Saturday, March 28, 2009

5 Pitfalls to Avoid While Searching Jobs Online

Most of us believe that once we have uploaded our resume on the top online job search sites, the work is done. In fact, it is just the opposite. The process has just begun!
Just enrolling yourself in a job site is not sufficient. There are many other factors that come into play for achieving the best results. Here are the most common pitfalls one should avoid while searching for a job online.
Not having a strategy - Just submitting your resume's soft copy would not do. You need to have a strategy, a clear picture of what you actually want and how you will go about it. Know exactly what you are looking for. Know the essentials required for the job and ensure you have them. If you have a generic cover note which you are going to use for every application, it might not prove that effective. Tweak the cover notes to make it suitable for a particular job.
Avoiding usage of 'job jargon' - Most applicants I know tend to avoid the so called 'jargon' in their resume or profile. But what they fail to realize is that in most cases, there is a software that is skimming the resumes for basic job keywords. Even when there is a human, he is 'searching' using certain job keywords. These keywords are more jargon centric. If your copy does not have these, they would automatically get filtered out. Do stick to the job jargon to be filtered in!
Apply randomly - Another big mistake is to apply for a job everywhere. There is a myth that applying everywhere randomly would provide more visibility and increases the chances of getting a job. Wrong. In fact, it will only make you loose credibility.
Check on your job search only once a week or less - You have applied online, or submitted your resume online and you sit back. You need to be proactive. Keep a tab on each application, follow up aggressively, check your mails everyday so that you do not miss out on any opportunity.
Human networking is not required - Nearly 75% of people I have interacted with believe that if they are going the online way, they can easily evade human networking. But the fact is, that networking is important even then! Look out for any one known in the company you have applied in. Try getting in touch personally with the person who is going to make the decision. Give him a call, write in a mail, let there be a personal touch. Ensure you have a good online and offline networking through communities etc. It always helps.
It is important to realize that applying for jobs online is not the end, but the beginning of the process. After all, you want to land up in a job which you like and which meets most of your parameters and sustain it too...

5 Pitfalls to Avoid While Searching Jobs Online

Most of us believe that once we have uploaded our resume on the top online job search sites, the work is done. In fact, it is just the opposite. The process has just begun!
Just enrolling yourself in a job site is not sufficient. There are many other factors that come into play for achieving the best results. Here are the most common pitfalls one should avoid while searching for a job online.
Not having a strategy - Just submitting your resume's soft copy would not do. You need to have a strategy, a clear picture of what you actually want and how you will go about it. Know exactly what you are looking for. Know the essentials required for the job and ensure you have them. If you have a generic cover note which you are going to use for every application, it might not prove that effective. Tweak the cover notes to make it suitable for a particular job.
Avoiding usage of 'job jargon' - Most applicants I know tend to avoid the so called 'jargon' in their resume or profile. But what they fail to realize is that in most cases, there is a software that is skimming the resumes for basic job keywords. Even when there is a human, he is 'searching' using certain job keywords. These keywords are more jargon centric. If your copy does not have these, they would automatically get filtered out. Do stick to the job jargon to be filtered in!
Apply randomly - Another big mistake is to apply for a job everywhere. There is a myth that applying everywhere randomly would provide more visibility and increases the chances of getting a job. Wrong. In fact, it will only make you loose credibility.
Check on your job search only once a week or less - You have applied online, or submitted your resume online and you sit back. You need to be proactive. Keep a tab on each application, follow up aggressively, check your mails everyday so that you do not miss out on any opportunity.
Human networking is not required - Nearly 75% of people I have interacted with believe that if they are going the online way, they can easily evade human networking. But the fact is, that networking is important even then! Look out for any one known in the company you have applied in. Try getting in touch personally with the person who is going to make the decision. Give him a call, write in a mail, let there be a personal touch. Ensure you have a good online and offline networking through communities etc. It always helps.
It is important to realize that applying for jobs online is not the end, but the beginning of the process. After all, you want to land up in a job which you like and which meets most of your parameters and sustain it too...

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The Write Answer

A few years back, like many women when they enter mid-life (and sometimes earlier) I took a closer look at the time I had left. Each of my "lives" - business, community and private - felt separate from each other, like masks I put on and took off.
The biggest area of disconnect came with what I was doing for a living. I was successful, making a more than decent income in my own business but as time went on I came to understand that what I did for a living wasn't living. Not for me. In fact, not to be too dramatic about it, it was killing something inside of me.
I had a big choice to make - one that involved understanding "What I wanted to be when I grew up."
I went searching and found the answer to that question. It wasn't easy but now I work with women who are bodacious and funny and bold in their approach to life. I love the excitement when they make the connection to their core and step out of their comfort zone. I feel like a midwife to their dreams.
In this work, I hear over and over that same lament. "I don't know what I want to be when I grow up?" It takes a lot of courage to search for the answer because you don't know what it will demand of you. Even as you choose a bolder approach to life, you wonder how to make it more real, more authentic. You don't want to just make a living anymore. You want to live.
So how do you go about doing that? How do you find yourself again?
One way is to keep a journal.
Forget all the assumptions you may have about journaling. There is only one real rule - Tell The Truth. After all, if you lie to yourself, who are you really hurting?
If you can't write your truth because you worry someone may find your journal, find a way to keep your work secret, particularly if the truth could put you in danger. There is no dishonesty in this. It is, rather, a radical act of self-care.
You might want to put in a file marked "1999 Tax Returns" or lock it in your desk at work. Other options are passworded files on your computer or one of the many websites where you can write privately with accessibility limited to yourself. Google LiveJournal for an example.
Forget the idea that you have to write everyday. Just be sure to write and get to know the woman you are now that you're all grown up.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Coaching Program - 5 Steps to a Super Successful Coaching Program

What if you learned how to setup a powerful coaching program that will make you massive profits starting today? Do you want to know the secrets to setting up a successful coaching program that will make you big money right from the start? The purpose of this article is to show you the same secrets that the gurus have been using since years to print money from their clients.
Here are 5 simple steps to get you started instantly.
Step 1 - Feedback is the key to coaching success. Step 2 - Provide your high paid clients your personal contact number. Step 3 - Provide them unlimited email support. Step 4 - Keep them updated on latest trends in your niche. Step 5 - Give them a personal touch to solve their problems.
The purpose of this article is to get you started today quickly, easily and confidently with your first coaching program.
Checkout the step by step details right here...
Step 1 - Feedback is the key to coaching success.
To make your coaching program highly successful you have to make sure that you constantly ask for feedback from your clients.
You can even include a feedback form right inside your coaching members' area where your clients can drop their feedback and then you can include their requirements and suggestions in your coaching program.
It is important to give your high paid clients a personal touch; this will keep your members subscribed for a longer period of time...
Step 2 - Provide your high paid clients your personal contact number.
Make sure that you give your contact number to your high paid clients so that they can get back to you in times of their problems.
This will make sure that they will consider you an expert and come back to you constantly and stay as a valued member for a long time.
Your support system should be terrific if you want to make it big with your coaching program...
Step 3 - Provide them unlimited email support.
It is important that you provide unlimited email support to your clients, this will give them confidence that they have an expert at hand to help them in times of their need.
This will make sure that you have members subscribed to your program for a long time due to your strong customer support.
You have to constantly keep yourself updated with the latest trends in your niche to make money online with your coaching program...
Step 4 - Keep them updated on latest trends in your niche.
To make your coaching program super successful you have to make sure that you update yourself with latest ideas in your niche to solve problems of your customers.
This will get them to approach you when there is something new in your niche, you will be a one stop solution for them.
Make sure that you give them one on one support to get them started solving their problems...
Step 5 - Give them a personal touch to solve their problems.
Make sure that you always try your best to provide them personal touch and stay connected with them using monthly group coaching calls, webinars, teleseminars, etc.
Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed by brand new few guide "How to Generate a Full Time Income Online Selling Your Coaching Services"

Friday, March 13, 2009

Sober Living Home the Best Choice

What is the best choice of an alcohol and drug free living environment? Once you have conquered your drug addiction problem you may have no where to go. It is really difficult to return to your old lives surrounded by the people who supported and in some cases encouraged your drug abuse. You may not need the full inpatient treatment of drug rehab or even need the structure of a halfway house or transitional living. But, you certainly would feel safer and more secure if you knew you were away from the old influences of your past life. The best choice and one you should definitely consider is a sober living home.
One of the biggest strengths and keys to your recovery is to surround yourself with like minded people who are also seeking support in a sober living environment. Most importantly no drugs or alcohol are permitted is absolutely the basic requirement and structure of a sober living home. Each individual home rules and structure may vary to a degree but you can rest assured there will be no drugs or alcohol permitted. You or your housemate are certain to arrive at different times in their recovery and you will find that many sober living homes will follow a twelve step approach providing those who have more time in the program the opportunity to be counselors for their peers. You will find this approach to inpatient drug rehab and transitional living will provide for many more benefits of your recovery including much more personal freedom.
You can rest assured living in a controlled environment like a sober living home that provides the security and safety net to protect you from the pitfalls of your recovery is championed by all major drug treatment programs. Having the constant support of others who share the realities of your past and understand the difficulties you are facing offers you the 24 hours support in your constant pursuit of you inpatient drug rehab therapy. You can be certain that having a sober living residence free of drugs and alcohol will make the possibility of relapse more remote and unlikely, leading you to a successful recovery.
Sober living home may not be a good option for you and in reality is not for everyone recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Unfortunately, many of our insurance plans today only provide for detox in life threatening situations and may not even consider covering drug addiction problems and rehab. So it is a matter of fact that a sober living environment for you may be based more on economics than need, so be sure to search around to find a sober living house you can afford.
A major hurdle to sober living is unfortunately the cost associated with it and an all too familiar roadblock to recovery. Many of our insurance companies will cover the cost of drug treatments but seldom do they want to provide the funding for any kind of long term drug treatment. So keep in mind that many full time rehab treatment programs and sober living homes will not be totally covered by your insurance. They seem to prefer the short term, less expensive treatment of a simple detox and literally force you back into the perpetual endless cycle of relapse and recovery.
Please keep in mind a sober living home is only a short term solution. Most of the drug treatment plans will require a stay of at least 30 days providing you with the continued support group of the other residence in the home. Returning you back to the community as a constructive good citizen is the major goal of sober living. One of the best benefits of sober living will is your ability to make new friends, sober friends who will continue to support your efforts in your drug addiction treatment. Take advantage of the opportunity sober living presents and you will be completely ready to return to your community clean and sober at the completion of your stay.
Life comes at us full stride. Never a dull moment and full of many twist and turns. Today Julie, my daughter is a beautiful young woman, but there were times, I was terrified of the hearing the doorbell ring. Always fearful of the news of another overdose. Perhaps you can relate. You are in good company, not many families in this country have escaped the terror brought on by the drug addiction of a child, spouse or even a Mother and Father. I will attempt to share a few stories of our journey through drug hell...but, most importantly I would like to extend to you that there is hope.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Don't Throw Your Teen to the Wolves

Shoplifting, sex, drinking - These is all pressures that our teens are facing every day while they are away from us. Peer pressure is a danger that looms large in the life of all teens, like a pack of wolves hovering near unsuspecting prey. Peer pressure either threatens to steal your teen's fragile confidence and self-esteem in an instant, or promises the ability to fit in and be a part of the group of friends they have chosen. When they were young children, they had you nearby to tell them what they should or shouldn't do. Now that your children are older, they've got to make those decisions on their own. Instead of throwing them to the wolves, help them to be prepared to handle the pressures of teenage life and make good choices for themselves.
To give your kids the best chance possible to combat the peer pressure they will surely encounter, your best strategy is to give them every opportunity to build their self-esteem. There are jobs for teens that can help with this, either paid or volunteer. But what helps to build kids self-esteem more than anything is parents who listen. As children grow into teens, and branch out to become separate people from you, it can be difficult and scary. If not like you, then who will they be? Here's a statement that may help you during this time of growth and self-discovery for your teen. Although they may seem to stray off the path during these years, once into adulthood children typically return to their roots.
In raising teenage daughters, one might worry that they will face issues where body image will affect self-esteem in their fragile children. Ted Pappas, MD, in his quote to Cincinnati Children's Hospital confirms this issue. He finds that teenage girls, especially, look for their self-esteem in others. "Instead they should believe in themselves, accept themselves with all their mistakes and successes." Here's where things sometimes fall apart: Fathers and daughters don't interact as they should. According to Linda Nielsen, a psychologist with 30 years experience, “most fathers and teenage daughters never get to know one another as well, or spend as much time together, or talk as comfortably to one another, as mothers and daughters.” Why is this important? Because fathers are the window for their daughters future relationships, as well as the mirror through which a daughter will look for acceptance. Here are a few tips on how fathers can step up to the plate:
Start by taking turns participating in activities that each enjoys
Go to a religious service, go to a movie or spend an afternoon running errands together.
Ask questions like: What do we like most about each other? How are the two of us alike?
Whereas body image is an issue girls may be more prone to encountering, a wise parent will also watch for influences over the boys in the home. The best thing a parent can do for their adolescent child regarding body image is to have a healthy image of themselves. Although they are quite adept at hiding it, our teens really are watching and listening to us. Ed Harmon, Ph.D., from the Arbor Vitae Institute suggests you use this to your advantage by displaying a positive attitude towards yourself and towards them in a casual manner. Parents need to understand that teens often clam up because they feel they are being subjected to a lecture rather than participating in a discussion.
Young people are in a grey area where they are not children and not yet adults. It is the time in life when they need their parents to be a strong presence in their lives, and yet it is the time in life when many parents disappear. Not because they don't care, but because they may not know what to do with their teen. They may begin releasing their teens before the child is ready, or offer many rewards for expected behaviors just to keep the peace at home. This type of parenting is ineffective. Parents must continue to reach out daily to their teen children in order to open up crucial lines of communication" it is you who stands between them and the wolves. It is you who sometimes has to hold them back when they want to join the pack!
The fact is that the teen years are a time when these young people are experimenting and examining themselves to find out who they really are. This is why you see boys with blue Mohawks and girls with pink and black streaked hair. According to Carleton Kendrick, Ed.M., LCSW, “Expressing independence through clothes, hair, and accessories is an important part of the adolescent maturation process.” And your job through all of this self-examination your teen is doing? Support them. Here are some tips from Mr. Kendrick that will help you do just that:
Be patient and have faith. Remember that your teen is just exploring. Remain close to them and you will learn you still have a great deal of influence.
Don't take it personally. They are not doing it to hurt you. This is just something they need to do for themselves
Let them learn their own lessons. Ouch! We want to shield our kids from everything we can! But what they learn from experience will have a much greater impact than anyone's words.
Choose your battles. Keep the Big Picture in mind at all times.
Support, support, support! You don't have to approve of the dress, but you can learn to appreciate their enthusiasm! They will notice!
Look for the Good. Compliment what you can with sincerity. This will give their self-esteem an extra boost.
Here's the good news: kids don't hate their parents. They need your guidance just as much now as ever, if not more. Raising children is a balancing act from the time they are very young, to the time they are grown. As much as it may seem to consume your energy to speak to your teen so they will listen -and so they will open up to you in return - the rewards both you and your teen will gain from your efforts will last a lifetime. You may even find the adventure of getting to know and appreciate the complex person that is your teen child thrilling!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Bible Verses - Encouraging Bible Verses on Money and Living

Can you identify the best selling book in history? The answer can be discovered in "The Top Ten of Everything" by Russell Ash.
The Bible holds the top position. No one knows how many copies of the Bible have been printed, sold, or distributed. The Bible Society's attempt to account for the number printed between 1816 and 1975 produced the figure around 2.4 billion. A more recent survey, for the years up to 1992, puts it closer to 6 billion in more than 2,000 languages and dialects. Whatever the precise number, the Bible is by far the best selling book of all time. Few individuals realize it's also the most popular book of the year-year after year. Does this book have something fundamental to tell us? The Bible has valuable things to say about numerous life topics but I'd like to focus on issues of money and living.
If you were to ask a dozen prominent and successful people and ask them to identify the keys to their achievements, many would agree that a divine element helped shape a life of harmony, balance, peace, and prosperity.
Here are ten key bible verses related to money and living, all taken from the respective chapters in the Book of Proverbs:
-10:4 "Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich."
-11:4 "Riches won't help on the day of judgment, but right living is a safeguard against death."
-13:7 "Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor."
-13:11 "Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows."
-14:23 "Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty."
-16:9 "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps."
-19:17 "If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord-and He repays you!"
-21:5 "Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."
-22:6 "Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it."
-23:4 "Don't weary yourself trying to get rich. Why waste your time? For riches can disappear as though they had the wings of a bird."
One of the most common yet highly seductive sins in our society is greed, or materialism. Many people exhaust themselves seeking to gain more and more money so they can buy more and do more. There is nothing bad with money; it's the eternal quest of our own pleasure that God condemns. True joy comes from serving God and others with the things God has given us.
If life seems to be one endless struggle after another or healthy ideals have escaped you, time spent reading and meditating daily on messages taken from bible verses can be encouraging, inspirational, and rewarding.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

But We Are All Missing the Point?

The World Are Talking about Crisis, a crisis about money - right. But we are all missing the point?
I will not be sucked into a negative dark hole. I will combat the negative news with my positive thoughts and actions.
You probably think: What is he up to!
The point I would make: You and I are responsible. 100% and always. You and I are in control.
Who is responsible of my shares has fallen, the value of my house has fallen - I Am - Finished End.
And I know that you know it.
Worried about this - No Newer - You just have to be patient.
AND here is the important part.
You and I are responsible for this so-called finance crisis.
Why: We Watch a news program saying that the world is about to go under! We Buy a newspaper with a headline that predicts doomsday! We Talk with worried friends, so we just put gasoline on the fire!
And the media, always makes the problem worse, by focusing only on the Negative.
- war, violence, the financial crisis, etc., etc.
Is this the way we want to live our lives, with a focus on the negative all the time?
Think about this: "Man is what he is thinking of."
So when you get worried about the financial crisis, you only makes the problem worse.
You and I can do something about it, by taking responsibility, and do something about it:
Focus on your dream and what you want to achieve.
Focus on your loved ones.
Focus on the solution instead of the problem.
Using the Law of attraction and a lot of hard work, you will achieve miracles.
Do not buy any newspapers.
Do not watch the news on TV.
Tell you friends and family, how much you appreciate them.
Through actions and thoughts we can make the problem worse or better - it's our choice.
We are responsible individually and society collectively to minimize the problem by refusing to put more gasoline on the fire.
Remember to be grateful for what you have and focus on your dreams, not what you fear.
"When you carry out acts of kindness you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, yes, this is how I ought to feel."

Friday, March 6, 2009

Good Goals For You - Choose Meaningful and Ecological Outcomes to Create a Delightful Future

Many people decide they want something and believe it will bring them happiness. It may be a relationship, money, success, a car, home or other things. That is all very well and good; the problem is when we do not really explore and reflect on our goals, so we eventually acquire the desired object or reach the desired outcome, but find we are not truly happy. We need to consider whether achieving our goals will really make us feel good, because they really fit in with our 'vision' or dream in every sense and match our core beliefs and values.
Ask yourself if your goals make use of your unique talents, skills, qualities and experiences. Do they really resonate with your true, core beliefs and values? Do they match up with what really brings you pleasure and a sense of purpose in your life?
When we neglect these considerations, we are in danger of attracting things by default because we have not really thought about what achieving something really means to our personal happiness. So we may get a job, spouse, car, money or whatever but not the sense of joy and fulfilment we really desire.
'Good goals' or Ecological Outcomes
When deciding on a goal it is therefore really important to have the desired outcome in mind and to be really sure what it is we want to see and feel when we achieve it.
Does it match up with your vision, qualities, beliefs and values? What effect will achieving it have on:
- You? - People close to you? - Your Community? - Society? - The Environment? - The Global Community?
Once you are satisfied that your goal is meaningful and will have an ecologically beneficial effect really picture yourself having achieved your outcome, and generate the good feelings in your body, the sense of 'being there' in your mind and body. Practise doing this as often as you have time for. Remember that the more benefits achieving the goal will bring to everybody, the more compelling it will be.
Writing a Goal - some tips to help you succeed:
- Write it as if it is happening now (e.g. I am my ideal weight of..) - Make it specific (e.g I enjoy exercising 3 times a week) - Be realistic - aim high and also know that it is achievable for you - Put a time to it (e.g. it is a year from now and I am living in..) - Make it for you, and only you. - Consider how it will affect the people around you, and your surroundings when you have achieved your goal - Know how you will know when you have achieved it; form a clear, bright picture in your mind. What will you see, hear, feel? - Now let your unconscious mind do the rest! - When one goal is achieved, replace it with another one
Copyright Pamela Turton-Collens 2009 All Rights Reserved.
The author is a highly experienced teacher and trainer, having worked with children, young people, adults and professionals in all aspects of education, healthy lifestyles and personal, social and health education, including training professionals to use NLP based tools to promote positive change. The approach is creative and innovative, making use of my experience and skills to produce and deliver programmes which are engaging and suited to the different needs and learning styles of the participants.
Pamela has a Master's degree in Language, Arts and Education, has trained in Brief Solution Focussed Therapy, holds a certificate in Counselling Skills in the Development of Learning and is a Certified Practitioner of both Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Emotional Freedom Techniques.The Metaphorm programme was created by the author and is a unique, holistic approach, incorporating elements of life-coaching strategies, NLP, EFT and current thinking in positive psychology. The title, Metaphorm, is made up from some of these elements:
'Meta' refers to a higher level of learning, where we can bring about change easily and naturally when we deal with our core beliefs and values. 'Metaphor' is about the way we represent our experience and the 'stories' we tell ourselves. When we create a new metaphor for ourselves, it is a powerful way of accessing our unconscious mind and activating change, usually at an unconscious level. 'Metaphorm' is also a play on the word 'metamorph', introducing the idea of something transformed.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

How it is Truly Done - Examples of Goal Setting and How They Can Work For You

Setting goals is not hard. You have to choose what you want and have the guts and determination to follow it. You have to set 10 year plans based on what you want from life and then narrow them down into 5 year plans 1 year plans 6 months plans etc so you know what you're doing each day towards them.
Apparently only a tiny amount of people achieve their dream goals (5%). And by no coincidence they are some of the most successful people in the world in terms of wealth, health fitness etc. Scientific studies show that people do not achieve goals because they fall at the hurdle which is to set clear goals.
Dont state a really vague goal like "I would love a new car" or "I want my kids to have a good upbringing". How will you ever know if you've achieved a vague goal? There is no limits on what is considered achievement and what isn't so you will never know you've reached your destination if you do not even know where it is.
So set SMART goals and then make a plan to achieve them. It's as simple as that! An example could be "I want my children to go to a private school and be eating 2 vegan meals a day by july 2010". Do you see the difference. You can definitely know if the goal has been achieved.
Visualize your goals. Your subconscious mind will do alot of the rest of the work. IT will work in ways towards the goal "behind the scenes" without your conscious awareness of it.
When you know this you can start using a great goal system that never fails as long as you are a a hard working individual.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

A Career in Advertising

If random ideas and lateral thinking are your strong points, a career in advertising could be your forte. The field of advertising requires skill, creativity, out of the box thinking and the eagerness to do something different. There are many aspects of a job in advertising and in this write-up; we look to cover a few. There are various sub-streams in advertising and depending on what your qualification or skills are, you can pick one. In today’s competitive world, the demand for a career in advertising is growing by the day. Companies across sectors and even individuals require advertising to promote their products, services and themselves.
Advertising is a sub-set of marketing; however, it is different from marketing in some ways. Advertising encompasses communication with the prospective consumers in a way that they become convinced about it and are eager to consume it. This is the basic aspect but what makes advertising so interesting is the way in which this communication is done. An advertising job requires and allows for creative ideas to the maximum. There are no don’ts. As long as the idea can strike a chord with the consumer, it will be a hit. In fact, most people who have had successful careers in advertising have been associated with unique, creative, one of its kind advertising campaigns. The idea may look weird prima facie but it may work wonders for the brand. Building brand perception is also important in advertising so the standard of advertising can make or mar any brand.
In India, in the recent times, advertising jobs have become quite popular. Young blood with young energy that is oozing with a desire to do something different is thronging the world of advertising today. Not just in India, but there are many career options in advertising globally too. If you think you have the knack to be able to communicate an idea in a way that can convince the consumer, you can safely look at advertising as a career option.

As aforementioned, there are various areas of work in the field of advertising. These are client servicing, creative department, media department, production, television and film, photography, market research, exhibition and event management & promotion and direct marketing. All these departments hold different responsibilities covering all aspects of a career in advertising. A successful professional in advertising would generally have gained some experience in all the departments at some time or the other even if he/she specializes in just one or two. It is important to have an overall exposure and get a correct understanding of the field that you are in.

When you decide to join an advertising job, the first thing that you would have to make your peace with is rejections. For any hit idea that goes on to become a success story, there are many rejected and failed ideas that never even see the light of the day. So, you have to understand that not everything that you think or come up with will be accepted by your seniors. So, don’t be disheartened. In the beginning you may have to face many rejections, so just wear thick skin and don’t let this thing bog you down from coming up with some other rocking idea.

Also, sometimes random, unexpected and last-minute changes are done on the basis of the requirements of the client or some research. Clients who pay the agencies for designing campaigns have very specific briefs and it is according to those briefs only that one has to work and make iterations in the work. So, it is not uncommon or unusual for small or even big advertising agencies to make multiple changes in their campaigns and ads before the final approval. Everyone has to be open to it.

An advertising job is not a typical 9-5 job. In advertising, there are bound to be late sittings and non-regular work hours. Be prepared for it. There is a lot of hard work that goes behind making an ad that one sees on TV or in a newspaper. So, if you are the type who wants a regular kind of life with enough free time to spend and everything planned beforehand, the world of advertising is not for you.

Advertising looks like a very glamorous world from outside and people have this myth that there is a lot of money in it right from the beginning but that is not true. An advertising job can be low-paying and very taxing in the beginning years. However, you don’t have to rely on linear promotions to make it big here. It is purely dependent on your skill and creativity and how you want to take your career forward. An advertising job allows growth and freedom like no other job.