Wish you were there The truth about working abroad

Wish you were there The truth about working abroad by Michael Cheary So, the summer is upon us. The rain may have stopped, but you know it wont last, and youre starting to feel like theres so much more to life than staring out of the window and wishing you were somewhere else. Its time for a change So why not consider working abroad?It doesnt matter what stage of your career youre in, working overseas is always an option. We asked four people whove been there, done it and bought the novelty sombrero for their advice on taking the plunge and looking for jobs abroad:The TeacherDmitri worked in a school in Japan for a year teaching English.Why I did it: Ive always been interested in seeing Asia, and this seemed like a perfect opportunity.How I did it: I applied for a working holiday visa, which allowed me to work in the country for up to one year. I learnt some basic Japanese, and I was ready.Best things: Learning the language, making a differenceWorst things: Missing family and friends, children may make fun of you at first (lu ckily, youre in charge)Remember: Everyone loves an accent. (You might not think you have one, but trust me, youll be a hero).The ProfessionalCourtney is currently working for a recruitment company in DubaiWhy I did it: I really felt like I needed a change. After visiting Dubai on holiday, I decided I wanted to try living there full time.How I did it: After deciding that I could do it financially, I applied for a few jobs through reed.co.uk, interviewed for the position and got the job.Best things: The lifestyle, the beach, the property (prices are reasonable, and there are no tax limitations)Worst things: None so far (4 months and counting)Remember: Moving abroad gives you the chance to reinvent yourself, and be who you want to be. Oh, and also, get a tan.The Seasonal WorkerMatt worked for a season (around 6 months) in a Canadian ski resortWhy I did it: I wanted to travel, and love skiing, so I thought it would be a good fit.How I did it: I found a company where I could pay one fee, and be provided with a guaranteed job and a visa for the time I was there.Best things: Trying new things, being taken out of your comfort zone, almost a 6 month skiing holiday (meals, room, free ski/snowboard hire and lift passes included)Worst things: Pay isnt great, pretty cold, snow becomes a little dull when you have to shovel it every day.Remember: If you dont like it, you can always come home (or look for a beach job instead).The VolunteerJamie worked for one month as a sports coach in a village in Ghana.Why I did it: I wanted to get into coaching after University, and thought this would look great on my CV.How I did it: I found a company online which provides temporary placements for a range of different countries.Best things: Helping promote sport, the kids enthusiasm for the program, puts everything else into perspectiveWorst things: Can be expensive, becoming too attached to your host family/children, going homeRemember: There really is nothing more rewarding. If you dont go, youll never know.Of course, international opportunities are not limited to these areas. You could work anywhere and do anything, from fruit picking in Perth and working on a beach in Ibiza, through to working as a ski instructor in Italy or a conservationist in the Congo. The sky really is the limit.It can also be a great way to demonstrate your skills to potential employers when you return home. Increased confidence, communication skills, adaptability, self-reliance and additional language skills are all useful potential by-products of working abroad (not to mention life experience).So if youre looking for a change, and want a bit of freedom, what are you waiting for? It may sound like a clich, but it really can be a once in a lifetime experience.Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and ac knowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features

Find A Good Computer Technician Resume

Find A Good Computer Technician ResumeIf you want to find a good computer technician resume, then it is important that you find a quality writer. Many people are scared of the concept of writing their own resume. The truth is that you can easily write one yourself. In fact, it is easier than you might think.When you are looking for a job as a computer technician, you will want to make sure that you send in a resume. This is very easy to do. All you need to do is get an internet connection and get online.There are many different types of jobs that are available as a computer technician. These include all sorts of things such as data entry work, web designing, graphics design, computer repair, and even programming.The first thing that you need to know when you are trying to decide what specific type of work you want to do is what you want to specialize in. If you do not know this, then it is important that you get to know your specific wants and needs so that you can narrow down your r esume. After all, it is quite common for people to get hired by a company only to find out later that they do not have the skills they needed.Now, once you have found out what you want to do, you need to realize that there are many different types of companies that you can get hired with. You do not want to limit yourself to one company and keep doing the same job for them forever because this could get you fired.One of the best ways to see if you have what it takes to move on with your new job is to write a test resume. This way, you can see how the resume will look when you finally send it in. Also, it gives you the chance to make any modifications that you want to make to it.After you have sent it in, you will need to wait for your resume to be reviewed. Some companies will require that you wait until the middle of the next business day before they will accept it as well.After you submit your computer technician resume, you should send it in again. You will have to go back and re ad it several times and find out what types of things they are looking for, but this is something that you will have to do in order to get hired.

LinkedIn Where can I find other companies like this one University of Manchester Careers Blog

LinkedIn Where can I find other companies like this one University of Manchester Careers Blog Usually big names in an industry aren’t hard to find, whether it be Atkins for civil engineers, the BBC for journalists and broadcasters, or the Big Four in accounting. However, only 14% of graduates enter into graduate schemes with blue chip companies. There’s so much opportunity out there with smaller enterprises so its key that you know where to look for them. This is where LinkedIn can help. When looking at a company page, on the right hand side you can see ‘People also viewed’. This shows companies within the same sector. They may be large companies, or they may not, and clicking on companies even if you’ve never heard of them could lead you to a golden opportunity. You can also search for the role, sector or company type that you are interested in, for example the renewable energy sector. Then go to ‘more’ under the search bar and select ‘companies’. This will bring up all results and they may not be in order of largest to smallest. This may introduce you to companies you would never have known existed otherwise. LinkedIn can be an incredibly valuable tool in discovering exciting opportunities from companies of every shape and size. All Careers advice Graduate Graduate jobs LinkedIn networking Postgraduate Undergraduate advice applications Getting started job job hunting job search strategy jobs LinkedIn

My Psychic Career Coach

My Psychic Career Coach In my last post, I wrote about Toronto, Canada-based Ralph Hammelman, the founder of My Psychic Coach and a second-generation tarot reader. He offered me a free reading in exchange for an honest review of my experience. I classified myself to Ralph as “an open-minded skeptic.” I am a Midwesterner with both feet firmly on the ground.   Like many of you, I suspect that most phone psychics are charlatans. But I’m fascinated by the idea that the universe does hold answers, if we only knew how to access them. Ralph says that 90 percent of his clients are women; men just don’t seem to be as open to the idea of energy readings. That’s certainly the case, in my experience; one of my male friends said I was crazy for taking the offer. Another scoffed that he would never do anything “so ridiculous.” But how can I judge without giving it a try? So I scheduled my appointment electronically and spent some time thinking about a couple of options I have considered as part of my sideline consulting practice. Ralph is warm and easy to talk to. He listens carefully and asks good questions. So far, just like a conventional life coach. The only difference is when he stops to say, “let’s see what the cards have to say about this.” I can hear the sound of the cards being flipped and laid down. About the first option I discussed (in only the broadest terms), Ralph drew the Knight of Cups. Cups cards are about your emotional attachment to something, and the Knight of Cups can be interpreted as the arrival of something â€" an invitation, or perhaps a friend bringing money you didn’t expect. Not a bad sign. But then Ralph turned up   one of the cards of the Tarot’s Major Acana â€" archetype cards  which don’t belong with a suit (like Cups) and which are a major force to be taken quite seriously when appearing in divination. This card was The Devil. The original meaning of the card was about sin and temptation, of course, but Ralph interpreted it for me as a warning about choosing a path because it paid well, and not because I really cared about it. Reading on Option 1: there’s money to be made, but you will not feel fulfilled doing this work. For option #2, Ralph drew the 9 of Pentacles. According to a Tarot site, “when a Pentacles card appears in a reading, its message regards matters of economy, but also thoughts, study, plans anything abstract, present in the mind but not yet in ones hands.” The Nine of Pentacles is about prosperity â€" there is definitely money to be made in this option.  The seven of Pentacles also came up, which can be interpreted as needing time to think things through. Ralph thought there might be some missing pieces in my plan â€" gaps that might need to be filled. Reading on Option 2: Might take more time or something to fill in a gap, but this could be very lucrative. Option 3 was about writing; I have several book outlines, and I’m planning on starting work on one of them in earnest. Ralph’s card was the Hermit, a card he interpreted as telling him that writing would be very lonely for me. I’ll need to make sure I interact with people regularly, or I will not enjoy the writing process. For the record, as an extrovert, I know he’s right. Next, we talked about my career generally. Ralph drew The Fool, the poster child for living in the moment without caring what anyone else thinks. I’m thinking of making a career move that will change things dramatically, and Ralph’s interpretation was that I should go for what I want without concerning myself with others’ opinions. Ralph also drew the Chariot, which is about control (literally being in the driver’s seat.) It can be interpreted as personal success through achievement â€" reaching goals and glory. A great card for a transition. I also asked about a passion project I was thinking of writing, and the cards Ralph drew were very auspicious. First, the Queen of Wands: a card that indicates  a strong feminine energy. “You book will have large female appeal,” Ralph said. The Queen of Wands is sometimes associated with business success. Next, The Wheel of Fortune. According to a Tarot site, “The Wheel of Fortune card of the Tarot deck is a reminder of the unknowable, whenever it appears in a reading. Dont try to know everything in advance. Its not allowed.” Ralph told me to expect surprises on this path. The Ace of Cups and 2 of Cups also appeared. Cups are about emotions, and the Ace of Cups can be interpreted as “House of the true heart, joy, content, abode, nourishment, abundance, fertility; Holy Table, felicity hereof.” The 2 of Cups card shows a couple pledging to each other, and generally speaks to a harmonious relationship. “Love, passion, friendship, affinity, union, concord, sympathy, the interrelation of the sexes… Favorable in things of pleasure and business, as well as love; also wealth and honor.” That was the tipping point: my passion project idea is a cookbook with a working title of “Every Night is Date Night: How to nourish your partner and your relationship.” I’m not sure how the reading might change my path, but if the universe if talking, I’m willing to listen. You can find Ralph’s site here.

How to Write a Resume That Gets You Hired

How to Write a Resume That Gets You HiredHow to write a resume is one of the top questions that comes up for job seekers. The process has been refined over the years and you should definitely be able to answer this question without difficulty. Read on for some tips on writing a resume.As always, you should always ask for help if you need it. Even though you might be an expert at handling your business, there are situations in which you might not know how to handle something and asking for advice can help you come up with the best solution. Additionally, you will find that getting help is a great way to improve the skills that you already have.First of all, you need to set the tone for your resume. This is probably the most important part because it sets the tone for your entire experience with the company. Do not use a fancy tone when it comes to writing a resume because you do not want your resume to be laughed at. Instead, take a more professional tone so that when the interviewer reads your resume, they can see that you know what you are doing.Start by listing down the jobs that you have held in the past and list all of the accomplishments that you can think of. Don't worry about repeating yourself; rather, think of things that you have done that show what a great person you are. Keep everything factual so that your resume is accurate. Doing this will leave you with an impressive resume that shows a good degree of success.Finally, put in some personal touches to your resume. You should know how to write a resume but it is especially important to include something personal in your resume. If you know that your family has experienced an unfortunate tragedy, include that information so that your resume shows that you are not just a fly-by-night job seeker. Include any additional information that you feel is appropriate for your resume. The format is also an important point to keep in mind. The first few lines should be on the formal side, but as you move along the resume, you can list out the accomplishments that you have achieved. This helps keep the resume organized means that you have less clutter on your resume. The last few lines should highlight some of the positive aspects of your resume.The last thing to remember is to include a cover letter. This is a great opportunity to let people know how you can help them and why you are the right person for the job. It can also make your cover letter stand out and make you stand out from the rest of the applicants. Finally, put in a good first impression so that people will be sure to send in their resumes.These are the three tips on writing a resume that will get you started on getting the job you have applied for. Remember, there are no better feeling than getting the call the next day from a potential employer and knowing that you had a hand in getting that call. If you follow these three tips, you will get that feeling and then some.

Do You Have the Body Language to Win the Job

Do You Have the Body Language to Win the Job Do You Have the Body Language to Win the Job? Good for you! You got that job interview! But, watch it, your body can lose the job for you within the first few minutes. Don’t fight it. Accept it. You’re being watched as much as you are being heard in the interview process. Why? Because you’re not being interviewed for your skills, qualities and brain power alone. Hiring managers need to know how you will interact with the existing team, how you will appear in meetings or in front of customers, AND how you will interact with them if they hire you! The evaluation of your body language will start as soon as you walk into the companys lobby and continue until the interview is finished. If your non-verbal communication skills arent up to par, it wont matter how well you answer the questions. I’ve been interviewing, hiring, coaching and observing thousands of candidates for more than 30 years in sales and marketing, and I’ve identified 5 winning non-verbal actions: 1. Be happy: Hiring managers want to hire happy people. Only say positive things, even if you have had a less-than-positive experience in the past. Keep your emotions to yourself and do not show anger or frown. Smile! 2. Be present: Sit up, give a solid handshake, and make eye contact. Leaning back in your seat with your legs crossed at the knee sends a message you are too relaxed for an interview setting. 3. Be energetic: Lean forward a little towards the interviewer so you appear interested and engaged. On the other hand, keep your feet on the floor and your lower back against the back of the chair so you don’t look like you are lunging forward. Feel free to use hand gestures. My favorite is the 1-2-3. As you are giving three short answers to a question, make the 1-2-3 with your fingers as you are talking. After the 3 points, pause and smile. 4. Listen Attentively. When you sit down, put your portfolio on their desk to take notes, yet don’t take up too much of their space. Open up to a blank page with a pen ready. Don’t interrupt. Ever. Let them finish their full thought then pause another few seconds. Don’t jump on their last word with your message. If you don’t understand something, ask “can you re-phrase that, please?” Oh, in case it’s not clear, ALWAYS take notes. 5. Be calm: Yeah, right. You’re as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs and you need to relax? Try. Breathe. Smile. Not sure what to do with your hands? Hold a pen and your notepad or rest an arm on the chair or on your lap so you look comfortable. Keep your voice at a strong-yet-moderate level. I remember interviews where I’ve wanted to find the candidate’s “volume knob” to turn it down! How can you be energetic and calm at the same time? How do you make great eye contact without creeping them out? Is your handshake weak or bruising their joints? Practice your non-verbal skills in a mock interview with someone who will be direct with you. Interviews are your opportunity to shine and you should be well rehearsed, both what you will say and what your body language delivers. Got a specific challenge? Let me give you a hand; I’m ready to help! Dana

How You Too Can Achieve The Extraordinary

How You Too Can Achieve The Extraordinary Last week, my father was honored with the Franklin Institute Award, which, at 192 years, is the oldest award in science and technology in the US. He and seven others joined an illustrious list of past Laureates including Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, and Bill Gates. To-date, 117 Franklin Institute Laureates have gone on to win the Nobel Prize in their fields. As part of the award ceremony in Philadelphia, we watched brief video clips about each of the Laureates, including their groundbreaking work and the way they approached it. Not only was it wonderful to see and listen to these wise people â€" imagine Yoda from Star Wars â€" I was struck by the recurring themes in their stories. And in particular, how these could apply to us mere mortals as well. Six strategies that helped the Laureates succeed It obviously helps that these Laureates have towering intellects. But even for the rest of us, these six strategies can work beautifully. So having less than a genius IQ is no excuse! Here are the common themes from the stories of the Laureates’ success, and thoughts on how they can help you to achieve the extraordinary too. 1. Not stopping at “no” When these scientists were told it couldn’t be done, they came back at it from another route, not letting it stop them. Several had stories of being dismissed or even ridiculed by industry experts when they proposed their extraordinary ideas. While some ended up leaving to team up with people who were willing to take the risk, others stayed on and were able to change peoples’ minds. Either way, they eventually had to find a way to persuade others in order to achieve success (see strategy 2). Are you the one saying no to potentially great ideas that you haven’t taken the time to consider from all angles? And if you’re on the receiving end of the “no”, could you channel the confidence, resilience and grit of these scientists the next time conventional thinkers throw up obstacles that threaten to block you from achieving your vision? 2. Bringing others along Another common theme was the need to persuade others to support their work. That included recruiting people to work in their teams, getting approvals and funding, and keeping their organizations onside during the years it took to achieve those extraordinary outcomes. For Laureate Bill Barucki, his employer NASA was the only game in town. So when his boss at NASA told him everyone agreed his idea would never work, but that they would nonetheless form a special committee to investigate, Barucki had to find a way to bring them on board. He regrouped, pulled his team together, and gave his naysayers a special presentation: a full explanation of his plans, showing how the seemingly impossible could be accomplished, and demonstrating the impact the project would have on the success of the space program. By the end of the day, they became believers and joined his team. Whether you’re in a large organization or part of a startup, being able to get others on board and persuade them to back you and your idea is pivotal to extraordinary success. No one achieves extraordinary outcomes alone. In fact, the bigger your mission, the more you need others’ support. How are you developing your ability to communicate with a wide range of people in a way that influences and persuades them to support the bigger mission? What do you need to do to reframe your idea in a way that others are willing to support? 3. Not being bound by convention These Laureates are innovators, willing to take an unconventional route when necessary (and it’s almost always necessary). More than that, they tend to ask why something can’t be done differently and better. To quote one of the Laureates, Patrick Soon-Shiong, who is driving the “Moonshot” approach to overcoming cancer, “The status quo is never acceptable.” Indeed, even well-meaning people can get it wrong when they’re bound by convention and what they know. Sometimes they don’t understand what you’re proposing, or they see it from a different context, or it’s simply beyond their comfort zone. In fact, in large organizations, it’s easy to become “institutionalized” without realizing it. The constant pull of conformity that comes from being part of a bigger entity can blind us to new avenues and opportunities. Just when it’s the very thing we need in order to get to the next level of achievement as an organization. How do you resist the gravitational pull of conformity, convention, “group think” and maintaining the status quo so that you can help unleash the extraordinary? 4. Sticking with it In each case, it took years for the Laureate’s vision to come to fruition. And during those years, there were significant set backs such as people saying it couldn’t be done and even ridiculing them. For Laureate Bill Barucki, it took 24 years to get his Kepler Telescope into space â€" 16 years to get the final green light, and another nine to build and launch it into space. But the key to extraordinary success was that he stuck with it and completed his mission. When it comes to doing something amazing, Laureate Yale Patt pointed out that it’s more a marathon than a sprint. And when you finish a marathon you get a medal. As my father likes to say, “it’s about completion”, not how long it takes. Are you ready to stick with your mission for the long haul? 5. Pursuing your passion and beliefs Each and every one of the Laureates had a fundamental thirst for knowledge and discovery in their area of expertise. This helped sustain them through the inevitable ups and downs of doing something new and substantial. When it comes to choosing our work, it helps to be pursuing something we feel passionate about. Or at least to be able to frame it in a way that links to our values and beliefs. Where do you stand on this point? Are you pursuing something you believe in and living your values every day, or simply marking time? 6. Looking at the intersections For my father, the breakthrough in figuring out why arteries clog up at junctions (which increases the risk of heart attack) came from combining biology, medicine, and engineering. The solution could not have come from thinking about the problem in just one dimension.   Indeed, in so many fields we’ve gone as far as we can in the single ‘silo’ and the big insights will come from applying knowledge from multiple fields. How could this apply to your work? What can you port from one part of your life into another to create a new and better way of doing things? Or perhaps it’s collaborating with someone from another department or functional area to solve a gnarly problem by combining what you know (as in making 2+2 greater than 4)? Learn from the best I believe in learning from the best, and these Laureates are just that. In fact, they’re extraordinary. That’s why I’m sharing with you what I’ve learned from them. Armed with these strategies, I hope you will find it easier to achieve the extraordinary. And perhaps most impressive is how humble they are despite their achievements and contributions to society. This is something worth our learning as well. A special note on my Dad When it comes to my Dad, in the end, the Franklin Institute has simply recognized what I’ve known all along. My father is a role model for how to achieve the extraordinary. And it’s nothing flashy. From what I’ve observed, it’s simply staying on purpose and striving for excellence, one day at a time. What will you do? If you were to adopt even just one of these strategies, it will stand you in good stead. But most importantly, it’s about taking action. So, I’m wondering Which of these strategies stands out for you as one you want to put into action? Leave a comment below and let me know. For more ways to achieve greater success in your career and life, check out my book ACCELERATE: 9 Capabilities to Achieve Success at Any Career Stage, available on Amazon.