New Year's Resolutions

Do you set New Year’s Resolutions? I haven't for the longest time but this year I have.  I set only one, "In 2014 I resolve to step away from my computer." 

I spend way too much time on my laptop, I-phone and I-pad than I should. Even though I work from home and need them for work-related projects and general client communication, I also use them to communicate with the various social media channels. Personal communication whether it is face to face or the telephone is human interaction and should remain that way.  The statistic that says, 70% - 85% of jobs are found through networking refer to the human component of networking and not from the computer.

So who wants to join me by spending a few less hours in front of a screen and more time in front of a living person? 

Here are some resolutions:

1. Resolve to call at least one person a day and let them know of your job search.

2. Resolve to exercise at least 30 minutes a day rather than use Facebook during that time.

3. Resolve to make plans to spend time with family or friends rather than texting or Tweeting them.

4. Resolve to make something that you see on Pinterest and share it with a real person rather that just pinning your interests to various Boards.

5. Resolve to volunteer.  Volunteering gets you out of the house, develops a new skill set or keeps your skills current, allows you to meet new people and helps you network. It also helps someone of something else.

Happy New Year everyone!

Volunteering, Networking, Giving Back

As I've recently posted, my town of Sea Bright NJ was destroyed by Super Storm Sandy.  One hundred percent of the businesses were severely damaged and over 85% of the homes were structurally shattered. My home was one of the 85% so life as I knew it pre-Sandy has not been the same and I apologize for taking a blogging break.  Even though our home in Sea Bright is a second home, it is the place that we intend to retire. Our family spends days, weeks and months in Sea Bright and we have fallen in love with the people and way of life.  I grew up about five miles down the road from the town so I have known Sea Bright and her people for my whole life.

I have managed to continue with my job search training sessions and resume writing clients.  To this I have added volunteering for Sea Bright and of course, the huge clean-out of the house and rebuilding.

One of my hobbies is decorative painting; specifically the One Stroke method of painting.  Over the years I have painted for a few craft shows or painted items for my family and friends. After taking a break from it when I launched Blackbird Learning Associates, I returned to it this past summer when I found that the shells, driftwood and slate from the beach made unique painting surfaces.   

After Sandy I wondered what I could do to help my town. Then I saw this sign in a Facebook post and decided to paint my way into fundraising.

In the past month I have hand-painted over 100 Christmas ornaments to benefit a grass-roots organization called Sea Bright Rising. The mission of the group is to provide funding and support for the needy and/or displaced and the general recovery of the businesses and residents of Sea Bright.  The ornaments are filled with local sand, shells and sea glass and I am donating 100% of the proceeds.  So far my friends have donated over$1100 to the relief efforts and I intend to paint and fill as many as I can in time for a planned fund-raising event scheduled for December 15^th.

So that is where I have been.  All along I have witnessed and been a part of unbelievable networking opportunities.  (To bring it back to the job search).  I have also seen a number of people who have picked up temporary work related to Sandy and who have networked for full-time work.

I will be back in 2013 with more job search articles and guest bloggers.  In the meantime, it’s back to ornament painting for me.

Be well!

Drowning My Memories

I threw away a lot of memories today. Hurricane Sandy drowned them in filthy water and putrid sand and mud. It hurt when I tossed the guest books from the funeral homes that took care of my grandparents and parents.  Inside one of them was a letter that I wrote to my dad toward the end of his life.  My handwriting is still visible on the slippery paper but I'm afraid that if I move the paper the words will slide off.  In this same soggy mess I found a perfect dollar bill where my dad had written, “I Love You” to my mom. It made me cry.

I had to toss my parent’s record albums.  When we cleaned out their home four years ago we saved the Frank Sinatra Christmas album, a couple of German marching songs along with the other records that reminded us of our childhood.  Today I stuffed them in a black contractor bag because they were covered with mold spores. I had a quick thought that I might save them if I threw them in the sink with some dish soap but no, I’d just be wasting my time and I had to keep moving.

Most of the things that Sandy stole were pieces of my childhood.  Of course I have my memories but as I get older, the memories will begin to fade and I might need something to touch, read or gaze at. I dumped a bunch of old pictures too.  They were of relatives from a century ago.  Sandy washed their names away so I tossed them in the black bags too; so long strangers.

I wound up keeping a couple of sweaters that belonged to my dad and mom along with a bag of my mom- mom’s linens.  I also picked up a sampler that my mom worked on in elementary school. I can’t get all of the mold spots out of it but at least I saved it.

As I pitched the pieces of my childhood I had a thought.  Perhaps my parents had Sandy destroy all that stuff because they wanted me to get rid of it and to save some of my own memories. Maybe, but when that happens I’ll be sure to place them on the highest shelf.

Has Your Job or Business Been Impacted by Hurricane Sandy?

While waiting in line to get into Sea Bright the other day, I heard a woman say that she was fired from her job because she couldn't get to work due to Hurricane Sandy. That's not right but is it legal? Unfortunately, we'll be hearing more and more stories like this.

This is an email from my friend, Mary Ellen Clark, Assistant Commissioner of Labor, Workforce Development at New Jersey. The links will take you to the information you will need as a business owner or individual job seeker and have been affected by the hurricane.

There are two worksheets posted on www.jobs4jersey.com with information for both employers and individuals in NJ who have been impacted due to Sandy. NJ was awarded a National Emergency grant and working with local municipalities for them to hire to do clean up and humanitarian work. Almost all of our One-Stop Career Centers are open as of today (exceptions being Eatontown and New Brunswick who may still be without power), people can go there to get help and internet access. We have a SandyHelp hotline and email set up to answer inquiries and help direct people to assistance – info on the fast fact sheets. As we get set up for the emergency grant and temporary work, we will be using our 23 Jersey Job Clubs as places for information about temporary and volunteer work – the calendars for workshops are up on the www.jobs4jersey.com website."

Sandy

Hurricane Sandy swept up the east coast like the Wicked Witch of the West; just in time to ruin Halloween and spit out buildings and property like so many broken teeth. As I sit here without power for going on ten days, I think about S-A-N-D-Y and her wrath.

Mud and silt on the windowsill along with a stereo speaker.

S- Social Media: I relied on my smart phone to get through our first few days without electricity. Until we got a stronger generator three days after the storm, we’d charge our phones in the car and then log on to Facebook to learn of the destruction, curfews, and to see the photographs and videos the decimated towns.

Waters pushed the bed and furniture across the room.

A- Angst: Unless you are in this area, you cannot fathom the destruction. Sandy was our Katrina. She has killed 41 people in NY City alone and caused billions of dollars of destruction. She has pounded the citizens of NY and NJ and thousands are still in the dark.  Help is needed and some people won't leave their dark,cold homes for fear of looting.

Beach club cabanas swept across the street and landed in a boat yard.

N-Normalcy and Nastiness: Putting aside gas rationing and grocery store madness, things are starting to return to normal. At first, tempers spilled over and blood pressures were on the rise but that gave way to compassion, normalcy, humor and caring.  It will take a while but NJ has proven to the world that we are "Jersey Strong", and not at all like the "Jersey Shore".

Major road buried under 6 feet of sand.

D- Destruction: Sandy was a killer and she battered buildings and fences and beaches and roads like a prize-fighter.

Sandy tossed the living room furniture after lifting it up four feet.

Y – Why: Sandy has passed and the clean-up has started.  If you are in the area, why not volunteer at one of the many organizations that are begging for help collecting or sorting clothing, driving patients to doctor appointments, feeding the homeless or assisting someone clean up the destruction.

The day after the hurricane. Beauty and serenity.

Eight Common Sense Interview Mistakes

What can kill a great interview? Here are a few things that you can do to destroy your chances of getting hired.

1. Failing to be prepared with specific examples of your skill set including your measurable accomplishments. These should be related to the job requirements that are stated in the open position.

2. Neglecting to research the company and prepare questions related to both the company and the open position. The following questions are helpful:
 a. What are the short and long term goals of the company?
 b. What is the vision of the department?
 c. What is the company environment like?
 d. What concerns need to be addressed immediately?
 e. What do you see happening with this position for the next 3 to 6 months?
 f. What are the particular attributes needed to succeed in this job?
 g. What are the challenges a person coming to this job will face?

3.  Leaving your common sense at home by:
      a. Wearing to much cologne or hairspray
      b. Chewing gum
      c. Forgetting to turn off your cell phone (not on vibrate).
      d. Arriving late or too early.
      e. Using words such as “like” or ending your responses in, “you know”.
      f. Avoiding eye contact.
      g. Extending a weak hand shake.
      h. Dressing inappropriately.

4. Bad mouthing your former company, manager or co-workers.

5. Bringing up discussion around salary or benefits without being prompted.

6. Talking too much.

7. Appearing arrogant or acting as if you know more than the interviewer.

8. Acting disinterested.

What do you think is the #1 interview killer? Answering the phone during an interview will most likely not get you hired.

Celebrity Noise - Use Your Own Head: Warning Language Alert

What is wrong with the people in our country? Why can’t they think for themselves? Why do people in the media bully people whose ideas don’t align with theirs?

I read an article about the recent re-tweet made by Eva Longoria concerning anyone (especially women and minorities) who supports presidential candidate Mitt Romney.  It said, “@evalongoria I have no idea why any woman/minority can vote for Romney. You have to be stupid to vote for such a racist/misogynistic twat”. Misogynistic is defined as having a hatred of women. She didn’t mean “twit” either. For those who don’t know, Longoria is co-chair of the Obama campaign.  About the vice presidential debate she re-tweeted, “Biden is making Paul Ryan his prison bitch! #vpdebate.”  Really?

During the second presidential debate the other night I couldn’t help but respond to Bill Maher who tweeted, “If Romney gave some of these answers in primary debates, crowd wld have devoured him; nothing but a clump of magic undies and black hair dye”.  I called him a bully. What do Mormon garments have to do with the election? If Gov. Romney was Jewish and Maher mentioned his magic yarmulke would anyone be offended?

The world has always been full of star-struck people and now with Twitter and Facebook, they can follow along with the rants and raves of their favorite celebrities.  It’s almost as if they feel that by reading and commenting to tweets, they are “friends” with those people.  Hello! Eva Longoria is not your friend! On the other hand, many celebrities use their status to endorse their favorite candidate. That’s fine; freedom of speech and all that.  What is wrong is that many non-celebrities (you know, the people like you and me) think that these celebrities must know something and follow their every word blindly. The celebrities know this and use it; it must be the ultimate rush for them!

Use your head before you vote and don't rely on what Bruce Springsteen, Kid Rock or any other celebrity says. Do your own research.  Look at the job numbers, look at the economy and deficit. Study the facts about the outlook for creating jobs in this country and for Heaven's sake, don't vote one way because you're favorite celebrity said so!

Manufacturing and Jobs in the Garden State

There’s been a lot of talk about manufacturing jobs lately and boosting that dwindling industry has also been a talking point of both presidential candidates. According to the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, “New Jersey manufacturers employ nearly 338,200 people, plus 136,700 workers are employed by companies that supply and support manufacturers, nearly 13% of New Jersey’s private sector workforce.”

Last December I gave outplacement training to a manufacturing plant that was leaving the state after 57 years. Manufacturing is one of those industries that have become obsolete. A statistic from the Occupational Outlook handbook says that between now and 2018, manufacturing positions will decline 13%. It also states that as workers adapt to team-oriented production methods, those who can operate multiple machines will have the best opportunities for advancement and for gaining jobs with more long-term potential. In other words - the odds aren’t very good unless you sharpen your skill set. Gone are the days when someone with a limited education or a specialized skill can make a decent living running a machine or making a part. Should someone in the manufacturing area leave the field for something else? Are there any reskilling trainings available? Here is what I suggest someone in the manufacturing field do:

1. Set up a game plan with goals and dates.
2. Assess your career values, motives, skills and transferable job skills.
3. Take advantage of any free career assessments offered. There are many online assessments available.
4. Find and use grants or low cost training/retaining.
5. Network with one another and with other networking groups (such as the Jersey Jobs Clubs via the Unemployment Office). You can also network with the manufacturing groups on LinkedIn.

There are a number of workforce training grants available that provide skilled training, education and a wide range of support to workers and employers. This summer New Jersey’s pilot “Fabricated Metal Product Training” program graduated ten students from a 12-week course preparing them for work in NJ’s metal product manufacturing industry. Of the ten, all received offers for employment.  For information on the program, please visit the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development or talk to your local unemployment office.
There are a number of websites for manufacturing jobs.  Some good ones are Manufacturing Jobs USA http://www.manufacturingjobs.com/home/home.cfm?site_id=105 and ManufacturingJobs.Org: http://manufacturingjobs.org/ and Jobs4Jersey.
For additional information about manufacturing in New Jersey, please visit New Jersey Next Stop.

Jobs and Politics

A friend of mine posted an article on Facebook that explained how the Eastman Kodak Company has asked a bankruptcy court judge to allow it to end retiree medical benefits at the end of the year as part of its plan to restructure. I agreed with her that it is appalling that a company can do such a thing to the loyal staff.  I also mentioned that a public company can eliminate positions “at will" and that the number of people over the age of 50 whose positions are cut is enormous!  It’s especially nasty when the cut comes at a time when people are beginning to think about retirement.  It is very difficult for someone who is that age to find a comparable position with a comparable salary. She then asked my opinion about the Presidential race and how as a business executive, the "challenger" eliminated or outsourced positions and didn't really give a hoot about the repercussions.

This is my response:

 I am not a big political debater but here goes. As a job search instructor and resume writer I am constantly in the trenches with the unemployed and the underemployed and what I have seen these past 4 year is heartbreaking. I have seen people looking to take in boarders just to keep their homes, people dumbing down their resumes just to get an entry level job, people taking crappy jobs that pay minimum wage just to eat. I have seen and heard a killer story with every resume that I have written. I have a very hard time charging people to write their resumes because I know that they can’t afford it. I can’t tell you how many times I have given away my services for free.

I have also seen a ton of people who would rather live off unemployment than take a job making way less than what they were used to making. I don’t blame them - years ago that would bother me but now it doesn’t. It kills me to see the vacant buildings and closed up shops up and down the roads I travel. So, in answer to your question, it is absolutely awful now (and I coming from the private sector where nothing was ever guaranteed and a company can replace anyone without blinking an eye). As a small business owner, I would rather see a successful business person step in just this once. I am not a political animal but I am living it every day and when our current President makes speeches about accepting a mediocre existence, I have to disagree with him. 

What’s your take on the state of the economy and the employment situation?

A Few Words on Networking

The other night I gave a class on career assessment; I thought I’d tell you some of the things that I shared with the class participants on figuring out what you want to do. I realize that today, many people can’t be choosy and for now will take whatever job comes along just to pay the bills. I also know that there are others who are unhappy with their current careers and yearn for something more. So what do you do?
1. Take a few career assessments. Don’t just take one and think that the results are carved in stone. Take a few and then decide if they make sense. I have several free assessments on my website, Blackbird Learning Associates.

2. Weed out the career options that make absolutely no sense. If you are 62 years old and the assessment suggests you pursue a medical degree, think about what that will mean in terms of money, time and career opportunities. Ask yourself if there are other ways that you can seek out career opportunities in this area but in a different role.

3. Get feedback. Discuss career options with friends, family members and perhaps former co-workers. Is it something that they can see you doing and enjoying?

4. Visit a professional group or LinkedIn group and get some feedback on the role. Ask questions. Network.

5. Consider money, training, time and family considerations and make your decision. There are a number of other steps including assessing your skills, interests and values.

If you see a pattern in your skill set strengths and interests, perhaps it might be worth your while to consider investigating a certain career direction.

My Memory of September 11, 2001

Eleven years ago I was in Monmouth Medical Center in NJ looking out of my mother’s hospital room window at the sparkling ocean to the east and the billows of smoke to the north. There was a boat not far from the shore line and I remember wondering if the driver realized that the world we knew a mere thirty minutes ago would never,ever return.

My mother was just given her own death sentence. The day before she had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in her colon and was told she had 6 to 18 months to live. We were devastated as we watched the events of 9-11 unfold from her small hospital room television. As the towers imploded she said, “What I am going through is nothing compared to what is going on across the river.” The television quickly turned to the Pentagon and we watched the flames and horror in Washington D.C. Then, like so many others, we heard about the battle in the air over Shanksville, PA.

The hospital was cleared of all non-critical patients to make room for the victims of the terror attack. We were told that they would be arriving by ferry and then by ambulance. We bundled up my Mom and drove her home, all the while listening for the ambulances that would never arrive.

May God bless all the courageous souls that were lost that day and may God continue to bless our great country. May the Freedom Tower rise up to display to the world the continued strength, tenacity and resilience of the American people.

Unemployment Numbers for the Young Adult

Like anyone, the unemployment numbers worry me. I realize the financial complications that high numbers bring but I look at them as a job search instructor, coach and resume writer. I look at them with an eye towards the growing number of unemployed and underemployed citizens. No matter how great a resume or how prepared for the interviews, if there are no jobs, well, it just won’t matter.

Yesterday we took our son back to college to begin his sophomore year. This summer he heard me talk about the rising unemployment numbers for young people. We also spoke of about the college majors that don't have a very high rate of employment (psychology and communication). Today I wanted to take a look at the hard numbers for young adults. Here they are.

On August 21, 2012, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that from April to July 2012, the number of employed youth 16 to 24 years old rose 2.1 million to 19.5 million. This age represents teens through young adults in high school, college and the recent graduates.

The number of unemployed youth in July 2012 was 4.0 million, little changed from 4.1 million a year ago. While the national unemployment rate for July, 2012 was 8.3%, the youth unemployment rate was 17.1%. In July, 2012, the breakdown for youth was:
• The unemployment rate for men was 17.9 percent
• The unemployment rate for women was 16.2 percent
• The jobless rate for whites was 14.9 percent
• The jobless rates for blacks was 28.6%
• The jobless rate for Asians was 14.4%
• The jobless rate for Hispanics was 18.5%
• The national unemployment rate is 8.3%

As a mother I worry about my son finding work when he is finished with college in three more years. As a citizen I worry about people feeling as if they just need to find a job to pay the bills. I worry that the excitement of designing a career path may be a thing of the future. Does it worry you, too?

Back to Work Bootcamp

I am pleased to announce a collaboration between Carol Camerino of Looking for the On Ramp and me. We are presenting an exciting back to work bootcamp at the Rutgers Club, New Brunswick, NJ on October 4, 2012.
Please take a look at our extraordinary event and pass this note along to anyone that you may know in NJ who is unhappy with their job search. They will not be disappointed!

Sources of Work and Fun, Too!

I was about to go to the Events section of a NJ Patch newspaper to write about a 5K race coming up in September. I’m on the Board for the not for profit hosting the event and I volunteered to list it in the Patch. As I was entering all of the pertinent information I realized that this race is a job search opportunity disguised as fun. How’s that?

1. Common Passion: All of the major players in the 5K race have one thing in common; they are runners. Since they know many of the same people, are familiar with the local or tri-state races and the sites that promote the races, they share a special connection.

2. Networking Event: After the race as you and the other runners are enjoying the park and refreshments the talk may turn to the lousy unemployment rate. You don’t need to go into the details but you can bring up your job search.

3. Coordinated by Volunteers: A not for profit is holding this event and all ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giff the Board members are volunteers. Volunteering is a perfect way to sharpen your existing skills, learn new skills and again, network. Everyone has contacts.

If you have a passion for running, want to network and perhaps look for volunteer opportunities, come join Family & Community Services of Somerset County on September 15, 2015 at Duke Island Park in Bridgewater, NJ for the first annual 5K Run/Walk and Kid Sprint. Registration is at Compuscore.com.

Customizing Your Public LinkedIn Profile URL

Nothing says "rookie" more than a LinkedIn Profile that doesn't have a customized LinkedIn URL. How do you change your URL? Like this:

1. Go to your name on the LinkedIn Home or Profile page and click it. Your name is towards the top of the page and on the right side.

2. A drop down menu will show several options including Settings. Click this (Settings).

3. You'll probably be asked to enter your LinkedIn password.

4. At this page, look for "Edit Your Public Profile" in the "Helpful Links" section. Click this.

5. Your LinkedIn profile will display and to the right of it you will see a series of suggestions to customize your profile. Down towards the bottom of these suggestions it will say "Your Public Profile" and show you what it looks like to the public. Like this:
• Your current profile http://.........

6. It will say, "Customize your public profile URL . View your public profile." Click this and customize your profile with your name according to the stated directions.

That's all there is to getting a polished LinkedIn URL. Next time you "Google" yourself, you will see your professional, customized LinkedIn profile.

So, What Have You Been Doing These Past Few Years?

The other day a client called me and asked for some help with a job search issue. This particular man has been out of work for over two years and while he is getting calls for interviews, he can’t get past the “What have you been doing with yourself for these past two years?” question. Could you answer that question?

I read an article in Women’s World magazine recently that said hiring managers are more understanding of employment gaps these days but would prefer to see a job seeker fill the gap with an activity such as:
Finding a temporary job (79%)
Taking a class (61%)
Volunteering (60%)
Starting a Business (28%)

There is another statistic that states that the average job seeker in NJ spends only 70 minutes a day looking for work. If that’s true, what’s stopping them from filling the gap with one or more of those activities?

The benefits of temp work, starting a business or volunteering are off the charts. You are maintaining or developing new skills, getting out of the house and back into a routine and most importantly, you are networking. Taking a class speaks for itself and again, you are networking with the instructor and other class members. All in all, should you be asked what you’ve been doing while you were unemployed, you can speak confidently of your activities and increase your chances of being heard.

Beach Safety

This isn't a job search post today - it's a public service notice.

I grew up a block from the beach in New Jersey. It was a wonderful place to grow up but we learned early to respect the ocean and the beach. Our moms went to the beach with us as we were growing up and even though the parent's "hung out" together, they all watched out for all of us.

Lately there have been a run of beach tragedies. There have been several drownings and this week there was also a suffocation from the sand collapsing on a young boy as he was digging a tunnel. The drownings all occurred after the lifeguards left for the day and most of the kids were from out of town. The suffocation happened to a local boy who dug a tunnel behind the life guard stand.

My dad taught us about spotting a rip tide and what to do if we ever got caught in one. He also told us that we must never, ever swim on an unattended beach. I've carried that message with me to this day and have drilled it into the heads of my kids. If you want to learn more about rip tides and how to handle them, please watch the 60 second video on this page.

Years ago I read of a college fraternity initiation where they buried the boys in the sand on Hell Night. One of the boys died when the sand collapsed and trapped him. That horrific story taught that while it's fine to dig small holes and tunnels at the beach, never make them deep or crawl into them and always fill them in once you or the kids have finished playing.

If you are a parent, you are responsible for your children; the lifeguards aren't baby sitters.

There is nothing better than going to the beach on a hot summer day and a little common sense and knowledge can save a life.

Times Continue to be Tough for the Older Applicant

Every day I hear of another older job seeker feeling as if he or she has been pushed aside for a much younger applicant. It’s a common occurrence and because of the times, it’s happening everywhere. We all know why but is there anything that we can do to change the perception that many companies have about job seekers? I don’t think that we can change a perception but perhaps once we start talking, we can start turning things around.

Businesses are interested in money. Everything revolves around “youth” including profit, salaries, tenacity, branding/marketing and company face. We live in a youth-focused world and frankly, anyone over the age of 40 is viewed as out of touch. What can older job seekers do to possibly be considered for an opportunity? Well, unfortunately, one thing we have to do is lower our expectations.

1. Many businesses may not consider you because they are afraid that once they have invested in you, you will leave for something better. Will you? Can you articulate why you will stay?
2. Expect a lower salary. Younger applicants are cheaper. Do you want a position badly enough to accept the salary that comes with it?
3. Technology is changing as quickly as ever. Identify your strengths and your skill gaps. Learn something new. Look for opportunities for free or low cost training.
4. Don’t expect that your experience speaks for itself because if you do you are going to bruise your ego.
5. Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you need to refresh your appearance. Get a new interviewing outfit (even if you have to borrow it) and make sure your hair/makeup is current. Haircuts are pricy but the local vocational schools or community college students offer very good rates.

These steps won’t guarantee you a job. They can however allow you to feel a little bit better about yourself and know that you are doing something to keep up with these very turbulent times.

Job Search Statistics

This week I learned an astonishing fact about the amount of time NJ job seekers spend on their personal job search activities. As a whole, people in NJ spend 70 minutes a day looking for work. I’m sure that 70 minutes is time spent doing what may feel like productive activities such as applying for positions on line or applying directly to a company website. I’m also thinking that once this is done, the person feels a sense of accomplishment. But really, 70 minutes? What happens during the rest of the day? The study goes on to say that job seekers spend a larger amount of time eating and watching television. What can a job seeker, especially a long-term job seeker do to be more productive?

I read an article in Women’s World magazine recently that stated that while hiring managers are more understanding of employment gaps, they would prefer to see the job seeker fill the gap with other activities including:

Temporary Jobs (79%)
Taking a class (61%)
Volunteering (60%)
Starting a Business (28%)

I know that it is comfortable to look for work using the internet. It’s not really as effective as networking though. According to the 10th Annual Sources of Hire (SOH) Study conducted by CareerXRoads:

Nearly 65% of all openings are filled through internal movement and referrals.
Job boards are not dead. Collectively, companies attribute 24.9% of external hires to job boards.
Social media’s impact is growing

So what do all of these statistics mean in to the daily 70 minutes that the average job seeker in NJ spends on his or her job search? I’m not a statistician but I’d say that getting out of the house volunteering, taking a temporary job and networking will up your odds of finding a job.

What Happens During an Interview

I've been doing a lot of interviewing coaching and training lately so this is so timely. These pictorials are excellent! Click the picture to make it larger. If that doesn't help. here is the link to the site where I found it (Career Geek).

The credits are listed on the bottom of the poster.

Chase Grant

I entered the CHASE Mission Small Business contest so that I can offer free job search training to NJ’s many unemployed and underemployed.

If I get 250 votes by June 25th, I will be in the running for the contest. Please follow the below instructions to vote for Blackbird Learning Associates by:

1) Go to: www.missionsmallbusiness.com
2) Go to "Log in with Facebook to support your community." (The link is in the middle of the page on the right side.)
3) Enter Business Name: Blackbird Learning Associates, to vote.

Thank you.

Reinvention at Amore Journey

In his book The 11th Hour, James Patterson writes, “These days, no one left work early. Everyone wanted to be sure of a chair if the music stopped." That's a perfect statement about the way things are these days.

Many times when we lose our "chairs", we regroup and consider our options. One woman who has done that so well is Claudia Drummond, owner of Amore Journey (amorejourney) whose purpose is "celebrating reinvention and rejuvenation every day".

Claudia recently featured me in her blog. Please take a look at my story and those of the other women who are reinventing and rejuvenating. The stories are pretty amazing.

Blackbird Learning Associates: Who We Are and What We Do

Nancy Range Anderson is the President and CEO of Blackbird Learning Associates, LLC a learning and development consulting company located in Somerset County, NJ. Ms. Anderson primarily presents job search training and coaching to individuals and organizations throughout New Jersey. Her courses include, Career Assessment, Writing a Winning Resume and Cover Letter, Interviewing for Success, Networking to Get Hired, Job Search for the Age 40+ Job Seeker, Job Search for Moms, Job Search for Teens, and Identifying Your Purposeful Career. All classes are interactive, lively and participative and each participant leaves with a defined action plan of the steps needed to accomplish his or her job search mission. Nancy is also a highly sought after resume writer. Her clients have said:

“I am really inspired by your focus and support of others.”

“Thank you, Nancy, for an insightful seminar. Your coming out to volunteer and assist the unemployed is probably one that struck me as the most meaningful of all matters discussed in the 2-hour long seminar. None of the many how-to and self-help books on job search would have communicated it any better. ”

“Nancy, your workshop last night was extremely worthwhile. I appreciate your sharing of knowledge, your down-to-earth delivery, your generosity and this wonderful follow-up email.”

“I am now a Nancy Anderson groupie!”

“The resume is a piece of art!!! I went from a stick figure drawing resume to artwork from Picasso!”

“Thank you Nancy. If it weren’t for you practicing the STAR questions with me, I don’t think I would have gotten that job.”

With over twenty five years of experience in learning and development, human resources, and organization development, Ms. Anderson conveys a well rounded view of the pharmaceutical, consumer and financial organizations in all of her training initiatives. Her professional experience includes employment with a number of Fortune 500 companies including Johnson & Johnson, The Bank of NY, The CIT Group and The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. Ms. Anderson has won numerous awards in training design and facilitation skills and is the author of the book, Job Search for Moms. She is writing a second book and expects a fall, 2012 release.

Telephone: 732 309-2795

Website: http://blackbirdlearningassociates.com/

Blog: http://blackbirdlearningassociates.blogspot.com/

How Can the Employed Help the Unemployed?

As you know our nation's employment numbers are in the dumps. Today’s job report again shows no improvement and this not only adds to the discouragement of the long termed unemployed but it is also causing the stock market to tumble. For the 40th consecutive month the unemployment number has been at 8+%. This is the longest streak since 1948.

Of course American business needs to step up to the plate but is there anything that you as an individual can do? Yes, there is. If you hear of an opening in your company or place of business, please pass it along to one of your unemployed friends. If you’re comfortable with it, let them know that they can use your name too. It’s as simple as that.

More than 85% of jobs are found through networking and as every job seeker knows, it’s awkward to ask for help; especially for the older job seeker. They were brought up to figure things out on their own. All the unemployed folks that I’ve trained or coached know that it’s not always WHAT you know but WHO you know. They’re trying; they just need some help.

Siri iPhone and the Job Search

I've been thinking about those iPhone television commercials. You know the ones; the human asks Siri, the iPhone voice for directions or to cancel a meeting. It gets kind of weird when the teenager asked Siri to call him 'Rock God" and then downright creepy when the pompous man in his spacious living room asks Siri to tell him a joke. He then laughs delightedly at her, er... its response. Can it get any lonelier?

An on-line Apple advertisement describes the application as, “Siri on iPhone 4S lets you use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more. Ask Siri to do things just by talking the way you talk. Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean, and even talks back.”

I can understand wanting scheduling and directions help but what about the other Seri requests? What happened to human interaction? Why not call a friend for a joke? Why not let your family tell you that you have value and are loveable? It’s almost as if we as a people are moving away from “real” human interaction because talking with a computer is easier, faster and you get to hear what you want to hear. To me, that’s scary.

This whole Siri thing makes me think of the job search. Step away from your computer once in a while and network with real people with real voices. Join a networking group, volunteer or talk with your neighbors. It may be a software program that will scan your resume for keywords but it will be a real person who will interview and hire you. Perhaps Siri can schedule your interview appointment and give you directions to get there but the rest should be all you and your ability to communicate with a human being.

On Starting Over- Earning My Wings

I am reprinting my stories or reinvention. Back in 2010 I wrote about the history of my company. It's a story of comfortably working for many years in the pharmaceutical industry to losing my job to owning Blackbird Learning Associates.

I am looking for more stories of employment transformation. Have you gone from the employed to the unemployed back to the employed? Are you somewhere in the middle? Everyone has a story, what's yours? I'd like to share your story on The Flap. Also, are there any job search tips that you can share?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Nancy
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Blackbird Fly January 22, 2010.

There is always someone in each job search class that asks about the unusual name of my company, Blackbird Learning Associates. "Where did you get that name?", or "Why did you name your company after a bird?" are the questions I often get.

I tell them the story and it goes like this...http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
When I lost my job of 21 years I was naturally very distressed, hurt and sad. As I drove home after packing up my boxes I asked my parent's (who are no longer here) to help me rediscover my direction. The radio was on in my car. As I spoke that thought out loud, the radio played the Beatles song, “Blackbird.” Now I have hummed along to that song for years but never really paid it much attention. That day, though, I listened."Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you have only waited for this moment to arise" are the words I held onto that day. It was then that I knew that if I ever opened a business, the word "Blackbird" would figure into it somehow.

Recently I decided that I shouldn't be so selfish and that I should share the Blackbird story with others. You see, I am not the only one who should spread my wings and fly. You have remarkable skills, you are resourceful and your talents are abundant. You too have only waited for this moment to arise. Go for it, soar, and know that you are a treasure. Someone will scoop you up.

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On Being Let Go October 7, 2010

I’ve been reading some very discouraging stories on the internet including LinkedIn about the unemployment situation. So many people are expressing how they are faring, how they felt after losing their jobs and also about some of the very unsavory steps some companies take when releasing their employees. It got me thinking about my own job loss and the things people should plan to do if that bleak news is on the horizon. I thought I would share some thoughts with you.

As a former HR and Learning & Development professional with over 21 years of service with the company, my position was eliminated. I was brought to a room, asked what I did and once I responded, was told that my department would no longer offer that service. That was it. Like many of you, when I learned this news, I was shocked, humiliated, angry and very emotional. Our HR Director (who is a really great guy) went over the paperwork then and there but all I heard was "blah, blah, blah". I had to call him afterwards to verify what he said.

Because I worked for a large, recognized company that values its employees, I was able to make use of an in-house Outplacement Center. I was offered training, an office, a telephone extension and other amenities. I took advantage of these services and would urge that anyone do so (if their company offers this service - not all do). I was also lucky enough to save all of my non-confidential documents, programs and thank you emails. The toughest part was going back a week later, turning over my projects and packing up.

Flash forward two years later and now I teach the things that I learned in the outplacement training. I can empathize with what’s going on and offer these pieces of advice should you need them.

Graduation Day

For the past two days we have been proudly attending the graduation ceremonies of our daughter. She has spent the past two years going to Columbia Teachers College at night. She’d work hard at being a teacher during the day then pack it in to drive down to Amsterdam and Broadway where she’d spent several hours a night learning how to be the very best reading specialist that there will ever be. She’d give 100% to the children in her classroom and 100% to her Master’s program. A few things had to give such as a social life and sleep, yet she did it and with all A’s.

At the graduation ceremonies the University President spoke of the lack of jobs for these very qualified and eager students. Our daughter is lucky because she is set employment-wise. Thousands of the other undergraduate and graduate students won’t be so lucky. Unfortunately this scene is playing out all over the country.

How can a recent graduate stand out and get noticed? Here are a few steps that may help.
1. Network: While it is critical to have a social presence through LinkedIn it is also equally important to make physical contact with people. Take advantage of your parent’s of help. They may know many contacts who can help you even if it is for informational interviews. If you were involved in a fraternity or sorority, make use of those contacts and their acquaintances. Your other friends have networking contacts as well. Make sure to return the favor with your own contacts. Don’t be afraid to let your professors or other administrators know about your job search progress as well.
As I watched my daughter interact with her professors over these past few days, I noticed a special bond between them. They let me know that she was eager, participated in the classroom discussions, she was also approachable and likable. I know that if she were looking for employment, these professors would pull whatever strings that they had to get her seen by prospective employers. Think about those types of professors or school contacts that you have made and reach out to them. (If you haven’t yet graduated, now is the time to make those meaningful, sincere connections).

2. Volunteer: Yours is the generation known for helping others. Get out there and give back and in doing so, make connections.

3. Clean up your resume: Make sure that your resume is ready when your networking contacts ask for it.

4. Make up some business cards: Find a source for reasonable yet professional cards and create a batch to have on hand.

5. Join a Young Professional Group: Many United Way organizations have a branch featuring activities and opportunities for the newly graduated. As the group says, “Getting involved in the community is a great way to build your resume, learn new skills and create important relationships, both on a business and social level.”

These five steps all lead to the same thing, networking. Funny how that works. If you just graduated, congratulations and good luck following your dream!

PSG to be Rebranded

With so many of NJ’s unemployed up in arms about a recent announcement concerning the restructuring of the PSG (Professional Service Group), I’d like to address the rumors. PSG is not being disbanding; it’s coming back with a new name and will be bigger and better than ever!

PSG is being rebranded and will be rolled out in July, 2012 as Jersey Job Clubs. The goal of the transformation is to have Jersey Job Club coverage in every local area - county and major cities throughout the state, and also to begin six statewide sector-based Jersey Job Clubs. This is exciting news!

The former PSG group serviced less than 1% of the over 400,000 unemployed people in NJ. In addition, the people serviced were located in mostly suburban areas and not the cities where unemployment rates are the highest. Many people who would have liked to attend the meetings, trainings and networking events were put off by the word, “Professional” in the title; they felt the group was for managerial level professionals or those with advanced degrees.

Over the next two months, members of the Bureau of Labor and Workforce Development will be conducting a series of focus groups with former PSG members, facilitators and jobseekers to understand the needs of jobseekers and to compile a list of best practices. The Jersey Job Clubs will also incorporate many exciting tools including jobs4jersey.com resources and resume registration, effective job search techniques, interview preparation, labor market information and speakers who will provide consistent information around the state.

I look forward to the rollout of the Jersey Job Clubs and hope that you will join me in welcoming the change.

Goal Setting and Your Job Search

Today I am starting a journey of personal transformation. While I look forward to what is ahead of me, I worry about the adjustments that I’ll have to make. One of the things I did to kick-start my plan was to set goals. I plan on reviewing them every morning and then again at night. You can do the same thing for a job search. Here are a few tips on how to do that.

In my book, Job Search for Moms, I talk about goal setting as a fundamental part of any business planning process and as such, should also be a vital first step of your job search plan. Setting goals allows you to visualize your future, clarify your steps, and focus on dates. It is the cornerstone of the job search planning process in that it allows you to focus on necessary steps while weeding out any needless distractions. It’s also highly motivating and a useful way to measure your time and progress.

Within the context of the job search, your goals should be written in specific terms, they should have precise time frames, and they should be measurable. A specific goal tells you exactly what you want to accomplish. It’s helpful to break each broad goal statement into manageable smaller statements. This step not only keeps you on track, but allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment when it's achieved. A time oriented goal statement should include specific target dates and the approximate time you will need to complete each of the steps. It should include concrete criteria or action steps that will allow you to measure your progress.

Setting goals in the planning process of your job search allows you to focus and move in the right direction. It also gives you a sense of purpose or accomplishment to check off each action item as you move forward. Here are a couple of sample goal statements that may help you take the necessary steps in one phase of your job search; writing your resume.
Resume Development Checklist

Prepare final version of resume by August 12, 20__.

Identify specific skill sets by....
Create measurable accomplishments by…
Create career history by....
Create summary statement by....
Choose resume template by...
Type first draft using selected template by....
Get feedback from contacts by....
Type final version by...