From Planning to Teaching

From Planning to Teaching Success Story > From: Job To: Job From Planning to Teaching “The more money I earned, the less happy I felt.” * From Planning to Teaching When Christopher Harris hadan unexpected bereavement, he knew he couldn't waste another minute in an unfulfilling career. So,he went back to university, rediscovered his love of learning, and after a long, challenging career change journey, is feeling energised again. This is his story. What work were you doing previously? I was a Planning Manager in the chilled food industry. I ran a department that made sure all the packaging and ingredients were available for the production schedules and quantities that we determined. It was the same objective every day, make sure that the customers got all their product orders on time at the depots. It regularly involved 50-hour plus working weeks, going back into work in the evenings, extra weekends, and Christmas. What are you doing now? I have a place on a teacher training course for this September to learn how to teach Computer Science at secondary level. Why did you change? Even though I was doing relatively well in my career, it didn't feel satisfying. In fact, the more money I earned, the less happy I felt. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I was working for a company that I almost instantly regretted going to work for and sadly my mother unexpectedly passed away about five months after joining. I knuckled down and put up with the job for another nine months, but then I knew I had to change something. My mother saved and saved for retirement and died at 61. I couldn't help but feel she she'd somehow 'missed out' on what she'd been waiting for. I decided I wouldn't do the same. Are you happy with the change? It's actually taken around six years to make the whole transition and an incredible amount of work. Am I happy that I'm weeks away from achieving the goal I've worked so hard for? You bet! I've found it's given me a new lease of life. I'm fascinated by my subject, and I feel energised again rather than facing a trudge towards retirement. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I've worked in the past with some great people who I try and keep in touch with. I miss them a lot more than the job. I don't miss the ridiculous working hours that were expected of me. How did you go about making the shift? Even though I have a first degree in Business from many years ago, I had to start another degree, this time with the Open University, in Computing and IT. At first, I was fortunate that I could afford some time off but later I had to work and study at the same time, which was very challenging. I didn't know exactly what I would do with the degree; I just planned to make a change. It wasn't until I was halfway through that I paid attention to the fact there was a change in the schools curriculum (less ICT, more Computer Science) and as I progressed through the course I also saw that the government were giving bigger and bigger bursaries for computing graduates. I volunteered in a school for a few weeks and realised it was enjoyable being in a classroom. I enjoyed talking about a subject that I was learning about, and I began to appreciate how much enjoyment I was getting from doing this. I finally finished my degree in October 2015 and had to await my award in December. I'd already applied for a teacher training place in October on the premise that I should get at least a 2:1. In December I was notified that I'd narrowly missed a 1st and had achieved the 2:1 that was going to get me a place on the course. I was elated; it still puts a smile on my face to think about it now! What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? Working and studying is extremely stressful at times. I felt under constant time pressure and would get up early in the morning to go to work and work later in the evening on a complex assignment or, in particular, my dissertation. I should have planned my 'free time' better. I didn't do enough 'fun' things with the family and that would have helped me cope better and relax. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I was helped by family and had to borrow to pay fees. It is a burden but I realised that having enough money to get by was what was important. The constant chase for more money was actually making me unhappy. I will pay back what I owe over time but the happiness that will come from doing and talking about something that fascinates me is worth the cost. What was the most difficult thing about changing? The cost. I started studying the year before the fees rose dramatically and my degree 'only' cost £6,500. I feel sorry for those students that have to pay the fees now. Everything else I could give: I was motivated, I gave it my time, I had a family that supported me and wanted me to succeed. What help did you get? The Open University are great. There are lots of people there that want you to succeed and understand that it's difficult doing a part-time course at a distance. They are so good (and I have found a new passion for learning) that I have continued to study with them at postgraduate level. What have you learnt in the process? That I have the determination to do anything I want. All I need is the goal and I can work towards it. I love learning and I hope to keep on studying. I'm glad that I'm joining a profession that encourages further study! What resources would you recommend to others? The Open University has plenty of free resources and course material to help you see how you might enjoy studying again. What do you wish you'd done differently? I wish I had started the change sooner (I waited until my late 30s to start). And I wish my mum had been able to see me get a good degree this time round; she would have been chuffed. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Don't wait. Even if you think it will take a long time (it has taken me nearly six years to get the degree and apply for training), if you set out a plan and keep setting yourself milestones to achieve, you can do it. It is worth it. If I could bottle how I feel, you would want to buy it. Trust me. What lessons could you take from Christopher's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Safe and Sound Laptop Protection Tips Made Easy

Safe and Sound Laptop Protection Tips Made Easy Its Christmas. You just got a sweet new laptop or tablet that you are ready to rule the world with. The last thing you want is for something to happen to it, rendering it inoperable by New Years. Laptop protection should be a priority against those individuals that  have multiple ways to disrupt your activities. Sensitive data is accessible the moment you connect to the Internet. Intrusions and viruses can lead to serious financial setbacks. You may not be able to prevent every attack but there are laptop protection tips to help keep you keep safe and sound. The Hardware Level Don’t think your laptop is safe just because you’re careful with how you connect to the Web. Laptop protection also extends to physical intrusions and attacks. There is always a chance of having your laptop stolen when in public. Laptop protection, on a hardware level, comes down to being basically aware of your surroundings. ·   Don’t flaunt your gadgets and electronics in public, no matter how cool they are. ·   Never leave your laptop at a table when in public spaces (like coffee shops) ·   Use robust passwords and physical locks on your computer to prevent theft ·   Store your computer in a safe location if you’ll be away for some time ·   Create a regular backup system to protect your data Network security is one of the best strategies to protect your computer. Using VPN routers/services, firewalls, and script blockers are available to prevent sensitive information landing in the hands of hackers. By shutting off particular ports and scripts, you will stop most of the malicious attacks that come through corrupted code and exploits. Laptop protection is simpler than most people think, and it is a vital tool in saving your data, your money, and your (social) life.

Personal Branding Online and Offline - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Online and Offline - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career It’s estimated that the work force is comprised of approximately one-third Millennials, one-third GenX, and one-third Boomers â€" with a few Traditionalists not ready to walk off the playing field. Its a little funky, frankly. You are in one of those groups. Regardless of your age or time in the workplace, in your pursuit to be better, you have to separate yourself from contenders in a competitive environment. That goes whether you are working face-to-face or on your laptop, desktop, tablet, or mobile device. You have to put yourself out there, elevate your game, and stand-out even when they can’t see you. Regardless of your age or stage in your career and the change in the work force, one thing remains the same. You can not ignore the need  be unsurpassed at your job: brilliant, inspiring, authentic, skilled, undaunted, composed, honest, and a good example to emulate. Well, you can, until you get hammered and end up having your next job title be “assistant to the summer intern” and get written off with three words, “considered not ready.” To be a contender today you have to be that person uniformly online as well as offline thats personal branding.

What is Gen Zs Attitude Towards Their Future Careers

What is Gen Zs Attitude Towards Their Future Careers Employer branding experts, Universum have recently released the findings of a survey they conducted investigating the attitudes that young people (born between 1996 and 2000) have towards their future careers, fears about work and thoughts about higher education. Gen Z are the most digital savvy generation yet and are the first to have grown up their entire lives with easy access to information and a means of communicating online. Their confidence with technology empowers them and broadens their  knowledge on the world and the options available to them. Though most of them are still in school, they will make up a large portion of our workforce in the not so distant future. So how can employers go about attracting this group  who feel like anything is possible and have such a keen interest in entrepreneurship and what do these individuals expect of their careers? Optimistic spirit: 65% are hopeful about the future; however they are less optimistic about their standard of living that Gen Y. Just over half of Gen Z believe they will surpass that of their parents, compared to 71% of Gen Y. How will employers support the optimism and creativity that runs through this generation?   Values at work: 36%  fear they won’t find a job that matches their personality.   35% are worried that they will get stuck with no development opportunities. A further 28% are concerned that they wont realise  their own career goals. Its essential that employers recognise the need for this generation to express their personality to work and offer them the chance to grow professionally in their company. University alternatives: Only 15 %  accept the idea of foregoing university outright, but 47 percent say they would “maybe” consider the notion of joining the workforce instead of pursuing college/university. Employers may rethink the employer/employee relationship, reaching out earlier and offering more on-the-job education than is typical today. Top career goals: The top career goals of the generation are a good work-life balance and job security and stability. Work-life balance is most important to those in Hong Kong and Malaysia. Entrepreneurial mindset: An impressive 55% say they are interested in starting their own company â€" a figure that’s even higher in emerging markets. Employers must work hard to convince them of their value these individuals can bring to a company. They may be won over by an innovative culture and freedom in their work. Social selectivity: Social media seems an easy way to reach Gen Z, but employers must proceed with care. 83% are open to being contacted by a future employer via social media. However 59% say that they do not want to see ads from employers on there. [Top Image Credit: Shutterstock]

How To Find The Best Resume Writing Services

How To Find The Best Resume Writing ServicesIf you are new to the job market and have yet to take advantage of the services of a resume writing company, do yourself a favor and start looking into what is out there now. There are many different resources available that can help your business flourish.The most common method of using these types of services involves sending out as many of your resume samples as possible to different job sites that you have not seen yet. These days there are just too many job sites to give each one your attention, and they are all competing for your resume. This means that you need to be able to get your name out there. As long as you use the right resources, this should not be a problem.Resume writing services can also include doing the legwork for you. They will do the typing for you, do the webbing, graphics, and other things that are needed to make your resume stand out from the crowd.Now, while some companies might think that this is just going to t ake away from their overall profit, it is actually going to allow them to hire more people for the same amount of money that they would have used for just the resume writing. These services are also affordable so you do not have to worry about overspending or blowing your budget.You also need to take advantage of all of the opportunities that resume writing services have to offer you. You want to be able to find a company that offers everything that you need to boost your business and make it grow. After all, this is one of the most important ways to create a solid resume for you.Resume writing services can also keep track of your education and your work history. These will help you to customize your resume, as well as assist in making sure that your job search goes as smoothly as possible.It is nice to know that if you do not have the time to put into searching for a new job, you can use these types of services to help you find them. It also gives you the opportunity to ensure that you do not waste valuable time with businesses that do not care about you and your job search efforts.Resume writing services are great ways to make sure that you get your next job quickly and easily. Because they take the stress out of your job search, they will save you time, which will help to increase your chance of finding the perfect job for you.

Doing business in the nude - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Doing business in the nude - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog If you have to be naked, youd better be buff. This quote is from The Naked Corporation by Don Tapscott and David Ticoll, one of the books Im currently reading. They argue (and quite convincingly so) that businesses are entering an age of transparency, ie. that some of the major forces affecting markets and societies increasingly favor those organizations who are open and honest. That in an age where the cost of communication is constantly dropping, the world most likely WILL know what goes on inside your organization whether you want it or not. Heres my take on this: Yaaaaaaay!!! Openness and transparency are good, and its hard to be happy and enjoy your job in a company that requires you to keep too many secrets. I think our natural state is to be open and share information, and we can relax more when were allowed to do that. For an additional reason why transparency works, read Non zero by Robert Wright. This book argues that those who cooperate will always triumph over those who battle each other, not in every case but in the long run. And those who can be open and transparent can cooperate way more effectively than those who keep everything secret. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Automated Emails You Should Be Sending Today

Automated Emails You Should Be Sending Today Day in and day out, marketers have a lot of things they need to accomplish to have a productive day. Some of these are repetitive but nonetheless essential to the overall workflow. With email marketing automation software available in the market, it’s now more efficient to send our campaigns when needed. In fact, having a marketing automation software in your company proves to be beneficial for everyone. Not only can the company minimize on costs, it can also help the employees become more creative and efficient in executing tasks. With email marketing automation software at hand, it can help you understand the available data to make your campaigns ultra-targeted to the correct list of customers. Once there’s an understanding of your current list of customers, it’s time to plot out the automated emails you should be sending to keep them in the loop. Check out this list of automated emails that can help you generate leads and boost revenue. Welcome Email After signing up in your site, sending a welcome email is a great way to make your customer feel that they are part of a community. It’s an opportunity to showcase what’s in store for them exclusive content, special promos, updates on the latest happening and much more! Check out the templates available from your email marketing automation software so you know the options you have at your disposal. First Timers Sending an email to first timers can be a great way to convert them to purchase. An email for first timers can include special promo codes or offers that’s only valid for them. Not only does this make them feel special but also creates an opportunity for you to convert them to buy. Re-engagement After some time, customers may be inactive due to a number of reasons. Sending an email to re-engage with them through an offer or news on the latest products among others can be a great way to spark interest in them to check out your business once again. Lead Nurturing Some prospects take their time before deciding to purchase. Maximize your email marketing automation software by sending out an email to nudge your contacts closer to a purchase. You can offer more information to them through infographs, a free eBook or a video so they could further appreciate what your business has to offer. Event Announcement or Updates It’s also good to keep your contacts in the loop. Update them whenever you have an event that’s open to the public. From here, you get to have a chance to connect to them on a personal level. You can draw insight, comments, feedback and a better understanding of you can improve your products or services. Upsell Keeping in touch with your customers is a great way to take care of them. Sometimes, you can even use this connection to upsell. You can offer a pair of products for a more affordable price or share a content and mention that this is best paired with one of your services. There a multitude of ways you can upsell. If it doesn’t go your way, at least you got the message across and may trigger a repeat purchase instead. Transactional A good number of things can be done online nowadays. To keep track of purchases, customers appreciate it if they have a record they could go back to like an official receipt or contact details they can ask help from. Sending them a transactional email is a good way to keep your customers informed about their purchase. You can even squeeze in a “recommended” section to pique their interest and hopefully spark another purchase. Abandoned Cart Sometimes, customers suddenly abandon their cart. To push for a sale, you can send an email asking if they want to continue their purchase or browse for other options. Either way, this is an important email to send out as it can trigger engagement or purchase that’s both good for your business. Feedback/Comment Asking for feedback is a great to improve your services. And good service can lead to more satisfied customers! From time to time, try sending out an email to solicit for feedback or ask for customer’s experiences so you can have an overview of what’s working and what needs improvement. You’d be surprised to how many people are sometimes willing to answer and provide insight! Thank You Who doesn’t want a little appreciation from time to time? Send those thank yous out to your customers for completing a purchase, answering a survey or filling out a form. Whatever action they took, a simple thank you can go a long way! Study your email marketing automation software to know how to send one Thank You email today. Wrap Up As you’ve seen, there’s so many automated emails you can send out today to generate leads and boost revenue. That’s why it’s important to automate your tasks, like sending out email campaigns. Check the market out to know which email marketing automation software suits your budget and needs. Read reviews to know if it fits your brand personality and has a wide array of templates you can choose from. When implemented appropriately, these emails can surely help you meet your objectives in no time! Author Bio:  Kimberly Maceda is a Content Writer for ActiveTrail. She writes for some top online marketing sites and blogging advice on email marketing and marketing automation. Activetrail is a leading provider of professional-grade email marketing and automation software for growing businesses. Hidden Content