This week’s job tip takes a slightly different approach. We’ll be discussing the things you can be doing to help get your next job when you’re still employed and/or not even looking. Why do job search activities when you’re not looking for a job? Well, the world today is unpredictable and things can change quickly. You can’t predict when opportunities may come up and being prepared is often a wise and prudent move. You’ll be glad you thought ahead if and when you need a new job.

Your resume is an important part of the overall process of getting work. It’s often the first thing a potential employer will read to discover if you have the correct qualifications and background for an open position. Many people start to work on their resume only when they are actively looking for work. The problem can often be that you may forget or overlook key projects, technologies, or experiences that you possess that would be an asset to your resume. Sitting down with a blank sheet or a 5 year old resume can be a challenge.

The best time to add things to your resume is as you gain those experiences. Keep a current copy of your resume and update it after big projects finish or after you complete courses or any training. It will be a lot easier to remember the important points when they are fresh in your mind rather than years later when you are trying to piece together your memory.

Another idea is to set a reminder in your calendar to update your resume twice a year (for instance). These frequent updates will likely be brief and take very little of your time. Keeping the relevant points current in your resume, however, will pay off some day and doing the updates more frequently will likely save you time overall.

Networking is a key component of any good job search. A good time to start forming your network is when you are interacting with the people your work with. Make sure to hang on to the contact numbers and e-mail addresses for people who leave your company (especially ex-bosses). Make sure to get similar contact information from contractors or consultants who perform project or temporary work at your employer. These can be great contacts since they likely go to many more short-term engagements and, therefore, see more employers. Just keep a simple list or make sure to maintain your contacts in your address book. It’s easy to do and it will be much (much) more difficult to try and remember and then find these people months or years later when they would be able to help you!

So remember – even though you’re not looking for work (or even plan to) you can still do a few simply activities to be prepared. Updating your resume and maintaining your networks are both easy to do and take only a few minutes of time. They can, however, be crucial if and when you decide to move on and find a new job. Good luck!

Kurt Allan publishes the Minnesota Job Bank HQ, the one source MN Job Bank for your Minnesota job search.

Congratulations, you had an excellent interview. You believe that it went as well as it possibly could have. You believe that, based on the reactions of those who interviewed you, they were impressed by you. But it’s not over. Now you have an opportunity to really leave an impression – whether positive or negative. So make sure the one you leave is positive. Send thank you notes. 

Here’s a tip which although frequently recommended is rarely actually put to use. And that is to make sure that you send out thank you notes after an interview. If you have ever interviewed candidates for a position or spoken to someone who has, you know that very few people actually follow through with this.

There are four golden rules you should follow when it comes to thank you notes. First, they should be sent out immediately. If at all possible send them the same day of the interview. Certainly, no later than the following day. Again, this is all about manners. And good manners require punctuality and timeliness.

 

 

Second, they should be individualized. Never ever send identical thank you notes to the different people with whom you interviewed or other members of the employer’s staff. A good way to make each one unique is to mention something the particular person said or did during the interview that was helpful.

Third, they should be brief. This is not the time to write a novel. It should not take them more than a few quick seconds to read it. Anything else would likely seen as a waste of time. Remember, these are busy professionals.

Fourth, they should be sincere. This is an opportunity to let them be reminded of your personality. Do not try to sell yourself or ingratiate yourself. A thank you whenever given should never be anything less than absolutely sincere. This is especially true for online interviews, interviews on Twitter, or job interviews on Twitter, which is surprisingly happening more often.

The handwritten thank you note is so rare these days that you will stand out from just about every other candidate. The thank you note says something about you. It says you have good manners. It says you consider it of other people’s time. It says you’re punctual and focused. It says you can be direct. And it says that you a professional.

You’re probably not going to get the job just because you send out a thank you note. Likewise, you’re probably not going to fail to receive an offer just because you do not send out a thank you note. No unlike so many other things in life it can become one of several factors that although not sufficient in and of itself make the difference when combined with the others it does. Whether you send a thank you note is part of how you follow-up. And your level of success or failure in life will largely be determined by how you follow-up. So turn this one into a habit. Do it after every interview. And they keep doing it whenever someone does you a kindness or favor. Sometimes do it just because you appreciate the other person. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Increase your chances of getting the job you want by conducting a smart job search with resume, cover letter and interview tips Also, visit TheJobHuntCoach.com to learn how to bring The Job Hunt Coach to speak at your college. Also, check out all our Twitter job postings online, find a great job using Twitter, and like up a hot job interview in your local city. Let Twitter find your next job and interview!

The ups and downs of the unemployment roller coaster can be vicious at times. The ‘ups’ feel like the next job is just around the corner and the ‘downs’ devour all remnants of self-confidence and motivation. It’s a wild ride. Here, James McLeod, a 2010 grad from Ohio University, shares his story and 5 tips to survive your time as a frustrated job seeker. 

Throughout college, I earned good grades, was involved in different organizations, and interned in Florida and even China – I was set up for success. I was ready to bring my unique experiences and personality to the proverbial “real world.” I was dead set on not just getting a job straight out of college but having multiple offers to pick from.

But then, graduation came and I was still unemployed.

In my mind, I had failed. I had done “everything” right and still “failed.” I sat on the sidelines as the majority of my friends moved to a new city, started their careers and entered that “real world” while I was stuck in some sort of in-between purgatory located conveniently in my parent’s basement.

“I was stuck in some sort of in-between purgatory located conveniently in my parent’s basement” But I kept going. Application after application, eyes glazed over when someone describes how bad the economy is, and I continued to put on a brave face when someone asked me how the job hunt was going. “It’s going fine,” I would respond, “Can’t complain. Things could be a lot worse.” Which is true but it has also become my standard reply to the standard question.

In fact, I’m a walking cliché. I’m an unemployed college grad living at home with my parents as I work odd jobs and attempt to build up a website. Real sexy.

But hey, it’s not all bad. Think about it – this may be the last chance I get to have extra free time before I dedicate the rest of my life to a full time job. Free time to enjoy the simple things like going for a run… or watching an entire HBO series (have you seen Game of Thrones?!).

My Quick Tips

So what keeps me sane through the ups and downs of the vicious unemployment roller coaster? Through my extensive experience in the realm of the unemployed, I have found this wild ride doesn’t have to be so extreme and here’s how I do it:

1. Get into a routine

Getting into and maintaining a routine allows you to create a productive framework for the day. I’m a night owl, so for me, it was simply about waking up when normal people wake up and going for a jog. For you, it could be going to a quiet place like the library or coffee shop every day and job searching for an hour. This helps avoid unorganized days that simply melt into one another and fade away with no major achievements to show for it.

2. Accomplish something every day

No matter how big or small, set out to accomplish something every day. It can be as simple as finding and applying to one job. Doing so, helps maintain a positive outlook of achievement. It also provides a daily benchmark of success that you can use to challenge yourself to improve upon. Remember, it’s all about the little daily accomplishments that build up to the big accomplishments.

 

 

3. Enjoy the little things

Try not to roll your eyes at this tip’s cheesiness, but don’t let this time slip by without remembering the simple joys of laughing with friends, the gentle drumbeat of raindrops hitting your window, or getting lost in a good book on a cold night. Enjoying these little everyday things may just help you survive your biggest struggles.

4. Grow Professionally

Take this time to develop a skill that is relevant to the job you want. Maybe it’s with your parents’ church group managing its finances, creating a blog to demonstrate expertise and passion for your field, or offering to create a social media marketing presence for a local company. Ultimately, continuing to learn will leave you well prepared to impress the interviewer that asks, “So, what have you done since graduation?”

5. “Just keep swimming”

When in doubt, take Dory’s advice from Finding Nemo and “just keep swimming.” The long path to employment is a draining experience filled with random obstacles and abrupt dead ends. Sometimes it feels as though it will drag on forever and these are the moments that need to be overcome by continuing to move forward one step at a time.

Remember, your time as a frustrated job seeker will eventually come to an end and that full-time job will arrive sooner if you bravely endure the lowest of lows the unemployment roller coaster has to offer.

James McLeod
James@RecentGrad.net
http://www.RecentGrad.net

For those who wish to be a stay at home mom or dad, or work from the comfort of their own home, with so many scams out there. If you are looking for legitimate work at home jobs, you are really going to have to do the research and take the time to find those jobs that are real, and are valid.

There are many scam artists, that are going to post work at home posts, and try to get you to sign up for some services, where you are going to pay them a fee, to buy basically the same program they were sold, in a long run of scamming that leads to a larger corporation. There are however several great legitimate work at home jobs, if you know where to look, if you make sure to check the BBB for the company, and if you make sure to check other referral and rating sites, in order to ensure that the company you are dealing with is truly legit.

The more time you take in finding these great work at home jobs, and the more time you take in ensuring they are real, the more likely it is that you are going to find the best and the perfect work at home jobs for you to do. These jobs usually entail high earnings, and working on your own schedule, and that is why they appeal to people. But there are very few legit companies, and for this reason you have to do the work to find them. When you are able to find one of these positions, you are going to find that you will be working for larger firms (such as hospitals or doctors offices, doing medical billing), and over time once you get the experience, you might even be able to branch out and start your own business.

 

If you are able to find a legit work at home jobs opportunity, and you get a position with a great company, the earning potentials are incredible, and the hours are basically made by you, and you are your own boss. So, rather than go to work from 9 to 5, you can get up when you want, and stop working when you want. As long as you are productive, and make good choices and habit when you find the right work at home jobs, you are going to really be able to earn in the job, and do much less work than you were doing for your previous employer.

So, although there are thousands of scams out there, if you take the time, do the research, and look around, there are also great work at home jobs for you to do.

If you would like more information on Work At Home Jobs or would like to see what products are available please check out How To Retire Quickly.com

It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that staying put in a role that no longer satisfies is a better bet than discovering or transitioning to an entirely new career. As humans we tend to fear uncertainty and recent economic conditions suggest the struggle will be altogether too difficult, reinforced by the constant media pressure of difficult times now and ahead of us.

Women are often great at putting everyone else’s needs ahead of their own so often end up with a less than fulfilling career and putting a transition to a new career on hold in order to support and keep the family together.

This is dangerous and without realising it we often sabotage our results and situations because deep down the work we do is not in complete alignment with what we truly want. Often though, we have to hit a brick wall, fall victim to stress and burnout or have a life defining moment before we realise its time to do something different. As we move into more of a technological age, career moves and job changes are becoming easier and easier, especially now that so many jobs are being posted to Twitter and social media.

So how do we spot the signs when its time for a career transition without the pain?

A career transition can often be mistaken for stress and burnout where the career itself might not be the problem but the industry, company or boss might be. Sometimes a shift to a new culture or slightly different Industry or a new department can be enough to re-energise and motivate you.

Irrespective of the market, any safety net sooner or later wears thin if our heart is not in our work. We become so unhappy that we begin to unconsciously sabotage our efforts and before we know it we’ve fallen into the trap of whining about how we feel with anyone who’ll listen.

As the famous saying goes;

 

Energy flows to where our attention goes

 

With this in mind isn’t it far better to focus on and move towards what you truly want rather than waste your energy and time with what you don’t want. Sooner or later, your thoughts will influence your outcome.

1. You positively tread Mondays.

Is every Sunday ruined by the prospect of having to return to work on Monday never quite sure what you might be greeted by. You get that sick nauseous feeling in your gut and that tell tale down turn mood.

2. You feel like the world’s biggest fraud.

Whilst you’re competent at what you do and respected for your results and abilities you don’t feel like it’s who you really are or really want to be, it’s just a mask that you wear to get through the week. You often feel like you don’t fit in with your colleagues with little in common and positively dread the social functions and company get togethers.

3. Your values are at odds with the culture.

Your position or the Company is beginning to conflict with your values. Whilst our values tend to remain fairly constant we evolve and grow and as we do we tend to get a lot clearer on what’s really important to us. Perhaps a hierarchical culture is now too controlling and you yearn for greater independence. Maybe its about working for a more ethical business or searching for something altogether more meaningful to you.

4. Its affecting your physical and mental health.

Depression and low self esteem is often brought on by over-work and stress where we can then develop self pitying attitudes and a victim mentality as well as unhealthy coping strategies.If you’re feeling deep emptiness and profound sadness then no amount of pamper days or comfort shopping, eating or drinking is going to do the trick. Once we fall into this realm it’s easy to become stuck and in doing so we under value our abilities and talents.

5. A lack of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Ask yourself after all your hard work whether you’re proud and satisfied about your achievements. Does your contribution get recognised and seem totally worthwhile, appreciated and valued or are you lost in mindless rules, data and re-structuring that appear to have no clear benefit to customers or employees.

6. You have become known as a work bore.

You’ve lost your sparkle and zest for life. All your outside interests have fallen by the way side and all you seem to be able to talk about is work, work, work. This is not the excitement and zeal of passionate work but the frustration and monotony of tiresome work, angry consultations, misunderstandings and total fear of the unknown.

7. You only do it for the money and the title.

A sure sign that you’re in need of a career transition of some sort. This is classic ego territory with both aspects doing little in the way of finding true fulfillment. They are merely compromises and unsatisfactory diversions from following your true passions and calling in life.Whilst the thought of earning a good standard of income or enjoying a senior title may sound comforting you’ll only end up spending what you don’t need to make up for the unfulfilled aspects of your deeper self.

 
8. You have no clear vision for your life.

You’re not in the driving seat directing and co-creating what you truly want, you’re merely following the herd in the false belief that is what ‘s expected of you.

 

Career choice is always a search for the self and for work more fitting to that self

Richard Bolles

 

As we learn to let go of what we most resist and begin to focus our energy on what we most desire to create from our career then we can find new opportunities that might previously have never shown up. Have you been looking for jobs in smaller cities? What about considering working in NYC, or becoming employed in Chicago?

Given that we spent a great deal of time at work, isn’t it better to be doing something that you love rather than loathe?

The best security we can find for ourselves is when we can create our own work without being subjected to market forces or the whims of a an environment, Industry or boss who fails to have our best interests at heart.

Kath Roberts is a career coach and entrepreneur who runs a successful home business creating and selling personal transformational development products online and providing coaching services to women looking for more from their lives. She is passionate about empowering others to lead a life of passion and purpose and to fulfill their potential. She firmly believes and practices the fact that you can have a life and be successful too. To learn more please visit personal development

According to the study Workforce 2020, the number skill employers are seeking from college graduates is leadership closely followed by critical thinking, problem solving and team participation skills. Yet most career employment tips look to building impressive resumes to interviewing well because these more technical skills will get you on your path toward career employment. This belief is rooted in what I call the Osmosis learning factor because through absorption you will get everything you need.

The number one top tip for career employment and to secure college success is hardly if not rarely ever discussed. Why? Because those leading the discussion are just as clueless as those soon to be college graduates.

If you want college success (that being defined as graduating from college in 4 years and securing your ideal career employment, then your action is to write both a career and personal life plan. By taking this action, you are demonstrating leadership, critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Unfortunately, the majority of people in this country including college students place more value in the common written grocery list than they do planning their futures. Just think what happens when that written list of must buy items is left at home or the office?

 

• More money is spent
• More time is wasted
• More items are purchased that are not needed
• More emotions are wasted
• More energy is wasted

 

 

Let’s face it, the common written grocery list has more value than the future for the majority of citizens.

 

However this can be changed very quickly by establishing the goals you want for successful career employment and college success. For example, invest the time to writ down the following:

 

• Where do I see myself in 3 to 5 years?
• What company do I want to work for?
• What type of experience will I need?
• What type of person do I want to work for?
• How much money do I need to begin a successful career?

 

Then consider some or all of these action items:

 

1. Do you research about the industry, the job, the company and the people who work or are connected to the company (Career Coaching Tip: The Internet makes this far simpler than in years past.)
2. Begin using social media to connect with these individuals especially LinkedIn since this site is visited by more business people and recruiters than any other site. (Career Coaching Tip: Make sure your LinkedIn profile is 100% complete. Do not use your summary section as a resume. This is a big mistake. Your summary is where you share your compelling story, where you market without selling yourself, and also includes some results if possible.)
3. Start if you have not and continue business to business networking so that you begin to establish and further develop critical future business relationships
4. Make sure you have the sales skills, yes sales skills because this is all about the company buying you. (Career Coaching Tip: Everyone is in sales. It’s just some people get paid to be sales people.)
5. Invest the time to practice your communication skills with others such as friends, family members and even professional colleagues in the business world not necessarily the academic world. (Career Coaching Tip: Your non-verbal cues may torpedo any chances for that best job ever. Understand basic neuro-linguistic programming (NLP).)
6. Put together a schedule based upon your goals such as each Monday I will personally connect with 5 people, identify 5 positions, etc.
7. Work your plan and continue to plan your work by monitoring, measuring and managing your results

 

By being proactive you are now taking and creating your destiny because you have far more control that you probably realize. Through your predetermined thoughts and actions you are demonstrating you are a forward thinking leader and that is the first step to successful career employment and life success.

Download this free leadership skills E-course Map for Success.

Executive coach and consultant, Leanne Hoagland-Smith partners with forward thinking leaders who want to do what they do best even better. Call 219.759.5601 CDT USA to just have a conversation about the results you are seeking.

P.S. Did you know that the majority of 4 year college students leave $100K on the table? Learn more about how to avoid the 6 year college plan and college success.