How Jacob embraced his entrepreneurial spirit to create The Lazy Camper

How Jacob embraced his entrepreneurial spirit to create The Lazy Camper by Tom Bunkham Deciding to go it alone and set up your own business can be quite a scary thought.It isnt for everyone, but those that pursue the idea  have the opportunity  to benefit in many ways you can pursue  your own passion, you can work to a schedule that suits you, and the potential earnings for successful businesses can be great.We sat down to speak with Jacob Hill, Yorkshire’s young entrepreneur of the year for 2013 and founder of The Lazy Camper. If youre  considering the entrepreneurial route yourself, but need a little inspiration, read onThe Big InterviewQ. Hi Jacob. Do you mind telling us a little bit yourself  and  what you do?A.  My name is Jacob Hill and I’m proud to be Yorkshire’s young entrepreneur of the year. I started my business ‘The Lazy Camper’ when I was 19 years old in my bedroom at my parent’s house and basically, I sell tents!The Lazy Camper is the complete outdoors camping package with everything needed in one pack. Guests can order online, collect at the festival and even take the pack home with them. I started the business after a bad experience at Leeds Festival when all my cheap camping equipment fell to bits.Q.  What did you want to be when you were growing up?A.  I wanted to be, and a little piece still wants to be,  a pilot in the RAF. I was an air cadet for five years and enjoyed working my way up the ranks and flying planes. When I find I have a bit of disposable income, I would definitely love to pursue flying as a hobby.Q.  How did you get started?A.  I have always been terrible at employment/taking orders. Throughout school the only lessons I really enjoyed were business as I could understand how it could be used practically in life.By the age of 16 I started a student events/concert business which spectacularly failed by the age of 18 meaning I had to go out and get a proper job. I tried call centres, bars, charity shops and McDonalds. I didnt enjoy working at any of them.Q.  Describe your typical working day:A.  A typical working day is hard to define when running your own business, especially in the start-up stage as things are never straight cut. I tend to get up about 6am, go for a jog which quickly turns in to a walk, enjoy some breakfast and head in to the office about 8am. I share an office with lots of other student entrepreneurs and most don’t make it in until 11 (too much drinking the night before I bet!).By lunch, most of the admin bits will be done and I try to fill the afternoon with bits I enjoy such as looking for ways to grow the business, contacting potential clients, looking at new products or generally chatting to the other young entrepreneurs. I think it’s really important to be in an environment you enjoy being in.Q.  What is the best thing about working for yourself?A.  I’d say the best part of it all, out of everything though, is that drive/adrenaline I feel every single day be it a Tuesday or a Sunday. That spirit of adventure where I am constan tly thinking ‘How is my life going to change today?’ I honestly would work for nothing if I could find a job that gives me that exact feeling.Q.  What is your biggest achievement to date?A.  I’ve been lucky enough to score £300,000 investment for my business. Whilst it is a large achievement in its own right, particularly when  almost three years ago  I was in £3,500 debt from my first failed business, I think it’s only a small part of a big picture.I’ve also had the pleasure of employing people, meeting my heroes, inspiring other people, making my own work and seeing how proud my parents and even friends are. That  really does mean a lot.Q.  What advice would you give to any budding young jobseekers?A.  A lot of my friends are unemployed or just coming to finish university and most of them seem stuck with what they’re going to do for the rest of their life  that’s exactly where I think they are going wrong. Whatever you are going to do for the rest of your life sho uld be something you enjoy without compromise. So if your next job isn’t that, don’t stick with it until retirement.Experience is key. If I was to employ people, whilst your grades/qualifications would be impressive, your personality and life experience is worth much more. You  can teach a person maths, you  can’t teach them how to have a conversation with a customer.I’m not saying you need to see Everest but go volunteer at places you’d enjoy helping at, be that in a medical, education or even outdoor environment. These types of things help to place  something impressive to talk about on your CV as well as your qualifications.Q.  What advice would you give to any budding young entrepreneurs?A.  Entrepreneurs just get started. Whenever I have an  idea, I write it down on one sheet  of A4 paper. Then when you find a way to change it, start from scratch on another sheet.Don’t be afraid to follow your idea. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel; you just have to make it be tter. Don’t worry about money yet  if you have the determination and demand for what you can offer, it will come.Take every opportunity possible.  The amount of plus one  invites I have accepted to events, or meets  with people over  coffee, have rarely  been a waste of time. Don’t be afraid to get your face out there  it will be interesting  to see where it takes you.Q. I love Mondays because…  A.  They are the start of a fresh week.  I ensure my inbox/calendar is cleared by Monday so I can respond to incoming emails or calls immediately and make the week my own.All I can say to anyone looking for their own opportunities is just give it a go. Don’t start at the beginning of next week, start now and make every day a Monday!  For some more info and festival inspiration from Jacob click here.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

Joining An Honor Society Things to Know

Joining An Honor Society Things to Know There are a few well-known honor societies Theyre found among college campuses, including Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, and Golden Key. These societies seek to encourage academic excellence and service. Getting in is not always an easy task, however. In order to join an honor society , college students must receive an invitation. They only receive an invitation if they demonstrate academic excellence by being in the top 7.5 percent, 10 percent, or 15 percent of their classes. If students accept the invitation, they must go through an initiation ceremony. In the past, this involved an oath of secrecy, diploma, badge, handclasp, motto, and an initiation ritual similar to Greek-letter fraternities and sororities. These days, the badge or symbol, diploma, and motto are still used prominently in the initiation ceremonies and displays of activities performed by each society. Why an honor society ? Collegiate honor societies hold many service opportunities throughout the year and provide active students the opportunity to serve, qualify for grants and scholarships, and network with alumni for increased job opportunities. Some honor societies offer special perks and discounts for certain products or opportunities to their members. There have been many famous people throughout history who have joined prestigious collegiate honor societies, including John Quincy Adams, Jimmy Carter, John Grisham, Elie Wiesel, and Desmond Tutu. Image Source

Exclamation Points and the Female Brain

Exclamation Points and the Female Brain The exclamation point may have originated from a  Latin  exclamation of joy (io). According to Wikipedia, the modern exclamation point was introduced in the Middle Ages when copyists wrote the Latin word  io  at the end of a sentence to indicate joy. (An end of the sentence hurray.) Grammar manuals describe its function as “indicating strong feelings or high volume (shouting), or to show emphasis.” Most writers describe its function as annoying. F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote: “Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.” I personally have a strict quota on the maligned mark: one per week. Or, it’s possible I’m just a mean person. It turns out that women in business need exclamation points to feel appreciated. Wall Street Journal editor Nikki Waller calls exclamation points “the emotional fabric softener of workplace interactions.” She decided to spend a month communicating with zero exclamation points and wrote about the results. It wasn’t easy to kick the habit; she writes that women bosses find “routine emails can become complex calculations about warmth, likability and authority. Better to conclude an email with “Thanks!”? Or will “Thanks.” suffice? No human is that excited in real life, but it can be easier to write ‘Looking forward to getting that spreadsheet!’ rather than risk sounding cold or unfriendly.” Waller had to work hard to fill the emotional gaps left by the lack of exclamation points. (She even resorted to a saccharine (she describes it as “heartbreaking”) “Grazie x1000.” She writes about the challenges other women have had with under-punctuated emails. One reported that she’d written an email to a female staff member that included “Good job.” With only a period at the end. The woman’s instant reply was: Are you mad at me? If you’re a man reading this, you’re probably thinking I’m crazy. Men simply don’t worry about punctuation; they have no idea it’s full of emotional landmines.   A 2006 academic study of exclamation points (really!) found that women use them much more than men (no kidding!) and that they were generally considered as “’markers of excitability,’ a phrase that implies instability and emotional randomness.”  Ugh. The study also points out that “the [use of exclamation points] might convey the writer’s lack of stature; that, in fact a confident person could “affirm their views by simply asserting them.”” Double ugh. The academic study actually categorizes the various meanings “markers of excitability” can indicate. They include taking action (Working on it now!) implied or direct apology (Wish I hadn’t done that!) camaraderie or support (Jane’s right!) issuing a challenge (Prove it!) or to indicate anger (I knew she wouldn’t finish on time!) Nikki Waller writes that it was a relief to be able to use exclamation marks again. She says women actually have an advantage in being able to communicate   and interpret  such a variety of emotions with a single keystroke. Tone matters, she says, and “leaders can deflate or empower someone in a sentence or two.” So if you’re hoping to be perceived as a warmer or more empathetic leader, try using more exclamation marks. It works!

Why Youre Never Too Old To Change Your Career

Why You’re Never Too Old To Change Your Career Have you ever thought youre too old to make a big career move? Well, think again. More than 34,000 workers aged over 50 have taken the plunge and have changed their careers. An article in The Daily Telegraph suggests that this demographic ‘rips up the rules of retirement and starts again’. Of course, it’s not just older people who are making changes to their lives. Anyone at any age can make career changes. Why you could consider transforming your working life  For many people there comes a time when life in an office or the daily work routine becomes unbearable. You’re fed up with working for someone else, you wish you’d chosen an alternative career or you feel that you are unappreciated or your skills are underused. An increasing number of people are expanding their options mid career and looking at courses that might offer them new opportunities and challenges. If you want to retrain, then have a look at some of the courses on offer at Options Skills among other companies. If you’ve been stuck indoors and fancy your chances as an electrician or plumber, age should not be a barrier. Age should never halt your progress  Not everyone in life follows a steady career path. Many MPs have had numerous professions before sitting in the House of Commons. Pop stars of all ages often re-invent themselves. For a famous example of this, just look at the life story of Richard Cole, an 1980s musician with the Communards who changed course in life and ordained as a priest in 2005. He can be heard broadcasting on Radio 4 every Saturday. The Express has an interesting account of Richard’s life, though his story is extraordinary rather than ordinary. Losing your job can finance your new career Many use redundancy or unemployment as an opportunity to reassess their lives. For example, if you studied social work at university, but recent government cuts have reduced your employment options, then you may be surprised at the skills that you’ve gained while at work. You’re probably a good administrator, communicator and negotiator as well as social worker so try to look at your skills in a positive light. Experience of any kind is useful, and this is one of the reasons why change at any time of your professional life can be a good thing. If you use your redundancy payment to finance training or an apprenticeship, then you can rest assured that your lifestyle and family won’t suffer financially as a result of your new career path. Boredom breeds discontent  There are countless opportunities for those who want to make a job switch. Older workers may be nervous about new technology, but an article in The Guardian suggests that it’s still easy to find a course where you can brush up or learn new IT skills. Much of today’s job market uses new expressions to describe old business practices, so don’t be deterred. It’s important to try to remain confident and positive once you decide to change careers and remember that this might be the best move you’ve ever made. It’s got to be far better than being bored.

4 ways to use your dissertation to reach your career goals

4 ways to use your dissertation to reach your career goals This post was written by an external contributor.  A 10,000 word essay might seem like a daunting task, but if you use it as a way of boosting your employability, youll be killing two birds with one stone. Susannah Keogh talks how you can use your dissertation to further your career prospects. You’ve been putting it off all summer but come September there’s no denying it: the dreaded dissertation time is here. Unless you’re planning a career in academia after finishing university, it’s easy to just see the dissertation as a mammoth hurdle to overcome in your quest for a 2:1, rather than something which could be beneficial in its own right for your career.  Follow these four top tips and your dissertation won’t just be a footnote on your CV anymore. Tailor your dissertation to your interests Let’s be honest, it’s very tempting to try and take a short-cut when planning your dissertation topic.  Picking a question very similar to what you’ve studied before, sticking to what you know in the hope it’ll pay off with that all important 2:1. But before you rush into the planning and re-reading those old essays, think about what you’re really interested in and where you want to end up after university. Maybe you’re a politics student who has ambitions of working in the charity sector? A dissertation on the benefits of international aid organisations working abroad, then, would be far more beneficial to your future career than a question looking at the UK electoral system (as fascinating as that sounds). If you really care about the topic you’re writing on, chances are it’ll be reflected in the finished product. So not only will you end up with a 2:1 or more, but you’ll also have written about something which will be of interest to future employers. The power of interview Something I didn’t realise until I started my dissertation was how useful it can be to interview other people who are influential or experts in the sector you’re researching- and it’s a lot more interesting and useful for your career prospects than just sitting in the library with a stack of books for company. It depends on what subject you study, but interviews can be a great way to forge connections in the industry you want to work in after university. Writing a dissertation gives you access to people you would never have been able to interview before. In my dissertation looking at child sexual exploitation in the UK, I was able to interview the journalist who uncovered the Rotherham and Rochdale sexual abuse scandals. Aside from totally geeking out over interviewing my journalist hero, it also proved incredibly eye-opening and useful for my dissertation, giving me first hand information I wouldn’t have been able to get from books and journal articles. Even better, it gave me a vital link between my degree subject and the career I want to go into. At a recent interview for a journalism bursary, the interviewers were actually incredibly interested in hearing about my dissertation and I have no doubt that it helped me to be successful in my application. Find your niche I’m not going to lie, this is harder than it sounds. But finding your niche, that area you really care about and becoming a total expert on this will add kudos to any CV, and could lead to more opportunities within the sector. Narrowing in not just on a particular sector but on a little known area within that, shows employers your ambition and passion in the subject goes beyond just an average interest. It’s very easy to talk the talk, but you’ve actually gone above and beyond to show your passion. Get them skills “Employable skills”- ah, that buzzword you’re probably sick of hearing about. We all know the main ones- analysis, reasoning, independent study, motivation etc- but your dissertation is a real life way to put them into meaningful practise. It’s the only piece of work you’ll do almost completely on your own whilst at university, with very little guidance to speak of. How’s that for independent study? Instead of forgetting all about your dissertation after it’s finally submitted, remember to use it to show prospective employers that you have all those skills they’re asking for, and more. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Tips for Leveraging Job Fairs for Your Job Search - CareerAlley

Tips for Leveraging Job Fairs for Your Job Search - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Many job seekers do not consider job fairs as part of their job search. However, if you are out of work, job fairs can be an excellent way to get a job. There are a number of things you can do to stand out from the crowd. The key to making a job fair event a beneficial use of your time is to have a plan on your job fair approach before attending. The key to making a job fair event a beneficial use of your time is to have a plan on your job fair approach before attending. Tweet This Following are some tips for making job fairs work for you: Job Fair Planning While it may seem a bit extreme, planning for job fairs is very important. Many people (most) attend a job fair without any planning. They dont know what companies will be there or where they will be located. When they get to the job fair they just wander from booth to booth, hoping to talk to someone that will hire them. Here are some of the things you should consider when creating your job fair plan to give you an advantage: Make a Job Fair List There are a number of websites where you can get a calendar of all job fair events in the coming months (see the resource list at the end of this article). Fairs are planned months in advance. Make a list of the fairs that will be near where you live including the dates. Know Who Will be There Once you get your list of fairs, make a list of the companies that plan to attend the site as well as the company representatives (more on this in the Research section below). Plan Your Booth Visits Once youve made your list of companies from the step above, plan which companies you will visit and (if the job fair site offers the information), where the booth will be located. You can then make a planned approach as to the order of visits. Last is Best -Once the doors open, everyone will race to the closest booths. Using your visit plan from above, pick the employers that are farthest from the entrance. These booths will have the fewest visitors. Once youve finished all of your visits at the back, move to the front. Most of the people who started at the front are now headed to the back. Plan to Travel Unless you live in or near one of the top 20 cities, it is unlikely that there will be a job fair near you. You can look at the calendar of job fairs across the country and plan a trip that will allow you to attend one or more job fairs. Many employers are national employers and will be looking to hire in several locations (not just the location of the job fair). Research Knowing all of the details of a job fair before attending is critical to ensuring you will get the most out of the fair. Start to research the list of companies (from your plan). What do they do, what cities are they located in, do they hire people with your background, etc. See if you can find out what company representatives will be at the fair and look them up on LinkedIn or other social media to find out as much as you can about them. Leverage your network to see if anyone you know works at these companies or knows the company representatives. See if they can help you get introduced prior to the job fair so that they know you will be visiting the job fair. Networking Strategies To Find Jobs in the Hidden Job Market: A Recruiter Reveals: Insider Secrets Price: $4.97 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 Be Prepared Lets face it, companies attend job fairs to hire individuals. The more prepared you are, the better your chances are of getting additional interviews. If the interviewers see that youve done your homework and are truly interested in their company you have an excellent chance of getting to the next round of interviews. Resources Job Fairs Upcoming Job Fairs National Career Fairs Mastering A Career Fair: A Simple and Direct Guide For Landing Your First Job Out of College Price: $7.99 Buy Now from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Last Updated: March 2, 2020 What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Resume Writing - Making Use of Resume Writing Tips About Using Resume Comics

Resume Writing - Making Use of Resume Writing Tips About Using Resume ComicsIf you're currently getting into resume writing, it's a good idea to learn how to make cartoons out of your resume. It makes for a really compelling effect when you can show people a picture of your resume and they'll want to know more about you and why they should hire you over someone else.In today's fast paced world, many people have become reared on the benefits of reading text resumes that just don't convey as much information as a picture and especially a cartoon. The benefit is that your resume will get read far faster. You won't have to worry about having to go back and proofread your entire document, so the advantages are obvious.But sometimes the benefits are worth taking the time to spell things out so that everyone is clear what you're talking about without having to resort to certain words that can be confusing to someone. Another consideration is that if there are letters in your resume, you wan t to keep them as small as possible so that the eye doesn't get lost as easily. It's also worth remembering that certain words like 'please'thank you' are commonly spelled incorrectly on the page, so it would be especially helpful to spell those words as carefully as possible.A great way to make sure that the lettering on your resume is as clear as possible is to keep the fonts simple. It's not necessary to use the most expensive fonts on the market. It's also not necessary to try to impress. There's nothing to be gained by trying to impress people by using fancy fonts.As an alternative to using an elaborate font, there are common problems that people can see with pictures. I've seen people who are looking for someone to send them a resume get very frustrated and confused by the quality of the pictures used in a job posting. You have to be careful to make sure the pictures are drawn to a standard that can be used across the board with most resumes.It's also a good idea to use cartoo ns in your resume writing. There are two reasons for this. One is that it's relatively easy to draw and usually works well, and secondly, it can be a strong tool to improve the look of your entire resume. It can also be a powerful way to create attention-grabbing headlines that will make people want to read it.If you're the type of person who don't want to use cartoon stand-ins for your resume, but want a unique and convincing letter, it's still possible to do this without resorting to any funny pictures at all. What you can do is to keep your resumes and cover letters to the point. Talk about what you have to offer rather than going on about what you were doing before you left your job.Cartoon writing can have its place in the world of resume writing. It doesn't have to be overbearing, it can be a powerful tool that can help you make a stronger impression than you could otherwise. So make sure you use it as part of your resume writing practice.