Riding the Rapids of Job Loss

If you’ve recently been laid off, I am sorry. In spite of what you may have read, you can’t truly prepare for job loss. We’ll cover some steps to take, some financial, some job-related, but when the layoff comes – watch out. Your world crumbles a little, people change, and you change. You go up and down and around with emotions. It is like riding wild rapids in the river of life. What's the worst that can happen to you? Here are some things that I’ve seen recently: You lose your job You run out of savings You have to sell your home It's a down market and you can't sell your house You move, pull the kids out of “their” school Your whole lifestyle changes

More people are facing an extended period of joblessness and the potential financial difficulties that go along with it. The newspaper reports unemployment has reached over 11% in California. As the number of people experiencing joblessness rises, so does the duration of unemployment.

Conventional wisdom has long called for you to stash away up to six months of living expenses to carry you through a financial emergency or job loss. However, with more job hunts lasting longer than half a year, backup funds can dwindle, and you will have to make more and more tough financial choices. It is painful to think about bad things happening, but if you still have your job, starting now will help you later. Start living below your means now and save all the money you can. There might come a time when you don’t have an income.

Handling Job Loss When you lose your job, you often lose your professional identity. There is frequently a loss of self-esteem and you may feel lost yourself. A job gives you structure and a destination everyday. Lose the job and you lose your structure. And there is the, “What do others think of me now?” You lose your daily network. You are no longer with your co-workers. Often times, friends don’t call because they feel awkward or don’t know what to say. People ask, “How are you today?” (how do you think I feel?) “Did you get a job yet?” (I wouldn’t keep that a secret – so no, not yet.) Sometimes followed by “I see McDonalds is hiring.” (Is that what you think of my skills?)

Emotionally Unprepared Even if you’ve been unemployed or laid off before, it is hard. Your emotions swing as if you are in a rubber raft going through the rapids. How did you feel at first, and how do you feel about your job loss now? Some common feelings people experience: Anger, Shock, Embarrassment, Fear, Anxiety, Worry, Depression, Fatigue, Lethargy, Lost, Powerlessness. REMEMBER: This event is something you will learn from and as a result will make you stronger. Grieving is a process You are experiencing a loss and need to understand the grieving process. Some of the greatest psychological stresses: 1. Death of a loved one 2. Divorce or ending of a relationship 3. Loss of a job 4. Move and relocation This is a big loss. Don’t minimize it. Don’t underestimate it. Deal with it. The sooner you met this challenge head-on, the sooner you will be able to put it behind you and get on with your life. If you don’t deal with it, it can fester like a cancer. It can make you bitter and hard to live with. That bitterness may leak out in job interviews and prevent you from getting a job. The stages of loss in the grieving process (from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross):

• Shock - you may not be fully aware of what has happened
• Denial - you cannot believe that this has happened to you
• Relief - you feel that a burden has been lifted from you
• Anger - you blame yourself and others for your situation
• Depression - may be present now or set in later
• Acceptance - the final stage

“The final stage,” as if it is a nice and neat linear process. It is not. Sometimes you make progress through the stages. Sometimes you find yourself revisiting a stage. Sometimes you get stuck on a stage. Then you think you’re through and it all comes crashing back in on you.

Coping Strategies Here are some ways to help yourself through this process.

• Make a list of the stresses affecting you. Separate those things you do have control over from what you do not have control. Focus on what you can control. If you can’t control it, set it aside. Reduce stress by learning relaxation techniques and exercise.
• Set priorities – do your first things, first. What are the most important things you need to do? What tasks do other tasks rely upon? Do these first. Wait to apply for a job until after you have polished your résumé, or you just waste your time.
• Establish a workable schedule. Do not overload yourself with an unrealistic schedule.
• Set attainable goals for the day, the week, the month, etc. Make them SMART goals. (Specific, Measurable, Actionable/Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
• We need to be in acceptance of where we are and develop strategies to get beyond this point. Monitor your emotions and control any adverse emotions. Don’t hold things in and then explode all over your family. Talk to them. Let them know what is going on with you, inside. You also need one good “pity party” to let it all out. Tears are cathartic. (Yes men, I’m talking to you.)
• Find or form a support group to help you through this emotional roller coaster. Help someone else through their dark time – it will help you too.
• Strong negative emotions – if you experience these, give yourself permission to take a break from your job search to do something (exercise, take a trip, mow the lawn, plant vegetables, etc.) to get your mind off your situation.
• Have some fun. Plan it into your schedule. Take the family on a weekend camping trip. Have your friends over. Make it potluck and you all can have a good time for little money. You aren’t being punished; you don’t need to be a martyr. Surf college websites for free or low cost things to do locally. You might see an interesting public seminar to attend also.

Family & Community Support Let your family support and help you. Do not attempt to “shoulder” your problems alone, they are in this with you. Talk to your family or close friends and listen to them. Maintain an open dialogue with your children. Let them know it’s not anybody’s fault. Reinforce the idea that they are not at fault, nor a burden. Let your children help – or feel a part of the solution. Build family spirit, “we can do this together.” Use your community support structures: church group, social groups and other family support groups. People want to help, let them. You are being kind by letting them assist you. If you are one of the proud, independent types, you may not realize how selfish it is to prevent people from helping you. You are denying them the joy and reward by being able to give. Let them give. It is a gift to them. Avoid Isolation We don’t want others to know how we feel – so we have a tendency to isolate ourselves. It is important to keep in touch with your friends. Call 2 or 3 people a day. Hey, maybe you can be a help to them. GOOTH – Get Out Of The House! You are still the same person you were before you lost your job. The only difference now is that you have a new focus. you can make the choice to isolate yourself and be depressed; or to be upbeat and pro-active. Join a support group. You need to be able to talk to people other than family members. This is not to exclude your spouse or significant other — but you need many different perspectives.

Tips to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Motivated

• Eat properly. Plan and eat healthy meals. Eating well will help you keep a good attitude. It is easy to relax the diet and to eat junk food. Now is not the time. Besides you can’t afford the new clothes that eating junk food will require.
• Exercise—regular exercise reduces stress and depression.
• Allow time for fun — you are allowed to enjoy your life even if you are unemployed!
• Make a list of your positive qualities.
• Ask your spouse or close friend to give you positive feedback.
• Replay your positives.
• Use your positive qualities list before performing difficult tasks.
• Take time to review your past successes. You were successful before and you will be successful again.
• Know your strengths and limitations. At what do you excel? What do you need to learn?
• Balance your limitations against your strengths. That way the negatives do not eat at your self-esteem.
• Visualize success. Hold that picture in your mind.
• Visualize positive results in your mind before an event (interview, job fair).
• Picture yourself successful in whatever you’re about to do.
• Build success upon success.
• Make a daily “to do” list— an achievable list (not 100 items long!).
• Do not overload yourself with things you cannot possibly achieve or that are not important right now.
• Surround yourself with positive people.
• Volunteer – help someone else or an organization.

New Beginning As you move on, understand that you are creating a new beginning for yourself. You may not have wanted to paddle up this tributary in the river of life. You may have been happy on the old river. But, you are here now. Embrace this adventure. Live in the present moment. There are good things happening all around you, notice them. Your glass is either half-full or half-empty. Which is it? The past is over and you cannot change it. So let the past go so you can see the opportunity that is now in front of you. Don’t dwell on the past and relive it over and over. For a moment, mentally go sit in your car behind the wheel. Your future is the windshield. Your past is the much smaller review mirror. Focus on the windshield and you get further, faster. You’ll see the opportunity off-ramps as you approach, not as missed opportunities in your review mirror. Take responsibility for yourself. What happens to you now is up to you. Learn to accept what you cannot change. In most situations, you are the one in control. Your actions will influence the outcome of events. Oprah Winfrey once said, “Luck is preparation meeting opportunity.” So be prepared and be lucky. Have a polished résumé at the ready. Know your strengths and limitations. Practice, practice, practice your interview skills and answers. Keep the job search under your command. Network - enlist the aid of everyone you know for help. Use informational interviews for information and networking. Talk things out with confidants. Find a positive way to vent your feelings. Recently Stephen Covey, author of “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and “The 8th Habit,” spoke about this idea of career renewal and change. He insisted now is the time for organizations and individuals to focus on reinvention: “We are living in a white-water world, and these are Level 3 rapids. You must have a clear sense of what your purpose is and the skill set to get there.” “Take charge,” he says: "It's more important than ever to draw on your imagination, think strategically, take initiative and work outside your immediate circle of influence.” I can assist you to find your way and move on. If you are ready to jump back into the job hunt, call me. “Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be.” (Henry David Thoreau) Coaching will allow you to think positively and stop you from prolonging negative activities like bitterness and blame shifting and release you to find your next job. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com

Welcome Back to the Job Hunt !

Today I want to give some support to people returning to the workforce from the military. You are now embarking on a new mission to get a job. Thank you First, let me thank you for your service to our country. You have helped keep freedom a reality, not just an abstract concept for me, and the rest of the country. Even if you did not serve in a war or military conflict, you made sacrifices and endured hardship. Thank you. You are in possession of skills that are much in demand in the workplace. As you consider your job-related experiences and accomplishments, think strategically, not tactically. To my non-military readers, that means think big-picture. Survey the land (or sea), note the location of minefields, observe where you can find cover, and plot the course of your infiltration into the workplace. Part of your strategic analysis is to determine what your unique skills and abilities are that will be meaningful to a hiring manager. Think about your core talents, not just your technical skills. That part will come later. Core talents Speaking generally, some core talents developed by the military are discipline, accountability, teamwork, timeliness, focus on the task, and leadership. Now think of examples to put in your résumé that will demonstrate these core talents to a hiring manager. After you write down these accomplishment statements, have a trusted civilian read your résumé. That way you’ll know you are using meaningful terms a civilian hiring manager will understand, not military-speak. As you highlight your contributions to the team or unit, think about your technical skills. Ordinance or field artillery is not really needed in today’s workplace. However, your ability to think on your feet, assess the situation and take action is very valuable. Your ability to manage the myriad of details required and consistently apply processes to get the job done was not only valuable; lives may have depended upon it. Whether you were a communications technician aboard a ship or a battle-seasoned platoon sergeant, you need put these experiences in terms that a civilian hiring manager will understand and relate to their job opening. For the Communications Tech: “Operated equipment, performed a or b level line maintenance with on-board supplies. Advanced working knowledge of the frequency spectrum ELF-EHF, data transmission and waveforms, modulation techniques, field expedient antennas, and security procedures.” In civilian-speak becomes: “Used and maintained a wide spectrum of computers, mapping and navigation devices, radios, and computer networks, with limited resources. Interpreted and prepared wiring diagrams, sketches and blueprints. Operated and maintained CCTV and other television communication systems, communications boxes, switchboards, and telephones.” For the Platoon Sergeant: “Platoon sergeant for a combat engineer platoon, forward deployed.” In civilian-speak becomes: “Responsible for day-to-day operations, logistics, and training of a 30 person group performing engineering operations, under pressure.” Both examples illustrate what you did in clearly understandable terms that directly translate into the workplace in everyday terms. Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments so the hiring manager will know how your experience relates to what they need. Use numbers of people you were responsible for, the amount of equipment or inventory (quantity, dollar values, variety), and number of days without injury or safety violation under your command or control. These are all important indicators of the value of your accomplishments. Crossing a Minefield Some hiring managers have out-dated and preconceived ideas about military training. For some, being former military means, “by the book.” They may fear you will be rigid in implementing solutions, not flexible to changing conditions. They may think you can’t think outside the box for solutions. They might be afraid you can only take or give orders and not the free-flow of information and ideas needed in today’s workplace. They don’t realize how resourceful you’ve had to be to get the job done. I share this, not discourage you, but to give you the information needed so you can address their objections before they even arise. Knowledge is power. The military trained you to go into an unfamiliar situation with few resources and expected you to succeed. The workplace is very similar. The workplace has few resources due to downsizing and a shrinking economy. The military taught you to have a show-me-a-solution-not-a-problem mentality. Your can-do attitude is a valuable commodity in today’s workplace. So go out and show the hiring manager that you are part of their solution. I can help you write your accomplishments to highlight the creativity and outside the box solutions you have used. I can help you practice responses to overcome objections in an interview. This is a great time to contact me to strategize on how to infiltrate the workplace. I can help you demonstrate how your skills are unique and marketable. We will create an action plan to get your Dream Job. I can help you sort through your skills, experiences and your dreams to get the right job for you. Don’t wait; contact me now. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. To your success, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com

Layoff Preparation

Do you suspect a layoff might happen at your company? Take a proactive approach. These days one never knows when a once flourishing company might throw in the towel or layoff a large portion of its workforce. It is a good idea to become as aware as you can of your employer’s financial health. Look for red flags that may warn you of impending actions. This is not to say you should stay on “red alert” all the time. Just pay attention. Being ready in advance can ease a bad situation and make it a little less desperate. Warning Signs Ask yourself, “Have there been layoffs, mergers, downsizing in other companies similar to mine?” So many industries are in decline, and job losses are inevitable. Are you seeing people around the office you’ve never seen before? Are people meeting in closed conference rooms? Have any long-term plans been put on hold? If your gut tells you that something is up, you are probably right. Your next steps can be important for your future. Build your Network First, get in contact with everyone you know through your business. Check in with them. Ask how they are doing. This reminds them of your existence, and, as you chat, you may find out important information. You also get to check that you have current contact info for them. Strengthen and expand your network. You have a multitude of reasons for contacting them while you are still employed. Don’t limit yourself to colleagues. Call vendors, clients, co-workers. Everyone you know. Remember to build your personal network too. Family, friends, neighbors and the parents of your kids’ friends are all an extension of your network. Find opportunities and aggressively shop yourself. It is a cliché and still true – networking is the single most effective way to find a job. Dust Off the Ol’ Résumé Getting your résumé out and up to date is one of your first steps. This is your critical marketing piece – make it work for you. Line up your references now, so they are good to go when you need them. Taking a Proactive Approach If your company is in trouble, you may not get the benefit of a severance package, cushy, or otherwise. If the economy is afflicting your industry, you may not find a job with a competitor quickly. Perhaps the most distressing aspect of job loss is the loss of income. Now is the time to reorganize your finances so that your expenses are as low as possible. Consider making a budget. Scrutinize your expenses. You may be surprised at how much money you need and how much you waste. Start that emergency fund now. By taking the time now to evaluate your financial picture, you will save yourself stress later on and you’ll make prudent spending decisions. New Doors It’s a good idea to gear up for a potential layoff by taking on new tasks at your current employer. You can also develop additional expertise that will be valuable to your employer. Even if these don’t protect you from a layoff, they will increase your value to your next employer. This may be the time to switch to an industry in which jobs are more plentiful. Health care and education are seeing employment gains. And, if you can use your current skills in an area that will receive funding from the new economic-stimulus plan, even better. Keep yourself up to speed by perusing publications related to your current field. If you are thinking about transitioning into a new field, read the publications of that field and learn the target industry’s lingo, recent history and developments. You will likely find more opportunities in smaller companies or nonprofits, since roles in these organizations tend to be less specialized. Staying Positive Use your time creatively and wisely. Build your network; look for new doors to open. The silver lining of a layoff may be the job of your dreams. Think about what job would really suit you. Embrace change – it is inevitable anyway. Change will give you a whole new view and that is empowering. This may be the time to pick up a new hobby to distract you from dwelling on the negative. Remaining positive will help you deal with the stress of uncertainty. Let me know how you are preparing to deal with a potential downsizing. Share your experiences in the comments section. Or, send me an email to eal@EALCoaching.com . I’d love to know what you are doing to stay positive or how you are coping with job loss. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com

What Does Your Résumé Say About You?

Does your résumé show you off to best advantage? You need to have a variety of résumés available in your toolbox. (See last week’s article for the three types of résumés.) You have to submit the "perfect" résumé to get the job. But what is perfect? Perfection is like beauty, in the eye of the beholder. What is perfect for one hiring manager, is not another’s style. That is why you need to be ready with a variety. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to answer these questions confidently.

• What should you include?
• What shouldn’t you include?
• What must you always include?
• What type should it be?
• What color should you buy of kid-finish cotton fiber stationary (with a watermark)?

What is the point of a résumé? This is YOU in your absence. This is a representation of you and who you are and what you can do for the hiring manager. It is one of your best marketing tools. The point is to pique the hiring manager’s interest, to have them want to meet you. The function of a résumé is to get your foot in the door and get you an interview. Keep this point in mind as we answer the following questions. What should you include? You want to include all relevant information for the job you are applying for. Don’t tell your entire work history. You want to go back about ten years. Only list your best skills and accomplishments that are relevant to the job you are applying for, right now. You want to pique interest, not bore with too much information that is not pertinent to the job opening. Remember, human resources or the hiring manager will only have about 30 to 60 seconds with your résumé before they move on to the next one. You have to grab them quickly. So include the duties, responsibilities, skills and education that pertain to the job for which are you are applying. Remember to include awards you may have received. What shouldn’t you include? You leave out accomplishments and responsibilities that are important to you, but not to your next employer. It may hurt to not be able to include these things. It is ok to grieve the loss. But think of all the things you don’t use on the job anymore. Employers only really care about how you will benefit them. Can you do the job they want or need done and get along with existing staff? So draw them a picture of the many ways you are the answer they are looking for! What must you always include? You always include you name, address, e-mail address and telephone number. Don’t laugh. I’ve seen résumés that don’t have (some or all of) this information. Always put your name and telephone number on every page of your résumé. You always want to include your accomplishments in a PAR type format. State the Problem. State the Action you (or the team you belonged to) took to resolve the problem. State the Result in quantifiable terms. (Example: Instituted a Customer Log of customer service issues. Was able to see repeat problems and came up with "best practices" for most events and to quickly return mechanical problems to the manufacturer. This resulted in a 25% reduction in repair service time and $50,000 savings from the manufacturer.) If your job is not "quantifiable" then tell a passionate story. For example, a social worker can tell you how they helped turn someone’s life around. What was their issue, what tools did you teach or show them and how did this turn their life around? Go for the heart. You always want to include the words and phrases found on the company’s website and in the want ad. You may emphasize team-work to one company, and collaboration with another. If you don’t change your résumé with these word changes, you risk being overlooked by the scanner. Using their words also shows that you "get" them. What color should you buy of kid-finish cotton fiber stationary (with a watermark)? Yes, this is only a semi-serious question. You will probably be completing online applications and attaching your résumé and cover letter. No paper involved. However, when you go in for the interview, it is always good to have a couple copies of your résumé with you. Go for white, ivory, or gray in a 25 pound weight. These colors photocopy the best. They also look professional. The slightly heavier weight than copy paper, makes them feel substantial. The watermark is old school and necessary. It is from a time when paper was king. By ensuring your paper has one, you show you know the formal details. And that will speak volumes about you. The main point of course, is attention to detail. You also want to keep your résumé down to two pages. Brief is good. In the 30 – 60 seconds they have to look over your résumé, more than two pages won’t even get looked at. If you are close to two pages, try using Ariel Narrow font at 12 point. It is compact and still very easy to read. Never go smaller than 11 point. Start your computer, get set and start writing! If you aren’t getting any calls for an interview, it may be that your résumé is not selling you to the hiring manager. Need help? Call me and we can put together a relevant résumé for you that will get you into an interview. I can help you sort through your skills, experiences and your dreams to get the right job for you. I can assist you in creating a skills inventory, creating a polished Brand You Sound-bite, and getting you on the path to your dream job. Don’t wait, contact me now. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com

Seeing the Possibilities in a Bad Job Market

This is a moment of opportunity for people seeking their dream job. This is especially true if you have recently been laid off and are a "seasoned job-seeker," (read over 40). You are poised to take flight and soar. Yes, soar! You’ve had some time in a career or two. You’ve done things. You’ve got solid experience, not just knowledge. You have accomplishments. You have many more acquaintances, colleagues, friends, family and neighbors than younger people. These are all great tools to have in your toolbox.

Now is the time to ask yourself some questions:

• Did I like doing what I was doing?
• Do I want to do something different?
• What do I want to do next?

If you know what you want to do next – great! Go make it happen. Put together your résumé; polish your 30-second Brand You sound-bite (also known as your elevator speech); contact everyone you know (this is your network) for information swapping; practice interviewing with friends and family; look for possibilities everywhere; work six hours every day of the work week in the job hunt; and go get your next job.

As a seasoned worker, your experience counts. You have the advantage of a work history and experience. You likely have a series of solid achievements that emphasize the results you can deliver to an employer. So what special skills do you have that set you apart from the crowd? How did you leave your former employers better off than before you came on board? These accomplishments will really help to sell you to an employer, not just a list of job duties. Have a good example in story form of how you prevented a big mistake, saved money, or increased productivity because of your judgement and experience. Be factual about your experience.

Many times hiring managers will have the flawed belief that older workers are set in their ways or not open to innovative ways of doing things. Draw a picture of how you used innovative thinking or creative problem solving to combat that stereotypical thinking. Welcome change. Keep up with new ideas in the workplace, even though, you’re currently unemployed. That will demonstrate you are in touch and current.

Reach out to people you know. This is your network. Don’t just ask for job leads; ask for information and about how you might help them. Ask about their families, about how they’re doing. Show interest in them. They’ll remember that (and you) when something comes along. If they feel you’re just connecting for your own benefit, they will be less likely to be helpful.

Stay energetic and take care of yourself. Be the picture of health. Keeping yourself healthy and fit by eating right, getting enough sleep, and exercising will have full of energy when you meet the hiring manager and put more in your arsenal against stereotypes.

Stay focused on the future. Don’t bring up your entire work history. Bring up only what is relevant to the job you are applying for or during the interview. I know, it’s hard to let some of that history go. There were great accomplishments in that history. That was then, this is now.

Even in a recession people retire and quit their jobs. There will be job openings. Be prepared for the opportunity, and YOU WILL BE LUCKY!

This is a great time to contact me and become prepared for opportunity so you can be lucky. We will get an action plan together to get your Dream Job. I can help you sort through your skills, experiences and your dreams to get the right job for you. I can assist you in creating a skills inventory, creating a polished Brand You Sound-bite, and getting you on the path to your dream job. Don’t wait, contact me now.

A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream.

Warmly, Elisabeth

Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching

By telephone: 916 • 803•1494 or by e-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com

Sophisticated Job Hunting

A recession rewards those who are sophisticated at job hunting and limits those whose skills are undeveloped. I will support you in developing those skills. If you limit yourself to only one job-hunting method, you'll likely stay out of work. Go for at least two and preferably three of the most effective. I can help you determine which are best for you and your situation. We can polish your job hunting skills to maximize your efforts and assist you in getting your dream job. Remember too, looking for work is a job in itself. So spend six hours a day on your job hunt. The more effort you put into it, the more productive (and effective) you'll be. The Five Worst: 1. Search only online. It doesn't work for most of those who try it. Of every 100 job hunters who use the Internet as their only search method, only four will find a job. The exception: Jobs in engineering, finance and health care or technical, computer-related jobs. 2. Mail résumés at random. There are millions of résumés floating around, like lost ships on the sea. No one's bothered to count how many resulted in a job. 3. Look only in professional/trade journals. For every 100 job hunters who use only this search method, seven will find a job; 93 will not. 4. Answer newspaper ads. Success varies by salary level; the higher the salary you're seeking, the lower the success rate finding it through a newspaper ad. 5. Use employment agencies or search firms. The success rate has risen slightly in recent years – for women but not men. One study found 27.8 percent of females found a job within two months through private employment agencies. The Five Best Use three to four of these methods. Any more and you may spread yourself too thin. As you gain mastery, add another method to your tool box of job hunt skills. That way you will build your skills and not have to learn everything at one time. 1. Ask for job leads. Talk to family members and friends or visit career centers at schools where you graduated. Ask one question: Do you know of any jobs where you work or elsewhere? 2. Knock on doors. Go in person to employers that interest you, whether there's a vacancy or not. By going face-to-face, you have a seven-fold better chance of finding a job than if you only sent out résumés. 3. Use the phone book. Make targeted phone calls or visits to employers in fields you're interested in, asking if they're hiring. 4. Create a "job club." Join together with other job seekers and follow the above. 5. Do a self-assessment. Identify the skills that you most enjoy using. Decide the job environment where you would thrive and do your most effective work. Find the job titles you're interested in, the companies that offer such jobs, and the people who have power to hire you. How can your skills help solve their problems? Source: Richard N. Bolles, "What Color is Your Parachute?" from Ten Speed Press Job seekers, don't give up. Richard Bolles is on your side. His life's work has been about how to find a job. And not just any job, but the career of your dreams. He is the renowned career-hunt specialist, speaker and author of the best-selling book "What Color Is Your Parachute? (Job-Hunting in Hard Times)." With 10 million "Parachute" books in 20 languages across 26 countries, he's now busily scouring the Web for new ways and new technologies to make hunting for work more fruitful. He's also putting out another book – his 38th on the topic, "The Job-Hunters Survival Guide" – that's due out at the end of this month (March 2009). I highly recommend his books. They are packed with helpful information. If you can’t afford to buy them, check them out of your local library. Do the exercises and follow the advice. It is gold. If all of this sounds too overwhelming, call me and I'll help you through the processes. I can breakdown the steps for you into manageable chunks. We can set intermediate goals that will build upon each other to maximize your success rate. Together, we can craft a sophisticated package of job search tools that will get you on the path to your dream job. —  — This is a great time to contact me to get an action plan together to get your Dream Job. I can help you sort through your skills and your dreams to get the right job for you. I can assist you in creating a skills inventory, crafting a polished Brand You Sound-bite, getting you on the path to your dream job. Contact me now. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com