More Than Volunteering: Career Ideas For Those Who Care

Caring people love helping others without expecting anything in return, which is often why they volunteer in their spare time to help local charities and the wider community. While volunteering is a fantastic thing to do and can help in so many different ways, if you’re someone who wants to be able to help more than volunteering a few hours a week, then perhaps it’s time for a career change. 

The fact is that you can make a difference in your career, alongside your volunteering, if you are selective about the kind of job that you opt to do. For caring people, who are usually selfless and like to help others as much as they possibly can, a job that allows them to care more is a great step, because it means that even when they’re not able to volunteer, they’re still able to help others. 

The good news is that when it comes to finding a career that focuses on helping others, there are plenty of options to choose from. It’s just a case of finding the option that’s the best fit for your skills and experience, as well as your caring needs. 

Wondering what your options are? Check out the ideas below for some new ideas! 

Move into education 

A career in education allows you to impact individual people—as well as the wider community—in a very direct way. You have the opportunity to nurture your students and watch them grow and develop as a result of your help, assistance, and care. However, getting into teaching does require a number of degrees, certifications, and specialist training programs, so it may be a career move that takes a while to achieve. Yet if it will make you happy then it’s a worthwhile step to take. 

Become a carer or enter the nursing industry

Another option, if you’re someone who cares a lot, could be to consider moving into a career in professional caring. Believe it or not, most caring roles allow you to train on the job while undertaking a small number of outside courses, meaning that moving into a career in care is actually far easier than you would think. There are also some fantastic resources to getting to grips with what career opportunities are available for you in the care sector, such as websites like careasone.com, for instance. 

If you are interested in entering the medical field but do not want to spend a better part of a decade in school, exploring the nursing path. You can become an entry-level Licensed Practical Nurse in fewer than 12 months after high school. If you want to go a step further, you can become a Registered Nurse (RN) in fewer than three years with an associate’s degree from an accredited college.

Work for a charity 

Another option, if you want to make a difference, is to sign up to work for a charity. Charities don’t only need volunteers, but they also require a number of full-time staff to help manage various aspects of their day to day running, from their marketing to their accounting, and everything in between. So it’s always worth keeping an eye on charities job sections. Look for national charities and international charities to work with, as often smaller, local charities cannot afford paid staff. 

There you have it, a few ideas for ways in which you can make your career more caring and do more to help others while you work.

Playing To Your Strengths: How To Find The Right Job For You

One of the most interesting things about human beings is that we are all different. When it comes to career advice, it can be difficult to find golden nuggets that resonate with you or to stumble across articles that make you feel like the writer is talking directly to you. Honestly, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for finding the perfect job, and that is why it’s so beneficial to personalize your search. Here are some tips to help you find a role that is right for you. 

Figuring out what you want

The most important thing to think about when you’re looking for a new job or a career path is what you want to do. The average adult spends around 37 hours per week at work. This is a huge commitment, so it’s crucial to try and find a position that will make you happy and bring a level of contentment and satisfaction. Focus on your objectives and try not to be influenced by societal trends or demands or what other people think.

It’s common to hear people talking about going into fields and sectors because that’s what their parents did or wanted them to do. If you feel under pressure to make decisions that you don’t want to make, communication is key. You might feel like you’re doing the right thing by making other people happy, but your wellbeing should also come into play. You don’t want to end up with a job that makes you miserable to placate others. 

Understanding and recognizing your personality traits

We all have unique personalities, but often, the way we think and behave can be categorized or grouped according to dominant trends or traits. If you were to take the Enneagram test, you might find that you’re an analyst or a caregiver, for example. Finding out what kind of personality and character traits you have can be extremely useful in determining suitable career paths.

If you think about others often, you like to protect and look after people and you’re sociable and hard-working, a career in nursing or teaching may appeal. If you prefer your own space, you like to look at facts and you’re a thinker, you might err towards a career in research or engineering, for example. Ideally, you want to find a job that enables you to play to your strengths at the same time as minimizing the impact of or allowing you to address potential weaknesses. 

Research Potential Employers

The more you know about a potential employer, the better you’ll figure out whether you actually want to work for them. It gives you a better idea of what it’ll actually be like to work there. You could have a better picture of what your working environment will be like.

It’s worth looking them up before you apply to any of their open positions. The likes of Primerica reviews and employee reviews about similar companies can help with this. With how much it could help you find the right career and job for you, there’s no reason not to.

Implementing a plan

Once you have ideas about the kind of job you want, you can turn your attention to finding suitable roles and giving yourself the best chance of receiving employment offers. This includes trying to capture the attention of executive recruiters online, too, because you really want to show off what strengths you have and how you are strongly different from the competition. Start with practical concerns, for example, experience and qualifications.

If you haven't got the relevant skills or training, look for opportunities to undertake study and complete courses and apply to companies and organizations to get some experience. There are so many opportunities to gain new skills through online learning opportunities. A good way to find out what skills and qualifications you need is to look at job adverts and pick out any recurring requirements that keep appearing. If job ads are asking for a togaf certification, specific software experience, or similar, then this is a good starting point to start acquiring the skills you need for your dream career.

Update your resume, start searching for vacancies, and tailor applications to specific roles. It’s useful to set career goals, but don’t get too carried away with dates and milestones. It might take a while to get to the end, but as long as you’re moving in the right direction, that shouldn’t matter. 

We spend a huge amount of time at work, so it’s important to think carefully about finding the right job. Whether you’re changing careers, or you’re on the hunt for your first job, hopefully, this guide will point you in the right direction.

More than Salary: The Best Job Picks for Flexibility, Creativity, and Advancement

If you are looking to advance or completely change your career, there may be a myriad of reasons why you’re looking for something else, or there may be one that is more obvious than others: salary. The reason most of us go to our jobs most days out of the week is not merely because we enjoy going, although having a career you like is huge in making sure you are not just living for the weekend. 

Is salary the main thing you should be looking at when looking to change careers or are other aspects of a new job just as important? Perhaps you’re looking for a more flexible role where you can set your own schedule. A great example is Primerica where there are various roles available. Take a look at Primerica reviews.

Aspects of careers that you may want to consider before jumping ship at your current position include health and retirement benefits, bonuses and commissions, paid time off, flexibility, creative aspects, and last but not least, room for advancement in a position.

Some careers that pay well may not offer all of these benefits, so weighing these things depends on your individual lifestyle, what you value most, and how you think each of these will most greatly impact or change your current lifestyle. So, which career path might be a great option for you? 

We’ve compiled several jobs that fall into three categories of flexibility, creativity, and room for growth; each of these positions does not sacrifice salary, either. 

Careers with higher than average flexibility

• Statistician. This career is in high demand, offers some other aspects such as creativity, but its best benefit is the flexibility in scheduling. 

• Accountant. This career path has a lot of flexibility without sacrificing wages. Working remotely or creating your own schedule is a huge benefit. You can check out an average accounting career salary here.  

Jobs that offer creative aspects

• User Interface Designers. If you enjoy working with computers but want to seek something that requires creativity, a UI designer can be a fantastic career that also pays well. 

• Technical writers. While “technical” might be in the name, a technical writer requires you to be creative in multiple ways; the writing itself needs to convey an idea to various audiences, and it is up to the technical writer to make creative problem-solving decisions on how to approach a project. Creativity comes in many ways, with trouble-shooting requiring creative thinking. For a list of other positions great for problem solvers, check out Business Insiders list. 

• Entrepreneurs. When you go to business for yourself, you will work harder than you have ever worked before, but you will also be able to be incredibly creative as you form your business. 

Easiest careers to advance

• Tax manager. This position was recently quoted by CBS as having the best career advancement opportunity. 

• Communications manager. If accounting and finances are not your ideal cup of tea, consider something that has you interacting with people throughout the day to compile media reports, marketing materials, and press reports. 

When you are looking to advance your career, or completely change it, make a list of the things that you find are most important to you so that you can make a sound decision that is based on more than just the direct income. When you are deciding between two positions that are relatively similar, make sure to balance health benefits, paid leave, and retirement options. Don’t forget that you’re going to be spending around 40 hours at this job a week, so find a career that allows you to enjoy what you do. 

How Can You Learn To Make Better Career Decisions?

If you are unhappy in your career or you don’t like the company that you are working for, you may be thinking about making some big career moves. It might be that you are considering a complete career change or simply looking for similar positions at a different company.

In some cases, people are one hundred percent sure that they are making the right choice, but often, people have a lot of doubts about these big career decisions. A bad decision can have a big negative impact on your career and your life as a whole, so it is important that you always make sensible career decisions. But how exactly do you do that? These are some of the best ways to make better career decisions. 

Consider Your Priorities In Life 

When people are considering a career move, they often think about what they want out of a job, which is important, but you also need to consider your overall priorities in life. For example, if it is important for you to make a positive impact on the world, you need to start looking for a rewarding career that is more than just a way to make money.

If your family is the most important thing in the world to you, then you need to find a job that offers a good work-life balance so you can spend more time at home. By considering your overall priorities in life, you will get a clearer idea of what you want from a career. 

Take Advice Wherever You Can Get It 

This is so important because different people have their own perspective on your situation and they may offer insights that you haven’t even considered. Don’t try to make this decision on your own, speak to your friends and family members and see what they have to say.

You can also speak to a careers advisor or even get a free psychic reading if you believe in that. Take as much advice from as many different people as you can and you should be able to assess your options more effectively. However, it is important to remember that it is ultimately your decision and you should do what feels right for you. If you don’t agree with somebody’s advice, you don’t have to take it. 

Imagine Your Future Self 

When you are trying to decide whether a career move is right, don’t just think about the short term, consider your future self as well. If you have a long term career plan, is this move going to push you in the right direction?

How do you think your family life will change in 5 years and will this new job fit in well? Do you think that you will be happier a few years down the line if you stay where you are right now? When you imagine your future self, it helps you to build a clear picture of exactly how this career move is going to affect your life. 

Making big career decisions is always tough and there is always the chance that you will make the wrong choice. However, you can start making better career decisions if you follow these simple steps. 

Aiding Your Job Hunt

Recruitment agency assistance could be the missing ingredient from your job hunt and deciding to apply for and track down work through them could be one of the best decisions you make. We’ve all experienced those frustrating periods of waiting to hear back about a position we’ve applied for, or wondering where all the best jobs are hiding, why our CVs seem to always miss the mark. It’s a difficult process, but recruitment agencies exist to help you navigate through the labyrinthine maze of job hunting and to help you locate jobs and to advise you. 

Get Greater Exposure To Employers with Recruitment Agencies 

They say the world of business and employment is built on connections and that is because this often turns out to be the case. The broader a range of exposure you have as a candidate in a particular field, or across several depending on your skill set, the more likely employers are to check you out. If you wisely choose your recruitment agency then you can reap the benefits of having them send your credentials far and wide. Recruitment agencies have a large staff of consultants and advisors themselves, all of whom have their own personal networks that they can hook candidates up to. Being a good prospective candidate with a profile on a leading agency’s shortlist with your agency is a way to ensure employers will find you with a lot more ease. 

Giving your CV to recruitment agencies and adding it to job boards is a good way to make sure you are out there in the large world of job hunting and employment. Crafting your CV, keeping it updated, and doing your own job searching and having a clear idea of your ambitions and what you want from the recruiter is a good way you can assist them in assisting you. The better your skills and credentials are presented the more enthusiastically a consultant will suggest you to one of their clients. Your own efforts combined with the networking of a good work agency Stoke on Trent can be a winning team. 

Gain Connections And Relationships With Work Agencies

Remember that consultants from work agencies will keep you in mind if you have made a good impression on them. This being the case consultants can recommend you to clients and employers they have regular contact with even if you have not specifically looked into them or their company. They will do their research to make sure all companies are reputable. Still, it is worth having a law firm you can always count on should wage disputes or any other issues arise.

It is these connections and suggestions that are so very important in gaining the edge when looking for employment, so work agencies add these essential elements better than a solo job search. It never hurts to have that extra competitive edge and a good relationship with your recruiter is the best way to solidify this edge. Make sure you answer when they call or return calls promptly if you can’t avoid missing them; knowing you are eager and attentive will make consultants consider you among their top choices for offering to clients. Furthermore, your recruitment agency will take notice if you call them after interviews they have arranged and given them concise feedback. This will make it easier for them to assess where you’re at after an interview and discuss feedback with the client you interviewed with. A strong partnership with your recruiter sets the stage for stronger possibilities of being accepted by clients and employers.

7 Ways To Boost Your Career

One of the best things that you can do for yourself in life is to ensure that you are focused on your career. You are always going to find that you have certain struggles and that different areas of your life feel tough from time to time. And yes, in some cases, the source of that stress can come from your career.

However, you do also spend a lot of your time working. So, it’s safe to say that it’s nice to be able to get a lot of satisfaction out of your career. Not only do you often dedicate forty years of your life to something, but you spend forty plus hours there a week – and it can feel like a lifetime. So it’s nice to do something that you love.

Now, that can often seem easier said than done. It’s nice to know that you can do something that you love, but what if you’re not quite on track yet? Or what if you don’t even know where to start? If you’re studying for your master’s right now or you’re even thinking of a career change, then it’s time to get serious about your career and what you can do to help things take off. Let’s take a look at seven steps you can follow to boost your career and make sure that you get to where you want to be.

1. Set Goals

To begin with, the best thing that you can do for yourself is to set goals. Because if you know that you want to be a writer or a lawyer or a doctor or anything else, it’s going to take both time and work. And that means you need to be very clear about what you want to achieve. Creating goals can not only make sure your visions are clearer, but they can help you to hold yourself accountable for achieving them too.

2. Create A Plan

Now, you also need to make sure that you create a plan to go along with the goals. Because the goals are just the starting point. You then need to be able to map out exactly what steps you have to take to reach that goal. Ideally, this will be over a year long period, five-years, or even ten. Then, you know what you need to do first to get things underway.

3. Further Your Education

One of the first things on your list could be to study. If you are finishing college, you may not be able to go on to grad school to be able to move forward. And if you’re changing careers, it may be that you have to go back to school to retrain in the right field or even study online.

4. Nail Your Productivity

Now, something that is going to help you to get to where you want to be sooner than ever, is productivity. If you’re always putting things off, it’ll take you longer to get there. Whether this means you need to focus and get help with online study or you need a new system for work. It’s better to try and identify what’s slowing you down and minimize distractions so you can get to where you want to be.

5. Network Like Crazy

The next thing that you will find helps your career is networking. Never underestimate it. Meeting people and connecting can help your career grow in ways that it would not have done without it. It just means that you need to put yourself out there and see what kind of opportunities come your way. This can work both online and by going to different networking events too.

6. Create A Side Thing

It can also be a good idea to have something going on the side too. When it comes to getting into different industries, it can help to have a portfolio. When that’s the case, having a blog or a side hustle or hobby that you have can back up your reasoning for wanting to get a job or promotion.

7. Keep Going 

Now, nobody said this was going to be easy. That much is the case no matter what industry you’re in. So, when you know that you want to get to a certain place, you just have to keep going. That’s all it is. As long as you have grit and you’re willing to keep going, you can go for it. Keep your goals in your mind, work through your plan, and before you know it, you’ll be setting new goals to help you boost your career.

What To Do If You Lose Your Job

Being laid off or fired from your job is never a pleasant issue. The loss of a job is often emotional and even traumatic, especially if it comes as a surprise. Although finding oneself suddenly unemployed can be paralyzing, it is important to be proactive in taking steps to protect your professional and financial future.

Consider Consulting a Lawyer

As an employee, you have certain rights. Depending on the behavior of your former employer and the circumstances of your termination, you may be eligible for compensation. Wrongful dismissal lawyers can evaluate the circumstances of your case to determine whether you have the option of pursuing a settlement.

Leverage Your Network

When you start to consider your next job, reaching out to friends, acquaintances and colleagues will help you to identify professional opportunities and set up interviews. If you choose to use your job loss as an opportunity to explore a new industry, your contacts can help you to set up informational interviews or job shadowing opportunities. Your college's alumni network is another valuable resource. Go online or call the alumni office to find out how to get connected. Many colleges and universities offer networking events several times each year.

Evaluate Your Finances

Ideally, you would have enough money saved to cover your living expenses for several months in the event of a job loss or medical emergency. Depending on the current state of your finances, you may need to cut back on non-essential expenses, such as meals at restaurants, entertainment and vacations. If you keep a monthly budget, make sure to revise it to reflect your current situation. In the event that you are unable to cover even your essential expenses after losing your job, there is no shame in asking for help from family, friends or other resources.

Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile

If you were in the same position for several years prior to losing your job, your resume and LinkedIn profile may be out of date. Evaluate them and consider adding, deleting or rewording certain sections. If you have acquired any new skills or certifications or won any professional awards since the last time you edited your resume, make sure that they are included. Your goal is to impress potential employers and set up as many interviews as possible.

By following these steps, you should be able to weather the difficult situation of losing your job. If you were not satisfied with your career, you may even be able to use it as an opportunity to break into a new field. Good luck! 

Is It Practical to Chase Your Dream Job?

What did you want to be when you were younger?

Perhaps a friend or family member remembers. Maybe you’ve written it down somewhere, or you might even have lots of decorations and memories surrounding you that constantly remind you of what you wanted to be.

Did you ever reach that goal?

If you’re reading this, then the answer is likely a resounding no. But that’s perfectly fine. Most people don’t reach where they want to be in a few years. In fact, some people don’t ever get to chase their childhood dreams because it’s simply not practical.

But what if there was a practical way to chase your dream job? What if there were logical steps to take that would help you achieve your dream career? Would you still go for it?

It’s all about optimizing your time

For someone with a family and commitments, switching your career can seem like a pointless endeavor. You have responsibilities, after all, so you can’t be playing pretend or chasing something that isn’t guaranteed. However, modern technology has made it possible for us to study and learn new skills at our own pace. Be it online courses or audiobooks, there are lots of opportunities for us to acquire skills while working our current job.

So is it practical to chase your dream job? It can be, but it all depends on how you optimize your time!

Below, we’ve included an infographic about online nursing degrees that you can study in your own time while you’re still working. It’s a great way to advance yourself in a particular field without investing too heavily, and also one of the best ways to chase a dream job.

Design by: Carson-Newman University Online Nursing Programs