career search

Career Lessons from Gen Y

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Gen Y is definitely a generation to be reckoned with.  We are told their generation will fundamental change the way the work world operates.  I believe it.

I came across this article in the New York Times in Dec 2010 called “No Jobs – Young Graduates Make Their Own” – which talks about how young graduates (Gen Y) who couldn’t find work after they graduated started their own companies on shoestring start-up capital.  Some succeeded and some failed but all learned important lessons about how to drive their own destiny and careers. ...  read more

Being laid off is an opportunity

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There are 3 things that are I believe is absolutely true about being laid off

  1. It will happen to you and me at least once in our life time, but more likely multiple times.
  2. It sucks every time it happens no matter how prepared or unprepared we are.  There is no escaping feeling at least some disappointment, anger, frustration, confidence blow, hostility  etc…
  3. It’s up to us to decide how long we will let it suck – we can dwell on our bad luck and let the event forever define us in some negative way OR we can rise above it after awhile and choose to view it as an opportunity to reflect and perhaps do what we really want to do in life.

Last night I saw the movie  “Up in the Air” by George Clooney – great movie!  That’s what prompted this post.    He plays a character named Ryan Bingham, whose job is to fire people from theirs.    The main point of the movie is not relevant here , but I wanted to share three parts of the movie that really stood out to me related to job transitions. ...  read more

Use Rules of Dating to Find Dream Career

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Since starting this blog, I constantly receive from friends recommended articles written about career advice. Thank you! Here is an insightful and hilarious one written by Nicole Williams called Rules of Dating can Help You Land a Dream Job. Nicole is the author of the book “Girl on Top,” and this article contains excerpts from this book. ...  read more

Job Search CheckList

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Here is a starting check list of what may be involved in a Job search “job.” If you can suggest more, let me know. This is the condensed version. For the detailed version, click here.

Set career goals and job search strategy

  1. Understand what you would like and love to do and also what things you want to avoid doing in your career.
  2. Develop your long term career goals and understand why those are your goals
  3. Define the skills you need and skill gaps to achieve your 3 to 5 year career goal
  4. Define types of jobs you would like to have next and how each type would fit with your goals.
  5. Define detailed characteristics of your ideal next job
  6. Analyze your financial situation
  7. Define your plan A, B, and C and when will you implement each

Package yourself for your job search

  1. Ask people who have the job types you want
  2. Develop your story about your career goals, what job you want next and why, and why you are qualified
  3. Practice your story as often as possible in social situations
  4. Create a resume for each job type you are searching
  5. Build an online presence

Apply for jobs based on your career goals and plans ...  read more