Career Planning | Mike McRitchie | Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer | Telecom Marketing Content Writer

Multi-Tasking Under Stress: What Are the Top 3 Challenges in a Hospital Environment?

September 10, 2019 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Working in a hospital environment can be extremely rewarding, but it can also be just as challenging. Hospital workers face a lot of challenges and these can sometimes take their toll. Being aware of the challenges of working in a hospital environment will help individuals to be able to protect their physical and mental health. Taking these steps will help you to avoid too much stress when working in a hospital environment.

Top 3 Challenges of Working in a Hospital Environment

There are many challenges when it comes to working in a hospital. The following are the top three challenges. Being aware of these challenges helps hospital workers prepare and ensure they are not becoming too stressed on the job.

1. Being able to properly use and maintain hospital equipment can be challenging. Today’s medical equipment is so advanced and some are more sensitive to conditions than others. Para-Coat Technologies, Inc. coats medical equipment to protect it and make it more durable. If you are working with medical equipment, it is essential you are properly trained to use and maintain it so damages do not occur.

2. Understaffing is a big problem in hospitals across the country. When a hospital is understaffed, the employees who are clocked in will end up experiencing a heavier workload which can make them overly stressed. When there is not enough manpower to cover the work duties, patients suffer most. Hospitals across the country are working to ensure their staff numbers increase and they have workers on-call when staff numbers drop too low.

3. One of the hospital challenges staff members face is a lack of training. If you do not have adequate training, your job is going to be more challenging and dangers could occur. Those working in hospitals should go through extensive training to ensure they know how to perform their job. If you feel under-trained, it is crucial you reach out to a supervisor for assistance.

Tips for Overcoming Challenges in a Hospital Environment

Overcoming challenges with hospital equipment and the others above is important for being able to provide patients with the highest level of effective care. The following are some important tips that can help hospital workers improve their job.

1. Meeting the needs of the patient is the most crucial job in a hospital environment. If the needs of your patients are not being met, speak up. Inform your supervisor and do not stop until changes are made.

2. Believe it or not, having the right attitude can help make the workday go by faster and will assist you in providing the care your patients need and the support needed by fellow workers.

3. If you are unsure of how to perform certain aspects of your job, ask for help. There is no need to suffer in silence. Patients’ lives could be in danger if you are not properly performing your job duties in the hospital.

Conclusion

Yes, working in a hospital is tough work and sometimes feels overwhelming. Most people who work in hospitals do so for the patients. Having a heart for patient care is essential if you want to be able to survive the day-to-day grind. Being aware of your challenges and facing them head-on is important for any healthcare worker. Staying motivated and rising above the challenges will make your job more bearable.

Preparing for a Career Change

August 20, 2019 by Guest Post Leave a Comment

Do you find yourself not loving what you do anymore? Are you considering pursuing a different passion? You’re not alone. As you age, interests change. This leads many to contemplate changing careers, but don’t due to the financial risks. Fortunately, there are several tips to changing careers at any age such as creating a budget, staying aware of debt, and timing your transition.

When seriously contemplating a career change, it’s crucial to refine your general budget. Entering a new industry can be financially worrisome for some people because they generally have to start entry-level. This means a decrease in income. However, many people will alter their lifestyles to pursue a passion. Refine your budget by identifying places to save. Keep in mind the essentials like rent and groceries will predominantly remain the same. Sacrificing entertainment and other unnecessary expenses tend to go first.

Before making a career change, consider paying off high-interest debt. Some people’s debt-to-income ratio changes when switching to a lower paying job, so strategically prioritizing high-interest debt while in a higher paying role can be more beneficial. Credit.com recommends reducing debt to 25% of your estimated income before vacating your current career.

Remaining strategic with debt reveals the third aspect of preparing for a career change: timing. Define what major goals you have planned for the next five years. If buying a home or starting a family comes to mind, reevaluate if making an industry change is financially smart for you. Avoid taking on too much financial risk at once. It could be more wise to spread major life events out every few years.

Spend time researching the industry you want to enter and talk with a financial advisor. Changing careers is possible and can lead to an increased work satisfaction, but sternly analyze your financial situation before making the switch!

Please include attribution to Credit.com with this graphic.

5 Unmistakable Signs Your Boss Is Trying to Make You Quit – And How to Respond

August 16, 2019 by Sienna Walker Leave a Comment

Passive aggression isn’t a good look on anyone – especially not your boss. If your boss has been acting weird lately and it feels like something is up, he or she might be subtly, quietly trying to push you to quit. Although this type of conduct is less than becoming, it happens quite often.

Firing someone is awkward and difficult, and sometimes your boss might not have the gut or the necessary cause to do it. In such situation, some bosses might decide that making your life at the company more miserable will make you quit on your own accord, saving them the uncomfortable duty of firing you. If you think that is the case with you and you’re being pushed to quit – don’t sit idly. Look for signs and make some moves.

1. You No Longer Feel Like a Part of the Conversation

Communication is the entire basis for accomplishing anything. If no one knows what anyone else is doing, we’d all be bumbling around in the dark without two sticks to rub together. Effective and frequent communication makes a workplace function at its highest capacity. If you have suddenly stopped getting memos and notifications about a big project, or your attendance at the business meetings is no longer required, this should be cause for concern. It might mean that people are working around you, rather than with you.

2. Something Isn’t Right When You Log In

Everything is digital. You probably need several different credentials and passwords to log into things at work. If you can’t log in or your permissions seem messed up, it might be a cybersecurity issue. Rule that one out first. If it isn’t, this means someone has revoked your access or changed your permissions. If this change seems to isolate you and it affects your ability to do your job, it could be an obvious hint that your contributions aren’t needed to important projects.

3. The Team is Moving On Without You

Think back to that “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!” poster in the breakroom. Even if all those team building activities felt a little cheesy at the time, they were important. They helped to foster a connected work environment where everyone understood their teammates’ strengths. If it seems as though these bonding activities are taking place without you, or that other members of your team seem to be placed in elevated roles, this kind of exclusion is a bad sign. If your boss intended for you to be a part of the next group project, he or she wouldn’t have let you sit out during team time.

4. You Feel Like You’re Under a Magnifying Glass

Some bosses are natural micromanagers – and it annoys most people who are competent in their roles. If your boss doesn’t have a history of micromanaging you but suddenly seems to be taking a different tact, scrutinizing every action you take, this could be an all-out attempt to annoy you. Your boss might be attempting to aggravate you so much that you decide to leave. Alternatively, he or she may be laying in wait for you to make a mistake that can be used against you as a cause for termination of employment.

5. You’re Suddenly Training Someone Else

It’s a lot like making someone dig their own grave. A new hire comes in and is assigned to you. You start teaching this person the ins and outs of your position. They get a decent handle on things, and you’re out the door. You’ve trained your replacement, and that was the last thing the company needed you for.

This situation isn’t uncommon or wrong in scenarios where the employee knows they’re getting a transfer or a promotion – oftentimes, bosses will outright ask them to train the person who will be filling their previous role. If that’s not in the cards for you, the situation is different. If you’re being assigned new faces out of nowhere and these people are outright shadowing you, you should be alarmed. You shouldn’t make it easy for your company to replace you in such an underhanded way.

How to Respond

If you’re still a little unclear about what’s going on, talk to your boss. If the signs are ambiguous or there are alternative explanations that make rational sense, a conversation might be able to clear things up. If you hit a lot of markers on the list, optimize your resume, start looking for a new position, and go to interviews. Quit once you have something new lined up. You deserve to be treated better.

About the author:Sienna Walker is a business and education blogger, an ex-tutor, and a huge advocate of lifelong learning and constant self-improvement. Whenever not trying out new online courses or listening to some motivational speeches, Sienna might be found online, participating in discussion with HR experts, business owners and employees.

How to Plan Financially for a Successful Career Change

August 5, 2019 by Shiv Nanda Leave a Comment

Whether you’ve found something more interesting, looking for a more lucrative change, sick of sitting at home, your current employer is downsizing, or you want to start something of your own; whatever be your reason for making a career switch, plan your finances before you take the plunge. And, if you have made up your mind to reinvent your career but funds are keeping you from fulfilling your dreams, then an education loan for working professionals is your gateway to a successful career change.

Follow these 6 steps to make sure there are no setbacks and it’s a smooth sailing career change for you:

1) Understand the Cost of your Needs, Wants, and Desires

The most important aspect of a successful life transition is in knowing how much you spend daily and breaking it into the things that you need, want, and wish for. Depending on where you live and your lifestyle, you can account for your housing, food, clothing, transportation, medical care and bare minimum requirements. A car, cable TV, latest tech gadgets, eating out at restaurants, gym memberships, and designer clothes are your wants and desires that you can cut back on. In a nutshell, you would need to control your wants and desires and save as much as you can when you are looking for career opportunities.

2) Save for a Smooth Transition

Life is unpredictable and money is your saving grace, especially if you are financing a new career. Savings give you the freedom to take sabbaticals, the flexibility to work part-time, and to change careers at any point in life. When you have savings, you are prepared for every transition in life and it also takes away the angst of financial security caused due to the turbulence.

3) Make Your Second Innings a Part-time Job and Upgrade Your Skills

A career change calls for training and education so it is important to expand your knowledge and upgrade your skills. Take up a course or two in the subject matter that interests you or you can also go for a professional certification or a degree so you have a solid amount of knowledge for your new career. Taking up a part-time job in your chosen industry before you make a full-time career change will also give you valuable insights into the challenges that await you on the other side and prepare you.

4) Get Your Credit Score in Top Shape

It is very important to have a good credit score when you make a career change. You can build your credit score by paying all your bills and EMIs on time as you may need a loan if you are starting a new business or relocating to a tier 1 city. Some employers also review your credit score so you need to maintain it. Do not open a new credit account, transfer your balance, or close any account as it can lower your credit score and adversely impact your transition.

5) Know the Benefits of Relocating

If you are moving to a new city in search of better prospects, then be sure to find out if your new employer covers any portion of your moving expenses. Your budget will be affected in a big way if you need to pay for expenses out of your pocket. So weigh the benefits of your new job and compare them with the costs you need to incur for career change. If you would be able to make up for the cost once you are settled, then the career change might be worth it. But, if the change is going to derail your finances, then you may want to consider other career opportunities or you can take a loan for working professionals.

6) Be Prepared to Miss Paychecks and Make Provisions

Whenever you make a career change, whether you are leaving your IT job to become a chef or quitting architecture to become a model, you should have a financial plan in place. Even if you have secured a new job and arranged a week off in between for a break, there is a possibility of an accident, a medical emergency or a delay before you get your very first paycheck after your career change. And, if you have pay cycles or EMIs that you cannot miss out on, then you absolutely need to create financial buffer.

You can follow these simple tips to launch and finance your career change or you can apply for a personal line of credit. A personal line of credit is available online, has a quick approval process, involves no paperwork and you will be charged interest only on the amount you withdraw. So if you don’t dip into your credit line, you are not charged any interest. It stays with you for as long as you need it and gives you the freedom to venture into a career change with full confidence!

Author Bio:

Shiv Nanda is a financial analyst who currently lives in Bangalore (refusing to acknowledge the name change) and works with MoneyTap. Shiv is a true finance geek, and his friends love that. They always rely on him for advice on their investment choices, budgeting skills, personal financial matters and when they want to get a loan. He has made it his life’s mission to help and educate people on various financial topics, so email him your questions at shiv@moneytap.com.

7 Things To Do To Get Your First Job After College

July 31, 2019 by Lucy Manole Leave a Comment

7 Things To Do To Get Your First Job After College

Business photo created by pressfoto – www.freepik.com

According to a survey report, more than 40 percent of college graduates take a job that didn’t require a degree in the first place.

That’s a shocking revelation!

It may seem harmless at first. After all, what’s the harm in taking up a productive, paying job — any job?

However, if you map out the long-term effect, then it can turn out to be pretty detrimental.

The same report suggests that the graduates who settled for jobs that didn’t require a college degree are five times more likely to be still in the same position even after almost half a decade, compared to those who ended up in jobs that put their degree to good use.

That is why finding the appropriate job, suited to your qualification is very important.

Here are some of the things you need to do in order to get your first job after college:

1. Create Your LinkedIn Profile

Do you have a LinkedIn profile?

If not, then right now is as good a time as any.

It is an excellent platform to catch the eye of prospective employers.

Even if you don’t have anything except a few high school baseball certificates to show just yet, then also it is absolutely worth it in the end.

The best way to attain more job offers is by laser-targeting your search on LinkedIn.

For instance, if you are looking to get a job in cybersecurity space, then you can narrow down your search by typing-in something like “cybersecurity + company name,” and you might come across a job posting in the arena.

Make sure to include even minor achievements. You never know, even something as necessary as participating in a quiz competition can become a differentiator. Every LinkedIn profile has contacts, and the more connections you build, the more people you get into your network, ultimately increasing your chances of visibility.

2. Establish an Online Presence

Running your own blog is a great way to establish an online presence.

However, creating a blog is not nearly enough. You have to write consistently on the niche in which you are seeking a job.

Write about something that you have recently discovered, learnt, or got intrigued by. Or you can educate your audience by writing ebooks, how-to guides, and more.

It may also serve as a great talking point in interviews. A recruiter might end up liking your blog posts.

3. Acquire an Internship

An internship can open many doors for you.

Completion of an internship is a great value-addition to any graduate, because it helps you translate your theoretical knowledge into practical knowledge and gain experience in the real-world.

Many graduates fail to acquire an internship, which can result in a gap between what you can offer and what the industry actually requires.

A successful internship can propel you towards your first job by bridging this gap. Also, if you manage to land yourself an internship position from viable organisations like Google or Facebook, your chances of gaining an excellent job will be even higher.

4. Join a Career Development Group

It is important to realise one’s interests early, at the onset of the degree course, and plan for the years ahead.

Several Universities help students realize their potential during their college days.

For instance, Boston University has a chapter of the American Marketing Association. The University of Delaware has a Food science club.

These clubs and associations can act like career development groups. Most of them are linked with former students, professionals, and industry stalwarts. Hence, associating with them increases your chances of exposure to the professional world, and getting connected with established professionals. They can help you with the right advice and guidance, and may help you land your first job right away after college.

5. Get a Mentor

If you have a particular job role or company in mind, getting a mentor might come in handy for you. It is a good idea to leverage the power of social media to get the perfect mentor.

Some students turn to their parents for career, which is great. However, unless you want to pursue the same profession as your parent, professor or friend, you need a professional to help you discern the career option that aligns with your preferences.

It is important to get a mentor from the same company or at least the same industry you graduated in. They can relate more to you and help you understand things better. For example, if you are looking for a career in sales and your dream company is Johnson and Johnson, try searching the keywords “sales” and “JnJ” on LinkedIn or Facebook.

6. Work on Your Resume

If you are a prospective employer, then a resume is the window to your abilities.

However, one of the common mistakes that people tend to make is cramming too much into the 1-2 pages.

This isn’t how it works. Hiring professionals don’t have much time on their hands to scythe through your entire resume. Therefore, your resume should be a succinct summary of your strengths and achievements.

Rather than going for extensive descriptions, it’s better to portray your achievements as numbers. Numbers register more easily than sentences, especially when the recruiter is in a hurry. Try to fit in percentages whenever applicable, so there is something to talk about during an interview.

Also, make sure to proofread your resume. Grammatical and spelling mistakes don’t bode too well for your proposal. It shows that you are unprofessional and careless. So, it’s better to avoid it by proofreading your resume at least tie.

7. Get an Elevator Pitch Ready

More often than not, you may find yourself stuck at the wrong end of things.

Nothing is working out in your favor!

This doesn’t seem like a scenario you expected to find yourself in after graduating.

But, fret not! This approach will help you nail your next interview.

Besides a winning resume, make sure to get a 30-40 second dialogue ready that perfectly articulates why you are the right candidate for the job.

You can also watch some YouTube videos that will help you highlight your strengths and abilities in the interview.

Wrap-Up

Remember one rule: Persistence is the key.

Keeping all your options open after graduating will ultimately help you land your first job. Although applying to all companies irrespective of the domain area may help you cover more areas, but identifying your strengths and areas of interest before targeting those companies and roles will help you land a much better job.

Author Bio

Lucy Manole is a creative content writer and strategist at Right Mix Marketing, SEO-focused link building agency. She specializes in writing about digital marketing, technology, entrepreneurship, and education. When she is not writing or editing, she spends time reading books, cooking and traveling. You can connect with her on Twitter at @RightMixMktg

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