From Office Worker to Digital Nomad

From Office Worker to Digital Nomad Success Story > From: Job To: Startup From Office Worker to Digital Nomad “I'd been itching for years to break free... but I lacked the confidence to make the change.” * From Office Worker to Digital Nomad A welcome redundancy finally gave Anna Moran the push she needed. Now, after six months of exploration, she's running her own organisation and using theworld as her office. Here's her story. What work were you doing previously? I was a fundraiser and volunteer manager for a large international NGO. What are you doing now? I'm the co-founder and director of a career change volunteer organisation called _SocialStarters. We match skilled professionals with social entrepreneurs in developing countries who need support in developing their enterprises. I'm a digital nomad with no office. Why did you change? I'd been itching for years to break free from the office environment. I always knew I wanted to do my own thing but I lacked the confidence to make the change. When was the moment you decided to make the change? It happened as a result of one of the best things that ever happened to me… redundancy! What followed was a six-month journey of self-discovery which included study, volunteering and research. This led me to discovering and creating my dream job. Are you happy with the change? I am so happy. I finally feel like I'm reaching my potential: I feel fulfilled and I'm doing something I'm passionate about. We really want _SocialStarters to support more people each year to make the change too! What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the daily banter with my old work colleagues; we all got on so well. But I don't miss being in an office. Living the digital nomad lifestyle is incredible; there's no going back. All I need is my laptop, half-decent wifi and I'm good to go. 'The world is my office', as I like to say! How did you go about making the shift? The shift happened when I started to talk to and connect with like-minded people. It was an incredible feeling to find my tribe. I felt motivated and inspired when I realised that there were so many people not following the traditional career path. They were doing what they were passionate about, carving their own path. I started to realise that doing my own thing didn't need to just be a dream. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? I think any start-up entrepreneur will say the same â€" workâ€"life balance! When you're so passionate about what you're doing and so invested in making it work after you've taken the leap to make the change, it can become all consuming. A year and a half in and we're still working on it. It's things like taking the weekend off and trying not to reply to emails in bed that helps create that balance. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I had a small amount of savings and my redundancy package which I knew would keep me going for quite a while. I was also able to live with my mum during the transition, which helped me to save money. After starting _SocialStarters I had to be very careful where I spent my money. I knew that being in control of my finances would be a very important part of the change. What was the most difficult thing about changing? I think the most difficult thing was the adjustment in income. I had never thought much about my spending and suddenly I was becoming aware of how expensive things were. What this has taught me is that I don't actually need all the excessive things that I used to spend my money on when I was earning a lot. Ultimately, those things didn't make me any happier. As the business grows, so will my income. But I know I won't go back to excessive spending on things I don't need. What help did you get? The most help I got was through reaching out and connecting with like-minded people. Sometimes I felt a bit lost when I was at the beginning of the shift. I built my confidence through meeting others in the same position and getting inspiration from people who'd gone on to do interesting things. What have you learnt in the process? I've learned that sometimes there are other options than what I've believed there to be. Staying in the same career or even a career in itself isn't the only option; it's just the safe option. Setting up a business isn't as scary or risky as it seems. It's possible to test it using a small amount of money and check it's viable before going in all guns blazing. I've discovered that there are so many people in the same position as me. It feels great to reach out and connect with them. I've learnt that while making the change was daunting, it's led me on a path I would never had gone down or even been able to imagine had I not tried. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Start talking about the change â€" the more you can project that it's going to happen and start talking to people, the more likely it is that you'll make it happen. People around you may discourage you or not support you in the change. This is because you are doing something brave and different, and they may wish they'd done the same. You don't have to play it safe like the people who discourage you. Take small steps â€" you don't need to quit your job tomorrow. You can start by attending events, widening your network, taking online courses. You can break it down into smaller steps. Volunteer â€" If you're able to take a career break or sabbatical then take the opportunity to volunteer in different roles or industries that you are considering changing to. Volunteering overseas gave me the unique opportunity not only to share my skills, but also learn about myself, get a different perspective, and shift my mindset so that I could discover my purpose. Look for cheaper living situations and work out how you can trim down excess spending. It might mean a change in lifestyle for a while, but it's worth it to make the change, as you'll be happier in the long run. To find out more about Anna's start-up, visit www.socialstarters.org What lessons could you take from Anna's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Answering Describe What You Are Looking For In Your Next Job In An Interview - Algrim.co

Answering Describe What You Are Looking For In Your Next Job In An Interview - Algrim.co When a future employer asks you the question, “What are the most important things you are looking for in a new job?” it can be kind of confusing. Sometimes you’ll have employers ask you a question like, “Describe the three things that are most important for you in your next position?” This is also a common interview question that is similar to the first. In reality, what an employer or hiring manager is doing with this question is trying to gauge whether or not the chemistry of Company you are applying for is the right fit for you. Because of this, it makes it a somewhat difficult question to answer. You may feel a little stress while trying to answer it. Why employers ask this question The goal of the question is to try and understand if the role you are applying for fits with your answers to question. Often times someone may answer the question with a list of qualities that aren’t exactly a right fit for the job position they just applied for. Let me give you an example, say you answered with something along the lines of “I’m looking autonomy and the ability to have leadership.” Well, in certain job functions, you might not have the ability to lead or have autonomy. And because of that answer, the hiring manager may examine whether or not you’d be a good fit for that role. Try to think of it from their perspective. The last thing they want is to hire someone and then realize it’s not a good fit and have to terminate them. It’s both not great for the company and it’s not great for you, either. What you shouldn’t answer with Try to avoid answers that may make you seem unprofessional. Keep your answers straight forward, agnostic to the job function and motivational. You don’t want to answer with something that makes it appear as though you are bringing emotional baggage along with you from your previous job. For instance, don’t say something like, “Well, in my last job I wasn’t given any freedom and that really stunk, so I want freedom.” That type of answer doesn’t come across well for a number of reasons. Try to keep it focused on the future opportunity. A good versus a bad answer Here’s what a good answer looks like: “Three qualities that really stand out to me are growth potential within the workplace, a collaborative work environment and the idea that respect of our peers is something we should strive for.” Here’s what a bad answer looks like: “I want to work somewhere that doesn’t give me problems. I need a relaxed working situation where I don’t have to commit a lot of hours.” You’d be surprised how many people would answer with the bad one. It’s really important that you don’t bring along your personal needs to the interview process, especially when answering this question. Be authentic to your true self and answer in a way that isn’t going to come across arrogant or difficult. Some other example answers to use “I’m looking for a job that has these three main qualities, it is stimulating, challenging and may push me to learn new things.” “I’m looking for a job that allows me to measure and achieve results, feel authentic to myself, valued as an employee and respected by my peers.” “I’d love to work for a company that has the characteristics of a collaborative work environment, allows for opportunities to see employees grow and encourages a healthy work/life balance.” The most important factors for you It’s imperative that you think about how the company or your hiring manager is going to interpret your answers. Try to think about it from an empathetic point of view. I would not encourage you to lie to the hiring manager and say answers that you know they will appreciate. Write down a list of the qualities you want out of a job and go through the exercise of trying to articulate it in such a way that it’s simple and relatable to almost anyone. Be sure that you are removing any emotional component that may be prevalent in the answer as well. That means if, for example, you were fired from your last position; don’t go into the answer saying that you want 6-months severance. You need to be sure that you are thinking about the qualities of the environment in a way that’s true to their environment as well as yourself. And where those two area’s mesh and blend are the perfect places for you to give your answer.

5 Ways Technology Can Step Up Your Job Search

5 Ways Technology Can Step Up Your Job Search When youre on the hunt for a new job, you want to use all the resources available to you in order to boost your chances of landing that dream role. Technology and social media have become integral parts of our daily life and they  can really step up your job search if you make the most of them, from building a professional online presence, to producing some creative content that showcases your skills. Here are a few ways that you can use social media and technology to assist your job hunt. 1) Optimise your LinkedIn profile A lot of employers will check out your LinkedIn profile when considering you for a role, so  make sure that you have filled in your profile properly, listing all your relevant work experience, education and skills. Though there will be a lot of overlap between your LinkedIn profile and your CV, try to make it a little different so it provides some new insights into your professional experience and achievements. Your summary section allows you to go into a bit more detail and you can also attach multimedia files to your profile, to showcase some of your work. 2) Network on  social media LinkedIn and other social networks are also a great place for you to network and create some business  contacts, who may be able to assist you with your career now or down the line. These could be professionals who work in your desired industry or employees of companies you are interested in working for. A good way to find people to connect with is to join groups relevant to your industry on LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+, where you can get involved in discussions and meet like minded people. Its also a good idea to interact with brands and companies that you are interested in on social media, as it will get you known to them and you can show some personality. 3) Set up a  website If you want to make a bold statement, setting up a website that markets you as a job seeker is bound to get you noticed! The website can work as a virtual CV and portfolio, so employers can build a rounded impression of you as a professional. Be sure to include all of your usual information, such as previous work experience and qualifications so they can check your credentials. You are then free to elaborate on any areas you choose to, by providing multimedia examples of your work, a video introducing yourself, etc. Get creative! Check out Adam Pacittis Employ Adam site to seek a bit of inspiration! 4) Create a video As I mentioned above, a video can be a great way to introduce yourself and show a bit of personality. Be warned that this is not an easy task to nail, but if done right it could give you a fast track to the top of the applicant pile! You could do it in the style of a video CV or even as a bit of a PR stunt to catch an employers eye; but by doing something a little different and injecting a bit of humour into your video, youre most likely to make an impression. You can then upload your video to YouTube and share away! Heres an example of a really creative and well made video by entrepreneur Mark Leruste. 5) Write a blog If you fancy yourself a bit of a writer, blogging is a great way to show your interest and knowledge of an industry. By writing posts that are relevant to the field you want to work in, you prove that you are active in the industry and if youre lucky it may catch the eye of someone hiring for a suitable role. Employers may also check these out when considering your application, so it is a good indication to them that you are being proactive in your career.