How To Dump The 9-to-5 And Join The Ranks Of The Rich

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Dump the 9-to-5|How To Dump The 9-to-5 And Join The Ranks Of The RichPeople often say that they need to go to work to earn money. But when you really look at their lives, are they actually as rich as they hope?

Almost always they are struggling with bills, credit card debt and down payments on their house. It’s not the life that many imagined.

For millennials, the situation is even worse. Many are working in gig or zero contract hours companies, get lousy pay and only receive a couple of weeks vacation each year. Many view their full-time jobs as more of a prison than a career path because of the sheer amount of time, energy and mental effort that they require. Younger people are wondering why they are investing so much effort and energy to do something that pays barely enough to cover their bills.

Unfortunately, most workers are stuck in the 9-5 trap. They spend so much time working, dedicated to their jobs that they fail to see all of the opportunities around them. They simply don’t have hours available to explore other possibilities, outside of their work and busy family lives.

So how do you get out of the 9 to 5 pattern? Here’s what to do.

Set A Timetable For Yourself

The first thing you need to do is improve your time management skills. Many people working in 9 to 5 jobs can’t afford to leave their present positions immediately. However, they may be able to rearrange their time to allow them to work on side projects alongside turning their main income.

Be strict with yourself and dedicate a few hours everyday to pursuing a different goal. Find a way to either sell your skills or build a business that will allow you to create an income stream that doesn’t rely on your present employer.


Do It As A Side Hustle First

Many budding entrepreneurs, such as Charles Zsebik, became successful by exploring their passions as a side project at first. Instead of abandoning their previous life and pursuing clients full time, they look for ways to to grow to do what they love on the side. If their passion grows into a viable business opportunity, they take full advantage of it.

Plan Out What You Want To Do

If your goal is to create income that replaces your existing salary, then the easiest thing to do is to sell your existing skills. Working as a freelancer in your current capacity allows you to escape the 9 to 5 and work hours that you decide. For instance, if you are a writer for your company, you might consider transitioning to writing for agencies or freelance platforms. These make it easy to kick start your freelance journey and money at the same time, whilst gaining independence.

While you are doing this you will also need to set your rate. You don’t want to leave your current 9 to 5 and wind-up working from 9 till 7. That won’t improve your quality of life, even if you are earning more per hour. If you aren’t happy with your current arrangement, don’t be afraid to fail fast. You can always try something new while you are experimenting with different income streams on the side.

Outstanding Career Ideas If You’re Good With Your Hands

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Career Ideas|Outstanding Career Ideas If You're Good With Your HandsYou might be stuck in a career where you are unhappy and no longer look forward to going to work. This hasn’t been helped by several lockdowns and being forced to work from home, which a lot of people have struggled with. If you are on the lookout for a new job and a new career path then think about where you want to work. A great way to find your perfect job is to think about what you are good at. If you are good with your hands then there are plenty of jobs out there for you. Take a look below for some potential inspiration.

Surgeon

For this job, you need to have steady hands, super steady hands. You also need to be qualified and this means heading back to school if you don’t already have those skills and qualifications. You will need to decide which type of surgery field you want to work in as well. There are many different types including orthopedic, pediatric, and cardiac to name a few examples. It may take some time to get into the working environment but if it’s something you enjoy then it will all be worth it in the end.


Architect

If you want to design things then this is the perfect job for you. You will be in control of designing buildings and overseeing the construction to make sure it matches your vision. You may even get to work with some amazing people in wonderful places. Every building you see around you someone has designed. That someone is an architect, so if you love to draw and design buildings then look for a way into the field. Take a look at Gene Gross of Denver Co to find out more about being a top architect.

Landscaper

If you want to help people and get your hands dirty then why not think about being a landscape gardener. You not only get to meet people, but you also get to design their ideal garden and make it become a reality. You could change someone’s life by giving them a garden they have always dreamed of. You can start your own business or you can join an existing landscaper to work alongside them. There will always be people who are not able to work on their own garden, or simply don’t know what to do with all the space they have. This is where you come in to make their home complete with an amazing garden.

Chef

Finally, if you like making things and serving people then being a chef sounds like a career for you. People think chefs are just individuals in the kitchen making basic food. This takes a lot of intricacies and making sure that food is displayed in the right way. How food is displayed makes us want to eat it more, it is all psychological. You can go to culinary school or become an apprentice to learn all about what it takes to become a top-notch chef. You could even get to a point in your career where you earn stars for your cooking.

9 Key Requirements Needed To Succeed As An Electrician

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Succeed as an electrician|9 Key Requirements Needed To Succeed As An ElectricianElectricity is the lifeblood of the American economy, given that everyone depends on it in one way or another. As such, it goes without saying that electricians and their trade are vital to Americans. According to IBISWorld, there are over one million electricians in America. Becoming an electrician is worthwhile because it is highly profitable, and there are always jobs to tackle. However, it takes a lot to succeed in this competitive industry, so it is prudent to do your homework if you intend to enter this skilled trade. Here’s what you need to succeed as an electrician in America.

1. Excellent customer service skills

Customer service is a top skill that can position you for immense success as an electrician. This skill will come in handy whether you own your own electrician company or work for someone else, so keep this in mind. It is essential to note that electrical work involves interacting with customers and working on their site like any other skilled trade. Consequently, the staff at the job site or home inhabitants will see and interact with you very often. As such, it is extremely vital to be respectful of your surroundings, interact with anyone you meet professionally, and conduct your job with excellence in mind. You need to be friendly, polite, honest about work and fees, reliable, patient, and neat on every job. Also, look customers in the eye and shake their hands firmly to leave a good impression on anyone you work for and guarantee a great customer experience.

2. The right tools

Electricians rely on various tools to ensure accuracy, comfort, craftsmanship, and safety. A large toolset is essential because every job you get can require different electrical components, so having the right tools for every possible task is non-negotiable. Consequently, invest in common tools like a level voltage tester, reaming bit, tape measure, screwdriver, plier, electric drill, and flashlight. In addition, purchase quality safety glasses, conduit finders, and fish tape. Also, remember that most of your time on the job will be spent on ladders or atop high platforms. Therefore, you will not have the luxury of climbing up and down to grab the tools as and when you need them since this would be not very productive and possibly dangerous. As such, consider investing in a comfortable electrician tool belt you can wear on the job to keep essential tools within reach.

3. Physical fitness

Many expert electricians agree that anyone eyeing success in this job should factor in its physical nature. Admittedly, you don’t need to be in the best shape of your life to become an electrician. Also, you will not be required to do strenuous work for hours on end. Nevertheless, you should at the very least be active and comfortable doing things like standing for long periods, lifting heavy weights, bending over, and crouching. Additionally, you should be able to go up and down scaffolding, stairs, and offers with ease and squeeze into tight corners and spaces. These tasks don’t sound so challenging on their own, but they can add up when done day in, day out. Therefore, it would help to have the basic fitness required to perform your role for long-term success in this field.

4. Manual dexterity and excellent vision

It is no secret that electrical work is all about precision, so you need a lot of dexterity and great vision to succeed. For instance, working with small tools and objects will require an incredibly steady hand and great hand-eye coordination. In addition, your vision must be excellent; you cannot be color-blind, for instance. Indeed, distinguishing red from blue makes all the difference between a task well done and a tragedy due to the color-coded nature of your work.

5. Electrical installation and safety knowledge

According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 80 electricians die annually at work, and roughly 25 of those deaths occur due to electricity exposure. Electricians are undoubtedly highly trained to spot electrical hazards and reduce the likelihood of being killed on the job. However, they are exposed to electrical hazards more often than several other occupations, so your risk of dying at work is ever-present. Therefore, it is essential to sharpen your electrical installation and safety knowledge to reduce the odds of occupational injuries or death. As a trained electrician, you will undoubtedly be taught how to use power tools, read blueprints, plan and complete electrical installations, and repair fixtures, equipment, and wiring. In addition, you will be taught all electrical safety procedures and rules, as well as how to install cables, tubing, and switching devices. It is essential to revise this knowledge occasionally to remember everything you need to remain safe while working.

6. Decent math skills

Many skilled trades that involve installation, repair, and maintenance require some degree of math proficiency to excel, and electrical work is no exception. You would be working with percentages, fractions, and decimals to calculate loads, convert watts to kilowatts, and figure out things like wiring lengths and room dimensions. In addition, it would help to master Ohm’s law and other electrical principles as well as basic trigonometry. Precise measurements and calculations are crucial for a job well done in this field and to remain safe. However, you don’t need advanced calculus or physics knowledge to succeed as an electrician, just a solid understanding of basic math you likely learned in middle school and high school.

7. Teamwork skills

Collaboration is common in electrical work, so you will rarely work alone as an electrician. For starters, you will have to report to a supervisor or project manager if you work for an employer. Also, you may be tasked with training apprentices even if you attain a senior rank. Furthermore, to complete full projects like a house build, you must collaborate with plumbers, carpenters, painters, and other tradespeople. Therefore, teamwork and getting along with others are vital to succeed in your role. Therefore, you will need to be patient, friendly, and a good communicator.

8. Critical thinking and problem solving

It is not always clear what the issue is or which component is malfunctioning. Also, wiring and circuitry installation can stall and require a change of plans. These scenarios demand critical thinking and problem-solving skills for breakthroughs. Therefore, you will need to logically assess issues, remember and follow the step-by-step procedures you learned in training, all while keeping safety in mind. Your troubleshooting skills must be sharp, so you must perfect the art of running the right tests and other diagnostic functions to identify issues and address them correctly.

9. An apprenticeship

An apprenticeship is paid on-the-job training all aspiring electricians must finish before becoming qualified to handle full electrical work independently. Electrician apprenticeships in America typically last between four and five years. While training under a journeyman electrician’s supervision, you will get paid in your apprenticeship. You will earn about half of what a fully trained electrician makes, although you may get raises as you learn and master new skills. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, apprentice electricians must finish at least 144 hours of technical training and 2,000 paid on-the-job training hours in every year of their apprenticeship. You can apply classroom hours from a technical college to your 144 hours, so keep this in mind. Finally, you may be required to sit and pass a licensing exam after finishing your apprenticeship based on the state in which you plan to operate. Therefore, check individual state requirements on the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) website to know whether you need to take a licensing exam.

IT infrastructure jobs that will command the highest salaries in 2022

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |IT jobs|IT infrastructure jobs that will command the highest salaries in 2022In general, salaries are high in the IT sector. Workers are in-demand and roles are technical, meaning that the number of people available to perform them is low, pushing up wages even more.

In this post, we explore the highest-paying jobs in the sector for 2022. Let’s take a look:

Big Data Engineer – $116,00 per year

Big data engineering jobs pay well – substantially more than many other data professionals, including data analysts. If you take one, your job will be to take large troves of information and then digest them into manageable chunks which can then be used for other purposes, such as presentations, software or decision-making.

Big data analysts may also be involved in creating company hardware and software architectures and creating systems that make it easier for other colleagues to work with the data.

Devop Engineer – $98,000 per year

Devops jobs are popular at the moment because of the sheer number of companies looking for people who can manage software development from start to finish. Engineers tend to work full-time in companies and are responsible for many roles, including:

  • Maintaining the company website’s backend
  • Managing cloud infrastructure
  • Conducting overall system administration
  • Implementing new, scalable applications
  • Designing and analyzing scripts and systems

Ideal candidates for these roles include people with strong communication skills and the ability to solve problems on the fly. Critical thinking is essential.

Network Engineer – $76,147 per year

Network engineers spend the majority of their time administering their employers’ computer network and implementing new software and features. Most receive a monthly salary, not an hourly or per-project rate, unless they are contractors.

To be good in the role, you should be knowledgeable about all applicable networking technologies, including firewalls, cryptographic tunneling and routing. You will also require a degree for a successful application, though some companies will accept you on the basis of your experience alone.

If you take a Network engineering job, you will need to stay up-to-date with the latest technology. Continuously attending classes, seminars, and conferences is common practice.

Information Systems Manager – $89,000 per year

Information systems managers are also capable of earning a lot of money. If you have five to nine years of experience, you can earn $80,000 to $90,000, while if you have more than twenty years of experience, you can often break into six-figure territory. What’s more, because of demand, salaries for professionals with information systems skills are expected to rise to more than $150,000 per annum over the coming years.

IT managers are responsible for supervising a company’s computer infrastructure and network assets. They may also oversee teams that manage IT security infrastructure and administer the platforms that the company uses. In most cases, employers want people who have had experience working across multiple IT departments to fill this role.

Data Scientist – $97,000 per year

Because of the complexity of their work, data scientists tend to be extremely highly paid. People in these roles are responsible for creating the frameworks that companies need to organize, protect, store and analyze their data. They must also run models and algorithms for plotting various data points and improving business intelligence.

The majority of data scientists have a good working knowledge of the computer programming language, Python. They also work heavily in the area of machine learning, providing training data that neural nets then crunch to find solutions.

People most suited to this role are technical, mathematical and focused on details. Popular employers of computer scientists include Microsoft, Amazon and Booz, Allen and Hamilton.

Computer Systems Analyst – $72,000 per year

Computer systems analysts are responsible for ensuring that IT networks attain their function year-round. The role includes:

  • Monitoring networks and systems to check their performance
  • Ensuring good security at all times
  • Making recommendations for installing, maintaining or upgrading computer and network systems
  • Helping users with software, hardware and connectivity issues
  • Troubleshooting file and email problems, internet access and other network-based services

The best candidates for computer system analyst roles are people with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering, and with additional programming and design training. Larger companies often want postgraduate degrees from applicants, though smaller firms will usually entertain less academically competitive applications.

Computer systems analysts often proceed to become senior systems analysts and then information technology manager, which pays around $20,000 more per year.

Information Technology Consultant – $81,000 per year

If you prefer to work independently and not part of a larger organization, you might want to consider becoming an information technology consultant. These professionals advise clients on how to use their IT and the type of solutions they should install. Clients often ask consultants to physically implement their recommendations, or manage their team to do it. As such, consultants must have a vast array of experience across both hardware and software.

To become an information technology consultant, you will need both an education and training in the industry. You will also need IT-related certifications to prove that you have the necessary skills. You must also be able to work flexibly, late at night and even at the weekends, depending on when your clients need you.

People who excel in these roles are those who have both hard and soft skills. To work well with a range of companies, you need good communication, charm and presentation skills.

Site Reliability Engineer – $119,000 per annum

Lastly, you might want to consider becoming a site reliability engineer. Candidates with no experience can expect to earn $83,000 per year with the top-flight earning in excess of $138,000.

Moreover, despite the high entry-level pay, there is still room for career growth. Many site reliability managers go on to become development operations engineers and then site reliability engineers, software engineers or senior development operation engineers.

Conclusion

In summary, the 2022 IT job market is offering candidates a host of high-paying jobs. Excitingly, many of them have similar requirements, so re-skilling from where you are now to get to the job you want is actually quite straightforward.

Getting Paid to Travel

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article | Getting Paid to Travel | Traveling Nurse | In home nurseWhen you think about travel nurse jobs, you probably think about the tasks of the job itself and not the travel part. If you enjoy traveling, being a travel nurse may be an ideal job for you. If the thought of being in the same office every day makes you feel bored or stuck, then travel nurse jobs may be ideal for you. While you are focused on the functions of nursing while at work, there is plenty of time to explore new cities and towns. You can find trails to hike, stores to shop, and new restaurants to enjoy.

You Get To Pick Your Location

You have control over the places where you get to work. This allows you to feel like you have control over your work and your career. Not only that, but it gives you control over where you get to travel. You even get to decide how long you want your assignment, as well as how many days per week you work. It is possible that you can select a job that aligns with an area where you have an event coming up, such as a wedding. Depending on which agency you work with, you can find lists of travel nurse jobs that give you the freedom to make the best selection for you.

Travel the Country

The most significant perk associated with travel nurse jobs is the traveling. It is a great way to get paid to travel the country. It may take some getting used to living out of a suitcase, but if you have the desire to travel, you can pair up your career with travel. It is important to remember to plan breaks between your travel time because it can be exhausting to always be on the road. When you are a travel nurse, you get to know the locals in an area in a way you never would. In many cases, if you really enjoy an area where you are working, you might be able to extend your assignment to stay there longer. In addition, your friends and family can visit you when you are in a specific area, and you can explore together.

Reimbursed Travel

My travel nurse agencies offer reimbursement to help offset your travel expenses. Depending on where you travel, you may be able to drive and have your car with you. Other places, you may need to fly and find some means of transportation when you are in the area. This may mean you need a rental car or must use public transportation. Therefore, you may benefit from a travel reimbursement plan. On the other hand, if the travel nurse agency does not offer a reimbursement plan, you may be eligible for tax deductions. Either way, you have the ability to be reimbursed for some or all of your expenses.

If you are excited by the thought of exploring and traveling across the country and getting paid while you do it, then travel nursing jobs may be the perfect job for you.