Work Beyond the 9 to 5 to Pursue your Dream Career

For many of you who’ve taken entry-level jobs after college, you may feel as though it’s nowhere near your dream career. While our first jobs may be more enjoyable than others, in this tough economy, we usually take what we can get. At the same time, though, there’s much to be said for gunning for your dream career, even when you’ve just starting out in the working world. And the best way to accomplish just that is by making use of your time outside of working hours to continue developing skills needed for that eventual career of your dreams. Here are a few tips: Continue Reading

Changing Careers: It’s Never Too Late

With 7 million Americans receiving unemployment benefits, and many counting the years – instead of months – since their layoff, author Darlene Quinn says now is a good time to reinvent yourself.

She cites James Sherk, a senior policy analyst for the Heritage Foundation, who says the jobs people held two or three years ago often simply aren’t there anymore.

“People are trying to find jobs similar to what they had previously, when those jobs completely don’t exist,” he told Reuters recently. “So they will spend a good portion of their period unemployed looking for jobs that they are unlikely to find.” Continue Reading

Making a Smooth Transition into a New Career

You’ve probably all heard the common statistic; this generation’s workers are expected to change jobs about 11 times throughout a typical career course (About.com). For many, this number can be exciting.  But, it can also be scary. Many workers are now trying to leap into a new field in hopes finding a rewarding but also stable career.

If you’re thinking about changing your career, take a look below for tips on how to make the smoothest career transition possible. Continue Reading

Changing Careers As An Executive? Here Are Some Tips To Create A Smooth Transition

Switching careers at the executive level can seem like an impossible task.  But the reality is that it happens more often than you might think.  As more high-level professionals discover new passions later in their careers, they realize that true happiness is found in making sure their jobs line up with their personal and professional needs.

Have you thought about switching careers but have felt intimidated by the process—especially writing a new resume?  The transition can be relatively smooth if you consider the following ways to make your move: Continue Reading

Developing the Right Resume and Attitude for an Uncertain Economy

There is no doubt that our current economy is a little scary to say the least. Companies are laying off in mass numbers while gas, food, and energy costs are reaching record highs. It can be very difficult to maintain sanity in the midst of such uncertainty, let alone think about finding a job. But with responsibilities like bills and family always present, one must learn to keep pushing forward.
If you’re trying to find a job in our unsettling job market, you may feel less than excited about your prospects. However, you can find a job…and a good one at that. You just have to develop the right attitude, and an even better resume.
Make Yourself More Marketable
With layoffs on the rise, more people are competing for the same job. So in order to make yourself more marketable, you’ll need to perfect your resume. This means, no spelling or grammatical errors. You’ll also need to make sure your skills stand out above the rest.
One way you can do this is by conducting thorough research on the company and position to illustrate how you can enhance their goals. When describing your skills, try using action-oriented words like designed, marketed and researched, instead of phrases like “responsibilities included.” And also focus on specific achievements, like how much money you made at your previous company, and on which projects, to help employers assess your skill level.
Consider Economic Growths, Declines, and Specific Regions
Before you even apply for a job, it’s good to look at which business areas are growing, which are declining, and how your region is fairing economically. For example, a May 2008 Newsweek article reported that finance and accounting, engineering, technology and science are seeing growth, while construction, manufacturing, and automotive seem to be declining. In the same article, it noted that Midwest jobs may be on the decline due to its strong construction focus, while cities like New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Dallas may see a rise due to their professional focus.
After you conduct your research, if you find your field isn’t negatively impacted by the economy, you may still want to conduct more research to learn details such as whether managers and administrators, or hourly employees, are keeping or losing jobs. And if things aren’t going so well in your industry, you might consider a slight career shift, such as moving from software development to hardware networking, or even switching cities. That is if the prospects for long-term employment seem more promising.
Maintain the Right Attitude
In this economy, it is important to keep a positive attitude about your career prospects. Because the fact of the matter is, if there is a job available, someone must eventually fill the role. So why couldn’t it be you? You are just as qualified for the job as you were before the economy worsened. So try not to let the economy’s current state negatively affect your job search.
Under stable conditions, getting on track career-wise requires strong determination. But in a weak economy, it takes more. So take time to perfect your resume, conduct extensive research on your field, and keep a positive attitude. You will see that despite the economy, you’ll be able to thrive.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of http://www.ResumeLines.com who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end.

Optional Resume Sections: Deciding When (and Which) to Include

Writing a resume can be complicated if you’re not sure how to convey the message that you’re the right person for the job. A good way to get this accomplished, however, is by choosing the right sections to include in your resume.
Choosing the standard sections (contact information, objective, work experience/skills, and education) is typically a breeze. But optional sections like career highlights, interests/hobbies, professional/community involvement, awards, and technical skills can be more of a challenge to decide between. So to help you get on the right track, let’s look at some ideas for choosing your sections.
Consider the Position for Which You’re Applying
When thinking about what sections to include in your resume, it is a good idea to first look closely at the position you’re applying for. Why? Because this can help you determine which sections will help you provide the most thorough information regarding your skill set.
For example, if you’re applying for a position that requires several years of professional experience in Corporate Communications, and also a strong writing background, there are a couple of ways you can take advantage of resume sections. Of course, you can use your standard Work/Professional Experience section to showcase the jobs you’ve worked in the field. Then if you have standout writing accomplishments, you can include a separate section (ex. Writing and Distribution) strictly for your writing accolades.
Likewise, if you are interested in furthering your career as a software developer, you could include a “Certificates and Training” section strictly for showcasing all of your Microsoft, Apple, and other certifications. This way you can highlight your standout skills and paint an accurate portrait of your potential abilities.
Think About the Message You Want to Convey
When thinking of optional sections to include, it is also a good idea to consider what message you want to offer the employer about the type of person you are. This is especially true if you know that getting hired for a position might rely partially on your personal interests.
For example, you may want to apply for a manager position with Girl Scouts of America and have extensive professional experience as a manager, though not with a non-profit organization. However, in your spare time, you’ve sat on the boards of multiple non-profits in your community. This would be a great opportunity to include a “Professional/Community Involvement” section that could showcase your understanding of non-profit organizations coupled with your strong professional background as a manager.
If You’re Thinking of Using a Template …
If you are brand new to writing resumes, or simply want some help creating a new design, a template can provide a good starting point. However, it is smart to avoid following the template to a tee. You would be doing yourself a disservice by not critically thinking about each section in reference to each job you’re applying for. This can result in your resume looking carbon copied – and ultimately ending up at the bottom of the stack.
By exploring what the company is looking for, and deciding what message you want to convey, you can have great success in choosing optional sections for your resume. So take your time and think out your purpose. You will find that doing so can help you create your perfect resume.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of http://www.ResumeLines.com who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end.

How to Create Your Cover Letter When Switching Careers

You have recently made the decision to exit one career and enter a new one, which can be both exciting and a little bit scary. But while the choice to make the career switch was probably a grueling one, the prospect of explaining your lack of job experience to potential employers is probably downright terrifying.
Though you may be concerned about drawing attention to this missing portion of your career history, don’t spend too much time dwelling on it. The truth is, if you really desire to move into your new career, you can do it. You just have to believe in yourself and present this belief in your cover letters. Let’s look at how you can do it …
Be Honest about Why You’re Changing Careers
When you begin explaining why you’re switching careers in your cover letter, it is best to be as honest as possible. You can do this by remembering that at some point you sat alone and contemplated your reasons for making this major life decision. So take this time to revisit those reasons. Are you switching because you weren’t fulfilled in your previous career? Or do you believe that you’ve always had talent in this field and now you want to pursue it?
Whatever your reasons may be, express them well. Doing so may help prospective employers better relate to your new-found passion. Even more, it may inspire them to take a chance with you, even if you have less experience in this specific career than other candidates.
Discuss Your Relevant Experience
As mentioned previously, you may not have an extensive background in the career you are pursuing, but that’s okay. If you have relevant professional experience, you can simply dig that up to show the prospective employer your ability to perform.
For instance, you may have years of experience working as a PR manager. However, you would like to become a marketing manager because you’re interested in branding products, participating in trade shows, and getting the company name out to the public. As a PR manager, you may have experience talking to the media on behalf of your company, and developing strategies to help create the proper public image. So you can note these and other relevant PR experiences in your cover letter to show that your understanding of the company’s public image and products can easily be applied to a marketing career.
Do You Believe in Yourself?
You should question how much you believe in yourself before writing your cover letter. Why? Because you are making a major change in your life that requires courage, and could possibly face a little rejection. If you hold fear in your heart, it can easily translate on paper. So before you write your cover letter, it is a good idea to develop and nurture your belief in your capabilities. This can boost your confidence and possibly help the potential employer take a greater interest in you.
Switching careers can definitely be an intimidating prospect to consider. But if you have confidence in your abilities, the skills to back it up, and a great cover letter to boot, you will be well on your way to successfully entering an exciting new career in the field you absolutely love.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of http://www.ResumeLines.com who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end.

Take a Side Job for the Sake of Your Career

When was the last time you looked at your life and said, “How in the world did I get here?” A month ago? Last week? This morning? Sometimes you can wonder that in a good way as if you’ve had a great fortune in love, life and work. Other times, it’s not thought of in such a positive light.
When it comes to your career, is it ever too late to ‘go back?’ It depends on each person’s own circumstances but in more cases than not, it can be done. And sometimes it doesn’t even have to be a complete reversal. Maybe a little side trip is all you need.
What were your dreams?
As a child, teenager and young adult, you had your dreams. What were they? Once you take a trip down memory lane, think about why they were your dreams. Did you want lots of money and acclaim? Did you want to try to save the world – one person at a time?
If you’re like a lot of people, what you actually ended up doing for a living is something completely different than what you planned. And that’s okay. Life doesn’t always have to go according to plan. That’s a part of life that makes things interesting.
However, if you want to dip your toes into a new pool, there are ways to do it successfully – without risking what you already have.
Take on a part-time gig
What? Why take a part-time job when you’re already employed with a full-time one? This can be very useful if you think you want to completely change your career path. For example, you can be an accountant during the day but a pharmacist’s assistant at night. (One note: be sure to clear any second jobs with your current employer. Many companies have policies regarding those situations.)
Take some classes or training
If you are curious whether or not you have what it takes to make it big in another career, start studying. Simply take some online classes, read up on necessary qualifications that you would need to earn and find out if it ‘fits you.’ This is a quick way to test the waters before taking the big plunge.
So before you resign yourself to the fact that you’re in a career that you dislike forever, take the time to discover if there’s something better out there for you. It doesn’t have to be risky; take it ultra-slow at first, and if it feels right, continue down the path to a new, more rewarding career.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of http://www.JobsCareersEtc.com
who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end.

You’re Ready for a Career Change…Is Your Resume?

You finally did it. You made the decision to leave a career that makes you dread every Monday morning and pursue one that you feel is your true calling. Congratulations! Making the decision was the hard part, right? Unfortunately, no. You’ve convinced yourself that this is the right move…how do you convince everyone else? It’s time to work on your resume.
Resume writing for this situation can be challenging, to say the least. Why? Think about it for a moment – how do you go from a retail manager to a purchasing agent in a corporate environment? Or from an accountant to a salesperson? Not all career changes are that drastic, but you get the picture. Once you look at it from this point of view though, it makes you wonder how in the world you’ll get a job in a new field.

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