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Online Business Ideas You Can Do Now Without Quitting Your Job

Halt! Do not make rash decisions when you are emotional or over-fatigued. You can follow your passion or showcase your talents without quitting your job. Simply create an online business wherein you can earn money on the side. Consider the following business ideas.

UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY

One of the easiest ways to earn money online is by selling your images. If you have a knack for photography, round up your best pictures and sell your brand. Upload your designs on photo-sharing websites such as CafePress or Zazzle. If an individual or a company gets attracted with your design, it can be printed on a product or used for a marketing material.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Who knows? Your unique design can be displayed on posters, calendars, book covers, bags, shirts, or hats. Do not limit yourself to posting filtered snaps on your Instagram feed!

BE A SOCIAL MEDIA CONSULTANT

We live in a world where digital consumption is fast and pervasive. As a social media consultant, it is your job to use ideal tactics to place the company in the right direction. This includes implementing posting schedules and creating target-specific content. You must have the knowledge of SEO tools and the latest trends.

Running the website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts for smaller businesses is something you can do on the side.

BE A PROFESSIONAL FREELANCER

Maximize your spare time by becoming a professional freelancer. Websites such as Upwork or Freelance Zone allow you to apply for almost any task such as writing content, data entry, and programming. These websites allow businesses to get the additional help that they need on certain projects.

Increase your chances of earning money by providing different services in accordance with your skills and interests.

OFFER BOOKKEEPING SERVICES

Aside from being a full-time supervisor for a grocery, my uncle provides his bookkeeping services. Clients will typically come to our home to discuss their businesses. If you want to work from home and are great with numbers, consider this.

You may offer services such as creating financial statements or invoices. Invoicing tools such as Sighted and payment tools such as Due are available online to ease your load.

TRANSLATE VARIED DOCUMENTS

When I was working in a yoga studio, I came across and fitness instructor who translates documents from Italian to English. She does this for a fairly good price. It is one of the most profitable freelancing jobs in the industry. Your proficiency in a language or two is sought after in Singapore.

Advertise your services online in websites such as Craigslist and Gumtree.

BE A RESUME WRITER

It does not matter which industry you came from, you will not be there without an efficient resume or C.V. Some people pay very good money to have their personal statements on paper.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Transform your gifts with words to gold by writing job documents for a daily rate or a “per page” rate.

Sources: 1 & 2

Surefire Ways To Make Your CV Stand Out

Your heart is pounding and your sweat is drenching. Within your hands are your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and other supporting documents. You are about to answer some interview questions. An interview that can either make or break your career.

One of questions that you prepared for was: “What makes you stand out among your peers?” It is a query that underlies your attributes and characteristics. It sets you apart from the rest. This question can also be answered by a well put together CV. Highlighting your distinct characteristics can help the interviewer determine whether you are the ideal candidate for the job.

On that note, here are 5 ways to ensure that your CV stands out from your peers.

#1: PLAY WITH COLORS

Colors play a huge part in creating impressions. Red can ignite excitement while green can induce calmness. You have to understand the association between a color and your brand. This way, you can choose a palette that will best describe your brand.

Stick to darker blue hues to convey loyalty, honesty, and responsibility. Use red to convey passion, aggression, and emotion. Lastly, you may use turquoise to convey prestige and high ideals.

Do a quick search on Color Psychology to determine the colors that you can use on your CV. Use these colors to highlight the headers or as a background.

#2: LIMIT YOUR BULLETS

I, for one, tend to skip on some lengthy bullet points. As an interview, I look for at least four bullet points for each section. I do not need to know the entire story on how you became a professional! Choose your bullet points wisely.

Be specific whenever possible. You cannot put a bullet point stating that you have “improved the sales considerably”. Instead, you must use quantitative measurements (e.g., improved sales by 20% in the last quarter).

#3: CHOOSE YOUR SKILLS

When it comes to CVs, one skill seems to pop up more often. This skills is none other than communication. You see, almost all the jobs require you to have excellent communication skills. Hence, there is no need to claim it. Show off your excellent communication skills through the interview.

If you are still insisting that putting communication skills in your CV is a must, you have to give examples. Say that you have spoken in workshops or company team buildings. You may also narrate your contributions on website or on print.

#4: EMPHASIZE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Your accomplishments can set you apart from the rest. Use powerful verbs when doing so. Begin with enticing keywords such as improved, resolved, initiated, and increased. These go beyond simply stating your duties and responsibilities.

Remember to describe your previous employment experiences by highlighting how you solve the problems. This way, you stress that you added value to the company.

#5: HIGHLIGHT YOUR AWARDS

Aside from accomplishments, awards are tangible form of recognition. Include a category for awards or honors that you received throughout the years. Demonstrating that others value your contributions can greatly influence the interviewers decision.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Quality recommendations are another form of recognition. Thus, you have to select people who know your skills and accomplishments the best.

Sources: 1 & 2

6 Annoying Things That People Put In Their CV

Crafting a Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume urges you to select the type of information that you need to put in or throw behind. You are in luck! You live in an era where vast career articles can readily be pull out for you to use at any time. You may even ask your parents, co-workers, and other people surrounding you to help you with your CV.

Mistakes can be made in the actual writing of your CV,. While it is impossible to pick the brain of every hiring manager in Singapore, you can still avoid causing irritation!

KILL THE BUZZWORDS

As a budding candidate, your top priority is to impress your potential employer. I completely understand that you want to display your grammar proficiency and vocabulary prowess. However, you do not need to throw a bunch of buzzwords to shine. Do you really know the meaning of synergy and “best of bread”?

This type of words or terms will make hiring managers roll their eyes! Opt for words that highlight what you actually did such as created, managed, achieved, negotiated, and launched. Action words will show off your skills and provide weight to your profile.

STEER AWAY FROM CLICHES

Catch the recruiter’s attention without sounding too annoying by avoiding unimpressive cliches. These are either too vague or repetitive. Using flowery phrases such as “people person” and “hard worker” are difficult to prove. It is better to provide concrete examples to present your accomplishments.

Remember, much like in courtship, it is better to get creative and straight to the point!

BE CAREFUL WITH THE LABELS

I know how efficient it is to send a generic CV to all the possible employers. As an unemployed fresh graduate, this is one of the strategies that I used to partake on. If you are as guilty as I was, you must ensure that you edit the company or institution to which you are addressing the document to.

Attention to the slightest details goes beyond proofreading. It sends out a message that you are customizing your CV to the right companies. Start by labelling the file with your surname and the company’s name (e.g., Wee_Google.pdf).

REVAMP YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

You can learn a lot from a person by merely checking out his or her email handle. Well, when was the last time you’ve changed yours? Answering “while in secondary school” may not be good. Chances are, your email may be something along the lines of [email protected] or [email protected]. You do not want to get flagged by tech-savvy companies just because of your humorous email address!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Upgrade your profile by setting up a separate email for work. Choose a handle that is as similar to your name as possible. Gmail is highly recommended as it includes document sharing and group chat applications, which are helpful in the workplace.

TONE DOWN THE FONTS

Outward appearance or “face value” shapes the first impression. Recruiters and potential employers are bound to notice the document’s font and formatting before they read the contents of your CV. Thus, it is essential to keep things neat and professional.

The most acceptable fonts include Times New Roman and Arial, in font size 12 and color black. You may also apply Tahoma, Goudy Old Style, Lucida Sans, Garamond, and Century Gothic. It goes without saying that Comic Sans MS and Chiller are not welcomed in this club!

DO NOT INCLUDE EVERYTHING

The rise of modern technology urged us to evolve our technical skills. It is a common thing for recruiters to browse through a list of software that the candidate is familiar with. At this point, all of us are expected to be familiar with the Microsoft Office products (i.e., particularly Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel). Including other programs can boost your job profile. However, you do not have to add every piece of technology that you came in contact with!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

You need to be confident with your experience and skills in that area before adding it in. For instance, it is best to write “Final Cut Pro” to your CV after editing videos extensively. The same idea applies for the languages that you speak. Being part Mexican does not guarantee your proficiency in Español!

Sources: 1 & 2

Eight Possible Reasons Why Your CV Got Dumped

If you have not received any confirmation or callbacks, it is likely that your CV (Curriculum Vitae) was rejected. Why is this so?

#1: You are clearly unqualified for the job that you are applying for.

It is as simple as that! If the HR department perceives that you are submitting an irrelevant resume then, they will ignore your application. Making a significant career switch is acceptable as long as you put it in your cover letter.

#2: Your materials were unpolished.

How can you validate your sharp attention to detail if your CV and supporting documents were embellished with grammatical and typographical errors? Having someone proofread your submission will help prevent shameful mistakes and help check your cohesive thoughts.

#3: Your application got lost in the pile.

Some companies receive a massive pool of applicants on a daily basis. They need to seek help from young interns to cover the load. Novice interns may lose your premier CV in the pile. This is why you must send a follow-up after 3 days.

#4: You used an unappealing font.

I completely understand that you want to stand out from the crowd, but a funky font is not the answer. The appearance of your CV is one of the first few things that the HR Department considers. Stick to the trusty “Arial” font!

#5: You have significant employment gaps.

Job hopping has become prolific in the Singaporean workplace. Employers dread the stories of employees who suddenly went MIA. So, they watch out for applicants with significant employment gaps.

#6: You do not seem to be eager to move.

If an expanding company needs to fill a position immediately, your well-crafted resume may be ignored. It does not matter if you are the ideal candidate for the job! What matters most for some employers is your willingness to move.

#7: You used an incompatible format.

Once again, the appearance of your CV is crucial to gain the attention of the recruiters. Ensure that you are using the right type of document when sending your CV. Some companies may prefer a .pdf file, while others may opt for the .docs file.

#8: Your CV was sent thru a staffing firm.

People who have a hard time looking for a job in Singapore can hire the services of staffing or recruitment firms. The only downside is that certain companies intentionally ignore the applicants under said firms.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

You see, staffing firms require charge a substantial amount of money for every role filled. The company may think that it is better on its own.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, & 4

4 Stand-out Hobbies You Shall Put In Your C.V. To Elevate Your Employability

You may think that the “hobbies and interests” section in your Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) is rubbish but, it is not! Often underestimated by many, a good hobbies and interests section has several benefits.

First, this section gives you the opportunity to manifest your endearing personality and characteristics. Second, it allows you to support your working experience and claimed skill set. Third, it helps you create smooth conversations with the interviewer. And lastly, it helps the interviewer decide if you are culturally fit in the company you are applying for.

With all these in mind, here are the 4 Stand-out Hobbies You Shall Put In Your C.V. To Elevate Your Employability…

1. PARTICIPATING IN TEAM SPORTS

If you participate in any team sports then, do not hesitate to include it in your C.V. or resume. Team sports show your capacity to work with others in the pursuit of a goal. Furthermore, it shows that you are able to commit and learn from your mistakes. These qualities are particularly desirable in industries that need interpersonal relationships and great teamwork.

2. WRITING

An interest in writing (i.e., through making your own poetry website, writing a book, managing a blog, etc.) gives emphasis on your communication skills and creativity. These strengths are desirable in the application of editorial and public relations positions.

Aside from this, most often than not, your interviewer will be Google-ing you before your interview. And, having your own blog or website will give you an edge over others. In fact, based on personal experience, I had come to more than two interviews wherein they would compliment how interesting and how eloquent I am in my blog. From search engine optimization to social media management and language skills, having your own creative writing hobby boosts your image and offers a peek inside your beautiful mind.

3. GOING TO MUSEUMS OR READING BOOKS

You may think that putting “museum enthusiast” or “bookworm” in your C.V. is boring but, it is not! These interests allow you to showcase your thirst for knowledge and education. This quality is especially favorable if you are applying for a position as a researcher.

4. TRAVELING

Wanderlust can enjoy not only the perks of travel but also the perks of employability. Having a strong desire to explore the world gives the impression that you are brave enough to step out of your comfort zone.

While traveling, you are planning your finances and budgeting your expenses. Through this, you picked up organizational skills. While traveling, you are able to befriend a person from a different culture or even learn a local phrase or two. Through this, you picked up communication skills.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Moreover, writing that your hobbies include traveling will show that you are open to relocate. A quality that is sought after by many global companies today.

Sources: 1 & 2

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