From Art Direction to Portfolio Career

From Art Direction to Portfolio Career Success Story > From: Job To: Portfolio career From Art Direction to Portfolio Career “I couldn't ignore that niggling voice that was telling me I was destined for something different.” * From Art Direction to Portfolio Career When Natalie Edwards found herself having to take regular breaks to avoid feeling tearful in the office, she knew it was time to leave. Read on to discover how she made her shift into work that feels 'like a breath of fresh air' to wake up to every day. What work were you doing previously? I was an Art Director in the city. I managed a large, busy team of in-house and freelance graphic designers, consultants and copywriters. What are you doing now? I'm now a coach, writer and yoga teacher, combining coaching with meditation and mindset. I also consult in my old industry but focus on the 'helping people' part, finding them the most effective creative solutions or trends for their business. With coaching, I focus on working with people who are at that common 'stuck' place that so many of the people that come to me have reached. It tends to be around the age of 28â€"35, where many people approach a ceiling in their job and begin to become very disillusioned with work if they aren't being valued. They start to wake up to the realisation that there must be more to life than the 9â€"5. It's a really exciting place to be. Why did you change? It was finally time to move on for me. There wasn't anywhere for me to go or any new roles or responsibilities for me to grow into. I couldn't ignore that niggling voice that was telling me I was destined for something different. I also had less and less enthusiasm for what I was doing, as I'd done it for so long and knew I had a variety of talents that I was frustrated not being able to use every day. My role changed significantly when the company was taken over and I'd got to the point where I was unable to help my team or do the things I wanted to do, leaving me really unfulfilled and massively undervalued. I just couldn't really see what my purpose was anymore, as everything had begun to lack meaning. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I knew for quite a while before I actually left that I needed to make my move, I just wasn't sure how. I was scared to jump, but I think reaching the point of having to leave the office to get some air because I was becoming frequently tearful was the turning point for me. I was just desperately sad inside and had reached the stage where I couldn't stand it anymore. I didn't like the feeling that I knew what every day was going to hold, there was no excitement or adventure. I think when you have mentally checked-out and you just aren't able to give your all to a role, that's when you know it's time to go. Are you happy with the change? 100%. It's a huge breath of fresh air in every way. I get to design my days exactly as I want, I don't have to do the mind-numbing commute, and I can pick and choose who I work with. I have the space to be flexible and focus on the things that really matter to me. But most of all, getting up in the morning is exciting as every day is different, and it's a pleasure to be talking to people about something I'm really passionate about. I'm ultimately happier because I'm able to help people. Every person that I come into contact with needs my help in some way and it's so fulfilling being able to do that and see their lives completely change for the better. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the daily banter with friends and colleagues. I guess I sometimes miss having people around to bounce ideas off during the day. I definitely don't miss the noisy office, dull commute to work, office politics, attending mind-numbing meetings or having to talk about things I'm just not aligned with. How did you go about making the shift? I was on a two-month notice period, so I had a window to prepare. I made sure I had a solid contact list and that I completed any training or self-development courses before leaving my full-time role. I also made sure I gave myself some space to breathe and some time off once I'd left. It was a time of huge transition; some space to relax, catch up on sleep and gain perspective was vital. At first I felt guilty, but after a while I realised it was important for me to come to terms with the life I'd let go of and make room for my new one. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I spent a long time saving and working out what I'd need to scrape by if need be. I also thought through the worst-case scenario. In my case, it was moving back to my parents' house, or in with a friend, and temping. Happily, this never happened. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Going it alone definitely came with a lot of anxiety for me. I planned and planned, but suddenly being faced with an irregular or zero income and the same bills to pay was quite daunting. However, for me, unless I'm scaring myself frequently, I'm not growing. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? For me, what didn't go well was listening to my own self doubt. I had to continuously work on my own self-belief and keep listening to my gut. I also learnt that it's crucial to reach out and ask for help. I can't do everything alone and I need other people to help, support and bounce ideas off. What help did you get? I made sure I spoke to as many of my freelance friends and colleagues as possible. I surrounded myself with people who were already doing what I wanted to do. I took invaluable workshops and courses, and joined online communities or attended events. Completing my 400-hour yoga teacher training and extra certification also really helped boost my confidence, and prepared me mentally for the road ahead. Above all, the unfaltering support of family and friends has got me where I am today. What have you learnt in the process? Not to be a martyr all the time! It's okay to ask for help. I was amazed at the contact list I didn't know I had, and how much people were willing to help me. I've also learnt that when something's not working, it's best to step away from it for a while. I used to be the kind of person who had to persist until something was finished and perfect, but being freelance has taught me that sometimes a little perspective and some time out is all it takes to find a solution. What do you wish you'd done differently? The only thing I would say here is that I wish I'd done this sooner. To look back and think of the limits I put on myself previously just makes me wonder why I didn't have the guts to do it before. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Get friendly with your fears. This is such a big one for me. Honestly, if the thought of doing what you really want to do scares you that much, it means you should go for it. Stop worrying about the little details; they just sort themselves out eventually. Think about the bigger picture and what you want your life to look like, and the rest will fall into place. Also, get as much advice as possible from the people who are already doing what you want to do. It's invaluable and will stand you in good stead for knowing some of what to expect and prepare for. It's really important to continually work on yourself and your mindset. I see many people make the mistake of going into another role that they think is different and exciting but actually turns out to make them just as miserable. That's why it's so important to do the internal work first and get to know yourself. What resources would you recommend to others? Check out Careershifters (of course) and Escape the City. Both of these organisations are awesome and a huge inspiration in demonstrating that work doesn't need to be dull or boring. Marianne Cantwell's Free Range Humans website and book are also forward thinking and inspirational in terms of changing the way we think about living and working. I love listening to Alan Watts as well; his audios always blow my mind and stir up new ideas. I also always recommend clients read the quantum physics books The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav and ESquared by Pam Grout. They're both great books for completely shifting how you view the world. They make you realise that many things we concern ourselves with on a daily basis just don't matter! You can find our more about Natalie's services at www.natedwards.co.uk What lessons could you take from Natalie's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Best Practices For Resume Writing

Best Practices For Resume WritingThere are three best practices for resume writing that you should follow. They will ensure that you are making the most of your resume and ensuring that your application is not left with a clog in its path. Follow these three and you will be amazed at how well your resume will be received by prospective employers.First, the best practices are to not start an outline for your resume. Do not start filling it out unless you have already written some of the information on it. One of the worst practices when it comes to resumes is to start filling them out. If you are using Microsoft Word, then all you have to do is open the document and it will automatically fill in the blanks. But if you are using some other program, then you need to put the information you want on the resume on a separate sheet of paper.Next, when you are about to add your data on the resume, save it all up and sort through it and pick out the key information first. This helps you stay organized because you are already working your way through your resume rather than having to figure it out piece by piece. In addition, do not re-type all of the information that you have saved.You can delete any irrelevant data off of your computer or simply delete it from your hard drive. Remember that you will be using this resume, so make sure that all of the information is in the most important sections. Also, keep your resume simple to read because, when it is completed, people will have difficulty reading it.Finally, when you have finished putting together your computer resume, then make sure that you follow these same three best practices for resume writing. Take a look at it. You will find that many people become frustrated when they do not receive an invitation to interview when they have submitted their resume online. Many times, it is the case that if someone does not have the time to sit down and read a resume, then they are not going to even look at it. Your resume nee ds to be as impressive as possible and needs to tell a prospective employer just how impressive you are.With all of the information that you have listed on your resume, and your keywords, you need to make sure that you list these things very clearly. For example, when someone is looking for a copywriter, you should list that in your resume as well as an understanding of marketing, website design, technical writing, and graphic design. If you list any of these keywords in your resume, then you are well on your way to creating an impressive resume.By following these three best practices for resume writing, you will be able to give your resume the best possible chance of being accepted. With the help of your personal resume writer, you can turn your resume from nothing into everything.

Need a Career Change 5 Recession-Resistant Careers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Need a Career Change 5 Recession-Resistant Careers - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career While prestige and wealth may not be part of what you’ll get with these careers, what you will get is â€" a career. One of the most common questions I hear as a career coach is “I’m thinking of changing careers, can you help me figure out what other options I have?” As a technology news geek, I’m nearly as addicted to the CNBC iPad app as I am my morning coffee; when I saw an article titled “America’s Most Underrated Jobs” I had to read it. What I found was surprising, and inspiring. The careers listed were great options, with relatively low unemployment rates and comfortable incomes. According to CareerCast, these careers were ranked based on low stress, low environmental danger (surprising inclusion), low physical demands and median-to-high income levels. 5 recession resistant career changes (unemployment rates are for 2010) #1: With an average income of $68,3K and an unemployment rate at just 2.3%, Chiropractors, or Doctors of Chiropractic, rated right up at the top of the list. #2: Making more than Chiropractors are Physical Therapists, or PTs, who diagnose and treat individuals with medial problems, illness or injuries. This career delivers an average salary of $74,1K and has a low unemployment rate of 2.0%. #3: If you’re more scientific, think about becoming a Civil Engineer. These are the engineers that develop economical solutions to technical problems and link scientific discoveries and commercial applications to meet societal and consumer needs. This work provides an annual income of just over $76K with a low unemployment $3.9%. #4: When’s the last time you had your teeth cleaned and thought, “I can do that?” Dental Hygienists make an average income of $67K and had an incredibly low unemployment rate of only 1.2%. It appears that despite tough times, people still want their teeth clean and their gums examined. #5: Thinking of going on a diet? Why not become a Dietician and earn an income of $52K while planning food and nutrition programs for yourself and your patients? This health industry related profession has an unemployment rate that’s 6% less the national average at 3.2%. If you’re considering a career change, take the time to speak with a professional career coach and determine what your transferable skills are as a first step. Many coaches offer free consultations and can provide direction on if a complete direction in your career is the right strategy for your individual needs. Author: Adriana Llames is a veteran career coach and acclaimed author of Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game, released with top book seller Amazon.com. She is creator of   “HR In-A-Box,” a Human Resources software product helping small businesses across America and a professional keynote speaker motivating and inspiring audiences with her focused programs on “9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game”, “Confessions of a Career Coach” and “Nice Girls End Up on Welfare.” For more information, visit www.adrianallames.com

Is There any Benefit in Funding Employees Continuing Education

Is There any Benefit in Funding Employees Continuing Education As an employer, you might wonder if financing further education for your employees has any worthwhile benefits. While its obvious that gaining better qualifications will be a big bonus for employees, the advantages for the employer arent so obvious at first glance. But if you take a closer look, youll see why investing in your workforce can be a great idea. Your Employees Will Have Better Skills The more knowledge and skills that your employees have the better they will be able to do their jobs and help your business prosper. Plus, having a highly educated workforce will always be a benefit to you when potential clients check out your business online before they decide whether to work with you. Being able to highlight your commitment to helping employees gain advanced degrees will signal that your staff are up-to-date with their skills and have the competence to deliver the best service. The Tuition Costs Are Tax Deductible As long as the education program meets certain federal guidelines, the cost of tuition is tax deductible. The course you pay for must be related to your business and the college offering the course needs to be an accredited school like New England College, which is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. According to the IRS you can deduct up to $5,250 per employee, per year, for tuition related expenses, which would allow you to recover a significant portion of the cost of a two-year course; or even the entire cost of a degree program spread out over a longer period. You’ll Attract Staff with Drive and Ambition What’s better for your business, staff that want to give you their best every day, or staff that are happy to coast along? It’s surely good business sense to pick candidates with drive and ambition over clock punchers. The go-getters will look for employment opportunities that can take them new places, and if you offer funding toward further education as part of the remuneration package, then you’ll attract the most motivated candidates. Will Employees Need to Take Time Off to Study? No. Todays degrees, both at the bachelor’s levels and the master’s level can be taken completely online, so your employees can fit their studies in around their work commitments. For example, if you run an accounting firm and you want to offer employees the opportunity to study for a master of science in accounting online, they would need to spend around 15 hours a week on their online MSA program, and those hours can be split between evenings and weekends. Won’t People Take Their Degree and Run? Not necessarily, since providing good employee benefits like ongoing education, actually encourages loyalty and improves staff retention. It’s best to seek the advice of an employment lawyer to find out how to structure your offering so that it complies with relevant laws. Investing in your employees makes a lot of sense, but it wont be the right choice for every business. Talk things over with your advisors, and ask other business owners about their experiences with funding employee education before you make any firm decisions. . Images via pixabay.

3 Best Practices For Resume Writing

3 Best Practices For Resume WritingIn this article I am going to share with you the three best practices for resume writing. With just a little bit of effort you can easily come up with an amazing resume, but if you don't take the time to make it great. This is what we will discuss.In order to write a great resume, you must first know who you're trying to get a job from. This may sound like a very easy thing to do, but it's not. You need to understand why someone is applying for the job in the first place. If you don't understand the criteria that is used in the hiring process, it can be quite difficult to write a successful resume.Next, once you know who you're trying to attract to the company, you'll have to start thinking about what you want in your resume. There are some simple tips that you can follow in order to make a quality resume. The first tip is to go into a local bookstore and browse through a book or two on resume writing.Remember, no one can know about your education a nd experience better than you can. As long as you take the time to research a bit, you should be able to write a resume that is unique and stands out from the rest. It should be something that people will be able to relate to and will get you noticed by the company.One more tip is to include all of the necessary information about your education and experience. You should take a moment to document your education and experience for a resume. This will show a prospective employer that you've put the work into your resume and you really know what you're doing. If you don't provide any documentation, you run the risk of someone calling your application false and you'll find yourself in a lot of trouble.Finally, write your resume as if you were looking at it for the first time. Don't just glance over the resume, but make sure that you read through it very carefully. It should look as though you spent a lot of time on it. This will make you stand out among the others and it will also help you stand out from the rest of the pile.When you're finished, go back and give it a quick rewrite to include the needed information for the job description. Now you can begin filling out the resume and get ready to send it off to the company that you're interested in. Since they're used to seeing these resumes, you won't have any problems getting the interview.Once you finish writing your resume, keep in mind that the job description is the most important thing in getting a job. Make sure that you apply for the job because you feel that you're the best candidate for the position.

Career Prospects As A Social Worker

Career Prospects As A Social Worker Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comThere’s no shortage of positions in social work available for people willing to expend a lot of their professional time and energy to helping others.To break into this field, you can utilize continuing education programs in social workdesigned for working adults. There are nearly 650,000 active, licensed social workers, with 59 percent getting their master’s of social work before entering the field.Social workers are saints in disguise, so to speak. So, what kinds of work do social workers do? Here are a few, which are only the tip of the iceberg.Serve Rural Areas evalAs with teaching, there is always plenty of work to be done. There are a plethora of government-based resources in the form of grants and programs specifically aimed at increasing the number of social workers in rural areas, areas with relatively few government resources.Much of the U.S. population gravitates toward urban areas, leaving many rural communities scrambling for qualified soci al workers. These social workers need a broad background in social work, everything from directly helping people to trying to change policy through advocacy.“In a rural setting, a social worker has to be an all-arounder,” said Goutham Menon, professor and director of the University of Nevada, Reno’s School of Social Work. “You cannot really just be one thing. That is, I cannot just specialize and say, ‘I will only work with kids.’ In rural settings, they don’t have that luxury of having specialized treatment options.”People in rural areas have a limited amount of resources at their fingertips. A counselor or drug/alcohol center may not be within a two hour-drive.A social worker can act as an intermediary to provide resources and referrals to give people the care they need. A whole small community can be impacted by a tragedy, for example.Although approximately 18 percent to 22 percent of individuals in America live in a rural community,the social work profession has historically focused more on urban environments despite the challenges that exist.Domestic Violence VictimsSocial workers help abused women or men find options for shelter and safety. They’re the people who respond to individual needs when it is time to look for solutions to the problems the victim is facing. They also help the victim, perpetrator, and children involved to change the family dynamic.evalHelping people rebuild their lives is not an easy task, and can be stressful and draining. But helping victims change their lives in meaningful ways is a rewarding career experience for the dedicated.According to the National Association of Social Workers,they offer screening for domestic violence, make plans to protect the victim, and help find housing, counseling and other services. Knowing domestic violence and abuse case law is also required.School Social WorkersThere’s a wide range of jobs available for school social workers, which could be why it is a common field of study w ithin the social work paradigm.Working with students, parents, teachers and school administrators to ensure academic and personal success are a few of the duties of school social workers. Students have a lot of pressure coming from different angles, so a school social worker is another person a student can have on his side.evalIn an educational environment, school social workers address bullying, violence, school attendance, learning disabilities, substance abuse, etc.They can also make home visits, provide counseling, make referrals for those facing economic hardships and emotional issues, and provide opportunities for other students to get involved in mentoring and peer counseling.Health CareThere are many types of social workers specializing under the healthcare social work umbrella.Specialized fields of healthcare social work focus on specific populations during different times of their lives, and a master’s degree is usually required for healthcare social workers.If someone i s diagnosed with cancer, for example, a medical social worker counsels patients throughout the diagnosis and treatments stages. They help patients make plans for coping with illness. They also help patients get their ducks in a row in terms of education, counseling, discharge planning, and referrals to other services.A geriatric social worker assists elderly people and their families in home healthcare and meal delivery services. Sometimes a geriatric social worker will ensure a smooth transition into assisted living or nursing care facilities. An aging Baby Boomer population is creating a large demand for geriatric nurses.Mental Health AdvocatesClinical social workers are the largest groupof professional mental health advocates in the U.S., providing over half of all counseling and therapy services. They treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance abuse problems; plus provide coping skills for individuals, couples and families.Clinical social workers ca n either work in the general field at private practices, mental health agencies, in-patient residential treatment centers, and hospitals, or specialize in some of the areas mentioned above, including child welfare, family practice, and rural communities. Mental health social workers are also known as psychiatric social workers.It can be tough for psychiatric patients to be reintegrated back into their families and society. Through individual or group and family therapy, social workers help set patients up for success by connecting them to community and hospital resources.evalBeing a social workeris one of the many careers to have in the mental health field. If you enjoy helping others, have the personality and education required, you can find a satisfying career while positively impacting people’s lives.As for social work in general, it’s a field that covers a wide variety of career options. It all depends on the type of degree you get and what you’re really passionate about. Maybe you want to work with specific groups of people or in a particular work environment.But don’t expect to get rich in the field of social work.According to U.S. News, the average salary for child and family social workers was $46,610 in 2015, which is a higher average salary than a mental health counselor at $45,080 and a substance abuse and behavioral counselor at $42,920. Marriage and family counselors earn about $53,500 and clinical social workers make about $54,000.

[Infographic] The 10 Scariest Job Seeker Mistakes - CareerEnlightenment.com

Why Being FRESH Rocks

Why Being FRESH Rocks Giant Door Sticker by Pulaton Back in Jan of 2011, I wrote a post called  The Benefits of Being a Beginner (or, Why It’s Awesome to Not Know What The Heck You’re Doing). I can hardly believe it was almost 2 years ago since I was in that place, and I know I needed an update to where I was back then. But since Im no longer a beginner, I asked Halley Gray (who guest posted here before) to write down her take for us. Halley just launched her new site and service  last week, so she knows of whence she speaks. The PROs tend to intimidate with their well-trodden blogs and dazzling websites. They have arm-long testimonial lists and a waiting list into 2031 plus they cost $$$ per hour. So when you decide that its time to take your game-changing skill from free or swapzies to getting paid for it, you create a website. And you realize youre kind of stuck. Because when you do your market research you compare your FRESH biz and ZAP! All of that momentum fizzles. Im here to tell all of us clinging to the bottom rung that being FRESH is down. right. SEXY. Being FRESH means: *You value your clients *Youre easier to approach *Youre innovative *Youre not jaded *You invest more energy and time into your product/service *You are affordable *You can change everything easily *Your mistakes arent big enough to notice *You can experiment When people sign up to my  Quantum Leap Pack  I make sure that I pour my creative energy and focus into their pack. My end goal is for them to rave with besotted joy. Im hungry to show them their trust was perfectly placed. I make it clear on my blog though that my current price is ABSURDLY low and that Im doubling it in December. I know from my previous clients that Im worth it but right now I need to prove it to the inter webs. Once I do? Sky isnt the limit, Milky Way is. Heady feeling, right? Tips on being FRESH faced: *Dont compare yourself to the pros, please! *Put a time limit/client limit on low prices *Remember you can do this *Gather evidence of how youre magnificent *Work with your clients to make sure the product/service leaves them tingly jazzed up *BE 100% TRANSPARENT *Dont pretend to be an expert *Reveal in your FRESH-ness This is where everyone starts and trust me when I say that the Sarah Vons, Alex Franzens, Danielle LaPortes all felt the same way when they were in our places. Keep moving forward. Halley is a Marketing Strategist at  Evolve. When not crafting personalized  Quantum Leap Pack  for solopreneurs and small business who dont want to go extinct online she can be seen drinking a flat white in windy Wellington and bull-shitting with the nearest humanoid or felinoid. ****************** LAST DAY to  answer my survey   get a chance at a $100 Etsy gift card! Win-win!