When people have a serious illness their friends really want to help. They bring meals, they pray, they help run kids to activities and help reduce the stress of day to day activities. Friends and loved ones do this because they care and want to help the family focus on getting better and because they want to be able to do something.
When people are unemployed their friends often want to help them but often don't know how. Meals, money and babysitting are helpful but they seem to much like charity to be helpful. Since most people don't have a spare job lying around that they can give a friend, they often feel helpless. This often makes people frustrated as they want to help but are afraid to ask how, because they are worried about hurting the person who is unemployed and confuse friendly assistance with charity.
So what can friends do to help. As I mentioned in the last post i this series, just be a friend and care. Ask how we are doing and not just on the job front. Ask about our kids and spouses just like we had a job. This is a temporary situation. We are not contagious.
Second help your friends network. This is hard for a lot of people especially those who haven't looked for a job in many years. The rules have changed and learning them on the fly can be a challenge. While you can't do their work for them, be willing to offer connections and honest feedback when asked for help. We know our employed friends are feeling stress from the economy and are afraid they may join us in the job search.Reaching out to your network for someone else is a great, no pressure way for you to reconnect with people you many need help from if you do get laid off.
Finally, connect with and keep current your social networking profiles and connections. This is big tool for most job searchers and the better connected you are the more you can help your friends. Sharing a personal connection is probably the best thing you can do for someone who is looking. Tools like LinkedIn help your friends know who you know that could be of assistance or may even be the person they are interviewing with.
While none of these taste as good as a casserole, this is what you can do to help your friends and help you feel like you have some control in your own life which may be crazy with job stress. Just like helping a sick friend, helping a friend get a job will make you feel good too.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
No Job Joy #59 New Ideas
Today I went to see T. Boone Pickens do a town hall meeting at UTDallas. While I had heard some of the story it was interesting to hear it first hand. Not many 81 year olds can talk for an hour with out notes.
The thing I appreciate about Mr. Pickens is that he has gotten behind an idea, stuck with it, spend his own money and is using consensus to make something bigger than himself happen. The cynic in my says wait and see he will make money on the deal but as would rebut that he's 81. This is for the future.
I can't say whether or not I agree with his plan as I haven't looked at it closely, yet I am intrigued that he is promoting a solution that has significant impact and that he apparently would get minimal personal gain.
So my No job joy for today is new ideas and people with the courage to stand up and make sure something happens
The thing I appreciate about Mr. Pickens is that he has gotten behind an idea, stuck with it, spend his own money and is using consensus to make something bigger than himself happen. The cynic in my says wait and see he will make money on the deal but as would rebut that he's 81. This is for the future.
I can't say whether or not I agree with his plan as I haven't looked at it closely, yet I am intrigued that he is promoting a solution that has significant impact and that he apparently would get minimal personal gain.
So my No job joy for today is new ideas and people with the courage to stand up and make sure something happens
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
No Job Joy #58 Not Fall yet
Today's No Job Joy is an easy one. A sunny 75 degree day with no wind. Guess I jumped the gun on getting out the long sleeve jerseys.
Perfect day for a bike ride around the lake. So I put on a sleeveless jersey, flew around the lake twice in 57 minutes averaging 20.5 MPH. Even if I was working I would have played hooky today. Not having a job just means I could do it with out feeling guilty about all the work I was missing.
Perfect day for a bike ride around the lake. So I put on a sleeveless jersey, flew around the lake twice in 57 minutes averaging 20.5 MPH. Even if I was working I would have played hooky today. Not having a job just means I could do it with out feeling guilty about all the work I was missing.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
No Job Joy #57 The fantasy of job descriptions or why all resumes are works of fiction
Those of us in Texas, few will forget Lena Guerrero who lied on her resume saying she was a University of Texas Grad. Whoops. The sad thing is when someone lies on their resume they can be blackballed, fired or even prosecuted. Yet when the employers write job descriptions often they are as much fantasy as Harry Potter or StarWars.
Some times the fiction is intentional. By over stating requirements companies hope to reduce the number of applicants to a manageable level. For others it is about trying to get Jesus to come work at their company because not only must the candidate walk on water they must make coffee. Finally there are those requirements that are listed just to take up space.
Some of my favorites include:
"10 plus years working with social media" - Unless you were a founder of MySpace or Facebook no one meets that requirement.
"Must have a history of exceeding quota". - Okay, unless its an entry level position isn't this one assumed? The problem is that really good sales people have found a comfortable home and have no intention of leaving unless the comp plan changes.
"Excellent PC Skills" - Hey, I sent you my resume on a computer doesn't that count? Besides, unless you are applying for Executive Assistant job, who is going to ask?
"Integrity and Professionalism". - Since there is no such thing as a perfect match isn't every job candidate lying when they say they meet every requirement for the job?
"Ability to multi-task" - Means we can overwork you and you know you can't say anything or we will give you more work
"Exceptional communication skills".- Note to men, never list you your wife as a reference.
"Self Motivated and Proactive" - What? You mean I can't just show up and collect a check?
Just like writing a good resume, writing a good job description is more of an art than a science.Today's no job joy is for the creativity required to hire and get hired.
Some times the fiction is intentional. By over stating requirements companies hope to reduce the number of applicants to a manageable level. For others it is about trying to get Jesus to come work at their company because not only must the candidate walk on water they must make coffee. Finally there are those requirements that are listed just to take up space.
Some of my favorites include:
"10 plus years working with social media" - Unless you were a founder of MySpace or Facebook no one meets that requirement.
"Must have a history of exceeding quota". - Okay, unless its an entry level position isn't this one assumed? The problem is that really good sales people have found a comfortable home and have no intention of leaving unless the comp plan changes.
"Excellent PC Skills" - Hey, I sent you my resume on a computer doesn't that count? Besides, unless you are applying for Executive Assistant job, who is going to ask?
"Integrity and Professionalism". - Since there is no such thing as a perfect match isn't every job candidate lying when they say they meet every requirement for the job?
"Ability to multi-task" - Means we can overwork you and you know you can't say anything or we will give you more work
"Exceptional communication skills".- Note to men, never list you your wife as a reference.
"Self Motivated and Proactive" - What? You mean I can't just show up and collect a check?
Just like writing a good resume, writing a good job description is more of an art than a science.Today's no job joy is for the creativity required to hire and get hired.
Monday, October 26, 2009
How being unemployed is like having a disease - part 3
I remember more than once when I was growing up and not feeling well my Mom saying "go out and clean the hog house. The fresh air will make you feel better." Any one who has ever been in a hog house knows the air in there is anything but fresh but who is going to argue with their mother. I think she was trying to make sure I wasn't faking it.
When people are sick they often and for good reason try to keep away from other people. This is to help keep others from getting sick and often to help recover. Staying home, watching TV and not getting with friends is usually a good idea. And if you are a man you will avoid going to the doctor at almost any cost.
The thing is sometimes people who are unemployed get the same way. They want to stay at home, watch TV and not reach out to people who might help them. Just like with a disease, some time alone can be good if it is used to help you "recover" from being unemployed such as self assessment, organization or learning new things. But when we get to the point where we are staying at home because you don't want to bother people or are afraid to let people know you are sick (unemployed) for fear of pity that is a bad thing. Just like not going to see the doctor you aren't going to get any better if you don't get help.
At the end of the day, after cleaning the hog house, I usually did feel better, not necessarily cured but better. Whether it was from the sense of accomplishment or just getting off the couch and moving around like I was well it usually helped. Being unemployed is the same way. Getting up and doing something will not only make you feel better but it will get you closer to recovery than just laying around.
When people are sick they often and for good reason try to keep away from other people. This is to help keep others from getting sick and often to help recover. Staying home, watching TV and not getting with friends is usually a good idea. And if you are a man you will avoid going to the doctor at almost any cost.
The thing is sometimes people who are unemployed get the same way. They want to stay at home, watch TV and not reach out to people who might help them. Just like with a disease, some time alone can be good if it is used to help you "recover" from being unemployed such as self assessment, organization or learning new things. But when we get to the point where we are staying at home because you don't want to bother people or are afraid to let people know you are sick (unemployed) for fear of pity that is a bad thing. Just like not going to see the doctor you aren't going to get any better if you don't get help.
At the end of the day, after cleaning the hog house, I usually did feel better, not necessarily cured but better. Whether it was from the sense of accomplishment or just getting off the couch and moving around like I was well it usually helped. Being unemployed is the same way. Getting up and doing something will not only make you feel better but it will get you closer to recovery than just laying around.
Friday, October 23, 2009
No Job Joy # 56 What's possible
When you first are unemployed most people go through some kind of self evaluation. Most of us go into some "What If?" questioning but usually apply a bit of reality and come back to something somewhere close to where we came from.
This isn't necessarily bad depending on your goals. If you need to have cash flow or really loved your job its okay. But if you didn't have either of those conditions what would you do? How crazy would your ideas get? What would happen if we didn't apply the dose of reality and just asked "What would it take?" and did it?
Would we end up in the Peace Corp? Start a Non-Profit? My guess is what ever we did, we would end up doing something we love and doing it better than anyone else doing it, because we would be passionate about it. It's been said "do something you love and you will never work another day in your life". The more I look at job descriptions the more I think this is true. While I haven't found my perfect job yet I am still looking for what I want to be when I grow up.
Will you have to make sacrifices? Probably but if you really love it you will make the change.Do these changes get more complicated with a spouse and kids and college tuition? Absolutely. But they will never get any easier and there will never be a "right" time. In five years will you be in a better place or just five years older. That is the difference in looking at whats possible.
Today's No Job Joy is looking at what's possible.
This isn't necessarily bad depending on your goals. If you need to have cash flow or really loved your job its okay. But if you didn't have either of those conditions what would you do? How crazy would your ideas get? What would happen if we didn't apply the dose of reality and just asked "What would it take?" and did it?
Would we end up in the Peace Corp? Start a Non-Profit? My guess is what ever we did, we would end up doing something we love and doing it better than anyone else doing it, because we would be passionate about it. It's been said "do something you love and you will never work another day in your life". The more I look at job descriptions the more I think this is true. While I haven't found my perfect job yet I am still looking for what I want to be when I grow up.
Will you have to make sacrifices? Probably but if you really love it you will make the change.Do these changes get more complicated with a spouse and kids and college tuition? Absolutely. But they will never get any easier and there will never be a "right" time. In five years will you be in a better place or just five years older. That is the difference in looking at whats possible.
Today's No Job Joy is looking at what's possible.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Don't be the safe choice. Be the best choice.
Those of us looking for our next job understand that employers are looking for the "best" candidate. This usually means someone who has the exact experience in the exact industry. The safe choice. It often doesn't mean the one that is going to give the best effort, have the best ideas but the one that is the safest. They have experience doing things the way they have always been done and get safe results.
The challenge for job hunters is that we have to choose to either be the safe choice or the right choice. This can be hard when changing industries or roles and are up against safer choices. The comfortable thing to do is try to be what they want, not what they need. Given the option most companies will take the comfortable way out. This means lower risk but also typically lowers the reward as well.
The thing is if you are changing jobs or positions you won't win head to head with someone who has been in the industry or done the same role. Right now there is typically at least one safe choice interviewing for every job. You have to be different to stand out and to help yourself become not the safe choice but the right choice and there is a wide difference in the two.
The good thing is that as a free agent you have the time and perspective to come up with new and different ideas of how to do things. You are not constrained by the status quo. You have the opportunity to see things from a different perspective and translate them in to new ways of doing things. These ideas can come from webinars, different industries, cultures or just your own creativity. Now I am not saying you need to suggest something crazy that will get you laughed out of the interview. I am saying you have the chance to be anything you want. You have the opportunity to show how a little risk now can deliver bigger results by doing things in a new way.
Yes it takes a lot of work and some skill to take over an interview show your ideas. A few things you have to do. Use your unique experience and ideas to show that you have the right ideas for the position you are interviewing with. This will require some research and a lot of preparation. You have to show that you know how things are done now, then formulate a plan that is different than what they are doing today that can add value to their business and make them successful. If you can make some one be more successful than the other guy you have just become the right choice. That doesn't mean that you will always get the job. Some people are just too comfortable to risk the right choice over the safe choice but if you do it right you will end up with a better company doing something unique and likely be more successful than being the safe choice.
The challenge for job hunters is that we have to choose to either be the safe choice or the right choice. This can be hard when changing industries or roles and are up against safer choices. The comfortable thing to do is try to be what they want, not what they need. Given the option most companies will take the comfortable way out. This means lower risk but also typically lowers the reward as well.
The thing is if you are changing jobs or positions you won't win head to head with someone who has been in the industry or done the same role. Right now there is typically at least one safe choice interviewing for every job. You have to be different to stand out and to help yourself become not the safe choice but the right choice and there is a wide difference in the two.
The good thing is that as a free agent you have the time and perspective to come up with new and different ideas of how to do things. You are not constrained by the status quo. You have the opportunity to see things from a different perspective and translate them in to new ways of doing things. These ideas can come from webinars, different industries, cultures or just your own creativity. Now I am not saying you need to suggest something crazy that will get you laughed out of the interview. I am saying you have the chance to be anything you want. You have the opportunity to show how a little risk now can deliver bigger results by doing things in a new way.
Yes it takes a lot of work and some skill to take over an interview show your ideas. A few things you have to do. Use your unique experience and ideas to show that you have the right ideas for the position you are interviewing with. This will require some research and a lot of preparation. You have to show that you know how things are done now, then formulate a plan that is different than what they are doing today that can add value to their business and make them successful. If you can make some one be more successful than the other guy you have just become the right choice. That doesn't mean that you will always get the job. Some people are just too comfortable to risk the right choice over the safe choice but if you do it right you will end up with a better company doing something unique and likely be more successful than being the safe choice.
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