3 Unemployment Survival Lessons From Your Canadian English Teacher

3 Unemployment Survival Lessons From Your Canadian English Teacher 21 A Canadian English teacher gives her German job-seeking students more than new language skills. Here are the 3 unemployment survival lessons anyone should take to heart. This a guest post by Kate Baggott. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. Among my many duties, I teach English to classes of unemployed people in Germany. Living in a foreign country, I often bump up against cultural differences that surprise me, but the attitude toward unemployment here in Germany compared to the attitudes in Canada really shocked me. Canadians aren’t really a laid-back crowd, but we are extremely tolerant. I now think of the Dutch as the Canadians of Europe. We can be fussy about our own personal habits, but take no notice of others. While people might get freaked out by their own unemployment, they don’t judge the current working status of others. Short term unemployment is considered a chance to have some time off to think. Long term unemployment is seen as bad luck.eval For most of its history, Canada’s economy has depended on primary industries: fishing, farming, mining and forestry. When a farmer doesn’t plant or harvest in winter, she isn’t considered unemployed. When fishermen face a moratorium and can’t head out for cod, it isn’t their fault that they can’t go out to work. In fact, for various seasons, or even for a few years at a time, entire regions of the country are basically jobless. So, it came as a shock to me to hear the negativity my unemployed students are battling in Germany every day. And, I hope some of the lessons I have tried to teach them, will help you too.eval Lesson 1: You are not what you do! “I’ve been unemployed for a year now,” a student once told me. “I am finished now. No one in my field will hire me.” “But you’ve been learning so many new things and making yourself so valuable, you could try something new,” I said to her. “Oh no, if you change what you do, you change who you are,” she replied. “Change who you are!” I said. “Who you are is the light that has been shining inside you since the day you were born. Who you are is not a job. Who you are is sacred and can’t be touched. Just keep it burning and you’ll be fine.” Lesson 2: Learning is a Lifetime Process “I am fifty years-old and I worked for the same company for 25 years,” another student told me. “I am too old to learn new ways and a new job.” “You’ve certainly improved your English over the past 5 weeks, what makes you think you can’t learn other things too?” I asked. “It’s not what I think,” the student said. “It’s what the bosses think.” “Then you have to change their minds. You have to take your certificate from this course and show them what you’ve learned,” I said. “You can stand up and tell them how you learn and that you never stop taking in new ideas. You can give them an opportunity to change their minds. It’s a gift you can offer them.” Lesson 3: There is a Reason for This Experience Too Canadians are right. Long term unemployment is often the result of a string of bad luck. One of my students lost her job and then, a few days later, her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Instead of looking for a job and taking up new employment, the daughter dedicated herself to her mother’s care for two years. “Now I have nothing,” she said. “What would have happened to your poor mother, if you hadn’t been there for her?” I asked her. “Isn’t it wonderful that you could take care of her when no one else could?” More common stories are Germans who have been working abroad and, when their postings are up, return to Germany only to find no one is interested in their international experience. After so long away, they also find themselves without family and community support. They are basically new immigrants in an old country. “You have to pretend everything is new,” I tell them. “Like me, like every other foreigner, you have to find out where everything is and how it works. You have to talk to everyone you meet and build a new life, not re-build an old one.” “But I used to have so much more,” one student told me. “I used to be someone.” “And now, you have another chance,” I say. Conclusion Does it help my students, to have a bit of the Canadian optimism as they continue their job search? I know that for the moment, in my class, for them to know I value them helps them learn. It also helps me. Every day that I bump up against the foreign and the incomprehensible, I try to remember my lessons myself. It helps me to remember who I am, no matter where I am in working life. About the Author Kate Baggott is a writer and English teacher. Links to her recently published articles can be found at katebaggott.com. This article is part of the 2008 JobMob Guest Blogging Contest and ProBlogger's Killer Titles Group Writing Project that I discovered on Group Writing Projects. Unemployed?

4 ways to make more time

4 ways to make more time Success in the workplace depends on being a good time manager, because it doesnt matter how good you are at your job if you never have time to do it. Here are the four most important steps you can take to end that feeling that you cant get everything done. Prioritize ruthlessly Most people who are too busy to get everything done are not really too busy: they are procrastinators. Everyone has time to do the most important thing on their to-do list each day. Most people have time to do the top five things. Problems arise when people do the number eight thing first because its easy. Instead of doing the easy things, do the things that will have the most impact. Many days, for me, that means doing one very difficult thing that has the potential for big, long-term reward. The problem is that this one thing probably has a lot at stake; if it goes poorly, then no long-term reward. So I get nervous about doing it. The number-eight task has little impact, so doing it poorly doesnt scare me as much. In the worst case, this sort of prioritization goes on all day. If you choose to do the easy things first then at the end of the day, when theres no time, you make yourself crazy trying to get the top of your to-do list done. Whereas if number eight is not done, you can go home anyway. Stop doing research One of the biggest black holes on a to-do list is research. I need to read this book before I start writing, or I need to have three more numbers before I start the project. In most cases, you can start without all the research. My friend Mary just fired someone who procrastinated so much she was frozen at her desk. This persons job was to write client work proposals, but in each case, she would say she needed more information in order to write the proposal. Mary would tell her to make up assumptions for the information she didnt know, and fix it later. But this employee could not do it; she was so scared to get started on the proposals that she could always think of another number she needed from the client. Sort immediately Another form of procrastination is pile-making. To read a piece of paper briefly and then put it in a pile to be read again is to double your work. In most cases, though, a pile maker does not want to make a decision about that piece of paper until it is an emergency. If you forced yourself to deal with every piece of paper as soon as you touch it, you will find that you deal with papers in 50% less time. Barnes Noble is so convinced of this theory that the company has made touch-it-once company policy. When Barnes Noble opens a new store, hundreds of workers unpack boxes of books. Some books are easy to shelve and some are difficult. Rather than shelving the easy ones right away and making a pile of difficult ones, employees touch a book only once: you cannot put it down until you know where it goes. Call a spade a spade This morning I sat down at my computer to write a column. But first I checked email. (I have four accounts. I checked them all.) Then I rechecked because I thought I should have received a more interesting batch of mail the first time around. Then I told myself I could surf for just a little. I came a cross a study from the University of Carleton that said cyber-slacking is the new form of procrastination, and its killing peoples productivity. I saw myself in that study. So I took my computer to a local cafe where I cannot connect to the Internet. The Internet is useful, yes, but in most cases, its a way to take a break from doing the hard stuff. It seems that most of time management is being honest with yourself: At each moment, ask if youre doing the most important thing or the easiest thing. The more honest you are with yourself, the more time youll find in your day.

Personal Branding Blog Weekly - 15 April 2013 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Blog Weekly - 15 April 2013 - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career One way to make managing your personal brand less taxing is to learn from other peoples experience. For example, Aaron McDaniels article titled Are You Scared of Your Boss provided a valuable tip about asking for clarity. If youve been focused on other things (like your taxes), then take a look at all the great highlights from last week: 5 Ways Improv Comedy Made Me a Better Marketer by Bill Connolly Branding Your LinkedIn Profile for Job Search by Phil Rosenberg Are You Your Past or You Your Future? by Henrieta Riesco The Simple Way to Attract a Great Job Offer by Nance Rosen Extroverts: 4 Branding Takeaways From Introverts by Heather Huhman How Badly Do You Want It? by Elinor Stutz Automation Doesnt Mean Less Humanization by Maria Elena Duron 12 Personal Branding Tips for Serial Entrepreneurs by The Young Entrepreneur Council Are You Scared of Your Boss? by Aaron McDaniel Video Presentations: One Easy Way to Keep Them Watching by Manoush Zomorodi Your Attitude: Career Maker or Career Breaker? by Richard Kirby Minding Your Ps and Qs by Jeff Shuey Debunking Personal Brand Cultural Myths: Part 4 by Peter Sterlacci So Youre Accepted to College: Now Learn to Leverage It! by Beth Kuhel Hiring Opposite Keirsey Temperaments to Grow Your Company by Erik Deckers The Lazy Way to Build Relationships by Jun Loayza 12 Ideas for Growing Your Brand on Social Media by The Young Entrepreneur Council This next week Jeff shares with us how to deal with every day obstacles; Nance reveals why we need a sponsor more than a mentor; Roger covers an important key to building your personal brand which is simplifying your message and Michael really delves into tips to do well at lunch and dinner interviews. This weeks Buzz2Bucks Bootstrapping Podcast covers Facebooks Edgerank Formula and Why It Matters to Your Brand. We look forward to your comments and feedback! Author: Maria Elena Duron, is managing editor of the Personal Branding Blog, CEO (chief engagement officer) of  buzz2bucksâ€"  a word of mouth marketing firm, and a professional speaker and trainer on developing social networks that work. She provides workshops, webinars, seminars and direct services that help create conversation, connection, credibility, community and commerce around your brand.   Maria Duron is founder  and moderator of  #brandchat   a weekly Twitter chat focused on every aspect of  branding  that is recognized by Mashable as one the 15 Essential Twitter Chats for Social Media Marketers.

The Recruitment Crisis on the Horizon

The Recruitment Crisis on the Horizon 53% of employers in the engineering and technology sector say the shortage of engineers in the UK is a threat to their business. And as demand for engineers across the country continues to rise, 6 in 10 employersreport recruitment of engineering and technical staff with the right skills the biggest anticipated barrier to achieving their business objectives over the next three years.The findings are highlighted in a reportpublished today by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. The Skills and Demand in Industry report (2019) concludes that  nearly half of the companies in the sector (48%) report difficulties with the skills available in the labor market when trying to recruit. Young people lack the workplace skills required by industryCompanies reporting internal skills gaps have seen widening disparities across the boardMany employers unaware new T Level courses require them to offer young people work placements.Only 12% of companies are taking, or have taken, any action to increase the diversity of their engineering, IT and technical workforce in terms of ethnicity, LGBT+ status, and disability Although one in three employers (31%) say their workforce has grown over the last three years, around a fifth (22%) still report internal skills gaps. Among those with skills gaps or limitations in their workforce, 48% report gaps in the skills of their apprentices or other young trainees (up from 30% in 2017) while manyfully-qualified professionals are also found to be lacking in the required skillsets. The quality of young people entering the industry is a key concern for employers with 73% citing problems with candidates who have academic knowledge but not the required workplace skills. To address these growing concerns over the skills gaps and limitations in the engineering workforce, 81% agree that businesses have a responsibility to support the transition from education and training into the workplace. Surprisingly less than a quarter of all employers (23%) are going to schools or careers events to help young people understand and value engineering careers. While the Government is keen to trumpet the new T-Level courses developed in collaboration with employers and businesses to prepare post GCSE students for the world of work, only 28% of employers are aware that the courses which start in September 2020 require students to have an industrial placement. 59% of employers state that they have the capacity to offer work experience as part of T Levels, but only 43% say they intend to offer it. The study also found that most companies liable to pay the Apprenticeship Levy have reported they are using it. Nearly half say it is easy to use (48%). 32% of firms have an engineering or technical apprentices in place, with an average of between two and three apprentices each. Just over one in 10 businesses (12%) are taking, or have taken, any action to increase the diversity of their engineering, IT and technical workforces in terms of ethnicity, LGBT+ status, and disability. The proportion of women within the engineering and technical workforce remains at 11%. About the author: IET inspires, inform and influences the global engineering community to engineer a better world. We are a diverse home for engineering and technology intelligence throughout the world. This breadth and depth mean we are uniquely placed to help the sector progress society.

Using an Anchorage Resume Writing Service

Using an Anchorage Resume Writing ServiceIf you need a new resume and are trying to decide what to use for it, consider the option of utilizing an Anchorage resume writing service. This is especially if you need help with your past work experience and skill sets.An Anchorage resume is written by an outside agency to mimic the appearance of a resume that was written by someone with work experience from their previous employer. This is especially useful if the career objective includes previous work experience. The agency can go through the applicant's resume and point out exactly what they feel is not correct.Since an Anchorage resume service is not a hired employee, there are fewer restrictions on the resume service that can write a resume. This is great for new and inexperienced applicants. The firm will provide samples and put a lot of effort into making sure that they copycat exactly what the previous employer wrote. This makes it easier for the applicant to understand the job des cription and apply the skills that they have had in the past.There are many reasons why you may choose to use an Anchorage resume writing service. Perhaps you already have a resume that is perfect, but you need some additional skills to demonstrate them. It is also helpful if you want to create a new cover letter that also includes the skills that you feel will be of benefit in the position that you are applying for.Having the tools necessary to ace your job interview may be worth the expense for you. The service will ensure that you have all of the elements necessary to get you through the interview, from having answers for each question to emphasizing the skills that you feel are going to be of value to the company.Sometimes people do not realize how important the information that is on a resume can be. It is the first thing the hiring manager will see when looking at your resume. This is especially true if you have been working for the same company for a long time and are not fam iliar with the company that is seeking your services.Resume writing service offers advice and assistance to those who need to make their resumes unique. Whether you are a professional who is transitioning or someone who has been laid off, this service can help to provide direction for how to prepare your resume. They can suggest how to style your resume so that it will look professional and will display your personality through the content.If you find yourself in need of an Anchorage resume writing service, do not hesitate to look for one. Make sure that the firm is not a part of the same company as the company you are searching for a job with. This can cause the service to take the same approach and take the writing style that is used on the resume from the previous employer and use it on your own.

If I Could Offer New College Grads One Piece of Career Advice - Sterling Career Concepts

If I Could Offer New College Grads One Piece of Career Advice If I Could Offer New College Grads One Piece of Career Advice Recent college grads should take the stepping stone approach to their career and remember that their first full-time position is most likely not going to be their dream job but thats okay! Focus on gaining experience and exposure with a solid, reputable employer or in a growth industry and the career progress will come. There’s no rush. You’re building your career for the long-term. Take things one step at a time. Read more of my job search advice to new college graduates here.

5 ways to bridge the gender communications gap in the workplace

5 ways to bridge the gender communications gap in the workplace 5 ways to bridge the gender communications gap in the workplace With women accounting for close to half of the workforce, and with nearly two out of 10 of those women in management positions, it’s little surprise that the genders often get tied up in communication knots. Many of these tangled conversations are the direct result of different styles of communicating. For instance: Men and women request action and often seek advice in different ways. Their verbal responses and conversational timing can be disparate. Men and women may make workplace demands differently. They frequently define and communicate needs and expectations in dissimilar ways. Georgetown University professor Deborah Tannen, godmother of gender-based communications study, first revealed communication differences in social settings. In her bestseller, You Just Don’t Understand, she noted: “Men grow up in a world in which a conversation is often a contest, either to achieve the upper hand or to prevent other people from pushing them around. For women, however, talking is often a way to exchange confirmation and support.” So whether it’s in a living room or office, men rely on language to solve problems while women see it as a means of validation and connection. “There’s definitely Mr. talk and Ms. talk,” agreed Joanna Krotz at The Woman’s Playbook. “The resulting crosstalk often puts a strain on business dialogue.” Krotz, whose book, Being Equal Doesn’t Mean Being the Same,which will be published in January, reports on the characteristics of women’s leadership and investigates gender influences in the workplace. She’s found that misunderstandings between the sexes typically revolve around themes of power, advocacy and managing the troops. To demonstrate common misunderstandings and ways to bridge the gap, Krotz offers five examples of business interactions: 1. Differences in taking on projects Women tend to ask lots of questions before beginning work. Men simply roll up their sleeves and dive in. Men view asking questions as a sign of weakness and assume women aren’t up to the job. Women typically validate data before starting tasks, sometimes to improve performance. By contrast, women assume that if men dont ask questions, they must know enough to complete a job. That may not be the case. For women bosses, its a good idea to confirm that men have enough knowledge to complete a task. Women might oversee the work in the early phases or offer help without being asked. For men, listening to the questions may add value. 2. Differences in connecting the dots and motivating teams In crafting narratives or talking to staff and clients, women frequently use anecdotes or illustrations about home or relationships. Men rely on metaphors about sports or war. Dialogue can hit a dead end. Women frequently do not follow the touchdown or full-court-press images, but simply gender-reversing images doesn’t work either. Instead, says Krotz, “consider your audience and use gender-neutral images such as from nature, movies, or weather. Or, to use images you prefer, include an explanation of what you mean.” 3. Differences in wielding power Growing up, girls tend to establish relationships while boys usually vie for leadership. That leads the sexes to impose authority differently. Women are more collaborative. Men routinely challenge and expect to be challenged. Each can find the others style ineffective or insulting. Women see men as ham-fisted or insecure when they come on so strong. Men think women lack confidence or conviction because they work hard to get buy-in. To jump the divide, the sexes would do well to borrow from each other. Men can try being more collaborative. Women ought to take charge more often. 4. Differences in defining useful information Women like to tell and hear stories, including trials and errors, turnings and re-turnings. Krotz said, “Generally, women delve into details to express concern, to participate vicariously, or to verify their assumptions. Its women’s way of connecting and building the relationship. Men cut to the chase. The route traveled is inconsequential and only the destination counts. Men want only enough details to get the big picture. In this instance, each sex becomes too impatient to even hear the other. But again, each sex can benefit from the others behavior. Men ought to explain their thinking and avoid jumping to conclusions. Women need to get to the bottom line more quickly. 5. Differences in “Who’s your baby?” Women frequently treat male colleagues in echoes of their interactions with husbands or boyfriends. Men often handle women associates like their wives or girlfriends. The result is subtle and tricky gender miscommunication. Its also one most people are loath to examine. Typically, everyone brings into the office some version of the sexual dynamics they have at home. That creates quieter struggles in business that reflect behaviors at home, such as whos right and whos wrong or disagreements about money. Whenever there’s a standoff, where it seems he or she doesnt understand, it’s a good time to take a break to think it through. “Make sure youre not importing a personal issue into the business environment,” advises Krotz. If we pay attention to the differences in gender and to the patterns revealed by Mr. and Ms. talk, we’ll surely have a better chance of untangling the knots of gender communications. That will not only get jobs done better, but faster and more happily, too.