Job Searchers Need To Love Themselves To Be Successful

February 14, 2014 | Author: Arleen Bradley
Loving yourself is the first step in believing in yourself.

Loving yourself is the first step in believing in yourself.

Today is a day for letting the people you know you love them.  But do you love you?  How are you showing yourself love?  It’s important that you love yourself all the time, but more so when you are struggling.  A little self-love can go a long way when you are feeling the results of the black hole.

When I experienced the black hole, my confidence and esteem diminished.  After months of no success, I began to feel that I was a loser.  I thought it was pointless to fill out another application or send another résumé.  Does this sound familiar?

If you are like most long-term unemployed, I’m sure it does.  And feeling this way is the biggest hindrance to your job search success.  Only when I became confident on the inside as I seemed on the outside, did I find success. 

It came when I realized that people weren’t rejecting “me”; they found someone better qualified in the enormous pool of candidates.  I had to realize that my thoughts were holding me back. And when I did, I was able to change them and took action to prove to myself I was capable. 

I would like to share 3 quotes with you today.  Think of them as my Valentine’s gift to you.

Zig Ziglar said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” This is true.  My clients who are positive about their job search find success quicker than the ones who have started the downward spiral. 

Henry Ford said, “Whether you think that you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.”  You can do anything you think you can because you won’t stop trying.  You will do everything you can to succeed.  Resting isn’t an option.

And finally my last quote is by Lee Pryke.  I love the title of her website:  IamIcan.ca.  The reason I love this quote is how she notes that loving yourself is the key to achieving.  And that’s what I am talking about today.   

She says, “Understanding and unconditionally loving yourself is the key to achieving everything you desire. Understanding is the part that I believe so many slide by, therefore, finding self-love a challenge. When we understand what our inner thought process is about ourselves, we can address the areas that most desire a tender loving hug.”  Today give yourself a hug.  Allow yourself some time to take care of you.  Do one thing you enjoy, and I’m sure that it has nothing to do with job searching.  You’ve earned it.   You are poised for success; it’s just around the corner. 

 

How can I help you in you in your job search?

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End Your Unemployment by Reading the Newspaper

February 12, 2014 | Author: Arleen Bradley
Read the newspaper to find a job, but not just the classified ads.

Read the newspaper to find a job, but not just the classified ads.

It used to be the newspaper was the first place you went when you wanted to look for a job.  site But that isn’t the case today.  There are only a few help wanted ad in the classified section now.  I wouldn’t suggest you disregard the classified, but don’t rely on it for your next job.  Use it in conjunction with other resources.

However, there is more information for job searchers in the newspaper.  You can use your local newspaper, the Wall Street Journal, your local Business Journal or any other publication. 

Reading your local newspaper as a job searcher is different from reading the newspaper for the news.  Instead of reading the paper looking for sports scores, comics, deaths, and classifieds, there is information about what’s going on in companies right in your own backyard. 

Companies like to announce their good news. Companies with good news are companies that are doing well.  You may want to check out these companies for openings.  Good news includes new products, new customers, new locations, new contracts and such.  They will announce promotions and new hires.  The bigger the ads they take out, the better they are doing.   You may learn about companies that you didn’t know existed.

The newspaper can help you network in two ways.  Many companies encourage community involvement.  Pictures of their employees at local events often appear in the newspaper with names and titles.  You can learn about what projects companies are interested in and join in at the events.  Volunteering is a great way to get a job.  Organizations holding networking events will announce the time and place in the newspaper.

You may be following your targeted companies for your next job to learn what they are up to.  But are you following their stock performance? 

You will also find out about companies you want to avoid for a variety of reasons.  You may learn about some unethical practices, products/services you don’t want to be associated with, or their financial situation.   Layoffs, poor business practices, and other troubles find their way into the newspaper.  You can ignore these companies. 

If you have read my blog posts, you know that I am interested in the job searcher as well as the job search process.  One of the things I talk about is using humor to help with job search anxiety.  Reading the comics will offer a temporary respite from the stress.  Doing the puzzles will keep your mind off your job search for a short while.

Your local library has copies of your local, regional and specialty newspapers.  You can read several newspapers in one visit.  Sunday editions are usually larger and have more stories and advertisements than the daily edition.  Most newspapers have a business section where you can find business news in one place.

And yes, newspapers still have help wanted sections.  The job you want may be there waiting for you to find it.  Before you know it, you will only need the newspaper for the crossword puzzle.

How can I help you in your job search?

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An Open Letter to Congress and President Obama on Behalf of the Long Term Unemployed

February 10, 2014 | Author: Arleen Bradley
What are they going to do?

What are they going to do?

 

This may sound like a rant for good reason.  But it is something I feel passionate about.  I know so many people who have been unemployed for a long time.  They have put their lives and spending on hold.  They want to get up, dressed and go to work.  So please forgive the rant.

Dear Congressmen/women and President Obama,

The Republicans are doing this, the Democrats are doing that.  But what are they doing for the Long Term Unemployed?  Whether they agree on funding benefits is one thing.  But what they should be doing is finding ways to get these people back to work because that is what they would rather do.

Instead of blaming each other for doing nothing, something wrong or what have you, start working together to fill the empty factory buildings that are being turned into housing.  Yes, they are very cute and so pretty with the original wooden beams and floors exposed.  How about we turn them into factories where products are made. 

Factories that turn out quality goods that require many people to accomplish are needed.  So that people who put widget A into socket B can do just that.  They are good at and need to be able to do it.  So that accountants, administrative assistants, janitors, shippers/receivers and all the others have a place to go in the morning.

Instead of turning on their home computers, they turn on the computers at work and spend all day accomplishing something more than looking at Monster and CareerBuilder, or spending hours on the phone waiting to talk to a live person at the Department of Unemployment.

Then they would be able to go out to their favorite restaurants on the weekends.  Get so stressed out they that need a vacation and book a flight to somewhere fun.  Of course working in an office will require the latest styles waiting for them at the stores in the mall.  They will be able to replace their old car for a new one. 

Getting people back to work makes sense not only for the long term unemployed, but for many more.  The restaurants, airlines, retail and car industry will benefit.  People want to buy, but they only buy when they have a steady stream of disposal income.  People don’t buy when they are living off their life savings or when they know they only have so many weeks of unemployment. 

Democrats and Republicans get over it and put these people to work.  They want and need to work.  Help them out instead your yourselves.  

Sincerely,

A concerned U.S. citizen

 

How can I help you in your job search?

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What Olympic Athletes Can Teach Job Searchers To Be Successful

February 7, 2014 | Author: Arleen Bradley
In the job search there is only one winner. Are you ready to win?

In the job search there is only one winner. Are you ready to win?

It’s that time again.  Every four years athletes from around the world gather to compete to be the fastest, highest and strongest at the Winter Olympics.  Much like job searchers compete to be the most qualified candidate. 

The Olympic athletes are equally matched the same as the job candidates are qualified.  The winners are determined by fractions of sections and inches.  So how is it possible to have an edge of the other competitors?  The athlete and job searcher that can focus, block out distractions, and stay calm, in addition to the needed skills will win. 

Have you ever seen a world class athlete before their event?  If you have, you might have seen them with their eyes closed and head moving.  What they’re doing is not some weird superstitious ritual before competing.  They are performing their competition in their head. 

Every movement their body will make is pictured along with any feeling they have to go along with the action.  Included will be any sounds they will hear, smells in the venue, and the feel of their clothing on their skin.  This valuable exercise is as valuable to them as the time they spend practicing.  They will do this several times during the day.  It is a way of practicing without being at the venue.  It can be done anywhere at any time.  They can practice while waiting for something, taking a plane to a competition, or just sitting at home.

The practice was common in the Eastern bloc countries during the 60’s and 70’s.  Soon American athletes starting using it a little after.  Some famous athletes who used guided imagery for success are Michael Phelps, Lindsey Vonn, Arthur Ashe, Jack Nicklaus, Carl Yastrzemski, and Michael Jordan.  This is a very short list as there are many more.

What they are doing is called guided imagery.   If you imagine you are doing something and you include all five senses, sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste, your subconscious can’t tell the difference between reality and imagination.  Guided imagery misleads your autonomic system into believing that what you are doing is real.   As a result of this trickery, you achieve the expected benefit.

Guided imagery has many uses including relaxation, stopping habits, performance enhancement and for improving health by relieving pain and rapid healing.  Research shows that guided imagery can decrease/manage stress, increase your confidence and self-esteem.

Job searchers use guided imagery to eliminate job loss trauma; forgive and forget any injustices they have experienced; and practice job search skills.  The job searchers who practice guided imagery are more likely to get jobs more quickly than those who don’t.  A study by Dr. Lynn Joseph showed that over 60% of participants in a study using guided imagery for job searchers obtained jobs within two months.  Only 12% of the control group obtained jobs in the same time frame using another method.

In order to win, athletes and job searchers need to be ready for their event.  They need to be relaxed, focused and skilled.  Guided imagery prepares both to be the winner.  And unlike the Olympic athletes, there is no prize for the second place finisher.

How can I help you be successful in your job search?

 

 

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How to Deal with Difficult Issues While Interviewing

February 5, 2014 | Author: Arleen Bradley
How to answer the tough questions

How to answer the tough questions

We all know there are many people out looking for a job.  Most of the people looking have been downsized, right sized, off shored or laid off.  It all means the same thing. Answering the question why you are looking for a job is easy.  Everyone has the same answer. 

However there are some people looking for a job that left their jobs under different circumstances such as:

  • They were fired—with cause for violating a policy, stole, insubordination, lost a major account or drug and alcohol abuse.
  • They were bullied—and fired without cause when a co-worker felt threatened and decided to eliminate any competition. 
  • They quit because the work environment was toxic—the situation was intolerable and was having a negative effect on their physical and mental health.

These are only three reasons among the many.  But they all have one thing in common.  The issues that surround the job loss will have to be explained in an interview.  Prepare for the questions

by writing out the situation in as much detail as possible.  Then trim it down to succinct and impartial.  These things you should consider.

Be honest—that is the most essential thing to do.  Regardless if it were your fault or someone else’s, you need to be sincerely honest about the situation.  Not doing so can catch up with you later and may have disastrous results. 

Explain the facts—not just your version, b

ut get the facts even if you have to ask others for their neutral thoughts on the situation. 

Don’t blame—yourself or the other person, group, or company.  This is the same as bad mouthing the other party.  Bad mouthing will send up red flags and start the interviewer wondering if you would do the same at their company.

Lessons learned—hopefully the situation taught you about work relationships and behavior and how you can make the necessary changes. 

 After you have created a truthful and unbiased story, practice it so that you can say is without sounding nervous, over rehearsed and canned.  You don’t have to know it word for word, but enough so that you are able to hit all the key points.

 Having one unfortunate experience can happen to anyone and shouldn’t end your working career.  If you able to tell the story so that it is easy to understand, you will be working again. 

 

How can I help you in your job search?

Image:  freedigitalphotos.net     Ambro

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