August 2, 2005 18:47 - Seven Steps to Making a Successful Career Change
Seven Steps to Making a Successful Career Change
By Bonnie LoweMy first job was secretary to Moses. Having to transcribe and make 2,430 copies of the Ten Commandments convinced me I was on the wrong career path! OK, maybe I'm not quite THAT old. But I did start out as a secretary. While I didn't mind the work, eventually I decided it wasn't very satisfying. I often felt like a "tool" that helped others contribute to the organization's success. I wanted to make my own contributions, to find creative ways to make a difference. It took me about 12 year to come to that conclusion, decide to do something about it, and change my life.
If you are not happy in your current job, perhaps it's time to think about making a change yourself. Here's what you should do:
1. Determine why you're not happy. Are you really unhappy with the work you do, or just upset with your salary, boss, coworkers, or the office environment? There's a difference between hating your job and hating your work, and realizing that will help you decide what course to take.
2. Find your passion. What do you love doing more than anything else? List your top three favorite activities. Try to be a bit realistic here and choose activites that you might be able to earn a living with. For instance, if your three favorite activities are sleeping, eating and watching TV, your career options are somewhat limited. But do include hobbies and activities one doesn't always associate with work.
3. Evaluate your strengths. What are you good at? Consider more than just your technical skills. For example, do your prefer leading or following; analyzing or simplifying; working alone or with a group?
4. Do research. What career fields would allow you to use your passions and strengths to earn a reasonable living? There are some great online resources (such as www.jvis.com) that offer tools to help you do a self-assessment and then find careers that match your interests and skills:
5. Consider alternatives to jobs. Some people go into business for themselves when they become fed up with their jobs. If you think simply switching careers isn't enough, look into that alternative and others, such as... marrying a millionaire, becoming a beach bum, winning the lottery, writing children's books, painting and selling pictures, doing consulting work... the sky's the limit!
6. Create a plan. Once you know where you want to go, figure out what steps you must take to get there. Determine exactly what you need to do, how much time it will take, and what it will cost. It's probably best not to leave your current job until you're ready and able to start earning money with your new job/venture.
7. Get help. You'll be amazed at how helpful people will be when you tell them your plans. Talk with family, friends, professional associates, club members; participate in topic-related online forums; NETWORK as much as possible! Achieving great goals is always easier when you have others cheering you on and helping you out.
Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
More career information ( salaries & aptitude tests for specific jobs ) can be found on our partner sites Top USA Jobs and Career Information Resources.
August 8, 2005 04:39 - Writing CVs and Resumes for Professionals with Examples
Writing CVs and Resumes for Professionals with Examples
By Mike KelleyTips on writing your Skills and Achievement Based CV (ABCV) by Mike Kelley at First Impressions
Conducting a job search is like marketing and selling a product -- with YOU as the product. The best way to market yourself is to go through this sales sequence. In sales you have the "Features and Benefits" of the service or product provided. When selling yourself these can be communicated as your "Skills and Achievements".
Your abilities can be overlooked and difficult to understand especially if you are coming from a different background. The recruiter or employer may feel that the language used or "buzz words" do not match. If the recruiter is forced to decipher too much information or jargon, he or she may be unable to see the experience they seek. With a little innovation, and change in CV style, you will effectively position yourself as a worthy candidate and make the transition to another job or job area.
The first step for the transition is for you, the applicant to understand your skills and abilities, and how those abilities relate to your intended job target / business or industry. These can be indexed on the front page of the CV for IMPACT, in business they can be anything from Leadership, Human Resources, to Policy-making and Strategic Planning. Everyone's talking about "key words and key skills" in all professions not only in business. If you possess plenty of experience and have attained a number of achievements you should start thinking about writing an "ABCV".
The targeting and visual presentation of your skills and achievement based CV is critical. Readers should be immediately impressed with the appearance, and the way your CV communicates the "value" you can bring to the vacancy. For more information and to view ABCV examples please visit http://www.cv-service.org
Mike Kelley probably has unrivalled CV / Resume writing experience. He has written over 5000 in the past 15 years. He consults and has worked within international job searching, emigration services and management recruitment. He now operates a full time CV / Resume writing service from home. http://www.cv-service.org/whyme.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
More career information ( salaries & aptitude tests for specific jobs ) can be found on our partner sites Top USA Jobs and Career Information Resources.
August 23, 2005 18:42 - A Peek at Nursing as a Career
A Peek at Nursing as a Career
By David CrowtonWe need more people to choose nursing as a career. There is a national shortage, so the career choice would guarantee future employment fresh out of school.
Just last week, as I was taking care of a patient of mine, a doctor asked, "Kim, how did you decide to become a nurse?"
That question caused me to reflect over nearly 25 years, and it still causes me to wonder sometimes. You see, I was not one of those little girls that wished to be a nurse, although I really liked the head nurse on Emergency. I told her, "You know, I think nursing chose me."
I went on to explain that I had changed my career path my freshman year of college. I was taking courses that I found to be interesting, along with the 'basics'. After a year of not committing to a degree plan, my dad put his foot down and he strongly encouraged me to find some direction.
I remember thumbing through the college catalog and finding the degree plan for nursing. I was surprised to see that I had taken nearly every prerequisite course except for anatomy and physiology. I applied to the program, was accepted and the rest is history.
Being a nurse has real advantages. Continuing education is an integral part of most professions. Nursing is no exception. This knowledge actually saved the life of one of my children!
Patrick was almost 4 years old. He was enjoying a piece of Halloween candy. My husband was watching him, and he called me in when he saw that Patrick was choking. I gave those 5 abdominal thrusts as if I did it every day of my life, when in fact I had only performed it on a few mannequins over the years. That piece of candy shot out, just like in the videos that they would make us watch. Never again do I groan when the lights go down and we have to watch that same training video.
Scrubs
Another advantage to this profession is the uniform. What other profession allows you to wear clothes that are as comfortable as pajamas! And they are so much more colorful than that starched white from years ago. I had to wear a nursing cap with the white uniform and the white hose and shoes when I was in nursing school. Now you can tell what Holiday is around the corner based on the attire of the nursing staff.
Another change for the better is that more men are entering the profession. I think that it has bettered the salaries. For fear of making sexist or offensive remarks, I will leave it at that.
Continuing in my footsteps.
Today, my oldest child is attending a nursing program. She will be a nurse in less than a year. I have no doubt that she will be an excellent asset to the profession. She did not decide to do this as a career until she was in college for a year.
Choosing nursing as a career
If you like working with people and helping them during some of the most important times of their lives, then I have no doubt you would thrive in your career as a nurse.
For more information go to www.NurseCrow.com or visit www.CrowSites.com for a complete listing of other topics
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This author is the founder of http://www.CrowSites.com . David is attemping to write articles of intrest on various topics featured on the various CrowSites. You can read more at http://www.NorwayCrow.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
