Question: I have a BA in History, and have been a successful restaurant manager for ten years, but would like to get out the restaurant industry. With the understanding that I will take a significant decrese in pay, what are my options for a more normal job schedule (m-f)?

Answer:
Short Answer: If you're willing to take a significant decrease in pay, Anything will work.

Long Answer: Restaurant Management hours can wear you down. Any other industry will love to have your work ethic. Stick with a Management position in another industry. By building on your past Management experience you may not have to take as an extreme pay cut as you may think.

Role #1 - You have to convince a Hiring Manager that you are the best choice for the position over all other candidates that are being considered. Since you will not have experience in the industry that you will be applying for, you will be starting at a disadvantage.

What industries are similar to Restaurant Management but do not have the hours?
- Call Centers?
- Construction?
- Any industry where you manage large a amount of non-exempt (hourly) employees?

You also may want to consider going back to school. An MBA with you Management experience may land you in a very nice position in a comfortable industry in the future. http://www.mba.com/mba .

I was a History Major in the late 80's. I know that the study of History builds great reasoning and communication skills. Pick an industry you want to get into, research it, and make a plan. I'm positive you can do it.

By Career Advisor

Question: I am 44 years of age and have been working as a Housing Officer in Housing Management within local Authorities and Housing Associations for the last 20 years .



I know I want to progress and possibly move into another career but don't know what to do.


I am also a single parent with 2 children 12 and 9 years . And feel that any job change I make should give flexible working and the possibility of working from home.


Answer: I would like to suggest being a realtor. While the current economy is not the best time to be a realtor it may be the best time to learn from the experienced realtors that are still making money.


I'm suggesting being a realtor for 2 reasons.
1. It was the first thing that came to my mind that best builds on the experience that you already have.

2. Being a single parent it will give you the flexibility that you need.

Here are some sites with information about how to become a realtor:
http://www.ehow.com/how_1000572_become-real-estate-agent.html
http://www.fabjob.com/RealEstateAgent.asp

In 2006 The middle 50 percent of Realtors earned between $26,790 and $65,270 a year. Commissions on sales are the main source of earnings of real estate agents and brokers. The rate of commission varies according to whatever the agent and broker agree on, the type of property, and its value. The percentage paid on the sale of farm and commercial properties or unimproved land is typically higher than the percentage paid for selling a home.

Income usually increases as an agent gains experience, but individual motivation, economic conditions, and the type and location of the property affect earnings, too. Sales workers who are active in community organizations and in local real estate associations can broaden their contacts and increase their earnings. A beginner’s earnings often are irregular because a few weeks or even months may go by without a sale. Although some brokers allow an agent to draw against future earnings from a special account, the practice is not common with new employees. The beginner, therefore, should have enough money to live for about 6 months or until commissions increase.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos120.htm#earnings

By Career Advisor

I have always been told to look through the eyes of the other person. Keeping that in mind, I thought I would explain some tasks that recruiters have to accomplish. Will you be able to use this information to your advantage?

1. Recruiters are salespeople. They are tasked to sell the job opening and the company in order to attract the most talented employees. You are selling yourself to the recruiter and the recruiter is selling the company.

2. The truth is that you waste the recruiter's time (and yours) when you apply for job openings where you are not qualified for.

3. The easiest way to get a recruiters attention is to meet the education and experience requirements of the position that they're working on.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

By Career Advisor

Question: I am an office worker at a teaching program. My position was made almost three years ago. Instead of sitting down and seeing what they would need me to do they just hired me and left me to find work myself. There are many other problems with my job that need to be fixed if this job is going to last. However none of my supervisors or HR people seem too interested in helping me. I feel like I don't exist to them. What can I do myself to help save my job and fix any problems for the person who has my job next. I don't know what to try on my own that won't get me in trouble but since I am all alone in my job I want to try something. In a couple of months I will be getting my first evaluation since I have been hired here. What kinds of questions should I ask my supervisor to understand why noone wants to help me with my job?

Answer: If no one will define your job duties, it's up to you to define them. The best way to assure job security is to do the job of others. You will have to be bold and don't ask for permission. Take over the office tasks that no one else wants to do. Show your inititive and work hard.

Are there tasks that your coworkers do that they do not like doing? Start doing those tasks whether it be making coffee, creating powerpoint slides. faxing, etc... I do not think you will get in trouble if you are helping others do their jobs. Good luck.

By Career Advisor

Question: What to do with my Law Degree?


I graduated from the University of Nottingham,UK a year ago and have with me a (BA) Law degree. Originally from Malaysia, where I could have continued my law career, my family decided to move to Japan. I have taken the year out to learn the Japanese Language and now I am absolutely clueless as what steps to take next with my degree. Advice please.

Answer: It seems like the question that you have is "What to with my Law Degree in Japan?". While I am not an expert on Law careers in Japan, below is what I was able to find out online.

Legal professions


Japan recognizes a number of legal professions. While Japan is often said to have dramatically fewer lawyers than other countries such as the United States, the total proportion of legal specialists in both countries is about the same. This is due to the fact that Japanese law are based on Continental system and very small number of lawyer (advocating jurists) are complemented by large number of civil law notary and scrivener. The Japanese government has also been taking steps in recent years to increase the number of legal professionals nationwide.



The major professions, each of which has a separate qualification process, include:

Attorney at law (弁護士, bengoshi?)

Registered Attorney at foreign law (外国法事務弁護士, gaikokuhō jimu bengoshi?, or "gaiben")

Judicial scrivener (司法書士, shihō shoshi?)

Administrative scrivener (行政書士, gyōsei shoshi?)

Certified public accountant (公認会計士, kōnin kaikeishi?)

Certified tax accountant (税理士, zeirishi?)

Patent attorney (弁理士, benrishi?)

Certified social insurance and labor consultant (社会保険労務士, shakai hoken rōmushi?)

Maritime procedure commission agent (海事代理士, kaiji dairishi?)

Notary public (公証人, kōshōnin?)

In-house legal advisors at major corporations are almost entirely unregulated, although there has been a trend in the past decade towards attorneys moving in-house.


Attorney at foreign law
Previously, attorneys qualified in foreign countries could become attorneys at law in Japan with special permission from the Supreme Court. These individuals were referred to as “quasi-members” (準会員, junkaiin?) of the bar. This system was halted following World War II, and only five quasi-members are still in practice today; they were replaced by a separate qualification, attorney at foreign law (gaikokuhō jimu bengoshi) in 1985.

Qualification


Before becoming a gaiben, a lawyer must:

• be admitted to the bar in a foreign jurisdiction,
• have at least three years of experience practicing law in that jurisdiction (one year of which may be spent working in Japan), and
• show that reciprocity exists with their home jurisdiction—i.e., that a Japanese attorney could become similarly qualified to practice there (this condition is waived for lawyers admitted in WTO member states).

A 13-member screening committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations reviews each application, a process which usually takes several months. Upon approval, the lawyer's official title becomes "Attorney at Foreign Law for [state]," with their home jurisdiction filled in.

Occupation

By law, gaiben can only give advice pertaining to the law of their home jurisdiction, and cannot draft legal documents or represent Japanese clients in intrastate matters or probate matters without the assistance of a qualified Bengoshi (attorney at law). Gaiben are also prohibited from representing clients in courtroom litigation, although they may represent clients in private arbitration. As a result, gaiben are generally involved in intermediating between foreign clients and Japanese lawyers, intermediating between foreign and Japanese clients, or assisting Japanese clients with foreign legal matters.

While many foreign lawyers work in Japan without being admitted as attorneys at foreign law, there are several legal benefits to qualifying as a gaiben:
Gaiben may open their own offices (外国法事務弁護士事務所, gaikokuhō jimu bengoshi jimusho?, sometimes abbreviated "GJBJ").

Gaiben may become partners in Japanese law firms. Gaiben offices may also enter joint ventures with Japanese law firms; several major U.S. and British law firms have structured their Tokyo operations in this manner, most notably Baker & McKenzie and White & Case.

Gaiben may enter Japan on special "attorney" visas, which permit them to sponsor the visas of others. Non-gaiben attorneys must enter Japan as general professionals sponsored by a law firm or company.

The main drawback to qualifying as a gaiben is that gaiben must have membership in a bar association, which often costs over ¥60,000 per month.

Conclusion: If you do not have the required experience for Gaiben, I think you may have to go through further training on Japanese Law. Good Luck!

By Career Advisor

Question: I have 10 years of management and 6 years of Telecommunications. I have 5 years of military experience.

I want to turn that experience into a degree but by an accredited school. What Should I do?

Answer: Many Universities that give you credit for life experience say they are accredited but in reality they are accredited by the wrong organizations.

Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of an educational institution or program are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. If standards are met, accredited status is granted by the agency. There are 6 regional accreditors which you can find a list of here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_accreditation

There are other organizations that do national accreditation. You can find that list here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_recognized_accreditation_associations_of_higher_learning#National_accreditation

Basically you will need to search for a University that will give you credit for you life experience but you should make sure the org. that accredited that institution is on one of the lists that I mentioned. If they are not, the degree that you get will not be worth the money you spend on it.

By Career Advisor

 

Question: I am an Indian. Having 4 years of experience in Progress 4GL
and 2 years of experience in MFG/PRO. Looking for jobs in countries
like USA, UK, or Europe. Any idea how to proceed ???

Answer: For the U.S.A, It would be a good start to read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-1B_visa

 

There are many web sites that have misleading information about H1B Visa's on the web. This site is the only one that you can trust for the correct information: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

 

You will need a company that will sponsor your Visa. Here is a link to a list of companies that may sponsor you: http://www.geocities.com/researchtriangle/6663/visa.html

 

 

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