Online Job Search / eCareerCenter

Casual vs Serious Job Seeker

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:57:00 +0000

What are you? Are you a casual job seeker or one who is serious about it?

Casual job seekers are really twisting the statistics on what the best way to find a job is. Here are the differences:

A casual seeker is currently working but is looking for something else. They might be telling a few friends about their plans and sending some resumes to online postings they see while on the job. The majority of job seekers are looking for opportunities this way. Many of them get a hit here or there and some do actually find new opportunities.

A serious seeker is one who is out of work and really feeling the pain to locate an opportunity, any opportunity, no matter what. They need the money to survive. The serious job seeker is probably doing the same things but with a bit of hesitation as not to look like they are begging. Many of them are feeling their confidence waver and resort to the casual approach too.

The problem with the casual approach is that if it is used by the serious job seeker, it fails most of the time. This approach by the serious seeker is started initially shortly after they loose their job. They tweak their resume, send it to job postings and hope for the best. After a few days or weeks they do some more of the same activities and then really start feeling the pain of being out of work with no end in sight.

The serious seeker reads and hears through the media that times are tough or use a certain job board and you will find a job just like he did or she did. The confusion the serious seeker feels is due to the "mis-messaging" they receive which is really intended for the casual seeker.

So what is a serious job seeker to do? I believe if you are serious about your job search you should take it on as a project with short and long term goals and various stages. This type of mentality will help you focus your efforts and provide you a way to assess what activities produce the greatest results. If online job applying is getting you interviews, keep doing it. If that technique is not working, try a different one.

More on thinking about your job search as a project to manage in the next post. Stay tuned...

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Online Job Search

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:52:00 +0000

STOP SEARCHING ONLY ONLINE FOR JOBS!

I have decided after a lot of analysis, talking to friends, family and clients, reading, trial, error and more that if you are spending 75% of your time using job posting websites like Monster, CareerBuilder and other you are WASTING YOUR TIME.

Now there are some job titles typically below $36,000 where internet searching is a great way to find leads. But most of the others should NOT be spending very much time on it. If you have sent 50 to 100 resumes to job postings and received no response, THAT TECHNIQUE IS NOT WORKING. Have you ever heard the old adage that says the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Don't go mad doing things that are not working. Try one of these other techniques:

1. Use the library's database and find 20 companies you want to work for and call or email the person who can hire you...The Hiring Manager.

2. Show your friends and family a list of 20 companies you want to work for and see if they know of anyone you can talk to.

3. Send letters to the hiring managers at the top 20 companies showing them you have reviewed their organization and have an idea on how to make a process better and how you are the right person for the job.

4. Contact Staffing Firms in your industry and Recruiters

5. Walk into smaller, local companies who do work in the industry you are looking for and request a brief introduction.

There are many challenging ways to locate job leads. Don't just try one and then decide the economy sucks and you are never going to find what you are looking for. Find jobs before they are listed and you will find the pot of gold you are looking for and leave everyone else in the dust.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

You Singing The Blues?

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:52:00 +0000

Today I want to suggest an approach to keeping you mentally in the job search process. Stop whining! The definition of whining is "belly aching to people who don't really want to hear it."

Now there is a difference between genuine airing out your feelings and whining about a your job search (or any situation for that matter). Whining sounds like this: "The economy is horrible and I cannot find a job" or "I cannot believe I sent over 100 resumes to job postings and I got no responses" or "My friend said she was going to get my resume in the hands of the hiring manager; its been a week and I haven't heard anything". All of these are whining statements. They don't do ANYTHING to the listener except beg the listener to think of statements they cannot say such as: "Maybe if you stop whining someone would hire you" or "Maybe you are job searching wrong". These statements many times are held back by your listeners because they don't want to hurt your feelings.

I am here to hurt your feelings...STOP WHINING! Instead of the above mentioned statements, think along the lines of this: "I am having a tough time with my job search, do you have any suggestions" or "Hey hone, what do you think I am doing wrong with my job search" or even better yet "Am I coming across desperate or frustrated?" Asking for someone's ideas or suggestions might reveal some issues within your personality you never knew existed.

I asked my wife a question like that this weekend and heard a few statements SHE HAS NEVER SAID TO ME. I was not shocked because I was in that mood where she could say anything and I would listen. That mood is not always around. She taught me a few things about how people perceive me. Your spouse, family member or close friend might help you. Stop singing the blues or whining and grow a little today.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Age Discrimination in Every Form

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:33:00 +0000

We work with all ages on job search projects. We have worked with the 20 year old just completing college and entering the workforce, the 30 year old who is looking to move up the ladder, the 40 year old who is wondering what the rest of his/her working life will look like, the 50 year old who is strong on the inside but on the outside is showing some wear and tear, and lastly the 60+ year old who is seasoned and frustrated they don't get a second look.

Everyone of those age brackets mentioned gets age discriminated against. The 20 year old doesn't have enough experience. The 30 year old has job hopped and needs to be more specialized. The 40 year old needs to be less specialized; they need to be more mold-able. The 50+ year old has too much experience. EVERYONE gets discriminated against. It doesn't matter and it is an EASY reason to not hire someone.

Keep in mind there may be good reasons for not hiring the young with limited experience or the older workers who may not be as flexible or controllable as the young. These pseudo-discriminations are all around us but not the only ones. There are many of us (including myself) who don't give certain people a second chance. It is safe to say that this is human nature. We categorize people without even knowing it.

So what is a job seeker to do? Realize this practice exists but you are not allowed to use it as an excuse. Using any pseudo or true discrimination in most cases as an excuse is just that, an excuse. Fight the age, gender, experience, look, color, and race issues in all of us and you will never stop. I am NOT saying you should never fight those issues but when you don't get your way with a job prospect, don't make this your excuse. Otherwise you will miss a very important piece to your job search....self realization.

Self realization comes from learning from mistakes and missteps. When you get stuck in your job search, start asking the question: "What am I doing wrong?" I know this is a negative way to look at yourself but what it does is ask yourself to help you solve the puzzle. Where are you getting stuck? You may be getting telephone interviews but no face to face ones. You may be sending your resumes to online postings with no response. Wherever you are getting stuck, ask yourself "what am I doing wrong?" to help you get unstuck.

If you are only getting telephone interviews, then consider how you are speaking to people on the phone...are you rushed, not relaxed, frustrated, tired, etc. Have a friend call you at an unplanned time from an unknown number and see how you pick up the phone. Maybe you are alienating people from the first word "Hello".

Find out what you might be doing wrong and change. I love the old adage that says something like "Insanity is defined by people doing the same things over and over and EXPECTING a different result"...don't be insane.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Summer Slump

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:54:00 +0000

There is no slump when job searching. Don't fall into the trap that you cannot find a job during the summer or before a holiday or at the end of the year. It is all bogus! These are just reasons not to work hard to find an opportunity.

Yes things can slow down during these times but it should not for you. I was a sales person for a number of years. We all know by now that job searching is somewhat of a sales and marketing activity. When I was selling my products, the best conversations were when the office was the slowest. You never know who has already taken vacation or has to catch up on finding just the right candidate.

Don't slow down EVER! When you are job searching you work hard during your waking hours so you can sleep better every night knowing you did everything you could during the day.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Craigslist VS TheLadders

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:16:00 +0000

I have heard from a number of you on many of my posts but the ones on Craigslist and TheLadders seems to be the most popular. I think most of the comments about TheLadders have been negative EXCEPT for the experience one of my clients had in locating a job via their site. This story is true and I can give you the reference if needed. Most of the comments posted and not posted about Craigslist have been somewhat positive which is on the opposite spectrum.

In thinking about the two service, I have to admit that maybe the costs involved and the perceived value a user places on a service has an effect on their feelings about is it "worth it". TheLadders does charge a fee and because of this I suspect (as I would think) that you should receive a greater value than a free service like Craigslist. Since Craigslist is free, should the opposite value be placed on the postings? Evidently not because so many people love Craigslist.

As I have mentioned in many postings of days gone past...every tactic works some of the time and every tactic works none of the time. Unfortunately we cannot predetermine the right timing in locating a job. So how does one decide on which tactic to use for a given job search? I say don't ask the career coaches but ask who you know this very question...or a tweaking of it. For the next few days ask everyone you see this question: "How did you get your last 2 or 3 jobs?" Ask them how they found out about the opening and how they applied for it. You will be surprised at the answers.

I asked a group of 12 men at a job seekers group meeting in Denver two weeks ago this very question. Of the 12 men, 10 have had at least 3 previous jobs. If we take those 10 guys and multiply by 3 previous jobs we get 30 job searches. Of those 30 job searches about 22 were found by the help of friends, family and acquaintances. The other 8 were found by other means such as the newspaper, internet postings and university career centers. That means almost 75% of the jobs were found by connecting with others and NOT emailing resumes to posting found on TheLadders or Craigslist.

Do what works most often and you will have success. Do what doesn't work very often and you have a long waiting game ahead of you. Food for thought...

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Don't Look Back

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:44:00 +0000

A quirky, cool poem today...

I do, You do.
What you want to do?
Why do not do
Be not who you
Want to be.

Too short on time
To not do what
You want to do.
Find it. Do it.
Don't look back.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Its Friday, What About Monday?

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:59:00 +0000

Her is a tip on how to keep going with your job search. It is Friday and many of us want to close the computer and get on to the weekend. I am a big fan of taking time off of the job search over the weekend or one day a week. But when you are planning this break, set up what you are going to do for when you return.

Setting up for Monday as I am calling it will help clear your mind the day before you get back to the job search. When you just close the computer and kind of "give up" until Monday, you are setting yourself up for potential anxiety on Sunday night. Or if you are just taking one day off, you are setting up tomorrow night to be a bit anxious. Getting ready for when you return gives your brain some extra down time because you already have your plan ready to start when you get back.

I have a new saying that I am tinkering with...Job Search PDQ or Job Search is about Perseverance, Don't Quit. All you can do is one thing at a time. Do that one thing well and go to the next thing. I do allow you to quit for a short time but you cannot quit for very long. Quitting brings you down, perseverance eventually brings you up!

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Job Search Techniques

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:13:00 +0000

WHAT WORKS when looking for a job? This is an eternal question that never really gets answered. I really want to conduct some research and write a book on this subject...maybe someday. Until then I will have to go on the experience with my clients. Here are some guiding principles:

1. Do everything you think of
2. Do it daily
3. Don't give up

Job searching is a learning process. While you are looking for a job you should be learning a lot about the skills you bring to a company and how you are viewed in the "marketplace". Make sure you try out different variations to your resume for different types of jobs. This will also aid you in determining what potential employers are interested in.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

TheLadders Revisited

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:59:00 +0000

I have received a number of comments on a previous blog pertaining to TheLadders.com service. I would like to use this post to make a few additional points:

1. TheLadders.com will definitely not work for everyone. If I have to guess, it probably works well for about 20% of the users. That is a low number but the question is: "Is it worth the investment?". I will address this question later.

2. TheLadders.com is a place where unprofessional recruiting outfits can take advantage of a good situation. The goal of TheLadders.com was to provide a service to both recruiters and job seekers who are over the $100k mark. This was their intention but over time inappropriate use has infiltrated its borders.

3. No matter what website or service you visit whether free or for a fee, you REALLY have to be cautious. Some general things to keep in mind are: don't quit you current job until you are confirmed and hired at the new one, don't provide any personal information such as SS# or personal details to anyone unless you are sure it is legitimate, and be patient.

In regards to the earlier question about TheLadders.com being worth the investment...I think it may be worth the shot if you are in the $100k range AND in a high demand industry or profession. Recruiters are always looking for good candidates to "bring into" a company they recruit for. This type of recruiter is a contingent recruiter who presents candidates to hiring authorities in hopes they will get hired. Each of these candidates have a "price tag" around their candidacy which my preclude their ability to get hired. On the flip side, these recruiters have built a relationship with the hiring authorities of various companies and try to only send the best candidates to them. It can work both ways.

Always remember, there is no "One Way" to find a job. I always suggest conducting multiple campaigns to find opportunities. Starting with a targeted resume, you can really locate opportunities by targeting companies who hire what you are targeting.

We will show you how...

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Someone Scammed eCareerCenter.com

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:45:00 +0000

NOTICE TO ALL! PLEASE READ REGARDING ECAREERCENTER.COM's SERVICES!!

I am sad to inform you that someone has copied a number of our pages, contact information and service offerings on to another site. PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE ANY OF OUR SERVICES FROM THIS SITE: www.cmsi-group.com. It is NOT affiliated with eCareerCenter.com in any way.

If you have purchased one of our services recently, please determine if you purchased it from this site or the CMSI-Group's site. When you purchase a service and check out at their site (Google Checkout) you are NOT purchasing a service from us. We have our own internal payment system.

If this has happened to you, please contact us via our contact form or our Customer Service number: 1-877-479-4440. We will pick up the phone or leave a message and I will get back to you.

We have taken the following actions:

1. Contacted the CMSI-Group's host company to remove the website.
2. We are seeking counsel with an internet law attorney.
3. Filing a complaint with the FBI.

Please visit this blog in the coming weeks for more information.

Thanks,
Jeff

Job Found...How She Did It.

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:43:00 +0000

Another client just informed me she found a new job. I don't say this to rub it into the face of those who are having a tough time. My objective is to provide you another example of how someone did it. So here goes...

She hired us to put together a resume with key terms and distribute it out. The resume was good when we finished but probably wasn't what helped her get the job. Another part of our packages is our Auto Apply System. This system applies to open jobs on job sites such as HotJobs, Monster, NetTemps, Craigslist and others. It works EVERY DAY. This every day applying is important for any internet job search because there are so many people searching for jobs. You know the old saying that the early bird gets the worm...well it applies here.

This system applied to over 325 jobs in about 6 weeks. It applied to jobs above her experience level and below as well as those she is qualified for. This casting of a wide net paid off. Her resume got into the hands of a hiring manager who had already gotten approval for a new position but hadn't started accepting resumes for it. She was actually looking for a lower level position. When she saw my client's resume, she had to talk with her.

Fast forward....my client interviewed in the morning with lots of proposals for the new position in hand. By the afternoon, she got a call and was offered the job. She took to job and now is working only 2 miles away from home and she is excited.

It doesn't always work out this way but the point is you need to apply for jobs even if they are not exactly what you are looking for. Gear your resume for the industry you are looking in and don't stop. Also, if you can handle sending out 325 resumes in 6 weeks, go for it. If not, let someone help you. It can pay off.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Are You Stuck in Your Job?

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:46:00 +0000

I hate when I hear that people get stuck in a job they really don't like. I know it happens to most of us (including myself). I think the problem is what do you do when you get stuck? Are you someone who gets stuck and stays there. Do you grin and bear it?

If this is you, then I have a word for you...STOP! Stop just grinning and bearing it. This is no way to live. My son recently said to me, "Dad, it is Tuesday only 3 more days to the weekend." I asked him why he said it. His answer didn't surprise me because he said he likes the weekend because I can hang with him more and he doesn't have to go to school. Now he is 7 and I thought this mentality didn't start infiltrating a mind until they got into a job they hated. Evidently this is not the case.

Maybe we should find enjoyment in everything we do first and foremost. Then and only then can happiness be found. Or maybe if we don't get some type of joy or happiness out of what we are doing, we should re-think what we are doing. I know this can be a can of worms but needs to be pondered...

My suggestion is that if you don't find more happiness daily than dread, you should make a firm decision to change. You don't have to change immediately but take steps to do it as soon as possible. For example, if you are in a job you hate and want to do something else. List on a page the top three things you dream of doing. Once you are done, start doing #2. Even if it is only in your spare time, start today. Over time your brain will catch up and find ways to allow you to do it full time. I never suggest jumping off a cliff and leave your whole life behind. I do suggest starting slow and accept your new life.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Uncontrolled Changes Hurt

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Starting fresh every year is a highlight for me. I love new years. I typically don't stay up late enough to watch the "ball drop" on New Year's Eve because I am not much of a night person and have a couple of kids running around who wear me out.

2008 was a very special year for us at eCareerCenter. We saw some major milestones passed including our new website, improved services and hitting some almost impossible revenue goals. Thank you to all of you who read this blog and have hired us to assist you. I hope we have lived up to your expectations.

Looking ahead, I see a tough year for job seekers. I don't say this in the same understanding as others do who are not in the jobbing business. I mean it is going to be tough for job seekers because they have to hear everyone talking about how tough the times are for looking for a job. The mouth pieces will continue in that vein stating this is the toughest time to find a job and perpetuate the "sky is falling" mentality.

Yes things have slowed in many industries. Some industries are taking a beating such as the financial and real estate ones. I have talked with many of you in these two industries and have said the same thing..."Yes, it is tough right now but are you prepared to weather the storm or is it a good time for you to re-evaluate your options?" For some people, hardships present themselves as a change in direction. For others, they decide to stick it out. Either way is challenging on the emotional and psychological side. Prepare for it by finding your own way to stay strong. Repeat positive messages, keep working out, push yourself to get out there and meet people and never, never quit. Those who finish on top typically have the attitude of perseverance.

The main reason I write "it is going to be tough for job seekers" is because a large number of you are going to have to realize the need to retool and change. Change is VERY painful for many of us. I like change when I am in control of it. I get jazzed up by it. When I am not controlling the change, I go kicking and screaming like many do. This past year I lost my mom to cancer. I had zero control of this change and am still hurting from it. But every day I wake, I keep moving forward realizing all that I have learned through this uninvited change.

So yes, it is going to be tough for you, the job seekers. Tough in the sense you don't want to have to go back to school or take a position at a lower level or do something they thought they would never have to go back and do. The sooner you accepts the facts, the sooner you can blaze a new trail in your career. This new trail may hurt in the beginning because of the rusted tools you have to use. But as you get going, you will see it is not that bad and maybe even better for you. Do something you are dreading; it may cloud your vision but clear your head.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

New Year. New Job. New Way

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:20:00 +0000

I absolutely LOVE a new year. I love to start over with a clean slate. Obviously it is not really a clean slate but the start of something bigger than me. A new year is supposed to motivate not depress. Many people start thinking about the new year ahead and it becomes a huge burden or they think about what they failed to accomplish the year before. Both trains of thought should be avoided.

When you start thinking about the negative stuff, u-turn your brain back to what is ahead of you. Be a future thinker and not dwell in the past. My wife and I had a conversation this weekend about history. I am not a history buff. I don't really like to look back very much. I am a future thinking kind of guy who doesn't really care what happened in the past. Yeah I do like to learn from past mistakes but don't really like to think much about them.

History to me is kind of like getting stuck in the past. History can be exciting when it is used to define a people or provide understanding to a conflict. But picking and choosing the negative (or positive) things at whim to come up with a conclusion is short sited. It is wrong to think we would make any decisions differently than we did. It is only when you go through the past can you make decisions about the future.

As this new year creeps towards us, don't get stuck wrenching over what could have been if... Think about what can be if moving forward. Always think ahead and you will stay ahead.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Using Craigslist for Job Search

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:42:00 +0000

I do love Craigslist for job searching. It is a great place for our clients and you to locate job opportunities. What we are seeing right now is that job searching on Craigslist is a daily activity. You cannot go there and apply to jobs then leave the site and a few days later visit it to see what new opportunities have arrived. It doesn't work that way.

Craigslist is an open venue for hiring managers to post jobs to see if anyone fits their criteria. The "open venue" part is what you really need to grasp here. Open venue means it is changing by the minute. The savvy job seekers know this and understand how to play the game. So what is the game?

The game is getting your resume to the newly listed posting as quickly as you can. This can be accomplished in two ways. The first is with an rss feed. Craigslist allow you to have a new posting sent directly to you via email. This "feed" is like a direct line to their job postings that are updated every minute. Once you receive the feed, you can then decide to send your resume and cover letter directly to the hiring manager.

A second way is to have a automatic system that does it for you. One of our partners on our site does this. We upload client resumes and cover letters to their system and on a daily basis they search for job postings and send the uploaded resume and cover letter. This way you get to the hiring manager who made the posting. This auto apply system is fantastic because it applies jobs even when you don't feel like it. Job searching can be frustrating and sometimes you really don't feel like it. The auto apply system ALWAYS feels like it.

The next issue is how does your resume appear to someone who receives it. Every resume has a "feel" to it and many times it is tough to objectively understand yours. In the next posting, look for advice on creating the right "feel" for your resume...or let us do it.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Wave Runner

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:03:00 +0000

Ok so the economy is tanking and most people don't know how far it is going down. And yes, our clients are also having a hard time finding job leads. Does it mean we change what we are doing? Absolutely not! Even when everything around you is swirling and unsure of where it is going to crash, you still need to stay the course and keep riding the waves.

Always remember that job leads are often found in the most remote of places from people you know. The online job boards are good to use, the postings are great to apply to, the resume distribution channels are excellent tools to use but in the end they are just tools with limited results. This doesn't mean you don't use them. On the contrary, you still do. But use them with the idea that you are STILL going to have to make contact with friends, family and acquaintances along the way.

Sometimes using the internet may stall your job search because of too much dependence on it. But once you start doing what you need to do again (such as making contacts) you will find what you are looking for.

Don't stop connecting with people. It is the most effective way!

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

End of Year Job Search

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:29:00 +0000

I spoke with a potential new client yesterday about job searching at the end of the year. He was wondering if anyone is hiring now. This is a question which is asked at this time of year pretty frequently. The answer is YES companies are hiring. DO NOT USE THIS AS AN EXCUSE to whimp out on your job search.

OK, unemployment went over 6%. Ok, the market is in the tank. Ok, the economy appears to be slowing and having some problems. Ok. Ok. Ok. There are ALWAYS excuses to why we cannot find a new job. These can be your health, relationships, time, money, or even the economy. All are excuses and you are NOT allowed to use them with me. I don't care what the job search "weather" looks like out there. Get you butt moving and keep looking for a job. Don't stop!

On the flip side, I do understand it is tough if you have payments, a family to support and emotionally down. I really do understand. What you need to do is use whatever tool you can to keep your positive head in the game. Repeat positive things to yourself three times a day or ask someone else to pump you up every day or whatever you can do to stay strong. It is a "street fight" to find a new job. Get out there and get bloody. You will learn more about yourself through this tough time. You CAN do it!!

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Blast From The Past

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:53:00 +0000

I just spoke with an old client of ours who worked with one of our staff on locating a new job. He was late 50's and had worked at a National pool company for over 18 years. He knew he probably should have taken more management opportunities at the company or searched for a new job 5 or 10 years earlier....but he didn't. He was making so much money in sales and loved his job he didn't want to quit.

He found himself on the bad side of the real estate market providing a service(pool installation) for home buyers and builders. The business dried up, the company started laying off in droves and people started jumping ship in droves to find a new job; any job. My client stayed as he know he would just live day by day until something opened up in the industry he REALLY wanted to work in - the ministry.

His call was timely as he had just found out that the church he had been going to for a number of years just recently started looking for a new pastor for their singles ministry. He was delighted to be able to apply and eventually got the position.

How did we help him...you ask? We worked with him for 3 months on a retainer basis and throughout the entire time, we stressed he was in a tough place but to keep strong and eventually the "right fit" would open up. Both he and us called, emailed and visited a variety of places he could easily apply his experience to. You never know where or when the best opportunity will open up. For him the right opportunity DID open up but he felt some pain waiting.

We spoke often about him trying to push a situation his way and how having an attitude of patience would be best for him. It worked and he learned a very valuable lesson. His lesson was patience. Your lesson might be keep pushing forward and maybe push harder. You will learn something from the job search process. I recommend letting it sink in!

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Election, Obama, McCain and Your Job

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:59:00 +0000

How does the election help or hurt your job search? This is a question we ponder at this time of the year. How does the election change the way jobs are created or lost?

Each candidate or party affiliation has their own agenda for the employment sector. The republicans believe in alleviating taxes on the small and medium size businesses which allow them to expand their operations and hire more people. The democrats believe that job creation is done by building up the infrastructure which in turn creates an environment for job creation. Both have merits but how does it impact you?

The answer is it really doesn't in the short term. If you are frustrated or scared about your job right now, you are feeling the pain today. The government's plans do not really impact your choices right now. They can impact your future choices. For example, if you are in an industry where jobs are being sent to other countries, you may feel the pain sooner rather than later. But again, your pain in your job is immediate.

Making excuses for your job pain will not help you get out of that pain; many times it will keep you in the pain. If you are feeling it right now, push yourself to use the pain as motivation to get started exploring your job options. Use the pain to your benefit don't wallow in it. Wallowing only gets you more stuck.

Get moving and get unstuck today.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Job Bailout

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:52:00 +0000

Do you need a job bailout? Sometimes we all need a "bailout" from something. Wouldn't it be nice to have a parachute show up when you thought you were doomed?

Let's think about the idea of a bailout for your job or career track for a second. A bailout is defined as "...coming to the rescue." There are times in life when a rescue attempt is good and ones when it is bad. If someone rescues you from something do you really learn your lesson as to not do whatever got you into the emergency situation in the first place? Some would say yes and others would say no.

I won't answer it for you but I think both are right and deserve their fair view. Most importantly is with any bailout...are you going to do things differently next time. This may mean never getting in a situation like this again and safeguarding against it. This may mean making tough decisions and not always getting what you want or taking the major risk. We must learn from our choices every day or we cease to live life to it fullest.

Take risks and do challenging things, but in the end you must learn from mistakes and live with consequences. My jobs over the years have been built on the previous ones. I have learned much from each position and hope to do the same into the future.

My son asked me last night to list the jobs I have had in my life so far. It turned out to be a long list starting from working at my dad's auto body shop when I was 10 to delivering papers, working as a bagger at Kroger, house cleaner, drug rep and now small business owner. There were another 10 jobs in the middle which have added to my experiences. Towards the end of the conversation, he asked how many jobs will I have until I retire. I had to think about this one as I am 39 and don't plan on really ever retiring as I want to do many things before I die. After careful thought I answered 10.

Life work is about adding to our experiences and not being scared. Living and learning and work should be integral in our experiences. No bailout is necessary but thinking about what you should do next can be fun and exploring the possibilities will enhance your future.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

You Need Time To Search

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:02:00 +0000

If you think you are ready for a job change, don't quit today. Give yourself some time to get your resume together, checking out the job boards and talking to your friends and family. All these activities take time. Most job searches cannot be done in a week or two (although sometimes it happens).

Plan for a month or two just to get rolling. You really never 100% of the time know where your job lead is going to come from so you must start all the "normal" job search activities and see where they take you. I knew a guy who quit a $130k job to start his own business. The business chugged along for a year with no real full time income coming in. He then contacted a fried to see if they had any part time sales work. The friend said yes and now the guy is doing his business part time and business development part time. Who know where it will take him.

Don't delay in getting yourself out there. Get started today.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Gas Prices, Economy and Jobs

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:49:00 +0000

Sorry for the delay in blogging...been busy moving from AZ to CO. We are set up in our new office here and LOVIN IT! AZ is soooooo hot for soooooo long it gets old. We gave up our shorts and shades for sweatshirts and skis.

What is going on with the economy this year? WOW what a wild ride we are on. There is so much doom and gloom I am starting to believe it all. Well, not really. Yes I do believe we are experiencing a "correction" based upon too much optimism over the past 5+ years. The optimism in housing, stocks and our constant use of debt is starting to catch up with many of us.

Remember one simple concept and you will make it to the other side. The concept is based upon a verse I quote from the bible. In summary it says: "This too will pass." It is NOT the end of the world. It may be difficult to get through but you and I will. We will and learn something new about ourselves through the process. The ride will be bumpy but if we don't get caught up in the "sky is falling" mentality we can and will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Now that I have used every cliche I could muster, what do we do with the job search? Just keep going. If you are out of work, think about how to get a new job in an industry that is going up. If you are working and unsure of if/when you might loose your job, you do the same: think about how you can search for a job in an industry that is improving.

You may be saying which industries are improving...if so here are a few: Technology (some areas are BOOMING!), Nursing, Elder Care, Sales (when times are tough, sales people are last to go), Education, IT Engineering and Programming, Entertainment (Music and Video) and Online Marketing (SEO, Blogging, Content Providers, and Promotions of all sorts). These are just a few examples.

Think strategically about your next job. Don't be a Lemming!

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Moving , Labor Day and Mucky Muck

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:18:00 +0000

We have finally decided to move away from the heat of the desert!! My family and I are very excited. We have picked Denver, Colorado as our destination. I guess we are trading the heat for the snow...So Be It! The kids are going to love the snow and my wife and I will enjoy our time in front of fire places, hot-totties and watching the kids enjoy our new surroundings. With that being said, my blog time will be limited between now and the beginning of September. Hold tight and visit with me again probably after Labor Day.

As far as the Mucky Muck...job searching has been very tough through the summer months for some of the clients we work with. If it has been tough for you, don't get bogged down in the Mucky Muck of it all. The Mucky Muck to me is the stuff that grabs hold of you with a tight grip and won't let you go. Whatever you are telling yourself (negative stuff) about why you are NOT getting hired is it. Yes the economy is challenging and will probably continue into the new year. Don't use it as an excuse to quit or slow down your activities. There are good jobs out there and YOU are a good catch to an employer.

I tried a new service for a couple of my clients recently. It is MyJobHunter. One client is open to relocation and using this system we applied to 340 specific to her all over the US. She received about 10 calls and 25 emails of inquiry of her interest. These are still not good numbers but encouraging. Using MyJobHunter really got her resume and cover letter out to job postings very quickly. Many hiring managers are receiving hundreds of resumes of qualified candidates. The early bird many times gets the worm.

I have a link on the blog page to MyJobHunter if you are interested. It is just above the Google Ad box over there------------------------- >>>

Stay Strong. See ya in September.

Let's Get Started!

Jeff

Who Is Michelle Yeoh and Job Searching

jeff@ecareercenter.com (Jeff) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:08:00 +0000

I thought I would discuss ups and downs today. Everyone has or has had them at one time or another. Tragedy eventually will nest in your backyard. It is not a threat or a pessimistic view but a reality of life. Tragedy can take many forms but the over reaching issue is the feeling of something happening to you where your thoughts are tangled around with no current understanding of a way out.

I was reviewing the career of Michelle Yeoh this morning. Michelle has been in films for the past 20 years. We know her in films such as Tomorrow Never Dies and Memoirs of a Geisha. Early in her life she suffered a spinal injury which destroyed her chances of becoming a prima ballerina. This injury could have ended her desire to dance and be in the theater but it didn't. It did postpone her ambitions but she never lost her dreams. Life threw a tragedy (curve ball) at her and she managed to still swing at it and hit a home run.

What tragedy are you facing? Have you lost a job, house, family member? Stay in the game. Don't take yourself out of the game. If you do the game wins. If you keep on moving even when it hurts, the rules of the game will become clearer and you will see light on the other side.

Check back in!

Let's Get Started!

Jeff