Articles - Page 233 of 258 - The Voice of Job Seekers

Job Tips Gleaned From the Olympics

After thinking about writing this post, there are all types of job tips to learn from this Olympics that I decided to just list a few and focus on one. Asides from admiring the fit bodies, and the next big personality, there are job tips to offer.

Train for every event if you plan to compete for it. If there are four components to a job to have the functional skill and experience to address the employer’s need. Whether IT related or customer service related, the potential employer likes seeing the improvement paying off immediately. Employers also want evidence that you have an invested interest in your own career, looking to improve in every area possible.
Criticize yourself, and only yourself. You never know when someone will realize negativity until it is your turn to receive. In other words, even if the person is perceived as non-threatening, it is better to err on the positive side.
The job search is not the fittest of the fastest, nor is it first come first serve. Therefore, timing is everything except when you press “submit” too fast without considering what a job posting is asking. Job seekers want to second guess the posting thinking it is all positions will say the same thing, but they don’t. There is a difference between, “DO CALL…” AND “DO NOT CALL…”

About that one error…

No matter how many years of training and experience anyone has, you can blow an opportunity faster stepping out-of-bounds. That is why you may hear more about learning from your mistakes to thrive at the next opportunity.

I must make mistakes…to make the last shot~James Citrin

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Job Seekers Can Learn Likeability From Charlie Brown

Growing up, my favorite books were the Charlie Brown volumes that my mom bought me. If I wanted to read, I read Charlie Brown. I felt that I identified with him the most. Glad my life didn’t turn into this 100 game losing streak in the way that he managed and played with his baseball team. Many people have been searching for jobs so long, he or she may feel like Charlie Brown. That may not be a bad thing, but let me explain.

Many of us identified with him because he was so human. More realistic than his cartoon contemporaries his age. Many people don’t remember the name of Charlie Brown’s baseball hero.

Joe Shilabotnik.

Who?

Joe Shilabotnik. He was not a real baseball player. He was fictional like Charlie Brown but here is what I remembered about this player.

1) He was not a starting player in the major leagues

2) He never had a batted .300, or hit home runs

3) Charlie Brown traded away Mickey Mantle and a number of all-stars to get Joe from Lucy. Lucy wouldn’t trade, but ended up tossing the card because he wasn’t as cute as she thought

4) None of the other characters talked about Joe either except Schroeder who once told C.B. that Joe was traded…down to a lower minor league team.

Think about it. Charlie Brown could have admired so many other players in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s: Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Sandy Koufax, and so many others. Instead, he chooses Joe Shilabotnik, probably a minor league standout who had played by default.

Charlie Brown’s own career wasn’t much to talk about either. Throughout the years, I only remember his team winning twice. Both wins were by forfeit because the other teams did not show up.

Not to mention that Charlie Brown got pounded as a pitcher. He was hit so hard sometimes that it made his body spin that his clothes came off.

Maybe you remember how Charlie Brown had always tried to kick the football from Lucy holding it. He kept trying, she kept pulling it away. But until later years, I admired the way he would put his whole body into it. He had the intentions of kicking it to kingdom come. Even his missed every time.

The one thing that we count on Charlie Brown to do…keep trying. Keep giving 100% effort, after we lose, or after pain.

But what is bitter sweet about the hiring process is that being liked goes a long way. Whether it sustains employment, there will be people who say yes and no, but you should be likeable. Like Charlie Brown. And Joe Shilabotnik.

What did we like about Charlie Brown?

Perseverance, endurance, steadfastness, and faith. Charlie Brown’s team lost year after year, and his team would come back year after year. He organized, coached, coordinated the team’s activities yearly with few good players and lots of lousy ones including himself. But he gave his all daily.

He had a vision he never gave up on. Would generations of kids and adults find Charlie Brown interesting if he was a champion? Perhaps. But we relate better to people who are more like us. That makes us likeable and hirable, that we come back from our losses. Like the movie “Seabiscuit,”we naturally cheer for the injured horse more than the others.

He had a faithful network of friends. You need your network to come to support, vouch, and encourage you daily. Although his friends complained about Charlie Brown, they were in position at game time. It is easy to rally people when you win. How about when you frequently lose? People must really like you rally around you if you are really a loser.

Everyone has felt like Charlie Brown, but few realize that he or she has redeemable and attractive professional attributes like him. Although it is up to the job seeker to feature them, a great resource are people within the network who could help bring out the best.

There are attributes about you that people like and could be used to get hired. What are they? How are you like Charlie Brown? Please share in the comments.

photo credit

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Don’t Let Negative Feedback Derail Your Job Search

Editors note: Ivy Exec partners with The Voice of Job Seekers in exchanging monthly content. Look for the interview with a member of the executive team in the next two weeks.

We all love to get positive feedback when we do something well. It makes us feel great about ourselves. But when it comes to looking for a job, you sometimes get more than your fair share of negative feedback. And that can be hard to deal with. We often tend to hone in on the criticisms others offer. These criticisms can seem to outweigh and overshadow the many positive things people have said with virtually the same breath.

At Ivy Exec we bring resources and talent to help individuals with their job searches. While you’re searching for a job you receive feedback on your resume, interviews, and/or your overall job search. We have definitely noticed that if you’re in a prolonged job search, the negative feedback can add up and weigh you down. It can make you lose that spring in your step, procrastinate over applying for positions, hesitate to work your network, and overthink your next interview so much that it goes flat.

While the details vary for each job seeker, we’ve found a number of overarching themes that will help you process and overcome negative feedback. Here are some specific ways to deal with feedback during your search so you can fully focus on getting that dream job without breaking your stride:

WHO gives the feedback matters!- If a hiring manager or recruiter is giving you advice, their comments carry extra weight with regard to a particular position and your overall job search. However, if the person giving the feedback does not know your industry, or hasn’t searched for a job for a long time, then be cautious about implementing their advice. It just might not be as relevant for you.
Do not take feedback personally… – If you do get “constructive” feedback on your search, do not let it affect you negatively and burst your bubble. Searching for a job is only one aspect of your life. It does not define the whole YOU. In these times it is the norm, rather than the exception, for people to go through multiple job searches over the course of their careers. The important takeaway is to discard the unhelpful feedback, absorb the useful input, try to implement it, and keep moving forward.
Ask questions…many questions! – This will help you obtain more specifics on areas that need work, clarify any input that is “murky,” and will clearly demonstrate that you are interested in improving. Actively asking questions will also help you probe and assess the validity of any criticisms. When you actively engage in questioning, the person giving you feedback may be more willing to work with you to implement the feedback, and to provide more input in the future. By questioning, you may well add a fan to your following, if not a mentor.
Counter the negative feedback with positive action… – You can prevent negative feedback from overwhelming you by focusing on things that are going well –either in your job search or in other parts of your life. Make sure that your job search doesn’t define your life and YOU. Keep it in perspective and make sure it isn’t the only thing you do, but just one of many. A great addition to your schedule would be adding regular exercise to your routine. Or, take that photography class you’ve always wanted to take, but couldn’t find time for. Invest some time and effort in your outward appearance to give yourself a boost of confidence. A haircut, a new suit, or even focusing on your posture will help you feel more confident when facing any negative feedback that may come your way.

Every one of us has had to face negative feedback in our lives. If it is merited, use it as a springboard to become even better at your job search. The next time you receive negative feedback, if it’s valid, meet it head on and make the most of it. Remember, it’s not what was said that matters in the long run. It’s what you did with it.