Does Your Job Fulfill You?

By: Edward Chalmers

Each of us sometimes questions why we devote so much time, energy and expertise to our current job. We wonder whether it's time for a change and we begin to read employment ads or dream of starting our own business. Before deciding to submit your resignation, examine if your job is fulfilling your needs.

It’s not always about money

Job satisfaction is rarely measured by the size of the paycheck; although above average remuneration can make less than stellar working conditions a little more bearable. Highway construction site flag men and swampers on garbage trucks perform important duties that some of us would not want to do for more than a summer job. They find their jobs fulfilling and rewarding because they recognize that they play important roles in society.

In an office environment, opportunities for advancement and recognition of each individual's contributions and talents are big influences on whether a job is fulfilling. The less stress there is, the better, but most men will accept a certain amount of pressure if they feel recognized and respected.

How well an employee relates to the company's leadership style and corporate values are also key factors in job satisfaction. Fair rewards in terms of salary and benefits, good working conditions and appropriate employee empowerment are all strong motivators that promote job satisfaction.

Here are some questions to ask to measure if your job fulfills you:

Do you enjoy going to work?
When it's a real struggle getting up every day, it could be an indicator that you're stressed, burnt out or unfulfilled. If you're dragging yourself out of bed in the morning and it's not because you stayed up too late or partied too hard, your body and brain may be trying to tell you something. Good working conditions, the camaraderie of a team environment and duties you enjoy will make it more fun to go to work. Feeling inspired and energized by your boss and the company's leadership is even better.

Are your expectations reasonable?
You cannot have executive privileges in an entry-level position. Jumping ship because you don't have as much time off as you'd like would be irresponsible and immature. Even though you have education, enthusiasm and energy on your side, you still need to work your way up the corporate ladder by earning respect and privileges, and proving yourself.
Examine your job and your attitude objectively before deciding to pull the pin because you don't feel fulfilled. Stop being negative. And quit hanging around the copier with the whiners or you'll get sucked into their spiral of negativity.

Is your work stimulating?
Everyone needs challenges and rewards in their day-to-day work. If you don't feel you're making a difference, perhaps you could expand your role by asking for more responsibilities. Smart bosses encourage their staff to try new tasks and learn new skills, even if they might make a mistake. Look at the things you enjoy about your work and offer to take on additional duties to increase your sense of purpose.

Do you feel respected and valued?
When a company's corporate culture incorporates management listening to their staff and celebrating successes together, people will find their jobs more fulfilling. New ideas and well thought out, concrete suggestions to improve productivity, increase sales and reduce customer complaints ought to be encouraged. Workers at every level need to feel that their efforts are important. Whether you are dealing with difficult customers or working on design plans for the new website, if you feel that your contribution to the corporation's success is important, you'll feel personally successful and fulfilled. Too much unpaid overtime with no thanks and no end in sight is discouraging.

Is your integrity intact?
Are you proud of where you work and what you do? When your values align with the company's corporate values and vision, you're bound to feel better about your job. Having to be dishonest with your customers because sales quotas are more important than service and integrity is a bad sign. If you would not be comfortable describing a typical workday to your family and friends, maybe you're not in the right job. No matter how big your paycheck is, it's essential to retain your self-esteem and self-respect.

Does your job fit in with your 5-year plan?
Evaluate your long-term goals and look for the growth potential in your current job. Seek out learning opportunities, from company-sponsored courses and seminars to job shadowing to working on additional projects. Find a mentor in a more senior manager whose style and skills you admire.

Even if some aspects of your job are boring, concentrate on creating a network of allies that will eventually help you as you climb the corporate ladder. When you look at the big picture and work toward your career goals, you might see how your present position is fulfilling a need.
source:http://www.careermideast.com/en/Seeker/Resources/Articles/Satisfaction.aspx

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1000 Most Used English Words - Learn them First

The mathematicians that study language and have lots of computing power are forming English language word databases. These word databases can be used for machine language translation, formulas to rank collocation, most used priority word lists, word grouping tendencies and other linguistics research.

These frequency-based wordlists contain the words that are most used in English. Frequency-based wordlists can help you target specific English vocabulary by indicating which words you should try to learn first. Perfecting the core 1000 English words will accelerate your English language learning and English language comprehension.

Vocabulary analysis and summaries from the "Brown Corpus 1990".

Table 1

Words - Percent of words in average text

86,741 - 99.99%

43,831 - 99.0%

15,851 - 97.8%

6,000 - 89.9%

5,000 - 88.6%

4,000 - 86.7%

3,000 - 84.0%

2,000 - 79.7%

1,000 - 72.0%

10 - 23.7%

Table 1 shows us that in most written English just a few word types account for most of the English words in any text. Ten words account for 23.7 % of the words on any page and just 1000 word families account for more than 70% of the words used.

The ESL in Canada English Immersion camps experimented with the 1000 word lists and used them for the core vocabulary for spelling, poetry writing and public speaking contests. The constant English language reinforcement and repetition with variable context was quickly absorbed by the beginner students and greatly increased their confidence when listening, reading, speaking or writing.

Altavista's Babelfish or Google by Systran machine translation performs with an error rate of 20 to 30 percent. The large error rate is due to how a word's meaning varies with context.

One example:

The flu spread quickly and soon everyone was under the weather.
translated from English to German and back again only to yield
The flu that has become fast and shortly each one verbritten, was under the time.

So far Babelfish has 19 language pairs available and it has taken decades to develop language-pair rules for each of the 9,900 language word pairs.

Some observations for language students and language teachers is the translation pool for just average translations is 9900 words. The big variable is context, which means that a word can be used in various formats: "formal, industry specific jargon, slang, idioms, act a different part of speech performing a different function within that particular meaning. If every word has an average of five context variables then the student really has to learn 50,000 items. It is important for English language students to be careful in selecting the English words which are learned first

As final conclusions: second language learning takes time and effort and there should be plenty of translation jobs for the next 20 years if you are willing to invest the seven to nine years to be proficient.

In the following example the word "weather" can be used in about eight different contexts and be used to mean, define or explain about thirty different situations or conditions. To properly study vocabulary students require background information and context.

"Weather"
As a Noun

Definition 1. the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time as characterized by sunshine, moisture, temperature, precipitation, and other variables.

Similar Words: elements, climate

Definition 2. unpleasant, turbulent, or violent atmospheric conditions.

Example: We needed shelter from the weather.

Similar Words: gale, elements, blow, windstorm , storm

As a Transitive Verb

Inflected Forms: weathered, weathering, weathers

Definition 1. to dry, season, or modify by exposing to weather.

Similar Words: season , dry

Definition 2. to discolor, deteriorate, or harm by exposing to weather.

Similar Words wash , rot , erode, deteriorate

Definition 3. to endure past the end of; survive.

Example Their marriage weathered the hard times.

Synonyms: withstand , survive, stand, outlast , endure , ride out

Similar Words: overcome, surmount, outlive, sustain, brave

As an Intransitive Verb

Definition 1. to resist deterioration when exposed to weather.

Example: The colour has been able to weather the intense sun shine.

Definition 2. to display the effects of exposure (deterioration or change in color)

Similar Words: rot, corrode, fade, deteriorate

As part of Idiomatic Expressions

Phrase used as an idiom: "under the weather" = sick or not well

Original post: http://www.eslincanada.com/articles.html

Ross McBride - Career Teacher and Coach Link to Professional Teaching Page http://www.eslincanada.ca/jamesrosstutor.html Link to Coaching Page http://www.eslincanada.ca/jamesrosscoach.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Mcbride

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How to Write Clearly - The 10 Most Important Principles

1. Use Short Sentences. An average of 10 to 20 words a sentence is acceptable nowadays. Long sentences are tiring and in most cases they can be shortened by throwing out unnecessary words.
2. Prefer the Simple to the Complex. The Englishman, H. W. Fowler and his brother in their famous book 'The King's English', put it best: "Prefer the familiar word to the far-fetched. Prefer the concrete word to the abstract. Prefer the single word to the circumlocution. Prefer the short word to the long. Prefer the Saxon word to the Romance."
3. Prefer the Familiar Word. Most people's conversation is limited to about 3000 words. Well educated people probably know about 20 to 30 thousand words. It all depends on whom you are writing for. Common words will be understood by everybody and virtually any idea can be expressed with a vocabulary of only 3000 words. Avoid using unfamiliar words simply to impress or force a reader to go to the dictionary (they won't).
4. Avoid Unnecessary Words. Imagine there is a tax payable on words used. Think about every word, "Can it be cut". Writing gains clarity when it is concise.
5. Use Action Verbs. "He drove very fast down the road." Much better is, He sped down the road". The words 'very fast' are adjectives used to strengthen the word 'drove'. 'Sped', or perhaps, 'raced', is better because of reader psychology. People prefer facts to opinions. 'Sped' is a fact, 'very fast' is an opinion.
6. Write as you Talk. The written word is a substitute for the spoken word. The habit of writing as though you were speaking almost always leads to clearer writing. Just cut out the 'ums' and 'er's' and the repetitions that usually come into the spoken word.
7. Use Terms your Reader Can Picture. Or, avoid abstract words wherever possible. Aesop's Fables have been read for thousands of years because he turned abstractions like greed, envy, anger into stories that could be pictured. Jesus did this also with his parables.
8. Connect with your Reader's Experience. Put yourself in your reader's shoes otherwise he or she might understand your words but misunderstand your meaning. The reader could have a different ground from the writer. A good example is in politics where people from one nation talking about aggression can seem like hypocrites to the other nation because of preconceptions about who is the aggressor in each side's point of view.
9. Use Variety. Most prose, even if the subject is serious, can contain some humor, some surprise, maybe some personal injection. Avoid monotonous flat prose.
10. Write to Express not Impress. It is still all too often the case that people resort to unfamiliar, long words and meandering prose, especially when making formal announcements. Policemen say, "the thief was apprehended", not, "We caught the thief". Notices say, "Please refrain from smoking", rather than, "Please do not smoke". Nobody actually uses the word 'refrain' in normal conversation so why use it in a notice? It is done to sound important, make the notice sound official, done to impress, not express.

Joseph Kerrigan is a writer specializing in self help.

Click on the website address for further details. http://www.selfhelpfortoday.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Kerrigan

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How to Write an English CV

Important Points When Writing an English CV

The purpose of an English CV is to sell yourself: An English CV is seenas an opportunity to sell yourself and should emphasise your skills, experiences and achievements. You should include successes and wherever possible include facts and figures to support your claims. Do NOT include information that is negative.

Spelling and Grammar Check: Correct spelling and grammar are of absolute importance in an English CV. Employers will NOT tolerate any mistakes. It is very important that a native English speaker checks your CV before you send it to an English-speaking employer.

CVwriting.net can provide a full spelling and grammar check and suggest any changes to the content of your CV in line with what employers expect.

Do not include a photo:Most English employers do NOT like to see a photo on the CV and, in fact, including one could work against you. Only include a photo if it has been specifically requested for a particular job application.

English Language skills:This is a very important aspect of your CV and your professional career. You must explain your knowledge of the English language under the ‘Skills’ heading. Describe your level of knowledge as one of the following:

· Bilingual – You can speak English as well as your mother tongue.

· Fluent – You have a complete working knowledge of the English language, both written and speaking.

· Working knowledge- you have a good practical knowledge of English for professional purposes.

· Conversational – You can converse adequately in English with good comprehension.

English CV Format:Do NOTuse initials for company names or qualifications, as these could be meaningless to an English employer. Always write the words in full.

Headings:

1. Profile: This is an opportunity to summarise the skills and experience you have described elsewhere in your CV. It is the first part of the CV that the employer will read. It should be only one or two paragraphs long otherwise the reader may not go on to read the rest of your CV. You should also include your career aspirations.

2. Achievements: list any special achievements from your career history or education that may make you stand out from other candidates. List no more than six.

3. Career History: This is a very important part of your CV. The most common CV format is written in reverse-chronological order. Start with your most recent employment and work backwards. List the dates between which you worked for each employer; the name of the employer, your position and the location at which you worked. Write a short description of the company and then describe your responsibilities including facts and figures as much as possible.

4. Skills: In an English CV it is necessary to list particular technical, professional or other skills separate from your career history. An English employer will not necessarily be familiar with non-English professional qualifications therefore you must explain each one.

5. Education: You must enter your highest qualification first, then where achieved, and then dates. Make sure you explain any non-English qualifications or try and put the English equivalent, e.g. Baccalaureate, French equivalent to the Higher Leaving Certificate and A levels. Do not include grades unless they are particularly impressive.

6. Personal details: It is not necessary to include all of your personal details on an English CV as your skills and experience are of paramount importance. However, you need to include your nationality and it is normal to include your Date of Birth such as: 11th November 1967. Do not put your age.

7. Interests. You do not have to include your interests on an English CV but they will help to give the employer a rounded picture of you as an individual.

Signature: It is not necessary to personally sign your English CV.

E & O E - Copyright 2005 CVwriting.net

How To Write A CV - English CV / Resume Writing Service - We show you how to write an English CV or Resume online in minutes. Low cost and high quality professional CV writing. Email support and CV Web Page options to enable you to write the perfect CV or Resume in English.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Griffiths

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Learn a Language for Career Advancement

To learn a language for career advancement is one of the best ways to get ahead in the job market. In the 21st century you will need every advantage you can get to keep yourself competitive in the marketplace, and adding foreign language skills is a great way to gain an advantage. Here are just some of the reasons to learn a second language :

Improved overall communication skills. Surprisingly, language learners improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in English as well as their new language. Overall communication skills improve, and that is a boon to any potential employer. For the business owner or
entrepreneur, it is even more important for you to maximize your ability to communicate with employees, clients or potential business contacts.

Improved problem solving abilities. Learning a language also develops analytical skills, improves problem solving ability and increases flexible thinking and creativity. Businesses need employees with a wide range of abilities. If you have your own business, there is an even greater need for you to cultivate these abilities in yourself.

Broadens job skills and career options. Learning a foreign language improves your overall job skills, and makes you more valuable as an employee. It also broadens your potential career options, should you decide on a different career path.

Opportunities in many industries. There are many industries in which adding a foreign language would immediately be useful. Tourism, hotels and restaurants, advertising, marketing, military and defense, security, communications and journalism, just to name a few. Being able to communicate with customers, clients and contacts in their own language, even just to put them at ease and make them more comfortable with you and your business is clearly a great asset.

Career advancement. Knowledge of a foreign language can make you more valuable to your company, giving you a better chance of a promotion or a raise. You may also improve your potential for reassignment or relocation, and therefore also an increase in pay.

Overseas business opportunities. Obviously, learning a second language could get you a possible assignment in another country. The potential experience you could gain could lead to a whole new plateau in your career, or a new career opportunity altogether.

Competetive advantage in international business. The current climate of globalization is most likely here to stay. More and more businesses are becoming internationalized by mergers and acquisitions. Multinational businesses, global corporations, conglomerates and joint ventures are increasingly common. This means that learning another language is essential if you are going to be involved in any international business. It's the only way to maintain a competitive advantage.

Liberal arts training increasingly sought after. Less employers are looking for specialized skills and abilities. Prospective employers are increasingly looking for more adaptable workers with wide ranging abilities and flexible skill sets. General business skills, communication abilities and foreign language skills are the type more employers are seeking today.

Cost effective method of improving your marketplace value. Many businesses will contribute to or pay for an employees training or education. Foreign language is one of the few skills that can be learned a variety of ways including formal classroom study, tutors, language schools and even self-study. It's one of the few skills you can gain on your own and affordably.

Increased business contacts. The opportunities here are tremendous. From your employers or clients point of view, you may have just doubled your potential list of business contacts when you add a new language to your arsenal. It's a way to gain a powerful advantage over your competitors.

We could probably add many more examples to this short list, but the point is made. When you learn another language, you add important skills to your repertoire and increase your value as an employee or businessperson. You increase your opportunities for your business and for yourself. You improve your
communication skills, your ability to interact with more people and your overall business skills. Best of all, you make an investment in yourself. When you leverage that investment in your business life, you can profit from the rewards for the rest of your life.

Ron is a long-time language enthusiast, exploring Spanish, French, Swedish, Esperanto and others. Learn more about studying a language on your own at Language Learning Advisor This guide for self-study language learners has reviews and recommendations of language learning methods and products, links to online learning resources, learning tips to maximize your study time and effectiveness and articles on language learning.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Tichenor

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