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

How To Be A Better Accountant In 2020

As an accountant, it is your job to help others manage their finances and make sure that everything is going smoothly. Of course, being an accountant is not an easy job and some clients can be hard to handle at times, especially when they don’t follow your advice. Many accountants start their own firm and do quite well, while others could improve the way that they work to see some more profit.

Here, we are going to give you some of our tips to help you be a better accountant in 2020. Keep reading if you are an accountant or are thinking about following this career path.

Listen More

Our first tip for those who want to be better accountants in 2020 is to spend some more time listening to your clients. It is possible that you can make mistakes by neglecting to listen to them and understanding what they want for their money. While you are the one with the expertise that helps them manage their finances, they might not always want to do what you tell them. Try to listen carefully and understand their reasoning for choices before making your own.

Use Software

If you are not already using accountants software for your business, then you should invest in this right away. There are plenty of companies that have created software that can benefit your accountancy business and make you a better accountant. You can input all of the data into the program and make sure that nothing gets lost along the way. This can be especially useful if you have multiple clients and want to avoid any kind of confusion.

Brush Up On Skills

Another great tip that we have for those who want to be a better accountant in 2020 is to spend some time brushing up on your skills. If you qualified as an accountant many years ago then you might find that there are some opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge in this area. You might also find that there are changes in the way that taxes are filed and this is important. Make sure to read up on your field and take any extra classes that might help. You can take night classes or a quick training course and you will see the difference in no time.

Ask For Feedback

Finally, you should make sure to ask your clients for feedback if you want to be a better accountant in 2020. Feedback is something that is important in many different industries and in accountancy, it can help you to get things right next time. To do this, think about talking to some clients that you currently have and those that you had previously. If you can figure out what they liked and disliked about your service then you can make the necessary changes. This could be through a survey online or in person when you meet them for their next appointment.

Final Verdict

Being the best accountant that you can be is important, especially if you want your business to last for years. If you are hoping to improve your business and be a better accountant then you should try to follow some of the advice that we have given you in this article. Try to use accountancy software where you can and don’t forget to brush up on your skills. You should never be embarrassed about trying to be better at your job and your clients will appreciate it. Hopefully, you’ll have a booming accountancy business in 2020 and a great reputation.

4 Mind-Blowing Reasons To Choose A Career In Healthcare

Healthcare careers divide opinions. Everyone knows how valuable they are to society, and the work of all the individuals in healthcare jobs is unquestionably brilliant. However, many people don’t want to enter this career field because they’ve heard bad things. They think you work long hours, get hardly any pay, and you don’t have many holiday days.

While these things can sometimes be true, they neglect to mention the benefits of a career in healthcare. It can be far better than almost any other career out there - and here’s why:

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Jobs for life

Humans will always need healthcare. We will always need help when there’s a problem with our bodies, and we need professionals to provide advice. Some elements of AI or robotics may enter the field, but human workers will always remain. In this respect, a career in healthcare is a career for the future. You won’t need to worry about being let go, which provides you with some much-needed job security.

Room to grow

Speak to people in this industry, and you’ll quickly learn that there’s always room to improve. Doctors can undergo additional training to become surgeons or specialists. Nurses can get degrees that allow them to improve their job title and take on more work. If you look at the website for the University of Southern California, you’ll see that healthcare administration assistants can also advance their careers with degrees. Everyone has a chance to climb the ladder and improve their job position. Life is much better when you know that you can do something to get a better job. There are always opportunities in healthcare, which is what makes it such a brilliant career choice.

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Job diversity

In the last paragraph alone, you saw around three different job titles. The healthcare sector is massive. This means there are so many different jobs you can explore. People assume you have to be a doctor or a nurse. But, you can be a physical therapist, a researcher, an admin assistant, a record keeper, etc. You’ll struggle to find another sector that offers the same job diversity as the healthcare industry. In essence, there’s a role for everyone!

In-demand roles

People with the qualifications to get a job in healthcare will rarely have to wait a long time. In most scenarios, you go straight into work after gaining your qualifications. This is because these jobs are so in-demand. You see things on the news all the time about a lack of people in hospitals and other healthcare institutions. The world needs people like this, so your job search should be reasonably easy.

Healthcare careers are much more rewarding than some people will have you believe. Don’t neglect this sector if you’re looking for a new job. It’s especially suitable for students that want to know what degree to study. Find a healthcare degree, and you will be on a fast path to an excellent job. Despite what some people say, the pay in this sector can be excellent when you gain experience.

If You're Down With Digits These Careers Are For You

There are some people that can't make heads or tails of money, numbers, or anything in between. And then, there are the others. Numbers just make sense. They are logical, and there is an explanation to support all theories. They just get it. If you’re one of those people, then a career in math, science, or engineering can be for you.

Photo by Antoine Dautry on Unsplash

Here are some of the skills you likely have:

• A deep understanding of quantitive, abstract, and spatial relationships

• Ability to analyze, critique, and challenge your own work, and the work of others

• Identifying structures and patterns via observation of relationships

• Taking calculated risks

• Details and precision

• Patience—because sometimes not everything is visible and solutions take time and a lot of data

So if you are down with digits and a lover of numbers, there are a few career options for you. 

Mathematical Modeler

A mathematical modeler designs models to solve complex problems that are associated with objects and devices. A definition you will often see is "a representation in mathematical terms of the behavior of real devices and objects." Vahid Dabbaghian: What is Mathematical Modeling, pg. 3. In order to do the job, you are going to have to earn a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, or something similar. There are some options where you will need a master's degree and simply some experience instead. 

Data Scientist

There is an increased demand for people who can work wonders with data. A skilled data scientist will bring structure and make sense of these numbers. In general, you will find that most data science roles will require that you have a degree in computer science, mathematics, or in a specialist area like data science masters degrees. If you want to gain a competitive advantage, you can eventually opt for Ph.D.; top earners are reported to earn over $200,000 per year. 

Algorithms Engineer

Data structures and algorithms are the bread and butter to the development of every computer application. These types of engineers are employed throughout every sector. As an algorithm engineer, you would need a bachelor's degree in engineering, statistics, mathematics, or a related field. As well as a degree, it will pay for you to be well versed in multiple programming languages, and highly proficient in at least one. 

Software Engineer

Android and iOS engineers will develop new applications for mobile devices using several techniques. Software engineers code and create something that users can enjoy and is beneficial to businesses that they are associated with. Often a software engineer will have a degree in computer science, mathematics, or a related field.

Tips To Getting A Job So You Can Travel The World

There aren’t many jobs out there that enable you to travel the world, but if you’re looking for a career change, then getting a job that allows you to see all those beautiful places out there is certainly one that should be taken full advantage of. Here are some tips for getting a job so you can travel the world

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Figure Out What Jobs Include Travel

Firstly, when searching for a job, you want to think about what types of jobs will offer the opportunity to travel. Some may not have that opportunity until further down the line, and maybe some places restrict where you end up going. It could be that certain companies only operate within specific countries and so all this needs to be thought about when trying to figure out what it is you’d like to do.

As a few examples, becoming an air steward can bring you the best opportunities to see some amazing places. Again, it all depends on the airline you fly with, so make that decision with some consideration. You could also consider being a pilot, although you might want to consider going to one of the top aviation colleges in order to do that. Some wine sommeliers can go to some beautiful locations, and as a freelance chef or wedding planner, you might be picked out to travel the world, doing something that might not even feel like work. 

Be Prepared For Further Studying

When changing careers, it might be necessary to seek further studying. Especially when it comes to something completely different than what you’re doing now, a few jobs might take a little more than just skills and experience. Some may require actual qualifications, and that will mean a trip back to education.

Going from what might be a full-time career back to the lifestyle and financial aspects of an education may mean that you have a lot of considering to do whether this is something you can afford right now. You also need to think about whether you are mentally prepared for the thought of having to study and to make time for the lectures and all the potential coursework and exam prep that you have to do in the process. It’s not something you want to take likely because once you’ve agreed to it, you could be wasting a lot of money if you don’t end up passing or drop out of the course. 

Discuss It With Family And Friends

A big move when you have a family or friends to rely on is important to share with them, particularly if you live with a partner and you have children. Being outside of your country might have been easier when you were single, but now it might be more difficult. It might be a venture where you can bring along your partner or family, but if you’re constantly moving, then it’s good to discuss it with them.

It’s never too late to take advantage of an opportunity like traveling, but it’s important to remember that once you become responsible for someone else, they get a say in what happens too.

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Use The Internet

Starting a blog or recording videos for YouTube are somewhat new career paths. These entrepreneurs are making their own money from using the internet, and although a lot of other individuals will say it can be so easily done, it’s actually a lot more difficult than people think.

These influencers end up creating, editing, and promoting their content on a daily basis. Some do dedicate every waking moment to creating content for the internet, and that hard graft can end up making them a fortune, so much, so that they never really have to work again. So why not use the internet to your advantage, just others are doing. You could essentially travel the world and be able to have your blog or YouTube channel pay for it as long as you’re willing to work all hours to build it up.

Work On The Go

And finally, who says you need a permanent job when you can get flexible work and still travel the world as you so please?

A lot of individuals will do this during their gap year, but if you have no responsibilities or ties to anything, then you might find working on the go very rewarding. Pick a location to start off at and make sure you have some ideas or at least a solid starting point with your work. Of course, you might already have some savings, but ideally, you want to be able to keep saving while working alongside exploring that country. The more you want to see, the more you should be putting in the hours to earn money. Being able to travel the world without having to worry too much about set hours is pretty incredible.

Traveling the world is something that everyone needs to do, and when it comes to getting a job that does that, all you have to do is be willing to work hard and to put in the time to get there. Whether you train to be a pilot or make your millions on YouTube, there’s no wrong career choice when it allows you to see the world. There’s so much of the world out there to see, so why not take advantage of what’s available to you and grab it with both hands!

Is It Time To Switch To A More Rewarding Career?

If you struggle to get yourself going when it comes to working, chances are that you have may have lost your passion and enthusiasm for the job. Being happy and motivated in your career is important and can have a much wider impact on your overall health and happiness. If you find that the drive and love for what you do is not there, it may be time to consider other career options.

There is nothing wrong with switching careers. Many people may struggle with moving to a new line of work because they think that it reflects badly on them by making them look indecisive or not committed, or that they are poor decision-makers. This is not the case and many people who switch careers go to find the passion to thrust them towards better job opportunities while providing them greater emotional fulfillment and job satisfaction. 

If you are currently at a loss with your career and are thinking of ways that you can bring joy back to your working life, here is some food for thought. 

Careers That Benefit Others

For many people, there is nothing more rewarding than knowing that they are helping others. This may mean being there for them emotionally in their time of need. You may want to explore training to become a counselor or work on the helplines for a mental health charity. 

Physical health is another major area that a lot of people are drawn to because it is such a big area of life. You may want to explore several exciting openings in emergency medicine, get employment as a carer, or train as a nurse or a doctor

Teaching is another area that makes a difference in the lives of others. But teaching should not be restricted to just schools, colleges, and universities. There are many opportunities for you to take your skills and passions and share them with your local community and enhance their career prospects or quality of life as a result. 

Creative Career Choices

While it is considered to be low paying, creative industries are far from being somewhere that you won’t be able to earn a living. If you stop and think about all of the times in a day when you see an image, video, listen to music, or read or hear something, you will be shocked to realize that there must be a big creative industry behind that. 

From setting up your own online store selling artwork to working writing advertising copy for a corporation, there is a range of career options that will allow you to put your creative side on display and express yourself. For many people, having this creative outlet allows them to deal with lots of things in their life in a positive way, helping them to find their own happiness.