Development: Careers, resumes, tests resources

It is difficult to know where to begin when building a new life and career.  

When someone has not been in the working world, it is important to find out where you belong and what your talents are to earn a sustainable income.  There is fear of success, acceptance, and survival.

The only advice that I can give is to take things one step at a time.  Breathe in and breathe out all day long.

Here are some suggestions for a solid beginning. (Recommended Links at the bottom!)

• Sit down and give yourself some time where it is quiet and you will have time to think without any intrusions.  Turn off your phone, tv, or music.
• Close your eyes and relax for a few minutes and listen to the world around you.
• Remove yourself from your current troubles and problems and give your mind room to think without putting limitations on yourself, over analyzing, over rationalizing or anything that would block your mind.
• Think about the things that you like to do.
• Think about the things that you have been doing.
• Think about the things that you can do.

Be honest with yourself and do not limit your accomplishments.  Ignore the self talk, telling you that it is not possible, or any negative thoughts.

Write down what you learned into your journal.  (Journalizing is suggested in Growth and Healing)

• Read what your wrote down.

Think on these things for a few days or even a week.  You are not in a hurry, you are in the middle of making life changing decisions and they are important ones.  Give yourself time to reflect.

Look back at what you wrote down, ask yourself if you still feel the same way about your list.  Remove the items on your list that you have questions about and keep the ones that you feel peace and know that you know that you can and like to do these things.

It is called, taking your talents and making something from them.  It can be anything.

Now, what kind of personality do you have?

Do you like people?  Do you like to be alone?  Can you manage a typical "work week" or would you rather prefer working at your own pace?  Can you get the job done?  Do you like direction, or can you work without direction?  Reflect on Who You Are.

There is no right or wrong about who you are.  You are who you are, if you are happy talking and being around people, that is okay.  If you would rather work in a quiet environment, without "being bothered by others" that is okay too!  Be honest.  This is very important.

Now, think about the different types of careers that would accommodate who you are.

If you are a people person, you might like retail or customer service.

If you are a private person, you might like computer design or programming.

If you are a compassionate person, you might like humanitarian services, social services, or the medical field.

If you like animals, you might like working in a pet shop, becoming a vet tech, or at a zoo.

By reflecting on what you like and who you are, you can discover a world of where you can belong.

Places that you might just fit and actually enjoy what it is that you are doing!

This is your chance to start new, to become who and what you have always wanted to be.

I will add more later with the labels under career development for follow ups on this new beginning!

Career Development Links: 

Articles: 
Tips on Finding that Job 
How to Get A Job Using LinkedIn
LinkedIn Profile Tip
Don't Apply Online

Recommended Websites

Learn the Skills Unique to Women Leaders
Job Search Site for 50+ this is a non profit site, it looks pretty good!
Over 50 Website:  Support and Ideas Financial

Explore Non-Traditional Jobs That Pay More Than Men 
Avoid Common Mistakes Women Make When Speaking
Science Offers Intellectual Freedom and Flexibility For Women
Supporting Yourself After Divorce
Should I Pay for Work at Home Jobs?
How to Find Work at Home Jobs
Work From Home Scams
Work at Home Jobs  Ideas for working at home.
Work at Home Job Listings
How to Find a Work From Home Job
Work at Home Companies
Starting a Home Based Business Home based business ideas
Talk the Talk - Learn to speak with self-confidence
How to Find a Job
Telecommuting Jobs - Job search Website
American Telecommuting Association - Organization that claims to help telecommuters make the most of their work from home jobs, their careers, and their personal lives.  Small fee for membership, some free information available.
Telecommuting Jobs List - From My Mommy Biz, which provides advice, ideas, resources and more for mothers working home-based businesses (and those who would like to.) Free directory listing offered where you can post your availability/services offered.
Homeworkers.org- Telecommuting Job resource Center for Work at Home Jobs.  Anyone can read descriptions, skills required, description of duties, and any other information posted by employers of telecommuting jobs.  Members have access to contact links and to a resume tutorial.  Monthly, annual, and multi-year membership available as well as a 10-day free trial.
Freelance Job Search - Allows employers to post jobs and displays jobs from Yahoo- Hot Jobs and Hireability.
All Freelance.com - List of freelance job sites, work at home job sites, freelance articles and more.
Jobble Network - Bringing work from home jobs and prospects together.  Job seekers pay a small annual fee, which allows them to submit an unlimited number of proposals per year.
Guru.com - Online marketplace for freelance talent. Various membership levels available, including a basic membership, which is free but postings accessible by Basic members are limited.
Personality Page - Excellent site for matching your personality with careers and it is Free!
BLS Gov Occupational Outlook Handbook A government site where you can search for careers and read on the lifestyles, earnings, education and experience needs for the job. Highly recommended for discovering your career.
OOH Search Occupational Outlook Handbook search bar
U.S. Office of Bureau of Labor and Statistics This is where you can find just about everything about employment, unemployment, job career information, trends, how much who what where and when.  A confusing site, but well worth the exploration.
Career Mapping Free career mapping on monster.com showing you the "normal" pathways to get where you want to go, with links to current jobs, and stats on the job trend. 
Finding and applying for jobs tips:  The BLS job search tip web page with a realistic perspective.

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