Sunday, February 10, 2008

Recently Laid Off? How to Quickly Rebound

By Carl Mueller Ive been laid off so if it has happened to you, I know the feeling. Actually I’ve been laid off twice. The first time, I was walking into the office first thing in the morning and found my manager putting a note on the door stating that all our training classes had been cancelled for the day. I worked for a training company at the time. Given the sad look on her face and our recent low sales results, I knew this was pretty bad so I asked her if I needed to bother unpacking my lunch for that day. She said I didnt. The company went out of business that day I found myself out of a job for the first time since I was 16. The second time I was laid off was a case of a company restructuring. Up until this time, I had experienced several other corporate restructurings and had managed to survive each of them. The first company I worked for after leaving university regularly restructured and I survived four major ones. The last restructuring that occurred, the seven other people in my group were laid off. I was the only one who survived. Getting laid off can be a very devastating experience especially if you really relied on the position for income (who doesnt?) or if you have been employed with the company for a significant period of time and havent had to look for a job recently. The job search market has certainly changed over the past ten years even if you just consider the effect that the Internet has had on it. If you have found yourself the victim of a layoff or downsizing, here are some tips to keep in mind when you are looking to get your career back on track: 1. Dont take it personally. Corporate downsizings are a way of life especially if youve worked in the Internet business or auto industry! Dont disparage your former employer during interviews and dont hold a grudge. This will appear noticeable when you are speaking with people who can influence your ability to find a new job and might hurt your level of motivation and attitude. The last thing you want after being laid off is to become despondent or depressed. Thinking negatively about your former employer will certainly negatively affect the success of your job search. Also, don’t take it personally if on the day of the layoff, you are escorted out of the building or given 30 minutes to pack up your stuff and leave. This is fairly standard and although it can feel pretty brutal, it’s generally how things occur. The first time I was laid off, our computer access had already been taken away and we were given 30 minutes after being notified to pack up our belongings and leave. 2. Figure out how you will handle the layoff in your resume and during interviews. If you were laid off as part of a larger corporate restructuring or simply had your job eliminated, this is what you should be telling people during interviews if you are asked why you are no longer with the company. In other words, you tell the truth. Some people want to try to sugarcoat the situation or invent an elaborate story especially if they are embarrassed about being unemployed or if they think being unemployed will hurt their chances when compared to other job candidates who are currently working. This is a natural feeling but the best thing to do is simply tell the truth. Plus, you might actually luck out: Sometimes a company needs to hire someone as soon as possible and if you are the only candidate who can start right away since you dont need to give several weeks notice to your current employer, all things being equal, you might get the job over other suitable candidates. Ive seen this happen. 3. Figure out a plan to get your job search in gear as soon as possible. This doesnt mean you actually have to start looking for a new job right away. You might decide this is a perfect time to take a vacation or to take some time off to figure out what youd actually like to do next in your career. The best thing to do is to immediately start thinking of the methods you will utilize to get your career back on track. Among other things, you might: Let family, friends and former colleagues know that you are looking for a new job. They might know someone who knows someoneOften this is the best way to get your name out there. Knowing someone and being in the right place at the right time is a legitimate and popular way of finding a new job. Find several recruiters that can help you with your job search. Recruiters are paid when they help companies find people to hire and they are experts in the job search field. Good recruiters can help supplement your job search and make you aware of positions you might not have otherwise known about. Find several relevant and possibly industry or job-related Internet job boards that at a minimum will help you see jobs in your industry that are currently available. Even if you choose not to post your resume, you might get a better sense as to what the market is like for people with your skills and experience. At the end of the day, getting laid off is a fact of life for many people during their careers. Until youve experienced it, you might not actually realize how to deal with it. If you are laid off, move as quickly as possible to close one door and figure out what you need to do to open the new doors that are about to appear in front of you. Remaining motivated and keeping a positive attitude will be key to your success. Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who has written an ebook for career-minded individuals: http://www.RecruiterSecretsRevealed.com Recruiter Secrets Revealed sheds light on job search and career management “secrets” that you can use to supercharge your career and distinguish yourself from other job searchers. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Mueller http://EzineArticles.com/?Recently-Laid-Off?-How-to-Quickly-Rebound&id=101369 phentermine online without prescription phentermine to buy online prescription phentermine diet pills phentermine pharmacy biz
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Saturday, February 9, 2008

Partner Up and Lose Weight Fast

By Joseph Johnson At some point in their fitness life, many people find it harder and harder to get motivated for that next jog, yoga class, or weight training session. For people carrying extra weight it can be even more difficult to stay enthusiastic when muscles are burning and it seems like the pounds just are not coming off fast enough. Dont sabotage your fitness goals by keeping to yourself. A great way to inject that next workout with some enthusiasm is to find a workout partner. Working out with a partner has many benefits and studies have shown that people who work out with someone regularly are more likely to stick to their fitness plan over the long haul. Exercising alone for many peopleis well, boring. If youd rather have teeth pulled than jog on the treadmill one more time, its time to make that workout fun with good conversation, some laughs, or some new activity ideas. Bring along a buddy and chat away. You might even find that you have worked out longer than you had planned. Try taking turns planning the workouts for the week. Challenge each other to keep it interesting. Go somewhere new or try that new class youve been hearing about. Keeping a workout date with a partner can be a great motivator. Knowing that someone else is counting on you to be there can help you get out of bed, or keep you off the couch. A good partner can remind you of your fitness goals and encourage you on those days when it is a struggle to get going. Make a commitment not to cancel on each other and stick to it. Motivate each other by giving one another small gifts when you reach a goal, and call each other in between times to get pumped up for the next workout. Multitasking is one of those words that should stay at the office, but with the busy lives most of us lead, it can be hard to fit everything we should do or want to do into our weeks. Working out with a friend or family member can allow you to catch up and stay involved in each others lives while you both get the exercise you need. If you have children, bring the whole family along. Spend quality time with your kids and try some family activities. Instead of taking the kids out for pizza, go for a hike. Studies have shown that families that make exercise a fun part of their time together are healthier in the long run. 7 Tips To Rejuvenate Your Workout 1. Find A Partner - Talk to your friends and family about working out together. Look for someone at a similar fitness level, and with similar fitness goals. Other options for a workout partner can be a colleague at work, people at your gym, a personal trainer, or you could even try some of the workout groups online. The Presidents Council On Physical Fitness And Sports has groups across the country. 2. Friendly Competition - Once most of those extra pounds have come off, it is common for people to reach a plateau in weight loss. Having a fitness buddy boosts your workout by having someone to compete with. Friendly competition can help you run a little further or do those extra twenty crunches. Just remember not to overdo it, keep it light and fun so that you dont risk possible injuries. 3. Try Something New - Joining a gym or trying new class can be intimidating. Especially if you think everyone there is going to be lean and fit. Working out and sweating in front of strangers makes many people nervous. Bringing along a friend will give you the reassurance you need to try something new; and variety is a great tool in helping you stick to your fitness goals. 4. Forget About It - Lets face it: exercise can sometimes be uncomfortable. Muscles burn, feet ache, you get short of breath, hot, and sweaty. It is easy to focus on the discomfort and get discouraged. Having a partner along is a great distraction. The conversation can take your mind off the burn and help you fight the urge to quit. 5. Partner Assistance - use your partners weight to your advantage in partner stretches. Vary your workout by participating in activities that require more than one person, such as tennis or team sports. Or build your relationship by learning to trust each other in rock climbing or weight spotting. 6. Four Legged Partners - Take your dog along on your next walk or bike ride. He might need to shed some of those extra doggie biscuits youve been spoiling him with, and youll both benefit from the fresh air and exercise. If you dont have a dog, consider getting one, or volunteer to walk dogs at your local animal shelter. 7. Keep It Safe - Working out alone, especially in more remote areas, can be risky. If you get hurt or sick, there may be no one around to help. Exercising alone can also make you a target for crime, and being fearful is no way to enjoy your workout routine. Bring along a partner: youll be safer and feel more confident. Joseph Johnson is a freelance writer focused on informative articles for health and fitness related websites. He is a frequent contributor to http://www.elliptical-trainers-guide.com where he provides many valuable tips on the benefits of elliptical trainers and elliptical trainer reviews. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Johnson http://EzineArticles.com/?Partner-Up-and-Lose-Weight-Fast&id=242129 phentermine online phentermine 37.5 no prescription overnight buy phentermine online no perscription my little pharmacy phentermine
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Thursday, February 7, 2008

Background Checking: They Aren’t Just Checking References Any More

By Jeff Altman For the longest time, employers would do simple background checks. They have a potential employee complete a job application where they were asked for three professional references. Before the employee was hired, the three would receive a telephone call and tell the potential employer that the job applicant was a wonderful individual who would do incredible things for them, just as they had done before. For a while, polygraphs or lie detectors became part of the standard arsenal of checking until, fortunately, legislation was passed in many states eliminating it as a tool (they were notoriously inaccurate). In a recent poll, 77% of employers surveyed were searching the web for information about new hires and 35% had eliminated a candidate based upon something they found there. A few years ago, a manager I was working with at a hedge fund Googled the name of a job applicant for a technical position and found a posting where they had written that they were still working in technology only because they had suffered large trading losses and wanted to join a company where they could learn what they did wrongin other words, learn how my client traded and steal the model. Suffice it to say, the candidate was rejected. Companies are examining listings on www.myspace.com and www.facebook.com to determine whether the job applicant might have done something inappropriate. And, as they have for years, many are doing background checks including checks of your financial responsibility (credit checks). So, remember that picture in the belly shirt with the beer in your hand toasting the photographer you posted on MySpace three years ago? And guy, remember that picture that was taken of you streaking through the frat house when you were 19 thats still on your webpage? Take this stuff down before it takes you down. Jeff Altman , The Big Game Hunter jeffaltman@cisny.com 2006 all rights reserved. Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter, is Managing Director with Concepts in Staffing, a New York search firm, He has successfully assisted many corporations identify management leaders and staff in technology, accounting, finance, sales, marketing and other disciplines since 1971. He is a certified leader of the ManKind Project, a not for profit organization that assists men with life issues, and a practicing psychotherapist. To subscribe to Jeffs free job search ezine, Head Hunt Your Next Job, subnscribe at http://www.headhuntyournextjob.com To receive a daily digest of positions emailed to you, go to http://www.jeffaltman.com For information about Jeff’s pesonal search agent service, go to http://vippersonalsearch.com If you would like Jeff and his firm to assist you with hiring staff, or if you would like help with a strategic job change, send an email to him at jeffaltman@cisny.com (If youre looking for a new position, include your resume). Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Altman http://EzineArticles.com/?Background-Checking:-They-Arent-Just-Checking-References-Any-More&id=244478 phentermine diet pills phentermine 37.5 mg diet pills phentermine 37.5 without a prescription phentermine overnight without a prescription
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