From Finance to Fire Hoses

From Finance to Fire Hoses Success Story > From: Job To: Startup From Finance to Fire Hoses “I didn't feel like I would ever really be successful at something I didn't genuinely care about.” * From Finance to Fire Hoses Kresse Wesling enjoyed parts of her job,but her heart just wasn't in the work. Here's how she spent two years experimenting with alternative careers before co-foundingan award-winning social enterprise. What work were you doing previously? I used to work for a small venture capital firm based in Hong Kong. What are you doing now? My partner and I run a luxury lifestyle business â€" Elvis Kresse. How did you feel about your work before you decided to make a change? I didn't love how difficult and foreign certain aspects of it were â€" the financial modelling was intensely unpleasant. On the flip side, studying a huge variety of different businesses, all pursuing different goals and operated by hugely diverse personalities, was fascinating. I also felt lucky to have a job that allowed me to live in Hong Kong. Why did you change? I didn't love it. I didn't feel like I would ever really be successful at something I didn't genuinely care about. When was the moment you decided to make the change? The company I worked for was going through a big shift strategically, to pursue investment in businesses that were even more remote from my values and interests. It was an obvious time to move on. Are you happy with the change? Yes. 90% of the time I don't feel like I have a job. I feel like I'm using the best skills I have to do something that is challenging, fun and entirely necessary. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss being able to close my laptop and head out for a weekend without a thought or care. I miss some of my colleagues a lot; I learned an incredible amount from them andit waslovely to be part of a team. I don't miss feeling like I had to fit in, dress a certain way, show up for long hours regardless of workload, or work on projects that had no social or environmental value. How did you go about making the shift? And how specifically did you choose your new career? Since I had no mortgage or dependants, I felt quite free to follow my instincts. I jumped in without any real planning and had to adjust along the way. I chose to explore a lot of different projects before landing on Elvis Kresse. I think of this as my alternative to a Masters or an MBA. I researched, I had long conversations, I met lots of people and explored lots of opportunities. I tried starting a few things:some had moderate success;others were flops. By the end of this process â€" which took around two yearsâ€" I knew what I wanted to do and went for it. The idea for Elvis Kresse came following a chance meeting with the London Fire Brigade, during which my partner and I discovered fire hose. After a distinguished career of 25 years of fighting fires and saving lives, the damaged hose that was deemed no longer able to fulfil its role was simply sent to landfill. We fell in love with those brave old hoses and mounted a rescue. The hose was too beautiful; it had too much left to give. We found a way to turn these decommissioned hoses into an exciting alternative textile â€" beautiful, characterful, robust and mostly red! (Although some other colours are available.) We work with highly skilled craftspeople who build as much value as they can into every single piece they create, and we donate 50% of the profits from the fire hose range to The Fire Fighters Charity. And it turns out that fire hose was just the beginning of our reclaimed textiles adventure. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? If I were to do it again, I would likely have stayed in my previous role while doing the researchand trial and error in my evenings and weekends. This is the best advice I could give someone else in a similar position â€" just because you know that where you are isn't right doesn't mean you have to jump ship immediately. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? When I started my first job, I had a fantastic room-mate who made me save 15% of my income, put it in an account and pretend it didn't exist. So, I had enough money to live very frugally while I was trying new things. I also had a partner by then, which meant that a lot of our costs were shared, allowing me to live even more frugally. What was the most difficult thing about changing? I wasn't afraid of failing â€" I always thought I would land on my feet somehow â€" but I was afraid that I might not find what I was looking for. What help did you get? I can't even explain how much help I had. I started my shift while I was in Hong Kong and had a lot of moral support from the entrepreneurially minded Hong Kong community. No one thought I was too inexperienced to have a go. I had fantastic friends, a very supportive family, and eventually an amazing partner. I had a fair amount of luck too, and somehow managed to make the most of it. What resources would you recommend to others? If you'd like to start something yourself, talk to some entrepreneurs. If you'd like to move industry, find someone working in it and ask if you can job shadow for a day. The more people you meet in this phase, the better. What have you learnt in the process? That you don't need much more than a communityâ€"amazing people in your corner â€"to survive. What do you wish you'd done differently? I wish I'd done more research before leaving my first job. And that I'd focused my research on the things I was really interested in and how those might match up with my skills. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Go for it. Even if you start slowly. Don't just think of your financial obligations and the need for a salary. You can live with less money, but being needlessly unhappy can become unbearable. To find out more about Kresse's business, visit www.elvisandkresse.com. What lessons could you take from Kresse's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Five Beauty Side Hustles You Can Do From Home

Five Beauty Side Hustles You Can Do From Home Whether you’re a person with a full-time job who needs a side hustle or a student looking to make some extra pocket money, it’s never been easier to make some money on the side, simply by doing what you love.     So, if you have a passion for cosmetics, a flair for makeovers, and an innate understanding of all things related to beauty and style, you can now channel it into making you some side income â€" all from the comfort of your home. Check out this list of five beauty side hustles you can do from home:     Become a blogger Blogging can be a great way to make some money on the side, provided readers see you as producing great content on a consistent basis. You can create a blog that focuses on beauty tips, makeovers, and hairstyles, but know that you need something that differentiates your blog from the others.           Here’s a snapshot of why you should start a blog: Generate some extra money without stepping out of your home   One of the easiest side hustles to start because it requires minimum to no cost at low risk   Gives you an online presence that provides you with the exposure you need for potential partnerships with cosmetics companies or prospective publishers         The key thing to consider when starting a blog is to be enthusiastic about the topic of your blog. Otherwise, your writing is going to reflect your lack of interest. If that happens, it’ll prove to be tough for you to maintain and build a loyal following and so, tougher to make that extra money you need.   Become a YouTuber     You could also launch your own YouTube channel that is focused on beauty to attract followers and make you some side income. The best thing about YouTube is that you can produce any kind of content you want on your channel be it explainer videos to do-it-yourself sessions to makeovers. You can also create your content anytime, from the comfort of your home. Just make sure you have the right equipment and atmosphere to start with. They include a good computer, camera, and an editing software, as well as a good microphone, a great background, and a good lighting.     Just as with blogging, you need to ensure you are creating regular content that is of value for your followers. If you can do that, you can use YouTube to achieve the following: Gain fame and recognition through your videos (read viral videos) Make money through advertising and clicks   Partner with brands to market their products     Become a voice of authority for your area of expertise   Grow your brand with your followers, companies, and industry experts Become an Instagram Influencer     Like blogging and YouTubing, starting an Instagram profile that lets you focus on the area of your expertise â€" in this case, beauty, and cosmetics â€" has never been easier.   By starting an Instagram profile that centers on your passion for beauty and style, you can steadily (and sometimes, even quickly), build a large group of followers to help you attract those partnerships with local stores and beauty brands and make money through advertising. Through your Instagram profile, you can post videos and photos that help you share your personal experiences with beauty; impart your knowledge on the subject, and; understand what it is that people are looking for in their products through comments and messages that followers leave on your posts.   Become a beauty products representative, marketer The beauty and cosmetics industry has worked on the multi-level marketing strategy to generate sales for the longest time. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you don’t have to look far. Companies such as Avon and Arbonne are prime examples.   So, how can you make some money with this model? You can do so by becoming a representative with these firms. By doing so, you can earn money each time you sell their products or when other representatives you’ve recruited makes a sale. That’s why, if you are able to recruit a large number of representatives for these firms, you can easily start to earn a lot more on the side. For those looking to go down this route, check out The Economic Secretariat blog, which offers valuable insight into and impartial reviews about popular multi-level marketing firms and related opportunities to make residual income.   Become a business owner of your own product line     Many a YouTube star, a top model, or blogger has gone on to start their online beauty products company. And why not?  The fact is, though, that they were able to do this because they effectively leveraged all the knowledge they have about the industry to create their own unique brand line.     Still, starting your own beauty products company isn’t going to be easy. But you can be rest assured about the money you’ll make doing so.  While there is a great deal of work to be done before you start looking in this direction, you can slowly start doing your homework even as you pursue any of the above-mentioned secondary gigs.   This means developing an understanding of customers’ changing needs and staying abreast of evolving industry trends. It also entails knowing where to develop your products or source its ingredients and building a steady and strong reputation for your brand with potential clients.         So, yes…  There are plenty of beauty side hustle opportunities out there to help you make some side income from your home â€" provided, of course, that you can demonstrate just how passionate and knowledgeable you are about the topic on hand.

Do Loyal Employees Exist Anymore - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Do Loyal Employees Exist Anymore - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career No doubt the biggest challenge we have as a personal branding community is organizations feeling that we arent loyal. This is especially true for the stereotypical gen-y employee. From the human resources perspective, they want to hire loyal employees because they can add more value to the organization of the duration of their stay. By this, I mean that the more a person becomes situated in a company, expands their internal network, learns organizational processes and adapts to the corporate culture, the more productive they can be and the less the company needs to spend on training them. Research also states that companies tend to pay current employees less than incoming employees. This happens because they feel they dont need to fight to keep employees and today I have evidence that they are wrong. When it comes to personal branding, companies are especially hesitant and frightened. The reason is simple and Ive mentioned this for almost a year now: visibility creates opportunities. By building an eBrand, you are putting yourself in the open and will have more opportunities, which increases the chances you will switch jobs at some point. From the employees perspective, they are looking for the best situation for their personal brand, no matter what. From the employers perspective, they dont want to lose employees because it costs them money to go through the recruitment process (WHICH SHOULD CHANGE ANYWAYS!!!). Companies that try and control and place restrictions on eBranding will be the first to lose employees to others companies that permit it. Companies that are smart should draw their attention to making their place the best place to work, so they arent inclined to switching. Part of this is to be OK with personal branding. Executive Summary Ive collected 7 research reports from a variety of sources, in hopes to draw some conclusions on the state of employee loyalty. The findings clearly demonstrate that employees arent especially loyal the companies and that there is a direct correlation between employee loyalty/satisfaction and customer loyalty/satisfaction. In order to attract and retain employees in the digital age, companies must increase benefits, compensation and individual attention. A diverse culture is also important and one where managers treat employees with extra care. NetworkWorlds Salary Survey 2007 Loyalty section Seekers: Actively on the prowl for a new job Explorers: Not actively looking, but keeping their eyes open Approachables: Not actively looking, but would respond if personally approached about a job opportunity Loyalists: Absolutely committed to current employer First and foremost, only 13% of respondents felt loyal to their corresponding companies. Job seekers find overall compensation, base salary, benefits plus challenge of work and advancement potential as most-important job factors. Those in the media and transportation industries more often characterize themselves as approachables than as explorers. The reverse is true for those in all other industries. Likewise, those in the Northwest characterize themselves more as approachable than exploring. Significantly more senior-level managers cant envision changing jobs than either middle managers or staff employees. Middle managers and staff employees are more likely to follow up on job opportunities than senior-level managers. Middle managers are more likely than staff to follow up if approached about a job. As is expected, loyalty decreases along with job satisfaction. ComputerWorld Canada Tech Workers Loyalty on the Rise 21% said they’re not particularly committed to their companies (down from 33% in 2003). Gallop Poll Corporate Diversity Policies Linked to Employee Satisfaction Loyalty 61% of the employees who rate their companys diversity efforts in the upper third say they are extremely satisfied with the company. The Guardian UK Corporate Social Responsibility Linked to Employee Commitment 58% of employees in the UK thought the social and environmental responsibilities of their organization were important. Harvard Business School Study Customer Loyalty Linked to Employee Loyalty Every 1% increase in staff loyalty resulted in a ½% increase in customer loyalty. The Wise Marketer Customer Loyalty Linked to Employee Loyalty Only 24% of employees consider themselves truly loyal, committed to their organization and its goals, and planning to stay at least two years. IT World Canada Top Drivers of Employee Loyalty How much care and concern employers show toward their employees, both in career development and in balancing work/family Fair workplace policies Day-to-day satisfaction and reinforcement from managers Compensation

3 Ways to Prepare for Your Career Change

3 Ways to Prepare for Your Career Change Career changes are common in todays society. Most people change careers due to dissatisfaction with their current job or because of major life changes. Some examples include getting married, having children, or taking care of aging family members. Whether a person is changing careers for financial or other reasons, there are several important steps to take to be fully prepared: 1) Financial preparedness: One of the most important steps is becoming financially prepared for a career change. In most cases, a person must go back to college to earn a different degree or take several classes in order to make a change. This requires money for tuition and books. Some people may be able to pay out of pocket, and others will require student loans or grants. Financial counselors at an educational institution can advise prospective students about their options. For those who prefer to stay out of debt, a strategic budget will be necessary. This is especially true if work hours must also be cut in order to allow ample time to study. People who have families to support must think about how the budget changes will affect family members. Financial experts suggest adults returning to school take the following steps to save money: Relative plans Look into plans that allow relatives to contribute gift money toward educational expenses. Research education tax benefits Adults who are repaying past student loans can deduct the interest they pay to contribute toward a refund or lower their tax liabilities. Research state tax benefits Some states have better benefits for college savings plans than others. Reviewing the guidelines and using tax-advantaged options can help cut costs considerably. 2) Social preparedness: Many people who are looking to change careers may find that the extra time required for studying cuts down on their time to socialize. It is easy to give into the temptation to put off coursework in place of socializing. While some socializing is good, it is important to set limits ahead of time. People who have commitments that are not necessary but are likely to be a hindrance should back out of those activities in advance to ensure they will not become problematic. For those who have families, this step can be a major challenge. It is important to put family before social commitments when returning to school, but it is also crucial to find the right balance of studying, work, and family time. 3) Mental preparedness: Financial and social preparedness are important, but they will not be fail-proof without mental preparedness. Career transition experts point out that one of the most vital parts of being mentally prepared is having the proper motivation. People who are not sure if they want to make a completely different career change can always request to switch departments at a job. This may still require some additional training. For those who are unsure, experts recommend considering whether the job tasks or the supervisors and coworkers are the problem. If the problem involves other workers, a transfer to another department may be not only possible but also more favorable. As is true with most types of changes, there are risks and rewards to consider with switching careers. Some of the risks may include a reduction in salary, possible job dissatisfaction, or inability to find a job after receiving training. To avoid these risks, it is important to work with an educational adviser who can recommend growing fields and jobs that suit personal needs or preferences. Assuming they are made for the right reasons, the rewards have fewer limits than the risks associated with job changes. It is impossible to put a universal value on job satisfaction, lowered stress, more money, a better schedule, a job that is less physically demanding, or being able to spend more time with family members. These are all common benefits. When making a career change, the key is to make sure the absolute benefits of the change outweigh the possible negatives. Author:  Alex Espenson  is a writer and blogger. Follow him at @alexespenson.

How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Headline SEO-Friendly - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

How to Make Your Profile Headline SEO-Friendly

Midwife Training UK The Complete Guide!

Midwife Training UK The Complete Guide! Each day we receive a number of different enquries from people looking to train as a midwife. Aspiring candidates are drawn to the caring and helpful nature of the job, along with the idea of looking after new mothers and their babys. In order to help potential midwife candidates, we have created this blog. This blog will provide you with some useful tips on how to train as a midwife, and also on how to find midwifery vacancies.What qualifications do I need to become a midwife?In order to become a registered midwife, you will need to undertake either a Pre-Registration Midwifery Degree Course or a Midwifery Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) Course. These courses provide both an academic and professional qualification through integrated study of theory and supervised practice. Upon successful completion of such a course you will be qualified to register with the NMC as a midwife.Pre-registration midwifery education courses take place in higher education institutions. These courses a re usually 3 years in duration (4 years in Scotland), however, some institutions offer accelerated programmes for students who are already graduates in a related subject area, for example registered nurses, or for those who already have several years’ experience working in the NHS, for example as a maternity support worker. Some institutions also offer extended part time courses tailored for students with, for example, family commitments.Both diploma and degree courses in midwifery begin with a common foundation programme (CFP), which provides a general introduction to midwifery nursing.Midwifery degree and diploma courses are designed to combine theoretical study with hands-on clinical practice experience with women, babies and their families. Supervised clinical practice will comprise half of the course programme and may take place in hospitals, within the community, in the home, or in midwife-led birth centres.Midwifery trainingMidwifery training generally follows a modular cou rse structure where you will study core subjects such as biological sciences, applied sociology, psychology and professional practice. During the course you will be taught to understand, facilitate and promote normal childbirth as well as to identify the diverse complications that can arise during pregnancy, labour and in the postnatal period.You will also gain experience in working with other health professionals, and when to seek assistance in the implementation of emergency measures. The provision of information, effective communication, and the promotion of health and well-being in women, their babies and families, will form a fundamental backbone to the course.You will be assessed continuously as you complete each module, although examinations may also form a part of the final assessment process. In order to successfully complete your midwifery training and become a qualified midwife, you must achieve the standards of proficiency laid down by the Nursing and Midwifery  CouncilU pon graduation a midwifery degree or diploma course will lead to NMC registration. The actual degree qualification obtained varies between institutions and courses, but is most likely to be one of the following, with or without Honours.Bachelor of Midwifery (BM)Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc)Bachelor of Sciences (BSc)Bachelor of Arts (BA)The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the governing body that sets the standards of entry for midwifery courses, which vary dependent upon whether you are embarking on a diploma course or a degree course.You will find that most educational institutions will require 5 GCSEs at grade C or higher (or equivalent qualifications as above) plus at least 2 A Levels, one of which should usually be a Science subject. Entry to Midwifery Degree Courses can be competitive, therefore the required A Level grades may vary between different institutions, so you should check the individual requirements for the institutions you are interested in training at.Ge neral NMC Entry RequirementsIn addition to satisfying the academic requirements for the programmes/institutions you wish to apply to, in order to train as a midwife you will also need to meet the NMC’s general entry requirements for:Literacy and numeracyHealth clearanceContact the institutions you wish to apply to if you have any concerns regarding any health problems that may affect your ability to work or study.Good characterIf you are applying for a course where you will be working with vulnerable groups, e.g. children, your name may be referred for a Criminal Records Bureau check.Finding a Midwife VacancySo, where are vacancies for midwives advertised? The best place to start looking is on the NHS Jobs Website. NHS Jobs is the national website where jobs within the NHS are advertised. The website covers over 400 NHS organisations across England and has recently welcomed a further 57 organisations from NHS Wales. Here you can search for midwifery vacancies by salary bracket, jo b description or just by using specific keywords. You can then apply for numerous midwifery vacancies online across the NHS in England and Wales.Another great feature of this website is that you can register your interest when specific jobs become available. Once you have registered your interest you will receive email notification of relevant posts, ensuring you hear about all the jobs as soon as they become available.Whilst increasing numbers of NHS organisations, Trusts and hospitals use the NHS Jobs website to recruit midwives, some may still take responsibility for their own recruitment process.You can check whether a particular employer uses the NHS Jobs website for recruitment using the Employer List search facility on the website. If you cannot find the employer there, then you should contact the personnel/human resources department of the organisation or Trust you are interested in working within.You can find contact details and website addresses for NHS Trusts by visiting www.nhs.uk. You may also find that some hospitals or Trusts will have their own information bulletins or vacancy boards.Other Products You Might Be Interested InIf you are interested in pursuing a career within the medical industry, then you will LOVE our fantastic guide on Medical Interview Questions And Answers. Designed to help you ace any medical interview, including midwifery, this is the ultimate resource for aspiring medical candidates! This entry was posted in Career Advice. Bookmark the permalink. Richard How To Pass The Police Interview 2016Medical Interview Questions And Answers: Top Tips

Speech Language Pathologist Resume Writing - What to Do For a Resume That is Accurate and Convenient

Speech Language Pathologist Resume Writing - What to Do For a Resume That is Accurate and ConvenientSpeech-language pathologist is one of the jobs that are not only sought by people but those who want to continue their education as well. They are highly regarded because they can give some life-long benefits in terms of their professionalism and abilities.Speech-language pathologist is highly sought after by many because of the advantages that it offers. It has a broad scope and is ideal for those who are seeking for a job in the medical sector. This profession is also ideal for those who want to continue their education in this field or would like to open up their own business.A speech-language pathologist can write a resume that is excellent and appropriate for the job requirements. If you are looking for a job, you will find a plethora of firms that are always in the lookout for such professionals. They are found as a part of the speech pathologist organization.It is always a bette r idea to check on the career profiles and testimonials of a speech language pathologist in order to know whether you will be able to find the job you are looking for. You can check the other sites related to the same and get your resume written for you. Your resume must be conversant with the work profile of the speech pathologist.The work profile of a speech-language pathologist is very flexible. In fact, they will take care of all sorts of problems that occur in the speech and language therapy process. They are in a position to do what they can in a short span of time.On the other hand, in case you are seeking to open your own practice, you can easily go ahead and look for a speech language pathologist who can mentor you. This is the best way to choose a qualified professional. Check on their testimonials to see if they can meet your expectations.Finally, an exceptional resume written by a speech-language pathologist can be your guide in selecting a good agency. It will be much b etter if you use a template so that you can get your resume finished easily. Remember, every step you take to write the resume, you can improve the quality of your job interview.