Why Some Adults Want the Jobs They Dreamed of as Children

Why Some Adults Want the Jobs They Dreamed of as Children Looking back at our childhoods, most of us will be able to remember the dreams we had of what our lives would look like when we were older. But  new research  by  Perkbox Insights  has found that the majority of adults never really get over those dreams. Whilst 96% of adults were not successful in making their childhood dream jobs a reality, a whopping 64% of adults still wish that they were working in their childhood dream jobs now. The study revealed the most popular childhood dream jobs to be Vet, in which 1 in 10 dreamt of becoming, and Teacher with 9% dreaming of pursuing this career. This was followed by Pilot (6%), Actor (6%) and Police Officer / Detective (5%). With only 4% making their childhood dream job become a reality, it begs the question of if childhood dreams can play any part in shaping the future or if dreams and reality are actually lightyears apart? The study found that the dream of being a lawyer or teacher were the dreams most likely to come true â€" with 14% of those who dreamt of becoming a lawyer now working in the Law, Law Enforcement or Security sector, whilst the same amount who dreamt of becoming a Teacher now work in Education. Other dreams, such as becoming an Actor or Athlete were much less likely to come true, which the most common sectors for these dreams to turn into being Hospitality/Events Management and Accountancy respectively. But how important is following these childhood dreams? It turns out that it could have an impact on future happiness. The survey found that 92% of people who ended up in their childhood dream job are happy in their job as an adult, leaving only 8% unhappy. Alternatively, 84% of those who did not end up in their childhood dream is happy in their job, leaving twice the amount as those who did pursue their childhood dream unhappy (16%). Does wistful thinking of dreams gone by leave us feeling like the grass is greener elsewhere? When looking into why these dreams didn’t become a reality, the result revealed some sad truths.  43%  felt that they didn’t have the talent, opportunity or  resources to pursue their childhood dream job, which breaks down to a disproportionate  28% of women, compared to just  15% of men. Begging the question is this a lack of confidence or is there a feeling of lack of opportunities for young women The amount of training required for certain careers is often off-putting too, with almost 1 in 10 (9%) stating this was a reason they didn’t pursue their dream job including the most popular dream jobs of Vet and Pilot. A further 8% didn’t pursue their dream because the career isn’t always well paid. One specific dream role struck up some questions. With Teacher being the second most popular childhood dream job, it seems curious as to how there is a national  teacher shortage  in the UK where do all these budding educators go? The main reason given as to why people didn’t pursue their dream of becoming a teacher was due to not being interested as they got older (40%), but this was followed by a substantial 15% who thought that this career wasn’t well paid enough. With the average  salary for a qualified teacher  in the UK being £23,720 £35,008, compared to the  national average salary  of £35,423 it shows that this dream job may not be offering enough to lure those entering the job market. Despite the majority of adults wishing that they were doing their childhood dream job now, 32% of people got into their current role because they are interested or passionate about the industry, and a huge 99% of these people are happy in their jobs so it isn’t all bad. Other routes into a job which lead to workplace happiness include those who got into their job as it suits their talents (25%), which has led to 95% of these people being happy at work. Whilst 15% work in their role as it matches their studies and 94% of these people are happy. But not all routes lead to equal levels of happiness. Of the 9% of Brits who pursued their career because it’s well paid, 18% are unhappy in their jobs almost 20x higher than those who followed their interests or passions.  Could this be proof that money can’t always buy happiness? Lastly (and sadly), the reason to pursue a job least likely to lead to happiness are those who got into their job because it’s local (10%), with over 1 in 5 (21%) people who got into their job this way unhappy at work showing that settling close to home may not be the answer. About the author:  Perkbox  is a platform that provides a unique employee experience, enriching the personal and working life of employees. It offers a suite of products including a platform with access to best in class Perks,  Perkbox  Medical,  Perkbox  Recognition, and  Perkbox  Insights. It serves companies of all sizes from SMEs to large companies such as Whole Foods, Nando’s, Caffe Nero and Levi Strauss Co. Headquartered in London, with offices in Sheffield and Paris,  Perkbox  has raised over £11.0 million in funding from the leading European venture capital firm Draper Esprit.

How to Treat Your Admins in Your New Job

How to Treat Your Admins in Your New Job Congratulation on your new job! The day has finally come.You had many interviews, and finally, you are sitting at your desk. Most new work situations will begin with an orientation and a chance to learn about your new company.As you meet your new team and getting to know the lay of the land.Here are some tips on how you should be treating the admins in your new job.Notice the Colleagues You Never SeeSome of us get so busy with a new job that we fail to notice the other people in the rooms. I am not talking about your co-workers or your other members.I am talking about the people we don't see; the admins, cooks, janitors, etc who work at a company. You rarely see them, yet their contributions to the company are of great importance.Most of us see these people around the office as a form of “nuisance maintenance manager”.We ask for them for something when it involves cleaning up something in the kitchen or cleaning up a mess.These very admins could be the business leaders of tomorro w, but as of now, they are making an impact on everyone’s life. So, the next time you see them give a smile.Find out What Type of Work the Admins PerformThe next time you are early to work, if you see a dirty cup in the sink, please wash it or put it into the dishwasher.It won't take very long at all. Be mindful of the people that are working around you.The admins are the front line of their company. They are the first face you see in the morning and the last face when you leave. Trust me, I have seen them working hard.Their job is hard. Admins are making appointments, getting food, setting up events, cleaning up after us when we create a mess in the conference room.Admins deal with confrontation in ways you no longer experience. They do endless chores for us, sometimes even when they are the admin for another team.Admins keep smiling through it all and will help in any way they can around the office. We should be thanking them endlessly.Treat Them Like an Office FirefighterThe ne xt time you have a fire to put out and ask for their help, make sure you really need it. Be mindful of their duties for the day. Admins are very helpful, but they have priorities, too.It might be something you can do yourself. Ask them if they have the time and never assume they will do it for you.Remember they do much more than you realize!Be Polite to the Admins Who Magically Make Things HappenAdmins get everything done when it needs to be done. It’s like they have magic powers.Yes, I use the phrase “magic powers” because they make things happen now and fast.The next time you see an Admin, give them a high-five because they deserve it.And a long time ago, before you became a successful executive, you were an admin, too.

Are You Media Social - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Are You Media Social - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Many people don’t realize how different the job search of today is from the job search of not even a few years ago.  Many others find it difficult to learn about today’s different kind of search and therefore shove the issue to their back burner, planning to deal with it laterâ€"if they do at all. Yet others, often younger ones, embrace the new wave and benefit from it. Social media are open for two-way communication and are important for more than social interaction. Those media are especially important for job seekers because more than 80 percent of recruiters use social media to find job candidates. In 2008 and 2009, many company human resources departments eliminated part of their staffs, and thus the recruiting responsibility fell directly on the shoulders of the hiring manager. An advantage offered by social media is that they reveal people’s personalities, and after all, companies are looking for candidates who will fit into their cultures. Using social media, job seekers should follow the following steps. Identify target companies and the people in your specific area of expertise. Research specific problems you can help with. Identify people within the target company who might be willing to be of assistance to you. This requires tenacity! Connect to those people via social media. Start interacting with them to establish credibility. Admittedly, accessing the Internet to find a job is tedious, laborious, dull, and exhausting, but it can be made easier with several existing job search tools and organizers. For example: Careershift.com JibberJobber.com None of those organizers are perfect, and users experience a steep learning curve to set one up and master it. Some of the organizers connect easily with LinkedIn and Outlook. Others require a fee. And yet others do not connect with certain job boards. It’s all about building mutually beneficial relationships. But it’s worthless unless the other party can help and is willing to refer you to others. Of course, the same is expected from you. The advantages of online networking are numerous: It’s free. Job seekers can do research before meeting the other party. The connection is fast and easy. And such communication is effective and speedy. Regrettably, though, in many cases the relationships are shallow and not durable. In the past, job search networking meant going to meetings, shaking hands, smiling, exchanging business cards, and following up. That still holds true today, but via social networking, one can do preliminary research in order to make an event more effective than it would be without such advance research. One way or another, to benefit from networking, one needs to vastly increase one’s sphere of acquaintances. And that process itself needs to be managed carefully. Luckily, several programs can provide some help in this area. For example: BatchBlue.com Plaxo.com Again, another learning curve with advantages and disadvantages. Looking for a job is very time-consuming, but it can have a fun component if one has the patience, tenacity, and foresight to see that at the end of the job search tunnel will be a wonderful job waiting to be found. Good luck on your journey and I invite your comments.

How to Maximize Your LinkedIn Profile [9 Ways]

How to Maximize Your LinkedIn Profile [9 Ways] Most of us are on networking platforms such as LinkedIn, Xing, Ecademy, Experteer to name but a few. These networks have quickly become a directory for employers, customers, friends, foes etc to look you up. Make sure you optimize your visibility, allowing you to be next up for a promotion, pay hike or even a new job altogether. 1.  Fill in the information This is really simple but can be time consuming. Put as much details on your profile as you can, including work experience, education, relevant associations, hobbies etc. HR people and recruiters use LinkedIn for candidate searching and they do it by key words. Make sure you put buzz words and lots of industry jargon on there. The location is very important as well, as recruiters look for potential candidates close to the client’s site first. Related: Do me a Favour and Update Your LinkedIn Summary. 2. Upload a photo Stick a mug shot on there, put a face to a name. Everyone has at least one good photo of themselves, make sure it goes up. If you really don’t have one, put your company logo or something else up to make it personalized. Related:  7 LinkedIn Profile Pictures You Should Never Use. 3. Connect more Make a habit out of asking to connect with people you deal with on a daily basis, as you never know when these close contacts will come in handy. Furthermore, try to connect to as many customers as possible, in order to create more awareness and to sell yourself rather than your product or service. Related: How to Connect with People You Dont Know on LinkedIn. 4. Get Involved in groups and discussions This is essential if you want to keep a high profile. This means you will ask questions, answer questions, link up news articles and other relevant information and you could even moderate a group. If you add value to others, you will be noticed by people in your industry. Just remember that you need to keep a healthy balance between online presence and actually doing your work, you don’t want to be seen wasting work time on LinkedIn. Related: Top  10 LinkedIn Groups Job Seekers Must Join. 5.  Get Recommendations Having other professionals vouch for you is very powerful. People to ask are your counterparts (i.e. your customer or supplier), colleagues, your manager and even friends if it is relevant. Some employers who will not consider applications from individuals with anything less than 10 recommendations on LinkedIn. Getting people to do this for you is not difficult, it is all about timing â€" the time to ask is just when you have done somebody a favor. Research people. Use LinkedIn to your advantage and always check up on the recruiter you work with, hiring managers in the company and even potential future colleagues. You can bet your bottom dollar they are doing the same. Related: How To Get More LinkedIn Recommendations. 6. Check out a Company’s Stats and Trends On the company pages you can find out what a company does, how many people they employ, how many connected employees etc. For instance, you can see if they have hired or fired recently as well as where these people came from/went to. If you see a wave of professionals jumping ship, you might want to reconsider that offer. Related:  How Following Industry News Can Boost Your Career. 7. Visibility settings Be aware of these. Every time you look at a profile, this person can see that you paid a visit. It is recommended you change this setting to invisible as checking out a potential interviewer 5 times in one day may look a bit odd. 8. Personalize your LinkedIn page There is an option of making your public profile have your name in the URL. For instance, instead of www.linkedin.com/67w84rj32wef09 you can change it to www.linkedin.com/in/johnsmith. Be aware that this is also open to Google and other search engines, as it becomes your public profile which is accessible outside of LinkedIn. 9. Use Applications Applications, this is slightly more advanced but basically means plugins to your LinkedIn experience just like a app on your iPhone. You can browse through these and find the ones relevant to you. If you travel on business, there is an application called Tripit that tells your connections where you are. If you are a keen reader, there is a reading list from Amazon and if you are a blogger, there is an application allowing you to post directly to LinkedIn. Conclusion By using these tips you will become a deft online networker and this will help you in your current job as well as open you up to new ideas and opportunities. May the powers of LinkedIn reward you handsomely for your efforts! OK, now its your turn to tell me what should be number 10? Related: LinkedIn Headlines that Stand Out from the Crowd [10 Examples]

How to Overcome Your Fear of Negotiation - CareerMetis.com

How to Overcome Your Fear of Negotiation Photo Credit â€" Pixabay.comSheryl Sandberg, the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, recounts a story of how she negotiated her salary with Mark Zuckerberg in her 2013 best selling book on women, work and leadership, Lean In.She says that when it came time to consider the offer from the Facebook CEO, she related her negotiation back to the job she was being hired to do: “Of course you realize that you’re hiring me to run your deal teams, so you want me to be a good negotiator.” And off she went on a series of negotiations with the famed company. And we all know how that turned out since she is still there many years later.But what if you don’t have the experience or the ability to relate your negotiations to the job you are actually interviewing for, or the promotion you are lobbying for? How can you overcome the fear of negotiation? Because let’s face it, what we are really afraid of is the rejection, not the negotiation itself.evalHere are some ways to overcome that fear so you can get down to business advocating for what you want in the workplace and in life.Write it DownevalOne of the first things you need to do when you are planning negotiations is to sit down and write down exactly why you think you deserve the job or promotion you are vying for. You need to get your story straight. If you don’t know why you deserve the amount of money or responsibility you are seeking, why should anyone else tell you? You need to know what it is you want and why.Shoot Some Holes in Your TheoryThe next step is to go through the list of what and why and shoot some holes in it. This is a favorite activity of mine: I want to find fault with my own arguments so I can strengthen it before someone else finds fault with it. Practice What You PreachThe next step after plugging the holes is to practice what you now know: say it out loud. Look in a mirror and repeat the words you wrote declaring to the world why you should get the job over anyone else. Be fierce about it. If you aren’t confident in your conviction, you will have a hard time convincing others to buy into your conviction too. Walk the WalkWhether or not you get the job or promotion should not stifle your efforts to continue to push forward for what you want. It can take time to get good at rallying on your own behalf. We have been bred and raised to hold back our opinions and to try to be nice to people, and while it is great to be nice to people, sometimes we let our own wants and needs fall to the wayside because we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.Sheryl Sandberg talks at length about how people, women especially, are trying so hard to be nice, that they don’t feel like they can ask for what they really want. She’s founded a non-profit organization that encourages people to sit at the table and negotiate for themselves.People tend to take a back seat when it comes to directing their lives in a way that doesn’t yield the results they want, and then wonder why they didn’t get the promotion or raise they were hoping for. We need to learn to ask.evalJust AskevalWhen it comes to asking for what we want, sometimes we suffer from the thought that people should just know we want a raise. Who doesn’t want a raise? But it can be difficult for people at all levels of an organization to tune into that level of attention and understanding about what individuals want out of their careers.If you aren’t comfortable just stating your case and asking for what you want, start with asking for an opportunity to speak about your career path. Like Sandberg did with Facebook, you can start the conversation about where you want to go and what you want to achieve and then bring up the conversation around achievements, career goals, and salary expectations. Once you get the ball rolling, it can be an easy conversation to have. The hardest part is getting the ball rolling.If at First You Don’t Succeed, Don’t Freak OutFirst, congratulate yourself on asking fo r what you wanted. If you didn’t get exactly what you wanted, or any movement on the subject matter, it is not a total loss. Consider the strides you’ve made in just moving the conversation from inside your head to the bargaining table. That’s a big step millions of people will never take.You are already ahead of the curve in asking for more. While your superior or potential new boss didn’t see the value in ponying up the money or position right now, it doesn’t mean that you have failed. Sometimes there are situations beyond their control A good manager will keep in mind that you want more from your career and you can always follow up in several months. If it was a job offer that was lost, call them up and ask them for feedback â€" another tactic many job seekers leave on the table. You want to know what you can improve upon next time.Keep AskingIt can seem like a major blow to the ego to lose out on an opportunity, especially if you put yourself out there and asked for mo re money or asked for a better job. The more you ask, the better you will get at it, and the more likely you are to overcome that fear, and eventually, you’ll get what you ask for.Remember that the negotiating table has two sides, and while you may be willing to take full responsibility for your words and actions, it does not mean that the other side of the table is also willing. Some people will never see your value, but you need to keep seeing it, despite the feedback you may be getting.Don’t give up, don’t quit. Keep asking, even if you have to preface it with a bunch of lead in stories and anecdotes about famous CEOs and COOs â€" do it. And keep asking.

4 Ways to Deal with Stress at Work

4 Ways to Deal with Stress at Work Stress is part of life, and definitely a part of our daily work lives. Even if you love your job, there are days and times when stress in the workplace can wreak havoc on you. Maybe you have a big project due, or it’s the end of the month or quarter, or you’re taking on new responsibilities or even learning a new role youll experience some work related stress. Stress at work happens, and can feel exciting. I know I get a rush of motivation and energy when working on a big project with a deadline looming. However, stress left unchecked can lead to serious consequences for you physically, mentally and emotionally. Here are some of the more common stress symptoms: Physical Effects of Stress Pain Muscle tightness GI issues Getting sick more frequently* *Segerstrom Miller, 2004, Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry Mental Effects of Stress Memory Problems Trouble learning new information** Procrastination and decreased motivation **Levy, 2014, How Stress Affects the Brain During Learning and Wills, 2014,The Neuroscience Behind Stress and Learning Emotional Effects of Stress Increase in negative effects emotions (sadness, anger, frustration, anxiety, and overwhelm) Apathy, and feeling numb or a desire to feel numb Here’s the good news about stress: we need some stress in our lives, otherwise we would get bored. It’s all about how your react to stress and take care of yourself during stressful times that can help offset the consequences (see above). It comes down to taking care of you, day in and day out. Plus, it’s easy! Here are 4 different ways on how to relieve stress at work. 1. Arrive at the office prepared. So I’m going to cheat a little with this first recommendation because this is really the prep work you do at home to help make your day easier. First, go into the office well rested, and make good quality sleep a priority for you. Sleep is essential, and you simply aren’t at your best when you are tired. Next basic is stay hydrated! Get a water bottle and keep it at your desk. Having trouble remembering to drink water? Set a reminder in your calendar. Lastly ensure that you are eating good food throughout the day. What you eat for breakfast (and yes you do need to eat breakfast) should help you throughout your morning, and what you eat for lunch (and yes you do need to eat lunch) should help you throughout your afternoon. I know that big plate of pasta looks yummy for lunch, but come 2:30 p.m. you will be dying for a nap. Also, keep some healthy snacks at the office. When you’ve got a craving, you at least have something healthy to grab. 2. Get away from your desk and out of the building. Whether you work at home or in an office, your body needs breaks throughout the day. At least once per work day, make an effort to get away from your desk. If you can get outside, even better. If you can during lunch, take 10-15 minutes to step outside and breathe some fresh air. Even a couple of minutes outside will do your body, lungs, and eyes a favor. Deep breath and then back at it 3. Posture check! It’s easy to get in the zone and spend hours a day at your desk sitting in the same position. It’s important to check in with your body several times a day to see if any aches or pains are forming. Quick way to do this is called a “body scan”. At your desk, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and then notice what areas of your body call your attention first. Neck and shoulders? Back? Stomach feeling upset? Headache? Now you’ve got information and can address any problems right away. Change your posture, drink more water, grab a quick bite to eat, etc. 4. Let your mind rest and be in the present moment at least twice per day Our brains have amazing abilities to concentrate and retain information, but even our brains need a break throughout the day. One way to achieve this is to add a few minutes of mindfulness to your day. Mindfulness is helpful in slowing down our minds, calming intense emotions, and regaining focus. Here are a few of my favorites: Count 5 breaths.   In this exercise, created by Dr. Andrew Weil, you simply count to 5 breaths, counting each exhale. You can breathe normally or take 5 deep breaths as you count. Once you’re at 5, you’re done, or you can count to 5 again. The challenge here is to only count to 5, and not 6-7-8, and beyond. 4-7-8 or Relaxation Breath  This is another great breathing exercise by Dr. Andrew Weil, and is my go-to when I’m overwhelmed, anxious, even frustrated. This exercise has a beautiful calming and relaxation effect, so please don’t attempt this one while driving. You breathe in through your nose for 4 counts (you determine how fast or slow). Hold your breath for 7 counts, and finally breathe out through your mouth for 8 counts. Once is usually enough, but feel free to repeat it if you need to. 5 senses. This mindfulness exercise takes you through each of the 5 senses with an everyday activity. The example I do with my clients is with making tea or coffee. I’ve had clients do this while brushing their teeth, or on a walk outside. See what activity you can try this with. Tea 5 senses example: Hear the water boiling. See the water pouring. See the color of the liquid change. What colors do you see? Smell as the tea is steeping. Feel the mug and the heat from the mug. Taste the warm drink. You need some stress in your life. Stress stimulates the brain and allows us to learn, grow, and develop. There is a limit to unchecked stressed that you can handle, and I invite you to take time in the next week to try these work related stress management tips and explore ways to take care of yourself at work. How do you take care of yourself during times of stress? What is your go-to strategy for the office? Share your answers in the comments below!

Tips on How to Write a Good Resume - LinkedIn Writing Services

Tips on How to Write a Good Resume - LinkedIn Writing ServicesLinkedIn writing a good resume might not be that difficult. You just need to find the best resume writing services for your skill set. In this article, you will get a brief background of why you need to make sure that you create a resume for yourself before you start hiring.Just by taking into consideration the basics of LinkedIn writing a good resume, you can surely get started right away. After that, you will have a ready written resume for your job application. And, all you need to do is to impress them with it!What are the tips on how to write a good resume? Well, let's think about the information that you need to include in your resume. First of all, you should include your name, contact information, skills, achievements, education, professional experience, and whether you are single or married. If you are single, you must include all the details you want to include; and, if you are married, all the details of your sp ouse as well.Now, let's think about the basic idea of your summary. What exactly is your summary going to tell about yourself? You are going to tell people about your interests, your hobbies, your skills, and your talents. You are also going to include your experiences and achievements. So, just make sure that your summary is filled with important stuff about you.The next thing is that you have to list your professional experiences, career choices, education, and achievements. For example, you might want to mention about your work experience in case you are just starting out, you might include your education. Also, you might want to mention about your jobs, relationships, and other aspects that are crucial to the people who are interviewing you.Aside from that, your resume is also supposed to be organized and well structured. Let's think about how you write your resume and organize it. For instance, you may want to list the sections that are relevant to the person who is hiring you. What are the tips on how to write a good resume? Well, you just need to follow the basics in LinkedIn writing a good resume.