Thursday, September 27, 2012

A Better You, Inspired by Legos


I am thrilled with the resurrection of LEGOs from my childhood.  My sons can play for hours without a screen, wifi or even batteries.  Often, they will build their Hero Factory figures, only to pull them apart days later and build “combos”.  This means mixing and matching parts from different characters to create a new “customized” figure, with even better design or special powers or accessories.  It got me thinking about the “perfect” job seeker.  What would his or her powers be?  What special skills would they have?  Who would be the sources of these assets? 
When I created jobgenda, I initially tapped into my own job search experiences, strengths and weaknesses.  I developed a method and tool that could leverage the best of me and overcome the not-so-great parts of me.  I was essentially building a product that represented the best practices of job seekers…a job search “combo”.  

You can apply this “DNA” to your own search to become a better candidate.

·       From Your Mother:
o   Be prepared
o   Set priorities
o   Get and stay organized
o   Dress well

·       From Your Grandparents:
o   Be an engaged listener
o   Be a story teller
o   Be humble and realistic
o   Use your manners

·       From the Younger Generation:
o   Take advantage of technology
o   Be passionate

Regardless of who you are, you can [hopefully] add to this list of admirable traits across the generations. A job search demands that we grow and push ourselves to be better, always learning and striving.  In that way, the journey is as important as the end result. 

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Detox Your Job Search

Hi everyone.  I was thrilled to be asked to guest blog for momcorps.com.  While pondering what to write, it occurred to me that the seasonal transition is an ideal time to jumpstart your job search before the holidays arrive.  One week, one checklist, one step closer.  Thanks for reading!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Recognize yourself? Top job seeker mistakes

Happy Monday!  I appreciated the insights in this article about what NOT to do during your job search.  I could literally feel the pain of "OMG how could someone do that?" to "hmmmm....that sounds a lot like me!"  What do you think?  The good news is that once you recognize the behavior, you can change it.  If you are stumped on your own, ask for help whether it is an advisor, job search buddy or trusted, respected friend.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/07/27/stop-screwing-up-your-job-search-in-these-ten-ways/

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Heart of the Search

Found this smart post which got to the heart of an effective job search (and jobgenda's raison d'etre).  We admit that it is not the most exciting stuff to do, but the benefits of being organized make you feel, and appear, in control, prepared and confident.  http://www.wetfeet.com/blog/2012/july/5-project-management-tips-to-optimize-your-job-search

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

get organized, get hired

Recently, I met with a woman who manages career centers.  In her work with job seekers, she said that a lack of organization was one of the major obstacles which many people faced.  It results in lost time looking for information, missed opportunities from a lack of follow-up, or simply inertia because they don't know what to do next.  So, a word of advice...figure out a way to get and stay organized in your search.  It is one of the things you have in your control.  Check out www.jobgenda.com/features to help you get started.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Read the Obituaries

I recently read Charles Wheelan's "10 Things Your Commencement Speaker Won't Tell You" in the WSJ.  One of his points was to read obituaries.  He said that "They remind us that interesting, successful people rarely lead orderly, linear lives."  This made me think about my own decisions, paths and potential journey forward.  It validated for me that one's professional life rarely turns out the way one imagines and that is the way it should be.  So, take stock that you hopefully have a plan for yourself but embrace that it will likely evolve in unforeseen ways.  And, read the obituaries more often. Have a great day!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

The Value of the Web in Your Search

Every week, I am reminded of the wealth of information that can be found on the web.  For the job search, one immediately thinks of career sites with job postings.  While these are useful, they can be a time sinkhole, where job seekers naively believe they are making progress.  The key is to link an opportunity you see online back to a person you know, which marries the power of the web with the art of networking .

There is also an abundance of advice to be found online on a variety of job search topics.  One of my favorite resources is www.theladders.com.  I have the free basic account.  It gives you limited access to job postings but gets you the newsletter of which I am a fan.  You can also go on the site to read articles on resume advice, interview questions, offer negotiations, etc.  Happy surfing!

Best,
Sonal