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Not so Merry. I’ve been downsized, what should I do?
As the year winds down, several businesses are letting workers go. Restructuring, fiscal downturns, a change in strategy—the reasons vary. Rarely is it personal, but at this time of year, it can be an especially difficult blow. My sister, a 50-year-old fundraiser, is going through this right now. When she shared the news and asked for advice, this is what I recommended: – Acknowledge the emotional aspects. Losing a job ranks among the top five life stressors, and to move ahead successfully, you’ll need to process the disappointment. Saying, “It doesn’t bother me,” is usually a...
read moreUsing creative sources for research and support.
Coming off of a whirlwind travel weekend, Monday then hit me with the challenge of coming up with a theme for this week’s column. The few ideas I had in reserve didn’t inspire me. So I did what I often do lately when looking for help: I asked my friends on Facebook. My post, calling for any interesting career-growth related topic, yielded 27 submissions in four hours. Suggestions ranged from when to give up on a passion career and just take a job, to when to give up on a job to shift to a passion career. What to do to get noted for a promotion, to what not to do at the company holiday party...
read moreEAP services for a better you!
November was Mental Health Awareness month, but I was a little too overwhelmed to be on top of that, so this column is a few days into December. My recent discombobulation is as a result of some changes in my business. Then, when I noticed my stress spilling over into my personal life, I contacted my Employee Assistance Program and lined up some sessions with a counselor. For more than two decades, I’ve been quick to run to a therapist when my mental balances get out of whack. Seems as though I’m not alone in this behavior. According to a West Virginia University report, approximately 20% of...
read moreA Survey For Hope
Chances are you’re basking in the glow of a delicious holiday meal, feeling optimistic about the world around us. Or at least I hope you are. What is hope all about, anyway? According to Therese Lask, a training and organizational development specialist at Colorado State University, it’s about having goals and a belief that you can overcome obstacles to achieve them. The future seems bright to those with hope. Lask trains employees within workplaces on how to increase their feelings of hope, based on research by Shane Lopez, Ph.D. Using data gathered in schools, and combined with his...
read more“Dating” to find a job. A unique and successful approach.
In my work, I help people figure out what career path they want to be on. It’s a meaningful endeavor that has the power to get people moving into occupations that fit their talents and interests. Typically though, it’s not a linear process. On average, more than fifty percent of people will tell you they don’t feel like they’ve found a good match career-wise, and for those in that boat, most aren’t sure how to resolve it. Often they default to reading job ads in hopes that it will lead to a helpful revelation. This isn’t so different from the search to find a life partner, where singles seek...
read moreWhat not to do in an interview.
A group of hiring managers recently shared their biggest job-interview-candidate peeves. These are their replies, listed in order of frequency mentioned: “I’m always disappointed when candidates have no questions to ask me during interviews.” This frustration was mentioned several times, and conveys to interviewers that the candidate didn’t prepare for interview basics, and also that she doesn’t care much about the opportunity. Bringing along a list of questions and a notepad to record information is a quick fix for this faux pas. “Not listening to questions, and responding with...
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