Choose Your Career

Drones, worker bees, and beasts of burden are just a few of the names we give ourselves as we trudge through one dreary day after another at the office. Our world at work is so antiseptic and cold that our cubes might as well be  cells. Too often, we ask ourselves, after all of the education, the training and the careerism, 'is this really what I signed up for'? Maybe that's why psychiatrists encourage us to have a vivid and healthy fantasy life. True, it may only be an ersatz escape, but hey-it's better than nothing.I don't know about your fantasies, but I do know that you should definitely have them. As for me, I day dream about living in an endless summer, of sailing into sunlit waters, having new adventures and seeing those parts of the world that most people just dream about. So, and unless you're very rich (but then you wouldn't be in a cube) how do you go about pursuing such a dream, to make it a reality while you're still young enough  to enjoy it? If you've ever been … [Read more...] about Working on a Cruise Ship: A Dream or Rough Seas?

When you first decide to make the change to working freelance, the world suddenly becomes that little bit more thrilling, and you genuinely feel as if a new and exciting career awaits you, with the promise of more freedom and better pay. After all, who wants to work for the man? If you go freelance you will be working in the areas of your industry that you enjoy, planning your own career path and choosing the clients that you want to work with. Right?   This of course is the ideal and it is certainly achievable. But whilst most people daydream about that ideal freelancing gig, working from home or in a coffee shop on a project that they enjoy and which will bring them awards and acclaim from their peers whilst allowing them time off to spend with friends or family, the reality can sometimes be very different. This is especially true when you first start out. So, without putting a downer on your freelance plans, here are a few things to bear in mind before you quit your job and … [Read more...] about Things They Don’t Tell You About Going Freelance

If you have a creative streak and a passion for the environment, then you are in luck career-wise. Sustainability centers are popping up around the world, and eco-tourism is really taking off. This give syou the chance to use your powers of creativity to educate others on the importance of saving the planet. Musicians Use the power of music to promote a green message. Think Michael Jackson's "Earth Song" and Cake's "Too Much Carbon Monoxide." Not only can you put the importance of saving the planet in your lyrics, but you can also model a green lifestyle as you travel. Singer and songwriter Jack Johnson is a perfect example of a creative environmental activist. When he does his concert tours, he travels in bio-fuel buses. He also sells eco-friendly merchandise. Graphic Artists If you have a talent for design and want to support environmental preservation, then you have several options at your fingertips. You can specialize in art that promote environmental messages. You can design … [Read more...] about 7 Careers for Green-Hearted Creative Types

If you’ve always had a hankering in your heart to drive down the road like a speed devil, you don’t necessarily have to dismiss this desire. There are several ways to fulfill this desire while still staying within the boundaries of the law. For example, there are many careers that allow you to drive very fast. It may not be 100 percent safe, but at least it’s legal and you’re doing something worthwhile while getting your speed kicks. Here are five careers where your need for speed will come in handy and some tips on how to enter said careers. 1. Race Car Driver Watching a car race is a very exciting event. The only thing more exciting is to the one on the racetrack. By the very nature of their jobs, race car drivers need to drive as fast as possible. If you’re interested in this career path, you first need to decide what kind of car racing you want to do. Some types of car racing include NASCAR racing, drag racing or open wheel racing. Once you’re learned the basics of racing, it’s a … [Read more...] about 5 Careers That Allow You To Drive Very Fast

We all know that most people don’t go into nonprofit work because they want to get rich. Most nonprofit employees are in it for something more than money. There’s a great deal of satisfaction that comes from doing good for a living, and this sense of fulfillment often spills over into other areas of a person’s life. There are several other not so obvious reasons why you may want to consider working for a nonprofit organization besides just feeling good: 1.      Fringe Benefits Because nonprofits receive the majority of their money from foundations and donors, they sometimes have to be creative in offering their employees incentives beyond the traditional workplace perks, such as raises and competitive salaries. Rather than offering stock options, which are non-existent in these organizations, or yearly bonuses, nonprofits often provide other benefits such as more vacation days, affordable health insurance, and/or a flexible work schedule. 2.      Like-Minded Co-Workers Working for a … [Read more...] about 5 Unexpected Reasons to Work for a Nonprofit

All of us would like to believe that somehow, someday, we will end up with a job we love.  There are those lucky few who have them now.  And by and large, it’s difficult to pinpoint specific occupations that bring the most happiness because different types of jobs make different people happy.  For example, some people can find no greater joy in life than becoming a teacher, while others wouldn’t have the first clue how to entertain and teach a classroom full of children.  And there are individuals who would love nothing more than to jump out of an airplane every day strapped to someone’s back (whereas most of us wouldn’t go near tandem skydiving no matter how much it was paying).  The point is, happiness in a profession can depend largely on the person.  However, there are a few jobs that just about anyone can enjoy, so check the list and see if there are any that could offer you a chance at occupational happiness before you perform … [Read more...] about 5 Jobs That Bring the Most Happiness

Do you remember the days after college graduation?  The world was suddenly at your feet.  You could be anything, go anywhere, do anything!  And then, about a month later: reality hit.  Not only did college loans not cover your living expenses, you actually had to start paying them off.  You realize that, in fact, your dream job had not been just sitting there waiting for you to graduate for all these years.  Yeah, so it was kinda heartbreaking.  So often we end up taking whatever job comes our way first, because let’s face it: life has immediate demands, often in the form of dollars and cents signs.  And then, we stick with the job because we want our resume to look good and a six months experience just doesn’t look like we’re stable.  And then we stick with it because we’ve been there a year, and there’s a good raise if we stay for two.  And well, at two years, kids come, mortgages hit.  Definitely … [Read more...] about What Do You REALLY Want to Do?

Perfection is an illusion. Once we give up on the notion of faultlessness, we learn that life is all about balance and compromise. Whether it's negotiating with a loved one or navigating a career filled with ups and downs, we owe it to ourselves to create a checklist and make sure that our life is filled with more pros than cons. Otherwise, it might be time to quit your job.If the dream job is out there, it would look something like this:Interview. Rather than wooing workers by explaining the job through rose-colored glasses, employers would put transparency first, detailing both the pros and cons of the job and organization, ensuring that the match suits both parties. If both sides express interest, potential employees would meet members of the staff and view their workspace before taking the job. These are important yet often overlooked factors in job happiness. The most important detail, the salary range, would be offered at the beginning of the interview or even before you show … [Read more...] about Traits of the Perfect Employer

Who wants a low-stress job? I see lots of virtual hands raised out there. Browsing business websites produced a couple of those infamous lists – "10 Best Jobs," "15 Highest-Paying Jobs," etc. I don’t know about you, but those lists irritate me. Who collects the data and who supplies the data? Sometimes I think they must catch the “best jobs” respondents well into their post-work happy hour or after they just received a nice raise. So I just read Mainstreet’s "12 Jobs with Low Stress, Decent Pay"  Honestly, most of the jobs listed I haven’t a clue about, but found it interesting to find my job and several of my friends’ jobs listed. Hmmm, not sure my friends and I realize how lucky we are to have this tranquil, high-paying work. Here’s the list: ·         Massage Therapist – The article mentions “soothing sounds” and “comfortable lighting.” Well, that’s more of a benefit for the client. My pal who’s a massage therapist used to like her job until the stress on her body took a … [Read more...] about 12 Low-Stress Jobs, Really?

Counseling 101 – Basic Degree Info In August, I closed my private psychotherapy practice and left the counseling field after 20 years. Honestly, the work hadn’t been my passion for quite some time. Don't jump to the conclusion that I just burned out on listening to my patients' problems, that's not the case. I know I helped many people and I respected (most of) them and their process. I quit for a number of reasons which I won't go into here. But don’t let me deter you; counseling might be a career that perfectly suits you. There are a number of degree programs and choices available. Below are quick descriptions of degree programs. ·         Social Work – I have a Master’s in Social Work (MSW). You can also get a Bachelors (BSW) or Ph.D. While you can do counseling work with a BSW, you can’t get a license to practice independently (like in private practice). Jobs like Child Protective Services require a BSW, and there are even options to get your social worker degree online, BSW or … [Read more...] about Is a Counseling Career Right for You?