I learned the advantages and disadvantages of virtual events as opposed to meetup events and conferences. Obviously, the biggest difference is that one is in person and one is virtual or online, therefore, virtual meetings and events tend to gloss over the communication and social interactions that would normally come with in person events. While this may serve as a hinderance, virtual events give the benefit of being able to easily access the attendees, and do the research into their credentials that you might not be able to do in the moment during an in person event.
I learned what resources I have access to in order to build my network. Your network is a series of connections in which you can contact. normally consisting of highly valuable or informative individuals. One of the resources that nearly everyone has access to are meetup events and/or conferences. Attending these meetup events and/or conferences allows you to meet a large range and variety of skilled individuals of their field. This is highly effective as you are able to meet a lot of professional individuals in a short period of time in a large density.
I learned how to effectively network with other people. The traditional way of networking with other people was to attend professional events. In the professional events, there would be a good number of individuals that would be beneficial to have a connection with, and during this event, you can introduce yourself and exchange contacts. However, in todays day and age, networking has become highly accessible through the forum of the internet, as online networking can be done through the use of sites that are dedicated to connecting with others, such as LinkedIn and Facebook.
I learned the importance of networking with other people. People like to throw around the buzz word "networking" a lot, and what it means is to make personal connections with other individuals. Normally, the people that you try to network with are people that are experienced in other fields, or in a different department of your field. The reason why you want to have connections is because of the various benefits that it may provide, depending on who your connections are. If you have connections with people who are highly experienced in a field, you can strategically use them to advance your career and unlock more opportunities.
I learned what identity theft is and how to avoid it. Identity theft is when someone gets a hold of enough of your personal information that they can actually impersonate you. The reason why anyone would want to impersonate you is that they are able to get things based on your expense, as they can get financial gains by using your information, take for instance, a bank loan. The most easy and effective way to avoid being a victim of identity theft is to never share your personal information publicly, and only providing such information to people or things you know you can trust.
I learned the red flags that you should keep your eyes out for when concerning scams. If someone offers you a job that you obviously don't have the credentials for, and asks for an upfront payment, it is most likely a scam. Someone offering you a job upon first meeting may also be an indication of a scam, as it was out of the blue. Never give out your personal information without having accepted the job offer, and things that seem like a get rich quick scheme are best to be left avoided.
I learned how to avoid being scammed on purchases online. When looking for something that you want to buy on an online website, make sure that the price listed is accustomed to the norm. If the product is more expensive than the same thing someone else is selling, obviously buy the cheaper one. However, if someone has listed the product for a significantly lower price, that can be an indication that they are trying to scam you. People normally wouldn't sell something for cheap if consumers are willing to pay more for the product, which in most cases mean that the product is either defective, or they are not going to send you the product after you pay.
I learned how to properly keep your eyes open when encountering or steering clear from scams. The easiest and most effective way to avoid any scams at a worksite or work opportunity is to do your research. If there is something you must sign and will be legally bound to, always make sure to read the fine print thoroughly. It is quite easy to tell whether something is fake or not, especially when it comes to companies, doing a little background check on the history, requirements, etc. can show any holes that may be in their plan. As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
I learned that you need to be beware of scams that may present themselves. Many people are looking for opportunities remotely, as in todays day and age, it is a desirable line of work. Being able to work from home and still make a good salary is many peoples dreams, however, there are some people who use this desire of others for their own selfish benefit. People who bait others with fake or conspicuous remote opportunities knowing that there is a high demand for the line of work often use it to exploit the people, which is known as scamming, Thankfully, there are a lot of common tactics that scammers will use, so you are able to avoid these scams if you are attentive enough.
I learned how important it is to maintain job loyalty when working remotely. Although it may be hard for many to become loyal to their job and see it as more than that, especially when it isn't something that you enjoy doing, it is still beneficial to get in that mindset and to attribute loyalty towards your job. It would be a great step in the right direction, including for the healthiness of your wellbeing and commitment, to set professional loyalties that will allow you to grow in your workspace. This will also lead to you avoid conflicts more easily and reliably, and avoiding conflicts is great for the integrity of the workplace.
I learned how to maintain a positive job experience when working remotely. There are a lot of people who have trouble concerning their superiors, whether it be piling work on you, taking advantage of your kindness, etc., the most important thing to do is to keep a clear head and look to have a diplomatic conversation or interaction with them to resolve your issue. In cases like these, it can be helpful to have knowledge about what employers can and can not do to you, as well as the techniques that they often use to entrap their employees in an attempt to control them. If you are being pressured into doing something that you do not want to do, do not feel like you are obligated to do it, saying no is not a bad thing.
I learned how important it is to maintain a paperless office. In todays age in technology, it would be wise to make use of digitized documents, as they are more flexible than physical documents. Physical documents require you to have them in hand in order to utilize them, but with digitized documents, you can access them anywhere as long as you have access to a device. As a result of this, digitized documents can help you increase your productivity for your remote job, as being able to do your tasks from anywhere saves you the trouble of having to stay in your home, giving you a lot more freedom with your life outside of work. This also means that your work is not limited to one place, allowing you to do work when you need to.
I learned just how important virtual meetings are in a remote work setting. When working remote, most companies let their employees be free of a tight schedule and rather have them create their own schedules, as long as they are able to accomplish whatever task they are given in time. Something like meetings are important to make sure that your employees don't slack off since their schedule is so loose. Meetings can also be beneficial to the employee, as you are ultimately being critiqued by an expert in your field.
I learned how important communication is within a remote work setting. It is great to make connections with your colleagues in order to be more productive, but first you must actually spend a considerable amount of time with them, even if its through your screen. Making sure that everyone is on equal footing for how they can communicate to one another, whether it be on group projects or meetings, it is key to always now how to contact each other, and this can be done through online services such as Slacks or other group emails. Scheduling is also very important, as otherwise the straining amount of work might catch up to you, and this also encourages high productivity. It is also best to fit your schedule with your colleagues times, so all of you are comfortable of when you work.
I learned how important collaboration within a remote team is. It would be in everyone's best interests to connect with one another and build strong relationships, as having such familiarity can help in teamwork and stability with projects. Productivity is obviously a good thing to have when working, and being able to tap into that willingness to still try even when working from home is an important skill to have, as being professional will always be beneficial.
I learned how to make sure that you succeed in your position for a remote job once you land it after the interviewing process. One of the most important processes to make sure you put in the effort is the onboarding process. It is always a good opportunity to familiarize yourself with what and how you will be working, and the onboarding process does just that, by giving new employees all the basics and necessary steps to making sure that they are working properly at their job.
I learned how to stand out from all the other candidates that are applying for the same job. It is important that you show and emphasize your credentials, as what your interviewers are looking for is whether or not you are fit and qualified for the job. In order to make sure you don't lose out on your opportunities you need to make sure you ask for what you seek, as this is a great way to form connections with others.
I learned the intricacies of job interviews online and held virtually. By understanding how to present yourself professionally and dominantly, you will be able to place yourself higher than the other candidates in the mind of the interviewers. Not being able to maintain a professional atmosphere and stature during a virtual interview could cost you your spot at the job, and since most interviews in todays age are held online, it is important to make sure you familiarize yourself with the various online tools used, most notably zoom. Sometimes, it may be in your best interest to negotiate your salary, but that requires confidence and negotiating skills, as well as a lot of risk.
Today I learned some of the most important steps in making sure that your job interview goes smoothly and you get hired. Obviously the first and most important step is to make sure that you know the important things about the company first, as an interview is the perfect time for you to show that you understand what you have to do. Probably the single things that companies look out for the most are your resume and cover-letter, as that is the ticket to the actual interview. Always try to paint yourself in a positive light, but not in an arrogant way, and make sure to state that they should hire you over the other candidates and explicitly state good reasons why.
I learned how important it is to make sure that you don't let other people control you. Don't think that anyone can belittle you or preach something that is untrue, as giving them the reaction that they want is basically controlling you. People are inherently manipulative and egotistical, and you shouldn't pay them any mind. If they try to stand as an obstacle before you, it is your choice whether or not you allow yourself to care. They're words are only words, and if they had absolutely meant it or had any ill intent, they would've acted on it, so really, they have no power or influence in your life unless you give it to them.
I learned that happiness isn't something that is out of your grasp, that it is actually a choice on whether or not you decide to have happiness. You will always experience problems in life, whether they are traumatic, disheartening, etc., but it is always your choice on how you react to the situation, and whether or not you will allow it to stop you or stand as an obstacle. This is very important to understand because most of the time, the obstacles that we face are actually just us stopping ourselves from being able to move forward, and understanding that happiness is a choice, and that the feelings you feel don't have to be the way you are will greatly increase your moral and dedication to move forward and succeed.
I learned that it isn't as hard as you may expect when it comes to not being afraid of failure. Fear is one of the biggest obstacles that gets in the way of peoples success, and some of the easiest ways to overcome this fear of failure is to never expect anything, as expecting the best can actually lead to a lot more discouragement when you actually receive something bad. It is very beneficial to remove this concept of perceived fear, as simply being unafraid of such failure will result in much higher results than otherwise.
I learned the importance of mental health, and how it applies to your daily work ethics. If you are not in good mental conscious, it can greatly hinder how professional you are and how productive you can be with your work. I learned that there are a variety of easy things that you can do to help improve and maintain your mental health. Some ways that I learned today are to make sure to help others, with one key way being to give, with there being many opportunities such as volunteer work. Eating healthy is a pretty simple method, and you can be very experimental with it as everyone's preferences are different. Sleep is self-explanatory as it is a natural way for our bodies to rechange themselves.
Today I learned the correlation between health and productivity. It is important not only to be mindful of your physical well-being, but also your mental health as well. Both of these factors play a huge role on whether or not you can be productive with your daily tasks, as if you are not feeling well physically or mentally, it can put a strain on your willingness to put more effort into the things you do. I learned that one of the best methods to increasing both your physical and mental health is to do physical exercises, which may take some time to develop into a habit, and later a lifestyle change.
I learned that it is beneficial for you to get a good grasp of how you spend and use your time over a certain set period. This is important because it allows for you to get a basic overview of either how lax or productive you are throughout your day, and using this information can help you find ways to improve productivity and be more resourceful with your time. I also learned that multitasking does not actually improve productivity contrary to what I believed before. It is actually more efficient to focus your energy and priority onto one task as it is more productive to do so since that is how the brain is wired to function.
I learned that there are a lot of things that go into managing your time more effectively and efficiently. You need to be able to prioritize what you have to do over the other distractions in your day. You need to be able to set a clear goal that you want to reach by a certain time. You need to be able to plan how the day is going to go, and make sure that you are managing your stress, so it doesn't hinder your performance. Organization is key as it helps get things done quicker if you can find them easily.
I learned how to estimate your cost of living daily in my city which is New York. I was taught what the meaning of resale value is and what type of items have a higher resale value, meaning they sell for close to the same amount you bought it for, such as real estate. On the other hand, there are wasteful purchases which means that you are most likely to only sell it for a small percent of what you bought it for. I also learned what liquidity is, in which it is how accessible a way of extracting your money is when in an unexpected or urgent situation.
Today I learned more about the ways to get paid. I learned the intricacies of cryptocurrency like Bitcoin and the benefits and downsides to being paid in that form as opposed to being paid in cash. I found out one way in which I could improve the quality of my life and that is by understanding my financial situation. Knowing what your net income is and making a budget and regulating your spending can help with that.
I learned how working remotely is different from in person at the workplace, such as commuting time, work schedule and efficiency. I also learned the seemingly negatives of working remote, mainly that it may be easy for you to accidently work too much or too little on a free schedule. Techie also taught me what savings and checking's banking accounts are, as well as the difference between them. I was taught the properties of a check and how/when to use them appropriately. There were also a large variety of credit cards with different interest rates, so we were able to compare them in different situations.