If You Lost Your Job Tomorrow - What Would You Do?

If you lost your job tomorrow? What would you do? Are you prepared? Do you know who to call? Do you have an idea of where to begin your search?

Although our unemployment rates are the highest they have ever been, there are still people working - and this concerns me. Why? Because the people that are employed may be among "the walking Jombies".

Jombies? You ask? What is that? It's a term I've created that is a cross between the word "Job & Zombie".

We are not talking about the "cool" zombies featured in Michael Jackson's video "Thriller". We're talking about something much, much scarier.

Why Should Someone That's Employed Care Whether Or Not May Become a "Walking "Jombie""?
A person that's employed should care because if the person lost their job tomorrow, that person would fall into the pattern of the following "zombie like" habits as they search for a job which include the following steps:

• Look Up Old Job Descriptions From Past Jobs Held
• Create Resume
• Create Cover Letter
• Apply To Positions Featured On The Most Advertised Job Boards (Monster and CareerBuilder)
• Look Through "The Want Ads" For Available Jobs
• Apply To Positions
• Ask Friends & Family If They Know Anyone That's Hiring
• Repeat....

Over time, this approach results in a very frustrated job seeker, so the job seeker sends more resumes by "pointing and clicking and applying" to more jobs that are posted on online job boards and following this pattern....

• Apply To MORE Positions Featured On The Most Advertised Job Boards (Monster and CareerBuilder)
• Look Through "The Want Ads" For Available Jobs
• Apply To MORE Positions
• Ask Friends & Family MORE TIMES If They Know Anyone That's Hiring
• Repeat....
  

And sadly, in a "Zombie" like state, the person continues this pattern feeling more and more frustrated - and still not finding a job.

How To Prevent "Jombieness"
In the past, I have helped adult job seekers find a job. Even those adults that had no experience in the field that they were targeting - I've helped them find a job. And we were happy - both the job seeker that just found a job and myself - until the unfortunate happens (for some) and the company lays off the person. The person seeks my help after several months pass of them attempting the job search on their own and they are unsatisfied with the results. After chatting with the individual, we both learn that the person fell into "Jombie" job seeker habits mentioned above.

A lot of time could have been saved (and the person could have found a job sooner) if they had tried the following:

• Look Up Job Descriptions For The Type of Positions You Want To Work For
• Identify Skills & Qualifications Listed In The Job Description That Match Your Background
• Copy & Paste Identified Skills & Qualifications Into Resume
• Create Resume Based Off Of The Job Description For The Job You Are Looking For
• Make Sure Work Experience Section Contains Job Description Wording Verbatim Along With Results Of Actions/Accomplishments
• Create Cover Letter Based On Job Description Of Job You Want To Work For
• Apply To Positions Featured On The Most Advertised Job Boards (Monster and CareerBuilder
• Look Through "The Want Ads" For Available Jobs
• Apply To Positions
• Ask Friends & Family If They Know Anyone That's Looking For Someone With A Background In (Pick 2 Things About Your Background That You Want To Be Known For)
• Build "Online Brand" Through Actively Using Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Creating A Blog Discussing "Things You Would Want To Be Known For In Your Industry"
• Talk To People That You Meet (Networking)
• Conduct "Informational Interviews" With Industry Experts Frequently
• Set Up "RSS Feeds" To Stay Abreast Of Industry Information
• Create "Google Alerts" To Locate Job Opportunities And Deliver Them To Your Inbox
• Set Up E-Mail Alerts For Jobs On Indeed.com
• Contact Companies That Interest You
• Attend Networking Events When Possible
• Repeat....

WOW! That's A Loooong List!
Is this list much longer than the original - yes. But notice the most important thing, you first start with customizing your resume and cover letter to the JOB YOU ARE APPLYING TO. This step alone is key, the second most important step - TALKING ABOUT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. If just these two things are done first - it will improve the quality of your job search - significantly.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but at least this should help you get started. If you are employed and reading this blog - great! Start trying these steps (If unemployed - start these steps - NOW!!!). If you practice these steps now and something happens to your job, you will be much closer to finding another one. And if you don't loose your job, then you have built some great relationships along the way! So it's a win win situation!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Hope this helps. Now you know what to do if you were to loose your job tomorrow - and you are more prepared! Feel free to comment below...

Job Searching Is A Lot Like Pizza

Still job searching? Wondering WHY you are still job searching? It could be that you need to change your "recipe".

Think about job searching like you think about your favorite food....

In this example, we'll use pizza.

Most people like pizza. It's been listed as one of the most highly consumed foods in America - and why not? There's plenty of choices. You can pick where you want your pizza from. The restaurant down the street or the restaurant a few miles down. You can pick your toppings. Cheese only? No problem. You like cheese and sausage - no problem (and it's usually readily available). Want something that's not the typical fare? Say cheese, pineapple, anchovies, and spinach? You place the order and it's ready shortly.

Most people will not compromise on their pizza. They want what they want so far as toppings and sometimes even places go. Some people will not stand for a pizza with certain toppings, no matter how much the delivery guy/girl begs them to take it.

Some people will even pay more for a pizza that they really feel has everything that they are looking for.

So how do people's pizza preference and job searching mix?

Think of yourself as a pizza and the hiring manager as someone that wants to "order" you. The hiring manager wants specific items on his/her pizza. They are very specific with the "toppings" that they want on their pizza. Each topping that they want represents a skill or qualification. When they look at the "menu" they are looking for these toppings and nothing else will do. So that means if the hiring manger wants mushrooms, then they are scanning the menu for that exact word - mushrooms. Mushrooms are also a form of fungus, however, if the menu said "fungus" instead of mushrooms, how many people do you think would order it? If you are looking for mushrooms on your pizza and you saw "fungus" on the menu as a topping - would you order it? No.

The "Resume Pizza" ..... Hold The Onions Please!

So now let's think of your resume as a pizza. The hiring manager is looking for specific toppings/skills that are on your resume - verbatim. They aren't really looking for anything extra. Nothing unrelated on your resume.

Example - Executive Assistant "Pizza"

Here's a job opening for a "High Level Executive Assistant Pizza" - these are the "Toppings":
- Handle all administrative work including meeting/calendar coordination

- Prepare correspondence including letters, emails (including dictation from CEO)

- Maintain accurate filing systems and extensive contact database

At a bare minimum, your "Resume Pizza" should include these words - verbatim - in the "work experience" section. If you have something unrelated such as "handled cash register" - consider that an "onion", something that wasn't part of the order. Why? Because the hiring manager ordered specific items for his/her "Executive Assistant Pizza", so your resume should reflect what was ordered. "Handled cash register" is not one of the requested toppings and shouldn't be on your "Resume Pizza" that is being customized to an Executive Assistant.

When you have the right toppings on your "Resume Pizza", like most people that order pizza, it increases the chances of the hiring manger calling your "pizza place" to place an "order". If your "pizza" is the best they have ever seen (meaning your "toppings" match what they are looking for) then they are even willing to pay more for your "pizza" as opposed to someone else's pizza that doesn't come as close to what they are looking for = Increased salary in job offer.

So are you hungry? Good! After you order a real pizza, sit down and create your "Resume Pizza" based on what the hiring manager is asking for.

Did this help you? Feel free to post comments below.

Hate Your Job? Ways To Cope & Still Be Effective.

Some people would say that this topic - hating your job - especially when most people feel that having a job is fortunate is a taboo topic. But, there is a groundswell of the American population that exists according to Peoplecomm.com that hate their job - 30% actually. Then there's a segment of people - 50% - that neither love nor hate their jobs, this segment is neutral. So how does one cope? Especially when hating your job causes an immense amount of stress and compromises overall workplace productivity.

Which brings up a very good article that i came across from "DailyPivot.com" on what to do if you DO hate your job. CLICK HERE or copy and paste this link http://dailypivot.com/2009/05/hating-your-job-how-to-turn-it-around/

Key Points Of The Article:

• Identify What You Are Happy With


• Develop Skills In Your Current Position That You Can Take With You Into Your New Role


• Appreciate Your Current Job As Much As Possible

I Know It's Hard But.....
Right now you may feel under valued, under appreciated, angry, and resentful. But holding on to those feelings will taint your productivity and your ability to focus. When you are not focused, you can't work toward your goals. You can't strategize and think of what your next move will be - either to stay and "work it out" with your current employer or move on to a new one.

Most Importantly....

It's important to think about how you are able to provide for your family because of the current job that you have. The next time you purchase something, thank the heavens that it's the job that you have right now that enables you to pay for your family's needs.

Thank you for taking time to read this article. Feel free to post any comments or questions!

One More Reason To Use Twitter - Food Vendors Are Doing It

Twitter is a very usefull tool and ultimately you get out of it what you make of it. Want proof? Even food vendors have found a way to maximize Twitter. View the following article - http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/05/a-list-of-street-food-vendors-trucks-carts-using-twitter.html

This goes to show that if food vendors can utilize Twitter to help their business - you can utilize Twitter to help you in the business of finding a job! More tips coming soon!

Have ideas or questions about how to use Twitter to find a job? Feel free to post in the comment section below. Thank you for taking time to read this!

Are You My New “Kicker?" - Thanks!

When a baby giraffe comes into the world it falls 10 feet from its mother’s womb and lands on it’s back – ouch!

As it struggles to get up, its mother kicks it repeatedly until it places one hoof in one place and another hoof joins it in a struggle to gain its footing. Once the baby giraffe gains it’s footing – the mother giraffe kicks its hoofs from underneath it causing the baby giraffe to fall again – double ouch!

The mother giraffe does this so that the baby giraffe will remember how it got up the first time and learn to get up quickly the next time.

Why would a mother do this to its newborn? To save its life.

You see, all the jungle wants to eat the young giraffe. But each kick strengthens the young giraffe and when the young giraffe learns to get up quickly and run away quickly, it will be safe.

In Your Job Search, You Will Have A Lot Of “Kickers”
The job search is stressful, hard, frustrating, filled with rejection and sometimes you may feel like sitting down. Sometimes you may feel like a young baby giraffe – as soon as you have your “mental” footing, you have the hang of this “job search thing”, or you think you are going to finally get that long awaited job offer – bang - someone or something kicks you and you fall back down again. The “kicker” can be anyone or anything – family, friends, prospective hiring managers, receptionists – even your thoughts.

Thank Your “Kicker”
Next time you are “kicked” – silently thank your kicker. You see, all successful people in life never had it easy. They didn’t make it there by luck. Everyone that has achieved some goal in life has had a few “kicks” along the way. These “kickers” strengthened that person’s resolve and sharpened that person’s skills so that they could reach their goals.

Conclusion
If you look at the person or situation you are in as a “kicker” instead of viewing them as an immovable force preventing you from reaching your goals (or just someone/something that just doesn’t like you) then you will succeed!

Thank you for reading this posting, feel free to share your "kickers" in the comment section below.

Creating Your Own Job Opportunity: Corporate Blogger

I'm a huge fan of creating your own career opportunities. Why? Because when you create your own career opportunities, in the end, you never work a day in your life because it doesn't feel like work.

Now, before you stop reading because you are asking yourself "Create opportunity, I need money and a job now! I don't have the time for this line of wishful thinking" Hear me out....

Creating Your Own Job Opportunity By Creating A Blog....

What do you want to be known for? When a person needs help in subject "xyz" how do you establish yourself as that person? How do you even get in the running for consideration? What would your first thought be? Submit a resume? That's a start, but a well done resume is a summary of your relevant accomplishments. It gives a snapshot, but doesn't give someone the "whole picture" of how wonderful you really are. But a blog does!

What Is A Blog?

Write articles and post them online. That's the "quick and dirty" definition of what a blog is. A person can blog about anything. One could even comment on other people's blogs and news articles online and make that into a blog. Blogging doesn't take a significant time investment. One could start a blog by taking an hour per week to write a simple and short post. It also doesn't cost anything to create a blog (unless you want to pay), one could start with the user friendly application by Google called "Blogger" (this is what this blog uses).

How Your Blog Opens Up Career Opportunities For You

Establishes You As A Subject Matter Expert In Your Field....

Find your "niche", your "thing", your "passion", the thing that you would love to do - all day long. Then dedicate yourself to featuring nothing but information related to that topic only. Start by posting blog entries once per week on your topic. An example might be someone that's interested in trends for legal opportunities in the "Green Energy" industry. Therefore, anything that person finds related to that subject. Any thought that person has that is related to trends in the legal field as it relates to the "Green Energy" industry they would want to "file away" as great material that could be featured on their blog and write about it. By consistently writing about a specific area and dedicating yourself to staying on top of movements and innovations in your field you building up your reputation and "personal brand" as an expert over time. If a potential employer comes across your blog they will see your dedication and consider you when an opportunity opens up featuring your topic.

Shows How You Add Value - You Are Interesting...
Writing content for your blog and having a niche focus is one thing - a very important thing. However, don't loose sight of the fact that you are still marketing yourself. This is a living, breathing, and ever evolving professional portfolio of your capabilities. Therefore, keep in mind that you want to keep your content interesting to your readers. Not sure if what you've written is interesting? Post it and ask someone's opinion that's in the industry. Then ask someone that's not in the industry to give theirs. It's a great start to learning what works and what doesn't.

Show's That You Have "Stick To "Ittiveness"...."
Consistency is key. If you want someone to consider you as reliable for a job, you should show - reliability! Stick to your blog by posting regular updates. Don't abandon it. There will be times you feel as if you are "posting in the dark" and that no one is reading your posts. But there is always someone that will have read your post and may be trying to make the decision to come back and read again (or tell their friends about you). Also, consistent updates to your blog help improve your blog's search rankings.

Gives You A Reason To Network - You Have Something To Offer....
Think of yourself as a news reporter working for your own publication. You have a legitimate reason to speak to and to contact people now. You have something to offer - your past and future blog postings. You have an audience to share and inform. Therefore, don't be afraid to approach people. If you would like to be featured in someone else's blog as a guest poster or would like to interview someone because you would like material for your blog - go for it! If you see an article or a book that you like and would like to write a blog entry about it, try contacting the author. You never know, they may like the idea of you writing about them and may refer you to other opportunities - there's your networking! The "news reporter" in you has an obligation to share information with the world!

In Conclusion....
As the old expression goes "If you do what you love, then you will never work a day in your life." Taking this approach takes time to work. But all we have is time. We can choose to spend our days and years counting the calender towards retirement. If you are doing what you don't like or aren't excited about doing every day, then that calender seems like "the watched pot that never boils". Your days will feel loooong. If you use the above approach, then you take steps to change your employment situation for the better and wind up creating your own opportunities. You will use your time wisely and end up with opportunities that make you happy for the long term - and when looking at that same calender - time will just fly by!

Thank you for reading! Feel free to comment below!

Work From Home Jobs

Frequently I receive questions from our Kaplan University adult learners about how to obtain work from home jobs. First, let's talk about what a work from home job is and what it is not. I will also share a few work from home websites to help with your job search.

What A Work From Home Job Is:

A work from home job (also known as telecommuting job) is a great opportunity for someone that is independent, a self starter, and very disciplined.

Work from home jobs allow the person to accomplish more in the course of an 8 hour day than sometimes working from the office. This is due to the ability to control your environment and minimize distractions that can reduce productivity

A work from home job cuts down on commuting costs - a great plus.

In addition, a work from home job increases the chances of working longer hours. It's hard to "put the brakes on" when you know you can work "just a little longer" to finish (or get ahead) on a project.

What A Work From Home Job Is Not:

A work from home job is not easy. Employees that work from home are really WORKING. They do not have a chance to perform household chores and "mix in" a little work. Often, household chores become neglected because of how absorbing work can be.

A chance to cut down on childcare costs. Often, I've spoken to people that state they would like to work from home because they have children that require constant attention. If you have children or circumstances that require constant attention, it is best to consider hiring someone instead. Working from home requires a lot of attention and concentration.

How To Find Work From Home Opportunities:

Not all work from home websites are scams. There are some legitimate work from home sites out there. Here are a few listed below:

-WorldWideWorkAtHome.com
-TopWorkAtHomeJobsOnline.com
-Wahm.com
-MommyEnterprises.com
-Freelance.com
-VirtualJobCandy.com

When Applying To Work From Home Positions:

Make sure you can talk "numbers". Some employers are hesitant to allow employees to work from home. They have visions of the employee relaxing and not finishing work related tasks. To offset this concern, keep regular notes on your productivity. List projects that are on the "docket" to complete and when you expect to complete them. If you complete the project ahead of schedule, then make a note of this as well. You want to prove that you are capable of being a responsible and trustworthy person.

Hope this helps - feel free to comment below!