climbing the international career ladder and seeing the world

Today's post is written by first-time wannabe/employee guest writer Eileen Archer. Working abroad is such a current topic - thanks for charing Eileen!

Oftentimes, it’s difficult to see anyone other than an English teacher living abroad and doing what they love. It doesn’t necessarily have to be this profession. You just have to be well-prepared for the move. After a good few years of teaching in private academies abroad (yes I fit the stereotypical English Teacher) I changed my life around. I became a Writer for magazine articles and online publications, and have more ambitions aside, that involve more travelling. 

I used my experience in teaching English and new-found grammar ability to hone other skills, and gradually made a parallel move - a successful one at that. So for all of you in the same boat as me a few years ago, or even just with the thought of moving abroad and changing or developing your profession to change you and your life in some way, it’s much easier than you think. Remember, that first step on the ladder is your pathway to other greatness, and a way to see the world while you achieve that.

Widen your scope

You really need to take on more work, not just to make yourself invincible in the workplace but to increase your skillset. This is where you will become THE person the company will want to send abroad.

I was a Teacher of certain levels and certain classes. I soon changed that. I didn’t want to stay teaching the same bunch of kids for what felt like forever. So I taught adults and exam classes the following year. The year after that, I was able to get an even better job in a better academy.

Qualifications

Skills and practical ability and knowledge are all great. However, in this day and age, only a piece of paper, along with the ability of course, will make potential employers sit up and take notice. So whenever your boss offers you the chance to do some official training, jump on the idea. For example, if you really want to go international then learning a language might be a good idea.

I became an examiner as well as a teacher. My boss at the time gave me the opportunity to do this and other than adding to my skillset, it also brings me in some very good money on the side.

Looking up

It’s easy to get stuck in the same boring job for years, we all do it or have done it to some extent. The key is to remember your passion at all times: moving abroad and developing your career. Make sure that when your boss asks who would like to take on a project that involves travelling, that your hand is up first. Even if your future career plans don’t involve this current company, always make sure you have the travel experience that prospective employers will be looking for.

CV Sending

Before you send that top notch CV and covering letter, you have to remember that if you’re applying to live abroad, that you follow their rules when doing so. You’ll also need to remember to show your knowledge of other cultures and experience of living abroad. Employers will be impressed by this.

The way I first applied for jobs abroad was different to the way I do it now. The country I was working for required a photo attached to the CV. I had never heard of that before. My covering letter is now also dramatically different: I now know that a successful application includes your awareness of cultures and adaptability to living in another country.  I wish I knew all of this back then!

Do you have anything to add about having a career abroad?

Bio: Eileen Archer is currently a resident blogger and a chief writer at EssayPlanet.org. After obtaining a Masters in English language she decided to dedicate her time to creative writing as well as providing assistance to students. She spends her free time reading, writing poetry and studying for a PhD in an art-related field. 

breathe new life into your career

Today I am very excited to feature as guest writer in the Feb 2013 issue of CareerSeek e-Magazine. It has been a fun article to write and I hope that you all enjoy it!

It's so easy to get stuck in our careers, and very important that we make some adjsutments along the way to keep things fresh and interesting. So without further adue, please head on over to their cool e-mag and let me know your thoughts about this post - over here...

improving your career prospects while travelling

I'm very excited to feature a new guest writer, Ruth Hinds, all the way from the UK. More and more young professionals trade full-time positions for freelance agreements, allowing them to travel and juggle multiple roles at a time. Let's have a look at Ruth's top tips for travelling while keeping your career on track.

Travelling is something that many people aspire to do, and for a few lucky ones, it can become a reality. While you’re away though, how will you ensure that you continue to improve your career prospects? It can be a serious concern, and it’s certainly something that you should consider before you pack your suitcase and fly off to sunnier climes.

Take a look at these tips to point you in the right direction.

Seek out temporary jobs that will build your skills

Unless you’ve had a recent lottery win or you’ve done some very savvy saving, you probably need to work while you’re on the road. Traditional jobs for travellers include bar work and low-level roles, but lots of other opportunities are available if you’re willing to seek them out. If you think you’ll be looking for IT jobs in Cambridge when you return home, there’s no reason why you can’t search for similar temporary positions during your time away.

Write a blog about your experiences

Having a blog is a brilliant way to boost your career prospects. It shows off your writing skills, and it also shows dedication and initiative. No one is forcing you to write a blog, and as all bloggers know, it can be a difficult task to come up with fresh and exciting ideas for new posts. While you’re away, make a point of updating your blog each and every week. It’s a great way to document your memories, as well as having something to show off to future potential employers.

Consider freelancing on the move

Freelancing has become really popular in recent years, and the good news is that it’s remarkably easy to do while you’re travelling. Consider your skillset and think about what services you could offer on a flexible basis. It could be copywriting, admin, graphic design, and anything else in between. If you manage to secure some regular work that you can do on the move with just an internet connection, you can build a reliable income stream to fund your adventures, while also keeping your foot in the door of employment.

Learn some language skills

In the global business world, language skills are always valuable. Though you can learn a lot from books and tapes, there is nothing quite like immersing yourself in another country and picking up the language as you go along. It gives you the opportunity to practice every day, and it’s a fantastic addition to any CV.

With some forward planning and a bit of ambition, you could find that travelling actually improves your chances of finding work once you return home. How do you improve your CV while you’re exploring the world?

This article was brought to you by Ruth Hinds on behalf of AllTheTopBananas. ATTB allows you to search for and browse through UK jobs in one place, from engineer jobs to IT jobs. You can also upload your CV to increase your chances of being headhunted.

making the most out of your career choice

Please join me in welcoming our guest writer for today, Paul Taylor. I think this article is very relevant for modern-day professionals, seeing as you really need to put as much into your online presence and professional branding than what you put into your CV. Thanks for sharing Paul!

Although the market for your specific skills may be lacking, there are still plenty of ways to make the most out of your chosen career. You don't have to bind yourself to a specific commitment if you are able to expand in other areas. While you may have a degree under your belt, you shouldn't let it go to your head. There are millions of people out there who have degrees but are doing menial jobs in order to pay the bills. This doesn't make them any less of a person. The problem with most of them is the lack of motivation to keep putting as much effort as they can into what they want to do.

1. Locations - If the opportunities involving your specific career choice is limited in your locale, maybe it is time to move on. The world is larger than you may realize, and moving to a new location in order to practice your specific skills may be lucrative beyond your imagining. A fresh start in a new location could be the best thing for you in nearly every aspect of your life. It is a way to erase the proverbial slate and try things in a new way.

2. Freelance - While working those menial jobs in order to keep your lights on, offering your skills to those who need immediate help without hiring a full-time employee could have great benefits. Freelancing for businesses could give you the needed experience in your field to help your resume rise above others. In today's world, it's not enough to have a degree if you don't have experience to back it up in most cases. The more work experience you receive, the more your resume will shine.

Many people will offer their skills online using freelance assistance programs such as oDesk.com. This will connect you to a client who is in dire need of your specific education and skills to accomplish a task he or she may have. As this doesn't intrude in your regular full-time job, you can further your abilities by offering them online as a freelancer.

3. The Internet - For less than $140 per year, you can build your own website surrounding your chosen career path. From this website, you can offer a wide range of valuable information and promote yourself as a freelancer. It is a way to market yourself as a professional in your field and could also look good on a resume. This is completely aside from how you can monetize your website if it's built well enough.

You don't have to become a website designer in order to market yourself online, however. If you have a web designer build the site with Joomla or Wordpress, you could add your own content very easily. Even becoming a guest blogger on sites tailored to your specific career choice could emphasize your professionalism in your field. Tools like Google+ Authorship could open a variety of opportunities as others see you as a reliable source of information. Regardless of your method, it is all about proper marketing of yourself in order to make the most out of your career.

The market for your specific talents may be quite competitive. You may not get your foot in the door of your career choice until later in life. You shouldn't be discouraged by being held to a job that is of lower quality than what your goal is. As long as you keep vigilant about doing the best you can and keep an eye out for opportunities that better fit your choice career, you will eventually become what you are meant to be.

Paul Taylor started www.babysittingjobs.com which offers an aggregated look at those sites to help families find sitters and to help sitters find families easier than ever. He loves writing, with the help of his wife. He has contributed quality articles for different blogs & websites.

things you really don't need to mention on your CV

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you've had a super productive work week so far, and that you have wonderful plans for the weekend. But before you go, a quick career boost to end your work week on the right note.

For today's post I'll be sending you over to Junction.co.za, where I have contributed as guest writer for the first time. Most South Africans know that CareerJunction is the place where some of the country's most reputable employers advertise their vacancies, and the site also has a platform where you can find useful career related tips and articles on a daily basis. I was so stoked when they invited me to write an article for them.

I really enjoyed writing this post, and I'm sure these tips will be helpful if you would like to ensure that your CV is modern, relevant and to-the-point - have a look over here!

career enhancement tactics: work smarter

Welcome back to Zach Buckley who will be sharing some more of his career tips for young professionals today. Thanks Zach for your cool and relevant articles!

 

 

Many new-to-the-market job hunters naively assume that all they have to do dazzle recruiters is complete and submit an application. They think that, with these gleaming and well-filled-out applications, the hiring committees will immediately see their appropriateness for the positions. Anyone who has navigated the choppy waters of the job search market for a period of time knows just how wrong this assumption is. In truth, to really stand out you must apply yourself to building skills and honing your appropriateness for the position. In doing so, you can improve your chances of standing out to the hiring committee and increase the likelihood of outshining the competition.

Evaluate Your Expectations

Before you narrow your focus to only one job and target all your efforts toward obtaining a specific position, think critically about what you want to accomplish through the course of your business life. Make sure the career you want is directly aligned with these goals. Once you've decided what you'd like to be doing, delve deeper into what that job entails to ensure a sense of satisfaction once you obtain the position.

Get the Education

Regardless of how ideally suited you feel you may be for the career you've chosen, if you don’t have the education to recommend you for the position, you'll likely struggle to even get a foot in the door. Research the job you want to determine what education is required. Pick up additional certification, or consider working toward a master's degree. By doing this before you start actively seeking employment in the field, you can improve the chances of your application ending up on a hiring manager’s desk–not getting filed away in the trashcan.

Network

Sometimes job prospects have a lot to do with who you know, particularly if you seek employment in a hard-to-crack industry. As you work at networking, make a point of traveling to conferences and business gatherings where industry bigwigs will be in attendance. Dress the part when you go to these conferences to ensure your appearance as a consummate professional worthy of hiring. Follow up on these connections you build, using them to your advantage to improve career prospects.

Work Your Way Up

Particularly if the position you've set your sights on is an exceptionally prestigious one, walking into it off the street may be an entirely unrealistic expectation. Instead of setting yourself up for failure by turning down smaller jobs within the same industry and holding out for a higher-caliber one, be willing to start small and advance. By doing so, you can allow yourself to actively work toward the position you seek instead of cooling your heels and waiting for an opportunity that may well never come.

Obtaining your career goals won't be easy. To improve your chances, you'll need to do much more than simply fill out applications and hope for the best. Play a proactive role in your job search by actively pursuing appropriate tactics for career advancement.

 

Zach Buckley is a freelance writer based in the Midwest. He enjoys exploring developing trends in education, technology and culture.  When he isn’t reading or writing blogs, he enjoys sampling good music and good food. Follow him on Twitter! @Zach_buckley

 

preparing for a pre-employment background check

Today's post is written by guest writer Jane Smith (I wonder if she is related to Mr and Mrs Smith ☺). Many employers do background checks before offering a job to their favorite candidate, it may be a good idea to anticipate them and ensure that there isn't any dirt your potential employer will uncover in the process! Let's hear what Jane has to say about it all:

 

 

There are numerous aspects of the job search that invite worry and stress for a candidate. From writing up an embarrassingly shining review of yourself in cover letters to selling yourself unabashedly in interviews, there are plenty of things to stress over during your search.

 

Unemployment is a stressful time as it is, not to mention the increasing difficulty job-seekers are facing in today's economy. With so many things to worry about as it is, concern over background screenings shouldn't add to the equation. Pre-employment background screenings are typically used by employers in the final stages of their employment process. While the actual nature of the screening and check varies from one employer to the next, most include criminal background checks, a credit check, resume verification, and at times drug testing.

 

Failing a pre-employment background check can be extremely costly for a job candidate, potentially costing you the job. The best way to prepare for a pre-employment background screening is to educate yourself on the process and follow these few steps beforehand.

 

Double Check Your Resume

The first step to ensuring a successful background check from a potential employer is to check all the information carefully on your resume. You want to make sure that everything on your resume is absolutely accurate. Firstly, make sure your employment and education information is up-to-date. Double check dates, test scores, and grade point averages. It can be easy to accidentally put the wrong numbers or dates on your resume. While this may be an honest mistake, some employers may see it as you trying to lie about graduation dates or grades. Be sure to make sure all of your job reference information is updated and accurate. This allows your potential employer to easily get a hold of your references. Be up-front about things. Don't try to stretch dates or test scores to try to look better. Show yourself honestly on your resume.

 

Obtain a Credit Report

Obtaining a credit report for yourself is a fairly easy process. It's usually wise to obtain a credit report before going through the job process. Be sure to go to the official websites of all three of the major credit bureaus. It's pretty easy to find websites that will allow you to access a credit report online fairly easily. Look through your credit reports and search for any inaccurate items. Try to find anything that looks inaccurate before you go through the job search and employment process, so that you can have things taken care of before a pre-employment background check. Disputing any incorrect entries on your credit report is annoying, but is entirely doable. Include your reason for the dispute and any supporting proof you have concerning the matter.

 

Check Your Criminal and Auto Record

While this may seem scary and unnecessary at times, it's better to be aware of what employers might find rather than being caught off guard. Go to your local police station and ask for the procedures on obtaining a criminal history check. You can follow the instruction they give you (they may vary from city to city) and review the report. Take note of any items that you want to dispute, such as charges that were dropped, and ask an officer for the dispute methods. It's also smart to review your motor vehicle record is complete and accurate. Ask for a copy of your driving record from your state Department of Motor Vehicles. This item of a background check may not come up for every employment opportunity, but is something some employers look too. If you are seeking a job that involves driving of any sort, this is definitely an item employers will look in to.

 

 

Jane Smith is a freelance blogger and writer for www.backgroundcheck.org. She specializes in various types of information screenings, such as pre-employment background checks, criminal records, and much more. Email her your questions and comments at janesmith161@gmail.com.

 

courses every professional could benefit from taking

Happy Friday everyone! Hope your week has been great so far! Today I am happy to introduce another eager and motivated guest writer called Liz Becker. I love her post because I am a big fan of continuous education.

Every professional has an array of skills that are specific to whatever type of work is being done. There are also a core set of skills that can benefit any professional because of the common elements in nearly every work environment. These skills can be enhanced, refreshed or learned for the first time through a few simple college classes:

1. Communications

There are several varieties of communications classes available in colleges and universities. These classes can help professionals to learn the most effective ways to relay ideas or instructions to co-workers. Communications can cover speaking in public, writing or visual communication with charts and graphs.

Nearly every professional position involves daily communications between an employee and co-workers, management or clients. Ineffective communications skills can hinder a career and can generate confusion among co-workers and clients.

This type of class can become necessary when an individual rises to a level where large groups of people, the media or government committees must be addressed in concise and unambiguous ways.

2. Introduction To Business

Every professional from a pharmacy technician to a lawyer works within the framework of a business. There are various factors that can determine exactly how a business works and what contributions an individual is responsible for making towards the success of the company.

Understanding how businesses work can allow a professional to advance more readily through a familiar structure. Knowing basic terminologies, concepts and processes can give an individual the ability to more readily contribute to the business as a whole instead of filling only a niche position.

3. Computer Literacy

There are very few professionals who do not work with computers, mobile devices or some form of technology on a daily basis. Computer literacy classes are designed to give students an overview of how technology works and how the Internet functions. This can give a professional the extra skills that are necessary to become more efficient or to take on new responsibilities.

The can also be important for tech-savvy employees who have not kept up with changes in the computer industry. Learning how to use new programs, new web services and learning what techniques have fallen into disuse can all become valuable skills that can benefit nearly any career.

These classes are all introductory and can be taken at a variety of schools. Some people might even benefit from taking certain classes regularly every few years in or to remain current. Communicating effectively with others, understanding how an employer operates on a larger level and being able to efficiently use new technologies are all skills that can benefit any professional regardless of the industry.

Liz is a blogger, freelance writer and recent college graduate. She currently performs market research for an online marketing firm when she is not contributing her own thoughts and observations to the online community.

 

studying part-time while working

I recently started with a course in Corporate Coaching. It's my first attempt at doing a part-time online course while juggling work and home and husband and hobbies ☺. I managed to submit my first assignment a few days early - so far so good.

But studying while also working full-time is a huge commitment. It's challenging to get back into that discipline, especially when it's at the expense of your free time. I also started a new job recently, so I need to spend serious time on both my job and this course I'm doing. So unless I am doing this course for a reason, and stay extremely focused, odds are I will drop out or fail.

So here are a few tips and tools I found to help us stick to it!

• Tips for Juggling Work and Study (Nurse Uncut)
• Balancing Work and Studies (Unisa)
• Guide to Part-Time Study (Kent University)
• Studying Part-Time, Working Full-Time (True story of how it's changed this girl's life)
• CPD: Top Tips for Juggling Work with Studies (Accounting Web)

What really keeps me going is the fact that this course will add significantly to my skill set and career success. So if I need to work late some evenings or give up my Saturday for a few weeks, I'm doing it with purpose.

Any advice from those of you who have successfully mastered study/work/life balance??

tips for jugglig multiple jobs

Some of us do it because we need the extra cash, others do it because we want to build our careers into more than just a nine-to-five job. Whatever the reason, we see more and more professionals juggling multiple jobs at the same time.

But regardless your situation or the reason for having more than one job, it can still be tough to manage your time effectively and live a balanced life. Here are a few tips from the experts:

• Are you a slasher? 5 tips for juggling multiple jobs (CommPro.biz)
• Having more than one job (Mind Tools)
• Job jugglers on the tightrope (NY Times)
• Six career tips for job jugglers (Monster)
• Making multiple jobs work for you (Vault Careers)

Career blogging/coaching is a great second "job" for me because it adds to my Human Resources career, so most of the time it really doesn't feel like a job. I enjoy it so much that I don't mind investing extra time into it. Working for myself is rewarding in other ways, and in the end I feel more motivated every morning when I get ready for my day.

If you are juggling jobs at the moment, what are the things you like (or don't like) about it??

a young pro’s guide to working from home

Modern careers are different from traditional ones in so many ways, but perhaps the biggest difference is the way modern professionals are not necessarily bound to one office or desk or set of working hours. A lot of what we do can be done from the privacy of our homes if we have a decent laptop and Internet access.

Do any of you have jobs that allow you to work flexible hours or from the location of your choice? If you do, here are a few tips to keep your relationship with your employer in tip-top shape regardless of how often you see each other face to face:

• Know what is expected of you: Whether you work in or out of the office, not having a clear understanding of what you need to achieve and produce can cause a lot of ambiguity. Have a look at your job description or have a discussion with your supervisor to ensure you have are on the same page.
• Do more: If your employer allows you the flexibility of working on your own time and at your own home, be sure to show them that you are productive and proactive. If they can see it pays off they are sure to put their trust in your time management and see you as a professional.
• Get the gear: Be sure to have the equipment and connection you need to do your work without interruptions or technical problems. If you work from home it would usually be on the condition that you be available via phone or email during regular working hours.
• Designate your work space: Working from home can be very distracting if you try to do it in the kitchen or in front of the TV. Have a spot designated for work where you can focus and concentrate on your work.
• Create boundaries: (for yourself and those around you). Be sure to plan how much time you want to spend on work and try to stick to the plan. Also inform those close to you how much time you will need daily so they know not to interrupt you just because you're there. If it helps, close your personal email accounts when you need to get your head stuck into your work.
• Regular updates: Keeping in touch and providing others with regular updates is a powerful tool that helps maintain your work relationships despite the distance between you all.

Working from home can be very rewarding! In many cases it helps you to focus on projects until they are finished instead of wasting time because you need to hang around the office until 5pm. If done correctly, you can easily juggle multiple projects or jobs and grow your career at a faster pace.

Any stories on how working from home hasn't really worked for you?

how blogging has boosted my career

I wish I had started this career blog earlier. For years I have been reading other popular career blogs in order to stay current and stretch my knowledge. There were always so many handy tips to choose form, that if I read one post per week it made a difference in my performance and/or personal brand at work. 

But then I remembered that I enjoyed writing just as much as reading, I always have.

Many of my friends know that I work in HR and love asking me career related questions, and having a group of employees to service means I can see and hear first-hand what people are frustrated with in their careers. I always aim to help or advise, and so it hit me:  If I can help one person, why can't I help many? 

And then I just started! I asked a motivating mentor of mine for a few blogging tips and she allowed me to feature a guest post on her blog. I have loved every moment since! And even though it hasn't been that long, it has given my career a subtle (but powerful) boost in a few ways:

• Confidence - When someone gives positive feedback or I see someone sharing a post from my blog I know that the content is relevant and that people can relate. It's great to know that the things I am sharing are worth reading. Sharing your thoughts and getting people's feedback is a great way to measure your own progress.
• Snowball effect - Because I am more confident of my career knowledge and influence, it comes across when I network with other professionals. I get questions and interviews with people I would never have connected with otherwise.
• Career ownership - I no longer just have a day-job, I am an HR Professional with a Career Coaching blog on the side. I hold the steering wheel for this part of my career and I can decide the route I want to take with this project, whether it be speaking engagements or individual coaching sessions. So many new things are possible now...

My blog is still pretty new, so even though it hasn't landed me a new job at Forbes, I have discovered a whole community of career bloggers and I consider them all to be peers and mentors. Most of all, it adds a creative/fun aspect to my career that wasn't there before and I love every minute of it!