From Tax to Corporate Governance

From Tax to Corporate Governance Success Story > From: Job To: Job From Tax to Corporate Governance “I wasn’t proud of what I did, and never felt I fitted the role.” * From Tax to Corporate Governance Chiaki Taylor had wanted to leave her job for 16 years. Then, she finally decided to commit to making a change. Here's how she experimented with her ideas, eliminating them gradually in order to find a new line of work that inspires her every day. What work were you doing previously? I was working at a Big Four firm in International Tax, which involved helping big multinational companies reduce their tax. I also worked in UK Tax, calculating corporation tax. What are you doing now? I'm a project manager in the area of global corporate governance. It's a rare role where I get to coordinate with different teams in various countries and deliver to UK-based clients, making sure they're doingthings 'right' (i.e. being ethical and compliant). How did you feel in your work before you decided to make the change? Pointless, hopeless, ashamed, powerless, uninterested, unconfident, and bored. Why did you change? I wanted to make a change from the first day I started my graduate job, 16 years ago, because itsimply didn't feelright. I wasn't proud of what I did, and never felt I fitted the role. My work wasn't aligned to my beliefs. I didn't feel I was good at it, either. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I've changed jobs to slightly different roles a few times in the last few years, but never to one that felt right, where I could feel happy. I always felt there was something missing. So, I finally decided to sign up for the Careershifters Career Change Launch Pad last October, and really commit to making a shift once and for all. How did you choose your new career? Through growing to understanding myself, trial and error, and meeting the right people. I feel strongly against corruption; corporate governance ensuresthat boardrooms are run right, and that companies are compliant. This extends to companies being ethically right as well;that involves diversity and cultural issues, which I'm really interested in too. Are you happy with the change? Yes, 100%! I feel so happy and lucky to have my current job. I wake up with a sense of purposeand I feel fulfilled at the end of the day, every day. Having this sense of purpose is so important and makes my time at work worthwhile. It all makes sense. My skills are matched to the role, so everyone appreciates how well I coordinate and network with others, which makes me want to work harder every day. What do you miss and what don't you miss? There's nothing I miss. I don't miss feeling unappreciated, or working in an area that I wasn't interested in at all. How did you go about making the shift? Firstly, I broadened my area of work by moving into more generic roles at different companies, but I still wasn't happy. Then I came across the Career Change Launch Pad, and committed myself to it. Some of the exercises and tools let me get to know who I really am and what I actually like. This didn't directly lead me to any job immediately, but helped enormously in shifting my mindset and being able to listen to my heart â€" probably for the first time as an adult. I then tried everything I was remotely interested in, because by that point I had lots of things I was curious about. I went to meet-ups (career change, technology), talks (UX design, course design), evening classes (improvisation acting), and weekend courses (coaching). I applied and went for interviews for different jobs (business management, data visualisation, teaching) and tried a different working style (freelance). I worked as a freelance business teacher at an international school. I registered for jobs in HR and cultural consulting. I spoke to someone working in Business Psychology. For me, it was a process of elimination. It felt good to try new things â€" even just speaking to someone and gaining insight. If I resonated with what they had to say I’d explore further, but if I didn't then I'd cross that idea off my list. Also by trying things out I began to realise what my values are. I like people and want to meet with colleagues every day; I also like a structured professional work environment, so I didn't enjoy being a freelancer or working for a company that gives you no opportunity to progress. During this elimination process, one area I remembered I was always interested in was Company Secretary / Corporate Governance. I found someone from the Launch Pad alumni group working in this area and approached her for a meeting. When I met her I was so inspired. She gave me a lot of advice which proved useful later on. I also met with recruiters who gave me more insight into the industry. It was still difficult for me to get into though, with almost zero experience in the area, so I got rejected by a few companies when I applied to them directly online. One piece of advice given to me was that I should turn up at an insight day held by a recruiter. I actually nearly didn't go to it as I'd already been rejected for a role by the very company whichwas sponsoring the event. But I'm so glad I went, as at the event I met a lovely senior manager whom I approached with my CV; she liked me so much she arranged an interview for me that day with her boss, the Director. It turns out she was on the lookout for someone like me! The rest is now history. Everyone's values are different, and mine turned out not to be what I thought they were. I only got to know this by trying different things out and speaking to people working in the area. I appreciate progression in my career, rather than being in a flat organisation. I also value money as a token of appreciation. In five years' time I want to have progressed both in terms of both technical and soft skills and to be respected and rewarded for it. It was very useful for me to apply for different jobs in my areas of interest (big or small), and actually to turn up and speak to people about them. Being asked on the spot why I was interested in a particular role put me on the spot and forced me to consider my real feelings. I found that very helpful. What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take? I wouldn't say any of the turns I took were wrong in the end as they all led me here, but I could've gotten here ten years ago if I'd gotten to know myself better, earlier. I stayed in tax for far too long because I didn't know what else I could do. But the transferable skills I gained from then are now proving useful. It was difficult to keep positive about the change when I was getting rejections from companies. However, I'm glad now that I didn't get those jobs. How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible? Because I'd always been unhappy inmy job, I'd saved up for years in case I decided to quit or retrain in a new line of work. As a result, I had a safety net, and so I didn't have any financial issues. That said, towards the end of my shift I was running out of money, which really spurred me on. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Finding out what I was actually interested in, believing in myself, and keeping positive about the possibility that there was something great out there for me. What help did you get? In addition to the Launch Pad, the people I met with to find out more about their work helped me a lot. I also avoided negative commenters at all costs. Instead, I surrounded myself with positive people who encouraged me. What resources would you recommend to others? I thoroughly enjoyed the whole Launch Pad course experience, so I'd recommend that like there's no tomorrow. I'll revisit the materials in a couple of years again myself for sure. A lot of elements needed to tackle our own obstacles are so carefully included in that course. Also in terms of people resources â€" I'd recommend not listening to negative people as they will hold you back. Don't meet or message them at all! Meetup.com was useful for making friends with similar interests. And CityLit in London is a great college for adults with a wide range of easy, one-off courses, so that you can try things out. What have you learnt in the process? That once you know what you like, you will be able to move towards it, but you have to get out and speak to people. Allow yourself to do what you want, even small-scale on a day-to-day basis. This will free up your mind and make you happy. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Have fun and listen to your heart. It's useful to list out everything that you're interested in, and link those things to any events, workshops, meet-ups, or friends. Then, just go and actually attend or speak to them even if you think it may not work out or lead to any jobs. What you hate or feel strongly against may also be a clue to finding your purpose. Chiaki took part in our Career Change Launch Pad. If you're ready to join a group of bright, motivated career changers on a structured programme to help you find more fulfilling work, you can find out more here. What lessons could you take from Chiaki's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Lacc for Help With Writing a Resume and Cover Letter

Lacc for Help With Writing a Resume and Cover LetterWriting a resume and cover letter is not easy. It is very time consuming, and a lot of people are having trouble doing it, but if you really want to be able to ace this job interview process, then it is going to have to be the one that you put in the middle of your efforts. With all the questions you will have about the past, you will not have a lot of time to try and figure out what exactly the company is looking for.If you do not like to write down, then the next best thing is to take a class or read as much material as you can. Using the course materials or reading material will give you a feel for how to write these things, but it is still going to be very hard to learn. There are more people who prefer to use the self-help method and that is fine too.There are a lot of books available on the market that give you the right answers when it comes to the skills and qualifications that a person needs. They teach you how to set up th e questions that the employer will ask and how to answer them correctly. Once you know what the question will be, then you can write them properly.This can be especially helpful when it comes to applying for the job of being a lab technician, because it is a very competitive field and you need to be able to ace it and make sure that you get called for a professional test. You can also use this resource for writing a resume and cover letter. The only reason why most people do not use this method is because they do not have access to the resources to do so.Lacc is an online software that can be used by anyone who wants to help with writing a resume and cover letter. This software gives people the opportunity to write resumes and cover letters online and helps them to understand the entire process very easily. The company that have this program works with the company that is hiring a person for the job, and helps them find the best candidates for the position.This is going to help you figure out the right way to write a resume and cover letter. It is going to show you how to make sure that you give the right information to the employers. It is not just a quick way to help you in writing a resume and cover letter.You will learn how to make sure that you write a resume and cover letter that is easy to read and written with plenty of information and examples. It is very important that you make the people reading it to understand what you are trying to say. Most people do not know the first thing about what the job you are applying for requires, and the job posting will not help either.You should know that a lab technician can be very specific, because it is a very technical and specific job that only requires a basic job description. Many people who are applying for the same job will not be the same because of the experience, education, and any kind of skills that you may have. If you do not want to lose out on your chances of getting the job, then use the services of Lacc to help you with writing a resume and cover letter.

Money Makeover Series From Anxious to Empowered

Money Makeover Series From Anxious to Empowered Several months ago I had my first money talk with Kayla and the overriding theme was anxiety. Kayla went from being a struggling freelance writer to a pretty great full-time gig, but she could never shake the feeling that she was doing it all wrong when it came to her finances. Now three months have gone by, and Kayla’s had quite a bit of growth and development! While her financial anxiety hasn’t completely gone away, it has been drastically reduced, and now she feels empowered. Read on to learn more about how she made this incredible transition. Recognizing True Desires Even if They Go Against the Mainstream It was clear from the beginning that all Kayla really needed were two things: 1) a budget and 2) long-term goals. Kayla was already saving for retirement and was debt-free, but she wasnt purposeful about saving mostly because she wasn’t sure what to save for. So we set her up with a budget that focused on paying her savings first (to make sure she prioritized the savings) and then started talking long-term goals. With the budget out of the way and the need for a long-term goal, the rest of our money talks turned into career talks. She absolutely loves her current job, but she’s still just getting started in her career and wanted to know where it could grow. Since thats still a big question mark, Kayla started with tangible things like improving her website and picking up more freelance projects to continue developing her writing, even outside of work. Along the way, Kayla realized that she was beginning to dread her freelance writing projects, especially after working all day. While she loved to write once she got started, it was hard to get into the groove. Therefore, the possibility of eventually becoming a traveling freelance writer seemed less and less like a realistic path. So Kayla started to think  about what she might want to do instead. She discovered the IRA for first-time homebuyers program, which allows you to set up an IRA for the purpose of saving money for a down payment on a mortgage,  and signed up. I have to say this took me aback. Kayla had never before expressed a desire to buy a home. In fact, it seemed to me that she wasnt really in a place to settle down anytime soon. Kayla is living a whole new phase of life right now and striking out on her own for the first time. It seemed to me that she has a lot more exploring to do before making a big commitment such as buying a home. Releasing Self-Imposed Pressure to Simplify Your Life After I got over my surprise, I asked Kayla if she really wanted to buy a home. She paused and then said, “Not really.” So why would any of us strive for a goal that doesn’t meet our true desires? Simple. Because we feel that’s what we should do. We feel that’s what we should want. And often, we go through the motions and assume our feelings will eventually catch up. And as natural as it is, its exactly the wrong way to approach our goals. We have to listen to our inner voices if we want to make decisions that will lead to happiness and fulfillment even if that inner voice goes against what we think we should do. I couldnt leave things hanging like this. I asked Kayla to do one more thing for me, even though the series is coming to an end. I asked her to write down six words in two columns; one column called “must have” and the other, “don’t want”. Then fill in three words each. No sentences, no explanations. For example, my must-have in life is to writeno matter how or where or for whom. So my must-have would be “write”.  Kayla admitted that she doesn’t care if she ever owns a home. So her “don’t want” would be “house.” This simplification will allow Kayla to quiet what she calls “mind chatter” and get down to the basics. Then and only then will Kayla really know what goal to strive for orat the very leastwhat direction to go in. Kayla’s Epiphany Money is Mutual Im still waiting on Kaylas response since I told her to take a few weeks to think about it. But I couldnt wrap this up without asking her what her biggest takeaway from the series has been thus far. Her answer struck me like a lightening bolt: “Money is Mutual.” In her words, money is empowering if youre able to frame it in your mind in that way. She said that so many of us have a tendency to be intimidated by money, but take that intimidation away and you can realize that money gives you the power to make decisions that work for you. And suddenly your money is working for you instead of the other way around! I couldnt have phrased it more perfectly myself! Life is all about perspective, and personal finance is no exception to the rule. We can think of bills and savings as obligations or we can set goals for our money and see it as a tool to achieve the life we want. Like Kayla said, money is mutual. You decide how you’ll feel about your money and the way money makes you feel will be the same. Now that’s what I call empowerment!

Are You Soloist Material (I Hate People, Part 2)

Are You Soloist Material (I Hate People, Part 2) Authors Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon have written a cynical book on why working on teams is bad for the company and bad for your career: I Hate People: Kick loose from the overbearing and underhanded jerks at work and get what you want out of your job. Hershon is a comedy writer, so the cynical tone makes for an entertaining read. I have outlined the reasons working in teams is actually not the most productive way to work in a previous post. The solution, the authors posit, is to become a soloist. If you’re lucky (and very good at what you do), the authors say, you’ll be able to distance yourself from all the time-sucking meetings and mind-numbing office protocol and simply work on interesting projects â€" alone, or with a small, talented group of people you don’t hate. You’ll find, by definition, more soloists in creative professions, where innovation and imagination matter, but other types of workers can also carve out soloist roles. The benefits of being a soloist are many. First, they work on projects that matter. Having proved their value by getting results, they are often assigned to more interesting and complex projects. If they are valuable enough, they can negotiate to eliminate the distractions, bureaucracy, and meetings that slow them down and block progress. Soloists get to choose their own teams (the authors call them “ensembles.”)  Sometimes, the team finds them; like-minded people with a special skill set will gravitate toward each other, and their work and ideas may overlap. A gifted soloist may be able to request specific assets from within the company (human or technical) to get the job done. But becoming a soloist won’t make you popular; in fact, you may find that you’re envied â€" and hated â€" by workers still shackled to the system. You have to be tough and stay at the top of your game to thrive as a soloist in a traditional corporate environment. Here are a few of Littman and Hershon’s Soloist Principles: Separation from the pack is not rejection of the pack Achievement won’t always make me popular Creativity doesn’t fit on a spreadsheet Genius does not punch a clock It takes resolve to carve out a soloist niche within the company; some choose to take their creativity and move on to a company whose culture is more suited to the concept. Ultimately, many soloists do go on to join or start up new ventures â€" a natural outcome of their entrepreneurial spirit. If all this sounds like your idea of nirvana, the authors offer some times for starting a soloist culture within your company. Studies show that when the average office worker gets interrupted, it takes between five and 15 minutes to re-focus on the primary task. Try setting aside 10 or 15-minute intervals where no one is allowed to interrupt you. Focus on high value creative work or strategic planning that you never find time for during the daily grind. Eventually, you’ll be creating enough value during your no interruptions sessions that people will begin to notice. Maybe they’ll imitate you. You might become a disruptive force for soloist culture in your company. Or you will be crushed like a bug. People, after all, are people. “Oh, you hate your job? Why didn’t you say so? There’s a support group for that. It’s called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.” â€"  Drew  Carey

Writing a Resume Quizlet - How to Write a Resume Quickly

Writing a Resume Quizlet - How to Write a Resume QuicklyA writing a resume quizlet is one of the things that you need to be thinking about when it comes to how to write a resume. Not only will this give you a very useful guide, but it will also make your work a lot easier.The first thing that you will have to do when you are looking at a writing a resume quizlet is to take your personal information and write it down. You will find that there are some important things that you need to do in order to get the right kind of information to help you create a great resume.First of all, you will want to write down all of your personal information before anything else. The idea behind this is that you will have this information ready when you are filling out your application.One of the best places that you can get all of this information is from the online sources that you will find. You can get information about all of the different types of information that you need to know before you even start.If you would like to see all of the information that you will need to have written down, you can look through many of the online guides that are available and see what they have to say about writing an interesting facts section. You will need to know what you need to know and the information that you will need to write.Once you know what you need to do, the next thing that you need to do is to decide what kind of writing a resume quizlet that you are going to be using. The choices that you have will depend on what type of experience you have had, what sort of job you have held, or what type of educational background you have.If you are applying for a position that requires you to provide some specific experience, then youwill want to write a different type of resume than if you are applying for a position that does not require you to provide a specific experience. When you are looking at writing a resume quizlet, you will need to know how to make the information that you need to provide the most attractive.There are several places that you can go to find the information that you need to know about specific information. You can find many different websites that will give you many different options so that you can create the resume that you need to.

A new perspective

A new perspective The paradigm shift for many is how they can spend more time networking. In order tomake networking themajor focus of your job search, you need to turn every opportunity into an information gathering session. Remember, networking is equal parts giving and taking. Based on the information you have gathered, you should know how you can help the individual you are speaking with. Remember these key rules: Networking is not about asking for a job.By showing interest in what others do and learning about them you will gain some respect. Most people are flattered when asked questions about what they do. They will reciprocate by asking about you. This is how relationships form. Networking is about building and nurturing relationships.Dont abuse relationships or take them for granted.Care for these relationships with kindness and courtesy. So when are you networking? Ask instead, when are you not? Every activity you do provides an opportunity to gather info and build relationships. Visit to the hairdresser/barber Buying your morning cup of coffee Returning books to the library Watching your favorite high school sporting event The weekly trip to Wegmans The workout at the gym or rec center The waiting room at the doctors office Your oil change mechanic Drinking coffee after church Attending professional development training or school Volunteer meeting If you dont do these things, theres a bigger problem. Life is about relationships. Sometimes we have to step outside of our comfort zone. Once you have changed your perspective, I guarantee your life will become more fulfilling.I dont thinklife was meant to beall about us, its about other people. Try it-with risk there is reward.

An honest company - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

An honest company - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Imagine a company that practices total, uncompromising honesty in their advertising. If they have a great product theyll say so. And if theyre trying to sell you something mediocre, theyll tell you that too. They might actively warn you along the lines of Dont expect good service from these people or The product here is nothing to write home about, or even If you have any complaints talk to Benny. If he breaks down crying, ignore it, its just a trick he uses. Do you think a company like that could possibly survive? That is in fact a trick question. The company exists and is doing great. Its a danish travel agency called CC Travel, and theyve been successfully in business for years. Theyre main areas of expertise are Thailand and the Philippines, but theyre now also offering trips to China, Indochina and South America. All the previous quotes are taken straight from their website. The guy who breaks down crying is the chef at their Philippines resort Coco Beach. CC travel also have a few other extraordinary characteristics: Apart from their honesty in advertising, they also exhibit an extremely high degree of social responsibility towards the countries they work with. They organize and engage in numerous efforts to help the local populations. They focus on the well-being of their employees, and when you deal with them, its clear that their employees are highly motivated and skilled. They are very creative in their business, and no idea is too weird. Which is why they have trips that combine Thailand and Norway! I had the supreme pleasure of travelling with these guys to Thailand and the Philippines last year, and it was the best vacation I ever had. I recommend them highly. Right now Im looking at one of thier South America trips, preferably one that combines Argentina and Brazil. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related