From Civil Service to Charity

From Civil Service to Charity Success Story > From: Job To: Startup From Civil Service to Charity “Courage, like fear, is infectious. If you surround yourself with positive people, you can achieve almost anything.” * From Civil Service to Charity After ten years' service in the army, Olly Church was discharged following an injury and quickly began to feel stifled in the Civil Service. He realised that there must be other ex-servicepeople longing to use their skills in meaningful work, so he co-founded a charity to help them to do so. This is his story. What work were you doing previously? Working for the Civil Service. Prior to that I had been in the Army for ten years and was medically discharged having been injured in Afghanistan. What are you doing now? Establishing a charity that trains veterans to become international disaster response operators, exploiting their values and skills for the benefit of others. Why did you change? I missed all the good aspects of the Army, such as teamwork, camaraderie and a sense of purpose. I felt like a small cog within a large bureaucracy and unable to fulfil my potential. I also started to suffer the long-term effects of minor brain damage I had sustained following my injury and the intellectual demands of my job became too much. I knew that I had to take some decisive action in order to protect my health and achieve my ambitions. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown; depression had been caused by the blast to my head. I was out walking one day and had an epiphany. I knew that, if I had the support of my family, I had nothing to lose. Are you happy with the change? Yesâ€" I still have the occasional wobble but I would never go back to the way things were. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss very little and certainly don't miss the health issues that my previous job caused. How did you go about making the shift? I resigned immediately and began to work up a plan of the practical measures. The more I told people about my plans, the more I had to live up to. I had made some ambitious but achievable expectations to realise. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I was in the fortunate position of having a small medical pension that I could rely on to survive whilst making things work. After six months, I am about to make a modest monthly income but I have realised that the quality of life and style of working I have adopted are worth more than money. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Taking the initial leap of faith; since I did that, most things have fallen into place. What help did you get? The most important was the faith my wife has had in me to make it work. I also have been mentored by my new boss who has followed a similar path and come through on top. What have you learnt in the process? I feel enlightened in the respect that, having come from an extremely institutionalised existence, life and work can be dictated by you and that there are ways of existing that don't have to be totally directed by external forces. What do you wish you'd done differently? Been more patient. I am only now realising that this is a long-term project and that it is worth taking the time now to get it right for the future. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Be bold and choose your associates carefully. Be open and honest and people will see the potential in you and your plans. What resources would you recommend to others? Careershifters was a source of inspirationâ€" seeing that other people were brave enough to take that leap of faith. Courage, like fear, is infectious and if you surround yourself with positive people, you can achieve almost anything. To find out more about Olly’s charity, visit www.serveon.org.uk What lessons could you take from Olly's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Tips to Writing a Good Resume

Tips to Writing a Good ResumeIf you are in need of ways to write a good resume, you are in luck. After all, in this economy we are all looking for ways to make more money. So, what is it that makes resumes so important?First of all, a good resume is an essential part of the search for jobs. This is your first impression of you. It's not your resume that shows up on job boards or recruiters but how you present yourself on your resume. This makes all the difference between getting hired and not getting hired. So, here are a few steps to writing a good resume.Step One: Take time to write your resume. You want to make sure you give a good first impression. Think about this. How many people have you met who immediately penciled you into the wrong mold?Step Two: Try to write your resume as clearly as possible. Try to make it as easy to read as possible. When you see a resume with a lot of busy writing, know that it might be a little difficult to understand. You will have to read it a coupl e of times and then try to decipher exactly what is written. Because if you do not follow the directions you will lose the attention of your potential employer.Step Three: Try to figure out the details of the position that you are applying for. If possible you want to see whether or not that position is the one that you would like to apply for. A good place to start is by looking at the job description. If the description seems hard to understand, chances are that the position that you are looking for has not been defined and this is something that will play into the next step.Step Four: Make sure that your resume is organized. If there are a lot of blanks in your resume, chances are that there are a lot of things that you may have forgotten or are just not trying to tell them to someone else. You want to make sure that you are able to find these things.Step Five: Read through your resume several times. Make sure that you get every bit of information down and that there are no mista kes. Make sure that you have all of the spelling and grammar correct. If you see something that you do not understand, ask a friend for help.Following these tips to writing a good resume should help you in creating a solid resume. If you really want to make a good impression, take the time to learn how to write a good resume. It is one of the best investments you can make in a job interview.

When Goal Setting Goes Wrong

When Goal Setting Goes Wrong Beyond just every New Year’s Eve, theres a constant drumbeat to set goals.    Thats meant to  encourage us to adopt a goal-setting mindset of  to avoid past failure and achieve desired objectives in the coming years. But striving for a goal is not always beneficial, from an ethical perspective.  Without vigilance, goal setting can go very wrong. . Arizona State University’s Assistant Professor of Management David Welsh and Lisa Ordonez of the University of Arizona reviewed 50 years of research showing that setting goals may have unintended negative results. Of course, the findings indicate that many companies and institutions use goals as motivators to focus energy on a desired outcome.  The surprising finding was that the presence of goals actually increases the likelihood of unethical behavior. . “Where does one draw the boundary line?” says Welsh. “Thinking of new ways to serve customers is great, but thinking creatively about getting around the rules of accounting is not.”  Accordingly, Welsh emphasizes the need to use creativity within context.  For example,  brainstorming when it is appropriate and avoiding a mindset of moral justification. . Creativity, too, is something you should  reconsider in terms of the context.  Managers and individuals need to develop greater awareness of the dark side of creativity.   Its a pitfall that can be used to justify unethical behavior,  such as finding legal loopholes, hiding accounting truths or avoiding compliance violations.  In addition, companies  must understand that employees who are left unchecked may descend the ethical slippery slope.  In the end, staying on the right ethical path is all about mindset, says Welsh.  But Welsh has offered some guidelines to help you steer clear of danger. To avoid ethical pitfalls: Maintain and cultivate a prevention-focused mindset and business culture. Encourage ethical behavior.  Ask employees to be vigilant in identifying financial mistakes rather than being creative in trying to find financial loopholes. Establish and, most importantly, enforce a code of ethics. Address questionable employee conduct to reduce escalation of issues over time. Demonstrate ethical behavior as a leader by setting the tone from the top. Consider the negative ethical, emotional and performance-related effects of goal setting. Watch for unintended consequences associated with goal-oriented reward systems and pay for performance programs.  Remember that even the smallest ethical transgression, if left unchecked, may snowball into larger problems over time.  And, of course,  that can  lead one down the unforgiving slippery slope. Setting goals is part of your  life, and in particular your  business life.  But the goals should never become more important than maintaining ethical behavior.  By using these common-sense guidelines, you can achieve your goals  and maintain your honor. Not to mention stay out of jail! Images:  Slippery slope  Helen K   Ethics  Louisa-Chan

Monday Must-Reads Career Intuition

Monday Must-Reads Career Intuition How Corporate America Can Win Back Employee Trust How Corporate America Can Win Back Employee Trust A majority of Americans are unhappy in their jobs.   Another big percentage are facing lay offs.   Whats the one thing employees want more of?   According to J.T. ODonnell they want more control over their professional futures.   Would you participate if your employer offered a Career HMO program which coached you on potential career changes BEFORE they happened rather than after? Listen to What Your Career is Telling You Are you listening to YOUR career?   Author, Deborah Brown-Volkman says, The clients I talk to that are the unhappy in their career, the ones who are questioning themselves daily, the ones whose self-esteem is the lowest, are those who said they would do something in their career they knew was not right, but hoped it would work out in the end. Have you been in this situation?   Many of us career newbies have faced the situation of being unemployed or accepting a position that is much less than ideal.   Is it worth taking the wrong path in hopes of eventually finding the right path? IRA Withdrawal Rules: Penalty Free Withdrawal from Traditional and Roth IRAs Ive moved WAY too many times since graduating college four years ago.   After my most recent move, the idea of settling down into homeownership has finally started to appeal to me.   This, of course, costs money.   Therefore, Ive been looking into where I am, where I want to be and how to get there when it comes to saving for that big down payment.   I found this article very helpful.   Even if you dont think youre going to buy a home for several years, why not start early? Caution: Toxic Co-Workers Ahead Have you ever felt allergic to your co-workers?   Emotionally affected?   Unable to ignore the huffs and puffs and under the breath remarks? Every office has them, sometimes a whole cast of toxic characters. Linnda Durré, author of Surviving the Toxic Workplace: Protect Yourself Against Co-Workers, Bosses, and Work Environments that Poison Your Day, describes 10 toxic co-workers and describes how to deal. Are You Considering Becoming an Entrepreneur?   Heres a Test. Gen Y is known for its desire for entrepreneurship and independence.   In fact, I bet many of you wish you were working from home in your pajamas this lovely Monday morning.   If youre one of those who dreams of working for herself, read the following list of 20 questions which will help you identify if youre cut out to be an entrepreneur.

Resumes Programs - A Simple Way to Create Your Job Application

Resumes Programs - A Simple Way to Create Your Job ApplicationResumes programs can be found online with a simple search of the term or by word of mouth. Although these programs are offered at many places, some programs may not be offered in all the cities and states they are in.You will need to know what type of resume you are looking for before trying to apply for any resume programs. If you are looking for something that is basic and easy to do, then you will want to go to a resume program that is designed for the basic level of skills necessary to get hired. There are also some resume programs that will send an individual resume for your specific area and skills and then the individual can come back and re-submit the resume.The programs that you can apply for using resumes programs will have different programs available to you based on your specific needs. Some programs offer you an internet based option, others offer paper-based options. It is important to understand what type of program you want when you look online to find them. While it may be convenient, there is also the risk of being rejected or at least having the information you need to continue the application process go to someone else.Resumes programs can help you get the job you want while providing you with the opportunity to make the best impression you can. Being able to take a generic resume and personalize it to match your skills and your specific needs is one way to help you stand out from the crowd. No matter if you are trying to get into a job that requires a technical skill or you need to get that dream job because you are a great fit, this is a chance to show the potential employer that you are the person they are looking for.Even if you only have basic skills, it is good to know that there are some online resume programs that can help you gain experience while making yourself stand out from the crowd. One program even offers you the ability to upload your resume on the internet and au tomatically submit it as well. This makes you the expert in your field who has a chance to get the job you want in your area.Resume programs that give you the opportunity to show off your skills by taking a generic form, personalizing it and sending it to potential employers who need that kind of experience. For those who need to improve their skills but do not want to spend the time to learn the skills, resume programs that work from home may be the answer. A job you can apply for at your convenience without spending the time to improve yourself.Some programs allow you to enter a certain time frame in which you are looking for a specific position. These programs allow you to type in the specific requirements for your skills and what city or state you are looking for a job in. Once the programs you are looking for have been submitted to all the job boards across the country, your resume will be sent to all of the job boards to the employers to be considered for your specific skills. With resumes programs, you can personalize your resume and bring it to the employer that is looking for a specialized employee. As long as you know what type of resume you want to use and what the deadline is for your resume submission, you will have a chance to get the job you want while having the chance to use a personal touch to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

Optimal Nighttime Routine To Ensure Youre Energized In The Morning CareerMetis.com

Optimal Nighttime Routine To Ensure You’re Energized In The Morning There are countless distractions that get in the way of a restful night of sleep such as your cell phone, daunting work priorities, or even a faulty mattress. Implementing a regular nighttime routine will help eliminate those distractions, and get you on your way to a higher-quality rest.According to the experts, an adult should get an average of 7-9 hours of sleep every night in order to function efficiently, and accurately.evalIf you aren’t getting the recommended amount of rest, consider incorporating a bedtime routine into your nightly schedule. Not only does a bedtime routine give your body and mind the chance to wind down for the night, but it also makes you feel more relaxed so you fall asleep easily and be ready to take on the day when you wake up.More Sleep Leads To Higher ProductivityHave you ever shown up to work after getting a measly four or five hours of sleep the night before? Most people have, and by default, have unknowingly contributed to the $411 billion of econo mic lossesthe United States sustains every year from lost productivity due to a lack of sleep.Sleep deprivation can lead to sluggishness, poor memory retention, and a slower response time. Believe it or not, those who are under the influence of alcohol have a 50% higher response time and complete tasks more efficiently than somebody trying to function on little sleep.Additionally, peoplewho get 7-8 hours of sleep per night are 20% more productive than those who only get 5-6.Naturally, in the business world, higher productivity usually results in higher pay. In fact, a study done by Matthew Gibson Jeffrey Shrader from the Department of Economics at Williams College showed an increase in short term pay by 1.5% and a 4.9% increase in the long term for individuals who slept an hour longer at night.Now, what’s one of the best ways to get that extra hour of sleep so you can maximize your output and salary?You guessed it â€" a nightly bedtime routine.8 Steps For Your Nighttime Routineev alYou probably have a morning routine to perk you up and get you ready for the 8+ hour day ahead. Apply that same logic to a nighttime routine â€" but instead, it calms you down and prepares you for the following 7+ hours you’ll spend asleep in your bed.Simply add a few of the steps listed below to your current teeth brushing and face washing nighttime routine so you feel refreshed and fully energized the morning after.There is no telling how long your personal routine should be. It could take 45 minutes, or it could take an hour and a half. It all depends on you, and how long it takes for you to feel relaxed enough to fall asleep.Step 1: Turn Off Your Electronic DevicesevalIf we’re going to mention distractions, we need to talk about your electronics because they’re undoubtedly one of the guiltiest parties when it comes to sleep disruption.evalThe constant buzzing from work emails, texts, and social media notifications keep your brain on high alert, making it harder for your mind to distinguish when it’s time to fall asleep. The blue light that emanates from electronic devices like your phone and television also plays a role in hindering you from your beauty rest because it disrupts your circadian rhythm, the bodily process that influences your sleep-wake cycle.To prevent your electronics from keeping you awake at night, unplug your television and keep your phone away from your bedside table. As hard as it may be, try to stay away from electronics in the hour and a half leading up to bedtime. Out of sight, out of mind.Step 2: Make Sure Your Mattress Isn’t The ProblemA poor mattress is one of the leading causes of tossing and turning. Even if your bed is only three years old and it still looks good-as-new, it may not be suitable for your body and sleeper type. For example, those who predominantly sleep on their back and stomach generally feel more comfortable on firmer mattressesbecause they support their spine and keep it from sagging into the bed.O n the flip side, side sleepers need something softer so they get adequate pressure relief for their hips and shoulders. If you’re not in the position to afford a brand new mattress, try looking for a soft or firm mattress topper to make it feel more accommodating.Of course, an old mattress can contribute to poor sleep as well. A saggy mattress or one with permanent body impressions can lead to an aching back or pains in your side, which is obviously unproductive for somebody trying to get a full 7-9 hours of sleep.Step 3: Consider Bedtime Yoga And MeditationEven if you don’t practice yogaor meditation during the day, there are gentle yoga poses you can do at night to stretch your muscles and ease your mind before bed. For one, yoga promotes mindfulness which contributes to a happier state of mind, allowing you to approach your workday with a positive attitude where you can reach your full productivity potential. It’ll also help loosen up your joints and muscles so your body fe els more relaxed and ready to enter sleep mode.According to the National Sleep Foundation, additional health benefits of nighttime meditation include decreased blood pressure, and can even help soothe anxiety and depression. This makes meditation a helpful tool for those who suffer from pre-work jitters or anxiety the night before a big day on the job.Step 4: Play Relaxing SoundsHow susceptible are you to sounds? Have you ever felt immediately relaxed by the sound of the crashing waves during a day at the beach? Or, do you leave your window open during summer nights so you can listen to the sound of bustling trees or chirping crickets? If so, you might benefit from using a sound machine.The soothing sounds from the machine help lull you to sleep, and it can aid in drowning out unwanted noises, like for those who live in an apartment complex with barking dogs or noisy neighbors. A sound machine can also help individuals with the opposite problem, those who are bothered by completely silent environments.evalIf you’re more prone to relaxing music, you can certainly play sounds from that instead of a sound machine. Just make sure you aren’t breaking the “no electronics” tip. Hook your phone up to a speaker and let it run through an easy-listening playlist, or put on a calming vinyl record.evalStep 5: Start Writing In A JournalInsomnia can be a huge deterrent from the full night’s sleep we need to wake up feeling well-rested.One of the most common causes of insomnia is anxiety, and if your anxiety stems from work-related responsibilities, journal writing might be a good option for you. It’s easy to let stress related to workoverwhelm your thoughts when you’re laying in bed at night, stuck in your own head.So writing down tomorrow’s work tasks is a good way to free those anxious thoughts from your mind and onto a piece of paper, especially if there’s nothing you can about it at 10:00 p.m..Not only will you be super prepared for work the next day, b ut there’s something about writing goals or tasks down on paper that makes you more likely to do them.evalStep 6: Have A Set Bedtime Every NightLittle kids aren’t the only ones who benefit from a strict bedtime. Referring back to the circadian rhythm concept we discussed earlier, having a set bedtime supports your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.In other words, if adults make a habit of going to bed around the same time each night, their body will begin to recognize when it should start winding down for sleep.Let’s say you have to wake up for work at 7 a.m. to get to work by eight, you should set your bedtime to about 11:00. That way, when 10:00 p.m. comes around, you’ll start feeling sleepy and the thought of bed begins to sound really nice.Step 7: Keep Work Out Of The BedroomThis tip is directed towards the workaholics who work past the clock and bring their work home with them, and the people whose office is their home.If you don’t differentiate your sleeping space fr om your workspace, your brain won’t know whether it should signal you to go to sleep or finish up that proposal you have due in a week.Experts say the bedroom should be strictly reserved for two things; sleeping and sex. So there should be no checking work emails or adding finishing touches to a presentation on your laptop while you’re in bed.Step 8: Adjust Your Bedroom’s TemperatureYou want to ensure your environment is accommodating for sleep, and this includes bedroom temperature. You don’t want your room to be too hot or cold or else you risk sleep disruption. You probably know what we’re talking about, when you wake up in the middle of the night damp from your own sweat, or feeling like your toes have turned into little icicles.Then, it’s always a toss-up how long it’ll take to get back to bed once you eventually do fix your temperature problem. This can be harmful if you’re trying to wake up fully rested in the morning. So to prevent overheating or getting too cold, set your temperature to something in between 65-73 degrees, which is considered to be the ideal sleeping temperature among professionals.

Forex Is Flourishing And Looking For Workers - CareerAlley

Forex Is Flourishing â€" And Looking For Workers - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Like many other stock and trading markets, forex is incredibly sensitive to macroeconomic events and political shifts. As a result, with many countries coming into periods of development Zimbabwe and its forex shortagebeing the most notable example Forex jobs are on the rise. For the economics student, or private investor,forexoffers the perfect opportunity to be at the forefront of new markets and technology. Withsalaries averaging at $99k per year, remuneration isnt bad either. There are gaps in the market to be exploitedand turned into your gains for a career. Forex jobs are on the rise. For the economics student, or private investor,forexoffers the perfect opportunity to be at the forefront of new markets and technology. Tweet This Working for the brokerages At the heart of the forex industry is a complex but crucial network of exchanges and brokerages. The importance of a good brokerage cannot be understated; according to industry experts ConnectFX (connectfx.org/forex-brokers-lowest-spread), the benefits of a good quality brokerage cant be understated, with the right choice likely to boost your profit margins. The competition is fierce, and therefore anyone looking to get into the brokerage business will find an employment market in rude health. Many trades are done automatically through digital means, meaning that many brokers now work in an advisory capacity, includingtraversing the legacy/cryptocurrency gapthat Forbes predict will become ever more relevant. Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels In the same line as brokerages are the customer service aspect of exchanges. While brokers will make the directed or expert trades demanded by clients, it helps to have a liaison function in any high-performing Forex company. This can put you at the forefront of the industry and is suited to a jack of all trades someone who knows all about the business but can sweet-talk investors to boot. Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash Moving into analysis Away from the fast-paced melee of the brokerage and exchange world is the forex analysis and research sector. Perhaps equally as important in the long term, industry resource Investopedia notes that analysts will be under pressure to provide high quality and clearly well-researched project pieces for the presentation to hedge funds, managers and institutional investors. Strong numerical skills are, of course, a given any financial job will demand these. However, you also need to have well-developed pattern-spotting and analytical talents in order to spot trends before they become commonly known. Lesser known but just as important, according to Junior-Broker, is the ability to run a tight ship. Having extensive and well-evidenced records will build a portfolio that will serve you well in your career. source The role of technologists At the forefront of forex and cryptocurrency is technology. Many forex software suites are closely guarded proprietary technology that requires the scientists involved to sign NDAs in support of. Elsewhere, software for the public market is fiercely contested, as Plus 500 have shown with their relentless and innovative marketing campaigns that have seen itballoon to 459.6m in value. Essentially, talented software engineers can make a serious impact in the industry. It may sound blindingly obvious, but unless you can demonstrate that your qualifications meet the minimum industry requirements, then you will not be given a chance to prove your unique qualities as a candidate for employment. The basic level of education required for individual jobs varies considerably, so do your research and focus studiously on your chosen niche. For example, if you wish to broker Forex, then it would be prudent to complete a National Association of Securities Dealers Series Test 3. Although no official degree is required for this role, a qualification in business or economics would benefit you greatly. Finding a Career in the Financial Market What does a software developer need to be successful in forex software? The basic skills are key, of course a computer science degree is preferable, and an awareness ofdevelopments in new coding languagesthat will benefit the industry and likely find inclusion in new software. However, it can also help to have a financial background or at least knowledge of the industry. Creating software and devices that are powerful enough and helpful to traders will be easier if you have intrinsic knowledge of what the industry demands. The forex industry is huge and has an amazing number of roles for anyone interested in starting up a career. Having financial acumen is a good start for any role, but really, people from a range of backgrounds can succeed. Find your role and get into the market. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

Reignite Your Fire (with a free call + a scholarship!) - When I Grow Up

Reignite Your Fire (with a free call + a scholarship!) - When I Grow Up You might not know this, but Im gonna be a Leader at the 2nd Spark Retreat in Taos, New Mexico this April! And if you do know this, um, then Thanks for reading all my posts/tweets about it. I know theres been lots of em. Spark is close to my heart because its run by 2 former clients of mine (Im such a matchmaker!), Tania Deanna. Ive never met them in person, and I cant wait to squeeze em along with Alexandra Franzen, Erika Lyremark, Dyana Valentine Jacqueline Carly, my co-Leaders. And even better? Theres no more than 20 Sparklers (I dont know if thats what theyre officially called, but thats what Im calling em!) in attendance, and Im in love with the intimacy of that. Its gonna be 5 full days of soul-stirrings, of creativity, of community, of fire-lighting, of love, of possibilities, of sharing, of learning, of bonding, of growing, of new friends, of big dreamsHurry up, April! But before then, The Leaders have something up our sleeves in the manner of a free Spark-a-Thon Teleseminar this Friday, February 15th at 2:30pm Pacific | 4:30pm Central | 5:30pm Eastern. Simply call (206) 402-0100 (the back-up number, just in case, is (952) 356-0015) at that time and enter 237429# as the pin and youll be on the line with us all as we each offer ways to Spark + Step Up in your business. The one caveat, as far as I know? The line only accommodates 100 people, so make sure you dial in early to claim your spot. And then? Because Tania and Deanna are the wonderfullest, theyve opened up a scholarship to send 1 lucky recipient to Spark sans $2600+ (early bird ends tomorrow!) ticket price. You can donate here and/or learn how you can enter here. Wouldnt it be the funnest if you won and we could spend all that time together? That was a hypothetical question, obvs. Of course it would be the funnest! So what cha waiting for? Mark down Fridays call on the calendar and check out the deets to join us/donate/apply for the Spark scholarship! April is gonna be the bestest month of the whole year, especially if we spend it together (aw. truth.)