Job Tuition

In my previous article I listed the 10 benefits of working from home and also promised that I would give advice on what kind of jobs you can do from home. Well in this article I’ll be doing just that. So grab a coffee and let’s gets started.

The first thing you should do when thinking about working from home is to avoid the work from home scams. The most obvious type of scam to ignore is the kind you may get in your email. The sort that asks you to help transfer money for a foreign investment company or something equally as dodgy.

Working from home also involves a lot of self motivation. There won’t be a boss or supervisor to push you along so if you lack strong self discipline then maybe working from home isn’t the right thing for you.

Work from Home

8, eBay/Auction Sites: If you have a lot of objects around your house that you think ...

When I first started working I was always turned down due to lack of experience. To compensate for this I updated my computer skills and then set about trying to get my foot in the door. The Russian Travel Agency wasn’t much help work wise, but I did gain valuable experience. I learnt how to answer the phone professionally with slow and careful speech so that the foreign callers understood me and how to type quickly reading illegible writing.

After completing my computer course, I set about registering with local temp employment agencies. Although I lacked experience, my personality and strong typing skills more than made up for it as well as the fact that I was willing to relocate to anywhere within the state to work. My first job was located in Adelaide and lasted six weeks but luckily I got great feedback and my temp career took off.

It was great, not only did I get to work in various industries; I gained invaluable experience and made numerous friends which ...

There are many benefits of working from home. They vary from working at your own pace without interruptions (annoying phone calls from other departments) to selecting what time you have your coffee breaks.

I’ve compiled a list of 10 benefits of working from home. These are from my own experiences as I now work full time from home to help develop my wife’s online business and also work on various blogs.

10, Privacy: One of the main issues that I had in my last job was that I never had any privacy. One such incident was when I was trying to eat my lunch. I would still have work colleagues ask me how or when I would fix their computer. Now that I work from home I can eat my food in peace.

9, Commuting: I think everyone has this on their list. Obviously when working from home there is no commuting involved, walking to the fridge for a cold drink doesn’t count. This will also ...

I’ve never been a person to stay in the same job for too long, I think the longest I’ve been with one company is two years and I spent 5 ½ months on study leave so I don’t think the full two years counts. During this time I’ve had many work opportunities and attended more than my fair share of job interviews. One thing I have learned over the years is, no matter what anyone says, job interviews are still nerve wracking for both the interviewer and interviewee.

I’ve decided to do a series of articles detailing my career, discussing my worst interviews and best interviews and the interesting experiences I’ve had along the way. I’m a believer that we won’t be remembered for the job we did or how long we were in a particular job but for the person we were and how we made people around us feel – I like to think that I’m a positive influence who people like being around. Therefore, when I got bored with a job or decided it was time to move on – I did. Sure, ...

When it comes time to quit a job you can’t just leave. You have to pass the torch to your replacement. Ensure that business will carry on as usual, and help ensure a positive recommendation from your employer.

Ask your supervisor

After giving your supervisor timely notice of your departure, ask what she needs from you. Show your willingness to help out and make the transition go smoothly.

Find out if your supervisor has specific needs or requests. Are there certain projects or tasks she needs finished? Is there a specific duty she is worried about your replacement handling?

The answers you get here are crucial for your final days at the company. They will help you properly focus your efforts and be truly effective.

Tie up loose ends

Wrapping up projects will be a huge help for your ...

You probably use email throughout your work day. But how often do you consider the effects it can have on your career? An email mistake could forfeit your job. But if you arm yourself with these tips, you should be safe and more effective at work!

1. Think before you send.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Engage your mind before you put your mouth in gear.” The same applies to email. It’s so easy to type out an email and hit “Send.” Don’t fall into the trap of sending emails without first thinking about the contents.

Email taboos aren’t difficult to ascertain. Ask yourself, “Would I say this in person?” If not, don’t send it. For some other thoughts, check out an article by Penelope Trunk: 5 emails you should never write.

2. Remain professional.

Email has ...

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of mentoring in the workplace, we’ll talk about a way to setup a mentor relationship.

Evaluate your needs

You can’t jump into a mentorship blindly. First you need to decide what exactly you need.

Are you looking for a casual relationship, or something more formal? Do you seek a long term mentor, or just someone to help you through a certain phase, such as beginning a new position?

Also, consider whether or not you want a mentor in your specific department. It might feel natural to be mentored by someone whose job is similar to your own. However, you could gain a valuable viewpoint by connecting with a person whose job is different.

There’s really no right answer to these questions. Just consider things like this, so you can know ...

This is Part 1 in a two-part series on mentoring in the workplace. Watch for Part 2 soon.

Workplace mentoring is an important concept for employers and employees to understand. It’s more than a performance review or task feedback. To understand what it is, why it helps everyone, and how to setup a mentor relationship, we’re writing a two-part series on the subject.

A solid history

Mentoring isn’t a new concept. In fact, it’s the way most trades used to be passed down from one generation to the next.

What is an apprenticeship? It’s a mentor relationship. The experienced artisan or tradesman teaches the novice how to succeed in the field.

Interestingly, most apprenticeships went far beyond the trade itself, with the apprentice learning about life and society generally.

Present day example

The benefits of mentoring have been brought into many occupations today. ...

Most of our articles here at Job Tuition deal with getting a job. But what do you do if you need to leave a job? Fortunately, there are ways to be diplomatic and help ensure a graceful exit.

Give advance notice

This is one of the most important things to remember: give your employer notice. By giving notice to your employer, you’ll enable her to find a replacement and keep the company moving along. It also helps your chances of a strong reference in the future.

So it’s clear that you should give notice, but what does that entail? Consider these points:

• At least 2 weeks - You should at least notify your employer 2 weeks before you will be leaving. If your job is particularly specialized, you might even give more time.
• Be polite - Don’t tell your boss to “take this job and shove it.” Even if you’re not leaving on positive terms, be diplomatic and polite.
• Clarity ...

How many jobs have you applied for and not even received an interview? Maybe your resume goes straight in the trash. But how would you know? Here are a few good indicators that your resume is garbage. Now’s the time to clean it up.

1. Crummy paper. You don’t need incredibly fancy resume paper. But don’t print your resume on regular copy paper either. Go to your local office supply store and buy a box of resume paper. This will set you back $10-12, but it’s critical. And make sure the paper stays crisp; no wrinkles or creases allowed (except for mailing, of course).

2. Poor font choice. Stellar credentials don’t mean squat if your font is unreadable. And most business owners don’t want to see Wing-Dings on a resume. Pick a neutral font like Times New Roman or Arial. Make most of the text 10-12 point. Use some variations like bold and italics, but don’t go overboard. Simple is good.

3. ...