Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Ask The Coach / Resume Updating
Dear Coach,
I recently was asked for a copy of my resume
and realized I hadn’t updated it in three years. How often do people usually update them? Do you have any good advice
for resumes that work?
—Missed A Good Opportunity, 46
Dear Missed Opportunity,
I usually tell people they should always have
an updated resume till the day they retire. You never want to be in a situation where your dream opportunity comes knocking,
and you don’t have something on hand. You’ll either miss the boat or lose a night’s sleep editing old versions.
You don’t have to change it weekly or even monthly, but you should certainly review it at least every three months
and update it as necessary.
Your experience will hopefully show career growth over time but, even if
it doesn’t, you should outline new responsibilities and areas of expertise.
The best resumes
today focus on results, so try to present as many relevant ones as possible. Some examples are: Achieved annual increases
of 65 percent or greater in editorial media exposure; decreased operational expenses by 17 percent; and reduced employee turnover
from 60 percent to less than 15 percent within the first year.
Most companies and organizations are
looking for well-rounded and personable individuals to fit into their cultures, so make sure your resume illustrates this
as best as possible.
You should be on LinkedIn with a current profile, because potential employers can easily check it. If you have a public profile name, include
it to facilitate finding you.
If you are active on Twitter, consider including your user name. If you’ve tweeted disparaging remarks about your current or any previous employer,
do not include your user name – and mark “Only let people whom I approve follow my tweets.” in the Tweet
Privacy section. This will block your tweets from the public. That said, this is usually a red flag to potential employers.
If you have a blog, even if it’s not connected with your profession, share the URL to highlight your abilities
with this media.
Include interesting volunteer and community-service involvement, as well as any leadership roles.
As always, your resume should appear professional and well-organized. Ask a few friends or family members to review
it, make suggestions, and catch mistakes.
Don’t put off updating your resume. There aren’t an unlimited
amount of dream jobs. Make sure you don’t miss out the next time opportunity knocks at your door.
Good luck!
Lisa-Michelle
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Say Yes To On-The-Job Romance?
Decisions, decisions. Work as many years as most 40-somethings, and you’ll eventually find yourself asking that
very question.
According to CareerBuilder, it’s become more acceptable to date co-workers, with four
out of ten people saying they dated someone at work. Some say the more hours people work, the more likely they are to start
a relationship. I don’t believe that’s accurate, but I understand many surveys and research studies point in that
direction.
Of course, some date up the ladder and some date down. It’s interesting to note that women
are more likely to date up then men.
While considering this post, I thought about my on-the-job romances. That’s
right, I’ve been working for more than two decades and am single, so I, too, was bound to have a fling or relationship
that started at work. It took some serious thought, but I was able to remember how many (four); when and how they started;
and how each ended.
There are several things to keep in mind when trying to come to your own
conclusion on whether or not to take a dip in cupid’s office pool:
Office Policy: There are still places of work
that prohibit office relationships. Most do not, but many have procedures to follow. Know your company’s rules, and
follow them to the best of your ability. Whether or not your employer forbids, discourages, or allows on-the-job relationships,
be discreet.
On-The-Field/Off-The-Field Conduct: The dating rules you live by out of work should be kept on the job, unless
they leave something to be desired. Then, upgrade to more conservative behavior for the workplace. For example, if you normally
date more than one person at the same time, abandon that practice at work.
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do:
Ending a relationship or fling isn’t a ride in the park, so consider having to see someone — possibly every day
— when the party’s over. If you know this will be too difficult for you, then don’t get involved to begin
with. If you’re still going to take a chance, remember to act professionally and not let it affect your performance.
The Odds: If you’re looking for a serious relationship and wondering how it will work out, you’ve got a one-in-three
chance. Thirty-two percent married the person they dated at work.
Resources
One never knows when cupid’s arrow will strike. Maybe his next bull’s-eye will hit you at the water cooler.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Give me your lunch money!
Or else!
Student bullying in the United States has been back in the news, with one
in three children involved in bullying as the victim or perpetrator.
With such astonishing numbers, why
are we so surprised — and often paralyzed — as adults when we encounter workplace bullies?
Most articles about bullying report that it starts in elementary school, peaks in middle school, and diminishes in
high school.
Really?
So, why does it re-appear in the workplace? And, how can intimidating colleagues
thrive?
Just like in the schoolyard, most on-the-job bullying goes unreported. Workplaces don’t take
a serious stand against bullies, especially top performers.
Workplaces need to adopt a serious
culture where bullying will not be tolerated, and consequences must be paid by those who violate it. Employees need to know
what’s expected of them, and anonymity must be granted to those who report abuse.
In 1998, the Campaign
Against Workplace Bullying was launched, which grew in 2002 into the Workplace Bullying
Institute — the sole North American nonprofit organization dedicated
to the eradication of workplace bullying through education and research.
According to WBI, more than one-third
of workers in the United States experience workplace bullying.
It’s important to remember if
you feel you are being bullied — mistreated enough to compromise your position, career, relationships, or health —
that you did not invite it.
Why you? As WBI explains,
“You posed a threat somehow to a person who is not fully developed as a moral human being . . . The fact that bullies
are threatened speaks volumes about them, not about you.”
Even more importantly, don’t
try to wait it out. This will not stop the bullying and may increase your stress. Speak with a supervisor, colleague, or human
resources before the situation becomes unbearable.
Unfortunately, 80 percent of bullying is not illegal,
and 72 percent of the bullies are managers, so you may not get the support you need from your organization.
You also may not get assistance from your peers, because most of them will be afraid to be bullied, too.
Find the courage to talk to someone, and give it your best shot. If it doesn’t get any better, don’t stay
in an unhealthy situation. Move on. “Good employers purge bullies, bad ones promote them.” (WBI)
If you decide to seek new employment, remember interviews are two-way streets. Find out as much as you can about prospective
employers and managers. Ask questions about the workplace, turnover, why the position is vacant, employee enrichment programs,
career paths, and management style.
Once you improve your work conditions or move on from the toxic situation,
you’ll feel better and empowered. Then, make sure to establish healthy work boundaries to help you avoid falling prey
to workplace bullies again.
Resources:
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Ask The Coach
The 40 Factor is launching a new feature —
Ask The Coach.
We’re experiencing life like never before. Our challenges and opportunities are much different
than our parents or even those from a decade ago.
Ask The Coach is your opportunity to ask whatever’s
on your mind and hear back from Coach Lisa-Michelle, who shares her expertise — a unique combination of career and life
coaching, human resources, marketing, business management, personal branding, and so much more.
A certified coach
and founder and president of Ace The Race, LLC, Lisa-Michelle is a member of the International Coach Federation and International Association of Business Communicators.
She served on the Executive Board of the International Coach Federation’s Long Island Chapter and volunteers as a career
and life coach.
Dear Coach,
I was laid off last month from my job of
eight years. I’ve been sending out resumes almost every day and haven’t heard back from anyone. Several people
are pushing me to attend networking events and join Facebook and LinkedIn. I’m a single mother and don’t have
a lot of spare time. I want to find a new job quickly, but don’t know what to do first. Where do I begin?
— Needs New Job Now, NY, 42
Dear Needs New Job Now,
Networking and social
media are much more than the latest trend, so thank the people around you who are encouraging you to get in the game. It would
have been better if you were already involved with these activities before you lost your job, but the good news is it’s
never too late. Everyone has a limited amount of time, so it’s very smart that you’re looking to put your efforts
where the potential reward is the greatest.
LinkedIn is the best place to start. Set up a detailed profile, including
previous employers. Grow your contacts by reaching out to former colleagues, supervisors, business acquaintances, friends,
and family. Include a recent professional photo. Don’t be shy, and request recommendations. Join relevant groups, starting
with professional associations and interest groups. Participate in appropriate discussions. And, let people know you’re
looking for a new position.
Forget about Facebook for job seeking. Its primary use is to connect with
family and friends. Some people reach out to anyone they ever met or even friends of friends with whom they are unacquainted.
This is not looked upon favorably and won’t do anything to advance your goal.
Attending events
could be very beneficial, but you need to carefully choose which ones you’ll attend. Once again, start with professional
associations and interest groups. There are some networking events without any focus other than general networking. I’ve
found most people who attend these are very disappointed.
Don’t forget to find the right
balance between online and face-to-face activities. There’s great value in both.
In addition, have
a professional review your resume and cover letter. Depending on your budget, you may want a complete resume overhaul or just
a few pointers. Either can go a long way in getting your phone to ring.
Lastly, look for local job fairs, but
only attend ones where the participating companies are relevant to your field or profession.
Your time is valuable and limited. Make the most of it.
Good luck!
Lisa-Michelle
After
appearing in this blog post, Ask The Coach will appear in its own section on The 40 Factor.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Cut Yourself Some Slack
News Flash: People aren't
machines. We don't easily switch gears, and we can't change our emotions with a push of a button.
Whether you speak with the recently unemployed or those lucky enough to still have jobs — and carry the workload
of two, three, or more people — you're sensing that work-related stress increased during the last two years and job-related
tension wreaked havoc on people's live far beyond the workplace or unemployment office.
No matter what's your source of stress, if you don't keep it in check and regularly free yourself from it, you're doing
yourself and those around you great harm.
So, what can you do about
it?
Daily . . . Or In The Heat Of The Moment
Reduce your exposure to stress when possible. Don't force yourself to unnecessarily stay
in negative situations. If you can opt out — run away as fast as you can.
Recognize your stress factors. Learn what causes your blood to boil or even simmer. Everyone's
different. One man's dream day at the office is another's nightmare.
Have a plan. Think of a few ways to handle stressful situations: Take a break or walk. Call
a friend or mentor. Go to a store and aimlessly browse. Listen to music. Keep something around that makes you laugh.
Take a time out. If you find yourself
in the middle of an extremely toxic moment, excuse yourself. Whether you or others need to calm down, a break will do wonders
for all of you. If all else fails, immediately leave aggravating situations . . . in other words, go to the restroom. No one
will stop you. Do what you have to do to regain composure.
Do something nice for yourself every day. Yes, every day. Pick up a frappuccino or smoothie
on your way home, talk with a good friend, read some pages in the latest book by your favorite author, care for your farm
on Facebook, learn something new, or whatever works for you.
Cut yourself some slack. Unless you wear tights and a cape, or swing a golden lasso, you
don’t have to live up to Superman or Wonder Woman standards. It’s ok to postpone a thing or two on your to do
list.
For The Long Haul
Establish a stress-relief routine. Work in at least one tension-busting activity to your
weekly regiment. Yoga, tai chi, reflexology, massage, meditation, and focused breathing are fantastic, but they may not be
your thing or within your budget. Find something that works for you. I appreciate a casual walk near the beach or on a nature
trail. If you can work in two or more per week, even better.
Address sources of stress. If you
encounter regular tension touch points, then it's time to find a way to deal with them. Most often people are responsible,
and they may be intimidating to address. But, did you know that most people don't realize their actions or requests are causing
others strife? And the majority of them would prefer to find a mutually agreeable — and non-stressful — way to
interact? Find a inoffensive, private, and unthreatening way to discuss challenges with colleagues, friends, or family members.
That may be all you need.
For those stress builders who seemingly don't
care, you'll have to employ a more creative approach. And, you may need help. After you've tried to work it out, you shouldn't
feel bad about discussing these challenges with supervisors of difficult colleagues or service representatives. If their behavior
is making you miserable, chances are it’s doing the same to others.
Let’s face it, none of us is naïve enough to believe we can exist in this 24/7 world and
not encounter stress. But, we owe it to ourselves to keep it in check and take care of our needs.
So,
cut yourself some slack, and do something nice for yourself today!
Tue, June 8, 2010 | link
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Better Economy = Better Jobs?
Did you hear the economy is getting better?
The job market, too?
Sure, I've heard lots of reports . . . and indicators . . . and results
. . . and positive outlooks . . . and trend analyses . . .
These changes in the economy will quickly lead most of us to a very important question: How will this effect me?
It doesn't matter if there's a boom
or bust, we know any spark of economic change will effect us one way or another.
A thriving job market
can eventually lead to an easier time finding a suitable position for the recently unemployed and possibly better work conditions,
but those days aren’t around the corner.
The naïve among us may think that recent
employer cut backs may be quickly reinstated, but there isn't any precedence for such expectations.
Whether an organization downsized its staff, replaced travel with video conferencing, or did away with the annual picnic,
it experienced new sources of efficiencies that will not
easily be reversed.
Let's face it, companies' spending should continue to be more cautious than
usual after a major global economic crisis. Anything else would be irresponsible.
And don’t forget
that even during this latest recession, good employers didn't end up on the world's worst list, even if they, too, had to
make difficult decisions. They still understood the importance and effectiveness of healthy, happy employees. They cut only
where necessary.
If your employer used the recent recession as an excuse to remove the water cooler, don't expect
it to re-appear any time soon, along with any other perk.
If your place of work didn’t treat you well two years ago, forget about a miraculous turnaround now.
And, certainly don't expect recently cut positions to be added back to head count at most places. Employers will continue
to push people beyond their limits, because they can.
Well . . . they think they can.
The imminent economic turnaround and better job market means that options will begin to present themselves, which should
eventually lead to better jobs and some work environment improvements.
Patience and optimism, balanced with
realistic expectations are key for the immediate future. Keep your eyes open, and get ready. Prepare yourself well, because
those who do will lead the way.
The 40 Factor is all about you . . . and June is all about jobs.
With expected improvements in the economy, you have lots of questions about your current job, finding a new one, re-inventing
yourself, or maybe even becoming an entrepreneur.
This is your life, your career, your happiness. Find out everything
you need to know about jobs at The 40 Factor, because it really
is all about YOU.
