Where can an IT career take me?

  
Jobs Employment, Career Job, Employment Job
by:Harvey Wiles

Today, virtually every company in the country relies on computers and computer technology for their business to function properly. No matter how large or small the company is, and regardless of the business domain, computers play a fundamental role in a firm's success.

As the use of computers continues to spread and as computer technology becomes ever more sophisticated, the need for IT professionals is greater than ever. Indeed, those with the relevant qualifications will find that the range of IT jobs and opportunities on offer is positively endless, and that these can lead to a long and fruitful career job. 

Because computers perform so many different functions and are used in such a vast array of professional contexts, IT professionals can enjoy a hugely varied career. Many newly-qualified experts start out in support roles, often in a customer service environment, and gain valuable experience by helping with basic technical problems. This type of support job can be extremely useful, as it often involves working alongside senior technicians who can provide excellent support and guidance.

After some time working in a support role, you will find that greater responsibility and new opportunities quickly come your way. You could find yourself running an office network, operating specialist systems or assisting in areas such as accounting, sales and administration. If the idea of working on a help desk does not appeal, you may find that you are better suited to a more practical role.

For example, you might prefer a role that involves going to businesses and setting up equipment, configuring networks and explaining to users how to benefit from their new facilities. This can be a challenging and rewarding job, as it allows you to use your own initiative, work in a range of environments and play an important part in the smooth running of a variety of different businesses.

Once you have gained more experience, you might decide to go it alone and work on a self-employed basis. This is ideal if you like the idea of working from home, and are motivated by the idea of helping local individuals and small companies with fairly modest requirements. This can prove to be a very lucrative and enjoyable way to earn a living, and there will never be a shortage of demand for your expertise.

Harvey Wiles is a freelance author writes articles on various topics. To learn more about IT Recruitment Agencies and Software Jobs he recommends you to visit http://www.randstadtechnologies.com

Some Tips For Going To A Career Fair

  
Jobs Employment, Career Job, Employment Job

by: Julia Sullivan

 

Are you looking to find a new job or a new career? If you are, you may want to give career job fairs a try, as they are a great way to not only find available jobs, but also acquire them.

As you likely already know, career fairs are large events where multiple employers come in search of qualified employees. In most cases, career fairs are held in public places, such as shopping malls or hotel lobbies. They are also often free to attend. While career fairs do vary, most employers are able to set up small booths, where they can display information about their company and the type of employees that they are looking for. Most employer booths have a company representative who is able to discuss their company's opportunities and accept resumes.

Although career fairs are a great way to find new employment opportunities, most individuals are unprepared for them. What many do not realize is that some employers actually interview and hire candidates right on the spot! For that reasons, you need to do more than just attend a career fair; it is something that you need to prepare for. To make the most out of career fairs, you will want to keep some of the below mentioned tips in mind.

Perhaps, the most important tip to remember is to bring copies of your resume with you; the more the better. Although you may not be interested in apply for every opportunity found at a career fair, you should enter into a career fair thinking that you would. If you are able to get an estimated number of how many employers would be attending the career fair in question, you are advised to bring that number of resume copies. Should you not handout all of your resume copies, you can save them and use them at a later date. Career fairs are not only used to educate you on local employment opportunities, but they are also designed to help you find and get a job.

Another tip that you should keep in mind is your appearance. Since many career fair employer participants give interviews on the spot, you may want to be prepared for one, in the physical sense. Wearing a pair or jeans or sweat pants will not make a good impression, but a simple pants suit or dress will work wonders. Many times, the employer representatives at a career fair are the ones who in charge of the company's hiring. Taking a few extra minutes to "fix yourself up," before you walk out the door is a great way to make a good impression at a career fair.

As previously mentioned, many career fair employer participants end up giving interviews on the spot. In fact, some actually hire new employees right on the spot as well. That is why it is extremely important that you prepare for an interview, just in case. In addition to dressing the part, you also want to make sure that you know how an interview works, namely the questions that you should ask or the responses that you should give. If you haven't had an interview in some time, it may be a good idea to refresh your memory. You can do this by asking a friend or a family member to give you a sample interview. Practice is the best way to make a good impression during an interview, even if it is an unexpected one at a career fair.

Another tip that is worth mentioning is going to career fairs alone. Most career fairs are scheduled during the daytime, often during the week. If you are a parent, you should make other arrangements for your child, as you don't want to be remembered as the applicant who brought their child along. In terms of friends, you may also want to bring a friend along with you for moral support. You are also advised against doing this. If you have a friend is who also job hunting, you can attend together, but be sure to go your separate ways. Employers are less likely to give you an interview if they see you are accompanied by a guest and a partner may unintentionally effect which employers you stop and see.

By keeping the above mentioned tips in mind, you should be able to make the most out a career fair. These tips may increase your chances of walking away from a career fair with a new job.

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5 More Job Tips - How to Find a Great New Job

  
Jobs Employment, Career Job, Employment Job

 by:John Hundley

In Part 1 "Laying the Groundwork" You did some soul searching created some lists - ending up with a list of marketable skills. Got that in front of you now? Good.
Job Tip # 1:  Narrow your Search
Now you need to match those skills with the kinds of jobs that will pay for them. Keep in mind there are lots of skills that transfer well to other jobs. For example:
I once ran across someone who helped her husband build a Real Estate brokerage. After 5 years, he left her and filed for divorce. She was devastated and jobless. Her instinct was to limit herself to real estate work but her skills took her far beyond that.

• She was great at marketing and could use those skills for any small business.
• She could manage any office - especially personal service types like insurance and investment fields.
• She could set appointments. Do phone work, web design, handle advertising, bookkeeping and a host of other tasks.

The question she should have been asking  is... which of those valuable skills does she want to offer and to whom?
Do a bit of brainstorming to come up with some kinds of jobs that may need the skills you have to offer.
At the end of this article you'll find a link to a resource page to help you match those skills to specific job descriptions if you get stuck.
Job Tip #2: Set Your Sights
By now, you should have a list of the kinds of jobs available. Next, make a list of potential employers. Again you want your list to be as broad as possible and include as many potential employers as you can.
After you've drawn up a list as extensive as possible - you should arrange them from most desirable to least. Don't worry - you need not write the list in stone so you can always change the order... or even cross some employers off entirely if you like.
Job Tip #3:  Interview Prospective Employers
From the list of potential employers, you want to narrow down your search again to a short list of potential employers. Forget about job postings. You are going after the job you want - "job openings".
Decide what companies you want to work for and why. Make sure you know what you like about these companies. Keep your eyes wide open here. Not even the "Best Place to Work in America" is perfect.
Now order your list from the most desirable to the least. Start at the top and begin your research. You want to know as much about the position as you can.
Talk to people working in the department. What's it like working in this position. What do you like about this company? How does it compare to other companies?
Talk to the department head. Ask him/her about job duties, work environment, expectations.  Your purpose is not to ask about a job but to research the kind of position you want to pursue.
If they are "not hiring" then find out if they anticipate an opening and if so when? Ask about the industry in general - is there a demand for skilled people? Is the demand expected to increase to decrease? Why?
Remain undaunted if they claim to have no openings right now. Most any decent ompany wants to grow. Growth means expansion and expansion means jobs.
If there is any interest in your skills at all, ask the department head they would like to see your resume and offer to submit it to their human resources department. (Or if they are small - right to the person you are talking too!) If they say "yes", submit the resume with a sticky note saying "Ms. X said she wanted to see this when you got it" or something so they are sure to forward it.
Job Tip #4: Tailor Your Cover Letter and Resume
When submitting your cover letter and resume - be sure to focus on the skills they are looking for. If they want someone to answer the phones - emphasize your phone skills! If they don't mention typing skills, it may not matter how great yours are.
For each job you decide to go after - you should have a resume and cover letter targeted for the requirements of that position. Make sure the employer sees up front that you have exactly what they are looking for!
At this point if you find yourself explaining why they should consider you in spite of your shortcomings - it may be time to recopied your qualifications.
Remember - the point here is to target jobs you are highly qualified for. If you find yourself lacking skills then you should either adjust your focus or improve your skill set.
Job Tip #5: Make the Wheel Squeak
Be sure to follow up with a thank you card and a phone call. While you don't want to become a pest, make it clear you want to work for this company and why.
If you know anyone who works for the company then they may be able to give the inside scoop on news. The more information you can get the better. Stay patient. The more desirable the company and the job, the willing you should be to bide your time.
Landing the exact job you want may not be easy but the payoff is worth some extra effort. As a bonus, this extra work may pay off with some surprising rewards you never thought possible.
You may find the company you were originally high on isn't all that. BUT there's a position open now at an even better firm. Plus once you can present a knowledge and enthusiastic prospect to a potential employer - you can suddenly find yourself as a "hot property".
The employer may be willing to go all out to bag a trophy employee - you!
Remember this ball started rolling because you decided to pursue something you would enjoy doing instead of settling for "whatever".  In the end you will be happier and your new employer will be overjoyed to have an enthusiastic employee who really wants to be there.


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ltimate Career Tips - How To Keep Your Spirits Up

 

  
Jobs Employment, Career Job, Employment Job

by:Sayid Aksa

 

Having a sudden shift in your job environment can be very traumatic, even when planned or foreseen. No one likes to be the person picked to get booted out of a company. You cant let the experience embitter you because it will make you clearly unemployable in the future. Instead, focus on the positive time spent building your skills and always try to exit gracefully. Ask if you can get references and tell them that you enjoyed your time with the company and you are sad to see it end.

There will be feelings of loss at some point. You might miss your colleagues, or at the very least, your paycheck. If you are older, you might start to think that people are discriminating against you because of your age. You might even feel betrayed, if the layoff was done in such a manner as to make you feel discarded instead of let go. These feelings can be overwhelming
when you have no plan in place and see no future in sight. That is why it is very important to be as proactive as you can in todays market for your own well-being and peace of mind.

If, however, you see yourself succumbing to feelings of ill-will or helplessness, seek out resources that can help you cope. Avoid using alcohol or drugs to ease your temporary feelings of discomfort and loss. Recognize that this is all they are temporary. If you cant seem to shake the blues, seek out a family member, a spouse, or even a health care professional who can help you get over your feelings of helplessness. Even a pastor can help, if you are a person of faith.

One thing you do not want to do is wallow in self-pity forever. You cant make a successful career change when you dont even believe in yourself to start with. While you have to pay some attention to the things that have gone wrong, dont forget to focus on what is going right for you. This can also help you to keep your confidence and your optimism when things go wrong.

Always look for something in each day that you can say you have achieved and feel good about, even if it is calling one person who is happy to hear from you.
With every new path there can be fear and trepidation. Those same emotions can be turned into a sense of exploration and excitement. Try to look on this change in your life as a new lease on life. You can do that, if you learn how to plan for the future and how to stay grounded in the present. You can remain positive knowing that your plan will eventually bear fruit, even if the going gets rougher or it takes a bit more time than you had planned. The fact is that just putting one foot in front of the other in a directed effort will eventually lead you straight to you goal.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/ultimate-career-tips-how-to-keep-your-spirits-up-584085.html#ixzz13Xb3G200
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Valuable Resume and Career Tips

  
Jobs Employment, Career Job, Employment Job

by: Ann Baehr

 

The following responses to popular questions are designed to facilitate an effective job search campaign, starting with the resume:

QUESTION: Do I need an objective? I need to do my resume, but I am not sure what kind of job I want. Do I need one? My friend who used to be my supervisor in my old job told me that I do not. Is she right?

ANSWER: There are many opinions on the subject. However, it is better to be safe than sorry. Either use the same resume with different objectives on each to show career focus. Or, indicate that you are seeking a position in a certain area, followed by "titles of interest include project manager, field service technician, and crew supervisor."

Many job seekers choose to leave off an objective to avoid limiting themselves to one position. By leaving the decision to an employer, your resume might get tossed. Remember, listing your objective is the courteous thing to do. It saves a hiring manager a lot of time by taking the guesswork out of deciding what you want to do.

Mention what you can do for an employer, not what the employer can do for you. Avoid writing: "Seeking a position utilizing my experience, skills and education offering career growth potential." Instead, write: "Seeking a position in sales or customer service where five years of related experience in pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries will be of value."

QUESTION: How do I put my resume on the Internet?

ANSWER: Many companies and job banks require that you fill out an on-line form or paste an ASCII version of your resume. Few will accept an email attachment. Copy and paste your resume into the "Paste Here" box on most job search sites or send an attachment if it is an option. In either case, you will need to set up an account providing a user name and password.

QUESTION: How do I create a plain text resume?

ANSWER: Many companies and job banks require a plain text or ASCII resume. This format is void of all formatting. But, there are lots of tricks to jazz it up.

Perform the Save As function to convert your formatted resume to a text file. You will be prompted that your resume will lose all formatting. Choose OK. You will now have a plain text version of your resume. You must rearrange the information if it becomes disorganized.

QUESTION: Should I bring my cover letter to the interview?
ANSWER: Do not bring your cover letter. Its purpose is to introduce you in your absence, communicate your interest in a position or company, highlight your experience, explain your situation, and request an interview.

However, do bring prints of your resume to the interview. Before the interview begins, announce, "Here are prints of my resume. I thought you might want to have them." That way the manager will have a good print to review, and to pass onto other managers, just in case he or she only has a faxed copy. View our cover letter samples and read our confidence-building article on interviewing.

QUESTION: What should I do after the interview?
ANSWER: Send a thank you letter to each person that interviewed you. This should be done within a day or two. Be sure to mention something discussed about your experience and qualifications in relation to the position. Remember, you will most likely be one of several candidates.

Unless they have made a decision to hire you already, you might not be on their mind. If the company does not contact you in more than a week, send a follow up letter to remind them of your interest in the position. These efforts can be especially effective if the hiring decision has not been made yet. It will set you apart from the other candidates who do not follow up. Before you go on your interview, read our confidence-building article on interviewing.

QUESTION: Do I fold or staple the resume and cover letter?
ANSWER: Do not fold, clip, or staple! Unfolding the resume is clumsy, and the information is not viewed 100 percent at a glance. You want your presentation to be received neatly. Place the letter on top, and insert into a flat 9 by 12 white envelope. In the light, you should see the letter through the back of the envelope. When the reader opens the envelope, they won't have to flip it over.

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New Career TipsNew Career Tips

 

  
Jobs Employment, Career Job, Employment Job

 by:Tony Jacowski

 

People usually look for a new career either when they are bored or when they are looking to do something new. Starting out a new career maybe scary for few people in the beginning, but it promises to be a completely new adventure in the long run.

Planning plays an essential part of success when embarking on a new career. The first thing to do when planning on a change in career is to check the prospects the new career has to offer you, both professionally as well as personally. It also includes forgetting the skills or experience that you have acquired from your old job.

It is obvious that if you've been working as an engineer for two years, you can't use those skills if you have thoughts of starting out a career in writing, unless you're writing on engineering subjects.

Given below are some of tips on starting out on a new career:

-Look for some support: Be sure that your family and friends support you with respect to your new career. Starting a new career doesn't mean that you should shut them out of your social life. Keep yourself surrounded by positive people who drive you to achieve your goals.

-Recognize your strengths and weaknesses: It may also mean that you need to know your likes and dislikes. The reason why you're starting out a new career may be because of something that you didn't like in your previous job. Don't repeat that mistake. See what you're good at and try to improve the areas where you lack potential. Try and find out your passion, since that is an ideal way to start a successful new career.

-Talk to people who have gone through your experience: Knowing what other people went through in similar experiences and how they have achieved success will prepare you in advance to encounter problems in the future. People who have had experience in this matter provide great advice on change in careers. Try and dig out information on what amount of commitment it takes to change and start a new career.

-Keep track of emerging careers: Due to innovative concepts, new career options are sprouting up everywhere you look. Do your homework and look out for new and exciting career options before settling in for any one. The IT and retail sectors are on a roll. You will find many career job options in these sectors.

-Groom yourself and create a good resume: Always keep your resume up-to-date - you never know when you'll need it. The first impression you make is often a lasting one.

Starting a new career can be stressful; but by following the tips above, you can give yourself the best chance for success.

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Gaming Career Tips and Important Gaming Facts

  
Jobs Employment, Career Job, Employment Job

by:Clifford McHanter

In the development of the internet society as well as computer upgrades and fast connections there are so many career opportunities in this present generation. Among the many opportunities nowadays comes from the game testing and character leveling as well as gaming development that could be placed as on of the highest paying jobs in the employment job industry and  it is also considered as on of the permanent earning job. This opportunity is a common word of some dedicated gaming enthusiasts. Probable candidates of these career opportunities are even gamers since they are young. They already spent almost of their hours in their personal computers. Gaming experts never stop even if they already reach a certain level or degree. They continuously play more game.
The fact is that, the gamers are continuously getting more money for playing games. Some gamers are playing the game that was not been played by other gaming enthusiast for free. Besides they are still earning hundreds even thousands of dollars to play such games. They have no specific course only the profile they needed are all games, games and more games.
In this present era the massive and continues development of different gaming industry with in few years that encourage more gaming manufacturer to develop more gaming factory. They are much aware of their gaming products because of other big competitors. In that case, they are hiring more gaming experts as well as enthusiast to be paid just to test their products on how it works.  Gaming experts are assigned not only on testing but also to identify different limitations, loopholes as well as negative feedbacks as they play the game. This strategy was been developed by the different manufacturers so that their game developers can improve more the new game. To qualify in this job as gaming developers you will need some technical as well as programming degrees. Both the gaming experts that test the game and gaming developers that develop the game are expected to be more analytical who can detect game mistakes in just a minute even seconds.
The archetypal game tester plays a very important role in the gaming industry. They also play the game repeatedly for hours to study details so that all errors are detected and will be given emphasis by gaming developers. The gaming testers are only testers of a game that was newly develop but after the game they will submit reports to evaluate the new game.
This Gaming Career is also for a life time career as long as you are still the enthusiasm to play different computer games. This is not hard to learn and very flexible in its nature. It can also bring satisfied state of your mind.
This career has no specific age limitations or any state boundaries. To become a gaming tester or gaming developer you should posse’s good English skills and internet expert. As well as this job needs great written English communication to adjust more in the job market.
Let us enjoy this present generation. GAME is just a GAME but then it could also give you extra income even stable career opportunity. Never limit your self on what you already see; EXLORE the new trend in gaming industry.

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