How Can I Be Confident When Everyone Thinks Im Crazy

“How Can I Be Confident When Everyone Thinks Im Crazy” Help from our Community “How Can I Be Confident When Everyone Thinks Im Crazy?” * Ken’s reaching the end of his tether at work. But without the support of his friends and family, he’s also starting to doubt the sanity of his own ideas. What do you do when everyone else’s disapproving voices start to become your own? What's your career history and current job? I work in the Business Intelligence Group of a major, well-known investment company. How do you feel about your work? I have to take a deep breath every time I walk around the corner of the street my office is on. I'm miserable. I honestly thought I'd be happy once I qualified, and then when I got my first role, and then when I got promoted â€" at every stage of the game I've thought the next stage would finally be 'it'. And it never is. It's never what I hoped it would be. I'm still fairly young, but I already feel like I've spent years playing a game, being some fake version of myself, living someone else's dream. I’' a big fat liar, is how it feels. My boss has this very cut-throat approach to our work, which I don't respect, and my colleagues are fine, but they're not the kind of people I'd ever want to associate with by choice. I look at how much time I spend with them and I wonder what it must be doing to my brain. That all sounds very negative and doom-and-gloom, but it's honestly how I feel. What would you like to be doing instead? I don't know the answer to that yet. I know I love travel, anthropology, exploring other cultures, working in teams, languages, cooking, all that stuff, but I don't know what that translates to as a career yet. I can't seem to get that far in my exploration of it. What's the biggest obstacle in your way? Everyone thinks I'm crazy, basically. I spent months complaining to my friends about how frustrating I find the law, and, at the time, a lot of them said I should look for something else. But now, they're all sick of hearing me moan about work, and when I try to bring up the idea of a major career change I can feel them rolling their eyes. And my family â€" my mum doesn't seem to take it seriously at all. She just smiles and changes the subject whenever I bring it up, and my dad has become progressively more annoyed every time I talk to him about it. He started out suggesting ways to make things better in my current firm, which was supportive of him, but recently he's been getting angry. I think he's frustrated that he paid for my degree, which he was really proud of me for, and now I won't be using it. And he's been so proud of what I do. I wonder what he'd think of me if I threw it all away. And the doubt I see in people's eyes, and what I hear them say â€" it makes me doubt my own sanity, too. I see that there are other people out there who feel the same way as I do â€" who want to find something meaningful and a personal 'fit' â€" which is a little reassuring, but honestly, it's not enough to make me take any real action. I feel very alone and unsure of myself, and I don't know what to do. Am I risking my relationships for a hare-brained pipe dream? Can you help Ken? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? What can he do to deal with the doubters in his life? Do you know anyone he could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support. Give Ken a cheer of encouragement by hitting the thumbs-up button here:

Veterinary Assistant Cover Letter Sample - Algrim.co

Veterinary Assistant Cover Letter Sample - Algrim.co Veterinary Assistant Cover Letter Template Download our cover letter template in Word format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Related Hiring Resources 5+ Best Veterinary Assistant Interview Questions Answers

How to Attract the Attention of Job Headhunters - Career Geek

How to Attract the Attention of Job Headhunters - Career Geek Attracting the attention of a headhunter is an easy task, if you are exceptionally talented. Employers contract headhunters to help them find highly qualified, experienced individuals that would be an asset to their company. Usually, individuals contacted by a headhunter are top-performers who are well known in their industry. A headhunters job is to contact individuals who meet the companys requirements and then present a short-list of candidates to the companys hiring firm for interviews. While headhunters often contact candidates out of the blue, there are several things that individuals can do to get on a headhunters radar. Below you will find the best ways to attract the attention of a headhunter. Attend Conferences and Seminars Often times, headhunters will attend industry-specific conferences and seminars when they are looking for highly qualified individuals. To see if there are any headhunters at the conference or seminar you are attending, scan the sign-in list. On these lists, individuals have to sign-in, and you may be able to recognize a headhunters name, or firm. Participate in Industry-Specific Speaking Engagements To grab a headhunters attention, you have to be noticeable. One of the best ways to become noticeable is to participate in speaking engagements. Speaking publicly is even more beneficial if the media will be present because being quoted by media or published in a journal is an excellent way to get on the radar of a headhunter. Networking The more people you know, the better your chances of crossing paths with a headhunter. To increase the number of people you know, you need to network. Suggestions for networking include passing out as many business cards as possible. Everyone you meet is someone you may create a professional relationship with in the future. It is also beneficial to make yourself known on the Internet. One of the easiest ways to do this is to register with social media outlets like LinkedIn and BranchOut, Facebooks new networking site. Headhunters often browse these social media sites for candidates that meet their requirements. However, since you are creating these accounts for networking possibilities, it is crucial to keep the information on the sites highly professional. Create a Blog Another great way to make your presence known on the Internet is to create a blog. Make sure the blog relates to your profession, and make sure to include all your professional and educational experience somewhere in the blog. If you arent an accomplished writer, you can always outsource the writing based on your ideas and concepts. Find a Professional Mentor People are often deemed successful by the company they keep. For this reason, it is vital to find a successful mentor in your industry. This relationship can help open doors that may be impenetrable otherwise. Reach Out to Headhunters While all the other steps are potential ways to grab the attention of a headhunter, it is also necessary to make contact with headhunters who specialize in your industry. A basic Google search can point you in the right direction, and then it is up to you to impress. Dont simply flood the headhunters office with copies of your CV. Headhunters are flooded with applications from job candidates. Instead, you want to make yourself stand out. When sending information to a headhunter, make sure to include copies of events you have participated in, any material that may have been published by you, and links to your social media accounts and blogs. Shortly after sending your material, follow up with a phone call to the headhunters office. Following the tips above will help you attract the attention of a headhunter, and help you further your professional career.

Should I Declare Convictions When Applying for a Job

Should I Declare Convictions When Applying for a Job We have to share a lot of personal information when trying to secure employment. Most of it feels OK to disclose. Naturally, most applicants feel proud when they look at their CV. It gives you a chance to realise just what you have learnt and achieved. As well as providing a possible employer with an overview of the type of person you are, and what you have to offer. However, having to reveal something negative, like a criminal conviction, on an application has the opposite effect. It can leave you feeling deflated, and remind you of a negative time in your life. Why you need to declare unspent convictions The temptation to leave something like this off your application is understandable. Nevertheless, you really do need to include them. You must not leave declarable convictions off your application. This is because failure to disclose when you should can have serious consequences. If you secure the job, and a conviction becomes known later, it can be used as grounds for dismissal. Besides which, these days, most firms use the Disclosure and Barring Service to carry out checks before they confirm employment. Therefore, you are highly likely to be caught if you leave a declarable conviction off your application. Being dishonest is never a good way to start your working relationship, and just leads to problems further down the line. Finding out if you have a declarable conviction However, you do not want to end up declaring unless you really have to. Some spent convictions, do not need to be declared unless specifically asked about. Others have to be declared several years after they were spent. If you have had a conviction of any kind, you should speak to a lawyer to find out when you can legally stop declaring it on job applications. This site also provides guidance on the matter. However, you should still seek legal advice that is tailored to your specific case. Avoiding the long term negative effect of convictions Unfortunately, if you have a conviction, even a minor one, it can have a negative impact on your employment prospects. Most employers want workers they can trust to follow their rules, and working practices. Understandably, there is a tendency for prospective employers to see a conviction as a sign that the applicant is a rule breaker that cannot be relied upon. As a result, even a minor conviction can cast a shadow over your application. It is therefore wise to do your best to avoid any sort of conviction. Of course, following the law is the best approach. However, we all make mistakes. When you do, it is important, for your long-term future, to react in the wisest way. For example, if you are pulled over, breathalysed and found to be over the limit, it makes sense to find yourself a drink drive solicitors firm immediately. They will look at your case, and help you to identify how to challenge the evidence, and potentially avoid a damaging conviction. We all have lapses of judgement. Usually we realise we were in the wrong, and are willing to accept punishment, which is a good thing. However, you do need to be careful, and still defend yourself effectively even when you were in the wrong. Otherwise, you run the risk of finding it extremely difficult to secure a job for many years to come because of criminal convictions. Image Source; Image Source; Image Source

Resume Adverbs - Avoid Them

Resume Adverbs - Avoid ThemIt's quite common to use adverbs in your resume. Adverbs can be handy, but they should never be used as frequently as keywords or key phrases. Sometimes the adverbs don't have a direct meaning, or they can mean two different things. Here are some of the worst things to do with adverbs in a resume.'- impressed' - for many people, this is the best adverb in the world. The word 'impressed' is used all the time when it comes to others. However, to a recruiter, an 'impressed' person means a person who knows about the position that you're applying for. People who aren't impressed by the position you're applying for will most likely reject your resume.'- errors and omissions and mistakes.' 'Errors and omissions and mistakes' really don't do the job. If you were sloppy in college, but you've learned from your mistakes and moved on, then that's just fine. But if you make sure that your resume is error free, you'll have a better chance of getting accepted. A recruite r is looking for an honest applicant, not one who made a mistake, so the emphasis is on honesty.'- recently graduated.' A recruiter is not looking for you to let them know that you're just out of college. He wants to know that you have the work ethic to get your foot in the door. If you say you're recently graduated, you will be dismissed out of hand because the recruiter knows that your work ethic is lacking.'Organized' - remember, the main goal of a recruiter is to see you in a position. He or she doesn't want to see an organization chart, or if you've taken steps to organize your office for the back-to-school season. Again, the focus is on the job, not the organizational skills that you're displaying in a resume.'- effectiveness and efficiency.' A recruiter does not care about the organization that you put together. You should be happy if someone pays you to take care of all the organization stuff. What he or she needs to see is that you did the job on your own.'- a recent employ ee of your company.' This is another example of an adverb that needs to be avoided. It might sound positive on paper, but a recruiter is going to do all he or she can to see if you can fill the position. Also, a recruiter is interested in whether or not you've moved up in the organization or gotten any promotions.These are the three easiest ways to avoid these mistakes. They are definitely best avoided if you can help it.

Free presentation Festival In The Workplace - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Free presentation Festival In The Workplace - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog As a warm-up event to the EuroGEL conference, Roosevelt Finlayson of the Bahamas and I will be doing a presentation titled Festival In The Workplace. Roosevelt has been asking himself two simple questions: Why is it that many people around the world are demotivated and listless at work but when the time comes for the local carnival they work hard, tirelessly and for no pay to prepare it? How can we get some of the motivation, energy and happiness of the carnivals into our wokplaces? Roosevelt has created a unique business concept called Festival In The Workplace and together we will do a presentation why festivals create happiness and results in businesses. This will be a unique event, giving you insight into the festival traditions of the Caribbean and South America and how they can be applied in the workplace. There will be music and videos from the Bahamas Junkanoo Festival and plenty of real-life case stories. The practical details The event is thursday august 31st from 4pm to 6pm. Its at Caf? Enter, Guldbergsgade 29 in Copenhagen (right next to the movie theatre Empire Bio). Its in english and its free to participate. Send me an email if youd like to be there but hurry we only have room for 40 people. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Client Success Story From Layoff To Dream Job (Explore Your Potential in 2011)

Client Success Story From Layoff To Dream Job (Explore Your Potential in 2011) We spend Jan 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~ Ellen GoodmanSeeing someone else overcome challenges and succeed can give us the courage to move go forward with our own goals despite obstacles.  Thats why Im excited to share a shining example of layoff turned career success story with this guest post from my client Steve Hill.    Steves layoff as an executive in the music industry came as a shock but turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After Soul Searching, Researching and Job Searching, Steve is now the proud owner of Hill Haus Woodworks, making beautiful custom furniture and hand-crafted accessories. Now he says hes pursuing a career that gives him satisfaction, fulfillment and joy.  Find out how Steve made the career leap of a lifetime and how you can too! Read below for his real -life success story!  Q: How did you know it was time for a career change?A: Well…honestly, the change came to me in the form of a downsizing/layoff. I hadn’t been happy in my ‘corporate’ role for some time but walking away from a six-figure job with two kids and a big house payment was a scary proposition. The lay-off, although a shock at first, turned into a blessing in disguise and forced me to take a hard look at what I really wanted to do next in my life. I really didn’t have any idea, but the prospect of sitting in a high-rise office again, meeting rooms, conference calls, and trading my days for dollars no longer had any appeal to me.Q: What was the biggest help to you in finding the right career?  A: Working with an experienced coach was absolutely a critical step. It helped me to clarify my skills, passions, interests, and requirements.  Maggie helped get me to the point where I was able to identify where these attributes intersected, and what types of industries and careers had their nexus at these points. By doing so I was able to narrow the field to a more manageable group of possibilities.  Through discussions, exercises, and a fair amount of soul searching we were able to identify many of the ‘must haves’ that had previously been missing but are prerequisites to finding satisfaction and a sense of purpose in your work. By working with and talking to a coach, I was able to unplug much of the hardwiring in my head that had held me captive and open my mind to new ideas and possibilities that I would never have come to simply through self-analysis.Q: Tell us about your new venture.  A: I have always liked working with my hands…building things. After the lay-off I began working with a contractor doing remodels and home repairs. I thought the work was very satisfying and enjoyed being able to look at the tangible results of my efforts at the end of every day. I thought ‘hmmmm….maybe I’ll start my own contracting business.’ Af ter some more thought I realized the complexities and level of experience that it would require were maybe not exactly the best fit. My wife then asked me if I had ever thought of making furniture? I hadn’t, but the idea appealed to me and fit in well with the prerequisites I had identified with Maggie. I found a local school that offered an in-depth, concentrated, furniture making class for which I enrolled. I arrived at the school, smelled the aroma of sawdust and rough cut lumber and was immediately inspired. I am now the owner of Hill Haus Woodworks. From my website hillhauswoodworks.com, “Hill Haus Woodworks is the creation of Steve Hill, who designs and builds custom made furniture and handcrafted accessories. Hill Haus Woodworks incorporates classic woodworking techniques with simple lines, streamlined shapes, and an understated sophistication that provides timeless appeal and enduring style. The beauty and aesthetic harmony of design, together with high-quality materials and workmanship is an ideal balance of form, function and character.”Q: Was it difficult to make the change?A: It was only difficult in the sense of uncertainty that the change exacts from you. Not only the financial uncertainty but the whole idea of whether or not I’m going to be any good at it! I’d never made furniture before. Who was I to think somebody would want to buy an $800 coffee table from me? Turns out, I am very good at it and people do and have bought everything I’ve made.Q: What advice do you have for others who know its time to change but dont know where to start?A: Think about what you’re trading in exchange for the position, the title, and the money. Is the trade really worth it? How do you want to spend your life? Giving away your days for dollars or spending time engaged in your lifepursuing the things that give you satisfaction, fulfillment, passion, and joy? As they say, do the thing you love and you’ll never work another day in your life.Congratula tions Steve and many thanks for sharing your inspiring story.  If youve got a career change success story, Id love to hear about it.  Comment below or call into my career advice radio show Fridays 4p ET/1p PT SIRIUS 112/XM 157 at 866-675-6675!