The topic title will have surely got your attention. If it has, then I am sure you are a little too desperate to change.

But does desperate times calls for desperate measures?

There was this friend of mine who was desperate for a change. The world was reeling under recession. Pay-hikes were stopped. There were no promotions, no incentives and no bonuses. Even jobs were few. Options were limited.

But he wanted to change. He did not receive a pay-hike for the 2nd consecutive year and his promotion was delayed because the organization decided to put a hold on promotions.

His job search went on for months -  5 months to be precise. But finally he got a break. The organization was very small. The hike was not too much. Facilities were minimal. But he got a better designation. His desperation finally ended.

Fast forward to 7 months.

His old organization declared a handsome bonus. The appraisals across the organization was extremely good. Promotion eligibility changed and a lot of people who were less tenured than my old friend got promoted.

Today he wants to come back to the organization because he is fed up on the lack of work culture and ethics. He regrets his decision to join a not-so-known brand name.

This is not just a one-off example. This is something that we see across organizations with a lot of youngsters for whom career is just about jumping organizations or, getting a pay hike in about 6 months.

It is never advisable to be desperate. You should be desperate for a good career but the desperation should not be to change jobs frequently or, for a short term salary hike.

Without being desperate for a job you can still manage to find an employer who can manage your skills.

Some important points that you should bear in mind in a desperate situation are -

• Spend time in job search and also spend time in networking. It is highly likely that between two equally qualified employee, the one who has a referral will get selected.
• Don’t show y0ur desperation, stay calm and display patience.
• Prepare well for the interview – learn about the company as much as possible. It shows that you studied the company and it will differentiate you.
• Don’t hide that you are in the market and looking for a job. The more you are open the higher the chances that someone will be able to help you.

The key to building a long term career is “PATIENCE”. You should not be looking at your achievements in a short term time-frame. Instead look at how your career is shaping up across about 5 -6 years.

Remember – You are worth more than what a “Desperate Career Move” will give you.

This is a guest post by Austin. You can check the guidelines for guest posting at our write for us page.

In this tough employment climate, education offers a significant advantage for a job applicant. An individual can even obtain an administration degree in their spare time if they are currently employed. Once someone has completed their degree program, they can use professional groups to find employment and update their skills. With online education and professional organizations, the sky is the limit for a person who is willing to put in a little effort.

Online degree programs have evolved over the years and have lost their former stigma. With more people trying to earn degrees while still trying to work and take care of their family, online education has become a popular choice for many students. With their classroom interaction, student support and chat rooms, online education combines the best of traditional college programs and independent learning. Students can interact with classmates and their instructors in a real time setting to ask questions and work on assignments, but still work on their own if they prefer. This method of obtaining an Administration degree is shorter than traditional schooling, but the work load is just as challenging and the skills learned are in demand.

Once an individual has earned their degree they can turn to professional organizations in their field. Professional organizations are groups where all the members belong to a particular profession. They keep one another informed on the latest information in their field; have workshops that help update skills, and network with one another about job opportunities.

Organizations such as the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and the Association of Administrative Assistants (AAA) offer meetings, workshops, certifications and networking opportunities for its members. They are a great way to learn more about the profession and the skills needed to succeed as well as job opportunities.

One option for those in the Administration field is to work from home. With the high unemployment rate, many people are turning to self-employment and the flexibility working from home provides. Many organizations hire telecommuters and sub-contractors who work from home because they are less expensive than traditional employees. While employers are looking for those with experience, they will often hire someone who has a degree in the Administration field, and if the applicant has both a degree and experience then they are in demand.

There are organizations for those who are looking to work from home. The International Virtual Assistants Association and the Virtual Assistant Association for Administrative Consultants are two highly recommended organizations that can help people succeed in the virtual world

Obtaining an Administration degree is an important first step in career advancement. Joining professional organizations, however, help a person keep up to date with the trends in their field and hone viable skills. Networking with members of the organization helps people find jobs and opportunities that are available to enhance career success.

Resources:

International Association of Administrative Assistants (IAAP) http://www.ivaa.org

Association of Administrative Assistants (AAA) http://www.aaa.ca/

International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA) http://www.ivaa.org

Virtual Assistant Association for Administrative Consultants (VACOC) http://www.virtualassistantnetworking.com