ways to boost your CV while looking for work

Today's guest post is written by Marie Warren and reminded me that we should never be passive in our career planning. Whether you are actively looking for a new position or not, it's always a good idea to keep your professional development alive and consider other ways of broadening your skill set and experience. Thanks for these great ideas Marie!

Recent economic instability has driven unemployment up, forcing a large number of workers to reconsider their prerogatives and qualifications as they look to maintain a strong profile even amid high unemployment statistics. This is a crucial way to remain active and involved during periods of unemployment and, if done right, boosting a CV while looking for work can actually lead to much better employment prospects and outcomes as economic conditions improve. There are a few crucial ways that a standard resumé can be made over, improved, and turned into something far more marketable for a wide range of employers.

Consider Volunteer Work

While it's true that volunteer work won't pay the bills, it will pay dividends for workers who are looking to polish their skills and network with like-minded professions. Whether it's volunteering as a party planner, as a musician, or even as the manager of a local organisation, these experiences make for great resumé boosters. Their volunteer nature will only elevate their stature, and the networking opportunities they afford could be the difference between landing a job or continuing as an unemployed worker.

Pursue Professional Development -- or a Career Change -- via Higher Education

Education is one of the key ways to stem the tide of rising unemployment numbers. Workers who are driven to head back to a university can pursue either a more advanced degree in their current field, making themselves a more desirable hire, or they can pursue an entirely new career via a different degree program entirely. Given the rise of things like high-tech jobs and so-called "green collar" jobs in eco-friendly industries, this is a great way to learn new skills, train for a changing workforce, and end a period of unemployment with a rewarding new career.

Turn a Hobby into a Profitable Position

The digital economy of the 21st century has made it possible for the entire workforce to be revolutionised in terms of where it's centred, who drives it, and which skills are most marketable. With wide proliferation of the Internet and an increasingly all-online marketplace, it's actually possible for unemployed professionals to turn one of their favourite hobbies into a marketable business. Whether that means writing for profit, producing and selling craft items, or even turning a love of fitness into a personal training enterprise, it's possible to defeat unemployment with personal interests.

Best of all, these opportunities are self-managed, leaving behind corporate structures and office settings. They can later boost a resumé and lead to a great position with companies who value self-starters, entrepreneurs, and proven managers of both time and resources.

Leverage the Power of Social Networking to Boost Marketability

Just over a decade ago, a resumé was largely a static, printed document, and nothing more. In the present decade, that could not be less true. The proliferation of social media websites like Twitter, Facebook, and especially LinkedIn, have digitised the resumé and taken applicant profiles firmly into the Internet age. If an unemployed professional is looking for nearby employment opportunities, one of the first things they should do is turn their resumé into a digital profile on a site like LinkedIn. Their skills will immediately be offered up to those in related industries, and networking will become a breeze.

That ability to network will introduce the unemployed worker to volunteer opportunities, local social groups, and even potential employers. As they build these relationships and compile new experiences, both their online and offline resumés will become more marketable and notable among those doing all of the hiring in today's rough economy. That means more potential positions and an easier time at interviews for connected professionals.

Seek an Apprenticeship to Boost Skills

One of the worst things an unemployed professional can do is to simply sit at home and let their skills "stagnate." Even as full-time positions become harder to find, there are plenty of apprenticeships available that can help teach new skills, keep existing ones fresh, and show employers that merely accepting the fate of unemployment was never an option. These positions give workers an added boost for their CVs upon seeking new employment and, perhaps best of all, they keep workers busy when they might otherwise find themselves stuck at home, searching endlessly for positions, and becoming quite miserable with their situation.

Lots of Great Ways to Keep a CV Competitive During Unemployment

A large number of unemployed workers view unemployment as a major setback, and something they'll find extremely difficult to recover from. That simply does not need to be the case. Instead of merely accepting unemployment as a setback, workers should remain proactive and view it as an opportunity: An opportunity to pursue additional education or a career change, to volunteer for local organisations, or to start their own business and boost their own skills. With the right attitude, and the right pursuit of CV-boosting opportunities, workers can enjoy only a brief period of unemployment before a new, and more rewarding, professional career.

Marie is a avid careers adviser and keen blogger who works for an online recruitment agency - recruitmentrevolution.com 

are you leaving the nest after graduation?

The academic year (in South Africa at least) has just ended and many graduates are excited about their career plans for the new year. But we all know that getting a job straight out of college/university isn't always that easy. If you just graduated, have you already lined up your first post-grad position? For those of us who have been in the work force for a while, can you remember how easy/hard it was to find that first job after graduating?

Here are some very interesting stats presented by CollegeAtHome.com  on recent grads considering the option to stay at home for a while after college:

how going back to school will advance your career

Welcome back to Liz Becker who's written a very cool guest post for us before. The topic of further education is such a trend at the moment, there must be some truth in the saying "you're never to old to learn".

In today’s competitive job market, many people are finding that going back to school can help to give them a leading edge when it comes to earning promotions and finding a new position in their career. While many people might consider the idea of going back to school, it is often difficult to determine if the extra work and expense will actually be worth it in the end. However, once someone begins to explore the idea of going back to school, they quickly discover that not only is it easier than ever to go back to school, but many companies also support their employees advancing their educations by offering financial incentives and opportunities for advancement.

Advantages of Going Back to School 

Deciding to pursue an advanced education can have many significant advantages. First, going back to school shows employers that a person has the initiative to set personal goals, place importance on an education, and that they care enough about their work to learn more about how to improve their skills. 

Gaining an advanced degree can also lead to promotions or a new job title. For people who feel that their career has begun to stagnate, an advanced degree or certificate can be a great way to jump start their drive to pursue new goals. Going back to school can also be a way to make a career move into a different field of work.

Finding the Right Degree Program 

Once a person has decided that they will go back to school, they will then need to find the right program to fit their needs. One of the best ways to find out what degree program is best is to look at the job qualifications for the career that they would like to pursue. For example, a nurse might look into completing a master’s degree program, while a computer technician might prefer to obtain an advanced certificate in a particular type of software.

How to Fit School into a Busy Schedule 

Most people who decide to go back to school will also need to continue working. Trying to juggle work and school can be made easier by exploring the programs that are offered by accredited online colleges and schools. These schools now have online courses that use the latest technology to offer students a flexible schedule. The new technology means that courses can now be delivered in a wide range of formats that can fit any student’s learning style.

Going back to school has become an essential part of advancing in one’s career. By earning an advanced degree, people can expect to gain promotions, higher salaries and professional recognition. Students who decide to pursue an advanced degree can now take advantage of the latest technology to find a degree program that will work with their busy schedule.

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

boosting your earning potential

Welcome back to guest blogger Liz Becker - we can all use a few tips on making changes in order to earn more. Thanks for sharing!

Although you are thankful to have a job, you would still like to boost your earning potential. Earning more money each year will mean you can put more into savings and have some left over for entertainment purposes. Whether you are new in your job field or have been working for several years, it is possible to boost your earning potential with a few strategies. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication to earn more income, but it can be done. Here are three tips for boosting your earning potential:

Go Back to School

One of the best ways to boost your earning potential is to go back to school. Whether it is a master degree or bachelor’s degree, more education can mean more money for you. Advanced degrees are usually required for most high earning positions like management positions anyway.

Don't Just Do the Bare Minimum At Work

If you want to get a promotion at work, you have to be willing to do more than just the bare minimum. For example, if you are working on a big project with some other co-workers, be willing to stay after work for a couple of hours to get more done. If your boss sees that you are doing more than just the bare minimum, he will be more likely to consider you for a promotion because you are a hard worker. Also, be willing to help a co-worker when she needs it.

Be Sure Your Boss Knows You Are Doing a Good Job

If you feel like your boss is not noticing the good job you are doing at work, be sure to tell him what you have been up to at work and what you have accomplished recently. If you talk about your accomplishments without bragging, your boss will give you more credit and possibly consider you for a promotion.

Following these tips can definitely help you boost your earning potential. Do not expect to be earning more next week, however. Boosting your income can take a lot of time, so you have to be patient. If you do everything it takes, you will start earning more money before you know it.


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

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.

 

you've graduated - now what??

Hooray for guest posts!! Today I have the pleasure of welcoming back Zach Buckley, who's written a guest post for wannabe|employee before.

For many college students, it can be difficult to see beyond the perceived end goal of graduation. When in college, however, it’s important to think about what lies beyond. If they fail to consider what they’ll do once they graduate, they may find themselves ill-equipped to handle the rigors of life after college. Whether the graduate in question trudged to campus every day or earned a degree through the completion of online classes, he’ll still face the same challenges post-graduation.

Acquiring a Job

The first challenge any new graduate faces is hunting down that elusive job offer. Venturing out into the job market with new degree in hand can be a daunting task. Often, graduates are left choosing between the position they want and the one they can acquire immediately. When beginning the search process, it’s important for recent graduates to set clear and achievable goals. While holding out for a dream job can be desirable, sometimes graduates must take jobs to make ends meet.

Graduates who settle for less-than-ideal jobs should keep in mind that this position doesn’t have to be one they hold for years. If they aren’t happy with their initial jobs they should still continue the job search while working at this starting job, continuing to strive for the career they’ve always dreamed of having.

Get a New Place

Whether the graduate lived with a roommate or stayed home with Mom and Dad through college, graduating often means calling a new place home. This can be difficult as the graduate often doesn’t have gainful employment to fund this new abode. As they prepare for graduation, students can make this transition easier for themselves by exploring new home options and saving up to finance this dream. If graduation arrives before the funds are saved, it may be beneficial to remain at home with parents or to live with a roommate while starting out in order to save the necessary capital.

Continued Education

When walking across the stage to pick up that degree, many college students --exhausted from years of study-- feel reluctant to head back to school. Doing so, however, is a wise choice, particularly in ever-changing technology industries. It behooves recent graduates to consider continuing their education, even though the prospect may appear less than desirable. By exploring online degree programs, recent college graduates can acquire information to enhance their understanding of concepts within their industries and pick up new credentials without making additional schooling a full-time endeavor.

Network for Advancement

After completion of a degree, the graduate’s attention should turn to the process of networking. By building relationships within the business community, the graduate can set himself up for career advancement. While even the most adept networking doesn’t ensure a job promotion, attending industry functions and rubbing elbows with movers and shakers is always helpful. Graduates can enhance their ability to network by joining professional societies in their field, as this gives them access to an array of activities and events that will be filled with individuals who work within the same industries.

Leaving behind the comfy cocoon of college can be equal parts scary and exhilarating. As graduates prepare to exit these halls of education, they can often assuage their fears by critically thinking about the steps that follow graduation. With careful exploration of the post-graduation process, former students can make the transition a seamless one and find their way more easily into the working world.

Zach Buckley is a freelance writer who is interested in exploring the intersection of culture, science and education. He lives in the Midwest and enjoys music, literature and good food.

not just 9-5: succeeding as a part-time sudent in a full-time world

I am very excited to share today's guest post, written by Zach Buckley! Zach is a freelance writer who is interested in exploring the intersection of culture, science and education. He lives in the Midwest and enjoys music, literature and good food.

You have graduated with that coveted undergraduate degree and are ready to start your career and 9-to-5 job. Or are you? As you get out there in the “real world,” you may discover a few things you have yet to learn about the work force. 

Once you land a job and begin building your reputation in your industry, you may also find that you actually need more education. Pursuing an education as a part-time student while maintaining your full-time career is not impossible, but it is challenging. Here are some tips that might make it a little more feasible: 

Choose Flexible Education Options. As a full time worker you are not going to be able to take classes the traditional way. That 8:00 a.m. first hour course at your local college campus is going to directly clash with the 8:30 meeting you have with a client. You need flexible education options.

• One option is to take night courses. This can work well for some students, especially if the campus is near your work location. However, this choice might keep you on a stricter schedule.
• A better option may be to take online classes. An online master’s degree program will offer much more flexibility than any on-campus program. In some programs, you may not have any set times to meet with fellow students, making your schedule much more accommodating.

Limit Social Activities. Each day only gives you 24 hours, so for the time you are pursuing your degree, you are going to need to limit your social activities.

• Completely eliminating them will likely cause you to go crazy, so learn to choose wisely. While you may not be able to attend every social event you are invited to, you need to attend a few for your own sanity. 
• Choose events with your closest friends or ones that provide the most benefit to you.

Plan Meals Carefully. While balancing career goals and educational requirements, you may feel tempted to grab fast food on the fly as you rush between work and school. 

• Avoid fast food whenever possible. The lack of nutrition will impact your ability to study, and you may blow your budget simply on dining out. Plan your meals ahead and aim for things that are quick, but nutrient packed.
• For instance, a salad with some grilled chicken on top doesn’t take long to create, yet it will give you nutrition needed to fuel a late-night study session. If possible, plan your meals each weekend so you have something ready to cook quickly. With a plan, you will be less tempted to grab food on the run.

Studying part time for your degree may take a little bit longer than it would for a full-time student, but in the end you will have more of the tools you need to succeed in your career, without taking any time off of work. Stay committed to furthering your education, even though it is challenging, and you may eventually reap the rewards.

Thanks so much for these tips Zach! I look forward to working with you again! ☺

taking my own career advice seriously

Over the past few months I have loved sharing tips and ideas regarding work-life balance, juggling multiple jobs and studying while working full-time. But I am coming to a place where I need to take some of my own advice in order to regain my work-life balance.

Until the end of June you will find me consulting with clients, studying and doing research after hours, while attending regular band practice sessions, spending quality time with my hubby and finding time to go to the gym. To avoid my own melt-down I will not be writing as many posts as I have for the past few months.

Wanna help me out?? 

I would like to give you the opportunity to write a guest post! I love featuring posts written by my readers! If you are a young working adult with some career advice to share, this is your big chance ☺

Topics I'm interested in:

• How you got the job you wanted
• How NOT to be consumed by a busy lifestyle
• Habits that may cost you your job
• Gap year stories
• Looking professional on a budget
• Or any other career related topic you may have on your mind for that matter!!

Word count? 600 words or less.

Please send your masterpieces to aWannabeEmployee (at) gmail (dot) com.

See you again real soon!!

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??

why you shouldn't stop learning after graduating

I really enjoyed my time at university. Even with the pressure of exams and intense assignments I used to feel so alive when I was studying!  I know reading and studying isn't everyone's cup of tea, but continuous learning can play a big part in your career success! Am I serious, you ask? Yes, here's why:

1. Showing that you are continuously improving your skill set shows initiative and self-discipline. What do ALL employers love? Initiative and self-discipline!!
2. Attending a workshop or seminar is an ideal opportunity to network and meet peers or experts in your industry.
3. If you are up to speed with current trends and breakthroughs in your industry, people around you will start referring to you as an expert on certain topics - serious boost for your personal brand!
4. If you read or study to grow your skill set you can improve your performance at work as you learn. Any employer will love seeing you apply new knowledge to the benefit of the company.

So some of us have the funds to do a new course or programme every few years, but what about those of us who don't? You may even still be paying off your student loan. Here are the cheap ways to keep up with the experts without paying for a academic qualification:

• BLOGS: You know it! There are blogs for almost every industry available online. If you have Internet access you can subscribe to regular blog posts and they'll be delivered straight to your inbox. No need to browse for hours, the information comes to you in short relevant chunks - for free!
• SEMINARS: I follow an HR company that regularly hosts networking breakfasts and seminars for minimal attendance fees. They often feature experts in our industry who share their knowledge and allow time for questions, and I am always motivated to grow after spending time with them even for one morning. 
• BOOKS: Books aren't expensive. Books are easily accessible. Books can even be more current than old school academic qualifications. Reading will distinguish you among your peers when you can make relevant and valuable contributions to a project at work.
• MENTORS: Do you have a mentor? This one one of the most powerful free tools to keep you learning at all times. If you do have one, see if you can schedule meetings at regular intervals and come with questions. If you don't have a mentor, here are some tips to help you find one.

Sure, reading books or attending seminars might cost you some of your free time, but it will pay off before you know it! You can also have a look at this post on extended learning beyond your campus years.

Any tips for juggling work and continuous education from my readers?

things you should know before starting your career

So, you are still in school and you want to be more than just another average employee someday? Here are a few things that can really affect your career in a negative way before it even starts!

Over confidence: Thinking that you know all you need to know and ignoring advice from people with actual job experience will cost you. Sure you want your independence and you are tired of being told what to do all the time, but being open to advice from experienced professionals will give you a serious boost in your career persuits. I wish I had started asking for advice (or reading career blogs) while I was still studying, I would have made much better career decisions in my early career.

Following the crowd: When choosing your career path or qualification, it's so easy to just do what everyone else is doing. Instead of doing some research and exploring your strengths, odds are you might want to follow your friends in their career dreams. Big no-no! Remember that you will be spending the majority of your life in the career path you choose, so make time to see guidance counsellors or visiting career fairs.

Waiting until it's too late: The earlier you can start asking questions about career choices the better. Even if you're still in school, ask your parents and their friends about their careers. Find out why they like their jobs (or not), and what an average day looks like for them. While studying it's also wise to try out some part-time jobs or job shadowing to give you a head-start. Stepping into your first full-time job with some experience behind you will definitely distinguish you from your inexperienced peers.

Rushing into things: Some of us really don't know very early in life what we want to do for the next 40 years. I was pretty clueless about which career path to choose because I have so many different interests. If you feel like this and it's at all possible, consider taking a gap-year to try different jobs or travel the world. Just because others know from age 5 what they want to do with their lives doesn't mean everyone else should.

For some more tips check out these posts: what I wish I knew before starting my first job AND what I wish I knew before entering the workforce.

smart ways to pay off your student loan

You completed your studies, you've landed your first job - congratulations!! But with all the excitement also comes the notion of getting rid of that student loan! So while you may be really excited about your first salary, a big part of it may be going towards your first bills, and your student loan could take forever to pay off - yikes!

Here are a few ideas that might just cut the time in half:

• Prioritize - Try to focus on private student loans first as they tend to have high interest rates and might take very long to pay off if you don't tackle it aggressively. Also try to cut down on luxuries even when you may be dazzled by your first real paycheck. The sooner you are debt-free the sooner you can start investing in other things, so distinguish between luxuries and necessities whenever you hit the shops..
• Stay calm - Before you even begin worrying about the mountain before you, remember that thousands of other first-timers have been in your position and it's not as impossible as it might seem. If others can successfully eliminate study loans, so can you!
• Keep track - Be sure to keep correspondence and statements, and set goals for how much you would like to pay off each year. Work out a budget to keep you from overspending on other things - it's NEVER too early to start using a budget.
• Communicate - If you ever struggle to keep up with payments try swallowing your pride and giving your lender a call. Instead of disappearing off the face off the earth and ending up blacklisted, own up and see if there are alternative arrangements or extensions available.
• Synchronize - If you tend to forget to make payments, why not set monthly reminders or schedule automatic deductions from your bank account?
• Big bursts - If you can afford to pay bigger installments, do it! You'll save lots of interest and cover the whole amount much sooner. Any additional income you receive during the year can also go straight to your loan in order to speed up the process as much as possible.
• Eyes on the prize - Remember your goals. As soon as you've paid off your debt you can start investing in other things. Regardless of what your goals are, set some sort of reward for yourself to keep you motivated until you make your last payment.

Self discipline and patience are crucial skills you will need to learn during the process so remember to keep your eyes on the prize. You can also have a look at this post where college grads share their student loan horror stories!

getting that promotion

You know it - it's a new year and we all have a new opportunity to show what we're worth! Depending on the type of company you work for, great performance is one of the best ways to get a promotion or raise.

I have selected a few posts to get you motivated:

• How to get promoted: 9 obvious and often not practiced tips (by Career Success for Newbies)
• How not to get a promotion at work (by Double Journey)
• Moving up the ladder: 10 strategies for getting yourself promoted (by Quint Careers)
• Why you're not getting promoted (by CNN Living)
• Video Clip: How to get promoted (by VideoJug)
• Career Advice: How to get promoted (by CBS)

Having some performance goals for the new year will help you steer your actions into the right direction, so put on your thinking caps and write them down. Your manager will be quick to notice your focus and efforts so let's hope it pays off!

Enjoy your week everyone!

doing what you do best at work everyday?

One of the items measuring employee engagement in the Gallup Q12 survey reads: At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day. I'm sure deep down we all know that this will affect how we feel about our jobs, but have you actually thought about answering this question for the current position or line of work you are in? Would you agree? Strongly agree? Maybe even strongly disagree? More importantly, do you know what it is you do best??

After doing several personality/interest/aptitude tests (and lending my ears to way too many opinions), I have come back to believing two simple truths:

1. Things that I have loved doing since my childhood are probably indicators of my natural strengths. I have always been a social butterfly. I have loved giving advice and helping friends solve their problems since I can remember. I have also loved writing and being creative since primary school, and I excelled in my language subjects. So after all this time wondering how I should be advancing in my professional development, I have returned to focusing on these natural strengths. Now I'm writing my own career blog (loving every creative minute of it) and I'm working in HR (relishing in all things human and social at the office). Most importantly I'm creating my own career path instead of copying someone else's.
2. Trying to succeed at things I'm not strong in is definitely possible, but bound to be exhausting and/or frustrating. I recently decided to further my studies in 2012, and had to choose a major. My initial choice was to do an MBA, based on the fact that I wanted to up my business savvy. But I have no natural interest or feel for economics, and so I was trying to fix what I believed to be wrong with me. I'm sure I could have fought my way through the economics and management accounting, but it would have cost me a truck-load of blood, sweat and tears as I would be going against my natural grain. So when thinking back to the things that come naturally to me, I realised that I would excel in a position where I can work with people, give advice and think strategically. That's when I decided to enroll for a Professional/Management Coaching programme in stead, it felt like a big old weight falling off my shoulders .

I do realise that we all do not have the luxury or opportunity to be picky about career choices and qualifications, and some of the things we might be good at do not translate into the salaries we need. Companies also don't have the luxury to customize each individual's role to fit him/her like a glove. But even if it might be a novel idea, I do believe it to be a very important factor to consider when you do decide which field to specialize in.

Do you know what your natural strengths are? Why not check out the StrengthsFinder2.0 assessment if you are looking for a way to identify them.