From Financial Services to Social Enterprise

From Financial Services to Social Enterprise Success Story > From: Job To: Job From Financial Services to Social Enterprise “I knew I wanted to do something 'good', but I didn't know what that could look like.” * From Financial Services to Social Enterprise Parita Doshi had wanted a career in social impact since she was 18. But life took her in a different direction, and she found herself working 'ridiculously hard' for something she didn't fully believe in. Here's how a leadership programme gave her the tools to find her 'fit'. What work were you doing previously? The bulk of my previous career was spent working at a strategy consultancy â€" Oliver Wyman Financial Services. What are you doing now? I now work at a social enterprise called Oomph! Wellness. Our mission is to transform the day-to-day quality of life of older people. My focus is on impact measurement and working closely with clients to ensure they're getting the maximum benefit out of our services. I've worked here for two-and-a-half years and it's been an exciting time during which we've been developing and scaling what we do. Why did you change? Whilst Oliver Wyman provided me with a really strong base of skills (that are extremely useful now), a good income and the opportunity to learn from very bright individuals, I couldn't get away from the fact that I was working ridiculously hard, and for what purpose? It felt like I was contributing to making the rich richer, rather than doing something I believed in and cared about. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I'd actually come across the concept of a social business when I was 18, from reading Muhummud Yunus' book, Creating a World without Poverty. I was really excited about his vision for the future, and this idea of the worlds of business and charity coming together. After university, I worked at Oliver Wyman and often felt I would change career at some point, but just didn't know to what, or how I would do it. I knew I wanted to do something 'good' but didn't know what that could look like or to whom I could reach out to support me in finding opportunities. Are you happy with the change? I am so pleased I made the shift. I feel I'm living my life more in line with my values and spending my time in a way that has a positive impact. I wake up in the morning and feel happier going to work… and it particularly motivates me when I have to do the really boring tasks to know it's for a bigger purpose that I care about! What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the rigour and drive for efficiency and excellence that was an embedded part of the culture and training at Oliver Wyman. But there are lots of things I don't miss! In particular, the crazy, long hours and feeling like what I did had little value beyond making money. How did you go about making the shift? I came across the On Purpose programme quite randomly and it sounded absolutely perfect for me. It's a year-long leadership programme for those who want to transition careers, combining paid placements, training, mentoring, coaching and an entire community. It meant I had a year to be exposed to all the different options, to figure out where I fitted in, and a network and the credibility to pursue what I wanted. The year was an incredible experience and enabled me to reach out to Oomph! and create the role I'm in now. Without the programme I would've found it extremely difficult to make the shift. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? When I finished On Purpose I didn't yet have a clear idea of what I wanted to do next. Whilst I'd spent the year being exposed to lots of different areas, I hadn't spent much time figuring out what that meant for my job. So, I ended up taking quite a bit of time out prior to getting a job to explore this, to leverage the networks I'd built, and to reach out to organisations that I thought were amazing and wanted to work for. In the end it all worked out… but I definitely could have done this sooner, like most others in my cohort! How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? Whilst on the On Purpose programme I had to keep particularly close watch on my finances. Luckily, I had some savings as a fallback. Since moving into the sector permanently, I've found a way to make it work and it's been much easier than I'd expected. Of course, the large pay cut from strategy consultancy has had implications for the type of place I live in, things I can do, and my total savings, but at least I have time to spend the money I do earn rather than working all of the time! And also, just knowing that I'm living in a way that's aligned with what I believe in brings me a lot of comfort and contentment; I wouldn't give this up purely to be able to have more financial luxury. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Initially, it was the culture shock of moving from one sector to another. The way people worked and approached things was very different to what I was used to and it did leave me quite frustrated at times, particularly when I felt things were moving very slowly or when there was no clear strategy around why something was being done. But as time went on I learned to appreciate the differences and the more-varied perspectives of the people that I was interacting with, and the value this could bring. What help did you get? I got a lot of help along the way. But the biggest thing that helped happened while I was trying to decide what kind of role I would do after On Purpose. I asked for coffees from many people in the social investment / intermediary space to understand which social enterprises they felt were doing exciting things and met some criteria I had in mind. Everyone I asked to meet (even if I didn't know them) very generously said yes and offered their time and advice and I really do appreciate that. It was through speaking to them I sought out my current organisation Oomph!. What have you learnt in the process? I've learnt to be more free and less worried about the future. I feel there are so many opportunities and exciting things going on in the sector that when I want to move I'll find something â€" I just need to go with the flow in life and keep my eyes and ears open to what's out there. I now think the adventure of not knowing what I might be doing in the future is part of the fun! I've also learnt that having a strong network is so critical to support you and provide these opportunities, which is why I really value the On Purpose community. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? I would say, if you're thinking of switching, just do it! The thought of the leap is scarier than the leap itself. Nothing is irreversible, you can always even switch back if you want! Also, it's a journey, so don't feel scared if you're not doing exactly what you expected straight away or if there are times of uncertainty. Just go with the flow and you'll find a way to make it work. To find out moreabout On Purpose, visit www.onpurpose.uk.com. What lessons could you take from Parita's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

7 Behaviors That Cost You Your Best Employees - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

7 Behaviors That Cost You Your Best Employees - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career If you dont respect, value, and challenge your best employees; know this. They will look for other opportunities. Smart, talented people can find jobs anywhere. As a matter of fact, your best employees probably have two other companies beating down their door at this very moment. But, if they feel loyal to your company, they wont budge. On the other hand, if you regularly display any of these behaviors, its only a matter of time before theyre gone. 1. They go  above and beyond to exceed  your  expectations, but  you fail to recognize the effort. You always want more, more, more. They come in early, leave late, spearhead a killer campaign, take initiative, but its never good enough. 2. Your  feedback isnt constructive. In fact, its borderline  nonexistent. In addition to lack of praise, you also dont offer any constructive criticism. They look to you for advice, feedback, and commentary. You give them none. If your best employee isnt mentally stimulated, theyll look for other opportunities. A career is supposed to challenge and change you, not keep you complacent. 3. You play office favorites. One week youre out to lunch with your operations director,  passing out unearned  praise. The next, you give your web designer a few extra paid days off, just because. The following, you shut your door and have an hour long gossip session with your customer service rep. Sensing a pattern here?  Eventually, even the most dramatic, meddling employees will get sick of playing games. 4. You fail to provide them with the resources they need to succeed. You hold them to a higher standard, but you dont equip them with the tools or education needed to meet these expectations. 5. You make broken promises. You promise the world.  You talk about every incentive under the sun, but dont actually follow through. After a while, this leads to feelings of doubt and resentment. Even if you and your star employee have an awesome friendship or working relationship, they start to question your intentions. Offering performance based incentives and rewards will drastically increase productivity, as long as you follow through. 6. You think in terms of I, not we. Its all about what your employees can do for your company. You see each individual as a catalyst to your bottom line, and nothing more. Because of that, you wouldnt mind offing even the top performing candidates for an outsourced solution. This is problem one of the worst behaviors, as its a mindset and not just a bad habit. 7. Youre reading this post right now, chuckling and saying to  yourself, My employees arent going anywhere. If this is you, its probably too late. Your best employees are on the job hunt as we speak. Save yourself the hassle and start looking for their replacement. Seriously though, all these rules border around one theme, and thats respect. Dont forget, employees are people too. People with real lives and real responsibilities. If you fail to recognize this, youll never be able to keep a decent employee around for longer than 1-2 years. On the surface, that might not sound too bad. You get to keep it fresh, and constantly bring in a new wave of talent, right? Wrong. A high turnover rate like this will make it hard for you to gain long term traction.

A Guide to Leadership Presence for Women on the Rise

A Guide to Leadership Presence for Women on the Rise Female leaders (or soon-to-be leaders)! You dont want to miss this!  This Monday, Get Ahead Club members will have the opportunity to listen to my interview with Ora Shtull, the author of  The Glass Elevator: A Guide to Leadership Presence for Women on the Rise. Ora Shtull helps senior executives  in Fortune 100 companies enhance their Leadership Presence â€" the ability to engage, connect, and influence in the workplace. Executives who have worked with Ora over the past 15 years are thriving at their jobs, being promoted, and making smooth and seamless transitions. In addition to coaching high potential executives, Ora has served as Adjunct Professor of Business Communication at NYU Stern School of Business. She is the author of The Glass Elevator: A Guide to Leadership Presence for Women on the Rise  and is a featured speaker at events across the US, inspiring leaders to communicate with confidence and lead with impact. What is the Get Ahead Club? I created the  Classy Career Girl Get Ahead Club  for professional women who are determined to get ahead in their careers.  This is my entry level of membership  and a great way to have ongoing access to me and other career experts at a very affordable rate. Topics range from how to get promoted, how to manage your time and how to manage stress and burnout. These women that I pick to interview are women that I REALLY want to talk to. I have heard them speak before and they have completely inspired me.  So I am being very picky and only choosing the best experts and successful professional women that I REALLY want to talk to. So I won’t waste your time. This is as good as it gets!  Today there are over 30 women in the Get Ahead Club and over 15 interviews to download and listen to for inspiration and motivation! Getting ahead is hard and I don’t want you to do it alone.  Click here to join us in the club. And as a special bonus only until September 15th, I am giving away to members my brand new guide,  â€œFemale Leadership Secrets: Strategies, Tools Secrets to Expand Your Leadership, Successfully Work With Men and Reach Your Career Dreams.”  This guide is a very special thing I have been working on and you dont want to miss this opportunity to get it free because it wont be next month!  Also, if you join by September 15th, you get access to all 15 interviews I have already completed in 2013.  Those 15 interviews will be taken off the site for new members after September 15th so you dont want to miss this opportunity to get access to ALL OF THEM before they go away! Click here to join us today! Get ready to GET AHEAD!

Personal Branding Weekly - The Owners Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Weekly - The Owners Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me” â€" Robert Schuller Your brand is up to you. You either rationalize that you don’t have time to focus on it, don’t think it matters, and don’t know where to start or you focus on it and take ownership of it. Rationalizing is just like it sounds â€" “rational” “lies” that we tell ourselves to not move forward or to take the lead.   Your personal brand is just that â€" “yours” and “personal” so it’s up to you to take the reins. I met Chris Brogan a couple of weeks ago at the New Media Expo in Las Vegas. He recently launched an online magazine, Owner.   He succinctly said that all of us, from employee to entrepreneur, is an owner of what they do and who they are. Have you taken ownership of your personal brand? Take the first steps towards ownership by answering these questions: 1. What makes you unique? 2. What five words do people use to describe you? 3. What vision do you have for you? 4. What do you think you’re really, really good at? This week make a bold move.   Answer one of these questions and share your answers here, in the comment section, or post it on my Facebook page. Here’s what we focused on this week. What one thing will you take action on? The Magic Ingredient that Creates a High Performing Workplace by Skip Weisman Effective Listening Strategies for Career Success by Nance Rosen 4 Ways to Tell if Your Personal Brand is in Danger by Heather Huhman Consider an Internship for a Career Change by Ceren Cubukcu Strategically Play Small to Win Big by Elinor Stutz Fit at Last: An Interview with Ken Blanchard by Bill Connolly Networking While in Transition is the Key to Success by Alex Freund Do You Professionally Text? by Eddy Ricci LinkedIn: Improve Your Visibility, Credibility, and Connect-Ability by Richard Kirby 9 Emerging Brands with Killer Business Strategies by The Young Entrepreneur Council Own Your Connections by Maria Elena Duron Use About.me to Showcase Your Resume by Susan Gilbert Goal Setting is Personal by Jeff Shuey Three Time Management Strategies for Freelancers by Leslie Truex 9 Ways to Get Bloggers Talking About Your Brand by The Young Entrepreneur Council Hang Out with People Who Bring Out Your Best by Beth Kuhel Exploiting A Niche to Master Your Brand by Nick Inglis 3 Themes for Writing Your Brand Story by Marc Miller How to Create Your Professional Vision Board by Crystal Washington Unearthing a credible, worthy personal brand takes time and effort. Sometimes though, we tend to get in our own way, often doing things that end up undermining our efforts. In an increasingly competitive world, you have to make the right choices in order to stand out. As one looking to establish a strong personal brand, you could be too focused on “being like everyone else” that you become average. Not being unique As mentioned before, competition is high, and you are battling with many others for the attention of the same market. Some brands have found successful ways to set themselves apart from others. Many other personal brands decide to survive through copycat techniques. Recognizing what makes you unique is important if you are to set your personal brand apart from the rest. Figure out what it is you do that no one, or few others, can do. Do you like volunteer work? Are you organized and manage your time well? Whether it’s something that relates to your personal or professional life, it is unique to you, and is an aspect that differentiates you from others.

Dream graduate career guide - Debut

Dream graduate career guide - Debut Searching for a job can be an exhausting process for even the most determined of individuals; going through each application with hope and optimism only to be left heartbroken and wanting to give up when you get a rejection. It’s mentally and physically tiring. So how do you go about getting the job you’ve always dreamed of? It seems so unattainable right? Well there isn’t a magic, easy way to achieve your dream career but follow this guide and who knows; maybe you’ll find yourself sitting pretty at your very own office desk in no time. Communication is key Where education is important it isn’t the be all and end all of securing the right job for you, soft skills are just as important and communication is one of the most important tools you will want to develop for when you begin face-to-face interviews. Communication may seem like a skill you don’t necessarily need to master for your chosen career, but there are always things you can improve on. Maintaining eye contact during interviews is one of the main points people struggle with when it comes to meeting new people. Practise maintaining eye contact with friends and family in preparation for interviews. You can also make a list of points you want to make in your interview in order to prevent yourself from forgetting anything you want to talk about. Tailor your CV If you know what specific area of industry you want to work, then you should tailor your CV to that sector. If you want to go into broadcast journalism for example, you may want to scrap some of the part time sales experience you have and instead replace it with skills you have learnt for this career path like interview technique, using specific editing software and camera work. Do some research You may know exactly what you want to do, but you really need to look into your career choice in full detail. Do not go into an interview or even start applying for jobs until you understand every minute detail about the role you want to undertake. Once you have received an offer for an interview, again do some extensive research into the company that has offered you this chance. Go in and impress those interviewing you with your knowledge. It will help you stand out from other candidates. Experience Gaining invaluable experience is one of the hardest things to do when preparing yourself for job searches. Some places only offer internships or placements if you already have previous experience in the sector you desire, whilst others offer unpaid placements which can be difficult if you have rent and other important bills to pay. You need to find somewhere that can offer you relevant experience that will suit you, even if it’s just a week’s worth of unpaid experience, if you can do it, go for it. Experience isn’t everything but it does look great on your CV and will help you settle in when you do nab that dream job. Include detail Giving advice on how to write your CV can be tricky as some employers will want different things to others, however including some detail on your responsibilities and duties in past jobs are a great little addition, especially if you can include numbers. For example if you were a student ambassador who organised an event for prospective students you could write: Organised a promotional event for my university, which saw 1,000 prospective students attend, where I had to deliver a speech about university life and make sure attendees had their questions answered. As well as including detail in your CV, you will need to do the same for your cover letter. Make your cover letter personal; include an anecdote or a quote if you think it’s fitting. Cover letters shouldn’t be long but they should encourage your potential employer to want to look further at your CV so make it snappy and interesting. Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Job Search Is No Joking Matter

Job Search Is No Joking Matter As a member of acommunity of resume writers and career coaches called the Career Collective, this post is one of many responses to “How to avoid being tricked by common job search blunders?” (in honor of April Fools Day!) I encourage you to visit other members responses, linked below.Please follow our hashtag on Twitter: #careercollective. Iwant to thank Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, MRW, CPRW, CEIP (www.careertrend.net) and Miriam Salpeter (www.keppiecareers.com) for bringing this team of experts together. Whether you are currently unemployed or plan on changing jobs, right now is the time to get your ducks in a row! It has been said that todays job search is not like it used to be (in the good old days). These are some things you can cross off your list and avoid: Searching Sundays Help Wanted ads in the newspapers Waiting for a response from the company that they received your resume Waiting for a response from the company that they would like to interview you, again Typing your resume and going to the copy shop to have 100s of copies made Using the same generic cover letter and mass mailing this stuff everywhere Logging onto the best job search boards to find yournext job Waiting until your unemployment is almost over to really start looking for a job Phew, no need to worry about those time commitments. Now you can focus on the really important things! Identify several different job titles to pursue Develop a list of companies that hire those titles Craft your LinkedIn profile Draft resumes for each of job titles you are pursuing (you will have to customize each resume whenever you submit it) Take steps to find people who work in those target companies (ie. network) Nurture relationships before, during and after the search! (Ooops, but it is never too late) Gather information, dont ask for jobs Be patient. Be giving. Be kind. If youve been in job search for awhile, this is too basic, I know. For the advanced job seeker (which no-one wants to admit to): Focus your communication. Dont send mixed messages Evaluate what is working and what isnt getting you results Take care of yourself Ensure your reputation and brand are on the webLinkedIn, Facebook, Virtual CV, Google Profile, etc. Commit time to volunteer in something that will feel rewarding Do something every day that pushes you out of your comfort zone Ask for help- financial, emotional, job search Do not hide behind your computer Dont stop reading yetVisit the expert advice for “How to avoid being tricked by common job search blunders?” The April, 2010, Career Collective Links 10 Ways to Tell if Your Job Search is a Joke, @careerealism April Fool’s Day â€" Who’s Fooling Who?, @MartinBuckland @EliteResumes If It’s Not You and It’s Not True, You’re FoolingYourself, @GayleHoward Don’t Kid Yourself! (The Person You See in the Mirror is a Good Hire), @chandlee Avoiding the Most Common Blunder, @jobhuntorg Are you fooling yourself? Bored at work? Is it your own fault?, @keppie_careers Hey, Job Seeker â€" Don’t Be a Fool!, @resumeservice Is Your #Career in Recovery or Retreat? (All Joking Aside), @KCCareerCoach 9 Ways You Might Be Fooling Yourself About Your Job Search, @heatherhuhman Don’t get tricked by these 3 job search blunders, @LaurieBerenson Trying to hard to be nobody’s fool?, @WorkWithIllness It’s not all about you, @DawnBugni Mirror ‘their’ needs, not ‘your’ wants in #jobsearch, @ValueIntoWords Stop Fooling Yourself about your Job Hunt: Things you may be doing to sabotage yourself â€" @erinkennedycprw Same as it ever was â€" @walterakana Don’t be fooled. Avoid these â€" @kat_hansen Job Seekers: You Are Fooling Yourself If...@barbarasafani Follow us on Twitter with our hashtag #careercollective

Example Summary For Resume

Example Summary For ResumeOne example summary for resume is a summary of accomplishments and duties that is attached to your resume. This may be used to answer questions like 'where can I find out more about you?'This summary is also sometimes referred to as an 'appearance' summary. These can cover any number of aspects, such as prior work experience, awards or recognitions, volunteer work, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, or military service. It may be very brief or it may be in a longer format.A one-page example summary for resume is used to answer simple questions like, 'where can I get more information about you?' or 'where do you see yourself in ten years?' If you are self-employed, this may be used to answer questions about ownership of business assets, business location, and ownership of inventory.Another example summary for resume is used to answer questions about a previous job. In addition to the basic information given above, this is used to answer questi ons such as, 'what was your main job responsibilities?' or 'what was your main task?' This example summary for resume can also be used to answer questions about training or education, management, leadership, project management, and computer skills.Sometimes, a company is in need of staff members with experience in a specific industry and that industry is only just being recognized in the media or other forms of media. These are examples of a 'career example' summary for resume.In addition to the examples given above, a two-page example summary for resume can be used to answer questions about education, training, credentials, research, and skills. In some cases, the sample resume may be accompanied by some type of curriculum vitae (cover letter) or other documents that detail the experiences the candidate has had. These documents can be in the form of letters, technical papers, and portfolios.Resume examples often include elements such as a technical paper, portfolio, or other types of pieces of work that reflect the professional qualifications of the person applying for a position. It is common for these samples to be submitted with a resume sample.An example summary for resume may be used by hiring managers to evaluate applicants. The basic information listed above may be provided to a hiring manager in the form of an example summary for resume.