Rejuvination

The Blog

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

10 Tips For Blogging Your Way To A New Job

If you’re making a career transition or trying to establish yourself for a better, higher ranking job, write a blog. Writing blogs are a great way to develop a greater understanding of your job function, industry, and career as a whole. Having a blog is also a great way for getting some exposure and interest from potential employers.

The three main purposes of writing a blog to get a job are as follows:

1. Demonstrate substantial knowledge in your industry.
2. Exhibit your writing skills and analytical abilities.
3. Prove to potential employers that you are aware of latest industry developments.

I’ll give you a 10 tips for making a blog that can help you advance your career goals.

1. Do some research.
On style: Cruise the internet for blogs that you really love. Do so for a week or two before setting one up. Ask yourself what makes them so special? What do you enjoy most about their writing style and content? What do you not like about their blog?

On content: What do they write about? Do they focus on one particular topic or do they talk about any and everything within a given range?

2. Develop your subject matter.
Create a list of things that you’re passionate about.  To write interesting content, it helps to be interested in the field. I recommend focusing on an industry and writing about the topics related to that industry such as current news, trends, new products, opinion pieces, etc.

3. Make it personal or not.
Decide if you want to make your blog personal or strictly business. Some people like to include developments in their own personal or professional development while others prefer to report on current trends. There’s no right or wrong way as long as you are comfortable with receiving criticism from readers.

I do recommend that parents keep exposure about their children and personal lives at minimum. I also recommend leaving out addresses and contact information that might compromise your privacy. The point of your blog is to demonstrate your knowledge and capacity, not to reveal your personal life.

4. What are your weaknesses?
Writing a blog can help you slowly eliminate your weaknesses and with time, can help you demonstrate your willingness to change.

Perhaps you are an materials engineer and lack knowledge on a certain type of fabric. I would recommend researching the fabric and writing about the material and any news about it.  Another tip is to search job postings and observe any weaknesses or lacking you might have and build on them through your research and writing.

5. Make your writing a habit.
I recommend writing blog entries anywhere from 1 to 3 times a week. Anything more might take away from your job hunting and networking time. It takes time to research topics and subject matter, so give yourself a time limit for researching and writing articles; this is great because it helps get you into the groove of sticking to deadlines. Stay committed to your blog.

6. Stay on top of trends.
Tune into industry publications and news sources to help you stay abreast of the latest technology or industry developments. Just imagine how vivid and interesting your interview conversations will become thanks to your research and knowledge.

7. Don’t just report, analyze.
Don’t be afraid to give your opinion and analyze current issues. If you have some tips and advice to give, give it. Being an maven or expert isn’t just about knowing your industry and news, it’s about being able to give solid observations and backing up your opinions with evidence. While you give a professional opinion, err on the side of caution and be diplomatic about your opinions.

8. Don’t get hung up on numbers.
Use analytics to help you know who is looking at your blog (especially potential employers), but don’t get hung up on the number (or lack thereof) of people who look at your blog. Focus on writing quality content and use your blog as a presentation tool on your resume and during interviews.

9. How to advertise your blog.
Post your blog link on top of your resume. Post it on your facebook profile and other social networking profiles. Mention it in your resume in the appropriate place, too. If you have a portfolio, drop a page about it in there, as well. Also, tag a link to your blog in your e-mail signature.

10. Have fun.
Blogging doesn’t have to be boring work. It can be entertaining and interesting if you engage yourself in your interests. Ask your friends in the industry or former colleagues for their opinion or ideas. You never know where inspiration can originate.

These 10 tips can help you make the most of your career transition and can help you develop understanding of yourself and the world around you. A blog is one of the many job searching tools that can lead you to a better, more enjoyable job.

Monday, March 08, 2010

Leslie Juvin Answers Your Questions: Are You A Blogger?

Q: Leslie, are you a blogger?
A: Maybe.

My business doesn’t revolve around writing articles. My business revolves around real people, their lives, and helping them face the problems they meet on their career path.

At this point, I don’t make money off of my blogs. I write articles as an additional service for those who employ my work of enhancing their careers and for those who are thinking of making a change.  I write when I am not busily writing resumes, letters, and talking on the phone with individuals who demand my complete attention. It’s impossible to write a quality article and a job winning resume at the same time, so I take note of themes or questions and get to them during my morning tea.

My clients are people who have committed to making change in their lives and need a supplemental place of reference when they cannot immediately speak with me. I realize the value and importance of writing exceptional content relevant to career building. The themes I write about are common questions and concerns of clients or friends and it makes sense to record these commonly asked questions in a findable place.

Then, there are non-clients whose needs are equally important. These people are thinking about making a career or job change. Perhaps, they’ve been forced by unemployment or circumstance to face their career dilemmas and need advice. They might eventually hire me, they might not.

The purpose of each article is to provide concise, quality information that can help readers shape their decisions for their own unique and common life situations regardless if the reader is a paid client or an online user. The value in my writing comes from spreading knowledge, offering realistic solutions, and reducing, if not altogether eliminating, fear to face our life’s toughest questions.

Am I the Perez Hilton of career blogs? No. So, am I blogger? Maybe. I’m passionate about making the most satisfying career and life possible. Whatever I’m doing on this blog section of my website, I promise to make it relevant to your career as it’s happening now. When this blog no longer serves you, I’ll stop and do something better.

While you’re reading, check out this cool article about blogger stats for 2009 at The Future Buzz and feel free to come back when you’re done.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

IN THE NEWS: When financial pressures lead to murder

There have been two murder/suicides in my hometown of Orange Park, Florida this winter which many in the community believe might have been a result of financial pressures due to the recession.

The Clay Today newspaper reported the murder/suicide of a man killing his daughter on her birthday before turning the gun on himself.  The report also notes another man who shot and killed his adolescent sons as they slept before taking his own life. What is alarming is that both incidents were reportedly caused by financial pressures that carried over problems to their marriages and personal relationships.

Clay Today reports,

  Another neighbor said she thinks the two deaths are linked to the recession, which she believes has created a great deal of depression, fear and anxiety.
   
  “People are getting desperate,” Barbara Koranda said. “They’re getting financially desperate. This used to be stuff you only heard about in Jacksonville.”

Since financial pressures weigh heavily on marriages, at what point and how do you think people should get help for their financial, career, relationship issues to avoid tragedies such as these?

Source

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Careful What You Tweet, You Twit: The Fastest Way To Lose A Job Offer

Inc. Magazine posted the Top 10 Awkward Social Media moments. Number seven struck closer to home for me:

No. 7
What’s the fastest way to lose a job offer? Tweet about how much you’re gonna hate the job.  In response to an offer from Cisco, recent Berkeley grad Connor Riley tweeted: “Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.” A Cisco employee quickly tweeted back, “Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.” Riley was dubbed “the Cisco Fatty” and ridiculed for bungling a prime opportunity in the midst of a recession.

Some job seekers have asked me why they can’t seem to get a job. Their work experience seems pretty good. They’ve graduated from a good school. So what could it be? It doesn’t take long for me to scour the web and find the most unflattering information about them, posted by them! I’ve seen people write, “I hate my job… I can’t wait to quit.” or “I can’t focus on my work, so I’m going to play on the internet instead.” If a potential employer takes a look at that, they can automatically sum up that you’ll be nothing but a money waster.

What are you posting about yourself online? Don’t get too relaxed about your online image. Whether you realize it or not, people are checking up on you - regularly. Be sure to clean up your online image and if in doubt, just don’t post your latest ramblings. Save it for your journal or for a text message with your best friend, but do not advertise to the world and most importantly, the people who will be giving you paychecks, that you’re unreliable.

Check out the rest of the Inc. article here.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Leslie Answers Your Questions: How far can I go without a college degree?

Don’t think a college degree is right for you?

I’ve been asked: How far can I go without a college degree?

As far as you want to go. The possibilities are endless!

Now, let’s get realistic.

To be honest, I don’t know very many professionally and financially successful people without college degrees. Not only do these people have degrees, they have years of progressive professional experience.

But, wait, Leslie: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and all sorts of other ridiculously wealthy and successful people don’t have degrees! Surely, I too, can have the same success.

Of course you can. Your possibilities are endless. But let’s take a few things into consideration:

1. These men and women didn’t necessarily need a piece of paper to start their companies. What they needed most was a unique idea and a determination to turn their vision into a reality with energy and a lot of work. They’re not ignorant or lazy; their mindsets are the same: focused, dedicated, and open to learning and making mistakes.

2. They may not have formal education, but these folks have spent hours upon hours of reading, working, learning from others, and making mistakes. If that doesn’t count as education and experience, then I don’t know what does.

3. They don’t hire idiots or lazy folks to work for them. They hire people with advanced degrees, folks with years upon years of specialized experience, who are hungry and motivated for success. Check out the job listings for Microsoft or Apple corporate, for example. You’ll be lucky to find a job posting for someone with just a high school degree. Even Bill Gates recommends young people to study computer sciences due to the lack of talent in the market.

Degrees may be worth a dime a dozen these days, but they’re still worth something especially if you’re passionate about what you do and have the desire to stick with it on the long term. I advise that college should first be for the love of learning, not for the love of money.

I’ll also throw in that I know a lot of college graduates who have done nothing with their education. They just got a degree because it’s what they believed would help them earn that “magic number” salary. These people didn’t work in college, get internships, volunteer with organizations related to their passions and degree, they just went to class thinking that was all to getting a great job and having a fulfilling career. Today, a degree doesn’t do that kind of service. You are required to show more than just a degree.

So, college isn’t for you. What are your alternatives?

Trade School
There are affordable trade schools teaching culinary arts, medical services, building and construction, and all sorts of trades. Many of these schools cost a fraction of traditional college and many of the graduates earn the same as college graduates.

Apprenticeship
Along with trade schools, there are apprenticeships for carpentry, design, art, and so forth. Learning from a master in your industry is a great way to get experience, learn time tested methods, experience new trends as they are happening to your industry. Apprenticeships often go over looked.

Start your own business or sell your ideas
Do you have a skill or idea you think you could develop, market, and sell? Why not start your own business? Bu sure to understand that there is often a lot of money, time, and effort involved in having a business. I have a few friends who own successful start ups and they work - at minimum 60 hours per week.

Licenses or Certifications
There are plenty of certifications you can get to help you move up in the career world: data entry, home inspections, property appraisers, financial adviser, real estate agent, hair stylist and more.

The opportunities for professional growth and wealth are limitless. With that said, you may not be willing to invest in a college education, but I hope you’re willing to invest in yourself.  If you plan to develop your career, be prepared and ready to study and learn more. All successful people share the mindset of focus, determination, and openness to change. If you’ve got that, then you can go anywhere.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

A Rejuvination Inside Look: How Has My Work Evolved Since Opening My Doors?

Take a closer look into Leslie Juvin’s world of Rejuvination

After five years of devoted studies in the art of relationships and social sciences, I first opened my doors as a life coaching company focused on self-improvement and spiritual well-being. As I recorded recurring conversation themes during coaching sessions, I realized my clients were increasingly worried about their careers and how their jobs played a vital part of their relationships and emotional well-being. They needed me to adapt to their needs and hesitantly, I had to find a way to incorporate work and life enhancing services.

I initially doubted by abilities and understanding in the realm of career coaching so I turned to the most successful professionals and human beings I know for advice and insight.  I met with top human resource experts within my local network, retired CEOs, product developers, owners of start ups and internet businesses. I learned through their experiences and asked what was missing in career development today. I made sure I understood their varying personal motivations for work and life. I also had to rehash all of my formal education of business management, law, and finance I learned in college and from my various jobs. I am not shy to say that I read, know and apply many philosophies from today’s leading business culture thought leaders.

Despite the research and knowledge, these two without experience were not enough. I needed to validate my skills with real life circumstances. The only way to know if what I had learned was applicable to the real world was to practice, so I offered my services free of charge to friends in dire need for change. These people were unemployed, broke, and scared about the future. If I could help those at their lowest point in life, then surely I could help someone who just needed to find a new job or a new direction. 

In time, the results trickled in. These people were getting the jobs they wanted. More importantly, they were realizing the powerful affect their intentions and actions had on their job search - and in turn, their career, their relationships, and in whole, their lives. They were thinking about the bigger picture and what it meant to them. I realized that life and circumstance had helped me do what I had initially wanted to do, but in a back door way. As the old adage goes, I was teaching men how to fish.

The more I worked with clients and recorded the results, the more I realized how I already had the means to help others. I just had to redevelop the methods. The same insecurities and fears that plague people’s daily lives applies to their careers as well. I ultimately convinced myself that I am a great career coach. Maybe that was the hardest part of the evolution.

Throughout my personal experiences and by serving my network and clientele, I have learned how to adapt and cope through challenging life transitions. Losing a job or making a huge life transition during a changing economy is both frightening and challenging. What I’ve learned is that I can help people use transitions as a period of personal and professional growth. It wasn’t necessarily the way I had initially intended, but it’s the way nonetheless.

When it came time to brand myself, I wanted to be careful about the word career and my specific title. I’m not a job search expert. I’m not an interviewing expert. I’m not a guru or a “Little Buddha” as many clients and friends have called me in the past. I don’t make stuff up. I don’t set the standards. I’m not a power player in my industry. I’m not a self-proclaimed expert. I can’t back up wild acclamations, so why even go there to call myself something that I’m not?

On the contrary, I’m a woman deeply concerned in the spiritual and emotional growth in the lives of others; an observant person with the ability to make life work. Your success matters to me. If I can help someone live their truth by helping them get a better job and by teaching them how to communicate (by means of writing resumes, cover letters, and coaching) their true selves more easily in order to realize their desires better and faster, then so be it.

I’ve developed the term Operative for myself. By definition, I’m here to help you fix a part of your life so the rest of it runs better. Whatever it is you need, I’ll help you take a thorough look around you to identify the solutions sitting right in front of you. It’s not magic. It’s not fancy tips and tricks. It’s just a practical way of incorporating traditional, time-tested etiquette basics and latest job market developments into developing your life and career, your way.

This is how my work has evolved so far and for now, I will continue to evolve in order to meet client needs. I’m looking forward to the changes.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

In The News: Behavioral Economics: Smart Policy or Controlling The Ignorant?

In light of the global financial consequences suffered as a result of reckless investing and over consumption over the last two years, some thinkers and panelists meeting in Davos World Economic Forum believe that enacting some behavioral economic policies to curb spending and debt accumulation is the answer to stopping financial woes before they start.

One of the ideas mentioned was creating a seven day cooling-off period for customers who sign up for a store credit card. Staving off the “natural” inclination for immediate gratification, will keep consumers from making bad financial decisions.

When I was in public high school, we were not taught the principles of personal finance. I had to enroll in a personal finance class as an elective in college - many of the adults, well into their thirties didn’t understand many of the basic principles of long term investing. That, to me, is a huge problem for nations whose aging public are responsible for their own retirements and health care.

While this might sound like a rational idea, I can’t help thinking that this is an easy way to control the financially ignorant rather than taking the time and additional cost to teach basic financial principles to the public and trusting the public to be responsible with their finances.

What do you think? Should you be told how you spend the money you earn? Do you think this is an excellent idea?

Source

Monday, February 01, 2010

Systematically Manage Tasks With These 5 Simple Questions

When I was working in a boutique real estate firm, I learned how to approach and prioritize the day’s tasks and long term projects from my boss. We would ask ourselves five questions to each task or issue on our plate. We wouldn’t take more than one minute to make a decision on each topic. I really liked her style, so I’m going to share it with you. You can also apply these responses to just about everything in your life. See how it works for you.

Can I cut it out?
Are you on a project that is leading to a dead end? Do you have a business relationship or client that is heading nowhere fast? Just cut it out.

Stop doing whatever it is you’re doing and if you have to close up loose ends, do so immediately. If we couldn’t help a client, we’d simply refer them over to a qualified person who could. Which leads me to the next question.

Can I delegate it?
Is there something you’re doing that someone else can do with better precision? Are you wasting your time on tasks that are not as important than your other tasks, but still require attention? Delegate it now.

Do I respond?
Is there a situation that requires your advice or a statement from you? Do you need to make a decision soon? If so, do the research it takes to come back with the best possible, well-informed question.

Sometimes, there are hot situations that require no response at the present time and require some time to cool down. Work on your response mechanisms rather than by simply reacting to a situation.

Personally, this is my favorite tip. So many of us believe that the faster we make our responses, the better. However, feel free to take some time to think and reflect on the topic at hand. At some level, this tip requires some discipline on your part.

Can I postpone?
This question works nicely with how you respond. Do you need more time to gather more information? Do you not have enough time to properly approach a new project? 

This is the perfect opportunity to ask yourself why you have postponed before. Are you postponing because you’ve changed your mind? Maybe you do don’t feel like going with an idea anymore. If so, go back to question one and cut it out.

Do I tackle now?
Is there something that needs to be done today? Now? Put these items at the top of your to-do this. If you have to cut out something, make it an immediate priority to do so. What are you waiting for? Manage your tasks now!

Ask yourself these simple questions when managing your projects and daily tasks. If you’ve tried this method, come back and post a response. Have another question you’d like to add? Post it now!

Friday, January 29, 2010

Making The Most of Your Professional References

I was inspired to write this article after providing references for several friends and former colleagues. I’m going to show you how to easily get the best references to help you land the next best job.

CONTACT Contact your reference and express the importance and value their reference plays in helping you get a better job.

ASK PERMISSION I know this goes without saying, but ask if they will help you even if you know they would be happy to do so. Sometimes, people might decline to offer a reference, so make sure they know it’s OK to say no with no hard feelings.

WHY DOES THEIR REFERENCE MATTER? Don’t get just anybody to give you a reference. Get the person who is most successful in their field to share their experience about you. Additionally, tell your reference why they make would make the best reference for you and how their accomplishments play an influential part in your career.

OFFER YOUR RESUME Offer your resume as a source of information. Take the time to explain your career with every job you’ve had. Your resume can help your reference define your career from their perspective. Additionally, your reference can be sure of any dates and gaps in your work history.

WHAT SPECIALTY SHOULD THEY FOCUS ON YOU? How does their reference play a role in your potential job? Your reference isn’t likely to know everything about your career let alone know what you’d like for them to specifically discuss to help you get the job. Some references might focus on your work, while another might focus primarily on your personality, skills set, or accomplishments in your field. What is their specific knowledge on you? Coordinate your references so each can address your specific aspects. For example, “Mr. Banks would provide the best example of my journalism experience and writing skills, while Mrs. Brown can tell you about my volunteer experience in child welfare.”

PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE QUESTIONS Do you have an idea of the types of questions they might ask your reference? Dates of employment? Reasons for leaving? Be sure your reference knows what questions they do not legally have to answer; refer to your local employment laws for more information regarding illegal questions.

RESPECT YOUR REFERENCES Be sure to assure your reference that you will only use their time and recommendations sparingly and for those opportunities that seem solid. Let them know how they’ll be contacted and when, so that they’re ready and focused to give a stellar reference within a moment’s notice.

PROTECT YOUR REFERENCES  Do not give out your references contact information to everyone you meet. Be sure to give their information out to serious job prospects and not to every employment agency you work with because they might hustle your reference for business. Give your reference information to companies who will respect your reference’s time.

THANK YOUR REFERENCE Be sure to thank your reference for their contribution. Don’t forget to keep them up to date with your job search and notify them if you have earned the job.

Apply these basic reference building skills to your job search knowledge bank and you’ll be on your way to your next best job in no time!

Have questions about business etiquette? Ask Leslie @ leslie (at) rejuvination.me now.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Get Your Career Out Of The Terrible 20s Alive By Building Relationships, Career, and Finances

My young brother called me for advice asking how to make the most out of his twenties. I couldn’t tell him exactly what to do, but I did tell him to keep the following three things in mind while he navigated his life in the terrible 20s.

Your twenties are for the following three purposes: Building relationships, establishing a career, and coordinating finances.

1. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Now is the time to surround yourself with motivated and inspiring people. If you must spend time with others who are not motivated or are feeling lost, use the relationships as opportunities to either learn more about what you don’t want out of life or as an opportunity to motivate others who are lost and need help regaining focus. Either way, you’ll learn more about yourself which is sure to help you shape your life in positive ways.

Stay Motivated
Motivated people can keep you on your feet and can hold you responsible for your actions. They’ll help you see yourself in the best possible light and remind you of the things you are good at and help you improve your weak areas.

Motivated people don’t allow minor set backs to keep them from their goals, motivated people are inspired by their interests and values and use them as a guide to creating a happier life. They also have contagious energy and will to turn their dreams into a reality. Who can’t be inspired by that?

Develop Colleagues
Find other young professionals or fellow students who are motivated for success and possess a strong desire to make a difference in their fields of interest. Before you know it, these same people will become experts in their field and will develop into perfect references for information, partners in future work projects, and interesting sources for conversation and self improvement later on.

Identify Mentors
Take the time to build relationships with mature professionals. This group can range from your friend’s parents, professors, bosses and older colleagues. They can give you much needed advice, introduce you to their friends and network, and give you insights on life and careers as an adult.

Building relationships will also serve as a method later on for networking, marketing your work or business, meeting needs, in addition to helping you develop your reputation as a person and as a professional. Will people be able to trust you to get your work done on time, within budget, and with good ethics? What will your relationships say about you? Develop them now and don’t be afraid to make, correct, and learn from your social mistakes.

2. BUILD YOUR CAREERUse every experience and opportunity to help you figure out your career path if you haven’t already decided on one or to enhance your skills, knowledge, and expertise.

Use Every Experience As A Career Building Block
Even if you’re traveling, having fun, volunteering, think of every experience as a means to help you develop yourself as a person and as a professional. As a resume writer, I can tell you that even the strangest or simplest life experiences can transfer themselves nicely into a resume.

Follow Your Instincts
Allow your interests and deep seated motivations serve as a guide to helping you decide your ideal career. Is there a particular interest that never leaves your mind and you feel you could make a difference in the field? Did you have a job you really loved and wish you could build on that? Remember, a career is series of jobs, increasing responsibilities, and varying experiences - it’s not just one job or industry for the rest of your life. Refer to my article about changing industries.

Strengthen your weaknesses
It’s obvious that most of us aren’t experts in our field and that we have a long way to perfecting our job executions. Embrace your inexperience and channel your energy by learning from others around you, practicing and making mistakes, embarrassing yourself, wasting your time, and learning about yourself. Now is the time to improve your weaknesses and develop your skills.

Building your career equates to building your resume. Ask yourself, is what I’m doing now going to make me look great on my resume? Will my resume help me get my dream job down the road? Am I a marketable employee or professional? The answers to these questions will develop in time and with practice.

 

 

3. BUILD YOUR FINANCES
We must learn to master our finances now. Individuals are growing increasingly responsible for their own retirement and health savings, so we must learn to successfully earn, save and manage our incomes for short and long term growth. Learn to build and manage your finances now so that you will have the freedom to call your own career shots down the road. Who likes to be dependent on a bad job?

Learn To Earn
There is much talk about saving and managing income, but little about actually earning it. Learn to develop a side trade in the event that you cannot find work in your desired field or specific job. Take the time to learn basic financial principles of lending, saving, investing, buying and selling assets. Develop multiple income streams so that you’re not dependent on just one: your job.  Nobody likes to live paycheck to paycheck let alone being dependent on a job (often a bad job) for a living.

Learn To Save
Many of us get into the mental trap of believing that because we’re earning more we should spend more. What we fail to realize is that the more we spend on our basic cost of living, the more we’re responsible for in the event we lose our jobs.

Identify what kind of lifestyle you want to live and what it takes to financially manage it. To be safe, learn to live on less so that you can face the worst case scenario of losing your job, living with an illness or personal crisis, or that the economy takes a downturn doesn’t destroy your confidence.

Do you know how to budget each meal? Can you quickly calculate your living costs? Do you know how much you are paying in taxes each year? Do you really need to buy the latest gear every year? If you can live on less, you’ll be able to save more for the things you really want to do with your life, retirement, and health.

Learn To Manage
Hire a financial advisor, read financial guides and books, take a course on stock trading or personal finance and learn the basics (and more, if possible) about managing your finances. How many of us have lost sleep wondering how we’re going to make enough money to pay our bills?

Also, learn to manage your emotions and impulses to consume. We don’t need to shop when we’re feeling down or insecure. We also don’t have to buy something simply because it’s in style and we can afford it. We also don’t have to spend money on our credit card just because it’s quick and convenient to have what we want now.

Learn to develop a sense of self discipline and financial knowledge in your twenties. Having a family, owning a home, raising children, facing crisis and poor health are very expensive, require a certain level of financial knowledge, and demand commitment and responsibility.

If you can keep focus on these three facets during your terrible 20s, you can build an exciting and rewarding career of your choice. You’ll be able to call your own career shots and can live according your own desires and calling. What are you waiting for? Get to work now! I look forward to seeing you in your Thriving 30s!

 

Monday, January 25, 2010

WOMEN: 10 Ways To Undermine & Conquer Your Career

1. Cannot Break Down Their Focus
Women are great at multi-tasking. They believe they can be everything to everybody at all hours of the day never ceasing to understand the greater purpose. With this type of thinking and behavior, women can get bogged down by the big picture and reduce efficacy on individual tasks. This results in sub-par work.

TIP: Delegate. Trust and allow others to help you. Do not be afraid to demand excellence as you focus on your main tasks. Don’t forget to minimize your urge to micromanage. Know what you want up front and be clear about your expectations.

2. Focus Too Much On Personality Rather Than Skills
My female clients come to me expressing their feelings about their work and how they, as a person, will make a great candidate for a job or promotion. My male clients come to me with their skills and tell me how their experience makes them qualified for a job. This is where the man’s world and the woman’s world collides. Women get too hung up on their feelings and personality because women tend to be group oriented as they realize the affect of group dynamics in the work environment. The problem is, women forget to highlight their work experience and amount of education and accomplishments they have to offer, failing to drive home their ultimate value.

TIP: Understand that getting a job takes a combination of personality, skills and knowledge, and a certain level of accomplishments. It doesn’t matter how nice and thoughtful you are. An employer wants to know whether or not you’ve got the clout to meet deadlines and understand the bottom line. Emphasize your skills, knowledge, and experience and allow your personality to take a back seat.

3. Assuming Others Will Notice and Reward Your Work
Many women think, “If I keep my mouth shut and do a great job, everyone will notice me and give me the pay/benefits/acclaim I deserve.” This type of thinking is career sabotage as other employees are more focused on themselves and their jobs than to care about what you’re doing even if you’re the company’s biggest asset.

TIP: A little self promotion goes a long way. Don’t be afraid to voice the sacrifice and effort you are making for the team. Do so in a gracious way and you will get noticed. Toot your horn too loudly and find yourself alienated from the greater team. If you believe you deserve a raise, promotion, or recognition, ask. Be prepared to back up your demands with evidence.

4. Waiting For Permission To Advance Your Career
Many women believe they must receive a sign to make a career move or be expressly told by a superior that they should move up or on with their career. Waiting for permission to advance your career could leave you rotting in the back office.

TIP: When you feel ready to move on, plan and execute with confidence. Demonstrate assertiveness by proposing a promotion and have confidence in your work. If you experience some road blocks conquer them quickly and work towards a plan for growth.

5. Office Gossip & Personal Politics
Office gossip can cause a whole mess of social problems that affect productivity. Sure, knowing gossip about our colleagues can make us feel like we’re in control of our work environment, but doing so leads to questions about our ethics and integrity.

TIP: Avoid gossip. Make a stand to stay out of office dramas and limit your personal involvement if it affects your performance. Keep yourself in check and if you hear information about others, keep it to yourself and don’t use it as blackmail later on. Aim for the straight and narrow path of personal politics.

6. Using Sex Appeal
There is nothing wrong with being and feeling beautiful. There are many known and unknown ramifications of using sex appeal and sexuality on the job by means of flirting, inter-office relationships, and physical relationships. The short and long term consequences can very well affect your career in terms of reputation, ethics, and perceived intention. Some ramifications involve law suits, gossip, termination, and public embarrassment.

TIP: Use your image wisely and know your limits and company policy of physical and sexual involvement in the workplace. Be sure to understand the consequences before engaging in questionable behavior. Using sex as a method to gain recognition, salary increases, and promotions should be avoided at all costs. If you’re using your body as a means for career growth, then it’s time to reevaluate your skills and goals.

7. Ignoring Your Work Needs
Being a professional woman, let alone mother and wife, typically involves self sacrifice when it comes to a career. Women often put others’ needs before their own and get caught up in assisting and sometimes doing the work of others to the point of sheer self negligence. Doing so can severely stunt one’s career growth.

TIP: Assist others when you can and be sure to communicate your needs and projects as necessary. As mentioned before be sure to delegate responsibility and use the skills and talents of others to maximize their own efficacy and increase overall productivity.

8. Trying To Manage A Career On Your Own
For every ten men who comes for my career advice, I receive one female client. Men justify the expense of hiring a career coach because they are the main breadwinners in their family and thus need to use the tools available to them to make the most out of their career. Women, on the other hand, find it hard to justify the expense of a career coach because they’re not the main bread winner or simply because they do not believe in the possibilities and value of their work. Don’t belittle the value of your career.

TIP: Find two people: a mentor and a career coach. A mentor will help you develop your career and role at work. They’ll also take you under their wing and show you how to maximize your time, meet the right people and develop your skills as a professional. A career coach will help you develop a vision and solid career plan. They’ll also hold you accountable for your performance and will constantly provide the motivation you need and deserve. It’s time to define value in your work and realize you can’t do it alone.

9. Neglecting Yourself
This addresses the fact that many women feel they must sacrifice a healthy diet, sleep, emotional and physical health and hygiene for their careers. Before they know it, they’re risking their healthy and sanity to for a jb and doing so can result in disastrous consequences such as termination, taking sick days, loss of income, and the perception of a lack of reliability.

TIP: Make your emotional and physical health a daily priority. Work out, eat healthy, and talk with someone who can help you sort out your emotions and feelings so you don’t have to drag your issues to work in the morning. If we’re sick, tired, and generally unhappy, the odds are we’re unable to properly do our jobs and help our clientele.

10. Mismanaging Money
When women overspend incomes, live with debt, misuse money, or depend on others for their income, they are forced to take unwanted job simply for the money. When one thinks too much about money or debt, they’re not focusing on their overall career and how they can use it as a tool of personal and professional self expression. Instead, a career becomes a matter of money, rather than a matter of passion and one finds themselves dependent upon a bad job, living paycheck to paycheck, or afraid of being laid off.

TIP: Take control of your finances now. Hire a financial adviser and cut your credit cards, live with less, pay off your debt, stop co-dependent relationships and make financial and social sacrifices to free yourself of financial slavery. When women are free of overwhelming financial obligations they feel freer to make career decisions based on their goals rather than a mere number.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Interview Preparation 101

1. Know The Company
  * Company values, goals, environment, personality
  * Market share, position against competitors, place in the minds of consumers/clientele/constituency
  * Any current and job relevant news about the company
  * Understand the company’s role within it’s respective industry

Where To Look
  * Company website(s)
  * Search Engines - Google, Yahoo, etc.
  * Press - online and print news syndicates and trade publications
  * Corporate statistics: Hoovers, Fortune, Dun & Bradstreet, Wall Street Journal
  * Employees you know at the company

How To Land The Job
  * Incorporate the knowledge you know into your questions and responses.
  * Be able to cite your sources in case you are quizzed on your knowledge.

2. Understand The Job
  * Know the position for which you are interviewing.
  * Understand your role within the department and the company.
  * Know and understand the technical aspects of the position including key words, especially if you are in a technical, academic, or scientific field.
  * Find out why they are hiring you and discern how to fill that need.
  * Know how much it pays compared to the industry standard.

Where To Look
  * Ask the company with whom you are applying for a copy of the job description. Remember, this may be different from the posted advertisement.
  * Conduct an online search of the position in question to determine job related duties and responsibilities.
  * If you can, find out from insiders or industry reports about current company issues and see how it relates to the position in question

How To Land The Job
  * Impress your interviewer with your firm understanding of the position.
  * Be prepared with job questions for the interviewer.
  * Properly negotiate your starting salary without making the focus on money, but the value you’ll bring with your knowledge and experience.
  * Hit the sweet spot by focusing on their needs and how you can bring value by meeting them.

3. Understand Yourself
  * Understand your overall career and be able to explain each career move.
  * Know your abilities/accomplishments and effectively communicate that on your resume.
  * Know and list your short and long term goals.
  * Break down your experience and personality with examples.
  * Prepare for the worst.

Where To Look
  * Talk with your career counselor about your overall career and how it involves your short term personal and career goals.
  * Create a resume that properly communicates your experience, skills, and tailor it for the job at hand.
  * Create a list of potential questions you could answer and practice them with your career counselor.
  * Get prepared to answer questions regarding your mistakes, personality/ability weaknesses and resume gaps. Rehearse your answers to reduce interview anxiety.

How To Land The Job
  * Memorize your answers and keep them brief. Invite dialogue between you and your interviewer.
  * Communicate how all of your prior jobs and experiences lead up to the position in question with focus.
  * Understand yourself and know your capabilities and weaknesses, demonstrate that despite them you are capable of trying different roles within the job itself.

4. Know The Interviewer(s)
  * Your interviewer(s) will be scouring the internet for your presence, be sure to research them.
  * Know their professional background, especially if you’ll be working closely with them.
  * Identify commonalities between you and your interviewer (professional background, interests, goals)

Where To Look
  * Searched facebook, twitter, brazen careerist, and other professional social networking sites.
  * Use Google to see if they have any publications available or if their work has been featured in trade magazines.
  * If possible learn about their career and their goals; find out if you have any common friends or work connections.

How To Land The Job
  * Highlight your commonalities and how you could help each other.
  * Briefly mention their career contributions and how you aspire for similar achievements.
  * Keep it professional and light. Don’t get too personal too soon.
  * Recognize that they have goals and budgets to maintain and relate with him/her.

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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

7 Career Lessons Learned From Working With Mature Professionals

From time to time, we Generation Y-ers get caught up in our own face-paced mobile careers giving the impression that we’re entitled, know-it-alls with the intent to devour jobs from road weary baby boomers.

Once in a while the opportunity to have lunch with our CEO or shoot the breeze with an older professional who is two to three times our age comes to us because we need career growth. Within moments such as these, we’re afforded the opportunity to make a connection with someone who can offer us a piece of sage advice or who can to take a rough and tough young professional and mentor them into professional perfection.

I learned the following seven lessons from working with mature professionals including a CEO of a multinational corporation, a small business owner with an entrepreneurial spirit, a high-profile industry expert, and a few other executives, doctors, and retired business people with hope, help, and advice to give to budding Generation Y professionals like myself.

1. Knowledge
What I love about working with mature professionals is that they know a lot about their field. They are aware of the inner workings of their industry and they know how to connect with key players and which time wasters to avoid.

Many mature professionals don’t mind sharing their advice and opinion on the industry. They have reached a point in their career where they feel they can share and teach younger professionals how to make the most of their career.

If you find a mature professional who is ready to share, plug in and tune into their advice. Their knowledge can save you from having to endure tough experiences and can help speed up your career development.

2. Passion
The more specialized and experienced a mature professional is in their field, the more passion they exude. This passion is contagious. Channel the passion they exude into your work as well. They’ll identify and if you’re lucky, take you under their wing.

3. Gaining Favor
Fortunately, I’ve earned the favor of a few mature professionals who have taken it upon themselves to be a mentor offering training and insight into their private career lives. When this happens, young professional, learn earnestly.

If opportunities for growth are made available, you’re most likely the first person they’ll think of when extending perks and openings. Never take advantage of this favor. They can sense B.S. almost immediately and they will make sure you work even harder to redeem yourself.

4. Opportunities
Mature professionals generally have a high work load and need support from time to time, this means opportunities for practice and growth opportunities. Take them.

You might have to do menial projects for them but just like the movie “Karate Kid” the lessons are learned in the minutia. Not to mention, if you make a mistake, they’re more willing to forgive and chalk errors up to learning experience.

5. Introductions
If you have the passion, the knowledge, and favor of a mature professional, this positive energy can translate into introductions to other successful, passionate, and interesting professionals who can help your career grow.

This means they trust you to not embarrass them and it publicly demonstrates their belief in you. They’re acting as the gate keeper to your industry success. This is your time to shine and show others what your mentor has taught you. Not only will you score points for your mentor, but you are earning the trust of your industry.

6. Self Understanding
Mature professionals have a great sense of self understanding. They understand the value of their work and their role within their industry. They are confident in who they are and know how to act with others. They are the first to admit they don’t know everything and agree there is always room for improvement.

With self understanding comes the development of work place ethics, a professional personality, and our reputation. When we know who we are as professionals and what we can do for others, the better we can earn business and the trust of our colleagues and clientele.

7. Life Advice
With self understanding comes wisdom for living. Mature professionals will encourage you to establish professional limitations and personal boundaries with which to build a worthy career.

If you have earned enough favor, they’ll even welcome you into their personal lives as a friend. When you’ve gotten this far, you’ve done pretty well for yourself. Just imagine that someday, you’ll be a mature professional with an abundance of advice, knowledge, and valuable experiences to share with a budding professional.

Monday, January 18, 2010

5 Relationship Lessons My French Family Taught Me

My life growing up was a bit like The Jerry Springer Show: dramatic, emotional, and self-destructive. While living with my French family for the past six months, I’ve learned many lessons that I will take with me when my husband and I finally break off to live our new lives in France.

1. You Always Have Time To Eat A Meal With Your Family
Growing up, my mother would serve a meal for all of us four kids and herself while my father ate dinner by himself in the bedroom to watch TV. I thought this was how all families operated.

With my French family, it is father in law who makes lunch for us four. We gather together at least once a day for a meal and conversation. Some conversations aren’t as interesting as others, but meals involve a dialogue and the opportunity to connect with the ones we love. No matter how busy life gets, we always have time for one meal and conversation a day with our family.

2. Everyone Deserves Respect And Good Manners
As in all families and social relations, there are always sensitivities over differences in opinion and intentions. Despite differing opinions, people always deserve a minimal level of respect: hello, goodbye, acknowledgment, a handshake, calling others by their formal titles, and all the formal common courtesies we are taught in elementary school. Most importantly, it’s almost never productive to say disrespectful things about a person’s reputation or personal character.

3. Don’t Let Drama Escalate
Sometimes, life gets overwhelming and emotions can run high, but for the sake of relationships and self preservation it’s best to cool off and stop drama where it starts. This takes a lot of self discipline, especially when one feels like exploding to make themselves feel better. However, when one really thinks about it, the reasons to explode do not justify the emotional damage left in the wake.

4. If You Have To Argue: Do So Respectfully
Sometimes, we have to argue to defend ourselves or to stand up for what be believe in. The dialogue can continue, but abruptly stops when one uses hurtful names and bad language. When emotions get high, refer to number three.

5. Be True To Yourself But Don’t Expect Everyone To Agree or Like You
Be yourself and do so in a gracious way, but don’t expect everyone to agree with or like you. Don’t get hung up on it, though, because their differences in opinion reflect their own internal struggles and their relationship with the world.

If you must entertain criticism, do so gracefully and know you can stop listening at any time. You also don’t have to take the opinions of others to heart. The choice to live life truthfully and honestly without the feeling of guilt is yours alone.

Friday, January 15, 2010

What To Do If Your Industry Is Declining or Dying

This is a list of the top ten industries that are in economic decline or dying out. If you hear rumors of layoffs or an impending industry crisis, it’s better to be over prepared than to be left with nothing when layoffs strike. Here are some ways to be proactive about your declining industry so you can make a smooth transition to a different one.

1. Department stores: Projected to lose 10.2 percent of the 1.56 million jobs they had in 2008.
2. Semiconductor manufacturing: Projected to lose 33.7 percent of the 432,000 jobs it had in 2008.
3. Motor vehicle parts manufacturing: Projected to lose 18.6 percent of its 544,000 jobs.
4. Postal service: Projected to lose 13 percent of the 748,000 jobs it had in 2008.
5. Printing and related jobs: Projected to lose 16 percent of its 594,000 jobs.
6. Cut-and-sew apparel manufacturing: Projected to lose 57 percent of its 155,000 jobs.
7. Newspaper publishers: Projected to lose 24.8 percent of its 326,000 jobs.
8. Mining support jobs: Projected to lose 23.2 percent of its 328,000 jobs.
9. Gas stations: Projected to lose 8.9 percent of its 843,000 jobs.
10. Wired telecom: Projected to lose 11 percent of its 666,000 jobs.

Change Industries, Not Career
Just because you were laid off or are tired of working in your current industry, you are not obligated to start over in a new industry. Many professionals believe they must to start over, typically meaning an entry level position. This tactic and lack of self confidence isn’t a great approach especially if you have a number of financial responsibilities that rely on your current income level.

Refocus your skills and experience on a new industry instead.

Get Additional Training
If you know your technology skills are lacking, take evening or weekend courses to improve your technical strength. There are classes available online and within your community for a variety of experience levels.

Getting additional training can help you keep your job, reducing your chances of a layoff. If you do lose your job, your resume will display proof that you’re proactive about your career.

Research Other Industries
Take a look at the most recent Occupational Handbook to discover the other types of jobs that fit your personality and professional skills. Read through various trade books and magazines to get a feel of the industry in question. Interview friends and family members in differing fields to better understand their jobs. If you can, spend a day shadowing them to get first hand knowledge.

Identify the industry leading companies and learn more about them. Figure out how they are changing their industries for the better and learn what types of employees they hire, too. Adjust yourself accordingly. Take new industry knowledge with you and use it during interviews. Interviewers are sure to notice your knowledge of the field and relevant news developments.

Identify Your Skills
There are three types of skills: Adaptive Skills, Transferable skills, and Technical skills.

  1. Adaptive skills are skills you use every day to adapt to a variety of situations. Some of them also could be considered part of your basic personality. Examples of adaptive skills that employer’s value include getting to work on time, honest, enthusiasm, and interacting well with others.
  2. Transferable skills are those that you can take from job to job, regardless of industry. Transferable skills include communication skills, negotiation skills, accounting skills, and so forth.
  3. Technical skills are relevant to your specific job, such as welding, coding, giving shots, and so forth.

Identify and list your skills to see which can be taken to a new job and industry and those that should be left out of your resume. You might even discover that you have many skills that transfer over to a new industry.

Take a look at your personal interests and activities for marketability
When changing industries, personal interests and activities can play a major part of your transformation. If you’ve been an accountant in the automotive industry for fifteen years, but have spent your weekends visiting art museums and volunteering in the art community, you could highlight these interests and relevant experiences for an accounting or financial management position within an art-based non-profit organization.

Get Assistance From A Third Party
If you are experiencing work related anxieties, talk to a career counselor who can objectively help you analyze your work situation and can give you the proper help to make an effective career move.

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