I will admit that I am having one of those days. My one of those days moments usually happens on a Monday, which apparently is scheduled by the work-fairies, but today has been unusually grueling. Since engaging in hand to hand battle at the work place is not only discouraged but illegal (depending on your job), I have decided that a cursing corner is needed to vent my frustrations. Unfortunately, this type of area is not allowed in my workplace since there is no designated area for it.
We all meet with frustrations at work and are faced with situations where a good combination of bad words laced with stern faces and occasional hand movements might be ideal, but venting frustrations are a very natural human response. Whether one has to provide direct customer service, manufacture products, or deal with managers or even coworkers that act as if they had a big bowl of stupid for breakfast and lost their minds somewhere during the commute, our frustrations have to get out in one way or another. No one wants to be the person that ends up on the news for venting in such a way that causes devastation to others and jail time for you, but it is not healthy to hold frustrations in.
Many times, walking away from the situation and getting some air is very helpful. If those options are not available to you, finding a way that suits your workplace environment and your personality would be the best route to take. Personally, I have to take a walk to clear my head or go to a break room and listen to music for a few minutes to calm myself down. If a long period of time passes before you can take a break, breathing and counting exercises can often be very helpful.
Also, we have to realize that sometimes the person that is the source of our workplace frustrations might be having a bad day themselves, or might just have issues altogether. Although that is no excuse for their behavior, sometimes pity for this person and a little prayer for their situation can help cast a different light on the situation. The one thing that you do not want to happen is to be labeled as the angry employee. Let the worries and frustrations of the day roll off of your back and always try to think positive thoughts. If things get too out of hand, maybe it is time to start strategically planning a new career change. So until you get your own personal cussing corner, vent your frustrations, maintain your professionalism, and let no one steal your joy!
Monday, March 12, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Workforce United!: Never shortchange yourself!
Workforce United!: Never shortchange yourself!: Through my experience as a recruiter, I have seen more than my share of job seekers that short change themselves when it comes to their skil...
Never shortchange yourself!
Through my experience as a recruiter, I have seen more than my share of job seekers that short change themselves when it comes to their skills and work experience. While tailoring or tweaking your resume to fit the job description is an important step to take when submitting a job application, there should not be such an adjustment to your resume or application that important information is left out. Today, I was talking with a gentleman that was applying for a position in the financial section of my current agency. This position required a specific type of work experience that the caller claimed to possess. While asking about the status of his job application, I informed him that even though he did meet the minimum qualifications for the job that he applied for, he did not list any of the preferred experience on his resume that the hiring manager was seeking. The problem with this gentleman was assumptions: he assumed that the recruiter would know that he had the experience the hiring manager was looking for based on his current job field. As we are well aware, there are many clever sayings about assumptions.
When applying for a job, you cannot assume that the recruiter or even the resume screening software will pick up on experience that you left out. Many job descriptions are very specific about what they are looking for and in turn the applicant should be specific about what type of skills they can offer. After all, you are selling yourself with your resume. Imagine yourself as a product, and you want the hiring manager to purchase. Based on your current resume, would the hiring manager want to utilize your services? Although you may not want to list absolutely everything that you have done in your career profile, you do want to ensure that you list everything that is relevant to the position that you are applying for. If you leave something out, you only have yourself to blame. In this tough job market, do you really want to sell yourself short?
When applying for a job, you cannot assume that the recruiter or even the resume screening software will pick up on experience that you left out. Many job descriptions are very specific about what they are looking for and in turn the applicant should be specific about what type of skills they can offer. After all, you are selling yourself with your resume. Imagine yourself as a product, and you want the hiring manager to purchase. Based on your current resume, would the hiring manager want to utilize your services? Although you may not want to list absolutely everything that you have done in your career profile, you do want to ensure that you list everything that is relevant to the position that you are applying for. If you leave something out, you only have yourself to blame. In this tough job market, do you really want to sell yourself short?
Monday, March 5, 2012
Embracing your destiny?
How can you learn to embrace your destiny when you have no idea what it is? This is one question that I have been considering concerning my own career. There is a gut feeling, a feeling that you know that there is something else that you should be doing besides the current circumstances-I am sure that we all have that feeling from time to time. But I have been feeling it more often and decided what I should do about it.
Now my plan may be different that yours, but I think that the process is essentially the same. I decided to take what I like to call a personal inventory of my skills and my passions. I even created a list that included things I am good at, things that I dislike doing but have to do, and my passions. Now that a person might feel they are good at doing might now necessarily be a passion. For example, I realized that I am really good at screening resumes (which is an essential part of my job), but it is not a passion of mine. Attending job fairs and giving advice on how to improve a resume is something that I really enjoy. I was told by a former mentor that a passion is something that you would get out of bed and do for free. Since I currently have a teenager with a bottomless stomach and bills to pay I couldn't fathom anything that I would willingly do for free. However, I do understand the concept of the statement. Interestingly, by taking my person inventory, I realized that I was doing the resume consultation all along for free. And if I happen to come across a fellow veteran that needs resume writing help, let me say that I literally start drooling!
So maybe that nagging feeling in your gut that is letting you know that your center is off, that your place in the world at this moment might not be where you actually should be-at least not yet. The nagging feeling will eventually grow and become unbearable, uncomfortable, and maybe even downright annoying. Eventually you will realize, like I did, that in order to get rid of that feeling you will have to embrace your destiny. And if you don't know what that is yet, well, it has probably been right in front of you all along.
Now my plan may be different that yours, but I think that the process is essentially the same. I decided to take what I like to call a personal inventory of my skills and my passions. I even created a list that included things I am good at, things that I dislike doing but have to do, and my passions. Now that a person might feel they are good at doing might now necessarily be a passion. For example, I realized that I am really good at screening resumes (which is an essential part of my job), but it is not a passion of mine. Attending job fairs and giving advice on how to improve a resume is something that I really enjoy. I was told by a former mentor that a passion is something that you would get out of bed and do for free. Since I currently have a teenager with a bottomless stomach and bills to pay I couldn't fathom anything that I would willingly do for free. However, I do understand the concept of the statement. Interestingly, by taking my person inventory, I realized that I was doing the resume consultation all along for free. And if I happen to come across a fellow veteran that needs resume writing help, let me say that I literally start drooling!
So maybe that nagging feeling in your gut that is letting you know that your center is off, that your place in the world at this moment might not be where you actually should be-at least not yet. The nagging feeling will eventually grow and become unbearable, uncomfortable, and maybe even downright annoying. Eventually you will realize, like I did, that in order to get rid of that feeling you will have to embrace your destiny. And if you don't know what that is yet, well, it has probably been right in front of you all along.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Workforce United!: Welcome
Workforce United!: Welcome: Navigating through these difficult economic times can be very frustrating and sometimes downright discouraging when it comes to career trans...
Welcome
Navigating through these difficult economic times can be very frustrating and sometimes downright discouraging when it comes to career transition and finding employment. As human beings, we can be creatures of habit-which means that we usually stick to what we feel comfortable with. During this election year, we will hear promises from politicians from both sides of the aisle, but ultimately finding what you need in your career or employment life is an individual responsibility. In today's job market, you (the job seeker) is the product. Learning how to sell yourself is the key, and I provide services and advice to help you do that.
I can be followed on twitter @careermakeover1. I will post position leads, career advice, as well as annouce online conferences I will be conducting in the future. I look forward to interacting with you and giving your career a fabulous makeover.
I can be followed on twitter @careermakeover1. I will post position leads, career advice, as well as annouce online conferences I will be conducting in the future. I look forward to interacting with you and giving your career a fabulous makeover.
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