My Career Decisions Have Led Me Down The Wrong Path. How Can I Trust Myself To Find Work I Love

“My Career Decisions Have Led Me Down The Wrong Path. How Can I Trust Myself To Find Work I Love” Help from our Community “My Career Decisions Have Led Me Down The Wrong Path. How Can I Trust Myself To Find Work I Love?” * Jordan feels trapped in a career that doesn't play to her strengths. But every time she thinks about making a change, she's plagued with fear and insecurity that stops her dead in her tracks. How do you plan a fulfilling new career, when you've lost faith in your instincts? What's your career history and current job? I'm a volunteer programme coordinator, working with a not-for-profit organisation that helps reduce isolation amongst elderly people. I've worked in the not-for-profit sector for the majority of my career. How do you feel about your work? My job involves mixing with volunteers from different generations and backgrounds. I'm a 'people' person, so this is something I enjoy. Some of the causes I have worked for in the past include adult literacy, homelessness, and disaster relief. It makes me feel good to know that I can make a genuine difference in other people's lives. But the problem is that my job doesn't play to my strengths. My role involves a lot of detail and desk work. I really struggle with this, because I'm not detail orientated. I love connecting people and building strong relationships, but I spend so much time at my desk that there isn't much opportunity to really interact with others. I enjoy talking about ideas, creating new things and facilitating interesting projects, but when it comes to the finer details and analysis then I'm very happy to hand it all over to someone else! I'm an ambitious person, but I don't want to move up in my career. Promotion would only involve more of the things I don't enjoy. Unfortunately, this means I'm stagnating. Every day, I feel trapped by my job. What would you like to be doing instead? I've got a lot of ideas. I've always had a strong interest in writing. I also love connecting with others, and creating community partnerships. In an ideal world, I would be able to combine these things in a new career. I've also taken a course in eco-therapy, which I really enjoyed because it involved helping others connect with nature. What's the biggest obstacle in your way? I don't trust myself enough to find the right way forwards. If the decisions I've made so far in my career have been wrong, how can I have faith in myself to make the right ones now? Years ago, I faced a dilemma involving what to study at university. I chose public health and education because I thought it would be best to be practical, but that has been at the expense of my creative side. If I could go back, I would have chosen differently. I can't visualise myself as a successful person who loves what I do, because I don’t trust that I'll be able to make my ideas work. So, while I've made some attempts to explore new career paths, they've always failed. Either I lose interest, or I can't see how it will work out, so I stop trying. For example, when I think about developing my writing skills, I invent excuses that stop me in my tracks. I tell myself that other people won't like my writing, or that I wouldn't know where to begin creating a portfolio that could bring me work. Sometimes it feels like I've packed my bags to go somewhere, but I never actually leave. I haven't quite given up hope, though. I must have read every career change guide that's ever been published, and I understand that it takes time and experience to build something new. I'm willing to give everything I've got to the right career. But how can I plan a leap into work I could love, when all the decisions I've made so far have led me down the wrong path? Can you help Jordan? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How do you think Jordan 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.

Local Resume Services Near Me

Local Resume Services Near MeYou can use local resume services near me to find a way to get the best job you have ever had. If you are having trouble getting a job or you have not been able to find any good jobs recently, this article may be of some help to you.One of the first things you need to do is find a reputable local resume services near you. These companies will help you get the best resume that is suitable for your current or future employment. It is in your best interest to find a service that is experienced and can assist you in determining the perfect resume for your qualifications and background.A resume should be tailor-made to meet the requirements of a particular position and can include certain key words. The best local resume services can help you find the perfect combination that fits your individual needs. Using online services is the ideal way to search out a local company to help you with your resume, since they have access to a variety of free information on t heir services.The main criteria that should be considered are the number of years of experience you have and your educational attainment. These are the most important parts of a resume that will determine if you are hired or not. A professional resume service should be able to tailor a resume that will not only show you that you are qualified but also show that you are ready for a new career or position.Local resume services will also ensure that your resume will be sent out with all other resumes that are received. This is so that you will be noticed by the employers and offered the job that you have applied for. By working with a local resume service that specializes in this type of job posting, you can increase your chances of being offered the job you want.Not, all local resume services offer all of the services that can be found online. This is why it is important to know what is required in order to ensure that your resume is passed along as effectively as possible. A service that offers traditional as well as online services will ensure that all the necessary paperwork is provided.This includes making sure the resume is accompanied by cover letters as well as a cover letter that are customized to the potential employer. Your overall resume should reflect a lot of professionalism is everything when it comes to finding a job. A local resume service can provide you with the help you need in your quest to find a job.Local resume services will ensure that your resume will be considered carefully and will receive the attention that it deserves. The extra effort that is put into making sure your resume is given the right attention will pay off in the end. Try one of these services and you may just find yourself surprised at how much of a difference this makes to your search for a new job.

Whats Next in Wellness

What’s Next in Wellness Ah, the start of a new year. It’s that time of year when we all collectively emerge from weeks of indulgence vowing to turn over a new leaf and become the best versions of ourselves. Wellness is the buzzword of our times and not just in our personal lives, but in the workplace as well. In the context of employee wellbeing programmes, it isn’t just about companies offering their employees fruit subscription boxes. It’s about making both mental and physical health a higher priority, viewed within a broader ecosystem of productivity. In fact, employee wellbeing is poised to be a key part of the next generation of management tools. What’s more, 87% of employees prioritise health and wellbeing offerings when choosing an employer. Fortunately, there are a number of technology-driven health trends on the rise that will make this year our most productive and positive. Thanks to technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), HR professionals are now able to deliver better wellbeing experiences for their employees than ever before. Healthier employees lead to greater workplace productivity, which can have a tangible impact on a company’s ROI. In 2020, technology will continue to revolutionise the way that HR departments approach workplace wellbeing. So if employee mental and physical health isn’t a priority for your team yet, it absolutely should be. With that in mind, here are the trends we believe will dominate workplace wellbeing programmes in the coming year. Personalisation Many companies already invest in employee wellbeing initiatives by offering benefits such as stress management workshops, lunchtime yoga sessions and healthy snacks. In 2020, workplace wellbeing will go even further and deliver more value by becoming personalised to the individual employee. Imagine, a workplace wellbeing plan tailored to the individual: one-to-one therapy sessions, stress management programmes based on individual biofeedback, and DNA testing. These initiatives once sounded like science fiction but today are tangible, personalised solutions that organisations are able to offer employees to show up as their healthiest, most engaged selves. While wearables are not new (think Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch), increasingly sophisticated technology such as digital therapeutics, breathing exercises based on biofeedback and AI-driven health insights will allow for even smarter monitoring of health and wellbeing. New wearable technology can collect valuable data from individuals, such as heart rate variability, sleep, mood, and activity. This means that employers are able to provide a solution that’s customised to each employee while maintaining their privacy, which is paramount. Such technologies can predict, prevent and offer personalised solutions to achieve a tailored health plan. As an example, BioBeats recently partnered with WPP Health Practice, providing employees with a wearable and app that provides real-time access to wellbeing data, as well as clinically-proven coaching courses based around their own data. Scalable tech Right, so we’ve identified personalisation as the name of the game for employee wellbeing in 2020. But how do we deploy it at scale? Large organisations need personalised solutions that will also be suitable to deploy amongst hundreds, or even thousands, of employees. In the past, this wasn’t always doable. Thankfully, technologies such as AI have made it possible for organisations to provide tailored solutions at scale. With AI-powered solutions, organisations now have the ability to provide wellbeing schemes that are tailored across multiple functions, offices and teams. And with technological systems that analyse the data, there’s no need for human intervention, as larger numbers don’t pose a barrier to data analysis. By ensuring that wellbeing schemes address individual needs, HR departments will enable more employees to reach their health potential, meaning that workers will feel better physically and mentally. The increasing availability of such AI-driven technology means that in 2020, we’re going to see more organisations turning to technology to implement wellbeing solutions that can be rolled out widely yet customised thoughtfully. Measurement In the past, measuring the impact of workplace wellbeing initiatives hasn’t always been straightforward. Companies have had to rely on occasional staff surveys, which provide a qualitative snapshot in that given moment. While this kind of qualitative feedback is important, we’re increasingly seeing companies looking for more data to assess the impact and justify the cost of workplace wellbeing programmes. Through wearable technologies, employers will be able to see aggregated data on the wellbeing of their organisation. Employers will be able to track the impact of wellbeing initiatives in real-time. Technology will never replace HR teams, but it can empower them by enabling them to make efficient and informed decisions when it comes to wellbeing initiatives. This is just the beginning of what new technologies can do when it comes to wellness in the workplace. We’re entering an era of exciting, technology-driven possibilities. By embracing these new trends, employers can put themselves ahead of the curve in all facets of building and maintaining healthy, productive workplace teams. Workplace wellbeing is vital for attracting and retaining talent, as well as increasing overall productivity. Happy, healthy employees can truly be the difference between a thriving company and a failing one. About the author: Constanza Di Gennaro, is Chief Operating Officer, BioBeats.

Success Secrets Every Gutsy Career Girl Must Know with Kate White

Success Secrets Every Gutsy Career Girl Must Know with Kate White Recently I had the amazing opportunity to interview Kate White, author of  I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This:  Success Secrets Every Gutsy Girl Should Know. Kate White is an internationally known expert on leadership and success and a New York Times bestselling author of several influential books on work and careers, including, most recently, I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This:  Success Secrets Every Gutsy Girl Should Know  and Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead, but Gutsy Girls Do. Her advice is based on her extraordinary career running five major magazines. For 14 years she was the Editor-in-Chief of Cosmopolitan, which was the bestselling monthly magazine on the newsstand during her tenure and was published in 64 countries. Here are some highlights from the Kate White interview: How can we make bold moves in our career and land a job that we are truly passionate about? One of the things that is important today with the economy still in recovery mode is to set yourself apart from the pack when you are applying for the job. Don’t be afraid to show yourself and who you are. You have to make the person you’re writing to on your resume feel as if their company and their department are your number 1 choice. What are some ballsy strategies for getting a job? Not being afraid to show your passion and to network are critical. Youve got to have the guts to literally ask every person that you know and every friend of your parents to open doors for you. Get on LinkedIn and use the advanced search to connect to people that you may not know but people who are in the field you want to be in. How can we radiate confidence and get buzzed about? When you’re going in an event, Google the people you could talk to and find out as much as you can so that when you’re talking to them you have questions ready to ask. “You don’t fake it till you make it. Fake it till you become it.” â€" Amy Cuddy When you pretend you’re confident, it does make you confident. What are the success secrets that every gutsy career girl should know? You have to step back in everything you do and ask yourself: Could it be bigger? Could it be bolder? Could it be better? Could it be more badass? Often the way you get ahead is by doing not just what you’re told to do but by going beyond that.  For example, solving a problem in your workplace that maybe no one decided to solve before.  Be the architect of your career and not just your job. Don’t get into a comfort zone.  Maybe it’s time to make a change? Why is it important to think about managing your career, not just your job? If you get so caught up just doing your job, you don’t see that the years are going by.  You might be at a point where you need to take a step up or even a double step up. Do the research and ask yourself, when do the women I admired hit this certain mark of their careers? What do you wish you would have known as a professional woman just starting out in her career? I wish I would have known that you have to be grabby. You have to seize opportunities and not wait for them to happen to you. You absolutely have to ask for the money, too. Otherwise, they will not give it to you. If you want to learn more about Kate, head on over to her site,  katewhite.com.   Thanks, Kate!

Professional Resume Writing Services for Mississippi

Professional Resume Writing Services for MississippiChoosing a professional resume writing service for Mississippi is like picking the proper stock portfolio for your future. If you don't know where to begin looking, there are a few different things you need to think about when evaluating one of these services. This article will walk you through a checklist of items you can use to help you choose the right company.- You have a basic need to know what your budget is. The cost of the resume writing services in Mississippi will be a significant factor in the decision process. Some services can offer professional level services, while others can provide services that require little or no up front investment. Be sure to ask what the project will cost and how much it will take to complete it.- Be sure to ask about the payment structure. Some companies offer payment plans, while others have a flat fee or hourly rate. Some services will try to take advantage of your inexperience and the lowe st cost plan possible, while other companies are willing to provide work at a price that is reasonable for a new client.- How important is the email communication between you and the company? Some firms will send you weekly updates of your projects while others only provide weekly summaries. You need to have regular, well-informed communication with the company to make sure your information is updated appropriately.- Ask about past projects and awards. If the company is well established in the industry, you can trust that they have some of the best writers and projects on the market. You want to avoid a company that does not offer previous clients or are not willing to give you references.- Consider what type of training and experience they offer. The ability to communicate with clients and present information in an organized manner is a must. Some companies provide a high level of customer service but do not offer advanced tools to get your project completed. Be sure to ask about t heir level of education, years of experience, and current projects.- Make sure they have a clean background. A large number of new companies are able to work in partnership with a current business to provide a lower cost way to get your resume completed. This partnership provides multiple benefits to the business and provides a smooth transition for your resume.Choosing a professional resume writing service for Mississippi should be a project that takes time and effort. This article has provided you with a quick way to help you make the right decision when choosing the right company. If you are able to take the time to learn more about the way each of these companies operate, you are likely to find a solid company that can meet your needs.

Are You Bothered By Your Work History - Hire Imaging

Are You Bothered By Your Work History - Hire Imaging Resumes, job applications, LinkedIn and other portals to cross through in your job search require your work history. Sometimes the story it tells does not work to your benefit. Perhaps you hopped jobs, had gaps of unemployment, or titles that looked like demotions and fickle scattering. There is good news! It’s often not the work history that undercuts you, but your difficulty in explaining it. The key is to revisit any past issues or perceptions about what might have happened. Then make a strong case for yourself anyway. Many people struggle with this. They get in defensive mode about their past; they become guarded. It’s helpful to remember that while you should acknowledge what you have done before, there is always room for interpretation! What you can do First, keep in mind that employers don’t necessarily expect to get the perfect purple squirrel candidates for their jobs. Sure; they write job postings as though they expect to find perfection, but they anticipate applicants short in one area or another. So, don’t eliminate yourself because your background fails to meet one or more of the criteria. Second, be ready to explain any weaknesses in your work history that an interviewer might ask about: I traveled abroad, because I wanted to do it before starting a career (family, etc.). I accepted a lesser managerial role, because I was given the opportunity to work on a key initiative/special project. I left the ___ business, because I wanted a product/service area that had more potential for growth. My position was eliminated, because my Six Sigma was a bit lighter than my other two team members expertise. However, I’ve corrected that and am now strong. I changed jobs three times, because I was looking for the best place to use my creative design skills.   What if you’ve been fired from jobs for poor performance, personality clashes or other issues that create a negative picture? There are two approaches you can use: One. Assume that they will not discover your full story. Create the most positive reason for why you may have left, one that is within the sphere of possibility. Make sure you speak positively about the job and the people in it. That’s not always an easy thing to do; but an upbeat mindset is essential. There is the chance they may already know you were fired when they ask you why you left. But that is a risk you have the option to take. Two. Tell them what happened. Explain what you learned from the experience and about yourself. Talk about how based upon that experience, you would handle a similar situation differently. State that you are convinced you can work well with this organization and how you can contribute value. Honesty and transparency can garner a candidate points. Integrity serves one well, particularly when it’s blended with a sincere statement about having learned and grown.   That’s a success story! So, whatever your work history, focus on what you learned from it. I was only there nine months, but I learned a great deal about the mechanics of a startup business. Although I was there a short time and the job was not my best fit, I learned a lot about grant funding and technical writing. Although I left the organization because of change in leadership direction, I got a great education in mergers and change management. Ultimately, you want your work history to be a record of the value you have to offer. Interviewers do not really care about your weaknesses, work gaps or even choices in the past. What they want to know is what you can do … now … for them! Inventory and catalog your stories; and present motivation to show why you are a good candidate for this job, emphasizing your strengths, skills and experiences. Make a case for yourself and cut yourself some slack. True; you might not sound like the perfect applicant, but remind yourself that it’s likely your competition won’t either! Photo: david drexler

6 Tips To Improve Your Social Skills

6 Tips To Improve Your Social Skills Having a great network â€" the set of relationships you build over time, both personally and professionally â€" is important to your success in so many ways. Your network helps you deliver better results, surge ahead in your career or rebound when things are tough. It also helps you learn, grow and have more fun in your life. However, your network is not something you can buy. The only way to have a great network is to build it. And the number one key to building relationships is having strong social skills. It doesn’t matter how smart you are. If you don’t have good social skills, you will top out before you are meant to. Maybe you’re already seeing others less capable than you getting promoted while you aren’t. Or being invited to sit at the equivalent of the “cool kids’ table” at company dinners while you’re at the back. Worse yet, if you lack social skills, you’ll leave some great living on the table â€" the happy and fun parts. The good news is that even if you’re an introvert or lack the social ease and grace of your colleagues, you can become good at this. You don’t need to settle for “average” either on the job or at home. I recently came across an inspiring piece on how to do just that. The Ultimate Guide to Social Skills I was inspired by Ramit Sethi’s The Ultimate Guide to Social Skills: The Art of Talking to Anyone where he generously provides some fabulous free content on how to create lasting connections with people. Ramit Sethi is the New York Times bestselling author of the book, I Will Teach You To Be Rich, and is an expert on leading a “rich life” (hint: it’s not just about money). In The Ultimate Guide to Social Skills, Ramit explores five aspects of developing social skills, and provides specific tools and techniques for mastering each. These include: How to be interesting How to make small talk Overcoming shyness How to master group conversations How to be more likeable When you have a chance, I recommend taking a look. It’s easy to read and includes videos full of useful tips and tools from Ramit and others. 6 Tips To Improve Your Social Skills In the meantime, and in case you’re short on time, here are the takeaways that resonated most with me and how they apply in a business setting. 1. It’s how you make them feel The fundamental insight Ramit starts with is that beyond how you look, what people notice first and foremost is how you make them feel in the first few seconds of meeting you. Think about it: don’t you get an instant feeling about people you’re introduced to, whether good or bad? For me, it’s a combination of the vibe they give off and how they present themselves. “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou In a business setting, it’s absolutely crucial to get this right. Are you behaving in a way that allows them to feel you are trustworthy and appropriately confident? Are your body language and eye contact demonstrating your interest? Do you show that you’re attuned to them and not just in it for your self? As they say, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. For better or worse, the impression you leave is based largely on your social skills. The example Ramit gives is about someone losing a seven-figure business deal because of his cockiness and coming across as someone who would not be a team player. Ouch. Worst of all, the individual probably had no idea that his social skills were the reason, so he won’t have a chance to change. 2. Get in early if you’re shy Especially if you’re shy, Ramit recommends making a commitment to do the following within 60 seconds of entering the room: go up to someone and introduce yourself. That way, you will have burst the shy bubble before you have a chance to get nervous. This works in meetings too. When I was in mid-career, I was afraid to make a comment in case I sounded dumb. So I would wait and plan out what to say, and try to work up the courage to say it out loud. I’d argue with myself: was this a good point to make, and a good time to make it? By the time I was finally ready, someone else would make the same point and I would spend the rest of the meeting beating myself up about missing my chance to speak. That’s when I finally figured out that I needed to hear my voice in the meeting early, even if it was just saying hello. That made it easier to participate later on. What I would add to this is so many of us focus on how nervous we are, and what other people are thinking of us, and being fearful of sounding dumb. The truth is that many of them are thinking the same thing about themselves. And others are mentally far away, worrying about something completely unrelated to you. The best thing you can do is to just get over it and press on. 3. Take the lead Ramit talks about being proactive in social situations, and how this increases your social value, especially when you’re in a group setting. This doesn’t mean dominating the conversation. Instead, it’s about being prepared (brainstorming a list of potential topics before the event, planning the type of impression you want to leave), and engaging everyone in the conversation once you’re there. In a business meeting, that type of facilitation and getting others involved in the conversation is hugely valuable. You get to direct the conversation and help include a diverse set of viewpoints, all of which can lead to better decisions and more effective meetings. 4. Small talk is important This one was a revelation for me. Yes, I’m that nightmare person who just wants to get to the point and not “waste time” with “idle chit chat”. After reading Ramit’s piece, I see the error of my ways. Ramit points out that you don’t build a relationship by just getting down to the facts. There’s a dance, a game, a whole process that’s important before getting down to business. Just like going to a restaurant, you don’t want to just get the food the moment you walk in the door, eat it and go. It’s a dining experience with a set of rituals that makes it enjoyable, worthwhile and something you’ll want to do again. This is highly relevant with clients and colleagues as well. It allows you to be seen as a complete person rather than someone who is boring, stiff and robotic. Showing your personality and being able to develop relationships is a great differentiator that helps you advance. 5. Get feedback Ramit then goes on to point out the importance of getting feedback on how you’re coming across. His point is when you’re bad at social skills, people won’t just come out and tell you â€" frankly, people don’t even tell you when you’ve got spinach in your teeth! I couldn’t agree more. With my coaching clients, we talk about uncovering blind spots and how one of the best ways is to get input from others. And as painful as it may seem to learn how others see you, it’s in your own interest to find out… as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t aware of it, everyone else is. And knowing is the first step to changing. If you’re interested in hearing more on this, I recommend Ramit’s interview with Pam Slim (author of Escape from Cubicle Nation) in module 1. 6. Learn to wrap up Part of having great social skills is knowing how to enter a conversation with ease and grace. But having gotten into that conversation, you don’t want to “get stuck” there. As in talking to the same person at the conference or cocktail party for 40 minutes. You also need to know how to wrap things up in an elegant way. Getting stuck happens to me quite a bit. I’m genuinely interested in people and can talk to them for a long time without getting bored. Plus I don’t want to offend anyone. That’s where Ramit’s simple strategy is so helpful. When the conversation has come to a natural end, or you’ve reached your attention span limit, all you have to say is, “It was a pleasure meeting you. Thanks for chatting.” Then walk away. It’s all about your demeanor while you’re giving that simple two-liner. You can smile, but you have to disengage and start moving away. Putting Social Skills Into Practice Some additional insights into the importance of social skills came up last weekend while I was attending Jeff Walker’s PLF Live event for entrepreneurs who want to make a difference by getting their message and services out into the world. It was a great place to practice the social skills Ramit talked about. It’s not just about the content As Jeff kicked off the three-day conference with 1,200 people, he explained that as great as his content is, it’s only part of the value for participants. Relationships are built, and business gets done outside the meeting room â€" in informal settings like the bar, the hallway, the restaurant. He urged us to resist checking emails and making phone calls during breaks, and instead focus on meeting people. I’m thankful I listened (and obeyed!) because I met some terrific future business partners. Be cool Jeff also talked about what kind of conduct was “not cool” in terms of building relationships. There was to be no pushing and shoving to get into the room to get a good seat â€" you never know who could make or break your next business opportunity. We were to come from a mindset of openness and abundance when we talked to each other. We were to be supportive and help each other. Dare to share In addition to his instructions on how to “be cool” at the conference, the way he set up the sessions also encouraged us to share our ideas. He integrated small group conversations into each session where we had to find 2-3 other people and share our answers to questions he posed. Even our introverts were right in the mix sharing their points. Come from a mindset of openness and abundance when we talk to each other #socialskills Continue Improving Your Social Skills So, when you attend events, take advantage of the opportunity to build new relationships. Stay present and disconnect from the rest of your world for that limited time. And as you build your network â€" that crucial set of mutually supportive relationships that travels with you no matter where you are â€" keep in mind the role that social skills play. Whatever you do, keep practicing your social skills. They are truly differentiators, especially as you become more senior and people look to you for more than “just” your technical expertise. Even the best of us can continue to improve our social skills. How will you put your social skills to work to build up your network of relationships this week?