What is lifelong learning

What is lifelong learning by Michael Cheary Not all learning comes in the classroom… There are many different ways to carry on your education â€" whether it’s by taking a course, or continuing your personal development in a less formal setting. And it doesn’t necessarily have to come at a cost.To help you see which options are open to you, here’s everything you need to know about lifelong learning:What is lifelong learning?Lifelong learning is the broad term for education that is conducted beyond school.Therefore it’s voluntary, rather than compulsory, and is completely self-motivated â€" with the main goal being to improve personal or professional development.How is it learned?Lifelong learning can be conducted in a variety of different ways, whether it’s through formal training, or something far less structured.It can be taken through instruction or coaching, but the term also includes any form of self-taught learning.Even our daily interactions with our colleagues, and the knowledge and behaviours we learn both inside and outside of work, can be classified as lifelong learning.What are some examples of lifelong learning?Because it’s such a broad term, there are many different ways you could continue adding to your knowledge.Some examples of lifelong learning include:Internships and apprenticeshipsVocational coursesTeaching yourself a new languageStudying a new subjectLearning to use new pieces of technologyPlaying a new game or sportAdding to your skillset during employmentGaining knowledge and learned behaviours from your environmentHowever, this is by no means an extensive list â€" and any attempts to actively build your skills will generally fall under the category of lifelong learning.What are the benefits of lifelong learning?There are a number of advantages to this form of studying. Including:To gain a new qualificationTo add to your transferable skillsTo increase your employability and promotion prospectsTo earn more moneyTo fill a skills gapTo broaden yo ur knowledgeTo better contribute to the communityMental stimulationPersonal and professional satisfaction  Why is it important? As workplaces become increasingly diverse and complex, more and more employers are realising that formal qualifications aren’t the only way to identify desirable staff.The knowledge gained through previous experience, as well as any skills which have been self-taught or learned along the way, could greatly benefit the business.Lifelong learning also ensure their employees continue to develop, and shows their desire to grow on a professional level.  Tips for lifelong learning If you’re considering continuing your education but you’re not sure where to start, here are some of our top tips:Utilise technology â€" Whatever subject you’re interested in, there are a wealth of online resources out there to help you learn. Listen to podcasts, download eBooks, take a distance learning course or join forums to continue your development.Ask your employer â€" If you’re already in work, ask your employer to help you with personal development planning. Chances are they already offer a lot of training internally, and may even subsidise the cost of a new certification if it helps add value to the business.Stay motivated â€" Because this form of learning is completely voluntary, it will often require self-motivation and dedication to stay focused. Offer yourself incentives to keep going, or ask a friend or family member to help you stay on track.Add some structure â€" Try setting aside the same amount of time for studying each night, or each week, make sure you stick to it, and try and write down a goal for each session. Take your learning seriously, and you’re far more likely to  stick to it.Take every opportunity â€" It isn’t just a new certification you can gain from lifelong learning. There are plenty of opportunities out there to add to your knowledge, from taking a class in the local community centre, to joining reading groups or ev en watching webinars.Don’t make excuses â€" Finally, there are no barriers to lifelong learning. Free courses are out there in everything from accountancy and business management through to marketing, coding and tech. And there’s nothing stopping you simply picking up a book and learning about a new subject. So, no matter how young or old you are, and no matter how much time you have, there’s something out there for you.Looking to continue learning? View all available courses now.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

What to Know About the Best Resume Writing Services in Atlanta?

What to Know About the Best Resume Writing Services in Atlanta?If you are looking for a job in Atlanta, then it is very important to be able to write a very professional resume. You need to show that you are of good knowledge and skills. There are many ways to be able to create a great resume, and the best one of them all is to be able to work with the best resume writing services in Atlanta GA.When you are applying for a job, you need to know what you are doing. You need to prepare your resume properly. You need to make sure that the information is correct, and the information is accurate. The only way to know if you are doing it right is to have it written by a professional.You need to know that your resume will not be read by the employer or any other person who will be looking for a job. This is because it will be the only thing they will see. This means that you need to take care of this so that you will not have problems getting hired. You do not want to get rejected every time you send out a resume. This will have a negative effect on your confidence level.Be aware that there are many things that can be included in your resume. You need to know that the employer will be able to see this so that you will not have problems with this. You also need to know that this is also the first impression that your employer will have about you. It is better to focus on being successful at your job than it is to worry about a poor resume.A professional resume is very important to all job seekers. The only way to show that you are the best candidate for the job is to write one. Therefore, it is better to be able to do this by hiring the best resume writing services in Atlanta. This is going to give you the opportunity to show that you have the capability to do the job and you should be proud of this.You need to write the appropriate information that the employer needs. This means that you need to be able to write a resume that does not sound like the resume of an ordina ry job seeker. It should be different. It should sound professional and you should be able to convince your employer to hire you.You need to know that your resume has to be professional. It should have the right format and it should be formatted correctly. This means that it should be grammatically correct and should follow the rules that are used when you are preparing your resume. You do not want to do it the wrong way.If you are looking for the best resume writing services in Atlanta GA, then you need to know that there are many of them that you can choose from. They are available online and in the paper as well. Make sure that you are getting the information that you need so that you will be able to make the best decision. This is the best way to show that you are serious about your job search.

Happiness 04 The #1 Personality Assessment To Identify Your Ideal Career Fit - Classy Career Girl

Happiness 04 The #1 Personality Assessment To Identify Your Ideal Career Fit For many years, Anna didn’t know what her calling was. She would go from job to job and get stuck over and over again. She was always thinking that maybe this was “it,” without really honestly assessing herself. What made the difference? Taking the time to reflect, self-assess, and uncover what career was best for her. In todays episode, we’ll dive deep into figuring out what your strengths are, the areas where you excel, where you feel most fulfilled, and where you lose track of time. All of these are essential elements that factor into your career satisfaction,   your purpose and motivations, interests, and personality.   We’ll look back at your work experiences, to ensure your next career move is the right fit for you, so you don’t get stuck ever again. You will ask yourself some hard questions you may have never asked yourself before. So, find a coffee shop, grab your favorite drink, hang the do not disturb sign on your door, or wait until the kids are in bed (or wake up before them!) and get ready to be alone to discover more about you. Subscribe  on  your favorite platform below: iTunes Google Play Music Stitcher Radio TuneIn iHeartRadio Sound Cloud The #1 Personality Assessment To Help You Understand Your Strengths Today you are going to meet Becky Hammond, a certified Strengths coach, who is going to share how you can use your Strengths to find happiness and success in your career. Becky is the founder of Isogo and consults for Fortune 500 companies and even international companies. I am excited for you to get get to know her.   So, why do your Strengths matter? Becky says, Its way more than an assessment, it is a whole paradigm shift as to how we think about ourselves and how we think about the people around us. It started in the field of positive psychologywe spend a lot of time trying to figure out what is wrong with people. What if we turned that question on its head and asked what is right with people? And that questions spurred the rest of his research for the rest of his life. Today, Id like you to take the Strengths assessment. Remember that the only way to move forward is to look inward first. So, carve out 20 minutes and take the Strengths Finder assessment. You will learn what your top five strengths are and how you can develop them more in your work and life.   This step is extremely powerful because once you identify what your strengths are and realize that they are unique to you, it will help increase your confidence in applying for jobs and changing your career because only you are the best fit for a job that utilizes all of your strengths. Not only that, you will be happier in your career when you are doing the work you are strong in. Get excited because this lesson can really make a difference in your life!   Strengths Finder Questions In the next part of the podcast, Becky and I review my strengths and discuss how they have impacted my career, my family, and really every part of my life! Below are a few questions that will help you get the most out of your Strengths Finder assessment. ACTION TASK: What are your top 5 strengths? Taking the full assessment will help you think more about what you are good at and how those areas that you genuinely enjoy can help you move forward and find more success. Which specific PAST SUCCESS can you tie to your Strengths? How do you specifically use your Strengths in your PRESENT ROLE or daily activities? What drains you about your PRESENT ROLE or your current daily activities?   How does your FUTURE ROLE address this? Which specific PAST SUCCESS can you tie to your Strengths? How do you specifically use your Strengths in your PRESENT ROLE or daily activities? How will your Strengths be used in the FUTURE ROLE you are considering OR how do you want your Strengths to be used in a FUTURE ROLE? What drains you about your PRESENT ROLE or your current daily activities?   Which of your Strengths is not being sharpened in your PRESENT ROLE or current daily activities?   Check out this post on Beckys site that covers a bit more about our conversation and how Strengths Finder can help you find the career of your dreams. Take the StrengthsFinder test and share your results with us on Instagram. I would love to hear how this assessment helps you!

Ways to Stay Positive

Ways to Stay Positive In a previous post, I discussed how “you are not your brain.” That means that despite the chemical signals your brain sends you all the time, you don’t have to succumb to negative thinking.   Your mind can overcome your brain. Here are some tips for overcoming negative feelings and replacing them with positive thoughts. Remember that writing is not just for writers.   Writing is a way of capturing positive thoughts in a tangible format that makes them more real. Write a positive vision of your future and go back to it when you’re feeling discouraged.  It’s the same technique as visualization, except that you come out with an actual document that serves as a blueprint for success.   Describe your next job in detail.  Where you work, what you’re doing, how you fit into the team. Describe interesting projects and successes you achieve.  An alternative to this kind of positive journaling is to write out successful solutions to problems you’re having.  There’s a whole theory that the universe will help you get what you want if you can just articulate what it is.   Even if you don’t believe, the act of writing   and going back to read a positive story can help you override negative thoughts. We tell ourselves stories every day: what we’ll have for dinner, what kind of weather we hope will come for the weekend, how we want the sales presentation to turn out.  Since we’re telling the stories, we have the ability to choose whether they have a happy ending or not.  Why not choose happy? You can also create a gratitude journal to help you stay focused on the positive.  Choose any blank notebook (or purchase an actual journal) and record the things you’re grateful for on a daily basis.   You can choose   to write at the beginning of the day to start off on a positive note, or write at the end of the day to remember the large and small blessings you encountered during the day. Author Sarah Ban Breathnach writes the blog Simple Abundance. She says that on tough days, her gratitude journal may contain just the basics: “my health, my husband and daughter, their health, my animals, my home, my friends, and the comfortable bed that Im about to get into, as well as the fact that the days over. Thats okay. Real life isnt always going to be perfect or go our way, but the recurring acknowledgment of what is working in our lives can help us not only survive, but surmount our difficulties. “ If you’re more of a techie than a writer, you can still make a little more happiness for yourself.  Yes, there’s an app for that.  Happy Tapper (http://www.happytapper.com/) offers a series of apps that help you get inspiration, keep a gratitude journal on your iPhone, or visualize projects.   It’s the 21st century version of lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness.   Enjoy.

Grant Writing - Is It A Skill Resume?

Grant Writing - Is It A Skill Resume?Sometimes, grant writing is viewed as a skill resume. Unfortunately, many individuals think that it is an effort to impress their 'authority' to write grants and other types of funds. However, it is very important to understand the true purpose of writing grants.The main job of a grant writer is to find funding sources. One of the best ways to do this is to start by writing grant proposals. There are many resources on the internet that can help you with a proposal. Some websites also offer tools for allowing the applicant to organize and submit the proposal.Grant writers make use of grant proposal templates. These templates are specifically written to help you in creating proposals that are both effective and catchy. The more professional your proposal is, the easier it will be to convince the company to fund your project. The template that is used will also help in determining the level of interest from potential funding sources.Many people think that they must be some kind of a genius to be able to write a grant writing skill resume. In reality, this is not true. You just need to put forth the effort to write a powerful and convincing proposal.A lot of individuals view writing as something that takes away time from their lives, but this is a misconception. The true reason why individuals seek the help of writing grants is because they want to contribute to society. It doesn't have to be a burden. In fact, it can be a great blessing.A lot of individuals find that they spend a large amount of time writing grants because they don't take the time to analyze their options. There are many professionals that can help you with this process. They have the ability to understand the specific needs of various companies that need grant money.Once you learn to write a grant writing skill resume, you will be well on your way to obtaining grants. But, you should always remember that it is not necessary to be a professional. There are many online tools that can help you. Of course, when it comes to writing a grant skill resume, you want to make sure that it is convincing and informative.While it might be difficult to see a grant writing skill resume as an attempt to impress others, this is not true. Instead, it is a serious endeavor to be able to find the funding sources that will bring your project to fruition. When you are looking for funding sources, make sure that you are comfortable writing one. In other words, make sure that you are self-aware enough to realize when you need to back off and when you can't help yourself.

Watch my keynote from the Happiness@Work conference in Prague - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Watch my keynote from the Happiness@Work conference in Prague - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog embed = new SlidesLiveEmbed('presentation-embed-38903815', { presentationId: '38903815', autoPlay: false // change to true to autoplay the embedded presentation }); Earlier this month I had the pleasure of giving the closing keynote at the 3rd annual Happiness@Work conference in Prague to a sold-out audience of 350 people. I spoke about Leading With Happiness based on my new book and you can see the entire speech above. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Job Search Tip Use negatives to get positives - Hire Imaging

Job Search Tip Use negatives to get positives - Hire Imaging Those who work with me or follow my posts know that I’m a stickler for figuring out what you want and where that is before marketing or going out and getting it. Knowing what you do not want is a crucial piece to the whole process. Take a look at the gloomy side Once you’ve gone down memory lane to assess what you want, take some time to brainstorm your career goals around what’s not worked well for you in the past. Go a step further. Give yourself permission to write what you REALLY dislikedâ€"or even hated! Copy and paste the bulleted items below into a Word document or put pen to paper. Make it a worksheet, applying them to as many of your past jobs as you can. THE JOB (Title and company / organization). THE GIST OF THE JOB (What you did, who you worked with, how it fit into the overall organization, etc.) WHY DID YOU HATE IT SO MUCH? (Try and come up with 3-5 things) WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS JOB? (Try and come up with at least 2 things) Your lines in the sand Why should you do the above? Because it could give you an ah-hah moment! Early in our work together, my client Janice said that she had left her prior job because of her boss. “He was not supportive,” she told me. After working through the do not want exercise, Janice said,  â€œBarb, I was wrong about Mr. Johnson. What really drove me out was the long commute through bad weather and high traffic. I’m willing to make lots of compromises in my next job to avoid a long commute. It’s a non-negotiable for me.” Janice had stumbled onto a great piece of introspective knowledge. Something she would not do again. Taking time to be clear about what we well, yesâ€"hate, could mean all the difference in not ruining an otherwise great fit. A big chunk of your dream job is going to be avoiding the things you hate. Take what you learned from the exercise at the beginning of this post, and use the following examples to help you figure out your non-negotiables or lines in the sand. Feel free to come up with your own of course: Commute: I won’t commute more than ____ minutes a day. Compensation: I won’t work for less than $_____ a year. Travel: I won’t travel more than ____%. Value: I won’t work for an organization where I can’t contribute to make a difference. Culture: I won’t work for an organization that/where (is family-owned, is highly political, everyone’s hush-hush and not trusting, everyone is burning out on the workload / pressure, etc.). Career Map: I can’t work for a company where there is nowhere to grow. Company Solidity: I won’t work for an organization (in a dying industry, another start-up, that relies on shrinking grant monies, etc.). Resources: I won’t work for a company that (does not invest in training, technology, etc.). Stick to it Write down 10 things you do not want to do. Please don’t skip this step. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve coached with clients who verbally articulated to me what they hate, only to then send me job postings that would involve something sworn off. Or to say they had an interview with an employer who could be the poster child for the type of company the job-seeker client detested! Write the hate list down! And don’t stop there. Give the list to someone you trust to hold you accountable to the list. You deserve to do what you love for a livingâ€"even in a tough economy! Eliminating the things that won’t cut it for you, is an important step in finding that job that makes you jump out of bed on Monday morning! Photo: Horia Varlan