New Year’s Resolutions For Job Hunters
It’s that time of year again; time to make New Year’s Resolutions. For those in the job market there might be more important things to add to the list than “I will give up chocolate”. A new year is a fresh beginning for everyone, and a great time for job seekers to re evaluate their game plan. Here are some resolutions that can really help.
- I will ask my friends and relatives to give me an honest critique of my resume and cover letter, and listen to their feedback, even if it stings.
- I will ask those same people to “mock interview” me, and ask them to be as critical as they can.
- When I find an attractive job opportunity I will apply immediately, no more procrastination.
- I will do more research about the industries I want to work in, and the companies that appeal to me.
- I will spend more time networking, both online and off.
- I will be brave enough to make that follow up call after I have interviewed for a position.
- I will open my mind to avenues beyond the obvious in an attempt to find the best and most interesting opportunities.
- I will really examine my finances and see if I can consider a lower paying position that could be a stepping stone to something bigger.
Tips for Happiness at Work
How happy you are at work depends largely how much you actually like your job. But even those who love what they do have a bad day once in a while. There are some simple things you can do to make each and every day a little brighter and more productive:
- Get a good desk chair and sit up straight – A comfortable place to sit can make a huge difference to your day and sitting up straight is an instant energizer and motivator.
- Get a headset – Yes, you may feel silly at first, especially if everyone else around you still cradles the receiver against one shoulder but within a few days you will wonder how you ever lived without it. Read more
Best Holiday Gifts to Give a Job Seeker
Most of us would love to say that we have all of our holiday gift shopping done by now but the fact is that most of us don’t. If there is a job seeker yet to be crossed off your shopping list why not consider giving them something that can be truly useful to them this year instead of just that jumbo tin of popcorn? Here are some great gift ideas, inexpensive and not so, for meaningful gifts to brighten a job seeker’s holiday season;
- A stylish briefcase or portfolio. Something that matches their style without being too outré.
- A serious, expensive looking watch. The keyword here is expensive looking. It does not have to be a Rolex, just a timepiece that looks like it means business. No more Mickey Mouse.
- A gift certificate for a hair salon and/or a spa. Pamper them and improve their image at the same time.
- An upscale looking pen. It makes a terrible impression on an interviewer when an otherwise impressive candidate fishes their sister’s well chewed Jonas Brothers pen out of their bag because it was all that they could find before leaving the house.
- A gift of an hour with a career coach, or a professional resume rewriting.
- An offer of a lunch date with you and a friend who happens to work in the very field that your gift recipient is in searching for a position in.
- Another invitation, simply the offer of a sympathetic open ear and a broad shoulder to cry on when the job hunting all gets too much. The holidays can be really rough on a job seeker, emotionally as well as financially and sometimes just knowing that they have people in their corner, cheering them on can be the best gift of all.
What Industries are the Most Vulnerable During a Recession?
As the economy is still looking bleak, what are the jobs that are historically the most at risk during rocky economical times? Certain industries fare far worse than others in a recession but, which professions are most likely to start laying off employees in a bid to ride out the rough times? Here are some of the most vulnerable:
Airlines and Transportation – In a slow economy less goods are bought and sold so there is a decreased need for commercial transportation, which often translates into job losses for drivers and other workers involved in the transportation industry. In the case of the airlines during a recession people tend to cut back their travel time – for both business and personal trips – to the bare minimum, often resulting in layoffs across the board.
