If you dont get your priorities straight, your life will fall apart

If you dont get your priorities straight, your life will fall apartIf you dont get your priorities straight, your life will fall apartI have a friend who, in all outward appearances, is doing extremely well in his life.Hes making millions of dollars. His fame and reputation are spreading far and wide. He is brilliant and seems to know all of the answers.But then, I just found out last night that hes been going through a major divorce.He has a few kids whom he loves, but who he hasnt been around very much to play with.There is a common notion that you can have it all. Its a very seductive idea. But its not true.The fundamental core of the word decision means to literally cut-off alternative options. When you choose one thing, you simultaneously close the door on many others.This is why making decisions is so hard.A true decision involves risk, opportunity cost, uncertainty, and commitment.True decisions involve couragebecause it takes courage to commit to something beyond your own mom entary feelings. It takes courage to commit to a future filled with unknowns.Thomas Monson once said, Choose your love, and love your choice.Ive seen over and over in the past year how easy it is for people to walk away from their marriages. The honeymoon phase has long since passed. Their relationship has gotten slightly apathetic. They arent investing in the relationship like they once did.The grass begins looking much greener ALL OVER THE PLACE.The thrill of a new and exciting relationship (or project) starts to fill the mind.Why is a new relationship so attractive? Because its all future.The longer youre in a relationship, the more past there is in that relationship, and thus, the more likely you are to fall into patterns.Unless you are continually creating a future that is bigger than your past, your past will be repeated in the futureand that is how things can get boring pretty quickly.When you first start something out, its incredibly easy to be flexible. Youre willing to do practically anything for the relationship. You want it really bad.But after time passes, do you still approach the relationship that way?Or, since you have it now, have you stopped prioritizing your relationship?Its extremely easy to fall into this trap.Its easy to fall into patterns where you stop truly investing in a bigger future.Life gets busy.Youve got to pay the bills and do all the stuff. It can be exhausting.But life was busy before and somehow, you found all sorts of creative energy to invest the relationship.What if its not about the busyness of life, if were really being honest?What if youve just gotten too busy with other things?What if your mind is just somewhere else?What if youve gotten lazy?What if, now that you have what you want, you want something else?Its easy to drift.Only when the relationship comes to an abrupt end, like in my friends situation, does it become painfully obvious about what had slowly been happening over a number of years.If you dont pay attenti on to your life on a daily basis, it will absolutely drift in directions you may not like.You have to be completely clear on your core priorities.If youre not completely clear on what matters to you, then you dont have direction in your life. You dont have values. Your life will be a ship in the ocean without a sail or compassjust following the wind.It is not a priority if youre not investing in it.It is not a priority if youre not thinking about it.Its not a priority if youre not pouring time into it.Its not a priority if you dont love it deeply.Its not a priority if you dont have a vision for it.What are your priorities?What evidence is there that what you just thought about actually is a priority?How much have you invested in those priorities in the past 12 weeks?Of all things, relationships are some of the easiest to take for granted over time.If your key relationships arent something youre approaching with a beginners mindsetas you did when you were first trying to establish th e relationshipthen the relationship is probably not a priority to you.That may be weird to hear.It is highly likely that your romantic relationshipno matter how much you say and think you love this personis not actually a priority to you.If the relationship is not a priority, then that relationship has drifted into an apathetic patternand apathetic and boring patterns dont have a lot of life. If your relationship doesnt have life, then it will likely end.One, or both, of you, will begin looking for life and future and possibility somewhere else.You cant have many prioritiesJim Collins said in Good to Great, If you have more than three priorities, you have none.That may be a little extremebut it also brings up a good point. If you are focused on many different things, then you arent really focused at all.Focus requires zeroing in. It means making a decision.If youre focused on several different things in your life, in which direction are you actually going?If youre focused on several different things in your life, is it possible you actually have misled yourself? What if youre not really going where you think you are? What if youre actually drifting, and you havent fully committed.It takes courage to be committed and to make decisions.But without courage and commitment, you can never develop confidence.What are your priorities?Are you clear on them?Are you investing in them?Are you willing to give up a lot of other things to ensure that your true priorities are where your mind and heart are?If not, then you probably dont have priorities. And without priorities, you dont have a clear future that youre creating.Ready to upgrade?Ive created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immediately. If you follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.Get the cheat sheet hereThis article first appeared on Medium.

heres the right way to format your resume

heres the right way to format your resume heres the right way to format your resume The hardest part of writing an effective resume is figuring out the content how to talk about your achievements in ways that tie to what an employer is looking for. But people also do an awful lot of agonizing about the smaller details of a resume things like format, length and even font choices.Lets put those worries to rest. Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about how to format a resume.Is there a basic resume format that works for most people?In general, your resume should have the following sections in the following orderpersonenname and contact infoWork history, listed in reverse chronological order (for each job, list your title, the employers name, the dates you worked there and a bulleted list of achievements)EducationSome people also include a short profile or summary section before their work history. This is optional, but has increased in popularity in recent years. Th e idea is to provide an overall framing for your candidacy.Some people also find it useful to include sections for volunteer work or special skills. Again, this is optional, but in some cases it may strengthen your candidacy.Does it ever make sense to use a functional resume rather than a chronological one?Functional resumes which are focused on one long list of skills and accomplishments rather than connecting them to a chronological work listing are widely disliked by employers, since they make it difficult to understand what the candidates work progression has been. Hiring managers also tend to assume that candidates using this format are trying to hide weak experience or significant work gaps. Since using this format is likely to start you out on the wrong foot with hiring managers, stick to the chronological format over the functional.What belongs in the education section?Generally your education section will be just a line or two. You should list any degrees youve attained s ince high school, and the college or university that granted them. You generally dont need to go into detail about your coursework just the degrees themselves are sufficient.You might also list certificates or other forms of continuing education here, but be choosy about what you list. Anything listed in this section should be substantial, so you shouldnt include, say, a list of 15 day-long seminars you attended or every conference in which youve participated.Should you talk about your work experience using bullet points or paragraphs?When youre describing your work experience, always use bullet points. Hiring managers are skimming your resume, and big blocks of text are harder to absorb quickly than bullet points are. Plus, many hiring managers eyes will glaze over if your resume appears to be one long block of text. Save that for your cover letter.What about length? Is it okayfor resumes to be more than two pages?The old one-page resume rule is dead, but that doesnt mean you can throw out all the rules about length Your resume still should elend be more than two pages. If youre a recent graduate, stick to one page.If that feels painful to you, keep in mind that the longer your resume is, the less likely hiring managers are to see the parts you most want them to see. Most hiring managers spend just a few seconds scanning resumes initially if your resume is several pages long, how many highlights will they really spot? Plus, a long resume can make you come across as unable to tell what information is important and whats less important.Should you stick to a plain, basic layout or can a creative resume design score you points? In most cases, you should stick to a plain, basic layout. The most important thing about your resume design is that it should be easy to scan and well-organized. Few hiring managers want to see unusual colors or innovative templates. The traditional resume layout may feel boring, but hiring managers know how to quickly find the informatio n they want on it, and thats to your advantage.Does font choice matter?Hiring managers wont care about what font you use as long as you choose one thats easy on the eyes. Your resume is not the place for a flowery cursive font or anything thats going to make it difficult to skim quickly. Sample different fonts and pick one that you like and thats easy to read. Georgia, Calibri, Arial and even old-school Times New saga are all fine. (Really, a good litmus test for your resume font is that no one should be thinking about it. You want your content to stand out, not your font selection skills.)And dont forget that font size matters Dont choose a font size smaller than 11 anything else can be hard for some people to read.

Ten Advertising and Design Awards

Ten Advertising and Design AwardsTen Advertising and Design AwardsAdvertising awards are a lucrative business, which is why there are so many of them. The entrance fees usually start in the low hundreds of dollars, and if youre entering several campaigns, you could be out of pocket by a few thousand dollars. Sometimes, it s a lotmore. So, with advertising agencies having less money to spend, but awards mucksmuschenstill being one of the few ways to show major credibility, which awards should you try and win? Here, are the best award shows the ones that actually matter.These are the awards that have high creative standards, are widely recognized by the industry, and mean something when you put them on your agency reel or your personal resume. After all, theres no point in listing all of the awards youve won if you have to explain what they are. 1 The DAD (Design Art Direction) In the opinion of the most renowned names in advertising, the DAD is the biggest and the best. Its one o f the few awards that refuses to hand out gongs if the work isnt good enough. Most other awards will compromise their standards to ensure every category has a winner, but not the DAD. They platzdeckchen the bar really, really high. Founded in 1962 by some of the best designers and art directors in the world (Alan Fletcher, David Bailey and Terence Donovan to name a few) they set impossibly high standards from the get-go. 2,500 entries, 16 winners. Giants of advertising and design have since been president of the DAD, including Paul Brazier, Graham Fink, Mary Lewis, Aziz Cami, Tim Delaney and Martin Lambie-Nairn. The standards for even being considered for a DAD award are so tough, they now have an award for getting a nomination. If you win a DAD pencil, youre exceptional. If you win a DAD Gold, well, youve just elevated yourself to a creative deity. But if money is tight and the work isnt absolutely fantastic, save your cash. Entering good work is not good enough, and youve just was ted your entry fee. Chances of winning a DAD pencil - Very, very slimBragging rights - Massive and foreverEffect - A DAD pencil is a knighthood for your career 2 The One Show Widely known as the US equivalent of the DAD, and often more coveted in the US than the DAD, the One Showis another giant of the advertising awards industry. The One Club was founded to champion and promote creative excellence in advertising and design. And it does that. Just like the DAD, the standards are high. Perhaps not quite as tough as the DAD, but its close. You need to have solid work and major confidence to even consider entering. Chances are, you wont see a win. But for those few that do win a One Show pencil, its champagne and caviar to celebrate. Chances of winning a One Show pencil - Very slimBragging rights - Enormous and lengthyEffect - With its US connection, theyre the Oscars of advertising 3 The Cannes Lions The Cannes Lions are actually older than both the One Show and DAD, having be en born in 1954. They were started because a group of worldwide cinema screen advertising contractors (SAWA) felt like advertising should receive similar recognition to the movies playing at the Cannes Film Festival. From that point, Cannes Lions have grown into a massive number of categories. They honor everything from advertising and design to creative effectiveness - something often overlooked in favor of pretty pictures and prose. Cannes not only gives out awards they also impart knowledge. Their speaker series reads like a whos who of the advertising and design elite, and those kinds of names ad serious credibility to the awards. Again, if the work isnt absolutely dynamite, save your money. The standards are high and the competition is fierce. Chances of winning a Cannes Lion - SlimBragging rights - ColossalEffect - A Cannes Lion means a few extra stripes on your creative epaulets 4 Communication Arts Annuals Every year, the esteemed creative publication Communication Arts puts out a series of printed annuals celebrating the best of the best work done that year. The annuals titelbild specific fields, including The Illustration AnnualThe Interactive AnnualThe Advertising AnnualThe Typography AnnualThe Design Annual On average, each annual receives roughly 5,000 entries and only 150-200 are chosen for the book. That means you have a 96 to 97 percent chance of not making the final cut. Ouch. If youre on a budget, a 3 to 4 percent chance of winning is not an attractive gamble. But those odds make it even sweeter when your work is chosen by a distinguished panel of jurors. Chances of appearing in a CA Annual - FaintBragging rights - MammothEffect - The Annuals stay on shelves for years - winning work is lauded for a long time. 5 The ADDYs The American Advertising Federation (AAF) celebrates the notion that great ideas can come from anywhere. Local chapters of the AAF host awards shows, and the best work from those shows goes forward to the national ADD Ys. It also receives over 40,000 entries each year, making it the worlds largest advertising competition. And whats more, it boasts a smaller entrance fee than most other awards. Judges for the ADDYs are some of the best, biggest and brightest in the industry. For example, the 2011 judging panel includes Aaron Allen, creative director of Weiden Kennedy, Steve Babcock, creative director of Crispin, Porter and Bogusky, and Tom Coates, creative director of Butler Shine. These are tough critics whose own agencies have a history of creating some of the best advertising in the world. The judging panels, plus the massive notoriety of winning, makes the ADDYs an oasis for agencies and creative looking to add more strings to their bow. Of course, even though its widespread, winning a national award is tough. The local chapters are easier to win, but its no cake-walk either. Chances of winning a National ADDY - FaintBragging rights - TitanicEffect - The judges are massive talents. If they lo ve you, youre golden. 6 The CLIO Awards Founded in 1959 by Wallace A. Ross, the CLIO name stems from Greek mythology, being the muse of history and the celebrator of accomplishments. Today, the CLIO Awards honor the best Interactive, Direct Mail, Content Contact, Film, Print, Out of Home, Innovative Media, Integrated Campaign, Radio, Design and Public Relations. Student work is also recognized in Interactive, Film, Print, Out of Home, Innovative Media, Integrated Campaign and Design. The judging process for the CLIO awards is also notably tough. Fewer than 10 percent of submissions survive the first round, from which juries re-evaluate the work to determine Gold, Silver and Bronze statue winners. Less than 3 percent of all entries receive a statue, and less than 1 percent receives the coveted Gold CLIO. Those are tough odds that some agencies and individuals dont want to mess with. But, when you win, it makes it an even more prized victory. Chances of winning a CLIO - Minuscule Bragging rights - MonumentalEffect - Surviving the tough judging procedure wins you some major praise. 7 The SHORTY Awards One of the newest kids on the block, for obvious reasons, the Shorty Awards (aka Shortys) were introduced in 2008 by Greg Galant and Lee Semel of Sawhorse Media. The reason for their creation was in reaction to the expanding social media universe, and the vast amount of advertising and design that went into the creation of content for the platform. Now, its huge. From Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, to SnapChat, Periscope, Twitch and YouNow, social media is driving the conversation for brands both large and small. And with smartphones so prominent, breaking through in this space is essential. Prominent celebrities have also won Shortys for their contributions to this platform. Chances of winning a SHORTY - SlimBragging rights - LargeEffect - Shortys are big news. Get one, and you have done well. 8 The PromaxBDA Awards Focused on broadcast desi gn and advertising, this highly-respected award includes categories for network TV, TV stations, cable networks and systems, radio, and interactive media. PromaxBDA includes 10,000 members in over 70 countries around the world, and past winners of these awards include HBO, FX Networks, Showtime, AE Networks, Red Bee Media, and many more. The standard is high, and the judging panel is looking for overall creativity, production quality, and just as important, results in achieving the marketing objectives. Chances of winning a PromaxBDA - SmallBragging rights - LargeEffect - PromaxBDA awards are recognized, and sought after. 9 The OBIE Awards Not to be confused with the Off-Broadway awards, also know as OBIE, the advertising OBIE Awards celebrate excellence in advertising, with a focus on OOH (Out Of Home). Long story short, if youve done a killer billboard or outdoor activation, the chances are, youll have a shot at an OBIE. This award turned 75 years old on May 16, 2017, and is one of the oldest awards in the advertising industry. All those 3D billboards, or interactive displays you see, theyre the ones grabbing the spotlight at this particular awards show. The work is eye-catching, shareable, and takes a lot of effort and production. Chances of winning a PromaxBDA - SlimBragging rights - HugeEffect - If you can nail an OBIE, youll be in demand 10 The EFFIE Awards Creatives around the world never feel as proud of an EFFIE as they should, and thats a shame. Out of all of the awards listed on this page, this is the one that places a focus on the effectiveness of an advertising or marketing campaign and at the end of the day, isnt that what really matters? Since 1968, the Effies have celebrated those marketing and ad campaigns that not only looked good, but performed well. These are the campaigns that moved the sales needle, and made money. Or, they got a brand noticed in a big way. Chances of winning a PromaxBDA - SmallBragging rights - BigEffect - Wit h an EFFIE under your belt, management takes you seriously.

How To Get A Job in Digital Marketing Without A Marketing Degree

How To Get A Job in Digital absatzwirtschaft Without A Marketing DegreeHow To Get A Job in Digital Marketing Without A Marketing DegreeHow To Get A Job in Digital Marketing Without A Marketing DegreeA career in Digital Marketing is an attractive option getting paid to sit on Facebook all day is basically living the dream, right?While Digital Marketing does involve a lot of time on social media, some blogging and a few cat GIFs here and there, there are so many reasons why this career is a popular one. For one, its a relatively new industry thats constantly growing and evolving. Its also one of very few jobs which requires a real marriage of creative and analytic skills, so youre always on your toes and never get the chance to utter the phrase my job is so boring.However, the best thing about Digital Marketing as a career is that theres no linear entry path into this field and, although it can make things mora straightforward, you dont need a degree in marketing to get a job in this i ndustry. TWEET Read on for practical tips and advice on how to get a job in digital marketing without a marketing degree.Which degrees can lead to a career in marketing?A Digital Marketer needs to carry out a wide variety of tasks on a daily basis including, but not limited to search engine optimization, pay per click advertising, email marketing, social media marketing, blogging and content marketing, as well as strategizing, analyzing and reporting.All of these tasks require a completely different set of skills and disciplines and although a good marketer should be able to competently do everything, the best Digital Marketer usually specializes in one area.Rand Fishkin, who is a prominent figure in the world of Digital Marketing, talks on his blog about the T Shaped Marketer. This is someone who has a light level of knowledge across a wide variety of skills, but has depth in one or a few particular areas.Therefore any degree which supports one or mora specialist skills can help yo u land a job. For example, those with a degree in Creative Writing, Journalism or English Literature could make excellent Content Marketers. Whereas, those with a background in Web Design or Development might have a flare for SEO or PPC.Other degrees which offer cross-over skills include Business Studies, PR and Communication, Advertising, Computer Science, Economics, Management and Psychology to name a few.Which skills are required?Digital Marketing is a multi-faceted job which requires diagonal thinking an ability to be simultaneously creative and commercially minded. Some of the key skills attributed to this role includeStrong writing ability.Good communication skills.Awareness of consumer behavior and buyer psychology.Analytical and numerical abilities.Knowledge and experience with social media, blogging platforms, PPC.Graphic design abilities.Web design/development knowledge.Top tips on how to get a job in digital marketing.Of course a degree in marketing might give a candidate an advantage on paper, but when hiring for Digital Marketing roles, employers do tend to focus more on proven skills and experience.So if you dont happen to have a degree in marketing, there are a few things you can do to boost your chances of getting a Digital Marketing job.Get experience.Digital Marketing internships are great if you can secure one, if not, you can still gain a wealth of experience on your own. Theres no reason why you cant experiment and start your own blog, website or social media channels. You can also offer to help any friends or family members who have small businesses in need of an elevated web presence. The more you can show drive, passion and genuine interest to an employer, the better your chances of getting a Digital Marketing job.Network.Connecting with local professionals in the Digital Marketing sector can be hugely beneficial to furthering your career. Being known within those circles will keep you updated when job opportunities arise and forming st rong relationships may also help you to acquire a mentor who can steer you in the right direction. Surrounding yourself with experts who are passionate about what they do will also drive you to work harder and inspire you to keep on top of the current trends.If youre not able to network at events or gatherings, connect on a digital level by adding people on LinkedIn, following them on Twitter and getting involved in conversations.Be a fan.In most Digital Marketing job interviews you will be asked which influencers you admire or follow online, as this is a great indicator of how passionate and involved you are in the industry. If you love Digital Marketing, you should be aware of the big names. The Kim Kardashians of Digital Marketing, if you will. Follow them on Social Media, listen to their podcasts and watch their videos. This is one of the most effective ways to stay ahead of the game.Want to see how your resume stacks up? Try out our free critique today

Experienced Merchandising Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Experienced Merchandising Resume Template 2018s Top FormatExperienced Merchandising Resume Template - 2018s Top FormatCreate ResumeLydia Dixon100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019H(555) 322-7337example-emailexample.comProfessional SummaryResults-driven Assistant Manager determined to exceed company sales goals. Leverages financial and marketing education to make smart purchasing and merchandising decisions.SkillsCustomer service-orientedRetail sales professionalMarkdown proceduresInventory controlExcellent communication skillsReliable and punctualFlexibleWorks well under pressureHuman resource laws knowledgePleasant demeanorTeam buildingEmployee training and developmentWork HistoryAssistant Store Manager, 01/2006 to Current ROSS Dress for Less Greenville, NCResponsible for management and supervision of all assigned departments.Assists in managing and controlling the operations of the store to ensure that company standards and expectations are met.Follow ROSS philosophy and policie s in regard to customers, associates, and merchandising.In absence of store manager, responsible for entire store operations and will execute the business plan and associated programs and deliver desired sales and profit.Maintains good quality Customer Service.Recruits, trains and develops Associates functioning as Supervisor on duty.Responsible for opening and closing the store.Supervising AssociateInterviewed job candidates and made staffing decisions.Area Supervisor, 06/2001 to 09/2006 ROSS Dress for Less Philadelphia, PAMember of Supervisory staff.Responsible for specific assigned area (Ladies) of the store.Responsible of general operations and supervision of the store when functioning as Supervisor on duty.Responsible for opening and closing the store.Providing Star Customer Service at all times.Supervising merchandising processing, markdowns, sizing and front end as needed.Area Supervisor, 03/1997 to 10/2001 Panama MachetazoTrain employees in their job duties to ensure smoot h and continuous operations.Interview and recruit new candidates when necessary.Maintain performance evaluation and appraisals.Assist with implementing new polices and procedure.To achieve stock control targets inline with company guidelines to prevent financial loss.To manage payroll budgets in line with area sales.To ensure that the visual image presentation of the store represents the brand image.Ability to mange and develop a positive and productive management team.EducationB.S Education, 2000 University of Panama Panama CityCustomize ResumeMore Retail Resume TemplatesEntry Level Merchandising Resume Templates

Top Choices of Resume Versus Cv

Top Choices of Resume Versus Cv Resume Versus Cv - the Conspiracy Past the typical fare is a selection of sections that may be included, based on what sort of employer youre applying to. The principal distinction is length. Its an excellent time to deal with length. Should you need an example to have a look at, make sure that you take a look at the sample teacher resume at the close of the report The History of Resume Versus Cv Refuted Selecting the chronological resume for the perfect reasons will impact your odds of standing out among the competition. If that is a job in which you know they will need to employ someone immediately or maybe a sales job at the place where they might appreciate the excess enthusiasm, maybe a week would be ok. Chronological resumes arent the very best fit for fresh graduates since they dont have a lot of knowledge in the very first spot. Well cover that in a couple of minutes, once we discuss the myriad types of resumes. What to Do About Res ume Versus Cv Understanding how to code WordPress is also practical for designers and can turn into the fundament of a development career for lots of individuals. Thus, figure out whether this lesser-known resume style is appropriate for you. For instance, you can select a text-based layout with a professional look that will permit you to highlight your work experience. Shell also alter her Summary and Objective near the top of her separate resume accordingly. If you are a newcomer to the work market, your Summary is going to be based more on ability than experience. Chronology isnt as critical as tailoring the information for a certain intent. A Curriculum Vitae, or CV, is similar to an academic variant of the resume, but its not a resume. At times the Skills and Accomplishments section is a distinct section. Teacher resumes can be more complicated to create than those for different fields on account of the abundance of certifications necessary and additionally the selectio n of teaching jobs out there. The absolute most effective formatting for you will probably be distinguishable from the best formatting for someone else because your experiences and strengths will differ, and youll thus gain from formatting adapted particularly to your circumstance. Your resume is possibly one of the most formal documents youll ever write. In the following piece, you will discover a detailed step-by-step guide, completely free samples, and completely free templates for developing a compelling chronological resume. There are three sorts of resumes, each with its own benefits and pitfalls.A chronological resume is among the 3 main resume formats. One of the absolute most important things to keep in mind when working on your curriculum vitae is that there isnt one voreingestellt format. Whichever service you select, I cant overstate the worth of working with an expert job resume template. For instance, if you worked in the medical business but are attempting to become in to sales, replace the term patient with the term client or customer, which are far more relatable to a broader variety of audiences. It is very important to mention that your only LinkedIn profile has the potential to attain a broader audience than your resume. If it comes to CVs, some employers are extremely specific about what they would like you to include and the way the info ought to be laid out. Then they submit the hyperlink to their LinkedIn profile. This will make it simpler for recruiters to get in touch with you. You may add a hyperlink to your professional website if youve got one and to your LinkedIn account too. You may also incorporate your site URL and portfolio here. The Chronicle of Higher Educations job site features several articles that could be beneficial to first-time applicants on the work marketplace. Submit it for a totally free review to discover. Get the Scoop on Resume Versus Cv Before Youre Too Late Ads usually contain what the provide r thinks is important in a candidate. In case the client wants a folks will remember, I give them one people wont ever forget. Maybe you were lucky to land a great job in a good company that knows the way to care for its employees. If you are in doubt, its worth your time to get hold of the agency and ask which would be most suitable for the position.

Stop Sabotaging Your Career by Using This 5-Step Business Plan

Stop Sabotaging Your Career by Using This 5-Step Business Plan Do you want to change careers, advance in your field, or find a better work environment? Is this a dream, wish, or goal? Planning is the critical element that differentiates betweenwishing, dreaming, and doing.A dream without a goal is a wish a goal without a plan is just a dream.- Larry ElderManaging your career is a job in itself. In fact, your career is basically a geschftsleben, and you are the president, CEO, head of marketing, and lead customer service rep. When you are ready for a transition in your career, you must have a business plan just like any good business must have a plan before it decides to make a change.A successful business plan should be practical, sustainable, and workable. Answering the following five questions will give you the foundation for your business plan and allow you to identify and implementthe actions that will lead you to success.1. Who or What Is Your T arget?A successful company knows who its customers are. It knows their incomes, likes, occupations, locations, needs, and accessibility. In order to reap the greatest benefit, the company limits its efforts to focus on the ideal customer(s).The company also recognizes that it may have more than one ideal client. For example, a sporting goods store may target both hardcore athletes and novices who are entering into the world of sports for the first time.For the business of your career, you should be asking the following questions- What or who is your target?- Are there certain companies that you want to work for?- What position do you want next?- What responsibilities do you want?- What opportunities do you want?- What does that next ideal step look like?2. What Do You Have To Offer?A strong company knows what makesit unique and valuable to itscustomers.Understanding what makes you valuable and different fromyour competition elevates you as a candidate. You need to be able to answer the question, Why you?Move beyond the list of duties that you perform or have performed in the past look for value. Duties are what you are hired to do, but it is how you do what you do that determines your value.Toget a strong sense of your unique valueproposition, answer these questions- Who do you work with?-How do you work with them?- What do you contribute?- What have youaccomplished?- Why was it important that you were involved in this process? How did you make it better than it otherwise would have been?3. Who Are the Other Candidates?A company knowsitscompetitors. It knowswho they are, how their customers reach them, how they market, andwhat their value propositions are.You need to know your competition, too. Who are the other candidates out there vying for the saatkorn roles and pursuing the same goals? What makes them valuable and how can you make yourselfmore valuable than they are?Leverage LinkedIn to review your potential competition. Do any stand out, and if so, why? Can you learn something from them? Do they better utilize SEO in their profile? Do they speak to value rather than duties?Do an impartial comparison of yourself against your competition. Would you hire or promote yourself over your competitors? Be honest4. What Is Your Marketing Plan?The heart of a businesss success lies in its marketing. Marketingdrives sales, promotions, pricing, publicity, repeatability, and growth.The business of your career needsmarketing, too. Career marketing consists of a combination of various elements, and the two most important are LinkedIn and networking.LinkedIn is your online presence. This is where you will be discovered, contacted, or overlooked. Your profile should reflect your value, spoken from a first-person perspective that directly connects you to your target audience.LinkedIn is a piece of networking, but it is not the only piece. There are many other opportunities for networking, including face-to-face networking at conferences and such. Whe n networking, it is important to know your value proposition What value do you provide and to whom do you provide it?Fine-tune your elevator pitch. Know the key elements, but leave it unscripted this will make it easier to adapt the pitch depending on your environment.Once you have the basics, networkEngage in networking opportunitieslikeindustry meetings, formal networking events, and chamber events. Even casual conversations like the kind you might have whilewaiting in line at the movie theater or during halftime at a football game are networking opportunitiesA current resume with a focus on value rather than job duties is another key element ofyour marketing plan. Once you start networking, you want to be able to immediately capitalize on any opportunity that may come along, so make sure your resume is always updated5. How Do You Adjust?Having a business plan is the foundation for your success utilizing it, evaluating the results, and adjusting action items as necessary is cri tical if you want to actually make it to the point of success.For example, you may have a goal of transitioning into a new field. However, after implementing your business plan, you might discover that the field is not what you thought it would be and that you are no longer interested in this goal. Youll need to modify your target and approach if you want to move forward toward successTrack your progress. When networking, track how many contacts you make, your interactions, and the results. Modify your approach or pitch to clarify your message and generate more concrete leads.The business plan is your guide, and through the proper execution of the plan, you will generate results. ansicht results must be analyzed to determine whether or notyou are truly making progress on your goal. If you are not getting the results you want, you can leverage the information you have collected to modify your plan accordingly-Having a solid business plan gives you a blueprint for your success. It is your guide, and by answering the five essential questions above, you will have a strong advantage over your competition and a greater appreciation for the value that you can bring to an organization.

US Military Enlistment Contracts and Incentives

US Military Enlistment Contracts and IncentivesUS Military Enlistment Contracts and IncentivesAll of the tafelgeschirrs use the same enlistment contract- Department of Defense Form 4/1. This is the contract that is used for military enlistments and re-enlistments. Of all the paperwork you signed during the process to join the military, this is the most important document. If you enlist on active duty, youll actually sign two enlistment contracts. The first one places you in the Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP). The DEP is actually the inactive reserves. Inactive reserve members do leid perform weekend drills likeactive membersnor do they receive any pay. They can, however, be called to active duty in times of emergency. That said, there has never been a case where a member in the DEP has been involuntarily called to active duty. When your time in the DEP is up, and its time to go onto active duty and ship out to basic training, you are discharged from the inactive reserves and sign a new enlistment contract to enlist on active duty. Recruiter Promises Versus Contract Guarantees No matter what your recruiter promised you, if its bedrngnis in the enlistment contract, or in an annex to the contract, its not a promise. Also, it doesnt much matter what is in the DEP enlistment contract if it isnt in your active duty enlistment contract, its not a promise. If you were promised an enlistment dreingabe, for example, it needs to be in the final active duty contract, or chances are youll never see that beigabe. Once you get out of basic training and job training and go to the personnel office at your first cousine, theyre not going to give one hoot about what anyone promised you- theyre only going to care about what is in the enlistment contract. In fact, the bottom of the very first page of the enlistment contract contains the following clause The agreements in this section and attached annex(es) are all the promises made to me by the Government. ANYTHING ELSE ANYON E HAS PROMISED ME IS leid VALID AND WILL NOT BE HONORED. That said, incentives and entitlements which are available to everyone wont be, and dont need to be in the contract. This is because military members are already entitled to it by law. For example, medical care, base pay, and the Montgomery G.I. Bill wont be specified in the contract, because these benefits are available to everyone who enlists in the military. Those enlisting on active duty will have at least two enlistment contracts the initial contract for the Delayed Enlistment Program (DEP) and a final contract that one will sign on the day they go to MEPS to ship out to basic training, which is the contract that counts is the final contract. It doesnt matter if your enlistment bonus, advanced rank, college loan repayment program, college feststellung, etc., are not included in the first contract. You do, however, need to make sure all of your desired incentives are included in the final active duty contract (if your enli stment program/job choice entitles you to those incentives). Enlistment Periods Thought you were enlisting for four years? Think again. It may surprise you to learn that allnon-prior service enlistments in the United States Military incur a total eight-yearservice obligation. When you sign that enlistment contract, you are obligating yourself to the military for a total of eight years. Whatever time is not spent on active duty, or in the active Guard/Reserves (if you enlisted in the Guard/Reserves) must be spent in the inactive reserves. Paragraph 10a of the enlistment contract states a. FOR ALL ENLISTEES If this is my initial enlistment, I must serve a total of eight (8) years. Any part of that service not served on active duty must be served in a Reserve Component unless I am sooner discharged. This means two things Lets say you enlist in the Navy for four years. You serve your four years and get out. Youre really not out. Youre transferred to the inactive Reserves (called the IRR or Individual Ready Reserve) for the next four years, and the Navy can call you back to active duty at any time, or even involuntarily assign you to an active (triole) Reserve unit during that period, if they need you due to personnel shortages, war, or conflicts (such as Iraq). This total eight-year service commitment applies whether you enlist on active duty, or join the Reserves or National Guard. Heres the second thing the military may not let you out at the end of your active duty tour. Under a program called Stop-Loss, the military is allowed to prevent you from separating, during times of conflict, if they need your particular warm body. During the first Gulf War (1990), all of the services implemented Stop-Loss, preventing pretty much anyone from separating, for an entire year. During the Kosovo Campaign, the Air Force instituted Stop-Loss for those in certain Shortage jobs. During Iraq and Afghanistan, The Army, Air Force, and seestreitkrafts instituted Stop-Loss, aga in, directed at specific individuals with shortage jobs, or (in the case of the Army), sometimes directed at specific units. The key is, once you join, if there are any conflicts going on, the military can hold you past your normal separation or retirement date. Up until October 2003, the Army and Navy were the only services that offered active-duty enlistments for periods of less than four years. However, as part of the FY 2003 Military Appropriations Act, Congress passed theNational Call To Service Plan, which mandated that all of the services create an enlistment program which offered a two year active duty enlistment option, followed by four years in the Active Guard/Reserves, followed by two years in the Inactive Reserves (still the total eight-yearservice commitment). But, lets talk reality here While Congress mandated this plan, they gave the services wide latitude in implementation. The Army and Navy already had two-year active duty enlistment plans that they were happy with , and theAir Forceand Marines had no recruiter problems and werent really interested in shorter-term enlistments. However, because of enlistment shortages, the Army has dramatically expanded slots under this program in 2005 and 2006. The Air Force and Marine Corps still have little interest in a two-year active duty program. So, they implemented the very basics and applied many restrictions you probably have a better chance of hitting the lottery than getting one of the very fewNational Call to Serviceslots in these two branches. For example, under theAir Force Plan, the program is limited to one percent of all enlistments (about 370 total recruits, out of 37,000), and the program is limited to 29 Air Force jobs. The Marine Corps limit theirNational Call to Serviceenlistments to only 11 MOSs (jobs). The Army and the Navy are the only services which have active duty enlistment options of less than four years, which are not part of theNational Call to Serviceprogram. The Army offers enlistment contracts of two years, three years, four years, five years, and six years. Only a few Army jobs are available for two and three year enlistees (mainly those jobs that dont require much training time, and that the Army is having a hard time getting enough recruits). fruchtwein Army jobs require a minimum enlistment period of four years, and some Army jobs require a minimum enlistment period of five years. The Navy offers a very few two-year and three-year contracts, where the recruit spends two or three years on active duty, followed by six years in the Active Reserves. Additionally, under the Armys 2-year enlistment option, the two years of required active duty dont start until after basic training and job-school, so its actually longer than two years. The other services offer four, five, and six-year enlistment options (The Air Force only offers four and six-year enlistments). All Air Force enlisted jobs are available for four-year enlistees. However, the Air Force wi ll give accelerated promotions for individuals who agree to enlist for six years. Such individuals enlist in the grade of E-1 (Airman Basic), or E-2 (Airman), if they have sufficient college credits or JROTC. They are then promoted to the grade of E-3 (Airman First Class) upon completion of technical training, or after 20 weeks after basic training graduation (whichever occurs first). Six-year enlistment options are not open to all jobs, at all times. Most Navy jobs are available for four-year enlistees, but some special programs (such as Nuclear Field) require a five-year enlistment. These special programs usually offer increased training opportunities and accelerated promotion. Enlistment Incentives All of the services offer programs called enlistment incentives, which are designed to attract recruits, especially to jobs that are traditionally hard-to-fill. As I said above, each of the below incentives needs to be included on the enlistment contract or an annex to the contrac t otherwise, they are not likely to be valid. Anenlistment incentiveis different than amilitary benefitin that not everyone is eligible, and it must be in the enlistment contract to be valid. For example, an enlistment bonus is anenlistment incentive. Not everyone qualifies for an enlistment bonus. It depends on qualifications and job selected. Therefore, to be valid, it must be on the enlistment contract. The Montgomery G.I. Bill, or Tuition Assistance, or military medical, or amount of base pay, ect., on the other hand, aremilitary benefits or entitlements.They are available to everyone who enlists, and therefore you wont find them mentioned in the enlistment contract. Keep in mind that you cant negotiateenlistment incentives. Military recruiters and the job counselors at MEPS have no authority to decide who gets an incentive and who doesnt. Incentives are authorized for specific jobs or specific enlistment programs by the Recruiting Command Headquarters for the individual servic e. In other words, its either been authorized for your specific job or enlistment program, or its not. If its authorized, youll be offered the incentive. If its not authorized, all the negotiating in the world wont get it for you. Following are the currentenlistment incentivesoffered by the services. Enlistment Bonus Probably the best known of all enlistment incentives is theenlistment bonus. Enlistment bonuses are used to try and convince applicants to sign up into jobs that the service needs really bad. When they passed theFiscal Year 2006 Military Authorization Act, Congress authorized the services to increase the maximum active duty enlistment bonus cap from $20,000 to $40,000. Keep in mind, however, that Congress allowed the services to do so they didnt mandate it. The maximum amount of enlistment bonus is platzset by each of the services (up to the $40,000 maximum allowed by law), based on their own individual recruiting needs. The Air Force and Marine Corps offer the few est enlistment bonuses. At the time of this annual revision to this article, the Air Force was offering active duty enlistment bonuses to only 6 AFSCs (jobs), and the top bonus authorized was $12,000. The top Marine Corps enlistment bonus is currently $6,000. The Navy still caps enlistment bonuses to a maximum of $20,000. The Coast Guard presently offers a top enlistment bonus of $15,000. Of the five active duty services, only the Army has elected to increase their maximum active duty enlistment bonus cap to the $40,000 authorized by law. Sometimes, the services will offer an additional bonus for recruits who agree to ship out to basic during a designated time-frame, or for recruits who have college credits. The Army Navy do this the most often. In general, the greater the enlistment bonus, the harder time the service is having finding enough qualified applicants who agree to accept the job. In most cases, this is for one of three reasons The job doesnt sound very interesting, and the job counselors are having a hard time getting recruits to select this job.The job has high entry qualifications (ASVABscore, criminal history requirements, medical qualifications, ect.), and job counselors cant find enough applicants who qualify.The job training is extremely difficult and lots of people wash out. The Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps will usually pay the entire bonus amount (lump sum), after arrival at the first permanent duty station, following basic training and job-school (usually within 60 days of arrival at the first duty station). The Army will normally pay the first $10,000 upon arrival at the first duty station, with the remainder being paid in equal annual installments during the term of enlistment. In most cases, if you are discharged early, or you re-train out of the job, you must repay any unearned portion of theenlistment bonus. For example, if you enlisted and received a $12,000 enlistment bonus for a 4-year enlistment, but only served in that job for three years, you would have to repay $4,000. College kenntniserlangung All of the services, except the Air Force offer a college fund. Some of the Services offer College Funds, for individuals who agree to enlist in hard-to-fill jobs. The amount of money offered in the college fund is added to the amount of money you are entitled to with the Montgomery G.I. Bill.You cant have the college fund without participating in the G.I. Bill. One word of warning the amount of the College Fund shown on your enlistment contract usually includes the amount you are authorized under the Montgomery G.I. Bill and the amount of the extra funds provided by the service. So, if your enlistment contract says you have a total $40,000 College Fund, $37,224 (2006 rates) would be from the Montgomery G.I. Bill, which you would have been eligible for anyway, college fund, or not. So, in this case, the actual amount of the College Fund (ie, extra education money given by the service) is only $2,776. Usually (but not always), if you accept the college fund, this will decrease the amount of any monetary enlistment bonus you may be entitled to. The Navy and Marine Corps offer up to $50,000 (combined college fund and G.I. Bill) for their College Fund Programs. The Army offers up to $71,424. Again, the exact amount offered often depends on the job selected. As with other enlistment incentives, if you were promisedthe College Fund, you must ensure it is listed on your final active duty enlistment contract or an annex to the contract. Advanced Enlistment Rank All of the services offeradvanced enlistment rankfor recruits with a certain number of college credits, or for participation in other programs, such as Junior ROTC in high school. The Army offersadvanced enlistmentrank up to E-4 for college, and up to E-2 for other programs (such as JROTC). The Army also offers an accelerated promotion to recruits with certain civilian-acquired job training or skills, through the Army Civilian Acquired Skills Program (ACASP).The Air Force offers advanced enlistment rank up to E-3 for college and participation in other programs. The Air Force is the only service which offers an accelerated promotion for six-year enlistees.The Navy offersadvanced enlistment rankup to E-3 for college and participation in other programs. The Navy also offers accelerated promotion up to E-4 for individuals who enlist in certain designated enlistment programs (Such as the Nuclear Field). The Marine Corps offersadvanced enlistment rankup to E-2 for college and participation in other programs.The Coast Guard givesadvanced rankup to E-2 for college and up to E-3 for other programs. With the exception of the Air Force six-year enlistee advance rank program, recruits who join with advanced rank are paid the rate of base pay for that advanced rank right from the first day of active duty. However, in most of the services, recruits do not get to actually wear the rank until they graduate from basic training (in basic, everyone is treated the same ie, just lower than whale droppings). For Air Force six-year enlistees, they enlist and go through basic as an E-1 (or E-2 if they were qualified, such as college credits) and are then promoted to E-3 20 weeks following basic training graduation, or when they graduate technical school (job training), whichever occurs first. Date of Rank as an E-3 is then back-dated to the date of basic training graduation. Airmen dont receive back-pay for this, but the earlier date-of-rank makes them eligible for E-4 earlier. As with other enlistment incentives, advanced enlistment rank must be included on your enlistment contract. College Loan Repayment Program All of the active services, except the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, offer acollege loan repayment program (CLRP). The Army Reserves, Navy Reserves, Army National Guard andAir National Guardalso offer a limited college loan repayment program. In a nutshell, the service will repay a ll, or a part of a college loan, in exchange for your enlistment. Loans which qualify are Auxiliary Loan Assistance for Students (ALAS)Stafford Student Loanor Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL)Parents Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS Loans)Federally Insured Student Loans (FISL)Perkins Loan or National Direct Student Loan (NDSL)Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS) Guaranteed First Duty Assignment The Army and the Navy are the only active duty services which can offer a guaranteed first duty assignment. However, since the invasion of Iraq, the Army rarely offers this incentive anymore. When authorized, under theArmy Program, you can get a written guarantee in your enlistment contract for your first duty assignment following basic training and job training (of course, there must be open positions for your particular job on the base before the Army will give it to you). This option is only available for certain, hard-to-fill Army Jobs. Additionally, the guarantee is only good for 12 months. After that, the Army can move you anywhere it wants. The Navy program is a sort of guaranteed first duty station. Under the Navy program, you can be guaranteed a first assignment in a designated geographical area. In other words, while the Navy cant guarantee that you would be assigned to a particular base, they can, for example, guarantee an assignment on the West Coast. However, under the Navy program, there is a catch the program is not available to those who sign up with a guaranteed rating (job). Its only available for those who enlist under the GENDET program. Under the GENDET enlistment program, applicants pick a general field, such as aviation, rather than a specific rating. Then, following basic training, they spend a year or so at a Navy Base, doing general duties as an undesignated seaman before they get to choose their rating (job) and go to job-school. The Guard and Reserves also guarantee the duty station because they are recruiting to fill specific, open slots in specific Guard Reserve units. When you enlist in the National Guard or Reserves, you will know, right from the start, where your drilling unit is located (generally within 100 miles or so of where you live). Buddy Program All of the services offer a Buddy Enlistment program. Under this program, two or more individuals (of the same sex) can enlist together, and, at a minimum, be guaranteed to go through basic training together. If the individuals have the same job, the services can also guarantee that they will go through job training together. In some cases (with the exception of the Air Force), the service can even guarantee that the buddies will be assigned to their first duty station together. Split Option Some of the services offer split option training for members of their National Guard and Reserve. Under split option, the member attends basic training and then returns to his Guard/Reserve unit, where she/he drills (one weekend per month) for up to a year be fore attending job training. This program is designed for those in school, who wish to spit their full-time training so they wont miss too many college classes, and for those who do not wish to be away from their civilian jobs for too long a period of time for military training. In most cases, split option isnt a very good idea, and you should avoid it if you can You are generally worthless to your unit until you have completed job training. You cant do the job you were hired for, and the unit cant begin your advanced training.If something happens to your job training date, it can sometimes take forever for the Guard and Reserves to get another training slot. When dishing out job training slots, the active duty forces get the first crack, and what is left over is offered to the Guard and Reserves.If you attend job training immediately after basic training, you will still be in shape. Its easy to fall out of shape in a years time when youre only drilling one weekend per month. Howev er, under the split training option, youre thrown back into a training environment, right alongside those straight out of basic training, and youre expected to keep up with them. Split Option members undergo the same job-training restrictions as those straight out of basic training. That means, for the first month or so of job-school, your off-duty time is strictly regimented. Thats pretty easy when youre straight out of basic training. Its not so easy, once youve spent up to a year in the relatively relaxed environment of weekend drills.

Peoplesoft Systems Administrator Job Description

Peoplesoft Systems Administrator Job DescriptionPeoplesoft Systems Administrator Job DescriptionPeoplesoft Systems Administrator Job DescriptionThis peoplesoft ordnungsprinzips administrator sample job description can assist in your creating a job application that will attract job candidates who are qualified for the job. Feel free to revise this job description to meet your specific job duties and job requirements.Peoplesoft Systems Administrator Job ResponsibilitiesMaintains computing environment by identifying PeopleSoft system requirements installing upgrades monitoring system performance.Peoplesoft Systems Administrator Engineer Job DutiesEstablishes PeopleSoft system specifications by conferring with users analyzing workflow, access, information, and security requirements designing system infrastructure.Establishes PeopleSoft system by planning and executing the selection, installation, configuration, and testing of PC and server hardware, software, LAN and WAN networks, and op erating and system management systems defining system and operational policies and procedures.Maintains PeopleSoft system performance by performing system monitoring and analysis, and performance tuning troubleshooting system hardware, software, networks and operating and system management systems designing and running system load/stress testing escalating application problems to vendor.Secures PeopleSoft system by developing system access, monitoring, control, and evaluation establishing and testing disaster recovery policies and procedures completing back-ups maintaining documentation.Prepares users by designing and conducting training programs providing references and support.Upgrades system by conferring with vendors and services developing, testing, evaluating, and installing enhancements and new software.Meets financial requirements by submitting information for budgets monitoring expenses.Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities reading professional publications maintaining personal networks participating in professional organizations.Protects organizations value by keeping information confidential.Accomplishes organization goals by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.Peoplesoft Systems Administrator Engineer Skills and QualificationsSystem Administration, Operating Systems, Peoplesoft Financials, Peoplesoft HRMS, PeopleSoft Architecture Skills, Software wertmiger zuwachs Tuning, Networking Knowledge, Software Requirements, Network Maintenance, Network Performance Tuning, Database Performance TuningEmployers Post a job in minutes to reach candidates everywhere. Job Seekers Search Peoplesoft Systems Administrator Jobs and apply on now. Read more abouthow the hiring processImprove your Interviews with a Post-Game ReviewWhy Hire Veterans? Answer For the Job SkillsRed Flags and Warnings in the Interview Process

Successful Job Seeker vs Unsuccessful Job Seeker

Successful Job Seeker vs Unsuccessful Job Seeker Successful Job Seeker vs Unsuccessful Job Seeker What makes a successful job seeker? Besides luck Whether you just started looking for a new job or you have been searching for a while, you know that it can be an extensive and exhausting progress. There are those who beat the search and those who let the search beat them. Successful job searches to do a better job utilizing online tools, while others ignore these and wait for opportunities to come to them. Another big difference between job seekers who are getting results is their degree of socialization. Don’t isolate yourself from making new connections and getting advice. Finally, attitude is everything. Ignoring factors like timing, industry and your personal resume the key is remaining confident, motivated, and optimistic, and you’ll easily surge ahead of your lazy or dejected counterparts! Use Jobscan’s infographic to see where you are being successful and where you may need a job search lift.

Working with friends and family members Cool or awkward

Working with friends and family members Cool or awkward Working with friends and family members Cool or awkward Working with friends and family members can be totally cool (even awesome!) when you do it right. In an ideal situation, it’d look like how  CEO and Cofounder of Infusionsoft  Clate Mask  has it; he’s managed to successfully mix family and business to build a company that does $60 million in revenue annually, all alongside his brothers-in-law and cofounders. His tight-knit team found success by knowing how to separate business and pleasure and when to prioritize each. And at an even simpler scale, working with a friend or family member that you already get along with can brighten up your days at work that might otherwise be boring, lonely or challenging.

Scrap everything you know about strong passwords and do this instead

Scrap everything you know about strong passwords and do this instead Scrap everything you know about strong passwords and do this instead You know the drill: make a password with a hodgepodge of special characters, numbers, and letters, then change it periodically â€" or just ignore change alerts until a hacking scandal suddenly arises.You may want to rethink your strategy.Follow  Ladders on Flipboard!Follow Ladders’ magazines on Flipboard covering  Happiness,  Productivity,  Job Satisfaction,  Neuroscience, and  more!Bill Burr, the man behind how we commonly think of devising passwords, recently told The Wall Street Journal,  â€œmuch of what I did I now regret.”The password creation shakeupThe retired 72-year old was reportedly a manager at  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) back in 2003 when he wrote “NIST Special Publication 800-63. Appendix A,” featuring the password guides we’ve held true for years now.According to The Wall Street Journal, this included, namely, the rule that passwords should be a combination  of numbers, special characters, and uppercase letters, which you change every 90 days.Why is Burr changing his tune years later?He reportedly had to produce the rules quickly and wanted them to be based on research, but he had no “empirical data on computer-password security.” So he turned to a white paper from the 1980s.Burr  told The Wall Street Journal  that his advice has led people astray because  those rules were probably too challenging for many to understand and caused people to use passwords that were not too  difficult to crack.In June, the NIST released  new guidelines, which don’t call for “special characters” or changing passwords frequently  anymore. Instead, the NIST says the rules now preach “long, easy-to-remember phrases” and just coming up with new ones “if there is a sign they may have been stolen.”A  xkcd comic  by Randall Munroe from August 2011 shows that figuring out the password “Tr0ub4dor3” would take three days to solve, according to the cartoonist’s calculations, compared to the words “correct horse battery staple” typed as a single word, which would take a staggering 550 years to solve. Computer-security specialists found this to be  true.Be careful changing passwordsYou may also want to rethink how often you update your password. This practice can place us at risk if we take the wrong approach.When we repeatedly change passwords,  we don’t always change them properly.Professor Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey told BBC News that NIST publications have a far reach, giving the rules “a long lasting impact.” But he also mentioned “a rather unfortunate effect”:For example, the more often you ask someone to change their password, the weaker the passwords they typically choose. . . . And, as we have all now so many online accounts, the situation is compounded so it encourages behaviours such as password reuse across systems.Steer clear of these password optionsSo if you’re looking to change your password soon, don’t pick these.SplashData, which supplies pas sword management applications, released the 2015 version of its “Worst Passwords List.”  Here are  the top 10 worst ones featured:1. 123456 2. password 3. 12345678 4. qwerty 5. 12345 6. 123456789 7. football 8. 1234 9. 1234567 10. baseballMorgan Slain, CEO of SplashData commented on the findings in a statement.We have seen an effort by many people to be more secure by adding characters to passwords, but if these longer passwords are based on simple patterns they will put you in just as much risk of having your identity stolen by hackers…As we see on the list, using common sports and pop culture terms is also a bad idea. We hope that with more publicity about how risky it is to use weak passwords, more people will take steps to strengthen their passwords and, most importantly, use different passwords for different websites.Embracing the new way of thinking when it comes to passwords just might keep your online accounts out of harm’s way. Scrap everything you know about strong passwords and do this instead You know the drill: make a password with a hodgepodge of special characters, numbers, and letters, then change it periodically â€" or just ignore change alerts until a hacking scandal suddenly arises.You may want to rethink your strategy.Bill Burr, the man behind how we commonly think of devising passwords, recently told The Wall Street Journal,  â€œmuch of what I did I now regret.”The password creation shakeupThe retired 72-year old was reportedly a manager at  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) back in 2003 when he wrote “NIST Special Publication 800-63. Appendix A,” featuring the password guides we’ve held true for years now.According to The Wall Street Journal, this included, namely, the rule that passwords should be a combination  of numbers, special characters, and uppercase letters, which you change every 90 days.Why is Burr changing his tune years later?He reportedly had to produce the rules quickly and wanted them to be based on research, but h e had no “empirical data on computer-password security.” So he turned to a white paper from the 1980s.Burr  told The Wall Street Journal  that his advice has led people astray because  those rules were probably too challenging for many to understand and caused people to use passwords that were not too  difficult to crack.In June, the NIST released  new guidelines, which don’t call for “special characters” or changing passwords frequently  anymore. Instead, the NIST says the rules now preach “long, easy-to-remember phrases” and just coming up with new ones “if there is a sign they may have been stolen.”A  xkcd comic  by Randall Munroe from August 2011 shows that figuring out the password “Tr0ub4dor3” would take three days to solve, according to the cartoonist’s calculations, compared to the words “correct horse battery staple” typed as a single word, which would take a staggering 550 years to solve. Computer-security specialists found this to be  true.Be c areful changing passwordsYou may also want to rethink how often you update your password. This practice can place us at risk if we take the wrong approach.When we repeatedly change passwords,  we don’t always change them properly.Professor Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey told BBC News that NIST publications have a far reach, giving the rules “a long lasting impact.” But he also mentioned “a rather unfortunate effect”:For example, the more often you ask someone to change their password, the weaker the passwords they typically choose. . . . And, as we have all now so many online accounts, the situation is compounded so it encourages behaviours such as password reuse across systems.Steer clear of these password optionsSo if you’re looking to change your password soon, don’t pick these.SplashData, which supplies password management applications, released the 2015 version of its “Worst Passwords List.”  Here are  the top 10 worst ones featured:1. 123456 2. password 3. 12345678 4. qwerty 5. 12345 6. 123456789 7. football 8. 1234 9. 1234567 10. baseballMorgan Slain, CEO of SplashData commented on the findings in a statement.We have seen an effort by many people to be more secure by adding characters to passwords, but if these longer passwords are based on simple patterns they will put you in just as much risk of having your identity stolen by hackers…As we see on the list, using common sports and pop culture terms is also a bad idea. We hope that with more publicity about how risky it is to use weak passwords, more people will take steps to strengthen their passwords and, most importantly, use different passwords for different websites.Embracing the new way of thinking when it comes to passwords just might keep your online accounts out of harm’s way.

Getting Started in Portfolio Management

Getting Started in Portfolio Management Getting Started in Portfolio Management This position varies among the firms in the industry, and the role itself differs depending on which segment of the firm you work in mutual fund, institutional or high-net-worth. For instance, high-net-worth portfolio assistants spend more time working with clients, while institutional assistants spend more time monitoring and analyzing portfolios. Regardless, the general assignment focuses on supporting the portfolio manager. Portfolio manager assistants are often instrumental in the process of screening for potential investments. Using the general strategy of the investment product such as market-capitalization, earnings growth, valuation multiples or industry the assistant screens all available stocks in the market (about 10,000) to identify the smaller list that meets the portfolio's criteria. The screened list for an active portfolio varies, but typically ranges between 100 and 300 securities. Portfolio manager assistants then gather additional research for the portfolio m anager to begin the process of fundamentally analyzing the potential investment. Once investments are made, portfolio manager assistants are responsible for monitoring the reconciliation of the trades. In this role, they work with the operations staff to assure that the portfolio is properly updated and performance records are accurate. Most firms have separate operations departments that reconcile trades and produce monthly client reports. However, many of the smaller firms require their portfolio assistants to perform the operations function as well. You should be aware of this, and clarify the exact job responsibilities when applying and interviewing for the job.Portfolio assistants also participate in the process of client service, although the proportion of time spent in this area depends on the type of client being served. For instance, an assistant to a mutual fund portfolio manager would spend very little time on client service. Institutional and high-net-worth portfo lio managers have fewer clients and they meet with them once or twice a year. Intermittently, their clients require vast and detailed investment reports and market commentaries. While marketing helps prepare these formal presentations, the portfolio manager assistant plays a crucial role in collecting economic and market data for the investment commentary and portfolio analysis sections of the report.The position requires a person who understands capital markets, is capable of meeting deadlines and enjoys working on multiple projects simultaneously. The downside is that the reporting and operational components of the job have a quick learning curve and then become repetitive. Furthermore, it is not the best place to learn how to really value companies. Rather, you are being exposed to the years of experience that the portfolio manager possesses. Most important, portfolio manager assistants receive the benefit of seeing a broad picture of investing money across several industri es, whereas research assistants typically get exposure to one component or sector. All in all, in the right setting, the position is a great introduction to the industry and a worthwhile apprenticeship to pursue. UppersBroad exposure to the industryReasonable working hoursDirect exposure to portfolio managersDownersLess formal training processSome operations work Repetitive assignments

Tease Writing and a Successful TV Newscast

Tease Writing and a Successful TV Newscast Tease Writing and a Successful TV Newscast Ask most TV news producers about writing teases, and you might see their eyes roll and hear them groan. Thats because teases are an essential part of producing a compelling newscast, yet many producers hate doing them. Thats usually because tease writing has less to do with pure journalism and has more in common with TV commercials. So producers who arent properly trained arent very good at teases. With a few basic tips, they can actually look forward to this part of their daily grind. News Teases: What Are They? Teases are what the TV news anchors say to convince viewers to watch the newscast or to continue watching. They typically come in some sort of headline format before the newscast begins and at the end of each block of news, just before the commercial break. Heres an example of a tease before a newscast: Next on Channel 5 Action News, why the governor says hes not afraid to raise your taxes. A dog faces death in a house fire but barks his way to safety. Could a hurricane brewing in the Atlantic affect your weekend plans? And see how mushrooms could be the answer to a longer life. Channel 5 Action News is next. Heres an example of a tease during a newscast: Still to come on Channel 5 Action News, shes 105 years old but is the newest graduate of a local high school. Youll meet her and see why she didnt give up on getting a diploma. Plus, dont miss an incredible video of a man who survives a shark bite at sea. Stick around, more Channel 5 Action News is coming up. The goal is to grab attention quickly to keep viewers from changing the channel or flipping off their TV set. As a news viewer, youve seen teases thousands of times. They seem simple to write, but there are key ingredients to remember when writing TV news teases so that you accomplish your goal of keeping your audience. Knowing Which News Stories to Tease A news producer may have 20 stories in a newscast. Some stories also appear on rival stations, such as a city council meeting or the governors news conference. Other stories are unique to the station. Some stories could be considered important while others are features. Just as the newscast itself is a blend of hard-hitting news and lighter fare, teases should also reflect that variety. Teases that contain nothing but car crashes, or on the flip side, stories about puppies and children would indicate that the newscast is lopsided toward one type of content. In deciding which stories to tease, a producer should consider the stations target audience. That is often determined through focus group research. That research likely already has a role in which stories get covered. If a producer is in charge of an early-evening newscast that is geared toward women, then teasing stories about health, raising children and quality-of-life issues would be one way to reach them. While this is only a generality, most TV news consultants would advise avoiding teasing crime or sports in that kind of newscast, unless theres a human interest component beyond the basics of the story. Video Is Important in Teasing Stories Because were talking television, video is important in crafting an effective tease. Occasionally, a story is so compelling that words alone will convince people to watch, but that is a rare exception. Its not just having video, but having the right video, that will make teasing easier. Shots of people sitting around at a meeting will cause yawns from your viewers. If a news reporter covers a city council meeting about all the potholes in your city, theres an opportunity to entice people to watch the story. That is to show a close-up of a cars wheels banging through a pothole, while writing, Some local residents are fed up with this rocky ride around town. See what theyre telling city leaders to do about these potholes of peril. The much more common, and lazy approach would be to show the city council meeting, while writing, The city council met tonight to discuss the problem of potholes on some local streets. Well have a report from city hall coming up. That second example not only didnt use the best video available, but the words also didnt contain much energy. A city council meets regularly on all sorts of issues, so the producer didnt sell this story as being interesting to watch. Common Mistakes in Tease Writing There are all sorts of sins when it comes to tease writing. The penalty is a wasted opportunity to grow your newscasts Nielsen ratings. The first common mistake is to ignore any sort of viewer benefit of watching the story. The Legislature met today to talk about taxes. Well have more. Far better would be, Find out which legislators want to raise your taxes.. and by how much. Another mistake is to include meaningless words and phrases, which dilute the pitch youre trying to make. Well have the story. Well have more. Details ahead. Obviously,  the story is ahead. A third mistake is to write a tease that doesnt pass the So what test. Doctors have new information about vitamin C. Tell viewers why they should care, instead of allowing them to say so what? Doctors have new information about vitamin C and why getting too much of it can be bad for your health. Now people want to know whether that glass of orange juice may be hurting them. A final common mistake is over-promising while under-delivering. Think of a restaurant that promises the worlds best apple pie, only to give you something that came out of a supermarket freezer. You would never order the pie again. So, if you say a story is a must-see, incredible, unbelievable with never-before-heard information and money-saving, life-changing tips, make sure you deliver on your promise. Most viewers wont stand for being fooled but once.

Tourism Resume Template 2018s Top Format

Tourism Resume Template â€" 2018’s Top Format Tourism Resume Template - 2018’s Top Format The tourism industry covers a wide range of positions, from tour operators to travel agents. With governments in all 50 states encouraging tourism, the industry continues to grow. No matter which area of the industry you wish to enter, a well-written resume allows you to position yourself as the strongest candidate.With the diversity of jobs in the industry, it’s important to tailor your resume to the job description. However, all potential employers look for staff with customer service, communication, and sales experience, so be sure to emphasize past positions that demonstrate those traits.The tourism resume sample below can help you create a document that captures the attention of recruiters by highlighting all your relevant skills and characteristics. Create ResumeAvery Walker100 Main Street, Cityplace, CA, 91019 (555) 322-7337 example-email@example.comSummaryResponsible, very experienced domestic/international travel consultant focusing on corporate travel with an emphasis o n excellent customer service and total management of corporations travel. Assist others in reaching agencies goals as well as daily tasks. Seeking agency with opportunities for professional growth and development.SkillsCompany ownership skills as independent agentPersonable and client orientedClient managementManagement abilitiesExcellent organizationaland time management skillsSabre/computer proficiencyGroup travelExperience in wholesale,consolidator,and retail agenciesWork independentlySelf directedExperienceCanyon Creek Travel August 1998 to Current Independent agentRichardson, TXCorporate agent for domestic and international travelBecame independent agent with long standing client baseManaged all types of travelContracted to work small group movements, domestic/internationalSunbelt Travel May 1990 to August 1996 Corporate domestic/international/group agentDallas, TXCorporate domestic/international agentSmall group movementsAssisted manager in daily management tasksGateway Trav el May 1990 to August 1990 Business developmentDallas, TXDeveloped corporate/leisure department for consolidator agencyPurchased/installed/implemented back office accounting systemWorld Business Travel January 1984 to May 1990 Corporate Travel ConsultantDallas, TXDomestic and international corporate agentPromoted to supervisorManaged employees reporting directly to operations managerEducation and TrainingBraniff Educational Systems, Inc Travel Dallas, TX, USAUniversity of Michigan Accounting Flint, MI, USACustomize ResumeTourism Resume Questions1. Whats the best way to include digital skills on a tourism resume?As a jobseeker in the tourism industry, it is important to display digital skills such as familiarity with Sabre. The jobseeker in our tourism resume sample includes this skill and the phrase computer proficiency in the qualifications section. This is a great way to show your digital expertise, as hiring managers often skim through this section quickly to learn what you hav e to offer as a candidate. It is also acceptable to illuminate these proficiencies in your summary and experience sections.2. How do you write about hobbies on your resume?Although it is fun to talk about your hobbies and passions, it is not usually appropriate to do so in your resume, as our tourism resume sample exemplifies. Most hiring managers view a list of hobbies as a waste of valuable space in your document. Follow the general practice of excluding this information.If you have limited relevant experience or know for certain that the hiring manager for the job to which you are applying wants to learn about your personal interests, it may be appropriate to include a succinct hobbies section. If you do this, list hobbies that are relevant to the position, such as travel.3. If youve never held a tourism job before, how do you make a tourism resume?If you are trying to break into the tourism field, take a look at our tourism resume sample to get a better understanding of what per tinent proficiencies and education you should include in your document. Review your career history to determine your transferable skills and experiences. You may not have experience in tourism, but are you adept in communicating, making sales, or managing clients? Write about these abilities. Do you feel overwhelmed by the challenges of writing a resume that will help you switch professions? Simplify the process with our effortless resume builder. Follow each step to create an impressive document in minutes.4. What goes in the qualifications section of a tourism resume?As you can see from our tourism resume sample, the skills or qualifications section of a resume usually belongs below the professional summary. In this part of your document, illuminate your top proficiencies that apply to the job at hand. Include expertise in areas such as sales, communication, corporate travel, and tourism software. Try to include skills you see in the job listing as well.5. How do you write a summa ry statement for a tourism resume?Located at the top of your resume, your summary statement should include a few of your top professional talents, experiences, and accomplishments. Hiring managers often scan this section quickly before determining whether to continue reading your document. Follow the example of our tourism resume sample by using a few succinct sentences to write your summary. This helps ensure you keep the attention of readers. Incorporate industry keywords and your most impressive qualifications to hook prospective employers.More Travel and Hospitality Resume TemplatesExperienced Tourism Resume TemplatesEntry Level Tourism Resume Templates

Combatting Age Discrimination in the Job Search Part I of III

Combatting Age Discrimination in the Job Search Part I of III Combatting Age Discrimination in the Job Search Part I of III The first article in a three-part series on conducting a job search later in life. As many of you mentioned in your comments on my previous article, not everyone who’s 50 years old or older has the luxury of an encore career.Many job seekers need a full-time job with full-time pay, and are feeling the negative effects of a down economy. I’m not going to sugarcoat it â€" finding a job in general is more challenging than ever. Trying to find a new job later in life can be even more frustrating. Studies have shown that employees in their 50s or older are not only more likely to be laid off during hard economic times, but they’re also known to have longer periods of unemployment before they are able to re-enter the workforce. There are a number of factors at play here, including age discrimination.It may not be fair, but it’s real - age discrimination is alive and well in today’s workplace. We could talk for hours how recruiters, hiring managers - society as a whole - should change their mind-set, but that isn’t going to help you land a job any faster. What we really need to discuss is what you can do to compete against other candidates - regardless of their age - in today’s job market.I’ve broken my advice into six sections, which we will publish in three parts: Preparation, Search Close. These insights and tips are not based on my coaching experiences and research alone. I’ve reached out to career coaches, recruiters and HR professionals I’ve worked with or met throughout my eight-plus years at Ladders to provide both overarching advice and practical tips you can use right away.MindsetYour state of mind can unknowingly boost or sabotage your job search efforts. If you think the age issue is standing in the way of your job search, then it will. I’m not saying age discrimination doesn’t exist. If you feel your employment rights have been violated, you can file a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commis sion (EEOC). But getting angry about it doesn’t help. It wastes valuable time and energy that could be better spent on your search efforts. And it makes you less marketable. No one wants to hire a candidate â€" whether they’re 25 or 55 years old â€" who comes across as bitter and resentful.You have a lot of value to offer a potential employer. Your experience, industry expertise and maturity are all selling points. Workforce Engine Director of Talent Acquisition Jennifer Scott has worked within the recruiting and talent acquisition space for more than 14 years. While she admits that age discrimination exists, she says that in her experience, if you can sell your expertise and demonstrate your value, companies will value that.Don’t hide from your age, Scott says. Be proud of your experience. Scott adds that age is a state of mind. Demonstrate a positive, upbeat and energetic persona, she continues, and don’t show any sign of cynicism. So put on a smile when you’re networkin g or speaking with a recruiter during a phone screen â€" even if you don’t feel like it. Your goal is to come across as confident, passionate and full of energy and expertise. Fake it till you feel it.Job GoalsBefore you can begin your search, it’s important to clearly define your job goals. No one is an expert at everything and, in fact, employers won’t expect you to be, as today’s job market requires subject matter expertise. Take inventory of your strengths and preferences to guide the direction of your job search. Chances are you’ve worn many hats during your career. Focus your current goals on the key skill sets and strengths you’ve utilized, particularly within the past 10 years of your career.Consider the accomplishments you found to be most satisfying and rewarding during this part of your work history. What was the focus of that work? What was your motivation? What role did you play? What was the work environment like? What core values guided the project? This w ill help you uncover the skills and organizational culture that work best for you.Be flexible as to how you get back into the workforce. When you’re nearing or past the 60-year mark, often your best bet is to pursue something other than the traditional full-time job, such as part-time, consulting or freelance work. Scott advises job seekers not to be afraid of consulting opportunities. Gigs often turn into jobs, she says. These less traditional roles can also help grow your network of connections, uncover additional opportunities and boost your resume following a period of unemployment.ResumeIn a research study conducted by Ladders, we found that the average recruiter spends six seconds reviewing a resume before deciding to chuck it in the garbage or set it aside for closer inspection. You have six seconds to make the right impression. Before your resume even reaches a recruiter or hiring manager who is more knowledgeable about your line of work, it must first get past a piece of software (known as an Applicant Tracking System or ATS ) and a junior level sourcer or HR coordinator who conducts the initial screenings.Your goal is not only to have a resume that supports your job goals, but also make sure it’s easy to read and is ATS-friendly. Here are seven tips to help you get there: Restrict the amount of experience you include to the last 15 years, and remove college graduation and certification dates that fall outside that time frame. The emphasis should be placed on the most recent years of experience. Limit your resume to two pages. This shouldn’t be as difficult, now that you’re only displaying the last 15 years of work experience. Considering the amount of time a recruiter spends on resumes, anything longer than three pages won’t get read. Resume writers will rarely create a resume that’s more than two pages. Avoid the jack-of-all-trades approach. Although you may have worked in a number of different roles throughout your career, your resume shouldn’t be a laundry list of everything you have done or could be capable of doing. Instead, it needs to align with your current job goals. Tailor the information to highlight the accomplishments that reflect your qualifications for your desired role. Incorporate common buzzwords, terminology and key phrases that pop up in the majority of the job descriptions you’re interested in applying to (assuming you have those skills). This will help you make it past the initial screenings â€" especially with an ATS â€" and on to the recruiter. Don’t include embedded tables, pictures or other images in the resume â€" it confuses the ATS system. Also, don’t use the header or footer portions in the Word document for the same reasons. Create your resume heading outside of this area, at the top of your document. Use one of the following font types that are considered highly readable and don’t confuse the ATS systems: Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Tahoma, Book Antiqua or Franklin Gothic. Times New Roman is also fine, but I recommend against it since it’s so common â€" your application will look like everyone else’s. Include one professional-looking email address (we recommend setting up a free email address with Gmail), one phone number (where you can control the voicemail message, who picks up the phone and when), and a customized URL for your LinkedIn profile at the top of your resume. This will help control communication and steer the recruiter toward the right online profile. Tomorrow’s installment will focus on personal branding and the pursuit of new opportunities. Click on the following links for more information on your mindset during the search and writing your resume.*Note: click on the following links to access Part II and Part III of this series.

What You Should Know About a Midlife Career Change

What You Should Know About a Midlife Career Change What You Should Know About a Midlife Career Change Transitioning to a new career can be difficult at any age, but making a midlife career change comes with additional challenges. For many reasons, changing your career when you are in your 40s and 50s is much harder than doing it when you are in your 20s or 30s. When you are middle-aged, you have more responsibilities, like a mortgage and your childrens college tuition, to consider. You may be hesitant to risk a stable career for something uncertain. Before you make a move, get all the facts about any occupation you are considering. Think about doing an adult internship to immerse yourself in a new career before making a commitment. After spending, at least, a couple of decades in one career, you may have an established reputation. It will be hard to start at the bottom again. Here are five  things you should think about before you make a midlife career change. 1. How Much Education and Training Will You Need? You may have chosen a new career that requires very little retraining. If you can simply transfer your current skills to your new occupation without having to acquire any new ones, all you will have to focus on is your job search. When you are looking toward entering a career that requires a whole new skillset, however, you will probably have to go back to school or undergo some other kind of training. Are you willing to put your energy into it? How long will it be until you can actually start working? When you are in your 20s, or even your 30s, that may not be a big concern, since you have many years ahead of you to work. If you are in your 40s or 50s, you must ask yourself how long you want to keep working. Will you have to spend a great deal of time training for a career that you will only work in for a short time? Will the return on your investment be sufficient? 2. Can You Withstand the Financial Costs of a Career Change? A career  change can be costly. If you have to continue your education, tuition is very expensive. Even if you can afford it, balancing work and school can be difficult. You may have to cut your hours at your job to complete school in a timely fashion. Are you ready for a pay cut? A new career often means starting at the bottom. That could come with a much lower  salary than the one you are currently earning. 3. Do You Have Your Familys Support? Going through a major transition like a midlife career change requires a  lot of support from those around you. If your family isnt on board, it will be difficult to succeed in this endeavor. Before you embark on such a big change, talk to your spouse and children. Everyone will have to pitch in to make this transformation possible. There may be less disposable income for doing things like taking vacations and buying new things. Your spare time will be taken up with preparing for your new career. Family members may have to help with household chores. 4. What Is the Typical Age of People Working in the Field You Are Considering? Some industries are filled with very young workers. The only people even near midlife, may be those in management. Will they be willing to hire you for an entry-level position if you are in your 40s or 50s?  Sure, age discrimination is illegal, as it should be but that doesnt stop those in charge of hiring from committing it. Your only recourse will be to file charges against those employers who refuse to hire you. That is probably not what you had in mind when you decided to embark on a career change.  You wanted to enter a new career, not a battle.  Before you move forward, thoroughly investigate the occupation you are considering and the industry or industries that would employ you. Talk to people who work in it to find out if you have a decent chance of getting hired. 5. How Long Will It Take to Become Established in Your Desired Career? When you begin a new career, your first job will likely be an entry-level one. After doing that for a year or two, you will probably be able to apply for a higher level position. Your prior work experience might help you advance faster than your much younger colleagues who are just starting out, but it may not. Your experience in this new career may be all that counts. It may take quite some time until you  are able to do the type of work you wanted to when you made the decision to switch to this career. Ask yourself if you will be satisfied with that. Your answer may depend on how far away you are from the age you want to retire.