From Skyscrapers to Software

From Skyscrapers to Software Success Story > From: Job To: Job From Skyscrapers to Software “When I talk about work now, it's in a much more positive way.” * From Skyscrapers to Software Andrea was frustrated by his slow-moving industry. Now he's found work that not only fulfils him, but is also better paid and has better prospects. Here, he shares how failure â€" and a push from a loved one â€" can bring surprising results. What work were you doing previously? Design, construction and tendering of skyscrapers' facades (the glass parts) in the global competitive market. What are you doing now? Software engineering and design. Why did you change? I changed career because the tech industry seemed (and indeed is) a lot more stimulating, creative, and forward looking â€" all in all, a better environment to work and progress in. There are better financial rewards, better prospects, the learning never stops, and development is at high speed. Working in an agile sector is great! When was the moment you decided to make the change? It was after a weekend crash course in software engineering that my wife 'forced' me to attend. She had to take the course herself as she was about to start working in tech but didn't have much domain knowledge. It was intended to help her understand, broadly speaking, what software engineering was. She pushed me into taking the course with her because a) I'd been considering programming as a possible career option, b) she thought I would enjoy it (which I did), c) she wanted to spend the weekend together, and d) she wanted me to sample the web app development environment. The course was with General Assembly in New York. They're pretty awesome and have a campus in London, too. That was the first push towards being hooked on tech. I didn't really consider any other industry when I decided construction wasn't for me anymore. Are you happy with the change? Extremely happy. I feel challenged (in a good way), and I spend my day with interesting, smart, knowledgeable people, who are keen on doing a great job. I'm also treated a lot better in terms of work environment, hours, benefits and general working conditions. I see a lot of interesting and stimulating possibilities in front of me, both in the short term and long term. When I talk about work now, it's in a much more positive way. I talk constantly about technologies I'd like to have the time to learn and to work on. I'm a nerd at heart, and this profession suits me. I feel a lot happier. And I have a more flexible job for when I decide to start a family. That's not easy to beat. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss talking with clients to structure large deals, bringing together commercial, financial and technical considerations. I miss the push and pull right before the hand-shake for a multi-million, multi-year project and the tension of going head to head with a competitor. I also miss some of the staff, especially from the London, Hong Kong and New York offices. I don't miss the slowness of construction. It would take years to get to site and see my design going up. Nor do I miss the working environment of construction, which was a little too 'rough' for my taste. How did you go about making the shift? It was lots of hard work, but also lots of fun. I spent as much time as I could with tech people to learn the lingo, how they think, where they come from, and how to talk to them. I spent as much time as I could coding as well, in order to get domain knowledge and to learn how to speak knowledgeably with people in the industry. You simply cannot fake that. Speaking the same tech language is essential â€" without it you cannot make it in. I leveraged any contact, and even contacts-of-contacts, to immerse myself in tech. Usually, I found that buying someone a drink or similar was a good way to 'buy' a little of their time. It's important not to be creepy and only talk business. I was interested in their lives and how they got where they are (which in itself was pretty interesting and informative). Actually I ended up developing some real friendships with a couple of the contacts I made. I cold-called people on LinkedIn whom I thought sounded interesting and that I could share something with. Also, going to career fairs was a good source of contacts and inside information. I 'stalked' (in a good way) the CTO of the firm I work for right now after meeting him at a career fair. He is an awesome and impressive chap (and we have the same breed of dog)! How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I got into my new position as a paid intern, which helped a lot. I also won a 'hackathon' (app competition) and received a money prize that allowed me to sail through the change financially unscathed. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Keeping at it when there were setbacks. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? I underestimated the time it would take. This created some real frustration. I also failed a few interviews, all on technical grounds. Because of this I had to dramatically change my plan of attack for my career change. I had to reach out to get specific feedback and understand what had not gone well. I had to do a lot of research on the subjects I was lacking in. I spent a lot of time 'walking the walk' (i.e. locked in a room and coding) as I figured out what I needed to do. And I had to brush off the dust and pick myself up after swimming in the ocean of rejection that is out there â€" that was good learning too. I had some awkward conversations with developers that I did not know, and made a fool of myself a few times when I was talking about subjects that I didn't fully understand. That usually gave me good pointers on what to learn about and research. What help did you get? My wife is awesome. Also, I had the most inspirational teacher for the second crash course I took â€" the three-month 'zero to hero' for back-end web development at General Assembly. He was so passionate and would always go the extra mile for his students. I was really fortunate to have him as a teacher. All teachers at General Assembly are very good, but he was in a class of his own. From early on I was able to sit down with the head engineer for HTC in Seattle, and discuss in real detail various strategies, positioning and directions for me to get into tech. He gave me a timeline of two years to make the change. I did it in seven months (sorry for bragging, but I'm really proud of it â€" he was really proud about it too). He was extremely helpful. I also teamed up with one or two other guys in a similar situation to mine. Peer pressure / peer help went a long way. We went to meetups and career fairs together and kept each other on track. Also, I'm good at sales â€" they enjoyed it as I would sell both myself and them to the recruiters. I read as much as I could about what might happen in interviews, spoke to people that interviewed in tech (the people who were involved in the actual technical interviews), failed at interviews, tried to understand why, and acted on what I learned. The hardest thing was learning data structures by myself, but after a failed interview I realised it just had to be done. It was instrumental to me making it later on. Finally, winning the hackathon was a huge boost to my street credibility. It all happened through General Assembly, who advertised and organised the team. That was a great 'leg up'. What have you learnt in the process? That there is a lot to be learnt from failure. What do you wish you'd done differently? I wish I'd started earlier. And that I'd started applying for jobs earlier in my retraining. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Take your time figuring out what you want to do, in what industry, and in what position. Talk to as many people as you can; go to as many meetups as possible; draw on your whole network for friends of friends that work where you want to be; befriend people on LinkedIn; and offer drinks in exchange for information â€" it goes a long way. Learn as much as possible about where you are going, then put together a plan and execute it. You'll change the plan on day two! Do as many interviews as you can, from as early on as you can. What you are asked in interviews might not be what you are required to know in order to do the job. What resources would you recommend to others? The Careershifters site gave me the ground work and the initial inspiration. It took me a while to act on it. After that: Meetup and LinkedIn. For folks interested in technology, General Assembly is a great school to attend (they offer both part- and full-time courses). What lessons could you take from Andrea's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Another Sleepless Night Can CBD Oil Help You Sleep Better

Another Sleepless Night Can CBD Oil Help You Sleep Better Show of hands â€"â€" who has had at least one sleepless night? Pretty much everyone, right? Statistics show that adults all across the U.S. suffer from sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, and even occasional sleep deprivation (which could stem from overworking, taking care of small children, or other causes.)   Even after using various comfortable mattress and pillows people cant sleep. Thankfully, there are many websites like  Insidebedroom.com  and Sleepfoundation.org which educate people about sleeping health. So, naturally, those who can’t sleep will most likely reach for something like ZZZquil or other prescribed or over-the-counter sleeping medication. However â€"â€" what if we told you that there is another solution, one of which can alleviate those sleepless nights without the nasty side effects of sleeping meds â€"â€" like CBD oil, for instance?    Sleepless nights can be a nuisance. Taking a few drops of 600mg CBD oil can help you regain nights of relaxing rest. Listen to our take and decide for yourself. CBD Sleep: How Does It Work? CBD or cannabidiol is a chemical component that is derived from the cannabis plant. Unlike THC (which is known for its ability to get you high), CBD does not and, instead, provides various health benefits for the user (check it on these cbd oil reviews). CBD reacts to receptors found all over the body that are responsible for regulating various systems including sleep, appetite, mood, and pain. It can be extracted naturally from the weed plant or even made synthetically â€"â€" either way, it provides the same benefits. CBD oil can aid in sleep in a number of ways including: Reduce insomnia in sufferers as well as those who suffer from chronic pain Reduce anxiety which can lead to an overall improvement in sleep quality and length Combat REM sleep disorder in Parkinson’s patients and improve REM sleep in those who suffer from PTSD Research Says… So, you now have a little background on what CBD is and how it affects sleep but, now, you want to know what the guys in the lab coats have to say, right? Well, while research is still ongoing, there are a few studies that can be referenced regarding CBD and its effects on sleep cycles and disorders. For example, in this study, CBD was shown to enhance wakefulness and decrease REM sleep. In another study, CBD was shown to reduce anxiety and improve sleep in a young girl suffering from PTSD. CBD Oils To Try Before we provide some helpful resources in procuring some CBD oil, it is important to note that we are not medical professionals and that you should consult your doctor prior to taking any supplement or altering your current medication regimen. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff. So, there are a variety of ways that you can take your   CBD oil. Check them all out and pick your favorite to help you reach dreamland that much quicker. Get Better Sleep Tonight We all have the occasional sleepless night or, if you have a sleep disorder, sleepless nights can be a regular event for you. No matter where you stand, instead of reaching for the zzzquil or sleep meds, maybe try picking up your vape and using some CBD oil instead. We are sure you’ll be counting sheep in no time.

Manchester Made Me The value of extra-curricular activities University of Manchester Careers Blog

Manchester Made Me The value of extra-curricular activities University of Manchester Careers Blog I graduated from the University of Manchester in 2010 being able to write that I had 2:1 degree in politics on my CV.   I could write little else and my CV looked pretty cold and barren when I began applying for jobs in the summer.   As a result of this lack of experience (and exacerbated by a global economic recession that has hit the young hardest) I found myself working a wide variety of temporary jobs for the best part of two years.   Now this wasn’t in itself a bad thing; I certainly gained valuable insights into the world.   But, there was no permanence in any of these jobs, and insecurity is worse than poverty, as Confucius supposedly said. A couple of years of saving and the taking out of a loan allowed me to go back to university to do a master’s degree in 2012.   This time around I decided I was going to try and make the most of the time available to me â€" I was in complete control of my hours and was going to use them well â€" a few years of 9am starts in jobs makes you appreciate the value of being largely in control of your own time as a student.   I became a course representative (and to refute any cynics I will say that academics do genuinely want to know what their students think about the course) as I wanted to get involved in collective representation and did not subscribe to the notion of ‘students as consumers’. A benefit of volunteering for this role was the experience it provided; meeting with senior staff and academics, collecting and representing student’s views and suggesting proposed changes to the course (several of which have been subsequently implemented).     Experience such as this is now vital when applying for jobs because, as unfortunate as it is, a degree is now considered to be the bare minimum on an application form. Along with becoming a postgraduate course representative, I helped commission articles for an online academic journal. I also helped set up a reading group that discussed books that were not part of the syllabus.     This was much more than I took part in as an undergraduate. These activities were also directly related to my programme of study at postgraduate level. Currently I am working on a one-year graduate internship programme at The University of Manchester Students’ Union, where my job is focusing on improving course representation.   Although my extra-curricular activities as a student were not the sole reason for getting the job they almost certainly helped. I did my extra-curricular activities because I believed in them; the utility it had in boosting my CV was completely incidental, so whether undergraduate or postgraduate, do get involved with as much as possible at university; banal platitudes aside, the time you have in Manchester is invaluable and there are a myriad of things available to do, whether it volunteering, joining a society, taking part in a campaign or something completely new and different.   It costs nothing, and you’ll be a better person at the end of it. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you would like to write for the Careers Service Blog, get in touch. We would love to hear your story and share it with students at the University of Manchester. Have a read of our  blog post  or send an email to careers.blog@manchester.ac.uk for more information. Manchester Made Me Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted employability extra curricular Manchester Postgraduate education societies University of Manchester

8 Lessons Learned in the Last 8 Years of Running a Business (PODCAST) - Classy Career Girl

8 Lessons Learned in the Last 8 Years of Running a Business (PODCAST) Get ready to celebrate! We are gearing up to celebrate Classy Career Girl’s 8 year anniversary in March! Whether you are new around here in Classy Career Girl world or you’ve been listening to our podcast and reading our blog for years, I can guarantee you are going to learn something new today as I share with you my 8 Lessons I Have Learned in the Last 8 Years of Running a Business. Let’s dive in! 8 Lessons I Have Learned in the Last 8 Years of Running a Business Coming up on 8 years of business!  Lessons over the years and we are coming up on 8 years of running a business. Subscribe  on  your favorite platform below: iTunes Google Play Music Stitcher Radio TuneIn iHeartRadio Sound Cloud Some Topics I discussed: My MBA. Mindset matters. The importance of networking. Lesson: Get out of debt now! Becoming a Mom Break up the routine Impostor Syndrome Sucks. The one thing that could be ruining your career. Change your business model! The Right Mentors Matter Episode Resources: Dave Ramsey’s book: The Total Money Makeover Dr. Valerie Youngs book: The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It Virginia Rometty, CEO of IBM book: How Women Lead, The 8 Essential Strategies Successful Women Know You may also like these episodes: Be Your Own Boss Summit 2016 (CCG Podcast #40) How to Create a Survey That Grows Your Business (Podcast #52) I hope you enjoyed this podcast!! I wanted to let you in our February special at Classy Career Girl!! In a special discount for all our podcast listeners, we are sharing a special 75% discount for the month of February 2018 on our Business Planning Bootcamp â€" that’s only $7!!! If you have ever felt  stressed and confused  without a plan for your business,    this 5 module training course  will guide you through everything  you need to start, grow and scale your business. We’ve included marketing plans and templates, profit, expense and budgeting worksheets, and bonus audios and success stories. It’s a short self-study online course and by the end of the 5 modules you’ll have your business plan done and it will feel soooo good! http://www.corporaterescueplan.com/bootcampbusinessplanning/ Promo code: FABFEB (must be all caps)

Resume Writing For Mature Workers

Resume Writing For Mature WorkersThere are many advantages to writing resumes for mature workers and employers, one of which is that they tend to be significantly more effective at getting someone the job than the type of 'job write-ups' that many young workers can produce. This is because, when employers are searching for workers, they typically only go through the motions of reviewing written resumes in a cursory manner, as opposed to actually taking the time to actually look at the particular qualities the applicant has and whether they would be a good fit for the job.But what does this mean for the job seeker who wants to avoid these pitfalls and take advantage of this wonderful aspect of resume writing for mature workers? Here are some things you should keep in mind:* First of all, the key is to make sure that you actually have new skills or a reputation of being willing to learn new skills if it's actually needed by the employer. Yes, it's true that employers do not generally p ay attention to resume writers who have plenty of experience or new degrees - but they certainly do care about those with real, useful experience that will help them in their future endeavors. To ensure that you won't be overlooked, you need to be able to demonstrate this in some fashion.* For this reason, having relevant experience is really important. Many professionals will spend years accumulating a great deal of work experience, but when they are finally going through the process of hiring out their skill set, they don't see enough of this experience to prove that they are the right choice for the job. So to be sure that you get hired, you need to have some work experience that demonstrates that you are qualified.* By this, I mean that you must really hone your skills to the point where you are one of the best candidates for the job, and that means you need to spend time honing your writing skills and honing your communication skills. In a job interview, this is especially impo rtant since you are dealing with more than one person, as well as trying to convince them that you're a person who will be able to do the job.* A resume is not meant to be read over again by a hiring manager, so you must also make sure that your resume is concise and very specific. For example, you can keep the name of the company and the specific job title the same, but you need to also add details about how your skills will benefit the company, if any.* If you have specific skills that employers are looking for, then make sure to include them in your resume. These are called relevant experience, and they do count towards the minimum number of years needed to be considered for employment.The first thing you need to do in order to ensure that you get hired when you're an older, mature worker is to make sure that you have relevant experience in writing resumes for mature workers. Then, after that, make sure that you spend some time honing your writing skills to ensure that you've got a resume that really gets noticed and gets the employer to take you seriously.

Want to become a leader at work - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

Want to become a leader at work Becoming a leader at work can be a challenge. You want to be a leader but you do not carry the title. So, how do you go about  positioning yourself  as a leader at work? There are many ways, but listed below are some that comes to mind. You can use these actions that will inevitably position yourself as a leader at work without being too obvious about your ambitions. How To Become A Leader 1. Take Responsibility You want to be a  leader  at work, learn to  take responsibility  for anything that has your fingerprint on it. That means, as long as you participate in the project, you have a hand at the  failure  of the project. Learn to take responsibility for not just the good things, but even bad ones. Admit to your  mistakes   it’s okay to be wrong. You cannot learn if you have not made any mistakes. 2. Believe In Win-Win A rising tide lifts all boats â€" always think win-win. It exists. Just because the world thinks the business world is nasty, and that you need to be manipulative and maneuvering to win, you need not participate in it. In fact, make it your contribution not to be nasty and bullying in your ways. You want to be a leader at work, believe in your hands as  leader  to change the world. The power of  positive influence  you have on the people around you and the power to inspire people to greater heights is in front of you. 3. Push The Envelope Try new things.  Take some risk.  Make yourself uncomfortable. Do the things that may risk making you look foolish â€" what do you have to lose? Leaders take risks. They are not afraid of doing what they believe. What do you believe in that you are willing to take some risk? To be a leader at work, you need to take even simple risks like taking on the project no one wants. 4. Do It, Write It I have often said this. This world is full of people who talk too much and don’t do enough. If you want to be a leader at work,  act upon something. Work that plan. If you have any ideas that are simmering in your mind, write it down. It doesn’t matter if it’s not a plan yet, just write it down. If you don’t write it down, there is no one to present to and there is no record of the idea. How can it count? If you want to be a leader at work, you have practice writing down everything. 5. See Opportunities Everywhere There is no need to  create opportunities  for yourself to lead. The opportunities to lead are everywhere. You need to be mindful of these  opportunities. I have just mentioned one earlier. Are there any opportunities to take on the project no one wants? If you don’t see opportunities everywhere, you are missing the point. 6. Be Open Be open to criticism, otherwise you are just living off yourself. What does it mean? When you are open to feedback, you are being fed ideas from others that are free. Often times, these ideas come from people smarter than you. They will give you tips on how to improve and how to be better. That’s what a leader needs  constant feedback. You need feedback to be a leader at work, otherwise you are  â€œfeed-own”  (I just created that word to mean feeding yourself)  and you will go hungry soon. With no new ideas, a leader dries up. 7. Give, Give, Give That’s how you open up. Pour out all you got from inside you.  Give  all you have ideas, thoughts, plans. Feel the vulnerability and learn to like it. When you pour all your ideas out you will need new ones. Where do new ideas come from? From critics who want to tear you down, from well-meaning supporters and from people you least expect. More comes back to you. You have more to input. It enriches you. That’s how you become a leader at work. These are the seven actions to position yourself as a leader at work. You want to be a leader at work? Do not be afraid of taking risks. You have more to gain than lose when you open up. Yun Siang Long Yun Siang Long, or Long as he is popularly known, spent 16 years in three multinational ad agencies where he also trained people in areas of  career management.

Using Social Media for Your Job Search - CareerAlley

Using Social Media for Your Job Search - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. The development and evolution of the internet has mirrored a significant change in the approach job seekers and graduates take when looking for their first professional full-time position. The last decade has seen the traditional and well established approach many job seekers were used to becoming invalid and increasingly unsuccessful. The tried and tested techniques of developing a thorough resume, searching local job centers and submitting your application are long gone. The increased difficulty of finding a job is no secret. Higher levels of candidate competition, the ease of applying to numerous opportunities with a click of the mouse and reduced opportunities in the current job market mean that recruiters and employers can now be more selective when it comes to potential candidates. With this in mind, you may be wondering what you can do to improve your chances of landing a job and, in turn, landing your dream position. Well not to worry, because leveraging social media in your job search plan could be just the answer. For those who are skeptical, finding a job through social media may not be as farfetched as you first believe. The benefits of networking Social networks have become a very important part of the recruitment and job search process. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 84% of use social media in their hiring process. Additionally, more than half of all hiring organizations conduct background checks via the use of social networks, such as Facebook. Such findings highlight the importance of keeping a clean profile or risk losing a potential job offer, therefore candidates using social networking sites should view them as more than just a platform to chat to friends and upload embarrassing pictures from the night before. Promotion is one advantage of social networking many candidates dont attain. Websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can all be used to advertise your abilities, successes and qualifications, which in turn could attract potential employers. More Network for your search Contribute to your profession or interests A great way to display your knowledge, professionalism and seriousness is to contribute to existing information and topical interests in your niche. Interaction with decision makers, thought leaders and experts will only improve your visibility on the net. Furthermore such activity could help in building relationships and ensure you are up to date with the latest news and gossip within your industry which can always be used for small talk during an interview in the future. To impress potential employers, you could consider creating a niche specific blog or the development of guest posting articles for industry-leading blogs. Follow, like and build relationships Many businesses human resource departments now advertise jobs through social media platforms to reduce fees and costs associated with recruitment fees. To ensure you are up to date with the latest opportunities and openings follow and like businesses in which you are keen to apply for. In addition to this, it will also improve your knowledge of the company and show that you have a real interest in the businesses culture and ethos. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+