Tips On Saving Money On Your Energy Bills

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Save Money on Energy Bills|Tips On Saving Money On Your Energy BillsAs the warmer weather approaches, many of the households around the UK will begin to experience lower energy bills and as a result, will be looking for ways to continue these savings for when the weather begins to turn cold. But where can you start? In this article, we will be providing you with insight into some of the tips and tricks that you can use to save money on your energy bills.

Turn Off Standby Appliances

When you are looking to save yourself some money you should first start off by turning off your appliances that have been left on standby. With these appliances costing on average £30 a year turning them off will save you a significant amount of money per year. By taking the time to turn off your appliances when you use them, you can bring down the cost of your monthly bills and increase the longevity of your items.

Buy Energy Efficient Appliances

In addition to turning off the appliances that you are not using, you can also save yourself some money over time by purchasing several energy-efficient appliances. Whether it be a towel warmer for the bathroom or a new radiator for the living room, there are several ways that you can begin to use these appliances to bring down your costs over time. By replacing these outdated appliances, you can modernise your home with ease allowing you to save money gradually. With a number of these retailers selling energy-efficient applications, this can benefit you in the long term.

Invest In Double Glazing

Another way that you can begin to save money on your energy bills is to invest in double glazing. This will help to prevent heat loss from the windows and keep your home much warmer. With the heat being kept in the home, you can then turn the heating off throughout the day and save yourself some money. Though this is a much larger upfront cost there are several ways that this can not only bring up the value of your home but also help to reduce the monthly cost of your energy bills over the course of the month.

Add Insulation To The Roof

The final way that you can bring down the cost of your energy bills is to add insulation to the roof. By adding the insulation during the summer, you can make sure that your home is fully insulated when the weather turns much colder.
Regardless of whether you decide to implement the insulation yourself or hire a company to do so, this can help to keep the heat inside of your home and limit the amount of hot air that escapes through the roof, this, in turn, will bring down the cost of your monthly energy bills.

With this in mind, there are several ways that you can begin to save money on your energy bills without having to change too much in your everyday routine. Which of these tips and tricks will you be using first?

6 Career Benefits of Learning a Skilled Trade

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Learn a skilled trade|6 Career Benefits of Learning a Skilled TradeIt’s a common belief that the only way to achieve a stable career is by earning a degree. And while that may be the case for certain professions, it’s not the only way to build a career that is fulfilling, enjoyable and that challenges you.

Learning a skilled trade offers many of the same benefits as other career paths without the cost or time investment of a degree. From plumbing to fitting and maintaining HVAC units, there are plenty of opportunities for you to find a job you love. Here are some of the key career advantages to learning a skilled trade.

It’s a quicker way to gain real experience

Not everyone performs well in an academic or classroom environment, which can make it challenging to learn new skills. But for those who learn best on the job, building up a CV with valuable, hands-on experience can make the world of difference. In a skilled trade career, you can earn experience as an apprentice where you’ll start working on projects and jobs immediately, while picking up knowledge from professionals in the field.

You’ll earn a decent salary

Tradespeople have the opportunity to earn a good salary for their work, and the more skilled and experienced you become, the more you can charge. Salaries vary depending on the trade you choose and the level of experience you have, but on average, you can earn good money with a career such as this. For example, the average salary for a qualified electrician in the UK is over £32,000 per year, making it one of the top-paying trades. And with society’s reliance on electricity, you won’t find yourself short of work. Which brings us on to our next point…

Tradespeople are consistently in demand

There’s a constant need for skilled tradespeople and the pace of growth isn’t slowing down any time soon. In fact, there is a huge number of vacancies for roles such as plumbers and electricians due to skills shortages for these jobs. Depending on the trade you choose to learn, you could find yourself in an enviable position when it comes to earning a great salary and finding work, whether you want to be employed or work for yourself. So, if job security is a concern for you, a skilled trade career can provide peace of mind.

It’s an affordable way to learn

With rising tuition fees, going to university is a costly investment that can leave the average student in thousands of pounds worth of debt. One of the primary benefits of learning a trade is that it’s a cost-effective way of building a career that will earn you a good living. It means that once you’re qualified and working, you won’t be lumbered with a huge student loan debt hanging over you for years to come.

The opportunity to set up your own business

Working for someone else isn’t everyone’s dream – for the more entrepreneurial, starting a business and hiring other people might be the objective. Learning a skilled trade offers great potential for running your own business or working alone as a self-employed individual, where you can set your own hours and determine your own rates.

Job satisfaction

Job satisfaction is one of the top priorities for people seeking a new job now. With so much of our time spent at work, it’s important that we feel happy and fulfilled each day, rather than bored and dissatisfied. A big part of that is choosing the right career path and finding a job that is interesting, that challenges you and gives you the chance to build your knowledge. For many people, this also means finding a job that allows you to meet new people, to problem-solve on a daily basis and to do something hands-on. A skilled trade job offers all of this and more, and it can be a truly satisfying job opportunity that will leave you happier long-term.

Final thoughts

If you’re unsure what career to choose after you finish school, or you are looking for a change and want to switch to a different career path, learning a trade offers a lot of advantages. In fact, without qualified tradespeople, the world would struggle to function as we rely on plumbers, electricians and other skilled trades so much in our everyday lives. From earning a good salary each year to learning new skills and the potential to develop your own business, these are just a few of the benefits you can enjoy when you choose a skilled trade career.

5 Indications You’re Cut Out for a Job in Customer Service

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Customer service|5 Indications You're Cut Out for a Job in Customer ServiceContrary to a common misconception, customer service is not merely hearing complaints and speaking politely to customers; it is a critical component of any successful business operations. By ensuring high-quality customer service, any organization can build a favorable reputation in their industry, attract new customers, and keep a loyal client base.

Given its relevance, it is not surprising that customer service jobs have always been in demand in the Philippines. If you are interested in entering this industry for career advancement opportunities and financial gain, know that this sector is not for everyone. You need specific skills, personality traits, and qualities to succeed.

To ascertain if you are cut out for a position in customer service, below are several signs that you may want to consider. If most of them ring true to you, then there is a good chance that you will thrive in this field of work.

You Have a Way with Words

Although communication skills are necessary for customer service, the job entails more than merely speaking fluently and calmly. Customer service representatives should be able to relay awkward things or give unpleasant news in a way that does not upset or irritate the clients. However, it is worth noting that having a way with words is not about lying but packaging the message in a more palatable manner.

For instance, instead of giving an outright refusal to a customer request that is against company policy, you can tell the client that you will see what you can do about the issue and inform them about the result the following day. In the interim, make sure to see what else you can do to help the customer that may not be violative of your company policy. When you call the next day, the client will most likely be receptive whether you’ve found another way to help them or your reply to the original request is unfavorable. Either way, this will send the message that you tried your best to resolve the issue.

You Are Cool as Ice

Answering calls, addressing different concerns, and dealing with frustrated people all day can be taxing and emotionally draining. That is why customer service representatives should be patient enough to deal with all types of individuals and concerns without taking things too personally.

Think about how you deal with friends and acquaintances and the different circumstances in your daily life. Are you easily irritated when things do not go your way? Do you tend to lash out at others when they act rudely?

If you answer affirmatively to the above questions, you probably need to develop the value of patience before seeking a position in customer service. Take note that unless you have the ability to remain calm and unperturbed in any situation, you will probably have a difficult time staying and growing in the customer service profession.

You Have a Positive Outlook

One study published in the Journal of International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences found that more than 50 percent of customer service representatives in Metro Manila are high in cynicism due to the nature of the work environment. The finding is understandable, considering that individuals working in this sector are getting beat down by bad-mannered and frustrated customers on a daily basis. It is easy to believe the worst in people if you encounter the not-so-nice ones regularly.

That said, a customer service representative should have a positive outlook to remain happy and satisfied in their work despite frequent interaction with unpleasant clients. Positive people focus on the good things, are inherently grateful, and do not dwell on things they cannot control. They are proactive and see opportunities in all circumstances. If those around you often comment on your positive energy and optimism, you will probably be effective in assisting frustrated customers and keeping the spirit up of those around you.

You Are Highly Adaptable to Change

Customer service work is unpredictable. Apart from the system continuously evolving, there is no way of knowing what types of calls a customer service agent will receive throughout the day. There might be a downtime for a certain period followed by multiple phone calls nearing the end of office hours. Even work schedules can be erratic.

How do you usually react to changes and instability? Perhaps you are hardly bothered by surprises, or you are thrilled with the idea of not knowing what to expect. If that is the case, working as a customer representative could be a good fit.

You Maintain Long-Lasting Relationships

As mentioned above, effective customer service is about making clients feel valued by the company. That is why people working in the industry should be genuinely interested in people and build customer relationships. Doing so means remembering client names, being sensitive to their needs, and addressing their concerns in the most efficient manner.

To determine if you have this ability, you may want to assess your personal relationships. If you make friends effortlessly, get along with everyone, and maintain long-term friendships, then you might be suited to work in the customer service sector.

The items discussed above are just some of the essential indications that an individual is well-matched for a job in customer service. Ponder on them to see if they speak to you. If your desire to pursue a position in the field becomes stronger, or if the job becomes even more interesting, you should seriously consider joining the customer service industry today.

Finding the Best Stock Photos for Your Book Cover

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Stock Photos |Finding the Best Stock Photos for Your Book CoverAn adage tells us not to judge books by their covers, but that’s just what everyone’s going to do anyway, especially when talking about actual books. If your name isn’t quite enough to sell the book on its own, the cover design might be. On the other hand, a bad cover might drive away from the otherwise interested buyer.

It doesn’t matter whether you are planning to sell your book online or in a brick-and-mortar store or even as an audiobook. Front cover, or its thumbnail is the first thing a potential buyer will see when browsing the book section. And yes, the reports of the death of printed books have been greatly exaggerated. While the number of bookstores has been declining, printed books remain the most popular medium with audiobooks gaining popularity and e-books losing some of their charm lately.

So, the design is essential. But a good plan costs a lot. Well, not always. But before talking about the cover images themselves, let’s talk about the general design guidelines and current design trends a bit.

We won’t go into too much detail about the cover typography here, but good typography is essential and should match the overall design. Handwritten or big bold sans serif fonts for fiction and clean and crisp fonts for non-fiction are popular choices.

You may have seen the words “Millennial pink” and “Gen-Z yellow” thrown around. They aren’t witty comebacks to “OK boomer” but popular contemporary design colors. Millennial pink is a dusty pink color popular in fashion magazines, Tumblr, and books aimed at the young and millennials. Celebrities like Beyonce and Kendall Jenner popularized Gen-Z yellow, and it remains a popular color for dust jackets and book covers. Trends change fast, and we don’t know what will become popular in 2020. Pantene color of the year is always a trendsetter, so maybe we’ll see Classic Blue in bookstores this year. But keep in mind that using something that doesn’t have real staying power can make your design look outdated fast.

What about the actual cover images then? First, think about your genre and audience. Each style has its stereotypical theme. Fantasy novels have knights, swords, and dragons. Planets, androids, and spaceships are ubiquitous in science fiction. They might be cliches, but that’s partially what the buyer is expecting to find. Don’t always aim for the least common denominator, though. Floral background and a shirtless beefcake on the cover signals a romance novel but may drive away everyone except the lovesick and romance hungry.

When you have the theme in mind, you need to think about the style you wish to go for. Making an exceptional design takes some experience, but there is one affordable shortcut that takes advantage of already proficient designers: Stock photos. There are stock images of almost every theme with many different styles, so there should be something for every need. So how to find what you need? Dreamstime employs a powerful search engine where any search keywords can be filtered with different modifiers. You can limit your search to only images with people, choose pictures that haven’t been used before to avoid using the same image as someone else, apply desired color composition, exclude undesired keywords, and so on. Choices are almost endless. For inspiration you can check the editor’s choice section for some of our popular images.

Finally, a couple of useful tips: Choose a few different covers and run them through a test audience. With stock images, this won’t be prohibitively expensive. Also, I would avoid the so-called “free stock” sites. Any good public domain images are probably already in use in a million different places. You would want your book cover to be unique.

When you have decided on your cover image, make sure you get the correct image license. There are licenses for every need, from online publishing to printing.

4 Things to Look For When Finding Your Dream Job

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | 4 Things to Look For When Finding Your Dream JobFinding your dream job requires major insight into who you are, first and foremost. Your beliefs, values, desires, and interests all play a role in how you perceive the perfect dream job. While these factors will be different for everyone, there are some universal truths that we’d like to cover. Aside from what sets your soul on fire, finding your dream job is about fulfillment and enjoyment. This article discusses the factors that make dream careers enjoyable and rewarding. Here are four things to look for when finding your dream job.

1. Are the Hours Ideal?

Even if you could get hired to sit in your pajamas eating ice cream, you’d still want to make sure that the hours made sense. Maybe it’s important to make time for family dinner. Perhaps you want to fit a workout in before dark. These preferences will impact how you think about the convenience of your work hours. In all fairness, however, there may not be a perfect situation. The best thing to do for yourself is to consider whether or not you’re settling too much for the hours required. If you find that you are, it’s probably not your dream job, after all.

StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | 4 Things to Look For When Finding Your Dream Job

2. Is the Work Rewarding?

In today’s economy, you might think that settling for aspects of your dream job is the same as getting your dream job in its entirety. This way of thinking is an attempt to make the most of an imperfect situation. Ask yourself if the work you are doing is truly rewarding work, as in, it’s rewarding because it’s EXACTLY what you WANT to be doing. If you want to be a children’s book author, but your job is to spend most of your time writing Amazon reviews, you’re not genuinely working as a writer, at least not the way you think of it. So, if you find that your job is close but no cigar, keep looking.

3. Are You Being Taken Seriously?

One of the most important parts behind finding reward in your dream job is knowing that others at your work appreciate what you bring to the table. You should never go fishing for compliments, but, having a genuine presence and sense of respect from others where you work are two essentials. If you’re asking yourself how long does a background check take because you haven’t heard back, chances are the company isn’t valuing you like you deserve. If your work is dismissed or overshadowed, you may not be working in your dream environment. In cases like these, search for job opportunities that give you the recognition you deserve.

4. Could You Improve the Situation?

Maybe you have found your dream job, and it’s almost everything you could ask for. Ask yourself if these “almost” situations could be improved by changes that you make. For example, let’s say you’ve dreamed of managing an art gallery. Now, you’ve been given the position, but the gallery is two hours away from where you live. You don’t want to commute every day, but you love the job. Could you consider relocating? If you did move closer to work, you’d eliminate the one pitfall of an otherwise perfect job. See if any of your job opportunities could turn into dream jobs with a few changes on your part.

Looking for your dream job is about taking the ideas you’ve created in your mind and finding the opportunities that match them in real life. If you can’t find a perfect match, create one and make flexible changes that bring you closer to landing the job of your dreams.