Tips For Choosing A Career

Sometimes you don’t choose your career. Your career chooses you. Other times you have to determine what you like and are willing to do for the rest of your life. Don’t think you’re tied down to one career for the rest of your life though. With education and training, you can change careers and become successful in another job or industry. This isn’t a desirable alternative, so tread lightly when you’re choosing your career. Unless you have a compelling reason to change, stick with the career you choose and it will pay off in the long run. Perseverance goes a long way towards making your career life a success.

One reason to get out of your career is if it no longer becomes enjoyable for you. Many people think you have to pick the career that will earn you the most money. While some might experience success with this approach, other people often become disenchanted with their decision. No amount of money can make up for an employee who hates what they’re doing. A change to a career you will enjoy could result in a massive drop in your salary, but the benefits it will give you in the area of health and well-being make the loss of money worthwhile.

There are several things you can do when looking into a career. Obviously you need to know what types of things you like, and it helps to know how you naturally process data and information. There are personality tests that can give you insight into what type of person you are, and you can learn things such as how you would interact with other people. Understanding this information will give you an advantage when choosing your career. Other things that can help are spending a day in the life of various careers. Find someone that can take you to work with them and show you around. There are also tools and training items such as simulators that can give you experience in various careers. From flight simulators to a virtual stock market game online, there are ways to simulate real life.

A popular career when the economy is running high is stock broker. You will have to undergo considerably training to enter this field; however, you can find out if this is a good profession for you with the use of a free stock market simulator. These tools teach you how to trade stocks, and then will allow you to make trades and see the real-world results of your decisions.

While stock brokers have a very exciting job, it isn’t for everyone. But with the help of simulators you can get a better idea of how well you would perform and how much you would like the job. The more information you can get beforehand, the better. Taking classes, courses, or certifications can help you gain experience and understand how well you would like a certain job and can help you know if it’s a good fit.

As you use these tools and take some action before you decide on a career, you’ll be in a good position to find out what type of job you will do well at and that you will enjoy so you’re not stuck in a dead-end job that you hate.

Career Move

The classified ads are brimming with vacancies again but for top management level. I know the pay will be sufficient for me to save in a short period of time but I don't think I want the stress tied to a high-end position. No thanks!

I am considering switching career from administrative to Technical Recruiter Consultant Jobs or anything to do with Human Resources. I always believe that being in the HR department gives you the chance and opportunity to go around easily as compared to the ones in the administrative and operations areas.

It has been a while since I last applied outside my current company. I think it has been 7 years to be exact and honestly, I do not know how the market goes outside now. I always re-evaluate my skills and know-how and I am happy to say that with what I know and do, I can actually command a high salary. However, the caveat is, I think it is still scary outside so I am not sure if moving out of my current employer is a wise decision. So, I am thinking whether to jump out of my very comfortable zone and have a leap of faith. I have to consider plenty of factors when I do this. I have financial obligations, my kid is still in school, we have mortgage to pay back home and we still want to save more for our retirement years. This thought is a bit tricky but I do hope that better paying opportunities arise in my current employer so I don't have to go through this dilemma. Otherwise, I may just take chances and jump!

Job Opportunity

My brother thinks he is not lucky to have any permanent job here in Dubai. On his five years of tenure here, he only got employed twice and both ended up disappointingly by retrenchment. Both of his previous work experiences were sales jobs in nature. So, when my brother went home for good, he felt a little adamant to accept another sales job. He accepted anyway because it was better than no job at all.

I told him that everything happens for a reason and that his "luck" is not luck at all but blessing from above. He might have not been successful here in Dubai but other opportunities were made available to him in the Philippines. His being there made him closer to his family and that alone is a treasure and an opportunity not to be missed.

Job Market

I have been collecting classified ads for the past week. I am checking the trend of vacancies and the market outside my company. The jobs available are still very stringent compared to the pre-recession time when the classified ads was a separate supplement.

The administrator jobs available currently have dwindled. However, that does not mean that unemployment cases have not recovered. Our company is still hiring and other major multi-national corporations here in the UAE. The robust career-placement before is not as bullish but functioning, if I may say.

Personally, I still feel that the market outside my current post is still volatile. I am having difficulty in my decision whether to stay where I am or jump ship and take my chances.

A Sudden Bright Idea

Have you ever experienced having episodes of ideas popping in your head even before you go to sleep? It has been happening to me lately. For few nights now, I have been sleeping with a pen and paper on my night stand so I can write down my ideas as soon as it pops. I usually give in to them because I don't want to waste that opportunity to record some good insights.

I'm not really sure where they are coming from. They are mostly ideas of what I can do when I go home in the Philippines for good. I have always been vocal about my desire to put up my own business and be my own boss. Since my tenure here in Dubai is coming to a close (not so soon though), I am already thinking of ways to keep the cash flow going.

I may not earn whatever I am getting now back home but I am looking forward to the fact that I will generate jobs. I don't have to answer to anyone but God and certainly, I'll give my staff more days off (if needs be).

It's really weird how these bursts of ideas usually come at night. Maybe because my mind is already relaxed and away from stress so my sub-conscious is feeding my brain thoughts of opportunities.

I hope this keeps going. I may just narrow down to one or two in the long run. I can't wait to see my dreams into realities. I keep my hopes high and fingers crossed (eyes included...LOL!).

What We Want Our Kids To Be

My brother and I had a casual talk while walking in the park this morning about our dreams for our children. We both evaluated our own kids' strengths and thought it would be good to give them a push to enhance their strengths.

My daughter is really good in computer. She loves nit-picking on programs and she often helps me out when I get stuck somewhere in the PC world. I offered some suggestions for her to consider after she completes her high school. Since she is very adept in the computer area and loves playing games, I nudge her to consider science jobs leaning to computer software development or computer programming.

I don't know what she decides to do after high school. One thing is certain, I hope she decides to pursue higher education afterwards.

The Difference Between You and Your Boss

I cannot help but nod and smile as I read my friend's forwarded email about the difference between you and your boss. For those who are working like me, probably, you may be able to relate with this but if not, just enjoy and snicker. I am posting this forwarded email just for kicks! Employees out there.... do you agree? LOL! And to those in management, don't be a spoil-sport ;)

"ME and MY BOSS

When I take a long time to finish,
I am slow,
When my boss takes a long time,
he is thorough

When I don't do it,
I am lazy,
When my boss does not do it,
he is busy,

When I do something without being told,
I am trying to be smart,
When my boss does the same,
he takes the initiative,

When I please my boss,
I am apple polishing,
When my boss pleases his boss,
He is cooperating,

When I make a mistake,
I am an idiot.
When my boss makes a mistake,
He's only human.

When I am out of the office,
I am wondering around.
When my boss is out of the office,
He's on business.

When I am on a day off sick,
I am always sick.
When my boss is a day off sick,
He must be very ill.

When I apply for leave,
I must be going for an interview .
When my boss applies for leave,
it's because he's overworked

When I do good,
my boss never remembers,
When I do wrong,
he never forgets

what to do????????????? "

Who ever wrote this, "I feel for you!"

Ending Recession

Can someone please tell me when this recession is going to end? Reason why I asked is that, it has made people feel gloomy, plans are shelved, no moving around the work-force, no resignations, no temporary jobs available, no promotions, BUT same old issues to deal with.

Can someone please tell me that this recession will end very, very soon???

What's Going On?

Something is terribly wrong. I cannot seem to point my finger as to what but I feel that there is something ominous in the air.

It is such a feat to wake up in the morning and the first thing you read are news about the riot happening in Bangkok, “seemingly” terrorists attack in Mumbai (and I have plenty of friends whose families are in that area), plunge of stock markets and trade, job-cuts mayhem, closing of shops, and the list go on and on. Things like these ruin my day.

I get reprimanded by my husband for worrying too much. It’s my altruistic nature kicking in but all I can do is hope and pray that all these will come to pass.

And how was your day?