Why it Doesn't Always Pay to Have a Five Year Plan

How many times have you been asked 'what's your five year plan'? Do you reply with enthusiasm, happy to explain in detail your life mapped out in intricate detail, or do you inwardly groan, and wonder why so many people are so concerned about planning way into the future instead of relishing the here and now, adapting to what the future brings? Planning can be an effective way to achieve goals and help motivate towards desired outcomes however the problem is, life isn't predictable, and the best plans in the world can't be guaranteed to succeed in getting what you want. Where are you left then? Despondent, feeling lost, and without the career you were expecting as a result from your five year plan.

Things don't always pan out as you'd want or expect.

Some jobs are guaranteed, right? Not the case. Nursing is one profession that is often seen to be a sure thing. 'We'll always need nurses'. That's probably what the student nurses in parts of the UK thought while doing their training during several years in the last decade. But, due to major financial cutbacks in the National Health Service, many completed their training with no job opportunities available to them. The situation was so dire, some were offered six months work, to gain experience, but with no pay! Some would have taken this opportunity and then used the experience to apply for positions requiring experience to work for private health companies. For many, working for six months without an income was just not financially available, and employment away from nursing was the only option. So you see, even a 'sure thing' my not be just that, and no amount of planning can make it so.

Click to read more ...

Never Offer to Fix Your Supervisor's Car

Although you may want to offer your services as often as you can in order to make management happy, there are certain things outside of the office you shouldn't engage in. You can be friendly to your coworkers, but there are several aspects of interpersonal relationships you should stay away from. Fixing your supervisor's car may seem like a good career choice as he or she may hold you in higher esteem afterward, but it could wind up blowing up in your face causing a great deal of drama.

1. Skills - While you may want to help to the best of your abilities, you may not have the skills to accomplish your goal. If you were a good mechanic that would have been your career choice and at this point fixing the car isn't such a big deal. However, you could be lacking important knowledge needed to fix the car if you don't have a background in auto-repair. Then you run the risk of causing more damage than there was initially. Your lack of skills could make for a very terrible situation and you could become responsible for anything that goes wrong. The ripples in the employment pool will begin to form into waves.

Click to read more ...

How to Use Facebook to Land a Job Interview

These days, employers and recruiters are using every means available to help make their hiring decisions -- which includes looking through resumes, of course, but also checking out social media sites. Before calling a candidate to set up an interview, most employers are going to do their due diligence, checking out the candidate on Facebook and ensuring there are no obvious "red flags." Of course, if your Facebook page is plastered with drunk, slovenly photos or crass content, you're probably not going to get that interview! As such, articles explaining what not to post on Facebook are a dime a dozen, and for perfectly good reason.

Here's a reality that does not receive nearly enough attention, though: While Facebook can absolutely hurt your career prospects, it can also help your career prospects. The answer, then, is not to remove your Facebook page altogether, or to turn your privacy settings on high. The answer is to use Facebook to enhance, promote, and brand yourself -- to present yourself as a job applicant of immense potential and appeal.

Click to read more ...

Bored at Work? Do This!

There are times when there is not enough work to fill the 9-5 work day. This can be a welcome break if the usual is to bogged down under more than you can handle, but if it regularly occurs, it can get very boring. If you find yourself in this situation and are regularly bored at work, do this:

Ask for more work

There may be other assignments or tasks that you can take on board and this can be a good way to win favour with those you'd like to impress.

Training

Not only fills the time but expands your knowledge, skills and abilities and may lead to involvement in more aspects of the companies practice and possible promotions.

Volunteer to help

Helping your colleagues can be a valuable networking tool. A helping hand offered when dearly needed is often appreciated and seldom forgotten. 

Click to read more ...

Why Are Accounting Jobs In Demand?

While many college graduates are having problems landing jobs, the one field that has a fairly good track record is accounting. In fact, graduates who have specialized in accounting have an easier time landing jobs than their peers who have other degrees. In addition, senior level accounting jobs are also increasing which leads many to wonder why accounting jobs are in such demand in a weak job market.

Regulations hold the key

There have been a number of regulations that lenders, insurance companies and anyone involved in hiring employees need to comply with to avoid paying substantial fees. Rules like Dodd-Frank, the Consumer Protection Act and the Affordable Care Act have all had an impact on companies all over the country.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is clamping down on companies reporting their reserves, properly evaluating their portfolios and monitoring positions. This means that the demand for financial analysts, auditors and public accounting specialists is on the rise and is expected to rise as regulators get more serious about pursuing violators.

Click to read more ...

Coping with New Job Anxiety

Starting a new job, and in particular, the first few days, can be nerve racking. Not knowing anyone, wondering what everyone is thinking of you, worried you will make stupid mistakes, not knowing what you are doing and maybe feeling like a fraud! All these negative thoughts can cast a dark cloud over what can be an exciting time, and quite possibly the start to a positive new chapter in your life.

So, how do you get to make the most of this new start, turning down the anxiety to a healthy, low adrenaline level, so as not to just muddle through the first few days in a blurry, stress-filled haze? 

Sleep.

Firstly, you need to give your body what it needs and avoid the stuff it doesn't. Make sure you are getting a good nights sleep, each night. Try and set a regular sleeping pattern that allows you to get enough sleep and wake refreshed and ready for the day. Sleep deprivation can lead to altered emotional states and paranoia and irritation can occur and make it more difficult for you to think rationally. 

Click to read more ...

How to Deal with Downtime as a Freelancer

If you work as a freelancer,  via an agency, as a temp worker, or are self-employed there will probably be times when the work isn't coming in and you have periods with no income. These times can be worrying, especially if relatively new to this style of working or if finances are tight.  

Manage Your Money 

It's essential to have a safety-net of cash that is easy access but not so easy as to be spent at a whim. Ideally, an amount of money equal to 3-6 months of usual out-goings should be enough to cover most situations, should they arise. Keep monthly outgoings to a minimum, to keep payments manageable during periods of no work. When you have worked and saved enough to provide a safety net, with extra savings you know you can safely spend purchase those extras you want with one off payments. This may feel difficult at first, to wait till you've saved before purchasing, but in time this pattern will be second nature, and has the added bonus of avoiding interest costs that are often added to monthly payments.     

Don't Panic. 

Click to read more ...

Employee Recognition--It Matters

Wouldn’t it be terrible to go to work and never hear a thank you? Unfortunately there are many of you reading this article that live that reality every day in your workplace. If you aren’t experiencing it now then you have most likely experienced this at one time or the other in your career. Recognizing employees seems to be at an all time low these days. This is a mistake if you want high performing employees or plan on keeping any of your staff for the long term.

According to Globalforce, a global provider for employee recognition, “fifty five percent of survey respondents said they would leave their jobs for a company that clearly recognized employees for their efforts." As an employer you may not be as concerned in today’s economy of losing your staff, however there is a bigger question; at what level are your employees performing if they are not feeling recognized or valuable? If employees are not happy then most likely it will affect their moods, customer service, inter-office relations and motivation as a whole. Consequently, recognizing your employees as a vital part of running an effective and successful company is a key role in any manager or administrator's job. 

Click to read more ...

Improve Employment Prospect with a Health Recruiter

Healthcare is a growing industry. Not just the nursing field, but all aspects of healthcare, including personal training and massage therapy.

But while there are thousands of jobs available, and the income outlook is good, there are also thousands more applicants competing for the same positions.

Because of the large number of people competing for these positions, sending resumes to HR and attending job fairs are seldom the best way to get noticed by potential employers.
 
If you are having trouble finding work, consider using a healthcare recruiter.

Healthcare recruiters work alone, or through a recruiting agency, to match qualified healthcare candidates with desirable jobs. In some ways, they do the work of the Human Resources department by screening and interviewing candidates. That screening includes handling resumes, background checks, and verifying each candidate’s education and credentials.

Click to read more ...

How to Lose Staff & Alienate Them!

It can be hard work to be a successfully horrible boss. No matter how hard you try, sometimes your staff may still have the audacity to enjoy their work and not be reduced to tears or hard drinking on a regular basis! Here are some surefire tips that will keep your staff in no doubt that they are here to work hard and make you and your company money, not to fulfill their desire to have a rewarding and enjoyable career and a healthy work/life balance:

Create draconian working conditions, that, while within the law, would make any Victorian workhouse governor proud.

Change their contracts. Change staff contracts on a regular basis to create insecurity and, if the staff kick up a fuss, tell them that their position is no longer economically viable, so the other option is to terminate their employment, and then offer them the new contract.

Enforce rigid working patterns. Don't allow any changes they request, say no to flexible hours, leaving early, or taking holidays outside the allotted periods.

Click to read more ...