The Sneaky Way To Break Into A New Career

The Sneaky Way To Break Into A New Career Expert Advice > How to move into your new career The Sneaky Way To Break Into A New Career * Image by Victor1558 Can't decide between a few new career ideas? Or know what you'd like to do but don't know how to break into the new work area? John Williams suggests a proactive way to help with indecision and build up your experience. There are two big challenges to changing career: discovering what career you’d actually like to pursue and then breaking into it. Years ago, I stumbled upon a counter-intuitive technique career-shifters use to solve both problems. First If you’re in the “Don’t know what I want to do” camp, then you need to know this: thinking (and, for that matter, researching) will only take you so far. The simple truth is that you don’t work out what you enjoy by thinking about it, you find out by doing it. It’s experience that enables you to make a career decision. Anything else is an empty guess. Second, when you’re moving into a completely different field, the normal ways to get a job don’t work so well. HR departments look sniffily at your CV when they don’t immediately see five years’ closely-related experience. Recruitment agencies aren't much better. That's not surprising, really, because their business model is to fill a post with a tight match as quickly as possible and that doesn’t favour you, with years spent in a different field. Work less - play more Given all this, are you ready for a bit of rule-breaking? How about doing something fun that sidesteps these problems? If you get it right, rather than plugging away with CVs and interviews trying to persuade someone to take you on, you might find employers come to you. To make this work, you need to start thinking less like a employee or worker and more like an a ‘player’ â€" by which I mean someone who breaks the rules, follows their own heart, focuses on the things that are most exciting for them, and takes their career into their own hands instead of waiting for someone to hand them the right opportunity. Stop thinking - start doing Here’s how to do it. Choose a field you think you think you’d like to move into (even if you’re not sure) and throw yourself into it right away â€" in your spare time, if necessary. Run what I call a ‘play project’ lasting around 30 days: do a project you’d enjoy doing in the area you want to move into and produce something to show for it at the end. Don’t just spend 30 days researching - do something in the real world. Here are 5 examples: Start a blog and write about the field you want to move into. Sarada Chaudhuri enjoyed organising some events as part of her job in a charity and now wanted to shift career altogether into the events industry. She started a blog called The Event Detective and started helping me run my monthly Scanners Night event for creative people. Before long, Sarada had won her first two clients, enabling her to quit her job. Try a bit of ‘thought leadership’ by writing a white paper. Often you can get the content by emailing or calling a bunch of experts in your new field and asking them a set of questions. You’ll be surprised how accessible these people often are! I did this back when I was a consultant and got quotes from the heads of technology at several of the UK’s major broadcasters. I then sent this out to other broadcasters to help me get noticed and win work. If you want to move into a creative field in which you don’t have a track record, create something to show the kind of work you want to do. Build a website, design an ad for a friend’s business, or design a one-off magazine. Ask to help organise the national conference for your new field or start your own meetup or networking event. Are you a programmer wanting to move into app development? Create an app you'd like to use yourself and get it on the app stores. A play project is a deceptively powerful thing: it’s the ultimate cure when you’ve got stuck in your head trying to think of the perfect career. But don’t be surprised if a play project leads you into a completely unexpected direction â€" once your creative juices are flowing, all sorts of new ideas occur to you. Your play project will also allow you to experience this new line of work and see if you like it â€" without quitting your job. It gets you out (or online) meeting people, and you open the door to those kind of happy coincidences that happen once you’re in motion. Display your end product Once you’ve completed your play project, you’ll have something to show potential employers. And if it goes really well, you might get noticed by someone who can hire you while you’re still out there making it happen. The more daring and significant your play project, the more likely you are to get noticed. So, what’s your play project? What 30 Day Project would be exciting for you to do and produce something tangible that you can then point people to? What idea can you trial out in the next month on a small, inexpensive way? Leave a comment below. John Williams is author of bestselling book “Screw Work Let’s Play (How to do what you love and get paid for it”). Hide this article from listing pages:

Why Professional Summary Resumes Can Help You Get Hired

Why Professional Summary Resumes Can Help You Get HiredProfessional summary resumes are a great way to get yourself noticed by companies. If you're not familiar with them, they can be very helpful to get your resume noticed by the companies that you are applying to. Here are some of the reasons why these types of resumes can help you get the right impression.First, these types of resumes are all about your personal statements. They are supposed to highlight what you have done in the past and how you will be able to help the company with your skills. These types of resumes show that you care about the company and what they are trying to do. This is one of the most important reasons to use these types of resumes.One of the major things about this type of resume is that it comes in a very professional format. The personal statements are only to be included on this type of resume. This means that it will also be a lot easier for you to fill out this type of resume. With the others, the p ersonal statement section has to be written in several different styles. However, when you include your career summary, it will all come together.Professional summary resumes are also perfect for sending out to get your career on the forefront of the company. Your resume will be seen much more than just someone's resume. It will give the company a chance to see you more and make a decision about whether or not you would be a good hire.Your career summary is your resume and it makes it very easy for your job hunt to start. This is one of the most important things to focus on when looking for a job. This type of resume is going to be the first thing the hiring manager sees and they will then be able to go back and read through your personal statement and see what kind of person you are.Professional summary resumes are made for people who are looking for an entry level position or a mid-level position. These types of resumes will show the hiring manager that you are able to work well i n an office setting and you will be able to do everything that they want you to do. These types of resumes show that you are up for any challenge that may come your way. Therefore, if you're looking for a change in your career, this type of resume is great.By including your career summary resumes, you can show the hiring manager that you are willing to do the work necessary to get your career on the road to success. It is your opportunity to prove to them that you are worth their time and money. The more effort you put into your resume, the better chance you have of getting hired.When you are thinking about these types of professional summary resumes, it is important to look at all of the options that are available to you. There are many different types of these types of resumes and all of them can be beneficial to you. It is important to find one that you feel is going to fit your needs and provide you with the information that you need to get hired. This is the first step in being successful in your career search.

How to Write the Perfect Email Signature

How to Write the Perfect Email Signature Chances are that you didnt put an awful lot of thought into your  email signature. What more do you need other than your name, your company and a phone number, right? Well it could be more important than you think. Your email signature is the information attached to the end of an email, including name, contact details and occasionally images/links, so  it acts like a sort of online  business card. Your email signature can say a lot about you as an individual and the organisation you work for, so putting a little time into making it read and look professional really is worth it. Not only should it provide the email recipient with all the correct contact details for yourself or the business, but it must also be reflective of your brand image. Cloud Solutions have put together this simple guide to getting your email signature just right. How many emails are sent each day? There are 2.6 billion email users worldwide. 205 billion emails were sent each day in 2015. 112 billion of these were business related and 93 billion were consumer. 48% of professionals do not have an email signature. The perfect email signature: 1) Make it simple: Try to stick to plain, easy to read font. Avoid using too many graphics, colours and fonts, that can come across as spammy. 2) Keep it short: Include only the vital information such as your name, email address and one phone number. Multiple numbers or email addressed complicates it. 3) Inform your recipients:  If youre a business, you can use your signature to inform recipients on any promotions, new products or events coming up. 4) Make sure it fits your brand:  Create a uniformed brand identity by getting all employees to include the company logo in their signature. 5) Break it up:  Use dividers to break up information and minimise the number of lines needed. 6) Get social:  Include social media links so that people can find you on other platforms. 7) Include additional details: Include information such as your job title and department, so that people know exactly who they are talking to. Image: Shutterstock

When it comes to office politics, consider the sibling factor

When it comes to office politics, consider the sibling factor Time magazines cover story is How Your Siblings Make You Who You Are. There are a few good tidbits about how your sibling experience affects how you are at work. Adult life is made up of relationships at work, in marriage, among friends and we learn the skills for these relationships through siblings because we spend so much time with siblings during our most formative years, according to Susan McHale, psychologist at Penn State University. One example is if there is a favorite child (which researchers see in the majority of families) all the kids will use it to their advantage. As in, Why dont you ask Mom if we can go to the mall because she never says no to you. And we end up using the same tactics at work: You go tell the vice president that we missed our sales goals. He has a soft spot for you. Negotiation styles between siblings affect skills beyond the home. If kids have good conflict-resolution skills among themselves, then they will have more success in school. Regardless of race, income and family structure, its the style of play that will make the difference in future success. Favorite statistic from the article: Kids in the 2-4 age group have more than one clash every ten minutes, which I read as my older son hit my younger son with Buzz Lightyear.

Certified (ArWc) Resumes

Certified (ArWc) ResumesCertified (ArWc) resumes are specialized in a specific type of resume. Most people, who are good in the area of employment they are applying for, tend to change the areas where they are not proficient, because they do not want to compromise the quality of their resume. Certified (ArWc) resumes are meant to meet the professional needs of applicants in the fields of education, teaching, care-giving, and health.A Certified (ArWc) resume will not usually include academic or career information. It will instead detail some of the most important qualities a potential employee would possess. A certified (ArWc) resume is intended to be tailored to match an employer's individual requirements.One of the best things about a Certified (ArWc) resume is that it offers you a chance to get to know your prospective employer. This way, you have the chance to develop a relationship with them before actually accepting an interview. It can help you get the job and also get the job that you are qualified for. A certified (ArWc) resume is often a great way to show an employer your personality and strengths.The certified (ArWc) will outline some of your career objectives and what you have achieved so far. It will outline your expertise in the particular area that you are applying for. It can be useful if you are looking for a new job in a particular profession.Certified (ArWc) resumes can be used by all applicants for all jobs. These kinds of resumes, which are certified (ArWc) make it easier for you to find a job faster and easier than if you had simply listed your qualifications. They can also give you a head start on making your resume unique and one of a kind. If you are applying for a job that requires a very detailed resume, it is worth spending a little more money on a certified (ArWc) resume. It will definitely make your job application and your search for the job faster and easier. It is worth the investment if you are able to find a good hiring manager who wants to hire someone with the necessary experience to perform the job.The majority of Certified (ArWc) resumes are going to be heavily focused on one particular area. This allows the person writing it to provide details which will provide valuable information to the hiring manager. It also gives a person with the skills necessary to write a certified (ArWc) resume the opportunity to focus his attention on the job which they are applying for. The goal for an employer is to find someone who has the skills required to perform the job they are interviewing for.Another benefit of using Certified (ArWc) resumes is that it provides a person with the chance to make their resume unique and different from others. It allows you to find an employer who will appreciate your experience. If you are an outgoing, enthusiastic person who loves what you do and what you are passionate about, this is the type of resume that you should use when applying for a job.

Employers asking for workers Facebook passwords - Sterling Career Concepts

Employers asking for workers’ Facebook passwords Employers asking for workers’ Facebook passwords Much has gone around the past couple of weeks about the unfortunate new trend of employers asking for Facebook passwords either during the interview process or from their existing employees. A recent article by ZDnet.com summarizes recent updates well: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/petition-investigate-employers-asking-for-facebook-passwords/11481 There are multiple blogs and articles that have been written on the topic. I came across two articles written by career professionals that do a good job of providing job seekers suggestions. By John Challenger of Challenger, Gray Christmas, Inc.: http://www.northjersey.com/news/145231405_Job_Hunt__Employers_ask_for_workers__Facebook_passwords.html and by Louise Garver of Career Directions, LLC: http://www.careerdirectionsllc.com/privacy-violation-asking-for-facebook-passwords/ The bottom line with this recent (some say inevitable) turn of events â€" It’s smart to proactively keep your Facebook accounts clean and professional and free from content that might negatively impact your career. Use the age-old grandma test as a litmus test before posting, sharing, or commenting â€" “would you want your grandmother reading this?” Towards the end of his article, Challenger offers great several scripts to use if you are asked for your passwords during an interview. I like his suggested response of “Is there something specific you are seeking? I would be happy to tell you more about my personal interests and activities outside of the office.” And then pause and wait for a response. Challenger’s other suggested response of “I understand you want to make an informed decision, but I would prefer not to provide that information,” is a confident, professional, and completely acceptable way to respond. Some companies may not push past the initial resistance. If they do insist, you will have to make your own judgment call as to whether you want to share that information. Offer to friend them could be a good compromise for both parties.

Recession-Proofing Your Career

Recession-Proofing Your Career How do I do that?   Is it possible to recession-proof my career?   What control do I really have? If my employer decides to let me go, what can I do about that? All these are great questions.   Recession-proofing your career is about preventative maintenance.   You visit your doctor annually, the dentist twice a year and you take your car in for an oil change when your supposed to (my mechanic lectured me on this several months ago). These preventative analytics are taken because they are an investment in your future.  The same preventative maintenance should be/must be  taken with our careers. Step 1:    Assessment What are your talents, skills, and abilities? What do you want to do next? Where could you do this? Do you need anything to reach this goal? Step 2:   Research What do you know about the companies who might hire for this next opportunity? Who are the people who hire for the job you would want? Who do you know who works there or who has worked there? Step 3:   Presenting Yourself When you describe what you do, does it sound valuable? Is your message clear, focused? Does everyone know what you can do? How can you get the message out to more people? Does your resume “sell” your talents? Step 4:   Project Management What do you need to be doing to reach your goal? How do you make time to follow your plan? How can you most efficiently budget your time? Step 5:   Communication/Self Awareness Strategies How confident are you in speaking about your abilities? Have you identified your value to  an organization? How do you talk about your successes to a stranger? Step 6:   Project Evaluation How do you know what you are doing is working? Are your time lines and goals realistic? The true key to recession-proofing your career is being in control and you do that by always having an eye on the future.   Always be asking yourself, What do I want to do next and where could I do that?. Dont wait to be laid off to start this.   Start today.   The mindset of the unemployed is usually filled with a lack of confidence and desperation. You are in control of where you are going, that is, if you know where you want to go.