Top 10 Things to Do Before You Change Jobs

Top 10 Things to Do Before You Change Jobs In today’s world, individuals will change careers on average 7 times more in their lifetime, compared to only a couple of decades ago â€" and this rate is rising. There is more choice available to us especially for those with talent, drive and ambition. Currently the support that we tend to find is really limited. It’s also pretty generic â€" maybe some careers advice from your school, uni or MBA school. Otherwise not much support until you are really senior in an organisation â€" and even then whether it is effective or not is debatable! What results is a combination of lack of control and a cycle of movement from one unfulfilling job to another, or getting stuck at a ‘dead end’. However â€" do not fear â€" you do not need to stay in this ‘rut’. New horizons could be just around the corner.. So â€" you want to look for a new and the right role. This can be challenging, difficult, lonely, and sometimes stressful. You might want to consider getting someone to ‘walk the path’ with you and help you get clear about what your options are, what you want to do and how to get there can be hugely valuable. It is even more helpful when you know that the person accompanying you has been involved in this process before on many occasions and is a real expert. So if you work with someone to help with your career change look at their work and life experience to make sure they know what they are on about! Right â€" so you are ready to change careers and want to find that right role. In order to succeed bare in mind the following tips: 1. Invest in yourself This journey is important â€" so give yourself time to work it all out. You will need a significant amount of thought, consideration, time and investment in order to make this change smoothly and to make it the right career change. There are many key stages and turning points to consider so take the time to do it. 2. Get Clarity Without real clarity about what you want to do or how to get it, achieving any sense of fulfilment or being in control of your future will be very difficult. Therefore it is really important to work on getting clear about what your central goal is and how to achieve it. If you want to learn about the different ways to do this then feel free to drop us a note. 3. Create an action plan Simply knowing what you want will not ensure that you get it. You need to be clear about your plan of action and how to carry out what you have specifically designed for yourself. Get clear achievable steps in place. Outline it so that it is broken down into steps that you can work through towards that bigger goal. Reward yourself and be proud of yourself as you get through each stage of your plan. 4. Focus your energy on the task Making a change and finding the right role is not always an easy task. It can be tough, tiresome and long. You need to stay really focused and be efficient around where you put your energy and effort to get the outcome you want. Make sure that you are in control of the key elements in your world and are able to drive forward with the career and life of your choosing. You will need perseverance and determination to help. Being smart about how you spend your time is crucial. 5. Understanding your strengths Get to know yourself better. Identify what your key strengths are. What are you really good at? What do you enjoy that you are also good at? What skills have you learnt? What are you naturally inclined to do and be better at? Make sure that you get right to the core of it. The more you know yourself the more confident you will become and the better you will be at identify the right role for you and projecting yourself in order to get it. 6. Ignite that passion Without real passion for a role â€" it will be difficult to get. Even if you do get it â€" you will find it difficult to maintain and grow within and beyond it. What you want here is the right role. This means something that you are truly passionate about. It might take a bit of experimenting to find what ‘floats your boat’ â€" but it will be worth it when you have found it. 7. Know your boundaries Being clear about what works and what doesn’t work for you in order to be happy can be groundbreaking. It sounds simple but so many of us do not actually take the time to work it out. In each different work situation â€" we may have different boundaries. By being clear about what they are and then communicating this clearly to others and staying true to what is important â€" will make a huge difference. This impacts work and your personal settings. 8. Manage and improve relationships This is important from all aspects. If you learn to manage your relationships effectively you will be able to control the process and transition. You will be able to manage your exit smoothly from your current or old role. Understanding where your old boss is coming from and the impact you have on him/her â€" and how you interact could really influence how you leave a job. How you get your next job and keep it may also rely heavily on your ability to manage relationships well. 9. Leverage your connections Learn how to network and harness your connections effectively. This does not mean bombarding people you do not know with emails or adding everyone you can find to linkedin. Neither is this picking up as many business cards you can at a networking event and calling that person part of your ‘network’. Real networking is about getting to know people. You need to work on identifying and getting to know those who can help you along your way. 10. Rid yourself of blocks, fears and insecurities All of us have them at one stage or another. Many of us keep them for years. However, do not let them stop you. If you are afraid â€" that is ok â€" just do not let it take over and control what you do or do not do. If something is blocking you from moving forward â€" take the time and action you need to confront it, deal with it and resolve it. This does not have to be done alone. Find support from those around you. Get support from a professional if it is a deep personal issue that is troubling you. If you do not deal with it now â€" it will keep blocking you in different ways throughout your career and life. Once you have worked through the blocks â€" you will be so much more energised, comfortable, confident and free. Those are the 10 pieces of the pie that you must do before or as you start your journey and change careers. Each step requires some work, time and thought â€" but they are important if you really want to make it work. There might be a lot to do â€" but you are not alone and you CAN do it. Related: 4 Ways To Make Your Dream Employer Notice You. Nisa Chitakasem is the founder of Position Ignition â€" a careers company dedicated to taking  you to the next step in your career. Nisa is passionate about helping individuals find the right career path for them whether it involves finding a more rewarding career, making a career change, figuring out the right career plan or being creative about career directions.  For free advice, guidance and information on careers visit the Position Ignition on Twitter  @PosIgnition.

What You Need To Know About A Financial Resume Writing Service

What You Need To Know About A Financial Resume Writing ServiceIf you are looking for the best financial resume writing service, it is possible to locate it through the Internet. If you already have a CV, some of the resume writing services will allow you to use the CV as the basis for your resume.A financial service is usually established after obtaining a license from a state government agency. You should always seek legal assistance when signing up with a financial resume writing service. This will help you ensure that you are operating legally.A good financial service will make it easier for you to find a job. The firm will review your file and assist you in making sure that you get the best job. When applying with a financial resume writing service, you will want to ensure that they have a wide range of experience.They must have a network of former clients in order to obtain referrals from previous employers. This is how potential employers receive resumes. When applying with a f inancial resume writing service, you will want to make sure that they have industry contacts.The firm should be able to provide the client with previous employment. This should include employment in a broad category.Another part of a professional resume should also include personal experiences. These should relate to the industry or position that you are applying for. They should emphasize on the reason for seeking employment.A good financial resume writing service will be able to ensure that all references are included in the resume. The references that you provide will be evaluated by the firm.This will help the writer to establish the full line service. The firm will take all necessary steps to ensure that the client is satisfied with the service. You should know that they should ensure that your CV is accurate and will include all references.

Operations Manager Job Description - Algrim.co

Operations Manager Job Description - Algrim.co Operations Manager Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs. Related Hiring Resources 5+ Best Operations Manager Interview Questions Answers Operations Manager Cover Letter Sample

The Unexpected Entrepreneur Inspiring Lessons From Boy With Down Syndrome - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Unexpected Entrepreneur Inspiring Lessons From Boy With Down Syndrome - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Successful entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes…but this may be the most surprising one you’ve ever seen. A 5-year old boy with Down syndrome, Jackson Horn, has been inspiring and teaching business owners across the world for most of his life. His message has been shared on stage in 3 continents, and with tens of thousands of people. But the most important fact about Jackson is that…he’s my son. He’s proven that kids can be some of the best teachers â€" despite the fact that he has a learning disability. He’s already taught me more in his 5 years on this planet, than any other person alive. The overall lesson I’ve learned being his Dad is that just because you don`t look like the other ” crayons” in the box, doesn’t mean you still can`t make the most beautiful pictures . So I wanted to share five of Jackson’s most popular lessons, and how you can apply them to your business and career. LESSON 1: IF PLAN “A” DOESN’T WORK, THERE ARE 25 OTHER LETTERS Kids with Down syndrome tend to have delays in verbal communication. At almost six  years old, Jackson still just speaks a handful of words. And even though we would love for him to speak like a typical child, the end result of why we want our kids to speak is so that they can let us know what they want, right? It’s not so we can hear an audible sound… it’s simply that we want them to be able to communicate. Since speaking wasn’t happening, we had to find a different route. Enter sign language. Jackson gets weekly therapy, training and watches DVDs that teach sign language, over and over and over. Now, Jackson has near 50 signs he uses on an almost daily basis with us, other family members, his teachers and therapists. APPLYING THIS TO YOUR CAREER:  If you aren’t hitting your goals on your current path, find a different path to get there. There are near unlimited ways to solve any problem. We tend to get fixated on the task at hand, and not what is advancing us towards the real goal. When you are having issues, step back, reassess what you are really trying to accomplish, and see if there is a different path to the end result. LESSON 2: DON’T BE AFRAID TO ADMIT YOU NEED HELP Just like speech, children with Down syndrome often have other delays too. When he was younger, Jackson had  problems with crawling, feeding himself, stacking blocks, etc. Many of these things we didn’t even notice, since he was  our first child. But as we spoke with other parents and doctors, we realized that he was getting further and further behind typical kids his age. We took action, and hired several therapists and specialists to work with him: speech therapist, play therapist, physical therapy, occupational therapist. At his school they also provide dance therapy and music therapy. These six (yes, SIX) specialists work with Jackson up to several times a week, on very specific things that they are an expert at individually. We’ve seen a dramatic improvement since we got serious with Jackson’s therapy (almost walking, feeding himself with a spoon, stacking blocks, working with puzzles, etc.) APPLYING THIS TO YOUR CAREER:  If you are having problems in an area of your business, hire a coach (or coaches) to help you. Get as specialized as possible. But go even deeper than just coaches. I personally don’t coach anyone. But if a business is already successful, and they are ready to position themselves as an authority or celebrity in their industry they hire me. I’m an expert at that one very specific thing. LESSON 3: CELEBRATE EVERY SUCCESS OF YOURS AND THOSE AROUND YOU If I compared Jackson’s milestones to other kids of his age, I’d be a hurting daddy all the time. Every year, I am reminded of how far behind he is when we visit the Down Syndrome Clinic of Houston. They assess and rank him on many different areas of development. As you can imagine, it’s tough to see your little boy falling behind kids even half his age. But that feeling washes away when he hits the tiniest of goals. Something as small as finally being able to finish a puzzle that he spent weeks trying to figure out. I throw him up in the air, and we all clap and cheer for him. We make a whole production out of it. He worked hard figuring out how to get the last few pieces of that Elmo puzzle together, and deserved to be that happy. APPLYING THIS TO YOUR CAREER:  I always compare my success to others… specifically to others at a higher level where I’m at currently. This can sometimes lead me to be oblivious to successes I have. For example, about a year ago started taking on personal consulting clients again, and we had some amazing results in the first month in a key area, but I was so focused on the next results and steps, I didn’t even allow myself â€" or my client â€" to really enjoy this fast success. Now, I’m not saying to be happy where you’re at either. We should push ourselves to improve and be better, but take a minute and throw yourself up in the air. LESSON 4:  BEING GENUINE DRAWS PEOPLE TO YOU Jackson is Jackson… all the time. No matter where we are, who he’s with, or what’s going on. He sits in the shopping cart and blows kisses to everyone and anyone that will look at him. If he hears a song he likes… he dances. At home, in the car, or standing up in his seat at a restaurant. His authenticity draws positive attention and love everywhere we go. I can’t even count the times that someone has said his blowing them a kiss turned their mood around and made their day. APPLYING THIS TO YOUR CAREER: So many of us put different masks on so we will be liked and respected by others. For example, so many people try and prove their success by buying flashy watches or cars, and putting a false persona of success. Or when we are talking to other people in your industry, you may be scared to open up and admit a painful failure.It’s natural to try and “fit in” with others because as humans we have a deep-seated need to be accepted by others around us… and we think the mask is needed to remain accepted. You’ll be surprised how much more well accepted and loved you will be when you become your genuine self. I know it’s scary to open up and bare your soul but you will start to attract good people to you. I know when I dropped the “check-me-out-I’m-rich” persona â€" and let myself be the dorky doting dad from Texas â€" the quality of my clients increased, my relationship with them was amazing, and my business made a lot more money… just by be ing myself. LESSON 5:  LOOK FOR THE BEST QUALITIES IN OTHERS I remember being around a few kids that had Down syndrome when I was growing up. I never bullied or made fun of any of them, but I never saw much past the fact that they had Down syndrome. That was all I saw. With Jackson, and all his little friends, I can  honestly say, that don’t even see it anymore. I see each of them for their unique personalities. I missed out on probably some very amazing people. APPLYING THIS TO YOUR CAREER: When we first meet new customers, vendors and colleagues in business â€" or sometimes even if we’ve known them for a very long time â€" there is usually a hidden uniqueness that we overlook. For example, that awkward young entrepreneur you hired to set up your network in the office is not just an IT nerd. He’s a man that was orphaned at a young age, abused by his foster family, but overcame it, and now spends all his free time helping at-risk kids. Don’t see the awkward nerd. See the man that overcame some tough obstacles and is still fighting. So, take the time to observe and really listen to what everyone you do business with is really saying. Let their uniqueness speak to you. Knowing people at this level will transform your business, and make your customers and vendor into true friends. Well, that’s all I have for you today. I hope you learned as much from Jackson as I have.

Why Using Best Resume Templates Will Help You Find a Job Quicker

Why Using Best Resume Templates Will Help You Find a Job QuickerWhen applying for any position, a resume template is essential. Using an appropriate template can help you find a job quicker than using the default resume. In this article, I'll discuss some of the reasons why using a template can help you find a job sooner.One of the biggest reasons why using a template can help you find a job quicker is because you can use it for a number of reasons. Instead of wasting your time writing each resume on its own, you can just use the template and then modify it based on what position you are applying for. If you already know how to write a resume, you may have already modified your original one.You should make sure that you are not wasting your time by using a template that has only very little information. Even if the template is formatted properly, you should be able to modify it to fit your exact needs. This will save you time and effort in finding the right information for each resum e.The second most important thing is that the template should be easy to understand. Too many people find themselves using multiple screens when trying to fill out their own resume. Although these screens work well for many jobs, they will also increase the amount of information you have to remember.The main purpose of these screens is to find out exactly what you need to include. They can also help you to know what information you need to put on your resume, but they are not the purpose of them. They are there to help you get your information on your resume.Many job applicants use templates on their resumes and never bother to look at the information. Instead, they just save the template in their hard drive. They have no idea what the template contains and therefore never bother to look at it again.One mistake that people make is saving all of their information in one document. They do this because they are expecting it to contain all of their information. However, by saving their information in one document, they are creating a bigger file and that causes even more damage to their resume.The most important part of your resume is the contact information. If you are unsure where to put it, place it in the very beginning of your document and then take a look at it in the last few minutes of your document. If you find that it does not match up with your contact information, then delete it.

Are You a Closet Creative Are You Coming out of the Closet - Career Pivot

Are You a Closet Creative Are You Coming out of the Closet - Career Pivot Closet Creative Copyright: ellagrin / 123RF Stock Photo I have a lot of clients who should wear a name tag that says Closet Creative. That would be the only way you’d know they have many creative talents that are waiting toburst out. These folks have taken their musical, artistic, or literary interests and shoved them into a closet, especially as it applies to their careers. Many professionals stop spending time on creative endeavors or at least relegate such pursuits to vacation time. By doing this, they can make their daily lives tiring and unfulfilling. Previously, I wrote about a couple of clients in the post, The Arts and Your Career. Both of the clients I wrote about are closet creatives. This post was originally published in June of 2016. It was updated in February of 2020. Let me give you a couple of new examples. Broadcast Media Several years ago I worked with Larry. For 20 years, Larry was employed by a major television network. Everyone told him he had the coolest job in the world since he worked on sports sponsorship deals. This was big stuff! He drank the Kool-Aid and believed everything people told him he had a dream jobâ€"well, not really… He didn’t actually particularly enjoy sports. The sponsors were a pain to work with. He worked really long hours, traveled a good deal, and was away from his family much of the time. The reality is that it was a horrible job that paid really well. Then came the cutbacks, and he was out on the street. He knew he could go to work for another major network…GAG! The television advertising and sponsorship world was changing, and not for the better. He did not know what to do next. Listen to the most recent episode Diagnosing After we worked through his Career Pivot evaluationâ€"which is built on the Birkman assessmentâ€"we diagnosed him as a closet creative. Over the years, he had taken all of his creative interests, packaged them up neatly, and stored them away. He had become an actor and played that role for over 20 years. In my post Are You Your Authentic Self or an Actor at Work? I discuss how many of us become actors early in our careers. We play roles and we often get really good at playing those roles. The problem is that when we hit our 50s, staying in character becomes exhausting. Larry had become a very process-oriented project manager and he was good at it. Now in his late 40s, playing this role was exhausting but it paid the bills. Making a Pivot to Digital Media After spending 20 years listening to others rather than to himself, Larry chose to career pivot. He has been working contract positions in the digital marketing world. His creative spark is being lit and he is figuring out what he wants to do versus what others want him to do. First, he pivoted into the world of digital marketing by managing other creatives within a niche agency. He got to manage photo and video shoots, which happily fulfills his creative side. Unfortunately, the agency was sold and shut down. Pivot into High Tech Marketing He has since been hired by a software company as a contractor to manage a variety of marketing activities, including trade show collateral, website redesign, and branding. His creative side is in full view. He is no longer a closet creative. The interesting part is Larry would have never been hired as a full-time employee as he has no industry expertise. Instead, he was hired as a contractor and should be brought on as a full-time employee in the next couple of months. Larry may be making half the money he used to, but he is much happier. He has the flexibility that he so craves. The pay will improve over time, but will never be what he used to make. Still, he is coming out of his creative closet. For More: 4 Ways to Date to Get a Job Environmental Engineering Nancy graduated from college with degrees in Journalism and Political Science in the 1980s. She then spent the next few years wandering around until she landed in the world of environmental engineering. Opportunities appeared that allowed her to work with engineers on a variety of environmental permitting projects. She was detailed oriented and became skilled at her work. Did she choose to be there? No, it just happened.She then worked in the industry for over 20 years. Sound familiar? What was the problem? It did not feed her soul. She had become a closet creative. She shut off the creative side to garner a paycheck. When she came to me, we diagnosed her as being a closet creative. I told her to start taking art classes. She asked me what kind. I said just randomly start taking classes in painting, drawing, jewelry making, or just about anything else that caught her fancy. The good thing was that she really enjoyed these creative outlets. The bad thing was that she hated her job more than ever. Transition into a Business Development/Marketing Role First Nancy transitioned into a business development and marketing role within her company. This allowed her to develop skills and gain the experience she would need to make a much large next step. She then was hired by a large multi-national mining equipment company to work in a marketing role. She now gets to manage a variety of projects related to the company’s presence at trade shows. Nancy has authored numerous blog posts and white papers for the companies website. Finally, she has been designing t-shirts that are given away to new and potential customers. Her current job is now feeding her creative soul. Environmental engineering is not an industry that attracts many creatives. Notice this was not a one-step process but a step by stepâ€"or pivot by pivotâ€"to maintain her modest lifestyle and income. Do either of these stories resonate with you? Are you a closet creative? Are you ready to come out of the closet? Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

For anyone who didnt quit yesterday, get our best tips on becoming happier in the job you have - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

For anyone who didnt quit yesterday, get our best tips on becoming happier in the job you have - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog International Quit Your Crappy Job Day was yesterday March 31. The day is our attempt to convince more people who hate their jobs that quitting IS an option and often the best option. But of course we realize that quitting is not for everyone. Maybe youre not that miserable at work or maybe youre simply not currently in a position to quit for financial or other reasons. So if you are unhappy at work?but not ready to quit,?the important thing is that you do something to become happier at work. And to the effect we have gathered a list of resources here. These are some of our best tips on becoming happier in the job you already have. We?share them in the hope that they can help more people become happy at work. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

9 things college grads need to do to beef up their job search - Hallie Crawford

9 things college grads need to do to beef up their job search I enjoyed seeing Matt Jones again in the studio recently, recording my latest radio segment for Q100 Atlanta and their Cumulus stations. College grads everywhere are walking across the stage. If you are one of those who does not have a job lined up, this is especially for you. Here are my talking points that I wanted to share with you: Don’t sell damaged goods: We go through our job search too often not realizing that we aree not being our best selves; we are not being as confident as we could be. We are selling ourselves short (see the blog post and the video I posted about on not selling damaged goods here). You need to believe in yourself first. Even when you are a recent college grad with little work experience. Identify what you HAVE done and how that makes you valuable. Is it sorority work? Leadership on a class project? Don’t go selling yourself short. Walk into interviews and networking events with confidence. It doesn’t matter if you are younger. Know that you have something to offer and you have to put yourself out there regardless so you might as well make it count. Get your feet wet and get started! Prepare, prepare, prepare: Have your materials ready before you get out there. This includes your resume, business cards (yes, you too should have them!), your elevator pitch for different purposes and different types of networking, your LinkedIn profile (it’s a must!), and consider creating an online resume. Attend career fairs: Four things to do to prep for these are…   Find a list of employers that will be there. Identify the top employers that you want the opportunity to meet. Research the company and their current news so that you can prepare what you want to say to them. Have well thought out questions that you want to ask them about the company. AND attend networking events where people are employed: Job search groups are helpful, and networking events where people are employed can be even better! Find association meetings, alumni meetings, and local business groups. Attend as a guest for free if possible for that first meeting. Budget your time: Remember networking pays the biggest dividends, so you want to spend the most time there. It has the biggest pay off but also takes the most time, so plan to spend about an hour a day on job boards and set up auto alerts to be efficient with your time. But also spend an hour and a half a day on networking-more if youve set up multiple meetings for that day or week. Know when to take a break: Over time if you get burned out, take a day off. Rejuvenate. Take time off each day as well to get a break and take care of yourself. That greatly affects your confidence and the advice above in tip number 1. Stand out: Three things you need to do to stand out from the crowd: 1) Identify your unique skill set. How are you different from your college buddies based on your experience or unique skills. 2) For college students who don’ t have work experience, identify any work type of experience youve had. Put that down, even if its president of fraternity or something you did in class. I included the documentary I created in college on my resume. It was something unique, and a good talking point in interviews. 3) Focus on soft skills as well. Are you a good team player? Do you have great communication skills? Write those down in your summary of qualifications at the top of your resume. Hang around positive, employed people: Find people who have been successful in their search and have a positive attitude. Get some cheerleading and advice from them. Hanging around your unemployed friends who have not found work yet and are bummed out is not helpful. Identify a mentor who can help you in your search. Seek out people who are employed and enjoy their work. Spend time with them. You never know what advice (even if it’s informally) you’ll pick up. Get experience: People often ask me whether or not it is worth getting a part time job and or an unpaid internship. I say yes if it gets you out of the house, feeling better and more confident. Especially if it is in your field of interest. It shows that you are doing something, gives you experience, is a networking opportunity and can help you define what you want in a job. Be pro-active. About unpaid internships, I say yes! They absolutely  can be helpful! Just dont get stuck in them for long term. Ive seen that happen. Communicate with the employer up front about the length of time for the internship and what happens after that. Can they hire you? What are the chances of that, or do you need to be looking for something else right away? Ideal Career Coach P.S. Are you frustrated with your job search? Check out our  FREE REPORT:  â€Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities”.