Stuck In A Career You Don’t Like? 5 Steps To Make A Successful Career Switch!
Making a career switch is never easy . . . especially if you’re dissatisfied with the one you’ve invested in. But it happens. And it’s better to be realistic than suffer from an unwanted career.
I remember a customer of mine a few years ago. He was very upset with his career choice. He realized after many years he had made a mistake. I asked him how he knew. He said, “Because I throw up Sunday night thinking about having to go back to my career on Monday morning.”
Fortunately, for most people, thinking about making a career switch isn’t quite so violent. But it can be distressing . . . especially if you’ve invested time and education in your career choice.
But, if you’ve come to the realization that what you’re doing right now just isn’t right for you, then it’s time to take some steps to make a career switch. So, here’s what you need to do.
1. Don’t act precipitously! If you’ve made a mistake, jumping into something just so you feel better or to avoid some pain is definitely not the way to go. Take your time to sort out your options.
2. You DO have options! But you’ll discover what they are only by doing your homework. You’ll discover that what you’ve got going for you will suggest some directions for you to pursue. But you have to be ready to think outside the box. Don’t rely on job descriptions to determine your career path.
3. The first piece of home work is to do a serious self-assessment. Take the time to make a list of your skills, capabilities and assets. Don’t think only in terms of your work history. And be sure to include strengths you’ve acquired outside the job, e.g. people skills, leadership experiences, organizational abilities, etc.
4. Match up your personal profile with the kind of jobs you’d be willing to entertain as part of a new career direction. Think in generic terms. Picture yourself doing jobs you would enjoy and find fulfilling. Do not think specifically about who would hire you.
5. Finally, identify the kind of work environments you would find satisfying. Stay away from naming specific companies. Rather focus on describing the kind of situations you would find most fulfilling, e.g. surroundings, attitudes, physical characteristics, managerial styles, etc.
Once again, you have options. There’s no one thing at this stage in your investigation that should be your ultimate career choice. In fact, you can’t make a real choice until you have options. So the result of your homework should be to deliberately come up with several optional career directions.
Like I said, making a career switch is never easy. But if you take your time and do it the right way, you’ll be gratified to discover there are probably several career directions you could take that make sense. Then, when it comes time to match your profile with specific job opportunities, you’ll be in the enviable position of selecting your next job rather than settling for it!
Paul Bowley manages EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and innovative e-business strategies . . . since 1985. Check out THE WORLD’S FASTEST JOB SEARCH PLAN! And grab our stunning FREE REPORT! http://www.fastest-job-search.com
How To Become A Successful Freelance Translator
Tips On How To Become A Successful Freelance Translator
-Once you have graduated, you should first gain a few years practical experience in a translation firm. Often, a senior translator will act as your supervisor and will monitor your progress, by informing you about your strengths and weaknesses, while revising your translations. This will help you to acquire all the necessary skills and abilities that are required for you to become a freelance professional translator.
-If employment opportunities are not available, you can also apply for the post of an unpaid, “volunteer” trainee. Many translation agencies do not have the financial resources to hire new staff, but they are equipped to provide you with excellent training.
-After honing your skills in an established translation agency for a couple of years, you will be capable of identifying potential clients. You could sign a part-time contract, which will provide you with more time to identify clients and more importantly, enough money to survive on.
-Once you have been able to get sufficient freelance work to keep you busy through the week, you can also consider ending your employment contract and dedicating all of your extra time and effort to attracting new clients. Any experienced freelance translator can earn as much as or even more than most salaried, full-time translators.
Where To Look For Jobs?
-Translation Agencies: In general, most translation agencies are not too keen on hiring the services of new and inexperienced freelance translators. It takes a while for a freelancer to prove themselves. They need to prove that they can meet deadlines, provide a consistent level of good quality work and consult appropriate resources to deal efficiently with any required specialization. To reduce the risk of loss and to avoid related costs, most translation agencies only hire freelancers who have been exposed to a minimum of 2-3 years of experience in the business.
-Business Clients: In an attempt to directly identify the companies, freelance translators have found it increasingly difficult to find clients and get work. Most companies prefer to outsource translation services to their business partners. Companies look for translation agencies that can meet their requirements in a number of languages. Agencies are easily available and are capable of completing tasks and meeting deadlines.
The translation field is very competitive. However, if you are willing to take some time building your clientele, proving yourself and improving your language translation skills, you can build a successful career as a freelance translator.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution’s 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.
Teen Jobs . . . Where Do You Start? 5 Simple Guidelines!
Looking for teen jobs? Maybe summer work? Or after school?
The good news is that there’s a strong demand for teenagers who want to work hard. And good money to be made. But you’re not going to get it just by wishful thinking. In fact, you have to be prepared to work for it.
However, if you go about your teen jobs search the right way, you can dramatically move the odds in your favor by following some simple guidelines.
1. Look at many options. Don’t limit yourself to one particular job or one special employer. Go around to several businesses in your area and pick up employment applications. While you’re there, look around. Get a feel for the operation. Is it a place where you could feel comfortable working? What would your fellow workers be like?
2. Do some basic intelligence gathering. Get some information about the organization and what they’re looking for in a successful employee. Probably your best source of intelligence is to ask people who are currently working there.
3. Fill out all the applications correctly and neatly. Remember, this is the first exposure you’ll have to an employer. So you want it to be one that makes you look good. Speaking of looking good, dress neatly when you return the application. Ask to speak to the manager so he/she can put a live face to the written application. Being memorable helps a lot.
4. You pick the one that’s right for you. Not all applications will be accepted. But if you’ve approached several businesses, the chances are you’ll net two or three invitations to come in for an interview. It’s there that an employer will make a hiring decision about you. And when you’re picked, that’s the time to decide which opportunity is the best one for you. There’s nothing like having options!
5. Look and act like a pro! You get one shot at making an impression on an employer. When you meet face-to-face it’s make or break time. So dress neatly. Look the employer directly in the eyes with a smile. Have a firm handshake. Answer questions enthusiastically. And be sure to say that you’re honest, hard working and have a habit of showing up on time.
Look. Teen jobs are readily available these days. But only to those who can give the employer the reassurance that you will fit in as a productive member of the team. Only you can communicate that. Don’t presume that an employer will figure it out. You need to be assertive in promoting yourself.
For teen jobs, employers are looking for someone who’s trustworthy, on time, has reloiable transportation, a team player and eager to learn. Present yourself that way and you practically guarantee yourself a good job!
Paul Bowley manages EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and innovative e-business strategies . . . since 1985. Check out THE WORLD’S FASTEST JOB SEARCH PLAN! And grab our stunning FREE REPORT! http://www.fastest-job-search.com
Heavy Equipment Training Programs
Machinery such as bulldozers, cranes, excavators, forklifts etc that are used for construction are considered as heavy equipment. Since they are large in size are use for heavy-duty work, those who operate the must be adequately trained and be highly skilled. Those who handle these are called heavy equipment operators.
Heavy equipment operators generally specialize in equipment like bulldozers, backhoes, graders, cranes, etc. They repair, operate, maintain, and adjust these machines. They need to learn about the mechanism of various types of gear like pedals, levers, switches, hydraulic controls, turn dials, and various other devices that are present in equipment.
The work of the heavy equipment operator includes the handling of mining equipment, excavation equipment, and material handling equipment, or road construction equipment to excavate, grade and landscape the earth, or to transport workers, materials and equipment. Like other professions, this career requires a certain level of education and training in special schools.
If you are interested in getting trained by enrolling into a heavy equipment training program, there are a variety of advanced levels of certificate programs provided by the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS). These are the most comprehensive and innovative career programs designed for people who are interested in this field as a career. These programs offer fully accredited equipment career training for both new and veteran operators. After being certified, there are many job opportunities available in various industries like highway contractors, grading contractors, road contractors, housing development contractors, etc.
Many websites too offer some of the best on-line heavy equipment career training programs. The curriculum of the career training programs provide an overview to the heavy equipment industry, and train operators on the basic and advanced mechanisms involved in HE operations. The training is chiefly targeted at candidates looking for entry-level jobs. Many of the heavy equipment operator training courses are offered throughout the academic year, and can be taken to upgrade current skills, or fulfill degree and certificate requirements
Specialized training is also offered for a number of types of equipment. These include dump truck, tractor, scraper, wheel loader etc. Candidates learn how to safely and efficiently operate and maintain bulldozers, backhoes, excavators, wheel loaders, skid steers, forklifts, and so on. These training programs include acquiring expertise and knowledge in the basic operations of the equipments, as well as the safety precautions the operator must take. First aid certification is also given to the students. The duration of these programs are from 4 to 10 weeks, at the end of which the completion certification is awarded to the candidates.
After completing the course successfully, candidates will have the academic preparation and practical training required for jobs that can pay anywhere from $10 to $25, depending on the level of experience, expertise, and the employer.
According to the 2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the demand for construction equipment operators is expected to remain high right through to the year 2014. The handbook also reports that the average salary of construction equipment operators will be $17.00 per hour, but that highly skilled and experienced operators can earn over $29.34 per hour.
Become a Heavy Equipment Operator, with National Training. Check out our Heavy Equipment Graduates for real testimonials from regular people. Check out our website at http://www.earthmoverschool.com.
Network Engineering Jobs
Network sizes can range from a few hundred users to several thousand. Due to this growing need for networks, the field of network engineering is experiencing phenomenal growth.
Network Engineering
Network connectivity is vital for the emerging business world. Network engineering is essential in establishing and maintaining the network connectivity capability at universities, corporations and hospitals. It is a vast field that is a major part of the world of computers, telecommunication and radio technology.
Role Of Network Engineers
Network engineering in telecommunication includes the internetworking service components for switched networks and executing and developing software and hardware to meet the requirements. In the sphere of computers, network engineering deals with the development of software and hardware required to complete the computer design network purpose. In radio communication, network engineering is involved in the creation of network topologies. Its role in computing involves the building, maintenance and administration of computer networks.
This practice varies from company to company and frequently involves troubleshooting hardware and software and provides software support and system analysis and design. Generally, there are four types of computer networks: Wide Area Network or WAN, Local Area Network or LAN, Global Area Network or GAN and Metropolitan Area Network or MAN. Network engineers are expected to set up a network for the client. They work with the network manager to configure and design systems that manage and improve efficiency, to meet the business needs of the clients. The engineers are expected to be involved in daily administration of the installed system. The job activities that are involved in network engineering are:
- Setting up user accounts
- Issue of passwords and permission
- Maintenance of adequate security at the junction point of Internet and network
- Monitoring the network usage
- Installation and support for new software and hardware
- Implementation of preventive maintenance schedules
- Providing technical support to the end users
- Providing training on new systems
- Implementation and planning of future developments
- Working in coordination with other IT professionals
Qualifications For Network Engineering
The network engineer should possess good analytical and IT skills, the ability to prioritize the tasks, capacity and knowledge to explain the technical issues clearly, good interpersonal skills, excellent knowledge about networking technologies and the ability to remain updated with the latest developments. Network engineers should know how to use the basic network devices and they should have the required knowledge about the configuration and set up. There are job opportunities for network engineers in retail, finance, national and local government utility companies and health services.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution’s 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.
Finding a New Job
The new realities of securing employment in today’s changing world require a new belief. Finding a new job is not always easy, whether you are an executive or just starting out in your career. Designing and planning your career, and taking a proactive, self-directed approach is the success formula.
Making the wrong move can cost you time and money. With the stakes so high, before finding or looking for a new job, you should clarify your career path to ensure you are headed in the right direction. Once you have completed the preliminary work such as identifying your career path, creating a well-constructed resume and detailed cover letter; how do you find your ideal job?
Here are some ideas:
1. Networking
Networking is the most powerful way of finding a job. Many jobs are never advertised because they have gone to someone’s friend or colleague. 62% of hiring managers found word of mouth referrals to be the most effective. Contact people and let them know you are in the job market. Attend professional association events where you can meet as many new people as possible.
2. Internet Jobsites
The internet is a very useful job search tool, but not an effective self-marketing tool. Although you will find job sites (monster.com, careerbuilder.com, workopolis.com, etc.) where you can post your resume, you must update your posting daily. New job hunters post their resume every day, pushing your resume down the list. Surveys have shown only a 4% success rate for being contacted for a job from an Internet posting.
3. Recruitment Agencies
Recruitment agencies serve as intermediaries between worker and applicant to ensure a match between the company’s needs and the applicant’s skills and interests. While this may get you an interview, you are often one of many applicants the agency has recruited for the same position, so you need to be even more prepared to sell yourself.
4. Headhunters (search and selection firms)
Headhunters are also recruiters. The difference, however, is that headhunters are much more specific in their recruitment. Rather than simply finding a pool of the most talented people, they focus on finding candidates who exactly match the qualifications specified by their clients. To this end, headhunters select candidates whether they are in the job market or not. If you are at a senior level in your career, you have probably already received calls from headhunters. As you look at the many paths available to you to attain your ideal position, getting an interview with a headhunter is the least likely to get you closer to your goal. Headhunters fill many of the world’s most prestigious positions.
5. Cold Calling
Cold calling means initiating an approach to companies; telling them about your skills and interest in working for them. Research shows a 69% success rate - even better than networking! Surveyed job hunters spent 24% of their time making these kinds of cold calls, which yielded 27% of their meetings. In contrast, the 45% of their time spent networking produced only 35% of their meetings (as reported by the Five O’Clock Club, a career-counselling network based in New York City). Why is cold calling so effective? Because it gives you the opportunity to make contact and penetrate the marketplace before positions are advertised to the general public.
6. Newspaper
Answering ads in local newspaper has a 5%- 24% success rate. The higher the salary, the smaller the chance of finding a job using that method. Trying to find a job requires the same dedicated time, energy, and effort to succeed as you put into the position you eventually find through your perseverance. Staying focused, and finding ways to deal with rejection (and use the information gained to help move you forward) will help you to be successful.
Copyright 2006, Cecile Peterkin.
Cecile Peterkin is a Certified Career and Life Coach, author and speaker. Feeling stuck in middle management or in mid career? Kick your career into high gear! Sign up for the FR-EE Career Guidance teleclass now at http://www.CosmicCoachingCentre.com/introteleclass.html
Simple Ideas For Getting The Job You Love!
If you are stuck at a job or a career that you hate, you can find a job you love, with some work and effort.
Many people in the world have jobs that they hate and they often see no way out of it. So, they often fail to put their best efforts forward and they only dream about what could be.
There are things each and every one can do. With focus and real effort, it’s possible to find a job you enjoy and not have that dread feeling every morning.
In your search for a job you really want, one of the most important things you can do is to use those around you - the people you know. By looking around for job openings in the field that you want to work in and making it known to others, you will find more support than you could ever anticipate.
Sometimes, it might be necessary to take a sideways move, or even take a little less income for a while in your target field, so you can experience new ideas and workload to achieve the bigger future. This enables you to maintain income as you seek your dream job.
You could also supplement your work experience with voluntary work locally that will supplement your skills and hence CV and well, of course, as doing a little good as well!
By telling others what you are doing; the goal you have; the kind of help you could do with, you will make known that that you are available and in the marketplace for the ideal job you seek. This will also significantly improve your opportunities for a great job that rewards you well, both in monetary terms as well as personally satisfying.
Don’t panic if the job you want doesn’t show up right away! It might take a while for the right one - and it will be worth it!
Yet, there is more than you could do if you are prepared to spend a little money on it. By training yourself and gaining broader experiences, you will have made a great start. Your local job centers; job searches and other recruitment organizations are there to help you. And, of course, you can go online too - where would we be without the internet?
At headhunter.com, they will help you find a job that matches your skills, as well as working hard to ensure that the job is what you want too. And governmental help too, despite the reluctance of some to seek this out, also offer resources and services to help you find and get the most from local opportunities towards achieving your goal.
Sometimes, people need a trigger to make the step-change that is so vital. Being ‘let go’ or redundant or ‘laid off’ can all stimulate a realization that the time has come to move on. Don’t be tempted with a quick-fix job that replicates the disappointing role you are leaving - take care to think through the direction you really want and plot a course of action.
A strategic plan sounds very high-powered and exotic, but is vital to make sure that you move up a level in what you want from your work. Step-by-step, making regular progress, day by day is the way to succeed, especially when change is significant.
Getting a job you’ve always dreamt about is a challenge. It takes strong motivation, time and resources - not to mention focus.
The result for you, will almost always be worth that extra work that you put into achieving your goal.
Just think about that dreadful feeling in the pit of your stomach each morning when that realization hits you that you have another day of grind at a job you feel miserable at. Is beating that feeling not a fabulous goal to aim for?
Then you can really get on with the life, and work, to make your dream complete.
(c) 2007 “How To Land Your Dream Job”. You can have the job of your dreams. It takes application, attention and the information you need to get you there, young or old. There’s all you need at Martin Haworth’s website, at http://www.HowToLandYourDreamJob.com
Use a Mentor for Your Career Success
Mentoring is a relationship that is established with someone who is an expert in their field. The mentor is usually older and more experienced than the mentee. The mentor shares their experiences, and the lessons they have learned. But the relationship benefits both the mentor and the mentee. The mentor benefits from the opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills. The mentee receives career guidance and helpful career advice to prepare for the next level in their career.
Many companies have formal mentoring programs in place for matching new employees with those already established in their career. If you are choosing your own mentors here are five tips to ensure a successful relationship:
1. A good career mentor:
- Is knowledgeable in their field
- Is generous and honest with advice
- Is a good communicator
- Is committed to the relationship
- Will get to know their mentee: her/his capabilities, interests and goals
- Will make recommendations for the mentee’s career development and path
- Will create learning opportunities and heighten the mentee’s career
- Will introduce the mentee to key people and professional organizations
2. Choosing a career mentor:
- Choose someone you admire
- Look outside your immediate work area - maybe your boss’s boss.
- Choose someone in another area of your organization who has had a career path similar to your goal.
- Find multiple mentors (I have clients working with more than one mentor in a formal relationship).
To find a career mentor outside of your organization, join professional associations where you can meet senior people and executives in your field.
3. Setting up the Mentor/Mentee Relationship:
- Before seeking a mentor’s assistance, make a plan. What do you expect from your mentor? What do you want to focus on? How much time do want to commit to this relationship? It is important for you to be clear about your expectations for your own benefit and in order to communicate this to your potential mentor.
- Invite the potential mentor to lunch or coffee to discuss your intention. Mentors appreciate the recognition, and are willing to share their knowledge and wisdom.
- At the meeting, effectively communicate your need for a mentor, your vision of the future. Define the relationship and why you would like this person to be your career mentor.
- Find out how involved the potential mentor wants to be in this relationship.
- Give them a chance to think about it - tell them you will get back to them in a couple of days.
4. The Relationship:
- Set up the parameters of the relationship together, how often, when & where you will meet, and the length of the meeting.
- Respect your mentor’s time. Show up on time for your meetings. If you have to cancel your meeting, give at least 24 hours notice.
- Set up boundaries for phone calls. Between meetings call only if absolutely necessary.
- Use your scheduled meetings effectively by organizing your materials and the topics you would like to discuss.
- Pay for your own meals and drinks or offer to pick up the tab for your mentor’s meal.
- If you are given an assignment, complete it on time.
- Show your appreciation by offering to help your mentor in any way possible. Send a thank-you e-mail communicating how this relationship has helped you or send a gift to recognize a special day for your mentor.
- Recognize when the relationship is winding down, communicate this, and wrap it up. If you would like to stay in touch with occasional updates of your career successes, clear it with your mentor at the end of the relationship.
- Obtain approval from your mentor before using them as a reference.
There are many benefits to a career mentorship, for both parties. Mentees gain the benefit of someone’s experience to help them navigate their career development. Mentors have the opportunity to reflect on their careers. Having clear goals and communicating these will ensure that the experience is positive and productive.
Copyright 2007, Cecile Peterkin.
Cecile Peterkin is a Certified Career, Life Coach and Speaker. Feeling stuck in middle management or mid career? Discover how a career coach can help you. Take our FR-EE Assessment and get a complimentary coaching session to get unstuck at http://www.CosmicCoachingCentre.com/careercoach.html .
The Downside Of Becoming Game Tester
Getting to be a Video Game Tester seems to be the better profession in the world currently after all, which other profession allows you to gain for what the whole world enjoys doing? If you are a Video Game Tester, apparently all you have to do is to play games for many hours a day, and get paid for reporting bugs and other flaws in the game. Does anything get rosier than that?
I am talking about sites that offer people to test games from the luxuries of their homes. This site offers people from all over the world to take the occasion of being a Video Game Tester. To be able to do this, people have to buy a membership on this site, which costs somewhere about $60. However, there are always some discount offers going on here, and then the membership is a lifetime membership. And then, on paying this amount, the people stands to earn anywhere between $10 and $80 per hour, and apparently just by playing games.
It seems too good to be true. But then, anything that is too good to be true usually isn’t. Being a Video Game Tester is touted to be a very highly paying job that anyone can do, but it isn’t by any means a simple job. There is indeed a lot of effort to be put in.
First and foremost, the prospect of playing games throughout the day may sound alluring at first, but believe me you, there is nothing more taxing than playing video games if you are doing it day in and day out. Playing video games round the clock may entice perhaps some video game freaks, but not the general population. And then, you would have to play a wide variety of games, including some downright gook. You have to be ready for that. A Video Game Tester cannot be a chooser. They have to play whatever game they manage to get, and have to see it through the end.
And remember, the job is for a Video Game Tester, not a video game player. That means, you will have to analyze and scrutinize every minor aspect of the game. Every bug will need to be reported, and even the errors in graphic will wants to be told. Doing this verbally is indeed a taxing thing to do.
Playing the game itself could be a difficult job to do. How often do we browse for walkthroughs and even game cheats when playing But, for a game that you are testing, there will be no such information. You will have to finish the game in most cases, without any assistance and only then are you eligible for payment. If you are not able to complete a level, there goes your money.
For some of us, there is also the question of job satisfaction to be taken into account. Okay, you are getting a fat check at the end of it all, but how much creativity are you using? Are you producing anything? These questions do rankle some hardcore professionals. Playing games is not looked upon as work, and Video Game Testers are sometimes looked upon as unemployed folk.
Finally, you must beware of all such Video Game Tester job sites on the net. There are lots of scams here, especially since they require to make a payment upfront. It is always good to go ahead on the recommendation of someone who has been in the field.
Sean is a Video Game Tester and he has seen the pros and cons of the field minutely. He does make his earning from this profession today, but he has had his share of setbacks. You can read some of his opinions on this website, which is available at: http://www.videogametesterreview.com
A Check-Up on Life
Many of us may have experienced even at least one point in our lives when we have taken a pause or a backseat from our journey to see how far we have gone and on whether this is the road that we want to take. Several times have we taken pit stops on the hope of having a clearer frame of mind to see the road that lies ahead of us. On the path towards what people may refer to as a life goal dream, self-fulfillment or however one calls it, there may be occasions when we feel there is a need for us to take a different course or to change the strategies that we may be currently doing.
Sometimes, life’s problems and hardships can bring us so down to the point that we lose the drive and the energy to get back on the path towards what we think would make us happy.
It is true that there are millions of people around the world who sit at home lonely thinking what they are life could have been had they chosen to pursue a career of their own.
There are millions of working individuals who dread the fact of waking up every morning and going to a job they hate every single day because they have no choice of the matter. Without that job, how could they pay the rent, put food on the table, pay for bills, send their children to school, etc.
Every single day, millions of people wake up to a day full of possibilities and a day full of uncertainty. You will never know if luck will strike or you will strike out on luck.
For the many who may be going through such a life’s crisis all I can say is this. We only go through life once so I say upon to you, look within yourself and try to assess on who and what you are to be able to select a future that you think is appropriate for you.
Don’t force yourself on things like a job that you wouldn’t like. If you are not given much of a choice, choose a job that could at least give you the income and the time to enjoy the other side of life. While we often think that it is greener on the other side of the pasture, think again.
Quite often, life’s simple pleasures are right under our very noses and all we lack is just some focus not knowing that it is right in front of us. Remember that life is complicated and is not only focused on your job but you have family, friends, etc.
Everything happens for a reason because everything has its proper place at the right time. Everybody deserves happiness in this world and it is all a matter of perspective and knowing where to look for what makes you truly happy.
Jim Brown writes about http://www.simplybestcoupons.com/
