Need a job but no career plan mapped out Try a Planned Happenstance approach University of Manchester Careers Blog

Need a job but no career plan mapped out Try a ‘Planned Happenstance’ approach University of Manchester Careers Blog If you’re in your final year and you’re not one of those people who already has a clear plan for what you’re going to do after June, then you probably have a nagging voice in your head that won’t go away asking you “what next?” A lot of people get stuck at this point in a circular and troubling thought process which goes something like this. “What should I do next year? Should I go travelling, try to get a job or do a postgrad course?” “OK, well what do I want to do for a career in the longer term? Perhaps that will help me decide.” “Hmm, no idea.” At this point, in my experience as a careers adviser, people usually do one of three things: Panic and opt to either take time out to go travelling or do a masters next year to buy themselves more time, because next year they will make a decision. Start madly applying for any and every job they see, because they feel they’ve left it a bit late and they just need to get something. Take a step back and start thinking about ‘the whole career thing’, look for ideas online and talk to friends, family and perhaps visit the Careers Service. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking I’m going to say that no. 3 is the right way to do it and that’s what you should be doing. Well OK you’re right, I would say that, but this post is more about how you can make the uncertain future less scary and still do positive things which will enhance your employability even when you’re not really sure what you want to do for a career in the longer term. There’s a theory of career which says it’s all about planning: you set yourself clear career goals and then you work towards them in a logical, orderly manner. But when you actually speak to people in different jobs and ask them how they got here, the ones who set out to achieve a particular career goal and had a clear and straight road through tend to be in the minority. Most people talk about how they just ‘fell into’ their jobs or how they got some work experience in x company and through that they met such-and-such at a conference and worked on a project for y which led to   z job. When I talk to students about the ‘higgledy-piggledy’ nature of many people’s career trajectories and how it’s OK not to have already nailed the whole career goal thing, I tend to get one of two different reactions. Those who are natural planners and need to have it all mapped out so they know exactly where they’re going to be and what they’re going to be doing every step of the way in 3 years find the   idea of an uncertain future just too scary. They need to feel in control and have a plan, and it’s frustrating for them to find that for a lot of jobs these days there just isn’t necessarily a clearly laid out ‘A leads to B which then leads to C’ sort of careers roadmap that they can follow with confidence. For some people though, this discovery is quite liberating and a real relief. They’d been looking enviously round at friends and course mates who seemed to have their futures all mapped out, while they still hadn’t ‘decided’ on a career and they felt inadequate and under pressure to come up with a definitive answer to that elusive question “What shall I do with my life?”. So if you can’t follow a clear ‘careers roadmap’, what’s the alternative? Well there is a career theory which says that instead of having a very rigid idea of what you want to achieve and how you might get there, you have some vague ideas and do some generally positive things in broadly the right direction and have confidence that if   you do that, things will happen. The theory is called ‘Planned Happenstance’. Let me get one thing straight. Planned happenstance is definitely not about sitting in your bedroom and waiting for ‘the right thing to show up’. It’s about actively doing things that are likely to open up opportunities for you. With a planned happenstance approach,   you acknowledge that you might not know exactly what kinds of opportunities the actions you are taking will ultimately lead to, but you feel confident that if you keep actively doing the right kind of things, great things can and will happen. A planned happenstance approach is particularly suited to career areas like media and creative industries which rely much more on   you making your own opportunities rather than following a clear, logical plan, although most people see elements of ‘happenstance’ playing a role in their career paths. There are 4 core steps to the Planned Happenstance approach, developed by Mitchell, Krumboltz and Levin: Clarify Ideas: Follow your curiosity and identify your interests Remove the Blocks: Wonder “how can I” rather than “I can’t because…” Expect the Unexpected: Be prepared for chance opportunities, such as unexpected phone calls, chance encounters, impromptu conversations and new experiences Take Action: Learn, develop skills, remain open and follow up on chance events Two books which may be of interest for anyone who wants to explore these ideas further are: The Unplanned Career: How to Turn Curiosity into Opportunity by Kathleen Mitchell, and Luck is No Accident: Making the Most of Happenstance in Your Life and career by Al Levin and John Krumboltz. All Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted employability

Does Monster Resume Writing Work?

Does Monster Resume Writing Work?As you know, a Monster resume can be a great tool in your job hunt, but how does monster resume writing really work? If you're hoping to land that perfect position, the skill of writing a good one is paramount. So what is monster resume writing and how does it work?Writing a resume is not an easy task. You have to be able to display not only your academic accomplishments but also your skills and work history in a way that will get you noticed. But what if you can't write a resume? That's when you need monster resume writing!What is a monster resume? This is a resume that will create a professional impression on your potential employer. A lot of people know what this entails, but they still don't realize how important it is. You need a stellar resume that showcases your work history, education, and professional experiences. The best way to accomplish this is by taking advantage of the services of a professional resume writer.Of course, getting a resume from a professional doesn't mean that you have to pay a professional to do it for you. You can do it yourself with the right tips and advice, but in order to be a good writer, you'll need to make sure that you learn what the right resume writing is all about. Just like in any other skill, it will take time and effort to build up your skills and knowledge, but once you've reached that point, you'll be surprised at how easy it is.First of all, in order to be a good writer, you must begin to learn how to write a resume by learning how to write a resume outline. In the end, this can save you a lot of time as you can eliminate the guesswork from choosing the best resume templates for your needs. It will also help you focus on the main points of your resume and not waste your time going over irrelevant details.After you've learned how to create an outline, you can move on to resume writing. Once you have a general idea of the resume, you can pick a template that will represent your skill s. The very first thing that you need to know is that there are different types of resumes, all of which will be written in different styles. However, it is still important to try to stick to the format that you would want to use when looking for a job. For example, if you would like to make a big impact on your job search, you may want to consider writing in an upbeat, confident manner.As you continue to read through your resume, be sure to highlight all of the qualities that you want employers to know about you. Look at your past jobs and job responsibilities and get rid of any that you may not have been happy with. Think about how your resume will improve upon those old jobs. Do you have any suggestions for new ideas or job experiences?As you work through your resume, keep your mind open and you should be able to move past any of the 'knock your resume out of the park' mentality. Remember that even the best resume is only as good as the person who wrote it. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to create the best resume you can, so get ready to do some work! And with the right professional help, you'll be able to turn your writing skills into a job search superpower!

Generation Y and Job Seeking - Pathfinder Careers

Generation Y and Job Seeking - Pathfinder Careers Generation Y and Job Seeking This weeks blogpost is generously provided by Bret Bernhoft, a Generation Y expert and public speaker addressing generational issues in the work place. For Generation Y, job seeking is certainly nothing like what their parents experienced. Today, the need to be Internet-savvy as well as have effective networking skills is even more imperative than ever. For Generation Y to stay competitive in an ever-tightening competitive job market, they must become more innovative and creative when hunting for available positions. Generation Y has to play a much more closely-managed game of cat and mouse in order to secure their future employment. As for many positions, credentials are important, including experience and education. However, despite their significance, credentials aren’t everything. It is the network of relationships a job seeker has that will ultimately ensure their success. Being a young workforce, Generation Y is competing in a world of well established partnerships and alliances, putting them at a certain disadvantage. Thus, a level of “hyper” or proactive networking must be undertaken by Generation Y in order to gain an upper hand. Generation Y can be defined, in part, by their emphasis on community development. It is through the use of these skills that developing a series of productive relationships can be created and maintained. Generation Y workers naturally pursue a sense of identity and purpose through their relationships, thus making the process of networking much less uncomfortable and not as much of a hassle. Attending regular networking events and connecting through online professional groups are two effective ways of developing a name as a viable candidate. Websites such as LinkedIn and Plaxo are two examples of such opportunities. Another successful strategy used by Generation Y job seekers is to become an expert in a certain field through online content creation. This would include the creation of a blog or a website that focuses on their area of expertise. Placing themselves in a position of reference, Generation Y’s ability to leverage any unique perspective or insight much more effectively creates a specific area of expertise. Companies are actively searching for fresh and exciting ways of thinking, giving even the simplest of blogs a very real purpose. No matter the strategy used, Generation Y must be able to articulate their value to a company and initiate the relationships to help secure employment. It is a very competitive job market these days. Without a plan of action, younger and less experienced job seekers could be left behind. Generation Y, unlike any generation prior, must use their advantages in technology knowledge and community-building in order to gain the upper hand.

Who wants to be a happiness engineer - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Who wants to be a happiness engineer - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Automattic (the people behind WordPress, Akismet and other cool projects) are looking for something they call a happiness engineer. Whats that all about? Happiness Engineer Our software and services are far from perfect, and when things go wrong people aren?t shy about contacting us asking for help. We consider the support side of the user experience to be vitally important because it?s the person who interacts with our customers most and makes the biggest impression in their time of need. In fact everyone who joins Automattic, regardless of position, does support for 3 weeks. The customers range from the everyday blogger to VIPs like CNN, Flickr, and People Magazine. The job requires: Patience and grace. Excellent writing skills. Working knowledge of WordPress, HTML, and CSS. Thats fantastic. First of all because of the title Happiness Engineer is a cool job title. Secondly for the admission that our software is far from perfect and that it?s the person who interacts with our customers most and makes the biggest impression in their time of need. Excellent point! Thirdly, Im crazy about the fact that everyone who joins Automattic, regardless of position, does support for 3 weeks. That is a great way to clue people in to what the company is really about and what the customers really think about them. And lastly, advertising for someone who has patience and grace is just nifty. This ad makes Automattic look cool, it makes them look like a fun workplace and it makes me like them all in one fell swoop. Pretty good for a job ad, huh? (Thx to Thomas Bo Christensen for telling me about this ad). Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Constructing a Resume That Sells You

Constructing a Resume That Sells You Some people think that resumes are nothing more than a list of your accomplishments, the jobs youve had, and the number of places youve worked. But, its not that easy to construct a resume that markets you to your prospective employer. A resume should be designed to sell you and your potential to an employer. That means that you have to make decisions about how to present your traits. A resume has to be like an advertisement, it needs to catch the readers eye and meet their particular needs. If youre applying for an accounting job, then you wouldnt need to showcase your creative writing talents on your resume. You would need to show that you have the skills required to perform the duties of the position at a high level. That doesnt mean putting everything youve ever done on your resume, it just means you have to understand your market and how to reach them. Make sure you put your best foot forward. Look over your work history and pick the selling points that best highlight your value. Depending on the position, you should highlight specific skills that you have. Deciding what makes the most unique selling points can be the hardest part of writing a resume. Here are five basic steps to help design a resume that markets your skills to employers: 1. Choose the most relevant information first. Focus on the skills and experience that are most important to the job youre applying for. You may have a whole range of skills, but focus on the ones that are most important for your particular employer. Even if youre qualified based on past experience, dont put all of your eggs in one basket. Instead, make sure that you focus on the skills that are going to set you apart from other potential employees. 2. Showcase the cutting edge, without too much emphasis on the outdated. More experienced workers should focus heavily on this. Any professional should continue to update their resume with new talents and show that they can adapt to new challenges. You may know the beginnings of C+ language, but it will help if you know Flash or Linux. 3. Tangible examples are best. Be specific as possible and use tangible evidence of improvements if you can. Just saying that you have an excellent track record of improving sales doesnt show much, you need to show actual figures. 4. Use multiple resumes to market yourself in a different manner. If youre applying for several different types of positions or in different industries, you need to have a resume suited to that profession. So create several different resumes that highlight your skills for that particular position. 5. Get a second opinion. This is perhaps the most important thing you can do. It can be hard to be objective about your career. Give your resume to a friend or a family member, or if you have someone in your industry â€" even better.

How to Make a Resume For College - What You Need to Know

How to Make a Resume For College - What You Need to KnowIf you're trying to make a resume for college, it's likely that you've been applying for jobs with the hope of securing a job. It's so common to use resumes nowadays, that many employers do have formal programs in place.The fact is that a college resumes is probably as many or more years in the future than a resume for work. How do you make a resume for college? A common question, the answer to which many don't even know the right answers.One of the easiest ways to think about making a resume for college is to imagine yourself applying for an entry-level position. You'll probably be required to send a resume, or at least a cover letter, along with your cover letter to a recruiter. It'll usually be something like this: 'Dear John, I'm sorry, but I won't be able to respond to your request for information at this time. Please do not contact me again.'The fact is that you'll probably have a job offer at some point before you graduat e. However, for now, you'll apply for a job, but the reality is that no employer is going to want to hire you unless you've got a job in the first place.Taking the time to make a resume for college is a very important step in building your resume. Simply sending out hundreds of resumes to job sites isn't going to get you anywhere fast. You need to carefully analyze each resume, identify key words and key phrases that are most likely to show up in your application, and write a cover letter that will appeal to the recruiter.A good way to think about it is that you're applying for a job that is filled several weeks from now. This isn'tyour everyday job, so any information that you can give that recruiter is valuable. Your college degree could mean the difference between getting that position or not.So there are many different things that you can do. It really depends on what you're applying for, the location of the company and whether you want to use your cover letter or resume to conv ince them to hire you.

Brief Article Teaches You the Ins and Outs of Writing a Resume for a Receptionist Position and What You Should Do Today

Brief Article Teaches You the Ins and Outs of Writing a Resume for a Receptionist Position and What You Should Do Today The most suitable cover letter can vault you past lots of different applicants and place your name on the surface of the list. To ensure you receive an interview to be a receptionist, you want to make certain that your application has a fantastic cover letter. In exactly the same way that you could reference resume samples, the next Medical Receptionist cover letter example will enable you to compose a cover letter which best highlights your experience and qualifications. Our completely free receptionist cover letter sample will help be sure you make a strong first impression and find a call back. Call for example to have the work title company offering extensive. For instance, if you are asking for a position in a health office, be certain to highlight your skills that are going to be utilized in that kind of setting like the customer support, phone or fili ng skills you've got. For greatest impact, you want to target your resume to coincide with the work offer. It is possible to write such resume by utilizing the ideas and example given above. Writing a Resume for a Receptionist Position Features Obviously, to find that job for a receptionist, you must begin with a great resume and cover letter. You will need a good resume, and our receptionist resume examples are an excellent place to get started. Conclusion To ensure it is simpler for your health care receptionist resume to get read, you are in need of a captivating career objective statement to begin it. If you intend to pursue a career on being a receptionist, you need to start off by writing your data in an ideal CV Format. Deciding what things to write in the expert experience section is frequently the most difficult facet of the resume writing process. A receptionist resume must prove you may keep an eye on dozens of customers efficiently and keep up a friendly attitu de. If this Medical Receptionist resume example was not sufficient for you, you're totally free to review several other samples and templates from our website. Tailor your resume to prove that you comprehend the essentials of the job and you can meet them. Hunting for employment may look like a daunting endeavor, but there are jobs as a receptionist waiting for you whether you know where, and more to the point how to look. A Medical Receptionist resume that's well organized, properly structured and full of relevant information will certainly get the approval of any possible employer. To be sure your receptionist cv improve your very own great resume. As a receptionist, you would like your skills to shine beforehand so that recruiters can observe the reason why they should pick you as their next receptionist. Resumes for medical receptionists with little if any experience will gain from aresume objective. Simply concentrate on skills and experience which you have that would be helpful as a receptionist.