Top 10 Ways To Improve Your Interview Body Language

The following article summarizes the top 10 ways to ensure that you show good interview body language. Make sure that all the preparation you do for a job interview isn’t in vain. Your body language is key to job interview success.

The top 10 ways to improve your interview body language are as follows:

1) Eye Contact

There’s nothing more off-puttingto an interviewer than the interviewee being unable to make regular, good, strong eye contact. The interviewer may think that, because you’re unable to do this, you either have something to hide, or you may not have the conviction of your beliefs. If you have difficulty concentrating when looking straight into someone’s eyes, then try looking between their eyes. They won’t be able to tell you aren’t looking straight into their eyes, but you’ll find it easier to maintain focus. Try it with a friend first to see what I mean.

2) Smile

You need to practice a strong, sincere smile. A good smile has the power to say, “I’m a happy, confident person and I’d love to work here.” Try practicing smiling in a mirror. Practice a smile that puts people at ease. It’s just as much your responsibility as theirs to ensure a relaxed atmosphere during the interview. If you’re embarrassed about your smile, see what a dentist can do about it. It might not cost too much to fix your teeth – and it will get you a lot of money if you get the job!

3) Open Body Language

Again, try practicing with a friend first. Make sure your legs are slightly apart if you’re a gent. Place your hands apart, on your thighs is good. Open body language is even more important when the interviewer is talking. It demonstrates that you are receptive to the question and actively listening. Remember when you practice your body language with a friend to take note of what to do with each part of your body. Unless you do that – and remember – you’re leaving it to chance that your body language will come across well at your job interview.

4) Don’t slouch

It’s easy to appear as if you slouch too much. This is especially prevalent if you’re asked to sit in a large, soft seat. Try not to appear too relaxed. Not sitting all the way back in the seat is a good idea. If you sit forward, it makes you look more attentive and more interested. Some people slouch because they’re not very interested. Other people slouch because they have bad body language. Either way, an interviewer isn’t going to be too impressed. Try practicing in a mirror at home.

5) Don’t be too erect

If you’re too erect then you won’t appear relaxed. If an experienced interviewer is interviewing you, they might put this down to stage fright. They might judge you on what you’re saying rather than how uptight you appear. However, if your interviewer isn’t too experienced, they might not feel relaxed either because of your posture. They could leave the interview with a feeling that you weren’t as good as the other person simply because you were too erect. Try to relax… but not too much!

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SUCCESS - What Does it Mean to You?

By Matthew Flinton

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy       

What is Success?

Being able to do what you want...when you want?

Living a "dream life" with mansions, luxury cars, exotic vacations, high dollar wardrobes...is this success?

Serving others and assisting them in achieving their goals and dreams?

I truly believe success is different for every person. Though I do know success can be achieved by each one of us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson described success...

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

My question to you is how are you going to be successful in your own life?

How are you going to leave the world a bit better?

How are you going to succeed in every aspect of your life... in your health... in your relationships... in your finances... in your spiritual growth?

That is the challenge we all face.

So let's look at how we can succeed in those areas.

Health... you must be cognizant of the foods that will improve your health and the foods that will destroy your body. Fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, legumes, water, green tea, milk, eggs, honey are foods that need to be the foundation of your diet.

The next area of health is your ability to move your body on a regular basis. Find an activity you will actually do consistently. Walking, weight training, running, playing basketball with your buddies... I don't care what it is... just do it on a regular basis.

Pretty simple... maybe not easy but very simple. Eat healthy foods and move your body!

Finances... identify a problem and create a solution. That is how you will create massive amounts of cash flow. We pay individuals major amounts of money if they can help remedy our problems... so again identify people's problems and give them the solution.

Shift your focus on helping and serving others and the money will appear. Now you must make the decision to be paid richly for your service but once you make that shift in your mind... get ready for the transfer of wealth!

Relationships... "give" what you want from others! If you want people to respect you... respect them first. If you want people to love you... love them first. If you want people to be kind to you... be kind first!

That's it... give... what you want to get!

Spiritual growth... the good Lord has a plan for your life...a divine destiny if you will.

To identify what that is... unplug from your iPod and turn off the television. Ask the Lord what the plan is and listen. When you receive the divine inspiration... act on it!

You must take an active part in achieving your overall success.

Begin today planning for your success and get to it.

Remember to enjoy the journey and God Blesses You!

Online Search - The Best Way to Find Your Ideal Job Vacancy

By Jane Ye

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy  

Thanks to the continuous growth of the internet, finding a job vacancy of your own satisfaction becomes very easy in modern society. A simple mouse click can provide you a large number of job positions for selection.

It is true that there are many other methods to find a job vacancy. For example, you can find the employment job lists through the classified segment of the newspaper; however, it deserves time to do. What is more, the small prints make it a tiring thing to do and you are restrained for where you live. For those who want to find jobs overseas, this method is not so accessible. Even though you can get the newspaper of your requirement, you have to spend a lot of time to find the ideal job vacancy.

While if you find the employment job lists through internet, everything becomes easier. You are allowed to possess your own membership accounts, free or chargeable. Though the free account has more limitation t than the latter one, it is enough to complete your personal information that is essential in finding an ideal job. Now, there are millions of people are using this method to find their dream jobs.

The details that you are asked to complete in the employment website include the personal contact information, your education and employment history. For verification purpose, you may be also asked to add a photo. After everything is settled, you are able to begin the job vacancy search through their search engine. The searching results will come out based on the job type, area of expertise, location, country, etc. Then, what you need to do for the interested job is to click the apply button and the resume will be automatically sent to the related employer.

Searching a job vacancy online is really convenient and effective. Moreover, the website is 24-hours available for you. Wherever you are and whatever time it is; you can do the search work to find your satisfying employment job lists. Finally, good luck!

Presentation Folders Bring Much Needed Utility in Document Management

By Bryan Fuller
  
Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy

There are many methods in which documents can be handled. They can be managed with many tools. Folders offer a good way to do this all. They are very much cost effective and they can handle documents in the best manner. The business of presentation folder printing UK is booming due to its utility and customization options.
Some of the benefits that these folders offer vary as much as from management utility to the advertisement tools. In any case, every folder is comprised of at least two panels. If it is folded once in the center, it would be bi-panel. If it is folded twice, it would be called tri-panel. There are many varieties of folders to meet any kind of need. For example, the presentation folder is unique in a sense that it helps in protecting documents more safely and securely with its pockets.
Some of the folders are used for decoration and ornamentals purposes as well. They are produced with such materials as can enhance their outlook and make them look more beautiful. An example can be given in the case of certificate folders which are used to protect and preserve important memories in the form of a document or a photograph.
A highly successful category of folders is called the custom presentation folders. They are not only used for their huge potential of utility but they are also used to bring the much needed variety in the document management business. They make them look more beautiful and handle the task better.
There is no secret in making a successful folder printing product. The printing needs to be world class and it has to withstand the test of customer's satisfaction. This is possible only if the printing companies utilize the latest technologies and tools to create high quality products.

Using Promotional Products to Promote Your Business

By Andy D Black

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy   

Promotional gifts are used all over the world and are a means to promote your business to other businesses and organisations. They not only serve as an advertising vehicle but also reflect the overall image of your organization. As part of your promotional campaign you could equip your employees with company branded clothing and name tags, to help reinforce your company identity, and add a professional touch. Choosing the right promotional business gifts can be a headache with so many available product choices, so it may be wise to take time to absorb, and maybe allow the company to advise you. It is proven that companies handing out promotional give-aways at an event usually attract more people than those companies that don't.

Printed mugs are one of the most popular promotional gifts due to their day to day use. They are probably one of the most functional gift items, and they also provide an excellent area to have your logo or brand message imprinted on them. Promotional mugs offer a wide reach and great exposure. A company`s printed mugs are very useful items that can help businesses retain their clients by reminding them of who they are and how they are valued. The many types of printed mugs and corporate gifts vary and they can range from bell mugs, Cambridge mugs, marrow mugs with company logos on, to promotional Sparta mug.

Another great promotional product is the promotional umbrella. These are great seasonal gifts that will hold a lot of value to its recipient. An umbrella is a mobile advertising tool. Each and every person, who has been given an umbrella, is a walking advertisement of your company and its product. With your imagination and creativity you can personalise the printed umbrella and design it according to your own choice making use of bright striking colours and an easy-to-remember slogan. Companies may keep promotional umbrellas in limited numbers to use them in special events or campaigns. Patio umbrellas are much larger than standard umbrellas and often come with a stand but can be a bit costly when imprinted. They do offer a huge advertising area though, which can be printed.

Promotional mouse mats are also a fantastic promotional item, due to their usability and print area. The average person spends around nine hours a day in front of their computers. On promotional mouse mats, you can have your company details, your favourite photo, your own design, or even a company logo. Each and every business is driven by technology and uses a computer, making this product an excellent choice. With the help of promotional printed mouse mats your company name will be displayed on the desks for a long time to come.

USB Flash Drives are also a great choice to use as promotional products. Some flash drives are manufactured to handle extreme conditions. The chips used inside these drives are usually military grade meaning that they can handle extreme temperatures and vibration. If you are the athletic type, a runner or jogger, who likes to listen to their tunes during your workout you want to look into a flash drive player. They are very resilient, so you no longer have to worry about dropping it, or storing it near a magnet. You can literally store tens of thousands of documents and files on a single tiny flash storage drive.

These are just a few of the promotional products and business gifts that available to promote your company and its services. It's important that you choose the right products for your company to ensure that you are targeting the right audience. Promotional products can work very well and can increase your businesses visibility within your particular industry.

How You Can Leverage a Layoff

Jobless? Take This Opportunity to Start Your Own Business
by Dennis Romero, Entrepreneur.com


Diane Lindquist is a four-decade veteran of journalism and an expert on the trade economy of the U.S.-Mexico border. When the San Diego Union-Tribune offered her a buyout in January 2007, after nearly 30 years at the newspaper, she saw the writing on the wall: Older, higher-paid reporters were being shown the door in the name of cost savings. But she also saw opportunity: Where would her readers turn for institutional knowledge and in-depth analysis about the border business scene?

Lindquist decided to take the buyout cash and start her own news operation,mexbiznews.com. The site, launched in the fall of 2008, aggregates outside content but also offers original reports aimed at American investors who are interested in Mexican trade and industry. Advertising has so far been scarce, but Lindquist has found a niche -- and it's pretty much all her own.

"I realized I was offering a one-stop shop for all daily Mexico business news as well as the original reporting I'm doing," she says. "I still think people out there want news, it's just a matter of figuring out a way of how to deliver it."

The path she took -- using her expertise to spin off an independent, entrepreneurial version of her corporate gig -- is a popular one these days. With national unemployment now at 7.6 percent (January 2009) and industries ranging from publishing to transportation to manufacturing shedding jobs by the thousands, many in the out-of-work sector are exploring startups that lie close to home.

The transition from worker bee to lonely boss is never easy, but experts say that there's a history of successful endeavors that were started in a down economy. Workers can take advantage of buyouts, severance packages, and cashed-in 401(k)s. They can translate their experience in bureaucratic operations to more efficient, service-oriented companies. And some, at least, will become financially independent in the process.

"It's not going to be easy to find employment right now," says UC Santa Cruz economics professor Rob Fairlie. "So, in that sense, it's not a bad time to come up with an idea for a business."

In conducting research for his 2008 book, "Race and Entrepreneurial Success," Fairlie discovered that novice business owners who came from jobs dealing in "similar goods and services" were as much as 40 percent more successful with startups than those who were winging it in an unknown field. "It's the classic American Dream that 'I can just do anything I want,'" he says, "but the reality is it's important to know how to do things. You need those skills."

In the ailing field of journalism, where advertising dollars and eyeballs continue to migrate online, laid-off reporters are taking their old beats and turning them into highly focused, web-based blogs and communities. Many have yet to see the kind of ad income that can replace their old salaries, but most are confident that the income and audiences will materialize.

"You have to do a lot of hustling, you have to do a lot of marketing," says Mark Glaser, executive editor of the PBS-run site MediaShift. "Those are skills that journalists don't have and aren't normally taught in journalism school."

Of course, that's changing. Glaser notes that recently launched courses at UC Berkeley and the City University of New York explore entrepreneurial journalism. Both the Knight Digital Media Center at Berkeley and the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., also offer seminars, workshops, and classes in digital journalism. And late last year, Six Apart, the company behind TypePad blogging software and hosting, began offering free services to laid-off journalists.

Kevin Bronson was let go as an entertainment editor in 2008 after nearly two decades at the Los Angeles Times. He started the paper's first music blog, Buzz Bands, and he made it independent last year. Bronson goes out six nights a week to chronicle Los Angeles' indie rock scene -- something he did while at the Times. The result is that he's got a lock on his topic, and though advertising is slow going, investment was minimal. And the tech learning curve, at least for him, has been nil. It's easy, Bronson says. Journalists just have to adjust their mind-sets.

"Old-school journalists have to broaden their perception of what constitutes content," he says. "For my blog, I hesitate to do a post without a photo, music download or video."

Less Clear Transitions

Workers in other industries might find the transition from worker bee to business owner less cut and dried. Michigan's auto industry is reeling from revenue losses experienced by the Big Three car makers. The industry accounts for 70 percent of the 33,000 manufacturing jobs lost in the state in 2007 and 2008, according to the University of Michigan. The problem is, with demand for cars at historic lows, it's hard even for laid-off workers with unique skills to find a niche in a shrinking market.

Robert Wiseman, professor of management at Michigan State University's Eli Broad College of Business, says, "It's a difficult road to be an entrepreneur in this industry." Even so, he says, there are some paths, including taking managerial, technical and manufacturing skills to other sectors. For example, an accountant laid off from General Motors could establish her own bookkeeping firm and offer her services to companies in more robust fields.

Meanwhile the service industry, home of those jobs no one seems to want to do, has plenty of opportunity for enterprising entrepreneurs who don't mind getting their hands dirty, says Bob Shepherd, district director of the Central North Florida chapter of small business nonprofit advisory group SCORE. He implores the idle to start landscaping, painting, car-washing and housecleaning businesses by soliciting work door-to-door if they have to. If business takes off, entrepreneurs can hire crews and take a seat managing the startup, he says.

And career coach Hallie Crawford, author of "Flying Solo: Career Transition Tips for Singles," says the world is your oyster if you can offer virtual services to the next entrepreneur.

"I have a marketing consultant, and I've never met her," Crawford says. Accounting, personal assistant and web-design startups are hot fields and require a computer, a phone, some software, and almost zero startup funds, she says.

"Were you a financial officer or an administrative assistant at your job?" Crawford says. "Almost anything you did in an office, you can do virtually. You need business cards, maybe a website. The only catch is marketing. While it's a low cost to start, you have to be assertive and proactive."

Greg Digneo is a laid-off product manager who recently decided to start up a Web-based company that will essentially pair up laid-off workers-turned-entrepreneurs who have goods and services to offer each other. (He also vowed to spend $500 on the endeavor, which he documented on his blog morecaffeineplease.com.)

"If you're a startup with $1,000 budgeted for marketing, the chances are you're not going to be able to hire a marketing firm," the 26-year-old New Jersey resident explains, "but you can hire someone who's a marketing expert who's been recently laid off."

So far, Digneo says he's putting 10 to 12 hours a day into his project and loving every minute of it: "Now I get to do something I really wanted to do."

Transition Tips

Our experts offer five tips for making the transition from jobless to proprietor:

1. Stay in your field. Entrepreneurs who come from jobs dealing in "similar goods and services" as their startups are 40 percent more likely to survive, according to UC Santa Cruz economics professor Rob Fairlie. Expertise has its rewards.

2. Market yourself. It might be easy to run a virtual business such as a personal assistant service or bookkeeping via laptops and mobile phones, but you'll get no business if no one knows you exist. Professional networking, well-designed websites and proper business cards are a must, says Hallie Crawford, author of Flying Solo: Career Transition Tips for Singles.

3. Keep business hours. If you're starting an endeavor from home, it's easy to forget that you're at work. Keeping regular hours, creating workspace, and dressing for the job can keep you focused. Greg Digneo, for example, is a laid-off product manager who works 10- to 12-hour days at home in his effort to start up a website-based business that will connect entrepreneurs. But "you can start to feel really isolated" working alone at home, says Crawford, so schedule regular breaks, meetings and even meals outside.

4. Get your numbers sorted. Businesses don't grow from water and sunlight. Even minimal operations from home will take planning and spreadsheets. Bigger endeavors will require serious money. Think ahead before you're in the red. You might need as little as a $5,000 personal loan, for example, for web hosting, design services and marketing. "We're advising people to slow down and work on their resources," says Michael L. Keaton, spokesman for the small business nonprofit advisory group SCORE.

5. Find a niche. Stay in your field of expertise, yes. But narrow it down. What can you start up that no one else has thought of? Where are the openings in the market or audience? Journalists who make the transition from corporate print to online publisher, for example, "have to have a topic, a niche and have the ability to work on their own," says Mark Glaser, executive editor of the PBS-run site MediaShift.

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10 Great Part-Time Jobs With Benefits

by Michelle Goodman, PayScale.com


Contrary to popular belief, working a part-time job doesn't mean you have to forego those almighty benefits.

A number of part-time vocations come with subsidized health insurance coverage, paid vacation days, retirement matching, corporate discounts, and more. You just have to know where to look.

Often, part-time employees must work at least 20 to 30 hours a week to be eligible for company benefits. And some companies won't cough up the health-care and financial perks until you've been an employee for 3, 6, or 12 months. Still, a benefits package is a benefits package, no matter how you get it.

Whether you're a stay-at-home parent returning to the workforce, a college student in need of extra income, or an office worker who's grown weary of the 60-hour-a-week grind, there's probably a part-time job with benefits out there for you.

1. Package handler. Do you have a strong back and an aversion to offices? Then you might get a lot of mileage out of loading and unloading packages at a UPS warehouse in one of the 90 cities the shipping carrier serves. Part-timers must work a minimum of 15 hours a week and wait 12 months before being eligible for benefits. But the company fully funds your health insurance premiums and offers tuition reimbursement for part-timers who take harder-to-fill shifts. Median wage: $11 to $12 per hour.*

2. Barista. Pacific Northwest-based Tully's Coffee serves up some pretty rich perks to the part-time baristas who work in its Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, and Arizona retail locations. Employees who put in at least 17.5 hours are eligible for sick pay, a 401(k) savings plan, a limited health plan, dental insurance, legal services, and a slew of discounts. On top of those perks, baristas who work at least 24 hours a week are eligible for medical insurance (including PPO and HSA offerings), disability insurance, and holiday and vacation pay. Median wage: $8.45 per hour.

3. Test prep tutor. Do you enjoy working with students? If you have some teaching experience and know your way around standardized tests, working as a classroom instructor or private tutor can be a great way to parlay your skills into a part-time job with flexible hours and health benefits. Companies like Kaplan regularly hire instructors and tutors to guide teens and adults through the test preparation process -- from the SATs to grad school admissions testing to professional certification exams. Median wage: $12.22 per hour.

4. Customer service representative. If you're a people person who's good on the phone, working as a call center rep might be the gig for you. Not only do many of these jobs lend themselves to flexible, part-time shifts, more and more companies are hiring customer service reps to work from their own home.Keep in mind that, to qualify for these positions, you must have a reliable computer and Internet connection. Median wage: $11.16 per hour.

5. Computer software test/quality assurance analyst. Are you the person everyone comes to when their latest software purchase has them stumped? Then why not put your tech savvy to work? Software companies -- notorious for their flexible schedules (including part-time hours) and generous benefits -- always need people to test their creations before they ship. Note: A two-year or four-year computing degree or prior programming experience likely will be required. Median wage: $18.84 per hour.

6. Sales clerk/cashier. If you think working for a grocery store takes you out of the running for subsidized health care, you're wrong. Employees of Whole Foods who work at least 30 hours a week and have put in at least 800 hours with the supermarket chain benefit from the company's fully funded health care plan. Plus, the longer they're with the company, the more paid days off employees receive for vacation, holidays, and personal time. And after a year with the company, part-time employees are eligible for a 401(k) plan and a 20 percent discount on all store items. Median wage: $8.16 per hour.

7. Bus driver. Don't want to work in an office or a retail location? With a valid driver's license and a squeaky-clean driving record, you can try your hand at driving a bus for a living. Not only are the schedules flexible, healthcare benefits and paid-time off are frequently included. In King County in Washington State, after completing a 26-day paid training program, drivers who work at least 12.5 hours a week are eligible for the county's healthcare package, paid vacation days, and sick leave. And after seven months on the job, part-time drivers are eligible for the county's retirement plan. Median wage: $12.80 per hour.

8. Medical assistant. Not only is health care one of the most recession-proof fields out there, it's known for offering more than its share of part-time employment options -- complete with health benefits and paid time off. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks medical assistants as one of the fastest growing careers today. Sixty-two percent of medical assistants work in doctor's offices, performing a variety of administrative tasks. While some medical assistants learn on the job, many come to the field with a one-year or two-year degree. Median wage: $11.26 per hour.

9. Domestic worker. Like the general public but don't like the hustle and bustle of public places? Then you might like working in a private home as a part-time nanny or house cleaner. In Seattle, the agency A Nanny for You places domestic workers with families, some of whom provide monthly health-care stipends that workers can apply to their own health insurance costs. Plus, the pet waste removal franchise DoodyCalls, which boasts 40 U.S. locations, offers health coverage to employees who have been with the company 30 days and work at least 30 hours a week scooping Fido's backyard droppings. Median wage: $13 to $17 per hour.**

10. Temporary office assistant. As companies struggle to operate with leaner budgets this year, they're more likely to hire temps to handle pressing projects than add another staff member to their payroll. And while you won't catch any company doling out benefits to its temps, the agencies that hire these project-based workers frequently offer such perks. Case in point: Express Employment Professionals, a temp agency with 600 offices in four countries that offers its administrative, industrial, and professional temps health coverage the moment they're placed on their first assignment. After working the requisite number of hours (varies from branch to branch), Express temps also are eligible for holiday pay, a 401(k) program, and computer and job skills training. Median wage: $10.50 per hour.


Michelle Goodman is author of "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube" and "My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire."

Source: Salary data from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, hourly salaries for part-time workers with 1-2 years of experience and do not include any bonuses, commissions, or profit sharing.
* Salary data from UPS.
** Salary data from DoodyCalls.


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6 Ways to Prevent Office Injury

by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs


It's not just the most physically demanding jobs that can lead to serious injuries. Working with a seemingly harmless mouse and keyboard can cause chronic injuries just as easily as hauling a load of cement. In fact, repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel affect hundreds of thousands of American workers a year, and lead to tens of billions of dollars annually in workers comp claims, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Nelson Liu, a certified acupuncturist in Los Angeles, sees many of these disorders in his patients. "People who sit at desks and work on computers come to me with chronic pain in the shoulders, wrist, neck, and eyes, and they often result from the small, repetitive motions they do on the job every day," Liu tells Yahoo! HotJobs.

Common Injury Causes

The top culprits of what experts call repetitive strain disorders include:

* Sitting in an unnatural posture for a long time.

* Not allowing recovery time.

* Shallow breathing.

* Repetitive motions, such as using the phone, typing with bent wrists and using a mouse.

* Using force or pressure, such as pinching pens, gripping the mouse too hard, or pounding the keyboard.

Even emotional stress can lead to strain and pain. "People are particularly stressed out right now, and often emotional stress turns to physical stress, which turns to worse posture, which turns to pain, which turns to more stress," says Wendy Young, a certified ergonomist in Houston and author of the e-book, getinsideyourcomfortzone.com.

There are ways to break the vicious circle, and they don't necessarily require the most expensive office chair or expert intervention, according to Tony Biafore, an ergonomics expert president of Ergonetics. "A lot of companies think they can solve ergonomics problems with a one-size-fits-all approach, or by buying the most expensive keyboards or office chairs," Biafore says. "Fancy ergonomic equipment is worthless if you don't identify how you're using them."

Decrease the Risk Factors

To avoid pain and possibly chronic problems, ergonomics experts recommend several ways of developing a low-risk working posture:

* Sit naturally. "Many people perch on their chair, lean forward, and tuck their feet under, especially when they're concentrating," Biafore said. Notice how you sit, and make adjustments to the chair or to your posture if any part of your body is experiencing tightness, strain, or pain.

* Type right. You shouldn't have to change your seated posture or angle your hands to type. The keyboard should come to you. If it doesn't, adjust your seating position, or ask for a keyboard tray.

* Check your viewpoint. Your eyes should naturally gaze at the middle of the computer screen. If you have to look up or down, move the display. This goes for placement of paper documents as well -- you shouldn't have to crane your neck to see them.

* Catch the mouse problem. If you have to reach for it, then your seated posture may be out of whack.

* Take breaks. You should get up about five minutes every hour to get out of your chair, get a drink, or just walk to the next cubicle. Young also recommended taking micro-breaks, of about 10 seconds every 15 minutes to rest your eyes and hands.

* Speak up. Report any problem to facilities, HR, or, if your company has one, an ergonomics specialist. If you've identified the problem as merely the need for a wrist pad, an adjustable chair, or a movable display, it's in the company's interest to comply.

Laptop computers present a special challenge because they require users to lean too far forward and reach for the keyboard, according to Biafore. If you can, use an external keyboard and a mouse, and prop up the screen to replicate an LED monitor, Biafore suggested.

Many changes can be small -- like adjusting the seat position or raising your arms off the desk -- and can be done without consulting an ergonomics expert. But remember that one change you make could throw off something else. "The work station should fit your body like a comfortable pair of shoes," Young said.

Making adjustments to your workstation requires paying close attention to your body. "Any kind of pain is a signal, and if you cover it up with medication, or even getting acupuncture, without addressing the underlying cause, it will only get worse," Liu said. "Ultimately the best doctor is yourself -- only you can figure out exactly what's not working and how to fix it."

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Could You Succeed as an Entrepreneur?

Look for These 7 Signs
by Richard Barrington, VendorSeek.com


Entrepreneurs have a knack for seeing opportunities where others don't. If you see 2009 as a good time to start a business despite the recession, then you may have an entrepreneurial perspective. Now you need to know if you have some of the other characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.

What helps entrepreneurs these days is that virtual business models put more emphasis on talent and less on administration and infrastructure. After all, e-commerce solutions can give you an instant retail presence, credit card processing services can handle your receivables, and equipment leasing can give you access to any machinery necessary with a minimal up-front investment.

So now all you need is the right set of skills and characteristics. Consider whether you have the following ingredients of successful entrepreneurship:

1. A stand-out talent. You should be able to identify at least one area of ability that makes you stand out from the crowd. This can be anything: technical expertise, sales skill, marketing insight, or logistical know-how. Since small businesses are talent-driven, you have to start out with the belief that you have the raw material with which to compete and succeed. It helps if your skills happen to be in areas with growing demand, such as health care or computer technology. If you have medical knowledge or a skill such as Web design, you may have a little wind at your back.
2. A differing perspective. "Me-too" businesses have a tough time making a mark, especially during a weak economy. Your business should be founded on the idea that there is a better way to do things. Ideally, you should have enough experience in your chosen industry to be familiar with the normal way business is done, and to have developed some unique insights as to how that can be improved. Being able to clearly articulate a differing perspective should be central to your business plan. In turn, it should also become the vision you communicate to everyone you hire, and the selling proposition you use to pitch potential customers.
3. A network of contacts. Experience is valuable not only for knowing how other companies do things, but also for helping you form a network that will get your new company up and running more quickly. Remember, people -- especially business-to-business customers -- can be reluctant to do business with a start-up. You should have some contacts who respect you enough personally to take a chance on your new business. Of course a network of contacts can also help you identify potential investors, suppliers, and talented employees.
4. A war chest. Don't start your venture unless you have identified sufficient funding to not only get started, but to keep your business running through the inevitable lean months at the beginning. Many businesses are forced to go under just as they would be starting to gain some momentum, simply because they underestimated the amount of time it would take for profits to start rolling in. Funding can be from your own savings, outside investors, or loans. Of course, external sources of funding are harder to come by in a recession, but you can use techniques such as equipment leasing and virtual offices to reduce the need for this type of funding.
5. An acceptance of risk. You should start any new business with a commitment to succeed, but an acceptance of the risk involved. Entrepreneurs are often people who are willing to trade a sure thing working for someone else for even a risky chance at running their own show.
6. An eye for complementary talent. Once you start hiring people, you should think in terms of rounding out the team rather than looking for people just like yourself. It can be a mistake to have too many would-be leaders in one organization. If you have an independent and visionary outlook, you might do well to complement that with a strong administrator who can take care of the details.
7. Persistence. Not only does it take a long time for a new business to gain traction, but entrepreneurs often don't succeed on their first try. As long as you have confidence in the first two items on this list -- your talent and your unique perspective on the business -- you should be willing to keep trying.

Richard Barrington is a freelance writer and novelist who previously spent over 20 years as an investment industry executive.

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How to Love the Job You Have

by Roberta Chinsky Matuson, for Yahoo! HotJobs
hotjobs.yahoo.com

Before we entered into this historic recession, it was easy to leave a job you didn't love. All you had to do was knock on the door of another employer and you could begin work the next week. Those days are gone and most likely will not return anytime soon. But that doesn't mean you have to be miserable in the job that you have.

Here are some tips on how to love the job you have:

Be Realistic

No one's life is perfect. Not even the lives of people who star on those sitcoms you watch. It is OK to have a bad day, week or even month at work. Just be sure the good days are far outweighing the bad.

Be Positive

Focus on what is going well at the office. Is your work still challenging? Could a promotion be in your future? Do you enjoy the people you work with? A "yes" to any of these questions means you have positive energy you can build upon.

Clear the Air

Sometimes it is one issue or person that makes a great job a not-so-great situation. If this is the case, then it is time to clear the air. Write down some examples of how this situation is impacting your ability to perform at an optimal level. Then share your findings with the person or people who are involved.

Don't Believe Everything People Say

It is human nature to boast or even exaggerate a bit. People around you may be saying they love their jobs, but in reality they may be in the same position as you: waiting for the next best thing to come along. Take what people are saying about their jobs with a grain of salt and focus on your own happiness.

This Doesn't Have to Be Forever

Right now it may feel like you have no choice but to keep this job forever. However, this won't be the case if you play your cards right. Use this recession as an opportunity to increase your options. Enroll in evening or online classes, volunteer to work on projects with high visibility and gain the experience you will need to move to a new place in your career. Who knows, this may just be the spark you need to reignite the flames of love again in the job you have.

Get a Life

Enjoying your work should only be one part of having a life that you love. If your job is the only thing that brings joy to your life, then perhaps it is time to focus on having a life outside of work. Look for opportunities to participate in activities that are of interest to you. Volunteer, take up a new sport or get a hobby. These are all great ways to build a life that you can love.

Copyright 2009 Human Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.


Roberta Chinsky Matuson is the President of Human Resource Solutions (www.yourhrexperts.com) and has been helping companies align their people assets with their business goals. Read her new blog on Generation Integration http://generationintegration.typepad.com/matuson/. She can be reached at Roberta@yourhrexperts.com.

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Be Nice, Not Naughty, to Your Network

Use the Holidays to Spread Cheer More Effectively
by Caroline Levchuck
hotjobs.yahoo.com


The holidays present great opportunities to reach out to people you care about, personally and professionally. When dealing with people in your professional network, do not rely on the clich that "it's the thought that counts." What counts most is solid execution.

Santa Claus aside, you can bet your contacts will take note whether you've been "naughty" or "nice" to them. Use the following scenarios to help you do the right thing when spreading holiday cheer.

Naughty: You send out pre-engraved, homogenous company holiday cards with nary a signature.
Nice: You write a personal note to each recipient, even if it's just a few words.

Naughty: Giving everyone a generic gift that your clients may not be interested in - or able to enjoy.
Nice: Recognizing that not everyone likes chocolate or drinks wine, and instead giving people something that reflects their tastes. Stumped? Try giving out potted plants, personalized gifts (e.g., mugs, caps), or gift baskets of spices. Or make a donation to a charitable organization in which a client has expressed interest.

Naughty: Throwing a holiday party and not allowing folks to bring a guest.
Nice: Forget the party! Most people are busy enough around the holidays. Why not throw a post-New Year's brainstorming session for friends and clients wherein you all help each other set professional goals and offer up advice and support?

Naughty: Your holiday card is the only time you reach out to your network each year.
Nice: Call everyone personally, apologize for being out of touch, and schedule a time to grab lunch or a drink in January.
Naughty: You call in favors at the eleventh hour, stressing out vendors and well-connected friends who are very busy during the holidays.
Nice: Plan ahead for business and don't pull any strings during the holidays -- unless, of course, your job is on the line.


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Here We Come A-Networking

Use the Holidays to Make More Contacts
by Debra Davenport
hotjobs.yahoo.com


Just like you can never receive too many gifts at the holidays, you can never have too many contacts in your network. Being well-connected connotes success and influence -- the kind of cachet every serious professional seeks to achieve.

The holidays are a great time to build your list of influential contacts. Whether you're currently employed or searching for the perfect job, consider every invitation a chance to create new career-building relationships.

Here are several networking strategies that have proven successful:

* The best networking takes place at home. Inviting colleagues, prospects, clients, and contacts to your home establishes a more personal relationship. An invitation to your home also creates opportunities for reciprocal invitations and introductions to others' inner circle of contacts. Host a holiday open house, buffet, or afternoon tea. You don't have to impress by spending a lot of money. It's the invitation that counts.

* Give and you shall receive. Feeling altruistic this holiday season? Get involved with a charity. Volunteering leads to important connections and the development of relationships that are not just based on building business contacts, but on helping others.

* Don't assume. Don't reject invitations to events that seem like duds -- they often turn out to offer valuable networking opportunities. You never know who's going to be there. And, while it's possible you may connect with only one person, that connection could turn into a powerful, long-term relationship.

* Create your own networking opportunities. Start a holiday book club, a caroling troupe or a game night. Host a party to honor someone you admire, give an award or even create a scholarship program. There are countless ways of getting people together to enjoy the spirit of the season. All you need is one idea and an invitation.

* Use the Internet. Write a holiday blog or newsletter and e-mail it to your contacts. Include a "viral" element, such as a photo, video, news article, or original quote to prompt recipients to spread your message.

* Follow up with every person you meet. A handwritten note letting someone know you enjoyed meeting them is priceless today, and worth every minute. Your goal is to solidify your initial impression as a savvy professional -- and to be remembered.

* Use your business cards! Your business card is your best networking tool. Always have plenty on hand and don't be shy about handing them out. Include your card in your holiday mailings and attach them to business gifts. In-between jobs? Personal "call me" cards printed with your name, descriptor (e.g., "Sales and Marketing Specialist"), and contact information are the perfect tool for self-promotion. Note: If you're employed but on the job hunt, it's proper protocol to use your personal cards rather than your company business cards.

Most importantly, remember that the holidays are a time of giving. Put the needs of others first while you're working the room. Benevolence is the greatest attribute of any job-seeker, regardless of the season.

Debra Davenport is president of DavenportFolio, a licensed firm with offices in Phoenix and Los Angeles that provides career counseling, Certified Professional Mentoring, professional employment placement and executive search services. She is the creator of the Certified Professional Mentor(R) designation, and you can contact her at debra@davenportfolio.com.

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Six Degrees of Employment

by Christopher Jones
hotjobs.yahoo.com


By now, you've probably heard of "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon," the game which challenges players to trace a famous person's connection to actor Kevin Bacon in six steps or less.

While playing the game probably won't put you in a paying job, the premise behind it just might.

What if, for example, your uncle's secretary's spouse is a headhunter for a Fortune 500? Or, your friend's brother runs a multi-national company which has hundreds of openings?

It would be a shame to have those connections and not take advantage of them. But that's just what some job seekers are doing. They flood the market with resumes, ignoring the other cornerstone of an effective search: Networking.

Family First

If the word "networking" makes you break out into a cold sweat, start slow: Perfect your pitch with family and friends.

Your grandmother (or anyone else who is "so proud of her big-little- sweet-precious baby") may not be the best choice. Try your grouchiest relative. You'll need the most honest feedback you can get.

In Addition to -- Not Instead Of

If people can get together to buy Tupperware, discuss books or pick stocks, why not meet to talk about job searching? These days, more people are.

The Pink Slip Party, which one site describes as a "networking event and career fair hybrid," is one way. A small, intimate gathering of friends is another.

But no matter how varied your networking diet becomes, never neglect industry-specific events. These are the most effective ways to make and maintain industry contacts.

A Soft Sell and a Strong Handshake

Be prepared to be sized up when you step into the networking scene. Here's a quick list to help you stand up to the scrutiny:

* Dress appropriate to the venue. If the event is at a person's home, a three-piece suit is probably not required.

* Practice your handshake. Firm -- not abusive.

* Pop a breath mint -- or two.

* Don't be overbearing. As strange as it seems, some people attend these events to unwind. The strong sell won't work.

* Take plenty of business cards.

Networking Goes Digital

Networking doesn't only happen in bars and hotel ballrooms. It can also happen via e-mail.

For example, when you search for a job online, you'll see lots of openings -- some of which you're interested in, some of which you're not.

If you see a job that doesn't fit your criteria, ask yourself whether a friend who is job searching might be interested. If so, send it to them, and ask them to consider returning the favor.
(You wouldn't want to do this with coworkers. The only person who should know about your job search at your current job is you.)

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Don't Let Your Job Get Toxic

by Debra Davenport
hotjobs.yahoo.com


Sometimes no matter how hard you try to do all the right things at work, a job may feel as if it's hurting you more than helping you. Maybe the job is a bad fit, maybe volatility in your industry gives you anxiety about the future, or maybe a salary cut is making too many of your purchases stress-inducing.

If you find yourself in a similar position, you have to assess whether your work situation is toxic or revivable. If you decide your job is toxic, take control and formulate an exit plan. It's simply not worth staying in a situation that can negatively impact your health, relationships, and peace of mind.

If you decide to create some changes in your job, you can take the following proactive self-care measures to protect your well-being as you focus on the challenges ahead.

Speak up. Talk with your boss (if he or she is not the problem) and engage in a solutions-oriented dialogue. You may not be able to change the company, but you might be able to make your department a much more pleasant place to work.

Move. Fifteen minutes of yoga or Pilates will reduce stress, increase focus and mental clarity, and improve overall well-being.

Relax. Massage, meditation and positive visualization will reduce stress, improve circulation, remove toxins from the body, and help you sleep.

Blow the 5:30 whistle. Don't stay in a toxic workplace any longer than absolutely necessary, and don't take your toxic job home with you. When 5:30 p.m. rolls around, leave.

Take a break. It's actually smart to take a "mental health day" every now and then. Don't feel guilty for taking a day off to get your life back in balance.

Get fueled. Proper nutrition is one of your best defenses. Keeping your body fortified helps to boost energy, prevent illness, and minimize the harmful effects of stress.

Go green. Living plants enhance the air quality of indoor environments, and also have been shown to induce positive energy.

Breathe. Recycled air in office buildings and enclosed work areas can be very unhealthy. If you have the option of opening windows, let the fresh air in! Otherwise, use air purifiers and natural aromatherapies to lift spirits and freshen the air.

Color your world. Finally, don't underestimate the psychological impact of color. Surround yourself with greens and blues to create a sense of tranquility.

In fact, putting some of these tips into practice may change how you perceive your job and its challenges. It's all about perspective.

The important thing is to give yourself permission to seek a healthy working environment where you can thrive instead of just survive.

Debra Davenport is president of DavenportFolio, a licensed firm with offices in Phoenix and Los Angeles that provides career counseling, Certified Professional Mentoring, professional employment placement and executive search services. She is the creator of the Certified Professional Mentor(R) designation, and you can contact her at debra@davenportfolio.com.

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Ten Ways to Know It's Time to Go

A Job-Change Checklist
by Caroline Levchuck
hotjobs.yahoo.com


No matter how much you love your job, you may not love it all the time. Folks with the most fulfilling of professions can still find themselves battling a case of the "Sunday Night Blues." And, from time to time, we may all feel a sense of disenchantment with our employer or our co-workers.

But how can you know when it's really time to go? Here's a hint: If more than half of the following statements ring true for you, get your resume ready and start connecting with new opportunities today.

1. You start to dread Monday as soon as you leave work on Friday.

2. It becomes more and more difficult to get up for work each day, and tardiness becomes a way of life.

3. You cannot muster enthusiasm for anything related to work -- other than your paycheck.

4. You spend most of your time complaining to colleagues or about your colleagues.

5. You act defensive and even hostile in company meetings when there's little cause for it.

6. You interact less and less with co-workers, shutting yourself away in your office and avoiding opportunities to socialize.

7. You've used up all your sick, personal, and vacation days -- and the year isn't even half over.

8. You're constantly putting off until tomorrow what you could (and should) do today. When you do actually commit to doing your work, you feel resentful.

9. You're bitter about the company's success or that of a co-worker.

10. You have no professional goals related to your job, and you have a hard time even making some up at your obligatory performance review.

Start your job change by posting your resume on Yahoo! HotJobs.

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Welcome Back: Returning to Work After Your Maternity Leave

by Caroline M. Levchuck
hotjobs.yahoo.com


And you thought going back to work after a great vacation was rough...

Planning Your Return

Six weeks? Ten weeks? Twelve weeks? How can a new mom know she's ready to return to work?

Proper planning can help you choose the best back-to-work date for you and your family. First, try to anticipate how much time you'll need (and how much time you'll get) to the best of your ability. Talk to other working mothers. Review your eligibility under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as well as your employer's maternity leave policy and your personal financial situation to assess not only when but how you'll return to work.

Pat Katepoo, founder of www.WorkOptions.com, an online resource for working mothers who want to restructure their current job into a flexible work arrangement, suggests phasing back into work with a reduced leave schedule, which is a provision of the FMLA. "Take your six weeks of full leave and try to follow it with a temporary part-time schedule," says Katepoo.

Whenever (and however) you choose to return to work, remember that even the most meticulous planning cannot account for emotions. Author and speaker Liz Ryan says, "There's a lot of hormonal stuff going on." Ryan, CEO of www.worldWIT.org, a free resource for working women for work and life, elaborates, "It's extremely common for moms to drive in to [their first day back at] work with tears streaming down their cheeks."

Getting Back on Track

Once you do return to work, have a strategy in place to get back up to speed - without getting overwhelmed.

Ryan, a 25-year human resources veteran, says, "Part of going back to work is taking it really easy. You should not feel like you have to make up for those six weeks you missed." She counsels returning moms to avoid immediately booking a ten-hour day or attempting to tackle a huge project. Rather, urges Ryan, "Just go in and get oriented."

John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a global outplacement company, concurs. "Go see lots of people in your office. Get your arms back around what's going on, how the relationships have changed. Learn what's important and just let people know you're back," advises Challenger.

If you stay in the loop throughout your maternity leave, it may make your return that much easier. It did for new mom Stacey Dobkins, Vice President of The Lyon Company, a wholesale gift manufacturer based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. She says, "I felt like it made returning to work less stressful. I didn't feel like things had gotten out of control and I knew where projects were at." Dobkins adds, "It also helped me feel like I hadn't given up my life to have a baby."

Handling the Nuts and Bolts

You can help create a smooth transition back to work by ironing out the mechanics of what you'll need to balance being a mom with being a professional. But only you know that, so speak up.

"Not everyone has the luxury of having maternity training," explains Dobkins, whose daughter Megan was born in May. "Whatever you need, you need to ask for it."

That includes everything you need to continue breastfeeding if you choose to do so. Liz Ryan admits, "[Pumping and working] can be a pain in the butt. If you want to stick with it, get support." Ryan believes planning every detail counts. Set up a private lactation room at work. Make sure you've got refrigeration available if you need it. Consider how convenient your clothing is to pumping during work hours.

Flexible work options can help new mothers meet the challenges of breastfeeding. Katepoo endorses a part-time schedule or telecommuting. Of course, she notes, "Telecommuting doesn't mean substituting childcare, but telecommuting can be perfect for a nursing mom who has a caregiver on the premises."

Be sure to carefully plan your daycare, too. WorldWIT founder Ryan tells women to test their daycare for a week before they return to work. "You may feel weird sitting around your house without your baby for a week, but just do it. You don't want to wait until the last minute to assess the stability of your daycare," says the mother of five.

Get Ready for Guilt

A new mom can feel guilty for leaving her baby. Or guilty for enjoying the fact that she's back at work.

Recent returnee Dobkins confesses, "It is a guilty pleasure to be back at work. But I actually don't have a lot of guilt either way because my husband takes care of our daughter while I'm at work."

"Guilt is a given," says job share guru Katepoo. She tells her clients to keep a pulse on how they're feeling and what is working - and what isn't - for their families. She reveals, "Some women say, 'I need to work. I want to work.' I help them find an alternative to a full-time position." According to Katepoo, "Even having one day off a week can make a huge difference in the newborn stage."

HR pro Liz Ryan acknowledges, "There's a tsunami of guilt that's going to arrive. Whether you are a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, you'll feel guilty." Still, she advises all mothers, "Just say no to guilt and thank goodness that we have options."

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Be a Stealthy Job-Hunter

Eight Tips for Finding a New Job While Keeping the One You Have
by Margaret Steen
hotjobs.yahoo.com


The best time to look for a new job is while you still have a job: You have more leverage in negotiations with potential employers, not to mention a paycheck.

But that doesn't mean it's easy. You need to spread the word -- and your resume -- in a way that doesn't tip off your current employer. And you need to make sure you don't lose focus on your current job while you're searching.

Career and job-hunting experts offer eight tips for mounting a successful job search while still employed.

First, assess your risk. In some cases -- if you're working on a contract that is ending, for example -- it may not matter if your boss knows you're looking. But other times, letting it be known that you're looking for another job could cost you your current job.

"Based on that assessment, decide how you want to approach going about looking for another job," says Richard Martinez, a management consultant who is acting vice president of human resources at NanoAmp Solutions in Milpitas, California.

Be careful where you send or post you resume. "You'd be amazed at how many times companies find resumes of their employees on the Internet," Martinez says.

When you send out your resume, make sure you know who will receive it and what they plan to do with it. And if you have a blog, consider carefully whether you want the world to know about your unhappiness with your current job and how your search for a new one is going.

Choose your confidants carefully. Networking is one of the best ways to find a new job, but it involves talking to lots of people. If you're going to be frank about your desire for a new position, make sure the person you're telling can be discreet. You might even ask the person up front not to tell others without your permission.

Tone down your networking. It's a good idea to talk to as many people as possible about your search, but since you may not know all of them well enough to trust them with your secret, try to be subtle.

Ron Visconti, managing partner of the Peninsula Employment Group LLC in the San Francisco Bay Area, suggests using neutral phrasing that doesn't stress that you're looking for a job right now: "I'm always open to learning about new career opportunities."

Search from home. Give recruiters and potential employers your cell phone or home phone number and a personal email address. Never use your work computer or company-owned cell phone for your search.

"I had a client who lost a job because he made a call to a prospective employer on a company-issued cell phone," says James Elkins, owner of Career Planning Services in Scarborough, Maine.

Ask potential employers to keep your secret. Employers generally know to be careful when calling to check references at your current employer. But it doesn't hurt to emphasize this point. Elkins suggests including a line in your cover letter that says, "My employer is not aware of my interest in this position, so please keep my inquiry confidential."

Stay focused on your current job. Starting a job search means deciding you want to leave your current job. Once you've crossed that emotional line, it can be tough to keep putting in your best effort. But you should.

"You always want to be held in the highest respect by your superiors, subordinates, and peers," Martinez says. "The worst thing that can happen to you is you go up to your boss and say 'I quit,' and he smiles."

Next time, start networking before you want to leave. A strong network is "your insurance against unemployment," Visconti says. If you stay in touch with former colleagues and others who are active in your field, they'll be more likely to approach you next time a job is open.

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Jump-Start Your Job Satisfaction

by Julie Jansen
hotjobs.yahoo.com


Ever have those periods at work when you find yourself singing the famous refrain from the Rolling Stones' hit "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"? When you feel like there's something missing in your work, answer these questions to spur you to take action against job funk.
What's Right About Your Job?

Figuring out what's good about your work situation can make it easier to identify the one or two things you're really missing in your job. Perhaps you work with colleagues and clients who stimulate you or you're comfortable with. Maybe your job gives you the chance to exercise the skills that you enjoy using the most. Whatever it is that gives you satisfaction and is important to you, write it down.
What's Missing?

Consider what's lacking in your job. Just because you are good at doing something, doesn't necessarily mean you want to do it anymore. Maybe your work-life balance is out of whack. Or you might be stuck in the same old rut. Create a second list of things you don't like about your job.
Can You Get What You Want Where You Are?

Before you start looking for another job, figure out if you can get the things that are missing in your current job. Let's say you haven't learned anything new in several years. Is there an aspect of your company or industry that is growing that you'd like to learn more about? Are there specific skills that other people in your organization have that you can use or plan to learn? What about improving a weak skill, like public speaking, training, financial management, or marketing?
How Can You Make a Difference at Work?

If you really like what you do but feel like you need a change, get involved in a special project that focuses on improving your employer's business. Identify an area within your company that needs help, think through the details of how you can improve it, and put together a brief proposal to present to your boss.

You could also get involved in your industry's key association as a way to meet new people in your industry who might give you a new perspective on potential opportunities in your work.
Can You Get What You Need Elsewhere?

If you've taken a hard look at your current job and company and realize that you just can't create a situation or do the work that satisfies you, then it makes sense to start looking for opportunities in other companies or industries.
Who Can Help You To Find a New Job?

Now is the time to start networking with as many people as possible. You may not find a new opportunity as quickly as you'd like, but you are planting seeds. Seek out acquaintances who have experience in your desired field or who can introduce you to decision-makers who will value your skills and experience.

Finally, you'll want to build on the lists you created in response to the first two questions. The information you recorded will help you prepare key questions and answers for the next stage in your pursuit of satisfaction -- the job interview.

Julie Jansen speaks to organizations who want their employees to grow and people who want pragmatic solutions for thriving in their work. Visit her web site at www.juliejansen.net. She is also the author of "I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This" and "You Want Me to Work With Who? Eleven Keys to a Stress-Free, Satisfying and Successful Work Life ... No Matter Who You Work With."

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Managing Unemployment Stress

Improve Your Outlook During a Job Transition
by Jean McPhee
hotjobs.yahoo.com


Being out of a job ranks as one of life's most stressful experiences. However, it is possible to turn the stress into constructive energy that will benefit your job search.

The following tips will help you manage unemployment stress and "take control" with a proactive strategy for this time of transition.

Create a job-search plan.
Eliminate the stress of not knowing where to begin. Write down a network of contacts, search Yahoo! HotJobs for leads, and research interesting companies. Think broadly. Consider new industries where your skills and experience will add value.

Keep a schedule or routine.
A common, often unexpected stress of unemployment is the lack of obligation to report to a job every day. Keep a routine to stay efficient and productive. Wake up and follow a schedule as you normally would. If conducting a job search from home, try leaving the house -- even if just to get coffee or take a quick walk -- at the start and finish of each day. Give yourself a daily "start" and "end" time. It will help you rest, stay less stressed, and search more efficiently during designated hours.

Participate in activities that calm your mind and body.
It's easy to feel that you don't "deserve" to enjoy unemployment, but taking time to relax will actually revitalize you mentally and help manage the emotions and stress of unemployment. Ways to calm your body and mind include physical exercise, drawing or writing. Giving time to a hobby may also help you discover a job that incorporates your favorite activities into a new career.

Maintain a strong identity.
Feeling a loss of purpose is a stressful side effect of unemployment. Stay positive about your identity and boost your well-being by taking classes, gaining certifications for your line of work, or volunteering. Take the time to consider priorities and learn new skills.

Focus on what is within your control.
It is not productive to worry about things you can't control, such as how quickly a company will make a hiring decision. Instead, focus on the things you can control, such as managing your day-to-day finances, researching companies where you would like to work, meeting with people in your contact network, and following up on job leads.

Stay connected to supportive people.
Being unemployed can be lonely and isolating. Staying connected to supportive friends, family, former co-workers, and business contacts is important for your mental well-being and your job search.

Remember: You are what you think.
People with healthy self-esteem are more likely to achieve success than those who think poorly of themselves. Remember, you've been successful before and will emerge from unemployment even stronger. A positive sense of self can carry over to positive interviews, and companies want confident employees.

Control your emotions.
Try not to overanalyze or personalize situations. The job search process will have many highs and lows. Instead of riding the emotional roller coaster, keep perspective on the situation and try to keep your emotions in balance. You will think more clearly and efficiently.

Practicing these tips during your unemployment phase will also benefit your return to work. Since almost everyone is going to be faced with the challenge of employment change, it is important that each of us be prepared for such a transition with a strategic plan that includes stress management. The ability to transition effectively and successfully into new roles is a core career skill for any worker.

Jean McPhee, PhD, was educated at Stanford University and trained at the Mind/Body Medical Institute of Harvard University School of Medicine. Based in La Jolla, California, Dr. McPhee provides relaxation training and stress management solutions for individuals, schools, teams, corporations and healthcare agencies. She is also well-known as the creator of SMART (Stress Management And Relaxation Training) Performance, a series of comprehensive, targeted stress management programs.

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The Post-Military Transition

Turn Your Military Service into a Job Offer
by Caroline Levchuck
hotjobs.yahoo.com


"My military experience will really help me," predicted Kelly Perdew in an interview with Entertainment Weekly before he won on the second season of "The Apprentice." A former military intelligence officer, Perdew used skills he honed in the armed forces, such as discipline and leadership, to impress Donald Trump to hire him over thousands of candidates.

Like Perdew, the men and women who serve in the U.S. military gain experience and skills that are transferable and highly desirable for employment in other sectors. Here's some guidance for turning your military service into a job offer.

Showcase Your Skills

Start your post-military job search by taking inventory of your broad, transferable skills. Members of the military are known for teamwork, leadership by example, loyalty, and commitment. What are your strengths?

The armed forces produce professionals who are focused, adept at handling a crisis, and ethical. These qualities, along with discipline, confidence, competitiveness, and cooperation, are all in demand from corporate America.

Put together a short list of your strongest, transferable skills and practice discussing how they make you an ideal employee at any civilian organization.

Translate, Please

Once you know what your transferable strengths are, it's time to tailor your resume and the way you present your experience.

When you write your private-sector resume, treat the military as a corporation you worked for. Refer to each post you had as you would a position with any corporation. Refrain from using any military acronyms on your resume or in interviews. Avoid using military jargon, either in writing or when speaking with a potential employer.

To help ease your transition, join a professional association in your field of choice, if possible. This will help you assimilate into corporate culture and network with professionals in your chosen industry.

Take Your Aim

Once you're armed with a first-rate resume and have begun to network, focus on connecting with employers for whom you'd like to work. Seek out businesses known for hiring committed, ethical, and disciplined professionals. You can also target agencies or companies in need of workers who have security clearances, if you have one.

You may also consider using a search firm specializing in placing former military personnel. These firms usually have relationships with an array of companies in need of your skills.

Flexibility Is a Virtue, Too

Every job search requires patience, and every job search benefits from flexibility. If you haven't yet put down permanent roots, wait. Find your job first. Remaining flexible about the geographic location of your next job allows you the freedom to target employers all across the United States. Kelly Perdew, in fact, moved from Southern California to work for Donald Trump in New York City.

Remember that your military experience holds benefits for nearly any career you pursue. What you do with that experience and how you present it may be the key to hearing those important words, "You're hired."

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