Christmas Day, 2011

What memories do you have of Christmas Day?

 

I grew up on a small farm near Hubbard, Texas, about 75 miles south of Dallas.  My mother and her two sisters and their families always spent Christmas Day together.  We opened our presents on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day was a day filled with food including turkey and dressing, candied yams, green beans, salad, and desserts of all types.

After lunch, the men frequently began to play “42”, a game using 28 dominoes.  The women cleaned the kitchen and discussed the problems of the day or wondered about the actions of neighbors and friends. Then they would model their Christmas gifts. We children played with toys Santa had delivered and games such as hide and seek.

Have thinks changed?  For my wife and me, spending time with our children and grandchildren are the highlights of the season.  The food is still wonderful.  Throughout the year, my wife buys special gifts for our grandchildren as we travel on cruises and car trips.  These gifts are hidden in our home on Christmas Eve.  Gifts for each grandchild are hidden in a designated room and the search begins!  The fun is watching the grandkids searching for their gifts. Even though the children are now much older - some are 21 – they insist on this gift searching tradition.  Being with family and attending Christmas Eve church services are the memories that I will keep.

On reflection, I don’t think that things have really changed that much.  The Day reminds me of family members that are no longer here that I miss especially this Day. All in all, however, I think that today is even better than the “good old days”!

Please share your Christmas memories with other readers of this blog.

Thanks, Glyn

Making a List and Checking It Twice!

Two articles in The Dallas Morning News the December 18, 2011, edition on page 1J: “Don’t Stop Looking During the Holidays” by Cheri Butler and “Pros and Cons of Putting Off Job Search” by Lindsay Novak of Creators Syndicate, deal with the issue of stopping job searches.  Both articles encourage job seekers not to delay their job searches by taking time-off for the holiday season or a sabbatical after completing school or leaving a job.

I am not Santa, but I suggest that job seekers make a list of things that you could do during the Christmas and holiday seasons.  Below is my suggested list for job seekers:

1.  During family gatherings, discuss your situation with relatives.  You may be surprised at the possible contacts you may discover.

2.  When attending social gatherings, work the room, introduce yourself around, and start conversations concerning work-related subjects.

3.  At your church or volunteer organizations, determine if they have job counseling or networking meetings.

4.  While visiting shopping malls, check to see postings for open positions.

5.  Of course, you should spend time each day with our friend the Internet.  In this blog I have posted many sites for job seekers.

If only one of these ideas encourages you to continue your job search, I will be pleased.

Please share with readers of this blog your list of suggestions for job seeking during the Christmas – holiday season. 

Thanks.

Glyn

A Time to Share!

As we enter December, we begin seeing opportunities for us to help the less fortunate.  Many organizations have Christmas Trees with the names of children as well as senior adults attached with a message containing individual wishes for Christmas.  What is special about this season of the year?

I personally begin thinking of family traditions and my father, mother, and brother who are no longer with us.  I have many memories of visits by Santa Claus and surprises presents.  This Christmas my wife and I will enjoy the company of our son, daughter, their wife and husband, and five wonderful grandchildren.  We are all in good health and have fulfilling lives.  We are blessed.

I know for the unemployed this is a difficult time.  Funds to purchase gifts may be limited and feelings of self-pity may creep-in.  My suggestion is that you seek others who are less fortunate and be a friend to them with acts of kindness such as serving meals and giving clothing.  Everyone appreciates being told that their friendship is important.

Please share with readers of this blog your special memories of the season.   

Thanks.

Glyn

What Do You Bring to the Table?

While speaking with my classes or providing job counseling to clients, I frequently ask them what they are bring to the table.  When you visit Las Vegas or another center for gambling and sit at a gaming table, the dealer will ask what are you bring to the table. If you are short or void of funds, you may be politely asked to vacate the seat.

Frequently as job seekers consider possible employers they focus on what the employer will provide them.  I am thinking that is the wrong question.  The important question to be answered is what you will provide the hiring organization. 

As you seek employment, I suggest that you develop a list of reasons why you should be hired to fill the open position. You should approach the situation with a positive can-do attitude with specific examples of your experience and accomplishments. Remember you can accept or reject a job only after it has been offered.  Your primary objective in a job seeking activity is to receive a job offer.  Once you have the offer, you have the option to accept or reject it.

As a job seeker, what are you bringing to the table?   

Thanks.

Glyn