How To Spot A Good Career Opportunity

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Edna Crane

A good career opportunity doesn’t come along very often. Or at least that’s what it feels like. For a lot of people it feels like you can get stuck in the grind for 10 or more years and get bored of a job, but if you want to change career paths there’s no options out there for you. But the more you know about spotting a good career opportunity, the easier it’s going to be to change your working situation and style. Here’s what you need to keep in mind if you’re in the midst of a job search.

It’s Not Too Good to Be True

Not all career opportunities are created equally. Indeed, some are simply posted to scam those willing to work hard. Do your best to avoid falling into a trap like this. If you feel suspicious about a job opening, or an offer you’ve received, do some digging into it. Who are the company involved? Who else works there? Can you get in contact to ask about their experience? You can also search up the company website and see how old it is—an established company is going to have a web record you can investigate.

Consider Unusual Industries

Unusual doesn’t have to mean niche, or something ‘out there’. It can just mean something you’ve never considered before, such as trucking jobs if you’ve been a desk worker all this time. If you’ve got a license and you’ve happily road-tripped for hours before, such a career could be a good fit for you! If you widen the net and extend the search beyond your usual parameters, you might find a position that feels like you, and allows you to be yourself on the clock.

Don’t Keep a Good Idea to Yourself

If you’ve noticed something about your business field, whether this be a gap in the market or a way to run a certain service better, talk about it. But not just to anyone. Talk about it to people who can help you do something about it. Investors and crowd funders, for example, or potential business partners who have the other half of the jigsaw puzzle.

Put your feelers out, lean on your network, and flesh out your idea. It could lead to a very successful business with yourself at the helm. After all your hard work, this is an opportunity too good to miss.

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Understand What You Need

This is really what it all comes down to. What do you need from a job? How can a job support your current lifestyle, and even make it better? The more you understand your needs outside of work, the more you can narrow down your search. You can create a list of pros and cons surrounding your current career opportunities and branch out with direction.

A good career opportunity is something you can picture, sink your teeth into, and proves to be worth its weight. Do your research and take your time.

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4 Great Jobs For Introverts

Posted on October 20, 2023 by Edna Crane

Do you need plenty of time on your own to recharge? Then you might be an introvert. The good news is that while extroverts often seem to be most sought after by employees, there are actually plenty of jobs that are best suited to those of us who are more introverted. Read on to discover 4 of the best of them.

Librarian

Being a librarian can be a varied and interesting career. The main tasks of a librarian include helping library users find the books and texts they are specifically looking for. However, in today’s high-tech world, this often requires using technology and online services to find documents and information as well. Librarians are also in charge of running the libraries they work in, which means planning services, deciding what resources to buy and restocking bookshelves.

A role as a librarian can make a good choice for an introvert because libraries tend to be quiet environments, where most interaction is done one-on-one. Additionally, there is a significant research element to the role which is a task that can be mostly done in isolation.

Truck driver

Another wonderful career choice for introverts is truck driving. Truck driving consists of piloting a vehicle from point A to B usually to deliver goods. There are various types of truck driving to consider including long-distance, and heavy rigs. The pay for truck driving jobs tends to be good, especially if you work in a specific niche such as driving a heavy rig. This is because additional training needs to be done for this type of role as there is more risk involved.

Truck driving can work very well for introverts because it requires a great deal of time alone, either driving or sleeping in the cab. There are some opportunities to speak and connect with others along your route mostly in truck stops which can help break up specifically long journeys.

Research scientist

If you are an introvert and science is your passion then becoming a research scientist can be a very rewarding career. Research scientists conduct research such as clinical trials to come up with new information about a topic including cures and treatments for diseases.

Check out the following YouTube video by Duha Vang about “A Week in the Life of a Research Scientist.”

One of the best things about a career as a search scientist is that you can be doing very meaningful and cutting-edge work, and put your degree to good use. Research scientist posts suit introverts because they usually consist of small teams working in a quiet laboratory environment.

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Writer

Last of all, if you are an introvert who has a love of the written word, and likes to tell stories, then becoming a writer can be a wonderful way to make your living. This is because you mostly get to work on your own, researching and writing. Many people writers also like to work for themselves in freelance roles.

There is a wide variety of writing jobs that can keep you gainfully employed too. For example, many people write scripts for TV, Movies, and YouTube, while others make their living crafting white papers or technical documents.

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5 In-Demand Careers For 2021

Posted on February 23, 2021June 16, 2023 by Edna Crane

Some jobs are always in-demand, while others go through periods where lots of people are hiring all at once. Usually, you have to look at the general trends and things happening in the world to understand which jobs are trending. Right now, we’re in the middle of the most bizarre and life-changing event since WW2. As a result, the demand for certain jobs and careers has gone up far higher than anyone expected. Additionally, the amount of people losing jobs in other lines of work has also gone up. This creates a situation where you’re out of work, looking for a new job. Consequently, these careers could be the perfect place to begin your search:

Nursing Jobs

All types of nursing jobs have increased in their demand over the last year or so. It’s obvious to understand why – a global pandemic has increased the strain on the already heavily worked healthcare industry. Hospitals, and other healthcare settings, are understaffed and overfilled. Thus, the demand for extra help has risen through the sky, increasing the need for qualified nurses of certified nursing assistants (CNA). If anything, the job of a CNA is more in-demand than most. As you can see on www.cnaclassesnearyou.com, there are probably plenty of training providers in your area offering you classes to pass the CNA exam. This is a much simpler way of gaining qualifications when compared to other nursing jobs. Thus, more people can feasibly become CNAs, and hospitals are hiring like crazy.

Tech Expert Jobs

If you’re blessed with a wealth of tech knowledge, you’re almost guaranteed to find a job somewhere. Tech expert jobs have always been in high-demand, but this has grown even stronger over the last year. As more companies move to work-from-home, the demand for innovative technologies has increased. Business owners need people to help create interconnected cloud systems that keep their organizations online. They require assistance in ensuring that everyone can work-from-home, while still being connected. Consequently, if you’re an expert in the tech field, there will be lots of businesses seeking out your employment. You can help them manage the uncertain waters of remote working, keeping their company afloat.

The best thing is, if you aren’t a tech expert, you can become one. Nowadays there are sites like Udemy and a host of great alternatives to Udemy where you can pay for courses to develop specific skill sets. Tech courses are really in demand, so there are loads out there. Pick a tech skill you want to hone, do as many courses as you can, and then become an expert in this field.

Personal Trainer/Fitness Instructor Jobs

Thanks to coronavirus, people have started to realize the incredible benefits of exercise. Numerous reports have shown that fit people have less chance of catching the virus than unfit ones. Similarly, the public recognizes that you actually have a better chance of fighting off all diseases when you’re fit and healthy! Not only that, but the idea of exercising for your mental health has also become a huge thing. People have used exercise as a release during the numerous lockdowns. Therefore, with more individuals interested in getting fit, the demand for fitness instructors or personal trainers is rising. People need experts to guide them and develop programs that benefit their health and help them achieve fitness goals. Online training is already a big thing, but 1-to-1 personal training could well rise exponentially when lockdown restrictions are lifted. Thus, this is a job that’s well worth looking into right now!

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Delivery Driver Jobs

2020 may have been the year that changed people’s attitudes to shopping forever. Online retail has always been on the rise, but we also saw increases in people ordering groceries and food online. It reached a point where many grocery stores couldn’t keep up with the demand for home deliveries, having slots booked up for weeks in advance. Couple this with the ever-increasing popularity of online retail, and you have a world where consumers are buying loads of things online, but there aren’t enough people to deliver them promptly. So, demand for delivery driver jobs is higher than ever before. It’s not just online retail or grocery shopping, but also instant deliveries – like Deliveroo and UberEats. Ergo, you won’t be short on work with a job like this.

Customer Service Jobs

What does an increase in online shopping mean for the world of customer services? That’s right; increased demand for customer service operators. In a world with loads of online transactions and deliveries flying about, you’re bound to have more queries from customers. People will want to know where their order is, when it will arrive, and provide any complaints when it does get to them. So, companies around the world are hiring more customer service agents than ever before. It could be to answer phones or respond via emails/direct messages. Either way, these jobs are definitely in demand.

Some of these jobs are more like stepping-stone careers to fill a gap as you search for work. Others are full-blown career paths that you could choose to go down. Either way, all of the jobs mentioned are highly demandable in 2021 and beyond.

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Is It Possible To Survive In A Low-Paying Job?

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Edna Crane

We all go to work every day so we can earn a salary or wage. This is the money that we need to live off and support our family with. As you no doubt already know, there are many well-paid jobs out there, such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants. However, there are also many jobs and careers that don’t pay quite as well as what we think they should. In fact, some are so low-paying that their employees can end up struggling to get by.

Thankfully, most of us will be able to move up to a higher position by getting a promotion and working our way up through a career. It’s usually possible to move beyond low-paying entry-level jobs in this way. But what if you seem to be stuck in a job that doesn’t pay enough with no way out? It may be getting you down, but you can hold onto the hope that it is usually possible to make your working situation better for yourself. Here are some ways you can survive your low-paying job.

Keep on Job Hunting

First of all, it’s important to note that you should always be job hunting. Even if you aren’t actively applying for the positions you find, you will find it very useful to keep a constant eye on your local job market. You’ll then be able to jump on any opportunity that is an improvement on your current situation. You never know when you will find a completely new role in a different career that shouldn’t be too difficult for you to transfer your skills and experience over to.

Switch to a Company that Pays Better

Of course, it could also be worth looking for a similar job to the one you currently do but at a company that will pay you a higher wage. Not all companies pay the same. It’s always worth having an ear to the ground to see if you can find a position for which you would earn a larger salary package. When you do look for open positions with other companies, it’s worth comparing the other financial benefits that you would gain, such as paid days off for vacations and illness as well as pension payments and annual bonuses. Even though a different company might be able to pay you slightly more, they may offer benefits that aren’t quite as good as the ones you currently get. So, you’ll have to weigh up whether it really is worth going for the higher salary.

Improve Your Transferable Skills

It’s always important to continue working on your transferable skills. It’s even necessary for those who are in solid jobs to keep on honing these crucial skills. These are key skills like good communication, analytical skills, and excellent customer service. They are known as transferable because you’ll be able to transfer them to various different areas of your life. As well as using them in your private life, you’ll also be able to use them in the majority of jobs as well. So, they should help you find a completely new job, even if it means moving into a completely different career. As long as these transferable skills are strong, they should help you bag a better job even if you don’t have any direct experience of working in the industry or sector.

See if there are any Funding Options for Your Career Path

It’s worth researching any potential funding opportunities that there might be for your specific career. There are sometimes charitable funds set up for employees in careers that are known to be quite poorly paid. For instance, teachers can sometimes struggle to get by on their low salaries and long hours. Thankfully, there are now a few programs in place to help a teacher who is really struggling. These kinds of programs are also used to financially reward teachers who have done particularly well in their job. There are quite a few traditional careers, such as teaching, that have these charitable pots and funds available for workers in need.

Start Networking More

Start trying to network more so you can meet as many people as possible. You never know who you might meet when you are at a local business networking event. There are always a lot of different entrepreneurs and business owners at them. You could get chatting to someone who is looking to hire someone with your exact set of skills and knowledge. Even if you don’t find someone who is hiring, you might start talking to someone who knows of an open position that might be a good match for you.

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Consider Changing Your Position in the Company

You might be able to increase your pay packet if you simply move into a different position in your current company. For instance, if you are able to work your way up to a leadership position then you would be in line for a nice pay rise. It could also be worth trying to position yourself as a mentor within the company. Lots of companies are now realizing how beneficial it is to have a mentor in the company who their workforce can reach out to for help and advice whenever they need it. You’d probably be able to continue your current position while doing a few extra mentoring sessions a week. As you’d be taking on extra responsibility, you will likely be able to request some extra pay.

Join a Union

It might be worth joining a union. These are groups and organizations that are created with the main aim to protect workers’ rights. If you believe that you are being paid a lot less than what you think you should be, it could be worth approaching your union about it. They will approach your company and attempt to negotiate a pay rise. If they are unable to do so, and you are paying significantly less than what other companies pay employees in similar roles, the union could help you take the issue to an employment tribunal.

Hopefully, these tips help you survive!

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What do I do if I freeze during a weird job interview question? – Ask HR

Posted on April 11, 2018April 8, 2018 by Katie Evans

Dear HR,

I hate going to job interviews. I always freeze when the interviewer asks me a question that I haven’t prepared for, then I feel like a dork for the rest of the interview. What do I do if I don’t know the answer to a question? Is there a way to keep from freezing during a job interview?

Thank you,

Awkward Interviewee

What do I do if I don’t know the answer to a question?

Dear Awkward Interviewee,

We’ve all been there; you stay up all night studying interview questions and how you’ll answer them, only to have the person conducting the interview not ask a single question you’ve studied. Instead, they start asking weird, curveball questions no one could have predicted.

Employers think they’re cleverly weeding out people who can’t think on their feet, but instead, they’re freaking out the people who can actually do the job. A lot of interviewees fall into an abyss of awkward self-loathing and completely bomb the interview. There’s a better way to handle it.

Breathe and Smile

First, take a breath and put on your best smile. Keep eye contact with the interviewer. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Do all of this consciously.

The idea is to remain composed and to not let the interviewer know you’re stressed. Remember, this is just a conversation. People ask weird questions in conversations all the time. It’s just another weird question. You can handle it. Keep your cool.

Restate the Question in Your Own Words if You’re Stumped

If you aren’t sure if you understood the question, start by saying something like, “I think you’re asking me…” or “Just to make sure I’m answering your question correctly, I think you’re wanting to hear about…” This method gives the interviewer a chance to clarify the question. It also gives you time to construct your answer.

Repeat the Question as Part of your Answer

Have you ever watched how Miss America candidates answer interview questions on stage? If not, watch thevideo from the 2016 interview segment.

A beauty contestant starts her answer to the question by restating the question as a statement and then leading into her answer. The first contestant is asked “if you could put a woman alongside Alexander Hamilton on the ten dollar bill, who would you choose?” the contestant thanks the interviewer for the question, and then begins her answer with, “the person that I would put on the ten dollar bill is…”

She starts her answer this way for a couple of reasons. First, it shows the interviewer that she was listening and ensures she’s answering the right questions. Second, it gives her a few extra seconds to think about her answer.

You have to have an answer by the end of the statement, though. There’s a trick Miss America knows about that, too: Your actual answer doesn’t matter as much as your poise and confidence do.

Beauty contestants are asked far dumber questions than most job interviewers will dream of asking. Seriously, watch how they handle those dumb questions. Pay attention to which contestants win. Their answers may not be the best, but they always look calm and collected as they answer the question.

Come up with an Answer—any Answer

I was once asked by an interviewer during a panel interview to tell him a story about a boy, a dog, and a ball. Without missing a beat, I told a story about how there was a boy named John who was the most special boy you will ever know because he was from outer space and carried his home planet with him everywhere, even though everyone thought it was just a ball.

In another interview, I was asked to tell a story with my hands. All I could think of was the nursery rhyme, “here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, and here’s all the people.” So, I smiled and rocked through it. Believe it or not, I worked for that employer for five years.

The point is, the delivery of your answer is more important than your actual answer. Stop stressing about what you’re going to say and work on saying something.

How to Prepare for Unexpected Interview Questions

Just like you study for “real” questions like “where do you see yourself in five years?” and “why should we hire you?” you can study for unexpected questions, too. In fact, practicing for this kind of question will help you improve your answers to the “real” questions.

Start by asking your friends to help you. Have them come up with the most outlandish interview questions they can think of, and then sit at your dinner table and have them ask you the questions. Practice breathing, smiling, and making eye contact as you answer the questions. Practice until it becomes second nature to you.

We’ve recently found a game that’s helping us and our students prepare for wild interview questions. The game is called Fun Employed. To play, each person is given a set of qualifications, and they have to use their qualifications to convince an employer they’re the right person for the job. Of course, the jobs and the qualifications are both unorthodox, meaning you have to learn to work with what you have, no matter how disconnected that is.

Another way to practice is to take an improv class at your local community college. Improv games and exercises help you learn to think quickly without worrying about what other people think. They’re invaluable practice for interviews and presentations, too.

It’s About Survival

Go into the interview knowing that you can handle whatever they throw at you. No matter what they ask, remain composed. Breathe. Smile. Have an Answer. Be as specific as you can in your answers, even if you think they sound wrong. Sell it with confidence. You’ve got this!

Best of luck,

Who Do I Ask for a Reference and How? – Ask HR

Posted on March 22, 2018March 17, 2018 by Katie Evans

Dear HR,

I’m a college student about to graduate and enter the workforce for the first time. I’ve worked a couple jobs around campus, and I did a summer marketing internship at a beach club, but I have no other experience at all.

I’m applying for sales jobs, mostly, but I’d really like to work as a broker or trader. Money is my passion, and I majored in finance.

Who should I ask to be my references? How do I go about asking them? Should I get reference letters too, or just contact information?

Thank you,

Big Money Dreams

Who should I ask to be my references? How do I go about asking them?

Dear Big Money Dreams,

Congratulations on finishing college and joining us in the “real world!” Finding your first real job can be tough, and you’re doing the right thing to think about it before you graduate rather than after.

Have you met with your college’s career center yet? They probably have a list of companies who are hiring new graduates. Talk to your professors, too. They know people in your industry and may be able to make introductions for you. Add your professors to your LinkedIN network, too.

Make sure you have a good support group of fellow graduates. Big companies often hire for many positions at the same time, so you can share leads within your support group and find a job faster. Create a Facebook group for this purpose, and then invite people to it. They’d be fools to turn down this kind of invite!

Now, with that bit of advice out of the way, let’s talk about your references. You should be gathering as many as you can because you are going to be applying to several different kinds of jobs, and like resumes, references should be targeted to the job for which you are applying. Here’s a list of who and how to ask:

Ask Your Previous Managers for References

The best people to write references for you are the managers of your on-campus jobs and internships. Employers usually want to hear from at least one person who has managed you so they can ask questions about your attendance, how well you treat customers, and how you handle difficult situations. They also like to ask whether or not your previous manager would hire you again if they had the chance.

To ask a previous manager for a reference, start with an email. If you haven’t seen them in awhile, start by telling them how much you enjoyed working with them and when. Ask how they are, and tell them that you’re about to graduate and you’re applying to jobs. Then ask if they would mind acting as a reference for you. The email might look something like this:

Hi John!

How are you doing? I really enjoyed working with you last summer during the marketing internship. I learned more in the three months I spent with you at the beach club than I did the first two years of college! It was an amazing experience, and I’m recommending it to incoming freshmen.

As you may remember, I am graduating in a couple of months and I am starting to apply for jobs in the finance industry. Would you mind acting as a reference for me? It would be a big help, and I would truly appreciate it.

Thank you,

Your Name

In most cases, you don’t need previous managers to write formal recommendation letters for you unless you decide to work in education or a similar industry. Do gather their email address, phone number, and information about where they work now, though. Keep in touch with them as you know employers will be checking your references so they are prepared and watching for the phone call, email, or survey.

Most every employer will want to talk to at least one person who has managed you, so be prepared to include them on most every job application.

Ask Your Professors for References

Remember when we talked about how your professors have contacts in the industry that might help you find a job? They make great references, too. Even better, they write a lot of references, so they won’t mind at all when you ask them.

When it comes to professors, ask them about it in person. Go to their office during office hours and have a candid conversation about the kind of jobs you are seeking. Ask them to make recommendations on places you should apply or people you should meet. Then, ask them if they would mind acting as a reference, and in this case, ask them to write you a reference letter. If you decide to go on to an MBA (from a very good college, or it’s not worth the money) in a couple of years, you will need reference letters from former professors.

Ask Peers for References (the Right Way)

Remember how we talked about the fact that you need a good support group of your fellow graduates so you can chase job leads together? You will have one person in that group land a job first. Once that person is in, he or she becomes your reference. Many big companies offer referral bonuses when an employee recommends someone and they are hired. So, it’s a mutualistic relationship—you get a job, and the other person gets $500-2000 as a bonus for referring you.

Use your support group, LinkedIN, Facebook Messenger, or email to ask for this kind of reference. Go to the company’s website and see the positions for which they’re hiring, and let your peer know you’re interested. After they refer you, use their contact information as one of their references. They should be cool with it since they’re referring you.

Seriously, if you don’t start a graduate support group right now, you are cheating yourself out of one of the most valuable networks you could possibly have.

Don’t Ask Your Mom for a Reference

This should go without saying, but don’t use family as references, especially your mom. Most places won’t even accept this sort of reference, and your application will end up in the trash bin. Don’t ruin your chances because you’re too lazy to ask the right people to act as references.

You Have a Network. You’ve Got This.

Now you have a good pool of people who can act as references for you. You have previous managers (I count at least three from your letter), professors (20 or so in most degree programs), and peers (50+). Go out there and network your way to a fantastic job!

Best of Luck,

I Need a Job Fast; Do I Really Need a Custom Resume for Each Job Application?

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Katie Evans

Dear HR,

I was just laid off and I need a job fast! What is the best way to spend my time in my job search? I know you say I should tailor my resume and cover letter for each job I apply for, but that takes a lot of time. If I just have one resume and cover letter, I can send it out to at least 25 places every day. At most, I can only apply for five jobs per day with a custom resume for each job.

Wouldn’t it be better to be seen by a lot of companies rather than just the few that I have time to write targeted resumes for? Explain to me why sending out a large quantity of resumes won’t work.

Thank you,

Confused about Resumes

Wouldn’t it be better to be seen by a lot of companies rather than just the few that I have time to write targeted resumes for?

Dear Confused about Resumes,

First, we are sorry to hear that you’ve been laid off! We know that is a scary thing to face, and we applaud your tenacity to find a job quickly. Unfortunately, sending out dozens of generic resumes everyday isn’t going to shorten your search. In fact, it might lengthen it.

Do you remember the Friends episode where Rachel sends out hundreds of resumes, all with a major typo on them? Well, that episode is more than 20 years old, and even then, it’s not how Rachel landed her first job in the fashion industry. It’s the act of a desperate person who doesn’t know how to job-hunt and is just hoping for a miracle.

Recruiters can smell desperation. Would you hire a desperate person? In most industries, probably not. Recruiters are looking for competent employees who actually want to work for their companies. They are looking for the person who is going to bring value. If you send them a generic resume and cover letter, what message are you sending? The message they will see is that you didn’t care enough to take the time to craft your materials to their job description.

Even worse, if your resume and cover letter doesn’t fit their job description, how does the recruiter know that you are the right candidate for the job? If you don’t customize your keywords and skill list for the job, your materials might not fit the job description. Even if you know you can do the job, remember that the recruiter or potential employer doesn’t know you.

So, your question is about what will work faster to find a job: quantity or quality. The answer is, undeniably, quality. There are a couple short cuts you can take to speed up your search, though.

Create a resume for each kind of job you want to do

If you are like most job searchers, there’s a few jobs you think you could do reasonably well. The wise thing to do is to create a resume for each kind of job that reflects the keywords employers are looking for in that industry. That way, when you need to customize a resume for a specific employer’s advertisement, all you have to do is take your pre-created resume that most closely fits the advertisement’s criteria and make minor changes to wording to reflect the words used in the ad. This step should save you at least an hour on each job application, but you do have to do a bit of work up front to create a few different resumes.

Keep a text-only resume so you can copy/paste information in job applications quickly

One of our favorite time-saving methods is to have a basic, text-only resume saved in NotePad or TextEditor. You can easily copy/paste information from your previous jobs into each job application, which saves a ton of time.

Keep a log of your answers to job application questions

Job applications usually ask you questions at the end that require a typed response. Before you submit your response, copy/paste the question and your answer in a Word file. Then, next time you have an application with the same question, you can clean up your answer to fit the employer’s job advertisement. Time saved!

Tap Your Network

The absolute best way to find a job quickly is through your network. You should have a solid LinkedIN profile, and you should set the recruiter alert to show you’re looking for a job. You should also email colleagues and let them know you’re looking for a job so they can keep an eye out for jobs that are right for you. You never know—someone might have the power to hire you on the spot. Your network is your most valuable job-hunting asset.

Best of Luck,