Employment Tips

Receive helpful hints, tips, and advice on what not to do when seeking employment.

5 Tips on What Not to Do When Seeking Employment

by Jay Crawford

Have you ever been unemployed? If not, chances are you will be in your lifetime.

1 - Don't have a proper Mindset!

Whatever you call it being laid off, fired, terminated or just making a career change it all means the same. Keep a level head and get your act together. Most people have lost a job, or will, as companies go through buyouts, competitive mergers, divestitures, reductions in force, hostile takeovers, rightsizing, downsizing, restructuring or become an alleged victim of executive misappropriation such as Enron, Tyco, Adelphia and Security Trust.

If you haven't had the composure or opportunity to talk with your former employer on severance pay, or extending medical benefits do so in a timely fashion in a professional manner. File for unemployment compensation. The sooner you can accept the situation you are in the sooner you can move forward. Keep a sense of humor. If you can show that you can produce results that can fit employer's needs you will be a desirable candidate for a position.

2 - Don't be prepared to deal with Pressure!

If you are financially independent then you probably don't need a job anyway.

While you are employed don't live beyond your financial means. When you get a raise and you automatically step up you life styles spending you haven't financially gained a thing. Credit cards can be the source of all financial evil but, they are nice to fall back on when you can't get a loan because you are not employed.

3 - Don't be prepared before you start looking for employment!

There are different strokes for different folks when talking about effective ways to land your dream job. No single approach is guaranteed for any one job seeker but, it will be a full time job. You will need a full time office. Don't procrastinate. The ball is in your court. You are selling yourself. Think positive and get organized.

4 - Don't forget your options!

It may take a while to find the opportunity you want. Consider a part time job/self employment, working on a trial basis, or a temporary agency while you continue your job search. Give thought to broaden the scope of your employment search. You can apply for different titles than you have been. You can commute further than you originally wanted to. It might be feasible to consider relocation if you haven't already.

5 - Don't fail to sharpen your job search skills!

Once you have gathered the proper tools, you will need to conduct research, properly prepare correspondence, have resumes that are tailored to specific job opportunities and requirements, excellent telephone skills and proper interviewing characteristics on the telephone and in person.

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Are You Spending Your Job-Search Time Wisely?

by Mike O'Brien, Climber.com

Looking for a new job is rarely a short-term proposition, but sometimes the problem isn't the lack of jobs available--it's how you're allocating your time.

According to a recent Climber.com poll of 250 new members who earn $50,000 or more, most job seekers spend the majority of their time--over 50 percent of it--on two activities: searching for and applying for new positions. The numbers break down as follows:

• Searching for Positions Online 29.94%
• Applying to Positions 27.28%
• Networking 24.11%
• Researching Companies 12.89%
• Working with a Recruiter 5.56%

With a balance of activities like this, you can get caught in the "activity not productivity" trap--spending the majority of your time on job-search activities that make you feel like you're making progress, but that aren't helping you reach your goals.

Instead, you should reorder your job-seeking priorities and focus on the activities that lead to meaningful, engaging conversations with the recruiters and employers who can best help you gain your next position. A better time breakdown for professionals in the $50,000-and-above marketplace would be as follows:

• Networking 30%
• Researching Companies 25%
• Working with a Recruiter 20%
• Applying to Positions 15%
• Searching for Positions Online 10%

Why the shift? For advanced professionals, the focus of your job search should be on developing a strategy specific to you: identifying what your ideal next position is, and in what type of organization, and then networking with people who can help you achieve that goal. You should not be spending the majority of your time on the highly manual process of seeking out new positions. In fact, most job boards and career-management sites can provide you with excellent automated listings, particularly if you've done a good job of identifying your skills, experience, and interests to attract the employers who would best be a fit for you.

In addition, you should take the time to actually research the companies you're considering for your next position. Too often, job searchers feel they "don't have a choice"--that they must take the first job opportunity they find. This may get you employed more quickly, but it will not help advance your career for the long-term. By carefully considering each company you apply to, you can update your resume to position yourself effectively for those organizations, and you will be better prepared to excel during the interview process.

Bottom line, start treating your job search like the next step in a long-term success plan for your career, and don't settle for a stop-gap solution to a temporary problem. You'll start thinking of yourself in a more positive and strategic light--and both recruiters and future employers will as well.

Mike O'Brien is an innovative entrepreneur dedicated to helping others create breakthrough success, and is the founder and CEO of Climber.com, one of the nation's leading online career-management sites. For more information about how to find your perfect career, visit www.Climber.com, or connect with Mike on LinkedIn.

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The 10 People You Need in Your Professional Network

Want to get ahead? Getting these people into your network is key.

by Tai Goodwin, Forbes.com

It is important to know the two Q's as you build out your network: quality and quantity. But have you considered the importance of having a well-rounded network?

In this job market, having a strong network is critical to your professional survival. There are plenty of tips and articles on where to find people, how and when to connect to them, and even what you need to say to attract and maintain your network. This article focuses on who should be in your network.

Here are the top 10 people that should be in your network:

1. The Mentor: This is the person who has reached the level of success you aspire to have. You can learn from their success as well as their mistakes. Heed their wisdom and experience. This relationship offers a unique perspective because they have known you through several peaks and valleys in your life and watched you evolve.

2. The Coach: The coach is someone who comes in at different times in your life. They help with critical decisions and transitions and offer an objective perspective with no strings attached.

3. The Industry Insider: This is someone in your chosen field who has expert-level information or access to it. This person will keep you informed of what's happening now and what the next big thing is. Invite them to be a sounding board for your next innovative idea.

4. The Trendsetter: This is someone outside of your chosen industry who always has the latest buzz. It can be on any topic that you find interesting. The goal in having this person in your network is to look for those connections that spark innovation via the unconventional. It will also help you keep your conversations interesting.

5. The Connector: This is a person who has access to people, resources, and information. As soon as they come across something related to you, they are sending you an email or picking up the phone. Connectors are great at uncovering unique ways to make connections, finding resources and opportunities that most people would overlook.

6. The Idealist: This is the person in your network you can dream with. No matter how "out there" your latest idea is, this is the person who will help you brainstorm ways to make it happen. Without judgment, they are focused on helping you flesh out your dreams in high definition, even if you don't have a solid plan yet on how to make it happen.

7. The Realist: On the flip side, you still need the person who will help you keep it real. This is the person who will give you the raised eyebrow when your expectations exceed your effort. These are not people who knock down your dreams; rather, they challenge you to actively make your dream happen.

8. The Visionary: Visionary people inspire you by their journey. They are similar to the Idealist, but the visionary can help you envision an actual plan to reach your goal. One personal encounter with this type of person can powerfully change the direction of your thinking and life.

9. The Partner: You need to have someone who is in a similar place and on a similar path to share with. In fact, partners do a lot of sharing. This is a person you can share the wins and woes with. Partners will also share resources, opportunities, and information.

10. The Wanna-Be: This is someone you can serve as mentor to. Someone you can help shape and guide based on your experiences. One of the best ways to tell that you understand something is to be able to explain it to someone else. And sometimes, one of the best motivators for pushing through obstacles and hardship is knowing that someone is watching.

Obviously you will want to have more than 10 people in your network. The trick is to make sure you are building a diverse network by adding people from different industries, backgrounds, age groups, ethnic groups, and so on that fit into the roles listed above. Building a deep network by only including people from your current profession or business focus leaves too many stones unturned, limiting potential opportunities.

Serious about building a strong professional network that can actually provide the leverage you need to make progress at work or in your business? Evaluate your current network and get started filling in the gaps.

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8 Reasons You Need a Vacation

Neglecting rest and relaxation is hazardous to your health (and your career)!

by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer


Are vacations for American workers going the way of the dinosaurs? Check out these alarming facts:

The U.S. has the lowest number of vacation days--13--of all the countries in the 2009 Expedia.com International Vacation Deprivation Survey. By contrast, French workers average 38 vacation days a year.

One-fourth of U.S. workers don't get paid vacation time, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The U.S. is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn't require paid vacation time, according to Take Back Your Time, a non-profit behind legislation guaranteeing paid vacations.

"The only difference between dinosaurs and American vacations is that dinosaurs are already extinct," says Cecile Andrews, board member of Take Back Your Time.

Whether or not you get paid time off, experts across the board say taking vacations is vital to every aspect of your life and your work. Check out these eight reasons why vacations are a must--and get inspired to start packing your bags:

1. You'll live longer. Researchers think the stress-lowering nature of vacations can add years to your life. The famous Framingham Heart Study followed 12,000 men at risk of heart disease over a period of nine years and found that those who took more frequent vacations lived longer. And women who took vacations twice a year were eight times less likely to develop heart disease than women who rarely took a vacation. (Studies controlled for variables like income and education.)

2. You'll return to work renewed. One-third of workers say they feel better about their jobs and more productive when they return to work, according to the Expedia.com survey. "If you feel selfish taking a vacation, think of a vacation as an obligation to your employer to give them a refreshed, focused, non-resentful, non-burned-out employee," says executive coach Ken Howard.

3. Your stress will melt away. Vacations can be the ultimate stress-busters. "They're absolutely essential as a way to de-stress, refuel, and get away from it all," says psychologist Karen Sherman, the author of "Mindfulness and the Art of Choice."

4. Your creative juices will flow. There's nothing like a vacation to get you out of a work rut. "Vacations can ignite innovation," says psychologist and executive coach Maynard Brusman. He believes that the return on investment for vacations "is worth its weight in gold."

Career and leadership expert Sharon Lamm-Hartman says she insists her clients take at least two weeks of "pure vacation" a year. "Most creative 'work' happens in non-work time," she says. "It never fails that they come back with a fresh outlook on whatever situation they are facing."

5. You'll experience greater job satisfaction. According to a brand-new study conducted at the University of the Rockies, vacations that are at least 10 days long lead to the highest job satisfaction. "Employers should embrace this knowledge, and allow their employees this kind of time off," says researcher Dena Ann Dries.

6. You'll reconnect with your loved ones. With all that stress out of the way, you'll finally have time to focus on the people you love. This strengthens marriages, partnerships, and families. It's especially good for children. "They can learn about balance and developing a life worth living," says psychologist Jason Evan Mihalko.

7. You'll sleep better. A study by scientific consulting firm Alertness Solutions showed that after a few days on vacation, people averaged one hour more good-quality sleep per night; after they returned home, they were still sleeping an hour more.

8. You get to enjoy life now. It's a big world, and life's too short to postpone exploring it, says psychologist Dean Shrock, the author of "Doctor's Orders: Go Fishing." He advises against putting off your dreams for too long. "Write a prescription to yourself to do what you love most. You don't need a doctor to tell you," he says.

It's possible to do what you love most on-the-job, too, not just during vacation time.

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5 Tricks to Manage Your Manager

Managing upward is especially important when jobs are scarce or on the block.

by Jenna Goudreau, Forbes.com

When the job market falters, many employees try to stay below the boss's radar for fear they might be next on the chopping block. However, it's far wiser to take the opposite approach. Now more than ever, it's important to be noticed (though for the right reasons, of course), explains Tina Chen, a director of permanent and temporary staffing firm Carlisle Staffing in Illinois.

"When companies trim staff, they will save the people who stand out because they manage their managers well," says Chen. "There are also more temporary workers now who could manage upward to get hired."

So instead of being the good-enough team member the boss has trouble remembering, use these tricks to become noticed and indispensable.

1. Understand your boss
"Managing upward requires empathy," says Aaron Nurick, professor of management and psychology at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. Nurick believes that the key to success is being able to see the world from your manager's perspective.

Instead of becoming frustrated by the boss, observe her work style and communication preferences, and then adapt. You may be flooding the boss with emails while she finds it easier to speak via phone. Subtle adjustments on your part will make her job easier--which makes you look better.

You should also read your manager's reactions to the way you present information, says Nurick. For example, you may work for someone who loves numbers and has little patience for more abstract thinking. In that case, try presenting your boss with a quantitative analysis first, and then succinctly explain its impact. Notice, too, if your boss prefers being asked questions or given answers. Decide if you should cut to the chase or soften your opinion by adding, "Would you agree?"

2. Stay three steps ahead
Staffing expert Chen says that dealing with a boss can be like a game of chess. "Always stay three steps ahead of your opponent, and take the lead," she advises. Employees who anticipate their boss's needs before they arise will be seen as leaders and problem solvers.

Once you understand and start to think like your boss, you'll be in a better position to take initiative. Let's say, says Chen, you're asked to find a person's contact information because your boss is working on an insurance policy renewal. Respond by saying, "Yes I have his information, and would you like me to follow up with him regarding the renewal?"

"For every action there's a reaction and then another action to follow," Chen explains. In other words, anticipate additional questions or requests and handle them before you're asked.

3. Be the better half
Become indispensable by learning your manager's weaknesses and complimenting them with your strengths. Perhaps your boss is a brilliant visionary but impossibly disorganized. Rather than griping about how difficult she is to work with, make up for what she lacks by taking on the role of organizer. Suggest deadlines, remind her of appointments, and follow up on items she's forgotten. Not only will you have gained your boss's trust, you'll become the most valued member of her team.

4. Don't be afraid to speak up
Career expert and coauthor of Crucial Conversations Kerry Patterson says most employees are afraid to approach their managers about issues with their work style. In a survey he conducted, 50 percent of employees said they'd left a company because of a disagreeable boss, but only one in five had spoken with the boss about their concerns.

Patterson says the most common frustrations that employees face are micromanaging bosses and absentee bosses. Yet they rarely speak up. "People think it's risky to address these problems, but if it's handled professionally, it increases your boss's opinion of you," he says.

When initiating a tough conversation, Patterson suggests that you offer an example of a specific behavior, explain how it made you feel, and then ask for the manager's perspective.

Here's an example of what you might say: "Last week you checked in three times on a routine project. It made me feel as if you didn't trust my ability to handle it. Is that the case?" This formula opens the door to an honest conversation without the manager feeling attacked. Patterson emphasizes that it's important to point out specific behaviors and not characteristics of your manager, so that he doesn't take offense.

5. Ask for more responsibility
If you want to ensure a path to the top, Chen says you should make an impression with the even higher-ups--your manager's managers. Allow yourself to shine but don't overstep your boundaries, she warns. Your immediate boss controls your projects and promotions, so you need to maintain his trust.

A great way to gain an audience with company leaders is to ask for more responsibility. Identify a big project that you're confident you can handle, and then pour yourself into it to show what you can do. Another handy trick: Offer to head up an initiative. Maybe you become the resident expert on new software or organize a company event. Suddenly, people come to you with questions and view you as a leader.

Ultimately, make yourself valuable. Not only will you receive respect, but you may be in line for a raise.

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Ten Home Business Tips for Stay at Home Moms

Every day you see new businesses coming to life. You also see a lot of businesses close down. If you study one of these closing businesses carefully, you will notice there is something wrong with its business strategy. Fundamentally, the problem is not with the business idea or with the products, but usually with the people running the business or with their philosophy. To have a persistent successful home business, you need lot of knowledge, some courage and a few other personal qualities.

Hard work

Don’t they say, "Success is 99% of hard work and 1% of luck"? Most of the business giants did not emerge within a single day. Think about getting your business into fortune 500 companies. Comparing your business with another is a good technique to estimate your accomplishment.

Discuss your ideas

You may have a brilliant idea within you about your business. Some books written on this subject oppose discussing your business ideas with others to avoid you losing your intellectual property rights. Remember the 1980 s computer people IBM? IBM continued to go with those bulky super computers allowing Microsoft to rise from the dust in to the PC software market. They did not recognize the change. You always have to change your business traditions to fit the requirements of the modern world.

Plan and evaluate

Planning is the most essential part in a home business. If you plan, you will not end up without options. You should have both short and long-term plans on your business. Having your own little business plan will also guide you to your priorities.

Risk assessing

Every time you have to identify the risks of the business. The risks may be unique to the business you are doing. For instance, assume that you are doing a cut flower business. You know water is a critical factor to your business and you cannot exist without it. If you ignore the critical facts, you have less chance of survival.

Trust your instincts about the business. You have the right to make decisions on your business. The business success always depends on smart decisions and making them at the correct moment. At the beginning of your home business, you cannot think about large profits. Moreover, nobody will expect super customer facilities from a home based business.

Better methods will improve the businesses operational qualities. Improving the quality of your business enables you to do some marketing and boost the influence you can have on the market. There are thousands of web resources available on this topic and if it is affordable, you can refer to a good business consultant.

BizyMoms has been dedicated to helping moms work at home for over 10 years. Visit today to enjoy free resources which include, interactive message boards, informative articles, career kits and of course help and advice from the Bizymoms’ Home Business Support Team!

By Susan Hutson

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Tips and advice on how to become a model

We’ve all heard the stories about an ordinary woman having lunch when suddenly an agent “discovers” her and she’s the next super model of the world. It has happened to others, it can happen to you, but if you want better odds, consider going to modeling school. There are many less than reputable modeling schools that only want your money, so they’ll string you along, promising you that you’ve got what it takes, but all the while, bleeding your bank account. Find out all you can about the reputation of the prospective school before signing on. You might also want to look into finding a legitimate agent who will possibly sign you on right away.

There’s more to modeling than just a pretty face, you also have to have style, fashion sense, a personality that doesn’t turn people off, and of course, a portfolio. The portfolio should be professionally done, showing pictures of you in various surroundings, assorted outfits and hairstyles, and should show a variety of emotions. There should be full-body shots, close-up shots, shots from in front, shots from behind - and all of that’s going to cost a good little bit of cash. Be prepared to also spend a wad of dough on clothes, accessories, shoes, cosmetics, hair products and possibly dental work.

If a reputable agent signs you up, he or she will help you to find your first job, or you can go on “open calls” where try-outs are available to the public. Have an idea in mind before you go there as to what you will need to put on your resume. Don’t forget, these are jobs, and you will be required to fill out a lot of information about yourself, previous work, if any, your age, schooling status, and much more.

Have a healthy attitude about seeking modeling jobs. Know going in that you might not get the job and don’t come near a breakdown each and every time you’re rejected for a job. There will probably be lots of rejections, some jobs, then more rejections. Take it all in stride and have fun. Worrying about not getting a job will give you wrinkles that you don’t want.

You don’t have to be a raving beauty to become a model. Models can be just average-looking girls or women with nice complexions or beautiful hair. And there’s always work for hand and foot models, large fashions, hair models, and other options.

Enter and attend beauty or modeling pageants to get recognized. Set up a website to promote your image and your name. Learn a little about model release forms so you don’t get caught in a bad contract.

Don’t expect to get the best jobs right off the bat. There are many beautiful and talented people trying for the same gig. If you have to settle for lesser jobs while you’re getting started, do so, but watch out for shady deals where you’re offered work in exchange for posing naked or providing unmentionable services. These types of jobs might pay you immediately, but will most likely ruin your career in the long run. Believe and trust in yourself, never give up, and you’ll reach your goal if it’s meant to be.

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