Career and Jobs

Job planning portfolios are like resumes on steroids. They are work related collections you put collectively to show your abilities, expertise and accomplishments. Job planning portfolios are particularly useful in drafting your resume and can be used as a marketing tool because they are solid evidence of your achievements.

Usually career planning portfolios have been used by creative artists, actors and photographers. But they can also be used by journalists, business people and anyone who can point to a record of accomplishments. Accomplishments can come from anywhere and do not have to be job related. Volunteer work can also be highlighted. Career planning portfolios have become so important to modern job applicants that many high schools and colleges require students to accumulate portfolios as a requirement for graduation.

What can career planning portfolios do for you?

• Exhibit what you have accomplished in previous jobs or assignments, or even as a volunteer.
• Showcase your skills and abilities.
• Give you extra confidence and serve as a reminder as you prepare for an interview.
• And the number one reason that many cite is to use it as a draft or starting point to putting together their resume.

What should be included in career planning portfolios? Of course, this depends on what skills, abilities and accomplishments you want to bring to the potential employer’s attention. Here are some ideas:

1. Educational transcripts
2. All diplomas, degrees and certificates
3. Letters of recommendation
4. Awards, bonuses and certificates of merit
5. Letters of commendation, letters of thanks (It’s a good idea while on the job to keep an file. Notes, emails, letters that reflect favorably on your abilities should all go into the file. Attach explanations as appropriate)
6. Newspaper clippings, pictures or magazine articles about your achievements
7. Professional licenses, registrations and certificates
8. Photographs
9. Work performance records and job evaluations
10. Programs and agendas from conventions or conferences you helped organize
11. And Work samples.

When you are assembling your career planning portfolio, you should keep in mind that portfolios must be flexible, and can be customized to suit the interview or employment situation. There are many options for wrapping. Some use photo albums or binders. Others prefer accordion folders. Some portfolios can be stored on disc. If you do use a CD, take your own laptop to the interview and be sure the battery is charged.

Labels: career advice, Career Tools

Posted by Unknown at 5:47 AM | Permalink

Truck driving jobs are in demand. Everywhere there is so much fresh produce alone that has to be moved that truck driving jobs will always be available. You may be looking for long distance truck driving jobs which originate in California and could end up anywhere in the nation, or you may be only interested in local truck driving jobs that would mean that you will be working around the different regions of the USA. If you have the right qualifications then it will be easy to secure a truck driving job tailor made.

Taking on a local truck driving job delivering from region to region in the country will mean you will most probably be away from home a few days at a time.

These truck driving jobs are much kinder on the family, particularly if you are raising children and don't want to be gone for weeks, and sometimes months at a time. Still, a pay of $30,000 and up a year, is quite good. Much more of course, once you start driving long distance routes, with $70,000 plus, not uncommon.

At the same time, very attractive pay compensate for at least some of those inconveniences and hardships. And with the latest road transport trends, commercial truck drivers earnings can only go higher. Especially, if you hold, apart from you standard Commercial drivers License, additional endorsements, allow you to drive specialized trucks and rigs carrying dangerous materials, extra heavy loads, etc. Still, local truck driving jobs are very popular.

There are simply millions of tons of freight that has to be moved in the US and getting a job truck driving, though it can be a bit of a lonely life, is a very popular career choice. Why is this? Truck driving jobs are not boring to say the least. Many semis are crewed by wife-husband duos, thus making it a family business. For most of the truckers however, the opportunity to meet many different people along the way, at truck stops and gas stations, makes truck driving job so appealing. At the same time, you must realize that all starts with an accredited truck driving school.

New sights every day, and you don't have the bad weather to contend driving in the southern states. Imagine what you would have to suffer if your truck driving job was in one of the northern states with their cold and snowy winters. The climate of certain states and countries, gives truck driving jobs there the edge. Who wouldn't rather be doing their job, driving their truck around in the sunshine, knowing that every time you get out and stretch your legs you are not going to have to reach for your wet weather gear or snow jacket. Proper driver training during your CDL classes will prepare you for most road conditions.

There are plenty of places to visit on the web if you are looking for truck driving jobs across the US. Of course truck driving jobs can be physically demanding, so you need to know if you will be responsible for loading yourself or just driving. Best source of information are the truck drivers themselves. Just go to any truck depot, or chat to truckers when they take a rest at road houses, and you ll get a first hand opinion where to go to find employment in the booming trucking industry, and make it a career of your life.

Labels: career advice, driving jobs

Posted by Unknown at 11:43 PM | Permalink