6 Tips for Transitioning Into Your Perfect Career

6 Tips for Transitioning Into Your Perfect Career If you’re feeling unhappy in your career, you’re not alone. According to Aon Hewitt’s 2013  Global Engagement Report, employee engagement levels have declined to their lowest levels since 2008. Unfortunately, many people who feel unhappy or unfulfilled in their career will long to make a change, but only a small percentage will actually act on that desire. If you’re one of the millions of people ready for a career change but scared to take the leap, consider this: the worst thing you can do for your happiness and wellbeing is stay in a career that’s making you miserable. Todays career culture is not the same as it was 25 or 50 years ago back then, people chose one job and stuck with it throughout retirement. Today, it’s quite common for people to change jobs multiple times in order to pursue growth. Contrary to popular belief, change doesn’t have to be difficult, risky or scary if it’s done properly. I’ve created a list of six tips to help make a smooth career transition: 1) Reflect upon your interests: Consider this question: If money were no object, what would you be doing?  Take notes of arts, activities, foods â€" everything you really love. Not sure where to begin? Forbes recommends asking yourself the following: “If I had a free  Saturday that had to be spent “working” on something, I’d choose ____________, because ____________.” 2) Make a list of your skills: Sometimes the prospect of career change is scary and disheartening â€" it can make you feel like the years youve put into your current job were a waste. Instead, look at it in terms of what youve learned. More than likely, youve learned some important skills that you can use in your next job, no matter what that job is. Make a list of all the skills youve learned on the job, then think about how they can be applied to a new position. 3) Take a good look at your last few jobs: This step is quite important, as it can help you determine what type of company culture and position are best for you. Take some time to list out what you liked about your last few jobs and what you didn’t like. Looking back over real-world examples of what worked well for you can help you set up guideposts for where you need to go. 4) Determine your personal strengths: When friends, clients and co-workers compliment you, what strengths are they focusing on? Do they praise your creativity, organization skills or management style? It’s not always easy to evaluate our own strengths, so focusing on compliments may enable you to set modesty aside and recognize your own unique talents. Write them down as you think of them, as such compliments can serve as great talking points in future job interviews. 5) Explore company culture: Company culture can make all of the difference in the world. If you’re feeling disengaged and under-stimulated in your current job, know that it may not be the work you’re doing â€" you may simply be a poor fit for your company’s culture. For example, someone who is best suited for a family-like, team-oriented environment will likely feel bored and stifled in a traditional corporate environment. However, this individual can do the same work at a company whose culture is better suited to their personality and feel engaged and excited. 6) Do your research: Research can help you discover career paths that you may have not even known existed. Start by looking for jobs that sound interesting in your current industry, then branch out to other industries. You may find a career option within your current industry that’s a better fit for your personality and interests, or you may discover that your dream job is vastly different from your current on. If you’re feeling depressed, defeated or “stuck”, remember that you’re not alone. Look for support groups that are aimed towards people making a career transition, or talk to a likeminded friends or mentor to get the support you need to stay motivated and pursue a career that is a better fit for your personality and skill set. Author:  Kerry Schofield is Chief Psychometrics Officer at www.Good.Co.

6 Office Organisation Tips to Keep You Motivated

6 Office Organisation Tips to Keep You Motivated Are you the type of person that has piles of documents sitting on your desk? Have you got a mountain of filing to be done or what feels like millions of e-mails to respond to? Being a disorganised person can feel like a harmless habit but in actual fact you could be wasting time and money and thats not good. When having a clear out, its not a good thing to think of it as a massive one-day attack on the mess, but more like a on-going check list than should be done regularly. Ive collated a list of my favourite office/work organisation tips that keep me  tidy and productive. Check the out below. 1) File it immediately! A very important point that many people dont follow is to file and sort as soon as the work comes in. Its tempting to leave it on your desk or tell yourself Ill sort that later, but the key to being organised is to tackle the task right then and there as it comes in. This way, youll never forget about a document and you wont have tons of random documents floating around your office. Compete the task as soon as you can and youll be more organised from the beginning. 2) Have a Friday purge A simple but effective tip is to have a office spring clean every Friday afternoon. By doing this, youll be refreshed at the beginning of every Monday and ready to take on the week. Youll also be more likely to stay organised throughout the week if you start off on a good foot. Some people do this at the end of every day, but I think its just effective if you give half an hour every Friday to sort out your workspace. 3) Organise your drawers The dreaded drawers. Dont be fooled into thinking that shoving everything into an already overflowing drawer can be classed as tidying up. You should keep your drawers as tidy as the rest of your office if you want to maximise productivity. Invest in a drawer organiser  to keep your draw spick and span and DONT use your desk and drawers as a place to hide the mess. 4) Go  paperless If its possible, try and use as little paper as possible. If a task can be completed on your computer, than use this to your advantage! Its not only great for your organisation but also for the environment. So cut out paper and use your computer as much as you can. 5) Tame the cables Messy cables can make any room look very untidy, so make sure you keep cables under control by using wire clips or cable covers. This will not only look better, but also keep you feeling organised and sorted. 6) Invest in storage If theres something that you should be investing in for your office, its good storage solutions. From Amazon to Ikea, there are hundreds of online and offline shops to purchase useful and efficient storage pieces to keep the mess at bay. They also make a pretty nifty centre piece for your office, so act as both an organisation tool and for decorative purposes. If you have any tips of how you keep your office organised, make sure you tweet us @UndercoverRec!

Top Hobbies for Women Professionals

Top Hobbies for Women Professionals After a long day at work, it’s important to blow off steam in your spare time. If you’re doing that by binge watching “Orange Is the New Black” until you fall asleep, though, you probably could be spending your free time much more productively (not that OITNB isn’t amazing!). Think you don’t have time for a hobby? Think again. The benefits of learning a new skill or playing a sport when you have down time make picking up a hobby worthwhile. Studies show that brain energy spent on hobbies improves creativity and boosts self-confidence and can even improve your performance when you get back to the office. If you don’t already have a passion that you devote your weekends or free time to, don’t worry. Here’s a list of the top 10 hobbies for women, enjoyed by some seriously successful ladies,  to inspire you: Reading Reading is a favorite hobby of many successful women, including America’s book club hostess-in-chief, Oprah Winfrey. Reading is a great hobby to take up because it requires no special skills or equipment. All you need is a library card or a Kindle in your purse, and you can read any time you have a free moment, whether that’s riding the subway or waiting for a doctor’s appointment. Reading can feel like a restful vacation to exotic lands, or you can dive into some non-fiction to improve your skillset. Gardening From actress Julia Roberts to lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, lots of working women have embraced the feel of dirt under their nails as they nurture flowers into bloom. Gardening gets you out in the fresh air and sunshine, and the process of helping young things grow is good for the soul. On top of that, if you plant some easy-to-grow lettuces, carrots and tomatoes, you’ll give your meals a healthy boost with some delicious summer salads. Golfing You don’t have to be a pro to enjoy a round of golf on the weekends â€" just ask former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. In addition to being great exercise (wean yourself off of the golf cart to up the cardio value), improving your golf game can be a valuable skill to have in your back pocket at work.  back pocket at work.    Remember, the best place to start is definitely from the feet.    Firm golf shoes    will keep your form up to par. From there, a good performance will follow the determination! You may never be called on to entertain a client on the links Mad Men-style, but having a swing that’s good enough for the charity event or office outing will serve you well at work. Cricut Crafts A Cricut cutting machine is the  craft unit of choice for the likes of  Martha Stewart. Not only are these machines a way for working women to relax and create during their down time, they are a source of income for many! Make your own t shirts, cards, home decor, labels, and so much more. A  Cricut Bundle is a great way to get started! Painting Former presidents aren’t the only ones who like to paint in their spare time. Talk show host Rosie O’Donnell also picks up a brush to relax. Painting lets you explore your creative side, and the tactile sensation of spreading paint along a canvas can be quite soothing. If you’re not sure where to start, try one of those trendy “wine and paint” nights at your favorite local bistro to see if this is a good activity for you. Running While some sports require specialized equipment or steep admission fees, all you need for running is a pair of sneakers and the open road (First Lady Michelle Obama also needs the Secret Service, but thankfully you can skip that part). Running (and walking, if you need to build your stamina) gets your blood flowing, increases your endurance and improves your overall heart health â€" not bad for a hobby! Stamp Collecting Think stamp collecting is impossibly old-fashioned? Try telling that to tennis star Maria Sharapova. If you’re the kind of person who likes to collect things but don’t have room to house a large amount of stuff, collecting stamps could be just the hobby you’re looking for. Your entire collection can be neatly stored in scrapbooks or specialized folders, or you can artfully display your favorite designs. Knitting Is there an Oscar for knitting? Meryl Streep could probably lock that one up, too. The actress knits to relax between scenes, and even made part of her own costume for the movie “Doubt.” Knitting is a portable hobby, and once you get the hang of it, the rhythmic knit-one, purl-two pattern is like meditation in craft form. If you don’t live near your grandmother, try joining a knitting club to learn the basics. Skiing Supermodel Heidi Klum and singer Victoria Beckham are just two women who love to hit the slopes. If you live where January days are short and cold, you can fend off the winter blahs by getting outdoors. Skiing is fantastic exercise, too, so it’s definitely worth a try next winter. Playing an Instrument Do you catch yourself wishing you had listened to your mother when she begged you not to quit piano lessons? It’s never too late to learn a new instrument. Actress Willa Holland strums the ukulele. Halle Berry plays flute, and Jennifer Garner still has her high school saxophone. Learning to read music has all the brain benefits of learning a foreign language â€" with the added bonus of being able to entertain your friends at your next cocktail party. Practicing Yoga New media guru Arianna Huffington swears by the benefits of yoga, and it’s no wonder why. Yoga has been proven to reduce stress, increase flexibility and strength and even help manage chronic health conditions. Yoga is so popular that it’s a piece of cake to find a class near you, or you can try following along with a YouTube video at home. No matter what hobby you choose, the important thing is that you find something you’re passionate about. After all, only work and no play makes Jill a dull girl!

Lets Face It Gen Y Still Has It Right Marla Gottschalk

Lets Face It Gen Y Still Has It Right Marla Gottschalk In 2011, I drafted my first blog post entitled: Gen Y Has it Right. I wrote the post because of discussions claiming that Millenials were completely different from other groups at work. On some level, I thought this was an excuse to ignore workplace elements in dire need of revision. On another level, there was a clear lack of respect for one important principle: individual differences. It simply wasnt accurate to characterize all Millenials as entitled or disloyal. Well, I am still detecting a subtle undertone that Millenials (all 75 million of them) are somehow markedly different from others at work â€" and I remain baffled. I simply will not subscribe to stereotypes, when discussing people at work. I will concede that groups carry context with them to the workplace; shared experiences of their generation. Ill also concede that we can look for trends, to guide how we interact with employees (or future employees). However, I do not believe this is justification to ignore the notion of within-group individual differences. A recent post discussing yearly raises and career mobility, found that if these elements were present, some Millenials would rather stay put. However, I was surprised to see we were still refuting the notion that Millenials love to job hop. Who really enjoys disrupting their entire work life and suddenly jump ship? I would predict that if career and salary were openly addressed, the option wouldnt prove attractive. Interestingly, when I completed a research project concerning this group in 2008, I was shocked at how the group varied. In other words: they didnt all want the same things at work. Some wished to advance quickly up the career ladder. But, guess what? Others did not expect this. Individual differences matter. They matter to you â€" and me â€" and all Millienals. So, I thought it was time to re-share the 2011 post. Let me know what you think. Sorry, if you beg to differ. I think Gen Y has got it right. The qualities they seek in the workplace â€" such as feeling valued and finding meaning in their work â€" are really healthier for all of us. So, lets stop debating common sense and admit that weve been tolerating workplace issues that should have changed decades ago (i.e., inadequate feedback models, yearly performance reviews). To be perfectly honest, some of these stubborn problems might finally budge at least in part, because Generation Y has displayed the conviction and the guts to persevere and ask for more. I understand that some organizations have experienced what Id like to call, generational shock. I have heard the stories, younger employees appearing overly confident, posturing as if they are entitled to a meeting with the CEO. But, could it be possible that Generation Y is suffering more of a public relations problem, than an across the board ego issue? More feedback they ask? Flexible hours? Supervisors as mentors? How dare they! Lets be sure that we arent labeling an entire generation as difficult and tedious, because we are a bit envious of their nerve to ask for an improved work life? To tell the absolute truth, when I read how Gen Y envisions their work lives, I find myself thinking, Id like that, too. (On some level, shouldnt we all?) If the world of work is entering some sort of an existential crisis â€" where central issues such as the meaning of work are being questioned â€" Gen Y probably isnt going to rest until that crisis is resolved. My bet is on them to continue to mature â€" and help us meet these workplace challenges. Lets remember that Gen Y didnt reach this juncture on their own. There are a number of evolutionary workplace events (traumas, actually) that have come together. This may have begun with the collective unconscious of their parents work lives; imprinted worries of layoffs, a recession, pay cuts and organizations generally behaving badly. These have likely been carried with them to the world of work. When we layer in the burgeoning trend of transparency and add social platforms to the equation, things were bound to shift â€" and they certainly are. Good. Im glad. Lets see what happens. What well might see: Engagement will continue to matter. Gen Y would rather be unemployed than hack away for a lifetime at a job they hate. Employees deserve to love what they do â€" as engagement looks much like the concept of self actualization, but applied to work settings. (It appears that Maslow was right all along.) Improved performance feedback. Gen Y wont settle for a yearly performance appraisal (neither should you). They prefer a more consistent flow of information, and this makes perfect sense. (The timing of feedback and its specificity are agreed upon beforehand.) No one should work in a vacuum. Supervisors as mentors. Research has shown that job satisfaction is positively correlated with a great boss. That shouldnt come as too much of a surprise, as supervisors should help their employees seek challenge and develop at work. Continued transparency. From recruitment policies to organizational direction â€" Gen Y aspires to be part of an open and shared movement. None of us want to feel we are sequestered within a massive hierarchy. More communication channels. Gen Y will continue to lead us through the technology arena, with a steady increase in workplace tech that will help us all connect and become more effective. Personally, I am going to try to embrace and support the changes that Gen Y is seeking â€" wherever possible and within reason. I need these work life attributes, just as much as Gen Y. What do you think â€" does Gen Y have it right? Dr. Marla Gottschalk is an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. She is a charter member of the LinkedIn Influencer Program. Her thoughts on work life have appeared in various outlets including Talent Zoo, Forbes, Quartz and The Huffington Post.

LinkedIn Hashtags A Smart Personal Brand-Building Tactic - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Hashtags A Smart Personal Brand-Building Tactic Promote Your Personal Brand Promise with Hashtags Promote Your Personal Brand Promise with Hashtags Feeling inundated by those little cross-hatch figures or pound signs? No wonder. Hashtags are everywhere. It seems that anytime you see any kind of online communication â€" on Twitter,

Police Assessment Centre The New Police Role Play

Police Assessment Centre The New Police Role Play Role play is a fundamental part of the police selection process, and always has been. However, now, in line with the rest of the new police selection process â€" it’s changing! The difference between the old police search assessment and the new police assessment centre is quite substantial. This is particularly the case for the Metropolitan Police, who are trialing a brand new system. In this blog, we’ll take you through the brand-new Met police role play and what it involves.What is Met Police Role Play?Role play is a form of interactive exercise. It assesses your ability to think on the spot, and deal amicably and professionally with unhappy or difficult people. Essentially, you are given a brief of a scenario, and then 5 minutes to prepare. You then walk into a room containing one or two actors, and then required to play the role of a police constable, to deal with their situation.What’s New in the Police Role Play?So, what’s new? Well, first of all, you are now playing th e role of a police constable. This was never the case in the past, where instead you would be acting in the role of a security guard or member of staff from a shopping centre. Although this doesn’t drastically change the way you will approach the role play â€" you still need to behave in a professional fashion â€" it does have some bearing on your behaviour.The new role play has also undergone a serious technological update too. During the briefing period, you will be able to use your iPad to make notes. You’ll be allowed to bring these notes into the room with you. The briefing will be delivered to you on your iPad, so you’ll need to read through the information using this device.There are two met police role play scenarios in total at the new assessment centre, and each of them will last for 10 minutes, with 5 minutes briefing for each. During the first met police role play exercise you will need to deal with one role play actor. During the second role play exercise there wi ll be two actors, for whom you will need to resolve a dispute.iPad usage aside, the above is highly similar to how the police role play has always been (minus the two actors). However, here’s where things get different:First of all, in line with creating a ‘friendlier’ atmosphere, you will now get to meet the assessor prior to taking the role play exercise. This was not the case before, where you entered the room and the assessor just sat in the corner, silently marking you. Now, the assessor will greet you at the door, introduce themselves and ask you to enter the room once you’re ready.The scenarios are different now too. Whereas before you would be placed in the role of a customer services officer, now (as mentioned) you are a police constable, responding to a situation. Obviously, we can’t give you the definitive scenario that you’ll face, but here are some things which are likely to come up:Resolving a dispute between neighbours, co-workers or other members of the p ublic.Dealing with a member of the public who is behaving in an aggressive or threatening manner.Encouraging a young or vulnerable person to amend their behavior.The role plays are designed to be much more reflective of real life now. The actors will not hesitate to give you definitive opinions and views, which is not something they would do in the previous assessment centre. For example, if you asked the actor in the previous assessment centre whether they’ve found your advice helpful/it resolves their problem, they might give you a vague response. Now, the actor will say words to the effect of ‘No that didn’t help, you’re useless!’ or ‘Yes, you’ve been of great help’. If the former, then you’ll be expected to come up with alternative solutions or ways of resolving the problem, or at the very least exploring why the actor feels that way.Our advice is to approach the role play in the following manner:STEP 1. Introduce yourself to the role actor and ask him/her how you can help them. Remember to be polite and respectful and treat the role play actor in a sensitive and supportive manner.STEP 2. Listen to them carefully and ask relevant questions to establish the facts. (How, When, Where, Why, Who)STEP 3. Clarify the information received to check you have understood exactly what has happened.STEP 4. Provide a suitable solution to the problem or situation and tell the role play actor what you intend to do. (Remember to use keywords and phrases from the core competencies).STEP 5. Check to confirm that the role play actor is happy with your solution. Provide a final summary of what you intend to do and ask them if there is anything else you can help them with. (Tell the role actor that you will take responsibility for solving the problem and that you will keep them updated on progress)In regards to the solutions that you come up with, you will be expected to use common sense to work around the problems. You will also be expected to demonstrate emot ional awareness and persuasive techniques, to get the actor to cooperate with you. The assessor will also focus on elements such as body language â€" which is an important part of communication. You need to treat this situation as you would a real-life scenario.When it comes to scoring on this assessment, the assessor will score you based on how well you have demonstrated the core competencies and values. You will be given a score from 1-5, with 5 being the highest, on each competency/value. This entry was posted in Police. Bookmark the permalink. 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Business Correspondence - What is Normal?

Business Correspondence - What is Normal?Writing business correspondence is a very necessary and often forgotten part of many businesses. It is important to remember that it is a staple in the day to day workings of businesses as it is the first form of communication with the customers. This is why it is extremely important to be able to write business correspondence to be professional in nature and to be good at what you do. It is also important to remember that your work will reflect on your resume.It is also important to understand that most businesses will have a policy in place concerning the type of correspondence, they will allow you to write. It can be very beneficial for you to follow this policy and to not engage in correspondence that the company will not allow. Writing business correspondence for your job as a copywriter should always be done in a professional manner and to the point. While you will still be able to write correspondence on a regular basis, it is best to m aintain this same level of professionalism when you are working on your resume. There are many different types of copywriting that you will want to be familiar with in order to get your resume to its full potential.One thing that you will want to keep in mind when you are writing a resume is that you should not make a habit of writing all of your correspondence for your job. Instead, be aware that some businesses will have a specific requirement for this type of correspondence and you should always follow these policies. The first thing that you will want to do is write a list of all of the different types of business correspondence that you will be allowed to write. This will help you remember that it is necessary to be able to write different types of correspondence on a regular basis.You will also want to make sure that you do not forget to list any business correspondence that you write on your resume. This includes everything from letters of recommendation to emails. Be sure to follow all of the policies of the company in which you are working in order to be certain that you do not violate any written guidelines. This is the only way that you will be able to maximize your resume and to get the job that you want.Before you get started, you will want to first determine if the company requires that you write business correspondence. If you find out the rules for the type of correspondence that you are writing, you will know what to look for. It is also important to be aware that in some cases, it may be a requirement that you submit all of your correspondence for approval before you can send anything out. This is due to the fact that businesses are required to review all of the business correspondence that they receive.Once you have determined whether or not you will be writing business correspondence for your job, you will need to figure out what type of communication you will want to put together. You should start by putting together a few samples that you have created. These samples should include sales letters, brochures, newsletters, and other types of marketing material. These are all examples of various kinds of business correspondence that you will want to consider submitting for your resume.Once you have the samples ready, you will then want to focus on the composition of your business correspondence. It is important to keep it organized so that it will be easier for you to compile it into a professional package. This includes including your contact information in your correspondence and having your contact information organized in a way that is easy to read. This should all be included on your resume.The next step is to find out what the requirements are for the resume that you will be submitting for review. It is important to remember that you will want to follow all of the guidelines set forth by the company that you are submitting your resume to. By following these guidelines, you will be able to make sure that your resume is as professional as possible.