Thinking About Changing Jobs? Here’s What You Should Consider

Posted on April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 by Edna Crane

Are you thinking about changing jobs? If the answer is yes, then you need to consider a few things before you can make this happen. There are some people who don’t take the time to think these things through. Then they end up with no job and no plan of what they want to do going forward. The issue here is that you’re then stuck in limbo, and that’s not a place you want to be. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that we think you should consider when it comes to changing jobs, so keep reading down below if you’re interested in learning more.

What Do You Want To Do?

First, we recommend trying to consider what you would like to do. If you’re going to be changing jobs, then you need to have some idea as to what you would like to do to make money going forward. You can’t just leap into the unemployment market without any sense of what might be the next step for you, as this simply isn’t practical.

Some people already have an idea in mind of what they want to do, and that’s great. If this is you then you can start looking into what you need to do to get there. If you don’t know though, then you need to start considering the possibilities. Do you want to do something with one of your hobbies perhaps? Or, maybe a certain field has always interested you?

Where Do You Want To Do It?

We also recommend that you sit down and think about where you want to be. Depending on your career path, certain locations may be better suited to you. It’s important that you know what they are. For example, if you want a white-collar job, we suggest that you look into the top cities for white-collar jobs to give you a higher chance of success when applying for positions.

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Will You Need More Education/Training?

The last thing that we want to mention is that you need to determine whether or not you will need some more education or training to break into the new career that you’re hoping for. If you will, then you need to start researching the different options, the best way to get this education, and generally making moves towards getting started. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can get to where you want to be.

So, if you are thinking about changing jobs, those are some of the things that you need to think about. It’s not just a case of deciding that you don’t want to do what you’re doing anymore and then jumping straight into something else. No, it’s a lot more complex than that. It’s important that you know what to expect from what is to come. We wish you the very best of luck and hope that you manage to find a job you love going forward.

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5 CV Mistakes You Need To Avoid

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Edna Crane

Your CV is a vital aspect of your job-hunting journey. It’s the one thing pretty much every prospective employer will request, and it’s your way of standing out to help you beat the competition. Despite this document’s importance, 40% of graduates don’t know how to format a CV correctly and are likely making many mistakes that are costing them future employment or holding their careers back.

With over 200 job applicants per vacancy, it’s important to remember that no one actually reads your CV; they scan it, and if the information the hiring manager is looking for doesn’t immediately jump out at them, your CV will end up in the discarded pile. These mistakes will ensure that they happen each and every time.

Spelling and Grammar Mistakes

With many tools online, such as Grammarly, to help you improve your spelling and grammar, making spelling and grammar mistakes is unacceptable on your CV. Always double-check your CV for any spelling mistakes and run it through a spell checker. Glaring mistakes will get you overlooked faster than anything else. It is a red flag for employers that maybe you don’t check your work as thoroughly as you should.

Overselling Yourself

You want to stand out and show employers you have what they need and are exactly what they’re looking for. Exaggerating what you know and what you can do will only land you in trouble if you’re hired for that skill set or if interviewers request a demo of the skills you say you have. If you aren’t proficient in Excel, don’t say you are. Instead, be honest about what you can do. Emphasize these points instead of embellishing other areas or straight out lying.

Poor Formatting

As mentioned, your CV won’t be read in its entirety. It’s likely only going to be scanned, which means everything needs to be perfect, including the formatting. Poor or incorrect formatting will stand out to those reading your CV instantly and is an immediate turn-off. Your CV needs to be easily scannable with the correct information in the right place for people to find at a glance, and if you’re not paying attention to this aspect, then your CV won’t hit the mark. If you don’t know how to format your CV, use services like CV Experts to help you get it right.

A Boring Personal Profile

If your personal profile isn’t really exciting or is full of cliches you think people want to hear, then you’re not getting that interview. Harsh but true. Your personal profile needs to tell people about you as a person, how you achieved your experience and qualifications, and what they can expect from you. Putting that you’re a “hardworking and driven individual who can work well as part of a team” is boring and cliche. People want to know what targets you hit, how you played a part in team success, and what you have to offer.

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A Long CV

Your CV needs to be short, concise, and to the point. It needs to be bite-sized information that is easy to digest at a glance. Ideally, it needs to be one page long. Hiring managers or employers do not have time or even the desire to sift through hundreds of pages-long applications. However, experience might dictate the length needed to achieve this. If you’re applying for highly skilled roles and have years of experience, your CV will be longer but no more than three pages. Those with less experience should keep a shorter CV. Here, you want to go for quality over quantity.

These are pretty easy and all too common CV mistakes people make time and time again. In a nutshell, don’t do these if you want to actually get an interview!

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The No-Sweat Secret To Mastering Your Next Job Interview

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Edna Crane

Do you have a job interview? Job interviews can be very stressful for several reasons, including the pressure to impress, fear of rejection, and uncertainty about the outcome.

Keeping calm during a job interview is important for several reasons. When you’re nervous, it’s easy to become flustered and struggle to convey your qualifications and experiences. Sweaty palms, cold sweat down your back, and an unshakable stutter are some of the most common signs of high nervosity. The bad news is that those are frequently noticeable, even if you are having your interview in a Zoom meeting. So you want to stay as calm as possible.

Besides, this can also help you handle unexpected challenges or difficult questions with grace. Instead of panicking or freezing up, you are better equipped to tackle each question thoughtfully and respond with confidence. This will leave a much better impression on recruiters!

So what can you do to keep your cool during the interview?

Approaching the Day with Calm

Visualization is a powerful technique for calming the mind before an important event. Athletes frequently use it before competitions. Take a few moments to imagine yourself in the interview room, confidently answering questions and impressing the interviewer. Visualizing success can help you build confidence.

Of course, if you are prone to being nervous, you may want to look for soothing supplements, such as ashwagandha and magnesium. It may also be worth exploring CBD products. Cannabidiol is a compound known for its calming effects. It interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which regulates mood, stress, and other functions. So, this could be a great way to supplement your pre-interview routine altogether.

Practice the Most Likely Questions

To practice ahead for job interviews, you can use resources like ChatGPT to access commonly asked interview questions. ChatGPT uses artificial intelligence to generate responses based on a vast dataset of training data. This makes it a reliable source for preparing because there is a lot of material readily available about job interviews. In other words, practicing with ChatGPT could be the equivalent of practicing with professional recruiters who have a long experience interviewing. You get access to the most relevant questions.

The good news is that interview questions have not changed a lot, so it is easy to prepare for questions that you will likely be asked.

Naturally, you want to focus on articulating your experiences, skills, and achievements in a clear and concise manner. But you can use ChatGPT to help create concise responses too.

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What Does the Interviewer Need to Hear?

If you can, try to understand the purpose of each question asked during the interview. Not all interviewers are skilled at asking questions, and some may ask generic questions instead of exploring your experience. By putting yourself in the shoes of the interviewer, you can decipher what they’re trying to learn about you and tailor your responses accordingly.

This conversational podcast on job interviews highlights the different mindsets between interviewers and candidates and can be helpful for job seekers. The discussions here provide insights into the interview process from both perspectives, helping you better understand what interviewers are looking for, how it can make candidates feel, and how to effectively communicate your qualifications.

So, it’s time for you to prepare for your job interview. Rehearsing potential questions and understanding the purpose behind some questions can be a game-changer. With preparation and a calm mindset, failing job interviews can become a thing of the past!

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Running A Business With Your Partner

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Edna Crane

If you are thinking about starting up a business with your partner, this is one of those situations that you really need to approach sensitively and carefully. After all, you don’t want to end up in a place where it is affecting your relationship, and a lot of people have made this error in the past, so it could happen to you. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the common pitfalls around running a business with your partner that you might want to be aware of, and what you might do about them.

Getting On Board With The Idea

First of all, you need to make sure that you are both on board with the idea that you are going for in the business. If you are not, then it could spell disaster before you have even begun. For instance, are you both happy with the product you will be selling? Always be upfront. Before you begin to accept payments for hemp products, for example, make sure that your partner is happy with that too. This is something that you need to keep checking in about at all times, just to make sure.

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Being Open About Money

Of course, you should never hide anything from one another at all, and that is certainly especially important when it comes to the finances involved in the business. If you are ever tempted to hide something financial from your partner, it’s likely that this is going to end up in a poor way, so that is something that you should bear in mind from the start. Make sure that you are as open as possible, and that you both keep records together, so that there is no room for anything hidden.

Working Together Well

Some couples work together better than others, and it is something that you will soon discover for yourself whether or not you two are going to work well together. It’s something that is going to be hugely important for the future success of the business, so you should make sure that you’re making an active step to work together as positively and proactively as you possibly can. As long as you do that, you’ll find that running the business with your partner is a much easier and simpler thing, and much more enjoyable as well, which is just as important.

Planning Together

Whenever you are making future plans, it’s vital that you are planning together as well as you can too. If you find yourself planning without them, or vice versa, then it can very quickly mean that you are not going to be able to work together, or that the business is going to fall apart. It’s vital that you are planning everything as a team. Make sure to commit to that ideal at the start – that way, you are much more likely to make it stick, and you’ll find that it makes all the difference in the world.

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4 Tips For Setting Up A Home Office You Love

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Edna Crane

When you’re working from home, it can be difficult to separate home space from working space. You need a space where you can get into working mode without worrying about distractions. Your working space will either help or hinder you, so it’s important to get it right.

If you’re setting up your home office, there are certain things you’ll need to take into consideration. Here are some simple tips to get you started.

Light

If you’re sitting at your desk for hours every day, it will be important for you to make the most of natural light. If you’re an introvert who likes working from home, getting a good dose of vitamin D with natural light will be important. Sitting close to a window would be preferable so you have the light you need and access to fresh air. However, if this isn’t possible, use artificial light to create the light you need to work.

If you find yourself squinting at your screen because you haven’t got enough light or you’re turning the brightness up on your devices, you may want to think about a different location.

Internet Access

Using the internet at home to browse social media or connect to Netflix is one thing but relying on the internet for online meetings with clients is another. You’ll need a connection that’s fast and reliable so you can be sure you always look professional. If you’re sharing data online, it’s also essential that you have a secure connection.

You’ll need to check your SSID before setting up your workspace at home. What is SSID? If your SSID is unsecured, it leaves you wide open to hackers. If you need help with this, you can ask your internet provider.

Separate Spaces

If you live alone, you’ll need to separate your work space from your relaxing space. This will help you to get into the right mentality to work. If you live with family, it’s even more important to have a dedicated work space.

If you set up your home office in a communal area, you need to be mindful of who will have access to your work space. For instance, it’s not going to be a good idea to set up your home office in the same space as your kids play area.

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Invest In Your Space

If you want working from home to work, you have to have everything you need. It’s okay to invest in yourself if it means creating a space that will be conducive to a productive mindset. For example, you may want to invest in a comfortable office chair and a spacious desk.

Many people start off working from their sofas or their beds but making the investment in proper office equipment is certainly worth it. If you’re spending a significant amount of time working from home, you deserve to be comfortable.

If you have family at home with you, it can also help to invest in a lockable filing cabinet where you can keep important documents away from little fingers.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, take a look at the others.

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Top 3 Decisions That Impact Your Chosen Career

Posted on December 12, 2023December 12, 2023 by Edna Crane

The decisions you make today can influence your career trajectory and give you a well-deserved boost to propel you to greater heights. So whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned professional contemplating a career change, it’s prudent to make informed choices that can set you on a thrilling path in your chosen field. If you’re going to commit an average of 90,000 hours over a lifetime for your career, it’s worth making the right decisions. Here are some top ones to consider.

1. Educational Choices

A good education lays the foundation for success. However, to reap the most benefits, your focus should be on the educational choice and the type of skills it teaches you. The right educational background can also open a future of opportunities in your chosen field. The first thing to do is to consider a certification program or degree that aligns with your passion and career goals. However, do not end there because researching the industry trends and emerging technologies is significant to ensuring that your education will remain relevant in a decade.

The ever-evolving job market makes it compelling to learn a course that leads to a career that the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence wouldn’t threaten. In recent times, for instance, writers have felt threatened by the introduction of ChatGPT and other AI technologies that appear to present stiff competition in the digital age. While your educational choice is relevant, do not underestimate the value of continuous learning in the form of workshops, refresher courses, webinars, and conferences.

2. Career Transitions

A 2022 survey revealed that 52% of company employees are contemplating making a career switch, and the percentage is almost the same every year. Career transitions are excellent, but how you navigate them can significantly impact your future success. Admittedly, it’s not an easy road when you decide to make a switch or transition. Many factors come into play to take that bold step to move from one career to the next. Some people find it worthwhile to join an ICF coaching program before making a career transition. Some people do this as a way to enhance their potential and develop leadership skills in a bid to navigate a career change successfully. You may want to leverage professional coaching to overcome the challenges that often come with career transitions so you avoid jumping ship without testing the water first.

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3. Building Meaningful Connections

You may already know this, but networking is crucial for working professionals and can’t be overstated. A network of professional relationships holds the door to several opportunities, mentorships, and industry insights. These are some advantages you do not get through formal education alone, and that is what networking provides. It fills in the loopholes that formal education may have left open and helps to make you a well-rounded professional. You can start by joining professional associations and attending industry events related to your field. The digital era makes several online communities accessible at the click of a button, so leverage that to positively impact your chosen career. The experienced professionals you meet online can provide useful advice to advance your career.

As you navigate your career, remember that the decisions you make collectively determine the future outcomes of your chosen field.

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What You Should Consider Before Changing Your Career

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Edna Crane

If you’re like most people, your career takes up a huge chunk of your life. It makes sense then, that you want to find a career that you enjoy and find fulfilling, while also paying the bills and providing a measure of financial stability.

Unfortunately, many people find themselves in a situation where they aren’t happy with their current career. You might be stretched financially, or you might find that you simply don’t enjoy your workdays anymore.

At this point, it’s tempting to decide to change careers. This might end up being one of the best decisions of your life, but not if you don’t stop and think about it first. So, what should you be planning before a career change?

Is a Career Change a Good Idea?

First things first, will a career change actually help you? You might not be in a position right now to make a major change to your career, especially if your financial situation won’t give you the wiggle room to change jobs.

Changing your career is a huge leap and, understandably, a scary one. This is especially true later in life. A lot of people end up stumbling into a career as a young adult, and then end up stuck there. If you’ve just graduated, now is the time to be more adventurous with your career choices.

You might be able to make smaller changes to your career. For example, the issue might actually be with your employer, not the industry as a whole. You might be able to get a job with better advancement opportunities or more interesting work, simply by shopping around for different employers.

This means that your experience and qualifications will still work for you, without thinking about retraining or starting fresh.

Should You Start Your Own Business?

One common career change is to start your own business. Some people set up a side hustle while still in employment, and this can be a great way to earn a bit more money. But if you want to establish your business and become your own boss, you may need to make a complete switch so you can dedicate more time and resources to your business.

Before you do this, you need a solid business plan so you know how to build up your business and generate enough profit to fund your business and your lifestyle.

You should also look into the pros and cons of being self-employed and compare them with being in employment.

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Training Courses and Career Development

Whether you’re planning to switch careers or you want to invest some time into your professional growth and advance in your current career, it’s a good idea to look into appropriate training courses.

Different courses can teach you relevant skills and give you more opportunities in your chosen field of work. Even soft skills like first aid are great additions to your resume. Management skills will allow you to advance.

Some careers require regular training to maintain your qualifications, especially in the medical field. So, pay attention to every training opportunity that comes along.

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What You Should Consider Before Changing Your Career - #career #careeradvice

Improve Your Chances Of Finding The Ideal Job

Posted on October 23, 2023 by Edna Crane

There is a lot that people often say about making yourself a good candidate for a role. But what about the act of actually trying to find a job that you want in the first place? You probably have an idea about what kind of job you want, and perhaps a sense of what your ideal role would be. So how do you actually find it? This can be trickier than you might think, but as long as you put your mind to it, you should find it becomes easier.

To help this along, there are a few things that you might want to bear in mind in order to make it even easier. Here are some of the main ways to improve your chances of finding the ideal job. As long as you consider these, you should find it is a lot simpler and easier to do.

Get Clear On Your Preferences

In general, the clearer you are about what you actually want to achieve, the better. You need to make sure that you are aware of what kind of job you want, so that you can effectively go for it and be more likely to actually find it. If you don’t really know what you are after, you are simply less likely to find it. That might sound obvious, but it’s nonetheless something you should try to bear in mind. It really will make a huge difference to your chances.

So, spend some time getting really clear on a few details – including what job you want, where you want to work geographically, how much money you are hoping to be paid, and so on. The more of this you figure out, the better it will be for your chances of finding a job you will ultimately love.

Research Roles

The more research you carry out in general, the more likely it is that you are going to be able to find a job you love, and without spending too much time on it either. This research can be easier than you think – mostly it’s just a case of seeing what roles are currently out there, so you know what you are choosing between. The more effort you put into this, the better it will be for you, so it’s definitely something to make sure you are focusing on.

When you research what roles are out there, try to keep your options open as much as you can. This makes it much more likely that you will succeed with your efforts, and ultimately get a job you can be happy with.

Go Through An Agency

If you have a specific kind of job you want to go for, then you will find it is easier to get it if you work through an agency for that specific kind of work. There are agencies for a vast number of industries and job types, so you should be able to hopefully find one for whatever kind of work you are hoping to have.

By way of example, if you are keen on trying to get a nursing job, you might want to go through an agency like Advantis. Why choose Advantis? For one thing, it’s a trusted agency, with a lot of work available, so you can feel confident in your chances of finding a nursing job soon enough. It’s also going to mean that the whole process of being recruited is so much easier.

So going through an agency is definitely a great way to approach things when you are trying to find an ideal job.

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Take Your Time

It has to be said that finding a perfect job can be quite time-consuming, and there are a lot of things that you might need to have in place before you can hope for this to happen. Because of that, you need to be prepared to take your time, and you might find that you need to be quite patient. The more effectively you do that, the better it is going to be for you, so make sure that you are definitely giving yourself the chance to be patient. Taking your time also means you are more likely to end up with a job you love, rather than just any job.

As you can see, it’s perfectly possible to find an ideal job, as long as you put your mind to it and you are happy to work at it a little.