Get To Work

Whether you are looking for your first job, a new job, or simply to improve your skills, there are steps you can take to get ahead.

A lot of people re-examine their lives in the beginning of a new year. Getting a new job or making a career change is often at the top of the list. Here are some tips to help you get clear about what you really want out of a job and how to get it.

When you are applying for a new job it is important to be confident in your abilities and what you bring to the table as an applicant. In my latest article for Monster College, I discuss ways you can be sure that you are a confident applicant and land your next job.

If you find that you do not have enough experience to get the job you really want, here are some things you can do right now to gain experience.

Even if you have a ton of experience and education, there are still many things that you can do to ruin your job interview. In this article from Fastweb, I share, "Seven Things That Can Ruin a Job Interview".

Once you get the job, it is important to understand that you are in control of your job satisfaction.  There are steps you can take to make sure that you remain happy with your job. 

Here's to improving your skills, gaining confidence, getting hired, and loving your new job.

Change

"The only thing that is constant is change." Heraclitus

In life things change. Seasons change, we age, we marry or divorce, have children, children grow up, we start a new job, or leave a job. Every day we are presented with some form of change.

Some people fight against change, opting instead to stay in their comfort zones. I myself have been guilty of this. I've stayed in situations because I was used to them, even if they made me unhappy.

I've often remained in comfort zones so long, despite all of the evidence that I should leave, that the universe had no choice but to force me out of the situation.

The main changes I have avoided, turned out to be good for me. Even when I was forced out of a situation, I looked back and was grateful for the push.

Recently I have experienced a lot of change. This change has caused me to demand that I make decisions and move forward in my life, rather than stay stuck in stagnation.

Have you avoided making decisions or moves in your life because you feared change?

Today I came across "11 Calming Reminders That Change is a Good Thing" in the Huffington Post. It reminded me that change is imminent, and should be embraced.

What changes have you been avoiding or dreading? How can you look at that change differently?

Successful Interview

Whether you are a recent college graduate, a current student, or you have been in the job market for years, it is always good to brush up on your job interviewing skills. A good (or bad) interview can mean the difference between you being hired or not. Your resume may get you into the door, but it is what you do in the interview that really counts.

In my latest article written for Fastweb I discuss why it's important for current students to gain work experience while in school. I also give 5 Tips to help you prepare for a successful job interview.


You may check out the article here and please pass it along to anyone you think would benefit from it.

Guest Post- 5 Signs You Need a New Job

You may not know it but you hate your job and you need a new one, pronto. You may have gotten used to the odd signs and behavior you are displaying, but here are five tell-tale signs that you need to start tweaking your resume:

Sunday nights are spent weeping: I like to call this the ‘Sunday Night Work Weepies’. You have had a wonderfully short weekend and when dinner approaches your body starts to throw a tantrum. You ask questions like ‘Why me?’ and ‘What did I do to deserve this?’ If tears and self-questioning your life are a weekly routine, it’s time to find a new job.

You hide at the sound of footsteps: It’s like a bad horror movie, footsteps from down the hall are headed your way and next thing you know you are hiding under your desk. You are terrified to see your manager or boss because you know it will be another meaningless and underappreciated project or assignment. If you feel your stomach clench and find yourself breaking out into a sweat it’s time to find a new job.

You choose to eat lunch alone: You would rather eat your ham and cheese in your car than venture over to an overrated and campy burger joint with ‘these people’ that are called your ‘colleagues’. Every job comes with at least one partner in crime that you can share office drama and dread with. If you don’t like anyone in your office, then who will help talk you down after your vent sessions? It’s time to find a new job with people you like.

You can’t wait until the next round of Flu goes around: It’s time to find a new job if you followed the sniffling, sneezing and coughing receptionist around the last 30 minutes. You are begging for the aches and pains and a fever that will keep you home. If time spent sick in bed is ten times more appealing than going to work, time to move on.

Your friends don’t like you:You can’t figure out why your friends stopped inviting you over or why your family didn’t call on your birthday. There is no nice way to say this, you are being a jerk. They don’t like you because you dislike your job so much that all you do is cry, vent and complain to them. If you want your friends and family to love you again, find a new job.

Ring bell? Thought so. Now slap a smile on your face and brush up your interview skills and find something that makes you happy. Our lives are spent working; you might as well find a job that makes you want to hug kittens not drown them. Life is too short, good luck in your job search!

About the Author:

This guest post is contributed by Debra Johnson, blogger and editor of full time nanny.

She welcomes your comments at her email Id: - jdebra84 @ gmail.com.