Work-Life Balance and the Job Search
June 11 , 2013 by Lori CookStriking a balance between your work priorities and personal life is a challenge on any given day; but, when you add the stress of searching for a job into the mix, it seems downright impossible. When I started a new job, my manager gave me a small stuffed elephant as a reminder of that famous quote, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Achieving balance is not an act or even a series of actions; it is a mindset. To make those bites of elephant a little more palatable, consider these suggestions:Breathe! Don’t forget the importance of stopping to take a deep breath. To feel like you’re on solid ground, you have to be willing get off the merry-go-round once in a while. The calm, professional atmosphere of the Business and Job Center can be your oasis from what feels like the job search desert!Delegate! Is there anything you are overwhelming yourself with that maybe someone else could do? Don’t be afraid to ask for help and allow someone to do for you! If you are in an active job hunt and money is tight, consider bartering for services. The Business and Job Center can assist by taking away the stress of creating effective, targeted marketing materials for your job search. Resume assistance is always free of charge!Take Care of Yourself! Sorry, folks, but part of living in balance involves staying physically active and eating healthy. It just does. Even if you are unemployed, underemployed, or misemployed, healthy living matters. Listen, I’ve looked, and there is no balance, happiness, or answers at the bottom of that Hagen Das. Put down the spoon, put on the sneakers! Even a little dab will do you! Richland Library is loaded with DVDs, downloadables, magazines, and books to inform and encourage your fitness regimen.Done is Better than Perfect! This is one of my favorite mantras. We run ourselves ragged trying to be the next Martha Stewart or we don’t ever start a project because our expectations are too high. Be realistic; sometimes, having something done is better than waiting for it to be perfect!Steer Your Own Ship! The responsibility for managing what matters to you despite competing demands falls on you; it is not anyone else’s job to tell you when to learn that new computer skill, finish that project, hit the gym, visit the dentist, or take your partner out on a date. With that said, we hope you will steer your ship into the Business and Job Center where we can help you devise a job action plan and find the resources you need to be successful.Reflect! We are inundated with information and opportunities on a daily basis. Remember to take the time to contemplate. What do you want, where are you heading, and are your current actions and activities contributing to your forward movement or just spinning your wheels? Again, the Business and Job Center Career Coaches can provide assessments, career advice, and time for reflection!Read and Win
May 31 , 2013Striking a balance between your work priorities and personal life is a challenge on any given day; but, when you add the stress of searching for a job into the mix, it seems downright impossible. When I started a new job, my manager gave me a small stuffed elephant as a reminder of that famous quote, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Achieving balance is not an act or even a series of actions; it is a mindset. To make those bites of elephant a little more palatable, consider these suggestions:Breathe! Don’t forget the importance of stopping to take a deep breath. To feel like you’re on solid ground, you have to be willing get off the merry-go-round once in a while. The calm, professional atmosphere of the Business and Job Center can be your oasis from what feels like the job search desert!Delegate! Is there anything you are overwhelming yourself with that maybe someone else could do? Don’t be afraid to ask for help and allow someone to do for you! If you are in an active job hunt and money is tight, consider bartering for services. The Business and Job Center can assist by taking away the stress of creating effective, targeted marketing materials for your job search. Resume assistance is always free of charge!Take Care of Yourself! Sorry, folks, but part of living in balance involves staying physically active and eating healthy. It just does. Even if you are unemployed, underemployed, or misemployed, healthy living matters. Listen, I’ve looked, and there is no balance, happiness, or answers at the bottom of that Hagen Das. Put down the spoon, put on the sneakers! Even a little dab will do you! Richland Library is loaded with DVDs, downloadables, magazines, and books to inform and encourage your fitness regimen.Done is Better than Perfect! This is one of my favorite mantras. We run ourselves ragged trying to be the next Martha Stewart or we don’t ever start a project because our expectations are too high. Be realistic; sometimes, having something done is better than waiting for it to be perfect!Steer Your Own Ship! The responsibility for managing what matters to you despite competing demands falls on you; it is not anyone else’s job to tell you when to learn that new computer skill, finish that project, hit the gym, visit the dentist, or take your partner out on a date. With that said, we hope you will steer your ship into the Business and Job Center where we can help you devise a job action plan and find the resources you need to be successful.Reflect! We are inundated with information and opportunities on a daily basis. Remember to take the time to contemplate. What do you want, where are you heading, and are your current actions and activities contributing to your forward movement or just spinning your wheels? Again, the Business and Job Center Career Coaches can provide assessments, career advice, and time for reflection!How to Find Employment by Using Side Doors! Researching and Marketing yourself to Companies
June 4 , 2013 by Iris AbneyOne of the most effective job search strategies you can implement is to research companies or organizations that you would like to work for and then introduce yourself to the decision makers. Yes, this does require effort and creativity, but it sure beats getting the all too often silent treatment after you have applied for a position online! It is a pro-active approach to targeting you, the product, to the customer, the employer.
Volunteering Your Way to a Job
June 6 , 2013 by Sylvie GolodOne of the areas that should be planned for in your "job searching work week" is time for volunteering. This suggestion often brings responses like, "I don't have the time to volunter because I need a job." But, If you really think about the benefits, you can't afford NOT to volunteer.
Hiring Trends in 2013
May 21 , 2013 by Lori CookBelieve it or not, hiring is stable but it might look different than you think. Here are some hiring practices that are trending in 2013.
Experienced Job Seeker
May 13 , 2013Believe it or not, hiring is stable but it might look different than you think. Here are some hiring practices that are trending in 2013.
Build Your Online Brand
April 23 , 2013 by Lori CookSomeone once shared a great explanation of marketing and branding:
New Job Search Strategy: Think like a “Free Agent”
February 8 , 2013 by Lori CookMany professional athletes are reaping the benefits of being free agents and so should we! Free agents are not under contract; therefore, their options are open and their focus is on constant improvement for the next assignment. This idea of “free agency” for the job seeker is being batted around a lot in this current job market. As part of our new year, new strategy, we need to embrace the idea that we work for us now! As the CEO of our own company, we need to invest in our brand by updating our skills so we are prepared to move on to the next opportunity whenever it appears!
New Year… New Job Search Strategy
January 18 , 2013 by Lori Cook