Have you ever felt stuck in your career? Employee stress and burn out can account for a lot of dissatisfaction in your life. After all you are at work some 8 hours a day or more. That’s 1/3 of your day if you don’t count sleep. That’s a long time to be dissatisfied.
If you feel stuck here are 6 great ways to find your ideal career:
1. Brainstorm on a sheet of paper – I’ve talked about this before and it’s a strategy I use all the time. Take a pad of paper and write down at the top your objective in question form. Then simply list out 20 answers to your question. For example you could write “What should I be doing with my time and life?” Then stay seated for a half hour to an hour coming up with answers to that question. The key to this exercise is coming up with 20 answers – don’t quit until you have 20 answers. You can repeat every day until you get the answer you seek.
2. Ask 3 close friends – Sometimes our friends know us better than ourselves. While meeting with one of your friends mention you are at a crossroads in your life and career. Ask what they think you’d enjoy doing. You might be surprised at how easily they can zero in to your strengths and abilities and report a perfect job area.
3. Ask your boss and coworkers – much like your friends in the example above your boss and coworkers most likely see you in a way you do not see yourself. In fact they are likely most familiar with your strengths and weaknesses in the work environment. Compile all the answers you get from them and see if there are any common threads you can explore.
4. Call a headhunter – If you are searching in your career it’s likely you have a resume. Sometimes you can catch a headhunter or recruiter during their slow times and meet with them to pick through what you might be good at. I’ve done this at different times in my life and the people seem open to talking with people. After all if you don’t get paid they don’t either. The ideas I get are usually good.
5. Take a career assessment test – There are several sites on the Internet you might be able to take one of these tests for a fee. But using my ‘headhunter’ tip above many headhunters have this software and don’t mind you taking the test in their office. I’ve taken these tests two times in my life and they usually take an hour or two but they are thorough. They ask you to answer a series of questions about what you are good at what you like to do what you prefer doing over what you don’t. If you take one you will likely see some new exciting areas to explore in your life.
6. Keep a journal – Do you keep a journal? If so read through looking for common threads in your writing. Keep your eyes peeled for trends and activities you like as well as don’t like. In fact finding examples of what you don’t like and what frustrates you is almost as important as finding what you do like. For example if you hate an overwhelming boss you’d probably like a self-directed position. If you hate nosy coworkers you’d probably prefer your own office.
Discovering what you really want to do with your life is the most important decision you can make. We spend 1/3 or more of our lives at work. So figuring out the right career is important to keeping that 1/3 of our lives happy and productive.
Brochure printing can be easy if you first identify your needs and have a clear sense of your budget. Whether it is for is a real estate listing a trade show handout a daPromotional T-shirts have been a part of business promotion and marketing of brands for a long time. Promotional T Shirts can be given to clients to prospective customers and also to your employees to give them the added feeling of belonging to a brand. You do not need be a world famous brand to benefit from promotional T-shirts. Even new busineses have used T Shirts to create awareness of their product brand or business.
giving Promotional T Shirts to your employees is a great way for brand endorsement. You can design T Shirts with your company brand and marketing message for your employees and if you are hosting a conference exibition or promotional event make it mandatory for your employees to wear promotional T Shirts. It is a very inexpensive method to make your staff stand out from the crowd and you present an orderly unity among your employees the same way in which a uniform serves.
Some businessesthink that it is too expensive to buy a t-shirt online but they are often incorrect. Purchasing t shirts online is a fast and easy process and the choice of online shops is very much better than you expect it to be with some allowing you to undertake the entire design process and payment online.
Corporate branding on T-Shirts can significantly improve the brand awareness of a business in a very short period of time and aside from the obvious marketing advantages branded T-Shirts and other clothing can enhance the perception of customers to your business. Considering the relatively low cost of purchase and printing T shirts against the length of time a good quality T Shirt can last makes branded T shirts one of the most cost effective methods of marketing for many businesses.
ta sheet or another application brochures are a great promotional tool.
Start with a layout that includes the text and images you will need to convey your message. Then choose the type of printing that best suits your brochure. Brochures are typically printed in more than one color.
There are two basic choices in printing: offset printing and laser or digital printing. Both printing processes are capable of producing large quantities of high-quality documents. Most high quality full-color commercial printing is done on offset presses using the four-color process. Offset printing is a process whereby ink is spread on a metal plate with etched images is transferred to an intermediary surface and is then applied to paper by pressing the paper against the intermediary surface. Although set-up costs can be relatively high the actual printing is generally inexpensive.
Laser or digital printing uses a laser beam to produce an image; this is also the way copy machines work. Offset printing usually produces clearer crisper type and higher resolution images than laser or digital printing. However smaller printing jobs can be done on a small low-volume laser or inkjet printer or at a copy store thereby eliminating set-up fees and some shipping costs.
Choosing paper is another very important aspect of brochure printing. Most printers will recommend a heavyweight coated or glossy paper to achieve a more vibrant upscale look.
The folding of your brochure is another key consideration. Basic folding options include: the half fold or single fold the tri fold (the left and right flaps open) and the “Z” fold (which opens up like an accordion). Almost all printers will give you a greater discount the more you print.
Brochure printing can be easy and fun and allow for a good deal of self-expression so go ahead what are you waiting for? Print that brochure.
“#EANF#Medal of Honor Allied Assault: Deluxe Edition – On Save”
Advertising a product service or any undertaking such as a website for example has always been a pain in the wallet.
I have been a follower of the free advertising mode incidentally.
I would like to share with you two of the strategies I
ve used in getting free advertising.
The first strategy is to advertise in free but well-visited web sites.
I have published some of the best web sites that accept free advertising. You can access these free ad sites by first going to internetmarketinglearningcenter.com/classified-ads.html.
The second strategy I used to post free ads is to buy a Free Classified Ad Course.
This is actually a brief course and I had to pay Clickbank $19.95 to avail of this ad resource.
The highlight of the Free Classified Ad Course is going to the download link of a free software that you will use to post and monitor your ads.
I would like to share with you this Free Classified Ad Course FREE.
You don
1. Negotiate
Have you noticed that some people seem to always get the best deals? Yeah you pay full price and think you did OK until they show up with the same thing only they paid several hundred dollars less. It really get your goat! How do they do it? They
re not afraid to ask for an extra discount.
Yep don
Career Myth #1: You can’t make a living doing something you really truly love
This is the grand-daddy of career myths the belief that you can’t have a “practical” career doing something that you were passionate about. It has to be one or the other.
This myth is rooted in fear. Fear that we have to sacrifice our happiness to make a living. Don’t buy the myth that you can’t earn a living by doing what you love.
When I first started coaching I heard from plenty of people that it would be very difficult to make a living doing this work. I just decided to find coaches who were successful and to learn from them (simple eh?).
If you find yourself buying into this myth consider this question – As you look back on your life what will you regret more? Following your passion or following your fears?
Career Myth #2: It’s a tough job market/economy
Even when the newspapers and other news sources say that unemployment numbers remain steady that job growth is at a standstill or that we’re experiencing slow economic recovery not to mention downsizing and outsourcing don’t believe it.
It’s a myth because it doesn’t reflect the whole story the fact that that it’s a different job market today. It’s a changing economy. How we transition from job-to-job is different. Hiring practices have shifted. So the job market has changed but that doesn’t necessarily make it tougher. What makes it tougher is that we’ve been slower to change. We’ve held on to old practices and old behaviors. That’s not to say that old ways still don’t work but they’re just not as effective.
So I challenge you to just believe that it’s a perfect job market for you to find work. I’ve had my college students try this just for a week and more times than not several of them find job leads or make important connections during the week.
Career Myth #3: Changing careers is risky
What’s riskier than leaving what you know to pursue the unknown? Changing careers means leaving behind a piece of your identity – your “I’m a lawyer” response to the “what-do-you-do?” question. It might mean admitting to yourself that you made a mistake with an initial career choice. Or it might mean acknowledging that you’re unsure of what’s next. And smart people always know what’s next right?
Nope. Successful career changers often don’t have a plan. In Working Identity: How Successful Career Changers Turn Fantasy into Reality by Herminia Ibarra she provided evidence that waiting until you have a plan is actually riskier than just doing and experimenting.
Nothing absolutely nothing is riskier than not changing careers if you’re longing to do so. Here’s why: The longing won’t go away. It will always be there under the surface waiting for you to do something about it.
Career Myth #4: Always have a back-up plan
Sometimes having a back-up plan is the smart and prudent course of action. Back-up plans are so grown-up and responsible. But what happens when you’re standing with one foot in and one foot out? In my experience we usually close the door and retreat. We are reluctant to commit to ourselves and we end up denying ourselves the satisfaction of playing full-out getting dirty and sweaty. We end up with feelings of regret and the nagging “What if?” question.
Back-up plans diffuse our energy. Diffused energy equals diffused results. Give all that you’ve got to your dream/passion/risk and you’ve got a better chance of being successful.
Career Myth #5: There’s a perfect job out there for everyone
How long have you been searching for yours? You just know deep inside that there’s an ideal job that’s perfect for you out there. It matches your personality skills and interests to a tee. And it pays well. If only you could figure it out. If only you knew what it was.
Is there a perfect job out there for you? No. And here’s the good news – there are more jobs than you can imagine that would be “perfect” for you. Chances are you’ve even come very very close to a few of those perfect jobs already.
This doesn’t mean you should go around to a potential employer’s house or create wacky self-marketing campaigns; it means most people in the industry are approachable. If you cold call a relevant Head of Department (HOD) and show commitment and desire to learn they’ll often agreed to meet you for 5-10 minutes to look over your portfolio.
7) Persistence
When you do finally meet the man or woman you’re hoping to be your future boss don’t stop there. They’ll take your details but it might be 18 months before they have a suitable project and give you a call. You need to make sure you meet as many future employers as possible and stop and have a chat with other people in the department if you feel brave enough. Try and leave a card or better still copies of your favourite 1 or 2 pieces of work with your contact details on (and ideally your online portfolio address if you have one). Then give them a quick catch-up call every 6 months or so – even if they can’t offer you a job it’s amazing how much information you’ll get about different opportunities.
Portfolio
Vital. In a word. The key rules to a good portfolio are simple:
>Diversity – show different types of work you may have done – you may be proud of the series of 18 statutes you’ve done but don’t show them all. Also you may not think that 30ft polystyrene snow drift shows you’re finesse as a sculptor but it shows your versatility so put it in.
>Honesty – it should go without saying but it doesn’t. Only one thing gets a HOD’s back-up more than seeing a large piece of work with someone claiming to have created it single-handedly and that’s seeing a piece of their own work being claimed by someone else. Believe me it does happen. So be honest. If you did the left foot of a giant then say so and don’t be ambiguous about it.
>Concise – use your opportunity wisely. 10-12 photos are definitely enough to show a range of your work and skills.
>Best Foot Forward – most people will make a decision about your work within 2-3 examples so put your best work at the very front.
>Presentation – try not to have scraps of paper tumbling out of your moth-eaten portfolio. Invest in an easy to carry A4 portfolio and use plastic binders. If you have any Photoshop skills to improve the presentation of your work then use them. Don’t feel the need to take in an example of your sculpture – you will be showing your work to professionals who are very used to assessing work through photographs.
>Information – you may have produced a full-scale replica of Michelangelo’s David but if it took you three years it’s no good to the film industry. Make sure you note down the scale of each example of your work what material you used and how long it took. These simple pieces of information are important for HODs and will be appreciated.
>Online Portfolio – if you can get an online portfolio designed and make sure any contact details contain the address. Ideally try and get the HOD’s email address so you can send them the link. Any time you update the contents of the portfolio it’s a good excuse to contact the HOD with another link to your work.
9) Networking
Networking can feel a bit uncomfortable and embarrassing at times but it is important to get to know what jobs are out there. After you’ve worked on a job or two you’ll get the phone numbers of a few fellow workers – make sure you give them a ring. But be warned if you’re first to hear about the new James Bond film and then tell everyone you’ll find yourself joining the queue to show your portfolio. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share information you may have about up coming jobs it means you should bear in mind that everyone is trying to get employment. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on movie news websites.
10) Watching Films
A great perk for those times when you’re not in work – you can watch films and claim it’s research. Obviously it’s a great feeling to see your own work on the big screen but it’s also exhilarating to see the work and names of people you know. After your first job or 2 you’ll very quickly start to feel part of the industry and start recognising names and faces. Also for those jobs you missed out on you can go and have a good grumble about how you would have done it better!
Working in the film industry is not for everyone; but if you’re keen and develop you’re skills and knowledge then you’re likely to get an opportunity to show what you can do. Best of luck!
Career Myth #1: You can’t make a living doing something you really truly love
This is the grand-daddy of career myths the belief that you can’t have a “practical” career doing something that you were passionate about. It has to be one or the other.
This myth is rooted in fear. Fear that we have to sacrifice our happiness to make a living. Don’t buy the myth that you can’t earn a living by doing what you love.
When I first started coaching I heard from plenty of people that it would be very difficult to make a living doing this work. I just decided to find coaches who were successful and to learn from them (simple eh?).
If you find yourself buying into this myth consider this question – As you look back on your life what will you regret more? Following your passion or following your fears?
Career Myth #2: It’s a tough job market/economy
Even when the newspapers and other news sources say that unemployment numbers remain steady that job growth is at a standstill or that we’re experiencing slow economic recovery not to mention downsizing and outsourcing don’t believe it.
It’s a myth because it doesn’t reflect the whole story the fact that that it’s a different job market today. It’s a changing economy. How we transition from job-to-job is different. Hiring practices have shifted. So the job market has changed but that doesn’t necessarily make it tougher. What makes it tougher is that we’ve been slower to change. We’ve held on to old practices and old behaviors. That’s not to say that old ways still don’t work but they’re just not as effective.
So I challenge you to just believe that it’s a perfect job market for you to find work. I’ve had my college students try this just for a week and more times than not several of them find job leads or make important connections during the week.
Career Myth #3: Changing careers is risky
What’s riskier than leaving what you know to pursue the unknown? Changing careers means leaving behind a piece of your identity – your “I’m a lawyer” response to the “what-do-you-do?” question. It might mean admitting to yourself that you made a mistake with an initial career choice. Or it might mean acknowledging that you’re unsure of what’s next. And smart people always know what’s next right?
Nope. Successful career changers often don’t have a plan. In Working Identity: How Successful Career Changers Turn Fantasy into Reality by Herminia Ibarra she provided evidence that waiting until you have a plan is actually riskier than just doing and experimenting.
Nothing absolutely nothing is riskier than not changing careers if you’re longing to do so. Here’s why: The longing won’t go away. It will always be there under the surface waiting for you to do something about it.
Career Myth #4: Always have a back-up plan
Sometimes having a back-up plan is the smart and prudent course of action. Back-up plans are so grown-up and responsible. But what happens when you’re standing with one foot in and one foot out? In my experience we usually close the door and retreat. We are reluctant to commit to ourselves and we end up denying ourselves the satisfaction of playing full-out getting dirty and sweaty. We end up with feelings of regret and the nagging “What if?” question.
Back-up plans diffuse our energy. Diffused energy equals diffused results. Give all that you’ve got to your dream/passion/risk and you’ve got a better chance of being successful.
Career Myth #5: There’s a perfect job out there for everyone
How long have you been searching for yours? You just know deep inside that there’s an ideal job that’s perfect for you out there. It matches your personality skills and interests to a tee. And it pays well. If only you could figure it out. If only you knew what it was.
Is there a perfect job out there for you? No. And here’s the good news – there are more jobs than you can imagine that would be “perfect” for you. Chances are you’ve even come very very close to a few of those perfect jobs already.
Enjoying the anonymity of the internet in social networking? Are you revealing a bit more in Orkut Facebook MySpace YouTube or BlogSpot? Extreme political opinions photos college pranks weekend preferences and more?
An increasingly popular trend graduates stepping out of universities and looking ahead for their first interviews are closing their social networking pages. Reason: Big brother is watching. Job hunters are increasingly conscious of anything they put into the online sphere-even e-mail which of course can be forwarded to anyone.
These are not entirely paranoia. There is anecdotal evidence and some HR reports talk about corporate recruiters are Googling potential employees having interns log onto social networking sites to check out an applicant’s profile and using the online world as another way to check references. This trend combined with the growing population of sites like Orkut Facebook and MySpace has many young people uneasy and unsure about how to navigate a new world.
B-school administrators and professors are beginning to advise students on maintaining a professional presence on social networking sites in e-mail on personal Web sites and blogs. Even if it’s password protected recruiters have profiles too and can get into your groups.
In a survey by AfterCollege.com a little more than 70% of the 60 students say they continue to post the same things they always did even though potential employers might be taking a look. About 20% of the 90 employers who have so far responded to the same survey say they investigate new hires by visiting social networking sites. A considerable 6% of employers say they’ve decided not to hire someone based on what they saw online but another 26% responded to that same question with no comment.
To quote Roberto Angulo of AfterCollege.com Students should be more concerned than they are.
