It’s something that happens to many of us in our jobs/careers. We get stuck in our comfort zone. That nice warm secure place where we can waltz in late for work, and head home early. We have the job fully under control and just go through the paces. Sleeping at night is easy, you don’t need to worry about new challenges or being asked to do something that you aren’t ready to deal with.
The comfort zone at work normally kicks in around the 1 – 2 year mark once you have figured out what you are actually doing, and start to be able to manage your job without the fierce concentration and effort that the early days often require.
Often this is where you end up staying for a long, long time, however it’s interesting to see what happens when people break out of their comfort zones, and go for something a little more challenging. Sometimes a break out is forced, due to redundacy, moving to another area or any one of a multitude of possibilities.
“People are afraid to rock the boat in which they hope to drift safely through life’s currents, when, actually, the boat is stuck on a sandbar. They would be better off to rock the boat and try to shake it loose, or, better still, jump in the water and swim for the shore.” Thomas Szasz
Getting out of your comfort zone is not easy for anyone and here we talk about ways that can help give you an injection of motivation to do something about your situation.
Change your way of thinking
One of the most important things you need to do is attempt to change your way of thinking. Rather than continually reassuring yourself that you are doing the right thing, staying where you are and drifting along, begin instead to realise that actually you are doing the wrong thing.
Once this starts to sink home you can start to be more positive about taking some action to avoid becoming a cooked frog. (An experiment done in 1872 showed that a frog would not notice the temperature slowly rising in a saucepan and would stay there until the water boiled and killed the frog)
Plan your future out
If you don’t know where you are heading why would you even think about changing direction? Think about that for a while and make some plans for the future. What kind of job do you see yourself doing? How much money do you think you should be earning?
Once you answer these questions you will start to be able to see what you need to do to achieve your ambitions.
Chances are it won’t be staying at your boring job, watching the clock pass each minute of the day!
The Gender Wage Gap ( Gender Pay Gap ) is a fiercely debated topic – and one that doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
From information gained from this information on Wikipedea we can create the following chart showing the percentage of Gender Pay Gap from the countries we are interested in looking at.
One interesting fact that we stumbled upon was that in Australia up until 1969 the minimum wage for Women was 25% less than for Men! How times have changed over the last 40 years.
The chart we have created shows the percentage less than Men that Women earn in full time work for the Country listed.
Although the data from which this chart was created is a few years old, from what our research can tell things havent changed much. For instance data from Australia in August 2010 showed the figure to be at 16.9% which is spot on to what it was a few years ago.
There is plenty of debate over why there is the gap, and some of the possible reasons include the fact that Men tend to have the more dangerous jobs ( that pay more ), another plausible reason is that Women may choose jobs primarily for the lifestyle factor ( to fit around family commitments ).
Some then argue that these sterotypes in themselves are discriminatory so it all depends on viewpoint and perspective.
What do you think? Are Women discriminated against in the workplace?, or is the disparity in Wages simply for reasons such as above?
The cover letter/email and CV has worked, you now have that interview with the Recruitment company!
Although you have your foot in the door, there is still a long way to go.
We asked several Recruiters what they looked for in a Candidate and the replies were interesting.
You may have your own ideas about what Recruiters are looking for however here are a few things that we managed to find out.
Things that will make a “Difference”
Lack of arrogance
Confident Presence
Positive First Impression
Attitude
Currently Employed
The “Essentials”
Qualifications
Ability to do the job
Accomplishments
Be Professional – Your Online Presence
“Recruiters and hiring managers pre-screen you using Google and LinkedIn before they bring you in [for an interview],” says David Perry, author of Guerilla Marketing for Job Seekers 2.0.
If you didn’t already figure this out – that photo album on facebook of you at a drunken party dancing on the tables could actually count against you!
No doubt by now you will have heard all the fuss about Google Plus. I personally have been using it for a couple of weeks now and am very impressed.
I can certainly see how Google Plus can be used in a more professional way compared to the likes of Facebook.
Google Plus allows people to set up “circles” which you can organize by groups of colleagues, friends, family etc which reflect the real life networks that we all have. There are some things about yourself that you would only want to share with particular groups of people and that is exactly why I think Google plus has begun to gain momentum.
How Job Seekers can use Google +
There are a number of ways that I can see this being used. You could build circles of people that work in companies or industries that you want to target and then share only with them an update that you were looking for work. As its still becoming clear exactly how the entire privacy of Google Plus works it may pay to be cautious before doing this just yet. You would not want to make a mistake and have your current employer find out that you are looking for work! Theoretically though it should be ok.
Additionally much like Linked In, your profile on Google Plus has plenty of detail areas within the profile section so make sure you enter all these fields with the relevant information regarding your job, industry and so on.
How Recruiters can use Google +
For recruiters it’s simple, build up circles of candidates in whatever way you want, e.g. different job types or industries, then, when you have a posting or are seeking interest for a position, share the details with that circle or circles.
As always please share how you have or haven’t used Google Plus for yourself, and if you see any candidates that you like on our Jobhunters sites, please share them with your Circles.
Many people seek a career in IT, often believing it to be a high paying, and fun job.
The good news is that it can be exactly that however on the flip side of the coin it can also be extremely technical, sometimes boring and often stressful.
In this article we will look at how to get your foot in the information technology door.
How to get your first Job in IT
Preferably before you are looking at kick starting your IT career you have a University or Equivalant Technical Institute Degree or Qualification. This is really a minimum otherwise your chances are not going to be great at all.
On top of this there are a number of industry certifications that will help add padding to that resume if you are a little short on experience. Even if you are studying towards these certs it helps to show your ethusiasm and committment.
When it comes to applying for jobs we have written previous articles to do with your cover letter, and also how to write a resume – you will find helpful tips in these articles and videos.
How much do IT Jobs pay?
A few of the best paying IT jobs apart from CIO of course are..
Architects
Project Managers
Other IT Managers
Sales and Pre-Sales
Consultants
In the middle tier of income we have..
Business Analysts
Programming and Developement
Testers
Database Professionals
Networking and Systems
Some of the jobs associated with the lower salaries..
Trainers
Helpdesk ( There are different levels of Helpdesk Support e.g level 1, level2 etc )
There are plenty of Salary Surveys done on a year by year basis that are available online if you want more detailed information about how much these positions pay for the country that you reside in.
The Helpdesk Job – Door into IT
Although often considered the bottom of the rung when it comes to IT jobs, working on a helpdesk can be a fantastic way to learn your craft and also get an idea of which area of IT you want to move into.
Working on the service desk of a busy IT department will also offer up opportunites in other roles – many companies prefer to promote from within. If you find yourself still stuck on first level support after a year or two though – it could be time to look elsewhere.
We hope that you find your way into a job that you love and that pays you well! That after all is what it’s all about.
The world’s most dangerous job is one that can be as rewarding as it is risky. Men and women put their lives on the line for the most deadly catch in the sea.
If you are a member of this elite group, that has the dubious honor of working in a death zone, you are an Alaskan Crab Fisherman.
With a fatality rate 90 times that of the average worker Alaskan Crabbing is immensely dangerous. Most of the deaths are from drowning or hypothermia and during the season ( Normally October to January ) an average of one fisherman per week will die.
If you are considering doing this type of work, think very carefully about it. There are an average of 195 Alaskan fisherman that lose their lives every year. You may ask why? The answer of course is money and although the prime days of the 1980′s are now over, deckhands can earn between 60000 and 70000 dollars in a season. The boat owners used to be able to earn between one and two million dollars.
The fishermans lives are so exciting the discovery channel made a series about it. You can watch the trailer here for “The deadliest catch”
In todays world it would be perfectly normal to have found a new job via Twitter, on Facebook or of course on Linkedin. If you are not looking at these avenues then you could be letting opportunities pass you by. We look at all three and the best methods of job search on each.
Finding Jobs on Twitter
A lot of recruitment agents tweet when they get a new role. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you are following a bunch of recruitment companies on Twitter you may get an early heads up on a position.
Before you start following them though spend some time setting up your twitter profile and include a professional looking photo of yourself, as well as an interesting bio and link to your linkedin profile.
Finding a new role on Linkedin
Linkedin is one of the most powerful tools that you can utilize in your online toolbox. Many hiring managers and recruitment officers use linkedin as their talent pool before advertising positions – we recommed the following tips.
Build up an informative profile with a professional picture
Make sure you use the relevant key words in your job title and description. ( so that you show up in searches )
Gain as many connections as you can – the more you have in your network the more chance you will have of finding a job.
Getting a Job on Facebook
Facebook is probably the least easy of the three to land a job however if you are looking for work ensure you have a clear job title on your bio and you can also follow recruitment companies pages, groups etc to catch any updates they may make about new positions.
What are your experiences using these mediums? Please share with our readers.
When looking at popular searches on Google today I noticed one phrase that caught my eye. The words “Job Street”. One million people a month were searching on these words, so I decided to take a look and find out exactly what Jobstreet was.
What is Job Street?
Jobstreet.com is a website that helps jobseekers find work in Asia. They cover Malaysia, Singapore, Phillipines, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong. Jobstreet.com was originally founded in Malaysia in 1997 and is now the largest Online Employment Agency in Southeast Asia!
What can they do for you?
Job Street offers quite a bit in the way of resources for job seekers with plenty of articles on how to write great resumes and interview etc.
They have a 30 page downloadable streetsmart guide to jobhunting that is worth a quick read if you are in the job market. You can download the guide here.
Jobstreet Mobile applications
Jobstreet have created apps for Android, iPhone and RIM. If you have one of these smartphones you can install the application from your marketplace.
Useability of Website
JobStreet.com is in multiple languages so if you go to the Japan site you can either view it in Japanese or English. Whichever area you select goes into its own website for that region. I found the sites to be well laid out and simple to use.
Maybe one day soon you will find the Jobhunters sites in the Asian market? We are always looking to expand.
Nearly ten years ago I was working as a Tyre Shop Manager for Frank Allen Tyres in Mt Roskill. During the day I would be getting down and dirty selling tyres, fitting tyres, fixing puncture repairs and doing Wheel Alignments. For me this was not how I wanted to spend the rest of my life, I was nearly 30 years old and had been doing this type of work since I left school at 16.
Because of my desire to change industries, for the last few years of my Tyre career, I had been taking a computer course at Manukau Tech. It was almost time to break the chains and take a big leap. There was one HUGE obstacle that I needed to overcome however and that was getting that first job in my new industry.
This time I was planning to work in an industry of my choice, not one I fell into because of dropping out of school at an early age.
When it comes to getting a new job/career there are two steps once you have completed your training and are rearing to go..
The cover letter/Application
The First Interview
If you don’t do the first one properly you will never even make it to step two. This article looks at step one, the career change cover letter.
Tip 1 – A mistake many job applicants make is that they tend to write the letter with themselves in mind. What I mean by this is they will mention how this position they are applying for will help them to grow or gain better skills etc. An employer is likely to be more concerned with how you can help their company out rather than yourself! Make the letter about how you can help out your prospective employer with the unique skills and experiences that you have.
Tip 2 – Often when changing careers you need to be prepared to take a step backward in salary. It may be hard at first however believe me it can pay off in the long run. You really need that foot in the door. Don’t make the letter about financial reward, express your desire to be given a chance and your willingness to accept what perhaps may be seen as a low position in the industry you are trying to break into.
Tip 3 – Don’t write that cold impersonal letter that you then copy off 100 times and fire off everywhere. Make out your application letter to the person directly you are wanting to be hired by, and include something about the company to show you have done your homework.
Tip 4 – It takes a great deal of commitment to change careers both financially and personally. Remember that most people don’t have the drive or the ambition to ever make it happen. Talk about the commitments you have made to show how serious you are about changing careers, The training and time you have invested to achieve your goals.
Lastly you need to differentiate yourself even more from the other applicants, and thats why our final tip is…
Tip 5 – Follow up – most people give up when they don’t hear anything back from a job application. Don’t be one of those people. There are a lot of different opinions of the time frames involved with a follow up letter however we recommend between 1 and 2 weeks.
If you have changed careers please share your experiences with our candidates in the comment form below.
When it comes to getting fired there are always two sides to the story, the employer’s side and the employee’s side. One thing is common to both though – the termination process is never a pleasant experience!
Trying to prove/disprove that a person was illegally fired (or unlawful dismissal as it is also known) is a complex and often expensive process for both sides. There are a lot of “grey” areas of employment law in many countries, meaning that interpretation is key to understanding why a dismissal should or should not have occurred.
In the majority of the United States employees are hired “at-will’. This translates to mean an employer can fire an employee for pretty much anything they like unless its illegal ( e.g race, gender or religion etc ).
Things are much more complicated in other parts of the world, and in countries such as Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and NZ, “just cause” normally has to be proven before any kind of dismissal can take place.
There are several phrases used and we briefly explain each one below.
Constructive dismissal
Constructive dismissal is when an employee feels they have no choice but to resign from their position. The kind of circumstances that could be construed as leading to constructive dismissal are things like..
Putting an extraordinary amount of pressure and/or demands upon an employee that they cannot possibly handle
Disciplinary procedures or demotion that were not warranted
Forced attendance of social events
Changes of employees job location
You get the picture, these are the kind of things where the employer starts to make life difficult for the employee in the hope that they will resign.
Unlawful dismissal (also known as unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal)
Unlawful dismissal is when the employees contract has been terminated for a reason that is not actually legal. Some of the situations where this could happen are..
Employer discrimination – the employer cannot fire someone because of race, religion etc
The employer not following the correct termination process
The employee refusing to break the law, and because of that getting sacked!
In New Zealand to fairly dismiss someone the following must happen:
For a dismissal without notice the employee must have done something very bad, e.g.
Stealing or dishonesty
Assaulting or fighting in the workplace
Breaking work rules
Purposefully disobeying a reasonable and lawful instruction from the employer
Bringing illegal substances to work
If the dismissal is due to poor work performance or bad behaviour/misconduct the following is a brief explanation of the kind of process that must be carried out.
A full investigation into the incident/behaviour must be carried out by the employer
The employee must be notified that their actions may result in termination if continued
A first oral warning, then a written warning and lastly a final written warning
There are also other rules like the employee must be given the right to have support throughout the process and the chance to improve and so on.
There are arguments for and against each scenario however I think that it is important to at least give employees the chance to fix their performance before sending them to the ranks of the unemployed. What do you think?
It’s something that happens to many of us in our jobs/careers. We get stuck in our comfort zone. That nice warm secure place where we can waltz in late for work, and head home early. We have the job fully under control and just go through the paces. Sleeping at night is easy, you don’t need to worry about new challenges or being asked to do something that you aren’t ready to deal with.
