Three Tricks to Getting Back To Work

Mon, January 09, 2012

back_to_workThe holidays are over and it is time to get back to the grind, but how do you get started? It is quite daunting to sit in front of your computer aimlessly trying to figure how to get motivated and get past that holiday hangover and get back to work. 2012 is full of new opportunities, but you need a place to start. Here are three ways to get on track for your job search and back to work in 2012.

1) Match Skills and Passion to the Your Ideal “Job”
• Write down your skills, ALL OF THEM! You will be amazed how much you actually know. Include things like hooking up electronics, managing your household, cleaning, filing, finding great bargains, fixing a car, all work you find yourself doing on regular basis. All of these items make up your marketable skills.
• What do you want to do? What do you love to do? These are two very important questions to ask yourself when you are trying to figure out what you will be doing day in and day out. It is important that you look through your skills and combine your career with what you have a passion for doing.
• Identify positions that allow you to use your skills and passions. You can do this by browsing job boards on Career Builder, Monster, Craigslist.org, and Jobing.com. Take time to read through different job titles and job descriptions. Make sure that you consider positions that make not be a direct fit on the surface. Read the descriptions for keywords, tasks, and job benefits that you might enjoy. Additionally, you can use these job descriptions to figure out skills you need to improve.

Reach out to the people who have the opportunities you want. We all know that standing out in this job market is hard, but it is also important to remember that the phone works both ways. Learn who the hiring managers and decision makers are for the companies you want to work with and request a face-to-face meeting. Always approach the phone call with the attitude of “what can I do to help you” versus going into it thinking or even projecting “I really need this job”.

2.) Schedule It Out
• Looking for work is a full time job, but it becomes easy to feel like you are getting nowhere and getting nothing done. Schedule out your week one day at a time. This will help you know how your time is being spent, keep you organized, and continually working towards your goal of finding a job.
Schedule time to:

o Look and Apply for Jobs
o Spend Time Using Social Media
o Attend Networking Events
o Attend Job fairs
o Focus on Self-Development
o Call Organizations to Get in Touch with Decision Makers
o Check and Respond to Emails in a Timely Manner

A common mistake is spending the morning on big job posting sites, applying repeatedly, and then sitting on your email waiting for someone to contact you. Make sure while you wait for calls and emails that you continue to work on your skills. Be sure to continue to network with people so you are able to have more people that you can connect with who might be able to help you.

3.) Identify and Initiate Self-Growth

• Knowing where you need to improve personally and professional is important, but sometimes we are limited on time to do so. While you are in career transition, take time to learn a new skill for personal or professional development. This skill can be anything such as learning a new language, technology upgrades, how to set up a home network, investing money, playing an instrument or even CPR. Learning new skills gives you business skill and shows that you can plan, invest in yourself, have dedication, and are willing to explore and do new things. These new skills can also turn into great conversation pieces while networking and give you a way to relate to a more diverse group of people.

3 Ways To Step Up Your Job Search Through the Holidays

Mon, November 28, 2011

job_search_holidays As we enter into December, our focus shifts to presents, eating and spending time with family. However, remember even though everyone seems to have jingle bell fever, keep working through your personal goals of professional development must remain important.

A common misconception is that companies do not hire in December. On the contrary, according to a major staffing firm in Washington D.C., there are as many jobs available in December with less people actively seeking because they are so focused on the holidays. Additionally, because so many people are focused on the holidays, there is less competition and decision makers tend to be in a jollier mood. Hiring managers are often less busy, so they have more time to focus on hiring the next great employee.

So, what can you do to take advantage of these holiday opportunities?

Here are three tips to get your plan in motion:

1. Network at Holiday Parties – With so many places celebrating the end of the year with holiday cheer, networking and making new connections there are more events and celebrations to attend. Check message boards, NetworkingPhoenix.com, church calendars, chamber of commerce websites and ask your network if they know of any holiday parties that you can attend.

2. Volunteer and Make New Contacts – Giving back to the community is a great way to spread holiday joy and help others. Volunteering also helps you network with business professionals who are looking to give back as well. Often forgotten is that fact that those who volunteer work for companies where they might need someone just like you. Bonding over goodwill can speak mounds not only about your character but also help you get the right doors open with the right people. (Just don’t forget you are volunteering to help first and for most.)

3. Wrap Up Your Lose Ends – Now is the time to follow-up with leads, interviews, meetings and job applications. You want your potential employer to remember you. Follow-up with a phone call or an email and send them a holiday card thanking them for consideration and warm wishes for a prosperous new year. Make yourself memorable, and be sincere and in the forefront of their mind going into their holidays.

Note that you should also be sure to take time to spend with your family and friends and enjoy this holiday season. Have an amazing December. Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year to you and yours!

One Week To A New Life

Fri, November 11, 2011

Upon losing my job in Columbus, Ohio I knew it was time for a change. I had been living in Ohio for some time and I had been struggling to find the right opportunity that would allow for me to thrive, grow and truly help people. I thought I had found it, but because of funding issues I was back to square one. With the love and inspiration of my wife I got on to a plane in September of 2010 from Ohio and came to Phoenix to find a new opportunity and a new purpose.

With the help of family and the discovery of the NetworkingPhoenix.com calendar that I had found using Google, I filled my week with 16 events with one goal in mind: find a new job where I can make a difference. I went from one event to the next, connected with people, telling my story and my goal, got advice, suggestions and really reached out to people utilizing my “elevator speech.” The events ranged from Chamber of Commerce Events to a Church Business Networking Dinner.

Half way through the week, I was getting tired. My uncle noticed this, and he invited me to go with him to test drive a Porsche 911 to have a break in my networking marathon. As I sat in that car, speeding down the highway, I knew, this is where I need to be. Phoenix. Sunshine. Opportunity. From my ride in the Porsche I went to a workshop called “Understanding the Job Market From The Employer’s Perspective” at Training To You. I sat there listening to the amazing insight of Jeff Brown about how to search, how to network and how to market myself. We were given the opportunity to go around and talk about our skills and what we were looking for. I talked about my experience with helping people find a new path with the help of the Workforce Investment Act in Ohio and what I was doing here in Phoenix. At the end of the workshop, Jeff asked to speak with me. As it turned out, the same Federal Program funded this company and Jeff insisted I speak to the management.

He took me to meet several leaders in the organization where I spoke about my experience and being open and honest about what I was looking for. This lead to an interview with the President of the company later that week. When I flew back to Ohio, I had a job offer to join the team early the next week. On November 15th, 2011 I am celebrating one year of work as a Career Advancement Partner with Training To You where I spend my days helping people turn their lives around, get trained, get careers and give them a fresh start. I have a place to work where I get to help, grow, try new things, have a great work environment and continue to develop professionally.

My advice to others: know what you want and do it. I wanted to help people who truly wanted to be helped, so I took a big leap and found a place where I get to do that. Find places you want to work and build relationships with the people who work there. If I hadn’t found the NetworkingPhoenix.com website, I don’t think I would have been able to know where to go to find people to talk to or come to Training To You for that workshop. But above all, do what you love. Some days are frustrating, yes, but knowing that you are doing what you want to do make each risk, rough day or bad experience worth it.

Certifications versus Diploma

Mon, October 10, 2011

When pursing secondary education, your research may lead you to two different options: Professional Certification in a specific field, software or skill or an Academic Degree in a general field of study. It is difficult to know which program will be best for your career goals and job placement, but it is important to know what both can offer to you professionally and personally.

What is an Academic Degree or Professional Certification?

By definition an Academic Degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavor deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree. The most common degrees awarded today are Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees.

By definition a Professional Certification is where a person is certified as being able to competently complete a job or task, usually by the passing of an examination.

Which one is right for me?

When choosing between the two of these options there are a few things to consider: experience, current circumstances, goals and financing.

With it comes to secondary education in general, it is important to look at your circumstance.

Are you a high school grad trying to figure out what to do next?
Do you have family to care for and need a new option?
Have you been laid off, with years of experience but out of date software knowledge?
Do you know what you want to do for a career?
What is your time line?

Certifications allow for those who are either looking to stay current on the information for their current job, unemployed, or looking for a new option from your current job Certifications are a cost effective, timely option to give you training, credibility and in some cases, the opportunity for career placement. Certifications are for specific or specialized training.

An academic degree allows individuals who have a plan for general study such as Marketing, Programming or Design. Degrees also come with a great deal of time involvement and dedication to self development over a long period of time that employers can find admirable. A general degree can help when an opportunity encompasses broader skills or requirements. Degrees also tend to focus on making students well rounded in their studies beyond their focus with the end goal being that each student should be able be able to communicate, problem solve and have general knowledge of multiple studies.

What is the good stuff?

Earning your Academic Degree shows to employers that you were able to commit to learning, personal growth and that you are able to dedicate a lengthy amount of time to an organization and a goal. An academic degree allows for the student to learn about and become exposed to new opportunities and interests which can allow for the student to find a professional focus for their future. Academic degrees tend to look better to employers and a lot of jobs require a degree as a prerequisite.

Certifications are a great way to continue your education or to get new focused skills so you are able to perform new required task or find a new opportunity. Technologies, standards, and specifications change frequently, so certification programs have become commonplace for individuals to gain the appropriate technical skills to be able to perform their job functions while ultimately meeting the business goals and needs of the organization or business.

What is the downside?

Academic degrees are a wonderful accomplishment but can become outdated, especially in technical fields. A Bachelors of Science in Computer Science 10 years ago doesn’t help with problems with current or new technologies or software in which certifications might offer help. Even with a degree, in order for individuals to stay competitive in their current employment situation, certifications will be able to keep them up to date on what is happening in their field.

An Academic Degree is a big financial and time dedication, but it also requires some idea of what an individual wishes to do with their career. Studies show that 57% of college students take six years to complete their education and in that six years will change their major three times. Think about it: The average college student is 18 years old when they step foot on campus and are expected to work towards a career goal without really knowing what they want to do because of a lack of real world experience. How are they supposed to know what they are good at or what they enjoy?

High school students and young adults also run into another interesting dilemma. Going down the path of a professional certification or an academic degree, the same issue comes into play once both are completed; lack of professional experience. There is also the time old problem of “how do I get experience if no one will hire me to get experience?” With a certification program you have a shorter amount a time to acquire your certification (this can usually be done in a few months to a year) allowing for you to have opportunities sooner to work in an internships and or volunteering to get the industry experience needed to get the opportunity you are looking for in your career.

So, What to Do

Essentially, it is up to the individual to decide what the best path is for them based on their goals, but both options are important and necessary in today’s competitive job market. When deciding which opportunity is best for you, ask yourself these things:

These are all questions that any educational institution should ask you and be able to help you with. It is most important to know that learning is a life-long process as things are always changing and evolving into bigger and better opportunities.