Are you in your third decade and disillusioned, disappointed and disheartened at your career? Are you still in your “college” job that was supposed to be temporary? Do you use a credit card like a drug to make yourself feel better and then discover you cannot quit your dead-end job because you are in debt? After arriving into your twenties somewhat battered, filled with stale dreams and smarting from past rejections, your path to future success may elude you. Take a moment to review your possibilities. A happy ending is still possible. Here are ten ways to get unstuck from the 3-D Doldrums.

1. Decide You Deserve Success.

What is holding you back? It may be your “worse case scenario” thinking. Sometimes to protect yourself from disappointment, do you think negative comments to yourself: “I probably will not get the job, anyway,” “Everyone else is set except for me,” “I should be driving a new BMW,” or “Why bother, it is just a volunteer job.” Change your self-defeating jargon to “I say yes to every great opportunity.” Fail all the time, but keep trying.

2. Who Am I?

You are not who you were five years ago, nor will you be the same person five years from now. Your life and work choices, just like food preferences, accumulate. Make smart decisions and “Voila” there you are, lean and successful. Make lazy choices and “Voila,” there you are bloated, debt-ridden and depressed. The easy road is usually the wrong one.

3. My Parents.

The push-pull of your parent’s advice and your own desires can often leave you at a standstill. People only nag people they care about and their urgent nagging of you is simply misdirected affection. They may have twenty to fifty years of experience on you, so be sure to sit down and really listen to their advice as well as other respected adults in your future field. Then if you must, you can make your own mistakes - as long as you only make them once.

4. I Want It Now.

Do you want a better life? Live within your current means and avoid debt like a plague. Make the right decisions on the smallest scale possible, like for the next thirty minutes pretend you are a money-saving, happy and fit professional. What is the next choice that will keep it going? Do it. Take a break and relax, then start again. As long as the good decisions outweigh the bad, you will begin to improve and feel empowered. The process of achievement is often more satisfying then reaching the final goal.

5. Any Work Is Good.

Every day you work at your low-level job accumulates good work experience. Whether you are a garbage collector or a stockbroker, all jobs have very similar skills to learn. Punctuality, dependability, responsibility all mean that “you do what you promise to do” and that takes years of practice. If you are selling shoes or selling real estate developments for millions you need to know your product, treat the customer great, and know when to move on to the next real buyer. Analysis, psychology and statistics are more than just boring classes - they are tools of the trade that can make you money.

6. Continue School.

What idiot designed the current school system that demands energy-exploding people to sit silently in rows for eight hours? The best of the best have spent time in the principal’s office. If the educational system is unbearable for your nature, check out the online options and finish your degree, get an advanced degree or commit to lifelong learning in the comfort of your room. The best schools in the country offer online degrees.

7. My Relationship Is So Important.

Nothing trashes a good relationship like poverty and arguing over money. Make a majority of your decision-making benefit your career rather than put all your eggs in the relationship basket. Odds are fifty-fifty right now that a marriage will succeed. Finishing school, getting solid business experience of any kind and developing your work skills will result in much higher odds of success. If you have designed your life around an unpredictable young person or worse, made decisions strictly to keep a rocky relationship going, when the relationship fails, you could end up with nothing.

8. Show Up.

Be the one who shows up, often not always, for the company charity, the necessary overtime or the party for the pregnant assistant. Dress up and act like a professional. The social business occasions are where upper management gets a chance to notice you without the corporate world typecasting. The good ole boys and great ole girls have the power to promote you and thus skip years of climbing the corporate ladder.

9. I Never Noticed You Before.

The person that you attract may change drastically when you are no longer watching television all day, smoking pot, actually bathe and take out the trash regularly. As you leave college day habits and distractions behind, you may find that even you are attracted to people with character, kindness, humor and intelligence over well-developed muscles and an “attitude.” That is why concentrating on your career might be more important than finding a relationship when you are 3-D.

10. Satisfaction and Gratitude.

You may not be able to control anything else about your current job, except how you approach the work. Do what ever you do carefully, artistically and with the best of your ability. Decide that you want your life to be happy today instead of bitterly waiting for distant tomorrows. People will notice your approach to work and react accordingly. Positive behavior and thoughts draw more positive energy and experience, and is the smart game to play. The act of gratitude can change the worst jobs into play. Eventually, the new you will have all that you long for, however it may bear no resemblance to what you want today. Permit yourself to feel hopeful and confident, instead of driven and frustrated, while you change and grow inside.

Do you remember days back in high school when you got your very first job? Possibly you drove around to every burger, pizza and fast food joint in town, to find out if they were hiring. Sure, we all do it. How else can we make money to supe-up our cars? Its most likely to end up at a local grocery store or serving at the local diner. These are known as jobs for students.

A majority of huge corporations don't tend to hire 16 year olds who lack a high school diploma. In fact, this is what drives us to work hard and do well in college. After an experience of these "jobs for students," we're so anxious to move up and away from their crappy hours, and headaches. And not to forget the terrible pay at the end.

The first job I ever received was working at a video store. It wasn’t too bad considering some of the horrors out there. Though I must admit how long can you stand to work in customer service? While some may think that cubicle jobs are a bore; trust me, there is much worse. In this case with minuscule office space positions, you sure don't have some crazy customer screaming in your face.

When I had reached college, I looked into a range of jobs for students. This included anything from delivering Chinese food, to waiting tables, to working as a lifeguard at the local pool. Though all of these jobs worked out all right and paid the bills, they weren't the be-all end-all to jobs for students. Currently there are much more valuable resources to take advantage of. So toss that local newspaper in the trash, and stop wasting all your gas by driving around from window to window, in search of a "Help Wanted" sign. Yes, it is time to turn to everybody’s preferred electronic buddy; that is your personal computer! Go ahead and check out what the World-Wide-Web has to offer.

The best thing about finding jobs for students in our time is the access. You can find jobs all over the places with the Internet at your fingertips. No matter what city you live in, if you're on the lookout for a part time job while taking a full load at the local University, no problem. Try search engines like Careerbuilder.com and Monster.com to assist you in this search. In a matter of few minutes you will have pinpointed numerous jobs for students in your local area. Get online and check it all out today!

If you need to earn some extra cash and are considering a part-time job, these three reasons may get you thinking about starting your own part-time business instead.

Items for everyday use become business expenses. Instead of earning a paycheck and not having any deductions to claim on your income tax return, you can now claim certain expenses you were not able to before. Your cell phone can now be deducted as a business expense because that is the number you give out to your clients. That calendar you bought to track your business appointments is now a business expense as are any other office supplies you purchase.

The miles you drive are now your own. You can’t take a deduction for the miles you drive to and from your employer, but you can if you track the mileage to and from your client, the bank, the post office or any other trips for your business. Make sure to keep a log book and record your odometer reading at the beginning of the year (or when you start your business) in order to calculate the percentage of your annual mileage used for business use.

You use your talent or skill to further your own personal development. You will have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve used your own gifts to help others with a problem or to enrich their lives. If you’re good with numbers and do the bookkeeping for a business person who hates that task, you’re enabling them to spend their time growing their business. If you teach a musical instrument, you’re passing that skill on to someone else who will also share that gift with the world.

With a lot of hard work and a little luck, hopefully your business will grow so much that you make more money than you do at your day job. This will give you the opportunity to decide if you want to pursue self-employment instead of working for someone else. Good luck!

If you are looking to advance your professional career, Executive Assisting Schools can prepare you for a rewarding and challenging position in various fields of business, law, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. You can earn a diploma or professional certification in just a few months, and college degrees can be obtained in as little as two years, making it a very desirable course of study for working adults.

Diplomas, certificates, and Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), and Applied Associate of Science (AAS) degrees are available at most business schools and even online schools. Students can opt to study more in-depth programs for Associate and Bachelor Degrees in four-year colleges and universities, where degrees can be combined with other subjects in business, medicine, law, the arts, journalism, engineering, architecture, etc.

AA, AS, and AAS degree programs will provide the skills required to become a successful executive assistant. Studies will emphasize developing professional skills in computer applications, file and records management, bookkeeping, communications and language skills, and office and interpersonal relations. Four-year associate and bachelor degree programs can specialize in medicine, law, criminal justice, and technology, and even the fields of entertainment and hospitality.

Today's executive assistants are taking on more challenging and broader ranges of responsibilities, such as project management, presentations, and communications that were once the responsibilities of management. Executive assistant positions have become more stimulating, exciting, and rewarding. Meeting those challenges demands more education and preparation for a satisfactory lifelong career as an executive assistant.

Executive assistants currently earn incomes of $30,000 to $40,000. The economic outlook for qualified executive assistants is expected to continue to rise.

It can be intimidating walking into a career fair…all of those employers waiting for YOU to come and meet them. However, if you’re armed with the knowledge and confidence that you need, this could be the beginning of a new – or – better career.

Do Your Research

Treat the career fair as a bunch of mini interviews. Find out beforehand what companies are going to be there and which ones you’re interested in talking to. For those organizations, do your research just like you would for a ‘real’ interview. Your enthusiasm will be apparent to the employer, and that is a good thing.

It takes a lot to stand out in a career fair. By showing your knowledge about the company and/or industry, you prove that you might just have that extra something they’re looking for in an employee.

Dress the Part

The first impression you make on an employer is extremely important. Don’t make it a negative one. Dress as you would dress for an interview. Yes, that may mean uncomfortable high heals or hot suits and ties, but you want to be sure you don’t dress too casually. Employers may think you’re not taking the career fair seriously and that you’re just wasting their time.

Act Like You’re ‘On’

It can be difficult to remember while you’re walking around at a career fair that employers could be watching you. Especially those you have already spoken to. So be careful what you do while deciding your next step, so to speak.

Try not to do anything that might be construed as negative. Watch your facial expressions - grimaces, rolling your eyes, exasperation - all things you want to avoid. If you just spoke with an employer and then as you were walking away, sighed and rolled your eyes, you might want to cross that company off your potential list.

Be Prepared

Whatever you do, be sure you have several copies of your resume and cover letter. Better still, for the companies that you know you’re going to speak with, write a specific one for them, just like when you apply to job postings. You might not be able to be as specific as you would in that situation, but bringing some non-generic job search documents along with you can serve as a great start to a conversation with a company.

In addition to your resume package, you may want to have a few copies of your references. Even though it’s not common for an employer ask for references at a career fair, you never know what they may throw at you.

Remember, a career fair should be treated as a real way to network and obtain job leads. No matter what kind of career fair it is, that one event could be a key to making connections that can help you get a job now or in the future.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end. For resume services reviews,

Are you in your third decade and disillusioned, disappointed and disheartened at your career? Are you still in your “college” job that was supposed to be temporary? Do you use a credit card like a drug to make yourself feel better and then discover you cannot quit your dead-end job because you are in debt? After arriving into your twenties somewhat battered, filled with stale dreams and smarting from past rejections, your path to future success may elude you. Take a moment to review your possibilities. A happy ending is still possible. Here are ten ways to get unstuck from the 3-D Doldrums.

1. Decide You Deserve Success.

What is holding you back? It may be your “worse case scenario” thinking. Sometimes to protect yourself from disappointment, do you think negative comments to yourself: “I probably will not get the job, anyway,” “Everyone else is set except for me,” “I should be driving a new BMW,” or “Why bother, it is just a volunteer job.” Change your self-defeating jargon to “I say yes to every great opportunity.” Fail all the time, but keep trying.

2. Who Am I?

You are not who you were five years ago, nor will you be the same person five years from now. Your life and work choices, just like food preferences, accumulate. Make smart decisions and “Voila” there you are, lean and successful. Make lazy choices and “Voila,” there you are bloated, debt-ridden and depressed. The easy road is usually the wrong one.

3. My Parents.

The push-pull of your parent’s advice and your own desires can often leave you at a standstill. People only nag people they care about and their urgent nagging of you is simply misdirected affection. They may have twenty to fifty years of experience on you, so be sure to sit down and really listen to their advice as well as other respected adults in your future field. Then if you must, you can make your own mistakes - as long as you only make them once.

4. I Want It Now.

Do you want a better life? Live within your current means and avoid debt like a plague. Make the right decisions on the smallest scale possible, like for the next thirty minutes pretend you are a money-saving, happy and fit professional. What is the next choice that will keep it going? Do it. Take a break and relax, then start again. As long as the good decisions outweigh the bad, you will begin to improve and feel empowered. The process of achievement is often more satisfying then reaching the final goal.

5. Any Work Is Good.

Every day you work at your low-level job accumulates good work experience. Whether you are a garbage collector or a stockbroker, all jobs have very similar skills to learn. Punctuality, dependability, responsibility all mean that “you do what you promise to do” and that takes years of practice. If you are selling shoes or selling real estate developments for millions you need to know your product, treat the customer great, and know when to move on to the next real buyer. Analysis, psychology and statistics are more than just boring classes - they are tools of the trade that can make you money.

If you are looking to advance your professional career, Executive Assisting Schools can prepare you for a rewarding and challenging position in various fields of business, law, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. You can earn a diploma or professional certification in just a few months, and college degrees can be obtained in as little as two years, making it a very desirable course of study for working adults.

Diplomas, certificates, and Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), and Applied Associate of Science (AAS) degrees are available at most business schools and even online schools. Students can opt to study more in-depth programs for Associate and Bachelor Degrees in four-year colleges and universities, where degrees can be combined with other subjects in business, medicine, law, the arts, journalism, engineering, architecture, etc.

AA, AS, and AAS degree programs will provide the skills required to become a successful executive assistant. Studies will emphasize developing professional skills in computer applications, file and records management, bookkeeping, communications and language skills, and office and interpersonal relations. Four-year associate and bachelor degree programs can specialize in medicine, law, criminal justice, and technology, and even the fields of entertainment and hospitality.

Today's executive assistants are taking on more challenging and broader ranges of responsibilities, such as project management, presentations, and communications that were once the responsibilities of management. Executive assistant positions have become more stimulating, exciting, and rewarding. Meeting those challenges demands more education and preparation for a satisfactory lifelong career as an executive assistant.

Executive assistants currently earn incomes of $30,000 to $40,000. The economic outlook for qualified executive assistants is expected to continue to rise.

It can be intimidating walking into a career fair…all of those employers waiting for YOU to come and meet them. However, if you’re armed with the knowledge and confidence that you need, this could be the beginning of a new – or – better career.

Do Your Research

Treat the career fair as a bunch of mini interviews. Find out beforehand what companies are going to be there and which ones you’re interested in talking to. For those organizations, do your research just like you would for a ‘real’ interview. Your enthusiasm will be apparent to the employer, and that is a good thing.

It takes a lot to stand out in a career fair. By showing your knowledge about the company and/or industry, you prove that you might just have that extra something they’re looking for in an employee.

Dress the Part

The first impression you make on an employer is extremely important. Don’t make it a negative one. Dress as you would dress for an interview. Yes, that may mean uncomfortable high heals or hot suits and ties, but you want to be sure you don’t dress too casually. Employers may think you’re not taking the career fair seriously and that you’re just wasting their time.

Act Like You’re ‘On’

It can be difficult to remember while you’re walking around at a career fair that employers could be watching you. Especially those you have already spoken to. So be careful what you do while deciding your next step, so to speak.

Try not to do anything that might be construed as negative. Watch your facial expressions - grimaces, rolling your eyes, exasperation - all things you want to avoid. If you just spoke with an employer and then as you were walking away, sighed and rolled your eyes, you might want to cross that company off your potential list.

Be Prepared

Whatever you do, be sure you have several copies of your resume and cover letter. Better still, for the companies that you know you’re going to speak with, write a specific one for them, just like when you apply to job postings. You might not be able to be as specific as you would in that situation, but bringing some non-generic job search documents along with you can serve as a great start to a conversation with a company.

In addition to your resume package, you may want to have a few copies of your references. Even though it’s not common for an employer ask for references at a career fair, you never know what they may throw at you.

Remember, a career fair should be treated as a real way to network and obtain job leads. No matter what kind of career fair it is, that one event could be a key to making connections that can help you get a job now or in the future.

As another year draws to a close, remember to see your payroll administrator if you’ve had any of these major life changes this year:

Change of address. Be sure the payroll department has your new address so your W-2 will arrive promptly after it is processed in January. This also insures that all of your benefits providers, such as your health insurance company, can continue to provide you with up to date enrollment information and identification cards.

Change of marital status. Did you marry, divorce, or lose your spouse this year? If so, you should review your federal and state withholding exemptions to make sure the proper tax is being withheld from your paycheck. See your employer for a new W-4 form if you need to make changes to these exemptions.

Birth or adoption of a child. If your family size increased this year, you should also review your withholding exemptions. Increasing the number of exemptions you claim on your W-4 will decrease your taxes each payday and therefore put more money in your pocket. Rather than wait until April 15th of the next year to get a refund, why not get a few extra dollars in each paycheck? With a new baby, I’m sure this cash would come in handy now instead of later.

Does your employer offer a Flexible Spending Account or a 401(k) and have you considered participating in these plans?

Flexible Spending Account. If you have any out of pocket medical expenses each year, be sure to take advantage of this important benefit. In most cases, just about any cost not covered by your medical insurance can be submitted for reimbursement from your FSA. Don’t forget about eyeglasses, contact lenses, dentist visits and co-pays when you add up your annual medical costs.

401(k). It’s never too soon to begin thinking about saving for your retirement. If you’re in your twenties, now is the ideal time to begin saving because you have many years to grow your money. If you’re over thirty, what are you waiting for? And, if your employer offers a match to your contribution, you’re giving up free money if you don’t participate in this benefit. Be sure to ask your employer about signing up for these tax-saving plans.

Make a New Year’s Resolution to review and update your employee information every year, and find out about any new benefits you are eligible to participate in.

If you are interested in becoming a close protection operative (bodyguard) in the UK you must at least successfully complete a SIA accredited training course.

Part of this course is first aid which is compulsory and is a must, this is due to the fact you may be needed to perform first aid to a principal or client and you would be first on the scene.

There are many companies out there offering training some good some not so good, they range from £1000.00 to £3000.00 plus.

Many are geared to fit around you experience and knowledge, this can be a advantage, if you have previous experience you may only need to do a fast track course enabling you to brush up on what you already know thus being able to obtain you SIA licence.

They are intense courses so don’t go expecting it to be easy going, they normally start with you being interviewed by one or more seasoned veterans to see if you have the right attitude, quick thinking, problem solving, knowledge to complete the course, if have your in, if you don’t you will be asked to complete a full 21 day course instead of 8 days.

There is no Guarantee of work as this is normally a self employed job, it is a question of networking, making as many contacts as possible and never giving up, you may wait days for your first job, you may wait months but if you must look for work it wont come to you.

After training you will need to send off for you SIA close protection licence, this is a further £190.00 and can take up to 3 months to be processed, so don’t bank on being legally working for at least four months.

Sooner or later, most managers must face up to the task of firing someone. Here's some career advice that will help you handle this odious task when you must do it. But it is never easy.

Recognize, firing someone is a distasteful and painful experience for everyone concerned. People get hurt. Lives are disrupted; livelihoods are threatened. Egos are devastated. There are costs to employees and employer alike. Therefore, it goes without saying: firings ought to be avoided if at all possible.

A step toward this goal will be accomplished if every manager will conduct regular performance appraisals with each employee he or she directly supervises. If these sessions are open and candid, the boss and the employee will be able to see problems as they begin to emerge and correct them before real damage is done.

Both parties should sit down together. The positives should be identified and praised. Problems should be defined and a plan of action to correct them agreed upon. This is a fair process which clearly puts both parties on notice that things are not as they should be; they must get better; if they don’t, dismissal is a definite possibility. Surprise, one of the cardinal sins of management will be avoided.

If the employee’s performance does not meet the agreed-upon goals for improvements in critical areas, and there are no acceptable reasons for the failure, the manager has to be firm and dismiss the erring man or woman. To do otherwise is to lose credibility as a manager and do damage to the organization.

Common Sense Guidelines

Be very sensitive to timing, as I have already indicated.

Deliver the bad news in a face-to-face meeting. There can be no delegation of this responsibility. It may be desirable to have one other person present, especially if the meeting might end in a heated confrontation. But no more than one additional person should be involved in the ordeal, or else it may appear that a kangaroo court is in session.

The meeting should be conducted in a strict, arms-length business-like manner. Reasons for the action should be spelled out in detail, including a review of the evaluation process. Empathy should be expressed. However, resist being overly generous in praise for the employee’s contributions. Such expressions may be translated into some unfounded hope that the decision can be reversed. Also, in this litigious age, praise may be taken out of context for legal action by a disgruntled employee.

Terms of severance – pay and benefits – should be detailed. If the circumstances allow it, an offer may be made to provide help in getting another job.

Then, the employee should be given an opportunity to have his say. This can be a very tedious time. Because of the high emotions on both sides, an angry shouting match can develop. Or the employee may simply be in a state of shock. The manager should maintain his calmness, avoid arguments.

Agree on the timing and nature of announcement of the employee’s departure. It is wise to announce the termination as soon as possible because the rumor mill will be grinding within minutes. Other employees are bound to be somewhat apprehensive.

It may see heartless at the time, but it is better to have an employee leave the premises within a very short time. The clear-out-your-desk and be-gone-by-noon approach is unduly harsh. However, no good is done for anyone if the dismissed employee stays around for any length of time. The water for all will be poisoned by gossip and recriminations.

Turning in your resignation is not always easy. Even if you hate your job, hate your boss and can not wait to start that new exciting job or perhaps you have an inkling that you are about to be fired, it can be very difficult to resign tactfully and gracefully.On top of that you want to leave on good terms for future references or perhaps even to be rehired by the organization at some future point. The grapevine travels amazingly so you can never know how far bad vibrations left over will travel at some point.

What to do. First of all do you really want to quit in your heart of hearts. If this is so then ensure that you handle your resignation with as much tact and preparation that you would assign any other business endeavor. Again it is not wise to burn your bridges no matter how angry you feel.

First of all you are always more valuable to another employer if you are gainfully employed. Do not quit your job before you find another. For some psychological and cultural reason an employer will feel that if you are employed by another firm then it stands to reason that you must be employable , a good catch and they will have to pay you more to obtain your services.

If you do quit without finding a new job or are placed in that position by downsizing , being fired or just bad luck remember it can take three to six months or even longer to find that new employment. Unless you quit for good cause you may not be eligible for the unemployment benefits that you may feel that you are entitled to.

Consider if you have enough savings or income to manage on. Even if your employment situation is not the best you might want to consider hanging onto the job that you have, as well as your paycheck to start your job search before you resign. The old saying is that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush reigns true.

Now if you do give notice be aware that there are government and employment labor contractual rules that state what “minimum notice “. It is generally two weeks term however perhaps your firm, industry, government rules or employee decency demands more. For example if a retail store does 90 % of its business during the Christmas season it may be legally correct neither but nor morally or ethically to leave your employer in the lurch during that vital peak time. If you choose to stay a longer time period after resigning remember you that it is your choice and not the employers.

What to say and how to handle the difficult task on hand of actually informing your boss or employer. You are best to say the minimum – which you are leaving. Even if you are tempted to “ tell off “ your jerk superior remember that in the end it may make you feel good but other than that will accomplish nothing and may cost you either in the interim period before you leave or after. You may find that your job for the next 2 weeks is to clean the parking lot with a toothbrush. Your grandmother may have advised you that if you have nothing nice to say don’t say it. Emphasize the positive and talk about how the company has benefited your life and the life of your family but now it is time to move on. Offer to help during the transition and afterwards. Perhaps you can be involved in the hiring and training process with all or your well recognized expertise.

The internet has one purpose, to share information with people, and it’s a very powerful tool. I’m going to focus on how you can use the information that is available on the internet to secure a teaching position abroad.

Searching for Vacancies
Firstly you need to identify where you would like to work, and the kind of school in which you want to work. For example, I teach economics and would like to teach in Europe.

Once you’ve thought about the geographical area in which you want to work and have made a decision about that, you’ll need to go to a search engine and conduct a search. You are going to be looking for schools with relevant vacancies. Personally I find Google returns the most relevant search results.

In order to teach in Europe I’m probably going to have to teach in an international school, so one search term I might use is “international school Europe”. The reason I wouldn’t try the search term “economic teacher vacancy international school Europe” is that while it might be a more specific search term, in using it I am assuming that the schools’ webmaster has optimized the page for that search term.

For example, when I used the first search term “international school Europe” the first page of results has only two schools listed whose sites I can then visit and look for relevant vacancies. But the other results were directories of international schools in Europe which I could use to jump into my research with around 15 schools listed per directory.

When I use the second search term “economic teacher vacancy international school Europe” the first page of results has no relevant web sites listed. The sites were either economics news stories or job placement services recruiting teachers for schools in the United Kingdom.

Finding Information about the School
Once you’ve found a likely looking vacancy that you think you’d like to apply for, you can use the internet to gather more information about the school. This is an essential process, and should be carried out before you submit your application. As all teachers know, there are schools in which you want to work and then there are schools in which you wouldn’t work even if you were desperate for a job, so it’s important to do your research.

You will need to set out some criteria against which you can assess the school. If you are looking to teach in an international school, then there are industry specific criteria you should be looking at, and I’ve included them in a chapter in my book The Complete Guide to Securing a Job at an International School.

You can find information about schools in many places. You could search the schools’ website for information. Look at:

* pictures they have on the site. I was keen on getting a job at one of the schools in the Bahamas when I saw that all the staff were all wearing shorts in the staff photo on the website!

* students’ work published on the website. One of my colleagues is currently looking for a new job teaching Information Technology at an international school and one of her strategies is to check out what students are doing at the school.

* whether the school has included information about living in the local area, either for parents or for teachers.

You could find out whether there is there a national (or international) education quality assurance organization, such as Ofsted in the UK, ERO in NZ, or ECIS for international schools, and see whether there are any reports available in the public domain about the school that interests you.

You could find and join a forum and ask the members for information about the school. For example the Times Education Supplement (TES) website has several teachers’ forums. You can find the forum concerned with teaching overseas here:

Employment as a Nursing Assistant offers you a unique opportunity to explore many avenues of the medical field. You will primarily be working with the patients, their families, and the Nursing staff. However, it is not uncommon that you will have interactions with many other areas including physicians, X-Ray, surgery, specialists, and emergency staff.

Since you will be working with so many types of individuals, having quality communication skills is a vital quality to have for being an effective Nursing Assistant. You will be responsible for meeting the basic needs of your patients including feedings, bathing, and dressing. They level of care with vary depending on the individual needs of the patient. In addition, you will be providing them and their family with emotional support.

Your position will involve working closely with the Nursing staff on a daily basis. This will be the medical professionals you deal with the most. From providing vitals for all patients to offering assistance with whatever comes up, the nursing staff needs to know they can rely on you. This means showing up as scheduled, completing your tasks to the best of your ability, paying attention to detail, and being willing to work as part of a time.

Depending on the type of medical facility you work in, physicians of the patients may be stopping in to check on them. They often as questions of the Nursing Assistant. For some, this is intimidating. If a physician is asking you for information on a patient, take it as a compliment. Physicians often recognize Nursing Assistants as having more one on one interactions with the patients. Therefore, things that you observe can help them with treating the patient.

For example, a doctor may prescribe a new medication. You will be able to let the physician know if the appetite of the patient has changed as well as if the patient’s level of being coherent has changed.

Working in the medical profession, you will be exposed to a variety of other staff from different medical fields. This is because of the changes in the needs of your patients. You may be asked to take patients to X-Rays or to help get them prepared to be moved to the surgery unit. There will be an array of specialists checking on patients, again based on the individual needs of those you are serving.

Working with emergency staff is very important. Their interactions can make all the different in some situations. It is vital that you are trained on when emergency staff should be called. You need to have detailed information of where to call, who to call, and what information to give them. This should all be secured prior to any event actually happening.

In this type of situation, you will need to work with emergency staff to provide information. Anything you can tell them about the events that occurred as well as the events before the incident took place can be of importance.

The role of a Nursing Assistant is one of many hats. You will have the opportunity to provide quality care for patients as well as be exposed to many other arenas of the medical field. The more you are able to effectively communicate with these other professionals, the better service you will be providing to those in your care.

Since we are rushing toward another new year, I find it appropriate to reflect on the values and motivations of the Candidates and Clients of S. R. Clarke and why at this time of year so many professionals opt to consider their career options. As a company, we tend to work almost exclusively with employed Candidates. Consequently it is incumbent upon our counselors to go through an in-depth discovery process of why an employee will decide to leave an employer where they have been committed for several years.

I´ve recently had the opportunity to interview a very impressive Human Resource Consultant who has worked with multiple Fortune 500 Real Estate and Construction Companies over the past 15 years. The conversation kept rolling around to the same subject; why people change employment and leave seemingly stable careers.

The following list of reasons will probably no surprise to anyone reading this article, but is worth reviewing and considering in your end of year evaluations.

1. Don´t like their boss
2. Broken promises / commitments
3. Lack of appreciation
4. Lack of personal recognition
5. Lack of personal growth
6. Lack of ongoing training
7. Lack of personal challenge
8. Lack of respect
9. Lack of consideration 10. Geography / Travel Time
11. Lack of opportunity
12. Benefits
13. Lack of input or participation in decision making
14. Money

We will all agree that money plays some role in almost any decision to move, but the primary motivating factors are usually not financial, but emotional. Think about it!

Getting a raise should be the first thing you think about when the subject of increasing your income becomes important. Of all the things you can do to better your monthly finances – starting a home business, getting a part-time job, studying for a degree, etc., having your current pay increased at your present place of employment tops the list. It is the quickest and easiest of all your options. One quick meeting with your employer results in hundreds of extra dollars being deposited into your bank account every month!

So who should ask for a raise? Anybody who hasn’t had one in a while, is underpaid for their level of skill and/or experience, or has really been going the extra mile in their job performance over any reasonable length of time (weeks, not days). If your paycheck comes from the government, you fall outside the realm of people that can ask for a raise, because raises are dealt out in a pre-defined schedule. However, many governmental positions assign the “level” of your raise according to a supervisor’s periodic performance review. Government workers would do well to pay attention to some of the advice I am about to give, so they can nudge their next pay raise up a level.

The actual meeting where you put in your pay increase request doesn’t take very long. It’s a mistake to focus on the meeting itself in your quest. It’s also a mistake to have the meeting spontaneously. You want to set that up at the end of a carefully crafted campaign, which you implement over the course of several weeks (or more). The meeting is the finishing touch to the process, and if you set it up right, you will be walking into it with a professional level of confidence.

Now, if you are thinking about coming in early with bagels and staying late to finish up working on projects, you have the right idea. But much more important is the visibility you have to your superiors in your actual work ethic. That means getting your work done, and done well, and done quickly – and then getting with your superior to let them know you are finished and can take on more work. But don’t just do that – also casually communicate (without making it obvious) some issues that popped up and how you creatively solved them in the process. You basically want to wow your bosses for a few weeks. That’s right, you need to keep this up for several weeks straight!

If you belong to an office click, avoid hanging out with the gang during your campaign. There might be a person or two in that crowd that your supervisors aren’t crazy about, and you don’t want to be associated with anybody. Stand out as an individual, but of course still play well with others and be a team player. Recruit allies in other departments, especially supervisors, if you work in the kind of environment where your boss will do some research before making a decision.

When you do have the meeting with your supervisor, don’t let them know exactly why you want to see them if you can help it. Otherwise they may creatively find ways to put that meeting off, or prepare a reasonable rebuttal as to why the company can’t afford it at the moment. Ask for more responsibility while you are asking for your raise, but don’t turn it into a promotion request only. You are there to get a pay increase that you already deserve for your high level of performance at your current position, which you have been absolutely cranking at lately.

Don’t present your request as an ultimatum. Act like a company-loyal fixture that is in it for the long haul. Don’t quote co-worker’s salaries or base you argument on what others are making. Let your work performance speak for itself. Do mention the low-income lifestyle your current pay is restricting you to, and that you feel you deserve better. (This is a very subtle way of suggesting you may have to seek employment elsewhere, even though you would hate to, if you are not properly taken care of.) If you do the setup well, you will control the meeting and your request should be a slam-dunk.

Passport controls have been abolished for most member states, and custom checks were also abolished at many of the EUs internal borders, creating to some extent a single space of mobility for EU citizens to live, travel, work and invest.

Poland and Latvia currently have the lowest standard of living and Turkey, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia are officially recognized as potential candidates.

With millions of mobile workers and some countries with more opportunities than others, this has led to mass migration within and around the EU. What should employers think about when looking at recruiting and retaining workers from other EU countires?

From an Employers Perspective

According to new in-depth research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the study reveals that 75% of employers felt that European enlargement had been good for business, with migrant workers doing jobs under employment conditions that UK nationals are not prepared to accept.

Employers valued highly qualified migrant workers for low-skilled and low-waged work. They preferred benefiting from what they see as the work ethic and reliability of migrant workers to employing reluctant UK nationals who some described as lazy. Employers recognised that recruitment and retention difficulties were often the result of long, anti-social hours, high physical demands, low pay and status. But they claimed they still found it hard to attract UK workers when pay and non-wage benefits were increased.

Employers that dont currently employ any non UK staff need to see beyond recent immigration hype and media hysteria to tap into the needs of the European Union speaking workers and find mutual economic opportunity.

EU migrants need to made aware of advice services and other formal social services as they may need their help more than they would in their home country because they do not have the extended network of family and long-term family friends to rely upon. Some progressive companies have welfare rights workers to help them apply for national insurance numbers and to signpost to agencies with housing problems etc.

At the moment all migrants can access free English courses but as of September 2007 all EU migrants will have to pay for this privilege unless they are claiming benefits in the UK. Employment agencies have been known to tout for business by offering paid employment and free English lessons in a bid to attract EU workers to come to the UK. I agree with the government on this one, if the employers want English speaking staff, they should pay for it not me! They are getting hard working employees willing to work endless overtime and the nigh shift, the cost of English lessons are a small price to pay. If immigrant workers are going to be fulfilled, motivated and productive, they need to live their values in the workplace, and feel they are valued and appreciated. They must be involved and experience that their contributions matter. Thus far EU workers may be considered an underdeveloped resource and employers would be wise to reassess their largest capital cost of labour through identifying ways in which these employees can reach their full potential, and thus contribute more effectively to output and profits.

Thinking about changing your career... but worried that you may not have the background or qualifications to make the change?

In some cases, you're right to be worried. Some careers do require you to possess specific qualifications and experience.

However... it could be that your concern isn't warranted at all.

Actually, you may have "credentialitis" - you think you need some kind of credential to qualify you for a promotion, new position or career change, when you actually have all the skills, talent and knowledge necessary.

Funny, really.

I always considered qualifications and credentials to be short-hand for skills and knowledge... but not the only "short-hand" and not necessarily indicative of the most valuable skills and knowledge.

For example, what if you're an entrepreneur who left high school before graduating, launched a super-successful business which you ended up selling, and now want to be the marketing manager of a large, established company?

If you suffered from credentialitis you may believe that you aren't qualified to become that marketing manager.

So much so that you seriously consider going to business school and enrolling in a marketing program. Now, you may well benefit a lot from doing this... but was it really necessary to study for one or two years to get that marketing job? Did you really lack the critical skills for the role?

Couldn't you present yourself as someone with unequaled business experience, skills and knowledge - someone who has built and sold a company, as opposed to someone with theoretical knowledge acquired from a business school?

Now, of course, in some cases you will need to study and get a particular qualification to make a career change - for instance, if you want to become a dentist or mechanical engineer.

But in other cases, you probably have the fundamental knowledge and skills required for the new job...

and what you don't know can either be picked up relatively quickly on the job or isn't all that important.

I know, I know - you may be confident in your own abilities, but how do you convince a potential employer who wants to see that certificate, diploma or degree? After all, it seems our entire society has credentialitis.

But if we agree that this societal credentialitis is unnecessary and damaging (in the sense that skilled, knowledgeable and talented people miss out on jobs and careers to which they're suited) then it's up to you and I to change things.

What this means is - get confident! Know and feel - and communicate - that you have the skills and abilities for the new career.

But if you still wonder whether some kind of formal education might be necessary, answer the following:

Would the course or program genuinely teach you something new... or would it give you a piece of paper to prove what you already know?

Really, if you manage to overcome your credentialitis you'll not save a lot of money, time and energy on unnecessary studies, but you'll also become a happier, more fulfilled person.

If you are challenged over your lack of credentials you can "reframe" your background... so that it's obvious that this has equipped you with the ideal background for the new job.

I, for example, was once questioned over my lack of an MBA. I explained that my background as an advertising copywriter, marketing manager, commercial lawyer and business owner had given me a real-world MBA.

Of course, you'll find some people who just won't "buy it" - they obviously have credentialitis themselves. In this case, it's up to you whether it's worth your while trying to convince them... or whether you're better off trying to work with people who aren't so hung up on qualifications and recognize true ability.

Also, try to look beyond credentials when it's you who is doing the hiring. An individual who has years of hands-on experience may well be just as, if not more, qualified than someone with a specific certificate, diploma or degree.

Lets start with a look at a few interesting facts about two of the poorest members of the EU most people know very little about.

A few interesting facts about Bulgaria

Until 1989 the country was known as the Peoples Republic of Bulgaria (PRB) and was ruled by the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP). By the time the impact of Mikhail Gorbachevs reform program in the Soviet Union was felt in Bulgaria in the late 1980s, the Communists, like their leader, had grown too feeble to resist the demand for change for long and they moved towards democracy.

Unemployment remained high and when Bulgaria was given a chance to join the EU after leaving Communisim behind, it jumped at it as it means greater access to markets. Bulgarians associate their dreams of European citizenship with the salaries of the Germans, the houses of the French and the holidays of the Scandinavians. Before joining the EU Bulgaria has had to tackle lots of economic and social problems including high crime rates.

A few interesting facts about Romania

Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe and borders many countries including Hungary and Serbia. In 1940 during World War II, Romania was occupied by the Soviet Union, Hungary and Bulgaria respectively. Romania was then proclaimed a republic, and remained under direct military and economic control of the USSR until the late 1950s. Following the end of the Cold War in 1989, Romania developed closer ties with Western Europe, the country quickly applied for membership in the EU in June 1993 and became a member of NATO in 2004.

From 2000 onwards, the Romanian economy was transformed into one of relative macroeconomic stability, characterised by high growth and low unemployment. Almost half of Romanias population is still rural.

What about these workers that are coming to the UK and other European countries?

The European Commission says that the two countries rapid growth and highly motivated workforce will be an asset for the EU economy but is there a need for these workers? Since the EU enlarged in 2004, over half a million workers have joined the UK economy with the Poles forming the largest group with over 450,000.

For all those that come to the UK, pulling up roots from their homeland can be traumatic. It truly is not an easy decision to make, and a number of those who leave their native country choose to return, finding that adjusting to a new society is too difficult or that work is not readily available. Many EU nationals come to the UK not speaking English and with very little money in their pockets. When they failed to find employment within a few days due to the availability of jobs and language requirements, many EU nationals have found themselves destitute and even homeless. This has been a problem especially in London.

The easiest transitions occur when the economic migrants can find a community made up of people from their native country. They can keep a lot of their old customs while integrating the new countries language, values and culture. Experience seems to indicate that to be happy they need to wholeheartedly try to assimilate the new way of life. Many parts of Scotland are welcoming Polish immigrants as the population is falling and these migrants are needed to fill gaps in the workforce. Local churches are also happy as the religious Poles are filling the church pews once again. Many Poles like it in Scotland as they say that the climate and terrain is similar to home … wet and full of hills!

Some plan to remain in the UK temporarily and send the money back to their family in their country, others wish to remain permanently and strive to own a home of their own. They learn the new language and educate their children in the new ways.