LinkedIn is a website for professionals:  

• To meet with each other 
• Build and maintain a professional network 
• Share information about jobs, businesses, and industries 

It started in December 2002 and went live in May 2003. LinkedIn has become one of the most well-known and used sites for professionals in many areas. For more information, visit LinkedIn. 

What is professional networking? 

 
Professional networking refers to the practice of building and maintaining a network of contacts and relationships within one’s industry or professional community. A lot of the time, people make these kinds of connections to:  

• Share information 
• Help others 
• Get to know about their careers 

It’s very helpful to connect with other workers. You can do this in person or online. These are some of the reasons why it’s important: 

6 Essential purposes of networking 
 

1. Opportunity exploration: Networking allows individuals to discover new:  

• Job opportunities 
• Business ventures 
• Partnerships 
• Collaborations 
• Projects 

It can be a source of leads for:  

• Potential clients  
• Employers 
• Employees 

2. Knowledge sharing: People who work with each other share knowledge, ideas, and the best ways to do things all the time. If people share what they know:  

• They can get things done  
• Move up in their careers 
• Keep up with changes in their area 

3. Information and direction: When you network, you can meet people with more experience who can help you out and give you information. People who are new to their jobs will find these tips very helpful.

4. Growth in your field: Making links can help you:  

• Get new jobs 
• Move up in your field 
• Get promoted 

It can also help you find the best job for you by teaching you about different career choices. 

5. Building your own brand: Getting a good name can come from making good business links. People need to show their network that they are knowledgeable and trustworthy if they want to build a strong personal brand. 

6. Drive and support: Making friends at work can make you feel like you belong, give you support, and give you drive. When things aren’t going well at work, it can be very helpful. 

Networking with other workers can help a business grow. This could help them get new clients, funders, and business partners. 

4 Ways for business people to network   
 

1. In-person events: This includes attending:  

• Conferences  
• Seminars 
• Workshops 
• Industry-specific events 
• Social gatherings  

This is where professionals meet face-to-face.  

2. Meeting people online: We already said that you need sites like LinkedIn to meet people online. People who work in the same field can join groups that are just for them and talk to each other. 

3. Unions in the field: There are official unions or groups that hold events where workers can meet each other in many places. 

4. Events that don’t need to be planned: You don’t have to plan every networking event. You can also build a business network by getting together with friends, going on coffee dates, and talking with coworkers and peers. 

You need to do more than just talk to a lot of people to network well. You should also make connections that matter and are good for everyone. When you network for business, it’s important to trust the people you know and give them something of value. You have to keep at it and really want to meet other people in your field for it to work. 

 
What is LinkedIn? 

8 Important things about LinkedIn: 

1. Creating a profile: Users can make thorough profiles that show off their:  

• Work history 
• Skills 
• Education 
• Accomplishments 

These profiles can be used as digital resumes. 

2. Meeting other professionals: LinkedIn lets users connect with:  

• Teachers 
• Coworkers 
• Classmates 
• Other professionals 

This helps them make connections. These links will help you find work, share data, and work on business projects with other people. 

3. Job search and recruitment: This can help both people looking for work and people hiring. Company can use the site to find people who might be interested in working for them and to post job openings. 

4. Professional content sharing: The site lets users share news stories, articles, and other content that is connected to their business, skills, or interests. Businesspeople can now talk to each other and share information. 

5. Groups and communities: LinkedIn has a lot of groups and communities that are based on:  

• Hobbies 
• Topics  
• Businesses 

In these places, members can talk, ask questions, and share information. 

6. Company pages: Companies and groups can make LinkedIn pages to show off their products and services, job openings, and the way they work. 
 

7. Learning and growth: LinkedIn learning, which used to be called Lynda.com, offers online classes and tutorials on a wide range of topics to help users learn new skills and move up in their jobs. 

8. Analytics and insights: Users can see who looks at their posts and accounts, which helps them figure out how many people see their content and how interested they are in it. 
 

People who want to find new jobs, build their networks, and stay up to date on changes in their field now need to have LinkedIn. Companies and recruiters use it a lot to find new workers, too. This makes it an important part of the working world today. 

Professional networking and LinkedIn 

 
LinkedIn is one of the most important tools for business networking today. It gives professionals:  

• A digital space to meet 
• Makes building relationships easier 
• Has many tools and features to help with networking  

10 Ways how LinkedIn and networking fit together: 

1. Making connections with peers and coworkers: LinkedIn lets users make connections with:  

• Current and former coworkers 
• Classmates 
• Mentors 
• People in the same business 

These contacts are the building blocks of your business network. In a digital way, it’s like trading business cards. 

2. Global reach: LinkedIn has a huge number of users from all over the world. This means you can build a network that goes beyond where you live, which is especially helpful for professionals looking for chances and connections in other countries. 

3. Business-specific networking: LinkedIn is set up around professional and business sectors. Users can join groups that are specific to their industry and take part in talks about their field. This helps them learn more and make connections in their niche. 

4. Sharing content: Sharing news stories, articles, and other content connected to your business or area of expertise can help you connect with your network and become known as a thought leader. You can show what you know and what you’re interested in by posting and commenting on material. 

5. Job search and hiring: People looking for work can use LinkedIn to look for openings and apply for jobs. Employers and recruiters use LinkedIn to find people who might be good candidates. It speeds up the hiring process and makes it easy for everyone to get in touch with each other. 

6. Recommendations and endorsements: LinkedIn users can give their contacts recommendations and endorsements. You can use these to show off your skills and improve your business reputation. 

7. Learning and growth: LinkedIn Learning has a lot of courses and other tools that can help professionals improve their skills and move up in their jobs. This part of LinkedIn that lets you learn helps you grow as a worker. 

8. Building your professional brand: Your LinkedIn page is like a digital version of your business self. It lets you show off your skills, experience, and successes, creating a personal brand that people in your network can see. 

9. Analytics and insights: LinkedIn tells you who has looked at your profile and how people are responding to your posts. This knowledge can help you keep track of your networking efforts and find new ways to get involved. 
 

10. Professional communities: LinkedIn groups and communities bring together professionals with similar interests to:  

• Talk about trends in their field  
• Share information 
• Make new contacts 

Participating in these groups can help you make new friends and find new job chances. 
 

Basically, LinkedIn has changed how businesspeople connect with each other. It gives you an easy-to-use and always-evolving way to make business connections and grow them. Individuals can grow their network, become more visible, and stay in touch with colleagues and peers in their fields by regularly using LinkedIn and its features. It’s an effective tool that works well with traditional networking in person and offers a virtual space for making business connections. 

5 Points to keep in mind 

1. Networking for professionals: LinkedIn is a huge space where professionals from all over the world can meet and work together. It lets you meet with people who work with you, are in the same field as you, can help you, and who might want to work with you. Users can connect with professionals from around the world who share their interests, share content, and join groups for their industry. Its global reach and focus on certain industries make this possible. 

2. Sales & lead generation: Sales professionals benefit from LinkedIn’s advanced search and premium features, which help identify potential leads and establish initial contact. With targeted searching and outreach, users can convert connections into customers, and the LinkedIn Sales Navigator offers a specialized tool for lead generation.  

3. Solutions for hiring: LinkedIn Talent Solutions helps recruiters and HR workers find the best candidates. These tools help you hire people faster by letting you:  

• Post jobs 
• Keep track of applicants 
• Do more in-depth searches for possible hires  

This tool makes it easy to find and hire the best people. 

4. Targeted advertising: LinkedIn Ads help businesses’ marketing by letting them target a certain group of people. When B2B marketing which stands for Business-to-Business marketing; sends ads to people who make decisions in certain areas or businesses, it works better. 

5. Recommendations & endorsements: People who work for you can give LinkedIn users compliments on your skills and detailed suggestions, which makes them more trustworthy in the workplace. These recommendations prove that a person has the skills and character you want, giving you a better picture of their qualifications. 

Conclusion in a nutshell 

 
LinkedIn is a powerful website that has changed how businesspeople:  

• Meet 
• Network 
• Do other work-related things 

For work, it can be used to do many things, such as:  

• Making and having a strong network 
• Finding new customers 
• Spreading the word about your brand 
   

These days, LinkedIn is more than just a digital resume. It’s an involved and important part of modern work life. It gives people the tools they need to make and keep friends, share information, hire new workers, and sell their goods with ease. You can use LinkedIn’s many tools and features to advance your job and meet new people, no matter what kind of professional you are: a salesperson, an HR professional, a business owner, or someone else. 

 FAQs 

1. What is the importance of professional networking in one’s career? 

Professional networking is crucial for career development as it helps individuals build relationships, discover job opportunities, gain insights, and advance in their respective fields. 

2. How can I effectively network on LinkedIn? 

Effective networking on LinkedIn involves creating a complete and engaging profile, connecting with relevant professionals, participating in industry-specific groups, and sharing valuable content. 

3. What are some benefits of using LinkedIn for job seekers? 

LinkedIn offers job seekers a platform to search for job openings, connect with recruiters, and showcase their skills and experience to potential employers. 

4. Can businesses use LinkedIn for lead generation and marketing? 

Yes, businesses can leverage LinkedIn for lead generation by utilizing advanced search and advertising features. It’s a powerful platform for targeted marketing campaigns, especially in the B2B space. 

5. Is LinkedIn learning a valuable resource for career development? 

Yes, LinkedIn Learning offers a wide range of courses and resources that help professionals develop new skills and further their career growth.

The post Networking, LinkedIn and Career Success  appeared first on 1Training.

Who is a SCRUM Master? 

This person is in charge of Scrum and knows a lot about how it all works. The people in charge make sure that the Scrum rules are followed by the team. These rules are timed events like:   

• Daily standup 
• Sprint review 
• Sprint retrospective  
• Product backlog  
• Sprint backlog 

The SCRUM Master is in charge of keeping the team focused on their goals and running Scrum events and meetings. They tell everyone on the team to be:  

• Honest 
• Work together 
• Speak up 

The SCRUM Master is an important part of the Scrum framework. Scrum is a well-known Agile method for:   

• Managing software  
• Planning software  
• Building software   

SCRUM Master’s main job is to help a team or group use scrum in a good way. Let’s take a quick look at what the SCRUM Master does: 

Brief view on the SCRUM Master’s role 

7 Responsibilities of a SCRUM Master 

1. Servant leadership: He is a worker and a leader who is in charge of the scrum team. Scrum team is usually:  

• The product owner 
• Engineers 
• People with other jobs  

They help the scrum team by:  

• Fixing issues 
• Making it easier for people to talk to each other 
• Making the office more useful 

They also help the company by encouraging people to be open and work as a team. 

2. Coaching and mentoring: This is what SCRUM Masters do. They help the team work together and teach them about agile ideas and practises. They help the team understand and use scrum, which helps them get things done faster and put their plans together better every time. 
 

3. Problem-solving: SCRUM Masters solve issues that stop the team from going forward. This could mean fixing problems with the business, methods that don’t work, or anything else that makes it harder for the team to get things done. 
 

4. Safe for the team: SCRUM Masters keep an eye on outside sources during the sprint to make sure they don’t mess up or stop the team. It’s now time for them to work. 
 

5. Continuous improvement: People who are SCRUM Masters are told to always think of ways to make things better. This helps the company and team figure out what they need to change to work better and faster. 
 

6. Reporting and stats: They could help keep track of the team’s progress and success stats and send them to the right people. 
 

7. Meeting of disagreements: SCRUM Masters help team members work out their differences so they can work together well instead of fighting. 

In short, the SCRUM Master is a key role in Scrum because they teach others how to work together and keep an eye on the code. They want to encourage teams to always get better and work together and make it easy for teams to give users value. 

Education  

Getting educated and certified are very important if you want to become a SCRUM Master. They give you information, authority, and a planned way to become an expert in Agile and Scrum methods. Here’s how you can go about getting schooling and certification: 

• SCRUM Master Certified (SMC) Certification 
• Expert SCRUM Master Certified (ESMC) Certification 
• Scaled SCRUM Master Certified (SSMC) Certification 

7 Challenges SCRUM Masters face: 

1. Resistance to change: It can be hard to get people in the organisation to accept agile and scrum practises. Some people on the team and in the organisation may not want to change. 
 

2. Overcoming obstacles: It’s always hard to find and get rid of problems. This can include fixing problems with the organisation:  

• Teams that depend on other teams 
• Disagreements within the team 

3. Balancing act: The SCRUM Master must find a way to help the team do its work while also being a leader and not micromanaging. 
 

4. Cultural shift: It can take a long time and be hard to change an organisation’s culture so that it fits with agile goals and principles. 
 

5. Differentiating team dynamics: Each team works in its own way, so a SCRUM Master may need to change how they coach and what they do to fit the needs of each team. 
 

6. Adhering to agile values: When there is a lot of pressure to meet targets or other limits, it can be hard to make sure that the team and the organisation stay true to agile values and principles. Enhance your grasp of the foundational principles of scrum and agile methodologies by enrolling in our  SCRUM study  Agile Master Certified (SAMC) Certification course. 1Training provides you with the best in the industry. 

7. Scalability: It can be hard for SCRUM Masters in companies that use big, scaled agile frameworks like safe to manage multiple teams and make sure that everyone is on the same page. 

SCRUM Masters need to be: 

• Good with people 
• Know how to run processes 
• Be committed to Agile values 

Their job is both satisfying and hard. SCRUM Masters who are good at their job help their teams produce value quickly and create a culture of always getting better. 

5 Facts to keep in mind 

 
Being a SCRUM Master can be fun and hard at the same time, and the experience can be different based on the company and the way the team works together. Here are some facts to keep in mind: 

#1 How stressed you are as a SCRUM Master: 

Things that can be stressful: Being a SCRUM Master can be stressful at times. It includes leading and helping a team meet sprint goals, handling disagreements, and adapting to new needs. When you have to give value within set deadlines, it can be hard. 

Managing stress: To manage stress, you need to be able to communicate clearly, be a good facilitator, and be able to deal with problems and disagreements. SCRUM Masters with a lot of experience often come up with ways to deal with stress and keep a good work-life balance. 

#2 Is it cool to be a SCRUM Master? 

The SCRUM Master job is best for some people and not for others, depending on their preferences and strengths. Some people find it very rewarding because they like helping teams work together, improve all the time, and use Agile methods. 

People who are good at communicating, solving problems, and being a servant leader might do well in this job. It gives people chances to grow:  

• Personally  
• Professionally 

#3 Are you able to be a SCRUM Master without a degree? 

In a comprehensive analysis of 3,028 authentic SCRUM Master resumes it becomes evident that the education sections offer valuable insights into the qualifications and backgrounds of SCRUM Masters. You need to have a certain amount of schooling to become a SCRUM Master. Most SCRUM Masters have degrees in: 

• Business  
• Computer science 
• Electrical engineering etc 

66% of SCRUM Masters have a bachelor’s degree and some others have a master’s degree. (Source) 

#4 As a SCRUM Master, you can do the following jobs: 

Even though a SCRUM Master licence is only good for that job, it can help you get other jobs in Agile and project management. Here are some jobs and work paths that are similar: 

1. Agile Coach: Coaching multiple Scrum teams and helping organizations implement Agile methodologies. 
2. Product Owner: This person manages the product list and works closely with the development teams to make the product as valuable as possible. 
3. Agile Project Manager: Keeping an eye on Agile projects in a wider sense and taking care of things that have to do with the projects. 
4. Release Manager: Focusing on coordinating and overseeing the release process, ensuring that features and changes are delivered effectively. 
5. SCRUM Master for the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe): Coordinates various teams to manages large-scale Agile transformations. 

#5 Non-technical SCRUM Master jobs: 

SCRUM Masters don’t just work in the tech industry; they can work in many other fields as well. Agile methods are used in many non-technical fields, like:  

• Marketing 
• Healthcare  
• Business 
   

Non-technical SCRUM Masters often:  

• Lead cross-functional teams 
• Oversee projects 
• Encourage people to work together 

They might work with groups that make goods, run marketing campaigns, or offer services. 

As you can see, being a SCRUM Master can be a rewarding job, but it can also be hard and stressful at times. How well you do in this job relies on how well you can communicate, lead, and use Agile methods. Getting certified as a SCRUM Master can lead to many job possibilities, including non-technical positions in a wide range of fields. 

7 People who need this information 

There are many types of people in the UK tech and software development fields who are interested in or touched by the SCRUM Master job. Find out about the SCRUM Master scene in the UK. This could help each group in the following ways:  

1. Aspiring SCRUM Masters: People who want to become SCRUM Masters can find out how much demand there is for them in the UK:  

• What skills and certifications they need 
• How jobs usually grow 
• How much money they can expect to make  

Now that they know this, they can choose if they want to become a SCRUM Master in the UK. 

2. Current SCRUM Masters: SCRUM Masters who are already working can use the information to see where they stand in their jobs and see how much they can expect to make and how likely they are to move up. It can help them set goals and make smart picks about their jobs. 

3. Hiring managers & HR professionals: If you are a hiring manager or an HR professional in the UK, this information can help you learn more about the job market for SCRUM Masters there. They can hire and keep the best people if they offer competitive pay and perks. 

3. Career Counsellors & Educators: The knowledge can help students and workers who want to work in software development and agile project management. It can also be used by career counsellors and teachers. It lets them give up-to-date advice on career routes and chances to specialise. 

4. New tech companies and well-known ones: Because of this, groups can learn more about what SCRUM Masters do. It can help them get better at Scrum and make sure they pay their SCRUM Masters enough. 

5. People from other parts of the world: SCRUM Masters and Agile practitioners from other nations who want to move to the UK can use this information to learn about the job market, salaries, and standards in the business there. 

6. Students in management and technology classes: This information can help them make smart decisions about what jobs they want to get after they graduate. It can help them figure out what jobs are available and how much money is needed. 

All of these groups gain from having access to data and information about the UK SCRUM Master scene as a whole. These people do this because it helps them make smart decisions, set attainable targets, and make sure their job goals are in line with the expectations and chances available in the field. 

 
In conclusion;  

SCRUM Master plays a very important and changing part in the Agile and Scrum framework. As guides, teachers, and supporters of the Scrum method, they are very important to the success of the teams they work with. Every day, they are responsible for:  

• Leading and supporting the team 
• Getting rid of problems 
• Encouraging a mindset of working together  

Although the job can be stressful at times, it does provide chances for personal and professional growth and can be very satisfying for people who are good at talking to people, leading others, and solving problems. 

To get a better insight into the field of SCRUM Master don’t forget to log in to our website. Because it provides you with a vast variety of useful information that will help you in your career advancement.  

FAQs

1. Who is a SCRUM Master? 

A SCRUM Master is an important part of both Agile and Scrum methods. Their job is to help the Scrum process go smoothly, get rid of problems, and teach the team to do better. 
 

2. How does a SCRUM Master handle conflicts within the team? 

SCRUM Masters address conflicts through open communication, facilitating discussions, and helping team members find common ground. They work to foster a collaborative and respectful team culture. 

3. How can organizations benefit from having SCRUM Masters? 

SCRUM Masters can help organisations develop products faster and more efficiently, work together better as a team, produce higher-quality work, and encourage a culture of constant growth and flexibility. 

4. What is Scrum’s full form? 

Scrum is not an acronym; it takes its inspiration from the world of rugby. In rugby, a “scrum” refers to the collective effort of the team coming together to advance the ball. 

5. What is a SCRUM Master’s role?

A SCRUM Master is a guide and manager who helps the scrum team and the organisation understand and use the theory and practice of scrum. The SCRUM Master makes it easier for the Scrum team to work together by getting rid of problems and distractions that could stop them from reaching their goals. 

The post SCRUM Master Careers in the UK: A Guide  appeared first on 1Training.

Understanding the role of a bookkeeper

A bookkeeper’s main job is to keep accurate financial records and check on the business’s overall financial health. These are some of the most important things a bookkeeper does and the skills they need to do them: 

Record financial transactions

The bookkeeper’s job is to keep track of all financial transactions, like:  

• Purchases 
• Sales 
• Income 
• Expenses 

In accounting software or ledger systems, this means putting data into the right groups and typing it in properly. 

Bank reconciliation

This means that they check to see if the company’s bank records and bank funds are the same. This helps find mistakes and things that are different. 

Accounts payable

This includes keeping track of bills and invoices and paying them on time, as well as keeping records on suppliers and making sure the company gets its money back. 

Accounts receivable

These are the accounts that bookkeepers use to keep track of the money that clients and customers owe the business. As part of this, they have to:  

• Make and send bills 
• Keep track of payments 
• Follow up on accounts that are past due 

Payroll

Some bookkeepers are in charge of figuring out and taking care of workers’ payroll. Making sure workers are paid properly and on time is part of this. So is figuring out their:  

• Salaries 
• Taxes 
• Deductions 
• Benefits 

Accounting

Bookkeepers usually make simple accounting records like income statements and balance sheets. These papers show how the business is doing and how much money it has. 

Maintaining financial records

Bookkeepers make sure that the company’s financial records are kept in order and up to date. This makes it simple for auditors and accountants to look over the stuff. 

Follow the rules

They make sure that all financial transactions and records follow the laws and rules that are in place. For example, they make sure that all tax codes and financial reporting standards are followed. 

7 Things you need to be able to do to become a bookkeeper: 

1. Education: Most bookkeepers have at least a high school diploma or the equivalent, but not all of them need a college degree. Some people work towards associate degrees or certificates in bookkeeping or fields that are similar to it. 

Here are a few of the courses on Bookkeeping that you can get your hands on: 

• Bookkeeping and Payroll Management 

• Diploma in Office Management and Bookkeeping 

2. Accounting principles: Bookkeepers need to know a lot about basic accounting principles and methods in order to keep track of and organise money matters properly. 

3. Paying attention: When you keep the books, it’s very important to be exact. A bookkeeper needs to pay close attention to the little things to make sure that the financial records are correct. 

4. Communication: People who work with money need to be able to keep track of their records and make sure nothing is missed. 

5. Math skills: You need to be able to do basic math to figure out things like transfers, payroll, and reconciliations. 

6. Computer skills: Bookkeepers use spreadsheets and other financial software all the time. You need to know how to use these tools well. 

7. Being moral: Bookkeepers must be honest and follow strict moral rules because they deal with private financial information. 

Being able to look at financial data and spot trends or issues is an analytical skill that can help you solve issues and come up with new ideas. It’s important for bookkeepers to be able to adapt to new technology, financial rules, and the needs of the business they work for. 

Bookkeepers need to have a degree and the right skills, but job experience is also helpful. A lot of businesses want to hire people who have been accountants or bookkeepers before. It can also help your qualifications and job prospects to get certified as a Certified Bookkeeper (CB) or a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. 

Understanding the role of an Accountant

The job of an accountant is very important because they:  

• Keep a business’s finances in order 
• Give help on money matters 
• Make sure that all accounting rules and standards are followed 
   

Here are some of the most important things an accountant has to do, along with the licences and qualifications they need to do them: 

Financial analysis 

Accountants look at a business’s financial records and deals to figure out how well it is doing financially. They try to find trends, possible threats, and ways to make things better. 

Money statements

Accountants make money statements like balance sheets, cash flow statements, and salary statements. These reports show everyone inside and outside the company everything they need to know about its finances and progress. 

Tax planning and compliance 

Making plans for taxes and making sure businesses follow tax rules are things that accountants do. They also fill out tax returns. They make sure that businesses get the most tax breaks and credits and pay the least amount of tax possible. 

Help with audits 

 Accountants work with internal auditors or private accountants to help with audits. They make sure the books are right and that there are rules in place to stop mistakes and scams. 

Budgeting and forecasting 

 Financial forecasts and budgets help businesses plan for the future by giving them a way to keep track of their money. You have to guess how much cash the business will need, how much it will make, and how much it will spend. 

Financial advisory 

 Accounting firms help businesses manage their money and plan for the future with the help of financial advice. They might be able to help you do things like trade, buy and sell businesses, manage risk, and make smart financial decisions. 

Cost analysis 

 An accountant’s job is to look at how much different parts of a business cost. This helps companies figure out the best prices, ways to save money, and goods that will bring in the most cash.

Internal controls 

 Their job is to protect a company’s assets and make sure that financial records and deals are right. They set up and keep an eye on internal controls. 

Giving reports to managers

 Accountants help business managers make decisions by giving them specific reports. They could be about different parts of the business, like how well a department is doing or how much money a project is making. 

7 Things you need to be able to do to become an Accountant:

1. Education: They usually have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a field related to accounting. Some people go on to get master’s or doctoral degrees. 

Here are a few of the courses on Accounting that you can get your hands on:   

• Certificate in Accounting & Information Processing 
• Accounts and Payroll 

2. Certifications: A lot of accountants look for professional certifications to help them get better at what they do. Here are a few of the most well-known certifications: 

• CPA stands for “Certified Public Accountant.” In the US, people want to be CPAs and have to pass a tough test and meet certain education and experience requirements. 
• Chartered Accountant (CA): Becoming a CA is a title that is accepted all over the world, but the requirements may be different in each area or country. 
• As a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), your main job will be to do management accounting, which means you will plan and analyse finances a lot. 
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA): The ACCA is a qualification in accounting that is accepted around the world and can be earned in many places. 

3. Strengths: You need to be good at analysing data to understand it and get useful information from it. 

4. Detail-oriented: To make sure that financial records and compliance are correct, you need to pay close attention to the little things. 

5. Ethics: Because they work with private financial information, accountants have to follow strict rules of professional ethics and have very high moral standards. 

6. Technology skills: You need to know how to use accounting software, spreadsheets, and tools for researching money in order to work as an accountant today. 

7. Communication skills: Accountants have to talk to a lot of different people about hard money matters, so they need to be able to talk clearly. Changes in tax laws, rules, and accounting standards mean that accountants often need to take classes to keep their skills up to date. 

Depending on the job and the place, the skills and credentials needed may be different. People who want to become accountants need to know what the specific requirements are in their area and business so they can plan their education and job growth. 

Bookkeeper vs Accountant

Factors influencing salaries

The average Base Pay for an Accountant or an experienced Bookkeeper is around £31K – £53K per year in the United Kingdom. (Source) 

Different things can have a big effect on how much people who work in accounting and bookkeeping get paid. Here are some important things that affect salaries in these fields: 

Know-how and work history

Years of experience:  

Most of the time, people with more years of experience make more money. If someone works in accounting or bookkeeping and gets better at their job, they might be able to move up to a higher-level job that pays more. 

Expertise:  

Because the job is so skilled, people who know a lot about tax planning, forensic accounting, or auditing can make more money. 

Location and cost of living variations within the UK

Where someone works:  

Where someone works can have a big effect on their salary. Accountants and bookkeepers usually get paid more to make up for the higher cost of living in cities like London. On the other hand, wages might be less in the country. 

Cost of living: 

 Because housing, transportation, and other needs cost more in places with higher costs of living, salaries tend to be higher there as well. 

Size and type of employer 

Big business vs small business:  

International and big companies often pay more to get and keep the best financial workers. A small business might offer reasonable pay, but there might not be as many ways for them to pay their staff. 

For-profit companies:  

Salaries in for-profit companies may be higher than those in nonprofits on average. Donors, on the other hand, may value the work they do and the rewards it brings. 

Specializations and additional certifications

Accounting and bookkeeping professionals with specialised skills, such as investigative accounting, management accounting, or tax understanding, can make more money because people want to hire them. 

It’s possible to get a higher salary if you get more certifications. For example, becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or getting certifications related to your field can help you get certified. These certifications show that you are knowledgeable and committed to the field. 

Industry and sector

Financial experts may be paid different amounts by different companies, based on how hard their job is and how many people need them. For example, wages are usually competitive in the tech, finance, and banking fields. 

About the level of education and experience

You can get better paying jobs and move up in your career by getting more education and higher degrees, such as an MBA or a master’s degree in accounting. 

What the market wants

Pay can be affected by how much people need accountants and bookkeepers in general. If not enough good people are looking for work in a certain area or business, wages may go up to get and keep good workers. 
 

How to make a deal

The amount of money someone makes can also depend on how well they can talk about their pay. People who are good at negotiating might be able to get better pay deals. 

It is important to remember that these things can have different effects on different people and can also influence each other. The way people are paid can also change over time as the business and industry trends do. There are a lot of things that accountants and bookkeepers can do to make the most money. Some of these are finishing their education, specialising, and moving around to find work that fits their job goals and their financial goals. 

How 1Training fits in?

1 Training is a good platform for anyone who is interested in the types of courses discussed above. This job field is for people who can be responsible and handle complicated issues. 1 Training makes you develop skills that are valuable and make you job ready. Bookkeeping and Accounting are for individuals who are trustworthy. Because they handle private information. 1Training offers a wide range of courses regarding Bookkeeping and Accounting. If you believe you are someone who is honest and reliable, you can give this a try.  

FAQs

1. Is it better to be an Accountant or Bookkeeper?

More training, certifications, and work experience are needed to become an Accountant than to become a Bookkeeper. When it comes to things like taxes and finances, Accountants often have a lot more useful knowledge to offer. On the other hand, Bookkeepers’ only job is to keep track of financial transactions.   
 

2. Do Bookkeepers need formal education? 

While it’s not always required, many bookkeepers have at least a high school diploma, and some pursue associate degrees or bookkeeping certificates. 

3. What level of education is required to become an Accountant? 

Most accountants have a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or an area related to it. Some people go on to get master’s degrees like an MBA or an MAcc. 

4. Do Accountants make more than Bookkeepers? 

A Bookkeeper makes an average of $42,958 a year. About $53,558 a year is the average pay for an Accountant. Lastly, a CPA makes an average of $79,781 a year. The difference in pay is usually because of the level of experience and skill, as well as the tasks that come with the job. (Source) 
 

5. Should I do Bookkeeping before Accounting? 

Since Bookkeeping is the first step in Accounting, the jobs of a Bookkeeper and an Accountant often overlaps each other. Accounting is the process of figuring out what the data means and how to show it. Bookkeeping is the process of collecting and organising financial data. 

The post Bookkeeper vs Accountant in the UK appeared first on 1Training.

We have filtered out the top six things to avoid in corporate sales. Yes, we are going to help you stay alert. Read until the end to tick your list of mistakes. Or preventions!

1. Being a talker, not a listener

Freedom of expression can be tempting. You may want to express all you want to say at work. Sales to some of you may mean talking. It does not always come as a plus point as you think. Talking too much but not listening has its fallout on corporate sales.

Did you know sales and marketing for online businesses require patience? Just like that, any kind of corporate sales requires a great amount of listening. Always listen to your prospects. Make them feel like you are understanding their point. Allow them time to gather their needs and spell them out for you. This way, you make it more conversational than a monologue. As a cherry on top, being a listener helps you crack solutions.

2. Go prepared

Sales can happen at any time. Those in corporate sales will know it happens mostly during unexpected times. An unprepared salesman cannot sell his pitch. Let alone he cannot understand his prospect. It can be a virtual sale you are making or a physical meeting. Always prepare for it.

Whether you have completed the best sales courses & certifications matters. These certifications and courses prepare you. They give you the knowledge to create a checklist of the information you require. It helps you understand how to review questions. Having all information you need gives you confidence. Remember, confidence creates great first impressions. Great first impressions boost sales!

3. Choose truth over lies

Corporate sales are built over trust. How you can build trust is by being truthful. You may have met enough salesmen in your lifetime. The majority of them may have told you sugar-coated lies. They can be for their impressive sales pitches. If you think about how effective this could be, you’ll have your answer. These lies will wear off over some time. It is when your prospects will realise you have lied to them. Such lies will turn into blocks that’ll prevent your prospects from you.

Some of the best salesmen possess truth as a skill. They learn it through some of the best online sales & marketing courses. Such truthful salespersons create a safe space for their prospects. These prospects then turn into great sales.

4. Focus on quality over price

You may have heard quality over quantity. This is something similar in corporate sales. Often salespersons forget they are conversing with humans. They turn their sales pitch like it’s directed at machines. This is what differentiates a salesperson from a random vendor. If long-term gratification is your goal, then focusing on price won’t work. Offers and discounts can tempt prospects but for how long? And isn’t it what they get from several other salespersons like you?

People align towards quality over price. Of course, price matters but on a scale, quality weighs higher. Price has been a concerning factor. It applies not only to traditional businesses but also to sales and marketing for online businesses. Remind your prospects that you value their need for quality. Ensure you are providing them with that reassurance. Do not always focus on the price factor.

5. Avoid arguments

Corporate sales demand heaps of patience. Your prospects come from various backgrounds. They will never be the same. It is always easy to lose your temper and become defensive. The key is to prevent yourself from it. Arguments can be healthy because you feel it’s the truth you are preaching. But prospects do not appreciate angry salespersons.

Take online sales training courses to practice patience. It is a common mistake that many people make. Corporate sales can be daunting. As mentioned earlier, arguments can be tempting. Especially when your prospects make absurd remarks. If you disagree, it is always best to remain silent. This is highly essential if you see them as potential prospects.

6. Do not sell for the sake of selling

Targeting prospects that are not your potential sales is a waste of time. Instead of pitching your sales to those who are not in need, change your direction. Find and target those in dire need of your service or products. They serve long-term value and potential sales. Selling your products or services to those not in need of them is temporary. You cannot retain these prospects and that’s not favourable.

Making sales to those only in need of your products creates good PR. On the contrary, selling it to those not in need gets them talking negatively. Unhappy prospects speak negatively in their circle of your product prospects. In sum, do not force sales on anyone. Learn what it takes to retain customers. Online sales training courses teach you what it takes to apply this. They have in-depth lessons on how to apply good account management practices.

A reputed corporate salesperson will know their product inside out. It means they will not settle for less. Knowing their product’s value, they will wait for the right prospects. They will not be desperate. They will ensure they avoid all the mistakes in corporate sales mentioned above.

The post Six things you should never do in corporate sales appeared first on 1Training.

The number of tickets closed. The number of emails sent. The number of product demonstrations scheduled. These measures assist management as tools. They determine the member’s capacity. But what if, without recording activities, we measured metrics? E-learning market research has a load of content on this. Check these five customer success measures that will be important in years to come.

1. Customer satisfaction score

Time is one of the most common consumer requirements. Customers want their issues fixed fast.  Hence, time is a factor crucial for marketers to satisfy their customer’s requirements. They then continue to wait for your support. That is when the customer experience suffers.

Keeping this in mind, it’s critical to track your first contact resolution rate. It is the proportion of customer support cases. It is best described under market research training & courses. If the figure is high, it shows that your staff is not reacting to clients. They are not resolving their requirements as fast as they wish.

To determine the customer satisfaction rate, here’s a quick solution. Take the number of services done to the customer. It must be after the first interaction.  Next, take the total number of service cases received by your team. Divide the first by the latter!

You’ll need customer service tools. They help to keep track of your incoming cases to accomplish this.

Consumer satisfaction score (CSAT) depends on actual customer input. This statistic is far more adaptable and diverse.

The CSAT formula is;

(Number of favourable answers/total responses) multiplied by 100

2. Churn rate

The rate at which consumers unsubscribe or cancel equals the churn rate. Consider your company to be a bucket. Your objectives are to fill the bucket in a balanced and efficient manner. You want the bucket’s contents to expand. If you’re successful, you’ll need to create a bigger bucket. Churn is analogous to the holes in a leaking bucket. The best market research courses & certifications help to master this. You can learn to define churn rate, calculate, and take decisive actions.

Churn equals a proportion of existing customers. They do not renew their contracts. The churn rate might be either monthly or yearly. It’s critical to know if the amount is per year or month. A 5% yearly churn rate may be okay. But a 5% monthly churn rate might indicate a major problem.

The following formula is used to calculate the churn rate:

Churn rate = number of churned customers/total number of customers

3. Net promoter rate

Are your consumers satisfied with your solution? Would they recommend your company to others? The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a successful metric that can help. You calculate it by asking a simple question.

 “How likely are you to refer people to us?”

Top market research courses online help to test multiple marketing metrics. In this metric, here’s how it’s done. Customers are requested to rate their likelihood of recommending your company to others on a scale of zero to ten, with zero indicating ‘unlikely’ and ten indicating ‘likely.’ Those that give you a nine or ten are your promoters. Take nothing for granted. Motivate them to be promoters. You’ll have one of the greatest and least expensive lead sources.

The NPS formula is as follows:

NPS = percentage of promoters/percentage of detractors

Passives are those who answer with a seven or an eight. You might want to spend some time converting them to promoters. First, look at the consumers who fall between zero and six. These are your naysayers, and they can prevent you from succeeding. Investigate why they seem unsatisfied. Not just to regain their favour but to repair what’s damaged.

4. Customer retention cost

You may have come across market research training & courses teaching this topic. If you haven’t, then you should consider taking one. It helps to define such marketing metrics.

Customer retention cost (CRC) quantifies the financial requirement of your company to keep each client. CRC shows you whether your customer success initiatives are paying off.

Gather those figures. Divide the total annual cost by the number of active consumers. Your customer retention cost is the answer!

5. Lifetime value

Lifetime value (LTV) is one of the most insightful customer success measures. It is an assessment of a customer’s value across their predicted whole customer lifespan. It’s a useful indicator for determining the health of a firm by showing the average revenue figure of a client. This is before they churn.

LTV is a forward-looking metric. It can be difficult to determine LTV in some firms, but it is critical to know the LTV as accurately as possible. That is why you may need to consider e-learning market research.  It provides companies with a water level. Once you understand LTV, you can determine how much you can spend to gain clients; you may calculate the payback period for acquisition expenses.

Overall, these are the five main customer success measures. They can help your firm become more lucrative.  Feel free to pick any metric or all that suits your firm best. When you have a firm, grasp on the metric that’s easier to consider. Only then out will be able to assist your company. Who would not like make their firm a success? But are you using the right metrics that matter in marketing research? Use this article as your guide and make wiser decisions!

The post Five customer success metrics that matter in marketing research appeared first on 1Training.

In digital marketing, there are many faults committed. There are certain best practices that you can follow to avoid these.

In this blog, we will look at 10 digital marketing blunders to avoid.

1. Use effective images and videos

Remember the reason you made your content in the first place? Remember the goal of all marketing materials? Yes, it is to convert it into sales. Make sure to include a “call to action” at the end of each marketing message. Invite them to download a trial, contact your sales team, or buy something.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming. A digital marketing certification course provides this knowledge. Your content does not need to be crafted to be successful. In fact, most people respond to videos that feel authentic. That doesn’t mean you should forego production stats only. Don’t overdo it.

2. Don’t overpromise

It is imperative to set the right expectations for your customers. Don’t promise much if you’re not sure of delivery. Don’t anger your client in the process. Be honest with yourself and them. It’s better to pass on a prospect with unrealistic expectations.

Don’t be in debt. Debt can cause problems for your business as the new venture is unknown. in times of crisis or when you need to cut expenses debts can be another crisis factor. In the beginning, it will be to your advantage but not in a long term. For a better sense of these issues, take an online course. Pick from one of the best digital marketing courses in UK. These courses will give you hands-on knowledge in dealing with customers.

3. Choose the right marketing channels

It is important to segment your audience. It helps to ensure you reach them with the right marketing mix. Know your target market. Understand what they are looking for. If you are wondering how then it’s best to learn. A digital marketing certification course helps you delve into this. It provides in-detail information to help you excel. It defines marketing activities, including knowledge of available marketing channels. Make sure your marketing efforts reflect this. Use location, interests, lifestyle, and income level. They help to optimise your marketing efforts. You can then set your users into appropriate groups.

Strive to balance:

• Relevant sales messages
• Brand and industry updates
• Content promotions
• Helpful information
• Personalised offers

Send these at the right time. Ensure it links to factors like lifecycle and site activity. This balance helps build meaningful relationships. It makes customers and subscribers feel valued.

4. Avoid spamming your customers

No one likes spam. People know email marketers are after the money. Their email inbox is another domain of direct marketing. Make sure you don’t spam your customers. It can sometimes affect your relationship with them.

Today’s readers avoid opening emails that contain signs of a phishing scam. It’s for good reason. It is taught to learners in some of the best digital marketing courses in UK. Too many people have fallen victim to scams. Others have learned of the dangers from the media. A company suspicious of misleading marketing messages is at risk. It can take years to repair the damage.

5. Test and measure your marketing strategies

If you don’t measure your results, you’ll not know what’s working. You cannot foresee how you can improve your ad performance. It’s important to analyse your successes (or failures). See where there is room for continuous improvement. For organic marketing, track your performance to see which platforms perform best.

Run A/B tests and test multiple campaigns with different ad formats. Choose different audiences. Learn how to from a digital marketing certification course. See which one delivers the best results. Don’t overspend your budget on this. Use what is enough to get solid results. Or to draw conclusions from and serve as the basis for future campaigns.

6. Identify your target audience

Don’t define your audience based on personal descriptions. Use tracking pixels and cookies. They help to attract people who have visited your website. If you do not have a gist of this, we got you. Try one of the best digital marketing courses in UK. It helps you pick those who joined your email list and extend your social targeting, including age, gender, education, and topical interests. Consider their purchase intent and related life events outside.

Once you have a better understanding of this, you can target new target groups.

7. Build customer relationships on social media

Your target audience is on social media, and you’re not there? Then you’re committing a significant digital marketing faux pas! You’re passing on a great chance to connect with your customers. You cannot increase their affinity for your business. You cannot simply reach out to new audiences.

You may prevent making this digital marketing misstep if you take the best online courses on digital marketing. Undoubtedly it helps in utilising social media marketing! Decide which platform to use as your social media marketing tool. Concentrate on the platforms that your target audience uses the most. Provide material to engage your audience once you know where they spend their time. You may use social media advertising. It helps you to appear in relevant individuals’ newsfeeds. Target them with products or services that match their interests.

8. Pick the right marketing tools/partners

Today’s digital marketing is quite complicated. There are so many diverse aspects, and complexities you could learn about. The point is you can’t do it by yourself. There are specialists in many subjects. Yet, they do not handle everything alone. They rely on others with diverse skill sets to contribute to the project. The same is true for tools.

You will get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data to handle. You will find yourself exhausted with updates regularly. Don’t worry! Take a digital marketing certification course. There are several solutions included in it. Most of them assist you in automating your marketing activities. You must find the ideal marketing partner for your website. Ensure that they understand what they are doing. The ideal marketing expert has a marketing background. They can show outcomes with past clients.

9. Do not expect results overnight

Digital technology changes so fast. Do not expect digital marketing to produce results almost instantly. You may not see quick or immediate results. Don’t let this make you anxious, trust the process.

We’re accustomed to things happening faster. Sometimes more than they used to, due to increased availability. Yet, this is only partially true. The digital world moves quickly. The best online courses on digital marketing explain this. The audience you’re targeting is human. It takes time for individuals to get fully involved. It’s all based on algorithms and psychology. Sometimes people may not even notice your material as you upload it. Which is why patience is key to seeing results.

Marketing success requires consistency. A potential consumer will need many points of exposure. This is before appropriate information or advertisements.

10. Set clear marketing goals

Setting defined goals may assist companies in optimising budgets. It helps in achieving the best results. Businesses may prevent this error by using KPIs or SMART objectives. Setting quantifiable goals may assist companies in reaching them. Adjusting them as needed to better fulfil the demands of the business.

Clear objectives should involve calculating the return on investment (ROI). Setting objectives entails deciding on precise metrics. Some examples are traffic, leads, click-through rates, or conversions. And these are taught in the best digital marketing courses in UK.

Understanding these common mistakes is the first step in avoiding them. Understand that a brand’s target demographic helps in marketing decisions. It relies on the data available.

Brands are not alone in making these frequent digital marketing blunders. It is not easy to keep up with an ever-changing world. New digital tools are launching every day. Revisit a digital marketing plan regularly. It can help you ensure that you are on track to meet business growth. These mistakes, if avoided, contribute to an entirety.

The post Ten mistakes to avoid in digital marketing appeared first on 1Training.

Both consumers and companies are online and mobile. If you want to be able to communicate with them, pay attention to how they spend their time.

This changing digital world can overwhelm you when building a business. You have several additional tasks to do. Can you do them all by yourself? To develop, fine-tune, and sustain? A digital marketing strategy needs effort.

We have compiled this marketing strategy guide for you. It can boost your internet presence and grow.

1. What is a marketing strategy?

A marketing strategy is a strategy to attain a marketing goal. It’s done in a concentrated and attainable manner. It takes into account what your company is doing well.

The process of a successful marketing strategy is:

1. Diagnosing the challenge
2. Preparing a guiding policy to deal with the challenge
3. Creating a set of targeted actions to accomplish the policy

2. What is a digital marketing strategy?

A digital marketing strategy creates your company’s online presence. You can accomplish this through internet channels such as organic search – social media, and other web-based outlets inclusive. Paid ads and your website are two more examples. Increased awareness is the purpose of digital marketing methods. It might be about your company. Its goal is to bring new clients to your brand. Some of the best marketing strategy courses & certifications define this. They help you understand strategies that connect to your audience. Offline and digital!

3. How do marketing and digital marketing strategies differ?

Digital marketing efforts are the foundation. They are acts taken as part of your digital marketing plan. They guide you toward a definite end result.

Assume your overall aim for your digital marketing plan is more leads. You could conduct a Twitter digital marketing campaign for this. You may tweet some of your company’s best-performing gated content. It’s to increase the number of leads generated through the channel.

Given below are five marketing strategies filtered for you. In each strategy, digital marketing plays an important role.

4. Content marketing

Content marketing is a go-to strategy digitally used. It’s used by companies to achieve their marketing goals. A digital marketing strategy online short course could teach this. Content marketing lets you define your brand’s value. It helps to reach and connect to your target audience. It focuses on reaching, engaging, and connecting. To do so content marketing includes videos, blog posts, infographics, etc. It is more instructive marketing than sales-oriented. Each piece of content targets specific keywords.

In content marketing, it’s important to be audience relevant. You must create original content. It must be high-quality. Content that is high-quality makes it shareable. Content, when it is shareable, it boosts your brand in the market.

5. Content marketing as a digital marketing strategy

The capacity of this strategy is beyond the present. It is futuristic. Though one cannot reach their target audience as one wishes, this strategy makes it a possibility. It promotes conversion rates on websites.

The importance of this strategy is that it has a lot of power. The marketplace can ignore your messages. They would respond to your content because they find it informative.

6. Search engine optimisation (SEO)

SEO plays a major role in a digital strategy for marketing. It is all about ranking your products through keywords. Its ultimate achievement is attracting your target audience. It is the final outcome expected in your marketing journey.

It is essential to know how to define your product’s unique value. It’s one of the main reasons why people pick keywords. A marketing and brand strategy course would highlight this. There are consumers who are searching for your products and offers. SEO connects the path for them to find you. Research confirms more than 30% of searchers click on the first result. SEO helps you to be that first result.

7. Email marketing campaign

It is as important as content marketing. It opens space to sustain interested customers.

In what steps is email marketing campaign done?

• Your customer checks your blog/content or webinar
• They provide their email to sign up
• They allow consent to receive information from you
• You will target them with an email marketing campaign

Email marketing comes off as cost-effective. It is a convenient strategy to implement. Whether your business is small or big, it delivers targeted messages by segmenting your information. All of this makes it one of the best digital strategies to consider.

8. Pay-per-click advertising (PPC)

PPC, is you paying for a user’s click on your ad. It’s done through Google Ads, Bing Ads, etc. It might be a good strategy to contact people, especially those looking for terms connected to your business. Learning how to implement well-planned marketing strategies is a trick. In best marketing strategy courses & certifications you’ll learn all this. In sum, these courses help you create and implement successful strategies.

PPC helps you implement well-planned marketing strategies. It helps you:

1. Get quick results
2. Pay as you go (control your spending)
3. Have track of how your campaigns are performing

PPC is an excellent internet marketing method for newcomers. It raises your website to the top of search engine rankings. PPC is the choice if your organic search result is several pages back.

9. Influencer marketing

Do you have a count of the many ads you’ve seen from celebrities today? It’s just another digital marketing strategy. Influencer marketing harnesses target audiences. It’s the best marketing strategy for branded content. At least nine out of ten people benefit from influencer marketing.

Today in a marketing and brand strategy course you’ll learn this strategy. It’s because people have started making market decisions based on this. A general ad on a product has less reach compared to an influencer’s. This is why companies are opting for influencers to promote their products. Influencer marketing boosts engagement and sales.

Marketing strategies are evolving. They do not remain constant across all platforms. It is not easy to keep up with the latest trends always. It can also be challenging to create and maintain engaging content. This can be a bigger challenge if you want to keep it across many platforms. Always keep in mind that you are not alone in the marketplace. There are millions like you out there trying out modern marketing strategies. Once you have read this article, you must know that it starts with a plan. First, define your target audience. Question yourself if you know your brand well enough to proposition it out there. Remember to create content that provides your audience with their answers.

Some of the best marketing strategies come for free. Like word of mouth, but today we go digital. Do not be afraid to take risks. Digital marketing can be risky, but it is worthwhile.

The post What are some marketing strategies in which digital marketing plays an important role? appeared first on 1Training.

Want to ensure you attend to all these little details? Then you’ve found the right article. Below are five common pitfalls in project management. Be cautious about the ones you did not see coming!

1. Poor resource management

To complete your project, you will need a lot of tools and materials. It might be a difficult position. Especially if you do not know how to handle resources. PRINCE2 Agile courses online in UK provide in-detail lessons on this. They are all that you need for your project. If you don’t have the required resources, the project will fail. One of the key components of the project is resource management. It may be, on the other hand, one of its biggest pitfalls.

Make a list of all the necessary tools and materials. Best you do it before you begin the activity. Begin working on the project after that. In addition, count the resources. Keep track of everything used on the project. You won’t need to spend money on extra equipment this way. Everything will be in your possession.

2. Internal team burnout

This is one of the project’s pitfalls forcing your team to work non-stop. Do not put all the obligations on them at once. You should be able to break the job down into manageable chunks. Work on each one at a time. The crew will feel more at ease as a result. An agile project management certification could help. It presents agile techniques to utilise in a project environment. You will be able to complete the project on time. Remember, it’s the quality that matters.

Take breaks and divide tasks into smaller sections. It is a useful strategy for finishing the job within the deadline.

3. Lack of organisation

It’s crucial that each team member gets assigned duties. One of the major pitfalls is the general lack of structure, especially among the project management teams. You must bear these factors in mind to prevent team hazards. The team sets up from the beginning of the project.

Everyone in the team must practice self-management. They must handle their duties. It is where self-organisation comes into play. Yet, the biggest project risk might come from poor self-management. In the end, it results in the poor organisation of the project. It is one reason why you must possess early skills. While learning them might cost you a fortune, Prince2 certifications are handy. The Prince2 course cost is affordable. It helps you learn how to evaluate the focus area of a project, especially in the agile context.

A written draft must be present. Every member must receive a copy of the draft. Members must be present in the project management room. Establish a deadline for handling everything.

This can boost the team’s performance. You’ll get control over them, which can help you feel more organised. The best way to prevent pitfalls is to teach the team how to manage themselves.

4. Ineffective communication

Project management is not a one-man show. Any project requires teamwork to be successful. Excellent communication is at the heart of this. Poor communication is a critical element. It can have a significant impact on a project’s success. It puts the project’s success in danger. A lack of good communication can cause confusion. It impairs the quality of the work and could delay duties included in the project.

Select the best mode of communication for the team. Provide direction at every stage of the project’s development. Prince2 agile courses online in UK provide you with a perfect guide. This online training offers advice on effective communication. Effective communication aids in successful project completion. It boosts the team spirit, and gain knowledge of the team members’ opinions. Seek aid and direction from different channels. All these factors will boost the team’s engagement. Choosing the frequency and tone creates effective communication.

5. Non-viable goals

Non-viable goals are major pitfalls in project management. If you put a project up for the delay, it will fail. Starting a project near the end of a quarter is impossible. There are several other reporting deadlines and services. Start your project with achievable goals.

Non-viable timelines damage the success of your project. These pitfalls in project management are tricky. They destroy team morale and confidence and in turn, will affect production.

With the knowledge you gain with an agile project management certification, you’ll master goal-setting. It will help you understand how to set the time to start a project and understand what you expect from the team. Do not make deadlines that are difficult for the team to achieve. During the project planning process, check the timescales in your project plan. Assess the deadlines you are proposing if they are matching. Adjust your resources, timelines, or scope to meet your present deadline. Ensure the deadline matches the project plan. Set your stakeholders’ expectations right from the start.

Any project will have problems. These problems will not decide the project’s success. The way you anticipate problems and deal with them will. It will determine the success of a project. Keep these common pitfalls in project management in mind. They could assist you when performing your next project. These tips could help you complete your project with colours.

The post Common pitfalls in project management appeared first on 1Training.

What are the top skills of a project manager?

Project managers need to be on top of their game with planning, assembling a team and managing tasks on time, and cost. While project management tools are useful, the necessary skills to make maximum use of these technologies are vital for success. You can follow a project management methodology such as the PRINCE2 Practitioner course to attain the necessary skills through accessing PRINCE2 practitioner e-learning. In the rest of the article, we are going to take a look at all the skills needed to improve project management capabilities. Let’s explore the key hard (technical) and soft skills needed to achieve this goal.

What are the hard skills required of a project manager?

The hard or technical skills of a project manager allow him or her to plan, make a schedule and manage projects effectively. One of the core hard skills of a project manager is the knowledge of project management methodologies such as PRINCE2. You can check out the PRINCE2 Practitioner online course and exam to get an idea of the knowledge needed to this end or simply check out the PRINCE2 practitioner exam only.

Project management skills are industry specific, and you would only need to learn those that align with your industry’s requirements.  Check out the project management approaches such as PRINCE2® Practitioner Course + Official Exam to gain useful insights.

Hard skills – why do you need to be proficient in project management software?

Working knowledge of project management software is a necessary technical skill. There are numerous project management software tools available. First of all, you need to figure out which system would work for your industry, team and task at hand. To obtain in-depth knowledge of the specific requirement and pick wisely, get additional bandwidth by taking the PRINCE2 Practitioner Course Official Exam.

Hard skills – why is team management important in project management?

Teamwork is the backbone of project management. Hence, ensuring the well-being and functionality of the team is half the work of a good manager. This includes; putting in place a good communication strategy, conflict resolution and relationship building.

Hard skills – why is project planning important in project management?

Project planning is a skill that you must upgrade from time to time. Planning is the foundation that allows the project to come to a successful conclusion in time. A robust project plan includes the schedule, resources, budget as well as roles of each member.

Hard skills – what is the role of project scheduling in project management?

The project schedule is a key part of the plan. The schedule plans out the tasks and roles of each member. This particular skill is a lot more than just deadlines and deliverables. It involves risk management as well as resource management.

Hard skills – what is the role of project budgeting in project management?

The budget fuels the project forward, and in fact, project management would merely be a concept if not for the all-important budget. The project manager needs to be proficient in managing the budget, and tracking costs along the life cycle of the specific project. It takes considerable maneuvering to make sure that the costs stay within the planned allocation.

Hard skills – what is risk management in a project?

Any project, whether big or small, comes with a set of risks. That is why a project manager needs to create a risk management strategy to identify, analyze and control risks as and when they arise. The risk management strategy, though pre-planned, needs to be flexible.

Hard skills – what is task management in a project?

In a project, tasks line up to strengthen the execution phase of the plan. Each task needs to be created then organised and assigned to relevant team members. As the project execution phase continues, the project manager needs to track assigned tasks. The right project management software makes task management easier by fostering collaboration.

Successful project managers master these hard skills by following robust project management methodologies. If you wish to become a proficient project manager, look for the PRINCE2 Practitioner Course Official Exam or the PRINCE2 Practitioner Course Official Exam UK

Now, let’s take a look at the soft skills required to become an efficient and praiseworthy project manager.

Soft skills, unlike hard skills, must be nurtured within yourself. Nevertheless, some of these skills can be learnt through application.

A project manager is a leader that can inspire team members to carry out their tasks through thick and thin. To become a better leader, you need to work on your people skills and become someone who can motivate team members.

A good project manager is a great communicator. Becoming a great communicator takes work involving the ability to listen, articulate your ideas well and be respectful and kind.

Negotiation and interpersonal skills go hand in hand with being a good project manager. A good negotiator with excellent interpersonal skills can balance the diverse expectations of stakeholders with grace and dignity. The ability to resolve conflicts is yet another similar superpower you need to nurture to become a successful project manager.

What about problem-solving abilities? Projects are inherently rife with problems, some of which are interconnected. The successful delivery of a project will invariably call for an affinity for solving problems through moving the various pieces of the puzzle with mastery. The good news is that there are numerous problem-solving tools available for project managers.

 Finally, let’s look at the personality traits of a good project manager. A good project manager needs to work on his or her adaptability, and patience. A good sense of humor, along with the ability to think critically, will help you execute your role as a leader with wisdom and grace.

The post Top skills to become a successful project manager appeared first on 1Training.

Who is a nursing assistant?

A certified nursing assistant (CNA) takes care of patients on a daily basis by providing basic care. While most CNAs work in nursing homes, some offer home care services or work in hospitals. In most cases, the CNA will work under the supervision of a registered nurse. To qualify as a certified nursing assistant, you would need to follow a Diploma in Nursing Assistant Course. In addition, to obtain the required educational qualifications, you would also need to strengthen certain skills, mannerisms and work ethics to become a successful certified nursing assistant. Some of these traits include patience, compassion as well as physical stamina.

What kind of qualifications and training do nursing assistants need?

The requirements for nursing assistants vary depending on the country. The stepping stone however could be a Diploma in nursing care. Some countries and states refer to nursing assistants as Certified Nursing Assistants, which require this type of entry-level diploma. Once you obtain that qualification and start looking for work, you might have to sit for an entrance exam depending on the country or state. However, once you obtain the knowledge during your diploma, this would not be difficult. If you are interested in becoming a nursing assistant, check out the Diploma in Nursing Care Assistant Admission 2022 as well as Diploma in Nursing Assistant Course fees to get started.

What does a certified nursing assistant do?

A CNA generally helps patients with daily living and takes care of them. As a certified nursing assistant, your job role would include a variety of duties. These duties may include checking the patient’s vital signs, helping them to bathe and get dressed, and even assisting during meal times. A nursing assistant is typically the primary contact of the patient and acts as the main caregiver. Some institutes might ask you to take on more responsibilities such as the administration of medicine. A CNA elevates the quality of life of most in-care patients and senior citizens. If you have the right temperament for caring for those in need, you can have a rewarding career. As we mentioned before, you can get started as a CNA in most developed countries after following a Diploma in Nursing Care Assistant course.

How much can a certified nursing assistant earn?

If you become a nursing assistant in the USA, you can earn approximately USD30,290 per year according to the statistics provided by the US Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS). The same organisation predicts that the demand for CNAs will rise by nine per cent soon, parallel to the ageing population. In the United Kingdom, the average salary per year of a CNA is about GBP23,589. The outlook for nursing care assistants is positive in both countries.  In addition, some countries offer opportunities for nursing assistants to care for the elderly in their private homes. This type of work could include over-average compensation. Given the rapidly ageing population of baby boomers who would need care, the earning potential of certified nursing assistants appears to be encouraging.

What are the skills and qualities needed to become a nursing assistant?

While the demand for nursing care assistants is on the rise, the actual duties can be demanding. Let’s take a look at the skills you would need to be a successfully certified nursing assistant. You would need to be attuned to patients’ needs, especially if you work in a hospital setting. You will need a good head on your shoulders in a medical emergency along with a caring bedside manner. Empathy is a vital trait of a CNA as you will be caring for people who are vulnerable and in need of constant care as well as reassurance. Dependability is another desirable character trait in a nursing assistant. A successful nursing care assistant should also possess time management and organisational skills.

You should also sharpen your critical thinking skills to turn to in an emergency as a CNA and refine your observation skills to be attuned to your patients.  

What kind of work schedule do nursing assistants follow?

While most nursing assistants work full-time, some opt to work part-time due to family obligations or simply because they wish to do so. Work shifts of nursing assistants can involve nighttime, weekends and holidays. While this may sound tough, there are opportunities in hospitals as well as home care, which offer more flexibility.

The post The most in-demand jobs in the healthcare industry appeared first on 1Training.

Why is effective communication in project management important?

Project teams often consist of diverse team members. Each member brings a different skill set and personality to the table. Hence, it is important to understand these differences and bring about harmony. Globally accepted approaches such as PRINCE2 practitioner and foundation Certification allow project team leaders to obtain the necessary skills to achieve this desirable status quo. Project managers/leaders need to make communication a priority. You can follow a PRINCE2 practitioner course to discover vital tools for successful communication.

What are the best modes of effective communication?

In today’s digitally connected world, there are several communication tools that project teams can use. However, the more important question is whether you choose the most suitable modes of communication or not. This is one of those make-or-break situations, where true discernment is integral. You need to pick communication tools based on the specific characteristics of your team and the nature of the work involved.

Effective communication in project management – plan for the project

As any PRINCE2 registered practitioner worth their salt would say, a good plan lays a solid foundation for robust communication. You could come up with a plan that maps out each stage of the project to assemble the team wisely. This roadmap will help you communicate well in future communication.

Effective communication in project management – establish a communication method

Once you put a plan in place and assemble your team, you need to initiate a primary tool of communication. You can use more than one mode of communication, but it is a good idea to make sure that these tools are not overwhelming or too time-consuming. The PRINCE2® Training Certification provides insights into choosing the best modes of communication to suit your team. For example, emails may not be the best tool for a specific team, while a group chat would provide better results.

Effective communication in project management – share project goals

Clear communication of project goals with the team is essential to achieve the desired objectives. This way, each team member will know their role and responsibilities. When you share responsibilities, try to provide team members with the opportunity to voice their views. This will go a long way in ensuring the high quality of their work.

Effective communication in project management – listen to the team

Listening is half the battle in effective communication. A great leader is always a good listener. Make it a point to actively listen to team members. Ask them to share their thoughts and evolving ideas. You could include a specific time about once a week to allow team members to share viewpoints and voice concerns. Respectful listening makes people feel that their ideas matter and that they are valued for their contribution. When you show this kind of respect, people tend to put forth their best efforts. Respectful listening is a great leadership skill.

Effective communication in project management – consistent updates

As the project continues to progress, ensure that the team remains aware of its status. Update everyone about policy changes, additional objectives, fresh methods and any new developments. Each professional should understand the phases and developments of the project. Consistent updates foster a culture of inclusivity and accountability – two key aspects for the successful culmination of any project.  

Effective communication in project management – monitor team performance

When you monitor each team member’s performance, you will become aware of those who need additional help. Moreover, it will help you understand what you need to communicate, and what type of communication works best for the entire team. For instance, if you become aware that some team members are not working in line with the latest terms of the project, you might want to change gears.

Project management, especially in virtual settings, calls for making communication a priority. Professionals must improve their communication skills to usher the project to a successful conclusion. Good communication skills may incorporate asking questions when in doubt, sharing ideas, and being unafraid to voice concerns. This type of culture needs to be nurtured, and it is up to the project leader to do so. You can find plenty of resources to create a robust culture of communication by following the PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner online course and taking the PRINCE2 foundation practice exam.

The post The importance of effective communication in project management appeared first on 1Training.

What is PRINCE2® the Communication Management Approach 

This communication management approach is a global standard that enables effective execution of virtual team administration. The method provides guidelines on how to communicate with both internal and external stakeholders. PRINCE2 is a recognized qualification – a stepping stone to gain validation in the project management industry. You can find ample resources in PRINCE2® Foundation Course Online and go on to take the Official PRINCE2® Foundation Certification Exam.  

Let us further discuss how the PRINCE2 approach tackles core challenges in maintaining virtual teams. 

What are the challenges of managing virtual teams? 

With the advent of the remote work culture, work conditions of virtual teams have become more flexible. Hence, effective communication within and external to the project team has become a key aspect of success in such cases. A large number of difficulties arise in the soft facets of communication given the lack of visual cues in the absence of physical meetings. In written communication, senders have a tendency to include negative cues and in the messaging while receivers interpret more negative communication points than intended.  However, the most difficult part of remote communication is the challenging job of creating a feedback loop that is transparent, respectful and to the point. In response to such inefficiencies, the PRINCE2® communication approach uses a plethora of tested and proved tools.  

The first step in learning sound virtual team management is working with regulating bodies to gain an in-depth understanding of the PRINCE2® Foundation Course Official Exam and its contents. 

What are the tools and techniques of the PRINCE2® approach? 

This communication approach encourages teams to steer clear of overthinking and use existing tools (within the organization) in a creative manner. A good recommendation is to limit overreliance on email and switch to chat tools for written messaging and videoconferencing for verbal communication. A screen sharing option would be useful. The PRINCE2® approach provides the fundamental understanding to shape workable communication strategies based on the available tools and organizational requirements. 

How to keep records for effective management of virtual teams? 

Keeping track of communications is integral to the success of virtual teams. The Project Manager needs to execute a feasible way to keep records of decisions, actions and topics that need to be discussed. Something as straightforward as a document on a shared location would be effective. The Project Manager should ensure that everyone can access the said document. It is safer and more convenient to use technology that the organization already uses in place of shopping for new solutions. 

How to manage timing effectively in virtual teamworks? 

The best method is to agree on the time that different units should communicate. Online meetings tend to be more exhausting than offline ones as there are more distractions that participants have to manage. Hence, it is important to agree on times and keep the meetings to a minimum. In addition, clear, previously agreed upon roles and responsibilities as well as well-defined deliverables will help reduce the number of unnecessary sessions and save time. 

How to manage roles and responsibilities of communication in virtual teams? 

Clear delegation of communication roles and responsibilities within the team will improve messaging and deliverables. This not only means organising online meetings and administrating chat groups but also pre-determining who should respond to specific types of questions. The more the Project Manager can clarify such things the smoother the functioning of the team will go. 

How to manage informal communication in virtual teams? 

In a physical office setting, team members can engage informally by the coffee machine or in the lunchroom. How do you bypass this particular obstacle in virtual teams and prevent ignoring the value of real conversations? The Project Manager could invite the team to one-on-one video chats or plan a virtual apéro with everyone sharing drinks. 

 The bottomline is that the PRINCE2® communication approach enables Project Managers to gain true insights into developing and managing successful virtual teams. You can find out the PRINCE2® Foundation Course Official Exam Cost here and sign up for the PRINCE2® Foundation Course Official Exam Online. 

The post How to build virtual teamwork  appeared first on 1Training.

Are you thinking about starting a career in retail management? Then you should first understand what the process is defined as. Retail management can be defined as the process of promoting better sales and customer satisfaction overall. To say it in simpler terms, you are essentially looking at all the different components that come together to run a business.

For instance, first you will need to do your market research to understand what the market is looking for and then supply accordingly. This will make the sales process so much easier because you are walking into an existing demand. During the process of meeting this demand however, you must ensure that product quality and excellent levels of customer service are maintained. You will also need to be competitive and must successfully generate enough income to expand and motivate your staff, and to also give them incentives.

When you think about all of this and the types of retail management processes, it may actually be a bit confusing to a beginner especially, but it is in reality, rather easily learned. To make it easier for you, we’ve come up with a simple guide that can help you understand the important aspects of the retail management process.

What is the retail management process?

As it is with any process, retail management also has different steps and phases that have to be seen through for the goals for any business to be met. These steps will determine how the business is run or managed and how much revenue you will make in profits. The following is a simple but comprehensive summary that outlines the phases. This list however, is not exhaustive because you cannot capture all of the details of retail management on just one dimension. It pans out into pretty much every layer and aspect of your workplace and in some cases, can even be very specific to the needs of the company.

Step 01: Planning for what lies ahead

This step is one that you must carefully strategise for, as this lays the foundation for everything that follows. You will essentially be mapping out the rest of the processes that need to be complied with in order to ensure optimal use of resources, while minimizing waste and misuse. In fact you should try to eliminate these wherever possible. In planning, you will need to look into the following;

• Market research
• Logistics
• Expenses
• Profit margins
• Staffing
• Inventory management

Step 02: The purchasing process

In your buying or purchasing you will focus on acquiring products that you wish to sell. It may sound rather simple, but this is also a very important part of the retail management process. If you lack on research and good decision making, you will not be able to meet your business targets. There are two main levels in the purchasing process;

(Source:Slideshare | Retail Management)

• Sourcing – you will be looking at the right sellers for your purchasing. It would be best to settle on a few reliable sellers rather than just the one, if possible. This way, you will have more control.
• Pre-purchase procedures – before you can buy, you need to comply a specific set of procedures, and this is a complete other area that you need to learn about. Know these well because it influences the speed of the process. Stick to being stringent and ensure that the company can be sustained.

Step 03: Moving your purchases

It’s time to get even more involved. In the third component of your task, you will be involved with acquiring the goods that you decided to buy above. After this, you will also be getting them ready for selling on your end. Some of the main steps that you should go through in this case are;

• Receiving the bought goods
• Storage of goods in the right conditions

(Source:Cybex Systems | Warehouse Management)

• Shelf and product arrangements according to standards
• Pricing of goods in an optimal manner

Step 04: Sales and marketing

No matter the types of retail processes, selling is one thing that happens commonly in all of them however, to make sure that these work, there are some very important areas that you need to think of. Also bear in mind, that selling is an ongoing process. It does not reach a final point. This means that during this stage, you will be looking at continuous improvements. Make sure that all the areas, including the crucial ones mentioned below are addressed and also controlled as best as possible.

• Providing high quality and consistent in-store assistance
• Maintaining excellent customer service
• Effectively handling complaints
• Consistent implementation of best practices – these best practices are there so that more customers will come your way.

(Source:Slideshare | Zensar Retail Presentation)

What next?

As you can see, the retail management process is very complicated. This is why you need to be thoroughly educated about it. Joining the right retail management operations courses can help you gain the insight that you need to be good at your job. The right education and training, in short, is what will make or break your career.

According to Payscale, you have a variety of well-paying career options should you choose this path, within the UK alone, such as;

• Department Manager, Retail Store – £21,871 per annum
• Strategy Manager – £50,891 per annum
• Finance Manager – £38,138 per annum
• Company Secretary – £19,554 per annum
• Policy Manager – £32,000 per annum
• Management Consultant – £47,523 per annum
• Project Manager – £38,254 per annum

Our retail management operations courses are all accredited and, are perfect for you if you are a starter. If you are a business, and you want to train fresh employees, these programmes can be of great help too. To know more, you can contact our team on [email protected]

The post Beginner’s Guide to Retail Operations Management and Analysis appeared first on 1Training.

What are the best project management certifications?

There are many project management certifications such as PRINCE2, PMI, CAPM etc which are immensely popular and globally-recognised, Additionally, there are also subsets like agile project management certifications, programme management, portfolio management etc which are sometimes considered under the project management umbrella.

With the vast multitude of project management certifications available in all shapes and sizes, it is easy to get overwhelmed by choice. There are hundreds of agile project management online certifications which have seemingly popped up overnight. However, it is not possible to select one certification as the best or even say one is better than the other. While most project management certifications are similar in terms of objectives and even their contents, they mostly differ when it comes to scope and other factors. Therefore, when selecting the best project management certification, you should opt for whichever is the most suitable for you and/or your company.

What is agile project management?

Agile project management is an iterative method of handling projects by breaking it down into multiple steps; therefore, agile projects are completed in multiple stages. These stages are popularly known as sprints. The key benefit of opting for agile project management is that its stage-wise approach allows for greater adaptability, flexibility and its general ability to change project velocity in a short period of time. It also means that any benefits can be reaped periodically through the project rather than only at the conclusion. Agile project management is extremely common in software development and similar industries, being the preferred method.

Agile project management certifications

Two of the most popular agile project management certifications currently available in the market are PRINCE2 Agile and AgilePM.

PRINCE2 Agile

Released in 2015 as the agile iteration of the immensely-popular PRINCE2 framework, PRINCE2 Agile has quickly grown into one of the most preferred agile project management certifications today. The PRINCE2 Agile project management certification combines agile principles with the original PRINCE2 framework to offer a highly process- and project-based methodology focused on seven processes, principles and themes. While the PRINCE2 framework was initially developed as a strategic project management method, the incorporation of agile principles allows it to be more task-oriented. Therefore, PRINCE2 Agile can be considered a perfect fusion of long-term and short-term approaches. The PRINCE2 Agile project management certification (like the original PRINCE2) can be obtained in two stages: PRINCE2 Agile Foundation and PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner.

AgilePM

AgilePM is arguably the most popular agile project management certification in the world. Released in 2010, it is based on the ‘Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM)’ developed by the Agile Business Consortium and accredited by APMG. AgilePM combines the fundamentals of project management with agile methodologies to offer a highly-flexible yet effective project management framework. It is centred around eight principles and combines forward-planning with enough flexibility. While this combination is the crux of most agile project management certifications, AgilePM focuses on breaking down projects into short-term goals and deriving iterative benefits, while re-evaluating projects based on any changes (in requirements, resources etc.). Like PRINCE2, AgilePM is also divided into two stages: AgilePM Foundation and AgilePM Practitioner.

Both PRINCE2 and AgilePM offer facilities to obtain the agile project management certification online.

Choosing between PRINCE2 and AgilePM project management certifications

While both the AgilePM and PRINCE2 project management certifications are globallyrecognised and share many similarities, they also differ in ways which might factor into your decision.

Here are some of the key differences between the two certifications.

Usability

PRINCE2 Agile is developed by incorporating agile principles into the existing PRINCE2 framework; this means that it will suit projects and businesses which can support the PRINCE2 framework. Project managers also need to have substantial knowledge about the PRINCE2 framework in itself as well to fully reap the benefits of this approach. AgilePM has no such restriction and its methodologies can be applied in almost all instances. Therefore, it can be said that PRINCE2 Agile is less flexible than AgilePM and less welcoming to newcomers of project management.

Customisability

The PRINCE2 framework is generally known to have very rigid methodologies, coming with pre-made templates for implementation. While it does have practices to increase its ability to be tailored according to the project or business at hand, it can be said that PRINCE2 is harder to customise. Conversely, AgilePM is more overarching and is more about basic principles – this means it can be easier to apply in any situation, but doesn’t go into too much depth.

Ease of adopting

Companies that already use the PRINCE2 framework will have no difficulties in adopting PRINCE2 Agile methodologies. Those who are not familiar with the PRINCE2 framework might find it very complex to understand, where AgilePM is relatively easy to grasp and application is even simpler if a business has no existing project management system.

Long- vs short-term

The PRINCE2 framework is a strategic one, which means it is very future-oriented; the agile components allow for flexibility and focus on tasks but at heart, it is primarily a long-term approach to project management. AgilePM is agile to its core and is more focused on immediate concerns. Neither approach is bad in itself but certain businesses would benefit more with one or the other.

It must be reiterated that neither the AgilePM nor PRINCE2 agile project management certification is inherently better than the other. When selecting the most suitable one, you should consider things like ease of adoption in your business (any existing project management systems will greatly impact your decision) as well as other factors such as the preferred project management framework in your line of work or which can add more value to your CV. At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong choice as each carries a host of benefits and the potential to transform the way your business operates.

The post Wondering Which Project Management Certification to Choose – PRINCE2 Agile or AgilePM? appeared first on 1Training.

How has the pandemic affected the job market?

The pandemic had a heavy toll on the job market and its unexpected arrival gave many companies, employers and job seekers a lot to think about. Listed below are some behaviours in the job market that could be observed post-pandemic:

– Surge in remote working jobs: It is clear that remote work has now become the new normal and this trend is expected to stay. To keep up, employers had to rethink the way their employees worked, by offering more flexible hours, allocating adequate resources, while maintaining workplace security with remote work. The demand for remote working jobs is also evident, with job seekers showing a heavy preference for employers who provide their employees the freedom to work from the safety of their homes.

– Increased employee data collection: Due to the increase in remote work, companies are resorting to technology to gather more data from employees – such as the time of clocking in and clocking out, email and communication monitoring, tracking the usage of company resources, etc. By doing so, employers hope to maintain the same level of productivity in employees as if working from the office.

– Slower recruitment: Several companies and businesses suffered financially during the pandemic and were actively pursuing ways to cut down on their expenses and costs. As such, recruitment was brought to a standstill and employee expansion was simply out of the question in most places. In turn, this trend left many job seekers stranded, without sufficient opportunities to acquire the jobs they wanted.

– Shift from efficiency to resiliency: Prior to the pandemic, the focus of most businesses was on efficiency and how they could meet business objectives with the optimum number of resources and minimum waste. However, during the post-pandemic period it can be observed that businesses are more focused on gearing up for long-term change, with strategies that support resiliency and fixate on how well they can adapt to an ever-changing situation.

What are the jobs of the future?

It is also becoming apparent that certain types of jobs and roles are growing in demand. A number of factors attributed to this shift in demand – including rapidly developing technological landscape as well as behavioural shifts created by the pandemic.

A pattern noticeable is the weightage given to the importance of human interaction throughout most job roles such as marketing, sales and content production. In terms of skills, more humane skills such as mindfulness, listening and kindness were being preferred, in comparison to the more technical skills that were in demand just a couple of years ago.

Jobs with growing demand:

• Data analysts and scientists
• AI and machine learning specialists
• Big data specialists
• Digital marketing and strategy specialists
• Process automation specialists
• Business development professionals
• Digital transformation specialists
• Information security analysts
• Software and applications developers

Jobs with decreasing demand:

• Data entry clerks
• Administrative and executive secretaries
• Accounting, bookkeeping and payroll clerks
• Accountants and auditors
• Assembly and factory workers
• Business services and administration managers
• Client information and customer service workers
• General and operations managers
• Mechanics and machinery repairers
• Material-recording and stock-keeping clerks

Should you consider switching your career?

There are many things that you need to consider if you are thinking about switching to a different career – especially since the post-pandemic period can be one of great unpredictability. Given below are a few questions that you might want to ask yourself:

1. Will a career change be the correct solution to address your current challenges?
2. Is it really the correct time to change your career? Will a different time yield better benefits?
3. Are you resilient enough to tackle the unexpected challenges? Are you aware that it might not always be a smooth journey?
4. What soft skills and hard skills do you currently have? What skills should you develop more?
5. What are your greatest strengths and achievements in terms of your career? Do they align with the new career that you hope to pursue?
6. What type of work do you genuinely enjoy doing? Does your new career support this?
7. Does your new career path comply with your core values and non-negotiables?
8. Is the change in career truly worth it? What is your true motivating factor for switching careers?

What qualifications should you consider availing?

Before switching careers, you first need to ensure that you are backed by the necessary qualifications and skills. Regardless of your field of interest, you are likely to have a vast number of options to choose from – entry level courses, professional certificates, diploma programmes, degrees programmes and more.

As a leading vocational and professional accredited course provider, 1Training is a great option to consider if you are looking to obtain additional qualifications. With over 1000 courses offered to students worldwide, 1Training is backed by reputed awarding bodies, including PeopleCert, CPD, Pearson BTEC and ABC, all of which are Ofqual regulated. Students have the ability to follow online courses, with a range of subjects on offer – from IT to finance to psychology to operative skills, that are some of the best qualifications for a job.

Click the link below for more details and information on the various courses available: (Source:1Training.org)

The post Trending Job Market and In-Demand Qualifications appeared first on 1Training.

If you do what you love, you are sure to succeed, they say! So, if you are passionate about animals and love to be with them, especially with dogs, why don’t you take the chance to become a dog trainer? Not every job has the superpower to make you feel happy while also giving you substantial earning potential but becoming a dog trainer will surely help you achieve this status.

Wondering how to become a dog trainer with relevant experience and qualifications? Then keep reading…

But first learn why a career as a dog trainer is in-demand in today’s world.

• A variety of specialisation paths

Did you know that there are several specialisation routes available for a dog trainer? You can choose what you prefer out of many from hunting dog training, tracking, service dog training, dog show training to behavioural dog training. All these specialisation routes are equally amazing, and you are sure to love them all!

• You don’t need an academic degree

Well, not all jobs require you to have BScs, MScs, and PHDs in order to succeed! If you want to become a dog trainer and succeed in your career path, you may do so without a degree. All you have to get is a dog trainer training. This will expose you to first-hand experiences and indeed, can take you a long way. Some dog trainer training programmes specialise in specific breeds, you may enrol with them if you too want to go along a specialised path.

• It’s not at all boring

Have you seen employees most often complain about what they do at their workplaces? That’s simply because they don’t enjoy their job, and ultimately, they get bored of the job! But guess what? Dog trainers have no chance to get bored of what they do because it’s such an interesting field. Getting to know different kinds of dogs and owners is quite fun!

• The flexibility of this career is great

Dog trainers enjoy flexible work schedules. This helps you achieve a great work-life balance, and yes, everyone needs this fortune although they hardly get it with the jobs that they choose. If you have a full-time job, you may also consider becoming a part-time dog trainer which means extra income for you. You may choose to render your service on weekends or evenings – at your convenience.

So, you see… becoming a dog trainer has many advantages. But do you know exactly what dog trainers are responsible for doing? Yes, we mean their job role!

• Dog trainers train the dogs as per the requirement of the owners. For this, he/she will have to listen to the owners well.

• Promoting good behaviour is also a duty of the dog trainer. For this, the dog trainer has to understand the behaviour and attitudes of the dog before anything.

• When stubborn dogs come, the dog trainer has to go that extra mile and teach commands and manners to the dogs, while also teaching tips to the dog owner. Patience and observation are key here!

And now… let’s come to the most crucial part of the article. How can you become a dog trainer? It’s not a big deal, but you should know these tips in order to succeed.

Let’s get started!

1)      Research, research, and research!

Make a little commitment. Read articles, research papers, magazines and watch educational videos about dog psychology and dog behavioural patterns. Everything can be easily accessed in cyberspace today and you may gain a lot of knowledge by reading these.

Here are two of the most reputed books about dog behaviour,

• The Thinking Dog (Gail Fisher)

• How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves (Sophia Yin)

Not just books, you may also use your dog as a study material. Just observe its behaviour and take regular notes on them. You may discover some amazing facts by doing so.

2)      Follow a course

Are you aware of dog training courses in your area? By taking a course, you can gain the necessary knowledge and even experience. This is a great way to get certified as a dog trainer too. If you find it hard to physically visit the training sessions, now you have the option of attending online courses as well. This will save your time and money too!

3)      Volunteer!

Many dog trainers have started their job roles at local dog shelters. So, why not contact the nearest dog shelter to where you live and ask if they have room for another volunteer? This way, you can work with the dogs and understand their psychological needs as well. Yes, it’s a hands-on experience!

4)      Work with a dog trainer

Since you need to acquire the needed skills and knowledge first, consider finding an apprenticeship. Working with a dog trainer means you have an experienced individual to guide you and they can help clear any doubts.

Note – Don’t expect to earn huge bulks of money during your time as an apprentice. Because they don’t pay much, and sometimes they don’t pay at all. But the experience you get is worth more than money!

5)      Finding work

If you have the right skills, knowledge, and experience, finding work will not be a problem at all. There are many employers out there (including institutions such as the Police and Military units) in search of qualified dog trainers, so you may grab these chances for sure!

Note – no matter how qualified you are, there’s no point if your CV doesn’t reflect your capacity. So, make sure to update your CV with the courses you have followed and the job scopes you have covered.

Once you are confident in your role as a trainer, you can consider opening a dog training business and even create opportunities for beginners. As and when you excel in this line of work, connect with organisations such as the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT UK). This will help you be up to date with what’s happening in the field that you’re passionate about!

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