RSS feed for InstantSpot site SpearHEADED Job Search

Effective Approach in Getting Interviews

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:06:00 GMT

Effective Approach in Getting Interviews

Uncover Hidden Jobs

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:57:00 GMT

Michael Sherman Michael F. Sherman Executive Member Relations michael.sherman@execunet.com

Deal With Stress During Unemployment / Job Search

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:12:00 GMT

It’s normal to feel hurt, vulnerable, or angry after losing a job. The good news is that despite the stress of job loss and unemployment, there are many things you can do to take control of the situation and maintain your spirits.

You can get through this tough time by taking care of yourself, reaching out to others, and focusing on your goals. Losing your job can also be an opportunity to take stock of your life, rethink your career goals, and rediscover what truly makes you happy.

Losing a job is stressful

Our jobs are much more than just the way we make a living. They influence how we see ourselves, as well as the way others see us. Our jobs give us structure, purpose, and meaning. That’s why job loss and unemployment is one of the most stressful things you can experience.

Beyond the loss of income, losing a job also comes with other major losses, some of which may be even more difficult to face:

Loss of your professional identity

Loss of self-esteem and self-confidence

Loss of your daily routine

Loss of purposeful activity

Loss of your work-based social network

Loss of your sense of security

Grief is normal after losing a job

Grief is a natural response to loss, and that includes the loss of a job. Losing your job takes forces you to make rapid changes. You may feel angry, hurt, panicked, rejected, and scared. What you need to know is that these emotions are normal. You have every right to be upset, so accept your feelings and go easy on yourself.

Also remember that many, if not most, successful people have experienced major failures in their careers. But they’ve turned those failures around by picking themselves up, learning from the experience, and trying again. When bad things happen to you— or going through unemployment—you can grow stronger and more resilient in the process of overcoming them.

Face your feelings

Fear, depression, and anxiety will make it harder to get back on the job market, so it’s important to actively deal with your feelings and find healthy ways to grieve. Acknowledging your feelings and challenging your negative thoughts will help you deal with the loss and move on.

Surviving the emotional roller coaster of unemployment and job loss

• Write about your feelings. Express everything you feel about being laid off or unemployed, including things you wish you had said (or hadn’t said) to your former boss. This is especially cathartic if your layoff or termination was handled in an insensitive way.

• Accept reality. While it’s important to acknowledge how difficult job loss and unemployment can be, it’s equally important to avoid wallowing. Rather than dwelling on your job loss—how unfair it is; how poorly it was handled; things you could have done to prevent it; how much better life would be if it hadn’t happened—try to accept the situation. The sooner you do, the sooner you can get on with the next phase in your life.

• Don’t beat yourself up. It’s easy to start criticizing or blaming yourself when you’ve lost your job and are unemployed. But it’s important to avoid putting yourself down. You’ll need your self-confidence intact as you’re looking for a new job. Challenge every negative thought that goes through your head. If you start to think, “I’m a loser,” write down evidence to the contrary (“I lost my job because of the recession, not because I was bad at my job.”).

• Look for the silver lining. Losing a job is easier to accept if you can find the lesson in your loss. What can you learn from the experience? Maybe your job loss and unemployment has given you a chance to reflect on what you want out of life and rethink your career priorities. Maybe it’s made you stronger. If you look, you’re sure to find something of value.

Beware of Pitfalls

• Taking refuge in your “cave” may provide temporary comfort, but is little help if your time spent there is not constructive. Surrounding yourself with positive, supportive family and friends may better help your self-esteem.

• Venting your anger and frustrations may only make you feel worse if you find yourself in the middle of a “pity party.” There are people who actually enjoy misery and the misfortune of others.

• Drinking is at best a temporary relief, and for some people, can lead to a crippling addiction.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.

Reach out

Don’t underestimate the importance of other people when you’re faced with job loss and unemployment. Be proactive. Let people know that you lost your job and are looking for work.

Taking action will help you feel more in control of your situation—and you never know what opportunities will arise. Plus, the outpouring of support you receive may pleasantly surprise you. Simple words of sympathy and encouragement can be a huge boost in this difficult time.
Turn to people you trust for support

Share what you’re going through with the people you love and trust. Ask for the support you need. Don’t try to shoulder the stress of job loss and unemployment alone. Your natural reaction may be to withdraw out of embarrassment and shame or to resist asking for help out of pride. But avoid the tendency to isolate! You will only feel worse.

Join or start a job club

Other job seekers can be invaluable sources of encouragement, support, and job leads. You can tap into this resource by joining or starting a job club. Being around other job seekers can be energizing and motivating, and help keep you on track during your job search.

To find a job club in your area, check out:

• Your local public library

• College and university career centers

• Professional networking sites

• The classifieds or career section of the newspaper

Stay connected through networking

The vast majority of job openings are never advertised; they’re filled by word of mouth. That’s why networking is the best way to find a job. Unfortunately, many job seekers are hesitant to take advantage of networking because they’re afraid of being seen as pushy, annoying, or self-serving. But networking isn’t about using other people or aggressively promoting yourself—it’s about building relationships. As you look for a new job, these relationships can provide much-needed feedback, advice, and support.

Involve your family

Unemployment affects the whole family, so keep the lines of communication open. Tell your family what’s going on and involve them in major decisions. Keeping your job loss or your unemployement a secret will only make the situation worse. Working together as a family will help you survive and thrive, even in this difficult time.

• Keep your family in the loop. Tell them about your job search plans, let them know how you’re spending your time, update them on promising developments, and let them know how they can support you while you’re unemployed.

• Listen to their concerns. Your family members are worried about you, as well as their own stability and future. Give them a chance to talk about their concerns and offer suggestions regarding your job loss and unemployment.

• Make time for family fun. Set aside regular family fun time where you can enjoy each others’ company, let off steam, and forget about your job loss and unemployment troubles. This will help the whole family stay positive.

Helping Children Cope with a Parent’s Unemployment

Children may be deeply affected by a parent's unemployment. It is important for them to know what has happened and how it will affect the family. However, try not to overburden them with the responsibility of too many of the emotional or financial details.

• Keep an open dialogue with your children. Letting them know what is really going on is vital. Children have a way of imagining the worst when they write their own "scripts," so the facts can actually be far less devastating than what they envision.

• Make sure your children know it's not anybody's fault. Children may not understand about job loss and immediately think that you did something wrong to cause it. Or, they may feel that somehow they are responsible or financially burdensome. They need reassurance in these matters, regardless of their age.

• Children need to feel they are helping. They want to help and having them do something like taking a cut in allowance, deferring expensive purchases, or getting an after-school job can make them feel as if they are part of the team.

Source: New York State Department of Labor
Take care of yourself
The stress of job loss and unemployment can take a toll on your health. Now more than ever, it’s important to take care of yourself. That means looking after your emotional and physical needs and making stress management a priority.

Tips for managing unemployment stress:

• Maintain balance in your life. Don’t let your job search consume you. Make time for fun, rest, and relaxation—whatever revitalizes you. Your job search will be more effective if you are mentally, emotionally, and physically at your best.

• Make time for regular exercise. Exercise can be a great outlet for stress and worry while you’re unemployed and looking for work. It is also a powerful mood and energy booster. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week.

• Get plenty of sleep. Sleep has a huge influence on your mood and productivity. Make sure you’re getting between 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. It will help you keep your stress levels under control and maintain your focus throughout your job search.

• Practice relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are a powerful antidote to stress. They also boost your feelings of serenity and joy and teach you how to stay calm and collected in challenging situations—including job loss and unemployment.
Staying positive during a long job search

A long job search can wear on your attitude and outlook, especially if you’re unemployed. If it’s taking you longer than anticipated to find work, the following tips can help you stay focused and upbeat.

• Keep a regular daily routine. When you no longer have a job to report to every day, you can easily lose motivation. Treat your job search like a regular job, with a daily “start” and “end” time. Following a set schedule will help you be more efficient and productive while you’re unemployed.

• Create a job search plan. Avoid getting overwhelmed by breaking big goals into small, manageable steps. Instead of trying to do everything at once, set priorities. If you’re not having luck in your job search, take some time to rethink your goals.

• List your positives. Make a list of all the things you like about yourself, including skills, personality traits, accomplishments, and successes. Write down projects you’re proud of, situations where you excelled, and things you’re good at. Revisit this list often to remind yourself of your strengths.

• Volunteer. Unemployment and job loss can wear on your self-esteem and make you feel useless. Volunteering helps you maintain a sense of value and purpose. And helping others is an instantaneous mood booster. Volunteering can also provide career experience, social support, and networking opportunities.

• Focus on the things you can control. You can’t control how quickly a potential employer calls you back or whether or not they decide to hire you. Rather than wasting your precious energy on things that are out of your hands, turn your attention to things you can control during your unemployment,, such as writing a great cover letter and tailored to the company you want to work for and setting up meetings with your networking contacts.

Contributor: Carlo Till, Graphic Artist of Graphic All-in Store. He is a freelance graphic artist also. He designed logos, tarpaulins, brochures, cards, booklets, book covers,etc. He was inspired to provide this article while looking for a job. Within three weeks, he found job following this blog.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.

Women, Job Search & Fear The 4 Little Voices That Run Around In Women's Head

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:56:00 GMT

Vicki Brackett

A Very Informative Job Search Video

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:58:00 GMT

Very Informative Job Search Video

Job Hunting: Networking

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:09:00 GMT

Job Hunting: Networking

2 Ways to Find a Job using Modern Applications

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:03:00 GMT

Here's one of their tips, with modern applications for you ...

1) "Put the employer's needs before your own. Visualize the needs of the person for whom you want to work. Then fill them"

The authors call this, "the most important step of all in the job-getting formula." It was true then and still is today.

When you keep the employer's needs uppermost in your mind, it improves every word you write in your resumes and cover

letters, and every word you say in job and networking interviews. You will see the world differently -- and for the better.

Because, when you focus on employer's needs, you see problems that need solving in almost any business, in any city. These

problems are jobs in disguise. Prove you can solve them, and jobs will be given to or created for you.

Meanwhile, ordinary job seekers, who think first of themselves and their needs, are looking for advertised openings that

appeal to them -- and not finding many.

The second tip comes from "Pick Your Job And Land It!" by S.W. and M.G. Edlund. Of their methods, they write: "For over three

years, the authors have tested the program laid down in this book in the now famous Man Marketing Clinic" in New York City.

2) "Make a written sales presentation of what you have to offer" (page 48).

Your resume and cover letters can get you interviews. A sales presentation, delivered in the interview, can get you job

offers.

What should go into your presentation? Four things, according to the Edlunds (and me):

1. a description of all your experience, education, and training relevant to the job you seek; this can be as simple as a color copy of your resume, extended to 2-3 compelling pages

2. samples of your work: copies of reports you've written, presentations you've delivered, graphics you've designed, etc.

3. case studies of achievements and specific results produced in each position

4. proof of your performance: letters of recommendation from managers, clients, professors, et al; copies of awards, photos,

Contributor: Kira Permunian, SEO Specialist (Media Buyer) of Sticky Media Solutions Incorporation. He is a blogger and a webmaster of SEO Bonds blog. He was urged to contribute this article to help jobseekers build an effective job searching techniques.

Job Hunting in a Competitive Nature

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:25:00 GMT

Job Hunting Guide for Competitive Nature

Online Job Search Tips

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:07:00 GMT

The internet has changed the way job search and job hunting is done. Over the past decade there has been a gradual transition from manual employment

searching to online job search. Job seekers feel more comfortable with online search engines because of the scalability they have. However while searching a job online it is good to follow certain procedures to make your ultimate goal of job hunting successful.

1. Create a Killer Resume: Your resume is what presents you to your employer. Your resume is as important as a profile for a company. You must take the time to create a resume that makes you stand out from the crowd. Try to be very specific in your resume, as employers would not read through all the details in your resume. Highlight whatever you feel that could add strength to your resume. Try to add good references in your resume.

2. Create a Good Cover Letter: You must have a cover letter that exhibits your attitude. As a job seeker you must exhibit your positive attitude and discipline in your cover letter. Try to be as polite as possible.

3. Multiple Resumes: It is better to have multiple resumes. You may prepare a resume specifically for a software engineer job and another one specifically for a call center job. You must target your resume to the employer.

4. Searching for a Job: When searching for a job online, you need to find a job search engine that is reliable and that would help you achieve your ultimate goal of job search. Visit usjobcareer.com and register as a job seeker. USJobCareer is a reliable and job seeker friendly search engine designed with job seekers in mind.

5. Keep Track: Job seekers should keep track of the job applications they have made and constantly check the websites to see if your CV has been shortlisted.

Register your resume and take advantage of the free job search resources and tools available at the website.

Contributor: Yanzkeh Velasquez,a Freelance Blogger. She is a blogger and a cyberlinker. He topped the adlsu cyber dean’s list. She administers different blogs for general purposes.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.

Redefining Your Job Hunting

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:31:00 GMT

Redefining Your Job Search

Strategies to Re-ignite Your Job Search

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:52:00 GMT

Here's a helpful list you might find valuable:

Focus on networking with people you don't know as quickly as possible. During the first month of a search, contact a minimum of 50 "warm" contacts, those you know and with whom you are comfortable. After the first month, network to at least 100 new contacts every month.

Search for interim roles when you begin your search. Up to 40 percent of the time, interim roles lead to full-time positions. When you work on an interim/consulting basis, you and the company become so comfortable with each other that a full-time position is often created.

Target smaller companies. Research Dun & Bradstreet, Moody's Million Dollar Directory, Standard and Poor's, Hoover's and other websites for valuable smaller company information. The reference section at public libraries provides access to these resources, sometimes for free.

Identify underperforming companies. A significant portion of competition for jobs comes from working executives. During a weak economy, they are less inclined to move to a struggling company which carries greater risk. Therefore, there is less competition for these jobs.

Spend less than 10 percent of the time contacting and working with recruiters. Job seekers are advised to limit their involvement to those recruiters they have retained in the past or are referred to them by close friends and colleagues. Even recruiters themselves acknowledge the limitations of obtaining an executive position by relying too heavily on search firms, because recruiters only account for about 10 percent of all jobseekers hires.

Allocate no more than five percent of your search effort responding to published job leads and Internet postings. Responses should only be made to opportunities which closely match your skills and experience. Thousands of individuals see these opportunities, dramatically increasing competition and reducing the odds of securing the position. Be sure you are a "best fit" for a published/posted opening.

Contributor: Sandy Salute, Entrepreneur. She is an independent business woman. She found out that job searching should be thought critically in order to get the job you want.

Source: Graduate Options and Development Seminar 2009 “Empowering Graduates Towards Global Competitiveness” La Salle University, Guidance center.