Archive November 2008
So You're Unemployed. Now What? Part 2 of 2It's been a while since I posted a blog entry. Sorry! But, I've been
busy hopping about and helping companies match up talented employees
with the right company. This job market is highly competitive, which
is a good thing for the companies we work with. But if you're one of
the recently laid-off or otherwise newly unemployed, it can be a
daunting time to look for a job.
Start by reading my most recent blog entry, which outlines what your
first steps should be. This entry will cover the following weeks and
possibly months of unemployment.
So, we've already covered Day One, and Week One… but now what?
The First Month
Now is not the time for major home-improvement projects, or for
catching up on your favorite soap-operas. You do have a job, even if
you are unemployed, and that job is: FINDING A JOB. Wake each day as
if you are being paid and evaluated on your performance at this task. Create a routine – Devote regular hours to regular tasks. The temptation to get off track can be powerful, and one way to stay focused is to set regular hours for your job search. Allow yourself time for lunches and surfing the web, so you won't be distracted or tempted during your "working hours". Self-improvement 101 – After scouring the want ads, networking and sending out resumes, you'll probably still have some time on your hands. Now is the perfect time to round out your skill sets. Your local public library and community education departments offer many low-cost options for skilled trades, language, business and software programs. And you'll be meeting new people, which can always lead to a networking possibility. Resist the part-time temptation – Though you may have the opportunity to sign on to a part time gig in a relatively short time, this may thwart your unemployment benefits, and reduce the amount of time you can devote to your job search. Unless the part time work is directly related to your career, or offers unbelievable benefits and opportunity for advancement, it's probably not worth it. Stay positive – This might be especially challenging in these economic times. So turn off the news and get some exercise instead. Look to the support of friends and family, or a church counselor if applicable. Eat well, avoid alcohol and remember, this really is a temporary situation. posted by TonyPogo at 12/8/2008 | 0 comments |
So You're Unemployed. What Now? Part 2 of 2It's been a while since I posted a blog entry. Sorry! But, I've been
busy hopping about and helping company's match up talented employees
with the right company. This job market is highly competitive, which
is a good thing for the companies we work with. But if you're one of
the recently laid-off or otherwise newly unemployed, it can be a
daunting time to look for a job.
Start by reading my most recent blog entry, which outlines what your
first steps should be. This entry will cover the following weeks and
possibly months of unemployment.
So, we've already covered Day One, and Week One… but now what?
The First Month
Now is not the time for major home-improvement projects, or for
catching up on your favorite soap-operas. You do have a job, even if
you are unemployed, and that job is: FINDING A JOB. Wake each day as
if you are being paid and evaluated on your performance at this task. Create a routine – Devote regular hours to regular tasks. The temptation to get off track can be powerful, and one way to stay focused is to set regular hours for your job search. Allow yourself time for lunches and surfing the web, so you won't be distracted or tempted during your "working hours". Self-improvement 101 – After scouring the want ads, networking and sending out resumes, you'll probably still have some time on your hands. Now is the perfect time to round out your skill sets. Your local public library and community education departments offer many low-cost options for skilled trades, language, business and software programs. And you'll be meeting new people, which can always lead to a networking possibility. Resist the part-time temptation – Though you may have the opportunity to sign on to a part time gig in a relatively short time, this may thwart your unemployment benefits, and reduce the amount of time you can devote to your job search. Unless the part time work is directly related to your career, or offers unbelievable benefits and opportunity for advancement, it's probably not worth it. Stay positive – This might be especially challenging in these economic times. So turn off the news and get some exercise instead. Look to the support of friends and family, or a church counselor if applicable. Eat well, avoid alcohol and remember, this really is a temporary situation. posted by TonyPogo at 12/8/2008 | 0 comments |
So You're Unemployed. What Now? Part 2 of 2It's been a while since I posted a blog entry. Sorry! But, I've been
busy hopping about and helping companies match up talented employees
with the right company. This job market is highly competitive, which
is a good thing for the companies we work with. But if you're one of
the recently laid-off or otherwise newly unemployed, it can be a
daunting time to look for a job.
Start by reading my most recent blog entry, which outlines what your
first steps should be. This entry will cover the following weeks and
possibly months of unemployment.
So, we've already covered Day One, and Week One… but now what?
The First Month
Now is not the time for major home-improvement projects, or for
catching up on your favorite soap-operas. You do have a job, even if
you are unemployed, and that job is: FINDING A JOB. Wake each day as
if you are being paid and evaluated on your performance at this task. Create a routine – Devote regular hours to regular tasks. The temptation to get off track can be powerful, and one way to stay focused is to set regular hours for your job search. Allow yourself time for lunches and surfing the web, so you won't be distracted or tempted during your "working hours". Self-improvement 101 – After scouring the want ads, networking and sending out resumes, you'll probably still have some time on your hands. Now is the perfect time to round out your skill sets. Your local public library and community education departments offer many low-cost options for skilled trades, language, business and software programs. And you'll be meeting new people, which can always lead to a networking possibility. Resist the part-time temptation – Though you may have the opportunity to sign on to a part time gig in a relatively short time, this may thwart your unemployment benefits, and reduce the amount of time you can devote to your job search. Unless the part time work is directly related to your career, or offers unbelievable benefits and opportunity for advancement, it's probably not worth it. Stay positive – This might be especially challenging in these economic times. So turn off the news and get some exercise instead. Look to the support of friends and family, or a church counselor if applicable. Eat well, avoid alcohol and remember, this really is a temporary situation. posted by TonyPogo at 12/8/2008 | 0 comments |
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I know all about blogging on the job. The Plus group, like many companies, sees the value an impassioned tree-frog/employee can bring to the blogosphere. I can discuss matters of importance to me, as a staffing expert, with the rest of the folks at the Plus Group. It also let's the rest of the world know that The Plus Group is always striving to stay on top of the latest trends, hiring practices and staffing news. If you're compelled to blog on the job, or about your job, here are some things to keep in mind. Blogging can greatly influence your job search, your relationship with your current employer, and can even have legal implications. So before you login, read up! Who are you talking to anyway, and why? Basically there are two types of employee blogs: those intended for reading internally, by other employees, and those for the external public. Both are potential landmines, or goldmines, for bloggers and the employers who have them. If your purpose in blogging is to provide a forum for unfiltered communication between employees, then keep it positive, while remaining open and honest. Blogs can provide a great forum for brainstorming, idea sharing and keeping lines of communication open. They can become harmful if they are a repository of whining, sniping and gossip. If potential employers find your blog, they'll see how you've used it to generate new ideas, and encourage employee dialogue without exploiting it as a platform for griping. Be especially careful of blogs intended for reading by the general public. Many companies have developed Blog Writing Guidelines in the aftermath of several lawsuits by high-profile employers like Google and Delta Airlines. Find out if your company has an Employee Blog Guidelines? If not here are few good rules, paraphrased from Yahoo! Personal Blog Guidelines, to abide by: 1. Know your legal liability: If you defame or libel your company or any individual within the company, YOU are responsible. Also know that any confidential, proprietary or trade information is definitely off limits. 2. Be respectful and thoughtful: Rants and diatribes will only hurt your own reputation and tarnish you in the eyes of future employers. Providing context and support for your opinions legitimizes them, and opens the door for more meaningful discussions of your complaints or observations. To simply say "My boss stinks!" or "I love retreats!" doesn't really add anything to the conversation, unless you provide the reasons why. 3. Just the facts ma'am. Don't post based on rumor or hearsay. And if you want to write about something outside your area of expertise, look to a fellow employee who knows more about the topic than you do. By presenting actual facts, you help t clarify communication, not muddy it. And you also avoid the possibility of being libelous. Non-employee Blogs Many bloggers don't talk about work at all. People tend to blog about what they are passionate about. That may be sports, music, pets, politics… the sky's the limit. But if you're searching for a job, you may want to think twice about starting a blog about a controversial or potentially offensive subject. A good guideline is: if you wouldn't want your parent to read your blog, you wouldn't want a prospective employer to read it either. In many cases, employers are forbidden from discriminating on the basis of political views, and can only use information relevant to the position to make their hiring decision. On the other hand, whatever your political views, if you come across as overly negative, or even aggressive, that can be used to gauge whether you are a good fit for the position. Why blog at all then, if it is so risky? Handled in a smart and responsible way, blogging or maintaining a personal website can be a powerful marketing tool. It can demonstrate how well you communicate. It can serve as a chronicle of your achievements, and provide insight into your personality that a resume can't. In today's competitive job market, an applicant needs every tool at their disposal. So keep on blogging. Just be smart about it.
posted by TonyPogo at 11/18/2008 | 0 comments |
