In today's economy, many people are concerned about their future as an employee of XYZ Corporation or ABC Agency. If you are someone who is wondering what tomorrow brings, it would be better to use that energy and time taking some positive actions instead of just "wondering".
To begin with, if you do not have a resume, or your resume is not up to date, that is where you need to start. even if you do not need to (or have to) look for a different job right now, I think it is always good to have an up-to-date resume. For one thing, if you have been working for very long in in the same position, you are likely doing some tasks that you did not do when you started. The best way to keep track of your accomplishments and job changes is to have it written down. Not only does that mean you will be closer to a 'ready' resume, if you need it unexpectedly, but it can also be a boost to your esteem to remember what you have accomplished over the last few years.
Of course, many people use the opportunity provided to them to look for a different line of work. Some of the people I have worked with whose positions were being eliminated were actually ok with the opportunity. Maybe they had been unhappy for some time, but did not feel a real push to do anything about it. Having their position eliminated gave them an opportunity to create a work experience that was more in line with their current interests and skills. Other clients decided to continue their education and needed a resume to go with their application to graduate school. So, I update my resume at least once a year, whether I need it or not.
Additionally, if you have not really thought about what you would like to do next, you can use this time to think about the kind of work you would like to do - if given the opportunity. I generally encourage my clients to consider their interests, skills and abilities, values, and personality strengths in considering what type of work would be a good fit for them. If you need some help doing an assessment, that is certainly available.
Once you have clarified what you know about your self, then you may need to learn more about the world of work. New jobs are being added to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (published by the Department of Labor) practically every day. Doing a little research to learn more about some of the job titles that exist can be helpful. Additionally, you may need to know whether the kind of work you want to do next is likely to be readily available or hard to find type of job.
By doing some of that research and assessment now, you can begin to clarify what you would like to do next and develop a plan to get there - on your time schedule perhaps, not your employer's.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), designated as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). In addition to over 20 years' experience as a career counselor and coach, she also has years of experience as a college academic advisor. She provides career coaching and counseling for life's transitions in person at Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and at a distance through Your Career Plan.
Visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com. Contact Ms. Davis at (513) 665-4444 x3 or YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Taking Care of You During a Job Search
It is always important to take care of yourself, but that is especially true during a job search. Any transition - whether voluntary or not and whether you really view it as a good change or not - can be stressful. The difficult thing about a job search is that your attitude and emotions often show through in your contacts with potential resources and employers.
If you have not dealt with anger regarding your transition, I cannot stress how important it is for you to do that. Unresolved anger is one of those emotions that has a way of creeping into everything you say and do. You can not afford to have anger seep into your job search communications. Additionally, unresolved anger is just not healthy - it takes a toll on your mind and body.
It is fairly easy to grow weary of an extended job search, but you can not let that show. It is important that you demonstrate that you are an active, healthy potential employee with energy to undertake some new projects or help develop new strategies to solve the company's problems. Additionally, if you are unclear on your career goals, that comes through in your communications. So even if you have a goal and one or two back-up plans, you want to express excitement about that current goal - whether the job you are applying for fits with your first or 3rd choice.
Additionally, if your self-esteem has taken a beating through your transition, it is best to work on building that up, preferably before you launch a job search. Just as anger is an unattractive attribute in a job candidate, so is low self-esteem. Even when you are able to put up a good front most of the time, your lack of self-confidence may be evident in your writing, but is very likely apparent in interviews. Your in-person communications will likely reveal that you are not 'on top of the world' or at your best.
During a job search, you need to be able to demonstrate that you are a capable, competent individual who will be a valuable asset to any organization. Of course, I believe counseling can help, but I would encourage you at least to talk with a personal confidant and/or a spiritual/religious person to help you work through your unhealthy emotions and get your feelings in balance. So deal with your emotions related to your transition in a healthy way and be better prepared for a successful job search.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), designated as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor with over 20 years of experience providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions. She meets with individuals in person at Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and at a distance through Your Career Plan.
Visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/, call Mary Ann at (513) 665-4444 x3, or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
If you have not dealt with anger regarding your transition, I cannot stress how important it is for you to do that. Unresolved anger is one of those emotions that has a way of creeping into everything you say and do. You can not afford to have anger seep into your job search communications. Additionally, unresolved anger is just not healthy - it takes a toll on your mind and body.
It is fairly easy to grow weary of an extended job search, but you can not let that show. It is important that you demonstrate that you are an active, healthy potential employee with energy to undertake some new projects or help develop new strategies to solve the company's problems. Additionally, if you are unclear on your career goals, that comes through in your communications. So even if you have a goal and one or two back-up plans, you want to express excitement about that current goal - whether the job you are applying for fits with your first or 3rd choice.
Additionally, if your self-esteem has taken a beating through your transition, it is best to work on building that up, preferably before you launch a job search. Just as anger is an unattractive attribute in a job candidate, so is low self-esteem. Even when you are able to put up a good front most of the time, your lack of self-confidence may be evident in your writing, but is very likely apparent in interviews. Your in-person communications will likely reveal that you are not 'on top of the world' or at your best.
During a job search, you need to be able to demonstrate that you are a capable, competent individual who will be a valuable asset to any organization. Of course, I believe counseling can help, but I would encourage you at least to talk with a personal confidant and/or a spiritual/religious person to help you work through your unhealthy emotions and get your feelings in balance. So deal with your emotions related to your transition in a healthy way and be better prepared for a successful job search.
Mary Ann Davis, M.A., is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), designated as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor with over 20 years of experience providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions. She meets with individuals in person at Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and at a distance through Your Career Plan.
Visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/, call Mary Ann at (513) 665-4444 x3, or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
Keeping Active in Your Job Search - Especially in a Slow Economy
I have talked with several people recently who are having a hard time keeping active in their job search. They started out energized by the possibilities, but along the way, they have lost steam. They have looked through the want ads, although there isn't usually much there, they have posted their resume to a few sites, and they have looked at job sites but they are just not finding much in advertised jobs. In this economy, it does seem that "no one is hiring" but that is not entirely accurate.
In actuality, many employers are hiring, some of them are the same companies that have recently reduced their staff. The thing is, they are hiring people who can solve some of their problems, help them reduce costs, or find ways to increase their sales or business income. As a job seeker, you should be prepared to help a potential organization recognize the value that you would bring and in which way(s) you could help them.
I encourage my clients to continue to network to identify potential employment opportunities they may be able to pursue. It is still primarily a matter of knowing someone who knows someone who can provide you with a way "in" to a potential hiring organization. I also encourage my clients to do some research to learn more about those organizations that may offer potential employment and develop a plan for how they could present their value to those organizations in a meaningful way.
This is certainly not the time to be shy about what you could do for an employer. Although that is not to say you should be overbearing. But you should be able to identify ways in which you could help with some of their problems and provide some supportive statements relating previous successes in similar situations. You should develop at least a few accomplishment statements to share with potential employers that demonstrate how you have been successful in the past. Networking may get you in the door, or on the phone, with a potential hiring manager, but you must be able to communicate your value.
Don't lose heart, but you may need to allow more time for your search. Ideally, you can conduct your search while you are still employed, but if not, you need to take advantage of the additional available time to step up your search activity. And keep a positive attitude - it shows!
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), designated as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). In addition to over 20 years' experience as a career counselor and coach, she also has years of experience as a college academic advisor. She provides career coaching and counseling for life's transition in person at Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and at a distance through Your Career Plan.
Visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/. Contact Ms. Davis at (513) 665-4444 x3 or YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
In actuality, many employers are hiring, some of them are the same companies that have recently reduced their staff. The thing is, they are hiring people who can solve some of their problems, help them reduce costs, or find ways to increase their sales or business income. As a job seeker, you should be prepared to help a potential organization recognize the value that you would bring and in which way(s) you could help them.
I encourage my clients to continue to network to identify potential employment opportunities they may be able to pursue. It is still primarily a matter of knowing someone who knows someone who can provide you with a way "in" to a potential hiring organization. I also encourage my clients to do some research to learn more about those organizations that may offer potential employment and develop a plan for how they could present their value to those organizations in a meaningful way.
This is certainly not the time to be shy about what you could do for an employer. Although that is not to say you should be overbearing. But you should be able to identify ways in which you could help with some of their problems and provide some supportive statements relating previous successes in similar situations. You should develop at least a few accomplishment statements to share with potential employers that demonstrate how you have been successful in the past. Networking may get you in the door, or on the phone, with a potential hiring manager, but you must be able to communicate your value.
Don't lose heart, but you may need to allow more time for your search. Ideally, you can conduct your search while you are still employed, but if not, you need to take advantage of the additional available time to step up your search activity. And keep a positive attitude - it shows!
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), designated as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association, and a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). In addition to over 20 years' experience as a career counselor and coach, she also has years of experience as a college academic advisor. She provides career coaching and counseling for life's transition in person at Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and at a distance through Your Career Plan.
Visit her web site at http://www.yourcareerplan.com/. Contact Ms. Davis at (513) 665-4444 x3 or YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
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