Five ways to irritate a recruiter when applying for a job, or at job interviews
Posted inWork and money

Five ways to irritate a recruiter when applying for a job, or at job interviews

Getting desperate to find a job can mean that many people apply for jobs on the off chance of getting an interview, during which they can blag their way through it. However, this makes the work of sifting through application forms and CVs a much lengthier process for recruiters, and scrapping poor applications and CVs becomes a nuisance…the same as you get irritated by persistent junk mail!

You could also be shooting yourself in the foot, because the same employer may advertise a job that’s relevant to your skills and experience later on, and they may remember your application to another (irrelevant) job and dismiss your application or CV based on that.

Making money with online surveys: seven things you should not do
Posted inWork from home how-tos

Making money with online surveys: seven things you should not do

Yesterday, we featured our new partner Surveys.co.uk and the three campaigns that they are working on. Today, we want to share some don’ts when it comes to joining an online survey opportunity – we’re taking the pain out of learning the hard way.

So, here goes:

How to explain gaps in employment during a job interview
Posted inHow to look for a job

How to explain gaps in employment during a job interview

Job interviews are an opportunity for you to prove that you’re the best person for the job – and it’s also an opportunity for recruiters to check anything that doesn’t add up. And for many mums, this may be a gap in your employment history.

Many people get anxious when a job interviewer starts checking the dates on your CV and asking questions about any gaps in employment. For mums, this is almost inevitable because so many choose to take time out to raise young children before returning to work later.

Video: apps to help busy mums entertain the kids this Easter
Posted inWhat's in the news?

Video: apps to help busy mums entertain the kids this Easter

Keeping children entertained at the evenings and the weekend during term term can be a challenge in itself. But when it comes to the school holidays, the pressure is definitely on!

Watch the following video to discover five apps you can use at home, or when you’re out an about to stop the kids climbing the walls:

Health and safety advice for work at home mums
Posted inA mix Work and career tips and advice

Health and safety advice for work at home mums

Working from home is a great option for many mums. It tends to be a lot more flexible than a typical nine-to-five job and allows parents to spend more time with their little ones.

If you do want to go it alone, however, it’s important to create an adequate workspace and make health and safety a top priority. You might not have an office manager to whip you into shape, but there are plenty of things you can do to stay safe – and even improve your wellbeing.

Posted inA mix Business ideas What's in the news?

Marketing: why your business needs it

Marketing is all about showing your potential customers why they are going to buy your product or service when there are so many competitors doing a similar thing.

That is the basic principle behind marketing, and with that clear objective in mind you can move forward and put together a strategy.

Budget announcement: on the path for another rift between mothers who work and stay-at-home mums?
Posted inNews for mums What's in the news?

Budget announcement: on the path for another rift between mothers who work and stay-at-home mums?

Prime minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg yesterday confirmed that working parents who each earn less than £150,000 will qualify for childcare tax breaks worth up to £1,200 a year for each of their children from 2015, while their stay-at-home counterparts will get nothing.

Posted inWork and career tips and advice

How to effectively manage a member of staff who works from home without being resentful

Despite recent changes at Yahoo! By the hands of CEO Marissa Mayer requiring remote workers to come in house or leave, and further comments by Vogue Head Alexandra Shulman, flexible working can be successful, and if you’re a manager who is managing someone who doesn’t work in the office all the time, or at all, it isn’t always easy and it requires advance planning.

Here are some tips to make it as successful as possible:

The working mum’s guide to managing sleep deprivation, work and a new baby
Posted inParenting tips

The working mum’s guide to managing sleep deprivation, work and a new baby

The joy of a new baby is certainly special and something that all new parents experience. However, sleep deprivation is also part of having a new baby and new parents notoriously get very little sleep, if any at all. It can be hard enough when you’re on maternity leave and staying home with your baby, but if you still have a sleep battle on your hands when you return to work,MIT can be quite gruelling.

Fortunately, there are some strategies and tips to help working mums get some sleep when to keep your sanity.

How every working mum can make returning to work after maternity leave as easy and stress-free as possible
Posted inCareers Coach Blog Family life

How every working mum can make returning to work after maternity leave as easy and stress-free as possible

No one said it was going to be easy, but if you want to have your cake and eat it as a working mum, you need to dust yourself off and prepare yourself emotionally, mentally and financially because there may be a few hiccups along the way when you return to work after taking maternity leave.

Being a working mum can be fulfilling and if you can get everything in place before going back to work, it will be a much easier transition that you probably thought.

Here are some tips for a stress and tear free transition (or as close to one as possible!):

Posted inBusiness Opportunities Video tutorials What's in the news? Work and money Work from home how-tos

Video tutorial: how to set yourself up as a freelance or consultant

Work when you want, choose who you work with and for and name your price…these are some of the benefits of being your own boss as a freelance or consultant.

Watch this video tutorial to see how you can set yourself up doing just that, and find out how to get paying clients beating your door down for your services.

Would you travel with your mother in law? Half of Brits say they would…
Posted inWhat's in the news?

Would you travel with your mother in law? Half of Brits say they would…

With the school Easter holidays just around the corner, many families are looking for getaways for the family – with the mother-in-law in tow!

It seems that despite the stereotypical jokes and jibes more than 50% of people would happily go on holiday with their mother-in-law.

Direct selling: selling other people’s products is a great opportunity for mums
Posted inWork and money Work from home how-tos

Direct selling: selling other people’s products is a great opportunity for mums

There are hundreds of direct selling companies that offer work at home mums the ability to make money and stay home with the children…it’s just a matter of finding the best product that fits your interest, pasion and provides the best financial package for your needs.

When you work in direct sales you are an independent contractor for a company – your role is to sell their products or services, which you then get a commission for selling. We touch on in it our guide Affiliate Marketing: Selling Other People’s Products but this article will give you some more tips.

Posted inWhat's in the news? Work and money

How to ask for a higher salary in a new job

These days, employers want to get as much value for money as possible – and often that will mean more work, longer hours for less pay.

If you’re a woman, you probably know that there is a huge gender pay gap as it is, and effectively, you ‘stop getting payed’ around October when your annual salary is compared to your male counterparts.

Video tutorial: SEO and why you need to know the basics
Posted inBusiness building Video tutorials

Video tutorial: SEO and why you need to know the basics

Having a website is all about getting the right traffic to buy your product or service. Your website needs to be able to attract that traffic – and the right type of traffic. SEO is a way to do this, and most of it you can do for free.

This video tutorial will give you the insights you need to understand SEO and apply it to your website – or pay someone else to do it for you, without feeling like they are speaking another language!

Posted inA mix Family life What's in the news?

How to keep an eye on the kids while working from home

Looking after children is a full-time job, so much credit goes out to business mums and mumpreneurs who regularly juggle looking after the kids with working from home.

If this is something you want to do and don’t know how to make working from home while looking after the kids work for you, here are some tips:

Posted inEditor's word What's in the news?

Working from home: flexible working gets another knock by another high profile mum

Working from home is is less frowned upon these days in most industries than a few years ago, when it was seen as an excuse to skive at home.

Thankfully, many employes see i’s merits and this often gives many employees the work-life balance they need while remaining productive.

Five cheap nights out with the family – fun without breaking the bank
Posted inThings to do with the kids What's in the news?

Five cheap nights out with the family – fun without breaking the bank

Taking the entire family out for an evening of fun can be exciting and something all parents want to do on a regular basis, especially with older children, but the costs can be a hindrance,

So, if you want to enjoy an evening with your family consider here are five cheap nights out where you can really enjoy some family bonding while saving money at the same time:

Posted inVideo tutorials

Video tutorial: how to market your business online

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn…if your new to the online business promotion it can feel a little daunting.

This video tutorial will help you get an understanding of exactly what Internet marketing is, why your business needs it and how to do it.

Five mistakes even smart working mums make and how to a avoid them
Posted inFamily life What's in the news? Work and career tips and advice

Five mistakes even smart working mums make and how to a avoid them

Every mum tries their best, but sometimes circumstances can seem to take over our lives and then caps sets in.

Here are five red flags to watch out for, and tips to change their impact on your life: