Everyone dreams of having a great career but not many achieve. There are some fundamental facts that everybody should know about their career. Seems like small misstep can make you step into big career traps. These are the six career traps which I did like to mention and which you should not get into:
1) Having no plan: - This may lead to confusion. Failure is inevitable. It may derail your career. Plan out what you want to achieve. Have a balanced work-family life. Sometimes you need to have a backup plan also.
2) Lacking expectations: Meet up with different people, your supervisor and discuss what is expected of you. Lacking expectations can be the biggest career trap. If you are not told abut your duties and your position parameters, keep asking questions until you know what's expected of you.
3) Being a loner: The magic rule of a good career growth is relationships, or in other words, networking. Some people focus so hard on the job that they never get to interact with people in the other parts of the organization. If at all they interact, it may not be under friendly circumstances. Winning friends throughout the organization adds to additional benefits.
4) Taking indefinite decisions: - People who take tough decisions naturally stand out. People who take decisions indefinitely or uncertainly stand out for the wrong reasons. When you have a decision to make, focus on what might be an emergency. Frame out the job which is declared urgent and focus on the emergency.
5) Focusing too narrowly: - Make sure to develop a wide variety of applicable skills. With the developed new skills you can better market yourself so that an employer finds you or you can become one. Developing new skills can be like job insurance.
6) Covering up: - When you commit a mistake, the best thing is to take responsibility to fix it and not running away from it. Be honest to others about it and do not cover it up.
When you find yourself in a career trap, it may not be important how you fell in, but how you got out of it.
To read about the musings of a 22 year old and life of an aspiring handwriting analyst please visit http://www.kishorvr.com.
By Kishor V R
Friday, 30 January 2009
Career Change Ideas
7 Ways to Find Out What You Really Want to Do
You know, it is the lack of career change ideas that seems to keep many would-be career changers stuck.
One of the things that clients often say to me is:
I know I want to change careers, to do something different, but I just don't know what I want to do instead.
The problem is they are stuck in a habitual pattern of boxed-in thinking that prevents them from seeing the wealth of possibilities that are out there.
Would you like some tips to help you get out of that place and to help you to generate a range of new career ideas to explore? Then read on.
Tip 1 - Forget job titles
Job titles really inhibit your thinking. If I asked you to list all the jobs you could think of, you might come up with a couple of hundred before you ran dry. In reality there are thousands of jobs out there that you would never identify under your own steam, so forget the job title and focus instead on the key themes that are important for you in a job. What do you want your dream job to involve?
Tip 2 - List what you don't want to do
This is often quite easy to do if you are in a job you hate and it can be a very useful exercise. It helps you to focus on the aspects of a job that really drive you nuts and then also identify those that are annoying in your current job but actually you'd be prepared to put up with to some degree in a different situation. When you identify something as a no-no, ask if it would always be no under all circumstances. This will help you to avoid rejecting jobs in a knee-jerk way because they share similarities with your current role.
Tip 3 - List what you think you should want to do
What do you think your career should look like? What pressure are you putting on yourself to confirm to certain benchmarks (eg I must be earning a certain salary, I should be in a professional role, it must be something that other people will respect and admire me for). Just check with yourself whose rules you are following here. Who exactly says that your career must look like this? Is this really what you want or what other people say you should aspire to?
Tip 4 - List what you would do if anything were possible
Yes, you are allowed to take the brakes off here and create a big dream. Forget the constraints you put on yourself, wherever they come from. If your fairy godmother arrived to take you to the ball, what job or career would you ask her to line up for you as part of the deal?
Tip 5 - List what you would do if you gave yourself permission to say that you want it
So often, we limit the possibilities in our lives because we just don't allow ourselves to want something. Maybe you want to earn lots of money - but that seems too greedy. Maybe you want to have an easy, quiet job - but that seems too lazy. Maybe you want to set up your own business - but you can't because you have to think about so many other people in your life first. What do you need to give yourself permission to want to do?
Tip 6 - Reinvent yourself
If you could rewind the tape on your life and re-run it, what would you do? If you could dump all the stuff, the rules, the history that you have gathered on your journey through life to this point and travel light without the baggage, where would your journey take you? What would the new you look like and what work would this new person be doing? What does this tell you about what would really inspire you?
Tip 7 - Think big and think small
Your new career does not have to be something world changing and grand. If you want to change the world, great! Go ahead and build your new career around this big vision. But if you feel drawn to operating on a more local scale, that's fine too. Small changes can be just as transforming for your career and your life as big ones, so don't be fooled into thinking that bigger is necessarily better. Career change success is about finding what feels right for you.
So take some time to think about your career change with these 7 tips in mind - and by time I mean days, weeks, maybe even months if necessary. Changing career is a big step, so allow yourself the time and space to really think it through.
And while these tips are beginning to free up your thinking about new career possibilities, I invite you to take a look around the How To Change Careers website where you will find a host of career change ideas to get you moving, and you can also download my free ebook 11¾ Ways To Kick Start Your Career Change http://www.how-to-change-careers.com/kick-start-your-career-change.html
From Cherry Douglas - Your Career Change Guide
You know, it is the lack of career change ideas that seems to keep many would-be career changers stuck.
One of the things that clients often say to me is:
I know I want to change careers, to do something different, but I just don't know what I want to do instead.
The problem is they are stuck in a habitual pattern of boxed-in thinking that prevents them from seeing the wealth of possibilities that are out there.
Would you like some tips to help you get out of that place and to help you to generate a range of new career ideas to explore? Then read on.
Tip 1 - Forget job titles
Job titles really inhibit your thinking. If I asked you to list all the jobs you could think of, you might come up with a couple of hundred before you ran dry. In reality there are thousands of jobs out there that you would never identify under your own steam, so forget the job title and focus instead on the key themes that are important for you in a job. What do you want your dream job to involve?
Tip 2 - List what you don't want to do
This is often quite easy to do if you are in a job you hate and it can be a very useful exercise. It helps you to focus on the aspects of a job that really drive you nuts and then also identify those that are annoying in your current job but actually you'd be prepared to put up with to some degree in a different situation. When you identify something as a no-no, ask if it would always be no under all circumstances. This will help you to avoid rejecting jobs in a knee-jerk way because they share similarities with your current role.
Tip 3 - List what you think you should want to do
What do you think your career should look like? What pressure are you putting on yourself to confirm to certain benchmarks (eg I must be earning a certain salary, I should be in a professional role, it must be something that other people will respect and admire me for). Just check with yourself whose rules you are following here. Who exactly says that your career must look like this? Is this really what you want or what other people say you should aspire to?
Tip 4 - List what you would do if anything were possible
Yes, you are allowed to take the brakes off here and create a big dream. Forget the constraints you put on yourself, wherever they come from. If your fairy godmother arrived to take you to the ball, what job or career would you ask her to line up for you as part of the deal?
Tip 5 - List what you would do if you gave yourself permission to say that you want it
So often, we limit the possibilities in our lives because we just don't allow ourselves to want something. Maybe you want to earn lots of money - but that seems too greedy. Maybe you want to have an easy, quiet job - but that seems too lazy. Maybe you want to set up your own business - but you can't because you have to think about so many other people in your life first. What do you need to give yourself permission to want to do?
Tip 6 - Reinvent yourself
If you could rewind the tape on your life and re-run it, what would you do? If you could dump all the stuff, the rules, the history that you have gathered on your journey through life to this point and travel light without the baggage, where would your journey take you? What would the new you look like and what work would this new person be doing? What does this tell you about what would really inspire you?
Tip 7 - Think big and think small
Your new career does not have to be something world changing and grand. If you want to change the world, great! Go ahead and build your new career around this big vision. But if you feel drawn to operating on a more local scale, that's fine too. Small changes can be just as transforming for your career and your life as big ones, so don't be fooled into thinking that bigger is necessarily better. Career change success is about finding what feels right for you.
So take some time to think about your career change with these 7 tips in mind - and by time I mean days, weeks, maybe even months if necessary. Changing career is a big step, so allow yourself the time and space to really think it through.
And while these tips are beginning to free up your thinking about new career possibilities, I invite you to take a look around the How To Change Careers website where you will find a host of career change ideas to get you moving, and you can also download my free ebook 11¾ Ways To Kick Start Your Career Change http://www.how-to-change-careers.com/kick-start-your-career-change.html
From Cherry Douglas - Your Career Change Guide
3 Good Things a Recession Does For Careers
Are you sick of hearing bad news about the economy and job market? Well then, this post is for you.
I'm not trying to discount the fact that a lot of people are suffering professionally these days. Yet, the reality is that a recession actually has some short-term and long-term upsides when it comes to how we manage our careers. That's right, there is some good coming out of 2.5M jobs lost, wide-spread hiring freezes, and a soon to reach double-digit unemployment rate.
Here are three good things a recession does for our careers:
1) Makes being 'let-go' not as hard to accept, nor as difficult to explain.
Today, I spoke to someone who just got let go from their job with a radio station. He's not that upset about it. Why? He simply said, "My manager told me 20 other people on the team got let go too - and I was the most recent hire. So, I know it had nothing to do with my performance." Getting laid-off is mainstream. We all know one or more individuals who lost their job recently. Which means, those who get let go aren't taking it as personally as they would if it happened in a good economy. Instead of feeling singled-out and wondering, "What's wrong with me?" they are able to effectively rationalize the situation by saying, "I'm not the only one. This was out of my control."
2) Gets people to rethink the concept of evaluating people based on what they do for a living.
Our society has always put heavy emphasis on determining how much respect to give someone based on their profession...until now. We live in a culture where the phrase, "What do you do?" is asked as frequently, if not more so, than, "How are you?" Let's be honest, we are all guilty of sizing up someone we've just met and making huge assumptions about them based on what they say they do for work. But in an economy like this, job status suddenly shifts. Those that are employed, regardless of their education or job title, have everyone's attention. This shift has a profound impact on how we connect with others. It helps us to see people differently, and in many cases, build relationships with those we might not have bothered to connect with in the past. For example, getting a college degree has always been a status climber in the US, but watch this 20/20 segment and you'll have a whole new respect for the savvy individual who opted to work their way through trade school. In short, a new set of careers suddenly becomes 'attractive' in a recession.
3) Forces people to accept jobs they wouldn't have otherwise taken.
Needing to pay the bills can make even the most discerning job seeker take work that will provide a paycheck. In doing so, people make new and often valuable connections, and in some cases, even discover new career paths. A young man I knew took a job bartending after college at a local country club. He had a degree in finance, but couldn't land a job. Instead, he spent several months serving drinks to the club members. He got to know a lot of the regulars quite well, to the point that he would get their drinks ready as they walked in the door without them asking. One day, one of the members who had been particularly impressed by the bartender's attentiveness and professionalism asked him about his background. The grad shared his story of getting a degree but not being able to find work. The member gave him his business card and the name of a person at his office to call for an interview. One week later, the former bartender was in a new full-time job.
By JT O'Donnell
I'm not trying to discount the fact that a lot of people are suffering professionally these days. Yet, the reality is that a recession actually has some short-term and long-term upsides when it comes to how we manage our careers. That's right, there is some good coming out of 2.5M jobs lost, wide-spread hiring freezes, and a soon to reach double-digit unemployment rate.
Here are three good things a recession does for our careers:
1) Makes being 'let-go' not as hard to accept, nor as difficult to explain.
Today, I spoke to someone who just got let go from their job with a radio station. He's not that upset about it. Why? He simply said, "My manager told me 20 other people on the team got let go too - and I was the most recent hire. So, I know it had nothing to do with my performance." Getting laid-off is mainstream. We all know one or more individuals who lost their job recently. Which means, those who get let go aren't taking it as personally as they would if it happened in a good economy. Instead of feeling singled-out and wondering, "What's wrong with me?" they are able to effectively rationalize the situation by saying, "I'm not the only one. This was out of my control."
2) Gets people to rethink the concept of evaluating people based on what they do for a living.
Our society has always put heavy emphasis on determining how much respect to give someone based on their profession...until now. We live in a culture where the phrase, "What do you do?" is asked as frequently, if not more so, than, "How are you?" Let's be honest, we are all guilty of sizing up someone we've just met and making huge assumptions about them based on what they say they do for work. But in an economy like this, job status suddenly shifts. Those that are employed, regardless of their education or job title, have everyone's attention. This shift has a profound impact on how we connect with others. It helps us to see people differently, and in many cases, build relationships with those we might not have bothered to connect with in the past. For example, getting a college degree has always been a status climber in the US, but watch this 20/20 segment and you'll have a whole new respect for the savvy individual who opted to work their way through trade school. In short, a new set of careers suddenly becomes 'attractive' in a recession.
3) Forces people to accept jobs they wouldn't have otherwise taken.
Needing to pay the bills can make even the most discerning job seeker take work that will provide a paycheck. In doing so, people make new and often valuable connections, and in some cases, even discover new career paths. A young man I knew took a job bartending after college at a local country club. He had a degree in finance, but couldn't land a job. Instead, he spent several months serving drinks to the club members. He got to know a lot of the regulars quite well, to the point that he would get their drinks ready as they walked in the door without them asking. One day, one of the members who had been particularly impressed by the bartender's attentiveness and professionalism asked him about his background. The grad shared his story of getting a degree but not being able to find work. The member gave him his business card and the name of a person at his office to call for an interview. One week later, the former bartender was in a new full-time job.
By JT O'Donnell
Changing Careers in Uncertain Times
If you feel your job is unfulfilled and boring, or that your talents are not appreciated, you are not alone. Everyone, now and then feels the need to freshen their talents and gain new experience in the field of their choosing. The choice to make a career choice must be carefully made, but it may not be for you.
It is very important to consider all the options before choosing to change your line of work. This may well be one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life and in these times it is even more important to choose carefully. If you are having doubts about these choices, then here are a few tips to help you make the correct choice.
Prioritise your goals - Your goals should be what determines your decision to stay or go to a new job. Visualise the new working environment, the tasks as hand, the new co-workers, hours, location etc. Is this really the right move now?
Do you want a job which gives utmost financial satisfaction? State everything that you want to achieve, and do not only involve your own life in the process. Also consult family and friends about the decision that you have to make. Remember that these people are the ones who know you best.
Examine your skills - No one knows better than you what your strengths and weaknesses are. Write down all the skills and experience you have accumulated over your working career. Pay special attention to those skills you may take for granted, but highly prized by employers.
What were the things that your previous company has developed in you? Do you think that you will be able to use these skills in your new job once you get one? If not, then there is a need for you to further develop these skills in order for you to be ready for the next job that you are going to embark in.
Where would you like to go - After considering your experience, skills and capabilities, you can start to discover why it is you really want to leave your job in the first place. Were you not given the opportunity to grow in your job or develop your skills?
Is your new job much different to the one that you have already? You may want a big change or you may want a similar job, but different environment. If you want something different in your career, then make sure the job you are considering is different.
Research your dream job - If you want to switch jobs and careers, then you have to have a clear idea of what job you should be in. Always research new jobs and evaluate yourself as to what changes are needed to satisfy your career. Knowing about the jobs and careers that you would like to be in will provide you with a good idea on where you would be in the next few years.
By Eamo Mur
It is very important to consider all the options before choosing to change your line of work. This may well be one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life and in these times it is even more important to choose carefully. If you are having doubts about these choices, then here are a few tips to help you make the correct choice.
Prioritise your goals - Your goals should be what determines your decision to stay or go to a new job. Visualise the new working environment, the tasks as hand, the new co-workers, hours, location etc. Is this really the right move now?
Do you want a job which gives utmost financial satisfaction? State everything that you want to achieve, and do not only involve your own life in the process. Also consult family and friends about the decision that you have to make. Remember that these people are the ones who know you best.
Examine your skills - No one knows better than you what your strengths and weaknesses are. Write down all the skills and experience you have accumulated over your working career. Pay special attention to those skills you may take for granted, but highly prized by employers.
What were the things that your previous company has developed in you? Do you think that you will be able to use these skills in your new job once you get one? If not, then there is a need for you to further develop these skills in order for you to be ready for the next job that you are going to embark in.
Where would you like to go - After considering your experience, skills and capabilities, you can start to discover why it is you really want to leave your job in the first place. Were you not given the opportunity to grow in your job or develop your skills?
Is your new job much different to the one that you have already? You may want a big change or you may want a similar job, but different environment. If you want something different in your career, then make sure the job you are considering is different.
Research your dream job - If you want to switch jobs and careers, then you have to have a clear idea of what job you should be in. Always research new jobs and evaluate yourself as to what changes are needed to satisfy your career. Knowing about the jobs and careers that you would like to be in will provide you with a good idea on where you would be in the next few years.
By Eamo Mur
Career Advice - 13 Steps to Help Secure Your Job
There may be forces at work beyond your control that can disrupt your career path and put your job at risk, but there are at least 13 steps you can take to help secure your employment and advance you toward your career goals.
1. Come to work early and stay late. This schedule demonstrates, like nothing else, that you are making the extra effort. The extra time enables you to plan your day and review your performance at the end of the day. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to get to know the boss and his challenges.
2. Take on extra assignments with a can-do attitude. Volunteer to help others with their work.
3. Recognize that resources, once readily available, are probably now harder to come by. Find ways to do more with less. Be a solution, not a problem.
4. When you come to work leave your personal problems behind. Nobody really wants to hear about your troubles. Dwelling on them diverts your attention and saps the energy you could apply to reaching your career goals.
5. Meet deadlines. Stay on budget. Promise what you will deliver, and deliver what you promise. If you can't deliver, say so up front and explain why. Be prepared to offer alternatives.
6. Don't complain about your workload, especially to your boss. Accentuate the positive.
7. Don't criticize your boss, your employer or your associates. Recognize and respect that they are under greater pressure on the job just as you are.
8. Understand the condition of your employer's business. Know where you and your job fit in. Don't pass along rumors.
9. Maintain and expand your network of contacts on and off the job. Keep your resume up-to-date...just in case things go sour with your job.
10. Learn new skills that will improve your performance and prepare you for a promotion.
11. Maintain your sense of humor; but cut out the practical jokes and horsing around that disrupt work. Work with a positive attitude.
12. Don't resist change. Be flexible. Manage new conditions and requirements to your advantage.
13. Be sure your boss knows of your contribution and accomplishments. If your employer doesn't provide regular performance reviews, ask your boss to discuss your performance and your career goals.
These 13 steps can help assure career success in good times and bad.
By Ramon Greenwood
1. Come to work early and stay late. This schedule demonstrates, like nothing else, that you are making the extra effort. The extra time enables you to plan your day and review your performance at the end of the day. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to get to know the boss and his challenges.
2. Take on extra assignments with a can-do attitude. Volunteer to help others with their work.
3. Recognize that resources, once readily available, are probably now harder to come by. Find ways to do more with less. Be a solution, not a problem.
4. When you come to work leave your personal problems behind. Nobody really wants to hear about your troubles. Dwelling on them diverts your attention and saps the energy you could apply to reaching your career goals.
5. Meet deadlines. Stay on budget. Promise what you will deliver, and deliver what you promise. If you can't deliver, say so up front and explain why. Be prepared to offer alternatives.
6. Don't complain about your workload, especially to your boss. Accentuate the positive.
7. Don't criticize your boss, your employer or your associates. Recognize and respect that they are under greater pressure on the job just as you are.
8. Understand the condition of your employer's business. Know where you and your job fit in. Don't pass along rumors.
9. Maintain and expand your network of contacts on and off the job. Keep your resume up-to-date...just in case things go sour with your job.
10. Learn new skills that will improve your performance and prepare you for a promotion.
11. Maintain your sense of humor; but cut out the practical jokes and horsing around that disrupt work. Work with a positive attitude.
12. Don't resist change. Be flexible. Manage new conditions and requirements to your advantage.
13. Be sure your boss knows of your contribution and accomplishments. If your employer doesn't provide regular performance reviews, ask your boss to discuss your performance and your career goals.
These 13 steps can help assure career success in good times and bad.
By Ramon Greenwood
Career Metamorphosis
Are you happy at your current job?
Do you enjoy waking up every day and going to work for your employer?
If I asked you what you are passionate about, could you give me an answer?
The sad reality is most people I've talked with are not happy where they work and have NO IDEA what they are passionate about.
What in the hell happened to us? How did we create a career or work environment where the status quo is acceptable, maybe even preferred?
"I just want to do an honest day's work for an honest day's wage."
What does that mean?
Do you have a pulse?
Bring in the crash cart!
If you are in a dead-end job that is no longer challenging or you are working for a company stuck in the "old guard" way of doing things, you have an excellent opportunity to dramatically change your reality.
No more excuses.
No whining.
No settling.
Prepare to leave the job that is killing your soul.
Imagine if you decided to let all of the drama fall away and began to take stock of your strengths, and true interests. What if you could immerse yourself in a training program, class or book to learn more about your discovery?
What if you could become the most amazing version of yourself to date?
A part of self exploration involves making an investment in YOU by taking some time to map out your dream. You've heard me talk about mind maps, vision boards and dream quests. What do you have to lose by taking a closer look?
Stop putting up with corporate sadism and shake yourself off like the big dog you are!
Uncover your options.
What is it about you that makes you special?
What do you want to do?
Seriously, if you could do, be or have anything you wanted, what would that look like for you?
Do you really plan to wait another two, three, four or five years to make a change?
WHY?
Are you a masochist?
Corporate loyalty is an illusion.
If you are ready to leave the job that is killing your soul, begin with the following actions:
* Identify your strengths and talents. If you were to ask 5 people that know you well; what would they tell you about you?
* Explore how you can apply your strengths to your career interests - do some digging. Immerse yourself in this research.
* Discover a mentor and create an opportunity to have a conversation with her.
That's it ...
Identify, Explore and Discover.
GET TO IT!
"Your life is worth much more than you know" - Maya Angelou
Unconventional, spirited and delightfully curious, Shann Vander Leek is a fresh new voice in the arena of mindfulness and extreme self care. She is the founder of True Balance Life Coaching, LLC. and a Coach Training Alliance Certified Coach and Yoga Instructor. Shann inspires women in transition to create balance in their lives through personal coaching, yoga and creative expression.
She is the author of the e-book Getting Your Groove Back - A Luscious Living Guide and Co-author of a new series of team-authored books for women titled, Wake Up Women BE Happy, Healthy & Wealthy. Shann's personal style and direct approach have guided many in overcoming personal and professional challenges. Her background in broadcast television advertising sales,marketing and client development along with leading a talented sales force for 11 years prepared her for the business of professional coaching.
Telephone and email consultations make Shann accessible to clients all over the world. Visit http://www.truebalancelifecoaching.com to sign up for Getting Your Groove Back - A complimentary Life Balance e-course.
By Shann Vander Leek
Do you enjoy waking up every day and going to work for your employer?
If I asked you what you are passionate about, could you give me an answer?
The sad reality is most people I've talked with are not happy where they work and have NO IDEA what they are passionate about.
What in the hell happened to us? How did we create a career or work environment where the status quo is acceptable, maybe even preferred?
"I just want to do an honest day's work for an honest day's wage."
What does that mean?
Do you have a pulse?
Bring in the crash cart!
If you are in a dead-end job that is no longer challenging or you are working for a company stuck in the "old guard" way of doing things, you have an excellent opportunity to dramatically change your reality.
No more excuses.
No whining.
No settling.
Prepare to leave the job that is killing your soul.
Imagine if you decided to let all of the drama fall away and began to take stock of your strengths, and true interests. What if you could immerse yourself in a training program, class or book to learn more about your discovery?
What if you could become the most amazing version of yourself to date?
A part of self exploration involves making an investment in YOU by taking some time to map out your dream. You've heard me talk about mind maps, vision boards and dream quests. What do you have to lose by taking a closer look?
Stop putting up with corporate sadism and shake yourself off like the big dog you are!
Uncover your options.
What is it about you that makes you special?
What do you want to do?
Seriously, if you could do, be or have anything you wanted, what would that look like for you?
Do you really plan to wait another two, three, four or five years to make a change?
WHY?
Are you a masochist?
Corporate loyalty is an illusion.
If you are ready to leave the job that is killing your soul, begin with the following actions:
* Identify your strengths and talents. If you were to ask 5 people that know you well; what would they tell you about you?
* Explore how you can apply your strengths to your career interests - do some digging. Immerse yourself in this research.
* Discover a mentor and create an opportunity to have a conversation with her.
That's it ...
Identify, Explore and Discover.
GET TO IT!
"Your life is worth much more than you know" - Maya Angelou
Unconventional, spirited and delightfully curious, Shann Vander Leek is a fresh new voice in the arena of mindfulness and extreme self care. She is the founder of True Balance Life Coaching, LLC. and a Coach Training Alliance Certified Coach and Yoga Instructor. Shann inspires women in transition to create balance in their lives through personal coaching, yoga and creative expression.
She is the author of the e-book Getting Your Groove Back - A Luscious Living Guide and Co-author of a new series of team-authored books for women titled, Wake Up Women BE Happy, Healthy & Wealthy. Shann's personal style and direct approach have guided many in overcoming personal and professional challenges. Her background in broadcast television advertising sales,marketing and client development along with leading a talented sales force for 11 years prepared her for the business of professional coaching.
Telephone and email consultations make Shann accessible to clients all over the world. Visit http://www.truebalancelifecoaching.com to sign up for Getting Your Groove Back - A complimentary Life Balance e-course.
By Shann Vander Leek
Tips For Getting Ahead in Your Career
Think Ahead
Unfortunately many of us don't necessarily plan for the future of our careers. We think about the here and now.
We close our eyes and hope for the best. However, to be really successful - unless you just happen to be lucky - the key to a successful career is to think and plan ahead.
Choose Your Degree Wisely
Majoring in liberal arts or English Lit might sound like more fun, but how will it read in the corporate environment?
A degree in business, math, or science is going to look far more impressive to your employer.
Don't Stop at Your Bachelor's Degree
Online colleges make getting a degree easier than ever. That means more employees will at least have their bachelor's degree.
So, in order to stand out to your employer, you need to go above and beyond a bachelor's degree. Strive to get a master's degree, or even a PhD.
Be Willing To Take the Odd Assignment
Not only do these odd assignments make a great addition to your resume, they tell employers that you are fearless, flexible, and willing to think "outside the box".
Market Yourself Enthusiastically
Telling people how wonderful we are may sound a bit like bragging. And, for many of us, it's one of the most difficult challenges affecting our ability to move ahead in our careers.
But, unless you've got some incredibly unique skill that no one else in the world can do, it's what you must do to have your abilities recognized and to help you stand out above the competition.
Big Cities Is Where It's At
Career-making Meccas like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami are the places to go if you want to see your career move in a positive upwardly-mobile direction.
Not only is there more money to be made working in a big city, the growth opportunities are virtually limitless.
Don't Be Afraid To Change Jobs
While you don't want to look like you're job-hopping by changing jobs too frequently, it's not unusual to find yourself up against a brick wall i.e. a not so good supervisor, or perhaps you're lacking enthusiasm you're your current position.
At any rate, changing jobs can add some pizazz back into your career.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.
By Tony Jacowski
Unfortunately many of us don't necessarily plan for the future of our careers. We think about the here and now.
We close our eyes and hope for the best. However, to be really successful - unless you just happen to be lucky - the key to a successful career is to think and plan ahead.
Choose Your Degree Wisely
Majoring in liberal arts or English Lit might sound like more fun, but how will it read in the corporate environment?
A degree in business, math, or science is going to look far more impressive to your employer.
Don't Stop at Your Bachelor's Degree
Online colleges make getting a degree easier than ever. That means more employees will at least have their bachelor's degree.
So, in order to stand out to your employer, you need to go above and beyond a bachelor's degree. Strive to get a master's degree, or even a PhD.
Be Willing To Take the Odd Assignment
Not only do these odd assignments make a great addition to your resume, they tell employers that you are fearless, flexible, and willing to think "outside the box".
Market Yourself Enthusiastically
Telling people how wonderful we are may sound a bit like bragging. And, for many of us, it's one of the most difficult challenges affecting our ability to move ahead in our careers.
But, unless you've got some incredibly unique skill that no one else in the world can do, it's what you must do to have your abilities recognized and to help you stand out above the competition.
Big Cities Is Where It's At
Career-making Meccas like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami are the places to go if you want to see your career move in a positive upwardly-mobile direction.
Not only is there more money to be made working in a big city, the growth opportunities are virtually limitless.
Don't Be Afraid To Change Jobs
While you don't want to look like you're job-hopping by changing jobs too frequently, it's not unusual to find yourself up against a brick wall i.e. a not so good supervisor, or perhaps you're lacking enthusiasm you're your current position.
At any rate, changing jobs can add some pizazz back into your career.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.
By Tony Jacowski
Monday, 26 January 2009
How to Change Careers
If you find yourself out of work in a field that is simply not hiring, now may be the perfect time to change careers. Very often, you can obtain employment by restructuring your resume so that it reflects different strengths and attributes. In other cases, you may want to opt for a complete career change to a field that is going to remain stable in years to come. Take the following tips when it comes to changing careers:
Take a look at the outlook for the employment field of your choice
If you have not joined a job network site, now is the time to do so. Here you can see which jobs are hot and pay the best salaries. You will not want to take a job that you will not enjoy just for the money - this is a big mistake. Be sure to choose a career field that appeals to you - one that you will enjoy when you are considering changing careers.
Find out what skills are needed for this career choice
Every type of career requires certain job skills as well as education. There are some career fields that require more training than education and some that you can enter with as little as 6 months training. Take a look at your employment choices and see what you need to do to enter the career field of your choice. Remember that you are changing careers and not furthering your own career. More of an education in the same field is not required. You may need to totally revamp your education.
Consider teaching
One way that you can change careers is to consider teaching. If you have a four year degree and have been laid off from a business job, consider getting a teaching certificate. There are many school districts desperate for qualified teachers. One of the easiest career changes that you can make is to transfer from the private sector to the public by getting a teaching certification. Jobs in this field offer a decent salary as well as benefits.
Acquire the skills
After you have decided what you want to do, start to acquire the skills. If you are still employed, you can opt to take classes to get your training or education in the evenings or online. In some cases, you can work at your own pace to acquire the skills and education that you need to earn a job in the career field of your choice. Many times, you can get the skills and education you need in a short amount of time so that you can embark on your career change.
Build your resume
Once you are ready to go out and seek a job in your new employment field, you can the build your resume that is geared towards this field. Be sure to use all resume building tips that you can to accent your positive attributes and what you can bring to your new employer. You may want to take some resume building tips from a job network board, especially if it has been a long time since you created a resume for yourself.
by Ray Subs
Take a look at the outlook for the employment field of your choice
If you have not joined a job network site, now is the time to do so. Here you can see which jobs are hot and pay the best salaries. You will not want to take a job that you will not enjoy just for the money - this is a big mistake. Be sure to choose a career field that appeals to you - one that you will enjoy when you are considering changing careers.
Find out what skills are needed for this career choice
Every type of career requires certain job skills as well as education. There are some career fields that require more training than education and some that you can enter with as little as 6 months training. Take a look at your employment choices and see what you need to do to enter the career field of your choice. Remember that you are changing careers and not furthering your own career. More of an education in the same field is not required. You may need to totally revamp your education.
Consider teaching
One way that you can change careers is to consider teaching. If you have a four year degree and have been laid off from a business job, consider getting a teaching certificate. There are many school districts desperate for qualified teachers. One of the easiest career changes that you can make is to transfer from the private sector to the public by getting a teaching certification. Jobs in this field offer a decent salary as well as benefits.
Acquire the skills
After you have decided what you want to do, start to acquire the skills. If you are still employed, you can opt to take classes to get your training or education in the evenings or online. In some cases, you can work at your own pace to acquire the skills and education that you need to earn a job in the career field of your choice. Many times, you can get the skills and education you need in a short amount of time so that you can embark on your career change.
Build your resume
Once you are ready to go out and seek a job in your new employment field, you can the build your resume that is geared towards this field. Be sure to use all resume building tips that you can to accent your positive attributes and what you can bring to your new employer. You may want to take some resume building tips from a job network board, especially if it has been a long time since you created a resume for yourself.
by Ray Subs
Invest in a Financial Career
There are all kinds of careers out there, and some people are better suited for certain types of careers than they are for others. A very popular career choice today is banking or working in the financial sector. There are a lot of reasons behind this, but they are as various as the people who work in that field. Money is one of the benefits to working in banking and finance, especially as you get further up in the ranks. If you are working as an investment banker, for example, you are probably making a great deal of money. Unfortunately, you also have a lot of stress and anxiety that goes along with it. There is a serious pressure to perform that might not be seen with other types of banking. If you want the money (or at least some of it) but not the stress, working in corporate finance could be a better choice for you. People who work in that field get to make a lot of important financial decisions but they don't have as much stress and pressure as investment bankers.
That lower stress level is one of the big benefits to working in corporate finance, but it's still a stressful and complex job. If you're new to it you might only make a modest amount of money per year, but once you gain experience and move up you could see a large increase in your salary. You have to like the job, though. It's not for everyone, despite the fact that it pays well. If you go into a financial career with only the idea of money in mind you'll likely end up being disappointed because there are a lot more facets to the career than that. The type of work that you'll be doing and the people that you'll be working with and for have a lot to do with whether you like your job and whether you want to keep doing it as a long-term career, so think carefully about the benefits of an investment career versus the stress and the lack of enjoyment that you might face if you think that finance isn't for you.
by artavia.seo
Reasons to work in the Netherlands
You might not have thought that much about working in the Netherlands, but there are many opportunities there for the right person. Of course, when you look for work in another country, things can be very difficult because of the language barriers, the translation issues, and other concerns. If you want to work in the Netherlands you'll have to have a work permit, but they are not that difficult to get, so you shouldn't have a lot of trouble obtaining one. People who are being interviewed in the Netherlands commonly ask questions of the interviewer as well, so be aware of that. There are always some cultural differences and issues that come into play when people work in other countries, but you don't want to underestimate how important to your professional and personal life it can be to work in another country. You will learn a great deal by working in the Netherlands. In that country time is money, so you should be expecting to work. You can't go there and expect to get a free ride because you aren't from that country.
Most meetings are not formal, though, and the goal is to reach a consensus between everyone instead of just having one person make a decision and tell everyone else what to do. That can be great for people who really like to work in groups and who enjoy having some say in what's taking place in the company in which they work. It can take time for meetings to be completed and decisions to be made, though, so patience and an understanding of the culture is necessary. Generally, jobs in the Netherlands pay well and the people that you will work for, and with, are direct and to the point, so you'll know what is expected of you and you won't be left guessing whether you are doing something right or wrong. This can sometimes be a problem with jobs in other countries, but in the Netherlands you won't have that problem. You must get used to the directness, though, so that you're not offended by it or mistake it as rudeness. It's simply the way business is done there.
by artavia.seo
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