Keeping this blogpost super simple and just sharing some of the best free learning resources out there for people in a Marketing career path. Between these ten different course providers, you’re able to learn about everything from social media, PPC, content writing, SEO, coding, and more!

9 Best Free Learning Resources for Marketing Careers

1. Hubspot Academy

With Hubspot academy, you actually get a certification when you finish the course which you can then use in your resume or on your LinkedIn profile. It is quite a recognized education source so if you can show that you actually put in the effort to complete their courses, it could help with your job application.

Inbound Marketing Course

Content Marketing Course

Social Media Course

Instagram Marketing Course

2. Copyblogger

Copyblogger does have a paid course that really dives into teaching you how to write for marketing, they do offer a ton of different free resources as well.

3. SEMrush

Some of their courses are based around their software, but they do offer a couple of free courses around SEO that are standalone courses.

4. Coursera

Coursera is neat because they offer a lot of free courses by well-known education institutions. They offer an option, when you enroll for a course, if you’d like to pay for the course and commit to getting a certification for the course. This allows you to share and prove you’ve actually taken this course. If you’re just looking to learn without the need for the paperwork, you also have the option of viewing all the course materials for free.

5. Meta for Business (Facebook)

Who knew that Facebook (or should I say Meta now?) also offers courses. They actually offer a variety of courses for business owners but these would be great for marketers as well.

6. Google Digital Garage

Another great option if you want a certification (or bragging rights) along with your course. Google has always been well know for their GA (Google Analytics) course, but did you know they also offer other courses around digital marketing as well?

7. Code Academy

Probably one of the best resources if you’re looking to learn how to code. I found that having basic coding knowledge really saved me many times working in Marketing so I think it is definitely a valuable skill to have.

8. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn seems to offer courses designed by professionals who use their platform. So if you’re looking to learn from courses created by professionals in that field specifically, this is a cool place to go.

9. Wordstream

If you’re looking to learn about PPC specifically, Wordstream is a great place to do it. They offer a PPC Academy that’s going to give you all the most up-to-date information you can find on SEO for your career.

Want to learn more about my experience in Marketing? Check out my other career blogposts.

How Enkel Studios Came To Be

When my two business partners, Tony and Adam, reached out to me asking if I wanted to start a project together, we didn’t really know where to begin. However, we quickly discovered that we shared a common love for all things workspace. We decided that as three remote working digital entrepreneurs, this was the common denominator that all of us knew and knew well.

We chatted a lot about what we look for in our own workspace organization (aesthetics, ergonomics, price, etc.) and decided we were going to launch our very own organization store!

Our First Products

After chatting back and forth and scoping out manufacturers, we decided that we wanted to launch with a laptop stand and monitor stand. We wanted to take into account ergonomics (how it could improve your posture) and aesthetics first. I’ve always loved a light color palette when it came to my workspace, and I absolutely fell in love with the birch wood aesthetic when I saw it. There’s something super sleek and modern about a well-structured birch stand so we decided to go with 2 designs that were both beautiful and functional in several different ways.

Our laptop stand featured a ventilated platform that’s angled to help with easy typing when used alone, and good viewing angles when used with a monitor. There is also a cutout in the back of the stand that allows for wires to feed through for a more minimal and hidden look.

The monitor stand lifts your monitor so that your viewing angle is a lot more relaxed, giving relief to your neck, shoulders, and back especially when you are seated at a desk all day. It’s raised platform allows for storage underneath—providing greater levels of organization in your workspace.

Overall, we knew we wanted to create multi-functional products that not only helped with your workspace organization but served a greater purpose as well.

Follow Our Journey!

I would love it if you would follow along on our journey of building this lovely workspace organization brand! We’re only just getting started with Enkel Studios and we can’t wait to work on more exciting products for you over the next little while! Check out our Instagram @enkel_studios for up-to-date info on the latest launches as well as tips and tricks for organizing your workspace.

Or visit our site and sign up for our newsletter to get the latest launches right to your inbox.

With the current state of the world, there are more businesses that have resorted to remote-working than ever. If you’re someone like me, a homebody who was already was remote working most of the week at their job, then the change might not have been that drastic. But for some, the change of social distancing plus having to interact with their work team remotely might seem like a huge change in their workflow and mental state. I’ve been getting tons of questions about my home workspace lately so I thought I would share the best workspace and productivity setup for remote working!

Best Workspace Setup for Remote Working

Hardware

My current workhorse is the 2017 15-inch MacBook Pro This computer is so powerful and really meets all of my needs when it comes to design and coding work (heavy on the design, light on the coding). I also use this for editing all of my YouTube videos which is amazing for as well.

I also just recently got the 2020 iPad Pro 11” and it has been an amazing addition to my workflow. This device is the most powerful table I’ve used to date and it’s amazing how much you can now do just on an iPad.

The second monitor that I use is this Samsung 28″ 4K UHD monitor. Although the screen colours aren’t the same as my Macbook, I think it still serves its purpose well and produces super clear images. The only bone I have to pick with this monitor is it’s lack of height adjustment. The stand, much like an Apple Monitor stand, can only be positioned at one angle and one height. So I did end up buying a monitor stand to help with this which you can find in the list of my physical workspace setup products below—designed specifically for remote working!

Standing Desk

One of the best gifts I’ve received was my standing desk from Joel. He bought this for me Christmas of 2019 and it’s something I use every single day. Since I work from home mostly, this has definitely helped with not only my physical comfort but also my focus throughout a long day.

I got my table-top separate from my standing desk. I wanted a really wide and deep table-top in a light wood so I got this one from Ikea. If you ask me what’s the one product from this list (other than the hardware of course) that you need for your remote working workspace set up, this is it!

Laptop Stand

As far as aesthetics go, this one from Enkel Studios is probably one of the best-looking laptop stands I’ve seen on the internet. Although it doesn’t have the versatility of height-adjustable stands, I love how beautiful and well made it is. The height and angle it provides works for me as well so I have no complaints.

Monitor Stand

There are tons of beautiful handmade workspace products on Etsy as well and that’s where I got my monitor stand. Although Samdi (the brand that my laptop stand is by) also makes a Monitor stand, it was sold out at the time I was looking for a monitor stand. So I opted for this one from Enkel Studios. the only worry I had was that the colour of the wood would be drastically different from my desk and laptop stand and that it would look bad together.

However, everything ended up pairing really beautifully together so I’m super happy with how it turned out!

Charging Pad

I love this charging pad from Ikea because of it’s look. The cork piece around the charging pad is actually meant to fit into the holes that are on the back of some of their desks that were made for hiding electrical codes. However, I actually really love how the cork looks with my light desk so I kept it as is!

Apple Magic Keyboard & Mouse

When I’m at home, I usually have my laptop plugged into my monitor which means I also use a separate keyboard and mouse set up. I have found that some people don’t love the Apple Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse but I find that it works really well for me.

I love how compact both products are (and not to mention how beautiful). I have considered switching over to the Logitech Craft keyboard but ended up deciding to stick with my Apple products for the look and feel.

Apple AirPods

Have you caught on that I’m an Apple fanatic yet? I got the Apple Airpods for my birthday in 2019 and they’ve been awesome. I do have issues with it now and again, but nothing beyond regular Bluetooth connection issues that I also have with other devices. I don’t have the Airpods with the wireless charging case but if I do decide I need them one day, Apple actually lets you purchase them separately.

Bose QC35

When I’m not using my Airpods, I use my Bose QC35 headphones. These are one of the most comfortable headphones that I use and they’re my go-to whenever I’m traveling or need to focus on work. They do have a known issue that has also happened to me though. After a couple of months, the headphones started to make this static sound when the noise-cancellation is on and you have nothing playing. This really annoyed me at first but I found that the static went away when you’re playing something or when you turned the noise-cancellation off. I’ve learned to live with the flaw but do plan on upgrading to their new headphones in the future when I have extra cash.

BenQ ScreenBar Lite

If lighting is an issue for you, what you need may not be a traditional lamp. BenQ sent me their ScreenBar Lite last year to try and I absolutely loved its compact style and amazing functionality. Not only are you able to adjust the tones of the light to be more comfortable for your eyes, it also produces a bright light that does not reflect off your monitor. It will easily clip onto the top of your laptop to provide clear and comfortable lighting to your workspace

Am I Happy With My Setup?

Yes! There are definitely things that I will probably upgrade over the years (like my hardware and if any of my tools break) but this set up has definitely been the closest I’ve come to my perfect productive workspace! Stay tuned for my next article about my product software setup.

Earlier this year, BenQ reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to try their new product, the ScreenBar Lite. They released their original ScreenBar in 2018 but have recently released a new, smaller version, called the Lite. Whereas the original ScreenBar is meant to fit over your monitors, the new one clips onto your laptop for a more portable experience.

With the working landscape leaning more and more towards remote working and working on-the-go, it can be hard to control the quality of your workspace when you’re abroad.

Cue the ScreenBar Lite. It’s flexible, lightweight, portable—all of the features you’d want in something to bring with you on-the-go. They’ve reimagined their first Screen Bar product to work specifically for laptops, but still provide the lighting options that the original one does.

I’ve been using the ScreenBar Lite for a couple of months now, so I think I can provide a pretty good review on how it works for me.

Design

Much like the original Screen Bar, the Lite version is also wrapped in a black aluminum alloy that’s sleek and quite aesthetically pleasing. Visually, the original ScreenBar is a little more beautiful with a rounded tubular structure that gives it a very high-tech look and feel. The Lite comes in more of a triangular shape that doesn’t blend as seamlessly into the look of my laptop set up as the ScreenBar would with your monitor. Especially if you have a black monitor, the original lamp blends right into the bezel and looks like it belongs there.

The LEDs of the Lite lamp provides ample light to illuminate my entire workspace, even when my laptop is propped up with a stand. You’re able to not only adjust the brightness of your lamp, but also the warmth of your light, which is pretty cool.

It also has an auto-dimming function that uses an ambient-sensor, which is usually the setting that I use it at. Although it does still illuminate my desk when propped up on a stand, I do wish that the lamp provided a bit more swivel for me to be able to customize the angle in which I want my lamp to shine.

Usability

An improvement from the original ScreenBar that the lite possesses is the organization of the buttons. To reach a certain level of warmth or brightness with the original lamp, you have to click the same button (either Brightness or Temperature) repeatedly until it cycles through the settings and gets to the desired mode. The Lite has a Brightness mode and Temperature mode. Once you select the mode, all you have to do is is press the down and up arrows to adjust the setting.

I love that the lamp reclaims some space on your workspace, which is why it makes for the perfect travel/remote work buddy. It comes in a plastic carrying case that protects it while you’re on-the-go, but if you wanted to save space, the lamp could easily fit in your bag or luggage without the case as well.

The lamp is also powered by a USB cable for you to plug into your laptop while you’re working. If you’re a power user, who uses all of their USB ports, this might pose an issue. However, even though I use most of my USB ports all the time, I usually have an adapter or dongle that gives me a few extra USB ports so it hasn’t been an issue for me yet.

Do I recommend it?

The BenQ ScreenBar Lite is a product that you can’t really judge whether you need it or not until you’ve tried it. I have noticed that this light is a lot easier on my eyes than a traditional desk lamp, and it’s super friendly for laptop or computer work since it provides no glare on the screens whatsoever.

If you are someone who’s always on-the-go, working in different spaces, and feel a lot of eyestrain because of it, the ScreenBar Lite is a great tool to invest in. However, with it’s $99 USD price tag, I do only recommend this to those who feel like having a portable lamp solution is exactly what they’re looking for.

Personally, although I never thought that I would need this product, I do really love it’s functionality and portability now that I have it, and will be taking it with me on business trips.

What do you think about the ScreenBar Lite? Is it something that you could find helpful in your day-to-day work life?

*This product was gifted from BenQ. All opinions are my own.*

However, with social media and YouTube being more of a focus for me this year, I wanted to really make sure I was giving it a fair chance. What could I really do with it if I actually pursued opportunities?

So I started pitching brands. Whether it was travel companies, fashion brands, hotels, restaurants… I tried it all. I’ve always had a very open-ended, lifestyle account and I wanted it to remain that way. So instead of trying to write pitches for just one industry, I tried pitching for all of them. I think I’ve finally come up with a pretty decent formula that I can proudly say it’s tried and true. Now, I’m not saying I get 100% of the opportunities I pitch for. Definitely not. You still have to take into consideration that I run a relatively small Instagram account of 31.7K followers (at the time I’m writing this) and a YouTube channel of 59K subscribers. I will say that my tremendous growth spurt on YouTube in the past couple of months has DEFINITELY helped my case, but I’m going to credit some of it with just being forward and going for what I want too. So what exactly am I doing now that’s different? Well, let me show you.

Turn Your Cold Leads Into Warm Leads

Yes, most of your pitch emails will be “cold calls”. But they don’t ALL have to be. If there is a brand that you particularly love and want to work with, you can try to nurture it into a warm lead first before you pitch them your idea. For influencers this actually can be quite easy. Follow the brand’s account, like and engagement with their content, even DM them.

I actually find that it’s easer to work with brands that you already wear yourself. Because not only will you have better knowledge of their product and brand already, you can tag them in photos and stories to further put yourself in their attention.

Craft Your Pitch

Whether or not you’ve created some warmer leads, the next step is to craft your pitch. The layout and wording of your pitch will be different than other people’s but there is definitely a layout that you can follow.

Sawyer Hartman created an AMAZING video on the basic layout of your pitch. I definitely recommend that you watch this video if you’ve never pitched to a brand or company before. But if you don’t want to sit through the entire video, to summarize you have to:

1. Write your strategic positioning
2. Define/redefine your strengths
3. Help the client achieve their goals
4. Write the email!

Your email should include:

• Intro/about me
• Why the brand should partner with you
• The value of partnering together
• Your offering (goals, desired outcome, etc.)
• What you’re asking in return
• and then take away all the pressure

If you want more detail into how to do each part of crafting your email or planning your pitch WATCH THE VIDEO. It’s worth it, I promise.

Develop An Idea They Can’t Say No To

Something that I never used to include in my pitch was content idea. Which was a huge mistake on my part. I’ve noticed that since I started to include an actual idea along with my offerings, I’ve gotten much better results with brands.

The idea behind submitting a content idea is twofold. On one hand, you are showing the brand that you actually carefully thought out why you want to work with the brand and, even more importantly, how you want to work with them. Having a well thought out idea shows them that you actually care about the partnership itself rather than what you’ll be getting out of it (money, free product, etc.)

On the other hand, providing an idea to the brand makes them visualize what it will be like working with you. The more well thought out and detailed your idea is, usually the more inclined brands are to work with you.

Show Them The Numbers

After you’ve formulated your pitch and helped them visualize the perfect campaign you can execute together, it’s time to show them the numbers. No matter how good your pitch and idea are, most likely the brand will still want you to back it up with some numbers. You don’t necessarily have to have an insane amount of followers—as long as you have an engaged audience and you can prove through your statistics that you know where they’re located, how old they are, and what they’re interested in, typically that will be enough.

When I am looking at what stats to show them, I like to make sure I highly my top numbers first. Whether that’s your above industry standard engagement rate or that your top country percentage is where the brand is targeting—make sure that you tailor your media kit to whatever company that you want to work with, just like how you would tailor your resume and cover letter if you were applying for a job.

Master The Media Kit

Many people over think the media kit and is often intimidated by the thought of having to create one. But it’s actually quite simple. Your media kit is essentially a highlight reel of your personal brand and how you can benefit the brand you want to work with—all wrapped up in a pretty little PDF document. It’s essentially your application package for a job!

If you’re not someone who enjoys designing, feel free to check out my media kits! I’ve made two of my media kit designs available for purchase on this website. I also have decided to offer a media kit personalization package for those who want the true “hands-off” experience when it comes to building your media kit. Just pass me all of your stats, and I’ll send you back a personalized media kit.

The Follow Up

Those of you that date know that the follow up is just as important as the lead up and the date itself. Working with brands is no different. You’ve done the stalking, you’ve done the wooing. So all that’s left is to make sure you stay top of mind while they decide who they want to work with from all the applications and emails that they receive. Brands often love seeing influencers take initiative with creating campaigns, so if you followed all the above steps, I’d say you’ve got a pretty good fighting chance.

If the brands don’t reply you, sometimes it’s just because your email got lost in their inbox, or they’ve just been busy. Send them a gentle reminder after a week just to bubble your email back up their inbox. If they still don’t reply, send another one the following week. I usually only follow up twice, and if I don’t see a reply, I just shift my focus to a different pitch. You can save this in a folder in your email, so that you can revisit it at a later date.

And that’s it! Those are all my best tips when it comes to getting a brand to work with you in 2019. No, I don’t have a 100% positive response rating when it comes to pitches, but I don’t think anyone really does! I’ve come a super long way with my pitching just in the last year, because I put in the work to actually practice and try sending out emails. Don’t be afraid to just TRY IT. The more you pitch, the better you will be at it, and you’ll slowly get a better grasp on selling yourself well.

If you want to support me, please check out my YouTube channel, as well as my media kits designs!

So I’m switching gears a little today, and sharing with you 4 truths about remote working that nobody tells you about!

You’re Going To Feel Left Out Sometimes

In Buffer’s annual State of Remote Work report, they found that more than one in five remote workers feels that loneliness is their biggest struggle with working remotely.

My biggest tip? Find a crew! Whether it’s friends that you already know or meeting other freelancers and remote workers, find a group who work and live in a similar way. That way, instead of staying at home all day, you can plan work days at coffee shops in groups and not worry about feeling lonely!

Productivity Will Feel Different

Despite your best efforts, it can be hard to keep yourself motivated to work at times. Especially if there’s no one there to push you or keep you on track, it’s easy to want to take a mid afternoon nap and forget about the stress on hand.

There are tons of different methods and techniques you could implement to help you stay self-motivated when it comes to remote working. Whether it’s theming your days or “eating the frog”, find what works for you and stick with it!

Self-Directed Learning Will Play a Huge Part In Your Life

Another reason that puts people off remote working is definitely the lack of mentorship or support sometimes. Especially if you work for a fully remote team that are in other parts of the world than you, it can be hard to get the help that you need, when you need it.

In turn, self-directed learning will start to play a huge part in your career. Although any good remote team should have a communication method set up, it’s still important to anticipate that there will be plenty of moments where you’re just going to need to figure it out on your own.

Looking for friends who are in the same field or are doing similar work as you can definitely help this issue. Or just be resourceful yourself and learn what you need to do on the internet. Google is also an insane resource that will probably have the answers you need if you looked hard enough.

It’s Not For Everyone (And That’s Okay!)

Remote work is a skill and it’s totally okay if it’s not for you! As glamorous as it may seem, this article, and many others are there, are perfect examples to why remote working isn’t for everyone. Working remotely forces you to be a “over” communicator and that’s definitely not something that everyone is naturally comfortable with.

Whether it’s because you naturally are someone who needs more structure and direction when it comes to work, or because you’re just not someone who can work outside a busy office—it’s totally okay! Remote work is like any other position in a company, sometimes it’s just not meant to be.

If you are considering remote working, definitely don’t forget to look at reasons why it may not be a good option for you. It’s easy to get wrapped up only looking on the bright side of things, and you might be surprised once you actually get the thing you’re striving for.

I personally have loved remote working so far but I think I was well prepared in the time-management, self-motivation aspect due to school. If you’re ready to give it a try, We Work Remotely is a great place to start when looking for remote positions (especially in Tech!). Happy hunting!

One of the biggest questions I get asked when I tell people that I work remotely, is how do you stay disciplined and focused! Although my main answer will always because I am passionate and love what I do, there are definitely some tips and tricks that I’ve learned on the way to keep me looking in the right direction.

For those of you wondering, remote work is a now popular work cultural shift that allows professionals to work outside of a traditional office environment. It is based on the concept that work does not need to be done in a specific place to be executed successfully.

Think of it this way: instead of commuting to an office each day to work from a designated desk, remote employees can execute their projects and surpass their goals wherever they please. People have the flexibility to design their days so that their professional and personal lives can be experienced to their fullest potential and coexist peacefully. (Remote Year)

I am definitely lucky that the startup that I work for, Kashoo, allows me this flexibility. We typically have our team meetings together in the office on Mondays, but other than that, I have the flexibility to work where I want the rest of the week.

As amazing as it seems, there are definitely some downfalls to remote working (but that’s a whole other article on it’s own). Today I am sharing my 5 best tips on staying on track and staying motivated when working remotely.

Create a Great Work Space

Although I do spend a lot of my time in and out of coffee shops, I still make sure that I have a proper workspace at home. For me this is a desk in my room with my secondary monitor, documents holder, some sticky pads, and some things that inspire me. I find that having a dedicated space helps me get in the zone. When I am seated at my desk, agenda open, laptop at the ready… I know it’s time to work.

Use an Agenda

I use a variety of different tools for keeping my task lists organized, but the most important weapon in my arsenal is definitely my agenda. I use the STIL Classics 2019 Skim Agenda. I love how this agenda is laid out—it gives you an area to write down your daily to-do list, as well as provides you space to track time specific appointments and events.

The to-do list portion of my agenda is what makes it my favourite tool when it comes to time management. With countless tasks to complete both for my 9-5 as well as my side hustle, I would absolutely lose my mind if I had to keep track of everything on the top of my head.

See Related: YouTube Video: How I Manage My Time + My Favourite Agenda

Set a Schedule For Yourself

Yes, the biggest benefit of working remotely is that you get a lot of flexibility with your schedule, but that doesn’t mean you can negate one all together! I personally find that the most structured and defined my personal schedule is, the more productive I am throughout the day. If I know exactly what I should be doing at each point in my day, it is way easier to stay on track and focused during your “work hours”.

For me personally, my days are a mix of both side-hustle work as well as “work work”. I use the Calendar Blocking method to plan my days. When I am planning out my day, I make sure to always plan out my “work work” tasks first. That way, I know that no matter what, those tasks will for sure get finished within the day. After I schedule my work tasks, I then go in and schedule all the other tasks that need to be done that day, from most important to least. This is also a great practice to execute even if you are super on top of your scheduling because it gives you the opportunity to decide which tasks are “mission critical” and which ones are “nice to haves”.

Plan breaks for yourself

It’s easy for work to pile up when you’re running your own business or remote working. And sometimes you may be tempted to just work through lunch or dinner to get it done.

Often, when I get in the zone, I find myself neglecting other aspects or needs in my life, sometimes skipping meals or canceling on plans just to get my work done. But there is actually plenty of scientific research to back up the claim that productivity increases when you take breaks. Like did you know that breaks, even just mental breaks to daydream, can help you make connections and improve brain function (Science Daily). So as a part of your calendar blocking and scheduling, make sure to leave time throughout the day to just look away from your work or even step away to go for a walk.

If you’re like me, and likes to be ALWAYS doing something (you freak… but jk, I am too), then opt for a little time to read throughout the day. That way you’re not feeling like you’re wasting any of your precious waking hours.

Get Dressed For Work

The last tip may seem pretty ridiculous to some because why in the world would you get dressed for work if you’re just going to be working from home? Yes, working in your pyjamas definitely deserves some bragging rights at times, I find that I am actually more mentally prepared to have a productive day when I actually get out of my PJs and into some “work clothes”. Studies have shown that those that ditch the sweat pants for some nicer clothes when they are working remotely, typically are more productive. Wearing nicer clothes can help boost your confidence and can help trigger the right emotions in your brain to help you power through your work more effectively.

Not only that, when I am in nicer clothes, I typically feel less tempted to sit on the couch and be lazy with my day. It’s a win-win situation for me because I can then also go out and take photos of my outfit for the blog!

I hope this article was helpful for those of you who might be considering remote working or are just starting out. It’s been nearly 2 years since I’ve started to work remotely, and I’ve absolutely loved every moment of it. It’s gotten to the point where I just can’t see myself heading to an office everyday from 9-5 and wasting a portion of my day sitting in traffic. I’m definitely blessed to have found a job that allows for remote work, so early on in my career, and it has given me not only more flexibility in my schedule, but also the opportunity to grow my side business. So thanks Kashoo!

If you’re looking for remote work, make sure you check out We Work Remotely. Buffer also wrote an amazing article about remote working where they listed several companies that are known to have great remote working teams. Good luck!

If so, the following questions might help you with your job search.

What were your aspirations when you were younger?

Think back to your childhood. What was your idea of a dream job then? Sure, some of them may be slightly unrealistic now – Prime Minister, astronaut, secret agent (though never say never)—but if you had ideas that may be within the realms of possibility for where you are in life now, then you might want to return to those dreams to take the necessary steps to make them come true for you.

What are your hobbies?

If you ever wanted to extend your hobby into a career, then there may be opportunities for you. If you’re somebody who loves baking, as an example, you might want to get into the catering business, be that working for yourself or for an employer. If you’re somebody who enjoys keeping fit, you might want to become a personal trainer at a gym or even a sports coach. If you enjoy writing, you might want to take up journalism, become a blogger, or work as a freelance writer. There are plenty of job ideas here, using popular hobbies as a basis, so have a look, and see what might work for you.

Is the perfect job in this country?

Are you always bemoaning the weather? Do you hate coming home from your summer vacation abroad? Have you always wanted to live anywhere but your own country? Then a job abroad might be the perfect thing for you. You need to consider what you are leaving behind, of course. This isn’t an easy decision, as you might be leaving your family, friends, and even your partner behind in pursuit of a dream job. But you can stay in touch with your nearest and dearest through Skype, and you could always make the effort to fly home to visit them Your partner can contact FISA Immigration for a Visa if he/she wants to visit you, or move abroad with you permanently. And there are couples jobs you might consider if you are romantically attached. Whatever the case, if you dream of taking those roads less travelled into a job abroad, then consider your options to live your dream.

What is your purpose in life?

What is your perfect life? It’s possible to create the life you want with a career you might also love. If you want to spend more time at home, then you might consider a home business. Using your natural talents and skills, you can sell anything you might create, or offer online services to people who can benefit from your knowledge. If you value personal rewards over financial rewards, you might consider working for a charity or getting the training to work within caring professions, such as teaching, nursing, or social work. And if your purpose is to make money, no matter the sacrifices to your personal life, you might consider going for those higher-paid positions, although you will have to commit to training and extra qualifications to get many of them. Think about your life’s purpose; those things that drive you forward, and consider the careers that match.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Do you prefer to work alone, without the pesky distraction of other people getting in the way? Or are you a social butterfly; somebody who thrives on the companionship of others in your everyday life? Think about your personality type, as this might shape the career path you decide to take. To help you narrow down your options, take a careers personality test, and you just might find the perfect job for you. And who knows, there may be jobs out there that you hadn’t previously considered!

What are your skills and talents?

We briefly touched on this earlier, but when it comes to finding the perfect job for you, it is important to find something that matches what you are good at. You might only be the proverbial square peg in a round hole, otherwise. Take time out to list your many skills – there are plenty of ideas here if you are running short on inspiration – and then try and match them to suitable jobs. There are further ideas for doing this in the linked article. Then consider doing what is necessary to add to your job skills if certain jobs require it, or narrow down your options by considering those jobs that seem to be perfectly suited to you and your key abilities.

What did you like or dislike about your previous jobs?

Let the past shape your future. Look at your current job, or all of the jobs that you had previously, and consider what you liked or disliked about them. If there were things you absolutely loved, then it’s good practice to try and find a job role that will give you more of the same positive experiences. If there was anything you hated with a passion, then quite clearly, you need to avoid returning to anything that might cause the same negative reaction within you. Of course, it’s very difficult to get the perfect job, with everything you like, and none of what you don’t like, but it’s still worth going through the thinking process, as some jobs will balance out the other.

Are there any jobs that you would do for free?

In practice, of course, this would be entirely unrealistic. You do need to earn money to survive unless you have a very wealthy partner or family who are willing to fund your voluntary work. However, taking it as a concept, list those jobs that you might be willing to do for free if your lifestyle accommodated it. These will be the dream jobs that you would absolutely love to do, as the rewards received would be greater than any money. It might be acting in a movie, working for a top fashion designer, or as we suggested earlier, a job abroad with plenty of sea and sunshine. These are the jobs that would drive your passions, and get you out of bed in the morning, so think big, list your ideas, and then take steps to fulfil those roles that might be within the realms of possibility for you.

Are you envious of the jobs other people have?

Have you ever been envious of a friend, family member, or even a complete stranger, and said to yourself, “I wish I could do what they do.” If so, then are there any reasons why you shouldn’t?  If you don’t have the correct training behind you, then let this be the incentive for you to go back to school to earn some extra qualifications. If you don’t have the confidence to do what they do, then perhaps you need to think better about yourself. If you are in the position to acquire the skills needed, then why shouldn’t you follow the example of others and set foot into a job that can become a reality for you, and not just an idle daydream? Sure, there will be some jobs that are unsuitable for you, for any number of reasons, and it might be a waste of time to pursue them. But on the other hand, there will be those jobs where you might stand a chance, so curb your envy, and grab a piece of the proverbial job pie that other people are currently munching on!

What are the pros and cons of the jobs you have considered?

Let’s narrow down your choices. After answering the other questions, and having listed the jobs that may well be a possibility for you, create a list of the pros and cons of each one. As we suggested earlier, no job is perfect, but there may specific issues within each job that would rule it out for you. For example, if you want a job with a better work-life balance, but a dream job on your list scuppers any chances of you spending more time at home, then you might want to cross it off your list. Or if money is your raison d’etre, but one of your dream jobs doesn’t pay the salary you are wanting, then you might want to eliminate it from your mind, unless you are prepared to take a financial sacrifice. Look at each job in turn, research them to find out more information, then dwindle them down until you are left with those that could well be the perfect job for you.

So, are you wanting to get out of your career rut? Consider our questions so you can finally have the means to find the job that is perfect for you. We wish you every success in your search.