Career Building

What should you do when mid-way through your chosen career you found out that it doesn’t fulfill you anymore? Fortunately, there is the option of changing careers. Before you quit your job and go job-hunting in an entirely new industry, there are some things you must do first.

Changing careers? Do the SWOT Analysis

Getting your new dream job as your objective, evaluate the Strengths and Weaknesses that you have, and the Opportunities, and Threats that you will likely encounter.

Check out the job market for requirements of your targeted new career

Always do research on what your new target career will require you to have. Think also of the skills that you have at present that may be applied in your new career.

For those skill requirements that you don’t possess yet, consider further training and education to make you ready for career change. This is why you should not quit your current job yet as training for the new skills will take time.

I can still remember the very first job interview I had. It was just two months after graduation when I received a call from an advertising firm. They asked if I was interested to work with them. I was young then, and the only thing I had in mind was to get a job that could pay all the bills. Long story short, I passed the aptitude test and was endorsed to the manager of the marketing division for final interview. This big lady who looks like Martha Stewart roasted me on the hot seat with her questions, turning my own answers against me. Eventhough I passed the interview and got the job, everytime I would look back at what happened, I just find myself uttering the answers I should have given her, but failed to because of nervousness.

My face and tongue turned to ice when she asked me this question. I had no idea what to say, maybe because during that time I don't have a five-year goal for myself yet. I ended up talking about how I wanted to earn a hundred grand monthly, to be sent around the world for conferences, and basically to get paid just for my ideas without actually working. I figured I was too specific with my answer. I should have looked at my values, the things that I hold important like learning, advancement, training, etc. She would have been more impressed if I was able to explain how I plan to achieve the values I have.

I admit I came in a bit short with my answer on this question. What the hell am I supposed to say, that you will never find someone like me?! (I think I said something to this effect). In school, I was the captain of the soccer team and was twice the Most Valuable Player. But I figured the manager won't even give a damn about those. What they are after are my strengths as a person that can be held as an asset of the company. I should have talked about my attitude as an athlete (minus the fistfights and screwing cheerleaders) like how I maintained the spirit of my teammates, how I encouraged them to give their best, the way I took the place of our coach everytime he's out, and the way I handled victories and defeats. Maybe with answers like those, she may have offered me her managerial position.

Sure, you may have all the worthy skills and qualities to steal the seat of your dumb old boss. But the head jerk would not relinquish his throne that easily. No jerks would, believe me. He'd stick to his position so long as he wants while you work your ass off the ground. He will take credit for your accomplishments and will put the blame on you if shit hits the fan, count on it. And you're left on your dirty cubicle holding on to your pitiful title. I bet that's frustrating.

So how do you move up the ladder? If you're good enough or rather lucky enough to have another position open up for you, that's the only time the company can pay you off the drudge and trudge. Chances are, lightning would strike before your manager lets you take the lead.

Don't give up hope just yet, it's not impossible for someone as good as you to achieve that promotional success. The shortcut is to let your boss avail of your wit and ingenuity. Let him use your talent to his advantage, to meet goals. That way, when he reaches for the top, he tags you along with him. That makes you indispensable (although technically no one is).

There are thousands of secrets for success but we are often blinded by its idealism. Some theories does not work out in the real world. On a worst case scenario, self-help books may not actually help but may just further dispose you to frustration and failure. So use your wit and be smart. Use your common sense (anyway it's common) to lay out strategies in life. That will surely get you somewhere.

Everyone of us must find dignity in work. Happiness should be found in the things we do. This disposition results in excellent performance, efficiency, and productivity. However, if you feel you're not happy anymore with your job, not only because of poor compensation but also with the work itself, try to shift to another career.

You have to remember that you have the capability to decide and control your commitments in life. Take the initiative to assess your present situation and decide to move. Lend yourself to a more rewarding and fulfilling career both professionally and personally. Don't feel like a new search of a job is more disappointing than your present unsatisfactory career because it would curb your desire for a meaningful change.

Be excited with the prospect of a career shift. Affirm to yourself that you are worthy of it. By realizing you deserve a fulfilling situation and a more satisfactory work, you feel that staying in your current job no longer is an instrument for personal improvement. Realize that there are better career opportunities that are more meaningful and fitting to you. Plan for transition and work it out. Do not be deterred on whatever that comes your way. Constantly, reinforce to yourself that change in your career is essential to your future.

I know for a fact that there are millions of job seekers seeking for better job opportunities worldwide. More often than not, many of them are underemployed. I must admit that I was once underemployed and I was not very effective in my job because I was doing something which did not have something to do with my educational attainment. It was pretty tough, but I was able to get rid of that predicament through hard work and dedication in equal forms.

There is a common syndrome where in many professional just take any kinds of jobs no matter how odd they may be. This is for the sake of having a job and earn income. Underemployment problems are common not only in the US, but in the rest of the countries worldwide. When faced with such predicament, what one can do is to enhance one's education. Just like in my case, I studied further and earned more expertise. I also maintained my skills and remained visible in the community through some volunteering works and I kept my network very healthy because I pinged contacts at appropriate period of intervals. I just did my best and gave my best shot until such time that my efforts were no longer left unnoticed, but recognized. Now, I am pretty much happy with my new job because it is what I really wanted to do.

I had this former fellow worker who had been moving from one job to another not to look for better employment opportunity. He simply kept on moving because he was tested positive to prohibited drugs. It was a great trouble indeed, but I just shrugged my shoulders off because I am not into this kind of health threatening vice. I pity him, but there was nothing I could do than advise him to quit it. I personally believe that using prohibited drugs does not only impair physical health. It also affects the mental state of users.

This situation may surely yield to certain complications especially in the office or workplace. The effects of drugs may leave impacts on the users' performance and eventually ruin their reputations. I have nothing against drug testing through a random manner in the office or workplace. This will ensure general safety of the employees and their superiors as well. My company has just done a few rounds of drug tests and few workers tested positive. Alas! They got fired right away. There are different methods of drug testing available such as urine, hair, saliva, sweat or spray and drug identification kits.

Most, if not all of us desire to establish a strong career in life. To have a career or profession is the common goal of every decent people, especially senior students. And plans and determination make the person walk through the path of victory.

Reading about career building and development helps to encourage the person to set a goal in life. Actually, there are some articles and books were written to share winning career tips to career dreamers. One of the books that are written to establish a career in life is written by Julie Griffin Levitt, "Your Career: How to Make It Happen". This book has opened some practical ways for students to build their careers in the industry.

This popular book provides career self-assessment, job research, interview tips, and others. It also provides tips in writing powerful resumes and cover letters. You will learn to answer some common interview questions, too. Career building is not that hard if determination is present. And you can only feel the essence of success if you will work for it. Don't lose your opportunity to succeed.

When I was about a fresh grad's age, I kept on moving from one company to another in search for better employment opportunities. Still, I was restless and could not find satisfaction in each job that I had. Not until I shifted my direction and concentrated on real estate.

I must say that I the real estate industry catapulted me to where I am right now. Established, fulfilled, and, financially well-off that I am, I dare not stop improving my career. I just simply followed the tricks on how to succeed in this industry. I see to it that I am always a step ahead of every client.

In addition, I was able to maintain my own competitive advantage over the others. I never failed to give the maximum level of customer satisfaction and always kept an eye on the future. I have learned all of these from Haselwander Realtors GMAC Real Estate services. This is another thing that I always keep in mind: to look back to where I came from and keep my feet on the ground despite my success. You can make a difference too if you are going to learn by heart the basics of real estate career building.

Education is a life-long process. The same is true when it comes to career development. Employers and employees alike should continually enhance themselves in order to vie for better jobs and opportunities. They should not confine themselves to being ordinary workers, but aim high and achieve a successful and worry-free life.

The state of Nevada offers such kind of development through the Nevada Career Enhancement Program. CEO provides unemployed residents of Nevada so that they can become productive and generate income. As such, these programs offer employers chances to employ trained and enhanced Nevadans, thus, curving the rate of unemployment in the state. The program provides basic vocational and academic skills and various trainings for different skills.

In the same manner, employers also benefit greatly from this program as they are provided with reliable and skilled employees. Participants in the program receive individualized employment or reemployment, job workshops and coaching, skills developments, and vocational counseling and guidance. In addition, this career program gives them such other information like career system, information about the trends in the market, and services for the workers who are older, disabled, and veterans.

A career is more than a job. It is more than a title or a position. A career is what will define you for the most part of your life. Thus, we say a physician is a person who has chosen a career as a medical professional. A real estate broker is a career person who specializes in selling real estate properties. Therefore, a career person is someone who is an expert in his own field.

A career is more than a livelihood. It is a vocation that requires dedication and commitment. The first step in building a career is education. Education can be formal or informal. For instance, you may learn managing a business by earning a degree in business management or finance management from a university or college institution.

However, you can only become an expert through experience. Informal education, on the other hand, can be gained by working with the professionals in a particular field. Informal education can also be in the form of hands-on trainings or attending seminars. The second step in career building is looking for the right opportunity.

I think that having "people skills" is one of the most important attributes for a person to have a successful, happy, and healthy life. This is also a very useful tool when you're searching for employment or a job. It's a great tool for a better career building. Having people skills would make it easier for you to communicate and understand not only yourself, but other people as well.

People skills would enable you to enjoy and join a free-flowing social conversation. You would be able to open-up, to understand, and to respect the feelings and opinions of others. You would also turn out to be very friendly and approachable. Thus, this is a quality that most offices look for. You would also be able to negotiate with different parties. You can interject your opinions and thoughts with other people. Another important people skill would have to be leadership abilities. This is important because you will be competent and trusted by other people. You would be able to motivate and encourage your team because you have a leadership quality.

Lastly, people skills include "cultural diversity." This is the best aspect of people skills because this means that you comfortably work well with different kinds of people, whether they have a different religion, race, ethnicity, social status, and everything else. So, if you have people skills then, you're in luck!

Career building need not start after you graduate from high school or college. Once you already know what you want in life, you can immediately start building a career path. You don't have to be permanently employed to develop and hone your skills. A career can start early, it's solely up to your decisions when and how to begin building your career.

During senior year, students in several schools are given the opportunity to be interns. This internship programs give the students certain bits and pieces of what it's really like to work. This is one good step to building your careers. Take advantage of it and absorb the experiences, so when it's your time to enter the work sector, you'll have the applicable basic skills. If you're not yet so sure about your choices, it's best that you visit a job fair. A job fair specializes on work and employment options or employment possibilities. You'll never know, you might have a sudden realization on what you really want in life. All I'm saying is do not limit yourself to your current situation. If you know what you want, go for it. For example, if you're a creative person and you're into web designing, enroll in a web design course.

Having added knowledge and information with your skills can make you more confident for the real deal. Don't think that just because you're still a student that you don't have to decide on what to do with your life. You can start building your career now. Just make sure that it's something that you really like. That way, you can give it your best and that experience will hone you into a successful person.

Every woman who is working aspires for a better job. Surely, she does not want to get stuck in a rut on a dead end job. As such, she keeps on resigning from her work to apply for a better one. However, the cycle does not stop and she ends up nowhere.

If this is her case, she can remedy the problem by targeting rapidly growing industries. Companies that belong on this category are more usually open to career women. Before she chooses a company, she must do her research on it. In that way, she can know what to expect when it comes to the job description, incentives, opportunities, etc.

When you have already gotten the job, she should still check job positions available. This is important so she knows the jobs that pay a higher salary for the work she is doing.

It takes skill to be a manager, and to be an effective manager you'll be required an even longer list. But some manager, besides fulfilling the skill requiring possess a certain transcendent characteristic that if their bosses pay attention would certainly land them in the higher tiers of the corporate ladder.

This transcendent characteristic is one that every company needs, almost as necessary as the working capital of a business. For what is money and what use are resources if the company does not have a true leader working for it.

However, though the popular notion that a good leader is hard to find might be true, it does not say whether if a company cannot find a leader it cannot make one. Being a leader is not about physical stature or a good voice; it's not about having the education--having all these qualities might make you a good manager. But to be a leader one needs one more skill in the list: trustworthiness. Giving out orders is what managers do; being an example at work is one of the priceless intangibles every company must have.

You might think that you can't spare the time to attend a charity fundraiser sponsored by your company, but this might be a big mistake. Remember, your higher-ups will be there, and if they see you there, that will go a long way in their eyes as to how valuable an employee you are.

Also, in these types of charity work, society and business bigwigs often attend for the photo-op. That might be the chance you need to get ahead in the world! Impress them with your volunteer work, and charm them with your wit.

Of course, you have to have a genuine desire to be there in the first place. Those bigwigs are seasoned veterans when it comes to dealing with people, and they can smell insincerity a mile away. If your heart's not into it, then don't bother.

There are a number of people who, instead of just doing their jobs well, spend their time trying to make themselves look good for important people like your bosses or the manager. All around, this is a bad thing. First of all, it makes that person a suck up, and it earns him or her resentment of the others. Next, with all that resentment, productivity is sure to suffer, as your staff is too busy being resentful that they can't focus on anything except the suck up.

Instead, everyone should just concentrate on doing their jobs in the most efficient and effective way they can, and let their work shine through. After all, in the long run, it's the work and result that will last, long after the suck ups get tired of, well, sucking up.

Of course, no one is perfect. We all have different strengths, different weaknesses. These weaknesses can hinder us and hold us back, or can challenge us to overcome them and improve ourselves.

Many people make the mistake of only focusing on their strengths. While this is an acceptable tactic, managing will often challenge you in ways you never thought it would. Some tasks will require you to be versatile and adaptable, and might touch on areas that you consider yourself not so proficient in. As a result, your work will suffer.

So it's important to make yourself a well-rounded leader and manager, and a good way to do that is by working on your weaknesses and improving in areas you're not that good in. This way, you'll be ready for the challenges that a manager will face.

We all want a better career, even if we do love our current jobs. It's human nature to always strive to a higher goal, and that can be both a good and bad thing, depending on how it's interpreted and used. I'm here to help you attain those goals and build your career up from scratch.

You should begin by collecting business cards. Lots of them. They'll give you the needed contacts, and if you give them one of your own, that's even better. That way they'll remember you whenever they look at the card.

Joining a professional society, especially if you do have a profession, isn't a bad idea, either. Like collecting business cards, this also is a way to get the much needed contacts for your career enhancement.

Whenever you can, support good people whenever you can find them. Doing volunteer work is also recommended. Think of it as a deposit in the Karma bank; sooner or later you're going to collect on interest.

Getting someone to mentor you is a good way to learn the tricks of the trade of your profession. They have something no book or article written online can give you: Experience. It will be in your best interest to learn as much as you can from them.

Building up your career is a great way to be all that you can be, even if you're not in the army.