Life Work News

Your Social Media Reputation

2011-12-07T23:36:00.000-08:00

Are you aware of your social media reputation? It is so easy to relax and let your hair down on social media sites. Facebook has a friendly format to encourage socializing and sharing information about your self. The information you share online and on Facebook stays on the web. You can’t erase it. That’s great if you are building a positive online reputation. It could cause you problems later if you say something negative about someone else or if you show irresponsible behavior or language.

When employers, clients, and customers Google your name to learn about your character and values, do you know what they will see? In her article, “Fixing a Faulty Social Media Reputation,” Janet Wall shares important tips on how to check your reputation and repair damage you may have already caused. Take a few minutes to read the article and share it with friends.

Nancy Miller’s article, “More Than A Job Search: Enhance Career Management Skills Using Social Media,” discusses ways to build a positive reputation online while building important job search skills. Linking to groups that share your interests, making thoughtful comments, giving recommendations, and building a network of friends and colleagues that share your values will help build a reputation that will attract employers and customers. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a novice job seeker, you can take advantage of all of the digital tools available to show who you are and what you can do.

There are so many uses for social media to connect with friends, classmates, clients, and prospective employers. We have amazing tools and instant access to people all over the world. Take time this week to make meaningful connections on and off line. Your reputation is worth it!

Job Action Day 2011 Skill up for Employment

2011-11-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

To address the current mismatch between job seeker skills and employer demands, the theme for Job Action Day 2011 is Skill Up, Start Up, or Speak Up. Watch for advice and tips from Career Experts coming November 7, 2011. Why are skills so important?

Whether you are currently employed and want to stay employable, or you are looking for a job, you need to stay active and keep learning new skills. The key to staying employable is to have the basic skills that all employers want. Then learn and practice specific skills in your career field that will help you stand out from the crowd. There are so many opportunities for learning new skills and staying current in your career.

Job training, apprenticeship, and internships
Update certifications, self-study, internet classes
Volunteering (especially valued in medical, nonprofits, and law enforcement)
Temporary work assignments

You have skills and abilities that come naturally to you and some that you have learned through experience. When you find the skills you are good at that match the skills you want to use, you will have the energy to master those skills. Work on them and improve them until you excel. Then look for opportunities in the job market.

There are many valuable skills that are not well compensated by employers. If you find it difficult to fit the skills you want to use into today's job market, you may want to "Start Up" your own business, or "Speak Up" as an advocate for good business practices and "empowering workers and job seekers." Career professionals share their expertise on how to "Fire Up Your Job Search."

Thank you, Quintessential Careers for the opportunity to participate in Job Action Day for the past two years.

November is National Career Development Month. Find articles, ideas and information for supporting your business and/or career. Enjoy fall and embrace change!

Where are the jobs?

2011-07-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

There are no jobs people often say. Of course there are jobs. You may not see the job you want, at the pay you desire, in a convenient location, at a particular time. You may need to create your own job, get your foot in the door, or go through the network of the hidden job market (unadvertised jobs.) Make financial and lifestyle decisions that will give you the most opportunity to find your place in the work world. Balancing work, values, and lifestyle can be a challenge if you live in an area with high unemployment.

As you look for a job, investigate your options. Don't pay for costly programs and training unless you ask questions and do your research. Will this program give you the skills you need? Is there a demand? If you have the luxury of following your heart to the career of your dreams, by all means, take the leap. But if you need to work, find the least expensive option, and work while you train. Build the skills you want to use in your future work.

A recent article in the "Sac State Magazine" discussed cutting-edge curriculum. New programs include Stem Cell Research, Environmental Studies, Journalism and Communication Studies, and a PhD in Physical Therapy.

The Environmental Studies degree added the Master of Science with courses in chemistry, geology, biology, and geography as well as their Master of Arts studies in culture, policies, and economics. The journalism degree now includes a Digital Media Minor to cover multimedia production. The Physical Therapy program is expanding to reflect the expected increase in work throughout the nation.

What does this tell us? There is a growing demand for technical skills in computer technology, math, and science as well as many of the health and rehabilitation fields. With so many new technologies people are living longer and recovering from injuries and illnesses that require different types of therapies.

There will be an increase in technical jobs that require a high level of skill, but there will be many supporting occupations in technology and health. With technology exploding into every career field, having the basics is a must. Get up to speed on your basic skills, network, meet people, and find a direction for your career. Talk to a career counselor, career coach, or advisor for general information. Find out if the professional has an incentive for the advise they are giving you. If they are marketing their program, be sure to do your own investigation. Your career is your future. Invest in it!

Resume Process

2011-06-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

The process of writing your resume is as important as the resume itself. As you decide how to present yourself on your resume, you are also deciding what you want to talk about in an interview. Your resume shows the employer what is unique about you.

Your resume is more than a paper you write once. It is a process of discovering what you can do for the prospective employer. The design, fonts, and paper (if you are still using paper) should be simple, adaptable, and specific. Let yourself shine rather than having a showy design.

The purpose of your resume is to get an interview. It needs to be truthful and honest, but you only need to share the education, skills, and experience that are relevant to the job. As I review resumes for job seekers, I often see a list of excellent skills at the bottom of the resume and experience that doesn't relate to the job. If you are short on skills that relate to the job you want, consider a Functional Resume.

Employers often prefer a Chronological Resume with continuous experience related to the job. But for career changers or those with interruptions in their work history, a Functional Resume would better represent their skills. You can download these simple resume templates in Microsoft Word and type over the information to develop a simple resume format that you can adapt for emails, online, and printed resumes. Use as little formatting as possible and avoid bullets when submitting your resume online.

Start with a master resume that lists all of your work history and dates of employment. Then when you find a job you want to apply for, you can adapt your resume. Look for skills and experience you have that matches the preferences and requirement for the job. You will be forced to look closely at the job description and scrutinize your skills. When you are finished with your resume you will be that much closer to being prepared for the interview.

When you finish your resume, have it reviewed by a career professional. A career coach or counselor can tell you if you have your highest level of skills at the top of your resume and results oriented experience. Keep it simple, concise, relevant, and powerful. Use a word list and thesaurus to find action words for your resume. Avoid overused words that are vague and trite. Be consistent in your spacing and punctuation, use correct spelling and grammar, and get the readers attention in 5-10 seconds. Your resume needs to grab the employers attention, especially when you have not been introduced formally or informally. A resume is still necessary, but less important as an attention grabber if it is a small company or you know the person reading it.

Executives and professionals in specialty occupations may need to hire a professional resume writer to advise, format, and review their resumes. Professional managers and executives are often hired from within the company, although experienced professionals may be brought into the company with fresh ideas.

Understanding what makes you unique, how to get the prospective employers attention, and how to network are skills every job seeker needs. Go to a workshop, class or career coach for help with your resume. Ask a friend or relative to check your resume for errors and inconsistencies. You are not alone in your job search.

Temporary Employment

2011-06-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

Feelings of uncertainty about the job market, consumer spending, and technology come from employers as well as employees. New hires are a huge investment of time, money, and training for many employers. Law suits, theft, and low productivity are the burden of employers trying to meet consumer demand for low prices.

With constantly changing consumer demands, the need to stay profitable, and deliver the product, businesses often hire temporary employees or hire from within the company. Knowing the ethics, skills, and personality of an employee before making a permanent hire can eliminate the need to fire, downsize or layoff employees later.

As an employee, unless you have a strong employment track record and skills that are in demand, you may need to work temporary or part-time. Temporary work gives you the opportunity to build new skills, get into the workforce, show an employer what you can do, and network. You may be wondering how you can afford to work temporary or part-time. You can't afford to NOT be working at something if you want to get your foot in the door. If at all possible find employers, jobs, or occupations that will help you build the skills you want to use, network with people of interest, and learn about occupations. Temporary work gives you the opportunity to find out how well you like the work, employer, and product or service.

Businesses for profit often hire temporary employees while nonprofits often hire from their pool of volunteers. Volunteering is an excellent way to network and build skills. Community gardens, legal work, counseling, camping, etc. offers the opportunity to give back to the community while working on your job search and/or education.

Share your experiences with temporary work. Which employment agencies have you found helpful for yourself or someone you know?

Job Search Best Practices

2011-04-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

Best methods for job search:

(Depends on industry and size of company)

Communicate

Referrals. Talk to family, friends, and colleagues about what you love to do and what makes you good at it. Most hires are through referrals.

Take Action

Informal Interview. Talk to receptionist, manager, or human resources. Leave your resume. Go early. Call. Go back.
Career Fair, Job Club, or Workshop. Practice communication and job search skills, network, and find job leads.

Research

Internet and social networking. Use the internet to identify subjects and fields of interest. Find the pulse of the culture and economy.
Vision. Look up company vision and culture. Companies are looking for a match.

Planning and Self-examination

Life-changing job search method. With each career transition ask yourself, “How would I like to use my Transferrable Skills to do something I value?”
Know your skills and what skills make up each skill.

basic tools for career mastery

(Depends on industry and size of company)

Master resume: complete list of education, skills and experience.
Focused resume: short, job specific, and focused on employer needs.
Format: use Word.doc format with content in the body of the email.
Know your resume: be able to speak on the content and let yourself shine.
Master Application: be prepared to fill out applications.
Letters and eLetters: Introduce yourself and follow up.

core competencies

(Show your unique value)

Bilingual
Diverse background
Multicultural experience
Specific skills for industry

New frontiers

(Learn to say it in 140 characters or less)

eLetters
Virtual interviews
Google the new resume
Linkedin #1 site for professional job search
Email and one phone number on resume
Vocational/skills jobs in demand
Contract, temp, and interim jobs soaring

Adapted from Richard Bolles & Career Thought Leaders Consortium 3/14/2011 http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com

LifeWork News is for your information only. Not intended as career advice. For more information, contact Nancy.

Reward for Work

2010-12-13T16:27:00.000-08:00

"The highest reward for a person's work is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." Paul Stevens, The Centre for Worklife Counseling.

The work we choose to do, whether we are working for pay, helping the family, or working toward the greater good of the community becomes a part of who we are. Our identities, values, skills, and character are all developed through our daily habits, activities, and thoughts.

Smile! Enjoy a walk and a vegetable whether you want to or not and become happier and healthier.

Sidewalk Signs

2010-08-02T08:34:00.001-07:00

Have you ever noticed the lines, cracks, and chips in the sidewalk while you are walking? Walking with young children, jumping over lines, and noticing bugs on the sidewalk heightened my awareness of sidewalk signs. Sidewalks tell a story.

Today as I was walking, I looked down and saw straight smooth lines, thin cracks that spread through several sidewalk lines, and mottled chips. The sidewalk's unspoken language gave me a picture of what had come before me. Purposeful footsteps, playful toes, bicycle wheels, sun baked summer days, wind, floods, pounding, running, walking dogs, and conversations.

Watching the various dips, dents, cracks, and patches in my path made me think about my life's journey. I often see my life in blocks marked by memorable events. Like the blocks of cement on the sidewalk my experiences are sometimes smooth and follow a carefully laid out plan. Then there are the messy interruptions that leave small dents in my plans, there are lost expectations that leave mottled pits, and long cracks that add distinction. I can choose to walk over, around, or patch the cracks, but there will always be evidence of my uneven journey.

My ability to enjoy and appreciate the pits and cracks in my life gives me character and wisdom.

Always Learning

2010-03-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

Are you unemployed or underemployed? If you are not getting the job you want, you may need to brush up on some basic skills. Employers are complaining that they can't find applicants with strong skills in math, writing, teamwork, and communication. Give yourself an edge over other applicants by improving your skills. You may be one of those rare folks who are quick with calculations, statistics, and probability as well as being eloquent in your writing. Most of us need to keep practicing and learning new skills.

You may want to take a college or adult education class to improve your knowledge, or if you are self-motivated, you may get help online. There are a number of websites that offer free math assessments, practice lessons, and videos. There are even iTunes apps for math, history, science, and many more. Just don't try studying math while driving!

"Video Math Tutor" at iTunes U offers a basic math course you can watch anytime you have a few minutes. I was ready to skip the section on measurement since I'm already familiar with inches, centimeters, quarts, liters, etc. But I decided to check into it, and see if the course might be helpful for someone else. I was surprised at how many measurements I was unfamiliar with. For example a hectometer, a score, a gross, etc. I must admit that I come across a measurement for a ream much more often than a score, but I found the lesson very interesting. A few websites for math online are:

Khan Academy Video Library has video lessons in Algebra through Calculus.
Purplemath has free Algebra lessons, tutoring, quizzes, and study tips.
Simple math games Funbrain will test your speed. For kids up to ninth grade and adults who want to challenge their basic skills.

There are so many ways, many of them free, to learn math or brush up on skills. If you have a favorite math site, post it, and share with others. Learning is not just for the classroom. You can learn anytime, anywhere. Find the method that works best for you, and enjoy learning!

Invictus

2009-12-23T13:59:00.000-08:00

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gait,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

--William Ernest Benley (1849-1903)

New Links!

2009-07-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

Just added new links to the sidebar that I just discovered. There is a new Typing Test link that is simple and requires no login. You can practice random phrases everyday to increase your speed. Free books and documents are available at Scribd. Search to find free books and documents to read online. Books that say BUY or have a price are not free. An interesting online desktop, mapping, and collaboration program you might want to try is Thinkature.

Enjoy the links! Let me know if any links are not working. Send questions and comments to

success@lifeworkplan.com.

With Love and Happiness,
Nancy

Free Credit Report

2009-05-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

You can access your Free Credit Report from Annualcreditreport.com. Find more information about your free credit report from the Federal Trade Commission. This is the only website that offers a free credit report. Watch for fraudulent or costly websites that offer free reports and give you very little information or charge you for the information you really need. Check your credit report yearly for inaccuracy or fraud. Know what your employer will see if they request a credit report. If you disagree with anything on your credit report, contact the reporting company. Get a free yearly credit report from all three agencies.

Free Stuff

2009-03-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

Is anything really free? The question you want to ask yourself is, "Who's paying for this?" Most free stuff is paid for by:

Advertisers
The government (tax payers)
Nonprofits (donations/corporations/government)

Advertisers
When free stuff is paid for by advertisers, whether it is a job site, website, social networking site, email address, or marketing promotions, the advertiser is either actively or passively trying to get you to buy something.

Marketing promotions can be efforts to get you to by things you don't need. But the best promotions are free samples to let you try the product.
Job sites such as Career Builder are fine for job search, but may sell your information to the highest bidder if you put your resume online. Know who you are giving your information to, and don't give out personal information about yourself or your references.
Social networking, emails, blogs, and websites are often a combination of active and passive advertising. Watch for active marketing such as linking your site or email to promotions, other links, and networks. You can usually opt out of the active advertising if you watch for it. Passive advertising just shows advertisements on a site to pay for you to use it.
Get a free dinner, computer, vacation, etc. These sites can take you through a long list of questions and then require that you buy something to get your free stuff.
Work-at-home schemes often require you to pay money to sell a product. This is another scheme to sell their product when you think you are getting a job.

Government

Government programs provide a service paid partially or completely by tax payers.
These programs are for the purpose of helping the greater community one person at a time.
Assistance should be used when needed to provide basic services, employment information, opportunities, and training.
You will be paying for these services when you get a job.

Nonprofits

Provide services to benefit the individual and the community
Nonprofits provide an opportunity to receive services when needed and then give back by donating or volunteering.

Hours and Services

2008-06-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

When visiting drop-in centers for services or any business you are not familiar with, it is a good idea to call ahead. Not all hours and services are correctly identified on community services lists or advertisements. In the current economic climate businesses and nonprofits frequently change their services. It's a good time to save, use our dollars wisely and share with others in need. Check the Community Resources links to find places to give, volunteer, and receive services when needed.

They'll Eat You Alive

2008-06-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

Pop inhale or drive a needle in your veins. Drink eat ingest. Limbs whittled away and a heart invaded. No room for friends, family, or feelings. This stump of a man that was once my brother, eaten and regurgitated a sprawling mass of a man. Slumped up and wheeled around, he was once a flirt and ladies man. Girls winked and drooled over a handsome young man with a baritone voice. Passing communion and eyeing the blonde on the third row. Who could resist his charms?

Kicking and fighting, handing out pills. Fat boy looking through striking brown eyes. Where did it come from? This abusive father abandoning his daughter for drugs. His stern respected father who took the command literally lest he spare the rod and spoil the child.
The rod child yelled and screamed and soothed himself with libation.

Kind father with the big stick now gone. The young man grown old. Whittled away before he knew how to live and love. What to do with these pieces of my life. Memories in the shadows of late night drinks and cocaine. Left with only a sting and a brother eaten alive by drugs.

Anonymous

Stay Centered

2007-06-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

Prayer and Meditation Keeps You Centered

There's a reason why every spiritual tradition in history urges prayer and meditation -- it's an antidote to the confusions of life. Protect your personal boundaries and respect those of others. Pay attention to where you stop and others begin. Stay centered.

by Tom Hoobyar Planning Director, NLP Comprehensive

Attitude Assessment

2007-06-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

Currently many employers place more value on a positive attitude than experience and education. Education and experience are highly valued and necessary for many occupations, but valuing yourself, knowing your strengths and understanding how you express happiness and overcome sad moods are also necessary. Take a moment to take the depression survey CES-D Questionnaire. While depression is a serious medical condition that needs to be treated immediately by a medical doctor, it is possible to have a negative attitude or appear depressed on a survey due to circumstances or personality traits. These surveys will give you an idea of what an employer might be looking for. This is an assessment of how positive you are feeling today. You can change your state of happiness or temporary sad mood through learning gratitude, positive thinking and resiliency. Talk with a doctor, crisis line counselor or career coach if you feel sad or less happy after taking this assessment.

Employers today are testing your positive attitude through online or written assessments and watching your body language. Learning your strengths and how to express them will help you show a positive attitude and give you words to describe yourself on your resume and in interviews. Try not to think too long about your answers. Trust your first response. Each assessment takes approximately 10-20 minutes. You will need an email address to take the assessments. You can access assessments at: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/.

Fordyce Emotions Questionnaire - measures current happiness

Brief Strengths Test - measure 24 character strengths

Have fun and share your results. These assessments are meant to give you words to describe yourself and and idea of how you might come across to an employer on an assessment. This is not telling you who you are or diagnosing an emotional or medical condition.

Make $500

2007-03-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

Don't Fall for Online Scams Dressed Up as Job Postings
March 27, 2007
Amy Baldwin -- The Charlotte Observer

Looking for a job? If you're searching online, you should beware of scam offers aimed at stealing your money or personal information, according to a nationwide warning issued recently by the Better Business Bureau.

Online employment scams come dressed up as real job postings on well-known sites, such as Monster and Yahoo! Hot jobs, according to the BBB.

Often, the jobs involve part-time or work-from-home posts, but the professions are wide-ranging - from information technology and accounting to quality control.

"It's popping up all over the country," said Tom Bartholomy, president of the Charlotte, N.C.-area Better Business Bureau. "They are utilizing the technology that is available now. Five years ago, you would see the signs on telephone poles. 'Work from home.

Make $500.' " Bartholomy related two recent complaints involving online job scams. In one, a woman was hired for a job as a secret shopper, someone who evaluates a company's product or customer service so the company knows how it needs to improve. She was asked to deposit a $2,700 check into her account and then wire money to someone in Canada. She called the BBB instead and found out that the "employer" was trying to bilk her out of her own money.

Another woman was hired to ship electronics to Eastern Europe. She didn't know the items had been stolen until federal agents showed up at her door, Bartholomy said. Bartholomy said the bureau gets thousands of calls each year about job fraud and that calls are increasing because the Internet makes it easier to fool consumers.

The fact that the scams appear on popular job sites "give them an air of legitimacy," he said. Bartholomy didn't have an exact number of complaints. Sometimes consumers contact the bureau before they become victims and so they don't actually file a complaint.

According to the BBB, job seekers should refuse employment that involves:

-Your personal bank account. Never agree to deposit checks or money orders or to have money wired into your bank account.

-Don't forward money from your account to another account, even if you are promised reimbursement. The checks or money orders likely will be counterfeit and the wire transfers will eventually be rescinded, leaving you out that amount of cash.

-Money out of your pocket. You shouldn't have to pay a fee to learn the details of a job or for so-called background or identity screenings.

-Reshipping products. Victims spend their own money to reship products and are "reimbursed" with bogus checks or money orders.

-Cross-border action. Offers from entities outside the United States and Canada are typically suspect. It is difficult for bureaus in the U.S. and Canada to investigate companies in other countries.

To further guard against identity theft, the BBB recommends job seekers omit personal information, such as Social Security numbers and even college graduation dates, from resumes posted online.

Job hunters should also consider providing an e-mail address as their primary contact instead of a home address or phone number.

Job seekers can check out prospective employers, placement firms and recruiters with the BBB. Go to www.bbb.org.

- Amy Baldwin covers money-related topics for 20- and 30-somethings in "Out of the Red." Have a question about your personal finances? Contact her at (704) 358-5179 or abaldwin@charlotteobserver.com. Leave your name and daytime phone number.

Are You an Employee?

2006-11-11T16:01:00.000-08:00

Know where you stand, and don’t be caught by surprise at tax time or when you are ready to move on to another job. Build your work history, your skills and experience in work that you want to do as soon as possible. When you can’t work at what you want to do, you may need to take temporary or part-time work to build a current work history and gain income until you find what you want. Whatever you choose to do, you need to know your responsibilities and the advantages and disadvantages of your choices.

• If you are an employee at a company, whether full-time, part-time or temporary through an agency, you filled out a W-4 form. You may also qualify for some benefits.

• If you are a contract employee, you will fill a 1099 at the first part of the year, and you will be responsible for payroll taxes. You are basically self-employed with no benefits.

• If you WFF (work for a friend or family member), it will help you pay your bills while you look for a job or get training, but you may not be able to verify your hours or work to a prospective employer.

• If you work UTT (under the table), you may find yourself not getting paid for your work, getting caught working illegally or at best have nothing to explain gaps in employment.

You can show that you are responsible and learn quickly if you go through a training program, go back to school, go through an on-the-job training program or do volunteer work. Employers want to see gaps in employment (3-6 months without verified work experience) filled with training or volunteer work.

You may know that you will show up with the skills needed to do the job, but the employer may be skeptical. You want cheaper products and employers are cutting costs. One way that employers are cutting costs is by cutting benefits and full time employees. More than ever, companies are looking for people with a proven track record. If you don’t have one, you can get one. You can get references by working or going to school, paid or unpaid.

Looking for fairness in the work world can keep you unemployed and unskilled for today’s workforce. Once you have a job, and develop a track record and higher-level skills, it will be easier to begin changing things for the better. In the meantime, we can bring a good attitude to our jobs and build better working environments from the ground up.

My Story

2006-11-01T10:38:00.000-08:00

I arrived in Sacramento, September 5, 2004. I was coming from Kissimmell, FL. I lost my home because of three consecutive hurricanes. I was semi-retired and loving being a volunteer at the Veteran's Hospital in Orlando, FL. That was then. Four months ago I lost my business. I was buying cars from the local auctions, fixing the cars up and reselling them on the internet. My business partner, who I put much trust in, stole stole $10,000 from the business. Of course the business shut down because of his deed. I then went through a bout of depression, which kept me in bed for 2 months.

I came to Francis House in June for a gas voucher. Being depressed and shy, I just wanted to be un-noticed. One of the volunteers named Sheila, asked me if I was interested in coming to job skills orientation. I hesitated at her offer because I was not here looking for a job. Somehow Sheila convinced me to come in for orientation to meet Nancy. Nancy gave me a pep talk that was so inspiring that I soon became a regular at Francis House workshops. I soon began re-telling my story to other clients. This helped me and hopefully gave inspiration to the listeners.

I am currently enrolled in the Nursing Program at Sacramento City College with a 4.0 GPA. I am enrolled with the Citrus Heights Fire Department as a volunteer, training to be a Flight Nurse (paramedic).

Never give up is my slogan for 2006.
Raymond H. Campbell

Got a job!

2006-10-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

One of our recent customers who got a job wrote:

"I'd like to thank the staff and volunteers of Francis House. Both the general services and career services center provided; which allowed me to move in one month from living on the river to a good paying job in my normal occupation.

It started with a lump of clay...

2006-07-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

"Entrepreneurs and artists are interchangeable"

Fast Company Magazine, Issue 17, August 1998

Bill Strickland can tell you when his life began:

It was a Wednesday afternoon in September 1963.

And he can tell you how it began:

It started with a lump of clay.

Strickland, then a 16-year-old black kid, was bored by school and hemmed in by life in a decaying Pittsburgh neighborhood. He wanted a way out, but he didn't have a clue about how to find it - until that Wednesday afternoon, when he went wandering through the hallways of his high school. It's a moment etched so clearly in his memory that, 35 years later, he can still recall the quality of the sunlight streaming in through the school windows. That's the day he came face to face with hope.

Looking through an open classroom door, Strickland saw something he'd never seen before: a rotating mound of clay being shaped into a vessel by a man absorbed in his work.

"If ever in life there is a clairvoyant experience, I had one that day," says Strickland, now 51. "I saw a radiant and hopeful image of how the world ought to be. It opened up a portal for me that suggested that there might be a whole range of possibilities and experiences that I had not explored. It was night and day - literally. I saw a line and I thought: This is dark, and this is light. And I need to go where the light is."

So Strickland walked into the sunlit classroom, introduced himself to ceramics teacher Frank Ross, the man at the potter's wheel, and said, "I'd like to learn whatever that is." With Ross as his mentor for nearly 20 years, Strickland not only found the way out - one that led to college - he also found the way in: the path that lets one person make all the difference in the world.

He mastered the art of social entrepreneurship, applying his potter's hands to reshape the business of social change. As a result, the people who now work with him and come to his programs at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG) and at the Bidwell Training Center Inc. (BTC) - his Pittsburgh-based organizations for urban change - will tell you that the day Bill Strickland walked into that ceramics classroom was the day that he began reinventing this country's approach to social entrepreneurship.

The Whirlpool

2006-07-24T15:40:00.000-07:00

Caught in a depression whirlpool

that's drowning my soul

Feigning spiritual prosperity

but lacking self control

I was pulled by desire,

a feeling of ecstasy

For a euphoria so intense,

it consumed all of me

Soon I lost control,

lost all that I had

Lied to my mother

and disgraced my dad

Then I was captured,

freedom had escaped me

Perjury in the court

because I lacked integrity

Living only to fail

in the wake of a high

Exhaling smoke pass a tear

beneath my wife's eye

Anticipaing a rush

that left faster than it came

Initiates an inner debate

of whether or not I'm sane

Confusion brought on

by emotional turmoil

Turned away from my God

even though he stays loyal!

By Wilson Wayne

Job Search Strategies

2006-06-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

Job Search Strategies:

Explore possibilities

Get information

Develop goals and plans

Take action

Document what you did

Follow-up

Regardless of the challenges that you believe might keep you from getting a job, Job Search Strategies will help you to be more successful on your path to finding a job to support yourself while you look for the RIGHT JOB.

Do you have what it takes to get a job?

2006-05-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

"The Employer Thinks The Way You Are Doing Your Job-Hunt

Is the Way You Will Do the Job"

from "What Color is Your Parachute"

Do you have a plan for conducting your job search? Job Search Strategies such as, having a plan and knowing your decision making process, increases your employability.

Job Search Plan:

1. Investigating: Be an investigator and learn who's hiring and what jobs are available.

2. Decision-making: Choose 2-3 companies who's work fits with your values and skills.

3. Researching: Get information about companies and jobs.

4. Networking: Find companies that you would like to work for, and call or walk in and ask for an application. See a Job Coach or Career Counselor for more information on how to contact employers.

5. Documentation: Keep a log or workshheet to document employers you have contacted, the date, and how you contacted them.

6. Follow-up: Follow up with phone calls, email and thank you notes whenever possible for all of your networking contacts.

"Most people job-hunt the same way they live their lives, and the way they do their work." Richard N. Bolles.

You can show an employer that your are employable by describing your job search plan in an interview. When you take the time to do your part, it shows. Show that you have time to work by doing the work to get the job.

It works! Nancy Miller, Career Counselor

Tonya's Success

2006-04-05T14:16:00.000-07:00

Tonya had an interview at Greyhound. She said:
"I was able to say that BECAUSE I use public transportation, I could be there on time. They liked that."

Tonya used successful Job Search Strategies. She worked hard and did the research, documentation and follow-up, which resulted in getting a part-time job. She is also applying for college which will give her better opportunities for the future.

Tonya's advice is, "Stay persistent!" It worked for her.

Interview Questions Should Be Job Related

2006-03-10T15:52:00.000-08:00

Questions asked in an interview should focus on your qualifications for the job. Although recent legislation helps ensure that you are not asked illegal questions, occasionally these questions come up on an application or in an interview.

Questions related to the job:
What education do you have?
What experience qualifies you for this job?
Do you have licenses and certifications for this job?
Are you willing to travel?
What name(s) are your work records under?
Do you have the legal right to work in the United States?
Are you available for overtime?

After hiring, an employer may request:
A copy of your birth certificate
Affirmative action statistics
Your marital status (married or single only)
Proof of citizenship
Photographs
Physical examination and drug testing
Social Security card

Questions an employer should not ask:
What is your age or date of birth?
What is your sexual orientation?
What church do you attend?
What is your national origin?
What is your maiden name?
Are you married, widowed, divorced, or separated?
What is or was your spouse's name and/or job?
Have you ever filed a workers' compensation claim?
Do you have any physical impairments or disabilities?

Title I of ADA lists these prohibited questions:
Have you ever been hospitalized? If so, for what condition?
Have you ever been treated by a psychiatrist or psychologist? If so, for what condition?
Is there any health-related reason that you may not be able to perform the job for which you are applying?
How many days were you absent from work because of illness last year?
Are you taking any prescribed drugs?
Have you ever been treated for drug addiction or alcoholism?

Make it an opportunity:

If an employer asks a personal question in the interview that is unrelated to the job, rather than refusing to answer the question, or giving unnecessary information that might not help you get the job, make it an opportunity to ask a job related question and let the employer know that you have done your homework. Such as:

I feel that I have all of the qualifications in the job description, is there something else that I should know about this position?

Very briefly describe the job as you understand it, and ask if there is something else that you should know.

Ask what a typical day would look like on the job. Describe how your skills will add value to this position.

Internet Safety

2005-11-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

Internet security and fraud can be huge problems when using the internet and mail programs. Many of the problems can be avoided by thinking of internet safety as you would any other kind of security. Don't give personal information such as your social security number, driver's license number, mother's maiden name or date of birth over the internet. The exception to this rule is when you have established contact with your bank, Employment Development Department (CALJobs), or other government agencies with secure websites. If in doubt, call them first to make sure you know who you are giving the information to and why.

If you are asked for personal information by Yahoo, Internet Explorer, or Windows programs, don't give them the information. You have a right to keep your personal information private. If you are contacted by email and asked to give personal information, don't give it to them. Call or check their website.

If you are the victim of internet fraud or other consumer fraud, contact the district attorney's office http://www.da.saccounty.net/main/fraud.htm,

Tina's Success

2005-10-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

I went to EDD a year ago, and they helped me with a resume, but not until I came to the LifeWork Center did I learn to follow through on my job search. They helped me make a more professional resume. Their service was more personal and professional. I found the LifeWork Center at Francis House to be upbeat and encouraging. The counselors there built up my spirits. They spent quality time with me, which is something I didn’t find elsewhere. The counselors were like my personal assistants, and that made me feel special. Before going there I was PC illiterate, but they taught me some basic PC skills. I was able to get a job as a Research Interviewer. Thank you so much.

Robert's Success

2005-10-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

The folks here at Francis House LifeWork Center helped me on resume writing. Job leads and a job posting through them helped me find a job at Food4Less. All of the staff here are excellent especially Judy. Thank you Francis House. Next I will get back my own place.

Tim's Success

2005-10-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

I got a flyer for a job at Goodwill from the Francis House LifeWork Center. I went to the orientation and there were 30 people there. Someone came out and she had my resume in her hand. She was pretty sure they would hire me. I called from the LWC and found out that I got the job. Job coaches at the LWC helped me with my resume. Now I am driving a forklift. Alot of things fell into place. I'm so glad I went to Francis House. Going straight to them got me the job.

Success Stories

2005-10-08T23:07:00.000-07:00

In today's tough job market, job search requires hard work, strategies, and skills for your resume. Using the internet is just one tool you can use for finding a job. The computer is especially helpful for company research, studying trends in employment, and writing a professional resume and cover letter. Being prepared for an interview and successful employment often requires a personal connection.

Sharing your stories can give hope to others who are feeling discouraged about change and transition. We would like to publish more stories. Tell us about the successes and challenges you have encountered in your job search. You can send your message to: lifeworkcenter@yahoo.com.

Job Search Strategy

2005-08-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

Know Yourself:

Know the essentials that you need for employment such as ID, phone number and/or email address, clothes for interview, etc.
Have a master resume or master application to gather detailed employment and education history.
Gather as much information as possible about employers, dates, salary, and supervisors.
Write down a goal. If you write it down you are more likely to make it happen.

List your skills that you would like to use at work.
List other skills or experience you can use if necessary to reach your Goal.

Market Yourself:

Be able to verbally describe your strengths, skills, and experience. We all have strengths and skills. We just need to know how to market them.
Prepare a general resume. If possible prepare a target resume after your job search. Use a one page chronological or functional format or a combination of both.
Be Prepared. Know where you are going, how to get there, and information about whom you are seeing.
Be on time or a little early to every appointment.
Look your best (neat, clean, not casual, and not overdone).
Smile, be enthusiastic, and let the employer know why you want to work for them (think of a reason besides money or convenience). Tell them why you like their product or vision.

Know your market:

Search job listings for jobs that fit your skills and experience.
Put jobs in categories if there is more than one type of job you are looking for.
If possible learn about companies that you want to work for. Who they are hiring, their mission or vision, and their product or service.
Know your objective -- state the position or type of job you are applying for. Write a sentence describing your skills that match employer needs.

Have a Plan:

Steps you will take to make yourself employable, get the job, and build your skills and experience.
What will you do this week to accomplish your goal?

Reach Out:

Involve others in your job search strategy.
Let others know your strengths, skills, and goals.
Ask an objective person to look at your resume and cover letter for readability, clarity, and spelling.
Seek out a Career Center (see side links) or LifeWork Design Coach

How are you doing?

2005-08-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

We want to hear from you. How is your job search going? Tell us your successes and frustrations. Are you using tools from this website? How is it helping you? Let us know what you think would help your job search. Let us know how you are finding ways to use your gifts, learn new skills, and become more resourceful.

Send email to How are you doing?

Job Search Format

2005-08-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

JOB SEARCH WORKSHEET

This is a helpful format for keeping track of contact information during your job search. Write down information about each job that you are applying for. Use this information for applying online, mailing, walk-in or faxing information. You will then have all of the information necessary for following up each position that you have applied for. If possible call or visit every place that you really want to work. Make a note of the skills and requirements for the job so that you can have them for your resume, cover letter, follow-up call, interview, and thank you letter. Use this process for best results. If you can't follow this process, advertise yourself creatively and honestly, and contact as many places as possible. Let your light shine often and someone will see it.

COMPANY NAME______________________________

PHONE_____________________________________

FAX NUMBER________________________________

CONTACT PERSON____________________________

CONTACT BY: ___MAIL ___FAX ___EMAIL ___ONLINE ___CALL

RESUME/APPLICATION DATE SENT_______________

FOLLOW-UP_________________________________

CONTACTED BY COMPANY:

DATE______________________________________

PERSON'S NAME______________________________

COMPANY ADDRESS___________________________

__________________________________________

JOB SKILLS NEEDED:

__________________________________________________

Tools for Transition

2005-07-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome Change

When I'm comfortable with my life, I don't welcome change. When I'm bored, tired, hungry or uncomfortable, I welcome change. But change happens when it's expected or unexpected. We seem to adjust to expected changes, whether we like them or not, better than we adjust to unexpected changes. It's far too easy to get angry and anxious over unexpected changes.

When changes create imbalance and discomfort, it is the American way to want to "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps" and handle things ourselves. We may expect others to do the same. But building relationships by giving to friends, family, and community projects, will build a network of support for times of transition or crisis. In the process of living, though, it is sometimes difficult to build up a network.

In times of crisis and transition, we may need to look for professionals and resources in the community. Part of having tools for transition is using resources available now, and then giving and planning for the future. By taking charge of the situation, asking questions, and being honest about current needs, it is possible to think of challenges as learning experiences and opportunities for change.

Focus on Your Vision

Make a list of your strengths and skills. Use one of the worksheets in the Resources Toolbox. Write down something that you've done well and acknowledge your skills and abilities. Then imagine something that you've dreamed about doing. What would it take to do that? Where could you get the skills and experience to do it? As you experience the process, your dream may change, but you will be building the skills that you value.

Think of Yourself as a Business

View every situation whether at a paid job, volunteering, managing yourself or your family as an opportunity to build personal and career skills. Think of every work situation as a marketplace for your skills.

Network

Think of every person you meet as part of your network. If you remember what Jesus said and love everyone as you would yourself, in other words treat everyone kindly and fairly no matter what the situation is, you will begin building a network. Tell people you know and meet what your skills and interests are. You may find an opportunity to help another person, to build meaningful relationships, or to find work that you like.

Keep Learning

Look for opportunities at work and in your community to add to your skills. If you are not finding opportunities, check your local community college or skills center to upgrade your skills.

Get Information

Talk to friends and family about what they do and what skills they use. Most people like to talk about their work. Let them know about your skills and what you want to do. Go to a One Stop Career Center, library, or check the internet to research occupations and job openings.

Develop a Portfolio

Describe your strengths, skills, experience and education. You can use the Master Resume format to make an advertisement of all of the wonderful things about you.

Include samples of art work, collages, music you've written, websites you've created, and photography.
Include interviews with family members describing family strengths, values, struggles, and culture.
Give examples of your decision-making and problem-solving process.
Journal your progress

Have a Plan of Action

Decide what you want to do.
What resources you will need.
When you want to start
What you will need to get started.

Adapted from the Real Game by Bill Barry