Using Social Media To Boost Your Finance Career

Working in the financial industry is a tough business. The various recent financial crises have led to a cultural shift where people tend to move from firm to firm rather than staying anywhere long term. It’s also meant that the job market is more competitive, meaning you need to stand out to stand the best chance of landing a job. Social media is a fantastic place to network within the finance industry, and using it to your advantage could boost your career. Take a look at the following tips on how to use social media to your professional advantage.

Get yourself a LinkedIn account

LinkedIn is the most popular social media platform for professional networking. Unlike Facebook or Twitter, LinkedIn is a platform that is specifically targeted at businesses and job seekers and can be a great way to find out more about the industry you work in, and help others to find out about you. If you’re unsure about how to use LinkedIn to your advantage, it’s worth reading up on how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile to make sure you get out of it what you can. You could even contribute articles to LinkedIn to help demonstrate your interest and expertise in finance.

Join the conversation on Twitter

While Twitter is a microblogging platform, it is a great place for sharing news and debate and is a popular way to find out about jobs too. Rather than simply using Twitter to talk about what you thought of last night’s Game of Thrones, use it to talk about your professional interests. Follow influencers in your field and connect with them - it’s a great way to get your name out there and to make some contacts. 

Show off your interests and hobbies

Most people will include details of interests and hobbies on their resumes, but how can you demonstrate that? Social media is a great way to indulge in your passions and to share them with others, so sharing details of your different social media profiles could be vital for people wanting to find out more about the real you, rather than what they see on paper. He might be an analyst, but Chris Pivik is also a keen photographer, who shares his hobby through Flickr. Being able to link to your profiles to show off your interests and expertise is a great idea for helping employers to notice you, and could be what you need to get an edge over others.

Write a blog

Blogs are a fantastic way to show off your knowledge and experience, things that are important if you want to land a dream job in finance. Writing a blog about something you know well such as investments, money-saving tips or personal finance shows that you genuinely have an interest in the industry, and could connect you to people in ways you didn’t think possible. Getting started with blogging is simple and doesn’t have to cost you anything so you could get started today and start getting your name out there.

Social media can also help you out if you’re planning to start your own business, especially if you’re finding the job market tough. As well as being a place for networking, social media is an effective marketing tool - one you can use to advantage if you know how to use it right. Take some time to think about your online presence and whether or not you could use it to boost your financial career.

Is It Time To Change Career? Probably

We’ve all felt career apathy from time to time. You reach a point at which you’re no longer sure if you hate your job or you’re just exhausted. The two things can often be linked but it’s important that you know for sure before you go ahead and quit your job. Sometimes, it can just be a rough patch. If you’re starting to pull your hair out as you ask yourself whether it’s time to change career then the answer is probably “yes”. Nonetheless, here are some potential issues which often point to the need for a new career. You might want to see if any of them apply.

You don’t like the way the office works.

This point could be interpreted in many different ways, of course. The point is that many professionals go into an industry because they love the subject matter and they want to put their technical skills to good use but they end up falling out of love with it because of the nature of their work environment, other employees, and the boss. It’s important to make the distinction between whether your career is wrong for you or you’re simply working at the wrong company. If you decide that you just don’t approve of the way things are run at your company then this may be a sign that you still love your career but need a new employer.

Make sure that you take any necessary action if you’re leaving your job because of a specific incident. Incompetent colleagues need to be mentioned to the boss, but an incompetent boss is a trickier subject to broach. Perhaps you’ve seen fraudulent activity take place or you’ve been the victim in an unsafe workplace and the boss is turning a blind eye to it. You might want to look into a personal injury attorney to result in compensation if you have been hurt through someone else’s negligence whilst on the job. Even if you’re leaving your job to start a new one (whether that’s in the same line of work or not), you shouldn’t keep quiet if you think your old workplace has serious issues that could affect current or future employees.

The salary isn’t enough.

This is perhaps an even more serious reason to change career than the previous one. If you think that you’re not being paid enough for what you’re doing then, yet again, it may not be a sign that you should quit the industry in which you’re working altogether but it’s certainly a sign that you can’t carry on in your current job role unless something changes. Before you make any drastic decisions, however, you should try to resolve the situation with your employer. You might be surprised to find that you’re not met with resistance and your situation was simply overlooked. Perhaps you’ll be able to negotiate and get the salary you’re actually owed by the company.

It’s important to understand that we’re not just talking about feeling as if it’d be “nice” to earn more money. We’re talking about noticing that your wages need to increase in line with current inflation and it’s yet to happen. We’re talking about that bonus you were promised but were never paid. You need to attempt to get what you’re owed but, even then, it might be time to look into a different employer if you’re tired of going through the headache of trying to get the money you deserve for the work you do.

You have bigger and better talents.

A final reason as to why you might feel ready to change career is that you feel have you bigger and better talents that could be used for bigger and better things. You might feel as if you’re not using your creative mind in your current job role, for example. And as nice as a salary may be or as comfortable as a certain industry may be, none of that means anything if you’re feeling individually unfulfilled in your current job role. Ask yourself whether the thought of a promotion to a better position within the company (or any company in your industry) would be something to which you could aspire. If the answer is no then this line of career, in general, is probably wrong for you.

Start doing some research. You’ve likely built up talents through working at one or many firms over the years so that time hasn’t been wasted. Maybe your calling is to use those and other talents to build your own business. Perhaps you’d feel more fulfilled in selling your skill set to potential clients because there are certainly companies out there willing to pay freelancers with a professional talent. You just need to go searching for your new calling.

Uni Education: A Necessity Priced Like a Luxury?

A university degree is widely considered a necessity these days if one is to hope to make a decent living. Yet increasingly higher education is becoming a luxury many people simply cannot afford. The jump in tuition fees over the past few years – and talk of further increases in the years to come – have made funding a real problem for many. Although the situation is not yet as severe in the UK as it is in the US it is significant nevertheless. Recent budgetary changes may have only exacerbated the problem. But it’s not all bad news.

The lament of the “working poor”

The recent announcement of decisions to cut tax credits was quite a blow for the working poor. In London alone, the number of employed people who fall below the poverty line has risen by 70 percent. In October 2015 Chancellor George Osborne announced plans to take £1,300 a year or £108.33 a month – that’s a little over £25 a week – away from low-income families. A 37-year-old single working mum named Maria Roberts, writing in the Telegraph, says, “…a mere £25 is what Osborne might spend on a single bottle of wine. But when you are strapped for cash, like I am, £25 is equivalent to a week’s worth of vegetables, milk and eggs.” Ms. Roberts worries that despite his high marks and scholarship to a top independent school, her 17-year-old son won’t be able to attend university because it is beyond their means. “University,” she says, “is a luxury we simply cannot afford… and I need him to start contributing to the household bills.” She laments that social mobility is becoming out of reach for her family.

Class wars: bad news and good

The UK has a long way to go before becoming a truly pluralist and tolerant society. Class wars still exist, though arguably we’ve traded older forms of elitism for newer ones. Sociology professor Mike Savage has referred to the problem as the “class ceiling”, equivalent to the “glass ceiling” that women in the workforce have been battling for decades. And indeed, studies and reports on social mobility in the UK seem to offer some fairly discouraging news, which can basically be summed up by the observation that one still has a much better chance of succeeding if one was born into privilege. Universities are very much a part of this narrative. Analysis from a 2013 BBC “Great British Class Survey”, in which Professor Savage participated, suggested that those who graduate from a very few elite universities earn substantially more than those who graduate from other top-tier “Russell Group” universities. (Study results were published online under BBC/Science on 3 April 2013.) Those born to privilege are generally more likely to attend these elite universities and go on to enter elite professions, passing the traditions down to the next generation. But there’s more to this story. Greater social mobility would go a long way towards shattering the “class ceiling”, and there may be some encouraging news on that front. To begin with, there are flaws in some of the older studies from the early 2000s that emphasised Britain’s relatively low social mobility, according to experts such as John Goldthorpe, a University of Oxford scholar of the issue. Professor Goldthorpe says one of the problems lies in poor data sets used in most studies, and analysis that conflates absolute and relative changes. That’s not to say we should stop worrying about poverty, social inequality or stagnant social mobility. And the very real experiences of struggling single mums or uni students can’t be dismissed. At the risk of stating the painfully obvious, overall one is still better off if born into a world of wealth and privilege. But the larger picture is more complex than most of the studies, and certainly most of the political rhetoric, would have us believe. And as new generations and more innovative technology emerge, there’s good reason to believe there will be new routes to success – including paths to higher education – that are reachable even for those in less privileged circumstances.

Sometimes you have to run away from home to find yourself.

Meanwhile, though, there is the matter of funding that still-necessary university education, and this can be a huge source of stress for prospective uni students and their parents. Even though tuition loans and maintenance loans are available for those who qualify, they are often not enough to cover all expenses. (Moreover the prospect of starting out one’s working life with a heavy load of debt – even if all of it doesn’t have to be paid back – is hardly a cheery one.) Money to fill in the gaps has to come from somewhere, and for many uni students life is a continual struggle to make up for the shortfall. But some students are finding creative solutions to these problems – and they’re doing it by running away from home, in a manner of speaking. They are choosing to live and/or study in another country, in some cases saving thousands of pounds on tuition and accommodation. Several European countries are offering very cheap or even free tuition; Germany, for instance, has abandoned its university tuition fees for German and international students alike. Although language and cultural barriers might pose a problem for some students, those who can overcome these obstacles may find the experience to be very rewarding on many levels. As long as university education remains a necessity that is, under conventional terms anyway, priced like a luxury, young people will continue to seek out creative alternatives. It’s encouraging to know that there is more than one way to get the education and earn the credentials needed to give one a fighting chance at a successful and productive life.

So You Want To Make A Career From Property?

Our careers are more important than ever. At a time when job security and money-making potential don’t always run hand in hand, the property industry is a very appealing option for many. After all, there will always be a need for housing.

Moreover, market prices have been increasing for decades. There will always be the odd dip, but overall the curve has been very pleasing to the eye. The opportunities are there for all to see. With a little research and a lot of hard work, pursuing a career in this industry could be the greatest route to a brighter future.

Before jumping into the dip end, ask yourself these questions.

What Part Of The Field Am I Entering?

The property industry is a fairly varied field. There are many different options for people to take. Analysing the merits and downfalls of each is vital. Otherwise, you run the danger of making a terrible mistake.

Assuming you actively want to deal in property itself, you’ve still got various aspects to consider. Are you buying to let or sell is one of the main questions to answer. Be aware that the responsibilities of a landlord vary from those of a homeowner. Similarly, buying and selling property needs to follow certain protocols.

Research is vital for any career choice, but especially in one that involves such large sums of money. If you aren’t prepared to put in the groundwork, you’ll never make it in this cut-throat industry anyway.

Do I Need Money To Fund My Dream?

The answer to this question is probably going to be yes. It doesn’t matter if you are looking to buy a fixer-upper or another type of property, it’s going to cost a lot of money. If you are in the position to get this type of business off the ground without support, you probably don’t need the money to start with.

Property finance brokers at Ravenmann can help you find the money needed to take this vision and make it a reality. It’s one less issue to worry about, and can allow you to focus on other important aspects of the business. This can only be good for future endeavours.

Finance is at the core of all business ventures. However, this is especially true in this arena. Do not forget it.

Who Can Help Me?

Going it alone is one of the worst things you can do when stepping into the world of property investment. Financial backers aren’t the only people that can help, though, and you should be keen to embrace the help of anyone that can.

When it comes to renovating a property, you’ll want to hire the best workers for the best price. It’s also important to understand that selling properties isn’t easy and you will more than likely need to find a top class estate agent.

No successful business model can be controlled by one pair of hands. The sooner that you realize the importance of the team around you, the quicker you’ll start to see great results.

5 Interesting Government Jobs for financial establishment

In these contemporary times, many people in Australia have become receptive to the idea of working for the government. Individuals who are interested in doing so should recognize that there are a wide variety of government jobs that they can apply for. Because this is the case, it is ideal for individuals seeking employment to carefully consider a plethora of job types in order to decide which one is most fitting for them.

1. ACT Public Service

One state government job option that individuals in Australia have is working for the ACT Public Service. (Those who are unfamiliar with the ACT should note that its goal is to provide accessible and responsive services to Canberrans. The ACT contains nine directorates, including the Chief Minister and Cabinet, Community Services, Economic Development, Education and Training, Environment and Sustainable Development, Health, Justice and Community Safety, Territory and Municipal Services, and Treasury.) The ACT offers the public a variety of jobs, including health professionals, event managers, rangers, policy advisors, and many more.

2. Administrative Officer

A position as an Administrative Officer will generally involve managing personal tasks and paperwork that ensure that the day-to-day operations of a business run smoothly. The Northern Territory Government is in search of candidates who possess secretarial, legal, health, medical, recruitment, and ministerial job skills for this position.

3. Nursing

Individuals who enjoy administering care to others may profit from pursuing a career in nursing through the government. With Northern Territory Government, more opportunities have become available for nurses in fields as diverse as renal nursing, mental health, acute care nursing, community health, and remote area nursing. The Northern Territory Government also offers a graduate program to help prospective students increase their knowledge and skill set in the field.

4. Police

People who like to make sure that community citizens are safe may be interested in pursuing a career as a police officer. With the Northern Territory Government, police officers are expected to perform five core functions. They include: Upholding the law and maintaining order within the community Protecting individual life and property preventing, detecting, investigating and prosecuting any offences Managing road safety enforcement and education managing the services that are provided in emergency situations

5. Fire and Rescue

A government career as a firefighter can be ideal for many people, especially those who enjoy preventing others from injury and death. With the Northern Territory Government, people interested in a firefighter career enjoy great benefits such as paid training, great working conditions, 9 weeks annual leave, and ongoing learning opportunities. However, becoming a fighter comes with several stipulations, including having no significant criminal history and proper certification. If you are interested in any of these or other government jobs in Australia, you can go online and research the various opportunities that exist. Many government jobs offer individuals competitive pay and great benefits, so be sure to compare your opportunities in order to find the position that is most personally and professionally profitable for you.

Nicole is a recruitment agent and has been for the past 3 years. She aims to help her clients find jobs and guide them in the right direction. She started writing blogs to share her knowledge to others who are looking for general help and ideas to get them started on their career.

Do The Most Expensive Fees Necessarily Mean The Best Education Provider?

As a parent, it is natural that you want only the best for your child and this is essentially why you go to all those lengths helping your child to achieve their maximum potential. On top on that, you have our modern society showing you on a daily basis that second best is just not going to cut it - the result, pressure.

Well, let's get down to earth for a second here. Do you honestly believe that paying three thirds of your monthly income is all it takes for your child earn the success you always dreamed about? Sure, that might be the very best school in whole state or the finest program for a certain career - however, sometimes opting for the second-best choice might bring forward several advantages for both you and your child, as you are about to find out.

1. The finest school 

Granted, your friends are all sending their kids to a certain school renowned for the quality of its programs, prestige and high test scores. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is also the best choice for your child or that your search is over. What if, for example the minor advantages that a certain school provides are not worth time and money? The best approach in this case is to scoop around, learn more about your options and verify whether the offers of your first and second choice are close when comparing the entire package of what each school can offer your child. Perhaps your second choice might offer a more vocationally based program than your first, or excel in sports and place a higher emphasis on fitness and physical activity within education, better suiting your child’s personality.

2. The best college

Without a doubt, going to Stanford, Harvard or Yale will certainly have a positive impact on anyone's career. But, considering the competition and limited spots, have you ever taken the time to consider what would happen if you pressure your child into getting in the aforementioned universities and he/she would fail? Be sure to keep in mind that not making it onto the spots of these prestigious universities is not the end of the world and there are thousands of successful people across the US that stand proof of that! The bottom line is that if you truly want your child to succeed in life, you should pay more attention to their needs and requirements; simply because they’re not doing so well in math doesn't automatically make them a failure. Sometimes, all they need is a little support and perhaps a new way of dealing with studying and managing their time properly, both of which can easily be learned via an efficient enrichment program.

3. Top-notch extracurricular activities

By now, you’ve probably understood that higher prices do not necessarily come with significantly improved quality and the extracurricular activities your child completes when part of the education system are no exception to this rule. As a matter of fact, it is necessary to mention that in most parts of the US, the expensive off-school programs often come with more restrictions, such as attending a pre-established number of training sessions and mandatory presence in various academic competitions. Given the school schedule and homework, does that extracurricular activity really leave any room for the important quality time your child should spend at home developing their social skills and other key aspects of their personality? The key consists of knowing how to balance all of the above when making your decision.

Working with the global enrichment program provider Kumon (www.kumon.ie), Charlie sees the value that exploring these other options can add to a child’s education.