Ideas to stop sabotaging ourselves

Happy New Year! For those of us who found jobs, 2010 was a good year.

For others, 2011 will bring more interviewing, resume writing and rewriting, and networking to find employment.

The start of a decade is also a good time for all of us to consider our bad habits, such as putting off exercising, putting off healthier eating, putting off sending in that job application and putting off a myriad of other things we should be doing.

As a regular procrastinator, I didn’t realize how it could affect my health, my sleep and my everyday life.

According to one study, just over the course of a single academic term, procrastinating college students developed compromised immune systems that led to more colds and flu and more gastrointestinal problems, as well as insomnia.

The column below from Psychology Today magazine provides some good suggestions on how to stop sabotaging ourselves and move forward into the new year.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/em/23200 Posted by Suzy Kridner

Ideas for New Year's Resolution

Posted by: Darlene Duncan. CWDP. JSS, CCC
Training Coordinator for
Training Initiatives, Inc.

It’s that time of year where everyone is making New Year’s Resolutions. My last post touched on this topic. Just yesterday a colleague of mine sent me this link to a wonderful article on New Year’s Resolutions. The article is short and to the point. Give it a read and see if you agree that the advice is worth your time. By the way, thanks for the link Jamie.

New Year's Resolution Ideas

Job Hunting Tips for your New Years Resolutions

This is an awesome article to help with your job search in the new year. I especially like #3 "Be pleasantly persistent".


New Year's Job Search

New Year's Resolution

Posted by: Darlene Duncan. CWDP. JSS, CCC
Training Coordinator for
Training Initiatives, Inc.

The New Year is just around the corner. Have you thought about your New Year’s Resolution? We all make them every year and most of the time we don’t follow through on them.

Three reasons we don’t follow through with New Year’s Resolutions:
1. Loss of interest in resolution
2. Lack of confidence in ourselves
3. It’s something beyond our control

Why not make this year different? Choose a resolution that you really want to achieve, make it something you’re capable of achieving and believe in yourself.

If you’re looking for a job it would be great if you could just resolve to have a job that pays you $50,000 annually by the end of January and that because you resolved to have that job it would happen. The problem with that resolution is that it’s not realistic.

However, toward achieving that goal you could make a resolution to send out a specific number of résumés and fill out a specific number of applications every day. You could resolve to acquire at least one new skill to increase your employability. You could make a resolution to sharpen your interviewing skills and polish your résumé.

Since I’m a writer I could make a resolution to have a novel on the New York Times Best Seller list, however, that’s would be rather unrealistic. Not because my book isn’t good enough to be a bestseller but because of the way the publishing industry works. A book accepted for publication today, doesn’t usually end up in a bookstore for a year or two.

Instead, my resolution is going to be that I will complete the rough draft I’m working on by the end of May. By the end of May I will have a manuscript ready to go to an editor for polishing.

Since I am making this resolution such a public one I will have many friends holding me accountable for following through with this New Year’s Resolution. Make your friends and family aware of your resolution and ask them for their support and assistance. We all need encouragement now and then.

Make this year different. Make a New Year’s Resolution that you’ll actually achieve. Remember, it needs to be something you’re really interested in doing, something you’re capable of doing and create yourself a support system for its completion by telling friends and relatives about it.

Celebrate Me Home

By: Lori Stone, APR
Director of Business Operations & Communications
Center for Business Excellence

This holiday season can be difficult for many of us. Whether economic situations have kept us apart from family and friends or the spirit of the season has been especially hard to come by, it can lead to feelings of loneliness and despair. In times like these,

I make an effort to remind myself that home truly is where the heart is. New people we encounter through job search, work, volunteering, etc., can also prove to be family of sorts. That’s why I really like this non-traditional holiday song. It’s truly “evergreen” throughout the whole year. Have a good one, folks!

Where Will the Jobs Be In 2011?

While the unemployment rate will remain high, some professions will have more openings than others. The jobs require higher education, skills and proper training. A college degree is always an advantage.
To see which fields will continue to grow, read the column below:
Posted by Suzy Kridner


Forecasters see an upswing in hiring for skilled and qualified workers in 2011...and beyond.
By Tony Moton
Looking ahead to 2011, you may be wondering: Does the job market have brighter days in its forecast?
While not all the news is good news (the unemployment rate is expected to remain high), there are employment experts who believe things are looking up in certain industries.
Usually, these fields with growing job openings require higher education, career-focused skills, and proper training.
"It would definitely put someone at an advantage to have a college degree," says Andre Koncz, employment information manager for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). "The chances of getting a job for graduates are positive for 2011," Koncz adds.
"An education is still very important, more so than ever," says Laurence Shatkin, author of 2011 Career Plan: The Best Moves Now for a Solid Future.
"The skill from [a] bachelor's degree is learning how to learn," Shatkin adds. "You need to keep on learning new products, new processes, and new business conditions in your industry."
Employment experts Koncz and Shatkin share their analyses of top industries projected to experience job growth in 2011 and the years following.

BUSINESS SERVICES
Accounting is one job that's projected to make strong gains. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants will see a 22 percent jump in new hires between 2008 and 2018. Other business services expected to make substantial increases in job totals include human resources managers (12,900 new jobs) and personal financial advisors (62,800).
Expert Analysis:
"For the last six or seven years, when we ask our employer members which majors they plan to hire, accounting has always been number one," says Koncz. "Those graduates have always had luck when it comes to finding positions."
Average Salaries:
Accountant: $67,430
Human Resources Manager: $105,510
Personal Financial Advisor: $94,180

NURSING AND MEDICAL ASSISTING
The BLS reports some 581,500 registered nurses (RNs) will be added to the labor force during the 10-year period from 2008-2018. Medical assistants, too, will find their value increase as a rise in medical services will necessitate more administrative and clinical duties.
Expert Analysis:
"Nursing is a huge field and the opportunities are going to get better," Shatkin says. "There is a fair amount of turnover because the baby boomers are getting too old to do the work and nurses are now doing some of the work done by doctors."
Average Salaries:
Registered Nurses: $66,530
Medical Assistants: $29,450

HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES
The BLS projects the health care industry, in response to a spike in the elderly population, will create 3.2 million new jobs between 2008 and 2018. Nearly 105,600 dental assistants will be hired over the decade, joining medical and health services managers (45,400 new jobs) and medical and health information technicians (35,100 new jobs) as fields with tremendous growth in health care.
Expert Analysis:
People skills are definitely required in this field. "With health care jobs, you have to be in the same room with the patient and have your hands on the patient," Shatkin says.
Average Salaries:
Dental Assistants: $34,000
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians: $33,880
Medical and Health Services Managers: $90,970

LEGAL
Paralegals, also known as legal assistants, will find more job openings in 2011 and well into the future. In fact, jobs for paralegals will expand by 28 percent, adding more than 74,000 jobs during the 10-year span between 2008 and 2018, the BLS reports.
Expert Analysis:
"We live in a litigious society," Shatkin says. "People are always filing lawsuits; contracts have to be reviewed; and laws have to be complied with. More is getting done by paralegals as people try to offload some of the expense of lawyers."
Average Salary:
Paralegals: $50,080

TECHNOLOGY
An ever-increasing reliance on computers and online services will spur growth in information technology and network administration jobs, according to Shatkin. Based on studies conducted by the BLS, job prospects for computer network administrators and their counterparts will be excellent heading into 2011 and the years thereafter.
Expert Analysis:
"It's a huge area of growth because every time you buy something from a store online, you're going into a database," Shatkin says. "Computer networks and network database administration require [workers with] high levels of skill."
Average Salaries:
Computer Network Administrators: $70,930
Computer Programmers: $74,690
Computer Support Specialists: $47,360
Average annual salaries as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2009.
From Yahoo, Inc.

NOTHING TO LOSE AND EVERYTHING TO GAIN

Hello all, my name is Darlene Duncan. Currently I’m the Training Coordinator for Training Initiatives, Inc., however, I’ve done many other things in my short life. The one I want to briefly touch on today is the lawn service I owned. After more than a decade mowing lawns I decided it was time to do something else and I wanted to sell my lawn business. I set a deadline and worked on mentally picturing that it would sell by then. Did it work? You better believe it. The day of the deadline was the exact day the sale took place.
I was reminded of this recently when I read an article on becoming successful just by thinking about it. In his article, Will Craig, related the story of Liu Chi Kung, a world-class pianist in the late 1950’s. He was imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution in China. The article goes on to tell how after seven years without a piano he immediately returned to his concert tour. His fans said he played better than ever and wondered how this was possible, Kung said, “I rehearsed every piece I had ever played, note by note, in my mind.”
I know some of you are shaking your head in disbelief and you’re thinking that it’s all a bunch of nonsense. You don’t believe that thinking about being successful will make you successful. Maybe you’re right but maybe you’re wrong. But let me ask you this, what have you got to lose by thinking of yourself as a capable, successful individual and having a positive outlook on your future? The answer to that question is easy, nothing to lose and everything to gain.
So believe in yourself and picture the future you want.

Are you over 40 and invisible? Tips to bring you to the forefront in your job search

By: Lori Stone, APR
Director of Business Operations & Communications
Center for Business Excellence

Let’s face it, having the invisible touch may have worked for Genesis, but it won’t get you very far in your job search at any age -- especially over 40.

Here are some tips to assist you in showing you still have the desired energy, charisma, drive and knowhow to run circles around any other potential candidate:

http://www.career-journal.com/en/job-suche/77.html?infoView=25110

How to Cope with Being Unemployed During the Holidays

The holidays should be joyous and fun. But for the unemployed, they are often stressful, especially when we think about gifts for family and friends.

I told everyone last year, when I was unemployed, that there would be no gifts, except for the grandchildren. After all, what did we need?

Of course, by the time Christmas Eve came, I broke down and purchased gifts, albeit not expensive ones, for immediate family and a few friends.

While money is still tight for most of us, some gifts don’t take a lot of moolah, only time and creativity. I’m not crafty, but I can bake, especially cookies from Swedish recipes handed down for generations. Other ideas are cupcakes, bread and brownies made from a store-bought mix. Homemade gifts are appreciated by everyone this time of year.

If you’re not working, home baked cookies and candy are a most welcome gift. And the smile on the recipient’s face makes you feel better.

For the health conscious, homemade granola wrapped in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon hits the spot after the gym.

One of my favorites is homemade spiced tea mix that keeps throughout the year. While you’re online job hunting, take a break and look for the thousands of inexpensive recipes available.

The column below gives other tips for enjoying the holidays this year.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1264966/how_to_cope_with_being_unemployed_during_pg1.html?cat=31

Posted by Suzy Kridner

Create Your Own Job

Click on the link below to learn about others who have created their own jobs. You might get some ideas about how you can create your own job.

Create Your Own Job



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No Wings, No Wand, No Excuses…The Fairy Jobmother is all about the business of getting people back to work

By: Lori Stone, APR
Director of Business Operations & Communications
Center for Business Excellence


A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon an interesting television series on Lifetime called, “The Fairy Jobmother.” Host and employment expert Hayley Taylor has a very no-nonsense, yet supportive approach to getting the featured unemployed person back into the workforce.

In the episode I viewed taking place in a suburb of Philadelphia, a 35-year-old woman with the dream house and dream family lost her dream job as a news anchor when Comcast cut the division.

This job was her passion and truly defined her as a person. Without it, she was lost and could not see other possibilities through transferring her skills into a different career path.

As she neared the end of her Unemployment Compensation benefits, the Fairy Jobmother stepped in with her British charm to help get her on the right path. I’ll leave off there because I don’t want to give the ending away.

To learn more about the series, check out the link below. On thie Web site, you will also find career tips, recent episodes and more: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/the-fairy-jobmother/about/hayley-taylor

Reach out with holiday cards.

The holiday season is an ideal time to remember those who have helped you in your job search throughout the year. They may include friends who gave you a lead or referral; employers who granted you an interview; and those you met at networking meetings. You don’t want to specifically mention the job interview, just extend holiday greetings.

And don’t forget your references, who may be contacted to give you a good word.

A personalized note lets family, friends and others know how much you appreciated their efforts.

See “How Holiday Cards Can Help You Network” in the link below.

http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/holiday-cards-network/

Posted by Suzy Kridner

Green Training in the New Year

Blue Christmas

Are the holidays truly "the most wonderful time of the year"??? I am sorry, they are not always.

The holidays seem to magnify everything. They can make folks feel very, very good. They can also make them feel very, very bad. Below is a helpful article if you are finding the holiday season just a little overwhelming.



Holiday Blues

Busted!

We’ve all made mistakes in life. Some of us have just made more serious mistakes than others. For those with the more serious mistakes in their past, job hunting has some added difficulties.
If you have a criminal record the article linked here has some great tips for interviewing.

“The DOW and the Jobseeker”

www.bloomberg.com/video/64940582/

On Wednesday the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained over 200 points. If you are an unemployed individual looking for a job in today’s job market economic indicators such as the DOW Jones Industrial Average matter tremendously to you. It is part of the greater stock market, or the securities market in aggregate where people, institutions, and governments come to buy and sell their stakes in companies, based on their beliefs of the value of those companies and the greater economy’s prospects for growth. In essence, it is an aggregate gauge of perception of the greater economy today and tomorrow. This brings tremendous value to the jobseeker. To clearly articulate this value we need to start with a brief explanation of the DOW Jones Industrial Average.

The Index was created by Wall Street Journal Editor Charles Dow and statistician Edward Jones in 1883. The DOW Jones Industrial Average is composed of 30 large publicly traded U.S. companies that have a significant effect on and are significantly affected by the American economy. These companies are chosen as members of the index for the reason stated- the effect they have on the greater US economy. The average number shown daily is determined by a statistical technique called price weighting. In a nut shell this means that the value of the index is deduced by adding the prices of each of the stocks within the index and dividing the sum by the total number of stocks. The number of a company’s stocks held within the index is determined by the stock price. The greater the price, the greater the stock’s weight within the index. This means that if a company has a stock price of $100.00 per share it will make up 10 times more than a company trading with a stock price of $10 per share. This allows for giving each company a relative weight within the index proportional to its value in the eyes of its stockholders. So if the company is valued greater because it plays a greater role in the economy and is presumed to possess greater growth prospects its share price should reflect these assumptions. Many academics, analysts, economist, and consumers of indexes view this method of calculation and the DOW as poor indicators and instead rely more heavily on the Standard & Poor’s 500.

That having been said, let’s get back to the value of this information for the jobseeker. This information is important because historical analysis of the greater economy and the DOW has shown that the DOW can lead the economy as an indicator by as much as six months. It also encapsulates the feeling of millions of economic participants’ thoughts about the economy on a daily some say hourly basis. In the short run there tends to be an overshot of sentiment either way, but over the long run, it has proven to provide significant evidence that supports it as a somewhat reliable economic barometer.

So the next time, as a jobseeker, you see “Market Rallies” 200 points, just remember that some of the smartest people in our county and the world, motivated by greed, aversion to lost, or a myriad of other reasons see something good on the economic horizon and you too in your job search should be able to capitalize on that positive outlook.

www.bloomberg.com/video/64940582/

10 Reasons to Step Up Your Job Search Over the Holidays

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause and he may be hiring. An awesome article on uping your job search efforts over the holidays.

Holiday Job Search