Friday, December 27, 2019

Make a Career Choice That Suits Your Personality Type

Make a Career Choice That Suits Your Personality TypeMake a Career Choice That Suits Your Personality TypeAre you trying to decide what career to pursue? Then you should find out what your personality type is. Certain occupations are more suitable for particular types than others are. However, personality should elend be the only factor you consider when choosing a career. A self-assessment should also look at your values, interests, and aptitudes. These four factors taken together serve as a better way to find the right career than any oneof them does alone. Career Personality Tests The best way to learn about your personality is through the use of career personality tests. It is important to note that these are only tests by the loosest definition of that term. We can more accurately call them personality hilfsmittels or inventories. Many publishers only allow certified professionals to use them. A career development professional, such as a career counselor, can administer a pe rsonality instrument and help you utilize what you learn from it. This information taken together with what you learn from the other parts of your self-assessment can help you choose a career. The career development professional will choose from among several personality inventories. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the most popular. Other personality instruments include the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 PF), Edwards Personal Preference Schedule (EPPS), and the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). All are based on psychological theories of personality. The Myers-Briggs, for example, is based on Carl Jungs theory of personality types. Most personality inventories consist of a series of questions that you answer by filling in circles on a scan sheet or selecting responses on a computer or other device. Your practitioner may have you complete it in his or her office or at home. It must be stressed that while personality inventories are often called caree r personality tests, there are no right or wrong answers as there would be on an exam. Remember that no personality type is better than any other, so it is important to be completely honest when answering the questions. Getting Your Results After you complete the inventory, you will return it to the practitioner to score. He or she will either send it back to the publisher for scoring or will do it him or herself. Once that is complete, the career development professional or the publisher will generate a report that the practitioner may discuss with you at this time. He or she may choose to wait until all other assessments are finished since, as mentioned previously, the personality inventory is just one of several assessment tools. Your report will tell you what your personality type is. It will probably also explain how this conclusion was drawn based on your answers. Also included in your report will be a list of occupations that are suitable for those who share your personal ity type. Does this mean that all of these occupations are right for you? Absolutely not. Some will be a good fit, while others wont be, based on characteristics other than your personality, such as the aforementioned values, interests, and abilities. The level of training you are willing to undertake to prepare for a career will also affect your choice. You may not want to earn a Ph.D. for example. Other things that could rule out a particular occupation are a weak employment outlook or a salary that is too low for you to live on. When you finish your self-assessment, you will move on to the exploration stage of the career planning process. During this stage, you will research occupations and eventually choose your best option based on what you learn. Online Personality Inventories You will find some personality inventories offered online, sometimes for free and other times for a fee. There is, for example, a version of the Myers-Briggs offered online, for a fee, by the Center for Applications of Psychological Type (CAPT). It comes with one hour of professional feedback. Since Isabel Myers Briggs, one of the MBTIs developers, co-founded CAPT, we can be fairly surethe online version is as accurate as one administered locally. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about all online self-assessment tools. Some may not be as accurate as those a career development professional would use and will often not be accompanied by adequate feedback. However, you can still benefit from using them, particularly if you cant, or choose not to, hire a professional. Use common sense when looking at your results and always thoroughly research any occupations that the results ofself-assessments indicate could be right for you. That is true whether you are working with a professional or using an online tool.

Monday, December 23, 2019

How a Globally Focused Education Can Help Your Career

How a Globally Focused Education Can Help Your CareerHow a Globally Focused Education Can Help Your CareerThe business world is constantly changing and growing, becoming mora culturally diverse and interconnected than ever before. Companies are looking for employees who are globally minded even if the company does notlage do business on an international scale because chances are it employs and serves a diverse population. Employees who recognize and understand different business opportunities, cultures and strategies can help a company successfully negotiate diverse situations.Colleges and universities are recognizing how important it is for students to have a global perspective as part of the degree they earn.mora and more, the best universities are choosing to include deep and integrated instruction on global issues, says Dr. Benjamin S. Pryor, provost and senior vice president ofWestern International University(West). By preparing students to think about their surroundings in th e context of international situations, we have found they are better equipped to participate fully in an increasingly complex world in which everything from accounting to human resources is touched by global trends.West integrates a global focus into courses taught through all degree programs for this exact reason. If you are thinking about going back to college to earn a degree, or if you are considering a graduate degree to help enhance your career, keep in mind how a globally focused education can help youAlmost every business has a cultural connection. Even the smallest locally owned and operated companies need to obtain materials to do business, and there is a good chance those materials are not available in the local community. They might not even be available in the same country. Having employees who understand how to navigate complex negotiations with people who may not share the same cultural values and backgrounds can help the company make great business deals with busines ses in all parts of the world.Employees who are able to adapt quickly and easily to changing business environments can help the business stay current and grow as the economic environment fluctuates. These changes do not necessarily need to be international in nature. They can be caused by social, political and economic trends, and an employee who knows how to adapt is a valuable astischset.Often cultural diversity is present within the workplace, especially as families become more mobile. Employees who have the ability to understand and recognize diversity among coworkers and with business partners may be able to blend better in the work environment. They may also be strong team members who can contribute solutions that encompass a variety of perspectives.The world is growing smaller as technology becomes more advanced and international dealings become the norm for many businesses. Because of this, companies are setting up partnerships with foreign-established businesses. Employees who have a global cultural awareness may have better success as the international business sector grows.By creating opportunities to think about diverse cultures, as well as the practices and business environments they sustain, we give our students a better view of their own roles in our world, Dr. Pryor says. In addition, students who think globally offer an additional skill set for employers.As you look into the degree opportunities available to you, learn whether the degree is taught with a global perspective. It may help you take your career and the company you are working for much further.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Employment Verification and Reference Checks

Employment Verification and Reference ChecksEmployment Verification and Reference ChecksExpect potential employers to check your resume thoroughly. It means it is important to address issues such as employment gaps, potentially negative references, or other red flags. None of these are insurmountable problems, but its important that you be honest about them and be prepared to address them in a way that shows how youve grown and learned from the circumstances. What Employers Check How much employers check depends on how muchverificationthey do during thehiring process. Some employers will confirm, very thoroughly, every detail of your resume or application. This includes calling all of your references. They might even ask your references for a summary of your character and/or work ethic. The most important question theyll ask your references is if theyd hire you again if given the chance. Other employers may do a cursory check. They might simply check a few details on your resumeo r call only one of your references. Some employers wont check any of your information, and might not even call your references at all. It is a good idea to assume every employer will conduct a thorough background check on your work history. Even something you might perceive to be a minor embellishment could be perceived as a lack of honesty, and the negative that comes with that outweighs whatever positives might come from the embellishment. Even if it is discovered after youve been hired, such a discrepancy can cost you your job. So, the bottom line is that you need to be honest. Employment Gaps Whenlisting employment dateson your resume, you dont need to list the month andyear if you were in a position for more thana year. For example, you can list 20152017 instead of May 2015August 2017. By only including the year, you can cover some employment gaps that were only a couple months long. You also dont need to list all of your positions on your resume. The rule of thumb, typical ly, is to limit your experience to 15 years for a managerial job, 10 years for a technical job, and five years for a high-tech job. You can leave other experience off your resume or list it without dates in an Other Experience category. Keep in mind there are a lot of people who have been out of work for a long time. Its not going to be a big concern for most employers because so many candidates are in the same situation. Finally, if youre asked why you werent working during an interview, tell the truth. Its perfectly acceptable to sayyou were home with your family, laid off, or whatever else you might have been doing. Just focus on emphasizing your strong work ethic, before, during, and after your time out of work. Limited, or Unrelated, Work Histories What if you have work experience, but you have had only entry-level or unrelated jobs? One solution is to be creative and write descriptions of your positions that put a positive slant on your responsibilities. For instance, Exte nsive work with visual standards and merchandising high-ticket items sounds much better than Set up clothes racks. Emphasize responsibilities that are related to the job you are applying for. For example, if you have only worked in restaurants and are applying for a job in retail, highlight your customer service experience. If most of your jobs were entry-level, and you are applying for a position with more responsibility, include any examples of experiences that involved you stepping up and taking on additional responsibilities. For example, perhaps you gave a presentation to your coworkers or led a kollektiv project. Remember, too, that any volunteering, freelance work, or consulting can be listed in the employment section of your resume. List it just as you would list your other jobs- withjob title, company name, dates of employment, etc. Finally, as mentioned above, you can simply leave certain jobs out of your resume. You do not need to include all of your experience.Therefore, you can leave out jobs in the past that are completely unrelated to the position youre applying for. Its also a good idea to reviewresume and cover letter samplesto get some ideas on how different situations can be handled. Negative References If a job application requires you to include the contact information of your last employer, but you know that person might give you a bad reference, there are things you can do to make yourself look better. First, include other references on your list who you know will give you glowing reviews. These can be other former employers, clients, vendors, or personal references. Second, you might also be proactive and reach out to the person you are concerned about. Explain to the employer that, while you may not have parted on the best of terms, you are passionate about the job you are applying for and would appreciate a positive reference. Many people are willing to let bygones be bygones, and you may be able to end up with a reference that bo th you and the former employer feel comfortable with.

Friday, December 13, 2019

How to Get a Paid Summer Internship

How to Get a Paid Summer InternshipHow to Get a Paid Summer InternshipWhen thinking about doing an internship for the summer you will want to consider the font of internship you want to do and the knowledge and skills you hope to gain from the experience. If you can find an internship that will pay you for your time and effort all the better but sometimes its just not possible to find a paid internship in specific fields such as nonprofit. Although I do encourage students to find paid internships, Im also realistic and know that many unpaid internships provide extremely valuable experiences in fields that do not have the resources to pay their interns. Setting internship goals will put you on the right track and will provide you with a blueprint of what steps you need to take in reservierung to achieve them. Internships With Early Deadlines A number of the more competitive and popular internship programs require students to apply as early as October. If you are seeking an interns hip in a specific career field such as journalism, finance, or government, its important that you begin looking early to identify those who have early deadlines. Where Can I Find Paid Opportunities? The type of organization usually determines if an organization has the funds to pay their interns. Depending on the specific career field, paid internships may or may not exist, but for those students who are interested in working in a nonprofit organization, the reality is that usually there are no funds available for paying their interns. Companies that offer paid internships create a win-win situation for both parties. Since money is considered a motivating force for most individuals, students doing a paid internship like to feel that they are contributing to the organization which may give them the motivation to work even harder. The old adage, you get what you pay for, can definitely be considered when employers demonstrate their appreciation for the contribution that their inte rns make to the overall success of the company. On the other hand, students often tend to take more initiative when their efforts are recognized and appreciated by supervisors and the company as a whole. Large corporations, private companies, law, and real estate firms are usually capable of offering paid internships or can offer some kind of stipend. Depending on how they set up the pay structure, internships may be paid weekly or bi-weekly, or the corporation may decide to pay out in a monthly or bi-monthly stipend. There are also times when an employer may decide to pay their interns in one lump sum upon completion of the internship. The key to finding paid internships is to begin looking early and to research a large number of internship opportunities that are currently available. If money is an absolute necessity, you may need to be flexible in the type of internship and organization that you are looking to work for since most nonprofit organizations just dont have the funds. A nother thing to consider is that if you want a specific internship and it is unpaid, many students will combine their internship with a job in order to make the money they need over the summer. Also, look to see if there are any scholarships or funding available for students who are doing an internship in a specific area of interest, such as scientific research, environmental, public health, and education. Funded Internships If an internship is not paid there may be other ways to get the financial resources required by many students to do an internship. Students who need to make money for incidentals or to put some money away for the coming semester may find funding through organizations or foundations or perhaps theres even funding available at your college through donations made by alumni, parents, or other groups that provide a scholarship or grant to students who want to do some experiential work that is connected to their major. Private Corporations that Refuse to Pay F or-profit corporations that can pay their interns is a whole different story. According to the Federal Internship Guidelines set for by The U.S. Department of Labor, these organizations could be held liable for refusing to pay their interns. Unpaid internships preclude many college students from applying to some of the most valuable and competitive internships out there. Since making money over the summer is not only nice but is a necessity for many students, paid internships level the playing field by providing these opportunities to all of the talented and extremely bright students seeking a summer internship.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Unknown Facts About Sample Cna Resume Revealed by the Pros

Unknown Facts About Sample Cna Resume Revealed by the Pros You may use the CNA cover letter samples below to make your own letter. Normally, you might opt to create References seen on request. Typically, you can choose to publish References on request. The Appeal of Sample Cna Resume Though the demand for CNAs is growing, you wish to get a competitive advantage, parteicularly for the best jobs. Employers like to realize that you have work experience of some type, at least. Even though most of resumes should offer advice on your work and education experience, along with your abilities and accomplishments, there are various techniques to deliver this info. It is very important to demonstrate knowledge of the institution in the letter along with show enthusiasm for the job. Get the Scoop on Sample Cna Resume Before Youre Too Late A sample resume is the secret to writing a good resume. Theres a myth in some specific circles that cover letters arent crucial. Its important y ou get in contact with the skilled references in advance, explaining they could be contacted to supply a reference. If youre bedrngnis certain how to phrase your skills, or in case you desire examples of objective statements, check out some job websites for ideas. The Benefits of Sample Cna Resume If this Certified Nursing Assistant resume example was not sufficient for you, youre absolutely free to review various other samples and templates from our website. To learn more on what it requires to be a CNA, have a look at our complete CNA Job Description. If this Home Health Aide resume example was not sufficient for you, youre totally free to review various other samples and templates from our website. General The resume has to be precise and have to contain only relevant information thats regarding the job youre applying for. This kind of resume is utilised to reveal the hiring company the form of employer youre. An effective CNA cover letter plays an essential part in your job hunt approach. Below are lots of keywords which should be included in a CNA resume. Theres no replacement for practical knowledge in the medical profession. Youre going to want to have a mixture of healthcare and nursing certain skills and some general skills to prove that youre a well-rounded employee. Irrespective of your employment preference, you will need to prepare a strong resume to find the job which you desire. Adept at working in a number of medical care settings. Whether youre searching for your very first job or your next one, you require a resume that shows employers that youre a skilled professional. You may also incorporate some employment thats non medical related to set up responsibility. The employer knows the significance of such expertise, so before going to your interview, be certain to supply yourself with the important information on the topic of client care. Your prospective employer automatically knows that youll be kind and compassionate simply because youre a nurse. The Demise of Sample Cna Resume You should also incorporate the dates attended. There are various choices to consider when its due to putting together an online resume. Keep in mind that your resume is the very first step to a prospective job so its very important in order for it to be perfect in every manner. The objective of your resume is to tell a prospective employer something about you to see whether youre a fantastic fit for the job that you are trying to get. Definitions of Sample Cna Resume For this reason, you have to be sure that your resume is a suitable reflection of your capabilities. Before you start the job of constructing your CNA resume objective, attempt to limit your precise skill collection. The content of your resume have to be relevant to the job which you are applying for. They have to finish a post-secondary training regime and go through a certification procedure. Match your skills with the requirements to make sure that yo u just consist of relevant data in your resume. If you have a particular subject of study or additional certifications, be certain to include them. Some examples of these sorts of skills can be understood below. Dont hesitate to modify this sample according to your requirements.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Recognizing Employees Whats Most Effective - Spark Hire

Recognizing Employees Whats Most Effective - Spark HireWhen it comes to recognizing employees for their performance, there are many methods of proven, effective recognition. But as you may already know, not all of these are good for every employee, nor is one of them the magic button to be used for any one group. How can you gauge which form of recognition might be the most effective? How do you navigate the different personalities, job types, and forms of recognition to motive your employees and help them progress?Be aware of the nature of your employees position. Does your employees job require that they work by themselves or is their position driven by the work given to their gruppe? Based on this basic information, you may have some guidance on what kind of atmosphere is more appropriate in which to recognize the employee. If they largely work by themselves, recognizing them in front of a group of people, while a kind gesture, may not have the same motivating effects as calling t hem into a one-on-one meeting and congratulating them on a job well done. Conversely, for an employee who mostly works with teams, recognizing them in front of their peers might have the double effect of affirming the individuals performance and motivating the team in their continuing work.Meet your employees on a personal level. Are you aware of this employees personality? How well do you know them on the level of what motivates them best? Are they self-motivated or do they thrive when theyve received accolades and positive feedback? In a one-on-one session, be direct in asking what forms of recognition would be most motivating to them and take note. As a manager, while you cant accommodate every employees personal needs, you can show your effort and support by genuinely attempting to give feedback in a format that will push employees to be more productive.Consider the context of the recognition. During performance review time, employees expect to receive a certain amount of feedba ck from their managers or supervisors. Within this context, the feedback is a formulated step in the process of reviews and can at times come across as insincere and cookie-cutter. Impress your employees by stepping off the beaten path and recognizing them for their performance at unlikely times during the year. Send a short thank you note or a quick e-mail congratulating or thanking them. Perhaps escalate a project they have worked on tirelessly to someone higher up within the company to help that employee and their work gain visibility and understanding within the company.While these seem like small steps, unexpected and sincere recognition could make the difference in morale on your team and in the office. As employees take notice of your extra efforts, youll begin to foster a working atmosphere where employees feel motivated and show their genuine appreciation through their work and productivity.Do you put some thought into the way you recognize your employees for a job well don e? We want to hear about it in the comments below.IMAGECourtesy of Flickr by Victor1558

Friday, November 29, 2019

By the Numbers Jobs and Manufacturing

By the Numbers Jobs and Manufacturing By the Numbers Jobs and Manufacturing By the Numbers Jobs and ManufacturingImports have become an easy target for Americans in both major political parties. But the countrys high-productivity factories simply dont need as many workers as they used to.Trade has become a hot political issue in the United States, with many people on both ends of the political spectrum wanting to slow or restrict imports to bring back manufacturing jobs. Scenes of abandoned factories and interviews with unemployed industrial workers underscore the point.But how much do imports actually matter?Its true that the U.S. imports many mora goods than it exports to the rest of the world. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, $931.2 billion in manufactured goods were imported in the first six months of 2016, compared to $522.6 billion in exports. Even in the industries where the U.S. manufacturers export the mosttransportation, chemicals, computers and electronics, and non-ele ctrical machinery there was a net trade deficit.But the annual trade deficit in manufactured goods (roughly $800 billion) is a small fraction of the $5.9 trillion worth of goods produced by the U.S. manufacturing sector. In terms of bringing back manufacturing jobs to the levels of 40 and 50 years ago, eliminating trade isnt going to do the trick.Even in its top four export categories, the U.S. ran a trade deficit in the first half of 2016.Comparing the number of manufacturing jobs, as measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to manufacturing output from 1947 to the present reveals that American factories make much more stuff per worker than ever before. Most of that increase in productivity has occurred since 2000, as factory automation has reduced the demand for workers at the same time that low-value manufacturing began to leave the U.S. While the workforce has been reduced by nearly 5 million since 2000a 29 percent cutmanufacturing output has grown steadily, if slowly.Th at means the factory workers who remain are adding more value than ever before. In 2015, manufacturing output per manufacturing worker was $482,242, just a bit off of the peak by contrast, each manufacturing worker in 2000 produced $336,847 in 2015 dollars. In 1976, the inflation-adjusted production was just $276,525.Indeed, using a simple calculation based on the present rate of productivity, the manufacturing jobs that would be added by eliminating the entire $800 billion annual trade deficit in goods would number around 1.6 millionnot enough to restore the manufacturing jobs lost since 2000, let alone return manufacturing to the central place it once had in the American economy.Read the latest issue of the Mechanical Engineering Magazine.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

5 money questions you should be able to answer by 35

5 money questions you should be able to answer by 355 money questions you should be able to answer by 35Keeping on top of personal finances is hard, perhaps especially in the first decade of your career. However, by the time youre 35, a long-term plan for saving, investing, purchasing, and retirement should be starting to come into focus.Here are a few questions you should be able to answer by the time youre 351. How much money will I have when I retire?By the time youre 35, you should have a solid retirement plan with at least a few years worth of investing and saving under your belt. Because compound interest is your friend when it comes to investing, each year you wait to get started can have huge long-term effects on the nest egg youll have when you retire.How much youll have really depends on how youve set up your investment portfolio. Using a combination of investment types, such as a company 401(k) and a Roth IRA, can help ensure youre shuffling the mixtur between high-risk an d low-risk investment. However, until around 40, you should aim toward more high-risk, high-return investments and slowly shift as you get older.No matter how your portfolio is set up, you should be aiming to invest in your retirement plan every year. Timothy G. Wideman, D.B.A. PHR Emeritus, and a retired Associate Professor of Management Human Resources at Doane University, gives the following advice In bestellung to fund an early retirement, folks should strive to invest 20% of their incomes in their combined retirement accounts. That may sound daunting, but sticking to that 20% can have big payoffs in the long run.2. Am I prepared for a major emergency?Theres no way to predict what life has in store for us (although that would be nice). With this in mind, its important to have some emergency funds in case something unexpected happens. According to investment group Vanguard, Most experts believe you should have enough money in your emergency fund to cover at least 3 to 6 months w orth of living expenses. Although that probably sounds like a lot of money, and hopefully you never need it, if you ever do youll be glad you have it.3. Am I paying more for anything than I need to be?Most of us have recurring expenses we dont think about often. Because theyre not actively on our radar most of the time, it can be easy to forget that these expenses can really add up over time. In your mid-30s (and all ages, really), you should be aware of everything that drains a little from each months budget. If you arent sure exactly what youre paying for, or if you cant specify the exact amount your subscriptions and services are costing you, run a quick audit of your monthly bills. Some expenses may be unnecessary (for example, you may find you want to unsubscribe from magazines you dont read often), and some may be necessary but available for a lower price (for example, many cable bills can be negotiated down). Either way, trimming down on any extra recurring costs can really a dd up over time.4. What big expenses are on my horizon?At 35, many people are at different places in their lives. Some may be parents or looking to become parents, while others may be looking to move abroad or take a big career step. However, no matter what your situation, there are probably some big expenses just ahead. Trying to buy a house? Looking to add a baby to the mix? Both of these are huge financial commitments. Will you be ready for them? Only you can answer that, but preparing in advance for your big upcoming expenses can help you make sure youre ready when the right time comes.5. Is money preventing me from reaching one or more of my goals?Money can be many things a safety net, an enabler, a status symbol. But perhaps its most important use is as a tool to achieve the things we want to achieve - and avoid falling into situations we dont want out of necessity. Beth Haiken, an EVP at Method Communications, says, Money isnt stuff - money is autonomyIts what enables you t o make your own decisions and follow your own goals, whether thats a trip you want to take or a job you DONT want to take.If you keep track of how much youre spending and maximize your savings, youll be prepared to use money however you need to when that need arises. Whether its the flexibility to quit a toxic job or the freedom to take the trip of a lifetime, the possibilities provided by keeping on top of your financial situation are well worth the work.A version of this post previously appeared onFairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits, and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards, and career advice.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

What Your Personality Type Means for Your Career

What Your Personality Type Means for Your CareerWhat Your Personality Type Means for Your CareerQuick question When was the last time you took a personality test- and took the results seriously? Its easy to think that these tests are sort of like horoscopes in the back of magazines (really vague compliments that could fit into anyones life), but the results could actually make a huge difference in your career.Interested in seeing what the famed Myers-Briggs test says about you? Though the official test costs money, you can find similar free versions of it (like this one) online to see what your strengths in the office are and what you need to work on.Already know your Myers-Briggs personality type? Check out the infographic below for a rundown of your personality traits and how they translate in the office.Check Out 10 More Career-Related Personality TestsInfographic courtesy of Career Assessment Site.