Seven ways to increase your value as an employee

By Craig Boyle

In a job market that’s teeming with fierce competition from all angles, how can the average employee make themselves more appealing to current and future employers?

The UK and many other global job markets are strengthening, meaning there are more jobs and people in work than ever before – so it’s vital as a jobseeker or employee that you utilise all of your skills to stand out from the crowd. Here are seven ways to do just that.

1. Go beyond a degree

While this is more applicable to job-seekers than those already in careers, it can apply to both. A degree is not the bridge to employment it once was. Now, taking your education further than bachelor’s level differentiates you between the good and the great.

An MA, or equivalent makes, you stand out and shows that you’re keen to specialise. For those dedicated and fortunate enough to afford one, a PHD is a real head-turner. If you’re already in a job, studying an Open University course or putting yourself forward for any qualifications or team development programmes available will show you’re keen to excel.

2. Understand company goals

A job isn’t just a wage. If you’re employed you need to be committed to the overall goals of the company. Talk to your employer in every review and make sure you’re up to date with the direction and desire of the business. If you’re on the same page, you can help make suggestions and give relevant advice that your employer will appreciate.

3. Master digital

Almost any role benefits from the use of social media and digital marketing skills. Any employee can learn some basic online skills and help boost their company profile. Any awards? Share them on your social media. Any new news or staff acquisitions? Shout about them on LinkedIn and endorse your fellow employees. Play an active role in the online presence of your company and you’ll be noticed.

Another great way to show off your willingness to learn and expand is starting a personal blog or website. While this might not directly affect your employer or company, you’ll be learning and showing off your digital skills. You’ll also learn a basic level of marketing and self-promotion as you try and promote your site. Use these new skills to help your employer and also make your CV stand out.

4. Master communication

Depending on the size of your office and the working environment, you’ll quickly ascertain which style of communication is preferable. If your boss sends you a lot of emails, respond in kind. If they’re more of an in-person talker, ensure you also approach him/her for a talk whenever you have an issue. Mirroring their style ensures you’ll keep them comfortable. A relaxed and communicative boss is a good one.

5. Enjoy yourself!

An under-rated aspect of a good employee is positivity. If you’re happy at work you’ll be bringing energy and excitement to your fellow employees and the job. If you’re negative and miserable it will be noticed.

Obviously, nobody can be happy all of the time. Ensure you’re on good terms with your boss by communicating frequently so that you can address any issues that are upsetting you.

6. Manage yourself

Even in the most laid-back roles, you should be able to keep yourself both organised and punctual. Ensure you arrive at work at or before the agreed time and don’t just rush away when it’s time to leave. Get your work for the day finished, even if it means staying a little bit late. No good boss expects you to stay all night, but an extra fifteen or thirty minutes to get stuff completed will be noticed.

If you turn up late, apologise and stay behind to make up for it. If you’re a naturally untidy person, endeavour to keep your work organised. Few employers will care what your workspace looks like as long as it’s not an eyesore, but you’ll benefit personally from good organisation.

7. Never settle

A good working environment is a positive and determined one, where employees are working together to contribute to a company they enjoy working at. Make yourself stand out by being a driven, motivated, punctual and skilful worker who never settles and always strives to improve. Put yourself forward for challenges and do your best to impress in meetings. Do not get lazy in your role, no matter how comfortable you are. Make your employer take notice of you by going above and beyond!

http://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/seven-ways-to-increase-your-value-as-an-employee

Meet Lizzie Velaquez, the 'world's ugliest woman'! She will inspire you!

Lizzie Velásquez

 Elizabeth Ann Velásquez suffers from a disease that is so rare, that it is believed only two other persons in the world suffer from the disease. The disease prevents her from accumulating fat because she was born with no adipose tissue. She has zero percent body fat and has never weighed more than 29 kg (64 pounds). She can’t gain weight and has to eat small meals throughout the day, up to as much as sixty times. She has to eat food containing high calorie every fifteen to twenty minutes to keep her energy level high. Her condition also causes her to have an aging skin. She is totally blind in her right eye and her left vision is impaired.

 

She was so small at birth that her parents had to by dolls clothes for her because baby clothes were too big for her. She doesn't take medication but she relies on vitamin supplements and iron to stay healthy.  Medical experts think she will be able to conceive naturally and won’t transfer the condition to her children.

Lizzie’s story is such a huge inspiration. Despite her condition, she has chosen to carry on with life. Though doctors never gave her a chance; her parents were told at birth that she would never be able to talk, walk or live a normal life but she has defied such predictions and is going strong. She chose to live!

An object of bully, both physical and cyber (In fact, she came to international attention when someone posted a video of hers on YouTube with the caption “The World’s Ugliest Woman”), she has chosen to ignore negative comments and reactions to her. She has chosen to live a beautiful life and she is inspiring many today. The wicked video led her to start her own YouTube channel. She wanted to make a change. She wanted people to know who she really was and also teach others to be confident in their skin. What a brave woman! Her channel has about 240,000 subscribers.

Lizzie's family

Lizzie Velaquez refused to give up on life. She went to school and is now a university graduate. She has written two books. She is now into advocacy and motivational speaking. In her first book, Be Beautiful, Be You, she advises on how to deal with negativity and how to maintain one’s uniqueness. Choosing Happiness is her second book and in it, she shares her life story, especially the difficulties she has faced in life. She also talks about the importance of choosing to be happy no matter the odds against one. Lizzie has accomplished in her short years living what many will never achieve in a lifetime. She has refused to be deterred by her circumstances. She chose to rise above her unpalatable circumstances and she is living her life to the fullest. Her story has been produced into a documentary, through which she teaches how to triumph over adversity. She has refused to be a victim. She is determined to make a change. What a beautiful woman through and through! Lots of love Lizzie!

Read the inspirational story of Lacey Merrifield, a four-year old girl born without arms

Lacey Merrifield is a popular, happy, well adjusted average 4 year old little girl. That is with one exception, Lacey was born without arms. As hard as doctors searched for a reason, or diagnosis for her condition they could not find one. Lacey’s condition remains a mystery. However that does not stop this little girl from being a wonderful gift from God. She is a true inspiration to anyone struggling in life. Lacey struggles to learn, and do everyday things that most of us take for granted. The way she just takes everything as it comes, and does her best until she conquers it, is truly a valuable lesson for many of us able bodied people. She is proof life is what you make it. She is a great example for others to see that no matter what happens in life persevere, and never give up.

Source: http://faithreel.com/little-girl-without-arms-is-living-everyday-to-the-fullest-shes-proof-life-is-what-you-make-it/

CAREER ADVICE TIPS FOR RECENT GRADUATES BY BRIAN TRACY

More and more students are eager to work that have college degrees and there is more competition every year.

Are you looking for a little job advice for recent graduates?

If you experience any of these fears:

You’re eager to put your new college degree to use but don’t have your perfect job lined up.
You’re worried that you may have a lack of experience.
You’re unsure of what industry you should be in.
You’ve never been interviewed and aren’t sure how to prepare.
Do not worry. Everyone worries about this situation after graduation, and I have some career advice for you.

Here are 10 business tips for recent college graduates that will help you choose a career path that is right for you, and land that job out of college that you really want.

1) DON’T LET THE WORLD DECIDE YOUR PATH

Sit down and make a list and a plan of your ideal situation. Ask yourself:

What kind of work that you really enjoy doing?
If you weren’t getting paid what kind of work would you enjoy doing?
What activities in your past have been responsible for your success?
Making a plan will help put you on the right path to getting a great job.


2) INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING

Before an interview, do research on the company and overall industry you are interviewing for. When you have your interview, you will be able to tell the interviewer about the industry and ask questions such as:

“Where do you see this industry going in the next 3 to 5 years?”
The more questions you ask, and the more you control the interview.

Don’t think of the interview as applying for a job. Think of it as doing an investigation to see if the company or even the industry is right for you. Sometimes you will find that you don’t care for either. What you really want from a first interview is information.

This information includes:

Information on what you will be doing.
Information on the company and company culture.
Information on the industry and the industries main competitors.
RESEARCH THE COMPANY FULLY BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW

When you have an interview you must do extensive research on a company. For a one-hour interview, you should do 3 hours of research into the company.

When your do research for your interview, look at these things:

Who will be interviewing you?
The company’s website.
The industry the company is in.
It’s main competitors.
The products they sell.
The company culture.
Find out as much as you possibly can about the company before your interview. You will be able to ask pertinent questions about the business, the industry and the people and get much more out of the initial interview.

3) CHOOSE YOUR BOSS WITH CARE

Make sure that you are comfortable with and like your boss. Your boss will have an influence on your pleasure, enjoyment and success in your career more than anyone else.

4) ASK FOR MORE RESPONSIBILITIES

When you finish a task at your new job, don’t sit on your hands and wait for someone to give you a new task. Ask for more responsibility.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ASK FOR MORE RESPONSIBILITY:

Your boss grows to trust that if there is a job that needs to be done you can do it.
The more responsibility you ask for, the more you will be rewarded.
Here is a video that recaps my first 4 points, as well as tells a story about how asking for more responsibility, broke my career wide open.



5) CHOOSE SOMETHING YOU LOVE OVER MONEY

This is a time where you are able to really get to know yourself and find what you love to do.

This may be a hard thing to think about in the short run, especially if finding a job is hard.

But think about this:

Would you rather end up in a career that you hate or be doing something that you truly love for the rest of your life?


6) CHECK THESE CAREER WEBSITES FOR LEADS ON GETTING A JOB IN YOUR FIELD


There are hundreds of career websites that you can use to look for jobs. I’ve included a few here:

LinkedIn
Indeed
Simply Hired
Monster
Craigslist

7) YOUR EDUCATION NEVER ENDS

Don’t worry, this is a good thing . . .

You will always be learning new things, reading new books and developing yourself to be the very best version of you. You will be trained in new facets of a position and gain expertise and knowledge.

Be open to this change.

8) USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR NETWORKING

There are always opportunities to network:

Social media websites such as LinkedIn make it easier that before to get in touch with professionals in your field. Many companies who are hiring actively seek out young professionals on LinkedIn. Ensure that you have an updated resume and skills list posted on your profile.

Use Facebook to network with your peers from college. Perhaps they also know someone in an industry you would like to work in.

9) WHAT MICROSOFT, HULU AND JULEP EXECUTIVES HAVE TO SAY

“The ability to learn quickly and adapt quickly is critical no matter what role you’re going in for.” –Julie Green, VP of Digital at Julep

A panel of tech executives at Western University’s Leadership forum discussed career advice for recent grads. Read more about what they said from this blog here.

10) STAY POSITIVE

Always think positively.

Remember these two tips for when you interview:

Your interview starts in the parking lot.
Your interview ends when you leave the building.
Even if you are having trouble in the interview process, always keep a positive outlook.

Preparation, experience, and a positive attitude will eventually lead you to the perfect job for you.


About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined.


Source:
http://www.briantracy.com/blog/business-success/career-advice-tips-for-recent-college-graduates/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=personal-success&utm_content=june615-blog-career-tips-for-graduates