Be Wary During the Job Search

Sometimes you just need a job.

And in tough times, many people will take virtually any job that comes along if it means they can collect a paycheck.

I get that. Do what you have to, at least temporarily, to provide for those who depend on you.

But what if you don’t have to take the first job that comes your way?

In that case, you can afford to pay attention to those alarm bells that sometimes go off in your head during an interview — the kind that make you wonder if this job is really right for you, or if you’re about to join the office from hell.

Here are some ways to prevent you from moving from the proverbial frying pan into the fire.

Knowledge can be power if used properly. Do your homework on a company. Perform Web searches, not just of the company’s website, but look for other places where it’s appeared in news stories. Seek out people who can provide a sense for its corporate culture, how the company deals with its customers, vendors, etc.

Armed with that knowledge, you can ask open-ended questions during your interview. While you can’t say, “A friend tells me your company treats its employees like indentured servants,” you can weigh the employer’s feedback against what you’ve heard or read.

Maybe seek out a third source before deciding whether to accept the job. An employer will typically put his best foot forward. Part of your job is to determine where the land mines may be.

Listen to how a manager describes his team. Does he use words like “them” or “those people” frequently? You like to hear terms like, “us, our, we.”

Ask about corporate culture. Answers will vary. Does the answer sound plausible? Ask about training and opportunity for advancement. Be sure to qualify that latter question by saying, “Assuming someone comes in and performs up to expectations, what do you see as future opportunities?” This should give you a sense for whether the company promotes from within.

Take a look at your physical surroundings while on the interview. How clean and new does the place look? A rundown facility might reflect on company ownership and leadership. While you can’t always judge a book by its cover, a decision to work for a company is a biggie, and you need to take all aspects into account. If they don’t invest in upkeep of their facility, what does that tell you about how they’ll invest in you?

Listen to the employer. If all he does is talk in glowing terms about the company, he might be trying to “sell” you on the place. An interview should be a healthy exchange of information. Be wary when the employer seems to go out of his way to impress you.

Other questions to consider asking include why the position is open, how long it’s been open, why they haven’t been successful in hiring to this point.

Remember, it’s best to ask open-ended questions, such as “tell me about” or “help me understand how.”

If the company and/or the job content isn’t to your liking, ask yourself why you’d trade a known entity for an unknown you don’t feel good about. The mere fact someone wants to hire you is an ego-booster, but is it truly a positive career move?

Do your homework and ask good questions. Good luck!

 

 

Randy Wooden

Director, Professional Center at Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC

7 ways to change your life in the next 7 days

Life change may seem to take years to achieve but there are steps you can walk today and in the next week that perhaps can change your life forever.

Most are little steps, but when combined together they can create big and lasting change.

Here are 7 ways to change your life in the next 7 days.

1. Change your words and phrases

One of the most effective ways to change your life is to change your attitude and mindset. And the best way to change your attitude and mindset is to remove certain words and phrases from your vocabulary and to replace them with others that are more positive.

It might take some time to remove negative phrases and words because you’ve gotten so used to them. But once you start using new words and phrases that are more positive, you’ll be surprised at how almost instantly people around you react differently and how you look at the world around you in a fresh way.

Your entire life changes without you having to change everything.

Here are some words and phrases to stop using:

- “It’s just one of those days.”

- “Same s**t, different day.”

- “Same old, same old.”

- “Pretty good.”

- “What’s the world coming to?”

- “Kids these days.”

- “I can’t.”

- “I don’t know.”

- “The good old days.” (Suggested by Lyved reader Tyler)

- Hate – It’s such a powerful word that has become too common in our vocabulary.

- Retarded – I don’t know why people insist on using this word to describe something they don’t like or understand.

- Gay (Requested by Lyved reader Max based on the same negative use as “retarded”)

For some ideas on what you can start saying to improve your life and make lasting, positive change, please read our article: 50 things to say before you die.

2. Count your blessings

We all get caught up and forget to reflect on how fortunate we are. So in the next 7 days take an hour and think about:

- What you’re glad to have experienced – sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s a bad experience, but it’s shaped who you are. For me, one thing I’m glad I experienced was poverty.

- What you’re fortunate to have – family, food, shelter.

- What you’re fortunate to not have – it could be sickness or debt.

3. Dust off your bucket list

Take out your list of things to do before you die and find something you can do in the next week. Or write something new down and do it.

4. Wake up claiming the Best. Day. Ever.

One day can positively change your entire life. And that one day needs to start with one good morning.

During the next 7 days wake up claiming that it will be the best day ever and try your hardest to maintain that attitude all day.

5. Try something you think you’re bad at

Perhaps you think you’re horrible at singing, writing, basketball, or some other talent. But perhaps you’ve just never really given yourself the time to attempt and if you do, you might find a new talent for yourself.

6. Declare your life’s purpose

It can certainly be done in a week with focus and a bit of work.

To help you, here are two articles you might be interested in reading:

- 5 easy pieces to piecing together your purpose in life

- What do you want on your headstone?

7. Recognize change happens constantly

Every single day your life changes no matter what. Even if you go through the same routine over and over again, no two days are ever the same. Recognize this and even the days of adversity and pain will become bearable because you know that “good new days” lie ahead.

 

Cross posted from lyved.com

I’m a Young Mom and Would Like to Go Back to College. How Can Goodwill Help Me?

First of all I would like to commend you for wanting to further your education.  Being a mom is challenging in itself.  Goodwill can help you in exploring your options.

• We would first need to explore your needs (financial, childcare, transportation, etc.) and make referrals to agencies if needed.
• You need to explore your interests and skills.  Goodwill can give you an assessment test.  Actually www.careeronestop has several good self assessments.
• Once we know your interest and skills, Goodwill can recommend different avenues to achieve your goal.  My Goodwill has several training programs which would be useful in getting a job and continuing the pursuit of your education.  For example I had a client complete her CNA1 and CNA2.  The hospital hired her and paid for her Nursing Degree. Success!!!
• Another avenue would be the Wal-Mart Foundation program (www.goodwill.org/beyondjobs/).  This program assist single moms get job training and placement in certain areas.
• Goodwill can help identify local job trends.  What are the areas of job growth?  Industrial Engineering is a growing in my area.
• Goodwill can set up information interviews.  While on line websites, such as www.americasjobbank.com, have great information; there is nothing like hearing from the horse’s mouth.  You can find out the good, bad and the ugly.  Then decide if it is what you want to do.
• Goodwill can also help in researching colleges.  You can find information on financial aid and which college would be best for your interest area.
• If you need a job while going to school, remember that is Goodwill’s specialty.  We are here to help.

Good luck on your new adventure.  You are a great example for your children. Remember Goodwill is here to help guide you through the process and celebrate your success.  That’s my favorite part…

Tempy Albright

Job Developer/Skills Training Manager

New Year Career and Job Search Resolutions

Are you finding it hard to make a career change decision? Are you looking for a new job position? Are you planning to start a business of your own? Making New Year’s resolutions is not a tough job. What is tougher is keeping or sticking those resolutions. Given below are some essential tips on how to make and keep resolutions.

Develop a plan
While making career resolutions, remember not to make compulsive resolutions. Studies show that career resolutions that are not developed according to a plan are very less likely to be achieved or fulfilled. Therefore, follow a series of essential steps to develop an effective plan for achieving the resolutions that you have made for your career.

Prepare a list of all your career goals
What are the changes you want to make? What goals do you want to achieve? Those who are faced with crossroads in their lives need to enlist all the future goals which they want to work towards and achieve. Setting up goals also requires you to be specific. You can not just say that finding a new job is your goal. The goal should be to find a job with the employer that offers you workplace flexibility and meets your specific requirements, in terms of your personal values, unique skills and strengths.

Rank your goals in order of priority
If you really wish to make your career resolutions work for you, break your larger goals into multiple smaller ones and prioritize them. Be realistic about resolutions you make and what you expect from your career. Do remember not to have too many goals at one time. This will only lead you to losing your focus. If a change of career is on your career resolution list and you require some additional training, your first goal should be to complete the training and acquire the skills you need. Next comes the step of changing a career .

Think of all the possible ways needed to reach your goals
Whether it is about finding a new job or changing a career, you need to think of new ways of achieving your career goals. For example, if you have been unsuccessful in getting a new job and are still trying, you certainly need to polish your job search skills. You need to review each single step involved in the process, right from resume making to landing a job of your choice. Be prepared to think new and different and use all the possible means that can lead you towards your goals.

Make changes in your lifestyle
Making resolutions and achieving your career goals relate to your surroundings. If your surrounding supports your efforts, it will help you a lot stick to resolutions you have made and lead along the path of career success . But how do you create a surrounding that supports your efforts? Well, you do it by making changes in your lifestyle, by reprogramming yourself, by replacing old behaviors with new one and by reorganizing yourself.

Be ready to celebrate your successes
So, you have broken your larger goals into smaller ones or smaller manageable tasks. Now be ready to reward yourself and celebrate each time you take a successful step or achieve a smaller goal. In this way, you will be able to record your progress and know that you are actually on the right path and progressing towards your ultimate goal.

Be mentally prepared to face setbacks
No path to success can be free of obstacles. Whatever career goals you have set, you need to include this in your new year’s career resolutions and stick to it. When you are trying to find a new job or planning to change careers, you will always come across many hurdles in your career. When you are prepared in advance to handle these setbacks, you will never by discouraged by such circumstances. And the setback will never become your excuse for giving up on your goal.

The most important thing to remember is that resolutions should never be created only to please others. At the end of the day, only you will be responsible for keeping to your resolutions and achieving your career goals. Making a career change decision or finding a more fulfilling new job always head the list of New Year resolutions people make. No doubt, New Year is a good time for making resolutions. However, you should not wait for an arbitrary date to start making resolutions.

 

Courtesy of Jobdiagnosis.com

Why Stress Yourself?

There are so many circumstances that individuals are faced with on a consistent daily basis that may cause stress.  Some of these stress factors, whether internal or external are challenges, difficulties and sometimes just unexpected situations that are due to our environment, jobs, relationships and our families.  Often, we may feel the pressures of these factors bombard us all at one time causing stress, anxiety and depression.  Stress is a known “silent killer.”  Stress has been a proven cause of heart attacks, aneurisms, ulcers and even fatalities.

In today’s economy individuals are stressing over unemployment as well as working jobs that require the labor of two people.  Being employed or unemployed can create a stressful environment, but we have to choose how to handle situations.  We, solely allow ourselves to become stressed.  I believe our attitude and how we respond to situations dictates the amount of stress we place upon ourselves.  So always try to keep a positive attitude about your situation or circumstance.  Don’t compound the problem with worry cause it only leads to stress and other illnesses. Remember, Nothing stays the same!

Bryant King

Career Connections Specialist

Keeping Hope Alive

One of my greatest life lessons, to date, is learning that everything in our lives happen for a reason.  Upon my release from prison, I applied at more places than I could count, was turned down by many, and applied for more positions.  One employer, after being honest about my criminal record, offered me a position as a receptionist.  I was so excited and thought things were looking up.

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was short lived.   I arrived early for my first day but was disheartened when the employer notified me that another employee in the organization did not feel comfortable with me in the office as I had been incarcerated.  My heart plummeted and my hope diminished.  The person apologized but ultimately the job was offered to someone else.   I had to take a moment, regroup, and begin my search anew.

When one door closes, another one opens.  After this obstacle, I secured employment at a transitional house, and began my 500 hours of community service hours at Goodwill Industries of NWNC.  Now 5 years later, I am working at Goodwill Industries assisting others with criminal records.
I look back to that moment and now want to thank that employer for not hiring me as I am now in a position that I love.

Tonja Fultz

Project Re-entry Employment Specialist