In these days of financial meltdown, many people may be facing the threat of being made redundant. All over the UK and the US many people are finding that their jobs at insecure as companies cut costs in order to deal with the credit crunch.
If you think your job is at risk, the worse thing you can do is sit and worry and wait for the sword of Damocles to fall. No matter what fate may bring, you need to remember that you are always in charge of your own life, and you can choose how you respond and what action you take.
Response and Action are the two areas I am looking at in this article. The former is to do with your attitude, and the latter is to do with what you actually do. Both are of vital importance in dealing with any situation in life.
Firstly, remember that feelings of anger and frustration, no matter how understandable, are never constructive and have no benefit to you whatsoever. Let go of any resentment you might feel about your employers, and take responsibility for your own life.
Worrying about something that might happen is also unconstructive and disempowering. When you worry you give your power away to the whims of fortune.
Embrace the idea that change can be a positive thing if you choose it to be so. Losing your job may be the opportunity to re-think your life and move on to something even better. Many people who thought that this kind of change was a disaster, have looked back later on and realized it was the best thing that could have happened to them. If you remain positive about the possible change, you will open your mind to new opportunities and ideas so you can create something wonderful out of what you might be thinking of as a disaster.
Change can be frightening, but if you choose to see it as a learning opportunity, you will always create it as a win/win situation.
Secondly, be pro-active. Instead of waiting for something to happen to you, start taking charge and decide what you will do should the worst happen. Make a list of the things you love doing, your skills and experience.
Research your options and think about how you could turn these things into a new career - perhaps you might decide to use your redundancy payment to start your own business. Working at home is something that more and more people are turning to and it also means you can spend more time with your family.
If you really do not know what you would do if you lost your job, or you do not have the confidence to go it alone, or find the career you really want, it might be a good idea to hire a life coach while you still have a regular income.
A professional career coach will help you to get clarity about what you want out of your life and career, and will also work releasing any self limiting beliefs that are preventing you from confidently choosing the career you want. A life coach will also help you to set some goals and create a plan of action so that, whatever happens, you will know where you are heading.
Being made redundant is no joke. It has happened to me twice in the past, so I know how it feels! However, if you can remain positive and be prepared for the possibility, it does not have to be a dreadful experience, and you may even find it leads you to a new and better life.
Ros is a professional career coach and also runs her own online business.
Ros's coaching site is at Career and Home Business Coaching
Find opportunities at her website at Financial Freedom Online
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rosamunde_Bott
Showing posts with label new. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Thursday, 5 November 2009
How to Get a New Job in Times of Recession
The last two years have been nightmarish for those who were looking for a new job. Not only have the job vacancies dried up, but also there has been an exodus of professionals to the already over-populated world of the jobless. The global economic crisis has manifested itself in the form of pink slips in most of the industries. At a time when experienced people are losing jobs, how is one going to find a new job?
However, the crisis has not halted the recruitment process entirely. There have been a number of new recruits entering their companies each month. It is true that they are not being offered the high salaries their seniors got at the start of their career. Still, getting a job with slightly lower salary is far better than not getting a job at all.
Here are a few time-tested tips that would help a person in finding a new job - irrespective of the financial scenario.
Networking
Everybody knows that one can land plum posts with the help of a good network of friends. However, very few people manage to maintain a good network of friends. It is true that in the hectic work environment, it is difficult to keep track of friends. One can make use of email, social networking websites, and mobile phones to keep a growing network of friends. However, it has to be noted that ideally one should take steps to keep in touch with friends during good times. Frantically contacting the long forgotten friends during times of recession may not go down well with all.
A good network of friends is especially helpful for recently pink-slipped people. While entry-level jobs are often advertised in the media, the senior positions are mostly publicized through word of mouth or e-mails. Therefore, if you are looking for a senior position and are willing to take a small cut in salary, your network of friends might help you find a suitable job.
Scanning The Media
There is some good news for all job seekers - newspapers and jobsites still carry job advertisements and classifieds, despite the doomsday predictions triggered by recession. So, a jobseeker should religiously go through all the available newspapers for finding a suitable job vacancy. In addition, one can register in various jobsites. Most of these websites send details of new job vacancies to the e-mail inbox of the registered users.
How To Apply
It is extremely easy to apply online. You need only one or two mouse clicks. However, you should not apply for the posts which you have no realistic chances of getting. Analyze your skills and preferences and make a short list of jobs that you are interested in. Also make sure that you are sufficiently qualified for the job. If you lack in that front, try to enroll in a short-term course to get a reasonable understanding about the job and the necessary certification.
Your application should have a clear and concise covering letter and a detailed CV. You should have a genuine and straight-forward CV, which gives an account of your capabilities and attitude. A good CV can create a good first impression about the candidate, which can help him or her greatly to obtain a new job.
James Copper is a writer for http://www.worklearn.co.uk where you can find information on getting a new job
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Copper
However, the crisis has not halted the recruitment process entirely. There have been a number of new recruits entering their companies each month. It is true that they are not being offered the high salaries their seniors got at the start of their career. Still, getting a job with slightly lower salary is far better than not getting a job at all.
Here are a few time-tested tips that would help a person in finding a new job - irrespective of the financial scenario.
Networking
Everybody knows that one can land plum posts with the help of a good network of friends. However, very few people manage to maintain a good network of friends. It is true that in the hectic work environment, it is difficult to keep track of friends. One can make use of email, social networking websites, and mobile phones to keep a growing network of friends. However, it has to be noted that ideally one should take steps to keep in touch with friends during good times. Frantically contacting the long forgotten friends during times of recession may not go down well with all.
A good network of friends is especially helpful for recently pink-slipped people. While entry-level jobs are often advertised in the media, the senior positions are mostly publicized through word of mouth or e-mails. Therefore, if you are looking for a senior position and are willing to take a small cut in salary, your network of friends might help you find a suitable job.
Scanning The Media
There is some good news for all job seekers - newspapers and jobsites still carry job advertisements and classifieds, despite the doomsday predictions triggered by recession. So, a jobseeker should religiously go through all the available newspapers for finding a suitable job vacancy. In addition, one can register in various jobsites. Most of these websites send details of new job vacancies to the e-mail inbox of the registered users.
How To Apply
It is extremely easy to apply online. You need only one or two mouse clicks. However, you should not apply for the posts which you have no realistic chances of getting. Analyze your skills and preferences and make a short list of jobs that you are interested in. Also make sure that you are sufficiently qualified for the job. If you lack in that front, try to enroll in a short-term course to get a reasonable understanding about the job and the necessary certification.
Your application should have a clear and concise covering letter and a detailed CV. You should have a genuine and straight-forward CV, which gives an account of your capabilities and attitude. A good CV can create a good first impression about the candidate, which can help him or her greatly to obtain a new job.
James Copper is a writer for http://www.worklearn.co.uk where you can find information on getting a new job
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Copper
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
How to find a new job 2
In Part 1 "5 Job Tips - How to Find a GREAT New Job" You did some soul searching created some lists - ending up with a list of marketable skills. Got that in front of you now? Good. Here are 5 more job tips to turn that list of skills into a great new job.
1. Narrow your Search
Now you need to match those skills with the kinds of jobs that will pay for them. Keep in mind there are lots of skills that transfer well to other jobs. For example:
I once ran across someone who helped her husband build a Real Estate brokerage. After 5 years, he left her and filed for divorce. She was devastated and jobless. Her instinct was to limit herself to real estate work but her skills took her far beyond that....
She was great at marketing and could use those skills for any small business.
She could manage any office - especially personal service types like insurance and investment fields.
She could set appointments. Do phone work, web design, handle advertising, bookkeeping and a host of other tasks.
The question she should have been asking is... which of those valuable skills does she want to offer and to whom?
Do a bit of brainstorming to come up with some kinds of jobs that may need the skills you have to offer.
2. Set Your Sights
By now, you should have a list of the kinds of jobs available. Next, make a list of potential employers. Again you want your list to be as broad as possible and include as many potential employers as you can.
After you've drawn up a list as extensive as possible - you should arrange them from most desirable to least. Don't worry - you need not write the list in stone so you can always change the order... or even cross some employers off entirely if you like.
3. Interview Prospective Employers
From the list of potential employers, you want to narrow down your search again to a short list of potential employers. Forget about job postings. You are going after the job you want - "job openings".
Decide what companies you want to work for and why. Make sure you know what you like about these companies. Keep your eyes wide open here. Not even the "Best Place to Work in America" is perfect.
Now order your list from the most desirable to the least. Start at the top and begin your research. You want to know as much about the position as you can.
Talk to people working in the department. What's it like working in this position. What do you like about this company? How does it compare to other companies?
Talk to the department head. Ask him/her about job duties, work environment, expectations. Your purpose is not to ask about a job but to research the kind of position you want to pursue.
If they are "not hiring" then find out if they anticipate an opening and if so when? Ask about the industry in general - is there a demand for skilled people? Is the demand expected to increase to decrease? Why?
Remain undaunted if they claim to have no openings right now. Most any decent company wants to grow. Growth means expansion and expansion means jobs.
If there is any interest in your skills at all, ask the department head they would like to see your resume and offer to submit it to their human resources department. (Or if they are small - right to the person you are talking too!) If they say "yes", submit the resume with a sticky note saying "Ms. X said she wanted to see this when you got it" or something so they are sure to forward it.
4. Tailor Your Cover Letter and Resume
When submitting your cover letter and resume - be sure to focus on the skills they are looking for. If they want someone to answer the phones - emphasize your phone skills! If they don't mention typing skills, it may not matter how great yours are.
For each job you decide to go after - you should have a resume and cover letter targeted for the requirements of that position. Make sure the employer sees up front that you have exactly what they are looking for!
At this point if you find yourself explaining why they should consider you in spite of your shortcomings - it may be time to reconsider your qualifications. Remember - the point here is to target jobs you are highly qualified for. If you find yourself lacking skills then you should either adjust your focus or improve your skill set.
5. Make the Wheel Squeak
Be sure to follow up with a thank you card and a phone call. While you don't want to become a pest, make it clear you want to work for this company and why.
If you know anyone who works for the company then they may be able to give the inside scoop on news. The more information you can get the better. Stay patient. The more desirable the company and the job, the willing you should be to bide your time.
Landing the exact job you want may not be easy but the payoff is worth some extra effort. As a bonus, this extra work may pay off with some surprising rewards you never thought possible.
You may find the company you were originally high on isn't all that. BUT there' a position open now at an even better firm. Plus once you can present a knowledgeable and enthusiastic prospect to a potential employer - you can suddenly find yourself as a "hot property".
The employer may be willing to go all out to bag a trophy employee - you!
Remember this ball started rolling because you decided to pursue something you would enjoy doing instead of settling for "whatever". In the end you will be happier and your new employer will be overjoyed to have an enthusiastic employee who really wants to be there.
Now take this 5 job tips along with the first set of tips and land that awesome job!
Find more job search tips here
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Hundley
1. Narrow your Search
Now you need to match those skills with the kinds of jobs that will pay for them. Keep in mind there are lots of skills that transfer well to other jobs. For example:
I once ran across someone who helped her husband build a Real Estate brokerage. After 5 years, he left her and filed for divorce. She was devastated and jobless. Her instinct was to limit herself to real estate work but her skills took her far beyond that....
She was great at marketing and could use those skills for any small business.
She could manage any office - especially personal service types like insurance and investment fields.
She could set appointments. Do phone work, web design, handle advertising, bookkeeping and a host of other tasks.
The question she should have been asking is... which of those valuable skills does she want to offer and to whom?
Do a bit of brainstorming to come up with some kinds of jobs that may need the skills you have to offer.
2. Set Your Sights
By now, you should have a list of the kinds of jobs available. Next, make a list of potential employers. Again you want your list to be as broad as possible and include as many potential employers as you can.
After you've drawn up a list as extensive as possible - you should arrange them from most desirable to least. Don't worry - you need not write the list in stone so you can always change the order... or even cross some employers off entirely if you like.
3. Interview Prospective Employers
From the list of potential employers, you want to narrow down your search again to a short list of potential employers. Forget about job postings. You are going after the job you want - "job openings".
Decide what companies you want to work for and why. Make sure you know what you like about these companies. Keep your eyes wide open here. Not even the "Best Place to Work in America" is perfect.
Now order your list from the most desirable to the least. Start at the top and begin your research. You want to know as much about the position as you can.
Talk to people working in the department. What's it like working in this position. What do you like about this company? How does it compare to other companies?
Talk to the department head. Ask him/her about job duties, work environment, expectations. Your purpose is not to ask about a job but to research the kind of position you want to pursue.
If they are "not hiring" then find out if they anticipate an opening and if so when? Ask about the industry in general - is there a demand for skilled people? Is the demand expected to increase to decrease? Why?
Remain undaunted if they claim to have no openings right now. Most any decent company wants to grow. Growth means expansion and expansion means jobs.
If there is any interest in your skills at all, ask the department head they would like to see your resume and offer to submit it to their human resources department. (Or if they are small - right to the person you are talking too!) If they say "yes", submit the resume with a sticky note saying "Ms. X said she wanted to see this when you got it" or something so they are sure to forward it.
4. Tailor Your Cover Letter and Resume
When submitting your cover letter and resume - be sure to focus on the skills they are looking for. If they want someone to answer the phones - emphasize your phone skills! If they don't mention typing skills, it may not matter how great yours are.
For each job you decide to go after - you should have a resume and cover letter targeted for the requirements of that position. Make sure the employer sees up front that you have exactly what they are looking for!
At this point if you find yourself explaining why they should consider you in spite of your shortcomings - it may be time to reconsider your qualifications. Remember - the point here is to target jobs you are highly qualified for. If you find yourself lacking skills then you should either adjust your focus or improve your skill set.
5. Make the Wheel Squeak
Be sure to follow up with a thank you card and a phone call. While you don't want to become a pest, make it clear you want to work for this company and why.
If you know anyone who works for the company then they may be able to give the inside scoop on news. The more information you can get the better. Stay patient. The more desirable the company and the job, the willing you should be to bide your time.
Landing the exact job you want may not be easy but the payoff is worth some extra effort. As a bonus, this extra work may pay off with some surprising rewards you never thought possible.
You may find the company you were originally high on isn't all that. BUT there' a position open now at an even better firm. Plus once you can present a knowledgeable and enthusiastic prospect to a potential employer - you can suddenly find yourself as a "hot property".
The employer may be willing to go all out to bag a trophy employee - you!
Remember this ball started rolling because you decided to pursue something you would enjoy doing instead of settling for "whatever". In the end you will be happier and your new employer will be overjoyed to have an enthusiastic employee who really wants to be there.
Now take this 5 job tips along with the first set of tips and land that awesome job!
Find more job search tips here
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Hundley
How to find a new job 1
Laying the groundwork
Job hunting can be tough. Whether you just started looking for a job or you've been searching for jobs for months No matter where you are in your job search chances are you've felt like you ran smack dab into a brick wall at least once. These five job tips are designed not only to help you break through that brick wall but to help you land a job you'll really like. Ready? Great! Here we go...
1. Get Serious
But you ARE serious... right? This may seem like a strange tip to land a job. Of course you are. By "get serious", I'm talking about making a personal decision. Up until now, chances are, you've been looking for "a" job. "A" as in "any job" or maybe "any job you qualify for". Well forget that.
From now on burn this idea into your head: you are going to land an incredible job, a great job, an amazing job. From this point on you refuse to settle for anything less than the best the world has to offer you. Got that? Good. NOW you're serious!
2. Take Stock
Right now is the perfect time to take a good look at your past. Make a list of your dreams, desires and wishes. Go all out. Don't pull any punches.
List all your past jobs - big, small, good and bad. Don't leave anything out here. For each one write down all the details you can remember about each. What you liked, what you didn't like and so forth. Write down what you accomplished in each position. Try to include as much detail as possible. If there are any facts you can document then do it.
What you should end up with is the most complete job history you've ever had. Don't worry if it's a book. No employer will ever see all of it.
In the end you should have everything you've ever done or wanted to do at your fingertips. Take as much time as you need for this.
After you've finished with paying jobs, do the same for your school career, any volunteer work, and your hobbies.
Include everything. Sweep out those corners. Become your own best detective. Remember this is serious stuff.
3. Get Organized
Maybe you're a natural organizational freak. If so then you've probably already done everything in this section. But I'm guessing you'll check just to be sure. Right? And if you're NOT "super organized" - now's the time to get your ducks in a row.
Now you want to organize all of this. I won't tell you how. Just arrange it all so it makes sense for you. Looking ahead you're going to make a list of the tasks you like to do so it may help to keep this in mind.
4. Do Some Weeding
You need to make four lists.
Things you like doing
Things you do NOT like doing
Things you are good at
Things you stink at
Feel free to modify the titles of the list to suit you. Notice everything will end up on two lists. If you need to make some "in-between" lists of things that don't fit these categories - go for it.
Now make a list of things you are good at and you like doing. Go ahead and make another list of things you like doing and would like to learn to be good at it if you wish.
Okay, you need to make one more list - an important one - your list of marketable skills. The goal here is to make this list as long as possible. The more marketable skills you list the more options you'll have available. Reality may may present some trade-offs. If you want to be a police detective, you're going to have to do paperwork.
5. Get Focused
Now you have a list of marketable skills to offer potential employers. Now you have some real choices to make. If your number one marketable skill is something you love doing, you'll spend most of your time using this skill in a job and it's in great demand - you're set. This kind of "fit" simply won't happen for most of us. From here we will take this list and start matching it jobs where you can spend as much time as possible doing what you love while minimizing the time spent on more unpleasant tasks.
If you want a great job - take action. These job tips won't help you a bit if you never take out a pen and paper. In the next installment, I'll show you how to turn this list into the kind of job you've always dreamed of having.
Find more great job tips here
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Hundley
Job hunting can be tough. Whether you just started looking for a job or you've been searching for jobs for months No matter where you are in your job search chances are you've felt like you ran smack dab into a brick wall at least once. These five job tips are designed not only to help you break through that brick wall but to help you land a job you'll really like. Ready? Great! Here we go...
1. Get Serious
But you ARE serious... right? This may seem like a strange tip to land a job. Of course you are. By "get serious", I'm talking about making a personal decision. Up until now, chances are, you've been looking for "a" job. "A" as in "any job" or maybe "any job you qualify for". Well forget that.
From now on burn this idea into your head: you are going to land an incredible job, a great job, an amazing job. From this point on you refuse to settle for anything less than the best the world has to offer you. Got that? Good. NOW you're serious!
2. Take Stock
Right now is the perfect time to take a good look at your past. Make a list of your dreams, desires and wishes. Go all out. Don't pull any punches.
List all your past jobs - big, small, good and bad. Don't leave anything out here. For each one write down all the details you can remember about each. What you liked, what you didn't like and so forth. Write down what you accomplished in each position. Try to include as much detail as possible. If there are any facts you can document then do it.
What you should end up with is the most complete job history you've ever had. Don't worry if it's a book. No employer will ever see all of it.
In the end you should have everything you've ever done or wanted to do at your fingertips. Take as much time as you need for this.
After you've finished with paying jobs, do the same for your school career, any volunteer work, and your hobbies.
Include everything. Sweep out those corners. Become your own best detective. Remember this is serious stuff.
3. Get Organized
Maybe you're a natural organizational freak. If so then you've probably already done everything in this section. But I'm guessing you'll check just to be sure. Right? And if you're NOT "super organized" - now's the time to get your ducks in a row.
Now you want to organize all of this. I won't tell you how. Just arrange it all so it makes sense for you. Looking ahead you're going to make a list of the tasks you like to do so it may help to keep this in mind.
4. Do Some Weeding
You need to make four lists.
Things you like doing
Things you do NOT like doing
Things you are good at
Things you stink at
Feel free to modify the titles of the list to suit you. Notice everything will end up on two lists. If you need to make some "in-between" lists of things that don't fit these categories - go for it.
Now make a list of things you are good at and you like doing. Go ahead and make another list of things you like doing and would like to learn to be good at it if you wish.
Okay, you need to make one more list - an important one - your list of marketable skills. The goal here is to make this list as long as possible. The more marketable skills you list the more options you'll have available. Reality may may present some trade-offs. If you want to be a police detective, you're going to have to do paperwork.
5. Get Focused
Now you have a list of marketable skills to offer potential employers. Now you have some real choices to make. If your number one marketable skill is something you love doing, you'll spend most of your time using this skill in a job and it's in great demand - you're set. This kind of "fit" simply won't happen for most of us. From here we will take this list and start matching it jobs where you can spend as much time as possible doing what you love while minimizing the time spent on more unpleasant tasks.
If you want a great job - take action. These job tips won't help you a bit if you never take out a pen and paper. In the next installment, I'll show you how to turn this list into the kind of job you've always dreamed of having.
Find more great job tips here
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Hundley
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