What Will You Do When You Grow-up?

An article in the December 27, 2014, of The Dallas Morning News, “My job has been a privilege, passion” by James Ragland got my attention about selecting and pursuing a career. 

With 30 years The News, Ragland reminisced about becoming a journalist. After considering law school, he took an internship with the newspaper where he found his passion.  Ragland says that doing something that you are passionate about is a common thread among successful folks.

How does one find such a job?  I remember when I was in high school someone ask me what I was going to do with my life.  I said that I wanted to be a success.  I thought I should be an engineer since I was fairly good at math.  However, a course in drawing led me to believe that I was not passionate about sitting at a drafting table.  I found my passion in computers and education.

It is difficult for a person to know how he/she should earn a living.  Many are fortunate and follow in a parent’s vocation or pursue God given skills and talents in the arts; others have no clue.  My advice to others is to get a job that is your passion; if it’s not, then keep on looking!

 Please describe your job that you have found to be your passion by posting on this bIog or emailing at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com.   

 Thanks!  Glyn

Christmas & New Year - Time to Retool

As 2014 winds down and you look forward to 2015, perhaps it is time for job seekers to evaluate 2014 and prepare for 2015.  If your job search has been unsuccessful in 2014, you should evaluate your progress in finding employment.

What activities seem to produce quality job leads and what activities have yielded nothing?  If you have been rejected for a job for which you were qualified, what happened?  Were there better candidates or perhaps you received no feedback.

In order to prepare for job seeking in 2015, what steps should you take?  Here are some suggestions:

1. Maintain a positive attitude and high energy level.

2. Research possible job postings that meet your qualifications

3. Reach-out to all members on your contact list by sending greeting cards, telephone calls, or emails

4. Prepare a job search action plan for January 2015 including specific companies to contact and meetings to attend.

5. Attend job fairs and network with attendees as well as hiring companies

6. Seek counseling from a respected individual in your church or civic organization

As our economy picks-up speed, 2015 is the time to retool all your efforts to become employed.             

I encourage readers of this blog to provide suggestions to the unemployed by posting on this bIog or emailing at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com.   

 

Thanks!  Glyn

Paid Positions at Nonprofit Organizations

An article in The Dallas Morning News, December 12, 2014, edition, “Career Opportunities Abound in the Nonprofit Sector”, on page 1J by Metro Creative Connection identifies several paid positions in nonprofit organizations.

We often think of jobs in nonprofit organizations being staffed by volunteers.  While it is true that almost all nonprofit organizations depend on volunteers to staff many of their positions, they usually also employ a number of individuals in paid staff positions. 

In most nonprofit organizations, volunteers typically work one or two days each week.  Some volunteers work periodically with no set schedule.  Consequently, in order to functions effectively, nonprofit organizations require a staff of full-time employees.

The article describes the following full-time paid positions:

1. Executive Officer:  The executive director reports to the organization’s board of directors and has the strategic and operational responsibility for nonprofit staff.

2. Chief Financial Officer:  Depending of the size of the organization, the CFO position will vary in responsibility and scope.

3. Fundraisers:  Since fundraising is a key component for nonprofits, the job includes annual funds, alumni affairs, direct marketing, grant seeking, and donor relations.

4. Public Relations: Public relations or marketing professionals work with senior management to develop a communication plan for the organization.  Use of multi-media in order to communicate with organization volunteers, donors, and clients is important to the organization’s success.

5.  Administrative Roles: Accounting and financial professional, office administrators, human resources, information systems and IT workers are some of the administrative roles.

Many of the above roles are consolidated in to one position depending of the size of the organization.  However, the functions need to be addressed.

If you enjoy helping improve lives of those in need, a full-time position with a nonprofit organization can be very rewarding with a competitive income.

Individuals who have worked for a nonprofit organization are encouraged to share your experience in this bIog or email at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com.   

 

Thanks!  Glyn

Programming Apprenticeships

An article in The Dallas Morning News, December 7, 2014, edition, “Cracking the Code”, on page 3D by David Nicklaus of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch discusses a programming apprenticeship named LaunchCode.  LaunchCode, a not-for-profit organization, founded by Jim McKelvey of St. Louis, Missouri, provides opportunities for individuals to become programmers.

With no programming experience, applicants are typically rejected from consideration by organizations needing immediate assistance with programming tasks.  Many individuals would like to get a programming job, but they lack any formal training in the field.  Further, many do not have the financial resources to get the needed training while maintaining a job to support themselves and their families.

The apprenticeship pays $5 an hour for a typical three months period.  Launchcode graduates have earned a medium salary of  $50,000!  Applicants to the program must pass a basic programming aptitude test and convince the Launchcode’s interviewers that they are motivated for success.

I encourage everyone who has the desire to get into programming to visit the Launchcode website to learn more about the career possibilities provided.  (https://www.launchcode.org/)

 

Please comment in this bIog or email at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com if you are aware of other organizations in your area that have similar programs to Launchcode.   

 

Thanks!  Glyn

Passive or Active Job Search?

A passive job search means you are waiting for something to happen – like someone calling and offering you a job.  I am wondering if the passive job search is working for you.

If you are still waiting by the phone for someone to offer you a job in response to the 100’s of mailed resumes and online applications, but the phone is not ringing, I suggest that you adopt a more active job search strategy.

What does an active job search strategy include?  Below are my suggestions for your active job search strategy:

1. Plan each day to include job search activities (2 as a minimum) – keep a record of your daily job search accomplishments and evaluate your successes and failures.

2. Make a list of every one you know including family, friends, or formal business associates that may have suggestions for your job search.  Contact each person on your list, explain your situation, and request their assistance.

3. Attend trade or industry related association meetings in order to network among members and guests.

4. Develop a list of business references who have knowledge of your past work experience. Contact each reference and ask his/her permission to provide their contact information to potential employers.

5. Consider volunteering at non-profit organization.  Frequently members of such organizations may provide job leads.

6. Be active in social media such as Linkedln, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. 

7. It is most important to maintain a positive attitude and in your conversations with everyone avoid all “poor me’s”.  Further, your must continue to exert high energy in your job search activities.    

 

Please comment in this bIog or email at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com your advice or suggested strategies for job seekers.   

 

Thanks!  Glyn

Biggest Resume Mistake

An Internet article by Dr. Phil, titled “Money” quotes Tony Beshara, recognized as the number-one placement and recruitment specialist in the U.S. by the Fordyce Letter. Tony is also the author of The Job Search Solution and has developed a system that has helped more than 100,000 people find jobs.   (http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/606)

Here is list of his biggest resume mistakes:
 

·         Writing the wrong content
Resumes that do not reflect the requirements of the hiring company.   The content may mean something to the applicant instead of to a prospective employer.

·          Distracting formats
Fonts, and garbage, and colors and big, full pages of nothing but objectives, which get read in 10 seconds. Hiring companies want to know what you have done, who you worked for and how successful you were, and if that information does not meet their needs, they will throw it away.

·         Using a one-size-fits-all approach
Be sure your qualifications are specific not general such as: "team player," "adaptable," "integrity."

·         Having a résumé that is too long

·         Not showing performance
Don't describe your job, describe your performance e.g. this is what I did and this is how successful I was.

·         Avoid errors in objectives, dates, titles and other basics

I recommend that resumes be tailored to the specific organization.  The resume should reflect an applicant’s knowledge of the hiring company.

Please comment in this bIog or email at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com your advice or suggestions for resume writers.   

 

Thanks!  Glyn

 

Unconventional Tips for Job Seekers

I found a very interesting article posted on the Internet by Jacquelyn Smith of Forbes Magazine,  

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/02/27/10-unconventional-but-very-effective-tips-for-job-seekers/

Ask any successful person how he/she got hired, they typically cite unusual approaches. 

We’re not saying you should discount or disregard traditional job seeking advice altogether. But it can’t hurt to mix it up and try less conventional approaches until you achieve your goals, says Teri Hockett, the chief executive of What’s For Work?, a career site for women.

 

“Times are always changing and while it’s always good to follow the basic advice, we also have to get rolling with the times,” says Amanda Abella, a career coach, writer, speaker, and founder of the Gen Y lifestyle blog Grad Meets World.

 

Here are ten unconditional tips for job seekers:

 

1. Be vulnerable. It’s okay to ask people for advice! “Too often we think we have to sell ourselves as this know-it-all hot-shot to get a job, but I have found the best way to build relationships with people whom you’d like to work with (or for) is to start by being vulnerable, sharing your admiration for their work, and asking for advice,” Adney says. “I recommend doing this with professionals at companies you’d love to work for, long before they have a job opening you apply for.”

2. Don’t always follow your passion. “Follow your passion” is one of the most common pieces of career wisdom, says Cal Newport, author of So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love. “It’s also wrong.” If you study people who end up loving their work, most of them did not follow a pre-existing passion, he says. “Instead, their passion for the work developed over time as they got better at what they did and took more control over their career.”

Adney agrees to some extent. She doesn’t think job seekers should completely disregard their passions–but does believe that “challenging this conventional wisdom is vital, especially since studies still show most Americans are unhappy in their jobs.”

3. Create your position. Don’t just sit around waiting for your “dream job” to open. Study the industry or field that you’re looking to move into, and determine a company or two that you’d like to work for, Hockett says. “Then figure out their challenges through relationships or public information. With this, you can craft a solution for them that you can share directly or publically through a blog, for instance. The concept here is to get noticed through offering a solution to help them with no expectation of anything in return.”

4. Learn how to listen. Job seekers are so caught up in conveying a certain message and image to the employer that they often fail to listen.

“Powerful listening is a coaching tool, as well as an amazing skill to have in your life,” Abella says. “The art of conversation lies in knowing how to listen– and the same applies to job interviews. Know when to talk, when to stop talking, and when to ask questions.”

When you practicing for interviews, don’t just rehearse your answers to questions like, “can you tell me about yourself?” “why do you want this job?” and “what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?” Practice listening carefully and closely without interrupting.

5. Start at the top and move down. We learned from Chris Gardner (played by Will Smith) in The Pursuit of Happyness (the biographical film based on Gardner’s life) that you need to start from the top and move down. “Why approach human resources in hopes that your resume makes it to the hiring authority?” Parnell says. “Just get it there yourself. Be careful to use tact, respect and clarity during the process, but nevertheless, go straight to the decision maker.”

6. Build a relationship with the administrative assistant. While you want to start at the top (see No. 5), you’ll eventually want to build strategic relationships with personnel at all levels.

“A terribly underutilized resource is an employer’s administrative assistant,” Parnell says. “As the manager’s trusted counterpart, there is often only a slight social barrier between the two. They know the manager’s schedule, interests, responsibilities and preferences. Making friends or even engaging in some quasi-bartering relationship with them can make all the difference in the world.”

7. Don’t apply for a job as soon as you find it. The worst part about job hunting is the dreaded scrolling of an online job board, applying for job after job, and never hearing back, Adney says. “When you find a job online that you’re really interested in, applying is the last thing you should do. Instead, research that company and the professionals who work there, and reach out to someone at the company before you apply for the job, letting them know you admire what they do and would love their advice.” Then, ask questions via e-mail or phone about what they like and find challenging at their job, and ask if they have any tips for you. “Most likely they will personally tell you about the job opening (you should not mention it) and then you can ask them about getting your application and resume into the right hands,” she says. “It is a great way to keep your applications from getting lost in the black hole of the Internet.”

8. Focus on body language. You’ve probably heard this before—but job candidates don’t take it seriously enough. “Body language is incredibly important in job interviews,” Abella says. “Watching yours (posture, your hands, whether or not you’re relaxed, confidence) will help you exude confidence,” she explains. “Meanwhile paying attention to the interviewer’s body language can let you gauge whether or not you’re on the right track.”

9. Don’t focus on finding a job you love now. Don’t obsess about how much you’ll enjoy a particular job on day one, Newport says. Most entry-level positions are not glamorous. “The right question to ask when assessing an opportunity is what the job would look like in five years, assuming that you spent those years focusing like a laser on developing valuable skills. That’s the job you’re interviewing for.”

Adney agrees. “When choosing a job early in your career or early in a career change, focus less on how much you would love doing the functions of the job and focus more on where you will have the greatest opportunity to add value to the company, network with top people in your industry, and have the ability to get your foot in the door of a company that mostly hires internally.”

10. Become their greatest fan. Once you find a company you’d love to work for, become their biggest fan. “Becoming a brand loyalist may lead to becoming an employee,” Hockett says. “But of course, you have to establish or participate in a forum where you’re constantly communicating that message; one they will see.” Organizations ideally want employees to love their company and be enthusiastic about their job. Loyal fans are passionate as consumers, and often make great employees because of this, she concludes.

I do not know if these tips will work for you; however, they certainly will give you another approach in finding a job.

Please comment in this bIog or email at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com if have found any of these tips helpful to your job search.    

 

Thanks!  Glyn

Saluting All Veterans

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz writes “Hiring Veterans is Good Business” published in the November 9, 2014, issue of The Dallas Morning News Parade Magazine, on page 8. “Veterans don’t want your pity or a handout – what they deserve is a genuine appreciation for the skills gleaned from serving in the military.”

Many veterans come with can-do spirit and possess leadership and decision-making skills.  They know how to take and follow orders and exercise initiative.  With more than 1.5 million post 9/11 veterans already home and another million to follow in a few years, they deserve an appreciation and understanding for their sacrifice.

Schultz encourages returning veterans to take full advance of GI benefits including educational opportunities to earn college degrees.

There are multitudes of Internet sites listing employment opportunities for veterans including:

http://jobs.xcelenergy.com/content/military/?gclid=CjwKEAiAvvyiBRDzrYuuldy6wB8SJABPJWOb531gLlWiyxgGWQSVUhScr2auvZIqegzWSpHsPrsBKhoCLJDw_wcB

http://careers.hireahero.org/jobs/search/results?IsFeatured=Y&gclid=CjwKEAiAvvyiBRDzrYuuldy6wB8SJABPJWObrGdSWCZxDFKKk9fBFwC-COhSWiYaRc3TwiLUQW12aBoCjc_w_wcB

http://www.military.com/newmembers/veteran-job-search?ESRC=ggl_mem_vetjobs_phrase_jobwebsite.kw&np=1&gclid=CjwKEAiAvvyiBRDzrYuuldy6wB8SJABPJWObrl23zrZlCBObBKys7YBJAajbfsdDDDE2RfqDgm-CfRoClmrw_wcB

https://www.vetjobs.com/

As Veterans Day approaches, I am dedicating this blog to all the military past and present.  Please comment in this bIog or email at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com your suggests for veterans seeking employment.   

 Thanks!  Glyn

Networking by Freelancers

An article in the November 2, 2014, issue of The Dallas Morning News, on page 2D, “Word of Mouth Still Sets-up Jobs”, by McClatcht News Service discusses how freelancers find jobs.

There are estimated 17.9 million Freelancers, sometimes called “solopreneurs”, in the US with another 12.1 million people doing freelance work part-time.  This group includes not only dog walkers and lawn mowers but also techies, accounts, lawyers, and executives.  Approximately 2.7 million earn over $100,000 annually.

According to a survey by Harvard Business Review’s MBA Partners, 75 percent of freelancers got assignments from word of mouth referrals, 12 percent from agencies, and only 3 percent from online sites.

I am not surprised by this study.  Individuals looking for jobs frequently find that networking is the best source for employment opportunities. 

Please comment in this bIog or email at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com your experience using networking as the source for employment or finding freelance assignments.   

 Thanks!  Glyn

Opportunities for Caregivers

An article in the October 18, 2014, issue of The Dallas Morning News, on page 1D, “Take Care on Caregivers”, by Pamela Yip discusses how caregivers can be a great help for family members.

I am thinking that there are many opportunities for job seekers who could consider becoming a caregiver.  When family members are busy with jobs and other personal responsibilities, it is frequently difficult for them to take care of a family member who is disabled or recovering from surgery.  Typical care duties include: bathing, dressing, grooming, and other hands-on care activities such as shopping, cleaning, and transportation to doctors appointments.   

Recently I had a total knee replacement and after returning home from several days at a rehabilitation center, I required assistance particularly at night.  My wife needed relief from 24 hour caregiving.  In order for her to get a night’s sleep, we employed a caregiver at night for several days. The caregiver was employed by an agency which provided qualified personnel.   The result is that we are still married.

Types of caregivers include:

1. Medical home health – Typically Medicare nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and home health aides for short periods of time.

2. Private caregiving services – These caregivers provide patient care as well as cooking, cleaning, running errands, and transportation.  Such services typically range to cost of $17 to $24 per hour paid by the patient or patient’s long-term insurance.

3. Personal assistant services – These assistant provided non-skilled activities such as cooking and cleaning.    

There are numerous agencies that provide caregiving services.  I suggest that job seekers interested in this type of work contact them.  In addition, an individual could provide caregiving services directly to clients.

Please comment in this bIog or email at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com your experience with caregiving services.   

 

Thanks!  Glyn

Job Search for Felons Not Impossible

An article in the October 19, 2014, issue of The Dallas Morning News, on page 1J “Job Search with Felony Record  Not Impossible” describes the National Employment Law Project (NELP).  Frequently, ex-offenders are denied a job when the employers ask individuals if they have a criminal record on an application form.  Many states have accepted state-wide band-the-box fair hiring laws. 

Ban the box is the name of an international campaign by civil rights groups and advocates for ex-offenders, aimed at persuading employers to remove from their hiring applications the check box that asks if applicants have a criminal record. Its purpose is to enable ex-offenders to display their qualifications in the hiring process before being asked about their criminal records. The premise of the campaign is that anything that makes it harder for ex-offenders to find a job makes it likelier that they will re-offend, which is bad for society.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ban_the_box

Here is additional information about this subject:

Employment Rights of Workers with Criminal Records

Workers with a criminal record - even a minor record dating back many years- often have a difficult time finding employment, especially given the proliferation of criminal background checks. For example, a major survey of Los Angeles employers found that over 60% of employers would "probably not" or "definitely not" be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record.  

Although employers may (to varying legal degrees) consider a worker's criminal history as part of the application process, employers often fail to comply with a range of federal and state laws that provide fundamental protections against abuse of criminal background checks.  As a result, far too many hard-working people are wrongly denied employment, often in growing industries with serious labor shortages.

Of special importance, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has concluded that because African American and Latino workers are arrested and convicted more often than whites, hiring policies that exclude workers with a criminal record may discriminate in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition, the nation's federal consumer protection law (the Fair Credit Reporting Act) requires accuracy in background checks conducted by private screening firms, and mandates that employers provide a copy of background check reports to workers before any adverse employment decision is taken.

In partnership with community groups and legal advocates, NELP has initiated a new program to enforce these critical employment protections by: 

·         Making presentations to regional EEOC offices, workforce development specialists, public defenders, unions and other key organizations to help spread the word about civil rights and consumer rights protections.

·         Educating employers about the EEOC's Title VII standards that apply to people of color who are denied employment based on an arrest or conviction record. 

·         Offering legal assistance in special cases to workers who want to enforce their anti-discrimination rights by filing Title VII discrimination complaints with the EEOC. 

For more information about work in this area, please contact Madeline Neighly, mneighly@nelp.org, or Michelle Natividad Rodriguez, mrodriguez@nelp.org  

Other key resources:

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

 

I have counseled many ex-offenders that find their employment opportunities limited even if their offense occurred years ago.  I support these initiatives to assist such individuals in returning to the workforce.    

Please comment in this bIog or email at mailto:glynjordan@gmail.com your opinion about the ban-the-box fair hiring laws.   

 

Thanks!  Glyn