Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sustainability Part 2 - Credibility
Looking back, it is difficult to believe that two months have passed since my last post. Well so much for good intentions, and posting frequently. I have had an incredible three months at work. Receiving two more Cradle to CradleSM certifications on different product lines, has been rewarding, but also demanding of my time. Three more product lines have been submitted or are currently being completed for submission.
During the last couple of months I have also initiated tests and process evaluations for indoor air quality certifications, with two different certification agencies. One agency is an independent third party certification, while the other is for a second party certification.
In the world of “green” or “sustainablity” certifications there are three different levels. The first is self certification, where you build and test your own products to your own standards or some existing standard. These claims have little credibility and in todays marketplace of skepticism concerning “green” or “sustainability;” products so labeled have little additional market value over their non-sustainable competition.
Second party certifications, or test certifications are those that are made by a testing laboratory or agency certifying that your product, based on a particular test meets a certain standard. This certification means that for the particular product tested, you met whatever standard that was targeted.
Independent third party certifications, are those that not only test your product, to ensure it passed a particular standard, but also evaluated your processes and procedures to ensure that you manufacture your product the way you say you do, and do so the same way each production run. This is the most expensive certification type, but has the most validity. Also independent third party certifications, give greater protection from deceptive advertising claims than either of the two previous types.
As a side note here, any "green" claims made without certifications, based on vague or low standards or without standards, are just marketing hype, and subject to close scrutiny of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as ‘Greenwashing.” “Greenwashing,” in laypersons terms, is defined as unsubstantiated and deceptive marketing claims, which would lead a person, wishing to make a purchase that is safer for the environment, human health, or is supposedly sustainable, to purchase the bogus product. The FTC has begun cracking down on such marketing practices and will use those they find as deceptive, to make examples of, to the rest of commerce.
The Cradle to Cradle certification mentioned at the outset, is what I consider a sustainability certification. Sustainability, generally is defined as not requiring non-renewable resources for the production of your product. This means that the materials, energy, and even water used in the product or its production process can be reused, recycled, or returned to nature in a state that is harmless and beneficial to the cycle of life.
Sustainability has also begun to include social responsibility, which is a term that will be addressed in later posts. I use the plural here, because social responsibility is a large and very complex subject, and could not be addressed fully in one or even two posts. Social responsibility loosely defined is dealing fairly and transparently with people of all cultures and part of the world where one conducts business.
The indoor air quality certifications referenced above, are within the classification of “green” certifications, but deal more with providing a product that is safe for a particular situation of environment. The indoor air quality certifications I am pursuing will validate our claims that the products meet one or many government, association, or independent assessment body multi-layered standards. In this particular case the products will be certified as meeting indoor air quality standards for use in school classrooms.
My Director of Sustainability role in this process, is selecting and submitting products to certification agencies for testing, evaluation, and certification, so that our marketing claims are valid and represent accurately our product and its production process. This requires providing documentation, handling onsite audits, and collecting, properly packaging, and submitting for testing, production run samples of certification candidate products.
The certification process is only a small part of the job. There are other parts of the business that are so closely allied with sustainability or producing healthy products, that in a company the size of the one, at which I work, the sustainability director will also fill other roles. Some of these additional roles are government regulatory compliance, quality management, employee safety and social responsibility, sustainable practices development and implementation, and waste reduction.
I hope that this brief glimpse into a tiny part, of the world of green products and sustainability has been beneficial and interesting. If you have comments or questions, concerning any of the above, please do not hesitate to post them here.
You may notice that the font used today is different from those in previous posts. This is because I am experimenting with different fonts to find the most easily readable. If you have suggestions on fonts styles and sizes please comment below.
Cradle to CradleSM is a service mark of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, LLC (MBDC)
© 2009, By David Posival. All rights reserved. If you wish to reprint this article on your web-site, please contact me for permission and conditions by email: david@postoakenterprises.com
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sustainability Part 1
While I still do copywriting of a fashion, for my current employer, I have closed my resume and copywriting services for the public, for the moment. I have been presented the opportunity to work on a new facet of American Corporate Culture.
This new growing part of the business, whether corporate, sole-proprietor, or any other type in between the two, is sustainability. This is certainly not a new term or concept, but it has evolved into a more multi-level business paradigm and imperative.
Sustainability’s base connotation, in this blog series, describes morphing from consumerism and cradle-to-grave waste of non-renewable resources, to a systematic process of reclamation, reuse, and recycling. Business people have begun embracing the concept, each with their own particular spin and self-interest based interpretation.
At the outset, let me state for the record that I am not the foremost expert on sustainability, but I do have expertise and thoughts on the subject, and have lived more or less sustainably for a large part of my life. As someone who deals with sustainability each day and sees the difference in ideas and concepts associated with it, I need an outlet for my thoughts and ideas concerning the subject. That is the purpose behind this blog. It is a venue for thoughtful expression of my take on the subject of sustainability.
First, to understand sustainability, it is necessary to define what the term does not include. Sustainability is not just recycling, reusing, and conserving resources, only when it feels good, or is convenient. Sustainability is not a thing, or some abstract philosophical concept.
Sustainability is life, active and vibrant, emanating from all living things and beings, when they follow nature’s design and rules. Under this system, only catastrophic natural events like volcanoes, asteroids striking the earth, or other large scale destructive events, whether regional or global, or perhaps natural evolutionary processes, can disrupt the rhythm and continuance of life.
However, throw destructive human behavior, unbridled human materialism, and consumerism into the process, and the whole system suddenly is no longer able to sustain itself. While the process may take decades to play itself out, and starts slowly, it degenerates into an exponentially growing avalanche of species extinction, deforestation, lost non-renewable resources, possible global warming, and a planet covered with landfills. Base the global economy on an expanding base of consumerism, and the process degenerates explosively.
Over the coming weeks I have several thoughts to put forward for consideration, concerning sustainability. Please add your comments, and topics that you may want to discuss in more detail.
© 2009, By David Posival. All rights reserved. If you wish to reprint this article on your web-site, please contact me for permission and conditions by email: david@postoakenterprises.com
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Prepare to Ace the Interview - Part 1
Preparing to ace the interview actually begins when you match your SKA’s (Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities) from your résumé to the requirements of the advertised job. Read each requirement of the job and rate yourself, objectively, by matching your skills. You may benefit from listing or printing out the requirements, and rating yourself as an excellent, good, or poor match. When you are finished, all responses should be either excellent, or good. A poor match in the published job requirements and your SKA’s will probably keep you from acing the interview.
However, you can still present your résumé, since you may be qualified for the job at the same or greater level than any of the other candidates. But now, you really must do well in the interview. Review the requirements that you rated as a poor match to your skills. Determine how you can overcome any objections of the interviewer, to your lack of skills in that particular area. Figure out how you can compensate in another area, while you adapt your skills to their requirements, and be ready to discuss your plan fully.
Click the title or this link to read the rest of this articleGet your own resume here.
© Copyright 2006 by David Posival, all rights reserved.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Off-Shoring: Good for US?
Even though this article pertains to issues outside of résumé writing, I thought it might be food for thought and eventually lead many of us to realization of a better lifestyle, perhaps while contemplating or getting a new résumé. While a great résumé certainly helps you get interviews and potentially a job, it can do little good if no jobs are available, to match your SKA’s (Skills, Knowledge and Abilities). That is what prompted this article.
Reading the latest information on jobs, marketing, managing, and economics, is a part of my day, every day. As a resume writer and copywriter, I feel I have to be knowledgeable in all these areas, as well as others. Each day I receive and review various periodicals dealing with a broad range of these issues. While many of the articles are less than captivating, some rise to excellent levels. This is especially true for an article by Dr. Hans Sennholz, who is an economics educator and writer.
The article by Dr. Sennholz indicates that off shoring jobs or moving them to the lowest cost area of the world is good for all of us. Now like many of you, I lost my job indirectly to off shoring and the economies of scale. So, when the good doctor, said we all benefit, I started looking for a straightjacket for him.
However, most of what he said was accurate so for as economic forces are concerned. What he, like most other proponents of off shoring, failed to give any consideration to was, how to maintain high economic standards for the countries losing the jobs. It is easy to move jobs and facilities, when compared to moving people. So, when jobs leave an area, people become jobless. Lives are destroyed or forever altered. Rapid economic decline can quickly follow.
To read the rest of this article please click on the title above or follow the link below for more information.
Reading the latest information on jobs, marketing, managing, and economics, is a part of my day, every day. As a resume writer and copywriter, I feel I have to be knowledgeable in all these areas, as well as others. Each day I receive and review various periodicals dealing with a broad range of these issues. While many of the articles are less than captivating, some rise to excellent levels. This is especially true for an article by Dr. Hans Sennholz, who is an economics educator and writer.
The article by Dr. Sennholz indicates that off shoring jobs or moving them to the lowest cost area of the world is good for all of us. Now like many of you, I lost my job indirectly to off shoring and the economies of scale. So, when the good doctor, said we all benefit, I started looking for a straightjacket for him.
However, most of what he said was accurate so for as economic forces are concerned. What he, like most other proponents of off shoring, failed to give any consideration to was, how to maintain high economic standards for the countries losing the jobs. It is easy to move jobs and facilities, when compared to moving people. So, when jobs leave an area, people become jobless. Lives are destroyed or forever altered. Rapid economic decline can quickly follow.
To read the rest of this article please click on the title above or follow the link below for more information.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Changing Jobs or Growing With the Job
Following is my response to a reader who is struggling with adjusting to a job with high stress levels, and thinking about changing jobs. In this particular case, other opportunities exist which have lower levels of responsibility, but which has the potential for growth.
Part of the concern is supervisory ability and the lack of training for that type job. It is a prime example of the age-old practice of giving an exceptionally good employee a supervisory job, just because they are good at some tasks. Many times no additional training is provided. And the employee, fearing job loss, accepts a job; he/she may not be qualified for, or for which he/she lacks the right personality type.
As is the case in many small companies and even some government jobs, responsibilities are continually dumped on employees who work hard and perform very well. So long as the employee continues to handle the workload, the employer has no reason to hire additional help. Here is my response:
Reading the list of jobs of responsibilities you have at work, I can understand your elevated stress level. In some cases having a large workload can be a blessing when you need things to occupy your mind. However, that changes when you not only have a large workload, but it is also interfering with other parts of your life. Either letting work consume all your waking hours, or putting in hours that preclude your spending time with family, can lead to disaster. This applies to your job, home life, health, and overall effectiveness in dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life.
We always hear that life is too short to work at a job we do not enjoy, but I suspect the majority of the work force falls into that category. Yet, many people have little or no choice, without making major changes in their lives, while others don’t have the faith in their abilities to pursue a change. I guess I have been in both situations and found there are no easy answers. Read entire article here.
Part of the concern is supervisory ability and the lack of training for that type job. It is a prime example of the age-old practice of giving an exceptionally good employee a supervisory job, just because they are good at some tasks. Many times no additional training is provided. And the employee, fearing job loss, accepts a job; he/she may not be qualified for, or for which he/she lacks the right personality type.
As is the case in many small companies and even some government jobs, responsibilities are continually dumped on employees who work hard and perform very well. So long as the employee continues to handle the workload, the employer has no reason to hire additional help. Here is my response:
Reading the list of jobs of responsibilities you have at work, I can understand your elevated stress level. In some cases having a large workload can be a blessing when you need things to occupy your mind. However, that changes when you not only have a large workload, but it is also interfering with other parts of your life. Either letting work consume all your waking hours, or putting in hours that preclude your spending time with family, can lead to disaster. This applies to your job, home life, health, and overall effectiveness in dealing with the ups and downs of everyday life.
We always hear that life is too short to work at a job we do not enjoy, but I suspect the majority of the work force falls into that category. Yet, many people have little or no choice, without making major changes in their lives, while others don’t have the faith in their abilities to pursue a change. I guess I have been in both situations and found there are no easy answers. Read entire article here.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Regaining Control - More on How
My last post referenced evaluating several things, but with few guidelines on just how to proceed. The focus of the last post was to provide incentive for hope and regaining control of your job-life when it may seem out of control. Now, this week let’s look at the how, part of the process.
While there are businesses, that provide career counseling, and evaluation services for a fee, you can help yourself by answering some of the following questions, and then evaluating your responses. You may find that using a career counseling service would be beneficial, especially if you begin to discover skills and abilities that are under utilized.
Basically, my recommendation is to interview yourself. Focus on the who, what, when, where and how of your SKA’s (Skills, Knowledge and Abilities), as well as your likes and dislikes. Define who you are, relative to your career aspirations. Define and evaluate your career aspirations, if you are unsure about them.
If you are currently employed, what is it that makes you say, “yes, what a day!” when you leave for the day with a great feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. If you are unemployed, think back to a day like I just described.
Now consider the deeper reason for your feeling of accomplishment. For example, let’s say that you are supervisor of a team that just exceeded your goals not only for the day, but also for a week. Obviously, you have pride and a sense of accomplishment in exceeding your goals. But, now dig deeper. Is it the praise and admiration of your superiors and peers that prompts this feeling? Or is it a more personal sense of contributing through your leadership. What skills and abilities did you use to drive this accomplishment? Would these same skills and abilities work equally well somewhere else? Is there a way to better utilize these skills and abilities in your current job?
Follow the same process for days when you left work drained and beat but with no sense of accomplishment. What about the days, when you just were there but things seemed to happen whether or not you were involved? How do you feel about each of these situations? If the instances in this last paragraph outnumber the instances in the previous paragraph, can you really be happy in your job? If instances of job satisfaction are few compared to the time of discontent and lack of satisfaction, considering other alternatives might be in order.
While discontent, in many cases can be a good thing, especially when it drives change and improvement; it is not good if you have little or no control over changes. If this is your situation, then consider whether discontent is due to no opportunity or your failure to exploit opportunity. For instance, if your boss basically wants a “yes” person, and you are allowed few opportunities for growth and more responsibility and authority, it is time to update your résumé and seriously consider other options. However, given the current employment climate, a job currently held is worth more than many potential prospects.
One of the options to consider is talking with your boss about changing his/her utilization of your abilities. Obviously, only do this after you have defined and evaluated your skills and accomplishments. But, be honest and understand the mistakes you made and how they may have influenced your current situation. If you feel that your situation is not due to major mistakes, then proceed to discuss your future with your boss.
Remember, any discussion should be objective, and geared towards highlighting the benefits to your boss, for giving you more responsibility. While you may have strong feelings about your lack of opportunity, and value you provide, keep emotions out of the meeting. Present the case for why you should be given this opportunity, by showing your boss how this will benefit her/him. If for instance, you can take some of the drudgework from your boss, and allow him/her to prepare to move up, this can open a door for you to follow in your boss’s footsteps. Under no circumstances issue what could be considered an ultimatum, unless you are prepared to lose your current position immediately.
Listen to what your boss tells you, as you progress through the meeting. Make notes of suggestions for improvement, and any timetable for making changes. If you feel your boss has assessed your contribution inaccurately, express your dissent but do so diplomatically and in a professional manner. Do not get into an argument over the subject. Regardless of the outcome of the meeting, thank your boss for taking the time to discuss your goals and objectives. Assure him/her that you will follow up on suggestions and will be ready to meet in a specified amount of time to review progress toward your mutual goals. Do this even if you are dissatisfied with the results of the meeting and plan on looking for another job.
If you have decided to look for another job, continually strive to exceed your boss’s expectations, while you are at your current job. Give your full attention to performing your job to the best of your ability. When it comes time for references, this can be very helpful. Personally, it will also give you pride in rising above any pettiness, on your boss’s part that may have influenced your decision to leave. And by choosing, to conduct yourself in this manner, you have made a choice that places you in control.
© Copyright 2005 by David Posival
No part of this document is to be construed as personalized advice, but is intended and presented as general education and incentive to self-evaluation, thought, and motivation. Reproductions of this document must include this notice and the following link: http://www.postoakenterprises.com.
While there are businesses, that provide career counseling, and evaluation services for a fee, you can help yourself by answering some of the following questions, and then evaluating your responses. You may find that using a career counseling service would be beneficial, especially if you begin to discover skills and abilities that are under utilized.
Basically, my recommendation is to interview yourself. Focus on the who, what, when, where and how of your SKA’s (Skills, Knowledge and Abilities), as well as your likes and dislikes. Define who you are, relative to your career aspirations. Define and evaluate your career aspirations, if you are unsure about them.
If you are currently employed, what is it that makes you say, “yes, what a day!” when you leave for the day with a great feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. If you are unemployed, think back to a day like I just described.
Now consider the deeper reason for your feeling of accomplishment. For example, let’s say that you are supervisor of a team that just exceeded your goals not only for the day, but also for a week. Obviously, you have pride and a sense of accomplishment in exceeding your goals. But, now dig deeper. Is it the praise and admiration of your superiors and peers that prompts this feeling? Or is it a more personal sense of contributing through your leadership. What skills and abilities did you use to drive this accomplishment? Would these same skills and abilities work equally well somewhere else? Is there a way to better utilize these skills and abilities in your current job?
Follow the same process for days when you left work drained and beat but with no sense of accomplishment. What about the days, when you just were there but things seemed to happen whether or not you were involved? How do you feel about each of these situations? If the instances in this last paragraph outnumber the instances in the previous paragraph, can you really be happy in your job? If instances of job satisfaction are few compared to the time of discontent and lack of satisfaction, considering other alternatives might be in order.
While discontent, in many cases can be a good thing, especially when it drives change and improvement; it is not good if you have little or no control over changes. If this is your situation, then consider whether discontent is due to no opportunity or your failure to exploit opportunity. For instance, if your boss basically wants a “yes” person, and you are allowed few opportunities for growth and more responsibility and authority, it is time to update your résumé and seriously consider other options. However, given the current employment climate, a job currently held is worth more than many potential prospects.
One of the options to consider is talking with your boss about changing his/her utilization of your abilities. Obviously, only do this after you have defined and evaluated your skills and accomplishments. But, be honest and understand the mistakes you made and how they may have influenced your current situation. If you feel that your situation is not due to major mistakes, then proceed to discuss your future with your boss.
Remember, any discussion should be objective, and geared towards highlighting the benefits to your boss, for giving you more responsibility. While you may have strong feelings about your lack of opportunity, and value you provide, keep emotions out of the meeting. Present the case for why you should be given this opportunity, by showing your boss how this will benefit her/him. If for instance, you can take some of the drudgework from your boss, and allow him/her to prepare to move up, this can open a door for you to follow in your boss’s footsteps. Under no circumstances issue what could be considered an ultimatum, unless you are prepared to lose your current position immediately.
Listen to what your boss tells you, as you progress through the meeting. Make notes of suggestions for improvement, and any timetable for making changes. If you feel your boss has assessed your contribution inaccurately, express your dissent but do so diplomatically and in a professional manner. Do not get into an argument over the subject. Regardless of the outcome of the meeting, thank your boss for taking the time to discuss your goals and objectives. Assure him/her that you will follow up on suggestions and will be ready to meet in a specified amount of time to review progress toward your mutual goals. Do this even if you are dissatisfied with the results of the meeting and plan on looking for another job.
If you have decided to look for another job, continually strive to exceed your boss’s expectations, while you are at your current job. Give your full attention to performing your job to the best of your ability. When it comes time for references, this can be very helpful. Personally, it will also give you pride in rising above any pettiness, on your boss’s part that may have influenced your decision to leave. And by choosing, to conduct yourself in this manner, you have made a choice that places you in control.
© Copyright 2005 by David Posival
No part of this document is to be construed as personalized advice, but is intended and presented as general education and incentive to self-evaluation, thought, and motivation. Reproductions of this document must include this notice and the following link: http://www.postoakenterprises.com.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Regaining Control
It has been a very long time since my last post. I have to apologize, for the break, but also let you know that being unemployed, means changing priorities on short notice. Hopefully, by taking care of some business over the last few weeks I will be able to return to doing the things that I like and have the greatest potential for success.
Today, I want to briefly address dealing with the stress of being unemployed. If you have a job, that you absolutely hate, you still do not have the stress level you will face, if you lose your job. While in some instances, leaving a terribly stressful job, seems to improve your outlook on life; it will be short-lived, if you do not soon get another job. That is why it is important to make good use of this time.
First, during the time when your outlook has improved, seriously evaluate your options and career choices. What factors in your past jobs were rewarding and uplifting? What factors were stressful, and detracted from your feelings of achievement and pride in your work? Evaluate your skills developed through work or school. Include an evaluation of your abilities and personality as they relate to your career choices.
Once you have completed this self-evaluation, it is time to seriously and objectively look at your options. If your last job was the only kind of work you were qualified for, you have some serious soul searching ahead of you. If you feel that the stress and disagreeable circumstances of your last job were unique to that particular employer, then you may want to pursue the same job somewhere else.
If however, you find that the stress and dissatisfaction of the last job is common in all similar employers, you have only two choices. Either try to find an organization that is better than your last employer, at reducing stressful and demeaning situations, or just take a similar job, with the determination to gain skills, knowledge and abilities that will allow you to soon make a career change. Take it from me; life is way to short to waste it dealing with a job that is anything but fulfilling.
If you find that you have skills, knowledge and abilities not used by your job, it is well worth investigating other career opportunities. There is a publication, you can probably find in your public library, titled "Occupational Outlook Handbook," published by the U.S. Department of Labor. This book lists thousands of jobs and their associated skill requirements. You should also research the “Guide for Occupational Exploration,” which I believe is also published by the Department of Labor.
Take some time and match your skills, knowledge and abilities to jobs you find there. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you are qualified for many other very rewarding jobs. At the very least, you may find that you only need a little additional education or specialized training to significantly improve your employment opportunities. You can find much of this same information on the Internet at the U.S. Department of Labor website at this link.
During this time, consider seriously furthering your education, if you do not have a degree. Depending on your financial circumstances you may qualify for assistance through various government agencies. Visit with the counseling staff at a local college, to learn more about the financial resources available, for your area. You may be pleasantly surprised, by what you learn. Remember, even an Associate degree will improve your job prospects in many cases.
Lastly, try to develop some interests or hobbies, which will provide stress relief. For instance, when I was going through a particularly stressful time in my career, I found the challenge of water painting, to be so absorbing that I forgot about work and its problems. While you may not have an inclination for watercolors, you may be able to develop some interests like photography, outdoor activities, or even learning new cooking skills. Find something that helps you appreciate life and those around you.
Remember your response to the circumstances in your life, will determine how happy or unhappy, you will be. You will feel like a victim, if you do not take responsibility for what happens in your life. When you make the decisions as to how you will feel in any given situation, you are in charge. It may only be in a minor way, but from the acorn grew the mighty oak.
© Copyright 2005 by David Posival
Today, I want to briefly address dealing with the stress of being unemployed. If you have a job, that you absolutely hate, you still do not have the stress level you will face, if you lose your job. While in some instances, leaving a terribly stressful job, seems to improve your outlook on life; it will be short-lived, if you do not soon get another job. That is why it is important to make good use of this time.
First, during the time when your outlook has improved, seriously evaluate your options and career choices. What factors in your past jobs were rewarding and uplifting? What factors were stressful, and detracted from your feelings of achievement and pride in your work? Evaluate your skills developed through work or school. Include an evaluation of your abilities and personality as they relate to your career choices.
Once you have completed this self-evaluation, it is time to seriously and objectively look at your options. If your last job was the only kind of work you were qualified for, you have some serious soul searching ahead of you. If you feel that the stress and disagreeable circumstances of your last job were unique to that particular employer, then you may want to pursue the same job somewhere else.
If however, you find that the stress and dissatisfaction of the last job is common in all similar employers, you have only two choices. Either try to find an organization that is better than your last employer, at reducing stressful and demeaning situations, or just take a similar job, with the determination to gain skills, knowledge and abilities that will allow you to soon make a career change. Take it from me; life is way to short to waste it dealing with a job that is anything but fulfilling.
If you find that you have skills, knowledge and abilities not used by your job, it is well worth investigating other career opportunities. There is a publication, you can probably find in your public library, titled "Occupational Outlook Handbook," published by the U.S. Department of Labor. This book lists thousands of jobs and their associated skill requirements. You should also research the “Guide for Occupational Exploration,” which I believe is also published by the Department of Labor.
Take some time and match your skills, knowledge and abilities to jobs you find there. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that you are qualified for many other very rewarding jobs. At the very least, you may find that you only need a little additional education or specialized training to significantly improve your employment opportunities. You can find much of this same information on the Internet at the U.S. Department of Labor website at this link.
During this time, consider seriously furthering your education, if you do not have a degree. Depending on your financial circumstances you may qualify for assistance through various government agencies. Visit with the counseling staff at a local college, to learn more about the financial resources available, for your area. You may be pleasantly surprised, by what you learn. Remember, even an Associate degree will improve your job prospects in many cases.
Lastly, try to develop some interests or hobbies, which will provide stress relief. For instance, when I was going through a particularly stressful time in my career, I found the challenge of water painting, to be so absorbing that I forgot about work and its problems. While you may not have an inclination for watercolors, you may be able to develop some interests like photography, outdoor activities, or even learning new cooking skills. Find something that helps you appreciate life and those around you.
Remember your response to the circumstances in your life, will determine how happy or unhappy, you will be. You will feel like a victim, if you do not take responsibility for what happens in your life. When you make the decisions as to how you will feel in any given situation, you are in charge. It may only be in a minor way, but from the acorn grew the mighty oak.
© Copyright 2005 by David Posival
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Relocating for the Job - Part 3
Obviously, I have not posted anything for many days. I have been busy addressing issues that develop when a couple or family relocates for the job. Specifically, I am focusing my job search on the local area. Prior to relocating, this area had received little of my attention.
While I am in the process of changing careers, I feel it is only prudent to continue keeping the doors open to other opportunities. We are fortunate my wife has found a great job and for right now, we can get by on the one income plus my very limited earnings. I am returning most of my earnings to developing the business.
However, if you are not planning on striking out on your own in a new business venture, and you have relocated due to your partners new job, then you are going to have to make some decisions about your career. Obviously, since you have relocated with your partner, you either determined that there would be opportunities for you in the new area. Or, your financial situation required taking the job and hoping to find work for yourself, once in the area.
Of course, you have another option. If you fell into the latter group above, you may not have many opportunities in the new area. I have encountered this situation. There are few job openings for my skills in the area, with tremendous competition from younger candidates. So, if I had to find employment to remain solvent, it would mean accepting a job outside my skill area, or broadening the search to more distant locations.
Since you have relocated with a partner, you are obviously in a relationship of some sort. Obvious questions are, will the relationship withstand the pressures of separation? Or, is the opportunity more important than the relationship?
During part of our marriage, my wife relocated to another area, for her job. I remained behind while continuing my job search and developing another career path. We found both positive and negative aspects from that experience.
Our relationship grew by forcing us to develop a stronger trust in the other. We seldom took for granted, our time together. The time we spent together, whether on the phone or when she came home on weekends, became more focused on sharing, and enjoying each other. But, we had also recognized that everybody needs some time for himself or herself, so we benefited by having our own space or personal time. So you can see, separation due to relocating for a job does have some positives.
On the negative side of the equation, the cost of traveling for weekends, strained our finances. There were many times during each day, when we could have each benefited from the others council, but distance prevented that immediate access. However, even in the best situation, if both partners work in the same area, there are times when access to each other is restricted. We learned to work around that by using email and discussing the issues during our evening phone conversations. Those phone calls were important.
I suppose the lack of physical closeness, was the most difficult part of that time. Just like Donkey, in the Shrek movie, there are times when we all need a hug. Our situation may have been more difficult because we were both still coping with a recent family tragedy. But through that adversity, I believe that our relationship did grow stronger, and each of us found and developed greater inner strength.
So, from personal experience, I know some relationships are strong enough to withstand extended periods of separation. If you have no doubt about the strength of your relationship, then broadening your search area is certainly an option. However, if you have doubts, what can you do?
The most obvious answer is take the first available job offer in your location, regardless of how it may or may not utilize your skills. This has advantages of keeping you and your partner together, and earning adequate money, while you continue searching for your target job. Remember though, working a job you do not like also strains a relationship, whether or not you immediately recognize it.
You should view this secondary job as survival employment only. Your primary job is searching for your target employment opportunity. This means, rather than spending each evening and weekend enjoying your relationship, doing fun things; you will spend considerable time job-hunting. However, this can be a shared experience, if your partner participates in the job search with you. Shared activities could include Internet searching, or helping customize cover letters and résumés for you, before sending them to prospective employers.
Whether you choose to stay together and work through some lean times or try working separately, your relationship will suffer some bumps. The way you handle those bumps will determine whether you made the right choice. That is the whole point here. It is your choice. Unless you both agree, the arrangement is beneficial; you must realize that, like the survival job, working separately is a short-term solution. Since either choice will probably place some strain on the relationship, eventually it all boils down to each or you making it work.
© Copyright 2005 by David Posival
While I am in the process of changing careers, I feel it is only prudent to continue keeping the doors open to other opportunities. We are fortunate my wife has found a great job and for right now, we can get by on the one income plus my very limited earnings. I am returning most of my earnings to developing the business.
However, if you are not planning on striking out on your own in a new business venture, and you have relocated due to your partners new job, then you are going to have to make some decisions about your career. Obviously, since you have relocated with your partner, you either determined that there would be opportunities for you in the new area. Or, your financial situation required taking the job and hoping to find work for yourself, once in the area.
Of course, you have another option. If you fell into the latter group above, you may not have many opportunities in the new area. I have encountered this situation. There are few job openings for my skills in the area, with tremendous competition from younger candidates. So, if I had to find employment to remain solvent, it would mean accepting a job outside my skill area, or broadening the search to more distant locations.
Since you have relocated with a partner, you are obviously in a relationship of some sort. Obvious questions are, will the relationship withstand the pressures of separation? Or, is the opportunity more important than the relationship?
During part of our marriage, my wife relocated to another area, for her job. I remained behind while continuing my job search and developing another career path. We found both positive and negative aspects from that experience.
Our relationship grew by forcing us to develop a stronger trust in the other. We seldom took for granted, our time together. The time we spent together, whether on the phone or when she came home on weekends, became more focused on sharing, and enjoying each other. But, we had also recognized that everybody needs some time for himself or herself, so we benefited by having our own space or personal time. So you can see, separation due to relocating for a job does have some positives.
On the negative side of the equation, the cost of traveling for weekends, strained our finances. There were many times during each day, when we could have each benefited from the others council, but distance prevented that immediate access. However, even in the best situation, if both partners work in the same area, there are times when access to each other is restricted. We learned to work around that by using email and discussing the issues during our evening phone conversations. Those phone calls were important.
I suppose the lack of physical closeness, was the most difficult part of that time. Just like Donkey, in the Shrek movie, there are times when we all need a hug. Our situation may have been more difficult because we were both still coping with a recent family tragedy. But through that adversity, I believe that our relationship did grow stronger, and each of us found and developed greater inner strength.
So, from personal experience, I know some relationships are strong enough to withstand extended periods of separation. If you have no doubt about the strength of your relationship, then broadening your search area is certainly an option. However, if you have doubts, what can you do?
The most obvious answer is take the first available job offer in your location, regardless of how it may or may not utilize your skills. This has advantages of keeping you and your partner together, and earning adequate money, while you continue searching for your target job. Remember though, working a job you do not like also strains a relationship, whether or not you immediately recognize it.
You should view this secondary job as survival employment only. Your primary job is searching for your target employment opportunity. This means, rather than spending each evening and weekend enjoying your relationship, doing fun things; you will spend considerable time job-hunting. However, this can be a shared experience, if your partner participates in the job search with you. Shared activities could include Internet searching, or helping customize cover letters and résumés for you, before sending them to prospective employers.
Whether you choose to stay together and work through some lean times or try working separately, your relationship will suffer some bumps. The way you handle those bumps will determine whether you made the right choice. That is the whole point here. It is your choice. Unless you both agree, the arrangement is beneficial; you must realize that, like the survival job, working separately is a short-term solution. Since either choice will probably place some strain on the relationship, eventually it all boils down to each or you making it work.
© Copyright 2005 by David Posival
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Relocating for the Job – Part 2
In my previous post on relocating, I gave you just a few solutions to issues you may face when it is time to move. But, an even more fundamental question has to be answered first. That question is, “do you want to search for, and possibly accept a job in a different part of the country or even the world?” First, if you don’t want to relocate for the job, doing so anyway could make you miserable in the new job and location. However, if your employment opportunities and financial resources are running out, do you have a choice?
The situation my wife and I faced fell into this last group. Our resources were running out and the job market for my wife was flooded with qualified and even overqualified candidates. After being out of work for over a year, I knew that my opportunities, in that area, were few and very low paying, so I decided to change careers. (A possible future topic for this blog) We reached a point where relocation was a necessity.
If you are in this situation, then your choices are limited. If you have decided you do not want to move, then a survival job may be your only alternative. Survival jobs will possibly be a topic for a future post, so I will not cover them here, other than to say, you may be as miserable as you if you had relocated, against your desires. The only difference being the survival job hopefully will be short term, while relocating will likely be a longer-term situation.
However if you decide that relocation is an option, your next decision is “where?” There are so many variables affecting this choice, that I will only cover the most important. For each person the relative importance is different. Just to help get you started analyzing your choices, I’ll give you some variables I considered.
Since my children are grown and live on their own, I did not have to consider the schools in the target area. However, if you have children, this should be high on your list of priorities. Just as important, is the crime and drug abuse characteristics of the target area. One thing I have learned is not just inner-city schools have drug and violence problems. Suburban campuses can be just as bad, but affluence can hide some of the problem.
Other factors you may want to consider are cost of living, state and local taxes, and in the current economic situation, other things like fuel cost, rent or home ownership. Another factor might be climate, if temperature or environmental extremes create problems for you or family members. Susceptible to allergens? Look at environmental conditions in your target area.
In this day and age of political polarization, you may even want to consider the local political majority. Intolerance for divergent political and core beliefs and views, can make living in some areas uncomfortable. Sometimes it is just easier to move to a new area, where you will feel accepted. This is especially true if you have no friends or relatives anywhere near the area. This is unfortunate, but it is just an example of the questions you need to resolve in the decision process.
From this brief list, hopefully you get some idea of factors to consider if you are relocating. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list but only food for thought. And of course, each location will present unique challenges to your evaluation process.
For most relocation questions, the Internet can be a terrific information source. Use Google, Yahoo, and any other of your favorite search engines to locate information you need. For instance, to find out about crime in a certain city, enter “crime statistics” and the name and state of the city. You can use the quotes around the subject, as I did above, to filter out a lot of unrelated information. To broaden the search, remove the quotes.
Of course, relatives and friends can be a great source of all types of information, for your target area. Obviously having friends or family in another part of the country can also make the relocation decision easier. But lacking friends or family in your target area, you still have other sources for information.
For instance to locate crime statistics, you can also contact the public information officer of the local police department in your target area. Ask for overall crime statistics for the area, and more specific to the location you are considering for relocation. If they are unable or unwilling to assist you, search the online versions of the area newspapers.
Some newspapers also sell back issues, allowing you to learn much more about the area. I recommend getting at least four issues of their Sunday edition. Selecting some weekday and Saturday copies will also help fill in some gaps in your information. When you purchase papers from your selected areas, reviewing ads for apartments or housing should give you some idea of that expense. If store circulars are included, compare prices with those in your current area.
There are also COL (Cost of Living) or salary calculators on the Internet. This is just one of several I used from Realtor.com. These can be helpful but should not be your only source of information, on that subject. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce for your target area, if you have time for them to respond. Remember though, their focus is to present the best side of the community, so you’ll probably see little negative information.
When my wife had opportunities for interviews in areas requiring relocation, we also used another great method of determining cost of living. We were fortunate to have resources available to allow me to accompany her on some interviews. This allowed me, the grocery shopper, to do price comparisons of common grocery items. I was also able to get real estate and rent information, first hand. From this information, it was easy to determine the relative expense of the respective items in each area.
If your resources are more limited, when you get an interview in your target area, try to arrange for extra time to investigate. You may be able to arrange for the interviewing company to fly you in early enough to spend some time scouting the area, before going to the hotel for the evening. This also demonstrates your seriousness about relocating for the job. A company that is interested in hiring you may be willing to work with you on this, but you’ll never know unless you ask.
The final aspect to cover is the prevalent rate of compensation you can expect in your target area. Using the COL/salary calculators mentioned earlier, you can determine the difference in buying power between your current earnings, and the going rate in the target area. Some job listings will give you salary information, but most will not. However, many low skill jobs are posted with pay information. Comparing low skill jobs there and the comparable back home can also give you some indication of relative worth.
Hopefully, what I have given you here will jump-start your thought process in relocating for the job. If you have discovered other aspects to consider or other sources of information, please post them. There are other aspects to relocating that we may cover in future posts. In the interim, my web link is given below. There you’ll learn more about benefits of getting a new or revised resume.
© 2005 David Posival, All rights reserved.
The situation my wife and I faced fell into this last group. Our resources were running out and the job market for my wife was flooded with qualified and even overqualified candidates. After being out of work for over a year, I knew that my opportunities, in that area, were few and very low paying, so I decided to change careers. (A possible future topic for this blog) We reached a point where relocation was a necessity.
If you are in this situation, then your choices are limited. If you have decided you do not want to move, then a survival job may be your only alternative. Survival jobs will possibly be a topic for a future post, so I will not cover them here, other than to say, you may be as miserable as you if you had relocated, against your desires. The only difference being the survival job hopefully will be short term, while relocating will likely be a longer-term situation.
However if you decide that relocation is an option, your next decision is “where?” There are so many variables affecting this choice, that I will only cover the most important. For each person the relative importance is different. Just to help get you started analyzing your choices, I’ll give you some variables I considered.
Since my children are grown and live on their own, I did not have to consider the schools in the target area. However, if you have children, this should be high on your list of priorities. Just as important, is the crime and drug abuse characteristics of the target area. One thing I have learned is not just inner-city schools have drug and violence problems. Suburban campuses can be just as bad, but affluence can hide some of the problem.
Other factors you may want to consider are cost of living, state and local taxes, and in the current economic situation, other things like fuel cost, rent or home ownership. Another factor might be climate, if temperature or environmental extremes create problems for you or family members. Susceptible to allergens? Look at environmental conditions in your target area.
In this day and age of political polarization, you may even want to consider the local political majority. Intolerance for divergent political and core beliefs and views, can make living in some areas uncomfortable. Sometimes it is just easier to move to a new area, where you will feel accepted. This is especially true if you have no friends or relatives anywhere near the area. This is unfortunate, but it is just an example of the questions you need to resolve in the decision process.
From this brief list, hopefully you get some idea of factors to consider if you are relocating. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list but only food for thought. And of course, each location will present unique challenges to your evaluation process.
For most relocation questions, the Internet can be a terrific information source. Use Google, Yahoo, and any other of your favorite search engines to locate information you need. For instance, to find out about crime in a certain city, enter “crime statistics” and the name and state of the city. You can use the quotes around the subject, as I did above, to filter out a lot of unrelated information. To broaden the search, remove the quotes.
Of course, relatives and friends can be a great source of all types of information, for your target area. Obviously having friends or family in another part of the country can also make the relocation decision easier. But lacking friends or family in your target area, you still have other sources for information.
For instance to locate crime statistics, you can also contact the public information officer of the local police department in your target area. Ask for overall crime statistics for the area, and more specific to the location you are considering for relocation. If they are unable or unwilling to assist you, search the online versions of the area newspapers.
Some newspapers also sell back issues, allowing you to learn much more about the area. I recommend getting at least four issues of their Sunday edition. Selecting some weekday and Saturday copies will also help fill in some gaps in your information. When you purchase papers from your selected areas, reviewing ads for apartments or housing should give you some idea of that expense. If store circulars are included, compare prices with those in your current area.
There are also COL (Cost of Living) or salary calculators on the Internet. This is just one of several I used from Realtor.com. These can be helpful but should not be your only source of information, on that subject. Contact the local Chamber of Commerce for your target area, if you have time for them to respond. Remember though, their focus is to present the best side of the community, so you’ll probably see little negative information.
When my wife had opportunities for interviews in areas requiring relocation, we also used another great method of determining cost of living. We were fortunate to have resources available to allow me to accompany her on some interviews. This allowed me, the grocery shopper, to do price comparisons of common grocery items. I was also able to get real estate and rent information, first hand. From this information, it was easy to determine the relative expense of the respective items in each area.
If your resources are more limited, when you get an interview in your target area, try to arrange for extra time to investigate. You may be able to arrange for the interviewing company to fly you in early enough to spend some time scouting the area, before going to the hotel for the evening. This also demonstrates your seriousness about relocating for the job. A company that is interested in hiring you may be willing to work with you on this, but you’ll never know unless you ask.
The final aspect to cover is the prevalent rate of compensation you can expect in your target area. Using the COL/salary calculators mentioned earlier, you can determine the difference in buying power between your current earnings, and the going rate in the target area. Some job listings will give you salary information, but most will not. However, many low skill jobs are posted with pay information. Comparing low skill jobs there and the comparable back home can also give you some indication of relative worth.
Hopefully, what I have given you here will jump-start your thought process in relocating for the job. If you have discovered other aspects to consider or other sources of information, please post them. There are other aspects to relocating that we may cover in future posts. In the interim, my web link is given below. There you’ll learn more about benefits of getting a new or revised resume.
© 2005 David Posival, All rights reserved.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Professional Resume Writer or D.I.Y.
I promised more information on relocating for a job in my last post. However, I read a short response to a reader's question, in the local daily newspaper, that I thought needed to be given further consideration. I promise, there will be more on relocating in future posts.
Now back to the aforementioned article. The reader was questioning whether it was necessary to spend money on a professionally written resume, or do it yourself. The very short, and I feel poorly thought out response was: “Go to the library…find a book…and do it yourself.” The response came from a journalist, who is promoting a new book about finding and keeping a job. Obviously, she was never a hiring manager or worked in the real world, where the right resume, is the difference between getting interviews or reject letters and notices.
The truth is that for some people writing their own resume is a viable option, while for many more, it is just bad advice. People, who are well motivated, organized, and very knowledgeable in the job market, may be able to develop a good resume. But, there has to be a willingness to spend time researching and identifying information that should and should not be included in a resume. Then there is the actual process of writing the resume, using the right words in the right places to get prospective employer's attention.
When you work with a professional resume writer, you have someone who has all of these resources, to use in presenting you and your SKA's (Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities) in the best way possible. Truthfully speaking, most of the people who use my service lack some part of the successful equation, given above.
Many clients do not have time to research and think through the necessary steps to creating a great resume. Others, realizing how important a resume really is, do not want to risk a mistake, that will stop them from getting interviews, and eventually cost them a job opportunity.
The fear of failure has probably been the greatest reason for using my service. Writing a resume can be confusing and seem like a huge task, when you’re facing the challenge alone. However, under the knowledgeable guidance of a resume professional, each step in the process is accomplished methodically and with a minimum of confusion.
Additionally, during the process, the client has gained many new insights into what they want in a job and the type of job they are honestly qualified for. Several have realized that they had more than one career track available, and have multiple resumes, optimizing their job opportunities. Some have found that their original job desires did not match as well with their personality type as did other jobs, for which,they were equally qualified.
I have edited and expanded resumes, originally created by the client, resulting in their complete satisfaction. Primarily these clients no longer had doubts about accuracy, style, or form. Also, I do know that in almost all cases, when a client gets the final version of the resume, there is a new confidence in their ability to get interviews and a job. From a hiring managers perspective, confidence is one of the most important benefits, when you are interviewing for a job.
Part of the question, posed by the reader, included the concern about spending a “lot” of money on a resume. While it is true that you may not have money for anything but essentials, when you consider what is at stake, a resume becomes an essential. Some resume services are expensive, but shop around. You can find resume writing services that offer reasonable prices and will give you a definite edge in the highly competitive job market.
I suppose for each person using my service, there is a unique set of reasons for their purchase decision. You will have to determine whether or not a professionally written resume is an option, and how much you can afford, if you choose to use one. It’s your choice but a professionally written resume can be a great investment in your future.
Many more benefits of using a professional resume writing service can be found by clicking here.
Now back to the aforementioned article. The reader was questioning whether it was necessary to spend money on a professionally written resume, or do it yourself. The very short, and I feel poorly thought out response was: “Go to the library…find a book…and do it yourself.” The response came from a journalist, who is promoting a new book about finding and keeping a job. Obviously, she was never a hiring manager or worked in the real world, where the right resume, is the difference between getting interviews or reject letters and notices.
The truth is that for some people writing their own resume is a viable option, while for many more, it is just bad advice. People, who are well motivated, organized, and very knowledgeable in the job market, may be able to develop a good resume. But, there has to be a willingness to spend time researching and identifying information that should and should not be included in a resume. Then there is the actual process of writing the resume, using the right words in the right places to get prospective employer's attention.
When you work with a professional resume writer, you have someone who has all of these resources, to use in presenting you and your SKA's (Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities) in the best way possible. Truthfully speaking, most of the people who use my service lack some part of the successful equation, given above.
Many clients do not have time to research and think through the necessary steps to creating a great resume. Others, realizing how important a resume really is, do not want to risk a mistake, that will stop them from getting interviews, and eventually cost them a job opportunity.
The fear of failure has probably been the greatest reason for using my service. Writing a resume can be confusing and seem like a huge task, when you’re facing the challenge alone. However, under the knowledgeable guidance of a resume professional, each step in the process is accomplished methodically and with a minimum of confusion.
Additionally, during the process, the client has gained many new insights into what they want in a job and the type of job they are honestly qualified for. Several have realized that they had more than one career track available, and have multiple resumes, optimizing their job opportunities. Some have found that their original job desires did not match as well with their personality type as did other jobs, for which,they were equally qualified.
I have edited and expanded resumes, originally created by the client, resulting in their complete satisfaction. Primarily these clients no longer had doubts about accuracy, style, or form. Also, I do know that in almost all cases, when a client gets the final version of the resume, there is a new confidence in their ability to get interviews and a job. From a hiring managers perspective, confidence is one of the most important benefits, when you are interviewing for a job.
Part of the question, posed by the reader, included the concern about spending a “lot” of money on a resume. While it is true that you may not have money for anything but essentials, when you consider what is at stake, a resume becomes an essential. Some resume services are expensive, but shop around. You can find resume writing services that offer reasonable prices and will give you a definite edge in the highly competitive job market.
I suppose for each person using my service, there is a unique set of reasons for their purchase decision. You will have to determine whether or not a professionally written resume is an option, and how much you can afford, if you choose to use one. It’s your choice but a professionally written resume can be a great investment in your future.
Many more benefits of using a professional resume writing service can be found by clicking here.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Relocating for a Job
It has been several weeks since the last post. This has been due to relocating from the DFW area to San Antonio, Texas. Over the next few weeks, as we get settled in, I will cover some of the pitfalls and shortcuts to a successful relocation. Like most people, I really did not want to go through the process of relocating. But let's face it though, in today's world of downsizing and offshoring, relocation is becoming a necessity for growing numbers of us.
I am fortunate that my wife is very good at taking care of details. She did most of the research to relocate in about three weeks. Relocation time constraints, are probably one of the most important topics that should be considered, when accepting a job offer in a new area. Many of us can physically pack up and be ready to move in a matter of only days or a week. So, that is not a major constraint.
However, even in this age of immediate information availability, finding new housing and transferring services, such as phone, electricity and even satellite TV, can take much longer. We have learned that using services that do all the transfers for you, may delay the actual connection of the utilities. Also, while most of these connection services are "no charge," you may lose some connection discounts from the original supplier if you use them.
The delays due to using a relocation connection service, can also become extended. You have to remember that you are adding an additional layer of communication between you and the original service provider. This middle man has to take the information from you and then submit the requests to the original provider, in order for them to issue connection work orders. The relocation connection service provider we used waited up to four days before submitting some requests. My feeling is that relocation connection services may be nice, but if time is something you have in short supply, I would recommend you make all of the connection transfers yourself, which will probably save you both time and some money.
Next time we'll look at some other factors to consider while relocating for a job. For more information about my services, click here.
I am fortunate that my wife is very good at taking care of details. She did most of the research to relocate in about three weeks. Relocation time constraints, are probably one of the most important topics that should be considered, when accepting a job offer in a new area. Many of us can physically pack up and be ready to move in a matter of only days or a week. So, that is not a major constraint.
However, even in this age of immediate information availability, finding new housing and transferring services, such as phone, electricity and even satellite TV, can take much longer. We have learned that using services that do all the transfers for you, may delay the actual connection of the utilities. Also, while most of these connection services are "no charge," you may lose some connection discounts from the original supplier if you use them.
The delays due to using a relocation connection service, can also become extended. You have to remember that you are adding an additional layer of communication between you and the original service provider. This middle man has to take the information from you and then submit the requests to the original provider, in order for them to issue connection work orders. The relocation connection service provider we used waited up to four days before submitting some requests. My feeling is that relocation connection services may be nice, but if time is something you have in short supply, I would recommend you make all of the connection transfers yourself, which will probably save you both time and some money.
Next time we'll look at some other factors to consider while relocating for a job. For more information about my services, click here.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
When is the Best Time to Get a Résumé?
While the answer to this question can be considered subjective, and there are numerous good answers, we are going to pursue the answer that gives you the best chance to “seize the day.” For each person this decision is theirs, based on current circumstances, but there is a best time.
For instance, if you are a successful small business owner, the obvious answer seems to be, that you do not need a résumé. For most people in this situation, this is true. However, if your business is losing share regardless of the changes you have implemented, it may be time to find another niche to fill. This might be an opportunity to develop a second business as a sideline, or as a replacement that will slowly phase out your current business. Or, your niche might be to join a larger firm as an employee, with benefits that right now consume a large amount of your profitability.
If you are a small business owner, in almost any field, you know that if you are very successful, you will have an ever-increasing amount of competition. You are also responsible for all the benefits your company provides. As the costs for things like insurance and the omnipresent government regulations, continue to escalate, your share of the profits, can be eroded very quickly. At some point, you may be faced with the possibility that you have to find another line of income.
Obviously, if you are in a job that has lost its appeal, you want to have another job lined up before you leave your current situation. That is if you are willing to start over in another company or division. Sometimes the better solution is to stay within an organization and continue to improve your value, which was something we touched on last week.
In this age of competitiveness, and an employer’s market, so to speak, you may be competing for that promotion not only with peers but also outside candidates. This has become especially true, when employers feel they can get employees for lower cost, while only giving up some small amount of job related experience. The thinking is that company specific experience may not be so valuable if education and most skills are equal, especially if there is cost saving involved.
Of course, if you are currently out of work, you know how competitive the job market is, and how you need every advantage available. If you spend time on job boards like “Monster.com” or “CareerBuilder,” or any of the dozens of others, you will realize the demand for better educated, and more specific job related skills, has grown. Employers know that there are hundreds and even thousands of potential candidates, for just about every job out there, and they can demand a lot, for what they are willing to pay.
Now, let’s say you like your job and your employer seems to be happy with your performance, so you do not need a résumé, right? Well let’s look a little closer at your current situation. In my last post, I also alluded to the employer who seems to be “rocking along” with no plans for downsizing. Look at your raises, bonus, and other benefits. Are any of them stagnating or perhaps shrinking just a bit? These may be the first indications that all may not be going as well as you think.
Regardless of the scenario, you may fit into; the truth is that employment is no longer assumed a certainty, and that loyalty is no longer likely to guarantee you a job. So whether you are in a job you feel secure in, own your own small business struggling to stay afloat, or have lost your job, it is probably a good practice to get and keep an updated résumé. Even if you feel, you have nothing to worry about so far as job security, it is a recognized fact that the person interested in making leaps in earning power will have to make quantum leaps in value to their current employer. If that current employer is unwilling or unable to match that improvement in value, the alternative is to change employers.
Even though it is a chore, to give thought and effort to creating and maintaining a résumé, it is a necessity, if you wish to be prepared to change jobs. Even if you are only interested in a promotion within your current employer’s organization, a résumé puts your qualifications and credentials into a concise form and indicates your seriousness about the promotion. Internal job postings may require that you complete some specific form, but when you complete and submit it, include your résumé, unless precluded specifically by the job bid procedures.
While your employer may do an excellent job of keeping an accurate and current job skills inventory on each employee, don’t bet your chance of promotion on that assumption. A well thought out résumé, professionally presented may be just the little something extra that puts you ahead of all the other candidates.
If you are currently unemployed and in the midst of a job search for anything other than entry level work, you already know about needing a résumé. Entry-level jobs, requiring specialized education or certifications, usually require a résumé, in addition to a completed employer application. Even if you are not asked for a résumé, while applying for a job, it is an additional benefit to the prospective employer, and certainly will allow you to draw the hiring professional’s attention to value added skills, knowledge, and abilities you possess.
At the beginning of this post, I mentioned small business owners, who may feel that they have minimal need for a résumé. However, there were some situations where small business owners might have to look to outside employment to help get through a difficult time. Whether that other line of income is working for a larger business full time or taking on a part time job, you as the small business owner, will probably need a résumé.
The case can be made for, and I do recommend, getting a great résumé, and then keeping it current. The best time to get a résumé is when you don’t need one. There is less pressure to think of every detail, which can be so important later, and you are actually likely to think more clearly and objectively, than after you have lost your job, or in the rush to complete a résumé, for a recently posted opportunity.
Every week I get calls from people across all job categories, in a panic because they need a résumé yesterday. Sometimes, I can help them, but many times, I have to turn down the job or refer them to another writer. Even if I have resources available to help them, my feeling is that I am not being provided with the quality information required to create the best résumé they could get, if they had just been proactive.
A résumé is like an insurance policy, you hope you never have to use it, but it is nice to know that you are protected. While a résumé cannot guarantee you constant employment, no more than auto insurance can keep you from being involved in a wreck, both are ready for use if the need arises. So, even if you are in a job that seems secure, or you are happy with your current employment situation, now is the time to get a great résumé. Then when good things happen and you become more valuable as an employee, update that résumé. Some day you may be very happy you acted, preparing for the unexpected.
For instance, if you are a successful small business owner, the obvious answer seems to be, that you do not need a résumé. For most people in this situation, this is true. However, if your business is losing share regardless of the changes you have implemented, it may be time to find another niche to fill. This might be an opportunity to develop a second business as a sideline, or as a replacement that will slowly phase out your current business. Or, your niche might be to join a larger firm as an employee, with benefits that right now consume a large amount of your profitability.
If you are a small business owner, in almost any field, you know that if you are very successful, you will have an ever-increasing amount of competition. You are also responsible for all the benefits your company provides. As the costs for things like insurance and the omnipresent government regulations, continue to escalate, your share of the profits, can be eroded very quickly. At some point, you may be faced with the possibility that you have to find another line of income.
Obviously, if you are in a job that has lost its appeal, you want to have another job lined up before you leave your current situation. That is if you are willing to start over in another company or division. Sometimes the better solution is to stay within an organization and continue to improve your value, which was something we touched on last week.
In this age of competitiveness, and an employer’s market, so to speak, you may be competing for that promotion not only with peers but also outside candidates. This has become especially true, when employers feel they can get employees for lower cost, while only giving up some small amount of job related experience. The thinking is that company specific experience may not be so valuable if education and most skills are equal, especially if there is cost saving involved.
Of course, if you are currently out of work, you know how competitive the job market is, and how you need every advantage available. If you spend time on job boards like “Monster.com” or “CareerBuilder,” or any of the dozens of others, you will realize the demand for better educated, and more specific job related skills, has grown. Employers know that there are hundreds and even thousands of potential candidates, for just about every job out there, and they can demand a lot, for what they are willing to pay.
Now, let’s say you like your job and your employer seems to be happy with your performance, so you do not need a résumé, right? Well let’s look a little closer at your current situation. In my last post, I also alluded to the employer who seems to be “rocking along” with no plans for downsizing. Look at your raises, bonus, and other benefits. Are any of them stagnating or perhaps shrinking just a bit? These may be the first indications that all may not be going as well as you think.
Regardless of the scenario, you may fit into; the truth is that employment is no longer assumed a certainty, and that loyalty is no longer likely to guarantee you a job. So whether you are in a job you feel secure in, own your own small business struggling to stay afloat, or have lost your job, it is probably a good practice to get and keep an updated résumé. Even if you feel, you have nothing to worry about so far as job security, it is a recognized fact that the person interested in making leaps in earning power will have to make quantum leaps in value to their current employer. If that current employer is unwilling or unable to match that improvement in value, the alternative is to change employers.
Even though it is a chore, to give thought and effort to creating and maintaining a résumé, it is a necessity, if you wish to be prepared to change jobs. Even if you are only interested in a promotion within your current employer’s organization, a résumé puts your qualifications and credentials into a concise form and indicates your seriousness about the promotion. Internal job postings may require that you complete some specific form, but when you complete and submit it, include your résumé, unless precluded specifically by the job bid procedures.
While your employer may do an excellent job of keeping an accurate and current job skills inventory on each employee, don’t bet your chance of promotion on that assumption. A well thought out résumé, professionally presented may be just the little something extra that puts you ahead of all the other candidates.
If you are currently unemployed and in the midst of a job search for anything other than entry level work, you already know about needing a résumé. Entry-level jobs, requiring specialized education or certifications, usually require a résumé, in addition to a completed employer application. Even if you are not asked for a résumé, while applying for a job, it is an additional benefit to the prospective employer, and certainly will allow you to draw the hiring professional’s attention to value added skills, knowledge, and abilities you possess.
At the beginning of this post, I mentioned small business owners, who may feel that they have minimal need for a résumé. However, there were some situations where small business owners might have to look to outside employment to help get through a difficult time. Whether that other line of income is working for a larger business full time or taking on a part time job, you as the small business owner, will probably need a résumé.
The case can be made for, and I do recommend, getting a great résumé, and then keeping it current. The best time to get a résumé is when you don’t need one. There is less pressure to think of every detail, which can be so important later, and you are actually likely to think more clearly and objectively, than after you have lost your job, or in the rush to complete a résumé, for a recently posted opportunity.
Every week I get calls from people across all job categories, in a panic because they need a résumé yesterday. Sometimes, I can help them, but many times, I have to turn down the job or refer them to another writer. Even if I have resources available to help them, my feeling is that I am not being provided with the quality information required to create the best résumé they could get, if they had just been proactive.
A résumé is like an insurance policy, you hope you never have to use it, but it is nice to know that you are protected. While a résumé cannot guarantee you constant employment, no more than auto insurance can keep you from being involved in a wreck, both are ready for use if the need arises. So, even if you are in a job that seems secure, or you are happy with your current employment situation, now is the time to get a great résumé. Then when good things happen and you become more valuable as an employee, update that résumé. Some day you may be very happy you acted, preparing for the unexpected.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
More on US Workers and Avoiding Third World Earnings
Looking at the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) web this morning, it is interesting to note that most earnings over the March 2004 to March 2005period, have either fallen or been unable to keep up with the rate of inflation. Only a few jobs like mining and exploitation of energy resources showed a significant growth. Jobs in the plastics industries also paid more, which indicates increased pressure on petroleum production. This can only mean that we are going to be paying higher prices for energy, regardless of the final form, whether gas, coal, or electricity.
This also supports my contention that the American worker is earning less and headed toward third world earning power. Studying the data at the BLS web, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t16.htm, it is clear, that the average wage for many jobs is actually decreasing. As more jobs are off shored, the competition for remaining jobs of the same level is increasing, strongly favoring employers. As workers leave existing jobs and replacements are hired, the starting wages for those jobs are lower.
Combining the earning with the inflation rate figures it soon becomes evident that unless you get a raise in excess of 5% you will only be marginally staying above the increased cost of living. If your earnings increased by less than 4% over the last year, you have gained no additional buying power. The inflation rate during that same period has grown from 1.74% in March 2004 to 3.15% in March 2005. The April 2005 figure was 3.51%. All this according to statistics provided by: "InflationData.com."
If your skill set is limited to those types of jobs that are earning less than last year, you can expect to have about 5% less buying power by the end of the year than last year, when you combine the wage stats and the inflation information. It is unlikely that any government intervention in the area of off shoring is going to be forthcoming, since there is little consensus on just what to do about the situation anyway. This means the American worker is going to have to be responsible for taking care of himself. So that brings us to the question: “What can I do about this situation?”
If you are in one of those jobs, which are shrinking in earning power, you have a couple of options. Good advice for everyone, regardless of the job, is continuing to learn and become more valuable to your employer. If you view your employer from an adversarial point of view, change that now. Right now, your employer is the means to acquire what you do have. Most employers do eventually reward extra effort, so by first partnering with your employer to improve your value, you improve your chances of at least maintaining your current level of buying power.
Taking the concept even further, if you continue to build your skills, and thereby your value to your employer, it is possible to be given more responsibility, which usually is accompanied by greater earnings. Talking with your employer about steps you can take to increase your value and be eligible for promotion, can be very beneficial, so long as you follow through on any action required, on your part.
Doing these things and getting no promotion, or improved wages, should be an indicator that your employer may not be growing the business. If this is the case, it may be time to begin discreetly, looking for a job where your chances are better. If you have been developing adaptable skills and abilities, which means they are transferable to other jobs, you also stand a better chance of improving your situation.
Other factors to look at are better opportunities if you relocate or improving your chances, by additional education. This may mean getting a degree, if you don’t already have one. You might also improve your skills and education in a closely related field, to the one in which you already work. Many jobs are being consolidated under one title, as employers continue to seek ways of cutting expenses to remain competitive.
The labor statistics cited earlier were for non-supervisory employees. If your current level of employment is above them, don’t think that you have it made, and none of this applies to you. As more jobs are being off shored, the number of supervisors and managers required in this country is also decreasing. The same steps recommended above apply to you also.
This also supports my contention that the American worker is earning less and headed toward third world earning power. Studying the data at the BLS web, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t16.htm, it is clear, that the average wage for many jobs is actually decreasing. As more jobs are off shored, the competition for remaining jobs of the same level is increasing, strongly favoring employers. As workers leave existing jobs and replacements are hired, the starting wages for those jobs are lower.
Combining the earning with the inflation rate figures it soon becomes evident that unless you get a raise in excess of 5% you will only be marginally staying above the increased cost of living. If your earnings increased by less than 4% over the last year, you have gained no additional buying power. The inflation rate during that same period has grown from 1.74% in March 2004 to 3.15% in March 2005. The April 2005 figure was 3.51%. All this according to statistics provided by: "InflationData.com."
If your skill set is limited to those types of jobs that are earning less than last year, you can expect to have about 5% less buying power by the end of the year than last year, when you combine the wage stats and the inflation information. It is unlikely that any government intervention in the area of off shoring is going to be forthcoming, since there is little consensus on just what to do about the situation anyway. This means the American worker is going to have to be responsible for taking care of himself. So that brings us to the question: “What can I do about this situation?”
If you are in one of those jobs, which are shrinking in earning power, you have a couple of options. Good advice for everyone, regardless of the job, is continuing to learn and become more valuable to your employer. If you view your employer from an adversarial point of view, change that now. Right now, your employer is the means to acquire what you do have. Most employers do eventually reward extra effort, so by first partnering with your employer to improve your value, you improve your chances of at least maintaining your current level of buying power.
Taking the concept even further, if you continue to build your skills, and thereby your value to your employer, it is possible to be given more responsibility, which usually is accompanied by greater earnings. Talking with your employer about steps you can take to increase your value and be eligible for promotion, can be very beneficial, so long as you follow through on any action required, on your part.
Doing these things and getting no promotion, or improved wages, should be an indicator that your employer may not be growing the business. If this is the case, it may be time to begin discreetly, looking for a job where your chances are better. If you have been developing adaptable skills and abilities, which means they are transferable to other jobs, you also stand a better chance of improving your situation.
Other factors to look at are better opportunities if you relocate or improving your chances, by additional education. This may mean getting a degree, if you don’t already have one. You might also improve your skills and education in a closely related field, to the one in which you already work. Many jobs are being consolidated under one title, as employers continue to seek ways of cutting expenses to remain competitive.
The labor statistics cited earlier were for non-supervisory employees. If your current level of employment is above them, don’t think that you have it made, and none of this applies to you. As more jobs are being off shored, the number of supervisors and managers required in this country is also decreasing. The same steps recommended above apply to you also.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
American working class-falling to third world status?
With all the recent discussion and news about the shift of jobs offshore, many of us have concerns about the eventual outcome for the American working class. Big business justifies sending jobs out of the U.S., in order to compete in the global economy. One of the big selling points seems to be that by off-shoring jobs we are elevating the standard of living for millions of poor in third world countries. However, I wonder if at the same time, we aren't lowering the standard of living for millions of U.S. working people.
My feeling is that big business is not so magnanimous, as it would like us to think. The fact is the jobs pay the lowest possible rate, which will allow the positions to be filled. If earning minimum wage in the U.S. barely keeps a family of four above poverty level, imagine the effect on families with more than four, in the countries where the jobs are going. When employees in third world countries are paid pennies on the dollar, and have families of 6 or more, are their standards of living actually being raised?
You can probably see where I am headed with this line of thinking. While the standard of living in the third-world countries may be rising, I feel that it is insignificant when compared to the overall poverty of the surrounding populace, despite big business propaganda. Now, if only marginal improvements in standards of living in these countries, are the result of lost U.S. jobs; has the global economy really benefited? Jobs lost in the U.S. have certainly lowered significantly the standard of living for millions of American citizens, and produced negligible gains elsewhere. The conclusion must inevitably be reached that; overall, American workers are headed toward third world economic status, unless they are provided with better opportunities.
Where does it all end? As an American worker, what are your options? What will be the eventual global economic impact on all socio-economic levels in the United States? Will the standard of living for most of the world level off with a huge majority of "have-nots" struggling to survive, juxtaposed to a very small and elite group of "haves"? Over the next few weeks, perhaps these will be good topics for further consideration.
Regardless of your current situation, your ability to advance your career or start a new career, can be dramatically improved by being prepared with a professionally prepared résumé. Learn more by clicking on the "More Information" link below. The information is Free.
My feeling is that big business is not so magnanimous, as it would like us to think. The fact is the jobs pay the lowest possible rate, which will allow the positions to be filled. If earning minimum wage in the U.S. barely keeps a family of four above poverty level, imagine the effect on families with more than four, in the countries where the jobs are going. When employees in third world countries are paid pennies on the dollar, and have families of 6 or more, are their standards of living actually being raised?
You can probably see where I am headed with this line of thinking. While the standard of living in the third-world countries may be rising, I feel that it is insignificant when compared to the overall poverty of the surrounding populace, despite big business propaganda. Now, if only marginal improvements in standards of living in these countries, are the result of lost U.S. jobs; has the global economy really benefited? Jobs lost in the U.S. have certainly lowered significantly the standard of living for millions of American citizens, and produced negligible gains elsewhere. The conclusion must inevitably be reached that; overall, American workers are headed toward third world economic status, unless they are provided with better opportunities.
Where does it all end? As an American worker, what are your options? What will be the eventual global economic impact on all socio-economic levels in the United States? Will the standard of living for most of the world level off with a huge majority of "have-nots" struggling to survive, juxtaposed to a very small and elite group of "haves"? Over the next few weeks, perhaps these will be good topics for further consideration.
Regardless of your current situation, your ability to advance your career or start a new career, can be dramatically improved by being prepared with a professionally prepared résumé. Learn more by clicking on the "More Information" link below. The information is Free.
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