Job Search Psychology 5 Steps to Positivity

Job Search Psychology 5 Steps to Positivity Abraham Lincoln once said: We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or we can rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. These were some of the greatest words ever spoken how we look at things can completely change our perspective of them. There are so many things that we dont even realize we do, and in a job search we need to pay attention to what we are doing. A job search can affect your mood and your outlook on life depending on the way it goes. It can make you feel worthy or worthless. Whether you are searching for your first job or you are an experienced job searcher, you still have to focus on the same things you still have the same goal. If you dont have the right mindset during your job search, your chances of ending up with a job you dont like are much higher. Dont let the common job search troubles overtake you. Not only will a bad attitude during a job search hurt your chances of landing the job you need and deserve right now, but it can hurt your career. Lets say you accept a job that you are overqualified for because you think that is all you can get…or you are just plain desperate. How will that look when you go to apply to other jobs? You will be stuck in a rut. Do you take chances with a functional resume which is extremely ineffective or do you hope that the person reading your resume will look at what else you have done…even if they rarely do because they are skimming? Dont let bad habits win. Acknowledge any flaws (none of us are perfect) and take control you are in the drivers seat of your job search. Here are 5 things you should work to improve on… 1) Communication: Portray yourself in a friendly and positive light. If you are unemployed, it is easy to lose communication with the outside world and that can hurt your ability to communicate with others even if it was easy before. Stay in communication with others and make sure these people have a positive impact in your life. If they dont, it will only hurt. Your communication skills will be influential when you go on interviews…and those communication skills will also show through the internet when you send your cover letter or other accompanying documents. 2) Procrastination: You have so much competition in todays market. You arent the only one that may procrastinate, but there are people that are in full on job search mode. Procrastinating will put you much further behind and put the people that arent procrastinating in front of you. Dont hand the job you deserve to someone else. Instead of saying Ill apply to that job later, do it now later may be too late. 3) Outlook (Positivity or Negativity): When you listen to the negative news reports about the economy or read negative things about the horrible job market, it sticks with you and you take that with you during your job search. If you think nothing is out there, you wont find anything. There are jobs out there and there is one that is just for you. When you focus on negatives, you will see negatives. When you focus on positives, you will see positives. Your outlook is everything. READ MORE: Optimistic vs Pessimistic Job Seeker: How to Be More Positive 4) Fear of not being good enough: Stop telling yourself that you cant do something. You can do anything you put your mind to. You are good enough. If we always said we cant do something, we would never get anywhere or learn anything new. When you learned to ride a bike for the first time, you probably had training wheels. Put the training wheels back on and know that you can do it persistence, dedication, and hard work will make it happen. 5) Aggravation / Frustration: There is no doubt about it that a job search can be frustrating, but you cant let that hold you back. Dont get frustrated because you think you arent getting anywhere. Think about changing up what you are doing. Look at your job search strategies and see what you can do to adjust your methods. Apply for more jobs, look at other sites, get your resume redone, etc. I also want to address another common occurrence that can affect your psyche. When you are searching for a job, everyone will tell you everything that they think they know. Unfortunately, most of these individuals have good intentions but are not experts in a job search or resumes. Listening to these people can set you back further than you can ever imagine. Dont be afraid to consult with an expert. You could be doing everything right and your best friend will tell you its wrong because they arent experienced or you could be doing everything wrong and your family member tells you its perfect because they dont want to hurt your feelings…or the most common reason they just dont know. Dont let your bad habits win…let yourself win. Improving in your job search will help you improve in your everyday life as well. Whenever I let my bad habits take over, I reread something that I grew up on…my fathers three rules (which can apply to almost anything): Get better at doing what we do every day Constant and consistent improvements lead to constant and consistent improvements. When we do this, at least we feel better about doing what we do. Do the right thing When we do the right thing we can feel pretty good about what we are doing. Enjoy doing what we do We spend way too much time in our careers not to enjoy them. Sure there will be bad moments, but why have bad days? If its not fun, we arent doing it right. Now go find the job you deserve its out there! Author: Marissa Letendre is the Owner of resumebymarissa.com. She is a professional Resume Writer and a former Human Resources Manager and Recruiter.

What I Should Know About Writing a Resume

What I Should Know About Writing a ResumeIn order to really understand what I should know about writing a resume, you will need to understand the process of a resume. Understanding this process will help you prepare for the things that you need to do in order to make your resume complete.Writing a resume is a process, not a method of presentation. As such, it is very important to understand how the process goes in order to improve your chances of getting your resume read and noticed.The first step to writing a resume is the introduction. This is the section of the resume that will begin your application and is one of the most important parts. The introduction is where you state exactly what your position is and how you fit into the organization.The next part of the resume is the career summary which will summarize your job description and details. In order to be properly formatted, your summary needs to be based on the job. This will help you present your skills and qualifications in the most specific way possible. A job that requires the ability to manipulate documents, write effective memos, or to learn a new language will require a different format than a job that is extremely simple.The next step in the process of writing a resume is the objective. Your objective is a statement explaining why you are the best candidate for the position in question.After the objectives have been presented, the conclusion is where you detail how you will bring out the best in the employer by demonstrating your knowledge of the organization and having a history of contributions. This section of the resume will also be the section that will contain the information that the employer will use when evaluating your candidacy. This is the section where the employer will find out the more concrete details of your experience and how you can bring out those aspects of your experience.Lastly, the summary should summarize the job search process. Here, you will have some tips on how to re ach out to employers and the right communication tactics to use in order to land a job. If you are still unsure as to what the format of a resume should be, just take a look at a sample resume and you will be able to get a general idea of what a good resume should look like.These are the three main parts of what I should know about writing a resume. They are also the three sections that are the most used.

How to Recognize And Weed Out Toxic Managers

How to Recognize And Weed Out Toxic Managers Toxic leadership is a big problem in the business world. Despite the massive growth in interest around company culture in recent years, toxic managers still exist. They are bad apples having a detrimental effect on employee retention and productivity. Most of all, toxic managers are destroying the good fabric of the business. It’s increasingly recognized that good company culture is essential for productivity and growth. A new report from breatheHR, a software provider for smaller and medium-sized companies, has found that bad company culture is costing the UK economy a staggering £23.6 billion per year. The report,  The Culture Economy,  found as many as a third of British employees have quit their jobs due to bad workplace culture. Conversely, the same company also researched to find the top 25 SME culture leaders. So why do toxic managers prevail? Business owners are guilty of turning a blind eye to toxic managers and some even actively hire and promote them. The havoc they wreak is often forgiven because their immediate success is measured in sales. Toxic bosses are often results driven without any understanding of the impact of their behavior in the long term. Employing this kind of manager is a short-sighted and short-term strategy. In the long game, toxic managers can destroy organizations. Weeding out a toxic employee is one thing, but what do you do as the leader if one of your loyal managers is the problem? How to recognize a toxic manager Most toxic bosses are clueless that they even have a problem (though some smugly manipulate employees). Most think the way they manage staff and what they are doing is best for the company. But bad managers can cause irrevocable damage to your business by hindering employee performance and causing stress. The first step in weeding toxic behavior out of your business is recognizing you have a problem in the first place. Here are 11 signs of toxic behavior you need to watch out for: Poor coaching skills â€" getting frustrated when teaching new skills to employees Micromanaging Lack of compassion and social skills Anti-social behavior Not bothered about helping staff to progress Takes credit for all the work Blaming others for their mistakes Is never wrong! Belittles or ridicules others Won’t listen to ideas Gossiping and talking about others behind their back Understand why someone is toxic Toxic managers generally fall into one of three categories: narcissistic, dictator, or inadequate. Understanding how your toxic manager operates, how they view the world and what motivates them will help you to influence their behavior. A manager acting from inadequacy may be able to change if given the right support and training. It can, however, be extremely difficult to change ingrained behavior, so not all toxic managers will come around to your way of thinking, in which case letting the person go may be your only option. How a toxic manager is affecting your business Ignore a toxic manager and you are most certainly hurting your business. Toxic managers affect your staff and their productivity much more than you think. Importantly, toxic managers are damaging to your entire culture. Here’s what a toxic manager can do: Destroy morale Impair staff retention Deter cooperation Reduce information sharing Negatively affect employee emotional well-being Increase absenteeism and presenteeism How a toxic manager affects employees Working for a toxic boss is extremely stressful. It can be humiliating, upsetting and soul-destroying for employees who feel unsupported and harassed. A bad attitude can also be contagious. Toxicity breeds toxicity. Employees working in a toxic environment won’t be performing at their best. A toxic manager can make a whole team feel angry, dejected, cautious and uninterested in the jobs they are doing. This all has a massive impact on productivity, team cohesion and the development of new ideas. A bad boss can have a serious impact on employee mental health. How to weed out toxicity No matter how loyal someone has been to your business, if their behavior is toxic it needs to be dealt with. Ignore the problem and you’ll suffer the consequences of productivity losses and lose good staff. The first step is to confront them. This needs to be approached in a calm and non-aggressive way. Document the behavior, suggest changes and support them in making changes. Here are some proactive things you can do to weed out toxicity: Be proactive in detecting and handling dysfunctional behavior Hire external coaches to improve managers behavior Provide conflict training to staff Review your grievance procedure so staff feel they are safe to whistle-blow Offer company-wide training in toxicity Understand your managers and your employees and support them. Creating a positive company culture is the pathway to success. About the author:  Mike James  is an experienced business writer specializing in HR, tech, and cybersecurity. On the latter, he has contributed to many of the leading publications both online and in print â€" such as StaySafeOnline, GlobalSign, Tech London and more.

Nightmare On YOUR Street When The Victim is YOU

Nightmare On YOUR Street When The Victim is YOU Theres been a lot of talk about assault in the media of late.  And whether or not any or all of those stories are accurate, women are almost always at higher risk of being the victim of assault.  Womens rights and self-defense are topics you need to get more personal with.  And it starts with knowing these basics. What is Assault? Even the word itself is loaded with connotations and interpretations.  So its no wonder we dont know whether or not our experience falls in the category of an assault.  So to begin with, lets look at the legal definition of assault, from The Cornell University Law School:  Intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact. With the intent to cause physical injury, or making another person reasonably apprehend an imminent harmful or offensive contact. So assault is not limited to when physical harm has been intended or occurred.  Offensive contact is what makes it not only inappropriate but illegal for one person to physically violate another. Further,  sexual assault generally refers to any crime in which the offender subjects the victim to sexual touching that is unwanted and offensive. Assault, sexual or otherwise, is a personal violation that not only should not be tolerated but should be reported to the appropriate authorities.  Even if you ultimately decide to not press charges, it is vital that you get the incident on record.  The news of late has demonstrated how important this is, not just for yourself but for others who may become victims of the same perpetrator. Womens Self Defense Basics For most women, the reality is that were not as strong as men.  We have a natural physical disadvantage that we have to deal with.  Knowing that, it only makes sense to take precautions and make some preparations.  While you may never have to use them, the risk of being unable to defend yourself in the most basic of ways is not something you want to take. Forget about the buff and tough heroines you see on television or in the movies.  Yeah, wed all like to believe we can kick ass, but unless youre a gym rat and a martial arts pro, thats just not going to happen.  But that doesnt mean you have to practice for years to gain at least some advantage.  Shut off the television one night a week for six months and go take a self defense class.   Or if that wont work, you can find ones that are offered on weekends or just a Saturday. At minimum, look at some good self defense coaching tips that you can find on YouTube, like those offered by Nick Drossos.  Heres one of his, and you can find many more on his YouTube channel. If Youre The Victim If youre a victim of assault, there are two things that are critical: GET AWAY GET IT ON RECORD One of the things that Nick stresses in his training is that your primary objective is to get away.   So the first opportunity you have to get out of the situation you should take it and run.   Until you can do that, look at his videos and learn what you should do to protect yourself and survive. Once youre out of the situation, report it.  Get it on record that it happened.  One of the keys to being believed later is whether or not there was  contemporaneous communication.    Meaning, did you tell someone about what happened close to the time when it happened. If rape or physical harm occurred, the report should be made to the police, immediately.  But what if there wasnt rape or harm?  You should still report it.  While you may not choose to go to the police (you should!), there are others you can go on record with.  These include: Clergy Womens Shelters Friends and/or family Counselors Co-workers or Personnel Departments Remember, youre not just protecting yourself when you take a stand against a perpetrator.  Youre taking a stand for every other women out there who may be the next victim. Image credit:  Main  

How To Find A Writing Service That Tailors To Government Jobs

How To Find A Writing Service That Tailors To Government JobsIf you are considering getting a resume written for you, then you might want to consider the various ways in which a resume writing service can help you. There are many companies that can help you get your resume written, but there are many others which will not, so how do you choose the right one?Many businesses hire writers who have experience in government jobs or who are specifically trained in writing resumes for government jobs. It is important that you find someone who has the knowledge and experience of writing resumes that are relevant to government jobs. Having relevant work experience or relevant research is important when it comes to finding a company that can tailor to government jobs.It is important that you take the time to make sure that the resume that you write is something that is relevant to the job that you are applying for. When you are doing your research, make sure that you have tried to find a way t o describe yourself and your skills. Remember that your resume is a tool to help an employer decide whether or not you would be a good fit for the job. A well-written resume is an effective way to get the employer to want to know more about you and what you are looking for.You can find a writing service that specializes in government jobs through a variety of methods. It is best to research several of them before you hire a particular one. Try to find one that offers a variety of services and has experience with government jobs. They should be able to offer you a wide range of skills such as search management, cover letters, and resumes.In order to find an excellent resume writing service, you need to make sure that they offer their services at a reasonable price. The top companies will charge you more than what you need to, so you will need to keep this in mind when deciding which ones to hire. Some writers will charge a monthly fee, while others will charge by the hour. Be sure to keep this in mind when you are deciding on which one to hire.Before you decide on which writing service to use, ask for samples of their work. Some people may ask for a sample cover letter, resume, or even a sample cover letter and resume. Ask them if they can give you a sample of the type of job that they do. This is important to making sure that you are hiring the right one.Make sure that you make the sample of the writing service available to any potential employers that you may encounter. By doing this, you will be able to see what the writing service does. Once you have seen some of their work, you will be able to make a decision on what to look for. It may be worth the money to find a writer who can offer you a range of resume writing services and at a price that is less than you initially anticipated.Resume writing services that specialize in government jobs will be able to provide you with your resume and other necessary information on time. They should be able to write you r resume in a way that will effectively describe your job, skills, and education. You will also be able to tailor your resume to meet the needs of the company that you are applying to, and ensure that your resume will be received well by the hiring manager.

Examples of Resumes - How to Write Your Own

Examples of Resumes - How to Write Your OwnThe examples of resumes that you find on the Internet are very much helpful, but it is always a good idea to make your own as well. Writing a resume will not only allow you to be unique, but it will also give you the opportunity to provide a unique way of showing how you can help a company. Here are some tips on how to write your own resume.When writing your resume, always keep in mind that the most important part is your profile. This is what is going to show that you are qualified for the position. You have to make sure that you get this right so that the company knows they have found the right person for the job.Now, when it comes to actually making your resume, there are many different templates to choose from. But if you want to be truly unique, then it is always a good idea to create your own. Of course, this takes more time and effort than simply taking a template and changing a few things.There are many different wordings that you ca n use, but one of the best ways to get this right is to really know the company and what they offer. Try to keep your resume as neutral as possible. And make sure that you have a cover letter included as well.Be sure to write about the experience that you have at the same time. This will show them that you have a lot of knowledge on the subject, and it will really help your chances of getting hired. Include everything that you have ever done in your resume, but remember to avoid being too specific.There are many different kinds of resumes, but they all basically come down to the same thing. These are the resumes that the companies want to read. And by creating an interesting and impressive resume, you will give yourself the advantage. Make sure that you really have done your research and that you have gone through the right kind of online research for the kind of resume that you want. You will find that there are so many different examples of resumes out there that you could choose from. But even though there are so many different examples of resumes, you should still be able to get some of the best ones by simply having some common sense.The idea of having an old resume is not something that you should scoff at. It is something that is needed if you want to be successful. By having a fresh new resume that shows them what you can do, you will always have a better chance of getting hired.

Fabulous Face-to-Face Networking 10 Tips to Get You There

Fabulous Face-to-Face Networking â€" 10 Tips to Get You There Fabulous Face to Face Networking 10 Tips to Get You There When was the last time you went to a face-to-face networking event? Are you still in contact with any new person you met there? Have you benefited from a new relationship you built AND have they? Most people who attend networking events leave saying something like: “That was a waste of time.” “I didn’t meet people who were interested in me.” “It’s too awkward for me to meet strangers.” Does that sound like you? Before we go further, let’s review the definition of networking: “Connecting to build two-way relationships for the long term.” Anything short of that (one-way, short-term, in-and-out) is called USING. Not good! And that’s why networking has a bad reputation. After helping hundreds of people with “how to network,” I can report many people have said that simply learning a few simple tricks helped them not only enjoy networking, but they have built relationships that have led to great results. Here are your simple tricks: Have your hands free so you can shake hands, exchange business cards, and take notes. Arrive early; be the first to meet many great people. They’ll be fresh and you’ll maximize the time before the dinner, speech, or presentation begins. Have plenty of business cards. There is no excuse for forgetting them. None. If you are unemployed or job-seeking while employed, make (and take!) personal cards. Listen more than you talk. Prepare three open-ended questions for people you meet. Have a little notepad to write their answers down for later, since writing on the back of business cards is rude in many cultures. Here are some sample questions: How did you get into the field you are in? What excites you about what you do? Whats next for you? Don’t go to an event if you’re not going to do precision follow-up. As soon as possible, get to your computer, enter their contact information, and send them an e-mail. Try to set up a phone meeting or meet them face-to-face for a lengthier discussion. LinkedIn: Yes, you can connect with them. However, include a personal note in the LinkedIn invitation. Example: “It was great meeting you last night at the XYZ event and I look forward to talking with you further. I will send you an e-mail to arrange a meeting. Thank you.” Rule for the follow up meeting: If you invite someone to coffee, lunch or dinner, you pay! Just know that it’s okay to offer to visit them in their office, too. At a face-to-face event, work the room. Peel away from friends and don’t spend too much time with one new person. How do you get out of a discussion to move around? “Brian, it was a pleasure meeting you; I’m going to go work the room.” A great question to ask everybody is: “What brings you here? What are you looking for?” See if you can help them. LONG term. The only way you can stay in touch long term is to put follow up time in your calendar to keep them posted, and meet with them. Remember, the definition of “networking?” You’re in this for the long term. So, the next time you go to a networking event, try these tips… You’ll see a difference!

Networking tip where to find great information to share -

Networking tip where to find great information to share - If you want to impress your online audience with your expertise, youll need to share useful and interesting content via your social networks.  It can be a challenge, because you dont have a lot of extra time to peruse many online sources to tap into the best resources to post on your various social networks. Luckily, there are many sites that provide useful, easy-to find information. These are some of my favorites. LinkedIn’s Pulse Find it under the “Interests” tab on your LinkedIn toolbar.  You can choose to follow influencers, major media outlets and topical content areas. Its extremely easy to share the content to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter right from Pulse. Alltop.com This is an online, virtual “magazine rack” of blogs.  Use the search bar to identify topics that interest you and follow the blogs that produce the content to interest your audience. SmartBrief.com Offering many free subscriptions to online newsletters, Smartbrief editors read and cultivates what is published about topics of interest and sends newsletters with links to articles and brief summaries. They have newsletters covering health care, marketing, education, business, finance and more. These are just three places to find useful content to share. Feel free to post your favorites in the comments! Get my free white paper:  5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week   Read the whole post on  Vault.com. Get my book:  Vault Guide to Networking