Crafting a Successful Career Plan

From Chris Kyle's guide, here are some ways to craft a successful career plan that does not leave you stuck in a career that's not for you.

Career Tip #1 - Slow Down
In today's fast-paced world, we get what we want when we want it. As they say, the world is at your fingertips! There's google, facebook, twitter all on your iphone.

But as much as the world is fast paced, crafting a successful career plan isn't a quick click, tweet or a phone call. It takes time and patience.

A certified career coach in Long Island, New York, Deborah Brown-Volkman said that people are speeding up instead of slowing down for their careers.

"Many people feel like they want something new and they want it now," Brown-Volkman says. "They hop. They go to a new job and it's no good so when a recruiter calls, they go to another new job."

In other words, slow down and breathe, think of your long term vision. This is the first step  in crafting a blueprint for your future career.

Career Tip #2 - Unmask Yourself
Curt Rosengren, a Seattle-based career coach and author of "101 Ways to Get Wild About Work," said that any successful strategy starts from within.

"If you look at the percentage of people who are truly engaged and happy with their work, the statistics are pretty meager," Rosengren says. "For too many people, getting up and going to work is putting on a mask. It's putting on a costume."

Long-term success starts with finding your own true talent and pursuing it. You may be able to do your job now, but you won't be able to sustain it for as long if you don't like it.

"The quality of your experience is going to be significantly less than something that is in line with who you really are," Rosengren says.

"Bottom line: you can never be anyone else half as well as you can be you," Rosengren says.

Career Tip #3 - Focus
"You need to get clear on what you want," says Brown-Volkman.

"It involves some work and perspective and it's not always comfortable to look at yourself, but without having a destination or asking yourself what you want, your plan is not going to be effective."

Identify your goals and make a career wish list that is not afraid to get greedy.

If you already know what you want, much better! It's better to know where you're going than mindlessly wandering from job to job.

Career Tip #4 - Start Planning
You know where you want to go, so it's now time to plan for it. You can take a class, read a book, ask friends and co-workers for help.

Rosengren proposes a parallel track for those who have financial responsibilities.

"I'm not a fan of saying that everything is daisies and tulips and sunshine when things are hard," Rosengren said. "But I'm also not a fan of saying that things are tough now so I have to focus 100 percent of my attention on how to get through this."

"Maybe the vast majority of your time should be focused on getting that next paycheck and there is a percentage of time - maybe it's just 10 percent - that can you use to start moving in the direction that you want to go. That's okay."

You cango back to school, whether part-time, at night or online. This may be good for people who want to pursue a new career or promotion without leaving everything behind in one moment.

Finding the right education you want to pursue also involves figuring out what you want and how you plan to get there.

Career #5 - Go For It
You know what you want, you're doing something about, now you should go for it!

"Here you need to talk to people and network," Brown-Volkman said. "Even if your goal is a promotion, you need to talk to your boss and your co-workers. Ask them how you are coming across. Find out what you need to differently."

"Many people have a perception of what other people are going to say," she said. "That holds them back. Most people are their own worst critics."

This last step requires commitment to see your plans through.

"Don't stop and don't give up," Brown-Volkman says. "Most people don't get what they want because they stop and a lot of times what stops them are their thoughts. But if you have a clear vision and a clear plan and you are implementing your plan on a regular basis, you will be successful and you will get what you want."

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources: 

Chris Kyle. Crafting a Successful Career Plan. Retrieved on May 18 2011 from
http://education.yahoo.net/articles/tips_for_career_success.htm?kid=1G6JJ

Why Should I Work This Summer?

The long awaited summer vacation is now here. Exams are over and all the work has been done. Finally you can rest and go to all the vacations you’ve always wanted to have but never had the time.

But vacations only last two days to a week, what would you do with the rest of your summer? Best thing to do is find a summer job even if you don’t really need the money. Here’s why:

You’re graduating next school year.
After graduation, you would have to look for a job. It’s a big plus to show on your resume that you have been able to hold a job even if it was just for one summer. It shows that you are hardworking and that you can commit yourself to a project or a job. It’s also a big advantage for you if the summer job you can get is in line with the career you would want to pursue. Experience gives you an edge from other new graduates like you.

You really, really want to be part of that company.
Admit it. The times are hard and it’s difficult to get a job after graduation. Companies are also having a hard time so they cut costs by hiring temporary staff or summer interns. So it’s easier to get in if you apply first as a summer intern rather than for regular employment. When you get in, you get to learn about the ins and outs of the company, what impresses them, what skills you need, what you can bring to the table in case you get employed, etc. You get first-hand knowledge about the company which may affirm that you want to pursue it, or may change your mind.

You’re still searching for a career that fits.
It’s better to start early than to get stuck in a job that you don’t happen to like. You may have been dreaming of becoming a professional model but then summer experience might lead you to something you didn’t know you’d like. You may be a better fit for fashion editorials or events styling. You will never know unless you get out there and experience!

In the end it all boils down to making something out of your time from school. They say you have to go to schools to get educated but experience is always the best teacher. Summer jobs don’t have to suck if you think it’s worth something to you, not just for the money, but for the experience and life skills it teaches you.

What HR Won’t Tell You When You Apply for a Job

Trabaho.com shares Reader’s Digest Magazine’s take on some HR secrets that you might not know when applying for a job.

On Resumes
“When it comes to getting a job, who you know really does matter. No matter how nice your résumé is or how great your experience may be, it’s all about connections.” –HR director at a health-care facility

“If you’re trying to get a job at a specific company, often the best thing to do is to avoid HR entirely. Find someone at the company you know, or go straight to the hiring manager.” –Shauna Moerke, an HR administrator in Alabama who blogs at hrminion.com

“We will judge you based on your e-mail address. Especially if it’s something inappropriate like kinkyboots101@hotmail.com or johnnylikestodrink@gmail.com.” –Rich DeMatteo, a recruiting consultant in Philadelphia

“It’s amazing when people come in for an interview and say, ‘Can you tell me about your business?’ Seriously, people. There’s an Internet. Look it up.” –HR professional in New York City

 “Don’t just silence your phone for the interview. Turn it all the way off.” –Sharlyn Lauby, HR consultant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

“If you’ve got a weak handshake, I make a note of it.” –HR manager at a medical-equipment sales firm

On Salary Negotiation

“On salary, some companies try to lock you in early. At the first interview, they’ll tell me to say, ‘The budget for this position is 40K to 45K. Is that acceptable to you?’ If the candidate accepts, they’ll know they’ve got him or her stuck in that little area.” –Ben Eubanks, HR professional in Alabama

“You think you’re all wonderful and deserve a higher salary, but here in HR, we know the truth. And the truth is, a lot of you aren’t very good at your jobs, and you’re definitely not as good as you think you are.” –HR professional at a midsize firm in North Carolina

 “I once hired someone, and her mother didn’t think the salary we were offering was high enough, so she called me to negotiate. There are two problems with that: 1) I can’t negotiate with someone who’s not you. 2) It’s your mother. Seriously, I was like, ‘Did that woman’s mother just call me, or was that my imagination?’ I immediately withdrew the offer.” –HR professional in New York City

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources: 

Reader’s Digest Magazine. 22 Secrets HR Won’t Tell You About Getting a Job (Posted on March 4 2011) Retrieved on March 30 2011 from http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/22-secrets-hr-won-t-tell-you-about-getting-a-job-2461178/
 

Online Marketing Perks

Almost everything today can be done on the internet. You can shop or sell, talk to people almost anywhere around the world, research and of course, do marketing.

Online marketing is indispensable nowadays because it “has the potential to meet the demands of a dynamic business environment”. The World Wide Web is such a vast space full of opportunities, establishing an online presence and identity in that space can provide you with more opportunities to market your business.

Online marketing has a lot of potential because it is very affordable and efficient as well as easy. Professional help can easily be accessed and even business owners can do it by themselves.
Businesses, organizations and individual entrepreneurs are utilizing online marketing because it is as good, or even better, than traditional media like television and print. To know more about online marketing, you can buy an online marketing or book or research around on the internet. Manila Bulletin offers some reasons for you to consider online marketing:

It appears to have the capacity to withstand the challenging demands of current business scenario
There is such a marked difference between commerce now to 10 years ago that those working in business can’t deny it. The conventional marketing techniques like word of mouth, TV advertising, print advertising etc are becoming outdated now. Clever entrepreneurs know the Internet marketing potential and the way it can help businesses grow regardless of the market’s nature. Online marketing can meet the demands of a changing business environment through working solutions and detailed strategies.

It will provide an assistance to establish an online presence and identity
The current era is very Internet-focused, and a significant number of people or potential customers have access to the Internet. Due to this fact, having a presence through online marketing is crucial for all businesses. Once a business becomes visible and identifiable, on the Internet, it has an increased ability to sparks consumers’ interest in the products or services that it offers.

It is very cost efficient
The internet is one of the most valuable marketing tools available today. This is actually more frugal than TV or print advertising. It is also good to note that despite how inexpensive online marketing is, it is also one of the most efficient at reaching the greatest number of people. To put it simply, the target market is already online and all a business needs to do is successfully promote its products and services.

Expert assistance is easily accessible
If you want to succeed in online marketing it is a good option to seek the help of a professional who is adept at using Internet technology and combining it with effective marketing strategies. One more good thing about internet marketing is that you can get professional assistance anytime. Online marketing professionals can help you conduct online market research, create an effective message, pool and orchestrate promotional resources and implement online marketing strategies. Try searching online and you will see a vast number of online firms and freelancers who have Internet marketing know-how. It is a good option to seek the help of fellow business owners to get referrals or look at classified ads.

You can manage on your own if you have your own business
One another great thing about online marketing is that you can learn and also implement online marketing on your own. This is especially applicable to business owners who are familiar with using the Internet and various Internet tools like message boards, ad placements and e-mail. There are also resources readily available that you can use to learn all about the technicalities involved in online marketing.

Join the bandwagon and go into online marketing for a successful business. With your knowledge and skills for business and a great online marketing strategy, your business will soon flourish.

Trabaho.com thanks its following sources:

Manila Bulletin. Reasons Why Online Marketing is Indispensable (Posted on March 15 2011) Retrieved on March 20 2011 from
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/309588/reasons-why-online-marketing-indispensable

PASSION in Presentations: Delivering information that will be heard

Presentations are often done at work for proposals, reports and in almost everything we do when we need to get a message across to our boss, colleagues or the public. 

Delivering messages and ideas to other people does not necessarily rely only on how much you know or who you are. You may have all the facts and figures or you may be the President of the organization, but it all comes down to whether your audience listened and actually “heard” you enough to make them notice and change their minds.

This is where “passion” comes in. The most memorable speeches in life are not those with the most facts and figures. The most memorable ones are those delivered with deep passion that the speaker has for his subject. Emotions and personal convictions made speeches like those delivered by Ninoy Aquino and Martin Luther King all the more effective in evoking emotion and actions.

Henry S. Tenodoro, President of the Center for Learning and Teaching Styles, shares some of his know-how in delivering presentation.

Personal Commitment. In order to inspire others, you have to be inspired yourself. Why should people listen to you if you do not look like you believe in what you are saying? Passion shows that you care, making you a “real” person in the eyes of the audience. No one else can deliver the way you do because yours is personal.

Transference. In order to change hearts and minds, passion and enthusiasm should be present not only within you but also through your voice, gestures, body movement and mastery of platform skills.

Provide insights. Passion is not only about the facts, figures and attributes of the subject matter. There is additional value to the presentation when there are insights based on your experiences aside from the facts. Go beyond the facts towards what is really felt and experienced – implications and benefits of decisions that will be made.

Real, rather than ideal. Passion requires being human enough, to be less than perfect. Passion comes from own conviction and beliefs. Be yourself, even if you are not perfect. This can help others’ hearts and minds to become open to change because they are able to relate to your humanity.

Marketing strategist and professional communicator BRIAN NORRIS sees passion as a philosophy, a way of life. Norris presented the following formula to communicate passion in everyday life.

 P – Be PROUD of who you are and what you do. And if you’re not proud of what you’re doing – then why are you doing it?

A – Master the ART of sharing what you know. It’s not what you know or whom you know. It’s how you share what you know with whom you know.

S – Connect SOUL-to-SOUL. Every action, however discrete, and every thought, however brief, impacts the souls of every thing in the universe.

S – Write down and speak of your unique STORIES – frequently.Your journey and the lessons you’ve learned have the power to heal and inspire.

I – Light the IMAGINATIONS of others by dreaming aloud. Challenge them to imagine what can be.  Nothing compares to the power of Imagination.

O – Participate in ONGOING research and development. Rather than resting on yesterday’s laurels, anticipate the next change and get there first. Challenge dogma.

N – NEVER give up. NEVER settle for mediocrity. NEVER let fear hamper you from taking risks. Above all, NEVER let a cynic stand in your way.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources: 

Henry S. Tenedoro. Manila Bulletin. Using Passion and Laughter in Your Presentations (Posted on March 3 2011) Retrieved on March 5 2011 from
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/307223/using-passion-and-laughter-your-presentations

Applying Online: Tips and Tricks

The birth of the internet and emails are very great tools that can help job seekers see what’s out there without them leaving the comforts of their own homes or offices. There are job search websites online showcasing many different jobs to choose from. Creating your email account is also as easy as 1, 2, 3.

So you’ve found the job post you would want to apply to. You’ve made the best application letter you can come up with. And you’ve made an updated copy of your CV or resume. What else is there to think of? Here are some tips and tricks in applying online and making the internet be to your advantage.

Establish a “Professional” Online Character
Especially to those fresh graduates, you may still be using the same email account since high school and college for personal correspondence with friends and family. Your account name may be “babyhugz” or “bloody_hell”. What would the employer think of you?

For applying online, you have to establish a professional character. Employers may judge you based on what they see first, and that is your email address. Person “sweetykisses16” may not be fit to become a legal researcher or account manager. Show how competent and mature you are through a proper email address.

Read and Follow Instructions
Online job offers with job descriptions almost always have instructions at the end. It normally states who the application letter should be addressed to, what email address to send to, and what to put on the subject field of the email. Some companies and/or organizations also have their own application forms that you have to download and fill up. Some request for documents in a certain file format such as .doc or .pdf. Some request for extra documents such as a scanned file of your diploma or sample writing.

Showing you can follow simple instructions shows that you are competent enough to become a member of their company. You don’t want your application to be ignored or dismissed because of simple instructions you forgot or overlooked.

Check and Double Check
Your best foot forward in applying online is not the way you dress or how you bring yourself or how you converse. In applying online, short-listing for personal interviews are only based on your cover or application letter and your CV. The way you sound through written word is the only basis the employer has. You may have the right experience and the right credentials for the job but if you cannot convey it properly through written word, the employer might not choose you. So check what you wrote on the letter. Is it relevant to the job? Does it show that I am right for the job?

Before sending the application, always double check. Is the name of the company right? Is my grammar and punctuation correct? Are the attachments complete? Are the attached documents the right documents? You may have a lot of copies of your CV in your computer and you might just send the wrong one. So double check before you hit the send button.

Be Careful Posting Online
The employer might have liked your application letter and CV. But human resources now have the opportunity to check your background online like you also have the ability to check about their company online. Human resources might look you up online and see your partying drunk photos or your hateful blog posts against your previous employer. What would the employer think?

Be careful when posting personal content online especially if you do not know who else other than your close friends can see them. You may not get the job because of your personal views or photos that may not be in line with company principles and values.

The internet poses great opportunities for job hunters. Just be careful not to make slip-ups and the jobs you want can draw nearer for you to grab.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources: