Current Feed Content from 3 Oct 08 00:14
Obtain More Training in Project Management?
Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:00:00 -0500Deborah writes:
I’m in the process of a career change going from foodservice to project management and will be getting my PMI certification soon but realize that at this time I am still out of my league for any of the jobs that I seen so far — so what would be the best course of action for me to take at this time as I further my education? Thanks.
The Career Doctor responds: I would recommend going to the Project Management Institute’s site and spend some time looking at their career and education resources. There are also about 160 chapters of PMI in the U.S. and abroad, so I would strongly encourage you to locate one near you and start doing some networking.
You will also need to retool your resume, which may involve totally reformatting it, as well as trying to gain some project-management experience. Take a look at your transferable skills, and the overlap between food services and project management. You should then consider experimenting with a chrono-functional resume, but also have a chronological version ready if the chrono-functional format doesn’t seem to be working for you (many employers disdain any type of functional format)
The key to success career change is planning and execution, and you seem to be on the right path so far, but you need to get networking and revamping your resume.
Confused about Career Choice
Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:00:00 -0500Danielle writes:
I really need some help determining my career for the rest of my life. I’m a 19-year-old female who is extremely confused. I’m really good at math and physics. Currently I am majoring in math and minoring in physics to become a teacher for high school. Lately, I have been reconsidering my decision. Maybe I should be an electrical engineer. I don’t know what they do exactly, and I don’t know if it’s a practical job for a female who wants to have a family. I just want to be happy.
The Career Doctor responds: First, relax and don’t be so concerned about being confused. Most people at your age are confused — whether they admit it or not. You need to sit down and really think about what you want to do with your life — both as a career and with a family. Teaching is a very admirable profession, and female math teachers would be great role models for young women in high school, but you need to decide if you originally were leaning this way because the hours are more flexible and easier for having a family, or whether you want to teach so you can make a difference in young people’s lives.
My advice is for you to take some time and talk with some people. Talk to your family — what do they think about your potential and career goals? Talk with some of your professors — both in the math and physics departments, but also go and talk with the a professor in the education department and one from the engineering department. Go back to your old high school and talk with one or more or your old teachers and get their advice.
Finally, go to Quintessential Careers: Career Assessment, and take one or more of the assessment tests and spend some time thinking about the results.
The key is that you still have time to make a decision, and there is no need to rush to force one at this time. You obviously are good in the sciences, so now you just need to find some direction for how to best apply those skills into a career that you will enjoy.
Go for Law School and a Mountain of Debt at Mid-Career?
Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Greg writes:
I’ll get right to the question. I’m 36, considering law school next year. With my mortgage and educational loans after completing law school, I will be faced with just over $200, 000 of debt. QUESTION: At this stage of the game is a legal education worth it? Any input you may have is greatly appreciated.
The Career Doctor responds: You should probably talk to a number of people to get as much advice as possible. Talk to a financial adviser regarding your loans and mortgage and the ability to attend law school and the number of years before you are above water again. Not knowing what area of law you want to enter, I suggest you try to obtain some informational interviews with lawyers who are practicing the law you want to practice. I would talk with the law schools you are considering and ask them about their placement success and typical starting salaries. And this point is going to sound silly, but listen to your heart — what do you really want to do with your life? Answer that question and maybe the rest of these things are moot.
Check the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook for the current and future status of the field.
Another good resource related to answering the question of attending law school can be found at FindLaw.com’s Website, which has numerous articles and links to other resources.
How Should Exotic Dancer Portray Her Past?
Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Anonymous writes:
I am 30 years old and for the past five years have worked as an exotic dancer to put myself through college. I am gradating with honors this summer and want to get a “legitimate” job now; however, I don’t know what to tell potential employers about what I’ve been doing for the past few years (afraid I’ll be stigmatized). Help!
The Career Doctor responds: Sometimes the Career Doctor feels a little like Dear Abby and wonders when people are pulling a prank on him or whether the email is legitimate… for sake of my answer, I will assume your email speaks the truth. You should be proud and feel a sense of great accomplishment rather than feeling afraid — you’ve done a great thing in working to put yourself through school!
First, some questions for you. What jobs did you hold before the exotic dancing — where they more “legitimate, ” as you put it? Did you complete any projects/internships/co-ops while in college?
Second, some advice for you. I would advise trying a chrono-functional resume. On your resume, I would list your education first, since that is the most recent event happening in your career and your best selling point. Of course, state that you are graduating with honors — and add any other honors you’ve earned. Then, as with any chrono-functional resume, I would concentrate on the transferable skills you’ve attained from all your school and work experience. Finally, I would list your actual work history, but come up with a more tame title for your job — perhaps just dancer, perhaps entertainer or performer. You might be able to think of a better job title. Be aware that many employers don’t like any type of functional resume, and you may have to revert to a chronological version if the chrono-functional isn’t working for you. I suggest you spend some time with the Quintessential Careers: Resume Tutorials, where we provide a more detailed explanation of chrono-functional resumes — along with samples.
You should do great. Just remember to have the poise and confidence in the job market that you’ve had for the past five years in accomplishing all that you have.
Opportunities for Accountants in Florida?
Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:44:46 -0500Rina writes:
I would like to know if there are many career opportunities in Florida for Accountants?Also what is the salary range?
The Career Doctor responds: Florida, like many southern states, has seen an ever-growing increase in both people and businesses, and so the obvious answer is that there are many career opportunities for accountants in Florida.
But the easy way for you to take a look at some accounting jobs is to go to either general job Websites (such as ours at Quintessential Career or Quintessential Careers: Ten Best Job Sites) or Jobs in Business, Management, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, and Sales and search for accounting jobs in Florida.
The best way to look at salaries? Use the salary wizard at Salary.com that lets you choose the occupation and location and then gives you back a report.
How to Handle Relocation Cover Letter
Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Delia writes:
I am planning to move back to California from Utah to be closer to my family. How do I address that relocation in the cover letter without it seeming as though there are professional problems?
The Career Doctor responds: Why do you need to say anything? In your cover letter — or in the interview — you simply need to say you are relocating for personal reasons. But with people on the move all the time, changing geographic locations should not be an issue.
Now, get focused on the more important issue: your strategy for finding a new job before you relocate. Start contacting those in your network — especially back in California — and let them know you are relocating and looking for a new job back in California. Then, get on the Web and do some research on the types of jobs, companies, industries where you want to work.
Resources to Help Sharpen Career Focus
Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Mike writes:
Are there any good books out there for someone who has no idea what they want to be when they grow up? I got a BS in sport science because I enjoyed sports, and it was a fun major, but now that I’m out of school I bounce between jobs that pay the bills. It is frustrating not knowing what I want to be while I work jobs that I don’t really enjoy.
The Career Doctor responds: There any number of good books and good Websites to help you out, but before I discuss those, can I take a shot and offer some of my own advice? I want you think what it is about sports that you like so much. If it’s the actual playing of the games, perhaps you should look into breaking into coaching — perhaps first volunteering, perhaps going into a graduate program as a graduate assistant. If what you like is more on the business side, you should consider sports marketing and promotion. I suggest you also conduct some information interviews with various people in the side of the sports industry that interests you. What are information interviews? They’re interviews you conduct not to get a job, but to learn more about careers in a certain field — and to build your network. Learn more in this section of Quintessential Careers: Informational Interviewing Tutorial.
What about your old college/university? I would speak with the career services staff there about jobs for people with your degree — and — I would contact former professors or the head of the sports science department and ask about jobs/careers for your degree path.
Then again, maybe you don’t want to have anything to do with sports as a career. In that case, I would recommend the following books and Websites.
For books, you might try Career Tests: 25 Revealing Self-Tests to Help You Find and Succeed at the Perfect Career, by Louis H. Janda (Adams) or Career Adventure: Your Guide to Personal Assessment, Career Exploration, and Decision-Making, by Susan M. Johnston (Prentice-Hall).
For Websites, you might find some helpful ones listed at Quintessential Careers: Career Exploration.
Learning More about Political Analyst Jobs
Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Anonymous writes:
I have a BA in political science and soon will complete a MA in political science. My chosen career path is to become a political analyst. I can find no resources for that field. Can you to direct me to anything helpful? Also, how would you suggest I go about entering the field?
The Career Doctor responds: As I tell all my visitors who are still in college, your best source for career information and contacts is the professors in your school — and, specifically, in your political-science department. Since you’re in a master’s program, in theory, you have two different sets of professors to network with — from your undergraduate and your graduates programs. Go talk with them and ask questions and solicit advice.
To me, there seems to be two different kinds of political analysts — the ones who work for political parties (or similar organizations) and those who are also journalists — and I’m not sure which of the two interests you more. Either way, the best way to get into these areas is through networking.
Beyond your professors, a great starting point on the ‘Net for you should be the American Political Science Association Website.
Lack of Experience and Lack of Skills
Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Loretta writes:
I live in a small, closed community, and across the river is a big city. I got my BA in art eight years ago and have been working in fast food instead of in my degree field. I have been searching for all kinds of art jobs but have been turned down because I either don’t have the computer knowledge or the work experience in the art field.
I have tried starting my own freelance business with out success either and had to return to fast food as a means to survive. I just taught myself HTML (even though I already knew BASIC and some computer skills) and still get told that I don’t have enough computer knowledge.
I must be doing something wrong. I’m bankrupt and can’t move to where the job would be.
The Career Doctor responds: Loretta, I have a three-step program for you to get your career more on track.
First, find out exactly the types of computer knowledge you need for the types of jobs you want to get. Make sure you examine any other requirements that you do not currently have. Then go out and see if you can take some classes (locally, online, etc.) to gain those skills.
Second, volunteer at night or weekends at an art museum or other establishment — so you can get some experience. While you are doing this, you should also be able to develop some key contacts and build a network of people in the art world. (See Quintessential Careers: The Art of Networking for lots of resources and strategies for networking.)
Third, try creating a version of your resume in a chrono-functional resume focusing on your skills. While working in the fast-food industry does not automatically relate to the art industry, if you sit down and look at the skills you’ve gained and can apply, you might be surprised. These are called transferable skills, and you can learn lots more about them by visiting Quintessential Careers: Transferable Skills. Be aware that many employers disdain any kind of functional resume, so if that version doesn’t seem to be working for you, revert to a chronological version, but consider getting professional help with it to make sure it’s the best it can be. You can find help with your resume at Quintessential Careers: Resume Resources.
Career that Combines Interests with "Passion for Money"
Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Paula writes:
I am majoring in psychology and minoring in business administration. I plan to attend graduate school for business administration. I would like to travel. I am interested in making money, but I want a career that is creative, artistic, and allows me to work flexible hours. I do not want to work public relations, advertising, marketing, or accounting. Can my passion for money and interests coincide? Please help!
The Career Doctor responds: Wow … you have a lot of interests, but also some major restrictions. My most important advice, I think, is to rethink getting your MBA. I have counseled too many undergraduate students who — for lack of a clear career direction — go to graduate school thinking it will help sharpen their career focus. Or, maybe they are just not quite ready to join the workforce.
I would recommend you talk with some of your favorite psychology and business professors and chat with them about your ideas and goals… they should be able to give you a little more direction.
My advice from my limited knowledge of you? You might look into careers in consulting (though you will need to take more accounting) with a firm such as Accenture, or in international management. Both of these careers can offer you a good salary and travel, allow you to be creative in handling new problems, and provide a good salary. With your background in psychology, you might also consider human-resources management, but I don’t think it really meets you other requirements.
Finally, you might also try a few of the career assessments that we recommend and see if they can give you some more ideas. You can find a bunch of assessments (most free or inexpensive) at Career Assessment Tests and Tools.
Answering the Future-Oriented Interview Question
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Eddie writes:
I’m currently working temporary jobs and am seeking a permanent position. I’ve been to several interviews, and two potential employers asked me “Where do you see yourself in the next several years.” Basically, I responded by saying “As long as I have a steady income that I am satisfied with and allows me to be financially independent….” I’m unsure if that was a satisfactory response. I’m somewhat “green” as to how to respond to such a question. Maybe you can give me some advice?
The Career Doctor responds: I think you have two different problems with your interviewing situation. First, the employers are probably asking this question partly to see if you truly are seeking a permanent position or whether you really prefer temping. Second, this question is one of the most popular for employers to ask because it’s a way (they think) of understanding a potential employee’s drive and ambition.
Unfortunately, your answer to the question probably makes the prospective employers uneasy — because you really raise more questions than answers and because your answer does not really show much ambition or planning.
You don’t want to answer that question too ambitiously — “I plan to be running this company, ” or “I plan to be your boss, ” but you need to show some direction and ambition.
A good answer would be something like: “I would hope I am still with this organization in a position of increased responsibility, making a vital contribution to its success.” You could also add a statement about professional career growth to your answer: “I hope to be in a position of increased responsibility that allows me to continually sharpen and grow my career skills, while making a significant contribution to the success of this organization.”
What Does a CEO Do?
Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Amy writes:
In your opinion what is the role of a CEO? What responsibilities and role should this person play in the company?
The Career Doctor responds: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) — sometimes also with the title of president or the chairman of the board — is the top dog in an organization. The CEO is the leader of an organization - and often the visionary. He/she is the most visible and important strategic decision-maker. The personal goals and values of the CEO strongly influence an organization’s mission, strategy, and long-term objectives - as well as impact the organization’s degree of success (or failure). Superior planning and organizational skills are also very important.
The bottom line? Ultimate responsibility for leading an organization falls upon the CEO, no matter how many lieutenants and other senior managers may be in the organization. And the CEO has a direct impact on the success or failure of the firm.
For CEO and other top-executive job sites, check out Quintessential Careers: Executive Jobs.
Cover Letter Submitted Electronically
Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Tom writes:
I am trying to find information concerning the appropriate content and format for sending cover letters electronically. Could you provide some advice and “how to” resources?
The Career Doctor responds: Tom, you’ve come to the right place, because my partner (Katharine Hansen) and I consider ourselves — most especially — cover letter experts. In her book, Dynamic Cover Letters for New Graduates, Kathy states, in part: “brevity is particularly important. For some readers, a screen of email seems equivalent to a page of type…” She goes on to list the guidelines for posting your resume on the Internet.
The keys for cover letters sent via email are:
- keep it brief; even shorter than a standard cover letter;
- know the company guidelines, which can usually be found on each company’s Website;
- use limited formatting so that the letters can be more easily scanned (and because not all people have email software that allows stylized text);
- make good use of keywords in your cover letter;
- as always, proofread and edit your work, making sure there are no errors of any kind.
Changing One's Mind about College Major
Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500Angie writes:
I am a sophomore in college and I had been majoring in mechanical engineering. I realized that I don’t like this major at all and I don’t want to be doing it for the next 40 years of my life. I have no idea what I want to do. Can you suggest something that will help me in my search for a new major?
The Career Doctor responds: Hi Angie… relax, you’ve taken the first — and perhaps most important — step, which is realizing that you have made a mistake and you need to look at other possible careers to find something that better suits your unique skills and attributes.
My best suggestions is for you to take advantage of the advice and resources discussed in my article, Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path. My article takes you through a six-step journey that should lead you to greater clarity and direction about your future career. I also include lots of resources - from self-assessment tests to career guides — in the article.
And the most important piece of advice? Don’t panic. Yes, you are a sophomore, but if you do change your major, a lot of your courses should count as prerequisites for your new major, though you may need to take an overload or some summer courses to stay on course for graduating — but it is certainly not too late to be making these decisions.
Good luck.
Recruiters Push Relocation on Him
Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0500David writes:
My home and family are here in Oklahoma City…
Why is it that nearly every recruiter or job search agent’s first words after “hello..” are either “relocate” or the name of some other city?
This happens even though I have indicated in my resume objective I am looking for work in Oklahoma City…
Am I just a piece of meat who gets the recruiter a better commission for forcing me to relocate, regardless of job openings in the city where I already live?
The Career Doctor responds: David, recruiters are paid by employers for placement, not by the job-seeker. So, while you may be looking for employment in Oklahoma City, the recruiters you’ve talked with may have clients elsewhere with needs that match your qualifications. Since I don’t know the type of job you’re looking for, your background, or current employment conditions in Oklahoma City for you’re a person of your talents and skills, it’s hard for me to offer any better answer.
But here are a few broad suggestions. First, how many recruiters have you spoken with? Are you talking to generalists or specialists to your industry/profession? I’ve worked with some great recruiters and then others who seemed more suited for selling cars, so you may be on a stretch of bad luck … or there are simply better opportunities for someone such as yourself outside your area.
Check out Oya’s Recruiter Directory for some new leads on recruiters. Second, I would suggest going the networking route — either through a professional organization or civic organization — or your existing network of friends and associates; surely, these networks are a great place to get some help in finding a better job.
Finally, check out some of the general job sites, such as the one on Quintessential Careers, or any of the many others — both general and industry-specific — listed for you at Quint Careers.
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