The majority of people are perfectly comfortable working for somebody else. They have no desire to launch their own business, mostly because they perceive entrepreneurship as a highly risky option. Most of these concerns come down to four types of risk – financial, career, lifestyle, and ego. They imagine that the potential for success is very small and the likelihood of ruin high. They assume that the type of person who is willing to put all that at risk must be fearless and crazy and have completely different priorities than everyone else.

In fact, the most successful entrepreneurs are relatively risk-averse. There is a lot at stake when you put everything you have into the next great business idea, and true entrepreneurs work hard to mitigate every potential threat before it becomes an issue. The more front-end work you do, the lesser the risk involved in the business itself. Of course, there is some inherent risk in going out on your own, but there are legitimate ways to manage and mitigate those threats. This article discusses the realities of career risk and what you can do to manage that risk as you dive in to the world of entrepreneurship.

The concern about career risk is that leaving your industry for the months or years it takes to work on a startup can derail your ladder-climbing path. Of course, if your startup is a resounding success, there is nothing to worry about. The problem only arises if your startup goes south and you have to put yourself back on the employment market again. The best way to mitigate career risk is to build a solid foundation while you are still working and to maintain those connections when you step aside.

Whatever line of work you are currently in likely provides infinite opportunities to make a name for yourself. Build your reputation as an expert in your field and nurture relationships within the industry. Keep records of your most important resume builders – projects you worked on, achievements you earned, acknowledgments you received.

Once you do give your notice of resignation, give 100% right up until your last day on the job. Don’t give your last employer, colleagues, or clients any reason to doubt your dedication to them or the industry. Make it clear that your decision to go out on your own is in no way a reflection on your current job or company – even if that’s not particularly true. The goal here is to leave the job with a positive reputation and a list of references who will be happy to recommend you down the road.

Once you are out on your own, make a habit of keeping in touch with your best allies still in the industry. Connect with them on LinkedIn and keep them informed on what you are doing. If your startup is in the same basic industry, these connections will be important for marketing purposes too. If not, maintaining these relationships will give you the connections you need if you have to return to work. Stay informed on the changes in your industry as well. Keep your trade association memberships and check out their websites every so often.

Reducing career risk is not particularly difficult – it simply requires you to be a desirable employee while you are working and to utilize basic networking skills once you are on your own. In reality, the whole point of entrepreneurship for most people is to get out from under the control of an employer…you may well find that keeping in touch with colleagues still on the daily treadmill will be the motivation you need to make your venture succeed.

If you intend to become a data scientist or pursue a career in this field, we have the good news for you that you have made a great decision. Data science is the field of next-generation and is going nowhere in the decades ahead. Let’s find out more.

Data science is a broad and diversified field but one reason which is enough to ensure its sustainability is that it solves the problems of a lot of businesses. Apart from that, there are many other factors due to which we are betting on this field to be the career of the next generation. Our article will revolve around a discussion of these factors. So, let’s begin straightaway.

Importance of Data Handling

The quantum of data has multiplied over the years and businesses tend to struggle when it comes to handling this data. They cannot ignore this issue because of their sales, costs, and all major decisions rely on this data.

In the middle of this situation, the role of a data scientist has become even more crucial. A data scientist can provide a solution for data handling and analysis to help businesses take a prudent decision in the light of facts and figures.

Following Compliance & Regulations

Many regulations have been introduced globally that instruct organization to ensure data privacy and efficient data management. So, companies now need a lot of reliable and qualified professionals to take responsibility for data privacy and analytics.

The reason is that customers do not hesitate to share their data nowadays as they know that they can take action in case of the data breach. So, who can make a company compliant and manage data better than a data scientist? Nobody can do this better than these professionals.

An Evolutionary Concept

Here’s a piece of advice for all the readers out there: choose a career that is dynamic and has a scope of evolving. Data science is the field that has numerous opportunities for people to avail of. It has not gone even halfway to its potential yet. So, if you are going to go into this field today, you have already played a masterstroke for a progressive career.

Appealing Job Market

You will find many graduates who have completed their studies from reputable institutes yet they are striving to get a decent job relevant to their field. This is not the case with data science. According to research, 94% of data science graduates immediately get good jobs.

So, with the rising worth of data science, you don’t need to worry about jobs. You would not have to look for a job either. And the story doesn’t end here. Companies pay a handsome amount to data scientists these days and you will be amazed to hear that a data scientist roughly makes $150,000 on average per annum. Hence, this field is not less than a life-changing opportunity.

In short, data science is here to stay and jobs in this field won’t fad anywhere in the near future. Instead, it is bound to find new glories.

Developing Military Officer to Civilian Transition Strategies

If you are planning to use the skills and experience you gained in your military job to obtain a proper civilian position, you need to know some important strategies. Many service members face challenges when they leave active duty. They do not know how to handle those challenges properly and as a result, they and their families suffer a lot. You can make the military transition smoothly, if you follow some basic strategies.

Discuss About the Transition with Your Family

Before leaving your military employment, discuss the challenges associated with military to civilian transition with your family. Career changes can stress the family, because this transition may involve physical moves, income reduction and loss of support network. You can develop a family budget well before leaving your military job and start saving money. Research the geographical locations that have potential job options. Consider the schools, cost of living and other life factors in that location. Realize that stress is normal at this stage. Preparing and seeking help can make the military transition smooth.

Problems In Demilitarizing the Language

Many service members face difficulties while writing a resume. They find it hard to translate military occupational specialties properly to suit the requirements of potential civilian employers. It takes time to understand how to demilitarize the language.

Using Improper Resume Styles

Using improper resume style is yet another problem faced by military people. More often they write ineffective content, articulating a vast amount of data to potential employers. You can solve this problem by viewing resume examples and samples available online.

Lack of Understanding About Current Interviewing Methods

More often, veterans lack knowledge of the current methods in behavioral interviewing process. Though they have valuable skills that are valued and in high demand, they are not able to get a suitable civilian job, as they do not know how to market themselves in an interview. You can eliminate this problem by following the Transferability of Skills Strategy. In order to write a successful resume, you need to understand how to separate your skills, talents and experience from the actual military environment in which you acquired them. You need to identify all your skills and connect them to your current career goals. Then present them in a proper manner, which can be understood by a civilian employer easily.

If all your skills, qualifications and experience are embedded within your military job, an employer may find it difficult to recognize them. Hence, you need to display your skills without focusing on your record of service as a military officer. Changing the wording and presentation suitable to the civilian word can help you get success in finding a right job. Be sure to highlight your capabilities and experience prominently, so that they get the attention they deserve. Searching for a good job that fits and utilizes your military skills may be difficult, but it helps you get an exciting and highly rewarding career.

Written by: Shadeed Eleazer

Sitting here this morning working at home (I am a Realtor), I turned on the television. One of the all-time great daytime shows was on – The Price is Right! Bob Barker, what a career! What if he had not taken of advantage of the opportunity when it was presented 35 years ago? How did walking through that door of opportunity change his life? I am sure he would have found success in other places but would it have been at the same level? No one really knows the answer to that question. But, we do know the answer to what saying “yes” to that opportunity did for him!

What about you and your career? Have there been opportunities that presented themselves but you refused to “walk through that door?” If so, why not? Is the fear of the unknown such an intense fear that you are frozen in place? Is the comfort level such that you don’t want to upset the apple cart?

Change is something we as humans don’t embrace, at least enthusiastically. Even in your current position are you ever presented with changes to rules or procedures? What is your initial reaction? Are you so set in your ways that adapting to change creates stress? Sometimes change is good. I heard it said once, or maybe read it someplace, that if “you always do what you always done, you will always get what you always got.” There is truth to be found in those words! Is there not a better way to do what you do?

Dissatisfaction with your current situation is a sign that you need to implement some type of change. Perhaps it is only a procedural modification? Perhaps it is a new focus. When things get stagnant we often are suffering from tunnel vision. Opening up to new ideas, new methodologies, is the first step to recovery – recovery from the disease of the stagnant career syndrome.

What are the symptoms of stagnant career syndrome? Some of the symptoms include a lack of enthusiasm, seeing the glass as half empty (pessimism), repetitive processes without positive results and dissatisfied contentment (oxymoron?). These manifestations, when combined, leave you in a state of confusion. Confusion over your future. Confusion over which step to take next.

So how do respond to stagnant career syndrome? First of all, don’t concentrate on failures only. Sure, you should identify the things that are working. They may not be producing results at the level you desire but they are contributing positively to your career goals. You should also identify the things that are not working. Write all of these activities down. When you put the issues on paper the picture will become better focused. Put the goal or objective on paper.

What are some changes that need to be implemented? Perhaps it is something as simple as obtaining additional education or skillsets. Perhaps it is just the environment in which you are operating? Don’t forget that those around you may be the anchor holding your career down? It could be the processes you are doing are appropriate yet the environment does not support your success. Lets say you are a farmer. You have the technique mastered for planting a garden. You know the time of the year to plant, the types of crop your environment favors, how to operate the necessary equipment, all the steps. However, if the soil (environment) is not appropriate for the desired results, nothing will ever develop. If a crop does result from your efforts, it may not produce the greatest harvest for the efforts expended. To maximize the return on the efforts, the farmer simply must plant in the right soil, or modify the soil by way of fertilizers, in which to maximize his return.

After all, this analysis the only modification required my be a change in your environment. Or, a modification in the environment. Time to make a change to your environment? Recognize the situation for what it is and plant your crop in a new soil! You may have no idea how great the harvest will be. Taking advantage of opportunities and resources available may be all that is need to cure this thing – stagnant career syndrome. Good luck and may your harvest be bountiful!

Feng Shui is not only about creating a positive flow of chi and greater harmony in your home life, but it can also be used to benefit or enhance your career life as well. In Feng Shui, career and opportunity is a life lesson represented by the North direction of the Bagua Map. In order to activate this energy, you simply energize this corner of your room, home or office with the influential colors and elements of this area. Whether you work from home or outside the home, there are ways to achieve Feng Shui career success and luck by using the following guidelines and principles.

The Career Zone

The North area or Career Sector of the Bagua, is ruled by the element of water. In Feng Shui, as water is produced by the element metal, we can also energize the area with the element of metal. This means that any picture, symbol, object, item, painting, photo as well as any type of water or metal feature should be used to activate this area. Although both can be used as they are complimentary, the use of water will ultimately be more powerful in this particular area. Subsequently, any item represented by the elements of wood, earth or fire will weaken the area and counterbalance your efforts for attaining feng shui career success and luck.

Energizing with objects

One of the easiest ways to energize the career area of your living room or office is to place a small artificial water feature or aquarium in the North area. Do not make this too big however as such an overwhelming source of water energy can cause an imbalance to the rest of your room, eventually resulting in you feeling drowned through the subsequent negative energy and resulting bad career luck. You should also never have aquariums or water features in your bedroom as this can result in you being robbed or cheated.

When you are trying to energize through the water element, it is important to depict flowing water as opposed to still water. Stagnant water can result in stagnant chi which is negative and worse than not having water at all. Aquariums with swimming fish, fountains with water running or pumps in the water that create oxygen bubbles or a continuous flow are ideal representations of the water element for feng shui career luck.

If a water feature in your office is not an option and you wish to enhance the career area of this room, you can always display a picture or photo of a waterfall or flowing river for instance, to the north wall or introduce water motifs into the decor of this direction. Alternatively, anything that is black or blue in color will also represent the element water.

Metal items can also be used to energize this area. Some examples of these include coins, wind chimes, magnets or bells.

Feng Shui in the Office

Whether your office is at home or at ‘work’ you can also employ feng shui to the north corner of the room or cubicle you work in for feng shui career success. Desks should be positioned so that the occupant has a direct view to the entrance to the room and all windows, ideally with their back to a wall. It is not good to directly face a window however as this can be very distracting to your work, though natural light in the room is highly beneficial.

A round desk or one with rounded edges is more advantageous than a square or rectangular one. If you have one of the latter desks, plants on the sides of the desk can counterbalance the poison arrows deflected from it. The desk should also be a good size and free from clutter. Keep the desk surface tidy and the items in your desk drawers tidy as this will create tension on your subconscious. The same items and symbols described above representing water or metal can also be used in the north corner of your office to enhance your feng shui career success.

Fear can paralyze us and prevent us from making good decisions. The unknown scares us and stands in our way of success. As an employment counsellor, I saw many people afraid to take the risk of making a career change and remained in unsatisfying jobs as a result of their fears.

Risks are something we take every day, sometimes without noticing. When you get in your car, do you determine the risk of getting involved in an accident? When you go for a winter walk, do you worry about falling on the ice? If we let fear rule our lives, we would never enjoy a summer drive, or be invigorated by a stroll on a crisp day. Most of us realize that we have the confidence to do things because the risk is limited. How can we have the same confidence when we decide to change careers?

1. Gather Information: The more you know about something, the easier to determine the degree of risk in the venture. Fortunately, we live in the Information Age where we can access data quickly. Conduct research on the Internet, at your local library, from government-sponsored institutions, and by talking to experts.

Always be aware that there are going to be negatives as well as positive feedback, and you need to analyze the info carefully. Where is the data coming from? Is the source reliable? What is the person’s expertise? It amazes me when I hear people discount excellent opportunities just because a friend said not to get involved, when that friend had no actual knowledge about the thing in question!

Weigh opinions carefully and make a decision only after you have enough information gathered to make a sound judgement.

2. Financial Risk: Consider how much you are willing to invest. I have seen many people keep throwing good money after bad, when they need to have a limit set on how much they can afford to put into a project. Other people refuse to invest a dime, with the mindset they can get something for nothing. Chances are if you buy a diamond ring for a dime, you get a piece of glass worth 10 cents! Sound business management nearly always involves some investment of time, energy and money. Do not believe the promises of quick schemes without investigating the product and determining if you can afford it!

3. Does It Suit Your Interest: In the book, “What Color Is Your Parachute” by Richard Nelson Bolles, I read about a study of careers. One group entered a career based on the idea that they would become rich because of it, while the other study group pursued their passion. Years later it was determined that the ones who had done what they loved were nearly 100% successful in that field, while only 10% of those who were seeking wealth had actually attained it. The moral of the story is to do what interests you and what you enjoy and the rewards are more likely to follow. I chose my home business selling travel memberships, because I love to travel and people I talk with usually respond to my enthusiasm. Your success should be measured as much in happiness as it is in wealth.

4. Determine How the Decision Will Affect Your Life: How is the decision going to affect your time, energy, finances and family time? Make a list of all the benefits as well as the disadvantages. Is this a long term commitment, or short-term? What sorts of things will you need to account for before the idea will work for you?

5. Finally, Plan: Set goals, save ahead if necessary, and plan how to meet targets.

Fear can be overcome when a person looks at keeping the risks minimal. Do not lose out on a chance to change your life just because it is new or challenging. Weigh the risks, and become one of the successful people who seeks to find something more than ordinary for their life.

Picture making is one of the prestigious branches of visual arts. There are countless career or job avenues that are readily available in the field of picture making. All these career opportunities provide numerous financial gains that can help learners cater for themselves and their families. Some of these wonderful job prospects have been discussed below.

Advertising consultant: He is an expert in the field of advertisement of products and services. He is usually consulted to give technical advice on the right form of advertisement to choose for a particular product or service.

Interior Decorator: He is an artist who decorates the interiors or inner parts of buildings such as homes, offices, churches and other public buildings in an artistic fashion especially during occasions like weddings etc.

Landscape Painter: He is a picture maker who make painting on canvas and other materials depicting activities on land such as market scenes, festivals etc.

Print maker: An artist who is skilled in printing and engages in the printing of projects. He implements the various printing technologies in producing prints on T-shirts, banners, cups etc.

Gallery Owner: An owner and/or caretaker of an art gallery (a room or series of rooms where works of art are exhibited). He oversees the selling and trading of the works of art in the gallery.

Curator: An art historian who serves as a custodian in charge of an art museum or centre where there is a great collection of artefacts such as paintings etc.

Computer Animator: An artist who is an expert in the use of the computer in the creation of moving pictures for making films and movies.

Cartoonist: He designs satirical or humorous pictures and scenes (cartoons) for use in magazines, journals, newspapers etc.

Book Illustrator: He makes illustrations in books to explain the printed text or content of the book.

Picture making tutor: He instructs students in the field of picture making in educational institutions.

Exhibition Designer: An artist who plans and organizes an exhibition. He is responsible for the designing of the layout and arrangement of works art at the chosen site for the exhibition.

Event Promoter: An artist who promotes events through the designing and making of visual communication tools such as banners, posters, flyers, T-shirts etc. to promote a special upcoming or ongoing event such as a sporting activity, entertainment etc.

Muralist: He paints scenes and pictures on the walls of public buildings, homes and offices as a form of decoration.

Mosaic Artist: A picture maker who composes pictures by the use of small cubes of shiny stone, glass or coloured papers assembled or arranged to form the picture.

Museum Educator: An artist who instructs people on objects and artefacts having scientific or historical or artistic value in a museum.

Portrait Artist: He draws and paints the exact likenesses of people and other sceneries. Usually such works are laminated or encased in wood or plastic frames with a glass plate to be hanged in rooms and offices as a form of decoration.

Stage Designer: He is responsible for the designing, arrangement and decoration of stage for theatrical performances in a theatre.

Product Designer: He designs products for firms and industries before they are produced.

Tourism Developer: An artist who produces artworks or joins other artists in developing a tourism base for art.

Industrial Designer: An artist who designs products for an industry. He may be employed to be in charge of all the designing of artistic products for the industry.

Colour Psychologist: An expert in colour theory who knows the psychological or mental effects of colours on people. He is consulted before some particular colours are selected for various tasks by institutions especially health and mental institutions.

Art Therapist: A person skilled in the use of art as a form of therapy or medicine for curing mentally deranged and emotionally disturbed patients.

Art Historian: An artist who is well versed in the histories concerning the arts of various groups and people across the world.

Art Critic: An expert in the critiquing or evaluation of works of art for competitions and examinations. He also reviews various works of an artist and writes detailed commentaries on each of them for publication in journals and leading newspapers.

Art Director: The director in charge of the artistic features of a theatrical production (costumes, scenery and lighting).

Art Consultant: An expert in art who is usually consulted by firms, industries and institutions to give technical advice on decisions related to art such as choice of colours, emblem or logo etc. of the institution.

Art Collector/Trader: A person who collects several artefacts and trades in them.

Art Administrator: He is a manager of the art department of an institution who is responsible for all decisions relating to art.

Archivist- A person in charge of collecting and cataloguing archives (A depository containing historical records and documents).

Enrolling in the field of picture making as a field of study is very rewarding. Senior high school students who would want to further their education in the field of art can consider reading courses in picture making since it will furnish them with the requisite skills for their career development.