From Teaching to Volunteer Management

From Teaching to Volunteer Management Success Story > From: Freelance To: Job From Teaching to Volunteer Management “I felt pressure... that I should have a 'proper' job.” * From Teaching to Volunteer Management Penny Atkinson loved the freedom of working and travelling. But the novelty of living out of her suitcase was wearing thin. Here's how she put down new career roots that gave her direction (and a wardrobe), without sacrificing her altruistic ideals. What work were you doing previously? I spent the years after university working as an English teacher on and off for six years in Asia. I taught, then travelled for a bit, then taught, then travelled, etc. What are you doing now? International Assistant Manager for a volunteer organisation called SLV. Why did you change? Because I wanted to find a little more focus and stability. When was the moment you decided to make the change? When the novelty of living out of a suitcase ran out and I decided I'd quite like a wardrobe instead. Are you happy with the change? Yes. I feel as though I'm not just drifting anymore; I'm able to work as part of a team with a clearer direction. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the freedom of working in new places every year. I don't miss the loneliness of moving around and having to establish new relationships. How did you go about making the shift? When I returned to the UK, I was a little lost. I looked at my friends who were comfortable in their jobs and felt the pressure that, as I was approaching my thirties, I should have a 'proper' job. I figured out what I really wanted to do by looking at what elements of TEFL (Teaching English as Foreign Language) teaching I enjoyed â€" interacting with different groups of people, being in new environments. I also knew that I wanted to work for an organisation with altruistic motivations. I considered taking a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education), as this would have given me a qualification which I could use either in the UK or abroad. In fact, I went through with the application process for Teach First (taking the opportunity in the meantime to volunteer in Sri Lanka through SLV). I was very close to accepting a place when SLV offered me a position. This did present me with a dilemma â€" going with Teach First would have meant I had a guaranteed job and salary for two years, as well as a teaching qualification and experience. However, I chose to take the position with SLV. I'd enjoyed the volunteering I'd done with them in Sri Lanka, and the team there. I liked the ethos of the organisation and as it was a small team I could have a really hands-on role. I've now been part of the team in some capacity for over a year. I'm still learning every day about volunteering abroad, and how different cultures can work together â€" it feels great to be a small part of that. It was only through having volunteered myself and gaining that practical experience, that I was able to see what direction I wanted to take my career in, and to build the skill set to make that happen. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? There were no wrong turns, but it did take me a while to figure out what I wanted to do. It was difficult explaining to people 'what I did' when socialising â€" explaining that I used to move around and teach, but that now I was making the transition into something new. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? Whilst I was making the shift I took on temporary jobs in London. These included reception work, being a speed dating host, working in a fabric warehouse, waitressing, and odd jobs such as puppy sitting. What was the most difficult thing about changing? It took me a little while to adapt to working in an office environment as part of a team. I'd been used to working more independently. What help did you get? My boss always gave me a range of different jobs to tackle in the office, to help me expand my skill set and see what kind of things I enjoyed. What have you learnt in the process? I've learnt that it takes trying different things out to find what you enjoy and don't, and where your strengths and boundaries lie. Also, there isn't a set or direct path to take when exploring different career options. Lastly, you don't have to be at a particular 'stage' in your life to be successful â€" that's just other people's expectations. What do you wish you'd done differently? When I was teaching abroad, I often wondered if I should be pursuing a 'proper' career at home, particularly as more of my friends became settled in their careers. I now see that my experience was valuable and necessary in bringing me to where I am today. So, actually, I don't wish I'd done anything differently. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? I'd advise others not to feel the pressure to find a set career straightaway if that's not what suits them. If you have the freedom to go and try new stuff, do it! What resources would you recommend to others? For work teaching English overseas, I'd advise others to take a qualification such as TEFL or CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) and try short-term posts, or teaching posts with different age groups, to see what they take to the most. For work in the voluntary sector, I'd advise volunteering with organisations to gain more of an idea of what the work involves on a long-term basis. Volunteering, whether abroad or at home, is a great way to expand your skill set, gain experience and see what kind of work you enjoy. What lessons could you take from Penny's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Benefits of Resume Writing

Benefits of Resume WritingToday, the resume writing meme is just one of many buzzwords being bandied about by people who are in a profession that you are in. Whether it is in advertising, publishing, journalism, or any other field, these days you will find many people trying to earn their success by mastering resume writing and how to craft a compelling cover letter.The resume writing meme has become so popular that it has its own sites. They offer free material and can be found via Google. In this article, I will discuss some of the benefits of this concept and how it can benefit you in your career.The first benefit of the resume writing meme is that it can help you get more job offers. Just because there are a lot of resumes is no reason for you to ignore them. While it is not easy to be that the first person to apply for a job, it will be extremely helpful if you start thinking outside the box when it comes to creating a resume. Instead of trying to copy someone else's idea, you s hould think of your own ideas and develop your own style and format.When you are writing a resume, try to remember that it is a very simple word document. This means that you should use short, simple sentences to show your potential employer what you are looking for. You should avoid using any kind of fancy word processing such as dynamic or hyperlinks, because these things take away from the flow of the information you need to include on your resume.If you make a mistake and submit a resume that is not grammatically correct, your chances of getting hired are slim. This is because employers are looking for people who can communicate with them clearly. If they can't understand what you have written, then it is likely that your resume was a poorly written one.One of the major problems when it comes to resumes is that you often forget to address personal details. You should always include your name, address, and contact information on your resume. It is not necessary to include your ag e, occupation, or other information that does not relate to the job you are applying for.Resume writing requires a certain amount of discipline and time. When you are doing it on your own, you will need to make sure that you do not slip into this habit of just submitting your resume without actually reading it or taking the time to look for a better one. As a resume writer, you need to understand that you will never know if your resume is so bad that it is not worth even bothering to look at, so make sure that you are looking at a lot of resumes to make sure that you find the right one.Once you understand the benefits of the resume writing meme, you should immediately begin to see why this idea is so appealing to many people. By becoming an expert in this particular area, you can stand out among the rest of the applicants for jobs that are in high demand.

No Placement No Problem. Alternative Ways to Gain Skills for your CV University of Manchester Careers Blog

No Placement No Problem. Alternative Ways to Gain Skills for your CV University of Manchester Careers Blog Written by Kareem Belfon, Communications and Marketing Intern at the Careers Service. “I don’t want to do any work experience just yet, I don’t even know what job I want to do!” “I cant apply for that, my CV is empty.” “Shall we go to Factory tonight?” These were all things that First Year Kareem would say on a regular basis. The last one probably a bit more than the others. Having some experience on your CV is really important and getting onto a placement, internship or a few weeks of work experience is a really good way to gain those skills employers are looking for. If you miss out on these opportunities, there are loads of other ways you can beef up your CV that you may not have thought of before. Volunteer: There are so many benefits to volunteering that I’d probably be here all day if I listed them all. Giving up your time to volunteer not only shows you’re committed to helping a good cause, but it also shows you can manage your time well. Whether that be helping run a student-led project, fundraising, volunteering overseas, providing academic help, sports volunteering or getting involved with a local charity, volunteering is a great way to develop your skills while giving back to the community. One thing I didn’t know about volunteering is just how many different voluntary positions are available. For example, you could volunteer for a charity by running their social media page, providing administrative support or planning their events. These are all skills that can be proudly placed on your CV and talked about in interviews. Useful links: Volunteer Hub The University of Manchesters Volunteering Page The Careers Services Volunteering Information Page Become a committee member of a society: Yes, I know, you’ve probably been told to join a society about 800 times since starting Uni. What I want to emphasise here is just how beneficial it is to try and get yourself onto the committee of a society. However big a society is, it needs someone running it. It also probably needs someone in charge of the money. And a secretary. Also, someone’s probably going to need to be in charge of the social media page too. Do you reckon you could do that? This is your chance to get some hands on experience leading people, making executive decisions and working under pressure. When an interviewer asks you to tell them about a time you had to lead a group of people, experiences like this will provide your perfect answer. Useful Links: UoM Students Unions list of societies Do It  Yourself: Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity to jump out at you; create your own opportunities! Nothing shows initiative quite like starting something from scratch. You can: Start writing a blog Start your own YouTube channel and create your own content (Have you seen how much those Vloggers get paid?!) Create your own society Start your own business Take Funraising, for example. Funraising is a newly formed fundraising organisation  that utilises its volunteers creative skills to put on events and raise awareness for current social issues. They work with journalists, cooks, DJs, singers, social media gurus and pretty much anyone else who wants to get involved. I spoke to one of its co-founders to find out what shes gained from starting the organisation. “Ive learnt all sorts running Funraising genuinely a  little bit of everything. A lot about communication, not only in the realm of working closely with others, but also communicating to the masses, and using that to form a cohesive brand. Most importantly though, Ive learned to be bold and brave, and to take every opportunity as it comes.” Sophie Billington, co-founder of Funraising   Be daring, enrol in modules that scare you: I hate Excel. I’m sure Excel hates me too. We just don’t get along. That’s okay, I have loads of friends. I don’t really need any more. In second year, there was an English Language module that focused quite heavily on data and the use of Excel. I could have easily avoided it like the plague, instead choosing another module that enhanced skills I already had. However, I bit the bullet and enrolled onto the stats heavy module. I knew that I’d never face my irrational fear of Excel unless I was forced to do it. I’m still pretty bad with formulas, but I’d be a lot more comfortable applying for a job that required me to use Excel after taking that module. This can be applied to so many different skills. Havent done much public speaking? Take a module that asks you to create a presentation. Need to improve your leadership skills? Find a module that has some group work involved. Easy! Find out more about gaining experience on our website. Careers advice CV experience first year skills Volunteering work experience No placement No problem. Alternative ways to gain skills for your CV University of Manchester Careers Blog Written by Kareem Belfon, Student Communications and Marketing Intern at the Careers Service “I don’t want to do any work experience just yet, I don’t even know what job I want to do!” “I can’t apply for that, my CV is empty.” “Shall we go to Factory tonight?” These were all things that First Year Kareem would say on a regular basis. The last one probably a bit more than the others. Having some experience on your CV is really important and getting onto a placement, internship or a few weeks of work experience is a really good way to gain those skills employers are looking for. If you miss out on these opportunities, there are loads of other ways you can beef up your CV that you may not have thought of before. Volunteer: There are so many benefits to volunteering that I’d probably be here all day if I listed them all. Giving up your time to volunteer not only shows you’re committed to helping a good cause, but it also shows you can manage your time well. Whether that be helping run a student-led project, fundraising, volunteering overseas, providing academic help, sports volunteering or getting involved with a local charity, volunteering is a great way to develop your skills while giving back to the community. One thing I didn’t know about volunteering is just how many different voluntary positions are available. For example, you could volunteer for a charity by running their social media page, providing administrative support or planning their events. These are all skills that can be proudly placed on your CV and talked about in interviews. Useful links: Volunteer Hub The University of Manchester’s Volunteering Page The Careers Service’s Volunteering Information Page Become a committee member of a society: Yes, I know, you’ve probably been told to join a society about 800 times since starting Uni. What I want to emphasise here is just how beneficial it is to try and get yourself onto the committee of a society. However big a society is, it needs someone running it. It also probably needs someone in charge of the money. And a secretary. Also, someone’s probably going to need to be in charge of the social media page too. Do you reckon you could do that? This is your chance to get some hands on experience leading people, making executive decisions and working under pressure. When an interviewer asks you to tell them about a time you had to lead a group of people, experiences like this will provide your perfect answer. Useful Links: UoM Students’ Union’s list of societies Do ItYourself: Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity to jump out at you; create your own opportunities! Nothing shows initiative quite like starting something from scratch. You can: Start writing a blogStart your own YouTube channel and create your own content (Have you seen how much those Vloggers get paid?!)Create your own societyStart your own business Take ‘Funraising‘, for example. Funraising is a newly formed fundraising organisationthat utilises its volunteers’ creative skills to put on events and raise awareness for current social issues. They work with journalists, cooks, DJ’s, singers, social media gurus and pretty much anyone else who wants to get involved. I spoke to one of its co-founders to find out what she’s gained from starting the organisation. “I’ve learnt all sorts running Funraising â€" genuinely alittle bit of everything. A lot about communication, not only in the realm of working closely with others, but also communicating to the masses, and using that to form a cohesive brand. Most importantly though, I’ve learned to be bold and brave, and to take every opportunity as it comes.” â€" Sophie Billington, co-founder of Funraising Be daring, enrol in modules that scare you: I hate Excel. I’m sure Excel hates me too. We just don’t get along. That’s okay, I have loads of friends. I don’t really need any more. In second year, there was an English Language module that focused quite heavily on data and the use of Excel. I could have easily avoided it like the plague, instead choosing another module that enhanced skills I already had. However, I bit the bullet and enrolled onto the stats heavy module. I knew that I’d never face my irrational fear of Excel unless I was forced to do it. I’m still pretty bad with formulas, but I’d be a lot more comfortable applying for a job that required me to use Excel after taking that module. This can be applied to so many different skills. Haven’t done much public speaking? Take a module that asks you to create a presentation. Need to improve your leadership skills? Find a module that has some group work involved. Easy! Find out more about gaining experience on our website. All

Still Trying To Start Your Family Heres What You Need to Know About Using a Surrogate

Still Trying To Start Your Family Heres What You Need to Know About Using a Surrogate For millions of couples, having a family seems like just a dream. With fertility issues on the rise like never before, having a baby is a challenge for many people. Loving couples can be desperate to expand their family to include a child but have had no success in becoming pregnant on their own. Health issues along with difficulty conceiving can lead a lot of childless families to consider using a surrogate. The gift of helping a couple to realize their dream of becoming parents can be one of the most rewarding and remarkable human experiences. There is no greater gift than giving hope to people who have such a deep desire to be parents. If you have ever considered using a surrogate and are interested in knowing the facts, you have come to the right place. Whether you are looking to sign on with a reputable agency like Conceiveabilities Surrogacy or would like to use a surrogate who is a family member or friend, there are important things that you need to know. Why Use A Surrogate? There are many reasons that couples may not be able to conceive a child of their own and a surrogate can bridge that gap to help them start their families. With a surrogate, couples can still create their own biological child and have it carried to term with less chance of complications through the pregnancy. A surrogate can allow couples to form an intimate bond that can enrich the lives of all parties involved. There is also less of a wait than with traditional adoption, which can take many years to complete. Who Can Be A Surrogate? Women who would like to serve as a surrogate go through exhaustive medical and psychological screening. They must have already birthed at least one healthy child to prove their fertility and are put through many health tests to ensure a healthy lifestyle. What Is The Process? The basic process is the same regardless of the circumstances but it is a good idea to become familiar with your state’s individual surrogacy laws and any restrictions. You will need to have a recommendation or referral from your fertility doctor to get an appointment with a surrogacy agency unless you are using a private party. Do your research on all aspects of your situation and make sure that you are following the A.S.R.M. guidelines. How Is A Surrogate Chosen? If you are using a private surrogate you may know them as a friend or a family member. If you want to go through a surrogacy agency you can be assured that the process is extensive. Along with medical and psychological testing and screenings, potential surrogates can also be matched based on their religious backgrounds, shared beliefs or personal tastes. The ultimate decision is often made when the parents and surrogate have been able to form a comfortable bond or relationship. What Are The Legal Requirements? When you choose to have a surrogate to have your child, both parties will obtain their own lawyers. An individualized agreement that takes into account all possible scenarios will be drawn up and agreed upon. Not only will the surrogate go through testing, but your legal teams should insist that all involved parties be screened for any psychological issues before proceeding. What Is The Cost? After you consider the fees for your legal team, your fertility doctors, the IVF procedure to inseminate the surrogate and service fees, you can expect to pay anywhere between $80,000 to $120,000 in total.

Professional Resume Writing Services

Professional Resume Writing ServicesProfessional it resume writing services in Fort Worth, Texas offer hundreds of thousands of resumes a year. All of these individuals are seeking employment at many different levels and types of businesses. The demand for professionals in this field is high. There are a few things that you should look for in the resumes that you receive as part of this industry.The first thing that you should look for in an expert resume writer is someone who has a lot of experience in the same field as yours. This means that the writer will have written resumes for other employers as well as you. He or she should be able to present your skills, educational background, and accomplishments in an organized and effective manner. The recruiter will also need to be familiar with the company, products, and services that the business offers. He or she should be able to present the skills and qualifications that will make you the perfect employee for the company.Your potent ial employer will also want to know how experienced you are in the particular field that you are seeking employment at. By having a portfolio of your previous resumes, your potential employer can see what type of work experience you have in this industry. If you have worked in a similar position at another company, you will want to ensure that you are able to present the same level of accomplishment in the resume that you would have if you were working for another company.If you are new to the job search and have never done any resume writing before, then you should have a good idea of what type of resume that you want to create. While there are many different templates that you can use, you should have a general idea of the type of information that you would like to include in your resume. It should be fairly straightforward, including some achievements that show that you can meet the expectations of the potential employer.You will also want to avoid any filler on your resume sucha s phrases such as 'candidate,' 'drafted,' or 'negotiated.' It is considered to be a serious omission if you leave any of these words off of your resume. You should also avoid abbreviations on your resume. If you do use any of these, make sure that they are not more than three sentences long.Professional resume writing services will be able to do just about anything to get your resume into the hands of the employers that you are looking for. For example, they may be able to customize your resume to match the company that you are applying for, including the types of skills that are required for the position and the types of responsibilities that are expected of the job. These professionals can help you in many ways when you are trying to find a new job.For some of the different services that are offered by these professionals, it is a good idea to know what type of industry you are interested in avoiding duplication of effort on your part. For example, you will want to avoid the servi ces that are strictly in the health care industry, because your resume will not necessarily be geared towards working in a hospital. In fact, there are many areas that are open to the general public where you can seek employment.Whether you are a small business owner, an office worker, or an individual seeking employment, you will find that the services of professional resume writing services in Fort Worth, Texas are extremely helpful. They can take your resume from being completely written and unorganized to a well-organized and professionally submitted document. You will find that it will take only a few minutes of your time each day to ensure that your resume is sent out to several employers that are looking for you.

10 simple questions to be happier at work in 2020 - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

10 simple questions to be happier at work in 2020 - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog The beginning of a new year is a great time to take stock of your work life. Are you happy or unhappy at work? What would you like to change? It?s important to evaluate, because how you feel at work has such a large influence on you at work AND at home. When you?re happy at work, you have better job performance and more career success. You also have better health and a happier private life. Unfortunately most people look back and think exclusively in terms of what went wrong. The things they should have done. They goals they ought to have achieved. The progress that didn?t come. We gain much of our happiness?at work (and in life) by appreciating the?good things we have and do. Sure, you should also make sure to improve your circumstances and address any problems but it is just as important to be?able to appreciate the things that do work. This is hard. Negativity bias is one of the most well-established psychological phenomena and it means quite simply that our minds devote?more mental?focus and cognition to the bad than the good. Our thoughts automatically go to problems, annoyances, threats and fears but?remembering and appreciating?the good in our lives takes effort and focus. We think you can achieve much more by turning that around 180 degrees, so here?s our suggestion for a little new year?s exercise in happiness at work. Think back at your work life in 2019 and answer the following 10 questions. It works best if you take some time to think about each question and if you write down your answers. What went really well for you at work in 2019? What did you do that you were proud of? Who did you make a difference for at work? What new skills?have you learned professionally? How have you grown and developed personally at work? Who has helped you out at work in 2019? Who have you admired professionally? Which 5 things from your work life in 2019 would you like more of in 2020? Which 5 things from your work life in 2019 would you like less of in 2020? What will you specifically do to become happier at work in 2020? Some people think that they must work hard to become successful ? and that success will make them happy. The truth is the opposite: being happy makes you more effective and successful at work. So this year, make happiness at work your #1 career goal ? because being happy at work will make you more successful in your career. And that may require some tough decisions. If you find that youre just not happy at work, maybe its time to find a new job. Fortunately, International Quit Your Crappy Job Day is just around the corner. I wish you a very happy new year at work! Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Hiring Lessons From The White House

Hiring Lessons From The White House Can you get hired for a job you arent qualified for? Sure, it can happen, but it isnt easy.   A lot of people decide to do something different and jump into a different career. In order to make this leap, you have to prove that somehow your past experience qualifies you to perform the new job. Career advisors recommend highlighting transferable skills- things like communication, problem-solving, and other overarching skills to link abilities to the requirements of the new job. Here are three simple questions recruiters/HR/employers ask to filter job candidates: Can he/she do the job? (experience/skills) Does he/she want to do the job? (motivation) Can I see myself working with him/her? (cultural fit) Anyone screening candidates knows there are many factors to consider and that hiring is not an exact science. Bottom line quality of hire is the most important recruiting metric. What weve seen recently from The White House does make you wonder who is making the hiring decisions. It takes time to get things up and running and successfully implement change. Ill watch, learn and wait. What about you? In the meantime, here are lessons we can all learn from The White Houses recent hiring decisions. It Started At The Top Selecting a new CEO to implement change in an organization happens pretty regularly. But heres the difference. The selected CEO candidate has relevant work experience either in the job or in the industry. This means the CEO candidate has  implemented change- which is never an easy thing to do. We elected someone who is supposedly a smart businessman. Hes proven he can grow his business and personal wealth through real estate development and a host of other side businesses. There are several reasons why this may not have been a good fit. First, The President was the CEO of companies he and his family started.  Next, he was not a CEO of a company that reported to shareholders. And finally, the government doesnt operate like a business. It wasnt designed to. Our government operates by its own set of rules and policies, many of which are spelled out in the Constitution, and arent easily changed. Unqualified and Ill-Equipped Some jobs have rules or procedures that need to be followed. Without an understanding of these rules, its going to be difficult to perform the job appropriately. Youve just seen what can happen when someone without prior communications experience gets hired for a role that requires such knowledge. Sometimes transferable skills just arent enough. This is why employers are so fearful about hiring someone without relevant experience. Its Based  On Who You Know As the saying goes, its not what you know, its who you know (and who knows you). If you dont have the qualifications for a job, one way to bypass the applicant tracking system and proceed to the interview phase is to meet people who work inside the organization. This certainly seems to have worked for some recent hires at The White House. Always  Conduct Thorough Background Checks HR policies usually require a background check on a pending job candidate  and speaking with several references. Theres good reason for these steps. This vetting is a way to uncover any skeletons that may be in the candidates closet. When Starting A New Job If you are starting a new job, want a promotion or just want to hold on to the job you currently have, here are lessons to learn from The White Houses this year: Treat everyone with respect. Know the rules of the game and when to break them. Build trust by being truthful. Be a source of inspiration and positivity. Don’t shoot from the hip. Listen carefully. Do not manage by fear and intimidation. Avoid using profanity.