MONEY 34 - JOBS 5 AND MORE STUFF

THIS IS MY 34^TH POST ON UNDERSTANDING MONEY TOOLS

ATTITUDE!  Someone at some point made the comment, “ Attitude is everything.” When seeking employment, or once you have a job attitude is all important.  It sets you ahead of competition.  Attitude is an energy, and you give off that energy to others.  With a good attitude people want to be around you, you are positive, you make a difference. Negative energies attract negative energies, don’t let people dump on you and drag you down.

Lately, I heard from a reliable source telling me that some young lady went to a company interview, and while being interviewed she was looking down and texting on her phone.  She was multi-tasking, however I doubt if she was hired.  Do the sensible things in situations; for one, turn off your cell phones ahead of meetings and interviews. Give a smile, shake hands, it shows assertiveness.  With a hand shake don’t be a limp noodle, but  don’t tighten the grip too hard or shake too long. It doesn’t hurt to address men as “sir” and women as “mam”, or unmarried younger women as “miss”.  It is so unusual to have this old fashioned politeness that people remember you. I have a friend who is quite successful in real estate sales and he earnestly uses this all the time, people love him and he sells and makes a lot of money.

You may notice in business many retailers have gone to fun, politeness and service. Target stores as an example realize the customers have choices where they can go to purchase goods.  Their example starts with have fun with the customer and be helpful.  Safeway stores have similar training.  If you are looking for an item and ask the employee they will take you to the item in the store.  Many of the floor employees will ask the customer if they may help with anything.  The impression is that your time is valuable, and they are there to serve you.  I used to be involved professionally in sports.  When writing manuals we stressed in order, 1) safety, 2) fun and then 3) learning. People want to enjoy the experience, not be miserable through the process.

Here are a couple tips that might help in appropriate occasions. An acquaintance who was one of the tops skiers in the world was invited to many influential parties.  When asked how he handled all the well-informed people at these parties his comment was, “the greatest disguise for ignorance is silence.” Sometimes better not to say anything.  Another friend year’s ago was being interviewed for a college scholarship PHD program.  He was one of three candidates.  He told me that what he did in advance of the interview was to learn all he could about the interviewer. It so happened that the interviewer’s favorite pastime/hobby was canoeing.  My friend started the interview process and as soon as appropriate got onto the topic of canoeing. From there the interviewer did all the talking about himself and canoeing, while my friend just sat back and listened. He was selected for the fully paid scholarship.

We live in an incredibly competitive world so anyway you can stand out, please do. Mediocrity will not work.

MONEY 33 - JOBS 4 AND RESUMES

THIS IS MY 33^RD POST ON UNDERSTANDING MONEY TOOLS

Boy, getting a decent job these days is tough.  College graduates aren’t finding work unless they are in the hot industries graduate at the top of their classes. If you are over 45, you are considered old, and that leaves little for the ones over 60 who do not have the financial resources to retire.  Many people just want to work and need more to occupy the days.

We are in a new paradigm, a new world order and everyone knows it.  People contact is mostly out, computers and high tech are in. Social skills are lacking. We are an “ego” society.  Ego is defined as “I, self or identity; caring for self independent of others”. The antonym is physicality and humility.  In my eyes, not good, but that is the way it is, and the world is  going in that direction. 

Let’s relate this to work and jobs. The middle-man position in corporations has been shrinking for years.  Walmart, Target and many companies no longer purchase through distributors, jobbers, and brokers but buy direct from the manufacturer.  Just one example of jobs lost.

Today, when you apply for a job or a position in a company the first thing you will most likely need to do is apply on line. The big black hole. Years back companies would thank you for applying and state a few lines of niceties, not any more. Thousands of people apply for positions, so you won’t hear back unless they like something about you.

We are going to talk about resumes. First, you may want to have several resumes available, all truthful and factual, however aimed at a particular company and position.  Take time and find out about a company, the history, the strengths and weaknesses.  Unless they see something in you where you can add value or solve a problem, they won’t need you.

Resume writing should contain certain essentials.  You can go to the library or go on-line and get differing opinions.  Here’s my subjectivity on this subject. You need to keep things concise and to one page.  Human resources will not read more than that.  At the top give your full name, city, a contact phone number (most likely a cell phone) and email address.  I do not include street addresses as that is private.

Next, the first few lines are the most important. You either will catch the employers attention or lose them.  I go with “Overview and Qualifications”. Here you need to identify yourself as to how many years you worked in a specialized area or profession, your skills and how you benefited your past employer. If you are young and have little history put down what you have done and how your skills transfer to the job opening.

The next heading is “Education and Professional Licenses”. Don’t put in dates for education.  If you are older the company can determine your age and you might be discriminated against…..oops, “discrimination” doesn’t legally occur, however it does.

The next heading I use is “Experience”.  I use a date through present. Again, don’t go back too far. Start with the most recent and go back in time.  Use “bullets” and be brief, no structured sentences. Just like selling any item, sell yourself. With a product you stress the “features and benefits”.  Do the same here, tell them how you improved the company in your position, how many people you managed, etc. If you are older person don’t go back to far in history.  Again, you want to prevent them catching how old you are until they have a true interest and perhaps are willing to interview you.

The only reason to go to a second page is to include something that sets you apart in giving back to the community, or honors/awards you have achieved.  Schools and companies like people who go the extra step outside of employment. I use something called, “ Professional and Civic Organizations”.

If you called by the company to come in for an interview, dress to the occasion.  If you are applying for a blue-collar warehouse position, don’t wear a three piece suit. If you are applying for a position that normally takes a suit and tie, wear a suit and tie. Also, dress to your age. If you are in software design, wear comfortable clothes and nice loafer shoes, don’t wear blue jeans and sneakers.

Bottom line from me is, good luck and don’t get discouraged which is all too easy.  Remember you aren’t the only one out there trying to get employed.