Unemployment Lines Await

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), worldwide unemployment is still high at 8.5%, while US unemployment rates linger at a staggering 9.3% and Canada hovers around 7.4%.

The OECD reports that, since the start of the economic crisis some 3.5 million young people worldwide (LINK: http://www.oecd.org/document/21/0,3746,en_2649_201185_46991230_1_1_1_1,00.html) have joined the ranks of the unemployed. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, those under 30 in the US may be some of the hardest hit, (link: http://www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cpseea13.htm) with nearly thirteen percent of those under 30, unemployed. (link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/08/college-graduates-jobs-unemployment_n_893495.html)
What does all this mean for those trying to establish a new career direction? It means competition in the workforce is fierce. But it’s not impossible. According to a recent survey (Link: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/careerbuilders-mid-year-job-forecast-provides-encouraging-outlook-for-us-job-seekers-125131929.html) hiring managers are reporting that their companies are confident the economy will continue to expand in the latter half of this year, making hiring more probable. Instead of sipping mojitos by the pool this summer, you’d be better off creating and implementing your new career strategy and getting the jump on the competition.

Summer Slow Down

While you may argue that summer, may be a slower time of year for some industries, with businesses functioning on reduced staffing, summer hours and lowered production, what you’d be missing is the potential opportunities for employment that staff vacations present. For someone looking to garner experience in an industry new to them, summer provides the perfect chance for you to pitch in and help a company maximize production in the absence of staff. Because things are slower, you may also be able to capitalize on some quality one-on-one mentoring.

Interning and Volunteering

Interning has long been a respected way for new grads to get their foot in the door, especially in highly competitive fields, like law and journalism. But interning isn’t just for recent grads anymore. Mid-career interning has become the perfect way to change career trajectories or fill-in resume gaps, while keeping your skills and accomplishments relevant. Often internships like these lead to job offers at summer’s end, with some even offering nominal pay for your efforts. Even if you don’t land a job, though you’ll have gained experience for your future career and made valuable connections in your desired industry.

Just because your industry may not typically employ interns, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Approach and explore the idea with some of your ideal companies, sharing, specifically, what you feel you can offer and why – you might be surprised by their response.

Also, volunteering at a local nonprofit in your field (or a related one) looks great on your resume and builds skills and connections that could lead to the position of your dreams.

Research and Network

If you’re on the lookout for employment opportunities, let people know. No reason to keep it a secret. Reach out to friends, colleagues, neighbors, family and even casual acquaintances – you never know who has a lead on that next great job.

• Go to industry events, conferences and meet-ups. Networking with your peers, in a genuine fashion, can get you the inside scoop on possible job openings and keep you up-to-date on your industry. Nearly 80% of employment positions are filled this way.
• Research:  Where would you like to be, ideally, in your career? Look at who is doing what you want to be doing and find out how they got there. Ask them if they would be open to mentoring you.
• Keep up on changes in your industry, researching the current market and any new innovations.
• Develop your skill set further: Is there a new skill you can cultivate or a knowledge base you could expand that would increase your value in the marketplace? Use this time to take a class, be mentored or read industry newsletters and books. This kind of passion for your career shows employers you care.

Remember, in a competitive job market, employers want to see your potential in action, not your vacation photos.

Copyright, Cecile Peterkin. All Rights Reserved.

The holidays are a great excuse to network and because of the often relaxed and jovial atmosphere of a party, you can be poised to make a lasting impression in a much more personal way.

Even though businesses may not be buying or hiring at this time of year, the people that populate those businesses are primed and ready to make new connections – connections that could end up generating leads for you in the New Year.

Dress for the Part

Whether you’re going to friend’s house or a business gathering, make sure you’re dressed appropriately in clean, dressy and circumspect attire. Though this is after-hours, it’s still a first impression, so make it a great one. You don’t have to wear what you would to the office but you should definitely leave the club clothes in the closet. Most important of all – wear a smile, it’s everyone’s best accessory.

No Hard-Sell

Networking doesn‘t mean marketing, selling or advertising. Networking is a friendly and informal way to let people get to know you and what you have to offer. If the boom of social media has shown us anything, it’s that people like to deal with someone they know and trust. So enjoy yourself, meet new people and when the topic invariably veers towards work – share what you do, whether you’re starting a new business or looking to branch out. If you make a connection or they’re interested enough to ask more about your venture, leave them with a business card. Just don’t palm your card to every person in the room – it’s tacky and won’t win you any new contacts.

Limit the Libations

It’s a party, invariably there will be drinks, but remember this is not happy hour with your best friends.  Keeping your wits about you while maintaining a fun but professional demeanor will serve you well when that next potential client or future supervisor asks why you’re a better fit for their job opportunities than the competition.

Listen

People enjoy sharing about themselves. You endear yourself to others by being a good and interested listener. Nervous about how to approach someone new? Ask questions about them. Excellent icebreakers are those that get people sharing stories like, “How do you know (the host)?”  Avoid questions that only leave room for yes or no answers.

Relax

This is not a job interview, go ahead and have fun. Laugh, dance and chat people up. Be yourself – just at your best. Go, not with the intention of landing a new job or client, but rather a new friend or connection. Be genuine and of course, helpful. If the host needs an extra hand carrying out a tray of snacks or if you have a tip for your new acquaintance – share it. Give generously, by helping them solve a problem or just sharing your experience with a similar situation. There is no better way to make a great first impression than by being kind and generous of spirit  (while networking) – especially during the holidays.

You never know what gifts those holiday parties could yield in the New Year.

Copyright 2010, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

Why Self Confidence is Vital in Leadership

People tend to gravitate toward those that possess self confidence. If the supervisor is confident in his/her decisions, the subordinates are more likely to concur. Without this attribute, the internal structure of any business will degrade, as employees start to second-guess the management.  It can lead to strife in the workplace and the loss of valuable human assets.

An individual with self confidence does not know all the answers or “lords it over” employees.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite.  Self-confident leaders build up others and find satisfaction in their workers’ personal and professional growth. Their strength is in helping others become successful.  A person with self confidence is:

*  Able to admit mistakes and learn from them.
*  Able to take risks to achieve more.
*  Able to do what is right, despite the lack of popular opinion.
*  Able to accept compliments graciously.
*  Unwilling to seek out personal accolades.

Self confident leaders are a pleasure to work for, because they are more interested in developing a cohesive and well-ordered work environment.  The employees work well together, stress is minimized, and employees are encouraged to excel and use their strengths to improve productivity and achieve their career goals.

How to Build Self Confidence

Although there is no magic pill for building self confidence and it doesn’t happen overnight, you can achieve this personal and professional goal, if you make the effort. It will not be easy. You will basically have to change the way you think and develop a new personal perspective.

Begin by acknowledging your achievements.  Instead of dwelling on your mistakes, think about all that you have accomplished over the years both personally and professionally.  There is nothing wrong with giving yourself a mental pat on the back. Recognize the effort and hard work it took to get you where you are today.

Next, consider your strengths.  Where do you excel both personally and professionally?  Everyone has areas in which they need to improve.  But, you don’t dwell on your weaknesses.  You concentrate on when you are at your best.

Think about your goals.  What do you want to achieve?  Where do you want to go in your personal life or in the workplace? Consider what you need to do, in order to get there.

Now, it’s time for the really hard part.  In order to build self confidence, you must learn to manage your mind.  Do not dwell on the negative self-talk. It’s time to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.  Catch yourself, when you start to dwell on your weaknesses.  Stop.  Then, go back and think about your accomplishments, your strengths, and how you are going to achieve your personal and professional goals.  With practice, you will build the self confidence necessary to excel in leadership within the workplace.

Copyright 2010. Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

If you really want your interview to stand out and surpass the competition, and be able to talk about yourself with ease and confidence, you need to prepare.  You may have the best education and a stellar resume, but chances are the other applicants can say the same thing. Knowing how to answer, when asked about you, may make the difference between getting the job and looking for different employment opportunities. These are the hard questions that will likely determine whether you are the best fit for the company’s needs.

Practice how you will answer the question.  Better yet, enlist the help of a friend or family member who will objectively critique your response. If you are adequately prepared, you will be able to answer the question with confidence and professionalism.

Job Interview Success

You know that your response to the question “tell me about yourself” may be what sets you apart from the competition and garners you the position.  But, what do you say?  How to you ensure job interview success?

Here are a few key points to consider:

* Be concise
* Don’t ramble on
* Pick what is likely to be most relevant
* Be personable

Before the interview, when you are practicing, it’s a good idea to write down what you want to say about yourself. Be as concise as possible and figure out how to say the same thing in fewer words, if necessary.  The interview time will be limited, and you want to maintain the interest of the person doing the interview.

To ensure job interview success, don’t ramble on and on.  This is where practice is essential. Be confident in what you want to say, so you won’t get flustered, especially if you tend to ramble.

Pick items about yourself that will likely be of interest to the interviewer and be relevant to the position.  For example, he/she probably doesn’t want to hear all about your childhood.  However, if you are applying for a job at a daycare, and you are the oldest of 10 kids, it might be important information.  You know what it’s like to work with kids.  After all, you helped raise your siblings.

When asked about themselves, many people take a more clinical approach.  Don’t.  Let your personality shine through and don’t be afraid to be yourself. In fact, your personality may be the determining factor in deciding whether you are a good fit for their organization.

If you are prepared to answer the tough questions like “tell me about yourself”, and can answer with confidence, you are well on your way to job interview success.

Copyright 2010, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

Unless you are applying for a very conventional job with a conventional employer who will not appreciate a creative resume, you want a job resume that will set you apart for the other individuals vying for the job.  You want a resume that is creatively smart and will best reflect your qualifications, giving you the opportunity to sell yourself to a potential employer.

How to Make a Creative Resume

If you really want to make a job search resume that surpasses the competition, there are some key elements that must be included, especially if you want your potential employer to notice that little something different that you will bring to the company. Here are 4 tips that will help you prepare the perfect job resume:

1.  Choose a font that will catch the attention of the reader.  However, make certain it’s still easy to read and looks professional. Some fonts are great for letters and cards, but they are totally inappropriate for a professional resume.

2.  Choose a theme that reflects a bit of your personality, while still remaining professional.  For example, a person applying for a graphics artist position may create a template that reflects his/her talents in a professional way.  Some resumes include a header that coincides with the applicant’s job qualifications.  A nurse may choose a nursing header on the resume.  It’s a good idea to have the resume divided into sections for easier reading.

3.  Color is also important.  If you are applying for a more traditional position, a white background is best. For example, you probably wouldn’t apply for a job with the FBI on pink stationary.  However, if the job entails computer graphics or artistry, the resume should reflect something of your talents and expertise.

4.  A creative resume should include all of the elements of any job resume.  In fact, there is a recommended order that helps organize the information and assists your potential employer in locating the data.

A creative resume doesn’t have to be difficult.  You simply need to include all of the necessary elements, while making sure the design reflects the position for which you are applying and stands out amongst all of the other resumes in the pile. Then, your job resume is more likely to be selected for the next step in the job application process.

Copyright, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

The career you want doesn’t drop in your lap prefabricated the way it used to be.  To have the career you want, you have to design and initiate your own path. In the past, on-the-job training was a popular means of creating the perfect employee.  Businesses had the time and resources to teach workers what they needed to know, in order to develop a career with their company.  Today, as companies are downsizing and restructuring to remain competitive, career-minded individuals must be that much better than others vying for the same position; and, they must be prepared to hit the ground running.  You have to go after the job you want.

Career Tips

While career guidance is beneficial, the ultimate decisions are up to you.  A career is more than simply a job.  It’s not flipping burgers at the local fast food restaurant, until something better comes along. A career is a lifelong pursuit of professional success.  It helps define who you are, and where your values lie. It gives your life purpose and meaning. It also happens to provide a paycheck.

If you really want a career, and not just a job, here are some suggestions to help facilitate your success:

* Know your personal and professional goals
* Keep a portfolio of your best work
* Keep track of your successes
* Commit to lifelong learning
* Invest time and money in developing your career
* Establish an advisory board
* Find a mentor
* Network

You can’t sit back and wait for your career to tack off.  If you want to be a leader in your chosen occupation, you need to make your success happen.

Career Management

An expert in career guidance will provide suggestions based upon experience.  He/she may even develop a personalized list of objectives you need, to put your career on the fast track.  But, it’s you that will do the hard work and provide the initiative necessary for a successful outcome.

For example, only you know your personal and professional goals. You must recognize your own potential, adapt to changes when necessary, and do what it takes to continually build your career. Today, a college degree is simply not enough.  Everyone has to have an education, in order to get a meaningful job.  You need to recognize the education necessary to get your foot in the proverbial door.  Then, you need to go above and beyond the competition.  You will always have to consider how best to invest your time and money, in order to advance your career.

You will also need to keep track of the advancements and changes in your career field.  Networking can keep you in the “know” and make sure that others know about you.  Developing an advisory board can boost your credibility and convey that you are dedicated to advancing in your career, even if it means accepting change or going back to school. You are your own best tool for success.

In short, career management is not a job you can outsource.  You need to manage yourself for the career you want.

Copyright, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

“A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.” ~ John Burroughs, writer and American naturalist

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While many children were playing with their toys, Warren Buffett was looking for ways to make money at a young age. At six years old, Warren purchased a 6 pack of Coca Cola from his grandfather’s store for twenty-five cents and then sold each bottle to his friends for five cents each, making a profit of five cents.

Several years later, he took interest in the stock market and purchased shares at $38. Soon after, the shares had dropped down to $27 per share which frightened Warren. When the shares went up to $40 he immediately sold them to make a profit. However, had he waited, the shares went up to $200 a share which could have been a much more lucrative profit for him.

From that experience, Warren learned a lesson of patience. After college, Warren decided to go to graduate school. He was persuaded to apply to the Harvard Business School, but was rejected because he was too young. Therefore, he applied to Columbia University where he met his future mentor, Ben Graham. Ben was a well known economist and through his simple yet profound investment principles, he taught many individuals the concept of ignoring market fluctuations in investment analysis and investing with a margin of safety.

Warren attributes much of his success to Ben Graham because in addition to his father, Ben influenced his life a great deal. Here is a great example of leaders helping future leaders: Ben Graham mentoring Warren Buffett and Warren Buffett mentoring Bill Gates. It is a continuous cycle that has existed for many years and has proven to be a very successful tool in developing future Solutions Leaders as well as enhancing the current leader’s abilities, to the development of many great leaders.

Gaining or providing valuable skills, knowledge and experience from a mentor is a great life long asset to the mentee and mentor. Learn more about the “Lost Art” Mentoring with Cecile Peterkin.

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The following 3 tips will market yourself in the interview: http://www.jobsjournal.com/articles/312002370/Expert-Interviewing-Tips-Part-1?utm_source=WNW&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=20100218-15328-MinedAtomic-31200003