If there is one single advice that I have never failed to give to any young professional, it is about reading books. I am saddened by the fact that as the internet continue to grow in unlimited supply of information; it robs us of the time to read books, good books.
I have nothing against reading websites and blogs; however books are still preferable, in my humble opinion. Other than you are not restricted with an internet connection and glaring monitor, books can be carried virtually anywhere.
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I wish somebody taught me the peril of embarking on managing my own business. There was none. I started with sheer guts, coupled with my technical competencies, and management skills. I thought, those were enough –I thought wrong. Hence, a couple of years later of operating, I had to close shop. After paying my employees, I was left virtually broke. What were my options? Going back to office work as an employee was on the top most lists, however being my own boss for quite some time, I hesitated. Going back to the corporate world is another big leap for me. I am no longer fitted to wade through office politics and corporate power plays, that is, what I thought then. I am done with that.
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Interview attire is one of my favorite topics! Don’t dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want! Everything matters during an interview; from your hair to your shoes, the color of your shirt to the style of your suite. So why is this important during a job interview? Below is a list of things you should wear, should avoid wearing, and what an employer may interpret them as!
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No, this isn’t some hype about how, if you follow your dreams, you’ll end up wildly rich and touring the country to promote your latest book. However, you will likely find more success in your career, and thereby increase your value as an employee and leader, if you choose a career path that follows your interests, skills, abilities, and personal values.
Too many people are unhappy at work, and researchers know that this leads to a host of other problems, such as more missed work days, decreased productivity, and physical and mental health problems, just to name a few. If you find that you’re one of these people, consider taking a good look at your career path. Will the one you’re on lead you to the place you want to be in the next five years? Ten? Twenty? Yes, many people change careers these days–the average is about eight times. However, change can be difficult. The earlier you determine an appropriate career path, the easier it will be for you to reach and maintain an executive-level career. At the same time, however, it’s never too late to change. Life would be boring without change, and even seasoned employees can make successful career changes. It may be more difficult at a later age or when fully entrenched on a particular route, but it’s not impossible.
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In my previous post, I shared the viability of changing careers. I left open-ended questions there to be answered. Incidentally, I stumbled upon an excellent article about this issue in Learning & Life entitled “Movin’ On Up: Three Smart Career Choices for Young Professionals”. Interestingly, we shared the same observation, to wit:
“In the past, people often worked for the same company all their lives. Now some employees change jobs and even careers with the same frequency that they switch cell phone services. An explosion in online educational opportunities allows today’s working professionals to alter career paths for personal growth or financial gain–without sacrificing their incomes.”
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