Thinking about changing your career… but worried that you may not have the background or qualifications to make the change?
In some cases, you’re right to be worried. Some careers do require you to possess specific qualifications and experience.
However… it could be that your concern isn’t warranted at all.
Actually, you may have “credentialitis” - you think you need some kind of credential to qualify you for
a promotion, new position or career change, when you actually have all the skills, talent and knowledge necessary.
Funny, really.
I always considered qualifications and credentials to be short-hand for skills and knowledge… but not the only “short-hand” and not necessarily indicative of the most valuable skills and knowledge.
For example, what if you’re an entrepreneur who left high school before graduating, launched a super-successful business which you ended up selling, and now want to be the marketing manager of a large, established company?
If you suffered from credentialitis you may believe that you aren’t qualified to become that marketing manager.
So much so that you seriously consider going to business school and enrolling in a marketing program.
Now, you may well benefit a lot from doing this… but was it really necessary to study for one or two
years to get that marketing job? Did you really lack the critical skills for the role?
Couldn’t you present yourself as someone with unequaled business experience, skills and knowledge - someone who has built and sold a company, as opposed to someone with theoretical knowledge acquired from a business school?
Now, of course, in some cases you will need to study and get a particular qualification to make a career change - for instance, if you want to become a dentist or mechanical engineer.
But in other cases, you probably have the fundamental knowledge and skills required for the new job…
and what you don’t know can either be picked up relatively quickly on the job or isn’t all that important.
I know, I know - you may be confident in your own abilities, but how do you convince a potential
employer who wants to see that certificate, diploma or degree? After all, it seems our entire society
has credentialitis.
But if we agree that this societal credentialitis is unnecessary and damaging (in the sense that skilled, knowledgeable and talented people miss out on jobs and careers to which they’re suited) then it’s up to you and I to change things.
What this means is - get confident! Know and feel - and communicate - that you have the skills and abilities for the new career.
But if you still wonder whether some kind of formal education might be necessary, answer the following:
Would the course or program genuinely teach you something new… or would it give you a piece of paper to prove what you already know?
Really, if you manage to overcome your credentialitis you’ll not save a lot of money, time and energy on unnecessary studies, but you’ll also become a happier, more fulfilled person.
If you are challenged over your lack of credentials you can “reframe” your background… so that it’s obvious that this has equipped you with the ideal background for the new job.
I, for example, was once questioned over my lack of an MBA. I explained that my background as an
advertising copywriter, marketing manager, commercial lawyer and business owner had given me a
real-world MBA.
Of course, you’ll find some people who just won’t “buy it” - they obviously have credentialitis themselves. In this case, it’s up to you whether it’s worth your while trying to convince them… or
whether you’re better off trying to work with people who aren’t so hung up on qualifications and
recognize true ability.
Also, try to look beyond credentials when it’s you who is doing the hiring. An individual who has years of hands-on experience may well be just as, if not more, qualified than someone with a specific certificate, diploma or degree.
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Written by info on March 27th, 2008 with no comments.
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The real estate business can be a lucrative job option. However, the job of a real estate agent may not be a full-time career option for a large number of people. Real estate agents earn a cut whenever they successfully close a deal. They do not necessarily have to follow regular office hours, as business opportunities arise when clients approach them. Real estate agents may work as individual entities or collaborate with brokers or real estate firms. In some instances they are hired as salaried employees who receive a pre-determined pay irrespective of targets.
Freelance estate agents are not likely to earn regular paychecks. Most of them may be already earning a fixed salary elsewhere and earnings from real estate deals could be a source of additional income. Such dealers earn in proportion of the amount of income generated through their service when working with a broker or firm. Most single agents are free to decide their service charges based on the type of services provided when they are working independently.
Real estate agents earn commissions based on their business volume. Their commission amount is a set percentage of the money that transfers hands when a deal is made. Such deals revolve around purchase, sale, and rentals of real estate. For this reason, it is easy to understand why agents who are involved in high volume transactions earn a proportionately high income too. Commissions earned from certain exclusive and highly valuable property could equal the sum of several regular deals. It is difficult to put a figure on the amount of money agents earn, as it is dependent on their skill, luck, and commitment to the trade.
It is possible to earn more in bigger cities in comparison to smaller townships and cities. However, gradually real estate in small townships is also boasting of an increase in business volume. Real estate jobs continue to grow at par with other job opportunities since it is an established profit-making venture that brings in profits comparable to salaried jobs.
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Finding a job can be a tedious undertaking. But trying to keep a job just to avoid losing it can be even tougher in some people’s eyes. Most people are using what ever means that they can to not lose the job they currently have and this can consume a lot of energy.
Unemployment can be devastating to your dream of living a happy and productive life. This is why when you find a job that you truly like you should follow some steps that will keep you out of the unemployment line.
1. Find a Job That You Truly Like
Finding the perfect job may exist in Utopia but in today’s market there will always be certain parts of a job that most people will not find enjoyable or fulfilling. You have to take a look at what interest you and see if there are certain jobs that can spark this interest.
If you work at a job that you do not care for your motivation level will go down and this will lead to poor job performance. When your job performance is low the risk of you losing the job will obviously be higher.
2. Procrastination Is Your Enemy
When you procrastinate you are putting off what should be done and the longer you put it off the harder it will be to actually do it when you have a deadline staring you in the face.
Most employers when they give you a directive want you to get the job done as soon as possible. If they notice that you procrastinate that they will think that this is part of your personality and will take it as a negative sign.
3. Improve your Performance
Always look for ways to improve your performance and be more productive. Small things can go a long way when you are being evaluated by your employers and they will look to see if you are grasping the job concepts and improving upon them.
Improving in different areas of your job performance will keep your job secure and will add fulfillment if you are continually motivating yourself.
Most companies do not like to make changes especially after they have trained you. Employers will make a change thought if they feel that you are not living up to the standards that they have set forth.
Follow these important steps and you will never find yourself looking for another job unless it is on your terms.
For more easy to implement tips when entering a
entry level job search try visiting http://www.readyforjob.com where you will find tips, advice, resources and other helpful information.
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Written by info on March 27th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Careers Employment.