Archive for the ‘Career’ Category

Why Career Change is Like Weight Lifting

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Career change clients often think of moving fast or slow when they search for a new career. In fact, the most important component of career change is building momentum.

By way of analogy, if you want to go three blocks, you walk. Want to get there sooner? Walk faster. Slower? Stop and take a few breaks along the way.

But career change is more like building up strength. Today you can lift just 20 pounds. If you just add on another 30 pounds, you’ll probably get injured. Now your whole exercise program gets put on hold.

Instead, you make a commitment. You’re in the gym three or four times a week. You keep lifting 20 pounds. One day you feel like you’re lifting a pile of feathers. Then you lift 25 for awhile…then 30. And one day you realize you’ve reached a new level. You look different. Your old clothes feel loose. Wow…

For a successful career change:

(1) Set a goal. Your goal may change as you go along, just as your fitness goals change.

(2) Commit to an activity level. You won’t get very fit if you work out fifteen minutes twice a week.

In my experience, you need to invest 4 to 8 hours a week to achieve career change. If you can’t invest the time, your challenge is to rearrange your work and life so you find the time.

(3) Decide what you will do when life gets in the way. You have to attend a special program or your family needs support. How will you make up the time?

(4) Find a way to enjoy the journey. I’ve seen people give up on fitness because they hated working with machines, or they couldn’t stand running or aerobics classes.

You may be the kind of person who needs a return to school, a weekly coaching session, or a new location. Some people postpone their career changes until they can pay for this kind of support comfortably. Or they find creative ways to finance their career change.

(5) Hang out with like-minded people. These days most of my friends are into fitness. It’s inspiring to be around people who choose new ways of eating, exercising and living.

And on your career journey, choose your associates wisely. You can’t afford to spend time with anyone who says, “Why fight the system?” or, “We’re in a recession. What makes you think you can do something different?”

Instead, find people who have achieved career success on their own terms. Get support from others who took charge of their careers and those who look forward to going to work each day.

And now I invite you to find out more by visiting
MidlifeCareerStrategy,com . Download my free report, Secrets of Mastering a Major Life Change. From Cathy Goodwin, The Career Consultant.

Management Consultancy Services, Trouble Shooting Business Strategies

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

What is the role of a management consultant? Management consultants are initially involved to provide independent advice and specialist skills sets in order to improve business performance of their clients, primarily management consultancy services are there to research the main areas of an organisation such as business strategy, the structure of a company as well as looking at management within and its operations in order to address issues arising within its setup which are detrimental to progress.

After analysis a consultant can then provide recommendations to companies and assist in the implementation of solutions in the areas of Finance, Human Resources, Business Strategy and marketing, IT and other such important fields.

If you are thinking of becoming a management consultant then various skills will be required in order to succeed in this vocation. Management Consultancy varies widely from job to job, no two companies are the same and therefore consultancy methods will alter, no project will last the same amount of time, this depends heavily on the type of firm and its clients and depending on the location of the project whether that be based in one place or in a chain of locations around the globe.

Management consultancy may also implement change management assistance; they can help to develop coaching skills, implement technology into a business strategy and generally make advisory changes in order to improve business performance as well as increasing efficiency.

Basically a management consultant is a person or persons who offer consultancy skills and expert advice to businesses to improve strategies and implement changes for the better running of a company, it might be that they are hired by a business for a one off project requiring analysis of and research into key areas of business strategy in order to identify problems and implement solutions in the best working practice.

Management consultancy services can be acquired for any level of business whether large small, services may also be sort by government, or non profit organisations. There are many firms which specialise in providing management consultancy services, competent in their specialist areas.

A management consultant will probably be a qualified professional; this means that they will have the right level of experience, integrated with objective and ethical standards and values. To enter the world of consultancy candidates may require 3 or more years experience in a management role of for new comers a graduate MBA from university, there is no substitute for experience though.

Anna Stenning researches the role of management consultancy when initialising changes in business strategy.

Starting Plumbing Training Courses

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Plumbing was once considered an unskilled profession suitable only for those who could not get into anything better. But, times are changing now. With the advent of modern technology in every walk of life, the complexities of the world surrounding us have increased tremendously and this includes the places we live in. Water is a basic need of mankind and wherever we go, we need water for drinking and cleaning and the person who helps you get the water and also get rid of it in the most appropriate way is called a plumber.

Plumbers have to determine how the water comes in and goes off, from and into the complex maze of water supply and drainage. They also have to find out the shortest routes for connecting pipelines, installing and maintaining all water sources as well as draining points. With modern super-structures replacing the single homes of the past, the complexity of every aspect of piping has increased. Thus, the job of a plumber is not as mundane as earlier.

Today’s plumbers have to be very well acquainted with the principles of mathematics, latest technological gadgets and need to be much more farsighted than before. All this creates a vacuum for good training courses as rarely are such people born with such skills. Hence, a number of plumbing training courses have popped out to fill up this vacuum. These modern training courses not only teach you all the basics of plumbing but also the economics and management of it. The training courses can help you be completely self sufficient to start off on yourself as a plumber as you will be taught the economics of plumbing, the art of negotiation, the right ways to handle customers, and the perfect way to market yourself.

In short, plumbing training courses are not out there just to develop your skills but also to develop your soft-skills which are the master key for surviving in the modern world. These plumbing training courses can be just for a few weeks or for about 5 years or so, the average length of the course being 2 years in most countries and institutes. Out of these 2 years, more time is spent on practical work rather than theory. As already mentioned, the dynamics of the job have changed greatly and hence, the training courses also should keep pace with the progress.

Unfortunately, as we all know, not all universities are capable of doing this, especially in the skilled training courses. This has made enough room for specialized training institutes to come forth with their own customized plumbing training courses. These plumbing training courses recognize that there are a number of plumbers out there without formal training and who may want to get professional training for excelling at their work. It would be highly inappropriate to waste their time in explaining the basics of the course to them and a fast track course with emphasis on the latest advancements in the field would be more sensible. This is exactly what is done by such institutes.

In a way each institute is trying to cater to a niche and hence, you will find that it is not very hard to find the right plumbing training courses for yourself.

James Copper is a writer and mainly writes articles that can help people gain some new career skills

Increasing Your Chances Of Soaring In Travel Jobs

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

The hospitality and travel industry seemingly go hand in hand with one another, many jobs over lapping in the needs of the separate industries. These jobs neatly fit into the travel and tourism sector, compiling an endless list of job descriptions.

Probably the best way to find out about travel jobs which are available is to enrol with reputable travel and hospitality recruitment firms which work hand in hand with some of the biggest names in the travel industry to source candidates to fill vacancies throughout its diverse employment areas of which include, tour operators, airlines, hotels, cruise operators, travel agencies, car hire, business travel, conferences and events.

Whilst at school or pursuing this direction in career it is important to know which area you wish to work, popular job titles within the industry are commonly business travel consultants, reservations agents, hotel management each requiring business management skills. These skills can be acquired by taking travel job training such as tour operator training, destination training, cruise operator training, airline training which is the first step into becoming an air hostess and many more courses specific to travel needs.

Getting into the world of travel jobs may start with working for a travel agent; this will provide good knowledge of booking facilities generally used to book flights and make reservations, such as Galileo, Sabre and Amadeus, experience of these can improve your chances of furthering a career in travel. However if you are ambitious there are several travel training course out there which can be the route to working overseas, this provides invaluable experience of working within different lifestyles and cultures.

There is plenty of information available of which to follow to land the right travel job for you. These may include training courses to build knowledge or could be as simple as starting work for a car hire chain with branches worldwide. Sometimes the route is not obvious.

Other areas to consider when thinking about a career in travel are being able to communicate in different languages, having some idea of where you wish your career to take you is another important step to consider, if you wish to work in the hospitality industry in Europe being able to speak a second language will benefit your choice.

Furthering your knowledge of the travel business by participating in online travel training courses is a fantastic way of obtaining NVQ’s nationally recognised qualifications which acknowledge your thirst to learn, knowledge is a powerful tool when it comes to applying for work in such a competitive industry.

So whether you wish to take to the skies as an air steward or serve cocktails upon a cruise ship, book hotels and conferences for business travel or remaining grounded working in a travel agent, the key to successfully sourcing travel jobs is knowledge and an eagerness to learn.

Anna Stenning researches the resources available to start a career in Travel Jobs from online learning to hands on experience.

Things To Do On A Job Interview

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Staying calm and collected involves in the process of preparing for job interview. You need to know the answers, keep your mind clear and accessible for the possible enquiries that you will be made, but how are you going to sail through if you do not just choose to stay calm and collected while preparing for a job interview? You will need to be able to be fully present with awareness for the job interview session and to this you must be relaxed and quiet your mind. Make sure that you have had some quiet days before your interviews. You have to choose to discipline your mind through daily mediation. Controlling daily sleep hours also help you to achieve what you wish for. You will have a quiet and reflective presence, all of which work in ways better than you might know about reading a thousand books.

While preparing for a job interview it is expected that you are well read through your area of studies or specialization but it is equally important that you pick up some very wonderful and real self help tips that optimize your people interacting skills. So while preparing for a job interview it would be also wise to pick up a book that gives you tips on breathing techniques for instant calm, a Dale Carnegie book that involves you understand some aspects of speaking right after you say hello and so on.

These are essential landmarks that you do not want to miss if you are willing to create a detailed and charismatic impression of yourself. Though it is encouraged that you stay positive and hone your speaking skills as part of the preparing for job interview process, it is never told that you go beyond your own element to win elements. Remember you are looking for a job that suits you and that gets your purpose raised. If it is not meant for you, it is just not meant for you. But though you should be open to the field of all possibilities and never give out any negative vibe, you are totally encouraged to be yourself and speak your own mind. If you really cannot honor yourself you cannot honor anyone across the table.

As a mode of preparing for job interview it would be a good idea to check in with people who are already working in the concern to casually understand what you are expected to be and do in your current job. There is nothing like talking to a senior who already works there who might be able to help you through the process of the interview. Overall staying in the moment and absolutely calm helps you keep your peace and poise through any number of stumbling questions that you might be thrown at. You must at all point keep your calm and voice your opinions and answers firmly. Never go into any debating or arguing mode with an interviewer even if you are called to do so. Understand that most interviewers are experienced with personality assessment skills.

Are you eager to know the secrets of job interview? Then here is the new website where you can get the useful tips on job interview, job interview skills, job interview preparation and much more. To know more about the job interview secrets, log on to the website http://www.JobInterviewSecret.com