How To Help A Job Seeker

How To Help A Job Seeker On my 10 hour job search post there is an interesting discussion about how to do a job search, and keeping your chin up, motivation, advice, etc.   Heres a snippet from Doug, asking those who are not unemployed to have more consideration when trying to help a job seeker:   treat those that are out of work with care and as the intelligent, motivated and well-educated individuals we are. Do not insult our intelligence. Do not think we haven’t tried the standard options. We have. Unlike those in a payrolled position, those without jobs are focused on doing the best they can to stay positive, somehow survive and work to develop increased employable skills â€" all without compensation, leadership or external motivation. This reminded me of a frustrating experience I had during my job search.   I was a few months into my job search.   At church, an older lady approached me in the hallway with a paper that had a bunch of job openings, all of which were about 33% less than I needed to make (not what I wanted to make I was beyond that, but I would have to have two jobs in order to pay the bills if I took one of those jobs). She seemed insistent that I simply take that list, apply to the jobs, and then accept the one that offered me a role. This was months into my job search, and I had spent way too much time online looking at and applying to job postings.   I had realized by that time that job postings were something of a farce . that is, they werent real. Perhaps they were already filled, or the process to hire could be months and month, or I was over- or under-qualified.   I had come to view job postings as unreal, even artificial. Getting this list shoved in front of me by someone who hadnt been in a job search for decades was *almost* comical.   It was offensive and hurtful.   Did she really think I couldnt go to monster and find other outdated, artificial postings? Did people really think I hadnt tried the standard options?   When she put that list in front of me, one thought I had was oh, these are all outdated Ive been scouring the job boards and I know these arent open anymore I RECOGNIZE ALL OF THEM!! Doug says to remember that we are intelligent, motivated and well-educated people.   Indeed we are.   It was a huge realization for me when I figured out I not was inadequate to live in this world of working people, rather I just had a different status than my working peers.   I was still a professional, still knowledgeable, competent, capable, willing, etc.   Just like them. They were just more fortunate than I was at the time, with their regular paycheck and health insurance. Let me share five things you can do, if you are employed (including self-employed), to help a job seeker.   All of these are tactical ideas, but keep in mind its essential that you treat us, the unemployed, with the respect we deserve. Thing 1: Get to know me. I may not be good at communicating who I am and what I do (or want to do) this is a hard time for me and Ive never had to talk about myself in this way (elevator pitches and all that).   But try and get to know me on a deeper level, and as you get to know me youll see how you might be able to help me.   I remember having lunch with someone I thought I knew (we were both in the job search) and during lunch I learned so much more about him, I was blown away.   Once I got to know him at a deeper level I could (and did) go back to my network and make more proper, more meaningful connections.   This only happened because I took the time to get to know him better. Thing 2: Offer to help me with something specific. I hated the is there anything I could do? or if I can do anything, let me know.   I would answer not now, but I really wanted to say help me get a job!   Look for opportunities to help me.   For example, ask me what companies I want to work at.   Hopefully I can give you a list of 3 5 target companies when I can tell you, then dig into your network to try and help me network into that company.   Maybe you facilitate an introduction, or go to a lunch with me and a company insider but this is something much more specific, and quite meaningful, in my job search. Thing 3: Open your network. I dont mean open your black book of contacts, and give them all to me. Perhaps you arent comfortable with that yet.   But could you at least introduce me to ONE person?   Just one person and if I handle it well then perhaps you can introduce me to more.   Heres a bonus idea: Read Never Eat Alone, and think about how YOU can play a significant role in your own career, as well as the lives/careers of those around you. Thing 4: Inspire and motivate me. Dont do it artificially, but if you have had an experience where you were out of work and lived to tell about it, perhaps share what you learned, or what strengthened you.   I dont need your sympathy, but I can use your encouragement and help to see the big picture.   In my job search I was dumbfounded by the number of friends and neighbors who had been unemployed, some for longer than a year, who shared very personal experiences and feelings with us.   We could know, with their support, that indeed we could make it through. Thing 5: Remember me after our first meeting. One thing we all hate about networking is how superficial it is.   Having an initial meeting and then not doing anything after that is part of this superficiality.   I know why it happens, but please consider the job seeker as someone who you need to follow up with regularly.   In my job search it was easy to be lonely, and people treated me with kid gloves because they didnt know what to say usually they didnt say anything at all. Which meant I was left alone in my failed job search.   How powerful it is to get a constant reminder, whether its a phone call, an email, a regular lunch date, or something like that, where I can feel your encouragement and communicate my needs not once, but regularly. Bonus Thing 6: Give me money. Wow, that feels weird even writing it, and Im not advocating on behalf of all unemployed people that we want your money.   We most certainly do not want your money. However, I will say that there were a few instances where anonymous friends, neighbors and probably family gave us money in different ways.   Some left fruits and vegetables on our porch. Someone left gift cards for the local grocery store in our mail box with a very kind and inspirational note.   Someone paid our water bill for a few months. I would have never asked for these things, but out of the kindness of their hearts, these good people helped us in a way that was more significant than the amount of money they gave.   Oh yeah, I should mention, for proud people like me, its better to do this anonymously than outright give it to me ?? As I write this I think about a related post, Religions Role in the Job Search it might be applicable to you. What do you think?   What has someone done for you that was significant?   If you have helped a job seeker, what have you done that has made a big impact? How To Help A Job Seeker On my 10 hour job search post there is an interesting discussion about how to do a job search, and keeping your chin up, motivation, advice, etc.   Heres a snippet from Doug, asking those who are not unemployed to have more consideration when trying to help a job seeker:   treat those that are out of work with care and as the intelligent, motivated and well-educated individuals we are. Do not insult our intelligence. Do not think we haven’t tried the standard options. We have. Unlike those in a payrolled position, those without jobs are focused on doing the best they can to stay positive, somehow survive and work to develop increased employable skills â€" all without compensation, leadership or external motivation. This reminded me of a frustrating experience I had during my job search.   I was a few months into my job search.   At church, an older lady approached me in the hallway with a paper that had a bunch of job openings, all of which were about 33% less than I needed to make (not what I wanted to make I was beyond that, but I would have to have two jobs in order to pay the bills if I took one of those jobs). She seemed insistent that I simply take that list, apply to the jobs, and then accept the one that offered me a role. This was months into my job search, and I had spent way too much time online looking at and applying to job postings.   I had realized by that time that job postings were something of a farce . that is, they werent real. Perhaps they were already filled, or the process to hire could be months and month, or I was over- or under-qualified.   I had come to view job postings as unreal, even artificial. Getting this list shoved in front of me by someone who hadnt been in a job search for decades was *almost* comical.   It was offensive and hurtful.   Did she really think I couldnt go to monster and find other outdated, artificial postings? Did people really think I hadnt tried the standard options?   When she put that list in front of me, one thought I had was oh, these are all outdated Ive been scouring the job boards and I know these arent open anymore I RECOGNIZE ALL OF THEM!! Doug says to remember that we are intelligent, motivated and well-educated people.   Indeed we are.   It was a huge realization for me when I figured out I not was inadequate to live in this world of working people, rather I just had a different status than my working peers.   I was still a professional, still knowledgeable, competent, capable, willing, etc.   Just like them. They were just more fortunate than I was at the time, with their regular paycheck and health insurance. Let me share five things you can do, if you are employed (including self-employed), to help a job seeker.   All of these are tactical ideas, but keep in mind its essential that you treat us, the unemployed, with the respect we deserve. Thing 1: Get to know me. I may not be good at communicating who I am and what I do (or want to do) this is a hard time for me and Ive never had to talk about myself in this way (elevator pitches and all that).   But try and get to know me on a deeper level, and as you get to know me youll see how you might be able to help me.   I remember having lunch with someone I thought I knew (we were both in the job search) and during lunch I learned so much more about him, I was blown away.   Once I got to know him at a deeper level I could (and did) go back to my network and make more proper, more meaningful connections.   This only happened because I took the time to get to know him better. Thing 2: Offer to help me with something specific. I hated the is there anything I could do? or if I can do anything, let me know.   I would answer not now, but I really wanted to say help me get a job!   Look for opportunities to help me.   For example, ask me what companies I want to work at.   Hopefully I can give you a list of 3 5 target companies when I can tell you, then dig into your network to try and help me network into that company.   Maybe you facilitate an introduction, or go to a lunch with me and a company insider but this is something much more specific, and quite meaningful, in my job search. Thing 3: Open your network. I dont mean open your black book of contacts, and give them all to me. Perhaps you arent comfortable with that yet.   But could you at least introduce me to ONE person?   Just one person and if I handle it well then perhaps you can introduce me to more.   Heres a bonus idea: Read Never Eat Alone, and think about how YOU can play a significant role in your own career, as well as the lives/careers of those around you. Thing 4: Inspire and motivate me. Dont do it artificially, but if you have had an experience where you were out of work and lived to tell about it, perhaps share what you learned, or what strengthened you.   I dont need your sympathy, but I can use your encouragement and help to see the big picture.   In my job search I was dumbfounded by the number of friends and neighbors who had been unemployed, some for longer than a year, who shared very personal experiences and feelings with us.   We could know, with their support, that indeed we could make it through. Thing 5: Remember me after our first meeting. One thing we all hate about networking is how superficial it is.   Having an initial meeting and then not doing anything after that is part of this superficiality.   I know why it happens, but please consider the job seeker as someone who you need to follow up with regularly.   In my job search it was easy to be lonely, and people treated me with kid gloves because they didnt know what to say usually they didnt say anything at all. Which meant I was left alone in my failed job search.   How powerful it is to get a constant reminder, whether its a phone call, an email, a regular lunch date, or something like that, where I can feel your encouragement and communicate my needs not once, but regularly. Bonus Thing 6: Give me money. Wow, that feels weird even writing it, and Im not advocating on behalf of all unemployed people that we want your money.   We most certainly do not want your money. However, I will say that there were a few instances where anonymous friends, neighbors and probably family gave us money in different ways.   Some left fruits and vegetables on our porch. Someone left gift cards for the local grocery store in our mail box with a very kind and inspirational note.   Someone paid our water bill for a few months. I would have never asked for these things, but out of the kindness of their hearts, these good people helped us in a way that was more significant than the amount of money they gave.   Oh yeah, I should mention, for proud people like me, its better to do this anonymously than outright give it to me ?? As I write this I think about a related post, Religions Role in the Job Search it might be applicable to you. What do you think?   What has someone done for you that was significant?   If you have helped a job seeker, what have you done that has made a big impact? How To Help A Job Seeker On my 10 hour job search post there is an interesting discussion about how to do a job search, and keeping your chin up, motivation, advice, etc.   Heres a snippet from Doug, asking those who are not unemployed to have more consideration when trying to help a job seeker:   treat those that are out of work with care and as the intelligent, motivated and well-educated individuals we are. Do not insult our intelligence. Do not think we haven’t tried the standard options. We have. Unlike those in a payrolled position, those without jobs are focused on doing the best they can to stay positive, somehow survive and work to develop increased employable skills â€" all without compensation, leadership or external motivation. This reminded me of a frustrating experience I had during my job search.   I was a few months into my job search.   At church, an older lady approached me in the hallway with a paper that had a bunch of job openings, all of which were about 33% less than I needed to make (not what I wanted to make I was beyond that, but I would have to have two jobs in order to pay the bills if I took one of those jobs). She seemed insistent that I simply take that list, apply to the jobs, and then accept the one that offered me a role. This was months into my job search, and I had spent way too much time online looking at and applying to job postings.   I had realized by that time that job postings were something of a farce . that is, they werent real. Perhaps they were already filled, or the process to hire could be months and month, or I was over- or under-qualified.   I had come to view job postings as unreal, even artificial. Getting this list shoved in front of me by someone who hadnt been in a job search for decades was *almost* comical.   It was offensive and hurtful.   Did she really think I couldnt go to monster and find other outdated, artificial postings? Did people really think I hadnt tried the standard options?   When she put that list in front of me, one thought I had was oh, these are all outdated Ive been scouring the job boards and I know these arent open anymore I RECOGNIZE ALL OF THEM!! Doug says to remember that we are intelligent, motivated and well-educated people.   Indeed we are.   It was a huge realization for me when I figured out I not was inadequate to live in this world of working people, rather I just had a different status than my working peers.   I was still a professional, still knowledgeable, competent, capable, willing, etc.   Just like them. They were just more fortunate than I was at the time, with their regular paycheck and health insurance. Let me share five things you can do, if you are employed (including self-employed), to help a job seeker.   All of these are tactical ideas, but keep in mind its essential that you treat us, the unemployed, with the respect we deserve. Thing 1: Get to know me. I may not be good at communicating who I am and what I do (or want to do) this is a hard time for me and Ive never had to talk about myself in this way (elevator pitches and all that).   But try and get to know me on a deeper level, and as you get to know me youll see how you might be able to help me.   I remember having lunch with someone I thought I knew (we were both in the job search) and during lunch I learned so much more about him, I was blown away.   Once I got to know him at a deeper level I could (and did) go back to my network and make more proper, more meaningful connections.   This only happened because I took the time to get to know him better. Thing 2: Offer to help me with something specific. I hated the is there anything I could do? or if I can do anything, let me know.   I would answer not now, but I really wanted to say help me get a job!   Look for opportunities to help me.   For example, ask me what companies I want to work at.   Hopefully I can give you a list of 3 5 target companies when I can tell you, then dig into your network to try and help me network into that company.   Maybe you facilitate an introduction, or go to a lunch with me and a company insider but this is something much more specific, and quite meaningful, in my job search. Thing 3: Open your network. I dont mean open your black book of contacts, and give them all to me. Perhaps you arent comfortable with that yet.   But could you at least introduce me to ONE person?   Just one person and if I handle it well then perhaps you can introduce me to more.   Heres a bonus idea: Read Never Eat Alone, and think about how YOU can play a significant role in your own career, as well as the lives/careers of those around you. Thing 4: Inspire and motivate me. Dont do it artificially, but if you have had an experience where you were out of work and lived to tell about it, perhaps share what you learned, or what strengthened you.   I dont need your sympathy, but I can use your encouragement and help to see the big picture.   In my job search I was dumbfounded by the number of friends and neighbors who had been unemployed, some for longer than a year, who shared very personal experiences and feelings with us.   We could know, with their support, that indeed we could make it through. Thing 5: Remember me after our first meeting. One thing we all hate about networking is how superficial it is.   Having an initial meeting and then not doing anything after that is part of this superficiality.   I know why it happens, but please consider the job seeker as someone who you need to follow up with regularly.   In my job search it was easy to be lonely, and people treated me with kid gloves because they didnt know what to say usually they didnt say anything at all. Which meant I was left alone in my failed job search.   How powerful it is to get a constant reminder, whether its a phone call, an email, a regular lunch date, or something like that, where I can feel your encouragement and communicate my needs not once, but regularly. Bonus Thing 6: Give me money. Wow, that feels weird even writing it, and Im not advocating on behalf of all unemployed people that we want your money.   We most certainly do not want your money. However, I will say that there were a few instances where anonymous friends, neighbors and probably family gave us money in different ways.   Some left fruits and vegetables on our porch. Someone left gift cards for the local grocery store in our mail box with a very kind and inspirational note.   Someone paid our water bill for a few months. I would have never asked for these things, but out of the kindness of their hearts, these good people helped us in a way that was more significant than the amount of money they gave.   Oh yeah, I should mention, for proud people like me, its better to do this anonymously than outright give it to me ?? As I write this I think about a related post, Religions Role in the Job Search it might be applicable to you. What do you think?   What has someone done for you that was significant?   If you have helped a job seeker, what have you done that has made a big impact? How To Help A Job Seeker On my 10 hour job search post there is an interesting discussion about how to do a job search, and keeping your chin up, motivation, advice, etc.   Heres a snippet from Doug, asking those who are not unemployed to have more consideration when trying to help a job seeker:   treat those that are out of work with care and as the intelligent, motivated and well-educated individuals we are. Do not insult our intelligence. Do not think we haven’t tried the standard options. We have. Unlike those in a payrolled position, those without jobs are focused on doing the best they can to stay positive, somehow survive and work to develop increased employable skills â€" all without compensation, leadership or external motivation. This reminded me of a frustrating experience I had during my job search.   I was a few months into my job search.   At church, an older lady approached me in the hallway with a paper that had a bunch of job openings, all of which were about 33% less than I needed to make (not what I wanted to make I was beyond that, but I would have to have two jobs in order to pay the bills if I took one of those jobs). She seemed insistent that I simply take that list, apply to the jobs, and then accept the one that offered me a role. This was months into my job search, and I had spent way too much time online looking at and applying to job postings.   I had realized by that time that job postings were something of a farce . that is, they werent real. Perhaps they were already filled, or the process to hire could be months and month, or I was over- or under-qualified.   I had come to view job postings as unreal, even artificial. Getting this list shoved in front of me by someone who hadnt been in a job search for decades was *almost* comical.   It was offensive and hurtful.   Did she really think I couldnt go to monster and find other outdated, artificial postings? Did people really think I hadnt tried the standard options?   When she put that list in front of me, one thought I had was oh, these are all outdated Ive been scouring the job boards and I know these arent open anymore I RECOGNIZE ALL OF THEM!! Doug says to remember that we are intelligent, motivated and well-educated people.   Indeed we are.   It was a huge realization for me when I figured out I not was inadequate to live in this world of working people, rather I just had a different status than my working peers.   I was still a professional, still knowledgeable, competent, capable, willing, etc.   Just like them. They were just more fortunate than I was at the time, with their regular paycheck and health insurance. Let me share five things you can do, if you are employed (including self-employed), to help a job seeker.   All of these are tactical ideas, but keep in mind its essential that you treat us, the unemployed, with the respect we deserve. Thing 1: Get to know me. I may not be good at communicating who I am and what I do (or want to do) this is a hard time for me and Ive never had to talk about myself in this way (elevator pitches and all that).   But try and get to know me on a deeper level, and as you get to know me youll see how you might be able to help me.   I remember having lunch with someone I thought I knew (we were both in the job search) and during lunch I learned so much more about him, I was blown away.   Once I got to know him at a deeper level I could (and did) go back to my network and make more proper, more meaningful connections.   This only happened because I took the time to get to know him better. Thing 2: Offer to help me with something specific. I hated the is there anything I could do? or if I can do anything, let me know.   I would answer not now, but I really wanted to say help me get a job!   Look for opportunities to help me.   For example, ask me what companies I want to work at.   Hopefully I can give you a list of 3 5 target companies when I can tell you, then dig into your network to try and help me network into that company.   Maybe you facilitate an introduction, or go to a lunch with me and a company insider but this is something much more specific, and quite meaningful, in my job search. Thing 3: Open your network. I dont mean open your black book of contacts, and give them all to me. Perhaps you arent comfortable with that yet.   But could you at least introduce me to ONE person?   Just one person and if I handle it well then perhaps you can introduce me to more.   Heres a bonus idea: Read Never Eat Alone, and think about how YOU can play a significant role in your own career, as well as the lives/careers of those around you. Thing 4: Inspire and motivate me. Dont do it artificially, but if you have had an experience where you were out of work and lived to tell about it, perhaps share what you learned, or what strengthened you.   I dont need your sympathy, but I can use your encouragement and help to see the big picture.   In my job search I was dumbfounded by the number of friends and neighbors who had been unemployed, some for longer than a year, who shared very personal experiences and feelings with us.   We could know, with their support, that indeed we could make it through. Thing 5: Remember me after our first meeting. One thing we all hate about networking is how superficial it is.   Having an initial meeting and then not doing anything after that is part of this superficiality.   I know why it happens, but please consider the job seeker as someone who you need to follow up with regularly.   In my job search it was easy to be lonely, and people treated me with kid gloves because they didnt know what to say usually they didnt say anything at all. Which meant I was left alone in my failed job search.   How powerful it is to get a constant reminder, whether its a phone call, an email, a regular lunch date, or something like that, where I can feel your encouragement and communicate my needs not once, but regularly. Bonus Thing 6: Give me money. Wow, that feels weird even writing it, and Im not advocating on behalf of all unemployed people that we want your money.   We most certainly do not want your money. However, I will say that there were a few instances where anonymous friends, neighbors and probably family gave us money in different ways.   Some left fruits and vegetables on our porch. Someone left gift cards for the local grocery store in our mail box with a very kind and inspirational note.   Someone paid our water bill for a few months. I would have never asked for these things, but out of the kindness of their hearts, these good people helped us in a way that was more significant than the amount of money they gave.   Oh yeah, I should mention, for proud people like me, its better to do this anonymously than outright give it to me ?? As I write this I think about a related post, Religions Role in the Job Search it might be applicable to you. What do you think?   What has someone done for you that was significant?   If you have helped a job seeker, what have you done that has made a big impact?

Free Resume Template of the Week Shiny Amber

Free Resume Template of the Week Shiny Amber Free Resume Template of the Week: Shiny Amber We can bet that you’ve probably never considered a bright, amber hue for your resume. Well, its definitely time to change your mind with this creative resume template â€" Shiny Amber.And dare we say, this color combo really works well! It’s bright and welcoming without being too flashy. We think it’s perfect for so many job seekers in different industries. It is certainly something that will stand out from other applicants. To make an even stronger impression, we recommend pairing it with one of a convincing cover letter, filed on a similar template! So what’s so special about this design? The vertical split design is very popular in CV and resume templates for good reason. It helps to make your resume easy to read. That’s because it breaks things up both horizontally and vertically. The two tones of color also help with this quite nicely. Just like every good resume template, this one has plenty of space for you to put all your skills and qualifications. To take a close r look, just click the download button below. File size: 62 KB Format: .doc Downloaded 12,506 times License: Free, personal use only. Please read the license terms for resources. Download previous article How To Get your Whole Resume Read next article How to Get Noticed at your next Job Interview you might also likeCadmium Yellow: Simple, Yet Elegant Resume Template

Classy Career Girl Picked as Forbes Top 100 Website For Your Career!

Classy Career Girl Picked as Forbes Top 100 Website For Your Career! Guess who made Forbes top 100 websites for your career! Classy Career Girl! I am so extremely excited AND very honored! Thanks to everyone who nominated my site! And congrats to the other sites as well. There are definitely some great ones and brand new ones that I am going to be checking out later! Click here for the rest of the sites to check out. Today I was asked, What does it mean to you to be recognized by Forbes? My answer, Its incredibly humbling knowing that all the hard work and late nights is not just for my own benefit, but is also impacting others in a positive way. Now, time to celebrate! ??

Stuck in a Career Rut 5 Steps to Get Out of It

Stuck in a Career Rut 5 Steps to Get Out of It Do you wake up every morning dreading the commute to work? Do you count the seconds until your lunch break? Are you jealous of friends who are happy with their jobs? Do you ever wonder what life would be like in a parallel universe? Yes? Then the chances are, you’re stuck in a career rut. Years ago at university, I took on a part time job as a shop assistant for a well-known British fashion label. On my first day I was introduced to the team, and learnt that my floor manager was looking for another job. “I’ve been here for 3 years” he said “I only wanted to be here for a summer, I have a degree in Graphic Design”. He was pretty bitter about it. When I left a year later, he was still there and as far as I’m aware, still is. Career ruts are like quicksand, easy to slide into, difficult to get out of. Whether you started a job and subsequently got swept away with the tide, or stagnated in what used to be in your dream position don’t despair, theres a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if you hate your job, the good news is that the fact that you’ve already got one will work to your advantage. It’s a sad fact of life, but recruiters are more attracted to the employed than the unemployed. The bad news is that finding the job you were destined to do is going to involve a bit of legwork. As the saying goes though, hard work pays off and the cliché is no more relevant than it terms of your career. So lets get started. Lesson #1 Figure out why you hate your job: Is it the work or the dress code? The commute or the unreasonable deadlines? The uncomfortable office chair or your manager? Identifying exactly why youre in a career rut will help you find out what you’d be better off doing. A friend of mine, for example, had an awesome job as a city architect. Her bugbear, however, was the fact that she had to travel an hour to get to work every day, from one side of London to the other, and back again. After a year of slogging it, she gave in and found a similar position closer to home. It wasn’t as well paid, but she gained an extra 2 hours a day. Worth it? She thinks so. The issue here wasn’t the work itself, and if that’s your case then a career overhaul probably isn’t the best solution. If you don’t feel challenged enough, ask for more responsibility. If you’re conflicting with a colleague, resolve it with a superior. If you hate your job and everything about, it’s time to look for a new one. Lesson #2 Work out your strengths and weaknesses: I used to see a therapist who had spent the majority of his twenties managing a hotel restaurant. He began to notice that as well as running the place, he spent a lot of time listening to his staff and helping them solve their problems and this rapidly became his favourite part of the job. Eventually he quit the restaurant, went back to university and emerged years later as a trained counsellor. Now, I’m not suggesting that everyone quit their jobs and go back to school to train as something new. The point I’m making is that it’s ok to do something different. Try and pinpoint exactly what it is that you do best, and work out what career would be most suited to your strengths. Lesson #3 Do your research: Unless going to work every day is akin to sticking needles in your eyes, it’s ok to take your time to do some research. I’m not implying that you spend your office hours searching job boards, although that’ll have you out of the door quick enough. Simply assign some spare time each day to browsing what’s out there, and if you’re ready for it, applying for positions. Getting a grasp on the job market will help you assess what’s achievable, and what’s not. You’ll get a better idea of the skills you need for certain jobs, or if you don’t have them, what positions you could apply for to get a foot in the door. For example, you work in HR and your dream is to become an interior designer; you love decorating, trawling for furniture at the flea market and there’s a pile of ELLE Decor on your coffee table. Despite having passion, actually making that leap from office to decorator might prove tricky. However, finding a HR job in an interior design firm could be a realistic step in the right direction. Lesson #4: Be prepared: It’s realistic to say that our job market isn’t exactly thriving and the likelihood is, that it’ll take a while to find your dream position. With this in mind, it’s important to stay positive and have confidence that you will achieve your goal. Which you will if you keep at it. Being prepared mentally is half the challenge; the other part is making sure you have a killer CV and an impressive LinkedIn profile. Don’t underestimate the importance of LinkedIn and your other social networks. The chances are, that the companies you apply to will spend more time researching your online presence than reading your CV. So remove any inappropriate tweets and lock down on your Facebook privacy settings pronto. Lesson #5. Don’t be afraid of rejection: Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney and Elvis Presley are all famous examples of people who were rejected early on in their careers. Elvis’s granddad told him to go back to driving a truck, Steve Jobs was notoriously fired from Apple, before rejoining and later becoming CEO. Did it stop them from striving toward their goals? No. Michael Jordan famously stated I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. Ive failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. The bad news is, you will face rejection. The good news is, it will make you stronger and every step you take will bring you closer to your goal. Whether it takes 5 job applications or 50, it’ll all be worth it when you land your dream job, and finally escape that career rut.

How to Write a Flexible Resume For the Job You Are Seeking

How to Write a Flexible Resume For the Job You Are SeekingWhat are the benefits of utilizing flexible resume writing services? The answer is simple. Flexible resume writing services ensure that your CV documents are created according to the industry's standards, keeping in mind the essential needs of the job you are seeking. In order to find a service that meets your specific needs, you can take some time and really research about the CV writing services available today.Your resume should be as brief as possible. Don't put too much information in your resume. Be concise, well-organized and to the point. Flexible resume writing services ensure that your resume is properly formatted and follows all industry standards.Your resume should be researched thoroughly. Any cursory online search can yield many resume samples, while extensive research can result in a comprehensive list of CV writers, who specialize in different areas. Conducting extensive research ensures that you select a servi ce that understands what the job entails and will give you the output you need.Resume samples are not only utilized for research purposes, but they are also utilized by many writing services for a variety of reasons. They are used by hiring managers, recruiters and human resource staff to screen CV samples for quality and effectiveness. CV samples are then reviewed and those deemed to be the best are incorporated into your resume for printing.Another reason to obtain a written resume from a third party is that you can edit the resume before submission or during the course of the document preparation process. Many people are hesitant to edit their own CV, but this is the only way you can ensure that it is accurate. It is therefore imperative that you have a copy of your CV prepared in advance so that you can make the necessary changes before submission.Although it may seem obvious, it is important to determine your job outlook and goals before you begin drafting your resume. The posi tion you are seeking can greatly affect the content of your resume. For example, if you are looking for a position in the financial sector, your CV should include details such as the minimum salary level, projected salary range, expected company growth and salary progression history.One can find hundreds of free samples at the internet, which can be edited to make them more appealing to the eye. While reviewing these samples, it may be tempting to rewrite them completely, but doing so will result in a less professional appearance of your resume. So take your time and select the most relevant samples and edit them accordingly.Even if you are a seasoned resume writer, you can still benefit from the service of a flexible resume writing service. Some professionals who are unable to develop their own resumes due to experience, age or other factors still utilize CV writing services. Even if you don't feel comfortable writing your own resume, a professional writing service can produce your best results.

Are You Having a Wake-Up Call - Kathy Caprino

Are You Having a Wake-Up Call What is true crisis in our work lives? How can we tell we’re heading into crisis, versus simply going through a really bad time? What are the signs of breakdown? As defined in the Webster’s dictionary, a “crisis” is: The turning point for better or worse in an acute disease or fever A paroxysmal attack of pain, distress, or disordered function An emotionally significant event or radical change of status in a persons life The decisive moment (as in a literary plot) An unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending; especially one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome A situation that has reached a critical phase Clearly, we’re taking about a “no turning back” situation â€" a time in which a reckoning is necessary and a re-evaluation called for. The definition of “crisis” used in my forthcoming book Breakdown, Breakthrough pertains to the occurrence of a deeply troubling, heart-wrenching, or grueling event or series of events that brings you to a recognition, finally and irrevocably, that change must occur now. Crisis pushes you to your knees, and cracks open your awareness that to repeat this experience (or this feeling, event, or situation) again in the same way would be close to intolerable. Crisis and breakdown in the professional arena simply means that you suddenly know beyond a shadow of a doubt that how you work, what you work on, who you work with or who you are when you work, and where you work â€"these elements are causing damage to you, your life, your body, and your spirit. Crisis can often seem to strike out of the blue, yet we rarely get to crisis without some warning signs along the way. Crisis may look different for each person, but there is one unifying theme that defines it: Crisis wakes up the individual who faces it. This wake-up call demands our attention, and often leads us to have a “breakdown” or compels us to “break down” once and for all what isn’t working, and shed it. Crisis reveals that significant revision in life or work is required immediately.If you’ve had any of the following thoughts or considered these actions in the last year, you may be heading for crisis, and now is the time to head it off at the pass and embrace what it’s trying to tell you. Have you ever: Called in sick just because you couldn’t face what was on your plate that day at work? Flirted with sabotaging your colleague’s or boss’s work because s/he’s been so awful to you and you hate him/her so much? Allowed money and financial “benefits” to keep you in an abusive relationship at home or at work? Been fired or let go (or failed at work) more times than you care to admit? Wondered to yourself “What the heck is the purpose or importance of this work that I do?” Snuck out of the office, or lied about why you are leaving, so that you could see your child’s soccer game (or performance, concert, etc.) Realized that you can’t remember the last time you did anything for yourself? Blamed yourself for “not fitting in” and feeling so alone at your current job? Recognized that your company and its employees are unethical or worse? Spent more time gossiping and complaining about work or your colleagues than in doing your work? Believed you might have a nervous breakdown just getting done what has to each day for work and for home? Fantasized frequently about another field(s) that would be very exciting to work in? Sensed that you are missing important aspects of your family’s life, and will never get them back? If you’ve had any of the above experiences and thoughts, you’re most likely heading for a major turning point in the road, and it’s time to grab control of the wheel. Is a wake up call on its way to you? Please post your wake-up call experiences here. What have you needed to revise in your life and work? Thank you for sharing!

3 Reasons Recruiters Arent Calling You

3 Reasons Recruiters Arent Calling You 3 Reasons Recruiters Arent Calling You Job Interviews / Job Search / LinkedIn Profiles / Resume Writing As a businessperson, I go to a lot of networking events. Some, like SHRM, provide professional development. Often, I’m speaking at job seeker groups. Wherever the event, I always meet people who are looking for a new job. Their most common complaint is not getting interviews. Before becoming a resume writer, I worked as a recruiter. That means I reviewed countless resumes and spent hours on LinkedIn looking for candidates. That experience gives me some insight into why recruiters call some candidates but not others. Here are 3 reasons. You’re Invisible Every job seeker has been told they need to be on LinkedIn. So they set up a profile with just the bare essentials: job titles, education, and maybe a photo. They let the Headline default to their current job title. Then they wonder why they’re not getting any recruiter calls. The truth is, with a bare bones “skeleton” LinkedIn profile, it’s unlikely you’re even being seen by recruiters. Even if you are the perfect candidate for the job, they are trying to fill. In some ways, LinkedIn is like Google. If you don’t have a robust, optimized profile, you won’t come up in the search results. At least not at the top of the recruiter’s search results. You’re Boring Most of the resumes I’ve reviewed as a recruiter and resume writer are lists of responsibilities and duties. They read like every other resume sitting on the recruiter’s desk. Boring. To get the attention of recruiters and hiring managers you need to demonstrate value. This is particularly important once you reach the executive level or are targeting those roles. The truth is that a sales director at company A does many of the same things as a sales director at company B. They manage accounts, generate sales, and meet quotas. Big numbers are great, but a lot of sales people have them. It’s also about how sales are generated. For example, a sales director may build a team by recruiting former colleagues. She may open new markets by working old connections or collaborate with clients to develop new products. On the other hand, she may just be selling a hot product in a noncompetitive market. You’re Not Qualified Many candidates cite the “black hole” as the reason they don’t get interviews. They blame the wide use of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) for their lack of success. The hard truth is that many candidates apply for positions that they’re not remotely qualified to fill. Part of the problem is that frustrated, sometimes desperate, candidates apply for anything, and everything they think might be a fit. They apply even when they don’t have the “must haves” or essential requirements. Recruiters call this “spray and pray” referring to a candidate spraying his resume far and wide and praying someone will call. It never works. If a job description for an administrative assistant lists 5 years in digital marketing as a requirement, an assistant working at a veterinary hospital won’t get a call. When an employer wants 5 years of experience in a position or industry, a new grad or someone changing careers is unlikely to get even a screening interview. Looking for a new job is a lot of work. But there are things you can do to improve your success rate. Take some time to improve your LinkedIn profile. Fill in the job descriptions and write that Summary you’ve meant to finish for 6 months. Demonstrate value with your resume by showing, not telling, employers what you can do. Have most of the qualifications before you apply for a job. Don’t rely too heavily on job boards. Make a list of target employers and try to connect with them. Get out and go to an event. You never know who you might meet. Updated 5/8/18.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]