Thursday, February 28, 2013

7 Things Pastors Should Teach Those in the Marketplace

Well crafted insights taken in its entirety from:

http://www.9marks.org/blog/7-things-pastors-should-teach-those-marketplace



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The marketplace, the everyday world of trade and economic activity, is where most people spend the majority of their days. In modern history, the marketplace has played an unparalleled role in shaping our world. Globalization has turned countless local markets into one massive global market. Advances in technology and communication have managed to bridge enormous geographical and cultural gaps with blinding speed.
Meanwhile, the language and norms of the marketplace have changed the way other social institutions, including the church, think and operate. Even family life has been shaped by the marketplace in seemingly indelible ways.
Yet the marketplace is not a single homogenous entity. It is a complex organism that defies easy definition. The marketplace experience of a plumber is not the same as a venture fund manager, and the work of a banker is different from the work of a teacher. Indeed, work happens
  • in a variety of locations (from home, remotely, in the air, from a car, in an office, in a cubicle, in a warehouse, in a field, in a sky rise, underground, on the water),
  • in a variety of employments (freelancers, employees, contractors, consultants, employers, sole proprietors),
  • and in a variety of organizations (firms, small businesses, large corporations, franchises, practices, partnerships, governments, schools, nonprofits). 
Therefore, as a pastor seeks to teach biblically about marketplace dynamics, it is helpful for him to deepen his empathy and broaden his understanding of the vocations represented in his congregation.
So what should pastors teach to those called to the marketplace?
1. Teach them how Scripture informs their work. One of the most foundational texts for understanding work is the “creation mandate,” where God commands Adam, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:28). Though it is impossible for a pastor to keep up with the ever-growing complexity of social and economic development since the Garden of Eden, pastors do have the opportunity to devote themselves to the timeless wisdom of Scripture. Helping those in the marketplace love and live the wisdom found in Proverbs will shape how they understand their daily work, and how it can be used to glorify God and to serve their neighbors.
2. Teach them to fear the Lord. The marketplace is a place of fear. A worker may fear his boss, an executive may fear very public failures, and others fear market instability, unemployment, and government regulations. Globalization, media, and technology all serve to amplify the sense of not being in control. Like anger and pride, acting from fear produces a range of insecurities, sins, and failures.
Throughout Scripture, the people of God are commanded not to be afraid. Paul reminds us, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7). We are, however, commanded to fear God: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10Ps. 111:10). Unfortunately, there are many professing Christians whose work life is dominated by fear and anxiety, which cuts them off from living in the wisdom of God.
3. Teach them to pray. Many Christians do not feel equipped to pray about their work, much less to actually pray in the marketplace. Given the fear that is so rampant in the marketplace, coupled with hostility toward Christian faith and practice, the best thing for workers to do is to pray. Yet the kinds of prayers needed in the marketplace may not be the kinds typically heard on Sunday mornings. Pastors have the opportunity to teach Christians how to pray for courage, against temptation, for integrity, that they might work with skill, for their coworkers, and that God would establish the work of their hands. And in response to the many blessings of work, they should be equipped to give thanks.
4. Teach them that their ultimate worth isn’t found in their performance. There is massive pressure in the marketplace for workers to earn their keep, meet their quotas, and climb the ladder. Without vigilant resistance, Christians too can come to believe they are nothing but a job title, a level of responsibility, or a unit of production.
The psalmist teaches that, unlike man, God does not judge us like one evaluates the strength of a horse. Rather, “the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love” (Ps. 147:10-11). At the end of the day, our approval and identity are found in being adopted as children of God by grace through faith in Christ—not on the basis of anything we do for ourselves.
5. Teach them they are more than “useful” to their local church. There is a subtle tendency for pastors to see members of their congregation in terms of their utility in supporting church programs or contributing to the budget. This temptation becomes even greater when a church member is known to be talented in their craft or successful in the marketplace. In this regard, pastors apply the same pressures on them that they likely experience throughout the week from their employers, leaders, and supervisors. Before churches are about budgets and programs, they are about people. The members of a congregation need to know they matter for more than just their utility.
6. Teach them that they’re not inferior to pastors and missionaries. Many churches, perhaps unwittingly, subtly propagate the myth that pastors and missionaries matter more, or are intrinsically holier, than carpenters, call center workers, or entrepreneurs. The church may employ pastors and send missionaries, but the silent majority of kingdom work is done by those of diverse callings in the marketplace. Pastors should find ways to disciple members for the variety of vocations represented in the congregation, and not just those in so-called “Christian ministry.”
7. Teach them to love what they do, and to do it well. It is easy to love one’s work for a time, but when circumstances, opportunities, relationships, and rewards change, difficulty and discouragement quickly set in. A certain degree of this is inevitable, but if work is dominated by a sense of pessimism or fatalism, the worker will not do his work well, he will not be content, and his gospel witness will shrivel up and die. Believers need the reminder of Colossians 3:23 that in a broken world they ultimately work for the Lord. In every task and in every season, it is this truth that provides the motivation to do all work with passion and excellence. Pastors face difficulty and discouragement in their work as well. But those who have found new, life-giving ways to rekindle the love for what they do will in turn be able to share that wisdom with those in different occupations.
Lukas Naugle, who attends Redemption Church in Phoenix, Arizona, is a principal at Marketplace One and works alongside entrepreneurs and thought leaders from around the country.
February 2013
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Young And Unemployed? 3 Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Hired

Post that is insightful taken from:

 http://www.careerealism.com/unemployed-not-getting-hired/

About Belen Chacon

Belen is a journalism graduate student at California State University, Northridge. She spends her time interning wherever she can and tweeting her heart out. You can follow her @journobelen.

UnemployedIf you’re a college graduate and you’re unemployed, you might have an idea of what I’m about to talk about. You’ve spent four years of your life hitting the books, getting good grades, participating in relevant extra-curricular activities, and maybe even juggling a part-time job in between. You’ve worked really hard for your degree and you’ve been told time and time again that a degree is essential to finding employment in today’s competitive job market. So, why are you not getting hired?
First of all, you’re not alone. According to this survey by the U.S. Department of Labor, men and women from ages 20-24 are about 70.9% of the total population, but only 13.3% are part of the labor force. Though the unemployment rate has slowly declined for Bachelor degree owners, it’s still lagging. For that reason, the competition is fiercer than ever. This means you really have to re-evaluate your job search strategy.

3 Reasons Why You’re Not Getting Hired

Here are some reasons why you might not be part of the employed percentage just yet:

1. Your Resume Isn’t Job Specific

While it’s good to have a strong resume with all of your professional skill sets, your resume can become generic when all you do is send the same resume to every open position you find. Take the time to rewrite your resume on multiple occasions and use specific keywords that are in the job description.
According to an article on the Job Center of Wisconsin website, gathering information specific to the job you are applying for and matching it with your experience on your resume is what makes a good resume. You have to “Think like an employer,” the article states, “do not give unrelated or negative information.”

2. You’re Not Applying To Jobs That Are Specific To Your Skills

You have every reason to apply to every job in sight. Our economy, though steadily improving, is still lagging in jobs for recent graduates. Still, it doesn’t do you any favors when you apply to every single job you see and send the same resume to each one.
Apply to the jobs you want and are qualified for. After all, it’s what you studied for. Try to make a list of potential places you’d like to work for and target those companies any way you can. Use social media sites to find people you can network with, and keep an eye out for any open positions. You have a better chance at getting hired at a job where your skills are relevant than at a job you’re 100% unqualified for.

3. You Don’t Take Your Social Media Profiles Seriously

According to an article on the Undercover Recruiter, a survey of 300 professionals by Reppler found that “hirers are using social networks to screen job applicants.” This means you should clean up your Facebook and Twitter profiles to present a more positive, but more importantly, a professional image of yourself.
It might be in your best interest not to post that picture of you doing a keg stand as your default, or Tweet about how you hate looking for jobs because you’d rather be partying with your friends.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Belen Chacon

Belen is a journalism graduate student at California State University, Northridge. She spends her time interning wherever she can and tweeting her heart out. You can follow her @journobelen.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

How to Answer 7 of the Most Common Interview Questions

Good tips found at:

By

Common Interview QuestionsInterview questions are not as straightforward as they seem, and answering just one question incorrectly may put you out of the running for a job.
The moral of the story? Be ready to read between the lines.
Here are seven of the most common interview questions, what the hiring manager is really asking, and how you should respond:
1. “Tell me about yourself.”
What the hiring manager is really asking…
“How do your education, work history, and professional aspirations relate to the open job?”
How to respond: Select key work and education information that shows the hiring manager why you are a perfect fit for the job and for the company.
For example, a recent grad might say something like, “I went to X University where I majored in Y and completed an internship at Z Company. During my internship, I did this and that (name achievements that match the job description), which really solidified my passion for this line of work.”
2. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
What the hiring manager is really asking…
“Does this position fit into your long-term career goals? Do you even have long-term career goals?”
How to respond: Do NOT say you don’t know (even if you don’t) and do not focus on your personal life (it’s nice that you want to get married, but it’s not relevant). Show the employer you’ve thought about your career path and that your professional goals align with the job.
3. “What is your greatest weakness?”
What the hiring manager is really asking…
“Are you self-aware? Do you know where you could stand to improve and are you proactive about getting better?”
How to respond: A good way to answer this is with real-life feedback that you received in the past. For instance, maybe a former boss told you that you needed to work on your presentation skills.
Note that fact, then tell the employer how you’ve been proactively improving. Avoid any deal breakers (“I don’t like working with other people.”) or cliché answers (“I’m a perfectionist and I work too hard.”).
4. “What motivates you to perform?”
What the hiring manager is really asking…
“Are you a hard worker? Am I going to have to force you to produce quality work?”
How to respond: Ideal employees are motivated internally, so tell the hiring manager that you find motivation when working toward a goal, contributing to a team effort, and/or developing your skills. Provide a specific example that supports your response.
Finally, even if it’s true, do not tell an employer that you’re motivated by bragging rights, material things, or the fear of being disciplined.
5. “Tell me about a time that you failed.”
What the hiring manager is really asking…
“How do you respond to failure? Do you learn from your mistakes? Are you resilient?”
How to respond: Similar to the “greatest weakness” question, you need to demonstrate how you’ve turned a negative experience into a learning experience.
To do this, acknowledge one of your failures, take responsibility for it, and explain how you improved as a result. Don’t say you’ve never failed (Delusional, much?), don’t play the blame game, and don’t bring up something that’s a deal breaker (“I failed a drug test once…”)
6. “Why do you want to work here?”
What the hiring manager is really asking…
“Are you genuinely interested in the job? Are you a good fit for the company?”
How to respond: Your goal for this response is to demonstrate why you and the company are a great match in terms of philosophy and skill. Discuss what you’ve learned about them, noting how you align with their mission, company culture, and reputation.
Next, highlight how you would benefit professionally from the job and how the company would benefit professionally from you.
7. “How many couches are there in America?”
What the hiring manager is really asking…
“Can you think on your feet? Can you handle pressure? Can you think critically?”
How to respond: When faced with a seemingly absurd question like this (there are many variations — just ask anyone who interviewed at Google before December), it’s important you not be caught off guard.
Resist your urge to tell the interviewer the question is stupid and irrelevant, and instead walk him through your problem-solving thought process. For this particular question, you would talk about how many people are in the U.S., where couches are found (homes, hotels, furniture stores), etc.
As with other parts of the job application process, it’s a good idea to solicit feedback from family, friends, and former colleagues. Try out your answers to each of these questions on at least two people, then revise based on their feedback.

Your Turn

What are your tips for responding to these and other common interview questions?
Image Credit: Shutterstock

6 Reasons You Should Say ‘Yes’ To Any Job Interview

Excellent post found at:
http://www.careerealism.com/reasons-say-yes-job-interview/

Job Interview YesYou applied for a job and were just called in for a job interview.
The only problem?
You’re having second thoughts about the position.
Maybe the pay is low or the job function isn’t quite what you’re looking for. Or maybe the company culture is a bit dry for your taste. Whatever the cause of your cold feet, you should think twice before turning down any job interview.
Here’s why…

1. Sharpen Your Interview Skills

Google “interview tips.” Guess how many results turn up?
9,300,000.
Why so many? Because interviews aren’t easy. They’re awkward, pressure-filled situations that demand your A-game. No number of advice articles or practice interviews will prepare you as much as the real thing, so suit up and take advantage of the opportunity.

2. Discover What Others In Your Industry Are Up To

Job interviews are an excellent learning opportunity. Once you’re done practicing your responses to common interview questions, take the time to quiz the employer. Inquire about position requirements, departmental strategies, and company goals. Take what you learn and use it to your advantage into future interviews.

3. Build Your Network

The fact you applied to this job and were offered an interview suggests you’ll be doing business with similar people (perhaps even these people) in the future. Why not use the interview as a networking opportunity? As long as you conduct yourself with professionalism, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t leave with a few new LinkedIn connections. Maybe they’ll even know of an opportunity that’s a better fit for you down the road.

4. Learn What’s Out There

Every organization is unique. By visiting a company’s campus and talking to its employees, you’ll get an insider’s look at what it’s like to work there. Remember what you like and what you don’t, then use these insights as you move forward with picking a new job.

5. Gain Bargaining Power

It’s not uncommon for hiring managers to ask if you’re interviewing elsewhere. If you’re not, then you won’t be seen as a hot commodity. If you can say yes, however, it might give the hiring manager a sense of urgency to scoop you up before someone else does. What’s more, having multiple job offers is an excellent bargaining chip when it comes time for salary negotiations.

6. Realize You Never Know What Will Happen

A million different things can happen to change your perspective of the company or the job. Maybe the salary is low, but the opportunity for advancement (including raises) is through the roof. Or maybe what you’ve read and heard up to this point doesn’t do the company culture justice. There might even be another position open at the company that you’re better suited for.
The point?
You’ll never know if you don’t go to the interview.
As with any business engagement, it is of utmost importance that you act like the professional you are. Don’t flake, don’t convey your indifference, and don’t treat the interview lightly – word gets around.
And besides, the hiring manager is taking time out of his day to meet with you because he believes in your qualifications and cultural fit; why treat him with anything less than the respect he deserves?
Are there any reasons you can think of to say no to a job interview?
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

When Changing Jobs for Money Makes Sense

Helpful considerations in a post found at:

http://beforeitsnews.com/personal-finance/2013/01/should-you-change-jobs-for-money-2442018.html

This is a question that seems as if the answer is obvious. Sometimes it is, sometimes not. There are different scenarios where you might want to change jobs for the money. But there are at least an equal number where making a jump for higher pay won’t be worth it.
Let’s take a look at some different scenarios.

When Changing Jobs for Money Makes Sense

There are certainly times when the question of changing jobs for money has an obvious answer – and that answer will be a resounding YES!

1. When you are clearly underpaid in your current job.

If you’re in a job situation where you’re at the low end of the pay scale, and it doesn’t seem as if there’s any way to improve your pay within the system, you’ll probably want to consider making a job change mainly for money.
You may be very good at doing your job, but for whatever reason your employer fails to recognize it. Sometimes it’s the result of office politics, favoritism, or simply joining the organization at an unfavorable time. Whatever the reason, you may have no choice but to look elsewhere for higher pay.

2. When you are early in your career.

It’s not uncommon for people change jobs early in their careers. Some companies prefer to promote from within, in which case an employee may get promotions and higher pay relatively easily. But other companies are more attracted to the talent at their competitors, and would prefer to hire experienced people from other companies rather than promoting from within.
You may have to make two or three job changes early in your career in order for you to get your pay level up to where it needs to be.

3. When there’s no chance of promotion where you work now.

Sometimes the organization you’re working for is experiencing financial difficulties; if that’s the case it may be impossible to get a substantial pay increase. Other companies seem to be in a state of perpetual crisis – you’ll probably find it difficult to get a serious pay increase there as well. There are any number of reasons why an employer may not be in a position to give you more money, and if that’s the case you may have no choice but to change jobs for better compensation.

4. When you absolutely need more money.

If you’re in a situation where you have large debts to pay off, or very high living expenses (whatever the reason), you may need to change jobs to make more money. It may be that the debt situation is so threatening that you have no choice but to chase higher pay. It may not be your preferred route, but may be the only way you’ll be able get out of debt.

When Changing Jobs for Money Probably Doesn’t Make Sense

As much as we tend to think about money as the ultimate reward in a job, that isn’t always true. Sometimes there are risks associated with changing jobs for more money that we simply would not want to take if we think about them in some depth.

The Risks of Relocation

In some industries the only way to make more money is by relocating to take another job. While that might produce higher pay, it’s important to recognize that there may be risks to relocating.
The new employer may pay your relocation costs, which is certainly attractive. But they may require you to relocate from a large, diversified job market to much smaller one. The loss of your job in the new location could force you to relocate again – only this time you will be paying for the relocation yourself.
Any money gained through the higher pay of the new job could be lost if you are forced to relocate on the loss of the job.
You will also need to consider if what you’re giving up at home will be worth a higher salary. You may be leaving family, friends and a familiar environment in favor of a place where none of those advantages exist.

Sacrificing Training and Experience for Money

When thinking of changing jobs for money you always need to consider the training and experience factor. If your present job – or a lower paying one – offers greater training and experience, that could eventually be worth more than an immediate pay increase.
In addition, if a new job is offering pay that is out of proportion to the depth of the job, it could be a warning sign. The job could be a revolving door, the type that no one stays at for much more than a year or two before quitting or being fired. The higher pay may be an incentive for a job that simply isn’t doable.

Changing Jobs Just for Money

There is another risk to changing jobs for money that is more subtle. If a prospective employer sees you changing jobs every year or two for higher pay, they may see your time on a job with them as just another temporary stop. The moment another employer offers you more money, you’ll be out the door.
This will be an even greater problem if the caliber of your performance doesn’t match your level of pay. Having a job, any job, isn’t just a matter of increasing salary; it’s also important to increase your skills and abilities to match.

Being Where You Can Make a Real Difference

Being an “impact player” in a lower paying job can be more important than being just another link in a chain in a higher paying job. This can be especially important when it comes to layoffs and promotions. An employee who is considered to be an important part of an organization will always be less likely to lose his job, and more likely to be promoted. You may not want to let go of that advantage in favor of higher pay.

The Job Satisfaction Factor

Finally there’s the issue that we don’t think much about when we are looking for higher pay, and that’s job satisfaction. You’ll probably be working at least five days a week, for at least 50 weeks out of each year. That’s a lot of time on the job, and that’s why job satisfaction so important.
You may be better off in a lower paying job with higher job satisfaction, than a higher paying job with less satisfaction. The higher paying job may help you to pay your bills more easily, but it still may not be worth it if each and every day on the job is a struggle.
Would you change jobs primarily or exclusively for money? What risks do you see in that strategy? Leave a comment!

Related Articles:

Who Wins The Race? A daily devotion for February 21st, 2013

A wonderful reminder when we wonder what God is doing in our lives found at:

http://www.raystedman.org/todays-devotion
Who Wins The Race?
Daily Devotion for February 21
From the Writings of Ray Stedman
of His PresenceFrom your friends at
www.RayStedman.org
Read the Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12
I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
Many of us have had experiences that confirm the truth of this verse. All our carefully laid plans have fallen apart; all our dreams that we had what it took to succeed in some particular area of life crumbled, and we could not understand why. We had to learn, as this text says, the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong. That is true, even in sports. In the early part of this century Jim Thorpe, the famous Native American athlete, won many gold medals at the Olympic games. He stood before the King of Sweden and was publicly acknowledged as the greatest athlete of his time. Yet all those medals and honors had to be given back when it was learned that as a boy he had played professional baseball for five dollars a season, which rendered him no longer an amateur.
It is not always the strong, the mighty, the able, and the gifted that win in politics. We have seen candidates whom everybody thought a cinch to win public office defeated, unable to fulfill their dreams. The battle [is not always] to the strong, and this principle rings true even for the awards and prizes of the world. The Nobel Prize was given to a little woman in India, Mother Teresa, who ministered fully to the needs of the poor around her. Even in Hollywood the battle is not always won by those with the strength of typical movie glitz and glamour; in 1982, the Academy Award for Best Picture went to the movie Chariots of Fire, the story of Eric Liddell, a Christian Olympic runner who later became a missionary to China. The Searcher clearly tells us that natural gifts of speed, strength, and intellect are never enough to guarantee ultimate triumph.
Other factors really make the difference. Time and chance happen to them all. What does he mean by that? We often say, You have to be the right person, at the right place, at the right time. In other words, there are elements of circumstance that have to fall together even before someone with great abilities can accomplish his or her goals. What the Searcher is saying, of course, is that life is not in our control. The illusion that the secular media presses upon us all the time is that we can handle our life by our choices.It's your life! You can live it the way you please. But the Searcher says it cannot be done that way. Time and chance happen to them all. Just when you think you have something under control, it can all fall apart. Disasters come when we least expect them: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare (Ecclesiastes 9:12). Everything can fall apart. Every one of us has had some experience of that.
Lord, thank You for this reminder that I am not in control; that I do not control the outcome of events, but You do.

Life Application: The sovereignty of God is an important attribute of God to realize and trust. Our own efforts will never trump God's sovereignty. Have we rested in that knowledge?
Related Message: This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's messages. Please read "The Only Way to Go" or listen to Ray for more on this portion of scripture.
Devotions for February from Ecclesiastes
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Copyright © 2007 by Elaine Stedman — This daily devotion is from the book The Power of His Presence: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman; compiled by Mark Mitchell. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice and a hyperlink to www.RayStedman.org if the copy is posted on the Internet.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

3 Ways To Quantify Your Experience With Numbers

Quantifying the value you can bring to a company is so important in a resume.  The below is a post that has some suggestions how to do this found at:

http://www.careerealism.com/quantify-experience-numbers/


About Jessica Holbrook Hernandez

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter.

Quantify Your ExperienceIf you’ve been doing your homework about how to write an effective resume, you’ve seen a recurring theme: you have to quantify your experience. Although most people understand the general idea of this, I find that job seekers often struggle with applying this idea to writing their resumes. Here are three easy ways to do it:

1. Show How Many

Sometimes our responsibilities don’t sound that impressive until we start detailing how much work we’ve been doing. For instance, if one of your job responsibilities is tracking your company’s compliance with filing a set of forms every year, you could write that two different ways:
Ensured compliance with filing of annual forms.
—or—
Ensured compliance with the filing of 75 annual forms by 7 different company departments.
Doesn’t the second example sound much more impressive?

2. Show How Much

If you have a job in sales, marketing, or any other business where profitability is the ultimate goal of your position, citing exactly how much money you’ve either made or saved your company is the way to go. For example, if you’re an internal auditor, your resume could say:
Saved company money by finding ways to cut costs.
—or—
Implemented new payroll and tax accounting systems that saved firm $1M in personnel costs over the next 10 years.
Estimates are fine when citing these types of numbers, as long as you can justify your claim if someone asks you in an interview.

3. Show How Often

I frequently talk with job seekers who have previously been successful in very high-volume environments. If you’ve worked in this type of setting, please give yourself credit! Even an administrative assistant’s job sounds completely different when given some context:
Answered phones at the front desk.
—or—
Managed switchboard with 10 incoming lines, effectively receiving and routing an average of 500 calls per day.
My goodness, who wouldn’t hire the second candidate?
As you write your resume, ask yourself these three important questions: How many? How much? How often? The key to landing an interview is to answer those questions as you describe your previous professional accomplishments.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Jessica Holbrook Hernandez

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, CEO of Great Resumes Fast is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, and presenter.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

How To Job Search While You’re Still Employed

Good pratical advice found at:

http://www.careerealism.com/job-search-employed/

by:

About Belen Chacon

Belen is a journalism graduate student at California State University, Northridge. She spends her time interning wherever she can and tweeting her heart out. You can follow her @journobelen.

Job Search EmployedLooking for another job could be difficult, especially when you’re already employed. You have to make extra time to look for work – a task that’s hard to pull off after an eight hour shift. You also have to proceed with caution because while you’re looking to change your career, you simultaneously run the risk of losing your current job. So, how can you job search while you’re still employed?

Use Discretion

If you’re looking for a different job, you shouldn’t tell your co-workers, even if you’re close with them. In an interview with Forbes, corporate veteran Andy Teach, states that if your boss finds out you are looking for another job, they might take the news negatively and think that you are not satisfied in your current position. The worst case scenario is that they might start looking for a replacement, and you definitely don’t want that to happen, especially if you haven’t secured other employment.

Don’t Get Distracted

Looking for another job is like another job in itself. According to an article published on career-advice website, The Ladders, you have to create daily, weekly, and monthly notes of your job search activities. “Note opportunities, contacts and organizations you need to follow up with and schedule when you should do it,” states the article.
Taking your job search seriously does require a lot of your time. However, focusing on your job search too much when you’re already employed, could distract you from your current professional tasks. Remember, you don’t have a new job yet and just because you’re looking to change jobs doesn’t mean you should neglect your current position.

Use Your Free Time

Whether it’s thirty minutes, an hour, or less than that, using any free time you have to look for another job is a wise thing to do. In an article by career blogger and author, Alison Green, it is not a good idea to use your employer’s time to look for employment. “You may think no one will find out, but some companies do look at employees’ web histories, and having yours full of job listings isn’t a good idea,” states the article.
Prioritize your free time for your job search outside of work or even during your lunch break. If you have any vacation time saved up, you could always take some of that time off for your job search as well. Any time is better than no time.
So, if you’re looking for work when you’re already employed, remembering to keep your job search quiet, avoid distractions, and make good use of your free time are good ways to successfully and ethically find employment.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About Belen Chacon

Belen is a journalism graduate student at California State University, Northridge. She spends her time interning wherever she can and tweeting her heart out. You can follow her @journobelen.

10 Things That Matter In Your Career

Good post found at:

http://www.careerealism.com/career-matter/
by:

About John Heckers

John Heckers is president of Heckers Development Group, LTD, a consulting firm based in Denver, Colorado, specializing in Strategic Executive Coaching.

Career MatterWhether you’re just beginning your career or are in the middle of a career transition, taking the time to think about what really matters to you in life can save you years, even decades, of heartache. Here are some things to consider:

1. Realize Money Isn’t Everything

Family often encourages you to go for the career where you can make the highest income. Unless you have a passion for the job that makes the highest income, going there is going to be a source of incredible misery for you. While paying the bills is important, happiness and satisfaction are even more important.

2. Figure Out What You Really Need

Do you really need a McMansion and five cars for you and your spouse in the driveway? Madison Avenue and Wall Street want you to believe that your life is somehow worth less if you don’t live the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Not all of us gauge our success by how many toys and decorations we have. Do you really want to make that the benchmark of success for you?

3. Determine Where You Want To Make A Difference

Let’s be real. A Wall Street Banker doesn’t make a positive difference in the world and may, indeed, be doing great harm. If you want to make a positive difference for your community and the world, look at places you can do that, even if they don’t pay six (or seven) figure incomes.

4. Determine What You’re Passionate About

The secret to feeling at peace and successful in your life is to find a passion and do it for a living. While this is not always possible, I’ve helped dozens of clients leave the corporate jungle to do just that… with great results.

5. Let Go Of Your Limits

Many people don’t work their passion because they believe they can’t do it, need more education for it, or won’t make money at it. Hint: These are excuses for remaining in or getting into a boring, stultifying life. If you don’t want to wind up faceless, nameless and depressed, let go of these artificial limits and do your passion! Of course, if your dream is to be an NFL star and you’re 5’3” and can barely walk…
Well, maybe you should consider another dream. But few dreams have rigid requirements that you cannot overcome somehow.

6. Seek Spiritual Insight

Keep in mind that your spirit knows what is the best and highest for you. Seek inside your spirit for the answers. If you cannot find them through meditation and silence, seek out the help of a spiritual advisor who can help.

7. Know The Power Of Your Spirit

If you are walking your Path, your spirit will create money and opportunities for you. The key is to know you’re on the right Path and then to begin to walk it, regardless of appearances. As you walk forward, opportunities will open. There will be enough money. And you will meet friends along the road to assist you in many ways.

8. Don’t Seek Lots Of Opinions

Too many people get derailed by querying family, friends and neighbors about the Path they wish to set out on. They will get many conflicting opinions that can cause self-doubt and angst about where someone wants to go in life. Share your thoughts and dreams only with a very few friends who can be counted on to support you. Broom the nay-sayers at once.

9. Don’t Be Evil

I love the Google motto, though I wonder how much they follow it anymore. Your career can be a force for good or a force for evil in the world. It’s important you know which it is, and refrain from doing that which can tend toward evil or darkness.

10. Realize Work Isn’t Your Life

Anytime we don’t get our priorities straight, the Universe has a way of coming along and knocking sense into our heads. While some work serving humanity may, indeed, be a life, most work is work. Remember you still need to give something back to the community and have some down time for yourself and your family. Careful choosing of a career that brings you peace and joy will assure you can balance and live a full life.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock

About John Heckers

John Heckers is president of Heckers Development Group, LTD, a consulting firm based in Denver, Colorado, specializing in Strategic Executive Coaching.

Monday, February 18, 2013

4 Tips to Clean Up Your Online Persona

Excellent thoughts found at:

http://www.sodexousacareersblog.com/2013/01/4-tips-to-clean-up-your-online-persona.html

By Guest Blogger Trish Freshwater, Senior Communications Manager for Talent Acquisition at Sodexo. Originally posted on the Student Branding Blog.

Like most college students, you likely have a Facebook page and a Twitter profile. You may even have a Google+ or LinkedIn account, aiming to connect with professionals in your field. Some of you may even have a YouTube channel, a Flickr account and a collection of boards on Pinterest. So, what does this have to do with your job search? Everything. 

As you move closer to graduation and your future career, you’ll want to clean up your online profiles so that prospective employers can learn more about your professional side. Here are four tips for cleaning up your online persona. 

1) Adjust Privacy Settings
The important thing to know about all of these online profiles is that they’re generally public profiles, unless you’ve invoked various privacy settings. You can see what’s public very quickly by doing a Google search for your name. 

Each social media site has its own unique privacy settings. Look through these settings and lock down personal photos, Pinterest boards and comments between you and your friends. Facebook, for example, offers a great option to choose who sees your updates right on the screen where you enter your comments – public, friends or another list on your account. Use these options wisely to help promote your professional interests while protecting your personal life. 

2) Use Professional Profile Pics 
While it’s great to show off your sweet puppy from home or a pic of you hanging with your best friend at the beach, these photos may not be the best first impression for a potential employer. Have a friend or family member take a nice headshot photo of you and use that image for your profile pictures. 

3) Be Consistent 
Part of building your online reputation, or personal brand, is about having a consistent “face” across all of your accounts. This means using the same profile pic, using your full name or a consistent nickname across all accounts (for example, I use “Trish” Freshwater on all of my accounts instead of my full given name “Patricia.”), list the same contact phone number and/or e-mail address on all of your accounts. Being consistent helps bring all of your profiles together to create a singular view into who you are as a person and a professional. 

4) Update Your Information 
From a recruiting perspective, there’s nothing worse than finding an out-of-date e-mail address or an empty LinkedIn profile. Make sure that all of your profiles are up to date and complete. This is especially important for your LinkedIn profile where recruiters will seek detailed information about your skills and experience. 

Simply listing your previous job titles doesn’t tell a recruiter what you’re good at or what you’ve accomplished in the past. Add some detail to your profile to get noticed! List some projects you’ve worked on and a few notable accomplishments. For more details about your LinkedIn profile, read my earlier post here

Social media offers a number of tools to help you search for a job and network with recruiters and other professionals. But, you need to make this space work for you on both a personal and professional level. In my next post, I’ll talk about how to build your personal brand online and expand on how you can use your “cleaned up” profiles effectively for your career. 

Sunday, February 17, 2013

HOW CAN I DO THE STRENGTHSFINDER? (without buying the book)


HOW CAN I DO THE STRENGTHSFINDER?

Since August 2012, you no longer need to buy one of the bestselling Gallup books to do the Top-5-Talent version of the Clifton StrengthsFinder. You can acquire and do the test directly on Gallup's internet site, and you now can even acquire the full 34-talent-report for 89 Dollars as well!
http://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com/Purchase

Another follow on resource  called the StrenthsFinder strengths list  can be found at:

http://www.strengthstest.com/strengthsfinderthemes/strengths-themes.html


Strengths Finder Strengths ListE-mail
The Clifton StrengthsFinder™ measures the presence of 34 talent themes. Talents are people's naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied. The more dominant a theme is in a person, the greater the theme's impact on that person's behavior and performance.

The themes have unique names such as Maximizer®, Acheiver®, and Learner®.

Clifton StrengthsFinderTM Themes


The Clifton StrengthsFinder measures the presence of 34 talent themes. Talents are people's naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied. The more dominant a theme is in a person, the greater the theme's impact on that person's behavior and performance. 
NEED TO TAKE THE STRENGTHSFINDER ASSESSMENT?
Find out your top 5 StrengthsFinder talent themes.
Click here to purchase an access code to take the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment.
FOCUSING ON YOUR JOB AND CAREER OPTIONS?
Find out how to make job and career decisions based on your strengths
The Fit Factors
Achiever®People strong in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.
Activator®People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.
Adaptability®People strong in the Adaptability theme prefer to "go with the flow." They tend to be "now" people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.
Analytical®People strong in the Analytical theme search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation.
ArrangerTMPeople strong in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to figure out how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.
Belief®People strong in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life.
Command®People strong in the Command theme have presence. They can take control of a situation and make decisions.
Communication®People strong in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters.
Competition®People strong in the Competition theme measure their progress against the performance of others. They strive to win first place and revel in contests.
Connectedness®People strong in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.
Consistency® / FairnessTMPeople strong in the Consistency theme (also called Fairness in the first StrengthsFinder assessment) are keenly aware of the need to treat people the same. They try to treat everyone in the world fairly by setting up clear rules and adhering to them.
Context®People strong in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.
Deliberative®People strong in the Deliberative theme are best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles.
Developer®People strong in the Developer theme recognize and cultivate the potential in others. They spot the signs of each small improvement and derive satisfaction from these improvements.
DisciplineTMPeople strong in the Discipline theme enjoy routine and structure. Their world is best described by the order they create.
EmpathyTMPeople strong in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others' lives or others' situations.
FocusTMPeople strong in the Focus theme can take a direction, follow through, and make the corrections necessary to stay on track. They prioritize, then act.
Futuristic®People strong in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.
Harmony®People strong in the Harmony theme look for consensus. They don't enjoy conflict; rather, they seek areas of agreement.
Ideation®People strong in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.
Inclusiveness® / Includer®People strong in the Inclusiveness theme are accepting of others. They show awareness of those who feel left out, and make an effort to include them.
Individualization®People strong in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.
Input®People strong in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.
Intellection®People strong in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.
Learner®People strong in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.
Maximizer®People strong in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.
Positivity®People strong in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.
Relator®People who are strong in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.
Responsibility®People strong in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.
Restorative®People strong in the Restorative theme are adept at dealing with problems. They are good at figuring out what is wrong and resolving it.
Self-Assurance®People strong in the Self-assurance theme feel confident in their ability to manage their own lives. They possess an inner compass that gives them confidence that their decisions are right.
Significance®People strong in the Significance theme want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized.
StrategicTMPeople strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
Woo®People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.

Share Your Own StrengthsFinder Results -
We've made it easy to share your strengths with others (via email, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)




StrengthsFinder: Practical Applications

Here are some practical tips on taking "next steps" after you get the results from Strengthsfinders found at:

http://careerhorizons.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/the-so-what-of-the-strengthsfinder-assessment/


Can one ever become TOO self-aware?  I mean, to a fault?  It probably wouldn’t be hard to pull off, given the zillions of personality tests and assessment instruments that are available today, ranging from international powerhouses like MBTI (Myers-Briggs) and DiSC to a number of scrappy up-and-comers like the locally-based Core Value Index from Taylor Protocols and Thomas Indicator Profile from CereCore.  Heck, I even took a test years ago called Kingdomality that pegged people into the roles they’d likely play in a medieval village, based on their personality type.  For the record, and oddly enough, I was cast as the Black Knight…
While all of these different instruments have their pros and cons, as well as their ardent followers, I’ll admit that the one personal development tool I’ve found to be more valuable than any other is the StrengthsFinder assessment offered by the Gallup organization — a tool that was popularized, initially, through the best-selling book Now Discover Your Strengths by Donald Clifton and Marcus Buckingham.  This is the only assessment tool I use in my work with clients on a regular basis.  Not only do I love the simplicity and cost of the instrument (buy the book for $20, take the test it contains, and bingo, you’re done!), but I also find that the results it spits out are eerily on target for many people, including myself.  Additionally, unlike many assessments, the StrengthsFinder tool isn’t built around “quadrants” or another such rigid construct where certain personality traits are mutually exclusive by definition (e.g. you can either be introverted OR extroverted) and it also doesn’t make the assumption that only certain personality types can succeed in certain career roles.  I find people to be much more complex than this.  And I know tons of people who have performed like champs in various job roles that wouldn’t typically be associated with their particular personality type.
At any rate, that’s why I love the StrengthsFinder tool.  So if you haven’t taken it, I’d encourage you to do so, and if you happen to believe in your results and buy into the philosophy that Gallup espouses, there are nine different books you can track down that talk further about the tool and its various applications.  I want to take a moment and put my own unique spin on things, however.  I want to discuss how the results from this tool, and similar tools, can actually be harnessed to make a practical difference in the outcome of your job hunt — versus just being one more indulgent, feel-good personal development activity that you ponder for a while, but that you don’t actually end up applying in any productive way.
So here’s a quick list of ideas I’ve come up with in terms of how a person might apply their StrengthsFinder results in “tangible” fashion to the career planning and job-finding process:
1)  List your five StrengthFinder themes on your resume or LinkedIn profile.  Sure, it’s unorthodox, but this step will at least make you stand out from the crowd, and if the recruiter or hiring manager reading your resume is a fellow fan of the tool, you’ll likely get some extra brownie points!  Want to be REALLY wild and crazy?  Add them as a line in your e-mail signature block, as well…
2)  Tailor your job search game plan directly around your core strengths.  If your StrengthsFinder themes provide some keen insight into how you’re wired and the types of activities you’re naturally most successful at, why not apply this information to the method, routine, and strategy of your job search, itself?  While a “Woo” person might have the best success out building relationships at casual networking events, an “Input” or “Analytical” person like myself might avoid embarrassing themselves at such functions and instead focus on gaining publicity via a blog or on-line networking tools — or work on gaining a competitive edge through superior pre-interview research.
3)  Explore career options by searching for jobs that specifically call for your strengths and talents.  While this step can be a little tricky, at first, we ‘re fortunate to have sites at our fingertips today like Indeed.com that contain millions of bytes of real-time occupational data from around the entire country.  Have you tried isolating one of your key strengths, as well as some closely-related synonyms, and then running these keywords through the entire job database to see which career niches relate to them in some way?  Which jobs and careers have a non-obvious requirement for a person with strong Empathy, for example?  Or for an individual naturally oriented to the Connectedness of various things in the world?
4)  Brainstorm some fresh Talent/Skill/Knowledge pairings.  Let’s face facts.  If you’re looking to change careers or increase your marketability for mid-to-senior-level positions, your natural talents alone aren’t going to be enough.  As the NDYS book emphasizes, you have to pair up your natural gifts with some black-and-white skills and educational/knowledge elements before you truly have a “Strength” that companies will value highly (and pay you handsomely) for.  So as an exercise to help with this step, try browsing through the course catalog of your local community college, since these institutions are the best game in town in terms of acquiring new Skill/Knowledge elements.  Along the way, as you flip through the course offerings available, ask yourself “How would my natural Talent for X pair up effectively with the Skill in (or Knowledge of) X, Y, or Z that I could learn through this school?”  You might be surprised at the creative ideas that surface by brainstorming in this outside-the-box way.
5)  Use your StrengthsFinder themes to identify new target company/contact possibilities.  While there are thousands of well-intentioned job seekers out there doing their best to “network” in some capacity, many people still struggle to help the people around them come up with good referral possibilities.  One way to stimulate this thinking is to ask people if they know of companies where a certain Strength is lacking in the organizational culture — and causing problems, as a result — or whether they know of any particular leaders/managers who AREN’T good in a particular area and might value a complementary subordinate on the team.  These questions might sound like “Are you aware of any companies suffering from a lack of Strategic thinking and who might need somebody to help them figure out which products to support going forward — and which to shelve?”  Or “Do you know of any executives who are smart, but tend to avoid conflict, and might therefore value somebody with thick skin (the Command theme) willing to help them hold people accountable and communicate tough decisions?”
6)  Leverage your Strengths to overcome Knowledge/Skill deficiencies.  In cover letters, as well as the interviewing process, you sometimes have little choice but to trot out your natural gifts/talents as a way to offset the lack of “hard skills” and “specific industry experience” you might have for a given assignment.  In my opinion, this is the single greatest benefit the StrengthsFinder tool can potentially contribute to the job search process.  It’s also the hardest to execute.  Hiring managers hear candidates claim to be fast learners, people people, and results-oriented drivers all day long, so will be almost completely closed down to the idea that your natural talents are worthy of important consideration once they learn you don’t possess the full laundry list of skill and knowledge elements they’re seeking.  You’re going to have to sell them HARD on this idea, which takes a fair amount of preparation and practice.  You’re going to have to map out specific ways in which your innate gifts would contribute to success in the job at hand and then convince the employer you truly have these gifts, compared to all the other candidates they’ve met paying lip service to the exact same words.  When you see this done, it’s an amazing thing, but it’s a rare occurrence!  To help with this step, I’m going to be writing a follow-up post shortly that discusses some tips, tricks, and methods you can use to gain more credibility in this area, so stay tuned…
7)  Give your new boss a gift; tell them exactly how to get the best out of you! You’re know you’re going to work again, right?  I mean, despite the conditions out there, you realize it’s a near-impossibility that you’re destined for permanent unemployment?  Given this fact, let’s fast-forward to the first exciting week of your new job.  Assuming your new manager appears to have at least one iota of self-awareness, you might consider entrusting them with a printed copy of your top five StrengthsFinder themes, as well as the pages from the second half of the NDYS book that talk about “how to manage” somebody with your particular orientation.  Tell them that since you’re just getting to know one another, you wanted to give them a cheat sheet about your work style so that you can avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and so they know all the right levers to pull to get the best out of you.  Honestly, if my last boss had kept a copy of my “how to manage this person” results taped to their desk, they could have manipulated me like Pinocchio all day long — to the positive benefit of all concerned!
So for what it’s worth, these are just a few pragmatic ways in which I feel the StrengthsFinder results can be applied for fun and profit as part of your job search adventure.  What other ideas come to mind?  What other applications have you tried, yourselves?  How else can one transport the results from such assessments (StrengthsFinder or otherwise) out of the realm of “academic curiosity” and into the world of “Wow, those test results played a critical role in helping me select a perfect career path — or land my next job”?