Blogging as a Career Option
August 25, 2010
Here at Career Info Online, we’re always on the lookout for interesting resources to help you choose, find, and manage your career, so when Lynette Chandler of BlogEnergizer.com offered us an exclusive interview, we jumped on the chance to ask her a few questions about becoming a professional blogger.
The interviews with the most votes will win some cool prizes, so if you find lots of good information here, be sure to vote for us!
Can a person with no professional writing experience earn a living as a blogger?
Yes. That’s the nice part about blogging. People aren’t typically looking for professional writing. Having said that, it is always a good thing to conduct yourself and your business like a professional. Take time to check your grammar, your spelling, put out a good product (your posts are your products), put out a good design – that’s like the clothing you wear.
Would it be more effective to dedicate a lot of time and energy to getting established as an expert in a certain area, or to spread out your efforts over a few different blogs?
I’m a fan of focused targets. If you spread yourself over several places you will not get the results you expected because each of those blogs aren’t given the attention they deserve. But we can also benefit by thinking of the blog not as extension of our selves, but a brand. Instead of establishing yourself as an expert, establish the brand as the expert. Here’s what I mean. When you think of CopyBlogger, you think about a blog with awesome writing and copy ideas, advise and can’t-help-but-read subject lines 
. We know who the individual behind the site is and while Brian Clark’s influence on the blog is quite strong, the brand is just as strong if not stronger. He’s done a good job not just presenting himself but the brand as the expert.
Could You Be an Image Consultant?
August 13, 2010
By Tag and Catherine Goulet
From the FabJob Guide to Become an Image Consultant
You might have seen them while watching TV shows such as Extreme Makeover, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or What Not to Wear. Or you might have heard that Martha Stewart should have used them to give her advice on how to look sympathetic to a jury.
We’re talking about Image Consultants, and they have one of the hottest careers today.
Also known by such titles as wardrobe consultant, fashion stylist, or makeover consultant, image consultants are paid to show people how to create a fabulous impression. They might recommend wearing different colors or new styles, go through closets to toss out clothing that isn’t working, shop for a new wardrobe, and put together incredible outfits. They might advise a change of hairstyle, makeup, or grooming.
However, image is more than physical appearance. In addition to how someone looks, we also form impressions based on how someone talks and behaves. So image consultants may also advise people on their vocal communication (voice, grammar, vocabulary, etc.), non-verbal communication (handshakes, posture, eye contact, etc.) and etiquette – from dining to cell phones.
Most image consultants also develop a network of strategic partners they can refer clients to, such as hair stylists, makeup artists, nutritionists, dentists, personal trainers, plastic surgeons, and voice coaches.
7 Million Users, 15 Years Later, the MAPP Career Test is as Relevant as Ever
August 5, 2010
Every 30 seconds, someone, somewhere in the world takes the MAPP (Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential) career test. Nearly 15 years after going “live,” the MAPP test is the first and most comprehensive online career test for consumers, who receive a free partial assessment and five career matches.
Now, when nearly one in ten wage earners in the U.S. is out of work, many people are reevaluating their job and work orientation and looking for a new career with growth potential that fits their personal motivations and interests. This is exactly the type of person Assessment.com is attracting in droves, in addition to students and recent graduates.
“If your job lines up with what you love to do, you’re a lucky person,” said Henry Neils, president of Assessment.com. Neils started Assessment.com in 1994 after a distant relative showed him the 400-question written career test he had developed for the forestry business after WWII. “I took the test and it ‘nailed’ me,” Neils said. “I could see it was a diamond in the rough. But I knew I had to make it much easier for people to take and deliver it over the Internet.”
The MAPP career test has now been translated into 15 different languages and is offered by 3,500 corporate psychologists, human resource managers, outplacement firms and career counselors at high schools and universities. The 71-question test takes roughly 15 minutes to complete, and the resulting free assessment identifies the user’s work interests, talents and motivations. Users can click on five different careers to see if these are a good fit, and can upgrade to one of several packages ranging from $19.95 to $129.05 to receive a more comprehensive narrative and match themselves to all of the careers and tasks they are best suited for.
Wagele-Stabb Career Finder
August 2, 2010
The innovative Wagele-Stabb Career Finder (WSCF) was unveiled at the International Enneagram Association Conference in San Francisco this past weekend. It is the first tool to map hundreds of jobs to career competencies associated with Enneagram personality types.
The WSCF features the nine basic personality types encompassing 45 career strengths, such as logical thinking, empathy and social networking. The tool then matches the personality type and career strengths with corresponding jobs in fields such as business, entertainment, information technology, health care, government, and education. The Career Finder also features green jobs, high-growth jobs, and recession-proof jobs. Each job is rated according to the career strengths required for that line of work.
“For each Enneagram style you will find thoughtful and clear descriptions of how each style relates to the spectrum of career choices and a powerful method to determine the path that best fits you. You will discover what career best fits for your style and, in the process, a more fulfilling life.”
David Daniels, M.D., author of The Essential Enneagram
(available from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca)
Stabb and Wagele are co-authors of The Career Within You which was released earlier this year and may be ordered from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. They developed the unique Career Finder tool while writing the book, which helps people find rewarding and fulfilling careers based on personality.
Get That Fab Job on a Cruise Ship!
June 25, 2010
By Julie E. Botteri
From the FabJob Guide To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship
Getting a job on a cruise ship is based on a simple equation:
Ships + Passengers = Crew Members
And, with more “homeports” now for cruise ships in America and Canada, there are increasing demands on the cruise lines to select staff from North America. What does this mean for you? Jobs are always available.
As long as the cruise lines are in business, they need staff and crew to serve and entertain the passengers. They need you!
Some simple preparation can help launch your career, so here are 10 steps to breaking into this fab job based on the FabJob Guide To Get A Job On A Cruise Ship:
1. Learn about cruising.
You aren’t required to know everything about cruising. However, employers are impressed by applicants who go the extra mile to show they have a sincere interest in the cruise industry. Do you know the difference between Port and Starboard? Aft and Forward? What are Tenders? These are everyday terms you will need to become familiar with. Reading travel magazines and books and watching the Travel Channel on television is a great start too.
Find the Career Within You
June 11, 2010
Career expert Ingrid Stabb has her finger on the pulse of Gen Y, as this generation seeks meaningful careers that incorporate their natural talents and personality.
Stabb, based in San Francisco, is co-author of The Career Within You, an engaging book that is helping graduates find the right career that will be rewarding and fulfilling. She also is the primary adviser to GenJuice, a global network of young college graduates and innovators going on tour to thirteen cities around the United States.
In her advisory role, Stabb is helping the Gen-Y trend-setting recent college graduates innovate and attract the tools and support they need to see their projects to fruition. Designed as a guide for young innovators of all stripes, The Career Within You helps graduates determine their greatest strengths and forge a path that optimizes their talents.
Recent college graduates can become dismayed if they find that their new career field isn’t a good fit for the long term. Stabb said that after college graduation, young people need inspiration, hope and fulfilling projects. Job satisfaction is at a decades-long low, under-employment is historically high and unfortunately 20-somethings are the worst hit. According to The Conference Board only 32 percent of people under 25 are satisfied with how they make a living. Twenty-five percent of employees are just “showing up to collect a paycheck.”
The Career Within You is available from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.
Have a Creative Career as a Cake Decorator
June 4, 2010
By Tag and Catherine Goulet
From the FabJob Guide to Become a Cake Decorator
If you love cake decorating, imagine getting paid to do what you love! You can when you start your own cake decorating business.
Jennifer James, author of the FabJob Guide to Become a Cake Decorator, says there are many benefits when you become a professional cake decorator and start a cake decorating business (also known as a cake design business).
“There’s never been a better time to start up a cake decorating business,” says Jennifer. “With the low-carb craze over with, there has been a return to the idea of eating for pleasure, thanks largely to the popular book French Women Don’t Get Fat. Single servings and the personal touch are in — cupcakes are very popular right now, as are gourmet mini-cakes.”
Cake decorators tap into the fact that people love to feel special, and are always looking for something new and unique. Clients who are tired of the supermarket’s tired-old sheet cake with a cartoon character are looking for handmade, out-of-the ordinary cakes that truly reflect the theme of the celebration… and when they do, they’ll come to you.
Cakes are getting more creative all the time, and the only limitation is your imagination. Three-dimensional designs are in vogue right now, resulting in cakes that look like pillows, animals, handbags, or whatever you can dream up. Contemporary cake towers rising up many feet in the air and can lean every which way, stabilized by mysterious forces known only to the cake decorator (that is, you!)
And it doesn’t stop there. How about a cake + cupcake combo, with each cupcake sporting a unique design, or personalized for each guest? Floral toppers or edible pearls just might complete an elegant look perfectly. The finishing materials (glazes and dusting powders) available on today’s market let you give your cake and decorations a look that is so real, your clients will hardly believe they are made of sugar.
Changing Careers Requires a Fresh Perspective
May 13, 2010
One topic that hits home for North Americans dealing with economic uncertainty is how to make a meaningful career change. Many are seeking practical advice on how to adapt to the changing economy in order to advance in their present career or get a job in a new one.
Communications expert David Cunningham of Landmark Education was recently interviewed by Random House author and Wall Street Journal columnist Alexandra Levit. They talked about how a change in perspective can provide the keys for people to get unstuck and launch a new career.
Levit, author of New Job, New You: A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career, says: “A lot of people are feeling very stuck in this current climate. Either they’re in a job that they feel is not personally meaningful or they’re just not sure what the next step is to take.”
Cunningham outlined some tips for career changers to give them power and explore their opportunities. To avoid confusing the facts of their situation with their interpretations of those facts, he suggested making two separate lists. The first should list the facts of their situation, such as salary and opportunities for promotion. The second list is for added thoughts such as “I’m not successful enough,” “We’re going to have trouble paying our bills,” or “I’m not going to be able to retire.”
“When you go to work on just the facts versus what you add to them, you get a lot of power,” Cunningham says.
New Job, New You: A Guide to Reinventing Yourself in a Bright New Career is available from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.
Public Speaking as a Career Option
May 3, 2010
An interesting article was published recently on the Online Universities blog, about the 10 Highest-Paid Public Speakers In the World. It’s hard to believe that some people make millions of dollars just for one speaking gig!
Of course, we’re talking here about well-known businessmen and politicians, and not your average Joe, but everyone has to start somewhere, and you don’t have to be world famous to become a successful public speaker. There are probably thousands, if not millions, of people all over the world who would gladly pay to learn what you already know.
If you’d like to earn a good income speaking at conferences, seminars, schools, colleges, or corporate training programs, check out the FabJob Guide to Become a Motivational Speaker. It’s full of expert advice from successful speakers, and including insider tips on how to:
- Sound like a polished professional speaker
- Get speeches written for you
- Get hired to speak for conferences, seminar companies, conventions, corporations, schools, colleges, cruise ships, non-profit organizations, and continuing education programs
- Get jobs through speakers agencies
- Profitably present your own seminars
The print book includes a bonus CD-ROM with forms and samples you can use in starting your own business.
Order the FabJob Guide to Become a Motivational Speaker.
How to Break Into a Fab Job as an Event Planner
April 22, 2010
By Jan L. Riddell
From the FabJob Guide to Become an Event Planner
A village feast to welcome home hunters in the wilds of Borneo and a glittering fund-raiser soiree at a swanky New York hotel may not sound like they have much in common, but they do have at least one similarity.
Someone, somewhere, got the ball rolling and using a little resourcefulness, creativity and sheer determination successfully pulled off a spectacular event. (Well, someone had to figure out how much food and drink was required at the feast and where the chief would sit!) That person is an event planner.
If event planning sounds like it could be your dream career, here are 7 steps to become an event planner, based on the FabJob Guide to Become an Event Planner by Jan L. Riddell, Carol Palmatier and Peter J. Gallanis.
