5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Going Back to School For an MBA

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Going Back to School For an MBA I meet some of my clients after they have completed an MBA program. Some of them have previous work experience in totally unrelated fields and assume that the MBA is an automatic ticket to a new job, a management role, and a higher salary. And often they are very disappointed when they realize that the MBA is not the golden ticket they thought it would be. Before returning to school for an MBA, ask yourself these questions.Why you are considering the MBA? If it is to learn the curriculum that is taught, great. If you are doing it because you think you will earn more money, tread carefully. Earning an MBA does not guarantee you will be paid better than your non MBA counterparts. And they may have gained valuable practical work experience while you were spending your time learning the theories behind management in school.Does the MBA support the career you have already started or take you in a totally new direction? If the MBA builds on experience you already have in a particular area, gaining the degree may help add an additional level of expertise and relevance. But if the MBA focus is unrelated to your past experience, just having the MBA wont necessarily open the right doors for you.Can you get a third party to help pay the tuition costs? If your company offers some tuition reimbursement or if you were previously part of the military this might be the case. Better to have someone else help defer the costs than end up in debt later on.How old are you? If you have been working for less than 5 years, getting the MBA may be a logical career move. If you are going back to school after 15+ years, chances are it wont get you as far. The one exception may be an EMBA program that your employer is sponsoring.Are you considering an MBA because you see job postings that say   an MBA is preferred ? Take this with a grain of salt. The employer may be using this preferred qualification as a screening tool. Networking is still the best way to find a job. Having a relationshi p and no MBA is generally better than having an MBA and no relationship.Deciding whether or not to go back to school is a big decision that requires significant time and money. Regardless of the degree program you are considering, assess how an advanced degree will help position you for future opportunities and be honest with yourself about what a degree can and cannot do. Talk to people who have completed the degree program you are interested in and learn what their outcomes have been. Make an appointment with the schools admissions office to learn about their career resources and support systems, and if possible, their placement rate.

Book review The Paradox of Choice - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Book review The Paradox of Choice - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog When I was a kid, danish bakers had maybe 4 different kinds of bread. Today? Forget about it. Theres french bread, italian bread, danish bread, white or whole grain, with or without spices, etc We are arguably living in the age of choice. There is no aspect of life that does not offer people of the western world more choice today than we had 100 years ago. Or 50. Or 10. Or just last year. And heres the kicker: Among all these choices, were becoming LESS happy. Some common trends in western societies are: * Lower satisfaction with lives * Much(!) higher incidences of depression * Higher suicide rates And thats why The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz is a tremendously important book. The choices we have are not going away we wouldnt want them to. This makes it crucial that we understand why more choices lead to less happiness and figure out what to do about it. At the core of it, the reason is simple: Each new choice offers more options of choosing badly. More risk of missing an even better choice. Heres one experiment demonstrating this: Volunteers in a psychological experiment were asked to sample and rate a number of different chocolates. One group sampled more chocolates than the other. The group that sampled the most chocolates gave the chocolates an overall lower rating, and when given a choice between money or chocolate as a reward for participating, were more likely to choose money. One of the books main distinctions is between Maximizers and Satisficers. When faced with a decision, Satisficers strive to make a good decision. Maximizers, on the other hand, need to know theyve made the best decision. They will agonize over decisions before making them, and typically regret them afterwards. Interestingly, maximizers are much more prone to ruminating on their own failings and even to bouts of depression. Another book that deals with a similar phenomenon is Happiness by Richard Layard. This book argues that the increasing wealth of western countries does not lead to a corresponding increase in happiness and that nations should be governed on the basis of what will make people happy, instead of what will make them rich. Taking these two books together strengthens each argument: There is probably no more happiness to be gained from an increase in the number of choices offered us or from an increase in our wealth. Neither the choices nor the wealth is going away, so what we need to do is to learn to be happy in this situation. Sounds non-sensical, doesnt it? Do we really need to learn to cope with wealth and choices? Well, experience tends to confirm that many people do and thats why Barry Shwartzs book is so important. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

How to change careers in a knowledge economy -

How to change careers in a knowledge economy - Have you thought about how much control you actually have when you look for a job? Your digital footprint is exceptionally important, even more so when you are changing jobs. (Note: Im happy to have a content sharing partnership with IvyExec. I hope posts from their blog help provide additional resources and ideas for my normal readers, and I welcome IvyExec members to regularly read my blog. Follow the links to learn more about IvyExec.) Contributed by Barak Epstein and IvyExec. Perhaps you’ve heard of the phrase “Knowledge Economy,” popularized by Peter Drucker in  The Age of Discontinuity. If so, you’re most likely familiar with the idea that more and more of us work in positions that depend upon the creation, use, and manipulation of knowledge, as opposed to of materials or rote processes. You understand that the skills that we need to work are changing. Maybe you understand that the skills you need to find a job have changed. But what you may not understand is that your power to define your profession has grown enormously as well. My key recommendation to you is to think about how your  electronic footprint  communicates who you want to be, professionally, and what you have to offer. Let’s take a look at three electronic leads that have helped to change my career. A Bloggy Footprint I was interested in moving from the education field to the technology field. As a result, I built up  a series of blog posts on the topic. When I landed an interview with a prominent technology firm, I shared my URL with the interviewer. She later wrote me to say that  an article I had written  about electronic textbooks in Texas resonated with personal experiences her family had had. I believe that this view constituted a key moment in my job search. My blog didn’t have a large following, numbers-wise, but its impact on my life had still been huge. Don’t Let them Forget You: Regular Updates Twice a year, I send out an update to professional and personal contacts about my achievements, plans and interests. I make sure to make the note conversational and link-filled. The body of the e-mail is short, but the links are rich. I recently was contacted by the head of a think tank that had passed me over for a job two years earlier. He wrote “I have been following closely your incredible career” before offering me interesting contract work. What convinced this gentleman, in the aftermath of my unsuccessful interview with him, that my career was “incredible”? One thing only: My semi-annual updates. Trust the Crowd: Don’t Focus Too Much on Your Targets Many folks will tell you how to use Ivy Exec, LinkedIn, etc. for targeted searches of companies that interest you or to scope out individuals you would like to meet. Those activities are critical. But don’t underestimate the importance of having an electronic network that is large and diverse enough to surprise you. I use Facebook, for instance, to share my thoughts on professional topics and to provide updates on issues at work that engage me. As a result, an acquaintance I haven’t seen in 20 years offered me his rich rolodex of contacts at my new firm. I wouldn’t have thought to seek him out for this sort of help but I did think to spend time digging up old contacts from the electronic universe. Summing it Up You are not the only person bombarded with social media opportunities; the people you seek to influence are in a similar situation. The challenge, naturally, is to get through to them. The opportunity, however, is that you can, through a few well-placed communications, shape the perceptions of those who have increasingly little time to evaluate you. If your electronic footprint is thoughtful, regular, and not over-targeted, I believe that you, too, can make the career change you desire. The original article can be found on the Ivy Exec Blog. Barak Epstein is transitioning his career to technology management after working as a teacher and social science researcher. Barak is an IvyExec All Access member at  IvyExec. Ivy Exec, a web-based recruiting company that combines next generation technology with human power to deliver customized hiring solutions targeting high caliber professionals to help place them in  executive jobs.   photo by dekade

Getting the Best Writing a Resume for Mechanical Engineering

Getting the Best Writing a Resume for Mechanical Engineering The above mentioned samples of resumes can be employed by any of the aforementioned men and women. Each part of the resume should stick out on its own, yet still flow as part of the entire document. Mechanical Engineers are anticipated to recognize and extend real solutions to equipment problems within an organization or facility. Depending upon the duration of your career, you may have many crucial projects that you wish to include in your resume. Type of Writing a Resume for Mechanical Engineering Creating a resume is a crucial part of the work search approach. On the flip side, people with tons of experience in the area would require a resume that's detailed and professional. If you're changing work in the exact same field, it is always advised to use a reverse chronological resume format. Because the career objective part might be the Initial part of the majority of resumes. To get this kind of engineering r esume, you could take advantage of the amazing resume templates found here which have been designed particularly for the objective. It's an exciting chance to design, construct and test mechanical devices like tools, engines and machines. Specific programs and applications are frequently used as keywords in the event of a technical resume. Coming with the capability to create mechanical and electromechanical products. Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Writing a Resume for Mechanical Engineering The discipline of mechanical engineering is a very respectable one. It is one of the most technical-skill-heavy careers out there. Furthermore, you can find out more about engineering careers on Monster. There are several different sorts of jobs within the area of mechanical engineering. Writing a resume summary statement is important if you prefer to acquire an engineering position that fully utilizes your distinctive skill collection. It can be hard. As an Engineer, it might be smart to create an internet portfolio that you are able to show to prospective employers who want to have more information than your resume provides. The Debate Over Writing a Resume for Mechanical Engineering The information that you include when writing a resume summary statement rides on the discipline of engineering you wish to enter in addition to your previous work experience. In a couple of statements, it should summarize your prior work experience highlighting the mechanical engineering skills needed for the job which you are applying to. In that situation, it's better to tailor your resume for a mechanical engineering job to coincide with the language of the work offer. Additional tailoring your resume will allow you to list job-specific important words and abilities, further adding to your appeal for a candidate.

The Tried and True Method for Resumes and Cv in Step by Step Detail

The Tried and True Method for Resumes and Cv in Step by Step Detail Always remember to specify the location of your previous jobs, and the length you held the position. CVs are frequently used to apply for jobs outside the United States of america. Particularly if you're applying for numerous positions simultaneously, it can be inviting to send the same resume out to every prospective employer. Hiring managers are busy people and you've got a limited time to draw their focus to your candidacy. Like many jobseekers, you might discover that it's tough to compose a resume that stands out for the correct reasons. Professionally, our resumes are often the very first impression a prospective employer gets of us. By highlighting skills in place of work history, an individual can emphasize he or she's qualified for the job. Chronological resumes have a small trouble organizing diverse abilities and experience. In case you have skills which are no longer utilized in the business, considering removing them from your resume. On the contrary, it highlights your abilities and abilities. If you're asking for a position in which you think that they'll want a curriculum vita rather than a traditional resume, it's worth your time to call and ask. Resume length usually is dependent upon the quantity of experience you've got. Chronological resumes are usually great for individuals with very little experience in the area for which they're applying. Introducing Resumes and Cv Make sure that your resume demonstrates that you've got the communication and project management skills required to undertake big projects and you have an established history of working closely with clients. If your work asks for certain certifications, degrees or education, think about the combination resume. Your resume should demonstrate that you're capable of coordinating projects and supervising different employees, together with display your capacity to work with clients. At the pe ak of the resume is a list of somebody's skills and qualifications. There are some common varieties of resumes, and we're likely to evaluate when (or if) you ought to use every one of them. To make things worse, there are in fact several kinds of resumes out there that you will want to get familiar with. There are two major forms of resumes and you will want to choose which type is the most appropriate to present your experience. Functional and conventional resumes aren't the only resume types to select from. How to Choose Resumes and Cv Employing the functional resume format enables you to display your talents and experiences that are related to the position for which you're applying. Not only are there many varieties of resumes, but there are broad range of formats and possible mistakes to make. Functional resumes without an experience You might already know about functional resumes, as they're often utilized by certain varieties of professionals and there are lots of res ume samples like them. Resumes employing a chronological format are definitely the most common. The Do's and Don'ts of Resumes and Cv Selecting the proper type of resume could be the difference between getting within the room or being sent via the shredder. You're surely aware that creating a CV demands a good deal of work and time. There are 3 different means by which you can organize your resume. Functional resumes are perfect for individuals who don't have plenty of work experience about the job they are applying for. Attempt to compose a targeted resume for each job. Submit the same resume for each job. There are a lot of standard kinds of resumes you may use to make an application for job openings. Different types of Resumes There are plenty of forms of resumes used to make an application for job openings.

What field of business should you pursue based on your personality

What field of business should you pursue based on your personalitySo youre thinking about pursuing business but have no clue where you would fit in best? Should you become a public accountant, a digital marketer, or maybe even human resources? The possibilities are endless in business. You are bound to find your perfect match based on what you enjoy doing. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) This quiz is perfect in helping you decide where your skills will shine in the business field.script type=text/javascript src=//cdn.playbuzz.com/widget/feed.js/script div class=pb_feed data-embed-by=849e55f8-0435-43df-8530-07799c43ae5c data-item=182a8a3c-e72d-4db9-a5b6-9c29a85d5083 /divSource Playbuzz

How to Keep a Bad Reference from Ruining Your Career

How to Keep a Bad Reference from Ruining Your Career How to Keep a Bad Reference from Ruining Your CareerNegative references can undermine your work overnight. How to stop them from ruining your career. TWEETWeve all been there, some jobs just dont work out. Either theyre not a good fit, or weve made some irreversible mistake. No worries, just chalk it up to schwimmbad luck, pick up the pieces and move forward. What if that doesnt work, and youre bad fortune hurts future offers? Some employers arent willing to leave the past in the past. They send references that hurt your chances and can cost you career advancements. For behauptung instances, a more proactive approach to a professional reference list is needed.Here are five methods to prevent past errors from becoming future issues.Clarify the situationWhile it may seem obvious to avoid including an employer you believe will give negative reports on your professional reference list, many neglect this pertinent step and insist on ref erring hiring managers to companies that hold them in less than perfect esteem. You may think that a past employer wont give a negative reference, but unfortunately employers can, and do, give bad references. Think employers cant legally give a negative reference or do more than confirm dates of employment? This is not true. The law doesnt prevent negative references, and, professional ethics notwithstanding, past supervisors can and will speak poorly if you let them.Before listing your past company, check with them to see what they will say in a recommendation. Often they will tell you upfront if they think it inappropriate to send referrals their way. Others will not comment. It doesnt hurt to ask. You also can ask a colleague to call and see what the reference is before including them on your professional reference list. If the review is negative or unconfirmed, dont list them as a reference.Have a conversationWhen a negative reference is unpreventable, and your former anfhrer ha s hurt your reputation, it is time to reach out and negotiate a truce. Call your former boss and ask if they would be willing to agree to a future reference call. While you might dread making this call, remember that the worst that can happen is that theyll say no.Be careful not to come off as judgmental. Treat this situation the saatkorn as a client with concerns or complaints. Go into the meeting with compassion and understanding. Listen to their complaints, offer solutions to the problem, and apologize. Be sure toListen to their side of the story.Use I statements avoid the use of You pronouns.Explain the impact this caused to your career.Dont argue or be judgmental.If the conversation doesnt look like it is going to accomplish anything positive, be assertive and explain you think this is unprofessional and counterproductive to both sides. Many employers will feel pity on your mistake, especially if you were young and just starting out, or they may fear legal recourse.Establish th e true storySometimes the bad item on your professional reference list is a case of a misunderstanding or some form of inaccurate information. If the reference is factually inaccurate, skip your former boss and go straight to the Human Resources department. This may seem extreme, but giving a bad reference based on false information is unethical and unprofessional.Explain the supervisor has wrong information. Dont be judgmental, and never say they are lying. Human resource specialists are trained to handle this type of problem and will investigate your claims. Often, if you can prove the information is wrong, they will apologize and make it right with the new company.Explain the situationWhen you cant avoid a bad reference or negotiate it away, explain it to potential employers. Warn them that the reference will not be a good one, and take time to explain why. Dont make excuses, and never accuse the company of being in the wrong. Take responsibility for your actions. This shows matu rity. Everyone makes mistakes. Your future boss wants to know how you plan to prevent the same mistake from happening again. Some recruiters recommend smoothing the way by offering positives and proactive measures you took while at the job. Then explain the mistake. Others say sugar-coating the incident makes you look less than willing to take responsibility. One of the most common strategies employed against a negative professional reference list is more positive references. Consider seeking positive reviews from colleagues at the same company. They be able to detract from the original negative feedback.Ask them to stopFor negative references that dont cross legal boundaries, tell them to stop giving bad references. This is particularly effective if the information is not accurate and could hurt your reputation unwillingly. A strongly worded cease and desist letter addressed to the CEO, or another person high up in organization, is more effective than arguing.List the name, complai nt and negative reference material in the letter. Be assertive but not accusatory. Tell them what they are doing, why it hurts and to stop sending negative references. Also include an ultimatum, like Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce complaint, if they do not discontinue their actions.Get others involvedLegal remedies should always be a last resort. This is a costly solution, to both sides. But if you cannot convince the person to stop defamation practices, legal action may be required. Consider three aspects before seeking a lawyerIs this the only solution?Is the negative reference causing irreversible damage to my career?Do I have the time and money to pursue legal remedies?Sometimes court appearances arent needed. A lawyer can contact the former employer on your behalf. Many companies prefer to prevent court actions and simply stop sending references of any kind.TakeawaysIts difficult to build a positive image in your career. Negative references on your professional r eference list can undermine your work overnight. After 10 years of perfect work and productive contributions, one small mistake could shine brighter than those $50 million contracts you brought to the company. Be careful of every word you say and action performed. If you dont know if it could hurt, dont take the chance.Ready to write the next chapter of your career? Hire a TopResume writer todayRelated Articles