Creating Job Security

Make the Top 5 - don't blow it in your interview

2011-09-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

With the age of technology, horror stories of applicants who send in resumes on scented paper have been replaced with stories of job seekers who send in blanket resumes to 40 different companies in seven different industries. As experts, we're quick to remind folks that if you want the interview, you need to tailor your message.

So what happens when you are selected as one of the top five candidates among 100 applicants? You'd be surprised how seriously some of these applicants blow it.

I recently transitioned from career expert to hiring manager for one of the hospital marketing communications teams I oversee in Central Washington. All applicants were asked the same questions and evaluated on the same scale. Here were three bad answers, and what they should have said instead.

Question: Why do you want this position?

His answer: Well, I used to live there and I still own a home that needs a lot of repair. It would be great to be able to get back to that.

What went through my mind? You want to repair your house? What does that have to do with marketing?

Right answer: Because I used to work for the local newspaper, I have a lot of contacts in the community and through regular networking, I'd be able to add valuable input about what matters to our patients.

Question: Give me an example of a time when you demonstrated integrity in your job.

Her answer: That's a hard one. I guess there was a time when I was working for a fast food restaurant in high school and there was money missing from the till. I told them I didn't do it and they did an investigation and they realized I didn't do it. So that was good.

What went through my mind? Really, you're applying for a professional position, you have an MBA, and that's the best example you have?

Right answer: Any response where you found yourself at a cross-roads and you made the right decision, especially if it cost you, but you knew it was right or somehow helped a co-worker, a customer or someone else. Show me your empathy. Show me your committment. Show me that when the rubber hits the road I can count on you to represent yourself, our team and our company in a positive way.

Question: If offered the marketing assistant position, how long do you see yourself in this position?

Her answer: Well, probably at least a year. I think it's really important to learn as much as I can and who knows what else will be available by that time.

What went through my mind? In one year you will barely have moved through one complete cycle of calendar events. So essentially, once you've tried everything once, you may be ready to move on?

Right answer: I'm looking to commit to a position and learn from it until I master it, no matter how long it takes. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball and we end up making decisions or changes sooner or later than we planned, but I would only accept a position fully intending to give it my all for my entire foreseeable future.

The point is not to just say the right things, but to enter every interview fully expecting to give the prospective position 100 percent. As much as you may need or want a job, if you're applying for positions that you aren't prepared to commit to, it will come across in the answers you give.

Multiple times, I wanted to jump into career coach mode and give strategic advice to the job candidates I interviewed. Every person in the top five had a solid chance at the job for which they were being considered. Four of them blew it in the interview.

Next week, I'll share tips on what you MUST DO when you make it into the top five if your goal is to get offered the job!

Meaningful Internships = More Than College Credit

2011-05-21T20:22:00.001-07:00

2011 grads have a leg up in the current job market, unlike in past economies where experience was more important. An onslaught of new technology and the increasing importance of social media and a web presence are making savvy, new grads attractive to cash-conservative organizations looking to get the biggest bang for their buck.

Today's graduate is educated, comes with training and if they've made the time and space to fit in a meaningful internship, they're also able to offer some experience and hopefully a handful of decent work samples.

So what is a meaningful internship? It's one that offers the student an opportunity to develop a realistic learning experience and measure the results of that experience with take-away lessons that will serve them in a real-life work situation.

The IRS is cracking down on employers who utilize interns to replace paid employees, so the tasks that interns are assigned have changed in some cases. Interns are no longer given entry-level jobs to take the daily burden off employees. This may change the parameters to protect the student, but it doesn't have to mean that internships cannot still be meaningful in terms of work experience.

--> If you know of a student who is getting ready to graduate, consider spoiling them with a gift that will give them an edge in the job market. The Creating Job Security Resource Guide, 2nd Edition, is now available online and in local book stores.

Crisis Averted... for a few days

2011-04-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

There is never "the best time" to turn the ship around. There are many good times, in fact, any time before the iceberg, the edge of the waterfall, or any other game-changing crisis is a good time to turn the ship around. The republicans and democrats have been discussing the 2011 US budget for several weeks now as deadlines continue to loom and be pushed out "just in time" following tiny compromises. What crisis is looming in your career or your financial life? Have you received warnings to turn the ship around? Are there signs that the direction you're headed is going to require a path change? The Creating Job Security Resource Guide is your map to navigating a harsh job market. It includes all the tools you need in a compact package that doesn't waste your time with a lot of extra talk. Maybe you were waiting for the jobs to come back, only to discover that the new jobs may not pay what you've been making in a position that has become highly dissatisfactory. Maybe you are nearing the end of unemployment and you're trying to decide if you should take a lower job with lower pay or wait for a position you desire. There are some decisions that are just never easy. The secret is to compile the facts, jump in with your heart, and turn the wheel. The water may be choppy, and sacrifices may be required, but you'll be heading in the right direction before you know it.

Stock market fun to watch again

2011-04-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

A lot of people are predicting what the economy will do next. Will it improve? Will the nuclear threats in Japan impact the recovery? Will high paying jobs come back? (The US economy created more than 216,000 jobs in March alone -- but are they jobs that merely pay the bills or afford families a moderate sense of security?) Of course there are threats -- energy prices being chief among them -- and an uncertain housing market not far behind. But a key indicator I tend to look at is the stock market. Is it fun to watch again? Does your quarterly statement register in the gains column? As someone who was fortunate to work in senior management at a thrift (similar to a bank but with the primary revenue source coming from loans) and then a financial software company back in the mid- to late-1990s, I remember very well when the stock market was fun to watch. Bull market lead to jobs, jobs lead to freedom, and freedom leads to bigger possibilities. Recovering from The Great Recession will be a lot like recovering from a major accident. The progress will be there, and it will mostly be in the right direction. There will be fatigue and set-backs minute-by-minute, but the progress will be evident as the weeks and months go by. If you've dropped out of the job market because you just couldn't find anything that met your needs, now is the time to jump back in. As more jobs are created there will also be movement among those workers who have wanted to explore new horizons for some time but who have "stayed put" out of fear. If you're a little rusty, give yourself an edge with resources you can trust. That may be from industry-specific websites like those found in the Creating Job Security Resource Guide, 2nd Edition -- or it may be by hiring a jobs site like FlexJobs.com that can ensure individual jobs leads are current and provide what they claim. Whatever you do, the message is a positive one. The sun is peeking out again and with it you'll find many new opportunities on the horizon. You might even decide it's time to start watching the stock market. It's a brand new day!

Share Your Opinion - one week only

2011-03-26T14:32:00.001-07:00

The new edition of the Creating Job Security Resource Guide is coming out this week and as a follower of ours on Twitter, we're making the book available to you free of charge.

The book and the Kindle edition will be available on Amazon.com -- as well as other sites and in book stores near you by April 1, 2011. But you can read it first and receive it at no charge. We're doing this hoping that you'll write a review at www.Amazon.com or www.BN.com sharing your opinion with other readers.

If you are among the first 50 people who send an email to dyconsiglieri@yahoo.com BEFORE April 1, we will send you a free PDF of the Creating Job Security Resource Guide - 2nd Edition.

Thanks for following @Job_Security on Twitter. We hope to hear from you soon and see your review online.

Kind regards - Debra

A Fragile Recovery Blossoming with Hope

2011-03-19T20:12:00.000-07:00

There are people who hold their breath when good news arrives because they believe bad news may be right around the corner. They're not wrong -- but holding their breath isn't going to prevent the next piece of news (good or bad) from unfolding.

Finally, the unemployment rate is headed in the right direction. Finally, the recovery includes more jobs created than jobs lost.

The recovery is fragile -- there is no doubt about that. The earthquake, tsunami and growing nuclear crisis in Japan are going to bring long-term changes and have consequences beyond the terrible cost to lives and families. But even in the midst of disaster, the Nikkei 225 continued with business as usual despite plummeting more than 10% in one day.

The hopeful part of a recession, downturn or disaster is that recovery will come. Recovery in the U.S. job market is also slowly blossoming with possibilities. According to the US Department of Labor, only three states are currently at their all-time high for unemployment: Colorado, Georgia and Idaho. California, Florida, and Nevada have dropped ever so slightly from their all-time high unemployment rates in December 2010.

In some states, the news is actually quite good. In North Carolina, unemployment has dropped from 11.4% to 9.9% in the past year. And eleven states have unemployment rates under 7%: Hawaii (6.3%), Iowa (6.1%), Kansas (6.8%), Minnesota (6.7%), Nebraska (4.2%), New Hampshire (5.6%), North Dakota (3.8%), Oklahoma (6.6%), South Dakota (4.7%), Vermont (5.7%), and Wyoming (6.3%). This is hugely encouraging for a recovery.

One of the saddest statistics of The Great Recession was the number of workers who gave up looking for work because they lost any hope of ever getting back on their feet. The past few years have indeed been an extremely difficult time for the unemployed and underemployed.

But the good news, as a new batch of graduates nears their final quarters or semesters of classes, is the job market is coming back. The question won't be will there be jobs, but instead "Will job seekers know where to discover the openings?"

On March 23, the brand new Creating Job Security Resource Guide - 2nd Edition comes out with 130+ hot job resources. Still easy-to-navigate, this new edition includes sharper tools, new job websites and insight from both experts and job seekers who have used the guide to land their dream jobs and are back to help others do the same.

Are You Addicted to Career Advice?

2010-08-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

Whether you're unemployed and looking for work or just poking around to see what opportunities are out there, one thing is for certain: the abundance of job-related advice articles is staggering. In fact, every day it seems that the major search engines and news channels posts at least one if not multiple new articles on how to change careers or find a job.

Most of them include an interesting twist -- the introduction to a job you never considered (i.e., elevator repair work), news about high paying careers that only require limited education (i.e., technical jobs that you may qualify for with a 2-year degree or 18-month certificate), jobs with a twist (i.e., telecommuting, developing industries, stimulus-related opportunities), or career moves that appeal to your own special interests (i.e., jobs in sports, creative jobs, green jobs, event jobs were you can shop or play video games and earn money.)

What's great about these articles is that they can open your horizons to something you may not have previously known about or considered. But in all fairness, most of them don't actually tell you who's hiring for these positions beyond a generalized reference (schools, hospitals, government agencies, etc.) or provide a step-by-step guide for getting from where you are to where you want to be. And ultimately, for career advice to be genuinely helpful, it needs to go beyond simply informational.

I enjoy these articles as much as anyone -- and I enjoy the writers who pen them. Many of them are colleagues who regularly call and quote me. If you're looking for inspiration or someone to give you a fresh idea, these articles are the best! But if you're serious about making a change, challenge yourself to take a genuine career assessment such as the Green Light Scoring Model and then begin investigating industry-specific career resources that can help you go from dreaming about your ideal job to actually obtaining it.

Did you know the 2010 Creating Job Security Resource Guide includes more than 130 industry-specific resources? It includes the Green Light Scoring Model. And it's available online and in a bookstore near you. www.CreatingJobSecurity.com

When Your Confidence Takes a Hit

2010-08-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

I was talking to a lady yesterday who spent a large portion of 2010 unemployed, until recently. Her unemployment benefits were running low and she took a "bridge" position. Once she started working, she found the pace of the office to be more than she bargained for.

This lady who prided herself on providing excellent customer service to 25 patients a day, was now working with a team of six to process 270 patients a day, making it impossible for her to give any customer more than the most basic of processing. Every day she was struggling to keep up with the software fields, phones, insurance and minimal greeting requirements. In a world where a seemingly simple question like, "Does heart disease run in your family?" once might have taken three or four minutes while the patient explained, she was now asked to hasten their response with, "Yes or no please." She was miserable.

She explained that she was half worried about and half hoping to get termed daily; even though she had taken exact notes of what buttons to push and what fields to populate, the pace and the environment were totally overwhelming to her. When tears began to roll down her cheeks as she whispered, "I've never been unable to keep up with the work but this compromises everything I believe in," it was evident that her beliefs weren't her biggest challenge.

Her confidence had taken a major hit. She was treading water and going nowhere. The job paid less than she made in 25 years and at the same time took away everything she valued about working in a patient-focused environment. And once she voiced that, she could start creating a plan to find a more suitable position for her qualifications.

Has your confidence taken a hit? Has the economy made you doubt your own value? As the marketplace changes, some jobs do become more sought after while other fields become flooded with qualified candidates. It's important to be able to accurately assess if one of these scenarios applies to you. But through it all, while the marketplace may change, your value never lessens. You just need to feel secure enough in your skills and experience to adjust your sails to the economy rather than dropping them completely when your boat is bobbing around on an angry sea.

For the quick, easy-to-use tools you need to jumpstart your career today, visit www.CreatingJobSecurity.com.

New Grads: You Hold the Secret Key!

2010-05-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

First things first... CONGRATULATIONS!

Not only are you graduating, you are jumping into the job market ahead of many of your peers. You already know the job market is tough. What you may not know is that you have the advantage, even over people who have experience. You hold the secret key. You just need to know which important door it needs to open first.

Five years ago, the world grew increasingly intoxicated by customer service. In an age where credit was king, almost everyone had buying power and with that a sense of entitled pampering. Except for the very wealthy and those in senior level management positions, extreme pampering has gone out the door except for 30 minutes here and there in strip mall nail salons and full-service car detailing shops (mostly available in metropolitan areas).

That's where you come in. Managers today are required to do far more with less staff and reduced budgets. New grads with talent, energy, creativity, and who haven't already worked for $50K+ a year (and believe that high pay and full benefits at no cost are entitlements) are positioned nicely to take the jobs that more seasoned workers may be passed over for.

If you were a manager and you could hire someone who was smart, eager and always available, or someone who came with experience, expectations, and possibly outside obligations -- and who may be taking a job as a bridge position until something "better" came along -- which one would appeal to you?

But there are some things you need to know (that your experienced counterparts have learned through their years on the career ladder.)

1. Always dress, talk and act professionally.
2. Show up on time or a few minutes early.
3. Think customer service! Be the very best No. 2 person possible to your boss.
4. Focus on your employer. Always think, "What can I do for them?" Once you are indispensable, then you can make requests or share preferences -- and if you're valuable enough, you may just get them.
5. Follow-up on everything. Follow-up on projects. Follow-up with thank you notes to colleagues, clients and other people with whom you come into contact. Follow-up on behalf of your boss. "Jane asked me to call and thank you for ______." People will think more highly of your boss and more highly of you -- and your boss will appreciate your proactive approach.

What is the secret key? Let hiring managers know that you are an exceptional No. 2 and that they won't regret giving you a chance to help them shine. Be the very best No. 2 person to your manager, and when it comes time for a promotion, you'll be first on the list.

I hear you and I understand

2010-03-07T15:33:00.000-08:00

Several of you have direct messaged Twitter @Job_Security over the past few weeks asking why I hadn't been posting as much, and when I was planning to offer my next class at Kaplan University. Recently, life has made me starkly aware of the fact that despite my best intentions, sometimes I just don't have the energy to get everything done.

For years I have encouraged job seekers to set benchmarks for yourselves and keep going even when you're tired. Aside from a job or job search, there is so much to which we find ourselves committed these days -- families, sports, clubs, housework, gardens, paperwork, etc.

Spring is arriving and not a day too soon for many. I spent a day I had reserved for organizing my tax back-up for my accountant to instead cleaning out my garage. A friend is coming to visit this week and it didn't make sense for her to park on the street just because half my garage was disorganized. Now she can park inside -- but my taxes still need to be prepped. How many times have you set time aside to do something only to spend it on something else? Does it help to know that you're not alone?

For those who are discouraged about long job searches, I hear you and I understand. Life is never as simple as only handing us one challenge at a time.

In addition to writing this blog, guest lecturing at multiple universities, granting interviews to national publications and continually researching the newest, hottest job resources, I'm also the Director of Marketing & PR for two hospitals. It's an exciting challenge and I love it. But it means I often come home to a sink with dirty dishes or a garbage that "needs to go out" today.

And on top of this, my dad is very ill. He was diagnosed with aggressive kidney cancer in January. How many of your are like me in that work and projects offer up an emotional escape from dealing with the realities of life?

I'm still going to encourage you to keep the faith, keep setting benchmarks, and keep networking. If you haven't taken the time to plug yourself into the Green Light Scoring Model for several months or more than a year, do yourself a favor and make the time to revisit this. You may find that your interests or your priorities have changed. The Green Light Scoring Model (included in the Creating Job Security Resource Guide) can support you in finding the job that is most ideal for you right now.

And finally, when you don't accomplish everything on your list, try not to feel discouraged or lose hope. What matters is that you do the best you can with each day you have.

State of the Union to Focus on Jobs - it’s time to put forth real solutions that get Americans back to work!

2010-01-24T12:34:00.000-08:00

With nearly 16 million people officially unemployed and millions more underemployed, it seems only natural that unemployment is top of mind for most Americans, and that it should be President Obama's focus for the State of the Union speech this coming Wednesday. Despite the political sensitivities of the moment, employement (or unemployment) is not merely a political platform. It's an American concern and something all leaders should be concerned with working together on rather than using to distinguish themselves from their philosophical opponents.

While each side will have their say and the political pundits will no doubt weigh in too, unemployment should be a concern that brings us together.

If you are among the millions of families affected by the economy -- and who isn't? -- it doesn't matter which sides exist or which political party is more concerned with which "voters." It shouldn't be about unions or non-union workers. There is only one issue that matters and that is how government and business will work together to incent job growth.

Even healthcare reform, while of critical importance, has become a divisive diversion and should be shelved temporarily while we work together to get Americans back to work. Just as the country came together after 9-11, it's time to come together to create real solutions that get Americans working and America back on track.

If you are looking for a job or a career in a specific industry, the 2010 edition of the Creating Job Security Resource Guide includes specific job portals that post jobs that are available now in the following industries: accounting, advanced manufacturing, avaiation, bilingual job opportunities, biotech / pharmaceuticals, broadcasting / news, chefs / food preparation, computer jobs / IT, construction, creative professionals... and 30 more industries you or someone you know may be interested in today.

Creating Job Security Resource Guide 2010 edition has arrived!

2009-12-31T20:46:00.000-08:00

For so many, 2009 was a year we're only far too happy to say goodbye to as we welcome 2010. For those still unemployed -- 75% of those who lost jobs in 2009 were men -- the promise of a better job market ahead cannot come soon enough.

As the job market recovers in 2010, and it will, the secret to finding the job you want, need, and are qualified for will be finding the resources that connect you to hiring managers in your field. While large job portals have their place, hiring managers can afford to cherry-pick the best and brightest job candidates right now. And to find job seekers with industry experience, they're turning to industry specific job portals rather than to the big boards.

Creating Job Security Resource Guide, 2010 edition, includes nearly 130 critical job resources you need to find the job you want this week or this month.

To get you started, here a a few of my favorites. More are included in Chapter 6:
Advanced Manufacturing - CareerMe.com
Biotech/Pharmaceuticals - Biospace.com
Educational tutoring - Tutor.com
Freelance jobs and temp work - FlexJobs.com (this is an awesome site!)
Hospitality - hCareers.com
Human Resources - Ajilon.com
Marketing / PR - CareerJet.com

If you know someone who is looking for a job or a career, there is no better guide than the Creating Job Security Resource Guide, 2010 edition. At just $8.95, it will cost you less than a bistro sandwich for lunch.

Thanks to the Mike Siegel Show in Seattle, Wash. for inviting me to guest on the Dec. 23, 2009 show dedicated to the economy and jobs market. To listen to this broadcast, download or save the MP3 at http://www.sendspace.com/file/er8lsh

It's All About You...

2009-11-20T07:17:00.000-08:00

Share your story. Most people have been forced to come up with creative ways to reduce their expenses or bring in additional income. Many families have experienced either a reduction of hours (income) or a layoff by one or both breadwinners in the house.

How has the economy affected your family? What have you done that others could learn from? Please share your messages to support and uplift others who may be facing a similar circumstance.

GREAT NEWS!! The Creating Job Security Resource Guide -- 2010 edition is almost out. Last year's edition had more than 75 online resource.

This year's edition include 130 online hot job resources!!! Wow! Most of the new resources fall under industry specific job portals. If you see an industry we missed, and you know of a great job portal to recommend, post it here. We'll credit you with finding it and make it available to job seekers around the world.

Preparing For a Resurgence of Jobs

2009-10-16T08:23:00.000-07:00

For as long as economic data has been tracked, there has always been a percentage of unemployed, even within a healthy economy. But today, the percentage of people who are unemployed or underemployed has surpassed a dire threshold, creating a catastrophic situation for government bodies ranging from local municipalities to the national level worldwide. Even worse for individual workers, this perfect storm peaked at a time when many families were already balancing dangerous debt to asset ratios.

At some point, despite how staggering the unemployment numbers, and despite the constant deluge of related data and economic predictions, the most basic reality comes down to one question: “How is this affecting my family?” And that this point, indeed the recession is affecting every family, if not directly, then indirectly in a multitude of ways.

Job hunting in this economy is different than in previous recessions. Not only have millions of people found themselves looking for work or additional income for the first time in a decade or more, the number of underemployed workers has grown exponentially.

Reliable job resources for both primary employment and supplemental income are in demand more than ever before. For those looking to work from home, several really great job portals exist. One of my favorites that I talk about regularly in my seminars at Kaplan University and to many of you on Twitter is FlexJobs.com. Others that I also like include: AllFreelanceWork.com and Guru.com.

Economists talk about a jobless recovery, but for families struggling to pay the mortgage or cover health insurance, the only recovery that matters is a recovery that includes a resurgence of good-paying jobs.

Will you be prepared when that resurgence arrives?

COMING SOON: Creating Job Security Resource Guide - 2010 edition and Creating Job Security, The 2010 All-In-One Workbook available through The Graduate Group (http://www.graduategroup.com/)

Time for the Government to get Creative

2009-09-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

The US government is talking about a “jobless recovery” like it’s something that exists. A jobless recovery -- where the price of everything goes up -- from stock price to home prices to the price of bread in the store is not a recovery. It’s inflation. The value of the dollar is not up. It’s down -- consistent with inflation, not recovery.

With the unemployment numbers so high, 13 states are going to the federal government to ask that unemployment benefits be extended. Obviously for the families who need income to survive, this request is necessary and seems to be the best short-term solution.

But the government cannot keep funding a jobless recovery by creating government jobs and extending benefits. It’s time for them to get creative about driving a jobs generation campaign.

Companies that stay in business for more than three years, and which in that time grow their business year-over-year have a significantly improved chance of lasting long-term. I would like to see the US government enact a creative tax ladder for new businesses whereby they would only pay half the taxes due in year one; if their net revenue has increased in year two, they only pay half their taxes in year two. And if by year three, their net revenue has grown year-over-year against year two, and they have hired at least one additional person full-time, they would owe their full taxes in year three but receive a write-off equal to the other half of their year-one taxes.

Essentially, under this plan, new businesses would receive a new business tax discount equal to the taxes they would have paid in year one and half of year two, but by year three they would pay full taxes and have created a minimum of two jobs. And to qualify, they would have had to generate an increase in net revenue year-over-year for three years, so the taxes owed in year three would be more than years one or two.

Do you have a creative idea for the US government to create more private sector jobs, or do you think it’s better to just keep expanding government and extending benefits until there are more people requiring help than those left employed to help?

Please share your thoughts! Follow us on Twitter @Job_Security

Join Us On Facebook

2009-08-17T07:24:00.001-07:00

For the most up-to-date list of articles on Creating Job Security, join the Creating Job Security fan club on Facebook.

Leave your comments and ideas that have helped you, and you may just be able to help someone else in the process.

We're also on Twitter @Job_Security.

To join us on Facebook, scroll down to the bottom of this page, and click on the link to join the Facebook Creating Job Security fans page.

Join the forum. Join the fun. Welcome!

Time Off Blog to Start a New Job

2009-08-09T17:44:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits of researching job opportunities was when I found out about an opportunity that was just too good to pass up applying for. After four interviews (three formal and one informal) I was offered the job. It was good to go through the process again as it reminded me of things I hadn’t thought about in a while.

1. The best way to get your foot in the door is through a personal invitation. Even though several people told me about the position and encouraged me to apply, what actually got me on the short list to be interviewed was when someone made a call to a friend and said, “You need to look at this resume.” TAKE AWAY: Make a personal positive impression on someone who works there or on someone who knows someone who does -- and use social media to research who you know who might know someone at the hiring organization.

2. Companies really only care about what you can do for them. Your skills, your experiences, and your history are only important as they relate to the hiring organization. TAKE AWAY: The fact that you have traveled the world is not that interesting unless it means you speak a foreign language (relevant to their customers) or that you are flexible enough to live out of a suitcase if or when the position ever calls for it.

3. Degrees are great but smarts are better. There are a lot of people with formal education who can’t actually think themselves out of a box. If the job requires an advanced degree, don’t lie. That can backfire, including with termination if you do get the job. TAKE AWAY: If you can demonstrate your creativity and intelligence in a meaningful way during an interview series, the actual degrees you hold may not be as critical.

4. Give them something to brag about. If you are their top choice, and they write up an announcement to staff, what about your background or skill set is going to make the staff feel impressed that the company they work for found and hired you? TAKE AWAY: If you can figure out what would make you a great new hire, be sure to add that in your cover letter and emphasize it in your interviews.

As the new Director of Marketing for Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center in Central Washington, I have been quite swamped with my position. I’ve been working anywhere from nine to 16 hours a day (although the 16 was only once.) Some weeks breeze by, and others offer challenges hourly. But at the end of six weeks, I can honestly say I absolutely love the job; I love the people and I’m so proud of the organization. I’ve been fortunate to have some pretty terrific jobs in my life; this one might just turn out to be my best one yet.

To purchase a copy of Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook, for $30 tax and shipping included, visit www.graduategroup.com. Creating Job Security Resource Guide, with more than 100 job resources, is available at Amazon.com for $8.95.

Walking in A Job Seeker's Shoes

2009-06-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

Anyone who's undergone a search for employment in the past year knows that job hunting is not easy. The recession has increased not only the number of competitors an applicant is up against, but also the level of experience and skills prospective employers are able to seek in candidates.

Ultimately, many highly qualified candidates find themselves in the heart-breaking position of hearing, "While we decided to go with someone else, we appreciated your time and we've enjoyed getting to know you." Growing up, my mom used to say, "Close only counts in horseshoes." In a job hunt, second place is perhaps the most difficult honor to receive. Second place doesn't pay the mortgage.

I recently applied for a Director of Marketing position in the city where I grew up. To date, I have had three interviews. In the last one, I learned that the company really hoped to find someone with at least some graphics skills. While I'm an ace at using templates, I am not experienced in graphic design -- and I was upfront with them about that.

As someone who regularly speaks and writes about the jobs market and the economy, I address people every week who are searching for jobs. This experience has made me more keenly aware of the personal experience that accompanies the professional search.

So far in the process, I've learned that companies are ultimately seeking smart, creative employees who bring a variety of skills and a zest for life with them. It's very hard to bring that "zest" or that "positive energy" when you've been job hunting for months and the unemployment is running out or you've moved in with family or friends to just get by.

When some of my friends found out I applied for this position, they suddenly got worried. I've made my living as an author and freelancer for so long. Was this a sign the economy was so bad that even I had to find a full-time position?

The premise of the Creating Job Security book series is that what's ideal for you today might not be ideal tomorrow, and it's okay to change your choices based on your needs at the time. For many years, freelancing made great sense to me. It was my ideal choice. But the position that came available, at the company I applied to, was such a wonderful opportunity, that applying was a personal choice that made sense to me. It was not my way of making a statement about the state of the economy at large.

I would love the opportunity to work with this company. It's a terrific company and it would offer me the opportunity to work as a Director of Marketing. Indeed "I believe" it would be the ideal job for me right now. Having said that, the process of applying for this position has increased my awareness and empathy. It has taught me new things that I'll write about here in the weeks ahead.

To get your hands on the Green Light Scoring Model, and discover your ideal job at this point in your life, visit www.graduategroup.com and select the featured title, "Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook."

With the Rising Cost of Advanced Education

2009-05-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of things people of my generation took for granted, and I took for granted, prior to this recession. One of them was the wide availability of a college education. As my 20-year class reunion steadily approaches, I look at my former classmates and most either went to college or specifically chose another route. In the early 1990s, a four-year degree was affordable at a state college. Today, that’s no longer the case.

Cut-backs have forced many schools to raise tuition fees at the same time that grants and loans are harder to obtain. What does this mean for high school seniors who are graduating in 2009?
And what does that mean for job seekers in the next few years who may not be able to get the grants and loans they need? For some of the most talented there are trade schools. Others will seek opportunities for training, advancement, and educational benefits through the Armed Services. For many, training will consist of certifications and a collection of college courses taken on an availability basis (when job seekers have the time and the money to take them.)

AOL Careers interviewed me yesterday about high-paying jobs that require little to no education, and which were projected to grow in the next five years. And so began my search. One of my favorite Web sites for this type of information is actually produced by the US Government in a partnership between the Department of Labor and the Department of Education. http://www.careervoyages.gov/

Over the next week, I’m going to pull out some of the positions that strike me as worth mentioning. The truth is that while there are good-paying jobs that do not require a college degree, the competition for all jobs these days is steep. Five years from now, when the economy has long recovered and the Baby-boomers (my parents generation) are finally feeling financially confident enough to retire, there will be more jobs than people to fill them. But of course, that is still four to five years away.

To find the job that is ideal for you today, the Green Light Scoring Model is a step-by-step approach to discovering your path to creating job security. It’s available exclusively in Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook at GraduateGroup.com for US$30, including tax, shipping and handling. Best of all, you can reuse the scoring model every few years to determine your ideal job at that time. This one-time investment will be your career partner for years to come.

Happy Memorial Day, to those who celebrate the men and women in the Armed Services who have made the ultimate sacrifice (both with their lives and their time away from their families) to keep us safe. We honor your sacrifice and we salute you!

Are Jobless Claims Peaking?

2009-04-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

Jobless claims have historically peaked six to 10 weeks before recessions end, according to a report by Goldman Sachs. http://bit.ly/O5dSv "But the latest report shows job losses remain high. The four-week average of claims, which smoothes out volatility, dropped slightly to 646,750, about 12,000 below the peak in early April. Goldman Sachs economists have said a decline of 30,000 to 40,000 in the four-week average is needed to signal a peak."

For survival, many people take whatever job they can get. It's a good strategy to pay the rent. But for true job security, it's important to find the ideal job for you right now -- a traditional job or entrepreneurial position that considers your needs for income, opportunity, creativity, feasibility, flexibility, stability and longevity.

Imagine if there was a scoring model that could help you create the ideal job for you this month. There is. It's called the Green Light Scoring Model and it's available through The Graduate Group. www.graduategroup.com For only $30, including tax and shipping, you can truly discover the ideal job for you right now. (Career experts, contact me about a free PDF to make your own copies on site for your customers. Buy 25 copies in one order to The Graduate Group and receive a PDF to make an unlimited number of additional copies.)

SPECIAL NOTICE: Are you a Kaplan University student? Join me May 4 for a one-hour presentation on hot job resources. I'll be answering your questions live.

A Bright Spot in a Dark Economy

2009-04-18T21:56:00.000-07:00

The weather in my home town this week was an awful lot like the news about the economy. First it was sunny and lovely. Two days later we had hail that looked like snow as it covered the ground. The next day, we had snow -- big white flakes the size of quarters -- for several hours. A day later it was cool but not cold, followed by today which offered up full sun and 75 degrees. I took a chance and moved my topsy-turvy back outside from over my kitchen sink. But I covered the tomato plants tonight, because no one seems to have any idea what's going on with our silly weather that's all over the map.

It's a snapshot of what we've all experienced with the economy for the past year. The stock market was down, way down in early March. Now it's back up but job loss is still a concern and housing starts are down. People are saving more, spending less, and no one can figure out why gas prices are climbing at the pump when the barrel rate is at a record low.

An unlikely star emerged this week to offer up an unexpected bright spot in a dark economy. Her name is Susan Boyle and her audition on Britain's Got Talent is the biggest thing on YouTube. Indeed she has the voice of an angel, but I don't think that's why she's a worldwide hit. I think she's a hit because we all feel like she looks -- ordinary and imperfect. And yet inside of her is something so unbelievably beautiful that it pushes her to the front of the line.

This economy and the state of the job market have brought out the Susan Boyle in each of us. And for those in desperate need of inspiration (and jobs!), her voice may have offered up just enough encouragement to help keep going. (Not to mention the fact that the words of “I Dreamed a Dream” describe exactly how a lot of people are feeling.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnmbJzH93NU Is it possible that while we stood up and cheered for her, on some level we were also cheering for ourselves?

How long will this economic winter last? Will it snow again just when we think spring should be well under way? Maybe it will. But like a candle in the dark, even those most uncertain of what tomorrow holds next can for one brief moment, stop and listen to the music, and feel somewhat assured that despite the odds, there is hope, there is light, there is music -- and if Susan Boyle can captivate the world, we too can find a talent or two to share.

For job resources you can depend on, Creating Job Security Resource Guide is available for $8.95 at www.Amazon.com. To discover the absolute ideal career for you right now, Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook is available at www.graduategroup.com. Follow us on Twitter @ Job_Security.

A Cacophony of Job News

2009-04-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

I’m in the business of helping people create their own job security -- whether by finding a position that’s right for them or seeing a need and finding an entrepreneurial way to fill it. As part of my passion, I read a lot of job and economic news. I study trends and analyze economic data. I work with people one-on-one and sometimes in groups.

But even I am finding myself overwhelmed by the loud banging cacophony (noise!) that is being sometimes carelessly thrown around from a lot of voices -- some of them with very little to say. If I’m overwhelmed imagine what the poor man or woman who just wants to support their family is feeling.

And the messages are mixed. Tonight on CNN alone, there were two jobs-related stories right beside each other. One was about how President Obama feels upbeat about a glimmer of hope beginning to shine into the economy and job market. (Easy to say when you have your job guaranteed for four more years, and a roof over your head.) The other was about overcrowed job fairs across the US, and the many people who are turned away. I wonder how much hope the 10,000 people who showed up for a Job Fair in New Hampshire felt -- especially those who had to be turned away.

In a down market, many people are so desperate to find a job, they sometimes open themselves up to a position that isn’t necessarily a good fit for them. Take healthcare for example. The news about healthcare as an industry is consistent. The number of jobs in healthcare is growing. But not everyone makes a good nurse. Not everyone makes a good caregiver. It is a special job that requires targeted skills and a personality dedicated to compassion for patients who aren’t always at their best.

One of my clients is a regional hospital. I love working in healthcare. It’s rewarding even for those of us with non-clinical positions. I have the incredible opportunity to meet patients and share their stories of struggle and ultimately success -- of overcoming disease, surgeries, and other ailments that somehow compromised their ability to function without the help of a skilled physician and his/her staff. But my job wouldn’t be for everyone. Sometimes, what patients -- even those with a success story -- need most is to have someone just sit and listen. They want to walk away and feel heard. They want to know that someone from the hospital that helped them sees them as a person first and a patient second.

What’s most important for you, and for every job seeker out there, is not to listen to the news or to the trends economists are telling you. What’s most important is to undergo a thorough assessment of how you can best use your skills and talents to make a living -- and to make a life.

You are an individual, with special skills, talents and gifts that are completely unique to you. If you’re ready to explore those skills, talents and gifts, the Green Light Scoring Model located in the easy-to-use guide Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook, can help you. Learn more today at www.graduategroup.com.

Preparing for a Job Apocalypse

2009-03-07T22:29:00.000-08:00

Is the economy really as bad as the media would have you believe? For some, it is worse. More than 4 million jobs have disappeared since the recession began in December 2007. And with the rate of job losses accelerating, people are beginning to ask where recession ends and depression begins. This world economic downturn is already in its 15th month, making it longer than all but two downturns since World War II. And, as if that is not enough, the Dow seems to be in free fall, and one in eight American homeowners is in foreclosure or behind on payments. It’s not out of the question why some are wondering if we are headed for a worldwide job apocalypse.

The world is not going to have a job apocalypse, although it is possible that more services will be exchanged in the form of trade than at any time in recent history. The reality is that there are way too many people who need too many products and services for a true job apocalypse to set in.

But to achieve some peace of mind, imagine for a moment that you lost your job tomorrow and you weren’t able to find a similar position for one year. Leading economists are suggesting a recovery could be a year away.

What would you do to survive? If you are wise, and among a single-digit percent of Americans, you have a safety net. Financial planners have been preaching just such a plan for years. If you are fortunate, you will receive unemployment compensation that covers at least your basic expenses. But if you are like most people, you will be faced with the immediate need to re-evaluate your skills, talents and the things you can do to come up with a set of real service options you can offer those in need of services -- those with the funds to hire your help.

The value of considering a job apocalypse is not to induce massive fear and chaos. Worry never solved a single world problem. But expecting a break-down in the status quo and preparing for a job loss before it happens, can help you sleep better whether you lose your job or not. People who have a plan B or even a plan C don’t have to fret about the future, because regardless of what the future holds, they have a plan. Do you have a plan?

The best way to go about creating a plan is to engage a methodical approach to listing and then considering your options. First list all of your skills, talents, hobbies, and the things you or others have noticed you’re good at. For each skill or activity you have listed, write down three or four jobs in which you’d use that skill -- in other words, three or four ways you could use your skills to make money or create a job for yourself. Once you have a list of 20 or 30 jobs you could actually perform using your skills, hobbies, talents and experience, determine which ones might be best suited to your life right now.

Ultimately, whether you find yourself jobless or not, you are not without options. You are not with possibilities. And you are not without hope. And no matter what happens within the domestic or world economy, when you have options, possibilities and hope, you can easily develop a plan.

If you could benefit from a step-by-step approach that walked you through what can otherwise be a frightening process of discovering how to create your own job security, Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook is available at www.graduategroup.com for $30 including tax and shipping. It’s a really inexpensive investment in your future job security. If you already know what you want to do but just need the resources to help you get there, Creating Job Security Resource Guide is available for $8.95 at www.amazon.com.

ScanCafe.com - 5 Friends Pooling their Talents and Resources to Create Job Security & One Really Hot Company

2009-02-28T19:17:00.000-08:00

With the right tools and solid resources, nearly everyone has the ability to create their own job security - that's the fundamental message to readers of the Creating Job Security book series. Of course the books take readers step-by-step through this process as well. For some people, creating job security means finding out which of your talents, gifts and experiences will make you a more valuable employee. For others, self-employment is a much better option. A third group is comprised of people who prefer to receive a regular salary but who are willing to go out on a limb, work hard, and use the tools and resources they have to make ends meet through a tough economy.

One of the questions I get asked by those who express hesitation about starting a small business stems from them trying to discover something that pays the bills but that they don’t find (to put it bluntly) “beneath” them. Truly entrepreneurial types prove that there is no job too small for a person or team with passion, creativity and determination.

After much prodding by family and friends, I finally created a Facebook account in early 2008. I quickly learned that the foundation of connecting on a personal level with old friends is to supply pictures -- lots of pictures -- from before digital prints existed. This of course meant pouring through stacks of albums and then scanning photos into my all-in-one machine, onto a memory card, which then went into my computer to be cropped, sized, and otherwise fixed. Is there anything more tedious and mundane than scanning old photos?

Scanning photos doesn’t seem like something five friends, all with their MBAs from the Wharton School of Business, would be interested in doing as a full-time career. (The service they provide through ScanCafe.com is obviously more comprehensive than that!) As it turns out, these friends shared a passion for family pictures, and they went about creating an exceptional service to meet a need they couldn’t find in the marketplace. It’s a service nearly anyone with a home scanner, a computer and Photoshop could provide.

But the ScanCafe.com team is anything but ordinary; they have created a really hot company by involving technology at every level. ScanCafe.com is an exceptional example of what can be accomplished for those willing to use a comprehensive mathematical analysis like the Green Light Scoring Model found in Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook at http://www.graduategroup.com/ to explore your talents, hobbies and gifts and turn them into your ideal job today.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!! Creating Job Security Resource Guide was mentioned in the national edition of Examiner.com this week, serving more than 60 metropolitan areas with city-specific information readers need and want to live, love, learn and work. You can read Heather Huhman’s article, “Avoiding office gossip & politics without seeming anti-social” at http://tinyurl.com/cl7xmu. Creating Job Security is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Creating-Job-Security/44725166570 - feel free to stop by. We’d love to have you join the club where fans are entered to win signed copies of the Creating Job Security Resource Guide, available at Amazon.com for $8.95.

CONTEST: Share your thoughts - inspire someone and cheer someone on. During March, order or check out at your local library a copy of "Creating Job Security Resource Guide" and write a review on Amazon.com. Then send your friends to vote for your review. The Amazon.com review of Creating Job Security Resource Guide that receives the most "yes this helped me" votes by March 31, 2009 wins a $25 gift certificate from Amazon.com.

Bank of Obama: Send a Bailout Check to Your Friends

2009-02-23T15:51:00.000-08:00

As someone who takes the economic crisis very seriously, and is dedicated to helping job seekers find resources that will result in them finding their ideal job right now, I would never intentionally make light of the very serious situation facing millions of people. Having said that, I am also a huge believer in the value of humor and an occasional fun prank (providing you are sensitive to those you let in on the joke.)

This post (on Mashable) is an attempt at stimulus humor. Bank of Obama: Send a Bailout Check to Your Friends It is not real. It will not solve the credit crisis - nor any other real crisis. But I hope you have some fun with it like I plan to.

As long as I can remember, my sister has been talking about someday winning the lottery. So the Bank of Obama isn't the lottery, but if I send her a check for $10,000,000, I bet I can get her to at least chuckle or shake her head.

A serious post is coming soon. Enjoy this one for what it is... some light humor on a day when the markets gave us all a really ugly dose of reality.

Bad Economies Offer Good Opportunities to Try Self-Employment

2009-02-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

Running a small business is a lot of work. Imagine taking any business based on a skill set or talent you excel at, and adding marketing, customer service, accounting (everything from inventory to taxes), and supervisory skills to it -- and you have small business. As the daughter of an apple farmer and a small business owner, I concur with those who would caution that running a small business is not for everyone; in fact, it’s not for a lot of people.

But there are also a lot of people out there who are not entrepreneurs simply because they haven’t had an opportunity.

If you have a family depending on your income to meet the mortgage, you may not have the opportunity to quit your job and try your hand at self-employment. But if you’ve been laid off, and especially if you have a severance package and unemployment benefits, you may just discover that life has handed you a rare opportunity to take a chance you never expected.

With hundreds of thousands of layoffs announced each month, imagine if just 20% of those people went into business, and became successful enough to grow their enterprises enough to employ two additional people. Over half the people laid off would have new jobs.

In most states, applying for a business license is relatively inexpensive. It’s affordable even on unemployment. In Washington State, where I’m licensed, I paid less than $35 to apply for my license and doing-business-as (DBA) names. When I started out, I used the computer I already owned, along with a desk from a garage sale and a lamp I bought on clearance. My blog was free and my Web site cost less than $200 a year for the domain name and hosting.

Like many people who originally go into business, I had personal reasons. I wanted to live near my family in the small town in Central Washington where I grew up. City life would have been more conducive to finding a job that paid what I made in Los Angeles, but I opted for quality of life over quantity of pay. Oddly enough, the cost ratio of metropolitan living means I actually have more discretionary income here than I did there.

People go into business for all kinds of reasons -- some of them personal -- some of them not. Some people opt for self-employment to be home with kids, or aging parents, or to have the flexibility to work around a spouse’s schedule. Some want to bring in a little “extra money” for the family to offset the expenses of inflation or tennis lessons for the kids. Some prefer to answer to themselves. Some want the challenge and adventure that goes with forging their own way in the world.

But for those with the gifts and the skills to make it in business -- because the truth is that you will work harder for yourself than you’ll ever work for anyone else -- a down economy can offer the perfect scenario to give that incredible dream a shot. The reality is that many small businesses will fail. But if half of the new businesses inspired by laid off workers looking to try something new were to fail, that still means half will succeed. Half will bring additional revenue and additional jobs into the economy. Half will need vendors and suppliers. Half will spend advertising dollars. Half will energize and revitalize communities from California to Maine.

If you’re thinking about starting your own business, and you have the time and the severance or unemployment benefits to fall back on, could there be a better time to launch a dream?

Credit is tight right now, but there are a lot of small business opportunities that can be launched with the tools, equipment and skills you already have. My mother’s favorite cliché when I was growing up used to be, “Poverty is the mother of invention.” Imagine growing your business from a seed, an idea, an oven, a computer, a lawnmower -- or whatever else you have that you can use to get started. Add some dirt, some work, some water, some time, and a few tips from the Small Business Administration. You might be pleasantly surprised what grows.

Debra Yergen is a U.S.-based author and journalist with experience in technology, financial software, health care and travel. She has held senior writing positions in the financial industry at firms including SunGard and Washington Mutual Bank. Debra is the author of Real Life 101, Creating Job Security: The 2009 All-In-One Workbook, published by The Graduate Group in West Hartford, Conn, and Creating Job Security Resource Guide, available for $8.95 at independent book stores and www.amazon.com.

SPECIAL NOTE: I was honored to be quoted in a warm, comforting and safe blog designed to support women who have suffered miscarriages. I was asked what sage advice I would give my 20-year-old self if I could go back and talk to her. My advice included: Enjoy Everyday, Success Is Based On Who You Are In Your Own Skin, Don’t Try To Be Older, Be Kind To Yourself, Love Your Mom, and Listen, posted on Feb 8. You can read this post and others at http://ourhopeplace.wordpress.com

Laid Off Workers - Don’t Wait By the Phone

2009-02-06T21:18:00.000-08:00

Until the unemployment rate started pushing toward 8% nationally, most people cited “time” as their most depleted resource. Time was so precious, many people were happy to shell out a few extra bucks for conveniences that would save them time -- five minutes here, an hour there. It was the cost of doing business -- the business of life.

So it would go to reason that with nearly 8% of people unemployed, that all of these people, with all of this new-found time, would engage in all the activities they once only “openly wished” was possible. They would volunteer more at local charities, join the PTA, keep in closer contact with friends and family, and finally paint the living room that’s been “needing a fresh coat” for more than a few years now.

But it doesn’t work that way. Because as it turns out, even when the entire world understands that laid off workers are victims of a down economy, losing the reason to wake up at six o’clock every morning also takes away a great deal of the fuel that propelled a lot of folks busily and merrily from task-to-task for 12 hours straight.

When the money doesn’t come in, sacrifices have to be made. As it turns out, many folks would rather give up a home phone than the freedom a cell phone offers -- and those formerly huge minutes-per-month plans get cut back too, to the basics. And that means that when a call comes in from a friend on daytime minutes, unless it includes news about a newly posted job opening, those daytime minutes have to be saved for interviews and other job-critical calls.

At night, people aren’t staying up enjoying all those free nighttime minutes -- and weekend minutes, those aren’t being burned up either. So much of our lives are wrapped up in our jobs, that without a micro-managing boss to complain about, or the loud-talker in the cubicle next door, a lot of people don’t have anything they want to talk about. And even if they did, despite having more time than ever -- they just don’t have the energy.

For the remaining 92% still employed, self-employed, or intentionally unemployed, the best course of action is to simply give our friends their time and space. Don’t wait by the phone, or wonder why they haven’t called. They will at some point. It’s just one more way the world has once again changed.

It turns out that as critical of a resource as time is and was, maybe it’s not the only resource that matters. Maybe what’s more critical is the presence of friends who care from a distance, remain close but not too close, and know enough not to wait by the phone.

Creating Job Security was featured in USA TODAY, Tuesday February 3, on the cover of the Money section, Section B. The article was called "More families move in together.” You can read it at www.usatoday.com. To purchase Creating Job Security Resource Guide for $8.95, visit http://www.amazon.com/.

* This blog post is written in honor and memory of my very dear friend and mentor, Eileen Mintz, who lost her battle with cancer on Sunday, February 1, 2009.

Small Jobs Stimulate the Economy

2009-01-31T00:13:00.000-08:00

A bad economy can provide a great opportunity to put a few “principles” on hold. First Lady Michelle Obama made news -- and made a lot of mothers proud -- when she announced that her daughters would still be making their own beds in the Whitehouse. Children should learn to participate in household chores, and those who don’t often grow up to be terrible spouses who seldom pick up their own socks much less make the bed or vacuum.

All good parents know that children need incremental responsibilities. But in this economy, there are a lot of adults who would welcome some extra hours a week working a side gig to bring in extra cash to keep their own families fed, clothed and taken care of. At the same time, there are a lot of nonprofit organizations in need of volunteers -- even the tiniest volunteers willing to sit and talk to a patient, fold towels or stuff envelopes.

What if every family with full-time employment, and $25 or more extra dollars available a week, were to hire a family in need of some extra cash to help with cleaning, yard work, organizing or errands for a couple of months while they found steady employment?

Could small jobs like this really stimulate the economy? Well, yes, actually any job that keeps money in motion stimulates the economy. [Be sure to check IRS guidelines for how much, and under what conditions, you can help out -- and what taxes, if any, need to be paid.]

If you’re reading this and you need to make some extra money, do you have friends or family who could use your time, help or expertise? With the job landscape changing, many people are returning to trades. Experienced workers 55+ are perfectly suited to offer apprenticeships to younger workers who are looking to develop skills to fall back on.

And of course there’s the matter of discretionary income. The economy has given a one-two punch to service industry workers who rely on tips for a significant portion of their income. Instead of going out to eat twice a week, what if you were to go out only once but double your tip? If your bill for two people is $30.50 and you usually add $4.50 twice a week, what if you only went once but tipped $10? You’d save tremendously and your server would feel very appreciated.

Indeed, there are small things everyone can do every week to make a big difference. If you’re in a position to give a little extra help, you’ll make a real difference to a family in need. If you find yourself needing some extra income, you might be surprised who would be willing to help out right in your inner circle. And the biggest surprise of all -- everyone wins. Because small jobs really do stimulate the economy.

Creating Job Security was featured in this week's edition of the California Job Journal on page 9. The article was called "Customer Service - Where People Skills Create the 'Face' of an Organization." You can read it at www.jobjournal.com. To purchase Creating Job Security Resource Guide for $8.95, visit www.amazon.com.

The World Has Changed -- Is It For the Better?

2009-01-24T21:14:00.000-08:00

With a national unemployment rate of 7.2%, and some areas reaching double digits, the world has changed economically. Some companies are cashing in by offering bargains suited to the economic challenges of the day. Complete Entertainment Exchange, better known as CeX*, buys used electronics and entertainment in exchange for cash or store credit.

Even government is reigning in the spending. Governors in several U.S. states -- California, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah -- are looking at creative ways to trim state budgets. The news is filled with former mid-level managers and executives taking jobs delivering pizza or waiting tables. Most report the experience humbling but not impossible.

The question remains, will this recession change the way we do business and if so how? There are some things that cannot be undone. When AIDS began to spread rampantly in the 1980s and 1990s, the world began talking about safe sex in a new way with a much higher level of frequency. This recession will change the way the world talks about, thinks about, and uses money for some time to come.

A global economy with global communication means companies will outsource the jobs they can to the lowest bidder. So long as outsourcing call-centers to India and manufacturing to China is fiscally advantageous, fewer factories and manufacturing centers will remain open in the U.S.

Some jobs cannot be outsourced to foreign countries. Medical care cannot be outsourced. When someone is ill they are not going to hop on a plane and fly thousands of miles instead of going to a regional health care facility. The need for home health aides is estimated to grow by 40% over the next 10 years. Transportation cannot be outsourced. People still have to get themselves and the things they want and need from one place to the next.

Some jobs cannot be outsourced even within the same country. If a job requires a worker to contribute services at a set location and with set hours, it cannot be outsourced. Restaurant staff, retail staff, delivery services staff, staff managers, and government employees -- these positions cannot be outsourced. Plumbers, electricians, mechanics, security officers, hair stylists and other personal service specialists will always be needed.

There was a time, not so long ago, when you asked kids what they wanted to be when they grew up, and they named a profession. “I want to be a teacher, a police officer, a lawyer, a reporter. I want to be a doctor, a fireperson, a pastor.” You did not hear little children say, “I want to grow up to be a data analyzer,” or “I want to be the assistant vice president of a large multinational conglomerate.” With more positions being outsourced to the global market, this recession could very well see posted openings increase for positions with job titles that describe the daily work required.

Can anything truly positive come from this economic downturn that has already devastated so many lives? Some would argue that despite the pain, this recession will bring constructive, long-term change.

As people begin to think through the purchases they make, this recession will likely make people think twice before they engage in “spontaneous, unprotected spending.” And , as more people stay home, and forgo premium services and subscriptions, a higher percentage of families will continue to report spending more quality time at home together.

As money becomes tight, more people report investing time in relationships rather than purchasing expensive gifts with shiny bows for loved ones. And as change weighs on the hearts and minds of people everywhere, more survey respondents report turning to faith in something beyond themselves to get them through difficult times.

Indeed, this recession has changed people, and in doing so it has changed the world. It has not been without pain or a call for humility. And according to some economics, it could get more difficult before the situation improves. Despite this, many agree, that in some ways, this recession has changed our lives very much for the better.

CALL FOR COMMENTS: I'd like to hear your thoughts about how this recession has affected your life or your thinking. Your comments may be just the inspiration someone reading this blog needs to hear to make it through their day with hope.

Creating Job Security Resource Guide is now available for $8.95 at independent bookstores and www.amazon.com. For those needing a hands on guide to walk you or someone you care about ste-by-step through discovering the ideal job for you right now using The Green Light Scoring Model, Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook is available at www.graduategroup.com for $30.

Executives and Intellectuals Looking for Work - Creatively Creating Job Security

2009-01-17T22:00:00.000-08:00

Each week the news is filled with new names of executives and intellectuals -- people with Masters degrees, Ph.D.s, engineers, analysts, scientists -- people once highly sought after and highly compensated, now seeking entry-level jobs or doing crazy stunts like wearing a sandwich-board in NYC to get noticed.

There has to be a better way to let like-minded thought-leaders know you are available for employment.

While perusing Harvard Business School’s Web site, I discovered a site that seems to be well known by the world’s elite, but not really by many others. I felt like a fly on the wall at the G8. [For reference: WIKI “G8.”]

These intellectuals -- including Warren Buffett, Actor Ted Danson, Mike Elliott (the editor-at-large of Time) and other CEOs and senior decision-makers -- impress each other and help charities by conceiving of “predictions” of societal or scientific importance and then placing (in some cases) high stakes bets ($1,000,000) on “who’s right.” There are much smaller bets too! The money goes to charity.

Registration is free. Registered users may publish a prediction, and all predictions may be challenged with a bet. The fee to publish a prediction is $50. A published prediction means your name (and your bio -- think very brief resume) will be posted beside your prediction or any prediction you challenge with a bet. I won’t go into all the parameters of the site, but I will say it is a fascinating place to read arguments from extremely brilliant minds. The bets are about everything from science, to politics, to finance to sports.

It occurred to me that if I wanted to be noticed by Warren Buffett or Dave Winer (CEO of Userland.com) -- I’d probably pony up my $50 and come up with a really great prediction.

I wonder how many executives and intellectuals will get noticed and find well-paid positions as a result of the contacts they make and the people who notice them at www.longbets.org. It sure would beat wearing a sandwich-board in Manhattan.

Great news! the Creating Job Security Resource Guide includes Web portals dedicated to listing job openings exclusively for executives; www.flexibleexecutives.com and www.6figurejobs.com will get your started, but for $8.95 at www.Amazon.com this book is worth a lot more than one lunch out.

Information Overload - Creating Job Security Without Feeling Overwhelmed

2009-01-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

If you’re looking for a job, and you were to read every article and listen to every story out there on finding a job, you could easily become overwhelmed by information overload. It is, almost without exception, the top story for every newspaper and newscast. And it’s taking its toll on people across the U.S. and around the world emotionally. Fear is setting in. That is the bad news.

The good news is that even if you are job hunting, or you are struggling to make ends meet, there is something you can do today to both invigorate your job search and to eliminate the fear and anxiety you might be feeling.

There’s something you can do right now to get rid of the fear.

Take three blank pieces of paper and line then up beside each other. Title the first one, “Things I can do today.” Title the second one, “Vague advice I’m not sure what to do with.” Title the third one, “The worst that can happen.” At the bottom of the third page, write: “So I lose the stuff. I will be just fine.”

Every time you hear of a job Web site to check out or a recommended book, add it to the first list, “Things I can do today.” Read excerpts from recommended books online at Amazon.com or via other links that offer free excerpts, and then determine if the books that meet your needs are in your price range or if you need to check them out at the library. If you see a wanted signed or you hear of an open position, add that to the list of things you will follow up on today or tomorrow.

Every time you hear generalized, big picture advice that you are not sure exactly what to do with, such as “do more networking”, “read industry publications”, “improve your look”, or “attend trade shows” (which are usually expensive and may not even be located in a nearby city), add it to the second list. It may be good advice, just not immediately achievable for where you are right now.

The value of networking comes from creating authentic relationships. Networking for the sole purpose of what someone can do for you will seldom provides more than superficial returns. Add to your first list, “Sign up for Plaxo, and LinkedIn,” to connect with colleagues you already know. Other sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and FriendFeed can be valuable but time consuming. Add those to the second list.

And finally, on the third paper, write down the worst that can happen. Maybe you have to give up the luxury car with the $500/month payment; maybe you’ll need to take your kids out of private school or even have them take a break from soccer, karate and other great but expensive after-school programs. Maybe you’ll need to put your belongings in storage and move in with a family member or friend. These are all very difficult decisions, but they are not life-threatening. So you lose the stuff. Stuff can be replaced. You will be just fine.

Creating Job Security Resource Guide is now available for $8.95 at Amazon.com. It is packed with critical resources you can use today, including 75+ hot job resources, in a compact book that’s easy to slide into a notebook and take with you. On a budget? Download it at Smashwords.com for $1.99.

Corporate Questionnaires: The New Gateway to Creating Job Security

2009-01-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

For many years, a resume was the gateway to an initial job interview. Job seekers often sought the advice of books or writing specialists to help them craft the perfect resume, and in turn, human resources directors reviewed those resumes and sent the best entries to the manager seeking to fill the position.

Times have changed, and job seekers are adapting to a whole new set of rules. Today, corporate questionnaires are the new gateway to creating job security.

Job seekers still send in a resume. Only instead of being granted a nearly automatic job interview, top candidates are sent questionnaires that can take between two and four hours to complete. Companies use these sophisticated and robust questionnaires to find out a significant amount of information about job seekers -- in many cases before they even schedule an initial interview. It’s how they weed out candidates who are unqualified or unwilling to invest the time in researching their company.

The questions vary, but common sample questions you can expect to see on a corporate questionnaire may include:

1. Please visit our Web site and describe your understanding of our products.
2. Share with us your trends forecast for the industry.
3. How do you see this organization benefiting from corporate social responsibility [CSR] initiatives? By what creative means would you inform our customers/clients about our social responsibility initiatives?
4. What industry publications do you read on a regular basis?
5. Do you live within a 50-mile radius of our offices?

You would probably agree that this is a pretty intense list of questions, especially if you haven’t yet been granted an initial interview, but this list isn’t even a complete list. And this is only round one.

The days of sending 30 cookie-cutter resumes out to 30 companies is over. Job seekers need to be prepared to treat each application seriously. It’s better to be slightly overwhelmed now while you have the chance to catch your breath and prepare your thinking than it is to be overwhelmed when this application hits your inbox and you’re on deadline to return it.

Remember, your answers should not be about you. They should be about what you can offer to this company, and how you fit into their culture. It’s important to research the organizations where you apply so that your answers reflect your understanding of their needs in filling an open position.

The good news if you are living in a medium-sized town or a rural area is that these questionnaires are still largely reserved for larger companies in metropolitan centers. But they are becoming a trend of the future so it’s in your interest to become familiar with them. They also provide great insight for ways you can prepare for a phone or in-person interview regardless of where you are applying.

The Creating Job Security Resource Guide, now available at independent books stores and at Amazon.com for $8.95, includes a comprehensive list of common questions from corporate questionnaires, as well as online resources containing additional sample corporate questionnaires. Join the Creating Job Security fan club on Facebook today. Membership is free and the first 25 people to join the Creating Job Security Facebook fan club receive a free autographed copy of the Creating Job Security Resource Guide in February.

Corporate Social Responsibility - The Next Tidal Wave in Business

2008-12-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

Thirty years ago, environmentalists were called “tree huggers” in mainstream circles. Today, most people recycle and intentionally make lifestyle choices that are fundamentally environmentally-friendly. Thirty years ago, there was a clear distinction between capitalism and socialism. Either you were pro-business or anti-business and that was that. The new mantra: it pays to be socially responsible. Today, multinational corporations -- while still in business for profit -- are adopting new corporate social responsibility [CSR] initiatives that are changing the way organizations of all size do business. CSR is not a widely-used term yet. Give it time.

The premise of CSR is that when an organization makes money in a community, they reinvest a portion of profits in that community and/or other global regions in need. That investment can come as a combination of money, employee volunteer time or products, such a pharmaceutical giant Merck which donates a drug to cure river-blindness, a dreadful disease which affects tens of millions of the world's poorest people.

Many Fortune 500 companies have climbed on board, in many cases employing entire departments dedicated to setting and implementing their CSR strategy. It’s a job industry that will grow tremendously in the next decade as Internet retail gives all consumers worldwide a greater choice of where to buy the products they need and want.

London-based Acre is a staffing organization dedicated exclusively to CSR/SRI [social responsibility investment] positions. At http://www.ethicalperformance.com/ visitors can search global listings of CSR and SRI professional services organizations, as well as learn more about events and training associated with this emerging trend.

Just because the media isn’t talking about this every day doesn’t mean it’s not already on the minds of world business leaders. A handful of public companies already entrenched in CSR/SRI initiatives include: Wal-Mart, Target, Levi Strauss, Gap, Timberland, General Electric, Whole Foods, Manpower, Inc., Dupont, Alcoa, IBM, and Hewlett Packard. Few CEOs are as globally generous as Microsoft founder, Bill Gates and his wife Melinda or his good friend Berkshire Hathaway founder Warren Buffett. Ted Turner and New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, also make that list. Generosity is “in” and the biggest names in the world -- to varying degrees -- are stepping up to make a difference and in many cases, to let their customers know about the difference they're making through corresponding media campaigns.

The Creating Job Security Resource Guide with 75+ hot job resources and all the tools job seekers need to find a job this week or this month is now available via the Amazon.com Kindle. Download your copy today for just $4.00 at http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Job-Security-Resource-Guide/dp/B001OI1X3K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230490451&sr=8-2

Eggs. Bread. Milk. Check!

2008-12-22T01:04:00.000-08:00

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed this time of year. There’s often so much to do that it’s pretty common to look around and not know where to begin. Looking for ways to increase your income (finding a job, finding a new job, finding a second job) is not that different from getting ready for a special holiday or event. For some people, the details can seem really overwhelming.

I’m a list person. You hear people joke that they know they’re old when they can’t go anywhere without a list. (This reasoning would mean that I’ve been old since I was about 10!) The truth of the matter is that we lead busier lives and maintain schedules that are packed far beyond those of our grandparents’ 40 years ago. It used to be that a monthly calendar in the kitchen was all that was needed to keep track of an entire family’s scheduled events. Today, most people need at least a weekly calendar to track one person’s whereabouts. And have you ever arrived at the grocery store only to realize your shopping list was home on the kitchen table? “Eggs, bread, peanut butter… oh there was something else.”

Trying to find a job is so much more overwhelming than trying to remember a shopping list. Many people don’t know where to start. And then there are the detours out there… the advice columns that say nothing! I Googled “job advice” and came up with this to-do list that I THINK is aimed at someone looking for a job. The advisor says: “Be aware of industry trends. Educate yourself by reading trade publications and conducting research on the Internet. Attend conferences. Participate in local trade associations and other professional groups that will enhance your knowledge and networks.” What does any of this have to do with finding a job this week or creating a position that supports long-term job security?

Be aware of industry trends. Which industry?
Educate yourself by reading trade publications. Huh?
And conducting research on the Internet. Again, huh?
Attend conferences. “Yes, operator, I’d like to order a conference, this week, free since I have no money, and preferably within 50 miles of where I live.”
Oh, and love this one - participate in local trade associations and professional groups to enhance your knowledge and networks.

The thing is, if you are “looking for a job” this is bogus advice.

If you need to find additional income ASAP, you need 1) hot job resources. You need to know who is hiring. You also need 2) to be prepared for what a potential employer will ask from you as part of the hiring process. Does that mean you’ll need to complete a questionnaire? Does that mean you’ll need to go through three levels of interviews? And 3) you’ll need to be prepared to standout in a good way and convince an employer that you really need, and want this job -- and that you will stay in this position for at least a year.

Once you’re hired, then you can attend conferences, read trade publications, network with industry colleagues, and do all the other things to increase your knowledge of the products, trends, competitors, and customers. (These are all good things, just not for job seekers.)

A list can help you develop a step-by-step plan to get from point A to point B. And if you need a little extra help with that, Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-in-One Workbook can walk you through the process, step-by-step -- without sending you on any wild goose chases. For more information visit www.GraduateGroup.com.

Wishing you and yours a merry Christmas, happy holidays and prosperous 2009 ahead.

Adapting to Life in Between

2008-12-15T00:36:00.000-08:00

Most people spend a good portion of time living somewhere between setting a goal and achieving that goal. For millions of people right now, that goal is finding a well-paying job that meets their other needs for a satisfying career, including: opportunity, creativity, flexibility, stability, feasibility, and longevity. We start out at point A and we head toward point B, but somehow, while we’re on the road in between, we sometimes find ourselves on detours that happen when life gets in the way of our plans.

Life in between can be inconvenient, messy, expensive and unexpected. It can also be surprising, interesting, life-altering and… unexpected, only in a really good way. Sometimes it takes walking down a path we wouldn’t have chosen, to discover that more than one path can lead to happiness and a whole new career we may have never known existed or existed for us when we drew up the original map.

There may be several things that led you to where you are today -- or maybe it was just one thing that was completely outside of your control. Perhaps you were laid off due to department cutbacks, or maybe you are one of hundreds or thousands affected by a plant closing. Or it may be that your job is safe - for now - but you’re proactively researching your options so you’re prepared if a RIF or pink slip should affect you. Some people thrive on change. You may be one of them. Or you may be among the majority of people who struggle to accept change.

You may be changing careers or fields due to an accident or an injury, or because you need increased flexibility to manage other obligations. You have your reasons and you know what they are.

There are many people who are very successful as small business owners. They appreciate the flexibility it offers and the opportunity hard work can bring. And they don’t mind the extra accounting hassles of saving receipts and taking responsibility for their own taxes. There are others who would rather make less money but have the security of a paycheck every two weeks along with the benefits that often come with working for a larger organization.

Adapting to life in between means sometimes you’ll need to do things that are outside your comfort zone to pay the bills. That may include freelancing, providing service work like landscaping or housekeeping, selling unused items online or via consignment, or starting a home business just to keep money coming in until the economy turns around.

You may be surprised to find that something you didn’t expect to enjoy turns out to be a career you later pursue with enthusiasm. Or you may simply feel good about your ability to adapt to difficult circumstances with perseverance and grace. Don’t be afraid to expand your horizons and try something outside your comfort zone in your quest to create job security.

You never know the possibilities that await you right around life’s next corner, in between where you started out and where you thought you were heading. Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-in-One Workbook is now available for $30, tax and shipping within the U.S. included, at www.GraduateGroup.com.

Desperate Times Call for Kindness – To Yourself and Others

2008-12-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

For many years Maui has been a second home for our family. When we lived in different states, we met up in Hawaii. It was our fun, relaxing, happy place. Today, due to the economy, the kama’ainas (locals) who call Maui home are struggling like so many places around the world. And just like families struggling with mortgages that have reset at significantly higher interest rates – store owners have leases that are nearly impossible to meet. One jewelry store owner looked at storefront space on Front Street in Lahaina which was listed for $32,000 a month in rent, but opted instead for a sophisticated space costing a mere $12,000 a month in the Wharf across from the famous banyan tree.

This conversation came up after I tried and failed to negotiate a mere $5.00 off of a photograph in the weekend art fair under the banyan tree. Normally, it’s customary for a vendor to set a price, a buyer to counter and the vendor to set a new price a few dollars less. The vendor I approached was packing up for the day. He even offered to walk across the street and accept my cash (the banyan tree’s in a public park so money cannot be exchanged there) – but not for a dollar less than his original price.

So naturally, I asked the jewelry store owner about this – especially since he seemed creative and inventive in his approach to selling handmade Maui soaps at the wholesale price to get people in the door to browse the more expensive jewelry inside. He thoughtfully explained that the vendors have already discounted their goods 40% and they can’t afford to discount them further.

While I haven’t written this before, sometimes the first step in creating job security includes keeping hope alive that all things do change – and that you have the power to make positive changes in your life.

Bad economies do get better. Recovery follows rest. Just as marathon runners need rest and recovery before they get back out and train again, people need mental and spiritual recovery to tackle life’s challenges. So be kind to yourself and those you meet along life’s path. And if you live in Hawaii, and you need a great job, or you have one to advertise, check out www.kamaainajobs.com. Mahalo.

Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook is available starting today from the Graduate Group for $30 at www.graduategroup.com or e-mailing graduategroup@hotmail.com. Coming soon, the complementary Creating Job Security Resource Guide, offering 75+ hot job online resources will be available via www.amazon.com.

Aloha – Please Bring the Tourists Back

2008-11-23T22:37:00.000-08:00

Nowhere do people feel the effects of a struggling economy quite like an island or state built largely on tourism. Isolated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 2000 miles from most international airline hubs, Hawaii feels that pinch in a way unlike most U.S mainland locations.

The local shops on Front Street in Lahaina are quiet. There are no long waiting lists for reservations at all our favorite places: Hard Rock Café, Kimo’s, Longhi’s, or Bubba Gumps. The service is as great as ever and the food is still wonderful. It’s not a ghost-town; cars still line the streets. But it’s not bustling the way it has been in holidays past.

It started with Aloha going out of business and other airlines cutting back on schedules. Gas prices have come down – and that is appreciated – but a gallon of unleaded still costs $3.28. With fewer tourists dropping money on everything from postcards to rum, things are tighter here on Maui than most places for the locals. It’s not like they can drive 30 miles and find work in a different industry. A lady at a local souvenir shop shared that there are fewer service jobs and those that remain offer fewer hours.

In a non-isolated region, displaced workers using the Green Light Scoring Model™ can take a few easy steps to determine alternate careers. The local people of Hawaii have a special challenge; they’re limited in many cases by a lack of customers. Many own homes which they cannot sell or they have families they do not want to leave behind. A lot of workers across the U.S. and the world are feeling the same challenges felt here. Adapting to this environment is difficult but not impossible.

To survive this economy it’s critical for all workers to find and cultivate alternate skills and income sources. The Green Light Scoring Model can help you do exactly that.

For those who have the skills but need reliable job leads, you need a comprehensive online job resource with 75+ hot job sites that cater to job seekers by industry, executive, general, and freelance/contract or work-at-home. We’re responding with a mini guide that also includes actual corporate questionnaires you may be asked to complete when you apply for a job.

Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook, published by the Graduate Group, comes out December 1. Coming soon, the Creating Job Security Resource Guide. Your pain is real. But there are solutions. They are inside you and we can help you unlock them. If you have suggestions or tips for other blog readers, please share them here and give someone else hope this week as the U.S. celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday. Someone will be thankful you did. Mahalo and aloha.

Fixing the Job Market Will Take Everyone Digging In – WARNING CONTROVERSIAL

2008-11-16T19:40:00.000-08:00

Earlier today Ted Turner was on CNN doing a junket for his new book. He was asked whose fault it is that we’re suffering through this world financial crisis. His response: “We all are.” He went on to say that the average person can only live beyond their means for so long before it catches up. Ted Turner understands what it takes to make a business profitable.

Hours ago, the Japanese government announced that the world’s second largest economy is officially now in a recession. I haven’t had a chance to call my college roommate Asano in Tokyo to ask how the slowdown is affecting Japan's job market, but I’m sure it’s affecting her like it’s affecting us all.

This may seem controversial to say – everyone wants to hear how hard we all work – but the truth is that few people outside of those whose pay is linked to the success of the business, invest in the companies we work for like we would invest in ourselves. And again controversial – unions may be among the worst offenders. Union positions are so regulated by work times, break times, paid holidays, precise duties, etc. that there’s no room for industrious employees to say, “I’ll stay until this job gets done.” [My uncle is a janitor at a public school, and he’s not even allowed to screw in a light bulb per his union contract. He has to call plant operations.] Can anyone argue that’s either productive or that it inspires someone to go the extra mile?

The only way for our economy (and by extension our job market) to get back on track is for 1) companies to cut the fat out of their budgets, 2) employee pay to be compensated in large part by performance-based commissions and/or bonuses, and 3) there to be a significant increase in the number of small businesses or employee co-ops where the compensation reflects the effort invested. It sounds harsh – especially in light of the U.S. job market where benefits are an expected extension of salary. But if Ted Turner is right – and I think we all know he is – that American’s have been living beyond our means for far too long, the only way to move away from our role as world consumers and begin producing products and services again, is to take back the power through an explosion of small business.

I’d like to hear what you think. Please consider sharing your insight with other readers by commenting today.

Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook, published by The Graduate Group, will be available December 1. To order e-mail graduategroup@hotmail.com, call +1 860 233 2330, or visit them online at http://www.graduategroup.com/.

Media Not Immune to Downsizing

2008-11-08T16:03:00.000-08:00

Journalists take a lot of heat for the way they report stories – and sometimes that heat is deserved. Most will tell you they make an effort to tell the story without bias. This week in Central Washington, 17 reporters, editors, photographers, and other staff at twolocal ABC affiliates “became the story” as management announced plans to drop one newscast entirely, outsource another to a sister market 200 miles away, and truncate the 11:00 news to just five minutes. In an economy where jobs are lost every day, the storytellers have unfortunately become the story – not due to any fault of their own. http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2008/11/07/kapp-tv-to-cut-6-p-m-broadcast-lay-off-news-positions

The layoff, according to management, is the result of their expensive transition to digital. Like this medium-sized station in Central Washington, multi-national corporations and organizations all have their own “transition to digital.” The health of the economy is uncertain, consumers are tightening their belts, and there’s less money to go around. The only thing that seems to be “in excess” these days are fingers pointing at someone else.

Today, more than at any time in the past 20 years, it’s critical for people to have access to the latest tools to help them discover new opportunities and create their own job security. Reliable online staff resources can jump-start your job search. We offer more than 50 of them, sorted by industry, executive resources, general resources and work-at-home opportunities, in the 2009 edition of Creating Job Security. Some of my personal favorites include: http://www.etsy.com/, http://www.guru.com/, http://www.tentiltwo.com/, and http://www.6figurejobs.com/. Do you have favorites you’ve found helpful to share with those who have recently received bad news about their jobs – maybe even from the newspaper, TV or radio station where they once worked? We want to hear from you.

Creating Job Security, The 2009 All-In-One Workbook, featuring the Green Light Scoring Model for creating your ideal job right now, can now be preordered through The Graduate Group. It is available December 1. E-mail graduategroup@hotmail.com
Telephone: 860-233-2330. Visit them online: http://www.graduategroup.com/

Releasing Yourself from the Golden Handcuffs

2008-11-01T12:41:00.000-07:00

Do you know someone who is struggling to find a job that pays the same salary they made in a previous position? Maybe it’s you who once made ten, twenty or even fifty thousand dollars more than the offers you are receiving today. It’s frustrating to balance maintaining your self-confidence and self-worth while still being weighted down by what career counselors call the “Golden Handcuffs.”

I had a career counselor tell me just this week that many of his clients feel it is “settling” to take a position that pays substantially below a position they formerly held. He disagrees. He pointed out that each job offers unique benefits. While compensation is a part of that, so is the ability to expand your field of knowledge to a new industry or field.

Job hunters seeking to create true job security, ultimately need to consider if the position provides the income, opportunity, creativity, feasibility, flexibility, stability, and longevity that meets their needs right now. Those are the keys to the Green Light Scoring Model™. To disproportionately consider income is to be tied up by golden handcuffs which may prevent you from finding a position that is otherwise ideal for you right now.

Is this downturn in the economy more of a hardship on men than on women? At a career fair in Parsippany, New Jersey – 35 minutes from Manhattan – approximately 90% of fair attendees were men, most of which described themselves as middle management. One female attendee [a former marketing VP] commented on this saying, “I think as women, we’ve learned to adjust in ways that men don’t consider, taking secretarial work temporarily or taking a part-time job to work around kids.” She added that with her husband making the primary income in the household, she didn’t have the pressure to be the family’s primary breadwinner.

In Creating Job Security, the 2009 All-In-One Workbook, due out in December 2008, readers benefits from a seven-step scoring model that empowers them to determine the ideal job right now. We’d like to hear your views. Are men suffering more than women in the current economic downturn? What advice can men give each other to help them cope while they work to determine the ideal job for them right now?

Managing Your Network of Contacts Should Be a Snap – Now It Is!

2008-10-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

Clearly, the first step in Creating Job Security is figuring out what the ideal job for you is right now. If you are uncertain about what that is, or you’d like to explore new opportunities, the Green Light Scoring Model can help you unlock your own possibilities.

But what if you have found that idea job, and now you need to work to support that? Whether you opt to work for yourself or an outside employer, managing your network of contacts is critical.

The other day, I was talking to a highly-connected friend of mine – a producer in Hollywood whose very career is impacted by her contacts. I shared with her my www.Twitter.com/Job_Security post and asked her why she had not joined. She confessed it was simply a “time issue.” Being signed up on social networks elsewhere, she was hesitant to “take on” what she felt was another obligation.

For those of you who find your lives to be as busy and complicated as that of a Hollywood producer, you may want to check out http://ping.fm. It’s a free service that allows you to simultaneously update all your social networks in a snap. They are networked to both the familiar sites, and to things and places that are even new to me. Whether you have contacts on Twitter, Facebook, Plaxo, Linkedin, Friendster, Myspace, Kwippy, Xanga, Bebo – or others – you can update all of them at once.

The good news is that you can update from the Web, AIM, GTalk, iGoogle, iPhone, iPod Touch, SMS, e-mail, Windows Live Messenger, WAP and Yahoo! Messenger. The bad news is that even busy Hollywood producers no longer have an excuse for avoiding keeping up-to-date with the hottest social network trends available today.

Creating Job Security – the 2009 All-In-One Workbook is coming soon. The information included in this blog post is too new to be included in the 2009 book but will be included in some capacity in the 2010 edition.

Why create an annual workbook?

2008-10-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

The challenge of creating job security can shape and color your entire view of life for a time. And if it does, you're not alone.

Many people who are normally self-motivated, energetic and experts at multitasking suddenly find themselves feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about where to begin when their financial future seems to be at risk. Maybe you were once dynamic and confident – only to suffer a career setback that shook your confidence and left you feeling defensive or at a loss for what to do next. If so, you understand what millions of people are experiencing around the world in these challenging financial times.

Often when people feel uncertain about where to begin, they simply need a structured plan that walks them step-by-step through the process of discovery. The 2009 all-in-one workbook serves as a guide that gently and carefully takes the reader through the easy steps to creating job security. While case studies absolutely have their place – and you can find them in the original Creating Job Security Through Mobility and Diversity – this workbook is for fast track readers who have a goal of Creating Job Security right now.

We’ve all been there. Whether you are looking at creating your own job security or throwing a lifeline to someone you know, the Creating Job Security workbook provides the structure, guidance and resources that can make that critical difference – all in one convenient and portable guide.

Creating Job Security: the 2009 All-in-One Workbook will be released by The Graduate Group in time for the holidays. What better gift could you give yourself or someone you care about than the gift of help in Creating Job Security in 2009 and beyond?

Are you ready to experience true job security?

2008-10-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

It doesn't matter how many tips you receive on headhunters or work-at-home opportunities, unless you know what's right for you, at this point in your life, tips are simply random pieces of information that won't affect your life or your search for a career that meets your needs right now.

To be truly successful, you need an objective, mathematical, statistical means for determining the best possible position for you right now. The only way to achieve this is through a scoring model.

Creating Job Security: the 2009 All-In-One Workbook is coming soon. Finally, everything you need, in one easy-to-use package, to help you discover the ideal job for you right now.