Did you ever notice that there are certain people who have great jobs? People who are always working on a consistent basis, even in shaky industries and uncertain times? And then there are those who are either constantly unhappy in their careers or who go for long periods of time without work. They blame the world and wonder why bad luck always seems to happen to them.
You make your own luck. Your career is great when you focus on making it great. This means not waiting for things to happen, but making things happen instead. It means being proactive instead of reactive. Rather than blaming others, you are passionate about new possibilities. You are excited about what you do and what you contribute every day.
So, how do you make sure you are never without a job? Follow these five steps.
1. Tell Yourself That You Will Always Be Employed
What you say matters. Your words have power, meaning, and intention. When you tell yourself something bad will happen to your job, something bad will probably happen. If you tell yourself that you are marketable and confident and that you will always be working, your words can make this true.
2. Anticipate Trends In Your Industry
If your job is being eliminated or outsourced, you will want to know about it before you are in the room with the human resources person telling you that your job is going away. Research your industry. Know what's happening and what the experts say will happen. This way you can make informed decisions. Look for trends. When you find them, start to train yourself in these areas. Knowledge is power. Having the right skills at the right time ensures that no matter what is happening around you, you will be needed and employable.
3. Have An Updated Résumé
Your résumé showcases your skills and abilities to the world. It is a selling tool that outlines your unique qualifications so an employer can see, at a glance, how you can contribute to the employer's workplace. When you are looking for work, prospective employers know immediately whether or not you are a fit for a position. Even if you are not looking for work, your résumé reminds you of the contributions you make on a regular basis, something you can easily forget when you are immersed in the day-to-day. Whether you are looking for a job, or you already have one, an updated résumé is essential for your career.
4. Network On A Regular Basis
If you start to network only when you need something, you will have a lot of catching up to do. Therefore, network every day. Wherever there are people, there is an opportunity to network. You do not always have to go somewhere to network successfully. You can network within your own company. Are there opportunities for you? Ask people and find out. People are your best resource for information. Invite co-workers to lunch. Take the time to walk by someone's office to say hello.
In addition, who can you tap into outside of where you work? Every industry has an association. When is your industry's association meeting in your area? Check the date and go. Get involved in this group so more people can get to know you. That way, if something happens to your job, you'll have people to reach out to.
Lastly, send an e-mail to or call people you already know on a regular basis. If you are always keeping in touch, then you will not feel bad that you are bothering someone when it's time to reach out and ask for help.
5. Always Be On The Lookout For New Opportunities
Read trade publications. Read memos-not only from your area, but from others as well. Think about what you could be doing differently. Get your creative juices flowing. Think positively. Rather than thinking, "It cannot happen," believe that what you want is possible and is within your reach. Then, make it happen.
So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
6. Check www.boballenrecruiting.com for new job listings
By Deborah Brown-Volkman
Deborah Brown-Volkmann is the President of Surpass Your Dreams, Inc. a career and mentor coaching company that has been delivering a message of motivation, success, and personal fulfillment since 1998. We work with Senior Executives, Vice Presidents, and Managers, who are out of work or overworked, and Coaches who want to build profitable coaching practices. Deborah is also the author of "Coach Yourself To A New Career: A Book To Discover Your Ultimate Profession," a book that can be found on Amazon.com..
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Job Interviewer-Prepare to test your interviewing skills
Just about everyone has figured out by now that when they go for an interview, they're likely to be asked by the hiring manager to talk about their strengths and weaknesses. And, most people also know they'll be quizzed about how their skills would be a good fit for the job.
But how many will be prepared to answer the question: "If you were a car, what type would you be?"
Welcome to the tough -- and often bizarre -- new world of job interviews.
"Because people are so much better prepared for interviews, they're getting asked some off-the-wall questions that let interviewers see how they react when caught off guard," says Lynne A. Sarikas, director of the MBA Center at Northeastern University in Boston.
While high-tech companies are credited with starting the new trend of creative interview questions, more companies are seizing the chance to try and rattle interviewees who often are armed with well-rehearsed answers. So, now job candidates can expect to hear something along these lines:
- If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be?
- If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play you?
-If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
-If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?
-If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you be?
But if you claim you would be bleu cheese dressing rather than raspberry vinaigrette, are you really affecting your chances for getting a job?
"It's not about getting the right answer, it's about showing grace under pressure," Sarikas says. "They're looking for how you react in that unguarded moment -- just like if a customer would call with an unexpected question. They want to know whether you would be able to handle it, or fall apart."
Still, it can be daunting for interviewees to enter such an environment, where they're not sure if they're going to be able to answer such a question without drawing a complete blank or saying something completely inane.
"You can't possibly be prepared for all these types of questions," Sarikas says. "But practice, so that you get a feel for them. Don't be afraid to take a deep breath before answering, but they are expecting some kind of response. You won't be able to say you need to go collect data and then get back to them. They're trying to see what your initial reaction is
In addition to the creative questioning, interviewees also should be prepared for thought-process questions, such as: "How many cars would you expect to see parked in the parking lot of the local grocery store at 10 a.m. on a Monday morning in January?"
Such questions are used so the candidate has to talk about population assumptions in the area, the number of competitors, shopping trends for the month and day of the week. While not all job candidates will be asked such a question, it's more common for hiring managers to look for ways to get an interviewee to demonstrate thought processes and recognize that appropriate data is required.
At the same time, hiring managers may use behavioral interview questions, such as: "Describe a situation you feel you should have handled differently" or "What is the most stressful situation you have handled and what was the outcome?"
Sarikas says that there are some ways that job candidates can prepare for the tough and unexpected questions:
-Be very well-prepared to answer common questions such as "why did you leave your last job?" so that you are more confident and at ease when the tough ones come along.
-Think about situations in your life that you can apply to many of the same questions, especially when it comes to behavioral issues.
- Have several questions prepared in advance to ask an interviewer. Do not ask about salary or benefits, but rather about the organization's culture or long-term goals for the job and/or department.
- Create a bond with the interviewer. "So, what you do like most about working for this company?" or "Why did you start working for this employer and what has been your career path?" allows you to hear a personal story that helps you find common interests.
By Anita Bruzzese
But how many will be prepared to answer the question: "If you were a car, what type would you be?"
Welcome to the tough -- and often bizarre -- new world of job interviews.
"Because people are so much better prepared for interviews, they're getting asked some off-the-wall questions that let interviewers see how they react when caught off guard," says Lynne A. Sarikas, director of the MBA Center at Northeastern University in Boston.
While high-tech companies are credited with starting the new trend of creative interview questions, more companies are seizing the chance to try and rattle interviewees who often are armed with well-rehearsed answers. So, now job candidates can expect to hear something along these lines:
- If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be?
- If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play you?
-If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
-If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?
-If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you be?
But if you claim you would be bleu cheese dressing rather than raspberry vinaigrette, are you really affecting your chances for getting a job?
"It's not about getting the right answer, it's about showing grace under pressure," Sarikas says. "They're looking for how you react in that unguarded moment -- just like if a customer would call with an unexpected question. They want to know whether you would be able to handle it, or fall apart."
Still, it can be daunting for interviewees to enter such an environment, where they're not sure if they're going to be able to answer such a question without drawing a complete blank or saying something completely inane.
"You can't possibly be prepared for all these types of questions," Sarikas says. "But practice, so that you get a feel for them. Don't be afraid to take a deep breath before answering, but they are expecting some kind of response. You won't be able to say you need to go collect data and then get back to them. They're trying to see what your initial reaction is
In addition to the creative questioning, interviewees also should be prepared for thought-process questions, such as: "How many cars would you expect to see parked in the parking lot of the local grocery store at 10 a.m. on a Monday morning in January?"
Such questions are used so the candidate has to talk about population assumptions in the area, the number of competitors, shopping trends for the month and day of the week. While not all job candidates will be asked such a question, it's more common for hiring managers to look for ways to get an interviewee to demonstrate thought processes and recognize that appropriate data is required.
At the same time, hiring managers may use behavioral interview questions, such as: "Describe a situation you feel you should have handled differently" or "What is the most stressful situation you have handled and what was the outcome?"
Sarikas says that there are some ways that job candidates can prepare for the tough and unexpected questions:
-Be very well-prepared to answer common questions such as "why did you leave your last job?" so that you are more confident and at ease when the tough ones come along.
-Think about situations in your life that you can apply to many of the same questions, especially when it comes to behavioral issues.
- Have several questions prepared in advance to ask an interviewer. Do not ask about salary or benefits, but rather about the organization's culture or long-term goals for the job and/or department.
- Create a bond with the interviewer. "So, what you do like most about working for this company?" or "Why did you start working for this employer and what has been your career path?" allows you to hear a personal story that helps you find common interests.
By Anita Bruzzese
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)