If men were angels, no government would be necessary

The title of this post is a quote from James Madison, 4th President of the United States. A slight modification of the statement for today’s world might be, if people were angels, no security settings for Facebook would be necessary. Unfortunately, people aren’t angels and security settings are definitely necessary. Social media is a fun and useful tool, if used wisely. Not everyone is your friend. Take a look at the video below for an example of a romance destroyed because of a Facebook hijacking and think about other disasters that could occur if you're not paying attention to your security settings.

Do you dare to be authentic? Life lessons learned from The Breakfast Club

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

I had another blog post ready to go this morning, but decided to re-post this on in honor of my 25th high school reunion this past weekend. Hope you like it:

They were five students with nothing in common, faced with spending a Saturday detention together in their high school library. At 7 a.m., they had nothing to say, but by 4 p.m., they had bared their souls to each other and become good friends. To the outside world they were simply the Jock, the Brain, the Criminal, the Princess and the Basket Case, but to each other, they would always be the Breakfast Club.

You have to love a good John Hughes movie, and “The Breakfast Club” captivated audiences while delivering a powerful message about being authentic. Check out a great article on the first link, and then take a walk down memory lane for most of us on the second link. Coincidentally, “The Breakfast Club’s” theme song is my high school graduating class song.

http://www.evancarmichael.com/Work-Life/1864/Lessons-from-The-Breakfast-Club.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv1I4q6lOpo

Job Search always in season

Job hunting during the holidays poses special challenges. Or so I was told when I was laid off from a job I loved after 28 years. I was constantly hearing that companies don't hire during the Christmas season? Well, don’t believe it.
Although it’s tempting to slack off, the holidays are a good time to step up your job search. One executive coach says in fact this time of year provides some distinct advantages and special opportunities for proactive job seekers.
Read the following article for some tips from Monster+HotJobs on looking for that perfect job while others are out shopping or partying.



http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-_tis_the_season_for_your_job_search-1468

Posted by Suzy Kridner.

The 2010 Annual Report is now available!

Check out our annual report to learn about the different services that we offer at the One-Stops, and also to have a better understanding of the employment situation in the region.

(Click on the cover to view the annual report.)

You’re Fired!

If the above phrase is something you’ve heard outside of television, this article can help you deal with the situation. Click here to read the article.

Over 50 and Looking for a Job?

Finding a job is challenging for anyone in the current job market but it’s harder if you’re over age 50. It’s illegal for employers to discriminate based on age, but many will tell you it happens every day.

That reality is converging with the baby boomer generation, many of whom are finding that they need to keep working past the traditional retirement age.

So, what are the best strategies for landing a job when you’re over 50? Well, I searched the internet for just these kinds of hints and this is what I found.

It’s not all about you. The most important thing in getting a job after 50 is to understand why anyone would hire you. There’s one common reason people get hired—when the hiring manager sees the candidate as the solution to their problems. Don’t spend all your time talking about yourself. Instead, spend the time talking about how you can be of value to the company.

Leave the attitude at the door. Instead, go into interviews prepared to listen and understand your prospective employer’s current situation and issues. Research the company thoroughly in advance. You’re there to find a way to match up the employer’s problems with specific areas of your experience that make you the obvious solution. When you whine about your previous employer, your health or other things, most employers will take note of your attitude and sort you to the bottom of the pile. As a manager myself, I can tell you that I would rather not have a whiner on my staff.

Connect with the Culture. Show your prospective employer that you’re not stuck in the past. Try to understand how you are perceived by others—the way you look, the words you use, the attitudes you hold. Clean up your act before you enter the market. But don’t go overboard! Whenever I spot a do-rag or baggy pants on someone over 45, I want to shoot them and put them out of their kid’s misery.

Technology is Important! I have a quote on my office wall – It is not the technology, it’s what you do with it that counts. Pencil, paper and calculators have been replaced by software and computers. We live in a high tech world. A working knowledge of technology is essential. Most baby boomers are comfortable with basic business technology—computers, the web, e-mail and mobile technology. If you are not comfortable with these technologies, take a class. We offer lots of them through the One-Stop Employment Centers.

Experience and Wisdom are Valuable! Now here is the most important thing you need to know. While you may be competing with younger, more tech savvy candidates, your age can be an advantage to most employers. Experience and wisdom come with age. As long as you are not stuck in the past, you upgrade your skills and embrace the current culture, you are more valuable because of your age! Your ability to make sound business decisions and react to out of the ordinary circumstances should be strengthened because of your experience. But, you need to show your future employer that you can get off the porch and run with the big dogs.

A pastor said to me today, “Do the Next Right Thing!” I like that. So I say to you, “Do the Next Right Thing”, upgrade your skills, change your attitude and show them that you can add value to their organization.

Job Forecasting Tool

I was recently given a link to a tool forecasting job growth within the United States. You are able to view forecasted job growth by state and/or metropolitan area.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-02-06-new-jobs-growth-graphic_N.htm