Work, success, and meaning at every stage of your career
Most job search advice books are serious, well-meaning and bland. I read so many that when I find one that’s funny and profane, in equal parts, I can’t help but share the advice with you. Michael Laskoff is the author of a “survival guide for the recently unemployed” called Landing on the Right Side of Your A**. (Title redacted; this is a family friendly blog, after all.)
Remember that writing is not just for writers. Writing is a way of capturing positive thoughts in a tangible format that makes them more real. Write a positive vision of your future and go back to it when you’re feeling discouraged. It’s the same technique as visualization, except that you come out with an actual document that serves as a blueprint for success.
When something is not right in our lives, we tend to focus only on it. You may take comfort in knowing that our human brains are hard-wired to see negative things more clearly and focus on them more. It’s a throwback to when we were cave dwellers. Failing to notice a saber-toothed tiger lurking in the shadows was a possibly fatal error; failing to notice a rose blooming in the meadow was not. We see things that are wrong in our lives and we obsess about them. But as rational beings, we can also use tools to help us focus on other issues.
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.
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.
