Need a mentor How to find (and keep) one -

Need a mentor How to find (and keep) one - When you hear about someone looking for a mentor, you probably think about young people seeking an older and wiser, senior person to show them the ropes. Today, the definition of mentorship includes people at all ages and experience levels; mentors arent just for twenty-somethings anymore. If youre in your 40s, can a mentor help you? University of Georgia professor of industrial-organizational psychology, Lillian Eby, Ph.D, noted, Obtaining a mentor is an important career development experience for individuals. Research indicates that mentored individuals perform better on the job, advance more rapidly within the organization, and report more job and career satisfaction. No matter your age, it cant hurt to find someone who will encourage and you in your professional goals, help build your confidence, remind you what youre good at and suggest ways for you to improve. How can you find a mentor in mid-career? Unlike young interns, fresh out of school, youll probably need to do a little more work to identify the right mentor for you. Follow these tips to get on the right path to a positive mentoring relationship: 1. Identify your goals and mentoring needs. You dont want to be the lost soul seeking guidance and direction. At this stage of your career, youll want to narrow down your targets and decide what you want next. Until you wrap your mind about your goals, it will be difficult to identify a mentor who can successfully help you accomplish them. 2. Know what you offer. You should know a thing or two about what you offer. A mentoring relationship should be mutually productive, or even reciprocal. You have something to offer a mentor in return for his or her ideas; make sure to solidify this in your mind before you seek someone to partner with you. 3. Create a plan. Before you ask someone to meet with you on a regular basis, plan out some discussion topics. While people tend to enjoy talking about themselves and sharing their own expertise, be sure to make it clear you envision the meetings and relationship will be a two-way street, with each party learning and contributing. 4. Dont limit yourself to mentors inside your organization. While it would be great to learn from a mentor in your workplace, consider working with someone who is outside the four walls of your office. Be sure to cast a wide net for your ideal mentor. Try to find someone who will energize you with ideas and be able to help you realize your own potential. Dont forget to check with your alumni association. Sometimes colleges and universities have formal mentoring programs, and you may be able to sign up to be matched with a suitable contact. 5. Recognize that mentors come in all ages. When you identify topics where you need mentoring, you may realize that you will benefit from a mentoring relationship with someone younger than you. This type of mentorship has become very common. The Wall Street Journal reported that companies institute programs to pair their more senior workers with younger employees who understand technology, social media and the latest workplace trends. Spending time with younger workers may be just the thing to help energize you with new viewpoints and new skills. 6. Ramp up your networking. If finding a mentor isnt a slam dunk, be sure to increase your networking efforts, both in person and online. If you havent been attending professional meetings or mixers, now is the time to start. If youve been thinking of volunteering for a cause you believe in, get started! These opportunities to meet people in person could expand your pool of potential mentors. However, dont forget virtual networking is a great way to meet new people, too. Consider jumping into social networking if you havent already done so. You may be surprised by how generous your networking contacts who dont even know you in person can be when it comes to providing support, encouragement and mentoring. With Skype and online technology, your mentor can be halfway around the world, or in your own neighborhood. Remember, we are all busy. If you want to work with someone, you need to follow up. Its up to you to keep in touch, schedule (or re-schedule) meetings and make times to touch base to discuss topics of interest to both mentor and mentee. 7. Give back. Look for opportunities to serve as a mentor to other people. Its a great way to continue to learn and grow, and it is always nice to take a leadership role and to help someone else succeed. 8. Be appreciative. While most people who agree to advise you and boost your career are not looking for trinkets or gifts, it cant hurt to consider donating to your mentors favorite charity, sponsoring him or her if hes raising money for a cause, or agreeing to volunteer with him or her at a charitable event. Most people will appreciate these gestures.

The Upside to Technical Skills Resume

The Upside to Technical Skills Resume Understanding Technical Skills Resume Sure, there probably are some recruiters and hiring managers around who will discover that it's funny or charming. Below, you will discover more info about the kind of computer skills employers commonly start looking for in job applicants. Show the employer you have the skills the business requirements. Computer skills comprise the great majority of hard skills that companies desire away from their employees. Soft abilities, on the flip side, aren't simple to quantify. They are a bit more vague and open to interpretation. In the majority of instances, your soft skills can boost your hard skills. Job-specific skills vary dependent on the position. Where to Find Technical Skills Resume Below you'll discover lists of basic computer abilities. Accounting computer software skills are important if you're applying for positions in the finance or company sectors. Alongside basic understanding of spre adsheets, having data visualization skills might also be useful in a data-heavy function. A good way to ascertain the most essential software skills for a resume is to peruse the work description. So if you're an administrative assistant then you're probably doing multitasking in your day-to-day life. To begin with, if you're seeing a great deal of hard skills that you just don't have, it can be far better move on to the next position. Hard skills can be classified in various ways, depending upon your job title. A Key Skills section, on the flip side, is listed on top of a resume. Writing skills are also critical for many diverse jobs. Hardware skills permit you to physically operate a computer. If you don't have basic computer skills then it is going to be difficult for you to find work. You don't have the fundamental computer skills you will need to receive the job that you desire. In addition to the practical demand for developers in just about any company, programming skills demonstrate advanced problem solving skills that could donate to a well-rounded professional. That means you should specify telephonic skills as one of the significant skill set you need to acquire administrative assistant job in any organization.

The Best Advice For A Career Change - Work It Daily

The Best Advice For A Career Change - Work It Daily If you’ve been out of work for a while, you may decide what you need is a career change. The success of that approach depends on your answers to five important questions. Related: Resume Tips For A Career Change First, are you considering a change because you do not like your current work situation? It may make more sense to look for another work situation than to leave your career. The Best Advice For A Career Change As a Coach and Professional Resume Writer for more than 10 years, I have found many folks who confuse unhappiness with their current situation as unhappiness with their career choice. There is a difference. I can help you determine which change is right for you. Second, if you have any doubts about a career change, are you sure you have exhausted every avenue to advance in your current career? Third, if you are determined on a change, are you moving into a career you can feel passionate about? If you are depressed about the prospect of changeâ€"for example, if you are leaving behind the only work that gives you joyâ€"you cannot present yourself well at interviews. Your lack of passion shows. That type of career change makes your job search harder, not easier. Fourth are your skills transferrable? If you need help presenting your skills and achievements in their best light, get help from a professional. Fifth, if you do not have the current skills to make the final career change you want, do you know what steps to take to qualify for the career you want? A career change should be exciting and fulfilling... not stressful. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts 15 Questions To Ask Before Making A Career Change 3 Signs It’s Time For A Career Change 3 Very Real Reasons You Should Make A Career Shift Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today! The Best Advice For A Career Change - Work It Daily If you’ve been out of work for a while, you may decide what you need is a career change. The success of that approach depends on your answers to five important questions. Related: Resume Tips For A Career Change First, are you considering a change because you do not like your current work situation? It may make more sense to look for another work situation than to leave your career. The Best Advice For A Career Change As a Coach and Professional Resume Writer for more than 10 years, I have found many folks who confuse unhappiness with their current situation as unhappiness with their career choice. There is a difference. I can help you determine which change is right for you. Second, if you have any doubts about a career change, are you sure you have exhausted every avenue to advance in your current career? Third, if you are determined on a change, are you moving into a career you can feel passionate about? If you are depressed about the prospect of changeâ€"for example, if you are leaving behind the only work that gives you joyâ€"you cannot present yourself well at interviews. Your lack of passion shows. That type of career change makes your job search harder, not easier. Fourth are your skills transferable? If you need help presenting your skills and achievements in their best light, get help from a professional. Fifth, if you do not have the current skills to make the final career change you want, do you know what steps to take to qualify for the career you want? A career change should be exciting and fulfilling... not stressful. This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts 15 Questions To Ask Before Making A Career Change 3 Signs It’s Time For A Career Change 3 Very Real Reasons You Should Make A Career Shift Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!