November | 2013 | 2nd Chance University

As the holidays approach, it does NOT mean that your job search must come to a halt.

I get it, with vacations and holiday plans imminent, you may have other things to focus on, and you may even wonder whether anyone is hiring at all. Truth is, if you find yourself uncertain about taking career advantage during the holiday season, let me assure you: Employers are hiring.

As many successful career seekers can attest, that perfect position may be one jingle away. Whether a college student on break, unemployed, underemployed, or changing careers, this holiday break can be an invaluable time to refresh and recharge your job search. But there are a few rules of the trade…

Career rule of thumb: Don’t panic.

Remember that it is the holiday season and anxiety has a way of pulling away from the task at hand: gaining your career advantage. The best thing you can do is stay proactive even when it seems like there’s nothing to do. The more prepared you are, the more confident you will be, and the more attractive you will be to employers when the time comes.

Right now, there are four things you can do before New Year’s Day:

Goals
Now is the time to reassess realistic goals and to make career affirmations you will keep. If your job search has not been producing the results you want, take a moment to objectively analyze your goals and company contributions. Taking your goals and contributions to the next level does not mean you have to change your mind when you’re done. This simple exercise of “refreshing” or “rebooting” has the potential to energize a second wind that will carry you through any stale point. Feeling confident and motivated, you are now primed for the research stage.

Research
Whether you’re getting a much needed break from college or you’ve had plenty of time to yourself lately, now is THE time to research. Industry and company trends are readily available on the Internet, taking only an ounce or two of diligence. Specific research topics can include: How has the job market changed in the last few months in your area? What companies are most likely to be hiring in the New Year? What’s currently happening in the career field that you have chosen to follow? Another great place to research job-specific expectations is www.ONETOnline.org. I strongly encourage an hour of your time to this site BEFORE your next career move. Truth is, a little bit of research can go a long way, and it can help you to know what direction to go after the holidays.

Network
If you haven’t kept in touch with your network, look through your LinkedIn and your list of professional contacts. No matter how long it’s been since you were in touch with someone, wishing happy holidays is a great way to open that communication back up. During this revisit, don’t make the mistake by sounding self-absorbed by asking for a job. Many people may not take kindly to a year of silence and then, out of the blue, a job request. Instead of being overly aggressive, open up with holiday cheer and begin rebuilding that connection – it will benefit you in the long run.

Resume
When you last updated your resume, you probably made it shine the best you could and then put it away for another day. Here’s an idea, let’s make today that “another” day. Fast forward from last revision to now take advantage of the research you recently performed. By incorporating keywords from ONETOnline, industry research, and your professional development, you not only add depth to your selling swagger, you gain confidence.

Investing some time during this season will recharge more of your job search than you realize. Not only will it help you when it comes to making resolutions, but as the New Year approaches, you will be able to charge back into the job market more prepared than ever before.

If you have specific questions needing attention, email or submit comments and one of our professional career writers/coaches will handle with immediate care.

Interested in developing proven career success techniques or in securing cutting-edge career focused material, including interview best practice techniques or how to write effective resume/cover letters? Visit www.edu-cs.com for a complete listing of available support. You may also contact us directly: dhuffman@edu-cs.com to see how we can help you.

Rikki Payne, Career Consultant, Editor, and Writer
Education Career Services, www.edu-cs.com
Follow us on Twitter #dannyatecs
Blog: https://careerbreakout.wordpress.com
Education Career Services: www.edu-cs.com
West Orlando News Online, Event and Career Columnist: http://westorlandonews.com

For the last few weeks we discussed the inner strengths and talents of Highly Sensitive People (HSP). While there are many career advantages to being Highly Sensitive, they do come with stipulations.

Stipulations are what today is about.

You see, for the Highly Sensitive, stimuli are much stronger. Lights, sounds, excitement, touch, etc. Being Highly Sensitive means just that – they are much more sensitive to their environment. If you have been identified as one, you know exactly what I mean. If you are not HSP, no doubt you’ve come across quite a few… perhaps scratching your head as to why such sensitivity (by your non-HSP standards).

It is difficult to label HSP as a “condition,” and it is certainly not a “handicap.” Being a HSP merely means a difference in the way the brain processes information and stimuli, and this can, like all things in life, have ups and downs. The downsides of HSP can often seem overwhelming while the upsides can often seem out of reach. Good news: neither extreme has to be the case.

Highly Sensitive People are capable of intense levels of creativity, empathy, intuition, precision, and passion that others are not able to attain. Given the right environment, these traits flourish into powerful energies, catapulting company expansion, product ingenuity, and even cultural progression.

For the HSP fearing exposure, you possess the catalyst propelling progression. In the right career, HSPs can impact people in truly great ways.

Residing in a culture proposing to embrace diversity, recognize one basic truth: You are NOT alone.

To the HSP career advantage, company’s growth depends upon diversity, ingenuity, creativity, and energy defining your character and contributions. Take heat in knowing the HSP offers value above and beyond applicants competing in for the same job.

Sure, there may be a few minor accommodation factors requiring attention, but companies seeking growth know the effects HSPs have on the bottom-line. Here’s where packaging the product (you) comes to the forefront. (We’ll be discussing best-practice selling techniques for the HSP in upcoming submissions—so don’t touch that dial.)

Truth is, you may have to prove the work produced when well-accommodated is worth a few slight inconveniences. If you can do this or if you already have, the world may soon be your oyster. If insecurity is beginning to filter in, push it out and know you don’t have to work from home in order to flourish.

Honesty is always the best policy, not only to you but also to the company as a whole. To best balance optimal performance, find out the level of accommodation you need and do what is necessary to acquire it. Not only will it be worth it to you, but it will be worth it to those that benefit from your unique and powerful skillset.

I’d love to hear from you! E-mail or comment with any questions or concerns.

2nd Chance University

Monthly Archives: November 2013

Holiday Season Vacation or Vocation

HSP Career Advantage Wrap-Up

Empowering, educating, and employing the justice-involved