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Podcast: Self-Help Cliches Have a Peculiar Value

Take the bull by the horns! Pick yourself up by your bootstraps! Are these cliches condescending for people with mental illness? Or is there a grain of truth to them? Today, Gabe and Lisa debate the pros and cons of the all too common “taking your life back” advice we all get from well-meaning people. Gabe shares his personal story of gaining back control of his life a day at a time while healing from depression.

When you struggle with mental illness, how much of your behavior, thoughts and emotions do you actually have control over? Is it helpful to feel in control of your life, even when it screws you over?

Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations , available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from Gabe Howard. To learn more, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

Lisa is the producer of the Psych Central podcast, Not Crazy. She is the recipient of The National Alliance on Mental Illness’s “Above and Beyond” award, has worked extensively with the Ohio Peer Supporter Certification program, and is a workplace suicide prevention trainer. Lisa has battled depression her entire life and has worked alongside Gabe in mental health advocacy for over a decade. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband; enjoys international travel; and orders 12 pairs of shoes online, picks the best one, and sends the other 11 back.

What to Say to Someone Who Is Sick: Expert Advice on Showing Up When It Counts

Someone you know is sick, and you aren’t sure how to approach the subject. Should you wait for them to bring it up? Avoid it altogether so you don’t make them uncomfortable? What if you accidentally say the wrong thing and damage your relationship in a moment of crisis?

Questions like these are important. They’re a sign that you care. While no one has all the answers, there are some guidelines, borne out of experience and supported by research, that may help you be present for someone who matters to you.

A serious illness can take up a lot of space in a person’s life, whether a full recovery is just a few days away or the condition is chronic. For that reason, it’s especially important to be sensitive to whether someone wants to talk about sickness or something else entirely.

As Chaplain Resident at Mayo Clinic, Natasha Dachos, LMSW, is often in conversation with people coping with illness. “The most important thing to remember,” she says, “is that this is a whole person in front of you. Whether they are a mother, a father, a child, a teacher, a person who likes to run — they are a whole person, with all the complexities that go with it.”

It’s easy, Dachos explains, to focus exclusively on the illness — losing sight of other aspects of their lives. “Sometimes they feel quite ill, and sometimes they feel less sick. But being sick is just one part of the whole person.”

Academic, medical, organizational, and work environments all have complex hierarchies. If you’re in a position of power or influence in someone’s life, it’s important to be aware of the ways the imbalance of power can shape your conversations during a time of illness.

For example, asking an employee about their diagnosis or treatment might make them feel pressured to talk about a condition they’d rather not discuss at work — even if the question is well-meaning.

What to say at work

If you’re able to speak privately, you could say something along these lines: “I know you were out for a while recently. I hope you’re OK, but if you’re not, I’m here if you need help or you’d like to talk.”

In one 2018 study, 50 to 70 percent of patients in the intensive care unit wouldn’t speak up about their concerns out of fear their caregivers would consider them a troublemaker. Gender, age, race, and economic status can make it even more important to listen with care, speak sensitively, and respect boundaries.

If you’re having conversations with a long-time friend, power differentials probably won’t be a big factor in your conversations. But if your friend has developed a condition that’s considered a disability, if medical expenses have changed their economic position, or if they have an illness that’s often stigmatized, the dynamics of your friendship may have shifted a little.

If you’re communicating by email or text, be prepared for a delayed response. If someone wants to respond honestly to your message, they may need to wait for a time when they can answer fully.

Both of you deserve ample time to share, to process, and to respond without rushing. Setting aside a distraction-free time to talk could make the experience much more gratifying for both of you.

If you’re talking to someone you know very well, you’re probably aware of their cultural background, personal beliefs, and faith tradition. If you’re not certain, it might not be wise to assume that someone else would be encouraged or comforted by the same ideas that inspire you.

Rev. Caila Rinker, MDiv, a chaplain in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Spiritual Care, is often called upon to support people of different cultures and faith traditions. She maintains what she calls “a posture of compassionate curiosity.”

It’s also important to understand that someone’s personality, family background, and culture may influence how open they are to discussing their illness with you. Finding other ways to offer support may be easier to accept for people who don’t feel comfortable conversing about their health concerns.

Over the course of an illness, especially one with a long recovery period or a chronic condition, someone who’s sick is going to go through a wide range of emotions and states of mind. Each time you show up for a conversation, it could be a totally different kind of experience.

“People may be angry that they’re sick, or angry that their bodies are diminishing, or angry that they can no longer do something that’s important to them. You may be a very safe target for that anger.”

See if you can remain open to what your friend or family member is feeling right now. If you can provide a safe space for someone to be open and authentic, you’ll have given them a gift of enormous value.

Tip 5: Deal with anxiety and depression

When you have a serious illness, it’s normal to feel sad about your health and grieve the hopes and dreams you may have lost as a result of your medical condition. It’s also natural to worry about what the future may hold or be apprehensive about certain treatments, for example. But if such feelings persist and start to interfere with your daily life, you may be suffering from depression or anxiety.

While mood disorders like anxiety and depression are common among patients dealing with a serious illness, they can create a vicious circle. Your illness triggers anxiety or depression, which then erodes your overall health, which in turn negatively impacts the treatment of your illness. This then worsens your mood disorder, and so on.

Manage debilitating symptoms such as pain. Left untreated, pain can have a detrimental effect on your mood and increase anxious thoughts and feelings of hopelessness. Talk to your medical team about ways to better manage pain and other distressing symptoms.

Ease up on the worrying. We all worry, especially when we’re sick. But if you’re constantly overestimating the possibility that things will turn out badly or immediately jumping to worst-case scenarios, it’s time to take action. There are steps you can take to challenge your anxious thoughts, distinguish between solvable and unsolvable worries, and develop a more balanced way of looking at your situation.

Cut down on sugar in your diet. By reducing the amount of soft drinks, sweets, and sugary snacks in your diet, you’ll feel less anxious and avoid the mood crashes that usually follow a sugar high.

Be smart about caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Reducing or cutting out your caffeine intake can help with anxiety. Similarly, alcohol can worsen both anxiety and depression symptoms. And while it may seem like cigarettes are calming, nicotine is actually a powerful stimulant that leads to higher, not lower, levels of anxiety and stress.

Countering your “what if’s…?”

It’s hard to imagine that anyone who’s faced a life-threatening illness hasn’t worried about “what if” scenarios at some point. When you’re fighting for your life and faced with great uncertainty, worrying can even seem like it’s giving you some control over your situation. But as with all anxious thoughts, there are ways to calm your worrying mind and take a more balanced view:

Tell someone what you’re thinking. Saying your “what if” out loud can help you put things in perspective. If your fear is unwarranted, verbalizing it can often help you expose it for what it is—an unhelpful worry.

Challenge the thought. What’s the probability that what you’re scared of will actually happen? What are some other likely outcomes? What would you say to a friend in your situation who had the same worry?

Accept the uncertainty. Much of dealing with a serious illness is about learning to come to terms with the uncertainty of your future. Worrying about all the things that could go wrong won’t make your life any more predictable. It will only keep you from enjoying the good things you are still able to experience in the present.

How to help someone cope with a serious illness

When someone you care about has suffered a serious health event or is dealing with a life-threatening illness, it can be difficult to know what to say or do. You loved one is likely experiencing some painful emotions and that can make even those closest to them feel uncertain about how to best offer your support. These tips can help:

Offer your support. Your friend or loved one may be reluctant to ask for help, but it’s support from people like you that can make all the difference in their recovery. Offer to help with a specific task, even if it’s simply to sit with them during or after treatment. Sometimes, the most important thing you can do for someone is to be there.

Listen. When you talk to someone with a serious illness, it’s natural to feel awkward or not know what to say. But often the most important thing is to listen to the person. Allow them to express what they’re going through without judging them, telling them how they should feel, or trying to put a positive spin on everything.

Educate yourself about the illness but don’t give advice unless you’re asked. The more you know about your loved one’s diagnosis and treatment, the better prepared you’ll be to help. But that doesn’t mean you should tell the person what they should or shouldn’t do, unless they specifically ask for your opinion or want to know what you’ve researched. Treatment decisions are ultimately always up to your loved one, so be supportive even if you don’t always agree.

Stay connected. Some illnesses can involve lengthy treatment, so it’s important not to just provide support at the time of diagnosis and then let your attention lapse. Your support can be just as important after treatment as it is before.

• Let the person know you’re available to listen whenever they want to talk.
• Admit if you feel awkward. It’s better to be honest rather than trying to pretend nothing’s wrong.
• If you struggle knowing what to say, remember that a warm hug or a tender touch can say a lot.
• When you can’t visit in-person, let your loved know you’re thinking of them with a call or text, or by sending a card.
• Try to keep your relationship as normal as possible. That can mean sharing a joke or a laugh when appropriate.

• Tell the person you know how they feel or compare their situation to someone else’s. Everyone’s circumstances are unique.
• Tell them that “everything will be fine.” Such platitudes can just make it harder for them to talk to you about the challenges of their situation.
• Say that your loved one needs to “stay positive” or “look on the bright side.” Rather than pressuring them to behave in a certain way, make it clear that they’re free to express how they really feel.
• Take things personally if the person doesn’t want to talk or is angry or upset.

Hack, Thomas F., and Lesley F. Degner. “Coping Responses Following Breast Cancer Diagnosis Predict Psychological Adjustment Three Years Later.” Psycho-Oncology 13, no. 4 (April 2004): 235–47. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.739

Jim, Heather S., Susan A. Richardson, Deanna M. Golden-Kreutz, and Barbara L. Andersen. “Strategies Used in Coping With a Cancer Diagnosis Predict Meaning in Life for Survivors.” Health Psychology: Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association 25, no. 6 (November 2006): 753–61. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.25.6.753

Get more help

Source:

https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-self-help-cliches-have-a-peculiar-value
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-to-say-to-someone-who-is-sick
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-a-life-threatening-illness.htm

How To Write A Bio: Ultimate Guide (With Creative Examples)

So, you sit down to write your online bio, pumped to reveal to the world your professional self and achievements finally, and nothing happens. All of the words and phrases you had been stockpiling for months in your head suddenly disappeared.

Finding an authentic way to describe your professional background and showcasing yourself as a credible, accomplished, and likable expert in the industry takes a lot of work. You decide your current profile is good enough. It works for you. Simple.

However, what most people often forget is that a bio isn’t just about listing professional achievements. It is a conversation starter, a way of making a digital introduction. Also, your bio — no matter how articulate and insightful — doesn’t need to appeal to everyone.

Step 1: Choose The Tone Of Your Bio Depending On The Platform

Context plays a vital role in whether your bio should be written in the first or third person. For most professional websites, writing in the third person might make sense. It also feels a bit self-congratulatory. However, the first person makes it a more personal experience.

Venture Capitalist Mark Gallion has different versions of his bio all over the internet. Of course, some are more formal than others. However, when it comes to Twitter, he prefers phrasing his information in a way that helps him engage with his audience on a human level.

In under 160 characters, he not only shares the details about his professional life but also highlights his love for baseball. Therefore, communicate who you are in a tone that’s most suitable for your audience.

Gallion leverages his Twitter bio to connect with like-minded potential investors and followers. Therefore, you are free to make your bio funny, personal, formal, conversational, and the like depending on the platform you’re writing it for.

1. Your LinkedIn summary

Whatever you’re seeking, your LinkedIn summary should support your activity on the site; a profile focused on networking within the industry will read differently than that of someone aggressively hunting for a new job. Once you’ve identified your purpose, it will be much easier to tweak the above template for your LinkedIn summary. You’ll still want to lead with your position and other info from the first paragraph of the bio template. Then move onto whatever skills or accomplishments are most relevant to your LinkedIn goals. Last, share those goals.

As a field sales manager with over eight years of experience driving market share growth in designated territories, I have mastered the ins and outs of pharmaceutical sales and territorial prospecting. After honing and executing these specialties to reach numerous company goals, I was honored with an invitation to join the National Marketing Council. Now, I spend the majority of my time brainstorming sales strategies and connecting with other industry professionals who are interested in talking shop.

You can always add supporting content on either side of this skeleton paragraph, such as a personal anecdote, previous positions, or a mission statement. If you need a bit more inspiration, look to your recommendations for outside opinions on what makes you special.

How do you write a short professional bio?

Before we delve into professional bio examples, here are tips on how to write one. First, you want to keep your bio simple. Simple isn’t bad; you can tell a strong story with simple sentences if you can weave those sentences into a cohesive narrative. Here’s a video guide to help you write a compelling professional bio:

Before writing your bio, consider if you want to write in a more professional or more casual manner. Take a few factors into account, such as your field, title, and intention. Choose what you think is more effective in selling yourself.

Introduction

Professional Background

Explain what you do. You don’t have to summarize your professional experience. Simply elaborate on your current title(s) and the duties that come with it. Assume that readers don’t know what roles your titles entail.

Mention your professional accomplishments here, especially those relevant to your current role. When written well, this lends credence to your skills. You don’t need to specify your skills if this part is well-written; your career highlights can speak for themselves.

High-level professionals may add any previous roles and their respective accomplishments here. For beginners in the field, consider adding any strong roles you’ve had within organizations.

Make sure that your additions are relevant to your narrative. For instance, if you are trying to establish your medical expertise, it’s not a good idea to add non-medical achievements unless they played key roles to strengthen your medical accomplishments.

Personal Details

Explain how you do what you do well. This is the humanizing element to your professional bio. In this part you may share your values, beliefs, and passions (and how they influence your work ethic). If you increased successful dog adoptions in your local humane society, consider including this sentence in your professional bio to make it more impactful:

After adopting Maxie, an old German Shepherd who went through three homes and five years alone in an animal shelter, I made it my mission to ensure that every dog up for adoption gets a loving family that fits their unique personality and needs.

You may also add any degrees you have here, especially if they are relevant to your area of expertise. These additions will further establish your credibility.

Lastly, you may add a few personal details in the last sentences of your professional bio. These will help make you relatable to your audience. You want not only to impress your readers, but also to connect with them. You want them to contact you.

Professional Bio Examples

If you’re still unsure about how to write one, take a look at the professional bio examples we’ve provided below. We’ve also added divisions for the three general parts of a professional bio.

1. Company Website (Anne T. Madden | Honeywell)

Her introduction is straightforward, because the meat of her biography is in the second to fourth paragraphs. She informs the reader of the roles that her titles entail. Her previous work is also stated here, presented with concrete evidence of her success. It is a strong showing of her competence.

2. Personal Brand (Nandini Jammi)

Her introduction is greatly emphasized, and for good reason: Co-founding a consultancy that regularly works with Fortune 500 companies is very impressive. She also includes her identity as an activist in the first sentence of her biography. This informs the reader that her beliefs are a strong influence on her work.

The second part of her biography narrates how she got immersed into her area of expertise. She also states how her campaign Sleeping Giants won awards and became a catalyst for a global movement in the world of brand safety and content moderation.

While there’s not many explicit mentions of her beliefs, we can infer that she’s very keen on fighting against discrimination and believes that it has no place in marketing. We can see this in her elaboration of Sleeping Giants and the #StopHateForProfit campaign.

3. Long Bio (Joaquin Duato | Johnson & Johnson)

Joaquin Duato’s writeup is one of the best professional bio examples, a long written tool that still keeps a tight narrative. Every sentence has a purpose; they only add to his credibility and keep the readers’ attention.

The second set of text expounds on his duties and especially his accomplishments within Johnson & Johnson. There is clear proof of his impact within the company that further cements his credibility in the field.

Finally, the last set of text gives us insight into what he brings to the company. In this case, he offers a unique perspective that comes from his personal experiences and history as a dual citizen and leadership in global healthcare organizations. We also see that his values directly influence his actions outside of work.

4. Short Bio (Dennis Krawec | Personal Brand)

His introduction establishes his specializations as a creative artist. It’s simple, but impressive nonetheless. The second paragraph briefly showcases his successes in his area of expertise that lend credence to his introduction. Lastly, he ends off on a personal touch by including one of his hobbies and interests. Also note the links to his social media profiles, similar to Nandini’s.

Resource:

https://elitecontentmarketer.com/how-to-write-a-bio-examples/
https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-professional-bio-template-that-makes-everyone-sound-accomplished
https://www.resumeprofessionalwriters.com/professional-bio-examples-tips/

Successful people who didn’t go to college

If it were the only option, then everyone who didn’t go to college would be a failure, right?

We know that isn’t true, because we’ve all heard the dropout-to-billionaire stories of tech geniuses like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg.

1. Ross Alex

2. Yashar Ali

Ali is a journalist responsible for breaking some of the biggest news stories in recent years from the Fox News sexual harassment scandal to Harvey Weinstein, to the Russia investigation, but he never went to college.

3. Paul Allen

When you think of Microsoft, you probably don’t think of Paul Allen. But like Gates, Allen dropped out of college after two years to pursue computer programming. In fact, it was Allen who convinced Gates to leave Harvard.

4. Mary Kay Ash

Ash was the founder of Mary Kay, the multi-level cosmetics marketing company, which today has over $3.6 billion in revenue per year. Ash didn’t go to college because her family couldn’t afford to send her. Instead, she got married at 17 before getting divorced nearly 20 years later in 1953. After her divorce, she attended the University of Houston for a year before dropping out. In 1963, she formed Mary Kay Cosmetics.

5. Julian Assange

Assange was obsessed with computer programming as a kid and used his self-developed expertise to become one of the world’s best hackers and most controversial figures.

6. Zachary Babcock

Babcock is the author of Prison To Promised Land, which talks about his five years in prison and how anyone can find happiness and fulfillment after addiction, loss, and other struggles. Today, he’s a motivational speaker, has a podcast, and runs a Facebook ad agency.

7. Cathal Berragan

8. Patrick Bet-David

Bet-David‘s family immigrated to the United States at 10 as Iranian refugees. He joined the military after high school and then took a few traditional jobs at finance companies before being inspired to launch PHP Agency, an insurance sales, marketing, and distribution company, before the age of 30.

Bet-David is an Iranian immigrant and US Army veteran who worked a few traditional jobs after his military service ended before starting his own financial services company.

9. Gautam Bhargava

10. Chandler Bolt

11. Matt Boney

12. Richard Branson

Branson is a high school dropout and founder of Virgin Group, a multi-national venture capital company. Though extremely smart and hard-working, Branson struggled with dyslexia that made attending traditional educational institutions nearly impossible.

13 Travis Brodeen

Brodeen is the CTO of Newchip and was making $150,000 per year by age 19. He’s been involved in startups for 20 years and recently founded MVP Institute, a company that helps startups raise early-stage capital.

14. Mitchell Broderick (Praxis)

Broderick attended a local community college before deciding he wanted to take his life in a different direction. He dropped out and discovered Praxis, which helped him land a sales job for Advantage Media Group. Broderick thrived in the role, and after graduating from Praxis, he was promoted to VP of Business Development. Today, Broderick is the VP of Client Development at Platform, a real estate marketing agency.

15. James Cameron

Cameron is one of the biggest names in film, directing movies like The Terminator, Aliens, Titanic, and Avatar. He enrolled in Fullerton College in 1973 to study physics before switching to English and ultimately dropping out in 1974.

Cameron got into film because he was blown away by Star Wars in 1977 and worked his way up from production assistant to model maker to art director before becoming the household name he is today.

16. Holly Cardew

Cardew is a college dropout who founded Pixc.com, which helps e-commerce stores optimize their products and images to increase online sales. She also founded Vop , which makes your TikTok feed shoppable.

17. AJ Cartas

18. Pete Cashmore

19. Tim Chermak

20. Mike Clum

Clum dropped out of college in 2011, bought a camera for $600, and started Clum Creative. At first, he cold-called companies asking if he could shoot videos for them. Nearly 10 years later, Clum Creative has grown to become a full-fledged video production company with over $3 million in annual sales.

What are Some Jobs You Don’t Need a College Education for?

1. Entrepreneur

2. Sales

3. Skilled Trades

3. Real Estate Agent

4. Recruiter

5. Personal Trainer

6. Social Media Manager

With a little training, you can become a social media manager and help businesses grow their online presence. Familiarize yourself with the various platforms, marketing trends, and user behavior.

7. Event Planner

8. Technical Writer

If you have strong writing skills and are familiar with a particular subject or industry, you can become a technical writer. You will most likely need some certification for certain positions.

9. Website Developer

10. Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist is responsible for creating and maintaining a positive image of their client. This can be done through various forms of communication such as social media, press releases, and events.

11. Graphic Designer

A graphic designer creates visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas. You need to become an expert at various graphic programs. Many in this field are also self-taught, but some go to art or design schools.

12. Copywriter

13. Photographer

do you have an eye for capturing a moment? If so, then photography might be the perfect career for you! You can get started by taking classes or workshops. Many photographers are self-taught.

14. Videographer

Videography is a similar field to photography, but with video. If you have a passion for film and video, then this might be the perfect career. You can work for a company or be a freelancer.

13. DJ

14. Nutritionist

A nutritionist helps people make healthy choices when it comes to their diet. This can be done through consultations, cooking classes, and more. You will need some schooling and certifications to become a nutritionist. A college degree is required for certain positions but not all.

15. Hair Stylist

16. Personal Shopper

17. Makeup Artist

20. Fashion Designer

Vin Diesel

Rick Diamond/One Voice: Somos Live!/Getty Images

Mark Peterson/Corbis/Getty Images

Asked by the San Francisco Chronicle where he went to school, JetBlue Airways founder David Neeleman put it succinctly: “University of Utah. But I dropped out.” Neeleman said a Mormon missionary experience in Brazil broadened his horizons; the “A” student would leave school to start his own travel business.

Rachel Lim

TedX Talks via YouTube/screenshot

Bettmann/Getty Images

Sources generally list Truman’s higher-education resume as consisting of a semester at an unnamed Kansas City, Missouri, business school, and night classes at what was then known as Kansas City Law School. He didn’t earn a degree at either campus.

Source:

https://discoverpraxis.com/13067/125-successful-people-who-didnt-graduate-college/
https://www.developgoodhabits.com/successful-people-college/
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/50-super-successful-college-dropouts/

5 Best Universities for Computer Science in Europe

If you are thinking of landing a job in the field of tech, then computer science is just the thing for you. Everything about computers, programs, and software is necessary for this day and age.

On the other hand, computer science is a field that intrigues international students. Europe is an accumulation of businesses, banks, and firms. It sets the perfect background for students to explore opportunities in making a name amid international tech companies.

Europe’s an intellectual powerhouse with a high standard of living. Universities based in Europe serve as the blueprint for other universities. The busy districts and headquarters of multiple tech giants entice students to take computer science in one of the most student-friendly countries now. Below we set up a list of the 5 best universities to study computer science in Europe. Check them out!

Are they hard to get into?

This is not an easy question to answer. Given that the admission criteria differ from university to university, some are harder to get into than others. It goes without saying that if the university receives an important number of applications but has limited spaces, the acceptance rate will be significantly lower.

University of Cambridge

With many notable alumni up to date, the University of Cambridge has operated since 1209 and it is known for being one of the long-lasting universities worldwide. It is composed of 31 colleges, which are self-governing institutions, with 150 academic departments, and faculties, all divided into six schools. As of 2015, the acceptance rate of Cambridge was 21% and it is still considered one of the hardest universities to get into. According to CWUR 2019-2020, Cambridge is the best university in the UK and the fourth in the world. In the QS World University Ranking by Subject, Cambridge ranks in the top 3 for Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, and Life Sciences & Medicine.

Imperial College London

In 2007, Imperial College London gained its independence from the University of London after 100 years. The university counts roughly 20,000 students and more than half of its student body is international. Imperial is composed of four faculties, including a business school. In 2015, the acceptance rate of Imperial was 14,3%. In the QS World University rankings 2020, Imperial appears as number 9. However, their Faculty of Engineering ranks number 7.

Sorbonne University

Among the top 100 universities worldwide, Sorbonne University is a public research institution headquartered in Paris that counts more than 42,000 students. It is referred to as one of the top 3 universities in France. It is organized into the Sorbonne College and the Doctoral College. Sorbonne has strong international partners, including the University of Toronto and King’s College London.

École Polytechnique

This public institution in the suburbs of Paris is considered to be one of the most respected French universities. École Polytechnique, also referred to as X, is 2nd in the Times Higher Education Small University Rankings and 61st in the QS World University Rankings 2021. It is considered a small university as it counts only around 3300 students, the majority of those at the postgraduate level. In fact, it offers only one English-taught Bachelor degree in Maths with the possibility to get a double major and choose between Physics, Economics, and Computer Science.

Technical University of Munich

Established in 1868, TUM now has 5 campuses in Germany and one in Singapore. With more than 42000 students, 12000 are foreigners. TUM has a strong focus on research and is organized into 15 academic departments, 5 of which are schools. It is the 50th best university in the QS World University Ranking 2021.

Heidelberg University

Founded in 1386, this is the oldest public university in Germany and the third that opened its doors during the Holy Roman Empire. It counts nearly 29,000 students, 20% of whom are foreigners. It is composed of 12 faculties and it offers bachelors, masters and PhD programmes. The majority of programmes are offered in German, however, some are offered in English and even French. Heidelberg University appears 3rd in Germany and 44th in the world in The Times Higher Education Ranking 2020.

Radboud University

Established in 1923, Radboud is a public research university affiliated with the Roman Catholic church. It is constantly ranked among the best 150 universities in the world by four major rankings, including CWUR and SARWU. Nearly 23,000 students are enrolled at Radboud University, which counts also nearly 3,000 staff members. Nine of the 46 undergraduate degrees are offered in English. Additionally, it offers 75 postgraduate degrees, half of which are English-taught.

Resource:

https://uscollegeinternational.com/best-universities-computer-science-europe/
https://www.eduopinions.com/blog/universities-business-schools/10-best-public-universities-in-europe/

When it’s done installing, you then have to activate it in order to publish it to your WordPress site. Click on “Activate” (in the same spot where the “Install” button was) and wait for it to take you back into the main WordPress dashboard.

The core code contains all the default functionality that makes up the WordPress content management system. This includes everything from the admin backend, to functions like scheduling posts, password strength checking, allowing the creation of users, and so on.

While the core is responsible for the backend of a website and how it operates, themes are responsible for the front-end and how websites look and feel. We use the WordPress admin to create posts, pages, and other site content, but exactly how our posts and pages are displayed to visitors is up to the theme. This gives you considerable power over your website. You might want to install and activate pre-built themes, or break out of the box completely and go your own way with custom designs.

The simplest way to describe plugins is that they provide additional functionality to WordPress. To make this happen, a plugin may modify the backend and/or the front-end of a website. A plugin that adds a Tweet button for Twitter is a good example. It would probably create a new settings page in the backend admin menu, where you could set up some default options for a user’s tweet; it would also add itself to the front-end of a website, most likely displaying under a post.

Areas of Development

Regardless of what it is you want to do with WordPress, I would recommend following a set path in your studies. The following list will help you familiarize yourself with the systems you need to know before learning more about your area of choice:

Themes

Learning how themes work and how to develop them will allow you to create websites and craft single-page sites, content-heavy dynamic websites, and everything between. It will also allow you to get better/more client work (if that’s what you’re interested in pursuing) or even go into the theme sale business.

At the time of writing this, the most popular theme on Themeforest has sold 784,998 times to date–and has been the #1 best-seller for nine years. (If you’re curious, this super popular title holder is Avada.) Currently priced at $60, that’s quite a windfall for the developers.

ThemeForest is by far the most popular WordPress theme marketplace, with more than 45,000 theme elements, and more than 10,000 themes.

If you want to see some great examples of themes, take a look at the marketplaces I mentioned above, or check out the WordPress Theme Directory where everything is free. Many first-time theme developers also release their work to the directory.

Plugins

In a way, plugins are the lifeblood of WordPress, transforming it into everything from a forum to a social network, eCommerce platforms, and much more with the push of a button. Plugins give you total control over all aspects of the WordPress system, allowing you to modify anything you want. This can be a huge help in making WordPress white label for clients, adding that one little function you always need, and essentially making WordPress your own.

Plugin marketplaces also exist and are generally owned by some of the same companies that also run theme marketplaces. CodeCanyon is by far the largest with more than 900 plugins available to purchase. Sales tend to be lower than with themes, but if you find the right niche it can still be very profitable.

REST API

Using the REST API will come a bit later in your career when you have mastered themes and plugin development, though theoretically, you may be able to utilize it if you know another language pretty well, like Java or Ruby.

The REST API is relatively new and allows you to create true applications based on WordPress. This includes iPhone and Android apps, and even things like TV apps, if you know some other programming languages.

The best way to explain this feature is to compare it to something like Twitter or Instagram. No doubt you’ve seen someone’s Twitter feed displayed on their website. To add this feature to your own site, you don’t need to know how Twitter’s core code works, all you need is a bit of code that says “please retrieve my latest five tweets”. Twitter handles the actual retrieval, spitting back the data of the five tweets you asked for. You can then use HTML and CSS to display that data.

This is exactly what the REST API does for WordPress. You can connect to any website and ask it for your latest five posts. But you can do a lot more than that: you can delete users, create users, edit categories, and more (all of which require authenticating yourself, of course). This means you can use WordPress as a repository of information and build the front-end and/or the backend using a different system altogether.

WordPress is developed by a community of thousands of volunteers around the world. In addition to the internal WordPress team, let by Matt Mullenweg, WordPress’s latest stable release, 5.9, also reflects the hard work of 624 generous volunteer contributors. That doesn’t even include the many more who worked on other aspects of WordPress, from translations and mobile applications to accessibility and support.

If you’re interested, you could get involved yourself, at any time. While you need quite a bit of experience to contribute code to WordPress core, you could submit ideas, or work in any number of other key areas―design, support, accessibility, translation and more―through WordPress’s Get Involved section.

Step 6: Configure Your WordPress Theme

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how much or little of your theme you want to customize. However, you should at least take some time now to go through each of the modules and acquaint yourself with what you have the power to change.

Now, the great thing about WordPress is that the interface is consistent regardless of whether you’re creating a page or a post. There are different settings you need to apply to each, but the main area in which you work remains the same, which makes it a workspace that’s easy to get used to.

A visual builder tool works similarly in that it allows you to create blocks of content for your site–however, it does it on the front end of the actual site so you can see your changes in real time. There are plenty of drag and drop page builders out there, but here are some of our favorites.

How to Use WordPress: A 7-Step Learning Process for Newbies

Let’s face it – if you want to truly learn WordPress, you’re going to put in a lot of time and energy to do so. No guide in the world is going to teach you absolutely everything, since it’s frankly impossible – there are endless different features related to this CMS, and even covering all of the widgets would probably take a couple of books.

Step 1: Take the Easy Route – Find a Reliable Hosting Provider

You see, with most website builders on the market, all you need to do is follow a few simple steps on their websites and you’re set – in 5 minutes or so, you’ll find yourself browsing through the site templates and working on your eCommerce features.

Frankly, there are two ways to go about it – either you download WP from the official website, set it up and work on a site offline, or you choose a hosting provider and take it from there. Here, we’ll focus mostly on the latter option.

The reason behind this is pretty straightforward, too – setting up an offline WordPress site is a huge hassle, especially if you’ve never worked with MySQL before. Taking the hosting route, you’ll be able to rest assured that there won’t be any issues throughout the entirety of the process.

You see, choosing the right hosting provider is a crucial step – if you make the wrong choice, you don’t even need to read the rest of this WordPress tutorial. Frankly, your site will constantly crash, and you’ll have a pretty bad time, in general.

Once you’ve chosen your hosting service and also the optimal plan for yourself (my advice would be to start off on the lower end, especially if it’s your first site), in most cases, you’ll be provided with the option to one-click-install and launch WordPress.

As a side note, you should also take the time to get to know your hosting provider’s dashboard (i.e. the cPanel). Here, you’ll have to spend time managing your WP site, backing files up, archiving them, and so on.

Another thing that you should figure out while working with your hosting provider is the domain name to your site. Many of the hosting services are going to provide you with a free subscription for a custom domain upon purchasing one of their plans – that’s the best route to take. Keep in mind, though, that it’s a reoccurring subscription – meaning, you’ll probably have to extend it in a year or so.

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Step 2: Accessing Your Website

There are a couple of ways to access your WP dashboard. The easiest route would be to go there via a button from your hosting provider’s panel – no matter your hosting service of choice, there should be one available.

Another route that you’d find mentioned in many user WordPress tutorials would be to simply enter the name of your domain into the URL bar, and then add “/dashboard” or “/admin”. So, if the name of your domain is “mywordpresswebsite.com”, it would look like so:

There isn’t really a difference between the two above-mentioned dashboard accessing routes. That said, if you want to learn WordPress, it might actually be easier to follow the latter, since you can simply access it by typing some information into the URL bar, instead of having to go and log into your hosting service panel every time.

Have you ever wondered which website builders are the best for your business?

Step 3: Get to Know the Interface

In all honesty, even today, every single time I log into WP, I get some nostalgic vibes from the homepage section. While I’ve altered it with some plugins and other widgets, the core design is still the same – classic WordPress.

At this point, you should make sure to take your time to study the actual interface that you see in front of you. As noted above, it’s probably going to change significantly as you progress with your website and install more plugins, but still – the core idea will remain the same.

The cool thing about WordPress is that, while being significantly more complicated than a traditional website builder, it does have a more clear layout than most of the current builders out there. The design choices for the WP interfaces were very simple and old-school, but also very straightforward – that’s a good thing!

All of your main attention should be focused on the left side of your screen – namely, to the list of various interfaces that you can open. With some exceptions, this is the area that you be clicking through the most.

If you want to learn WordPress “the proper way”, do make sure to not rush through the options that you see here. Every new button is going to have a few more pop-ups, so you should surely make sure to figure out where things are in the dashboard before progressing further.

Step 4: Theme Choice and Installation

While figuring out how to use WP might require a WordPress tutorial for beginners, there are some things that the CMS does have in common with other website builders out there. One of these things would have to be the theme selection.

In the “Appearance” section ("Theme" sub-section) on the left, you’ll be able to pick from a few different default themes. If you’d like to make your site more original, then you can always download new theme templates – ones created by the WordPress community. The downloading and installation processes are actually quite simple – just find the desired theme, download and apply it.

Make sure to try different themes out, and see which fits the “vibe” of your website best. You’ll be able to preview them, check how they work, and also even read some other user reviews and general feedback in the community section, too.

While it may take some time finding the best template for yourself, that’s normal – after all, there’s a pretty vast number to pick from! Do make sure to delete (rather, uninstall) the unused templates afterward – got to keep the dashboard uncluttered and working properly!

Step 5: Page Creation

Creating a specific page with WordPress is nothing like doing the same thing with a website builder. When you’re working with a builder, in the vast majority of cases, it’s going to have drag-and-drop functionality, and will abide by the “WYSIWYG” principle – in other words, you’ll be able to alter your page contents by clicking on a section, and the changes will look the same live as they do while you’re editing.

Sources:

https://wpmudev.com/blog/wordpress-development-beginners-getting-started/
https://wpmudev.com/blog/a-wordpress-tutorial-for-beginners-create-your-first-site-in-10-steps/
https://www.mybestwebsitebuilder.com/learn/wordpress-tutorial
Wordpress beginner

Unless you have a need for a mega menu or multiple menu options on your site, you likely won’t even have a choice here. However, if your theme automatically creates secondary or footer menus for you, be sure to select the one you actually want to create/edit here.

Step 4: Find a WordPress Theme

A WordPress theme is a pre-designed and pre-coded interface template for WordPress. Basically, it saves you the trouble (and money) of having to design your own website from-scratch or to pay someone else to do it for you.

The WordPress.org free theme directory contains thousands of free themes for WordPress.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with using this theme, especially since it’s built by WordPress developers. However, it’s a very basic theme and one that’s not likely going to be useful if you want to do anything more than blog or create a simple site for a local business.

If you want something just as popular but with a little more flexibility, try the Astra theme. It’s almost as popular as the default theme with over 1.6 million users, but offers over 180 templates you can import and begin using right away.

Keep in mind that every theme requires some configuration. Also, not every theme works the same way. Some utilize a basic text editor (which looks similar to the blank page in Microsoft Word) while others use a page builder or visual editor. So, switching from one theme to another will force you to do a little rework if or when you make a switch. If you want to spare yourself the possible hassle, then don’t move on to the next steps until you’ve found the perfect WordPress theme for your site.

Step 6: Configure Your WordPress Theme

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how much or little of your theme you want to customize. However, you should at least take some time now to go through each of the modules and acquaint yourself with what you have the power to change.

Now, the great thing about WordPress is that the interface is consistent regardless of whether you’re creating a page or a post. There are different settings you need to apply to each, but the main area in which you work remains the same, which makes it a workspace that’s easy to get used to.

A visual builder tool works similarly in that it allows you to create blocks of content for your site–however, it does it on the front end of the actual site so you can see your changes in real time. There are plenty of drag and drop page builders out there, but here are some of our favorites.

WordPress Training by Yoast Academy

Want to get started with WordPress fast? Well who better to learn from than one of the best known names in the industry. Yoast Academy offers 4 free courses to cover the basics. The first, WordPress for beginners, walks you through the steps to get started (installation, themes, plugins, security, etc). Then videos on the block and classic editor will help you choose which is right for you. And finally a free course on WordPress SEO for beginners will help point you in the right direction to start ranking in search results.

Beyond these free courses, Yoast does offer two premium packages which are a great resource for beginners as well as established WordPress users. This is your chance to get exclusive SEO tips from the #1 WordPress SEO expert. It’s a great investment in the future of your website if you have the time and budget available.

How to publish your first blog post on WordPress

Blog posts are the individual articles that make up your blog. They’re updated often so they’re dynamic in nature. To create your first blog post on WordPress, simply head over to Posts > Add New. There, you can enter the title, content, and metadata for your blog post and hit publish. Different themes offer different ways to customize your blog posts to make them stand out from other blogs and websites.

There are a few ways you can add media files, such as images and videos, to your blog. The first is to head straight into Media > Add New. However, this will merely upload the media file to your website gallery without displaying it on a specific post or page. You can also go directly into the blog post or static page you want to add the media file to and upload the necessary content using Gutenberg, the built-in rich text editor for WordPress.

Sources:

https://wpmudev.com/blog/a-wordpress-tutorial-for-beginners-create-your-first-site-in-10-steps/
https://www.wpexplorer.com/online-courses-wordpress-beginners/
https://www.creativebloq.com/advice/wordpress-for-beginners
Wordpress beginner

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Build your own website the easy way, with Wix. Choose from 500+ templates, customise with your own content, and you’ll soon have your own site online for a bargain monthly price. There’s also a free version if you don’t need a custom URL.

9 Essential WordPress Plugins for All Beginners

A content management system (CMS) like WordPress is like a candy store for beginners. There’s an assortment of elements you can easily mix and match together – from themes that give your site a beautiful look to plugins that quickly integrate various functionalities. You just need to discover the right pieces that will accomplish your online objectives and provide a valuable experience to your target audience.

When it comes to plugins, there are over 47,000 choices available from the WordPress library. These plugins can help you integrate functionalities such as online shopping, booking, and opt-ins. You could even spice up your website’s design using landing page builders, carousel sliders, and video backgrounds.

But before you get excited, you need to install a few plugins that can ensure the performance, security, marketability, and customizability of your website. Take note that building a WordPress website comes with risks, especially since you need to mesh together a lot of moving parts.

Wordfence Security

In the past, some WordPress websites have fallen victim to serious security breaches. Of course, security issues aren’t a big deal for casual bloggers who are not looking to monetize their work. But for those who make a living through their online endeavors, website security should be their top priority.

With Wordfence Security, you can have everything you need to protect your website without paying a dime. After installation, all you need to do is to go to WordPress > Scan from the dashboard and click “Start a Wordfence Scan”. The plugin does its job automatically and will provide you with the recommended fixes in a few seconds.

Wordfence Security works by scanning for known issues and attack vectors such as weak passwords, faulty plugins, and “HeartBleed” vulnerability. If such issues are detected, you can check below the scan summary for a list of actions.

But for enterprises such as eCommerce businesses and corporate websites, you should consider getting the paid version for added security. Keep in mind that you can never be too safe when it comes to the data of your customers and the reputation of your business.

Review: Advantages and Disadvantages of WordPress

Basically, you can install WordPress using any hosting service that offers PHP and MySQL support. It gets even easier if your web host offers a special WordPress package. Such plans usually start at $4 to $7, which makes cheap WordPress hosting the same price as your run-of-the-mill website builder. Often times, a domain and e-mail addresses will be included.

DreamHost: Affordable provider with notable performance

DreamHost is one of the most affordable web hosting providers you’ll find. Even if their shared hosting plans lack some of the most advanced features like staging areas and Git repositories, they are very generous in terms of storage and bandwidth. On top of that, DreamHost was one of the better performing providers in our tests.

SiteGround: A Player for Serious Projects

SiteGround is a hosting provider that is fully geared towards business. They offer a combination of outstanding support, reliable performance and cutting-edge features in their higher plans. Check out this guide to know what to expect from SiteGround when hosting a WordPress site.

Pros	Cons
Support: SiteGround’s support is top class. They offer 24 hours responsive support by phone, live chat and email.	Costs: If you want to have all the features you’ll need to get the GoGeek plan – this can be a bit expensive. They offer important discounts during the first deal term.
Hosting location: They have servers in the US, Asia and Europe. An integration with the CloudFlare CDN is also mentioned.
Speed & uptime: With their combination of solid hardware (e.g. SSD disks) and advanced software solutions (e.g. caching plugin) your site will be really fast. Additionally, they offer outstanding levels of uptime (close to 100%).
Staging area & Git: Advanced developers that need slick features such as a staging area or a git repository, can go with the GoGeek plan.
Visits & bandwidth limit: unlike many similar providers they don’t have a visit or bandwidth limit.
Security: They monitor WordPress-related security threads on a daily basis. WordPress and plugins can be updated automatically and they make daily backups for your protection.

Let’s quickly check how to install WordPress using SiteGround’s hosting. SiteGround is one of the top hosting providers for WordPress sites. You can try . Learn How to Install WordPress with SiteGround’s Hosting 2019-10-23T07:54:23.000Z https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XMLMT_mKZhQ/default.jpg

Alternative: Bluehost

Bluehost is one of the most famous WordPress hosts. The starter plan in the shared hosting section is usually sufficient for the beginning. Its regular price starts as low as 5000.95 per month (the first term, at renewal it’ll cost you $9.99 a month). One of the biggest advantages is the one-click installation procedure. It helps beginners to get started right away. Read more about this in our complete Bluehost review.

However, when your WordPress-based website starts to grow and attract more and more visitors, your loading times could get significantly worse. This is due to the fact that, on the starter plan, you share your server with other websites (a setup called shared hosting).

Accordingly, if you don’t know whom you are sharing your server with, you also don’t know how much traffic is too much traffic. Should your loading times get worse, you can switch to one of the WordPress managed hosting plans (starting at $24.99).

Pros	Cons
One-Click Installation: easy to get started.	Loading times can become slow when you get too much traffic
Relatively inexpensive: hosting also includes technical support – although only hosting issues will be covered.	Support: sometimes we experienced poor support. You also won’t get help for WordPress-specific questions.
Email hosting is included for up to 100 email addresses.

And Where Can I Find Good WordPress Templates?

One of WordPress’s greatest advantages are easily the many templates you can acquire at low prices. We would advise against using one of the many free templates out there – sometimes, the designers will include SEO links to untrustworthy websites.

Premium templates will not cost you much, and can be purchased on websites such as Themeforest, Themeisle or Elegant Themes. Our own experiences have been limited to Themeforest so far. Prices start at single payments between $30 and $60. Themeisle even provides a range of decent free templates.

How Do You Install a Template?

Visit our complete WordPress Beginners Guide: http://www.websitetooltester.com/en/website-with-wordpress/ In this tutorial you’ll learn how you install a theme . WordPress: How to Install a Premium Template 2014-12-08T15:40:02.000Z https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mMM5Jm7_a9U/default.jpg

After activating the template, it might look broken. This is normal – you need to add content now. Check the template documentation for any changes you might have to make. And please be aware of the difference between a page and a post. Pages are usually static, such as the “About Us” page on a website. Posts are news items of some sort, usually with a date and time attached.

How to install a WordPress plugin

To install plugins, you’ll need to access your website’s admin panel by going to yourdomain.com/wp-admin. Once you’re in the WordPress Admin, you can navigate to Plugins > Add New. From there, you can either search for a free plugin using the search bar or upload a .zip file for a premium plugin.

WordPress websites are made up of two elements: static pages and dynamic blog posts. The idea is that pages are updated once in a while, whereas blog posts are supposed to be constantly updated with the latest information. Of course, there’s no actual limit to the minimum or maximum number of times you can update a page or post. To add a new static page to your website, go to Pages > Add New. Then, you can enter a title and add the necessary content before hitting Publish.

How to publish your first blog post on WordPress

Blog posts are the individual articles that make up your blog. They’re updated often so they’re dynamic in nature. To create your first blog post on WordPress, simply head over to Posts > Add New. There, you can enter the title, content, and metadata for your blog post and hit publish. Different themes offer different ways to customize your blog posts to make them stand out from other blogs and websites.

There are a few ways you can add media files, such as images and videos, to your blog. The first is to head straight into Media > Add New. However, this will merely upload the media file to your website gallery without displaying it on a specific post or page. You can also go directly into the blog post or static page you want to add the media file to and upload the necessary content using Gutenberg, the built-in rich text editor for WordPress.

Sources:

https://www.webhostingsecretrevealed.net/blog/wordpress-blog/9-essential-wordpress-plugins-for-all-beginners/
https://www.tooltester.com/en/website-with-wordpress/
https://www.creativebloq.com/advice/wordpress-for-beginners

Available through banks, credit unions and online lenders, your business typically needs to be at least six months old and bring in over $50,000 a year in revenue to qualify. Other factors like your personal credit score and relationship with the lender will also play a role.

What types of business loans are available?

From term loans to lines of credit to short-term funding, you have a variety of business loan options to choose from. What’s right for you will come down to the type of business you own and what it needs funding for.

• Term loans. Business term loans are typically unsecured and ideal for covering a one-time expense. You receive a lump sum — typically anywhere from $5,000 to $5 million — that you pay back plus interest and fees over five to 25 years.
• SBA loans. The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers several loan programs for business owners who’ve struggled to qualify for financing in the past. These are typically term loans that come with more competitive rates since they’re partially backed by the government. However, the application process can take months to complete.
• Lines of credit. Similar to a credit card, you receive access to a credit line that you can draw from as needed. Depending on the lender, you’ll either be on the hook for fixed installments over a set term or minimum monthly repayments.
• Equipment and vehicle financing. These work like term loans, but they’re secured by the equipment or vehicle your business is purchasing. Rates tend to be lower than with their unsecured counterparts, but you risk losing your asset should you default.
• Short-term business loans.Short-term business loans — typically invoice factoring, invoice financing and merchant cash advances — are ideal for businesses that need emergency funds fast. While they’re typically easier to qualify for, they’re more expensive than the other options on this list. And repayments are usually due daily or weekly over a few months.

How much can I borrow?

Depending on the lender and type of financing, you may be able to borrow anywhere from $5,000 to $5 million. The exact amount depends on how long you’ve been in business, your annual revenue and your personal credit score. What you plan on using the funds for and your existing relationship with the lender may also play a role. And some lenders might require collateral for larger amounts.

Because business loans are so common, you can find lenders that offer both online and in-person applications. You can also go through an online business loan connection service to prequalify with multiple lenders at once.

The information you need to provide will vary depending on the the type of business loan you’re applying for and the provider you go with. In general, you might need to have the following documents on hand:

Is a business loan connection service a direct lender?

No, a business loan connection service isn’t a direct lender. Instead, it works with affiliate lenders to help you find financing you might qualify for. After filling out an online form, you’ll receive prequalification offers from lenders that may be able to provide funding. This gives you an idea of what rates and terms you might qualify for before filling out the lender’s full application.

How much can I borrow?

Depending on the lender and type of financing, you may be able to borrow anywhere from $5,000 to $5 million. The exact amount depends on how long you’ve been in business, your annual revenue and your personal credit score. What you plan on using the funds for and your existing relationship with the lender may also play a role. And some lenders might require collateral for larger amounts.

Because business loans are so common, you can find lenders that offer both online and in-person applications. You can also go through an online business loan connection service to prequalify with multiple lenders at once.

The information you need to provide will vary depending on the the type of business loan you’re applying for and the provider you go with. In general, you might need to have the following documents on hand:

Is a business loan connection service a direct lender?

No, a business loan connection service isn’t a direct lender. Instead, it works with affiliate lenders to help you find financing you might qualify for. After filling out an online form, you’ll receive prequalification offers from lenders that may be able to provide funding. This gives you an idea of what rates and terms you might qualify for before filling out the lender’s full application.

How long does it take to get a business loan?

The turnaround time for a business loan largely depends on the lender you work with and the type of financing you’re interested in. It can take a bank or credit union one to two weeks to process a business loan application and disburse your funds.

Repayments will also depend on the type of business financing you opt for. With many short-term financing options, repayments are withdrawn daily or weekly from your business bank account. Term loans, lines of credit and other longer term business loans usually come with monthly repayments due on a preset date.

And like the repayment schedule, how long your loan term lasts will also vary greatly. Short-term financing can come with terms of only a few months, while equipment and property loans can have terms as high as 25 years.

What happens if I can’t repay the loan?

The default will be noted on both your business and personal credit reports if you aren’t able to repay your loan. You might also be on the hook for nonsufficient funds (NSF), overdraft or late payment fees depending on the terms of your contract.

If you backed the loan with your business assets, real estate or the equipment you were purchasing, your lender can repossess these items to recoup the damages. And if you agreed to a personal guarantee, you may be responsible for covering the full cost of your loan through your personal income and assets.

To prevent these consequences, talk to your lender immediately if you’re worried about missing repayments. It may be willing to adjust your repayment plan or extend your loan term to prevent you from defaulting.

Can I pay off the loan early?

Probably, though your lender may charge a prepayment penalty for doing so. This might be a flat rate or a percentage of what you would have paid in interest. Read through your contract and talk to your lender to learn what fees you might face for early repayment.

How long does it take to get a business loan?

The turnaround time for a business loan largely depends on the lender you work with and the type of financing you’re interested in. It can take a bank or credit union one to two weeks to process a business loan application and disburse your funds.

Repayments will also depend on the type of business financing you opt for. With many short-term financing options, repayments are withdrawn daily or weekly from your business bank account. Term loans, lines of credit and other longer term business loans usually come with monthly repayments due on a preset date.

And like the repayment schedule, how long your loan term lasts will also vary greatly. Short-term financing can come with terms of only a few months, while equipment and property loans can have terms as high as 25 years.

What happens if I can’t repay the loan?

The default will be noted on both your business and personal credit reports if you aren’t able to repay your loan. You might also be on the hook for nonsufficient funds (NSF), overdraft or late payment fees depending on the terms of your contract.

If you backed the loan with your business assets, real estate or the equipment you were purchasing, your lender can repossess these items to recoup the damages. And if you agreed to a personal guarantee, you may be responsible for covering the full cost of your loan through your personal income and assets.

To prevent these consequences, talk to your lender immediately if you’re worried about missing repayments. It may be willing to adjust your repayment plan or extend your loan term to prevent you from defaulting.

Can I pay off the loan early?

Probably, though your lender may charge a prepayment penalty for doing so. This might be a flat rate or a percentage of what you would have paid in interest. Read through your contract and talk to your lender to learn what fees you might face for early repayment.

5 alternatives to a business loan

• Personal loan. Some lenders will allow you to use a personal loan for business expenses. This can be ideal for startups and businesses struggling to meet minimum revenue requirements.
• Business credit card. For small cashflow needs, a business credit card may be a good option. It can help build your business credit score while earning points or cash back for every dollar spent.
• Grants. For free funding you don’t need to repay, you might want to look into business grants. You may be able to find opportunities through federal and state government agencies, as well as private corporations. Just keep in mind these can take months to apply for — and are generally quite competitive.
• Investor financing.Funding from an angel investor can help take your business to new heights. But you’ll have to be willing to give up equity in your company in return.
• Crowdfunding. Are you a startup or newer business thinking of expanding? You might want to look into crowdfunding — it’s a great way to judge interest in your area for your product or service and drum up funding.

Whether you’re looking to fund a one-time purchase, new equipment or an emergency expense, a business loan can help you reach the next stage of growth. Check out our guide to business loans to learn more about how they work and compare even more lenders.

Authorship:

https://www.finder.com/what-is-a-business-loan
https://www.finder.com/what-is-a-business-loan#:~:text=A%20business%20loan%20is%20any%20type%20of%20financing,over%20$50,000%20a%20year%20in%20revenue%20to%20qualify.
https://www.finder.com/what-is-a-business-loan

How to Make Time Go Faster
Stop looking at the clock. …
Create a predictable routine. …
Achieve flow. …
Break time down into blocks. …
Split your least pleasant tasks. …
Put something on in the background. …
Do things you genuinely enjoy. …
Practice a mental challenge.

How to Make School Go By Faster?

We are sure that every student, whether at school or at the higher educational establishment, has his or her own ways of making time flow faster to finally be able to leave the class! Some of you are probably drawing doodles in your notebooks while others are sitting stuck in their mobile phones or notebooks. You might be talking with your classmate quietly while your teacher is explaining something to the rest of the class, or some of you might even be reading a book!

There are many methods of how to pass time in class so that you are not banished out. However, most pupils just doodle or chat with their classmates. Not that vast choice of options, you agree? And even if you manage to occupy yourself somehow, there will still be that feeling of every second dragging on for an hour!

This is why we decided to go further and think of what else you could do to make your school day less boring and more interesting. And also, what occupations you could think of to make your class time fly faster.

So meet the list of things to do in class to pass time quickly that we collected for you with love and care! We hope that at least some of these tips (and hopefully all of them!) will make your time at school more varied and help to combine lessons and rest adequately.

How to Make Time Pass Faster At School. Method 1

How to make the day go by faster while you are in class and having an extremely boring lesson? Let’s say, math? Well, we have all been there dude! And yes, it is very difficult to keep your mind focused on a subject that you don’t feel like exploring that much.

So try to daydream a bit! It may sound crazy or unusual, but it can really help! If there are still a few spare minutes left before the bell rings, let your mind wander. You can think of what you are going to do after school today or imagine where you would go if you could choose any place in the world.

If you are a fan of superhero movies, think of different variations of your favorite superheroes! Imagine you can fly or read other people’s minds. Or try to think of what your life would be like if you had another (what exactly?) superpowers.

Like this, your mind will become a bit distracted being able to stay in reality at the same time. Of course, when using this method for distracting yourself, stay real and don’t fly away too far! You don’t want to fall out of the real world and be unable to hear what is going on in the class!

To stay grounded, try to incorporate your fantasies into real life. For instance, if you are having a super boring math class right now, and you are dreaming about robots, why not try to imagine that these robots are fighting each other using the quadratic equation?!

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Partaking with Your Work

1. Arrive to class ready to be taught. In the event you do not plan forward of time what you are meant to do, you may be bored to tears at school since you will not grasp what is going on on. While you’re bored, time appears to maneuver extra slowly. If you find yourself ready forward of time, class will seem extra participating and time will fly by.

2. Have interaction in dialog along with your teacher and friends. Converse out at school when given the chance. Take part in what others are saying. In case your teacher doesn’t allow small group conversations, they are going to more than likely urge you to ask and reply questions. Being somewhat than bored would possibly make time go extra rapidly.

3. Improve your listening to talents. Partaking at school doesn’t simply suggest speaking extra. It additionally implies that you’re a higher listener.
Except for what your teacher or different pupils are saying, attempt to shut out extraneous noises. Attempt to not hear the pencil tapping behind the circle, the child subsequent to you shuffling paper, or the automobile alarm going off exterior. Focus your whole give attention to the teacher.

4. Take cautious notes. Taking notes just isn’t a expertise that you’re born with. It takes some apply to learn to do it correctly. Happily, you continue to have time to take action while you’re in class.

5. Attempt to put it in your personal phrases. Desirous about your crush or somebody you want is one methodology to maintain your thoughts energetic at school. Contemplate recalling recollections or writing your notes in your personal phrases. In the event you simply write it precisely as the teacher says it, you might not be absorbing it. Moreover, since you aren’t using your mind, you’re extra vulnerable to get bored. Nonetheless, if you happen to try to elucidate it in your personal phrases, you’ll be extra engaged and can be taught extra.

Breaking Up the Boredom

1. Divide your programs into sections. While you’re a single monotonous time frame, it’d seem to go on without end. Nonetheless, if you happen to divide your time into smaller chunks, it might appear to go faster as you undergo smaller sections. After all, you are simply doing this in your mind, nevertheless it would possibly make it appear as if you are getting by way of college faster.

2. Decide why you dislike college a lot. Make an inventory of issues that irritate or bore you about college. Perhaps you do not like particular matters. Perhaps you do not get pleasure from sitting immobile for prolonged intervals of time. Perhaps you’ll be able to’t bear not speaking for therefore lengthy. No matter it’s, make an observation of it.

3. Attempt to provide you with options to your challenges. Whether or not you’ll be able to’t sit nonetheless for prolonged intervals of time, ask your professors in case your class might take transient stretch breaks within the midst of sophistication to let you transfer about extra. If specific matters boring you, attempt to establish issues that intrigue you inside these areas. For instance, it’s possible you’ll despise historical past, however it’s possible you’ll discover it extra intriguing if you happen to learn the actual tales of people from that period somewhat than a broad abstract.

• You’ll be able to’t alter every part about college that you do not like. You’ll be able to, nevertheless, make some modifications. Do not be scared to talk along with your professors about objects that can profit you. Some professors could also be unwilling to switch the category, whereas others will exit of their approach to help you.
• In the event you do method your teacher with a request, you should definitely do it whereas nobody else is within the room. Come after college if attainable. You might say something alongside the traces of, “Hiya, Mrs. Jones. I’ve come to ask you to do me a favor. I perceive that the category is already brief, however I used to be questioning if we might have slightly stretch break within the center. I discover that shifting a few bit helps me focus higher, and I consider that different children might really feel the identical approach. I perceive if you happen to do not wish to do it, however I would admire it if you happen to thought-about it.”

4. Attempt one thing new. You can really feel a bit bored at occasions because you’re ready for different pupils to catch up. In the event you’re bored due to this, it is okay to ask your teacher for one thing a bit extra powerful to do when you wait. They can give you one thing that can each show you how to make the most of your mind and maintain you amused.

Sources:

https://beezzly.com/how-to-make-school-year-go-by-faster
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-School-Time-Fly
https://answerforyou.net/how-to-make-school-time-fly/

Make sure hiring managers see your LinkedIn profile by using keywords to land more search results. Just like you use Google to find specific information, hiring managers use LinkedIn to search for candidates. To start, copy the descriptions of 10 similar jobs that interest you and paste them into a word cloud. The most common words are the ones you should incorporate into the various sections on your profile.

How To Get a Job With No Experience

If you are just starting in your career or looking to change positions or industries, you may feel limited by a lack of experience. However, every professional has been in the same position at some point in their career. If you approach your job hunt with the right strategy, you can use your relevant skills and abilities to show employers you are the right candidate for a job, no matter how much experience you have. In this article, we go over some steps you can take to get a job without any experience to help you become a stronger candidate.

Whether you are just out of college or trying to switch industries, there are a lot of things you can do to compensate for a lack of experience. Here are 11 steps you can take to gain new qualifications, improve your overall application and impress employers:

Before you even begin to look, you need to know your odds.

Companies hiring top talent often spend the first few months of every year focused on corporate strategy instead of recruitment, which will typically hinder your job search between January and March. After this initial rough patch, the market hits peaks and valleys based on the state of the economy, which explains the increase in unemployment during the pandemic.

The traditional “dead zone” of January through March will likely be exaggerated in 2021 as large companies recover from the effects of Covid-19, so don’t be disheartened if you fail to land a job before April. This summer may be the best time to actively search for and interact with potential employers before the September through December hiring surge.

Week 1: Update your résumé to highlight transferable job skills.

Transferable skills are all of the things you’re good at that can be applied to various roles in various industries. For example, strong writing, time management, and problem-solving are all examples of what would be considered “transferable skills.” The fancier definition of this term is “an ability that isn’t highly specialized.” Non-transferable skills, often called “hard skills,” are specific to certain industries, like coding, animation, or graphic design.

You might have been told to tailor your résumé for each role you apply for, but from what I’ve seen, that strategy won’t work in 2021. Many companies are nervous about hiring more specialized candidates because they’re unsure what the business landscape will look like after the pandemic. To show you are adaptable, generalize the skills on your résumé into three main areas: systems-oriented, people-oriented, and self-oriented.

Systems-oriented skills are associated with your areas of expertise. Under each role listed on your résumé, try to phrase these skills in a practical way to show how they can apply to a variety of positions and industries, not just your specified field. For example, suppose you worked as a content creator at a software company. In that case, highlight “business writing” on your résumé and specify what you mean by including more distinct tasks — like creating blog posts or writing marketing emails — under your role. Doing so will help prove that you can apply this skill to any job rather than just at a software company.

People-oriented skills highlight your ability to communicate with colleagues. Right now, companies value candidates who can collaborate remotely and have the potential to lead virtual teams. On your résumé, be sure to include keywords like performance management, virtual training, and task delegation, either under a particular role or a separate “skills” section at the bottom of your résumé to demonstrate your ability to collaborate and lead.

Self-oriented skills tell your potential employer that you can work diligently, learn quickly, and apply new solutions to existing problems, like the ones caused by the shift to remote work (decreasing productivity, burnout, etc.). You might think of these as “soft” skills, but they are in demand and will help you stand out as companies continue to decentralize their workforces. Words like “autonomy,” “time management,” and “self-starter” show employers you can stay on task, remotely or otherwise.

If you have been using a chronological résumé but are struggling to get responses from employers, or if you are trying to enter an industry you have no previous experience in, try mixing things up by showcasing your transferable skills first — even before your job titles. Use them as headers under the experience section on your résumé. For instance, sticking with the content creator example, you might put:

According to our data, listing transferable skills before your experiences can lead to better callback outcomes. When candidates failed to get a response with a chronological résumé, we found that this more functional format was effective 21% of the time. Meanwhile, combination résumé formats (combining a functional skills list with chronological work experience) and sidebar résumé formats (focusing on scannability) were only effective 3% and 2% of the time, respectively.

Seal the deal by negotiating.

The final stage of getting a job is negotiating the package. While compensation often comes to mind first, remember that there are far more facets of the job that you can customize than you think. From benefits to work-from-home options, stock options to a travel stipend, there’s a lot on the table. Make a list of the things that are most important to you and that you’ll need to execute your job well. Be sure to check Know Your Worth to make sure their base salary offer is competitive with the market. Then, speak to your hiring manager and the recruiter about whether those needs can be fulfilled. These days, negotiating is an expected part of the job search process. Ask as many questions as you need and get the answers you need to make the best job decision for you.

Learn More!

Getting a job can feel like winning the lotto. However, with a few tips and tricks, getting job will have much better odds. Here are additional resources to help you on your path to finding a job that fits your life:

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About This Article

This article was co-authored by Alyson Garrido, PCC. Alyson Garrido is an International Coach Federation accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Facilitator, and Speaker. Using a strengths-based approach, she supports her clients with job search and career advancement. Alyson provides coaching for career direction, interview preparation, salary negotiation, and performance reviews as well as customized communication and leadership strategies. She is a Founding Partner of the Systemic Coach Academy of New Zealand. This article has been viewed 3,680,742 times.

Getting a job can be hard, and you might have to apply to many different jobs and go to a number of interviews before you find the right one, but with hard work, you can find something you’ll love. Start by looking for opportunities on company websites and job sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, and Craigslist. Before you send out any applications, spend a few minutes tailoring your resume to the job description so you’re highlighting any skills and qualifications you have that the employer is looking for. You’ll also want to write a cover letter that explains why you think you’re qualified for the specific job you’re applying for, but don’t worry, it just needs to be one page. If you don’t find many job openings in your preferred area, widen your search and apply to a lot of different types of jobs. You can also reach out to recruiters via email or LinkedIn message to see if they have a good fit for you, and you can attend job fairs to learn about companies that are hiring. Keep reading for tips from our career reviewer on applying for a job and how to dress for the interview!

References:

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/get-a-job-no-experience
https://hbr.org/2021/03/a-five-week-guide-to-getting-a-job
https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/how-to-get-a-job/
https://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Job