It is unfortunate that this problem in on the increase. It seems those school bullies are raising their ugly heads again and making life unpleasant for some co-workers. It is not uncommon that we have people coming to us who want to change job because of a bully. We take this matter very seriously and will always do everything in our power to help people rid themselves of the bully instead of moving job. So if you are being bullied then this article is for you. If you are a bully, be warned, your days are numbered.

Can you imagine the frustration and pain for someone who has worked so hard to get to where they are and then their life is being made a living hell because of a bully? The job is great, the company is great, most of the staff friendly, but there is this one person who just will not leave you alone and is consistently picking on you. It is driving you mad. But what can you do? You feel stuck, depressed and it is affecting your work and your home life.

Okay, jumping to another job is your last option here. Admittedly, it is an easy option and a common one. However, there is still a lot you can do to get rid of that bully without having to move.

First things first, keep a diary. Write down all the incidents that happen. Put down as much detail as you can. Date, time, circumstances, what happened, what was said and done. Also, take note of who else was around at the time to witness, or ignore, what has happened. Do not try to remember it. It is vital that you write it all down. You will not remember every incident and this is part of the evidence gathering that is imperative for later.

Next, have a look around the office. Who else is being bullied? Pay attention. Approach anyone else in the same boat and get them to keep a similar diary. They will be your allies. Also, see if there is anyone else in the office who had overcome this bully. What did they do to get the bully to stop?

Now look around at the management style of your supervisors / managers and the manager's manager. Are they allowing this to happen under their noses? Are they aware? Do they care? What is the policy of the company when dealing with this situation? Go down and talk to your HR department. Get them to dig out the company rules on dealing with bullies. What do they consider bullying? What discipline actions have they got in place? It is vital that you fully understand what you are facing and other possible resistance from the company / managers.

If the company does not have a policy in place, then check out your rights. This subject is covered under common law and cases generally go to the Labour Relations Committee. In common law, the employer has a general duty of care towards his/her employees. In other words, your employer must take reasonable steps to protect you while at work.

Bullying is classified under 5 major headings.

1. Manipulating the victim's reputation by rumour, gossip and ridicule.
2. Preventing the victim from speaking by making loud voiced criticisms and obscenities.
3. Social exclusion or isolation.
4. Manipulating the nature of the work or the ability of the victim to perform the work e.g. overloading work, withholding information, setting meaningless tasks etc.
5. Physical abuse or threat of abuse.

These are obviously broad topics and there are lots of examples that fall into these headings. You know what is happening to you.

Now take a look at the bully. Why are they behaving in this way? Research has shown that a bully often picks on people who are meek and lack some self confidence. Also, research has shown that a bully will only go as far as the meek person will allow. Bullies know how to use perception and drama to make it look like you, the victim, are at fault in creating the situation. So look out for this. How are they turning the tables to make you look like you deserved the bullying? Again, write all of this down. Keep careful note on everything.

The next step is to examine you. This is more difficult, as research has show that we are only able to correctly spot our own behaviour 50% of the time. So for this, enlist some help. Your spouse / partner or close friend. Not someone in the office if you can help it unless they are definitely on your side. If you feel that there is no-one you can talk to then seek a counsellor to help you with this. This is the type of thing that they specialise in after all.

What you are looking for here is; Are you acting / reacting in a way that allows a bully to pick on you? Figure out how you react when you are being bullied? What have you tried to stop the bully from picking on you? Is there something personal or otherwise between you and the bully and can this be rectified? Also, look back on your life. Is this the first time you have ever been bullied or did this happen to you in school / home / college?

Understanding yourself in this light will show you where you are allowing the bully get to you. Note down your reactions. What can you change about your behaviour that will stop the bully in his / her tracks?

So now you have all the tools you need to tackle the bully. You have your diary, your company policy, allies in the office and you understand yourself better. So let us see what options are open to you to stop the problem. Firstly, try and solve the problem yourself before going to management or trying to start a harassment case. Use a law suit only as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted.

Here are the possible options.

a) Stand up for yourself. Never do this when you are on your own if possible. It is always better to have witnesses. The key here is to stay calm and never raise your voice. Simply stand your ground and say “No”. Look the bully in the eye if you can and show them that you are serious. Do not let them drag you into an argument. If they try to start one, walk away. Remember to diary the incident.

b) Warn the person who is causing the problem to stop. Explain, in front of witnesses, that you will take it further. Alternatively, you can get someone to do this on your behalf. If that is not possible write them a letter. Date it and keep a copy for yourself.  Be firm and confident, but not aggressive or confrontational. Explain clearly what behaviour you consider bullying and let them know exactly how they should behave.

c) Bullies often have triggers that set them off. Here you need to determine what they are and then how to either avoid this situation or develop a strategy to divert these triggers.

d) Work out what response the perpetrator is looking for and ensure they do not get it. In doing this, it is vital to get others on your side so you are not facing a bully alone. Bullies tend to pick on the isolated, not the popular.

e) One of the key things to remember is 'hate the sin but not the sinner.' Bullies are often normal people with a weakness in their interpersonal skill set and many can be successfully worked with using the right approach. If you do not know what those might be seek help to find out. The other key item is to seek resolution and not revenge.

f) Never be alone with him / her when possible. You are setting yourself up for other incidents. Talk to you allies and build a team of support for yourself. Encourage them to stand up for you when they see the bully at his / her tricks.

g) Go and talk to HR AND you manager at the same time. Present them with the diary you have been keeping. Explain the action that you have taken to try and stop the bullying and show them that you are aware of the company policies and common law rules that are in place to protect you. Formulate a plan with them to end the bullying and agree a time frame when this matter should be fully concluded. It is the job of HR and your manager to give you a fair and impartial discussion. They must also do the same with the bully. You should not be present at this meeting. This is where your evidence and witnesses come in. Expect that the bully will come to that meeting with their case made that they have been singled out, they have been picked on and discriminated against.

h) If your company is not willing to get involved consider getting your lawyer to write a letter to Human Resources indicating that you see this employee as potentially life threatening. This put the accountability on the employer because if you were hurt in any way by this employee the company would be liable.

Only if all of the above fails should you consider talking to the Labour Relations Committee. Be warned however, you will have an uphill battle and if word gets out then other companies may be slow to hire you as they are worried that such law suits will appear in their company.

If indeed you do not want to face this battle then it is definitely time to leave the company. If this happens do not look at it as defeat. You did everything in your power to stop the problem. You can leave with your head held high. Either way, you will have learned some valuable lessons, we hope for the better, and you can get on with your life and your career without having to look back on these times again.

If you are the victim of bulling please do something about it. If you feel powerless seek help. There is plenty available and you should never face a situation like this alone.

If you know someone else who is suffering this abuse then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited professional and personal career consultancy service for people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

If you came from the same type of family that I did you, will have heard your parents say. “Go to college and get a degree, then you'll be employable”. I heard it all through school and because I heard it so often I really believed it.  It is not that they were wrong, just that there is a little more to it than that.

So you go to college, study hard, well from February on; and four years later you get handed a well deserved degree. Congratulations, your parents are thrilled!

Now the real world kicks in. You have just figured out that you were not the only one to graduate. There are thousands of people who also graduated with a degree or other qualification.  Suddenly you are lost in the crowd. The war for getting your first job has started and your competition is posing for graduate pictures all over the country.

So what can you do to get yourself up on the job ladder? There are a few things actually. We have put a list of the most helpful ones together for you to help you on your way.

1: Know what you want. Find a career path that you want to follow and focus on that industry. Your degree may have you on a specific path; then again, it may have been generic.  Either way you need to know where you want to go. If you have no idea where you want to go then now is a great time to talk to a career counsellor. Guessing a career path now will probably mean that you get it wrong and will have to start again in the coming years. We see too many people in this situation and it is best avoided if possible.

Do not waste an employer's time with an “I'll do anything” attitude. It is a very common phrase that employers hear. It does not impress them. No-one wants a desperate employee. It also says that you have no confidence in your abilities. In the eyes of the employer you would not make a valuable employee.

2:      Know where you want to live. Your ideal company may not be five minutes down the road. You may have to move city or country. Know where the companies in your industry are and see where you will be living before you accept the job. Each city will have different expenses, commute times and availability (or lack of) of after-hours activities. Be prepared and know what you are getting yourself in for.

3: What is your experience? This is usually the biggest hurdle for first time job seekers to get over. If you are sticking with your degree's industry then employers will be looking for internships, part-time jobs, volunteering, and summer jobs. This type of thing will give you an edge on your peers. If you do not have this experience, write down what you did spend your time doing. Can you show that you have worked in any job before? What extra curricular activities can you use to your advantage? What people skills do you have? Etc. Think hard. You may be surprised what valuable skills you have lying around that you had forgotten about.

If you re still having a hard time then volunteer to a company now, do a temping role, or do a post graduate internship.

4: Have a strong CV and a good cover letter.  I know that it sounds obvious. However we know that there are thousands of weak CV's and cover letters out there. It does not mean that you are a bad candidate, or that you are not perfect for the job. However, if you have not marketed yourself effectively in your CV and cover letter, the game is over.

Tailor your CV, avoid the common mistakes.  Make sure it is clear, concise and relevant. We know that the majority of colleges out there give you a basic CV format to follow. It is the same format dished out all over the country. Following it blindly will not separate you from your peers. In fact, the effect is the opposite. You will pale into obscurity.

5:        Can you back up the claims made in your CV and at interview? Do not lie about your accomplishments. It may have been the first time that you have done it, but it is not the first time that the employer has seen it. No-one expects you to have 10 years experience behind you, or to be the best GAA player that Ireland has ever seen.

If you make claims like that the employer will be suspicious. You will also eventually be found out. 23% of CV's out there have false or completely misleading information on them. Do not be one of them. What ever you have achieved though, make sure that you have examples to back them up.

6:        Have a job search strategy.  Where are all those jobs anyway? Here are a few places to start looking. Be warned though. Apply only for graduate level roles. Employers get annoyed when people with 0 experience start applying for jobs requiring 5 years experience.

On-campus recruiting . No matter what size your college or university, there are a certain number of companies that recruit on your campus. You need to investigate what companies are coming and plan on interviewing with some of them, even if only for the experience.

Career Fairs. Many college and universities sponsor fairs. Many local or regional communities sponsor fairs, and some industries have their own fairs. Go to as many as makes sense.

Networking. One of the still-hidden gems of job-hunting and one of the keys to a successful job search.

Direct mail campaign. The traditional method still works. This is where you identify a number of companies and specific hiring managers and send them a dynamic cover letter and superior CV in hope of obtaining some interviews. Be careful with this however. Do not send out generic CV's or cover letters. Also make sure that the company is actually hiring at your level.

Internet job sites. One of the most talked about areas of recruiting and one that can work for you.  Just do not put all your efforts here and ignore other job-hunting methods.

Company Web sites. Many employers now post all sorts of employment and job listings on their Web sites. So if you have some specific companies in mind, you should definitely take advantage of it.

Job postings and classified ads. Such a small percentage of jobs are ever advertised, as few as 15% of all jobs. So be warned, your chance of success in landing the job of your dreams from this method are only slightly better than your chances of winning the lottery.

Recruitment companies. There are over 800 in Ireland. Pick ones that are specific to your industry and pick a few to increase the number of client companies you are exposed to.

7:        Are you personable and can you demonstrate the necessary people skills? The most qualified person for the job rarely gets it. It is the person that sells him/herself the best and who fits with the culture of the organisation. No-one wants a know-it-all or someone who will cause friction within the office. Demonstrate that you are aware that you have a lot to learn but you are willing to put your head down and “fit in” with the expectations and office culture.

8:        Prepare for interview. Know about the company, the industry, what you will be doing on a day-to-day basis and make sure that you like all of that. Know what the starting salary is and be aware of what the industry is paying.

Be individual with your answers. Employers and HR people interview most days, all day, all year, and have done it for many years. They have heard it all before and are not impressed when the clichés start rolling. It is not clever or smart and the last twenty people they interviewed probably said the same thing.

Practise interviews over and over again. Do mock interviews and think about the types of questions that are commonly asked.  Be confident and enthusiastic, without being dramatic. Listen to the questions asked and do not stray from the question being asked.

Further be aware of psychometric evaluations. It is very common for companies to use this in the recruitment process. Get used to doing them. The majority are similar.

9:        Follow up after interviews. Send a thank you letter and make sure that your mobile is on in case an employer is trying to reach you.

10:      Keep your expectations in check. You will not be the MD in two years. You will not be earning 50k in your third year. You will not get a massive opening salary. You will have to turn up to work on time every day and most likely pull a good amount of over-time. You will have to work with people you do not like. You will have company rules to follow. You may not like being told what to do.  It is unlikely that you will be allowed to do it “your way”. There will be office politics; and you may not like your first job.

A first job is just that. Your first step into the work-force.  Your success (or lack thereof) on the job will depend as much on your people skills and your work behaviour, as your technical abilities. So be ready to be judged on more than your job-related accomplishments and to judge others on more than theirs.

11:      Your first job is not your destiny Your first job in no way predicts where you will ultimately end up. Talk to anyone in mid-career, and you will be shocked where their career began. Your main task on your first job is to test your wings, learning how organisations work, how business gets done, and what makes people and organisations successful. Remember: Career (not job) changes are in your future as you learn, grow and change.

There are a lot of pitfalls when looking for a first job. It is time consuming, sometimes scary and difficult. Do not let this dampen your spirits. Everyone who has ever worked has gone through this. You are not the first and definitely not the last. People do this every year and the majority succeed quite nicely.  You will eventually get there as long as you are smart about how you go about it. And, there is always help at hand. There are skills to be learned and there are mistakes that can be avoided. So if you are stuck get help. There is plenty available and it is your best chance of getting back on the road to achieving your first job.

If you know someone else who is faced with a similar problem then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited, professional and personal career consultancy service. We work with people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience and are all members of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

It's all very politically correct isn't it? Downsizing rather than lay off. Sounds better, but essentially is the same thing for the people within the downsizing organization. So what does it mean for you?

Firstly, don't panic. There will be time for you to come to terms with the change and make appropriate plans for the future. It is not a doom and gloom situation as you may think. This is an opportunity for the future, your future.

It is true that downsizing means change but change is a good thing. It is an opportunity to improve your lot in life. If you change nothing, nothing will happen for you. It is true that few people like change and that with change we desperately try to control the outcome.  Make the decision to change and let go of the outcome.  Just because you decided to move into a new direction, will automatically open doors.  Most importantly, be open to change, it's a good thing.

Once you are over that hurdle start to think about yourself objectively. What skills do you use every day in your job? Which of them are transferable in the marketplace? Which ones do you need to improve? Which ones will give you the advantage in your career move? Downsizing is an opportunity to learn something new. A new skill, a software program, a foreign language even a new hobby.  Change is good, and by learning something new, you'll be surprised how additional doors will open for you.

Now that you have done the thinking, write all of these skills and new found interests down. Refer to them often so that you never forget what you are worth.

Now, think about what it is that you do that makes you different? Is there something that you like to do in your job that you want to do more, or want to cut out completely? Think about what you could do differently. Even if it is only one thing. This will help you get the wheels moving in a new direction.  The job market is vibrant at the moment. Take advantage of this and do something that will give you pleasure and joy, not just bring the pay check home.

Do not let yourself get frustrated. Often during downsizing the emphasis is on finding a new job. Do not forget about all the other areas of your life. What about adjusting the balance in your life? Spend some more time with family, your children, friends, and/or developing hobbies or travelling. It is a wonderful time to adjust the balancing scales and place lifestyle at the top of the priority list. To be happy you will have to adjust all the areas in your life. It is not as hard as it may sound.

Set yourself new goals. Now, not the ”I'm giving up cigarettes for a few weeks” type. Proper goals. Think of all the things you wanted to achieve right back at the start of your working life. Then add all the new ideas that you have had along the way. Once that is done prioritise them. Pick out the ones that are most relevant to you and make sure that any decisions you make going forward includes them.

Keep an eye on your attitude. It is easy to fall into a depression. Keep a positive attitude. Not only does it help the thought process but it will rub off on anyone interviewing you. Part of doing this, is including your partner/spouse or family in the process. These people know you the best and are often a very good source of support and ideas.  Also talk to your co-workers maybe they have an idea that will suit you too. You are all in the same boat after all and it may give you a few more options.

Brush up your CV, your interview skills and make sure that you know what the proper etiquette is these days. These things change on a regular basis and you need to make sure that you give yourself every opportunity possible.

Stay focused on the job at hand.  It's easy to get side tracked in the job search.  A 20-minute online research project suddenly takes you 3-4 hours. Set a time limit, set an alarm to tell you when time is up and then move on. If you split the task up a little bit each day you will be surprised how much you get covered.

Most companies downsizing offer redundancy packages. Often these go beyond money and include professional assistance and advice for getting you over this time in your life. If it is available take it. If not, seek it out. Help is not far away (hint hint!).

Think of downsizing like you would any other job hunt. The average person changes jobs seven times in their career. Look at this as just your basic change. It is an opportunity for you to progress and grow into a new role and life that is better for you on all fronts. Embrace the opportunity and go for it. Be the person you want to be and gain control of your work life.

If you are having difficulty dealing with a career choice or question, please seek help to resolve the issue. There is plenty available and you should never face a troublesome career decisions alone.

If you know someone else who is faced with a similar problem then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited, professional and personal career consultancy service. We work with people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience and are all members of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

What a common career question. There are literally thousands of people in Ireland who ask themselves this question each year. Is a more meaningful job or a new career in your sights? Is it unrealistic to consider changing career at this stage of your life?

When your position becomes unsatisfying it is time for you to rethink your options and consider some positive changes for your future.

One thing I seem to spend a lot of my time doing is reminding people how much of their life they will spend working. If you are miserable at work then this misery will filter through to the rest of your life. No-one likes to be around a misery guts. So rather than driving your family mad, do something about it.

Many executives and professionals experience an inner tug-of-war about making career and job changes. They waver between nightmares of jumping ship and daydreams of work that is heaven sent.

The first step here is not to go rushing about changing your life, but to determine what it is about your job and career that you do not like. It is the job, the company, the industry, the people you are working with or is it you? Do not jump to a new career just because you are dissatisfied. If you can discern why you are unhappy then you can fix this issue so it will not be repeated in any new career you might choose. It also means that you will not be changing career for the wrong reason.

If you have eradicated this and you are still insistent on changing career, your first task is to allow yourself to discover what you could be doing. In other words, explore your possibilities. If you could choose a job that was fun and interesting what would it be? I find that writing these possibilities down is very often helpful. Think about all those things you used to dream about doing when you were a teenager. Do any of these still interest you? Jot down the possibilities and then go away and explore the pros and cons of each one.

If you have no idea what a new career might be then talk to a career consultant and take a psychometric evaluation. Talking about it with a professional can tease out all kinds of options you were not even aware existed. Use the psychometric evaluation to help with this decision. It can be invaluable. Not sure what a psychometric evaluation is? I will refer you do our articles on psychometric evaluations. It can be found on www.fccareers.com/articles.htm   It has all the information you need.

When looking at a new career you must also be careful not to procrastinate. Realise that the longer you leave it the less likely it will be that you will change at all. This thought can often be a good motivator for people. The bottom line here is that if you change nothing, nothing will change. Cliché I know, yet the wisdom is obvious.

Another big point is to remember all of the other facets to your life. Any career change you make may have consequence for other areas of your life. E.G. You may end up with less time to spend with your loved ones. It is important to weigh up all the consequences of a change. This does not mean skip the change due to other possible alterations, just consider your choices from all angles.

Face your fears. It can be a scary prospect facing a change. Very few people enjoy changing. We are all so comfortable where we are. We know what to expect after all. A way to get over this is to develop some goals. Find out what tasks you will need to complete to achieve your career change. This could be anything from doing research to applying for a college course. Break all the tasks down into short, medium and long term goals and tasks. Prioritise them, schedule them and then get moving. By breaking all of these career tasks down you can achieve a little bit each day and it will not seem so frightening to you.

If you do feel afraid, do not take it as a signal to stop changing. Fear is simply an emotional response designed to protect you. It is just telling you to be careful with your choice, not avoid making a choice. Fear on its own cannot hurt you so do not let is stop you.

Learning more about your options can help reduce your fear. Ask yourself: What is within my ability to change, control or influence? Then give yourself permission to stop worrying about things you can not control. This will eliminate a good amount of the fear. It is easy to anticipate the worst: My family will starve, etc. However this is ridiculous if you have considered your options properly.

Separate reality and unrealistic dreams. We could all do exactly what we wanted and love our job and life if we did not have to consider the realities involved. It is important that you give this step a decent chunk of time.  Before you go running off and finding out if you can physically and mentally do your new career, first ask yourself; should you be doing it? Learn about marketplace and hiring trends. Identify expanding industries, downsizing patterns, outsourcing practices, salaries, future promotional opportunities etc.

It is better to come up with several career options and put them in order of preference. Now that you have considered your options rationally you can move on to the next step.

Decide if you have the skills, mentality and personality to succeed within this new career. If you are missing a skill you can learn it. You may need to take a course and it may take some time, but it is very possible no matter who you are. If you have something missing from the mentality or personality side then you should reconsider your options. It is important to remember that you have natural talents and abilities. Exercising these abilities in a career will most often lead to a happy career. Ignoring them does not mean that you will hate your new job or be bad at it, though it is more likely that you will not be as happy as you could be. Again, if you are unsure ask your career consultant.

Redo your long term goals. If you do change to this new career, what do you want to achieve? In other words what do you want to have accomplished by the time you retire? Having done all that hard work it is a mortal sin to avoid planning your new future. If you do not think about this you will find yourself drifting and unhappy yet again. Not because you moved to the wrong career but because you have nothing to aim for and you can loose focus. This is all part of the reality check. Getting into your new career is really only Step One. There are many more work-years left.  Make sure that you know what you want to achieve out of them.

Now that you have done all of that, pause for a moment. Re-evaluate all the work you have just done. Make sure that you have considered everything you need to. Make sure you know what you will be getting yourself into. Make sure that you have your family / partner's support. Make sure you know all the pros and cons and that you have a clear understanding of your career goals moving forward. Make sure you have a good idea of what you need to achieve by the time you retire from that career.

You must now compare all of this with the career that you already have. Will this new change bring you happiness? Will it improve your work life and is it something that is much better then what you already have?

I appreciate that there is a lot to consider here and that it looks like a daunting task. Invest the time now, do all the right evaluation now and then you can have the successful future your want and have a happy and fulfilling career.

It is important that if such a time arises, or has arisen, that you are able to sustain yourself during that period when you are not working.

Step 1: The first thing to always remember is stay calm. Running around like a headless chicken will not help you in any shape of form.

Step 2: Plan ahead. It is not everyone who gets advanced warning that their job is being chopped so be prepared for this. Make sure that you have saved enough to get your by for at least six months, should the worst happen. This may sound ridiculous. However having enough for several month means that you will not have to take the first job that comes along. It also gives you some free time to collect and recharge yourself. Whether you are willing to admit it or not. Losing a job takes a lot out of a person and if you have not given yourself time to get over it, you will find it more difficult to get re-hired.

Step 3: Keep a diary of all your expenses for a month. Write down everything that you spend and what it was for. When you review this list you will see where you have been wasting your money. This is where you find the few extra shillings to put aside.

Step 4: Add up all the essential bills, rent, utilities, food etc. This is the bare minimum you need to survive. Cut out all other expenses. Walk rather than take the bus/car. Invite your friends to your house rather than meet them in a café. Substitute your shopping items to for the generic brand (its all the same stuff repackaged) and stop spending on frivolous items.

Do however leave some money for your job hunt. There will be CV printing, internet time etc.

Step 5: Prioritise your bills. Some bills are paid monthly, other have a longer line of credit. Use this to your advantage. If the rent is due this week and the phone bill does not need to be paid until next month, do not waste your money on the phone bill now. However do remember that the phone bill does need to be paid.

Step 6: Apply for all the government assistance you can get. Dole, rent allowance etc.

Step 7: Be very careful when using credit, especially credit cards. They are very expensive to run with extremely high interest rates. Also, having a bad line of credit may hurt you down the line when you need a loan for something else. However if you really need a loan, shop around with the banks and credit unions to get the best deal on repayments.

Step 8: If things are getting tight and there is no new job in sight then take a temporary role. It makes no difference what it is, as long as you still have the time to commit to finding your next real job.

Step 9: If all of that is not working well for you, then consider explaining your situation to your family. They may have some ideas on how you can cut your costs further, or come up with a favourable, repayable, finance plan to get you by for the short term. Please do not put a large onus on your family. Remember they have already looked after you for many years and if you have done all of the above you should be able to manage.

However way you look at it, experiencing a job loss is indeed unnerving. But such situations can be effectively solved by carefully devising a plan on how to get by the unemployment period. Remember that you are not the only one who has ever gone through this. The majority of people come out of it unscathed and ready to do battle again, as will you.

If you have just suffered a job loss and you are having difficulty dealing with it please seek help. There is plenty available and you should never face a situation like this alone.

If you know someone else who is faced with the above problem then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited professional and personal career consultancy service for people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience and are all members of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

Not exactly what you want to hear I can imagine. But it is unfortunately true. The majority of people find job hunting a serious drain on their energy, time and patience. I have been through it myself and I understand the pain. We see this on a daily basis from our clients. Some have been looking for over a year. Some complain no one will look at them because they are too old, too young, have too much experience, do not have enough experience or just cannot get that one good break. Some people have had way too many jobs and look like job hoppers or generally unreliable.

I am sure that there are many of you reading this that feel the same way. It is so frustrating. It seems like the longer you look the worse it gets.

Okay enough of the self pity. There is hope. Take a deep breath. Life is not all that bad and there is a way to resolve your job hunting problems.

Stop what you are doing and start again. This might sound like a disaster but it is not. Plugging away at a bad formula has not resulted in a new job so far and it is unlikely to do so moving forward. So repeating the same mistakes will just continue to get in your way of success.

Step 1: Realise that what you are currently doing is not working. Look at what you have been doing. What has been working in that job hunt and what is not working for you? Is it your CV, your interview, lack of skills / qualifications, lack of suitable jobs or something else that is getting in your way?

Step 2: Start managing the stress you are under by realising that everyone else finds this as difficult as you. You are not alone and there is a right way for you to get ahead. Dispel all of the negative feelings that you are experiencing and start with a clean slate.

Step 3: Manage your time better. List all the job seeking tasks you have to complete.  Complete only a few a day. One a day is fine if that is all the time you have. Do complete that task however and you will be surprised how much you can accomplish in a short period of time. In our experience, trying to do everything in a few hours or days will stress you out and will seem like a mountain, especially when coupled with your normal day.

Step 4: Prioritise your tasks effectively and logically. Do the most important tasks first. There is no point applying to 10 recruitments companies until you have a CV that will sell you.

Step 5: Review the jobs you are applying for. Why are you applying for this job? How does it fit in with your career plan? Have you got a realistic career plan? Just how well matched is your experience and your CV? There could be very obvious points you are missing that are discounting your candidacy.

Step 6: Are you working with the right recruitment agencies? There are approximately 800 agencies in Ireland. Pick the ones that specialise in your area. No more than 8 agencies. Keep control of them and log the work and jobs that they are sending you for. Further, use the recruitment consultants that have placed other people. Your CV will only go in-front of suitable companies if your consultant is selling you effectively. So ask your friends/colleagues who placed them.

Step 7: Review your salary expectations. Are you over-pricing or under-pricing yourself? Find out what the market is paying and make sure your expectations are within those levels.

Step 8: Review your interview progress. What feedback are you getting and what can you do to improve it?

Step 9: What is your attitude at interview? Your frustration, anger, depression etc. will show up at interview so it is vital that you have a positive attitude going in the door.

Step 10: What follow up steps are you taking after an interview? Sitting back and waiting for everything to fall in place is not usually going to land you that job.

Step 11: Use your network. You may be unaware of perfect jobs that are available in the market as you are only using the internet, newspapers or agencies. This is not enough. The chances of you missing out on great opportunities are high.

Step 12: If things are not working out for you seek help. People are always trying to do things the hard way. Use a professional who will be able to quickly seek out what is going wrong for you. It will save you an enormous amount of pain and frustration and will set you on the road to success.

Most people are unable to see themselves and what they are doing clearly. So if you cannot figure it out on your own your job hunt will come to a halt and that is something that no one wants.

By approaching things properly and logically all the stress and pressure that job seekers find themselves under can be virtually eliminated. At the end of the day we all want to be happy and finding that job and approaching it correctly will improve things dramatically no matter what you are seeking.

If you are having difficulty dealing with a career choice or question, please seek help to resolve the issue. There is plenty available and you should never face a troublesome career decisions alone.

If you know someone else who is faced with a similar problem then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited, professional and personal career consultancy service. We work with people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience and are all members of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

Job hunting is for the young. No one wants to hire older people. We hear these rumblings often. Older people are quick to give up when they are faced with a job loss of some kind. Many executives nearing, or who have passed, the age of fifty are powerful performers whose potential contributions have never been greater. This being the case, then why do older job seekers feel that they are no longer needed or wanted in the corporate world?

The youth of today is not that different from when you started out. They may think they are indispensable and are an excellent hire however they cannot escape from their lack of experience, expertise and battle skills. There is a lot you can do to get ahead by using your advantages.

People are also living longer and are healthier at an older age. They have many years left where they can contribute significantly to the economy. I am sure that we have all read the articles where corporations and governments are reviewing the retirement age and are considering extending it. Corporations are aware of this and so age does not scare them off as easily as it might have twenty years ago.

To succeed in the current job market, you must appreciate the significant advantages your age may offer employers. You have years of experience and work related examples to draw from. If this is explained properly to any perspective employer it should set you well ahead of other candidates.

The most common opinions on older job seekers seems to be  that salaries can be overpriced, corporate change may be resisted, listening to younger managers is a difficult thing and that older people are unwilling to learn new skills. Pretty harsh I think and quite untrue in most cases. It is your generation that got us to where we are now. Could you have really bought Ireland out of recession and to the forefront in many corporate areas by sitting on your hands, refusing to change, ignoring your boss and blowing yourself out of the marketplace?

As older job seekers you need to remember all the hard work that you have already done. Also, now that you are aware of this unfortunate attitude, you have a basis to build your job seeking plan.

Look at yourself objectively. Does any of the above apply to you? If so what can you do about it?

• Are your compensation expectations aligned with the value that you can truly add to an organisation?
• Do you project an energetic, proactive optimism and curiosity rather than a need for security and stability?
• Do your past career achievements reflect an ability to acquire new skills and master new situations quickly and effectively?
• Do you project such a strong needs for status, power and dominion that employers worry that you will have problems relating to younger authority figures?
• Do you look weary, worried or worn-out?

If you have identified some areas that need work from above then work on them. Unless you can iron issues you are having, finding a new job may indeed be an uphill battle. If you are not sure where you stand or you have decided that you need a second opinion, go for a professional opinion. They will have more expertise to drawn from that will be more helpful rather than that of a close friend who will not want to hurt your feelings.

Here are a few pointers to remember when looking for a new role. Keep them in mind when you are getting your game plan together.

Remember your worth. It is not helpful to halve your salary or say that you will take “any job going”. This will scare all employers off. They will hire confidence over desperation any day so do not place yourself outside the market by trying this. Of course, from a salary point of view, you must be aware of what the market is paying. Overpricing yourself is an equal sin. So if you do not know what is “average” for your position, find out before you start applying.

Remember your expertise. What is most important for older job seekers is to remember that it is not just their experience that will sell them but more importantly their expertise. You must understand where your expertise can add value to any future employer. The expertise you hold is not dependent on age, therefore young people can have expertise too, but showing these strengths will keep you on the shortlist.

Remember your experience. From an experience point of view, this is where your transferable skills and pure understanding of how things work will come in. The chances are that you have tried it all before and you have already learned what works and what does not. Youth has to catch up on this. This experience is attractive to an employer as there is a learning curve they can skip should they take you on.

D emonstrate that you are aware you still do not know it all. Show you are open to learning new skills / ideas that will further your skill set and make you an ideal candidate choice.

To be attractive to employers you must apply all the normal rules. You must be able to differentiate you form other candidates. What can you personally do that is indispensable? How can you set yourself apart from the crowd? This may not seem easy to decipher however is key, regardless of your age.

Look good. Taking care of you should be a life ambition and an ongoing process for many years. If you are tired and need to recharge the batteries then take some time off to collect yourself. Get some sleep, sort out any none career issues that are bothering you. Make sure that when you do start going for interviews that you look excited, motivated, fit, ready for action and committed. Your attitude and appearance will speak volumes to any employer so it is vital that you are at your best.

Give assurance. Show them that you are dedicated, that you want to be with the company for some time and that your input is as valuable, if not more valuable, then anyone else's. If you feel that there are issues with your age and you are not sure what they are, ask your perspective employer. This gives you a chance to answer their concerns thus putting them to rest.

Age does not dictate seniority. If having a younger manager is something you may struggle with then just remember that they are not there by accident. You have to earn promotions these days. Just because you have worked in the same job for five or twenty five years will not propagate a promotion. Therefore people in management, regardless of age, have the expertise, work hard, have good experience (even if it does not match your own) and have earned their position. Professional respect should be automatic, regardless of age.

Understand what each employer is looking for. Each company is different, the needs of the company will be different and you will have to sell your experience and expertise differently. The job market will not give you anything for free because you are older, but if you can demonstrate real value, it will be ready to listen.

Seek help. If you are having difficulty dealing with a career choice or question, please seek help to resolve the issue. There is plenty available and you should never face a troublesome career decisions alone.

Common sense is really all the above is telling you. By thinking of these pointers above you will be putting yourself in the shoes of any perspective employer. If you can negate any issue s/he has then you should be able to make a smooth transition back into the job market and enjoy your job each day.

If you know someone else who is faced with a similar problem then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited, professional and personal career consultancy service. We work with people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience and are all members of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

Hans Selye was one of the founding fathers of stress research. His view in 1956 was that “stress is not necessarily something bad, it all depends on how you take it. The stress of exhilarating, creative successful work is beneficial, while that of failure, humiliation or infection is detrimental.” Selye believed that the biochemical effects of stress would be experienced irrespective of whether the situation was positive or negative.

Since then, a great deal of further research has been conducted, and ideas have moved on. Stress is now viewed as a "bad thing", with a range of harmful biochemical and long-term effects. These effects have rarely been observed in positive situations.

The most commonly accepted definition of stress is that stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that “demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilise.”

Most commonly this is referred to the Fight-or-Flight
Some of the early research on stress (conducted by Walter Cannon in 1932) established the existence of the well-known “fight-or-flight” response. His work showed that when an organism experiences a shock or perceives a threat, it quickly releases hormones that help it to survive.

In humans, as in other animals, these hormones help us to run faster and fight harder. They increase heart rate and blood pressure, delivering more oxygen and blood sugar to power important muscles. They increase sweating in an effort to cool these muscles, and help them stay efficient. They divert blood away from the skin to the core of our bodies, reducing blood loss if we are damaged. As well as this, these hormones focus our attention on the threat, to the exclusion of everything else. All of this significantly improves our ability to survive life-threatening events.

Not only life-threatening events trigger this reaction: We experience it almost any time we come across something unexpected or something that frustrates our goals. When the threat is small, our response is small and we often do not notice it among the many other distractions of a stressful situation.

Unfortunately, this mobilisation of the body for survival also has negative consequences. In this state, we are excitable, anxious, jumpy and irritable. This actually reduces our ability to work effectively with other people. With trembling and a pounding heart, we can find it difficult to execute precise, controlled skills. The intensity of our focus on survival interferes with our ability to make fine judgments by drawing information from many sources. We find ourselves more accident-prone and less able to make good decisions.

There are very few situations in modern working life where this response is useful. Most situations benefit from a calm, rational, controlled and socially sensitive approach. 

In the short term, we need to keep this fight-or-flight response under control to be effective in our jobs. In the long term we need to keep it under control to avoid problems of poor health and burnout.

So, how do you deal with this type of stress and limit the impact on your job?

The first thing to do is look at a Job Analysis. A Job Analysis is a key technique for managing job overload ,an important source of stress.

To do an excellent job, you need to fully understand what is expected of you. While this may seem obvious, in the hurly-burly of a new, fast-moving, high-pressure role, it is oftentimes something that is easy to overlook.

By understanding the priorities in your job, and what constitutes success within it, you can focus on these activities and minimize work on other tasks as much as possible. This helps you get the greatest return from the work you do, and keep your workload under control.

Job Analysis is a useful technique for getting a firm grip on what really is important in your job so that you are able to perform excellently. It helps you to cut through clutter and distraction to get to the heart of what you need to do.

This tool below assumes that your organisation is already well organized and that its job descriptions, review criteria and incentives are well-aligned and correct. If this is not in place talk to you manager and find out all of the below.

To conduct a job analysis, go through the following steps:

1. Review formal job documentation:

• Look at your job description. Identify the key objectives and priorities within it.
• Look at the forms for the periodic performance reviews. These show precisely the behaviours that will be rewarded and, by implication, show those that will be punished.
• Find out what training is available for the role. Ensure that you attend appropriate training so that you know as much as possible about what you need to know.
• Look at incentive schemes to understand the behaviours that these reward.

2. Understand the organisation's strategy and culture:

Your job exists for a reason. This will ultimately be determined by the strategy of the organisational unit you work for. This strategy is often expressed in a mission statement. In some way, what you do should help the organisation achieve its mission. Make sure you understand and perform well the tasks that contribute to the strategy.

Similarly, every organisation has its own culture, its own historically developed values, rights and wrongs and things that it considers to be important. If you are new to an organisation, talk through with established, respected members of staff to understand these values.

Make sure that you understand this culture. Make sure that your actions reinforce the company's culture, or at least do not go against it. Looked at it through the lens of culture, will the company value what you do?

Check that your priorities are consistent with this mission statement and the company culture.

3. Find out who the top achievers are, and understand why they are successful:

Inside or outside the organisation, there may be people in a similar role to you who are seen as highly successful. Find out how they work, and what they do to generate this success. Look at what they do, and learn from them. Understand what skills make them successful, and learn those skills.

4. Check that you have the people and resources to do the job:

The next step is to check that you have the staff support, resources and training needed to do an excellent job. If you do not, start work on obtaining them.

5. Confirm priorities with your boss:

By this stage, you should have a thorough understanding of what your job entails, and what your key objectives are. You should also have a good idea of the resources that you need, and any additional training you may need to do the best you can.

This is the time to talk the job through with your boss, and confirm that you share an understanding of what constitutes good performance in the role.

It is also worth talking through serious inconsistencies, and agreeing how these can be managed.

6. Take Action:
You should now know what you have to do to be successful in your job. You should have a good idea of the most important things that you have to do, and also the least important.

Where you can drop the less-important tasks, do so. Where you can de-prioritise them, do so.

Where you need more resource or training to do your job, negotiate for this.

Remember to be a little sensitive in the way you do this: Good teamwork often means helping other people out with jobs that do not benefit you. However, do not let people take advantage of you. Be assertive in explaining that you have your own work to do. If you cannot drop tasks, delegate them or negotiate longer time scales.

In summary:
Job analysis is a five-step technique for:

• Understanding and agreeing how to achieve peak performance in your job;
• Ensuring that you and your boss agree on the areas you should concentrate on when time gets tight; and the areas that can be de-emphasized during this time; and
• Making sure that you have the resources, training and staff needed to do a good job.

By using the Job Analysis technique, you should gain a good understanding of how you can excel at your job. You should also understand your job priorities.

This helps you to manage the stress of job overload by helping to decide which jobs you should drop.

So what then do you do if you are stressed to the hilt and you need to calm yourself down so that you can concentrate on the tasks at hand?

Our suggestion are as follows:

· Organise your office. If you have everything in its place and can easily find things then you can do tasks more quickly.

· Get rid of things from you office that are un necessary. Move all those old files to storage.

· Break down all of your responsibilities into tasks. Assign a priority level to each task and organise them in a sequential list. Assign a timeframe to complete each task and then place it in your diary.  Set a time limit for each task and keep to it.

· Where possible delegate your work so that you have less on your plate.

· Do not take on extra work just because someone asked you too. If you do not have the time. Tell them ad explain why.

· Ask you Boss if they have ideas how you can manage your workload better. The chances are they have done your job too and know how to speed things up.

· Do not work 16 hour a day or anything close to it. Spending too much time in work creates even more stress, crowds the mind and slows down your productivity. If you are so stresses that your concentration is gone, take a break, go home and get some sleep or get some exercise. When you return to the tasks at hand you will be fresh and better able to perform.

· Do some physical relaxation techniques. These include slow deep breathing, progressive muscular tension exercises, (tense a group of muscles for 30 seconds, then release the tension, then actively relax them further. The results are surprising). Or, if you have more time try The Relaxation Response . It has a very real effect at reducing stress. Direct effects included deep relaxation, slowed heartbeat and breathing, reduced oxygen consumption and increased skin resistance. 

• Sit quietly and comfortably.
• Close your eyes.
• Start by relaxing the muscles of your feet and work up your body relaxing muscles.
• Focus your attention on your breathing.
• Breathe in deeply and then let your breath out. Count your breaths, and say the number of the breath as you let it out (this gives you something to do with your mind, helping you to avoid distraction).

Do this for ten or twenty minutes.

So how stressed are you? Stress comes from more than just your job. Take a look at the exercise below and see how you fair on the stress scale. We will assume that if you score high on this stress test that you seek assistance be that from a doctor or a psychologist.

Life events that add to stress. Look at your life for the last 12 months and add up your score as you go.

Score:

300 or greater = unacceptable, risk of illness                 250 – 300 = very high

200-250 = high            150-200 = medium                   150 – lower = manageable

If you know someone else who is suffering stress then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited professional and personal career consultancy service for people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

“It is all work work work these days. No time for the finer qualities in life”. I hear this most days of the week. I do agree in some ways, but not in others. The most common complaint I get from employers is that their staff just do not want to work. 15 years ago people understood that they were lucky to have a job and that there were thousands of people out there who would have given their eye teeth just to have any job to go to in the morning. Those were back in the recession days of course, long before the Celtic Tiger. A lot of employers have seen a shift toward complacency and they are not impressed. Now, with an influx of people from the new European countries, employers are finding the work ethic that seems to be slipping from the Irish mentality. There are quite a few employers who have seen this difference and welcome these new citizens, as do I. These people come from recession, poverty, war zones and oppression. A country like Ireland is a Godsend. All they have to do is put in an honest days work and they have the same chance as you and I to succeed.  This used to be how we were viewed. Are we losing our work ethic and have we slipped into some sort of downward work ethic trend?

As I can see it, getting ahead in your job is much more than just doing your job. Everyday, we walk into offices, factories, shops etc and join a team of other workers, clients and members of the public. In order for companies and all of us to achieve our goals we must understand that doing our job goes beyond concentrating on your own responsibilities. You must be able to interact and get along with your peers and co-workers. Simply doing your job is not enough.

So how do we make sure that we do not lose what was so attractive to all those large international companies 10-15 years ago? One sure way to get a head in life it to do your job to the best of your ability, putting your best foot forward and not get sidetracked by office annoyances or unhelpful behaviour.

Here are a few tips you can integrate into your daily work life to make sure your career keeps moving forward with your company in the direction you want.

1. Do your work with dedicated interest and loyalty. Be punctual at work and try your best to observe the rules and regulations of the company.

2. Never join other voices to persecute the establishment; your opinion may be presented to the boss as the only voice of opposition. Some destructive co-workers who are quick to report others never admit their role in initiating an anti-establishment sentiment. Such co-workers won't hesitate to make others look bad before the boss so they can win brownie points.

3. Improve your knowledge and professionalism on the job and if possible, be ahead of the times by reading about current research findings in your areas of expertise.

4. Be the best at what you do, no matter how small or big the job. It is not enough to just do the work, always let your work leave a mark of excellence. Remember the words of the famous Italian Zoologist Fabricius (1537-1619): "Death comes to all, but great achievements raise monuments which shall endure until the sun grows cold."

5. Do not brag about your achievement. Let your work speak for itself or let somebody else do the bragging. If you have done a good job, it will be noticed and appreciated by people who appreciate good work. Once your co-workers develop the feelings that you are bragging, you might have set up yourself for a failure.

6. Learn to get along with people who appear not to like you or whom you may not like. You can learn to work with people you do not like. Learn not to personalise problems. It is not about you, but about work. People communicate at different levels; you don't have to be intimate to work with a co-worker.

7. Learn to get-to-know a co-worker individually and do not base a relationship on what was said by another person. Most of the initial negative attitudes developed by co-workers against an individual usually resulted from a negative notion based on somebody else's bias. Learn to know an individual; develop a unique, personal, diplomatic working relationship with that person instead of allowing prejudice to govern your opinion.

8. Never hold grudges or be vindictive. These types of behaviours are always counter-productive. When you are angry over an issue, admit it to yourself, and then take corrective measures to rectify the problem. Once the problem is resolved, let the anger deflate and let the problem become history; then move on. The more you bottle anger inside of you, the more you increase the chances of an emotional explosion.

9. Learn to have shorter periods of anger when aggravated and let the matter rest as quickly as possible. Anger toward a co-worker tends to adversely affect your work. Always find ways to calm down and diffuse crises on the job involving you and your co-workers, no matter who is at fault.

10. Accept your imperfections. When you make error, admit it. The cardinal sin on the job is to blame somebody else for your errors.

11. Use your errors as learning tools for education, and job improvement. This is how you turn your weaknesses to strategies for success.

12. Never join hands to persecute a co-worker or a newcomer. One of the most destructive behaviours on the job is the refusal to accept a new employee. Joining hands with others to persecute an innocent co-worker is unethical. Collective persecution of an employee is very common in a problematic working environment just because we need somebody to blame.

14. Be a negotiator between feuding workers, a fire extinguisher when problems are brewing on the job. However, remember that playing this role makes you vulnerable to attacks by others who thrive on the emotional energy ignited by crisis. They act as if you are the one trying to take away their goodies.

15. Learn to identify and deal with thrill seekers of crisis. Once a problem is solved, they will create another. After solving the second, third or fourth problem these chronic pleasure seekers do not stop; they will find something else to yell about. Know when to ignore such people. The rule is, as long as these people are kept busy, given numerous assignments, their energies to craft crisis or wreak havoc will be depleted. Do not react to these people as nuisances on the job, which chronic complainers can sometimes be. Look at them as energetic people, looking for challenges; a manager should assign them to solve the problems in question.

16. Never destroy co-workers' work or denigrate them to elevate your status. Most businesses have very strict punishment for employees destroying co-workers' work. The punishment is immediate termination! You do not have to destroy somebody else on the job to achieve your own objective. This is very unethical.

17. Do not bring personal problems to work or persecute co-workers as a reflection of your personal failures or problems. If you have problems with your spouse / family / friends, seek professional help or talk to a trusted friend. Victimising co-workers because of personal problems is not only unethical but very unprofessional.

18. Never get into a shouting match with a co-worker no matter how angry you get. When you feel you are being persecuted on the job, find a nice and diplomatic way to resolve the problems. Emotional outburst can be counter-productive on the job. Verbal confrontation can lead to other forms of physical violence.

19. Find a neutral ground to negotiate issues with the boss or co-workers. When negotiation fails, learn to compromise; when compromise fails, learn to agree to disagree. Learn to approach others about job related issues without either intimidation or being intimidated.

21. Learn to respond without stress to stressful situations. This is not a strategy that is learned overnight. It is a skill which has to be mastered. For example, instead of getting into a shouting match with an irate co-worker, lower your voice. The aggressor may lower his or her voice to the point of sensible conversation. Learn to channel negative energies to positive outlets.

22. Improve your work ethics and spend the major part of the job time producing. It is a misconception that your loyal hard work for the company is fruitless in the absence of job incentives or rewards. Once the job is well-mastered and you have developed good work ethics, you now have a better chance of getting a job elsewhere or starting your own business on the side. Good managers usually appreciate hard-working employees, unless they are a threat to the managers.

24. Never take a problem to the manager without having two or three solutions for the problem.

26. Deal with an ego-driven manager with diplomacy. Some supervisors may believe that they are better than others and that co-workers should be subservient to them. If you treat your boss as a god, you will pay a painful price because you open yourself to abuse. An effective manager will treat you with respect and you should reciprocate.

27. Be the first to try new procedures. People are generally very resistant to change. Once you rise to the occasion, many people will join you. Management is always frustrated in trying to educate people about new procedures and protocol. Many people who left their jobs because they were intimidated by computers are now returning to work and learning to use computers.

28. Know your limitations, know the limitations of your boss, do your best on the job and know when to stop pursuing an issue. Your greatest asset on the job is your motivation to achieve and produce. No matter what your job is, always let your work leave a mark of excellence.

29. Treat your customers / clients with respect and kindness. Welcome them into the shop / company with a smile and a friendly greeting. Customers / clients love being recognised by an employee of an establishment or a shop. They feel more comfortable to shop or do business with your company compared to when they are treated like intruders. Never complain to a customer about problems you have in getting things done, it denigrate the quality of your service.

Do you know of someone else who would benefit from this article then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited professional and personal career consultancy service for people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

10. Your outgoings expenses exceeds your income.

9. The most rewarding thing you did this week was sharpen all twelve of your pencils to the same length.

8. You're reluctant to be a Career Day speaker in your child's primary school

7. Everyone in your work group got a raise except you.

6. Your friends all have jobs that sound more interesting than yours.

5. You were late for work three times this week, but you just don't care.

4. There's a meeting at 3:00 to talk about the upcoming reorganisation, and you're not invited.

3. Your boss keeps forgetting your name.

2. You constantly daydream about being a Fireman.

1. Your company was recently acquired, and you spent two weeks worrying that you'd be laid off. After that you worried that you wouldn't be.

It is about the lighter side of job hunting this time, but there are relevant lessons to be learned here.

If you can identify with any of the above statements, then you need to take action. Your work life will not get better on its own. But where do you start?

Start right where you are. Find out what you do well naturally and what motivates you most. Find out what your skills are and identify the 5 most important things you want in a job. Then you can find a job that calls for what you have to offer. If you need help finding this out then enlist some professional help. This is what career consultants do. Do not spend your life in a role you hate for the sake of it. Make positive changes in your life and have the career that you really want.

If you know someone else who would enjoy this article then please pass this on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited professional and personal career consultancy service for people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

If you go into a primary school classroom and ask the children what they want to be when they grow up you will probably get many different responses, ideas and ambitions. You were most likely in the same situation at the age of 7. Personally, I wanted to be an astronaut and serve on the Enterprise with Captain Kirk. No battling in the stars for me I am afraid. I do however have a telescope in the sitting room.

 Now that this question is being posed to you again at the start, or indeed middle, of your work life the answers may not jump out at you quite so readily.   Research has shown that we only see ourselves accurately half of the time , so it can often be difficult to “see ourselves in the mirror”.

The good news it that there are valuable tools at hand to help you make your mind up. One such tool is an assessment or psychometric evaluation.  Each year hundreds of thousands of people use this method worldwide to give them a perspective on who they are and how to capitalise on their abilities. They provide an un-bias view that cannot be misinterpreted by a human as they generally do not do the scoring.

Psychometric evaluations are very common and are continuously increasingly in popularity with a wide variety of organisations. I am sure that you have already done one in school or as part of the interview process.

There are a multitude of different types. The key for choosing the right psychometric evaluation is to choose one that has been around for a long time, has been widely tested with a large test group and has been primed for the type of answers that you are looking for. Your career counsellor should have this information to hand.

Research has also shown that up to 80% of people will benefit from this style of assessment and that having this information, presented to them in plain English (which most of them do), can be very helpful when facing a career decision where it is difficult to see the wood from the trees.

So what do people use these evaluations for? As mentioned, the types of assessments are vast. They are used by individuals who just want to know more about themselves; and by employers who want to see if a perspective employee will match the company and have the right skills for the job. The most common types are a skills evaluation, management appraisal, a motivation assessment, a career direction query and other self diagnostic tools.

So what is it you can actually learn from such an evaluation? Below I have listed some of the more common applications for psychometric evaluations.

• Identify your strengths and weaknesses. IE. What you do well and what you could do better.
• Pinpoint your interests and match them with your strengths.
• Clarify your values, specifically what matters to you, e.g. making a lot of money or feeling that what you do makes a difference, working alone or as a part of a team
• Look at the overlap among your strengths, interests, and values to identify corresponding careers
• Discover your natural talents and motivations
• Map you management style or how you would be best managed
• Discover personality trends
• Focus of energy (introversion vs. extraversion)
• Information gathering methods (concrete facts vs. meanings and possibilities)
• Decision-making preferences (objective vs. subjective)
• Lifestyle preferences (planned and orderly vs. spontaneous and less structured)
• Identify areas for self-improvement, e.g., oral communication, and decide how to hone your skills in those areas
• Decide if you want to continue your education and, if so, where to apply
• Build your confidence in yourself and confirm that you have chosen the right career direction.

There are other things you can analyse of course. As you can see though, the common thread is self knowledge and understanding. Having and increasing self knowledge should be an important goal for any person out there, regardless of the stage of their career. Not only do these assessments tell you a lot about yourself but they can also teach you things that you were not even aware of, or had not thought of before. This often opens up new possibilities for people and will often give them skill areas to improve so that they are happier in their role, regardless of whether they change it or not. In short, the overall purpose of an assessment is to give you structure and direction moving forward.

What is very important to remember is that the results of these evaluations, though very useful, cannot be used on their own. The results must be taken in a general sense and used in conjunction with other evaluation methods. In other word they are not gospel and should only be used to expand on ideas you already have or give you a general direction for the future.

It is also true that a lot of people approach these analyses with a sense of trepidation. Firstly remember they are not a “test”. You cannot get answers right or wrong. As an individual you will give individual answers. This means your results will not be the same as your friend/colleague sitting next to you though you are similar.

The results can also be skewed depending on your answers. You need to be honest when answering the questions otherwise it is pointless taking the assessments.  Also, your counsellor or future employer will not see the answers that you have given, only the results that have been generated. Further, do not waste your time giving the answers that you think they want. Even if you do get the job, it could be a very bad fit for you and you will most likely be miserable at work.

Bear in mind that these assessments can often be wrong about you in some areas and spot on in others. About 60% accuracy is the average; though some people finding the results up to 90% accurate. Remember; use them as a general guide only.

So should you take an assessment? There is always value in learning more about yourself whatever your stage in life. Obviously, these assessments are most beneficial when you have a career or life question that is difficult to answer. Psychometric evaluations give you options, a direction to consider and a better and clearer understanding of your position right now. A high percentage of our clients include this method as part of their service and most have found them invaluable for the decisions at hand. Whether they give you the exact answers you are looking for is debatable; however they will increase your self awareness and give you good areas for consideration that can often expedite the career decisions you are faced with.

If you are having difficulty dealing with a career choice or question, please seek help to resolve the issue. There is plenty available and you should never face a troublesome career decisions alone.

If you know someone else who is faced with a similar problem then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited, professional and personal career consultancy service. We work with people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience and are all members of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

In this modern day employers want to know exactly who is working for them. So forget about Big Brother. Your next prospective employer is likely to take an uncomfortably close-up look at you.

To limit mistakes companies are checking more often and digging deeper into the professional and personal lives of potential employees.

The majority of employers check a candidate's previous work history in detail. For top level positions, employers can often ask for more than two referees and for most management roles they generally put their feelers out into the market place to see what they can dig up on you. No company will ever admit that this happens of course and all information gained is strictly off the record. However decisions are made on this information and you will never know about it.

There are several reason why employers do this.

Firstly, white collar crime is on the serious increase. People are dipping into the proverbial “till” more and more which is causing some very serious shortfalls and concerns for companies. Millions are embezzled each year so you can understand why companies becoming more careful about whom they let into their corporate community

Another reason is that they are sick of making bad hires. The wrong candidates can sometimes slip through the interview net and then managers are stuck with the wrong people. It is also an expensive process for the company to replace bad hires. They would rather not have to go through that pain. It is bad for the candidate too. If they are in the wrong job, they will not do well, will hate their job and will want to leave as soon as possible. Bad for your CV, your next reference and your career moving forward.

Another way managers are making a bad hire is that people are falsifying their experience. A study done last year in the United States showed that an average of 23% of CV's were exaggerated or contained serious lies. That is a scary statistic for any employer. For candidates reading this, the truth will out. There are plenty of stories circulating where employees have suddenly left due to irregularities uncovered in their CV's. So, bend the truth with a stern warning.

In the US it is very common to do criminal background checks, credit history checks and even driving licence checks on potential employees. There are database services readily available and for a small price employers, or anyone for that matter, can have your complete and accurate life history in a few short days. Ireland is filled with many multi-national companies who use these types of checks abroad. My view is that such criminal checks etc. will not take too long to cross over to our side of the puddle.

People working in Ireland are more protected than our American counterparts.. For instance, it is not legal to do a criminal background check. Also, it is illegal to ask about any possible previous convictions as it may cause discrimination. Though this is the case, employees do undergo greater scrutiny. We are a small country and therefore each industry and sector is filled with only a small percentage of the workforce. There will be somebody out there who knows you and will have a story to tell.

If you're a job seeker facing a background check, there are steps you can take to make sure that you sail through such reference checks.

1: The best way to get a good reference is to do a good job, turn up on time and put your best foot forward.

2: Find out what your references will say about you. Check them out. Get a friend to call them up and see what they will say about you. It is illegal in Ireland to give a bad reference, however some references will be a lot better than others. Recruiter and HR people do these checks regularly so are well able to read into the "unsaid".

2: Tell your perspective employer what they might find. If there is going to be an issue with your reference be upfront about it. Tell them at the final interview. This way you have a chance to defend yourself rather than leave it in the lap of the Gods. Minor blemishes can be ironed out very easily by being honest and upfront about it. If you have a more serious issue, say a conviction, you are not obliged to say anything and they cannot ask.

3: Be mindful of the references you choose. You will have to have a reference from your direct manager from your last job. However maybe there is another referee you can use as a back up. A good personal reference for instance.

4: Have a reference from your last job. Employers are always most interested in the most recent employment you had. They will be suspicious if this reference is missing.

5: Do not write the names and contact details of your referees on your CV. There is a good chance that they will call without ever having met you. Further, imagine you have sent out twenty CV's and your referee receives eight calls in a week. They will not be pleased.

6: Get a written reference. As mentioned above, it is illegal for a company to give a bad reference in Ireland. Therefore most written references just state that you worked in the company and give the dates of your employment. If you got on well with your employer however, see if you can get them to write one that expands on you more fully.

It amazes me every time I meet a new candidate how little they have considered the impression their referees will make. A reference check is usually the last thing that an employer will do if they are planning to extend an offer. It is then the last piece of information that they will hear about you. It will make a lasting impression.

If you are having difficulty dealing with a career problem please seek help to resolve the issue. There is plenty available and you should never face a troublesome career decisions alone.

If you know someone else who is faced with a similar problem then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been written and brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited, professional and personal career consultancy service. We work with people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience and are all members of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

Have you ever wondered what the hiring manager says about you after you left? Employers are definitely more open to recruiters and will share feedback with us that might not otherwise make it to you.

Our goal in sharing these with you is to help you excel in your interview.

1: S/he told us she wants to change to a different area in the industry.

• Don't think for a second you are "selling" yourself by suggesting the above.
• If you are a lateral thinker you will need to make a change by proving yourself first.

2: The candidate was rude to the receptionist.

• The receptionist or person greeting you should be treated with the same respect as the interviewer. This is especially true on the corporate side.

3: After extending an offer, the candidate left me a voicemail saying I want to think about it.

• Never fail to have a professional, mature conversation after an employer extends you an offer. You can indicate that you want some time to think. Remember your goal is to build relationships not burn them.

4: S/he was not dressed in a professional manner.

• Do not dress casually or business casual, even if it is Friday. It is the kiss of death.

5: S/he wore the worst smelling cologne and it made me sick.

• Never wear cologne or perfume. You never know if the interviewer is allergic or cannot tolerate your scent.

6: I could not believe the candidate was chewing gum.

• Never even walk onto the company premises if you are chewing gum If you have a breath problem use mints.

7: The candidate told me s/he wants the job.

• You would be surprised but this is a big hit with employers.

8: S/he talked too much and it drove me mad.

• Remember, answer the question asked. No question should take longer than 2 minutes to answer and 30 seconds is better for the majority of questions.  

9: I failed to receive a thank you letter.

• Write a thank you letter on a thank you note card and only if your handwriting is legible. Make your thank you a meaningful one.

10: S/he did not know enough about the company.

• No one will hire you if you do not have good company information and industry knowledge. It is usually one of the first questions asked and so there is no excuse for not knowing.

GOOD RULES OF THUMB

The following are good rules of thumb to make the best impression you possibly can

1. Do not memorise common interview questions and then recite canned answers.

2. Do not be afraid to cover any areas of concern.

3. Do not lie about your experience and knowledge.

4. Do not try to hide gaps in your work history. Explain them.

5. Do not ask too quickly about money and benefits. That is for second interview only, unless you are asked your current salary

6. Do not reschedule interviews at the last minute or reschedule more than once if at all possible.

7. Do not spend time complaining about former employers.

8. Do not forget your professionalism. Never curse or tell stories about your personal life during the interview.

9. Do not arrive with uncombed hair, wrinkled clothing or inappropriate attire. Polished shoes are a must.

10. Do not leave the interview without asking potential employers how you did or asking what information they might need from you to keep moving forward.

11. Do arrive 10 minutes early for your interview.

12. If you do not know exactly where you are going, make a practice run the day before during the same time of day you need to be there.

13. Be enthusiastic about the opportunity and company you are interviewing for. Enthusiasm can be a determining factor when you are up against candidates with similar backgrounds.

14. Interviewing is like a speech or presentation; you need to prepare and practice. You cannot afford to "wing it."

15. It is okay not to know everything. If you do not know something be honest and say something like, "I'm not quite sure ...but that is definitely something I can learn quickly."

16. To project confidence and authority, control your tone of voice, speed of delivery, and volume.

17. In negotiating the deal, some are born with it, others learn it only after being burned. Either way, successful negotiating is a skill worth having throughout the course of your professional life. Learn your "street value" to try and justify your salary requirements.

18. All of this is good information to have but none of the above will help you unless you have and understand the first rule of life: DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE !

If you know someone else who would enjoy this article then please pass this on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited professional and personal career consultancy service for people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com

As you go through your career you will hear conflicting reports on how to get a job. We know this as we hear it from our clients all the time. Knowing the truth about these common inaccuracies will help reduce your stress in terms of your career and help you approach your search in a realistic and productive way. Try to be clear and open minded when it comes to achieving success and avoid these common misconceptions:

Myth #1: The most qualified person gets the job.
Reality: The person who lands the job is the one who makes the best impression, regardless of qualifications. To make the best impression, you need a strong CV. However a CV does not land you a job, but rather just an interview.

In addition, you need to excel in other ways. Sometimes people with weak CV's land interviews because they are good at networking, and are able to convince the interviewer that they possess the best match of qualifications, "chemistry," and personal attributes for the job. Personal attributes include persistence, enthusiasm, honesty, confidence, and most importantly, popularity. Do not get overconfident if you feel you are the most qualified person, but do not be discouraged if you are not a direct match for the position. In the interview you must prove yourself as the best candidate for the job.

Myth #2: My college degree should be directly related to my job/career.
Reality: Not true! Pick a degree that you love, and make sure you gain relevant experience from internships that match your career goals. For example, the notion that there are no jobs for liberal arts degrees or that you have to degree in business to land a good job, is false. For example, Carly Fiornia, CEO of Hewlett Packard US, was a medieval studies major at Stanford University.

Myth #3: Good grades and a college degree will get me a good job
Reality: Again sometimes college qualifications are necessary to gain an entry level position. However only 10% of companies believe that real experience does not override the need for a college qualification. Employers do look for academic success, however many employers would rather see an average grade and a combination of several internships, leadership activities, community service, and technical and personal skills.

Myth #4: My first job out of college is one that I will be stuck with for a long time
Reality: Most new college graduates are in their first job for one to three years.
People who spend a lifetime with one employer are a dying breed. In the new economy, a job change every three to five years is not considered job-hopping. In fact, demonstrated experience at several employers is an asset, while long-term employment with one firm can be a warning sign of someone afraid of risk-taking or change. Studies show that the average working person will have three to five careers and between 10 to 12 jobs during his or her lifetime. As a result, you will need to make multiple moves to gain new skills and get ahead. That said you will need to stay in a role at least 1 - 2 years before moving again (unless doing contract work). Avoid very short stints, those under one year if you can.

Myth #5: I should know what I want to do before I go to my career guidance counsellor
Reality: Your career counsellor specialises in people who are undecided. These trained professionals will help you focus on your goals and steer you in the right direction. They can help you get a career focus with such self-assessment inventories and career and job hunting skills. Make an appointment today!

Myth #6: My family and friends know me. They can help me choose the right career
Reality: Remember: You, not your parents (siblings, friends, etc.), must live with your job choice. Trying to please others, such as your parents or friends, is a mistake that will come back to haunt you in the future. When it comes to jobs and graduate school, people close to you will have conflicting and strong opinions about what is the best option for you. It is okay to seek a variety of views, but remember that your family and friends are biased and are not trained career counsellors. You will want to have someone listen to you and advise you objectively. Ultimately, your career is your responsibility.

Myth #7: I'm going to graduate school; I don't need a CV
Reality: It is a smart idea to begin building your CV as early as possible. What ever your goals you can plan for the future and ensure that you get the experience and skills you require so that you can enter the career path you want.

Myth #8: Interviewing is easy if you know how to talk
Reality: Job searching is really about marketing yourself to employers, and the best way to do that is to read books on interviewing and set up a mock interview with your carer counsellor.

Myth #9: The only jobs available are in the classifieds/internet
Reality: At least 50 percent of jobs are found using the most effective job-search technique: networking. And research shows that fewer than 20 percent of jobs are listed in the classifieds. If someone is looking for a job and the classifieds are their sole source of job leads, their job search will be frustrating. Your career counsellor can teach you the other job search strategies that will complement your classifieds search.

Myth #10: I sent a CV and a cover letter. If they want me, they will contact me
Reality: A passive approach will not work in today's job market; you need to conduct extensive follow-up and request an interview.

Myth #11: Money is the most important factor when making a decision about a job offer
Reality: Wrong! The two most important factors are: job content and your new boss. Since you will be at work more hours than you will be with your family or anything else, job satisfaction should be a high priority. In addition, many workers today are eager to forego money to achieve a better work/life balance. In addition to financial incentives you should also weigh such essential factors as the relationship with co-workers, typical work-week, location, organizational flexibility, and other benefits such as tuition reimbursement and vacation time.

Myth #12: Only people who are really stuck need help to progress their career
Reality: Wrong again. Finding the right career or right college is a time-consuming process that is best done as early in your career as possible, not at the last minute when things are going wrong. Asking for help once you have hit a dead end can only add more stress and anxiety to this already challenging process. In order to have a fulfilling career you need to understand yourself, create career goals and plans, understand the skills you need. Further you will want to participate in internships, develop your CV, cover letter, and interviewing skills. Many people remark that they wish they had started this process in their first year in college.

Myth #13: More education means more marketability
Reality: Having a "better" degree does not necessarily mean getting the job you want or getting a job that is meaningful. What is important is the right combination of education and work experience, mixed with your ability to sell your personal qualifications in an interview. The key here is that you match your educational goals to your professional goals, and then couple them with relevant experience. There are plenty of people in the world who are well educated, but lack the necessary experience.

Myth #14: The company will take care of my career and me
Reality: Perhaps true in the 1950s, but the workplace has evolved. According to Business Week, the chances are one in three that you will lose your job at least once during your working life. In an age of downsizing, the rule is career self-management. Only you will be responsible for your continuing education and career development. Even if you do well for the company, there is no guarantee that the company will guarantee its own future, let alone yours!

Myth #15: I posted my CV on the Internet, so I should hear about a job offer soon.
Reality: The Internet will not solve all of your career problems. Using the Internet should be part of your overall job-search plan, but do not be lulled into a false sense of security that it is a silver bullet. Post your resume on three to five of the best job sites and be sure to monitor it as well as checking the job listings on a regular basis.

If you know someone else who would enjoy this article then please pass this on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.fccareers.com/articles.htm

This article had been brought to you by FC Careers. FC Careers is a fully accredited professional and personal career consultancy service for people who want to either change, improve or kick-start their careers. Our consultants have over 10 years industry knowledge and experience. We have an in-depth knowledge of the recruitment processes and HR management. We have all worked as recruiters, in HR departments and in industry. We have strong management experience and an in-depth understanding of each sector and the problems people can face.

We will tailor our services and work with you on a one to one basis to ensure that you get the advice and skills that you need. If you would like to talk to us please contact us by any of the means below.

Tel: 01-643-9300, 8 Dawson St, Dublin 2 advice@fccareers.com