Am I Expecting Too Much From My Career

“Am I Expecting Too Much From My Career” Help from our Community “Am I Expecting Too Much From My Career?” * Laura is at a crossroads and isn’t sure which way to go. She recently left one industry for another, but things aren’t quite working out. How do you know whether to suck it up and stay the course, or take a risk on finding a better fit? What's your career history and current job? I was a British Army officer for eight years before I left to take up my current role as a trainee farm manager at a large dairy operation. I was successful in the army and the work was initially challenging. But it became increasingly limited in terms of professional development opportunities. There was no way for me to progress upwards and I wasn't inspired by the work anymore. I absolutely love animals, especially cows, so I decided to look into dairy farming, farm management specifically. An opportunity came up after I did some networking and that's how I ended up where I am. How do you feel about your work? I enjoy working outside with animals in a physically challenging environment (fitness and physical training are really important to me). The hours are long, I have to work every other weekend, and the pay is much lower than what I was used to in the army, but I was prepared for all of that. However, I've lost confidence in myself because there are no opportunities to learn. The farm I work on is relatively small, it's incredibly busy, and there are a lot of demands on me operationally. There's no time for professional development and no-one with the time or skills to train me. We have a lot university graduates on the farm, who have the academic skills but not the practical. They can also be emotionally volatile, so instead of being able to get on with the job, I spend a lot of my time resolving tantrums. I'm naturally an introvert, a systems thinker, someone who thrives on logic, so there's a part of me that worries whether I'm wasting my time in an environment that demands so much of me socially. I enjoy the operational aspects of the work, I love working with cows, I love being outside and finding solutions to logistical problems, but I don't enjoy all the talking that's involved. What would you like to be doing instead? I want to work in a small, professional set-up where people are motivated and focused, where there is a plan and a shared desire to achieve it â€" that's what I feel is lacking in my current position. I feel I need something that offers me a clear pathway to a financially stable and challenging career, ideally something where I can develop some skills and still support myself. I've thought about doing some further study. There are professional courses in agri-business but the jobs wouldn't be in farm management because that's more practical. I'd be more likely to be looking at something like crop analysis. The upside of going back to college would be that I'd have the support and networking opportunities of an institution, which, for an introvert who struggles with social skills, would be good for me. That said, I'm not sure the career opportunities after a course at agricultural college really appeal. I did also consider a career in wildlife photography, but I'd be starting from scratch, it's very competitive, and from what I hear, not very well paid. I'm reluctant to pursue a career where there are such low odds of success. I'm 34, I want to start a family and make a career for myself, so it feels a little late in the day to start over in another industry. I wonder if I should separate my career from my hobbies â€" focus on the operational side of things in my job and stick with farm management, and pursue wildlife photography to give me the chance to master some new skills. What's the biggest obstacle in your way? I can't work out if I’m expecting too much from my career, and whether that's spoiling what could be a fun experience for me. I have so little time to think about things â€" I get one day off every other weekend â€" that I can't even think about it fully. Should I just commit to my current role in the industry I'm in, find a way to focus on the skills I have? Or do I go back to college and move in a slightly different direction? I know it isn't possible to 'have it all', but how do I find the right balance? Can you help Laura? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How do you think Laura could move her shift forwards? Do you know anyone she could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support. Give Laura a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

Best Online Resume Writing Service Jobs - How to Find Them

Best Online Resume Writing Service Jobs - How to Find ThemWhether you're looking for a part-time career or a full-time position, you'll find the best online resume writing service jobs online. The positions will pay very well and require very little work on your part.The best online resume service can be found through a number of different websites. Many of these sites have hundreds of quality resumes posted, as well as lists of qualified job openings. A lot of the best websites are paid, but there are other websites that offer free resume services.Before you begin to search for resume services, you'll want to read over their website carefully. If you're able to, you'll want to see if they pay for services that are offered. For instance, many companies will pay to post a resume that contains any references to them or their company name.If you see a company that requires references in the form of an email address, then you should avoid their resume service. Instead, look for a service that allows you to get in touch with the potential employee, and provide contact information if needed.You should also make sure that the website offers services that include providing solutions to spelling and grammar problems, correcting certain key phrases, correcting typos, and correcting a lack of punctuation or grammar in the resume. This is vital because employers are looking for the most professional documents and having a resume that has errors can ruin your chances of getting hired.After checking the website's profile, you should then consider the potential offers available. You should also make sure that the company offers a money back guarantee.Some companies might require proof of some kind, and this should include a copy of the company's credentials and such. This should include references, job history, and any other personal information that might be relevant.Since so many people are turning to the Internet for the best online resume writing service jobs, this indust ry is becoming more popular every day. The best online resume service jobs are worth the time to search, and you'll be glad you did.

Top 7 Ways to Kickstart Your Twitter Job Search

Top 7 Ways to Kickstart Your Twitter Job Search I love Twitter and not because I’m an exhibitionist with a short attention span. I love Twitter because it’s an amazing social search engine. I follow people in HR, employers, recruitment consultants, my clients, people who follow me, and lots of other people who just keep me amused. People are always tweeting interesting information, with links back to blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and the like. They tell me and the rest of the universe what they like, who they talk to and what they’re up to. Well, the bits they’d like me to know at least. So I use Twitter a lot for ideas and contacts. But there are lots of other uses for Twitter as well, including finding a job on it. If you are struggling to find a job, or even just randomly looking, you’d be mad if you overlook Twitter, even if you can’t stand the thought of exposing yourself on social media. You don’t actually have to expose yourself, to get interesting information out of it, or even a job. You can just use it as a research tool. Here are a few basic tips and things to think about to get you started. Top Twitter Job Hunting Tip # 1 Sign on. You can use your own name if you are open about your job search and happy for people to know. If not use something else. If you want to use your own name but it’s taken, you could also use a name that represents what you do, your industry or what you’d like to do. If you don’t want people to know that you are looking for a job, use another name, and set up and use an email address that doesn’t have your name in it. Top Twitter Job Hunting Tip # 2 Fill in your professional bio. You are only given 160 characters so you’ll need to be precise. Have a look at what I’ve done with mine. I use a mixture of the professional and the personal. You don’t need to write your bio this way, but for me it’s a nice point of connection for anyone who chooses to talk to me. Bio: Careers journalist, job search and interview coach, resume writer, author, random tweeter and SEO online profile tweaker. Prefers salt to chlorine on hot days. Top Twitter Job Hunting Tip # 3 Link your URL back to your LinkedIn profile, website or blog if you have one. Make it easy for people to find out more about the information you’d like to present publicly about yourself. Top Twitter Job Hunting Tip # 4 Learn how it works. Unlike LinkedIn, linking up on Twitter is not so personal. You can choose to follow whomever you like. Sometimes people follow you back. Sometimes they don’t. Don’t take it personally they don’t. It’s easy to be swamped by too many people. Top Twitter Job Hunting Tip # 5 Don’t panic. With “@”, “#”, “RT” and “FF” just to name a few, a Twitter conversation can seem like a jargon convention for the hyperactive, where you’re left on the sidelines. Here are a few quick translations. @ is a message you can post on your profile in acknowldgement to someone else, or when you are having a public conversation. # helps tweeters organise their tweets so other people can find them. Sometimes groups of people use this to have a conversation. I plan to join #blogchat at some time, for tips on blogging. “RT” allows you to tweet out someone else’s tweet, that you may think is useful “FF” is a random twitter code â€" Follow Friday. It’s a way of acknowledging people who you like, or who have helped you. There are hundreds more than what I have just mentioned. That’s the thing with Twitter, cracking the code can get you hooked into it. Top Twitter Job Hunting Tip # 6 What to tweet? If you want people to follow you as well, you’ll need to say something. Otherwise you’ll look like a spammer. If you tweet about work, be careful though about whether your employer has any privacy policies. Some are explicit about who can be public spokes people for companies and Twitter can be in the public domain. Even if your employer doesn’t have privacy policies, you saying something about your work may simply not be acceptable. Plus it could be sackable. There are also dumb things people have done on Twitter, to get them dismissed. Have a read of this post by resume bear. It includes things such as: Bragging about fooling your boss into thinking you worked late the night before. Bragging about using twitter in work time when it’s not allowed. Talking about when they will resign I’ll be adding on to this list on this blog as time goes on. If you post links you can use URL shortening services like bit.ly When you tweet, do remember that Twitter is public and becomes part of the public record. Recruiters look at what in the public domain about you. Digital screening is becoming more and more popular. So a good rule of thumb is to remember everything on the internet can be archived. At some point it may come back to bite you. Top Twitter Job Hunting Tip # 7 You don’t have to use Twitter publicly to use it to job search. You can set up a profile, protect your tweets, or not even tweet, and follow anyone you like for information. I’ve found Twitter works for me when I engage in a conversation with another tweeter, but anything that I want to discuss privately, that I think could be confidential for the other person or myself, I say offline. It’s a good rule of thumb. Who should you follow on Twitter to help you get a job? You’ll be surprised who you find here. Many job boards, recruitment consultants, major employers and HR managers are on Twitter. You may sign up to a job board and receive an email once a day or once a week, however job boards will often blast out jobs on Twitter as they have them listed. This means you get first jump on jobs before other people do. Like LinkedIn you can follow colleagues, friends and people in your broader network. It’s a way of keeping what they’re up to in the present for you. Again remember if you follow them, they can click on your profile and see your tweets. So do be mindful of what you are sharing. If you want to make contact, Twitter makes it easy to pick up a thread of a conversation and have a point in common. I’ve also known people who’ve needed staff really quickly to tweet out the job to their network. Those jobs have never landed on a job board. Final thoughts The bottom line with Twitter is that it’s only one job searching tool of many. More and more recruiters and employers are using these to track you down, or check you out, so it’s worthwhile at least understanding these, even if you choose not to use them. There are more advanced Twitter tools job search tools that you can use. However if you’re like most people I know, you’ve barely thought about LinkedIn, let alone Twitter at this stage. So I’ll introduce these gently. Related: List of 140 Employers Posting Jobs via Twitter.

The Anti-Cubicle Movement Wish You Worked Here

The Anti-Cubicle Movement Wish You Worked Here Todays post is by, Louise Baker In many cases, the use of cubicles exerts a non-productive atmosphere of control and regiment upon office workers. Worker retention and satisfaction sometimes comes down to being part of an inspiring and unique workplace environment. Here are a few businesses that are really changing the work environment for the better. If only all employers could do the same! The Body Shop The Body Shops American office has banished semi-private cubicles with three foot tall (approximately half of the normal height) partition walls. Office workers can gaze out over a landscape of people, rather than neutrally-toned paneling. Its filing areas and copy rooms feature natural lighting. No more boring beige walls; the rooms here are a calming nature-emulating green. Human resources chose a fashion shade, because, after all, it is the Body Shops calling to make the world beautiful. Chiat/Day Highly touted as the next big thing in office design, Chiat/Days office embodies Jay Chiats vision of expanding socializing opportunities. The office has neither private offices nor cubicles. Chiat called his idea hot desking. Employees were empowered to be nomadic, never working in the same area twice. They carried cordless phones and laptops to their chosen spot. They were not allowed to cubicle up even if they wanted to. Chiat called this having private space that was not personal. Cisco Systems Cisco set up a different type of open plan design. Top management wanted to avoid assigning fully equipped offices to absent workers, and to facilitate teamwork. Employee chairs look like big, comfortable armchairs that one would pull up to a roaring fire. To provide stability, portable computers are supported by a beanbag-like apparatus that also provides ergonomic leg support. Williams Studio This photographer has created a glass box with ultramodern furnishings that overlooks rugged Canadian vistas. Its themes are sustainable materials, unique siting and generous amenities. The studio is full of open spaces and tranquil meeting places. A unity of décor and building materials creates a harmonious work environment that brings Frank Lloyd Wright to mind. Advantages of Breaking the Cubicle Mold A few themes are repeated when managers cite the reasons for banishing the cubicle. They feel that it will foster several workplace ideals. Creativity and Cooperation It is believed that if employees can easily access each other, they will more readily come up with world-changing ideas. Teambuilding will be expedited by setting up casual surroundings. Reduce Isolation An isolated worker is often a bored and disenfranchised worker. Lowering cubicle height or eliminating them altogether minimizes the playing of solitaire games and text messaging. What do YOU think about cubicles?  

Builders on Line - Selecting the Best Builder

Builders on Line - Selecting the Best BuilderIf you are not satisfied with the products or services offered by builders online then it is time to get a little more information about the company you are considering. Some of the websites make use of picture of past projects so that it is easier for the buyer to compare the different plans available on builder websites. When you shop for a house online, the builder should be able to give you all the information that you need such as the cost, the time it will take for the project to complete and some of the materials required.A good builder will be able to take care of all your queries. It is also important that they are capable of dealing with your case on time. The builder's credibility is directly related to how much time they are able to spend in meeting your requirements. This is because they have the responsibility of building the house.You should make sure that the builder is not only dedicated to building a house but has lots of feedback from their previous clients. You will not get the best builder if you check for previous clients only and do not check their work and the clients that used them.Before contacting them, you should have researched what previous clients said about them. You should not use building sites that offer your last option in building the house. They are more likely to fail because they cannot deliver a quality home to you.In order to select the best builder, you will have to know how you want to decorate your own home. The builder should also be able to customize the design of the house and should be able to turn around the project within the stipulated time frame. They should be able to provide you with a contract that contains the terms and conditions that are applicable to the project.Most builders on line can produce a good plan that will also contain the material specifications of the building. It will include the numbers of bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, garage, sunrooms, and an y other features that you want the house to have.However, some companies may be more flexible when it comes to using the do-it-yourself approach and doing the parts yourself. If you intend to try this method, you may want to read the instruction manual before starting the project and take the necessary precautions before getting too involved with the project.There are many things that go into choosing a builder and it is best to ensure that they will be able to deliver what you need. There are so many builders online that you can choose from and it is best to do your research before buying one of the companies. Remember, a good builder will be able to offer you the best service and the best price.

5 Apps To Help You Ace Your Next Job Interview - CareerMetis.com

5 Apps To Help You Ace Your Next Job Interview It is a serious business to crack the interviews. But having some extensive years of job experience and an updated resume can do the needful to you. Not only an updated resume is important but also the ideal skills and the perfect hint of professionalism is required to grab that perfect job opportunity.While you may be shot with a variety of questions in the job interview Going for an interview is not only about showing your knowledge and skill on a specific subject but it has got a lot to do with what you wear, how you represent yourself and of course the attitude you carry in front of the interviewer.The app ecosystem offers a number of applications that make it easy to ace an interview. The list of such applications is an extensive one but here is the compilation of the best ones that will help you ace your next job interview.1. Trunk Club A sharp outfit can make your impression in the interview only if you have always been tagged as fashionista in your circle. For those, who are not very much informed about the latest trends in the clothing, Trunk Club is all there.The app features personal shopping services to men and women alike in order to offer them premium clothing. Trunk Club can easily turn your wardrobe around with the best-suited clothes for your personality.Every user is assisted by a personal assistant to meet the styling goals. The users’ recommendations along with the advice from the stylish help to offer the best clothing to the users.Your stylist will ship all the chosen clothes to your doorstep so that you can try them all and choose the clothes that suit perfectly by paying for the same.2. HeadspaceJob interviews come with additional stress. And, to manage the same I have got an exceptional application for you. Headspace comes to you free of cost and offers a bouquet of advantages when it comes to managing the stress and anxiety you can have prior to an interview.evalWith this smartphone application, you get to know the ways of practicing meditation. In case you are a newbie, 10 minutes of practicing daily is enough.The monthly and annual subscription offer a plethora of benefits that are not available in the free version of the app. Headspace has everything that is important to manage your stress levels. 3. Google MapsWho doesn’t want to reach the interview venue well before the time but the traffic may stand in your way. To beat the heat of the traffic, Google maps is there to help you out.Prior to choosing a path, you can check the traffic well in advance in order to ensure your timely arrival. The app will not only show you the congested routes but also will suggest the best way to reach your destination. This will save you time that you can utilize for the interview preparation. The app also shows quickest directions in case you stuck in heavy traffic.evalThe step-by-step directions are easy enough to follow and help to reach the venue. Additionally, there is an option to order Uber or Lyft from within the ap p and it will also show you the parking direction. 4. How to Tie a TieNot confident enough to wear a necktie? “How to Tie a Tie” is there to help you out. Wearing a tie seems a tricky task to a number of folks and thus an app is all there for users to know the hacks.The app takes you through the process of tying a tie in order to make you a pro in the job. There are more than 20 common knots that users can choose from in order to learn the one they like the most.There are animated step by step directions that help users practice the skill. The steps can be refreshed in case users anyhow miss something. The app is truly exceptional for those who are not acquainted with the ways of making a knot. eval5. PrampPramp is the application that fetches technical interview sessions for you. The interviews are available for free and thus anyone having a similar requirement can choose to browse through the same. There are customized video sessions for the users that they can go through in o rder to practice the interview sessions.The app will offer a series of questions and answers to the users that they and a peer will go through together. After a 30 minute exercise, the users will be provided with constructive feedback. Developers all around the world use Pramp to ace their coding skills. And, thus you can too gain exceptional benefits.The real coding practice benefits the users in a number of ways. Right from coding to the communication and to the problem-solving skills, users get a lot by practicing live interviews. This is all in the list of superb applications that help you ace the interview experience. The above-listed applications are the best in their respective categories and play their effective role in helping users prepare for the interview.Right from the ones that help you dress for the occasion to the one that offers knowledge of coding, I have compiled an effective list that is sure to make your interview experience much more delightful. With the help o f these amazing applications, it gets easier for every newbie to face and nail the interview sessions.evalAs they say, practice makes a man perfect, practicing these applications regularly will help users to become much more confident while going through interview sessions.Thus, to get an extra edge in order to perform exceptionally well in the interview, users must give all these apps a shot when trying to prepare for the interview.

Happiness at work vs. job satisfaction - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Happiness at work vs. job satisfaction - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog People are constantly asking me why I use the peculiar term Happiness At Work rather than the more traditional job satisfaction or employee satisfaction. And by constantly, I mean I get asked this two or three times a year at least! Anyway, heres why: There is no way you can energize or excite the people in an organization around the theme of satisfaction. ?Come on, everybody, let?s make this a workplace where we can all be satisfied with our jobs!??? is not exactly the rallying cry of the century. Make happiness your goal instead. As in ?Let?s make this a workplace where people are happy to work???. It has way more potential and sends a much clearer and more interesting message. In summation: Happiness at work = Exciting. Fun. Ambitious. Energizing. Job satisfaction = Booooooooring! All clear? Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

How to Use Your Time Wisely When Searching for an Executive Job

How to Use Your Time Wisely When Searching for an Executive Job Not too many people truly enjoy the time they spend searching for a new job. While working with an executive resume writer can be an enjoyable and pleasant experience, it’s not the first place executives want to be at any given day. Sometimes you can’t control how long it takes an employer to hire a candidate, but you can take some steps to use your time more wisely and shorten the search process. Here are a few effective time management tips to consider when job searching. Know Exactly What You Want Think about your past experience, what value you bring to the table and what you actually want to do. There may be some aspects that are non-negotiable, so be sure to identify those in your thought process. Just remember to be realistic in this regard so you don’t eliminate yourself from too many potential jobs. Once you know exactly what you want out of a job, you can start writing an effective resume geared toward it. Be Realistic When Setting Goals If you’re unemployed and looking for a job, it’s usually unrealistic to think you can spend eight hours per day on a job search. Burnout is just as real with a job search as it is with jobs themselves, so consider designating a couple of hours each day to work hard at it. This can involve visiting a professional resume writing service, attending a networking event, tweaking your social media profiles and more. Setting realistic goals will help you prevent burnout and keep you motivated. Network Many job openings are filled through networking rather than through traditional channels. Your time can be spent wisely by attending and actively participating in networking events. You never know whom you might meet at these events, so always be sure to bring your best. And it’s wise to also ask an executive resume writer to take a look at your resume to ensure it’s polished enough to bring to these important events. Get Professional Advice With Your Resume You don’t want to waste any time sending out resumes with mistakes on them. You could essentially be spinning your wheels with your job search and not even know it. Get ahead of any potential issues by working with a professional resume writing service upfront. They can help identify and fix any problems on your resume and modernize it for today’s job searching landscape to make your time be spent more efficiently. Professional Resume Services is known as a professional resume writing service, but we are much more than just that. We enjoy the opportunity to be involved in an executive’s job searching efforts and help them find the job they desire. The landscape of job searching has changed drastically over the years, and we are here to help guide you in the right direction. Never hesitate to contact us if you need any guidance along your journey.