9 Ways You Procrastinate Without Realizing It

9 Ways You Procrastinate Without Realizing It We are all guilty of falling prey to procrastination. Whilst we should (and rightly do) feel guilty about watching that new Netflix series when we really ought to have been working, there are lots of ways that we procrastinate on a daily basis without realizing it. These can build up if unchecked, wasting lots of your time and reducing your work output. Here are some of the ways we’re subconsciously escaping putting our nose to the grindstone: 1) Snacking Constant trips to the kitchen, either at home or at work, and hunting through the fridge and cupboards for yet another snack can take up far more of your time than you might initially realize. Especially as this can lead to you engaging in meaningless chit-chat with your colleagues. Next time you’re about to make your 4th cup of tea, think about whether you’re really going to drink it or if it’s just a great way of escaping your emails for 5 minutes. 2) Smoking There are many reasons why we smoke; as well as the addictive powers of the substances in cigarettes, the aspect of isolation and time out from the pressures of conversations and the working day can also prove addictive. Consider whether your last cigarette was a result of nicotine cravings, or simply a valid means of escaping the office and your colleagues. 3) Messaging on social media Getting through a large quantity of messages on social media can feel like a highly productive use of time, reaching out to lots of people. But what is this really achieving? Often we feel as though we’re just ‘checking’ Facebook, but this can lead to extensive time caught up in someone else’s photos, and before you know it ten minutes have passed. In fact, we spend an average of 50 minutes a day on Facebook alone. Consider who you actually need to message, and whether you’re actually saying something important, as opposed to just maintaining a meaningless conversation. 4) Cooking Whilst it’s always great to have a healthy diet of home cooked, nutritious meals, consider whether you’re using time in the kitchen to avoid getting your work done. Did you really need to bake that last batch of cookies, or are they just a great way of avoiding that tricky email you really need to send? 5) Commuting Whilst your commute is very likely a necessary part of your day, long commutes can equal a huge amount of time down the drain. Spending an hour on the tube simply waiting to arrive at your destination is just as bad as an hour of procrastination. You can utilise your journey in a whole host of different ways, from reading and listening to podcasts to learning a new language or preparing for a presentation. 6) Tidying and cleaning A tidy house means a tidy mind, and it’s always important to keep the space where you work organised. But did the hallway need hoovering again? And did you need 2 weeks’ worth of shirts ironed right this minute? Whilst being overly obsessive with cleaning or tidying may just be a part of your personality, also be aware that it may signify a subconscious effort to avoid other tasks or work. 7) Grocery shopping If you plan ahead and make a comprehensive shopping list, you realistically only need to do a big food shop once a week â€" and with the convenience of modern technology, you can even get this shop delivered right to your door. Popping to the shop every morning or afternoon to pick up one or two more items can be a huge waste of time. Plan ahead, make a list, and stop going back to the shop every 5 minutes. 8) Doing work to avoid work Whilst this may sound ridiculous, one of the best ways to trick yourself into avoiding the hard work that really needs doing is to get on with other, easier or less pressured tasks. Whilst you may have a difficult essay due next week, working on a presentation for a month’s time away still feels productive. Avoid this form of procrastination by listing your work tasks in order or priority and deadline, and getting on with the top of the list first! 9) Making lists and over-organizing Whilst in certain situations (like point 8!) making a list or writing down an organised plan can hugely benefit your levels of productivity, over-organizing can waste a lot of your time. Making lists about every last thing, and colour coding your plan to the extent where you can barely read it anymore is certainly not an effective use of your time. Watch that you don’t fall into the trap of feeling productive when all you’ve done is outlined all the things that need your attention! Alexandra Jane  is the writer of  graduate careers advice  for Inspiring Interns, a  graduate recruitment  agency. Check out their website to see which  internships  and  graduate marketing jobs  are currently available. . Main image credit.

Teaching Resume Writing Tips - How to Create a Student Resume With the Right Prescribing

Teaching Resume Writing Tips - How to Create a Student Resume With the Right PrescribingIf you want to land a teaching job with ease, then you need to prepare your teaching resume writing. Doing this will help you not only get that dream teaching job you've been looking for, but it will also make sure that you're as prepared as possible in order to succeed in your career.First and foremost, PPT (or teaching resume) must be unique and all about you. Of course, the other teacher's resume might be similar, but there are no two resumes that are exactly alike. You must come up with a teaching resume that is different, and this is where resume writing tips can help you.You can use these tips to come up with a teaching resume that will catch the teacher's potential employers' attention. However, as you'll see below, this doesn't mean that you have to reinvent the wheel; you can just take a cue from the professional.In fact, I suggest that you don't completely scrap your current resume but r ather utilize the pointers above to create a great, unique resume for your PPT. You should also review the sample PPT in order to make sure that you come up with a good writing style.Remember that your PPT should stand out from the rest. If it's an old resume that you've been working on for a long time, it may seem like it's stuck in the past. However, it doesn't have to feel that way. By bringing something new to the table, you will be showing that you're in it for the long haul.Another reason why you should not simply write your resume in the same way as everybody else's is because they may use templates. The same template may seem attractive, but if it has too many spelling errors, it's only going to get them dismissed faster than you can say 'no homo'. Therefore, the best thing you can do is be unique but follow the guide to come up with a good teaching resume.Your resume for your PPT can contain all of the specific information and facts that you think they are looking for. For example, when they are searching for a teacher that has creative, expressive writing skills, you want to have a unique section that can show that you've got those skills.Additionally, you can include in your PPT a paragraph or two that details your professional experiences. This is especially useful for students who are writing their PPTs, as it can help them get the information out there without distracting from the main point of the teaching resume. In addition, it gives them a chance to think about what exactly they've written.

Spring Clean Your Job Search

Spring Clean Your Job Search Spring is here and its time for some spring cleaning. That goes for your career strategy as well.  Have you given any thought to trimming your bloated, outdated resume or banking some of your new networking contacts to help advance your job prospects  this season? Here are 7 easy steps you can take right now to get your career on course and ensure you are prepared for future opportunities.Ditch toxic people.  You know the ones Im talking about. They are the people who say no one is hiring, youre too old to find a new job, you make too much money, youd be crazy to change careersthe list goes on and on. These people rarely add any real value to your career goals. Find people who can support you or hire a professional to help you chart your career course.Put your resume on a diet.  Has the waistline of your resume expanded to 3+ pages? Are you still dedicating a half page to detailing information about your client base in 1999? Is you resume packed with information about company cours es you completed back in the eighties? Remove this unnecessary poundage from your resume and create a sleeker, more streamlined message of value. If you like to diet alone, heres a  resume guide  to help you. And if you need someone to help you whittle your resume down to a respectable size,  let me know.Give your LinkedIn profile a makeover.  How old is the picture on your profile? Does it need to be updated? Is the information current? Does the headline show only your current job title or does it convey more about your message of value and expertise? Have you paid attention to the skills section and have you created a customized URL to improve your chances of being found? If you are totally baffled by LinkedIn and social media in general,  we should talk.  A resume is no longer enough and you will need a strong online identity to compete for the best opportunities in 2017.Make new friends.  Has your network gone stale? Do people in your professional community know what you are up to and do you communicate with them regularly? Now might be a good time to catch up by phone, grab coffee, or exchange an email to touch base.Practice interviewing.  If a great opportunity became available tomorrow, would you be ready to pitch yourself to a hiring manager? If not, heres a  free app for interview prep  that can help.Benchmark your salary.  Do you know what you are worth? Have you been in the same job or same company for a long time and has your salary become less competitive? Check out sites like  Payscale  and  Glassdoor  to do a quick audit.Do something for someone else.  Help someone with a personal or professional project, volunteer in your community, recommend a colleague on LinkedIn, or make an important introduction for someone. The more you give, the more you get. Start giving now and youll be getting back by the end of the season or maybe even sooner.

The No Complaining Rule for Job Seekers

The No Complaining Rule for Job Seekers I just finished reading Jon Gordons book  The No Complaining Rule.  According to Jon, people complain either because they feel fearful and helpless or because it has become a habit. He goes on to state that Complaining can be a gift if we use it correctly. Once we know what we dont like, we can decide what we do like and act on it. We can use complaining as a catalyst for positive change. As I discussed yesterday, there are a lot of things to  complain about in a job search.  It can be a frustrating process. Here are some common job search complaints and some strategies for implementing The No Complaining Rule to move past them.  My resume isnt working. When job seekers dont get interviews, they often blame the resume. While its true that an  achievement-driven resume  helps position job seekers for interviews, the resume is just one piece of the process. If you are complaining about your resume, examine how you are using that resume and  change your behavior if necessary. If your pr imary method of search is posting on job boards and you arent getting results, start building  meaningful connections with the people who can hire you  rather than the people who are parsing the resume data.    Create a proactive plan to target companies that you would like to work for where you believe there is a good fit and approach them directly, whether they are actively recruiting or not. Every company recruits at some pointbuild relationships now so you are considered as a candidate when an opportunity presents itself.  No one in my network can help me find a job. Why is that? Have you spent the last 15 years talking to the same 3 colleagues or have you extended your networking efforts to include friends, family, school alumni, past colleagues, members of professional organizations, community service providers, and members of  online networking communities?  Not everyone can help you in a job search and you need to have a robust network so you are not relying on the same 3 pe ople for introductions.I interviewed for a position and I havent heard back about next steps. Take the initiative to follow up on your own. This doesnt mean leaving dozens of voicemail messages or sending multiple emails. Become top of mind by sending a reminder of the value you could bring to the team. This might be a relevant article, information about an industry event, or an acknowledgement of something you read about the company recently.It takes so long for the companies to make a hiring decision. Get used to it. While we would like to think that we are the #1 priority for hiring authorities, we often arent. General business issues, workplace snafus, and shifting priorities can all effect when the hiring decision is made. Deal with it by reaching out periodically to communicate that you are aware that they havent made a decision yet but you continue to remain very interested in the position.The person who interviewed me doesnt seem to get what I do. If your first interview is with a human resources professional, that person may recruit for several functions across the company and not know all the nuts and bolts of what you do. They may still represent a bridge to the next round of interviews, so keep an open mind and a positive demeanor. Generally, HR is looking for cultural fit and your ability to work well in a team, so be sure to have several accomplishment-focused stories to demonstrate these competencies.What other job search complaints do you have and how can you use complaining as a catalyst for positive change?

What Is Your Career Path

What Is Your Career Path Are you a fresh graduate? Have you been seeking a perfect career for yourself for the future? Do you want to know how you can get a perfect  career  that best matches your abilities and expertise? These and other questions are exactly what a fresh graduate is considering and who also needs a proper consultation. Choosing a career path is the most important part of your professional life. Many graduates and young students get confused when they are asked about their career path. You may have fallen into the trap of thinking the sole reason for work is to bring home enough money to live comfortably. While adequate compensation is important in any job, its not the whole story. If you are unsatisfied with what you are doing every day, it will take a toll on your physical and mental health. You could feel burned out and frustrated, anxious, depressed, or even unable to enjoy time in your own home knowing another work day is ahead. The best time to choose your job path is when you are tagged with Graduate. Yes, when you graduate, it is the perfect time for you to consider your career route. You need to have an analysis on your own overall graduation performance. Your own result can give you an idea which particular field you are sufficiently good to explore yourself. You need to concentrate on that very field. If not, then you may start your career in a direction you dont want to go. Until you decide on the type of career, you dont need to select any kind of field. Another possibility is when you are going to apply for a job. You must believe in your expertise. If you are confused about what constitutes a good decision for your career, it would be a good idea to discuss it with a career expert. Professional consultants are a good choice for having different alternatives that will be a better fit for you and your qualifications. Personality and common sense is also very important. You need to judge your personality in comparison with your job or perhaps your career. Personality judgment gives you some tactics and some choices that might be very helpful for you in deciding your career path. It allows you to judge your inner personality to see how well you are able to adjust to a particular career path. Consult with someone you have a lot of respect for. They can act as a neutral party and let you know what your options are and what direction you should take.

Minimalist Resume Template - How to Design a Minimalist Resume

Minimalist Resume Template - How to Design a Minimalist ResumeThe minimalist resume template is all about simplicity and more importantly, the method in which you can present your qualifications in the shortest possible time. However, the simplicity of it does not mean that your potential employer will not be able to read it. After all, we do not want our potential employers to have to read a thousand long, drawn out sentences just to understand our qualifications.The minimalist resume template is really a kind of layout that keeps things simple. However, there are still some other templates that will help you convey the message without any compromise on the practicality of the format. All these can be very easy to use and indeed, the most efficient.When looking for a minimalist resume template, the first thing that you have to consider is the size of the resume that you are going to write. There are various sizes available online for you to choose from but remember that the size of the document you intend to submit to your employer will have a lot to do with its credibility.Most important factors here are that you should be able to present yourself in the most professional manner. The length of the resume that you are planning to write is just one element that you will be handling. When writing a resume, you should always ensure that you cover all of the points that you could possibly think of.Another type of minimalist resume template is the one that allows you to write the entire document as a coherent whole. All you have to do is to take some sentences out and present them as separate paragraphs. This can be a handy way of consolidating the material that you have written and also save yourself a lot of time in the process.You may be wondering whether or not a minimalist resume template really works. Well, you may have seen dozens of resumes with all sorts of styles and formats in the past. But if you look closely, you would notice that most of them are actu ally very similar.A minimalist resume template is one of the best ways of designing your resume. With this technique, you can maintain the integrity of the job and still make it easy for the employer to read.

The Key to Successful How to Make Writing Orders Sound Good on a Resume

The Key to Successful How to Make Writing Orders Sound Good on a Resume How to Make Writing Orders Sound Good on a Resume Secrets That No One Else Knows About Luckily, there's nothing like a tiny bit of inspiration to receive your creative juices flowing. Attempting to score the ideal position for a line cook is likely to require the perfect resume. If you want to compose a good resume that may help you raise your probability of getting hired, you're in the appropriate place. Also, bear in mind that there's a high probability you resume will be scanned electronically as a growing number of companies utilize special software to index resumes. Whether or not you need to attach a photo is going to be contingent on where your home is and where you're applying to. You would never attempt to sell a product without knowing your intended audience and the exact same applies to your resume. Your job (while you're attempting to find a job) is to make sure that you fit what they're se arching for. Choose how long you've got, decide on a (mini) project, and prepare for your resume to be that a whole lot more eye-catching. Each one needs a different strategy and what works for one won't do the job for a different. The secret to an amazing expert experience section is to include achievements and prevent repeating the work description. When you're searching for a new job, you must compose a resume outlining your work experience. If you've got many abilities, the previous skill paragraph may be called Additional Skills. You desire a resume that's simple to read and simple to follow along with. A clean, error-free resume will force you to look professional. Today, it's no longer essential. When it has to do with your resume, you truly can't be too perfect. The Basic Facts of How to Make Writing Orders Sound Good on a Resume Thus, you will receive updates on your purchase directly to your mobile phone. You'll likely pick option number two, which is only a little more descriptive because of using numbers. In addition, in case there's a cancellation in the purchase or the paper isn't downloaded by the customer, a refund will be granted. For instance, you wouldn't say you've got experience answering phones.