Articles - Page 155 of 258 - The Voice of Job Seekers

Ex-Offenders Need Careers Too!

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Note: My side of the conversation this week has noise I could not filter out in post production. However, Alisa’s side of the conversation had perfect audio. I published this show because of the outstanding content Alisa provides about ex-offenders find careers. I apologize for the audio quality, but it is a worthwhile investment of your time.

It is important ex-offenders find work and be productive members of society. Like many of us, they need direction and inspiration from many sources. Alisa Smedley can relate to how important it is personally and professionally. She has taught and coached thousands how to find jobs and to be a money-earning, tax-paying citizen. All of us can learn and know how we can be a positive influence in their lives, jobs, and careers.

Are you an ex-offender who is working? I would love for you to contribute to this conversation. Here’s how:

Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822
Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
Send email feedback to [email protected]

Alisa is a MCCF American Job Coordinator for the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights. She has won several awards for her work such as the Excellence Award and a Human Rights Hall of Fame Nominee. She has appeared on CNN, NPR, and Wall Street Journal as an expert in helping ex-offenders in transition to find jobs and careers to contribute to society. Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

Alisa shares her personal story of a family member’s crime affecting her life and career forever
One of her goals for ex-offenders she teaches is to identify criminal thinking
“Fast money does not last…” hard work is essential
Her program helps their awareness of the alternatives of career production versus crime
Many industries don’t care about your prison record, they care if you can do the job
Get the first job you can to get the discipline, then career mobility will come
Any job – better job – career is a realistic progression for ex-offenders
“Education, preparation, and training must be done…”
“Planting seeds and changing their minds is a great first step…”
Ex-offenders should hang around people who are like-minded with dreams and goals
Inspiring and visualizing better places will help them shift their thinking and often works as a deterrent

Need help with your career goals, directions, or efforts? Do you need coaching or instruction? I am here for it!Also, join our Linkedin community! You’ll enjoy some of the insights shared by community members and other career pros!

I would still like to help self-published career professionals promote their books. If you’re interested, find more info here.

For the first time in 1 1/2 years, I am opening to career professionals to write guest articles. If you’re interested, you can go here for further topics and directions to submit.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

The Basics of Using Job Search Apps

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For this show, we have looked at a job search app and decided to give an overview of what to expect using it, and give some thoughts to consider it as part of your job search. Staci Parker (@StaciParker2) is a friend, a certified resume writer with a lot of experience helping job seekers. Her perspective is very valuable in this role.

Have you used a job search app yet? You can tell me about your experience in one of three ways:

Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822
Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
Send email feedback to [email protected]

Let me tell you a little about Stacie Parker. She is a CPRW, Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) and a Certified Coach. She is currently working on her Doctorate in Philosophy in Organization Development Psychology.

All job search apps require complete profile before use. There’s no way to skip that process to search
Identity theft is a concern so the user must be careful. Research must be done so the app can be trusted
Gmail may be a good choice to use for the profile in case you disengage from the app you can use the privacy filters for non-contact
Mobile job search apps will use data and potentially hijack the phone’s operating system such as an Android or an iOS
A job search app is likely to have a job board feel such as the Switch App
Good question would be is the job availability matches the Department of Labor studies showing the careers with the most opportunities
Switch app did not allow access to the phone’s web browser, nor was there a web browser version. The popular ones do have a browser and mobile version
Everyone should have a resume that is mobile ready to upload or email someone
Google Drive and Dropbox are excellent tools to have. Dropbox will provide a link if you want to sent someone a resume
Usage of mobile for job search apps will depend on age. A job search app are likely to find a larger audience under forty

I would still like to help self-published career professionals promote their books. If you’re interested, find more info here.

For the first time in 1 1/2 years, I am opening to career professionals to write guest articles. If you’re interested, you can go here for further topics and directions to submit.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

How Will Volunteer Work Enhance Your Career

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I think there are enough stories of the web where someone starts out volunteering, and because of the experience it provided a bridge for a new career. Or it enhanced their current career by adding value or inspired them to change from a corporation to a non-profit organization. Antonio Boyd has seen everything in his 20 years in leadership positions with HOPE Worldwide.

Here’s how you can participate in the discussion:

Call and leave a voicemail or text me at 708-365-9822
Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message
Send email feedback to [email protected]

Antonio is the CEO and President of The Think Tank Consulting Group, LLC. It is an international management, development, and public affairs company, specializing in the non-profit, government, and entertainment sectors. Antonio spent most of his career with HOPE worldwide Ltd. His last role as Vice President of Community Outreach, he supervised and trained 10 Headquarters staff, and 125 Volunteer Directors. He was also responsible for the development and deployment of the AmeriCorps and other organizations. Direct and plan implementation and development of the programs for the 240 communities across the United States Canada, and the Caribbean utilizing of 33,031 faith-based volunteers from 157 churches.

His wife encouraged his involvement in volunteer work
People find that volunteer work energizes them and their career
Antonio shared two dynamics in his experience
Millenials desire to do something meaningful—to go change the world
200 college students every summer volunteer to direct volunteer events on campus
Executives often found after volunteering non-profit leadership is more meaningful
Boards are great for the transferable skill, small non-profit boards are likely easier to join
Volunteer work always have needs to fill, most boards need 12
Corporation usually give time to employees to volunteer
You become a “brand ambassador” when volunteering because you represent the company brand
Creates humanity, enhances your understanding of people, adds value
Volunteer work speaks to your character in your high school junior and senior year, adds to your college application
College volunteer work can substantiate and add balance when seeking internships

I would still like to help self-published career professionals promote their books. If you’re interested, find more info here.