Career Counseling

LOOKING FOR FREE JOB SEARCH ADVICE? Send an email to: JobSearch@thefabulouswoman.com Selected questions will be answered and posted on this page.

About Sean: Sean Kincaid is a professional job search consultant who has helped hundreds across America be successful in their searches for new positions. He offers wise and time proven concepts that bring success and he has agreed to offer his expertise to The Fabulous Woman (TM).

Layoff Anxiety?
Six Things To Do When You Think You May Be Laid Off
by Sean Kincaid

Chances are excellent that you either know someone who has been laid off, or a friend knows someone who has. The media seems obsessed with the news of layoffs or anticipated layoffs. With all this attention being given to the bad news of our economy, what are we to do?

If you are in a situation where you fear you may lose your position, there are six things you can do now.

1. Regardless of what you hear, keep positive! Not only will you enjoy your days, but should a layoff hit your company, they may choose to keep you because of your positive attitude. Focus not on the bad news in the media, but on improving your skills in your current environment. Work to become indispensable.

2. Dust off your resume. The time to start reviewing your resume is not the day you need it. Pull it out, remove the cobwebs, and update it. Be sure it lists your current skills, abilities, contact information, and includes your accomplishments. (One should always have an updated resume on hand -- just in case.)

3. Review your options. Should you lose your current position, what else could you do? What other companies do you know of that may be interested in a person with your background?

4. Assess your strengths. Don't just look at your positions and titles, assess your abilities and traits that would be of value in any position. Leadership skills? Motivational skills? Even informal leadership abilities are priceless in the marketplace. Talk to other people whose opinion you value and listen to what they have to say about your innate strengths.

5. Don't be tempted to quit your current job to take another you think is safer. What happens if you do? This will put you on the bottom of the seniority list which could lead to an even more likely lay off. Carefully assess job security issues with a trusted advisor before making the leap.

6. Check your financial bottom line. Should you be laid off, how long would your savings last? Take into consideration unemployment checks, but it may take up to 8 weeks before you receive that initial income. Would your financial condition push you into accepting a new position that was below your capabilities? If necessary, strengthen your finances now by trimming excess expenses.

Should you actually be laid off, understand this could be just another transition. Life is full of transitions and being laid off is not the end of the world. You've gone through other transitions before (graduation from High School or College,or the end of your military enlistment for example) and you survived. Even if your worst fear of being laid off from your job becomes a reality, you'll survive this one too.

Common Job Search Myths
by Sean Kincaid

Myth #1: “No one wants to hire you when you’re over 50.”

Don’t tell that to most candidates for Congress or the White House! Have you ever noticed what the older candidates boast when running for office against their younger opponents? Experience! Yes, that is the golden ticket that the golden agers carry when they apply for jobs. Your experience (especially when accompanied with accomplishments) will translate into an advantage over those younger than you. This myth is so powerful because it was once true. Today, though, our economy is no longer based on learning a trade, but instead on experience, initiative, character, and personality.

Myth #2: “It’s easier to get a job when you have a job.”

 It isn’t easier to get a job when you already have one, but it sure is less stress! At least when you are already receiving a regular paycheck you won’t feel pressured to take just anything that comes your way as long as it pays! The truth is, the job search is a lot more difficult if you are employed full-time. Consider that you may have to look for a job during your scheduled work hours. How many companies would frown upon their employees searching the internet for a new opportunity when their current opportunity continues to pay them? How many would be upset if they knew the “appointment” you had was not for a dentist, but for another interview? I don’t know of many. The truth is that a job search is far more difficult when you are still working full-time. So, if you don’t have a job, your current job is to find another. If you still have a job, understand that your search will most likely take far longer than you expect, so plan accordingly. Lower your expectations of finding something soon and be patient. With some flexibility you will eventually find the position you are longing to have.

Myth #3: “The best method for getting your resume ‘out there’ is to give it to a friend and have them deliver it to their supervisor.”

Think about this one for a minute. Who wants the job? Your friend? I don’t think so; they already work there. If you are really good, your friend may see you as competition. If you aren’t that good, your friend needs to choose better friends!  Honestly here, don’t place your future into the hands of someone with less to gain than you. This is YOUR future and YOUR bills that you are hoping to pay with YOUR new job. Instead, find out the name and phone number of your friend’s supervisor. Then call and set up an appointment so you can introduce yourself as their next star performer!

Copyright 2009 by Silver Dove Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction, transmittal, or storage of any photographs, logos, designs, video, or articles is strictly prohibited. TheFabulousWoman.com or any of its affiliates is not associated with Myspace.