Wherever a person glances, it is evident that there is an extensive array of career choices across the world. Whatever be the choice – a practical career as an automobile mechanic or lounging in a comfy seat in a plush office, everybody has his or her own vision of what an enviable employment comprises of.
Nevertheless, while settling on the desired career is nothing more than pursuing a dream for a few people, for others it calls for extensive study. Apart from matching personality traits and abilities, it encompasses financial resources, educational qualifications besides involving oneself. Without even being aware of it, deciding on a career tends to become amongst the most remarkable choices in a person’s life.
In the good old days, people often took after their father or went into the family-run business, when the time came to pick a career alternative. Nowadays, the constantly changing job market connotes that career choices can alter. A career route can begin anywhere and sharply change direction into something completely different in several years. Frequently, a person will start his career doing one specific task in an organization and then change, gradually climb up or move to a more suitable job in another organization. The most intricate career choices are the ones that shift totally from one industry to another. But, having a suitable career is certainly very essential to a person’s happiness and welfare.
Now a career choice not only fully avails of a person’s expertise, but in addition it is something that is carried out regularly in order to earn a livelihood. It can closely relate to a person’s career, sometimes, even going to the extent of developing something on the lines of a connection. This is the reason a career choice tends to become such a personal preference.
However, career choices need to be sensible and carefully planned. In fact, it is not out of the ordinary for persons to embark on a career and then become conscious they have committed a blunder. Thinking that it is far too late to change things around, the majority attempts to make the most of their choice but they never entirely derive pleasure from their work.
While it was unusual in the past to switch careers more than a couple of times in one’s professional life, nowadays, it is unusual to stay in the same job forever. A number of resources are there for assisting persons with selecting the right line of work. On the Internet you can come across several websites providing tools like information and career tests, resume services and educational resources. Although, it is a good thing to study in depth a particular profession, in this shifting market, it is very wise to have a number of choices open for an assortment of career choices.
December 31, 2009
Innumerable Career Choices – Tips To Make The Right Choice
Career Development – Planning Your Success
Today, it is fairly common to have people changing careers more than once. In fact, there are people who choose careers that are entirely different from those that they have previously held before. There will come a point when you will have to consider a career change, so it is a good idea to know about career development beforehand. Of course, you don’t have to change jobs just to have career advancement. You can make it your goal to climb the ranks in the same company.
Working on Your Career Development
Career development is actually a path that helps you choose the career that you would like to pursue. It includes all the various steps that you would have to undertake in order to advance in your chosen career.
The concept of career development basically includes testing your stress management capabilities and your inherent skills. If you want to have a better shot at some career that you would particularly like to pursue, you need to make sure that you do well at the present position you hold. You should take the opportunity to enrich your knowledge and develop your capabilities. These things will influence the success of your career development. You can’t afford to resent your present job because this will not help you advance in your career. Learn to love your job and embrace the responsibilities attached to it. You would have better chances of succeeding.
Educate Yourself and Strengthen Your Chances
Once you have determined the career development path that you would like to pursue, you can then direct your attention to preparing for it. You need to educate yourself. You will strengthen your chances of succeeding if you take up classes, join seminars or undergo training sessions.
There are many colleges, institutes, schools and universities that are offering career development courses. In fact, there are courses for practically every career that is out there. You will even find these courses online. This is perfect if you can’t afford to go to regular classes.
To advance in your chosen career, you need to show to people that you are dependable. You need to show that you are a trustworthy employee who is capable of producing quality work. To do this, you need to strengthen your knowledge, skills and capabilities. Career development is a continual process of learning and working. Therefore, it is very important that you know what you are getting yourself into. You need to be committed to it. It will help if you choose a job that you would enjoy. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have a shot at succeeding.
Creating a Career Development Plan
You need to plan your career growth if you want to keep track of your progress. This will also help you analyze your aspirations and motivations. Successful individuals do not just develop a plan for promotions or salary raises. They look beyond these things and create an entire plan for career development or advancement.
A career development plan is something that should be done continuously. You cannot just focus on specific goals. You need to be continually reviewing and revising your plan if needed. This way, you can easily keep track of changes or improvements. You won’t be confined to anything. You will keep your options open and you will have more shot at succeeding.
To start off, you need to make sure that you have practicalities covered. You need to have an updated resume at all times. This is just the practical aspect of your plan. What is important is your vision for yourself. Regardless of whether you are pursuing a career goal in the same company or you are looking for change of career, you need to make sure that you know what you want.
There are a lot of things that you need to take into consideration, so make sure that you have considered everything before you start making your “things to do” list. You should have considered the things that could hinder your progress. You should have determined the driving force behind your career choice. You should also know what can motivate you to succeed.
If you want to succeed in your choice of career, you should prepare for it. You should equip yourself with the knowledge and skills required for it. You should also create a career development plan to guide you to succeed.
Changing Careers – Ultimate Tips For Success
Are you thinking about changing your career? Are you worried about how difficult the transition is going to be? Then you are not alone. Many people go through similar anticipation when thinking about attempting a career change. Your career is among the most important things in your life, and changing it is one of the most stressful decisions you will ever make. Be Passionate
The reason why you would even consider a career change in the first place is probably because you feel passionate about something and want to pursue it. There is no sense in making a change if you are not going to be any happier than you already are. You may be earning a five-figure salary, but if it is not making you happy and if you are not content with what you are doing, then it might be a good time to switch. Changing careers should be about passion and personal fulfillment. Do Your Research
Make sure that before you make the final decision you conduct a thorough research on available opportunities. You need to analyze what skills you have and what skills you may need to acquire for your new job. You should be confident about salary prospects and other relevant information. You may have lots of expectations about the career you want, but conducting the necessary research will help you look beyond this rosy picture. Work with a mentor, such as a career coach, before you make the final decision. Career Exploration
Changing your career can be overwhelming. Explore your options before you decide to make a commitment. Start by categorizing the careers you are interested in. This helps in narrowing down your options. Then pick only those that interest you the most, putting the others aside. Ask yourself questions such as:
Why am I exploring this career?
Will I need additional training or education?
What are the opportunities and risks in pursuing this career?
These questions will help give you some very important and necessary answers. You can’t really begin on the path to career change until you know why you want to change and how you will go about it. The fact is that changing careers can be very time consuming and expensive, and you don’t want to start the process flying blind.
Once you have all the information you need, you can focus on one career option and work toward achieving it. Listen to your heart and head and then make a balanced decision. Whatever you do, remember you need to be flexible and devote a lot of time and energy to jump start your efforts.
December 30, 2009
How To Make A Career Move
Nowadays there are thousands of individuals who are stuck in a job in which they are over qualified and under paid. These people are spending their prime building a career they are unhappy in and dread going to work every day. Many individuals are taking the steps to better their lives and by making a career move. A recent statistic stated that individuals spend nearly eighty-five percent of their time awake at work, which creates an even bigger need for individuals to find a career that satisfies them. There are several helpful sites online that offer insight on how to make a career change that will lead more people to find a job they do not dread doing.
Thanks to the Internet, many people can find out all they need to know about changing careers. Several well-known sites are giving experienced insight into how to change careers and become a better worker. Changingcourse.com is a helpful site that lends encouragement and resources to individuals who have decided to make a career move. The site offers newsletters with inspiration and tips on starting a new career. The site also offers workshops and teleclasses that enable individuals to look at a variety of different careers before changing. They also have links to helpful articles and other tools that can encourage and educate individuals as they make their move to another career.
Brilliantwork.com is another great motivational website that encourages individuals to find a job that makes them happy. The site’s belief is that happy employees make for a stronger organization and lead to a better workplace. They have a special section dedicated to helping individuals find a better job. They offer workshops, access to inspirational speakers, and career counseling to help anyone looking for a change. The site also has links to informative articles that provide insight on how to change your career successfully and other fun tips.
For a more structured look at changing careers, About.com has created a site that offers insight into making a career change. They give a more technical look at how to make a career change rather than using a motivational or friendly tone. The site offers tips on how to write an effective cover letter and resume and also give examples of each in order to help individuals improve their chances of getting hired. The site also offers helpful resources called “essentials” that show weekly job listings, job boards, and salary calculators.
Careerjournal.com is another technical site that is run by the Wall Street Journal and gives helpful information on how to make a career change. They have wonderful articles from experienced professionals who give expert advice on different job markets and finding the one that fits each individual best. They have useful tools like discussion boards and salary searches that allow users to talk to other people who are dealing with the same issues. The site also links to the Dow Jones Network, which offers many different career options abroad in Europe and Asia. The network shows different places that are prime for relocation and provides a place where individuals can watch various job markets to see which ones are hiring. They also have a helpful opinion section where individuals can get an insider’s opinion on how to make a successful career change.
With helpful resources like these websites, individuals now have a better chance at successfully making the move to a better career. The need for people to work in a place that makes them feel proud and satisfied is necessary due to the amount of time people spend at their jobs.
Eight Key Steps To Making A Career Change
We spend approximately 50% of our waking hours at work. Doesn’t it make sense to make the most of that time, otherwise what’s the point? OK, it pays the bills but shouldn’t it be about more than that. The happier you are at work, the happier you can be with other areas of your life.
If work’s getting you down or you’d like to try something different, here are a few things to consider.
1. So, are you happy at work? If not, why not? Is it the type of work you do, the people you work with or your boss? What can you do to change your situation? How could you make it more interesting, how could you improve the relationships with the people you work with? Could you do the same thing but for a different company. Could you delegate tasks to someone else in your team?
2. Do you love what you do? What is your passion and what motivates you? What values in your life are important to you – health, money, security, family, relationships etc. Follow these and you’ll be happier in your work and in life generally.
3. What are you good at? What skills and abilities do you have? Where could you make improvements? Training for the job that you do could improve your job satisfaction and your job prospects and could enable you to take on a new role.
4. Where do you want to go? Are you looking for promotion, salary increase or a job change? Sometimes we have to start at the bottom in order to get where we want to be. Have your goal in mind so you don’t lose sight of what you’re doing and more importantly why!
5. Get yourself a mentor. Find someone you respect, who’s where you want to be or done what you want to do. If you don’t know anyone at work, is there someone outside work you could discuss your plans with and who would be prepared to give you advice and support?
6. Keep your CV up-to-date. Be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that might present itself if you’re looking to change jobs. Alternatively, go out and find those opportunities – if you want to change, you need to make it happen. Opportunities will present themselves if you’re looking for them.
7. Take control of your own career. There are always things we can do to change and grow. If you’re looking for a new career then spend some time thinking about what you want from your work. What do you value, need, want? What does work mean to you? How important is it in your life? What are the things you’re good at, what sort of work do you like to do? How could you create your perfect job?
Sometimes living from day to day is fine but it helps if you have a plan in mind. Where do you want to be a year from now, three years from now? Set a goal “Next year, I want to be doing …” Then set some specific steps to get you there.
December 29, 2009
How To Achieve A Better Career As A Career Counsellor
Securing the help of a career counsellor if you are thinking about changing your career makes great sense. Lets explore what a career counsellor is all about, what she or he can offer in the way of help changing career, and what services are provided.
If looking for a career counsellor to help you in changing your career is fraught with anxiety, consider this. A licensed career counsellor is very qualified to objectively help you find a great career path for you. Each licensed career counsellor is especially qualified for changing career services, with a graduate degree in counselling and a further specialization in career counselling.
Not all career counselling services are the same. There are varying levels of career counselling that including career counsellor fellows, master career counsellors, registered professional career counsellors and master career development professionals. Generally changing a career is exactly what theyre trained to help with. They help folks make these career changing decisions and help get them on their way to the new career. They help people determine the education and skills that are required of the career theyre thinking of changing to, and help them find the educational facilities and tools to acquire that training.
Specific techniques and strategies for career changing that counsellors practice include group and / or individual counselling session that help clients clarify their life as well as their career goals.
Career counsellors carefully listen to the situations and circumstances that bring the individuals to the point in life that theyre thinking about changing their career.
Career counsellors administer tests that help assess career interests and skills. They interpret the results of the tests, and explain to the client what the tests suggest in the way of interests and abilities. Based on the test results, the career counsellor can advise the client on career changing goals.
Career counsellors encourage their career changing clients to complete exploratory assignments and activities that assess career appropriateness. They provide the opportunities that will help their client improve their own skills in decision making. They help the client draw up career plans and teach job hunting and resume development skills and strategies.
Before suggesting changing careers the counsellor may help the client resolve personal conflicts in the current job situation, or the potential for conflict in any new job situation through the improvement of human relations skills.
A career counsellor can also help the client and the clients family improve their work / life balance to the betterment of family and personal relationships. The counsellor can also be supportive to the person who is experience stress due to job loss, changing career due to forces beyond their control such as downsizing or termination, and just the fear of the unknown career and work environment.
To help those changing their career a counsellor must have at least a Masters degree in counselling, which includes the completion of at least two years of supervised counselling experience.
Career Change? Focus On A Job You Love!
When you work in the same environment for years (decades even!), it’s so easy to settle back and wait out for retirement.
Yet if there is a niggle of doubt, take note – it’s time to overcome that gnawing sensation of looking at your job and seeing where the fault lines are – and doing something about it!
You know that the only thing to do is get ahead, but it seems like you’ve gotten as far as you’ll ever get. You’ve given the job everything and you are good at your work, but nothing about your job satisfies you.
So why aren’t you chasing down your dream job? Why are you still working in a job you loathe?
Life isn’t about a routine of day in, day out in some career you didn’t really want. Feeling stuck is an awful one to deal with when you realize you’ve still got plenty of years ahead of you.
Life is about living and feeling alive, so it’s time to make some changes and realize your full potential! No one is forcing you to stay in a job you hate and no one is holding you back from your dreams – except yourself, that is.
Start by figuring out what it is you really enjoy in life. Do you have a hobby or a passion? Most likely, you’re pretty good at whatever it is you love doing. Have you ever thought of turning that hobby into a dream job that you’ll look forward to every day?
You could turn your hobby into a paying career with a little determination and some good focus.
That’s right; focus. Decide what it is you’d rather be doing, and then find out all you can about how you need to get there. Do your homework on whether you need credentials or qualifications to turn your hobby into employment.
Find out the steps you need to make that will bring you to where you want to be and lay down a plan.
Keep in mind that you’re not going to get anywhere over night. Miracles don’t happen but hard work, effort, and the right choices to move you forward will have solid results.
If you need training, part time courses or night school can let you keep your day job and work towards a new career in your spare time.
Volunteer. Network. Apprentice under someone who excels at what you want to do. Offering free services in exchange for the learning experience can be a great way to break into a new industry or career.
Talk to everyone you know about your plans; the more contacts and support you have, the more it will help you stay focused on your goals and provide opportunities.
Don’t give up. Making life changes takes time and isn’t always easy. You may face some stumbling blocks along the way to a dream job. If you remember your goals and you’ve taken the time to lay down your steps and plans, you’ll be better prepared to find a way around the obstacle.
Obstacles are valuable opportunities for lessons in achieving what you want. Be prepared to face them and accept the challenge of resolving them. You’ll also gain plenty of wisdom and experience while you work towards securing your dream job and a life of happiness and satisfaction.
If you believe you can, you will. If you believe you can’t – well, sadly, that will prove to be true as well. How you set about getting the acreer you want is up to you, like it mor not.
Your own fate is in your own hands. Know you can and you will!
Your Career Advancement Opportunities – Top Tips To Improve Them
The highly competitive career ladder can sometimes be a very frustrating and difficult field to survive in. With many qualified individuals gunning for the same opportunities, climbing the ladder to success can be a struggle. The best strategy is to combine your skills and hard work with clever planning and organization. The average person makes six to ten job or career changes; hence a plan is not only very useful, but also almost necessary. One has to focus and chase that advancement and the best way to start is by making sure your employer is well aware of your ambitions. Counselors on career advancement believe that the right time to begin searching for an advancement opportunity is when you find your current workload unchallenging or if you find the workload light and easy. The first place to look for an opportunity is in the company where you are already employed, however if there are no positions open then you might have to consider looking elsewhere.
For starters you have to increase your worth to the company, there are many ways to do this, including taking up additional responsibilities or by asking for more work. Even going outside your department and offering others help isn’t a bad idea, as it spreads your recognition across divisions. This allows the company to see what a dedicated and committed employee you truly are.
The next step is to have a clear conversation with your boss, where you should look to discuss your personal ambitions and career goals while at the same time emphasizing your desire to help the company meet and exceed its objectives and goals. Taking help from a career advisor or by finding a mentor for career guidance information isn’t a bad idea either.
Another important step is to make sure you present yourself as a team player, project a confident and friendly personality, make yourself known as a motivational force and emphasize your communication skills. Everybody is looking for an effective listener and speaker. By improving these skills you can set yourself apart from the other and allow others to become aware of your skills and abilities. Communicate effectively with people in powerful positions and clearly state your ambitions to them. Appearances are also an important factor, and it doesn’t hurt to be well groomed and dressed. Also try and maintain your professionalism in all fields regardless of the situation.
Another important thing to keep in mind is to constantly learn new skills and expand your resume. Keep up to date with the latest trends and procedures, and don’t be afraid to express your own ideas. Also always a keep an updated resume handy, if you play your cards right, you might need it sooner than expected.
December 28, 2009
How to Write a Resume â Objective Vs Summary Statements
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Itâs hard to write a resume. Most of us are not âborn salespeople.â Just mentioning the word âsalesâ usually sends a shiver of fear up our spines. Add to this the fact that we are taught from childhood that itâs not polite to brag about ourselves itâs no wonder that when youâre asked to âsell yourselfâ on a resume you freeze up like a deer in the headlights.
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So instead of panicking letâs take a resume apart piece by piece and explain how to write an effective resume. Hopefully this will eliminate some of the fear involved in âselling yourselfâ on paper.
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RESUME BASICS (what every resume MUST have)
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Your name, address and phone number (obviously). But also your email address.
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Email addresses are where most people tend to go wrong. I have a friend with an email address called â1hottigerâ (one hot tiger). While this might be cute among friends, to a prospective employer it shows poor taste, and a lack of maturity (since sheâs in her late 40âs). If you donât have a professional sounding email, create a new one just for your job search. You can get free email addresses on Google, Yahoo or Hotmail.
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Example of a BAD email address:
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ImAPartyGirl@email dot com JennysMom@email dot com 2Hot2Handle@email dot com
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Example of a GOOD email address:
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MaryMartin@email dot com M.Martin@email dot com Mary.A.Martin@email dot com
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STYLE
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hen you write a resume avoid using fancy fonts or colored ink. This just makes you look immature. Plus, statistics show that if someone has to struggle to read something they wonât. Which means youâre resume is guaranteed to hit the trash faster than most if you use a script font.
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Try to make your resume look like a nice letterhead. One thing I do when I write a resume is condense lines by putting my address all on one line and my phone number all the way to the right. Then I separate it all with a nice line to look like professional stationery.
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Leslie K Phone:                                               (888) 555-0123 123 My Street ⢠Anytown, USA 11223             Email: LeslieK@email dotcom __________________________________________________________________
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(hint: If youâve ever wondered how people put in those dots and long dashes, itâs a simple code. Just hold the ALT key and type a specific number on the number pad (number pad, NOT numbers above the letters)
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ALT + 0149 for a dot (â¢) ALT + 0150 makes a dash (-) ALT + 0151 makes a long dash (â)
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When To Use An Objective Over A Summary
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The Objective Statement
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An objective statement is for people who are either just starting out or changing careers. Your resume should state your desired job and field (engineering for instance) and demonstrate that you have the skills or education (if not the job background) for the position.
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When you write your resume make sure that you use âaction wordsâ in your objective statement. Just like they sound they convey that you are a person willing to get to work and do your best. It should state your skills, your desires and what you want to do FOR the employer.
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The WRONG Way To State An Objective:
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Looking for a position with a dynamic company that will recognize and use my talents. I am seeking a company that promotes from within and will recognize and reward hard work and talent.
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This statement is all about YOU. It gives the prospective employer no information about yourself that makes you stand out from the crowd. When you write your resume try to think from their position. They want someone thatâs gonna get in there and work hard to make THEM money. How will you do that?
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The RIGHT Way to State An Objective:
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To apply my knowledge acquired through my Masters degree in Graphic Design and internship at ABC Advertising Company to an entry level position in the art and marketing department of a major magazine.
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The Summary Statement
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A Summary statement is for people that have been working for a while. It âsums upâ your skills and positions using strong âaction wordsâ and states your qualifications up-front. Itâs a way for a prospective employer to âglanceâ at your resume and determine if itâs worth reading further. It should outline briefly your skills and background and anything you feel you did that was âabove and beyondâ the nature of the job you held.
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BAD Summary
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Department manager for 15 member department in large marketing firm. Managed schedules and oversaw daily department duties and workflow.
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The reason this is BAD is that itâs generic. Lots of people have jobs like that. What set you apart? Letâs try again:
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GOOD Summary
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Accomplished department manager with 10 years experience. Created highly synergistic department of 15 creative marketing employees that generated over $5 million dollars in annual sales through applying teamwork and incentives/rewards.
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This is just a sample but you should have 3 to 5 strong sentences like this. When you write a resume show the results your efforts made whenever possible, whether it was saving the company money and/or time, or bringing in sales.
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Please keep in mind that this article is for the person just entering the job market or in entry-level or lower-level management. If youâve been in the workforce for a while and are on the rise in your field then you definitely will want to consider hiring a professional resume writing service. If you visit our website, you will find recommendations to several excellent professional resume writers who will work one-on-one with you designing and customizing your resume to showcase your skills and objectives.
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Take the Career Change Challenge and See if Youâre Ready to Start your Own Business
Everyone gets stuck in a rut professionally at one time or another. Sometimes itâs just a temporary state of mind, which passes quickly and you soon find yourself back on track after a weekend off or a holiday break. But what happens when that feeling inside does not pass? You start to realize that you are unhappy more than you are happy. The job you once loved, just doesnât excite you anymore. You get up in the morning dreading going to work and once you get there, you just canât concentrate. You find yourself becoming what you thought youâd never would when you took that job, a 9-5 clock-watcher.
Well, buckle your seatbelt. Itâs time to take the Career Change Challenge and see if you need a career change boost. Take the simple quiz below and see how many apply to you.
The Top 10 Signs itâs Time for a Career Change:
1) You no longer feel excited about going to work.
2) You find yourself daydreaming during meetings.
3) You leave a bit early or sneak in a bit late.
4) You arenât as thorough as you once were when it comes to completing projects or meeting deadlines.
5) You arenât feeling challenged anymore â your workday is just a routine.
6) You call in sick more often.
7) You havenât come up with a new idea or procedure in months.
You go through the motions at work and put in minimum effort.
9) You surf the Internet looking at other opportunities when you should be working.
10) You make more personal calls on company time just to make the day go faster.
If you saw yourself in more of these than youâd like to admit, perhaps itâs time to consider making that change and finding that passion again. It’s time to decide if the right move for you is pulling out the classifieds and finding a new position in your field or perhaps finally taking the plunge you’ve always dreamed of and starting your own business. Entrepreneurship, being your own boss, financial independence, it sounds too good to be true. But itâs not.
For those wanting to start their business, it is important to find the right home-based business. You need to match your skills and experience with the business that will leave you the most satisfied and also one that will give you the greatest profits. One option that many career-minded individuals are turning to is starting a business in the lucrative educational industry. With the right skills and tools, you could become a home-based tutor broker and match qualified tutors with students in your area.
One of the reasons this is such a good business opportunity is the demand for qualified tutors is at an all time high. Nationwide, parents spent $5 billion to $7 billion on tutoring sessions last year, an 18 percent increase from 2005 according to the Education Industry Association. Five years ago there were approximately 800,000 tutors nationwide, today there are approximately 2 million tutors according to the National Tutoring Association. As you can see, now would be the perfect time to start your own business in this thriving Industry.
Laurie Hurley of Home Tutoring Business http://www.hometutoringbusiness.com is one such tutor broker. She contracts with qualified tutors and matches them with students in need of one-on-one tutoring. She has successfully connected hundreds of students with dedicated, professional teachers and tutors and is now offering her effective business procedures to entrepreneurs looking for a strong business with great earning potential.
So if you know itâs time for a career change, look to starting your own business. Find a business with lots of support, the tools needed to begin and succeed, and also a proven track record of success. 2007 can be your most profitable and enjoyable year ever.