25 Factors to consider in choosing a career

It is relevant here to state that the choice of a career is not as easy as we sometimes think. The student should be able to answer the following career choice questions before choosing a career:

choosing a career

a.     Do you possess the required intellectual ability for the career?

b.    Will your present subject offering lead you to your desired career?

c.      Do you have the needed and sustained interest for the career?

d.    Do you have the needed aptitude for the career?

e.     Do you have the necessary personality qualities for the career?

f.       Can your health conditions and constitutions carry you in the career?

g.     Can you last the period, stress, risk and inconveniences expected in the training or preparation for the career?

h.    What are the primary reasons for choosing the career? (Monetary, status, helping others to contribute to societal advancement, etc.)?

i.    Do you or your parents/sponsors have the financial resources to carry you through the training or preparation period?

j.       Is your chosen career relevant to the needs of the environment/nation?

k.     Can you find employment in your chosen career after training/preparation?

l.      Are you familiar with the importance, nature, history and definition of the career?

m.  Do you have other necessary qualifications for the career e.g. age, sex and the general education for the career?

n.    Do you know how to enter into your chosen career?

o. Is your career offered (for participation) in the available institutions or workshops?

p.    Do you know the general conditions of service for the career?

q.    Are there prospects of advancement and fulfillment in the career?

r.      Would you be able to adjust to the environments and sociological environments of the career? i.e. would you be able to adapt to the geographical location and persons the career could expose you to?

s.      Would the career jeopardize or conflict with your religious and cultural values and beliefs?

t.      What are the advantages and disadvantages of the career?

u.    Do you know about the job hazards associated with your career of interest?

v.     Will the career make you self-employable or dependent on other employers of labour?

w.   Will you be ready for service, re-training or on-the-job training in the career if the need arises?

x.     Assuming you are thrown out of the career/job (retrenched) can you adjust to any other job or a career if the need arises?

y.     If your retire from the career, what plans could you make to survive?

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15 Common mistakes in choosing a career

Choosing a career is generally not a one-time decision; it’s a series of decisions, made as you progress through different stages of life, experience, and responsibility. Below are the various mistakes in choosing a career.

choosing a career

1.     Choosing a career because of the prestige attached to it.

2.     Choosing a career in which one does not possess the  necessary ability, interest, aptitude and personality traits.

3.     Choosing a career because a friend has chosen it.

4.     Choosing a career in which employment is either scarce or non-existent.

5. Choosing a career the preparation/training for which the family/personal resources are not able to carry.

6.     Choosing a career just to please parents and other family members.

7.     Choosing a career out of frustration or as a last resort.

8.     Choosing a career that may not be actualized with the school subjects offered by the student.

9.     Choosing a career without consulting professional guidance personnel.

10.    Choosing a career that one may not be committed to but choosing it for the fun of it.

11.    Choosing a career because of the monetary advantages.

12.    Choosing a career without full knowledge about the career.

13.    Choosing a career that would not help to lead one to self-actualization or self-fulfillment; i.e. achieving one’s career goals.

14.  Choosing a career for which one lacks the necessary training, skills and dispositions.

15.       Choosing a career that is not relevant to the needs of the society.

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13 Must have Inter-personal Skills at Work

Interpersonal skills are those skills that are connected with relationships between people. These skills are very important in the work place to ensure smooth and efficient team work. They are:

inter-personal skills at work

a.     Language: A strong working knowledge of English language enables a worker to interact with other people.

b.    Critical thinking and decision making skills: These constitute the ability to think abstractly, to organize materials and follow instructions.

c.      Dependability: Dependable workers come to work every day punctually, follow through on project, keep their word and contribute their fair share to the work load.

d.    Relating to others: Being able to work well with other people; helps to get the job done.

e.  Good judgment: This is the ability to ensure that all work are accurate and logical.

f.  Maturity: Employers want employees who can handle matters in an adult manner, develop confidence and exercise self-control.

g. Flexibility: Office workers must be receptive to new ideas, procedures, specifications, tasks and equipment. Learn to adapt easily.

h.  Discretion: Avoid discussing the information with which you work, inside or outside the office.

i.     Receptiveness: No one expects a worker to know everything. Admit what you do not know and need to learn. Be receptive to other people’s advice.

j.     Integrity: Be loyal to your employer. Come to work early but don’t leave early. Do not excuse yourself from the job unnecessarily for one reason or the other. Do not waste your employer’s time. Time is money in business.

k.     Personal appearance: A lot can said at this point; however, note that the image you portray also reflects on your office. Dress neatly and appropriately. Watch your body language.

l.    Positive attitude: Employers prefer positive people to negative people because positive people think confidently and generate positive results.

m.  Team member: An effective office requires group effort. Help others when you are not busy. Offering help to a colleague may bring you a return favour at a time you need help most.

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The Importance of Self-evaluation in Job hunt/search

Self-appraisal can encourage employees to become mindful of areas where they need to improve and it can reveal attitudes and biases a manger might never guess from observation. Below are the needs for self-evaluation;

self-evaluation

i.                   Self-evaluation helps the job seeker assess his capabilities in respect of the job he intends doing.

ii.                 The applicant is able to know whether he has the right qualification for the job.

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10 Ways Of Organizing Your Home/Office

Office administration is a set of day-to-day activities that are related to financial planning, record keeping & billing, personnel, physical distribution and logistics, within an organization. Organization breeds success. A clean and well-kept office makes a strong impression on how employees view their jobs. To get started the following tips will help you;

organizing your office

1.     Develop a system for tracking your daily activities, such as a "things to do" list.

2.     Eliminate clutter, allot time for periodic sifting and sorting: discard, give away, or sell surplus possessions.

3.     Organize your office and home so everything is accessible; use active and inactive criteria for placing items.

4.     Use an organizing principle for organizing your files; alphabetically, by number, color, chronologically etc.

5.     For a few, a messy desk is the sign of genius. for most, a messy desk is the sign of disorganization and neglected paperwork. Budget regular time to file and clear off your desk.

6.     Get into the habit of dating what you are working on so it will be easier to keep it organized. Date written material on the front or back; incorporate a date into the name of a computer file.

7.     To avoid lateness, give yourself an extra 10 or 15 minutes to get to appointments.

8.     If you need additional help organizing and getting rid of clutter, take a course or a seminar, hire a time management consultant, read articles or books, or watch a related video.

9.     Create your own days or dates, on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis, to clean off your desk, your files, your closets, or to overhaul your organizing system.

10.                        Have a handy the names, addresses, phone numbers and pick up schedule for charities, recycling, or resale shops that will welcome your old stuff or reading materials to get rid of your clutter.

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5 Tips To Boost Confidence at a Job Interview

Job hunt is a very stressful aspect of one’s life; it takes motivation and being positive to get the right and dream job. Interviews usually bring tense to job seekers. The more confident you feel, the more chances of gaining the interviewer attention. Be poised and hold your head high with these useful interview tips:

1.     Body Postures

Usually the mind controls all our actions and movement, but it is possible to use the body to trick the mind into feeling a certain way. Slouching or slumping and crossing your arms are all examples of closed off postures, and when we feel small, we tend to exhibit these poses. If you spend a little time opening yourself up and

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