Single Mom Seeks College and Career - The Career Doctor Blog

Barbara writes:

I am a single mother of three in my late 20s. I have very few job skills and no formal education. I am eager to attend college and begin a career so that I may support myself and my children. My dilemma is that I have never wanted to be anything other than a wife and mother.

I have hobbies, likes, and dislikes just like everyone, but how do I turn them in to a career?
I desperately want to go back to school because I know that without an education I will not be able to get any kind of employment that will provide enough income for my children.

The Career Doctor responds:

First let me assure you that you are doing all the right moves — you realize you need to attend college to make a better living for yourself and your children and you want to take the time to find the right career for you.

One of my favorite things to do is help people discover their career passions — because when you are passionate about your career, you tend to love your job, and success follows. You will also be healthier and happier because of the fulfillment you receive from doing a job you enjoy.

We have a whole tutorial on Finding Your Career Passion on QuintCareers.com and I encourage you to get more depth on the subject than I can provide here, but let me give you at least an outline for what you need to do to move forward.

First step: Take some assessment tests. There are a number of good assessment tests (online and in print) that can give you some valuable career feedback based on your responses.

Second step: Assess yourself. You have already started this process — examine your likes, favorite activities, lifelong interests, hobbies, volunteering. Make a list. Then look for common threads among all these things and develop a list of core attributes.

Third step: Examine your life goals and research ideal career paths. Review what you want to accomplish in your life, and along with the results from step 2, begin researching careers that will use your skills and help you achieve your goals.

Fourth step: Identify college majors and minors that will assist you in entering your ideal career path.

via careerdoctor.org

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

And the Census Jobs Bubble Bursts - Careers Articles

We all knew it was coming: that big Census employment bubble that was inflated by 411,000 new jobs and sent the unemployment rate down to 9.7 from 9.9 was only temporary. It reached its peak in early May, when a whopping 585,729 people were employed by the Census Bureau. By mid-June, that number had dropped to 330,737. You can keep track of the layoffs city by city at the Census Bureau website.

This could have a huge impact on the entire nation, let alone the 254,992 people who are now jobless again, after working only a few months ... or a few weeks. "A couple week's work--that's about all I got," says "Colleen," a temporary hire who scored well on the Census Bureau's test and spent the last two months waiting to be called in for service. She was recently told she would no longer be needed by the Census Bureau, but didn't want to give her real name for fear that potential employers might perceive her as a complainer.

These layoffs will doubtless have a big effect on next week's June employment report, which will be released Friday. The previous month's report always comes out on the first Friday of the proceeding month. A preliminary Reuters poll found that economists are expecting an overall June payroll decline of 70,000 jobs, even though they expect the private sector to add 113,000 positions.

Census jobs count in the government sector, which is factored separately from the private sector. But those same economic experts predicted a Census drop of about 180,000 jobs in June, which is well short of the actual 254,992, whose numbers were, released after the economists made their predictions.

Which makes one wonder what do the experts actually know? Last month, economists predicted the private sector would add more than double the 41,000 jobs that actually came into being. They were surprised by the weakness and sluggishness of the supposed recovery.

"I'd still rather hear overly positive predictions than overly negative ones," says Colleen, who has added Census Bureau work to her résumé and has renewed her job search. "I'm hoping the people who do the hiring will see my Census Bureau experience and realize that I'm very motivated and skilled enough to land even a temporary job in this highly competitive environment." They should also appreciate her ability to make lemonade out of lemons.

via jobs.aol.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Features and Benefits Are So 2009. Sell To Driving Emotion

A famous marketer once said said, “sell the hole, not the drill.”

Translation—for the most part, people don’t care a whole lot about the vehicle that gets them the benefit they want…they’re simply looking for the faster, easier, most enjoyable way to their desired end.

So, if you were selling drills, you could focus in on the features of the drill or you could focus on the fact that this bad-boy will let you bore a monster hole through concrete in 8.2 seconds. If you were a golfer, it’s not so much the graphite shaft, carborundum head and Corinthian leather grip you’re selling, it’s the 300 yard drive.

Except…that it’s not…in either case.

The hole and the drive are the benefits. They sell better than the features.

But there’s something that sells 10 times better than both…driving emotions.

If you can ferret out, then sell to the driving emotions, you make a beeline to the part of the brain that says, “OMFG, if I don’t have that NOW, I just might die!”

In the drill example, the driving emotion isn’t the hole, that the benefit. The driving emotions might be the pride or ego fulfillment that comes from all your other workers and supervisors seeing you banging out massive amounts of work in less time. It might be the sense of empowerment that comes from a bigger, badder tool. Maybe it’s the fact that it lets you get home to your family faster and be less wiped out at the end of the day. Or, oddly enough, it might even be a proxy for a lack of power in other parts of your life.

In the golf example, the driving emotion isn’t the 300 yard drive, it’s the feeling of glory you get when you stand at the tee on the first hole, the one right in front of the clubhouse where everyone’s watching, and bang the ball straight to the green while everyone around you says, “whoaaaahhhh!!!” It’s the respect that comes from being known as the guy with the 300 yard drive. And, yes, just like the drill, it may even be a proxy for a lack of respect and connection in other parts of your life.

So, if you really want to sell, don’t sell the feature, don’t even sell the benefit…sell the driving emotion.

BUT, there’s a big caveat…you’d also better be able to deliver on your promise.

Because if you don’t, you’ll end up with a whole lot of clients and customers with buyers remorse, anger, returns and bad will.

Sell to the soul, then deliver…

via jonathanfields.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

The Age of Resistance is Upon Us | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel

We are living in a very different world than we were a few years ago. We are now inundated with so much content and advertising, across so many media streams, that we’ve started to become resistant.  We are opting out of email newsletters, unsubscribing to magazines and newspapers, unfollowing on Twitter, de-friending on Facebook, and putting emails in a spam folder. Name brands, such as Lady Gaga and Coca Cola will be sought out by fans and their messages will continue to spread, since they are differentiated, have high brand equity, and an extremely large foundation of fans.Lady Gaga has over nine million Facebook fans, while Coca Cola has almost six million Facebook fans.

For the average person or company, it has become much more challenging to cultivate a fan base and become well-known, despite the global population of social network users, and the amount of communities one can join. It is true that if you started building your online identity years ago, and kept with it, then you have a major competitive advantage now because people already know who you are, what you do, and are familiar with your logo or your face.

Noise is hurting our ears and our eyes

If you’re reading this, then I bet you’re following thousands of people on Twitter, you skim a hundred blog posts per day or week, and you watch twenty advertisements per day, sometimes without even noticing. We aren’t built to intake the amount of information provided to us, and with the sheer volume, that is increasing by second, we’re becoming smarter about what we read and what we ignore.

These statistics show how much time we use, and possibly waste, in the online world:

• 90 trillion emails sent on the internet in 2009 (Hubspot)
• 500 billion minutes per month people spend on Facebook (Facebook)
• 14.6 billion YouTube videos watched in May (comScore).
• 2 billion tweets per month on Twitter (Mashable).
• 200 million blog posts have been published on WordPress.com blogs (Mashable).

We are starting to build a strong resistance against companies and people that we’ve never heard before. We are also questioning blog authors, social network users, and other online personalities that don’t already have social proof and influence. Trust, credibility, history (how long you’ve been around) and a strong relationship (if you’ve previously interacted with a brand and enjoyed the experience), are now the most important factors when someone decides to read your content or do business with you.

Don’t be fooled by the low barriers to entry for online branding

You can build an online business for a very low cost because there are no real barriers to entry. All you need is a host, a domain name, some HTML skills, and a creative idea. The real cost is your time, or so it might appear. The benefit to having no barriers to entry is that talented people, who aren’t millionaires, can be successful online (and can potentially become millionaires). It gives everyone a chance to make a difference, whether they succeed or fail. The negative aspect of having no barriers to entry is that EVERYONE becomes your competitor, whether they are in the same industry as you or not. People are fighting for attention, and attention is harder to obtain than ever before.

The changing competitive landscape

• Two years ago, it was safe to say that you didn’t need money to break through the noise, establish your brand, and turn your passion into a business.
• Today, we’re living in a very different environment and the rules are starting to change fast.

How to lower resistance in the most competitive market in history

You aren’t going to be able to compete by publishing two posts in a week anymore. That simply doesn’t cut it in a world where there are million of status messages and posts being published every second. So, how on earth do you stand out?

1. Become a talent scout. You can’t scale yourself or your time, therefore, it’s a wise idea that you find other people that share the same passion as you. By pairing with others that are looking for a platform to share their voice, you can expand, grow, and break through the noise. Conduct a search through Google blog search, Technorati.com, Twellow.com, and other search engines in order to find people that you can partner with in some fashion.
2. Invest money in web design. I would never recommend that someone starts a WordPress.com, Typepad.com, Blogger.com or any other blog that you don’t completely own. I advised people to use these services years ago, but now it’s a major disadvantage if you do. You can’t completely customize any of these services. The day’s of just having a place to store content are over. You need to step up your game! By investing in a custom design for your site, including a logo, you have a shot at breaking through the resistance. Otherwise, you are still just another blogger. People trust others that invest money in their brands.
3. Hire a personal branding expert. It’s extremely valuable to have a third party help you in your branding endeavors, especially for those with no marketing backgrounds. I’m being really bias here, but you should really considering paying for online branding support. People, such as myself (and my company Millennial Branding, LLC) know how to analyze your current situation, help you figure out what makes you special, then position you in your market, and finally provide you with marketing support to increase your visibility.
4. One-to-one relationships instead of one-to-many. Just like a job seeker shouldn’t blindly apply to one hundred job openings for the sake of it, you shouldn’t go spam everyone and add to the noise. Instead, become as specific as you can with who your audience is and work as hard as you can to form relationships with influencers in that market. This way, you save time, energy, and will achieve greater results in less time.
5. Long-term instead of short-term thinking: A brand isn’t built overnight. As I stated before, you want to find a topic that you can write about for years, instead of months. This way, people knows that you’re serious and will potentially commit to reading your work. It takes a long time for people to recognize you as a serious online participant.
6. Get an industry influencer to sponsor you. What we’re going to see more of over the years is brand association, partnerships, and sponsorships. New bloggers are going to be seeking mentorship and promotional support from the veterans in different markets. This way, people that aren’t well-known can become well-known faster, and have a shot of breaking through the resistance.
7. Become more exclusive. When you create scarcity, you create demand. If you can prove the value of what you have to offer, then you can charge for it. For instance, I read an article about how someone created a premium network for chefs. Chefs are hard to reach, so the value of the network is worth people paying for it. If you can find a niche that’s hard to target, such as college students, then this exclusivity actually breaks through the noise because people will seek you out.

Brand matters more than ever

Branding will always become more important because a brand creates a sense of trust, loyalty, and overall experience that’s hard to replicate. Those who are already established in their fields will become even more successful over the coming years because it’s easier to build upon a foundation, rather than from scratch. Those who aren’t established will need to become established using the above seven strategies I’m offering.

Brands have leverage, control, and prestige. They lower resistance  by providing evidence of previous successes, and a commitment to maintaining quality and service.

via personalbrandingblog.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Where do I find success? | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel

Hi, I’m Martin Yate, the guy that writes the Knock em Dead books.

They say that to write a book, all you need is the complete lack of a social life; well I’ve published 12, so what does that tell you? I live and breathe this stuff and obviously have no social life.

Mondays from here on out, I’ll take you step by step through creating a strong personal brand, and how it can play a crucial role in your professional success.

A successful career doesn’t happen by accident; it’s the result of consistent effort over time. And, like it or not, a big part of your success in life depends on the way others see you. Proactively shaping how others see you, not just sitting back and passively hoping they see what you’d like them to see, is what we call personal branding. Managing your success by managing your career starts with taking control of your professional persona.

What other people think matters

A considered approach to career management that integrates personal branding leads to growing credibility and increased visibility, first within your department, then company, and ultimately your profession. It’s the critical packaging of the “professional you,” and, done right, it drives long-term stability and success. It’s common sense to manage your professional image.

For your brand to be viable it has to have a perceived value to your public. You can rush to put lipstick on the proverbial pig, but an audience made up of your peers and superiors will always see through to the truth.  So if you want branding to impact your success, it must to amount to more than make-up. It must present a person of substance and determination.

Credibility and visibility

Your brand is the tool that projects your professional credibility and increases your visibility in a consistent way.  To be successful over the long haul, this means that you must invest yourself in professional development, building the skills, behaviors and values that are admired by the people who make up your professional world. These range from the nuances of technical competence required in you profession, through those transferable skills and attitudes that travel with you from job to job, to the way you smile and lend a hand without being asked.

When you develop an identifiable brand, it gives you focus and motivation, and others an easy way to differentiate and remember you. Start building your brand today, because the greater effort you put into establishing your professional credibility and visibility, the sooner you enter the inner circles that exist in every department, company and profession; and as you know, it is only in these inner circles that the plum assignments, raises and promotions are waiting.

Are you viable?

Follow the development of these thoughts with me in my Monday blogs as a way to kickstart your week and you’ll establish a viable brand that will support you through the years. I’ll address the component parts of sensible branding, and how you can consistently and quietly draw attention to them in your résumé, job search, interviews, and daily pursuit of success at the job you have today and the one you will have tomorrow…

Where do you find success? You find it here, in engagement with your career and your life. Conversation is an important part of learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and share your experiences. See you in the comments!

Author:

Martin Yate (CPC) is the author of Knock em Dead The Ultimate Job Search Guide, a NY Times bestseller updated annually for 24 years.  He’s been in career management  for 34 years: Silicon Valley Headhunter and VP with the seminal and feared Executek, Director of HR for Bell Industries Computer Memory Division, Director of Training and Development for Dunhill. Martin believes that change is your future, branding is critical, but no one has ever taught you how to navigate this stuff.

via personalbrandingblog.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

5 Important Keys to Finding Your Next Job | EmploymentDigest.net

It is not news to anyone that the job market seems to be more competitive every day. Here are 5 things to keep in mind as you pursue your next position.

1. Maintain Your PMA

First and foremost, always do whatever it takes to maintain a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA). You are not obligated to surrender to all the doom and gloom that is presented daily. Period.

Finding your next perfect job will require energy and motivation that you have direct control over. When you keep a PMA, your desires and confidence will more likely be maintained. Read any of the numerous materials available daily to maintain your emotional, mental and spiritual best.

2. Maintain Faith

Maintaining you PMA will be influenced by your faith or beliefs. You will find encouragement and strength to prevail when you know deep-down inside that you have what it takes to find and secure your dream job. Some even go so far as to suggest, “Fake it until you make it!”

This is not to be confused with religious faith, however a source of strength that provides one, but may be as basic as the simple belief that you do deserve good things and have what it takes to achieve them. Feed that belief in yourself because of your talents, skills and life experiences. These are the intangible aspects that determine how you act and carry yourself.

3. Don’t Be Afraid To Aim High

Since jobs are scarcer, the competition has increased for all available positions. Why not use that as motivation to go out and find that job now that you have always felt would be perfect for you? Think about the firm you would like to work with or a field you know you are qualified for. Picture yourself performing successfully every aspect of that dream position. This may prove to be the time you fulfill a dream and not just find another job.

4. Go for It with Full-Force

That means in one sense, do whatever it might take to see your dream fulfilled. Network with others and don’t be afraid to voice your desires and ask for job leads from others. Make a commitment to yourself to send a specific number of resumes out each week. Keep your goals in mind and look for those opportunities that will keep you on the path to fulfill your ultimate dreams.

5. Seek Appropriate Professional Services

Yes, when things are tough, it may seem counter-productive to spend more money. However, maybe it is wise to consider these two suggestions as more of an investment in yourself.

Find a reputable resume service to create one for you or to update and refine yours. These are professionals that know how to highlight your skills and experience in the most effective way.

Secondly, consider using a professional employment service. These are people that may have many job listings the general public will never see. They also may offer some tips to prepare you for specific interviews.

Always consider putting as many factors in your favor as is possible.

via employmentdigest.net

Posted via email from AndyWergedal

Silly Job Seekers – Avoid Being One of These! : CAREEREALISM

By CAREEREALISM Founder, J.T. O’Donnell

Recently, I’ve met some job seekers I can only describe as great characters for a motion picture comedy. I wish sometimes I could record these individuals and post them here so all you Careerealists could offer them advice – I guarantee there would be a field day in the comment section! That being said, I thought I’d throw up some examples of the silly job seekers I’ve encountered.

Now casting stars for the upcoming job seeker comedy, “Career Misfits.”

The Excusinator – These job seekers have an excuse for EVERYTHING. They don’t apply for any positions because they write-off job after job for the littlest things. Combined with their incredible ability to procrastinate, they are shocked when yet another week has gone by and they haven’t made any progress on their job search. Watch this video to witness an Excusinator in action:

The Mind-melding Thinkster – These job seekers assume their telepathic powers and mental superiority will enable them to convince people to offer them jobs. While they say or do nothing, they sincerely believe employers will figure out they are the perfect candidate for the job. And why not? They’ve spent the last 2 months locked in their house, not talking to anyone, so they could use their super-human brain capabilities to design their resume. They are convinced a mere glance at their credentials should get them the interview. The Mind-melding Thinksters are shocked when they complete 100+ on-line applications and don’t hear back from a single employer. Forget networking to find someone they know at the company, or even picking up the phone and making a follow-up call to see where the company is in the hiring process – this job seeker doesn’t want to actually have to communicate with anyone to get the job.

The Talk-o-holic – The complete opposite of the Mind-melding Thinksters, these job seekers have verbal diarrhea. It’s a non-stop, 24/7 , “me, me, me” discussion. They LOVE meeting new people, but for all the WRONG reasons.  They accost strangers, past colleagues, family, friends, friends of friends, etc., blatantly trying to figure out in 30-seconds or less whether or not you can help them land a job. After a quick sizing up, if you don’t seem valuable, they abruptly dump you for their next victim. But, that’s far better than what happens to the poor folks who they think could help them. The Talk-o-holic corners them, demanding introductions and pushing them for referrals. When the uncomfortable encounter is over, victims have to go home and take a shower to get the Talk-o-holic’s drool off them.

The Negativesaurus - These job seekers are the ultimate joy-kill. Every other word they utter is negative. Nobody wants to be around them – especially employers! They complain non-stop. If a t-shirt was created that said, “Poor Me. Ask Why.” – they’d buy it. Everything about them scares people away, which only makes them feel even more sorry for themselves. Heavens forbid they focus on the positives in their life. And honestly, while they don’t see it, they are being really selfish. Pushing a negative attitude on to others is self-serving. Nobody invited them to show up and make people feel uncomfortable. Come to think of it – that’s an ideal job for the Negativesaurus! Anyone hiring demotivation experts these days?

FREE WEBINAR: There is a way to avoid being one of these characters – join me and find out!

Okay, so I’m being a bit cheeky with the descriptions above. (Although, I swear I really have met these types of folks and I know you have too!) However, if you are saying to yourself, “Well, I might be just a tiny bit guilty of being one of these,” then I’ve got a solution.

Join me, Tuesday, June 29 at 8 PM EST/5 PM PST for a FREE webinar. I’ll be talking about the right way to build a framework for a successful job search. In it, I’ll share how to avoid becoming a ‘job search character’ that employers don’t want. Better still, I’ll share the simple secrets to being irresistible to hiring managers.

PS – Have you met any of the above? Tell us about them!

Got any good stories to share about your experience with similar individuals? Share them below and let’s all have a laugh! Better still, got anything witty to say to them? I’m not good with the snappy one-liners, so I’d love to hear what you would say to these folks to provide some comic relief.

via careerealism.com

Posted via email from AndyWergedal