From Retail to Pottery

From Retail to Pottery Success Story > From: Job To: Solopreneur From Retail to Pottery “I always felt like a creative person, but was never confident enough to do something with it.” * From Retail to Pottery Emma Low knew she wasn't cut out for the 9â€"5. So, boosted bya wave of support from her loved ones, she decided to take a much-loved hobby and turn it into a full-time pursuit. Here's how she made it happen. What work were you doing previously? I was working as an assistant manager for Dr. Martens. What are you doing now? I've set up a small pottery business called Pot Yer Tits Away Luv. Initially, I was doing this in the evening alongside working full time at Dr. Martens. Then, I went full time with it about six months ago. Currently, I make pots that celebrate human form. I'm mostly known for making tit pots. My whole brand ethos is to empower people who don't feel represented in mainstream media. How did you feel in your work before you decided to make the change? I'd always worked in retail â€" it was something I did for money rather than love. I'd said countless times that I wanted out but I was unsure of what it was that I really wanted to do. I went part time last summer, and concentrated more on the pottery side of things. Why did you change? When I moved back to Leeds to live with my boyfriend I had a choice: to re-apply to my old workplace at Dr. Martens, or to go full-time with my pottery. By that point the business had picked up quite a bit and people seemed really interested in buying from me. I felt like if I could put as much effort into my own thing as I did working for someone else then I'd be able to succeed. It was that 'It's now or never' moment! It just timed itself perfectly. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I spoke to my mum about the options I had. She, along with my friends and boyfriend, really encouraged me to take the plunge. How did you choose your new career? I feel like I didn't! It was a hobby that organically grew into something bigger. I always felt like a creative person, but was never confident enough to do something with it. The first pot I made was for my boyfriend and that was all I had planned on doing until someone else mentioned that they'd like one of themselves. It's just snowballed from there. Are you happy with the change? Yes! What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss working with other people. Working alone can be tough, especially if you're having a bad day! I don't miss setting an alarm. It took me a while to realise that this is my business and if I wanna wake up late and work until later then that's fine. As long as my work is being done then what's the problem? I was never suited to working 9â€"5. How did you go about making the shift? I already had most of the equipment I needed to make pots, but I had to buy a couple of things like a desk and a chair. I was lucky that I'd moved into a two-bedroom house with my boyfriend, so our spare room became my studio. Then I just handed in my notice, crossed my fingers and toes and hoped for the best! What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take? Nothing major has gone wrong yet! I've made simple mistakes, like trusting people I shouldn't have and taking on too much at once. I'm still learning to say no to some things, which can be hard because it's horrible letting people down. I'm only one person and I can only do so much. How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible? I make pots from air drying clay so it's not expensive to do. By the time I went part time I had a small following on Instagram and lots of interest, so I've always been able to maintain a steady income. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Learning how to motivate myself â€" it's still a daily challenge. There areso many things I hate doing, like emailing, which is something I have to do regularly. I'm slowly figuring out how to make myself want to do the things I like less. What help did you get? I have very lovely friends and family who are always there when I need a moan or any kind of emotional support. I did a ten-week ceramics course about a year ago, which helped me with the practical side of things. Apart from that I've done it all myself, which is something I'm incredibly proud of. What resources would you recommend to others? Finding a community is always good. Keeping in touch or getting to know people through Instagram is what I did and continue to do. I've met a lot of amazing people through the internet in the past year. I think people are very quick to judge when it comes to spending time online but it's certainly helped my business to grow, and kept me sane. What have you learnt in the process? I've learnt to have faith in myself. I think if you've got a good feeling you should follow that. I'm not qualified to do the job I do, but that hasn't stopped me. The reason I was in retail for so long was because I was comfortable. I was scared of failing and that put me off seeking out a new challenge. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Stop putting it off and just go for it! If you have a true passion for something, it will shine through. People will gravitate towards that, but make sure you're ready for some hard work! What lessons could you take from Emma's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Make Sure You Understand the Companys Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Make Sure You Understand the Companys Personal Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Last week I wrote about the questions you will likely get asked in an interview. This week I’m suggesting the questions that you could and should be asking in the interview: • What kind of person do you want for this position? • What’s important about the person you hire? • How many people have held this position in the last two years? • Would you describe a typical workday and the things I’d be doing? • How does this job contribute to the company? • Is this department a profit center for the company? • Are sales up or down over the last year? • Where can someone in this job be promoted to? • How will success be measured in this position? • How long do you think it will take until you make a decision? While the interviewer is trying to find that out about you, you are trying to find out: • Is the company worth joining? • Do they have good products or services? • Do they have workable plans for the future? • Will I have a qualified, competent boss? • Will they support my growth and development? • Will they reward my efforts? • Will I be proud to work for them? • Will I make the money I want? Make sure people answer your questions, just like you answer theirs. If they give you a vague, general response, ask, “Can you give me an example?” Concentrate more on listening and grasping what they’re saying than on thinking ahead to what you are going to say next. When you get home after the interview, debrief yourself on what you learned and what you still need to find out.

What is the Purpose of a Resume

What is the Purpose of a Resume Many people think that the purpose of a resume is to get them a job. This is not entirely  correct. Your resume provides a summary of your experiences, abilities, skills, as well as  accomplishments. Whether you have a paper version or an electronic version, your  resume is a tool for you to sell yourself to your prospective employers. If your  resume is done correctly, you will get an interview. If you are having trouble being considered for  one, then there  may be something wrong with your resume. However, if you have an interview but not  the job, then the problem probably lies with the way that you are conducting yourself in those situations. Introduce you to your prospective employers: Your resume allows you to convey your intent to apply for a job to your prospective  employer. Regardless of the number of hours you put into writing up your resume, your  prospective employers may only glance at it for a few seconds before they decide  whether or not to grant you an interview. Therefore, another purpose of your resume is to  introduce you to your prospective employers and let you communicate your most  important assets to them. Provide a snapshot of your career: Your resume provides details of your working life. This includes all the jobs you have held,  as well as a list of skills that you have developed throughout your career and education. However,  keep in mind that your resume is not your biography. On average, an employer takes at  most 20 seconds to screen all incoming resumes and at most 20 minutes once a resume is  selected. Therefore, you have to be concise and clear, and highlight all the academic and  work experiences that make the employer think that you are qualified for the particular  job. Impress your prospective employers: Your resume is not a brag sheet for you to hang on your wall, but it does  provide you with an  opportunity for you to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements, and hopefully  impress your prospective employers enough that they will give you an interview. Make sure that you tailor your resume for specific jobs by emphasising your relevant skills for that position and place focus on highlight any previous experience that would benefit you within their company. Your  prospective employers will develop interview questions based on the information on your  resume, so make sure that you don’t over stretch your qualifications and are prepared to demonstrate or elaborate on your listed skills. Demonstrate your communication skills: To your prospective employers, you are a complete stranger. By looking at your resume,  they get an idea of how well you can communicate. It also demonstrates your ability to  organize information and write well, as well as to pay attention to detail. Instead of using  one resume for all job applications, you should tailor each one to the employer’s needs. Before sending your resume off, make sure that you have proof read it thoroughly and had someone else read it over too, to make sure it reads well and there are no grammatical errors. Image Credit: Shutterstock

3 Ways to Make your Business More Attractive to Customers

3 Ways to Make your Business More Attractive to Customers As a small-business owner, youve invested your time, effort, and money into building your company. Youve worked hard to offer top-shelf products or services at competitive prices. So, you figure, what more could customers want? As it turns out, quite a bit. Taking a small business to the top requires more than the right mix of products and prices  â€"  its as much an art as a science. Everything from your decor to the amount of space in your parking lot could be the X factor that catapults your business from just staying afloat to skyrocketing. Fill up Your Parking Lot An empty parking lot sends the wrong message to passersby. A vacant lot makes prospective customers think your business either isnt worth visiting, isnt open, or is failing. By contrast, a fuller lot makes casual observers think they might be missing out on something special. Even if you cant yet drum up enough traffic to fill your lot with customers, dont be afraid to get creative. For example, do you have your employees park somewhere else? Think about having them park in the front and center of the customer lot to give the impression of steady traffic. Accept Credit and Debit Card Payments In our increasingly cashless society, not accepting as many forms of credit and debit cards as possible is the kiss of death for a small business. According to a 2015 survey conducted by NextAdvisor, 42 percent of consumers report that a debit card is their preferred method of payment. Thirty-eight percent prefer a credit card and just 17 percent prefer cash. But what if youre in a high-risk industry? Some merchant account providers refuse to offer card processing services to small businesses in these industries, which puts your company at a serious disadvantage if you fall into this category. Fortunately, you can still accept customers credit cards by partnering with high risk credit card processors who specialize in providing accounts in your industry. Evaluate Your Business Aesthetics Color, lighting, layout, decor, and store design will all influence whether customers enter and  how long they will stay in your store. If you have the ability to do a window display, thats your chance to put your best foot forward and lure in foot traffic. An eye-catching display can encourage impulse buys, appeal to the customers sentimental side, or pique the curiosity. Once you get the customer in the store, focus on the space immediately to the right of the door. Customers tend to move counterclockwise in stores, which means the display to their right is the first thing theyll see and assess. Try to place your most visually appealing displays or products here. Dont forget to place your high-profit items in this area as well. You may have heard the saying retail is detail. The truth is, all small business is detail. These three tips coupled with the right balance of products and price points just may be the detail your company needs to reach new heights. Image Source; Image Source

Why Hire Nih Resume Writing Service?

Why Hire Nih Resume Writing Service?Nih resume writing service is one of the best ways to give your valuable experiences for a new job opportunity in a new company. In fact, there are many advantages to choosing NIH to write your resume.NIH is one of the best resume writers that is widely used and preferred by the employers in hiring. The fact that the company can have access to your name, address, telephone number, and email address helps them in making the most of the resume for potential employees. NIH ensures that you are on their target list. It gives you a chance to market yourself and show the employer why they should consider you for an interview.Another advantage of using NIH is that the written documents are easy to read. With just few short paragraphs and impressive titles, your resume can turn out to be a winning tool. The firm's professional writers do their best to make your resume as appealing as possible. You can even get a copy of the completed document after it has been edited by the experts.NIH also makes sure that you are on the list of the current employees. So, if you want to go back for a job interview, your resume will help you get noticed and if the job is offered, you can apply for the same. The major advantage is that it is not costly and you get a copy of the document with the details of the job. You can use it for reference purposes and all the other necessary things.Another thing you can do is to use the services of Nih if you want to improve your chances of being hired. When you put the right skills in your resume, you can ensure that you are included among the list of people who will be getting the job.NIH ensures that your resume is professional looking and you get to showcase your skills and experience in a better way. Your resume will be in an accepted format and it will not be rejected just because of the content. Your resume will be even taken more seriously if it is looking professional and impressive.If you are looking to be referred to a prospective employer, then you can get a copy of your resume done and if you provide the link of the company on your NIH website, the recruitment experts will do the rest. This is a very quick way of getting the message across to the company to which you are being referred. The resume is ready before the appointment.You can easily use the services of NIH to create your perfect resume. However, it is important to make sure that the company is a good one. You can get references from the references and make sure that you are getting a reliable and professional service.