Enjoy the Present

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While winter holiday is almost over and I can just see everyone starting to worry about what will happen this year with either their job search or career, I say STOP.  There are still a few more days left before Monday January 4 (when work begins again).

For now, put any worries you may have aside and just allow yourself to still enjoy the moments of this holiday season with friends and loved ones.  As I celebrate new years tonight, I realize how fast time seems to fly by as we get older.  Year 2000 seemed like just awhile ago.  Since then, many career changes have happened for me and they will continue to change, I am sure.  What have been the most precious for me, however, are the life changes that have happened this past decade and those precious moments I have shared outside of work with friends and loved ones.

So I say, enjoy the moment.  Practice no worrying about the past or the future for the next 3 days and perhaps longer.  I leave you with a quote from one of my favorite movies “Kung Fu Panda” – Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery; Today is a gift.  That is why it’s called the present.  ...  read more

Re-discover Alumni Career Services

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The job market is tough.  We can use all the help we can get.  It’s time to re-discover your alumni career services as they are usually pretty good and the best part is most services are free.

Being a career advice blogger, I try to attend some of these job search seminars to keep current.  A month ago, I attended a Wharton MBA Career Services webcast and was impressed.  I will definitely reach out to them when I need to look for another job. ...  read more

Ask for Help

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It doesn’t matter how old you are and how skilled you are, it’s always a good idea to ask for help or a second opinion.  Tom Peters, the author of “In Search of Excellence” agrees.

I attended a “Newpreneur of the Year” finale event a month ago in San Francisco sponsored by INC and Alibaba.com. Tom peters was the keynote speaker. One of the key messages he presented was the concept of LATA – these are key skills needed in building excellence continuously in your work and career. ...  read more

Four Networking Mistakes to Avoid

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A good definition of networking I have seen is “the developing of contacts or exchanging of information with others in an informal way, as to further a career.” While most people would agree with this definition, some may fail to realize that networking is a skill that takes time and dedication to develop. Without ample practice, you can easily commit some common networking faux pas. Here are a few to consider and avoid. It’s amazing how often these actually happen. ...  read more

What to Do if Job Search is Taking Forever

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In this economy, a long job search effort is unfortunately more the norm than the exception. It can be very defeating and job searchers can easily run out of ideas of what to do next. Here are three articles that may help:

  1. Can’t find a job – 8 side gigs that actually make you money
  2. 6 reasons they didn’t call you back
  3. 6 Tips to finding a job after college

Here is a summary of their practical advice and my thoughts

  • Network, network, network – both articles talk about this. Even if you have talked to everyone you know. Go back, be concrete with what you need help on, and follow up. Nurture your relationships over time and I would also add avoid networking faux pas. I will write about one of these in another post. Also try to expand your network by going to new events and meeting new people.
  • Don’t take silence personally and have realistic expectations – as the first article highlights, many reasons that company don’t call back have nothing to do with you – like job disappeared due to budget cuts or they are swamped
  • Make it easy for company to know why you are good fit – do all the work in your resume and interviews to tell them why you are the best fit. No one at the company has the time to do this for you. Also, follow direction. If they want past work samples, do it. If they want you to do math problems, do it. It’s their job opening, they can do pretty much anything that is legal. Don’t complain as that will immediately disqualify you in this tough market. Lastly follow up in a week if you don’t hear from them. Just don’t be a pest.
  • Expand search criteria – to things like part time or contract work. Being more flexible and creative can help you find more opportunities.
  • Have a life at the same time – job search is an emotional roller coaster and can be very depressing. Still go out and have fun. Allow yourself breaks or even plan trips every few months to give your mind and emotions a break.
  • Get help – get a friend to look at your resume or do mock interviews and/or hire a career coach that can give you a professional perspective. But remember, most of the work depend on your effort. Your friends or a coach can only be guides. You cannot expect them to do the work for you. It doesn’t work that way.

Ultimately, hang in there. A job is out there for you. You just have to hang on and do the best you can. Remember “if there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Good luck out there! ...  read more