Spoilt for choice

In the rush to say yes, make sure you do not lose sight of your objectives

The good news is you have a job offer. The bad news is you are not sure if you should accept. What should you do? Take the bird in the hand? Wait to see what else comes your way? Or something else entirely?

Managing job offers can be a minefield. Some potential employers will understand the difficulties involved. They appreciate that job-hunters are looking job-hunters are looking around and need time to make up their mind. But others are less flexible. The moment they give you a job offer, they can expect you to leap up, shake their hand and take it there and then. If you do not, they may threaten to withdraw the offer and leave you with nothing.

If you find yourself in this situation, what is the best way to proceed? If you are being pushed into making a decision, trust your gut reaction. But this advice comes with a caveat. Remember what it is you want to do with your career. In the rust to say yes or no, and perhaps in the urgency just to get started, it is easy to lose sight of your objective. Fortunately, you do not have to immediately accept or reject most job offers. Most large companies are prepared to wait several weeks for an answer. This is because large companies are often slow moving, so there is usually no need for a rapid-fire response.

In this case, you should simply send a letter acknowledging receipt of the job offer and informing them that you will be in touch in the near future. In the meantime you can haul in any other offers before finally making a decision.

Smaller or medium sized companies may not be able to give you this luxury. By their very nature, they can be more dynamic. Their business must keep going, with or without you. So, out of fairness to them, you should make your decision within a couple of days. Sought-after candidates may be able to gain extra thinking time.

None of this alters the fact that choosing between one job offer and another is difficult. You are dealing with nothing less than that all-important first break.

Whatever you do, make sure you get the basic right:

• Find out exactly how long you have to make your mind up.
• Gather as much information as possible about the job or jobs on offer.
• If you have another interview approaching, ask if it can be brought forward.

If you are still waiting to hear back from an interview, contact HR to determine exactly when a decision will be made. If they sound sympathetic, explain your situation, they may just be able to let you in on something.

Finally, always be courteous when rejecting a job offer. You do not want to burn your bridges. You never know when you may come across a particular person or their company in the future. — The Guardian

The Invisible Eye

We are all used to see people with two eyes, nose, one mouth, two ears. It seldom happens that anybody thinks about the ‘Third Eye’, which is also described as the ‘Eye Of Wisdom’ or ‘The Eye Of Soul’ or ‘The Invisible Eye’.

Our two physical eyes look out at the world and at others. They do not see ‘me’ or the ‘true reality’ of others. It is the ‘Third Eye’ which looks inward to seek these truths.

What we see from our eyes is closely knit with how we think — as we think, so we perceive. When the third eye ‘opens up’, our thinking changes, light comes into our life and we see ‘the real self’ and ‘others’ with a new vision.

Mercy truth and love fill our thoughts, and so our vision. There is a true feeling that everyone is good and of closeness, not duality.

This light also lets us clearly see what is going on around us, what is important and what we need to do. It is as if an inner spark has been lit; before there was darkness with the feelings of not knowing and of blindness. Our life becomes one of inspiring, of quality, of value and filled with mercy, love and truth.

In order to open the ‘Third Eye’, one needs to be a regular practitioner of meditation as it helps us to restore ourselves and understand the self more deeply. The experience of calmness and peace in meditation enables us to get back in touch with our original nature, which in turn enlightens ourself as well as others around us.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

E-mail signature etiquette

While most e-mail applications allow you to embellish your signature with pictures, hyperlinks and font variations, there is etiquette that should be considered, especially if you are using your e-mail signature for professional purposes.

• All of the lines in the e-mail signature should be aligned to the left of the signature box.
• The e-mail signature should include sufficient contact information, which will vary depending on the contact information you want e-mail recipients to have.
• A business motto is also appropriate.
• Keep the e-mail signature simple and easy to read. Four to six lines of text is a good rule of thumb.
• Have at least two e-mail signatures from which to choose.
• You do not need to include your e-mail address in the e-mail signature.
• Stick with basic, legible fonts.
• If you use an image or a graphic, remember that less is more.
• Do not use a jumble of different fonts, size or colours.
• Add a few blank lines at the top of your e-mail signature to keep it from being too close to the body of the message. After you have created an e-mail signature, proof it carefully for spelling and punctuation errors before putting it to use.

Take apprenticeships seriously

Over recent years, apprenticeships have gained a great deal of support from businesses, learning providers and governments, enabling a rapid increase in numbers. Hence, the stories of short courses, a lack of work experience and no jobs at the end of all the training are out-numbered by examples of apprenticeship successes.

The truth is that high-quality apprenticeships are vitally important for developing the high-level skills, experience and knowledge required in today’s workplace. They are also helping to bridge skill gaps to train workers for a wide range of sectors, from engineering, manufacturing and construction to health, business, law and IT, as well as emerging areas such as green technology.

There has been increasing criticism of students leaving university under prepared to contribute in the workplace, necessitating time to adjust after they start a new job, which can be frustrating and expensive for employers. On the other hand, one advantage businesses are finding with apprenticeships is that they can tailor programmes to provide learners with exactly the right skills required to do the job.

So, do not blindly assume a degree is the only gateway to a better career. If you are looking for a job after you leave school, want to retrain following redundancy, or are simply wishing to move into a new sector, it is worth taking the time to consider all your options. Ask yourself the question: what is the best pathway into the career I want? Increasingly often, an apprenticeship could be the answer for you. — The Guardian

Changing careers

Changing jobs is challenging enough, but changing to a whole new career can be overwhelming. One of the biggest hurdles faced by those interested in a career change is how to make it a smooth and successful transition. Here is a step-be-step guide to make the transition to your new career an easier one.

Research
A vital first step in changing careers is to research your new career. Speak to people in the industry to gain a realistic insight into the culture, conditions, opportunities and challenges. You should identify any skills gaps, transferable skills and qualifications or certifications required. Find out what others in your chosen new career have done. For example, what are their backgrounds, what was their progression route, what qualifications do they have?

Develop a plan
A good career transition plan provides a blueprint for a successful change. Start by setting your sights on your end career goal and map out the steps you will need to take to get there. Allocate realistic timeframes to achieve your goals; accept that these may need to be adjusted as you work through your plan due to potentially unforeseen changes, such as the labour market or personal problems.

Grow your network
It is a good idea to join relevant professional associations, attend networking events, and develop connections with people and organisations in your new career area. This is a great way to learn about potential employment and training opportunities. Your network will also play a critical role in your research activities as they can provide insight into your new career.

Obtain skills and qualifications
You may need to gain new skills or certain qualifications to prepare for your new career. If you are still working in your old job, and you hope to make a seamless transition to a new one, it will be necessary for you to gain the required skills and qualifications before you leave.

Once you have identified the qualifications you need, investigate your options, including online and part-time courses. Although study combined with fulltime employment can be challenging, it is possible. With careful planning, a commitment to your end goal and support of family and friends, you can gain the skills and qualifications you need.

Gain experience
A combination of qualifications and experience is more highly regarded than either options alone. One of the biggest challenges career changers face, however, is how to gain experience in their chosen new career. If you are studying, it is likely there will be a work experience component in your course. Once completed, make sure you add your placement to your CV including your duties, projects and any achievements. Choose your host employer wisely; many employers recruit new staff through work programmes.

Your current employer may also be able to offer you opportunities. This can be filling in for someone on leave or taking on extra duties that help you towards your new career direction. Another way to gain experience is through volunteering or taking on short-term work contacts outside of your normal working hours or during holidays.

Make the leap
The time will come when you will come when you will need to make the final leap into your chosen new career. Initially, you may need to accept a lower income till you become established. But in some cases, you might be lucky enough to move into a higher paying role straight away.

Get help
If you need assistance in making the transition to a new career, seek help from a qualified and experienced career practitioner. — The Guardian

How to find the right job for you

Do you want to do something different but do not know what it is?

For many professionals, work can be frustrating because it fails to be a good match in terms of the skills, the people, and the results they achieve. If you are going to put energy into finding a new job, you need to find something that motivates you and makes an impact with an employer. It is not about finding a job, but the right job — or at least a stepping stone role that eventually gets you where you want to be.

What to consider when deciding what type of work would suit you:

• If you disliked your last job, was it the role, your team, the organisation, or the sector?
• What have you enjoyed studying most — academic courses, training events, or learning for fun?
• What jobs done by friends fascinate you?
• What advertised jobs have attracted you?
• Of all the jobs you have ever held, which was the most enjoyable and why?
• What topics do you enjoy talking about with friends?
• Think about a time when you had a great day at work — sort of the day where everything went well and got a real buzz. Write down what you enjoyed and what you achieved on that day.
• If all jobs paid the same, what work would you do?
• If you could try someone else’s job for a day, what would it be?

Here are some practical steps to work out what types of work would suit you:

1. Analyse your skills: Look hard at your skills, particularly those acquired outside work. What do you do well? What skills do you look forward to using in the workplace? Ensure you have plenty of up-to-date evidence of skills development, learning, and voluntary activities.

2. Work out your top 10 jobs criteria: Develop a personal wish list of the ingredients in your ideal job — think about key elements such as the kind of people you enjoy working with, the results you like to achieve and the organisation’s working style. Then throw your values into the mix — what products or services matter to you? Look for jobs which match at least six out of the nine criteria.

3. Look before you leap: Research before you job search. Do not rely on second-hand information about sectors; find out for yourself. Pick a couple of job ideas and ask around until you get a chance to talk to people who actually do the role. That way you really know what the job is like and you learn to talk the language that will get you an offer. Find people who love what they do and who can tell you what a career feels like from the inside. This also increases your visibility in the hidden job market.

4. Avoid yes or no thinking: When you last heard about an interesting job, how quickly did you find a reason to say ‘no’ to the idea? Explore the options thoroughly and do not let setbacks put you off. Ask a good friend to challenge you when you are tempted to trash your goals.

5. Get your message right: When you get closer to deciding what your ideal job is, learn how to present what you are and what you do in short, focused statements. Be ready to summarise your skills and know-how quickly, and say how you can help an organisation. Decide in advance what are the most important half dozen things on an employer shopping list, and prepare engaging stories to match. — The Guardian

Interview preparations

Prepare for the type of questions you are likely to get

There may not be a place where you can find a list of questions specifically for one position or another. But you can definitely prepare for the type of questions you are likely to get.

You will probably be asked questions to find out whether or not you have the skills or experience to do the job, so make sure you can answer question relating to the job specifics. The ad itself is a good place to work out what they are likely to ask your regarding your professional abilities.

You will probably also get some general questions, so they can find out more about you, your futures plans and so on. Expect questions like, “Tell me about yourself” (an opportunity to present your particular strengths and fit for the job). “What are you weaknesses?” (an opportunity to show how you have learned useful ‘lessons’) or “Where do you want to be in the next X years?” (allows you to show ambition and company loyalty).

Depending on the role you are applying for, you might also get questions designed to elicit your personal qualities. For example, “Describe when you had to deal with a difficult situation or person” or “What did you find most challenging in your last position?” You will need specific examples to answer these questions. Again, a good way to prepare for these is to look at the job ad to discover what sort of person they are looking for.

If you were in their position, what questions would you ask to find out if the applicant had the necessary skills and qualities? For example, if you are applying for a role where problem-solving is important, expect the sort of “What if…?” scenario question which is designed to see how you approach and solve problems. — The Guardian