Work, success, and meaning at every stage of your career
75 percent of recruiters are required by their companies to do online research of candidates. And 70 percent of recruiters in the United States report that they have rejected candidates because of information online.
CBS Moneywatch recently released a list of the college majors with the highest unemployment rates. Five of the list of 25 majors are related to psychology. “Ironically,” the accompanying article goes on to say, “Psychology is the fifth most popular college degree.” Those numbers are probably related, of course; I try to convince jobseekers that they should consider professions where competition is less fierce. In college, that usually means where the classes are much more demanding. There are always a few seats left empty in advanced Physics classes.
This was the first generation that could choose to get married or choose almost any other lifestyle: cohabitation, staying single without stigma, and a hundred variations in between. We could choose when or whether to have children. Women could choose to have a demanding career and raise a family; it used to be an either / or decision. All this choice gave us a feeling of unlimited possibilities when we were young. But we’re no longer young (on the outside, at least.) We’re in our fifties and sixties, and feeling that the world has changed dramatically.
Take the fear of a layoff, for example. Optimists will often underestimate their likelihood of being laid off. They may see the warning signs and read the same industry news as everyone else, but they interpret the data in a more positive way. While this will keep their stress level manageable, they may also not be fully prepared if they do lose their jobs. They may not have updated resumes or applied for positions in other divisions. On the other hand, they tend to be upbeat about their prospects for new employment.
Introverts tend to gain strength, energy and confidence through spending time alone, unlike extroverts who tend to recharge their batteries in social settings. Introverts can be intelligent, calm, thoughtful, and creative. They just don’t find social contact as energizing as extroverts do. But even though introversion can support a highly successful personal and professional life, … Continue reading Guest Post: Job Search Tips for Introverts
If you’re in a job search, you’re being evaluated on your looks all the time. Sorry – it’s just a fact of life. Your grooming, your clothes, your sense of style – they’re all part of the package you present to potential employers for their scrutiny. Here are some easy – and inexpensive – ways to look better, courtesy of Noreen Young. She’s a makeup artist, esthetician, author and well-known speaker on beauty. She owns a studio in the Lakewood / San Jose area of Jacksonville, and she’s helped thousands of people find their best look.
Here’s what Noreen suggests to look better on a budget.
If your job search is going to extend into the new year, here’s a resolution that will make a difference: look for a meaningful volunteer job. Volunteering always makes a difference, of course, in the community and for the people nonprofits serve. It’s good to know that you can make a difference to others and make a difference in your job search at the same time.
If you’re working, (or looking) do you know the mission and vision of the company? Does it resonate with your personal values? Do you feel that the work you’re doing makes a difference? If you can’t answer yes to any of these questions, you may be in the wrong place, even if you’re doing a good job.
So I wondered: what would happen if she focused on job search techniques? What would the woman who once wrote a whole blog post on cleaning your handbag (and sewing a labeled drawstring bag to store it properly in your closet) and who penned the immortal words: “Group table linens by size — all tablecloths together, all napkins together. You can further group them by season (all holiday items together) or formality (casual linens on top, formal linens underneath).” This was from her “simple tips” list. You don’t want to see the “advanced tips” list. Trust me.
One of the characteristics that set humans apart from most other creatures is our ability to see into the future; to travel ahead in time. It’s what helps us plan. We can for instance, make a decision to go grocery shopping even though we just eaten a big meal; we know we’ll be hungry later, and we’re out of eggs, so we shop.
