Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Jobless during the holidays?


Not looking forward to all the "helpful" comments and questions about your job search efforts this Easter or Passover?


How do you cope with unemployment a during the holidays? Like any loss, a job loss results in grief. Inevitably you must mourn the loss of the job and all that it provided: Security, money, self-esteem, status, identity, etc. I like this model for dealing with loss that is similar to the traditional Kubler-Ross Model, but provides 7 stages for moving BEYOND the grief. In Part I an overview of the grieving process as it relates to the loss of a job. Part II will give suggestions for how to enhance your transition through the process.
Read More


If you want some general tips on what to do if you lose your job you might like to read a prior article, You lost your job.  Now what?
Mary is a Masters-prepared Career Counselor with over 18 years experience in resume writing, personal branding, career assessment and counseling. Specializing in non-traditional specialized careers and career-transitioning, she has the ability to synthesize and focus your unique skills and abilities to obtain interviews for the positions you want with the employers you want to notice you. Follow her on Twitter at @MarySevinsky.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Monday Mission March 26, 2012


Cover letters are a nice way to let the employer know why you are sending them a resume and ensuring that you are considered for the right job! Basic parts of a cover letter include:

Letterhead – your contact information usually you can copy the header from your resume to paste at the top of your cover letter

Date

Employer name and address

Re:   job you are applying to

Dear Hiring Manager (insert name if at all possible),

Paragraph One:  Explain what position you are applying for and a very few of your skills/abilities that make you a person they would want to interview.

Paragraph Two:  Expand on paragraph one by including examples of how you could apply your knowledge skills or abilities to the employer’s benefit.  Or how you have done so in the past.

Paragraph Three:  Detail why would like to work for this employer.

Paragraph Four:  Thank the employer for their consideration and ask for an interview.  Or note that you will call them to follow up for an interview.

Close the letter using Sincerely, Regards, etc.

Include your name and best way to reach you

Here are some links to additional information:


We will continue to practice interviewing, but let’s work on your cover letter as well!  Prepare a "generic" cover letter.  This is one that could be used to send out to employers as is if necessary, but can also be quickly modified for those jobs about which you are especially excited!   



Mary is a Masters-prepared Career Counselor with over 18 years experience in resume writing, personal branding, career assessment and counseling. Specializing in non-traditional specialized careers and career-transitioning, she has the ability to synthesize and focus your unique skills and abilities to obtain interviews for the positions you want with the employers you want to notice you. Follow her on Twitter at @MarySevinsky.

Living Without Your Unemployment Benefits

6 Tips for Living Without Your Unemployment Benefits - My Money (usnews.com) 

5 Parts to a Cover Letter


5 Parts to a Cover Letter (a.k.a. How to Write a Good One!)

Young Professional Typing a Cover LetterEvery resume should be accompanied by acover letter with five parts. In this article I am going to demonstrate the mechanics of a well written cover letter. I hope this provides some value and enables you to craft your own cover letter to generate interest on behalf of a potential hiring manager.
Photo credit: Shutterstock 

Monday, March 19, 2012

Proof the hidden job market exists


If you are looking for work you, no doubt, have heard of THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET. You may have even heard TOO MUCH of it. I know in working with my clients in Delaware and Maryland, I include the Hidden Job Market in nearly every vocational counseling session. Why? Here is a recent success story that illustrates just WHY THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET IS CRUCIAL TO JOB SEARCH:
I have been working with a career electrician for several months. He came to me following a very serious electrocution that resulted in not only permanent physical injuries, but traumatic brain injury and self-confidence issues as well.
He is personable, conscientious, and has good knowledge of all the trades as his work as an electrician involved some carpentry, masonry, and roofing skills. In addition, he worked closely with plumbers, who were often involved on builds at about the same time as the electricians. He had some supervisory experience.
We decided it made sense to investigate construction related supervisory, sales, and estimating opportunities. He had learned how to organize his thoughts, activities, and efforts in his Traumatic Brain Injury therapy and was able to progress to the point where his memory and confusion issues were no longer evident in the first 3 months or so of our work together.
We undertook an extensive job search effort and found plenty of opportunities for construction supervisor and manager positions. Unfortunately, all of the opportunities required hands-on work as well. Due to the economy, employers are often asking employees to perform duties previously required in more than one job. This meant there were even fewer supervision – only positions out there.
After several months of unsatisfying job search, my client noted there were many IT jobs advertised and he wondered if he should look at changing career fields. We discussed this and considered:
  • His previous wages (relatively high considering no college)
  • The fact he has a wife and three children to support
  • A new career would mean starting out at a lower wage
  • A formal training program would keep him out of the labor market even longer
  • Most short term IT training primarily benefits those with computer experience
After careful consideration, we decided to expand our job search and include computer-related jobs. In addition, my ambitious client began studying for A+ certification from a book he borrowed from the library. Most of the jobs identified for which he could qualify appeared to be customer service related help desk positions. The pay was not what we would like.
Mr. Client suggested perhaps computer service tech might be something he could do. He knew about schematics, blueprints, electricity, wiring, and had upgraded and repaired his own, his family’s and his churches computers over the years. He felt he was well suited to this. The issue:  We didn’t find a lot of jobs advertised for this type of work.
I provided him with a list of companies to cold call – all of which might employ computer service technicians. If nothing else, we could obtain more information about what employers are looking for and offering in terms of wages. Either it would be something he could pursue or we could rule this out as a potential job target.
Meanwhile, months have passed – a total of six frustrating and, somewhat discouraging months. I counseled him to stay positive. I provided him with articles on how the hiring process has lengthened due to the new economy. We reinforced the progress he had made in his self-confidence and presentation, not to mention organization and attention to detail.
I underlined the importance of activity above all else and assured him if we continued to make good contacts, to follow up, and to remember the HIDDEN JOB MARKET we would be successful. In addition to the list of companies that might employ computer service technicians, we also began COLD CALLING electrical related companies.
He is a trooper and approached his cold calls with dedication and seriousness. The result? This is the BEST PART:
He contacted a small company not far from his home to inquire about the possibility of being considered for a service technician position. The employer wasn’t hiring, but was impressed by his follow up calls when my client had left a message for, but not received a return call from the employer. The employer had about a fifteen minute conversation with him on the telephone.
Needless to say, this was VERY encouraging to my client. He developed this relationship to the point where the employer asked him to come in to meet with him – not an interview, he clearly stated. No agenda. They talked for an hour and a half. My client sent a thank you note. The employer asked him to come in for another meeting, he had “an idea.”
The employer informed him he had been thinking about how to expand his business and “help his clients into the 21st century.” He saw my client as a manager/sales person that could help him do this. What did he think?
Well…neither of us had considered pursuing a position as a manager/sales person with a computer software and hardware company. He was an electrician – wasn’t he? We are waiting for a final meeting to hear details of the job and wages offered for this position being created for my client as a result of a cold call in an attempt to tap into THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET.
I have returned many clients to work as a result of accessing, either directly (cold calls) or indirectly (networking), but cannot think of any other occasion when a job was created as a result of a cold call. My client is very excited about this opportunity in a new field and I will no longer feel like a broken record preaching about THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET. Amen!
  • Mary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM
  • lifeworks@mail.com
  • Professional, Rehab, & Occupational Services, LLC
  • Landline 302.644.1827 | Mobile: 410.444.1989 | Skype Mary E. Sherwood

Working Past Your Normal Retirement Age


Working Past Your Normal Retirement Age

Working Past Retirement AgeThe Great Recession has many older Americans considering the prospects of staying in the workforce past their normal retirement ageHowever, working past your normal retirement age is not a new necessity.
According to the Social Security Administration, nearly 31% of individuals between the ages of 70 and 74 reported income from earnings in 2008, the latest year data are available. Among a younger age group, those between 65 and 69, approximately 48% had income from a job.
Read the full article on Careerealism.

                                                                                           Photo credit Shutterstock

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Did I get the job?

How long do you have to wait, anyway?  - http://pulse.me/s/60egH

Funny Resume Mistakes

http://jobmob.co.il/blog/funniest-resume-mistakes/ 

Mid-Life Career


A "mid-life career" is the career you have after your first career or your first 2 or 3 careers. You may be in your 40's, 50's, or 60's.  You could be older than that. Who says your career must end at 65? Not Dr. Seuss, Betty White, Col. Sanders, and millions more!

Visit Job Hunt.org for great resources! 

Using The Right Tools In Your Job Search

Using The Right Tools In Your Job Search - http://pulse.me/s/6BRo1

Successful job search

WIIFT – The Key to Successful Job Search - http://pulse.me/s/1QIpF

3 Resume Tips to Avoid Appearing Overqualified

3 Resume Tips to Avoid Appearing Overqualified - http://pulse.me/s/6PFfw

How to Get Hired Fast

How to Get Hired Fast - http://pulse.me/s/6Lpaa

Don’t Be Afraid of Changing Your Job Goals

Don’t Be Afraid of Changing Your Job Goals - http://pulse.me/s/78bjP

Monday, March 12, 2012

Monday Mission March 12, 2012


Happy Monday – hope you are looking forward to a productive week!


You should check out the Weekly Works for a newspaper/magazine style presentation of information related to job search – Click  The Weekly Works from www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com to visit the magazine anytime.
This week I shared two articles that may be of interest: 
Injured Worker Help Desk: Post-50 Job Search: 5 Stereotypes You Must Overcome  - Job-seekers over 50 encounter some special challenges. Although age gifts seasoned applicants with a wealth of experience, well-honed skill sets, a mature work ethic, and numerous additional pluses.. (Many of the “over 50” articles are appropriate for most of us over 40….)

Injured Worker Help Desk: Fashion Tips for Older Job Seekers - It is important to put your best foot forward.... literally!
Today’s edition of The Weekly Works can be found here: http://paper.li/marysevinsky/1326552280 and you can subscribe to have it delivered to your email by clicking on the blue subscribe button to the right of the page

The Members Only Page of www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com will take you to more resources (Don’t forget to log in using your email and password “Sevinsky”).  For example, job logs – you can use any of these that seem helpful.  

It is very important that you document what you do for the following reasons:

1.     Follow up on your activities
2.     Record of what you discussed with a particular employer
3.     Note anything to research or prepare
4.     Support your tax deductions
5.     Provide a reference for discussion with your career counselor
6.     Document your efforts for workers’   
         compensation/SSDI/Unemployment/Other system

I-9 Recap: Make sure you can locate the documentation needed for the Federal I-9 form (usually a driver’s license and birth certificate; or a passport).  Either bring ONE document from List A or ONE EACH (2 total) from List B or List C:

·         List A Documents
·         List B Documents
·         List C Documents

Starting a new job is stressful enough (good stress, but stress nonetheless!) – no need to feed the fire!

For those of you on the Eastern Shore of Maryland – there is a very large career fair in Ocean City, MD on March 17th 9 am to 1 pm and the 22nd at WorWic Community College 2:30 to 6 pm.  If you live within 1 ½ hours it would be appropriate for you to attend: 


and


Here are some links to Career Fair Tips to review:

WHAT NOT TO DO AT A CAREER FAIR
CAREER FAIR TIPS


photo credit: kevin dooley via photopin cc


Mary is a Masters-prepared Career Counselor with over 18 years experience in resume writing, personal branding, career assessment and counseling. Specializing in non-traditional specialized careers and career-transitioning, she has the ability to synthesize and focus your unique skills and abilities to obtain interviews for the positions you want with the employers you want to notice you. Follow her on Twitter at @MarySevinsky.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Fashion Tips for Older Job Seekers

It is important to put your best foot forward.... literally!  - http://pulse.me/s/6HC0V

Post-50 Job Search: 5 Stereotypes You Must Overcome


Posted: 11/17/11 12:36 PM ET






Job-seekers over 50 encounter some special challenges. Although age gifts seasoned applicants with a wealth of experience, well-honed skill sets, a mature work ethic, and numerous additional pluses, there are a number of unflattering stereotypes younger employers may be holding against you. And, making things even more difficult, most of these will remain unspoken.

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