From PR to Psychotherapy

From PR to Psychotherapy Success Story > From: Job To: Portfolio career From PR to Psychotherapy “I don't miss the constant feeling that I didn't enjoy what I was doing. It made every day feel difficult and an exhausting pretence to keep up.” * From PR to Psychotherapy Though Imogen Petit's industry was buzzy and sociable, she couldn't keep up the pretence that she liked it. Now, she's retrained in a whole new field that feels much more authentic. Here's how she did it (without capsizing her bank balance). What work were you doing previously? PR, in agencies. What are you doing now? I'm a psychotherapist. Why did you change? I realised I was more interested in people's behaviour, and the impact that various things in our lives â€" work, relationships, etc. â€" have on our well-being. When was the moment you decided to make the change? Probably when my job started having a particularly negative impact on my own well-being! Are you happy with the change? Yes, absolutely. It's hard, but every week I realise how much I enjoy it. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the buzz of the PR / media world. I miss some great friends, although thankfully we've become even better friends since working together. And I also miss the little perks â€" the parties and freebies! I don't miss the constant feeling that I didn't enjoy what I was doing. It made every day feel difficult and an exhausting pretence to keep up. I also don't miss never being able to make plans after work as I never knew how late I would need to work. How did you go about making the shift? I enrolled on an evening course in counselling at one of the London colleges. This made me realise how much I wanted to continue with the subject; I then applied for the full postgraduate diploma. I maintained a day job throughout, and still work part time, although now I work in a front-line position at a mental health charity, so it's very closely connected with my work as a therapist. It's been great to feel that I've forged a new career for myself and also to have moved across into paid work in the meantime that I find more enjoyable and fulfilling. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? This was tricky, I admit. I managed it by teaching myself to be clever with my food shops, making sure I prepared all my lunches so I wasn't buying them every day. If I fancied some new clothes, I would raid the charity shops (and I also found this more fun than high street shopping anyway). Meeting up with friends for dinner in town was tricky at times: they would automatically suggest a gastro pub or one of the latest fashionable eateries in London, forgetting we were on different budgets. But generally they wouldn't mind going somewhere cheap and cheerful â€" it's just about getting together after all isn't it?! What was the most difficult thing about changing? During the tougher times, it felt like I might never complete my course. I struggled not to compare myself to my peers who seemed to be surging ahead in their careers, earning more money and gaining more responsibility. I just had to keep reminding myself of the good reasons for making the shift, and how I would feel once I'd qualified. And it felt great! What help did you get? Endless emotional support and encouragement from my partner, my family and good friends. This made an enormous difference, especially when I was feeling exhausted, juggling coursework and a job. What have you learnt in the process? That I can do anything if I really want to. My training took me six years â€" most people can make enormous shifts in their careers in a third of that time, or even less. Perseverance and self-belief are really important, and you reap the rewards when you can do this. But most of all, I learnt that it was totally worth it. What do you wish you'd done differently? It's been really tough at times, but I feel like the difficult moments were part of it.There isn't anything I'd have done differently. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? If you're unhappy doing what you're doing, do something else. Even if you're not quite sure what the end result will be, or know whether it will work out. It sounds idealistic, I know, but life's too short to do otherwise. If you're really not sure, consider what you enjoyed doing when you were younger â€" why did you love it, and could you make a career of it now? It's possible you could. What resources would you recommend to others? See what evening classes are available. Find out how you can get the experience or qualifications you'd need to take the next step in your career, and give it a go. To find out more about Imogen's services, visit www.imogenpetit.com. What lessons could you take from Imogen's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

How to be Happier at Work - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to be Happier at Work - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Studies show that 70% of Americans are not happy at their current jobs. Companies are giving more and more perks such as casual Fridays, flexible work days or free lunches to make their employees happier so that they can be more productive. However, even these perks may not be good enough for everyone to like their jobs. You don’t need to wait for your employer‘s help to like your job. You can take action yourself and implement the simple steps below to be happier at work. 1)  Avoid Negativity: Avoid negative conversations at work. Especially, people who talk about their personal problems and whine about everything. Don’t let these people bring you down. Also, every morning when you come to work, smile at your coworkers and greet them. You will be surprised to see that most of your smiles will be returned. Don’t forget that everybody likes positive attitude. 2)  Work on Something You Like: Maybe you don’t like your current job and you just do it for a living. However, if you can find at least one thing that you like doing in your daily responsibilities and concentrate on doing it better, you will be happier. Then, your job won’t seem so bad to you anymore. Still if you cannot find anything you like about your current job, maybe it is time for you to move on. 3)  Control Your Own Career: You are responsible for your own career growth and not your company. That is why, plan your goals. Then, start paying more attention to what is going on around you and your company in order to find and work on projects that is aligned with your career goals. Moreover, ask questions to your seniors and try to learn as many skills as you can which is related to your work. When you feel that you are learning something new every day, you will be happier. 4)  Dress for Success:  Leave the house looking good every day. When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you can be more productive at work and your day flies by. 5)  Make the Most of Your Day: Do not waste your time in junk emails. Plan your day when you arrive at the office every day and try to finish your entire to-do list. You will see that you will feel much happier when you actually finish all of your tasks and accomplish something at the end of the day.

How to Choose a Green Card for Your Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How to Choose a Green Card for Your Job - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career If you are looking to legally enter and obtain residence in the United States, one of the most popular ways to do so is by applying for an employment-based green card. Green cards are issued based on employment categories and there are strict requirements, but as long as you know what to expect and which green card to apply for, you have a strong chance of obtaining one. The Five Preference Categories of Employment Before you apply for a green card, you need to understand which of the five preference categories you fit into. Visas are allocated based on the category, and once a category is filled it is marked oversubscribed. Green cards are then issued in chronological order until the categories are full. First Preference: Known as EB-1. Job seekers with extraordinary abilities. Usually researchers, international executives or researchers Second Preference: Known as EB-2. Job seekers with an advanced degree or with exceptional abilities Third Preference: Known as EB-3. Job seekers with a bachelor’s degree Fourth Preference: Known as EB-4. Job seekers known as special immigrants. Usually religious workers, U.S. foreign-service post employees or international organization retired employees Fifth Preference: Known as EB-5. Investors whose venture creates at least 10 new jobs and invests $500,000 to $1 million Keep in mind that the above are general guidelines and it may be helpful to contact an employment lawyer to help you determine which category you fit into. Furthermore, there are other categories such as H-1B, P-1, L-1 and O-1 you may qualify for and want to consider. Do You Need a Job Offer Before Applying? You do need a job offer for a permanent employment position in the United States, unless you are eligible to self-petition for a green card. Once you have a job offer, you can apply for a green card and your potential new employer may be able to help with the process by sponsoring you. What’s the Difference Between EB-2 and EB-3? The EB-2 and EB-3 green cards are two of the most popular, and they are similar to each other, as well. In order to apply for the right one, you need to understand the differences between the two. The EB-2 requires five years of work experience plus a degree beyond the bachelor’s degree. Potential employees may also get an EB-2 by showing exceptional abilities in certain areas such as business, science or the arts. The EB-3 green card is for skilled workers who have at least two years of experience or a bachelor’s degree. An example of a skilled worker is a plumber or an electrician. You can’t get an EB-3 for temporary or seasonal work, it must be for permanent employment in the United States. Why Would You Choose EB-2 Instead of EB-3? If you qualify for both categories, you may want to choose to file under EB-2 instead of EB-3. The EB-2 category is more selective, so the approval process is shorter than the EB-3 visa. The EB-3 also usually has a long wait list of other workers, which makes getting an EB-3 a long and difficult process. What Is Labor Certification? Labor certification is needed from the employer for EB-2 and EB-3 green cards. EB-1 doesn’t require labor certification, which can make the application process a little faster. Labor certification is a process in which the employer has to show foreign workers aren’t taking jobs from U.S. citizens. Basically, they need to show there are no other qualified citizens or even permanent residents that could fill the job opening. The employer must hold a recruitment period to attempt to fill the position with American workers. Once it becomes clear there are no U.S. workers qualified, your application for a green card can be filed with the Department of Labor. The process from beginning to end can take anywhere from five to 18 months. How Many Green Cards Are Issued Annually? 140,000 employment-based green cards are issued each year, with a certain amount being allotted per country. Right now, a country can have up to 9,800 employment-based green cards each year. This number is the same for every country and represents 7 percent of the total number of employment-based green cards issued. The 9,800 employment-based green cards are then allotted to workers based on the five categories discussed above, with the following percentages: EB-1: 28.6% EB-2: 28.6% EB-3: 28.6% EB-4: 7.1% EB-5: 7.1% Keep in mind that obtaining an employment-based green card can take several years because there is usually a long wait list for each category. Once you’ve filed the appropriate forms, you are given a priority date and an immigrant visa number that determines the order in which the employment-based green cards are issued. Obtaining an employment-based green card can be frustrating, but it’s worth it in the end. You may want to work with an experienced employment lawyer so you know exactly what you need to do to position yourself in the best way to reduce your wait time.

How to Build Your Personal Brand in 10 Simple Steps

How to Build Your Personal Brand in 10 Simple Steps So you want to uncover, communicate, and manage your personal brand. Sounds like a rather large task, but by following these 10 steps you will build a powerful personal brand that will attract the right people and open up opportunities that would have passed you by. 1. Know Yourself to Grow Yourself Do you know how others see you? Is there a gap between how you view yourself and how those around you do? The first step to grow yourself is to know yourself and this involves both internal reflection and gathering external feedback. The  360 °Reach Personal Brand Survey enables you to gather data regarding the attributes, skills, competencies and strengths that define your brand. The process begins with a self-assessment and is followed by requesting feedback from others so you can compare how you view yourself with how you are currently perceived. The results will enable you to identify areas that you want to accentuate and areas you want to diminish as you define your personal brand. 2. Articulate your VPs The foundation of your brand is called your  â€VPs” â€" vision, purpose, values, and passions. Vision: Your image of  what  you see possible for the world â€" your desired future. Purpose: Your role in turning your vision into reality. Values: The ideals or operating principles that determine how you conduct your day-to-day activities. Your values are true to you and you do not compromise them. Passions: This is what motivates and energizes you. Your passions get you out of bed in the morning, but as a leader always have ‘pure unadulterated tenacity’ to drive your passions forward. 3. Define your Target Audience When branding yourself your job is not to be ‘famous’, but rather to be ‘selectively famous’. In other words, identify the people who need your leadership and communicate your brand only to them. This target audience are the only ones who need to know you. They are the ones who will ultimately make the critical decision to follow you. Once you know your target audience, do everything in your power to nurture them. 4. Tell Your Story You have a unique story to tell and that story is what makes your brand authentic. Of course others can relate to your story because it may be similar, but it is never exactly the same. Each story is unique.  Focus on those things that make you unique and capitalize on them. Perhaps your credentials and experience got you into your current role, but your character and story is what will compel people to follow you. 5. Create Your ‘Brand Statement’ What do you want to be known for? Having an answer to this question defines what your target audience can expect from your leadership. Remember, this statement is NOT your title! It is also not your personal mission or life purpose. It is a memorable 1-2 sentence statement that is solutions oriented. Here is a great template to use when crafting your brand statement: I want to be known for being __________  so that I can deliver __________ to __________. It is vital that you truly identify with your brand statement. You need to live and breathe this every day so take the time to make sure it best represents who you are and what you can do. 6. Build Your Brand Communication Plan Visualize your brand communication plan as the wheels on a bicycle. Without wheels you cannot move! This plan allows your brand to move forward. The center of a wheel, the hub, keeps the spokes together. Likewise the center of your plan is the core leadership message you want to communicate to your target audience. Your communication vehicles, or spokes, radiate out of your core message and provide the support to keep your plan together. These may include presenting at conferences, joining professional organizations, using social media, creating a blog, writing an article or book for publication, etc. Select a mix of vehicles that you will enjoy doing and will actually enable your personal brand to reach your target audience. Remember, a broken spoke makes a wheel wobble and lose its strength. Select vehicles that you are strong at, or at least ones you are happy to make stronger. Schedule these ‘spokes’ into your calendar and commit to executing and repeating them. 7. Follow the 3 Cs of Branding Now that you know what you want to be known for and have a communication plan in place, remember to always follow the three C’s of branding â€" clarity, consistency, and constancy. Clarity: Always be very clear about who you are and who you are not. By knowing your unique promise of value you are identifying what sets your apart from others. This is what differentiates you and allows you to attract brand loyalty among the people who are compelled to do business with you. Consistency: Once you are clear about your promise of value, consistently demonstrate your brand promise everywhere. This includes your social media profiles, your website, your business cards, your communications. Everything. Constancy:  It is  not enough to be clear and consistent if you are not always visible to your target audience. Strong brands are constant. They are always there for their customers, prospects, and those who can help them achieve their  goals. Be visible or run the risk of being forgotten! 8. Live in the Inquiry Regular maintenance of your personal brand is necessary so live in the inquiry and always ask yourself if what you are doing or saying  is on-brand or off-brand.    Is it contributing to your message or distracting from it? Google yourself regularly to see if there is anything off-brand.  Ask for direct feedback from your community or do another 360Reach personal brand survey to check if others see your brand in the same way you have been presenting it. If you find yourself going off-brand, take a moment to stop, assess what has happened, and get back on-brand as quickly as possible. By being on-brand your credibility is maintained. 9. Adapt and Adjust Your brand isnt static. It should evolve in response to the different expectations you face at different times in your career. Have the self-awareness to evolve your brand and if necessary even reinvent your brand. 10. Rinse and Repeat! On a yearly basis go back to Step 1 and start again. It is important to establish the habit of re-assessing your personal brand and creating a new plan for the year. Has your vision or purpose changed? Do you have a new target audience? Are you no longer living your brand statement? Was there inconsistency in how your communicated your brand?

11 Tips for Building Your Personal Brand - CareerMetis.com

11 Tips for Building Your Personal Brand Source â€" Pexels.comIn today’s world, it can be challenging to stand out from the crowd. More and more people are relying on their brand to build their credibility in social and work circles.Personal branding has become a real game-changer that can lead to both personal and professional success. It’s up to you to create a personal brand so that people want to get to know you and can get a sense for the expertise and experiences you have to offer.When you become your own brand, you will become more confident in speaking to others without hesitation and can even convince an employer to hire you.evalYou don’t always need a resume to sell yourself. Your best career moves can come as a result of a strong professional brand rather than filling out job applications. It comes from building a face-to-face relationship where you no longer need a resume.You will be able to reach out and communicate with the right people in confidence. A personal brand will build a reputation within your niche, which will lead to more opportunities and a potentially increased salary.Everybody has a story to tell and has experiences that are unique to them, but others can relate. Developing your brand can be challenging but listed below are some tips that will help you get started.1. Position Yourself as a Thought LeaderevalIf you’re looking to build your professional brand, then you’re going to need to provide people with a reason to be interested in who you are and what you do.The easiest way to do this is position yourself as a thought leader within your niche. Maybe you like to teach but don’t know how to get started and involved.Start a blog, start making videos on social media apps, volunteer as a leader for a particular community event, or try becoming a motivational speaker.These are just a few examples, but whatever your niche is, become the best that you can be. People will begin to notice your leadership skills.2. Master a Developing TrendevalIt is difficult to estab lish yourself as a thought leader in popular topics. Keeping up to date with trends in your industry will help you develop expertise and to become a thought leader in new areas within your niche.If you are a digital marketer, then you would be wise to become familiar with developing tech and strategies. To help get ahead on progressing technologies, you’ll need to be sure to do some research and see what experts predict.For example, long-time SEO guru Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Land was apart of an expert round-table titled “The Future of Digital Marketing” where he shared his prediction that voice, and mobile search will be significant players in years to come.So, if you’re eager to build your brand and get ahead of the competition, you must start learning the ins and outs of mobile search. If you’re committed, you can become an expert in no time.3. Be ConsistentevalAre you curious about how some people can accomplish their massive success in the field that they love , while others work just as hard but never reach that point?One may think they are more intelligent, more ambitious, come from wealth, or are just luckier than the second group.Yes, all of the above factors may be accurate, but the most important element that goes into success is consistency.To be consistent means to be entirely dedicated to whatever goal, activity, or task you choose to tackle. Consistency requires commitment, and it’s a must to build and grow your brand.4. Consider a Brand RefreshTake a step back and reflect on your social profiles, images that are online, and the tone of your content. Maybe you might need to step it up a bit to get the respect that you are looking for and that is necessary of you.Think about professionalism. Who’s viewing your profiles? What will they think?This might require you to delete previously posted content. Or start up a new and refreshed account.5. Develop Great ContentevalContent is king. So, if you want to build a personal brand a nd drive traffic to your social channels and website, then you’re going to need to develop great content.Whatever your niche is, master your content. Becoming a content master, you will have the power to innovate, educate, communicate, and translate your ideas into paying customers.evalBut, what’s even more critical and appealing is that you get to provide your outlook which will turn into your brand story concept.6. Master the Art of Social Media to Increase FollowersLet’s face it; if you don’t have any followers, there will be no one with which to share that excellent content. Social Media provides a vital communication platform which is crucial in developing personal branding.Social media will also build up your brand’s validation, awareness, and exposure of your niche to a mass audience. Be creative, honest and accurate in how you brand yourself on social media.7. Understand Your Leadership StyleThere are some different leadership styles and to build an authentic perso nal brand, it is essential to know which fits you best.For example, servant leadership is characterized by leaders who put the needs of others before their interests. Even though servant leaders have plenty of useful and mental capability, they can lack technical skills.evalAnother example is transformational leadership which requires leaders to follow their vision and have shared values that are necessary for developing relationships. This style of leadership is essential for struggling organizations.8. Know What You Stand ForWhat separates you from others? What are your values?These are essential questions you should ask yourself as you build the foundation for your personal and professional brand.You want followers of your brand to know what it is you stand for and you want to communicate your morals and vision effectively.This will help attract like-minded individuals that want to connect with your brand which can lead to partnership and work opportunities.9. Consistently Gather FeedbackBuilding your brand is a constant process of improvement. Feedback is a critical element of the growth process.After you have built great content, it is imperative to seek out feedback from your followers consistently. Hopefully, you will receive honest feedback which you can gather to help you develop your brand.You can also ask for feedback from your friends, family, co-workers, as well. It is always important to ask for feedback to further your insights and growth.10. Don’t Compare Yourself to Established LeadersSay that, for example, if you are a woman or minority, you need to leverage this to your advantage and follow leaders like Sheryl Sandberg Tory Burch who haven’t let the statistics get in their way.Did you know that in 2014, 30% of all enterprises within the United States where women-owned firms?That is roughly equivalent to 9.1 million female-owned enterprises. All in all that accounts for over $1.4 trillion in revenue. Follow leaders that aspire you to suc ceed, grow, and achieve your goals.11. Maintain the Same Branding Across All Platforms and ServicesDon’t have one style on Twitter and another on Facebook; it will confuse people and diminish your attempts. You need to deliver a sharp, consistent message on all of your social media accounts.

Your Career Brand 10 Tips For Communicating - Hire Imaging

Your Career Brand 10 Tips For Communicating - Hire Imaging What talents and strengths do you want to be known for in your career? What kind of employer will be drawn to, connect with, and pay a premium for that? Your Career Brand What talents and strengths do you want to be known for in your career? What kind of employer will be drawn to, connect with, and pay a premium for that? These two questions capture the essence of what career branding is all about. Image and connection. Think of your brand as a uniquely individual image with a magnet attached to it. Many of the dynamics behind corporate brandingwhy a consumer chooses Crest over Colgatealso apply in hiring. These 10 tips will help guide you in creating and communicating a brand that will help employers choose you! Your Career Brand: Tips Job search is marketing. You are the product and the employer is the consumer. A clear and compelling career brand helps employers perceive the benefits of your product, giving you an advantage in the job market. Successful career brands weave together three As: Authentic image, Advantages, and Awareness. Project an image of your authentic self, focus on the advantages you offer in getting the job done, and make employers aware of those advantages. Branding can be accomplished through verbal and visual means. Verbal branding includes your sound bites and success stories, while visual branding is accomplished through your actions, attitude, and attire. Hone your product benefits into a 3-Point Marketing Message that conveys your unique strengths. This is a critical sound bite in your branding campaign. Heres a short and succinct example: I excel at the 3 Rs of sales: research, relationships, and revenueI exhaustively research client needs, build relationships based on serving those needs, and have a track recording of driving record revenue as a result. Create a Benefit-Driven Target Statement to keep you focused on your Career Brand in your search, help networking contacts know how to help you, and explain your value to interviewers. Align your statement with employer buying motivators, such as generating revenue, saving money, or solving a problem. Mix-and-match your success stories and sound bites to create a comfortable yet compelling 2-Minute Introduction. Consider using a tagline that helps people remember you in a unique and favorable light. Perhaps you can dub yourself Mr. FedEx because you always deliver projects on time! Practice. You must be able to deliver your sound bites naturally, without appearing as though youre reading a telemarketing script. Visual branding means you must look the part. Ask for wardrobe advice from someone who is successful and has a good sense of style. If uncertain about how to dress for a networking event or interview, ere on the side of formality. Visual branding also means you must act the part. Candidly evaluate your mindset, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. Are these consistent with others in your field who have attained notable success? Find a person or two who will respectfully and selflessly support you in your commitment to shaping and enhancing your ideal image. A coach can be an ideal support person. Branding will either contribute to or take away from the chemistry you want to create with employers. Enjoy creating and communicating your brand! Source: Career Coach Academy

Important Tips To Help You Teach Middle School With A Professional Resume Writing Process

Important Tips To Help You Teach Middle School With A Professional Resume Writing ProcessWhen it comes to teaching middle school, the job is a lot different than the job when you are a student. You are working with two sets of students who are really young. It can be hard to be as professional as you would want to be in a much more experienced situation. Teaching middle school should be as professional as possible without being obnoxious or rude.You don't need to try to be someone you aren't. Your responsibility is to be yourself. If you try to be someone else or talk down to your students, they will not respect you. The best thing to do is be the most positive person possible and be excited about what you are doing. Make sure that you are able to convey your excitement.When you are teaching middle school, you will be the parent to many different students. You need to be careful about your students knowing that they are coming to your class. Even if they are the younger ones, make su re that they know that they need to be respectful to you. This is especially important for students who come from poor backgrounds. If they feel that they are being treated poorly, they will not want to come to class because they do not trust you as a teacher.As a teacher, you are going to be doing a lot of adult things and this includes socializing with students. Be careful of what you say to your students so that they do not misunderstand your intentions. The most important thing to remember when teaching middle school is that you are an adult and need to be able to say what you think without any problems. Remember that it is also an adults-only class.When you are teaching middle school, it is vital that you go out of your way to make sure that you are not being too pushy. Students do not like being called on, so go a little slower when teaching them. They will appreciate it, as they are going to be working with you and not against you.When you are teaching middle school, it is al so important that you keep up on your school work. You will have to have some sort of attendance every day so that they can see when you are not working and they can make sure that you are getting the homework done. They may forget, so it is important that you remind them that you need to be there.When you are teaching middle school, you should have some fun at home with your family. They will appreciate it if you spend time with them, even if it is just a quick pick-me-up to make sure that you are feeling better. They may also want to try out some of the things that you teach at home with them and they might need your help.In closing, when you are teaching middle school, it is imperative that you do all that you can to make sure that you are as professional as possible. The most important thing to remember is that you are an adult and you need to remain professional. Try to keep your emotions in check. If you have some trouble doing this, you can always take advantage of the help o f a professional writer.