?? How To Safely Job Search In Emergency Situations

?? How To Safely Job Search In Emergency Situations 126 Hopefully you'll never need to job search in danger (unless that's part of the job) but these lessons will help you in any job search situation. Photo by Lee Junda Have you ever had to look for a job in emergency conditions? Extreme situations happen all the time and can affect anyone's job search no matter where you live, such as crazy weather, building fires or others. For more than two decades, citizens in various parts of Israel have lived under the threat of terrorist rocket fire, and needed to rearrange their lives when it become more than a threat. As a local resident for most of that time, I've had my share of tough moments on and off the job search. Fortunately, there were some good lessons to take away for any job search…eval If you've ever had to job search in an extreme situation, what was the cause? Choose whichever you'd had to deal with. War or terrorism Crime Stormy weather Building issues (fire, power outage, etc.) Strikes, demonstrations or riots View Results Summer 2006eval Part I In April 2006, my old company downsized my entire team of web developers and I. “Yippee,” I thought, “now we can go back to Israel.” My pregnant wife, 2 kids and I had been living in Paris (France) and after almost 4 years, it was time to leave. May and June were spent learning how job search had changed in the past few years, creating a LinkedIn profile, updating and translating my resume into Hebrew. Finally, towards the end of June, I started applying for jobs in Israel and quickly scheduled a week of interviews in mid-July. On July 12th at around 6am, I landed in Israel after a night flight with a stopover in Prague. Not having slept much but having the whole morning to relax before a 2:30pm interview in Tel Aviv, I took a taxi straight from the airport to the beach and fell asleep… waking up in time to shower, change and grab a quick lunch before a taxi to Ramat Hachayal, the Tel Aviv neighborhood where many tech companies are based. This was how my conversation started with the cab driver: Me: “Nice day, isn't it?” Driver: “What are you, crazy? Don't you know that a war is starting? Haven't you heard the news?” Me: “Um, no. I was lounging on the beach all morning…” While I was staring at the clouds, Hezbollah had fired rockets into northern Israel and attacked an IDF patrol near the Lebanon border, killing 3 soldiers and capturing 2 others. The army raced to respond and the Second Lebanon War began. Over the next 9 days, I had 6 job interviews, all in the Tel Aviv â€" Herzliya area, far from where the rockets were falling in the North. Aside from small talk about the latest news from the front, I would never have otherwise known that a war was going on. Part II August 7th. Via a stopover in Budapest, I returned for a second visit to Israel and 7 more interviews, some of which were further north than last time but still not that close to the war zone where rockets were falling daily. However, on August 13th, I got my first taste of rocket fire when I visited family friends in Haifa during Hezbollah's final barrage before the ceasefire went into effect the next morning. I saw the full range of reactions to the air raid sirens and bombardment- people who kept driving as if the sirens weren't blaring, people who calmly but quickly took cover according to IDF guidelines, people who panicked and burst into tears regardless of whether they were exposed outdoors or safe in a bomb shelter. And all throughout, people calling or sending text messages to relay where a rocket (almost) landed and that they were ok. Some businesses were open and some were closed, so if I had had any job interviews in the area, I would have had to call ahead to confirm on the day of the meeting. If the hiring company was open, would asking to reschedule to a quieter time have been ok? Probably, since no one thought the war would go on for months on end, but showing solidarity is a great way to stand out. Fall 2012 The rockets from the North a thing of the past â€" hopefully for good â€" now it's the South that was getting hit. Operation Pillar of Defense started on November 14th with the goal of finally putting an end to the rocket fire from Gaza that had sadly become the norm for years (4 years here in Ashdod, almost 12 years for people in Sderot, near the border). One big change is that since the previous year, the Iron Dome defense system had been in place to destroy incoming rockets. Back then, it had a success rate well over 80%, but even when it did the job, burning rocket pieces can still hurt people and cause damage where they fall, like when a chunk of warhead (pictured) landed in my friend's garden, shaking the whole house. Here's what the system looks like simultaneously taking out 14 rockets at night, when it's a lot easier to see in action: Although Pillar of Defense had only gone on for less than a week, the initial impression most locals had was that it would go on for much longer. As a result, many people left the area to stay with family, friends or one of the many families across the country that opened their houses to us. More than a few businesses closed from one day to the next, and some public transportation was reduced with everyone pretty much staying indoors as much as possible. As in Haifa in 2006, you couldn't job interview if a company was closed, but you could reschedule. If you couldn't, or they preferred not to, fast mobile Internet access meant you could suggest a video interview with your smartphone. Otherwise, you could also spend a little more time than usual job searching and networking online, especially if your computer could connect to the Internet from your bomb shelter or safe room. Summer 2014 I originally posted this article in November 2012 during Operation Pillar of Defense. Almost 2 years later, Hamas decided it would be a good idea to pick up where they left off, sending over 1000 rockets towards Israeli cities (with at least 100 falling in Gaza on their own people too). Over 40 of those rockets were aimed at my hometown of Ashdod, but thanks to the amazing Iron Dome anti-missile system, only a handful actually landed in town. This security blanket allowed many Israelis to continue going to work and living a normal life but with irregular work breaks due to air raid sirens, short walks to safe rooms and then, listening for loud booms as missiles collide in the sky above. If you're in the middle of a job interview when such a warning rings out, how you react in that mini-crisis can actually help you make a good impression while also learning about the employer, your interviewer and its other employees. It's almost a surprise example of group dynamics testing or behavioral testing. 6 best practices for job search in an emergency area or danger zone Here's what you should keep in mind if you're looking for a job in an emergency: Keep a cool head at all times, showing that you can be counted on in pressure situations Safety first, and that's your top priority until the danger level has gone down a lot Make sure you have Internet access in your bomb shelter, safe room or anywhere else you may need to stay temporarily Focus more on Internet-based job search, company research and networking online Avoid exposure by doing video interviews Call one day ahead, or even the day of, to confirm your job interview is still scheduled. You may be in a safe place, but perhaps your interviewer isn't and they need to reschedule Question of the article Have any of your job searches been affected by extreme situations, such as war, riots or stormy weather? How was it different than usual? Tell us in the comments.

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 5 Tips for Giving a Great Video Interview

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 5 Tips for Giving a Great Video Interview As more companies interview job candidates from around the world and more executives look for time-saving strategies, you may find that the next time you interview for a job youre facing not a live human being, but a television camera.Videoconferencing is becoming more and more popular across all industries and job levels as a way not to just conduct meetings between far-flung participants, but as a way to interview potential employees.Sometimes a television camera films the job candidate in a studio while a television screen projects the interviewer at another location. Often, no one else is present with the job candidate during that time, and the interview schedule is strictly enforced. That means you've got to be even more prepared because you're only going to have a limited time to sell yourself to the interviewer.Some tips for having a great interview: Send necessary materials early. If you've got an updated resume, send that to interviewers before the session so they have it i n hand. Understand the technology. By arriving about 15 minutes early, you can ask the technician how loud you should talk into the microphone (avoid constantly bending over microphone when you speak), and ask how to use the picture in picture feature, which allows you to see on the television screen how you are being filmed. Use this feature ahead of time to make sure your appearance is neat and the table is clear of clutter. Don't be afraid to tell the technician you're not familiar with the equipment, and ask for pointers. Minimize distractions. Don't do things like tapping your pen or fiddling with bracelets, because the microphone may pick it up and that's the only thing interviewers will hear. Check out the picture-in-picture feature periodically to make sure youre not fiddling with your hair, rocking in your chair or doing anything else that distracts the interviewer. Maintain eye contact. Just as you would in a face-to-face interview, keep your eyes on the interviewer. It s OK to take notes, but look up from time to time so that the interviewer isnt always seeing the top of your head that is bent over your notepad.Dress appropriately. You may think you can dress more casually, which is not the case. Also, dress appropriately from head-to-toe -- you don't want to be in a nice shirt and tie, and then stand up to be caught in ratty shorts or jeans.Any other hints for someone doing a long-distance interview?Social Bookmarking

How to Accelerate Your Recovery After a Motor Vehicle Accident

How to Accelerate Your Recovery After a Motor Vehicle Accident Motor vehicle accidents can be costly, frustrating, and painful. Even a minor incident can have major ramifications â€" especially when an injury is involved. Knowing how to reach a fast and full recovery will help you get back to normal and enjoying your life.  Try These 4 Recovery Tips  Every situation is unique. Your recovery is going to be much quicker if you have a fracture, versus a traumatic brain injury (TBI). But regardless of your condition and physical injuries, there are some steps you can take to speed up the recovery process and increase your chances of reaching a full recovery. Let’s take a look:  Listen to Your Medical Team  The best piece of advice is to listen to the advice of your medical team. They’ve spent years studying medicine and working with patients like you. In all likelihood, they’ve seen patients with identical conditions and symptoms. They know what’s best and you can accelerate your healing by following their instructions to a T. This isn’t to say you should blindly do whatever your doctor tells you. If you’re skeptical or unsure of something, ask for an explanation. As you learn the “why” behind your recovery plan, you’ll understand the importance of following each step along the way.  Get Your Financials in Order  Unfortunately, there is a financial component to recovering from a serious accident. While you may wish to ignore this side of things, you have to be realistic and think about finances. Insurance should cover many of your medical bills, but depending on the extent of your injuries, it may not come close to the total amount. This is why it’s helpful to have an attorney on your side. Even if you don’t end up filing a claim, you can get the expert advice you need on how to proceed.  Manage Your Diet and Nutrition  â€œWhen your body is on the road to recovery, it is burning up your intake of nutrients at a much higher rate. Keeping track of your food intake is crucial while in recovery,” Dr. Rahul Dubey explains. “When your body is regenerating tissue, it requires protein rich foods as well as foods rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C.” It’s also extremely important to stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water helps you reduce inflammation and swelling, aids in tissue and muscle recovery, and adequately supplies your organs with the fluids they need to function properly. You need at least six to eight cups of water every day after your accident. Avoid alcohol, soda, and sugary drinks at all costs. Some flavored waters are okay if you’re having trouble drinking enough plain water.  Get Plenty of Rest  As hard as it can be to sit still, rest is one of the crucial ingredients to recovery. Your body needs time to heal and repair, which is impossible if you’re pushing to return to normal activities right away. Again, follow the directions of your medical team and don’t engage in physical activities until you’ve been cleared to do so.  Putting It All Together A motor vehicle accident is hard on many fronts. Not only are there physical ailments and injuries, but you may also have to deal with some of the emotional and psychological ramifications of a serious accident. Taking a lackluster approach will yield poor results. Under the guidance of your medical and legal counsel, be proactive and accelerate your recovery as much as possible. In doing so, you’ll find that your life normalizes sooner rather than later.

Taking Your Career to the Next Step Online

Taking Your Career to the Next Step Online We, as women, have had a long hard road to gaining our own independence and having the freedom to pursue our educations and careers. It only seems natural that, since we have done a brilliant job of keeping up with the changing times, we should utilise all of the resources available to help us to climb the proverbial ladder of success. There are resources online that can only be found online, and you can get help with online recruiting by seeking services tailored for that particular need. However, it is important not to neglect the offline help available â€" even if an internet based job is your end goal. Online Career Fairs Career fairs are held online now more than ever, and are an excellent opportunity for either large corporations or small companies to share themselves with females in the workforce who are seeking to grow in their profession of choice. These fairs are convenient because you are able to get to know the company and the positions they have available without fighting crowds, and you are able to apply for positions of interest from the comfort of your own home. There are a wide variety of these fairs that are aimed at female applicants who are either highly educated professionals or women who desire a more lucrative position doing the job they have always done. This is one of the most popular options for women wanting to improve professionally. Go online for more information on this wonderful resource. Online Job Recruiting Sites There are so many sites of this type it is hard to keep track of them all! Businesses from all over are able to post their careers, jobs, and other employment opportunities for positions they currently have available. The jobs are abundant and easy to find, and if you are not able to apply right on the sight, you will be provided with the information on how to submit your CV and apply as the employer has requested. There is no limit to the variety of jobs available here, and you will also be able to get information on acquiring assistance with applications and CVs. Many of these sites will make webinars available to those who use them. Job Seeking Sites These are easy to sign up for, and memberships that allow you access are generally free. You may, however, have to pay a fee for a more exclusive membership or more in-depth services. These sites have listings for every job and career imaginable in your area, and you are free to seek positions in other locations if you are willing to move or commute. You are able to upload resumes and cover letters as well as keep track of all submitted applications easily and efficiently. This is an amazing resource for any woman looking for gainful employment. Local Employment Offices or Workforce Development Centres While not strictly an online resource, they can be very useful when looking for work. They are focused on either helping you grow in your profession of choice, or they can help you to find out what you want to do and pursue it. You will find thorough personalised assistance, access to computers, printers, the Internet, and get help with CV construction. These types of government run facilities are all inclusive, and for women seeking to become more independent in all aspects of their lives, these individuals are ready, even excited, to help. You can find information regarding your local offices in your telephone directory, or find more convenient contact and application procedures online.

Characteristics To Look For In A Man Who Wants To Write A Resume

Characteristics To Look For In A Man Who Wants To Write A ResumeMen love writing resumes, just as women do, but it can be tough to find the right man writing a resume for you. There are certain qualities you should look for in a man who wants to write a resume.You want a man to show you that he is organized, creative and knowledgeable when it comes to writing a resume. You will be interviewing the man, and they will want to do a great job. They should be able to find the best information without needing to look for it or ask someone else to help them.You want a man to show that he is organized when it comes to the resume of a potential employer. The company you are interviewing with will want to see what you have done for your life so far. They will be looking for examples of your accomplishments and how well you have managed them. If they see that you have been very successful, they will see that you are reliable and dependable.You want a man to show that he can write and organize i nformation for a resume. He should know how to structure the information in a way that makes sense. The company hiring you will need all the information they can get when it comes to writing a resume.Consider a great education when interviewing a man who wants to write a resume. You want a man to have some kind of high level of education. They may have a degree, they may not have a degree, but they should have some kind of higher education. It may mean that they have taken a college course or other type of education.You should also be sure that the man you are interviewing with has been successful at something. If they have a large number of awards and accomplishments, then they are more likely to be good at what they do. Some women think that these men are cocky, but they just want to know that they are good at what they do.You want a man to have a sense of humor. This is not about who makes fun of other people, it is about having a sense of humor. The company is going to want to h ire someone who can make them laugh and not think that they are making fun of them. You should have some sense of humor when it comes to an interview.It may take a little time and a lot of effort, but a man who wants to write a resume for you should show all of these qualities. He should look like he has all of the qualities you are looking for. Make sure that you spend a lot of time getting to know him and you should be comfortable enough to start working with him.

And the winner is...

And the winner is... Its time to announce the winner of the Follow Your Dreams giveaway!  But before I do that, I want to thank all of you who took the time to share your career needs and goals with me. I was deeply touched by your personal stories and by your optimism to know that a better career and life are waiting for you.  Because of that, I decided to not only give away a full Soul Search, Research and Job Search coaching package but also give away three additional coaching sessions as consolation prizes.  My congratulations to the winners!Winner of 9 sessions of one-on-one coaching on  Soul Search, Research and Job Search: Mark from Texas!  Mark wants to clarify what hed love to do, find a new job, make a decision about options hes considering and explore options that relate to his particular interest(s)/talent(s. Im excited to help Mark achieve his goal of being happy with his work!Consolation winners of one hour of one-on-one coaching: Megan who wants a steady yet creative career, Laura who wants to make a difference in the world while having time to raise her children and Christa who wants to make sure shes on track doing work she loves not just what shes good at.For those who didnt win, all is not lost.  You can still subscribe to my free Making a Living Unplugged podcast and/or contact me for coaching.  Always follow your dreams!What I respect as far as in myself and in other is the spirit of just doing it. For better or worse, it may work and it may not, but Im going to go for it. Ultimately I probably prefer to be respected for that thaneither winning or losing.  -Hugh Jackman(Photo courtesy of Rory Finneran.)

Attention Generation Y Please share Facebook with your Mom

Attention Generation Y Please share Facebook with your Mom 4 Flares 4 Flares Life can change drastically in just 4 years.  In 2005 I had graduated from college, started my first big boy job as a recruiter, was living life with two healthy shoulders, my metabolism was in excellent shape, and my Mom was no where to be found on Facebook.  Flash forward 4 years to 2009 and see how much has changed.  In December Ill graduate with Masters degree, will soon be starting my third big boy job, my right shoulder has gone through two surgeries in as many years, my metabolism is winning a game of hide-and-go-seek, and these days my Mom checks her Facebook daily.  OK, so your metabolism stayed the same, but I bet you a quarter your Mom is on Facebook too. Attention Generation Y:  Please share the road I have absolutely no problem with my Mom, your Mom, or anyones Mom being on Facebook (I actually think its great), just want to get that out of the way.  Those of us in Generation Y just needed a few weeks, or months to get used to our older relatives joining our party.  For what has felt like years, us Gen Y folk have been poking our friends on Facebook and denying Toms friendship on MySpace.  We were, and still are kings of social media, but its now undoubtedly time to share the road.  A video I posted previously stated the Social Media Revolution has arrived.  Here are some FB facts from the video: Facebook added 100 million users in 9 months The internet needed 4 years to reach 50 million If Facebook was a country it would be the 4th largest The fastest growing population on Facebook are 55-65 year old females Now that is a lot of Moms. Attention College Students:  Watch what you post on Facebook Facebook used to be one big party, and colleges caught on quickly.  Many schools punished underage students for posting pictures of them drinking or acting inappropriately.  Not all schools were strict, and Im sure many didnt enforce policies, but corporate america took things a bit more seriously.  When companies began utilizing Facebook as a recruiting tool, they also used Facebook to screen out students who posted inappropriate pictures.  Legal or not, it was happening.  Graduating students began monitoring what they posted and what was being said on their walls.  Problem solved, right?  Just when students felt safe, in comes a friend request from Mom, Dad, and Uncle Buck.  Is the party off, Wayne?  No, but with Facebook and social media growing so fast Id suggest to monitor whats being posted.  You can never be sure how many, but most importantly whos eyes are watching. Attention Baby Boomers: Welcome to the party You had to know that eventually older generations would catch on.  When Facebook opened up its membership to anyone (not just colleges and schools), it became evident that it was just a matter of time.  There are many Boomers utilizing social media that possess excellent technical skills and were already using sites like LinkedIn.  The second group of Baby Boomers on FB have zero technical ability and have never utilized any form of social media.  The second group I talked about surprises me a bit more, my Mom falls into that category.  But Im glad she and others in her generation are signing up.  Many Boomers plan to work a bit longer than they initially expected.  Keeping connected with their network will remain important and social media will help them maintain relationships with co-workers, old friends, and really anyone theyd like to contact.  Welcome to the party Boomers, but watch the poking, we dont want you spending any time in jail. What have we learned? Hopefully weve learned that Facebook is a complete beast in social media.  The importance of social media for all generations will continue to increase.  Baby Boomers will continue to sign up for Facebook, and maybe one day youll receive a friend request from your mom, too.  If its odd to you at first, just think on the bright side.  Someone will always like your status. Questions for you: What are your thoughts on the generational use of social media? If you used social media four or give years ago, have you changed the way you use it? Which social media site do you use most?