other Lawyers Lawyers can often recommend other lawyers in the legal community who can assist you with your specific needs. Legal circles are small and most lawyers will know several other lawyers who specialize in the practice area for which you seek advice. Lawyers are also aware of other lawyers reputations in a particular practice field. Keep in mind, however, that lawyers often receive referral fees when they refer a case to another lawyer which may influence their decision as to whom they recommend. Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory Available at your local public library or law library, this directory of lawyers is an authoritative resource for information on the worldwide legal profession. Martindale-Hubbell also offers an online lawyer locator service which contains a database of over one million lawyers and law firms in 160 countries. To find a lawyer, you can search by practice area or geographic location. Internet Resources A number of for-profit directories on the Internet offer search vehicles through which you can find a lawyer. A few of these sites are lawyers.com, legalmatch.com, attorney.locate.com, lawyershop.com, attorneyfind.com and attorneypages.com. Legal Aid Services If you need a lawyer but cannot afford one, you can contact your local legal aid office, an organization that provides free or pro bono legal assistance to low-income individuals in non-criminal matters. Check the white pages of your telephone directory or type in Legal Aid insert the name of your county of state into an Internet search engine to find local legal aid providers near you. If you seek legal assistance, finding a qualified lawyer is only the first step. The next step is choosing the best attorney f or your legal needs. For tips on how to choose the best lawyer for your case, see How to Choose a Lawyer.

7 Recruiter Secrets You Need to Know

7 Recruiter Secrets You Need to Know7 Recruiter Secrets You Need to Know7With recruiters making a majority of the decisions to find the one for any given job, it should come as no surprise that job seekers see them as gatekeepers of their dream job. Its equally expected that recruiters have a few tricks up their sleeves to find the best of the best. For those who dont have the inside track to recruiting practices, there are several recruiter secrets you need to know, including the seven recruiter secrets below.7 Recruiter Secrets You Need to KnowLearn to beat the automated systems.Automated applicant tracking systems are mora common than not. Most big businesses use these systems to help their HR departments manage the massive influx of applications and resumes they receive on a daily basis. However, many of these systems can disqualify even the most qualified candidate because of how they are programmed. To be successful in getting your application in a real persons hand, you must l earn how to beat online job application systems. Of course, if you have a connection in your network to help, you may be able to bypass the system altogether.Be consistent online and in person.Recruiters are looking at your social media profiles and how you conduct yourself online in comparison to how you look on paper, as well as how you present yourself in person. Be consistent across the board, because if you are a party animal online and talk yourself up as a professional in person, they will have little interest in trusting, or hiring, you.Dont disqualify yourself.Applicants are often the ones who disqualify themselves. Since recruiters and HR professionals are looking for reasons to easily disqualify applicants, something as simple as a typo or as large as not following directions is an easy way to put someone in the do not call pile. Make sure everything is as perfect as possible so they dont have any reason to not call you back.Use quantifiable information.Rather than using broad terms and concepts in your cover letter and resume, provide hard facts and quantifiable information. Instead of mentioning that you managed large budgets or teams, give real numbers and information that recruiters will be able to understand and compare. Its the real numbers that they can look at and relate to the job you are applying for.Company culture is important.Although you may look like the perfect candidate on paper, and your interview was beyond successful, there is more to finding the perfect fit. Companies are no longer looking for someone to only do the job. They are looking at employees as investments, and trying to create a company culture and environment that will reap the greatest benefits.Connections make a difference.Its probably not much of a shocker that many jobs are no longer advertised publicly. Many recruiters and HR professionals use employee referral programs and other internal programs to attract talent. Building and managing a network is one of the b est ways to find out about job opportunities, as well as get recommendations.Do your research.Researching the company is more important than you may know. Recruiters and HR professionals are not only looking for people who will fit their culture, but people who are passionate about the same things they are.Make sure you fully understand the job as stated in the job description, as well as research the company and connect with it on social media. The more you know about the company, its operations, and the business goals, the more likely you will be to impress the hiring party.Since recruiters are on the other side of the hiring process, many have developed processes that keep their hiring efficient and effective. If you are looking to get ahead of the game, keeping up to date on recruiter secrets and trends is a great way to do it.Readers, what other recruiter secrets do job seekers need to know about? Share your tips with us below

The Advantages of Qualifications on Resume

The Advantages of Qualifications on Resume The Fundamentals of Qualifications on Resume Revealed By way of example, say youre applying for the job of dump truck driver. Your job experience section ought to start with your most recent job and continue in reverse chronological order. Switching careers can appear to be an intimidating task, especially in the vorstellung that you feel as if youre starting from scratch. If youre applying for work in an extremely ethnic area and youre bilingual, you currently have a skill that is helpful to the job and ought to make that clear on your resume. Make certain that the summary statement is customized depending on the work description if you wish to catch that recruiters eye. Knowing the fundamental steps of writing a good resume does not signify you have to write alone. The summary isnt as detailed. You require an overview of qualifications if you would like the quickest way to secure more interviews without a whole lot of work. A H istory of Qualifications on Resume Refuted Throughout the web, there are lots of resources which can help you construct a powerful resume. Also, bear in mind that youve got to constantly edit and update your resume whenever you can and take part in various activities to not just obtain experience but build your skill collection. Developing a great resume is a small amount of a balancing act. Conclusion Theres a lot you can do to enhance your resume yourself without getting qualified assistance. Your summary of qualifications should incorporate a wonderful assortment of examples that produce your resume really stick out. You must comprehend what information is going to be of most value to an expected employer and select only relevant educational content. There are several possible details you may decide to list when discussing qualifications. Some of the main elements of a summary statement can consist of indicating your career direction (rather than objective), highlighting the quantity of relevant experience which you have, and mentioning the qualifications that will separate you from different candidates. Employing action words with hard skills is an enormous plus. They are quantifiable and often learned from school or on the job. They are not skills that are hard to learn. They can be categorized in different ways, depending on your job title. Another way to spot the difference between skills and qualifications is that in some instances, qualifications are requirements to be qualified for a particular job, while skills are merely a bonus. Therefore if youd like to go noticed instantly, you should incorporate an overview of qualifications on your resume. Besides choosing where to bring a core competencies section on your resume, you also need to list down professional competencies which are relevant to the job youre applying for. Based on your career, in addition, there are core competencies specific to your industry. You may not have much wo rk experience to include, so concentrate on personal and professional skills together with your educational background. As you proceed through the list of skills above, make a distinct list with the skills which you already possess. Also, be certain that the skills you add are the absolute most relevant to your career targets and the strongest. Bear in mind, the majority of the distinctive skills that you set on your resume ought to be job-related skills taken from the work description and your best transferable skills. Somebody who would like to develop into a nurse, for example, might have to possess certain qualifications like a particular level of education or certifications. Your skills section stipulates a window into how much capability youll be able to bring to the provider. 2 pages are only allowed if youve got lots of expertise or achievements which will help you distinguish yourself in the applicants. The perfect way to demonstrate you have these qualifications i s by listing them below your job experience. Theres a place to be filled. You will need to be sure you match each portion of your qualifications summary to the job which youre seeking. To determine what you should include, return to the work description. If your degree is in the very same field, it certainly has to be highlighted since it can separate you from different applicants and set you on a brief collection of likely future hires. You may also draw parallels between the positions if they arent immediately obvious. The very first key section of your resume is known as the Career Objective. Its important to spend the time to compose a career summary thats a strong match with your jobs of interest.

How To Run A Conference Call Without Driving Everyone Else Crazy

How To Run A Conference Call Without Driving Everyone Else Crazy Conference calls are a fact of life in a distributed team environment, Robert Duffy VP of Engineering at Time Inc. talks to PowerToFly about how to survive them.With a team distributed across three continents, we make heavy use of audio and video conferencing, its part of the daily rhythm of business. In any meeting that requires a group of people gathering you want to make sure that things go smoothly, and that the least amount of time is spent messing with technology or running the meeting. Conference calls are no exception and there are a couple of things you can do to help.Equipment iskey.Buy the best audio equipment you can afford. Conference calls are about audio and the difference it makes being on a good line vs a bad line is well worth the extra spend. If you are hard to hear it can lose you business or credibility. There is leidhing mora frustrating than someone on a conference call that sounds like they are t alking to you from the inside of a potato. If you are calling from a cell phone the biggest difference you can make is just using the manufacturers supplied headphones that have a mic built in.Trial Run New Technology.Always do a dry run of new technology before your calls. You dont want to start using something and have it not work. If you are switching any piece of technology like a new phone, new headset or new conference line, get with a friend or colleague before your calls and try it out. Its important to find out how you sound using the new equipment, so compare it to the old equipment. Weve found that different voices work better on different devices, so even if a piece of technology is working for one person it might not work for others.Speak up, and stay close to speaker phones.Only use the speaker-phone on your cell phone as a last resort. Its hard to listen to in a group setting and the microphone doesnt plektrum up nearly as much of the conversation as you think it does . If you are going to be on conference calls frequently invest in some of the polycom gear, its really good.Call EtiquetteKnow Who is DrivingIf your conference calls are anything like mine, you have a short time to get a lot done. Its important to quickly identify who is driving the call and who will keep people on track. The leader should tell everyone what is going to happen, the call should happen and then the leader summarizes the actions.If you are the leader, be early and take roll call. Know in advance who needs to be on the call to get the outcome you need. Wait for a quorum but then know you can get started early. If you have enough people on the call, ask someone to chase late-comers down while you make small talk.Always summarize the next steps on the call and in a follow up email and make sure every action has an owner.Have Your Intro Nailed.Most conference calls with new people meeting each other start with a round of intros. Have a quick (less than 30s) intro in your b ack pocket and youll be prepared for this if it comes up. Keep your intro short and tailor it to the audience and project. I always like to let people know why Im interested in the meeting and what Im looking for.Stay on mute, until you dont need to.Remember to place yourself on mute. There is nothing worse that trying to listen to someone speak while some other caller is typing, driving or trying to eat lunch. If someone else doesnt mute and disrupts the call, its perfectly OK to say can everyone go on mute when they are not talking. Remember to take yourself off mute and dont disrupt the flow of the call by fumbling for the unmute button.Learn how to Interrupt, Let Others Interrupt You.Interrupting in person is a bad thing, on the phone its a necessity because you can not always read the other persons body languages. If you are speaking pause often enough for questions so people can ask them.Beware of group questions.As a rule of thumb dont ask group questions when there are more than 5 people. Group questions, that require a round robin response are difficult to coordinate. If you do want to do this, pay attention at roll-call and ask specific people questions rather than is everyone OK with that plan, how is everyone doing this morning, etc.Smile, Even When Not On CameraIf you are on an audio-only call its even more important to smile. Smiling has a surprisingly large impact in the way you speak. Get in the habit of smiling on the phone, even when you are off camera, havent had coffee and its 5am. Others on the call will subconsciously hear the difference and perceive you as being friendly and collaborative.Dont be Afraid to AskAlways ask people to speak up, stop having side conversations or stop typing. I once asked a group of executives to spend the next 30 seconds clearing their lunch rather than have the call be disrupted by people shuffling sandwiches and chip bags. Dont be afraid to ask people to stop doing something or start doing something else??of course do it politely with a smile on your face.Make Notes of Questions You HaveCross them off if they are answered so you dont repeat questions. The odds are high that other people listening on the call will have the same questions as you.And as always, have fun One of the biggest challenges in almost all industries today is achieving gender parity. Gender diversity provides huge benefits in the workplace. pWhile some industries have made significant advancements in gender diversity, some industries lag further behind... and the construction industry is well-known for being in the latter category. If someone says, construction workers, youll likely picture a group of men in yellow hard hats analyzing an architects plans or laying bricks on top of a scaffold. And men at work signs only help to reinforce this image.pThis stereotype is rooted in reality. When welches the last time you actually spotted a woman on a construction site? Or hir ed a female plumber or carpenter? Your answer is most likely never. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statisticsreports that only 3.4% of the total of 8.3 million construction employees are women.pBut the construction industry has a lot more to offer than steel-toed boots and hard hats, and it needs women to help advance the industry in this era of rapid change. Here are 5 reasons why women joining the workforce or looking to make a pivot should consider a career in construction.h21. Fuel Innovation/h2pNot only is diversity the socially and morally right thing to do, but it is also actually an excellent business strategy. pResearch presented in the Harvard Business Reviewshows that diverse teams develop more innovative ideas. This is further supported by a study conducted by Gallupon the performance of gender-diverse teams versus single-gender teams, which found that the difference in backgrounds and perspectives led to better business performance and problem-solving. h22. Capitalize on Demand/h2pThe construction industry is currently experiencing a labor shortage. The industry itself is booming and projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries, with total spending projected to exceed $1.45 trillion in 2023/a. However, most construction companies are unable to meet the rising demand. pAccording to the Associated General Contractors of America/a, more than 80% of contractors are experiencing difficulties filling hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.pAnd demand isnt limited to individual contributor roles. Given the industry boom, there are a number of open stable and high-paying roles (any project managers out there?) waiting for the right candidateh23. Leadership Opportunities/h2pAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics/a, women compose only 7.7% of the total 1 million managerial positions in construction.br/pBut given the highly collaborative nature of construction work, more women in leadership roles would help d rive innovation and enhance productivity.Furthermore, as a woman in construction in a leadership position, youd have the unique opportunity to drive change for the industry and make it a more attractive option for other women.h24. High-Income Potential/h2pSalaries for many skilled positions in construction are on the rise, making a construction career a prime choice for women looking for a high-paying job,pThe 2018 Construction Craft Salary Surveyconducted by the National Center for Construction Education and Research revealed that salaries for many skilled craft areas are increasing. Project managers and project supervisors topped the list at $92,523 and $88,355, respectively. The next set of highest-paying jobs include those of combo welders ($71,067), instrumentation technicians ($70,080), pipe welders ($69,222), power line workers ($68,262) and industrial electricians ($67,269). Of the 32 categories of workers in the survey, 19 positions earned an average salary of $60,000 or hi gher.h25. Sense of accomplishment/h2p The construction industry can give employees a unique sense of achievement. Yes, the job is stressful and the work can be demanding, but nothing beats the feeling of being able to build something from the ground up. pHow many professionals in other industries can point at a school, a hospital, or a skyscraper and say I helped build that?pThe construction industry has a long way to go in combating gender bias and supporting women in the workforce, but given the current demand for workers, theres no better time to pick up a sledgehammer (figurative or literal) and smash the gender stereotypes plaguing the construction industry.