Im Leaving A Good Salary To Jump Into The Unknown. Am I Crazy

“Im Leaving A Good Salary To Jump Into The Unknown. Am I Crazy” Help from our Community “Im Leaving A Good Salary To Jump Into The Unknown. Am I Crazy?” * It's crunch time for Christi. She's about to make the leap but she's suddenly doubting that she's doing the right thing. When everything's in place, how do you find the courage to jump? What's your career history and current job? I'm a supply chain manager in the telecoms industry. I started out as a logistics coordinator with Nokia ten years ago and worked my way up to Networks Country Supply Chain Manager for Samsung. Essentially I manage large-scale network infrastructure projects for mobile networks, from end to end. I do everything from taking orders for equipment and services from the major UK operators (EE, O2, Three, Vodafone), to shipping equipment from the manufacturing plants to the final 'site', (which could be anywhere from farmland to the top of a high street shop). It's been a demanding but fairly interesting career. How do you feel about your work? I used to enjoy feeling part of something. For example, when I was working with O2 to get equipment installed ready to allow the very first iPhones to work in the UK. Also, I've enjoyed managing a team and learning some of the technical aspects of mobile telephony; I felt as though I was at the cutting edge of modern technology. But I've long had this nagging feeling that I'm not using my 'real' talents â€" art and music. I've had less and less time to spend being creative as my roles have become more and more responsible. I've spent 50 hours a week or more working to line someone else's pockets and I've been too exhausted at the weekend to enjoy any benefits. There's been no time to draw or paint, make music or write. Once I worked for a Korean company that expected me to virtually sleep in the office. (Some people literally did just that.) I gained a stone in weight, wasn't sleeping, was angry all the time, and ended up being signed off with stress and depression. There have been times when I've become so withdrawn I've rarely showed my personality at work. To the point where I felt I was leading a double life â€" the 'work' me, showing up and going through the motions, and the 'real' me, plotting my escape. About a year ago I moved into a part-time job in the same industry, to give me more free time to explore ideas for what I could potentially do as a job longer term. But I'm so fed up with the corporate environment. It's basically meaningless regurgitation of whatever catchphrase management are currently bandying about, and putting up with a lack of honesty. I also resent spending all of my time thinking about work, not being able to sleep due to stress and pressure, and being expected to answer the phone / respond to emails at the weekends. What would you like to be doing instead? I'd like to be a Graphic Designer. I've been experimenting with art and music: I started having piano and guitar lessons, and I bought some art equipment and set our spare bedroom up as a studio. I've started painting and drawing again, trying out different styles and media. My partner (I am extremely lucky) bought me an electric piano and an Apple Mac. And I've completed some beginners' courses in various graphic design tools at a local adult community college. I don't want to sound like I think playing around with the tools means I can be a graphic designer; I know that isn't the totality of the job. But using Adobe Illustrator in particular gave me that sense of being totally absorbed in something that I usually only get if I'm playing music, reading, or painting and drawing. It made me excited. I've now applied and been accepted onto a Graphic Design HNC course starting in a few months' time. The long-term goal is to gain enough skills to enable me to find a job as a junior designer. And now I'm very nervous, but excited. I'm hoping the graphic design route will lead to opportunities to be creative in day-to-day life â€" to design things, and come up with ideas, to work with enthusiastic people who enjoy what they do, and to make things that I can physically see or touch. Ideally, I hope this will mean that work will not feel like work. What's the biggest obstacle in your way? FEAR. I've enrolled on this course, but I'm still really struggling with the whole idea of what I am doing. I'm under no illusion that it will be easy, but I keep thinking I must be crazy to give up a £60k+ job to essentially start again on the lowest rung of the ladder, competing with young 'uns fresh from their postgraduate degrees. I'm leaping into the unknown. And I know there will be an element of selling myself and networking, which I'm not good at. I'm worried I'm going to regret giving up my career (even though I feel sick thinking that this is what I could be doing for the rest of my life). I'm also anxious about the burden I'm placing on my partner, who will be supporting me throughout the course. I've talked to people about it and tried to imagine how I would feel if I didn't do it. In fact, another opportunity might never present itself: we're relocating due to my partner's job, and it seems like an ideal time to finally quit my job and re-train. I've had support from my family and my partner. But I still crave some sort of reassurance â€" I guess from my 'future' self â€" to tell me not to worry, and that I'm doing the right thing. What if I really regret leaving my well-paid, secure job? Am I making a huge mistake? Can you help Christi? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How do you think Christi 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 Christi a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

Fast Career Retention: Mistakes Made When Writing Your Resume

Fast Career Retention: Mistakes Made When Writing Your ResumeA fast-paced economy demands faster and more efficient tools for your resume writing needs. The demands for efficient and effective tools of job search are only growing. Now more than ever, employers are forced to take a 'fresh look' at a candidate after a single interview. Resumes can provide employers with a first glimpse into the type of work you have done, but they can't catch the important details that may have been overlooked in the first interview.The most common mistake made by job seekers is a poor writing style. Employers expect an immediate response from candidates. Don't start a new paragraph if you are interrupted while you are writing. If you are interrupted, simply jump back to where you left off.A second mistake made by many candidates is speed reading. While speed reading is fine for reading quickly through a novel or news article, it is not suited for studying a document. You need to devote sufficient time to your resume and its content. Don't be distracted by speed reading as you read, or you will struggle to follow what you read.The final mistakes made by candidates are sub-par grammar and formatting. Do you see the problem? The fastest way to improve your resume is to catch typos in it and correct them. You can do this on your own or have a copy editor proofread your resume.The key to developing a successful resume is to be able to separate what is important from what is not. It will take some effort, but being aware of the importance of what is not important to employers is a very important skill. Often times, candidates fail to find the places on their resumes that should have been highlighted. It's okay to highlight skills that may be important to employers. However, it is very important to remove information that isnot necessary to the position you are applying for.The best tools for your resume writing needs are going to be any paper or hard copies of your best work. These pa per products can include both completed documents and online portfolios. Paper documents allow you to keep all your work organized and free of clutter. Online portfolios allow you to create digital portfolios that are easy to maintain and use for the resume writing process.By taking the time to create a professional and flawless resume, you are on the right tracks for landing the job of your dreams. The faster you can begin the process, the better chance you have at landing that dream job. Use every tool available to you.Keep your resume fast paced and your resume writer skills fresh. Take advantage of everything that the Internet has to offer you. Spend a few minutes each day just browsing resumes on various job sites. Be prepared for your resume to go viral and land you a job.

A night in the life of a broadcast journalist

A night in the life of a broadcast journalist Andrew Bradley, Warwick grad and broadcast journalist, describes his 24-hour sleepover at BBC Television Centre. Its not just students that pull all-nighters On the evening of Thursday 3 May 2012 I got off the tube at White City, carrying a suitcase with a blanket, pyjamas and toothbrush. I was going to a sleepover. But not just any sleepover. This was the ultimate political junkie’s sleepover. I was going to work through the night for the BBC’s television coverage of the local and mayoral elections, grab a few hours sleep on a dressing room floor and then power on through Friday. My role for the following 24 hours was to assist two producers in the Sub Hub. During the run-through they had given me the wise advice to wear comfortable clothes and bring my own food. I could tell from the rehearsal that there was going to be a certain amount of gallows humour in the Sub Hub. When I asked what the “float relief” was on the list of contact details, the reply was, “that’s for when someone keels over with exhaustion.” Our role was to liaise with the various Outdoor Broadcasts (OBs) up and down the country, from Aberdeen to Southampton via Conway and Carmarthenshire. There were three Sub Hubs, each managing around six OBs and each manned by a producer and assistant. We were in constant contact with the producers and reporters, gathering tips on which way a count was likely to go and determining whether an OB had a story or guest that should be offered to air. As soon as I arrived on Thursday evening, there was plenty of work to be getting on with: pictures of ballot boxes arriving at Swindon at 10:15; Newsnight down-the-line with Birmingham at 10:38; shots from Bradford for the News Channel just after 11pm. “Vote 2012”, the election night special hosted by David Dimbleby (as great a broadcasting icon as Television Centre itself), was live on BBC One from 11:35pm on Thursday to 4am on Friday. During this time, we were rarely off the Trilogy system or calling producers’ mobiles â€" often both at the same time. There was a real buzz back and forth: “The Respect Party’s Salma Yaqoob is here in Bradford but no sign of George Galloway yet… Margaret Beckett in Derby but she’s leaving at midnight… Andrew Mitchell’s in Birmingham but about to go to his local count so let us know if you want an interview quickly!” As we entered the early hours of the morning and results were declared, one by one the OBs asked permission to derig. The next thing I knew it was 4am and we were off air. But I was absolutely buzzing and wasn’t ready to go to bed yet. Walking around TVC at 4am was a surreal experience. It was a bit like the scene outside a nightclub after closing. A frontbench opposition MP was leaning on the bins at the Stage Door puffing away at a cigarette, while rather weary-looking presenters waited in line for a taxi home. By about 5am, mindful of the fact that I would have to report back to the Sub Hub in a few hours, I thought it was time to go and discover the delights of DR21 in the Red Assembly Basement. Who had used this dressing room over the years, I wondered? Morecambe? Wise? Brucie? There may not have been a minibar or a hot tub, but there was an airbed already inflated and a pillow and duvet, both in pristine Ikea wrapping. “Enjoy your stay at Hotel BBC,” said my next door neighbour. 4 hours later, and after a quick shower, I was off in search of breakfast in the Pudsey Room. It took me a while to find it, but when I finally did, I knew I was in the right place. In terms of décor, it was a cross between a crèche and Austin Power’s bachelor pad. By the time I got there, the bacon rolls had all been eaten but there were still one or two Danish pastries. We were back on air between 12pm-1pm, 2pm-3pm and 5pm-6pm, this time on BBC Two. The day passed just as quickly as night had. There were more results from the mayoral referendums and the Scottish results, one of which was particularly memorable. “A penguin in Edinburgh has beaten the Lib Dem candidate,” we heard, not believing our ears. I wondered if it could be an advertising stunt for Edinburgh Zoo, but it was of course “Professor Pongo”, a man dressed in an animal costume. It could have been a scene out of The Thick of It, if it were not so surreal. By the time we went off air, we were all ready for a drink and so it was back to the Pudsey Room for wine, beer and nibbles. Ever punctual, the Sub Hub team were the first to the bar. It was the perfect end to a thoroughly enjoyable 24-hour induction into election coverage. I feel very fortunate to have been involved with the last election to come from Television Centre. Roll on the next election night! Andrew graduated from Warwick in 2009 with a degree in politics and spent a year as President of Warwick SU before moving into journalism. Andrew applied for his current position as freelance broadcast journalist in the BBCs live political programmes talent pool, having spotted an advert on the  BBC careers  page. The rest, as they say, is history *This article first appeared in the BBCs internal staff digest, theNEWSmagazine.

LinkedIn Profile Is More Important Than Résumé - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

LinkedIn Profile Is More Important Than Résumé - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Do I shock you with this declaration? Think again. Your résumé is typically being sent to individuals, to recruiters, or as a job application, which has limited exposure. Yet your LinkedIn profile is open to literally the entire world around the clock. Moreover, as I understand it, LinkedIn is now considered the choice tool by recruiters and human resources professionals because it is so user-friendly and searchable. If you think like I do, then you may want to revisit your LinkedIn profile and make a few easy improvements. For example, upload a professionally produced photo to enhance your image. Make sure the tagline contains a good description of what you do. The Twitter feature should be used frequently and appropriately. The summary section should be your marketing piece. Your current and past positions should be clear. Don’t say too much; rather, make them intriguing. Include a few but strong accomplishments in your bulleted items. Keywords pertinent to your profession should be listed as well. Listing your specialties offers additional, specific information that enhances your chances to distinguish yourself. LinkedIn lets you upload various applications. Take advantage of that. Recruiters like to see that you have several recommendations. After all, they have to sell you to their clients. Recommendations serve as strong support for your candidacy because they come from others. Everything else you say in your LinkedIn profile comes from you, and in this case you’re a salesperson selling a product, which is yourself. If you have a Web site or blog posts, list them. Belonging to several professional groups also enhances your image. Similarly, if you’ve received honors and awards, they should be listed. You also should include some interests because you’ll be selected not only for your qualifications but also for your fit factor. And finally, review your personal settings. There may be great qualifications listed on your Linkedin profile, but if you limit those you allow to view the profile, who do you think is losing out?  Author: Alex Freund  is a career and interviewing coach known as the “landing expert” for publishing his 80 page list of job-search networking groups via his web site  http://www.landingexpert.com/. He is prominent in a number of job-search networking groups; makes frequent public presentations, he does workshops on resumes and LinkedIn, teaches a career development seminar and publishes his blog focused on job seekers. Alex worked at Fortune 100 companies headquarters managing many and large departments. He has extensive experience at interviewing people for jobs and is considered an expert in preparing people for interviews. Alex    is a Cornell University grad, lived on three continents and speaks five languages.

DR Horton and Case-Western Reserve University Graduate

DR Horton and Case-Western Reserve University GraduateIn a world where so many people are working multiple jobs, with limited time and energy to pursue professional hobbies and interests, writing a resume may seem like an impossible task. A DR Horton and Case-Western Reserve University graduate, Brittany Lawson learned her skills while working in the insurance field as a medical receptionist.The work she loves most is filling out the forms in front of her, but not because the job is as meaningful as it is difficult, but because she finds her heart's desire in filling out the applications that are mailed to her at home. Now, as a self-employed person, her hobbies are more varied than ever before. She is still part of her family's day-to-day lives, but enjoys spending time doing things that are exciting and new.An interest in sports, especially on the golf course, is one of the best ways to get over work-related burnout, which seems to be the unfortunate byproduct of being a service-ba sed job. 'I would really love to get on the golf course and play my own type of game, but I work for a commercial property insurance company, which doesn't allow me to play on my own.' She currently works in a sports apparel store with her husband, but if her spouse could do so without taking any vacation days or sick days, she would jump at the chance. 'I'm not so much against playing golf as I am finding the right golf clubs I can use for proper balance and distance.'Moving outdoors and experiencing life outside on a small scale, is one of the most important step in becoming a more complete person. With a great sense of adventure, a proven sense of balance, and a deep understanding of the outdoors, Brittany is already well on her way to helping to make life easier for others who are ready to get back into the business of living by the water. There are many reasons why someone would consider working with a DR Horton and Case-Western Reserve University graduate, even if they've neve r heard of her before.Through Brittany's own experience, a dentist has used her service and hers to help him serve a large number of clients. A part of her training came from her internship at a Reformed Baptist hospital, which was a fresh start for her. For her, the greatest advantages of working for a dental office is the benefit of getting a wide variety of work experience. The company also provides benefits to their employees, which further encourages her to come back for more.Working with DR Horton and Case-Western Reserve University graduates has enabled Brittany to learn about the ins and outs of her chosen profession, as well as what the clients want and need. 'I use this information to craft a compelling, well-organized, detailed resume.' Many other people in the health care industry share the same goal of assisting clients.If the business of caring for their clients isn't for you, a self-employed person can gain useful experience by working at a dental office. Dental hygie nists and paralegals have the opportunity to learn different types of oral care. Like Brittany, many dentists are looking for exceptional employees who can meet deadlines and deliver high quality work.As with all professions, there is always room for improvement. To receive a DR Horton and Case-Western Reserve University graduate, those interested should research the company's professional background.

Why Every Job Seeker Needs To Blog - CareerAlley

Why Every Job Seeker Needs To Blog - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Dont focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog thats great for your readers. Brian Clark Author Byline: Phil Rosenberg, President http://reCareered.blogspot.com Author Website:http://reCareered.blogspot.com Blogging sounds hugely time consuming and maybe intimidating to those who dont have one. But blogging is one of the single most powerful things a job seeker can do to advance your job search. Blogging can help candidates across the board, whether you are active or passive, white collar or blue collar, experienced or noob, left brain or right brain. And anyone can do it you dont even have to write in order to blog (really!). Why does every job seeker need to blog? Blogs provide so many ways for job seekers to stand out, especially because so few candidates use these tools. What Can A Blog Do For You? Why Blog? How Do I Start Blogging? How Much Time Will Blogging Take? Learn why job seekers need to blog, what blogging can do for your job search, how to start, and time/resource commitments ( Continued ) Source: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-every-job-seeker-needs-to-blog.html Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities. Related information to help you with your blogging: Why Every Job Seeker Needs To Blog page 2 Why Blog? Reason No. 92: Book Deal How to Start a Blog How Much Time Does It Take To Blog? How to make money with a blog blog for jobs Good luck with your search.Visit me on Facebook What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

How To Save A Job Search Playlist Like A Pro - CareerEnlightenment.com

The job search process can feel overwhelming to manage and track. Check out the infographic below for tricks on how to make it easier! Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. Have you ever lost track of a job posting? Let us know!