Archive for Career

Maintain Connections to Advance Your Career

by Admin / May 24th 2011 / No Comment

This is the final part in our series on jobs vs. careers. Be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2.

So far we’ve talked a lot about focusing on your career vs. the individual job in which you are working. We’ve looked at applying this concept to the jobs you select. Now, it’s time to understand how to apply this to your career connections.
Keep networking

Everyone understands the importance of networking. It’s the key to getting the job you want. It’s how you reach more clients, make more sales, and earn that next promotion. Sure, you have to work hard, but you also have to network with the right people.

You can’t stop networking just because you’re in a job you like. Focus on the bigger picture: your career. If you settle into your current job and stop networking, your career will suffer.

So what do you do instead?

Most importantly, maintain your current network. Don’t stop networking. Keep in touch with your contacts. And also, expand your current network. Think about where your career might take you next and start networking in that direction. Lay the groundwork for your next job with the connections you make today.
Don’t burn bridges

Hopefully this goes without saying. However, I’ll say it anyway. Don’t burn any bridges. This is definitely part of continual networking to help your career.

Just because you don’t like your current job or had a run-in with a coworker, you should be sure to keep everything professional. Every job and professional you encounter should be an addition to your career and your network. But if you burn the bridge, that doesn’t happen.

This is not to say that you should love every job you have in your life. But you should definitely see how it fits into your career. Also, every supervisor you have should be able to provide a decent recommendation about the quality of your work. If that isn’t the case, make sure it’s not your fault.
Think “career”

Since that’s the mantra for this series, it’s worth saying one final time. Whenever a job opportunity comes your way, evaluate it in terms of your overall career. Don’t sabotage your career by burning bridges. And always keep up your network. If you keep the forest in mind, you’ll do much better with each individual tree.

in Career tags: Career, Education

Working Abroad – Check Out These Jobs

by Admin / May 7th 2011 / No Comment

This is Part 2 in a series on “Working Abroad.” In this series, we’ll examine the possibility of jobs abroad and highlight some practical steps to aid an overseas career. Be sure to check out Part 1.

In the first part of this series, we discussed why you might consider an overseas job. Now, we’re going to talk about several interesting avenues you might pursue.

Telecommute around the world

Telecommuting is definitely not new to today’s society. Many employees work remotely with companies all around the world. With technology continually advancing, employees can commute from virtually anywhere.

If you’re lucky enough to be a telecommuter, you already have a global job in your hands. That’s right, you can take your job on the road.

Perhaps you’ve already done some work while on vacation. Why not pick up and work across the globe for six months?

Here are a couple of many things to consider:

Permission – Be sure to clear the arrangement with your supervisor. You don’t want her to find out when you’re already in another country.
Connectivity – You’ll need to work and communicate. A good solution might be wireless internet access (hotspots, net cafes, etc) and VoIP (like Skype).
Backups – These are important at home, but essential on the road. Your equipment is at risk every day, so protect it with backups.

For more thoughts, check out this article at World Hum.

Be a freelance journalist

News happens all around the world. There’s work for journalists in many places. That’s a prime benefit to a journalism career.

Being a freelance journalist is similar to telecommuting in many ways. You’ll be working on the road and communicating remotely. Thus, many of the previous considerations apply.

However, freelance journalists also frequently end up in harm’s way. This especially applies to journalists seeking to cover war, disasters, and other turmoil.

For this reason, it’s important for journalists to have an extra eye on security and safety. This means knowing the region you’re in, planning ahead, and letting friends know these plans.

There are definitely other considerations for freelance journalists, so do your homework. Poynter Online has a great article to get you started.

Be sure to check back for Part 3, where we’ll cover a huge list of job boards with opportunities abroad. To easily read future updates in this series, subscribe to Job Tuition by email or RSS.

in Career tags: Career, Job

Future Plans

by Admin / May 2nd 2011 / No Comment

When I was in my last years of High School there was a lot of pressure on us to try and decide what our future career plans will be. I was of the belief, and still am, that a 16 year old with no life experience has no idea where their future lays and what they enjoy doing then is not what they will want to do 10+ years later.

Come my final year, I still had no idea what I wanted to do but was adamant that no more intensive study was for me. Luckily, I had supported parents and they encouraged me to look at my alternate options to University.

Fifteen years later, still with no clear concept of what I want to do as a career, besides earn an adequate income. However, I have had a variety of jobs, lived in various locations throughout the world and have lived a rich and fulfilling job.

A friend of mine from my school days was the total opposite. From the day we met at the age of 13 she had her life mapped out. She was going to study to become an Accountant, work to establish her own business and become self employed. All was going according to plan, she got into University, moved to Adelaide and last two weeks and had to move back to her home town. She just couldn’t handle living so far away from her family and city life. She then took on a job as a Sales Assistant, fell in love and now has a family, part time job and all thoughts of her own business have disappeared. The key thing is though; she’s happy and now believes that a career in Accounting wouldn’t be the right thing for her.

I’ve learnt that people don’t just judge you of what you do for a living, but also by what you have achieved. I’m going to be remembered as the congenial woman who was well travelled, well informed and well liked.

Moral of the story, don’t stress about the future – it takes care of itself. However, be prepared and make yourself employable. Enrol in courses, update your skills and be willing to travel to work.

in Career tags: Career, Hints

Working Abroad – Why Consider Jobs Abroad?

by Admin / March 26th 2011 / No Comment

This is Part 1 in a series on “Working Abroad.” In this series, we’ll examine the possibility of jobs abroad and highlight some practical steps to aid an overseas career.

In today’s society, everything is global. We travel internationally. We instantly communicate around the world. Why shouldn’t your career be global as well?

Think globally

The first step in considering a job abroad is to think globally. You need to get out of the mindset that jobs and careers are limited to your own country, wherever that may be.

With today’s proliferation of global corporations, this mental shift might not be too difficult. Simply realize and understand that, regardless of your ultimate career path, you can find an overseas opportunity in your field.

Expand your horizons

The primary reason to seek a job abroad is to expand your overall experience. This type of experience will be on-the-job and cultural, so it will enhance your resume even more.

Your global cultural experience provides a great addition to other work experience, as well as your formal education. Employers definitely like to see candidates with knowledge of other cultures, given today’s global marketplace.

Enjoy yourself

Aside from these career benefits, many jobs abroad allow travel and personal enjoyment of the area in which you are working. If you play your cards right, you might be able to travel a signifiant amount on weekends or during short work vacations.

And this is not even considering the enjoyment you can get from immersing yourself in another culture, trying to learn the language, and understanding another way of life. Plus, the photos you will have contain a million memories!

Learn what to do

Now that you’ve got an overseas job in mind, it’s time to do your homework. Fortunately, you’re already reading a great resource: Job Tuition. This series will explain a few different job options overseas, as well as providing some information on work visas and other formalities.

In the meantime, there’s a great article at The New York Times on this subject. But don’t forget to come back, since we’ll have more details for you in the next installment of “Working Abroad.”

To easily read future updates in this series, subscribe to Job Tuition by email or RSS.

in Career tags: Career, Working Abroad

Never Too Old

by Admin / February 16th 2011 / No Comment

An older colleague of mine recently won a new position at a Federal Agency. That doesn’t sound remarkable except for the fact that she hadn’t been in an interview situation since 1993. There were three of us in our office that went for this job (there were 10 vacancies) and only two of us succeeded.

She had been thinking of changing career/job for over 12 months but wasn’t confident in her abilities to address job specifications, handle interviews and everything else relating to job hunting.

I advised her of the vacancy and what it entailed which piqued her interest. She took her time with answering the job specification ensuring that everything was covered adequately. She researched the Agency and tried to tailor her responses so they were relevant to the position. I looked at her application after she had submitted it and surprisingly it was quite good. Why surprisingly? As she was telling me how she had no idea what she was doing and thought she had completely messed it up.

When she was advised that she had made it through to the next stage she was totally amazed. Personally, I thought her application was a lot better than the one I submitted and yet I was expecting to go through to the next stage.

The day of the group session she was cool, calm and collected, she actually had a gastro virus which I think helped her nerves as she was more worried about not being sick than what they were putting in front of her. She didn’t think she did well in some of the testing but still passed to the next stage – interviews. Interview day she was a bundle of nerves as she hadn’t sat an interview for so long and wasn’t sure of what to expect. She answered the questions to the best of her ability, truthfully and honestly.

Obviously it was good enough as she was offered a position. What assisted her was the fact that she thoroughly researched the position, the agency and was extremely prepared. She wasn’t expecting to win a position and it was more for interview practice and building her confidence.

Sometimes, it is good just to apply for a job just to go through the process and reacquaint yourself with what to expect so you don’t go stale. I’m not saying you have to leave your current position just apply for a position at a higher level to gain experience and knowledge of what to expect if and when you do decide to leave.

Also, don’t think you can’t apply for a job or look at leaving your current job because of your age – just think of the wealth and knowledge that you have gained over the years and how that makes you an asset to a new position. It is also discriminatory to not employ someone because of their age.

in Career tags: Career, Interviews

Enhance Your Career This Summer

by Admin / May 17th 2010 / No Comment

While summer gets into full swing in the Northern hemisphere, most people are thinking about vacations. I implore you to consider your career. Whether you’re a university student or a veteran in the workforce, you can do something to enhance your career this summer.

Read some books

We’ll start off with an easy idea. While you’re relaxing poolside on a lazy Saturday afternoon, read a career book. There are lots of good ones you could grab at the local bookstore, or you could check one out from the library.

You could also consider reading something to enhance your specific knowledge base, like a book about a new technology in your industry. The different possibilities here are quite endless.

The coolest thing about this idea is that you can still enjoy a beautiful summer afternoon. A lounge chair, iced tea, and a good book. I wish I was there right now.

Take a class

This tip gets a bit more ambitious. Universities and community colleges usually offer a number of courses during the summer. Perhaps one of these would help your career. At the community college level, you can probably just enroll and take a single course of interest.

Summer classes are a bit different than regular university courses. You focus on a single subject for several hours per day, for only a couple weeks. If you’re working full-time, this would be a drain on your schedule. But it’s only a short time. The benefits to your career will last a lifetime.

Get a job

If you’re already working, this tip might seem crazy. In fact, it’s oriented toward students or people who might have the summer off (like teachers). But even full-time employees could take on a part-time job for a couple months.

Employers love having help. Even if you only work for someone for the summer, you can learn a lot and make a little money in the process.

The idea is to find a job that would enhance your resume. You don’t have to work just for the sake of working. But if you can land a job (even volunteering) that gives you important skills or networking connections, you’ll be better off in the end.

Your ideas?

There are probably many other things you could do for your career this summer. What would you add here? Let us know in the comments.

in Career, Hints and tips tags: Career, Tips

Promote Your Personal Brand to Enhance Your Career

by Admin / April 9th 2010 / No Comment

Companies are accurately aware of the value and importance of branding. When you see “Coke,” you immediately think of the soft drink. In fact, when you see the characteristic white script on a red background, you think “Coke.” That’s branding.

Do you have a personal brand?

Is there something that people automatically associate with you? Do you have a style, type of work, catchphrase, or something else unique that sets you apart?

Fortunately, it’s really easy to create and promote your personal brand. Doing so will refine your image and enhance your career. Here’s some ideas to consider.

Think up a brand

Like I mentioned above, this can be something simple like a color, a style of work, a type of writing, or some niche you specialize in. You’ve probably already got a brand, but you don’t think of it as such.

If you’ve got a favorite color, you’re already halfway at your brand. Just think up something to put with it, maybe just your name, and you’ll be there.

Maybe you’ve got a nickname. This could be the key to your personal branding.

If you don’t get the gist yet, keep reading and it will become clear.

Make a business card

This is a front-line place to show off your brand. You’ll give business cards to potential employers, clients, and networking contacts. To help them associate you with your brand (the goal here), you’ll want to brand your business card.

For a silly example, think of Bob. His nickname is “Slim,” and he’s a lawyer. He could have a standard business card, just saying “Bob – Attorney at Law.” But he could really brand himself by having a card that says: Bob, the “Slim” lawyer. He’d probably come up with something a bit better, but you get the picture.

If Bob has a favorite color, he would also integrate that into his card. You don’t want too many elements for your personal brand, but a couple is great. Think back to our first example: Coke. It’s a word, with two colors. Think simple, and put it on your card.

Use stationary

Even in our digital age, we still use regular mail. Splurge a bit and get some custom stationary made up. You’ll need some basic letterhead and some simple thank you notes.

These don’t have to match your business cards, but they should further promote your personal brand. If Bob’s using his phrase of “the Slim lawyer,” he’d include that on his letterhead and thank you cards. Simple, right?

Start a blog

A great way to promote your brand in today’s world is through blogging. You can get a free blog from several different services. Or you can register a custom domain name and have a bit more control over your blogging.

The point is to carry your brand through your blog as well. This should be a professional outlet for you, a sort-of online resume. Consider getting YourName.com as the domain. Then use your brand as the blog’s design. This is where your brand’s colors can be very useful.

Go forth and brand

This is only the tip of the iceberg for personal branding. But hopefully you’ve got some ideas to get started.

Branding will enhance your career, your name recognition, and your social networking. Promote your brand, and your career will benefit.

in Career tags: Career

Working Abroad – Work Visas

by Admin / March 24th 2010 / No Comment

This is Part 3 in a series on “Working Abroad.” In this series, we’ll examine the possibility of jobs abroad and highlight some practical steps to aid an overseas career. Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2.

At this point you’ve seen why a job overseas might be good for you, and we’ve looked at a couple cool jobs that you might consider.

Now it’s time to get to the meat of working abroad. How do you find a job?

Work remotely for a domestic company

We already covered part of this idea in the series, but it merits repeating. If you already work remotely, you might be able to simply move to another country for a little while. Definitely talk with your employer about this, but they might not mind, depending upon your work needs.

If you don’t currently have a telecommuting job, perhaps you could find one. There are numerous companies these days who are seeking qualified and talented candidates, regardless of their location. If you land a job with flexible location requirements, this might be your ticket to living abroad.

Foreign offices of domestic companies

Another easy route to take would be finding large domestic companies who have foreign offices. Many times these companies will consider relocating job candidates, if they fit the company’s needs abroad.

For this type of job, your best bets are to work on your professional networking, let people know what you are seeking, and search out potential opportunities on job boards. It may take a little while to find a job of this nature, but the rewards are worth it.

Find a teaching job

If you are a teacher looking for work abroad, you’re in luck. There is a huge array of teaching opportunities in other countries.

One notable opportunity for teachers is to teach your native language to people in another country. Obviously you’ll need to speak the destination country’s language as well. There is a great Canadian website that specializes in helping Canadians find this type of work (although it would probably help any English speaker). There is also another comprehensive site for English speakers in general.

Contract work overseas

If you have experience in construction, engineering, or other similar fields, companies may need your help abroad. In fact, there are job boards specifically for overseas contractors.

One comprehensive site to check out is Road Techs, which has an extensive overseas job board. Based on a quick look, this site is updated very often, and there a lots of jobs to peruse.

Do some searching

This post is not meant to list every type of job you could find in another country. It is meant to show you that for most any skill set, you can find overseas opportunities. Do a little searching online, and you’ll be amazed and what you find.

Be sure to check back for Part 4, where we’ll cover tips on getting visas and other paperwork for working abroad. To easily read future job and career tips, subscribe to Job Tuition by email or RSS.

in Career tags: Career, Education

Do You Want a Job or a Career?

by Admin / June 24th 2008 / No Comment

You may be thinking to yourself, “What’s the difference?” Hopefully I can help you out with this subtle, yet important, distinction. Even more importantly, we’ll see why it matters.
Jobs

What was your very first paying job? I mowed lawns to earn some pocket money, but my first real paying job was at Taco Bell. Did I want a career in the restaurant industry? Certainly not. However, this job put gas in my car through high school. I also learned some general job skills, along with gaining customer service experience.

The point is that a job is a specific position you fill with a specific employer. It is the tree in the forest. Some are small, some tall. Some may fit like a glove, while you might hate others.

Just like all trees eventually wither and die, jobs are almost always temporary, when compared with your entire working life. Very few people begin and end their working life at the same job.
Careers

Now that you see the tree, let’s look at the forest. In essence, your career is the sum total of your education and work experience. Think of it as the coherent theme on your resume. It’s even broader than your resume “objective.”

I started off with lawn mowing and Taco Bell. I am now only six months away from my first full-time position as a lawyer. Does that mean that this position completes my career? Of course not.

I’m excited about my first real lawyer job. But it’s just that: a job. My chosen career is to be a lawyer. Thus, this job will fit in great with that, especially in me gaining some vital experience and on-the-job learning. However, I will definitely keep my eyes open for where my career might lead me next. What other paths does the forest have?
Eyes on the trail

Of course I have to keep up the metaphor! But seriously, all this talk about jobs versus careers is really important. As you now see, jobs don’t usually last your whole life, but your career will. This has profound practical implications on your everyday life.

In a nutshell, you should never give up your professional efforts at sustaining your overall career. If you focus too narrowly on your current job, you might find yourself unemployed some day without a clue about where to go next.

Since there is a lot to digest here, we’ll break it up into several posts. For now, please think about your job(s) versus your career. Separate the two in your mind. Check back here at Job Tuition for the rest of this series. Or subscribe by RSS for easier reading.

in Career, Job tags: Career, Job

How to Determine What Jobs Fit Within Your Career

by Admin / May 24th 2008 / No Comment

This is Part 2 in our series on jobs vs. careers. Be sure to read Part 1.

In the first part of this series, I illustrated the difference between a job and a career. We talked a lot about the long-term nature of your career versus the short-term nature of most jobs. Now it’s time to apply that.
Think “career”

Throughout the remainder of this series, our mantra will be “think ‘career.’” Why? Quite simply, your goal should be to have the most rewarding career possible. That might mean making lots of money, having time to raise a family, or being famous. No matter what ultimate goal you have for your life, your career is likely the means to get there.

In your working life, you will have many decisions to make. Some do not have obvious long-term implications. However, they all must fit in with your overall career plan. That’s why you should focus on your career, not the individual decisions.
Does a job fit?

Part of the difficulty in guiding your own career is in determining whether or not a particular job fits your career path. This is why you should focus on the career, not the job. If you think about your career goals, it becomes easier to see what jobs to pursue.

For example, it might seem that a job making tacos would not fit into the career of being a lawyer. However, you first have to get through college and law school. If making tacos helps you achieve that, it is likely a decent job to pursue. Once out of law school, it is hard to see how making tacos will further your career.

Another type of job to consider is one outside the typical career path, but where you will gain crucial experience for your career. An example of this might be working in a related job field or in the same industry at a different position.

A friend of mine worked for a large advertising company before law school. Now he is getting a job representing advertisers on the legal side of their business. He is working in the same industry as before law school, but he shifted job positions. His previous advertising experience will be vital to his success as a lawyer.

The lesson to be learned here is simple. Don’t shortchange a job just because it does not seem to fit in with your career at first. Keep your eyes open to future possibilities and applications for your work experience. Great careers can begin in even the most unsuspected places.

Be sure to check back for the next part of this series. Or subscribe to Job Tuition for easier reading.