All the recent talk about earning big money by becoming bankers…has caused a rush by everybody (be it fresh grads, experienced professionals, etc) into the financial services industry. It is true that the money is in this industry now.

However, to be earning the top dollars (i.e. to be in the front line) one need to be a certain calibre and I hope most of you agree with me that not everyone in this world is top calibre. And also, one got to look at what are the sacrifices for such money and prestige.

Personally I would recommend most of us who are not of such calibre and who wants to have a comfortable life, to not chase after all the “glamour” that has been reported in the media about the financial service industry. The media are just reporting people who make it but not those who have fallen.

Some words of wisdom …”When people are rushing into something, it’s time for the wise to get out or stay away…” Just think, the financial services industry has its own ups and down. Companies around the world are cutting costs…job cutting can come anytime..beyond any employee’s control.

After some thinking about the situation, I would still think that for people who are not of the top calibre, they should try out and plan for sources of passive income. These allow the average Joe or Jane to exihibit his or her potential to the fullest (without trying to impress bosses). The best thing is, you do not need to slog and work ridiculous hours (try checking out an investment banker’s working hours) for these types of income. That’s why I call them “passive income”.

Want more money from your job?

Want a better higher paid job?

It won’t come to you if you don’t take the right action. By action I don’t mean going back to school, retraining or getting more qualifications – the world is full of highly qualified low paid people. It is also equally full of well paid low qualified people so what gives?

The greatest misconception people have with getting ahead and making more money from your career is that being better qualified makes you worth more.

Wrong!

In the world of business where money talks and everything else walks it’s results and productivity that win the game. You can have a PHD in your chosen field but if you can’t deliver constant outstanding results you won’t be moving up any time soon.

I’m not saying that education and qualifications are bad – they definitely help in the long run and are essential if you’re job hunting – but once you’re in the door and you want to move up you have to be a ‘doer’.

If you want to get ahead and make the maximum amount of money you can for doing what you do you need to focus on results that have a positive impact on the company’s productivity and profits. And the good news is – it’s not hard to transform yourself into a high achiever with a solid reputation for ‘getting things done’.

What is without a shadow of doubt the best investment you can make in your career right now? Develop some time management skills. The ability to get more done in less time without expending any more energy than you would otherwise producing a ‘normal’ output.

Delivering 150-200% does not mean working 60 hours a week and driving yourself into an early grave (although a lot of people do that as a means to get ahead). Becoming a true high achiever involves operating on the right side of the 80-20 equation (where 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts).

The beauty of managing your time correctly means you achieve a lot more in less time which in turn enables you to get even more done in the time you have left over. And if you’re contributing 200% more than is expected of you then bet your employers won’t let you go to a higher paying job without a fight.

Do you want more out of the time you spend at work? Get on the fast track by learning time management and watch your career, income and life shift up several gears.

Have you lost it? Your career, I mean... Well it's time to find it and take control to create the excitement, fulfillment and success that is meant for you!

Where do you start to regain control? Start here...

What are you doing today to manage your career? What does it mean to manage your career and not have it managed for you? How can you take the reins and direct your career?

These are great questions that successful people ask themselves every day. Because you see, managing your career is part of your day to day activities. Each meeting you attend, each conference call you lead or participate in, each one-on-one interaction are all steps to managing your career.

Where you spend your time and who you spend your time with will either position you to stay put or move forward. This gets to some of the more tactical ways in which you manage your career.

From a strategic perspective, are you on the path that brings you the greatest amount of energy and satisfaction? Are you moving toward your vision of success in your chosen field or profession? Or someone else’s?

To begin to regain control, it starts with your vision for success in your life. Every professional has a strategy for what their next 1, 3 and 5 year plan will be for their career. But is this vision leading towards your definition of success for your life or towards what is expected? If they are one in the same, congratulations! If they are not, that’s ok too! The mere awareness of it enables you to look at it with different eyes and to take inspired action to bring it more in line with who you are and what you want.

Talking with someone you know and trust or journaling can help to capture your thoughts. You could also consider meditation or visualization techniques. Clarity in this area can have a profound affect on your actions and sense of accomplishment. So give it the time and focus it deserves.

Remember how exciting is it with each new position or promotion to start something new? You get to bring all that you are to this new adventure – creativity, innovation and growth. What would it be like to have that same excitement and challenge in creating and driving your career? Are there new people in your circle as a result of the new job? Does this bring you closer to an area of interest that you’d like to explore? Are you being sure to keep site of the who, what and where of your next career move? Are you doing the things necessary to prepare for the next position? This doesn’t always mean a move up – but it does mean a broadening of your skills, expertise and career choice.

Take control and create that new job excitement and drive your career to success!

Here’s my two part challenge to get you started…

Part one, I challenge you to within the next 7 days, to spend quiet time with yourself and using whatever tools or resources that inspire you (e.g. journal, visualization, meditation, etc.) and see and feel what it would be like to fully and deeply be at the helm of your career.

Part two of the challenge; communicate that vision, feeling to a close, trusted and supportive friend with all of the passion that accompanies it By giving voice to it, you will make it your own! I want you to experience the joy and freedom of taking care of your own – your own life, your own career and your own self-satisfaction! You deserve it!

If you have taken a college course in accounting then you may well be considering a career in that specific field. When you weigh up your options, you should take into consideration that everyone needs an accountant at some stage and so the demand for your services will often outweigh the supply! There are various ways to break into the accounting business, one of which is a good temping agency. There is much to be said for looking for a temporary accounting job and if you read on you will realise why!

Most jobs are actually now offered on a temporary basis and a temporary accounting job is no different. There are temping agencies specifically for those individuals that are looking for accounting jobs, whether they have just graduated or are looking for a change of career. There are many varied opportunities that can be taken advantage of any many of those will offer the right candidate a full time position at the end of their month’s contract.

There is a temporary accounting job for you whether you are a licensed or non-licensed accountant. The former can deal with the auditing of any business and the latter can handle taxes so there is a job for you out there regardless of your qualifications. A temporary accounting job therefore may just provide you with that window of opportunity that you need. It can be hard to get an initial foot on the ladder via conventional means now as a result of the high demand for jobs, but this is definitely a good way to go.

Many companies now outsource their accountancy issues so that they have a specialist firm at their beck and call. As a result, there are many temporary accounting jobs out there. Outsourcing has increased the demands on the industry and so more firms are willing to take on people for a temporary accounting job during the busiest times of the year. If you get a job that way and do well then it may lead to a permanent position, which would be no bad thing if you are looking to break into the industry on a full time basis.

You can find a whole variety of opportunities on the Internet as agencies tend to advertise temporary accounting jobs on there so it reaches a wider audience. If you are dedicated and talented then that will shine through on your application thus it may actually take very little time to secure your first temporary accounting job. It is actually a vital tool in learning the trade because you can take on several temporary accounting jobs to get a good idea of how different firms work. This experience will ultimately be invaluable to your career aspirations so take every opportunity that comes your way

By having a good network of accountants and other people working within the financial sector you are likely to find getting a new job much easier. Though the recommendation of good networking is simple often the actual practice can be much harder. We’ve identified eight tips which will help you network like a pro.

Identify good contacts – it might sound a little cynical but just some people are better friends than others. When networking it’s important to find people you get on with, the better your friendship the more likely they are to recommend you, so there’s no point wasting your time with people who aggravate you. Some people make the mistake when networking to try to approach the most ‘important’ people, this can end up being counter productive, you are better off speaking to people who are likely to have the time and attitude to engage with you on a meaningful level. It’s better to have come away from an industry event with one friend from a small firm with a less illustrious job title than a loads of brief conversations with the big cheeses.

Ask Questions – it’s important to engage people in conversation and then respond to what they are saying. Don’t just use a question as an opening gambit then go off about how great you are. Listen to what other people are saying and ask them questions you are interested to know the answer. The person you are speaking to will appreciate the attention and are far more likely to remember you in a good way than the accountant who only talked about themselves.

Do Your Homework – if you know certain people will be at an event it might be worth doing a little homework on them. Knowing who they work for, certain clients they have or even which football team they support can give you the perfect ice breaker.

Be Honest – there’s nothing worse than a suck up. Too often when people are networking they think they primary goal should be to agree with everything the person they are talking to says and generally being sycophantic. If you are honest it’s much more likely the person will take you seriously as a professional.

Help People – once you’ve got a bulging contacts book it’s important to remember to help people. Friendship relies on the relationship being mutually beneficial, especially in business. So help people in your network out, if you have a client and your too busy point them in a friend’s way. If you see a job that would suit them, let them know. There has never been a truer adage than you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.

Return Favours – nobody likes a one sided friendship, if people within your network of friends do you a favour make sure you return it. It doesn’t take long for a new contact to realise your aren’t going to be helpful to them if you don’t go out of your way to help them.

Stay in Touch – networking isn’t just a case of getting someone’s business card and waiting until you need there help to give them a call. If you meet anyone interesting, be sure to follow it up with a phone call or email. The fresher you are in someone’s mind the more likely they might think of you when an accountant job opportunity arises.

Be Social – It’s important to remember when you are networking you are ultimately trying to find some new friends. Don’t get too bogged down in the dos and don’ts of networking. Just think of it as a normal party where the benefit of being social might be a new accounting job.