A New Positive Direction for Job Search Success when you are 45+

April 5, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

artur84, yes we can

An excellent opportunity for Networking, receiving the Moral Support you need, and learning State of the Art Job Search Strategies for job searchers 45+.

  • Is your search more difficult due to your age?
  • Do you feel alone in your job search and no one understands what you are going through?
  • Are you feeling depressed and frustrated in a long job search?
  • Looking for state of the art job search strategies that get results?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you will love New Positive Directions, a Job Search Networking Support Group focused on job searchers 45+.

 Yes! I want to attend the group calls starting Monday, April 8, 2013 at 1 pm.

This group will meet on the phone every week to learn state of the art job search strategies that highlight your age an asset  You will meet people like you who share your feelings because they are going through the same thing.  Unlike your family and friends who say they understand even though they are working and haven’t lost their job, the members of this group are unemployed and looking for a job , so they do know how you feel. New Positive Directions is a six week job search networking support group where:

  • You can share your feelings in a safe environment with like-minded people.
  • You can ask questions about your job search and get the solutions you need to get the job you want.
  • You can laugh and have fun looking for a job.

 During the 6 Week Job Search Networking Support Group
you will learn:

  • How to make your age an asset
  • How to find the hidden job market
  • How to create resumes and cover letters that deliver results
  • How to stay positive and healthy
  • How to ace your interview
  • How to follow-up your way to success

On Monday, April 8, 2013, at 1 pm, begins a new session of the New Positive Direction group.  Once you experience the support, you will feel more energized and more confident, and that will make a tremendous difference in your job search.

photo credit:  freedigitalphotos.com  artur84

 

 

Posted in 50+ job search, age as an asset in job search, career coaching, career transitions, careers, cover letter, Interviews, Job Search, job search help, LinkedIn, networking, Resume, stay positive, success, survivng unemployment | 1 Comment

One Really good tip to end your job search now: What to do with your transferable skills

April 4, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

COS_Logo

Many times job searchers get frustrated with the lack of jobs in their profession.  They begin to think of things they would like to do but only find things they don’t want to do.  In the middle of an internet research project, I came across a site that is a must for anyone looking to use their transferable skills.  The site is myskillsmyfuture.org and is part of the career one stop website.

The purpose of the site to be able to type in your current or past job and find out information about the careers that will use the same skills.  You can narrow down your job title on the results page.  Additionally you can choose the location for your new job.  The results will give you the job titles and descriptions of similar careers.  You can compare the required skills, look at job listings, business, the typical wage, education needed and where you can get training.  The site will tell you what licenses and certifications you need.

This site will get you started thinking about a new career in an easy to use format.  From there, more research needs to be done.  But in a short amount of time, you can get a few options.

Posted in career exploration, Career one stop centers, job search frustration, myskill myfuture, transferable skills | 3 Comments

One Really Good Tip to End Your Job Search: Spring Clean your Job Search

April 3, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

household cleaner with rubber gloves bucket and sponge..The nice, warmer weather of the spring brings about thoughts of spring cleaning.  Cleaning out the dust and dirt accumulated during the winter and opening the windows to allow fresh air replace the stale air.  It makes me feel energized. 

If you have felt the winter blahs and have let your job search slide some, now is the time to re-energize.  Freshen up your job search.  It’s time to look at what you have done and see if it needs to be cleaned up.  Below is a list of things you might to “spring clean”.

  • Your Network–Have you contacted people in your network since the holidays?  During the holidays you might have made the rounds of every event you could fit into your schedule.  The purpose was to meet new people.  Did you follow-up with them after the event?  Have you kept in touch?  This would be a good time to if you haven’t.
  • Your Resume–Go over resume—anything to add—skills, volunteer positions, licenses, honors, achievements, etc.  Is it as up to date as it should be?  Are you using key words from the job posting?  What about the general look—is tired looking and could use a makeover?
  • Your Interview Clothes—With a season change comes a change in your wardrobe.  Your winter clothes might not look appropriate at a spring time interview.  It’s time to rotate your closet.  Are your spring time clothes up for interviews?  Do they still fit properly?  Do they look worn?  Do you have anything fresh and up to date?
  • Your References—Have you spoken to the people you have asked to be a reference?  Are they still the best people to give you a reference?  Are they still willing to be a reference? 
  • Your Digital Dirt– Now here is something that really needs to be cleaned up.  Google yourself to see what information comes up.  Is it what you want a future employer to see?  Now is the time to start cleaning up your digital space. 
  • Your Career—Are you still interested in the same career?  Is your career on the decline and not hiring as in the past?  It may be time to do something different.  Look at your career, have you accomplished everything you wanted?  Have you wondered what another career would be like?  Do a little research to see what’s out there.  There maybe something similar but different enough to make it attractive. 

Your job search can get stale especially if you have been out for a while.   Use the spring to get refreshed and energized.  Doing the same things will get you the same results.  Shake things up and do some research.  The end of your job search can be as close as the summer.

Posted in career exploration, digital dirt, holiday job search, importance of appearance on job search, referrals, Resume | 4 Comments

One Really Good Tip to End Your Job Search: Reduce Interview Stress

April 2, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

woman at interviewWe all feel the stress caused by interviews.  But not everyone knows how to it reduced by breathing.  Not just any breathing, but diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing.   There is a remarkable relationship between how you breathe and the stress you feel.  Put breathing from your diaphragm into your preparations to ace interviews.

The Benefits

When you breathe from your diaphragm, you use your entire lung. The increased lung function makes the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange more efficient which provides more oxygen to your blood.  The results of more oxygen in your blood will:

  • Relax tense muscles
  • Reduce stress
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Clearer thinking
  • Lower heart rate

The Problem

When you take fast, shallow breaths from your chest, you reduce the oxygen levels in your blood.  This can cause some unpleasant symptoms such as:

  • Dizziness
  • Muscle tension
  • Depression/anxiety
  • High blood pressure
  • Confusion
  • Rapid heart rate

If these symptoms look familiar, they are.  These also happen to be the same things you feel when you interview.  However, these signs can be reduced significantly by breathing from your belly or diaphragm.

Back In the Day

You used to breathe deep down in your abdomen.  Everyone did.  As newborns, you breathed from the belly naturally.  You may even breathe like that during your sleep.  Somehow, you began breathing from your chest.  Perhaps it was because you were told to stand up straight with your chest out and stomach in.  This position constricted your abdominal muscles then reduced the depth of your breathing.  Tight clothing does the same thing as does slouching when you sit.

But you can relearn to breathe from your diaphragm.  In few minutes a day, you can learn and practice breathing to increase your physical and mental wellbeing.  It may feel awkward at first, but with continued practice, you can change your breathing at will.  You will be able to stop stress in its tracks when there is a need.

Learn How To Breathe

To begin, first find a place where you won’t be interrupted.  You can either sit down with your feet on the ground or lay down on the floor.

  1. Place one hand on your chest and the other hand on your stomach.
  2. Close your eyes as you breathe slowly through your nose.  Inhale the air all the way past your lungs and down into your abdomen.  You should feel the hand on your stomach rise, while the hand on your chest stays where it is.
  3. Concentrate where you want the air to go.
  4. Breathe out slowly through your nose.
  5. Keep breathing this way for a few minutes.
  6. Increase the amount of time each day.
  7. Don’t rush and take slow even breaths.
  8. Practice, practice, practice

Practice while waiting for a traffic light.  Practice as you are falling asleep.  Practice while reading.  Practice while watching a movie or TV.  Practice while preparing for an interview. Practice anywhere and anytime you want.  Just practice.

You need to practice so that when you have an interview, you will be ready to become relaxed and ready for anything.  If you reduce your stress, you increase your interview performance.  And your chances for a job offer.

Posted in career transitions, deep breathes, Interview stress, Interviews, Job Search, job search help, reduce interview stress, unemployed | 5 Comments

One Really Good Tip To End Your Job Search: Seek out Industries on the Rise—OOH

April 1, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

occupational outlook handbook

The world is flat.  Yes, I know Christopher Columbus proved it was round, but with the state of technology today, information is easily sent and received within seconds.  Technology is invented and improved steadily.  In this rapidly changing world some industries are fading away and others are emerging. 

If you are a job searcher, you need to know what careers are doing. Are they on the decline or on the rise?  The job search isn’t fun and I don’t know anyone wishing to do it again.  To prevent another lay off, you want to select an industry that is growing.  You can do research on occupations in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.  It can be found at:  http://www.bls.gov/ooh/

On the website you will find a tab called BROWSE.  To the right of the tab, there are three links.  The second tab is a link for the Fastest Growing (projected).  Following this link will take you to the page that lists the 20 occupations that are expected to experience the highest percent of change in employment from 2010 to 2020. 

The information is presented in a table format that lists the occupation, growth rate and the 2010 median pay.  The first occupation listed is the one with the highest projected growth rate.  It is Personal Care Aides.  The growth rate is projected to be 70% and the median pay in 2010 was $19,640 per year.

The term Professional Care Aide is a link to a page that has information about the occupation.  The information provided tells you what they do, the work environment, how to become one, the pay, and what occupations are similar.  Also on the page is a link to find out more information. 

Anyone looking for a new career will benefit from Occupational Outlook Handbook.  It can be found online, in libraries and you buy your own copy in bookstores. 

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Home Health and Personal Care Aides,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-and-personal-care-aides.htm

Posted in career exploration, careers, occupational outlook handbook, occupations on the decline, occupations on the rise | 1 Comment