Posts Tagged ‘job opportunities’

Early To Rise

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
Adhering to a strict schedule five days of the week can be rough on the mind and body. It starts to feel mercilessly repetitive, a little like yesterday is today and today is yesterday, which is the same as tomorrow.  You may need a nudge to push you out of bed, as well as some strategies for being well-rested.

To prevent rough mornings, the first step, I think, is to configure a schedule that is right for you.  Sometimes employers are flexible within the hours of 8am-6pm.  I recently chose a schedule of 9:00 to 5:30, which was my compromise at an early routine.  There is no shame in coming in a little later if this is offered to you. Don’t assume it’ll make you look like a slacker.  You’ll look like a slacker if you come panting into work with a wrinkled shirt and bed head. Make things easier on yourself.

Go to bed at a reasonable hour, but if staying up until midnight is necessary for your livelihood, save yourself a half-hour in the morning by setting your alarm for the time you actually mean to wakeup.  People protest that they’ll be late to work this way, because they’ll still be hitting the snooze button.  The solution is to will yourself not to hit the snooze button. 

Hearing music gets me to do virtually anything, and it’s the way I’ve survived mornings, study sessions, and doing chores. A radio alarm is helpful for some people, while others need an additional boost.  If you haven’t heard of an alarm that launches a helicopter, and one that squawks like a rooster, it’s time to use Google.  Do a web search for your ideal alarm, if only just for entertainment.

If even the alarm isn’t doing the trick, maybe the sleep you are getting is just not restful.  It is much more productive to get six solid hours of rest than to toss around for eight hours.  Consider investing in a good bed, even if it is a little out of your budget.  I slept on an uncomfortable air mattress for several months to save money, until I became so irritable and ill, money didn’t matter.  A good mattress may-literally-save you backaches.

The final solution I can offer to avoid making life so repetitive is to vary your morning routine.  If it flies by in a haze of showering, grooming, and running out the door, a few extra minutes may be beneficial, so that you can make yourself some breakfast, or even exercise.  Having some time in the morning and varying what you do with it, allows you to accept your early hours as an enjoyable part of your life. I speak from experience when I insist that even the biggest grouches can survive the sun’s hasty arrival.


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Searching for New Employment Opportunities

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Whether you are out of work because of a lay off, just entering the work force fresh from graduation or looking to change your career, you will need to know where to look for a job. Part of being successful at finding the right job that will advance your career and compensate you appropriately is knowing where to look in the first place. Also, making sure you diversify will allow you to maximize your potential chances of finding job leads that will be lucrative for you. Before embarking on your job search, make sure you know what your goals are in order to target the particular companies that will allow you to attain them.

  • Local newspapers and periodicals – Everyone has gone through the process of searching through the local classified advertisements in order to find jobs. Even in today’s technological age, this is still a valid form of job searching. Most large employers, when looking for potential candidates to fill positions, will advertise in multiple areas and the local classifieds section is usually one of those. Search through the listings in your particular industry and gather the contact information for openings that are of interest to you so you can do further research and apply.

  • Industry specific trade magazines – If your particular industry has specific trade magazines, often employers will advertise in those. The advantage to doing this is that it gives employers insight into how dedicated a potential candidate is to advancing their career within that field. Employees who care enough about their industry to subscribe to such magazines illustrate their desire to keep abreast of current market conditions and advancements within the industry. This can mean the difference between an employee who is good at their job and an employee who has innovative ideas to improve the overall company.

  • Networking – It is always a good idea to keep contacts of people who may be able to assist you in the future. When in a job, keep information available on people who may have advancement opportunities down the road. In addition to those in a related field, make sure friends, family and peers are aware of your job search. You never know what contacts they may have and what leads they may be able to introduce you to. Often employers will put a candidate who was referred to the company into a higher priority than someone who just applied for a posted position. Also, if you have always wanted to work for a particular company, contact them directly to inquire about open positions. If possible, set up a meeting with HR. Even if they have no immediate openings, expressing your interest and putting your resume on file may prove valuable down the road.

  • School employment resources – If you have recently graduated or if you are just about to graduate from college or a trade school, inquire about what placement assistance may be available. Most colleges and trade schools have a department that handles placement assistance for recent graduates. Likewise, many companies will post positions at the local schools to find entry level positions or internships. This is a great way for employers to gauge the potential of an employee to determine if that person should be groomed for advancement and if they would be a possible asset to the company in the long term.

  • State agencies – All states have unemployment agencies for those who are out of work. Many people consider this to be a resource for those who have recently been laid off. However, this is not so. While that is certainly one function of the agency, they also have an available job bank that could prove valuable to someone who is out of work or looking to enter the work force.

  • Online job searches – Nowadays most employers advertise their open positions online at some or many of the various job search sites available. This is a convenient way to gather candidates for review. If you have not registered at one of the top job search websites, it would be advisable to do so. It is completely free for those who are looking for a job to register and post their resume online. Candidates can search available jobs and enter search parameters to automatically send possible job matches based on the criteria you select directly to your inbox via email. Most places will also allow you to apply to the company directly online. Even once you find a job, you can continue to get updates just to see what may be available in your market.

Searching for a job can be a nerve wracking experience. It can be very stressful especially if you are unsure as to how long you will be looking. However, if you know where to look and use every available means to obtain potential employment, your odds of getting quality leads increase substantially. With a variety of leads, your potential for getting an offer also increases greatly.


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