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Career Development

Transition time! From school to work

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Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at freedigitalphotos.net
Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at freedigitalphotos.net

For most of us the transition from student to worker is quite an adjustment.  Instead of hanging out with classmates all day and night, you will be taking a walk out of your comfort zone into the work place with a bunch of new people who most likely will have been working in that field for a long time.  They know the ropes.

One of the fastest ways to get familiar with your duties is to find a mentor.  Even though you spent years in school learning the theory of your work, there is a lot more to learn on the job.  Continue to be a student and soak up as much as you can by those who are top in the field.

Healthy work habits can help you excel as well.  Most companies have regular work hours, so staying up late as you might have done when you were in school might make it difficult for you to be productive.  Eat well, exercise, get enough sleep and find a healthy work life balance at the beginning of your career so the next 40 plus years are happy ones.

What were some of the challenges when you transitioned from school to work?

Stop, write, and roll

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Image courtesy of think4photop at freedigitalphotos.net
Image courtesy of think4photop at freedigitalphotos.net

Do you ever feel like your boss gives you too much work at once?  You can’t focus on what needs to be done because there’s too much to do.   Your mind swims and you jump from one fire (urgent need) to another. As a result, nothing gets done.  How do you sort it all out?

Stop, write and roll…. 

1.  Stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and clear your mind.  This will give you a clean slate to start from.

2.  Write all of the work down in a list.  Get it onto paper where you can evaluate each one and prioritize based on urgency and importance.

3.  Roll through the prioritized list one at a time.  This takes focus and discipline.  There will be phones ringing, emails coming in and instant messages that will pop up.  If need be shut all of it down so you can focus and go into what we call “the cone of silence”.  Make sure there are no distractions taking you off your task.

When each task is complete, be sure to cross out or check them off.  Make it a game and project how many items you will finish by lunch or by the end of the day.  This will give you something to strive for.

Even if you aren’t passionate about your job, there is satisfaction knowing you put out a bunch of fires and your boss will be grateful for it.

Please leave other tips on how to handle work overload in the comments.

Save the commute

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Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at freedigitalphotos.net
Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at freedigitalphotos.net

Teleworkers in the north east should be grateful after the extreme winter that is coming to an end. Working from home is great for self motivated workers whose jobs can be done remotely. But telecommuting isn’t for everyone.

If you enjoy getting out of the home and having “face time” with your co workers, it may not be for you.

For those who can and want to, teleworking is awesome! The commute is non existent, which provides for more time to focus on interests outside of the office. This time savings can lead to more time for exercise, healthy eating choices and family time. Some monetary savings will be recognized on gas, parking, public transportation costs, auto repairs and maintenance. Even if you can work just a few days a week at home, you will see a significant savings, if you can give it a try!

Please comment additional benefits of teleworking.

How much life are you planning for?

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Image9 courtesy of Stuart Miles at freedigitalphotos.net
Image9 courtesy of Stuart Miles at freedigitalphotos.net

Hopefully retirement comes to those who want it. But are you ready for it? According to the Social Security website a man and woman who reach 65 today can expect to live on average until 84.3 and 86.6 years respectively.

Check out the website to calculate your own specific life expectancy using the life expectancy calculator. This is an important number to ensure there are sufficient funds to help you live your life comfortably. Start planning when you would like to retire and deduct your life expectancy age. Then you know how many years to plan for.

Carefully project your income from all potential sources, like social security, pensions, and 401K plans etc. Also hopefully there are some other assets in your portfolio, including some sort of real estate, business or stock holdings from which you can drawn on if needed.

After this analysis, are you ready? Or do you have more planning to do? Please comment.

Search the field

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Image courtesy of imagerymajestic from freedigitalphotos.net
Image courtesy of imagerymajestic from freedigitalphotos.net

What career are you in search of? What area do you want to work in? What is the potential income in the career field in your target area?

How can you find answers to these important questions? Click the follow link to find the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

These are all very important questions that need to be answered for your long term financial success. What if your chosen field in your target area wouldn’t support your family’s life style? Please seek the answers, BEFORE you make that life altering decision. Take a few minutes and search the field, you will be glad you did.

Please share a high paying career field and the location in the comment field.  Thank you!

Dress for success

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Image2 courtesy of imagerymajestic from freedigitalphotos.net
Image2 courtesy of imagerymajestic from freedigitalphotos.net

Are you looking for a promotion?  Are you dressing for the position you want or the position you have?  Think about it.  It will be much easier for your boss to picture you in a higher position if you are already dressed for it.  It might mean a little extra time on the ironing board or more elbow grease to polish those shoes.  Also carefully look at the person who has a job you would like to have.  Do they typically wear a suit or dress slacks and a top?  Dress similarly  and you are on your way!

What are some of the best shopping spots for business attire you have found?  Please comment.

Time for a raise?

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Image courtesy of Ambro from freedigitalphotos.net
Image courtesy of Ambro from freedigitalphotos.net

If you think it’s time for a raise, start preparing your information and go get it!  Do research in your career field to figure out how much your job is worth from a site like salary.com.  If your research reveals you should be earning more investigate in a delicate way, what others in your company are receiving for compensation and benefits.  Then honestly consider your worth and contribution to the company.  Were there special jobs or projects that made you stand out from the rest?  If so be sure to include those in your pitch to your supervisor.  Be sure to carefully practice your dialog and role play to gain confidence for your meeting.  Then when the time is right, go get it.

Do you feel you deserve a raise?  If so, click the like button.

Six figure income, no college degree required

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Image courtesy of adamr from freedigitalphotos.com
Image courtesy of adamr from freedigitalphotos.com

There are potentially many fields where someone could make a six figure income without a degree but we were surprised to learn from nbcnews.com that one was being a court reporter.  According to the article “Court Reporter: A Job That Makes Six Figures, With No College Degree” the field is expanding.  To be considered for a job in this field there are many different certifications available and you need to research what is required by employers in your area.   Some additional skills required are typing at around 225 words per minute and having the ability to easily differentiate between voices.  It could be just the right career for individuals who are looking for a high paying job without the education requirement.  Or maybe for a career change?

Are you looking for a change in career?  If so, please comment on what field you are in and what field you would want to switch to.

A very important question…

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Image courtesy of Image courtesy of Stuart Miles from freedigitalphotos.net
Image courtesy of Image courtesy of Stuart Miles from freedigitalphotos.net

A job interview can frazzle your nerves and keep you guessing how you performed long after it is over.  Why not ask your interviewer a question that can help clear your mind and let you know right where you stand before you leave the interview?  Ready for it?  Here it is…“Is there any reason you wouldn’t hire me?”  The answer to this one question will give you a ton of information.  If there is any doubt in their mind and they express it, it will give you the opportunity to further explain your position and eliminate their doubt.  Of course if there isn’t any reason, you can expect a follow up call with a start date!  Make sure you ask this question!

What are some other questions you might ask an interviewer?  Please comment.