Job Searching In The Age Of Social Media

Posted by:    Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS
                   Training Coordinator

Not that long ago social media consisted of people getting in touch with old friends, staying in touch with family and joining clubs or groups of people that shared similar interests.

Today it’s all that and more.

There was a time when you didn’t have to worry about what you said on your Facebook page or the pictures that got posted of the wild party where you were wearing a lampshade and little else.

In today’s world things are different. Employers Google you and search out your Facebook page. If they don’t like what they see, then your résumé could end up in the trash can.

Does this mean you should deactivate your Facebook account? NO! That’s really not necessary. What is necessary is to adjust your privacy settings. Simply make sure that only certain people have access to your more personal information and posts on Facebook.

The reality of our world is that you need to have a Web Presence. That includes Facebook, Google +, LinkedIn and Twitter. Do you have to have all of them? Probably not.

For job searching the main one you really need is LinkedIn. You need to have a complete profile on LinkedIn. Why? Because more and more employers are using that tool to find their new hires. I recently read an article that stated 85% of employers found 69% of their most recent hires through LinkedIn.

Today, and in the future, I’m sure it will be even more important for job seekers to have computer skills.

You don’t have to like computers but you do need to learn to use them and the social media platforms associated with them.

Time for a Reality Check?

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

                  Training Coordinator

I was sitting at my desk thinking about what I should write about for the blog and it came to me, thinking would be a good topic.

I have a saying I strongly believe in that’s relevant to this issue. Our thoughts lead to our actions. Our actions create our reality, if you don’t like your reality change your thoughts.

Let me give you an example.

A young woman, we’ll call her Bess, presents a report to her boss. She thought the boss would be delighted with this report, especially since she got the report in before the deadline. The boss glances over the report and tells her she did a good job; however, he emailed her some data that needs to be added to the report. Bess heads back to her desk totally deflated. She’s decided that the boss hated her report and is probably looking for an excuse to fire her. Her thoughts are centered on the idea that she’s going to be fired. The thought that she’ll soon be fired begins to affect her work performance in a negative way and yes, eventually Bess’s poor work performance will lead to her being fired. In summary, her thoughts of being fired led her to not give her best effort and her lack of effort is what led to her being fired. It all started with her thinking she was going to get fired.

Our thoughts lead to our actions. Our actions create our reality, if you don’t like your reality change your thoughts.

 

 

 

Is Your Past Getting In The Way of Your Future?

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

The other day I was trying to figure out what I was going to post for the blog. Surfing the internet I came across an article that I found inspiring. The news is filled with so much doom and gloom that it’s nice to find a story about someone turning their life around and being successful, instead of the standard ‘if it bleeds, it leads’ news story.

Did this young man do it all on his own? No, he had a mentor, a step father who was able to open doors for him. Regardless, of that he could still have very easily ended up as another gang statistic.

Maybe you have a past you’re trying to escape or maybe you know someone with a past they need to escape, either way, the reality is that those with a past will have to work harder than the average bear to prove themselves. As with all problems the first step is recognizing that there is a problem.

So click here and read the article about a young man who went from being a gang member to becoming a multi-millionaire entrepreneur. Perhaps it will inspire you to change your own life for the better.