How Do I Find A New Career, When Ive Lost My Self-Confidence

“How Do I Find A New Career, When I’ve Lost My Self-Confidence” Help from our Community “How Do I Find A New Career, When I’ve Lost My Self-Confidence?” * Sofia's always thrown herself head first into new challenges. But a meaningless and uninspiring job has chipped away at her confidence, leaving her full of excuses not to change. When you've lost the motivation you used to rely on, and it feels like all your successes are behind you, how do you build yourself back up to find work you'll love? What's your career history and current job? I've had a chequered career history, involving some very steep learning curves. As well as office work, I've been an electronics engineer, and I also retrained to work in software development. For the past decade, I've been doing reporting and data analysis for a bank. Throughout my career, I've been more than willing to jump in and try new things. I've always loved throwing myself into the deep end and being a total beginner at something, learning new skills and ways of working as a result. I fell into banking after a friend recommended me for a role in her team. It was only supposed to be temporary, and the job seemed like a challenge. I'd never worked in a bank before, so I didn't understand the culture or the language. At first, it felt as though I was working in a foreign country! But within six months, I'd learned so much that I was promoted, and my role became permanent. How do you feel about your work? While I enjoy sharing my knowledge in training sessions, I don't enjoy the relentlessly reactive and repetitive work I'm doing every day. I've got hardly any control of my time, and it feels as though I never get to do any of the things I'm best at. On top of that, I like working with people who have a practical, problem-solving mindset, and who enjoy discussing ideas. Instead, I report to an overbearing and controlling manager, and I'm surrounded by colleagues who prefer gossiping about each other, to sharing good ideas. All of this has left me feeling deflated and insecure. Instead of looking forward to coming into work every day, I dread it. What would you like to be doing instead? I want to do deep, reflective work that involves focused research, investigation, and analysis. I'm excited about the potential of finding patterns in data, presenting my insights, then using them to help make meaningful changes to issues I care about. I've also carried out some self-analysis, and I know I need a multi-faceted career â€" something that allows me to learn constantly, share my knowledge, and be useful to myself and others. I'd be really interested to work in specific areas of research, such as behavioural change in diabetes prevention: figuring out who is at risk, and what change measures could work. I also like the idea of working in financial crime prevention. What's the biggest obstacle in your way? I've gradually lost the self-confidence I used to have, and that's making it hard for me to change anything. It never used to be a problem for me to motivate myself, but now I keep finding excuses not to do things that would actively help me change my career. For example, even though I've completed a qualification in business intelligence and data analytics, I haven't applied for the jobs I'm interested in. I keep telling myself that because I haven't got a proven track record of experience, or advanced statistical skills, potential employers wouldn't want to talk to me. In a previous life, I know I would have gone out and found projects to do, and people to talk to. But I'm not getting any younger, and it feels as though I'm a different person from the fearless go-getter I used to be. I'm drained of positive energy, and I can't concentrate on anything for too long â€" I've got lots of unfinished books lying around the house, and I keep giving in to silly distractions. I know from experience that to change my career I need to start developing productive habits and a focused routine. But I feel so lethargic that every time I try, I fail, and then I become even more disappointed in myself. It's a vicious circle that I'm finding harder and harder to get out of. How do I start repairing my self-confidence and developing a healthy routine, so that I can motivate myself to find work I love? Can you help Sofia? Have you been in a similar situation, or are you in the same boat right now? How do you think Sofia could move her shift forwards? Do you know anyone she could talk to? Share your thoughts in the comments below and click the thumbs-up button to show your support.

Your Best Form to Sell Yourself to a Job!

Your Best Form to Sell Yourself to a Job!The resume writing intake form is a very crucial part of the whole process. In other words, you have to ensure that it comes out on the right track so that you get a job.The main point of this form is to convince your prospective employer that you are competent and able to perform the job for which you have applied. If you fill in an intake form with half-baked ideas then that is sure to impact your chances of getting a job. So, you need to make sure that you put your best foot forward.At the end of the day, the form has to be designed to bring out your individual qualifications and skills. This means that the form needs to be short, to the point. Remember, you are trying to sell yourself.However, the most common mistake people make when they use the resume writing intake form is that they do not put their personal touches into the form. It is just the fact that not all the employers want the extra effort, and hence, they fail to get your work done well. The former form should be the former means.If the employer gets the impression that you are not interested in talking to him or her then you are wasting your time. The form is there to prove your interest and you must fill it up with that end in view. Besides, you can also bring up the best points from your work experience.You can add in some personal touches by adding your hobbies and interests. Some employers like to see the different ideas that you can bring into the business. Others may be looking for a polished speaker.When you apply for the actual job, remember that the resume writing intake formis the first impression that your employer will get. In other words, you cannot afford to make the same mistake twice.Do not write your resume in an unprofessional manner in the hope that it will come out in the most effective manner. Hence, make sure that you follow these tips and get the most out of the form. While you are at it, make sure that you send the form to all th e companies you have applied for.

Search Engine Optimization - How Long Before You See Results

Search Engine Optimization - How Long Before You See Results So, you have a side hustle or small business online and youre anxious to see it grow.   Youve decided to give search engine optimization (SEO) a try to help attract more traffic to your site. How long does it take until you see search engine optimization results? One of the toughest things for a business is to find the right way to market its services. Using a digital marketing agency can help you solve those problems fast, and the return on investment can be super good in the end. The idea is to tackle and adapt all these things the best way that you can and the ROI can indeed be second to none. But then again, the problem with search engine optimization and something that ads can solve is that you need to wait a while until you see the results. Yes, SEO does require some time to work, and that’s why plenty of companies just focus on using ads instead of opting for SEO mechanics. Which is a shame, because there are some really good options to focus on and consider when it comes to stuff like this. Patience Required As long as you take your time and avoid any rush, you will see that search engine optimization results can be very good. But then again, you may have to wait for a few months. Sometimes it will be   for 3-4 months. Depending on the size of your website, the keywords you are competing for and so on, you can end waiting 6 months or even more than that. The idea here is that search engine optimization isn’t going to work right off the bat. You have to wait for the results, and most of the time that can be a very challenging, demanding wait that not everyone is ready for. That doesn’t mean it will be hard, if anything it will be a great approach and one that does make a lot of sense if you think about it. But remember, if you really want to grow your company, you have to think about the long term as much as you can. Short term thinking will only bring you that much. Only if you think about the long run and what it delivers, the outcome can be super rewarding. That’s why you have to adjust and optimize everything to suit your needs in a meaningful way. Thankfully, the fact that you can opt for search engine optimization and implement it naturally is super important. That alone can be   distinct and unique, and you are free to adjust the process according to the business requirements. In the end that can work very well, and it will offer you all the features and control you want. Sure, it can be tricky and somewhat challenging, but it can also work extremely nice in the end! While it can take half a year or even more at times until you see the search engine optimization results, don’t rush and opt for other methods. SEO is one of the best ways you can gain more leads and customers and it can indeed give you the benefits and results that you desire.

Why an entry level sales job is a great way to kickoff your career

Why an entry level sales job is a great way to kickoff your career Most college students are absolutely petrified of those entry level sales jobs that require cold calling. Others feel they are “too smart” or that they just spent way too much money on their college degree to sit on the phone and cold call all day. While these points are valid, consider the following reasons to consider giving that first sales job a chance: You will learn how to overcome adversity early in your career. Get used to being uncomfortable, not getting everything you want, being at the bottom of the food chain, not getting constant feedback, and realizing that your good grades in college do not necessarily correlate to bringing in good paychecks in sales. These are harsh realities you must face and get over right away in order to be successful in your twenties. For Gen Y’ers who love instant gratification and come from homes with “helicopter parents,” this may be a bit of a shock. “We work hard and we play hard.” Although this phrase was actually slightly unattractive to me personally, and ended up being one of my pet peeves, this is a phrase I heard in almost every sales interview I went on. For many, transitioning from college life to working in a serious, quiet and boring environment with no people your own age sounds like hell. Many entry level sales jobs know that this is a tough transition and accommodate for it. Many sales teams are very young and offer group training, a fun environment, and plenty of happy hours and fun parties when making sales goals. If you are moving to a new city, this might be a great way to initially make new friends and expand your network. You will become living proof that attitude is everything. My first inspirational entry level sales job manager/boss in the real world always stressed this point. He had us put a sticky note on our computer which reminded us “If you are not getting the results you want, look at your attitude first.” Bitching, moaning and complaining will not help you get the results you want. Shut up, pick up the phone and put a smile on your face. Assume and believe that you will get that sale. Attract the results you want and know you are capable of achieving any goal you have. Once you start changing your attitude and seeing results from it, it is addictive and contagious to those around you. On top of it, your great attitude will cause others to see you as more capable and as a leader. Apply this to other areas of your life too. “Inch by Inch is a Synch”: corporate structure and goal setting. Your office consists of a sales team that must hit a monthly goal which will most likely feed into a district and then regional goal. In order for everyone to be happy, your sales manager will take the office’s monthly goal and assign each sales associate an individual goal. From there you will break that goal down into what you need to sell each week and each day to achieve that number. Then of course you will decide how many phone calls you will need to make on a daily and hourly basis to keep consistent in meeting your goals. Although this is a fairly simple concept, I don’t ever remember using this type of “inch by inch is a synch” strategy until my first sales job. Again, apply this to any goal you have in your personal life. You want to lose 10 pounds by spring break? Break it down to monthly, weekly and daily goals so that you can have mini victories rather than huge mountains to climb. These are just a few of my favorite lessons from my first entry level sales job that I take with me wherever I go in life.

Using A Resume Writing Template

Using A Resume Writing TemplateThere are many people who have difficulty writing a resume. It is very easy to get stuck in a rut when attempting to follow a resume writing template. Writing a resume can be done just as easily and painlessly as following a template but the one thing that stands out when following a template is how well the template has been constructed. Taking time to create a resume writing template can help you write a great resume that will not only showcase your worthiness for the job but also get you hired.The key to writing a resume is to first establish what you want to say about yourself. This should be presented in the resume introduction. In the introduction, you should state clearly your reason for wanting the job.Next, you should write the cover letter which states your interest in the position and why you would be an asset to the company. After your resume, you should send in a cover letter. This should be brief and to the point. You should also use words like 'Thank You' rather than 'Resume Accepted'.You should then summarize your resume. Keep in mind that a well-written resume can be completely different from a poorly written resume. Your resume summary should include information about education, experience, skills, certifications, and other accomplishments.After your resume summary, you should make two sections. The first section should be your contact information. This should be a personal contact number as well as an email address or web site address. The second section should be your objective statement.The objective section of the resume is what the hiring manager or hiring team looks at when considering whether to hire you or not. This should be short and simple. The objective of the job should be briefly described.The final section should contain information about your accomplishments. You should write something about your job title, supervisor, supervisors, and other people that you worked with. Having information about yo ur supervisors on your resume writing template is very important because people look for references of individuals who were in charge of them.Using a resume writing template will help you get your resume out on the market quickly. It can also save you a lot of time. A resume writing template can also be used by the employer to get an idea of the type of person that they are hiring for the position.

How To Stay Motivated When Working Alone - CareerMetis.com

How To Stay Motivated When Working Alone No matter what stage of your career you are in, the chances are high that you’ve been able to work from home at some point. To many, working from home seems like an amazing job perk.What’s better than working in your pajamas from the comfort of your own house?Though working from home has been shown to reduce stress and increase quality of life, it can be tricky to learn to maximize your productivity when you do it daily.evalThere are a number of factors that can make it hard to do your best work at home, such as trying to work in the same place you relax and not having a productive space set up to help you get in the zone.Learning to manage yourself when no one is around to micromanage you can be a challenge, but it’s an important skill to master if you want to be successful.No matter what you do, or where you are in your career, the sooner you can learn to self-manage, the better you’ll be at your work. While internal motivation is a huge factor in one’s ability to self-ma nage, it can also be helpful to understand the types of things that might hinder your productivity when you work from home.Being mindful of the distractions you may encounter will help you better prepare to avoid unnecessary interruptions.When you’re aware that you might be tempted to do laundry or turn on the television when you should be working, you are better able to put rules in place to keep yourself on track.There are also some tried and true tips for increasing productivity and happiness if you regularly work from home. Consider creating boundaries with your friends and family and letting them know that you are not able to engage with them during working hours.Dressing for success can also be a game changer if you regularly work from a home office. It’s been proven that your brain gets a message from the type of clothing you wear and this can affect your overall productivity and quality of work. This simple fact should be reason enough to change out of your pajamas and g et to work!evalWhen you are aware of the challenges that come with working from home, you are better able to create a work from home routine that works for you and your organization.Funderacreated a guidefull of no-fail self-management tips to use if you regularly work from home. Read on to learn best practices for thriving in a home office for the long term, no matter what your industry or job title is.Infographic Credit â€" Fundera.com

You Go Away So That You Can Come Back ... - Jane Jackson Career

You Go Away So That You Can Come Back ... - Jane Jackson Career Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors.This is one of my favourite quotes from the author, Terry Pratchett.A wonderful reminder that is it so important to take a step back, experience something new, learn from everything and everyone you encounter.   Bring back with you knowledge, inspiration and motivation that will make a difference in your life and those of others whether you are somewhere new or back where you started from.   We are given life so that we can experience it to the full!   As Terry Pratchett said, It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die.   That is true, its called Life.Enjoy the New Year and all it will bring you!For help with your career or life directions, feel free to give me a call on 0403 810 756 or email me at jane@janejacksoncoach.com lets have a no obligation 15 minute confidential chat about your concerns.   It may make a huge difference in you r life! www.janejacksoncoach.com

How to Learn New Skills at Work Quickly

How to Learn New Skills at Work Quickly Learning a new skill is the best way to fast track your career to a big promotion, land a new position or amplify your productivity in your current role. Do you want to learn to code, create a spreadsheet or speak a second language conversationally? First, you must begin by defining your goals. Need a new skill for a department transfer? Talk with those in a similar role or with supervisors in that department about what skills youll need to acquire to transfer to the team. Be clear with your manager about your goals for climbing the corporate ladder, and work with him or her to outline your next steps. Now that you’ve established the goals, you want to learn the required skills quickly. Try these six ways to get those skills into your career toolbox stat: 1. Receive Mentorship According to one study, 86 percent of professionals believe mentorship is a key success factor for career development. Reach out with a courteous email to senior members of your organization working within your career development target, and ask for thirty minutes for an informational interview about growing into your goals. Say you’d like to discuss the possibility of a mentorship. You may meet at the office, for coffee or at their favorite restaurant â€" leave your options open and respect their time. Arrive at the meeting with a clear outline of what you hope to gather from the meeting. See if you can transform one of these meetings into a mentorship, and continue to check in once a month if the senior member agrees to the idea of a monthly follow-up. 2. Job Shadowing is Still in Style So, you want to transfer out from marketing to product management? How can you gain the right skillset if you’re 9-to-5-ing it already? Talk to your manager about your career growth goals, and see if he or she is open to sending you over to product management to listen in on a meeting or go to a networking event with the other team. Job shadowing is still in style, and you’ll learn about what being on the team is like along with what skills you’ll need to acquire. You could also discover the transition isn’t right for you, after all. Don’t forget to go above and beyond with your current duties. 3. Read to Feed Your Head Tired of reading reports? Take a break and read an article or a book chapter on the subject you’re learning. The beauty of reading allows you to take the full responsibility of learning into your hands and work within your schedule, not anyone else’s. Work at your own pace. Set reading goals by creating a to-be-read list, with book titles that begin with an overview of the skill you’re trying to enhance. By the time you reach the list’s end you’ll have a more refined skill set. Use sites like LibraryThing and Goodreads to read book reviews of titles you want to check out and build your reading list. Love an article by an expert? Check their bio to see if they’ve authored any books on the subject. Visit your local library to find more relevant topics on the subject. 4. Become a Student Studying at your own pace is rewarding, but sometimes you need help from a teacher. There are many routes to take as a student. Take professional development courses offered by your company. Consider a local university or community college for classes on personal enrichment and career development. You may not have time to be physically present anywhere but the office and your home. An alternative is to sign up for online classes offered by career network organizations â€" for journalists, that might be MediaBistro, for example. Consider online open education classes such as Udemy or Coursera â€" you can find many such classes on the Open Education Database, and some provide certificates of achievement for a small fee. 5. Ask for a New Project Tired of doing the same old work in your job description? If you can do your duties in your sleep, it’s time to request a new project to level up your skillset and test those skills you’ve been working on. There’s nothing like a new challenge to quickly acclimate you to the ins and outs of a new skill. Requesting a new project will also show your boss that you’re not afraid to take the initiative and work hard at something outside your general duties, increasing the chances of landing your dream job within the company. 6. Attend a Professional Conference Conferences aren’t reserved for those with an exhaustive list of accomplishments â€" they’re for professionals of all career levels. Conferences offer panels and workshops that provide the privilege of being surrounded by experts and newbies alike who are all eager to exchange information and resources. In many cases, it’s possible that your employer will help pay for part or all of the costs of attending the conference. Just ask. Outline how the conference will develop your skillset and how you will apply these skills to your role at the company. Let’s Get Learning! Consider the style of learning that works best for you. For some, that’s learning on their own through reading various books and taking the initiative on new projects. Others may prefer mentorship, job shadowing, taking a class or going to a conference. Your style may combine many of these methods, but the goal is the same: to quickly learn a new skill and climb the ladder. Learning a skill gives you newfound confidence and the ammunition to make the switch to a new role. It can also improve the way you work in your current role. Have you had to pick up a skill quickly? What did you learn? Comment below, share the wisdom and subscribe to Punched Clocks for more career advice on climbing the ladder to your dream job. Get everything you need to build a career you love by signing up for the newsletter.