Strategies for a Career Change

People are becoming more apt to take action to become upwardly mobile. According to the Wall Street Journal, nearly 40 percent of all people seeking new jobs are also trying to change careers.

Think through the process or method you will use to accomplish your goals; accept that there is a level of risk involved. Younger workers have an easier time changing career, but if you have been in a profession for several decades, it may be difficult to match your current salary with an entry-level position.

The article outlines three key elements of the process:

• Accept the Risk
• Avoid the Traps
• New Career Choices

For more on these topics, see the complete article here.

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For more creative approaches on how to get started, education and training and interviewing click here to explore career options, salary ranges and job market trends.

Job Hunting According To Nephi

“When I was out of work, I realized that if I followed Nephi’s example, I would be able to provide for my family again.”

"A few years ago, the president of the company I worked for explained that the company was shifting direction and would soon not need my services or the services of anyone in my department. He didn't give a firm date, so I started thinking about looking for work and hoping something would come along. A month later, I was laid off and told I wouldn't be receiving any more paychecks."

Unemployment can be a traumatic experience for any of us, but if we follow Nephi's example, the author feels that you will be able to provide for your family again.  These attributes can be summarized as follows:

1. The responsibility rests with you.
2. You need to not only establish a plan but you also need to follow the plan closely.
3. You will need to speak up with assertive actions.
4. The Lord's promises are sure.

For more information about how Nephi's examples can have impact on your job searches and ultimate success, click here.

Provident Financial Calculators“

We have been counseled again and again concerning self-reliance, concerning debt, concerning thrift. So many of our people are heavily in debt for things that are not entirely necessary.  I urge you as members of this Church to get free of debt where possible and to have a little laid aside against a rainy day” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Times in Which We Live,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 73).

With careful planning and the guidance of the Spirit, you and your family will be able to enjoy a more secure financial future.

A number of calculators are available to help you make wise financial decisions. Online  calculators can help you in your financial planning, find them here.

Managing your career on social media

Whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, at some point you’ll likely find yourself searching for a new job. And as you start your job search, it’s important to understand the impact your use of social media may have on your career.

The hard truth: You can’t be too cautious when it comes to participating in social media. According to a 2012 CareerBuilder.com survey, 37 percent of employers check sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter in their research of candidates. And the employer scrutiny of social media takes on a whole new dimension for many once on the job as a growing number of employers are establishing policies about the use of social media on and off the clock for their employees.

For specific tips on how social media can better manage your career, click here.

Five Industries with Job Growth

If you are currently employed in one of five growing fields, your prospects for continued employment and advancement are good.

On the other hand, if you're like most college students or recent graduates, you're worried about the future. You're concerned about the stubbornly mediocre economy, about its impact on your career prospects and your transition into the workforce.

The downturn and the changes in behavior it caused have shifted the dynamics of the job market. In this new economy, we are left wondering what fields will provide the greatest opportunity for advancement. To see the five fields that are showing strong signs of growth see the full article here.

Age, Experience, and the Mature Job Seeker

In a multigenerational workplace, age and experience are a good team. However, there can be some truth in the fact that not all companies acknowledge this, and so a more mature job seeker may find themselves struggling to land a job. Here are some resume’ tips for those who have a few more years of experience under their belt.

A key point is to be sure your resume is age-neutral, limit the amount of information so as not to give away your amount of years in the work force. Limit the amount of work history to the past 15 years on your resume.

Format your resume so that the focus is on skills, not dates. List the prior jobs and skills, but without necessarily pinning a date on them. Focus on the skills and achievements themselves, and not when they were accomplished.

For more pointers and details, see the full article here.

How Older Jobseekers Can Compete

So you’re an older job seeker, out there in the market for a new job, or maybe even a new career. After years at one company or in one industry, maybe it’s time to make a change.

But what happens when you are fighting for a job, and competing with all those younger folks out there who may work for less money, or who may have a totally different set of skills to bring a certain employer?

There are a few simple ways in which you, as an older job seeker, can compete with those younger people to ensure that you get the most out of your job and your needs.  For the details see the full article here.

Getting the Job When You're Underqualified

When you're changing careers, getting your foot in the door can often be the most difficult part. Even though you may have tons of experience in your industry, which could carry over to the new career, odds are good that you don't meet every requirement on the employer's list.

So, how can you get a job when you're underqualified?

First, it's important to know that when an employer advertises a job opening, most of their list of requirements is a wish list. They are qualifications that the employer would like to find, but they aren't set in stone. Even if you don't meet all of them, you can still apply for the job.

In order to land a job you aren't completely qualified for, you have to consider what your qualifications are. Do you meet at least 80 percent of their advertised requirements? If you were the hiring manager, why would you hire someone with your skills? The answer to these questions will help you determine how to market yourself.

Although the current job market makes it considerably more difficult to land a job when you are underqualified, here are the most important things you can do to stand out:  Click here to learn these invaluable tips.

Negotiating the Best Salary

"What are your salary expectations?"

This is commonly one of the first questions you're asked when interviewing for a new job. Employers want to get this question out in the open:

·       They need a sense if you're willing to work at or below the top of their pay scale for the job

·       They are asking you to negotiate when you have the least negotiating leverage

Job hunters are often at a loss (figuratively and literally) trying to both get the job and obtain the highest possible compensation. Here's how to do it:

1.       Be responsive, but don't commit early on

2.     Find objective data to justify your request

3.     Figure out your Zone of Possible Agreement

4.     Talk about creating fairness and finding common ground

For details on these approaches, see the complete article here.

Top five personality traits employers hire most.

Perhaps I know you:  you’ve made looking for your next job, well… your job. You’ve scoured your resume of clichéd buzzwords, brushed up on body language and even gotten a handle on the dreaded video interview.

But all that might be for naught if you just don’t have the personality your dream employer is looking for. New research shows that the vast majority of employers (88%) are looking for a “cultural fit” over skills in their next hire as more and more companies focus on attrition rates. Lucky for you, we’ve drilled down into data from 1,200 of the world’s leading employers (think General Electric, P&G and Accenture) to find precisely the personalities big business is looking for.

Click here to view the valuable insight that could make a difference on obtaining your dream job!  Note:  the advertisement disappears in 15 seconds.

How to Successfully Change Careers

People find themselves on that precipitous cliff looking back on their career just as the dirt begins to crumble beneath them.

Are you facing that career change plunge? Do you wish you were? Take it slowly and make sure what you really want to do is change careers. Then use this 10-step plan, and you will be on much more sure footing -- and on a path toward career change success. Finally, remember that career change is a natural life progression; most studies show that the average job-seeker will change careers (not just jobs) several times over the course of a career lifetime.

For the enlightening 10 step plan, see the full article here.

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Employed? Manage your career

Best-selling author and motivational speaker Tom Peters strongly suggests that this economy has created a renewed need for individual responsibility. This is news to American workers who are overwhelmed daily by feelings of insecurity, fear and anger, and go to work every day without a sense of trust regarding the stability of their jobs.

While we wish for the best, the worst has been prevalent in the present job market. If you are now presently employed, what is the only alternative you hope doesn't happen?  To keep your job and prepare for the future managing your career is prudent. While this article is several years old, it still presents good points to consider in taking personal responsibility.

For ten tactics to consider in managing your career see the article here.

Fired? How to answer the question

If you have ever been fired from a job, this is probably the question you dread most of all during an interview.  When you're asked the question, don't lie. It's so easy for a prospective employer to find out why you left a job, so if you're being asked – assume that they already know.  So, what should you do?

Before you start interviewing for a new job, you need to come up with a cohesive story that briefly explains what happened. Your story should also include what you learned from the experience without talking bad about a previous employer or co-worker. It sounds like a tough job, but it's actually fairly easy.

If you need detailed pointers, see the complete article here.

Ask Better Interview Questions

So, the resume you slaved over for weeks and the expertly tailored cover letter landed this interview.  You have answered all their questions in confident detail, you feel great. Their next question: ‘Do you have any questions for us?’  It has all gone so well, and you say…‘No’. BAD MOVE!

This was your chance to take control, to direct part of the conversation to your benefit. Your prior research on the company should give you some good discussion points. Ask short but thoughtful questions; let the interviewer participate. If you would like to learn 5 techniques for this part of the interview, click here.

Habits That Will Make You Happier

The stress of looking for a new job or the necessity of getting one has a negative effect on your attitude and relationships with others.  Taking some time to review and modify your mental and emotional state is worth the time.  These are stressful times; acknowledge that fact and recognize its effect on you and those around you.

Minor changes in your daily routine will make a major difference in your life and career. Happiness is the only true measure of personal success. Making other people happy is the highest expression of success, but it's almost impossible to make others happy if you're not happy yourself. So if you are open to 9 suggestions that might counter the job search stress, click here.

9 Words to Dump from Your Resume

Think of the hundreds of resumes that cross an HR manager’s desk; a mountain of paperwork they’d rather bypass. But there are subtle ways to make your resume stand out from the rest.
 
One way is to be word wise. But first, the words that need dumping. These are self-aggrandizing words that your references may use to describe you. But if you use them, it sounds like you’re patting yourself on the back. They simply lack objectivity. They’re qualitative and can’t easily be linked to quantitative appraisals of your accomplishments. So, if you are curious about 9 words to dump and 9 to include, see the article here.

Part Time, the new normal?

With effective unemployment at 14.6 % (BLS U-6 statistic for October) due to the lack of an expanding economy, part time employment represents a practical solution.  While the thought is not pleasant, part time may become the new normal.  Lack of expansion, increased regulation and additional health benefits mandated for full time positions likely will cause an increase in part time offerings. 

Those with extended lack of employment may consider part time as a stop gap measure; the sluggish economy may translate into it being a permanent reality. More detail from an economic point of view available here.

Will your skill set last 10 years?

It has been well acknowledged that for today's workplace one should expect to encounter five to seven distinctly different job descriptions over your forty years. The dynamics of the job place and the pace of technology will present you with the 'ride of your life'.

If you are a new graduate or if you have more than 10 years 

before retirement, think about this. One job for life hasn’t been true for a while, but in the tech space even expecting to have one skill-set for life may be asking too much. Jobs may last less than a decade before becoming obsolete. So how do we cope? Since this roller coaster ride probably applies to you, read more here.