plus 2, 20 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers - PowerHomeBiz

20 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers - PowerHomeBiz
Announcement of the Career Videos for America's Job Seekers Challenge; Correction - TMCnet
Look for a career, not a job - Los Angeles Times

20 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers - PowerHomeBiz

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 03:10 AM PDT

June 14, 2010 ( PowerHomeBiz.com ) - ::Even in a down market, job seekers and employees are not powerless or without recourse. In fact, they have more control over their career circumstances than they might think

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Ford R. Myers, Career Coach, Speaker and Author of "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring" (John Wiley & Sons, 2009, getthejobbook.com), has developed 20 specific strategies and tactics that consistently generate powerful results for job seekers, even when it seems like no one is hiring.

1. Network, network, network. Continually increase your level of networking and keep expanding your contact database. There is no substitute for connecting with people one-on-one.

2. Seek help. Get career support from a professional. A qualified career coach can better prepare you to land your next position.

3. Read career books and attend career seminars. Being informed about business will keep you "fresh" as a candidate, and helps you consistently improve your career management and job-search skills.

4. Leverage technology. Utilize Web sites and online services to connect with your industry and to build greater visibility. Create a career Web site and reach out through social networking sites such as Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter.

5. Differentiate yourself. Position yourself as an expert by writing articles, giving presentations, or teaching a class. Get involved in professional organizations and assume leadership roles there.

6. Use your time off wisely. Pursue professional development by participating in classes, seminars, certifications and industry conferences.

7. Pursue a temporary, part-time, or contract position. Volunteer, provide pro bono work, take on a consulting contract, or complete an internship or apprenticeship. All these options provide excellent "bridge job" opportunities.

8. Act with speed and urgency. Demonstrate that you're more serious and more determined than the competition. Show up earlier. Arrive more prepared. Move quickly and efficiently. Make an impression by being more responsive and assertive than other candidates.

9. Take care of yourself. Eat well, exercise, and get plenty of rest. You'll need to be healthy and vital to maintain the pace of an active job search campaign.

10. Be flexible and adaptable. Consider shifting industries and/or being geographically mobile to open-up more career possibilities, even if you would not choose these options under normal circumstances.

11. Improve and enhance all the documents in your career portfolio. Craft a unified package that consistently conveys a highly professional image of yourself. This will include a Resume, a one-page Professional Biography, a collection of powerful Accomplishment Stories, a series of compelling Cover Letters, a page of Professional References, a list of Target Companies, and a 15-second commercial (Positioning Statement).

12. Identify industries that will emerge stronger when the market improves. Research emerging opportunities and niches that will offer career growth, and position yourself to take advantage of these trends.

13. Practice interviewing and negotiation skills. Solicit the help of a partner to role-play with you, and switch roles as needed with the questions and answers. Practice with an audio-recording device, and listen to yourself as you continually improve your performance.

14. Be patient, but persistent. Be persistent, but don't be a pest, as you follow up consistently on every opportunity. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, keep moving forward as you explore every appropriate opening you can find.

15. Focus on tangible results and practical solutions. The primary question in the employer's mind will be, "What can you do for me -- now?" This means that you should quickly identify the employer's most pressing needs and challenges -- and then explain exactly how your relevant accomplishments will allow you to successfully address those issues in the short term.

16. Work from a budget. Instead of going into a panic or worrying that you'll lose everything you've worked for, conduct a detailed analysis of your financial situation and develop a family budget. You may discover that you're in a better financial position than you had thought.

17. Be kind to yourself. There is no longer the same stigma there used to be about being unemployed, as almost every family in America has been touched by layoffs and downsizings. Forgive yourself, forgive your ex-employer, and forgive the world. Move on toward a better career future.

18. Pay extra attention to your personal image. First impressions count. Make a deliberate, consistent effort to present yourself in the best light. Now is the ideal time to take stock of your appearance, and make whatever changes you feel could improve your image -- and your job search results.

19. Watch your attitude. Maintain a positive attitude. Never state anything negative or act desperate. Spend some time each day focusing-in and recalibrating your internal attitude.

20. Be philosophical. Try to find the life lessons and new perspectives in this transition. Commit to yourself that, somehow, you will make this a rewarding and productive experience.

"Conducting a successful job search campaign takes energy, discipline, and career support. Despite the pressures many face in today's employment market, job seekers must stay focused on their goals and search smart," says Myers.

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For more information and other useful tips to achieving career success, visit http://www.getthejobbook.com .

Copyright (R) 2010, Career Potential, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted by permission of Ford R. Myers, a nationally-known Career Coach and author of "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring." Download your Free Special Report, "10 Vital Strategies to Maximize Your Career Success" at http://www.careerpotential.com .

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CONTACT: Ilyse Shapiro,
(610) 642-7427 (PA); or Ford R. Myers, contact@careerpotential.com; 610-649-1778 (PA), or http://www.careerpotential.com .

ABOUT:

Ford R. Myers is President of Career Potential, LLC. His firm helps clients take charge of their careers, create the work they love, and earn what they deserve! Ford has held senior consulting positions at three of the nation's largest career service firms. His articles and interviews have appeared in many national magazines and newspapers, and he has conducted presentations at numerous companies, associations and universities. In addition, Ford has been a frequent guest on television and radio programs across the country. He is author of Get the Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring.

More information is available at: http://www.getthejobbook.com and http://www.careerpotential.com

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Announcement of the Career Videos for America's Job Seekers Challenge; Correction - TMCnet

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 06:28 PM PDT

Jun 14, 2010 (Labor Department Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- SUMMARY: The Department of Labor published a document in the Federal Register of May 18, 2010, announcing the Career Videos for America's Job Seekers Challenge. The dates for all phases of this Video Challenge have been extended. This document contains corrections to the dates published on that date on page 27824, columns two and three.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of May 18, 2010, page 27824, column two under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, first paragraph, beginning with line 15, the corrected dates should read: Phase 1 will run from May 10 to August 20, 2010. In this phase, the general public, associations, and/or employers can submit their occupational video for one of the 15 occupational categories to http://www.dolvideochallenge.ideascale.com. The submitted occupational videos should pertain to one of the following occupations: 1. Biofuels Processing Technicians; 2. Boilermakers; 3. Carpenters; 4. Computer Support Specialists; 5. Energy Auditors; 6. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers/Testing Adjusting and Balancing (TAB) Technicians; 7. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse; 8. Medical Assistants; 9. Medical and Clinical Lab Technicians including Cytotechnologists; 10. Medical Records and Health Information Technicians including Medical Billers and Coders; 11. Pipe fitters and Steamfitters; 12. Radiological Technologists and Technicians; 13. Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians; 14. Weatherization Installers and Technicians; and 15. Wind Turbine Service Technicians.

Those who submitted a video prior to the original deadline of June 18 and wish to submit an alternate version may do so by August 20, and indicate that they wish to substitute it for the original version.

Phase 2 will run from August 23 to September 10. During this phase, the DOL/ETA will screen, review, and identify the top three career videos in each occupational category and post these selected videos online at http://www.dolvideochallenge.ideascale.com for public review.

Phase 3 will run from September 13 to October 8. During this phase, the public will recommend the top career video in each occupational category. They will also have the opportunity to comment on videos.

Phase 4 will run from October 11 to October 29. In this final phase, DOL and ETA, will communicate the top career video in each occupational category to the workforce development community, educational community, and job seekers by: 1. Posting an announcement of the top ranking videos on key Web sites including: * DOL.gov; * DOLETA.gov; * White House Office of Science and Technology Policy blog; * Workforce3One.org; and Other sites; 2. Highlighting the videos and occupations on ETA's http://www.CareerOneStop.org portal, which already houses a variety of occupational videos for the workforce system; 3. Providing additional coverage of the videos on the ETA Communities of Practice, including: 21st Century Apprenticeship, Green Jobs, Reemployment Works, Regional Innovators, and Disability and Employment.

4. Utilizing other communication outlets such as national associations and intergovernmental organizations like the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, the National Association of Workforce Boards, the National Governor's Association, the National Association of Counties, and the Association of Community Colleges.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Harding, Room 4510-C Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone number: 202-693-2921 (this is not a toll-free number). Fax: 202-693-3015. E-mail: Harding.Michael@dol.gov Signed at Washington, DC this 8th day of June 2010.

Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.

Notice; correction.

Citation: "75 FR 33641" Federal Register Page Number: "33641" "Notices"

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Look for a career, not a job - Los Angeles Times

Posted: 12 Jun 2010 01:15 PM PDT

I wouldn't blame this weekend's UCLA graduates if they're less than delirious with glee at their accomplishments.

They entered college when the country's job growth had just barely begun to slow. They are exiting into one of the toughest labor markets the nation has seen in more than a quarter-century.

Sure they're armed with diplomas from one of the country's most respected schools.

But they're also carrying in their heads a long list of things they can't do and jobs they can't get. I could feel the angst in the room when I served on a panel on writing careers at UCLA's Career Week this spring.

We panelists kept offering up versions of essential advice that has stood for generations: Find something you love and work hard at it.

I wondered how well it would serve them, given their anxiety, until a query in a quavering voice pushed past all those questions that began, "In today's economy…"

"What if," asked a slight young woman, "you don't know what your passion is?"

I didn't know how to answer to that. So I turned to the experts at UCLA's Career Center.

I'm an ENTP (Extroverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Perceiving), according the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator).

Journalism, it turns out, is a perfect career fit.

For 50 years, colleges, corporations and career advisors have used the MBTI to find employees who fit a company's culture and match students with majors and professions. It aims to measure "psychological types" — patterns in the way people perceive information, make judgments and respond to others.

It has been in heavy rotation this year at UCLA's Career Center.

Counseling manager Karol Johansen has seen a steady stream of students at the center, which is one of the nation's most comprehensive. Counselors lead students through a series of assessments to figure out their interests, learning style, personality types and set them on the right path.

Johansen says she is thrilled with the uptick in student requests, but troubled by the level of student angst.

Students are weighed down by the stunted economy not just as they prepare to graduate, she said, but from the moment they walk on campus. When the time comes to pick a major, "They're asking not 'What do I enjoy?', but 'Is this major marketable?' ''

That might draw a cheer from some parents wanting a return on their investment. But it's not the best way to choose a career or to chart a satisfying journey through life.

I stumbled into journalism because my mother knew somebody who knew somebody who ran a weekly newspaper in my hometown. Midway through college, I had scrapped plans to become a teacher after a summer spent tutoring wore me down. I graduated aiming for law school. But I needed to work for a few years first to pay for it, so I took the newspaper job.

Thirty years later, I'm still here. My career, as it turns out, found me.

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