Posted inA mix Work and career tips and advice

Are you being productive or just busy being busy?

We live in a culture where every talks about being busy, and we’re all guilty of saying it at so e point (or all the time, depending on how honest you want to be!). Rarely do we stop to ask whether we’re working hard on the right things for the right reasons.

Imagine this: you’ve been applying for jobs for weeks, months even, when you are called for an interview. You can barely sleep the night before, and when the time comes, you’re burning with energy. You hop the bus to get there and rush into the building, only to find the lift that will take you to the 12th floor is broken.

But you don’t let that stop you. You rush up the stairs, and by the time you make it to the top, you’re completely out of breath. That’s when you look at the sign hanging above the receptionist and realise that you were in the wrong building!

Tough interview question No. 5: Why did you leave your last job? (video)
Posted inHow to look for a job Video tutorials

Tough interview question No. 5: Why did you leave your last job? (video)

Getting sacked, hating your boss, being pushed out…these are not exactly reasons that will put you in a positive light at a job interview.

Every recruiter will know that you are either unhappy with your present or old job, or you want to climb the career ladder, or even change careers. However, they may ask this question to try to gauge your reasons for doing so, to see if there are any alarm bells.

Today’s video will help you formulate a constructive response to this tough interview question and help you.

Having problems with the kids? Just call Nanny Mewes
Posted inMedia requests

Having problems with the kids? Just call Nanny Mewes

Calling Mums and Dads:

  • Are you and your family at your wits end with tantrums and bad behaviour?
  • Can you no longer connect with your child?
  • Is the dinner table a daily battle ground?
  • Are you shattered from sleepless nights?
  • Perhaps you and your partner feel like you have exhausted the endless advice in blogs, forums, books and magazines and you’ve still not had the breakthrough you deserve.
Tough interview question No. 4: What are your strengths and weaknesses? (video)
Posted inHow to look for a job Video tutorials

Tough interview question No. 4: What are your strengths and weaknesses? (video)

Today’s video looks at another seemingly simple question that can get many people into a tight spot at job interviews.

If you’re disorganised, you probably don’t want to say that for an office manager or events coordinator role, for example. If you have a bad temper, you won’t get a positive outcome at any job interview if you state that as your weakness.

So just what can you say? Do you make up strengths and weaknesses just to get through the interview?

Watch today’s video for some tips and advice on answering this tough job interview question.

Three ways busy working mums can get a total body workout for a tenner or less
Posted inFitness for mums What's in the news?

Three ways busy working mums can get a total body workout for a tenner or less

The calendar might say we’re in summer but the weather is saying something completely different. But that doesn’t have to be a complete negative. If you’ve been feeling a little body conscious, nows your chance to tone up a bit while the weather sorts itself out.

Working up is a great way to release those feel-good hormones around your body to help beat stress, tiredness and perk up your mood.

Here are three ways you can tone up with a total body workout for a tender or less:

Tough interview question No. 3: Why do you want to work for this company? (video)
Posted inHow to look for a job Video tutorials

Tough interview question No. 3: Why do you want to work for this company? (video)

Because I’m desperate? Because you advertised a job in my local paper? Because I need the money. Are those your immediate responses to a question like this?

Some interview questions can seem ridiculous, and seem like they are there to trip you up. The fact is, every recruiter wants to hear that there job isn’t one of a hundred that you have mindlessly applied for.

So, even if your real reason for applying any of the above responses, you can’t say that to an interviewer if you’re really serious about getting the job. You need to think of something that’s better thought out. Is the company an industry leader, for example?

Watch today’s video for more tips on answering this tough interview question.

Video: How to conceal dark circles under your eyes
Posted inBeauty tips for working mums

Video: How to conceal dark circles under your eyes

Night feeds, poorly toddler, staying up late to work…the life of a working mum can be demanding.

But must the whole world see that you’re burning the candle at both ends? They will if you suffer from dark circles under your eyes! This video tutorial will show you how to conceal the dark circles under your eyes.

Tough interview question No. 2: Tell me about yourself (video)
Posted inHow to look for a job Video tutorials

Tough interview question No. 2: Tell me about yourself (video)

Even the most confident and self-assured person can stumble when asked this question at a job interview. You don’t want to sound fake or full of yourself on the one hand, and on the other you don’t want to be so coy that you come across as boring and uninteresting.

This is one interview question that you should practice at home before a job interview. Find a friend or relative who will give you honest and constructive feedback on your response. That’s on tip – watch today’s video to find out how else you can tackle this interview question.

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Brit bedroom entrepreneurs are on the rise by more than 50%, finds survey

More Britons are setting up in businesses in their spare time and from their bedroom, according to a survey released today.

According to their research there has been an increase of 34% of businesses being set up in spare time in the past 12 months. All of these so-called bedroom entrepreneurs revealed that they did so because starting a business is now easier, with costs a lot lower than a few years ago, thanks to being able to start up online.

Tough interview question No. 1: why should we give you the job? (video)
Posted inHow to look for a job Video tutorials

Tough interview question No. 1: why should we give you the job? (video)

There are some interview questions that you just can’t run away from. No matter how senior or junior the role, which industry you’re moving into and whether a recruitment agency is doing the initial interview instead of your employer, the questions will still remain.

Every day this week, we will be tackling one of the following five interview questions with a video tutorial:

  1. Where do you see yourself in five years?
  2. Tell me about yourself
  3. Why do you want to work for this company?
  4. What are your strengths?
  5. Why did you leave your last job?

Today, we look at the first questions: “Where do you see yourself in five years time?”. Watch the video below:

8 top tips from real mums about what becoming a new mum
Posted inParenting tips What's in the news?

8 top tips from real mums about what becoming a new mum

From old wives tales to books and research about the best way to take care of your new baby, it seems everyone has something to say about something that you now feel you know little about.

If truth be told, you are the best person to make decisions about your new baby and how you want to feed him or her, whether you use the controlled crying method or cradle him to sleep, and when and how you start weaning.

This video has eight wonderful tips from real mums about motherhood that will inspire and empower you to make the right decisions for you and your baby.

Foodie Friday: homemade fish pie
Posted inFoodie Fridays

Foodie Friday: homemade fish pie

It can often be a struggle to get children into enjoying fish – unless it’s coated in batter and served with chips! But this fish pie recipient from Nelson’s has a mix of potatoes, cod and salmon, which is sure to turn the tables on the fish detesters.

How to give a five-minute presentation…and PowerPoint essentials
Posted inBusiness tutorials Video tutorials

How to give a five-minute presentation…and PowerPoint essentials

Whether it’s pitching for investment, presenting to clients, or being a speaker at a workshop, at some point in your journey there is a good chance that you may have to give a presentation.

If you’ve never given one before, there is help at hand. Grab a notepad, a cuppa and get ready to learn the essentials in less than 20 minutes.

Is it a muffin top or a baby bump?
Posted inNews for mums Pregnancy at work What's in the news?

Is it a muffin top or a baby bump?

Whilst commuters rush around on their journey to work or business meetings, focusing on juggling their coffee, hand or manbag, free issue of Metro newspaper on route, pregnant women are struggling to get a seat.

Trying to avoid an elbow or just being knocked into while pregnant, with the side effects of dizziness, swollen feet and nausea during pregnancy is not something to smirk about.

What type of insurance do you need to drive family van?
Posted inFamily life

What type of insurance do you need to drive family van?

Many large families have trouble fitting everyone in the car. While a people carrier may be a good choice for some, if you have a particularly active family and children who play sports, and need enough boot space for pushchairs and the weekly shop then a van is becoming a popular choice for many.

How to teach children about money
Posted inThings to do with the kids

How to teach children about money

With the school summer holidays looming, the spending budget for families will be on the up as children make their purchase demands known!

This is probably a good time to teach children about managing and saving money – and today’s video gives some fantastic tips on howto do just that.

Posted inThings to do with the kids What's in the news?

The working mum’s guide to planning a children’s party

You got through your engagement party and made it to the wedding reception, so planning a children’s party should be a doddle, right? Remember those pre-baby days when you used to host every good dinner or night out going…this should be a breeze, right?

But what looks like a piece of cake, may turn out to be a lot more work, and a tad more stressful than you thought, and you don’t want your child’s party to be the flop of the year, do you? Here are some tips to make sure you make it a success:

Posted inMoney - how to keep it and how to make it

A guide to supercharging your savings

With high street banks and building societies offering rock-bottom interest rates and little protection against inflation, perhaps it’s worth thinking about an alternative home for your money.

If you have an adventurous disposition and tolerance towards risk, there are various low to high risk investment strategies you may wish to consider, always remembering:

Video guide: how single parents can find time to study
Posted inCourses for mums Video tutorials

Video guide: how single parents can find time to study

Juggling children and work can be all-consuming at the best if times, but it doesn’t have to mean you have no time to advance your skills on a course.

In any career, keeping your skills fresh is crucial – especially if you want to marketable or if you have your eye on a promotion.

This video course will give you some tips and guidance on studying while raising your children on your own.

How to choose the perfect handbag for work
Posted inGet the Look

How to choose the perfect handbag for work

A quick look in every woman’s closet and you’ll soon start to see a trend – lots of handbags large and small, some used, some still with the silicon sachets inside because they haven’t event seen the light of day.

Working mums are no different in that respect. But if you’re tired of choosing the wrong handbag for work and want your next purchase to also hold those important must-haves that every busy mum can’t leave the house without then this video’s for you.