Whether you’ve been right-sized, downsized, underutilized, or just plain fired, looking for work is a life-changing experience that rocks your world. Regain your equilibrium with these ten strategies and get back to being your best.

1. Take time to grieve for what is lost. Losing a job is big. Find a way to acknowledge the loss. What ritual could you perform or symbol could you use to say goodbye to the past? What positive habit could you develop to help you transition to the future? Continue reading →

Is your résumé getting lost in a flood of résumés? Are you certain you could demonstrate your value to potential employers, if you could just get in front of them? Do you want to dramatically increase your chances of getting a follow-up call from employers? Bait your job-search hook with these seven tips and you’ll catch a whale of a good job.

1. Write a focused, accomplishment-centered résumé. Make sure that your résumé includes several examples of how you added value in previous positions. Include what you did, the outcome and why that is important. I guarantee you will stand out from the crowd if you target your résumé, highlight key skills, include success stories complete with results, and make it easy on the eyes. Continue reading →

That “B” word—B O R E D O M.

How did I get this wearing word in my work?

I got it because I don’t have enough todo in my job! Yes, I have completed myassigned tasks, but I have time left over,which leads to boredom.

I know that all kinds of jobs have boredomconnected to them, “little bores” or “bigbores”, if I reduce the concept to thesmall items I just mentioned. Continue reading →

You say you want a new career, you say you want to start your own business, you say you’d love to be a freelance writer and travel more but are you serious? Can I really believe you? Are you investing in your dream?

When you want something badly enough, you’re willing to work hard, make sacrifices, and invest in your dream.

Most people who’ve made a career change didn’t have lots of money from which to draw. They simply made the choice to find the money they needed to make the change they always dreamed of making! Continue reading →

In today’s competitive job market you can’t afford a résumé that fizzles. Power up your résumé with solid success stories. Include simple, clear accomplishment statements to get and keep the attention of hiring managers.

Appreciate the value you bring to your employer! You haven’t just been “doing your job.” Recognize that the way you work-your dedication, creative suggestions, and ability to implement new ideas-sets you apart from your colleagues.

Where to Start? Continue reading →

I coined this word to draw attention tothe nervous and apprehensive way ofsaying something in the job search thatmakes you feel like a buffoon. A “blurt”is a catchy way of saying: Gaffe.

When is a blurt inappropriate? For example,the interviewer has explained to you whatthe job duties are and you say: “Oh, I can’twork on Saturdays”. The interviewer hasnot said anything about Saturday work,only about what the job duties are. You,as the job seeker, not only made a “blurt”,but you jumped ahead of what the inter-viewer might or might not have ready tosay. You were not listening and fumbledyour way out of the next phase of theinterview, if there is to be one. Continue reading →

Asking for money is so taboo in our culture that most of us shake in our shoes when we think about negotiating salary. It conjures up our insecurities about not being good enough, not knowing enough, or not being considered valuable enough. We worry that the company will rescind its offer if we ask for what we’re worth.

The truth is if you don’t negotiate, the employer thinks he or she has paid too much. When you are confident enough to negotiate, your value goes up in the eyes of the employer. You may not get everything you ask for, but if you don’t ask you won’t get what you are worth! Use these keys to open the locks on your earning potential. Continue reading →

Though the name itself may seem a bit mysterious, the concept of mystery shopping is actually straightforward. Also referred to as secret shopping, performance evaluations, service checks and frontline evaluations to name a few, mystery shopping allows companies to obtain a “snapshot in time” by trained researchers who know in advance what they are to evaluate. It provides management a method to quickly yet efficiently evaluate their business practices, deliverables, and employees from the perspective of a non-biased consumer. Continue reading →

Change Your Career,

Change your Life!

Lots of times I see and talk to people whoare tired, bored and burnt out of their currentjobs. I’m not sure what causes this dis-satisfaction. One reason, though, that I’vethought about is that the work they are doing is not their life passion. Or, if it was,something in the person has changed or thepassion needs to be re-kindled. Continue reading →

You Are Lucky in Being Satisfied in Your Career

Just for fun let’s you and I, reader, considerthat you are satisifed with your current career.

It’s good to find out why. You have a goodboss, good hours, good benefits and have agreat chance of being promoted soon. You are lucky and fortunate. What are you doingfor yourself that this good fate will continue?Are you preparing yourself for that promotion?How? Continue reading →