CareerSearch.com

Why It’s Time for You to Chillax

hmundell — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:18:29 +0000

Someone I know just had a wake-up call. He had a heart attack. Thankfully, his prognosis is very good.

And now his entire life will be different.

This is a post about giving yourself your own wake-up call today, before disaster strikes.

Feeling stressed is an ever-present condition in our society. It’s pervasive, it’s accepted as the norm, and it’s even bragged about. Have you sought to win one of those “Who’s more stressed” contests recently? You know – the ones that masquerade as basic conversations?

“How are you?”

“Well, OK, except my in-laws are coming tomorrow, the cat’s sick, I have two projects due at work in next three days, and I’m pretty sure Johnny’s smoking pot in the garage.”

“I hear you – Carl may get laid off next week, my mom’s going through surgery on the 10th, we may need a new hot-water heater, Julia’s not speaking to me, and my boss is more insane than usual.”

There’s plenty of bad news about stress and how Americans are handling it. Not to stress you out or anything.

Untreated chronic stress can lead to serious health conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system.

Stress can also contribute to the development of major illnesses, such as heart disease, depression and obesity.

Consider these gloomy statements from the American Psychological Association’s 2010 Stress in America Survey:

Americans appear to be caught in a vicious cycle where they manage stress in unhealthy ways.

Lack of willpower and time constraints impede their ability to make lifestyle or behavioral changes.

There also seems to be a troublesome trend emerging among families in which parents are underestimating how much stress their children experience and the impact their own stress has on their children. At the same time, children as young as eight years old are reporting that they experience physical and emotional health consequences often associated with stress.

All of us, including the medical community, need to take stress seriously since stress could easily become our next public health crisis.

It’s time to “chillax”, as my almost-teen enjoys saying, because we want to be here, and we want to be feeling as good as we can. Continuing to let stress run unchecked through our lives will not turn out well for many of us. So why not start addressing stress now?

It’s a big issue, but let’s start small. Try something from this list of stress relievers today. Don’t worry about how you’re not going to completely solve the stress problem. Just do something.

Go on a walk.
Get 7-8 hours of sleep.
Eat healthy food.
Limit your alcohol consumption.
Call a friend.
Mindfully meditate for a few minutes.
If you’re suffering from chronic stress, consider reaching out to a mental health care professional.

I’d love to hear: What are you doing to chillax?

Make Your Job More Family-Friendly

hmundell — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:09:56 +0000

When you’re juggling a career, your kids and your aging parent, flexibility is what you crave most in your job.

Organizations that address work-family conflict and offer progressive family benefits are described as “family-friendly”. They help employees manage time pressures, provide formal programs to encourage family development and promote an informal culture that’s sensitive to family needs.

But what if you don’t happen to work at a company that has made it onto a Best Companies list? Are you doomed if your organization has no formal policies or programs that appear to support the family roles that you play now?

Not necessarily! Informal arrangements and support may just what you need to perform your job well and attend to your responsibilities as a member of the sandwich generation.

Key informal supports for you are day-to-day flexibility and supervisor and co-worker support. So even if your organization doesn’t have extended maternity leave, elder-care referral, official telecommuting options and job-sharing options, you can still explore possibilities with your manager and human resources department that would address your needs.

How to Negotiate a More Family-Friendly Arrangement

1. Identify what you most need.

What conflicts keep coming up for you? Is it the Thursday 4:30pm meeting that you scramble to attend? The number of open projects you have? The expectation that you work every Saturday?

Think about what you need in order to attend to all your roles well. You might need a different schedule, more flexibility to be gone for two hours during a weekday once in a while, fewer direct reports, more decision-making authority or a different work flow for certain projects.

Write down 2-3 ideas of changes that would make your life easier.

2. See what you can change on your own.

Look at your list of what changes you’d like to see happen. It’s possible that you can enact some of these immediately, and without entering into a negotiation that feels like a big deal.

You may be able to change some of your habits, assumptions and ways you communicate that will lower your stress considerably, without “officially” meeting with anyone! All you need is some creativity and a willingness to try out some new ways of doing things.

It also helps to run your ideas by someone else (who doesn’t work at your organization) for a “sanity check”. Often what seems like a near impossibility to you will look like a no-brainer to them. This is because you’ve been complying with the culture in your organization long enough to forget that there are other ways of getting things done.

One woman I worked with a while back tried making a few changes on her own and discovered among other things that she didn’t have to compose lengthy email replies at midnight, after all. She was willing to experiment with informally setting a few boundaries around her work time and was pleasantly surprised that the sky didn’t fall in.

3. Make your case easy for your employer to agree to.

Of course it’s likely that some of your ideas for change will require you to get buy-in. Many people I work with assume that all aspects of the status quo at work are very difficult to change, but in fact that frequently turns out not to be true.

What is essential for you to consider before taking your request to your manager is the business case for why it would make sense for your manager to say yes.

Think about the concerns your manager might have with your request, and before you talk with her, decide how you can alleviate them.

For example, if you’re proposing different hours, or to work from home two days per month or to delegate a certain project to someone else, or to change the weekly staff meeting to a different time, figure out how it will work before your talk to your manager. Talk with the rest of the staff to find a different day and time that works for everyone, figure out coverage for the hours you’ll be away, write down how your productivity will actually increase the days you work from home, and so on.

Your goal is to make it easy for the organization to say yes to your request. They will say yes if it makes sense from a business or organizational viewpoint (i.e., if it saves them rather than costs them money, if it results in increased productivity, and if it makes the team more efficient).

Obviously if you’ve been with the organization a while and are highly valued, you will be easier to say yes to, as well!

4. Be willing to experiment.

You may think you need a different schedule now but then discover in six months that it’s not helping you as much as you anticipated. You might believe that working from home will be the answer to all your problems just to find out that it’s making it even harder for you to get things done.

If you adopt a “test and learn” mentality to making your job more family-friendly, you’ll retain the agility you need to adapt to change. After all, change has become the hallmark of this stage of your life.

And frankly, change is the hallmark of many, many organizations these days. What works for you and your company now may not work well a few months from now. Be flexible and open to change, and you’ll be in a good mental space to renegotiate different family-friendly arrangements.

I’d love to hear: How is your work family-friendly?

So You Lost Your Job, Now What?

bkeegan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:02:35 +0000

When you are working you never think about the day when you will not have a job. In fact most of us expect to have the same job for a very long time. Usually there does come a time when we either decide to leave a job or for some reason we are terminated.

In these difficult economic times it can be more devastating to lose a job because you might think it is difficult to get a new one. It can also be difficult to know what to do next. If you lost the job because you were terminated the first thing to do is to grieve the loss. What many people do not know is that the loss of a job is like anything other loss: You will go through the stages of grief.

Do not let yourself sink into it however because it can hold you captive for a very long time. While you are going through the grief it is also a good time to think about how things are and what you want to do next. Maybe there is a dream job that you have always had in mind. Now is the time to explore it.

After grieving the first thing to do is to update your resume and cover letter. The resume is something that most people do not update regularly if they are in a job they want. Take a look at the skills you've learned in this job and write them down. Compare them to what you have done in the past. Decide what it is that you want to do now and start looking for jobs in that area.

Job Hunting After You've Lost The Job

Believe it or not you can still post your resume places and get calls after you have lost your job but you need to be clear about what you want. Recruiters will call if you put your resume online and you will have some interesting job offers quickly.

You must also talk to friends and family about your job search and tell them what you are looking to do next. Talk to your colleagues at the old job as well if that is possible. Another good idea is to check your newspaper for job fairs. These are sometimes productive but most of the time they are a chance to see the types of jobs that are available.

If you are unsure of how to approach job hunting you don't have to do it alone. You can hire a career coach who will help you through the job loss and right into a new job. They are skilled in this area and know how to help. A coach can help keep you on track and help you deal with issues that may come up as you move forward.

The bottom line: Don't be discouraged about losing your job — there is another one around the corner even in this troubled economy.

The Gentle Art of Salary Negotiation

anchorwave — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:22:15 +0000

Learning how to negotiate the best salary for your new career is an art that you can learn. It is interesting to note that salary negotiations are often one of the most neglected, not to mention under-rated, efforts of a job search. You should never accept a job with a salary that is lower than what you know your experience and education are worth in the hopes that that there will be raises to look forward to down the line. Instead, you should not settle, but negotiate.

Arm Yourself with Information

It is important that you have enough information at your disposal when it comes to negotiating a fair salary. In other words, be prepared. Conduct market research on what the current salary for your position is, and if possible, try to find information on what your corporation is paying your peers.

Courtesy is First and Foremost

Always approach the negotiations in a manner that will not sully your image. Do not be brash, obnoxious or downright belligerent. Keep in mind that the person with whom you are negotiating a salary will be someone that you will be working with on a regular basis. Mind your manners during negotiations to ensure that you can still have a successful future with the company. Proceed but proceed gingerly!

Understand the Priorities of Both Sides

When negotiating for a salary with a prospective employer, it is important that you know what your priorities are, as well as understand the priorities of the person sitting in front of you who represents the company. For example, on a scale of one to 10, how important it is for you to have job security? Can you handle fluctuations in income from year to year? If you can receive a large stake in equity, are you willing to accept a lower salary?

Knowing your needs also helps you in deciding what kind of company is an ideal fit for you. Once you understand your priorities, you can ascertain if what they can offer you is in line with what you require.

You need to adequately size up the job situation with a particular company. If you are the most qualified person for the job, then you have more bargaining power when it comes to salary. If the company desperately needs your contacts to expand their market exposure, then you can certainly negotiate for a higher salary. However, if you are one of a number of qualified candidates, then your bargaining power is reduced, and it is important to keep this in mind when you are discussing numbers.

Flash the Right Cards

Always tell the truth during negotiations, but be discriminating in how you choose to answer questions and what you choose to tell the employer. If you have several other job offers on the table, but they are offering lower salaries, you can simply flash the card that other companies are interested in you – omitting the fact that those salaries are lower.

It never hurts to have a dress rehearsal of possible scenarios that might occur in your salary negotiations before you are actually sitting in front of the employer.

In addition, you should keep in mind that most employers want to offer a salary that is fair and reasonable. The employer must work within the organizational structure of the company and the budget, but fairness does play a key role in negotiations. In fact, if you understand the significance that fairness plays in negotiations, this can make a tremendous difference in whether you are offered the salary you desire or not.

Do not give too much information away, but instead use a potential employer’s uncertainty about what it will take to get you onboard to your advantage. You are more likely to be offered the best salary possible if the employer is somewhat kept in the dark about your specific expectations.

Be Creative in Your Tradeoffs

Use your creativity to negotiate. Be willing to make trade-offs where it is necessary.

Do not focus on your limitations but your strengths. Concentrate on the value of the complete package – not just the salary number.

Always focus on the goals you wish to achieve in the salary negotiations as opposed to simply coming out the winner. Strive for balance and reciprocity. Bear in mind that your future career at the company is dependent on the relationship you develop with the person in front of you today.

Know When Negotiations Have Ended

Last but not least, know when it is time to call an end to the bargaining process. You both want to be treated fairly and to be happy with the end result. In the best negotiations, both sides come out winners, and you do not push so hard that you end up looking completely selfish and self absorbed.

Now You Have The Job, What’s Next? How To Market Yourself

anchorwave — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:20:32 +0000

When you get the job you want it is time to begin looking at how you want to advance your career. Getting into the job is the first part but advancing in it is something different. One of the first things you can do is to create a career plan if you haven't done it already.

Your career plan can be about how you will move forward in the company and you can watch people as they move around you. What does it take to do the job they are doing? What interests you about the job? What is your ultimate career goal? How long will you want to stay in that one position before you want a career change? These are just a few of the questions you need on your career plan.

Once you have a plan it is time to become visible to your supervisor. Make sure you ask for opportunities as they come up for projects. Take charge of a project that is interesting to you and finish before it is due. Be prepared to talk to other people in your company just to get to know them.

It is a good rule of thumb to be kind to everyone from the janitor to the president. This makes you a well rounded individual and people will begin to tell you when projects you might be interested in become available.

At some point in your career, tell your supervisor that you are available to take on new projects. Let them know about your career plan and find out whether there are any opportunities to take part in professional development. If not find ways to upgrade your skills as you need to in order to make the career change later.

When you do something that is successful make sure you put a short article in the company newsletter if they have one. Let people know what you have done and how you have created a solution with your project. If you are not working on something currently, put a short informational piece in the newsletter. Make it interesting and short and make sure you get a byline for it.

Find ways to make the jobs easier for people around you. Is there a way to help someone on a short project? If so, offer your skills. This career advice will go along way to help you later when you want to make a career change.

When you are in meetings, try to think of something short to either add to the conversation or think of a question to ask. Do not be obnoxious with it but add to the conversation in some way.

Marketing yourself inside your company is more about getting to know people and building relationships. Don’t be afraid to talk to other executives outside your department especially when you see them at lunch. This is a great time to get to know them when possible.

Tips for an Award Winning Job Interview

anchorwave — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:16:58 +0000

Regardless of whether you want to undergo a complete career transition or simply a job at a new company, job interviews can be nerve wracking and downright frightening. The best way to your self confidence intact through a job interview is to be prepared for anything that can come your way.

A job interview is an employer’s first opportunity to meet you face-to-face, and first impressions count for a great deal. If you are called in for an interview, then you already know that your cover letter and resume struck a favorable chord with the employer. Now it is time to put your best foot forward in every way and clinch the job that you so earnestly want. This means letting your personality shine through, as well as the qualifications that you have for the job.

Prepare, prepare, prepare for the big day!

Prepare ahead of time by researching the company in any way that you can. Search the internet, obtain a company pamphlet, and talk to people who are acquainted with the business. The more you know about the company, the better armed you will be with essential information in regards to the questions you will be asked during the interview.

Be well versed in all areas of your own life that might be broached at the interview. This means your present job, your past jobs, your education and background, what led you to want to make a career change, and the goals you hold for the future. Take some time to figure out what it is you could bring to the business because this is definitely something that the interviewer will want to know!

Bring the necessary items with you to the interview. These include anything that can help sell you to the interviewer. Make sure you come equipped with letters of reference or a list of references. If you work in an artistic field, then having a portfolio or samples of your work on hand is essential to the success of the interview.

To prevent a case of the jitters, visualize yourself being successful and extremely competent during your interview. This will help to bolster your self confidence level and make you feel like the winner you are!

Another excellent way to prepare for the interview is to do a rehearsal of the interview with a friend of yours. This should help quell a case of the nerves and prepare you in advance for what is to come.

Interview day has arrived!

When the day for the interview arrives, dress appropriately in conservative colors and be as well groomed as possible. Looking your most professional, arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes early for the interview. Arriving on time is not good enough, and arriving late is an absolute taboo.

When the interviewer comes out to meet you, look them in the eyes, smile warmly and offer your hand. Use a firm handshake, but not one that will be uncomfortable. Make sure to use the interviewer’s name when you are greeting him or her.

During the interview, try to remain as calm and self assured as possible. Answer every question you are asked in a clear and concise manner. Make sure that you are prompt in your responses to questions, as well as friendly and polite. Show proper etiquette and manners throughout the interview. Do not act bored, let your eyes flit about the room, appear on edge and do not fidget. Do not fuss with your hair, pick at your fingernails, chew gum, or perform any other unbecoming habit. Any of these habits is sure to guarantee that you won’t be the successful candidate for the job!

Practice makes perfect, and this adage is certainly true for job interviews. Practice your confidence, manners, and answers, and you can shine brightly in the interview for your new career.

Put Your Best Foot Forward In The Job Interview

bkeegan — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:32:40 +0000

Job interviews can sometimes be frightening but if you know what to do to prepare for it you will have a good interview and possibly a new career. What all job seekers must understand is that a job interview is the second chance that an employer gets to know you.

The first time they interviewed you was through your resume and cover letter. When they went through it they saw some things that made them ask you for an interview. This means you went through the first hurtle easily.

The interview is the time when you will show them why they should hire you instead of someone else. In order to do this, here are some tips to be prepared:

Do your research.

When you land an interview, the first thing to do is research the company. Find out as much information as you can about the company and the person who will interview you. Get a local newspaper for the area if it is different than where you live and study something about where you are going. Check the Internet to see if there is any mention of the company and be sure to check their website.

Check to see if any of your colleagues know the company.

If you have colleagues, friends or family who know the company ask them for more information. They may have great insights for you about what to look for as you prepare for your career change.

Remember you are interviewing them too.

When you go to a job interview you must take your time and interview them too. You want to make sure this is going to be a fit. Ask to speak to an employee or two in the company to see what they have to say about working in this company. Have a few questions to ask that are specific to your job and ask about career advancement.

Know your strengths and your abilities.

Many people misstep in an interview because they do not listen to career advice when it comes to their strengths and abilities. If you have done your research about the company you will know what they are looking for in your position and you can gear your strengths and abilities to what they need.

Always be courteous.

When you are polite with everyone you come across the employer will get an impression of you as being a nice person who is nice to everyone. This is an image that all companies will want in their new hires.

Dress right for the job.

No matter what company or organization you go to there will be an unspoken dress code. Err on the side of conservative rather than outlandish. Hide tattoos and piercings and dress as professionally as possible. This will help your career as you move forward.

After the interview, be sure to send a thank-you note to the interviewer. Many people forget to do such a courteous thing so it sets you apart from other applicants.

Develop Your Resume to Shine in Today’s Economy

anchorwave — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:18:07 +0000

Polishing your resume has never been more important than in today's economy. With so many workers getting laid off and others losing their jobs, it is important to recession proof your resume to catch the eye of a recruiter or hiring manager.

Your goal is to make a resume that stands out from the crowd. Not in the paper you use or through different fonts but in the way that you prove to the employer that you are the best one for their job. Many people miss the fact that a resume should be geared towards a specific career and not to a generic job. It should tell each employer how you can improve their bottom line.

This may seem like a lot of work but with a little practice you can be sure that your resume rises to the top of the slush pile. In other words, your resume will be one of the ones that the hiring manger saves.

Tell Them Your Value

The resume and cover letter are your first introduction to any employer. Because of this you want to make sure they understand that you are looking for a career and you think you can find it with them. You will want to show on paper how valuable you have been to your current employer and how you think you can resolve a problem for them.

This takes a little research because you need to know something about the company so you can address a specific problem they may be having. Another way to show value is to take apart their job posting when you apply. Go over it point by point and tell them how you fit the bill they have ordered.

Show Your Credibility

It is not enough to just tell them your value; your resume should show them your expertise. Highlight in your cover letter what you did to solve problems similar to what the new employer has printed in their job description. They will want you to show what you did for your current company. This will help them determine that you are the best one for the job.

Become Familiar With Industry Keywords

Each industry has a set of keywords that they use that are action oriented and should be a part of your resume. When a recruiter scans an email resume or one that comes by regular mail, the scanner looks for these key words. The best career advice we can give you is to become familiar with these words and use them. If you are doing a career change you will have to become familiar with the new industry as well.

Make Your Resume Shine

Once you have your resume completed go over it with a speculative eye. Check spelling, punctuation and the overall structure of the program. Make sure that it is short and to the point. Have someone else read it that is aware of your career change and get their critique.

Should You Use A Staffing Service Or Get Your Job On Your Own?

anchorwave — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 01:15:08 +0000

When you first start out in a job or you are between jobs a staffing service can be a great place to get started. Many people start with a staffing agency to get their foot in the door of a new career and then move on into other employment.

It is important for you to understand what a staffing agency is there to do. They are only attempting to get enough bodies to fill positions that are temporary in many companies. If you come in and take an assessment and tell them the type of work you are looking for they will try to match you with one of those positions but it is not permanent.

Because you are filling in for someone who already has the job at the company or you are there until they fill a specific position, your chances of staying in any one job may be limited.

Staffing or temporary agencies are very good for someone who needs to build job experience. Often this is a good way to show that you can multi-task and it will get you job experience quickly. If you are looking for it to give you a career, this usually will not happen.

You can get a good idea of the types of companies you would like to work for when you are working for a staffing agency and you can get a chance to see different positions. You can also pick and chose the jobs you will take and you can decide how long you stay. Many temporary jobs are for a few weeks to a few months.

Some people report that they have had bad experiences at staffing agencies because the jobs are not what they are looking for or because the people treat them poorly. This can happen because some employers do not have respect for temporary workers, but if you are always professional and do your job well, you can get through any experience.

One thing to know about temporary agencies, while you are on the job they do not offer benefits but some will pay vacations and holidays after you have worked through them for several months. Your job will not be secure so you have to make sure that you can afford to not have a job when they do not have something for you.

In answer to the question, Should you get a job on your own or use a staffing agency? it really depends on what you want. If you are going through a career change, this might be the ideal situation for you. If you are looking for something more stable, then it will be better to get something on your own.

There is one piece of career advice: in today's economy with so many people losing their jobs you must understand that no job is totally secure but if you love what you are doing you will be able to find a job any time you need one.

Changing Careers after a Layoff

bkeegan — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:22:45 +0000

The reaction to a layoff is very different for many people. It can be one of high anxiety, especially for people with very industry specific skills that they feel won’t translate well to other organizations. Or a layoff can be a time of opportunity for people who were not that happy in the first place and in some ways welcome the forced chance to move forward with something new. Changing careers after a layoff can be difficult and exciting at the same time, but by keeping a few things in mind the entire process can be made easier and eventually lead to a more successful outcome.

Where To Start

Many people who are recently laid off may have no idea what they want to do next, they just know it wasn’t what they were doing before. Something important that may help to prevent a repeat of a bad job is to discover what it is that you didn’t like about the job before. Some things to consider that would turn a career search in a different direction would include:

The Working Environment: Is the hustle of a restaurant too much or is an enclosed office-style environment too mundane?
The People: Some careers draw certain people, such as a high population of women in early education positions or higher population of men in certain engineering functions. Finding the type of people and personalities you are more compatible with can be important to long term job satisfaction.
The Type of Work: Skills are what qualify someone for a job but if your interests don’t match the necessary skills or even your existing skills, it can change the dynamic of the type of job you are looking for. If you like helping people but can’t stand the sterile nursing environment you are trained for, counseling or teaching may be a better fit.

Speaking with a professional career counselor can help you to determine what type of position may be the best fit. These professionals typically have access to tools that can help to narrow down the type of work that can fit your personality, skills and interests. A career counselor is often available through unemployment services, temporary work placement agencies, local community colleges and some recruiters also offer career assessment services.

What to Do Next

If you realize you would really like an entire career overhaul, it is important to consider the feasibility of how you want to make it happen. If your new choice requires additional education or other technical skills that need to be acquired from a college or university, getting started as soon as possible with the process can be important to avoid missed admissions deadlines. While traditional full-time programs are generally available, there are many alternative part-time, remote access or internet-only programs that will allow you to get the skills necessary while potentially maintaining your home life with a part time position.