job hunting

career changes

It doesn't matter where you look - young employees trying to push for better pay, seasoned executives applying for new interviews or retired baby boomers trying to pursue a business they're passionate about - whichever way you look at it, everyone these days seems to be trying to have another go at the system. Career changes (or recareering, as they call it now) is about the hottest career move these days.

One of the most central parts of a re-careering strategy today, is the feeler interview or the exploratory interview. A feeler interview is a loosely defined consultation. Corporations recognize that career changes require a new kind of approach. Rectruiters and the companies they work for will often call people in for a general chat, to try to understand the circumstances of an applicant's skills, aspirations and special talents; and they will try to find out if the company can benefit from these. And since an exploratory interview isn't dead serious, prospective career changers have the stomach for tough questions about what exactly a company offers, and want the working environment and the challenge will be like. An exploratory interview is what you have when you make a clean change in your area of work, and you wish to explore an all-new industry.

Making a career change in midlife can be a lonely feeling. When I quit working with a public relations firm handling foreign government liaison for them, I had no job to fall back on, and I didn't even have a career to go to. I wanted something new. Still, the excitement of seeing how recruiters welcomed me into the interview room to find out how they might accommodate me, was really empowering. Corporations see these exploratory interviews as a great way to try to exploit areas of talent that they never knew existed before. With my experience handling negotiations with the Asians bureaucracy, a software major actually created a position for me where I could handle negotiations for their outsourcing deals.There actually are far more opportunities for executives to switch careers today with than there ever were.

As a way to get yourself into a new career area, the exploratory interview is an indispensable tool today. It's no longer just about the money; executives without a job  do have enough money to go on for a while. Career changes for executive-level employees are all about job satisfaction. When you get in there for your exploratory interview, the whole unplanned atmosphere can be a little intimidating. An exploratory interview is really a two-sided affair - you are interviewing the business as much as they are interviewing you. It can be difficult to enter a field that you know nothing about, and to appear confident and job-worthy. Still, when you ask the right questions and pull it off, it's a winner for everyone.

Technorati Tags: career change, recareering

Why do people go to school? We all know that the primary reason is basic education for personal growth and development. This reason is still the top most even these days. In these practical days, going to school is more of a preparation for the future. A future that is envisioned to be something of progress is what parents want for their children. Getting a college degree and land a stable job is what they dream of.

After years in college or university, one will then face the challenging real world. To find a job or to quit the next level is a question for future-seekers. Finding a job especially the one you want is not that easy these days. Competition is so stiff and qualifications are demanding. Both unemployment and underemployment are social problems greatly affecting a country. Every year, the employment world welcomes many hopeful young people to have jobs. In response to this, localities launch job fairs almost annually with the aim of helping job seekers find the job for them. Thousands try, many get hired and others go home- still jobless.

Job fairs are good venues for fresh graduates to find their first job. For those who wish to change their current job, job fairs offer many options to choose from and try out. There are a huge number of applicants from everywhere. How could one win the heart of his or her target company? Some say that a job fair is just a drop-your-resume and try-your-luck thing. No it is not. Be proactive and come to think of it: you could introduce your self to 20-more companies in just a couple of hours.

Did you know that there is a huge chance to win a job? Yes, that is by making it big in a job interview.

The ability to make it bigger than hundreds of those other job seekers is the responsibility of every aspirant. Considering some really a couple of useful tips like as follows would help them out a lot. In a job interview when you try your luck at jobs fair, remember these few of reminders.

Applicants prepare the most detailed resume since employers would base their judgment over those pages of paper. An impressive resume is not actually the first means to make an employer be interested to your application. He or she will only be looking forward to read your resume if you look impressive from the very start, it will make good impressions will come your way. Dress up and act as a professional you must not come in the thickest make-up or the flashiest clothes. Come on time, wear your skin and flaunt what you have. Answer questions sincerely and remember to relax while answering. Pay attention to the interviewer and flaunt your assets.

Job Fairs may lead you to your first or last job. Job interviews are your keys to the doors of opportunities.

Technorati Tags: job interview

I'm a stay at home mom who wants to pursue an illustration career. I want to use my free time at the end of my night to make it happen, even if it takes a long time. I'm hoping it could provide some supplemental income eventually although it's not a priority.

I'd like to hear from other working artists or illustrators about what the market is like, the competition, what's in demand, useful websites, other tips, or mistakes to avoid. Any constructive suggestions?

I have good formal training as an artist but not much work experience. I have amateur knowledge of graphics applications but I'm willing to study at home to get better - which programs and tutorial books are best? I also love to work traditionally without the computer. I'm stylistically flexible but I prefer doing anthropomorphic work geared towards a child audience or hip, urban stuff.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

okay, there are a couple things you ned to know. most "good" illustrators either work freelance or on-call for an ad agency, software knowledge is a must n the digital world. To be competitive in the world of illustration you need to be flexible (stylewise) however you must also devolp a look that is "yours".

I suggest the following literature:

How to be a successful illustrator : a practical guide
by Ray Evans
Publisher: London : Batsford, 1993.
ISBN: 0713466340 : 9780713466348 | OCLC: 28500281

Also check out about.com and http://www.wolist.com/wo/arts/illustration/

you can also look at my site : gothguy.sytes.net

my age is 25 and i did gradtution in hotel&tourism mgt. (AICTE approved) from india in year 2005, i was working in small hotel in india for 2 years in F&B service department as mgt. tranee now im in uk on immigration base, i not able to find way ? and how i build my strong career which lead to become F&B Manager in future and i also able support my family ?? and dose my gradtuion from india is valid in UK ?

Dude why not go back to India then, really, you had a job there. Be proud of your country, why abandon it like this.
I went back to my own country and it is the best move I could do, being a foreigner is tough and there's no real reason, is there. Mind you I don't know India, I am Italian and we got invaded by Indians.. you sure like to reproduce over there then you overflow the place lol. "25yo make family of 9 now must support family" you hanged yourself around the neck my friend, now enjoy.
lol shreck I almost chocked when I saw that!:))

ok, i still have 4 years until im out of high school, but...everyone i know already has a pretty good idea of what they want to do with their lives. Im still not sure what i wanna do, tho I am a pretty good artist, so i was thinking of making a career out of that, but i don't exactly know what i could do with a degree in art. I tried looking it up online but i couldn't find anything! any advice is appreciated =) thanks!

you don't need to know what you're going to do yet. everyone around you who "has a pretty good idea" really has a pretty good idea of what is practical or what their parents would like to see them do.

If you like art, make art. If you think art school may help you do something you enjoy with your life, give it a shot. Many artists didn't go to art school, but many also did. You got a looooong time before any decisions need to be made, so go try anything interesting, and then you'll have wayyyyyyy more options to choose from.

as for things to do with art:
Graphic design and web design are really popular fields for artists. They also pay well, and you can make a very nice living if you have artistic talent AND a little business knowledge.

You could also be an architect, go to school for industrial engineering or a lot of other programs in colleges that involve design. (See the majors at schools like Georgia Tech, Cal Tech, Virginia Tech etc.)

Hope that gives you somewhere to start!

Are you interested in changing careers or changing jobs?  If you are, your first impulse may involve automatically quitting your current job and going right out and applying for new jobs.  Of course, the decision is yours to make, but you may want to refrain from taking this approach, as there are no guarantees. Instead, you may want to take the time to find the perfect jobs to apply to, as well as use career training to your advantage.

As you likely already know, career training comes in a number of different formats.  In all honesty, career training typically caters to different careers.  For instance, if you are looking for a career in healthcare, you may be required to attend medical school, even just to receive certification for nursing. On the other hand, if you are interested in working as a secretary, your career training may involve courses that teach typing or office management skills. Although career training comes in a number of different formats, it can dramatically improve your chances of successfully changing careers or jobs.

As previously stated, career training courses come in a number of different formats. With that in mind, career training, no matter what classes or courses you take, is designed to help educate you on one particular career field, such as nursing, accounting, or office management.  Although career training courses can vary greatly, you often walk away with a large amount of skill and knowledge. In fact, depending on the career courses or classes that you take, you may be able to walk away with a degree or a certificate of completion. These are documents that you can give all prospective employers access to for verification of your training, knowledge, and skills.

One of the many reasons why career training can assist you when you are looking to change careers or even just jobs is because it can help you stand apart from your competition. Although career training is still popular today, not as many job seekers take advantage of it. This means that you can really use career training to your advantage. For instance, if you are interested in applying for a job as a secretary, you can take a few office management classes, typing classes, or computer software classes before you start applying for new jobs. By taking this approach, your job training is new and fresh. This not only gives you an advantage over those who do not have career training behind them, but it also gives you an advantage over those who received training a year or more ago.

As ideal as it is to hear that career training can offer you assistance, when looking to change jobs or careers, you may be curious as to how you go about getting that training, especially if you are still currently employed.  Career training is offered through a number of different centers, which are commonly referred to as career centers or vocational training centers. You may also be able to receive career training at your local community college.  What is nice about many of these establishments is that they offer affordable and flexible training classes and courses.  In fact, you will likely find that a good percentage of career training classes are taught at night or on the weekend. This is what essentially enables to you receive career training while still holding down your current job.

As outlined above, it is relatively easy for you to go about enrolling yourself in career training courses, for a wide variety of different career fields.  There are also a number of benefits to doing so. Of course, the decision as to whether or not you want to use career training to your advantage is your decision to make, but if you are serious about changing jobs or changing careers, it is something that you should seriously consider.  In all honesty, what do you have to lose by at least examining all of your options first?

Technorati Tags: career change, career training

Hello, I am getting my BA in Spanish Literature this year, and I am planning doing my Master in Teaching (Spanish) next year. Since I will not have a license I have to complete the Masters before I can start teaching. I've gotten different advice, is it good to complete a masters without previous working experience? Is it going to be harder for a school to hire me since I will have a masters? Any advice?

If you haven't been working in a school yet, I would sign up right now. Most masters programs require that you have volunteer time logged in a school. It is not necessarily harder to get a job with a Master's. Yes, they do have to pay you more, but you are considered highly qualified which is great for the school and the students. It is possible to teach without a Master's degree, but you HAVE TO have a teaching license which is a whole different ball game. There are requirements, both class and teaching hours, that you have to complete. If you are really serious about becoming a teacher, you should go for your Master's now and not wait. It is a lot harder to go back to school once you have a job.

I'm looking for some advice on a career change. I've done a few jobs (customer service and clerical) over the last 12 years, and have become disheartened. I'd love something more challenging and interesting but am struggling to figure out what! I've been thinking about wedding planning/ co-ordinating, bridal wear that kind of thing, but don't have the experience to sell myself for these types of job vacancy. Any suggestions would be appreciated

try running your own business, it doesn't get more interesting than that..

Most job seekers would measure professions and their careers on the money they can get. If this is your parameter, here is a list of the hottest and best-paying jobs today.

1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This people have the best-paying job in any company. This position is also one of the most popular in the business world. CEOs can make hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars every year.

2. Dentists. Dentists are one of the most popular medical doctors. Dentists work very often with surgical procedures but they can also cure and treat numerous diseases with the aid of prescription drugs. Dentists in the US are constrained by the American Dental Association (ADA).  The specializations in dentistry are oral surgery, public health dentistry, proshtodontics, endodontics and periodontics. To be a licensed dentist, a person should have a doctorate degree of Dental Medicine. They can earn around $ 150,000 annually.

3. Pharmacists. Unlike in other parts of the world, pharmacists are one of the hottest and best-paid careers in the US. Pharmacists are health professionals practicing pharmacy or the service for providing prescription drugs. Pharmacists also advice patients and give information on different drugs. They also manage drug therapy in certain instances. An average pharmacist could make $ 110,000 every year.

4. Information Systems Managers. Information System Managers are generally needed by most companies who have automated systems and operations. Well, as most companies in the US are automated, system managers are in-demand. An average IS Manager can make at least $ 100,000 every year.

5. Anesthesiologist. These are medical doctors who give anesthesia to patients who needs a surgical operation. As surgical operations are performed everyday in almost any hospital in the US, anesthesiologist is in high demand. Students, who want to pursue a career in anesthesiology, should complete four years of education in medical school training along with an internship in a respectable hospital for at least a year. Anesthesiologist can make $ 150,000 every year.

6. Air Traffic Controllers. As air travelers are in constant increase in number, air traffic controllers are in great demand and one of the best-paying careers in the US. An average air traffic controller can make at least $ 100,000 per year. To be an air traffic controller, one should have a special education in aviation and air traffic control.

7. Internists. An internist deals with the internal medicine that concerns with the diagnostics and non-surgical treatments of the internal organs. Internal medicine physicians have to study at least three years in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect humans. They are often consulted by other doctors for special cases and can make $ 160,000 every year.

8. Marketing Managers. As businesses need to promote their products and services, a marketing manager is necessary for the smooth operation of a business’ marketing and advertising operations. A Marketing Manager can make at least $ 95,000 every year.

9. Natural Science Managers. Natural Science Managers are needed to supervise science programs either funded by the government or a private organization. People in this field can make at least $ 90,000 every year.

10. Judges. Lawmakers and law professionals are one of the increasing job opportunities in the home of the brave. Judges are individuals who preside over the events in a court of justice. Their qualifications, discipline and placement however varies from one place to another. In the US, a judge can make about $ 100,000 a year.

Technorati Tags: high paying jobs, hottest careers

I am really confused about what I want to do with the rest of my life. I like to help people and I am really good at giving people advice. So after I started thinking about it I thought I wanted to be an addiction counselor. Would this be a good career choice? If not this then are there any other careers where I could help people. I really want to have a career that I love

Also I am good at math and science so on the other side I could go into a career in the health field or computors that would probably make more money.

If you're good at math and science AND you like to help people, you should look into a career in psychology, counseling or social work. All of those mean you have the opportunity to work with people who need your help.

Esp. with psychology, it's beneficial to be good at math/science, so that'll be helpful when you're in college. How old are you? If you're in high school or just starting college, my best advice would be to keep an open mind about careers, as it's very common to change your mind.

I'm not saying you'll want to do something else other than help people, but you don't necessarily have to pinpoint a specific career/job title right now. Once you're in school and start taking classes, you'll get an even better idea of what you like/dislike, so that'll help you narrow things down.

If you're in high school, go talk to a guidance counselor--they can help you think about career choices (and, hey, since you're thinking about counseling, you might even be able to quiz them about their career choices/educational backgrounds).

Same advice goes if you're in college or thinking about college. Talk to a professor, advisor or even someone in the career center if your school has one.

Oh, and one last thing, social work and psychology are both great professions where you can make a genuine difference in someone's life--just keep in mind that psychologists tend to get paid more than social workers. Money may or may not be an issue for you, but it might be something to think about as you make plans.

Good luck! I really admire people who dedicate their lives to others. Makes me want to be less selfish.