10 Questions to Set Your Career Vision

Or, How to Really Get What You Want From Work
by Caroline Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs


Do you have a vision for your career?

While some people may get lucky and just happen to wind up on the road to success, others do not, and their lack of planning leads to a dead-end job. Read on to discover how you can choose what your career -- and your life -- can become.

Deciding what you want to do doesn't happen overnight, but, according to Deborah Brown-Volkman, the process can be simple. She says, "All of life's journeys begin with the phrase, 'I want... .' It's a very powerful phrase, and without it, it's hard to go very far."


The Road to Achievement

Brown-Volkman, author of "Coach Yourself to a New Career," believes you can discover what you want through visualization. "Visualize where you see yourself in the future. It can reflect where you want to be tomorrow, next week, next year -- or beyond that."

And, as many successful folks will tell you, if you can see it, you can be it. She confirms, "All goals are reached in the mind first. Being able to envision yourself achieving a goal will compel you to move forward and persevere during times of doubt. It gives you a reason to get out of bed every day!"

Getting Started

Are you ready to begin building a vision for your desired professional destination? Brown-Volkman recommends closing your eyes, letting your imagination run free, and asking yourself the following 10 questions.

    * If anything were possible, what would I want to be different in my career?
    * What type of job would I want?
    * What would I want to be responsible for?
    * What type of boss/co-workers/team would I want?
    * What kind of hours would I want to work?
    * What type of company would I want work for?
    * What sort of culture would I want the company to have?
    * What city would I want to live in?
    * What salary would I want to earn?
    * What would I want my approach to stress, my workload, and deadlines to be?

As you mull these questions over in your mind, Brown-Volkman reminds professionals, "There are no right or wrong answers. It's only what is true for you -- not what someone else wants for you. Listen to yourself and your heart."

Next Steps

Once you've created your vision, start exploring new positions that would offer some, if not all, aspects of it. You may have to switch industries or change careers, but you'll lead a more fulfilling professional life and be more likely to arrive at a destination of your choosing.

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Artikel Dunia Kerja - 5 Career Changes You Can Actually Make

by Gabby Hyman, FindTheRightSchool.com


While it's certainly true that many Americans devote their entire working lives to a single employer, the practice is becoming rare in the private sector. On average, a job in this country lasts only three-and-a-half years.

You might shift roles in your profession as you advance into management positions. Or you may leap into a new career entirely, training in mid-life for a career that reflects your true passions. In turbulent economic times, you may head back to college to prepare for a radically different, better-paying profession.

Seven in 10 Americans admit that they'd change jobs tomorrow if only they could.

Well, they can -- and so can you. Online college degree and career training programs offer unparalleled scheduling flexibility, allowing you to shift lanes without slowing down. Some employers will even reimburse your tuition if you're training for management.

Here are five growing fields that make for easy transitions, along with salary figures and the training necessary to make your move:

Accountant
Accountants, contrary to old tales, don't sit around all day chewing on pencils and pining for adventure. They earn good wages and tackle dynamic tax, earning, or investment problems for corporations and private individuals. The United States will add 226,000 openings for accountants and auditors over the next decade, for an 18 percent overall increase.

To prepare, keep your day job; meanwhile, enroll in an online bachelor's degree program in accounting. The best jobs will go to those who pursue a master's degree in accounting or finance--also available online. Accountants and auditors drew a median annual wage of $63,180 in 2007.

Nursing Administrator
Nursing administrators often begin their careers as floor nurses. Nurses earn good wages and have plenty of job options from which to choose. But some either burn out from stress or want to earn more as health care managers. The Labor Department reports that all advanced practice nursing specialties require completion of a master's degree in nursing (MSN) or business administration.

Typically an online RN to MSN program includes a first-year program that satisfies bachelor's degree requirements. The earnings keep pace with the level of educational attainment. For example, median annual wages for nurses in the U.S. were $62,480 in 2007, compared with a median annual wage of $84,980 for medical and health-services managers.

Massage Therapist
Most people become massage therapists because they believe in hands-on healing. Many train online in their spare time while continuing to work in their current careers until they're licensed and ready to change. Some mix in massage therapy with an existing career in healing arts to add a part-time income. Or, you may just be tired of corporate America and ready to follow your dreams.

Employment of massage therapists is projected to increase 20 percent through 2016, meaning that the profession is being rapidly absorbed into mainstream American health care. You'll find jobs with existing practitioners, chiropractic offices, spas, hotels, athletic organizations, and clinics. Each state has its own set of licensing requirements. The median annual salary for massage therapists in 2007 was $40,330.

Management Analyst
Take your existing career and deep subject knowledge into the higher echelons of consulting. Jobs for management analysts are predicted to grow by a hefty 22 percent over the 2006-2016 decade. Businesses in the financial, high tech, and sales sectors are on the lookout for expert advice in streamlining operational practices and increasing the bottom line.

One of the best ways to qualify is to add a master's degree in business administration. Online MBA programs complement your existing specializations in biotechnology, IT, health care, marketing, or engineering. You'll be rewarded for your continuing education. The median salary for management analysts in 2007: $80,460.

Technical Writer
Who says majoring in English can't pay? While your peers may understand technology, health care, engineering, or finance, many of them simply cannot cobble a verb and noun into a coherent sentence. If you're a frustrated prose writer with an arts degree, enroll in a technical writing training program to learn the communication paradigms used in business and technology. Or, if you're an accomplished engineer or techie, learn the writing fundamentals in creating white papers, online copy, training manuals, and marketing publications.

A bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or English with a concentration in technical writing will get you going -- or take classes in publications design, graphics, and technical documentation. Median annual earnings for technical writers in 2007 were $62,780.

Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.

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Acing the Panel Interview

by Marc Hertz, Robert Half International


Meeting with one hiring manager is enough to make most job seekers nervous. But what about when you have to face a panel of interviewers? The panel interview has become increasingly popular as employers search for ways to better evaluate prospective hires and ensure those they bring aboard will be successful.

The inherent differences between a panel interview and a typical one mean you may have to learn new strategies to succeed. Following are a few tactics that can help set you apart from other job hopefuls during a panel interview:

Plan ahead. Because you'll be talking with multiple people, try to learn as much as you can about each person. Ask the hiring manager who you'll be meeting with and what positions they hold. Search online to learn about each person's background. One of the interviewers may have published an article in an industry publication, for example, or he or she may have a LinkedIn account you can peruse. This information will help you better understand each person's frame of reference and the chain of command within the company.

Gauge your audience. If you aren't able to learn about who you're meeting with beforehand, do your best to work with the information the hiring manager gives you when you arrive for the interview. For example, if you find out you're meeting with someone in the human resources department, the hiring manager and a vice president, you may want to give more attention to the VP. Observing how people interact with one another can help. If it's obvious that everyone is deferring to one person, make it a point to answer that person's questions with particular care. That said, you should include all of the participants. If one of the interviewers seems like the wallflower of the group, go out of your way to ask if that person has any questions. You want to make a positive impression on everyone, and you never know who makes the final hiring decision.

Consider eye contact. There's a natural tendency to focus your gaze on the person who asked you a question, but by doing so, you'll exclude everyone else. While you should concentrate on the person you're responding to, don't forget to look at the others while answering as well.

Remember everyone's name. At the start of the discussion, jot down the name of each interviewer so you can refer to everyone correctly during the course of the discussion. One of the biggest faux pas you can make is calling an interviewer by the wrong name or forgetting it completely.

Be cool. One of the employer's main goals during a panel interview is to determine how you react under pressure. Though it can be extremely nerve-racking to be under the gaze of several hiring managers at once, do your best to remain calm and collected. Take a moment or two to compose yourself and prepare an answer before responding to questions, and avoid the temptation to over-respond. Also, keep tabs on any nervous habits you have -- foot tapping, for example -- that may betray your poised exterior.

Follow up. It's always smart to send a thank-you note after an interview, but what do you do after meeting with multiple people? If you were able to collect business cards, you'll have each person's contact information. If that opportunity didn't present itself, get in touch with your initial contact and ask for everyone else's e-mail address. Instead of sending one message to multiple people, write an individual note to each interviewer about how much you enjoyed meeting him or her while expressing your continued interest in the position.

A panel interview can be intimidating, but by taking the time to prepare, you give yourself a much better chance at success.

Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit workvine.com.

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The Healthiest Job Outlook: No Recession in Health Care

by Kip Parent, Keirsey.com


As the large crop of Baby Boomers age, the need for health workers has increased. The need is not only found in the United States, but in countries throughout the world. As a result, the health-care field keeps adding jobs.

"This industry has added 368,000 jobs over the past 12 months," the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted in August 2008. "In July [2008], there were job gains of 21,000 in ambulatory health care services and 10,000 in hospitals."

The Opportunities Are Vast

Registered nurses were among the areas with the highest employment gains in 2007, while physician specialists and dentist specialists were among the highest paid. In the 2008-2009 Bureau of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, health care has three separate listings:

    * Professional: Health Diagnosing and Treating -- 17 occupations
    * Professional: Health Technologists and Technicians -- 15 occupations
    * Service: Health-care Support -- 8 occupations

While most people are aware of the critical need for primary care physicians, physician assistants and nursing staff, many do not realize the shortage in the allied health professionals such as respiratory care practitioners, medical transcriptionists, radiographers and lab technicians. Those with the highest projected need include physical therapist assistants, dental hygienists, and pharmacy technicians. Some health-care providers are working with two-year colleges to provide needed clinical training.

Mid-career workers who have lost their jobs due to downsizing are taking training to enter these fields where demand is high. And people who worked in health-care in another country are getting certification in the United States to fill the need.

Are You a Good Fit?

According to author and career counselor Alice Fairhurst, a personality assessment -- such as the Keirsey Temperament Sorter (free at keirsey.com) or Myers-Briggs Type Indicator -- can help guide a person into which of the careers might be most satisfying.

    * Guardians (SJ's) like the stability and service aspect of health care. The STJ's prefer technical fields, such as dentist, physician, pharmacist, or lab technologist. The SFJ's prefer people contact fields, such as family physician, nurse, dental assistant or medical secretary.
    * Artisans (SP's) like action and change of pace. The STP's often are found as surgeons, emergency care workers, or medical technicians. The SFP's may be nurses, radiology technologists, medical social workers, or massage therapists.
    * Idealists (NF's) want to improve the future for others. The NFJ's may teach or administer in health settings or counsel others. The NFP's are drawn to rehabilitation, speech pathology, and social work.
    * Rationals (NT's) are the most fascinated with pure science. The NTJ's are drawn to administration, scientific analysis, or biomedical engineering. The NTP's seek the newest advances in any field and will promote and/or research new ideas.

If you're new to the workforce, or looking to make a change, the opportunities in health care are worth investigating. There are many different careers offering a fit for all personality types -- learning more about your own personality type is a good place to start.

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6 Ways to Save for an Unexpected Job Loss

Tips for Building an Emergency Fund
by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Coinciding with the tightening job market is a gloomy statistic: Few American workers are saving for potential layoffs. According to Adecco USA's latest Workplace Insights survey, only a quarter of workers claim to currently be saving for unemployment, and 58 percent have no plan to put money aside for a job loss.

You've probably heard that you should have at least six months' living expenses on hand. But how can you save for a rainy day when it's already drizzling, you say? If you're fully employed and you've been living paycheck-to-paycheck, you might not be looking for savings everywhere you can, according to Dayana Yochim, consumer finance expert at The Motley Fool. Yochim recommended six ways to begin starting that emergency fund today, no matter what your salary.

1. Sweat the big stuff first.
Before you start pinching pennies, look at the largest budget expenditures, such as car and vacations. "You can cut your car insurance significantly by raising the deductible," Yochim tells Yahoo! Hot Jobs. You can also downgrade your car. Even if you're upside-down on payments, trading in the new luxury car on a beater would put hundreds of dollars in your pocket per month, Yochim says. Likewise, if you must travel, look at ways to creatively downsize the trip: Do a house swap or stay at a bed-and-breakfast, for example.

2. Ditch the plastic.
"Cash hurts, and you're less likely to be conscientious if you're always using plastic," Yochim says. Likewise, if you're really strapped, only use your credit card to make essential purchases as a last resort. Yochim recommends making one withdrawal on Monday and spending no more than that all week.

3. Cut back on your 401(k) -- temporarily.
Normally, you should sock away the maximum in your retirement plan, especially if your employer is matching it. But if you're falling short each month and making up the difference with a credit card, cut back on the contributions until your finances are back in shape. "You must pinkie-swear you will start contributing the maximum as soon as your financial rough patch is over," Yochim advises.

4. Don't spend found money.
If you had a lucky streak at a casino or received an inheritance, save it, preferably in a high-yield savings account. Even if a layoff is not looming, think hard about automatically boosting your lifestyle if you received a raise or promotion.

5. Don't give Uncle Sam a free loan.
"Ideally you want to owe nothing and get nothing back on April 15," Yochim says. "If your tax return was more than $2,000 last year, you're withholding too much, so you should adjust your withholdings to keep more of it now." Check out the withholding calculator on IRS.gov, and then ask HR for a W4 form if you think you're paying the government too much, too early.

6. Don't mingle the emergency fund with everyday cash.
If you put your rainy day fund in a separate bank, you're not so likely to dip into it, according to Yochim. If you have direct deposit, your company may even be able to put part of your paycheck in a separate account.

Having enough money in an emergency fund can make the difference between discomfort and outright panic if you're laid off. However, some of these tips -- particularly the no-plastic rule -- can be effective ways to save even if you never see a pink slip, Yochim says.

"Everyone should have an emergency fund. And remember that a line of credit should never be considered an emergency fund."

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