Out of Unemployment and savings What now? November 5, 2010
Posted by jvmullin in Job Searching, Job Searching.Tags: attitude, career, career search, careers, job hunting, Job Search, jobs careers job hunting
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I was and still am trying to get my business going with zero budget. I have asked my friends to help spread the word but they have not done a good job.
I am trying to rely heavily on Social Media to get me noticed and get the word out. But I think most of the people are too self involved to help others.
I have two people who are trying to help me and one is someone who I am still getting to know better and one is someone I just met. But the people who are closest to me ….nothing.
I have helped a number of unemployed people in the WIND group and ask for them to help but again nothing.
I am sure there are those of you out there going through the same thing. You have helped others and now that you need help everyone has seemed to disappear from the radar and immediate vicinity.
Makes you wonder what this word has come to. Being unemployed gives you time to reflect on what is important to you and who is important to you. To re-evaluate your relationships and friendships.
It is a struggle and you feel so alone.
However, it is not a time to give up. Failure is not an option in my book and you should think about it as your mantra also. I refuse to demean myself no matter how bad it gets because I know who I am and what I am capable of doing and I mean something damn it!
I just haven’t found the company that deserves my talents or the company that has taken the time to recognize them. In this fast pace, take the easiest route world we live in there are a number of highly qualified people that are being overlooked for the dumbest of reasons.
My neighbor came over yesterday with a small care package of food for me. It is nice to know there is still some charity left in the world. It renews my hope and faith in mankind.
I will succeed in my new venture somehow some way as I said failure is not an option for me.
We should ban together and figure out how to fight the fight together for there is safety in numbers as well as strength.
Thee is no weakness in asking for help only strength!
The end of year Holiday season and job hunting October 22, 2010
Posted by jvmullin in Job Searching, Job Searching.Tags: attitude, career, career search, careers, job hunting, Job Search, job seeking, jobs careers job hunting
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Ah Fall in New England, the crisp air, the light breeze, the sunshine. Time to clean the shotgun, renew the permit and go out and hunt some jobs.
I do not recommend nor do I ever condone using the shotgun approach to job hunting no matter how desperate you are.
What I am alluding to is that it is fourth quarter for a number of companies and managers are busy burning through the rest of this years budget and developing next years.
What does that have to do with job hunting? Well it is the time they also have to look at future projects and manpower requirements. Which means they might have to hire some people. Some of that may be from attrition where someone retired or left for a better position.
So this is the time of year to kick your search up a couple of notches and get the networking skills honed to fine edge and land that position.
There should be little at home time this time of year. You should be at every career fair, trade show, professional organization meeting, networking meeting, holiday party, informational meetings you can go to.
If you are at home you should be on LinkedIn researching the company and the people you need to connect with. Making phone calls to set up meetings and providing an agenda for the meeting and sticking to it.
So why are you still reading this get going others are ahead of you on this.
Disclaimer:
No guns were fired or jobs injured during the writing of this post!
Do not forget to laugh and have fun.
Discouraged and despair are taking over? time to reflect! October 4, 2010
Posted by jvmullin in Job Searching, Job Searching.Tags: attitude, career, career search, careers, job hunting, Job Search, job seeking, jobs careers job hunting, research
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This recession, I don’t care what they said on the news to us its still a recession, is lasting far too long. The end doesn’t seem to be in sight for a number of unemployed. More and more jobs and functions are being offshored.
That is the bad news so face it and get on with your life!
Really are you just going to give up?
NO !!!!
It is time to take a day off and clear your mind of all the baggage you have built up in the last year or two.
Start fresh by taking inventory again of all your skills and abilities.
Then get going on researching your industry and what is going on in it. Does it even still exist in your area. You may be chasing a ghost!
Next take a close reflection on your expectations knowing what is going on with companies. Are you being part of the problem with your search? Are your expectations too high or even too low?
Have you lost focus? Have you become so desperate that you can no longer think or see straight?
Are you depressed?
The best part of being an intelligent human being is that you have a brain and you can think logically strategically and calculate things.
SO take out the garbage in your head and get back to doing what you do best…..think!
You are a professional so act like one!
Develop a plan, write procedures that you will follow for every position, plot out a schedule. Reorganize and hit it hard!
Applying for a job is not just sending your resume. If that is all you are doing then there is no hope for you. It takes work and there are too many out there playing the whoa is me card. Well stop it!
There are plenty of resources out there for finding information on companies…use them. Use LinkedIn to search the company and find people to network with while you are waiting for your resume to miraculously bubble up to the to of the black hole.
If I sound harsh and rude it is for a reason. I hate to see talented people not using their talent when it counts the most.
Google the company to see what information comes up. If they are publicly traded then go to the SEC.gov website and read their 10K reports there is a vast sea of information there for you.
Research what companies are left in your area that could use your skills and talents and then target them. Set up an aggressive plan to network your way right to the decision maker. Develop your best this is what I can do for you speech. You r best this is how I can help the company do better speech. Talk about it in business terms as well as solving problems. Tell how you can save or make time, save or make money and how you can solve problems that relate to the last two statements.
So remember you are a skilled and talented professional. Get focused and organized then write your plan, procedures and schedule, then execute it!
Have faith in your self get out of the house and network. Ask for help and join a buddy group it will help you be accountable to others.
Career Fairs Great opportunities October 1, 2010
Posted by jvmullin in Job Searching, Job Searching.Tags: attitude, career, career search, careers, job hunting, Job Search, job seeking, jobs careers job hunting
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We all know how Career fairs are run today.
Most of them have some flunky standing behind a table collecting resumes. Others have an low level HR person collecting them who can not tell you much about the company they work for or the position.
While others have hiring managers working the table but why is it they are not the ones that will be hiring you. Such is the realm of career fairs.
Oh one last pet peeve the fairs I have been to lately are great if you want to sell insurance, be a financial advisor, or sell Avon.
So with all this negativism why should go to a job fair?
Because it is a place of opportunity if you know how to work the floor!
The floor???? What are you talking about?
The most important people at the show in my opinion are the job seekers. Yes the job seekers!
These are people who have worked at companies that you may be interested in. These are people who may know someone that works at a company that you are interested in.
These are the people you should be talking to.
I started doing this awhile ago and it works great for a number of reasons.
One it builds your network and it gives you the opportunity to maybe help someone.
You may get the inside skinny on a company that you are interviewing with.
It gives you something to do instead of just standing in line looking at your feet.
It makes the time to get to the table to dump your resume go faster.
If there is by chance a hiring manager at the table you are more open to talking and asking the right questions because you just spent all that time talking to a bunch of strangers.
It makes the fair much more enjoyable.
So how do you do this?
While standing in line turn to the person behind you and say something like what do you do? My favorite ice breaker is “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It usually gets a smile, a chuckle or a laugh but it breaks the barrier immediately.
So after a couple of minutes say excuse me and tap the person in front of you and get them engaged. Then the person behind the person behind you. Then the person in front of the person in front of you. You should know have a 5 person network meeting running.
Oh but you are not done because there are more people in the lines on either side of you so get them engaged in the network meeting also.
As the lines move and people drop out engage more people to keep your mini-networking meeting going.
I have found out some interesting information while conducting these meetings. While at a Monster.com fair I had a woman who works for Monster come up and give me kudos for starting it.
So do not look at Career Fairs as boring and not worth the trip or effort go have fun and start your own networking event on the floor. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards and practice your pitch.
Success can come from some strange places August 19, 2010
Posted by jvmullin in Job Searching, Job Searching.Tags: attitude, career search, Job Search, jobs careers job hunting
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I have a friend Nick Iandolo who is a screenwriter and fellow WIND member. Nick is a high energy person who is fun to be around as it is contagious for one thing and to watch him shutter trying to release his pent up energy is just fun to watch.
So what does Nick have to do with the topic? Well the story goes like this. Nick wrote a book “Cut the crap and write that damn screen play” , great book go to Amazon and buy it it is worth the read. ANy way in the process of getting his book published he needed a cover. The cover needed artwork or pictures. Nick gets the crazy idea to enlist his friends in role model playing. I played McKee a pretentious author of book on writing who has you do more writing about writing than actually doing the writing. I hope you followed that because I can’t do that twice. So we set up outside B Goods at Legacy Place in Dedham, MA, Great burgers and thick strawberry shakes! Anyway we are outside using the patio furniture and I play McKee and Nick jumps in my face screaming the title of his book. The people sitting around us were either amused or in shock it was hard to tell.
Anyway cut to scene two:
Nick lands himself on Money Matters radio. This is cool he can push his book. Yes that is me on the back cover at the top! Anyway Nick promoted the hell out of being on the show.
I do not have an AM antenna on my stereo so I am forced to go online and watch the streaming video and audio. I realize that they are only focusing on a niche market for the book …screenwriters. Wait! I have read the book and I am not a screenwriter the book is for everyone. So I do the right thing. I call into the show to tell them this!.
Nick the host and I have a good laugh when I reveal that it is I on the back of the book. I tell her that Nick’s book has inspired me, a business person, to write my first book. My book will be title LinkedIn screwdriver or power tool?
Scene Three:
I get invited to do a show, Ah! Networking at its finest! So I go and do my show and push my new business Evolution Career Business Leadership. I get a mention in of my branding statement; “You train dogs you coach athletes We develop people!” Denis Vaughan was a great host and made the show very fun.
Is that it???? You got your own time on the show. How melodramatic for this topic.
Ah but here is scene 4: Fade in!
They sent me the wrong audio files. So in trying to get the right files I receive an email from the station that the Program Manager liked my “On Air” presence and wants to talk to me about further shows.
I have an appointment Monday so I will have to add a comment as to the conclusion of this.
But if you look at the sequence of events you can see that you never know where your success will come from.
From a crazy friend having a crazy idea for a book cover to getting on radio.
Always keep your options open you never know where they may lead you.
My comment could be that I am just going to do a series of shows or it could be that I get my own show. Whatever the outcome it has been a wild ride getting there. I am enjoying the ride while it last.
What ride is coming your way or is starting to brew for you?
Reality check time! August 14, 2010
Posted by jvmullin in Job Searching, Job Searching.Tags: attitude, career, career search, careers, job hunting, Job Search, job seeking, jobs careers job hunting, starting a business
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The stock market was down again for the fourth day in row Wednesday. The great recession continues. National unemployment is still over 10% despite what the media quotes.
So what is the reality check your preaching to the choir!
Here is the check!
If you are still devoting a lot of time to job boards then you will be out of work for a longer period.
If you are not getting out of the house and networking you will be out of work for a longer time.
If you are not using social media (LinkedIn Twitter Facebook) effectively you will be out of work a long time.
If you have lost your focus and drive for what you want to do then you will be out of work along time.
If you are using the shot gun approach well good luck to you.
REALITY CHECK!
Learn what the hidden job market is! Research make a list of target companies and then form your strategy, your game plan to land a position there. It take work and determination.
If you want the job and you want to work there, then do the work. The pay off is better than sitting there reading this.
If you have or others around have convinced you that you will never get another job doing what you have been doing, then what?
What is your passion? Is there a market for it? Can you develop a business plan for it? Well then just do it! You will probably be happier doing what you have a passion for and working for yourself. Then if it takes off you can hire other people to help you.
As Nike says Just Do it!
Show this to spouses family and friends! July 19, 2010
Posted by jvmullin in Job Searching, Job Searching.add a comment
Dear, Spouses family and friends;
This article is for you to read and to understand. Please read it with an open mind. If you are not one of the people doing this I commend you. If you are I am begging you to stop!
We are in the worst recession we have probably seen in our life times. Except those that lived during the depression.
Unemployment has lasted longer than any of us wanted to or expected it to. There is rampant age discrimination not just for the older work force but for new grads as well. There is Congress playing politics with our lives on the extension of benefits. This is leading to job seekers loosing hope loosing focus and becoming desperate. Suffering from depression, loosing self esteem, and fear is encroaching on us as I speak. Yes fear! Fear that we will never get back the job we had, fear that we can’t do the job anymore, fear that no one will hire us. Fear that we will loose our families a our homes. Fear that we will be dirt poor and homeless.
I am divorced but my divorce is not a product of this recession but the last one. Why? A number of reasons but the ones that go with tis topic are; lack of understanding what was going on in my industry, inability to support me(nagging and constant pressure really isn’t support people it makes it worse), inability to even phathom what it takes to get a job(in this recession that has become 20 times worse than the last one), unwillingness to support the family by going back to work(which at the time was easier for her than it was for me to find a job).
I know and they know that you have the same fears and concerns. If you are a spouse I suggest you go back and read the vows and if you do not fully comprehend them go to a church and ask. I wish my ex had because she ignored them all. If you are a friend shunning them because they are out of work doesn’t help. They are not diseased! It isn’t contagious. They need to you to break up the stress. So help out. See if you can find leads for them and share it with them. Sit down and really learn what they are looking for so that you can recommend them to someone else who might have an opportunity open for them.
The best way to land a job is networking. If your spouse and friends are out networking for you also it helps better the chance of finding that opportunity.
Families I know that you are under stress because of this please do not pass that stress on to your loved one. If you c cannot help that is okay you do not have to feel guilty but please do not make them feel guilty either by being out of work at this time. It really wasn’t their fault. A high number of highly qualified candidates are out work. They cannot find work because companies have a younger and cheaper mentality right now.
I read an article just the other day that says even CEOs who have lost their jobs cannot find new jobs. There is a hidden justice in there somewhere.
So if you want to be supportive then help do not nag. They know full well they need to find a job. They need to stay laser focused on finding that job. You need to be understanding of this and to help them stay focused. Encourage them about their skill set they used when they worked and how that will help them find the job they want. If they loose focus now and take the shotgun approach they will be unemployed even longer or if they find a job will be underemployed and everyone will be miserable.
So encourage them to get out of the house and network. Encourage them to network with other unemployed people at career fairs. Encourage them to attend professional organization meeting to keep their skills up and to network. If you are good at it check over the grammar in their cover letters and resumes. Think before saying anything, if it sounds positive then say it if it sounds negative then don’t. Ask how is it going in an inquisitive manner unlike the Spanish inquisition.
The job seeker needs to stay informed, focused, determined, networking and loved.
We can only ask for understanding a real support. If you are a spouse then make love to your partner just because you love them it will help their self esteem and your relationship survive this.
Long term unemployment July 12, 2010
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I like a large number of unemployed have been ou of work more than 6 months. For me it has been 1 year and 9 months.
It leads to high levels of stress, health and family issues. I t leads to us loosing our focus and turning desperate which makes finding the right job even worse.
I hear the desperation in the voices of my fellow WIND members each week. I want to help each one of them but at this time all I can give is understanding and moral support.
Now t make matters even worse for all of us Congress has not voted a further extension of benefits and corporate America had decided to further their own problems by not even looking at unemployed candidates who have been out of work more than 6 months.
Where and when will this vicious circle end. The whole world is in a catch 22 situation and every one is afraid to make the first move to get us out of it. This has shown the world and stakeholders just what a lack of leadership there is on all levels. Where are the companies that can show that they have grown and prospered in this economy. There isn’t any. Instead they have cut to the bare necessities and basically gone into a catatonic state waiting for someone else to solve the problem so they can awaken as some beautiful butterfly. However it is there actions that will awaken them as an ugly moth.
Lets look at economics 101 for us to understand where they have failed miserably.
To make money you have to have a market and sell products.
To sell products you must have people with free cash to buy these products
In order for people to have free cash they must have jobs and a reasonable amount of debt
So the more people employed the more free cash the more sales.
Employed= free cash=sales= profits
So what has corporate America done to destroy this concept?
Minimum employees, minimum production, sold off all assets not currently used, to produce false profits, in order to keep stocks even or increased.
So basically companies are trying to perform dot com bubble economics, we will sell stocks based on air(false profits).
The dot com bubble burst causing a number of companies to disappear. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe the unemployed should look at this as an opportunity and start a new business that will take the place of the ones that will disappear.
There are a number of highly qualified unemployed people from all levels and aspects of a company. Get out of your slump and start discussing what business you can unite together to start. IF you cannot find employment create it.
Isn’t that what America strong. We need to develop a Phoenix mentality. We are in the ashes and now is the time to rise up stronger and better than we were before we turned to ashes.
I have started the process. I have started my own company. Evolution Career Business Leadership (AKA Evolution CBL) to help you, to help businesses see the error of their ways, to help leaders develop the skills they need or enhance the ones they have to move America forward once again.
We are American we don’t quit we band together to help each other out and to become stronger. You cannot keep us down! We will rise with even a stronger voice and determination than we had before. Being an American is about perseverance about building and rebuilding, about helping each other our neighbors, our friends, and strangers.
It is time to unite with one voice and tell the nation we are made as hell and will not take it anymore. If we need to do it with our votes the next election then let politicians know they are on the block and the axe is sharpened.
Get out of your slump, get positive get engaged and get going!
I challenge all my fellow unemployed friends and colleagues to make a new America. Start new companies start new businesses struggle if you have to. I know that I am struggling getting my business going but I am determined I am focused and I will not quit. I have been forming allies and I am calling on them to help me. I challenge you to do the same. If you have been cultivating a dream then now is the time to make it happen. Get with other unemployed people who could form a company and figure it out.
I am here to help you.
What is the blackhole and where is this hidden job market June 30, 2010
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These two terms are tossed about like confetti at a New York City Parade. It gets you all excited but in the end it is just trash at your feet.
I will try to demystify both these terms for you. Boy have I got my work cut out for me.
The infamous Blackhole of job hunting coming to a theater in 3D!!
This refers to the use of Resume Tracking software programs (RTS) that can be set to scan electronic resumes for keywords(AKA buzzwords) and placing them in categories by percentage of words found. HR can then set it to only deliver those with a very high percentage. What if my resume does not have at least 95% ? Then it is never seen by a human and no human even know you exist or even submitted.
The more sophisticated software packages can even place weighting factors on the buzzwords and give a larger chance of you not being seen by a human.
So how am I to know that my resume was ever read by a human? Well in short you don’t but then the reasoning is a whole new discussion and has been discussed in finite detail on a number of LinkedIn groups. My best answer to your inquiry is to follow up with HR. See my post on HR and recruiters so that you do not to disappointed by lack of professionalism and no replies. Again this has been brought up in many LinkedIn groups as well.
The inhuman part of RTS is that it cannot take into account experience, accomplishments nor potential of candidates. It can only scan for buzzwords and dates. Dates can be used to eliminate older workers, which is why you are told to only include the last 10 years on your resume.
The Hidden Job Market the spy thriller of the century! Available at Amazon, Borders and Barnes and Noble!
You ready for this it is called hidden for a very good reason, because it doesn’t exist! Well not in the sense that you would expect. There are unscrupulous agencies out there that market that they can get you into the hidden job market. Then they take your money and teach you how to job search.
Save your $5,000+ unless you are one of the fools who you and your money are soon parted.
Here it is in a nut shell:
Companies have unfilled positions. They could be unfilled due to budget as it wasn’t funded but they see a future need for it. The position is vacant but currently the company can get by with it not filled. Companies will not advertise these position because they do not need to collect thousands of resume at this time.
This one requires much hard work on your part and while it seem a little humorous I am serious. The company does know that it needs you doing this fantastic job you do. So when you stop laughing please read on!
So a number of you are saying then it is stupid to even waste my time chasing something that doesn’t exist! Great keep that thought the smart one need less competition.
Okay wise guy then how do I find out about these hidden jobs and how do I get one?
First let me say Target Companies(See the post on selecting target companies).
Networking!!!! (Yes once again see my post on this topic)
When you network into your target companies and you finally get to talk to the hiring manager. The hiring manager will now about the positions I stated earlier unfunded or unfilled. Now here is where the hard work comes in……for you to convince the hiring manager what a great job you can do for him and the company if they hire you to do XYZ and what a catastrophe it would be if they didn’t and you went to work for another company. To learn more on techniques for this pick up the book Guerrilla Marketing for the Job Hunter.
So I hope I have added some clarity and humor into your life. If you have taken the time to read this far, you are many steps ahead of those who wander blindly in the job search dessert. I hope that I have added some value in your search and some chuckles to maintain your sanity. I wish you the best if you decide to pursue the hidden market. There is a lot less competition but then it is a lot more work. It is a great reward for those that persevere!
Disclaimer: No animals were used or injured in the research for this post.
Job seeking from a hunters perspective Blog 