Five Job Seeking Mistakes

A great resume and a strong skill-set can get you the interview. But make one of these mistakes during your interview can cost you the job. Watch.learn.apply!
(source: yahoo abc )

Downsized...Now What?

As I collect my thoughts bring you something fabulous to keep you motivated. I in turn, am trying to keep myself motivated. This downsized thing is no joke. Everyone tells you to stay positive. At times, it's extremely hard. So as I collect my thoughts and meditate on the joy and happiness in my life...minus a job, check out this article by Karen Salmansohn. I find it refreshing!

The Map Out Of Doomsville

Losing a job isn't fun. But instead of wallowing in Doomsville, you must see it is an opportunity to take a new and better path -- a road of opportunity which will lead you to that career you've always wanted. Be honest with yourself! Did your ex-job pay your bills, yet empty your soul? Instead of earning a living - were you merely earning an earning? If so, this treacherous economy might have served you up a big, fat opportunity-- to finally take that path towards doing what you love and making even more money.

According to Jonathan Fields, author of Career Renegade: How To Make A Great Living Doing What You Love, "Promises have been broken on a scale we haven't seen since the Great Depression. If you lulled yourself into believing that a honking pile of money or a seemingly Teflon job was your ticket to security, you're likely smack in the middle of a really rude awakening."

Fact is, everyone's worlds are being shaken and in this shaking lies opportunity--the chance to come alive. Fields shares these 7 critical actions to set in motion a more conscious career change:

1. Don't Freak Out - Remember, you may have left your job, but everything that's gotten you this far, your skills, abilities, knowledge, drive, work ethic and relationships, go with you.

2. Own up to your passion--We all know what we really want to do, we just don't know how to earn a living doing it, so we pretend we don't know. Time to step up and give it life.

3. Research your renegade path--Given the right tools, technology and information, now nearly any passion can be turned into a viable living, often from your kitchen table and at little expense or risk.

4. Speeducate yourself--It's never been easier to bone up on any body of knowledge or skillset in very little time, if you know where to look, both on and offline. And, often, it's even free.

5. Turn out your tribe--Tap the blogosphere and social media to showcase your mastery and your passion, build a personal brand and drive future clients, partners or employers to you.

6. Rally your rabbis--Present the case of a lifetime to rally the support of those closest to you and connect with mentors and "rabbis" who've done what you want to do.

7. Master your mind--Cultivate a daily mindset-enhancement practice to help manage stress and keep you focused, motivated and moving aggressively forward.

***
Need a little psyche-ological boosting during this challenging time -- an emotional boost to push you forward? Check out THE BOUNCE BACK BOOK: HOW TO THRIVE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, SETBACKS AND LOSSES by clicking here
(source) The Huffington post

Downsized...Now What? 6

Here are some helpful tips if you or someone you know has lost their job. It's time to get you and your finances in order. Plan your work and work your plan, Working Diva. No matter what your situation, there are great things in your future. Love ya!


What to do over the next few weeks (source)
• Prioritize your bills. Mortgage and utilities should be paid first.

• Manage your debt. If money is tight, you may need to make just the minimum monthly payments on your credit cards until you get back to work. If that's a problem, try to negotiate a payment plan with your creditors. They may be willing to reduce your minimum payments or waive interest until you're back to work.

• Review your insurance policies. Contact the insurer if you're having trouble paying premiums. Some companies will give you a 30-day grace period.

• Avoid canceling your life insurance. If you let your policy lapse, resuming coverage later could cost more. You'll probably have to undergo a medical exam, and you could be denied coverage if the physical reveals health problems.

• Avoid taking money out of your 401(k) or individual retirement accounts. You'll have to pay taxes on money taken out, plus a 10% early-withdrawal penalty if you're younger than 591/2.
Selling stocks or funds in a non-retirement investment portfolio won't trigger those penalties, but it involves other issues. Most stocks and funds have lost money this year, so you'll probably end up selling at a loss. If you really need the money and have exhausted other options, sell judiciously, Stives suggests.

• Give yourself a break. Many workers blame themselves for layoffs, even though the job cuts had nothing do with their performance. Kristen Payne, 36, says she was "beyond depressed" several years ago when her employer, a Houston-based Internet start-up company, let her go because it wasn't making enough money. "I equated it to being fired." she says. "It was just terrible."

Her story has a happy ending. After being out of work for 3 months, she found an even better job with a printing company. She's more careful with her money now: She usually pays off her credit cards and saves up for big purchases. Her advice to the newly unemployed? "You have to look forward," she says. "You can't beat yourself up. It's just business."