Posts tagged: Career

Review of Career Building

Review of Career Building

This article was written to offer some hope for frustrated capable employees on the one hand and frustrated unqualified employees on the other hand.

Career building can be defined as progress into higher ranking jobs with different and more challenging responsibilities, what is known as job enrichment. It can also mean progress into another job where the match between personality traits and job requirements is a better fit, what is known as job rotation. Sometimes such career building can go along with promotion and higher remuneration.

Career building is normally possible in three ways.

If you are already a working adult, it means you have some sort of scholastic qualification, a certificate of proficiency, a degree or a technical artisan qualification. In other words we can say that you are proficient in some or other occupational discipline either through study, experience or both. If you want to stay in your present discipline like for instance marketing, finance or fitter and turner, the only way for career building upward, is into supervisory and managerial positions. To achieve this type of career building, you must improve your supervisory, managerial and leadership skills. We call this vertical career building. If you already have these skills, vertical career building can be achieved by grasping career opportunities that may come along, either in your present employer organization or in another organization.

Career building can also take place by moving from one discipline to another more lucrative or desirable discipline. This means you will have to learn new theories and practices to comply with the new job requirements. We call this horizontal career building. This move is desirable if you can get a better fit for your personal talents or interests.

Such a career change strategy will require good planning and effort to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills base for your horizontal career building. After your career change move, vertical career opportunities will again only be possible by learning the skills of supervision, management and leadership.

The third way to achieve career building is to start your own business. If it proofs to be a success and you can remain in business, the only way to grow and expand is to employ other experts to handle the work load. Again you will have to apply the principles of supervision, management and leadership and hopefully provide career opportunities to others, who may join your business.

So, it seems that whatever way you choose for career building, you cannot escape from skills training in supervision, management and leadership; not even if you are professionally qualified as a dentist, medical doctor or lawyer. Even if you operate a one-man business, you must interact with suppliers and customers, where you are going to need a lot of this knowledge to treat them to your own ultimate benefit.

Some people achieve career building through the application of nepotism (appointment of unqualified favoured friends and family members) or politically motivated appointments, which normally turns out into frustration for the job holder, subordinates and superiors, if job requirements cannot be met by the job holder.

If you want to be good in your job, whatever job that may be, you must also have the skills of supervision, management and leadership. Even the lowest level job need the application of the principles of supervision, as they apply to all jobs.

However, gaining the necessary skills is only one half of the recipe for rapid career building, as the most important ingredient must yet follow, by proving the results of learning through a high level of performance. A high level of performance in job key performance areas, as revealed by measurements of the job key performance indicators against targets or standards, will be the ultimate proof of job maturity and job satisfaction. This is also called performance management. Performance in a job can in itself also lead to career opportunities opening for you.

Normally, in order to comply with the law, you must earn a relevant driver license to drive a vehicle on a public road in any country. If you want to become a doctor, you must first earn the relevant qualifications to get your license to apply your skills in the medical profession. Likewise, if you want to become an engineer or lawyer you must first earn your qualifications by formal studies and pass certain minimum standards, before the relevant degree can be bestowed on you, as your license to operate in your particular sphere of expertise. If you aspire to become a Supervisor, Manager or Top Level Manager, you must also earn your relevant license to operate in such positions, the same way that the drivers, doctors, engineers and lawyers do. Otherwise, you can never claim to be a career professional as a Supervisor, Manager or Top Level Manager, as you will be trying to drive a section, department or organization without a proper license. This license is your key to career building.

Career building even starts at the youngest of ages. Yes, with your children. You can help them profoundly by triggering their interest in hobbies, crafts, sport, music and nature. The earlier they can discover their talents, the earlier they can start to develop it. If you give attention to this aspect of Child Career Building, they will be in a better position to choose their careers according to their interests and talents, when that time of imminent choice-making arrives. It will provide them with better career opportunities according to their best talents.

Above all, if you want to be successful with raising your kids and ensure that they become successful and the best possible world citizens, you are going to need some parenting skills as well.

Child Career Building is not a sole responsibility of schools and teachers. Children are far more influenced by parents than by teachers. Parental influence is the single most important factor in Child Career Building, especially so in the early stages of Child Career Building.

Child cognitive, intellectual and psychological building can be a culmination of genes, circumstances, environment and parental influence, of which parental influence is the most dominant and critical factor to impact on Child Career Building and behavior. With the right knowledge, parental influence can also be the easiest to apply for the beneficial building of cognitive, intellectual and psychological processes in children. Parents must fulfill their parental duty and prepare their children for the best career opportunities.
Most adults who end up as World Class Heroes and Champions started building their talents from an early childhood age.

Taking Free Career Advice With a Grain of Salt

Taking Free Career Advice With a Grain of Salt

Every graduate who takes free career advice from a friend or family member needs to look beyond the advice to determine motivations. Your graduation from university will be accompanied by dozens of loved ones and colleagues offering free career advice without solicitation. Your desire to be polite to every career advisor should not lead to an acceptance of free career advice without some analysis. There are multiple criteria you can apply to career advice to determine the tips that are best for your young career.

The professional background of an advice provider is important as you consider free career advice. A lawyer offering advice on specific areas of legal studies to pursue in postgraduate education is a valuable resource. A retired police officer who provides tips on success in IT sales may not offer the best advice available. You should ask what an advisor does for a living to place free career advice into context.

The substance of free career advice may not be effective if the presentation style of your advisor is unorthodox. This advice does not need to be provided through a PowerPoint presentation but it should be provided with a certain sense of decorum. You should not take free career advice from an individual who is promoting a specific company, criticising a specific company and using inappropriate language during their advice. The quality of free career advice is only as good as the person presenting the advice.

The best free career advice comes from an experienced professional with anecdotes to back up his suggestions. Your recent graduation from a university should leave research and methodology courses fresh in your mind. You would not draw assumptions in philosophy, biology and other fields without sufficient evidence. You should apply this same standard to free career advice.

In contrast, the worst career advice comes from people who think that one-size-fits-all platitudes help in every situation. A relative who says that the secret to any job lies in a single characteristic or action cannot be regarded as a trustworthy source of career advice. There are few professions where one piece of advice is sufficient to guiding a professional toward profit and happiness. Your quest for advice on building a successful career should take into account multiple points of view. These tips can help you develop relationships with trusted advisors who can offer help throughout your career.

Career Advice & Professional Mentoring Tips

Career Advice & Professional Mentoring Tips

If you have just left school and are trying to find a way to start your career then you might find that it’s much more difficult than you imagined. There are however quite a few things that you can do to land that dream career so that you’re proud and happy with your job.

Things you can do


Later on we’re going to mention the possibility of hiring professional career advisors to help you decide what sort of job to do, however before we show you how to find mentors we will look at some of the important things that you can do yourself.


Getting a job and building a career is ultimately your own responsibility, even if you do decide to hire help you will still be required to put in plenty of effort. It’s not all up to the career advisor to get you your dream job. You must think about the type of job that you would like to do, and start planning how you are going to achieve it. If you can find your own way then you will find it much more rewarding.


Keep an eye on job vacancies in your local paper or on the internet, if you find any that match your career plan then apply to them even if you already have a job. Try to build relationships with people that can help you to achieve your goals.

To stand any chance of landing a good job you need to be seen as a form of expert in the field, to make this possible you should make sure that you communicate as much as possible. Tell people what you are doing, and don’t be afraid to take the credit when you do something right. The idea is to try and build your personal brand, some way to differentiate you from the hundreds of other applications.


The most important thing that you can do yourself is take a personal interest in getting the job done, don’t wait for people to come looking for you. Make sure that you’re the first to do everything, this way you stand a much better chance of climbing up the career ladder as quickly as possible.

Hiring Help


Once you’ve done all of the things that you can do to help yourself you might like to consider hiring a career advisor, there are a number of different executive coaching experts all over Australia, many of which can offer very useful services.


One of the most popular career advice websites is CareerSavant which can be found at www.careersavant.com.au. This site is wonderful because it puts you in touch with the business experts that you so desperately need to see, the cost of the service is very reasonable, and considering what you get should make all the difference to your career.


When using the services of CareerSavant you can either find a mentor through the website and then pay using them as an agency, or you can also look at private listings.

www.careersavant.com.au

Moving Beyond the Typical Careers Advice for a Successful Career

Moving Beyond the Typical Careers Advice for a Successful Career

There is no shortage of people offering careers advice to graduates throughout the United Kingdom. This advice comes with the best of intentions but most graduates are focused narrowly on getting their foot in the door within their industry. There are a few proven bits of career advice that graduates can take with them through their first year on the job.

All graduates need to keep advanced education opportunities open in their early careers. Advanced education can take the form of an online education program, an advanced degree program at a traditional university or a comprehensive training program within the workplace. Graduates just entering the work force need to think of tuition costs and fees as an investment in better wages down the road.

Graduates also need to show their interest in advancement early and often to their managers. Young professionals make the mistake of assuming that their hard work and completion of major projects will show their desire to move upward in the workplace. Every graduate should sit down with their manager as soon as they realize that they want to make their job a career and develop a path up the corporate ladder.

It is also important to build a network of colleagues and contacts throughout the workplace for support as a career progresses. Graduates make friends with their office mates but many overlook important contacts in different departments and different levels that can help them meet their career goals. The use of full staff meetings, parties and outings as networking opportunities can help a graduate build a list of references unparalleled by their peers.

In many industries, graduates need to begin publishing early and often in trade publications. Graduates who want to expand their possibilities within their particular industry should seek out every opportunity to promote their professional skills. Trade websites, blogs and conferences allow graduates to meet with experienced colleagues while showing off their acumen. The process of publishing itself shows the resilience and intelligence of a graduate before they ever get their first credit.

Graduates need to reassess their career goals on an annual basis to keep their perspective on their career path fresh. The idea that career goals are set in stone has been eliminated by the transient nature of modern employment. A graduate will change career paths and jobs several times in their lives which makes an annual reassessment of long held goals is the smart thing to do.

Ways To Discover Career Fairs

Ways To Discover Career Fairs

Career fair is an interactive job resource designed for people of all ages. If you desire to find the right career, discover different career options, or plan future education and training, you’ve come to the correct place! If you are interested to start a new career or if you are looking for a new job environment, you can always visit a career fair, because they are one of the best places to gather information on what type of jobs are available, and what type of qualifications are needed. While career fairs are easy to attend, they can sometimes be difficult to find.


Before outlining exactly how you can go about finding career fairs, it is very important that you first know exactly what they are. Career fairs are actions that are almost always open to the general community and held in public locations, like shopping malls. Although career fairs can differ, most employer participants set up their own tables or stands. These stands are often accompanied by printed information, brochures, or pictures about the company in question. Each stands are often occupied with a couple of company representatives; representatives who are able to accept applications or resumes, as well as answer any questions that job seekers may have.


Now that you know what career fairs are, you may be wondering exactly how you can go about finding them. While it comes to finding a career fair, one of the finest things that you can do is keep your eyes and your ears open. For example, many of the career fairs that are hosted in shopping centers are advertised weeks or sometimes even months in advance. Since career fairs are generally held in local shopping centers, you are advised to always be on the watch out for any career fair signs or banners. If you are not capable to visit your local shopping center or other public establishments, you can always trying calling them once a month or so to see if any career fairs are listed for the future.


Career fairs are often advertised in local newspapers as well. While in sequence about a career fair may appear in different newspaper sections, it is common to find information about them in the employment section of a newspaper. Although it is not as common as newspaper advertisements, many career fairs are also advertised online. If you have rights to use to any local business websites or message boards, you may be able to find information on an upcoming career fair.


Community boards are a new way that career fair organizers go about advertising their upcoming career fairs. Since most career fairs are planned months in advance, many organizers have the time to go around the neighborhood and hang-up signs. Lots of career fairs are advertised on college campus community bulletin boards. Businesses where those looking for work are likely to hang out may also have bulletin boards that may have information on available job openings or career fairs. These sorts of businesses tend to include restaurants or coffee houses.


You can also visit your local career counseling center, where you will get very useful suggestions and advises. These kinds of centers are where you should be able to receive assistance with finding a job. Most career centers are staffed with those who are educated on the art of finding, applying for, and landing a job. If you do include a local career center in or around your community, they are often the first ones to know about an upcoming career fair. That is why it is advised that you get in touch with your local career center to ask if they know about any upcoming career fairs. If they do, be sure to get the important information, like when and where.


You will be able to discover and attend any career fairs in your locality if you keep these points in mind. For the best chance of success, when attending a career fair, make sure that you bring many copies of your resume, dress for success, and be prepared for an onsite interview, because they do frequently happen.

A Career Assessment Test Can Change Your Life

A Career Assessment Test Can Change Your Life

 

Do you fear remaining trapped in the same boring job and facing the same grind over and over again? Do you feel like your expectations and your job are at different wavelengths? Is your boss a pain? Are you stressed out at work?

 

If your answer to any of these questions is “yes” then you surely need a change. But probably, you are not very sure which way to go. You may be ridden with serious doubts about your future career prospects. Nothing new there. Like you, thousands of others are also wondering what to do with their lives; unlike you, a few of them have chosen to do something about it.

 

There are cost effective ways to explore your career possibilities, extend your productivity and reach a state where you are content with your personal and professional achievement. You can land your dream job, earn the salary you yearn for and become the kind of professional you want to. In short, it may be time for a career assessment test!

 

Tasks and education, training and required experience are only a few of the issues that career assessment involves. A career assessment test functions as an effective tool or symbolically speaking “a mirror” of what you are really fit for. Therefore, learning something more about the opportunities that could be lying ahead of you in your area of expertise will make it easy for you to make the correct career decisions.

 

So, who should take a career assessment test? The first category that pops into mind comprises of students and graduates, of course. After all, aren’t they the ones who need new jobs? Career assessment tests can be of great help to students and graduates as it will help them take the right path to a glorious career. However, career assessment tests are for all age groups.

 

Though ideally speaking everyone who is just starting to build a career makes the perfect candidate for the career assessment tests, tests are open to anyone who has the courage and determination to revamp their professional life. Anyone who wants a fresh take on their career can take career assessment tests. Therefore, home-staying mothers who’d like to get back to work after raising children, retirees who want to do something new, as well as people who need to start it over on new foundations, are given not just a chance, but “THE” chance to build a career. Also, do not assume that taking a career assessment test means that you’ll have to get back to basics. Not necessarily.

 

The results of your career assessment test will include your “doable” aspirations, the things that can come true without your making wasted efforts in the wrong direction. With a career assessment test, you would not only identify the ideal job, but you can even track the perfect career graph, starting from the education level, acquired skills, psychological profile, interests, personal involvement and even hobbies related to a certain domain.

Consequently, once you know what track to follow, it will be a lot easier to stay focused and reach your goals. Yes, probably a career assessment test is all that stands between you and your dream job.

 

Find your dream career with access to 1000’s of career and educational resources. Offers unique career assessment test that can help you make better life decisions. Take a free Career test now online!

 

A career assessment test can change your life – Find your dream career with access to 1000’s of career and educational resources. Offers unique career assessment test that can help you make better life decisions. Take a free Career test now online.

 

Career Advice: Tension's Brewing Over Internet Use; Know The Rules

Career Advice: Tension’s Brewing Over Internet Use; Know The Rules

By

Ramon Greenwood

There’s tension building between employers and their staffs over use of the Internet at work for both personal and business uses.

Younger staffers, who are usually more tech-savvy than their bosses, are pushing for more access to social networking and others sites, both for work purposes and for when they’d like to take a break from their jobs.

At the same time, many are finding that the sites they are expected to use for researching and communicating for work are blocked; and they are unable to take a break to read a news story on line or check their personal e-mail or social network accounts.

Meanwhile, employers want the advantage of Internet technology, but are concerned about security for confidential competitive information, time being wasted and legal exposure. The result is that many lean toward blocking all or most access.

Career Tip: The Boss Is Always Watching

According to a study by the American Management Association, 76% of the companies surveyed monitor Internet usage; 55% store and review e-mail; 51% use video surveillance; 50% store and review computer usage;

22% record telephone calls

“Wide-open Internet access is the risky approach,” says Chris King, Palo Alto Network. “But to close off all access is “increasingly untenable for cultural and business reasons.”

The wise careerist makes sure he understands his employer’s policy before blogging, tweeting, sending personal e-mails, to say nothing of watching sports and downloading movies. (Nearly half of U.S. employers have policies against visiting personal networking or video sharing sites during work hours.) If there’s not a policy in place, he ask for guidance. He can be sure that his employer is probably looking over his shoulder, stated policy or not.

Career Guidelines

The Associated Press offers career guidelines for using the web and other electronic devices at work:

• Remember that anything you do on a company-issued computer or cell phone–in or out of the office–could be tracked by a boss, the courts or a regulator. Many employers monitor web site use, keystrokes, instant messages and e-mail. Some even archive text messages on work cell phones.

• Avoid mentioning your company, boss or co-workers in outline postings unless you have permission to do so.

• Avoid using any device to take or transmit any company-related photos, videos or other recordings without permission from management. This rule includes any images of company buildings or logos and embarrassing or unprofessional photos of co-workers or clients.

• Know your company’s policy on social networking, video web sites, e-mail and other tech-related activities.

• Regularly delete personal e-mail from your work account.

• Remember when searching for a job that many employers check social networking sites, blogs and other online activity.

The wise careerist follows two pieces of common sense career advice:

1. Know the rules your employer is enforcing for use of electronic devices.

2. Never post anything on a company-owned electronic device that you wouldn’t want to appear on the bulletin boards where you work.

Career Planning

Career Planning

Don’t wait to long while planning for your careers. In many HR departments career planning and career counseling are relatively new terms but now companies are realizing their importance for the success of the company , for that  their HR department are providing career education and career counseling. With out career planning employees are seldom ready for the career opportunities that arise. How do I advance my career? Do company training programs enhance my promotions or do I need a degree for getting that job? Are promotions based on luck? Is that an easy way out for upgrading my CV? Nearly everyone ask himself these questions while during his or her working life, and careers. Our career consist of all jobs during our working life but some people thinks that it just a factor of ” luck” planning careers merely guarantees success it is not a hard activity or to be dreaded rather it’s an activity that should fulfilling, providing goals to achieve in your current career or plans for beginning a transition to a new career. Don’t wait to long while planning for your careers. In many HR departments career planning and career counseling are relatively new terms but now companies are realizing their importance for the success, their HR department are providing career education and career counseling. With out career planning employees are seldom ready for the career opportunities that arise. Once you begin regularly reviewing and planning your career you’ll find yourself better prepared for whatever lies ahead in your careers. HR in banking industry gives little support to career planning and their  career planning seldom occurs the reason of that is it is considered to be as an ” individual matter”  When employer encourages career planning they are mostly  considered that are likely encouraging to set their own  goals but these goals are encouraging employees towards career education and career counseling HR professionals in career planning should always keep the question in their mind that what employees really want? Career planning and development helps employees’ career path led him or her to their goal of becoming “something” in the company.

In a nutshell don’t wait to long while planning for your careers. With out it employees are seldom ready for the career opportunities that arise. With out it employees are seldom ready for the career opportunities that arise.

 

 

 

Career Advice: There Are At Least 14 Ways To Sabotage An Interview

Career Advice: There Are At Least 14 Ways To Sabotage An Interview

You’ve been invited in for an interview for a job that looks to be just right for you. You are confident that your qualifications are a good fit for the requirements of the job.

Now, it’s up to you to conduct a winning face-to-face interviews with those persons who will make the final hiring decision. It’s time to sell the total package that is you and the benefits you can deliver. In other words, it’s time to close the deal. Will you make the sale? It’s not likely if you commit one or more of the most flagrant errors of omission or commission. Here are 14 such bombs that can sabotage your interview, along with advice on how to avoid them.

1. Be over confident. Assume the interviews are just a formality on your way to a job offer.

2. Fail to gather information about the potential employer before the interview such as mission of the organization; type of business; where the job you are interviewing for fits in the hierarchy and culture of the organization.

Having this information in hand enables you to demonstrate your interest and to tailor your presentation to fit the requirements of the position.

3. Fail to lay out a map for the case you want to communicate; include the points you mean to make and the questions you will ask.

Know the impression you want to leave with the interviewers. Identify at least three points you mean to communicate as well as a brief summary. Rehearse, rehearse, preferably with some one who can and will critique your presentation.

4. Be late for the interview.

There is no surer way to show a lack of respect and interest than to arrive late for an interview.

5. Fail to pay attention to your physical presentation from the moment you enter the premises of the potential employer until you are well away from all contact.

Remember, you are selling a total package.

Strive to make a favorable impression on everyone you meet from receptionist to the final interviewer. Adhere to the code of dress. Unless you know for certain that the environment is casual dress in business attire. In any case, be well groomed.) Walk briskly, heads up, shoulders back. Don’t slouch when seated. Avoid the dead-fish handshake. Speak distinctly. Keep in mind that everyone you encounter is important to your mission. Be courteous to one and all.

6. Fail to concentrate on the interviewer and the give and take of the discussion.

Maintain eye contact; avoid gazing out the window or admiring the artwork on the wall. Unless forced by the interviewer, avoid chitchatting about the weather and the score of last night’s big game.

7. Ask about work hours, time off and other benefits before an offer is in hand.

8. Fail to treat the interview as a two-way communication process. Sit out the interview like a knot on a log. Let the interview become a monologue conducted by the interviewer.

Asking well-informed questions demonstrates you are interested in the opportunity and shows off your qualifications, as well as personality. In addition, they develop information you need to evaluate how the opportunity serves your career goals.

9. Waste valuable time bad criticizing your former employer (s) and people you have worked with.

10. Lie about your qualifications.

11. Let your guard down when it appears the interview is over.

A canny interviewer may act as if the interview has ended, then blindside you with questions in order to see how you react to the unexpected. What appears to be an off-the-cuff comment or question could be among the most vital parts of the interview.

If you are invited to a meal, keep in mind that you are still being interviewed. Mind your manners. Avoid alcohol. If the interviewer insists, limit yourself to one glass of wine. Don’t order food that can be difficult to eat without making a mess.

12. Overstay your welcome.

Once the interviewer has signaled that it is time for you to go–even though you are anxious to keeping selling–wrap up the discussion and leave in short order.

13. Fail to make it absolutely clear that you want the job.

14. Fail to express appreciation for the opportunity to interview; thank everyone with whom you had contact during the interviewing process.

Here’s the core message to this career advice: To conduct a successful interview present yourself as a product to be sold. Mind your total packaging (i.e. dress). Identify the benefits you can deliver.

Career Advice

Career Advice

If you are facing such a situation or maybe you are just looking for a change in careers, this article provides career advice on how you can find work from home job opportunities that are legal and above board.  We have added a few tips on how to avoid the scammers so settle down for an interesting read.

Career advice recommendations for work at home projects:

Despite the number of scams, there still are legitimate online jobs available. Check out the following work for work at home opportunities.

There are many companies that need direct representatives and it is a good way to make money.  Avon and other big names in the cosmetic industry are always on the lookout for additions to their teams.  You have to invest in the initial kit and you can use the products for demonstration and on yourself as well.  Taking a franchise is fast catching on, but watch-out for sites that ask you to invest huge amounts of money.  Go for companies that offer products that are low cost and low maintenance. Online tutoring that requires people to teach English or math, communication skills and a whole host of other skills.  You may have to provide proof of your education or any training you have undergone, so if you plan on making a full time career shift to online tutoring, invest in some formal training. You can sign up on a couple of good, safe sites to do writing, editing, translation even administration and technical programming.  Assess your skills and apply for skill specific jobs.  You get to work from the comfort of your home and enjoy great flexibility in timings. Be wary of scammers, the legitimate sites do not require you to pay a registration fee, ergo, anyone asking for your credit card details right off the bat should send the red flag way up.  Check the email addresses listed on the site – stay away from those who list gmail, yahoo and other generic email addresses.  Don’t touch sites that ask for references with the initial application, that’s not the way legitimate sites work.

Dansette