Tripping On The Ladder

 Guest Column By Marni Hockenberg
 (c) January 8, 2010

A job search can easily be put on the back burner during the holidays, especially if the search has lasted six months or longer.

It’s good to recharge yourself during the holidays to avoid job search burnout. But, like allowing yourself just one more holiday cookie, the temptation to play now and pay later can be dangerous. Moderation is the key.

Hopefully during this holiday season, you enjoyed your down time while also taking some simple and practical steps to jump-start your 2010 job search. But even if you didn’t, it’s not too late to boost your efforts now that the first days of the new year are upon us.

Reflect on your 2009 job search.
Write down five activities you did that successfully moved your job search in the right direction. Keep doing them in 2010. Then write down five activities that didn’t provide traction and discontinue them in 2010.

In other words, make a resolution to be intentional and use your time wisely.

Find an “Accountability Buddy.”
Job searching can be lonely—but with a buddy, you don’t need to be the Lone Ranger anymore. Write down and review your daily, weekly and monthly job search goals with your buddy. Ask him or her to hold you accountable. When you achieve your goals, your buddy can celebrate with you!

Flashcards will give your interview “flash”
Remember flashcards? I used them in school to learn math (where are they? I still need them!). Buy a pack and write down the tough interview questions that stump you.

Formulate your answers and ask your Accountability Buddy to participate in a mock interview with you. Rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat.

Preparation is key in a job interview! 

Attend job search educational workshops, forums and meetings.
Even if you learn one tip that will propel you toward achieving your goal, it will be worth your time.

For example, I’m offering an interactive Interview Workshop on January 12, 2010, titled “How The Hiring Game Is Really Played: Experienced Recruiter Reveals 9 Interview Secrets!” from 8:15-10:30 a.m. at the Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka, Minn. For those of you in the Twin Cities area who’d like to register, visit my Web site at www.hockenbergsearch.com/calendar. For those of you in other parts of the country, seek out workshops that will help you build your skills to become a more confident and prepared job-seeker.

No matter what you do, the simple steps you take now can pay dividends as the new year unfolds!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Guest columnist Marni Hockenberg is principal of Hockenberg Search, a professional and managerial recruiting firm based in Minnetonka, Minn. With more than two decades of recruiting and business consulting experience, Marni Hockenberg has a proven track record of providing focused, personalized search services to small- and medium-sized businesses to help them find, recruit and retain top-tier talent. 

 By Jennifer Cohen
 (c) December 18, 2009

Every job I accepted, I secretly knew (deep down in my gut, which I tried hushing at every interview) it was probably not the exact job for me…but then again, no one gets their dream job the first time around…or second, or third, or fourth. Right?

So, just because the job didn’t meet every one of my requirements and I knew I would be pigeon-holed in my responsibilities, I didn’t think it was a smart decision to just pass. I mean, why not give it a shot and maybe my instincts would be deceiving me?

But I was always right. The job would last for a bit, but I was very cognizant to the signs indicating it wasn’t going to be forever. I probably could’ve made a very aggressive over/under bet and made half my salary for pinpointing the day/time of separation.

I also think my appetite for success and leadership was never being fulfilled, since I was always required to start at the bottom and report to someone who wanted to prevent me from advancing. It seems as though the cut-throat environment of some corporations does not foster teamwork when you spend most of your time with bus tire tracks on your back.

What I can say, though, is that from each experience, I definitely took away something great and I do not regret any opportunity that came my way.

I am actually forever grateful for the positions and even more grateful for the separations. In every position, I always learned something new, expanded my network and learned a lot about management and how to communicate using various styles.

I can also confidently admit that I definitely knew that each of the positions  was not going to be where I would stay for long—and hopefully, I stayed just long enough in each before I was fired (four times).

The moral of this story is we should be in tune with our emotions. We should listen to what our gut is telling us and take it into consideration when making big decisions. There is constantly a struggle between what is true, what we want to be true, and our final decision. We should also understand that ultimately, the decision we make is the right decision and the way it was meant to work out.

So don’t regret anything from which you can learn something, but make sure you are not hushing your gut when it is screaming in your face.

“Fired…Four Times” is a monthly column written by 20-something Jennifer Cohen, chronicling her experiences being fired, four times, and ultimately reinventing herself in a new and successful career as a marketing and social media consultant.

Recent Posts:

• “Fired…Four Times. Now What?”

 By Diva Nikki
 (c) December 9, 2009

In the long-running TV show, being a “Survivor” is the best thing that can happen. Competitors will go to great lengths and low depths to outwit and outlast. 

But in the workplace, being a survivor doesn’t come with near the glory…or the monetary prize.

In the midst of more corporate layoffs than most of us have seen in our lifetimes, there is rightly lots of news attention being paid to those forced into transition. But what about those of us who are still employed? The ones still left in the office, taking on piles more work, listening to crickets chirp in all the silent, empty cubicles around us?

Being a layoff survivor can come with lots of emotions and challenges:

• Sadness as you watch dear friends and long-time colleagues leaving.
• Anxiety as you wonder if you’ll be next.
• Stress as you figure out how you’ll now do the work of others on top of your own, because let’s face it: most companies don’t reduce work when they reduce staff.
• Guilt over your continued employment while other talented people are let go.
• Frustration over the seeming halt in your own career path while the whole company freezes hiring and salaries.

What can you do?
In the midst of all these emotions, it’s important to take the time to acknowledge your feelings and find ways to help cope with them.

 Express your feelings to your co-workers. Let them know you will miss them, and find ways to help with closure like goodbye lunches.

Offer to help them in their job search efforts.  Connect to them on LinkedIn, give helpful feedback on resumes or cover letters, and offer to give recommendations.

Talk to someone about your own stress. Many companies offer employee assistance programs for temporary counseling as a benefit. Take advantage of those services.

Do what you can to stay motivated…and healthy. In such a negative environment, this is hard. But find ways to keep yourself going. Set small goals, celebrate (in a subtle, sensitive way) your own achievements. And be sure to keep getting sleep, good food and exercise. In short, take good care of yourself mentally and physically.

Have a tactful, practical conversation with your boss about how to prioritize your work. As one of the few resources still available, you have value. Work together to create a plan for what’s most important and what you can realistically accomplish in a work week.

Focus on your career development. That seems almost impossible in a downsizing environment. But taking on new tasks also means gaining new expertise and skills. Use this time to learn and grow yourself. The economic downturn won’t last forever, and you could come out on the other side with many more tools to help on your journey up the ladder—or wherever you want to go from here.

Additional Resources:

• JoNel Aleccia, “Guilty and stressed, layoff survivors suffer, too,” MSNBC, December 15, 2008.
• Mary Zeiher, “Layoff Survivor Syndrome in the Workplace,” Associated Content, January 2, 2009.
• Susan M. Heathfield, “How to Cope When Co-Workers Lose Their Jobs,” About.com

Read these other recent Desperate Workingwife columns:

• “Desperate Workingwife: Turkey and Shopping and Christmas Trees, Oh My! Surviving the Holiday Jungle in Your Less-Than-Fully-Employed Household”
• “Desperate Workingwife: Give Me a Massage or Die! How to Relieve Your Own Stress While Living with Your Unemployed Spouse”
• “Desperate Workingwife: It Ain’t the Opera but I’m Wearing My Best Dress Anyway. Ways to Stay Romantic Without Spending the Fortune Your Unemployed Spouse Isn’t Earning Right Now”

 By Diva Nikki
 (c) December 2, 2009

Let’s face it—living with an unemployed spouse is darn stressful. You spend a lot of time focusing on him: listening to his job search struggles, finding ways to keep his spirits up, discussing budget issues, being understanding about his emotional ups and downs…

And it’s not like your own life or career is without stress either. It’s possible things at your own company might be less than secure. You still have your own job duties and career development to think about, volunteer meetings to attend…and it’s even conceivable that having your spouse without a job right now might cause you some additional stress.

 Unless you’re a superhero or a saint, it’s time you think about relieving some of that stress. If you don’t, it’s eventually going to explode—all over your household. And that, my friend, will do no one any good.

 Find a venting partner.  
Spend time with a friend you can trust and who will listen to your feelings and struggles. Your spouse already has enough struggles of his or her own to deal with and probably doesn’t need yours. But you do need a safe place to let your hair down and get it all out.

Look for other support.
Investigate your local workforce development board to see if there’s a support group for unemployed spouses. If not, offer to help start one. Meeting with others in your same situation could give you great ideas and encouragement.

Finish a project.
Get out that craft or hobby project that’s been sitting unfinished in a closet or garage for a year and finish it. You’ll do something you love and have the satisfaction of being productive. It’s something you can do during a time when you feel like there’s a lot you can’t do.

Stay healthy.
You’re not going to be able to be supportive for your spouse if you’re feeling like crud. Maintain your exercise routine, try to eat healthy foods and get as much sleep as you can. Your health is very important right now.

Sing or laugh loudly.
Put your favorite CD in the car and belt away. Watch your favorite funny DVD. In general, find things that make you happy and offer a positive release of energy. If you and your spouse can do this together, even better!

Make your own spa night.
Take a bubble bath, give yourself a manicure or facial. Talk your loving spouse into giving you a massage with candles—a bottle of massage lotion is much cheaper than an hour at the spa. Plus, once he’s got you relaxed and feeling loved, you never know what might be in it for him.

Focus on your own personal and professional development.
Be sure you keep up with your own career, even though your spouse is in transition. Read a business book, attend a seminar or network with people you think can help you grow.

 In general, be sure your own stress is dealt with so you can help your spouse deal with his.

 By Dan d’Man
 (c) November 27, 2009

 
It’s an unfortunate reality that most of us will have at least one person on our holiday shopping list who is a recent addition to the ranks of the unemployed.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone in a job transition, here’s a list you’re going to want to check twice:  

 1o. The gift of luxury

Life’s little luxuries are the first things that most people eliminate when faced with the loss of income. If your friend is someone who craves her morning cup of java, a gift certificate to her favorite coffee shop will surely be appreciated. Coffee shops are also a great place for some impromptu networking.

9. The gift of health

In “Bummed Out or Burned Out? How You Can Identify When the Normal Sorrow of Job Loss Becomes Something More Serious,” Charlie Cummins, president of Life Transitions Consulting, communicated the importance of remaining active and fighting lethargy when dealing with a job loss. A membership to a health club or training class shows you care about your friend’s health and well-being.

8. The gift of family

If your recipient has children, the most welcome gift they can receive is the ability to give to their kids. A gift certificate to a movie theater, bowling alley, children’s museum or toy store will raise the spirits of their entire family.

7. The gift of inspiration

Does your gift recipient have bigger goals and dreams he was reticent to pursue before he lost his job? A book like “What am I gonna do with my life,” by Po Bronson might be just the inspiration he needs. A less conventional but much more fun source of inspiration could also be “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” by Dr. Seuss. Add a personal note inside the front cover that conveys your belief in him and he will succeed … it’s 98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.

6. The gift of relaxation

Help your friend reset her stress level with a spa gift certificate for a massage.

5. The gift of information

Do you know someone who works in your friend’s profession — or a profession he’s always been curious about? Setting up an informational interview can help him learn valuable insights, make contacts and keep his interview skills sharp.

4. The gift of expertise

Just because your friend is a great engineer, it doesn’t mean she can write an effective resume. Covering the cost of a professional resume service could be the most important gift she receives. The Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARW) is a good place to search for services near you. The PARW also offers information about professional career coaches and certified employment interview professionals — people who could make the difference between getting the job and almost getting the job.

3. The gift of laughter

Wrapping up a voodoo doll customized with a former boss’ face or a corporate logo (www.vudutuu.com) won’t help him find a new job … but it’ll probably bring a smile to his face.

2. The gift of membership

Paying your friend’s membership fee for a professional industry association will open the door to valuable continuing education opportunities and networking events.

1. The gift of yourself

Offer to proofread their cover letters and resumes. Babysit so she and her husband can get away for a night. Run errands so that he can attend a job interview or networking opportunity. It’s a free gift that’s difficult to put a price on.

 By Jim Taylor
 (c) November 12, 2009 

Are you at a crossroads in your life or career? These great films can provide insight, inspiration, laughter and even a few load warnings. Happy viewing!

The Transformers – Movies about making huge life changes.

Heaven Can Wait (1977)
Warren Beatty plays a 2^nd string NFL quarterback who is killed before his time due to a heavenly mix-up.  His spirit is sent back to earth in the body of a billionaire businessman. Beatty then spends the rest of the movie trying to get his old job back.  

Things Change (1988)
Don Ameche plays a poor, simple man who shines shoes for a living. Mistaken for a rich, powerful mob boss during a wild weekend in Lake Tahoe, he gets to live a privileged and perilous double life in his new “job.” 

Back to School (1984)
Thornton Melon is a vulgar but lovable millionaire businessman played by Rodney Dangerfield. To encourage his son to stick with his education, Melon enrolls in college, where he becomes the big man on campus. Not exactly Noel Coward, but a funny and charming romp nonetheless. 

Gates of Heaven (1978)
Not really about career transition, but most definitely about major life transition, this quirky documentary chronicles the closing of a pet cemetery and the transfer of its deceased residents to a new “final” resting place. Metaphysical musings and poignant silliness ensue. Not for everyone’s taste, although Roger Ebert includes it on his “Top 10 Movies of All Time” list. Not to be confused with legendary bomb Heaven’s Gate. 

The Escape Artists – Movies about trying to run away from it all.

Lost in America (1985)
Sometimes what you run to is worse than what you’ve run from. Quintessential ‘80s yuppies liquidate their assets, buy a Winnebago and hit the open road, expecting to live their out their lives as wandering free spirits. When they make a stop in Vegas, things go horribly astray. Writer/director/actor Albert Brooks at his best.   

Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
A rich, successful Hollywood director who makes lightweight entertainment wants to make a social statement with his new film, O Brother Where Art Thou? [Yes, the title inspired the Coen Brothers 60 years later.] To do research, he disguises himself as a hobo, and starts hopping freight trains to learn about the plight of the downtrodden. Way ahead of its time, the film is a brilliant social satire and a great send-up of Hollywood itself.  

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Running away for a day can be a lot of work. Ferris Bueller fakes an illness, plays hookey, borrows a Ferrari and drags his friends on an action-packed “day off.” A cultural touchstone for 30- and 40-somethings, it might still inspire you to play hookey and seize the day.  

The Cautionary Tales – Stories of career moves you don’t want to make.

The Godfather (1972)
He ends up rich and powerful by the end, but at what cost? Michael Corleone’s transformation from honest, earnest World War II soldier to ruthless mob boss is one of the great tragic falls in cinema history.  Don’t let this happen to you.  

Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Don’t sell your soul to get ahead. Tony Curtis (in his first film role) plays an ambitious press agent trying to claw his way to the top. He cuts a Faustian bargain with a powerful and egomaniacal newspaper columnist played by Burt Lancaster, then discovers that success doesn’t quite smell the way he’d hoped.    

Terror’s Advocate (2007)
A chilling documentary about Jacques Vergès, a French lawyer who’s built a “successful” career defending Nazi war criminals, Khmer Rouge leaders, and terrorists around the globe. Not a recommended career path. 

The Appreciators – Even if you’re not exactly where you want to be, these movies can help you appreciate where you are right now. 

The Bicycle Thief (1949)
From the “things could be worse” category: Times are desperate in post-World War II Italy. A man who’s been unemployed for two years is thrilled to find work. But things go very wrong when the thing he needs to do the job—his bicycle—is stolen. 

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
An ambitious but struggling self-help guru has to set aside his career aspirations to hold his family together and help his daughter fulfill her quixotic dream. This poignant and hilarious road movie features a great ensemble cast and a climax for the ages.  

Wings of Desire (1988)
An angel who observes the human race from his perch above West Berlin (before the wall fell) longs to feel and experience life as people do. He decides to make the ultimate career move, from celestial being to mere mortal. Played by brilliant German actor Bruno Ganz, the angel’s joyous discovery of the mundane details of every day living is a true revelation. Remade in Hollywood as City of Angels (1998), but don’t miss the original masterpiece; it just might help you see your life anew.

 By Dan d’Man
 (c) November 6, 2009
 

You’ve lost your job and you feel:

A)    Angry
B)     Depressed
C)    Stressed
D)    All of the above (and more)

 If you’re unfortunate enough to be counted among the millions of recently unemployed Americans, no one would blame you for answering D. After all, it’s only natural to have such feelings, right?

“In a more healthy economy, people generally deal with a job loss pretty well because they feel there are other opportunities out there,” said Charlie Cummins, MS, LPC, and President of Roswell, Georgia-based Life Transitions Consulting. “But right now, with so much economic turmoil, there’s a fear that those opportunities don’t exist. And it’s creating a lot of anxiety.”

Charlie Cummins, MS, LPC

 But when are those normal feelings of stress and anxiety a sign of more serious issues and a cause for concern? 

Cummins, who has more than 20 years of experience as a counselor and life- and performance-coach, says the answer lies in our surroundings.

“All illness feeds on and moves us toward isolation. Unfortunately, when people lose their job it often isolates them. It’s when people don’t take steps to overcome it that should be of concern. It’s a sign that the bottom is beginning to fall out.”

Not answering or responding to phone calls, e-mails and other correspondence are potential warning signs of clinical depression.

Anger (often directed at those closest to us), addiction, lethargy and decreased interest in previously very important activities or spiritual outlets can also be potentially ominous signs.

For people who may have lost their health benefits or at least face higher deductibles, the symptoms, even when identified, often go untreated.

Fortunately, the most effective remedy for symptoms of depression is also a valuable strategy for securing a new job.

“Movement toward other people and the activities associated with a job search are really the best medicine — personally and professionally,” Cummins said, noting electronic resources like LinkedIn and Facebook can’t replace personal connections.

“The people I know who’ve had the best success in finding a new job are the ones who’ve made the most of existing relationships and fostered new ones by reconnecting with professional or industry organizations.”

Another potential constructive activity — one that can also generate healthy personal and professional movement — is looking for new opportunities for growth.

“A positive consequence of the economic turmoil is we’re seeing a lot of innovation,” Cummins added. “Not just industries but also individuals are reinventing themselves by exploring new career paths, skills and interests. It can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to assess your values and what’s important to you, which is always a healthy exercise.”

 By Linda Lande
 (c) October 22, 2009

The recession has brought some companies—even some industries—to their knees, and hundreds of thousands of people now find themselves unemployed.

If you’re fortunate enough to still be working but suspect that you, too, might be heading toward unemployment, now is the time to prepare. Typically, companies handle employee releases one of three ways:

• With respect and caring. Employees receive at least two weeks’ notification that their jobs will be eliminated.
• With immediacy. Employees are called to Human Resources and told they will be leaving—now.
• With heavy baggage. Employees are not performing their jobs to the level the company expects, so they are asked to leave.

Part I: The Respectful and Caring Employer

If your employer is being acquired by another company, is merging with another company or, due to financial difficulties, will be laying off employees, consider yourself fortunate if you’ve received advance notice. But even with advance notification, many employees either keep doing what they’ve always done or let bitterness and confusion cloud their better judgement. Instead of making good, positive use of their time, they fritz it away with long lunches and short work days.

So, if you one day hear your manager say, “I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to let you go,” consider the following five positive actions that will benefit you—and your employer:

1. Quickly reach a point of understanding.

“Companies forced to lay off employees don’t just think this up one day,” says Renee Conklin, Vice President of Human Resources for SoftBrands, which was acquired in August by Infor. Employers would much rather be expanding and hiring, but difficult business decisions must be made sometimes. Conklin, who not only is overseeing layoffs but also will lose her job at the end of the year, advises people to quickly get themselves to a place of understanding—understanding that this probably is not what the company wants to be doing and that, like it or not, it’s what’s going to happen.

“For me and others I’ve worked with, reaching a point of understanding has been key,” she says. “I find it comforting to know the situation rather than live in the unknown. I appreciate being able to approach it strategically.”

2. Update your resume.

Do it now, while job duties and accomplishments are still fresh. “Focus on what you know rather than what you’ve done,” says Conklin. “List your knowledge, skills and abilities. Let the reader know what you can walk in the door and do. You’ve got their attention for 20 seconds, grab it—and keep it!” (more…)

 By Diva Nikki
 (c) October 14, 2009

You’re finishing up your workday, answering a few more e-mails and tidying up some papers on your desk.  The phone rings and you see on the caller ID that it’s your husband. 

Not uncommon – there are often calls like this at the end of the day to discuss what to pick up for dinner. So you answer, phone crooked between your ear and shoulder so you can multi-task while talking.  And then you hear the words…

“Honey…I’m so sorry to tell you this. But I just lost my job.”

The typing stops. Your hand comes up to hold onto the receiver because you need to hold onto something right now.  You no longer even see the papers on your desk because you’ve developed a sort of tunnel vision. And it feels like your heart just landed in the pit of your stomach.

How do I know?  Because I’ve been there.  Three times in six years of marriage, I’ve been there and gotten that phone call.  My name is Diva Nikki, and I’m a Desperate Workingwife.

Things you need to hear: Don’t panic, and you’re not alone.

Despite your initial instincts, should you be in the midst of one of these phone calls right now, remember the reason that the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was so popular was because it had the words “Don’t Panic” in large, friendly letters on the cover. (more…)