HFCN - Helping Friends Career Network ~ Jobs, Careers, Success, Transformation: July 2007

30 July 2007

Career Worth on the Up and Up

Here are some tips to increase the energy and your approach to your career. Feeling a well being, a sense of self confidence, self, esteem, and self worth, are your sole responsibility whether you are an employee or manager, you own the outcome. However there is much you can do to improve your net worth and avoid complacency.

When everyone around you is looking, acting, and being a certain way, how do you keep yourself accountable, approachable, and motivated to make productive change? How much can you brush off as environmental?

I am not one that leans heavily on the notion of career development, through negative avoidance, however by study of contrast, an environment full of positive people, tend to have better outcomes, than a work environment full of distrust, contempt, burnout, and exhaustive negative energy.

Knowing your strengths, possibilities, weaknesses, and fears requires a bit of introspection, but it is time well spent. In 2001, my employer was announcing dramatic reductions in force, and the affects of which were going to be dramatic whether we kept our job, or were laid off. At the time my strengths were my stubborn resolve and passion for facing adversity openly. My weaknesses were my personal and deep seeded fear of being a failure, and so much time I invested in NOT being a failure, that I diminished my actual productivity.

What I found strength in was my ability to assess the situation and make choices that allowed me to continue to do that which brought serenity, joy and health to my family. Mine was the primary income, and I felt such incredible fear over losing that responsibility, that I plunged into worry and preservation mode.

I reminded myself that IF stability were all that important to me, I would have chosen to leave as soon as the risk was identified. The flexibility and curiosity carried me through these challenging times. For me to still maintain the value and responsibility of a person who feels threatened financially, required I examine my values, my worth, and my ideal environment.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to discover what is most important to you. After you have answered them, you have a greater sense of the options.. Where there are options, there are choices, where there are choices, there is a responsibility.. and freedom, and of course, for each choice, a consequence.

What is it that you value most about your current career?
What is it that you dislike the most about your current career?
Are you keeping yourself informed and aware of the long term directions?
Where are you delivering unique value?
Are you well prepared to analyze and navigate the impact of business changes?
If I could work in my PERFECT career, the work day would look like ___?
Who do I know that has accomplished that which I aspire to do? Would they mentor me?
What action steps can I take today, to remain in a state of continuous improvement, and positive momentum?
Where are the 'mind' 'mine-fields' of my imagination-- that place where a moderate activity is made more extreme and dramatic than perhaps useful or logical? What can you do to recognize them, and be conscious of the choices you have that allow you to identify and avoid the mind, mine fields?
Most promotions come as a result of competitive positioning-- doing more than is expected. What is expected of the key thought and action leaders in your company?

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21 July 2007

Career Technology made Simple Trials: LinkedIn_2_Jobster

How many technology trials could lead to solving your career problems in the shorter term too? Try it, Join Us, lets create some possibilities!

This is going to be fun. Are you looking for work? OR are you looking to hire people? Try the technology in this trial, share your ideas and best practices for getting the most out of the trial, and gain valuable business connections, friendship, and ideas to extend your prosperity potential.

Together Everyone Achieves More! Ideal participant in this technology trial favors 'win win' networking over proprietary 'trade' secrets. Opportunities offered in generous proportion are welcome for all- jobseekers, recruiters, hiring managers and business professionals! For the next few days, ready your profile, refine your search criteria, and update your jobs listings... Keep notes on what worked, where you would like help, etc. at the end we will summarize best practice ideas for how to use social networking to bring together business demand and opportunity!

Are you Looking for Work or Looking to Hire?
Are you Looking to become more visible to jobseekers or hiring managers?
Are you Looking to use your social networks more effectively?

EFFECTIVE today, Saturday July 21 -Wednesday, please contact Dawn Mular if interested in participating in a trial of this technology mix for creating most excellent opportunities for your career needs. Recruiters with jobs to post, Business Professionals looking to use the tools more effectively, Job Seekers looking for work, are all welcome to participate.

We talked on the LinkedIn Helping Friends Business Blog about a technology trial of LinkedIn and Jobster to create a best practice for social networking in the jobs search. Here are the details..

Requirements to participate in the trial: LinkedIn + Jobster + Helping Friends

Jobster:

Complete a profile on Jobster with an uploaded resume if you are a jobseeker.

Complete work and education history.
List all of your skill tags, to be discovered in searches.
Answer questions to lend credibility and personality -- that personal touch to what's important to you and how you work.
Add colleagues and friends to your network. OPTIONAL Add me to your Jobster network, but if you are a job seeker or recruiter, my success is built on partnership and I welcome your invitations if you believe in the power of networking and good.

Helping Friends Business And Career Networks: If you are already a jobseeker registered in HFCN as a candidate, contact your HFCN recruiter to be included. If you are a client with jobs listed, no worries, you are automatically going to benefit. If you are a partner in industry, contact me to see if there is more we can do together to help one another and our networks.

JOBSEEKERS: Complete a New Candidate Profile required if you are a job seeker wanting to be considered for HFCN Jobs, optional if you are a job seeker just wanting to use the technology.
HIRING MANAGERS/RECRUITERS: Required: Send and new jobs you are willing to split or allow Helping Friends to place to dawn.mular@helpingfriendscareernetwork.com. No charge for listing the job, and we only need to work out terms if you want to hire one of the candidates from our system, or if your system supplies one of the candidates for our listed jobs.

Optional: You are welcome to join any of our business networking communities, to share ongoing business leads/needs, and good deeds.

Helping Friends Yahoos: Jobs | HR/Recruiters | Telecommuters | LI HFCN | Careers |

LinkedIn:

Complete a Profile on LinkedIn- required when a job seeker, also required if you are a hiring manager looking to get a good search on LinkedIn, optional if you are a contingency partner or hiring manager partnering directly with the Helping Friends for job listing/candidate sourcing expertise.
OPTIONAL Request Invitation to LinkedIn Helping Friends Group Network- helpful for networking with LinkedIn Helping Friends Business Professionals. Optional for all, but a great way to extend your network to some of the biggest networking masters in the industry.

20 July 2007

10 Career Planning Utilities worth a click!

Top 10 favorite Career Planning Utilities we recently discovered.

Emurse.com Resume Creator, Optimizer, Tracker.
JobVent.com allows you to review or rate your job. This allows you to browse all reviews and access a Salary Wizard from Salary.com
BadBossology.com free resources to deal with bad bosses, problem supervisors and difficult managers.
LifeClever.com resume makeover techniques.
Resume Samples Free database of sample resumes by industry.
Cover Letter Samples Free database of sample cover letter formats and techniques.
Twenty-Eight Cover Letter mistakes to avoid.
Create Your Video Resume. (Please send me sample resumes if you make them.)
CareerBreakCafe
Best Careers where Degree is not required

Ouch, That's going to leave a bruise!? Career Blunders to watch out for

"Ouch, now that is going to leave a bruise... " We get so busy doing something we stub out toe, and get hit in the head with a rake in the process... Accidents happen when we are not fully paying attention to what's around us. Being too busy, too hurried, too stressed or too much in need of the job could cause similar bruises.

Here are some career blunders to watch out for, and mitigating suggestions to avoid them entirely.

THINKING OF YOU, as I pay the post man. Sending Resume's or Thank You notes with insufficient postage. MITGATION: Keep the current stamps in circulation on your top desk drawer, if you have old stamps, make sure to upgrade them with the appropriate current rate.
VIRAL MARKETING IS HOT, email viruses are not. Leveraging a business network to create possibilities is great. Sending Resumes by email without cover letters is not a good idea. Never make an employer or recruiter have to choose between risking a virus or a resume, most won't risk it. MITIGATION: Draft up a cover letter format you really like to customize in a rush. You have your resume ready in that format, keep your cover letter saved as a template.
"Caring about qaulity' shows first in what and how you represent yourself in your career portfolio materials. Sure spelling errors happen, but not if you are leveraging your network and tools well. MITIGATION: Have a friend review your resume and support material before you send it out for feedback. Turn on spell check in email to correct frequent mistakes, then you can rush, with quality.
I want you to want (to hire) me, but I don't need you to hire me. One of the most clashing fashion faux pas in the career seeking space is accessorizing with too much desperation to get a new job or visible contempt for your prior employer. You want employers and recruiters to want to work with you and want to hire you. MITIGATION: It's okay to feel, feelings, just don't accessorize with them on a job interview. What's the toughest question they can ask about this situation I do not entirely feel comfortable with? Prepare your response in advance. Whats the worst that can happen thinking, rarely does, but if it were to happen, you would be ready!
Momentum is rarely created waiting for the phone to ring. Remember that there are probably a half dozen possibilities that could improve the career situation you are in. After an interview, don't stop and drop and wait. Stop Drop, and ROLL like you are on fire, and it is a matter of time and consistency before you are celebrating your success. MITIGATION: After taking an action, it is common to 'wait and see'. That's not momentum, it's hopeful thinking. Define what the next thing you can do to recognize your objective. Don't forget that thank you's genuinely expressing your skills, appreciation and interest can help. Other strategies when waiting for response is to have a few extra letters of recommendation in pocket, that you can send on. The best thing to do, is to keep busy working to identify what is next-- what is your next opportunity, partner, interview, action, event, or activity that can create momentum. Ask a mentor for ideas!
People in Grim Reaper costumes have a hard time hailing cabs. Slipping into something a bit more professional when responding to professional opportunities helps things along. It's not that the cab driver doesn't want the fare, so much as they don't want the ride to a feeling of certain death. Thinking about the 'fun' social image you project still matters if you also use that persona to respond to professional opportunities. MITIGATION: If your networking from a system that will have you responding to professional opportunities, avoiding violent or off color representations of yourself when applying for a job in the social service arena, is always a good idea.

15 July 2007

Job Search Secrets

The basics of effective job search have not changed, sure tools and social networking, online applicant tracking, search engine optimization, and resume blasting services, etc.. might have complicated the search..

However, the bulk of jobs are still achieved through networking, whether the lead is generated through traditional or nontraditional means, the resume is still a vehicle to opening or closing doors. Being one who prefers doors openings of opportunity, here are some ideas to hedge your options. Why not deploy every resource at your disposal to make that impression that gets you the jobs you want?

A few suggestions before sending your resume:

Do Don't

1. Keep CURRENT: refresh your network and your brand . Maintain a current resume, with key word search alignment to your job profile. Keep in contact with references and let them know your objectives.

3. If the recruiting site offer a web based form, fill it out, this helps to target in on ideal job fit, compensation and geographic preference.

2. Don't end a resume without a cover letter-- If we have to choose virus or resume, most don't open the unsolicited attachment. Besides, it lets you sell yourself, and P.S. it works!

4. Don't make unchecked assumptions of interest or disinterest. The only bad question is the one left unasked.

On Your Mark

Prepared your Elevator Pitch and Career Marketing Materials.
Checked your Resume Key Words for Currency to the market you desire to work in.
Checked your Reference's contacts are current (check out Plaxo for help), and updated your endorsements

Get Set

Spell checked your resume and cover letter, all portfolio materials.
Assemble a resume review dream team-- someone in the field you desire to work, a resume expert, and/or a recruiter for input.
Updated your address book, day planner, or contact information.
Refreshed your social networking profile with links to the resume/endorsements.

Go!

Create momentum, don't stop after each activity.. Do this until you are working your dream job.
Sell your skills, not your desperation. Whatever the reason you are looking for work, optimism will do more for your spirit, your search, and the impressions you make on others than fear or pessimism.
For Best Practices, connections to career coaches, resume writers and recruiters... Join the Helping Friends Networks that help you meet those needs as you recognize your career goals and dreams:

Job Leads (Recruiter, Career Coach and Job Seekers Network)
Career Coach (Low volume, tips and links library)
Telecommuter Professionals

In the spirit of creating the jobs of tomorrow, sometime late tonight, click the logo in the left corner and check out our current jobs.

If you would like a bit of extra feedback on your resume, fill out your Candidate Profile, Resume Details, References, etc, then contact me, and I will add you to our 'extra care' resume program. Will offer feedback to people who need to find a job but have not been getting the results they need, or a good service for people who are ready to make a career change, but don't have alot of time to spend on the 'search' portion. This service requires candidates to provide a LinkedIn Profile, a complete New Candidate profile, Resume, and References so we can really help to help you.

Coming SOON: Job Search Technology.

We have had requests for a refresh on our Job Search Technology Solutions. Please participate in a poll open on Helping Friends Jobs Network assessing what preferences job seekers have for keeping current. We will share what technology has helped and what technology was well, NOT so effective.

09 July 2007

Telecommuting Traffic is blissfully green

'Independent research commissioned by the Carbon Trust (Opinion Leader Panel, November 2006.) has revealed that around half of business leaders feel that the difference in the gap between words and actions on carbon policy will be more readily spotted in 2007, in particular by customers. And that the issue that should be of most concern to CEOs in 2007 is ‘energy and the environment’.'

In Manhattan, the Federal discussion for funding to implement congestion pricing relief is calling to attention the employer's ability to make a difference by deploying the State and Private Business Service administration programs. "Power for Jobs" program in New York is an incentive program offered to participating companies who can receive lower costs by New York Power Authority in return for creating or maintaining employment levels.. Is it working? The program is linked to some 375,000 jobs throughout New York. I had to wonder, could an environmentally sound solution be considered, where the employers could also get incentives for requiring a LOWER carbon footprint? Governor Spitzer's stated intent of making New York a model for telecommuting is an idea who's time has come.

We really have come to a point of needed stewardship from government and commerce. The 'someone' else's problem is going to be addressed in nearer terms, if we think we can continue deflecting opportunity. It seems that for so long as government points to business, business thinks 'hey that's BIG companies, not my small business that's the problem'. Middle managers threatened by loss of visibility and possible complication, loss of control, or issues suggest this notion will never fly... Again isn't this issue of personal redundance a rather impractical reason to hold on to the old notion of cubicle communes and catastrophic commutes? Isn't it time we came to realize that gridlock is largely impractical-- for those employees who donate 10 hours or more a week to traffic, for the employers that are waiting for them to arrive, and for the offices that have to be larger to accomodate growth and more and more power to produce more and more traditional workspaces?

We are killing ourselves getting to work aren't we!? 43K Traffic Fatalities in the United States represents a record number of loss, and a 1.4% increase from 2 years prior. We have got to buy gas to get in the car to drive to work to keep our job and visibility.

Time Magazine ran a great article on the way Generation Y-ers work, and if we are recognizing a blurred line between home and work time, why not make it a win win win proposition? People want life balance, employers want good staff. What's the best way to make that happen? Make the work compelling for all sorts. Telecommuting is not for everyone, but offering the flexibility that leaders in this industry do, brings loyalty, life balance, better health options, and that is even better than a day in a loud office of tightly packed cubicles! Especially if it is saving the company turnover $150,000 to replace those that might have simply needed a change!

It will happen when we begin leading the change we want to see in the world, and letting go of the traditional views that all work must be done at the same time of day, in the same building, with the same tweed cubicle to be successful. Culturally, the statistics show an incredible opportunity to embrace a change like this!

WHO'S LEADING CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS? Cheers to InfoWorld's Ted Samson, for his article on Sustainable IT!

AT&T’s 36,000 telecommuters save 80,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually, according to a World Resources Institute Report.
Bank of America took on telecommuting pilots and took significant environmental steps that cut the cooling load, allowing for a converted cooling system thattook up 40% less space, and required 56% less electricity. In 2006, they started a pilot program offering a $3000 subsidy to employees who purchase new hybrid cars. The company now plans to extend the benefit to its 185,000 American workers.
Kaiser Permanente's pilot program of 12 employees telecommuting 2-4/week, eliminated office/work space reducing traffic problems outside the Lake Oswego, Ore., office. Pilot participants reduced their commute for the work year by about 55,000 miles!
Sun's Telework initiative was far reaching in IT, Real Estate, HR and Management issues, however it was also very good for those who embraced the environmental, flexible work, and time benefits. Savings of 63.8M in real estate and cost avoidance of more than $300M with best practices being shared with an open working community.
Yahoo! plans to be fully carbon neutral by the end of 2007: purchasing green power near its California headquarters; running its Hillsboro, Massachusetts office on 100% renewable energy such as wind and solar power; and using power management controls to turn off nonessential and unused lighting. The company will also offer employees Wi-Fi-enabled shuttle vans, encourage employees to bike to work, and offer discounts on public transportation.

Resources: http://www.liveearthpledge.org/

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04 July 2007

Independence Day Career Explorations...

For those who live in the United States, celebrating Independence Day Today, The Fourth of July... This blog is dedicated to Independent Career Explorations.

I am writing you from lovely Lake Bloomington in Illinois. Today we went for an 8 mile bike ride around the lake, and to the 'farm'-- a rugged golf course/farm, where the kids had great fun riding gocarts and golf carts, feeding the horses, and fishing. Tonight, we will experience the majesty of Fourth of July on the Lake. There is a parade of boats, decorated for the holiday, and the homes surrounding the lake are adorned with lights and luminaires. At dark, the fireworks color the sky, and are echoed in the sparkling waters... a beautiful site.

Traditions are fun, some are absolutely important traditions. While other beliefs and traditions are left unexamined, maybe not serving us so well. When vacationing at such a beautiful place, we consider what our inspirations really are.

Here are some of my old career beliefs traded in for new ones. I would love to hear what liberating values you have embraced and how they serve you professionally.

OLD BELIEF: I will believe it when I see it... Something as if the pessimism, skepticism, and disbelief it happens was serving me-- it was keeping me feeling trapped.

LIBERATING BELIEF: I will see it as I believe it. It starts with being clear on our dreams-- asking for the conditions that make us complete. Believing we are never given a dream without the ability to make it so, and Accepting the conditions that make it so!

The world is full of resources -- plenty of money, time, challenge and opportunity to make our dreams come true.. Sometimes it is the traditional logic that gets in the way of the dream... Dream big as you celebrate freedom, both are important values and activities for humanity!

What are your old beliefs that YOU have traded in for something that compliments your aspirations?
What would really inspire you, and what steps can you take towards your most liberating career?

Dawn: CEOSpace | Facebook | Frappr | Hi5 | Konnects| Lijit | Linked In | MyBlogLog | MySpac e | Naymz | Ning | Ryze | Stumble | Tribe | Twitter | Viadeo | Xing | Yahoo

HFCN Social Network Groups: LinkedIn | Ryze | MySpace | Ning | Hi5 | MerchantCircle |
HFCN Yahoo Groups: Jobs | HR/Recruiters | Telecommuters | LI HFCN | LI2TheSecret | Careers |

HFCN - Helping Friends Career Network ~ Jobs, Careers, Success, Transformation