UPCOMING F-R-E-E Webinar
Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door
“How to Secure a Job in a Tough Economy”

• When: Thursday, June 24, 1pm ET, 12pm CT, 11am MT, 10am PT
• Presenter: Harvey Mackay, New York Times best-selling author
• Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/450794818

If you’re trying to make a career comeback, this session is for you. New York Times best-selling author Harvey Mackay will share surefire techniques to secure a job in a tough economy. And even more importantly, he’ll give you the tools you’ll need to live in the new world of perpetual job search.

In this session, Harvey shows you how to be at your best when things are
at their worst. He’ll talk about:

• Beating rejection before it beats you.
• The three questions you must be ready to answer.
• Building, expanding, and energizing your network.
• Planning strategies to ace your interviews.
• Taking advantage of the way bosses make hiring decisions.
• …and much more

In today’s world, job search skills are essential to master. Harvey will share his wisdom on how to get and keep a job you truly love whether you’re twenty-one, fifty-one, or seventy-one.

Even if you’re busy, sign up. You can always listen in at a later time. We’ll send you the link as soon as it’s ready for prime time. https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/450794818

Companions and friends complete the support circle in different way than professional support. They give you:

• social connection
• fun and laughter
• a safe place to “just be you”
• “buddies” to share recreational interests
• someone to share hobbies

Why is it important?

The #1 reason is stress relief. Job loss is a very stressful, right up there with loss of a loved one. Having healthy ways to get stress relief, when funds are short for taking a vacation¹ and your lifestyle changes, goes a long way in helping you maintain both emotional stamina and mental strength while you hunt for a job.

The value of fun and laughter is well documented as a source of physical and emotional healing and health. Choose friends and companions who are upbeat, have a sense of humor, help you see the funny side of life—and get you laughing. Laughter releases endorphins—hormones that fight stress and anxiety. A client I helped watches Victor Borge videos and M*A*S*H re-runs with her friends. Don’t forget about young children. Their funny antics—as they play or imitate adults—are great for a good belly laugh. My two grandchildren, ages 3 and 6, are my “comic relief” and remind me to keep fun and play in my “adult” life.

Recreation that involves exercise helps ward off depression and reduce distress. Let your friends help you by joining them in physical activity that gets your blood pumping and stretches your muscles. Physical movement helps the body release stress by relaxing tense muscles and also [aids your] sleep at night.² Exercise also “improves blood flow to your brain, bringing additional sugars and oxygen which you may need.” ² Along with your recreation change your scenery; go outdoors not only to get fresh air, but also to rejuvenate your senses. Take in the beauty and wondrous variety of color, smells, and artistry in flowers, plants, animals, terrain, and glorious sunrises.

Social connection validates your personal worth. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that while your job title has changed, who you are has not. You are still the talented, experienced, valuable person you were before unemployment entered your life uninvited. The acceptance you experience with social companions is an excellent morale booster. It enables you to remember the uplifting good about you and avoid plunging into negative thinking.

One of the best places to “be you” is in volunteer work utilizing your abilities in a way that gives meaning to your life. You may meet new acquaintances or join companions who share your passion for causes dear to you. In his book, Work Strong, Peter Weddle calls volunteering “soul work”, defining it as “a commitment to meeting the needs of others.”⁴ You don’t need money to do this…just time and a heart for giving what you have to make life better for someone else. Weddle says it “expands your sense of well-being and happiness”⁴ through making an authentic difference in the world around you. Your generosity could involve mentoring one person, or helping a group of people through an organization whose mission you agree with.

Sharing hobbies with friends (or enjoying them alone) has several benefits. They give an outlet for frustrations and boredom, redirect your emotions and thoughts toward something enjoyable and positive, and help you lose track of time. Hobbies can be many activities: working out, sports, creating art (pottery, drawing, photography, writing, painting, digital art, woodworking, quilting, crocheting), cooking, baking, and learning to play a musical instrument, to name a few. Because creating art is a very personal activity it can also be a form of relaxing therapy.³ Hobbies also help reduce and disperse feelings of anger,³ which can surface anytime during unemployment. You have a better chance of moving forward if you control anger and its various forms—feelings of betrayal, injustice, bitterness; or even desire for revenge.

So, disconnect and refresh! And remember, when you are taking some down time to revitalize your brain cells, your soul, your energy—unplug from your cell phone, Netbook, or other electronics that keep you tethered to the virtual universe.

Summary

In your support circle, there are two equally important elements—professional support to give to your job search, and social support to provide healthy outlets for mental and emotional stress. Balance your social life so that it supports your job hunt efforts, but don’t let it take center stage. Taking care of yourself is vital to your success now—and on your next job!

Please share your thoughts about what contributes to well-being and success in your job search. I’d love to read them!

In support of your successful job search, and landing the best job for you!

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Recommended Reading:

¹Article, “Are You Suffering from Vacation Deprivation?” http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=86551&page=1

²Blog Post, “Stress Management,” http://www.livestrong.com/article/14130-stress-management/

³ Article, “Hobbies Add Enjoyment to Life,” http://www.angermanagementtechniques.org/hobbies-add-enjoyment-to-life/

⁴Work Strong, by Peter Weddle

Career Comeback, by Bradley G. Richardson

Work to Live, by Joe Robinson

What is a personal board of advisers?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary online¹ defines “adviser” (also “advisor”) as someone who: gives advice to (councils); cautions, warns; recommends; gives information or notice to (inform); and [one who] to takes counsel (consults).

These definitions above sum up nicely the goal for creating a personal board of advisers to help you in manage and succeed in your job search. Some important functions of a Board of Advisers are to give job search support, be a sounding board for ideas, and give counsel and advice. Your job search will be more successful as a team enterprise than as a “solo” effort.

For example, if you seriously desire to pursue a personal interest such as playing a musical instrument, how might you approach it? You could read all you can about it, go to a music store to learn about the instrument, visit a performing group to get a taste of the types of music you could play, take classes to learn the skills, search for clubs/groups with your same interest, and even join a performing group. It would begin with you—solo—and end involving many others who become your support circle as you continue pursuing your musical interest. Your job search is a similar endeavor.

Having an enthusiastic support team on your side offers several tangible benefits:

• A safety net to help you avoid costly mistakes
• Unbiased listeners and objective feedback
• A center of knowledge and a sphere of influence

According to Susan Whitcomb, author of 30-Day Job Promotion, “A personal board of advisors takes the mentor concept a step further. Here you gather a small group of individuals who have agreed to invest time in your career success. Depending on your needs and the availability of board members, meetings might be monthly or bimonthly, in person or by telephone conference.”³

Who would be wise choices for your Board of Advisers?

• Professionals you trust, who have your best interests at heart unconditionally…with “no strings attached.” You’ll be sharing your personal struggles with them in your journey.
• People who have the wisdom gained from experience, both inside and outside your industry, whose “diversity will give you a wealth of broad perspective and ideas”. ³
• Savvy community connectors² who have a circle of influence and are willing to introduce you to important people they know.
• Experts who have strengths complementary to your “gaps” ⁴ so you can maximize your strengths.

• Colleagues or former co-workers knowledgeable about your industry. If you don’t have any, tap into a professional association where you can make new connections.
• Businessmen with an active pulse in the community who can point you in the right direction.

What to share when you meet with your personal board of advisers:

• Your successes. Your board needs to hear about your wins. This creates forward momentum.³
• Challenges and roadblocks.³ Together with your Board, you can brainstorm ways to either work around or go through roadblocks successfully, and minimize stress with a focused plan you develop.
• Insights.³ Share what you learned from efforts or situations that did not work out. Invite your board reflect what they hear you say, and listen to their fresh perspectives.
• Offer something that would help them.³ Make it a two-way, mutual exchange. The members of your board are not “tools”; they are busy professionals extending to you the courtesy of their resources, time, and energy to help you succeed.

Summary

A personal board of advisers, in addition to (or alongside) a career or job search coach, can mean the difference between succeeding and propelling your job search faster than you could on your own—or  a stalled job search. They give you a competitive edge over those who don’t. It’s worth the time and effort to create and nurture one!

What are your thoughts about creating a personal Board of Advisors?

This is about the professional side of your support circle. The next post will focus on the personal side…the value of companions and friends in your job search.

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Bibliography:

¹Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adviser

² The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell, Chapter 2, “The Law of the Few: Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen,” pages 38–63.

³ 30-Day Job Promotion, by Susan B. Whitcomb, pp. 26–27. (*Free telephone lines, called “bridge lines”, are available at www.freeaudioconferencing.com and www.freeconferencecall.com).

⁴ Article, “How to Develop a Successful Board of Advisors (…and Why You Should!)”, by Eric Graham, http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Graham (Note: This article has a different focus than job search or careers.)

Listen to the video: http://corcodilos.com/blog/1673/bloomberg-profit-based-job-hunting-hiring.  Then share your thoughts on Nick’s advice!

Whether you are a recent college graduate feeling disappointment at not landing a job in your specialty; or you are a job seeker who unexpectedly became part of a reduction in force (RIF) or a recent lay off. While you are experiencing anxiety and restlessness, you may wonder, “Is there is any light at the end of this long tunnel?”

Last week, I was coaching a young man who had graduated four years ago from college with Cum Laud (high) honors with a B.S. degree in Mathematics. He didn’t get a plum job he was expecting to land with his degree, and was deeply disappointed and disillusioned.

He was at the point of “taking whatever falls in my lap”. I asked him, “What happened to the energy, drive, and passion you had that propelled you to complete your degree with such high honors? He had lost it in the seemingly endless struggle to find work in his professional field.

During our discussion, I challenged him with these questions, “What can you do now to regain the drive you once had? What bubbles up your energy? What really gives your life meaning? He thought about it, and decided he could reconnect with his college friends, involve himself more in his music, put some fun back into his life—and most importantly focus his attention on developing a plan for his career—his guiding compass—to give him direction in making employment decisions.

When you find yourself struggling emotionally and financially while the job search drags on and your dreams and hopes don’t materialize—what can you do? Ask yourself these questions: “What is my compass? What keeps me on course when I don’t see the way ahead or find answers I need?

I have lived through my husband’s many job layoffs (and mine too) and the constant disruptions in our life—certainly unwanted—as we moved from place to place across the U.S. when he finally found a job again. The first time I went through this experience, I failed. But the next time, having learned from my failure, I handled the challenges better.

Here are 8 practical tips to help you thrive as you weather the waiting, find renewed hope in life, and re-energize your spirit:

1. Find your guiding compass. In our many relocations, getting involved in my church where I found support for my faith and spirituality, as well as opportunities to purposefully exercise my skills and learn new ones, became my guiding compass. If your job search is dragging on, you may want to get help from a career/job search coach to learn effective strategies and develop an organized job search plan that will move things along much faster. Or, creating a Board of Advisers me be beneficial what you need. Finding a source support in your faith/spiritual beliefs may help you, too.
2. Maintain your social connections, whether it’s family, friends, or new acquaintances/neighbors. Nurture your relationships to sustain your emotional well-being. Volunteering was the best way I found to make new friends who shared my interests. Find a source of social connection you are comfortable with and intentionally participate.
3. Give to others and restore your sense of purpose. In one of our relocations, I spent a year helping a refugee family of five fleeing from Afghanistan who had no money, were left in the lurch by their sponsors, spoke no English, and didn’t have a clue about how to get the help they desperately needed. Giving—when life felt like a buoy bobbing in the sea—anchored me to something meaningful that gave me a sense of purpose. When you don’t have work, your sense of fulfillment can feel adrift. Be engaged in doing whatever gives you a sense of purpose, something that moves you beyond/outside your personal circumstances.
4. Remember what you know and who you are. Believe in the truth that you are talented, gifted, and educated (either formally or by job experience); and you have value to offer an employer. A great exercise to help you is to write your life story, your autobiography. It’s a healthy cathartic to revisit your successes, the obstacles you overcame, the awards you won even in elementary school, the risks you took and the rewards (however small), the goals you set and achieved, and those whom you loved and who loved you back. Keep it positive.
5. Put fun in your life. You can choose simple things like going to the park together or the beach, hiking or walking outdoor trails, visiting museums or historical places you wouldn’t see otherwise, enjoy high school plays or musicals, share a potluck dinner with new neighbors, or have fun engaged in a hobby or craft. We enjoyed challenging ourselves to prepare new recipes that everyone would like for dinners we shared with our new friends.
6. Find ways to grow, professionally and personally. Make friends with the library, the local community college, affinity groups in your areas of interest or hobbies, or professional associations such as Toastmasters International. In one of our moves, I learned to do needlework. Because I had always loved sewing, the art of needlework was an intriguing extension of it. I also took continuing education courses in topics that related to my profession.
7. Look for work and manage your expenses. If you’re the spouse/partner of the one laid off—find some kind of work, even temping. Substitute teaching provided us with needed extra income, and helped me stay connected with my profession. Some options to consider are part-time, full-time, or on-call work; and contract, project, or consulting gigs. By working, you help ease the stress and anxiety your partner/spouse is experiencing and you contribute to your financial resources. To lessen monetary stress, find ways to cut your expenses and live within your means.
8. Tap into local resources such as food banks, utility and rent assistance, public transportation, etc. Many church, civic, and private organizations help in times of need. Look everywhere and ask everyone until you find a resource that has a pulse on all the other available community or county resources. Our local church provides a free leaflet listing all the other community and countywide resources available.

In the next post, I’ll share more about what a Board of Advisers is and how to create one.

I’d love to read your suggestions for weathering the tough times in a job search!

Last week, I joined in a discussion about this topic with a lab tech from our local hospital and a friend of mine. The lab tech was talking about the background checks being conducted on all hospital employees to validate of their education credentials and professional certifications. My friend spoke about the policy at our local church that mandates that background checks are done routinely on anyone working with children in any capacity…even volunteer work.

What does this mean for job seekers?

Here are five tips to pass a background check with flying colors:

1. Make sure all the information you put in your résumé, cover letter and related marketing documents, job applications, and any other public documents, are truthful.

2. Carefully consider what you post in online position applications, LinkedIn, Facebook, or anywhere else online. Be courteous, professional, and…accurate. Recruiters and employers alike will “google” your name to learn what’s in your digital footprint. Make sure your online presence is “squeaky clean.”

3. Watch the content of your responses when you comment on blogs and forums. Don’t post anything that could be considered derogatory against the writer or other commenters that could reflect negatively on you.

4. Offline, keep up-to-date files of all your professional information, including college transcripts, job descriptions, employment performance reviews, endorsements, training courses (“in-house” or “public”), seminars, certifications, media mentions, publications, news articles, press releases, awards, etc. Should any questions ever arise, you’ll have your records for proof.

5. In the community, always behave professionally and gracefully to preserve your public reputation. Your community presence is just as important as your online presence. You never know who will mention your name to someone in professional or civic circles, and how they will interpret your actions.

What would you recommend job seekers do to pass the background check? Please share your thoughts so we can all learn from your insights!

You will discover leading-edge, practical tools to help you succeed in your job search. Tips include job search strategies, resume and cover letter tactics, and WinTheView interview preparation to position you ahead of other candidates.