Which Career Path Should You Take?

Your career has a significant impact on your future. It can affect many facets of your life such as your lifestyle, income, identity, and family. Carefully consider your options and follow these steps to help you decide what career to pursue.

#1: LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF

You must assess yourself first before choosing the right career path. Your interests, soft skills, aptitudes, personality, and values make you a good fit for a particular occupation.

What subjects did you enjoy at school? What activities have you done well at? You can use self-assessment tools to gather information about your traits. Others work with career counsellors to help them navigate this process.

#2: MAKE A LIST OF TOP 4 CAREERS

Narrow down your list of potential careers. Keep in mind that you must choose a career in which you are interested. Aim to match your qualifications and personality with your top four choices.

See if these choices feature similar skills and other qualifications. Make note of these similarities as it can help you decide what your future study options can be.

#3: EXPLORE THE LIST

Now that you have the basic information about each occupation on our list, it is time to do your research.

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Look for job descriptions, further training, and licensing requirements. Learn how you can advance in a particular position. You can also research on the job outlook and your potential earnings.

#4: CREATE A SHORT LIST

Begin eliminating careers that you do not want to pursue any further. You should end up with two occupations on your concise list.

Eliminate everything with duties that do not appeal to you. Remove careers that have weak job outlooks! Lastly, get rid of careers that you are unable or unwilling to fulfill the requirements.

#5: CONDUCT IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS

Narrow your choices further by conducting in-depth interviews. Find credible people in career resources such as LinkedIn. Arrange to meet with people (i.e., online, or offline) who work in the occupations in which you are interested. These people can provide firsthand experience about their careers.

Study their answers and go back to your list. Contemplate on your potential career options.

Sources: 1 &2

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Self-doubt: How Impostor Syndrome Can Hold You Back At Work

You are suited up and ready to impress!

On your way to a job interview for a company that you care about, you brought a C.V. that highlights how perfectly you fit in the position you applied for. You are more than qualified for the position, and the team would be lucky to have you. The hiring manager said so himself!

However, you start questioning whether you are capable of the job as you meet the company’s supervisor. Self-doubt can cripple you and hinder your success.

WHAT IS IMPOSTOR SYNDROME?

Impostor Syndrome is the overwhelming feeling that you do not deserve success. You become convinced that you are not talented, attractive, intelligent, or capable as you may seem. You suspect that your achievements are due to luck, good timing, and other external factors.

Particularly in male-dominated environments, impostor syndrome has been thought to affect women more than men. However, recent study showed that it affects both genders equally.

A person with impostor syndrome (impostor) has a sense of being a fraud, a difficulty internalizing his or her success, and a fear of being discovered. Usually, the stressor triggering impostor syndrome involves getting a new opportunity such as a new job or an advanced degree.

“The person who achieved this level of success begins to have negative thoughts that the success was not really earned. These negative thoughts, which are often referred to as ‘cognitive distortions,’ are based on fear and anxiety and not based in objective facts.” – Ms. Cara Maksimow, LCSW

HOW CAN IT AFFECT WORK?

An impostor may procrastinate or put off assignments due to the fear of being unable to complete the necessary ambitious standards. On the other hand, the imposter may over-prepare by spending too much time on the task. If his or her behavior creates a successful outcome, it will be written off as luck or fluke in the system.

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Success can create a cycle of self-doubt for imposters. Even when they achieve important milestones, they are unable to recognize their own achievements. Instead of celebrating these, the impostors are worried that others will discover the “truth” about their abilities. This is an irrational thought.

HOW CAN YOU MANAGE IT?

There are many ways to manage the impostor syndrome. Here are just some of them:

a. Create a list of your strengths and prior accomplishments at work. Refer to this list when you are questioning yourself.

b. Talk to mentors who are more experienced in the field, when you feel like you do not belong in the situation.

c. Set realistic goals. Often, a fear of failure and a need to be the best can lead to overachievement.

d. Acknowledge what you are feeling. Do your best to keep a journal. Whenever you experience feelings of self-doubt or inadequacy, write your thoughts down. Be specific about why you are feeling this way.

e. Handling with Impostor Syndrome takes long-term effort. You need to employ strategies to deal with it at particularly stressful situations. When the negative self-talk takes over your mind, try to confront it by distancing yourself from the “emotional power” of the voice.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

 

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6 Telltale Signs That You Need To Walk Away From A Job Interview

With the status of today’s economy, you cannot be too picky. In your efforts to filter out your job applications, sometimes the position just does not feel right. It can be in your best interest to pass on a position if any of the following red flags are present.

#1: HIRING MANAGER IS NOT EXPECTING YOU

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like a complete nuisance? If the hiring manager makes you feel that they are not expecting you, you may proceed with caution. Observe the questions of the hiring manager and determine whether the person you prepared for has glanced at your profile. Working for someone who does not respect your time and presence is not ideal.

The hiring process is an expensive endeavor, so potential employers should not be frugal with their time. It is highly likely that they frequently make hiring mistakes if they are paying less attention to you and other candidates.

#2: HIRING MANAGER’S SCHEDULING IS MESSY

A candidate can expect a few hiccups in the interview scheduling process. After all, it is not easy to coordinate multiple people’s schedules. Moreover, bosses often get pulled out for last-minute meetings.

Scheduling becomes a concern if the hiring manager keeps rescheduling your online interview or in-person interview. These actions convey that he or she thinks you can adjust your schedule endlessly to accommodate to them.

#3: HIRING MANAGER USES INTIMIDATION TACTICS

Some companies use intimidation tactics during the interview. Whether the hostile behavior reflects how people treat each other in the company or is a way to test its candidates, companies want to observe how you will act under pressure. Intimidation can go as far as forcing you to accept the job offer upfront. That happened to a friend of mine.

Hiring managers that use this technique expect the candidates to calmly approach the situation. Candidates with other options will not tolerate it.

#4: HIRING MANAGER IS NOT AWARE OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

No matter if you are applying to be an entry-level staff or the chief financial officer, the hiring manager should be able to explain the responsibilities of the role as well as how success will be measured. If he or she fails to do so, you will probably have a challenging time forging a clear path in the company.

You deserve to know what the job entails before you take it. If the answers of the hiring manager changes, it poses a concern.

#5: HIRING MANAGER DODGES QUESTIONS ABOUT GROWTH

Test how open the hiring manager is about growth potential and other matters. Everyone should have an opportunity to progress in the company’s ladder. If the hiring manager acts weird or gets annoyed when you ask about growth potential, you can expect that they have something to hide.

An interview is a preview of what your life could be like in a company. You can politely ask about the exciting and frustrating elements of the job to increase your awareness.

#6: HIRING MANAGERS ACT LIKE THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOR

Yes! Times are tough, but the hiring manager should not act like he is doing you a favor. Telling you that there are many people competing for the position and that you are lucky to have an interview is an intimidation tactic. Perhaps, this is embedded in the work culture. It is not ideal, especially if you end up dealing with it every day.

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Interviewer red flags are not difficult to spot if you know what to watch out for. Do not disregard these telltale signs during the job interview. Instead, turn your attention to finding employment or opportunity elsewhere.

Sources: 1 & 2

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Get Better Sleep To Function Better At Work

Many people sleep less than the recommended hours and are under-performing at work due to sleep deprivation. A good night’s sleep includes both the quantity and quality of your slumber.

Pulling an all-nighter may provide short-term results, but regularly skipping sleep can be detrimental to your ability to focus and to perform higher-level brain functions for the days to come.

It is essential to give your body the restorative rest it deserves. Here are four ways to improve your sleep.

#1: REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE TO LED LIGHTS

Exposure to LED lights inhibits the increase in sleepiness during nighttime. Aside from watching television, using your hand phones and tablets before you go to sleep can suppress melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone primarily released by the pineal gland at night. It has long been associated with the control of the sleep–wake cycle. Thus, having a lamp with a lower color temperature is recommended at night.

#2: AVOID DRINKING CAFFEINE

Caffeine is a strong stimulant that can interfere sleep. It can increase your adrenaline production and block sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain. Get better sleep at night by avoiding the consumption of caffeine. The National Sleep Foundation recommends avoiding coffee, tea, chocolate, and soft drinks before bedtime.

Apart from coffee and tea, chocolate contains caffeine in varying degrees. A dark chocolate bar may have about 30 milligrams of caffeine. This is equivalent to the caffeine content in a cup of instant tea.

Chocolate has other stimulants too! One of its stimulants is theobromine. Theobromine is the compound that makes chocolates dangerous for cats and dogs. Theobromine, found in small amounts in chocolate, increases heart rate and causes sleeplessness.

#3: HAVE A CONDUCIVE SLEEPING ENVIRONMENT

Ensure that your bedroom is welcoming and relaxing. Remove unnecessary distractions like the television and other devices with blue light. Moreover, you must keep the room temperature cool and use curtains to block the natural light. Natural light can keep you awake, while blue light will disrupt your sleep.

#4: CREATE A SLEEPING ROUTINE

Sleeping routines can improve the length and quality of sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is vital to maintaining long-term healthy habits. Enjoying a quality slumber is free and is perhaps the most budget-friendly step you can take towards wellness.

At least 6 to 8 hours of sleep is ideal for teens and adults. Learn how much sleep you really need and maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Then, set up a conducive sleeping environment without distractions. You can also develop a curfew for your electronics usage.

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Please reduce the intake of caffeine and avoid physical activity before you go to bed.  Practice calming activities such as taking a warm bath or listening to relaxing music instead.

Have a wonderful rest!

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5 Valuable Tips To Help You Succeed As A Freelancer

Due to the effects of the recent pandemic, companies began to hire more contract workers over full-time employees. The “freelance economy” became a viable option for many Singaporeans. However, with many freelancers in the market, it is harder to stand out.

Much of the freelancer’s income depends on his or her reputation and capability to fulfill the customer’s request. Here are some valuable tips to get an online job if you want to stay in the game for a long time.

#1: INCREASE YOUR SELF-AWARENESS

Knowing yourself means recognizing different parts of your personality such as your strengths and weaknesses. The goal is not to criticize yourself, but to acknowledge where you need to improve and where you can excel. Be honest about your capacity to commit time, your home situation, and your attitude towards deadlines.

Some people look for a 9-to-5 job while others need more freedom. Some people prefer working with a team while others prefer working on their own. Find out who you really are to know who to work with.

#2: SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

Freelancers are project-based workers. This means that they can work anytime, as long as they finish their tasks. The downside is, they do not earn money when they do not have projects. The influx of projects is influenced by the season. For instance, you can feel an abundance of work during special events or holidays.

It is essential that you save money to cover the periods when you do not have a pipeline of projects coming your way. This way, you will be able to cover your bills and other expenses.

#3: MARKET YOURSELF

Entering the freelancing world is not easy. The competition is high! Making a name for yourself can be challenging. Thus, you must use social media or other websites to market yourself.

The key to success is being active in these platforms and having an attractive profile where your information as a freelancer can be retrieved. Samples, testimonies, and feedbacks from your past clients will make a big difference.

#4: ESTABLISH REFERRAL PARTNERSHIPS

There are three main channels where you can get clients. These channels are inbound, outbound, and referrals. Inbound refers to using methods such as content marketing or search engine optimization (SEO) to attract potential clients. Outbound refers to reaching out to potential clients by sending emails, responding to job advertisements, and so on. Lastly, referrals refer to having clients recommend you by word-of-mouth.

Many freelancers focus on networking with prospective clients only. However, you can establish referral partnerships with businesses, entrepreneurs, and other freelancers. Having a wide referral network will help you gain more access to different clients.

#5: RESEARCH YOUR COMPETITION

Spend some time researching the market to discover online portfolios and to see what others are doing. Find out the supplementary skills that they have to improve yourself and your career (e.g., photography, video editing, or podcast creation).

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Grasp a bigger picture of what your competitors are doing and how much they are charging. This is vital in evaluating how much your service is worth. Set a reasonable price list afterwards.

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