From Engineer to Chef (Plus Post-shift Update)

From Engineer to Chef (Plus Post-shift Update) Success Story > From: Job To: Solopreneur From Engineer to Chef (Plus Post-shift Update) “I felt trapped by the lifestyle I'd built.” * Newly Updated From Engineer to Chef (Plus Post-shift Update) Ken Skinner's toxic work environment was taking a toll on his mental well-being. He couldn't see a way out â€" until his mindset changed. Here's how he got clear on his options, retrained, and moved into work he loves, and how it's all working out for him two years later. What work were you doing previously? I used to work as a structural engineer in the Oil and Gas industry. It was a career I fell into by accident. At school I earned marginally better results in the sciences and maths and was recommended by careers advisers to choose that path rather than the arts. I came from a family of engineers so I ended up doing a degree in mechanical engineering, thinking I'd end up designing sports cars. After graduation I was invited to join an Offshore Engineering consultancy in London and went for money rather than job satisfaction. What are you doing now? I now work as a private chef. Since graduating from a Professional Culinary Arts diploma a year ago I've been focusing on events catering in and around Exeter. How did you feel in your work before you decided to make the change? I hated it. The atmosphere in the offices that I worked in was toxic. I felt trapped by the lifestyle I'd built based on the high earning potential of the industry, and despite knowing I wanted to change I didn't know how. Why did you change? I became depressed and suffered with that for several years before I finally sought help from the NHS. Recovery from depression opened my eyes to the possibility of change. At that time the offshore industry started to tank. Jobs became scarce and the office environment worsened. When was the moment you decided to make the change? One day I found myself out of work with no opportunities on the horizon. I looked for new work but nobody was answering emails or returning phone calls. Instead of flogging a dead horse I took it to be a positive sign that it was time to do something different. How did you choose your new career? I read a few self-help books which didn't really click with me, then signed up for one of the Careershifters workshops. In one evening I gained enough insight into change that I felt I could finally make progress. I started by scrutinising both my existing and past life, going as far back as my childhood hobbies, looking at what made me happy and what I would choose to do even if I weren't paid for it. As I wasn't working, I had time on my hands, so I was able to push forwards in several directions at once. I quickly narrowed the field of options to writing, photography (a childhood obsession) and cooking. Are you happy with the change? Yes. I can say that without hesitation. It's hard work but I smile a lot. What do you miss and what don't you miss? At the moment I don't miss too much. I used to live in Central London and had a varied social life, travelled extensively and spent cash like it was going out of fashion. I now live in rural Devon and I thought it'd be too quiet. It isn't! How did you go about making the shift? Once I'd narrowed the field to my top three choices of writing, photography and cooking, I decided to combine the three with food being the central focus. I started writing a food blog about learning to cook better. I volunteered for a couple of food charities and one writing one. In the end I realised that I didn't have the knowledge base I needed and began researching cooking schools. I didn't feel I could commit to a three-year course so I started looking into intensive-learning diplomas. There were several in the London area, but when I found the Ashburton Chefs Academy in Devon, with its emphasis on high-quality ingredients and the whole 'farm to fork' process, it felt like the right fit. What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take? I wouldn't say anything didn't go well, as such, but I do think I was naive about how difficult the diploma would be for a mid-forties couch potato. It was physically and mentally gruelling, and in the first few weeks I'd often get home from school and collapse into a chair. I had wrongly assumed that I'd continue my writing and photography during the course. I had neither the time nor energy for either and life became about cheffing 24/7. How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible? I was lucky enough to own property in London, so I sold up. It wasn't an easy choice but it had to be done. What was the most difficult thing about changing? The hardest thing is the effect on family and loved ones as they're impacted too. Not everyone around you wants you to change as it can negatively impact them. What help did you get? I got help from Careershifters, of course, then later from an NHS careers adviser. Ironically, the treatment for my depression opened the door to an array of mental health services. My careers adviser was brilliant at being a non-judgemental sounding board and really reinforced some of the ideas that I'd got from the Careershifters workshop. What resources would you recommend to others? In the nicest possible way, use people. I grew up believing that being self-sufficient and solving your own problems was the 'right' way to live. That's nonsense. Ask people questions. Volunteer. Take friends and friends of friends out to coffee and pump them for info. Don't be afraid of working for free if you need to. Doors don't open by themselves. What have you learnt in the process? I've learned to get out in the world and do something different rather than sit inside and think about change. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Don't get too hung up on the destination. Start the journey and see where it takes you. I wouldn't recommend just taking the plunge unless you have a massive safety net, but I would say to stop thinking and start doing. Don't believe that you can effect change by yourself. Instead, talk to Careershifters and then actually listen and act. Be open to other people's advice and opinions. We caught up with Ken recently to see how his shift was working out, a couple of years on. Here's what he's been up to, and the biggest lessons he's learned. What's changed for you in your career since we first published your story? I've bought a guest house in Exeter, Devon. It's a fantastic business which provides a firm financial basis for me to do other things that interest me. It does mean that I've temporarily had to step away from the level of cheffing that inspires me, but the goal is to upgrade the kitchen to give me the facilities I need to get back into events catering. How do you feel about your work now? I don't really see it as work. It's my own business, which helps. There's a lot to get done each day but being the boss means I can have fun with it. Once you start shifting it's hard to stop! I still don't see what I'm doing now as the destination. It's a stepping stone along the way and I'm always looking for the next opportunity. What challenges have you come up against since making your shift, and how exactly have you dealt with them? The biggest challenge to the business has been staffing. We started with one employee and are now up to three. As we add revenue streams we can take more staff on but finding the right people has been more challenging than expected. How is the financial side of things panning out, and is this what you'd expected? I always knew that any change would start with a massive financial hit. Buying the guest house was definitely a 'head over heart' decision but a necessary step to gain stability during the change process. What have you learned, since making your shift? The more you put into something, the more you get out of it. Everything I've done, from private cheffing to owning the guest house, has been completely customer facing, where previously I used to mostly deal with computers. If you go all out to make sure a customer has a great experience then you get so much back from that yourself. It's a happiness feedback loop! Is there anything else you'd like to share? Just that the more you put yourself out there, the more opportunities come your way. I still remember sitting in an office thinking that I was going to have to keep doing what I was doing for the next 20 years, simply because I didn't know what else I could do. I couldn't see the way out. From the other side of the change, I can't imagine being back in that situation and mindset. There's always an opportunity to change. It may mean that you do work for zero pay or low wages but as long as you do something that gives you experience and opportunity then you're on the right track. To find out more about Ken's business, visit instagram.com/townhouse_exeter. What lessons could you take from Ken's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Free Resume Writing Service - Is it Worth it?

Free Resume Writing Service - Is it Worth it?Do you know the secrets of successful resume writing? Are you ready to make a difference in your career? If you think that a job interview will decide your future, then there is a high chance that you are not going to make it. The idea of landing an important position in your desired field of work is worth dreaming of and you should never give up!When you hire a resume writer, do you have to pay the cost for them to do their job? Yes, in most cases this is true. However, what if you can find a free service online?Resume writing service is a great resource for those who cannot afford to spend money on this. In fact, there are thousands of these services which can be used to generate a highly professional looking resume. The beauty of these services is that they allow you to choose the style and content that suit you.Resume writing service has enough resources to help you get the job you have always wanted. Once you land the job, you do not have to start from scratch. This is a great way to move ahead and be successful in your new venture.What if you still do not have a dream job? Do not worry because a resume writer is prepared to take on any kind of job. They can create resumes for nurses, surgeons, lawyers, businessmen, doctors, engineers, consultants, etc.When you hire a resume writer, you just have to agree to pay for the service. The fee is small compared to the long term benefits. You need not wait and hope that your dream job materializes.Free service will never suffice for quality as it will not give you the correct content or style to create a professional looking resume. What's more, these service providers charge more than those who are paid. Paid service providers have more money to advertise and sell their services and as a result they usually have the best services.Job offers are not easy to obtain but it is quite easy to lose a job when you fail to present the correct information on your resume. Resume writing service is the perfect solution to these problems. Give it a try and you will not regret it!

U.S. 2019 HR Job Insights Salary Growth, Wage Cautions, Gen-Z - Algrim.co

U.S. 2019 HR Job Insights Salary Growth, Wage Cautions, Gen-Z - Algrim.co This year, we’re releasing a special report. As we enter into a new year, consumers and workers should be aware of the changes afoot in the job market and how that may impact their quality of life in major metropolitan areas. We focused on Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles for our research and analysis as it pertains to geographical and metropolitan areas. As well as polled more than 50 business leaders, Chief Executive Officers, recruiters, Human Resource managers, and business owners. Survey’s were conducted understanding 2019’s Human Resource condition changes (both entering into a company as well as wage information once inside a company) then analyzed against information gathered from 2018, to give us projections into 2020. Key Research Findings for 2019 Millennial and Gen-Z job seekers are still “on the move” with roughly 58% of employees ages 21 - 28 change jobs within one to three years of employment. On average, more than 40% of adults in large metropolitan areas are living in “doubled-up” households. A strong indicator of lack of wage growth in accordance with true or “real” cost of living index (as indicated by Glassdoor). Less than 11% of new hires are being made through online job applications or online job board listings. Down from 14.9% in 2017. 11% is the conservative figure as a result of the business polling. Benefits programs are continuing to evolve. With more than 42% of Millennial and Gen-Z job seekers idealizing job flexibility, vacation pay, remote working, and other job flexibility benefits as more important than traditional 401k and retirement plans. On average less than 10% of hiring managers are using resumes and cover letters as an indicator of a job applicant's strength. Instead, they are seeking referrals and public previous work history as part of their measurement for a high profile candidate. Some areas of the research are expanded upon below and additional metrics have been provided. Please note that these sections are not entirely correlated to the data above but are additional insights able to be gleaned from the findings. Most Popular Jobs & Salary Growth In 2019 Compared To 2018 Here are the fifteen most common jobs and salaries from 2019 in the United States. Retail salespersons: $23,800 (0% change in 2019) Cashiers: $29,600 (+24% change in 2019) Food Service Worker: $25,300 (+16% change in 2019) Office Clerks: $29,500 (-9.38% change in 2019) Registered Nurses: $73,200 (+2.78% change in 2019) Customer Service Representatives: $33,500 (0% change in 2019) Waiters and Waitresses: $25,200 (+16% change in 2019) Laborers: $29,700 (+20% change in 2019) Administrative Assistants: $38,900 (0% change in 2019) Janitors: $28,800 (+7.15% change in 2019) General and Operations Managers: $91,500 (+18.75% in 2019) Stock Clerks: $27,000 (0% change in 2019) Truck Drivers: $47,900 (+9.3% growth in 2019) Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks: $35,500 (+12.5% growth in 2019) First-line Supervisors: $41,800 (+7.32% growth in 2019) This roughs out to a 5% median growth in wages across these fifteen jobs when calculating both the increase and decrease of the growth of wages. Information provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. Changes In Projected Cost Of Living In this model we’re going to look at housing, particularly rent, as our primary mode of analysis. While food, transportation, and other services make up a true cost of living indexâ€" we’re going to look at just rent. Chicago: Average rent of $1,965.00 per month with a projected yearly annual growth of expense at 4% New York: $4,245 per month with a projected yearly annual growth of expense at 2% Los Angeles: $2,530 per month with a projected yearly annual growth of expense at 3% This roughs out to a 2.5% growth in the expense of living this year, across three of the major cities and hubs for jobs in the U.S. Information provided by Rentcafe.com and the Bureau of Labor Statics. Living Behaviors In Metropolitan Areas While census data can provide us a lot of insight, human behavior data can be additional helpful. One of the measurements we look at is the number of people living with a roommate or parent in these metropolitan areas. In Los Angeles, 45.5% of adults live in a doubled-up household. In Chicago, 32.4% of adults live in a doubled-up household. And lastly, in New York, 40% of adults live in a doubled-up household. What this can indicate is a potentially incorrect census on the cost of living. These numbers, on average, are all up about 8% since 2000. National Wage Cautions Going Into 2020 While there are more than 12,000 job titles that need to be polled. What this surface-level data can tell us is that there are fairly slim growth margins as it pertains to average wage increases and cost of living increases. The differential leaves only a 2.5% wage grown margin after living expenses. This growth margin doesn’t include taxation. If we were to include even the lowest tax margin applied across all of the data polled, it would leave a net margin of an estimated 1.75%. Which is a very slim growth margin. PayScale and their PayScale Wage Growth Index reported roughly similar numbers, at a 2.6% year over year growth projection based on Q3, 2019 numbers. Strong Wages And Geographies San Francisco and Seattle were amongst the two cities that showed the strongest wage growth, as reported by PayScale. But if we cross analyze this information against the average rent and cost of living in these geographies, we see that their growth is equal our outweighed by the expense of living. Meaning, even though San Francisco and Seattle are heavily desired geographies due to job growth and wage increases, they are still subject to the 2.5% to 2.6% wage growth (not net of taxes) that the U.S. is exhibiting. What To Trust In Terms of Wages The PayScale “Real PayScale Index” is amongst the ones that should be trusted. The way PayScale calculates this is by the following: The Real PayScale Index incorporates the CPI and tracks the purchasing power of full-time private industry workers in the U.S. When the Real PayScale Index falls, then inflation is rising faster than incomes. In other words, a fall in the Real PayScale Index implies your income can buy less stuff than previously â€" the prices of goods are rising faster than the price of your labor (your wage). They are currently reporting a 0.7% year over year growth in real wages. Real Wage Growth and Cost Of Living Outlook While the national wage index is closely calling 2.5% to 2.6% at the end of Q4 2019, the real wage index is at 0.7% projected growth. If we were to calculate that against the rise in expenses, we would expect the cost of living to outpace the rise in real wages by about 1.8% per year, on end of Q4 2019’s trajectory. All Research Findings All research findings were made by conducting a survey amongst business leaders, Chief Executive Officers, recruiters, Human Resource managers, and business owners. More than 50 executives were polled in this process. All metric insights were gathered by analyzing Glassdoor, Salary.com, PayScale, and Bureau of Labor Statics.

5 Tips to Choosing the Best Career Path for You

5 Tips to Choosing the Best Career Path for You Whether youre a high-school senior filling up application forms for college, a working professional whos aiming to advance in your company, or someone whos suddenly out of a job, choosing the right career path can be hard and confusing. More so because at the present state of the economy, the competition can be quite tough. However, this task can be made a whole lot easier when you do your research and utilize a few useful tips in the decision-making process. 1. Stick to your interests When choosing the right career path for you, the most important thing that you need to remember is to stick to your interests. Dont think about whats in demand and what kinds of jobs pay the most. Doing so will only lead you to choosing the wrong path. Say youre interested in doing something thats at the bottom of the high-paying jobs list, follow your heart there anyway! When youre doing something that you love, the chances of you excelling in the field will be higher and the money will follow soon enough. 2. Identify your skills and qualities This is an aspect that most people fail to give importance to. Some may think that they have no skills at all but that is entirely untrue. Some people are born with leadership skills, while some are better suited to be followers. The former are those that excel well in careers that have to do with management because they are born with the qualities needed to lead people. Followers, on the other hand, are not to be taken lightly because they play a major role in ensuring the success of any project. When it comes to your qualities, pay attention to how you respond in certain situations. Are you the type of person that aims for perfection? Do you respond well to pressure? Your answers to these questions will help you figure out the next step after youve determined your interests. 3. Think outside of the box If you feel that youre not really cut out to be an employee, why not start your own business? Decide on what type of business you want to be involved in and then get the necessary knowledge and develop the skills needed to make it happen. Dont worry about putting up the capital for it just yet. Focus on building a network, and building your business plan. Financing options will come up when you have a solid plan. 4. Take your time Dont decide on your career path just because youre being pressured by your parents or bored out of your mind in your current job. If you have to, take time out to figure out what you really want to do. Some people take up part-time jobs or internships in fields they think might be a good fit for them just so they can get a feel of what its like to be working there. Others take a break from everything and travel to places so they can clear their minds. Do what you have to do to determine what type of job will make you feel happy and fulfilled. 5. Be Patient Making a career out of what you love doing is not as easy as you may think. Expect to encounter a few bumps in the road while you’re treading down the path that youve chosen. Give it time and continue striving to achieve what youve envisioned for yourself. Besides, success is always sweeter when you know that youve worked really hard for it. Do you feel better about choosing your career path after reading our tips? Let us know in the comment section below!

Writing a Summary Statement on Resume

Writing a Summary Statement on ResumeIt is important that when writing a summary statement on resume, that you should always keep in mind what your resume statement should be about. It should be made to cater to the needs of the employer, as well as the candidate.Before creating the summary on resume, you must first have a detailed description of your business background. A short summary may be helpful but should not be considered as the complete resume. You will want to make sure that you do not exaggerate the facts. Keep in mind that a resume is only meant to prepare the candidate for a job interview.You can also use the information on the summary statement to convince the employer that you are qualified for the job. Employers often use a summary statement as an initial assessment before hiring someone. The summary statement can provide a candidate with all the information that they need to be considered for the job. Use a short and crisp description of the job that you are applyin g for to illustrate the ability and experience that you have. The summary statement should not be overly long, as it will only take the employer longer to read through the entire statement.Once you have filled out the summary statement on resume, you should submit it with the resume along with the cover letter. This gives the employer the idea that the candidate is serious about the job. You want to make sure that the employer knows that you are really looking for a job and you have to put effort into your resume.Writing a summary statement on resume is the best way to create a powerful statement that has the reader's attention. The summary statement is the first thing that the reader sees. With this the next few sentences should focus on your qualifications and specific achievements. Be sure to leave a little bit of room for your accomplishments that are worthy of praise.The most important part of the summary statement on resume is the introduction. This should be the first thing o n the resume and you want to make sure that you do not leave anything important out. Start with a strong introduction and do not neglect to include your contact information. The introduction will always catch the eye of the reader, so you want to make sure that you capture the reader's attention.As mentioned before, the summary statement on resume is not the entire resume, but it is the first impression that the reader gets from the resume. The summary should be able to grab the reader's attention, and it should make the reader wonder about the candidate and the future opportunities that they can get.Remember that the summary statement on resume is not the entirety of the resume. Instead, it is an introduction to the resume. It can help you build credibility with your potential employer, so that you can begin the interview process with ease.

How to Google yourself - and why you should Google yourself - Sterling Career Concepts

How to Google yourself - and why you should Google yourself How to Google yourself and why you should Google yourself With the first part of the calendar year being a popular time for career moves and transitions, this is a good time to bring up the importance of checking the results when you Google yourself.  By this point, you can assume a company considering hiring you will Google your name. This means you should be doing it as well and well ahead of time so you can work on improving your results. If there is negative or unfavorable content online about you, it can be difficult to have it removed. It can however be pushed down with the addition of new, positive content.  This is why its important periodically to Google your name to see what the search results include. Waiting until you are in the midst of an active job search is not the best time to be checking your Google results for the first time.  Its something thats best monitored proactively and consistently over time. Typically, your LinkedIn profile and published posts on LinkedIn rank highly.  Any pages related to a URL that you have of your own should also rank highly. In my personal searches, I noticed that Facebook and other social media profiles showed up on the first page as well. Advice I Share with Clients If youre looking to boost whats found online for your name, my number one recommendation for professionals would be to focus on LinkedIn.  My second recommendation would be to create additional professional social profiles. One that you can create and control is About Me, which as of the time of this writing, offers a free one-page option. Once youve done an initial assessment, now its smart to monitor going forward. Setting up a Google Alert for your name is an easy way to stay aware of any future mentions.  Youll receive an automatic email notification any time your name is mentioned online. Social media can have a very positive or negative impact on your professional reputation. Be very careful with what you post, tweet, and share. If you have a Facebook or Instagram account, make it private and check its security settings. Remember that anything can still be screenshotted, shared, or printed. On the flip side, professionals can successfully use social media to boost their reputation. A  blog or posts published on LinkedIn shows your industry expertise. An active Twitter account engaged with industry leaders conveys your knowledge. Similarly, an Instagram account does the same if your industry is more  creative. The following infographic created and shared by Reputation Management.com  offers helpful tips to take control of your online reputation. How to Google Yourself

Oil, salt and vinegar - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Oil, salt and vinegar - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog A simple, sincere Thank you can go a long way at work. As this story beautifully illustrates, Thank yous are part of the oil, the social lubricant, that makes for good relationships in the workplace. Oil, salt, and vinegar By Pilar Cambra Chief columnist for Expansi?n newspaper. Try this one day ? any day, any normal, run-of-the-mill day: add up the time you spend complaining, grumbling, moaning ? tacitly or explicitly ? and the time you spend thanking and praising. Is there more vinegar than oil?? It happened some time ago, but the incident ? as tiny as a grain of mustard- has remained in my memory? One day I was in a hurry (and late) for work, and parked my car lopsided in the company car park? ?It doesn?t matter,??? I said to myself, ?the bloke who uses the space next to me normally comes in on his motorbike!? So there?s plenty of room for him to park????. And off I went, thinking no more of it? But it turns out that the colleague who parks next to me sometimes comes by motorbike, but others he comes by car. And on that particular day he had to choose his car: quite a large vehicle which, obviously, came nowhere near fitting into the small space I?d left for his motorbike? After a while, by which time I was engrossed in more pressing matters, I got a call from the car park attendant: ?Mrs. Cambra?: Would you mind parking your car properly?? The user of the place next to you says he just can?t get his into the space you?ve left????. I?ll confess: the sharp vinegar of bad temper surged up inside me? ?I?m on my way!??? I told the attendant. And so I went down to the car park, huffing and puffing, of course, cursing the hassle, the interruption, and the bloody idea of my colleague to bring his bloody car instead of his bloody motorbike? Anyway: I moved my car into the exact space which it should take up and went back up to the office breathing fire, like St.George?s dragon? A few minutes later, I got another call: ?Pilar? it?s your car park neighbour I?m just calling to apologise for having to bother you and, of course, to thank you for moving your car so quickly? Thank you!???? I was so taken aback that I could barely speak In the end, in the midst of a black sea of shame for my awful behaviour, my terrible thoughts and nasty complaining, I replied: ?No, thank YOU ? you?re a good person, there aren?t many left these days! I?m sorry and I promise you?ll never have any problems parking your car again???. Do you know what?: thanking someone seems to have fallen out of common use, become old-fashioned, out of step with our straight-talking and somewhat brusque times? In fact, it almost sounds naff? ?Thank you???, we say; and right away, we shudder at the prospect of hearing the slimy voice, 1950?s radio presenter style, coming back at you with ?no, madam?thank yoooouuuuu???? How jaw-clenchingly awful!? In the work environment the idea of ?not owing anyone anything??? is held up and honoured: the more independent we are, the more manly (or womanly) we feel Thanking people for favours, small or large; for support, minimal or huge; for services, inconsequential or decisive; is a bit humiliating: as if turning to others when we need them weakens us, undermines our reputation as a super-exec-who-goes-it-alone? The oil of gratitude, gratitude which makes the cogs turn without squeaking, sliding smoothly and politely, falls far below the sharp vinegar of our complaining, protests, reproaches? As if vinegar makes us stronger, less vulnerable, more invincible? And I?m not saying that complaining, if it is fair and necessary, is not a fundamental part of keeping justice in the workplace? But, just like in a salad dressing, a few drops may be enough. Mainly so we don?t drown out the salt, of our cordial lives, of working with a smile on our faces. Thank you to Jaizki Arteagabeitia Perea for finding this article in Spanish, for telling me about it and for arranging to have it translated into English. And of course thanks to Pilar for giving her permission to reproduce it here! The article was translated by the nice people at contentspanish.com. Thanks!! Related: Four fantastic phrases at work (includes thank you!) How to complain constructively Pilar Cambras blog The original version of the article in Spanish : Aceite, vinagre y sal. More articles by Pilar Cambra (also in Spanish). Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related