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Career in Fitness – Fitness Instructor

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If you are looking for a career as a fitness instructor it is first suggested to gain a thorough knowlege and requirements of the profession, you can get some very good tips here from Sheldon Wesley – a fitness instructor in the Bay Area, California, who might inspire you to take on a career as a fitness instructor.

As a fitness instructor you may find your career in a gym or a health club, in your own studio, as a personal trainer or even as a corporate fitness expert. It all depends on where your interests are how you want to diversify your talent and expertise.

An interview with Sheldon Wesley – FITNESS INSTRUCTOR

What Skills and personal attributes required to be a fitness instructor?

  • You body is your business card, be in the best of the shape.

You have to really like exercising. Keep yourself motivated and the best way to do that is to exercise everyday. You must have a passion for fitness.

  • Learn to get along with the people.

Being a fitness expert is a peoples’ job. Learn to know what your clients want even if they do not know what they want or not communicating to you entirely.

  • Gain knowledge.

Besides any of your formal education I would advice you to go for a personal training certification program. If you want to join health club then you need to have some sort of certification. The duration of the training can be over a week to a year. I would suggest that take up certification courses in Anatomy / Physiology/ Kinesiology and/or Nutrition. It would help a lot in understanding how the body and the heart work.

Although, the best education I got had nothing to do with certification it had only to do hanging out with the people in the fitness centers and clubs , again- you must learn to deal with people.

What advantages do you see in being a fitness instructor?

I am my own boss. From the time I get up. To making decisions on my daily schedule till the day ends. No one tells me what to do.

You make as much money as you build up on clientele.

Some drawbacks in this profession?

Drawbacks could be having some inconsistency in your profession. You don’t know how much you will bring in a particular month. Some days many clients sign up, other days some clients drop off and some months you do not have clients. You do not know how a many people you may get in a month.

What would be a sure shot way to be a trainer / instructor?

The easiest way to personal training is to go to a gym say, 24 Hour Fitness. Apply as a trainer and they train you for free. Note: this is a no cost start-up that they offer you; you do not have to pay anything. When training is done, you work with the clients in the gym. When you have gained enough experience and feel that you are ready to move on, you can join bigger clubs or start on your own.

But hey, remember, the training is cost free, an incentive enough to be a fitness instructor!

What is a typical work day for Sheldon?

You have to be ready to spent major hours on your daily schedule.

For me, the day starts really early, might start at 5 for an early morning crowd who want to workout before leaving for work. The morning slot lasts usually 5am till 10 or 11 am.

You might have some gaps in the afternoon when everyone is at worked then again you have the night time when people want to workout, usually 5 pm to 8 pm.

Usually when you training yourself or build your routines then afternoon is the slot you get for yourself.

Also remember for your own business you have to be on your own. You car may be your home for the whole day, be prepared and organize your food and clothes for the day if you are full time trainer. You don’t want to run back and forth when you are between client sites. Also be prepared to sleep in your car too!

Some tips

  • If you are working outside of the health club then have your own liability insurance.
  • Be prepared for the day before the day begins.
  • Keep fit, always.
  • Learn new techniques in fitness training to keep abreast of competition.

Contact Sheldon Wesley

Sheldon is willing to be mentor to those who want to take-up fitness training as a career. You can find Sheldon’s contact information and bio at http://www.footworksfitness.com/

How much does a fitness instructor earn?
Of course it depends from country to country, working in a city or suburb, your experience, certification and training, your people’s skills as well as your personal marketing abilities. So there is no one answer to this question; you will have to ask around and do your research, what is presented here are some stats based on research on the internet:

In the US Generally expect to earn between £20 – £30 per hour for classes.

The U.S. national average salary for a certified personal trainer is $34,000 – $48,000. Why the range? Because of all those other factors listed above. Many trainers earn over $60,000 and if you start your own personal training business you can easily grow to over $120,000 per year ($150,000 if you sell complimentary products and services).

(Source of this information: http://www.aftacertification.com/ )

In today’s market, some personal trainers earn $50 – $150 per training session. After building a successful clientele, you can easily earn $50,000 – $ 80,000 per year!

 In the UK:

(Source of this information: http://www.discovery.uk.com/salaries-in-fitness.html )

As a rule of thumb, if you are employed by a gym then you should be looking to earn between £16k – £20k in your first year but this does vary wildly and each facility will have its own arrangements for remuneration.

Freelance Personal Trainer can get as high as £500 per month in some clubs.

The U.S. national average salary for a certified personal trainer is $34,000 – $48,000. Why the range? Because of all those other factors listed above. Many trainers earn over $60,000 and if you start your own personal training business you can easily grow to over $120,000 per year ($150,000 if you sell complimentary products and services).

(Source of this information: http://www.aftacertification.com/ )

In today’s market, some personal trainers earn $50 – $150 per training session. After building a successful clientele, you can easily earn $50,000 – $ 80,000 per year!

 In the UK:

(Source of this information: http://www.discovery.uk.com/salaries-in-fitness.html )

As a rule of thumb, if you are employed by a gym then you should be looking to earn between £16k – £20k in your first year but this does vary wildly and each facility will have its own arrangements for remuneration.

Freelance Personal Trainer can get as high as £500 per month in some clubs.

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How to Generate Income and stay Positive when you have no Job – Part 1

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“’With no job and 5 kids, ‘better to end our lives’, man wrote”.. with such horrendous stories making headlines in recession, it is time we thought in-depth on the topic – How to generate income post layoff / or during job search process and also focus on how to remain positive during these tough times.

I am presenting this article in two parts – focusing on how you can generate small incomes when not in a full-time job and the other very important aspect is — how to remain positive and do the right things when the going gets tough. This post will be updated in the coming weeks with more ideas, in the hope that even if it helps or influences the lives of 10 odd families, it is much much worth it.
Before you even start thinking of how to generate extra income to sustain yourself and family, it is very important to have a healthy balanced mental outlook. Quoting from an article on my website:
“While the positive state of mind governed by positive emotions can do wonders in realizing one’s aspirations and goals, the negative frame of mind, harshly controlled by negative emotions, can cause havoc and destabilize, dislocate and demoralize a person to unimaginably lowly depths. Positive thinking and high morale can lead one to incredible heights of achievements and success, low morale and pessimistic outlook can drive people to ignoble defeats and tragic failure, one state of mind may lead to the path of fame and glory, the other may push one to hellish fire of sorrow and misery. Hope and faith may lead to incredible achievements.”

So for that reason I shall cover the money generation topic in the next post – part 2 of this article.

HOW TO STAY POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC WHEN YOU HAVE NO INCOME

An inspirational quote here:
As life becomes harder, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have, the more the good things of life become unexpected gifts which we accept with gratitude.
- Etty Hillesum

Here are some tips, please contribute yours to supplement this list:

  • Do not isolate yourself. Talk to your friends and those you connect to – just closing yourself to the world can do more harm and enhance depression
  • It is not your fault or someone else’s that you are out of job, do not fall in the guilt or blame cycle – think about what must be your next positive steps
  • Evaluate your spending – what can you cut down to save the few dollars, even those will matter in the long run. For example;
    — Cook meals at home in a small budget, or get together with other friends and families and eat together- you might save this way too..
    — Avail free food services – there are quite a few places in most cities where you can get free food for the family, for example Presbyterian Churches, Sikh Gurdwara Temples etc.
  • Listen to some inspirational audio once a week
  • Read a good/inspirational book every month
  • Dance alone or with your kids whenever you can – at least once a week
  • Think positive thoughts – a healthy mental state is very important to achieve anything

And if the list above does not convince you enough, think about all those who are in far much situation than yours and still fighting life smiling. Think about those affected by war or chronic disease.

DO NOT HARM YOURSELF OR OTHERS or indulge in other criminal activities, remember that this too will pass. Don’t let a wrong move today haunt you and your family forever.
Every crisis must teach us to do things better next time. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT?

What would you do different if it ever happens again? And the reason this is a good time to think about the future because we never get time from our daily routines to think about what we could do if things were different .. well this is the time. Use your time well and you will get out of it wiser.

Words of Wisdom from the Great Minds

Give the great thinkers of our times a chance to motivate you – those who have said more in few words:

“Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well through all the darkest valleys you must traverse. Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the mountaintop. So will you learn things in adversity that you would never have discovered without trouble. There is always a seed of good. Find it and prosper.”
– Og Mandino

“If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can’t help but learn”
– Bernie Siegel
“If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.”
– Bill Clinton

 

“Tough times don’t last, tough people do, remember?”
– Gregory Peck
 

In the part 2 of this article, I will compile some ideas on how to generate money if you have no permanent job and getting one in near future seems isn’t likely. If you have ideas to share please do add to the comments below.

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THE LEADERSHIP CODE – A Book Review

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“While we can stipulate that leadership matters and that we know it when we encounter it, it is much more difficult to find the elusive answer to the simple question, ‘What makes an effective leader?’”, the authors explain.

After examining hundreds of frameworks, studies, and philosophies developed by multiple generations of leadership experts, and asking that same question to experienced CEOs, respected academics, and leadership researchers, the authors discovered that all effective leaders take into account the long term and the short term, the desired outcomes and the people, and the leader’s own values, skills and passions.

They all practice the following rules:
  • Great leaders answer the question, “where are we going?” They shape the future.
  • Great leaders translate strategy into action. They make things happen.
  • Great leaders know who they need around them to fulfill their strategy. They engage today’s talent.
  • Great leaders build a workforce for the future. They are human capital developers.
  • Great leaders always ask themselves: “Am I prepared for what’s next?” They invest in themselves by constantly learning.

THE LEADERSHIP CODE is authored by Dave Ulrich, Kate Sweetman, and Norm Smallwood and is yet another good addition to the leadership series books that are there on the book shelves. I recently finished reading this not-too-long book (180 pages of leadership wisdom) and have evolved to a better understanding on how to be an effective leader.

There were some chapters in this book that were to the mark and presents a simplified direction for the present day leaders. The two rules (or codes) that are specifically relevant to today’s scenario where the generation Millennial is taking on the workplace by millions; special focus must be on:

  • Rule 3 – Engage Today’s Talent and
  • Rule 4 – Build the Next Generation

In a few pages in these chapters, the authors sum up some key strategies for nurturing talent within a company which includes:

  • Good Communication
  • Creating a Positive Environment
  • Having fun at Work
  • Coaching and Mentoring
  • Delegating and Empowering
  • Sharing Incentives and
  • Encouraging Networks and relationships

Overall a good read and some of the topic already much read around again emphasize and rather define precisely on how you can be an effective leader. As one of the latest books on leadership I would have loved to see another chapter or a special reference and advice to the young Generation Millennial leaders on how they can be more effective at leading people of different generations, but well maybe in their next edition or as I write this another book on leadership would in print specially focused on the younger generation leaders.

On their website http://www.leadershipcodebook.com/ , the authors provide some practical advice and also some assessment tools that we can learn from and test our abilities on being an effective leader. As you go through the book, don’t shy away from highlighting and underlining some to-the-point and apt “how-to” and “what-to-do” to be a good leader. Also don’t ignore the self-assessments dispersed throughout the book; it holds a mirror to your face and at times it is required if you have been doing what you have been doing and getting the same results over and over again.

Are you an effective leader?
Happy reading!

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What a week – Close to 50,000 Jobs will be wiped out soon

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This week’s reports say it all – in the newspapers and the online business editions; it has been a terrible week in terms of job loss in the US. According to the leading newspapers and reports the job market scenario is looking bleaker than ever. In one week itself close to 50,000 positions have been announced to be eliminated in the coming couple of months by industry giants, from the pharmaceutical to the tech to the motor industry, everyone is feeling the high pressure crunch of the economic downturn.
Here is a snapshot which we rather hoped never happened, but it is just the first month of the year and if more such weeks are in store for us; it won’t be easy wriggling out of the recession any sooner.

According to a recent report on Yahoo:

  • Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. to slash 8,000 jobs
  • Sprint Nextel Corp. is eliminating about 8,000 positions in the first quarter as it seeks to cut annual costs by $1.2 billion.
  • Home Depot Inc., the biggest home improvement retailer in the U.S., to get rid of 7,000 jobs.
  • General Motors Corp. said it will cut 2,000 jobs at plants in Michigan and Ohio due to slow sales.
  • Caterpillar Inc., the world’s largest maker of mining and construction equipment, announced 5,000 new layoffs on top of several earlier actions. An additional 2,500 workers already have accepted buyout offers, and ties have been severed with about 8,000 contract workers worldwide. In addition, about 4,000 full-time factory workers already have been let go.
  • Just last week, Microsoft Corp. said it will slash up to 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months.
  • Intel Corp. said it will cut up to 6,000 manufacturing jobs.
  • United Airlines parent UAL Corp. said it would get rid of 1,000 jobs, on top of 1,500 axed late last year.

Update: and not a good one…

I thought 50k was big enough … and then I read the CNN Money’s headlines which screams: Bloody Monday: Over 71,400 jobs lost–Seven companies announce massive job cuts in a scary start to the week.

What I was compiling here earlier in the day has been better done here. A depressing news but it is what it is now.

Since this blog is more towards turning the tide towards the positive side; let’s once again visit the previous few posts which focus on how to deal with a layoff or how to manage your career during a recession:

Post Layoff 5 Step Successful Comeback Plan
5 Essential Tips on Thriving after a Layoff
Alternatives to a Permanent Full Time Job
Going Back to College – A Good Move during Recession
Recreate and Diversify in a Recession
Managing your Career during Recession
Best Jobs to have during Recession
Learning from a Layoff – is it the Right Time to Innovate and be Independent?

Managers and employers, if you want to get the best out of your employees in these uncertain times it is time to increase productivity and keep them away from the depressing thoughts and scenes of layoffs around. Here are some good tips on the OpenForum blog : 5 Tips for More Productivity in 2009

If you have been in a layoff recently what are you doing to maintain a positive outlook and reviving your job search strategies?

Careerbright – Career Article and Information for Professionals and Working Women
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Trust your Remote Employees – Now you can virtually monitor them

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Employers can now trust remote employees more than ever before and employees have more reason to concentrate on work and avoid distractions such as spending time on personal emails or checking in on their online social network now and then. These distractions and the lack of trust is often of concern to employers when they contract the work to remote employees – whether telecommuting or working for them in another country in a different time zone.
And what enables the accountability on either side (employees or contractor/freelancers accountability of the billed time and the employer’s approval of the hours billed) is the services and products offered by oDesk.

oDesk

It works well for the contractors and other remote employees who never report to the main office or those who easily get distracted when working on their own. More so, it is to the satisfaction of the employers who do not have to think twice when billed for a certain time.
If you have not heard about how oDesk works then in a nutshell it is like having your boss peak in behind you around 6 times an hour to glance at your computer screen! Alright, alright almost everyone who hears this explanation is bound to roll his/her eyes, but what the electronic monitoring feature of oDesk does is that it takes computer screen shots randomly six times an hour.

Invasive, micromanagement, violating.. maybe; but in the long run if it gets the employers happy and there is no fuss in handing over the money you have billed them for your assigned work; or for the employers to get work done with minimum distractions then why not? Further more, it also builds on the trust and reliance towards the remote employees.

MonkeyMonitor

“By clocking working hours, taking screenshots, tracking keystrokes and mouse clicks, MonkeyMonitor is a simple tool that provides the missing link between Mr Boss-Man and the virtual team.” That’s what they say on their website. If you have tried this solution pls do share your thoughts in comments below.

 

Some of the easiest methods for better remote employee interaction are also free – think Skype and WebEx. In the long run changing the mind set to “interaction” than “monitoring” lands a better rapport on both side.

These are a few solutions out there and I am sure there are more around and if not then sure enough some related solutions would be in the market soon. They better be because outsourcing, remote contracting jobs and telecommuting are the workplace trends of this century.

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What would you do to land an Interview?

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Every new idea looks crazy at first.

~~ Robert Olson
Today I was reading in the newspaper an article from Mike Cassidy titled “Will Work for Interview“, how one man turns to a marketing gimmick to lure prospective employers.
It is a story about a San Francisco man who wanted a new ‘angle’ to his job search mainly because the traditional ways of job search might not be effective in an economy we are in now.
KyNam Doan has pledged 6 hours of community service for each job interview he lands. Cassidy reports in this article that he has landed 9 interviews since he started his campaign through the social networking websites and his own, but no job offer so far.
With almost 11 million Americans out of work now and more expected to join the list this year, what would be your job search strategy which grabs the attention of the employers?
And if you are thinking on why would you share a new idea with others here…. read the quote below and then make a decision.

If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas.

~~ George Bernard Shaw
 
 
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To Beat Recession we should use less of the ‘R’ word

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Maybe to beat recession we must use less of the “r” word in the media these days. The newspapers are depressing, the news online on tech and business is overflowing with the news on layoffs and recession. I know that they are reporting what is actually happening around and running away from the truth does not turn things around, but could things be made slightly better if we read some positive news and stories daily?

Today in the Business section of the newspaper, there is a positive news on the Gaming Industry (Gaming industry sees record year – people are still looking for ways to have fun), my husband was quite inspired and immediately remarked – should we buy a Wii now?
I smiled; had the news been towards negative aspect- “gaming industry hit hard by recession”, I am sure his comments would not have been the same.
Yesterday, I was outside enjoying the gorgeous sunny day – another golden sunshiny day in California, and happened to greet the PG&E guy who checks on the meter. “How’s PG&E doing?” I asked the guy (instead of a polite how are you, I was not surprised to hear myself greeting him thus – the “r” word being always on the mind).
“Oh well, just OK, maybe like everyone else.” He said. But what he said next set me thinking and the reason for today’s short post.
“At least there was some good news, all the passengers on the US Airways flight survived. It started my day off well.”
What do you say? Do you think to beat the downturn we must read and do things that are more motivating? Could it turn the tide?
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Would you leave your Job in a Recession if you are a new mom?

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If you ask anyone on leaving your job now, the answer would be a vehement “No”; of course, you do not leave your job in recession and a very bad job market as we are seeing this year. But the dilemma on joining back work or not remains the same for a young mother.
I am a member of the IIT women’s forum and this questions was recently there, this is a post which expands on the answer I gave there to a young mom who wants to stay at home with her new born but also is worried whether it would be a good decision to quit her good paying job when the advice all around advices against it. If you are a mom planning on leaving work now and have plans on re-entering the workforce a few years from now here is some advice I have for you:

Why do you want to leave your job?
Is it because of these reasons:
a) You feel the baby is too young to be sent to a daycare and / or you have no other support
b) You just feel too emotional these days and leaving your baby to go back to work increases your guilt
c) You are already too tired just recovering from the delivery, feeding the baby and other chores around the house
d) Your focus has completely changed, going back to work does not excite you anymore
e) Or it could be a different case if your child has special needs and your attention and staying at home would be more beneficial to his/her upbringing

Or there could be other reasons why you now want to be stay at home mom and of course the final decision must always be based on your situation and want; but the first step before taking any step in haste is to question yourself thoroughly. List the reasons which motivate you to leave your job now (as I did above) and then evaluate the answers. It is very important to do an analysis which is not independent of the topics discussed in this article but consider all angles, keeping in mind your current financial situation, mental satisfaction, spousal understanding and how you want your career to progress from here on.

Understand your limitations and circumstances
Check your financial situation and if you can live off well with one income then you can of course take a decision towards thinking on leaving your job and taking on the more responsible and exciting job of being with your kids.
If you are earning very well and cannot afford to let go of your current lifestyle then there are options like, having parents stay over with you to take care of the baby till he/she is ready for the daycare or a stay at home / part-time nanny is a possibility – quite a few of my friends have chosen the nanny as the best possible option because they get some help around the house and it is not so tiring for them when they get back home after work. The house is more organized and they even pay extra for some help with cooking. But of course, finding the right person to look for your child is another tough quest.

How much time can you take off?
If you feel you need more time with the baby it is a good idea to first extensively question all the leave options with your employer. Apart from the maternity leave can you use other family medical leaves or vacation time or any leave without pay, once you know that you can have 4-6 months off or more you can decide better on whether to join back to work thereafter or not. Post delivery a mother goes through an emotional roller coaster, so perhaps giving yourself some time before you take a decision might be a good idea.

Will you be happy being a stay-at-home mom?
The first couple of months are emotional and physically tiring for the new mother and it is best to give yourself the time to evaluate how you like being a full-time stay-at-home mother before making the decision on quitting your job as soon as you have the bundle of joy in your arms and the only someone who can make you feel like a pool of bubbling and overflowing love and emotions.

Would you be getting back to Work?
The reason for making up your mind upfront is that when you are ready to jump back in you are not caught unawares and the transition would be much easier. There are quite a few things that you could do now that will satisfy your need to be in touch with the world while being a stay-at-home mom and also stay in touch with the current technology and skills in your area of expertise.

There are some other very relevant articles on this blog listed below which you might helpful. It is strongly suggested to read these before you make a final decision on leaving the workforce. You will also gain some befitting advice on how you can use your time valuably and smartly when out of work so that rejoining would not to be tough on you as it is on most others who scramble for action only when the situation arises.

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Pay Raise in 2009 – Are you Expecting one?

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Recently there has been some “outrage” in the press (Fox News, Rocky Mountain News to name a few), on the automatic pay raise for the members of congress. An article in The Hill rightfully says: A crumbling economy, more than 2 million constituents who have lost their jobs this year and congressional demands of CEOs to work for free did not convince lawmakers to freeze their own pay. Instead, they will get a $4,700 pay increase, amounting to an additional $2.5 million that taxpayers will spend on congressional salaries, and watchdog groups are not happy about it.There is even a petition going around to stop the congress pay raise for 2009.
And better there be one; with a lot of belt-tightening and layoffs happening all over, it is time for the lawmakers to show solidarity with the working class which is suffering in the recession and a tough job market.

With a lot of discussion going on the automatic pay raise that rolls on every year for the members of congress, can the employees expect some pay raise this year?
What are your expectations and estimates for a pay raise or bonus this year?

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5 Essential Tips on Thriving after a Layoff

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Economic downturn and recession presents hardships to many around the world; with no jobs to pay for their mortgages or support their current lifestyles frustration and loss of working towards a goal can bring down self-esteem. And what is troubling is that for some months it would be harder to find a job because there are very few around. Putting in the whole day and night in applying for jobs and networking and still not getting results could be frustrating and depressing but if you work towards a well managed schedule balancing job search, personal / professional development and some family fun time, the hard times can be thriving and fruitful to you.

Now, I am no financial guru and as a career coach do not offer personal finance management advice, but here are some ideas that I would like to share to help you sustain through the hard times if you have been in a layoff recently and searching for some solutions on how to revive your career or just have a decent income to sustain through these times.

Here are the 5 essential tips that can guide you to success post-layoff:

 

Have a Goal – Rather TWO

It is important to have a goal in mind, both long term and short term. Your short-term goals must be a goal for every week or every day.. strive to achieve something everyday and you will find yourself getting up from the bed happy and energized to start a new day to achieve something .. your every day achievement may seem small at first but slowly builds on to something that you can be proud of. And these are the times when you need it the most- something you can pat yourself on your back and not be let down by the layoffs or financial tensions in the family. A positive and energized mind and body can only bring in positive results.
Your long-term goals must be on how to get back into the workplace or if you entrepreneurship is something that you are looking for in future. For that break down your long-term goals into tasks that you must work on every week or month – it could be on personal / professional development and growth working towards your goals and feeling proud of yourself. Get that self-worth back and it is only possible by careful skills assessment, planning on self-development and a good time management.

 

Be Practical

Of course you want a job right away but if there are slim chances of getting one right now you better start looking in other directions of making money but keeping your long-term goal in mind. Even the best made plans and goals can fall short if they are not practical.

Here are some tips to be aware of when planning for a change of career or getting back on the career track:

  • Do not have unrealistic goals or deadlines. Do not set your expectations sky high; it is good to climb the hill step by step.
  • Don’t just keep sending your resume online to 100 different companies daily and wait for a reply.
  • Have patience, your goals might not see results immediately, maintain faith but also check on their viability by discussing with others in the family or like-minded friends.
  • Take a break – constant worrying and working over something may lead to similar results and fatigue. To avoid burnout take breaks and just relax and laugh with your family when you find time and when they need you. A vacation is not a solution to feeling good also when you are in a financially pressed situation, just taking a break and going out for dinner and movie with the family or hanging out with your kids can be a great stress-reliever.
  • Hone your networking skills – landing a job is more about networking the right way then spending hours on the computer reading and applying online. Get out there – meet people who can help.

 

Get Organized

It might take a few days to get back to working on your own, but it pays a lot to be organized and work peacefully when you need it the most. Inform family of your plans when you prefer not to be disturbed and plan your working schedule accordingly to concentrate on your job search or goals. Get rid of distractions and focus on the short term goals.

You might find these tips helpful: 5 Steps to Manage your Time after a Layoff

 

Diversify and Analyze your Skills

Diversify during the recession. Learn to manage your career during recession but always be aware and ready to move on when required. Work towards a planned job search process and don’t hesitate to consult professionals when looking for a new job or during the career discover process. It is also the time to look at your skill set and see which transferable skills that you have now can be applicable towards your future job or career. Some good tips on transferable skills are here on the USC website. You can add on to your skills base with online courses and degrees, iwu online offers many online programs and also financial aid assistance to those who qualify.

Planning a career change – these tips might help: 5 Fundamental Career Change Tips for Working Professionals and the Unemployed

 

Manage Your Finances

The layoff hits hard when you are the sole earning member of the family. With a mortgage to pay and kids to take care of things can be very tough now.

Some tips that can help you pay the bills:

  • Analyze together with your family on current expenses and find areas where you can cut back. Money saved is money earned.
  • Give up your credit card – allocate weekly funds for running the family expenses and learn to live within the means.
  • A garage sale might not be all the a good idea when most people are cutting back on buying anyways, don’t waste energy on small things think about how you and your spouse can earn supplemental income by working part time.
  • Rent a part of your house if you can; even a small rent can help you in some ways.
  • File for unemployment if you have not already done so. Even small different money streams together can relieve a lot of financial tension. Discuss with your family and friends on how they can help or advice well.
  • Learn from your mistakes; if you had not saved enough emergency funds for the rainy days, make it a point that you would not when you have enough.

Some good tips on 10 Things to do with your Money Right Now were on TIME website. Good articles and advice is what you should be reading in your spare time, to inspire and act mindfully when your mind is not at its positive best.

And know that this too will pass by, it’s how you react and act now determines how smoothly you can take on the bumps on your career path.

 

Any tips that you can share that helps during this transition stage?


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