Unemployed? How to Keep Up Your Motivation During the Dreary Winter Months

Let's face it. This year winter seems like it will never end, and if you're unemployed, it can be hard to keep up your motivation. So, here are some tips to get you through the doldrums of winter:

1. Take care of yourself: eat healthy, drink plenty of water, get a good night's rest, etc. This is common sense, but these basic needs are the foundation of everything.

2. Exercise. Part of taking care of yourself is exercise. Even if you don't like exercising, just take 10 minutes (three times a day) and incorporate some type of exercise (jumping jacks, sit ups, push ups, whatever). Or, try other ways to exercise. For example, when you drive to a store, park at the end of the parking lot so you have further to walk. Go out to a mall and do some walking. There are many different ways to exercise, so, even if exercising is something you dislike doing, just integrate a little into each day. It will boost your mood and increase your motivation.

3. Stay scheduled. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. (Note: before you go to bed, create a to-do list for the next day. It will help keep you on track.) After you get up in the mornings, shower and get dressed as if you were going to work.

4.  Network. It's important to have contact with people every day. Maybe email a former colleague, meet someone for coffee, or telephone someone. Do you know someone else unemployed? Be each others' job search buddy. Talk once a week and discuss your goals, progress, or problems that may have arisen. Are you part of a local organization? If not, find someone who is and ask if you can tag along with them to their next meeting. Try find a job seeking group in your community and attend this. 

5. Get out of the house. You can easily accomplish this each day if you exercise outside your home or if you attend a networking event or meet someone for coffee. But, if you exercise in the comforts of your home or if you network via phone or email, then it's important you make an effort to get out. For example, go to a coffee shop where you can see other people, and conduct some job search activities there.

6.  Volunteer. Volunteering will not only get you out of the house, but by doing so, you will be helping others -- which can be very rewarding. Volunteering is also a great way to network with others and maybe even learn new skills! (Don't forget to add the new volunteer experiences to your resume!)

7. Learn something new. Take a free class online. Enroll in course through your community. Learn something new by watching a YouTube video. Research a new topic on the Internet. 

8.  Do something you enjoy. Do you like movies? Do you like to read? Do you have a hobby? Whatever you enjoy doing, carve out some time each day to do what you like.

9. Subscribe to receive some daily emails on motivation, inspiration, etc. If you're on Twitter, follow these types of Twitter feeds. Create a list of your favorite ones, and read them every day.

10. Celebrate achievements. The achievement can be big or small, and it doesn't have to be job-search related. Maybe you just completed a project around the house or maybe you just landed an interview. Whatever the success, reward yourself with something. It can be as small as a piece of chocolate or it can be something bigger. 

There are many different ways to overcome the dreary winter months, but hopefully some of these tips will help you stay motivated! 

Being Prepared for the Unexpected

Layoffs. If you received your walking papers, would you be prepared? We hear about people receiving pink slips all of the time, and we hope that it never happens to us, but it usually ends there. Most of us don't have a plan in place.

Throughout the years, I have worked with many clients who were caught off guard. Comments such as, "Oh, I wish I would have known I should be doing these things ..." have often been stated. Here is one client's story:

A client (I will call Susan) went to work one day, and by the end of the day was told that due to the economy, she was laid off and this would be her last day. Susan, a public relations professional, had worked on several projects, but because she was so busy, never took the time to make copies of her work. She had also received several congratulatory emails that she no longer had access to. Copies of these items would have served as documentation of her talents and contributions to her company -- a great addition to her portfolio.

Whether you are caught off guard or have an idea your job might be ending, here are some suggestions to help you be prepared:

1.  Update your resume at least once a year, but preferably twice a year. Include items that will set you apart. For example, did you save money, streamline procedures, solve a problem? Also, ask yourself, "What do I feel most proud about accomplishing these past 6 months?"

2.  Did you receive any thank you or congratulatory emails? Forward them to your home email address.

3.  Have you saved copies of your performance reviews? If not, ask your human resource department for copies. Excerpts of positive comments can be used in cover letters or on a resume and are a great way to set yourself apart. Remember, don't file them at work; bring them home.

4.  Are you proud of something you created? If so, and if company policies allow it, make a copy and include it in your own portfolio.

5.  Did you attend any seminars or trainings? Don't file those certificates at work, bring them home.

6.  Do you have a list of customers/clients? If so, keep a copy of this contact list. These individuals could serve as great resources for you, if you find yourself unemployed.

7.  Network Inward. Maintain your current network of connections. Send an occasional email, forward an interesting article to them, go out for coffee or lunch. Then, if something happens, you will have an immediate network to draw upon and will not have to re-establish a relationship.

8.  Network Outward. Always work on building new connections. Get to know the "connectors" who are the people who know everyone. Participate in local clubs/organizations, and volunteer in your community. 

9.  Build your LinkedIn Presence. Social media is also another great way to network outward. On LinkedIn, update your profile and make sure the content matches your resume -- you don't want any discrepancies. Join LinkedIn groups, participate in discussions, and work on building your connections. Finally, ask for recommendations on LinkedIn. Excerpts from these recommendations can be strategically placed in your cover letter or resume.

10.  Have you thought of creating a second revenue stream? For example, one of my clients, who was an auto technician, started to take on some repair jobs (which he did in his garage) for friends and neighbors. Another client, who had a very part-time job in direct sales (selling jewelry), decided to ramp up that business when she learned her company may be having layoffs. Having a second source of income like these individuals can be very helpful if you become unemployed.

11.  Build Your Savings. I am not a financial expert, but this is common sense. Google this topic and you will find a plethora of articles and tips written by financial experts who provide many different suggestions on ways to increase the emergency fund.

12.  If you have any inclination that your job may be ending soon, don't just sit around and wait; follow your gut and start taking action. Begin looking at job openings within your line of work, and if there is something that interests you, apply for it. By doing so, you will (1) learn how many openings are available in your field; (2) find out how marketable you are; and (3) may possibly have an opportunity to practice your interview skills and learn more about a potential job that would be a great fit.

If you don't have a plan in place, it's time to start one. Don't be caught off guard like some of my clients were. Be proactive, not reactive.

About the author:  As a career strategist and certified interview coach, Connie Hauer has 10+ years of experience delivering effective coaching programs that help clients reach their goals. Read client success stories here: www.mncareerpro.com

10 Job Search Tips for the Mature Worker

Throughout the years as I've worked with clients who are over the age of 50, they often express concerns about their age and how it will affect their job search. Comments such as, "I'm not very good with computers" or "I don't understand social media" are just a few of the concerns I've heard mentioned by older job seekers. In addition to their personal fears, when I take a look at their resumes, I often see many red flags that clearly point to the fact that they are a "mature worker."

To overcome these fears and red flags, I've developed some tips to help the older job seeker be more competitive in the job search world:

1.  Stay Up-to-Date with Your Computer Skills:  If you are concerned about not having strong computer skills, do something about it. If you are currently employed and your employer offers reimbursement for trainings, sign up for a course. If this is not a possibility, conduct an Internet search to find computer trainings in your area or possibly some trainings conducted on the Internet. YouTube may be another option. If you are good at self-teaching and you have the software program on your home computer, work on honing your skills every day.

2.  Remove Obsolete Technology from Your Resume:  Unless it is relevant to the position for which you are applying, remove any out-of-date technology from your resume (for example, DOS operating system). Keeping it on your resume only dates you.

3.  Get Up-to-Speed with Social Media:  Get active with LinkedIn, and if you are not on it, sign up. Whenever a potential client contacts me, I always check to see if that person has a LinkedIn profile. If that person doesn't have one or if the person has one but has a bare-bones profile, I always wonder about whether or not this person embraces change or stays up-to-date with managing his/her career.

4.  Don't List Both a Landline and Cell Phone on Your Resume:  If you have both a cell phone and landline, REMOVE the landline (home) number. Very few younger workers have a landline, and by listing both on your resume, you are announcing you are an older worker. Note: If you only have a landline and not a cell phone, then just include the phone number on your resume without the words "home" in front of the number.

5.  Don't Include Your Year of Birth as Part of Your Email Address:  It's time to get a new email address if the email you are using is janedoe1960@email.com.

6.  Reconsider Using an Old Email Address from the 90s:  If you are using one of the first personal email addresses available from the 1990s, then you may want to consider using another service such as Gmail. I had never thought about this tip before, but a client who is in his mid-20s, commented recently about an older email address stating, "People still use those addresses?"

7.  Don't Include Your Entire Work History on Your Resume:  Recently, I worked with a client who was in his 60s. When I reviewed his resume, he had included all of his work history since the early 1970s. If you're concerned about ageism, then you definitely do not want to include your entire career path. Most employers are concerned about your recent experience (10-15 years) and what you've accomplished in those positions. Obviously, each client's situation is different, and sometimes a job seeker needs to include experience from the early years (especially if he/she is changing careers back to an earlier occupation.) This can be very complicated on how to best present yourself on a resume, and in situations like these, it is best to seek out a professional resume writer to assist you.

8.  Were you a Nontraditional College Student?  If you were a nontraditional student and graduated from college within the past 10-15 years, then it may be advantageous for you to include your graduation date on your resume, because hiring managers may assume you are younger than you are.

9.  Physical Fitness:  Personal interests typically should not be included on resumes; however, if your interest is being physically active, then it would be advantageous for you as an older job seeker to include it on your resume. For example, a walk-a-thon to raise money for a charity could be included under a heading such as "Volunteer Activities," but if it is not a volunteer activity (for example a 5K you participated in), then perhaps a heading such as "Community Involvement" or "Community Activities" could be used.

10. Your Hair:  Several years ago, one of my clients (who had a full head of gray hair), mentioned that if she landed an interview, she was going to color her hair. I had never thought about this before, but coloring your hair to remove the gray will make you look younger. You may also want to consult with your hair stylist. Ask about styles that could make you look younger, but would still be appropriate for your age.

Do you have any additional tips for a job seeker who is concerned about his or her age? I would love to hear them!

About the author: As a career strategist and certified interview coach, Connie Hauer has 10+ years of experience delivering effective coaching programs that help clients reach their goals. Read client success stories here: mncareerpro.com

3 Reasons You Should NOT Stop Your Job Search During the Holidays

If you're thinking about stopping your job search during the holidays, think again. Here are three reasons why you should keep forging ahead:

1.  Despite what most people think, many companies do hire during the holiday season. Just take a look on indeed.com, monster.com, company websites, local job

boards, and the plethora of other job posting websites.

2.  Less competition. Because many people believe that companies do not hire during the holidays, they put their job search on hold, and this actually creates an opportunity for you ... less competition!

3.  Holiday Networking Opportunities. The holidays usher in many opportunities to attend social functions and maybe even reconnect with former employers, coworkers, colleagues, etc. So, spread the word that you're looking for work! The more people who know, the greater the changes of finding a job!

As you can see, the misconception that the holidays is a bad time to look for work can actually work to your advantage. Happy Job Hunting!

Is hiring a career advisor worth it?

On May 3, 2012, a client emailed me the following:

"Hi, I just wanted to let you know that because of your writing skills every job I have applied for I have gotten a call and interview for. I accepted the position I really wanted. I just wanted to thank you. I have given your link to a couple of people I work with as they will be out of a job soon.....Thank You again."

For more information on career advising services, visit www.mncareerpro.com.

Emailing a Resume

Question: When I respond to a job posting that says I should email my resume and cover letter, what should I write in the body of the email? I don't want to repeat what I've written in my cover letter.

Answer: That is correct, you don't want to repeat what you've written in your cover letter. It's important to be brief. Here's an example:

Dear Hiring Manager:

Attached please find my resume, cover letter, and references in response to your opening for a Sales Executive. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jane Doe

janedoe@email.com

555-555-5555

P.S. Please visit my LinkedIn profile for a quick glimpse of my accomplishments and to view my recommendations: www.linkedin.com/in/janedoe

Volunteering: A Bridge to Your Goals

When I conduct job search coaching with clients, I often suggest they volunteer as a way to gain experience and expand their connections. When I was discussing this strategy with a friend of mine (who works for a nonprofit and utilizes volunteers), she shared a couple of success stories which resulted from volunteering:

Story One: A Recent Grad Applying to Grad School
My friend accepted a volunteer application from a student who had applied to grad school but had not been accepted. The program the individual had applied to was very competitive, and because this person had minimal work experience, other applicants with more experience were selected for admission. He decided to gain additional experience through volunteering, and one year later when he applied to the same program, he was accepted.

Story Two: A Recent Grad Looking for Work
Once again, my friend worked with a volunteer who was a recent grad, but this person had a degree in graphic design. This volunteer revamped the organization's newsletter, and when one of the recipients of the newsletter noticed the new eye-catching format, contacted the individual about a freelance job.

Volunteering works! Not only are you giving back to the community, you are gaining experience, increasing connections, and others are seeing first-hand your work ethic and talents!

Multiple Revenue Streams

Long gone are the days when one can work for one or two companies and retire with great benefits. The paradigm and way of thinking must change.

Even if you’re employed and have great benefits, don’t get caught up in the day-to-day routine. It’s important to think of other avenues that will generate money. Then, someday if you find yourself without a job, at least you’ll have some income coming in from another source.

Ask yourself, “What am I good at? What are my interests?” Maybe you’re great with computers. There’s a need for people like you. Maybe you play piano or guitar. Start giving lessons. Maybe you love pets. Start a pet sitting service. Maybe you’re great at finding deals. Buy and then sell things on eBay. You get the idea.

As mentioned above, having multiple streams of revenue is helpful during a job loss. Last year one of my clients found herself unemployed; however, she had a sideline business of hosting jewelry parties and selling jewelry. She poured more energy into this, and it provided a nice source of extra money during her unemployment. Currently, a friend of mine is unemployed. She loves to bake, so she’s created a sideline business of selling baked goods to friends and her husband’s coworkers.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Take charge of your career and your life.

A Changing Trend for Job Seekers

Compared to 2009, changing jobs now tops unemployment as the number one reason clients are seeking assistance from CareerPro Services.

In 2009 45 percent of clients sought career service assistance because they were laid off or because they anticipated a layoff very soon. In the first 10 months of 2010 that number has dropped to 33 percent. The remaining 10 percent accounts for students and recent grads.

Confidence in the job market also seems to be increasing for job seekers according to numbers tracked by CareerPro Services. In 2009 43 percent of clients sought career service assistance because they wanted to change jobs. That number has risen to 57 percent in the first 10 months of 2010. As in 2009, the remaining 10 percent of job seekers were students or recent grads.

College Grads ... Is this you?

Recently, a 2008 college grad contacted me. After she graduated she secured a job, but it was for a position that was not related to her major (which was communications/public relations). While she was glad to have found a job during the sluggish economy, none of her current work experience relates to communications/PR, and she was concerned that since it had been two years since she graduated, she would not be very marketable.

My response to her was that there are steps she could take to gain more current experience. These were some strategies I suggested:

1. First, in your current job, are there any types of PR/communications duties you could initiate that would not only benefit your company, but enhance your skills? Examples: write a newsletter for your department's customers/clients, create signs/flyers, or develop a satisfaction survey and use some of the comments on your department's website. Think of other website content you could develop. Perhaps your department receives a lot of "frequently asked questions." Create a section on the website that addresses these questions.
2. Leverage social media and start blogging. You can create your own blog to write about industry-related topics. Then start a Twitter account and link tweets to your blog.
3. Join a community organization and volunteer to help out with PR/communication-type jobs such as writing articles for the newsletter, helping with the website, designing flyers, or planning events.
4. Volunteer for a nonprofit agency and specifically ask if you can help out with their PR/communication projects.

It's important to remember that taking on volunteer duties with an organization or with a nonprofit agency can open doors and lead to new opportunities. Not only will your resume be enhanced, but other people will see first-hand your skills and talents.

If you gain additional PR/communications experiences through volunteering, create a new section called "Communications/Public Relations Experience" or "Related Experience." Then list these experiences as you would a paid position. Include organization/agency name, title (e.g. Volunteer PR Assistant), and a list of accomplishments.

Don't feel trapped ... go out and find the experience!

What greeting should I use in a cover letter?

Recently, a client contacted me with the following question, "If you are unsure of the hiring manager and only have the HR email and/or address of the company, who should you direct the cover letter to?" My response was that in situations like this, I address the letter to "Dear Hiring Manager." Another option is to contact the company and ask the administrative assistant; however, for larger companies the administrative assistant may not have the inside scoop on all positions. Therefore, my recommendation is to use "Dear Hiring Manager" to ensure no mistakes are made.

What kind of job do I want?

Have you ever thought about changing careers, but aren’t quite certain what you want to do? Consider taking the Self-Directed Search (SDS) career inventory. Based upon the Dr. John Holland’s RIASEC Career Model, the Self-Directed Search (SDS) is the most widely-used career interest inventory in the world. It enables individuals to choose careers or industries which most closely match their self-reported skills and interests. According to the Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR) website, extensive research has shown that people consider themselves satisfied and most successful in careers which most closely match their personality style and interests.

Recently Lost Your Job?

If you or someone you know has recently lost their job, check out this article on The National Career Development Association Website: http://www.associationdatabase.com/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/news_article/13786/_PARENT/layout_details/false