Do You Want a Job for Life?

No, you don't. … Well, at least according to the statisticians we'll have at least 7 career changes throughout our lives.

It can't be a realistic figure. After all, I'm almost 30 and I've had just … 4 jobs. … Hm, maybe it's not such an exaggerated number.

Image from: chs.rcsnc.org

To see if I were the odd one out, I asked my friends and colleagues how many jobs they had throughout their lives and I must admit I was very surprised. Of course, there were some who has had only 2 or 3 jobs (I didn't count summer jobs.) but they were in minority.

A friend of mine, Beth, worked as a dishwasher, bartender, cleaner at building sites, food promoter in a supermarket, waitress in a confectionery, pet shop assistant (or 'beast tamer' if you like), business manager in the same pet shop (she is good at taming people too), data entry operator at an online company and then as a team leader at the same company. It's … 9 jobs within 13 years. Not bad.

The absolute winner, however, is another friend of mine: Maria. She is only 32 years old and has had 11 jobs. Yes, 11. She sewed shoes, then manufactured paper bags, then for a while she was a sales assistant in a shoe shop, after which she worked in a dry cleaner's. In the meantime, she taught music and English for children as a private tutor. Later on, she worked in a nursery for a few months. Then, she was a … I'm not quite sure what she did but something related to sales statistics. All I know is that they had two inventories in a year. ;) Then, she sang in a choir. (She's been singing in different choirs throughout the years but I count only this one because she actually was paid for it.) Then, she worked as an interpreter for a company offering financial consultancy. But she wanted something more creative so she decided to translate movies. (It's not that easy as it sounds. But fun for sure.) And now she is a data operator. Yes, she is this energetic and versatile.

So, the stats are quite reliable. But let's see why one in three workers remain in a job for less than two years.

Why do people quit their jobs?

Disillusionment – They feel they could do much more. This is usually combined with the appearance of new opportunities on the horizon.

Downsizing – Unfortunately, sometimes the career change is not our choice.

Money – Like it or not, you need it.

Stress – Sometimes money cannot compensate the stress which comes with the job.

Poor relationship with your boss – Nothing is more demotivating than a boss who cannot speak only shout.

No appreciation – The recognition of a job well-done is very important for us.

Relocation of the company – Not everyone can or wants to move into a new city.

What to do if you are unhappy with your job?

• My mother's advice: 'Keep repeating it could be worse.'

Result:

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• My advice: Learn new skills, prepare for a career change and look for a better, more rewarding job.

Result:

Image from: perkinscounseling.blogspot.co.uk

How about you? How long have you been working for your present employer? Why did you leave your previous one?

I wish I were a …

When I was a child I wanted to become a doctor, then a singer, then an astronaut, then a movie star, then a diving instructor, then a car mechanic, then … I became older but I'm afraid not much wiser. I still have 'dream jobs' that I would simply suck at, provided that I would manage to be hired … which I seriously doubt.

Yes, we must dream big and shoot for the moon:

Image from: http://pioushippie.blogspot.co.uk

Well, maybe not literally. 

BUT before you start chasing dreams, which, if came true, would turn out to be nightmares, try to be objective and see if it's really THE job for you.

How have I managed to rule fake dream jobs out? I made a list with every job I would love to do and then I 'checked' if there is any reason why I would be horrible at it. 

Here is my top you'd-better-not jobs:

Image from: http://kids.discovery.com

No. 5 Pilot

It would be nice soaring like a bird, free from any earthly problems …

Only: I'm afraid of the heights.

Image from: http://www.relycareagency.co.uk/

No. 4 Recruiting Agent

It would be so nice helping people to find jobs …

Only: I would hire everyone and anyone because I would feel sorry for those who have no jobs.

Image from: http://www.createhopedesigns.com

 No. 3 Psychologist

It would be nice if I could help people solve their emotional problems …

Only: I'm too empathic and I would cry my heart out.

Image from: http://whattimeisoclock.blogspot.co.uk

No. 2 Secret Agent

It would be nice to save the world now and then and maybe kick some a**es ...

Only: I cannot keep a secret … and I'm a terrible liar … and to tell the truth, I don't like hurting people.

Image from: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk

No 1 Millionaire

It would be nice to have no worries ... and buy stuff ... and travel around the world...

Only: … OK. I haven't ruled this dream out just yet. I'm still working on how to accomplish it.

But until I become a millionaire, I stick to brainstorming when it comes to choosing a career. What is brainstorming? Well, it's basically the same method I've mentioned earlier. Write down every job you'd love to do – only leave out the you'd-better-not jobs – and pick one.

Here are my realistic dream jobs:

How about you? How do you plan your career?

Learn from My Interview Mistakes

Have you ever felt depressed after a failed job interview? I have. More than once actually. After getting my bachelor's degree I was a bit naive, to put it mildly, and I went to job interviews without any preparation believing that my newly gained knowledge will be enough to get my dream job. Well, I was wrong. And though each failed interview taught me a precious lesson, I thought I share my experiences hoping it will prevent others undergoing the same ordeal.

How to talk yourself out of the job

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It was one of my first interviews. I was so nervous I thought I'm going to faint and perhaps even that wouldn't have ruined my chances more effectively. Have you seen Bridget Jones's job interviews? Well, it was something like that. I kept on chatting about unrelated subjects and since it wasn't a sales representative job, surprise, surprise ... I didn't get the job.

ADVICE: Give short (about 2 minutes), to the point answers.

Do you have a reference list? … Err, a what?

A recommendation letter is fine, but more and more employers/recruiters require a list of names who are willing to vouch for your skills and personality. So, don't make the mistake of going to an interview without such a list. I was applying for a receptionist position and the interview itself went quite well, but this mistake could have cost me the job. Luckily, the interviewer accepted the reference list in form of an e-mail.

ADVICE: Make sure you've asked the permission of those whom you wish to include into your reference list AND don't hand it over until you are asked to do so.

I am too much of a perfectionist.

Image from: www.chrisgibbs.net

Though it is true, it is such a lame answer to the question: 'What are your weaknesses?' I wish someone would have told me that the best answer to this common interview question is a real weakness that you have managed to overcome. No one is perfect and your future employer is aware of this fact. What he wants to know is if you are aware of your faults and - what is more important – if you can work on your weaknesses.

ADVICE: Since you are probably not a native English speaker you can mention how have you improved your speaking and listening skills.

I've no questions.

Towards the end of the interview you most probably will be invited to ask questions. The answer 'I've no questions' will automatically make the recruiter ask himself: 'Is she interested enough?', 'Was she paying attention?'  or 'Is she creative at all?'. I remember back in my hometown, I applied for a typist job and though I said three times 'I've no questions' I got the job. YET I am convinced I was saved only by my English language skills OR … it might have been sheer luck. (Hmm, perhaps I should consider buying a lottery ticket.)

ADVICE: Don't rely on luck and prepare some questions.

It's the perfect job for me, isn't it?

Image from:www.emohteez.com

My biggest mistake ever was to go to an interview completely unprepared. True, the job ad was quite vague but I didn't even check what was the company doing for their income. It looked like a personal assistant vacancy but it turned out that I would have been something like between a croupier and waitress. It was nothing wrong with the job only I wasn't qualified. So I was just wasting my and their time as well.

ADVICE: Always check out the company on the internet. Nowadays, you can learn from how satisfied their customers are with their services to what their employees say about the leaders. It will also help you to prepare some questions.

How about you? What were YOUR biggest mistake during a job interview? 

How to Outsmart the Recruitment Agencies

So you want to work in the UK but you are scared because you've heard a lot of horror stories about the recruitment agencies? Good, because it will make you cautious. You know: it's better to be safe than sorry.

People usually turn to employment agencies because they don't know anyone in the UK. But there are some other options that will not only save you money, but will also save you from a nervous breakdown.

 

Take control of your job search 

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 Just imagine what would you do if you'd want a job in your hometown. You'd probably buy a couple of newspapers and you'd check out a few job boards, wouldn't you? But in this case you can't do that, because … Wait a minute! Why couldn't you do the same thing?!? Check out the latest job vacancies that match your skills and expectations. If you speak the language and you are from the EEA, I can't see why your situation would be different from the other UK citizens' who need to relocate. Write a smashing CV, make sure you have a few English references and apply for each job you can imagine yourself doing. Be honest about your situation and suggest a skype or phone interview at the end of your cover letter. It might take a little time, but at least you know it's unlikely you'll have to face unpleasant surprises after your arrival.

Find a job with the help of your friends

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In 2013 probably there is no one who has never heard about facebook and twitter. We use them every day to post funny videos, share what happened to us and to comment events/photos. But have you ever considered using your profile to find a job? Most probably you know someone who knows someone who might live in the UK. Why not ask around and see what you can find. Maybe you'll get only an English recommendation letter or you'll get acquainted with a UK citizen, but that's a good start. There is nothing wrong with building consciously a network of acquaintances within the industry you are interested in. (Read my previous post about how to make your facebook profile employer-friendly).

Couch surfing

Image from: http://www.pacsafe.com

Couch surfing is a great way to travel around the world on a low budget. But why not customize it for your needs? Visit your favorite English city and while you're there look around to see if there's any job vacancy that would suite your needs. I'd suggest to have some interviews/meetings fixed via e-mail or or phone before arriving to the chosen city but you could also just walk into restaurants and shops where you see the help wanted sign. It's a bit risky and I wouldn't advise you to travel without money, but the worst case scenario is you'll have a nice holiday.

So your English could be better

Image from: http://webcontent.ie

Of course, the better you speak the official language of a country, the easier is to make a career. But you don't have to be a native speaker to get a job. If you fall into this category, I'd suggest to ask your friends to help you find a job and you might want to consider the advantages of English courses. (There are FREE ways to learn a language.)

Recruitment Agencies

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I tried to show what are your alternatives. But in case you still wish to find a job through an employment or recruiting agency, here is a few pieces of advice inspired by the negative experiences I've read:

• Use an agency you've heard is reliable. Online comments are fine, but the best is if you know personally someone who find a job through that particular agency.
• Always double check the agency. Read customer reviews, surf on the net to see if there is any article about the agency (their site and the interviews made with company representatives are not the most reliable sources) AND check if the company is in liquidation. You can do that on the page of the Companies House, the UK Registar of Companies. Most of the information is for free and the rest of the documents like financial statements can be purchased for £ 1 per doc.
• Don't pay in advance. It's the company not the job seeker who should pay to the recruitment agency for finding suitable applicants. It's like on the online job sites. It is always free for you to upload your CV. They might ask money for plane tickets, accommodation, etc but I'd suggest you to be very cautious if they ask for money under any pretext.
• Read the small print. Never give in under the pressure to sign the contract before someone else does. Read carefully the job offer and make your own calculations. Just because they say you can save up to £ xx per week it doesn't mean you will.

Please feel free to share your experience with recruitment agencies.

Is Your Facebook Profile Employer-friendly?

Have you ever checked the results in Google Images if you type facebook drunk photos? Beware!!! It WILL shock you. I am not Nostradamus but I bet no recruiter will employ them if they see these pictures.

And if you think no recruiter will waste time looking up your facebook profile … Well, you are wrong. Due to the job sites and job aggregators the recruiters got more resumes per day than ever. Plus, most of them tend to pro-actively search for the best candidates. So, the odds are they will read a lot of very similar CVs. To rule out inappropriate candidates they WILL check out the candidates' social profiles. Honestly, would you hire any of those who appear in the above mentioned search result? I doubt it.

Clean up your FB profile

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So, the very least you can and SHOULD do is to clean up your facebook profile. And I do not mean only the pictures but the comments and posts as well. Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words, but an inappropriate comment can also be enough to ruin your chances. It is a tedious work, but it is worth the effort. Of course, you can simply keep your profile private. It will help you to avoid being 'red flagged' BUT it might give the impression that you are hiding something. So take the time to check your facebook profile AND I'd suggest to take control over your timeline and tags about you. You can remove a tag (the photo remains online but it won't be linked to your profile), block the owner of the post, decide if a post you are tagged in can or cannot appear on your timeline and you can even set the new stuff you are tagged in to require your approval before they appear on your timeline.

 

Boost your chances to Land a job with Facebook

If Facebook can ruin your chances why not avoid it altogether? Because if used wisely it can showcase your professional interest and your great personality in a way a resume simply cannot and it will increase your chances to stand out. Fine, but how?

Back up your resume

 

Image from: djcronin.blogspot.co.uk

Show how serious you are about your work. References are great, but proof of how serious you are about your work is priceless. Here are few examples how to back up your resume by highlighting your skills:

• Like the pages of professional associations you are a member of.
• Post pictures about work related events.
• Connect with people within the industry. Bond with them.
• Post interesting work related articles.
• Share your work related blog posts.

YOU as a human being

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Show your personal side. This will help you to bond with the recruiters. It is important to show that you are an upright citizen but it is even more essential to show your personal interests. It will make easier for them to remember YOU. Let me give a short checklist of things you can do: 

• Like the page of the charity or non-profit group you support.
• Post pictures about the healthy you. (sports you pursue, healthy recipies, etc) – After all, if you are healthy you will need less sick leave.
• Make sure to have posts and photos about your hobbies – It is always nice to see people who are passionate about their hobbies.

Oh, and one more thing: If you aren't employed at the moment than make sure either to post your resume or to link to your online resume (Here a few tips how to make creative CVs). 

You might also want to:

• make new professional connections
• engage in discussion with potential employers
• ask a friend to refer you for a job

How about you? Have you ever used facebook to advance your career? How?

Odd but Fun Jobs

Who said working isn't fun?!? Show him this infographic. Oh and please make the career advisors understand that you can be successful and cool even if you are not a lawyer.

Here are a few of those jobs that will let you show how daring and/or creative you are:

Friends Will Be Friends

So you have no friends or acquaintances in the UK. No worries. I know, I know, humans are social beings meaning we just need peers to share our experiences with. But the good news is: making friends in the UK is just the same as making friends in your home town. All you have to do is start socializing offline and online.

Image from the Guardian

Offline

Let me start with the most obvious: invite your colleagues to a cup of tea (I'd prefer beer but you get my drift ;) ). Working at the same place means that you will have at least one common topic. Who knows? It might turn out that your colleagues are quite cool and fun people.

Find like-minded people. Sit down and think through what your hobbies are, then ask around where can you find people like you. If you are a keen cyclist go to a bike shop and start chatting with the sales persons. If you like dancing, consider joining a dance school. If there is anything that you've always wanted to do (skydiving for instance) but you just didn't, why not give it a go. ;)

Religious support. It is somewhat similar to the previous advice. If you are a religious person, I'm sure you can find a community who shares your belief. So start searching.

Learn – If you aren't a native English speaker you might need to improve your speaking and listening skills. If you can afford it, I'd suggest to go to language courses. This way you can learn and socialize at the same time. I don't know why, but somehow the best/wildest parties are connected to extracurricular activities. Well, at least this is my experience. (Though most of the language courses aren't free there are some exceptions as well. For details check out my previous blogpost about mastering the English language.)

Oh, and one more thing: get acquainted with your neighbours. Sometimes – especially in larger cities – we don't even know our neighbours' name. But, regardless of their age, they could actually be quite nice people AND ... you know, they won't complain about the noise if you invite them to your housewarming party. :)

Online

I'm sure most of you have read hundreds of forum posts. So why not try being active and reply to some of them? It doesn't mean you have to be some kind of expert in a topic. Not at all. Most of the forums are about sharing your opinion and experience. So go find topics that interest you and you'll find several like-minded people within a couple of minutes. Then again you can use Facebook and Twitter to build new relationships … I'm sure here I don't have to go into details. … My point is, finding friends in the UK is not different from finding friends at home. Just be open minded and make the first step. The rest will take care of itself.

P.S.: Why not start socializing by leaving a comment? (I know a person who would like it very much ;) )

How to Master the English Language

I'm not a daring person. I wouldn't go to live and work in a country if I wouldn't speak the language at all. In my opinion a basic knowledge of the language is a must. Of course, the better you speak the official language of your chosen home, the easier is to find a good job, new friends and of course to avoid situations like this: 

Conclusion: because English isn't our mother tongue I'd strongly advice you to constantly improve your speaking and listening skills.

But I don't have money to join a language course

Who said you have to pay for it? The best thing about the English language is that you find tons of FREE online tutorials, grammar exercises and other fun language activities. Look what I've found after only a few minutes of search:

• On the Free site of the BritishCouncil you can find listening activities with lots of videos and podcasts, grammar exercises with IELTS practice materials and games in case you prefer learning through fun.

• English Online – is another free source: whether you are a beginner or speak the language on an advanced level you'll probably still find something useful for yourself.

• With a little persistence you might find in your city as well gems like these free English lessons for non-native speakers at the University of Bedfordshire. I'ss free because it is part of their teacher training programme but honestly ... who cares? It is free, you can learn from native speaker tutors and you can even make new friends. It is really an opportunity not to be missed.

• Socialize – We tend to meet with people who are from our native country and it's nice to keep in touch and help each other. Just make sure you meet new people and socialize with native speakers. After all, practicing is the best way to learn the language.

• STILL … if you can afford it, you might want to consider going to a professional language school. Why? Because they know how to teach you to speak the language properly in the shortest time. Besides, this is a great opportunity to participate in fun activities with like-minded people. Not convinced? Check out the facebook profile of Islington Centre for English to see the what I mean.

Facts to check when choosing a language school:

1. Are the teachers native English speakers?
2. What is the maximum class size? (It shouldn't be more than 15 students)
3. Do they offer or help you to find accommodation?
4. Do they organize extracurricular activities? (Check their facebook, blog, forum)
5. What are the former students saying about the level of teaching? (Check not only their sites but independent forums as well)
6. Is the school officially recognized? (Here you can see whether a collage/university is officially recognized or not.

How about you? How did YOU learn the English language? 

Calling Home for a Few Quid

Starting a new life in a foreign country is never easy. You'll face difficulties for sure. But don't pay thousands of pounds for an encouraging word. Find the cheapest call rates.

Obviously, there isn't a universal phone card that would suite all of us. The call rate depends on the country you wish to call, but I will try to show you how to find the best solution by sharing my experience.

I made the mistake of applying for a job without any English recommendation letters. (I wasn't used to the importance of references.) Fortunately, I still got the job on the condition that I will hand in my reference list within a couple of days. So I had to make a few calls real quick. But I simply couldn't afford to pay a fortune for these calls. And I thought, thank God for Skype. It is FREE. I was so proud of myself that I managed to work this out but then I realized … Oh, b****y hell, I don't know my ex-boss' skype ID. So I had to come up with something else. I surfed a bit on the internet and my conclusion was that the lowest cost calls can be made with international calling cards. But before I could have pat myself on shoulder I noticed that I have to be very careful when choosing a calling card because there are several pitfalls.

First of all, as I have said, the calling rates depend on which country you plan to call AND the network you are calling from AND you'd better read the small print as well to avoid surcharges.

My favourite site where you can check all these information is Digi Calling Cards. Here, after choosing the destination,

you see a list with the recommended calling cards (with the best rates) but the list is quite comprehensive including all the available cards in case you want to double check that the recommended one is the most suitable for your needs.

I'd advice to check all of them because the numbers can be deceiving. For instance here:

'LOCAL' means – if you are calling from London you will have 2000 minutes for £5 but only 909 minutes if you call the 'FREE' access number.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that service providers can change the rates without notice. So, it is a good idea to call the provided card customer service number before you make the first call – or even before buying the card. This way you can also double check, if it matters from which network you call or not and when the card expires.

Another extra on this site is the live online support. I like to double check everything but sometimes you are in a hurry and then a little guidance is more than welcomed. ;)

How about you? Are you also using a calling card to phone your friends and family?