Tampa Bay Jobing Community Blogs

Did you ever look at people holding signs outside apartment buildings or waving at you from the roadside dressed as Lady Liberty and feel bad for them? Well, you probably don't need to. Not only are they earning a wage, but they may actually be well on their way to a successful career. Sometimes, with creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit or simple hard work and perspiration (a lot of that in Florida), these types of jobs can pay off. Besides, in my opinion, I would much rather see one of my clients take a "low" position while pursuing a dream than settling for a "respectable" high paying position that really misses the mark in terms of overall satisfaction.

I recently read an article in the November edition of Entrepreneur magazine which first had me stunned and then wondering, "why didn't I think of that?". Did you know that, in some areas, sign spinners earn $25 an hour? Moreover, the most sought after spinners command a handsome wage of $75 an hour! In Florida, most college educated executives aren't being compensated in this manner, so, in most likelihood, the good folks working on our local corners probably aren't either. However, it goes to show that, given the right drive and circumstance, they could. Anything is possible and the company, Arrow Sign Spinners, is proving it.

Arrow Sign Spinners has capitalized on this market and is now projecting sales into the $4-5 million dollar range simply by providing businesses with well trained sign people. Initially, the founders, had thirty or so tricks that they taught to their new recruits, but this list has expanded to a "trictionary" of over 450 physical stunts that they use to draw attention to the business that is being promoted.

If the entrepreneurial bug has bitten you, then perhaps Arrow Signs is a franchise that you want to look into. More important than focusing on this specific franchise, is the success story. This company has turned the street performer who others may feel pity upon into a celebrity and they have defined the work as an art form. In fact, the founder, Justin Brown goes on to say, "Sign spinning is like ballroom dancing, except your partner has no life of its own". And, apparently others agree with him, because he has been seen on CNBC and auditioned for America's Got Talent.

My favorite quote of all time is by Helen Keller, she said, "I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble". Whether you choose to start your own service company, such as landscaping or housecleaning, or opt to accept this role as a job, understand that there is a certain dignity in becoming the very best you can be in any field. If you approach all that you do with sincere intent, you may be able to create something new and unique out of it or use it as a stepping stone to your next great adventure. Everyone recognizes art when they see it whether it is in their backyard, on a street corner or in their own office building. It's time to do something noteworthy and get noticed wherever you are right now in your career.

Work is demanding!

Today marks 3o calendar days since I had my last day off at work.  It has been 15 years since I worked that many consecutive days without a break.  This is not a complaint about the awfulness of my employer or being unfairly treated.  The employer isn’t awful, and I am not being treated unfairly.

This  just my way of trying to place this minor insanity in context.

Why have I worked 30 days in a row, you may ask?

I am heavily involved in a project that requires my presence in various places on weekends, and entails a fair amount of preparation and research during the week.  This means that it is difficult to take alternative days while pulling the weekend duty.

What happens when you work 30 straight days?  I don’t know about you, but I have tendency to become obsessive, cranky, and my personal bandwidth narrows tremendously.    It becomes difficult to think about anything but the project, and I lose pretty much anything resembling a personal life.

This is tremendously unhealthy on an emotional level.

Once upon a time, an unhealthy workaholic

Looking back fifteen years, I didn’t just work 30 consecutive days a lot, I worked 6-7 days a week for months on end. Nobody was twisting my arm.   Much of the work I was doing in these extra hours was just busy work.  I was at the office because it was the only place that I was allowing to have any space in my life.   This period of my life was not the best time I have ever had.  I rarely get depressed, but for reasons that are still not clear, I become very morose about my life and my place in the universe.  I was NOT suicidal, but I didn’t like myself, or anyone else very much at all.   No matter where I was, I wanted to be somewhere else.  No matter what I tried to do, I lost interest almost immediately.   I had no focus in life outside of two things, going to work every day, and doing what I needed to do to support my family.

The sad part is that while I was working to support my family, and spending 60-70 hours a week at the office, I also resented the obligations, and frankly hated most of the hours that I spent doing what I believed I had to do.   I didn’t do bad work. I actually was pretty successful during this time.  But inside, I was unhappy and sinking deeper into unhappiness every day.

I had only myself to blame.  I failed to realize that in order to enjoy life, you have to be a balanced individual, not just some work obsessed stiff who was unable to have an iota of fun.   Fortunately, I finally decided to talk to someone at our EAP about my frustrations, and general anger with life.    He turned out to be own personal Yoda.  We went through several sessions of typical shrink psycho-bullshit which pissed me off and left me unenthusiastic about the process and any prospects for success.  And then one day, halfway through a session, he asked me this question:

“What do you like to do for yourself?”

I didn’t have a clue.  The best answers I could come up with were “read books and see movies”.   It was at that moment that Ted gave me one of the most significant pieces of advice that anyone has ever given me in my life.   He wrote the following single line on his prescription pad and told me not to come back to see him until I could tell him how I had solved what he had written.   His prescription for my issues was as follows:

Find something that you want to do just for yourself and go do it

It took me quite a while to really figure this out, but I was able to use this advice to get the process started.

I had always wanted to travel, but could never really afford it, but I decided I was going to figure out how to do some traveling.    I did some camping.   I planned short weekend trips to places I had never been.   I stopped going to the office 7 days a week.  I began to invest time in myself, and this helped me to become a much healthier and well rounded individual.  I began to appreciate my family again.   I changed jobs into a position that met my professional needs much better, and offered me a chance to travel.  I changed a long standing personal policy about never socializing with people from work, and actually began to develop personal friendships at the place where we spend the most time.

It took some personal effort, but I learned not to spend time at the office on the weekends unless it was absolutely necessary.  I began to use all my vacation every year, instead of turning days or weeks back in, or getting paid in lieu of time off.  I actually went out and got a life.

Tips for getting your own life back

1. Never forget that you are your most important personal asset.   You need to make sure that you are providing yourself with sustenance on a physical, profession, emotional and spiritual level in order to have a fully rounded life.
2. Make time to relax.  Use your vacation.
3. Don’t sublimate.   Follow your passion. Don’t let work and obligation derail from some time with those things that nurture your soul and spirit.
4. If you find yourself growing resentful and angry, take the time to reflect on why this is happening.  It is impossible to work your way through this if you are imbalanced in your personal and professional life.
5. Analyze your self-established limitations.   Are you living up to impossible rules and standards for no good reason?  Stop it, now!
6. Are you staying in a bad situation because of obligation?  If so, evaluate it carefully.  It could be literally killing you.
7. Go get help if you need to. I did, and it paid off.
8. Find something that you want to do just for yourself and go do it

My project will be taking a pause on December 6th.    I will be taking some time off starting December 7th.

Reading you may find useful (from Zemanta)

• Why You Have to Deal With Anger or Depression (stepbysteptips.com)
• Being Happy is free (momblognetwork.com)
• And sometimes it isn’t… (walt.lishost.org)
• Positive Thoughts and Positive Feelings… (tokitover.com)
• Out of LSD? Just 15 Minutes of Sensory Deprivation Triggers Hallucinations (wired.com)
• Are You Grateful Enough To Be Happy? (allthingsworkplace.com)

It was a good one!

SHRMA welcomed 5 new members, heard from Dana Chatelain, our HR State Council representative, received a few short legislative updates and found out about the holiday party!

Reminder... Because SHRMA is having the holiday party in the evening next month, there will not be a morning breakfast meeting in December. Visit the calendar of events to learn more.

The speaker at the November meeting was Ron Hamilton of Practical Human Resources Solutions. Ron's presentation "Measuring HR: What's the ROI?" was both informative and interactive. He got us all involved with a few simple activities that really made us think about the direct impact HR has in relation to helping achieve the overall business goal of an organization. We learned that metrics in HR aren't just about determining the cost per hire, but can have a larger impact in the overall business strategy of the organization.

HR is more than just a department that fills empty seats, right? Everyone in the HR department knows this but it's a challenge to get the rest of the organization to feel just as strongly. HR is directly responsible for filling positions with the right candidate - one who will have a direct impact on the profitability of the organization and success in reaching business goals of the organization.

In order to achieve those goals, we need to look at the various types of metrics (activity-driven and value-driven-impact) as well as the typical metrics we see in Employment (cost per hire, time to fill, turnover rate). How are the metrics being used by your HR department help to contribute to the overall success of the organization? When was the last time you re-evaluated the metrics used and made changes based on the results of say the annual employee survey or the exit interview?

Ron's point to our group was simply that HR's credibility can increase when HR can directly link the functions of the HR department to "organizational performance and articulate it in financial/business terms." Think "What does my CEO/CFO want to hear?" How will changes you make in HR positively affect the organization? Can you save money by decreasing turnover?

If you are not yet a member of SHRMA, visit their membership page for information.

 

 

 

 

 

I read an excellent article awhile back that listed the top 10 things job seekers hate and I must admit it hit home.  I spent this morning networking with several human resources professionals in transition.  

As job seekers and professionals; most agreed on their dissapointment by the lack of courtesy and respect from recruiters.   One SPHR certified professional recruiter voiced her determination to remember her transition period when interacting with candidates.  

I hear you recruiters; yes it is their perception and yes they probably do not know how overworked you are.  Remember however; their perception as job seekers is also their reality as consumers.

Careers, like relationships, need a little work to keep the spark alive, especially when you begin to crave a change.  Take advantage of the charge in the air - seize this opportunity to fall in love with your career all over again!

Here are some ideas to reignite the passion in your work:
 
1.  Find a new way to expand something you love about your job.  Is there an activity, process or part of your day that you routinely look forward to – where time just zooms by?  Chances are, your love for the task makes you a pro at it.  Go ahead and see if you can take on more or maybe channel all of that passion in raising your performance in this area to the next level.  You might not be able remove everything you don’t favor from your work day – so adding more of what you love can help balance the scales.

2.  Look through your day – is there a part of it that needs a new approach?  Is there a project or task you haven’t been able to complete?  A person you haven’t been able to connect with.  Start over.  Doing things a new way can bring new results and the satisfaction of solving nagging issues can make anyone’s day.

3.  Give.  Recognize a coworker, vendor or client for something outstanding they have done – that may otherwise go unnoticed.  Recognition can be as simple as a hand written card, phone call or a mention in a meeting.  It can be personal or anonymous.  When the occasion is appropriate – it can be as elaborate as a party or an award.  If you really want to love your job, imagine the power of giving what you want - to someone else.   I once heard it explained by this quote:  “The fragrance of a rose remains on the hand who gives it".

Many employers take the time to perform surveys, win best place to work awards and even advertise these results in their job postings.  Awards and surveys are great tools in a comprehensive employment branding package.  In a competitive job market you may need even more to make the picture clear – to inspire a great candidate to want the job. So how do you paint the picture of what it is like in a real, personal way to work for you?

One Approach - Ask employees to share what they like about working at your company:

Take a current job description you have posted on line.  If it is for a position that you hire multiple people to fill – show the posting or email it to an employee who currently holds the job.  Ask for their input – it can be anything from a quote of why they like the job, what they find rewarding, to an anecdote about their best day/accomplishment in that position.  You have a great resource for your recruitment toolbox in your current employees.  You have the ability to draw a real, compelling, personal portrait of working on your team. 

Some ways to use employee contributions in job postings:
Why I like working here
Day in the life description from current employee
Best on the job experience
Employee’s favorite customer service experience
A first hand description of what strengths the employee gets to bring to the table
An employee’s feedback of why the work your company does, matters – in short why their job has meaning

Do you have a best practice for telling your company’s story?

Finding a job, the right job, is probably one of the most difficult jobs you will ever have.  Not only is there no one to set expectations (do you send out one résumé a week or 50?), you may be faced with a job offer you are just not sure about.  In addition to that, if you were down-sized or fired from your previous position, your self esteem may have taken a beating. 

Be assured, there are some who have failed (at least by societal standards), and gone on to even better positions they had not even considered.  The Chinese symbol for crisis is a combination of characters:  Danger and Opportunity .  We tend to focus on the Danger of a crisis situation.  Don’t forget to look at the Opportunity !

It is very easy to fall into the ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda’ trap.  “I should have seen it coming.”  “If only had gotten out of there before this happened.”  “If only I had known, I would have taken a different job.”  The thing about ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda’ is that IT FOCUSES ON THE PAST.   And YOU CAN’T CHANGE IT.  This has to do with ANYTHING in your life, whether it was parents who did a lousy job raising you, teachers who were clueless, or your last boss.  YOU CAN’T CHANGE IT!

So what are your options?

1)      You can gripe and bemoan how badly you were treated, for as long as you want to, and to whomever will listen.  When you run out of audience, you will have to find a new behavior or risk yammering in empty rooms.

2)      You can ignore what happened.  This is the person who continues to dress and drive away from their home so that no one knows they are out of a job.  There is a blind hope that pretending that something did not happen will make it a reality.  Pretending like this is actually a form of lying, and messes up relationships, personal life, and career. 

3)      You can start a job search, frantically flailing where you’ve landed, and scaring off any but the most courageous by your desperation.  Remember, employers are not looking to be rescuers.  You may send out enough resumes you could wallpaper your house inside and out, and wonder why you get so few responses. This can have very bad financial repercussions, in addition to the emotional sense that no one wants you.

4)      You can establish a direction and purposely move toward it.  If you doubt yourself, if you tire, you risk not achieving your goal.  It helps to have enlisted friends and family to give a word of encouragement.  Some people hire a coach to help them focus, maintain accountability, and hone their interview skills.  This is also helpful if those who are closest to you do not, or can not, offer the required emotional support.

Which behavior is best for your self esteem?  Without a doubt, number 4.  This is the pro-active, success-oriented behavior that will get the kind of results you need.

When you go into a job interview, what is your verbal and non-verbal communication?  “I really need this job?”  (Who cares?)  Or, “Your company wants my skills and I am the best person for the job?”

Which message are you sending?

What does it mean to “sell yourself”? It’s ensuring that your resume makes it to the top of the stack, or that your name is on the short list of preferred candidates. Sure it starts with a good cover letter. But does it really start there? It’s having confidence in yourself and your abilities in order to convince others that you are the perfect person for that incredible job that you really want.

In order to be the best, you have to know that you’re the best, and that means you have to do your homework. That’s right, education. There are many jobs out there but you may not have the right background. Well get it. You may be busy with a job that you don’t really want, but it pays the bills. Or you may be collecting unemployment for the time being, but that won’t last forever. Take a big tug on those bootstraps and earn the education that you need to better position yourself, professionally.

Going back to school… the idea is quite inspiring, really. But where will you find the time? You have it… you just need to carve it out of your schedule. The good news is that you live in the day-in-age of the Internet and what an awesome tool that is. Because of its widespread access, there are some really great online education options out there that offer you the opportunity to study wherever and whenever you want. The fact of the matter is, online education is booming right now and because of the competition, you have some excellent options.

So here’s the drill: finish your bachelors, get your masters, differentiate yourself with a specialized certificate in an up-and-coming field like Sustainability Leadership, Software Engineering and Networking, or go global with an international business doctorate. Do your homework. Research your options. You may be surprised at the educational opportunities that exist today within our pivotal global economy.

Sell yourself with confidence, knowing you have the right education. Research your educational opportunities at JobingEducation or learn more about one of our sponsored schools, UC Irvine - Extension or California (online certificate programs) or California Intercontinental University (CalU – online master’s and doctorate degrees). Use your time wisely to better your life and let the bidding begin!

      Often, when I talk with résumé clients about the job search process, I explain they are on one side of the wall and the job they want is on the other side. Most job searchers are banging on that wall, looking for a way through to get an interview. Occasionally, a door opens, and there is a mad crush to get through—to get in front of the decision-makers. And like most doorways, not very many people can get through at one time. So, those left outside and those who come back out through that door, rejected, go back to banging on the wall.

     Many years ago, I decided I wanted to work for a business video production company. I gathered my résumé and portfolio together and drove over to the company. When I knocked on the door, a man answered.

     “I want to work for you,” I told him.

     “Do you have video scripting experience?” he asked.

     “No,” I said, “But I can do any kind of writing you need.”

     “We can’t hire you,” he responded. Door closed.

     A month later, I went back and knocked on the door again. This time, a woman answered. When I told her what I wanted, she had the same response.

     “Do you have any video scripting experience?”

     I wondered if the two had gone to the same school. I gave the same response as I had the first time, hoping persistence would pay off.

     Nope.

     “If you don’t have video scripting experience, we can’t hire you,” she told me. Door closed again.

     I drove over to the TV station in the basement of the local college.

     “Give me something that needs to be scripted,” I told the man. We talked some about what he needed and he gave me a videotape of raw footage…which includes anything that might or might not be included in the finished video.

     I took the tape home, watched it to the point of memorization, and wrote my first video script, then took it back to the college. From there, we hired talent to read the script, edited the tape, added music, and put the whole thing together in a package.

     I went back to the video production company and knocked on their door again.

     “I want to work for you,” I said. I think, by this time, they were getting tired of me coming around, but I smiled sweetly, knowing I had a different answer this time.

     “Do you have any video scripting experience?” the man asked.

     “Yes,” I said. “I scripted for Purdue University."

     And I was hired.

     I wrote script for a video business journal, infomercial segments before they even had a name, and a speech for the Indiana State Lieutenant Governor, Frank O’Bannon. I monitored talent voiceovers, supervised video shoots, and recommended camera angles.

     At one point, Greg, my supervisor, brought the video jacket design to me because he knew, in addition to writing, I also had a design background. The design was complicated.

     “That won’t work,” I told him.

     “What do you mean?” Greg asked.

     “The design is too complicated and the print is too small. People won’t want to read it,” I said.

     “What do you think we should do?” Greg asked.

     “Tell Marilyn (who owned the company) and send it back to the designer.”

     “You can’t do that,” he objected.

     “I have to,” I said. “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t look out for the company.”

     “She’s not going to like it,” Greg warned.

     “So what’s she going to do? Fire me? I’ve been fired before….Don’t worry. I’ll tell her.” And I did. And the design was changed.

     At the end of this special project, the company had no more work for me, but I received one of the best letters of recommendation I ever got--experience I was able to take forward into future jobs.

    And the video I voluntarily scripted for Purdue University? It won the Philo T. Farnsworth Midwest Video Competition in the Arts category....which was another neat thing to add to my credentials.

     So, don't over look the importance of volunteer work in getting the experience you need to do the work you want to do.

It is still a competitive job market which means you need to be well prepared and strategic with your job search, but the most important thing to remember is keep moving forward with confidence and a strategic job search plan is your best solution.  There are still good jobs available in Tampa Bay and we want to help you find one.

On our site, you’ll find a wealth of great information and advice, from resume writing to interview techniques – and, of course, you’ll find lots of great local jobs.  Here are a few general tips:

Have a job search plan.  Is your resume updated and error-free? Do you have current references?  What job search resources can you use to search for a new position?  Identify the most important priorities with a new job (location, salary range, benefits, etc.) and formulate a job search plan.  Identify specific resources you’ll use and schedule time each day to devote to your search.  Your resume is the primary tool for your job search, so start updating and have it ready before you hit the job boards.
 
Only apply to jobs that you are truly qualified for.  It might be easy to submit your resume to many jobs that aren’t a very good fit- when you are unemployed or fearful about your current position you might think it best to apply for anything and everything.  Resist the temptation.  Recruiters are very busy people and many of them manage multiple positions, and who knows – that same recruiter may have another position posted that is actually right for you – tomorrow!  Applying to jobs indiscriminately sends a poor message about the focus of your search and the quality of your candidacy. 

Do your homework! Research the companies you apply to and tailor your resumes/cover letters to fit them and the position you are applying to; there is no better way to impress a recruiter than to help them easily understand why you fit their culture and the job you are applying to; and remember, it’s competitive out there right now so you need to really shine as a candidate! So read the job description carefully, visit the company website, read the company profile, watch their employment video – research pays off.

Keep updating your resume.  When searching for a job, I bet you notice how recently the position was posted – you might even filter your results to only view the freshest jobs around.  Similarly, employers search through resume databases looking for candidates that have recently updated their information.  Keeping your information current tells employers: 
You are actively looking for new employment – now
Your information and employment history are current and accurate
You are ready to interview, and perhaps even start your new job
 
Be persistent.  Whatever resources you use or advice you receive, remember there is no “magic bullet,” no one single answer to finding a good job.  Your job search is a process that requires your passion, diligence and the flexibility to continue to improve your approach.  Follow up interviews with thank you notes and network as much as possible to help you identify good opportunities.

We are here to help!    Sincerely, Jobing.com Team Tampa   

On November 19th, 2009 the Florida West Coast Chapter of APICS is sponsoring a free career seminar, open to all job seekers and career changers in the Tampa Bay area. Here is the agenda:

8:30 AM - Job Search Guidance
James S. Moore, Career Services Director, APICS Florida West Coast Chapter
www.APICS-FLWC.org

9:30 AM - Cover Letters & Resumes
Sandra Kischuk, Success Coach & Resume Writer, Living Beyond Limits www.sandrakischuk.com/resumes.html

10:30 AM - LinkedIn Job Search Strategies
Bill Bender, Career Ministry Facilitator, Your Career Calling
www.YourCareerCalling.org 

11:30 AM - Lunch
Local restaurants - On your own

1:00 PM - Exploring Self Employment
Gail Ector, Franchise Consultant, FranNet of Greater Tampa Bay
www.frannet.com/gector

2:00 PM - SMART Job Search Goals
Kathy Cunningham, Life Purpose Coach, A Seed of Hope Life Coaching
www.aSeedofHope.org

Please register for this free Career Seminar at http://apics.eventbrite.com

Thanks to Jobing.com for hosting this event!

I met with a admissions representative for WYOTECH on Monday 2nd of November. He had a lot to say about training automotive technicians, after high school ages 18 and on. For those of you that E Mail me from all over the Country and then some. Yes I did get your message and E mails even from overseas. WYOTECH has a very nice 9 month program, and to much more to list. Plus they can help place you in a job. I have written about other automotive training schools in the past, they also have good programs. WYOTECH teaches custom automotive interior, and much more in 6 different States including Daytona Fl. Needless to say they impressed me very much, as a fellow trainer. Darrell Pfiffner is the rep, give him a call if you are looking for training, he will send you a DVD of the school and programs. Very cool stuff if you love cars and hot rods like me. Check out the web site. www.Wyotech.edu Darrell Pfiffner 813-789-6505.

(This post is based on some of the principles included in my new book, Unlock the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times Are Tough which I wrote with San Diego-based executive coach, Duncan Mathison. For a free sample chapter, visit the book's official site: www.unlockthehiddenjobmarket.com )

If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that I’ve been writing about networking a lot lately. Or at least it seems like it. Networking, networking, networking. Maybe it’s me but don’t you think that when you say it out loud enough, it begins to sound like earwax? Okay…it’s probably just me.

Networking doesn’t have much appeal, does it? It doesn’t sound nearly as much fun as going to your local Applebee’s with some friends for a beer and some wings. Now there’s a problem with even that Applebee’s scenario. Based on the emails I’ve been getting, a lot of you are feeling that you don’t have too many friends either. And the ones you do have are getting, like, really tired of hearing you talk about your struggles to land a job. And you’re getting really tired of talking about it too. In fact, you’d just wish they’d change the subject.

I don’t think my readers are social losers. (At least I hope not, but, then again, what are you doing reading this blog post when it’s such a pretty day outside?) When you’ve been out of work for any amount o time, it’s easy to feel that you have run aground in the contacts department – especially in recent years when we’ve all been so busy taking care of our jobs and our families. We’ve let outside friendships perhaps atrophy. Maybe all your friends were work-related. And now that you’re out of work, you’re also fresh out of buddies. Or you’ve moved to a new town where you really, really don’t know anyone.

Whatever the reason for your feelings of isolation, you know you have to mix it up a little bit, well, a lot. Get some fresh meat, I mean talent, into your tight circles of relationships. Get out of the house. So I thought I’d offer some tips in that direction.

Remember that one thing leads to another. The thing about circulating is that your first dip into big world probably won’t net you a job. It’s a cumulative kind of thing. So leave that desperate, graspy, over-eager feeling at home when you head out the door. Just be open to meeting who you meet. Maybe tonight you’re destined to actually help someone else. And you’ll come home feeling just a little better about yourself.

Look for opportunities where you can become a regular. And no, I don’t mean the Applebee’s bar. When your face starts becoming familiar, you will emerge from invisibility to someone who people will be glad to see. Maybe they’ll even shout out your name, like, “Norm!” (But don’t count on it.) If you try a business mixer or worship service or volunteer opportunity, and people completely ignore you, keep going. Week after week. Introduce yourself as often as you can. And just let the cumulative effects of time work their wonders.

Stay away from solitary pursuits, even if they’re out of the house. Going to a matinee movie doesn’t count as “getting out there.” Go to local economic development or chamber of commerce meetings, receptions, mixers. Your local bookstore probably offers booksignings, author lectures or special classes. A friend of mine who is a professional coach is part of a team who gives courses at Whole Foods! Go! The home improvement stores offer free courses. Go! The American Red Cross offers courses in first aid, cpr, etc. Go!

Make job-related networking events only a small percentage of your out-of-the-house activities. First of all, you’re so much more than unemployed. And you need to nurture those other parts of who you are. At the very least, this way you’ll lead with an opener that’s so much more interesting than, “Hi, gotta job?” But most importantly is that your self-definition has a chance to stay strong and defined beyond this immediate need of landing a gig. You will also stand a better chance of meeting people other than fellow job-seekers. You know…people who already have jobs? And who would be thrilled to help you get inside their companies or organizations.

Learn something. Go to local college courses – especially the ones at night, when employed people go to school. You don’t have to matriculate and take on the expense of a formal semester. Continuing ed courses can be inexpensive. The teachers are often professionals in the community (hint: employed people!). It’s probably best if you took a course that would help you be more qualified for the kind of job you’re looking for. But even taking a non-job related course will at least remind you that there’s more to life than your daily bread (although, it’s kind of hard to make that argument right now, I know).

Teach something. Surely you know something that will benefit others. How to read, for adult literacy programs, for instance. If you have a profession or skill that’s useful in the for-profit world, surely you can introduce at least the basics to young people. Convene a panel of other experts and put on a program! (You’ll be able to find a venue. A friend of mine hosted the annual meeting of his professional association – on the premises of the company that had just laid him off. Awkward.)

Volunteer. Those same skills you can teach you can donate. It will make you feel good about being who you are and what you can do. That boost in self-esteem will give you the added confidence that will send out the signal that you’re a valuable contributor to the world.

Call old friends – even if they haven’t heard from you in a long time. This is where Facebook comes in handy. The other day I heard from a dear friend for the first time in about 8 years. We’d been looking for each other off and on over recent years but, thanks to Facebook, she found me first! And we talked on the phone for a full three hours. A lot of it was catching up. But, she was also very candid about the fact that she needed some professional advice from me. Did I see this as a cheesy ulterior motive? Heck no! First off all, I owed her a gigantic favor from 10 years ago (I mean, huge). Secondly, I love her and I know she loves me. So whatever I have is hers. (Advice, I mean.)

Ask for introductions. Unless you’re a bitter whiner who needs to blow your nose and brush your teeth (and, uhm, a little roll-on?), the friends you have should be happy to give you introductions you need to move your job search forward. If they’re reluctant to help you, find out why. Wouldn’t you want to know the truth, especially if it was something you could fix? And, if they’re possessive with or protective of their contacts to the point where they’re keeping you from helping yourself, or making you feel judged, it’s best that you should know that now. You might have just discovered a brand new opening in your group of friends to fill.

They say that once you achieve a certain age, it gets harder and harder to make new friends. Everyone is set in their habits, patterns, commuting routine, relationships. Well, one of the upshots of these economic times is that everyone is thrown higgledy-piggledy into a big pile of confusion and some flavor of disconnectedness. Now is a fantastic time to build new circles of friends and business contacts.

And vow to take better care of them in the future. Like, don’t wait 8 years before picking up the phone.

With the dramatic increase in the number of discrimination suits and increased enforcement by the EEOC of these issues, it is to the detriment of your organization if you don't ensure that your application is asking questions which are bona-fide occupational qualification questions. Failure to do so can mean that financially you might be in worst shape.
While we are discussing your applications it is also critical that you check the system used by your outsourced applicant tracking system. They maybe asking questions which you are unaware of. The fact that you did not know the question was being asked is no excuse for asking questions that could lead to discriminatory practices in your talent management program.

 

In recent weeks I’ve been watching events unfold in Sedona  -- that whole James Arthur Ray thing and how people died in an ersatz sweat lodge.  I suppose for many people, a terrible event such as this (where people paid $9,000 for the privilege of dying a horrible death, surrounded in the gloom by their vomiting and fainting companions) is so exotic to most people that “that could never happen to me” is a thought that briefly passes through our minds.  And that would probably be true.

 

However, this whole clutch of motivation and self-help teachers has been bugging me over recent years. While a multitude of programs are offered every year that don't involve ambulances and homicide investigations, many of them are damaging in the way they take advantage of intelligent, open-minded individuals looking for a better way out of frustration and despair.  And the cumulative effect of little damages everywhere can also be very destructive indeed. And I’m worried that the general public might be even more at risk as the economy continues its stagger, stagger, crawl mode.  These are emotional frontiers we’re in, folks, and the woods are lousy with snake oil salesmen – people who promise to give you a breakthrough secret to life in a week or a weekend, for the price of a semester of college or a small car.

 I have had in my bookshelf for a couple of years now the book, SHAM, by Steven Salerno. And I’ve been really reluctant to read it. Primarily because I knew he would blow the lid off of the mechanics behind self-help gurus and their business models. And at the time I was also reading Martin Seligman (the very legitimate founder of the very legitimate positive psychology movement), and I was also dabbling in more than a little Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins, Marianne Williamson and even Joel Osteen. And, frankly, I liked the way their messages made me feel.  And while I certainly didn’t buy The Secret’s promises hook, link and sucker (I mean, sinker), having grown up in a family whose mantra was mainly, “ain’t it awful, ain’t it tragic,”  I knew there is definitely something to be said for willfully focusing on the positive side of things. If you have read my earlier postings, you’ll know that I believe that a positive attitude is more conducive to creative thinking and endurance during a time where everything seems to be hitting the fan.  At least it makes the ride a little more tolerable.

 But I also know a manipulative head-game when I see one. (At least I hope I do.) I certainly learned to recognize the signs when I’ve bought into one, much to my ever-lasting regret pretty quickly thereafter.  So, I thought I’d lay out a list of danger signs for you – with the hopes of helping you keep your money in your pocket.  (I get the fact that this could mean that I might miss out on a few sales of my own books – but at the end of this post I’m actually going to offer you my first book for free. I won’t even ask you for your email address as one of those cheesy quid pro quo gambits.)

 Avoid any course with titles containing such words as “breakthrough,” “success,” “transform,” “dream,” and whose tuition includes a comma.  Speaking from personal experience here.  These kinds of courses are mostly warmed over material drawn directly from the texts of books that you can purchase for $20 to $30.  There will be much playing of John Denver and hugging of total strangers  -- most who look like they either haven’t been hugged in decades or they’re really really really looking forward to hugging you. The break times are dedicated to urging you to sign up for the advanced course at twice the price (but today – and only today – slashed to the same amount you just paid for the basic course). My memories of those break times involve softly trance-inducing singing from the stage and a certain zombie-ness of the people moving to the back of the room where tables are conveniently set up, where staffers cheerfully accepted credit cards. Did I get anything of value from that basic week? Yes…my mastermind group is still intact after almost five years. We meet on the phone every other week and have become supportive friends. But have our circumstances changed significantly since we met that that “breakthrough” week?  Nope.  (As you can imagine, I’m usually the cranky one on our phone calls.)

 If you go to any course with a title that includes the words “spirit,” “warrior,” “vision quest,” make sure there is an EMT on call at all times before laying your money down. Most spiritual quests are flat-out scary. Who are these people to say they know the way, and will lead us there through a regimen of fasting, meditation and bodily deprivation? The way people refer to spirituality as Spirit, as if Spirit is their next door neighbor with handy cable piracy skills, is revolting. And the way white Americans romanticize the mysteries of Native American life and traditions is deeply hypocritical or willfully shallow. If they’re so enchanted by the Native American way, how about coming out to the Southwest, don't stop at the spas or casinos, and spend that week teaching Native American children to say no to crystal meth addiction and alcoholism? Share the inspiring benefits of your own education, skills and privilege, rather than trying to siphon off a few sips of mysticism from authentic traditions that you will never get anyway?

 If someone wants to teach you how to be rich (for whatever price), first find out how he got rich himself.  Look at the frequent fliers of this particular line of work, and you’ll find out that most of them got rich by sticking their hands into pockets of people just like you (and me). And they’re getting richer.  Did he ever grow a company, other than the staff of eager minions he has working for him now? Did he turn around a major corporation? Did he emerge from his own family of alcoholics and desperados to blaze his own trail by making something or contributing something useful to society (that is other than an ultra-expensive retreat)?  Is he an unimpeachable researcher who has the gift of translating esoteric, hard-to-understand information into immediately useful ideas that anyone can have for the price of a book?  That might be someone worth paying some attention to.

 When someone tells you that you’re nowhere without his secrets or gift, laugh and walk away. Need I say more? Okay, I will. I know of one so-called Buddhist guru (she’s American) who actually replaced the words “Higher Power” in the 12 Step Program with her own name.  That’s amazing. But what’s even more amazing is that hundreds of otherwise intelligent people said, “Duh, okay.”

 Just say no to any product marketed to you via email by someone you’ve never heard of but endorsed by someone you have. These people exchange mailing lists, knowing full well that purchasers of self-help products are the most likely to come back for more and more. The cynicism is mind-blowing.

 Avoid self-help books that were Number 1 on Amazon for, like, three hours one day.  Again, it’s the lists at work. These people know how to game the system and they use each others’ lists to snag that coveted spot, even for an instant. This way they can call themselves “bestselling authors.”  Big whup.

 Don’t give up your own dreams.  Life is full of true mysteries. My personal favorite one is the mystery of synchronicity. I’m a total sucker for those stories, and I have true, first-hand stories of my own that would curl your hair. But I wouldn’t bet the ranch on a synchronicity that I perceive to be an omen. (Even though, in my heart of hearts, I kind of hope it is.)

We all need fresh infusions of inspiration now and then. And  personal growth does involve keeping your mind open and venturing into uncomfortable zones now and then. But no breakthrough experience should necessitate group puking or even close bodily contact with strangers to the strains of “Sunshine On My Shoulders.”

 Keep your wallet in your pants. Or purse.

 (Now for the free offer:  I will give you a free copy of my very first book, Find Your Calling, Love Your Life. For absolutely nothing. Not even your email address.  Just go to www.unlockthehiddenjobmarket.com and click the green button that will lead you to free downloads. You can also have a free sample chapter of my new book, Unlock the Hidden Job Market.  Naturally, my coauthor and I would love it if you also purchased that book. But you know what? You don’t have to.)