Becoming an Expat with a New Job
One of the primary reasons why people are moving overseas is that they are offered jobs that are more competitive and is offering high salaries. This is why the number of those going abroad is continuing to grow.
People in different countries have come to realize that there is no future where they are right now. So when they see some jobs being offered abroad, they are easily enticed by the high salary and compensations that they offer.
Before they know it, they are off bringing their family and their belongings along to that certain country. And before long, they already have started a new life in that place with no regret of leaving their old home behind.
While moving overseas can be a rewarding and an exciting experience, there are some things you have to check out first before you make your decision. These things will prove relevant in your new life and career. What are these?
1. The employment.
Make sure that what you are getting at is genuine. A lot of people have bad experiences regarding jobs that they are supposed to be getting into. In the process of deciding if you are suited for that position; check out the eligibility of the employer.
Once you are assured that it is legible, consider the benefits that you will get from that company. Are they worth more than what you are getting right now? Is it something that you know you will be happy in and will make you stay for a long time?
These are the questions that you need to have solid answers on. Keep in mind that once you have moved yourself and your family, you cannot get your old life and work back. Make sure that you will not regret your overseas move and your new job.
2. The location.
You probably would want to go back and visit your relative once in awhile. Is the location so far away that you will not get an opportunity to do that much?
If you are from a close knit family, it will trouble you if you cannot visit them from time to time. So you should consider the location and see if it is possible for you to visit or them to visit sometime.
Another thing to consider in the location is the condition in that place. You are better off avoiding those that are frequently visited by natural calamities. You should also avoid places that will put your safety at risk. Even if they are offering to pay you a lot of money, you need to think of your safety first.
3. The place you will move into.
For sure, you would want your new house to be just like the one you have left. And you will want to make sure that you have all the necessities easily accessible.
Be sure to check the place where you will be staying before you plunge on ahead. Check for electricity and water supply. See if it is located near business establishment and a school if you have your children with you. Also check for the mode of transportation from your place to other destinations.
Make a checklist of these things before you accept that job and start moving overseas. If you think that all is well, then it will turn out to be the best decision you have made in your life.
Categories: Alternative Job, Business, Employers Tags: a New Job, Becoming an Expat with a New Job, Expat
Entry Level Retail Jobs Lead to Lucrative Careers
If you were to survey store managers, merchandisers, buyers, or other high-level retail executives, virtually all of them would say that their first retail jobs were in customer service or in retail sales. They may have started part-time when they were students, took seasonal mall jobs during the holiday season, or started full-time after taking classes in merchandising or in management. For almost every retail professional, though, what began as a retail job turned into a retail career.
How did they work their way up the ladder of retail work? First, they built a foundation based on customer service and sales. This is partly because, when it comes down to it, every successful retail operation is built upon customer satisfaction. A retailer that offers great prices and good merchandise may do well initially, but if the retailer doesn’t take care of customers, the operation is no more than a flash in the pan. Therefore, a proven commitment and passion for exceptional customer service is necessary before advancement is possible.
But the act of keeping customers happy is only one component of enjoying career advancement through retail opportunities. Equally important are the skills you acquire while developing your talent for customer service. After all, customer satisfaction requires a high degree of efficiency (for example, quickly ringing up sales), the ability to troubleshoot (determining what the problem or challenge is and how to fix it), strong interpersonal skills (remaining calm when a customer is upset), and great communication (both in listening and speaking).
Customer service or sales jobs in retail quickly separate those with star potential from those who simply take store jobs out of convenience. Store managers understand that those who have stellar customer service skills directly contribute to the profitability of the enterprise. After all, you are instrumental in establishing and maintaining customer relationships, which result in repeat customers and increased sales. Because retailers almost always promote from within the company, you are well positioned to move up in the company.
As you gain experience in customer service or sales, you are likely to discover other positions that appeal to you. Perhaps you would like to explore retail merchandising, and assume responsibility for merchandise displays, signage, and everything else the customer sees when he or she enters the store. Merchandising is an exciting job that engages your creativity, your understanding of human nature, and your knowledge of the products your store carries.
Another retail career path is in management. Perhaps you like the idea of being in charge of every aspect of your department, hiring and managing employees, and bringing your personal touch to the customer experience. Once you have demonstrated that you have an aptitude for management, you can rapidly advance up the management ranks, moving on to store manager, regional manager, or even district manager.
Retail career advancement can take many different forms. Taking advantage of in-house promotion opportunities is key, but you can help increase the speed with which you move up the ladder by volunteering for company trainings, attending management training programs at community colleges, developing relevant technology-related skills, and taking classes in specialty areas like merchandising.
Wherever your retail career path leads, keep in mind that entry-level retail jobs give you the chance to develop a variety of skills that will serve you well.
How to Apply for a Job Online
In an increasingly online marketplace, applying for jobs often means sending your resume and cover letter electronically. Some companies have online application forms right on their Websites. Here, you can choose the job you wish to apply for, plug your work experience, skills, and education into online fields, then submit this information with a single click of a button.
Online application forms differ from another and will require different information. For example, some companies ask that you “copy-and-paste” your resume and cover letter into two fields. Others ask that applicants fill in multiple fields such as “work experience,” “education,” etc. Still others ask that you do both-submit your resume and cover letter, and fill in fields that require the same employment-related information.
Whatever type of online application form a company might have, be sure that all your information is posted in one field or another. Don’t be afraid to repeat information, especially if the form requests a resume and a separate breakdown of your work history. Your information will be automatically uploaded into an online database, where hiring managers will likely scout for keywords. The more times your keywords come up, the better.
While some companies-especially large ones have online application forms, many others simply ask candidates to e-mail their application materials to the appropriate person or to a general employment. Here, caution is warranted. Be sure to send your resume and cover letter exactly as the hiring manager requests. Some employers prefer that the resume and cover letter be attached as separate documents (usually in a Text Only format or as Microsoft Word documents). Other employers want the cover letter to be in the body of an e-mail, but the resume to be attached separately. Still others prefer that both the resume and the cover letter be pasted into the body of an e-mail. For the latter, be sure that your documents are easy to read. Resumes, which have a rather complicated format, often look messy when they are transplanted into the body of an e-mail. Says recruiter Beth Camp: “If you e-mail a resume, it has to look as good as a written resume. I would advise sending a resume both as an attachment and in the body of your e-mail.” This is a good way to sidestep a possible formatting fiasco. Another way is to send your resume and cover letter electronically, then to send hard copies as well.
Some jobseekers opt to purchase domain names and to create their own Websites for the purpose of putting their resumes (and other application materials) online. The advantage of formatting your resume using HTML and making it a static Web page is that anyone can see your resume in its proper format simply by visiting your Website. Thus, instead of mailing or e-mailing your resume every time you want someone to see it, you can simply give the interested parties the right web address and they can find it for themselves. An added bonus of having your resume on a Web page is that you may attract the interest of recruiters and employers whom you hadn’t even considered. To make downloading your resume easier, you may want to include on your Website copies of your resume in PDF (portable document format) and Microsoft Word files.
Unfortunately, there are downsides to putting your resume on a Website. One downside is that your information becomes accessible to everyone, even unwanted visitors. For this reason, you should never disclose your home address, social security number, or any other personal information. Another downside is that not all hiring managers will go out of their way to visit your Website. Even if your resume is only a click away, many hiring managers would nevertheless prefer that you mail or e-mail it.
In terms of how you send your application materials, it would be unwise to go against the explicit wishes of an employer. For example, don’t send an attachment when copy-and-pasting is requested. Some companies shun attachments because they fear getting a virus, or because they don’t have compatible software, or because they simply don’t want to be bothered with the extra step of opening a document.
When assembling your application materials and putting them into an e-mail, don’t fill in the “to” field until you are finished. It’s all too easy to accidentally send a half-finished e-mail to a company, thus eliminating your chances of making a decent first impression, and most likely, of getting an interview. If you were asked to copy-and-paste your resume and cover letter, be sure to scan the final outcome at least once for formatting problems, then to use a spell checker a final time.
If you are attaching your documents, be absolutely sure you are attaching the right versions (i.e., the company-tailored and updated versions) to the employer. Also, be sure that they are labeled in a professional way. One jobseeker laments his decision to save different versions of his resume under headings like “Resume for Strategic Sourcing Jobs.” Says the jobseeker: “I was applying for three different types of positions. But I didn’t want every prospective employer to know that. By labeling my outgoing resumes the way I did, I pretty much broadcasted the fact that I didn’t have a clear career direction.” Probably the best strategy for saving your resume is to do so under your name only (example: Simone Piette resume) or under your name and the name of the company (example: Greenfield resume from Simone Piette). Be sure to say in your e-mail what you have attached, and also, what software you’ve used. For example, you might say in the body of your e-mail: “Please see my attached resume in Microsoft Word version 2002.”
Before a hiring manager even opens your e-mail, she should know exactly who you are and which job you are applying for. In the “Subject” line, write your name, the position name (and job number, if listed), and the contents of your application (example, “Simone Piette resume and cover letter for Executive Assistant Position”).
If you’ve been referred to a position by another person, be sure to “cc” (carbon copy) or “bcc” (blind carbon copy) your reference when you apply. That is, add that person’s e-mail to the “cc” or “bcc” field, which will enable that person to receive an exact copy of the e-mail you’re sending to the hiring manager. The reason you want to “cc” or “bcc” your referrer is because you want to keep him in the loop. After all, if someone has offered to help you, he should know what stage you’re at in the application process. (Note: Some e-mail programs don’t offer “cc” or “bcc” fields, in which case you’ll want to e-mail your reference separately.)
Finally, be sure to save a copy of your outgoing e-mail in your “Sent Mail” folder, just in case the e-mail doesn’t go through and you need to send it again.
