Friday, January 19, 2007
Hiding Behind Your Technology?
Are you talking to fewer people than ever? Would rather send an email than pick up the phone?
We live in neighborhoods not on islands. It is ironic that the most intelligent among us invented the very vehicles that keep our personas invisible and make us lonely and depressed. We are not meant to hang out with a computer screen and if I ever meet that digital lady that tells me that 456-4444 is unavailable it could get ugly.
A few years ago I spoke at Franklin University. The following day a woman introduced herself telling me that she had moved into the house next to mine 10 months earlier. I had never seen her. Her only point of identification was the street address on my brochure. She introduced herself by email.
There are many reasons why employers decide on one candidate over another but the documented reason is that they hire who they like! Hibernation is unhealthy! It freezes the warmth within us and our communication skills become awkward. Listen to a real voice, look into someone's eyes, press the flesh, and be part of humanity because you already are! The link below says it all.
YouTube - Free Hugs Campaign. Inspiring Story! (music by sick puppies)
We live in neighborhoods not on islands. It is ironic that the most intelligent among us invented the very vehicles that keep our personas invisible and make us lonely and depressed. We are not meant to hang out with a computer screen and if I ever meet that digital lady that tells me that 456-4444 is unavailable it could get ugly.
A few years ago I spoke at Franklin University. The following day a woman introduced herself telling me that she had moved into the house next to mine 10 months earlier. I had never seen her. Her only point of identification was the street address on my brochure. She introduced herself by email.
There are many reasons why employers decide on one candidate over another but the documented reason is that they hire who they like! Hibernation is unhealthy! It freezes the warmth within us and our communication skills become awkward. Listen to a real voice, look into someone's eyes, press the flesh, and be part of humanity because you already are! The link below says it all.
YouTube - Free Hugs Campaign. Inspiring Story! (music by sick puppies)
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
What's to be Gained From Ohio State's Humiliating Loss
Last night Florida Gators ate some tender Ohio State Buckeyes for dinner with a 41-14 embarrassing defeat. Who'da guessed? The Buckeyes had gone undefeated, produced a Heisman trophy winner and beat Michigan. Here in Columbus, Ohio we went into this game worshipping our Buckeyes more than ever as they ultimately suffered their worst defeat in 12 years on college football's biggest stage. Even our Buckeye soldiers in Iraq were decked out in scarlet and gray facepaint and shown in photos spelling OHIO with their arms.
I'm really not the biggest football fan and I feel badly when kids or clients for that matter suffer disappointment, but it's not difficult to see what happened last night. We coaches warn our job seekers against these factors everyday. This from the football gurus....and we job search coaches....
- Momentum was lost due to too much vacation/downtime. Click back to any career blog and our advice just last month was discussed by every job search coach on the web. In high stakes games winning takes maximum concentration. There are no long rest periods.
- Mistaken invincibility. College football players are young folks; some are still teenagers. We make a hobby of worshipping these kids, so it can't be surprising that some lack the discernment that sustains at least a hint of modesty. But don't we know adults whose arrogance may also catch them off guard? Sometimes the mighty fall solely because they fail to see it as a possibility.
The best team doesn't always win .. simply the team that plays best that particular day. Have you lost your big game lately? Do you feel like a loser? We can't control much in the world these days but we certainly can determine how we react to disappointment. Keep your eyes on The Ohio State Buckeyes. You can't keep them down for long.
I'm really not the biggest football fan and I feel badly when kids or clients for that matter suffer disappointment, but it's not difficult to see what happened last night. We coaches warn our job seekers against these factors everyday. This from the football gurus....and we job search coaches....
- Momentum was lost due to too much vacation/downtime. Click back to any career blog and our advice just last month was discussed by every job search coach on the web. In high stakes games winning takes maximum concentration. There are no long rest periods.
- Mistaken invincibility. College football players are young folks; some are still teenagers. We make a hobby of worshipping these kids, so it can't be surprising that some lack the discernment that sustains at least a hint of modesty. But don't we know adults whose arrogance may also catch them off guard? Sometimes the mighty fall solely because they fail to see it as a possibility.
The best team doesn't always win .. simply the team that plays best that particular day. Have you lost your big game lately? Do you feel like a loser? We can't control much in the world these days but we certainly can determine how we react to disappointment. Keep your eyes on The Ohio State Buckeyes. You can't keep them down for long.
Friday, January 05, 2007
CareerBoard's Janice Worthington 2007 Predictions
Baby Boomers - Don't expect the Easy Rider generation to quietly fade away. Many of our nest eggs were reduced when the stock market declined in 2000 and we're amazingly sustaining our youthful temperaments. Social Security is seducing Boomers to hang in till past age 65 and many of the Boomers will. Many bored retirees will come out of retirement and give the Gen X job seekers some tough competition. Corporate America, which has been wrongly accused of "dissing" Boomers, will prove its appreciation and need for decades of Baby Boomer wisdom with job offers. And with a little encouragement Boomers with respect themselves!
Healthcare - Careers ranging from Hospital Administrators to Pharmaceutical Sales Reps will continue to be in demand, despite the temporary turmoil of organizations such as Ortho-McNeil and Pfizer. The newly empowered Democrats may eventually challenge the structure of healthcare in the US but no one can offshore your physical therapy sessions. The more service-directed the healthcare position, the more secure its longevity will be. The Baby Boomers with their vast numbers will assure the demand for all levels of healthcare practitioners for at least the next two decades.
Technology - If you can read my wisdom you are several steps ahead of many job seekers. Your computer prowess will be more critical than ever to your success. Face-to-face networking will continue to be enhanced by LinkedIn.com, a MySpace for grownups. Employment bloggers will go prime time. As my colleagure Cheesehead says, "2005 was about the early adopters forming the blogosphere. 2006 was about everyone blogging. In 2007, the best of the best will begin to clearly establish themselves above the clutter and begin to break through to highly coveted employers, instead of just other bloggers. And surprise, surprise, money will be made. Blogging: It's not just for losers anymore." As job seekers, you need to be here.
Face-to-Face Networking - Pressing the flesh will continue to be most effective. Because so many of us are hiding behind computer screens those who go to association meetings, job fairs, the gym and church will ultimately be best connected. My clients would prefer to make the drive as opposed to virtual coaches who refuse to see their job seekers. We still need to see one another. We need to break bread, have coffee, meet for a drink, commiserate and celebrate! The true first impression is visual then auditory and tactile. People hire who they like and I have yet to see a computer exude warmth.
Healthcare - Careers ranging from Hospital Administrators to Pharmaceutical Sales Reps will continue to be in demand, despite the temporary turmoil of organizations such as Ortho-McNeil and Pfizer. The newly empowered Democrats may eventually challenge the structure of healthcare in the US but no one can offshore your physical therapy sessions. The more service-directed the healthcare position, the more secure its longevity will be. The Baby Boomers with their vast numbers will assure the demand for all levels of healthcare practitioners for at least the next two decades.
Technology - If you can read my wisdom you are several steps ahead of many job seekers. Your computer prowess will be more critical than ever to your success. Face-to-face networking will continue to be enhanced by LinkedIn.com, a MySpace for grownups. Employment bloggers will go prime time. As my colleagure Cheesehead says, "2005 was about the early adopters forming the blogosphere. 2006 was about everyone blogging. In 2007, the best of the best will begin to clearly establish themselves above the clutter and begin to break through to highly coveted employers, instead of just other bloggers. And surprise, surprise, money will be made. Blogging: It's not just for losers anymore." As job seekers, you need to be here.
Face-to-Face Networking - Pressing the flesh will continue to be most effective. Because so many of us are hiding behind computer screens those who go to association meetings, job fairs, the gym and church will ultimately be best connected. My clients would prefer to make the drive as opposed to virtual coaches who refuse to see their job seekers. We still need to see one another. We need to break bread, have coffee, meet for a drink, commiserate and celebrate! The true first impression is visual then auditory and tactile. People hire who they like and I have yet to see a computer exude warmth.
