Monthly Archives: April 2018

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Things You Should Never Say to a Deaf Person

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Communicating with someone who has hearing loss can be difficult. The key is to speak clearly so that the individual can lip-read you. While it may be tempting to shout, this rarely makes a difference; it is all about being clear and talking at a slightly slower pace so that it is easy for the other person to follow your lips if they cannot actually hear you. Aside from this, you will obviously want to make sure that you do not offend the person with hearing difficulties. Of course, you would never intend to hurt their feelings, but it can be hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. With that in mind, read on to discover some of the things that you should never say to a deaf person or someone with any hearing problems…

Don’t speak to them like they are unintelligent – We have all been there. You are conversing with someone who comes from another country, and you start talking to him or her like they are from Mars, or like he or she is a young child that has only started to speak. People often have a tendency to do this when they are speaking to someone with hearing problems too. Yes, it is a good idea to speak slightly slower so that you make it easier for the other person to lip-read you. However, try to avoid speaking to them like they are stupid. You probably don’t realise you are doing it, but there is a difference between talking slow and dumbing things down.

What’s your friend’s name? – Talking about someone with hearing loss in front of him or her is incredibly rude. Just because they may not be able to hear you does not mean that they won’t feel uncomfortable, even if what you are saying is completely innocent and harmless. Rather than asking someone else about his or her friend, ask the person. If you then struggle to converse with one and other, you can always ask the interpreter, but make sure you try first.

HI, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? – Okay, so you can actually ask that question, but the point is that you shouldn’t shout! You do realise that speaking louder does not make a difference! For most people with hearing problems, it’s not the volume that is the issue. Speak clear and pronounce your words properly, and this will make a much bigger difference.

Never mind, I will tell you later – Don’t give up. Yes, it can be frustrating for both of you, but giving up on the conversation is the worst thing you can do. The other person will really appreciate it if you keep going and tell them what you were going to say.

Have you tried a hearing aid? – Yes, you are trying to be helpful. But if a hearing aid was going to make a difference, don’t you think your friend or loved one would have tried this already? It may be that the person already has a hearing aid, and so you decide to question whether it is working effectively. Again, this is something you should not do. You can learn more about hearing aids and their effectiveness here. While hearing aids can be extremely beneficial for some people, for others they aren’t helpful at all, and then for some people they can help in certain situations but not all. It all depends on the degree of hearing loss, the environment, and a number of other issues. Think about it; if you had a disability or an illness of any sort, and someone asked you an obvious question that implied you hadn’t made any effort to help yourself, you would be pretty irritated, right?

Turn your hearing aid up – This goes back to the volume thing; making something louder is not a cure for hearing loss. Not only this, but this impatient attitude can make a deaf person feel incredibly uncomfortable.

So there you have it: some of the things that you should never say to someone with hearing problems. Don’t worry if you have said any of the above phrases or sentences before, or even if you accidentally say them in the future. After all, this is a learning curve for you as well as the person who has hearing problems. Simply apologise and move forward. And, never give up on a conversation! Don’t assume that the other person is frustrated because they cannot understand you, and so it would be better for you to give up altogether. In fact, this is likely to cause more upset, as the person will be disappointed that you cannot communicate with one and other.

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Getting Back On The Road After A Car Accident

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Getting back into your car after suffering from a road accident isn’t easy. While you may not have suffered the physical traumas, there are still the psychological effects that are prevalent after an accident takes place. The thought of getting back behind the wheel again may give you untold amounts of anxiety, and despite the assistance of an auto accident lawyer, no amount of compensation is going to make your life easier when it comes to dealing with your feelings. Still, you can’t avoid it forever, and there are ways to make getting behind wheel possible again. Consider the following for example.

Talk to somebody

You shouldn’t keep your fears to yourself, so talk to anybody who is willing to listen. Friends and family are a start, and the more you get your frightened thoughts out into the open, the less burden you will be carrying around on your shoulders. While those closest to you may not understand exactly how you feel, they should at least be sympathetic to your feelings. Consider trauma counselling too. Usually done through CBT, the counsellor will talk through your traumatic experience with you, help you to manage your fears, and give you tools to eventually overcome them.

Consider a driving course

This is especially useful if you were in any way responsible for the accident, or if you panicked in the face of a dangerous road user. By taking a defensive or advanced driving course, you will sharpen up your skills to help you manage most situations, and regain your sense of confidence in getting back behind the wheel.

Equip your car

Modern cars are fitted with a range of safety features, and these are designed to protect you and your car when out on the road. From driving assist features to airbags, you will at least have added peace of mind, even if you never have to make use of them. You don’t need to swap your car for the latest high-end vehicle with all the safety bells and whistles attached, as mid-level cars have certain features as standard, and you can get your existing car modified with anything you feel necessary to improve your state of mind.

Go for a short drive

As with any trauma, you need to pace yourself when dealing with it. In this case, you should get back on the road in stages. This means going for short, undemanding drives, perhaps with another driver sitting with you to give you peace of mind if your nerves get the better of you. After a while, take short car journeys alone, even if it’s only to the shops or the commute to work. You should also visit the crash site. Avoiding it forever may be problematic, and as any counsellor will tell you, visiting the cause of your trauma is your first step to overcoming your anxiety, no matter how difficult it may be. After taking these small steps (although they will be huge in your mind), you will be able to drive for longer distances again, including your annual summer road trip.

Finally

We hope you never get involved in an accident, but if you do, the steps above should help you to get back out onto the road. Let us know if you have any tips based on your personal experience.

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My Car, My Rules: A Driver’s Role In Safety

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Even when you have no one in the car with you, driving is a significant responsibility. And, that responsibility only increases when you have passengers. Many drivers fail to consider that it’s down to them to keep their passengers safe. Surely everyone should look after themselves, right? In an ideal world, perhaps, but that’s not the way it works when you’re behind the wheel. As the owner and driver of a car, it’s actually down to you to ensure everyone’s safety. And, this becomes especially crucial when you have to rescue kids. Children aren’t always able to see what’s best for them. They may wriggle, fidget, and even unbuckle their seatbelts. And, some adults are guilty of these crimes too.

As such, it’s crucial you consider the following before driving anywhere.

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Is your vehicle safe?

Before passengers even come into the equation you need to ensure your vehicle itself is safe. Not taking care here means failing anyone who chooses to get into your car in the future. And, that’s including yourself. If you invest in untrustworthy parts, or fail to keep on top of maintenance, you’re taking unnecessary risks. And, these could go against you should anything happen. On top of which, you’ll have to face your conscience when people put their trust in you.

To ensure everyone’s safe at all times, you should invest in parts from trusted automotive experts, and know which issues to look out for. It’s also worth checking things such as tire pressure every two weeks or so. And, don’t hold off booking into a garage if you do suspect there’s a problem. Ignoring an issue is as bad as not doing checks at all.

Is everyone buckled in?

Asking passengers to wear seat belts can feel embarrassing. It’s one thing ordering your kids around, but you may not know what to do when friends don’t buckle up. But, if anything happens because they weren’t wearing a seatbelt, you’ll come under scrutiny. After all, it’s your car. You should have checked they were secure before driving. That’s not to say, of course, that you need to do a vocal check before heading off on each journey. You can keep things subtle, and give gentle reminders to those who don’t look set to buckle up anytime soon. Either way, DO NOT start driving until you can be sure everyone’s safe.

Don’t distract the driver

It’s also vital that you tell passengers when they’re distracting you. After all, we all have different levels of concentration. Some people can drive and hold conversations all at once. Others are unable to concentrate on the road this way. Some may be able to block out arguing kids in the backseat, while others will find this overwhelming. Don’t be afraid to let passengers know your limits. You don’t need to be rude about this (unless the kids won’t stop fighting). A simple “hold on a minute” will suffice. You can then resume the conversation when you reach a quieter road.

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Is Faxing Still Business Relevant?

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In the last 20 years alone the technology industry has grown exponentially and we have left the days of the VHS far behind us. With the fast advancement in technology it is easy to move on to the latest tech and leave the old stuff behind without a second glance, but there are still certain things we used to use which can be used today.

The prime example of this is a fax machine. If you are young enough not to know what a Fax machine is: it is a way of sending post through a machine which is similar to a printer. Every Fax machine has its own number just like a telephone, and you can send documents and messages to the machine, and it will print off at its destination. So why do we need this machine when we have email?

Many people still use it

The easiest reason to get on that Fax train is that it still has a huge user base around the globe. Back in the day this was state of the art technology, and people who used it back then still love to use it today. You can get fax solutions for small business and you will see what a difference it can make with communication. You will end up with more messages than you think.

It’s quicker

Believe it or not a Fax machine can be quicker than using your computer to send a document across to another office. Let’s say you have a document which needs to be scanned and sent to someone else in another building. You will need to first scan the image, then download it to your computer, make sure it is a good enough copy and then send it. However if you have a Fax machine you simply place the document in the top, type in the recipient’s number and send. Quicker, and much less stress.

And if you’re used to doing everything online, there are online pay per fax services that are available too.

Better way to send your signature

Our signature is a private thing which ideally we never want to be available for anyone else to use. However with online apps that offer digital signatures, you have the risk of someone else using your signature on a document you haven’t authorised. However, if you have a Fax machine all you have to do is sign the document and send it. You don’t need to let your signature get anywhere on the network.

Confirmation

One of the things which seems to have been lost in the years of technical advancement is the idea of sending a message and receiving a confirmation that it has been sent and received. This is something which might not sound like a big deal but you want to know that the right person has received your message.
Whereas when you send an email you get nothing back, with Fax you get a confirmation page printed to prove that the message went through successfully. This gives you the peace of mind to know that you have sent the document to the right person and they have received it.

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Hedge Funds: Getting to Know the Jargon

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Nowadays people are placing increased levels of interest in building up their personal financial portfolio. This means that they’re constantly looking for new ways to show that they are competent with investments and making positive financial decisions. A great way to get engaged with this is to take part in hedge fund schemes. Now, at first glance, hedge funds can come across as relatively complicated, but a lot of this is down to the jargon that is employed when people speak on the subject. So, to clear away any confusion and maximize your odds of getting sufficiently to grips with the concept to actually try your hand at hedge funds, here are a few definitions to get you started on the right foot!

Software

First things first, you should be aware that there are different types of trading software out there that allow you to engage with hedge funding while minimizing the risk entailed. These tend to work on algorithms and help you to develop strategies, backtest, optimize these strategies, and engage with live trading easily. Some of the most popular versions include “Algo Terminal,” so if you hear people referring to “Algo Terminal”, they are referring to the trading software that helps them to engage with this entire process.

Partners

Hedge funds are a form of investment partnership. You never go into a hedge fund alone. You work alongside a group of other individuals who pool money and invest it into various different areas in order to rake back a little (or a lot of) profit which can be split between you. The two types of partners that you should be aware of are known as “limited partners” and general partners.

Limited Partners

When it comes to hedge funds, you’re very likely to play the role of a “limited partner.” The limited partners in this arrangement are the investors – the people who put assets or investments into a pool that can then be used as a form of tender to trade on the market.

General Partners

General partners, when pertaining to the topic of hedge funds, are otherwise known as professional fund managers. These are the individuals who take the money pooled together by the limited partners and invest it with an eye for making a return.

Investment Latitude

Investment latitude is detailed in the mandate of the hedge fund. It is essentially the scope of areas that the general partner is permitted to invest in. Generally speaking, this is usually pretty far and wide-reaching in hedge funds. You could find your money being invested in stocks and shares, real estate, currency, or a whole scope of other areas.

Leverage

Some hedge funds make use of “leverage.” This means that the money and assets pooled by the limited partners aren’t necessarily their own. They might have taken out a loan in order to maximize their returns!

These are just a few key pieces of jargon that come hand in hand with almost any conversation on hedge funds, so it’s best to be aware of them before dabbling in the field!

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Things To Do Before You Head Off On A Long-Term Trip

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If you’re an avid traveller, a two-week holiday somewhere sunny might not be enough to satisfy your need to see the world. In fact, you might find that life, in general, isn’t satisfying and that you’re bored of seeing the same people, visiting the same places, and eating the same foods day after day. If you’re aching to visit somewhere new and see the world, then you wouldn’t be the first person to consider travelling long-term. However, if this is seriously what you want to do, you need to make sure that you properly prepare, so that you can make the most out of your trip. Here are four things that you need to do before you head off on a long-term trip.

  1. Get Some Money Together

The first thing that you need to do is research the country or countries that you intend to visit and figure out exactly how much you’re going to need to live while you’re away. Even if you work online or manage to find some work abroad, you’re still going to need some money to tide you over while you settle in as well as an emergency fund, just in case something goes wrong. Once you’ve figured out your budget, you need to start saving. Ideally, you should use more than one account, just in case you can’t access one of them at some point for some reason.

  1. Speak To Your Boss

Unless you work online, you’re going to need to speak to your boss about you going away. If you don’t want to quit your job, you’ll have to explain your plans and ask if you can take an extended leave of absence. Depending on who you work for, there may be a sabbatical program in place for circumstances like this one. Of course, if your boss isn’t happy about you going away, you will have to consider handing in your notice or staying at home.

  1. Sort Your Belongings

Unless you’ve asked a friend or family member to check in on your house while you’re away, you’re going to have to figure out a storage plan for any belongings you’re not bringing with you. You will also have to find vehicle storage for any cars or bikes you own. To save yourself some money (and earn some at the same time), you might want to consider selling some of your belongings, so that there’s less to put in storage.

  1. Take Care Of Yourself

Make sure that you make an appointment with your dentist and your doctor before you go away. Your doctor is especially important, as you may need to get a vaccine or two, depending on where you’re going. Being away from home for so long is likely to take its toll on you physically and mentally, so make sure that you drink enough water and eat properly from now on, to get your immune system as healthy as it can be.

Heading off on a long-term trip is incredibly exciting, but before you do, there is a lot that needs to be sorted. Once you’ve got it all figured out, it’s time to start packing and get on that plan.

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It’s Time to Talk: Lifestyle Factors that Can Affect your Mental Health

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If you’re feeling down in the dumps, unable to concentrate or constantly tired then you’ll know how draining this can be. You may think that this will pass and this is completely true, but there could be an underlying reason behind the way that you feel and if you don’t tackle the problem at its root then there is a high chance that it will keep on coming back.

Your Activities

The exercises you do will affect your mental health as much as they affect your body. Some studies indicate that exercise can be just as effective as taking antidepressants. Exercise works by reducing the amount of muscle pain you experience and it can also increase your mobility as well. It’s completely understandable that you don’t want to go to the gym, but if you can somehow find it in yourself to go for a walk or even a run then this is great and you can even take the dog with you as well, if you have one! Exercise gives you the chance to think clearly and it also helps you to improve your mood and self-worth as well. It also helps to give you a lot of structure for the day ahead.

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Social Bonds

Your social activities can also affect your mental health. Research really does show that friendship can help you out a lot with your mental health. People often feel isolated when they feel depressed, so by having a good friendship circle, you can be sure to really count on people when you need them the most. If you struggle to make friends then try and volunteer or even go out with a large group of people so that you can feel more connected with the community. If you are religious then consider going to a church function or even try and make friends with those who are in need. If you have been in an accident and you are unable to go out every now and again then consider contacting Sevey, Donahue & Talcott to see if you are able to get any compensation, and also look into physical therapy.

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The Way You See Yourself

If you look in the mirror and you see yourself as being unattractive or even not-worthy then this will have a profound impact on your life. You may not want to go out, and you may even find it difficult to attend social events as well. If you want to avoid all of this then one way to do so would be to change the way that you see yourself. Try and workout, or buy yourself some new clothes. This will give you the rush of endorphins you need to see yourself in a more positive light and it is a great way for you to give yourself a boost to your self-esteem as well.

So there are certain lifestyles that can have a huge impact on your mental health, and sometimes, you may not even know that this is the reason behind it.

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The Importance of Finding the Right Family Dentist for You and Your Children

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Few things in life can be considered as important as your health. The only way to really take care of both your and your children is to ensure that you’re getting the right protection and also advice from healthcare professionals. Family doctors are a given; most people will register themselves and their family to a reputable family doctor that they can trust and build a relationship with. However, for some reason, people tend to neglect family dentists. This might be due to the fact that dentists are less commonly visited and children often fear dentists more than anything else.

Sadly, this means that people put less emphasis on their dentists and this can lead to a number of issues. Teeth or gum issues might be left undiagnosed for a long time especially considering it’s harder to tell if there’s a problem in your mouth as opposed to something more obvious that a doctor would deal with such as a cold or pains around the body.

Pain is usually the biggest concern when visiting a dentist, but with modern dental advances and skilled doctors, it’s no longer a problem. (Source: Pexels)

Undiagnosed Tooth Issues Could Cause Major Problems

From wisdom teeth to gum disease, problems that occur in your mouth could adversely affect the rest of your body in several different ways. For instance, those who suffer from periodontal disease (severe gum disease) are said to be twice as likely to develop heart disease. This is because the harmful bacteria in your teeth contains proteins that have the ability to cause blood clots that could clog your arteries. The nasty bacteria in your mouth can also travel to other parts of your body (such as the heart) and increases your risk of stroke.

Tooth pain is another common issue that people usually ignore. A skilled and compassionate family dentist will make sure to remind you to tell them if you are experiencing any issues with your mouth. Tooth pain could mean a number of different things like underlying tooth damage, a root canal or even dental abscesses. If left untreated, these sources of pain will only get worse and in some cases, could cause further issues. For instance, a dental abscess is essentially a pocket of infected tissue between the tooth and your gums. It causes intense pain, swelling and is sensitive to heat and cold. If this isn’t drained and the infection treated, then it could spread to other parts of the body including your brain or your heart which could be life-threatening.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the results of a study that was conducted between 2011 and 2014 and it reveals some startling statistics. Around 18.6% of children between the ages of 5 and 19 had untreated dental cavities and around 31.6% of adults between the ages 20 and 44 also had untreated dental cavities. These likely led to further complications that were costly to deal with and put those children and adults through a lot of pain and frustration.

Many people refuse to register with a family dentist because the costs can be high, it might be a bother to them or they simply don’t care about their dental health over their physical and mental health. This is a poor judgment because dental health is equally as important as other forms of healthcare and should never be ignored.

Brushing alone usually isn’t enough to keep you protected from all kinds of gum and tooth diseases and problems. (Source: Pexels)

Finding the Right Dentist for Your Children

In order to find the right dental practice for your children, you’ll need to consider a couple of different factors. We’re going to be listing them in no particular order, and you’ll want to treat these points like a checklist of qualities to look for in your dentist.

 

  • Finding a dentist that knows how to connect with children – Dealing with children is a profession in its own right. The way you speak to children is completely different to how you speak to adults and it’s important to understand how they think if you want them to look after their own health. It’s important to look for a dentist that advertises itself as a family doctor and has a track record of being able to cater towards children. For instance, you can look online and find practices like Ideal Dentistry that are not just targeted towards child patients, but entire families as a whole. This gives you peace of mind knowing that your dentist has treated children before and understands them.
  • The practice knows how to entertain your children – Whether it’s putting out little toys and books in the waiting area or giving your children study materials to remind them to brush their teeth, it’s important that you keep your children entertained with the help of your dental practice. This is more of a luxury than anything, but it’s still something to keep in mind.
  • Keep their credentials in mind – Most practices will have the necessary credentials to be operating in the first place, but the more prestigious or well-known the practice is, the more likely you’ll be getting a better service.
  • Examining the office culture in the practice – Many practices understand how to deal with children. From the receptionist down to the cleaning staff, they know what it’s like to deal with children and they understand how to take good care of all of their patients. On the other hand, some dental practices don’t understand how to deal with children, they make fun of their patients and in general, they have a rude and nasty attitude towards their patients and this could reflect the quality of healthcare that you’ll get. It’s important to examine what the office culture is like and to look out for professional practices that work as a coordinated team.

 

Hopefully, this article has given you some idea of how to find the right dentist for your family and also shed some light on the importance of a good family dentist.

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What Changing Your Image Could Do For Your Business

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If you’ve been in business for a while and you’ve noticed a plateau, a few things could be at play. If you’ve been thinking about this for a while and how you can improve, it could be time to change your image. These pointers will give you a few things to think about if you feel like this could be a good step for you to take:

Conducting An Audit

Take a look at your current branding and try to see things through your customer’s eyes. You want to take a close look at your logos, web design, marketing campaigns, and even the colors that your brand is using. Colors can have a psychological effect on your customers, so changing those could make a big difference to your success. Check out your competitors side by side and analyze what they’re doing too. You need to have a picture of exactly where you stand in the market at present.

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Take Your Business Mobile

Taking your business mobile is key if you haven’t already. A mobile website will appeal to those who prefer to use their phones for browsing. You can quite literally take your business mobile, too, with wraps for cars and trucks to advertise your services wherever you go.

Changing Your Company Name

Your company name is a huge part of your identity, so deciding to change it can be pretty monumental. Your company name tells people a lot about the kind of business you’re conducting, and it can also reflect a focus change or change in the market if you do decide to change it. If you know your business needs to take a new direction, then changing your business name could be a good idea. Just don’t take this decision lightly, as you will need to rebrand and overhaul pretty much everything to do with your business.

Listen To What Your Customers Want

Through the business makeover process, you should make sure you pay attention to things like customer feedback and analytics. Do this before you make a single change to your business. Keywords will help you to figure out what people are really looking for when they find your site.

Get Involved In The Community

As well as the efforts you make online, it could be a good idea to do face to face marketing too. Getting involved in local events could be a wonderful way to do this when you start to rebrand your business. How about sponsoring a local charity or football team? You want your business to make an impression!

Be Consistent In All You Do

As you want to grow your business, you need to make sure you’re consistent in your efforts. You can’t alienate your existing customers by treating them too differently to new customers.

Be Willing To Make A Drastic Change

If you want to start all over again with a new customer base, you’re going to need to change absolutely everything. Perhaps you’ve gone too far in the wrong direction, or your business just isn’t as viable as you thought it was.

Changing your image could help your business to appeal more to a younger generation, or a totally new market. It could help you to build a better reputation and a sturdier customer base. Make a change now!

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Where Could An Armed Forces Career Take You?

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There are so many careers that are just so popular. To name but a few there’s freelancing, marketing, finance, customer service etc. But the one career that doesn’t get enough credit is a career in the armed forces. A lot of people would go against something like this due to the travelling and being away from home, and the potential dangers. But we’re now seeing a career in the armed forces becoming ever more popular due to the opportunities it creates, not only whilst actually in the armed forces, but once deciding to leave as well. Plus, the travelling should be one of the advantages, and it is definitely going to be one of the ones we list today. So, if a career in the armed forces could be on the cards for you, or even if it is something that you’ve never considered before, here’s why we think it’s one of the best careers that you could go for.

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Travelling Opportunities

It’s no secret that a career in the armed forces could potentially take you around the world, and it should be considered one of the biggest advantages to the career. Yes, you might be travelling there on work, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get some downtime for you to be able to take in the country you’re visiting. It allows you to become such a cultured person purely due to the fact you’ll see so many different places. As a bonus, most of the bases that you’ll visit will be in tropical and hot countries, meaning you could be in the sun more than you think. For women especially, this should be one of the things that attracts you to the role. The people you meet in the armed forces will become some of the closet friends you’ll ever meet, so travelling the world with them whilst working is one of the best things you can do. Don’t be afraid of the homesickness. This is what can put a lot of people off about the travelling side of things. Whilst it is hard to be away from your loved ones for long periods of time, especially if you have a family, there’s also the sheer joy you’ll feel every time you’re able to go back to them. A lot of the time you can also take your family around the world with you to stay in the army bases. Whilst this isn’t ideal for some people, it might be better than having to wait a few weeks or months to see them! You’ll also get the privilege of doing tasks such as humanitarian aid in countries that are so desperate for it.

Progression

It doesn’t matter what sector of the armed forces you enter into, or what role you chose to do, progression is everywhere. This is something that a lot of civilian jobs lack. You’ll find yourself always stuck at the bottom with little else in the way of progression. But prove your way in the armed forces and there’s only up for you to go. The more you progress, the more money you’re able to make, and money motivates everyone! Don’t get us wrong, it is hard to progress just like it would be in any other role, but knowing that the option to move on up is there is comforting for a lot of people. The longer you stay in the armed forces, the further you’re likely to go. But it’s important to remember that you are signed into a contract that keeps you in the armed forces for at least 4 years. Anytime before that and you’d have to try and pay your way out of the contract which can sometimes be very expensive. Even things such as starting a family doesn’t make you exempt to leaving.

Friendships

As we’ve already said, the bonds you’ll make with the people you work with in the armed forces are some of the strongest friendships you’ll ever be able to create. But that is no surprise considering you’ll be spending weeks or months at a time with them, and only them. A lot of squadrons that you’ll be based with do things such as military coins as memorabilia for the time you’ve spent with the people you’ve spent it with. More info can be found here about the value of military coins and how much they can mean to the people serving. Make no mistake, being forced to spend months at a time with the same people can also have its cons. There will be arguments, especially between the girls, but they resolve so much more quickly than they would in the real civilian world. It takes a certain type of person to go into a career in the armed forces, and one personality trait that’s essential is the ability to let things go and build bridges if things do go wrong. At the end of the day, the people you’re spending your time with are the people who will have your back no matter what, so it’s important to make sure you’re keeping friendships as strong as they can possibly be.

Challenges & Skills

You’ll face so many different challenges and learning curves, but they are what makes you grow as a person. One of the biggest challenges you’ll face is adjusting to the regimented lifestyle. You won’t have as much freedom as you would from your average 9-5 job, but that isn’t to say you won’t have the time to enjoy yourself every week. One big skill you’ll have no choice but to learn is time management. There won’t be any leniency if you’re late, and there will always be consequences. In the military, if you’re told to be somewhere for a certain time, you get there 5 minutes early. You’ll also learn how to problem solve on the spot to make sure you’re making the right decision. The lives of others could potentially be in your hands, so it’s important that you go into the military with the skill already, and let the military help you grow your knowledge.

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