Archive for February 2010
Your Future Career in Information Technology
Careers in information technology are some of the top jobs available in today’s market. However, newcomers in IT are caught in a catch-22 situation. They want a job to gain experience but employers only want people with experience. As someone entering the workforce, what can you do to improve your chances of landing a great job? In this article, we’ll examine the IT field and reveal some tips that can help you land a great job.
If you are interested in a career in information technology, then you are advised to get a post secondary education. Most university programs do not offer a degree in Computer Networking, and the precise name of the degree varies significantly from institution to institution. Four-year degree programs suitable for the computer networking field are usually called Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Communications Science or Telecommunications Management. As an alternative to a general four-year degree, some institutions offer shorter-term programs focused specifically on networking topics.
Several types of positions exist in networking, each with different average salaries and long-term potential, and you should possess a clear understanding of these. Unfortunately, job titles in networking and in IT often lead to confusion among beginners. When looking for a job, beware of titles like Network Administrator, Network (Systems) Engineer or Network Programmer/Analyst. Before you accept a position, be absolutely clear about what the job entails.
To find a job in IT, you need to market yourself. Skills such as basic business understanding and communications can be very useful in job interviews. In your cover letters, resumes and interviews you should emphasize these skills and your practical experience. Companies will consider attributes like attitude, reliability, communications and time management, so these skills should be mentioned. Companies are looking for well rounded employees, so be eager and demonstrate that eagerness.
As you enter the field of information technology, be prepared to work for a small company and possibly a small salary. Even if you have excelled in the best training courses available, there is no substitute for experience. Focus your job search on entry-level jobs and work your way up. There are a number of benefits to working for a small company. They can offer you real world experience and often they can give you faster career development within the company. Whether you work for a small company or a global conglomerate, keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date, embrace the work and you will enjoy a great career in IT.
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Find a Job or Find a Career?
The days when people would spend an entire lifetime in one line of work are over. Because of economics, developments in technology, and readily available career training, people can now change careers two or even three times in a lifetime. If you are considering a new path professionally, then congratulations on having the courage to make a better life for yourself! In this article, we will discuss some of the issues that you should keep in mind as you work towards new and rewarding career opportunities.
Before you decide to choose a new career path, ask yourself what you really want to do with the rest of your life. Do you want to switch from business to public service? Perhaps you have reached a point in your career when you can take a hiatus to write the book you have always had inside of you? Or, perhaps you know how to market your expertise as a consultant. Before you make this very important decision, there are several things that you should consider. Do a job search to gauge the availability of career opportunities, determine whether you will you require training courses, and if possible attend career fairs to do some networking. Gather as much information as you can so that you can make an informed decision.
As you look at new, professional opportunities, be very honest with yourself about what you are looking for. Ideally, you are looking for a good balance of money and personal satisfaction. Evaluate your likes and dislikes, skills, values and personal interests. You may want to consider consulting a career coach for a career assessment test. You should also be absolutely sure that your skills are equal in the new field. If not, you will have to devout some time to a training course or two. Depending on your financial standing, this may not be feasible. However, you can do night school courses or online education before you actually leave your present employment. You should also get a thorough understanding of the field that interests you by reading industry journals, attending conferences, and speaking to people in the profession about what they do. This is a good way to begin professional friendships early.
Once you have decided on which career path you want to follow, you may choose to volunteer or take a part-time job in that field to gain some experience before jumping in full time. You can also find a mentor who can advise you on how to make your new career successful. If you want to start sending out resumes, then spend time researching what it takes to interview for a job, prepare a resume and head back out into the world of job-searching. For many people, this can be difficult because they have been in their current position and out-of-the-loop for a long time. Practice your interview skills with someone you trust. Invest in some new clothes, get a haircut, and make your presentation as professional as possible. Most importantly, convey your eagerness and marketable skills.
A recent survey in the United States revealed that a staggering 75% of workers are unhappy in their job. If you fall into that statistic, then don’t be afraid to create a new professional life for yourself. Yes, it may involve updating your skills, starting further down the corporate ladder and even taking a pay cut. However, the trade-off is that you will be doing something that is meaningful to you. If you view your work week as forty hours of slow torture, then peruse career opportunities that will make you happy. Inevitably, it will improve your overall quality of life.
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Choosing A Career – Take your Time
Choosing a career that is right for you is a complicated process and students should take the time to thoroughly contemplate this decision. New career planning is a multi-step process that involves learning enough about yourself and the occupations that appeal to you to make an informed decision. What are the factors that you should consider? In this article, we will help you make up a “recipe for success” as you plan your professional future.
Job satisfaction is the first thing that you should think about as you choose your career path. You will likely spend forty to fifty hours a week at your job, so being happy with what you do is essential. Your school guidance office should have a number of career resources to help you narrow down your options. You should also take a look at what interests you, even as a hobby. Your interest in astronomy could lead to a lucrative career in research and development. Your skills with a musical instrument could result in a fulfilling future as a studio musician. Whatever is meaningful to you is an option worth considering.
Job shadowing or volunteering is an invaluable experience when choosing a career path. It allows you the opportunity to see real professionals on the job and the challenges and rewards of the job. If you don’t know anyone in the fields you want to research, your guidance counselor can help you. Attending career fairs or visiting a training center is also a good way to network and meet people who already work in the profession that interests you. You can even telephone someone whose work you admire and ask them for a few minutes of their time to discuss their profession. Do as much research as you can so that you can make an informed decision.
Being honest with yourself about your skills is essential. Of course you will attend training courses, but pursuing a profession that you are not suited for can lead to disappointment and big problems later on. While you may be enchanted by the thought of being a lawyer, don’t pursue law unless you are willing to spend hours and years to get to the bar. Make a realistic assessment of your interests, skills, and aptitudes before you make a commitment to a post secondary education.
Reaching your long-term career goals can take years but the result will be rewarding beyond your expectations. As you choose a path, use every resource that is available to you and research, research, research! Attend job fairs, consult a career development professional and speak to people who already work in the fields you are interested in. The more you know, the more better your chances are of finding the line of business that will be both personally and professionally fulfilling.
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Career Coaching Just Trendy or Useful
Career coaching is a great benefit to individuals and organizations. It allows the company to motivate their employees, and it gives the workers a new perspective of opportunities within their workplace. A career coach is no longer just for the unemployed. In this article, we’ll demonstrate how career coaches can increase productivity in your company.
A career coach is a trained professional who provides expert advice, guidance and support to people seeking career success. By evaluating your concerns, goals and skills, a career coach can help you develop a blueprint for your vocation. Coaches provide more than just career advice. A committed consultant can help you learn new skills and techniques, hone career management skills and teach you how to avoid repeating mistakes that may have led to your current, professional crossroads.
Choosing the right career coach for you is important. Numerous directories of professional career coaches are available, and the best coaches are certified by at least one professional organization. Some coaches have advanced degrees in addition to their certifications. Ideally, you should find someone that you trust and who demonstrates an understanding of your needs. Remember that this person has the potential to have a major impact on your career. Be picky and do not be afraid to consult another service if the first one does not live up to your expectations.
Since you are going to have an almost intimate relationship with a career coach, there are certain pitfalls that you should watch out for. Career coaching is about guiding a client toward the right career, but the coach should not scold you or criticize your desired career path. Never work with a coach who is rude, condescending or behaves that like they are superior to you. You need someone who will build you up; not tear you down. You should also be wary of career coaches who try to counsel you as a psychologist or psychotherapist would. They are not medical professionals and are not qualified to make judgments about your emotional state.
Once you have made the decision to get career coaching, prepare for your first meeting with the consultant. Write down a few notes about what your short and long term career goals are, update your resume, and write down specific areas in which you require career advice. Being prepared will help the coach to provide you with the best career services possible. It is also important to remember that the career coach is not there to find a job for you. To get the best results, you have to treat getting a job like a job and put your best effort forward.
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The Perfect Employee – Fiction or Fact
Recruiting and keeping high quality employees is the key to the success of your business. As an employer, you want to portray your company as one with the top jobs in the field so that you can attract the top talent available. In turn, hiring your staff is something that you should do carefully, and there are certain qualities you should watch out for when interviewing a potential employee. If you are going to be hiring more staff, then keep reading. We will show you how to attract great people to your workforce.
The key to getting what you want depends upon what you want. Before you post a job, meticulously list the duties the new employee will perform and the specific skills training that they will require. Once you have completed your list, incorporate it into a well thought-out job posting. Stating clear expectations and making your company and the position sound exciting will attract the best and most qualified job seekers. Your job posting is part of the screening process so make sure that you state the minimum education and/or work experience that is required. Make sure you separate out the essential job functions from the non-essential job functions at the time you develop the job description. For example, perhaps the candidate must drive a car and they must be willing to travel to a different state, once a year, to attend a company conference.
Ideally, you should interview as many people as possible and don’t hire the first person you think fits the position available. During the interview, ask specific questions and listen carefully to the responses. You want to see that the candidate has a positive attitude, is energetic, is of good character, has the desire for career development, and will be both a leader and a team player. As you consider resumes, check to make sure that the individuals don’t change places of employment frequently, that they have the appropriate skills training, and are well rounded individuals who can fulfill the needs of your company.
The training period is a crucial time. This is when you will discover if the newly hired have the necessary job skills that you require and whether they fit into the company. New employees seldom know exactly what is expected of them, how they will be measured, or with whom they will work the most. It is important to communicate expectations clearly and succinctly from their first day on the job. Provide informal feedback and coaching, cross training and opportunities for advancement. Train all new employees thoroughly about job requirements immediately upon hiring. Putting a new person on the job to “sink or swim” results in frustration, sloppy work habits and omission of important details. Reinforce the attitudes and behavior patterns you want. A new member of staff is usually highly receptive to suggestions about their career work, will eagerly assimilate and readily accept the company’s vision, mission and goals.
Keeping a good worker is as important as finding a good worker. To do this, you must offer a fair salary, create a dynamic and positive working environment and make the employee feel like they are a part of a team. If you have the budget to offer incentives like a company car, bonuses and other perks, then hand them out judiciously to workers who deserve it. Remember that people talk! If you establish your company as a great place to be, you will have exciting, talented and intelligent people coming to you for employment.
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Job Hunting Skills Polish Them for Success
Finding a job is a job in itself. The competition for good employment is tougher than ever, so sharpening your job hunting skills is essential. From having a polished resume to knowing where to find the best job listings, the savvy job seeker is the one who will catch the eye of hiring managers. In this article, we have some valuable tips that will help you find a job that is rewarding and lucrative.
While salary and financial stability is important, it should not be the only factor that job seekers should consider. Job satisfaction can impact your overall quality of life, so choose a career path that allows you do something that you enjoy. If you do not like math, then don’t become a chartered account simply because it pays well. Think about what activities you enjoy and research compatible careers. Finding something that you enjoy doing will make your professional life far happier.
The best way to get noticed by a potential employer is to submit a professional looking resume designed to address their specific needs. A well crafted resume will create interest by showcasing your unique qualities, skill sets, relevant work or academic experiences and accomplishments. Your resume should be factual, impressive, readable, and tailored to the position you are seeking. Most job listings will reference specific abilities or attributes that the company is looking for in job seekers, so highlight those in your cover letter and resume.
Being able to perform well at a job interview is the key to landing employment. Being well prepared is the best way to keep your nerves in check. Carefully research the job and the organization with which you are having the interview. If you have contacts in the organization, then ask for advice about proficiencies you should emphasize and other factors that will help you shine as the best candidate. You can also minimize your stress by planning out the logistics of the interview. If you are not sure of the location, then phone and ask for directions. The day before the interview, go to the location and note how long it takes to get there. Don’t be late! If the unforeseen happens, be sure that you have the interviewer’s phone number so that you can call and tell them that you will be delayed.
No one likes going through job listings, wallowing through career resources or attending nerve wracking interviews, yet the effort will be worth it when you land that great job. The key things to remember are to highlight your skills and relevant experiences, be prepared and professional during an interview, and use every tool available that demonstrates that you are the ideal candidate. If you take job hunting seriously, then you will be sure to find employment.
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How To Find A Perfect Job – Get Some Juice in Your Search
If your job search is coming up with dead end and boring positions, then perhaps it is time to reconsider your career path. To find a vocation that you can both enjoy and survive on financially requires a great deal of thought. You must consider your skills training versus those required in your desired field, how you will pay your bills while you prepare for the job of your dreams, and how suited you are to the position. In this article, we will show you how to pursue career development and find the right job for you.
Determining the direction of your job search should begin with some self examination. To find a meaningful career, you must be clear about what is important to you. Ask yourself what you value most, what comes naturally to you, and what you love about the world around you. You should also ask yourself what you want from your career. For example, teaching is a very noble and fulfilling career, but the odds of it making you wealthy are slim. Watch, listen and notice your daily actions, especially where you are enjoying yourself. Somewhere in your life, you are probably already doing what comes naturally. Why not get paid to do what you do best?
Career advice from a professional career counselor is invaluable. Generally, you will be asked to perform an aptitude test. These tests can serve as a guide in terms of deciding what fields you would excel in. Consulting from someone who provides career services is also a good idea because they can inform you about training courses, career resources and even help you network. You should also try to spend a day shadowing someone who works in the field that you are interested in so that you get a clear picture of what the job entails. You can even do this on a voluntary basis so that you can list some experience on your resume when seeking a paying position.
Use every tool available to find the perfect job for you. Sign up on internet career job listings that will email you when a job matches your profile, and go to career fairs that pertain to your perfect job. A career fair is a great way to meet potential employers face to face. This will also give you the opportunity to find out exactly what they are looking for in employees.
Don’t settle for a mundane job because it pays the bills. You will inevitably find yourself bored, unmotivated and unhappy. If you have set up your life where “work” is separated from what you most want to do, then no matter how hard you try, satisfaction will be always be out of reach. To find a career that will really make you happy, get to know yourself, interview a few people already employed in the occupation you are seeking, and do everything possible to get your foot in the door. This may require some volunteering but working for free is better than being miserable. Job satisfaction is important, so take the steps toward a professional life you will love.
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Finding Great Employment Opportunities
As the world economy continues to slip and slide, everyone knows someone who has been put on the layoff list. Consequently, the competition for good employment is tougher than ever. To beat the job-hunting pack, you will need to take risks, be realistic and understand your potential employer’s needs. In this article, we’ll give you some advice that will help you navigate the market and land the perfect job that you are looking for.
Finding a lucrative job begins with looking at your resume. With employers continually receiving hundreds of resumes, you must make sure that yours hooks an employer’s attention within a 5-second glance. A great way to do this is to use job titles and skill headings that relate to and match the jobs you want. The design of your resume must highlight the most important information about your work experience, skills and education. At first glance this information forms the image that employers have of your skills and abilities. You will generate many more interviews by tweaking your resume and cover letter so that they address the specific skills each employer requests. One common mistake people make when writing their CV is to focus on themselves, their abilities and their lives. This is not what a company is looking for. They want to know what you have to offer them, not what you are hoping to gain. Quantify your accomplishments and highlight what you have done but clearly state why you are the employee of their dreams.
The best way to effectively job hunt is to develop a routine. Make it a job to find a job! One way to do this is to devise a weekly schedule of job hunting activities. For example, on Monday mornings check the local employment ads, newspapers and internet job listings. On Tuesdays, work on producing cover letters and copies of your resume. Wednesdays may be the day that you send out your resumes and on Thursdays follow up with potential employers on resumes you sent out the week prior. Develop a routine that works for you and stick to it.
Being realistic is fact of life when you are looking for a job in today’s economy. Understand that you may not get the title or pay that you want. Yet it is great to be optimistic, and certainly you should apply for your dream job. With such fierce competition, you may need to consider jobs at all levels, especially if you have been out of the workforce for a few years. Many big companies will require that you start at a lower level before promoting you to a leadership position.
No one enjoys looking for a job, but it is something that we all have to do at sometime. The bottom line is you have to make yourself the most attractive candidate to the potential employer. Show initiative by following up on your resume with a polite phone call asking about the status of the position. Consider changing your career path to something you have always wanted to try or consider going into business for yourself as a freelancer. Being on the lay off list could end up being the best thing that ever happened to you if you apply effort and savvy to your job search.
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