5 Things To Consider Before Pursuing Graduate Studies

While employers highlight the importance of soft skills such as emotional intelligence and resilience, many in-demand jobs require higher education credentials.

I, for one, am looking for ways to better myself. Getting a master’s degree is one option. It has been a dream of mine to get a master’s degree. However, resources were not in my favor. Things changed when the pandemic came. I had the luxury of time as I was mainly working from home. This decision needs to be taken seriously. When deciding whether you must take a master’s degree or not, consider these factors.

#1: THE REASON WHY YOU ARE DETERMINED TO GET A MASTER’S DEGREE

Getting a master’s degree will enable you to follow your passion. It does not necessarily have to be closely associated with your bachelor’s degree. You have the power to carve your path.

Moreover, getting a master’s degree is a way to buy yourself some time. For students who are not sure of their career path, graduate studies may provide a safety net for the next couple of years. This should not be your primary reason. Choose to pursue it, if it would be better for your career. For instance, getting a master’s degree in education will help you to get promoted from your teaching position. It will build a bridge to the next step of your career.

#2: THE TRUE COST OF GRADUATE STUDIES

Be honest when it comes to your financial capabilities. Studying further is not cheap. Ask the registrar or the program adviser of the university you are eyeing on regarding their fees. Know if there are scholarships or other forms of financial aid schemes.

Remember that it is cheaper to complete your master’s degree using online courses. Some courses even provide free resources. There is a plethora of content available, at no cost, to the general public.

#3: THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY

Ask yourself how hard it is to get a master’s degree compared to your bachelor’s degree. You see, undergraduate programs involve tackling simpler topics. Graduate studies are more structured and complex. The amount of preparation required for the tests and classes is higher than before. You need to study beyond what your lecturers have taught.

#4: THE CHANCES OF SALARY INCREASE

It is no secret that people who have completed higher education are generally paid more money than those who do not. While a 25% increase in earnings is the average increase people see, attending the top MBA programs can boost your salary by as much as 60-150%. Equipping yourself with knowledge can help increase your earning potential.

#5: THE LOCATION OF THE SCHOOL

Given the current situation, you must access whether the location of the school will affect your lifestyle choices. It is difficult to travel and relocate at this time. Most graduate students have families. Thus, it makes relocation a difficult option. Think about the location of the school when searching for master’s degree programs.

Image credits: pixabay.com

Are you studying overseas or locally? Are there online schooling options? You need to decide on the best location for you.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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An economist says these 3 countries are poised to prosper in the next 10 years

Namsan Tower in Korea

With the new year’s arrival and a new president in the United States, international cooperation and trade are sure to be very different this year than in the past.

Because of the anticipation that looms behind future developments, we must pay attention to the up and rising economies, which may directly or indirectly affect us.

According to economist Kaushik Basu, three countries might just live up to expectations in their development process. They are South Korea, Vietnam, and Mexico.

South Korea is an advanced economy, so there’s no doubt about it. As for Vietnam and Mexico, the World Bank deems the two as a lower-middle-income economy and upper-middle-income country, respectively. There’s good reason to believe that both countries will exceed others over the next decade.

Without further ado, let’s dive into some of the reasons South Korea, Vietnam, and Mexico are set for success.

#1: South Korea
a palace in Seoul

Image Credits: unsplash.com

South Korea is one of the safest picks.

Despite the 1997 East Asian financial crisis that affected the country’s two-decade-long growth run since the final few years of Park Chung-hee’s presidency during the late 1970s, South Korea’s investment in human capital is finally paying off.

For instance, in 2019, South Korea had about 3,319 patent applications per million population. To put that number into perspective, Japan only had 1,943 while China and the United States had 890 and 869, respectively. As such, South Korea is beating out some of our world’s top power economies.

The East Asian country was also the first country to begin a 5G campaign that covered the entire nation in April 2019, aiming to take a 15 per cent share of the global 5G market by 2026. 

Furthermore, South Korea has taken steps to solve a pressing issue worldwide – teacher selection. Because of the good benefits of teaching, South Korea has attracted various talents into its education industry.

As such, the former chief economist of the World Bank expects South Korea’s per capita income to overtake Japan within the next decade.

#2: Vietnam
time lapse photo of Hanoi

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When Vietnam’s economy finally changed from a command economy to more of a market-oriented model, that was the catalyst that would help transform Vietnam into the top three fastest-growing economies.

Since 2010, Vietnam has kept up with its sustained growth. It has enacted policies that make trading and foreign investments far more accessible, such as cutting tariff rates and investing in human capital. 

Additionally, Vietnam’s successful handling of the pandemic situation has produced a 2.9 per cent economic growth in 2020, a period where most global economies suffered. As incoming international investments flow into Vietnam, the sky’s the limit for the country’s development as one of the world’s leading manufacturing hubs. 

#3: Mexico
The Angel of Independence in Mexico

Image Credits: departures.com

Despite the toll that the pandemic has taken upon Mexico, the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) in 2018 has brought new hope to the country.

This is because he began Mexico’s “Fourth Transformation”, an economic plan that will bring prosperity, growth, and a lower wealth gap between the rich and poor. Similarly to South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in, AMLO opted to live outside of the official presidential mansion, sending a symbolic message to the people.

Furthermore, Mexico will most likely be another global manufacturing hub due to arrangements such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). With the USMCA in place, Mexico stands a chance to integrate its economy with the other two powerful forces.

Together, the trilateral agreement brings capital, labour force, and technology to the table, which can outshine China. Mexico has indeed a huge potential for growth in the years to come.

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What leaders can learn from Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs

Becoming a successful business leader is no easy task, and not many are born with leadership skills. But what makes a good leader is not some inborn quality but rather the ability to learn from others, take challenges, and grow from them both personally and professionally.

One of the world’s prominent business, technological, and corporate leaders, Steve Jobs, shared this belief. There are tons we can discern from his mantra and mission in transforming the world we live in.

Here are some leadership lessons we can learn from the man.

#1: Have accountability

A good leader knows that they can’t lead by simply delegating. Nothing is more tiresome than a group of people who have accountability for one small action but not the entire chain of events they’re a part of.

A leader claims the entire process from start to finish, giving more than what is asked of them time after time. They are also personally accountable for every step along the way. This intensive approach to leadership will draw respect from your colleagues and encourage them to work in the same way.

Steve Jobs inspected every bit of the product, including the user experience. From purchase to unboxing and use, he was involved in the full process.

#2: Believe that everything is possible
a man giving a thumbs up to a lady at work

Image Credits: careeraddict.com

Steve Jobs was in the habit of making the impossible possible, but in true leader fashion, he didn’t do it through force or demand. Instead, he would simply look at someone and tell them he believed in them.

His characteristic of not taking no for an answer is commendable. This optimistic mindset can help build pride and confidence in your team members. If they know of your trust and unconditional support for them, they will likely be more inspired to tackle the unthinkable and make massive progress in their responsibilities.

Just think about a time at work when your superior told you not to give up because he/she thinks you have the potential to make it happen. How did it make you feel? Were you more powered up? What was the outcome of your assignment?

#3: Foster collaboration

One of the biggest obstacles to leadership is the idea that specific fields, opinions, or teams should stay separated from each other. In fact, Steve Jobs saw this most clearly in the world of art and science.

He worked tirelessly to combine scientific innovation with aesthetic and graphic design because he believed in the power of collaboration.

A good leader understands that working between two separate teams can provide insight and spark fresh ideas you may never have discovered otherwise. They do not hesitate to go out of their way to bring collaboration wherever possible.

When collaboration at the workplace is done right, everyone can benefit from a variety of perspectives. It may bring to light strengths and weaknesses but take it as a chance to better fill in competency gaps. Learn and grow from the experience!

#4: Don’t settle for second best
a neon sign that reads 'best'

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Steve Jobs once said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

The man believed that it was critical to have a goal to work towards frequently. As soon as you settle, you give up on a potential future of incredible achievements. As a leader, you want to encourage your coworkers to dream big, more prominent than they ever thought possible, because dreams do come true.

Even if a project seems too big to accomplish, it’s okay. Having an aim is better than having none. It can push you to take that first step, challenge you to greater heights, and leave you hungry to be a better version of yourself than the previous day.

#5: Keep your focus

Overcomplicating anything is the fastest way to destroy a project. Steve Jobs recognised that excellent leadership was about keeping companies simple, processes streamlined, and goals focused.

He worked with a single-minded, intense focus on the missions he wanted to accomplish, and by keeping it uncomplicated, he was able to lead his team to better outcomes more quickly than ever before.

In 1997, Apple was working on several different prototypes and products. Instead of investing in research and development, they were an utterly unfocused team. It was Steve Jobs who brought back focus and saved Apple from bankruptcy.

“Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do, and this works for both companies and products,” he enlightens us.

Final thoughts
a man holding a sparkle

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Steve Jobs was one of the most significant technological minds, but he also left behind a legacy of decisive leadership and motivation for the world. With the lessons we’ve learned from him, we can continue to innovate and imagine as successfully as he did, one step at a time.

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How To Train Your Replacement

April 2021 marks my fifth year in the company that I have grown to love. As I explore other possibilities and leave my position as a directress vacant, it is my responsibility to train my replacement. I realized the importance of ensuring that someone else was able to do my job early on. I took the liberty to help my fellow directresses too.

It was not because I had brilliant foresight. Rather, it is due to the fact that I had an unpleasant experience during my turnover process. The person who was supposed to mentor me did not want to leave her post. Her bitterness was evident as she prolonged her exit. Nonetheless, I took it as an opportunity to learn from her. I did not want to make my replacement feel the same thing. Expanding the knowledge of others around you is necessary to keep the business moving forward.

Training your replacement does not have to be difficult or awkward. It just needs to be well-thought-out. Do you still remember the first time you picked up a task that was unfamiliar to you? The rollercoaster of emotions you felt on your first day as the boss is something that your apprentice will go through. You need to guide your replacement through methods or instructions on how to complete the tasks.

Start by providing a list of duties or a training manual. I, for one, have a copy of the Directress Training Manual. It is a comprehensive guide divided into several parts such as handling parents’ concerns. In addition to including the job description and important forms, you need to provide detailed instructions for each task. Allow the person to follow along and ask questions whenever necessary.

You read that right! You need to be prepared to answer questions and clarify instructions. Do not assume that your replacement will be able to absorb everything in a day. They will require both verbal instruction and hands-on experience. If he forgot a step during training, patiently remind him of what he missed.

Demonstrate how the duties are done. Watching you go through the steps will help the person feel the depth of your instructions. Make them feel comfortable by letting them seat down and write down notes. As long as you are still receiving paychecks from the company, you are part of the team.  Stay professional at all times.

Arrive on time and dress accordingly to the company’s policy. Do not make your replacement feel that you do not care because you are leaving soon. Instead, become a positive role model to him or her. Be prepared with today’s agenda and monitor the trainee. Lastly, introduce him to the people in your office.

Image credits: pixabay.com

Show where your supplies, restrooms, and documents are. Tour him in the office and introduce him to your co-workers. This simple gesture can mean a lot. Let your trainee know what you are expecting to achieve within the day and impart your knowledge on the workplace culture. These details will help him as he adjusts to the new position.

Best of luck!

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Present-day ways to reach out to HR managers

a woman listening to a man and taking notes

Let’s be honest. When you’re sending out your resume to recruiters, the odds are that your personal information itself looks similar to the countless ones that they’ve already read. They don’t care how badly you want the job or how paper-qualified you are.

Instead of merely trying to convince an HR manager why you’re perfect for the company, go above and beyond to grab their attention! You’re sure to make your job search more fulfilling and stand a higher chance to receive an invitation for an interview – both of which work in your favour.

Here are some of the best ideas you can use this year to reach out to a recruiter responsible for processing your application.

#1: Offer a useful solution

If you’re considering a specific role that you are knowledgeable about (which you should be!), you can try to add a few well-thought-through solutions to current industry problems in your application.

In this way, you show that you have done your due diligence. It’s also an opportunity to display your experience and passion for solving problems for the company and the value you can add to the team should you be presented with a job contract.

“When you help someone solve a problem, they’ll remember you positively for your effort and be more willing to help you out in the future,” says Jon Hill, CEO and chairman of an executive search firm.

#2: Gift your recruiter something appropriate
gift box with a pink ribbon

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You must be careful with this one! While sending flowers is rather strange, you can look at giving a practical gift or resource alongside your application.

For example, one can demonstrate their market research skills by sourcing a gift that resonates with the hiring manager. Just do a search on LinkedIn, and you will be able to start “stalking” on their posts, identify their likes and dislikes, and supplies you think they will find beneficial.

A little present that shows off both your skills and your gratitude at being considered can help make them remember you – which is precisely the reason why you’re reading this now.

Jeff Neal, an operations manager, shared that a candidate actually mailed his resume alongside a packet of fly-fishing lures after learning that Neal liked fly fishing. “I was very impressed and invited him in for an interview,” he commented.

#3: Create a portfolio webpage

Most people apply for jobs that they need rather than want. If you desperately want a position, you’ve got to make sure you have enough output to “brag” about.

Job seekers can consider building a portfolio webpage to store their achievements over the years. Make sure the information is up to date before you send a recruiter a link to your portfolio.

A webpage or website is better than attaching a portfolio in the email since your recruiter can easily forward the link via Slack or WhatsApp to anyone in the management team for immediate considerations.

Or one could also consider other content platforms they are comfortable using.

“We’ve received YouTube channel videos from online creators who work daily on their cars and have vast amounts of knowledge. We also receive resumes from bloggers who run their own car blogs, which shows they already understand the work we are doing here,” shared Michael Lowe, CEO of Car Passionate.

#4: Put yourself on camera
a woman speaking in front of a camera

Image Credits: TechSmith

Most of us don’t like being on camera. Still, having a video to accompany your application often helps recruiters see you with more interest and match a face to your name.

It also aids them to understand just how much you want the job, too, because emotions transfer better through facial expressions and body language.

“A candidate used this tactic to approach me last year. While they didn’t end up having the right technical skill set, the video caught my attention immediately and prompted me to set up a phone interview less than 48 hours later,” shared Biron Clark, founder of Career Sidekick.

Need we say more?

#5: Type an attractive subject line

This is one you may have heard before, and with a good reason! That’s because when you use an attractive subject line, it immediately tells recruiters what they need to know, their interest will be piqued, and it serves as a “clickbait”.

Take a look at these examples:

  • Email subject line A – “Applying for accounting position”
  • Email subject line B – “CPA with 10 years’ experience in technology would love to do your taxes”

Is sample A or B more attention-grabbing? If you’ve chosen the latter, then you ought to know that a witty or well-conceived subject line is vital for an HR manager to click in right away.

Final thoughts
a video interview

Image Credits: deakinco.com

Reaching out to recruiters will always feel a little stressy and nerve-racking.

But by relying on one or more of the ways shared above, you will increase your chances of getting your valuable resume read amongst the sea of job applications. And since that’s what it’s all about, aren’t these methods worth a try this year?

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