So, Is It a Career You Want?

IF IT IS A CAREER YOU WANT, THEN THAT MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT A BIT UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO UPGRADE YOUR SKILLS OR GET THE NECESSARY CERTIFICATIONS.

When a friend of mine back home was waiting for his approval, he would constantly check on the status of my job hunting, perhaps using me as a barometer for his own dilemma.

I would repeatedly tell him, “There are many jobs if you are not picky.”  He could not use me as a barometer because, at a certain point, I was very particular about not landing at any kind of job just to earn money. I was hoping I could be choosy, and postponed serious job hunting a bit.

There is a school of thought that says, “Just go and grab any job and everything will go from there.”

The other school of thought is, “No, don’t do it. Go find your own line or field of discipline. Do not waste time doing jobs that you hate.”

Apparently, there should be a third school of thought, “Go, get any job. But do it part-time so you have time to continue looking for the job you like or for going back to school to upgrade your skills or get the certificate or license you need.”

Just as there is a “fine” city, there is a “certificate” country. The first instils discipline and the second puts great importance on education as a way to get started right or move ahead. It simply means you need to get certified or licensed for a job, any job, not necessarily the one you want or you are looking for. A certificate to cut hair or do nails. A certificate to touch food and serve it right. Certificate this. Certificate that. A license to sell houses. A license to sell insurance. A license to sell investment instruments. So you can just imagine how overwhelming it is to get the license you need to be a practising doctor, lawyer or something along a professional line.

So if you want your career, you move toward it step-by-step. Whether it is by getting degree or simply passing an evaluation, to get an education or upgrade your skills is the way to go.

Schools or learning institutions are just about everywhere. They can be government-run or maintained by private institutions.

The first school of thought is “Just get any job and you will go from there.” The second school of thought is, “Do not waste your time on a job you hate. Go find a job in your own line of discipline or education.” Apparently there should be a third school of thought, that is, “Go get any job. But do it part-time so you will have time to look for the one you really like or go back to school to upgrade.”

So, What Do You Study?

MIGRATION MAY GIVE YOU THE TIME AND THE CHANCE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND STUDY FOR SOMETHING YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO INTO.

After having a successful hometown career, coming to Canada was like embarking on a new career. Being in a new place to start a new life gives you an opportunity to dream anew.

There were many things that I wanted to do as a young graduate, but because my hands were full with family and a demanding job, I was not able to do them. Of course, I loved my job immensely. I was able to make use of my talents, skills and was able to develop new ones as well. Even still, sometime in your lifetime, you will find there are things you want to do but have kept postponing because you are unable to find time for them.

Migrating can get you excited and make you realize that you might really have that time.  And why not? If you have brought enough money to tide you over while you go about gallivanting and figuring out what you want to do differently, yes, you can. However, without enough financial provision, you will find yourself face-to-face with the reality that you still need to get a job at once. Lucky you if you find a job in the same area that you were doing back home.

Nevertheless, in that same job, you may find that you need to upgrade your education or skills. You may need to get your license or certification. I had to do that to be able to go back to banking and selling financial products. I was asked to study for my mutual funds license, which I did, although the job didn’t come that soon.

Even still, you need to get your certificate or license to penetrate certain job markets. And it is more stringent and complicated if your line happens to be in a regulated profession. You also need your license or upgrades if you want to be moved or promoted at work, or maybe even ask for a raise.

You can also study for something you always wanted to do but never got around to doing. After getting my investment funds certificate, I studied “How to Write a Book.” Earlier I said that writing is my first love, and they say your first love never dies. This is the reason why you are now reading this book.

I needed to do something or become someone I could be happy about, something that I could leave tangibly with my children and make them proud of me. I may never get rich but I can be happy.

The next possible step is for you to study something that you have never done but always knew you could do. Keep an open mind. What you see around tells you that there is a perfect way to go. Some courses are in demand and lead to higher-paying starting salaries.  Taking that into account is simply smart and rational. Health care, senior care, homestaging, digital arts, special education, hair and cosmetics, and other areas of study will allow you to easily find work because they are in demand.

Migration presents you with the possibility of studying for something you wanted, something entirely new, or something you may consider because it presents a higher chance of getting good employment. Upgrading is needed to get some jobs, expect promotions at work, or deserve a raise. Whatever you get into, make sure you are happy about what you are doing. That is the only reason that will make you hold on and finish the race.

Bolet is a marketing communications practitioner and dabbles in writing as a personal passion. She is author-publisher of the book:  The Most Practical Immigrating and Job Hunting Survival Guide, proven simple steps to success without the fears and the doubts. The book is available in Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, the Reading Room and other online bookshops worldwide.

Please check out https://www.amazon.com/author/boletarevalo