Pounding Pavement II

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 21:48:00 +0000

The Dog Days of Summer...

We have to always be on our toes, looking for the next opportunity, keeping your resume updated. It doesn't do to just "keep my eyes open;" you MUST proactively look for jobs in your field. Not only does this keep you learning what jobs are open, but it will also help you keep abreast of changes in your field. Can't find jobs for you by the title you're used to searching? Could be that it's been renamed/rebranded.

I describe myself as a corporate trainer, as most people have some idea of what that kind of person does. Of course, I can also go by the following monikers: Trainer, Facilitator, Talent Manager, Organizational Development professional, L&D (learning and development), Performance Consultant, and so on. When I started in the "training world," you were a "trainer," which usually meant you taught classes. It's true that I teach classes occasionally (and still enjoy it), but the field has changed so much in the last 20 years, and I have adapted along with it, not only picking up new titles, but the skills needed to compete in the marketplace should my current company decide to reorg, rightsize, downsize, or I think the newest term I've heard is "align talent." All the same thing--someone is likely to have to move on. Of course, we all hope it's the other guy.

I recently worked with a woman who'd been in her job for almost 12 years, and she was looking to update her resume, as she was concerned about a coming layoff. I asked her about her resume, and she asked for my help. When I looked at it, it was very appropriate for a new college grad, which she was 12 years ago. Knowing her as I do, I asked, "so, basically, you are looking to catch up all these years, right?" Her field, "engineering," has taken almost as many twists and turns as mine in learning and development. To keep yourself employable, I can't stress enough that you have to keep your skills current (find out what the industry trends are), keep networking, and plan for having to search for a job sooner than you think. These are important skills regardless of what your next job title will be.

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 18:55:00 +0000

I think a lot of folks who've been in a job for a long time struggle with job hunting, as the world has changed dramatically during their long tenure at a job. I see this all of the time in places where people live under the illusion that things will never change....and they always do.

The Riley guide can help get you moving in keeping sharp on what is changing in the working world...

Haven't Job Searched in a While? (or Ever?)

Need pointers? Start with How to Job Search for guidance on everything from resumes to interviews to employer research and to finding job leads online. The first article, How to Use The Internet in Your Job Search helps you get going quickly.
Unsure what kind of job or career you want? Explore Career Options points to all kinds of career tools, including our own Career Research Center with detailed employment and education summaries for each line of work.
Need to talk to someone? Check our list of Networking and Support Groups resources to help you locate Counselors, Coaches, and Mentors.
Just want to find lists of recruiters or job sites? Head to our list of Sites with Job Listings for pointers to job banks, executive seach firms, recruiters and staffing firms for all 50 states.

http://www.rileyguide.com

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 17:11:00 +0000

7 Ways to Land Great Consulting Work While In Between Jobs

Most of us have been there.....

http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/7-ways-to-land-great-consulting-work-while-in-between-jobs/

Neglect Networking at Your Peril!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 04:31:00 +0000

Never forget that you are always "selling yourself" by broadening your network. Even if you are not in the job market today, odds are that you will be sooner than later. Maintain your networks! If you are currently in job search mode, carefully select a few of the excellent networking groups in your area to sharpen your presentation skills as well as learn of new and different ways to enhance your job search.

In the DFW area, a large list of networking groups can be found at http://careerdfw.org/J/groups/40-networking-groups/52-networking-meetings-all.html.

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 03:06:00 +0000

100 Interview Questions to Ask Employers

Every interview is a two-way street! Great list of questions to consider for your next interview: http://www.basilv.com/psd/blog/2009/100-interview-questions-to-ask-employers

Plan B - Are You Ready for Your Next Job Search?

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Great article by a business acquaintance of mine, Fiona Hunter. Fiona captures a lot of what job hunting should be today, but few execute their search like this!

Plan B – Are You Ready For Your Next Job Search?

How long is it since you last started a job search? Have you considered whether your job search skills are still current? I meet people who have not looked for a job in many years and others who last searched in the depth of the recession. The unexpected happened, and they are unprepared for today’s challenges. It would be wonderful if Plan A works for you, and you never need to look for another job, but do you have a Plan B? Are you prepared?

Not only does the current economic climate influence what skills and knowledge you need to succeed, but also the job search tools you may have learned earlier in your career have been redesigned with the impact of social media and technology. Are you approaching your job search by looking through the lens of the "hiring manager", their needs and their preferred methods of communication?

Your toolkit used to include a resume, business card, cover letter, letters of reference, marketing/networking profile - all hard copy, beautifully laid out and printed on quality paper, or, if emailed, then it would be ready for printing - in black and white. How the world has changed.

A resume is no longer "a piece of paper." Do you still design it as though it is? The information it contains is accessed electronically either as data in an ATS or as a word document in an email. It is rarely printed by the recipient for the first initial scan, as it will be viewed on a screen - and in color. Not only are we saving trees, we are saving time by cutting out this step. A few years ago, the screen may have been almost square - a 17" or 19” monitor. Today information is retrieved on elongated screens that perhaps show only the top third of the page, or it may be viewed on an iPad, tablet or mobile device - considerably smaller. So how will this change impact the way you present information and market yourself? Consider replacing the long summary paragraph with an eye catching, easy to read, short value add statement. This may be the only thing the person sees when they open your file. Look at it in the same way as the reader would - what do you see? Why would you read more? What other changes will you make?

Is the business card obsolete? Not quite yet, but every now and then someone wants to scan my QR code. It is instantaneous electronic transfer of contact info (similar to reading a barcode) - no business card necessary. How many HR leaders have the time to transfer the information manually from a business card into their contacts manager? Consider leading the pack with this – show you embrace technology and change,…. and keep a handful of business cards handy for those of us still catching up.

How quickly the information on a business card can become out-of-date – the phone number and email are associated with the company. How will you contact the HR leader who moved companies? How will someone contact you? LinkedIn is a valuable tool for reconnecting with people you know or have met. Is your LinkedIn profile up-to-date?

Cover letters…. Yes, we all know recruiters rarely read them. However, the recruiter is the gate keeper, and you should instead focus on what the hiring manager will want to see, especially if you are contacting them directly. The cover letter is often now replaced by an email. The content is essentially the same – a compelling reason to open the attached resume – but it is shorter, concise, high impact. A hiring manager is unlikely to look at a cover letter if it is in a separate attachment – in a separate file to your resume.   However nicely you format it in your system before you press the send key, it will look different on the iPhone or smart phone it may be read on. How much of the message will be visible? That 7 second scan may have just gone down to 2 seconds. What is the chance that the reader will open the email again later? If so, is the header compelling and relevant making it easy to find again? How much information did you include in the letter? Less is more.

Letters of reference have been replaced by recommendations on your LinkedIn profile. Do you have any? It is one of the things a recruiter will check in your profile.

The one page networking profile – the summary or mini synopsis of your skills, target roles, target companies, etc. – is now replaced by the LinkedIn profile. You should still complete your personal marketing plan, but the opportunities to pass a person this as a sheet of paper are limited. Information is now stored electronically and paper copies are likely to be recycled.   Rather than a push strategy, LinkedIn is more effective as a pull strategy. Marketing is less about sending info to a person, and more about making interesting information about you visible, accessible and easy to find.

The use of technology is also impacting interviewing. Not only prepare for the interview, but be prepared for a video live or recorded interview. Skype and other web based video tools are becoming more common for recruiter screening calls and for interviews where the candidate and interviewer are in different cities. Standing while you take the call or referring to notes may no longer be the best advice.

As new vocabulary is added to the toolbox and tools evolve, we will continue to see the job search landscape change and we should change with it. We live in a world of sound bites. The challenge of making your message compelling in 140 characters or less reflects the time you have to grab someone’s attention. “Do you want to hire the best? Contact me."

What is your job search marketing strategy? What is in your toolbox? Embrace change and position for success.

Fiona Hunter

http://fionah.posterous.com/plan-b-are-you-ready-for-your-next-job-search

Abandon all hope, ye who enter....

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 05:13:00 +0000

Ok, so, it's been a while. For November-December, I was waiting for the axe to fall that would put me out of my job. 3 days before Christmas, I got an offer to stay at my company, which I accepted. After the holidays, I returned to chaos and the twilight zone. Titles had been changed, staff had be reduced by 40%, and the future was an evaporating grey mist--but I was thrilled to have a job, as the unemployment figures are high (higher than reported, I fear).

I plodded forward in my new job, having performed the function needed in the new job for the last 10 years, and outside of the company I am now in, so I felt ready to roll and up for the challenge. It was hard, even having experience doing the job I got, but I was a great deal better off for past experiences. I had vision, the same vision my boss had, and I had energy and a desire to win.

After 6 months, I think I saw a new sign above the office door from the door of hell in Dante's Inferno, "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." There were 40% less people to work the same amount of work, and most of my colleagues struggled (and still struggle) with new responsibilities on top of the old, and at this point of the game, we are being tasked with yet more projects. The projects are the kind I would expect in the job I am in, but I have multiple projects piled on top of one another. I am now feeling what my co-workers felt 6 months ago, and with a vengeance.

People who previously got along are now irritable with each other, as no one has any bandwidth to help someone else, and we are all getting very defensive of the time we have to work on the two jobs we already have. Couple this stress with a lack of leadership from far above us, and you're almost in the perfect storm, as none of us see an end to the madness….and almost everyone is talking about who is hiring.

My energy, vision, and determination to win have been worn down after 6 months. My co-workers and I are unanimous in our belief that our boss isn't in touch with what we do or the volume of work that we attempt--he's too worried about pleasing his own boss. All the other departments of the company are under the same kind of stress and the ever-tightening rules designed to save money. It's not pretty to see a company that could be great experience melt down.

As I write this, it is 5 hours after I left the office, and I am still seething from the day's events. This can't be healthy, and it certainly isn't how I or my family wants to see me live.

Interviewing in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:54:00 +0000

As I sit here on Thanksgiving evening, with more to be thankful for than I have time to mention, I look ahead a few weeks, as I face certain layoff on December 22.

If you've been through a layoff before, then you know the roller coaster of emotions you ride.   I have had 3 months' warning, and have been doing all that I know to do to find a new gig, both inside and outside of my present place of employment, but at this writing, I have, at best, a few warm leads.

Some might be content to have leads, but I'd be a lot more content with a job offer. The truth is that I've applied and networked as much as I can while working full time, and it has produced calls from potential employers. I have done multiple phone interviews, follow-up thank you letters, a couple of really good face-to-face interviews, but that is as far as it goes. Naturally, I'm wondering what I might be doing or not doing in the interview to not move past the initial face-to-face interview.

Many thoughts go through my head about my interviewing--- too confident, not confident enough, wasn't specific enough, went into too much detail, etc., etc.    The truth is, I do not know what is going on.   "Behavioral interviews" are the interviewing style du jour, and depending on how strict to form the interviewer is, it can be very difficult to answer the unspoken questions being asked by the question being asked.

For example, if you are asked "tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with your boss. What was it about, how did you approach it, and what was the result?"   Is the interviewer interested in that specific incident?   Somewhat, but more than that, the real questions being asked are "How do you relate to your boss? How do you handle conflict? What people skills do you have?   Will you fit in to our culture?"   etc....or at least that is what I perceive to be the questions behind the questions.   I've had one interviewer give me feedback about these questions behind the question, and it is very difficult to understand what the interviewer really wants to know or hear.   It is sad that this newest form of interviewing is seen as superior to having a conversation with the person you are interviewing about their experiences and accomplishments as they relate to the specific position for which that person is being interviewed.   In all honesty, it is much easier to fool the interviewers using the behavioral interviewing approach if you know the game and can play well, especially in a situation where the interview is short and there isn't a lot of other discussion before a hiring decision is made.

Behavioral interviewing is all the rage today, but I would caution anyone who thinks it's a panacea for poor interviewing of the past.   It wasn't that past interviewing techniques were inferior; it's that the same bad interviewers of the past are now doing bad interviews in the present with the behavioral interview model.    Frankly, anyone can talk a good game using any interview model.   Multiple discussions over time and with different people about experience needed for a position should not be replaced by an "all powerful" behavioral interview.

Perhaps a better approach to the behavior interview is to ask interviewees about specific skill/experience/accomplishments that would show that an interviewee has the skills and experience needed to be successful in the role for which they are interviewing.   For example, "How do you work with a group of diverse people as we have at our company? Can you give me an example of when you have done that?"    This is straightforward questioning that will generate a straightforward answer.   If the interviewer has no ability to discern the skill level from this approach, behavioral interviewing will not help them.

I've had several behavioral interviews lately, and people will ask me about an organizational development experience, I answer the question with a clear OD example, only to have them say that they did not hear an OD example, and they re-ask the question.   The issue is not so much that I didn't answer the question, but that they are non-OD people, do not understand what OD people do, but by using a behavioral interviewing sheet, believe they can discern if I have OD skills. Ludicrous.

Perhaps it is just me, but behavioral interviewing is another "HR trend" that HR believes will suddenly help bad hiring decisions from being made.   Giving a person a supposed tool does not enable a person to suddenly have discernment or make them analytical enough to read the human being with whom they are thinking. It is unfortunate that the root cause of bad interviewing hasn't been truly addressed--the interviewers themselves.   More skill building in this area with hiring managers and HR personnel would greatly improve the interviewing process.

Feelings, Part Deux

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 05:19:00 +0000

So, I know that I can trust God to take care of us; He's proven it over and over....why do I have this fist-sized knot in my stomach?

The easy answer is that I'm human, that I'm not fully trusting God, and I'm sure those are partly to blame. More than that, I think it is unexpressed frustration and anger.   I know life isn't fair, but as I look at what is going on in my company ahead of the layoff, I am both saddened and angry that I have not had any input to the "big plans."

I watched as a VP touted the new plans as innovative and "course changing," and how excited HE is, as HR will be taking care of everything that specialists (training, org development, recruiting, talent management--whatever that is) have spent considerable time developing expertise through study and practice.   My comment to my coworkers as we left the meeting was, "I hope if he ever gets a heart attack, that he'll have a GP (general practitioner) to care for him instead of a cardiac care specialist."   Maybe then he'll feel differently.

This is the logic that is currently being spouted from our corporate leadership--that HR people (they include us professional training and org development people in with them!) have to be able to be a jack of all trades.   They are entitled to that opinion, but my guess is that within 5 years, that "logic" will fall apart.   Of course the entire HRBP (HR Business Partner) is the concept du jour of the HR world, but I wonder how many business leaders look at this and snicker.

I've spent about 20 years in training and development, and personally, I consider it an insult to say that an HR Business Partner (should there have ever been an HR person who wasn't aligning their efforts to the business?) can take on training/OD as well as recruiting, compensation, benefits, etc. and perform well.   I know the years I've spent dedicated to training and OD and how much I am still learning. I think it amusing to assume that because it is pronounced, HR employees will suddenly become expert in fields they've spent little time learning about and practicing in.

Well, I thought I'd feel better getting this off my chest, but it's just sunk down into my gut again. This is going to be a fun Fall!

Feelings...woe, woe, woe feelings....

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:53:00 +0000

Not being a new comer to the job search discipline, you'd think by now that I wouldn't get too excited about having to go through the whole process again.....but you'd be wrong.

First and foremost, I know God in is control, but why do I feel like "this" on Sunday night before the first round of layoff notices go out tomorrow morning? Perhaps it is the whole uncertainty of the future thing. I like where I live, I like what I do, and even I like where I do it. Who would want anything to change?    Even if you are miserable in your job, the prospect of being laid off and having to search again just seems to trump the other feelings of misery. Of course, we'd all like to think that we're in control of our own destinies (an illusion), and having something happen to us is most disconcerting.

We all are disturbed at the prospect of change while in our comfort zone at a job, regardless of how "bad" we thought it was. We realize the prospect of having no job at all is very real and no longer an academic discussion at lunch with our coworkers.

I'm watching people who've been at my company 25+ years struggle with the feelings that go with the question "what will I do if I'm laid off," and that's just no fun to watch. Mind you, I'm not having happy feelings at the prospect of being laid off, but I'm not struggling with feelings over the fact that the last time I had to look for a job was when Ronald Reagan was president.

Think about where you were 25 years ago and HOW you looked for a job. Are newspapers still the first place you'd look for a job today? Will you go "pounding pavement" and knocking on doors (you won't get past the security desk)? Will you look for any job just to get into the company and work your way up? If you've had to look for a job this century, you know that all three of the questions above no longer are possible (or are rarely possible).   This fact, in and of itself, can lead to panic.

I was at a job search resource group and sat down next to a man who'd been in his job with a large, well-known company for 25 years. We talked a little, and though we were both out of work, I felt bad for him.   The only good thing I could tell him was that being at that job search group would help him tremendously and that he should throw himself fully in all its activities and workshops. Still, there was a look of doom and gloom on his face that my encouragement just couldn't seem to erase.

Now, we all should keep the perspective that there's always someone worse off than I am, but even knowing I'm not months from retirement or have been in the company 25+ years with no clue how to find jobs in the outside world doesn't seem to make these butterflies settle down in my stomach.

"The Only Thing That Remains Constant is Change"

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:07:00 +0000

So, I am at my current job for a year and a few months, and I've now received news that there is going to be a 5% reduction in force. Needless to say, there are a lot of "non-value added" discussions taking place around the office. Everyone is wondering if they'll get the call.

The first thing I tell people when they hear this news is that no amount of worrying, scheming, nail biting, trash talking, etc. is going to change what's going to happen. HR folks are looking at workforce and numbers, and in a large company, they surely do not know who they are cutting by recommending that Dept X cut heads by 10% vs. Dept. Y who is told to cut by 5%. That's when I tell people to remember that God is in control of the company as well as our lives.

Even with that being the case, it is prudent to get your job search "machine" in motion. Since you've kept your resume up to date (HAHAHAHA), you're at least 2 weeks ahead of everyone else. Make sure you begin contacting your professional acquaintances (hopefully, you've never let those relationships slide) and let them know what's going down, and that you'd appreciate any input they have on the job market. Also, now is the time to locate a few of the key job sites for your profession, and use an RSS reader to subscribe to job listings in your field and area so that you can review the jobs pulled to your reader quickly without having to wade through the muck of a gazillion job listings. Get your resume out on a few job boards, into professional associations' job banks, and most of all---NETWORK with others in your profession to learn of opportunities and what has been happening in your field, since you most likely got lazy/busy for all the time you've been gainfully employed.

But first of all.....deal with your feelings. I've talked to a couple at my company that have been with the company for a long time (20+ years) who think it may be "their time" to go. If that is you, you'll have more emotions to deal with that many of the others, but it isn't the end of the world, just the end of the world as you've come to know it. It may be that you are about to embark on a new chapter of your life, even if you thought the book of your life had been finished ages ago. For most who fit that category, the timing stinks, as you are probably struggling with mid-life issues anyway, and now, your job, the thing you may have thought defined you, is going away. Your life isn't going away, but you may feel like it is.

For the rest of us, it will be an emotional time until all of the layoffs happen, even if we don't think we have anything to worry about. Of course, now is the time we start thinking about the Dave Ramseys of the world who try to get everyone to get out from under their debt. Heavy consumer debt can make layoffs even seem more like the end of the world. Get your spending under control, because you might need some cash for a rainy day very soon.

All-in-all, the emotional part of a layoff seems hardest to deal with for me. I'd almost prefer for it to happen as it did for me a few years ago---rumors of layoffs were all around, but I didn't see it coming until the boss called me into his office one Friday morning.

Bottom line: ALWAYS be ready to find a new job, and ALWAYS keep your networks warm. In this or any economy, none of us know when/if the boss will insist that we come to his office on Friday morning.

Really?

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

It's been approximately 8 months on my new gig---the best job I've ever had in many ways. I haven't written a blog entry in 2 months. So, should I be thinking about my next job? How many of you say "NO!?" You're wrong.

The thing is, none of us know how long our jobs will run, with long tenures and golden watches for retirement not the norm, none of us can afford to get complacent. Have you done a skills inventory lately against the skills currently being sought out in your field? Is it time to hit a couple of seminars in 2011 to get yourself up to date or to inspire yourself to grow intellectually?

I've been at my job for 8 months, and since I was, more or less, in job search mode for 1.5 years (though I was working contracts), I find myself like a coworker who, after completing his Master's degree, found himself going to his study on Sunday afternoon as he'd done for a couple of years, realizing that he no longer had to spend EVERY Sunday afternoon in study and paper writing. It feels weird to NOT be on an intense job search--of course, I'm not complaining.

If you haven't taken stock of your current position/employer/field in a while (like over a year), I would strongly encourage you to do so. Do a skills inventory, research jobs in your field that you qualify for and/or would like to do and hiring trends at companies that you think you might like to work for. Expand your social networks, especially LinkedIn. Right now, employers can afford to be selective when interviewing candidates for the positions they have open, and seeing the skills and experience for which they are looking might be a good indication of where your skills development plans should be going. Some of the skill needs you may find that your field desires may be something that would take you a few years to acquire. If you're working now, don't wait until you aren't to update your skills and make yourself more marketable.

*Scratches Head

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:00:00 +0000

Every time I have to ask myself this kind of question, I realize that I have that much more maturing to do, but I'll ask anyway.....

Why is it that people who are out of work are reluctant to try new methods of job hunting? I offer to help people where I live, and there seems to be few takers in a down economy. I'm not a job hunting expert, but having done enough of it, had outplacement training a couple of times, etc., I have some insights and contacts that I'm happy to share with job seekers, but I get few serious requests. (checks armpits---nope, nice and clean).

I especially get concerned about those who haven't had to look for a job in a long time (anything over 10 years, or as close as 5 years ago), as the "game" of job hunting has had all kinds of rule changes.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me implore you all again---be preparing for your next job while in the one you have, and if you find yourself out of work, be a guerrilla job hunter, working every angle at finding your next gig. I feel deeply for people who are unemployed, and feel frustrated when I see them not aggressively searching with a variety of methods that are necessary in today's job hunting climate.

Running the Good Race

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:49:00 +0000

I'm now on the job a couple of months now, and I can honestly say that I enjoy my job. The first 8 weeks have been tough, as I am learning a new system, learning a job from a consultant, developing relationships, handling issues that I didn't create but have to learn to solve, considering the future vision for training and support, etc.

It's been busy and stressful at times, but it most assuredly beats being stressed by spending a zillion hours a day duing a job search. Some may want to argue that work can't be fun, but since God created us to work and not to lay around and do nothing all day, I feel fulfilled in helping others learn and improve their lives, and that is core to who I am and why I am here. It can't get much better than that in this life.

It's Been About a Month....

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:05:00 +0000

Since I've started my new, regular full time position (after 1.5 years of contracting), and a Lead in the department remarked the other day that my information intake is now downgraded to "drinking from a fire hose!" There's nothing like starting a new position: you feel exuberant, everyone is nice and friendly, and if you're a Supervisor of some sort, they are all really nice.

After that first day or week, you do your best to really learn enough to contribute some intelligent input into projects and meetings. If you work for kind, encouraging people, they try to encourage you, and that's the kind of folks for whom I'm working.

Studies have shown that most supervisory and executive employees take 6-12 months to get fully functional in their jobs. Of course, not all of us have such time to learn and adjust, and we do the best we can with the time we have. Orientation programs can help considerably with "coming up to speed," but in the end, you will need to put extra effort in to catch up, as your success is dependent on the effort you put in on the job. I have found that the first 6 months of any new job is stressful, as you are spending extra time learning and doing things that will take you a fraction of the time a year from now. That is normal. If you're in a new position, try not to stress out for the first few weeks. In no time, you'll be so comfortable with the new systems and processes that you won't be able to understand why you thought is was so difficult to learn that stuff.

With all that said, I'm enjoying the new learning experience, as it is stretching me in some ways, and I look forward to making positive contributions to my company.

VenueGen -- the Future of Meetings and Training

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:55:00 +0000

As some of you know, I've been involved in Second Life for a couple of years now, and the 3D web has tremendous potential for use in business and learning. A new service, VenueGen, provides a much simpler interface for users and operates like MS Live Meeting, giving you the capability of 3D virtual meetings on demand. In my opinion, a service like this is what is needed to bring 3D web/virtual simulations to the greater population. Depending on the pricing, it could compete with Live Meeting, as Live Meeting is technology from earlier this century.

http://www.venuegen.com/?q=node/1186

Big Dog, Little Dog: Outlook for the Learning and Training Profession

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:47:00 +0000

Big Dog, Little Dog: Outlook for the Learning and Training Profession

For my learning/training and development peers....from Don Clark.

"Survivor" for the Class of 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:22:00 +0000

The Wall St. Journal has an superb article on the reality of the job market today specifically directed at the new college graduates...more information below.

I can still remember "way back when" I was newly starting out, believing what I referred to as "the lie" --- "if you go to college, you'll get a good job." Of course, when you graduate and encounter reality, you're incensed! It isn't really a "lie" that you can get a good job with a college education, it's just that reality wasn't explained more clearly to you. As my father explained to me once, education provides you with an OPPORTUNITY for success, not a guarantee. I can guarantee that if you don't have a college education in 2010, your opportunities will be very limited.

An illustration of the harshness of reality may be helpful here. I knew a young man who in 1990 who was about to graduate and confidently stated, "I think my degree will be worth about $30,000 a year." I was listening to him along with another man who had worked hard to build his roofing company, and at this announcement, me and the roofer instinctively turned to look at each other and just started laughing out loud. The soon-to-be college graduate was somewhat insulted.   I told him that, in effect, the world didn't care about his education and surely wouldn't pay him for having gone to school.   Now, I didn't want to hurt his confidence, but I did want to convey what I had learned (the hard way)---that most young college graduates have what Robert Ringer (Looking Out for Number One) calls "The World Owes Me a Living Disease." No one owes anyone anything (Someone should let our current government leaders know this.). The fact that you were disciplined enough to finish a college degree says a lot of positive things about you as a person, and in some fields, there is a body of knowledge with which you have become familiar in getting your degree, but in reality, rather than shake your hand, the world is more likely to kick you in the butt, punting you to the curb.   Now is the time for you to kick your parents in the butt if they ever told you life is fair. They lied.

Another sad truth is that most young college graduates have no training in job searching in 2010, which is a full-body contact sport with a lot of veteran players on the field.   A relative recently graduated from college, and he seemed somewhat aware of the tough road ahead. Of course, having spent his last 7 years in college (!), he has no real idea of the tsunami of reality about to hit him.

Perhaps this Wall St. Journal article can be the kick in the pants for you or a young college grad you know. It's part of life's body of knowledge that you most likely never learned in college, but is every bit as critical as the subjects you studied to earn your degree. Your toughness and tenacity is what you will need to survive in the workforce....and I would add your faith, your patience, and your persistence. "Wax on; wax off."

------------------------------EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE:

"Over the next few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Millennials will graduate from institutions of higher learning. They will celebrate for several days, perhaps several weeks. Then they will enter a labor force that neither wants nor needs them. They will enter an economy where roughly 17% of people aged 20 through 24 do not have a job, and where two million college graduates are unemployed. They will enter a world where they will compete tooth and nail for jobs as waitresses, pizza delivery men, file clerks, bouncers, trainee busboys, assistant baristas, interns at bodegas."

"Young people can be forgiven for thinking that the portrayal of the working world in comedies like "The Office" and "Office Space" is completely over the top. Now they're going to find out otherwise. Reality is a mean trick that grown-ups play on the young."

"It's brutal out there, all right. Blogs and instant messaging and social networking systems don't help much because everyone is using the same cutting-edge tools to compete for the same low-tech jobs. The easiest way to get a job is still the oldest way: To know somebody who can get you a job or give you a job."

Read this article in it's entirety! It'll be worth every minute.   The full article is at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704250104575238692439240552.html. It's a must read for everyone, not just college students.

Phenomenal Job Search Materials!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:57:00 +0000

Came across a site today (http://www.thomasjackson.info/sale_fish.htm) that has a resource that I haven't seen before, but have often thought of: a 30-60-90 day step-by-step plan for conducting a job search. Thomas Jackson's information is incredibly on target, and I think his "Job Search First 90 days Tips & Tricks" resource is something that is a must read for all job searchers, especially those who haven't conducted a job search in some time, haven't attended a networking group, or those who haven't had the benefit of outplacement training.

I see a lot of job search sites, and his may not be the best looking site, but the downloads are as good (or better) than anything I've seen.

Ecclesiastes 3:6 "A time for search and a time for loss; a time to keep and a time to give away"

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:25:00 +0000

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a fixed time, and a time for every business under the sun.

When you get some time to examine yourself, especially if you are busy searching for your next career opportunity, you may find that your mind wanders off in many directions. Perhaps, you think, you could make a living as a fisherman or fireman or circus freak like you dreamed of doing when you were a child. Maybe what you've been doing isn't what you really want to do or what you feel God has planned for you in life. We should always be asking ourselves hard questions about our direction in life, but most of the time, we excuse ourselves as just being way too busy.

Always having been one to spend a lot of time in reflection (some might say way too much), I imagine the many different courses my life could have had, has had, is on, and/or could take, and frankly, it's both terrifying and exciting! Like the next person, I enjoy the comfort that is the American standard of living, but if all we are concerned with is physical comfort (i.e. "making a living"), are we experiencing "life" or just "physical existence?" Years ago, I remember being in a dead-end job, thinking, "God, is this it? Is this all there is to life?" When you pose that question directly to God, you probably should have your seat belt on and tray tables in an upright position. It's at that point that I think He must deem us teachable, and class usually commences shortly after we pose such a question.

I'm reading Bob Buford's Half Time (Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance) right now, and I highly/especially recommend it for anyone approaching that "reassessment" period in his or her life. I'm guessing that a lot of people are experiencing "reassessment" as they find themselves looking for work during this economic downturn that has turned out so many long-tenured, experienced workers.

As you think about your life and career---and this is largely the point; YOU MUST TAKE TIME TO REFLECT---lose yourself in your dreams and imagination. You may be holding yourself back from something wonderful that matches with what you believe is your life's mission. Sure, some people are so far underwater with the cares of life that they can't hope to reach their life's vision in the foreseeable future. If in frustration we give up and stop dreaming, we become real-world versions of Star Trek's Borg. Realization of some dreams just takes more time and commitment, and some changes in life require greater commitment than thinking about it one afternoon and deciding to act.

It's a good thing it takes many years to get to adulthood. When we're "grown up," we have finally reached a point where we can possibly learn about ourselves---if we are willing to take the time and effort.

Employment Situation Information for Those in Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:38:00 +0000

The Texas Workforce Commission provides detailed information on Texas economics as related to jobs (http://www.twc.state.tx.us/customers/jsemp/jsemp.html). If you need to get some data on Texas and your area in Texas, this is a good place to get it. If you are from another state, check with your state government/unemployment office for these figures.

A key indicator of employment trends in Texas is the statement, "The Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March remained unchanged at 8.2 percent for the fifth consecutive month, and continues to trend well below the March U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 9.7 percent. At more than 12.1 million workers, the Texas Civilian Labor Force grew by nearly 29,000 workers in March."

The unemployment rate in Texas is significantly lower that the rest of the United States: 8.2 vs. 10.2 (see partial chart below). It is important to note, however, that for Texas and the US in general, the unemployment rate has risen over the past year by 1.2%, and if you're out there job hunting, you know how much of a challenge finding a job is.

Click image for larger view.

The point of all of the statistical information is to help us all understand state and national trends affecting our job searches. Yeah, I know, "so what?" Well, since economics and hiring is based on perception -- either "gut feeling" ("We think we're doing better, so let's hire people.") or by numbers ("These stats show some improvement in economic conditions, so let's hire people."), it is enlightening to know if you have a better chance at getting a new job. Feeling more confident about success in finding a job will also improve your attitude, and potential employers can pick up your attitude in your correspondence, your phone screens, and definitely in your face-to-face interviews. Hey, if nothing else, your family and friends will appreciate your better attitude. Come on, you know you haven't been fun to be around when you are in a nasty state of mind.

"The Labor Market & Career Information Department (LMCI) of the Texas Workforce Commission provides statistics and analyses on the dynamics of the Texas labor market and informational products designed to support informed educational and career decisions. In addition, LMCI provides a wide array of career and occupational information through software programs and printed publications. Visit the LMCI website at http://www.lmci.state.tx.us for additional products and services. For more information or questions about our data, please contact labor market analysts by phone at 1-866-938-4444, or by email at lmci@twc.state.tx.us."

Twitter is the New Tool for Job Seekers

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:05:00 +0000

I was recently in a meeting of some of my peers in learning and development, and the laugh of the night was about how stupid Twitter is. Almost none of them "tweeted," except for me, and I kept kind of quiet. It's not that I'm shy about technology use, it's just that my trying to talk to them about this subject would have as much effect as if I yelled down at ants on the sidewalk.

I'll admit, I don't want to read on Twitter about anyone getting ready to use the restroom, but discounting stupid things people put on Twitter, it is a very good job-hunting tool. The brief article is has good info on how to use Twitter in your job search.

Twitter is the New Tool for Job Seekers

March 17, 2010 by sparktalk http://www.careerealism.com/twitter-tool-job-seekers

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Jessica Miller-Merrell
Being in the job search is tough and as a job seeker you are not alone, especially with the more than 15 million who are out of work and in the job hunt. People don’t prepare for the job search although they should at least six months in advance. This provides you an opportunity to grow and build your network using both traditional (face to face networking) and non-traditional methods (social media networking).
One non-traditional networking tool is Twitter. Think of Twitter as a virtual cocktail party with more than 27 million people in attendance. Like any traditional cocktail party or networking event, there are conversations (known as your Twitter stream) that happen all around you. Twitter is no different. Because your purposes for Twitter are primarily business based, it is extremely important to selectively join and be present for key conversations among decision makers or influencers in the industry in which you are looking for work or in your community.

Follow People. Following others and retweeting or reposting their tweets is a great way to begin to build a relationship. Use Twitter directories, which are essentially online yellow pages, to search for influencers in your target industry, location, or by keyword like Twellow, and We Follow. Here are 15 more great Twitter directory sites courtesy of Mashable.

SEO or Search Engine Optimization. Be found by making sure to include key words that are searched by recruiters and hiring managers in your Twitter bio. Consider words including industry specific software programs, certifications, and words that are repeatedly listed in job board advertisements. Recruiters use key words within your tweets and your bio to find you. Make it easy to be found including key words and a link to your blog or profile.

Hash Tags (#). Hash tags are used in Twitter as a way to sort and search by topic. Some common hash tags for job seekers including #jobs, #jobhuntchat, #jobsearch #jobadvice. Using your iGoogle account, set up an RSS feed of common key words and hash tags in Twitter Search. Setting up your RSS feed is a great time saving tip.

Enjoying this article? You could get the best career advice daily by subscribing to us via e-mail.
Find Recruiters. I almost always suggest job seekers take an aggressive approach to their job search. Just as recruiters source and search for you, job seekers can seek out and connect with recruiters, human resource professionals, or hiring managers using social media search tools. Twitter directories are a great start, however there are more advanced tools like Follower Wonk and Twitter Search. Both these offer advanced search options allowing you to search by keyword and zip code. Follow Wonk provides advanced bio search options.

Building Relationships. Chris Brogan provided a crude, yet effective, example of social media networking and how to build relationships. He likened engaging someone and asking them for a sale, to buy their product, or a job to sticking your tongue down someone’s throat just after meeting them. Basically, don’t ask for the sale until you have an established relationship. Social media can be very surface and the relationship is the glue that holds your reputation and relationships together.
To learn more about Twitter for the job search and business, you can take a look at my book, Tweet This! Twitter for Business. E-book and softcover versions are available.

Did you enjoy this article? Read more articles by this expert here.
Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR is an author, new mother, and human resources professional with a passion for the job search, recruiting, and all things social media. Jessica has over 10 years of experience in human resources and recruiting industry. She specializes in helping job seekers with personal branding specializing and job search strategies helping others learn the unwritten rules of the job search. Her creative technique and strategies have received national recognition from Entrepreneur, Glamour Magazine, HR Executive Magazine, and Employment Digest. Jessica also is the host of the only live job search web show every Sunday 9 PM EST on MomTV.

Job Tip # 48: You are not a Failure

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:51:00 +0000

Another networking group in DFW that caught my eye, as they hit the nail on the head....you are not a failure. Job loss or unemployment can be especially hard on men psychologically, as many men get their self-worth and self-image from their jobs. A job is indeed a career that you throw yourself into, but it is not WHO YOU ARE. Easy to say; sometimes hard to remember, right guys?

Job Tip # 48: You are not a Failure
Of course you are not a failure, but this Tip title did get your attention. Here's some suggestions from pro Head Hunter, Nick Corcodilos……If your job search is failing, it's for one of two reasons. First, you may be scared because you believe you're not good at your work. If this is happens to be true, admit it to yourself and do something about it. If you don't, your work will never make you happy or successful. Second, you have been brainwashed like most Americans by the media and by America's Employment System to follow antiquated rules of job hunting. Realize that if this System worked, you wouldn't have to mail out 200 resumes or go on 20 interviews before finding a job.

There is only one rule for success in a job search, and almost no one follows it: you must prove, to the manager for whom you want to work, that you can do the job he needs to have done and that you can do it profitably. This is the single most important rule headhunters live by when they prepare a candidate to interview for a job. http://www.askthehe adhunter. com/habyoh. htm

For those in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex:

The Watermark job support group meets every Tuesday morning, 8am on the 3rd floor of the church tower building, 7540 LBJ at Park Central, free admission, no pre-registration. Here is a video introducing the group. http://cbs11tv. com/video/ ?id=51937@ ktvt.dayport. com

You can sign-up and your resume will be circulated to potential employers in our group.
http://www.watermar k.org/ministries /care/jobs- ministry- careers-in- motion/

James Reed
reed.james@yahoo. com

Sadness...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:43:00 +0000

I'm sure some who'll read this will write me off as a nut job, but having been given reasonable mental ability and a fascination with the behavior of human beings, I can only express sadness for the actions of many of our politicians (not leaders) of late. The great men who founded this country would be shocked to see our government forcing anything on Americans, a majority of whom do not favor it. The health care debacle will haunt us the rest of our lives and will negatively impact an already sad state of affairs for job seekers.

I so hope the coming years will prove me wrong. This isn't 1964 with a large group of Americans being savagely discriminated against--many thought wrongly regarding discrimination and desegregation in those days. This is 2010 with a mixed-race man in the White House who won't release his full birth certificate information, and who seems bent on taking America down a road to be just like "the rest of the world." Folks, I don't know about you, but I don't want to be like the rest of the world--otherwise, I'd move there. We have the highest standard of living in this country in the world, and if you've traveled anywhere outside the US, you know just how true this is.

That's why people come here anyway they can from everywhere, seeking the opportunities (not guarantees) that this country offers. What I think is ironic is that some want to give it all away, not realizing that in doing so, they will make this country less desirable to live in, and in the process, take money away from people who are working hard and give it to someone else. I think most Americans are very compassionate people, giving more money away than anyone else, trying to help other countries and other people. Sure, we're not perfect, and even a cursory walk through US history would turn up big mistakes, but I believe that the collective desire of Americans is to do good and help other people, or so I was raised to believe.

Why is it that at this time, politicians force something on people that is clearly not supported by the majority? Didn't Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence and address similar abuses that the colonists had to endure from England? I don't begrudge helping to take care of people who can't help themselves, and I know that there are some who can't. But I also know that there are some who can and choose not to. By adopting the socialist model for healthcare, there will be no incentive for those people to work, since the government will meet their healthcare needs on top of their food, housing, etc. needs.   The poorest person in this country is richer than most of the rest of the world. Healthcare is available and affordable, though we all like to whine about its cost. For most Americans, we'd just have to play less and waste less money in order to pay for healthcare---if we were more responsible adults.

I know it sounds like I'm on a rant, but I just hate that I have to continue to work hard to provide for my family, and now a government already too big is telling me that I have to buy something whether I like it or not and help to pay for it for others who don't necessarily deserve it. In addition, the economic impact on the country of adopting this plan will seriously impact the country.   People, we are seriously in debt, and we have politicians who insist that they way to get out of indebtedness is to spend more money! This healthcare bill has the potential to send us into bankruptcy, and I'm still scratching my head when I hear people talking about what good managers the government will be--the same folks who bring you the IRS, Social Security, Medicare, the VA, etc. Yep, quality management there.

I know liberals don't worry about things like the economy and personal responsibility for your station in life, that those who are concerned about such things are evil, capitalist robber-baron types, but most liberals don't mind the amenities (standard of living, freedom, etc.) that this country affords them. Some decry capitalism as evil, but it is the nature of man that is evil and separated from God. THAT is what produces abuses in all forms of human government. Say whatever you like, but we are losing our country in much the same way the Romans lost Rome (see http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/the-fall-of-rome-and-modern-parallels/) ---their worst enemy was their laziness and gluttony. Government handouts/entitlements and suit-happy citizens and their shyster lawyers looking for quick wealth are easy illustrations of the laziness, envy, gluttony, and sad state of America.

Our country was founded by men who were sick and tired of having to endure unfair laws and rules imposed on them from afar, and I think that same mood exists in most Americans today....or, perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps most Americans would prefer to sit on their collective backsides, party, eat, play, and collect "free" money.   That is not what I signed on for in life, and as a Christian, that is not what I am called to. I usually don't discuss this kind of thing, but it's just that watching this country implode like this is painful and sad.

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:44:00 +0000

I'm going to pass on commenting on this, except to say that I found it..."interesting." :)
___________________________________

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
March 04, 2010

Do you have problems falling asleep at night? Do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night and find it impossible to go back to sleep? Are you exhausted or fatigued in the morning?

You’re not alone. One in three people suffer from varying degrees of sleep disruption. Too little or erratic sleep can cause damage to body function, impact metabolism, increase frustration and the loss of motivation. More importantly, failing to get enough sleep can heighten the potential risk of workplace incidents.

Quality sleep is necessary for your mind, emotions and body to work efficiently because restoration and repair of any damage to these areas occur during deep sleep. For example, 17 hours of sleep lost during the week has the same effect as a blood alcohol level of .05 percent which is more than twice the Department of Transportation’s legal limit. This causes slowed reaction time and reflexes, poor motor skills, decreased attention span, memory loss, poor communication skills and inaccuracy in tasks. Mood swings may also occur, leading to irritability and impatience.

In order to get enough quality sleep, we have to practice good sleep habits. Here are a few tips to help you regain your sleep:

· Get between seven and eight hours quality sleep. Start by going to sleep about the same time each night and waking up at a similar time each morning, even on off days. This strengthens the biological rhythm. Go to bed only when sleepy.

· Avoid stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, large meals and beverages or limit these after lunchtime. Avoid strenuous exercise three to four hours before bedtime. Avoid medicines that delay or disrupt sleep like some over the counter cough and cold and asthma medicines and some heart and blood pressure medications.

· Do not take naps after 3 p.m. Limit nap time to 30-45 minutes.

· Relax before bedtime: Taking a warm bath (this helps cool the body), reading or listening to soothing music can help you relax. Have a winding down bedtime routine. Do not rehash the day’s events or think about planning the following day at that time. Develop a worry time, if you need to prior to bedtime, like after dinner.

· Prepare your sleeping area for sleep. Close drapes, turn off or cover lights on clocks. Make sure the temperature is comfortable (a little on the cool side). No watching television while in bed, especially disturbing news or programs that excite you such as sporting events or other competitions. If you cannot fall asleep or waken for more than 15-20 minutes during the night, get out of bed and do something relaxing in another room.

· Avoid using sleeping medication. If you do use sleep medications, do not use them more than one or two nights per month. Try to get outside during the daylight hours and get at least 30 minutes sun exposure to arms and legs.

If you continue to have trouble sleeping and you feel tired or not well rested in the mornings, see your doctor to determine if you have a sleeping disorder. Chronic sleep loss lasting more than four weeks could be due to medical conditions that can be treated including insomnia, Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome. Your family doctor or a sleep specialist should be able to help you.

For employees working evening or night shift, you are more likely to have sleep disturbance and sleepiness during work unless you take the following precautions:

· Take scheduled breaks during the shift.
· When rotating shifts go from day to evening to night rather than the other way around or maintain a schedule for seven days.
· Use dark curtains or eye shades to keep light out and run a fan to help block external noises.
· Enlist your families help to not include you in events that will prevent you from getting enough sleep.
· Block out your sleep time in advance and protect this time from being interrupted by outside intrusion.

If you find yourself feeling depressed, sleepy and crave high carbohydrate foods. This condition, called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), may be eased by 30 minutes of exposure to bright light in the morning.

There are a number of beneficial health and safety reasons to get enough sleep. You can help prevent chronic disease, fatigue and injuries. This along with a balanced diet, at least 30 minutes physical activity daily, and no tobacco use will prevent the major causes of death and disability. When you are well rested, you will be able to learn more, have a sharper memory, and be better able to control your weight and metabolism.

Practice good sleeping habits and enjoy good restorative sleep at no cost to yourself or anyone else.

For additional information, go to www.sleepfoundation.org/sleeptips.cfm