Friday, October 31, 2003

"Not everything faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." -- J. Baldwin, via QuotesBlog - growing wiser on the wisdom (or stupidity) of others

Thursday, October 30, 2003

Use 'Trioing' to Help You Change Careers

It's an exercise to help you identify the skills you most enjoy using:

Here's how to "trio": Gather two friends or other people you trust. Identify several instances when you achieved something you were proud of. Write down those experiences. Then examine them to pinpoint what skills you used to achieve those successes.

By sharing ideas with your two friends, you can uncover skills that you didn't realize you had. Your friends can help confirm your strengths and skills too.

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

eclecticism > Of blogging and unemployment

Michael is now unemployed, having lost his job at Microsoft for something he posted on his blog. His experience and the related comments of others to his post more than adequately illustrate the need to be careful about what and where you post to your personal weblog.

It's hard not to be enthusiastic and want to share with others what you're working on, yet I see the need for restraint, especially when it comes to information that may put your employer at a competitive disadvantage.

Good luck, Michael, on your search for a new job. We're here for you, if you need help.

Good advice for telecommuting

There are some moments when it's better to let others' words speak for themselves. This is one of those moments.

When Will You Change Jobs?

That's right. I said, 'When'. Gone are the days of the womb-to-tomb jobs that used to exist. Maybe some are still around, perhaps.

So, you want to succeed in the 21st Century Workplace? The key, according to the folks at WetFeet.com, is identifying and developing skills that will easily fit into other roles. Check it out:

Profile of an Associate in the Consulting Industry

Via WetFeet.com comes this interview with Anna Kapoor, who says, among other things:

I have had the opportunity to manage a client team of 20 people to work on implementation of the recommendations that were made by our team. I don’t sit in my office doing spreadsheets all day.
Read more...

Searching for a Career Abroad?

WetFeet.com > International has everything you need.

Saturday, October 25, 2003

Job Sites for Writers

WritersDigest.com has categorized the 101 Best Websites for Writers for 2003. Among them are several job sites for writers. Thanks much to Jenny, the Creative Tech Writer, for pointing me to the link.

Friday, October 24, 2003

Using Lunch Time Productively

John Sumser of CandidateVoice.com writes:

Looking for work at lunch is a time honored tradition.
Yet, since work done on company computers, even during personal time, is being monitored, one must use caution.

Refer to the article to see what Sumser recommends.

Laid-off take survival jobs to pay the bills

USA Today reports that "more workers who find themselves unemployed are turning to survival jobs, taking hourly or part-time work to make ends meet as the economic rebound drags on." The link above contains several anecdotes from individuals who have done this. Also mentioned is the employment site SnagAJob, which has just earned a spot on the blogroll, once I figure out what happened to my ability to add to the Jobs blogroll.

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

How's It Going?

I've been browsing some other folks' blogs, and I've noticed that two of the folks on my blogroll (not the one for this blog, but for the others) are looking for work. One lives in England, and the other lives in Denmark.

Rasmus, the fellow from Denmark, writes:

I seriously and without a doubt need some extra income. I'm not at the point, where I'm seriously considering the many offers, I recieve by spam-mail, but almost!
This got me to start thinking about different things I've done to raise money and other odd jobs I've had.

I remember, in 1998, I had a technical interview at a local restaurant just after having donated plasma. I had the bandage wrap and everything. I had been trying to get a job at this consulting company, and I think that the interviewer might have simply had pity on me, having seen the extent I went to get money. Whatever the case, I got the job.

In college I responded to an ad in the campus newspaper from a downtown department store looking for folks to play Santa during the Christmas season. Yes, Virginia, I was Santa Claus! (chuckles to self)

What are some things you have done to get a job or produce income for yourself?

Monday, October 20, 2003

Can an 'inside' job candidate be risky business?

Joan Lloyd is a management consultant, executive coach, trainer & professional speaker, whose column "@Work", appears on bizjournals.com. In this column she explores the advantages and disadvantages of being an inside candidate for a job. Go there...

The Commute

I read in a recent copy of the Dayton Business Journal that the Dayton area is one of the best areas in the country as far as commuting times is concerned. I also recall hearing that Atlanta is one of the worst.

Commuting distance is definitely something to consider in your job search. Relocation may or may not be feasible, and the total amount of travel time during the day can be prohibitive in some cases. Or not.

Not since I was in college have I had a job where I didn't need to drive at least a half hour to work. It was great to take the bus where I needed to go and not have to pay attention to traffic, etc.

For my first job out of college, I travelled one hour one way to work for almost three years. When I got a consulting job, we moved halfway between the consulting territory, yet I still had assignments that meant at least a 40-minute commute.

Of course, if you work from home or telecommute, your commuting time is only the time from the bedroom to the office or wherever you do your work!

Long, Overdue Addition to the Blogroll: Resumé to Referral

I met Teena Rose at a job fair last year, and, in addition to a free resume critique, she pointed me to her company's website and let me sign up for a free email newsletter. I have yet to tap into the depth of knowledge available there.

Sunday, October 19, 2003

You Guys are Wonderful!

I started this weblog in July of 2002, and I never would have thought it would be getting as many visitors as it has been. I hope that you are finding the information helpful. Please feel free to drop me a line to let me know what you think!

How to Get Out of a 'Dead-End' Job

From Fortune.com's Ask Annie column:

The first step, say the authors of an intriguing new book, is to let people know you're looking for bigger challenges. Then, learn to spot opportunities around you.
The article also contains a place for discussion, along with some additional advice, etc.

Back by Popular Demand: Seasoned Professionals

Via UPI:

Older workers shoved aside during the dot.com boom are now finding jobs more quickly than younger workers, according to a survey released Tuesday.
Read more...

Also, check out Senior Success: News for working seniors and interviews with successful seniors who show the way to career and life enrichment.

What's in a job description?

Gentle readers, I now refer you to this post from Ian McKenzie, who quotes another writer. It is rife with interesting prose such as the following:

Employment ads are often written in a vague yet perky manner designed to make a 9-to-5 job replacing disinfectant cakes in urinals sound like a torrid affair with Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Friday, October 17, 2003

That Bartending Gig

... is about to get better. More to come in a few weeks or so.

In related events, I stopped by the bartending school to talk with the owner about some unfinished business between us. She was on her way out, so I told her I'd email her so that we could discuss what to do.

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

Markets and Jobs for Writers

From the About page:

"WritersWeekly.com is the highest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world, reaching more than 70,000 writers each week. It has been published continuously since 1997."
Check out the links and other information about how to make money through putting your writing talent to work.

crossposted to Streams of Consciousness

Governor Taft's Third Frontier ~ Issue I

Hear from Bruce Johnson, Director of the Ohio Department of Development who will discuss Issue I, a state ballot initiative that is proposed to commit $1.6 billion to the Ohio Third Frontier Project and create thousands of high-paying, high-tech jobs. Issue I is the final component of a comprehensive economic development initiative that ultimately will invest $6 billion in Ohio. Through the Third Frontier Project. Ohio will build world-class facilities, support biomedical research and early stage capital funds, and provide low interest loans for job creation and advanced manufacturing.

Date: October 21, 2003
Time: 3:00 p.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 1900 Founders Drive, Kettering, OH

RSVP by Friday, October 17, 2003 to Brenda Blank:
Email: brenda@theresearchpark.com
Phone: 937-252-5906 Ext. 2.
Source: GDITA Events Weekly Update Email

Please RSVP by October 17th, 2003

October Casual Networking Event: Wings and Wireless

From the Greater Dayton IT Alliance event page:

Come join us at Buffalo Wild Wings for Wings & Wireless Connectivity.

Thursday, October 16, 2003 from 5 to 7 PM at the Buffalo Wild Wings located near I-675 and Wilmington Pike.
Look for more details, including a link to a map, at the page linked in the title of this post. They have said that registration is closed, but walk-in attendees are welcome.

Monday, October 13, 2003

Jobs Are Coming

So saith a story published by Christian Science Monitor via ABC News. The article starts off:

It's small comfort to people who need a job now, but experts say there's a dramatic labor shortage looming in the United States. read more...
Something to think about as you file your next unemployment claim.

New to the Blogroll: The Occupational Adventure (sm) Blog

Curt describes his blog as

An ever-unfolding mixed bag of nuts, loosely clustered around the the central theme of Occupational Adventure - that is, a career that really gets you juiced.

Curt's blog has been added as part of the "one good link deserves another"/"reciprocity" policy of this blog. Thank you.

Ready for a Career Change?

MSN Careers has some advice for anyone who is contemplating making a career change. The article includes "10 actions characteristic of a successful career changer."

Friday, October 10, 2003

Keeping in Touch

In general I think I've done a poor job in keeping in touch with people from high school, college, and former workplaces. Yet I'm beginning to see some changes to that, thanks to the ability to develop and maintain a web presence. The most recent example follows.

I recently posted something about one of my former college classmates in my blog "Journey Inside My Mind." The post refers to a band he was the drummer for, called "Deus Ex Machina." I checked that blog's referrer logs, and I saw that someone did a Google Search for his name.

I wondered if he had done the search on himself (I do this sometimes, too.), and thought that maybe I could track him down if he has any other internet presence. It turned out that he does. He's a drummer for a different band now, called "Chrome." I sent him a quick email, and I look forward to his reply.

Wednesday, October 08, 2003

Persuasion

Ian posts some relevant thoughts from Dale Carnegie's book:

Worker blogs raise some company concerns

Blogging on the job has both proponents and opponents, as this article from USA Today illustrates. Be careful about your time blogging on the job; it may come back to bite you if you're not.

Long Time, No Blog

Well, it's been about a week since I last posted. A classmate from high school contacted me recently. He works for Stelter and Brinck, Ltd., a company that manufactures industrial process heat equipment. I mention the company name, not because they're hiring or anything like that; I don't really know.

I guess I've posted it here to show that I've tried to make it easy for people to stay in touch with me, and it's encouraging to see it paying off.

Friday, October 03, 2003

More news about the job market

I just finished reading this article from the Business section of USA Today. Most of it contains information I've already mentioned here, yet there are some unique aspects that still deemed it worthy of a link here.

As I read the article, I found myself trying to look between the lines to see where and how the information conveyed helps me as a job seeker (Even though I currently have a job, I still find myself wanting to behave as though I'm still looking, albeit not as aggressively.). How does this same information I've read before affect my job search in the short term and long term?

I used to work for an IT consulting company. I now work at a hotel as a bartender. I like the change, but more specifically, I like that I'm making money to help support my family. I was willing to take this job, even though I don't get paid the same income I had as a consultant.

One thing I know the condition of the economy and job market has affected me is that I've had to seriously examine the kind of work I used to do and ask myself if I wanted to continue down that path or pursue something different. I think that a number of individuals are in the same situation.

So, read the USA Today article with a grain of salt, and use what you learn to help you figure out what you can do to improve your job situation.

As always, comments are welcome and appreciated!

Thursday, October 02, 2003

U.S. Labor Department Announces Grants to Promote Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $1 million in grants to benefit women entering nontraditional occupations. The grants will go to 10 community-based organizations, which will help employers and labor unions recruit, train, hire and retain women in apprenticeship and nontraditional jobs.

"This Administration is committed to helping women learn about the opportunities available and the fields of work, where long-term careers can be realized," said Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "From carpentry to masonry, more and more women are putting in long hours of training or retraining, and taking pride in the fact that their work is helping to make America greater."

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grantees are: Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., Portland, Oregon; Tradeswomen, Inc., Oakland, California; Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles, Long Beach, California; Nontraditional Employment for Women, New York, New York; Women's Resource Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Montana Job Training Partnership, Helena, Montana; HRC, Inc., Wasilla, Alaska; Northern New England Tradeswomen, Inc., Essex Junction, Vermont; Chicago Women in Trades, Chicago, Illinois; and Area Resources for Community and Human Services, St. Louis, Missouri.

The Women's Bureau administers the grants with the Labor Department's Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services. Additional information regarding nontraditional occupations for women can be found on the Women's Bureau website at: http://www.dol.gov/wb.
Source: U.S. Newswire

Wednesday, October 01, 2003

Handling Awkward Interviewing Situations

MSN Careers offers some advice on how to handle awkward interviewing situations, with a specific look at three scenarios.

An Interesting Dream

I had an interesting dream yesterday. I dreamt that I was asked to help out with an software application I worked on some time ago, and I was able to offer some preliminary help on the spot. This application was the most recent one I'd worked on last winter, and I didn't realize it was a dream until after I woke up. I guess that's usually how it happens, huh? One thing interesting about it was that I was using the computer used by another client manager from a project I'd worked on several years ago.

I guess this stays true to the tagline of my other blog, "Journey Inside My Mind": My dreams are weirder than yours.