Job Search and the Parent

If you know anything about me you know that I give job search training classes.  I have a series of about eight or so that I bring out on the road. Most of them are free to the public and come with a boatload of free worksheets and examples. The classes are usually full of people who have attended such classes before and most likely want to learn one or two different

things that might make their resume(s) stand out or make their interviews more polished and professional.

Another thing that you might know about me is that as a former corporate trainer I grew up designing and implementing learning and development programs.  One thing about teaching adults is that they can’t stand boring speeches and will sit in a class wondering WIIFM (what’s in it for me).  If I just stand there and drone on about the ins and outs of job search, all they’ll hear is the sounds the teacher made in the Charlie Brown television specials.. Because I know that time is of the essence in adult learning, anyone who comes to my classes has to work.  They complete worksheets, participate in role-plays, talk in small groups or start to create their LinkedIn profiles.

I’ve noticed something lately in the classes that is starting to concern me; many times a young adult cannot attend the training and will send his or her mother (usually) or father in his place.  The parent takes copious notes and completes all the exercises on behalf of their child. They then ask for extra materials so that they can bring a fresh set home to their son or daughter. The kids aren’t at work as mom and dad will tell me. So where are they?  Sometimes a parent will tell me that they are attending because they can’t stand that their child can’t find work (and the “child” won’t attend the free training on their own). I can understand if your child is working or still commuting when the session starts at 7:00 pm.  I am a parent and if this were the case I would step in to help too.

What’s going on? If you are a parent and are attending training for your child, why?

Time to Shake Up Your Job Search

Today I was getting ready to for work and I thought of something interesting (at least to me). I’m using the same brand of mascara that I’ve used since I was a teenager. Now I know, who cares and all that. Later on as I was driving I thought that mascara along with the old cliché, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Then I thought of something Tony Robbins said that I like better, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” 

That mascara/change thing stuck with me all day, especially when I read an article in the Huffington Post about the discouraged job seeker and how a recent survey conducted by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University found that 1 out of 5 workers laid off in the past five years are still unemployed. That statistic angers me, especially since I know that many of those unemployed come to my job search classes and are very skilled and personable job seekers.  Most have a lot to offer any organization if only given a chance. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if that statistic was even higher considering all the discouraged job seekers and the under employed workers.

Getting back to the mascara (or any activity that you may continue to do just because you’ve always done it that way). Perhaps the long-term unemployed or new job seeker might want to consider a new way to approach the job search. They might want to evaluate why the resumes that they’re using aren't getting them phone calls to come in for interviews.  Or, their resumes might be fine and they are getting interviews but then they aren’t getting call backs. Or, they are submitting resume after resume electronically and not thinking about networking. Or they haven’t created a complete package; social media and personal identity. Or, and this is important, they aren’t doing anything to fill in the gap of unemployment such as volunteering, going to school or training, consulting or owning a business.

I’m not saying that the long-term unemployed aren’t looking or working hard enough to find meaningful work. I know that they are. But like the mascara, it might be the same old same old and time to shake things up a bit. I plan to dump that mascara tomorrow.

My Memories of September 11th

From 9/11 Museum. Antenna from World Trade Center tower in front of the shades of blue sky art display.

On September 11, 2001 our mom had been in Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ since the day before when she was operated on for colon cancer. The news wasn’t good, it was going to be a hard day.

That morning was gorgeous. The sky was crystal blue, cloudless and there was no humidity; a perfect beach day. I was at my mom’s getting ready to go over to the hospital when my sister called. “Turn on the TV, a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center”, she said.  “How awful.”She called again as the second plane hit and we realized like so many others that this wasn’t an accident.

As I drove the few miles to the hospital I turned on the radio to NJ101.5. Jim Gearhart was on and relaying bits and pieces of information as he received them.  No one knew what was happening.  It was chaotic and I remember praying out loud as I drove.

Up in my mother’s room the television was turned on to the horror going on across the river. We were just told that she had only nine to eighteen months left to live and she was trying to be very positive and comforting to us. It should have been the other way around but that was her way. The windows in her corner room faced the Atlantic Ocean to the east and NY City to the north. When we looked to the left, we could see the smoke from the city skyline in the distance. There was a little boat in the ocean. The sunlight was dancing across the water like little diamonds and I remember wondering if the people on board were oblivious to what was going on just across the river.

As we watched as the first tower came down my mother said that what she was going through paled in comparison to what was happening in NY.

There are other things that I remember from that day like how my mom told me that her roommate who had just had a double mastectomy cried all night. Also, her roommate didn’t have insurance and therefore wasn’t given the little bucket of toiletries that all patients receive, so my mother gave her the lotion and powder from her own bucket. I also remember that a doctor came in while the news was on and made a distasteful comment about what was going on. When the plane crashed in Somerville, PA I panicked because my kids were in school in Somerville, N.J. So many bits and pieces from that fateful day.

I also remember that the hospital evacuated all patients with non- life threatening illnesses or injuries to make room for the patients from NY who never came.We bundled up our mom and drove her back home. The road was empty.

Three thousand souls were lost that day in NY, Washington and PA. May we always honor and remember them. The world changed forever on September 11, 2001.

CareerFuel® Blog: Writing a Focused Resume

A few weeks ago I was asked by CareerFuel® to write a guest blog for their website.  I was happy to oblige since I enjoy speaking/writing about job search and the tools that might help someone get ahead. While you're at the site, take a tour of Careerfuel®; it's an interesting, helpful site.
Nancy

Writing a Cover Letter

I gave a class last night to a wonderful group of very eager job seekers.  The class was about returning to work after an absence.  One of the questions was about the wording to use in cover letters.  Here is a former post on cover letters and inside the post is some language that you can use in your own cover letters:

A recent survey asked HR managers about their thoughts on cover letters.  Ninety seven percent said that while they may not always read them, they better be included. Why include a cover letter?  A cover letter sets you apart from other candidates and allows you to showcase your brand. Since it’s the first impression a recruiter or hiring manager has of you, it’s vital in these days of job insecurity that you identify what makes you a specialist, expert or a leader in your field. 

There are a couple of different formats to writing a cover letter but the important part is that it is unique to you and to the open position.  Don’t use the same cover letter for every position.  Don’t lift something from your resume and plop it down in your cover letter either. Rather, explain how your background and experience can fill the open needs identified by the company

You can use a standard bulleted list or the newer “T” format. The bulleted summary statement emphasizes your particular strengths and achievements. .  If the job responsibilities call for experience in scheduling, communication and event planning then you need to succinctly highlight your experience in these areas. In the “T” you can create a column or “T” that matches the job skills needed by the employer with your skills and experience.”

Here is an example of a “T” cover letter.  You can substitute the middle paragraph with a standard bulleted list if you’d rather stick with the tried and true.

Proper Salutation/Address Information Date
Dear Mr. /Ms. Last Name;
The open position for a Human Resources Assistant, listed on the (company) website calls for many of the abilities I have developed in my 10 years of Human Resources experience. My background indicates experience and successful implementation of a number of innovative recruiting processes with (company) including:

In the body of the cover letter, set up a "T" column. On the left side of the "T", write out several of the job requirements. On the right side of the "T", state your accomplishments as they relate to each of the listed job requirements.


There are other areas of my background including my educational background, solid social networking and employee referral abilities, on-boarding program design and organization skills that may also be of interest to you. I look forward to the opportunity of meeting with you personally to discuss how I might fit into your organization. 

Sincerely,

Name
Phone number




 

Lessons From Rosie

Today we had to put our sweet dog, Rosie to sleep.  She was 17 years old; ancient for any dog but especially so for a bigger dog such as Rose, a pit bull/lab mix.  Her legs gave out and her heart was tired; she was partially blind and mostly deaf. Keeping her alive would have only made our family feel better; not her. She was never meant to simply, “stay alive” as she lived her life joyfully; always using all of her senses.

As I look through old pictures and gaze at her bed and the bowls that I cannot yet put away, I am reminded of the sweetness and purity of her life.   She taught me so much and to say that I will miss her forever is an understatement. I think that we can all learn something from our pets.  Here are Rosie’s lessons in no particular order:

1. Stay curious

2. Don't hurt other creatures

3. Enjoy your food, especially the ice cream

4. Take naps

5. Be kind (wag your tail) to others.

6. Play

7. Display patience

8. Don't stand in the rain

9. Be excited about tomorrow

10. Age is just a number