Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Why You Need to Be on LinkedIn Even When You Have a Job

Why You Need to Be on LinkedIn Even When You Have a JobWhy You Need to Be on LinkedIn Even When You Have a JobA question I frequently get when training job seekers on using social media is Wont my boss think Im looking for another job if Im using LinkedIn?With over 180 million LinkedIn users in the world, I honestly dont think that even half of them are actively seeking work. More than likely, they are happily employed and happily networking. It is a mistake to think of LinkedIn as a giant job board and your profile as just another resume. The power of any social networking tool is in the actual networking.So if you are currently employed and not taking your LinkedIn use seriously, youre making a grave mistake. Heres why.You need to have a large network so you can use it laterImagine you just got laid off. And you have 10 people in your LinkedIn network. You suddenly realize that you should have invested more in getting to know people. So you start to add people like crazy to your ne twork.If LinkedIn doesnt blacklist you for suspicious behavior, then the droves of new people you are inviting to your network will question your intentions. They might think, I havent heard from this guy in 10 years, now all of a sudden hes lost his job and wants to connect. What does he want from me?Its always better to dig your well before you need to drink from it. If you havent been building social equity with your network, youll have little to draw from later. So dont wait until you need it. Build a strong network on LinkedIn now. Be active. Provide value. Stay in touch.Opportunities come to you. Recruiters look for passive candidatesWhen a company hires a contract recruiter to fill a job requisition, that company isnt looking for someone unemployed. They wouldnt need to hire a contract recruiter for that. There are enough unemployed people to fill every single job vacancy in the country. What the organization needs is someone who is not actively looking, called a passive cand idate.In other words, the recruiter is paid to steal and pillage from competitive companies, convince the happily employed person that the grass is greener and get a huge commission from the new hire. Companies who use these types of recruiters are willing to pay you more than what you are making now in buchen to snatch you away from your cushy job. If you arent on LinkedIn, you are reducing your chances of being discovered and having the opportunity to make more money.Industry groups can offer you value and connectionGroups on LinkedIn have really matured. Ive found that the discussions on groups are more engaging, people are less shy about speaking their minds, and the content is improving in quality. Of course this depends on the group this is just from my own experience. However, if you find the right groups in which to participate, the value to your network - and the knowledge youll gain - is huge.Not only will you be exposed to nachrichtensendung, and new ideas, but youll ha ve a chance to demonstrate your expertise through commenting and discussion. Sometime alliances are formed. For example, I was part of a group whose leader would entice you to click links to download some attractive research reports. But in order to download each report, you had to fill out a lot of personal information. I found this practice annoying and said so. Pretty soon, others in the group were agreeing with me. One guy in particular contacted me and we hit it off. Turns out we do similar things, but on separate continents. Thus both of our networks grew stronger.Keep your resume up to date just in caseA resume is a static thing. You write it once when you are actively looking for work. You get your job. Then you forget about it. LinkedIn profiles tend to stay up to date with greater accuracy than any other online profile. Recruiters know this. They know that your profile will be more accurate than your five-year-old resume.When you keep your profile up to date, writing your new resume will be that much easier. Instead of staring at a blank piece of paper trying to remember your start and stop dates, youll just check your profile and know. Look, you never know when youll need a resume. Most employment these days is at-will. Your company doesnt need any reason to let you go tomorrow. Be ready.Read the news feed for your industryThe average time spent on LinkedIn is just over four minutes per visit. The company finds this dismal fact upsetting, and does what it can to keep you on. And some of the ways it does that are actually quite good. You can get customized news delivered daily. Based on your industry, the types of articles you share, and who is in your network, your daily news feed is likely going to inform you of things you should know about your job.On many occasions, Ive found trending news items that I was blind to until I saw them on LinkedIn. You can customize how your news is displayed and what categories you are interested in reading about. M y favorite is the ability to see what news items are trending in my own network. Id like to know what my peers are reading. Wouldnt you?

Thursday, December 26, 2019

7 tips for dialing down the toxicity in your life right now

7 tips for dialing down the toxicity in your life right now7 tips for dialing down the toxicity in your life right nowIf you thought that the biggest word of 2018 was extra or woke, were about to rock your world. The real number-one word of the year?Toxic, at least according to theOxford English Dictionary. And whether you use it to describe friendships,the way we treat the environment, or your relationship with the news, it probably crops up in your own life.Knowing that toxicity has become so ever-present that it was recognized by Oxford, we want more than ever to help minimize it for you. Lifes too short to be toxic We reached out to relationship and mental health experts for their advice for keeping things positive - heres what they had to say.1. Take stock of your relationshipsToxicity can easily creep into almost any relationship. If you have a sneaking suspicion that the bad vibes youve been feeling lately are actually rooted in toxicity, you need to evaluate how you relate t o everyone who is closest to you.Licensed professional counselor and coachAnahid Lisa Derbabianrecommends that you consider how mutually respectful, supportive, safe, and positive each of your relationships is. This kind of assessment can help you figure out where the toxicity needs to be tackled.2. Beware of contagious attitudes and emotionsLike laughter and yawning, feelings and moods can be catching - and that can be dangerous.Surrounding yourself with toxic people means you end up toxic,Happy Brain Sciencechief happiness officer Scott Crabtree says. Surrounding yourself with positive people means you end up more positive. Once youve identified the relationships that are especially toxic in your universe, you might consider stepping back from them so youre not absorbing the negative.3. Make a listWhile relationships are a major source of toxicity for many people, they arent theonlysource. Grab a piece of paper and make a list of all of the things and all of the people that may b e bringing you down.A list that identifies the relationships and situations that are toxic for you allows you to make clear choices when faced with those circumstances, rather than reacting automatically, author and heart healing coachSusyn Reevetells us. Start by listing the people and circumstances you are continually complaining about. Remember to include complaints and judgments you continually make about yourself4. Dont be afraid of boundariesThe word boundaries in itself may already be giving you a sinking feeling.Boundaries with the people I love? Boundaries that might keep me from my work or my passions? YikesThink again Once youve identified where things are getting toxic in your life, its time to set your fear of boundaries aside.Strong boundaries ensure that you are the protector of your own personal space and they tell others how to respect those zones, self-care coach andBoundaries With SoulauthorCarley Schweetsays. Without boundaries, its easy for toxicity to not only slip into your life, but also to negatively affect you on many levels.Once youve come around to the idea of establishing those boundaries, its time to let practice make perfect.Life coach and licensed therapistLatasha Matthewsencourages you to take as many opportunities as possible to hone this tricky craft. Dont sit back and let negative comments or unreasonable asks pass you by. Instead, set a boundary Everyone has their own personal boundary-setting style, so give yourself the time and space to figure out yours.5. Cut back on social mediaAt this point, youre probably sick of hearing that minimizing your time scrolling the gram is the root of all of your problems, but youre going to have to hear it one more time, because licensed clinical psychologistRamaniDurvasulasays its a great way to minimize toxicity. The comparison game that social media has so many of us playing can breed that toxicity inside your own brain. And how can you fight it on the outside if its running wild inter nally?6. Practice saying no.Glacier Wellnesshealth and wellness expert Samantha Morrison calls saying no your best weapon in the fight against toxicity. obere extremitt yourself When you can be your own biggest advocate and confidently excuse yourself from certain commitments or conversations, you begin to take some of the power away from the negative forces that have previously gotten you down.7. Seek out a positive communityBattling toxicity isnt just about eliminating negative influences and cutting the cord on tricky relationships. There are things you can add to your life to dial it back as well. Find a book club, workout group, craft club, or volunteer committee thats all positive. Whatever form it takes, the goal is to surround yourself with people who have achieved something that you are striving for or who are also working toward those same goals, licensed therapistDaniel Olavarriatells us. You will find that the more you surround yourself with positive influences, the less room there tends to be for toxicity in your life.This article was originally published on Brit + Co.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

How to Write LinkedIn Headlines That Work (and Dont Sound Icky)

How to Write LinkedIn Headlines That Work (and Dont Sound Icky) How to Write LinkedIn Headlines That Work (and Dont Sound Icky) Today the Personal Branding Blog covers the need to write a compelling LinkedIn headline.I agree with the premise. Your headline is one of the most important things about your profile. You could spend hours writing great content but the headline is what most people will see when they search. Theyll scan it quickly and then theyll decide whether to read the rest of your profile, or just move on to someone else.But I disagree with the advice given on exactly how to write a strong headline because I think it fundamentally misunderstands the target audience for your profile and how to impress them.Remember, professional recruiters surf LinkedIn looking for candidates. When they do this, they have very specific positions in mind, and they usually have very clear criteria. In order to grab their attention, your headline needs to tell them exactly what they need to know and yet Personal Branding Blog singles out this headline as being particularly strongVisionary Results-Driven Senior abverkauf ExecutiveReally? To me that just sounds cheesy and overly self-promotional. I dont think that experienced recruiters or senior hiring executives are interested in this kind of resume speak. I think they want to know who you are and what youve done. Theyll decide whether they think youre a visionary after theyve spoken to you youre never going to convince them of it on LinkedInWhen I write LinkedIn headlines for my clients, I focus on summarizing their story clearly and succinctly. So for a sales executive in the entertainment industry (the profession discussed in the post) Id prefer to see something like thisSales executive with 15+ years in the entertainment industry ABC, NBC, Sony Music Warner Bros MBA, WhartonThis headline tells a recruiter all he needs to know to click through and learn more and it does it without being icky and boastful.As you build your LinkedIn profile, remember that recruiters dont give two hoots about your personal brand. They only care about whether you fit the criteria for the position they are currently trying to fill. Use the headline to make sure they know that you doPS If you are ready to really get the most out of LinkedIn, check out The Blue Sky Guide to LinkedIn. This downloadable e-book takes you step-by-step through the site, with detailed instructions and screenshots on everything from setting up an effective profile through making connections all the way to understanding the many additional benefits the site has to offer. Once you learn how to use LinkedIn properly, youll never leave.

Monday, December 16, 2019

3 leadership goals to set for each stage of your career

3 leadership goals to set for each stage of your career3 leadership goals to set for each stage of your careerEveryone wants to advance forward in their career, but sometimes that can be easier said than done. You have to set goals and determine certain benchmarks for yourself in order to prove that you have what it takes to move up the ladder.Whether youre working in an entry-level sttte or advancing to a junior executive role, being a leader is about continually developing and finessing hard and soft skills. Those hardleadership skillsare the ones that helped you get hired - having the proven ability to perform your duties within a specific position - while soft skills tie in more with likeability and personality. The goals you have will ultimately shift as you continue to advance forward. Here are the key areas to focus on in order to become a well-rounded leader.Entry level Develop rapportwith employeesMost employees that start off in entry-level positions are hungry to learn a nd eager to please. They are willing to go above and beyond in the duties required of them, often burying themselves in their work. However, they should also be willing to leave the cubicle and focus on soft skills like building relationships with their fellow coworkers.Developing these kinds of relationships does more than allow you to engage with everyone and be considered likable because of it. Communication is considered to be one Fundamental 4 core leadership skills for every career. If you want to become a successful leader, you need to be able to write clearly, speak with clarity, and use active listening behaviors when communicating with your team.What does developing an early rapport with other team members do for you in the long ansturm?It allows you to better understand how to connect with employees from all walks of life.A good communicator comes across as competent, which inspires employees to trust and believe in you.You create a reputation for yourself as someone who is present with your team.Junior level Articulate your einbildungYouve progressed a little further up the career ladder by now. You understand what youre doing and have established solid relationships with your team. Now, its time to develop the vision you have for the department you work in - and the company overall - and work onthe qualities of a great leader.How should you define your vision? Ideally, it should be clear, concise, and realistic to keep your team on the same page. Identify core values to establish your personal vision. Ideally, these values should align with the beliefs that matter most to you. Once youve figured out what your values are, it will be much easier to determine your vision and set your goals. Your team is likely to start seeing you as a leader, thanks to how passionate your vision is, and will stand behind you to help you get to where youre going.Senior level Keep learning and get outside of your comfort zoneBy the time youve reached a senior positio n, you may feel inclined to coast for a bit on your accomplishments. Its not entirely necessary to prove yourself as a leader anymore, but its also not time to rest on your laurels for too long.Learning agility is considered to be 4 on the Fundamental 4 list, where you maintain a mindset that allows for continual learning. You should be ready and willing to make try new approaches, make mistakes, and request feedback from your team. Some of the end results may not always be positive, but the experience is the teacher. When you are reinforcing a mindset of learning in yourself, it will rub off on everyone else and create a like-minded culture for your team.You should also be ready and willing to exit your comfort zone. This relates to the concept of HARD goals. SMART goals - an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound - tend to be everyones go-to since theyre easy to set. However, its HARD goals (Heartfelt, Animated, Required, and Difficult) that get you to the goals you dream of achieving. This encourages you to step out of what you are most comfortable with and take chances. If you always wanted to implement a new idea or strategy for completing a task, now is your chance These goals will challenge you to achieve bigger and better things. As a leader, you will even have more support because your passion is so visible to your team.Remember that having a career is a constant and continuous learning process. You will always be looking for new insights and to acquire new skills as you work your way up because there is always so much more to learn. Most great leaders never stop learning either rather, they keep developing theirleadership skills. Your path to success begins by establishing valuable relationships, identifying your vision, and continuing to push yourself past your comfort zone.Deborah Sweeney is the CEO ofMyCorporation.com. MyCorporation is a leader in online legal filing services for entrepreneurs and businesses, pro viding start-up bundles that include corporation and LLC formation, registered agent, DBA, and trademark copyright filing services. MyCorporation does all the work, making the business formation and maintenance quick and painless, so business owners can focus on what they do best. Follow her onGoogle+and on Twittermycorporation.A version of this post previously appeared onFairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits, and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards, and career advice.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

5 tactical skills to become a better public speaker

5 tactical skills to become a better public speaker5 tactical skills to become a better public speakerBelieve it or not, glossophobia is one of the most common fears that nearly everyone will experience once in their professional endeavors. This fancy name is the term for anxiety about public speaking - no matter if its in a small meeting room, in an interview or on a big, TedX stage.Because standing in front of people you may or may know puts you in a potentially vulnerable position, many usually confident folks crumble under the pressure, jumbling words, pacing or being unable to mutter anything. If this sounds a lot like you, make it your new goal to improve this invaluable proficiency.As career expert and principal Elizabeth Whittaker-Walker explains, People remember how we make them feel. Public speaking helps listeners to uncover new ideas, affirm core beliefs, and inspire them to act. Its a way to quickly build trust and credibility with large audiences.If youre ready to conq uer this beast once-and-for-all, consider these tactical, effective strategies for reminding yourself of the true badass you are - no matter who sits before youResearch and know your audienceSure, if youre presenting to your marketing team and you know everyone there by name, you likely dont have to do too much legwork to understand your audience. Even so, take ten minutes before its your turn to stand up and present, and really think about what they may be thinking. Whats important to them? What will inspire them? What numbers will mean the most?Whittaker-Walker says the more you can come prepared and understand who you are trying to appeal to, the more confident you will be when delivering whatever message you have to share. For those big ol speaking engagements in front of the company, its even more important to set aside some peace-and-quiet to be impactful.Find out as much as you can about who you will be speaking to. This will help you to tailor your message, tone, and delive ry to the needs of your listeners, she explains.Think about storytelling - over preachingWhat many people struggle with when it comes to public speaking is conveying their points adequate. When nerves get the best of us, we can drag out information, show our frustrations and thus, lose the interest of those who are meant to be listening - and learning - from us.Thats why Whittaker-Walker urges crafting the fine art of storytelling. Instead of just spouting out information, creating context and verbally describing to the point where a mental image is easy to manifest will keep everyone engaged.Stories clarify examples and help listeners make connections between themselves and the content youre delivering, she continues. Practice sharing short and meaningful stories about yourself and your work and integrate them into your speaking engagements.Create an outline if you need toNot everyone reacts well when put on the spot - especially if youre already a bit angsty about the whole pu blic speaking thin in the first place. When you can plan ahead and think strategically, Whittaker-Walker suggests turning back to those skills you learned from school by creating an outline.Start by identifying three key points you want to convey that are easy for you to remember. Then, come up with an example or a story to illustrate each.Outlines are usually easier to remember than scripts and they will help you to stay on message. If you choose three points that are easy to recall, it will help you to remember your content and your audience to remember you and your talk, she notes.Practice the pauseWhen youre nervous around someone you like, do you tend to, um, word vomit everywhere? We all do it - but its something that can also happen in professional settings. One way to calm your heart and control your breathing is to pause before answering a question, before moving to the next section of your speech, or as the slideshow presentation changes.As long as it isnt more than a cou ple of seconds, no one will notice, since its a natural ebb-and-flow in conversation, and it gives you the opportunity to center, focus and calm yourself. Then, you can jump right back in without messing up any part of the speechPracticeYou already know this but in case you need the nudge avoiding your problems wont make them go away. For those who are fearful of public speaking, staying out of the limelight is a safe solution.However, this doesnt put you out of your comfort zone or tackle the root of your issues. Whether you practice in front of friends, your partner or mentors, the more you - ahem - speak up, the better your self-esteem will improve.

Saturday, December 7, 2019

The Most Disregarded Fact About 2018 Resume Trends Revealed

The Most Disregarded Fact About 2018 Resume Trends Revealed The usage of lines to differentiate section titles aids the eye locate the information it needs. It isnt beneficial and its actually harmful to incorporate a generic expert summary, she explained. Your resume needs to be filled with all the data that you will need to convey about yourself to advertise yourself. You should understand, that resume format is essential, as it can boost your odds to get invited for an interview. Customization You always need to customize your resume for each position that youre applying for. In addition, you could drop the capacity to negotiate fair payment. Utilizing unusual section headers rather than the normal abilities, work history, and education headers may also confuse an ATS. You are able to read mora about the procedure for creating your value known inside my latest article. Sections are well defined, which assists recruiters to come across the info they need quickly. Skill lists are great on top, too theyre a quick means of showing what you could do. Naturally, you should showcase your stellar hard abilities, but dont neglect to showcase your soft skills also. Competition is extensive and you need instructions about how to freeze out the competitors even before they receive an opportunity to find the job youve selected. Odds are your hiring team has no clue how to optimize a job posting so it is going to show up on the very first page of Google. Plenty of job seekers even dont understand where to begin. A lot of resumes to examine. It is essential to send a tailored and specially customized resume to every employer. You may create new sections, add in unusual info, or think of creative strategies to present your qualifications. From the info youll be able to gather here, you will see it isnt as challenging to understand how to compose a resume as you might have thought. If youre considering looking for a new job, you ought to be mindful of the h ottest new resume trends. Whoever reviews your resume must decide whether youre an ideal candidate or in, in a quick moment. Once youve reviewed resumes in your field, peruse resumes across fields to learn how to vary the usage of action verbs and receive a feel for what makes a potent accomplishment statement. A resume thats too long could also hurt your probability of being chosen. Furthermore, a resume that isnt ATS-compliant is not likely to ever be selected as a match, no matter the candidates actual qualifications for a function. Hiring managers are busy people and should they scan your resume and cant locate some information or skills fast you arent the one, whod find a call today They are busy people and you have a limited time to attract their attention to your candidacy. Your resume needs to address an issue for employers (which is the reason why theyre hiring). Employers care much more about your successes, and the way it is possible to mirror them at their compan y. An expert writer knows the standards of unique industries. The perfect way to capture the interest of a hiring manager is by employing quantifiable achievements. Your accomplishments stand by themselves. A HR manager may take just a few seconds to scan the peak of your resume before choosing which pile to set you in. Recruiters spend only a couple of seconds looking at each CV and thus its really important to produce your CV effortless to skim through. Resume formats do change over time and it is necessary that you stay informed about the latest so your resume will have an opportunity to become noticed. If you neglect to follow up with a telephone, email, postcard or other schrift of human contact, you might as well have placed your resume right into the shredder.

Monday, December 2, 2019

What did you want to be when you were a kid

What did you want to be when you were a kid What did you want to be when you were a kid?Posted October 24, 2013, by Jordan Huidekoper To celebrate Childrens Week, the Career FAQs team returned to the good old days of sticky fingers and grazed knees, delving deep into the memory banks to unearth some of their earliest childhood ambitions. From thespian to adventurer, professional soccer player to Quidditch player, weve had a range of dreams and aspirations some of which have been achieved. But, regardless of whether we grew up to be what we wanted to be, or have completely left our younger selves behind, it truly is the dream that counts. So for everyone out there, young and old, dreaming about their career direction remember to dream big and, no matter what anyone says, never lose your dinosaur. You never know where you might find yourself. Will owning my own business like a boss Looking back on my work history, which started around the age of seven when Id cut up the family frui t supplies, add yoghurt from the fridge and sell these healthy snacks to our long-suffering neighbours on weekends, Im aya I welches destined to ultimately make myself unemployable and to work for myself. In reality, I served a long and circuitous hands-on apprenticeship to finally becoming a business owner/operator. After having a go at everything from selling T-shirts to sports marketing and investment banking, Ive always been involved in the world of business. And, blessed with the gift of the gab, if Im passionate about something I can usually sell the product. I know Im not oriented towards detail, and Im poor at following directions and rules. So essentially my choice welches simple continue to make my future employers crazy, or find a creative vehicle that I can drive and that will allow me the freedom to express my entrepreneurial spirit while building something of value. Paige happy snaps and office chats My mum started her own business when I was only one year old, and I grew up thinking that that was the norm And so, from early on, I wanted to have my own business like my mum. When I found out that not all mums owned their own businesses, I opened up the arena to a range of other trades, including becoming a teacher and a tour guide. One option that did stick with me was photography. I dreamed of becoming a photographer, taking snaps of everything from pets to weddings. Today, alongside my role as CFAQs office manager, I do own my own business, and I even whip out the old DSLR every now and then. Proof that you really can have it all Andrea from sourdough to SEO As a small child with a big vorstellungsvermgen, my career ambitions ranged from joining the Planeteers to becoming the best Quidditch player Hogwarts had ever seen. But, growing up and realising that no half-giant was ever going to deliver my acceptance letter and exclaim, Youre a wizard, Harry, I had to set my sights on something a little more muggle-appropriate. I flirted with a rang e of career options but one that I remember to this day was my aspiration to become a baker. For a while, I entertained the idea of answering to no one but the dough, waking up with the sun, and getting my hands dirty some elements of which I can see in my career now as a marketing manager. And, while I was never really destined for the life of a baker, Ill always have a soft spot for the smell of freshly baked bread. Juls putting people to sleep since 1984 When I was little I wanted to be lots of things. One such career aspiration was to be an anaesthetist. I was eight and if you asked me why I wanted to be an anaesthetist, I would have told you it was because of the low overheads. Only problem was I couldnt tell you what overheads actually were and the only reason I had chosen that profession is cause I could spell it. Between that, and my penchant for using big words (often completely out of context), I should have realised that eventually Id become a writer. Glen turning into a modern-day Botticelli I have been fascinated with art ever since I remember picking up a pencil with the wrong hand. Captivated by my fathers photo-realistic portrait artworks that hung throughout the house, I spent countless hours of the day in my sketchbook diary coming up with superhero and supervillain comic book characters during my childhood. My lack of attention for anything else in school combined with an overactive imagination turned out to be a blessing at age six, when I won my first art competition against two other school kids who were 13 years old. That set my path, so to speak. As I grew older, I discovered my interest for computer graphics as well as realistic portrait drawing, which brought out my competitive side to try to surpass my father. These days I work as the graphic designer at Career FAQs, undertake a visual communication degree and make commission portraits when I find the time Kailash finding chemistry in my career When I was 10 years old and youn ger, I was very curious about how machines worked, and I did not stop until I got a satisfactory answer. No matter whether it made any sense or not, it had to be logical. I used to assemble scraps collected from here and there into some sort of a dummy machine and play with it for days. This curiosity was also the reason why I wanted to be a scientist. I was interested in chemistry and experimenting with different things. But when I found out how long it could take to become an established scientist, and with no guarantee of finding anything meaningful, I changed my mind and decided to become an engineer. Now, as a software engineer, I totenstill get to experiment and create things. And, to this day, I dream about combining my interests and building software that can predict the results of chemical reactions. Molly why I chose social media over stegosauruses The career aspirations of my formative years saw me thoroughly captivated by the idea of donning a pith helmet, wielding a p ick-axe and digging my way to untold prehistoric discoveries. Perhaps owing in parte to the fact that a scratchy VCR recording (complete with 90s advertisements) was one of the few videos we had in the house, Jurassic Park quickly became a childhood favourite. Come to think of it, the Indiana Jones series was also a repeat offender. Im sensing a recurring theme here Regrettably, I never did get the chance to unearth a triceratops, but my affinity for the dino-kind lives on through household knick-knacks and Jurassic Park reruns. These days, Im much more tied to the modern world via my ensuing career in communications and marketing. High school career advisors (and a dash of realism) made me come to terms with the fact that a career in archaeology was likely to see the extinction of any job opportunities and associated bank balance, so I opted for a slightly tamer route at least until Im old enough to unashamedly sport a pair of cargo pants and set out on a whole new career adventur e. Marni my journey from Dolittle to doing lots Every school holidays I would be shipped off to my grandparents distributions-mix down the coast where many a rainy day was spent re-watching old musicals on VHS. So naturally the first thing I ever wanted to be was Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady. I eventually realised that selling fake flowers on a movie set that no longer existed wasnt really a career, so I knew I had to rethink things. It was in the middle of bossing one of my four brothers into playing an ugly stepsister at our annual Christmas-day-get-the-kids-out-of-the-way-for-a-few-hours performance that I realised I wanted to work in the theatre. A couple of rather interesting musical-theatre experiences later, including learning to sing about killing chickens in Hungarian, I realised that I wasnt a great singer and the real world was actually quite interesting. I havent opened my theatre, but I do get to write stories most days and I think everyones relieved Ive stopped si nging. Chanon my evolution from Super Saiyan to Master of the Web As I grew up, my creative streak took me through a range of passions. I wanted to become a cartoonist thanks to my favourite TV shows, Dragon Ball Z and Doraemon. I formed a band with my friends. I cried when England lost to Argentina in the World Cup. And I dreamed of becoming a photographer so I could hang out with beautiful models. But, I was probably most passionate about making games. This stemmed from playing board games with my family early on, which then evolved into creating my own elaborate games and sharing them with friends and family. As my interest in computer programming developed, I moved my love for games online and I played around with creating virtual games and applications. Nowadays, as a webmaster, Im still passionate about programming. And I still enjoy games Josie reading, writing and arrhythmia When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was read. And read I did, whenever I could after school, in bed, in the bath, while eating (when I could get away with it) But I didnt think you could make a career of reading, so I figured I would be a doctor when I grew up. But when I found out how many years of study it would take to specialise, I baulked and considered other careers, including engineering. I thank my lucky stars I never went down that road and Im sure I wouldnt have made a good engineer anyway. Instead, I studied English lit and got into publishing so I wound up with a career in reading and writing after all What did you want to be when you were a kid? Let us know by leaving a comment below. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice AdministratorPopular Career Searchesif you were a brand what would you bemy new career coursesi want to do nursing as a careernew career for 2018why do you want this job best answer CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire verbunden Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire Online Jordan HuidekoperJordan is a writer and photographer with a keen interest in personal growth and development.Related ArticlesBrowse moreEMPLOYER RESOURCESJob hunting tipsBoosting Graduate Employability Through Practical Work ExperienceMany recent graduates are caught in a frustrating Catch-22 they cant get a job because they dont have experience, and they cant get experience because they dont have a job. A new business school is helping students to bridge the experience gap.WORKFORCE TRENDSEarn or learnWith youth unemployment rising, federal and state governments have joined forces to guarantee a place in study or training for every unemployed person under 25.Career changeCareer counsellorCourses compared from the underrated to the overblownWhat do you want to get out of further study Employment prospects? A good salary? Job satisfaction? Marni looks past the hype to help you find all three.