From Sales to Start-Up

From Sales to Start-Up Success Story > From: Job To: Startup From Sales to Start-Up “I was never unhappy at work, but everything was always just 'OK'. I wanted more 'wow'.” * From Sales to Start-Up Florence Kennedy knew she wasn't living her dream. So she unleashed her inner entrepreneur and started her own business. Here's how she made the leap. What work were you doing previously? All sorts! I did my Architecture Part 1 degree, but when it came to my year in industry, there weren't any jobs and I met a lot of unhappy architects. So I started looking into other things. I worked in events and, more recently, sales. Every position I've had has been hugely helpful in what I do now. What are you doing now? I started a flower delivery company in London, delivering bouquets by bicycle since the summer of 2013. Why did you change? I didn't realise how much I wanted to start my own business until my husband started his own bicycle brand, Kennedy City Bicycles. My job was fine, but leaving James at home pursuing his dream every morning made me want to find my own dream too, and I was pretty sure it wasn't in sales. So I started to think about what I could do. When was the moment you decided to make the change? When I realised that my business plan might actually work. Are you happy with the change? Blissfully. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I can't think of anything I miss that badly. Apart from sleep, perhaps. I need to get up at 3.30 a.m. to go to the flower market. I was never unhappy at work, but everything was always just 'OK'. I wanted more 'wow'. You spend the majority of your life at work â€" it should be amazing! How did you go about making the shift? I researched and plotted until I had an outline plan; then, when I'd saved up enough money, I handed in my notice. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? As I worked in sales, I used to have my monthly salary and then any commission, too. I saved up all my commission in a separate savings account; once I had enough to live off for three months, I handed in my notice. My set-up costs for Petalon were minimal. I figured that if it didn't work out, I could just find another job. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Fear of the unknown! What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? I think that mistakes are incredibly important, even though they seem disastrous at the time. It's how you learn, improve, and know how to avoid similar situations in the future. Petalon has been a steady improvement of small changes and adjustments when things haven't gone quite right, but there haven't been any major U-turns. However, I probably should have saved up more money to begin with to give the business enough time to get on its feet without the financial pressures I faced so soon after starting out. What help did you get? My husband was a huge help. We did everything ourselves, from websites and flower arranging through to building trailers, cycling, and finding the right packaging. What have you learnt in the process? More than I could have dreamt was possible in a year! I've learnt flower arranging, flower knowledge, how to build a trailer, how to build a website, how to make an online payment system work with order submissions, bookkeeping, a bit of coding, how to write a press release, how to create a brand, and more. What do you wish you'd done differently? The mistakes are all part of the process: you need them to learn how to do something better. Looking back, as well as saving more money to start out with, I wish I'd had more faith in the business (and myself, I guess) in the early days. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Go for it! The hardest part is finding the confidence to do it. Is the worst case scenario really that bad? What resources would you recommend to others? Do as much as you can for yourself: redecorate your own shop, build your own website, try designing your own logo. You get so much more out of the process, and if anything goes wrong you have a better idea of how to fix it yourself. You can find out more about Florence's business at www.petalon.co.uk What lessons could you take from Florence's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Top Internship Programs Announced

Top Internship Programs Announced New York, NY, (October 11, 2016) Vault.com, the source for career intelligence, has taken the guesswork out of the exhaustive internship search with today’s release of the Top Internships for 2017, highlighting the top programs in 13 categories, including the Most Prestigious Internships, the Best Overall Internships, the programs offering the best Quality of Life and Career Development, and the best industry-specific internships. “As everyone knows, an internship is essential to college students looking to advance their careers in a chosen industry,” said Tara McCaffrey, VP of Marketing at Vault.com. “Companies are looking to recruit top talent before they graduate college and are using internships as the best way to assess potential employees. At the same time, college students view internships as the best way to test drive their chosen career path. These rankings offer students an opportunity to determine which companies are the best fit for their career goals.” This summer, Vault surveyed more than 11,000 current and former interns from more than 100 employers. In addition to asking respondents to rate and review their own internship experiences for our 2017 Best Internships Rankings, we asked interns to rate the prestige of other employers, to determine which internships are the most desirable. Survey respondents were presented with a list of top companies and, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest (“It’s a dream job!”) and 1 being the lowest (“No one wants to work there”), they were asked to rate each company on how prestigious its internship is. Interns were asked to rate only the companies with whose reputations they are familiar. Vault averaged the rating for each employer and then ranked the companies in order, starting with the highest score as No. 1 down to No. 50. The Top 20 Most Prestigious Internship Programs for 2017 Google Apple Facebook Goldman Sachs Co. Microsoft Corporation Tesla Motors J.P. Morgan Nike The Walt Disney Company Morgan Stanley Amazon.com PwC Twitter IBM ESPN Deloitte Berkshire Hathaway McKinsey Company The Boston Consulting Group Intel Corporation For the second year in a row, Google ranked No. 1 for prestige, with survey respondents calling the “top tech firm” “fun and innovative,” the “#1 best company to work for,” and an “absolute dream job” that is “about to be the biggest company in the world.” One survey respondent loved the idea of working at Google because it’s “a company where you must work very hard, but they also provide opportunities to play,” while others noted that Google “looks impressive on a resume, and it’s an amazing company” with a “cool culture” that hires the “best tech minds and “creative thinkers.” In addition to Google maintaining its top spot, Apple held on to its No. 2 ranking while Disney remained at No. 9. That’s where the similarities ended as Facebook and Microsoft jumped one spot to No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. Tesla Motors also moved up one ranking to No. 6 this year. Some of the bigger moves saw Nike jump four spots to No. 8; Amazon.com jump five spots to No. 11; PwC, IBM and Deloitte each jump three spots to No. 12, No. 14 and No. 16 respectively; while ESPN moved five spots to No. 15 this year. Vault has survey quotes for each firm available on request. Past And Present Interns Offer Insight On The Best Internship Programs While Google was considered the most desired internship program for resume radiance, many of our survey respondents were more than happy with their experiences elsewhere. Vault surveyed interns, past and present, about their actual internship experiences at companies nationwide and then compiled rankings that provide insight into which programs best meet the needs of college students today. This year’s winners include: Top Overall Internship: Evercore Advisory Summer Analyst Summer Associate Program “I could not have been happier with the culture, opportunity, and flexibility afforded to me by Evercore. The firm is wholly committed to advancing its intern class, and everyone in the entire firm made an effort to welcome us, include us, and ensure our questions were answered throughout the summer,” said one survey respondent. “On any given day, I could be chatting with partners, the COO, on any relevant pertinent to us or simply in the news. People are down-to-earth and want to make the environment enjoyable for all.” Best Internship for Quality of Life: Elliott Davis ENVISION Summer Internship Experience “The people at the firm are amazing from new hires to partners. The office is in a great location and is new and fully equipped with amenities and space,” said one survey participant. “The work is rewarding. Benefits and compensation are highly competitive. They really care about their employees.” Best Internship for Career Development: Evercore Advisory Summer Analyst Summer Associate Program “Evercore is a great place to work. I truly believe it is the best investment bank at which to begin a career,” commented one survey respondent about their experience at Evercore. “The training program was much better than the programs my peers participated in at other banks, the people are friendly and intelligent and you get the opportunity to work with some of the most elite companies in the country.” Vault Ranks The Top Industry-Specific Internships Vault also broke out the rankings further to include Top Internship lists for nine industry-specific categories: Accounting Internship: Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLPs Summer Internship Consulting Internship: Bain Company Associate Consultant and Summer Associate programs Energy Internship: Westar Energy Internship Program Financial Services Internship: Northwestern Mutual Internship Program Healthcare Internship: Aetna Summer Associate Program Investment Banking Internship: Evercore Advisory Summer Analyst Summer Associate Program Media Telecommunications Internship: Nickelodeon Animation Studio Nickternship Program Retail Consumer Products Internship: RAI Internship Program Tech Engineering Internship: Capital One Technology Development Program View the complete Vault Internship Rankings. Vault.com also features a newly enhanced web portal to help students research hundreds of internships, read thousands of internship reviews, and get advice on interviews, resumes, cover letters, and more at http://www.vault.com/internship-programs.   Trends From Vault’s Internship Survey In addition to ranking the companies with the best internship programs, Vault also discovered some interesting facts about students, internships and the internship search: More than half (56%) of internships resulted in a full-time job offer. 98% of respondents surveyed had paid internships. 46% of respondents said pay was the ultimate deciding factor when choosing an internship. Location was a close second at 45%, followed by career advancement in their chosen industry at 38% and the opportunity for a full-time job offer at 35%. 66% of respondents found campus recruiting the best way to learn about internships. Two-thirds (66%) of respondents interned as juniors or seniors in college. The majority (95%) of respondents relied primarily on their laptops for researching internships, but 28% also used their smart phones.   About Vault Vault is the most comprehensive resource for employer, university and internship program rankings, ratings and insight. Vault’s influential rankings and reviews are sourced from directed surveys of professionals and students, and evaluate companies, schools, and internships in terms of prestige, best place to work, diversity, quality of life, compensation and other categories. Vault provides users with in-depth information on employers, industries, interviews, and available jobs and internships. In addition, Vault partners with employers to help build their brands and assist with recruiting efforts, and with universities to help their students with employment placement and career selection.

If you are a mathematics student and dont want to work in finance, what else can you do

If you are a mathematics student and don’t want to work in finance, what else can you do Just when you thought that understanding Godels incompleteness theorems were the most difficult questions you could face on your mathematics degree, along came an even more challenging one. What will you do if you have decided you dont want to work in finance?   There is a perception that mathematicians only want (or are only qualified) to work in finance. But what if you instinctively know that financial services isn’t a sector that interests or motivates you â€" what are the realistic options for mathematicians? The 2015   What do graduates do?  survey found that 42% of mathematics graduates were employed in finance, business and HR related professions 6 months after graduation. A significant number of mathematicians also progress to further study (20-40% over the last 4 years at the University of Warwick’s Mathematics Institute). That still leaves a substantial number who work in a variety of non-finance industries. The analytical, problem-solving and logical thinking skill set developed on a maths degree is highly regarded. It is also extremely transferable and according to the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA): ‘almost 2 million people now work in jobs where mathematical sciences qualifications are essential’  Where do mathematicians work? A good time to be a mathematician? In terms of the variety of exciting roles potentially available, yes! In no particular order, here are 10 job roles to consider where the underpinning skills of a numerate graduate are highly relevant. Unfortunately, I am one of the 3 out of every 2 people who do not understand fractions so I will leave it to this guide How maths is used in the workplace   to illustrate how mathematical techniques and concepts are practically applied in some of these roles and industries. 1.Big data   The sexiest job of the 21st century. Alas, its not careers guidance but  data analytics.   How business, for example, uses data analytics to understand their customers behaviour to inform future strategy has become increasingly influential. There are predicted to be thousands of jobs available in data analytics for the forseeable future, the 8% salary increase in this sector identified by an IT resourcing firm in 2016 testifies to the demand for people with big data expertise  Experis survey 2. Transport modeller If you think traffic lights and junctions are just randomly situated on our roads, think again. A transport modeller has painstakingly sifted through data to make predictions about their impact on traffic flows. 3. Cryptographer What can I say? Well, not a lot actually given the Official Secrets Act. Suffice to say you will be using your analytical skills to solve problems. Try this sample aptitude test to increase your awareness of the skills assessed during the  GCHQ  recruitment process. 4. Teacher There is an acute shortage of mathematics subject specialists in secondary education. If you are passionate about inspiring others and want to use your degree in a very rewarding way, why not consider teaching? Bursaries of up to £27,500 are available through a variety of training routes  Training to Teach 5. Operational Researcher Operational research evolved during the second world war and the analytical techniques developed were subsequently applied in business and government and have become an academic discipline. If  stochastic processes, simulation and heuristics float your mathematical boat this is a role where those techniques can inform decision-making.  A glance at the exhibitors at the Operational Research Societys careers open day in 2016 highlights the variety of organisations and business employing operational researchers.    OR careers day   6. Sports betting consultant There is a more reliable method of predicting the winner of the Grand National or the FA Cup than merely having a hunch or following your instinct. In the sports betting industry, modelling techniques are employed to forecast outcomes. If you are interested in the research in football betting, take a look at the preeminent paper in this field   Dixon Coles model 7. The games industry The mathematics used in the development and design of a game (algebra, discrete mathematics, trigonometry, calculus, linear algebra for example) is complex. How a character or an object moves in a game is determined by the application of mathematics and physics. Data analysis is also an emerging trend in the industry (understanding how the user interacts with the game can help a studio develop the game to increase retention) and offers further opportunities for mathematicians. The games industry is competitive, one way to demonstrate your passion and skills and to differentiate yourself is to develop your own game.  Unity free game engine 8. Meteorology   A  BBC survey in 2015 suggested that at almost any moment in this country, at least a third of the population is either talking about the weather, has already done so or is about to do so” If you are one of the many people in the UK with a keen interest in the weather and you are also a mathematician, a career in meteorology beckons!  What is the Met Office? 9. Civil Servant   Analytical skills, logical thinking and ability to solve problemsattributes developed on a mathematics degree. They will be highly valued in the variety of departments that a career in the Civil Service Fast Stream graduate programme could lead to. 10. Consultant Can you connect with people? Explain complex ideas and data in an accessible way? Could you answer the how many people travel in the London Eye in one hour brainteaser question in an interview? If so, have you considered consultancy? Watch a candidate interview to gain insight into the consulting process    Case Study interview It doesnt end there! Remember that the majority of graduate employers do not require a specific discipline. There are so many more options, so start researching and reflecting to see where mathematics can take you.

Franchise vs. Start-up Which One Works for You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Franchise vs. Start-up Which One Works for You - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career You are tired of working for someone else and you want to start  your own business but don’t know if you should do it  from scratch or buy a franchise. This blog post can help you to decide. Below you can find the pros and cons of each model and decide which one works for you. Advantages and Disadvantages of a Franchise: Higher Success Rate: A franchise is a proven system. All franchisees operate under a common system and they are only responsible from their day to day operations. Also, they get trained about the product line, marketing, how to deal with staff and other aspects of their daily activities. Basically, they get an ongoing support for their businesses which brings them success. Brand Recognition: Franchises bring brand awareness with their names from day one. Therefore, customers will know about your products which will increase your sales. By buying a franchise, you are actually buying a turnkey business that is ready and waiting for you to start. Fees: There is a fee for buying the franchise and ongoing fees that you need to pay to franchiser. The entrance fees are usually very high and there are fixed costs every month/year for using the brand name. No Freedom: You don’t have the freedom to change the product line, the decoration of the store or anything else in a franchise system. It is very restrictive and you need to follow certain rules in order to protect your franchise license. Advantages and Disadvantages of a Startup: Innovation and Creativity: Founding a startup needs innovation and creativity. If you are a highly creative person with full of different ideas and you want to make these ideas a reality, then, you should definitely start it up. Professional freedom and growth: When you have your own business, you can work anytime you want. Also, depending on your business, you can work anywhere you want. You don’t need to report to other people. This means you have your own professional freedom. Moreover, franchise businesses can grow only up to a certain point but there is no limit to the growth of a startup business. Higher Failure Rate: Unfortunately, startups have a higher failure rate compared to franchise businesses. Statistics show that 25% of startup businesses fail within their first year, 50% of the remaining fail within five years and approximately 30% of the remaining last ten years. Therefore, it is very risky to found a startup but don’t forget that high risk equals high return. If you succeed, you can even be a billionaire!

How to Cope in a Demanding Job CareerMetis.com

How to Cope in a Demanding Job â€" CareerMetis.com If you want to advance in your career, you need to be willing to get out of your comfort zone. A demanding job in a stressful environment obviously comes with its share of challenges, but it can also be highly rewarding.There are also strategies that help you to better handle these circumstances. This is how to cope in a demanding job.1.) Determine what your biggest stressors areevalevalJust saying that your job is nothing but demanding is reductive. Think about what bothers you most about your job. Is it your manager, dealing with customers, filling out reports?Write them out and then think about what makes them each so stressful. For some, you might find that you’ve been exaggerating how much stress they provide and that they’re actually fairly bearable when looked at from a different perspective. Don’t let a slight grievance keep you from enjoying work as much as you should.2) Figure out what you can changeYou have more power than you might realize. You can’t overhaul your job entirely, but you can adjust it to suit your needs more.For instance, if you run a department and find too much time is spent in meetings, then you should do what you can to reduce the number of meetings. If you concentrate your energy on solutions instead of problems, you can have a much better work experience.3) Take care of personal mattersIf you’re dealing with problems outside of work, they can infect your time at work. Your work life and your personal life should be kept as separate as possible, but sometimes they’re impossible to keep separate. If you’re having relationship problems or dealing with emotional or mental healthproblems, seek counseling that will help you to find a light at the end of the tunnel. Consider taking time off to deal with these issues so that you can return to work re-energized.You may need to speak with your employer or human resources department about how your personal life has been affecting your work performance. Assure them that you’ re determined to get through this and come back stronger.4) Get enough sleepComing into work exhausted means leaving work exhausted and probably in a sour mood. Skimping on sleep can have substantial long-term consequences, from obesity to anxiety. You should be getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, but it might take more for you to be properly rested.evalMake sure that you’re also going to bed at the same time every night and you’re winding down the day with healthy activities, such as meditation or exercise. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of caffeine.eval5) Don’t put things offWhen you have a lot of work to get done, it can be tempting to procrastinate. But when there are jobs to be done, the worst thing you can do is nothing. The hardest part of any task is getting started. Set a timer for just ten minutes and get to work on a task. When it goes off, you’ll hopefully find yourself locked into a work mindset and much more accomplished than you initially antici pated.6) Learn how to organizeSloppiness is like kryptonite for anyone wishing to be efficient. If you’re spending half your work time getting things in order, you’re going to find yourself scrambling to get things done.Create a system of organization for both physical and digital files. You should also make sure to get rid of things that are no longer serving a purpose so that you don’t have to swim through all sorts of clutter.7) Don’t be a doormatevalYou should only take on as much work as you can handle. Being a people-pleaser who lets your colleagues and supervisors just throw assignments at you will just make you even more resentful of your job.Tell them point blank that you can’t do something they’re trying to paw off on you. You have your own things to worry about it and shouldn’t be expected to carry everyone else’s weight.8) Take breaksJust like with sleep, you need to take regular breaks in order to function properly. Don’t skip lunch or using the restro om to push yourself through tasks. Our bodies and minds need time to recover.If you need, let yourself take a minute to step out to get some fresh air. This will let you come back to work rejuvenated and ready to take on more challenges.9) Speak upIf your job is putting more pressure on you than you can handle, don’t stay silent. Let your employers know how your job is affecting you negatively. This should be handled in a firm but respectful manner.You might consider drafting an email that lets you lay out all your points in a clear manner. It’s very likely that these problems are not reserved to you, and your coworkers will appreciate knowing that someone is willing to speak on their behalf.10) Take things one day at a timeAnything can be made easier if you break it down into manageable chunks. If you keep your focus on the day rather than the week or month, you’ll find that it’s far less stressful. You can go even further and take things one hour at a time, or even one mom ent at a time.If you’re having a rough day, you can go home and practice some self-care. When you come back the next day, you can focus on giving yourself a fresh start.Being challenged doesn’t have to mean being stressed. When you consider how demanding your job is, you should also consider how much gratification and confidence are afforded to you as a result of your willingness to learn and grow. You should soon find that having a demanding job allows to appreciate your work even more and to look forward to every day.

Boosting The Confidence Of Your Team - CareerAlley

Boosting The Confidence Of Your Team - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. A team that feels strong and confident is capable of great things. Its important to build up your team and show them that their work and contribution is valued. Whether theres been uncertainty in the workplace or your team needs help to gel together, its worth the effort to bring them closer. Having a team that works collaboratively and closely can help achieve objectives, while also making your office a much better place to work. A team that feels strong and confident is capable of great things. Its important to build up your team and show them that their work and contribution is valued. Tweet This Take a look at some tips for boosting the confidence of your team. Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons Be a better leader Setting a good example is important as a leader. Your team needs someone that they can look up to someone they can feel inspired by. To be a better leader, you need to understand how to manage a team, how to earn their respect and how you can help them do their best work. Communication is essential, so be sure to plan in plenty of catch-ups with your team to help you stay on track and to build those strong working relationships that can help you soar. Share and value success If your team feels undervalued, they might struggle to find the motivation to do great work. Rewarding your team is important, and you dont have to hand out bonuses to make them feel valued. It is possible to develop a team atmosphere of gratitude that can help develop a stronger bond that will help every member of the team find their place. While its easy to focus on the negatives, its important that you spend more time reflecting on the positives to establish the things that work well, and what you need to be doing more of in the future. The right people are always out there if you know where to look. The important thing is to search for the right qualities and dont be dazzled by a candidate that talks the talk but cant walk the walk. Looking to Find the Right People Help employees play to their strengths Everyone has their strengths, but some employees can find it difficult to recognize theirs. As an effective leader, its up to you to help bring out the strengths in your employees. Employee behavior consulting can help you to identify different behaviors and skills amongst your team so that you can make the most of their strengths. Employee training and development is important for boosting the confidence of your team and could help them feel much more capable in their roles. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Bring your team closer When your team feels comfortable working together, they can help each other by working collaboratively, as well as creating a positive working atmosphere. Some of the things you can do to bring your team closer together include planning social events and even just eating lunch together. Ask each team member to suggest an activity so it doesnt just fall on one person to organize everything. It takes time to turn individuals into a team, but with the right approach and great leadership, youll have some strong foundations. Work on ways you can inspire confidence in your team to help everyone give their best performance. This confidence will not only boost their development but will provide great results for your business too. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? 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

Writing a Formal Email For a Resume Forwarding

Writing a Formal Email For a Resume ForwardingWriting a formal email for a resume forwarding can be an art form. First, it's crucial to write the email in a manner that is professional. You need to use a professional email address and you should avoid using the same account for other clients or your personal information.Next, you need to look professional in your email. This means that you should not use any slang or abbreviations that are not common but use formal terms for your company and email address. For example, if you're looking for a person to get in touch with, using 'email'fjd' in the email may be fine, but when you want to find a potential employee, this will not be helpful.After you have taken these steps, you should now send your formal email for a resume forwarding. You need to make sure you actually put the name of the person you're trying to forward to in the subject line. The rest of the subject line should read something like, 'Dear Ms. X.' After you have filled in all the information on the beginning of the email, you should write a personalized thank you to the person for taking the time to read your email.Writing a formal email for a resume forwarding is not an easy task, but you can use the search engines to help you find the right company for your needs. In the search bar, type in 'recruitment,' and press enter. When you type in the company name, hit enter and it will pull up the best jobs that relate to the search term.Once you have used the search engine to find the company you want, you can use the corporate website for further searching. If you need to find a few companies and you don't know how to do this easily, use the phone book. Just find the area code of the company you are interested in and you can easily call them.Another great idea is to use social networking sites to find potential companies. Simply go on the site of the company you're interested in and find the people who work there. You may want to use the company's page and then follow them on their profile to find out more.There are many different business strategies for finding the perfect company. Whether you use the search engines, or you get the business from a website, remember that writing a formal email for a resume forwarding can be an art form. The same rules apply as when you are sending a resume to an employer.