Monthly Archives: September 2015

FitnessIndustry

5 Reasons to Work in the Fitness Industry

Do you love working out? Do you enjoy guiding others to live a healthy lifestyle? Do you hate sitting still? Perhaps it’s time to consider a job in the fitness industry. There are many reasons why people choose to pursue sport, recreation and fitness. Working in these fields requires energy and dedication. It may be tiring, and you may feel responsible for the success of others. However, the end result is always worth the hard work put in – whether it’s a footy team winning, a PT client feeling better than ever or a recreational rock climber reaching the top of his or her first climb. Here are the top five reasons for working in the fitness industry.

Helping people
Do you love helping people? Working in fitness will allow you to have a positive impact on the lives of others. You could be a sports coach who inspires a team and encourages a player to pursue his or her dreams, or the personal trainer who helps someone shed layers of weight. Nothing feels better than being generous with your time and helping someone else reach their full potential.

Motivating yourself
Working as a fitness professional will encourage you to always maintain a healthy lifestyle so you can keep up with your job and clients. Being fit and healthy will also ensure you give a great first impression to potential employers. It may even encourage your loved ones to join the gym or start eating healthier!

Active lifestyle
If you’re sick of being stuck at a desk all day, or live an active lifestyle already, working in fitness could be perfect for you. You will be constantly on your feet, doing something you love so much that the days pass by quickly. Though you may be tired at the end of the day, you will never feel sluggish at work and will be guaranteed to enjoy a heavy sleep each night after all the physical activity!

Run your own business
Many fitness professionals choose to run their own business. A personal trainer may have his/her own client base, or may run training sessions in public spaces. Social media has given way to a new era of fitness professionals reaching new heights via Instagram, Facebook, apps and downloadable guides. With a creative, smart idea and a good marketing strategy, you too could be on the fast track to success. Working in fitness, sports and recreation is what you make it, and you can make it anything you want it to be!

Flexibility
Running your own business or working on a casual basis ensures flexibility in your life. Earn money and enjoy your job while still having enough time to spend doing other things – like spending time with your family or pursuing other hobbies. Working casually or running your own business means you can adjust your schedule to best suit your lifestyle.

Jobs in the fitness industry are becoming increasingly popular, and unfortunately being physically healthy and strong isn’t going to guarantee you a position. Determine your eligibility for Skills Recognition with a quick, easy skills review and you could be achieving a Nationally Recognised Qualification within weeks.

TopFive_Retail

Top 5 Things You Learn While Working in Retail

Like any job, working in retail has its ups and downs. Whether you work casually throughout school, or decide to pursue a full-time career in retail, you will learn many skills along the way. The best part? Most of them are transferable skills that can apply to all aspects of your life, including your social interactions and relationships, schooling or other jobs. Here are the top five things you learn while working in retail.

1. Great customer service has its rewards
The first thing you are taught when working retail is how to deliver excellent customer service. Whether it’s a warm greeting, asking about their day or following the seven steps to sale perfectly, providing the best experience is a huge priority for stores. Thought it may seem like a lot of effort that sometimes produces zero reward – after all, sometimes people really are “just looking” – giving great customer service will improve the reputation of your store, increase sales and may even cause you to be rewarded by your supervisors. Nothing feels better than a customer or colleague complimenting you on your superior customer service!

2. Patience is key
When dealing with a difficult customer, or even a difficult colleague, it can be hard to keep your cool. However, remaining calm will not only allow you to see the situation more clearly and find a solution faster. Being patient will also earn you the respect of your co-workers.

3. How to work as a team
Teamwork is a part of almost every job, including retail. Whether you work in a large department store or small specialty shop, working with others will help you reach success. Tasks will be completed more efficiently and to a higher standard. You will enjoy your time at work more, and it will be reflected in the way you treat your customers. Better team work, more sales, less stress!

4. Working under pressure
During busy periods like Christmas, working in retail can become extremely stressful. Not only does the number of customers in your store increase, but also so does the amount of stock. After working in such a busy environment for a while, you will begin learning how to multi-task and work under pressure. These skills are excellent because they can be transferred to other parts of your life as well, especially if you’re a student.

5. How to be a problem solver
In retail you will always encounter problems. It could be a disgruntled customer or one with a language barrier, not enough space for stock being delivered, unmotivated employees or an error with your computer or EFTPOS machine. When these situations occur there is only one thing you can do, problem-solve! After encountering the same types of issues over and over, you will begin to learn how to problem solve efficiently and effectively by assessing the situation in your head.

Many people who work in retail don’t realise they can also earn nationally recognised qualifications to support their experience, from a Certificate III in Retain Operations to a Diploma of Retail Management. Get Qualified Australia can assist through one of their many partnered Registered Training Organisations or by assessing the skills you already have to determine whether you are eligible for skills recognition.

Find out how you can transfer your retail skills into one of the below Nationally Recognised Qualifications today!

Diploma of Retail Management

Certificate IV in Retail Management

Certificate III in Retail Operations

Certificate II in Retail Services

9Steps_To_Promotion

9 Ways to Land a Promotion

Climbing the ladder and working all the way up to the top is something many

individuals visualise when they begin their career. However, with so much talent

in the workforce, it can be a challenge to prove you deserve a promotion more

than the person sitting next to you. Want a better chance of coming out on top?

Use these handy tips to kick-start your career progression.

 

Be drama free

Nobody likes a drama king or queen in the office. Earn a promotion by being a

team player. Don’t complain about your co-workers and their annoying habits. If

something is seriously wrong (like you feel threatened), take it to the boss and

avoid getting involved in the drama. You need to provide positive results, not

unnecessary issues.

 

Smile

Happy face, happy work place! You may be feeling tired or stressed, but

continuing to smile will not only boost your mood, but also the moods of those

around you. A better mood equals better productivity and better work.

 

More notes, less repetition

The majority of bosses report feeling irritated when they are asked the same

question over and over again. Although they’re happy to explain things once or

twice, especially if you’re new, after a while you will be expected to be able to fly

solo. When you’re learning new information, take notes. That way you will

always have access to the answers you need, whenever you need them.

 

Keep your promises

Being a valuable member of the team means keeping your promises. If you tell

your boss you will have a report done by 5pm, have it done. If you promise to

teach your co-worker a new skill, follow through. This will show how reliable

you are and increase the likelihood that your boss will trust you with the added

responsibility of a promotion.

 

Offer help

Giving a helping hand will show your generous spirit and value in the workplace.

If someone in your team is working overtime, offer to help them get it done

faster. If there’s a storm and someone is catching the bus or train home, offer a

lift. Even simply offering to do a coffee run will show that you care about the

welfare of the team.

 

Know your job

What better way to impress than to know your job inside out? You should know

your responsibilities, execute tasks with expertise and be able to explain what

you are doing and the reasons behind it.

 

Don’t expect a reward

The worst thing that you can do is assume that for every good deed or excellent

piece of work you produce, you will be rewarded. Bosses expect you to work

hard because you are passionate about the cause and the company, not because

you are vying for a promotion or pat on the back. If you act without expectation,

you are more likely to receive positive feedback and support from your co-

workers and employer.

 

Challenge the head honcho

Although it’s best not to constantly disagree and argue with your boss (especially

when they have far more experience), at times it can be helpful to challenge their

point of view and provide a new idea or perspective.

 

Don’t stop learning

Adding new skills to your resume and using them in your work will boost your

chances of receiving a promotion. Not only will the quality of your work increase

and spectrum of your experience widen, but you will also demonstrate to your

employer that you believe in self-improvement. If you believe you already have

all the skills and prior learning you need, make it official. Get Qualified Australia

is dedicated to helping individuals validate their skills and experience. Have

yourself assessed and be amazed at how many qualifications you are eligible to

claim.

 

Scoring a promotion isn’t meant to be easy. Bosses will reward those who they

think have earned more responsibility and deserve a new role. Producing great

work, being a friendly presence in the office and a reliable member of the team

will all put you on the path to a promotion.