ICB What you need to know

ICB What you need to know by Michael Cheary Big on bookkeeping? You should consider ICB…Whether you’ve always been interested in becoming a Bookkeeper, or you’re just looking to put your love of numbers to good use, an ICB qualification could be the perfect way to kick-start your career.Not sure what your options are? Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to know:What is ICB?ICB stands for the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers. It’s the world’s leading bookkeeping organisation, and has over 150,000 students and members across the globe.It is a not for profit organisation, with their primary aim being to promote and maintain the standards of bookkeeping as a profession, and increase recognition for bookkeepers as an integral part of the financial sector.What are the different ICB qualifications?There are four main levels of ICB qualification. These range from the introductory ICB Level 1 course, through to the more advanced Level 4 certificate.There are also a number of add-on qualificat ions, which run alongside the core four certifications. These range from specialist offerings for Payroll Management and Self-Assessment Tax, through to qualifications specifically catering for Financial Managers.Here’s a quick rundown of the different ICB qualifications:ICB Manual Bookkeeping Level 1 â€" Basic introduction to the principles of bookkeeping. There are no formal pre-requisites to get started, and no time limit for completion, making it the perfect first step for anyone looking to pursue bookkeeping as a career.ICB Level 2 Certificate in Bookkeeping â€" The beginner level of ICB qualifications, this course covers the basic principles of single and double entry bookkeeping and its application, both digitally and manually. Upon completion, you will be able to carry out the role of Assistant Bookkeeper. No requirement to complete Level 1 in order to take this qualification.The ICB Level 3 Certificate in Bookkeeping and Accounts â€" This level covers the preparation of l edger balances, control accounts and reconciliations, producing VAT returns, preparation of final accounts, and other, more complex Bookkeeping tasks. From this level, you’ll be qualified for bookkeeping roles, and have the ability to become self-employed.ICB Level 4 Certificate in Bookkeeping and Accounts â€" The advanced stage of ICB, this level builds upon everything you’ve learned in previous stages, and adds more complex elements of bookkeeping, such as how to produce a set of accounts from incomplete records, and the interpretation of internal management accounts.Other ICB qualifications include the stand-alone Level 3 Diploma in Payroll Management, and Level 3 Diploma is Self-Assessment Tax.ICB’s highest level qualification, the Level 4 Diploma in Financial Management, can be taken once all of the previous levels have been completed. To qualify, one of the following must be completed within a two-year period:Level 4 Certificate in Management AccountingLevel 4 Certificat e in Drafting Financial Statements Level 4 Certificate in Personal TaxLevel 4 Certificate in Business TaxView all ICB courses now »Why do I need ICB?ICB qualifications have earned a reputation as the industry-standard, and toughest, bookkeeping qualifications available in the UK. As a result, they are always in high-demand when it comes to employers looking to hire the very best Bookkeepers available in the field.ICB qualifications are also globally recognised, with members in over 100 countries around the world. They have established offices in Australia, South East Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe, which are responsible for setting standards of bookkeeping on a worldwide scale.How much can I earn once qualified?This will vary depending on a number of different factors, for example region, level of certification, previous experience and job title. Generally, those with the ICB Level 2 qualification will generally be earning somewhere in the region of £20,000 for an entry-level pos ition (as an Assistant Bookkeeper, for example).Fully qualified Bookkeepers will earn somewhere closer to £30,000, and those with a Level 4 Diploma in Financial Management could be on significantly more. For example, a salary of £40,000+ is more than achievable for a Qualified Management accountant.What methods of learning are there?The vast majority of course providers for ICB qualifications offer flexible studying options, which you can fit around your busy schedule. You can either choose to take them full-time or part-time, and online from your own home or within a classroom.Most courses also offer a mix of practical and online assessments, which allow you to get a broad range of experience in different types of bookkeeping, something which will stand you in good stead when it comes to finding a role after becoming qualified.How long will it take?This will often depend on the qualification, and the course provider.For some levels there will be no formal deadline for assessments , whilst others may limit the time you’re allowed to learn before you’re put to the test. As a general guideline, most levels will take around six months to complete.Advantages of becoming ICB qualifiedSome advantages of becoming ICB qualified include:• A practical qualification which validate your skills in bookkeeping• Global recognition• The ability to start any time, with qualifications being taken every week of the year• The opportunity to become self-employed• Being in-demand for some of the world’s leading employers• The chance to become a member of the world’s largest professional bookkeeping organisationFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the

Resume Writing Guide For Australia

Resume Writing Guide For AustraliaIn this article, I will explain to you a resume writing guide for Australia that will help you ensure you write a stellar resume. This guide will walk you through the basics of resume writing in Australia.In this guide, you will find tips on how to properly format your resume in Australia. You will learn the right way to format each section so that it is clearly labeled, clearly read, and easy to follow. The information on your resume should not be lost in the first paragraph. You should make sure your resume covers all the bases, covering what you can do for the company, the position you are applying for, and what you have done or accomplished in the past.In order to ace the first interview in this country, you will need to write a well-written resume. If you were sent the wrong resume by mistake, you may never be able to get another job anywhere else. You will want to make sure that it is as good as it can be, and here is where a guide like this ca n help you.One of the key points that you will find in the guide is that you should always use bullet points as your method of organization. You should also make sure you use at least three headers to accompany your content.The main point of this tip is to ensure that the information you present is easy to read and understand. Remember, no matter how much time you spent researching a position, it is still not worth your time if the resume does not meet these standards. Your resume must not only tell the interviewer what you have done, but how much you have done.Another important point in this guide is that you will want to provide a strong contact information, preferably an email address. When you go to apply for a job, you will have to send in your resume. The company wants to hear from you immediately. Therefore, you need to be able to quickly reply to any questions or any concerns they may have before you can proceed.Remember, your potential employer is only interested in getting to know you. They do not want to waste their time reading a resume that is unclear and full of problems that they cannot resolve. Having a well-written resume that leaves a good impression is more important than anything else.If you are going to apply for a job, you need to ensure you write a resume that is ready to be read by a potential employer. This resume writing guide for Australia will help you find the best direction to go in and get you the job you want.

Smoke Or Vapor Which Is Safer

Smoke Or Vapor Which Is Safer In recent times, the Internet has been playing host to some interesting arguments coming from loads of different corners. These debates come from everywhere; with scientists, stay-at-home moms, and everything in-between. So, what exactly is causing such a fuss? It’s a simple little device called an e-cigarette. The people that back these products say that they are healthier than smoking, and provide an easy way to quit. But, it’s opponents think more research is needed before further action is taken. To try and figure out which is truly better, out of smoking and vaping, this post will be going through what they do to your body. There’s a lot of research surrounding cigarettes. There are several powerful organizations dedicated to trying to ban smoking altogether. This is because smoking is an incredibly dangerous substance. It won’t kill you the first time you use it, but over time, you will definitely feel the effects. When you smoke regularly, you greatly increase the chance that you will suffer from heart problems. Your blood pressure will be higher. And, your blood will be more likely to clot. Along with the risks it poses to your heart, smoking also damages your lungs, throat, and mouth. Increasing the risk of cancer in these areas, and making it likely that you’ll suffer from a vast array of other unpleasant issues. Smoking will impact your fitness almost straight away. And, it will ruin your sense of smell and taste. Image Source Now, everyone believes that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional smokes; even those who don’t like e-cigs. But, this doesn’t mean that they are completely safe. One of the biggest concerns about e-cigarettes for some is the nicotine. But, this is completely unfounded. Nicotine isn’t the harmful chemical in cigarettes. And, like cigarettes, different e-liquids can contain different chemicals. So, when you use an e-liquid without knowing the ingredients; you could be putting yourself at risk. Some websites will only sell products that are considered safe, though. So, using sites like Lizard Juice or Totally Wicked can improve your chances of safety. And, following the latest research out there will help you to make sure that you’re not making any mistakes. Regardless of whether or not e-cigarettes are completely safe, it’s sure to say that they’re much less harmful than cigarettes themselves. There is a lot of evidence to show that e-cigarettes can prove to be an excellent quitting aid for some people, too. When it comes to quitting smoking, something different will work for everyone. Using an e-cigarette is good if you want to wean yourself off of nicotine. But, it might be worth trying to avoid in in the long-term, just in case it turns out that e-cigarettes are in fact incredibly dangerous. This situation is very unlikely at this time; but, it’s worth being prepared for the worst. And, no addiction is a good addiction. Hopefully, this will inspire you to give quitting the stinkies a try. Whether you use an e-cigarette or not; quitting smoking will lead to some great health benefits. So, it could be worth seeing a doctor to make sure that you’re trying the best option for you.

Is Your Brand Attracting the Right Recruits through Social Media - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Is Your Brand Attracting the Right Recruits through Social Media - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When it comes to recruiting for your personal brand we often think about utilizing an agency or checking to see what applications we have on file. But what about social recruiting online? There are several ways to use social media to attract the right employees for your niche. It is not enough to just have a social presence online for your brand and be static. You are responsible to seek out and engage with your audience in order to attract the right candidates who will most effectively represent your message. There are many online tools and resources available today that can be used for recruiting like LinkedIn, About.me, Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter. To put the word out that you are recruiting, you need to understand how to effectively leverage these tools. How to find new recruits on social media In order to locate and connect with the best, you need to know which social networks are going to be the most effective tools for your brand. Here are several ways to enact social recruiting: • The Big Three Social Networks How active are you on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn? This is important to know, as you will need to establish your brand over a period of time before reaching out to potential candidates. • Create a Social Recruiting Strategy Once you have established your personal brand on social media, the next step is to make a plan for recruiting in our networks. This will also take time, and can broken into three month phases. You will want to focus on content, building your brand, social media management and measurement, and effective communication with potential candidates. • Refine and Adjust Your Strategy This is typically the last phase of your social recruiting goals. Take the time to make adjustments, change your content, and learn what markets are working and whether to focus on other areas. Attracting the right candidates for your personal brand in social media is a process, but well worth the effort as knowing exactly who to reach out to saves your business both time and money. Be patient with the process, and stay focused on your goals in order to have a successful recruiting campaign. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments and add more strategies as your business grows.

Hire a Professional To Turn Your Resume Into a Hru.Gov Resume Handout

Hire a Professional To Turn Your Resume Into a Hru.Gov Resume HandoutHire a professional to turn your resume into a Hru.gov resume handout. Before the Internet, it would have been nearly impossible to build up your resume online because you would have had to get in touch with all of the companies to ask them for a copy of your file and then submit it to them.But with the invention of the Internet, online resume sites have become the primary places where most people make their resume. If you want to put your resume online, then this is the article for you.Resumes are the first contact you have with potential employers and many of them have turned to the Internet as the best way to get the word out about their open positions. Before people have even seen your resume, it is already out there on the Internet for the world to see. As a result, if you are able to get ahold of a high quality resume, you will be able to stand out above the crowd.One of the biggest problems that people run in to when they are trying to get their resume noticed is that they are typing their resume in a very formal manner. A lot of people will type this in a way that the company's name and contact information are on the top and they put the position they are applying for on the bottom. This is not a good way to present your resume.So how do you make sure that your resume stands out and gets noticed? The answer is to create a custom resume handout instead of a generic resume. By using a specific style for your resume handout, it will be much easier for the employer to see and remember what you are looking for.Using the resume handout for your resume online is an absolute must, especially if you are looking for a new job. When your resume is a standard resume, it can take several different versions before you are finally able to get a call from the company and put it all together.Creating a resume handout is something that is both fun and easy to do. All you need to do is use templates that already exist on the Internet and you can start writing your resume. It can be done by you or a friend, but it is so much easier to have a template to follow so that it flows well and looks professional.A Hru.gov resume writing handout is an essential part of the resume. Don't leave this part out!

7 Ways to Keep Growing Your Career While Working from Home CareerMetis.com

7 Ways to Keep Growing Your Career While Working from Home â€" CareerMetis.com Whether you’re self-employed or you telecommute, working from home brings with it a host of benefits, but it also poses a serious challenge. Absent a formal work-environment and a roster of close colleagues, it can be easy to lapse into the complacency of routine and forget the crucial extracurricular components like gaining experience and building connections. Keeping your resume alive and your career moving forward while working from home requires you go out of your way to aggressively pursue professional growth. In this article we’ll explore some strategies for how to do just that: Know Your Core CompetenciesTo grow anything requires a foundation from which to do it. Likewise, while advancing your career, you need a base of stability to start from. This is your bread and butter â€" the core skill or duty that brings in income. Establish what this is and cement your reputation for doing it well. Then, you can develop a good idea of where and how you can branch out and grow from there. Aim HigherWant to know one easy way to the unemployment line? Stagnating in a steady job. When you’ve gained the ability to work from home, sometimes just getting there was a battle. The temptation to “be content with what you have” can be overwhelming. Don’t just be content â€" that can lead to stagnation. Instead, aim to thrive. If you’re making $20 an hour now, aim to make $30 by the end of the year. If you’re the smallest fish in a big pond, aim to be a medium-sized fish three months from now. Set concrete goals and do your best to wildly exceed them. Don’t Just Grow Up â€" Grow OutevalIn the workplace, so-called “lateral promotions” are often cause for scorn. A lateral promotion usually means you’re taking on new, different and probably greater responsibilities â€" for the same amount of money. In a work-from-home setting, however, lateral growth takes on a whole new meaning. It can signify the introduction of a new kind of business, a new schedule, new colleagues, new clients or a new way of life. When seeking to advance your career, this type of growth is important because it establishes a narrative of upward trajectory â€" no different than a sequence of promotions at a non-work-from-home job. It lets you say to future prospective employers: “I started at X, and I worked up to Y.” Keep Building Your SkillsWithout the steady yoke of a boss over your shoulder, it’s up to you to keep you skills sharp and current. It’s up to you to learn new technologies, study advancements in the field and keep up-to-date with industry news and events. If you’re disciplined enough to do so on your own, then more power to you. If you’re not, that’s okay â€" but it’s important to recognize it and take steps to set yourself up to succeed. Fortunately, there are many ways you can do this. Take a free class. Attend a lecture in your area. If you really want to invest in success, do what many office-based professionals do: formally pu rsue continuing education credits, at an institution specializing in your field. NetworkFor telecommuting employees, it’s easy to simply float on a sea of names and let coworkers be mentally reduced to the Cc line of an email. For freelance workers, it can likewise be tempting to slide into the “gigging” mindset of: “It doesn’t matter who I’m working for, as long as I get paid.” Resist this temptation. Get names. Collect business cards. Built rapport. Connect on LinkedIn. Establish connections with the people you work with, and it may lead to more work in the future. Maintain CredibilityQuick: Name the top 10 professional fiction ghostwriters off the top of your head. You know, the people who make a living penning novels for big-name authors like Tom Clancy and James Patterson? I’ll bet you drew a blank. Why? Because all work-from-home gigs exists on a spectrum, situated somewhere between confidential work-for-hire and attributed volunteer work. As a result, if you†™re earning a steady living, it can be easy to gradually fall off the grid, taking private projects or doing work for private clients. But when your work dries up or those clients blow away, what will you have to show for it? Instead, try to turn every job into a long-term career gain, in addition to a short-term financial one. Gather testimonials. Ask for LinkedIn recommendations. Accrue references. Build yourself a nest-egg of credibility so it’s there to cash in when you need it. Blog About ItIf you work from home, and especially if you’re self-employed, then no matter what you do, you are automatically an authority. Your knowledge is in hot demand. Every day, people who want to do what you do ask the oracle at Google to impart your wisdom upon them. Capitalize on that. Talk about what you do, and how. Establish yourself as a source of knowledge in your field â€" and future clients or employers will start to see you as such.When It Comes to Your Career, Hope for the Best and Plan for the WorstAs a general rule of thumb, no matter what job you do, it’s probably best to assume you won’t be doing it five years from now. The natural tendency of a work-from-home job, however, is to gravitate toward a resume black hole: a period of work which has little public product and few closely-forged relationships to contribute anything in the long run. It’s up to you to resist that pressure, steer clear of the black hole and continue growing your career â€" especially when there’s no one forcing you to do so.

The most inspiring thing Ive ever seen - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

The most inspiring thing Ive ever seen - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University is dying of pancreatic cancer. He has 2-5 months to live. He was asked to give a last lecture and a packed hall experiences something profound: A man who is happy in the face of death. As he says at the beginning: If I dont seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you. He also told people not to pity him: I am in phenomenally good health right now; its the greatest cognitive dissonance you will ever see the fact is, Im in better shape than most of you, he said. And then, to the appreciative laughs and applause of his audience, Dr. Pausch dropped to the stage floor and did a set of pushups. So anyone who wants to cry or pity me can come down here and do a few of those, and then you may pity me, he said. From this article. The best line of the day: If you have any herbal supplements or remedies stay away from me! Heres a short five minute version with just a few highlights: Click here to see the whole lecture its easily the most inspiring 90 minutes Ive ever spent. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Want your first client Swipe this email! - When I Grow Up

Want your first client Swipe this email! - When I Grow Up When my clients have *just* landed on the What of their dream business, I usually dont have them dive in to making a website, or setting up a business Instagram account, or designing a logo. The first thing they do is braindump on a blank page: What do they want to offer? Who for? How will they deliver it? What will the client walk away with? Wheres the pricing at? How are they qualified? Then, after their knees have stopped shaking and they feel really vulnerable and scared (and we work together to finesse it all), I make them go even further: Send out an All Points Bulletin (aka APB email) telling their trusted network about what theyre looking to do how. Then (big gulp), they ask if the email recipient  can help them find a guinea pig client. (Because seriously, everything else is busy work. #sorrynotsorry) Its the *doing* that leads to the *knowing*. No amount of (over)thinking can help you feel more secure that The Thing youre thinking of doing is The Right Thing for you, right now. If you have your first offer drafted and youre ready to make The Ask, heres the template to use so you can get that first client  (and yes, this was lifted from a real client of mine who sent this out and got a bite right away!): Hi Friends and Family! As some of you may know, I am in the process of testing out a new business idea/making a career shift into my own business. In order to get the ball rolling, I need some volunteers to be my “guinea pigs”. I’m looking for a few clients that could use my help whatever-it-is-you-do-for-them, so that I can test out my service offerings and overall process.   I need your help to iron out the kinks!   The details:  {This is where you describe the offer(s). Make sure you touch on who this is right for, what the process will be like, your timeframe, and what the client will walk away with. This doesnt have to be more than a few sentences!}   Introductory Rate:  $X.  This is for my first 3 clients/until X date. In exchange for the low pricing, Im looking for feedback when we wrap up and (for those who are happy with my work) a testimonial I can use on my site. If youre interested in this yourself, thats wonderful! Just hit Reply and let me know your initial thoughts so we can get this ball rolling. If reading this is reminding you of someone you know, Id very much appreciate an introduction. Feel free to forward them this email and CC me, or hit Reply and send along their info. Whatever youre most comfortable with works for me. Thanks so much for helping me make my business dreams come true! If theres anything I can do for you, dont hesitate to let me know. With much appreciation, Your Name Some tips to help you along!: With the words in blue and purple above, choose one or the other! For example, in the first sentence youll say As some of you may know, I am in the process of testing out a new business idea or As some of you may know, I am in the process of making a career shift into my own business. Whatever best describes your situation is the best way to go. The orange text is to be filled in with whatevers described here. If you dont know how to concisely describe what you do or who you help, take my 30-minute Mission Statement class via the Launch at Lunch archives. When it comes to setting a price, DO price it low enough thats its an Easy Yes. DONT do it for free, since it wont feel like or mimic an actual business transaction, and thats the point here. You also have a 50/50 shot of a guinea pig ghosting you when theres no skin in the game. Remember: if something is free, it seems to  lack value. Thats not the message were going for here. Should you post this on social media? Its all up to you. If youre sensitive to or worried about your job seeing, then keep it off the Internets. If not or you can confidently block the parties youre worried about then go for it! The more eyes, ears and brains on deck, the better. Personalizing these and sending them one-on-one is way preferable than a BCC. Lets face it: Nobody likes to feel like theyre on the other end of a form letter, and nobody feels really compelled to write back if they think theyre one in dozens (hundreds?) that have been written to. If you have the time, customize. It wont take  that much longer, and youre  way more likely to get a response. Id say to exclusively go this route if youre already in business and need to level up your personal networking and how. Make sure you ask about anything they brought up on Facebook lately, or that person they introduced you to at that party that you thought of for this, or if you can return the favor with the XYZ thing theyre working on. These small touches can yield much bigger and better results. Ready to stop hiding behind work thats really procrastination? Ready to get vulnerable and start telling your trusted people about your future business dreams? Put your big girl panties on, swipe this template, and get ready for your first prospective client to knock on your door! I promise that youre more than ready to answer.