Forex What you need to know

Forex What you need to know by Michael Cheary Looking to make (a lot) more money? Forex could be for you… If you’ve got a head for numbers, good decision making skills and you’re ambitious about your career, getting into foreign exchange could be your true calling. But how do you break into the industry, especially if you don’t have much previous experience in a similar field?To find out more, we spoke to Learn to Trade, the UK’s leading foreign exchange education company, who gave us some of their top tips on how to start profiting via Forex:What is Forex? Forex, also known as foreign exchange or FX, is a global market where the world’s currencies are traded. Essentially, it’s the exchange of one currency to another.Forex is the largest, most liquid financial market in the world â€" with turnover in excess of $5 trillion every single day.How do you make money from Forex?Currency values are constantly changing, with a number of factors affecting how much each one is worth (e.g. economic st rength, geopolitics etc.)Forex Traders will buy a currency that they think will rise in price and sell a currency they feel will depreciate in value.For example, if they have Euros but feel the price is weakening, they might exchange these for GBP, which they have forecasted will rise in value. Then, when they go to buy Euros back, they will be able to buy more than they started with â€" meaning they’ve made a profit.Although the fluctuations will often be quite small, these can become incredibly significant when large values are exchanged.Where does Forex take place?All trades are made online and are implemented by traders all over the world.What’s more, the market is open 24 hours a day, five and a half days a week. Meaning no matter what time of day it is and what time zone you’re in, the market will be active.Can anyone trade Forex?You don’t need any formal qualifications to get into foreign exchange trading.However, to maximise your earnings, you will need to fully unde rstand how the market works, as well as how to use the latest technology, Forex trading platforms and terminology.If you don’t know your spot market from your forwards and your futures market, you won’t last very long in Forex.What skills do I need to trade Forex? Although this type of trading is open to everyone, there are a number of key characteristics you need to succeed in foreign exchange.Some examples of key skills for Forex Traders include:Excellent decision makingFinancial acumenCalmness under pressureContingency planningExcellent analytical and forecasting skillsWhy learn Forex?There are many great reasons to get into foreign exchange.Not only does it offer incredible cash flow opportunities on both short and long term strategies, it’s also an excellent way to achieve financial freedom.Some great reasons to learn Forex include:Excellent earning potentialFlexibility of work (with markets open 24 hours a day)Leverage availabilityInternational opportunitiesLow risk/low investment opportunitiesWhy study with Learn to Trade? Learn to Trade are financial trading experts, offering flexible foreign exchange training throughout the UK.They’ve already taught more than 200,000 people worldwide how easily trading Forex can provide the lifestyle, wealth and freedom they’ve always dreamed of.Through their workshops and courses you’ll learn:How to use the latest technologyTrading automationFundamental Forex trading strategiesRisk managementHow to use foreign exchange to build a second incomeInterested in Forex? Find out more about Learn to Trade courses now. Learn to Trade is UK’s #1 Forex Education Company, with more than 12 years’ worth of experience in getting individuals trained up in the fundamentals of foreign exchange. 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 Features

What I Learnt From My Weekend Job

What I Learnt From My Weekend Job Whilst I was at uni, like most students, I had a part-time job. I got the job purely with the thought that it would pay for my books and maybe some treats if I budgeted well. I certainly didn’t think it would help give me skills to help me get a career years on. My job was in a shoe shop but I think these skills will apply to most student jobs. Patience and Restraint Working with the public can be trying at times whether it was customers asking for “this shoe- but in red and without the stitching, can you take the design off for me?” (I actually got asked this), or people blatantly trying to trick a discount out of you. There have been times people have been rude and even racist towards me but knowing you represent a company (and fear of getting fired) helped me learn how to have more patience with people and be polite with them even when they are being horrible. This underrated skill and learning how to stay cool and polite can be transferred to any job, or even personal situations. Keep Calm and Carry on Talking of staying cool, keeping calm is a big one. On Boxing Day its normal for me to have 5 customers at once, all wanting my undivided attention. At first I was flustered and would try to juggle all of them. Now I have learnt to stay calm and carry on. Some may have a longer wait, but I’ll apologise and do my best, and that’s all I can do. Getting stressed will not help me or my customers. People Skills Before my experience in retail, I wouldn’t say boo to a goose. Yet shop work forced me out of my comfort zone…I had to start conversations with strangers or I’d lose my job. End of.   Yes, it was awkward at first, there were more than a few embarrassing silences. Yet perseverance paid off and now I can start â€" and enjoy conversations with perfect strangers. This confidence will undoubtedly help with networking later on. The Work Doesn’t End Just Because the Shift Does The first time I got ‘homework’ from my job I was flabbergasted. I was contracted to eight hours of customer service. Why was I expected to complete worksheets and activities in my spare time? Customer service isn’t rocket science, right? I’m glad I had to do it, however. I know now that sometimes you need to put in that extra bit to progress even if it’s in your own time. Playing Office Politics Isn’t Worth the Time I work in a department with nearly 30 other members of staff, so it’s only natural that there will be some disagreements. At first I loved hearing the she said, he said tales. But I quickly learned that none of it matters. Ok, Sarah took your customer it’s annoying but it’s not the end of the world. You have to see these people on a regular basis, so try and stay out of the politics. That way you won’t be faced with your slip of the tongue coming back to haunt you. photo credit: kugel via photopin cc 5

Establishing Your Self-Employment To Avoid Major Surprises -

Establishing Your Self-Employment To Avoid Major Surprises - Stepping into self-employment is both a freeing experience and one that requires more prep work than might seem immediately obvious. Working under your own supervision on a flexible schedule may sound somewhat loose and free-form, but a lack of planning for the financial and lifestyle changes that freelance work requires is a disaster waiting to happen.   Heres how to be self-employed and still secure. Save now, work later In an ideal scenario, self-employment begins after youve saved up enough money to keep yourself supported while you find your footing and begin drawing income on your own terms. Having a safety fund is an essential portion of ensuring you dont take a financial hit in the event of unexpected unemployment, hospital bills or similar incidents. Most experts suggest around three to six months worth of income makes for an ideal emergency fund, but that number could be even higher in the case of transitioning to self-employment. On top of the temporary loss of income you may experience, starting a business or moving between careers will almost always come with its own set of expenses. You might only have to invest in craft supplies and web hosting if you begin selling something you create or you may wind up needing office space and industrial equipment. If you burn through your existing emergency fund just to establish yourself you run the risk of losing more than you bargained for if a personal tragedy takes you out of the working world, especially in the fledgling days of your start-up. Insure yourself early Establishing an insurance plan that meets your needs is a difficult enough proposition without having to worry about plans that cover your workspace and potential work-related travel. Worse yet, many self-employed individuals miss out on being able to buy small company insurance as those plans are geared towards a company owner providing plans for up to fifty individuals rather than a sole worker insuring themselves. There are various methods to find coverage for the self-employed depending on your marital status, union availability or willingness to utilize short-term policies until other avenues become available. Life insurance is only the first step, however, as youll also have to weigh the costs and benefits of liability policies to protect from financial loss or disability insurance in the event of an unfortunate accident that leaves you unable to work. The upside to investing in proper life insurance comes in the form of flexibility for your future and peace of mind for your family and loved ones. Not only will they be cared for should you pass away, you can also utilize life settlement options to cash out of a policy if your financial situation changes and operating capital becomes more important than future insulation. Networking is your new part-time job You may be working on your own terms, but those terms will be meaningless if you cant find ways to have your work presented to the world outside of your office. Many jobs handle the minutiae of advertising, negotiating contracts and keeping customers happy yet self-employed individuals also take on the burden of being their own public relations firm on top of their other responsibilities. As with many facets of business, who you know will dictate business opportunities years ahead of time. The simple power of word-of-mouth advertising and staying on friendly terms with individuals and other business owners in your community is a key part of self-employment networking that requires a level of forethought many business owners arent prepared to handle the moment they go public. Dont worry about buying billboard ad space or TV time as soon as you establish an office, but keep an eye out for opportunities to offer your work to those who can recommend you to their associates and friends in the future. Being Self-Employed To become self-employed in a way that provides financial security you must prepare for your business future as well as your own. Operating as a boss and an employee means taking on more responsibility, but handling those expectations in an effective way is just a matter of knowing what youll be up against and forming a business plan accordingly.

Why Brexit Doesnt Mean Exit for Employers

Why Brexit Doesnt Mean Exit for Employers Peter Cheese, CEO of the CIPD, says: “Now, more than ever, we need Government and businesses to put people and skills development at the heart of their thinking.” Theres so much at stake, so many opportunities and so many risks if we get it wrong everything is at stake from our future trade systems to basic workplace rights for our workers. Many British employees feel less secure in their jobs and pessimistic about the future. Our employment law is a complex mix of EU  and UK-based legislation and as well as workforce issues directly related to Brexit, we urgently need to address the issues of employment rights for the growing number of self-employed and contract workers. The workplace is changing fast but Brexit won’t have any real impact on employment law in the immediate future. Endless possibilities In British boardrooms the issues exercising business leaders are by large centred on the uncertainty arising from Brexit, be they social, economic or financial issues. That uncertainty is not likely to disappear any time soon. In reality, at the moment it is a bit of phony war, nothing is going to change much over the next two years or so, but we can equip ourselves to cope with likely developments. We live with uncertainty in the natural course of events, nothing is certain but death and taxes. A more positive view says that where there is change there is opportunity, it’s a question of finding how to best exploit the change to your advantage. The possibilities are endless in a landscape so changeable and volatile. In addition, the pace of technological change means that the workplace and the workforce are in a state of flux, so the scope for innovative and creative thinking is significant. We need to be forward-looking and encourage employees to look beyond the immediate situation to make the most of future opportunities. Focus on the positive In an uncertain environment, there is a good chance that employee engagement will suffer, and that will impact on the organisation in terms of productivity. There are things that HR can do to mitigate the impact of uncertainty: Communicate employees want to be kept informed, and to feel confident that they understand the organisational direction and their role in meeting objectives and controlling their own future. We are already seeing the impact of Brexit as companies say they cannot afford to wait for the negotiations to conclude and so are making plans to move offices to Europe, and individuals are acquiring second passports if they have the right to do so, it pays to be prepared. Plan look to the future and where the organisation wants to be. Present this vision in an attractive way that enables staff to move forward with their own goals and aspirations aligned to corporate values and standards. Reassure staff by exploring possible scenarios and the impact on the business, focus on the positives and possibilities, and ensure you have a culture and structure that allows people to raise their concerns and make themselves heard. Prepare â€" encourage staff to engage with learning and development needs, the need to up-skill is imperative and the benefits in terms of resilience accrue to both individual and organisation. You can’t save your way out of a crisis, you need to be proactive and invest for the future and Brexit may act as a wake-up call to ensure that we make serious efforts to up-skill staff for the challenges ahead. We need to accept where we are, deal with the reality of the situation and encourage and support the workforce as we march towards a bright, new future. Positivity has to be key to retaining and motivating good employees. A focus on engagement should help to mitigate the negative impact of the current uncertainty and insecurity.

Resume Writing Posters

Resume Writing PostersIf you are looking for a way to get your resume noticed in a job interview, consider using a resume writing poster. These professional printed materials are designed to provide a clear overview of your past employment history, and can be printed out to give to a potential employer when preparing for an interview.The world of job applicants is ever changing, and not all of it is made available to the general public. Resumes are a crucial part of the job application process, as they are meant to clearly outline your work experience and qualifications, as well as your most recent accomplishments. Depending on your particular job position, some employers may see your resume as well-suited for an online application, while others may prefer to see a printed version, while others may want to speak to someone in person before making a final decision.Resume posters are printed and distributed to employers by many people, including college students, professionals, and pro fessionals within the business sector. They are also made available by many services which specialize in selling the material, such as career-directories.com and a few others. However, there are still many who use resume writing posters as a way to try and land the job of their dreams.A resume poster is often customized and printed with the person's name, the title of the position, and their desired salary range and starting date. Some posters include a small resume, highlighting important details that should be included in the complete resume. Other posters have inserts, including biographical data about the applicant.The format of the appropriate resume is based on the type of position the applicant is applying for. For example, a corporate lawyer may need to create a resume that is slightly different than that of a warehouse worker. Customizing a resume can help in many ways, since it can make the resume more professional, and also help it to stand out from the other thousands of resumes that are submitted every day to employers.A resume may also be made available to those who are trying to determine the size of a change that is needed in the job. This may include a change in jobs, relocation, or a transfer within the company. In many cases, this can be done in as little as one week.When looking for a resume, take time to learn about the job openings, especially the pay scale that is expected. Looking at the salary guidelines that apply to the position of the applicant's dreams will help when creating the proper resume. As always, ask questions, and do a little research into the company to see what they are like and if the jobs held by the applicant would be suitable for their future duties.Lastly, be sure to look over the resume writing poster before the candidate arrives. Look at the layout, ensure that everything is legible, and even take a look at the types of fonts that the writer has used. Creating a resume that stands out from the rest, and fits in w ith the qualifications and style of the company that the applicant is applying for, is the key to landing that job of their dreams.

Facebook is Ten! Are You Using it to Manage Your Career Yet

Facebook is Ten! Are You Using it to Manage Your Career Yet In celebration of their 10th birthday, Im blogging about Facebook to show how much I appreciate its implications for career management and job search. Facebook often plays second fiddle to LinkedIn and many are unaware of its enormous potential for job search. Here are a few of the features I particularly like.Graph SearchGraph Search allows you to search profiles based on information that may be important to your job search. Finding people with a particular job title, at a specific company, in a certain city can be done in a snap with graph search. Just click on the browse tab from your home page and key in the information you are looking for. From here, you can message the person or subscribe to their public feed if they have enabled that feature. Or your search may show that you have mutual friends and a friend request may be in order.Glassdoor Inside ConnectionsGlassdoor Inside Connections is an application that runs on the Facebook platform and allows you to search for Facebook friends who are connected to people at your target companies. You may be friends with people on Facebook who are not your connections on LinkedIn. By knowing who your friends know at certain companies, you open the door for additional networking opportunities that may have been left unearthed via LinkedIn. Glassdoor  is also a great repository of information on companies, jobs, salaries, interview questions, and more.Company PagesCompany Pages on Facebook are a great way to learn about a companys culture, interact with company decision makers, and find out about job opportunities in real time. Just key in the name of the company that interests you in the Facebook search box. In general, I see much greater engagement on Facebook company pages than I do on LinkedIn company pages, so this feature is definitely worth exploring and provides a great alternative to applying via the black hole of a job board or career page on that companys official website.HashtagsHashtags turn topics and p hrases into clickable links in posts on timelines. This helps people find posts on topics they are interested in. Facebook recently began rolling out Trending, a feature that highlights the most popular topics and hashtags. Frequently these topics are related to something that may be relevant for your search and can fuel your ability to source decision makers. Check for it on your homepage.

How to Use Social Media to Stay Unemployed in 3 Dreadful Steps

How to Use Social Media to Stay Unemployed in 3 Dreadful Steps How to use social media to stay unemployed in 3 dreadful steps LinkedIn is a great networking tool and I use it all the time. In fact I received the following via LinkedIn two weeks ago. I present it here word for word, only changing the sender’s name to protect the innocent (or, in this case, the guilty). Pop Quiz: How many flaws can you find in Randy’s approach? The following was sent to hundreds of Randy’s LinkedIn connections: “I elected to communicate my immediate need homogenously to anyone who might be the source of my next opportunity. My objective is still a position in which my unique combination of business-building skills plugs in directly and supports those of the CEO of a $5 to $20 million company. My priority, though, is to secure a position in the next two weeks that will enable me to bring my family from Dallas during the second week of June. This overrides the objective! My need is urgent. Please let me know what I can do to make this happen. We can talk on the phone or meet if that will help direct thoughts on which of the people you know could benefit from someone adept in problem solving, dispute resolution and creative solutions. I appreciate your considering this very important request.” Flaw Number 1: While I applaud Randy’s effort to let his network know that he is looking for a job, this is desperate and thoughtless. No recipient wants to be the “source of my next opportunity.” They want to be talked to like a person. If I were standing in front of Randy, he might have started with something like, “I’m sorry for the impersonal approach, but I could really use your help.” As a rule, I don’t recommend these broadcasts and the odds of this one generating a meaningful result are slim to none. Flaw Number 2: Randy’s job search goal is squishy, selfish, and unrealistic. In my book, Cut the Crap, Get a Job, I spend an entire chapter on the definition of a good goal and bad goal. And nobody should be job searching without a great goal statement that you can articulate to virtually anybody including friends, recruiters, and your network. Randy’s goal is missing the single most important ingredient: WHAT FUNCTION? Does Randy want to be a Chief Executive Officer or an Executive Administrative Assistant? Or is he a sales manager or operations manager? Another flaw in the goal: his use of “my unique combination of business-building skills…” This is not about you, Randy! His goal should state what he can do for somebody else. And I have no idea what “business-building skills” are! Finally, “supporting the CEO of a $5 to $20 million company.” So we, the recipients, don’t know what type of function or what industry, but we have a very narrow definition of the size of Randy’s target company. He would be better off saying “small to medium business.” Flaw Number 3: The close of Randy’s mission-critical request is very weak. Again, we hear a squishy description of “someone adept in problem solving, dispute resolution and creative solutions.” Not helpful for me, as a possible source. However, even worse, the ending has no “call to action” or next step for the recipient. “Please let me know what I can do to make this happen.” Make what happen? I get it. Making this type of request is awkward, humbling and Randy is clearly desperate. However, imagine if Randy ended his blast with, “Please reply to this letter with any one of the following so I can get in touch with you: Do you know of any open positions or any hiring managers I should contact now? Do you have any favorite sources of open positions you can send me to? (Groups, associations, etc.) Would you like me to contact you to provide any additional information? Millions of employed and unemployed people are networking for their next career move. Don’t be Randy.