The Modern Guide to a Career Transition

The gammeln Guide to a Career TransitionThe Modern Guide to a Career TransitionThe Modern Guide to a Career TransitionChange can be a good thing.Looking to transition to a new career? Youre not alone. A growing number of people, especially millennials, are jumping into new careers. But that doesnt mean a career change isnt a difficult process, especially if youre trying to move to an industry where you dont have much, if any, experience. Before you make the switch to something new, do your research and follow these five steps.Land your dream job, with a professionally written resume.1. Consider your options.Before blindly jumping into something new, consider the why behind your actions are you unhappy with your current job and find the work unsatisfying? Is it simply the people you work with that are making you want something new? Take some time to reflect on your skills and interests to identify the work that would be the most enjoyable and rewarding for you. Look at your likes and dislikes, your talents, and your ideal work environment. You can also ask around and talk to other people who have moved on from a career similar to yours.Some industries lend themselves to an easier career transition than others, so look for connections you can build between your current work and what you hope to be doing. Theres a fine line between blindly following your dreams and starting completely over versus pivoting to a slightly related career where you can capitalize on much of your past experience consider the pros and cons to starting fresh or staying closer to home. Setting strong career goals can help you visualize what you really want and can be a guiding force through your career transition.2. Grow your network.The first step to a career change is to build a strong network of people in your current and desired industries. These people can serve as a sort of advisory board to provide advice and guidance for your new job search. Even more importantly, they can often connect you with hiring managers and point you in the direction of open positions. With relatively little experience in your new career, having someone who can vouch for you and open doors can be immeasurable.Look for additional ways to build your network by connecting with professional groups in person and online. These groups can help you learn more about the industry and whats going on and can connect you to a wide range of people who can provide connections, advice, or a friendly smile. Push yourself to get out there and attend networking events, ask for advice, and meet a variety of new people you never know who can connect you to your dream job.3. Learn the industry and build skills.Before jumping into something new, do your research and learn about how people work and talk in your new industry. Every industry has its own standard software and required skills. Is there a computer program you have to learn before you can even be considered for a job? Take the time to create a strong arsenal of competitive skills that will be vital to your new position.Thanks to the www and online courses, you can learn most skills, like coding and other software programs, fairly quickly and inexpensively. Getting certified or licensed in the right areas, such as earning your ACLS recertification or passing the CPA exam, can also help set you apart. Having these skills not only looks good on a resume and can get you past the initial screening, but is also vital to performing your job well and being prepared to make a difference in your new industry right away with little on-the-job training.You may also need to adjust how you communicate. If youre switching from marketing to finance, be prepared with the terminology and jargon youll encounter. Being able to talk the talk proves you understand the industry and helps you hit the ground running. Theres nothing worse than showing up for an interview or the first day on the job and not knowing what people are talking about. Re ad industry reports, talk to thought leaders, and peruse job postings to get an idea of the most commonly used terms and how you can incorporate them into your resume and vocabulary.4. Tweak your resume and cover letter.If youre competing for a job in a new industry with someone who has years of experience, youre likely already at a slight disadvantage. Your resume and cover letter can tell the story of who you are and what you can bring to a new organization. In general, you want to focus on the future by highlighting what you can bring to the company. Your previous experience and recognitions may be impressive, but with a career transition they need to be presented in a way that is understandable in your new industry and can tie the work youve already done with the new work you hope to do. For example, being the top salesperson at your old marketing job is impressive, but it doesnt translate well to the medical field. Use that experience to highlight your people skills and good me mory, both of which can be advantageous in a new position. You can also highlight similarities between your old company and the company youre applying with, such as the size, systems, or revenue.5. Prepare for the questions.Once you land an interview, youll inevitably be asked about your potential career change, so come prepared with answers. Have a strong response for why youre switching to a new career it could be because you want to challenge yourself, help people, or follow your dreams. Stay positive and show how passionate you are for the new industry. You will also likely be asked questions about your previous experience and how it translates to a new position. When this occurs, look for the similarities between your previous experience and your new job and focus on results, such as the number of people you managed, the amount of money you raised for a cause, an increase in revenue, or the amount you improved a program. Avoid using jargon from your old industry and put your a nswer in simple terms that utilize terminology from the new industry to showcase how your skills can transition to something new.A career transition can be a long and difficult process, but the payoff can be wonderful once you land a new position. Dont get discouraged through the job hunting process and try to let your passion show through. If all else fails, look for unpaid ways to get experience or expand your search to other similar industries. Soon you can join the ranks of employees in new and rewarding careers.Click on the following link for more advice on changing careers.Tell the career story for the job you want, with a professionally written resume.Recommended ReadingHow to Make a Career Change in 3 Easy StepsHow to Answer the Critical Question Why Should We Hire You?Career Changing Guide for Modern Job-Hoppers

Business Gift Etiquette Tips

Business Gift Etiquette TipsBusiness Gift Etiquette TipsGift-giving is a cherished tradition in sales. It ranges from freemiums- like getting a free toaster when you open a new checking account at your bank- to expensive gesundheitsgefhrdender stoff packages for your best corporate client. Unfortunately, the wrong gifts can get a careless salesperson into a lot of trouble. If youre a B2B salesperson, you should be aware of your clients corporate rules on accepting gifts. Most companies have certain limits as to the value of gifts that their employees can accept. You will usually be safe if you dont give corporate employees anything that costs mora than $25. If you feel the need to give something more impressive, ?making it a group present. For example, you could send an extravagant food basket for everyone in the Purchasing department to enjoy. When youre pricing gifts, stick to a value thats appropriate compared to how much your customer spent on your products or services. A custome r who bought $100 worth of products this year shouldnt receive a gift worth $200 or even $75. And never give any gifts to a prospect Even if you intend it simply as a kind gesture, your prospect will probably see it as a bribe- and so might her lawyer. For the same reason, dont give a gift to a customer who is in the middle of contract negotiations with your company. Adding a personal stich can give a small gift a much bigger impact. For example, if you hand-deliver your gift to your customers home or office instead of sending it in the mail, your gesture will give that present much more meaning. A card with a personal message and handwritten signature is more meaningful than a pre-printed card with a generic Thanks for being our customer message. As you get to know customers, keep notes about their preferences and use that information to choose just the right gift. On the other hand, if you dont know much about a customer, youre better off sticking with a generic gift than sending something that might be considered offensive. For example, sending a bottle of wine to a customer who is a recovering alcoholic will not be taken well. Common business gifts include calendars (especially at the end of the year), flowers or plants, food baskets, gift certificates, and charity donations in the recipients name. All of behauptung types of gifts are generally safe, although you might want to confirm food likes and dislikes before sending anything edible. Sending a basket of nuts to someone who is allergic to them, or a pack of gourmet sausages to a vegetarian can have unfortunate effects on your customer relationships. Be especially careful when choosing gifts for a customer located in a different country. A gift that seems perfectly benign to you might send exactly the wrong message from the viewpoint of a different culture. For example, in China, its inappropriate to wrap a gift in white wrapping paper for anything but a funeral- because the color white is associated with death in the Chinese culture. Again, when you are in doubt, stick with a generic gift such as a gift certificate for a major retailer. Many salespeople send gifts to mark certain events in the customer lifecycle when a customer first purchases from you, or on their one-year anniversary, etc. Its also appropriate to send gifts on the customers birthday or during the holidays. But you can stand out from the crowd by being a little more creative in your timing. For example, if you have a number of small business customers, you might send a card or gift on the anniversary of the day your customers company went into business.

How Far Back in Your Work History Should You Go Resume Writing Tips

How Far Back in Your Work History Should You Go Resume Writing TipsHow Far Back in Your Work History Should You Go Resume Writing TipsRecruiters now a days prefer 1 pager resume, candidates need to think how far back in work history should they go?But theres no right and wrong answer here. You can base it on how much job experience is required on the job you are applying for. But what if theres no work tenure requirement listed?We have gathered some valuable information from recruitment experts. Matthew Burr, HR expert says Generally, your employment history should have your belastung three positions. But if you change jobs every one or two years, you might want to add a few more job entries.Karen Bender, HR Consultant says Employers want to see enough history to understand the depth of a candidates experience. For experienced candidates, this doesnt mean you need to detail the early parts of your career, unless they are relevant and unique for some reason.Some recruiters think remov ing the oldest five to ten years of your employment history might raise a red flag. To avoid this, you can include earlier positions with just the job titles, company name, and employment duration. No need to elaborate about your achievements and responsibilities.