What to do when your job search simply sucks

What to do when your job search simply sucks Heres another older post I found because a spammer tried to comment on it: The Job Search Sucks. Its true, isnt it? No one wakes up and says: You know, Im up for a new challenge. I want to do a job search. This should be a good challenge because the economy sucks well see how this goes! Maybe some people do people who are in a horrible corporate situation. But when you are a job seeker, and discouraged, and tired of spinning your wheels and feeling like nothing is working, sometimes you need to step back and take a little break. In the blog post from 2009 I shared some ideas (read the post to get the entire gist of it): step away and regroup focus on relationships fix something at your house (sometimes having a project complete, or accomplishing something, is a nice break from the mundane job search) plant flowers go back to school (I think this needs serious thought, because it means major changes to schedule, finances, etc.) change industries QUIT the job search. Sound silly?  I did it.  And that is what 51 Alternatives to a Real Job is all about. Check out the post for more, as well as insightful comments from others What to do when your job search simply sucks Heres another older post I found because a spammer tried to comment on it: The Job Search Sucks. Its true, isnt it? No one wakes up and says: You know, Im up for a new challenge. I want to do a job search. This should be a good challenge because the economy sucks well see how this goes! Maybe some people do people who are in a horrible corporate situation. But when you are a job seeker, and discouraged, and tired of spinning your wheels and feeling like nothing is working, sometimes you need to step back and take a little break. In the blog post from 2009 I shared some ideas (read the post to get the entire gist of it): step away and regroup focus on relationships fix something at your house (sometimes having a project complete, or accomplishing something, is a nice break from the mundane job search) plant flowers go back to school (I think this needs serious thought, because it means major changes to schedule, finances, etc.) change industries QUIT the job search. Sound silly?  I did it.  And that is what 51 Alternatives to a Real Job is all about. Check out the post for more, as well as insightful comments from others What to do when your job search simply sucks Heres another older post I found because a spammer tried to comment on it: The Job Search Sucks. Its true, isnt it? No one wakes up and says: You know, Im up for a new challenge. I want to do a job search. This should be a good challenge because the economy sucks well see how this goes! Maybe some people do people who are in a horrible corporate situation. But when you are a job seeker, and discouraged, and tired of spinning your wheels and feeling like nothing is working, sometimes you need to step back and take a little break. In the blog post from 2009 I shared some ideas (read the post to get the entire gist of it): step away and regroup focus on relationships fix something at your house (sometimes having a project complete, or accomplishing something, is a nice break from the mundane job search) plant flowers go back to school (I think this needs serious thought, because it means major changes to schedule, finances, etc.) change industries QUIT the job search. Sound silly?  I did it.  And that is what 51 Alternatives to a Real Job is all about. Check out the post for more, as well as insightful comments from others

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Uh-Oh You May Not Be Worth What You Thought

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese Uh-Oh You May Not Be Worth What You Thought If you were offered a job you really wanted, would you be willing to accept less money than what you expected?That's the question many people are facing these days, even in those positions that were in such high demand they were supposedly bulletproof.According to a JobFox survey, some median annual salary ranges dropped $10,000, compared to a month ago. Some examples include software design/development; product management; networking/system administration; finance; and government contracts administration.These numbers reflect what the Department of Labor is saying, that wages are failing to keep up with inflation. That's pretty grim news as we face rising prices for energy and food, while coping with huge credit debts.Still, there are some ways to cope in this economy:1. Don't become overfocused on wages. Look for the growth opportunities in a job. You want a job to increase your knowledge and skills, and make you even more marketable in the future.2. Ask for reviews. When you take a new job, ask for a review in the first 90 days to review your performance. This helps set the groundwork for a salary bump before your annual review. If you're already in a job, ask your boss to set up some quarterly meetings to review where you stand and make sure you're on target to meet goals.3. Negotiate for other compensation/benefits. If an employer isn't offering you the salary you desire, ask for training opportunities -- either in another department, or to attend an industry event where you'll not only learn something, but make valuable professional contacts. As for other benefits, I know one worker who nabbed a good laptop from her company for $75 when the employer decided to upgrade. Make sure you're friendly with the office manager and the IT people so you know when good stuff may become available for purchase. Or, see if you can work from home at least one day a week to save on fuel costs. Some employers will pay the cost of monthly Internet service if you put in work time from home, or pay your cell phone bill if you spend time using it for business. The point it to be creative in presenting win-win options to your boss.4. Ask about tuition reimbursement. Some companies still offer the benefit, and any education is worth the time. Recent schooling always looks good on a resume, and many companies cannot offer higher salaries unless you meet certain educational or training requirements.Still, the question of whether to accept a job at a salary you believe is too low is a tough one. In this economy, it can be difficult to negotiate when employers are cutting back not only salaries, but positions.Do you think it's a mistake to accept a job for less money than what you desire -- or is this a salary trend we must learn to accept? del.icio.us

How Not Feeling Nervous When Interviewing - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

How Not Feeling Nervous When Interviewing - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Most if not all people feel nervous before and during a job interview. For the past several years, I’ve been helping people prepare for job interviews. I’m also a very experienced interviewer, but recently, when asked to be on a radio talk show, I went through the same emotions and nervousness as all my clients doâ€"despite my vast experience. It’s normal. I just now listened to an interview of famous Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti in which he revealed thatâ€"despite his years and years of seven-day-a-week vocal practice and endless stage appearances in front of thousands of people in an audienceâ€" he felt very nervous every time he appeared on stage. A job interview is nothing less than an oral exam for which a person typically prepares ahead of time. And there’s nothing wrong with being a bit nervous, provided you know how to turn such nervous energy into a positive outcome. Otherwise, the nervousness can undermine your efforts and manifest itself in sweaty palms, dry mouth, difficulty thinking and focusing, talking very fast with poor enunciation, and eyes darting all overâ€"all of which lead to a poor image and a downward spiral in self-confidence. Sometimes the interviewer may not be attentive, or may demonstrate lack of deep interest, or may act visibly distracted and unfocused, or may feel hurried and simply not into it. That predicament generates strong negative feelings for the interviewer, especially when the job candidate wants to be liked and convincing and to appear professional and valued with the anticipation of getting a job offer. So let’s see how to deal with this daunting predicament. First, you need to be very well prepared, with knowledge of the company and lots of facts and details about it. It’s also important to learn as much as possible about the interviewer or even several interviewers and, most of all if possible, about the challenges they’re facing. Having information on those issues via past, similar experiences with successful outcomes arms both parties with confidence. Second, position yourself to face the interviewer so that your shoulders are parallel to the interviewer’s shoulders. Think about the image of the anchor person reading the evening news on TV: make solid eye contact, but don’t stare, because that can make the interviewer almost freak out. Have both your feet squarely on the floor, and place your hands comfortablyâ€"whatever feels normal for you. Don’t cross your arms or lock one hand into the other with your fingers interwoven. It is perfectly normal to gesture, but minimally. Gesturing helps make emphasis andâ€"combined with t he words you say and the contextâ€"can make your responses even better. Think about American presidents making their famous speeches. The main success factor in overcoming interview jitters and anxiety lies in practicing mock interviews with a competent trainer to the point that you feel confident. And then do a little more just for good measure. So, this has been my advice. What has been your experience? Please feel free to comment.