Tag: Job

Job Hunting Hacks: Steps To Help You Find Your Next Job

A key focus of my blog is Career Discussions. I the course of pursuing one’s career, there will likely be job changes for one reason or another. Find the next job isn’t always easy or straight forward. The following contributed post is entitled, Job Hunting Hacks: Steps To Help You Find Your Next Job.

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Job hunting is never easy, but in the aftermath of a pandemic, it can be particularly challenging. If you’re currently looking for a job, or you’re thinking about changing careers in the future, here are some steps to take to find your next role.

Update your resume

The first step to take when applying for any kind of job is to update and review your resume. If you haven’t applied for a job for years, or you tend to hit the ‘submit’ button without checking your resume first, it’s essential to take the time to read the information and make sure that it’s up to date. If your resume is out of date, you could be selling yourself short. Include recent developments in your employment history, training and qualifications, and tailor each application to the specific role.

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Improve your interview skills

Job interviews are daunting, and many of us feel anxious and nervous beforehand. If you tend to experience severe anxiety, or you don’t perform well under pressure, it’s wise to consider doing workshops or classes to help you build confidence, control nerves and navigate the process smoothly. Practice presenting, public speaking and answering questions and go through role-play scenarios. If you get an interview for a job, take your time to respond to questions, arrive on time, make sure you look the part and showcase your personality and passion.

Protect your online reputation

Today, employers can find out about candidates before they even meet them at an interview. If you are hunting for a new job, it’s wise to think about how you come across online. Set your social media profiles and accounts to private, delete posts you have shared in the past that could possibly cause offense or damage your reputation, and investigate services that remove mugshots if you’ve been cleared of charges. If an employer searches for information about you online, you want them to be able to find content or data that create positive impressions. It’s worth checking privacy settings and removing posts or photographs you might not want in the ether before you start submitting applications.

Register with reputable recruitment agencies

It is possible to find jobs without working with recruiters, but registering with a reputable recruitment agency that has an impressive track record can boost your chances of landing a great job. Look for companies that specialize in the industry or sector in which you want to work, update your resume and talk openly about what you’re looking for. Recruiters have relationships with employers and employees and they will notify you if an opening comes up that matches your skill set, experience and preferences.

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https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-woman-in-black-sits-on-chair-near-table-1181605/

Job hunting is challenging at the best of times, but many people are struggling to find the perfect position in the wake of the pandemic. If you are currently looking for a job, or you are considering a change of career, there are steps you can take to maximize your chances of success. Update your resume, tailor each application, hone your interview skills and protect your online reputation. It’s also an excellent idea to register with reliable recruitment agencies and to sign up for online job alerts.

Taking The Best Care Of Your Finances During A Bad Financial Patch

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Everyone will fall upon some financial hard times. The key is navigating that rough patch and coming out healthy on the back end whether that be saving money or finding another job. The following contributed post is entitled, Taking The Best Care Of Your Finances During A Bad Financial Patch.

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Photo: Unsplash

Managing finances is often a difficult task. Even more so during these turbulent times of Covid-19. One of the worst situations that causes economic crises is unemployment and the current case is no exception. Crises do not warn and often catch people off guard and without a plan of action. Hence the importance of having, among other things, an emergency fund and a plan to reduce some non-essential expenses. However, Covid-19 among all the bad has left us many lessons for humanity, and has made us realize that no one is guaranteed anything. While we can’t control losing our jobs, we can control our financial situation in that scenario. In this article we will give you some recommendations to take care of your money if you are going through a bad financial patch.

1. Make a survival budget

First of all, if your income has decreased or stopped, you must immediately reduce the expenses that are not essential. Keep those that are essential for your day to day. This budget should not be a regular budget, like the one you used to do when you had a fixed income, where an impulsive purchase was possible. Now, it is crucial to think only about what is essential to live as food and shelter. You can also reduce some services such as cable or the gym and look for low-cost fun alternatives such as free events on social networks. This budget should last you for at least three months. This will give you enough time to steady yourself and get things back on track.

2. Be aware of what is coming in and going out

Oftentimes we have credit card repayments, other bills and utilities and may not be fully aware of what they all are. We may have signed up to a subscription years ago and we are still paying the monthly fees for it. Go through everything with a fine tooth comb. This is vital for finances. You may see something on your statement such as Best uber technologies and want to double check what this is. Each item can be broken down so you are on top of your outgoings.

3. Actively seek sources of income

Looking for a job is a full-time job and requires a lot of discipline. Remember that doesn’t mean you have to spend all day sending your CV everywhere. You can opt for alternative jobs while you find the opportunity you’re waiting for. For example, offer your services as a freelancer. Do consultancies or if you have the possibility, undertake. In addition, you can take advantage of the “free” time studying, developing your skills or doing activities that help you enhance your resume in the meantime.

4. Your assets can help you

If the situation gets complicated and debts increase, one option may be to liquidate some of your assets to get the cash you need to cope with the crisis. You can consider non-essential goods that allow you a respite for the time being. Rest assured, when you are in a better situation you will be able to recover them.

5. Claim what’s yours

Finally, this might be the time for you to seek what you’re owed. It might be the case that you’re entitled to workers compensation from a previous employer. If you have been in a position where you feel that’s the case, you should claim what’s yours. This could really help you out of the stressful situation that you’re in right now.

4 Things To Consider Before Accepting A Job Offer

Two focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and Professional Development/Skills. Not only is it important to make sure you’re qualified for a job in terms of your skills, but it’s also important to be able to assess whether or not a potential job is a good fit for you, assuming you’re not under immediate pressure to take it. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Things To Consider Before Accepting A Job Offer.

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Very often, the excitement of leaving a current job for a new one can cause you to overlook some necessary checks. Forgetting to review your offer could be a missed opportunity to make the best decision for your career and your future. A Gallup poll suggests that in the past year, over 20% of millennials already changed jobs. This same survey also shows that about 43% of the same category of people are already planning to leave current employment in less than three years. Whether or not you are a millennial, it’s crucial to consider these four essential points before accepting your next job offer.

1. Culture

Company culture determines whether or not you will be a good fit for the team or office. Factors such as language, values, company vision, systems, and beliefs, are good things to check out before accepting the offer. Fortunately, the internet makes it easier to do this background check as you consider making a move. The company’s social media platforms, website, and past projects are great places to start. If you know anybody who works for that particular company, ask them how fulfilling they find working there. You could also capitalize on the job interview to ask these crucial questions. Some companies have been sued for negligence and contributing to Mesothelioma (lung cancer) in employees. Because this medical condition resulted from chemical exposure, proven asbestos attorneys were in hot demand and still are. It is just an example of why you need to do your checks before joining any new company.

2. Expectations

Naturally, a manager already has a fair idea of what to expect in a potential employee. You have the right to ask what these expectations are and how they foresee this playing out at the workplace. However, your mission is not to use this feedback as a ploy to build a façade to get recruited, instead it is your opportunity to do a self-assessment to determine if you can deliver on the job. Remember that every company loves to be seen in a positive light and may overstretch their expectations. Be on the look-out for the interviewer’s body language to determine if they are being sincere or trying to sound politically correct in that situation.

3. The Salary, Bonus, and Employee Benefit Schemes

Often, people move from one job to another primarily for better remuneration and other attractive benefits. However, that should never be the main reason to jump ship to the next employer who offers an attractive package. Compare the provided salary with your job role and number of hours you are supposed to work – is it worth it? Also, enquire if the company offers incentives such as health insurance and retirement packages. Make a conscious effort to negotiate the terms without coming across as only being motivated by your wages.

4. The Commute to the New Workplace

Perhaps, your new job offer presented you with everything you ever desired in a career, except for one thing. The distance from your residence to the new office is unbearably far, and your daily commute will be anything but enjoyable. How do you come to terms with this challenge? Some organizations provide a bus to pick up employees from vantage points but are they close to you? Potential employees underestimate this issue and as a result it may create a lack of motivation in the long term. Your daily commute makes a tremendous difference to your job satisfaction.

The thrill of a new job always wanes after a few weeks, so you want to be sure that you have made the right choice accepting an offer. Be sure to consider all these key points before you go ahead and take the plunge.

How To Pick The Right Architecture Job

A key of focus of my blog is Career Discussions. Being an Architect is like many other professions where you have to properly vet the projects you take, and make sure that they are well-suited to your particular skill set. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Pick The Right Architecture Job.

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The world of architecture is quite a complicated one. People often have to study for many years, along with making buildings into one of their main interests, before they can even think about trying to find a professional role in this field. This will involve spending a small fortune on going to school, leaving many people with huge debt before they can even start in their new job. Of course, though, after you’ve done all of this work, you’re going to want to make sure it’s worth it. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the work that can go into choosing an architecture job that will enable you to live your dreams.

The Right Location

The right location is always key when you’re looking at jobs in a field like architecture. While there are plenty of firms around the world that handle this sort of work, very few have the acclaim to work on the largest projects. California is one of the best places for this, with architects being paid far more on average than their counterparts in other places. Ideally, you’ll want to be working somewhere with plenty of exciting buildings projects going on, while also finding somewhere with a lot of wealth.

The Right Business

Next up, it’s time to think about the type of business you’re going to be working for. There are loads of architecture firms out there that never see an exciting job. Instead, companies like this will work on essential projects, building things like affordable housing, schools, and hospitals. Of course, though, it will be far more fun to work for a firm that’s tackling much bigger building problems. You can look at the portfolios of the companies you visit to determine what they’ve done in the past, and this can be a good indication of the sort of work they’ll let you do in the future.

The Right Position

Much like any role, architecture jobs within firms will always have a strict hierarchy. Those at the top of the ladder will make the biggest decisions, ultimately shaping the buildings they work on more than the others in their company. Getting into the top spots within a business won’t be possible overnight, but you can improve your position dramatically with just a couple of years of extra study. Getting a Masters Degree in Architecture will give you the chance to get a much better position than having a bachelors degree. Of course, though, some people will like the idea of climbing the ranks through a firm.

Getting the job you want when you leave your studies can be hard. A lot of people are forced to settle for something that doesn’t reflect their ambitions, and this can make life incredibly unsatisfying. By taking the right action and being selective with the elements that form your job, though, you can often change this, giving yourself access to the jobs you’ve always dreamed of.

4 Important reasons why women are more affected financially due to the COVID – 19 outbreak

Two focuses of my of my blog are Current Events and Financial Literacy/Money. There are so many layers to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 Crisis/Pandemic. In addition the human health issues, there have also been financial after effects in the area of jobs. Something that’s not being discussed in all circles is the effect of the pandemic on the finances of women. The following guest post is entitled, 4 Important reasons why women are more affected financially due to the COVID – 19 outbreak.

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The coronavirus outbreak has devastated the entire world economy and it has almost reached the middle of this year. But still, humankind is eagerly waiting for a cure to stop this pandemic. Till now, approx 2,941,218 active cases were found worldwide, and nearly 357,979 deaths were reported due to this pandemic. Doctors and healthcare providers are working day and night to provide good medical treatment to the infected people. Medical researchers and scientists are working hard to find an antidote to this virus infection. Unfortunately, we still need more time to get the results.

According to CNN, the COVID-19 pandemic has heavily affected health care associates worldwide more than common people. Most of those associates are young and among them 70% are women. Institute For Fiscal Studies (IFS) director Paul Johnson informed the BBC Today programme – “There are those young people who are in those jobs at the moment or were in those jobs before COVID[-19] hit, and if they’re not able to get back into work then there may be longer-term consequences for them. We know that periods of unemployment when you’re young can have long-term effects. Traditionally you’re going to be looking to start work in September, [but] now couldn’t be a worse moment to be doing it.”

In China’s Hubei Province, about 90% of healthcare associates are women. In the U.S., that number is around 78%.

So, practically women are more exposed to the COVID – 19 virus than men. As a result, women are experiencing the impact of the pandemic more than men, on physical and mental grounds.

According to a report given by PayScale, financially women have faced the biggest hit from the COVID – 19 outbreaks within the last 6 months. Another report revealed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation And Development, new jobs are being created mostly considering the men, not women during this difficult economic situation. This might be a reason why women are financially getting down day by day. During the lockdown, it is also becoming difficult to find another income source.

In the UK, nearly 70% of the two million single parents are currently employed, but 3 out of 10 single parents working are living in poverty. Unfortunately, approx 90% of single parents are women.

These aren’t the only reasons women are experiencing hardship due to COVID – 19 pandemic. Check out the below-mentioned causes that should get your attention.

4 Important reasons why women are more affected financially due to the COVID – 19 outbreak

1. Women play a key role in family caregiving

After reviewing the above-given data, it is clear that women are the prime workers who saved time apart from their work, to provide care to their families. Due to the lockdown, most of the schools and workplaces are closed now. So, kids, elders, and other family members are at home 24-7. Due to this reason, most of the female workers have to be at home and away from work. They are attending family members who are ill or can’t take care of themselves.

When these female workers return to their work or try to rejoin, they’re being offered 7% less salary compared to male employees, who are working in the same designation. PayScale’s director of research, Sudarshan Sampath, verified this situation in PayScale’s 2020 State of the Gender Pay Gap report this way – “The coronavirus pandemic has exposed these cultural faults with our economic system. There is a strong likelihood they will not get rehired or they’ll come back on reduced terms.”

2. Unpaid sick leave creates a financial hardship

During the coronavirus outbreak, nearly 67% of private sector employees, and only 30% of low-wage workers who earn $10.80 or less/hour, may get the benefit of paid sick leave. Apart from that, only less than 50% of part-time workers may get the option of taking sick leave.

According to the report given by OECD.ORG – “In some countries, sick-leave compensation only covers a small fraction of the previous wage and / or is shorter than the recommended period of self-isolation for people with COVID‑19 symptoms. For instance, Korea and the United States have no generally applicable statutory obligations for employers to continue wage payments in case of illness and also do not provide for statutory public sickness benefits (OECD, 2018[1]). Comprehensive spending data on employer-provided sick pay is not available for the United States, but a quarter of U.S. workers do not have access to paid sick leave at all (rising to one half for low-wage workers), and two thirds of workers who do accrue less than 10 days of paid sick leave per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019[2]). With the “Families First CoronaVirus Response Act”, the United States introduced two weeks of paid sick leave for workers impacted by the COVID‑19 virus, which will initially be paid by employers but be fully reimbursed by the federal government.”

Fortunately, from the very beginning of the COVID -19 outbreak, international organizations such as Facebook, Microsoft, and Salesforce, utilizing few problem solving tips for business and employees, agreed to provide help to their workers. The companies allowed their workers to get increased benefits during sick leave.

The American government has also worked hard on a bill that would help employees to get paid leave benefits. President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The bill is focused on providing paid leave to employees who did not have it and extending paid leave for employees having only a few days. The benefits are applicable to the employees stuck at home due to the pandemic.

“The new law grants two weeks of paid sick leave at 100 percent of the person’s normal salary, up to $511 per day. It would also provide up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave at 67 percent of the person’s normal pay, up to $200 per day.”

*Data courtesy – the washington post

But there is a catch! According to the emergency legislation, only 20% of employees can avail paid leave benefits. Apart from that, small and midsize companies may provide these benefits for employees impacted by the coronavirus. Companies having 500 or more workers aren’t allowed to provide such benefits to their employees.

As per a calculation by the Center for American Progress, approximately 19.3 million U.S. employees (about 12% of 159 million workers) may face financial hardship without getting paid during sick leave.

3. The wage gap and job loss trigger monetary problems

62% of minimum-wage and lower-wage workers are female. These workers may experience a greater risk of job loss when businesses such as restaurants, departmental stores, hotels, and airports are shutting themselves down and firing their employees.

Even if women perform well in their designation, and maintain regularity, they may lose their jobs due to the business shutdown. Though women are less paid compared to the men, working in a similar job profile and designation, the effect will be quite harmful. This is also a reason that women are experiencing too much stress, and unfortunately, they don’t know how to remove that stress at work.

Women are affected more financially as a disproportionate number of women work in industries that are severely affected by the lockdown. These may include retail, leisure, and hospitality sectors. 17% of female employees are working in lockdown sectors, whereas mem workers are merely 13%.

In the country, 1.4 million citizens lost their jobs in March., with a 0.9% increase in female unemployment and a 0.7% increase for men.

If you analyze the controlled pay gap, the difference in payment will be seen clearly between men and women, having a similar job profile. Women earn 98 cents per $1 earned by men. According to PayScale, women are now getting 81 cents for every $1 earned by men (the ratio of median earnings).

During this outbreak, the wage gap is getting bigger than before. Female elementary school teachers earn 92 cents per $1, and women doctors earn 94 cents per $1, compared to men doctors. Female registered nurses earn 98 cents as usual. Unfortunately, black women earn 62 cents on the dollar and Hispanic women 54 cents for the same designation.

With such low income, women employees often experience difficult financial problems, such as unpaid credit card debts, medical bills, utility bills, kids’ education costs, housing costs, etc. As low-income earners, women may opt for help from non-profit credit counseling agencies and seek options to become debt free again.

Fortunately, the discrimination between genders and the wage gap has been gradually changing in a positive direction. As per PayScale’s survey – In 2018, women employees earned 78 cents per $1 earned by men. In 2019 the amount becomes 79 cents (+1), and in 2020, 81 cents (+3).

4. Unpaid caregivers are mostly women

Women around the world provide most of the unpaid caregiving work. As per the International Labour Organization (ILO), women employees normally render 76.2% of total hours of unpaid caregiving work, and it is more thrice as much as men employees.

Women employees are experiencing a shortage of paid caregiver policies. Currently, only 16% of private-industry female employees are allowed to receive paid caregiver leaves. Due to this reason, women taking too much sick leave for family members may trigger monetary problems in their lives.

● Approximately 43.5 million caregivers have provided unpaid care to an adult or child in the last 12 months. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]
● About 34.2 million Americans have provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in the last 12 months. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]
● 65% of care recipients are female, with an average age of 69.4. The younger the care recipient, the more likely the recipient is to be male. 45% of recipients aged 18-45 are male, while 33% of recipients aged 50 or higher are male. [National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2015). Caregiving in the U.S.]
● Upwards of 75% of all caregivers are female, and may spend as much as 50% more time providing care than males. [Institute on Aging. (2016). Read How IOA Views Aging in America.]

Data courtesy – caregiver.org

As health care services are getting unavailable day by day due to the increased number of infected patients, many COVID-19 positive cases need to be treated at home by women caregivers. This may also increase the possibility of becoming infected during such an awful time.

Endnote

So, these are the 4 prime reasons why women are getting the hit more than men. Women share a large chunk of employment in various industries such as healthcare, restaurants, social assistance jobs, preschool, kindergarten teaching, flights, etc. Due to the outbreak, most of these industries are shutting down their business. Due to this situation, women all over the world are experiencing huge financial difficulties to maintain their lives.

Author Bio- Patricia Sanders is a financial content writer. She is a regular contributor to debtconsolidationcare.com . Her passion for helping people who are stuck in financial problems has earned her recognition and honor in the industry. Besides writing, she loves to travel and read various books. To get in touch with her (or if you have any questions regarding this article) email her at sanderspatricia29@gmail.com.

How To Enjoy Your Job All The More

A key focus of my blog is Career Discussions. It isn’t a forgone conclusion that one will enjoy their job. As a matter of fact, a number of things go into job enjoyment/satisfaction. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Enjoy Your Job All The More.

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If you find there are times when you enjoy your job less, then you are not alone. This is what most people find with their work, no matter what the line of work is and how long they have actually been engaged in it. Even if it is what you really want to be doing with your life, there are still likely to be off days. If you are wondering how you might be able to enjoy your job all the more, then there are many ways to do so, and a lot of things that you might want to consider. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the major things to bear in mind to ensure that you can enjoy your job all the more in no time.

Pic Credit – CCO Licence

Bring A Good Attitude To Work

For many people, work is a kind of catalyst which helps them to get to the bottom of what they are in need of doing to improve themselves. If you are allowing yourself to get too moody and stressed at work, consider this a challenge to try and bring a better attitude to the workplace in future. When you do this, you are going to find that you have a much better chance of keeping the enjoyment of it alive, and that you will find yourself really loving what you do. Even if you find it challenging, just try to bring a better attitude to work and see what a difference it makes – to yourself and those around you.

Keep Safe & Healthy

You should never let your job damage your health or put you in great danger. If you find that this is happening a lot, then you need to think about what you can change. Of course, some jobs are inherently dangerous, such as being a paramedic. But for most jobs, you shouldn’t be put in a position where you are going to struggle to keep yourself basically safe and healthy. If you are hurt at work, that can cause a lot of problems in many ways, so do whatever you can to be safe. Follow all the guidelines for health and safety, and make sure that you are not doing anything considerably dangerous. That will help you to enjoy your work so much more in the process.

Pic Credit – CCO Licence

Work Hard

If you are really not enjoying your job, it might be that you are simply not bringing to the table everything that you can or should be bringing to it. If you are not working as hard as possible, you might find that there is just not as much of an enjoyment to be had there. You should aim to work hard, even if you are not enjoying it, as that way you are much more likely to go through the other side and find what it is about the work that you like. Doing this is one of the most powerful ways to have a better approach to your job.

5 Jobs For Tough People

Two key focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. Some careers and jobs are more well suited for certain types of individuals. There some jobs that are well suited only for ‘tough’ individuals. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Jobs For Tough People.

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To do some jobs well, you have to be tough. Whether you’re working in the public eye or handling difficult and emotionally-sensitive conversations, there are some roles you can only do if you’ve got thick skin and aren’t afraid to disagree with people. Here are five jobs for tough people you might want to consider if you’re feeling brave and looking for a career path to suit your personality.

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1. Process Server
A process server gives people sensitive legal documentation, like eviction notices, summons, subpoenas, and divorce decrees. They can also perform skip tracing to locate individuals that have ‘skipped town’ and undertake financial investigations. You have to be tough to succeed in this industry as let’s face it, people don’t enjoy receiving court summons or being tracked down. If you think you can do it, though, it’s a generally well-compensated way to enter the legal profession.

2. Mortician
Being a mortician was ranked in the top three of the most challenging jobs in 2017. You have to work face to face with death every day while supporting the deceased’s family. The hours are long, and you’re in a dark room, but on the positive side, at least you get to give the person a proper send-off by cleaning, embalming and dressing them ahead of their funeral. You’ll also be making their family happy and providing dignity to the person who has died.

3. Roofer
A roofer has to brave heights, scaffolding, and long periods of the year without work. If you’re a roofer by trade, you might find that you have to diversify over the winter months where work is scarce and could be canceled last minute. You also have to be prepared to walk over precarious surfaces and have to invest in many construction training courses to ensure you are safe and secure when working. It’s the perfect career for people that love working outdoors and aren’t afraid of heights.

4. Corrections (Correctional) Officer
At a potentially over-crowded, understaffed prison, you’ll need to keep calm in a tension-fuelled environment while maintaining control of a prison population. Corrections officers consider the job challenging but rewarding, as they can help individuals improve their lives as part of their rehabilitation. The career path and daily tasks of Corrections (or Correctional) Officers depend on the type of prison you go into. As a career, it’s excellent for training and development as you gain firsthand experience of everything from conflict resolution to self-defense.

5. CEO
As a CEO, you might be responsible for the morale and productivity of thousands of employees, as well as the company’s future as a whole. An unsuccessful CEO is often quickly identified and replaced, so the pressure is on to drive the company to success. Although you’re financially rewarded, the most stressful CEO positions are often considered as the heads of Finance, Tech, or FinTech giants. You also have to make unpopular decisions about company restructuring, as the only people above you are the board.

If you’re tough, one of these career paths may be for you. You might want to enter the legal profession or want a career that allows you to work outside, but choosing one of the above jobs might be the challenge that you need in your life.

Four Questions To Ask Before Changing Your Career

Two of the focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and General Education. Many people get to a point where they want to change their career path. It’s a life altering decision with long-term ramifications that must be well thought out. The following contributed post is entitled, Four Questions To Ask Before Changing Your Career.

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Are you thinking about changing your career path and perhaps pursuing a new role in a completely different sector? Well, then these are the questions that you need to keep in mind. It will help ensure you make the right decision.

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Should You Go Out On Your Own?

You might want to start by thinking about whether it’s time to cut ties with the job market completely. Instead, you can decide to go out on your own. If you do this – and it’s a big if – then there are benefits. Suddenly, you gain access to any and all your profits. You also don’t need to worry about someone constantly breathing down your neck. It’s an attractive option. However, you need to make sure that you are prepared for the risks. Don’t forget that most new businesses fail and the self-employed are looking at what could be a very risky future economy.

Are You More Stable Sticking With Your Current Position?

You might also want to think about whether it’s better to stand by your current position, whatever that may be. You should look at the economy and the job market right now. Perhaps your current sector or industry is stable. Better yet, it could be growing. If this is the case, then there is absolutely no point in switching gears right now. You have to think about your long term finances when you make a decision like this.

Is there Opportunities Available On The Market

It’s worth looking at the current options on the market. Are there sectors that are wide open? The easiest way to research this is to use a site like jobminister.ca. A tool like this provides you with an easy way to find out if employers are hiring in a particular industry or sector. There might be a talent crisis here and that’s always going to be great news. Or, at least it will be if you are in the right position to swoop in and claim one of the jobs that are currently up for grabs.

Do You Need To Learn New Skills?

That’s why the final question to consider is whether you are already in a situation where you are instantly hirable in a new sector or industry. It’s possible that you’re not and instead, you will need to think about signing up to learn the necessary skills and gain some additional knowledge. Luckily, you can do this online and you’ll be able to take a course in your spare time while you are completing your current job. So, you don’t have to worry about a window where you are learning new skills but not making any money. You can learn more about this possibility on studyonline.ca.

We hope this helps you determine whether switching careers right now is the correct move for you. Don’t forget, no one knows how hard the coronavirus is going to hit the economy. Regardless of whether the lockdowns and quarantines are lifted early or later on in the year, it could be a dicey road for the foreseeable future. So don’t make any rash decisions.

4 Issues That Can Ruin Your Chances Of Claiming A Dream Job

A key focus of my blog Career Discussions. Even when we are qualified for a job on paper, there are things we can do personally to prevent us from securing the position. Knowing what these are will increase the likelihood of getting that job. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Issues That Can Ruin Your Chances Of Claiming A Dream Job.

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Are you wondering whether there are problems that can stop you from claiming that dream position? Here are some that you need to watch out for.

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Trouble On Social Media

Social media is a funny one because a lot of people seem to think that they can avoid the issue of social media by simply not having it. However, most employers these days want to hire someone with a social presence. It suggests that they will be a valuable person for their team who has a strong network. However, you do have to be careful there is nothing embarrassing or potentially even harmful to a brand.

Criminal Record

You might also want to think about your criminal record. Most people won’t have a criminal record but even a small issue could lead to a blotch on your record. If you do think there is something in your past that could stop you from getting a job, it’s important to handle this issue the right way. You should think about speaking to a criminal lawyer like https://benfieldlegal.com/. They will be able to inform you how long this is going to remain on your record and whether it is likely to impact whether you are considered for a job or not. In most cases, you can avoid problems here by fighting to get a small issue expunged from your criminal record. Particularly, if it happened several years ago.

Credit Rating

You might think that a credit rating isn’t going to be relevant to a job application and to an extent you would be right. However, information on your credit rating can be gained by an employer and it is more relevant to some positions than others. An accountant, for instance, will often be judged based on their credit rating. This relates to reliability. As well as this an employer might not want someone in debt as part of their business, whether this is fair or not. Something to consider here is how to fix your credit rating. Well, there are a few ways to do this. The best is to borrow money from a source that you know you can pay back on time. Do this and you will be able to fix your credit rating quickly and easily. You can learn more about your credit rating on https://swiftmoney.com/.

The Wrong Name

While the others are at least somewhat understandable this one reeks of prejudice. Unfortunately, there is research to show that your name can be enough to stop you from being considered for a job. There are variables that people can assume or predict based on your name. They can estimate your nationality, your age and of course your sex. Now, if an employer is ruling you out for these reasons, then you might want to reconsider working for them in the first place. However, sometimes you need to prove your worth and for that, you have to first get your foot in the door. This is why a lot of people choose to leave their full name off their resume or provide an alternate name. If you do this, make sure that your references will recognise you by this name when the call comes.

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How To Make Sure You Land The Job You Want

Three of the focuses of my blog are Career Discussions, General Education and Professional Skills/Development. The job hunt can be very competitive depending on your employment history, the current state of your field and location. If you can, you want to set yourself up to beat out the competition and have the best chance of getting the position you want. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Make Sure You Land The Job You Want.

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When it comes to our professional lives, it’s safe to say that we all want to work in a job that we’ll love. Not all of us get to have that luxury all of the time, unfortunately, but it’s certainly something that everyone looks for. Working takes up an awful lot of our time, after all.

It’s not just a case of picking a field and walking straight into it, as you probably know by now. There are all kinds of people with all kinds of skills looking to take your opportunity away from you. You have to, therefore, put the work in and show you’re better than those alongside you. It’s by no means a walk in the park, but it’s also not an impossible task.

If you’ve found something that you’d like to pursue and feel as though you need to up your game, then here are a few things you should probably do if you want to increase your chances of landing such a gig:

Do Your Research

If you know what you’re talking about, then you’re obviously going to have a better chance of getting the job. If you were to stumble into the interview with limited knowledge, then you’ll be laughed out of the room. You obviously know that you’ll need to know a thing or two about the job at hand, but you should probably go one further and research all kinds of finer details. Whether it’s regarding home building projects, or whether it’s to do with types of machine tools, learning more and more will only benefit you. Not only will it help during the interview, but it’s always nice to have those extra pieces of knowledge going forward.

Present Yourself Perfectly

We all know that there’s no such thing as perfection, but you can do your best to get darn near. If you want to impress potential employers, you’ll need to make sure you look the business! This means getting your resume spot-on and dressing to impress. If you get these initial steps right, then that stands you in good stead going forward.

In terms of the resume, you’ll obviously need to get all of the vital information written down. But you’ll also need to make sure that it’s attractive to the eyes, too. Many employers have been known to toss resumes in the trash if they look a little untidy! Be warned!

Practice Confidence

Yes, that’s right. In order to become a confident person, you need to drill it into your own head. Practice speaking in the mirror – this is a simple one, but it’s great if you want to get into the habit of confidently getting your words out. Constantly work, too. If you’re lounging around and doing very little, your overall confidence levels will drop. Your confidence in the field you’re looking towards will also dither.

Don’t Put One Place On A Pedestal

If you don’t get the job in the company that you were expecting, then that’s okay. There will have been lots of people vying for that role, too. Never put all your eggs into one basket – that’s a sure-fire way of being disappointed. If you have lots of different options with an equal amount of importance, then you’ll constantly be focused, and your chances of success will increase.