Say Yes To The Butterflies. Alexs Real-life Career Change Lessons

“Say Yes To The Butterflies.” Alexs Real-life Career Change Lessons Expert Advice > How to believe its really possible “Say Yes To The Butterflies.” Alexs Real-life Career Change Lessons * When Alex Brooks joined the Career Change Launch Pad, she thought she’d end up with a new job. Instead, she overhauled her entire life. Here, she shares the shift in perspective that put her back in the driver’s seat and doing what she loves. I was working as an Operations Manager at a charity, and to say that I didn't like my job was a huge understatement. I was so miserable, unhappy, and desperate for a change.And I had no idea how to make it happen. I spent hours scanning job sites, trying to see what other people could offer me as an escape. I drew up so many different pictures of what I wanted my life to look like, and it broke my heart to see how different they all were from my Oxford office life. There I was, working for a charity, trying to improve the lives of other people, but I couldn't sort my own out. And I couldn't find a way out. My ability to have any conversation that wasn't entirely about me was virtually non-existent, so my friendships were suffering. I felt a constant sense of surface-level anger, and the smallest things would push me over the edge. I'd spent so long focused on everyone else's ideas, of what was right and expected and appropriate, that my life had become all about other people's needs and desires, not my own. I don't think I'd ever really known what I wanted. And then I joined the Launch Pad. That experience gave me exactly what I needed. I needed guidance, I needed someone to listen, and to reflect back to me what was going on. The Launch Pad finally helped me see my situation in a new way. It was incredible â€" so impressive, and so varied, and such a great space to be in, shining a spotlight each week into an aspect of myself that needed looking at. There was one Mission halfway through the course that literally transformed my understanding of where I was at. I saw that I was actually very clear on what wasn't working and what I wanted. I just hadn't been listening to myself properly. And from that moment things really moved. The course led to so many small but powerful moments of reassessment. I finally started to realise I have control over my life. During the course I went for a job interview with an international NGO and landed it.It was a volunteer position, and involved going away to Tanzania for six months. I jumped at it, handed in my notice, and moved to East Africa. And then it all got a bit crazy. I had a huge breakdown. 17 days after I arrived in Tanzania, I returned to the UK, very unwell, with severemental health issues. The stress of the previous few years had pushed me into this completely unsustainable place. Now, having arrived in the desert to buildtoilets… my body and my mind had simply said 'no'. I had no choice but to pause, and reflect, and take care of myself. I had to admit to myself that I was burned out, and I couldn't do everything. So, I slept a lot, and focused on my well-being for a while. And, as part of my recovery, I slowly started to sign up to some courses. I did a month-long CELTA course to teach English as a foreign language, which I've always wanted to do. And that one course, that one action, reminded me of exactly what I'd discovered during the Launch Pad: that I can do new things. I can take actions that I want to take, explore things I want to explore. The things I want to do are within my reach; I just have to go after them. Career change is a funny thing. We expect it to be difficult, but we want a simple answer. And I did go into this thinking there would be a simple answer. I thought I could just leave my old job and everything would be miraculously OK. But what the Launch Pad showed me, and what I've learned since, is that career change isn't just about changing your job. It shone a light on my choices and asked me to question so many areas of my life. If I'm not doing this job, then what's holding me in this city? And if it's not this city, then what’s holding me in this friendship group? For me, my career change question was the starting point, not the end point. I started to look at my whole life as a creation. I asked myself: I love travel, so why am I not doing that? No job is going to feel amazing if I'm not in the right geographical space. So I started experimenting with geographical spaces, and now that's a habit. I've been to 11 countries this year. I haven't stayed in the same place for more than three weeks. And it turns out that being in one location doesn't work for me. Not having a house does give me a huge amount of flexibility, but also uncertainty, and I know not everyone wants that. But exactly what I'm doing and how I'm choosing to do it isn't the point. The point is that I asked myself: why do you have to do things based on how things 'are'? What else could I create? Going for a legitimate, single, labelled 'career' was something I always thought I needed. But actually, it's not. And that's not my fault, per se: I was just sold a model that didn't fit me. I've always been interested in lots of different things, so I'm going to do lots of different things. And I trust that if I put myself in the right places, and show up feeling as good as I can in that moment, I'll attract the right opportunities and the right people. That's how I became a freelance trainer and consultant within social care, delivering support for national providers. I started telling people that was what I was doing, and one conversation led to another conversation, which led to paid work, which led to the next project... I haven't had to submit a single CV, I haven't had an interview â€" it's really just been about reaching out to people and letting them know what I can offer. I set up a programme with a friend delivering resilience training for people working within social care. And in September this year we ran our first Sustainable Source gathering, working with carers, giving them a chance to take some time and get back in touch with who they are. There were tears, there were PJs around a fire, delicious meals, clear ideas, book making.... It was amazing. In something that might seem totally unrelated, I'm also starting a conversion course soon too, to become a landscape architect. But whether or not I do any of these things as full-time work, or whether it 'makes sense' isn't the point. I've just been having fun, doing the things that interest me. While I was in Mexico I went to a toy museum, and discovered the principle of 'Ludic'. It means something along the lines of playing without outcome, and the development of a playful attitude. I loved its simplicity, and the fun inherent in it, and that's what I'm working on in my whole life right now. I finally feel like me for the first time in my entire life (which is either a really great thing or a really sad thing, I'm not sure!) It's been about putting myself in the spaces where things can happen. I think we often think of career change as being about the big things â€" the huge moment of inspiration, the big day when you hand in your notice â€" but it's actually mostly not the big things. It's the little choices you make: to go to an event, to have a conversation... For example, someone in the Launch Pad Alumni group shared an event called the Happy Startup festival, and I decided to go. And while I was there, I gave a speech on my resilience project, Sustainable Source, to 150 people. A woman came up to me afterwards and gave me an hour's coaching to help me take it forward. One choice led to another choice, which led to this amazing conversation, which could lead somewhere else…. I'd never have gotten any of it if I hadn't showed up. I'm not saying I've got everything totally sorted, but I'm a million miles away from being the unhappy, anxious person that I was two and a half years ago. The biggest thing I've learned is to be honest with myself, and say yes to whatever causes the butterflies. That flutter is a good thing. I’ve learned to practice asking myself in every moment: is this what I want? Does this make me feel good, outside of what other people want for me? And then from there, what's the smallest change I can make that will make the biggest impact? What's the smallest thing I can do to make things feel even a little bit better? Then I just follow that sensation. The more I do it, the faster the process speeds up, and the closer I move to a combination that works. Alex took part in our Career Change Launch Pad. If you're ready to join a group of bright, motivated career changers on a structured programme to help you find more fulfilling work, you can find out more here. What lessons could you take from Alex's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Creative Resume Writing For Creative Fields

Creative Resume Writing For Creative FieldsAre you having trouble with your resume and want to know why it may not be reaching its potential? You may be wondering how the resume is not doing as well as you hoped. In this article we will discuss creative resume writing for creative fields and how you can improve your chances of getting hired with a resume.One of the first things that you need to consider when writing a resume is what type of job that you are applying for. It's really not unusual for an entry level position to require a resume with a more traditional format, whereas a higher position will require a more customized one. You can use creative resume writing for creative fields to work toward the look and feel of a higher position resume.The resume you use for your creative field resume should convey what you are looking for in a job. Do you really want to be in a job that requires creative thinking or do you want to be in a position where you sit and read the daily news a nd think up ideas? When you are working with a professional resume writer, you can get help in discovering exactly what your career aspirations are and put that information into the resume that is on file with the company. Your resume will only show what you expect employers to see when they review it so if you are specific about your creative skills, you may be able to get a higher rate.When it comes to creative resume writing for creative fields, try to emphasize the aspects of the position that will most appeal to you when interviewing. If you are applying for a position as a social worker, find out what type of social work programs are available in the position that you are applying for. Then put them in the resume along with your personal highlights.Your resume for a creative field is also important to communicate your skills and accomplishments. You may be creative but do forget about the other things that you have done as well. Things like your administrative or clerical skil ls, work history, and the education you have completed will all be important to the employer and should be incorporated into your resume. That way you will be telling the employer that you are someone who is smart, dedicated, and can handle the more detailed work that comes with a creative field.Make sure that you are clear on what you mean by the particular skills you bring to the position you are applying for. A resume for a nurse is going to be very different than a resume for a counselor. Creative resume writing for creative fields is often a fine line as some positions are going to demand certain traits, while others will be based more on a mix of work experience and specific abilities. Know what you are writing about before you start to write it.Finally, when it comes to writing your own personal resume, make sure that it is both professional and appropriate for the position that you are applying for. Your resume should be read in the same way that it was written and carefully analyzed by someone who knows the difference between a great resume and a terrible one. The objective is to be as accurate as possible, but also tailor it to be appealing to the employer.If you have been writing resumes and not seeing results, it may be time to find a professional resume writer. This is an investment that is well worth making because it will result in a much better resume for you. Of course, if you follow the above suggestions you will be ahead of the game and be sure to send it in on time.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Military Spouse Appreciation Day Image: Getty Images The Friday before Mother’s Day (in 2014, May 9) is the day set aside to officially recognize the role of military spouses. President Ronald Reagan started the tradition of Military Spouse Appreciation Day in 1984, and the date was standardized by the Secretary of Defense. This post is my gift to my fellow military spouses. My husband served for over 20 years in the U.S. Navy, and I know how challenging it is to find and keep meaningful employment when you follow your spouse across the country â€" or the world â€" when he or she transfers to a new duty station. According to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, ninety percent of military spouses are underemployed, and the unemployment rate for female spouses between the ages of 25 and 44 is 15 percent, more than twice the rate of the general population. Neither number is surprising if you understand military families. Duty station transfers require an enormous amount of organization and energy, and the spouse may have to make moves by herself if the military member is deployed. Often the spouse quits her job early to get things ready for the relocation to the next city. Just ten years ago, only 11 states allowed military spouses to file unemployment claims, since they “voluntarily” left their jobs to follow the military member. Today, 45 states and the District of Columbia allow spouses to file for unemployment based on a transfer. (They must still meet eligibility requirements under state law about hours worked, etc.) Finally, after she enrolls the kids in their new school, gets everything unpacked and finds the services she needs in a new city, the spouse can turn to looking for a new job. Here are my job search tips based on years of experience and nine transfers. Take full advantage of online social networks, especially LinkedIn. LinkedIn has revolutionized your ability to connect with people, companies and jobs before you move to your new home base. You can start to follow companies you’d like to work for and connect with people in your industry. In my experience, people are very supportive of military families, and if you personalize your invitation to connect with a message explaining that you’ll be transferring soon, you’ll get a warm response. Connect in person with people as soon as you hit town, and diversify your network. Many spouses rely mostly on their military peers for advice and support, but they may not be the best source of job leads. I’ve written about the power of weak connections before, and I believe that spouses must have a wide and diverse network to be successful. Your next job lead is almost certainly going to come from someone you don’t know today. That means you have to get off base and connect with as many people as possible in your new town. Volunteer in the community, using your job skills. Volunteer experience gets you out of the house and expands your network. It’s also legitimate work experience that you can add to your resume to help minimize employment gaps. If you consider volunteer experience to be work experience, it makes sense to volunteer at the highest level you can. If you’re in sales, sell memberships or do fundraising. If you’re an accountant, offer to help with an audit. If you’re a manager, recruit, manage, or train volunteers. You get the idea. You’ll be keeping your skills sharp and showing people how talented you are. My best job leads have come from people who met me through community service; it’s how I got my job with CareerSource. I was underemployed for years as my husband’s career took us to Boston, San Diego, Virginia, and Europe over the course of almost 20 years of our marriage. Landing in Jacksonville and deciding to stay here after his retirement meant that I could finally build a network and create a career that I love. If you’re a military spouse who could use some help in connecting with a great job, let me know. Here’s more information on how CareerSource Northeast Florida can help you connect with your next job.

6 Ways To Say No At Work (While Still Keeping Peoples Respect) [INFOGRAPHIC] - Classy Career Girl

6 Ways To Say No At Work (While Still Keeping People’s Respect) [INFOGRAPHIC] One of the biggest challenges when building a successful career is learning how to balance. You have to balance your work life and personal life, not letting one negatively impact the other. You have to balance your workload so you dont feel burnt out. You have to balance your priorities throughout the day in order to meet deadlines. (Lots of you have tos and balancing.) Regardless of the industry we work in, we want respect for a job well done. We want to be known as team players. These desires often lead us to actively take on an overwhelming number of responsibilities. To prove ourselves to management and coworkers, we become a “yes person.” This tactic can go downhill fast if you bite off more than you can chew. Projects and responsibilities begin to pile up and you don’t have the time to complete them. However, you aren’t alone. 53% of Americans report feeling burned out or overworked. So how do we find a balance between proving our worth and taking on too many projects? Although it can be difficult or inconvenient, sometimes saying no is the best option for everyone involved. Declining an assignment, at the appropriate time, may allow you to produce a higher quality of work as well as permit you to meet necessary deadlines. Thats not only good for your reputation, but also beneficial to your company. Saying no at work and creating the appropriate boundaries can lead to a more balanced life.  This visual  by GetVoIP  shows you when you should say no and gives tips on how to say it in a way that will maintain positive relationships with management and co-workers. After reading through hopefully you will have the resources and courage to address these potentially uncomfortable situations, creating a little more balance in your life. 6 Ways To Say No At Work (While Still Keeping People’s Respect) [INFOGRAPHIC]

Writing a Resume Sample - Writing a Letter Format

Writing a Resume Sample - Writing a Letter FormatWriting a resume sample is the first step in your career search, but a good resume can still be completely useless if it doesn't contain the right information. A resume's success depends on the information included in it, and this is something that you should learn if you want to make the most of your resume. A lot of professionals would tell you that having a professional writer on your side can only help you achieve your objective.While it is true that you should be familiar with a letter format that contains information about your experiences, getting the most out of a resume might not be as easy as it sounds. Many people have written resumes that are filled with unnecessary information, while others might have resorted to writing a blank document to get rid of any unneeded information.It is important that you know that knowing the format of a letter format may only get you so far when it comes to creating a resume sample. In order to make sure that you get everything you need for a great resume, you should also know how to keep your information straight.There are some professional resume writers who offer the service of writing a letter format that contains the details you want, but this can often turn out to be a waste of time. You need to know what exactly is needed in order to make the most of your letter.When it comes to making a letter format for your resume, you need to know that there are many options available. Even though there are many websites that offer such service, it is best that you consider getting a professional resume writer to do the job.You can find several samples online, but you need to read through them to see which one suits your needs the best. In order to save time, it is best that you narrow down your search to only those samples that are related to your work and that is simple enough for you to understand.In order to create a resume that has all the elements that you need, you sho uld know that you need to get a professional resume writer on your side, and that it is important that you know the formatting required for a letter. If you want to make sure that you get the most out of your resume, you should know that it is best that you hire a professional.Creating a letter format for your resume might take a bit of work, but this is something that you should get yourself acquainted with if you want to make the most of your resume. You should know that you should get a professional resume writer to create a resume that will serve you well in your future career path.

Writing a Resume As a Teenager

Writing a Resume As a TeenagerIf you are going to write a resume as a teenager, make sure you know what is on it before you start. If the information isn't up to date or correct, it could ruin your chances of getting hired in the first place. If your resume was created correctly, though, you will probably still get an interview. There are many different types of resumes and knowing how to write one can be confusing, but it's really not as hard as you think.If you are going to begin writing a resume, it's a good idea to start with the basics first. This way, when you get to the more advanced topics, you will have at least some of the basics down. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they start writing a resume is trying to list every major skill that they have. When they do this, they tend to forget about any skills that may be important to the position. For example, if you are applying for a position that requires physical strength, you will probably want to include that information, but if you are just looking for a job in sales, you won't need it listed on your resume.Once you know what you are going to be including, the next thing to do is come up with the format. A resume is usually just three or four pages, so it makes sense to list them out in that format. If you want, you can have them formatted with bullet points and lists of the most important information, or if you are a straight writer, you can put a long list of numbers after each section. Either way, when you get the information down, you will be able to organize it and make it easier to read.Finally, you should add anything that you know. If you know what type of experience or education is required for the position, use that. Sometimes companies ask for particular types of education, so if you don't have it, you might want to write it down or give it to the company to fill out for you. If you were homeschooled, use that as well. If you are not familiar with the job, write it down and add the skills that you think are necessary for the job.After you write out your resume, make sure that it is formatted correctly. If you take time to fix the errors that are in it, it will make it more appealing to a hiring manager. If you can't find any errors, then you can just make some changes yourself, but make sure you keep the formatting the same.Your cover letter should be short and sweet. It should have a good story to tell and should give some advice about the company and yourself. It should also be short and sweet, just as your resume. Use it to help you create a picture of yourself as a professional. Make sure that you check it before sending it off, though, to make sure that you included everything you wanted to and didn't forget anything important.As far as extra material, you can include as much or as little as you want. Some companies like to see a couple of letters from your college or high school. Others like to see examples of work from previous jobs. Some compan ies want to know how much experience you have. Others will check your criminal record and credit history, but if you want, you can go a little farther than that.Writing a resume as a teenager is not hard, but it does take some time and effort. If you don't do the work right, you might end up not getting hired at all. Make sure that you write everything that you need to include so that you will have a great resume.

[Video] How to build your assertive communication skills - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

[Video] How to build your assertive communication skills Assertive communication is defined as clear, direct, honest statement of feelings; use of “l” messages; speaking up appropriately for oneself while considering the needs, wants, and rights of others.     One of the most effective ways to communicate confidence is to use assertive communication but a lot of people (but women in particular in my experience) find this challenging. Part of the problem is the lack of confidence to use “I” statements in assertive communication, (that goes against some of the lessons we have learned about always putting others first). Watch this brief video for some tips and guidelines to build your assertive communication skills: 1.                        Visualize the person you want to be. How would that person behave and communicate? Do you currently exhibit this behavior and what do you have to change? 2.                        Ask for feedback from trusted colleagues about the way you are coming across. This would be a great discussion with a mentor as well. 3.                        Practice using “I” statements. Stay true to your feelings without blaming others and state your opinions clearly. 4.                        Accept compliments with grace. Say “thank you”. It’s simple but somehow we always find the need to give credit to others or discredit the compliment. Give example of someone saying you did a good job and you say the team did it. Well, what was your part in the team effort? What was your contribution? Acknowledge. Don’t downplay the compliment. Take credit. 5.                        Practice giving your opinion at least once during every meeting and make it a goal to speak during every meeting. 6.                        Practice saying “no!” especially when people (your boss or direct reports) delegate inappropriately to you. Don’t fall into the trap of taking on the work when it’s not appropriate. 7.                        Ask for what you need. No one knows everything and the best leaders are those that acknowledge this. Not asking for what you need may sabotage your efforts in the long run. 8.                        Practice expressing your opinion clearly and confronting issues head-on using “I” statements. Avoid the inclination to backpedal and negate your true feelings. 9.                        Build your self-confidence and stay focused on your value. This gives you the courage to communicate effectively. Make sure you are balancing your communication style so that it is not aggressive or passive aggressive. 10.                 Focus on unhooking emotionally from situations with difficult bosses and colleagues. Instead focus on your reaction. You can’t control their behavior. You can only control your reaction. 11.                 Do your homework. When you are negotiating for a raise or asking for a promotion, have all the history and facts about your specific accomplishments and how they have impacted the business. Use benefit language that includes specific outcome and results rather than your effort involved. My advice is to start practicing assertive communication in a non-threatening situation such as with a customer service representative, waiter or bank teller. When you are faced with a situation in which you feel compromised or disappointed, use “I” statements to clearly express your opinion and build your comfort level with assertive communication over time. I hope you’ve found these tips useful. If you liked this post, please share it on Linked In, Facebook, Twitter etc. and feel free to leave me a comment below.

Going rogue - advice for the rest of us -

Going rogue - advice for the rest of us - Rogue (per Dictionary.com): noun 1. a dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel. 2. a playfully mischievous person; scamp: The youngest boys are little rogues. 3. a tramp or vagabond. 4. a rogue elephant or other animal of similar disposition. 5. Biology. a usually inferior organism, esp. a plant, varying markedly from the normal. verb (used without object) 6. to live or act as a rogue. verb (used with object) 7. to cheat. 8. to uproot or destroy (plants, etc., that do not conform to a desired standard). 9. to perform this operation upon: to rogue a field. adjective 10. (of an animal) having an abnormally savage or unpredictable disposition, as a rogue elephant. 11. no longer obedient, belonging, or accepted and hence not controllable or answerable; deviating, renegade: a rogue cop; a rogue union local. Should you be going rogue? Sarah Palins new book obviously brings these questions of rogue to light. Lets face it this is probably not a word in the general lexicon before she used it in her title. Knowing the technical definitions makes it seem an odd choice. Eve Tahmincioglu asks about going rogue, which she defines as dogging your old boss. Eve quotes the Wall Street Journal, which said: it is for details of the McCain campaign that many readers will pick up Going Rogue, and Mrs. Palin will not disappoint them. She describes in particular how campaign aides muzzled her and mismanaged her family. One of the biggest mistakes of the failed McCain campaignand there was no shortage of themwas its handling of Mrs. Palin. Her criticisms of the campaigns treatment of her appear prominently in Going Rogue. Eve asks: Seems going rogue could be added to the HR lexicon as a new phrase to describe dogging your old boss and still succeedingAre we entering a time when former boss-dogging is acceptable? Eve points out that there are many venues for workers to trash their bosses, even if they are not high-profile, public figures. This is certainly true. One avenue to report a bad boss is ebosswatch.com. The site notes, If you are a job seeker or if you are thinking about making a career change, check with eBossWatch to make sure that you wont be stuck working for an abusive or bad boss. Search for the boss or company that you are interviewing with or considering working for and see how other employees have rated that boss. (Disclosure: the founder of eBossWatch is my business partner in GreatPlaceJobs, a site to help job seekers connect with opportunities in award-winning companies.) Selena Dehne tweeted a link today to a post about what to and not to do when you are looking for work. Prominent among the NOT to dos (by Bob Weinstein): * Dont badmouth previous employers or coworkers. Its very tempting to be honest and tell prospective employers the real reasons for being laid off or fired. But this is not the place for honesty. Prospective employers are not interested. Its bad form. If youre leaving because you had a daemonic boss or had difficulty with co-workers, find a plausible positive reason for seeking greener pastures. An evergreen reason is greater advancement and training options an opportunity to move up the ladder and take on more responsibilities. These are solid irrefutable reasons for changing jobs. While there may be something to say for venting about a bad boss, doing it online from your personal blog, Facebook, Twitter or other social networking account is just a bad idea. Face it would you want to hire someone who trashed her former employer? As the next and future employer, you might be concerned about your own reputation should bad blood come between you and the new hire. No matter how much you hated your old boss or loathe your current supervisor, it is a BAD idea to let anyone interviewing you know about it. Instead, try to put the situation in the best possible light if pressed and avoid discussing it if possible. Negativity can only hurt you, so why go there? Unless, maybe, you are Sarah Palin. This is another case of career advice must be personalized. It is certainly possible that telling her story may be just the thing for her career. What do you think? I can help with every part of your job hunt! Need a great resume? Tips to use social networking? Interview coaching? Â  If you need help mobilizing your networks and your job search plans, learn more about how I can help you! While youre at it, dont forget those social networks! Be sure to become a fan of Keppie Careers on FacebookId be thrilled to have you as part of the community! Since were on the subject of doing something newAre you on Twitter? Jump on and touch base with me @keppie_careers. photo by asecondhandconjecture