Monday, March 2, 2009
How To Get Through A Job Loss And Your Anxieties
The first step is to get into the habit of always updating your skills just in case something would happen. Learning how to use a computer or learning how to use the latest software are ways to keep abreast in the market. Continuous education in your field of work will also help you. If for some reason you do lose your job, having the proper skills will reduce the fear of being unemployed.
Stay active in your current job. Communication with your employer and coworkers is very important. If you communicate with your boss and coworkers, you should have a general idea on how safe your job is. Knowing where you stand in your company can help predict whether your job is safe. Always keep the lines of communication open in your work environment.
Sometimes we tend to exaggerate when we start to worry. Instead of worrying about what could happen, try to focus on the facts of a certain situation. Do not assume anything and do not focus on your negative thoughts. In addition, try to read something uplifting that will make you feel better.
Take it day by day. Do not worry about what may happen next week or next month. Things change all the time and it is all most impossible to predict what may or may not happen. Do the best you can today and hope for the best.
Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your depression and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem. By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future. Remember that it never hurts to ask for help.
Remember that people lose their jobs all the time and they are able to find other jobs. It might take awhile but eventually you will find a job. Just do not let your fears and worries get the better of you. Author Resource:- Stan Popovich is the author of, A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear, an easy to read book that presents a overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Loans for the unemployed people- Cash in your financial hardships
Loans for the unemployed people are the loans which the lender provides you till you get the job. It helps you get your needs fulfilled when you are going through from cash shortage or financial crisis and even you dont have any source of income to pay off your expenses. It offers its services to all unemployed people. Availing external source of funds is bit tough for unemployed people but they arrange quick loans for unemployed people. The loan amount can be availed without much fuss. Loans for the unemployed are made to help you sail through one of the toughest periods that could be faced by anyone.
Features:
Same day loans for unemployed peopleare fast, secure and hassle free way of availing instant cash to face the unemployed status with ease. If you are willing to have fast cash without any hassle of hectic formalities then you just need to fill a simple form with some of your personal information and get the required amount of cash in your account. Unemployment brings lots of trouble in your life but with the same you can easily getting out from these troubles without any hassles and further delays. You can have easy cash with instantcy by applying for these loans online. Unemployment is the uncertain thing which can be occurs on you without any prior notice and you have to suffer the shortage of cash. There is no credit checking criteria for the application approval. By using same day loans for unemployed people you can easily meet such needs in a least possible time. It removes the hassles of application and these are the loans that are mainly intended for unemployed candidate to meet the urgent or day to day expenses without any hassle.
Requirements:
Certain terms and conditions should be followed by the borrower to get the easy loan money. There are various requirements that should be needed to avail the loan amount from these loans are:
1. The borrower should be permanent citizen of UK and should be an adult of eighteen years of age or more.
2. He should possess a valid and active bank account.
3. He should hold proof of residential address.
Summary:
Since unsecured loans for unemployed people are unsecured in nature, you don't need to pledge collateral in order to avail the loans. Without a fast financial assistance the unemployed people will go deeper in debts. However, fast loan is the necessity for unemployed people as against a mere desire.
About Author
Mack Peterson is an expert author for financial articles. His great research on finance can be helpful for people in instant loans. For any type of loans as loans for the unemployed people,Loans for the unemployed people, same day loans for unemployed people, wedding loans for unemployed people, cash loans for unemployed people and boat loans for unemployed people visit http://www.loansfortheunemployedpeople.co.ukThursday, February 26, 2009
Top 5 Recession Proof Jobs
Top 5 List
#5 Job - Teacher / Faculty
Teachers and various school related faculty will always have a job. In fact, the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics have classified teachers as generally recession proof jobs. Its a law for kids to attend school. Because of this law, there will always be teachers to teach those kids.
#4 - Nurse / Medical Billing
Just about 50% of the fastest growing careers in the United States are in health care. People will not stop getting sick or injured. There will always be a need for hospitals and doctors. Along with these hospitals comes work like medical billing, nurses, etc. Infections dont care about the state of the economy.
#3 - Security Guard
There will always be people who commit crimes. In fact, crime rates may increase because of the recession. This job is needed almost everywhere and the people who protect businesses are just as important as the business itself. Security will always be in high demand.
#2 Administrative Assistant
There are lots of offices that need administrative assistants. Better yet, they are not very hard jobs to acquire. Many of these employees move on to other jobs or are retiring. Another plus of this job is it requires little training or qualifications.
--> #1 Recommended Job - Online GPT Services <--
The internet is huge, and there will always be a demand for people to work on it. GPT or "Get paid to" services offer a great way to ensure a steady flow of income. Its a great way to earn a few hundred dollars a month with very little effort put in. There are many GPT sites available, some superior then others. My experience with GPT services has been extremely positive and I highly recommend it in my list of Top 5 Recession Proof Jobs.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Pretend It's a Year from Now
Seven years ago, I had a job in the corporate world. I had an office, a good salary, and the privilege of being known and respected for consistently doing a job well done. Even though I was successful, I'd been unhappy in my career for years. I stayed put because I was comfortable, tied to the money, loved the adrenaline rush that deadlines produce, and enjoyed the compliments I received from my boss and peers.
Secretly, I was building a business on the side. I was coaching people to live their dreams in the evenings and weekends. Although my clients were living lives they loved, I couldn't say I was doing the same.
Then, I got laid off. I was devastated, confused, and I felt betrayed. But I was one of many who were worried and wondering which direction to take next. Little did I know at the time, that this was the day I became a full time coach.
Today, I have a thriving coaching practice. I have never been happier. I owe my success to being able to imagine myself successful, visualizing victory in the future.
What I have learned can apply to you. Whether you have been searching for a job and it seems hopeless, or you are working and are tired, stressed, and barely keeping up with the workload. Start with the steps below.
Imagine yourself a year from now. The economy is picking up nicely. Although the previous year was tough for you, it was well worth it, because today you are enjoying your career tremendously. You are grateful for what transpired over the past year.
It took you a while to find your way, but you have arrived. You battled fear, uncertainty, and yourself. But you have come out a winner. Looking back, you see that there were five key steps that were your crucial to your success. They were:
You Accepted Where You Were
You stopped blaming the world for your predicament. You decided to forgive those who caused your situation. Most importantly, you forgave yourself. You acknowledged where you were because you knew that a better tomorrow would not happen until you accepted today.
You Decided You Would Win
You realized that you worked too hard to get where you were in your career, and you were not about to lose it all now. You decided that your present situation would not get the best of you. You let go of the shoulds, and the reasons why you couldn't have what you wanted in your career. Then, you made a plan to go after what you truly deserved.
You Persevered
You had a vision in your mind, and you did not give up. Sure, there were obstacles. But, you woke up each morning and told yourself that today was a brand new day. You made phone calls you were afraid to make. You wrote e-mail's and letters you weren't sure would get read. You networked. But most importantly, you were afraid, and you moved forward anyway.
You Asked For Help
This was a big deal for you because you were used to doing things on your own. You opened yourself up and asked for what you needed. You were surprised and appreciative because people from unexpected places took the time to help you. The best thing you learned is that life is much easier when you are not reaching your goals alone.
You Knew You Would End Up In A Better Place
You stopped driving yourself crazy because you knew things would improve. You recognized that your situation was only temporary. As a result, you enjoyed yourself more. You spent time getting to know you again. You lost weight, or took up a new hobby. You tried new things, and you grew in ways you never imagined possible. You are so much stronger and wiser now. You are not the same.
Ok. Now, it is today again. Do you want what saw? What steps specifically will you take to make it happen? Write it down. Look at it everyday. You have a bright future ahead of you once you can visualize the end result.
So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
Written & Contributed by:
Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC
Career, Life, Wellness, and Mentor Coach
President, Surpass Your Dreams, Inc.
http://www.surpassyourdreams.com
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
4 Steps: Update Your Resume

Of the many consequences, one is especially obvious: More people, with increasingly better qualifications, will be going after the very few jobs that are out there. This new level of competition augments the already Darwinian nature of the job market and insists that you adapt to these circumstances. We’re offering the following four steps to help you update your resume with that goal in mind.
Step 1 : Put your resume into a new file format
If you haven’t updated your resume recently, then this first step may seem rather drastic. However, there’s tremendous value in putting your resume into a new file format -- say, from a Word doc into a PDF file. It’s a one-stop super-overhaul of your entire resume, analogous to moving your TV, stereo and gaming platform from the shelves of a TV stand and into an entertainment center. Provided you don’t use a program to do it for you, the process will force you to review your resume in its entirety, line by line, as opposed to merely tweaking a few lines here and there.
You have a number of format options, including PDF, HTML, plain-text, and rich-text. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages; determining which will best serve you depends on factors beyond the scope of this piece.
Step 2: Strip your resume down
Lean economic times call for a leaner resume, one that isn’t too indulgent or stacked with excessive information that may have no bearing on the job you’re seeking. At the very least, your resume should, to an outside viewer, appear to acknowledge the state of the current job market.
Imagine the resume traffic on the desks of human resource managers in an economy like this; it’s likely overwhelming, which does not bode well for overloaded resumes that require added time and consideration. So, if your CV is longer than a single page, your chief task at this step will be to bring it down to one page. Put surplus educational or training information on the chopping block; the stock on book smarts right now is low. You can always expand on sections like those during an interview.
Take this opportunity to make your resume stand out even further by stripping away any clichés or standard responses. This might include striking an introductory statement or objective regarding your professional goals.
Step 3: Insert evidence into your resume
At this stage, your resume should be heavy on applicable, practical work experience and thin in most other areas. In order to ensure that you make this point clear, enhance that experience with the kind of evidence anyone can understand: hard numbers. In other words, shape your work experience so that it fiscally reflects your achievements. It doesn’t matter whether those achievements relate to cutting costs and saving money or to boosting sales and making money -- the overriding key is communicating your productive value.
This will be much harder for some than it will be for others, since it’s not common for all of us to know exactly how we contributed to the company’s bottom line. In that case, work in the opposite direction. For example, identify how, where and to what extent your department expanded during the time you worked in it. Then shrink down the scope of these figures until they reach reasonable levels for someone in your position. Just be careful how you phrase this; don’t claim credit you don’t deserve -- instead, let the reader infer that credit by association.
Step 4: Proof read your resume
It might be easy to scoff at this last step, but be warned; there will be those who take it seriously, meaning that you just allowed your competition to get a leg up on you. Because of the increased competition, few can afford even the smallest disadvantages, and neglecting to fully proofread is one you can avoid. In any job market, there is little tolerance for spelling errors, but in this market there is even less.
You can begin with a spell-check, but you probably know very well by now that most standard spell-checks are full of holes. Let it catch the major gaffes in the first run-through. Then subject that version to at least one other set of eyes, ones you trust.
Finally, since your resume is in a new format, the last bit of proofreading should be to e-mail it to yourself, or the same close friend who was your second set of eyes, and reopen it to ensure the integrity of your new format.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Laid Off? Today is a Brand New Day

A sudden job loss can be very unsettling, and it makes a person look inside in order to get perspective on their situation.
I was a person that was laid off too a few years back, so I know what it is like to not have a job to go to.
I feel fortunate, though, that I was building my coaching practice while working full time. Because of that, I was able to transition into coaching full time. But still, not seeing the same faces everyday, having deadlines, and an office to go to, took some getting used to.
The best thing about that experience is I had the opportunity to create whatever I wanted with my future. I could coach full-time. I could go into consulting. I could freelance. Whichever way I chose, I knew that it was the start of a new adventure.
For me, the job loss was a blessing; and it can be a blessing for you. Yes, you will worry about how you will pay the bills, if you will get another job, and when the new job will come. You will also have the opportunity to spend more time with your family, friends, and yourself. You will have time to do all the things you wished you had time for when you were working. You can go to the gym, get outside more, and use the time to reevaluate your life and your career. (Yes, this is a good thing.)
So How Do You Make Peace With What Just Happened To You And Create A New Future? I Have 7 Tips For You:
Recognize That Losing Your Job Was Not Your Fault
Yes, there is some relief knowing that the inevitable has finally happened vs. the waiting to see if you will go next. But there is still a little part deep inside you that wonders if it was your fault. Maybe if you worked harder, then this would not have happened. Maybe if you worked weekends, evenings, etc, it would have been some else that was cut. Maybe if you participated in office polices more, you would still have a job. All these thoughts drain your energy and take away from the contributions you made when you were there. Your company was not doing well. They had to cut costs, and you were one of the people they cut. This is all there is to it. Period. Stop making it mean something more.
Decide What's Important To You
You probably have put YOU on hold for years as you have been spending all your time figuring out how to mold yourself to be someone else. You worried about what your boss thought of you, what his or her boss thought of you, and what your co-workers thought of you. You spent many evenings trying to calm down or figure out what to do with a co-worker or boss that was driving you crazy. All of this is gone (if only temporarily) and now you get to decide what is important to you. What makes you happy? What gets you excited? These are questions that you can answer because you have been given the gift of time to do so.
Recognize That The Time Off Is A Blessing
Things in life happen for a reason. There was some purpose for you to stop and reassess how you have been living your life at this point. Why do you think this happened now? Were you working too hard? Were you neglecting yourself? Was your family screaming for you to spend more time with them? Now is the time to see if your former lifestyle will fit your future one. Use the time wisely because an opportunity like this one may never come again.
Decide What You Will Do Next
Will you stay in the same career? Will you do something different? Will you start your own business? Or, will you decide to scale down your lifestyle so you can stretch out the time before you go back to work? There is no right or wrong choice, only what calls to you. Trust your instinct. The answer is inside you. It is up to you if you will take the time to listen.
Put An Action Plan In Place
Now that you have free time, how will you make it as productive as it can be? How many resumes will you send out each week? How many hours each day will you spend searching for jobs online and in the paper? How may people will you talk to, and how e-mail's will you send out? Your job search does not have to consume you, but having a daily plan, will keep you from sitting in front of the TV saying "I really should be looking for another job."
Get Support
Enlist the help of a friend, spouse, coach, colleague, etc. Someone who will listen and support you through this transitional period in your life. Looking for a job can be frustrating, time consuming, and disappointing. Remember that you do not have to do it alone.
Reward Yourself
Yes, the final reward is finding a new job, but there are milestones that can be rewarded along the way. Sent your resume to five employers? Reward. Went on one job interview this week? Reward. When you look back, you will know that you are not the same person you were before this happened. And, you will smile to yourself because you know that this is a good thing.
So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Achieve the Job Offer You Deserve by Avoiding These 10 Salary Negotiation Mistakes
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Whether you're new to job-hunting or a seasoned pro, whether you love the art of salary negotiation or dread it, the truth is that knowing salary negotiation tactics -- and avoiding salary negotiation landmines -- are key to obtaining thejob offer you seek and deserve.
While much is written about the tactics of salary negotiation, this article focuses on negotiation techniques you want to avoid -- salary negotiation mistakes that could result in a much lower job offer -- or worse -- losing the job offer you worked so hard to obtain. These 10 mistakes can be easily have been avoided by following the advice in this article.
1. Settling/Not Negotiating. Probably the biggest mistake you can make is simply deciding to settle and accept whatever offer you receive. Research shows that younger job-seekers and female job-seekers often make this mistake -- either from not completely understanding the negotiation process or from a dislike or discomfort with the idea of negotiating. Settling for a lower salary than you are worth has some major negative financial consequences -- you'll earn less, receive smaller raises (because most raises are based as a percentage of your salary), and have a smaller pension (since pension contributions are usually a percentage of your salary). But settling for an offer that you feel in your heart is too low will not only set you back financially, but also eat at you until you finally begin to seriously dislike your job and/or employer. Of course, in certain professions (like sales), it is expected you'll negotiate your salary.
2. Revealing How Much You Would Accept. Information is the key to any kind of negotiation and a common mistake job-seekers make is telling the employer what you'll accept. Sometimes it is hard not to offer this information -- especially if the employer asks for a salary history or salary requirement. Some employers will also ask -- in a preliminary interview -- what salary you're looking for. In all these situations, you need to carefully decide how you'll handle the situation. The earlier you give up this kind of information, the less room – if any – you'll have for negotiating a better offer when the time arrives. Always try to remain as noncommittal as possible when asked about your salary requirements too early in the interview process. (Read more about dealing with salary histories and salary requests here.)
3. Focusing on Need/Greed Rather Than Value. A very common salary negotiation error is focusing on what you feel you need or deserve rather than on your value and the value you being to the prospective employer. Employers don't care that your salary won't cover your mortgage or student loan payments or even your living expenses. If you plan to negotiate a job offer, do it based on solid research (see next mistake) and a clear demonstration of your value to the organization. Don't ever tell the employer that you need a certain salary.
4. Weak Research or Negotiation Preparation. With the number and variety of salary resources available online -- from salary.com and salaryexpert.com to professional associations -- there is no excuse for you as the job-seeker to not know your market value. Of course, you should also attempt to conduct research on your prospective employer -- their historical salary levels, negotiation policies, performance appraisals. Even if you decide you don't want to negotiate salary, you'll have a better understanding of the market for your services -- and your value in that market.
5. Making a Salary Pitch Too Early. The longer you wait, the more power you have. Yet, there are many job-seekers who jump in too early in the process and ask about salaries and compensation. The ideal time for talking salary is when you are the final candidate standing -- and you get the job offer. It's at that point when you can ask more specifics about salary, bonuses, commissions, health insurance, and other perks. Asking at any point earlier in the process can be perceived as being too focused on money -- and can also lead to you having to reveal what you would be willing to accept.
6. Accepting Job Offer Too Quickly. The job-search these days drags on longer and longer, and when you finally obtain that offer after weeks and weeks (and in some cases, months), it's not unusual to want to accept it right on the spot. But even the best offers should be reviewed when you have clear head – and without the pressure of your future bossor HR director staring at you. Most employers are willing to give you some time to contemplate the job offer -- typically several days to a week. It's when you get the job offer that you have the most power because the employer has chosen you, so use that power to be certain it's the job and job offer for you -- and consider negotiating for a better offer if you feel that it should be better. Just remember that whatever amount of time you ask for is the amount of time you have to make your decision.
7. Declining Job Offer Too Quickly. Many job-seekers reject job offers very quickly when the employer offers a salary much lower than expected, and while in many cases you would be correct in rejecting the offer, it's still best to ask for time to consider it before rejecting it outright. If the money is simply far below the average, you may have no choice but to reject the offer. However, if the money is good -- but just not as good as you would like -- take a closer look at the benefits. A big mistake is declining a job offer too quickly without looking at the entire compensation package. For example, some firms that have lower salaries offer larger bonuses or stock options or pay the full expense of health insurance. Remember, too, that you should be able to negotiate one or two elements of the offer to make it even stronger.
8. Asking For Too Many Changes in Counteroffer. If you have a strong interest in the job and the employer is a good fit, but the offer is not what you expected, you can consider making a counteroffer proposal. If you decide to make a counterproposal, remember that you should only pick the one or two most important elements; you can't negotiate every aspect of the offer. If the salary is too low, focus on that aspect in a counteroffer. If you know the firm will not negotiate on salary, then focus on modifying a few of the other terms of the offer (such as additional vacation time, earlier performance reviews, signing bonus, relocation expenses). Just remember that you cannot attempt to negotiate the entire offer; you need to choose your one or two battles carefully, conduct your research, and write a short counterproposal. [ Find specific guidelines for counteroffers in this article.]
9. Taking Salary Negotiations Personally. Whatever you do in this process, always stay professional in handling the negotiations. If the employer has made you an offer -- then you are their choice, the finalist for the position -- so even if negotiations go nowhere, or worse, keep in mind that you did receive an offer, even if it is not what you expected or deserved. And if negotiations break down between you and the employer, move on graciously, thanking the employer again for the opportunity -- because you never want to burn any bridges.
10. Not Asking for Final Offer in Writing. Once everything is said and done – and you have received a job offer that you find acceptable, the last thing you should do is ask for the final offer in writing. No legitimate employer will have issues with putting the offer in writing, so if yours balks at your request and accuses you of not having any trust and tries to bully you to accept the verbal agreement, take it as a MAJOR red flag that there is something seriously wrong.
Final Thoughts
Following the advice in this article -- and using other proven job-hunting and salary negotiation tactics -- should result in a new job and job offer that is just what you were seeking.
If you are new to job-hunting and salary negotiation, consider using our comprehensive (and free) Salary Negotiation Tutorial.
Finally, if you are confident about your salary negotiation skills, consider taking our free salary negotiation quiz.
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensivecareer development sites on the Web, as well CEO of EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder ofMyCollegeSuccessStory.com andEnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher ofQuintessential Careers Press, including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter,QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his personal Website or reach him by email atrandall(at)quintcareers.com.