New Year, New You, New Job

New Year, New You, New Job!!!!!

Well the New Year is upon us and there are a few last minute things I wanted to share for the upcoming year. The time to make New Year’s resolutions is upon us so what are yours? Will it be to go on another diet? Maybe go to the gym? Eat healthier or maybe quit smoking. No matter what you have planned for your resolution make sure that you resolve to kick that job search into higher gear. There are numerous things that you can do to rekindle your motivation in your job search.

1. A new year means new and exciting opportunities for everyone. The economy shows slow turn around but that does not mean there are not opportunities in the employment world. Now is the time to re-think how you have been looking for employment. Maybe you were just looking on job boards and not networking. Since 80% of jobs are not posted on job sites that tells you that more can be made networking. Dust off that personality, practice that handshake and make a resolution to get out and network more.
2. Taking time to make a new and improved you is another feature that you can do to have more opportunities. If your resolution is to join a diet club, or a gym, why not take the time to meet others at these activities, talk work with them, get to know them and add them to your network. Taking the time to spruce yourself up with a hair cut or style, some new (newer) clothes, and working on that confidence that every employer wants to see walking into their establishment can help you gain better opportunities.
3. Seeing someone like a counselor can also help bring back the motivation to continue the job search. With the confidence that counseling can provide the new and improved you can help you succeed. Looking at every resume that was never answered, all the doors that were closed even after an interview or all the “we have decided to go with another applicant as an opportunity rather than an obstacle can help you stay motivated.
4. Find your cheerleader in life. Everyone has or knows that one person who can turn lemons into lemonade that can see only the best even when the worst is going on. Talk to this person on a daily basis and listen to the positives they share. In this job market I know it is hard to stay positive, but taking the time to list the pro’s and con’s in your personal life will show you that you do have more going for you.
5. Do not take no for an answer has been something I have heard for years, it shows determination, dedication and a standard of ethics. If an employer says no, then you see on the job board the exact position again, apply for it again then if they say no and it appears again keep trying. If it continues try and network your way in by contact the CEO on LinkedIn or other social networking sites, ask for an informational interview and show them what you know of their company.
6. Setting daily goals helps individuals to see the good strides they have made daily. Often times we overlook the small steps and daily things that we achieve, because we are to stressed to see the small picture because the “gigantic” picture of being between jobs is clouding our ability to see the small successes we have daily.

Just remember that in this New Year, you can have a new and excitedly improved you, to secure that new job. It is up to you to see if today is going to be the last start you will have to make for bettering yourself and your situation. Happy Motivation!!!! Oh and Happy New Year and New Career.

5 Steps to get Santa to bring you a job during the Holidays

Holiday Job hunting can be a task that some individuals think should not happen. There are 5 tremendous and necessary things to remember while in the holiday season that can help you with employment. Many individuals will tell you that hiring is low during the holidays, or that employers already have their employees for the season. This is not necessarily true. Take these 5 things to heart and you might be pleasantly surprised with an offer by the new year.

1. Holidays mean parties. Work parties, networking parties and a time to get out and meet people parties. Just because the holiday season is upon us does not mean the job search should stop. Going to events with a friend or spouse will open the doors to new faces and maybe new employment opportunities. Just remember that during these work functions either your work function or a close friends to not hit the open bar and get intoxicated. Remember these individuals are either co-workers or co-workers of someone you know.
2. Employers had a tendency to look at the road ahead. They may have almost enough staff but if it is a place that hires college students for the season, they will lose that employee after the season and they return to school. Take the time to network with those individuals even if it is a coffee house. Grab a cup and let the networking light shine.
3. Family gatherings are another great place to find out about opportunities. Remember your family knows the most about you and what you can do. Many people want to keep their pride when at a family gathering and not talk about being between jobs (unemployed). Remember your family pretty much already knows and are there to support you. So when you are asked how the hunt is going, do not try and quickly change the subject but use that opportunity to engage them with any possibilities they might know.
4. Job sites are being updated daily with new positions and just because it is the holidays does not mean that you cannot score an interview. Make sure you spend the same amount of work hours looking through job sites, networking on LinkedIn, Twitter and even Face book as long as you have a professional Facebook, not a personal one with all the games. Employers do take some days off, but that does not mean on December 26^th when they return to the office that they cannot see your resume in response to their ad.
5. Putting your face in front of a prospective employer is always a good thing. If you find a place you want to work, make sure you go in, find out the slow times of the day, return at the slow time and ask to sit down with the manager, or even just ask to schedule an appointment to speak with them at their convenience. Never try to talk with a hiring manager when it is the busiest time of the day, which will throw their day off.

Taking the time to keep looking for employment over the holidays will show initiative, drive and the go getter attitude that many places look for. If you stop looking over the holidays you might be sabotaging your self and missing out on some great opportunities. The holiday brings out the spirit of giving, so when an employer sees what you can give them it might make it where you get something in return. The elves are not taking a break from working and neither should you. If anything now is the time to hit the search even harder.

5 Important things to remember after an interview.

You have put in an application, received the call for an interview, put on your best interview outfit, and aced the interview so now what? There are many important things to remember to do after the interview.

1. The first thing to remember is a Thank you note that should be sent the day you had the interview. This is one part that many do not do. It is extremely important to hand write a thank you note, unless your communication has been through email, but I would still send a snail mail thank you note anyway. It is important to try and personalize it to the interviewer and remember to shine your skills. If there were 2 or 3 interviewers you must send a thank you note to each individual involved in the interview.
2. It is important that you keep sending out resumes either online, attending job fairs or networking events. The job search should not stop just because you had an interview. In today’s market it could be a month before you hear back from the interview if you hear back at all. Keeping up with the search is vital to your gaining even more possibilities in the job market and even the “problem” of having two possibilities to choose from.
3. While continuing the employment search it is important to set up mock interviews. Have someone you know will be honest with you to go over the harder questions to see how you respond. This way you will get feedback on how well or badly you answer these tough questions that are thrown at you during the interview. If you were fired from your last job you need to figure a way to put a positive swing to it. I know some might feel strange asking a friend or loved one to interview them, but this way you will have practiced.
4. Check your resume and references. The worst thing in the world is to put someone down as a reference and have them give you a negative reference. If you left on a positive note ask and see if the employer or co-worker will write a letter of reference. If you left on a bad note inquire with the individual what kind of reference you can expect from them. Do not put family members down as a reference that does not look good.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice. There are multitudes of sites on the internet to help you practice interview questions, formulate cover letters, and be able to see the commonly asked interview questions. Google something like Interview questions or answering the tough interview questions and you will have a world of information at your finger tips. To practice makes perfect right?

 Just remember that even though the interview went well this does not guarantee you a job, keep up the motivation, do not give up hope, and remember things can and will get better.

Communication in the work place

Communication in the work place is something that happens every day, but does that mean we know how to communicate with co-workers?  There are several ways that we communicate at work and how many of us are great at these?

1. Phone etiquette is important. This is normally the first line of communication. It is important to answer the phone professionally. “Stating your name and May I help you” gives the caller a warming reception. Do not answer the phone while chewing food, or taking a drink of something. Make sure you speak in a clear and concise voice. Do not answer the phone in a frustrated tone for that will come across to the caller.
2. Email is the next line of communication. The problem with Email is that tone cannot be detected and often times words can be misunderstood.  As with the phone write emails professionally. It is difficult if not impossible to type humor into an email. Chain letters and other forwards are not professional at all and can begin to break down the communication between you and your fellow co-workers. It is difficult to write an email with the proper tone, but make sure before you hit send to look it over and see if it is something you would want to receive.
3. Beware of how you talk to someone in person, knowing how they hear things is very important. If you have friends that you work with and feel that you can talk with on a less professional level you need to remember that you are at work not at home. Watch your tone and language in and around the office. Learn to censor yourself no matter who you are working with. It is also important to learn to speak to your boss in a professional manner. If you are the boss it is important that you speak to your employees with class and dignity.  No one likes to have a boss who yells, does not listen and put’s them down. Remember it is not what you say but how you say it.
4. Most places of employment have meetings, some places have meetings on top of meetings. To have better communication in these meetings, I suggest having a typed agenda to follow. If it is going to be a “stressful” meeting then know this going in and remember to allow the person speaking to finish before jumping in. There is nothing worse than a meeting where everyone is talking over each other, no one is listening to anyone else and the agenda is not followed. Never verbally attack or put down something a co-worker has done in a meeting. Watch out that you do not get defensive during the meetings.
5. The most important style of communication is Non-Verbal communication. We all have non verbal communication. Whether it is rolling of the eyes, looking away when someone is talking to you, or speaking to someone else when you are involved in a conversation. These are clues given to the other person that you are not interested in what they are saying. Watch what your body tells others in your day to day interactions.

 What do you say to others on a daily basis, do you communicate professionally or do you complain to other co-workers in a way that can be over heard. When you are frustrated do you show this with your body language, if you are stressed does this show? Make sure you pick up the phone as a professional, do not send “joke” emails, and make sure you give people talking to you the proper respect they deserve and if you do not have time, let them know that you will get back to them.

Toxicity in the work place

Toxicity in the work place is becoming more and more common. Personalities click and often times clash. How do you handle working with other employees, co-workers or even a boss who is a toxic part of the work place? When you wake up in the morning and think about going to work do you have a sense of dread because the next eight hours are going to be “horrible”? Can you picture the face or faces of those you hope call in sick just so you do not have to deal with them? Then you might be working in a toxic environment. Learning to deal with your own emotions and trying some tricks to not be effected by the toxicity can help you stress less in this environment. 

1. The toxic boss can make everyday a horrible experience for some people. The boss who is never happy with the work, or the amount of time put into something can make a work day long. There are examples on blogs all over the world where people discuss the mean things that bosses say to them each day. One way of handling this type of boss is to try and find out where they are coming from with their demands. Take extra time to prepare before sitting down with them. Maybe they are under a lot of stress and the only outlet is you. Maybe they have something going on that you are not privy to because you are “just an employee”.  Maybe they are burned out of their job and might need to move on. No matter what or why if you work to reduce your stress then you can succeed even if the boss is never happy.  It is hard to do but toughen up the skin and try not to take things personally.
2. The toxic employees are the ones who have been at the workplace for years or decades who feel that nothing is good or that there are a lot of different injustices that happen because they want their way to be the way. You run into them at the water cooler, outside in the smoking area, or in the next cube. You get to hear about all the “crappy” things that the upper echelon is doing to make their lives and jobs harder. These individuals are often hard to deal with because of the years they have with the company and you do not work directly with them. The best thing to do here is not join in on the workplace bashing but just sit quietly and let them rant. The last thing you want to happen is have you grouped in with these individuals and become a problem child like them. This makes a very toxic environment because it can drain the positive aspects of where you work right out of the company.
3. The toxic co-worker is the hardest to deal with. Whether they are trying to sabotage you or others at the job, saying one thing to your boss and another thing to you, or flat out lying about things, this can make an unsafe and toxic environment. This kind of personality is very difficult to deal with because they are very good at manipulating the supervisor or manager, convincing others that they are great, but leaving others to deal with the aftermath. How does one deal with having a co-worker who is toxic especially if you are working closely with them and cannot get away. The first thing to do is “your job”, and not to allow them to get in the way of that. Do what you can to minimize the interactions with this individual and when they try and sabotage you, set boundaries and let them know it will not work. Even if they lie to the manager about you they will look like the fool in the end.
4. The last of the toxic possibilities is the toxic self. If you have become frustrated and want to complain about work, you tell everyone who will listen, the horrible aspects of where you work, and have lost that dedication and excitement felt on the first day of work then you might be bringing the toxicity to your place of work. If you want to remain employed there you have to make sure that you change your attitude and do not act out while you are on the clock. Remember every job is not guaranteed to continue from the point you accepted it. If you get fired because of you then you only have you to blame.  Toxicity at work can also create a toxic home life. Be cautious…

Behind the Employment Mask

What is behind the mask of the employment world? I have been thinking about this question for quite a while. I attended the monthly Louisville Metro Re-Entry Task Force Meeting again yesterday and we were discussing how to get more employers involved in hiring ex-offenders.  The discussion was formed around why is it so difficult to help an ex-offender who is trying to rehabilitate but society keeps them down. I have come up with some ideas on why I think that is.

1. Bias about the offender has to be the number one spot. When most people hear ex-offender they think the worst crime has been committed. They think all ex-offenders are murders, rapists, child molesters and others. It was asked in a class of local social work students if they would “want an ex-offender to move in next to them”. 2 individuals raised their hand because they did not have a problem with it. 1. Was doing an internship with a program that helps ex-offenders and the other was an ex-offender. It surprises me that in the social work field there was that bias. I am not expecting that the ex-offenders I help will be taking the jobs from the non-ex-offenders who are also struggling in communities all around America, but most of those are not looking for warehouse, landscaping, forklift, or janitorial jobs. If we want to help individuals return to society and not return to jail then we must provide some kind of hope for them.
2. Fear is most likely the second attribute that keeps individuals returning to jail due to not being able to gain work. I have worked with individuals who grew up in abusive homes and homes that selling drugs was almost demanded to keep a roof over their heads, and food on the table. There are a number of individuals who don’t just wake up one day when they are 8 and say “I think I want to be a drug dealer”.  That does not happen, but often times the fear and bias of an individual who is going to do anything to survive that is what their life turns into.  The individuals I work with will tell you, it is not a glamorous life like portrayed on Television, there is a lot of fear, looking over their shoulders all the time, no health benefits.  It is strange that businesses who say they are equal opportunity employers fail to see this. There have been numerous news reports past and present that talk about the church secretary who steals from the books, the CEO of a company who has been skimming off the top for years, Martha Stewart, need I say more.
3. Thought patterns of the ex-offender also come into play.  There seems to be this idea that if an ex-offender is hired at a place of business that they will commit some crime there. In all reality the ex-offender knows what they have to lose and do not really want to return to jail, it is the individuals at the place of employment who are committing the crimes but have not been caught …Yet… Someone who has been to jail really does not want to return, but it seems society has made it even more difficult for someone who made a grave error in judgment, usually because of drug addiction yes, but given the right to get treatment while incarcerated would help. I challenge any who read this to think about one question. “Have you ever made a mistake?  I am sure the answer is yes. Were you given the opportunity to make that mistake or error in judgment right? Were you forgiven?  Now think if that mistake followed you for the rest of your life and you were shunned because of it, not given a chance to find a job to take care of your family.  Would you do whatever it took to make sure your family survives and has a place to sleep and food to eat?
4. Discrimination has to be thrown in here. It seems to be an idea that color plays a major part in this. If the white CEO is caught stealing then a trial is given and the public takes sides on deciding the guilt and punishment, usually sending him to Club Jail with golf courses. If a black male is forced to sell drugs to put food in his children’s mouth, then it seems the book is thrown at him. The difference they are both ex-offenders when they get out but which one do you think will have the best chance of gaining employment?

I am not saying that those who commit crimes should not be punished, but once they have paid their debt to society, why must they continue to keep being punished. I heard one person yesterday saying that a national campaign should be started with the idea stating “If you do not want your stuff stolen, then hire and ex-offender so they do not return to the life they had, then return to jail. It costs a lot of tax money to keep placing individuals back in jail. There are tax benefits for hiring ex-offenders, but even that does not seems to help.

Now, back to the question given to the social work students. I bet there are already ex-offenders living in your neighborhood, you just do not know them, or you might know them just not know what they did. Remember crime goes from the ghetto to the upper class neighborhood.

  Last Question for you. “If this were you, how would you want to be treated”?

5 mistakes made on networking sites

5 Social Networking mistakes that are commonly found.

In the world of social networking everyone is online and trying to connect. Many connect from the days of high school, others with their personal group of friends, and some find new friends in the games they play. Social networking is alive and well, connections formed nearly every day. There are 5 mistakes that social networkers make while trying to get their name out there.

1. Profiles are set up to give people a glance at you, hear the music you like and give an all around connection to things happening in their life. One major mistake people make is to set up that profile and then uploading pictures from the weekend, doing keg stands or just doing something embarrassing. The going trend now is for recruiters and employers to check the social networking sites to see what information comes up about a prospective employee. This is one sure fire way to not be receiving employment calls.
2. Pictures are another way to set yourself up for failure in the job search world. Having a profile picture that a company would be embarrassed about is a major problem. In every state there are rival football and basketball teams, Why would you want your professional profile to stop you if the employer likes the opposing team. Nothing like an employer seeing an inappropriate picture of you, or even pictures of your children on your site.
3. Everyone loves friends, we all want to have them and on some sites you can have as many friends as you want. There is one common mistake when it comes to friends. People trying to friend their boss or co-workers. The best way to keep a separation from personal and work life is to keep them separate. It is never a good idea to mix your work life and your personal life. It might not even be your page that can offend a person at work, but the page from another one of your friends. You never know when that one work friend might get mad at you and use something from your page against you.
4. LinkedIn is a professional networking site that allows individuals to grow their employment network, learn from recruiters, and hopefully connect with others who can help them find a job. The one issue I have with this is if you try to connect with someone and you do not know them, they will mostly write you off and not accept the invite. The problem with this is if you get reported as not being known by the other individual then the site states" However, recipients can indicate that they don’t know you. If they do, you’ll be asked to enter an email address with each future invitation.” I find this to be a problem on sites where networking is so important. I even set a group up for any and all who wish to join each others network can do so.
5. The last mistake is not joining discussions or groups to stay up on the latest trends and employment news. I find that not joining in discussions or try to help others in their job search is a huge mistake. To gain help one must first be willing to help. I join as many groups and forums as I can to make sure I have the latest information. I am also up to adding anyone to my network.

5 Deadly sins of employment

5 “Sins” of job seekers or employees

By Chris Parker

When it comes to job searching or employment there are 5 different wrongs that individuals do to themselves that have a major impact on their success. Think about how often a day you think about work, focus on work or obsess about work. I bet the answer is nearly 12-16 hours a day. Yes that is 8 hours while actually at work or looking for work and 4-8 hours after.

The “Sins” that can break a job and our own success are:

1. Detachment- The first “Sin” has to do with not being able to detach from the job or job search and have it make its way into your personal life. Maybe you deal with work all day, then have drinks with friends and then the mood of the relaxing drink is flooded with the negative things going on at work or the negative statements about work.
2. Negative Self Talk- The next “Sin” is the one where the mind becomes our own worst enemy. The mind does not know the difference in what is real or what we repeat to ourselves over and over again to make it real. If there is negative self talk involved in your mind, then the behavior’s will follow and the job can become less fun and exciting
3. Self Doubt- This is a “Sin” mainly used by job seekers and sometimes used with employees. Self Doubt and negative self esteem has a way of turning our possibilities into failures. It is often found that individuals who do not even try are afraid of failure and success; I believe that not even trying is already a failure. If an individual tells themselves “I am not going to get this job.” “I am not good enough for this job.” “I do not have the skills for this job.”, then they are already making that job outside of their reach.
4. Dumbing –Down your skills- I have heard of many people who commit this “Sin” to get a job that is below their skill level and not a job they would even want. I know that stress levels are high today due to the economy and many people just want a “job”, but it might not be the right fit.
5. Gossip- Joining the “cool” crowd is always a persons dream dating back to high school, but sometimes the “cool” crowd is the ones who are being watched at work, spreading gossip and false facts about the business or just unhappy with their responsibilities. These individuals have the way of worming into your mind until one day you find yourself talking negatively about your job, then feeling negatively about it. To avoid this make sure you use positive self talk and remember that every day can be your last day of employment.

I realize that sometimes it is hard to remain positive even in the face of unemployment but remember “things can always get better”.

Are you what you do?

Are you what you do? That is a question that has been asked in many ways. One of the things that we do when we meet someone is ask “What do you do?” As a child people are usually interested in things like “What do you like to do?” “Where did you grow up?” and “What kinds of things are you interested in?” It seems the older we get we begin to live by labels and not by the other aspects of our lives. We grow up being a brother, sister, teenager, graduate, husband, wife, employee, and then somewhere we become the label of what our job title is. When did we become the people who, when we meet someone, the first thing we want to know is “What do you do for a living?” I know that due to employment being scarce and jobs not falling out of the sky, the latest trend is to network, go to networking events and meet other professionals, but even then the other professionals we meet are not receiving the true picture of who we are.

Growing up our friends learned as much about us as they could, probably even knew more about us than our families, but one day we become the label of the job. I think we are the only country that worries about someone’s job title, and maybe that has to do with the concept of “Keeping up with the Jones’s”. Or maybe it has to do with our own ego’s that tell us we are what we do. I find it strange that as a general rule we do spend more time at work, or even doing work from home trying to keep up that good worker status we hand ourselves, when in all reality we are missing out on the rest of our lives. I know work is about money, and money is about affording things, but neither of those can go with you in the end.

For years I was a counselor and was always amazed when meeting with a new client, doing an assessment to find where I could help them and asking them the question “Tell me about your self?” The answers would start flooding in packed full of the labels they have been carrying around with them. I would hear their birth order, who they are married to, and it always ended with “well I am a _____________ worker, or I do _____________ for my job. I can remember numerous times I would ask the question again and request them not use any labels, just to share with me who they are.  I found it staggering the number of people could not tell me anything about themselves. I would ask what sorts of things do they like doing and the number one answer was “well I enjoy my work”

 To have a job is great, to be looking for a job is like a full time job, but where have the labels come from. If you are unemployed and you meet someone, what is your response to the question “What do you do?” I will bet it is “I am unemployed and looking at the moment. Although this is probably correct, I would say I am seeking the perfect fit for me and my skills at the moment. Same answer but a completely different label. People tend to forget that the job will be there after they leave it either by choice or being terminated, so I encourage everyone to find a label less understanding of who they are so that they will be better “employees” in the future. To have a personal life is great just remember to leave personal at home and work life at work and try not to let the two cross.

We are who we are, that was the idea when we were teenagers, and somehow some where we lost that mind set and became a label. 

Personal Life vs. Work Life

Having just returned from a short vacation I found myself thinking about a concept to share. I call it Personal Life vs. Work life. There is not a lot of advice in the career world about how to separate your personal life and your work life. Often times an individual will set themselves up either at work or while searching for work by mixing the two lives. There are so many things that can blur the lines and make either finding or maintaining gainful employment. I will be going over some of the major ones (in my opinion of course)

1. Substance abuse and work performance. There are millions of people who have some sort of substance abuse related issue in the working world. Most if not all employers do require a drug screen before an offer will be made for a job so if you use and illegal drug or over use a prescription drug you might not get out of the starting gate for a job. If you go out and tie a good one on the night before you go to work then your performance might be effected on that job.
2. Family issues are another major halting point for success on the job or in the job search. Whether you have children and have to make decisions based on their school schedule, not having a sitter, or after school activities you might be limiting yourself to be successful at a job. Yes, most employers listen as you talk about the cute thing that your child did or said, but realistically that is something that should be shared with family and friends. Remember your employer is not your friend, they are your employer.
3. Elderly relatives’ healthcare related issues are another way to blur the lines of work and home.  As the baby boomers are aging there are a number of health related issues that families have to face. It might be physical health related or mental health related issues. There is the FMLA which helps with certain types of family related issues but it does not generally make an employer happy if you have to take a lot of time off to make appointments, or have to miss work all together.
4. Personal phone calls at work are generally a bad idea also. When one is at work that is where they need to be and be focused on. If you had an argument with your spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, neighbor, child or other family member and they want to keep calling to make their point while you are at work they need to be reminded you are at work. I realize emergencies might arise where one might need to be reached, but a standard rule should be, unless it is an emergency please do not contact me while at work.
5. Personal email sites are becoming more and more blocked at most job sites, because to many people are trying to check their personal email, sending all those forwards and chain letters and just mainly wasting time allotted for work. I know individuals that cannot seem to live without their Facebook, Myspace, or other social site, but checking these when it is against company policy should be avoided
6. Dating a co-worker is the largest way to mix work and personal and that is why most employers frown on interoffice dating. If you have an argument at home, and on your way to work, nothing good will come of being in the same office or building because most of the time you need that separation.

A method I developed years ago to keep personal life personal and work life workable was to walk up to the front door of the business, imaging my work/personal time clock and I would imagine I clocked in at work and left personal life outside, then when I left work I clocked out of work and back into personal life. I have known many people who have lost their job because work life and personal life have mixed.