A Level and GCSE retakes Why its never too late to resit your exams

A Level and GCSE retakes Why its never too late to resit your exams by Michael Cheary Not happy with your exam results? Time to do something about it… Having good GCSE and A Level results could be your key to getting into sixth form, college, university, or a stepping stone into your ideal industry. Unfortunately, not all of us have had the best experiences of these qualifications when it came to the exams.Luckily, it’s never too late to try again. So if you’re seriously considering retaking your GCSEs or A Levels, here’s a little information to help get you started, courtesy of ICS Learn:Why should I retake my exams?If you’re unhappy with your current results, or you need a certain grade as a minimum requirement for further education, you may want to consider a retake.Examples include anyone looking to move onto A Levels (entry requirement 5 GCSEs at Grade A*-C), or for those who missed out on their university course of choice by not achieving the right A Level results in the required subject.Even if you’re looking to move out of education, many employers view good GCSE results as prerequisites.What are the benefits of retaking my exams?The benefits of retaking your GCSEs or A Levels include:Eligibility for further educationBetter choice of sixth form or universityFoundation requirements for your industry of choiceImproved applications for jobs and apprenticeshipsAdded value to your CVMore open career choicesGreater earning potentialWho can do it?Anyone can retake their GCSEs, regardless of age or previous experience.For A Levels, you’ll need a GCSE at Grade C or above in the equivalent subject to get started.So whether you’ve just left school, or you’ve been out of education for a while and are just looking to change careers, it’s never too late to start learning.What can I retake?GCSEs and A Level retakes are offered in almost every subject.Common subjects students choose to resit their exams in include English, Maths and Science, as well as certain languages or other specialisms, such as Psycholo gy or Law.How can I retake?If you’ve recently taken your exams, always approach your college or university first, to find out whether you can put in for a resit right away.If it’s been a little longer, or you need to refresh your knowledge on the subject, there are a number of courses out there which package the exams together with modules to help you study.Both GCSE courses and A Level courses are available.How long will it take?If you’re looking to start from scratch, it can take between 12 months and 18 months to earn your GCSE or A Level.Where can I do it?Almost all GCSE and A Level courses are available online, meaning you can fit studying around your schedule.Most providers will also offer a variety of payment options, so there’s no need to worry if you don’t want to pay the whole fee up front.One of the UK’s most trusted providers of preparing students for their GCSE and A Level exams is ICS Learn.They provide everything you need to help you pass, including conten t for every module on your course â€" and mock exams to help make sure you know the material inside out. All you need to do is book your exam through your local authority when you’re ready.Why should I study with ICS Learn?ICS Learn provide a wide range of GCSE and A Level courses, to suit every subject and budget. Benefits of studying with ICS Learn include:Tutor supported online learningMock assignments and examinationsCost-effective, flexible learningPayment available in instalmentsThe world’s most experienced distance learning providerWant to learn more about retaking your exams? Get in touch with ICS Learn today.  ICS Learn is the world’s most experienced distance learning organisation. So whether you’re looking for career advancement, a promotion, a higher salary or a new direction, ICS Learn’s online learning courses are the perfect stepping stone for you.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

Tips For Writing a Business Resume

Tips For Writing a Business ResumeIf you're looking for tips for writing a business resume, then you're in the right place. There are some tips that you need to be aware of, especially if you're currently in an entry-level position, or if you're looking to move up the ladder to a managerial position.If you're currently employed, you might want to consider modifying your business resumes for the current market. Companies want to hire employees who have the skill sets they need to do their job well. So, if you don't show them what you can do, then they won't hire you. So, go back and rewrite your resume with some ideas on how to improve it, even if you're currently employed.If you're in a position that requires you to take care of a business resume for a current employer, you might want to pay attention to some of the tips for writing a business resume that I'm going to offer you. One of the things you'll want to consider doing is including your skills and experience in a different sec tion. The reason why you do this is because employers usually like to hire someone who has several years of experience already. So, if you have a few extra years of experience, then you've got more experience than most other applicants. This is something that you need to consider when applying for a new job.Another tip for writing a business resume is to think about changing the subject from one you like to one that's going to stand out. An example of this would be something that's funny, or something that you have nothing to do with. Some examples of these would be a book title, or a song that was popular a while ago. Try to make it something that stands out, so that it's not going to be forgotten upon viewing your resume. This will also make you stand out, and employers are more likely to remember your experience, and hire you.Next, you want to think about making some different things that stand out. The most important thing to remember is to include all of your skills, experience s, and achievements in a new section. You'll also want to be sure to add the 'position' where you're currently employed, and any other specific jobs you might have. This makes your resume more appealing. However, if you are currently unemployed, then you need to choose another section, and avoid mentioning the reason for unemployment.Finally, while on the topic of skills and accomplishments, you also want to emphasize the most important ones when writing a business resume. Try to emphasize your skills that are related to your job, and not the ones that would normally make up your resume. You'll find that your skills will help to show how experienced you are, which is an important factor in your ability to get a new job.A good tip for writing a business resume is to write a complete and comprehensive resume. Make sure that it is organized, as well as containing all of the necessary information. Remember, employers want to see an organized, comprehensive resume, so don't skimp on the time to create one.There are a lot of tips for writing a business resume that you can use to help yourself when looking for a new job. Follow the tips, and you'll be much better off when applying for new positions.

Why Philanthropy In Business Is Important

Why Philanthropy In Business Is Important Philanthropy is an important factor in business these days, just consider the amount of brands that spring to mind when you think of philanthropy and charitability. There are some amazing businesses leading the way for a more philanthropic way of thinking, and displaying the amazing benefits it can bring. Whereas before budgets might be split over traditional departments such as marketing, product development and so on, a greater portion of budget is now heading towards philanthropic business practices. So what do we mean by ‘philanthropy’? To be short, philanthropy is about giving back. Whether that be through donations to charity, community work or volunteering. There are tonnes of ways you can be philanthropic, and here are just a few brands that are doing a great job: TOMS We’ve all heard of Toms ‘give one get one’ business model, you buy a pair of shoes and they’ll donate a pair. It’s worked so well because not only are you helping a good cause whilst you shop, but it’s memorable. It’s a solid message and it builds them up as a caring, do-good brand that aren’t just out for maximum profits, but want to make a real impact in the world. And it doesn’t just stop at shoes for Toms either, they’ve also helped to supply clean water to communities in seven different countries. Cooleraid A complete opposite to the fashion sector, but it does show that philanthropy is not restricted to one type of business sector! Watercooler supplier Cooleraid have recently celebrated reaching a total donation amount of 5 million pounds to their charity, The Lifeline Fund. Not bad right? For every water bottle sold and for every hire of a watercooler, Cooleraid donate a percentage of their profits to help orphaned and underprivileged children in Malawi. They’ve opened 14 schools, including centres for children with disabilities and they also supply local elderly citizens with vital food supplies. It’s amazing what just one business is capable of, isn’t it? Expedia Travel giant Expedia is also taking on a philanthropic approach to how their business functions. They offer two impressive gift matching and volunteer grant programs. Their gift matching program offers to double employee’s charitable donations ranging from $25 to $4,000! Both full and part time employees are granted the ability to have their contributions matched to a host of non-profits. They also provide a fantastic volunteer grant program which enables employees to volunteer on a regular basis, for which they can request a grant of $15 per hour. Why Philanthropy   You might think this is a costly avenue to explore, and whilst you would be correct, what it will bring in return to your business can be worth so much more! It will build your reputation â€" being seen as active within the community and helping good causes will build you a solid, positive reputation amongst potential customers. Much of our decision making is based upon emotion, and if your brand resonates as positive in a consumers mind, then they’re much likely to pick you over competitors! Which leads on to… Improving Customer Loyalty a philanthropic path can lead to greater customer loyalty. After all, if you’re in the market for a pair of espadrilles, would you choose Toms knowing you’d be helping to also save lives, or would you pick a competitor whose profits aren’t helping any good causes other than the directors back pocket? It Can Make You Memorable â€" by having a unique business plan such as Toms or Cooleraid, your customers will remember you for all the right reasons. Make the message simple and clear. Of course these are just a few of the many, many benefits your business could see from taking on a more charitable approach to how you run. This can work for businesses of all sizes too, perhaps you aren’t big enough to start donating profit yet, in which case there are other routes you could take. From volunteering at a local charity, to holding a fundraiser. If it gets your name out there and attaches you to a good cause then this can only be positive! Is philanthropy something you find important when shopping for brands?

How to Feel Passionate About What You Do

How to Feel Passionate About What You Do When was the last time you finished a big project, aced an important presentation or did something that you were really proud of? Can you remember the intense happiness, focus and drive that you felt afterward? This is the passion that  you should embrace every day at work -let the seemingly unimportant daily victories fill you with passion and excitement for your role. So if youre reading this and want to know how to inject some excitement and happiness into your daily life, read on! 1. Embrace learning opportunities: If you feel like youre stuck in a rut at work, it can often be because youre not feeling mentally stimulated by the work youre doing. If you recognise this happening, make a conscious effort to look out for learning opportunities. This could be many things heading up  big project for the first time, offering to mentor a new employee or simply attending a conference or talk on the industry youre in. You should never stop learning, no matter how old or experienced you think you may be. 2. Take time off: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Make sure you take off time from work to enjoy other things, even if you really do enjoy what you do. Having time away from your day job means that the time you do spend at work will be more productive and creative as youll have time to sleep on ideas. 3. Go for a coffee with someone who inspires you: Something that i find inspires me is taking the time to reach out to people I admire. Even a simple email conversation can spark that passion that sometimes gets lost. So dont be afraid to reach out to those who influence and inspire you as it could bring that passion back. 4. Reconnect with your original goals: If youre feeling like your job is becoming less fun and more of a chore, then you should take a look back at why you decided to do what you do. Whats the bigger picture? Why did you originally decide to make a career in your industry? If you take a step back and remember the fundamental reasons that you do what  you do, youll remember your passion. 5. Leave personal problems at home: It can be hard to leave your personal problems at home when it comes to work, but its so important that you dont let them effect your attitude towards it. If you think that its beginning to effect you at work its worth having a conversation with your boss or manager and working through different ways to work through it. Whats your number one tip for staying passionate about work? Let us know in the comments below! Main image credit:  Shutterstock

Cheap Resume Writing Near Me

Cheap Resume Writing Near MeWhen I was applying for my current job, I was constantly checking my email for any info on cheap resume writing near me. I've read a few articles on how to do it, and others in my life I talk to often ask me if I could help them with their resumes. I find a lot of these places advertise they can help you with the cheap resume writing, but when I search for info on the same thing, I find none. Why is that?The only way to make sure you are getting a good quality work, is to be able to write your own resume and follow the proper guidelines. Unfortunately, a lot of people who have applied for a job that was recently advertised, have found that it was only a one-page job and they didn't have enough experience to show what they are really capable of. This is why it's so important to use a site or service that can help you write your own resume. This will give you the ability to write your own resume, your own cover letter, and give you the information you need t o ensure your online application and interview goes smoothly.A lot of people don't realize what they can get by using a site to help them write their own resume. If you check a site like WriterWise, they have what you need to write your own resume. They have the basic template templates you can use to start your own resume right away. This is great for those who have some experience writing, but not the writing skills required to create a professional resume.Also, when they provide the templates, they have some options to help you customize the style you want to use. You can choose between paragraphs and bullet points to outline your qualifications. And they also offer you tips on how to write your own cover letter and how to create your resume in the first place.The best part is that they even have different types of resume designs, so you can find one to fit your needs. If you're going to be submitting a CV, you can find a style that is more professional or even one that is more c asual and less formal. You can also use more than one style in your resume if you want to.If you're going to be using an online application, you can also check out what they have to offer. There are some great benefits to using a site like this and not just a generic resume. Most of these sites offer the same services as the places that can help you write your own resume, but also give you more options and the ability to customize the template to your specific needs.It's always a good idea to have a list of the advantages of using these sites and a list of the disadvantages of using them. This way, you know what to look for, and you can look for the site that can help you with your needs. Of course, we all know how it is, it's difficult to see a difference in some places, but have different benefits and disadvantages. By using a site like WriterWise, you'll be able to compare the sites and determine which ones will help you with your needs.In conclusion, if you're looking for a way to help you get the cheap resume writing you need, there are many places to find them. But the most important thing to know is that it takes a little extra time and effort to get the results you want, but it's well worth it in the end.

Branding Manifesto Part 4 Little-Used Strategies to Build Social Proof - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Branding Manifesto Part 4 â€" Little-Used Strategies to Build Social Proof As part of your personal brand communications plan for executive job search, you need to build social proof. In this, the final part of my 4-part series, The Personal Branding Manifesto, well take a close look at some little-used ways and places to build social proof. Check out the first three parts: 1 â€" What Personal Branding Is and Is NOT, and How Personal Branding Makes You Stand Out 2 â€" How to Define Your Unique Personal Brand and Make It Memorable 3 â€" Mind Your Online Reputation: The Personal Branding Social Proof Paradigm By now, most job seekers should be aware of the well-known places to build their brand and online presence â€" , a personal website or blogsite, Twitter, other social networks, etc. The first two tips below focus on , but in a way you probably are not taking advantage of. 3 Little-Used Strategies to Build Social Proof for Your Personal Brand 1. Add Video to Your Social Networks Not many job seekers are using video at all for job search and career management. Its a shame. Theyre missing out on the opportunity to showcase their subject matter expertise and personality in a way that flat content can never do. Videos are also much, much better at building online presence than plain content. If youve read the preceding parts of this series of posts, you know that candidates with a strong online presence are more appealing to hiring professionals. Since so few job seekers use video for personal branding, think how much youll stand out in a positive way if you DO use video. People typically shy away from video because they dont want to be on camera or dont know how to create quality video. Of the minority of job seekers who DO use video, the video type of choice is the video resume. These can work for some people, but most people dont come across well on camera. A poor or mediocre video can actually hurt their chances. They probably dont know that there is another type of video that is much better suited to build social proof for their brand. Kinetic animation videos are the better choice. Youre not on camera but, with movement and visual appeal, these videos connect people to your brand story in a compelling and engaging way. Videos can be posted on any social media. The best places for job search and career are YouTube and . YouTube is especially important for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and building online presence. Google owns it and favors it. Here are the 2 methods used to put videos on social media: Native publishing in which you upload videos directly to a channel (, Twitter,

Slow links - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Slow links - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Slow leadership is an excellent blog and a great way to increase happiness at work. The latest post is about The Cycle of Respect vs. The Cycle of Contempt.. The new Adam Sandler movie about a guy who gets a remote control that controls life inspired Stephen Shapiro of Goal Free Living to ask: What Is Your Slow Motion to Fast Forward Ratio. Denmark is the happiest nation on earth. Even though we have the highest taxes. In your face, Steve Forbes :o) 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

Why you should be on Facebook -

Why you should be on Facebook - Yesterday, I shared some ideas to get you thinking about using Facebook as a professional networking outlet, inspired by THIS POST by Sarah Welstead, a Recruitment Marketing Consultant who works with Head2Head and RetiredWorker. She really nails down some great reasons to re-look at Facebook. Today, the definitiveWhy you should be using Facebook. (Also inspired by Sarah. Bold her thoughts, commentary is my own.) The fun value will help you stay motivated Lets face itUpdating your LinkedIn profile really isnt that much fun. How often do you get sucked into spending hours on LinkedIn, just for the heck of it? Contrast it with Facebook. Admit it- you could click around for hours, if only you had time. Or, maybe you do already. As Welstead says in her post, If youre already on Facebook, its way easy to use it for building your professional profile! Facebook delivers better-quality relationships Think about this. Have you seen pictures of your LinkedIn networks kids or dogs? How close of a bond do you really feel with them? Contrast to Facebook. Welstead makes a good point about quality over quantity: You may have a smaller network on Facebook in fact, the BBC says that 150 is the ideal number of Facebook friends, but because youre able to have more meaningful interactions, with more people, on a daily basis, those contacts are likely to deliver more ROI in the long run than 1000+ LinkedIn connections. Bonus tip from Sarah: People are always more likely to trust someone theyve known since Grade 8 than someone theyve met at work, even if they havent talked to them since high school.   So rekindling an old relationship will always be easier than forging a new one. Another stat from Welstead: At least 50% of your contacts arent using LinkedIn! You want to cast the widest net possible, and the numbers show that Facebook has the most people. I have a friend who is skeptical about all of these social networks. She badmouths them left and right and never hesitates to make fun of the Facebook fanatics. But, guess what? She has a profile there now. The pressure was too much for her! She finally realized that there are some nice results from being able to see pictures of people she cares about but has no interest in talking to! You cant find her on LinkedIn, though, so dont even try! How many friends do YOU have like that? You dont want to miss opportunities by poo poo-ing Facebook. Facebook is a better ice-breaker If you connect with your old pals, the nostalgia factor is likely to kick in and its just easier to start a conversation. Who is going to argue with that? Facebook helps you stay top-of-mind with the people who are most invested in you and your career Update your status, share your expertise, and you may be surprised how many people pay attention. A reminder this is not a suggestion to run to Facebook, set up a profile and link to old friends for the purpose of asking if anyone has any job leads. Build a network, share information, connect with old friends and THEN, if there is a good opportunity, you can share your needs. Give before you expect to take. Dont forget, most people dont think they can help a jobseeker, so if you go out as one, you may find that networking does not work for you. While youre at it, be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on FacebookId be thrilled to have you as part of the community! So, what are your favorite social networks? Do you like Facebook? Do you have success stories? I would love to hear from you in the comments and would consider writing about some successes! If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! photo by Brian Veloso