The Importance of Maintaining a Consistent Personal Brand

The Importance of Maintaining a Consistent Personal BrandThe Importance of Maintaining a Consistent Personal Brand3Just as businesses of all sizes are protective of their brands, you should be protective of your personal brand, and use it as a tool to build your career. Making personal branding work in your job searchshows that youre boththoughtful and deliberate in your career strategy, and smart about building a personal brand that enhances your profile- and your reputation- both online and in person.Why is it important to maintain a consistent personal brand?Hiring managers are scouring the web, just like everyone else for them, the goal is often researching job applicants. Stay ahead of the game by making sure that when your name pops up in a search engine, theyll find information thats flattering, informative, and shows you in your best light.A consistent personal brand lets potential employers know that youre goal-oriented and have a master plan for your career- or at least a f ocused strategy to achieve your goals.A consistent personal brand is a marketing tool that serves as your own personal billboard, one that evolves and changes over time. Use your personal brand to tell your own story, explain your core values, and offer details about skills and passions that may not come up in traditional job-search formats.What steps can you take to maintain a consistent personal brand?Build a strong social media profile that catches the attention of recruiters. Use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other platforms to craft and display a professional profile thats frequently updated with information about your professional assets (skip any personal tidbits that may come across as examples of poor judgment on your part).Blog or create a website to showcase your expertise in a particular area. What better way to show what you know than to create your own content? Providing a professional blog or website with great insightful posts and information thats rele vant to your targeted industry shows youve done your homework when it comes to nourishing a personal brand.As a job applicant, make sure that your resume and cover letter sparkle, are as error-free as you can make them, and are customized for each position. Think of both as calling cards craft them to have an immediate and lasting impact in what may be just the few seconds a recruiter spends reading them.Your professional network affords great opportunities to promote a consistent personal brand. Find ways to grow your professional networkby attending professional events and reaching out to current and former colleagues to market yourself and shape your professional identity.Readers, do you have a strategy for promoting a consistent personal brand? What tips can you share with other job seekers?

This 1 sentence summarizes the entire Millennial generation

This 1 sentence summarizes the entire Millennial generationThis 1 sentence summarizes the entire Millennial generationAmbition is an admirable trait. Impatience is bedrngnis.I am a Millennial. I am 28 years old. Most of my friends are Millennials. My peers are, of course, Millennials.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraSo, in terms of the great debate of what makes a successful (or unsuccessful) Millennial, I landbinnensee what works and what doesnt based on the performance of those around me.Let me tell youThere is no shortage of ambitious Millennials.We are labeled as the Generation with the most potential.We know the internet inside and out?- ?yet we see value in detoxing from our screens.Were old enough to understand how the world works, but naive enough to chase big ideas in the name of leaving our dent in the universe.We are mature enough for people to take us seriously, but y oung enough not to take ourselves too seriously.Were at the perfect age for greatness.Unfortunately, many Millennials think their age is enoughI hate to be the one to admit this, but the stereotype that Millennials are impatient is true.Now, are Millennials all like this?No, certainly not?- ?no sweeping generalization is ever 100 percent accurate. But in more cases than not, its the impatient Millennials that end up living a life of dreams instead of realities.Its not that they arent smart or full of potential. Its not that theyre incapable.Its simply that they operate under the faulty belief that being young, somewhat digitally savvy, and ambitious is enough.And its not.Ambition gets you nowhereIts like sitting in a sports car and revving the engine but never putting the car in drive.So many Millennials talk about what theyre going to do to change the world.We are master advocates for action.Were the generation that took the we can change the world motif and took it viral. We have, as a generation, fundamentally changed the way people see their own potential.The problem is that ambition and action are not the same thing. And as quickly as those videos and sound clips and messages have gone viral, they have also dissipated into the ether, never to be brought into reality.As a result, we have given ourselves (as an entire generation) a label we argue furiously isnt ours. We scream action while simultaneously clicking next on Netflix. We expect results that take years to magically appear within weeks, days, or even seconds. I even know of Millennials that, at the infant age of 26, complain about their day jobs with the assumption that they could easily get into consulting because consulting is just coming up with ideas.This one sentence summarizes the entire Millennial generationI want to be the one who comes up with the idea, not the person who executes on it.Thats the problemThe world doesnt need more ideas. Ideas are easy. Ideas are as abundant as air itself. What the world needs is more hands on deck, more doers, more builders?- ?more people who know the value of patience, and who can take something that sounds great in theory and work to bring it to life.Because let me tell you The way an idea starts is never the way the idea ends.What sounds like utopia often turns out to be a complicated web of inconsistencies.And any idea that is immediately validated because it sounds good usually turns out to be a weak or worthless idea.Ambition = IdeasScrew ideas.Stop trying to be the person who sits on a couch and throws verbal paint at a wall. Stand up. bestattungs a marker. And get to work.Youre making those of us who truly believe we can change the world look bad.This article originally appeared on Inc. Magazine.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your produ ctivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong peopleThis 1 sentence summarizes the entire Millennial generationAmbition is an admirable trait.Impatience is not.I am a Millennial. I am 28 years old. Most of my friends are Millennials. My peers are, of course, Millennials.So, in terms of the great debate of what makes a successful (or unsuccessful) Millennial, I see what works and what doesnt based on the performance of those around me.Let me tell youThere is no shortage of ambitious Millennials.We are labeled as the Generation with the most potential.We know the internet inside and out?- ?yet we see value in detoxing from our screens.Were old enough to understand how the world works, but naive enough to chase big ideas in the name of leaving our dent in the universe.We are mature enough for people to take us seriously, but young enough not to take ourselves too seriously.Were at the perfect age for greatness.Unfortunately, ma ny Millennials think their age is enoughI hate to be the one to admit this, but the stereotype that Millennials are impatient is true.Now, are Millennials all like this?No, certainly not?- ?no sweeping generalization is ever 100 percent accurate. But in more cases than not, its the impatient Millennials that end up living a life of dreams instead of realities.Its not that they arent smart or full of potential. Its not that theyre incapable.Its simply that they operate under the faulty belief that being young, somewhat digitally savvy, and ambitious is enough.And its not.Ambition gets you nowhereIts like sitting in a sports car and revving the engine but never putting the car in drive.So many Millennials talk about what theyre going to do to change the world.We are master advocates for action.Were the generation that took the we can change the world motif and took it viral. We have, as a generation, fundamentally changed the way people see their own potential.The problem is that ambi tion and action are not the same thing. And as quickly as those videos and sound clips and messages have gone viral, they have also dissipated into the ether, never to be brought into reality.As a result, we have given ourselves (as an entire generation) a label we argue furiously isnt ours. We scream action while simultaneously clicking next on Netflix. We expect results that take years to magically appear within weeks, days, or even seconds. I even know of Millennials that, at the infant age of 26, complain about their day jobs with the assumption that they could easily get into consulting because consulting is just coming up with ideas.This one sentence summarizes the entire Millennial generationI want to be the one who comes up with the idea, not the person who executes on it.Thats the problemThe world doesnt need more ideas. Ideas are easy. Ideas are as abundant as air itself.What the world needs is more hands on deck, more doers, more builders?- ?more people who know the value of patience, and who can take something that sounds great in theory and work to bring it to life.Because let me tell you The way an idea starts is never the way the idea ends.What sounds like utopia often turns out to be a complicated web of inconsistencies.And any idea that is immediately validated because it sounds good usually turns out to be a weak or worthless idea.Ambition = IdeasScrew ideas.Stop trying to be the person who sits on a couch and throws verbal paint at a wall. Stand up. Grab a marker. And get to work.Youre making those of us who truly believe we can change the world look bad.This article originally appeared on Inc. Magazine.

Vitamin sea The importance of taking an annual vacation

Vitamin sea The importance of taking an annual vacationVitamin sea The importance of taking an annual vacationAre you the type of person who looks forward to the next vacation on the first day back from the last one? Or, do you find it hard to switch off and spend your time off checking and responding to work emails? Perhaps you worry so much about whether your work will be picked up while you are away that you end up putting off holidays and stay in the office instead?If you feel anxious about taking your annual leave, youre elend the only one. Recent research by Hilton revealed that over 25% of Brits in full-time employment dont use their annual leave with over a third (38%) stating that work pressures stand between us and time away from the office. We know from our own research and experience that 33% of employees regularly work overtime, meaning were all in desperate need of time away from our desks and holidays are the best way to help you recharge your batteries.Whilst many may think that theyre doing their employer a favor by missing their time off, they could, in fact, be doing the opposite. Whilst working hard will help anyone to get ahead, going through your work on autopilot whilst stressed and exhausted both physically and mentally isnt beneficial for anyone.Learning to check in with yourself will prevent burnout, and the use of annual leave will enable you to disconnect, re-charge and could also improve your productivity upon your return.Everyone needs to recharge their batteriesA break from the daily grind whether its on the beach or exploring a new city, or even just time off at home to explore local landmarks and museums will not only benefit your working life, it will undoubtedly benefit your personal life too. Traveling or taking time off can open your mind to new cultures and experiences, improve your physical health or offer you a chance to work on relationships with the people you care about. Even simply turning off your emails and dedi cating your time to activities and people you enjoy the company of can allow you to feel refreshed and revitalized.If a longer break seems out of reach, why not book in some long weekends? Consider taking the occasionalMondayorFridayaway from work to provide a shorter working week and a longer period for resting. Why not use this time to try something new, visit old friends or simply take time to enjoy things just for you. Investing in yourself and having face-to-face time with friends and family instead of relying on social media will do wonders for your mood.Learn to switch offTake a moment and think about all the devices you have access to from your car to your phone and computer. Have you ever noticed how they all have the ability to hibernate or switch to do not disturb mode?ansicht functions save battery life. If you have too many tabs, apps or files open your device will become sluggish. In this sense, humans are the same. If your body and mind is switched on in work mode 24 /7, it results in inefficient performance, errors, and exhaustion, as well as mood changes such as low productivity, low tolerance levels and becoming more sensitive.We know from our own research that 40% of employees regularly check emails whilst on holiday, but taking a digital detox can be incredibly refreshing. It gives you time to enjoy life in the here and now instead of analyzing other aspects of life. Its never been easier for us to stay connected and receive updates, but its easy to forget that this isnt always the best for your general health and wellbeing.Take time to do something for yourselfRest is an important part of maintaining positive wellbeing and reducing stress levels. Therefore its essential that employees should always take their full holiday entitlement each year. Research from The London Economic suggests that the average Brit is only able to relax for 11 days a year. This is because many workers use their annual leave to complete chores and life admin that they simply cant do whilst at work. Although it may be tempting to use your annual leave in such a way, this doesnt give you enough time to rest and re-energize.Be organizedFor some, a lack of organization may prevent them from making the most of their time off. Waiting until the last minute to book leave is a risky strategy as many of your colleagues may already have booked their time off.On the other hand, if you get carried away and use all your holiday entitlement at the beginning of the year, or want to make a holiday longer without taking too many extra days out of the office, plan ahead and book your holidays around bank holidays.Finally, try not to feel guilty about taking the breaks youre due. Your holiday entitlement is part of your employment and you earn your allocated days off. Think of it as part of your salary you wouldnt give half of that way, would you?Laura Little is theLearning and Development Manager at CABA - the charity that supports chartered accountants well being. Explore the tools you need to successfully manage your time and the ways this can improve everyday life both at work and at home with CABAs free online course, Time management and personal planning. To find out more information and view the course, clickhere.This article first appeared on YourCoffeeBreak.