How I downshifted

A three part series By Rob England - a consumate downshifter, Dad and model train enthusiast!

Part One
Here are some tips on how to make today’s popular life-style change: the downshift, from one who has already gone there.

Once I worked 50-60 hour weeks for an IT vendor. I spent weekends traveling; I spent 50 or even 100 nights per year away from home; and missed a fair chunk of my son’s first four years. My aspirations changed as I got older and had family and the company changed too. It had ceased to be fun. At times it got downright Dilbertesque.

So I quit. Now I work for my own company (I figured it was the only way I was ever going to be a Managing Director). I still work long hours but I do so mostly at home, at times that suit me. I work on projects only if I think they are a good idea. I am away from home when I want. I took most of January off to go camping with my son, and most of February to play with my hobby (model railroading if you must know).

Changing to a lower paced, lower pressure, simpler lifestyle is known as “downshifting”. For many people in developed nations, especially professionals, we have sufficient surplus affluence to make it a viable option.

If that sounds like something you would like to do, there are two ways to achieve it. Either (a) make such a bucket-load of money that you need never work again or (b) follow these steps:

School reunions and the nature of change

Mr Yates class

By Jane Comben

I was invited to my school reunion this week. Surprisingly, I'll be in the UK on the date so I can go if I want to.

There are many people I haven't seen in 30 years, so I suppose it's not surprising that some of the names and faces (on the facebook invite) don't ring any bells. It has made me think about what I've done and where I've been in that time. Since Tophill Junior I've attended four educational establishments, worked seven jobs, lived in four cities, had 12 addresses and emigrated. That's a lot of new faces.

"For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else." Ralph Waldo Emerson

 
I love Portland where I grew up. I never really intended to leave on a permanent basis but it was definitely light on graphic design jobs. While some people have a clear plan of the direction they'll take in their education or career, I've usually taken a more "suck it and see" approach.
"What subjects am I good at?" ... take that at college.
"Yay, I've landed a job" ... move to London.
"Somewhere that speaks English, not too hot and sounds nice" ... New Zealand!

How to Nail that Dream Job: Some Tips from an Expert

Hello. My name is Mandrake U Cheesyfeet

My job is to apply spray tan on Hollywood starlets who happen to be cruising the Caribbean. I am paid $600 per minute (tax free on account of the fact that I work in international waters) and I work for approximately half an hour a week. As a perk of my job I have access to as much spray tan and cosmetic surgery as I need – and a PlayStation 3.

I have been asked by the directors of WorksWonders to write an article on how to go about obtaining your dream job. Jane and Angela who run WW said they couldn't afford to pay me but that if I didn't do it they would reveal exactly why I can only work outside the jurisdiction of most right thinking countries. 

APPLYING FOR THE JOB

1.      Where to look

Do not make the mistake of assuming that your dream job will be advertised in the local free paper. NASA may not have the financial resources to take out a classified in the Pukerua Bay Herald Tribune. Additionally some vacancies are more obvious that others. Politicos might like keep an eye on the news for the overthrow of dictators in nice sunny countries like The Seychelles. Those of a sporting inclination might like to check the latest injury list for cricket teams touring the West Indies. Those with significant experience in the area of administration should…erm… check  the local free paper.

Interview dos and don’ts

By Angela Bensemann

If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, recently made redundant, or have been in the same job for ages chances are it’s a long time since you last went for an interview. 

Having sat on both sides of the fence I’ve picked up some pointers for what works well in an interview.

My two most memorable faux pas were my cell phone ringing in the middle of an interview and announcing at an interview for a job as a press secretary at Parliament that I had no interest in politics. 

Strangely I got the job where my cell phone rang but no, I didn’t get the job at Parliament.

Here are some of my key interview tips:

• Be prepared.  Research the company and the position.  Find out as much as you can through their website, annual reports, talking to people who work there, google, Facebook, the companies office etc.
• Think up examples of previous work or experience that meets the requirements of the job description.  If you’ve been a long time between jobs think of all the other things you’ve been doing and how they relate.
• Dress appropriately.  Find out beforehand what kind of company it is.  If it is the local dairy you could wear tidy but informal clothes.  If it is a multi-national corporation you might want to wear a suit or something more formal.  Check out our guide on what to wear to an interview.
• Take along some samples of your work if they are relevant.  If you are going for a design job take along a portfolio.  If you are a hairdresser take along some photos of your creations
• Jot down some questions you might have for those interviewing you.  Remember the interview is a two-way street you want to make sure the job is a good fit for you.
• Take a deep breath and remain calm. This might sound impossible but practise before hand and just take your time.  If you are really nervous you might want to break the ice by saying so.
• Shake hands firmly and smile.
• Look the interviewer in the eye.  If it is a panel make sure to look at all members to include them in your reply.
• Answer to the best of your ability using your examples – this is your chance so don’t sell yourself short.
• Never ever lie – you will be found out.
• Don’t mention money in the first interview unless they bring it up or you get the feeling that you are wasting everyone’s time because they are likely to be paying too little.  The question of salary expectations is usually a second interview discussion.
• Ask when you are likely to hear back from them.
• Shake hands and smile when leaving.

Good luck.

Hairdressing, the ticket to a great business

Guest post by Paula Birnie from Make-Over Magic NZ

My working life today, a far cry from 27 years ago when my teacher Stephanie Gates recoiled in horror as  I announced that hairdressing would be my vocation “but you have all these qualifications” she protested “you could go to university, hairdressing what a waste”.  Unable to convince me to take the road to academia, her disappointment was evident as though somehow she had failed me as a teacher.

England 1985, consensus of opinion was you didn’t need to be smart to play with hair. A time of high unemployment, and no real long term job prospects, school leavers were encouraged to pursue further education and if all else failed there was the YTS, a government work scheme that paid employers to take on trainees to work towards a formal trade qualification, this was the nearest one could get to an apprenticeship.

Fast forward to 2012 and the economic landscape is remarkably similar and sadly so is the view that hairdressing is all about the glitz and glamour of styling. The reality lies in the back engine room of bursary level chemistry, and considering that 80% of our clients indulge in chemical services here lays the real skill.

Whilst dabbling in other career options, hairdressing was something I never quite escaped, there was always someone asking if I could help out on a Saturday, which invariably would end up as a two or three year stint.

In 1995 I immigrated to New Zealand it was that trade certificate that provided residency, it was then I really appreciated the value of a qualification. A career providing extensive travel both in New Zealand and overseas, working in sales followed by education and troubleshooting for some of the highest profile brands in the world. It has taken me to Italy, Singapore and the USA for training and has led to further education in adult teaching and assessment practices laying the foundations for others. But perhaps what I value most is the provision of sanity and freedom after having children.

Hands up those who have discovered the urban myth that parenthood is not the picture you expected it to be. Only now I truly appreciate my transportable skill for life, seeing many women trapped like possums in the headlights trying to figure out how they might juggle a family around work; the stress is plain to see. Some too terrified to even contemplate the notion decide it is easier to have more children in order to delay the process.

Ironically it was a group of such women who first presented me the opportunity to work from home around my children. Bailed up in a corner at a mainly music group 5 years ago, there was little chance of escape when asked if I was a hairdresser and had I considered working from home. Three weeks later I turned up to my first client armed with a builder’s tool case, portacot and 8 month old baby and almost 3 year old. Within 3 months I had over 60 clients and have never looked back.

Today my children are 6 and 8 and the business has expanded into make-up and wardrobe styling working in perfect synergy with hairdressing, utilising my entire skill set creating the complete head to toe make-over on a personal one on one basis or in group workshops. Setting up a blog 2 years ago has developed further opportunities to reach a wider audience both directly and indirectly. As of next month I will be writing a monthly column for the Kapi-Mana newspaper on styling, despite never having studied journalism. Life is very busy but balanced even allowing me to give 2 hours a week as a mentor for Supergrans Charitable Trust working with disadvantaged families on a voluntary basis.

I wonder what Stephanie Gates would make of my life choices now?

More information about Paula's services can be found at her blog here.