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The Online Learner

13 Posts tagged with the career tag Info and advice on building your skills

Entering the working world after school can be daunting enough without worrying about money. Unfortunately, now that you're really on your own, there is nothing more important than staying smart about your personal finances. Here are ten tips to help you get off on the right foot financially.

 

1. Start Saving - Apartments and cars are expensive, and entry level jobs don't pay much, but don't use this as an excuse not to stash away a percentage of your pay. Not only is it critical to get into the habit of saving early in your life, but you'll want to have a cash reserve saved up for the unexpected and at some point, a down payment on a home. To make saving painless, have 10% of your income automatically deducted from your paycheck.

 

2. Build Credit - If you don't already have a credit card, sign up for a card with cash rewards. Use it to buy your everyday purchases like gas and groceries, but pay it off in full every month! In time, this will build your credit history so you can get approved for auto loans or a mortgage when you need them.

 

3. Make a Plan to Get Debt Free - If you graduated with credit card debt, make a plan to pay it down quickly. Focus on high-interest credit card balances first, and put as much extra cash as you can towards the debt every month. Whatever you do, avoid going into more debt. It can be tempting to spend your new paycheck on new clothes, going out, and lavish vacations, but doing so will cost you for years to come.

 

4. Open a 401k - If your employer offers a retirement plan like a 401k, don't miss out on this important benefit. Ask your human resources manger about enrollment paperwork, and elect to contribute at least 6% of your before-tax income to your fund. Many employers will match 50% of your contribution, and this money will grow, tax-free, for your entire career. If given the option, choose "high-risk" portfolios that have the potential for high returns. You're young, so you can tolerate the risk. To read more about 401ks, check out this earlier posting.

 

5. Open a Roth IRA - In addition to your employer-sponsored retirement plan, get into the habit of saving for the future on your own. A Roth IRA is the perfect way to go. You can open one from most financial institutions and contribute up to $5,000 annually (as of 2008). Unlike a regular IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars to a Roth, but when you retire; your distributions are not taxed. This is the perfect complement to your 401k, which lets you contribute pre-tax dollars, but will be taxed when you take distributions in retirement.

 

6. Learn to Budget - In order to make sure you don't go into debt, learn to set up a simple monthly budget and stick to it. Write down how much you make each month and then tally up your expenses like rent, gas, cell phone, food, student loan bills, entertainment, etc. Aim to keep your expenses well below your income, and save the rest. If you find that you spend more than you make, take a long hard look at what you can cut out of your spending, or take on an extra job to make ends meet. There are many free online tools that can help you with your budget, including one of my favorites: Mint.com.

 

7. Start a Business - Don't think you're the entrepreneur type? You don't have to be to earn a little extra cash from your own business. One of the key ways people become financially successful is by creating income streams outside of their salary. Think about ways you can turn a hobby or interest of yours into a part-time gig. Maybe you have an impressive MP3 collection and could DJ parties, or you're an IT whiz and can help people with their computer programs. Know your way around the Web? Start a blog that earns revenue from advertisers and affiliates.

 

8. Set Goals - Successful people figure out where they want to go, and then figure out how to get there. You should do the same, both financially and professionally. Make a plan for where you want to be in five years, and reevaluate your progress every couple of months. How much do you want to be earning? Where do you want to live? How much do you want to have in the bank?

 

9. Improve Yourself - Your greatest asset is your education and skills that you can use to find employment or run a business. Consider whether an advanced degree could improve your earnings potential. If going back to school isn't for you, continue to enrich yourself by reading plenty of books in your field or taking a few extra classes. You never know when a new skill will propel you into a new position or make you worthy of a big raise.

 

10. Give Back - Finally, remember that money isn't worth working for if you only spend it on yourself. Even if you can only spare a few dollars a month, choose worthy causes and give to them. Knowing that you're helping to make a difference to others less fortunate or to advance important research is worth every penny.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: courses, career, job, work, learning, strengths, money, skills

So you just got promoted into your first management position. Congratulations! Now what are you going to do? Believe it or not, everything has changed and you need to adjust accordingly.

The transition from player to manager is an exciting, but challenging, one. It takes most people out of an area in which they have been comfortable and successful for some time into more unfamiliar territory. Moving from being one of the team to leading it can be daunting.  It's not business as usual because now-  the expectations are different. It's important that you realize that your focus needs to shift and how you communicate with former peers must change.

As a new manager, you need to set new boundaries with former coworkers. While you can still maintain your friendships, you need to draw these new boundaries in order to establish your authority and credibility. It's not about becoming demanding and asserting yourself in aggressive ways. Rather, it's taking seriously your need to refocus your thinking so that you position yourself as a leader deserving of the respect of others.

Time and experience will develop and refine your management skills, but additional training will prime you for the process of transitioning into a management role. In the online course Taking on a Management Role, you will find an overview of the changes a manager may face.

Through our partnership with SkillSoft, we are currently offering 10 self-paced, MyPath Knowledge Center to MyPath Community Memebers.

 

This course is targeted toward anyone who is about to be promoted, or who has just been promoted to a first management or supervisory role

There are no prerequisites for this online course, however students should have a good understanding of the experience gained from working in an organization.

 

In the course Taking on a Management Role you can learn to…


  • Recognize the value of stopping to consider what a management role involves before taking it on.
  • Identify the five core functions of management.
  • Characterize how a manager spends his time in a described situation.
  • Determine the constraints and demands on a new manager in a described situation.
  • Recognize the value of reviewing what may happen during the transition from player to determine whether the management decision-making process has been correctly applied to a given situation.
  • Sequence the stages in the management decision-making process.
  • Determine what action should be taken in a described situation.
  • Determine how a company's culture impacts a new manager, in a given situation.
  • Recognize the benefits of making time to pursue personal development.
  • Categorize factors as either drivers for, or resistors against, the success of a new manager.

If you would like a sneak peek of the course, see the brief lesson or SkillBrief * from Taking on a Management Role below

____________________________________________________________________________

Seven Stages of Transition to a Management Role

A move that takes you out of your comfort zone, out of a familiar job, and into a challenging new role can be difficult to handle. Change is unsettling for most people, and even welcome change usually requires a period of adjustment. The transition to a management role, even when it has been eagerly anticipated, can involve a roller coaster of emotions.

J. Adams said in his book Seven Stages of Transition that: "It is recognized that any change in a person's routine, planned or unexpected, will provoke a standard sequence of emotions." This transition process has a number of stages:

  • immobilization
  • minimization
  • depression
  • acceptance
  • testing
  • seeking meaning
  • internalizing

Understanding the transition process and knowing that you are not alone in experiencing these emotions, will help you to deal with each stage more effectively. To find out some more about how you might be feeling at each stage in the transition process, consider the stages listed below:

Immobilization – It is the new role that you wanted, but you are not quite sure what to make of it.

Minimization – You may try to carry on as though nothing has changed, because this seems to be the easiest route. You might be tempted to choose a lot of your old tasks and ignore the management elements of your new role.

Depression – You may feel a sense of panic, anger, or depression as a result of your own high expectations, and the pressure that you feel to perform well.

Acceptance – This is real progress. At this stage, you begin to realize that you can do the job, and that, in fact, you have already begun to make a difference.

Testing – At this point, you will feel free to do the job your own way and confident enough to try out new ideas.

Seeking Meaning – For the first time, you give yourself the chance to reflect on what you have learned so far about yourself and about others around you.

Internalizing – Now you identify yourself with the job more readily. You are no longer inexperienced, but instead, comfortable in your position as manager.

If you have already been promoted to a management role, you might want to identify which stage you have reached. Each stage in the transition process provides you with a new learning experience. These experiences will also help you to support your own team's development more effectively in the future.

As a manager, you will want to have some control over your own development. It is helpful, therefore, to consider what you can do to deal with the difficulties of, and capitalize on the strengths of, each transition stage.

The actions that you can take are as follows:

Immobilization – You may feel that there is so much to do that you end up doing nothing. You can feel very isolated at this point, and it is wise to seek some support. Talk to your manager or mentor about how you feel, and try to identify some clear objectives.

Minimization – Be wary; this can be a difficult stage. It may be tempting, but you cannot pretend that things have not changed. Your staff members need clear leadership from you, not direct interference in their work.

Depression – At this stage, you need to remind yourself of your past successes. Break the current challenges that you face down into manageable tasks. Make sure that your objectives are achievable, and reward yourself when any task is completed.

Acceptance – Make the most of your positive feelings during this period. Now may be the time to tackle some of the more difficult tasks.

Testing – Having the confidence to express your own views represents significant progress, and is a positive step. Make sure, however, that you retain a healthy balance, and avoid being aggressive. Be assertive instead.

Seeking Meaning – Allow yourself adequate time to reflect on what has happened to you, on what you have learned, and on how many of your attitudes may have changed.

Internalizing – Congratulations! You have reached your goal, and are no longer surprised when you are introduced as a manager. Remember to use your experience of the early stages of the transition process to understand others who are facing some kind of major change.

Do not be concerned that the emotions associated with some of the stages are negative. Dealing with these stages successfully will improve your management skills. You cannot expect everything to change overnight. You will take some time to adjust to your new managerial role, but this is natural.

As the transition process demonstrates, you will pass through clear stages on the way. Understanding these stages, and how you might feel, will help you to handle this important progression in your career more successfully.

____________________________________________________________________________

* SkillBriefs are condensed summaries of the instructional content of a course topic. SkillBriefs are designed to be used as an instant reference. While taking a SkillSoft Course, select the Resources tab in the Navigation bar, then click SkillBriefs. This opens a new window where you can access the information.

It can be hard for former colleagues to treat you as a manager if they have worked with you for years as their peer. But you are now in a role that gives you responsibility for assessing their job performance and giving important input into their work lives. It can place you at odds with your staff/friends and may sometimes require you to make tough decisions with which others may not agree. That's part of being a manager so the sooner you accept that, the better.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: training, skills, work, change, management, program, career, online_learning

I have lived in the San Francisco Bay area for more than a decade. In that time, I have survived two major tech booms (and busts). The boom times result in tons of innovation while the busts create a time for reflection, transition and reinvention.

People take wildly different approaches to recessionary times. Losing a job can prompt some to move to a new city. Others may choose to travel for an extended amount of time. During the down market of 2000, when a friend or acquaintance said, “I am taking a few months to travel in Thailand” that was code for, “I just got a pink slip from my Internet start-up and I don't know what I am going to do now”. Taking a year to travel in during your late twenties or early thirties may add a number of years to how long you will work overall, but you may enjoy traveling more than when you are in your seventies. For others who have no savings, they may have no other choice but to wait it out.

Below is a great video by a (reinvented) Bay Area film maker. She highlights three different people who have taken three very different approaches to the current economic downturn.

Of course, recessionary times prompt many to take on a new career. How does an IBM Engineer with multiple patents become an expert on China, a 20-year tech industry veteran become a middle school math teacher or a tech analyst become an artisan bread baker?  An article in this months San Francisco Magazine profiles several Bay Area residents who give their take on why and how they have started a new career.

Interested in a new career? If so, it is important to take the time to evaluate your present situation, to explore career options and to choose a career that will be satisfying for you.

Ten Steps to a Self Reinvention

1. Evaluate your current job satisfaction. Keep a journal of your daily reactions to your job situation and look for recurring themes. Which aspects of your current job do you like/dislike? Are your dissatisfactions related to the content of your work your company culture or the people with whom you work?

2. Assess your interests, values and skills through self help resources like those found here on MyPath. Review past successful roles, volunteer work, projects and jobs to identify preferred activities and skills. Determine whether your core values and skills are addressed through your current career.

3. Brainstorm ideas for career alternatives by discussing your core values/skills with friends, family, networking contacts and counselors.

4. Conduct a preliminary comparative evaluation of several fields to identify a few targets for in depth research.

5. Read as much as you can about those fields. MyPath offers online access to 250 leading technology, engineering, finance and best-in-class business books from leading publishers in the Books 24x7 Reference Library. After you have done your research, reach out to personal contacts in those arenas for informational interviews.

6. Shadow professionals in fields of primary interest to observe work first hand. Spend anywhere from a few hours to a few days job shadowing people who have jobs that interest you.

7. Identify volunteer and freelance activities related to your target field to test your interest e.g. if you are thinking of publishing as a career, try editing the PTA newsletter. If you're interested in working with animals, volunteer at your local shelter.

8. Investigate educational opportunities that would bridge your background to your new field. Consider taking an evening course at a local college. Spend some time at one day or weekend seminars. Contact professional groups in your target field for suggestions.

9. Look for ways to develop new skills in your current job which would pave the way for a change e.g. offer to write a grant proposal if grant writing is valued in your new field. If your company offers in-house training, sign up for as many classes as you can.

10. Consider alternative roles within your current industry which would utilize the industry knowledge you already have e.g. If you are a store manager for a large retail chain and have grown tired of the evening and weekend hours consider a move to corporate recruiting within the retail industry. Or if you are a programmer who doesn't want to program, consider technical sales or project management.

Have you “reinvented” your career? If so, what did you do to make the transition happen?

0 Comments Permalink Tags: career, employment, change, skills, advice, work

Earlier in the month we began discussing when you might consider taking a step back in either your salary or your seniority (Getting Ahead By Taking a Step Back).

Here are five situations where taking a step back (or across) might make sense for you.

1. You Just Need Work

If you’re out of work and you need money to pay the bills, it’s better to take a lower-paying job than to have no job at all.

2. You Move into a New Industry

When a job change forces you to take your expertise to a new industry, you may have to accept a lower salary. The same applies when you take your industry knowledge to a different company area.

3. You Change Careers

Some laid-off workers will find their next job in a completely new field. If you do that, you may have to take a pay cut because you typically aren’t worth as much in your new career path as you were in your old career.

4. The New Job Makes You Happy

Having a job that satisfies you is far more important than how much you earn. If you find the right match, you might find that a bit less money doesn’t matter as much.

5. To Keep Your Current Job

Forced to choose between taking a pay cut or losing your job? Take the pay cut and look for another job. Employers typically prefer hiring someone who’s employed to someone who’s not.

Perform well despite your lower pay, and you’ll build a case that supports giving you a raise when the economy recovers.

Moving On…

If you’ve agreed to work for a lower salary, issues will arise. If you have to do the same job for less, your first challenge may be emotional. Accepting a lower salary can be difficult if you hang your self-worth on the size of your paycheck.

Instead of thinking about salary as a measure of your worth, perhaps think of it as what the market is willing to pay for your skills, knowledge and experience at this point in time.

The new, lower salary will also become a part of your salary history when you apply for your next job. When salary history questions arise, answer honestly. No one needs to apologize for the fact that they made more money before. Perhaps you were in a field that was negatively affected by recessionary events – if you were a consultant at a large firm and now you’re a contractor at a small firm -- it’s expected and accepted that you would take a pay cut.

And remember that time heals at least some paycheck wounds. In prior recessions, there are a couple years where salaries become depressed, and then they get back up to the norm within a year or two after the recession ends. While you may not make up the whole gap between what you were making and what you are now making, you will end up closer to where you were than where you are now.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: search, skills, strengths, job, career, change

Training for a New Career

Posted by Lisa Ford Nov 20, 2009

Recently, we have received some questions from MyPath members asking for tips on how to manage the costs for training for a new career.

Here are some general guidelines:

Consider the typical salary for your new career interest and ask yourself how much debt you are willing to take on to earn that particular salary.

After an exhaustive career exploration that involves researching jobs and conducting informational interviews with people in target career fields, many job seekers determine they need additional training to develop skills for a new career. However, it is important to research the possible training providers as intensely as you have researched your career interests.

Whether you are interested in a community college, a four-year institution, a short-term training program, a professional certification program or a private training provider, here are some questions you should ask.

How much is this going to cost?

School can be pricey. While it may give you new skills for a completely different career or add to the skill set you already have to make you a more marketable job candidate, it does not guarantee employment. Consider the typical salary for your new career interest and ask yourself how much debt you are willing to take on to earn that particular salary. Using these figures, calculate approximately how long it will take you to pay back the debt and consider the sacrifices — such as holding off on buying a new house or car — that you may have to make as a result.

Also, be sure to take advantage of resources available to help you with financing your education or training. One way to secure financial assistance is through the Workforce Investment Act. This federal program was designed to assist qualified unemployed, underemployed or dislocated workers by providing job-training scholarships.

Another means of support can be found through the Department of Education, which provides federal student aid for eligible individuals. Federal student aid is accepted at all community colleges and most public and private universities. Typically, most for-profit schools as well as non-degree-bearing programs such as continuing education or certification classes do not accept federal student aid, but you should check with the financial aid office at your school or training provider of choice to be sure.

Information about and a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) are available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

How many students who complete this training program end up working in a related career?

If you are going to make the commitment to train for a new career, you want to ensure the training and skills you receive will actually allow you to find work in that field. Credible training programs and schools should have this information and be willing to share it with you. Moreover, they should be able to direct you to graduates of the program who are successfully working in that field. You can set up a time to speak with them about any specific obstacles they faced in making the transition from school to work and ask them if they would do anything differently if they had the chance.

Does this program prepare me to obtain certification in my chosen field?

Many occupations have professional certifications that are recognized as industry standards. Find out what the standard certification is for your career of interest and ask the training provider whether you will be able to successfully obtain that certification after passing through its program. Also ask the training provider for data on its graduates’ certification exam pass rates. That information will give you an idea of how well the program does in preparing students to attain necessary professional certification in their career field.

What tutoring and additional help are available outside of class?

Many of you may be going to school for the first time or returning to school after a long hiatus, so you may be a little rusty. Ensure that there are sufficient resources available for any additional support you may need. Ask about tutoring programs, mentors and instructors’ office-hour schedules.

Does the program provide internships?

Internships offer you an opportunity to put your newly acquired skills into practice in a real-world work setting. Experienced professionals in your field will groom you as you learn the ins and outs of the industry and discover which areas you need to improve upon. Internships also provide an excellent opportunity to network with individuals and organizations in your new career of interest.

Are there other ideas and suggestions?  What are some creative ways you have managed the costs of changing careers?

0 Comments Permalink Tags: work, career, job, changing, learning

PMP Certification from PMI

Posted by Lisa Ford Oct 20, 2009

PMI’s PMP credential is designed to demonstrate a strong level of project management leadership skills. In order to be eligible for a PMP credential from PMI, you must meet certain guidelines. These guidelines are designed to measure experience, education and professional knowledge. There is also a four hour exam that you must pass, which is designed to assess project management skills and knowledge.

In order to be eligible for a PMP certification, you must meet the following guidelines as laid out by the Project Management Institute:

  • You must have 35 hours of specific project management education.

  • If you have a Bachelor’s Degree (or the global equivalent), you must also have a minimum three years’ professional project management experience, during which 4,500 hours are spent leading and directing project tasks, up to eight years from the time of application.

  • If you do not have a Bachelor’s Degree (or the global equivalent), you must have a minimum five years’ professional project management experience, during which at least 7,500 hours are spent leading and directing project tasks, up to eight years from the time of application.

Learn more about the Project Management Institute and the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification by visiting their website.

Participants in the MyPath Knowledge Center have access to two study guides offering concise yet comprehensive coverage of each topic included in the PMP and CAPM exams. These books include hundreds of questions and detailed answers modeled after the actual exam and contain a complete practice exam with fully explained answers. You also have access to 250 completely digitized books in IT, Finance, Engineering and Business.

4 Comments Permalink Tags: project_management, career, books, learning, online

It can be very scary to consider changing careers, whether you're forced to because of a job loss due to a downturn in your industry, or because you no longer are fulfilled in your current career. However, a career change can often be just the thing you need to create a more fulfilling life, and with some career pre-planning, you can lessen any risk to your financial security.

Career opportunities are endless. You can choose to train for a new career where you work for someone else, or train for a career where you set up business for yourself. Don't forget to think outside the box. Whatever career path you choose, be sure that your career planning involves asking yourself these questions:

What do you enjoy doing? Make a list of all the things that you enjoy doing to see if your interests can translate to a money-making career. What do you enjoy about your current career? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

What are you good at? Life is full of experiences and you have learned a few things along the way. List what you are good at. Think about the areas that on which people ask your advice. What talents do you have? You can be your own worst critic. Ask others what they see in you.

What would you change about your current career? You know what you do not like about your current career; make a list of all the negatives. This list will help you determine what you do not want in your new career.

What are your goals? Make a list of your goals. As you prepare for a career change, ask yourself if you will be able to achieve your goals in your new career.

What new areas of training will you need? When pursuing a new career, do not allow your lack of experience to stop you. Take advantage of training opportunities. You may be able to find training locally or online.

http://connect.mypath.com/mypath/community/knowledgecenter

Yes, you can find a new career and make the change. Consider your options and make the smart move to a rewarding new career.

2 Comments Permalink Tags: change, online_learning, career, job

The MyPath community is committed to your continuing development. We have recently partnered with SkillSoft to bring our members a 30-day, free membership to a library of 10 online courses.

e-Learning is a developmental tool that you can utilize in your own time and at your own pace. Our goal is to support your development through innovative online learning that can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With our new online learning trial, you can look forward to accessing a diverse library of content. These courses cover a wide variety of subject matter in order to meet your various training needs.  The courses, and associated components, can also be used as reference tools to help answer your day-to-day on the job questions or as part of your personal development.

We hope that you will take full advantage of this opportunity!

  • Performance-oriented instruction based on assessment results

  • Available 24x7 to meet professional and personal development

  • Control of the content – can be taken in a non-linear fashion to provide answers

  • Search-AND-learn allows learner to search for content that meets development or reference needs

  • Self-paced; content can be revisited again and again

  • Achievements recorded in ‘My Report’; including assessment results and time

  • Use ‘My Plan’ to plan and prioritize development; creates a shortcut to required course and creates scheduled email reminders

Ready to learn? Visit the MyPath Knowledge Centerand start your free trial today!

2 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: career, online, program, project, management, learning, development, it

Books24x7’s On Demand Platform offers productivity enhancing tools and usability features designed to help you save time and maximize your experience. Did you know as a Books24x7 user you can:

  • Bookmark and Annotate key sections within books for easy tracking and quick retrieval.

  • Download companion CD Content or materials hosted on an external website from the title’s table of contents.

  • Perform Iterative Searches on a regular search in the secondary search bar to arrive at the desired result sooner.

  • Create Personal Folders to organize titles of interest by topic or project.

Want to see more? Take the Books24x7 virtual tour http://www.books24x7.com/virtualtour.asp to see all that you can do.

Join the MyPath 30-Day trial today and Feed Your Brain! Your free trial subscription gets you on-demand, instant access to the complete text of 250 best-in-class titles covering IT, finance, engineering and general business and management topics. Give it a try!

As a MyPath Community Member you can access the Books24x7 trail by logging into MyPath Knowledge Center by SkillSoft and then click the Books24x7 link.

0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: books, career, search, it

MyPath has partnered with SkillSoft and Books24x7 to bring our members a 30-day, free membership to a library of online courses and industry-leading business books.

What materials are offered in the Knowledge Center Library?

SkillSoft e-Learning Courses

Whether you’re looking to refresh an old skill or learn a new one, you’re sure to find a course that fits your needs. We’re currently offering 10 self-paced, online courses:

· Project Management Fundamentals

· Transitioning into a Project Management Role

· Managing a Project

· The Principles of Financial Management

· Taking on a Management Role

· Tomorrow's Managers' Competencies

· Getting Results by Building Relationships

· Developing Excellent Time Management Habits

· Working for Your Inner Boss: Personal Accountability

· Programming Techniques and Strategies

 

250 fully digitatized online books through Books24x7

 

Our Books24x7 portal offers you instant access to the complete text of best-in-class books, book summaries, research reports and best practices from the following collections:

·   EngineeringPro

A multi-disciplinary reference for science and engineering professionals

·    FinancePro

A trusted resource for financial professionals in a changing economy

·    ITPro

Best-in-class content covering hundreds of technology topics

 

Ready to learn? Visit the MyPath Knowledge Center and start your free trial today!

0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: career, development, training, courses, work, skills, learning

Are you planning to change jobs or careers? For some the move is to find work that is more fulfilling so that you will be happier. For others it may a step toward taking more of a leadership role. Whatever your reasons for the career change, you'll want to do some self discovery work. These ten questions will help you to sort out what kind of work you are looking for and what you offer to a potential employer.

 

1. What is your dream job? It doesn't need a title or even to know it actually exists. Close your eyes and dream about what you would be doing if you could be doing anything you wanted to. Notice the tasks you gravitate to, the kind of people you work with, and the place you are working. All theses are clues for you.


2. What are your values? Each of us has values that we hold dear. Some examples of values would be: contribute, success, adventure, balance, win, freedom. When our values are not met we become upset and angry. For example if freedom is important to you and working late gets in the way of your freedom, you will become very angry.


3. What are your passions? What issue, group or idea energizes you? Thinking about it makes you really emotional. You have a compelling need to work on it. Your passion is connected to your mission and purpose in life. With passion anything is possible!


4. What are your interests? What about a job makes you excited and eager to get to work? What holds your attention and keeps you intrigued.


5. What special talents do you have? Is there something you do better than most people and is it something you really enjoy doing? Piano playing, grant writing, computer wiz these are talents others value. If you have a talent for something but hate doing it, keep it hidden!

 

6. What are your skills? Based on your previous experiences what is it that you do reasonably well and want to continue doing for another employer?


7. What are your strengths? What do others tell you that you do well? If you don't know, ask 5 people you work with or are friends with to tell you what they see as your 5 strengths. This exercise can be very affirming.


8. What are your weaknesses? What have you been told you don't do well? Are they worth working on or do you plan to work around them? Some weaknesses can be delegated to other workers ie a poor speller can use spell check and a proof reader.


9. What type of activities do you dislike? This list is helpful in eliminating positions or careers. You will want to avoid these if at all possible.


10. What kind of work environment is best for you?

Are you looking for plush surroundings? Does the office need to be fast paced? Do you thrive when the environment is cooperative or competitive? Choosing the appropriate work environment can make a big difference in your success on the job

What would you add to these questions?  Have you changed careers successfully?  Please share your successes and failures.

 

 

 

They say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.

     ANDY WARHOL

0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: career, strengths, skills, talents, change, work_environment

Making time for Training

Posted by Lisa Ford May 6, 2009

Do you feel like there is no time for learning and development?  Below are some tips for you to make time to learn.

 

 

One huge benefit of online learning is that it is available anytime and anywhere. That same accessibility can also pose a problem. Anytime, anywhere can easily turn into “later” or “another time”. Making time for training can often be one of the biggest challenges in transitioning from learning via the traditional classroom setting to learning via online courses.

The following tips should help you make the time to develop your most important asset – you!

1. Learning Path

 

Prepare a learning path that has clear training goals and targeted completion dates. Once this learning path is developed, you need to make a personal commitment to achieve the defined goals. Working with your manager to add your training goals to your performance plan is helpful for increasing training opportunities in your workday. However, remember that ultimately you, and only you, own your Professional Development. It should be a priority every day. Remember, training increments are set by you, so get started today and make the time for training.

2. Schedule

 

Schedule time for online learning on your calendar just as you would any instructor-led training course. Make sure you don’t mistake the “available time” benefit of online learning for “when I have time”. To get the full benefit of your online learning experience, you need to make the time. The benefit of online learning is that you get to work through the training course at your own pace, not at the pace of an instructor. The time required to complete online courses varies, but you could schedule your training time down to the topic level, which could amount to as short as a ten minute training session.

3. Distractions

 

The workplace is always busy and full of distractions – telephones, visitors, and the ever-present in-basket can make it difficult to focus on learning. The home environment can be even more distracting – the internet, television, piles of laundry and to-do lists.

Some suggestions to help curb unplanned interruptions:

  • If possible, forward your phone to voicemail and record your voicemail greeting to reflect that you will be in training for a specific period of time and that you will return the call as soon as you are finished.
  • Place a message at the entrance of your office or on your desk indicating that you are in training, visitors can check back with you when you are finished with your training time.
  • In the event that you are unable to spend the entire amount of time you had allotted for training, remember to bookmark your place in the course so you can jump right back to where you exited the course!

What has been your experience with online training? What tips do you have to share for organizing your learning and development outside of the traditional classroom? Let us know!

 

Training is everything.  The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.

            Mark Twain

0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: training, time_management, career, development, learning

The Right Mix

Posted by Lisa Ford Apr 29, 2009

Last week I introduced the concepts of formal and informal learning. This week’s post will describe the fundamental differences between the two and how to get the most out of each.

 

Formal Learning

 

Formal Learning is planned learning that derives from activities within a structured learning setting.  Formal leaning is done “to” you.  There is a specified beginning and the ending is marked by a grade, certificate, diploma or other credential.

 

Formal learning is enrolling in a program of study, attending lectures, preparing coursework and/or engaging in seminar/tutorial discussions.

 

Informal Learning

 

Informal Learning is going on all of the time; it’s never over. Typically, you control the learning process.  In our day-to-day lives, this is how we learn languages, social skills or a new sport.

 

In a business or work environment, informal learning happens when knowledge has not been externalized or captured and exists only inside someone’s head. To tap into the knowledge, you must find a person who has the information/skills that you are looking to learn. Examples of such informal knowledge transfer include an IM to that person, a phone call, a chat-room in real time, a chance meeting in the break room, a tech walking you through a repair process, observing the person or a meeting with your assigned mentor or manager.

 

Did you know that multiple studies have shown that between 75% and 80% of learning your job is done informally?

 

Jay Cross, author of Informal Learning gives a great overview of formal and informal learning.

 

So what do we do?  Is all formal learning out the window?  Not exactly.

 

How comfortable would you be boarding your next commercial flight knowing the pilot had picked up his or her skills in a chat room and had no formal training or certification program?

 

So where do we go at this crossroad?

 

What effective organizations are finding is that a blend of formal and informal, intentional and unexpected learning is the most effective mix

 

Here is an example of a company who is combining the intentional, unexpected, formal and informal learning and using it to enhance both the employee and customer experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_jhLGxH-m4


Is there topic you would like to learn more about?  Do you have your own examples of informal vs. formal learning to share? Let us know.

 

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.
    MARK TWAIN

0 Comments 0 References Permalink Tags: development, project, career, training, learning

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