Cooking Is An Art
There’s more to cooking than putting food in a pot and
then eating it.
Cooking can be an art. For those who really love to
cook it becomes a real pastime for them.
They are able to come up with new variations of old
recipes and put their own special touches on them.
Preparing for a gathering can be something of a joy
for them. While some find cooking a time to be
stressed out, other engulf themselves with the task of
creating something truly special for their guests.
When preparing a meal for your loved ones it becomes
an extra special motivation to ensure their family
gets the best of what you have.
It may not be a daily occurrence when you prepare a
special gourmet dinner for your friends and family,
but, you do go to the extra effort of making sure your
family eats better than microwave quick fix dinners.
If you love to cook you will be making efforts often
to make, create, and improve the tastes that feed your
loved ones. Your gift of love is shown in the food you
prepare and that in itself is an art.
If this is you, why not consider a career as a chef?
Training is available at a local college and you can work
your way up the ladder from prep cook, to line cook,
and eventually to chef.
In time you might even want to operate your own
catering business.
So, if cooking is your passion, why not follow your dream.
To your job search success
Fran Watson
Showing posts with label transferable skills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label transferable skills. Show all posts
Monday, September 29, 2014
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Looking For Work?
If you have been having difficulty deciding what to do, it may be time for you to take some time to
Research and reflect
Ask yourself: Do your characteristics (skills, interests, motivations, temperament etc) fit with the requirements / characteristics of certain jobs?
Are there some jobs you should avoid?
The more you learn about jobs from reading, talking to people or hands-on work experience, the more discerning you become in identifying positive connections and negative mis-matches.
Here is an idea that will help you to focus on job areas which are most likely to interest you. Don't expect to find a perfect match. For most there isn't just one type of work which is suitable - there may well be several, but it takes time and work to figure it out.
Themes
· Rather than trying to pinpoint the perfect job, look for themes. What interests you? What do you do in your spare time that could lead to a job?
· For a few weeks, browse through job advertisements, note those which appeal to you and those which don't.
· Review this regularly to see if any broad patterns emerge. For example, do you automatically favour jobs which involve problem-solving or dealing with people and instantly discard those which require persuasive skills or working in the money markets?
Discuss
· Talk over your ideas with people who are both objective and supportive….family, friends, your career adviser. This "sounding board" approach may help clarify your career ideas. Talk to some people who work in the industry you are interested in (Informational Interview) to find out more.
Once you have clarified your ideas and looked at your options, it’s time to starting putting some plans in place. Whatever you’ve chosen to do, making it happen takes time.
Having a clear plan keeps you on track, allows you to see how much progress you’ve made and avoids wasting unnecessary time. You will need to create a personal action plan that will help you achieve your goals.
Once you have identified your career goals, you need to consider how to achieve them. Often there are a number of routes to your desired goal e.g. via further study, training programmes or "working your way up". If direct entry is not possible you may need to adopt a "stepping stones" approach.
For example, sales experience could lead to marketing, voluntary work may increase chances of getting onto a post graduate course in social work, secretarial jobs might get you into the publishing field.
For more information click here
To your job search success
Fran Watson
Research and reflect
Ask yourself: Do your characteristics (skills, interests, motivations, temperament etc) fit with the requirements / characteristics of certain jobs?
Are there some jobs you should avoid?
The more you learn about jobs from reading, talking to people or hands-on work experience, the more discerning you become in identifying positive connections and negative mis-matches.
Here is an idea that will help you to focus on job areas which are most likely to interest you. Don't expect to find a perfect match. For most there isn't just one type of work which is suitable - there may well be several, but it takes time and work to figure it out.
Themes
· Rather than trying to pinpoint the perfect job, look for themes. What interests you? What do you do in your spare time that could lead to a job?
· For a few weeks, browse through job advertisements, note those which appeal to you and those which don't.
· Review this regularly to see if any broad patterns emerge. For example, do you automatically favour jobs which involve problem-solving or dealing with people and instantly discard those which require persuasive skills or working in the money markets?
Discuss
· Talk over your ideas with people who are both objective and supportive….family, friends, your career adviser. This "sounding board" approach may help clarify your career ideas. Talk to some people who work in the industry you are interested in (Informational Interview) to find out more.
Once you have clarified your ideas and looked at your options, it’s time to starting putting some plans in place. Whatever you’ve chosen to do, making it happen takes time.
Having a clear plan keeps you on track, allows you to see how much progress you’ve made and avoids wasting unnecessary time. You will need to create a personal action plan that will help you achieve your goals.
Once you have identified your career goals, you need to consider how to achieve them. Often there are a number of routes to your desired goal e.g. via further study, training programmes or "working your way up". If direct entry is not possible you may need to adopt a "stepping stones" approach.
For example, sales experience could lead to marketing, voluntary work may increase chances of getting onto a post graduate course in social work, secretarial jobs might get you into the publishing field.
For more information click here
To your job search success
Fran Watson
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Job Search Stuck?
As a Careeer/Employment Counsellor/Coach, I try to keep ahead of what is going on in the job market, this involves reading articles and chatting with people. Here is an excerpt from a recent article I read...
"If your job search is stuck, and it can happen regardless of how qualified you are and how many jobs you are applying for, one question that you should be asking yourself is "What can I do differently?"
Regardless of the type of job you are applying for, just sitting at your computer and applying for jobs isn't going to work. I've heard from job seekers who have submitted hundreds of applications and have heard nothing.
Whether you are applying for an hourly retail store position or a top level management position, there are things that you may able to do differently to get your job search back on track." (read more)
If you need help with your job search, I am available. I do counselling/coaching via the internet and telephone, so it doesn't matter where you live.
To your job search success
Fran
http://www.franwatson.ca/bio.html
Regardless of the type of job you are applying for, just sitting at your computer and applying for jobs isn't going to work. I've heard from job seekers who have submitted hundreds of applications and have heard nothing.
Whether you are applying for an hourly retail store position or a top level management position, there are things that you may able to do differently to get your job search back on track." (read more)
If you need help with your job search, I am available. I do counselling/coaching via the internet and telephone, so it doesn't matter where you live.
To your job search success
Fran
http://www.franwatson.ca/bio.html
Monday, November 07, 2011
Transferable Skills
Identifying your skills and getting that job
When applying for a job, it is important that you identify your strengths and weaknesses and get prepared to address them. By knowing your advantages, the chances of getting the job that you want will become easier. But you should not get too confident since this is one of the common mistakes that plague job applicants. Appearing too confident or as somewhat of a "know-it-all" will only get you labeled by your interviewer as unfit for the job.
Identifying your skills
First thing's first. You should identify your skills. You should be able to articulate your abilities and expertise. Many people have a hard time telling their skills and abilities as this may seem to be bragging, or "blowing your own horn". But you should not be shy or afraid to discuss your skills. In fact, it is important that you are able to convey to your potential employer exactly what your talents are. You need to be able to sell your abilities to an employer. That is how you will get the job that you want.
It is important that you don't appear arrogant or condescending but you should also avoid selling yourself short. If the interviewer asks you about your strengths or what separates you from the other applicants, you should be able to readily give a good answer. But before you even get to the interview part, your resume should highlight your skills and talents for your prospective employer to see.
Type of skills
There are two main types of skills, hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are tangible in the sense that these are things that you do such as: knowing how to operate different kinds of machinery, knowledge of a specialized computer program, ability to type quickly, skills on using many types of tools, credentials regarding special crafts, etc. Soft skills are skills that are rather abstract in nature like personal qualities. This may include: communication or interpersonal skills, being a good team player, having the ability to work on your own, being enthusiastic or organized and decisive.
The steps to follow
1. Begin by making a list of your previous jobs and experience acquired
Make a list of all the companies that you worked for and the things that you learned from these jobs. There will be a lot of things to list and you should be careful enough not to forget even the smallest things or activities that you were part of or organized. Often we forget skills because they are so muh a part of us that we do them without thinking. Take some time to itemize all the things you do in a day or a week. It is also a good idea to list the volunteer activities that you participated in.
2. Include a list of your hobbies
Although it might sound trivial at first, it is also very helpful to list some of your hobbies. There are a lot of abilities that your prospective employer may get from your hobby list and it will also give them an idea of your personality.
For example, if you were part of the school's debating team, then your employer may deduce that you have good analytical skills. If you were a champion chess player, then your employer will have the impression that you are good at making critical decisions. Think of your daily routine and the things that you do and often take for granted. Are you an organized person who always keeps your things in proper order? Are you an extrovert that can easily make friends in a matter of minutes? These may seem ordinary to normal things to you, but your future boss might think otherwise.
3. Deciding what career you want
After listing all your skills and all the things that you do well, you may now decide what field or career you want to take a crack at. Select the skills contained from your list and partner it with the employment you are seeking. Always take time to consider if your skills are relevant to the job that you are aspiring for. Don't worry if you have to cut out some of the skills from your list. It is important to focus on skills that the prospective employer will probably value.
4. Stand by what you write
You should be realistic about your skills and the level of expertise that you have with it. For example, if you indicate that you are a very organized person, then you should be able to show this to the interviewer by being able to organize your thoughts and effectively use the time that was given for your interview.
If you have someone prepare your resume for you, it is important that you be comfortable with what it says. Don't be pressured into putting skills on your resume that you are not confident about. The employer will be able to "read" your unease from your body language. Make sure that you have a "story" or example for each item of strength you list in your highlights.
It is important to know your skills every time you are job hunting. Always put your best foot forward and good luck!
Fran Watson
P.S. If you would like some help with your resume or job search, contact me
When applying for a job, it is important that you identify your strengths and weaknesses and get prepared to address them. By knowing your advantages, the chances of getting the job that you want will become easier. But you should not get too confident since this is one of the common mistakes that plague job applicants. Appearing too confident or as somewhat of a "know-it-all" will only get you labeled by your interviewer as unfit for the job.
Identifying your skills
First thing's first. You should identify your skills. You should be able to articulate your abilities and expertise. Many people have a hard time telling their skills and abilities as this may seem to be bragging, or "blowing your own horn". But you should not be shy or afraid to discuss your skills. In fact, it is important that you are able to convey to your potential employer exactly what your talents are. You need to be able to sell your abilities to an employer. That is how you will get the job that you want.
It is important that you don't appear arrogant or condescending but you should also avoid selling yourself short. If the interviewer asks you about your strengths or what separates you from the other applicants, you should be able to readily give a good answer. But before you even get to the interview part, your resume should highlight your skills and talents for your prospective employer to see.
Type of skills
There are two main types of skills, hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are tangible in the sense that these are things that you do such as: knowing how to operate different kinds of machinery, knowledge of a specialized computer program, ability to type quickly, skills on using many types of tools, credentials regarding special crafts, etc. Soft skills are skills that are rather abstract in nature like personal qualities. This may include: communication or interpersonal skills, being a good team player, having the ability to work on your own, being enthusiastic or organized and decisive.
The steps to follow
1. Begin by making a list of your previous jobs and experience acquired
Make a list of all the companies that you worked for and the things that you learned from these jobs. There will be a lot of things to list and you should be careful enough not to forget even the smallest things or activities that you were part of or organized. Often we forget skills because they are so muh a part of us that we do them without thinking. Take some time to itemize all the things you do in a day or a week. It is also a good idea to list the volunteer activities that you participated in.
2. Include a list of your hobbies
Although it might sound trivial at first, it is also very helpful to list some of your hobbies. There are a lot of abilities that your prospective employer may get from your hobby list and it will also give them an idea of your personality.
For example, if you were part of the school's debating team, then your employer may deduce that you have good analytical skills. If you were a champion chess player, then your employer will have the impression that you are good at making critical decisions. Think of your daily routine and the things that you do and often take for granted. Are you an organized person who always keeps your things in proper order? Are you an extrovert that can easily make friends in a matter of minutes? These may seem ordinary to normal things to you, but your future boss might think otherwise.
3. Deciding what career you want
After listing all your skills and all the things that you do well, you may now decide what field or career you want to take a crack at. Select the skills contained from your list and partner it with the employment you are seeking. Always take time to consider if your skills are relevant to the job that you are aspiring for. Don't worry if you have to cut out some of the skills from your list. It is important to focus on skills that the prospective employer will probably value.
4. Stand by what you write
You should be realistic about your skills and the level of expertise that you have with it. For example, if you indicate that you are a very organized person, then you should be able to show this to the interviewer by being able to organize your thoughts and effectively use the time that was given for your interview.
If you have someone prepare your resume for you, it is important that you be comfortable with what it says. Don't be pressured into putting skills on your resume that you are not confident about. The employer will be able to "read" your unease from your body language. Make sure that you have a "story" or example for each item of strength you list in your highlights.
It is important to know your skills every time you are job hunting. Always put your best foot forward and good luck!
Fran Watson
P.S. If you would like some help with your resume or job search, contact me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)