How to Explore Your Career Choices

How to Explore Your Career ChoicesHow to Explore Your Career ChoicesCareer exploration is the second stage of the career planning process. During the first stage, a self-assessment, you learn about your personality, interests, aptitudes, and values. After using various tools to gather this information, you are left with a list of careers that are a good fit for someone with traits similar to yours. Although the careers on your list appear to be suitable, it does not mean you can just go ahead and randomly choose any one of them. There are other things to consider. Each occupation has characteristics that will make it a better idea to choose some over others. Since you can only have one career at a time, your goal, after learning about all the careers that might be a good fit for you, is to eventually have one remaining that is the BEST fit. Try not to eliminate any profession from your list until you do some research, even if you think you know something about it. You may be surprise d by what you learn when you dig for information. If you cross a career off your list because of some preconceived notion, you could end up eliminating one of your best options. Start With the Basics At first, you will just want to gather some basic information about each occupation on your list. Lets assume you have a list of ten careers. Before spending a lot of time on in-depth research, do some preliminary fact-finding that will allow you to narrow down your list. It will include looking at a job description andlabor market information, including job outlook, median salary and educational and training requirements. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a government agency, does a good job of presenting basic career information. Another useful resource is the O*Net Database, sponsored bytheUS Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration(USDOL/ETA) through a grant to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.You can also read individual career profilesor delve intocareers by field. After learning about all the occupations on your list, you will find that several of them dont appeal to you. It could be for a variety of reasons. For example, you may decide that you wouldnt enjoy the job duties of a particular occupation or that you cant or dont want to meet the educational and training requirements. The earnings may be lower than you thought they would be or the job outlook tells you that employment opportunities will be poor. After completing your preliminary research, you will be left with a list that contains between three and five careers on it. Delve Deeper After you narrow down your list of career choices, your research should become more involved. You will want to learn what working in the field is really like before you actually work in it. The best way to do this is to talk to people who do. Figure out who, in yourprofessional network, knows peoplewho work in the field or fields in w hich you are interested, or ask around to binnensee if any of them have contacts who do.Set up informational interviews with anyone who has experience working in the careers you are considering. Those whose experience is more recent make better subjects.See if any of those people are willing to let you shadow him or her on the job for a day or two.Consider doing an internshipto learn about a work field and get experience. After you complete your in-depth research, you should be able to determine which career is a good match for you. Try not to get too frustrated if you cant make a decision by this point. You may not have enough information yet. Continue to do more research until you can comfortably choose the ?best career for you.

Career Options for the Animal Health Field

Career Options for the Animal Health FieldCareer Options for the Animal Health FieldThere are many rewarding career options in the animal health industry that dont involve pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine. Here are a few popular career paths for those searching for an animal health career Animal Massage Therapist Animal massage therapists use hands-on massage techniques to relax muscles, increase circulation, and improve the animals overall sortiment of motion. Massage therapists must have detailed knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology, and some specialize in a specific species such as canine or equine massage therapy. Professional certification is available in the field. Practitioners usually charge patients by the visit, with fees normally ranging from $40 to $100 for each session. Equine Veterinary Technician Equine veterinary technicians assist equine veterinarians with performing exams and surgeries, restraining horses for procedures, and taking x-rays. Equi ne vet techs can work in an equine hospital or work as a ride-along assistant when the vet goes on farm calls. Equine vet techs can work long and variable hours depending on the schedule of the vet they are assisting and the time of year (for example, a reproductive vet will have many evening calls to assist foaling mares during the spring). Equine vet techs can expect to earn a salary in the range of $25,000 to $35,000 per year. Veterinary Surgical Technician Veterinary surgical technicians assist veterinarians with a variety of surgical procedures, operate surgical equipment, and perform pre-operative and post-operative care (such as surgical site preparation and bandaging). These specialists may achieve professional certification by passing an exam after logging 6,000 hours (3 years) of vet tech experience (with 4,500 hours of that experience consisting specifically of surgical work). Veterinary technician specialists often earn a salary of over $40,000 per year. Emergency and Critical Care Veterinary Technician Emergency and critical care veterinary technicians assist veterinarians with emergency treatments and surgeries. Emergency and critical care vet techs must be able to respond quickly to treat animals in life-threatening situations. They may achieve specialty certification if they can document 3 years of experience in the field, provide detailed case logs and case reports, and pass a certification exam. Depending on the specialty, vet tech specialists can earn anywhere from $35,000 to over $50,000 in salary. Although, its leid uncommon for emergency vet tech specialists to make over $40,000 per year. Those who have significant experience or choose to work night and weekend shifts may earn even higher salaries. Zoo Veterinary Technician Zoo veterinary technicians assist veterinarians with procedures performed on a wide variety of exotic animal species routinely kept in zoo collections. Duties may include surgical site preparation, taking s amples, running lab tests, and giving fluids or injections. Specialty certification is available to those who pass an exam after having completed 10,000 hours (5 years) of work, a skills checklist, and detailed case log. The salary for zoo vet techs is $30,000 to $45,000 according to Indeed.com. Pet Insurance Agent Pet insurance agents market health insurance policies to pet owners. Insurance agents advise owners on the variety of coverage options available (including mortality, surgery, and preventative care coverage). Most insurance positions are inside schlussverkauf jobs, with sales primarily completed over the phone or via the web. Agents must be licensed in their state of residence to sell property and casualty insurance before they can sell pet insurance plans. Compensation may include a base salary, commission, and bonus. The median salary for pet insurance agents is $46,770. Some agents can earn well over $60,000 per year according to Glassdoor.com. Veterinary Pharm aceutical Sales Rep Veterinary pharmaceutical sales representatives market medications and other animal health products to veterinary clinics. Both inside sales (office based) and outside sales (traveling) positions are possible. Competition is keen for these high paying positions, which often have additional benefits such as performance bonuses, commissions, paid travel expenses, and use of a company car. Total compensation can range from $40,000 to $70,000 per year. Wildlife Rehabilitator Wildlife rehabilitators provide treatment for injured wildlife and care for orphaned or abandoned young animals until they can be released back into the wild. Rehabilitators must be licensed by the state or federal government and obtain all necessary permits before beginning their career. Professional certification is also available. While many positions are part-time or volunteer-based, paying positions usually range from $25,000 to $35,000 per year. Animal Nutritionist Animal nutrition ists monitor the nutritional intake of the animals under their care to ensure that they receive a balanced diet. Nutritionists may be involved in education, research, or consulting. Salary usually ranges from $40,000 to $75,000 per year for animal nutritionists. Animal Behaviorist Animal behaviorists study how animals interact with each other and the environment. Behaviorists may choose to work in academia, conduct scientific research, or interact directly with animals for their training for behavioral modification purposes. Salary may vary widely based on the specialty the behaviorist works in, but a salary between $40,000 and $80,000 is possible.

Susan M. Heathfield - The Balance

Susan M. Heathfield - The BalanceSusan M. Heathfield - The Balance

Your Layoff, Your Brain How to Get Out of Your Own Way

Your Layoff, Your Brain How to Get Out of Your Own WayYour Layoff, Your Brain How to Get Out of Your Own WayTo combat the stress and anxiety that come along with unemployment, follow these tips from mental-health experts.Grace Barry did everything right.After being laid off from a high-level IT position at a government agency in December 2007, she got right to work at the job of finding a job.I didnt anticipate having a difficult time, said Barry. I knew that looking for a job was a full-time job, but Im very organized about it. I take advice. I went and rewrote my resume so that it was more achievement-based I read the books I signed up for Ladders I scoured the Internet and, at one time, I had more than 100 applications out there.Barry added that, through it all, she never stopped networking.The result of doing everything right for about seven months? One interview.Barry did receive an offer as a result of that July 2008 interview - but the job was in financial services, and the o ffer fell through when the industry collapsed.Looking for a job after being involuntarily let go from a position is difficult under any circumstances. In todays economy - with a national unemployment rate that recently topped 8 percent - a job search can be prolonged, and the effects can be even more pronounced on your body, mind and spirit.Its a big challenge to your capacity to adapt, just like a prolonged illness is a challenge or going through war is a challenge, said Michael Jolkovski PhD, a psychologist and psychoanalyst in Falls Church, Va., and principal at Working Through, a consultancy focused on helping creative teams work effectively together.When a rolle loses a job, he or she is likely to experience anger, stress, and feelings of anxiety and depression. Left unchecked, these feelings can become detrimental to a persons physical and mental health, hindering her ability to search effectively for a new job.In short, our natural responses may work against us.Anxiety trig gers a sense of alertnessIn itself, anxiety isnt a bad thing. Indeed, its a prime motivator when it comes to tackling challenges.People do have physiological changes when they get anxious - their fight-or-flight ordnungsprinzip gets going, and, biologically, through evolution, if we perceive a threat we need to fight it or run away or, in some cases, freeze and hope that it ignores us, said Kathryn J. Fraser, a psychiatrist and associate professor of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque. Unfortunately, the way our culture is, we dont have people to fight or to run away from. Weve got bigger, more nebulous things.Fraser - who has been medical director of the Continuing Care Clinic at the UNM Psychiatric Center for seven years and whose just-completed first novel, A Journey, a Reckoning and a Miracle, will be published in July - said physical responses to an involuntary job loss can include sleeplessness, tension leading to headaches and stom achaches, and panic attacks that generate myriad physical symptoms.Anxiety symptoms, like heightened senses, might be useful to propel us in the short term, but they can lead to depression if experienced over longer periods, Fraser said.If people get more into depression its partly because of whats called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, abbreviated as HPA, she said. It has to do with cortisol - thats a part of our endocrine system that gets going. This is very useful in short-term threatening situations, but with longer-term anxiety, like with losing a job, that kind of response predisposes people to depression.This can lead to a destructive Catch-22.If people are anxious and depressed and cant sleep, said Fraser, they might be less able to do the things they need to do to find another job or to at least keep their spirits high enough to feel good about other things that may be going on in their lives.Experts told Ladders that external support should be sought if these sym ptoms worsen or extend over time, or if feelings of hopelessness platzset in.We all feel stress - but the shift to anxiety or depression typically comes when you start to experience feelings of hopelessness, and some of the things you used to enjoy you no longer enjoy, said Kevin Skinner, who has a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy and is an author and radio-show host. And so you shift gears from, Im going to make it through this - I dont know the answer, but Im going to make it through this, to, I dont know if were going to make it. You need to have some anxiety - we all have some anxiety, said Justin Tobin, a psychotherapist in private practice in downtown Chicago. If we dont have any anxiety, then well never be able to meet any of our own goals. Its when we start to buy into the belief that theres only six months left - what if I dont find something? Those thoughts can push on the anxiety and make the anxiety uncontrollable.Mass depressionCoping with the feelings that go along with a job loss is challenging under any circumstances, but, as the economy continues to flounder and the news seems to go from bad to worse each day, job seekers find themselves dealing with negative group-think and perhaps even a mass depression.Jolkovski likened the current situation to the aftermath of 9/11. The analogy I would make is, after 9/11, we all saw that film loop of that horrible, horrible fireball. After a while, we needed to turn off the TV - wed seen that fireball enough.Fraser took the notion a step further, saying that too much exposure to television and the Internet - regardless of the program - can have mental as well as physical consequences.I think its important that people limit their time watching the TV, said Fraser. There are actual studies that show that too much TV goes along with increased depression. And part of it is, physically, people are just sitting there, watching something, and our bodies were not meant to do that. Again, back to evolu tionary psychology, we need to be out running around and doing physical exercise.In fact, experts told Ladders time and again that regular exercise and eating right are key to maintaining the healthy mind and body that will be required for an arduous job search.We all sweat from anxiety, said Elizabeth Friedman, a clinical psychologist in New York. It is way better to sweat from a good workout. There is all kinds of evidence that exercise releases all kinds of good stuff in your brain and makes you more positive.Indeed, people will have to work hard to overcome the repeated rejection that can come with an extended job search.The mind has to change to the concept of, Its going to take me a while to find a job, said Skinner, who also shares his expert advice at MyExpertSolution.com. Think Its not a matter of if, but a matter of when I get that new job. And until then, Im going to be hitting up against a lot of rejection. And we dont deal with rejection very well as human beings, espe cially when it has to do with our finances and being able to provide for our families.Jolkovski agreed.Its sort of like the entrepreneurs mentality, where people are doing something and the success is uncertain, he said. Just like certain salespeople - if they get a 1 percent response rate, then theyre doing well. They have to have the mentality to make 99 calls and say, Well, theres one more down, instead of saying, Oh, Ive been rejected 99 times. Creative thinkingThe experts also noted that job seekers would do well to employ some creative thinking. In todays market, your next job might not be the same as the one from which you were let go - in function, responsibility or pay. But that may have to be OK and, in some cases, can be a positive life change.Try and flip it around as an opportunity, Friedman said. There are jobs out there - not as many, but there are jobs. You could find something a little different, and thats cool. Change is growth. For many of us, change can be a v ery scary thing. For people who are very successful, change is usually a very positive challenge and, potentially, a very exciting thing. To do a job thats a tiny bit different or even a lot different - but within your skill set in any case - thats kind of nice.After her lone job offer fell through and nothing else hit despite her best efforts, Grace Barry decided it was time for something a lot different. She set out to build a consultancy of her own and began doing research and networking for the new business.During that process - and completely out of left field - she was recruited by a person she had gone to for advice and was hired for a position at his company.The position is actually in business development, and I had only been on the engineering side, and its certainly at quite a salary cut, said Barry of her new job. But Im working today, and Im very, very happy to be working. You always hear, Keep networking, keep networking - I never stopped networking. I never stopp ed doing what I was supposed to do. I did everything that I read about, everything I heard about. It was almost like an act of desperation got me someplace where I could interview for a job.Setting expectations is key to maintaining a sense of hope. It may take a while, but your journey wont be exactly like Grace Barrys, or any one persons. It will be your own, and reminding yourself that you are the one in control of the situation can be the key to keeping your composure.

How to Use Keywords to Make a Resume Recruiters Notice

How to Use Keywords to Make a Resume Recruiters NoticeHow to Use Keywords to Make a Resume Recruiters Notice Do you tailor your resume to match the job youre applying for? There are some compelling reasons that you should. You already tailor other things you write to a specific audience, (e.g., emails, term papers, brochures). Why should your resume be any different?Here are a few simple tips on how to write a resume and tailor it to a job description.A good place to start is by making a master list of your skills. But why make a master list if youre just going to take keywords from the job listing? The list helps you identify what kinds of job listings to target. Also, it will help you prioritize the skill keywords you will take from the job listing.So, think back on all of the jobs youve had and the skills youve learned over the years. As you add them to your list, put the ones you feel strongest about at the top. By putting your strongest skills at the top, you can see how close you are to being the perfect candidate when you select different job listings. For example, when your strongest skills line up with the skills the recruiter emphasizes in the job listing, theres a better chance youll get called in for an interview.If youre worried about whether a skill is relevant, add it anyhow. Its best to get it all on paper and save the cherry-picking for later.Carefully read the job listing and highlight any skills the employer mentions - behauptung are keywords. When a hiring manager first looks at your resume, they will scan it for these keywords. And they will only spend an average of six seconds trying to find them. That means that you need to put the fruchtwein important keywords at the top of your resume. Make other keywords eye-catching with embellishments like numbers and accomplishments.For example, lets say one of the requirements in the job listing is excellent customer service skills. Youve decided to add it to your experienc e section as a key responsibility from your last job. But dont just write responsible for handling customer service . Add some value Spearheaded a customer service initiative that saved the company over $50,000 and resulted in a 10 percent decrease in returns. Now the recruiter knows how excellent you are at customer service - $50,000 worthHeres a tip If youve ever cut costs or increased revenue, add that information. If youre not aya by how much, estimate. Just be sure that you can back up your estimation with proof.Try to find two to three other job listings similar to the one featuring the job youre applying for. Read through them and mark the skills listed. If you find skills that are common across these listings, theres a good chance theyre either mandatory or highly desirable for the job youre targeting.Next, take a trip over to LinkedIn and look at other professionals profiles. What skills do they list? How are they similar? If you see a pattern, youve figured out which skills are most likely relevant keywords for your resume.The rest of the keyword skills should fall into one of three categoriesJob-related skills are necessary for you to do the work at hand. They include things like knowing Java and Python or having the ability to operate a forklift. Chances are if you dont have most of the job-related skills, you cant do the work.Make sure these skills go in prominent places on your resume, like the summary or leading bullet points in your experience section. You want the hiring manager to check them off their must-have list as quickly as possible.Transferable skills are less important than the other types. They are basic skills that most people have because they carry them from one job to another. They include things like knowing how to create pivot tables in Microsoft Excel. Hiring managers welcome them on resumes but dont treat them as unique or extraordinary. What they can do for you is flesh out your resume and give you extra value. So , feature them in your skills section.Heres a tip Dont just write Microsoft Excel .Add the detail about the pivot tables Microsoft Excel, pivot tables .Adaptive skills are the most elusive. They are skills like dependability and assertiveness. Usually, they are self-taught survival skills that help us thrive in society. The very nature of these skills makes them difficult to measure and demonstrate. If possible, pair the ones you feel strongest about with accomplishments that illustrate them. Scatter them throughout your resume where appropriate.Dropping your tailored resume into a word generator like Wordle allows you to see which words you used the most. Cloud generators make words bigger when they are used mora often in a piece of text. Ignore small words like at or the and focus on the dominance of your keywords.If the most prominent words are not your keywords, you may want to rewrite your resume to increase the frequency with which you use those words. Adding more keywor ds will also improve the chances that your resume will pass an applicant tracking system (ATS) scan. If you need certain keywords to show up more frequently, add them to your skills or experience section.In an age where we are constantly bombarded and overwhelmed with information, you cant expect a hiring manager to pick up a generic resume and find it relevant. It is necessary to customize your resume to match both the job listing and a hiring managers expectations. Otherwise, you might just miss that golden opportunity.Natalie Severt is a writer at Uptowork . She writes about how to create successful resumes to help job seekers land their dream jobs. When she isnt writing, she eats tacos and reads complicated novels. You can find her on Twitter .This article was originally published on Grammarly . It is reprinted with permission.

The 30-Second Trick for Easy Resume Builder

The 30-Second Trick for Easy Resume Builder What the In-Crowd Wont Tell You About Easy Resume Builder Our resume builder wont bother you with any kind of annoying watermarks. Resumizer free resume creator allows you to preview your resume at any location in the creation approach. If you have a look at resume building as a step-by-step procedure, it is going to be much easier to do and elend as overwhelming. The process of producing a resume is quite straightforward and straight-forward. The freebie was made by Alamin Mir. You are able to import the simple information from social media such as Google, Facebook or Twitter. The application was made to collect all of the information that is needed for a work interview. It is possible to enter your social networking profile address for an extra point of contact. Theres no doubt that a resume which is both cohesive and professional will have a much better prospect of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. The resume creator will ask you to put in your information into the blanks offering a step-by-step strategy to writing. The tool supplies a detailed guide to resume building which provides you total control over it and youll be able to manage it in whatever way you enjoy. Key Pieces of Easy Resume Builder plattl a Word Processor Before you begin to work on your resume, you are going to need a word processor. You are able to download the resume template at no cost and can readily edit the template using Microsoft word. To begin, you have the choice to import your Word or LinkedIn resume. Yes, its correct, your Word version is a lot more attractive. There are lots of suggestions, tutorials and sample Resume available to become perfect idea for making your Resume. There are lots of professional resume template that can be found on the internet from which you are able to make out some idea about how to construct a professional curriculum vitae using best resume buil der websites. If youre not certain what information ought to be included filling in the blanks will steer you through the procedure together with our help and tips. ConnectCV is another exact efficient erreichbar resume building tool free of charge. Easy Resume Builder at a Glance The very first thing you ought to be aware of is that much enjoy a resume, a cover letter ought to be brief, easy, and simple to read. The freebie includes a PSD file and all the layers are named and grouped perfectly and simple to customize to satisfy your needs. A fundamental text editor free of charge, providing you a printable resume template. You also receive the choice to select a template from the bunch of beautiful resume templets out there. The Advantages of Easy Resume Builder Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that will allow you to get your fantasy job. The very last thing you desire is for your resume to let you down when youre actually the best suited pic k for the job. There is not any time for procrastination once it comes to getting your perfect job. When it has to do with your work history, begin with the latest job you had. The Ultimate Easy Resume Builder Trick Bellow youll find a CV sample, and precious suggestions for your job interview. If youre able to afford five minutes to create a perffectly tailored CV, than you can depend on huge impact that it is going to make on employer in regards to reviewing it. Before you choose to make an application for work, always make sure your CV is updated. You will need to keep in mind that you should create one resume for a single job only New Questions About Easy Resume Builder The point is to let you can boost your CV as much as you desire. Just sign up there, complete the details and your Resume is about to download. Whenever you get a new experience, add it. If youve got extensive experience, longer may be critical. The Honest to Goodness Truth on Easy Resume Builder En gineering CVs have quite straightforward format. Utilizing a resume template has turned into an acceptable and smart practice for several explanations.If youre eager to spend money in your job search, an expert letter template could be available for a fair fee from a writing or printing company. As an issue of fact, on an average, the majority of the recruiters do not start looking for at least 6 seconds at a resume. The work search may be a lengthy process just examine the statistics below Easy Resume Builder - Overview If you decide to click the links on our website, we might get compensation. Resume builder includes an immediate preview, and therefore you dont will need to save and refresh the page to see the way that it appears like. The website provides some helpful prewritten phrases you are able to use if you become stumped attempting to produce your own. It will tell you how many views your resume has.

Spark Hire and TRIS Launch Video Interviewing Integration

Spark Hire and TRIS Launch Video Interviewing IntegrationSpark Hire is excited to announce its partnership and video interviewing integration with TRIS (Total Recruitment Information System), recruitment software built by recruiters for recruiters. The integration allows TRIS customers to optimize their workflow by utilizing Spark Hires video interviewing solutions within their TRIS account. Recruitment agencies looking to grow must take advantage of this powerful integration to consistently develop strong candidate and client relationships that will help to ensure a consistent rise in revenue.At Spark Hire, we understand how hyper-competitive the recruitment industry can be which is why were so excited about what the Spark Hire and TRIS integration delivers for recruitment agencies, said Josh Tolan, CEO of Spark Hire. Our integration with TRIS is extremely intuitive and simple-to-use. It will give recruitment agencies the ability to enhance their recruiting strategies and bring thei r organizations to the next level so that they can come out on top of their competition.If youre interested in checking out the Spark Hire and TRIS integration or are an existing customer that wants to get set up, contact us today