So many good historic quotes highlight the importance vision, like this: "Where there is no vision, the people perish." That biblical quote is a bit dramatic, but it's worth contemplating.
Here's another inspiring one, from Helen Keller: "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved." (Thanks, thinkexist.com!)
I like contemplating these sorts of quotes at the beginning of the new year. Now is a great time to think ahead, dream of possibilities, and make plans to achieve your successes.
In that spirit, I recommend the article "How to Create a Vision for Your Career." The piece features the advice of career expert Deborah Brown-Volkman, who suggests that you begin your vision-planning by focusing on your wants.
What do you want to see happen in your job or career this year? In the next three years?
It's easy to pay lip service to this idea, but I find committing to such a process is really difficult. I'm easily distracted by other things and just don't take the time to be so reflective -- even though I know it will be good for me in the long run.
The concept of sitting and thinking feels ancient and foreign to me, or maybe a waste of time that will yield nothing. I often feel that same way when I sit down to write, yet I'm usually surprised by results once I give myself over to it.
Fortunately, the article cited above helps get the ball rolling with 10 starter questions. The upcoming three-day weekend could be great for testing this approach and doing some goal-setting. Try it!
During a brief discussion on the Fox Business Network this morning about jobs in 2009, I was reminded again that many leaders and pundits believe we are in for a really gloomy year. When I spoke about job opportunities and hiring activity that is going on, the host thanked me for my "optimism."
Optimism seems to be scarce lately. Yes, job losses and the unemployment rate will likely rise in 2009. But the U.S. still has over 90% employment, and jobs open up every day.
As author Laurence Shatkin (150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs) said to me for a recent article: "Remember that people are always being hired, even in a recession."
Granted, job seekers will have a more difficult getting a job this year. Competition will be tough, and the search process will take longer than in recent years.
To give job seekers a better edge, I asked members of the Recruiter Roundtable on Yahoo! HotJobs for their best advice on the one thing that candidates must do to get the jobs they want in 2009.
They all had great advice, and I recommend reading the article. A common theme emerged around diversifying your search and your resume. In other words, don't limit your search to a particular industry, job title, or location. And don't take a "one size fits all" approach to your resume; you should tailor each one to a specific job description.
A final note: Try to keep some optimism alive, especially if you are hoping to find a job or switch jobs this year. Even if it means turning off the cable news networks! A good attitude will make you a much more attractive candidate, as hiring managers will easily spot and avoid a Debbie Downer.
Finding time to be reflective right now is no easy task, with all the holiday commotion and distractions. Nonetheless, many people manage to think about what's ahead as they make new-year resolutions about personal as well as professional goals.
If you're like me, it helps to hear other ideas to get your thinking going, especially when setting goals or long-term vision. Below are five ideas for career-related resolutions for 2009, courtesy of a press release I got yesterday from Adecco, the world's largest recruitment and workforce solutions provider.
1. Stay informed. Know how the market is affecting your business and your industry; following the news and staying informed about current events is the best way to prepare for any possible changes coming your way. Follow weekly jobless claims, monthly jobs reports, and your company's performance -- these pieces of information will help you to make the best moves and decisions.
2. Talk open about what issues are affecting your job. Keeping an open dialogue with your managers will ensure there are no surprises down the road should your working environment change.
3. Remain positive. Every economic downturn eventually comes to an end. Staying positive and planning for the long term is the best course of action. Look beyond the issues affecting you this week or even this month and invest in the right education, training, and experience to keep yourself as marketable as possible.
4. Stay focused. Try not to get caught up in the doom and gloom; deliver value every day. Conversations around the water cooler have turned grim, especially when the topic is job security. Focus on exceeding expectations and helping the company succeed, and you'll be putting yourself in the best possible situation for now and the future.
5. Your health is just as important as your job. During times of uncertainty, people tend to get overstressed and overworked -- especially as employers pressure you to do more with less. Take some time out for yourself and closely monitor your work-life balance so that you can keep your peace of mind.
For more ideas, I recommend checking out "10 Career Resolutions for 2009." You're bound to find some good new-year strategies worth borrowing!
Layoffs suck. I'm sure I could phrase it more delicately, but -- to use one of the overused similes of 2008 -- that's like putting lipstick on a pig. And one of the worst parts about losing your job this way is saying good-bye.
How people handle this awful situation can make a huge difference. I returned from jury duty this afternoon to find several brief email messages from Yahoo! colleagues who were laid off today. While I'm still dealing with the shock over their departures, I am impressed and moved by the spirit and class they showed in their messages.
Recently some blogs have turned such mass layoffs (especially those at my employer, Yahoo!) into a sort of spectator sport, offering chances for brand-new ex-employees to trash the company and its leaders. Those revenge impulses are understandable in response to raw feelings of hurt, betrayal, and more. And email makes it very easy to virtually flip the bird to the company and its remaining employees. All this magnifies how much layoffs suck.
I have edited articles and been interviewed aplenty about how to depart from a job without "burning bridges," and I was encouraged to see that principle in action today. Most of the colleagues I heard from offered brief messages that focused on how they benefited from their work and their coworkers, closing with good wishes and details on how to stay in touch.
I may never know how agonizing it was for some of them to be gracious and write those messages today. I applaud their choice, not only as a good career move. I regret to say that I didn't handle myself as well when I was laid off from a previous job several years ago.
I hated seeing many talented associates let go in this way, and I'm sure it was much, much worse for them. But their actions today affirmed a lot about their character and professionalism. Not to mention their prospects for landing a new job.
It's the most wonderful time of the year, so the song says, but that's no guarantee for people who are looking for a new job or worried about the viability of their current one.
That's why it's critical to take advantage of the great opportunities this season offers to enhance your career.
Networking opportunities abound during the holidays. Former coworkers or old friends may include you on their party invitations, or you can reach out to them and invite them to your holiday party. Even if you are not actively looking for a new job, it's a great idea to nurture your network, and these gatherings make it easy and fun.
Of course, if you are actively looking for a job, make sure you speak up about it as you are mingling among the cookies and egg nog. Ask others about their jobs, too; show an interest. You never know what kind of profitable investment you might be making as you build new relationships.
Sending cards and notes is a great practice during the season, and it's another way for you to reach out to associates and former colleagues.
Another perfect activity at this time of year: attending charity benefits and/or volunteering. Holiday fundraisers can make you feel good to give, and they can connect you with wonderful people. Your future boss might see you at an event, and your presence might speak favorably about your character.
The same goes for volunteering. If you don't believe me, check out this local news segment (from San Francisco) on how your involvement can lead you to a new job.
All of the above can work in your favor, as long as you're careful about the one big risk: the office holiday party. This setting has been the downfall for many workers who forget that the event is still a professional function. It demands a level of professional behavior (and restraint with alcohol consumption). The same holds true for other holiday parties at which you might be trying to impress a new boss or coworker. You can find more office party do's and don'ts on Yahoo! HotJobs.
Party on, but keep it professional where it counts so you have the "hap-happiest season of all."
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If you want to succeed in life and at work (and who doesn't?), make sure you use these two words often: "thank you." They can help you in ways that you may never expect.
Giving thanks is a big theme right now (duh!). But the concept can be lost amid preparing the perfectly moist turkey or deciding which stores will have the best holiday sales.
Thanksgiving -- as a practice -- is too important for a one-day focus. Whether we learned it in Sunday school or from a Charlie Brown TV special, concentrating on what you're thankful for can get you through many personal and professional hardships.
Try it. What are you thankful for?Take a few minutes to really dwell on your answer, from the basics of what you ate today or laughed at yesterday to what you achieved in the past year or even your decent health. I suspect you'll discover some encouragement, if not at least one reason to celebrate.
That encouragement could be just the booster you need against the gloomy economic onslaught we hear about each day, or against the anxiety of job uncertainty.
In fact, giving thanks is a great strategy for keeping a good attitude during your job search. Losing a job hurts, especially when it feels like a random act of unkindness. But complaining isn't a strategy that will get you hired.For some good pointers about gaining perspective in that situation, see "Moving Forward after a Job Loss."
Thanking coworkers, your boss, and people who serve you can do more than give you a reputation for being polite. The impression you give, for example, could be building trust that influences your boss when it comes time for a promotion. Of course he or she will never say, "I'm promoting you because you have been good about being thankful," but your demonstrations of gratitude may have communicated something deeper about your character that resonates.
Honestly, aren't you often more likely to favor somebody who is genuinely grateful toward you?
Final thought: thank-you notes can create a lasting impression, especially the kind that leads to hiring decisions. I've only heard from a very few hiring managers that thank-you notes don't make a difference. Last year Yahoo! HotJobs had an interesting feature in which several recruiters discussed this topic.
Happy Thanksgiving!And thanks for reading my blog!
Post-Thanksgiving add (11/28): I just read the "I just got laid off" post by NYT blogger Marci Alboher, which I recommend for many reasons, one of which is her experience following her own advice about thank-you notes. I am interested to see what she does next; I suspect it will be good!
Office gossip is irresistible. Most of us find it entertaining in a perverse way, especially when it involves somebody we don't like. And in a time of great uncertainty and anxiety -- like the time we're in now -- gossip is hard to avoid.
A recent survey by The Creative Group, a staffing firm for advertising and marketing professionals, confirms that office gossip is pretty routine.Of the accounting and marketing executives surveyed, 84% called the gossip habit common.
More than half (63%) said that gossip has a negative impact on the workplace. Employees who are insecure about their job security, for example, might spread rumors about a coworker as a way to feel more secure. Then team morale and cohesiveness go down the toilet.
But can gossip sometimes be helpful? With the tanking economy and looming layoffs, employee gossip might help people bond and feel a little better in the midst of anxiety. Especially when it focuses on general rumors, not malice directed at a particular employee. Office gossip can help a new hire fit in, alert management to problems, prevent awkward situations, and humanize the boss. For more, check out "Office Gossip Can Be Productive."
In general, it's best to avoid gossip. The Creative Group offers some tips on how managers can minimize gossip and its harm:
Check in. Have regular one-on-one meetings with staff members, and encourage them to share concerns in an informal setting.
Keep doors open. Anxiety among team members goes up when managers meet often behind closed doors and speak in hushed tones. Maximize your accessibility. Discuss sensitive matters in a less visible environment.
Lead by example. Avoid saying something about an employee that you wouldn't say in person to that employee. Let others know you expect the same from them.
I will add another reason why not to gossip about coworkers: It often reflects most poorly on you, not the object of the gossip.Once you damage your standing among people who hear you gossip, you could threaten your advancement. (For more, see "Stop the Gossip, Save Your Career.")
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' unemployment report for October caused a big stir last week.The rate jumped to 6.5 percent from 6.1 percent in September. This is reportedly the highest national unemployment figure in 14 years.
While that's certainly not good news, the unemployment figure isn't cause for widespread gloom, either.After all, the U.S. still has at least 93 percent employment.
Some interesting numbers buried way down in the October report are worth highlighting.For people who are over 25 and have a bachelor's or higher degree, the unemployment rate is 3.0.Talk about a great argument for college being one of the best career investments you can make!And for people with some college or an associate's degree, the rate is 5.0 for October.
In terms of industries that are faring well, we keep hearing a lot about health care and mining. According to the report, the "education and health services" field had an unemployment rate of 3.9 percent, and the mining field was a 1.7 percent.The government workers category surprised me with a 2.5 unemployment rate!
If you look at occupations, the management and professional categories were in favorable territory, with only a 3.0 unemployment rate.Other categories with low rates were "sales and related occupations" at 5.9 percent, and "installation, maintenance, and repair occupations" at 5.1 percent.
Those kind of statistics point to some solid areas in the job market that we should all keep our eyes on!
For more on the top industries and cities for hiring, check out the HotJobs 100 list.
Living in California, I have grown used to the idea of keeping an "emergency kit" in the event of an earthquake. It makes sense to have water, canned food, flashlights, spare clothes and cash on hand to carry you through a temporary disaster.
But what if the temporary disaster is the sudden loss of your job? That's an earthquake of an entirely different nature. Do you have an emergency kit -- or fund -- ready?
If you get laid off, you may get a severance package -- a few months' worth of salary, if you're lucky. But what about health insurance coverage? Often you have to pay for COBRA, which allows you to stay on your employer's health plan and is very expensive. That's just one surprising expense you might discover, and it can quickly sap your severance.
To ease the hardship of a potential job loss, save at least three months' worth of living expenses in a fund reserved for such an emergency. Many financial planners suggest a six-month reserve of expenses is a more effective hedge against hardship.
Whether you opt for three or six months, the task isn't easy, especially in a society that has forgotten how to save. The economic meltdown we're in is partly due to our overspending habits, yet that very meltdown is now jeopardizing jobs. Having an emergency fund is critical right now!
"Everyone should have an emergency fund," says consumer finance expert Dayana Yochim in the article. "And remember that a line of credit should never be considered an emergency fund."
A new Salary.com survey reveals that nearly 3 in 4 workers admit to wasting time at work. But don't we all?
Specifically, 73% of respondents spend part of their workday on activities that aren't work-related, like personal email, talking with coworkers, or surfing the Web.
I'm surprised the number isn't higher. For example, nearly everyone talks with coworkers, and not all of the talk is work-related. But often the employer benefits from that type of interaction, as it can build camaraderie that is good for morale and the workplace culture. Such socializing isn't a time-waster.
What's more significant is that 22% of respondents admit to wasting up to two hours per day at work. The top time-wasters are: personal Internet use (48%), socializing with coworkers (33%), and conducting personal business (30%). That level of waste will definitely hurt an employer's bottom line.
But it's hard to really measure "wasted time" in today's work environment because personal and professional boundaries are blurred. Yes, you may respond to a personal email while at the office, but how often do you respond to a work email while at home?
For me the issue of interest is wasted time. Period. Whether I'm at work or at home, I hate wasting time. It's the most valuable non-renewable asset I have. Why throw even scraps of it away?
