From Project Manager to Teacher

From Project Manager to Teacher Success Story > From: Job To: Job From Project Manager to Teacher “It's the most challenging and difficult job I have ever done, and it's also the most rewarding.” * From Project Manager to Teacher Are red tape and big slow processes like a straitjacket on your career? They certainly were for Oci Stott. Inspired by a stint volunteering in Japan, and never one to shy away from a challenge, she retrained in a notoriously difficult profession. Here's how her perseverance landed her the most rewarding job she's ever had. What work were you doing previously? I was a project manager. I started my career working in the charity sector. Later, I worked in planning and regeneration (after I had completed training as a town planner). What are you doing now? I'm an English teacher. Why did you change? I became very frustrated with the red tape in the world of planning. I also wanted to do something that I felt had a more direct impact on people than planning did. My first degree was in English and I liked the idea of sharing my enthusiasm for the subject with young people. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I taught in Japan for two years and did some volunteering for a charity called Envision, which works with young people to do social action projects. I liked the challenge and excitement of working with young people; Ifound them funny and interesting. Are you happy with the change? Yes, on the whole. However, the perception of teachers in the media and society in general can make it a difficult profession to be part of. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the fact that when you're working in an office and you have a bad day, you can hide behind a computer to a certain extent. In teaching you always have to perform â€" you're the one at the front of the classroom driving things forward! I don't miss the boredom and lack of challenge that I felt in some of my previous jobs. I also don't miss the red tape and how things felt like they were moving very slowly in the regeneration / planning sector. How did you go about making the shift? I applied for the Graduate Teacher Programme so that I could train on the job. This involved finding a sponsor school (which some teacher friends helped me out with) and then applying, with the school's backing, to The Institute of Education. This programme is now called Schools Direct. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? As is well documented, the training year for teaching is extremely tough. I was well outside my comfort zone and sometimes found working with the trickier kids extremely challenging. However, my colleagues were enormously supportive and the highs of teaching (when you teach a good class or build a relationship with a student who has previously been disaffected) are immense. I think that the most important thing for me has been perseverance â€" each year in teaching things have got better and easier. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? The Graduate Teacher Programme paid me while I trained. I think the experience that I had gained prior to getting on to the course (through volunteering and teaching abroad) helped me secure the place. I had to take a pay cut, but the money that I got during training was enough to live on. What was the most difficult thing about changing? It was hard being much older than some of the other trainees and teachers that I worked with, yet more junior within the working environment. I had to overcome my own ego in that sense. Also, whilst I believe strongly that teaching is one of the most important things that you can do (and that we should be trying to encourage lots of people into it), there is a fair amount of prejudice against the profession, which can be hard to handle. Despite the perceptions of some (about when the day finishes or the length of the holidays, for example), it is the most challenging and difficult job I have ever done, whilst also being the most rewarding. What help did you get? I was enormously supported by colleagues at my training school as well as friends and family whilst I got through my first couple of years. Also, the Institute of Education is a very supportive and exciting place to study. What have you learnt in the process? I've learnt that one of the most important things in teaching is not to be too perfectionist or hard on myself (I think this is relevant in other jobs, too). In teaching there are always situations that I wish I'd handled differently. But instead of letting them weigh me down, the key is to learn from them, think about how I can do things differently next time and, wherever possible, keep a sense of humour and perspective about things. What do you wish you'd done differently? I wish I hadn't worried so much about getting everything right first time. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Stick at it. Try to put aside how other people view you â€" focus on what you think is good and important. What resources would you recommend to others? TES is a good place to start looking for teaching jobs. What lessons could you take from Oci's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Learn How to Write a Resume - Great Tips to Make Your Job Search a Lot Easier

Learn How to Write a Resume - Great Tips to Make Your Job Search a Lot EasierIf you are looking for a job, then having excellent writing skills is a must. You can acquire writing skills through a number of different ways, some of which are less effective than others.To begin with, I will give you a brief overview on how to write a resume and an in-depth discussion of the various aspects of good resume writing. After that, I will show you a way to find great tips on writing a good resume that will make your job search a lot easier.Writing a resume can be an easy process if you only use the help of an employer's resume template. A template will not offer you much help; instead, it will merely tell you what to put on your resume. You should understand how to write a resume yourself; you need to work hard at it.For starters, it's important to create a resume that tells the prospective employer exactly what you're capable of doing. For example, your resume should not sound like a bunch of hot air; it should speak to the employer about what you've done in the past. You should list things like 'served as director'managed a team' in your resume.A good resume will also include lists of achievements and accomplishments in order to sell the recruiter on your ability to perform the job. You should also include the experience that you have had in other areas of the business in order to explain how you'll add value to the position. For example, you may have experience working in the food and beverage industry.In addition to your achievements, your resume should also indicate how you will contribute to the business as well as what your skills and abilities are that will allow you to bring something valuable to the table for the potential employer. Some examples of skills that you should include in your resume are organizational skills, interpersonal skills, customer service skills, and the ability to listen. Itis also important to include things like a current portfolio or le tter of reference to prove your ability to meet requirements.There are several great ways to learn how to write a resume. You can simply download a resume template from one of the many sites that specialize in offering templates. You can also purchase resume writers to create a professional looking resume for you. Finally, there are a number of courses that offer an assortment of training on resume writing, including the information you have just read.As you can see, having the best resume possible can make all the difference in your ability to get a job, so make sure you hire a professional writing service to write your resume. This is the best way to ensure that your resume is on top of the pile when potential employers look at yours.

Why You Need Digital Nomads in Your Business

Why You Need Digital Nomads in Your Business Many millennials are now seeking more flexible jobs and paid holidays. However, this is not always feasible in many companies, especially if the employee is a contractor or a freelancer. For this reason, many millennials are now becoming digital nomads as they want to be able to be decision makers when it comes to the kind of jobs they want to take. Also, as mobility and travel across countries becomes more feasible, employees are willing to relocate and step out of their comfort zone. It is estimated that by 2030 the hyper-connected, tech savvy generation (millennials) will make up 75% of the workforce. But who are the digital nomads? In general, digital nomads are professionals who prefer a location-independent lifestyle that allows them to travel and work anywhere in the world. Most of the time they are freelancers in search of online jobs. In some other instances their companies allow them to work remotely. Here are nine powerful reasons you should hire a digital nomad: 1. Entrepreneurial Being a digital nomad means that they took the initiative to take risks and start a new work-lifestyle. They are motivated to start projects on their own and find the solutions to any problem that might emerge. Due to the nature which obliges them to create an income in order to travel, they will analyse any decision that might result in failure. Digital nomads are independent and have high resiliency as they know that they are on their own and any mistake or delay might cost them time and money. 2. Negotiation skills Digital nomads are in constant negotiation. From the fact that they have to market themselves in order to get online jobs, close deals online, or even bargain prices at a street market in Asia. Thanks to their constant travel, they have learned about cultural differences which are pivotal to closing contracts with international stakeholders. 3. Skills Since deadlines are part of every job, digital nomads have mastered the art of keeping up with the different time zones so their work is always punctual. Further, they have learned to prioritise work to become more efficient at what they do. 4. Creative skills They have traveled multiple destinations and the have seen many different customs that have broaden the right side of their brain. Digital nomads have learned different and creative ways to make their digital platforms attractive in order to call the attention of employers, users, or customers. 5. Technological skills Their main tool for their work is their laptop, and, in many cases, other technological devices. Technology to them is a natural talent. It is part of their survival instinct. 6. Knowledgeable As part of their digital life, they are knowledgeable about trends, world news, tax laws, local business, etc. They are a combination of a travel, political, and lawyer consultant. Digital nomads are independent and, therefore, must be aware of the current events in the world to make them more competitive. They are always well-informed. 7. Quick learners Most of the digital nomads launched their career with only one expertise skill.This has forced them to learn new skills on the road and find resources that can help them solve any issues they encounter. No matter the problem, they always seem to have a helpful approach. 8. PR skills Making yourself standout while working from behind a computer can be quite a difficult task. For this reason, digital nomads have excelled in outreaching and creating a global network. Such a network could be of great benefit to your business. 9. Writing skills As the majority of their work is dealt online, it has become essential to them to have perfect writing skills in order to convey the message they want. They have learned to send messages that are clear, personalised, and persuasive. Are you ready to hire a digital nomad? When considering hiring digital nomads it can sometimes be uneasy to understand the potential benefits they can bring to your business. It should be noted that they are professionals who have survived and created projects on their own. They have mastered and learned skills (even many skills) that a conventional employee might not possess. The following infographic by Market Inspector outlines an overview of the most popular jobs, hubs, and co-working spaces that digital nomads concur. About the author: Linda Bravo is a marketing and tourism enthusiast, currently working for Market-Inspector.co.uk, a B2B marketplace for businesses and institutions in Europe. She’s currently finishing an MBA at Texas AM International University and a MSc at University of Girona.

How Talent Connect Attendees Use LinkedIn [STUDY]

How Talent Connect Attendees Use LinkedIn [STUDY] This year, Link Humans partnered with LinkedIn to run the Profile Makeover booth at the annual Talent Connect Europe 2012 event. The three of us (Laurence, Jorgen and Laurent over from Paris especially), had over a hundred  people coming for profile makeovers, including some of the keynote speakers. Almost all of our attendees were part of their company’s HR community and as such they are ambassadors of their employer on social media and LinkedIn. We feel that it’s important to lead by example on LinkedIn, by having a strong profile that promotes both the individual and the company it can inspire other employees to do the same. As we only had about 5 minutes for each person, in the slide deck you will find the top five recommendations we gave our attendees. We also ran a short poll during the day on the attendees LinkedIn activity, and here are the results. Please note:  In total we had 41 respondents to these questions, so this is not a highly scientific study! When did you join LinkedIn? The majority of respondents joined LinkedIn between 2007 and 2010, with the mode being 2008. Only one person who answered the survey joined in 2012. How many LinkedIn connections do you have? Half the people who answered our poll had 500+ connections on LinkedIn showing a strong network procedure on the site. 7 people specifically stated a figure over 1,000, with one person having over 11,000 connections (they joined LinkedIn in 2003, so have had time to build up their network). How many groups are you a member of? There is a limit on being a member of 50 groups when you join LinkedIn. The majority of people were a member of between 1 and 20 groups   a reasonable amount, as it is not too few and not too many. How could LinkedIn improve their profiles? There was a variety of answers to this question, with our top 5 responses being: Allowing attachments on profiles, on InMails and messages Better content Direct networking Improve mobile app Easier group management You can see all our poll results in the interactive infographic below hover over the images to see the figures. Thank you to all our respondents, hopefully see you next year!

How to Write an Objective For Resume Lesson Plans

How to Write an Objective For Resume Lesson PlansWriting an objective for resume lesson plans is not a difficult thing to do. It should be a part of your resume as it is an essential element of your application. If you are wondering how to write an objective for resume lesson plans, this article will help you out.Writing an objective for resume lesson plans is a critical part of the process of completing the job application. Because most employers look for the resume essay as a direct reflection of the applicant's skills and personality, they do not want to see any fluff.The goal of writing an objective for resume lesson plans is to show that the student is professional, hardworking, responsible, motivated, and responsible in his or her attitude and work ethic. The objective should also clearly state that the employee is good at his or her job and that the employee would like to be hired again in the future.Some schools choose to skip writing an objective altogether for high schools because there is no easy way to tell students to do so. Students are rarely given any suggestions on what to put in the objective section. If a school decides to skip the objective, the only other alternative they have is to indicate it on a different part of the application.For high schools that write an objective for resume lesson plans, they are required to provide two sentences to describe why the student is a good candidate for the position. Students are not asked to write the exact same one as their teachers.One way that schools get students to submit the application form is by suggesting that they use the interview. After the interview, students are expected to complete an objective for resume lesson plans with a self-assessment of their performance. There are three main ways that schools provide students with an interview.The first interview is usually an informal one where the students are interviewed by a member of the human resources department. The second type of intervi ew is a real one where the student is interviewed by the principal. The last type of interview is a formal one that is usually arranged by the teacher.High schools that choose to provide students with an interview should be able to describe the format clearly. Students should be able to recognize when they will be given a table talk interview and when they will be asked to make a presentation. It is also important that the interview be of a conversational nature so that the student feels comfortable enough to talk about his or her knowledge.

Jobvite 2012 Social Recruiting Survey

Jobvite 2012 Social Recruiting Survey Jobvite recently polled over a thousand HR and recruitment professionals on their social media recruiting activity. The results of the survey suggest the trend towards using social media as a recruitment strategy continues to grow. More specifically:92 percent use or plan to begin using social networks and social media for recruiting.Facebook and Twitter recruiting adoption is growing rapidly; 66 percent of those polled are using Facebook and 54 percent are using Twitter to source candidates.LinkedIn is becoming nearly universal for recruiting with 93 percent reporting using it for sourcing.73 percent of recruiters have successfully hired a candidate who was identified or introduced through a social media network.89 percent reported making hires through LinkedIn, 26 percent through Facebook, and 15 percent through Twitter.89 percent of recruiters said they were likely to look at social profiles.Interested in getting your social media profiles up to snuff? Check out these tips for bui lding your online presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

Starting Out - Should You Pursue What You Love Even If Its Much Harder To Get - Kathy Caprino

Starting Out - Should You Pursue What You Love Even If Its Much Harder To Get I received a question on my Forbes blog Career Bliss today that struck a real chord with me, and I wanted to share it with you.   The question was in response to my post 5 Ways To Tell If You Need Career A Change. Kiran asks: Hi Kathy. Thank you so much for the article. What about people who are starting their career? I had decided to make my career in mechanical design and RD. The opportunities however are far fewer in this field. Where as opportunities are more in, say, the field of supply chain, production, maintenance, marketing. I twice got selected for technical marketing but decided not to join. What should an individual do when starting off? What to do when lot of opportunities knock on door but not from the field one is looking for. Should a fresher accept these opportunities and think about career change afterward OR should he wait no matter how much time is required? Here was my response: Hi Kiran â€" Thanks for your great question. I can’t advise you directly without knowing more about your situation (for that we’d need a coaching session), but I’d offer this. To me, your question is a bit like when a child comes to his mother and asks, “Mom, I really adore soccer and that’s what I want to play next year, but there are only a few spots on the team. Should I do what I can to get on the soccer team, or just go out for basketball which is easy to get on?” What I’m getting at here is this â€" I’ve found that people are a thousand times happier, more fulfilled and successful when they’re doing work they love, generating outcomes they care deeply about, using their natural talents and gifts, and not sacrificing their spirits and souls for “security.” Here are some questions to ponder: 1) Are there steps you can take now that plant the seeds for growing more desirable and in demand in the highly competitive field you love? 2) If you take another path, and years later wake up to the fact that the industry has changed and there ARE positions in the field you originally wanted, will you have regrets about going down this other path? 3) Can you gain employment now that pays the bills but ALSO prepares you well for the work you really want to do? 4) Finally, are you sure that mechanical design and RD ARE what you want? How do you know, exactly? Did you try on this direction thoroughly to know that this is professional identity you want? In the end, career change can be much harder than starting off doing what you want and planting the seeds for that all along the way. As I career changer myself, I know this to be true. I’d recommend figuring out what you want NOW (this survey will help you do that) and going for it with all you’ve got. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Im working on my second book right now, and in it, Im discussing the critical steps we need to take if we want to build happy, rewarding and successful careers that buoy us through the hard times in life. An important thing to realize is that you will probably dedicate more hours to working than to anything else in your entire life.   Knowing that, do you want to settle, right out of the gate? Do you want to sacrifice your spirit, your natural talents and gifts and feeling enlivened every day, for what you think will bring you security? The sad reality that Ive seen in my own life and with thousands of other midlife career professionals is that they have gone the route of sacrificing joy, fulfillment and excitement in their work, only to wake up years later to find that the unsatisfying work they settled work was stripped away from them due to the recession.   Ive seen that they only thing that is secure in your life is YOU your spirit, heart, your talents, and gifts, and passions, your unique perspective. Pushing past your comfort zone and going for what you care about deeply is what keeps you stretching, growing and thriving. (Heres more about how moving out of your comfort zone is critical to your success and happiness.) My advice is to go with what you care most about, even if its much harder.   Pursuing work that makes you feel alive, valuable and of use is a life-changing experience that generates many rewards.   That said, you must take the right steps to remain employable and marketable, and to be highly valued in the workforce. Its not enough to pursue your passion without doing whats required to be great at your work, and to contribute in meaningful ways in your field. But once you do that, youll have married up two of the most important ingredients of a life well-lived joyfully giving of yourself and your amazing talents every day in the world, and nurturing and supporting yourself and your loved ones in ways that make you proud and happy. Are you facing an important decision between pursuing work you love and doing what you think is the secure thing? What will you do? (To build a happier, more rewarding career, visit kathycaprino.com and The Amazing Career Project.)