How to Prepare for a Career Change at Any Age

How to Prepare for a Career Change at Any AgeHow to Prepare for a Career Change at Any AgeChanging careers at any point in our lives can be both scary and exciting. Its an opportunity to start fresh and pursue something that aligns better with our goals. The road to a new career, especially when youre mid-career, does take time and effort. Depending on your experience, youll need to take the time to learn new skills, network, and research opportunities that are out there.In addition to becoming the best candidate for your next job, you should also take your financial situation into consideration. Quitting your current ort to job hunt full-time sounds great- until your first months bills roll in. This is why its crucial to plan ahead and talk with your loved ones when contemplating a career change. Do you have an emergency fund you can lean on while youre job hunting? Do you need to remain with your current employer to stay afloat?These questions are the reasons why the team at Credit .com put together this infographic to show you how to financially prepare for a career switch. Reviewing your budget, bills, and savings isnt the most exciting part of a job hunt, but it is necessary to ensure you can still make ends meet. Having a financial game plan laid out can take your focus off of your finances during your job search and realign your energy with the job hunt itself. Take a look at their tips below to see what things youll need to do start your career switch on the right foot.Brought to you by Credit.com.

Its a zoo out there!

Its a zoologischer garten out thereIts a zoo out thereOK, weve all read the headlines over the past few months. Weve seen job losses left and right, leaving individuals scrambling for scraps, in the form of whatever few jobs are still available. Manhattan, the city hit worst by the credit crisis, has become a veritable jungle of sorts, with laid-off bankers, lawyers and hedge fund managers (but why stop there?) baring their teeth, clawing at each other and trampling their kin to get first dibs at the bloodied carcass. Its all very Darwinian Those with the most professional experience and extensive networks (and charisma never hurt anyone) will be rewarded with staying power, and will almost certainly be at the head of the pack in their quest for survival. Of curse (and thankfully), society has put up barriers that prevent humans from sinking to the level of jungle animals, but at times like these, our animalistic tendencies do tend to come out. Id say its more like a zoo, with animal instincts coming into play, but with bars and limitations preventing all-out chaos (though Bernie Madoff seems to have evaded such bars for now, at least). And what of our zoos? We learned this week that even they are not in the clear these days, as states are considering cutting funding for zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums. For example, to address a $15.4 billion budget shortfall in New York, Governor Patterson has proposed cutting funding for the above from $9 million to $4 million in 2009, and eliminating funding completely in 2010. Similar efforts are under way in California, Kansas, Florida and Maryland. The Wildlife Conservation Society hasnt wasted any time in producing viral videos to unite supporters against the proposed cuts, which would eliminate educational and outreach programs, cut back on free and reduced-admission hours and close exhibits. If these cuts do come to fruition, Id put big money on increased circulation of cute animal videos on YouTube and cheesy we bsites devoted to the cuteness cause. This news only makes the zoo analogy that much stronger to the current state of the job market. Perhaps its fairer to say that zoos are now like investment banks? Posted by Naomi Newman, Vault Global Consulting Editor

Free Traditional Clerical Officer Resume Template

Free Traditional Clerical Officer Resume TemplateFree Traditional Clerical Officer Resume TemplateWriting a resume can be a time-consuming and nerve-wracking process, especially if you dont know which style to use. If you are applying to a company with a more straight-laced culture, you will probably want to craft a traditional-style resume. This resume is short on creativity but big on formality and simplicity. Despite this lack of creativity, the traditional-style resume does allow you to get your point across and draw attention to your professional strengths fairly quickly. Before you start writing, take a look at the traditional clerical officer resume template and tips below to understand this style in greater detail.Create ResumeCustomize ResumeWhat to Include in a Traditional Clerical Officer ResumeWhen writing a traditional-style resume, it is important to refrain from using words that are overly complex or resume templates that are too contemporary. When writing your resume, you should avoid experimentation with styles and stick to the main points. Be sure that your job history is in chronological order, and only include information that is relevant to the job you are applying for.Common Resume Fails Mistakes to AvoidNeglect Proofreading If you fail to proofread your traditional resume for grammatical mistakes and misspelled words, you may end up sounding unprofessional or uneducated. Be sure that your resume utilizes proper spelling and grammar.Lack of Focus A traditional resume is simple and concise, so only include details that are relevant to your career and work experience. Do not include personal information or details about unrelated jobs.Disorganized Format Traditional resumes should follow proper formatting techniques. departure with your contact information at the top, followed by your career summary, highlights, work experience, and education.No Bullets Bulleted lists help to organize large amounts of information, and a traditional resume sh ould place heavy emphasis on organization.Resume Content Jennifer West 3217 Huntington Circle, Brookline, MA 11111 555.410.8772 jwestmail.com Summary Well-spoken and organized clerical officer with extensive experience in the legal and business fields. Capable of multitasking and responding to client concerns in an expedient and courteous manner. Strong understanding of routine office practices and other administrative duties. Proven track record of providing excellent customer service and facilitating communication between clients and staff. Seeking a similar clerical position that will utilize unique set of professional skills while fostering personal growth. Highlights Commitment to providing phenomenal customer serviceExceptional phone etiquette and message-taking skillsAbility to manage time effectively Knowledge of everyday administrative proceduresCapable of typing 73 WPM Skilled in use of Microsoft Office products Efficient and accurate schedulingAble to run personal errand s and provide assistance to staffStrong communication skillsExperience Clerical Officer Legal Offices of Hawthorne Ryder Boston, MA 12/1/2010 Present Schedule clients to meet with lawyers on a regular basis. Clean and organize office in order to present a clean and professional image to clients. Take detailed messages from clients, other legal practices, and government agencies. Organize legal documents for lawyers prior to court cases.Compile detailed notes of testimony and statements during client-lawyer consultations and briefings. Update electronic files and company information using spreadsheet and legal software. Record front office expenditures with 100 percent accuracy five years in a row. Distribute informational packets to potential clients via mail. Respond to telephone inquiries about legal services and other issues. Ensure that entry-level administrative workers adhere to company policies. Clerical Officer Law Office of Janet T. Schmidt, J.D. Cambridge, MA 5/1/200 6 10/1/2010 Typed reports for lawyer and legal assistant.Maintained an effective filing system for legal documents.Copied and distributed important documents to clients.Scheduled meetings via phone and e-mail.Education Associate of Science in Legal Support and Administration (2008)Central Boston Vocational College, Boston, MA