Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Joan Kessler on Alternative Dispute Resolution .... a Good Way to Go

Every interpersonal interaction usually involves both verbal and nonverbal components.

Many times the nonverbal cues may communicate more than and be inconsistent with the spoken words. Look for:

● Tone of voice cues indicating a contrary tone which may negate a positive verbal message.

● Hostile gestures such as crossed arms or eye rolling.

● Avoidance of direct eye contact may indicate evasive/deceptive communication.

Also, remember, you are always communicating nonverbally so be aware of nonverbal
cue leakage that you may exhibit and take care not to have nonverbal cues that are
inconsistent with your verbal messages.


Many years ago I received a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Communications.
Before I went to law school I taught interpersonal relations, group interaction, conflict resolution, intercultural communication courses and served as a jury consultant. I apply the communication issues and solutions I taught, coupled with my 20 years of legal practice experience to my alternative dispute resolution practice.
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JOAN B. KESSLER, JD, PhD
ADR SERVICES, INC. Los Angeles, California

Website: http://www.joanbkessler.com/
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World Future Society Provides Ten Forecasts for 09 and Beyond


Ten Forecasts for 2009 and Beyond
Source, World Future Society

http://www.wfs.org/


· Forecast # 1: Everything you say and do will be recorded by 2030. By the late 2010s, ubiquitous unseen nanodevices will provide seamless communication and surveillance among all people everywhere. Humans will have nanoimplants, facilitating interaction in an omnipresent network. Everyone will have a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. Since nano storage capacity is almost limitless, all conversation and activity will be recorded and recoverable. — Gene Stephens, “Cybercrime in the Year 2025,” THE FUTURIST July-Aug 2008.

· Forecast #2: Bioviolence will become a greater threat as the technology becomes more accessible. Emerging scientific disciplines (notably genomics, nanotechnology, and other microsciences) could pave the way for a bioattack. Bacteria and viruses could be altered to increase their lethality or to evade antibiotic treatment.— Barry Kellman, “Bioviolence: A Growing Threat,” THE FUTURIST May-June 2008.


· Forecast #3: The car's days as king of the road will soon be over. More powerful wireless communication that reduces demand for travel, flying delivery drones to replace trucks, and policies to restrict the number of vehicles owned in each household are among the developments that could thwart the automobile’s historic dominance on the environment and culture. If current trends were to continue, the world would have to make way for a total of 3 billion vehicles on the road by 2025. — Thomas J. Frey, “Disrupting the Automobile’s Future,” THE FUTURIST, Sep-Oct 2008.

· Forecast #4: Careers, and the college majors for preparing for them, are becoming more specialized. An increase in unusual college majors may foretell the growth of unique new career specialties. Instead of simply majoring in business, more students are beginning to explore niche majors such as sustainable business, strategic intelligence, and entrepreneurship. Other unusual majors that are capturing students' imaginations: neuroscience and nanotechnology, computer and digital forensics, and comic book art. Scoff not: The market for comic books and graphic novels in the United States has grown 12% since 2006. —THE FUTURIST, World Trends & Forecasts, Sep-Oct 2008.

· Forecast #5: There may not be world law in the foreseeable future, but the world's legal systems will be networked. The Global Legal Information Network (GLIN), a database of local and national laws for more than 50 participating countries, will grow to include more than 100 counties by 2010. The database will lay the groundwork for a more universal understanding of the diversity of laws between nations and will create new opportunities for peace and international partnership.— Joseph N. Pelton, "Toward a Global Rule of Law: A Practical Step Toward World Peace," THE FUTURIST Nov-Dec 2007.

· Forecast #6: The race for biomedical and genetic enhancement will — in the twenty-first century — be what the space race was in the previous century. Humanity is ready to pursue biomedical and genetic enhancement, says UCLA professor Gregory Stock, the money is already being invested, but, he says, “We'll also fret about these things — because we're human, and it's what we do.” — Gregory Stock quoted in THE FUTURIST, Nov-Dec 2007.
· Forecast #7: Professional knowledge will become obsolete almost as quickly as it's acquired. An individual's professional knowledge is becoming outdated at a much faster rate than ever before. Most professions will require continuous instruction and retraining. Rapid changes in the job market and work-related technologies will necessitate job education for almost every worker. At any given moment, a substantial portion of the labor force will be in job retraining programs. — Marvin J. Cetron and Owen Davies, "Trends Shaping Tomorrow's World, Part Two," THE FUTURIST May-June 2008.

· Forecast #8: Urbanization will hit 60% by 2030. As more of the world's population lives in cities, rapid development to accommodate them will make existing environmental and socioeconomic problems worse. Epidemics will be more common due to crowded dwelling units and poor sanitation. Global warming may accelerate due to higher carbon dioxide output and loss of carbon-absorbing plants. — Marvin J. Cetron and Owen Davies, “Trends Shaping Tomorrow's World,” THE FUTURIST Mar-Apr 2008.

· Forecast #9: The Middle East will become more secular while religious influence in China will grow. Popular support for religious government is declining in places like Iraq, according to a University of Michigan study. The researchers report that in 2004 only one-fourth of respondents polled believed that Iraq would be a better place if religion and politics were separated. By 2007, that proportion was one-third. Separate reports reveal a countertrend in China. — World Trends & Forecasts, THE FUTURIST Nov-Dec 2007.

· Forecast #10: Access to electricity will reach 83% of the world by 2030. Electrification has expanded around the world, from 40% connected in 1970 to 73% in 2000, and may reach 83% of the world's people by 2030. Electricity is fundamental to raising living standards and access to the world's products and services. Impoverished areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa still have low rates of electrification; Uganda is just 3.7% electrified. — Andy Hines, “Global Trends in Culture, Infrastructure, and Values,” Sep-Oct 2008.

Photo: How Disney saw the Future - Underwater City '84

Patty DeDominic & Associates,
http://www.dedominic.com/ http://www.thenewnewworldofwork.com/
Coaches to High Achieving Professionals

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Mary Elizabeth Bradford on What To Do When Companies Aren't Saying Yes

THE CAREER INSIDER™ FEATURE ARTICLE

Prefer to LISTEN to this week's issue? Turn up your speakers and click the play button.(If you don't see the audio play button, Click here to listen...)

What To Do When Companies Aren't Saying Yes

By Mary Elizabeth Bradford

I would like to share a personal story with you. I remember a couple really lean months after I started my business. My husband and I would sit down at the table and I would start to tick off all the things I had done to market my business properly. "I have done everything right...so, what's WRONG!?" I would exclaim. The truth of the matter was, I hadn't done anything wrong, per se, it just felt like that because I didn't have the amount of clients that I had expected. Interestingly enough, in all other ways I had succeeded in meeting all of my business goals and timelines. However, those achievements were overshadowed by the anxiety caused by not having a long line of clients waiting to work with me. Turns out after about 6 weeks (which felt more like forever), I had plenty of wonderful clients. You would think as a job search coach I would not fall into this trap! But the point is, when we are going through "the fire" it's easy to panic and quickly loose perspective. When you are in a job search it's not much different. There are highs and lows. Sometimes the phone never stops ringing; sometimes it may feel like all potential employers are purposefully avoiding you. Inevitably one wonders, "What have I done wrong?" No doubt, it can be a confusing time. So here are some tips that provide the job seeker with a very helpful dose of reality. Tip #1: Expect the peaks and valleys It's true. Every job search or career transition has its peaks and valleys. And yes, its uncomfortable. If you are experiencing a dry spell in your job search you need to look at a few things before you can accurately determine the cause. These include:
Is your resume powerful enough to get you attention? Have you had it professionally written?
Do you have a plan to focus on a particular industry and position? Does that plan include strategies that you are implementing?
Have you investigated the health of the industry you are targeting? Is it in a growth mode or is it shrinking?
Do you know how to tap into the unadvertised job market and, if so, are you been using those strategies consistently and persistently?
Have you given your job search enough time? The average search in a good market can take 2 to 4 months for a mid level professional and 6 to 12 months for a senior executive.
Tip #2 Get realistic about marketing figures Direct mail campaigns do the heavy lifting for you and I recommend them. They usually yield a 1% to 7% return. Unadvertised job market strategies can take your positive responses to 20% to 60% in a good market and slightly less in a bad economy. Regardless, pursuing the unadvertised market beats out job boards by a long shot. Job boards are the toughest job market in which to compete. Period. The bottom line: even still, most companies are not going to respond to you. I am not trying to be negative, but rather to demonstrate that it doesn't mean your not good enough or not doing something right. Job searching is marketing. Job searching is a numbers game. The solution? Check your search against tip #1 and then increase your numbers. Tip #3 Don't Get Down On Yourself There are loads of things you can do that actually do help emotionally, mentally and physically in a job search. A few of these include: Use a coach to keep you motivated, make sure you are using the right techniques to leverage yourself in the market and to keep you on track with setting and reaching your goals on a weekly basis. Work (i.e. job search) and life balance are incredibly vital! Set several hours aside each day to work on your job search and write out what your main activity is for each day. Take the rest of the day off (yes you heard me right!) to rest, relax, to be with your family, to enjoy sports or other activities, work on continuing education read or whatever else you like to do. This will keep you sane and balanced while you are waiting for your efforts to pay off. Join a church group or a support group. The positive support helps, just trust me on this one. If you hit a dry spell, remind yourself that its not you and its not personal. Getting depressed and feeling desperate is not the vibe you want to be taking into your upcoming interviews. Do what you have to do. One executive client I know took a part-time job in a grocery store while he was looking for a full-time executive position. He said it helped him feel like he was still contributing monetarily to his family and just getting out and working part-time kept his head clear. The wise job seeker and career changer know that dry spells in a job search don't signal the end of a career as it is known :). They use the time to market even harder. Remember that every marketing effort is an accomplishment in and of itself and does contribute to action, forward movement and future activity. By looking at the situation realistically, using techniques to boost your activity and keeping your focus on what you want (not what you are afraid of) you will maximize your leverage and move consistently forward to the results you want. WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? See Mary Elizabeth's Blog

Monday, April 27, 2009

Al Walsh Discusses The Current Economic Mess


Batten Down the Hatches

There are times to write positive,
fluffy, motivational messages,
and then there are times to deal
with the ugly, unvarnished truth as it stands.


I follow the economy closely;
for my own benefit and that of my clients.

I share that information in various articles
I post around the internet. I share Patty DeDominic’s
view that things are going to get a lot worse
before they get better.

The only entities who are getting a break right now are the banks & financial institutions that caused this mess in the first place; but not enough to free up credit and get money flowing again. As a nation, we abused credit anyway and have some shaking out to do. The vast quantity of new dollars the Fed (Federal Reserve) is pumping out are counterbalanced by new national debt which we will soon have to face. Guess who gets the bill? The dollars themselves will create inflation, as well as a diminution of its luster as the world’s reserve currency. Just ask the Chinese. They’re using their vast reserves of US Dollars to buy hard commodities like copper and gold; fearful that their dollars will become worthless. Ask the G-20, which is bandying with the idea of creating a new world reserve currency. Meanwhile, our government enacts vast new spending programs; which in my opinion will do much more harm than good. None of this bodes well for the US economy. Like nature, economics always assesses a price for our foolishness.

So what does all of that mean to you?

The Fed won’t solve the problem, and the government’s only throwing band-aids on it; band-aids that we’ll pay for soon. We’re in for a long haul of bad news, surprises, and continued economic decline. Most of the world is along for the ride, so they’re not going to pull us out.

Hang on to your job for dear life, and be glad to have it. If you lost yours, get anything you can to reestablish an income; as soon as possible. This is not a time to be proud. It’s a time for survival; anyway you can. Just look around you. It’s ugly out there. All fluffy talk from Washington aside, the reality on the street is dark and getting darker.

For folks like me, who already face age discrimination and the natural challenge of fighting for a narrow band of senior-level jobs, “dumb-down” your resume if you have to and reach lower.
If and when the “pregnant” issue of your old salary arises, be honest and explain that you’re willing to accept a lower income for the opportunity of reestablishing employment in a stable position, or something similar. You’ve been in the hiring chair. What would have worked with you?

This isn’t one of those annoying little recessions we’ve all been through where we get mildly inconvenienced for a few months and then go back to business as usual. This time around is ugly, deep, stubborn, and unprecedented. Even when we finally dig out of the current problems, we’ll have a whole new set of challenges facing us as a result of the price tag for the current rescue efforts. There’s good reason why the news is filled with articles about people retiring later and working longer. Nobody’s 401k went unscathed. It’s becoming a long-term trend.
As the old saying goes: “We have met the enemy, and they are us”. Our" enemies" overseas will no doubt take advantage if they can. Who knows how this will ultimately shake out? The problem is that we’re so vulnerable right now, it’s hard to read the runes and know what to expect. For my money, I think the bank problem is being intentionally understated and we’re in for much bigger problems than we’re led to believe.

I went to a job fair the other day. Nothing but low-level jobs. Lots of grey-hairs there looking them over. Take that as a clue. If you have to, get in line and be glad there’s a line to get into.

An article I read yesterday reported that auditors think at least 25% of American companies won’t be going-concerns (viable businesses) anymore by year-end. 25%!!!

I pray that I’m wrong, but I don’t think so.
As we used to say in the service: “Prepare for the worst and you can only be pleasantly surprised”. I used to be in the Navy, on an amphibious ship – a nice, big, slow, poorly-armed target. I sort of feel that way now. “Bombs” are falling all around and there’s no way to fight back or escape. Time to find a deep hole and wait it out.

Dig in, get what you can for income, cut your spending wherever possible, and ride this out. That’s really all us “mere mortals” can do. The root causes of this mess, and the solutions, are way over our heads.

Good Luck to us all,

Al Walsh, CEO
Walsh Enterprises, Business Advisors
Huntington Beach, Ca
www.awalsh.us

If you want to follow the articles I post on the economy, you can find them at: http://walshal.wordpress.com/. I select sources who have displayed an amazing capacity for incisive analysis. I’ve been following them for years. They saw what was coming, and why. You won’t find this information in the boiler-plate press.
Patty's note:
I had to stop ready Harry S. Dent Jr's book, the Great Depression Ahead. It just shook me to the core and I was finding it difficult to find the "lemonaid" in his predictions for this year and next....nothing but "lemons" there. I really have to find a balance between scaring YOU and myself....and motivating you to go and look for those opportunities... THEY are out. ... but you are going to have to work hard to find them!

STARTUPLY.com a NEW Site for JOBS with Start Up Companies


There's a fun new site called www.startuply.com


On their site it says For Job Seekers:
Because when you're joining a team to change how the world works or plays,
fit is everything. To find the right job you need to find the right company,
and we're here to help you look behind the curtain.

For Start Ups:
Because "best" and "brightest" are just the beginning of what you're looking for.
In a startup, every person matters. We get it, and we're here to make sure the
right people find you.

WHY Startuply? www.startuply.com
Because talent + fit is what we're all about.
We give job seekers the power to compare apples to...well, oranges, and
companies the ability to share both their vision and the reality of startup life.

There are plenty of openings listed and it appears to be free for candidates and for
companies to post. Why not give it a try....they also have a terrific blog. (not as good as the New New World of Work's blog.... but what can I say! :-)

Sunday, April 26, 2009

360 Reviews, A Tool by Murad S. Mirza International Human Resources Expert

Utilizing Tools for Productivity and Learning......

We asked Murad Mirza about his thoughts on 360 Feedback.
This is a tool which enables organizations to gather input from the
wide circle of stakeholders of an executive or manager, particularly
one which the employer wants to develop for greater authority and
responsibility.


Here is what he had to say on this tool:

I believe 360 feedback is an appealing concept, however, its application
is fraught with practical challenges that need to be overcome in order
to gain the desired performance appraisal objectives.

Some of the issues (not in any particular order) are as follows:

1. It is a tool and therefore care should be taken in the extent of its usage across the various hierarchical levels and applicability pertaining to certain type and size of organizations

2. The exercise itself can become quite cumbersome and requires a reasonable level of staff to manage the process

3. Certain appraisers, e.g., clients, may not be trained in its usage which may lead to more useless data than desired information

4. Conflicting feedback from various sources may increase the difficulty of trying to establish actual performance of the appraisee

5. The purpose of using 360 feedback often gets clouded between the issues of its usage as a Reward & Recognition tool or a Learning & Development tool for the respective employee

6. Frequency of such feedback, e.g., yearly, may deem it ineffective to gain information from certain stakeholders, e.g. peers or seniors who have left the organization

7. Clients/Suppliers may be unwilling to give negative feedback, especially, in case of a influential person in a monopoly business

8. It may not be useful in project-based industry, e.g., construction, which normally hires contractual staff who are released upon project completion

9. Certain economic conditions, e.g., recession, may nullify its usefulness, since employee performance becomes a subset of a broader context of organizational performance which
suffers as a victim of 'uncontrollable' macro-economic parameters

10. The manner of choosing sources for providing feedback may raise ethical issues,
especially, if 'scores' need to be settled

11. It normally looks at the past and may not be a good predictor of future performance

One of the key measures that need to be ensured is 'Simplicity', since,
such an initiative can easily become complicated and burdensome.

If you would like to have a sample 360 Template, which can be customized for your particular needs, please contact us. As with all tools, I recommend a 'test run' and subsequent refinement before 'full scale' application.

You can also find some of his previous contributions to this book at this link
Inter-Continent Consulting Assignments


Murad S. Mirza, Expert Resource to the NEW New World of Work

NNWOW is fortunate to receive timely input and advice from Murad S, Mirza, he earned a
B.S. No. Arizona University, MBA General Management & Marketing.

Mr. Mirza has more than 10 years of achievement-oriented professional experience as a Consultant, Auditor, Trainer and Manager in overlapping areas of Human Resources and
Quality Management. Murad S. Mirza is a respected contributing expert on NNWOW, particularly as a resource for international organizations and executives. He has lived in many parts of the world and now resides in Lohore, Pakistan.

His background in Organizational Development utilizes and establishes customer-focused management systems, re-engineering of business processes and improvement of performance standards. He has successfully guided, trained and audited organizations from service and manufacturing sectors in gaining strategic and operational advantage through responsive organizational structures, efficient business processes and enhanced internal / external customer orientation.

His extensive education includes a Master of Industrial Relations & Human Resource Management with Distinction from the University of Sydney, Australia.
He was also Certified Six Sigma Black Belt in 2006 at Singapore Quality Institute,
he graduated in the top third of his class when he received his MBA in General Management & Marketing at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Pakistan preceded by years of study and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Northern Arizona University in 1994.

Connect Directly via Linked In or email to msmirza@yahoo.com

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Finance People Get Great Advice from Al Walsh



Job Tips for Finance People


Patty DeDominic asked me to address some thoughts on how Finance people can stage themselves for job success in this market, so here goes.

As background, I’ve got 30-years business experience in a wide range of roles. Finance & Accounting has been at that core of my experience, including Bank Teller, Loan Officer, Stockbroker, CPA, Department Head, Controller, CFO, and Treasurer.

I won’t bore you with a litany of the usual core expectations.

Every employer wants Finance people who are experts in their industry, know their IT systems like the back of their hand, etc. These are basic requisites.

In this market, if you don’t have these core points under your belt you’re going to be “swimming against the tide”.

Choose your employer prospects carefully to fit your skill-set.

If you try to shotgun the market, you’ll just put yourself through an exercise in frustration.

What I really want to focus on is other characteristics that will separate you from the crowd.

The real crux of my message is that you should be able to display an understanding of the prospective employer’s business, and how you as a Finance person can support & nurture that business.

Far too many people in our field are mere technicians who don’t grasp the full role that they should be playing. This is particularly true for Controllers and CFOs. There are those of us who richly deserve the dreaded label of “bean-counter”.

For instance: working capital management is a critical subject for most companies in these challenging times. You need to be up with the times, have a solid understanding of the financial markets, and be able to display comprehension of your prospective employer’s situation & needs and how you as Finance officer might fulfill those needs.

The regulatory environment is crazy, and getting crazier. You need to be on top of it, and have an understanding of how it impacts your potential employer; and how you might mitigate the impact.

Many of us know that employers often call upon their Finance managers to spread their wings over other functions, such as H/R and IT. The ability to display comprehension and expertise outside the Finance function will make you more desirable; and open the door to possible career expansion such as that which I’ve experienced.

Far too many people in our field are mere record-keepers, with insufficient comprehension of what the numbers mean and how they can help manage the company. You need to display the ability to partner, nurture, and support the non-financial leaders with timely, meaningful data and valuable guidance. You need to be able to grasp the strategic & operational plans, become a part of the process, and ensure that the financial resources are there to achieve the established goals. You need to be a nurturer who can help raise the financial awareness of other leaders.

I could go on with other examples, but the gist of my message is that you will stand apart from the crowd if you can display the talents of a true businessperson, as opposed to being a mere “technician”.

Whether you’re going for a CFO position or a more humble role, the ability to telegraph comprehension and support of the overall business will be critical to success.

Do your homework before you walk into the interview.

  • Learn all that you can about the prospective employer.
  • Listen carefully during the interview, probe, and take every opportunity to convey your ability to fulfill their total need.
  • Listen to the interviewer for items of key interest. Very likely, they’re shopping because the predecessor failed to fulfill some expectation. At some point in conversation they’re going to raise the point, and you don’t want to be caught “napping”.

Try to keep the conversation focused on the present & future, and what you can do for them. Questions about the past will inevitably arise, in which case you should try to raise examples of repeatable accomplishments that the prospective employer would value.


Smile – a lot. Try not to tense up (conveys a negative image), but also don’t be too relaxed (conveys sloth and inattentiveness). Look them in the eye – while they’re speaking, and while you’re speaking. Dress for success.
Listen, listen, listen.
I always go for an outward demeanor of “humble confidence”.

  • A little humility never hurts, but they don’t want a “Harvey Milk-Toast” either.
    Keep in mind that if you get an interview, they’re taking you seriously as a candidate.

Now it’s a matter of convincing them that you’re the BEST candidate.

Good Hunting, Al Walsh, CEO Walsh Enterprises, Business Advisors Huntington Beach, Ca
http://www.awalsh.us

PS – I offer free articles on Business and Economics. I author some, and borrow others that are of value. Feel free to peruse them on my website http://www.awalsh.us/


I also have a Resource page on my website where I’ve created links to a wide variety of useful information sources that you might not be aware of. Enjoy.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Jacqueline Novogratz Talks to McKinsey Quarterly about Social Venture Philanthropy

Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund,
shares lessons in leadership from her work in venture philanthropy.

Women and leadership: Learning from the social sector

Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund, shares lessons in leadership from her work in venture philanthropy.

Reprinted with Permission from the McKinsey Quarterly (Mar 2009)

As a venture philanthropist, Acumen Fund’s Jacqueline Novogratz leads entrepreneurial projects across the globe—many of which put women at the helm of emerging local businesses. In this video interview, she discusses her experience developing other women leaders, the way they have shaped her own approach to leadership, and the different leadership cultures she sees at play in the public and private sectors.

This interview was conducted by Bill Javetski, an editor with the McKinsey Quarterly, in February 2009. It was recorded in the New York office of Acumen Fund.

Video: Women and leadership—Learning from the social sector
Jacqueline Novogratz shares lessons in leadership from her work in venture philanthropy.


Women and leadership: Learning from the social sector

(Please click on the link to see the whole McKinsey article and watch
the video interview)




The Quarterly: One of the secrets of your activity in building entrepreneurialism is focusing on women as workers. Can you talk about that?
Jacqueline Novogratz: I had been in Rwanda where I worked with a small group of women to start the first microfinance organization in the country and, simultaneously, a bakery with 20 unwed mothers. My own background has taught me a lot about the power of investing in women, because you do end up feeding a family and not just an individual.
I worry actually that the international-development community may, in focusing so much on the women, end up demoralizing and devaluing men even further. I don’t want to be glib about just investing in girls. We have to build healthy societies and we have to recognize that boys and girls develop differently and [we have to] find ways really to include, to value, to have high expectations, and to provide opportunity.
And so there’s this big, philosophical question around how do you hire, how do you encourage different behavior. Can you—in the dormitories—bring in other activities to bring in reproductive health, to help with microfinance and savings? There’s a really interesting platform here.
The Quarterly: Your story of the bakery in Rwanda was in large part a story about developing the women that you worked with there. What did you learn about leadership from their experience of developing into owners and operators of that business?
Jacqueline Novogratz: I went in as a leader with pure audaciousness. I didn’t have as much humility in that I just assumed—I’m the eldest of seven, I can do the Bad News Bears thing really well, I’m just going to cheer them on—without having the humility of really understanding what their starting place was.
After many mishaps, including having them steal from me and having them not really know how to sell—I mean they would look down the whole time and have to explain to me that they were considered prostitutes by many; for them to go and look somebody directly in the eye and shake their hands was not exactly a Rwandan-woman kind of thing—so I had to learn to have the humility myself to really listen to their perspectives, and yet not stop there; to have the audaciousness to say, “It’s a good starting point, but we want to get you to this other place.”
The real lesson for me was how that dignity is so much more important to the human spirit than wealth. And that what these women, as all of us, needed was to know that we could cover basic needs, but to have the power of being able to say no to things that we didn’t want, that we didn’t want to do. And so leadership as a way of inspiring, listening, and letting people, you know, grow themselves in their own way.
And it was a small experience in some ways, and yet one that I think about all the time that taught me so much about listening and dignity—and laughter as a really, really key component. The more stressed I got, the less anything worked; and the more we could laugh, the more we got done. And so that was probably another really big lesson.
I’m a big optimist. I really believe in setting impossible goals and then making them possible. And I really love people—and I think people feel that from me. So it’s probably that sometimes very confusing mix of optimism, idealism, but also high expectations, lots of discipline, and pragmatism.
Part of the journey that those of us who are privileged, which is pretty much everyone in this country, has to make is not being embarrassed by privilege or guilty for privilege or confused by privilege, but to start from that place of recognizing that your responsibility is to use that privilege in the best way you can to serve the world. And there are lots of ways of serving the world.
The Quarterly: Many women work in social sector, fewer in finance. Let’s say actually fewer lead in finance. You’ve succeeded in both. Any thoughts on the skill set, and why one isn’t more prevalent in the other area?
Jacqueline Novogratz: I think that girls really are relational, and what I love about finance—and what I love about accounting even, which is kind of embarrassing to admit—is it’s another form of storytelling. And if you could teach young people to find the stories in the combination of the balance sheet and the income statement, I think we would see a lot more girls taking leadership in finding that comfort.
I just did a panel for women on Wall Street, and what they spoke about was how rigid our financial institutions continue to be around integrating women into the workforce—particularly after they’ve had children—and that the rules are so driven by a different kind of discipline that the social sector has taken upon itself to reinvent. And that may be more to the point as to why we don’t see as many leaders—women leaders—in finance. It’s a much older club. It’s been driven by a stricter set of rules and expectations.
I have four brothers who all work on Wall Street, and I remember when one of my brothers’ wife had a child. And I said, “Well, is there, you know, paternity leave?” And he said, “Oh, yeah. We have the most liberal paternity leave on Wall Street—but I would never take it, because if I did, everybody would think I was, you know, wimpy.” And I think there’s great truth to that. So there’s a cultural piece that needs to be looked at. Whereas in the social sector, as a woman leader, you have the opportunity to invent the culture in which you want to work and thrive.
Young people often will come to me and say, “I really want to do this, but first I feel like I need to do A, B, C, D, and E.” In some ways I think we’ve put young people, especially, on a track where they have these expectations that they’re going to do one thing after another because that’s what everybody else does—and then they will get this freedom. And I think there are lots of different paths and that the path isn’t always clear, but you just should start; that work will teach you; and that I can’t imagine a more joyful way of living than a life when where you are serving in the spirit as equally of adventure as you are of change.

Dianne Gubin Offers 7 Tips To Stay Positive in a Funky Economy


Tip of the Week
by Dianne Gubin




During these funky times,
the never-ending bad news
can cause anxiety, panic and worry.

Here are 7 ways to stay positive regardless of the economy:

Exercise.
An endorphin rush always helps your mind function at its peak.

Get outside. Nature has a way of soothing stress and taking your mind off your worries.

Tap into your support network. Stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues who can help you maintain your balance.

Volunteer. Volunteering is an excellent way to give back to your family and community.

Sleep. Getting a good night's rest allows you to function at full capacity the next day.
Focus on your strengths and natural abilities. When things come easily to you, you know you're on the right path.

Gratitude and appreciation attract more positives into your life.
If you're in the job market, staying positive is imperative. Getting out of your home and into environments where you're connecting with other people can help.

It's easier to be lucky when you're out in the world and talking to others.
You can hear about new situations in all sorts of places including parking lots,
coffee bars and gyms.
Leads can come from connections in your larger extended network.

Employed or not, your career path might not follow the trajectory you planned
when you went to school or started your career; however, new connections lead
to new opportunities. Down markets are forcing many onto new paths.

Use visualization exercises to see yourself in the professional
environment of your choice, doing what you love, loving what
you do and being paid abundantly.



Let’s Keep America Working! ™

Los Angeles Entrepreneur Dianne Gubin's Seminars for The Job Hunting GAME


Actively seeking a new position?

Or know someone who is?


How much $$$$ will it cost you in lost income while you search?

The Job Hunting Game
A Two Day Workshop for Your Success

Geared towards professionals in all industries earning 75K plus!

*SEMINAR ATTENDANCE INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE INVITATION TO HAVE YOUR INTERVIEW STYLE REVIEWED BY RECRUITERS FROM TOP COMPANIES.


This two day hands-on workshop is designed to quickly get you back to work, plus provide weekly ongoing support and accountability.

The seminar culminates in an exclusive invitation to participate in a mock interview session in front of a panel of recruiters from major corporations and educational institutions. Session to be held shortly following the workshop.

THE JOB HUNTING GAME WILL TEACH YOU TO:

• Determine your market value
• What to wear, what to say, what to do!
• Answers to tough or controversial interview questions
• Negotiate your new salary offer
• Know what your references really say about you
• Juggle multiple offers, and more!


Learn the inside secrets from a recruiter with 15 years experience
and thousands of placements within Fortune 500 and fast growth companies.

Set yourself apart. Our techniques and tools will be used through out your career.
Mon and Tues - May 4th & 5th
9AM to 3:30 PM
Jobing.com Office, 12100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 320,
Los Angeles, CA 90025
$399 includes two day workshop, invitation to corporate recruiter interview panel, and ongoing weekly support group


Register Today!

Forward to a friend who needs a job!


FOR INFORMATION: (818) 222-0300

Register early. Space is very limited and we expect to sell out.
Check your calendar carefully as we are unable to offer a refund,
although a substitute may attend in your place.
Our program is not a promise of employment.

Interested in attending a seminar in Ventura County, Riverside County, Irvine, San Diego, San Francisco, or other cities? Let us know as we'll be rolling the workshop out soon.

We're planning New York City the week of June 8th.
Send a quick note to: info@techexecpartners.com

This Let’s Keep America Working program features Dianne Gubin, president of Tech Exec Partners Inc., a consulting and direct hire staffing agency, has opened doors for people like you to Fortune 500 companies, fast growth companies, government agencies, educational institutions and more. She’s worked closely with hundreds of hiring managers to identify the right person for the job.

Let’s Keep America Working! ™ is a media driven national initiative addressing workplace and employment concerns and is Dianne’s newest and most exciting project. She speaks for job seekers, employers and entrepreneurs, discussing where the jobs are, where they are not, how to transition and find a new path with the best training and education available. Her passion is that together, we can shine a light on the road ahead to keep America working.

Dr Neen, Noted Author & Speaker Shows You How to Get Paid for Public Speaking


My friend, noted author and coach, speakers and consultant
Dr. Neen has been providing inpiration to me and others for
more than a decade now. Her books and outreach proves that
she knows what she is talking about and she freely shares her
wisdom.
I got a notice from her sharing info about a Free Teleseminar that could
be something you might have a strong interest in: Getting Paid for your Talks.
SpeakerMatch Teleseminar Series



Get Paid to Speak...Now!
The Teleseminar Every Emerging Speaker Can't Afford to Miss!
Thursday, April 23rd at Noon Central Time (1:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 a.m. Mountain, 10:00 a.m. Pacific)

What tops the thrill of getting your first invitation to speak?
Your first check for speaking! How do you manifest that?
Dr. Neen, international motivational speaker and author,
will share quick ways for you to move from free to fee'd speaking,
so you'll get those checks over and over and over again!

If you want to know how to:
• Stop speaking without getting a check
• Stop wasting time talking at dead-end events
• Up-level your topic
• Remove self-doubt
• Identify the check writers
• Brand yourself
• Become sponsorable
• Leverage your networks
• Match your message to money
• And more! …
You cannot afford to miss this call!
Click HERE to Register

On Thursday, April 23rd, Join Us For a FREE Info-Packed TeleseminarBe Sure To Submit Questions Early!

Details About This Teleseminar
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Central Standard Time
Cost: ComplimentaryWe will not be using a toll-free number.
You will be responsible for the small long-distance charge if dialing out of your area code.
This will appear on your phone bill.
A teleseminar is a group telephone call.
You do not need to be near a computer or have internet access to participate.
For this particular teleseminar, you will not be able to hear other participants
-- you will only hear the host -- unless the host "opens the line" for comments
and questions. This teleseminar will be recorded. By your registering for this
teleseminar, you are giving us permission to record your comments, without
any remuneration to you.

You will be given a telephone number with a special access code to dial into the
teleseminar at the completion of your registration.

About Our Guest
Dr. Nina Craft, Ph.D., M.B.A., affectionately known as Dr. Neen,
the Think It, Do It!® Queen, is an international motivational speaker, author, mentor, television and radio guest, consultant, trainer, and philanthropist.
Her books and workshops have been sponsored by companies like IBM, Bank of America, Toyota Motor Sales, Shell Oil, Disney, and more. Dr. Neen has been training leaders of leaders for 20 years. From youth leaders to adults, from the private sector to community organizations, Dr. Neen's Think It, Do It!® techniques have transformed thousands of lives.


* To help you make sure you don't miss anything, we use an automated system to place reminder calls within an hour of the event. Unfortunately, toll-free exchanges, some cell phones, and other phone numbers may not work with this system, but if you enter a number we'll try to reach you.Our automated system can not dial extensions.

You cannot afford to miss this call!
Click HERE to Register



Dianne Gubin Offers Tips for Nailing a CALL Back for 2nd Interview & Seminars and Support for Job Hunters






Tip of the Week
by Dianne Gubin

Nailing the Second Job Interview

Companies are scrutinizing potential candidates more closely than ever. Often the interview process is initiated with a phone screening, followed by an invitation to interview in person. It's not unusual today for a candidate to then be brought back for a second round of interviews.

Second interviews are opportunities to confirm a technical and personality match before making a hiring decision.



Here are five tips to move from second interview to offer:

1) Wear the consultant hat. What are the key challenges of the role? Focus the interview on how you can make both the hiring manager and the company more successful.

2) Be low maintenance. Stress punctuality, attention to detail, eagerness to lean and appreciation for the opportunity.

3) Watch that what you say you do best is congruent with the requirements of the position. It's easy to talk hiring managers out of hiring you.

4) Ask for the job. Companies need to hear verbally that a candidate is interested in their position.

5) Think about moving in. If not brought up earlier, ask questions about the physical location in which you will be working. For example, if appropriate, ask for a tour or ask to see where your desk will be.

Interviewing is a learned skill. Tech Exec Partners is committed to your success. We know that it's a tough job market and we want to help you.



Looking for a new job? How long will it take?

The Job Hunting Game





A Workshop for Your Success

Geared towards professionals in all industries!
Let's get you back to work!

SEMINAR ATTENDANCE INCLUDES:
Two day hands-on workshop designed to quickly get you back to work!
Exclusive invitation to have your interview style reviewed by internal corporate recruiters from leading companies.
Invitation to join Weekly Support Group for ongoing support and accountability.
The workshop culminates in an exclusive invitation to participate in a mock interview session in front of a panel of recruiters from major local corporations and educational institutions. Session to be held shortly following the workshop.

WHEN: Mon and Tues - May 4th & 5th

TIME: 9AM to 3:30PM

VENUE: Jobing.com office
12100 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

VALUE: Registration includes two-day workshop, invitation to corporate recruiter interview panel, and invite to weekly support group

OUT OF AREA? We've had a number of calls from out of area attendees. The venue is within driving distance of both LAX and Burbank airports. If there is enough interest we can engage a block of hotel rooms.

TO REGISTER OR FOR INFORMATION: (818) 222-0300


http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=1046526980&msgid=5329335&act=MNEV&c=42358&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techexecpartners.com%2Fnetworking_events.html






Monday, April 20, 2009

God Bless Susan Boyle, Do What YOU love

Susan Boyle, Share your Gifts.....






The News, Even Oprah, is a buzz with the "overnight" phenom Susan Boyle, who is blowing the world away with the talent she demonstrated on a recent show of Britain's Got Talent.
Let Susan's example be your guide..... do what you love, and please do share YOUR gifts.
You just might shock the world with your talent too. Do what YOU love.
Dearest Susan Boyle, may the force be with you. You said you needed a job and I suspect
you'll soon be turning down more contracts than you can follow up with.
If you haven't yet hear Susan, the modern day example of an "everyday" woman who is indeed making her dreams come true. Please click on the youtube link above.
Patty DeDominic

Friday, April 17, 2009

Kurt Haug on Your Elevator Pitch - Selling to the CEO

Kurt Haug has a great blog.........he often speaks to the CEO
and others who want to get a CEO or CFO's ear. This article
appeared on http://www.cornerofficeconversations.com/ Enjoy...

Elevator Pitch
Corner Office Conversations
What's so HARD about selling to a CEO?



Nothing—if you know what you’re doing and use a little common sense.
C-Level Executives are Smart. And Busy. C-Level execs looks at a potential
purchasing decision the same way as anyone else-- WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?).

And frankly, they couldn’t care less about what YOU have to sell.
There are only a small handful of things that they really care about.
If you have something to contribute on those issues, they're all ears.
If not, they really couldn’t care less about whatever it is you're pitching.
So what does a CEO or CFO care about? I’m not talking about on a personal
level, but as part of his or her job. And to get there, he or she must have been
pretty good at it.

Pretty focused. And 95 times out of 100 the CEO, COO and CFO are going to be
most highly focused on the financial performance of the company relative to
the goals and objectives serving the shareholders. So that should be easy, right?

More sales, more profits—what else is there?If it was really that simple, do you
think those execs would be pulling down the big bucks?
To gain the credibility necessary to
a) get a C-Level exec’s attention and
b) keep it for more than 30 seconds, you need to do better than that.

First of all, you have to truly have a desire to not only help them succeed personally and professionally. No, really. I’m serious. The superficial, “who loves you baby, let’s do lunch,” approach will not work at this level. They’ll see right through it.

Secondly, you have to be able to let them know how you’re going to help them succeed-- in the context of what they care about and in the language that they understand. And do it first in 30 seconds-- and if you’re lucky, you’ll get another 10-15 minutes to go into detail.

Once you actually get that golden opportunity to meet the "top dog," you'd better know what to say, and even more importantly HOW TO SAY IT.And that’s what Corner Office Conversations is all about.

Your First Real Job by Patty DeDominic with David Harder

Getting YOUR First paid Job takes Special Creativity & Tenacity.

David Harder of Inspired Work Services Inc. and I think
alike in many areas. We both work towards a VALUE set,
we offer resources and expertise freely, hoping it will be of
use to others.

Today we want to start a dialog for those starting their First Paid Job.

Just yesterday I was thinking it was time to talk about getting my first job....and today David sends me some thoughts on that very subject. Is that response about my intentions or just good luck? As Oprah Winfrey has been quoted saying "The harder and smarter you work, the luckier you get" So getting answers to questions you need answered or getting your first job...there are similar principles at work. It is not Luck....but you can make yourself luckier by preparing yourself and working past the obstacles. So, today two empathetic professionals, Patty De and David Harder, people who see trends and who feel the pain for job seekers, offer some tips on getting past the "No Experience" traps.

How hard was it to get my first, non family member job?
It WAS hard.....and I remember it (the hurt) as if it were yesterday.
Even though I was looking for my first real job over 40 years ago (in the 1960's)
I can still recall the pain of rejection and the feelings of insecurity and even anger when it seemed no one would hire me. The common excuse was ... "Sorry, we need people with experience and you've never had a real job. We do not hire people with no experience here."
Oh, that was painful and I recall lamenting "How can I get experience if no one will hire me..... it is a viscous cycle"

Today, David Harder is offering a piece of career advice for college graduates:

Over the years, college graduates told me, "But I've never worked. How do I get in the door."
In listening to about a 1/3 of these candidates, I've observed they have been very well raised. How? They are cordial, use a minimal of junk language, they listen, they are respectful of my suggestions. Young people like this have either been raised very well or they have gone through significant therapy. So, I suggest, "Tell them! I've done nothing except get this degree (if appropriate, with good grades). But what I can tell you is that I was brought up in a loving home that gave me high quality attention. They helped me develop good manners. They have good work ethics. They were terrific role models. If I get the privilege to work here, you can expect me to show up on time, engage with everyone respectfully, learn as quickly as humanly possible and fix problems without demanding special recognition. That is how I was raised and that is how I will work.

If you didn't have such a loving family:

I grew up in some challenges and I rose above them through hard work and finding terrific mentors. If you hire me, you can expect someone who is respectful, shows up on time and is tenacious. Through my short time on earth, I've learned that if I put my mind to something, it happens. I might ask you for suggestions, help or feedback, but I will get it done - usually ahead of time.

David Harder is President & Founder of Inspired Work, Inc. You can visit his website at
http://www.inspiredworkservices.com/


Let us hear your career and job search questions. Please post a comment and we will answer directly or on line. Patty DeDominic www.dedominic.com

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Murad S. Mirza Offering a Great New Products & Services by EPIC Software Corp.




Just Imagine, Talent Management As it was Meant To Be…

This is a special announcement for Employers and HR Professionals. Free Whitepaper Repository please read this article if you have key management responsibilities. P.D.




EPIC Software Corporation provides web-based business solutions, programs and professional services that make our clients more productive and profitable. We provide a business case in every proposal and deliver measurable and sustainable cost savings to our clients. Depending on the specific products, modules and services a client selects, we can provide our web-based solutions for as low as $1.00 per Employee per month - this makes us very unpopular with vendors who consider themselves to be our competitors.



EPIC Software Corporation’s core team obtained its’ baseline experience by implementing local and global enterprise large-scale Tier 1 HR ERP solutions. It was that very experience that made the EPIC Software's founders embark on a quest to find a better way - resulting in solutions that leverage a clients previous investments in people, processes, documentation and technology; produce an extreme, measurable and sustainable Return On Investment; and convert a workforce into a more effective and efficient strategic business asset. Whether your interest is a "vanilla" or a customized solution, On-Demand or On-Site, your solution is waiting for you.



We understand business. Whether our client consists of 7 employees in the Call Centre of a local Utility company, a small to medium size business growing and needing to scale its’ workforce tools, or a large multi-national corporation looking for an alternative to the high cost of updating an outdated ERP system to support employees and new acquisitions around the globe - we can help.With the Internet chosen as the IT backbone and service delivery conduit, a handful of very basic non-negotiable business capabilities were used to define the initial design of the EPIC Suite - and in fact all products developed and/or implemented by EPIC Software Corporation.





Specific business drivers and considerations were used to shape the end-user experience, considerations such as: speed to implementation; security around employee data; extremely fast load and response times; leveraging client's previous investments in technology, processes and people; and creating a product that was so elegantly simple to use that new end-users could be expected to be productive within 1 hour of using the system for the first time. Period.



Veterans of hundreds of engagements, we have found innovative and cost-effective ways to assist our clients become more profitable. We consider the work we do to be on the cutting edge of common sense. We also recognize however, in a world of slick marketing brochures, fast talking sales people, vapor wear, and un-kept promises that common sense is not all that common any more - we consider trust to be a verb. We engage our clients in a robust client confidentiality agreement to ensure we protect the integrity of their business, organization, people and technology.



While our thought-leadership has been published in Harvard journals and is regularly referred to by organizations like NASA and The US Federal Reserve Bank, our real focus, however, is making organizations and people more productive for less cost. We have over 25,000 subscribers to the free Whitepaper Repository on our website,


to subscribe visit us at http://www.epic-soft.com/.

David Harder Founder of Inspired Work Makes a VERY Special Offer for NNWOW Readers


Please read below, past his article for a very special offer from David Harder.

David Harder on YOUR CAREER DNA....

What are YOU made of?

Most of us are born with a deep inner need to contribute.
In the more recent workplace, many of us became haunted by this desire to contribute, to "be" something and to make a difference in a world that clearly needs solutions. We long to have a profound experience of life motivated by listening and responding to a voice that has been speaking to us since birth. It could be the voice of divine inspiration. Some of us wait until adulthood to honor the message of a high road and when we do, our entire life changes - for the good. When we choose to honor our unique imprint and address the point: "Why am I here?" Risk comes after us no matter what! Isn't this clear now? The risk is there even if we are working in jobs that have little meaning. When we actually give our unique answer to "Why am I here?" Risk often just seems more apparent because we no longer fit into the herd.

There is no greater influence to give up on our highest good than in the economy.
This is a mistake. Consuming and hoarding didn't work. Great economies have and will continue to emerge from great workers with great ideas and with great value. In the media, there is a significant message to lower our expectations. No. This is the time to raise them. We've been conditioned to pursue security first and forget that our spirit told us to seek a greater experience, a more vast life is here waiting to be driven by our own scripts. Many of us had role models that taught us to be selfish and that no matter what, security came first. Now, it might be time to get past security! Perhaps we could use today's fears to run at a greater speed towards the light. Perhaps it is time to honor and become more loyal to career DNA that exists in our souls. We don't get ahead. We get what we already are.

There is a terrific article in the current Atlantic entitled, "How the Crash will Reshape America." In it, the Stanford economist Paul Romer said, "A crisis is a terrible thing to waste." The United States, has seldom wasted its crises in the past. On the contrary, it has used them, time and again, to reinvent itself, clearing away the old and making way for the new. Perhaps it is time to bless what is taking place and clear away the old and make way for what is within each one of us - to present that value anew.

It is vital that we respond ...... David Harder


A few words from the participants in our programs:

"I came to the weekend feeling very uncertain about which career direction to follow, but left the weekend with a wonderful belief in myself as an educator. Two weeks later, I took the training program in my new position. How's that for fast?"

Karon Wright - Lee Hecht Harrison

"My wife Sandi and I participated in the Inspired Work Program this past year. Sandi had served as a senior executive with Bugle Boy Industries, which was closing its doors- - her only employer for 23 years! The program gave her the confidence to define and find a position more fulfilling, exciting and profitable than ever. My film production company, Metafilmics, is growing more rapidly and the program introduced me to people who will be friends for life. Anyone who wants to get the most out of their work out to run - no walk to this program. The insights are that powerful."

Barnet Bain - Founder of Metafilmics

"I have covered so much territory around these subjects (career / motivation / business) over the years that I find myself a little cynical. I think your program is contemporary, to the point, insightful, engaging, thought provoking, informative, supportive, well designed...in short, great work!"

Boyd Wilat - Founder Harper House (Dayrunner) and Wilat Writing Instruments (Sensa)


SPECIAL OFFER FOR OUR READERS

Dear Patty,

The following offer applies to any friends & clients of Inspired Work, Mack & Associates, PRC, Decision Toolbox & Greenlight Jobs:

Until April 30th, I will be giving 1/2 Hour Complimentary Consultations to anyone who wants to bring a business challenge or problem to the table. If you want to discuss how our programs can serve you - that will be your call! This offer is on a first come basis and is truly about problem solving. Every word is confidential.

Please e-mail David Harder [david@inspiredworkservices.com]
two available time to have a chat and you have my commitment,
we'll discuss career challenges, employee problems, the economy,
how to get more sales - whatever is relevant to you.

As the founder of Inspired Work, I've facilitated over 30,000 professionals in reaching immediate breakthroughs in their careers, their success, personal branding and in building effective support systems. Inspired Sales has assisted thousands in having an immediate transformation in the profits of virtually every participant. It is an especially valuable tool for conducting world-class interviews.



Our Program Dates:

The Inspired Sales Program

Los Angeles April 30 & May 13

Chicago May 7

The Inspired Work Program

Los Angeles May 1 & 2

Chicago May 8 & 9

All the best from the team at Inspired Work!

www.inspiredworkservices.com

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Turning Rejection into Opportunities Kevin Kermes



Don’t Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater !

How to turn rejection into opportunity in your job search




Have you heard this lately in your job search? “We have decided to move forward with another candidate…Our search has been put on hold…We think you are a great fit for our company, but just not the right one for this position….Let’s keep in touch.”




I know how frustrating the job search can be and these statements usually take the wind right out of you. But, what if I could show you a few techniques to turn this into something positive – sometimes immediately!

Every time you make a connection in your interview process you need to think about it in terms of building your network. All too often, job seekers look at the process from a static, linear perspective: submit information, get the interview(s) and either get the job or not. I will grant you that not getting the job is frustrating. But how you handle losing the battle can result in you winning the war.

A huge part of the interview process is establishing rapport – winning hearts and minds. Instead of seeing another door closing when you do not get the job, look at it as another door opening. You have worked hard to make a new connection - professionally, sometimes even personally, bonding with the people in the company where you interviewed. Shouldn’t you capitalize on it?

Here are some pointers on how to do so:
• They know you are looking – ask for help networking. If you have just impressed them enough to have multiple interviews, they should give you high marks.
• Keep in touch. Create a system to reach out to each and every person you talk to throughout your job search. This is no different than a sales campaign. And the person who isn’t buying today may be ready to purchase (hire) tomorrow.
• Get to know the people you interview with. This personal connection will get your calls, emails and requests answered quicker.
• Pay it forward. Find out what you can do for them. Helping someone first is the quickest way to endear you to them. They will seek you out to return the favor!
Not getting the offer – particularly after several rounds of interviews – is frustrating, no doubt. But you have worked hard to make it that far.

In this economy, getting to the first round of interviews is tough enough. So, when you do make a connection treat it like gold. Managed well, this network can drive your job search for you.

Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career You Deserve’ e-zine with over 17,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now www.kevinkermes.com

Find Your Passion and You May Never "Work" Again

Patty DeDominic shows you how to Connect, Stay Charged and Bloom!



People often ask me how I manage
to keep so many balls in the air.......
family life at the ranch in Santa Barbara,
our children and grandchildren, our animals,
our volunteer and charity work, our board service
on private companies and on not for profits.

Gene, my husband and I also have had extremely challenging careers and today I still have a dynamic and wonderful practice as a Business Coach to a growing group of very interesting high achievers in various professions and enterprises. We're lucky we worked hard to position ourselves to be able to do things we love and most of the time, to work with people we love to be around.

So what are my secrets? Some of the answers to this question revolve around both my quest for continuous knowledge and an attraction to committed professionals in many walks of life. For example, the DeDominic & Associates http://www.dedominic.com/ coaching practice enables me to stay connected with many levels of business, personal and professional development. This keeps me fresh and up to date. I love to learn and keeping up with adult kids and professional colleagues around the world requires a commitment to do so.

I adore my clients and confess they have all been hand picked! My colleagues and I have found our own passion here, and truly do not "work" at the coaching practice as we really gain as much or more than we provide to our clients. Of course we strive to provide value and since our clients pay us a lot for our monthly coaching, there are deliverables that must arrive for the client in order for them to be satisfied with DeDominic Associates. But this passion and alignment is one of the fabulous rewards enabled after a 30 year career helping to build others companies and careers.

I hope you can identify both your Passion and Your Path to Prosperity. If you are still enjoying your career you are one of the lucky ones who may "never work a day in your life" because you are doing what you love. You have found the intersection of cash flow and hopefully abundance and your gifts; your true calling.

For me, Writing my second book, JOBS 2.0, The NEW New World of Work, has been an
investment of time as well as a pleasurable opportunity to meet many extraordinary
resources. I love doing this research and making resources and expertise available to you. I still make a good living, but even if I did not get paid I would still be trying to help others in this and other ways. Learning..... sharing......and helping others are some of my core values. As you read the articles here you will see many of our resources and experts share those values.

Connecting with people of shared values is one of my fundamentals to juggling a great life. I make it a point to meet and connect with great people who serve as resources for others in a variety of fields.

Yes, admittedly, we always try to hitch our wagons to the right stars. If you connect with winners you are likely to witness winning and can't help growing yourself in the process.

Speaking of winning pros who can help you grow, I want to introduce you to Kevin Kermes...
a pro in the Career Resources space who is passionate about his calling.

I am pleased to be able to share more about Kevin's work with you and encourage you to sign up for his ezine if you need regular connection opportunities. His blog is timely, wise and connected. He offers free webinars and other resources that just weren't available to many folks when I started my career in recruitment and employment counseling.

Here is one of Kevin's recent articles and I wholeheartedly agree with this advice and
have seen this work in hundreds of cases. Some of the happiest professionals I know have found the best opportunities of their lives via the Volunteer route:


Volunteer Your Way to a New Opportunity
By Kevin Kermes



Most of us have a charity or group
where we volunteer our time and efforts.

In the midst of a job search, particularly a stressful one, it would seem natural to dial back your involvement. But, this is one place where you shouldn’t retreat.

The relationships you have established - even if
new or underdeveloped – in the places you volunteer can be extremely powerful in your job search.

Increasing your involvement can very well lead to a job offer in a place you never expected to find one.



Winning Hearts and Minds - The closer you work with fellow volunteers,
the better they will get to know you. And, let’s face it, people help and hire those
they like. Give people the opportunity to get to know you – not your tales of unemployment.

Remember not to dwell on the fact you are looking for a job.
You want everyone to think of you in terms of the great addition you would
be versus the person who is always talking about being unemployed.

Words and Deeds – The interview process is a two-way street.
You size up a future employer just as they do the same to you.
Both sides are trying to figure out if the other “walks the talk.”
By working side-by-side with someone in a volunteer capacity,
you get to see if someone’s work ethic is in line with yours.
Moreover, make sure you are gravitating towards those that give 110%.
Good people always know good people.


Do What You Know – When volunteering, most people think in terms
of what the Not for Profit does as a function: soup kitchens need help in the
kitchen, Big Brothers/Big Sisters need adults to sponsor kids, etc. But shift
your mindset to what you do best. If you are in accounting, volunteer your
time to help with the books. A sales professional would be a great fundraiser
or trainer of other fundraisers. You will not only be showcasing what you do,
but your value-add to the organization will be even greater. Not to mention,
you increase the likelihood of interacting with Board Members – who might
have a connection or two.

If you have been thinking of retreating from your volunteer commitments in order to focus more time on your search – Don’t.

Get more involved, make more connections and leverage your skills set in doing so. It is a win-win for everyone involved. Not only might you find a job in the process but you will do some great work to feel good about in the interim.

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Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career Your Deserve’ e-zine with over 17,000+ subscribers. If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=54637060&msgid=677533&act=8HCE&c=334527&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kevinkermes.com%2F

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Kevin is the Founder of Build the Career You Deserve, a company devoted to empowering professionals with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job they want and build the successful career they deserve. Sign up for his free e-zine – Build the Career You Deserve – for insider tips on how to do just that!


Kevin Kermes on Finding the Open Doors



Finding the “Open Door” in the Job Market
This is from Kevin's Building the Career You Deserve e-zine which you can subscribe to.
In last week’s article, we talked about turning rejection into opportunity. Given the current economic climate - Unemployment numbers at just over 7%, financial institutions and the auto makers are in crisis mode, the housing market is taking a beating – I thought discussing how the current job market looks opportunity-wise might be timely. My answer is likely going to surprise you. I see a lot of opportunity out there. There is gold in them there hills folks!
The reality is that there are a lot of examples of failure out there right now. The ability to shine when the economy is rolling – to be the king or queen of “low hanging fruit” – is rather easy. But challenging times require a different skill set - more leadership, more resourcefulness and more creativity – to shine. As I work with clients, these are some of the areas we focus on to develop opportunities:
· Leadership, leadership, leadership. Poor leadership is what got us into many of these messes and strong leadership is what is needed to correct the course. In the Infantry we used to say, “There are no bad soldiers, only bad leaders.”
· If you have a track record of success and can quantify and qualify those accomplishments (saving money, making money, creating efficiencies), wayward companies who realize they are in bad shape need your expertise.
· Along those same lines, experience with companies where you had to do more with less is key right now. Every company is aiming to be as efficient as possible. You can highlight your success (I refer to this as “Your Solution”) here with a small company and leverage it into a larger one where they need creative thinking.
· Consulting is a very attractive option. Many companies need change agents for the interim which they transition. This can be a very lucrative and rewarding avenue if you are unemployed and a senior executive. Keep your options open here.
No doubt, the economy has presented some unique challenges. But, in keeping with economics, the terms of supply and demand come to mind. And, for those with the skill sets outlined above, the demand is high but the supply (or your competition) is low. I am fond of the saying, “When one door closes, another one opens.” I think that is very fitting here.

Kevin Kermes publishes the ‘Build the Career You Deserve’ e-zine with over 17,000+ subscribers.
If you are ready to empower yourself with the vital tools and information necessary to find the job you want and build the successful career you deserve, visit him now http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=53890157&msgid=673431&act=FGD5&c=334527&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kevinkermes.com%2F

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Taking Pets to Work by Dianne Gubin



Tip of the Week
by Dianne Gubin


Taking Pets to Work -- Good or Bad?

Taking pets to work can be great for morale. We all love our pets, but what are the pros and cons?

It's usually easier to take your dog to work if you are employed by a smaller company. And it's usually a dog that comes to the office - more than other pets. Dogs relieve stress. Have you had an uncomfortable meeting with your boss? Pet your dog and all is right in your world.

Dogs are conversation starters. Take your dog on a walk out of the office and you'll meet everyone in your building. And you never know who you're going to meet!

Therapeutic guide animals have long been allowed in public places, helping their owners navigate the world.

Dogs are universally loved, or are they?

Dogs can slow down productivity in the office because they need attention. You're playing with the dog, someone else in playing with the dog, or the dog needs to be walked.

Dogs marked their territory. If another dog has been in our office, your dog might leave "a present" to establish ownership.

Not everyone likes dogs and, in fact, some people are afraid of dogs. And how does it sound to your important client when you're on the phone and your dog decides to bark at a delivery person?

And some people are allergic to dogs. Unless your dog is short-haired and hypoallergenic, you'll most likely have some fur to clean up. Better keep Benadryl at the office.

And then there's favoritism. Can everyone bring a pet to work? What if you have a pet other than a dog, such as a cat, ferret, snake, or tarantula?

The cons absolutely outweigh the pros; however, it is so delightful and so joyous to have a pet at work, that if your office allows it, it's a great perk.

Personally, although I love having my dogs at the office, they are far too high maintenance and I feel so much better knowing that they are home and happily barking at strangers.
Patty De says: We have "desk cats" and three always outdoor dogs. Each is happiest in their own element and when they can share time with us. I know that gently caring for animals has proven to lower blood pressure. I hope you have a pet too!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Nothing to Fear...... except your own Fear!

FEAR! Job Interview Jitters...... it's real and for many, your most real fear today!


Most of us have heard it said that right behind dying, the greatest fear that many of us have is public speaking. However, it has been my experience that for a lot of people, under the pressure of really needing a job, the greatest fear is that of blowing a job interview.


You will increase your chances of getting offers when you prepare for the Interview ahead of time. You will also reduce the Job Interview Jitters considerably and come across as the more confident candidate who really should get the nod!

If you think in terms of who gets hired........ not perfect people but those who represent the best fit with the company, it should help you relax.


Here are SEVEN things you can do to prepare yourself for the interview:

1. Have a friend or colleague review your resume to make sure it flows well, is free from typos and shows you off in your best light. Resumes and Cover letters with typos indicate a person who doesn't do their homework and misses the basics. Would you hire someone like that?

2. Research the Target Employer before sending your resume and write a customized cover letter to accompany your first approach. Learn as much as you can about the company or department where the opening exists. What is the mission of the organization? The Vision of the founder or the leader? What is the culture and how do they dress? Knowling the lay of the land so to speak gives you an advantage and you can customize your approach to compliment their approach. Fitting In is an important first test of the interview process and with some preparation you can avoid some of the early pitfalls of the screening process.


3. Ask questions of the person contacting you to schedule the Interview: May I get a copy of the Job descriptions? How long should I plan to spend at the interview? Who will I be interviewing with? (How many, is it a team or a single person?) Are there any special parking or driving instructions? Is there any advice you can give me to help me prepare? That last question empowers the person who reached out to you and it can help you build a bond. They may not have any new information to share with you at this time, but it indicates that you are thoughtful and interested prior to the meeting and can impress your future colleagues that you cared enough to ask.

4. Contact Your References in Advance to let them know you are looking for work. I once rehired a former sales executive because she reached out to me and was happy to hear from her. Don't let strangers take your former employers by surprise, be sure to let them know that you are using them as a reference and make sure it is not only OK, but that you will be getting a good endorsement of your work. If your references are weak, please add some more character, personal or school references to give the hiring company something to use in verifying your past performance.

5. Dress appropriately for the Job and the Company, Have I already told you that a chief financial officer once showed up for an important meeting in his sweatshirt? This sent the message to me that he didn't feel that the meeting was important enough to dress for business and I lost confidence in his judgement. Try to find out what your boss is likely to wear and dress to fit in with the next level up in the organization.

6. Show up On Time...... About 25% of all candidates come late or don't show. It seems impossible but just showing up on time puts you in the top 50% of all first time interviewers/job candidates! No sense`getting yourself all stressed out by running late....or worse yet, into an accident on the way. Please consider doing a dry run of the meeting location so you are worried about those details on the day of your important next interview.

7. Listen.....Listen, Listen! Be alert in the interview and prepared to answer questions fully. Listen carefully to what is being asked of you and answer questions directly and succinctly. If you don't understand what is being asked, ask for clarification and then answer. Try to give a few good examples which demonstrate that you are a person of commitment, tenacity and confidence.

By doing these 7 Things you will be a stronger candidate. Your butterflies can fly in formation and you can hone in on getting the job offers you deserve. Good Luck!