CHANGING YOUR CAREER PATH

Changing your career path in midlife can be the most frightening thing.  As we get older we tend to take a stock of our lives and ask ourselves if we are really happy with where we are.  The job you are doing now is that what you really want to do in life?

The thought of losing a steady income can stop you in your tracks too.  Also the question of how does one move into what they really want to do with a CV that displays work experience that is totally different from their desire.

The thing is however,  you will always gravitate towards your passion and you will always excel at what you love. So its worth taking a chance and moving towards a career in that thing that gets your heart beating.

You need to begin by sitting down with a pen and paper and searching your heart.  If you could do any job in the world what would it be?  What job would make you want to get up in the morning and sing in the shower?

Then you need to ask yourself have I had experience in this before either in a volunteer setting or in previous jobs?  If yes, how can you factor that experience into your CV?  For many years I would send the same CV for every job but I soon learned that your CV needs to market you for the job you are applying for.  I had had experience in customer care,  banking,  training, human resources, teaching, writing, theatre arts, humanitarian work and the like.  My real passion I discovered or rediscovered is writing.  I love to write, in fact I have always loved to write from when I was young.  I love drama and film.  This along with helping children to reach their full potential by encouraging them to read is what I believe I was born to do.  And when I am in that environment I am happy.

I am not saying drop everything  and follow your passion.  Sometimes its a gradual process.  I decided to write a book and my book was published.  In a few days I will be exhibiting my book. And it's exciting when people who have read the book get back to me and say that they loved it or it really helped them.  That brings me joy it also humbles me.

A few years ago the bank I was working at embarked on a programme called Strength Finder.  This was a programme that was geared towards finding out what your individual strengths are and focusing on using those strengths in your job.  In many companies for years the focus has been on looking at your weaknesses and seeing how your weaknesses can be turned into your strengths.  People would go through many training programmes but I learned something very important that year, that in order to really succeed in life you need to look at what you are good at i.e. your strengths.  Then you need to focus on how you can enhance your strengths.  As you enhance your strengths you will see yourself excel.

So look at where you are right now, is that where you want to be?  If yes then great but if no begin to take positive steps towards moving towards your passion.

Have a great day!

FURNITURE AND KITCHEN DESIGNER

A (degree educated) designer with a minimum of 5 years experience is needed to spearhead a new direction in high end furniture and kitchen design. This is an all encompassing position requiring the meeting with coporate and personal clients and assertaining their design requirements. Then liasing with the client concerning production lead times delivery and installation.

Design software literacy is paramount as these will be used to clarify the clients design intent. A working knowledge of 3D modeling, Photoshop, AutoCAD is essential. From which accurate 2D manufacturing and assembly drawings will be used by production. This key role will require someone who has a breath of experience across the spectrum of design and production, is self motiviated, a confident communicator and will be relentlessly to pursue the clients design intent to the completion of each project.

This is very demanding position will require the candidate to report directly to the Managing Director.

Interview tips for employers

The best interview is the one where the prospective employee at the end of the interview feels that this is the best company that he /she could possibly work for.

Thats the environment that needs to be created.  It cant be a one way interview.  While the candidate is marketing themselves to you, you the employer need to also market your organisation to them.  One of the best interviews I attended some years ago made me feel like I had done them a great favor by attending that interview.  Wow!  I wanted to work for that organisation and did for many wonderful years.

So here are just a few tips:

• THE ENVIRONMENT

Where you hold the interview should represent who you are as an organisation.  First impressions count.  The room should be clean and not cluttered.

I know many people are in favor of  a panel interview where you have the interviewers all on one side and the candidate being interviewed on the other side facing the panel of four people or so.  This is like facing a firing squad for the interviewee and really makes many people nervous.  Rather sit around a round table or on a set of sofa's.

Offer the candidate something to drink, tea, coffee, juice, water.  Many candidates may say no but at least offer.  Show hospitality.  With this you are saying "We value you just like we value our external customers.  We know you are not part of the organisation but this is the culture of our organisation."

• THE INTERVIEW

I get the feeling sometimes that employers do not thoroughly go through the candidates CV before they call them for an interview.  The reason that you as an employer receive the CV first is so that you can make a shortlist.  That means that you go through the CV's and select the candidates who you believe meet the criteria of the person you are looking for.  Study the CV and make notes about what  in that persons experience you think is relevant to that position and write down any questions you may have.

Check the candidates references before they come for the initial interview.  When you do a thorough probing of the CV before the candidate comes you will find that you will be pretty sure about who you will offer the position to. Yes that is before the candidate even comes before you.  The actual interview will be the deciding factor in the end but going through a thorough check of the CV first will give you a pretty good idea of who you will employ.

The first question that I find that most employers ask is "Please tell us about yourself."  If you have gone through the CV before the interview this is an unnecessary question because the candidate has already told you about themselves through their CV.   You would rather introduce yourselves and tell them a little about the organisation and this position they are applying for.  A very brief introduction.  Then you can go to their CV and say something like " I notice you work at ........................ as a ..................., that is one of the things that caught our eye and we were interested in interviewing you.  can you tell us about what the highlights for you have been in this position and how you think the experience you have gained will help you in this job?"

The interviewing panel needs to know what they are going to ask this candidate before the interview commences. Even having a list of questions that they want helps.  Other questions will come up based on the responses being given by the candidate.

Interviews can even be a great tool to help you know what your competitors are doing.

The question of salary:  It would be great if the employers can come up with a salary range for the particular job they are advertising for.  Even when you advertise or work through a consultant state that you are offering for example between $1,800 and $2,500  depending on the experience.  Many employers are reluctant to state what they are offering sometimes I think it's because they feel that if they can get someone who can ask for less then its a bonus to them.  Thats unfair because many times the candidate does not want to shortchange themselves or ask for too much.  By stating the salary you are offering upfront someone can decide whether to apply or not.  Of course you can always negotiate but be upfront about how much the job pays.

Always ask the interviewee if there any questions they would like to ask.  And if they have answer them openly and honestly.

At the interview thank the candidate for coming and promise to get back to them.  Its important to get back to the candidates no matter how many people you interview.  Get back to them either through email or a written letter or some other media.  They made an effort to come to the interview so you need to close the interview process by giving the result of the interview.

Remember that the candidate that you are interviewing will market your organisation in either a positive or negative light.  So make the interview great so that what goes out into the market is only good news.

All the best!

RISK & INTERNAL CONTROLS MANAGER

A Senior position that requires an individual who has both Internal Audit and Security Experience.  This position is very demanding and requires someone who has previously  worked in a large organisation and has a proven track record. The successful candidate will amongst other duties be required to:

·         Lead, direct, organize, develop and manage the Internal Audit function so as to ensure that resources (human, technological, etc) and processes are appropriate to the required standards of operation, cost-efficiency, best practice and performance.  

·         Lead, motivate, develop and focus the Internal Audit teams so as to ensure delivery of the required standards of excellence in service and performance and support the continuing personal and professional development of all team members. 

·         Attend relevant business and risk meetings at head office, as appropriate.

Faithfull and trustworthy

       Many of the C.V's we receive begin something like this:

  

• An effective and highly motivated individual with over ten years experience and dependable knowledge
• Has high personal standard of honesty and lives by organizational high standard. Personal life consistent with working life.
• A team player and a leader who thrives to play a pivotal role in organizational growth through a combination of excellence, teamwork, integrity and loyalty.
• Relationship builder and team player, with energy, drive and commitment;
     
  Wow who would'nt want to employ someone who has all of these attributes! Unfortunately many people just copy these attributes off someone else s  C.V. without even taking time to think about what they are really saying about themselves.  To them it's just a marketing tool, something to make their CV look good and help them clinch that desired job.
  
  
  Unfortunately there are employees who when they have clinched that job become the opposite of what they claimed to be on their C.V.   Suddenly they start getting to work fifteen minutes late or take longer lunch breaks than allocated and yet they stated that they were reliable.
  
  
  Some employees spend valuable work hours on Facebook, Skype, Twitter, or mobile phones having fun.  There is nothing wrong with these networking sites but there is a time and place for everything and work is not one of those places. On your C.V. you claimed that you are honest but later prove to be a thief by stealing this time from your employer.  Remember that time is money and spending time on networking sites is not on your job description.
  
  
  It would be interesting if interviewers could begin their interviews by asking the interviewee  questions like "You have said on your C.V. that you are trustworthy, hardworking, faithful, honest.  Could you please give us examples of incidences where you have demonstrated these attributes."  You will be surprised that all you get is a lot of stutters.
  
  
  One Pastor gave the definition of two words "Faithfulness" and "Trustworthiness" as follows:
  
  
  Faithfulness is  demonstrating loyalty by commitment and allegiance to those you serve both in good times and bad.  The opposite is unfaithfulness. 
  
  
  Trustworthiness is living your life in such a way that others cannot doubt your faithfulness.
  
  
  What i am trying to do is to get you to think  about the various words like effective,dependable,honest,team player,excellence,integrity,loyalty,commitment, trustworthy, faithful and other descriptive words like them and what they actually mean.  Do they describe you? Think about that before you write them down on your C.V and misrepresent yourself to your prospective employer.  If the words do not describe who you are at present then begin to work at developing those attributes you desire in your life.  You can become all these things and thereby become a more productive member of society and add value to the organisation you work for and build a good reputation for yourself.  One day if you ever start your own business these qualities would have already been instilled in you and you will start your business on a strong foundation.
  
  
  All the Best to you! 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

NEW JOBS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Happy New Year.  Hope 2011 will be a great year for you.

Here are just a few new jobs that you may be suitable for:

• PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

This position requires an individual who has had extensive experience in a corporate environment. Experience in the following is a must:

Organisation of press conferences, open days as well as stakeholder meetings.  The compilation and editing of inhouse magazines and brochures.  Management of the company website, planning fund raising activities. Ability to manage crisis situation via the media.

A minimum of 3 years experience in a similar job is a requirement as well as a degree in Mass Communication or equivalent.

• HEAD OF MARKETING

Minimum of Ten Years experience preferably in telecommunications. A first degree and  a post graduate degree would be an added advantage. When you send your C.V. please ensure that it really markets your achievements.

• SERVICE CONSULTANT - (Eastern Highlands)

If you love working with people, are really good at customer care and are a pro in sales then this is the job for you. This is a chance to work with the leading ICT and Telecoms organization. You have to have really good O' & A' Level results. Remember to list your subjects and your results on your CV. A diploma in Sales & Marketing or ICT or Telecoms and a minimum of two years experience will clinch the job for you. At least one year working experience in ICT or telecoms will be an added advantage.

Did you Know...

Did you know that the word salary comes from the word 'salarium' which is Latin for salt?

During the time of the Roman Empire it is believed that Roman Soldiers were paid partly in salt.

Salt was a precious and expensive commodity because of it's ability to preserve food. (There were no fridges in those days).  Because food could now be preserved using salt it meant that people no longer just had to rely on seasonal foods..  It also meant that food could be transported over longer distances.

Trading in salt made traders rich.  Roman and Chinese rulers levied taxes on salt.  When they needed to go to war they increased the taxes on salt to raise funds.  Venice fought and won a war with Genoa over salt.

Understanding the value of salt during this era helps us to understand what it meant to His disciples when Jesus said to them 'You are the salt of the earth' Mathew 5:13.  They were valuable and were to preserve the world around them from moral decay.

Today salt is universally available and relatively cheap and often iodized.

So are you worth your salt?

*Information source: Wikipedia


Have a merry Christmas and a very  happy new year!