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!