It Shouldn’t Matter, But It Does

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Perception of you based on your physical appearance can be keeping you from getting hired.

For women, this includes haircut and color, the outfit you wear and the purse you carry. If you’re female, over 40 and job searching you need to read this article.

Click here to read the article.

ATTENTION LADIES!

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

You’re not going to believe what I’m about to tell you. Get ready. Make sure you’re sitting down. Okay, here goes. I want you to think like a man. Yes, in some situations we can learn from the other gender, just as in some situations they could learn from us.

Getting it done is more important than perfectionism. Open yourself to the idea that you can learn from how men think to help you be less stressed and more successful. You’ve got nothing to lose but your worry beads.

Click here to read the article.

How to handle rude behavior

By: Lori McMullin, APR, Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

My recent blog posts have included tips on networking and the like. So, what happens if you put yourself out there only to be met with unwarranted and uncouth behavior?

How bizarre, how bizarre! I recently took a trip into what I’d like to think was just the “twilight zone,” – a one-off, perhaps.

Now, I’m clearly far from perfect, but I generally try to make people feel welcome in my company. So, when I felt as if I entered my own “roast” from the moment I picked up my name tag at recent holiday function, I was knocked off of my axis a bit. Kind of felt as welcome as Larry David in a, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” episode!

I asked myself, “Do I return the barbs in a witty way? Do I get up and just leave? I always wanted to knock over a table full of dishes!” These are things I typically don’t have to think about.

The ironic thing is I truly believe these folks had no idea how they sounded and would probably be mortified if they thought about it.

Well, I found a link to tips on how to handle such situations. Apparently, I did many things right and wished I had done many others.

Guess that’s what life is all about!

http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/how-to-deal-with-rude-behavior-6681.html

Man in the Mirror – Can One Person Really Make a Difference?

By: Lori McMullin, APR, Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

-Originally posted September 13, 2010

Hi there. My name is Lori Stone and I am the CBE’s director of business operations and communications. We have a blog team and my assigned day is, of course, the ever-hectic Monday!

However, this Monday marks a milestone for my family. You see, 11 years ago today on a Monday morning, my father left this world.

Ron Stone was a strong man who helped lift up family, friends, employees and strangers alike. His work ethic and sense of duty and responsibility were incredible characteristics. In fact, this U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War truly personified character – another topic I recently blogged about. No pun intended, he was our rock.

As the winds of Hurricane Floyd approached, our Lion King went out like a lamb. He fought a strong battle with cancer until the very end. In that instant, I, somehow, became the new family rock. I didn’t ask for this responsibility – it just happened. In the years that followed Dad’s passing, I became extremely involved in the community and gained more and more responsibility in the workplace.

Lately, I have to admit I wonder if my efforts to try to make the community a better place are in vain. Do I plug away only to have people think, “What a sucker?” Can anything I do really make a difference? What if my energy “well” begins to run dry?

Then, I remember my father and keep going. If I don’t try, how can I expect anyone else to do it? So, I ask you on this day to join me and take a good look in the mirror.

Let’s either renew or embark on a commitment to make the community and the world a better place! Enjoy this link and turn the volume up on your computer or phone for some appropriate, musical inspiration. Semper Fi!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxVoo0iUVDA

Get A Job Using The Hidden Job Market

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Quite often people tell me there just aren’t any jobs out there. The reality is that there are jobs out there, just not as many as there used to be.

In addition to fewer jobs, the old way of looking for jobs doesn’t work real well in today’s world. To be successful in today’s job market you must tap into the hidden job market. The hidden job market has always been there, it just didn’t used to be as important as it is today.

I recently read an article that gives a simple explanation of how to access this hidden job market. Regardless of the type of work you’re seeking I believe the information in this article can help you with your job search.

Click here to read the article.

Step up your networking game this holiday season

By: Lori Mcmullin, APR, Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

Think searching for a job during the holidays is a futile effort? Think again! Check out these tips for gaining an edge for the New Year:

http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/professional-networking/networking-tips-holidays/article.aspx

What the…? and other reactions to texting mishaps

By: Lori Mcmullin, APR, Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

So, I am the newest member of “Team McMullin.” This is my first official holiday season as part of the family. Needless to say, I enjoyed sending out cards this year.

That is, until I received a text from another family member! My husband and I were both recipients of the text that read on my end, “Thank you BOTH for the nice holiday card Not.” I immediately went to the box of leftover tropical-themed cards to see if, for some reason, they were offensive (of course, they weren’t). So, what did I do wrong?

Turns out, I didn’t get the entire text. Thankfully, my husband did. The text went on to say how the card was not the run-of-the-mill holiday greeting. In other words, it was appreciated for being unique.

I have another one for you. A friend of mine recently visited her daughter in college. As she made her way to the campus, my friend texted what she thought was, “Want to get mannis and peddis?” What a nice afternoon of mother/daughter bonding, right?

Well, I can’t share with you what autocorrect did to this nice gesture -- it was that bad! Her daughter thought she had lost her mind!

The point is, nothing beats good old-fashioned, face-to-face communication. However, since we live in such a technology-driven world, we need to be mindful the message we send or receive may not be the intent. We must be careful not to be prematurely reactive or to assume the person on the other end of our message acts or responds the way we wish.

Happy holidays!

Increase Your Productivity

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Feel like you’re spinning your wheels and getting nowhere fast?

Every once in a while I need to step back and reevaluate my time management methods to see if there’s something I can do to be more effective with how I use my time. Recently a friend of mine pointed out an article to me that has eight great tips in it for being more productive.

The article is written with a slant toward someone who has a job however, it wouldn’t take much adaptation to make the ideas work for a job seeker.

I think number five is particularly helpful if your job searching. It’s so easy to get on the internet and fall victim to ‘shiny ball syndrome’. Some article catches your eye and instead of moving on to your job search you stop to read it. The next thing you know you’ve read a bunch of articles that may or may not have anything to do with job searching and you’ve lost an hour or more of time that was supposed to be used for job searching.

Click here to read all 8 great tips for being more productive.

The greatest beauty tip

By: Lori Mcmullin, APR, Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

During this holiday season, many people struggle with how they look. Maybe, they’ve put on extra holiday pounds and feel guilty. Perhaps, they are working out extra hard to look more toned in that sparkly, little holiday dress.

In any case, we should take time to check ourselves when it comes to aesthetics and heed the advice the timeless, elegant Audrey Hepburn once gave. Good stuff:

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his / her hands through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed, never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

- - Audrey Hepburn