What Beliefs Drive Your Career Search?

This isn't a question about career strategy -- how you'll take your career from where it is to where you want it to be. It's a question about the underlying beliefs that guide you as you try to create career fulfillment.

Here's what it comes down to: Are you a jigsaw puzzler, or an equestrian?

The Jigsaw Puzzler
Intentionally or not, you may believe that to find the right place to land in the world of work you must fit what you can do or have done into the appropriately contoured space in the jigsaw puzzle of available jobs.

Ten or fifteen years ago this approach stood a good chance of succeeding. Chances are, it's the model you inherited from parents and teachers. You would expect to conduct a career search by scanning job postings looking for one that fits your skill set. You'd analyze your resume for transferrable skills and look for industries or careers that would utilize them. You'd probably be selective based on what looked interesting or attractive to you, but you'd be guided primarily by what fits with your experience and skills.

Today, in a vastly different employment environment, this approach still has a place. Window shopping on job boards will give you ideas you wouldn't have thought of, inform you about how an industry of interest structures its personnel needs, and -- perhaps most important -- it can jumpstart your optimism about finding more fulfilling work.

But it has a significant drawback, a subtle assumption I'm strenuously challenging when I hear it in my clients' thinking: namely, that your success will depend on how well you can match an employer's requirements. This places you in a reactive rather than proactive position, requiring you to massage the mix of what you have done or can do into a compelling resume and hoping it matches what the hiring manager has in mind.

The Equestrian
Better suited to the 21st C. global workplace is the equestrian. In this belief system, you know yourself to be sitting atop a dynamic, powerful energy -- your commitment to express and grow your talents. Your responsibility is to take the reins, sensitively but firmly, encouraging the best use of that energy and taking charge, moment to moment, of direction, pace and destination.

If this approach sounds more strenuous, even more risky, you're right! A decision to take control of your career destiny cuts both ways: more at risk, more to gain. But understanding the implications of the changed work environment in effect make the decision a no-brainer.

Employers can no longer afford to offer long-term security in exchange for company loyalty. They must attract employees with versatility, creative problem-solving, and unique combinations of skills and strengths in order to keep pace with the rate and scope of change. Career search strategy must be positioned to demonstrate how a candidate stands out, rather than how s/he fits in.

If you've kept an eye on these changes in the workplace, you know that the most highly sought-after candidates are those who can demonstrate creativity, individuality and unique combinations of strengths and talents are highly sought after by employers. This means that the full complexity of You, all that makes you who you are and unlike anyone else, can -- and must -- be carefully identified and articulated. It places you firmly in the saddle of your career, fully appreciative of the power and energy beneath you, knowing how to assure its health and vigor, and able to navigate changes in terrain in fine attunement with that power.

What are the concrete actions the equestrian takes to keep his/her career fully vital and heading in the right direction? Peter Weddle, in his Career Fitness program, outlines five activities to exercise on a regular basis.

1. Continue to learn
Don't overestimate the value of your years of work experience. It will get outbid every time by state-of-the-art knowledge and skills. Acquire them and deliver them now, in your current work.

2. NetWork
Focus less on meeting large numbers of people and more on increasing your visibility as a knowledgeable and widely respected professional.

3. Cross-train
Be prepared to adapt to a complex and rapidly shifting work environment. Develop multidimensionality. Combine a specific specialty with diversity in how it's performed (e.g. a variety of communication skills) or apply a primary skill (e.g. sales) to more than one product or industry.

4. Keep your bags packed
Expect change rather than hoping for stability. Keep one eye on the path ahead to increase your ability to direct the next transition so that it serves your long-term career plan.

5. Tend your soul
Your soul is uniquely yours and is also your link to the rest of humanity. Recognize that its brilliance is sustained by a larger vision of career success than personal gain, one that includes a share of responsibility for social/global/environmental betterment. Commit to specific "for the health of my soul" goals and integrate them into your career plan.

While none of these steps is easy to integrate into an already demanding schedule, they will serve you in the long run. If you substitute one activity within each heading for activities you've been doing to try to shore up job security or to sidestep the winds of change, you will not only be better prepared but you will feel better - more confident, more in charge. If you're unsure how to implement these recommendations in your own situation, seek the assistance of a career professional.

Would you like some suggestions for soul-nurturing activities? Go to http://www.successfromtheinsideout.com/resources.html and scroll down to "Soul Nourishing Sites".

Nina Ham, internationally certified career coach and licensed psychotherapist, is Principal of Success from the Inside Out. Her company guides midlife professional women to create careers that keep pace with their personal expansion and reflect their new priorities. Subscribe to the free monthly Career Search Tips and her free quarterly ezine.

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Security Guard Application, The First Step to Your Career

Becoming a security guard in the United States can be a difficult process if you do not know what to expect. The laws and regulations change frequently and will be very different from state to state. The one common theme though that all applicants will have to provide if they wish to become a security guard is the security guard application.

Finding the Application:

Security guard applications can be both simple as well as complex depending on which state you are applying to become a security guard in. Your first step though to successfully filling out your application and obtaining a job in the security industry, is to actually locate the application! In today's internet era, many of the state and local governments that regulate licensing of security officers have an online presence that makes obtaining an application easier. A few key places to search for the necessary forms for your state would be on the websites for the department of justice, department of public service, or private investigatory boards. Many times these forms will be available in.PDF format or in Microsoft Word format for easy printing and completion. If you cannot find a form or application that you are looking for to download then also see if the government body responsible for licensing in your state offers online applications. In order to reduce paper and streamline workflows, many government agencies have converted the application process to a digital format which will also speed up the process for you.

Filling out the Security Guard Application:

Filling out the application is often a very specific task and it needs to be done correctly in order for it to be successfully processed. Some important things to remember when filling out all of the different forms are:

Do not leave any spaces blank unless the form specifically tells you to.Complete the blank spaces in only blue or black ink. No pencil or colored pens are usually allowed.Be as neat as possible. If you have poor handwriting consider typing the responses or getting someone with better handwriting to fill the application out for you.Check that you have all of the different parts of each document. They often come with multiple pages and can be easy to lose or mis-order.Be sure to attach any additional items specified with the application like photos, fingerprints, or background checks.

Common fields and items you might not thnk of:

Not all of the fields that are asked for on every security guard application are the same but some very common and sought after info that you might not have thought about would include the following:

Certified criminal background checks.Character references from people with good criminal standing.State and F.B.I. fingerprint cardsRecent color passport style photographs.Certificates of training or education.

While filling out an application can be tedious as well as boring, it is very important to make sure to do it correctly. Incorrectly filled out applications will usually be immediately rejected and all that you did was waste your time. If you have questions you can usually call and ask a representative from the office that supplied the application and they will help you or clarify what they need you to fill in.

More detailed information about finding and completing a Security Guard Application can be found at Guard Training HQ.

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What Gets You Out of Bed in the Morning?

I have been been working in Corporate world for over 20 years and what I have learnt over the years through research and when asking people why they studied what they did and what they dream about doing with their lives are usually two very different things. It concerned me greatly and still does every single day, that people are led into a society which does not encourage passions to be explored, but rather to conform to the requirements of a rather limited choice.

Some don't know what they would do and others are studying and have studied what they have been told to study, in order to make a living, raise a family and have a decent retirement. So, most of us go through life, saving for retirement and seeing work as just that "work" and not something that could be enjoyed immensely while offering a specific benefit to society purely by using our unique talents and gifts.

A lot of people have not had the benefit of career guidance or a discussion on what it is they really love to do and where they feel they could add value to society by doing what it is they are innately best at.

If some of you did become what you dreamed you would, then you are one of the lucky ones. For those who didn't...spend a few minutes considering the reasons. What were those reasons. It could have been financial, family influence, or just not knowing how to get there on your own. It could be many things.

Our beliefs and approach to careers create barriers to human potential, tapping into your potential through your passion leads to continuous happiness and living in the present moment. Enjoying every day instead of the "dread" of going to work each morning.

When your life is transformed at a deep level there is a subtle, yet instantaneous transformation taking place.
Being able to make better decisions by thoroughly understanding the underlying reasons for choosing the career and study, or further study. Explore current ideas, perceptions, industries and how to envision, develop and progress in a new or altered career direction. Empowering yourself with the tools that will assist you most effectively for success in today's world.

We spend anything from 8-14 hours or more per day at work, everyday of our lives except perhaps weekends. Disliking your work can be very demotivating and adds ongoing pressure and stress.

It does take time and loads of courage to try and make a change of career, looking for a job is a job in itself but it is worth it!

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Reinventing Retirement: Encore Careers for the 21st Century

It seems like only yesterday that everyone looked forward to retirement as the "golden years," a time of relaxing, playing golf, some travel and visiting grandkids. I remember leading an early retirement workshop at IBM 15 or so years ago when a 55 years old man, eagerly accepting the early retirement option, said he planned to sail around the world in his boat with his wife. When I asked him what he would do after that, he hadn't even thought of the future. The thought of freedom to pursue a dream was so appealing that life beyond was not even considered.

There has been a shift now. The longevity revolution, where many people are living active lives 20-30 years and more beyond retirement age is part of the reason. Boredom in Paradise! Life without structure, community, and a deep soul nurturing sense of purpose is not satisfying for most of us. Added to this, the economic downturn has caused many who were considering retiring at 65 or earlier to realize that they have to work to make ends meet.

In my career coaching practice, I hear many clients in later midlife and beyond questioning their future. Those who are still working often feel stymied and frustrated in their work. The exciting challenges have been met and they long to express more of themselves. Those who have retired or are unemployed realize that endless days of freedom and time is often not enough. Their careers provided a framework for their lives. When this is ripped away, they feel unsettled and disconnected.

If midlife is a time of self- reflection, this time of later and beyond midlife is even more so. It is time to ask the big questions: Who am I really? What is the unlived part of me? What is my legacy to the world? How can I serve and be connected to a larger purpose. As Carl Jung once said: " We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life's morning-for what was great in the morning will be little at evening, and what in morning was true will at evening become a lie"

Jane Fonda, on a book tour for her new book "Prime Time" recently spoke in Berkeley about her life and observations at age 73. She left Ted Turner because with him life was great but "horizontal". She had the need to go deeper and examine the earlier stages of her life to fully live what she calls her "third stage". Fonda looks at the years beyond 60 not as a decline but as an "ascending staircase." She didn't mention God but spiritual as well as personal growth was strongly implied.

Marc Freedman in his newly published book "The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife" really nails it. He calls for a new map of life and names the years between middle age and being elderly the "encore stage". We are beyond middle age and not yet old. We have energy, creativity, experience, time, and a desire to serve, to do something meaningful and to leave our legacy.

In this book and his previous one called "Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life" Freedman interviews scores of individuals leaving corporate and professional jobs and transitioning to work in the nonprofit, educational, and public service areas. This subject has long fascinated me and as I recently looked through my files I see that I have collected numerous ideas and articles related to it since 2003. Thank you Marc for naming it.

There has been some talk in the media recently of older people being a burden on society. This certainly doesn't have to be so. The need to connect, to be part of a community making a difference in the world, to leave a meaningful legacy calls us and is part of our human journey. It is time for more of us to do the inner work and then find our own individual path and direction for this important next stage of our lives.

Please join me Sunday September 18th at the New York Open Center in New York City where I will be leading my workshop "Encore Careers: Creativity, Work and Meaning in the Wisdom Years." I promise it will be a fulfilling and valuable experience. And who knows what we will be beginning here? Perhaps a future revolution!

Allie Roth is a career and life coach with 30 years of experience in Fortune 500 companies and in private practice helping people find more prosperity, fulfillment and meaning in their work and their lives. Featured in articles in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the Denver Post and The Los Angeles Times, Allie integrates Jungian psychology, traditional career counseling, and Eastern and Western spiritual traditions with concrete strategies for today's job market. Her newest work focuses on careers for those over 55. http://www.allieroth.com/

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Are Taking Plumbing Courses A Good Idea?

The increase in plumbing courses being offered in various countries around the world has mirrored the drastic decline in global employment. Plumbing has always been considered a valuable skill to learn. Almost everyone has a faulty sink, a leaking faucet or a clogged drain. Although not as glamorous as other career opportunities, professional plumbers enjoy a straightforward approach to obtaining income.

The rise of unemployment has seen white collar workers switching to blue-collar jobs. Plumbing proves to be the easiest to learn and earn a living from. However, as with most blue collar work, plumbing is a skill, better learned not in the classroom but with hands on experience. Although plumbing courses provide a degree of certification, and most are taught with hands on instructors, a graduate of such course would still be poor competition for an experienced plumber who may not hold a degree or certification, but lays claim to hundred of reliable references.

Many families, even neighborhoods have their own go-to plumber, someone who meets their needs, and someone whom they trust to help them with their pipe problems. Most often, the plumber's trade is passed down from father to son, thus ensuring a certain amount of monopoly within the neighborhood. Thus, a graduate of a such a course may not find it easy to obtain employment easily. With no employment in which to apply their recently acquired skills, those skills deteriorate, making them a less than attractive option.

Taking plumbing courses, free or paid for is always a good idea. Many countries offer free vocational courses to stem the rise of unemployment. It is always to one's advantage to learn how much he or she can. However, pinning your hopes of obtaining steady income on such a course may prove hazardous. Without references and experience, you would just be another guy with a piece of paper saying you graduated from something. If you do avail of a plumbing course, be sure to hone your skills immediately after. Doing work, free or discounted at first, for family and friends will help you gain experience while increasing the number of potential clients you may have. If you perform a good job, word will spread and you will have a better chance of obtaining employment.

Plumbing courses are a good option, a good secondary course, but if you really want to pursue a career in this field, it is simply a start; you will still need to go out and obtain experience, cultivate relationships and hope that word will spread about your skills as a plumber.

James Copper writes articles about new career skills reviews, feedback and their training courses.

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5 Things You Need to Know to Become a Phlebotomist

If you've been to a hospital, doctor's office or clinic, then you've no doubt seen scrub-clad employees carting around an interesting assortment of medical equipment, including glass vials and hypodermic syringes. Those common members of the medical team are called phlebotomists. Ever wonder what a phlebotomist does, or if you could be a phlebotomist? Phlebotomy is an ideal entry point into the medical field and, if you don't mind the sight of blood and the thought of needles, it could be a great career for you. Here are five things you need to know to become a phlebotomist.

Job Responsibilities

Phlebotomists are responsible for the process of drawing bodily fluids, called venipuncture, from the beginning to the end. This involves much more than just taking a patient's blood. As a phlebotomist, you must record the patient's history, disinfect the injection site, store the blood (or other fluid) sample, take measures to ensure the sample's purity, label the sample, clean the puncture site, and deliver the sample to the appropriate lab or technician.

Training Options

There are many ways you may go about receiving your phlebotomy training. Many high schools offer phlebotomy certification courses that can be taken as part of the traditional high school curriculum. Vocational and technical schools offer certification programs that can be taken during, instead of, or after high school. Online training programs are a convenient option for those who must work their training into their existing work and home schedules. Additionally, it is possible to find on-the-job phlebotomist training programs if you acquire a phlebotomist position with an employer who is willing to train you and put you through to certification.

Length of Training

Phlebotomy is often considered an entry-level job because of the relatively short amount of time it takes to train to be a phlebotomist. Some training programs may be completed in as few as six months, while others last up to a year.

Choosing the Right Training Program

It is important that you receive your phlebotomy training at an accredited school, or else you will not be able to sit for certification. Find accredited programs and schools online.

Work Environment Options

As a phlebotomist, you have many options when it comes to your work environment, and each environment offers different schedule and atmosphere options. You may find phlebotomy work in doctor's offices, hospitals, labs, clinics, research firms, pharmaceutical companies and blood banks. Consider all of these options and decide which is right for you before you commit to a position.

As you can see, you may become a phlebotomist by taking some simple steps and committing to an education. However, once you are ready to go to work, it is important that you put some serious consideration into your options in order to make the right decisions regarding your phlebotomy career.

Deborah Dera is a full-time writer with a background in and passion for health and wellness. She enjoys writing career guides for future healthcare professionals, including those considering phlebotomy training.

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A Stable Career With Room To Advance: Radiology Salaries

Anyone with an interest in the medical field should consider a career as a Radiologic technologist. The quickly growing industry has many opportunities. The Radiologic technologist, also known as a radiographer or X-ray technician, has a handsome earning potential with room for advancement and strong career stability. Over the past decade, the increased demand for x-rays to inform medical decisions has grown to the point that independent offices are opening throughout the states. The increased demand for x-ray professionals makes finding a job easy, no matter where a person lives.

Starting salary for a radiographer varies regionally. In smaller communities, technicians can expect an entry-level job to pay between thirty and thirty-five thousand dollars a year. Seasoned technicians gross up to sixty thousand dollars annually. In regions that are more populous, a radiographer might start between thirty-seven and forty thousand dollars and expect to top out above seventy thousand dollars a year. Factors that determine each professional's wages range from job responsibilities to the hiring establishment.

Whereas the traditional location for x-ray technicians was in a hospital, with new facilities operating independently, and the arising prevalence of machinery in nursing homes and other special care facilities, the radiographer's salary is much more fluid than in past times. Hospitals tend to pay better than other locations, and employ more workers, but those new to the field will likely have an easier time finding employment at a clinical site. With a steady eye on advancement, technicians may end up working in a hospital where not only the pay, but the responsibilities are greater.

Those hoping to advance beyond their duties with an x-ray machine may keep an eye on management or teaching since the career ladder for the radiologic technician is short. As a manager the technician will be assigned duties to oversee other technicians and work more closely with nurses and doctors. A manager might expect a ten percent pay increase over his or her peers.

Educators who train the next wave of radiologists must be trained themselves, and usually have experience in the field. While they are paid somewhat less than those in a management position, their work stability and hours are considered the best in the industry. Aside from these two paths, the radiologist must find career passion in the job they are assigned to. However, the lack of advancement should not deter those interested in the field.

Because the job of a radiologist is stable and always in demand, it affords its workers the ability to enjoy a rewarding career, with plenty of options to interact with patients, the x-ray technician has plenty of stimulation. As a predictable career, those in the field do not have to worry about falling behind in training. Still, the advance of machinery for testing is improving everyday, allowing technicians to grow and continue learning. Anyone who wants to be involved in the medical field in a meaningful way without the stress of a nurse's or doctor's unpredictable and taxing job will find a home in radiology, and make enough money to enjoy the career they have chosen.

Thinking about becoming a radiology technician? This is a very in-demand job right now. Find out what the typical radiology technician salaries are from http://www.radiologytechniciansalarydata.com/

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