From Law to Learning and Development

From Law to Learning and Development Success Story > From: Job To: Job From Law to Learning and Development “I decided to look for a career which combined my two passions.” * From Law to Learning and Development Rebecca Hill's work was stressful, emotional and didn't allow her to think creatively. So, she decided to shift â€" changing functions, but keeping some of the aspects of her former role she enjoyed. Here's how she did it and found her Monday mojo. What work were you doing previously? I worked in the legal sector, primarily practising criminal defence. What are you doing now? I'm now Learning and Development Manager for the National Accident Helpline, a leading marketing and services provider in consumer legal markets, working in partnership with law firms across the UK. Why did you change? I enjoyed working in the legal sector and having the opportunity to apply my legal knowledge to help others. However, working in criminal defence was extremely difficult for me mentally and emotionally, as I heard and saw a lot of horrific stories. Work was starting to take its toll on me â€" I'm a blue-sky thinker and this was becoming tarnished. Prior to qualifying, and whilst studying, I worked for a large bank in a contact centre environment, so I had experience of managing people and helping others develop. I enjoyed this aspect and so decided to look for a career which combined my two passions â€" working with people and the law. When was the moment you decided to make the change? The last legal company I worked for was in the process of restructuring, meaning redundancies were being made. I decided to take redundancy and use it as a springboard into my new career. Are you happy with the change? Extremely. It's the best career move I've ever made. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the satisfaction of helping and supporting those who are going through a difficult time in their lives. However, I still retain part of this in my new role, because my aim is to develop others, both personally (as a mentor) and professionally (through training and coaching). I don't miss the ad hoc nature of the role, not knowing what's going to happen from day to day, or the horrible stories I used to hear. How did you go about making the shift? It was actually quite straightforward. I'd had exposure to Learning and Development in a previous role, and from experiences with people who had developed me. Also, my husband works in the field. Redundancy gave me the push I needed. I simply applied for roles which combined my passions. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I was actually financially better off by making the change. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Having confidence when entering into a new sector. What help did you get? I spoke with others in the Learning and Development sector and still do. I now have a strong network of people I liaise with. We bounce ideas off one another. What have you learnt in the process? I've learnt that a job shouldn't be about money or your title, it should be about job satisfaction â€" feeling passionate about what you do and enjoying going into work every day. What do you wish you'd done differently? I wish I'd done it sooner. I also wish I'd looked into supporting qualifications. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Talk to others! What resources would you recommend to others? I'd recommend speaking to other people in similar roles, as I did. I'd also recommend attending conferences and events in the sector â€" there are lots of free ones around. Rebecca's story was sourced via www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk. What lessons could you take from Rebecca's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Writing Resume For the First Time

Writing Resume For the First TimeThere are many ways to write a resume for the first time that you will find useful. You have to remember that you are starting out at a place that is quite different from where you had been working in the past.The position of a manager is generally a position of authority and the expectation for most employees is that they will be promoted soon enough and then there is a point where this promotion can take place. There is always the feeling that they may be able to step up and do a good job but the promotion can be a little more challenging. If you were not aware of this, there are some things that you may find useful when writing a resume for the first time.One of the things that you need to consider is how you are going to relate to the previous employer of the one you are currently applying for the job. There is nothing wrong with praising them for their accomplishments. However, do not forget that you have to be respectful of their position and yo ur place in it.Your resume is only as good as the thoughts that you put into it by yourself. If you can take a look at your resume and tell that it needs some revisions then you should make the effort to do so. You should also note that the main objective of the employer will make a lot of difference to your resume.It is a good idea to also take a look at the requirements for the position in question. Make sure that the requirements are realistic and not too rigid. There are a lot of people who have worked for large corporations and have worked their way up to the position of first manager only to be turned down because of the expectations that the company has for its employees.Once you have determined what the needs are, you should look at the structure of the resume. It can be very long and it may contain many sections that need to be included. It can be quite confusing to write one that is effective and it can be easy to miss the one section. This is why it is important to rememb er that the structure should fit the job.The final thing that you need to remember is that there are times when you need to do a little research before you submit the resume. You should be able to find out whether you are being sent a potential job or not. There are a number of online databases that you can use to get a feel for what is available and if you find that the job is not one that fits your needs, then you should write another resume.Before you write your first resume you should make sure that you are aware of what is expected of you. Remember that you are the one in charge of getting a promotion and you have to show that you have the qualities that a potential employer is looking for. Once you get a sense of how your work has progressed, you will be better prepared to write a great resume for the first time.

Why Saying Yes! Is the #1 Factor in Job Promotion

Why Saying “Yes!” Is the #1 Factor in Job Promotion Todays post is by Kristin Glenn of allofusrevolution.com. She took the Vuitton wallet out of her Miu Miu purse and handed me the company credit card. “Here, drive Louis to the groomers to have his hair done today. It’s summer, so he’s getting the ‘Miami’ poodle cut,” my boss instructed. She was a successful, young-looking 40-something with her own event production company, and I was her newly-hired peon for the summer. I replied, “Sure, anything else to pick up on the way?” It was my usual response, a quick “yes ma’am, may I have another?” That was how my summer began: driving the poodle to the groomer’s, going on wild goose chases for event materials, and spending hours reading how-to manuals for office electronics. I once spent an entire weekend in the New Orleans heat, washing the dirt off old hubcapsâ€" all in the name of funky décor. I was on-call at all times, yet somehow managed to be surprised by early morning phone calls: “Where did you file that proposal?” or “What time is my design guy coming over?” The hours were sporadic â€" sometimes not nearly enough and other times, 10 hour days. I loathed it and loved it. I was the unimportant ‘nobody’ she couldn’t live without. The summer inched along, and I quickly learned the trick to making her love me: always say “yes.” Even when asked the impossible, I said, “Of course!” and scurried off to figure out how to a) accomplish the physically impossible or b) create a hell of a back-up plan. Sometimes I had to admit defeat, but I was already prepared for the next question: “Well, then who can do it?” And that was the summer I realized the key to success is simply saying “yes.” I wasn’t the best at my job. My spreadsheet skills were rudimentary, it took me ages to format simple word documents, and there were sometimes holes in my research. For a college kid, I was what you’d expect â€" too shy to offer creative ideas and too inexperienced to give helpful suggestions. But I always turned up on time, acted professional, did my best, and somehow found a way to make things work. I eventually started writing proposals and doing event planning paperwork. I remember the first time I was asked to sit in on a meeting. I worked in her home, alone sometimes, with a list of things to accomplish. And a year later, I left that job with invaluable resources and knowledge about my career of choice from a fashionable diva-esque mentor who truly appreciated what I had to contribute. Employers care about experience and skill, but only to a degree. A resume will get you an interview, but it won’t get you a job, a raise, or even a pat on the back. What people really want is a “yes person”â€" someone who will do (almost) anything in the name of good business practice. And it shows. It shows in a job interview and on the first day of work. So when you’re asked to install a program with no installation CD and then tie the boss’ shoes, make sure you’re one of those people who enthusiastically says, “yes!” Before long, you’ll be at the top, laughing about the summer you spent watering plants and walking dogs.

How Business Recommendations on LinkedIn Can Help Candidates

How Business Recommendations on LinkedIn Can Help Candidates Have you noticed just how many sites allow users to leave recommendations or reviews online? 10 reviews for this, 5 people recommend that, and this trend is becoming ever more popular. Many ecommerce product and service websites are now flooded with user generated reviews to provide their users with confidence in purchasing products and services on offer. This functionality cleverly aims to help create engagement and build the relationship between the customer and seller. LinkedIn is no exception to this trend. Although you may not be aware of this yet, LinkedIn is allowing organisations to promote specific products and services it offers on the company services tab. The company pages tab on LinkedIn is currently in beta stage. It’s quite probable that LinkedIn will be making more changes and drawing more attention to this particular aspect of its network. Benefits for candidates Job seekers can take advantage of this feature when engaging with a recruitment agency. Provided an agency has its services displayed, job seekers are able to leave a valid recommendation or review their experience with that agency, whether good, bad or ugly. This allows other job seekers to acquire a credible opinion of the agency, and can help a job seeker to evaluate their decision whether to engage with a recruitment agency or not. Utilising the power of your network LinkedIn’s recommendations feature highlights any recommendations from within your network, allowing job seekers to see what their direct connections have to say about the agency in question. This is a powerful feature that enables a jobseeker to view a particular comment, let’s say from a friend or associate within their LinkedIn network that may add further credibility of the product or service in question. Benefits for brands Organisations can take advantage of the LinkedIn products services tab by empowering their customers to leave honest feedback on their products/services. Positive reviews can strengthen the credibility of your company and also help to reach and attract new audiences. I’m sure you can think of other valuable uses for recommendations to promote your brand! Please feel free to head over to the ARM products and services page on LinkedIn to view a page in action and see what our candidates have to say about us. Sam Hill is the Online Social Media marketing executive for  Advanced Resource Managers  (ARM), one of the UK’s major technical recruitment firms and also provide a wider range of client solutions such as Training, RPO, under the ARM consulting  brand. ARM employ in excess of 160 staff and have a turnover of circa £100m.

What to Include in Your Resume Writing Session Description

What to Include in Your Resume Writing Session DescriptionSo you're taking a resume writing session but you don't have any ideas about what to write. Or you've got a few pages of material but it doesn't really give the employer a good impression of you. Instead of giving up, take a deep breath and try this template for your resume writing session description.When I was in college, I worked as a secretary for a person who was running a large office, so I knew what a resume should look like before I ever received one. This is something that you should always bear in mind when you're writing a resume. And if you have some samples of resumes that you've seen before, or even some resume samples on your computer, you can easily adapt those into the descriptions of your own resume writing session.In general, a resume is a great way to get yourself out there for an interview, or at least a phone interview. And it's not just about getting yourself out there, it's also about putting yourself i n front of a hiring manager's eyes. Therefore, your resume writing session description should contain a few things about you: what you do and how you do it; how long you've been in your current position; what you're passionate about; and how you intend to match your qualifications to the position that you are applying for.The first thing that you want to talk about is what you like doing for work. It doesn't necessarily have to be the most fun thing in the world. If you don't really have a passion for it, or if you just have a steady job that you like, then this will show your employer that you're professional. And, if you have some hobbies that you do regularly (or some favorite pastimes), this may give you an edge over others when it comes to showcasing your hobbies.Your second section of your resume writing session description should be about what you're passionate about. This is something that you'll be proud to show off to your boss. If you've got something that you're passiona te about, and that you're good at, this may mean that you'll be hired faster because you'll feel more comfortable in talking about what you do well.Next, you need to talk about how long you've been in your position. This will help you show that you're really dedicated to your job. It's important to mention what your job title is when you were hired, but you can also add a job description after that if you wish. This will let your employer know how many years you've been working in your current position. If you've been at the same place for a while, then you may also be able to talk about how long you've been with the company.If you haven't had a chance to do much research on the company that you're applying for, you may want to consider a bit of creativity in your resume writing session description. In a lot of cases, this will come from your educational background. If you went to college, you might talk about your degree, or how many classes you've taken. This can be a great way to show the hiring manager that you're a serious and organized student. And, if you know that you've been doing some volunteer work as well, then you can add that information as well.Don't think that if you can write a short and to the point paragraph, you can't also write a great resume writing session description. You should incorporate the things that you discussed above and maybe add a bit of a personal touch to it. However, if you have some experience and education, make sure to talk about it!

To Get a Job, Sharpen Your Axe - Jane Jackson Career

To Get a Job, Sharpen Your Axe - Jane Jackson Career Many people tackle their job search process by relying on the easiest option.   They make online applications to fill advertised roles and quietly wait and to be selected for an interview.   If they are called for a screening interview they walk in and expect to be able to ‘wing it’ and be selected for the job.     Some may be lucky however this is not a professional approach to secure one of the most important things in your life â€" a fulfilling career.  Abraham Lincoln once said, “If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.The key to an effective job search is preparation, preparation, and preparation.Do you know specifically what you have to offer and what you want in your career?   If not, you won’t be able to market yourself effectively when you launch your job search campaign.Treat your job search like a Marketing Campaign.   This is a marketing exercise in which YOU are the product and the PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS are your customers.Here is the process to market “YOU” ·             Define the Product “You” ·             Analyze the Market “What Jobs?” ·             Develop Marketing Strategies ·             Implement the StrategiesKnow Your Product In order to understand yourself and what type of roles, industries and environments suit you, take time to conduct self-assessment exercises that will provide valuable insights into: ·             Your technical skills, knowledge and career accomplishments ·             Your personal values and interests, what is most important to you ·             What satisfies you in a job, your motivators and de-motivators ·             The qualities you possess that are desirable to employersThink about the functional and transferable skills that are your natural abilities.   Analyse your self-management skills and your personality traits.   Consider your ability to handle yourself in varying situations, your work content skills and the technical, specialised skills you have acquired through formal education and training.This self-assessment process enables you to analyse what you have to offer before you begin the search process and helps you to articulate what you want during your search.   By identifying your accomplishments you can include them in your resume â€" an essential tool in the job search process (for more on resume writing, see “Dust Off Your Resume”one of my previous articles.)   The self-assessment process gives you confidence and clarity when you are communicating during networking or job interviews.   The big plus is that it will also help you to manage your career and stay true to your goals after your search is concluded.Once you know what you have to offer and you have devised a strong resume, there are a number of strategies you must employ to go to market.   Remember that the easiest option is to apply for advertised roles however statistically they only account for about 20% of job openings.   About 80% of jobs are ‘ hidden’ â€" they haven’t reached the Human Resources department of the companies yet.   A hiring manager may be in the process of deciding exactly what resources are required for a specific project, someone may be thinking about resigning, someone may be promoted soon and an opening will be become available shortly.   In order to get your “foot in the door” in these cases, networking and target marketing will be the best way to go.Here are pros and cons of each job search method:Search Firms/Recruitment Agencies Benefits:   They know the market and what is available now.   They understand the hiring process and can provide interview practice and feedback.   They can correct unrealistic expectations.   (See Recruitment Consultant Friend or Foe.Disadvantages:   They work for the employer, not for you.   They make money on placements and many will not spend time on you unless they can match you with a current assignment.   They do not know everything and they may compete with you â€" they may recommend several candidates including you for the role you desire.Advertised roles on-line and using the Internet Benefits:   An excellent source of company information, some job opportunities are posted on company websites and job boards.   The Internet will provide a flavour for industry trends and movements within organizations.Disadvantages:   Not all information on company websites is up to date and not all job openings are listed.   Emailed resumes may get lost amongst the large number of resumes received and almost always the resumes go straight to Human Resources not the hiring manager.   If you are not careful you can spend an extraordinary amount of time in front of the computer rather than effectively networking face-to-faceResponding to Advertised Roles on-line and in print media ·             Read the advertisement carefully and highlight the core requirements of the role ·             Analyse the requirements to get a clear idea of the most important aspects of the job ·             Try to contact the decision maker or advertiser to gain as much additional information as possible about the role before you apply ·             Write a strong cover letter drawing the closest possible match between your accomplishments and the job requirements ·             Analyse and customize your resume to the role, truthfully and effectivelyTarget Marketing directly to Companies Benefits:   You decide whom you want to work for, in which area and for whom through effective research.   You make the initial contact when you are ready.Disadvantages:   There may not be a role available at this point in time and, unless you have a recommendation from someone respected by your target audience, your marketing email or letter may not be read and your approach not considered.   Success can be a matter of luck and applying to the ‘right place at the right time.Networking Benefits:   You contact the people you know for information, advice, ideas and sup port.   These people may be able to provide additional contacts to aid you in your job search.   Networking helps you to develop and maintain relationships and there may be mutual benefit in the long run.   You may uncover the ‘hidden’ jobs, develop new contacts in the industries you have targeted and learn who the key people are in a company. Networking gives you the opportunity to practice your interviewing skills.Disadvantages:   It is time consuming.   Some people feel uncomfortable with the concept of ‘networking’ mistakenly thinking they are asking for a ‘favour.’Statistically, networking is the most effective way to find a job (see my postI Believe in Serendipity.)   A recommendation helps to cut through the traditional selection process.When allocating time to your job search ensure that you spend about 70-80% of your time identifying and building your network and the remainder of your time applying for advertised roles, working with recruitment consultants and t arget marketing.Armed with this information and time spent, as Abraham Lincoln said, “Sharpening your axe” you will conduct a more effective job search.Jane Jackson is a career management coach and author of #1 Amazon Australia (Careers) bestseller, Navigating Career Crossroads.   If you need guidance in your job search visit www.janejacksoncoach.com

Summary Sunday Diagnosing Your Job Search

Summary Sunday Diagnosing Your Job Search Diagnosing Your Job Search Are you having difficulty diagnosing whats wrong with your job search? Diagnosing Your Job Search This weeks collection of popular posts helps you pin-point whats going wrong with your job search (and career). From ineffective interviewing tactics to using the out-dated job search tactics, youll get what you need to conduct a healthy job search! JOB SEARCH 253 Jobs I Didnt Get: Heres Why by Lynda Spiegel  on LinkedIn Here are three fixes your job search desperately needs! Pros and Cons of Working in a Startup by Tatiana Rehmova  | EnhanCV This list of Pros and Cons will help you understand what working for a  startup really means and whether it would be the right place for you to work. CAREER The One Simple Thing Which Can Make You More Likeable by Christina Desmarais | Inc. Backed by science, there really is ONE thing you can do to make yourself more likeable! INTERVIEWING NEGOTIATING Is This the Reason You Keep Getting Interviews That Dont Turn Into Offers? by Lea McLeod | The Muse Are you frustrated because you arent getting offers? The fix is pretty simple. Learn how to win the interview and get the offer! Ten Rules for Negotiating a Job Offer by  Haseeb Qureshi | freeCodeCamp Haseeb landed a job at Airbnb and his story went viral. He explains exactly how to negotiate in these 10 rules. SOCIAL MEDIA How HR Can Use Facebook for Recruitment Marketing by Audra Knight  | The SHRM Blog With over a billion  daily  active users, Facebook should not be ignored. Knight explains, from a recruiters perspective, why and how to tap into the power of Facebook. Its important for job seekers to understand this trend! The Ultimate Career Summit Only 24 hours left! Access it here:  The Ultimate Career Summit link At no cost, you can gain access to advice from 16 job search, career and resume writing professionals. Just click on the Yes, I want in button and add your email address. You will be able to view all 16 video interviews, but only until Monday, Sept. 19. I want to thank  Theresa Kopnicky  of  Purposeful Living Solutions for the opportunity to talk about how to use and infographic resume in my interview called Be One of a Kind-Stand Out With an Infographic Resume.