I Dont Know What I Want To Do. Am I Trapped

“I Don’t Know What I Want To Do. Am I Trapped” Help from our Community “I Don’t Know What I Want To Do. Am I Trapped?” * Anthony has never really known which direction to take. After years in a job that he fell into rather than chose, he’s both desperate and scared to change. How do you move forward when you’ve no idea where to go? What's your career history and current job? I work in customer services for the estates and facilities department at the college where I got my degree. I've been in this role for seven years now. I'd gone back to college about ten years ago, because I'd been working in the family business and decided I wanted to get some qualifications while I felt young enough to do so. I did a degree in Psychology and Sociology, got a 1st, but couldn't decide what to do next so ended up going through a series of temping jobs. I ended up in my current job as a temping role as well. It was meant to be a maternity post but I've been here ever since. How do you feel about your work? There's variety in the role â€" I'm like a receptionist in that I deal with all the different queries and problems that come into the department. I get to use problem-solving skills and I like advising people, so I do feel valued to a certain extent. But I never really chose this job, I fell into it. I can't see myself being here forever because there's no real prospect of career progression. I guess I feel under-employed. Unfortunately, I've been here so long now that I'm scared to move on. I feel that no one would be interested in employing me. I'm nearly 40 and my CV clearly shows that I've not moved forward after getting my degree. What would you like to be doing instead? Like a lot of people, I've never really known what I want to do. Even before I went to college, work to me was just something you have to do every day, not anything to do with what you might enjoy. I don't really have any sense of direction and I don't even know what I'd like to do. I saw an independent careers advisor. That was a bit of a slap in the face. She looked at my CV and basically pointed out that I've never really moved forward and I should have progressed far more than I have. The forms I filled out suggested that with a psychology degree I might go into statistics, data or counselling, but those don't appeal to me. If someone offered me a job that had training and career progression prospects, that would be ideal, because it would take away the risk and offer me some stability. What's the biggest obstacle in your way? I've not actually got to the stage of finding a job that appeals to me, never mind applying for anything. I've got analysis paralysis. I spend a lot of time thinking that I need to do something else but I've never known what do, and I don't know how to decide. Plus, I'm constantly aware that I'm approaching 40 and I still haven't figured out my direction. I spend more time fiddling with my CV than anything else. I tend to feel like I can't do things until I'm 100% certain they'll work out, which I know is very, very unlikely to happen. I've basically sat still in the same position because I'm too scared to jump. I know I'm standing in my own way but I can't work out how to move. I've seen other people jump into better things and then be put at risk. But I've also seen temporary staffers come and go while I've sat still, which is quite disheartening â€" every year that passes, I'm still here. If I could get some help to find a sense of direction, I feel like I'd be more confident and could maybe find a job that I'd know would suit me. Then I might actually be able to move on. How do I figure out which way to go? Can you help Anthony? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How do you think Anthony could move his shift forwards? Do you know anyone he could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support. Give Anthony a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

How to Look and Act Professional at a Job Interview - Career Geek

How to Look and Act Professional at a Job Interview - Career Geek Got a big job interview coming up? Feeling unprepared? Take a breath and read on to gain your confidence back. Image Credit: Ted Murphy The word ‘interview’ will strike fear into the hearts of many. It’s a very stressful time. All eyes are on you, grilling you for everything you’ve got and you only get given a very small pressure-filled window in which to convince total strangers that you are the best thing since sliced bread. Heart. Attack. But fear not, my friends, I am at hand to calm your nerves and guide you in the right direction. The Look I know they say that you shouldn’t judge people by what they look like, and I totally agree, but in terms of job interviews, looks matter. So get it right. 1. Dress the part â€" the lead part. The main thing you need to have in mind when deciding what to wear to an interview  is to dress for the job you want to get, not the job you’re going for. This may seem backwards but it works because not only are you guaranteed to look the part, but you will be ten times more likely to impress. 2. Wear something comfortable. Make sure you don’t keep adjusting yourself every five seconds because this will make you seem fidgety and nervous. 3. Be prepared. No, I’m not talking about the cub scouts, I mean be prepared for spills. It’s always a good idea to pack a spare shirt, even if you’re not planning to eat or drink. There will always be someone willing to mess up your perfect outfit with a terribly-timed coffee stain or a projectile ketchup splat. 4. Limit the perfume or aftershave. Don’t be the one that people remember for their overwhelming scent. No one wants to be that guy/gal. Don’t forget the deodorant, however! 5. Limit jewellery. This is mostly for women, but men should remember too. No dangly earrings and nothing that makes a noise. 6. Cover tattoos and piercings. I’m not being anti-tattoos and piercings here because personally I like them, but a lot of places view them as unprofessional. So it’s better to be safe than sorry. 7. Don’t forget the breath mints!   Enough said.  [ALSO READ:  How to Get your Professional Image Right  ] The Attitude You’re looking fantastic, and you’re feeling ready, but don’t get ahead of yourself. Remember to go into that room with the right kind of attitude, one that will be received well. 1. Do not bring…. IPods, gum, coffee or any other drink. And make sure your phone is turned off. Not only will this make you look lazy, but fiddling with any of these things will distract both you and your interviewers from what you’re there to do. 2. Be on time! Nothing is worse than arriving late. Whatever your excuse, genuine or not, this will look bad. Being incredibly early isn’t that great either, however, so aim to arrive half an hour ahead of time and then go for a wander if you actually get there that early. 3. Don’t get distracted. Maintain eye-contact, keep your focus in the room and listen to every word they say. This is the worst time to be zoning out. 4. Don’t slag off your old boss. You can give reasons as to why you’ve left, but don’t start ranting about how much you hate your current/previous job. 5. Trust yourself. Be confident in your abilities and make sure that they know you can do the job. 6. But… don’t be over-confident. Don’t take it too far. Be confident, but not too much. Asking questions and not knowing everything is okay and actually expected.   The Knowledge You’re looking great, feeling great, and now you need to be talking great. Make sure you’ve got the knowledge to back up what you’re saying! 1. Research your company. Everyone will tell you this, but it is one of the most important and easiest things to do. They will ask you about it, in one way or another, and you need to have an answer for them. 2. Research yourself. They will ask you a lot about you, so make sure you remember what you’ve done and when. Otherwise they will think what you’ve said on your CV is a lie. 3. Think about questions for them. They will always ask, most of the time at the end, if you have any questions for them. This is a great opportunity to show your eagerness to learn and your initiative, use it! Think up 3 or 4 questions in advance, just in case 1 or 2 get answered in the interview and you’re left with nothing to ask. So go forth and get that job! Let us know if you found our tips helpful and if there’s any advice you have to add. Gemma Cantwell is a blogger for GKBC and has several job interviews coming up. She will definitely be taking her own advice! 32

Extra Storage Solutions for Your Bedroom without Compromising on Style

Extra Storage Solutions for Your Bedroom without Compromising on Style Are you looking to add extra storage to your bedroom without compromising style? A lot of storage solutions aren’t exactly known for their stylish appearance. In fact, they can end up making a room look more cluttered than it did before. The good news is there are ways to add storage to a small room without compromising on style. Under bed storage Under bed storage is actually one of the best ways to keep your bedroom tidy and clutter free. It can be used to store bedding, out of season clothes and anything you don’t need on a daily basis. Perhaps you struggle to keep your wardrobe tidy throughout the year because you just don’t have enough space? Under bed storage provides an ideal spot to place your out-of-season clothes.    You could always create your own under bed storage using polycarbonate sheets.   Polycarbonate sheets are a perfect solution for those that dont have much space under the beds, as they can get the sheets cut to size and made into a box for them. Mounted furniture As featured on Huffington Post, wall mounted storage is one of the most modern solutions available. It looks incredibly stylish and makes use of the space you already have. Built in box shelves are a particularly great option. You can add a door to each shelving unit so that your clutter is neatly tucked away. These can be great for storing all kinds of items from shoes to books and valuables. Turn your collections into art Do you have a large collection of bags, purses or jewellery? You can make a feature out of them by hanging them on the wall in a decorative way. This adds a unique focal point to the room and also prevents them from cluttering up the wardrobe and your chest of drawers. Making a display out of your collections is a fantastic idea and very easy to achieve. Bed chests Another useful stylish storage option is a bed chest. These are basically placed at the end of the bed and come in a variety of designs. You can even buy leather ones which provide an elegant, stylish design. They are a lot like children’s toy chests you can buy, but they have a much more stylish and modern appearance. Elevate the bed This idea may seem a little out there, but it’s great for those who want to relive their youth! As shown on PopSugar, elevating the bed provides plenty of space underneath. This can be used as wardrobe space or you could place a desk underneath. Cover it with curtains so the storage space stays hidden. Of course, if you choose to elevate the bed, you’re going to need to make sure that you are providing plenty of support. If you aren’t good with DIY, you’ll have to get a professional in to raise the bed for you. These are just some of the ideas you can use to add extra stylish storage to your bedroom. Sometimes you have to think outside of the box to make the most of the space you already have. There are many clever and stylish ways to keep your bedroom tidy. If you have more ideas, share it with us below or tweet us @mscareergirl!

Direct Sellers Can We Really Trust Another Brands Reputation - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Direct Sellers â€" Can We Really Trust Another Brand’s Reputation - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When we go to the grocery store we always have products that we are loyal to. Like your favorite laundry soap, your toothpaste, etc. We grab them from the shelves almost without thinking. This is because that brand has already gained our trust. We believe that it works and we’ll always choose it over any other brand. It’s the same with our personal brand. We want to gain connections who trust who we are and the work that we do. It’s not easy because before you can have a reputation, you have to make an impression and consistently prove that to everyone. As a direct seller and those in the party planning business, the brand and reputation associated with the company that you represent and the products you market associate and impact your brand. What are the dangers of trusting another’s business reputation? The truth is that, part of a risk are the unforeseen circumstances that can arise anytime that may destroy brand reputation. It can be anything from having endorsers that suddenly gain a bad reputation or customer service faltering in providing good or timely service.   If a brand doesn’t address the problem and provide a solution, word will spread and they will gain a bad reputation that will lead to loss of customers. You’ve heard the phrase “guilt by association.”   I would take that one step further and say that your brand is “built by association.”     A recent #brandchat conversation discussed the effects of being associated or a part of another brand and what that means for your brand.   Consider: Check appropriate brand placementâ€" what causes, events, venues and celebrities that your business brand associates with.   Are they aligned well with the business?   Do   the business brand values align well with your values?    For example, MMs pulled out its sponsorship after a NASCAR driver hit another driver’s car and crashed. The driver, Kyle Busch, was put under probation due to the accident. MMs moved to distance themselves from what they perceived as an incident that would reflect badly on their reputation. Do social media background checks â€" social media is a great place to do research for your business prospects. If you want to hire an employee  or associate and co-present with a colleague or a fellow distributor you can check their social media profiles to get a general idea of who they are. Review online videos already posted by other distributors â€" because it’s easy to make and upload videos nowadays, you have the opportunity to be that proverbial “fly on the wall” and peek in on events, activities and opportunity meetings to get a feel for the interaction, tone and environment of a company/organization before you even associate with them.    Videos are great content that you can add on your social media or brand website. Ask â€" Do they take care of their online brand reputation â€" review the company’s sites.   Do they have any?   Are they engaging? Do they diligently manage their brand online or do they default to letting the web create the reputation of their brand online? If you’re not sure about another brand’s reputation, do your research.   Lessen the risk of damaging your brand’s reputation in the future by knowing what’s there now.   You, personally, need to have a baseline of where an association with a brand begins and what they bring to the table. Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of buzz2bucks.com â€" a word of mouth marketing firm and Director of Client Communities of Momentum Factor-focused on the direct selling industry.   She helps create connection, credibility, community and cha-ching through mobile marketing and social commerce around your brand. She is co-founder of #brandchat a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of branding.

5 crucial things to keep in mind about finance graduate schemes

5 crucial things to keep in mind about finance graduate schemes Finance graduate schemes have become a nice little option for newly graduated students. They pay well, theyre largely based in big cities and they hire a ton of grads every year. If you wanna be a high achiever right out of university, this is the path for you. Its probably a good idea to know what youre getting yourself into though. Everybody wants to jump into a place like EY and have a big starting salary. But not a lot of people have considered everything that comes with that. So let us give you the lowdown. Here are five truly important things you should remember when considering finance graduate schemes. Finance graduate schemes are not always about the numbers All you new graduates are probably thinking that a finance graduate scheme is a great way to put that maths degree to work. And youre right, but you should know theres a hell of a lot of diversity in these schemes too. Employers arent just looking for people with a basis in finance and economics, but people with STEM degrees and beyond. Your typical bank or accountancy firm will not just offer finance-related roles, but some in fields like tech, HR and retail too. So dont feel left out of the party if your degree isnt strictly numbers. If your maths skills are right, youll be alright. Youll need diverse skills That being said, you can help yourself by adding a few strings to your bow. A wide range of skills is necessary to handle all the different sectors you may be working in from assurance to corporate finance, tax to audit. To cope you wont just need to be very numerate, but youll need commercial awareness, presentation and organisational skills, and the ability to build relationships. And thats just the tip of iceberg. There are a number of future and digital skills thatll launch you into the finance industry. Get learning, friend. You can find your way with an internship first If finance graduate schemes are the way you want to go, make sure you get a relevant internship first. Theyre not just vital to show youre comfortable in an office environment, an internship can teach you a lot about what you like and dont like. Itll help you connect your coursework to real life situations and build your professional network. So when the time comes to find yourself a permanent job in the world of finance graduate schemes, youll be ready. You might have to move to London As well as being the official centre of the universe, London is the financial centre of the UK. Plenty of the financial sectors movers and shakers are based in and around Canary Wharf. Dont get it twisted though, theres plenty of finance graduate schemes available around the country or even abroad. It depends entirely on what suits you. But to be at the heart of all the action in the financial world, moving to London is the way forward. Luckily, weve got a guide for that. Theres more studying on the horizon   The work doesnt stop with a finance career, but all this means is youll get more opportunity to grow and develop. Many firms will offer you the chance to do this officially by studying while you work to obtain qualifications. This is particularly true with accountancy; youll earn ACA-recognised qualifications pretty much anywhere you go. However, studying while working can be taxing. It might be a good idea to consider taking to time out to achieve the relevant qualifications at your own pace. If youve got the hustle spirit though, this is the perfect way for you to do it. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

The Not-So-Obvious Job Search Help

The Not-So-Obvious Job Search Help Have you ever had a job opportunity the comes out of nowhere. POP! It just magically appears one day when you least expect it. Sometimes it is referred to as luck, but what I think may better describe what’s going on is the intangible act of networking. When a job appears, it is usually the result of the many seeds that have been planted. Think of the people you know who got a job faster than you would have expected, how did they initially hear about it AND how did they pursue it? Networking where you least expect it Jorgen Sundberg of The Undercover Recruiter shares ways to connect with people in his post: 5 Less-Than-Obvious Ways to Network with People   even the network-averse   might feel more comfortable doing. Networking is not just an activity you engage in during a job search. It is a personal and professional development activity! Those lucky job seekers you know (the ones who landed a new job in record time) most likely understood this and had a strong network of connections already in place. My Confession and tips I get it. I know how yucky it feels to meet people you dont know. I am an introvert. I despise going to large events to meet people. But that doesn’t mean I don’t do it. Sometimes, we have to do things we don’t like doing (like eating vegetables!). The more I do it, the more I find ways to make it work for the introverted me. Here are several ways I make networking more tolerable:  I invite people to go with me or plan to meet someone at the event. I seek out specific people in advance I know who will be there and I want to meet. I set a time limit and specific goal for an event and get to leave once achieved! You can’t really use the fact that you are an introvert as an excuse. Every day, an introvert gets a job and so can you! Staying Focused Is Key It is easy to get side-tracked and lured by shiny objects. Staying on course with laser focus was one of the tips I provided yesterday for how to speed up your job search.

How to Write a Resume Objective Writing Sample

How to Write a Resume Objective Writing SampleThe objective of your resume is the first thing that a potential employer will see when looking at your resume. But it is not the only element of your resume. Your resume should tell the reader how well you match the needs of the company. And as you begin to craft your resume, think about this simple tip for resume objective writing sample.In your resume objective, your information should be written with the listener in mind. Think about the reader and how they will use the resume. For example, if you are a contractor that wants to continue working on a large construction project, you will want to emphasize the importance of the project and how the job will change your life. You need to convey to the reader that the project is a life changing event and how your resume is an important part of your success. Another scenario is that of a medical professional that needs to provide information to help a patient decide if this is the right care er path for them.A medical professional that wants to help a patient and wants to give them good information, will want to relay the importance of their field and why this is so important to the patient. Their purpose will be to provide reasons why the patient should take the project and why it is a good choice for them. If a resume objective is written for a nurse, it should focus on the nurse's clinical background and the nurse's special skills to help the patient. An objective can be written for the construction worker that wants to learn more about the tools he or she uses on a daily basis.If you feel that the information in your resume has been lost or there are no new opportunities in your present position, you may want to consider taking a look at what's available. In this case, your resume objective should be something along the lines of 'additional job opportunities in the future'. With a better understanding of the situation, you will know what you need to say. It will hel p you determine how much information you should provide in your resume objective.Perhaps you are not looking for new opportunities, but you want to get rid of your current one. This can happen in a number of situations. If you need more money, you may want to consider a second job or reduce your hours. In this case, your resume objective can include information about your success rate at second jobs.If you are finding a good salary, it may be time to start looking for a job. Again, your resume objective will help you describe how much income you are currently making and the work you do on a regular basis. The resume objective will not have anything to do with a job opening, but rather how you will handle your time when looking for a job.By creating a resume objective, you can find yourself without a job in a few weeks. It can be used to assist you in getting out of an abusive relationship. Or, you can use the resume objective to find a new home, using the situation as the inspiratio n for your resume. Whatever your reason, there is always a time for a resume objective.To keep things interesting, use your resume objective to research current job openings. It can be a helpful way to keep your resume fresh and get you prepared for the next interview. As you begin preparing for that next interview, remember that the resume objective is a perfect place to review what you have already learned and found useful in the job interview.