Goodbye 2013 - Hello 2014

Does a departing 2013 leave you with undone tasks?   Are there friends that you have neglected or ignored?  Did you postpone activities that may have improved your life? Well, the beginning of a new year is a great time to do the undone and begin something new.

For job seekers, I encourage you to immediately define your work objectives and develop a job search strategy focused on obtaining meaningful employment.  My blogs and many, many other sources including the Internet are sources of information that will enable you.

For other readers of this blog, I encourage you share your knowledge and experience with job seekers by commenting in this blog or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Happy New Year 2014 to everyone!

Thanks, Glyn

Bad News for Long-Term Unemployed

The Dallas Morning News, December 25, 2013, edition has two articles dealing with long-term unemployed.   First on page 2D, an article by Michael Kanell from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Long-term unemployed find it harder to get hired than newly jobless”, cites statistics and anecdotal examples which support this claim.  Hiring companies frequently ask “Why hasn’t someone else hired this person?”  Or perhaps they wonder if the applicant still has the capability to perform.  There is some good news, however.

Another article on the same page, “At a Glance Red Flags” also by Michael Kanell, gives some advice to smart job-seekers trying to avoid giving a company reasons to toss out his/her application.  Here are his suggestions:

1.   One red flag is being out of work for a long time.  To reduce the time gaps in a resume, one should include any activities during the job gap.  For example, volunteer work at local NFP organizations should be mentioned.

2.   The No. 1 piece of advice to applicants is to read the job description. It is a good idea to fine-tune your resume to include experience and training that fit with the job being sought.

3.   Many job-seekers complain of throwing scores or even hundreds of applications into the web. A suggestion by Elizabeth Gill, owner of an Atlanta franchise of Express Employment Professionals is that job-seekers should aggressive make connections through social media, friends, and neighbors.  Does the term “networking” come to mind?

Please share your suggestions to assist the long-term unemployed find jobs by commenting in this blog or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks, Glyn

Seasonal Jobs

I know that it is getting late in the Christmas season; however, there are many organizations seeking seasonal workers.  The good news is that many of the seasonal hires may convert to permanent jobs.

Cheryl Casone of Fox Business cable channel posts jobs on her website    -  http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2013/12/17/hired/ lists a number of job openings from organizations she has contacted.  Here are a few of our recommended companies:

FedEx -  http://fedex.hodesiq.com/careers/job_search.aspx?Locale=en&User_ID=

Sterling Jewelers - http://www.sterlingcareers.com/

ToysRUs - http://www.toysrusinc.com/careers/

Domino Pizza - http://www.dominosbiz.com/Biz-Public-EN/Site+Content/Secondary/Careers/

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/jobs/ref=gw_m_b_careers

Container Store - http://www.containerstore.com/careers/index.html

H  & R Block - http://www.hrblock.com/career/

David Bridal - http://www.davidsbridal.com/OnlineHelp_help-company-info?leftNav=true#careers

Limited Brands - http://careers.lb.com/

Please share contact information for other organizations that are hiring with others by commenting in this blog or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks, Glyn

10 Best Places for Veterans to find Jobs

As a USAA member, I receive the USAA Magazine, and the Winter 2013 issue on page 10 contains a very interesting article about the best cities in the U.S. for veterans to find jobs.  I am thinking that if these cities are the best places for vets to find jobs perhaps it is true for other job seekers as well.  Here they are:

1.    Houston – Population 5.9 million, unemployment rate 6.1 percent, recent job growth 2.6 percent.  Houston offers a vibrant economy and jobs and industries that best fit the skills of transitioning military members.

2.    Dallas – Population 4.4 million, unemployment rate 6.2 percent, recent job growth 2.9 percent.  Job growth stayed healthy over the last year, while average home prices remained at an attractive $124,000.

3.    Minneapolis – Population 3.3 million, Unemployment rate 5.3 percent, recent job growth 1.7 percent. Careers in education and health care are particularly here.

4.    Oklahoma City – Population 1.2 million, Unemployment rate 4.6 percent, recent job growth 1.7 percent.  The Oklahoma City metro area has the lowest cost of living on the list. As a state capital, Oklahoma City benefits from government employment opportunities.

5.    Austin – Population 1.7 million, unemployment rate 5.3 percent, recent job growth 3.4 percent.  Austin is the state capital and home of The University of Texas and many high tech companies

6.    Norfolk – Population 1.7 million, unemployment rate 5.7 percent, recent job growth 1.7 percent.  The largest concentration of military bases and facilities and is home to sites for NASA and the Commerce, Veterans Affairs,Transportation and Energy Departments.

7.    Tampa – Population 2.8 million, unemployment 6.9 percent, recent job growth 4 percent.  Home prices are a low $107,000 and area’s job growth ties for the highest among the 10 cities listed here.

8.    Salt Lake City – Population 1.2 million, Unemployment rate 4.5 percent, recent job growth 4 percent.  Salt Lake City has the lowest unemployment rate with the greatest job growth over the last 12 months. 

9.    Orlando – Population 2.1 million, unemployment rate 6.6 percent, recent job growth 2.5 percent.  Orlando has the lowest median home prices and given its proximity to many major attractions and theme parks, it has a large leisure and hospitality industry.

10. Fort Lauderdale – Population 1.8 million, unemployment rate 5.7 percent, recent job growth 3.1 percent. The cost of living well below the national average while the economy shows strong job growth. The proximity to the Atlantic Ocean drives the two major industries: marine commerce and tourism.

Please share with readers of this blog if this information is helpful to your job search by posting your comments or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks, Glyn

December 7, 1941- A Day to Remember

Do you remember this tragic day?  I was only 4 years old so I cannot recall any specific events, but I found this article from the American Thinker, December 7, 2013, edition:

It's been 72 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor, but for survivors, the events of that day are seared into their memory, making the experience fresh and vital.

This is important because the number of those who lived through the attack gets smaller every anniversary.

Each of us probably has some tie to that black day of American history, to Pearl Harbor, although the lines may be faint and the chances of tracing it directly dim with each year.

On the day Japanese bombers struck the battleships lined up like sitting ducks in Pearl Harbor, my then 16-year-old father was hunting on the farm on Sunshine Bottom (a narrow strip of Missouri River valley just south of the South Dakota line).

"I came home about dark and Dad told me the news," my father said.

Eventually, he would join the other 16 million Americans who served in World War II.

On that same day about a hundred miles or so away, my then 12-year-old mother looked up to see her mother react to the announcer over the battery-powered radio in the sitting room. She remembers my grandma running in tears to the field to tell my grandpa.

And just like the terrible news delivered to so many other American families throughout the way - 416,837 killed or missing - it hit close to home.

The Pearl Harbor disaster was one of the first truly national tragedies. The technology of radio helped spread the news so that within hours, virtually everyone in America knew what happened. That sense of sharing stood us in good stead as the tremendous sacrifices demanded by victory were borne with remarkable equanimity.

It was a different America then:

My family's connections back to the war that defined the "Greatest Generation" in Tom Brokaw's phrase don't carry with them remarkable and harrowing tales, although I believe the evidence of valor is implicit. The tales may be there, in shadows of history or memory, I don't know.

But that's OK, for these are my connections to great events.

What I think is important is for each of us to remember the sacrifices great and small that the "Greatest Generation" made, and to honor those who served then and in each of the other times the country has called.

We owe them to never forget.

We are losing 2,000 World War II veterans every day. By remembering Pearl Harbor, we grant each of those who pass on a little bit of immortality. They, and their accomplishments will remain alive as long as we keep faith with history and remember them.

Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2013/12/never_forget_december_7_1941.html#ixzz2mu0mJHbX 
Follow us: @AmericanThinker on Twitter | AmericanThinker on Facebook

I hope that you will find these words thought-provoking and make you appreciative of the ones who were there on that fateful day.

Please share with readers of this blog your thoughts about December 7, 1941, by posting your comments in this blog or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks, Glyn

Post-Military Career Transition

Many individuals departing from the U.S. military are having difficultly adjusting to civilian life and finding meaningful employment. Fortunately, there are many sources to assist with this transition.

As contained in my book on page 178, it is recommended that service veterans emphasize their special qualities including:

·        A disciplined approach to work

·        An ability to work as part of a team

·        Respect and integrity

·        Problem-solving skills

·        An ability to perform under pressure

·        Communication skills

Further, as discussed in the book is American Corporate Partners (http://www.acp-usa.org/), a nonprofit organization based in New York City dedicated to helping recently separated members of the armed services transition to the corporate environment.

An article the December 1, 2013, issue of The Dallas Morning News, “Making A Smooth Transition to a Post-Military Career” on page 1J by Brandpoint describes the website TAONLINE, http://www.taonline.com/skills-translator/, as an example of translator tools that relates MOS codes to civilian occupations.

The U.S. Department of Labor hosts a Transitional Assistance Program, http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/tap/ , that provides soon-to-be discharged or retired service members helpful educational and workshops on job searches, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing techniques, as well as decisions that need to be made relating to career choices.

Please share with readers of this blog your suggested sources of assistance for ex-military seeking employment.  You can post your comments in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks, Glyn

Validate Your References

Frequently, hiring organizations request applicants to provide references from previous employers.  When I am counseling job seekers, I encourage them to develop a list of references to be provided when applying for jobs.

A word of caution is in order, however.  An article the November 14, 2013, issue of The Dallas Morning News, “Reference Letter Not Worth the Paper It’s on” on page 1J describes a situation when a boss gave an ex-employee a reference letter to be shown to potential employers.  After showing the letter to a prospective employer, the hiring manager called the company for a verbal confirmation of the reference letter. The writer of the reference letter would not give the OK on the phone. Such a situation is at best embarrassing and probably disqualifying for the job.

I suggest that job seekers negotiate what a previous employer will say about them.  One should never give contact information for a reference to a potential employer without first getting approval from the contact.  Even if the employee had been discharged, the employer may agree to provide a positive job reference.

If there has been a major disagreement between a job seeker and his/her previous employer resulting in a dismissal, I suggest that the job seeker use the name of a co-worker who understands the situation as a reference.  Of course, the co-worker must agree to provide a positive reference.      

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com with your experience with obtaining positive job references.   

Thanks, Glyn

Good to be Home!

We always enjoy returning home after being away on a cruise or other extended trip.  Visiting other countries gives us a chance to compare our lives with those in other countries.  Many peoples in other lands while proud of their countries do not have the wonderful life style which we frequently take for granted. 

For example, for older adults such as me, The Americans with Disabilities Act provides us many mobility issues with aids such as hand rails on stairs and convenient elevators.  I might add, however, that the airports we used provided welcoming assistance with wheelchairs and directional assistance.

Discussions with citizens in the Black Sea region indicated that the unemployment rate especially among younger adults was very high, in the 20 percent range.  However, from personal experience with our grandchildren, I know jobs are also scarce in the United States for recent college graduates.  Some of the cities we visited seemed very active with commerce while others not so much.

We have returned home with a greater appreciation for the advantages that the United States affords us and are committed to be contributors to our wonderful society. 

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com with your experience with travels to other countries.   

Thanks, Glyn

Coming Home

We are leaving Venice, Italy, today and will be back in Dallas and blogging this week.
Glyn

Off to the Black Sea!

On October 28, 2013, my wife and I are heading east to Athens to board the Pacific Princess cruising to the Black Sea.  Our ports of call include Volos, Greece, Yalta, Ukraine; Odessa, Ukraine; Constanta, Romania; Nessebar, Bulgaria; Istanbul, Turkey; Ljubljana (Koper), Slovenia; and Venice, Italy.

I am thinking that I may not be able to post weekly blogs; however, I plan to post some pictures on Facebook.  Please feel free to visit the site and leave your comments.

I remember my father-in-law always looked forward to his retirement when he could enjoy leisure time. Unfortunately, his time on the earth expired before he retired.

 

We are very fortunate to have the time and means to take such wonderful trips.  I encourage you working folks to set aside some extra funds so you can also make your senior moments memorable.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com your plans to enjoy your retirement days.

Thanks, Glyn

Those Bothersome Interview Questions

During an interview, you may wonder what answers the interviewer wants to hear from the ideal candidate.  I have found several websites that may be helpful for you to prepare for a job interview. 

Using Google, Bing or other search engines, you will find numerous sites with the following search argument: ‘interview questions and answers’.  However, many of these sites are trying to sell you on their program to improve your interview skills.  I have not purchased any of these programs so I do not know if they are effective. 

If you prepare for the interview by researching the organization and the position for which you are applying, the interviewer will be impressed by your interest in the position.  Further, I think that one approach in preparing for a job interview is to practice by having a friend conduct a mock interview with you. This approach should assist you in overcoming being nervous and tentative with your responses during the interview.

It is important to remember that your objective in any job interview is to get a job offer.  Your mission is to convince the interviewer that you are the best candidate for the job.  Subsequently, if you do not want the job, you can always turn any offer down.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com your suggestions for individual job interviews.   

Thanks, Glyn!

Getting a Job Without Experience

My wife and I have four grandchildren graduating from college this year so finding their first job is an imperative!  I think that we all either face or have faced this problem when we started out on our own.

I was an ROTC graduate so I immediately was employed by the US Army.  My wife graduated and obtained a teacher certificate so she became a substitute teacher at high schools.  We were fortunate because these initial jobs led to jobs requiring experience.

I suggest that you make a list of your target jobs and begin your job search.  There are many websites containing job ads.  In addition, career fairs, non-for-profit organizations seminars, state employment commissions, college placement services are potential sources of job leads.  I always recommend extensive use of networking with family, friends, and neighbors.

Most important, you must remember that finding a job is a full-time job and that you must maintain your energy level, and that you should avoid becoming discouraged.  The next contact you make may be the one that results in a job!   

Here are some websites that may provide leads to jobs that require little or no experience:

Companies that hire college graduates:

http://www.gradtogreat.com/tips_advice/article-companies_that_hire_college_grads.php

A Job Seeker’s Guide to Personal Branding

http://www.experience.com/entry-level-jobs/

Facebook reference:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150119590439520.293495.92876024519

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com your suggestions for individuals seeking employment who have little or no actual work experience.   

Thanks, Glyn!

How Much Should You Be Paid?

How would you answer the question ‘how much should you be paid’?   Typically the answer is ‘well it depends’.   My question is what does your pay depend on?

In my human resources class we discuss that an individual’s compensation is based on the job not the incumbent in the job.  The thinking is that a specific job is worth a given amount of money to the organization.  Organizations conduct job evaluations based on valid job descriptions to determine the relative worth of jobs within an organization.  Job descriptions typically contain the job duties, job responsibilities, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities required by a position.  The job holder should meet these requirements in order to be successful in the job.  

Based on this evaluation process and external wage surveys, pay ranges with jobs are established.    The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes The Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/) which provides many job descriptions and associated pay scales.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if you know how much you should be paid and if you are in fact being paid accordingly.  

Thanks, Glyn!

Doing Your Own Thing

As a follow on to my last blog ‘What is Your Passion?’, I want to refer you to my previous blogs about entrepreneurship.  These blogs are posted in this Internet site and are grouped in my book, Getting Jobs by Glyn Jordan.  

Below is a list of the blogs starting on page 201:

Doing What You Love

Working at Home and/or at the Office

Thought about Driving a Truck?

Independent Contractor or Employee? Some Clarification

Put Up Your Own Shingle!

How to Succeed in the Age of Going Solo

Positive Hiring Signs – Real Estate Opportunities!

Self-Employment Could Be the Answer

Home-Based Work Websites

You Can Become a Virtual Assistant (VA)!

Consider Being a Personal Virtual Assistant

Noncompetition Agreements

Jump-Start Your Entrepreneurship

Working-at-Home Websites

Suggestions for a Home Based Business

More Discussions Focused on Home-Based Businesses’ Websites

Make a Job of Your Avocation!

The book is available in the Kindle version on http://www.amazon.com for $2.99.  I think that the information provided will be worth your investment of time and money! 

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com  if you have found any of my blogs helpful to your career pursuits.  

Thanks, Glyn!

What is Your Passion?

Often you hear job counselors tell job seekers to go with your    passion as they search for employment.  Merriam-Webster.com  states that passion is “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something”.

Many opinions can be found about a job seeker’s passion including this advice:

When you're asked what you're passionate about during a job interview it's a good opportunity to share what is important in your life. It's also an opportunity to show your dedication and what's important to you.

Your response doesn't need to be work focused, but do be sure that what you share isn't something that could potentially cut into your working hours.

For example, you don't want to say that you're a mountain climber with the goal of climbing Mountain Everest or that you're getting ready for the Tour de France or looking to spend the winter skiing in Aspen.  http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/qt/passionate.htm

I personally think that it is most important that you actually have a passion.  Frequently when I ask job seekers what they can do, the answers are often “I can do anything.”

Hiring companies are seeking applicants who can have the skills and experience to accomplish defined tasks.  I understand that people in need of a job will be willing to do almost any job, but hiring companies recognize this simple fact as well.

My suggestion is that you do some soul searching and discover what you are passionate about and develop a list of jobs that will meet you passion.  Finally, focus you job search of these targeted jobs.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com your opinions about how your passion was important to finding your job.

Thanks, Glyn!

Is Your Track Record Important?

People in the recruiting business frequently say that the best predictor of the future is the past.  Consequently, when employers are reviewing candidates for open positions their first question is what qualifications and experience does a job applicant have.  When you are in Las Vegas and take a seat at a black jack table, the dealer asks what are you bring to the table.

Previous accomplishments are indicators to the hiring organization about the applicant’s performance in his/her previous positions.  For recent graduates, grades, student activities and elected offices may provide a picture of a qualified job seeker.

When I counsel job seekers, I typically ask them if they have work references.  All too frequently clients say that they lost their last job for attendance or some other nonperformance issues.  While such backgrounds do not mean that an applicant will not be hired; work history can be a barrier to employment.

What is my message today?  Your previous job experience and qualifications are important to future employment.  Your past follows you throughout life; therefore, I recommend that that you always do you best and consider your job as a personal asset!

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com your opinions about the importance of a personal track record.

Thanks, Glyn!

When Looking for a Job Go With Your Strengths!

My experience is that you enjoy the activities in which you are best.  So when you are seeking a job why not seek a job that uses your strengths?

I have found that I enjoy teaching so I have spent over fifty years as a college professor primarily at night schools.  I can certainly relate to individuals seeking more education while working full-time.   Further, since my technical skills were only mediocre and I enjoyed meeting and interacting with people, I became a salesman.

So my suggestion to job seekers is that they identify their strengths and then correlate the skills with available jobs.  They may find that they require additional training to hone their skills.  Hopefully such training will improve your strengths and job qualifications. 

One approach to use in defining strengths is to take an instrument such as Myers-Briggs (http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/take-the-mbti-instrument/).   Another technique is to complete a personal SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunity and threat) analysis (http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/sub_section_main_1049.aspx.).

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if you have found your job by capitalizing on your strengths.

Thanks, Glyn!

Carpe diem

During any day we waste a lot of water, energy, leftovers from uneaten meals; however, our biggest waste is the waste of our own time.  As a job seeker, what you definitely do not want to waste is a job opportunity.

One thing we know is that job opportunities have expiration dates.  When a potential job lead comes your way, immediate response may be the key to becoming employed.  Perhaps you are waiting for that perfect job while ignoring other job leads.  An old saying is that “good things come to those that wait”; however, patience alone will not get you employed.

My suggestion to you as you enjoy your Labor Day is that you not waste a job opportunity by ignoring it.  Perhaps you will land a job that will be a stepping stone to your ultimate job goal.   

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com your suggestions of ways that job seekers can avoid wasting their opportunities.

Thanks, Glyn!

Is it Time to Return for Education and Training?

September is approaching and many individuals are entering or returning to school.  I think that education and training of any sort are important to obtaining and maintaining employment.

As new technologies using the Internet such as social media: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, become commonplace, even experienced workers must continue to refresh their skills in order to remain relevant.  All jobs within organizations are undergoing changes to accommodate advancing tools and systems.  

There are many opportunities to improve your skills.  For example using the following Internet search arguments you will find the many organizations to provide you the education and training that will lead to your employment:

Technical schools (your location), e.g., technical school Dallas

Technical schools (your industry focus), e.g., technical school auto mechanic

Junior colleges (your location), e.g., junior colleges Dallas

Online schools (your major subject or degree), e.g., online schools - engineering, business, accounting, nursing, education

Universities (your major subject or degree), e.g., science, engineering, English

In addition, many schools advertise their offerings online, in TV commercials, and the print media.  Further, many organizations provide finance aid programs to assist in paying for tuition, books, and fees.

I urge anyone wanting to improve your chances of gaining meaningful and employment to consider upgrading yours skills through education and training programs.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if believe that education and training could enhance your employment prospects.

Thanks, Glyn!