In this ebook you will learn things like:

1. Interview Do’s and Don’ts
2. Choose Your Words Carefully
3. Choosing the Best interview Option with Multiple Requests
4. Common Interview Mistakes
5. Conduct Some Research on the Company
6. Control of the Interview Conversation
7. Following the Interview Process
8. How Effective are Group Interviews?
9. How Much Should You Tell During the Interview
10. How to Guarantee a Successful Interview
11. How to Make Your Interview a Success
12. How to Properly Schedule an Interview
13. Informal Interviews Can Help Break the Ice
14. Interview Attitude Creates Failure or Success
15. Treat In Person Job Searches as Potential Interviews
16. Interviewing with Multiple People
17. Keys to a Successful Interview Process
18. Preparation for the Interview
19. Prepare Your Own Questions
20. Proper Conduct at a Job Interview
21. The Importance of Scheduling Proper Interview Time Frames
22. The First Impression is the One that Counts
23. The Interview Process from Start to Finish
24. Time Allotments Between interviews
25. Topics of Discussion for an Interview

If you would like to increase your chances of Succeeding in the Job Interview this ebook can certainly help you!  With the Unemployment Rate being high, it is going to be the most prepared people who are going to Land Themselves the Best Jobs.

Give Yourself an Opportunity to Succeed and

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When considering a sample teacher resume, look at how it is laid out and how the information is put together. You will ideally want to have your teaching experience appear as the first section on the resume because it is most likely your experience that will get you the job. It is also important to be a member of different organizations to make you stand out above the other applicants. Groups like the National Education Association and the International Association of Reading are a couple of good places to start. You will want to place these in a prominent place on your teacher resume too because it shows that you are interested in your career and advancing your skills.

To find a sample teacher resume, you can start with your college. The continuing education department will, most likely have many different resume samples for you to choose from. You can also look in your local library for books that will have a sample teacher resume and even several different resumes to choose from. Finally, the Internet might be your best bet in finding a sample teacher resume that you can follow when crafting your own resume.

When we did a Google search for ìsample teacher resumeî, we were able to find many web sites that offer up sample teacher resumes all free to you! Some sites even had templates available for download. Once you have the template on your hard drive, all you need to do is input your own personal information and you will be all ready to go!

Your resume is the first thing an administrator will see, so you will want it to best reflect your experience, education, and abilities on that one or two page document. Finding a sample teacher resume is a great way to insure that you are putting all the pertinent information necessary on your resume. After you have put together your resume, submit it to all the school systems you can and know that you are putting your best foot forward in your quest to find the perfect teaching job for you ñ and all with the assistance of a sample teacher resume!

Guide to Getting a Teaching Job
You’ll learn everything you need to know about finding and
landing the teaching job you want.

Inside you’ll find:
* The 50 Most Common Teacher Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
* Information, Tips, and Advice about the Teacher Interview Process
* What to Include on Your Teaching Resume
* Secrets to Making your Cover Letter stand out
* Sample Resume, Cover Letter, and Thank You Letter
* All About References and Letters of Recommendation
* Seven things you should avoid saying at an interview
* How to Prepare and Present your Teaching Portfolio
* Go inside the minds of two interviewers as they describe what an interview committee looks for, what they notice, and how to impress them.
* A candidate describes her struggles and successes throughout the Job Hunting process. She explains what worked and what didn’t!
* And lots, lots, more!
Click here to learn more.

Michigan is one of the absolute hardest states to find a job in. In fact, many areas in the United States have a surplus of qualified teachers and very, very few open positions to fill.

Guide to Getting a Teaching Job
You’ll learn everything you need to know about finding and
landing the teaching job you want.

Inside you’ll find:
* The 50 Most Common Teacher Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
* Information, Tips, and Advice about the Teacher Interview Process
* What to Include on Your Teaching Resume
* Secrets to Making your Cover Letter stand out
* Sample Resume, Cover Letter, and Thank You Letter
* All About References and Letters of Recommendation
* Seven things you should avoid saying at an interview
* How to Prepare and Present your Teaching Portfolio
* Go inside the minds of two interviewers as they describe what an interview committee looks for, what they notice, and how to impress them.
* A candidate describes her struggles and successes throughout the Job Hunting process. She explains what worked and what didn’t!
* And lots, lots, more!
Click here to learn more.

The most important thing that you need to keep in mind when writing a teacher resume is the structure of the resume. The first element that you need to begin with in the structure of the teacher resume is the header. This part of the teacher resume provides your name and your contact information. Be certain that this information is printed large enough to be easily found.

The next part of the teacher resume is the objective statement. This is a critical part of the resume, particularly if you are applying at a large school district where there will likely be many people submitting resumes. You must be clear about the age ranges and subjects that you are qualified to each. Make sure that you are specific and precise regarding the objective statement on your teacher resume.

Another critical element of the teacher resume is the experience section. You should begin this section with your most recent teaching experience and then work your way backwards chronologically. Even if you are new to the field of teaching, make sure you list any substitute teaching experience you may have.

You will also need to list your education and credentials on the teacher resume. Make sure that you include continuing education and professional development courses as well as all of your certification information. Make sure that if you have not actually received your credentials yet that you state this clearly on your resume.

Finally, be sure to include any memberships or associations that you have joined on your resume. Many employers feels that belonging to professional organizations demonstrate a teacher’s dedication to their career, so make sure you do not miss an opportunity to point this out on your resume. Following these guidelines can help you to create a winning teacher’s resume.

Guide to Getting a Teaching Job
You’ll learn everything you need to know about finding and
landing the teaching job you want.

Inside you’ll find:
* The 50 Most Common Teacher Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
* Information, Tips, and Advice about the Teacher Interview Process
* What to Include on Your Teaching Resume
* Secrets to Making your Cover Letter stand out
* Sample Resume, Cover Letter, and Thank You Letter
* All About References and Letters of Recommendation
* Seven things you should avoid saying at an interview
* How to Prepare and Present your Teaching Portfolio
* Go inside the minds of two interviewers as they describe what an interview committee looks for, what they notice, and how to impress them.
* A candidate describes her struggles and successes throughout the Job Hunting process. She explains what worked and what didn’t!
* And lots, lots, more!
Click here to learn more.

If you think it’s possible that you want to turn your hobby into a career, you should start with a realistic business plan. Map out how you will start your business and where you want to end up so you will feel and be successful.

Yes, this writer has even turned a hobby into a business. I’m a multi-faceted individual! I’ve always had a love of garage sales and found myself with an excess of my garage sale stuff that I realized I would never actually use. That’s when I found e-bay!

I started selling my stuff on e-bay and found that there was a real market for some things. It became an obsession. The more money I made, the more I became obsessed. I am now a Power Seller on e-bay and enjoy a nice side income as I substitute teach and write.

The thing about getting started with making a hobby into a career is to find a market and then capitalize on it. Have enough inventory on hand and then start selling what you create. E-bay is a wonderful place for people to start selling handmade wares and has provided a nice living for people who take the time to place their auctions up for sale.

You must have something that makes you stand out from your competition. That applies to businesses on e-bay or on your own. Think about providing an additional service or some extra that will make it worth the buyer’s time to purchase your product. Many a successful business has been successful just because they go that one extra step that makes them stand out.

Networking can be very important when you are trying to grow your hobby as a business. Try bringing your wares to a local business and see if they will be willing to partner with you in sales. You give them a commission and they carry your product in their store. Not only does this give you a market share in your locality, but it helps spread the word about what you are making and selling.

Remember that if you are self-employed, you should be putting some of your profits away to pay self-employment taxes. The last thing you want is for the government to come after you for the taxes that you should be paying. While there are income guidelines as to what you are required to report to the IRS, you still want to be prepared.

The thing about making a favorite hobby into a business venture is to be sure that you will still enjoy it even when you are making hundreds of them a week. Be prepared for popularity and know that you will still love doing what you do after you are successful.

The best part about making your beloved hobby into a business venture is that you will be your own boss! You can work when you want, rest when you want, and enjoy the fruits of your efforts. Sometimes it might be overwhelming, so be sure that you have what it takes to withstand the pressure and continue even when you’re not really sure you want to!

Don’t discount the experiences of others. There are plenty of people who have made millions of dollars just by taking something they love to do and turning it into an empire (so to speak). Read up on them and take the advice that they have to give. It’s always nice to have a mentor, so capitalize on their mistakes and successes and then learn from the mistakes while embracing the successes. Model your own home business on those who have found out the secret to making money without sacrificing your sanity!

You will also want to look into government grants that are available for small businesses. Check online for places that will entertain your request for funds to start your own home business. The government is very happy to offer up funds that will help everyday people start their own business and you deserve those funds just as much as anyone else!

Turning a hobby into a business can be a very amazing way to not only generate cash for yourself and your family, but it is also a way to allow you to work from home and do what you love doing. I’m not sure anyone would turn down free cash so that they could work a job that they love and on their own terms!

You literally have hundreds and hundreds of resources at your fingertips when it comes to the job hunt! If you are willing to relocate, your options are multiplied, but even if you want to stay put, you can either face commuting or even find something right where you live.

Start by looking in your local newspaper as well as papers from the towns surrounding you. Employers generally concentrate on the weekend editions of the papers to advertise job openings – especially the Sunday paper. You’ll be able to see what’s available out there and narrow down your search based on these ads.

Another great resource is the Internet. We live in the Information Age, and there are many, many websites dedicated to the job seeker. These sites allow you to post your resume online and to search available jobs all over the country and even all over the world.

When I was looking for a sales job, I posted my resume on monster.com and had a phone call within an hour of posting, so these websites can be extremely valuable to the job seeker. Here are some of the more popular sites:
* www.monster.com
* www.career.com
* www.job.com
* www.yahoohotjobs.com
* www.careerbuilder.com
Your Resume

Once you’ve found a job you are interested in, it’s time to submit your resume. Here are some valuable tips on creating your resume for the best impression.

* Your name and contact information should appear at the top of the page with your name being larger than the rest of the typestyle. Include your physical address, your home phone, your cell phone, and your e-mail address.
* If you are making a career change, the next section should list your job experience starting with your most recent job and working backwards. Then you follow up with your education. If you are a new graduate, start your resume listing your education including degrees earned and any honors you achieved and follow it with any jobs you’ve worked in the next section.

* You will want to have a section that lists any special talents you have (that pertain to the job) and things like software programs you can use, office machines you can operate, etc.

* Be sure to list any organizations you belong to and any honors that have been bestowed upon you. Employers like to see people who are involved in activities outside of work.

* The very last section will be for references. In almost all cases, you should state on your resume that “References are available upon request.” When you get the interview is when you should present them with your reference list.

* Consider printing your resume on demurely colored paper. I’ve used a light green marble, cream, even blue tinted paper. This makes your resume stand out in a stack of white paper and increases your chance to have your resume noticed first. The paper should be heavier than regular paper as well. Generally, a 20# paper is best to use.

* It’s almost always best to take your resume to the prospective employer in person and ask to speak with the person doing the hiring. You want to get as much exposure as you possibly can as well as letting that person put a name to a face. If you will be mailing your resume, do so in a manila envelope. Don’t fold it and stick it in a regular #10 envelope. You want it to look nice, so keep it flat when mailing.

* Try to keep your resume to one page if possible. However, if you have some important information that you think will put you in the running for the job and it spills over into two pages, that’s fine, but you should NEVER have a resume longer than two pages!

* No personal information should be on your resume at all. Employers don’t need to know your height, weight, and marital status.

* Be sure to proofread over and over and over again. And then do it one more time. Nothing makes you look more unprofessional than typographical errors on your resume. It makes you look sloppy and like you don’t care. If you have typos on your resume, you won’t get called for an interview.

* The resume is used to represent you and sell you to a potential employer before you meet face to face. It should represent you and reflect you in an extremely positive light. It should make you stand out among other applicants and urge the person in charge of hiring to want to call you first!

The Cover Letter

You will also need a cover letter to accompany your resume. In general, the cover letter should be as concise and to the point as possible. Don’t ramble on and on, let your resume do the talking. The cover letter is just a basic introduction to your resume.

Use very positive language and be concise. If you are responding to an advertisement for a job, always include where you saw the ad (i.e. Newspaper, online, etc.). Here’s an example of a brief cover letter:
==============================================
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am writing in response to your ad that ran in yesterday’s edition of The Tribune in which you advertised for a research assistant. As you can see from the attached resume, I have the qualifications you asked for in the ad and would like to be considered for this position.

While my previous career was not in the research field, I have always had an interest in working a job such as this which is why I have obtained additional schooling that qualifies me to do this type of work. Doing research has always been a dream of mine, and I was excited to see that your company has a position available.

I am the right person for this job which will be evident to you with a personal interview. You will see my passion and desire to work in this field when we can speak face to face. I can be reached or a message may be left at (555) 555-5555. I look forward to meeting with you. Thank you in advance for your consideration!

Sincerely,

(You)
==============================================
If you don’t have a specific person you are addressing the letter to, you will want to address it to “Ladies and Gentlemen”. DO NOT address it to “To Whom It May Concern”. That is considered unprofessional and very non-businesslike.

Just as with the resume, you should proofread extensively to make sure that there are no typographical errors and that your punctuation and grammar is all correct.

The Interview

A good, solid resume and cover letter will get you an interview which is when it is your job to shine and stand out from other applicants. How do you do that? Preparation is key in the process. Being prepared for a job interview means knowing about the industry, the employer, and yourself. It means paying attention to details like personal appearance, punctuality, and demeanor.

What To Wear

First, you must dress appropriately. Generally, it’s a good idea to wear a suit for a job interview. Go with something simple, in a neutral tone. The more conservative your field is, the more conservative your suit should be. For example, if you’re applying for a job in an investment firm, go with a navy blue or dark gray suit. For women, a dress is also appropriate attire for a job interview.

It’s a good idea to match your interview attire to the prospective job. If you are applying for a job working on a warehouse floor, you will look out of place wearing a formal suit. Keeping that in mind, dress a little better than you would for a day at work and make sure your clothes are neat and clean. Do not wear jeans.

Make sure that whatever you wear is clean and in good condition. That means no tears or stains. It should also not be outdated. A good, classic style and cut for a suit is a good choice since it’s appropriate for many situations.
In all instances, wear closed-toe shoes. Sandals are never appropriate for a job interview, unless you are applying for a job as a lifeguard. Black shoes match everything (yes, even your navy blue suit). Stick with a conservative style. Women should not wear very high heels. Sneakers are not appropriate at all.

Women, don’t wear an excessive amount of jewelry and take it easy on any makeup. You want to make an impression with you, your personality, and qualifications. You don’t want to be remembered as the lady who piled on the blue eye shadow and ruby red lipstick.

You’ll want to bring an extra copy of your resume along with your reference sheet. If you are applying for a job which might require you to provide sample of previous work, you need to bring that as well. You need to have something to carry it all in.

Leave the backpack at home. You want to look professional, not like you’re taking a stroll across campus. A woman can carry a small to medium sized handbag. A man or woman can carry a briefcase if he or she wishes, or a folder or portfolio.

Questions

Once at the interview, you are going to be asked a lot of questions by your potential employer. They will ask about you in particular such as what your strengths and weaknesses are. You might want to prepare for answering questions by listing some of your attributes. Talk to former co-workers with whom you worked closely. Ask them to list some traits about you that they most admired — work related, of course.

Try to find some faults as well. You won’t, obviously, spontaneously tell a prospective employer about these faults, but you may be asked to. One question that sometimes comes up in an interview is “What is something that has been a problem for you at work?” By studying your faults, you will be able to choose one that is somewhat innocuous or could be turned around into a positive.

For example, I’ve always been a very organized person – almost to the point of obsessiveness. However, employers look at organizational skills as assets not liabilities. So in an interview, I would tell them one of my shortcomings was that I wanted to be too organized.

Practice how you will answer possible questions in an interview. You want to seem somewhat spontaneous, but you also want to appear self-confident. The way to do that is to rehearse, not exactly what you will say, but how you will say it.

A great method is to rehearse in front of a video camera. Study your posture, the way you make eye contact, and your body language. If you don’t have a video camera, a mirror will do. Have a friend do mock interviews with you. The more you repeat a scenario, the more comfortable you will begin to feel with it.

When it comes down to it, isn’t this the main point of the interview? Speak slowly and clearly. I tend to speak very quickly, so this is something I must pay careful attention to when I am on an interview. Pause before you answer a question. Your answers will seem less rehearsed and it will give you a chance to collect your thoughts. Keep in mind that a very brief pause may seem like an eternity to you. It’s not.

Since the interviewer’s job is to make sure that not only your skill, but your personality as well, is a good match, you must establish rapport with the person or persons interviewing you. That begins the instant you walk in the door. Let the interviewer set the tone.

Nothing is as awkward as offering your hand and having the gesture not returned by the other person. Therefore you should wait for the interviewer to offer his or her hand first, but be ready to offer your hand immediately. Some experts suggest talking at the same rate and tone as the interviewer. For example, if the interviewer is speaking softly, so should you.

It’s alright for you to show your true personality, but be careful not to go too over-the-top. I am a very bubbly, naturally outgoing person who tends to get a little hyperactive in stressful situations. I also have a gift for humor which tends to make people feel comfortable with me.

In job interviews, I’ll try to tone down the excessive energy that I usually have and inject some humor into the conversation. This helps relax both me and the person doing the interview and we’re able to communicate much easier.

They say that body language gives more away about us than speech. Eye contact is very important but make sure it looks natural. A smiling, relaxed face is very inviting. Hands resting casually in your lap rather than arms folded across your chest also is more inviting. If you normally move your hands around a lot when you speak, tone it down some. You don’t want to look too stiff, but you don’t want to look like you’re a bundle of nervous energy.

So what kind of questions can you expect during your job interview? Here are a few to think about along with some possible answers:

* Tell me about yourself. (They are not looking for personal information here)

My background to date has been centered on preparing myself to become the very best _____ I can become. Let me tell you specifically how I’ve prepared myself…

* Why should I hire you?

Because I sincerely believe that I’m the best person for the job. I realize that there are many other college students that have the ability to do this job. I also have that ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes me the very best person for the job–my attitude for excellence. Not just giving lip service to excellence, but putting every part of myself into achieving it. In … and … I have consistently reached for becoming the very best I can become by doing the following…

* What is your long-range objective? Where do you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?

Although it’s certainly difficult to predict things far into the future, I know what direction I want to develop toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very best _____ your company has. I would like to become the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities that might be presented in the long term.

* How has your education prepared you for your career?

As you will note on my resume, I’ve taken not only the required core classes in the _____ field, I’ve also gone above and beyond. I’ve taken every class the college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project specifically in this area. But it’s not just taking the classes to gain academic knowledge I’ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this profession in mind. So when we’re studying _____ in _____, I’ve viewed it from the perspective of _____. In addition, I’ve always tried to keep a practical view of how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved developing a real-world model of _____, which is very similar to what might be used within your company…

* What is your greatest weakness?

I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper planning in the past. I would over-commit myself with too many variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would like. However, since I’ve come to recognize that weakness, I’ve taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and “to do” items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned out…

* What attracted you to our ad over others?

I approach my Job Hunting strategy pretty much like I approach my work. I took some time to think about the skills I want to use on my next job, the industry I’d like to work for and the location I want. I did some research on companies that were advertising and knew this company had the qualities I am looking for in my career and future.

If you are interviewing for a sales job, it’s entirely possible that the interviewer will ask you to sell him or her something. For example, I had one prospective boss who laid a pen on the table between us and told me to “sell” him the pen. What he wanted was to see how my persuasive skills were and if I could point out the great aspects of that pen to motivate him to “buy” it.

Usually toward the end of the interviewer, the person conducting it will ask you if you have any questions. You should have some. As in every other aspect of the job search, you are trying to show the employer how you can fill their needs. By asking certain questions, you are putting yourself in the job and showing the employer how you will satisfy the employer’s needs. Here are some questions you may want to ask of the interviewer:

* Why is the position open?
* Are there any special projects I will be working on?
* How often will my performance be evaluated?
* Is pay tied to performance?
* What qualifications do you look for in a person who will be doing this job?
* What type of potential is there for upward mobility?

Don’t ask about salary, benefits, or vacations, as those all imply “what will you, the employer, do for me?” However, the interviewer may bring up the question of money. He or she may ask what salary you hope to earn.

You must prepare for this question before the interview. Find out what others in the same position are earning. Always give a range, not an exact number. This will help keep you from pricing yourself out of a job. You don’t want the employer to think they can’t afford you, but you also don’t want them to think you are a cheap commodity.

There are some questions that the interviewer cannot ask you. That’s right – they CANNOT ask you certain things and you are in no way obligated to answer them. Of course, if you want to tell them how old you are how many children you have, you can, but you don’t have to do so if asked. Essentially, employers cannot ask questions related to any of the following:

* Race
* Color
* Sex
* Religion
* National origin
* Birthplace
* Age
* Disability
* Marital/family status

The reason they are considered illegal is because if they base their decision to hire you or not hire you on any of these factors, it is discriminatory which is against federal law. So how do you handle it when you are asked an illegal question? You have a couple of choices.

Answer the intent of the question instead of the question itself. For example, if you are asked whether you are a United State citizen (not legal to ask), reply that you are authorized to work in the U.S. which is a question the employer can ask you and which is appropriate to answer.

Since you are not required to answer the question, it is well within your rights to refuse to answer it. If you refuse to answer the question, do so in a non-confrontational way that doesn’t make you sound uncooperative.

You may want to say something like “With all due respect, I don’t think that has anything to do with my qualifications for this job.” If you refuse to answer the question, it could cost you the job, but would you really want to work for a company that would ask questions of you that are irrelevant and inappropriate?

After The Interview

After the interview, it is essential to follow up with a thank you note. This serves two purposes. First, it tells the employer that you are grateful for their time and want to do the polite thing by sending out a note thanking them for that. But, a thank you note also brings you back into their mind which can be good if they are close to making a decision on who to hire. It is also your chance to reiterate something you mentioned on the interview or bring up something you forgot to mention.

You should try to send a note to each person who took part in your interview. If you don’t remember the name of each person, call the receptionist for some help. Keep your note brief. Make sure it is typed. Sending a formal thank you note sets you apart from everyone else who forgot to or chose not to do this, so it’s a good idea to always send one.

And then, you wait. Sometimes you’ll be asked to come in for a second interview with a different person before a decision is made. If you are chosen for the job, you will get a phone call during which time you can discuss salary and starting time or set an appointment to come in and do so.

If you are not chosen for the job, you will most likely receive a letter in the mail that won’t give you a specific reason why you weren’t hired, it will probably just say something along the lines of “We’ve chosen someone else for the position”. That’s the worst part is not knowing what you could have done different to improve yourself the next time.

If you’re comfortable enough, you may want to make a phone call to the person who interviewed you and ask just that – why weren’t you chosen for the position? When you ask this question, don’t ask in an arrogant or whiny way so that it sounds like you have “sour grapes”. Simply explain to the interviewer that you are looking for ways to improve yourself and want his or her input.

You may also find yourself yearning to turn a beloved hobby into a business. Many people have done this and have realized great success.

When you leave your job, your emotions may be running high, especially if you are leaving on bad terms. You may want to tell your boss or co-workers what you really think of them. Don’t do it, even if they truly deserve it. You never know who you will meet down the road and who you may have to work with one day.

Don’t damage company property or steal something when you leave. You may feel you were mistreated by your employer and you may be really angry. However, vandalism and theft are criminal offenses. Not only will your professional reputation be damaged by your actions, you could end up in jail.

Be sure to ask for a reference or a letter of recommendation. This may sound like an odd thing to consider if you are leaving your job on unfavorable terms. However, you will have to include this job on your resume, so you should try to make sure you get either a good or, at least, a neutral reference.

If you’ve been fired because of some horrible offense, this may be a moot point. However if your parting is due to something less serious, you may be able to ask your boss for a reference, in spite of the fact that “things didn’t work out as expected.”

If your company has hired a replacement for your job and you have the opportunity to be around him or her, do not badmouth your boss, your co-workers, or the company in general. First of all, it will only look like sour grapes, so there’s nothing to gain here. Second, your successor will figure things out for himself or herself.
Third, it may have been bad chemistry, and your co-worker will have a totally different experience than you did.

When you are ready to start interviewing, it’s also important to remember the above suggestion: don’t bad mouth the company or your boss. The only person who this will make look bad is you. Your prospective boss will wonder what caused your relationship with your prior employer to sour and will suspect that you could have been at fault.

Once you’ve decided to leave, you’ll want to put your intentions in writing so that it can go into your personnel file. This is good manners as well and let’s you tell your boss exactly what your reasons and intentions are. This letter should be typewritten and written in business language. Here’s an example letter:
=============================================
“Dear Mr. Smith:

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that, effective May 31, I will be leaving my position with the company. I have decided to take a new career path and work in a different industry. That will require me to obtain further education, and I plan to be in school full-time beginning with the summer term.

My time here has been enjoyable and I hope my work has been satisfactory. I would appreciate it if you would provide me with a good reference when the time comes for me to begin Job Hunting. Thank you so much for everything.

Sincerely,

(You)”
=============================================
Here is another sample letter:
should you find one before my ending date.

I hope I can count on you for a positive reference if needed in the future and thank you for the opportunity to work for you.

Sincerely,

(You)
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The standard time frame to give notice is a minimum of two weeks prior to your intended quit date. However, it’s often nice to give your employer as much time as possible to find a replacement for you. If you signed a contract with your employer, check the terms to see if you are required to give notice for a specific time frame. Otherwise, two weeks is the norm.

If your employer asks you stay longer than two weeks (or the time period in your contract) you have no obligation to stay. Your new employer will be expecting you to start as scheduled, and in a timely manner. What you could do, is offer to help your previous employer, if necessary, after hours, via email or on the phone.

Don’t say much more than you are leaving. Emphasize the positive and talk about how the company has benefited you, but, mention that it’s time to move on. You can offer to help during the transition and afterwards. Don’t be negative. There’s no point – you’re leaving and you want to leave on good terms.

You may want to tell your co-workers that you’re leaving – especially if you’ve made friends there. But, don’t tell anyone else until you’ve told your boss. You don’t want the news to leak out before you’re ready and it’s just in poor form for your boss to find out from someone other than you.

Another huge part of making a career change is finding a new job once you’ve satisfied educational requirements and how to land that job.

What one person may think of as a boring and mundane job might be another person’s dream job, so there is a career out there that can fit good with you and your lifestyle and abilities.

Make a list of potential careers where you think you could be happy. Do you like helping people and think that social work would be a good fit for you? Maybe the medical field is more your speed. It’s a good idea to simply identify the general field you want to work in and then explore the types of jobs that are available in that field.

We can’t list every single option in this book due to space constraints, but here are a few career fields you may want to explore:

* Medicine/Health Care
* Sales
* Recreation
* Food Service
* Law Enforcement
* Education
* Social Work
* Marketing
* Performance
* Graphic Design
* Research
* Computers
* Outdoor Jobs
* Legal
* Sports
* Finance/Accounting
* Construction
* Child Care
* Service

Now, we’ll narrow that list a little bit by giving you some ideas about jobs in these specific fields. Again, this is only a partial list and there are many, many other opportunities than just those listed here.

* Medicine/Health Care
Doctor, nurse, surgical technician, dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, phlebotomist, medical research, insurance specialist, x-ray technician, forensic scientist, coroner, physical therapist, pharmacist, pharmacy technician, hospice worker, elder care, MRI or CT technician, optometrist, mental health counselor, therapist, emergency medical technician, veterinarian, veterinary assistant, DNA profiler, and lab technician

* Sales

The possibilities in the sales field are endless and salespeople are always needed when a product is available for sale. Some possible sales jobs include yellow pages, radio, television, newspaper, pharmacy, medical equipment, office equipment, janitorial supplies, and food service supplies, telephone sales for various products, retail sales for various products, real estate, office supplies, industrial equipment, farm supplies, automobile sales, and insurance.

* Recreation

Park maintenance, coach, cruise director, dance instructor, karate instructor, travel agent, personal trainer, day camp director, amusement park personnel, managing a recreation complex, nursing home event coordinator, and tour guide

* Food Service

Cook/chef, sous chef, waiter/waitress, counter help at fast food restaurants, caterer, bus boy/girl, bartender, research cook, food critic, maitre ‘d, hot dog vendor, nutritionist, dietician, menu planner for nursing homes and schools, recipe developer, winemaker, organic gardener, and lunch lady.

* Law Enforcement

Police officer, detective, dispatcher/telecommunicator, detective, crime scene investigator, private detective, evidence analyzer, prison guard, traffic cop, security guard, bail bondsman, bounty hunter, crime scene technician, and meter maid.

* Education

Teacher, teacher‘s aide, principal, superintendent, sales trainer, day care provider, pre-school teacher, test administrator, special education specialist, librarian, substitute teacher, English as a second language instructor, college professor, job placement coordinator, counselor, school nurse, and seminar director.

* Social Work

Welfare counselor, psychologist, child rights advocate, drug counselor, elderly rights advocate, nursing home administrator, adult day care provider, child abuse investigator, teacher for parenting classes, Lamaze instructor, hospice caregiver, therapist, and peer counselor

* Marketing

The marketing field is very similar to the sales field in that there are a myriad of possibilities available. Marketing and sales generally go hand in hand as they both are involved with promoting a product and generating income from the sales of that product. Nonetheless, here are a few marketing jobs to look at.

Public relations, advertising buyer, promotions director, advertising coordinator, brochure designer, celebrity agent, book agent, model agent, stylist, salesperson, advertising copywriter, commercial producer, and sales promotion

* Performance

Actor/actress, dancer, back-up singer, singer, ballerina, theater manager, set designer, musician, director, producer, playwright, screenwriter, camera operator, sound technician, recording studio manager, board operator, road assistant, costume designer, prop master, personal assistant, agent, cruise ship entertainer, comedian, casting director, dance instructor, commercial producer, and contract negotiator.

* Graphic Design

Logo development, yellow pages ad creator, brochure creator, layout artist, brand identity designer, creative/art director, illustrator, photo editor, multimedia designer in the film or television industry, photographer, web designer, and pre-press technician.

* Research

Biologist, scientist, medical researcher, pollster, agricultural research, fact checker, marketing researcher, field interviewer, statistician, and results coordinator.

* Computers

Computer programmer, video game designer, web site designer, computer repairman, software developer, data base programmer, key stroke technician, information technology coordinator, flash site designer, systems coordinator, LAN specialist, Internet specialist, systems engineer, network engineer, data entry, computer construction, troubleshooting specialist, and computer research.

* Outdoor Jobs

Lawn care, landscaper, zoologist, environmental engineer, outdoor adventure director, summer camp counselor, sky diving instructor, white water rafting guide, hiking guide, park ranger, fishing guide, campground administrator, ski instructor, organic farmer, tour guide, and botanist.

* Legal

Lawyer, paralegal, judge, court reporter, police officer, parole officer, legal secretary, politician, lobbyist, legal rights activist, mayor, council member, file clerk, adoption specialist, legal advisor, bankruptcy associate, contract administrator, court administrator, patent agent, law trainer, and legal trainer.

* Sports

Professional athlete, coach, referee, umpire, statistician, sports agent, sports instructor, team manager, weight trainer, sports marketing, equipment manager, promotions, director of sports relations, ticket agent, talent scout, stadium manager, scheduler, sponsorship coordinator, and team development.

* Finance/Accounting

Certified public accountant, bookkeeper, banker, stock broker, market analyst, mortgage specialist, bank teller, auditor, tax accountant, controller, tax preparer, budget analyst, loan officer, commodities broker, insurance underwriter, financial manager, insurance adjuster, insurance investigator, insurance examiner, collections agent, and investment banker.

* Construction

Carpenter, dry wall hanger, electrician, plumber, architect, roofer, carpet installer, tile layer, engineer, estimator, civil engineer, paver, project coordinator, surveyor, heavy equipment operator, safety coordinator, painter, gutter installer, septic system installer, deck builder, and project foreman.

* Service

Wedding planner, event coordinator, advertising specialty item creator, house cleaner, lawn care, tree trimmer, garbage person, closet organizer, home inventory specialist, photographer, dee jay, floral designer, life coach, street sweeper, handyman, car detailer, antique dealer, thrift shop manager, assistant to the elderly, clothing designer, interior decorator, and budget advisor.

Of course, the list above is merely a sampling of what kinds of jobs you can look for. Keep in mind that all industries and job fields need clerical help like secretaries, file clerks, and receptionists. Almost all fields also need sales people and marketing specialists as well as computer advisors and troubleshooters. Starting out in jobs like this can be a great way to move up in a specific job industry with experience.

The thing about making a career change is that you want to work in a job that fits well with you and your personality. You want it to be interesting to you and that you look forward to going to work instead of dreading it.

Many jobs will require additional education or some type of training. If you have always wanted to be an attorney, you’ll have to go to law school – obviously. But remember that you are not happy with your present job and want to work in the legal field.
Register for law school and apply for a job with a firm that can help you in the future and learn more about the business such as a legal secretary or even a paralegal.

When you consider that you are trying to better yourself and make yourself happier, the extra education will be well worth it. There’s nothing more satisfying than knowing you’ve worked hard to get into an industry where you’ll be happy working. It’s a fulfilling journey, believe me!

You may be curious to know what the hottest jobs are right now. Maybe one of them will interest you!

SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. While we are hesitant to use the word “weakness” as it is very negative, using the word “shortcomings” doesn’t make as catchy an acronym (SWOS) as SWOT!

Here are a few ideas when it comes to constructing your SWOT.

Internal Factors

Strengths – Internal positive aspects that are under control and upon which you may capitalize in planning for a new career. These would include:

* Work Experience
* Education, including value-added features
* Strong technical knowledge within your field (e.g. hardware, software, programming languages)
* Specific transferable skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, leadership skills)
* Personal characteristics (e.g., strong work ethic, self-discipline, ability to work under pressure, creativity, optimism, or a high level of energy)
* Good contacts/successful networking
* Interaction with professional organizations

Weaknesses – Internal negative aspects that are under your control and that you may plan to improve. These will include:

* Lack of Work Experience
* Low GPA, wrong major
* Lack of goals, lack of self-knowledge, lack of specific job knowledge
* Weak technical knowledge
* Weak skills (leadership, interpersonal, communication, teamwork)
* Weak job-hunting skills
* Negative personal characteristics (e.g., poor work ethic, lack of discipline, lack of motivation, indecisiveness, shyness, too emotional)

External Factors

Opportunities – Positive external conditions that you do not control but of which you can plan to take advantage. Here are some opportunities to list:

* Positive trends in your field that will create more jobs (e.g., growth, globalization, technological advances)
* Opportunities you could have in the field by enhancing your education
* Field is particularly in need of your set of skills
* Opportunities you could have through greater self-knowledge, more specific job goals
* Opportunities for advancement in your field
* Opportunities for professional development in your field
* Career path you’ve chosen provides unique opportunities
* Geography
* Strong network

Threats – Negative external conditions that you do not control but the effect of which you may be able to lessen. These include:

* Negative trends in your field that diminish jobs (downsizing, obsolescence)
* Competition from your cohort of college graduates
* Competitors with superior skills, experience, knowledge
* Competitors with better job-hunting skills than you
* Competitors who went to schools with better reputations.
* Obstacles in your way (e.g., lack of the advanced education/training you need to take advantage of opportunities)
* Limited advancement in your field, advancement is cut-throat and competitive
* Limited professional development in your field, so it’s hard to stay marketable
* Companies are not hiring people with your major/degree

To further refine the SWOT, here are some other questions to ask about yourself:

Strengths:

* What are your advantages?
* What do you do well?
* Why did you decide to enter the field you will enter upon graduation?
* What were the motivating factors and influences?
* Do these factors still represent some of your inherent strengths?
* What need do you expect to fill within your organization?
* What have been your most notable achievements?
* To what do you attribute your success?
* How do you measure your success?
* What knowledge or expertise will you bring to the company you join that may not have been available to the organization before?
* What is your greatest asset?

Weaknesses:

* What could be improved?
* What do you do badly?
* What should you avoid?
* What are your professional weaknesses?
* How do they affect your job performance? (These might include weakness in technical skill areas or in leadership or interpersonal skills.)
* Think about your most unpleasant experiences in school or in past jobs and consider whether some aspect of your personal or professional life could be a root cause.

Opportunities:

* Where are the promising prospects facing you?
* What is the “state of the art” in your particular area of expertise?
* Are you doing everything you can to enhance your exposure to this area?
* What formal training and education can you add to your credentials that might position you appropriately for more opportunities?
* Would an MBA or another graduate degree add to your advantage?
* How quickly are you likely to advance in your chosen career?
* Useful opportunities can come from such things as:
* Changes in technology and markets on both a broad and industry-specific scale
* Changes in government policy related to your field
* Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, etc.

Threats:

* What obstacles do you face?
* Are the requirements for your desired job field changing?
* Does changing technology threaten your prospective position?
* What is the current trend line for your personal area of expertise?
* Could your area of interest be fading in comparison with more emergent fields?
* Is your chosen field subject to internal politics that will lead to conflict?
* Is there any way to change the politics or to perhaps defuse your involvement in potential disputes?
* How might the economy negatively affect your future company and your work group?
* Will your future company provide enough access to new challenges to keep you sharp — and marketable — in the event of sudden unemployment?

Explore your own self-perception of your strengths, but also put yourself inside a prospective employer’s head as you consider your strong points. Avoid false modesty, but also be brutally honest and realistic with yourself. Start out by simply making a list of words that describe you; chances are many of these characteristics compromise your strengths.

One of your greatest strengths can love the work you do. Learning to “follow your bliss” should be a critical component of managing your career. Some people know from an early age what kind of work will make them happy. For others, nailing down the self-knowledge that leads to career fulfillment comes from a process of exploring interests, skills, personality, learning style, and values.

In assessing your weaknesses, think about what prospective employers might consider to be the areas you could improve upon. Facing your frailties now can give you a huge head start in career planning.
As humans, we find it relatively difficult to identify the areas where we are weak. But this assessment helps to identify areas where we may need to improve. If you identify a skill that you know is in your chosen field, but you are weak in that skill area, you need to take steps to improve that skill. Past performance appraisals and even your grades and teacher comments from school provide valuable feedback.

Doing a SWOT will not only help to guide you toward a specific career that you will enjoy, it will also give you an idea of how to market yourself so that you can get that dream job that you want. From this analysis, you will have a road map that shows you how to capitalize on your strengths and minimize or eliminate your weaknesses. You should then use this map to take advantage of opportunities and avoid or lessen threats.
After you’ve analyzed your strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities, you should use that information to plan how to market yourself.

The marketing planning process entails a three-step process:

1. Determining objectives
2. Developing marketing strategies
3. Strategizing an action program.

Objectives – define your career objectives. What is your ideal job upon graduation (or the job you would like to transition to from your current job)? What are some other positions you could accept? What is your five-year career goal?

Marketing Strategies – a broad marketing strategy or “game plan” for attaining your objectives. What are the companies and organizations you’re going to target to obtain your objectives-your ideal job? How will you communicate with these firms? The strategies you identify should utilize all of the resources available to you, such as your personal network and a partnership with a mentor.
Action Programs – according to marketing principles, marketing strategies should be turned into specific action programs that answer a number of questions, including: What will be done? When will it be done? Who is responsible for doing it? Your key task here is setting specific timetables and deadlines for getting the career and company information you identified in the marketing strategy step.

So now that you’ve identified some key questions to ask when considering a career change, how do you know what the right career field is for you?

First, have a plan. Probably the biggest mistake you can make is attempting to change careers without a plan. A successful career change can often take months to accomplish when you have a strategy, so without one, you could end up adrift for an even longer period.

Having a detailed action plan (including items such as strategies, finances, research, and education/training) is essential to your success. Without a plan, you might take the first job offer that comes along, whether it is a good fit for you or not.

Don’t make the mistake of confusing hating your current job with hating your current career. Take the time to analyze whether it’s just the job, another employee, or your boss that you hate, or whether it’s the career, the skills necessary to do the job, or the work that you dislike.

The same goes with if you are feeling bored or lost with your job; review whether it’s the job, the employer, or the career. Whatever you determine, it’s best not to leave your job — if possible — until you have a plan for finding a new career.

Many people make career changes based solely on the prospect of making more money or because of better benefits. This, too, can be a mistake. Certain career fields are very alluring because of the salary and other benefits they offer, but be very careful of switching careers because of all the dollar signs.

Keep repeating to yourself, “Money won’t buy me happiness.” Remember that you may make more money, but if you hate your new career, you’ll probably be spending that money on stress- and health-related expenses. A career that’s hot today could be gone tomorrow, so dig deeper if this is the only reason you want a new career.

If you have people in your life who are pressuring you to switch jobs, it can be very stressful, and you might be tempted to change careers just to “shut them up”. Don’t let your parents, significant others or anyone else influence your career choice. They don’t have to live that career every day; you do.

If you love what you do and earn a reasonable living, why is it anyone’s business but yours? If you switch careers because of outside pressure to have a “better career,” and then hate your new career, you’ll end up resenting whoever pressured you to make the switch.

It can be very helpful and even necessary for you to seek out the help of someone when making a career change. Having a mentor when you start this new career can be very valuable. As soon as you have identified the career field you want to switch into, begin developing new network contacts. Conduct informational interviews. Join industry associations.

People in your network can provide inside information about job-openings and can even champion you to hiring managers. Networking is essential for all job-seekers, but even more so for career-changers. And use a current or new mentor as a sounding board to help guide you in the transition.

Examine all possibilities before “diving in”. Don’t jump career fields without first conducting thorough research into all the possibilities, including career fields you may never have considered. By conducting research into careers you have never considered or been exposed to, you may find the career of your dreams.

Talk to people in your network, read career and job profiles; meet with a career management professional. The more information you have about various career choices, the more successful you’ll be in making a career change.

Although we’ll talk about this a little later, you really need to do some self-reflecting and really thinking about what you and what you don’t like. Self-assessment of your skills, values, and interests is a critical component to career-change success. Make a list of the skills you love doing: in your job, in your hobbies, in all aspects of your life. Then list those things that you never want to do again.

You may want to consider taking one or more assessment tests, especially those with a career component. Preparing a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) Analysis is also a useful activity. All these activities are designed so that you better understand yourself — your product — so that you can find the best career for you and then sell yourself to employers in that new career.

DO NOT change your career just because you’ve seen others succeed in that field. It’s human nature to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Just because your best friend or neighbor is successful in a certain career does not mean that you will be — or that you will be happy doing it — so certainly consider the career field, but make sure you do the research before jumping into it.

Finally, just to add yet another cliché, too many job-seekers switch careers on the assumption that the grass is always greener — and often times find out that is not the case.

You have to have some experience or education for almost all career fields. If you have neither for the field you want to get into, you’ll most certainly fail. As a career-changer, you must find a way to bridge the experience, skills, and education gap between your old career and your new one.

While transferable skills – those that are applicable in multiple career fields, such as communications skills – are an important part of career change, it is often necessary to gain additional training and experience before you can find a good job in a new career field.

Research whether you need additional training, education, or certifications. And try to find time to volunteer, temp, intern, or consult in your new career field — what some experts refer to as developing a parallel career — before quitting your current job and searching for a full-time position in your new career field.

If you’ve been in your current position for quite some time, chances are good that a lot of things have changed in the job market since you were last out there. If you don’t take the initiative to update your job skills – such as computer skills – then you won’t enjoy as much success as you might want.

Review your resume-writing techniques, master networking, and polish your interviewing skills. What’s the sense of doing all this research and preparation in attempting to change careers if you are not current with your job-search skills?

We mentioned a SWOT Analysis. This really is a useful tool when considering changing careers as well as in finding a job in general. Let’s look at how to construct your own SWOT Analysis.