Tips About Career Consulting Firms for Job-hunters

Before you sign a contract or pay anything to a career consulting company you have seen advertised, take the following precautions to protect yourself and your livelihood:

• Be skeptical of any employment service firm that promises to get you a job for an up-front fee and guarantees refunds to unhappy customers.

• Consider the cost versus the likely benefit of their services.

• Ask to meet with the representative in his or her office, rather than a hotel room or other temporary location.

• Get a copy of the firm’s contract and review it carefully prior to signing. Understand the terms and conditions of their refund policy. If oral promises are made that do not also appear in the contract, reconsider doing business with them or, at a minimum, have these written into the contract.

• Check the company's track record in Georgia and nationally through the Better Business Bureau. Remember, even if there are no complaints, they may have changed names or may be too new for complaints to have been registered against them.

• Follow up with the corporate office of any employer listed in an employment service ad to confirm that the company is really hiring.

• Be wary of firms promoting "previously undisclosed" federal government jobs. All federal positions are announced to the public.

• Do not give out your credit card or bank account information on the phone unless you are familiar with the company and agree to pay for something. Anyone who has your account information can use it to take money from your account.

• If you call an 800 number, you cannot legally be transferred to a 900 number. If this happens, you will be charged excessive fees in violation of federal law.

Sole parents - 10 career tips to help you unleash your potential

Sole parents face many challenges. They often need to juggle a whole range of different issues – childcare, family, home, work, education and financial management on their own. Here are ten tips which will help you to develop your career.

1. Take responsibility for your life & career - take charge

Be proactive and positive. Self care is an important step - only after you look after yourself can you look after others! Be kind to yourself, this can be a positive growth process - if you allow it! Be the best parent you know how to be and be proud of yourself. Ban the “G” word from your vocabulary (guilt). You don’t need to be a victim to external circumstances. You are in charge!

2. Make a 'date' with yourself

Don’t jump straight into preparing your resume; you deserve to take “time out” to think. Do a “stocktake” of your skills, values and interests. Your life experiences provide a wealth of knowledge and skills you can tap into. This can include both paid and unpaid work and volunteer jobs. Think about childhood dreams – is there something you always wanted to do? Get in touch with “yourself” – what are your talents? What resources are available on Australian WorkPlace and other websites to help you do your “stocktake”.

3. Know your challenges

Facing your challenges and fears helps you to deal with them. As a sole parent, there may be a variety of issues to deal with, such as childcare, financial stability and commitments, relationship and ongoing role of ex partner, negative perceptions of a “sole parent”, fear of failure, lack of formal education or qualifications, age and conflicting needs between home and work, etc. The important thing is to realise that if things are getting too hard for you – you don’t have to do it alone. Seek help and counselling if needed. It helps to have someone to talk to.

4. Getting the work-life balance right

There are many aspects of your life you need to consider. As a sole parent – you wear many hats – and often at the same time! Think about the things that are important to you ie work/family/study/interests and consider a portfolio approach. Work out what will guarantee your income and allow you the freedom to do things you feel passionate about including education and training. You may need time to explore and discover your direction.

5. Nurture your support networks

Childcare is often the most difficult issue and contingency plans must be in place. Meeting other people in the same situation as you can lead to many positive opportunities. Know the supports in your local community and availability of childcare. Build your network of family and friends who can help and support you.

6. Trial and error without judgement

Exploring is an exciting time, where you are heading in a different direction and trying out new things. Taking risks is necessary and at the same time learning not to judge yourself on the results. Exploring involves risks otherwise there would be no growth. Find a direction you are interested in and take small steps. Find the things that energise you and give them a try. Ideas such as home based business may be a possibility. The internet is a great place to help you explore ideas.

7. Network, network, network

Take time to talk to others about opportunities and ideas. Generally people like talking about themselves and what they do. As a sole parent – you already are a good networker – look at all the people you talk to during one day!

8. What education and training do you need?

The JET advisor at Centrelink is an excellent contact. Courses such as Work Opportunities for Women through TAFE can help you find a direction. Make an appointment to see the Counsellor at TAFE or University to help you research study choices. Local community centres may offer courses as well. This can help ease you back into study and help give you the confidence to move forward.

9. Reality check

Talk your ideas over with a trusted colleague or friend for a different point of view.

10. Inspiration

There are many web sites which can give you information and ideas. The internet is also an excellent medium to meet other sole parents. Explore sites such as

• Community.gov.au information and services for Australians

• Parent Link

• The Single Parent Network

• Single Parents

Career Tips

Work in the outdoors and make a difference!


EMPLOYERS
Positions are usually in government agencies or non-profit organizations. Many people begin with a seasonal position to gain experience and get a feel for the variety of opportunities available. These positions often do not offer the full range of benefits such as insurance and retirement, but they do offer greater flexibility and experience that can lead to a better position later on.

Electron microscope

How would the field of science have developed without the invention of the microscope? Although magnification by simple lenses has been practiced since ancient times, the first compound microscope wasn't discovered until the late 16th century. While experimenting with a pair of lenses mounted on a sliding tube, Dutch spectacle makers -- Zaccharias Janssen and his son Hans -- discovered that nearby objects appeared enlarged. In 1609, Galileo improved upon their experiments and worked out the principal of lenses with a focusing device. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Anton van Leeuwenhoek of Holland, often referred to as the father of microscopy, developed lenses that could magnify objects up to 270 times and made numerous biological discoveries with microscopes he built. By the early 1900s, the compound microscope had evolved to its present form. Although sophisticated, special-purpose, modified microscopes have emerged since then, modern light microscopes still cannot distinguish objects smaller than half the wavelength of light and have limited magnification capabilities. In the 1930s, German scientists Max Knott and Ernst Ruska introduced the electron microscope, which utilizes an electron beam with a smaller wavelength. This invention now allows scientists to magnify at levels up to 500,000 times.