Lindsey Pollak The Keys To Student Job Search Success Are...

Lindsey Pollak The Keys To Student Job Search Success Are... 15 Gen-Y Career and Workplace Expert and bestselling author Lindsey Pollak explains how the keys to student job search success might be through your local coffee shop. And a lot of what she says rings true for other job seekers as well. To listen to the podcast, press the Play button to begin streaming the audio or else right-click the Download link and choose “Save as…” or “Save link as…”. [audio:https://jobmob.s3.amazonaws.com/Lindsey_Pollak_Podcast_Interview.mp3] Download the MP3 [ 29 Minutes â€" 43 MB ]eval If you'd like to find out more about the podcast before listening, read on. She's been there I always appreciate when an expert also struggled in the past with the same problems they're trying to help you with now, and that's one of the reasons why I appreciated talking with Lindsey.eval Podcast highlights The common job search mistake that Lindsey also made when she graduated from college. How working with a career coach can help your job search. Take advantage of college career services centers, free for currently-enrolled students or graduates. Where else to find free job search expertise. How to spend your days while job searching to build momentum. Network by talking to people around you. Be socially active. Why it's better to be volunteering or interning or working “at the bottom” than not working at all. What is Generation Y and what's different about it, whether in the US, China or anywhere else. How entry-level jobs can be valuable in general, and in a recession specifically. Lindsey's book Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World is where Lindsey explains in detail everything that students and graduates need to make the best jump into their careers straight out of college or university. I have to admit that I haven't read it yet myself, but if the podcast interview is any indicator, the book will be packed with action tips (er…90 of them…). Here are some reviews about the book: A well-written, lively and easy to follow guide. (Time.com) Perfect for today's students, who inevitably want what they want (and only that!) when they want it. (Campus Career Advisor) Pollak's thorough research reveals some startling facts that the modern job-searcher may be overlooking. (Metro New York) Buy Getting From College To Career now Where to find out more about Lindsey Pollak The Lindsey Pollak Career Blog is at lindseypollak.com. You can follow her on Twitter at @lindseypollak and she also podcasts regularly. MP3 Download Download the MP3 [ 29 Minutes â€" 43 MB ]

6 Steps to Building a Solid Online Presence

6 Steps to Building a Solid Online Presence Hiring professionals are turning to social networks to source and vet candidates. What’s your plan for updating your online presence and building the right online resume which compels recruiters to call you? Here are 6 steps to building an online presence: 1) Take  a base line: Go ahead and search for your name using Google, Bing and Yahoo! Are you satisfied with the first page of results? Do the results speak to your expertise or the skills/abilities you want to be known for? This isn’t a once-and-done activity. Monitor the first page search results for your name every couple of months, especially if you are actively job seeking. 2) Prove  your communication skills: If want to be recognized as an excellent communicator, it is time to demonstrate this skill. Start blogging about trends in your field or things that interest you. Your topic doesn’t have to relate to your ideal occupation (but it is a good idea). You could blog  about sports, cooking, or other interests you are knowledgeable about  and it will become  a sample of your work. In order to help people see how great of a writer you are, share your blog posts on your Facebook page, as a LinkedIn profile update and be sure to share on Google+ too! 3) Visually represent your talent: Graphic artists and photographers know they must have an online portfolio for their work. Do you have one too? One way to begin is by capturing online references to your work such as awards, newsletter contributions, or newspaper mentions. You can even immortalize a major milestone on  social media. Take a screen shot of that moment you  cross over 500 connections on LinkedIn, your group discussion becomes most popular or your status update receives an amazing number of shares. You can use  Evernote’s Skitch, the tool on your computer or even from your mobile device. Embed the screen shots into your LinkedIn profile, in a blog post, or share on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ as a status update. Remember to tag images with your name and key words. Video is another hot way to capture special moments. Shoot and share video or create a video montage using Animoto or a similar online video maker. YouTube is great for hosting video, but what if you are shooting video from your phone and want to upload it quickly? Vine and Instagram are two mobile apps to help make shooting and sharing faster and easier. If you aren’t comfortable in front of the camera, why not record a podcast and share your knowledge and expertise that way. You may want to check out Spreaker or BlogTalkRadio. Both allow you to record and easily share links to your recording! If you are trying to demonstrate   strong presentation or verbal communication skills, this is just one more way to provide proof. 4) Host your own show: You don’t need to rent a studio to create a show. There are free and low-cost tools that enable you to record video why not try hosting a Google Hangout and invite your network? All you need is a Google+ account. This is another way for you to prove you have ‘excellent communication skills’ and subject matter expertise. RELATED: Top 5 Podcasts For Tech and Social Recruiting 5) Spread it around: A word of warning. If you invest all your time and energy mastering only one social network, what happens when traffic plummets, it becomes accessible only through paid membership, or the service is acquired and goes away altogether? You don’t know what the future holds. Nor are you reaching your full potential audience. You don’t want to miss the next big social network wave and being an  early adopter means there is less competition, therefore it is easier to be perceived as a big fish in a small pond! This is what makes the world of social media and technology so exciting. Don’t get left behind or worse, lose your audience, community and friends. 6) Regularly  share consistent quality: There are three  basic guidelines you want to keep in mind when embarking on brand building activities. The first is to be consistent. Use the same name and similar avatar across social networks. When sharing anything online, be sure you use the appropriate key words, your name or other terms you want to be associated with. Your key words are unique to you and could include your occupation, skills, or other words that people would search for if they were looking for someone like you. Make sure you consider how search engines find your name. The second is to never sacrifice quality. When you are writing, always double check your work to ensure it reflects your best effort. However, don’t let perfection get in your way of delivering. Practice and improve upon your work and the content you share. Third and finally, regularly  update and share your consistent, high-quality content. You can’t expect instant results. Building an audience of followers, fans and friends takes time. With some regularity, either hourly, daily, weekly or monthly, share and deliver value. Don’t feel you have to develop all the content you share yourself. You can share inspiring quotes, links to news articles relevant to your field, or a humorous video to lighten the mood. Just be sure to attribute the work to its original source. Don’t wait until you need it: You’ve heard similar warnings about building a valuable professional network. The same holds true for your online presence. Build content and your following while you have the confidence and security of a job. Don’t wait until the crisis of a layoff to begin a mad dash PR campaign.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Working Abroad an Intriguing Idea for Many

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Working Abroad an Intriguing Idea for Many As the economy takes a nose dive, and many of us experience burnout as never before, the attraction of working overseas becomes greater. After all, if Brad and Angelina can travel the world and work, why not you?Still, if youre considering working overseas there are some practical matters to consider such as work permits and visas. And, you also need to be realistic and understand that while many of those who have worked in other countries describe it as one of the greatest adventures of their lives, others hated it.Here are some things to consider if youre looking for a job abroad: Evaluate the risks. The U.S. State Department posts information on where it is safe to travel for Americans, and the danger zones. Still, no place not even the U.S. in 100 percent safe. You need to consider the level of risk you are willing to take, and for how long. Plot your career path. Companies and jobs often dont operate the same overseas as in the U.S., even if you are working with an American co mpany. Local cultures and customs often dictate how business is done, as well as the input from local workers who may be employed by an American business overseas. Will you be given the right kind of responsibility? Will your skills be given a chance to grow? Are there opportunities overseas that you might not be able to experience in the U.S.? Know the law. Its not enough to decide you want to go overseas you must acquaint yourself with the permission needed to gain a job in another country. Work visas are normally only offered through the company offering you the job, and the company must prove that the position cannot be filled by a local. Decide on the type of work. You may decide to gain work experience through volunteering (if you can afford to go without a paycheck), or by teaching English as a foreign language in another country, typically a one- or two-year gig (check out the Peace Corps, and Fulbright scholarships.) Another option is an international internship for academ ic credit, but again, you probably wont get paid. Still another idea is a short-term job, usually about six months, with employers such as restaurants or farms, or taking care of children. Use foreign language skills. Even if youve only got one or two years under your belt, that high school or college French may come in handy when considering a job. Its also a chance to become truly fluent in a language, which may help your career later. Recharge your batteries. Believe it or not, helping a small village put in a well can give you more personal fulfillment than making a million- dollar deal. If youre finding yourself burned out with your life and your career, working abroad can be life-changing event that helps put your life back on track, while helping you gain skills by working with people of diverse backgrounds. Watch the deadlines. Its not going to be possible to decide you want to work abroad and then leave two weeks later. There are applications and deadlines that must be foll owed, so its best to make your decision and then begin the process. It may take a year to get where you want to go, and remember to apply early to increase your chances of acceptance.del.icio.us

Dealing with Role Stress at Work Marla Gottschalk

Dealing with Role Stress at Work Marla Gottschalk Stress can play a huge role in our daily work lives. As organizations are forced to succeed with fewer resources, it often seems that jobs disappear overnight. However the amount of work remains constant. For those employees that are left to fulfill obligations, this can mean absorbing an increased number of tasks into an already lengthy “to do” list. I have heard employees describe how the job they once loved, has morphed into an unrecognizable monster. You cant solve every the problem that contributes to stress at work. But, it is in everyones best interest to take hold of the issues you can address and act swiftly. Stress is serious business so move the needle where ever possible. Could role stress be a problem at your organization? There are a number of different scenarios that can trigger a role stress problem. Early diagnosis is important so ask yourself the questions which follow. If you answer yes to anyone of them, a review   is warranted: Do you have unfilled positions which other employees are covering? Do your employees have work in more than one function or department? Are your employees often on the road and out of the loop? Are you offering a new product or type of service? Does your organization have a new reporting obligation or parent company? Stem the tide of stress There are simple and effective methods to keep certain sources of role stress at a minimum. Two huge offenders are role ambiguity and role conflict: Keep a keen eye out for role overload. Overload can build over a period of time, as tasks are added slowly. However, employees can reach a point where they are clearly overwhelmed. Reduce role ambiguity by ensuring that employees have clarity concerning their roles and the accompanying expectations. This includes outlining performance criteria and markers of effectiveness. Offer frequent opportunities to receive feedback about their work.  Clear up role conflict â€" the confusion that comes when employees experience competing obligations. If an individual has cross-departmental or cross-functional duties, be sure they are aware of priorities when meeting their obligations. What to discuss if you suspect a role stress problem Set core tasks, then expand. Consider jobs in relation to other roles in the organization. How does the role fit in? What are the key tasks the role should accomplish for the organization? Align tasks accordingly , as the work should make sense. Has the job evolved to include too many tasks?   If a job has obviously expanded in the last six months â€" take a look. Attempt to limit tasks that do not appear relevant or useful. Ask yourself:   Can obligations logically be trimmed? Meet with the employee. In this case the incumbent is the expert. Have the employee list all daily tasks and whom they interact with to get the job done. Compare with your view of core tasks for the role. Discuss options to modify tasks. Research has shown that employees often feel that they spend their time addressing meaningless tasks. Have some tasks become obsolete? On the flip side, are new tasks now a priority? Be sure to touch upon tasks which are obvious sources of stress, such as redundant reports and meetings. Propose a few meaningful changes. Work to remove roadblocks to success. Small changes can spell big relief for your employees. In particular, pay attention to policies and procedures that were once helpful, but now are impeding progress. Reducing role stress has payoffs Research shows that role issues are related to workplace outcomes such as satisfaction and performance effectiveness, areas which have an   impact on eventual organizational outcomes. If you are suffering from role stress, talk to your supervisor. If you are a business owner â€" talk with your employees. If possible swiftly address the sources of role stress and help your organization move forward. Dr. Marla Gottschalk is a Workplace Psychologist. Find her on Twitter and Linkedin.

The Millers Go Back to Austin and Start the Resident Visa Process [Podcast] - Career Pivot

The Millers Go Back to Austin and Start the Resident Visa Process [Podcast] - Career Pivot Episode #121 â€" Marc Miller reveals the next steps in becoming expats in Mexico Description In this episode, Marc covers the events of the Millers’ trip back to Austin where they stayed with an old friend, Marc’s presentation to an association of his Multi-generational Workplace Workshop, getting rid of old stuff, connecting with old friends, and stocking up for the trip back to Ajijic. Marc covers the steps to getting resident visas, crossing the border, and meeting with their attorney in Mexico to get their paperwork processed. Listen in to this fascinating episode for insight into becoming an expat with U.S. ties. Key Takeaways: [1:12] Marc welcomes you to Episode 121 of the Repurpose Your Career podcast. Career Pivot brings you this podcast. CareerPivot.com is one of the very few websites dedicated to those of us in the second half of life and our careers. Take a moment to check out the blog and the other resources delivered to you, free of charge. [1:41] If you are enjoying this podcast, please share it with other like-minded souls. Subscribe on CareerPivot.com, iTunes, or any of the other apps that supply podcasts. Share it on social media or just tell your neighbors, and colleagues. The more people Marc can reach, the more he can help. [2:02] Next week, Marc will share an Encore Episode where he interviews Susan Lahey, who is the co-author on the Repurpose Your Career books. He is trying to get Susan to speak to us about her move to Portugal. That’s where Susan is, as Marc records this episode. [2:26] This week, Marc will be discussing their trip back to Austin, his experiences in Austin, their return trip and the start of the Resident Visa process, first in the Consulate of Mexico in Laredo, and then back in Ajijic. Marc hopes you enjoy this episode. Now on to the podcast… Download Link | iTunes|Stitcher Radio|Google Podcast| Podbean | TuneIn | Overcast [2:44] Marc had a variety of reasons to return to Austin at this time. In the first week in March, Marc was speaking at the Texas Hospital Insurance Exchange, an association. The speaking gig was booked long in advance of the Millers’ move to Ajijic. Marc also needed to get the car inspected and the registration renewed. [3:28] The Millers also were still emptying their storage room, which was costing almost $80 a month. On this trip they gave a king-sized bed to a friend. [3:52] They had planned to start the visa process at the Consulate of Mexico in Austin in December but they had run out of time. So, they are stopping at the Consulate of Mexico in Laredo, on the way back to Ajijic from this trip. [4:16] On this trip, Mrs. Miller got to visit her parents while Marc did the income taxes. [4:32] The Millers left Ajijic on February 29 and drove to Matehuala the first day. It was a nice six-and-a-half-hour drive on toll roads and a few small roads. They stayed at the Las Palmas Midway Inn, where expats stay as they travel. It is an old pet-friendly motor inn. They stayed in a more renovated room that was quite nice, for $61 for the night. [5:19] They left about 7:30 a.m., expecting a seven-hour trip to Laredo. It turned into a 12-hour day. Road construction added an hour. A security checkpoint backed up traffic for miles as they looked at every truck. There are 10 trucks for every car on the road. [5:59] Next, there was a power line draped over the highway. The power company, CFE, fixed it after an hour-and-a-half. Marc is happy they were near the front of the line. [6:40] They arrived at Laredo at about 4:30 p.m. and processed through the banjercito for the temporary import permit for their car. Their $400 was refunded to their credit card (in spite of the Millers’ having changed card numbers because of a compromised card). Then it took an hour-and-a-half to cross the Laredo International Bridge Number 1. [7:31] The Millers got to the hotel in Laredo at about 7 p.m. They were pretty exhausted. It was a very, very long day with lots of sitting in traffic. It’s something you have to get used to. If not for the delays, they could have made the trip in one 12-hour drive from Ajijic to Laredo. But delays are expected. [8:04] The Millers checked into the La Quinta at the Laredo airport, which they like better than the one near the border. They had a nice dinner and the next morning headed off for Nacogdoches in East Texas. Mrs. Miller visited her parents there. Stephen F. Austin State University is the primary employer, besides the lumber industry. [8:41] Friday and Saturday, Marc hung around the hotel and did his income taxes. Being near the main road, what Marc first noticed was the massive amount of noise. Marc was no longer used to road noise and constant mechanical environmental noise. [9:57] Marc read in the Guadalajara Reporter that Mexicans don’t understand about Americans why we control the temperature year-round in our cars. That is not the practice in Mexico. [10:25] Sunday morning, the Millers headed for Austin. They stayed with an old family friend, Donna, in the neighborhood where they had lived for 28 years. She let them use an extra bedroom, where they stayed for about two weeks. [10:57] The old neighborhood was where the Millers had lived, in a house built in 1959 or 1960, until they moved to a condo near downtown in 2010. Marc noticed immediately the amount of gentrification that had occurred in the neighborhood. [11:22] The Millers walked two miles to Upper Crust Bakery and saw that 20 to 30% of the homes had been demolished and replaced with “McMansions” or were drastically added onto. In 1978, when Marc moved to Austin, it was the cheapest housing market in the country. Now, it is one of the most expensive. The change has been dramatic. [12:04] The second thing Marc noticed was everytime he wanted to do much of anything, he had to get in the car and drive. There was a Fresh Plus a mile-and-a-half away. Marc walked one day to Top Notch, a 1950s hamburger place, which was in a movie. It blew Marc away that everything is designed around the car, not around people. [12:47] He remembered that from his bicycling days. He used to lust after Downtown Portland, which was designed around people, not around cars. But this is Texas. Even the old neighborhoods, cars are necessary. [13:08] In Ajijic, in the last three months they have used the car three times. Twice, it was to get a 40-lb. package of kitty litter they didn’t want to carry on the bus. It was a mind-shift not to need the car. Austin’s public transportation is problematic. Most of the people who used it have left the area from gentrification. [14:05] 130 people move to Austin every day and the school system has lost enrollment six years in a row, primarily because people with children can no longer afford to live in Austin, so they are moving East, out of town. [14:26] Marc doesn’t like what his town was turning into. It was also during the week of SXSW, which consumes the central city, with 40-50,000 people visiting. SXSW is now mostly “hipster’ visitors. Locals stay away from SXSW. [15:03] Marc recently saw photos posted on Facebook of Austin downtown in 2010 and 2017 and it has changed â€" which is one reason why it has gotten so expensive, and one reason why it has driven the Millers out. [15:25] Marc drove up to Lakeway and gave the Multi-Generational Workplace talk that he shared on this podcast in Episode 111 and Episode 112. This event was a presentation for hospital administrators in rural counties. [15:46] That left the rest of the visit for the Millers to get their stuff done. They got the car registered and inspected and bought Mrs. Miller’s food supplements, which filled the car. They also got their bicycles serviced and ready to go â€" except for the pedals on Mrs. Miller’s bike, left in storage, so Marc ordered new pedals from Amazon.com.mx! [16:26] The Millers filled the rest of their time reconnecting with as many people as they could. They got rid of stuff from storage and started re-packing the car. Marc shared pictures of the packed car on Facebook. They ended up with about 13 milk carton crates filled with supplements and clothes. [17:08] They left some stuff behind to pick up in October and end their rental of their storage room. [17:21] The Millers drove back to Laredo on Sunday evening and had appointments at the Laredo Mexican Consulate Monday morning to apply for Mexican resident visas. They needed two passport pictures for each of them, filled out applications, 12 months worth of bank statements or investment statements to show adequate assets. [18:01] You must show that you’ve had over $100K in assets over the last 12 months or $2,400 a month in pension income or Social Security for a permanent visa. For a temporary visa, you must show $20K in assets or $1,200 a month in pension income. The Millers both qualified. [18:34] Mrs. Miller applied for a permanent resident visa and Marc applied for a temporary resident visa. The car is in Marc’s name, and you cannot bring a car into Mexico on a permanent resident visa. [18:56] Their appointments were for 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. Mrs. Miller got in about 9:40. Marc got in about 10:30. They were out by 11:15. They were at the Mexican Consulate a couple of blocks from the border. It was fairly easy. [19:20] The Millers chose to do it in Laredo, instead of at the Mexican Consulate in Austin, is that in Laredo they do lots and lots of these visa applications and they are not very “picky.” [19:38] The Millers have a neighbor, John, in Ajijic, who had applied through the Consulate of Mexico in Dallas. He had to return to the consulate six times. The Laredo consulate runs like clockwork. They get people in and out. It’s a very, very busy place. [19:59] The next morning, the car packed to the gills, the Millers crossed the bridge to Mexico at about 7:00 a.m. Marc drove into the “nothing to declare line.” They looked at the car and looked very quickly in back, saw a bunch of milk crates and the bicycles and they said, “Go.” [20:30] However, if they had seen the supplements in the milk crates, or the cat food on the top of the car, they would have charged duty on these items. Marc had an inventory of the food supplements, so they were prepared, if asked. [20:49] The Millers next drove to the immigration office where they processed their passports. Interestingly, Marc unknowingly dropped his passport in the parking lot. He didn’t have it when he went into the office, so he ran out. A young Mexican gentleman picked it up and handed it to him. Marc wiped the sweat off his brow and thanked him. [21:23] Passport in hand, Marc went into the immigration office and processed through. Once they have processed their visas, they have 30 days to complete, so Immigration approved them for 30 days. They also got their Temporary Import Permit for the car for 30 days. They crossed the border and drove to Matehuala. [21:59] They could not get a reservation at their regular hotel. The Las Palmas Midway Inn was full! Instead, they found the Hotel Casa Real Matehuala. The reviews on Hotels.com were mediocre. They checked in around 3:00 p.m. It was not a “dump.” It was old and worn, but clean. They each had one frayed towel, no washcloths. [22:44] There were two beds and two bathrooms! It was right across the street from Walmart, so they did a little shopping there. Then they ate dinner at their favorite restaurant in town, at the Las Palmas. [23:05] Then people started streaming into their hotel. Marc says they looked to be people traveling for work, in industrial service trucks. Marc says their hotel absolutely filled to the gills by midnight. It was noisy, but clean. It was $50 for the night. [23:45] The next morning, the Millers did not rush to get out. They got to Ajijic about 3:00 p.m. It was a fairly easy drive and they ran into no problems. There’s only one short section of about 10 miles that’s not on toll roads. Each day, the Millers spent about $35 to $40 in tolls. [24:11] When the Millers got home, Marc immediately contacted their lawyer for an appointment. The lawyer told them the sooner the better. They needed 15K Pesos, or about $700. The bank was closed when they needed the money, so Marc pulled money from the credit union and from the bank through ATMs and got enough. [24:56] On Friday, the Millers went to the law office, processed and filled out all the forms, and learned they needed pictures made, both front view and side view. They did that on Saturday. The pictures had to be from a studio and they were 150 Pesos for each set. That came to 300 Pesos or about $15 for both of them to get pictures. [25:27] The attorney was able to send all the paperwork to the immigration office and had their passports back to them by 3:00 p.m. The immigration office should get back with them in about two weeks when they will go and get fingerprinted. [25:58] One of the things Marc noticed in returning to Ajijic was that he did not like living in Austin anymore. He did not like the noise. He did not like having to drive everywhere. The mass transit is not acceptable to him. He does not like the packaged food. Marc and his wife are eating all fresh food in Ajijic, and he is down to 170 pounds at 6’4?. [26:48] It was a very stark contrast, being back in Austin, and it was not the city that he remembered. [26:55] Marc hopes this gives you a good feel for the process. By the time this episode is published, the Millers should be very close to having their resident visas. Please read Marc’s fascinating blog post of March 25 on banking abroad to understand the issues of accessing your money in another country. [27:25] Marc hopes you enjoyed that episode. The Millers have spent nine of the last 12 months in Mexico. Their current plan calls for them to return to Austin by car in October. Marc will likely fly to New Jersey for a high school reunion, and possibly some audience meetups. Marc has a huge following in the NY Metropolitan area. [27:52] In 2020 the Millers will likely return to the U.S., sell the car, and either go carless or purchase a Mexican-plated car. Marc’s attitudes about money, environment, and the culture he desires have changed a lot, in the last 12 months. [28:09] Listen to Marc’s interview with Queen Michele in Episode 119 to hear her similar story of how she has been transformed from leaving the U.S. and moving to the North Shore of Lake Chapala. [28:23] Marc thanks you for listening to this episode. [28:26] The CareerPivot.com/Community website has become a valuable resource for more than 50 members in the Beta phase of this project. They have crossed the 50-member threshold! Marc will be recruiting new members for the next cohort in a few weeks. [28:41] If you are interested in the endeavor and would like to be put on the waiting list, please go to CareerPivot.com/Community. When you sign up you’ll receive information about the community as it evolves. [28:55] This is a paid membership community with group coaching and special content. More importantly, it’s a community where you can seek help. Go to CareerPivot.com/Community to learn more. [29:12] Marc invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn.com/in/mrmiller. Just include in the connection request that you heard Marc on this podcast. You can look for Career Pivot on Facebook, LinkedIn, or @CareerPivot on Twitter. [29:34] Please come back next week, when Susan Lahey, the co-author of the Repurpose Your Career books tells her story of going from a journalist to a freelance writer. This is an encore episode with an update on her move to Portugal. [29:48] Marc thanks you for listening to the Repurpose Your Career podcast. [29:52] You will find the show notes for this episode at CareerPivot.com/episode-121. [30:00] Please hop over to CareerPivot.com and subscribe to get updates on this podcast and all the other happenings at Career Pivot. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, the Google Podcasts app, Podbean, the Overcast app, or the Spotify app. Marc Miller Like what you just read? 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Whats It Like To Be A Firefighter - How2become.com

What's It Like To Be A Firefighter - How2become.com Many people aspire to becoming a firefighter, but only the select few ever achieve their dreams. Each year many thousands of people apply to join the Fire Service; however, the competition is so fierce nowadays that you really have to be exceptionally well prepared to stand a chance of succeeding.I personally spent 17 years in the Fire Service and I have to say I enjoyed the majority of my time in the job.  In this article I will explain a little about what it is like to become a firefighter and also how to become a firefighter by preparing effectively for the selection process.I joined Kent Fire and Rescue Service back in 1993 and the selection process was very different to what is now. When I joined in 1993 it helped if you were 6 feet tall, from a military background and spent many hours in the gym lifting weights. Part of the firefighter fitness test involved a requirement to bench press 50kg twenty times within a minute! I found this part easy, but only because I was very much i n to weight training. At the time there were more and more women looking to join the Fire Service but some of them found the bench press too difficult to pass.The changing face of the Fire ServiceThankfully, the Fire Service started to question the bench press element of the fitness test and eventually it was removed. Whilst I am in support of prospective candidates being able to reach a certain level of fitness I disagree that the averagee firefighter needs to be a bodybuilder in order to carry out his or her job competently.Having attended many hundreds of emergency calls during my 17 years in the job I have never really witnessed the need for a firefighter to be able to bench press 50kgs in order to do their job properly! Thankfully, more and more women started to join the Fire Service. It is my opinion that the Fire Service used to employ too many males; a Fire Service full of male firefighters is clearly not representative of the community in which it serves!Anyway, now that th e selection process is more geared towards the requirements of the job it makes it a far easier process to prepare for. Yes, the firefighter selection process is hard to pass, but it can be passed successfully if you prepare for it in the right way.The firefighter selection processThe first step is to obtain a copy of the firefighter personal qualities and attributes. These attributes are basically the blue-print for the job of a firefighter and you will be assessed against these during the firefighter application form, the firefighter tests and also the firefighter interview. They cover a number of different areas including being able to work as a member of a team, being community focused, being confident and resilient, being able to work under pressure and also being open to change within the Fire Service. The first step in your pursuit to becoming a firefighter is to learn the personal qualities and attributes and try to think of ways that you can match then with previous evidenc e and experiences.During the application form and the firefighter interview you will be required to provide evidence of where you meet each of the assessable PQA’s, so make sure you can do this or you will fail. During the selection process you will also be required to pass the firefighter tests. These involve, amongst others, an ability to pass an understanding information test, situational awareness and problem solving tests and a working with numbers test. To obtain sample firefighter test questions please go HERE.Some final thoughtsFinally, as I mentioned earlier, the firefighter fitness test has changed considerably over the last few years. Yes, it is important to work on your fitness but you do not need to lift heavy weights in order to pass the selection process. I would recommend concentrating on improving your aerobic fitness, some light weight workouts and also focus on improving your well-being. This can be done by eating a sensible and healthy diet, reducing your alcoh ol intake and also stopping smoking.Good luck with passing the firefighter selection process.Richard McMunnSome more resources on how to become a firefighter…For more help on the firefighter recruitment process, check out our specialised guide on firefighter interviews questions and answers.Like How2Become on Facebook! This entry was posted in Firefighter, Career Advice. Bookmark the permalink. Richard Why Working as a Paramedic Can Be Such Dangerous WorkHow To Write A CV

Resume Writing Side Hustle - Getting Started Online and Creating a Full-Time Income

Resume Writing Side Hustle - Getting Started Online and Creating a Full-Time IncomeSo how do you make money with your resume writing side hustle? There are some basics things you need to have and do that will bring in a steady cash for your resume writing side hustle.First of all, many people have a part-time or full-time job. They have an extra income coming in. Having a writing job as a full-time gig is a great way to make money because you can work your way up from very little income to an income of several hundred dollars per month.The interesting thing about this job is you are your own boss. You work when you want to work, and your income is directly tied to the amount of work you put into it.Now that you understand what type of work you do will be determined by your skills and different skills. Knowing this, you can now decide which type of work to perform, which will allow you to generate more money.The best way to make money online today is through the internet. With the int ernet you can be your own boss, work whenever you want and get paid based on the amount of work you put into it. This makes money online one of the easiest ways to earn a full time income.For the first step you need is basic writing skills. If you have basic skills and are a fast writer, you will be able to start making money very quickly. Many people have been making money with their resume writing side hustle by writing websites to sell and profit.Once you have these two basic skills you will be ready to go. The next step is finding jobs that pay based on the amount of work you put into them.The old ways of getting jobs has been to go out and look for jobs on your own, you can still use this method but the best way to make money is to use the internet. You don't need to worry about writing resumes and you can also get paid online without having to leave your home.