I Lost My Job. Where Can I Get Free Job Search Help

I Lost My Job. Where Can I Get Free Job Search Help Nine and a half years ago I lost my job. The emotions are so intense that I can recall them as if it were just yesterday.  Some things are hard to forget. I was fairly new in this town, not knowing many people, and feeling quite lost and unsupported.  Other people had either grown up around here and had friends from high school who were now in a position to help them network I didnt have that.  And some people had professional services that their ex-company bought for them, commonly known as outplacement.  My company would never, ever have paid for outplacement. So, where do you turn for help, when it seems there is not help for an out of work person with no money to spend? Here are some ideas: Job Clubs and Job Ministries Have you ever heard of job clubs, or job ministries?  This is one of the greatest secrets in our local communities that should be our first stop. Many (not all) communities have them. If yours doesnt, look for the nearest one. It might make sense to drive an hour or two to go to one.  The value you get out of attending a job club or job ministry goes beyond just sitting in a chair and learning for a speaker. Networking with other job seekers was one of the most important things I did in my job search. Partly because job seekers are well-networked, and partly because I learned that (a) I wasnt the only one in this pathetic situation, and (b) there were people more qualified and awesome than I was, and they were in transition too (which means, I could stop thinking I was broken, or at fault).  Also, at these job clubs, youll find volunteers who have been there for years, sometimes decades, who are well-versed in all-things-job-search, and they can help you avoid the inevitable pitfa lls you would otherwise fall into. I have spoken to groups at job clubs over the years and job clubs will always hold a special place in my heart.  Check the state resources When I went to my local workforce services office, I knew it wasnt for me. I walked in, they didnt quite know what to do with someone with my education and skills, and looking for the level of job I was looking for they sat me down at an old computer from the 1800s, with a 14 inch monitor that was almost impossible to use, and asked me to do something (I cant remember work on a resume, fill out a form whatever it was, it was a useless cookie-cutter exercise). The services seemed to be geared at entry-level positions, and the staff was accustomed to working with people who were chronically unemployed, hoping they could get an entry level job.  Classes on grooming, showing up on time, etc. were not what I needed.  I hope that has changed in my state But what Ive seen in other states is mind-boggling.  In California the EDD is amazing. Ive spoken at various EDD events and they are well-attended by higher level professionals who are anxious to network and help others. In Minnesota the state money went to private parties that created environments that reminded me of outplacement offices in Class A facilities (that is, expensive buildings).  They were clearly geared towards executives and professionals in transition. In Maryland the states Professional Outplacement Assistance Center is amazing, offering excellent job search training and help that you would expect from any for-profit outplacement company all for free to state residents. Give your state offices a chance you might be surprised to know they have services that fit your needs (better than they fit mine, almost 10 years ago). University career center One of my programming professors would tell us to never go to the career center.  They were a waste of time, not effective, and didnt even know how to help people going into the IT. Unfortunately, that colored how I would think of career centers.  When I lost my job they werent even on my radar.  Finally, though, someone suggested I reach out to them. Unfortunately, they werent really designed to help someone like me who had been in a professional capacity for a while. HOWEVER, Ive spoken at a few universities since then, working with career services, and Ive seen some great programs and counselors and directors who are awesome. Not all schools have resources that will or can help you, and sometimes they charge a small fee for alumni who have been gone from the school for a certain period, but its worth a phone call to see if they can be a resource to you. If they cant help you, call your alma maters alumni office sometimes they offer career services that the career center doesnt know about (because a lot of career centers focus on helping their undergrads and new grads). Find one person who can be your accountability partner Of utmost importance to any job seeker is a weekly accountability partner. This is someone, typically NOT YOUR SPOUSE, who you will meet with once a week and report on what you have done, and what you will do the following week. I cant emphasize how important this is, even for self-motivated individuals!  Just knowing that youll have to sit down with someone, look them in the eye, and say no, um, I didnt do all those things I got caught up finishing a game of Sudoku on Tuesday that went a couple of hours longer than it should have or I havent called that person yet thinking (Im too afraid they might say NO! to me). An accountability coach should help you (a) do what you think you should do, and just as important (b) make sure you arent implementing ineffective job search tactics (which is what I spent way too much time doing in my job search). Who can do this?  Perhaps someone you met at a job club. Perhaps someone you met at church. Perhaps someone who lives by you.  Maybe its a brother, cousin, nephew, or a current or past mentor.  You are simply looking for someone who will spend 20 to 30 minutes with you once a week (it can even be on the phone), who will ask you the hard questions (WHY DIDNT YOU DO THAT THING?), and help keep you on task.  INVALUABLE. Get some money from family or friends to hire a coach and a resume writer Finally, even if you dont have any money, dont discount the idea of hiring someone to help you, even if it means you borrow money from family or friends. There are some very affordable, very good coaches and resume writers who can make sure you are doing the right things.  The reason I love good coaches and resume writers is because they are in the trenches with their clients, and they have been-there, done-that, and know how to best help you make progress.  If I would have found a thousand bucks to find a good coach and a resume writer I would have been pointed in the right direction, not wasted months and months poking around trying to make up my own systems, etc.  I know a thousand bucks seems like a lot of money when you dont know how youll pay rent in three months from now but a coach could make the difference between having a job within those three months, or continuing to spin your wheels and growing more and more hopeless. What do you think?  Good ideas?  Have you exhausted them?  What other resources have I missed? I Lost My Job. Where Can I Get Free Job Search Help Nine and a half years ago I lost my job. The emotions are so intense that I can recall them as if it were just yesterday.  Some things are hard to forget. I was fairly new in this town, not knowing many people, and feeling quite lost and unsupported.  Other people had either grown up around here and had friends from high school who were now in a position to help them network I didnt have that.  And some people had professional services that their ex-company bought for them, commonly known as outplacement.  My company would never, ever have paid for outplacement. So, where do you turn for help, when it seems there is not help for an out of work person with no money to spend? Here are some ideas: Job Clubs and Job Ministries Have you ever heard of job clubs, or job ministries?  This is one of the greatest secrets in our local communities that should be our first stop. Many (not all) communities have them. If yours doesnt, look for the nearest one. It might make sense to drive an hour or two to go to one.  The value you get out of attending a job club or job ministry goes beyond just sitting in a chair and learning for a speaker. Networking with other job seekers was one of the most important things I did in my job search. Partly because job seekers are well-networked, and partly because I learned that (a) I wasnt the only one in this pathetic situation, and (b) there were people more qualified and awesome than I was, and they were in transition too (which means, I could stop thinking I was broken, or at fault).  Also, at these job clubs, youll find volunteers who have been there for years, sometimes decades, who are well-versed in all-things-job-search, and they can help you avoid the inevitable pitfa lls you would otherwise fall into. I have spoken to groups at job clubs over the years and job clubs will always hold a special place in my heart.  Check the state resources When I went to my local workforce services office, I knew it wasnt for me. I walked in, they didnt quite know what to do with someone with my education and skills, and looking for the level of job I was looking for they sat me down at an old computer from the 1800s, with a 14 inch monitor that was almost impossible to use, and asked me to do something (I cant remember work on a resume, fill out a form whatever it was, it was a useless cookie-cutter exercise). The services seemed to be geared at entry-level positions, and the staff was accustomed to working with people who were chronically unemployed, hoping they could get an entry level job.  Classes on grooming, showing up on time, etc. were not what I needed.  I hope that has changed in my state But what Ive seen in other states is mind-boggling.  In California the EDD is amazing. Ive spoken at various EDD events and they are well-attended by higher level professionals who are anxious to network and help others. In Minnesota the state money went to private parties that created environments that reminded me of outplacement offices in Class A facilities (that is, expensive buildings).  They were clearly geared towards executives and professionals in transition. In Maryland the states Professional Outplacement Assistance Center is amazing, offering excellent job search training and help that you would expect from any for-profit outplacement company all for free to state residents. Give your state offices a chance you might be surprised to know they have services that fit your needs (better than they fit mine, almost 10 years ago). University career center One of my programming professors would tell us to never go to the career center.  They were a waste of time, not effective, and didnt even know how to help people going into the IT. Unfortunately, that colored how I would think of career centers.  When I lost my job they werent even on my radar.  Finally, though, someone suggested I reach out to them. Unfortunately, they werent really designed to help someone like me who had been in a professional capacity for a while. HOWEVER, Ive spoken at a few universities since then, working with career services, and Ive seen some great programs and counselors and directors who are awesome. Not all schools have resources that will or can help you, and sometimes they charge a small fee for alumni who have been gone from the school for a certain period, but its worth a phone call to see if they can be a resource to you. If they cant help you, call your alma maters alumni office sometimes they offer career services that the career center doesnt know about (because a lot of career centers focus on helping their undergrads and new grads). Find one person who can be your accountability partner Of utmost importance to any job seeker is a weekly accountability partner. This is someone, typically NOT YOUR SPOUSE, who you will meet with once a week and report on what you have done, and what you will do the following week. I cant emphasize how important this is, even for self-motivated individuals!  Just knowing that youll have to sit down with someone, look them in the eye, and say no, um, I didnt do all those things I got caught up finishing a game of Sudoku on Tuesday that went a couple of hours longer than it should have or I havent called that person yet thinking (Im too afraid they might say NO! to me). An accountability coach should help you (a) do what you think you should do, and just as important (b) make sure you arent implementing ineffective job search tactics (which is what I spent way too much time doing in my job search). Who can do this?  Perhaps someone you met at a job club. Perhaps someone you met at church. Perhaps someone who lives by you.  Maybe its a brother, cousin, nephew, or a current or past mentor.  You are simply looking for someone who will spend 20 to 30 minutes with you once a week (it can even be on the phone), who will ask you the hard questions (WHY DIDNT YOU DO THAT THING?), and help keep you on task.  INVALUABLE. Get some money from family or friends to hire a coach and a resume writer Finally, even if you dont have any money, dont discount the idea of hiring someone to help you, even if it means you borrow money from family or friends. There are some very affordable, very good coaches and resume writers who can make sure you are doing the right things.  The reason I love good coaches and resume writers is because they are in the trenches with their clients, and they have been-there, done-that, and know how to best help you make progress.  If I would have found a thousand bucks to find a good coach and a resume writer I would have been pointed in the right direction, not wasted months and months poking around trying to make up my own systems, etc.  I know a thousand bucks seems like a lot of money when you dont know how youll pay rent in three months from now but a coach could make the difference between having a job within those three months, or continuing to spin your wheels and growing more and more hopeless. What do you think?  Good ideas?  Have you exhausted them?  What other resources have I missed?

Mixed Messages Cause Confusion Drama in Many Workplaces - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Mixed Messages Cause Confusion Drama in Many Workplaces - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career “There is no confusion, I was quite clear!” So proclaimed my client in a conversation last summer as I was helping evaluate the under-performance of an employee recently transferred to a new role. My client made this claim when I brought to his attention that his employee told me he was confused by what was expected of him in this new role. Last week, with another client, I learned that a new supervisor who has been having conflicts with her direct reports has been evaluating work at a much higher standard than her predecessor. It seems there was little conversation about the change in standards and expectations when the change in managers occurred. Last week when I was delivering a seminar there was a collective groan accompanied by head nods from the 30 business professionals in the audience when I asked if anyone has experienced “mixed messages” from leadership in their workplace. Communication is blamed for most workplace ills. Yet, that “communication” issue is rarely defined in a way it can be effectively addressed. For that reason it doesn’t get addressed, causing the same issues to continue manifesting in the workplace to varying degrees. Organizational leaders need to do nothing more than ask employees for specific examples of mixed messages in their work environment. Upon first inquiry there may not be much of a response because employees will be uncertain as to how to identify these mixed messages, even though they are experiencing them daily. But, in inquiring into mixed messages in the workplace, organizational leaders must ask for the inquiry to be on-going and request employees to begin identifying a “mixed-message” whenever and wherever something comes to their attention. Depending on the organization’s culture these mixed messages by leaders in the workplace may be hard to uncover. Employees may be leery bringing these perceived mixed messages to the attention of superiors for fear of retribution. Additionally, there may be other issues causing low trust in the workplace that cause people to hold back. Therefore, leaders must project an openness to hearing examples of mixed messages, even if they are the culprit, and continue to ask for more examples to be brought to their attention. Over time, two things will result from this approach: A tremendous amount will be learned about the leaders own communication style, as well as the communication throughout the organization. A significantly higher level of trust will develop in the workplace that will increase performance across all levels of the organization. Those are two outcomes all organizations should be investing in.

What does 2010 hiring look like

What does 2010 hiring look like Florida experts say that we should see some improvement in the hiring picture by mid-2010.   According to employment firm Manpower Inc.’s quarterly outlook survey, only 7 percent of Jacksonville area employers surveyed plan additions to their payrolls in the first quarter of 2010, while 16 percent plan to cut staff.   (Keep in mind that some of the layoffs will be due to the end of seasonal and holiday work.) Another 75 percent expect to maintain current staffing levels; 2 percent are unsure.  Manpower says that job prospects appear best in the non-durable goods manufacturing, professional and business services and leisure and hospitality industry sectors. Employers in construction, durable goods manufacturing, transportation and utilities, wholesale and retail trade, financial activities and government are planning cutbacks.  Don’t forget that companies may be replacing workers even if they aren’t adding jobs; new job creation is just one part of hiring activity.      Focus on what you can control â€" your impeccable job search!

Whats stopping you Is procrastination getting in the way of your job search University of Manchester Careers Blog

Whats stopping you Is procrastination getting in the way of your job search University of Manchester Careers Blog Written by Sarah Mallen, Information Guidance Coordinator at The Careers Service Do you find yourself leaving things until the last minute ALL THE TIME? The deadline for submitting my video interview is in 3 hours! Do you miss out on opportunities because you left it too late? Oh no the deadline for that job has passed. I only found out about it a month ago! Do you talk yourself out of doing things because its not the right time, or conditions arent right? I cant study, its not quiet enough but it never will be, will it? Do you ask everyone for advice, and then never act on any ofit? There are hundreds of things that other people do all the time that mean that they dont miss out on opportunities, I can give you a list but thats not going to help you if you cant take action. There are many causes of procrastination and you really need to try to understand what causes yours and tackle it. The counselling service have some useful resources Dont look at them later, do it now! The wellbeing sessions from the My Learning Essentials team also include procrastination, plus things like perfectionism, and challenging unhelpful thinking habits. If you feel you could tackle your procrastination aroundlooking for work or thinking about your futurewith a few tips, then here are a few things you can try. 1. Use a diary paper and /or electronic. Enter the date an application must be in by and the time. ButALSOset yourself regular reminders between the time you enter the information and the date itself. 2. Act on information. Seen something you want to do? Make a note yes remember that diary use it! It will soon be lost on your email or social media account and the little procrastination demon will tell you youll remember that- but you wont. 3. Is fear getting in the way? Fear of the unknown is a very real thing, and who can know exactly what the future will bring. But you made it to University now you need to take courage and believe that you can take another leap. Putting off thinking about your future until after you graduate will just prolong the agony and make it harder. I dont think I know anyone who loves having interviews. Fear is part of our bodies mechanism for getting prepared for action. Acknowledge it and use it, but dont be paralysed by it. If you feel that having a bad interview is worse than not attending a job interview at all come and talk to us. Use our resources here to help you work on those nerves! 4. You cant do everything at once. Prioritise and plan. If what you really need right now is a break go on have one, (a proper one doing something you like) but decide up front how long you are going to give yourself !When you return decide are all the things on the list still a priority? Do a risk assessment, if I dont do this what happens? How much does that impact on me? Its your decision to make. 5. If you need advice or help ask for it. Even if you decide not to take the advice you still need to move forward. The end of your time at University will come whether you are prepared or not. Just think about all the great things you will miss if you dont grasp opportunities now. All Careers advice Postgraduate Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted advice career planning procrastination

5 Important Steps on Getting Your First Job After College

5 Important Steps on Getting Your First Job After College First the bad news: Just because you’re almost done at university doesn’t mean the hard work is behind you. Just graduating from university is not enough to get a job.In fact, in many ways getting that first job can be harder work than your examsFortunately, if you take the right steps the journey to come won’t be that long of one. What’s more, when you’ve taken those steps it won’t just be your professors that are happy but your future self who will be grateful.So yeah, it’s worth it. The big question is obviously what are those steps? That’s what we’re going to spend the rest of this article on.1. Start early â€" the internshipevalA job is not like university at all. This is something you’ll realize when you’re working.More importantly, it’s something that the people already at the company you’re applying to already know. For that reason, they’re looking for you to demonstrate you have some actual real world experience.If you can actually get a part-time job in a sector Then there are the ones where you spend half a year only going in one or two days a week. Try going for the latter. These look far better on your CV and give you a lot more time to learn important skills.2. Tinker with your CVCVs are best written over a few weeks, as the space in between will allow you to look at your CV in a new light. That will show you weaknesses, places you can do a better job and ways to order the things you’ve done.So take those weeks. Also, make sure you don’t ever think your CV is finished. It’s a constant work in progress that should evolve after every job and after every round of sending it out.Even better, have somebody else give you advice. If you know somebody in the industry you’re interested in approach them and ask them to help you out.evalIf you don’t, then consider getting some kind of professional resume service involved. Whatever you do, realize that your CV and your cover letter are often the only thing between getting hired and staying unemployed. So make them count.3. Build a LinkedIn profileNowadays if you’re serious about getting anywhere in the professional world then you’ll want to get a LinkedIn profile set up. These are in many ways just as important as your CV. In fact, many people will use them as their CV and send links of that instead.So make sure you send the same amount of time and patience on there as you did on your actual CV. Especially as your LinkedIn will keep working for you even when you’re not actively looking for a job â€" and that means it can be well worth it.Remember, for not it’s okay to let everybody know when you’ve updated your LinkedIn profile.Down the road when you’ve got a job, however, you’ll want to make sure that it does not tell everybody Then, write people individually. This is vitally important as most people don’t see the posts we put up This is true even if they have a job and even if they would hire you. We just so often get swamped with work, or distracted, or we just forget things.So reach out to people individually as then the norm of reciprocity will make it far more likely they’ll get back to you. Also, if you don’t hear from somebody after the first time, send them a reminder a week or so later. They might still not respond, but what does that really cost you?Last wordsGetting a job is hard work that might not seem immediately rewarding. The thing is, if you do it correctly and invest your energy it can make a difference of thousands of dollars a year and millions of dollars over your lifetime as it can put you on an entirely different career path.So make sure you put some serious effort in there.Also, don’t be afraid to ask people for help. Talk to your university’s career office, discuss tips with your three times removed uncle, ask friends for advice and plunder the internet.evalAfter all, getting that first job isn’t easy and people know that. And so, they’ll forgive you your efforts and your q uestions. Heck, many people might even enjoy helping you out.In that way, you might just get that lucky break you’re looking for and in that way get a serious leg up in the industry that you’re trying to get into. That can put your whole life on a different course where you’ll be able to make more money, live a more fulfilled life, or possibly even both!

2 more tickets sold for our next CHO Academy - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

2 more tickets sold for our next CHO Academy - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog Woohoo: Just sold 2 more tickets for our Chief Happiness Officer Academy in February in San Diego. Dont miss out get your ticket now. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

Why Resume Writing Workshops in Dallas Texas Are Great Courses to Take

Why Resume Writing Workshops in Dallas Texas Are Great Courses to TakeResume writing workshops in Dallas Texas are usually a great place to learn some new skills that will help you land your dream job. If you have not taken one of these courses, you should look into what you can learn and if they are something you want to take advantage of.The first thing you should consider is whether or not you will be able to fit the course into your busy schedule. I have found that I can usually fit most of the major topics in my class in around my schedule. Keep in mind, if you take an online course you will be responsible for finding the time to attend the class, which I know can be a challenge for most people.The next thing to think about is how convenient it will be for you to get to the class. The majority of courses are held in Dallas Texas, but there are some out-of-state companies who do offer seminars to help you land that job you are looking for. Make sure that you can meet your trainin g obligations so that you can go to the class on time.The next thing to think about when attending a resume writing workshop in Dallas Texas is whether or not you can afford to pay the registration fees. For some people this can be hard to do. Some people just cannot afford to drop a few hundred dollars for classes. If you are one of those people who cannot afford to pay the registration fees, look into the scholarships that are available.The last thing to think about when attending a resume writing workshop in Dallas Texas is whether or not you can afford to go into debt. Most of the time the fees are very low and you will be able to afford to go. A lot of times you can also save money by taking part of the course as a class with a mentor.What you really need to ask yourself when going to a resume writing workshop in Dallas Texas, is whether or not you want to take something that is going to help you land a job that you are looking for. A lot of times these companies will use your resume as a case study and then give you pointers on how to improve your resume. This is a good way to get started but I am not really sure that it will help you land that job you are looking for.When I first decided to attend a resume writing workshop in Dallas Texas I thought it would be a lot of fun and I was right. However, I didn't really get any better at writing resumes so I did not stick with it for very long.So the bottom line is that if you are serious about getting a job that you want that you should really consider attending a resume writing workshop in Dallas Texas. If you can afford it, you might want to take a class as it will help you better understand how to write resumes.