How Do I Change Career When Life Keeps Getting In The Way

“How Do I Change Career When Life Keeps Getting In The Way” Help from our Community “How Do I Change Career When Life Keeps Getting In The Way?” * Marc has great ideas and great reasons for wanting a new line of work, but he can't seem to make any steady progress. When life is busy and there's always something that needs his attention, how can he keep focused on his career change? What's your career history and current job? I'm a visual merchandiser for a well-known retailer. I studied Fine Art at university, but got more and more interested in my boyfriend's subject, psychology, while I was there. Visual merchandising seemed like a fun way to merge the two after I graduated, so I've worked my way up from window dressing to my current job over the past four years. How do you feel about your work? I'm lonely, and I feel a bit dirty. I still enjoy the creative aspect of my job; I really do have fun designing layouts and displays to catch the eye and surprise people. But I spend a lot of time on my own, travelling around the country and working at night after stores close, and I'm too much of a sociable person to thrive on that for very long. Plus, I feel a bit sad that the point of my job is essentially to trick and cajole people into spending their money. Of course I've always known that was the idea, but nowadays it's feeling less like a fun challenge and more like a dirty secret. What would you like to be doing instead? I haven't quite got the details of it down yet, but I'd like to start a business where I create visual journeys for people's special events â€" weddings, surprise parties, graduations… A big part of my job now is taking people on a 'journey' through the store, piquing their interest in different things at different points, and I'd love to do that in a more positive and upbeat way. I don't even really know if that kind of thing exists, but essentially I want to do what I do now, just with the intention of creating positive emotions rather than money. What's the main obstacle in your way? From the outside, my career change looks like something from the Ministry of Silly Walks. I keep making a little bit of progress and then scurrying backwards, and then taking a giant step forward, and then falling over… I just can't sustain any progress! I'll try to save money, and then I'll dip into it because my mother's sick and I need to get her seen privately to avoid NHS waiting lists. I'll sit up late one night researching how to start a business, and then the books will sit piled up on the kitchen table for the next month. I'll contact someone to arrange a chat, and then life will take over and I'll forget to follow up. I just can't seem to ride a wave of inspiration far enough to get somewhere, which seems so strange because I have every reason to make a change. Can you help Marc? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? What can he do to build some meaningful momentum? Do you know anyone he could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support. Give Marc a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

School of Education Graduates University of Manchester Careers Blog

School of Education Graduates University of Manchester Careers Blog Top 5 online resources for School of Education Graduates To give you a helping hand as you head out into the big bad world of job seeking I thought it would be useful to list our top 5 online resources for graduates from the School of Education. I hope you find them useful. Prospects ‘Options with your subject’ Includes a range of job profiles and information on typical employers, work experience and a breakdown of what graduates in this area have gone on to do for a range of students. Starting Point Series A range of helpful job seeking resources including help on applications, interviews and specific information on teaching and graduate entry to allied medical professions (includes speech and language therapy). Sector Pages   Really useful information and links to further resources and job sites. Get an insight into different sectors such as education, health social care and hospitality, sport and leisure. National Careers Service Job profiles for a range of different jobs in the sport, leisure and tourism sector. Find out about typical working conditions, entry requirements, training opportunities and other industry related information. TARGET Jobs Teaching and Education A great place to find education related graduate jobs, training schemes and internships as well as information about specialisms and professional training. Remember although your studies are over your contact with the Careers Service doesn’t end now. As a graduate youll receive full services for the next 2 years. This will include information, advice and guidance as well as access to vacancies and events listed in Careerslink. Find out more about eligibility and services here. Graduate

8 Crucial Things You Must Know Before Buying a New Mattress -

8 Crucial Things You Must Know Before Buying a New Mattress - Buying a nice and comfortable mattress is one of the best investments you can make for both your physical and your mental health. This is because our bed is the one place in our homes where most of us spend a lot of time, more than any other space in the house. A good bed comes as a relief after the day-long hustles, and good night sleep is something that we all crave. For this reason, its only right that you take your time when buying a new mattress, to ensure that you get that comfort that you so much desire. To make that easy for you, here is a list of several things you should know, before buying a new mattress. Focus on comfort Before anything else, the most important thing when selecting your next mattress should be your comfort. No matter the kind of mattress you have, the most crucial thing is your comfort. Whether its an expensive or relatively cheap mattress, you should look for a mattress that best suits your comfort needs. If you are not comfortable, it doesn’t matter how expensive it was. Dont choose a mattress because of its popularity, but buy because it fits your needs. For you to get the best mattress for you, you can consider various factors such as size, mattress material, and firmness, among others. Remember, comfort needs vary, and what may be comfy for you, does not apply for another person. Therefore, when searching for the best mattress, research in accordance to your specific needs. Understand Your Options One thing is for sure, there are many different mattress types on the market, with companies offering different kinds of specifics. Before you spend your money on just any bed, make sure you investigate some more into what each brand is offering. There are various online platforms that you can use to learn something more about the specifics of certain mattresses, whether it be brand or type of mattress. For example, if you desire to purchase a tuft needle mattress, make sure you scour the Internet for every available information and make a calculated decision on which bed you end up buying. You should know that every mattress type has its pros and cons. Therefore, ensure that you familiarize yourself with all of the different styles to ensure you understand each before buying. In-depth Research The third thing you should do is to perform in-depth research. Before you can make that crucial decision, it is very important to go through some online reviews from different users. This will ensure that you have enough information and can see how different users rate various mattress types. Look for the right size for your needs. Since the mattress companies offer a variety of sizes, select a mattress size that best suits your sleeping needs. If you are restricted by your narrow bed, then it might be the right time for a new, wider and spacious one. If a bigger size is what you need, make sure you purchase a mattress that fulfills those needs. Firmness Labels May Mislead You Sometimes, you shouldnt trust the firmness labels too much. This is because different companies will have varying firmness level standards. Since there is no unified firmness measure, what one company offers as medium firmness, might be another companys extra firm. Therefore, dont be hasty if you want to get the best mattress. Take your time, and compare all of these specifics to ensure you get what fits you. Dont assume things. It doesnt necessarily mean that a bad back requires an extra stiff mattress make a purchase based on facts and not assumptions. Test the mattress What better way to test a mattress than to lie on it? Make sure you have a first-hand experience of how it feels to lie on that mattress so that you can be able to make the best choice. Again, since many mattress shops allow customers to test the mattresses, make sure you use that chance. This way, you will have total confidence when buying it. Also, even if you plan to purchase your mattress online, ensure that you still find a brick and mortar outlet to test your desired model. Its not right to waste your money on a bed you cant sleep on, or one that wont offer you your desired comfort. Have a Budget Buying a mattress is an investment, especially for your health. Therefore, you should plan ahead for the purchase if you desire to get the right mattress. Besides, high-quality mattresses are not cheap. However, the health benefits that you’ll reap from having a good mattress are immense. If you know what you need is beyond your price range, you can opt for a much cheaper model that has most, if not all, of your desired qualities. Better still, you can plan in advance and save for the mattress of your choice. Start saving way in advance to ensure that by the time you are ready to make a purchase, your pocket is full. That little comfort on the right mattress can have a significant impact on your health, as well as your productivity. So, take some time and make the right decision. Consult your doctor In case you have some health conditions, make sure to contact your doctor for advice. A doctor or a physiatrist will have a piece of professional advice on what is best for you based on your health. So, dont assume that the firmer the mattress or, the softer it is, the better. Consult with them, to ensure that you have the right information. Again, although the doctor may not be an expert in mattresses, they will guide you based on their assessment of your body.

New Perspective Brings Improved Days - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

New Perspective Brings Improved Days - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career The sun was streaming through the window to suggest that negotiation and a willingness to consider a new perspective applies to both personal and business life. Your personal life provides insights for how to conduct business better and experience in business provides realization of how to negotiate better on the personal side, too. For years unwanted trees grew and intertwined with a beautiful walnut tree. Over the years, John refused to listen to his neighbors on the street who chastised him for not cutting down the unwanted trees to save the walnut. It was Albert, a fairly new neighbor, who suffered more of the consequences and who figured out how to persuade John to do the right thing. He used his corporate insight for changing John’s perspective. Given Albert’s vegetable garden did not have enough sun, and the unwanted trees made a mess all over his yard, it was suggested John and he share the expense of removing the undesirable trees. The trimming took place and suddenly sunshine and open space were seen in both yards. It became a win for all including the vegetables. Whether you have a tree or a business, demanding something be done your way rarely works. Getting the other party to agree takes a willingness to learn the history of the situation by asking many questions. Insistent assertiveness rarely works. Once you understand how the situation developed, ask additional questions to find the associated problems as they pertain to current circumstances. When you are the one wanting to make a change, the pain points are your friends. Your challenge is to find as many as possible as these are what will gradually change the other party’s perspective to yours. At the very least, you will be met half-way. As each problem unfolds, dig deeper to find how it is further affecting business. Once the dialogue develops, the other party will recognize it’s time to get everything on the table to determine how the issues may be resolved. Admission to problems will encourage an open dialogue to find solutions. Creativity works best because offering several suggestions to solve a problem will more likely find a good cure than just going down a familiar path. Most often, costs are attached to solutions. This is why multiple solutions should be sought so that the most cost-effective solution may be selected and implemented. Once the solution is selected, confirm all of the details involved such as who, what, when, where and why. Establish a timeline for completion. Be appreciative of the other person’s willingness to move forward. And as the implementation begins, be available to discuss any hiccups as well as satisfaction with the transformation of problem to solution. Upon resolving the problem, thank the other person again for the willingness to work with you. Be certain expectations were met and that satisfaction is high. Once you have this in place, you will be far more likely to receive repeat business, referrals and testimonials. You will have demonstrated a flexible personal brand and achieved the Smooth Sale!

How to Build My Resume

How to Build My ResumeMost people who want to build my resume try to write it themselves. While there are some good guides and programs available for this, I would suggest you do not use them. You can spend a lot of time trying to make your resume as impressive as possible and it won't look very professional. Here are some reasons why you should avoid using free online resume templates.When you use these programs, you will quickly find out that the resume templates do not help with the information on your resume. There is no real content to these programs. And they are not nearly as effective as they first appear.If you use free resume template software, you will not learn how to focus your resume and help you create a complete resume. Your resume will be terrible.In addition, if you use different templates, your resume will not be personalized. This is very important because a resume is going to be seen by many people. You need to show your personality and who you are, not what you did.An excellent way to build my resume is to write a resume that stands out. Yes, you can copy my resume. I have done this and I know it will not look as good as yours.If you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to look at things in a completely different way. Try not to fall into the trap of using templates to help you build your resume. Make sure you use free resume writing software to make your resume professional.The best way to start is to write your resume using free resume writing software. Do not use any free resume writing program to do this. It does not matter what program you use because you will soon realize it will not be as effective as you would like.If you want to learn how to write a perfect resume and create a resume that is more than just a resume template, then read my eBook titled 'How to Write a Resume That Stands Out.' This eBook will show you how to take a poorly written resume and turn it into an awesome resume. It is something you cannot afford to mi ss!

The Third Piece Rule what it means for the Cubicle Chic - Cubicle Chic

The Third Piece Rule what it means for the Cubicle Chic - Cubicle Chic The Third Piece Rule what it means for the Cubicle Chic Corporate Life, Office fashion, Outfits November 10, 2015 0 CommentsIf you have a corporate job and care about looking half decent when you’re at work, you probably face this challenge all too often getting dressed  in the morning:“Didn’t I just wear this last week?“With the confines of dressing professionally and appropriately, (let’s face it â€" if it was up to me I’d be rocking ripped jeans everyday) it’s not a walk in a park to always look polished presentable, at the same time showing creativity in your outfit creation. I try to solve the problem by sticking with basic neutrals that could go with everything else I own, so I don’t have to brainstorm (more like brain-hurricane) in the morning as I get ready. Still, a slight problem still exists, which is that I end up creating really similar outfits or just gravitating toward the same piece over and over again. There are 5 work days a week is about 260 work days a year. Who has that much time to create 260 differ ent looks?!This is where the Third Piece Rule comes in handy. In case you haven’t heard, the Third Piece Rule is the wardrobe philosophy that adding a “third piece”, whether be it a statement necklace (any bold accessories) or an outerwear like a vest or a blazer,  instantly makes the ensemble more elevated and interesting.    You can read all about it here.Here, I am using a statement necklace to add instant glam to this office outfit that is otherwise a bit lackluster.I did want to give a mention to the brand that makes this particular necklace I am wearing. It’s a Florida based company called Mirina Collections . They make a ton of these beautiful statement necklaces that are unique and obviously glamorous. I was offered a couple of pieces from their “Famous Necklace” collection at a discounted price to try out (about 50%), and in return they had asked me to give them a shout out on Instagram,  which I did. In my opinion the retail price for these necklaces is a bit s teep for the actual quality of the pieces (even though they claim to hand make all the pieces). But at the discounted price,  they were worth every penny. Would you like to see more of how I style these Mirina Collections necklaces? Let me know Top: Alice and Olivia (similar here) Necklace: “Jess” by Mirina Collections Bottom: Top Shop Leigh jeans Blazer: Top Shop Nicola Peplum Blazer (similar here)All Photography by Brianna Olsen

So You Want to Work for A Great Employer

So You Want to Work for A Great Employer One question that pops up again and again is, how can I find a good company to work for? Let me ask you this. How would you define a good company? The answer is as individual as you. But based on analysis of Glassdoors 5-star employers, HR technology reviewer Software Advice,  compiled some interesting data  (and supplied the terrific graphics) that may help you better assess your next move. Dont Discount Small Small companies top the list of 5-star ratings given by reviewers on Glassdoor. The problem with small companies is you probably dont hear about them as often. They are out there, you just need to find them. Software Advices analysis found that the 42% of Glassdoors 5-star rated companies had between 51-149 employees. So where do you find small companies? Why not try Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and visit your local library! Dont Discount New Companies founded around  2010 have something in common.  47% of the top-reviewed companies on Glassdoor were less than 5 years old! Just because a company hasnt been around forever, doesnt mean it isnt a good place to work. Whos Hiring? Another question Im frequently asked is, whos hiring? Every company hires. But if you look at the  industries that have been growing, that may provide an indication of where to find  opportunities. (This is a national trend. You may find that in your area, the trends could be a bit different.) Business Services and Information Technology are pretty sure bets for growth these days. As you can see, the majority (81%) of 5-star rated companies were from  these industries. If you arent a programmer, coder or sales geek, dont let these industries throw you off. Any company in any industry has a full range of job opportunities. If these arent industries you have prior experience with, learn all about how companies function- how do they service customers, how do they invoice/bill,  when new clients are added how does the company staff up and when clients leave, how is the workforce re-aligned? Learn about the specific services and technology each company offers and keep abreast of competitors and trends. Just because you dont have  experience in an industry, doesnt necessarily mean you arent qualified. What it means is that you have to develop an interest and learn the new language of the industry. Prioritize Your Preferences Think about  whats important to you right now, at this stage of your career. What do you need to feel satisfied with how you spend your 40+ hours a week? Listed below are common attributes, but certainly this list is not complete. You may have other desires/needs not mentioned. You should add them. Rank these in order of importance to you. Youll need this to help you weight your decision later on when you have multiple job offers. Benefits Compensation Hard work Intelligent co-workers Learning opportunities Meaningful work Professional development Supportive Management Team/Camaraderie Transparency Heres what the 5-star companies had going for them: Top-Listed Attributes of Five-Star Companies Honeymoon  Thinking? Could the high marks be attributed to the honeymoon phase of being in a new job? Perhaps. The majority of positive reviews came from people who had been with their company less than a year. This could also be skewed due to the demographic makeup of Glassdoor users. Dont dismiss the fact that almost the same percent (41%) of reviewers had been with the company a year or more. Reviewer’s Tenure at Current Company Pros Far Outweigh Cons Sure, even the best companies have flaws. But the most  of these employers dont need to change much.  The pain points, or areas that could be seen as needing a fix, included addressing growing pains, long hours, high pressure. Top-Listed Pain Points of Five-Star Companies Keep Doing What Youre Doing The majority of reviewers felt their company was on the right track and should continue to stay the course. This is good news for these companies, as long as they have really identified what theyve been doing to create an enviable workplace. Some may just have been winging it Whether by luck or on purpose, these 5-star companies have created something good! Culture, careful hiring and listening to employees are recommendations from employees to management, in case they needed reminding! Employees’ Advice to Management at Five-Star Companies New grad, career changer, or just looking for a new challenge? How will these findings change how you approach your job search? There is so much more to think about when selecting a new job! All images credited to Software Advice