Graduating and dont have a career plan Been there, done that. University of Manchester Careers Blog

Graduating and don’t have a career plan Been there, done that. University of Manchester Careers Blog In fact, it’s been five years since I graduated and I still don’t have one of those magical things called a “career plan”. Coming from someone who works for The Careers Service, that might surprise you. Back when I graduated, my lack of masterplan was something that filled me with panic. I nearly started down several different routes, from trying desperately to get some work experience in a prison so that I could set off on the long and difficult path to becoming a Forensic Psychologist, to nearly accepting a position as a carer in a dementia centre. But it didnt work out that way, and now Im much more comfortable with the fact that I don’t have a specific career plan or end goal that Im working towards. Meeting a retro celebrity in a previous role Having a career plan is not the same as having a career â€" I have led an interesting and successful career so far. In my five year career, Ive worked in three different roles at the BBC and two roles for The University of Manchester, from audience research to marketing and communications. Each role has built on the last, so while Ive not followed a ‘conventional’ career path so far, Ive definitely developed as Ive gone along. So as Im sure many of you are leaving university worried about what your future holds, feeling like your friends and classmates have everything mapped out and you’re being left behind, I thought I’d share my experience and let you know why Im perfectly happy to do things this way. Ive  been able to take different opportunities that I  wouldnt  have considered otherwise.  In one job, I wrote lines for the people that announce the beginning of programmes on TV. Did you know that job existed? I didnt, and it’s a great one to drop in to interviews for my ‘written and verbal communication skills’. Im  slowly building up a picture of who I am and what I really, really enjoy doing. Like many students, I was easily influenced by those around me and felt that I should have the same interests and goals as them. Through my different jobs Ive learnt that I don’t have to like / be good at everything, which helps to narrow things down in the job search process. My network is ever-expanding, which can only open the doors to further opportunities. I now know people that work for loads of different companies across the UK and beyond. And if I ever want to go back a step, or apply for a job elsewhere, I have contacts that could help me to get there. While Im sure this all sounds lovely, it’s important to stress that my unplanned career lifestyle isnt for everyone. Ive been lucky so far, but there have been stressful times when the end of one contract is in sight and Ive not got my next move lined up. Sometimes you can make a move and regret it… If you are the sort of person who doesnt like risks, or you can’t cope with the feeling of making the wrong decision on occasion, this approach probably isnt for you. Instead, I look at “bad moves” as almost as important as the good ones â€" theyve all helped to determine what I want, built up my skills and developed my resilience. Additionally, if you have a clear vocation in mind and a career goal that you want to achieve, and you’re happy with that, my approach probably isnt for you either. This will require more planning, with milestones or targets to achieve. So what are my tips if you are graduating now and don’t have a career plan? Find your starting point. While you don’t need to have an end goal in mind, you have to start somewhere. Start by looking at your skills and what youve enjoyed doing at uni, and explore the options that might fit your interests. Always be on the lookout for opportunities. Whether it’s in work or in your personal time, you never know where something will lead or where an experience will come in handy. Leave each role on good terms. When moving on from one job to the next, don’t leave a bad taste behind. You enjoyed the job, but you’re ready for a new challenge. That way, you won’t burn any bridges and may be able to return if you decide that’s the place for you. Be selective. This is hard when you’re panicking about your next step, but I have fallen victim to applying for too many jobs in the past â€" it doesnt work. If you have a suspicion that the job isnt for you but you need the money so apply anyway, it will come through in your application or interview and you probably won’t get the job. Save time and energy by focusing on the jobs that you really want. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. When you change roles, you are not expected to be perfect straight away. Remember that everyone takes a bit of time to learn the ropes; don’t let it affect your confidence. Instead, focus on what you’re learning and how you’re getting better. Don’t get freaked out by other people’s opinions of what you should be doing. Just because your granddad worked for the same company for 40 years, doesnt mean you have to. Overall, my recommendation if you’re in this position is to relax a bit and enjoy the opportunities that come your way. Don’t get stressed about finding your dream job straight away â€" how are you supposed to know what your “dream job” is, anyway? And talk to people, whether it’s friends, family, or The Careers Service. We are always available to give you some ideas, some pointers to get started, or even just listen to you talk about what you do / do not want to do in the future. It can really help! Best of luck! All Careers advice Graduate Graduate jobs I don't know what to do Undergraduate career planning

Job Hunting Guide for Introverts How to Get the Best Job for You CareerMetis.com

Job Hunting Guide for Introverts How to Get the Best Job for You â€" CareerMetis.com Being an introvert can make your life unfairly complicated when you leave the relatively sheltered environment of school/college and start searching for work. The world might get overwhelming at that time. However, you can make the job hunting process more manageable if you go about it correctly.First of all, you need to understand that introverts are exceptionally good at business if they choose the type of work that suits their temperament Once you decide which of these professions is best for you, move in for the kill with a great resume and be prepared for an interview.How to Find a Perfect job for an Introvert Step-by-Step1. Choose a profession where you can excelevalIntroverts work best when alone, but this doesn’t mean that you cannot function with a team. You need to interact with them for limited periods and in a controlled setting. However, if you are at your most productive when working alone, go for one of the following professions or their variations:BloggingEditing As the New Grad’s Ultimate Guide to Finding a Job tells you, a resume is one of the main factors that determine if you get the job or not. Creating a resume that will make an impression right from the start is essential to up your chances of getting hired. HubSpot says that you only have 6 seconds to get the recruiter interested, so all the ‘juiciest’ parts must be at the beginning of the document.Start with a resume objective that clearly shows that you are a perfect fit for this role. As you don’t have much experience yet, you should focus on your skills. List the qualities that are relevant for succeeding in business as a whole, like time management and problem-solving. To see more examples of skills that can help you impress a prospective employer.Augment your resume with a package of thoughtful materials that prove your particular skills. An introvert’s brain is capable of deliberate and detailed situation analysis, which allows you to see the problem from different ang les and come up with a comprehensive solution.Apply this innate ability when developing your cover letters and portfolios. Be thorough in illustrating each of your skills. This will make the application, as a whole, look more professional, which can make up for your lack of experience.4) Prepare for an interview in advanceevalNote that as an introvert, preparing for an interview goes deeper than looking up most common questions employers ask. People with this personality type often struggle with adapting to new circumstances and social situations in general. However, you need to show that you are capable of being professional even if you don’t feel entirely comfortable.This means you need to coach yourself and run ‘simulations’ in your head or with the help of friends where the flow of the interview gets derailed. This way, you will be able to react better if it doesn’t go the way you expect.You also need to practice small talk. Most importantly, you should prepare a few ‘ casual’ questions of your own, so you can support chit-chat if the situation calls for it.Also, do your best to match the interviewer’s tone. This will help you look more involved, which matters because introverts tend to come off as bored or distant when nervous.And finally, mention that you are an introvert. Be open from the start, so your prospective boss knows exactly what kind of treasure you are.

6 Ways To Accomplish Your Goals More Easily

6 Ways To Accomplish Your Goals More Easily How is your New Year going? Have you already started taking the steps that you wanted to take? Or maybe you’re just gearing up for a positive set of steps ahead. Well, either way, I want to share with you six ideas that can help you get going and keep going, so that you can have that awesome year we’ve been talking about. Remember, it’s all about taking action because without action nothing happens. 1. Start with small steps This means chunking down your bigger goals into something manageable and bite-sized. I think of it like having a big bucket of popcorn. You don’t just inhale the whole bucketful at once; that’s impossible. You eat a few kernels, or a handful at the most, at a time. As an example, your big bucket of popcorn equivalent might be putting yourself in a position to be promoted this year. That’s a big goal; it takes time. If you chunk it down, your pieces of popcorn might be things like: Identify the criteria for promotion Figure out who is on the promotion committee, or who decides Find out who influences those people, and what they care about Find out what opportunities you want to set yourself up for so that you can demonstrate that you’ve got what it takes 2. Choose ‘linch pin’ steps This simply means, choose steps that are going to unlock everything else for you if you do those first, and they may not be the obvious step. So for example, if you wanted to get fit this year and that was your big goal, but you feel so tired that you just can’t even imagine getting exercise or going to the gym. Well, then maybe your linch pin step is to make sure you get enough sleep for a good two or three weeks. Then you feel rested enough to actually have the energy to go and do that fitness routine, or join a gym or whatever it might be. 3. Set yourself up for some early wins When you’ve got big important goals, it’s really important to have some quick and early wins that you can point to so that you can feel good about yourself, and so that you’re going to want to keep going. 4. Have a ‘buddy system’ That can mean doing what you’re doing, and taking the action along with somebody. So maybe you’ve decided to get fit and you’re signing up for a marathon or a triathlon, then get somebody else to sign up with you and you can train together. Or maybe it’s somebody to encourage you. I think of this great trainer I’ve had named Angel. I can still hear Angel saying to me, as I’m doing my 50th sit up in a row, “May, you can do it, you are doing it!” I can still hear it. It was so encouraging, I just kept going. Or maybe it’s just somebody who can help keep you accountable. In any case, finding that buddy system is really helpful. 5. Set your intention Set your intention for the actions you want to take so that you can stay on course. Do that first thing in the morning before other people’s agendas start to intrude. 6. Link to an existing action or habit This is about linking your new action to an existing action or habit that you take every single day. If you latch it onto something that’s existing, it makes it a whole lot easier for you to just glide forward and do it. So that might be linking it to when you brush your teeth in the morning. Or it might be linking it to when you commute to work in the morning. If you want to learn a new language or study a certain subject, you can download the podcast and hit play and listen to it on your way to work. Take action and feel great! Those are six ideas to help you get going and keep going so that you can take action, which is the key point. I want to make sure you take action because I don’t want you to just be doing same old same old, and feeling terrible about yourself all year. I want you to take action, feel great about yourself, and just have the wind at your back all year. Now, if you’re looking for some actionable and bite sized steps you can take that will help your career then I invite you to join my Career Masteryâ„¢ Challenge 2016 â€" it’s free. It starts on Monday January 11th with the first Tip and ends on February 5th. When you sign up for that, you also get my FREE 10-Point Guide For Making 2016 Your Best Year Yet. And yes, I’m determined to help you have an awesome year, because that’s the kind of year I want to have too! So let me leave you with this question: What actions are you wanting to take, and what do you do to get going and keep going so that you can have an awesome year? Scroll down and share a comment to let me know.

Career Changers Can Use These Tips For Career Changers

Career Changers Can Use These Tips For Career ChangersThere are a lot of career changers who need some additional help when it comes to resume writing. Career changers can benefit greatly from using these tips for career changers.Such career changers can use these resume writing tips for career changers to add credibility to their resumes. Using this resume writing tips for career changers can greatly help such career changers in getting a job. These resume writing tips for career changers can help such career changers in putting more emphasis on the positive aspects of their achievements.Such career changers can further use these resume writing tips for career changers to ensure that their professional skills are conveyed to the employer. It is true that many career changers need to be very careful while writing resumes. These career changers can also use these resume writing tips for career changers to ensure that their professional skills are conveyed to the employer. These resume writing tips for career changers can help such career changers in putting more emphasis on the positive aspects of their achievements.These resume writing tips for career changers can help such career changers in making their resumes more persuasive and more convincing. Career changers can use these resume writing tips for career changers to ensure that their resumes are convincing. Career changers can further use these resume writing tips for career changers to write resumes that are convincing and persuasive. These resume writing tips for career changers can help such career changers in making their resumes more persuasive and more convincing.Resume writing tips for career changers can also help these career changers in ensuring that their resumes are organized. This resume writing tips for career changers can help career changers in making their resumes organized. These resume writing tips for career changers can also help career changers in making their resumes organized. These resume writing tips for career changers can help career changers in putting more emphasis on the positive aspects of their achievements.Resume writing tips for career changers can also help these career changers in making their resumes more effective. These resume writing tips for career changers can help career changers in making their resumes more effective. These resume writing tips for career changers can help career changers in making their resumes more effective.Resume writing tips for career changers can also help these career changers in increasing their chances of landing a job. This resume writing tips for career changers can help these career changers in increasing their chances of landing a job. These resume writing tips for career changers can help these career changers in increasing their chances of landing a job.Career changers can also use these resume writing tips for career changers to make their resumes more convincing. Career changers can further use these resum e writing tips for career changers to make their resumes more persuasive. These resume writing tips for career changers can help career changers in convincing employers.

Where to Find Reliable Resume Writing Services

Where to Find Reliable Resume Writing ServicesYou don't have to be an expert in resume writing to get the information you need on the Internet, you can do it yourself with the help of some reasonable resume writing services. Most people want to learn how to make a resume, but don't know where to begin. There are several places to look for information on resume writing.One place to look is online directories. These places are free and have thousands of different services to choose from.The best place to start is by finding a professional resume writer. These professionals will meet your needs to help you plan your resume and will even help you with editing your document to ensure that it is as professional as possible. They can also help you with getting your resume in front of an employer, if you aren't sure what to put on your resume.Another place to look is at a local college or university. In many cases, they will have programs geared toward helping new students get started on the ir careers. There are several different types of programs, depending on the department and how you plan to use your skills after you graduate.The easiest way to get started with a resume is by looking through a library. In some cases, you can get a book or two with instructions on how to write a resume. Many times there are sample resumes for you to work with, so if you are a first time writer, you can at least get the basics.The other place to look for information is by using search engines. A simple search on 'resume writing services' will bring up a large number of websites. It is important to do your research before you sign up with any website, so you know how to get the most for your money.If you are unsure where to begin, look no further than the Internet. There are several websites that offer online writing services, and if you look hard enough, you can find affordable, effective ways to create a resume.

Secret Answers to How to Describe Skills Resume Writing Revealed

Secret Answers to How to Describe Skills Resume Writing Revealed Written Communication Writing well is an important element of your professional presentation. Your skills section stipulates a window into how much capability you'll be able to bring to the firm. Your language skills are just a little portion of your resume, therefore it's very important that also you recognize how to compose a resume by every section. You ought to have a particular languages' section which gives more comprehensive info on your ability. Writing is a daily portion of several jobs and it's a significant part communication. Resumes are somewhat more effective with the proper adjectives. If a specific language is important for a particular position, you can take a suitable certification exam. New Questions About How to Describe Skills Resume Writing Some very best volunteer ideas for resume are given below. If you're fighting to think of any, you can attempt utilizing the job descriptions of ads inside your industry, together with looking at LinkedIn profiles of individuals working in similar roles. Back in the old times of the web, only someone with big-time tech skills could update a site. Depending on the help of our expert sources, here are a couple of broad classes of skills your resume could include, together with unique approaches to express them. Leadership isn't a position or title, it's action and example. A Key Skills section, on the flip side, is listed on top of a resume. Communication skills are among the most valuable abilities that employers search for as they are central to numerous professionals and play a crucial role in most. Workplace negotiation skills are typical, but in addition commonly misunderstood. Details of How to Describe Skills Resume Writing Writing and editing is a rather wide category. Continue writing critically because it is going to enhance your language abilities. Writing and editing need a lot of interrelated abilities, an d it's difficult to understand what to include. How to Describe Skills Resume Writing: the Ultimate Convenience! Don't freak out, even in the event you don't think you've got the skills you do. Resume language skills are the same. If you're able to clearly demonstrate that you've got strong communication skills on your resume you will improve your odds of obtaining a very first interview since they are some of the greatest skills to put on a resume. Try to remember, the majority of the exceptional skills that you set on your resume ought to be job-related skills taken from the work description and your best transferable skills. Soft abilities, on the flip side, aren't simple to quantify. Key skills are work-related skills that you will need to do a job. Hard skills aren't skills that are tricky to learn. 3 First, you have to pick the best skills for your resume.

3 Common Job Search Strategies That Dont Work - Work It Daily

3 Common Job Search Strategies That Dont Work - Work It Daily As a certified career coach, I can recommend many job search strategies that will complement your resume and increase your chances for finding that perfect job. Related: #1 Job Search Mistake (You Could Be Making It Right Now!) But the following strategies won’t work: 1. Re-sending the same resume over and over to the same company, expecting different results. What to Do Instead: You can reapply to the same company. But it would pay to have a professional review your resume and cover letter to make sure you are clearly stating why you are a great fit for that company. 2. Using resume creation software. What to Do Instead: Send out a professionally written resume that reflects you, your achievements, skills, and attitudes and that is targeted for the job you want. 3. Staying at home and working the computer. What to Do Instead: Get yourself out among people, spreading the word about your job hunt and letting them see what a great employee you would make. Talk to family, friends and former colleagues; attend business networking events and expos; take on freelance, volunteer, and consultant opportunities (they may become job offers; in the meantime you’re keeping your skills sharp and building contacts)â€"and that’s just the start of the list. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts Reactive Vs. Proactive Job Search Strategies 3 Great Activities To Keep Your Job Search Moving 5 Job Search Tips For Engineers Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!