Liz Strauss and Jen Knoedl on Self Promotion

Liz Strauss and Jen Knoedl on Self Promotion Check out this 2+ minute video on self-promotion. Jen Knoedl interviews Liz Strauss.  Both of these ladies have done a lot in their areas (Liz in blogging and communications, as well as a host of other things, and Jen in a number of things, especially video). From Vimeo: Its short but there are some real gems in there! This is from 2008 If you have a problem with self promotion, pick up the book Brag by Peggy Klaus.  This is a must read for anyone who is in marketing, whether it is self-marketing or as a business owner or in a company Liz Strauss and Jen Knoedl on Self Promotion Check out this 2+ minute video on self-promotion. Jen Knoedl interviews Liz Strauss.  Both of these ladies have done a lot in their areas (Liz in blogging and communications, as well as a host of other things, and Jen in a number of things, especially video). From Vimeo: Its short but there are some real gems in there! This is from 2008 If you have a problem with self promotion, pick up the book Brag by Peggy Klaus.  This is a must read for anyone who is in marketing, whether it is self-marketing or as a business owner or in a company

The Benefits of an AWAI Resume Writing Course

The Benefits of an AWAI Resume Writing CourseIf you've ever been asked to fill out an AWAI resume, chances are you've noticed that there's a lot of information that you have to wade through. That's because it's the largest such school in the country and as such, there are a lot of different programs offered. This is why most people opt to use the services of a company called Resume Writer.The reason that there are so many programs offered by AWAI is because it is a lot of work for them to keep up with the constant growth of the internet. Since so many companies now make their work online, they need an easier way to get the word out about their jobs. A good way to do this is through the use of online resume help.The benefit of a resume writing course is that it eliminates the work that would normally be required to fill out an AWAI resume. However, it's important to note that AWAI is very strict about who can qualify for the jobs that they offer. Even if someone has excellent skills a nd knowledge, they may still be put on a waiting list. In order to get into the school, it is best to have some sort of previous experience.Any type of resume writing course will teach students how to write a resume, but they may also teach them how to refine their skills before trying to sell themselves. Since so many people are doing their own resumes, this is important. There are plenty of web sites that will give you tips on how to tweak the letters a bit so that they are more professional looking.These tips are usually all about including as much basic information as possible. What most people don't realize is that the basics are usually enough to land you that first job that you've been wanting. The difficulty comes from making sure that the pieces of information you include on your resume are accurate. It's best to only include the most important information when writing a resume.Another thing that you'll learn from an AWAI resume writing course is how to write a resume that includes the skills that are relevant to the position you're applying for. For example, if you're an individual who has experience selling, you'll want to include that. Even if you don't know how to sell, you'll still be able to include this type of skill in your resume.This is where many people get hung up, because they don't realize how little they actually need to include in a resume. However, many of the bigger job agencies have instructions on how much should be included and what should be left out. In order to avoid being on the wrong side of the law, you'll want to follow the instructions as closely as possible.In general, an AWAI resume writing course will teach you everything that you need to know about what to put on a resume. However, it's important to remember that no two resumes are alike. You'll want to take the course seriously, as it will give you great information and options to help you fine tune your resume before submitting it. However, it will not provide you wi th free advice on creating your own work.

How Can You Do Recruitment Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

How Can You Do Recruitment Marketing on a Shoestring Budget Money makes the world go round. Well not literally but the more you have the more you can do right? Wrong, these days you can do anything on a small budget and recruitment marketing is no exception. There are lots of ways you can achieve the results you want without thousands in your coffers. Dont believe me? Well, let our team of experts share their ideas on how they think you can deliver the best recruitment marketing without a massive budget. Joe Shaker In all cases, but especially with a limited budget, it’s so important to have a flexible and accountable media spend.   It is essential that you get as much diversification with your media exposure as possible, and when something is underperforming, you don’t wait, but instead, make adjustments immediately. . Joe Shaker is the President of Shaker Recruitment Marketing. Maren Hogan Write great copy and hustle. Most people are fine with Instagram looking photos and iPhone videos. Get your team involved and hold fun get togethers. Do the hard work, the homework to ensure you are reaching out to the right people and did I mention WRITE REALLY WELL? . Maren Hogan  is CEO and Founder of Red Branch Media. Jared Nypen First, I’d get as many tools in one product as possible, so that you don’t have to individually negotiate separate contracts. Second, I’d use employee generated content. Rally the team to provide videos, posts and other content that can be used on social media and in email marketing. This will keep production costs down and will and give authenticity to your content, which can be a winning strategy. Jared Nypen  is the Vice-President of talent at Great Clips inc. Lisa Jones Canva and Lumen5, one piece of content stretched across the month in a variety of ways, strong advocates (content cuddlers), engaged recruiters! Plus, I say to my mentees imagine if you only had 1 hour a day to make a real difference, what would you do? Then times that by 7 and thats your job spec. Often marketers spend too long not having an impact. Lisa Jones is the  Founder and Director of Barclay Jones. Mark Cavanagh The benefit of marketing within recruitment is that you are dealing with people, this means that there is not one answer on where to find and attract the best talent. If you start by making sure your mechanism for capturing interest is engaging and simple, whether this is a dedicated website, ATS landing page or job post, you should be able to convert visitors easily whilst still gathering the right information. From here you can choose your channels based on your budget, for those working on a shoestring budget, start by focusing on the FREE channels; Social Media, SEO optimisation and even Company Reviews (Glassdoor, Google) can all be done without any expense. These can be labour intensive unless you have an already established core brand to tap into. Mark Cavanagh is the Marketing Manager at The One Group. Charlotte Jones Leveraging your employees and recruiters as your recruitment marketers would be a first step to a low cost, productive strategy: email marketing, social media targeted sponsored posts, growing a talent community with free tools, and good ole fashioned relationship marketing at targeted, local or online events are also an effective low-cost option. Partnering with your marketing or communications departments and aligning with the corporate brand platform and assets while inserting candidate specific messaging is another option. Co-marketing arrangements with suppliers and partners to promote career opportunities may also reduce costs. Charlotte  Jones is theRecruitment Marketing Manager at Lockheed Martin. Phil Strazzulla Yes. You can create video on your iPhone. You can manage your social with cheap tools. You can learn some basic coding to build out a better careers site. You can get access to Google Analytics to track progress. You can do SO MUCH for a very little amount of money. It just takes time and creativity. Phil Strazzulla  is the Founder of NextWave Hire. Shelby Burghardt   Leverage your employees! You don’t need a big budget to create a great story about your company. If you don’t have budget to hire a video producer and editor, send an employee a GoPro video and ask them to record footage of their office, or email a colleague and ask them to record a 30 second video on their iPhone. Then use a free/inexpensive app to edit the video footage, such as Lightworks or Shotcut. You can also reach out to employees to assist with building content such as writing a blog about their experience and then sharing those blogs on your career site and social channels â€" authentic content that didn’t cost you a dime! Shelby Burghardt is the Global Talent Brand Manager at Thomson Reuters. Rebecca Drew You can start small and build from there. You don’t need a huge investment, you need a smart data-driven approach, to target the right audience. LinkedIn is a great place to build your employer brand on a shoestring budget starting by creating your own company page or even a career page. We’ve done research which found that candidates spend 1-2 months gathering information on a company before applying for a job and will look to multiple channels, with the company websites, LinkedIn and search engines being the top options. We have more than 25 million members in the UK alone, so having a strong presence on LinkedIn will give you access to the biggest talent pool in the world. The key is to post frequently, at peak activity times and make posts as interesting as possible- pictures and videos are very effective in communicating your brand in an accessible, authentic way. You will see who engages with your content making it easy for you to see who is potentially interested in working for or having an initial conversation with you. Rebecca Drew is a Manager at LinkedIn Talent Solutions. Bennett Sung As the previous head of marketing at three early-stage companies, recruitment marketing on a budget can be very effective. First, smartphones are instrumental in creating your visual identity and evoking authenticity. Second, today’s college students are experts in digital marketing, so give young talent critical experience through an internship. Third, recruitment marketing technologies are subscription-based and often self-implemented, allowing you to turn them on and off when necessary. Plus, take advantage of free trials to validate the features you need. Finally, outsource marketing needs like graphic design and copywriting to freelancers to create more authentic, captivating and professional-looking recruiting materials. Bennett Sung is the Head of Marketing at Allyo.

Applications what are employers looking for

Applications what are employers looking for If you follow or read this blog youll have probably spotted that application themed posts appear pretty regularly. This isnt just laziness on my behalf but more an appeal to common interest. If theres one thing all of you want at the end of your degree is a job. And what stands in your way? A good application. You cant wing it, blag it or simply cross your fingers and hope for the best. You will have to spend time and effort getting it right. I took the liberty of asking our graduate recruiters to share their hints, tips and personal gripes about applications. As you can see there are plenty. Now you might think much of this is obvious but many, many, many applicants are still getting it wrong. Dont be one of them. Do your research Make sure you have done your research and you read your application through thoroughly before submitting it make sure its tailored to the company youre applying to! (PwC) Take the time to research the employer e.g. their website and brochure(s) to gain an understanding of their company values and business behaviours prior to starting your application, and consider these when making your application. (Jaguar Land Rover) Keep up to date with current affairs and be prepared to talk about themresearch the company and read the job descriptiondont use colloquial language (Corporate Executive Board) Demonstrate commercial awareness make sure you know exactly what the company does and how the role you are applying for fits into the organisation. Try to communicate your understanding of the value your role will add to the organisation. Demonstrate your awareness of key competitors in the field of industry. (PA Consulting) Tailor your application If you’ve met someone on campus, mention what you have learnt from them in your application. It makes your application far more personal and shows you’ve been proactive in pursuing your interest in our organisation.”  (Barclays Corporate Banking) Applicants who cannot suitably answer the questions, Why do you want to work for AkzoNobel? We hear lots and lots of generic answers! (AkzoNobel) Make sure you show us why you want to work for Severn Trent. We are an interesting, varied company and we want to know that what we do excites you (Severn Trent) Remember to tailor your application not only to the industry that you are applying to, but also the specific organisation within that industry that you are applying to. This demonstrates motivation and commitment, and that  you have made an informed decision to apply for that particular role. This is very attractive to a potential employer. (Accenture) Make sure your answers are relevant to the role youre applying for. We want to hear why you applied to us and not our competitors. In the Why Sky? question we want to hear specific areas of the business that are of interest, products you like, technology that drew you in not that youre great at team-working! (Sky) It is so tempting to just copy and paste information into a number of application forms but to make your application stand out it needs to be specific to the firm you are applying to. (Bank of America Merrill Lynch) If you tailor your applications and make only three applications to three companies, you will have far more chance than sending 50 generic applications to 50 companies. We want to know why you want to work for us  in particular. (Lidl) Give good examples Structure your answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). I would also recommend that applicants spend more time focussing on their actions and results, rather than the situation and task. (Teach First) Write about the skills and experiences from your work experience roles. The best top tip would be to really show an employer what you have learnt from previous experience and any responsibilities you were given as well as skills developed (EY Ernst Young) Answer the question(s) Not reading the questions asked and using the space as an opportunity to give 40 reasons to hire them instead  (AkzoNobel) My number one tip is: Answer the question! It seems really simple but I am always surprised by the number of applicants who dont or who give one line answers. Without full answers, all we have to distinguish between candidates is their CV, which doesnt give much personal flavour. (Which?) Provide specific answers to competency questions. We want to know what you did in that situation and what was the outcome of those actions. (IBM) Please make sure that you read the questions carefully to ensure that you are answering them directly. (Frontline)  Be yourself; dont play a character Be yourself! Dont try to be the person who you think we are looking for were an organisation that really values individuality and your point of view dont disguise this by putting on a show. (E:ON) Be proud of what you have achieved and make it clear why  you  would be the best person for the role. Theres no room for modesty! (Shell International) Check, check and check again It may be obvious, but proof-read, and then proof-read again, even get someone to do it for you. With the volume of applications we receive, spelling, grammar, layout, punctuation and presentation are often the pitfalls for many. (Esteé Lauder Companies) Make sure you use the companys correct name when referring to them in application forms. For example, we are Network Rail, NOT National Rail or British Rail (we get that a lot!) (Network Rail) Check and double check your document. (Corporate Executive Board) Follow the instructions on the application. You would not believe the number of applications we receive which are partially completed (or worse) an application for the wrong job!(CoreFiling) And finally: sell yourself. If you dont, no-one else will

How Much Should I Charge For Resume Writing As A Eginner?

How Much Should I Charge For Resume Writing As A Eginner?How much should I charge for resume writing as an engineer? It's a simple question. No one likes to get charged an arm and a leg to be asked a question.Why not price yourself appropriately? After all, is there anyone who won't benefit from the sales pitch? Your resume is the first thing they see, and they can make a quick decision on whether or not to hire you without ever seeing your stuff. The prices of resume writing services vary widely, which is exactly why you should price yourself right.If you're not using the services of a professional when it comes to creating resumes for clients, then you should use resume templates. Remember that every business owner has a unique situation to handle. If your resume is nothing like the other resumes in your file, then that's OK. All it means is that you don't have the best resume available, or that you're not completely experienced in creating a resume. Even though you may be a profes sional writer, there are many other areas where you may need assistance.If you've priced yourself low, then it is possible that you have customers out there who are in desperate need of a job. Most companies that deal with resumes do so for a fee. After all, they would not offer to sell you anything unless you wanted to buy something. By charging a fairly small fee, you can continue to give yourself work and maintain your customer base.If you've charged too high a price, then you might not be providing a service for the right reasons. You could easily be charging more than you need to. Asking how much should I charge for resume writing as an engineer does not have to take you through a maze of convoluted calculations.If you're trying to estimate how much should I charge for resume writing as an eginner, simply ask yourself a couple of questions. Who will be reading the resume? What kind of person will be hiring you? If you can answer these questions, then you have already come up wi th a reasonable fee.It's also possible that you might be pricing yourself way too low. If you're just starting out in the industry, then you can offer up your first free resume to whomever you can think of. Be willing to do a little free writing before you charge your next client. Sometimes getting a fair price for your first service is the best way to start out.Getting an accurate and reasonable estimate for how much should I charge for resume writing as an engineer is easy. Just use some common sense and ask how much you could realistically charge before you have any clients. Ask how much the rates are for the kind of services you offer, and remember to calculate everything out.

What to include in the work experience section of your CV

What to include in the work experience section of your CV Ah CVs. Those tricky creatures. Trying to figure out what to include and what not to can be a nightmare, and when you dont think youve got the experience to back it up, it can be even more challenging. And the previous employment history section is a minefield in itself. What happens if this is your first graduate job? Does work experience count? What about part-time jobs? Should I throw some rhetorical questions in there? (That ones a no). Weve put together a quick guide of top tips to answer all your questions, and make sure youre including the most relevant experience in order to impress those recruiters and grab that job. Its all about the structure You cant just whack anything into your employment history, but you dont have to stress so much if you make it perfectly clear what each role consisted of. That means youre mot misleading the recruiter into thinking a work experience role was a full-time paid position or anything. A handy way of doing it is with columns. For example, one column for the time frame you held the position, another for the role title and then another for further details. Heres an example you could try in your CV: Part-time jobs Ok, so you might think your part-time job in Primark on Saturday is totally irrelevant and completely uncool but its definitely worth putting down on your CV. It shows you have the commitment to work a role over a long period of time, with professional punctuality and dedication you would have been sacked if you turned up late everyday, right? Plus, even if you think you spend most of your shift killing time, youre bound to have picked up some super useful, and very employable skills along the way. You might have dealt with customers on a regular basis, developing your communication skills and emotional intelligence, or you might have worked in a high-pressure environment, having to prove your adaptability by responding to new challenges when they arise. Take a step back, think about what youve learnt from the job, and get it down on paper. Internships Well duh! If youve completed an internship (no matter if it it was paid or unpaid) this counts as previous employment history and should definitely be included here. Internships are often one of the main things employers look for in a CV they show youve had significant experience within a company (hopefully related to the industry youre wanting to get in to), and solid reference to go with it. Remember to talk about specific projects you worked on and the results you helped achieve. Show how you made a significant contribution to the company, even if you were only there a short while, and how you were able to adapt yourself to the team and their business needs. Work experience This is the main thing people are often wary about putting in their previous employment history, fearing that its not official enough to count. Firstly thats rubbish. Work experience, even if it was only for a week or a few days, is definitely worth putting in here. Its all about how you demonstrate what you learnt from the experience, and what you contributed to the organisation during your short time there. Even if you felt like you were only making tea and photocopying (dont worry, weve all been there), if you really think about it you should be able to pick out some skills that you developed. Any experience in a real-life work place, such as shadowing employees and participating in team meetings, is all really useful stuff that tells an employer you know how to act professionally in the work-place and make an impression. Volunteering I would normally suggest putting volunteering in your Hobbies and Extra-curricular Activities section, but if youre running a bit low on previous work experience, you might want to pop it in here. Just remember (going back to my first point), you need to make it explicitly clear that this was a volunteering role and not a paid position. Its all about how you show that the work you did is relevant to the role youre applying for. You may have just been volunteering, but how did you develop skills that you can apply to a paid role in a workplace? Especially if you have stuck out a volunteering position over a long period of time, this shows dedication and passion for the cause (and not the monetary incentive), something that employers are definitely interested in. Go skills-based instead Finally, if youre really struggling to find enough previous work experience to fill this part of your CV, you might want to try a completely different CV tactic altogether. Instead of focusing on your previous employment history, structure your CV around your skills instead. This means that instead of listing previous roles and then using these to demonstrate the skills you developed, you start with the skills, and then talks about what roles/activities helped you to develop these skills. So for example you could take a mixture of hard and soft skills coding, data analysis, leadership, emotional intelligence and communication and write a short paragraph on each describing instances when you have used these skills, and any roles which have helped develop them. Although skills based CVs arent as common as those based on your previous employment history, theyre particularly useful if youre making a career change into an area you dont have much previous experience in. You want to show you have the skills to apply to the role, even if you dont exactly have the hands-on experience. Heres an example of what it could look like: So there you have it! The number one lesson here is not to stress if you dont think you have the right level of previous employment history dont be afraid to use whatever experience is available to you to demonstrate your skills, just make it clear exactly what that roles consisted off. Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Job search stress got you down 4 ways to cope - Sterling Career Concepts

Job search stress got you down 4 ways to cope Job search stress got you down? 4 ways to cope Todays guestauthor is Life and Wellness Coach Sharon Ball for a two-part series on betterhandling stress in your life: Stress is an unfortunate part of most job searches.When we are stressed, we aren’t able to think as clearly, focus and be as productive as we need to be. We aren’t able to listen well and miscommunication becomes more possible which increases our stress. Stress can build to a point where we are burned out and just don’t care about much anymore. It can affect us physically as well as mentally. Severe stress over an extended period of time can even lead to “burnout.” So we just need to get rid of all stress, right?Well, not quite. Actually we need some stress just to keep life interesting. Occasional stress increases our energy and mental alertness. When you feel “pumped” up about a project, you are feeling good stress. Good stress, also known as eustress, is that feeling of joy or excitement when a wonderful change is unfolding. There is some controversy related to the exact definition of stress but the one I go with is that stress is the chemical and hormonal response o f our body to a stimulus from the outside world that disturbs, interferes, or causes change in our comfort zone. Another way to look at it is stress is the body’s reaction to a change that requires us to respond or adjust physically, mentally or emotionally. Anything that challenges us also stresses us. We humans tend to dislike change so we often perceive change as a threat and our body’s releases “fight or flight” neurochemicals and hormones in response to the perceived threat. It has been found that this release of neurochemicals and hormones, if brief, actually increases our immune system. If we see the event causing the stress as a negative event we experience distress instead of eustress. It is important to be aware that often the difference between eustress and distress is our perception of the event. For instance, if I discover today that I am pregnant, I could perceive it as “wonderful” or a “disaster” depending on what I think and feel about being pregnant. It is our personal perception that makes an event good or bad. And our personal perception is often a result of unconscious beliefs that were formed years ago. So again, it is usually not the situation but the thoughts and beliefs we have about the situation that create our stress. Often we have an involuntary “fight or flight” reaction to a situation that may or may not be appropriate. Recognize when a reaction of this sort occurs and then take some time and examine it. Exactly what is causing your reaction? Is it really the situation or could it be an unrecognized thought or belief? Does this situation resemble a situation from your past and all those old feelings are popping up again? Most of us want to limit our negative stress to manage our lives, our relationships, and our careers creatively and intelligently. While stress is not something we can get rid of completely, we can manage it so we have minimal distress. There are four main ways to cope with stress: adapt yourself to the stress, avoid the stress-creating situation entirely, accept the stressor, or alter the stress and/or situation. Of course, the bills aren’t going to stop coming, difficult family members or co-workers aren’t going to have a personality change overnight, the dog isn’t going to become magically housebroken by tonight, and you will never find enough time to do all that you have to do. But you can get more control over both the stress and your reaction to it. What are your current stress management skills/coping strategies? Do you smoke more, use alcohol or drugs, eat too much or not enough, avoid stress at home by working long hours, zone out in front of the television, or treat o thers to angry outbursts when dealing with your stress? I’m sure you recognize these coping mechanisms as unsatisfactory. In Part II of this post, we’ll discuss six healthyways to manage stress. Identifying and listing your stressors is the most important step of all to eliminating them. What daily and weekly occurrences stress you out? Job search included, what people, activities, and things cause stress in your life? Make your list and then let’s look at the four ways of managing stress: The first way is to adapt yourself to the stress. I can hear you asking: “So just how am I going to do that?” If you can’t change the stress producing situation, the next choice is to change something about your reaction to it. Can you view the situation differently? Instead of assuming that your difficult co-worker is deliberately setting out to “get you,” maybe they don’t have a clue that what they are doing is like scraping fingernails on a blackboard to you. Is this situation going to be as important to you in five or ten years as it is now? If not, is it worth all the mental energy you are giving it in the present? Is it your perfectionist standards that are causing the stress rather than the situation itself? Is it your belief that things “should be,” always, never, or “must be? The second one is to avoid the stress creating situation entirely. I can hear you now telling me that of course you’d avoid stressful situations if you could.” This may not be an option when it comes to a job search, but in other areas of your life, are you taking on too much and trying to do too much? The next time someone asks you to take on another project or volunteer activity, why not just say “no?” Don’t try to explain or make excuses or allow them to make you feel guilty, just say that you “cannot do it.” If there is someone that just drives you up the wall or sucks you dry of energy, avoid them. If you cannot avoid them entirely, for instance it’s a family member, and then limit the time spent around them as much as you can. We previously talked about beliefs that things “should be” always or never, or “must be. Really look at these beliefs. Of course, it is a must that you feed your children but is it also a must that the mashed potatoes are homemade ra ther than from a box and that the birthday cake is also homemade instead of from a bakery? Of course, it is a must to provide clean clothes for your children, but is it also a must that clean play clothes be crisply ironed? Or would clean but slightly wrinkled be OK to play in? If you do feel crisply ironed play clothes are a must, does it have to be you doing the ironing or could you hire your babysitter for an extra hour and let her iron the play clothes? Another good avoidance of stress occurs when you refuse to discuss a subject which makes you or others upset or angry. For instance, put politics or religion on your “I-do-not-discuss” list. The third coping mechanism is to accept the stressor. Easier said than done, right? Hey, I never said it would always easy. Some stresses are beyondour control: the loss of a job,aloved one gets sick, or a country goes through a recession. We can’t change these things. We just have to accept that it is happening and move on with our lives the best we can. If part of the situation was caused by a poor choice on your part, choose to learn from your mistake and again, just move on. Going over and over what has happened in your mind or verbally to other people will change nothing and just add to your stress. Sometimes a stressor that you can do nothing about occurs because of someone else’s actions. You may be hurt or furious, but in the grand scheme of things, is it reallyso important that you have to prolong the stress with your anger? Can you just let it go and move on? We live in an imperfect world and bad things happen. Unfair things happen. By raging against these things we dep lete our energy and wear ourselves out. We need to learn to let go of anger and resentment, even if justified, and make an effort to forgive and forget and move on with our life.The final and fourth coping mechanism is to alter the stress and/or stress producing situation. Can you use the situation as a learning experience and plan better in the future so that the situation does not happen again? Would requesting a compromise regarding a situation lighten your stress somewhat? Do you need to be more assertive or maybe just communicate your likes and dislikes, your wants and needs more clearly? Might more attention to time management alter a recurring stressful situation? In Part II of this post, well review six ways to managestress in your life. Life is meant to be enjoyed and savored, and by taking control of your stress you can do just that. If you have any questions that I can help you with, you can contact me at Sharon@reinventingyourselftoday.com. ©2011 Sharon Ball, Life and Wellness Coach. Get your free report: Begin Reinventing Yourself Today at: http://www.reinventingyourselftoday.com. Job search stress got you down 4 ways to cope Job search stress got you down? 4 ways to cope Todays guestauthor is Life and Wellness Coach Sharon Ball for a two-part series on betterhandling stress in your life: Stress is an unfortunate part of most job searches.When we are stressed, we aren’t able to think as clearly, focus and be as productive as we need to be. We aren’t able to listen well and miscommunication becomes more possible which increases our stress. Stress can build to a point where we are burned out and just don’t care about much anymore. It can affect us physically as well as mentally. Severe stress over an extended period of time can even lead to “burnout.” So we just need to get rid of all stress, right?Well, not quite. Actually we need some stress just to keep life interesting. Occasional stress increases our energy and mental alertness. When you feel “pumped” up about a project, you are feeling good stress. Good stress, also known as eustress, is that feeling of joy or excitement when a wonderful change is unfolding. There is some controversy related to the exact definition of stress but the one I go with is that stress is the chemical and hormonal response o f our body to a stimulus from the outside world that disturbs, interferes, or causes change in our comfort zone. Another way to look at it is stress is the body’s reaction to a change that requires us to respond or adjust physically, mentally or emotionally. Anything that challenges us also stresses us. We humans tend to dislike change so we often perceive change as a threat and our body’s releases “fight or flight” neurochemicals and hormones in response to the perceived threat. It has been found that this release of neurochemicals and hormones, if brief, actually increases our immune system. If we see the event causing the stress as a negative event we experience distress instead of eustress. It is important to be aware that often the difference between eustress and distress is our perception of the event. For instance, if I discover today that I am pregnant, I could perceive it as “wonderful” or a “disaster” depending on what I think and feel about being pregnant. It is our personal perception that makes an event good or bad. And our personal perception is often a result of unconscious beliefs that were formed years ago. So again, it is usually not the situation but the thoughts and beliefs we have about the situation that create our stress. Often we have an involuntary “fight or flight” reaction to a situation that may or may not be appropriate. Recognize when a reaction of this sort occurs and then take some time and examine it. Exactly what is causing your reaction? Is it really the situation or could it be an unrecognized thought or belief? Does this situation resemble a situation from your past and all those old feelings are popping up again? Most of us want to limit our negative stress to manage our lives, our relationships, and our careers creatively and intelligently. While stress is not something we can get rid of completely, we can manage it so we have minimal distress. There are four main ways to cope with stress: adapt yourself to the stress, avoid the stress-creating situation entirely, accept the stressor, or alter the stress and/or situation. Of course, the bills aren’t going to stop coming, difficult family members or co-workers aren’t going to have a personality change overnight, the dog isn’t going to become magically housebroken by tonight, and you will never find enough time to do all that you have to do. But you can get more control over both the stress and your reaction to it. What are your current stress management skills/coping strategies? Do you smoke more, use alcohol or drugs, eat too much or not enough, avoid stress at home by working long hours, zone out in front of the television, or treat o thers to angry outbursts when dealing with your stress? I’m sure you recognize these coping mechanisms as unsatisfactory. In Part II of this post, we’ll discuss six healthyways to manage stress. Identifying and listing your stressors is the most important step of all to eliminating them. What daily and weekly occurrences stress you out? Job search included, what people, activities, and things cause stress in your life? Make your list and then let’s look at the four ways of managing stress: The first way is to adapt yourself to the stress. I can hear you asking: “So just how am I going to do that?” If you can’t change the stress producing situation, the next choice is to change something about your reaction to it. Can you view the situation differently? Instead of assuming that your difficult co-worker is deliberately setting out to “get you,” maybe they don’t have a clue that what they are doing is like scraping fingernails on a blackboard to you. Is this situation going to be as important to you in five or ten years as it is now? If not, is it worth all the mental energy you are giving it in the present? Is it your perfectionist standards that are causing the stress rather than the situation itself? Is it your belief that things “should be,” always, never, or “must be? The second one is to avoid the stress creating situation entirely. I can hear you now telling me that of course you’d avoid stressful situations if you could.” This may not be an option when it comes to a job search, but in other areas of your life, are you taking on too much and trying to do too much? The next time someone asks you to take on another project or volunteer activity, why not just say “no?” Don’t try to explain or make excuses or allow them to make you feel guilty, just say that you “cannot do it.” If there is someone that just drives you up the wall or sucks you dry of energy, avoid them. If you cannot avoid them entirely, for instance it’s a family member, and then limit the time spent around them as much as you can. We previously talked about beliefs that things “should be” always or never, or “must be. Really look at these beliefs. Of course, it is a must that you feed your children but is it also a must that the mashed potatoes are homemade ra ther than from a box and that the birthday cake is also homemade instead of from a bakery? Of course, it is a must to provide clean clothes for your children, but is it also a must that clean play clothes be crisply ironed? Or would clean but slightly wrinkled be OK to play in? If you do feel crisply ironed play clothes are a must, does it have to be you doing the ironing or could you hire your babysitter for an extra hour and let her iron the play clothes? Another good avoidance of stress occurs when you refuse to discuss a subject which makes you or others upset or angry. For instance, put politics or religion on your “I-do-not-discuss” list. The third coping mechanism is to accept the stressor. Easier said than done, right? Hey, I never said it would always easy. Some stresses are beyondour control: the loss of a job,aloved one gets sick, or a country goes through a recession. We can’t change these things. We just have to accept that it is happening and move on with our lives the best we can. If part of the situation was caused by a poor choice on your part, choose to learn from your mistake and again, just move on. Going over and over what has happened in your mind or verbally to other people will change nothing and just add to your stress. Sometimes a stressor that you can do nothing about occurs because of someone else’s actions. You may be hurt or furious, but in the grand scheme of things, is it reallyso important that you have to prolong the stress with your anger? Can you just let it go and move on? We live in an imperfect world and bad things happen. Unfair things happen. By raging against these things we dep lete our energy and wear ourselves out. We need to learn to let go of anger and resentment, even if justified, and make an effort to forgive and forget and move on with our life.The final and fourth coping mechanism is to alter the stress and/or stress producing situation. Can you use the situation as a learning experience and plan better in the future so that the situation does not happen again? Would requesting a compromise regarding a situation lighten your stress somewhat? Do you need to be more assertive or maybe just communicate your likes and dislikes, your wants and needs more clearly? Might more attention to time management alter a recurring stressful situation? In Part II of this post, well review six ways to managestress in your life. Life is meant to be enjoyed and savored, and by taking control of your stress you can do just that. If you have any questions that I can help you with, you can contact me at Sharon@reinventingyourselftoday.com. ©2011 Sharon Ball, Life and Wellness Coach. Get your free report: Begin Reinventing Yourself Today at: http://www.reinventingyourselftoday.com.

Tough (Question) Tuesday Is what youre fearing The Truth, or only a matter of Trust

Tough (Question) Tuesday Is what youre fearing The Truth, or only a matter of Trust Reality by Ashley Inzer, found via pecannoot Lately, Ive found myself talking to my clients about the difference between The Truth and Trust. It always comes up when were discussing their fear, which is always real but is sometimes only valid. Can you distinguish: Is what youre fearing The Truth, or only a matter of Trust? Feel free to share (up to you if you wanna give the backstory!) in the comments! Would love to hear your take. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Im givin away a copy of The Spark Kit ($150value), and it can go to you!