Always Be Job Hunting

Training For A New Career: What You Need To Know

Posted on March 17, 2016 by John N. Frank

You’re set on a new career, huh? Good for you! We have a tendency to get stuck in our ways sometimes, and breaking that dull routine is hard to do. You’ve already accomplished the first step: coming to alwaysbejobhunting.com for advice! Now, it’s time to think about where to go from here.

Today, we’re going to look at what you need to know about training for a new career. While it’s nice to think that you can walk straight into something new, that’s probably not the case. You might need training or experience, or probably a combination of both. It’s time to break down a few things you need to know.

What Do You Need?

It might sound a bit obvious, but you need to be aware of the training and experience requirements your ideal career entails. Let’s assume you’re going to start at the bottom; what do you need in order to get there? Look online for resources to help you with this. You could even talk to a friend or family member that might work in the same field. Ask them how they got started, and if they know of any opportunities that might be going. Most people will be willing to help you, and it could be invaluable as you get started. Continue reading →

Posted in career switch, finding a first job | Tagged career changes, new job, search tips | 2 Comments

A Career In Engineering Will Open Amazing Job Opportunities

Posted on March 17, 2016 by John N. Frank

Have you ever thought about becoming an engineer? It’s true in the past; engineers used to be one of the most disrespected career options you could think of. You might have been working to make sure any tech is running, and then you would be sent on your way again. Think of it this way. When Titanic went down, a lot of the engineers remained trapped in the engine room. They were doing everything they could to keep the ship afloat for as long as possible. They never made it to the surface and had no hope of getting in one of the lifeboats. This was the role of the engineer, but things have changed.

These days, it’s engineers who are working with new, innovative technology. It’s an engineer who designed and created the phone in your pocket. It’s an engineer who added new hardware to your car. And, it’s an engineer out in the ocean searching for the fuel to make your car go. So what could becoming an engineer mean for you?

Make Your Mark On The World

As an engineer, you will have the chance to create something amazing, incredible and unique. This could be anything that you think about designing. It might be a brand new phone that’s as groundbreaking as the iPhone. Or, it could be a new car that everyone wants as soon as it hits the market. It all depends on what field of engineering you enter. But if you’re creative you could design the next device that is in everyone’s homes. Who knows, you might even create the solution we need to the growing problem of finite energy.

Using Incredible Equipment

You’ll also find that you work with some incredible pieces of equipment on a daily basis. DM Civil trenching machines are used by engineers to dig deep into the ground in a whole range of fields. There is something quite astonishing about having that much power at your fingertips. You will feel the strength of the machines in your control as soon as you start to use them. Whether that’s drilling for oil or perhaps guiding the power of a ship engine room. When we look at the ship, we often think of the captain of the controls. We forget about the people below making sure that propellor still turns.
Continue reading →

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Five Jobs Where You Can Work With Your Hands

Posted on March 17, 2016 by John N. Frank

There are many studies that show that working with your hands leads to the happiest career. Indeed, working to create something and putting in some manual labour invokes a happy response. And, isn’t that something we all crave in our jobs? According to those studies, gardeners are among the happiest people in their jobs. Theirs is a very hands-on type of employment, but it’s not the only option. In this post, we’ll look at some more options out there for those that are good with their hands.

Carpentry

Carpentry is a true labour of love. The ability to take an enormous, dense piece of wood, and turn it into something beautiful is quite a skill. However, it comes with a fantastic sense of achievement. Carpenters are part labourer, part artist. They design wonderful pieces of furniture, creating something both practical and beautiful. There is still a lot of money to be made in hand-crafted furniture. Although you face strong competition from the likes of Ikea, bespoke furniture is still highly coveted. Continue reading →

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How To Create A Professional Resume

Posted on March 8, 2016 by John N. Frank

I don’t have to tell you how important your resume is to your success. All of the years that you’ve spent working hard to pursue your goals are for nothing if your CV can’t showcase them.

A great resume needs to make you stand out and grab a potential employer’s attention. Even if you’re new to job searching, and you’re not sure how to create something that looks professional, sit back and read a few of our tips. Continue reading →

Posted in finding a first job, Job search tips | Tagged job hunting, new job, search tips | 1 Comment

Considering A Medical Career? Here’s What You Need To Know

Posted on March 7, 2016 by John N. Frank

Many people have a firm career plan set in stone from a young age. Others leave that decision making until immediately after graduating, using the skills they gained from their course as leverage with employers.

Either tactic is viable, but there are certain work areas that require much more prior planning. Medical is one such area, and it’s something that can be quite difficult to pursue. The correct path may not always be clear, but that path is there for you to take.

Is a medical career right for me?
It’s the question you should ask of any endeavor, but medical boasts a unique set of requirements not often found elsewhere. For starters, you must be utterly empathetic. A medical career means putting the needs and service of others first, above all else. Continue reading →

Posted in career switch, finding a first job, health insurance, job hunting | Tagged career changes, healthcare | 2 Comments

Prepare Yourself For Construction Work

Posted on March 7, 2016 by John N. Frank

Getting involved in the construction trade can be a great career move. The demand for workers and their skills shows no sign of slowing down. From building to engineering and from design to electrical work, there are hundreds of different roles.

But every single one of these has dangers involved. Construction sites can be lethal places. Understanding basic health and safety is essential. Being able to display this knowledge to a potential employer could make you an attractive proposition. Here are a few general tips and points of awareness.

Safety Gear
No one should be allowed onto a construction site without wearing safety gear. The most recognizable sign of this might be your hard hat or protective helmet. Get used to putting it on and keeping in it in place. Make sure that the strap is adjusted to suit you. It can feel a little strange at first, but with practice you will get used to wearing one and, in fact, will not feel properly dressed without it! There is always the danger of material being dropped from a height, and your helmet could well save your life.

Visibility gear
It is essential that you can be seen on site. Your working gear should always incorporate some form of high visibility or reflective material.

That could be a part of your clothing, or simply a vest that you wear over the top of overalls. Make sure that wherever you are, you can be seen.

Boots
Boots should always be worn on site. These need to have thick soles that are resistant to corrosion from chemicals. Ideally, boots should have protective toe caps and have padding and protection around the ankles.

Gloves
Get used to working with these. Obviously, they will protect your hands as well as providing a layer of warmth and insulation. Critically they will improve your grip. There are many different types to choose from depending on your task.

Occasionally you might have to remove them for more detailed work, but on the whole, a good pair of working gloves is indispensable

Safety awareness
Make sure that you are aware of any safety procedures necessary for your role. That will mean being aware of potential hazards close to you and around you. Don’t attempt to climb or work at heights without the right safety harnesses and precautions for example. Safely working from heights is an essential part of any job you undertake. Know how you are protected and be aware at all times of the potential of falling or losing balance.

If you are operating machinery or tools, make sure that you understand how they operate and know how to turn them off. In particular electric saws can be lethal. Know how the safety bars operate and be prepared for any kickbacks or sudden movements. Make sure that you are not wearing any jewelry or loose clothing that could get caught up in machinery.

Your safety means that you will be able to enjoy a job and even career free from injury and accident. Take your time getting used to any new task and working conditions. Be wary and careful at every step and stage and always follow safety guidelines.

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it contains affiliate links.

Posted in career switch, finding a first job, job hunting | Tagged career changes, construction industry | Leave a comment

Preparing Yourself for a Career in the Real World

Posted on March 4, 2016 by John N. Frank

Once you finish your education, you graduate to the real world. And now you need to think about the next step in your life. This is going to involve getting yourself into a career of some sort. But, careers are very different to education, and you need to prepare so you can deal with the transition.

Take a look at my points on this post and use them to help you prepare for a career in the real world. It’s going to be a big step, so the better you prepare, the better you can deal.

Continue reading →

Posted in education, finding a first job, job hunting | Tagged Always Be Job Hunting, job hunting | Leave a comment

What to Do Immediately After Graduating

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John N. Frank

When you’ve just graduated, and you’re about to start looking for work, the world can seem very big and scary all of a sudden. There’s no need to be overwhelmed by it all though. Here are the first things you should do after graduating.

Compile Your CV
The very first thing to do is compile your CV or resume. This will become the single most important document in your life when you are looking for a job. That one piece of paper will be what many different employees judge you on.

For that reason, it needs to be as strong as it possibly can be. It should not only list your academic achievements, but it should also list things that prove you’re prepared to work.

Employers always prefer candidates who can demonstrate past work. This is true even if it doesn’t seem directly relevant to what you’re applying for.

Continue reading →

Posted in finding a first job, job hunting | Tagged First job, search tips | 2 Comments

Careers That WIll Take You Sky High

Posted on February 29, 2016 by John N. Frank

Do you love the feeling you get when the plane lifts into the air, whenever you go abroad? Are you thrilled to look out the window and see the world stretched out below? If the answers to those two questions are yes, we think you’d be perfectly suited for a career in the air. You might be wondering what type of jobs will take your feet off the ground and into the sky. We’ve got some awesome possibilities for you to consider.

Skydiving Instructor
Have you ever been skydiving before? It is a truly phenomenal experience that starts with you being taken up fifteen thousand feet into the air. The doors open and suddenly, you’re looking down at the ground below from the wing of a plane. It’s time to make the jump.

It’s like leaping off the tallest diving board in the word as you feel the wind battering your face. But it can’t get rid of the manic smile as the fall takes your breath away. The whole experience last ten minutes until you lightly touch down.

If you love that idea and think you could do it again and again, you could be a skydiving instructor. You will love the constant thrill you get as you teach others the extreme sport you love.

Obviously, one of the disadvantages is the risk. You’ll be reliant on your parachute working every time you jump. But that’s why there’s two in a pack and skydiving injuries are very rare.

Become A Pilot
If you’d rather stay inside the plane, then you could become a pilot. Being a pilot you’ll be able to travel all over the world whether you’re flying a commercial plane or military.

There are lots of jobs that let you fly a plane. But first you’ll have to get great grades in maths and science at school and university. Then and only then will you be able to seek out your pilot licence. After that, you can choose the type of job you want. As we said, you could fly a public plane or even a private jet.

You might even consider starting your own flight school. You’ll need to get the permissions and, of course, the tech. These days everything is organized and arranged online using an FAA Pilot logbook.

Once you have all the equipment, you’ll be ready to live your dream of flying planes every day. If you’re worried about the danger of flying, remember it’s safer than driving.

Air Steward
Perhaps jumping out of a plane isn’t your cup of tea and you don’t have the skill to fly one. Not to worry, you can still have a job up in the air. You can become an air steward.

The skills you need for this career are a lot less extensive. You just need to have an excellent rapport with people and friendly demeanor. You should also have some form of customer service experience.

If you think you fit this bill, you can look forward to travelling all over the world by air.

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it contains affiliate links.

Posted in career switch, Job opening, Job search tips | Tagged career changes, search tips, time to leave, transition nation | 1 Comment

A Rough Guide To Becoming A Self-Employed Welder

Posted on February 23, 2016 by John N. Frank

Welding is an essential function for any construction work. It doesn’t matter whether you’re working on a guitar frame or an office block. Welding work will need to get carried out to join various pieces of metal together.

The thing about welding is that it’s a skill that you can use on scores of different applications. If you enjoy welding in your spare time, have you thought of turning that hobby into a career?

It’s relatively easy to get a job as a welder these days. But, you can open more doors of opportunity by becoming a self-employed welder. In today’s blog post, I will show you how to get started achieving that goal:

Get the right training

You may already have some skills at welding. Perhaps you’ve taught yourself everything you know. But, it still pays to get some formal training. There are many benefits to doing so. For example, you will:

Gain a welding qualification at the end of your training
Learn how to achieve better quality results
Find out about new welding techniques
Get to work with different welding technologies.

The good news is there are plenty of training providers that offer welding courses. You could embark on a beginners, intermediate or advanced course.

Get the right tools for the job

There are several items you will need before you can offer your services as a welder. First of all, you will need a welding device! As you may know, there are many different types of welding machine you can buy. Examples include arc welders and MIG welders. You can also buy TIG welders and oxy-acetylene welders too.

Next, you will need welding rods. The process of welding involves fusing two pieces of metal together with a rod. You can buy different grades of welding rod. Be sure to select the right ones for your welding machine.

Safety first

As you can appreciate, welding is a dangerous profession. Do something wrong and you could risk injuring yourself! Make sure you have plenty of safety gear before you take on commercial work.

WeldingOutfitter.com sells all kinds of welding safety gear like masks and gauntlets. Remember: it pays to be safe when you’re welding!

Transport

It’s likely that you may have to work on-site to do some welding as part of your work. I recommend buying a van from CommercialTruckTrader.com. That way, you can get a vehicle within your budget, and you can advertise your business with it.

Be sure to install some storage compartments in the cargo area of your van. You’ll find it useful to store your tools and accessories in them. Otherwise, you risk the contents of your van getting chucked around as you drive!

Insurance

Last, but not least, you will need to take out business insurance. Doing so will ensure you’re covered in case your work causes injuries to other people. It’s a worthy investment for any business, but it’s vital for welders.

Good luck with your new welding business!

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it contains affiliate links.