Staying Productive While Unemployed

So, you’ve just lost your job and now what? Cry, scream, freak out? OK… that’s fine to do for a little bit, but don’t let it get you into a hole you can’t get out of. Immediately, pick up the phone and reach out to at least three friends or family members to discuss their situation. And if three don't exist, create a support group.

Once you’ve got your support book, take a look at your finances. Create a budget based on the income you are receiving, if any, and budget for a few months. The results may be pretty scary, but at least you’ll know where you stand financially. That’s one less burden you need to deal with.

Now it’s time to start looking for that next career. Consider your values, skills and passions, and match those with a job description before starting the search process. Create a plan of action for your job search. When you find a job you want, send a cover letter and resume.

Stay committed to the job search process, putting in up to eight hours a day. Consistently check job search web sites, and reach out to organizations and companies of interest. Don’t forget to get us and move around. Go outside, read a book – DON’T SIT IN FRONT OF THE TV and get all depressed.

There are so many resources out there to help you along the way. Most towns and cities have Career Resource or Workforce Centers. These should available to you during business hours. Take advantage of their free resources such as computers, phones, fax machines and printers. Even if you have a computer at home, it’s nice to get out of the house for a change of scenery. They also have counselors and Staffing Advisors that can help you as well. Some offer workshops cover interviewing tactics, analyzing past work experiences, writing a resume and searching for a job via the Web.

I know it’s difficult, but if at all possible, enjoy your free time. It may be the last taste of freedom you get for years to come.

Good luck and be sure to check out www.alljobstoday.com for your latest list of available jobs near you!

Strategies to Help you Move Ahead in your Career:

1. Talk to your boss about your future in the company.

2. Ask for more responsibilities to increases your value within the organization.

3. Sharpen your people skills, listen carefully to people, and practice being a clear and effective communicator.

4. Never be afraid to think outside of the box. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you — and your boss — look good.

5. Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside the company.

6. Keep learning. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current resume reflects those needed skills.

7. Strengthen your personal network and join professional organizations, attend industry conferences, or even volunteer. The more people who are aware of your strengths and abilities, the better your chances of hearing about any new opportunities that might arise.

8. In business, your reputation is the most valuable thing you own. Be known for being dependable, professional, and cooperative.

9. Act and look the part by dressing professionally.

The 30 second "elevator pitch."

A 30 second elevator pitch is a simple way to present to someone else a clear understanding of who you are. It piques the interest of a listener who invites you to “Tell me a little about yourself,” and it provides a brief and compelling answer to the question< “Why should I hire you?”

What should your elevator include??

1. A brief personal introduction that includes your career objective or the type of position you want.

2. Three or four specific accomplishments that prove you meet or exceed the requirements for that position.

Remember - you have 30 seconds, keep it simple and straight to the point. You'll have plenty of time to get into detail later.

3. A few character traits or adaptive skills that set you apart from typical applicants.

Once you’ve created your elevator pitch, memorize it completely and try it out on your friends, family, and colleagues. When reciting your elevator pitch convey passion, confidence, and instill some of your personality into the pitch. It really makes a difference when your message has some feeling to it.

Looking for a job can be a full time job!

Tired, discouraged, feeling like you'll never find a job? Need a job, but nothing you do seems to be working?

When you're having a tough time finding a job, or even finding jobs to apply for, it's important to expand your job search. Don't limit yourself to applying for the jobs you find posted online.

Companies may be hiring that don't post job listings other than on their company web site - or not all. Expanding your job search will help you find unadvertised openings and enable you to proactively seek employment at companies of interest.

1. Make a Target List of Companies

2. Work Your Company List

3. Create a Contact Action Plan – Email, phone follow-up

4. Don’t lose hope, keep your head pointed forward and go get that job!

Starting a New Job

It’s been a long time since you have started a new job and you need to prepare yourself for it. So many questions run through your brain, it's like being the new kid in school and your anxiety level is through the roof. Will you really like your new position? How will the people treat you and can you get along with them? These are some of the questions that might run through your mind when you start a new job.

Before you start your new position you need to get in the right frame of mind, so you are able to be at the top of your game.

The first step in preparing for this new adventure is to not be afraid. There is nothing to fear, remember, they hired you. This will keep you from being productive. Having negative thoughts about your new job will become a reality and this will cause problems right there. Stay in the same frame of mind you had when you applied for the position. By keeping that attitude you will eliminate a lot of your problems in the beginning with this new position. Your way of thinking will become your way of acting. Fear of the unknown is common and understandable. Try to get as many of your questions answered by doing research on your new company so you can understand what they do and how you will play a part in it.

This will allow you to have the confidence you will need to start this new job and you won’t feel so lost when you start interacting with your co-workers. Having the right attitude will allow you to get along with your co-workers even better.

Your attitude and the way you present your self in the beginning is very important. It will determine how your relationship will be throughout the job. Getting along with your boss and co-workers is important, it can help you to succeed or be one of the causes to make you want to leave.

Starting a new job can be a wonderful experience. Sure all of us are nervous about stepping into a new environment and meeting and dealing with new people. That’s what’s so exciting about it, everything is new. You have to look at it as a new journey in your life and not a dreaded trip that you have to make. Erase all those negative thoughts and fears you have so you can go in with a positive attitude that will let you be a positive person. Let this be a new spectacular time in your life - you've got a clean slate, it's fun and very exciting so take advantage of it.

What to do if your Recruiter doesn’t call you back.

You’ve been contacted by a recruiter who just came across your resume for a great job opportunity very close to your house.  After 20 minutes on the phone with him/her, you just know that this job is the job of your lifetime and you’re so excited because you’re qualified for every single letter of the job description told to you.  You send your resume over to your Recruiter, they confirm receipt and you are told that your resume is on it’s way to the client.  Now you’re waiting anxiously by your phone, check your email over and over just waiting for that call from the Recruiter to set up an interview.   Hours and days go by… NOTHING!  You leave messages, emails and still… NOTHING.  You had such a great conversation, everything seemed perfect, but you feel like your Recruiter fell off the face of the universe.

Now what?

Leave another message/email for him or her and kindly ask, without sounding desperate, or rude, to please call you back or shoot you an email to let you know that they have received all the information they need, or if there’s any questions they have.

If that doesn’t work, call the main number to their office and ask to speak with someone else.  Talk to another Recruiter, explain the situation, again without sounding desperate, and ask them if they’re familiar with the job and if they can possibly help you.  It’s absolutely within your right to speak with a different Recruiter to help you in your search. They may be working on the same position, in which case they can ask the client if they’ve had a chance to look at your resume, or they may have a completely different opportunity that is just as fantastic.  Even if they don’t have anything, you’re still better off if they’re the kind of Recruiter that calls you back.  If this one seems the same as the other one, it may just be that office and it’s time to move on and find a different Recruiter and agency to work with.

Something to keep in mind is that the Recruiter may not have any news to share if the client is still making their decision, but a status email or phone call is still called for.  If they called you with something they need, they would expect a prompt return call or email, so they should give you that same respect.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Considering a Job Offer

You’ve submitted your resume, secured and interview and now you have successfully received a job offer.  Now what?

There are many things to consider when deciding to either accept or decline a job offer.

1. Will the organization be a good place to work?
2. Will the job be interesting? Are there opportunities for advancement?
3. Is the salary fair?
4. Does the employer offer good benefits?

Before you decide, answers to these 4 questions must be heard to help with your decision.  If you’re working with a Recruiter, talk to them about these issues.  If you’re not, simply ask the potential employer about these issues.

You can, and I would recommend doing some checking on your own.  You generally can get background information on an organization, especially large ones by looking on their website or by talking to HR or Public Relations.  Public companies publish their annual report and they are available to the public.  Information you will find on an annual report is: its corporate philosophy, history, products or services, goals, and financial status.

It’s a big decision to accept a position with a company.  Keep an open mind, follow your heart and be informed.  Do NOT let any unanswered questions remain unanswered.  You have the right to have your questions answered.  Remember, they offered you the job because they need you. Congratulations and GOOD LUCK!

After the Interview

You’ve just had the greatest interview of your life and you really want this job… now what?  There are 2 ways to go about this, both include a follow-up email or hand written letter.

If you were sent on this interview by a Recruiter from an agency, the first thing you need to do is CALL YOUR RECRUITER.  Odds are, the Recruiter will soon speak to the person you just met, or will very soon.  Personally, I like to speak with the candidate first to get their feeling of how the interview went before I speak with my client.  In any case, call your Recruiter and let them know how it went.

Sometimes when you go on an interview set up for you by a Recruiter, the interviewer will give you their card.  That’s great to hang on to, but it’s still appropriate to find out from your Recruiter whether or not you should send a thank you email directly to them, or if it should go through the Recruiter.  Offer that courtesy to your Recruiter.  They are handling the deal and should be the main point of contact until you get hired.  Some won’t have an issue with you having direct contact, but leave that up to them. If you got this interview on your own, by all means, send that email or hand written note immediately.

Keep the note simple.  Graciously thank them for taking time out of their day to meet with you.  Maybe rehash a little of your conversation – goals, expectations, etc, confirming why you are the best person for the job, and offer your availability should they need anything further.  End the note with a salutation that is professional and courteous.  This person isn’t your best friend, family or love interest, so ending it with a, “Love,…”  or “See you soon”,  isn’t appropriate obviously.

Regardless of what type and level of position you’re interviewing for, this small gesture will go very far in their decision making process.

There are many job boards out there to choose from, it can be overwhelming.  Because there is so much variety out there, it’s possible to make yourself crazy deciding which ones to post your resume on and search for jobs.  Here’s some advice…

The large job boards are great for someone who really doesn’t know what they are looking for in their next opportunity because they offer positions in many different areas.  If you’re devoted to your industry, your best bet is to search for opportunities by using the niche job boards.  Why?  Niche job boards offer expertise in specific areas along with job openings that are specific to a particular industry.  If you’re looking for a position as a Controller, why not search for that position on a site that is dedicated to Accounting and Finance?  Companies are more likely to post industry specific positions on niche job boards as well because it will draw a specific type of candidate they are looking for.

Looking for work can be a daunting, exhausting and frustrating task.  Take some pressure off your search, and find a job board directly aimed at what it is you’re looking to do.  Good luck with your search!!

How to properly answer the question,  “why you’re the right person for the job?”

Each position you interview for has specific goals and expectations.  Based on the company, you should try to go in understanding the position. This can be done by researching the company, looking up other job descriptions for the same position and, if possible, talk to other people who work for the company.  If you are still unclear, include it in the questions you ask in the interview, determine how your skills and experience support those goals, explain why these are in line with your own values and goals, and then be prepared to incorporate it into why you are the right person for the job.

Be enthusiastic (but don’t overdo it to where they are questioning your enthusiasm) about the opportunity to work for the company and within their team and make sure the interviewer is clear about the fact that you really want this job.