Back to Work - Part 3

As I mentioned in my last post, I received an email through LinkedIn that appeared promising. It was from the managing director of an insurance and financial services company who wished to bring me in for an interview. Not only was a thrilled that I had secured an interview, but it felt great to know they were seeking me out, not the other way around.

I’ve always felt that I am a horrible interviewee. I’m nervous and tend to ramble on. After that first interview, which was for a position as a sales person, I came away with some homework. Then I went back for a second interview, left with additional homework, and scheduled my third interview. Each time, I left wondering if I had said something that would mess things up. That wasn’t my largest issue, though.

The more I learned about this position, the more I had to convince myself it would be a good thing. Aren’t insurance salespeople considered one rung up from used car salespeople? And unlike cars, don’t you have to convince people that they need insurance? Each time my husband and I spoke about this opportunity, I have to admit we had more questions than answers. After about four interviews, I decided this just wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life.

Back to the drawing board. 

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The author shares his vast knowledge of career planning and the inner workings of the job search process, citing hundreds of proven and effective job search techniques. He explains how to market your background to a targeted audience, interviewing skills and techniques, network building strategies, how to utilize personal and business contacts, effective use of social media, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, insider tips on working with recruiters, salary and benefits negotiation, how to write a resume, cover and follow-up letters, how to start and succeed in your own business and much more.

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In the News - Interview Mistakes

It's rare I check MSN Careers for a daily chuckle, but while browsing through the news slides last Friday, I came across an article on interview mistakes. Since I feel I am so nervous when I interview that I don't put my best foot forward, I decided to check it out.

Some of these were standard: dressed inappropriately, talking negatively about current or former employers, or appearing uninformed about the company or role. The article also talked about how certain body language can send the wrong signals. But by far, the best--or at least the funniest--list was under the subheading, "Mistakes nobody should make." 

Apparently, some people interviewing for a job don't realize potential employers don't want you to act out a Star Trek role, take a phone call for an interview with a competitor, or pop out your dentures when discussing dental benefits.

You can find all the other things you might be tempted to do, but shouldn't at http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-3599-Interviewing-What-not-to-do-in-the-interview/

Free for All Friday Giveaway: This Is How Your Get Your Next Job by Andrea Kay

I was going to hold off on announcing a new giveaway this week. Honestly, my heart's been heavy since Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon. I had planned to share photos of our weekend trip to New York City, but I've been glued to the TV set watching the latest news unfold. I finally had to turn off the television and think of something else, even though I continue to pray for everyone impacted by the terrorist acts of these two men.

Job hunting has been very much on my mind this year. I ended up finding a job; had even accepted an offer. Then when it came right down to it, discovered the rate of pay would mean I would be losing money each week over the summer by sending my kids to camp or paying for childcare.

The reality appears to be that while cost of living has increased, pay rates haven't in the past 10 years. A depressing reality for someone who has been working in some capacity for the better part of 25 years and whose experience in several areas should command a higher rate of pay than when she was 20 years old.

So, I'm renewing the job search and hoping I find what I need.

This is How To Get Your Next Job by Andrea Kay was sent to me by AMACOM, publishers of business books. I've reviewed other titles by them, and when they contacted me about this one, I felt it would be helpful for me in my job search. I haven't dug into it yet, but I keep hearing about so many people out of work and looking for a new job, that I didn't want to wait until my review to offer this as a giveaway.

Looking through the Table of Contents, I see topics that capture my attention right away:

• 15 Things You Should Never Do
• 15 Things Your Should Never Talk About or Say
• 10 Things You Should Never Wear
• 15 Things You Should Never Do Once You Get a Job or in Your Career-Ever

This isn't all of them, but the reason they immediately caught my eye is because I wonder how many snafus I've made while looking for a job or in my career in general. My mouth is usually my worst enemy. And now that I've seen these topics, I want to read this book right away. 

Here are two endorsements:

"Every word out of Andrea Kay's mouth is gold! No matter who they are, or what their dreams may be, Andrea can find a way for people to navigate this crazy working world of ours."
--Ellen McGirt, Money magazine

"She is bubbly, fun and a good talker."
--CBS News



Andrea Kay helps people get excited about jumping out of bed and raring to go to work. For the past 20 years she has been creating and recreating Andrea Kay/The Art of Self Direction, a career consulting firm whose clients range from rocket scientists and cowboys who want to change careers to accountants and engineers who have trouble relating to people.

Andrea specializes in “Career Therapy.” She is incessantly curious and quickly gets to the heart of an issue, then creates strategies to help people get what they want. She does this for CEOs, millionaires, corporate warriors, writers, real estate moguls, entrepreneurs and people who take their careers seriously. She writes books and the syndicated newspaper column, “At Work” and gives speeches to Fortune 50 companies, professional associations, schools and at special events.

She has worked with people who ended up being CFOs of major companies, sales and marketing executives, artists and successful entrepreneurs and has helped CEOs, financial managers, Hollywood producers and teachers discover new, satisfying careers. She has developed a reputation as a workplace observer and outspoken supporter of taking personal responsibility for your career and is widely quoted and interviewed.

Her books

This Is How To Get Your Next Job: An Inside Look at What Employers Really Want
Work’s a Bitch and Then You Make It Work: 6 Steps to Go from Pissed off to Powerful
 Life’s a Bitch and then You Change Careers: 9 Steps to Get Out of Your Funk and On to Your Future
Interview Strategies That Will Get You the Job You Want
Resumes That Will Get You the Job You Want
Greener Pastures: How To Find a Job In Another Place

Visit Andrea online at http://andreakay.com/ to learn more about her and her work.

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter the giveaway. Good luck!


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Diary of a Busy Mom - Back to Work

Well, I did it. I got myself a job. Starting next week, I’ll be training to manage an office for a local insurance agent. I need to get my certification to sell insurance policies, but other than that, I expect the transition of working from home to working outside the home to go smoothly.

So why do I feel so anxious? Part of it is that I haven’t really worked for anyone else in over nine years. Suddenly, I’ll have to prove myself all over again. But I think the largest anxiety is caused by the change it will be to my family.

I won’t be able to pick the Lil’ Diva up from the bus stop anymore. I won’t be home when the Lil’ Princess gets off the bus at the end of the cul-de-sac. I have to trust they won’t kill each other in the thirty-five minutes it takes me to get from the office to the house.

Knowing that I’ll have some flexibility with this job is a definite plus, but what about when the kids are sick? Will I feel like I have to send them to school anyway or risk losing my job? There will be no more meeting the Lil’ Princess for lunch at school. There will be no more volunteering at school because my shift is from 10 AM – 3 PM.

Then there’s me rushing home to make sure I get a quick bite to eat before taking the Lil’ Princess off to softball practice on Wednesdays and Friday afternoons and the fear that I’ll miss some of her games or have a hard time getting the Lil’ Diva to concert practice or cheerleading tryouts.

Many years ago, when I was a single parent, I didn’t worry so much about this stuff. It was only me, so I had to work. Now, it seems like I’m throwing everyone’s schedules up in the air just to make a few bucks.

I pray I made the right choice. It’s an exciting opportunity for me. I just hope we can all adjust to the change. 

Reviewing 2012

I'm a big fan of setting goals and writing to-do lists. It's the only way I can accomplish all I have to do. This time of year, I sit back and reflect on how I've done. I'm also starting to put together goals for 2013.

Personal Goals

• Going Green - I wanted to make more of an effort this year to reduce our family's carbon foot print. My goal was to cut our trash down to two bags a week, in addition to changing cleaning products around the house. How did we do? Not a total failure. I donated more and recycled more than usual. I hit the two bag goal some weeks, but most of the time it was three bags. I switched from chemical disinfecting wipes, but the horrible smell was a deterrent. I ended up going back to my usual brand. I have, however, stopped using some of those disposable wipes for cleaning and instead use washable towels.
• Participate in reading challenges - I decided to participate this year in four reading challenges at The Book Connection. I completed the 2012 EBOOK CHALLENGE, but will fall short on all the others. Because I was so busy this year, my reading time was greatly reduced. I usually catch up while we are in North Carolina, but since the family joined us for a good portion of the vacation, and because the hubby came down with pink eye and couldn't drive much going home, I didn't read the ten or so books I normally do. I've still managed to read 118 books between my two main blogs: The Book Connection and The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. This is around 50 less than in 2011 and around 55 less than in 2010. My hope is to catch up in 2013, so I can open my blogs up to new requests again.
• Blog five days a week - Well, I wanted to, but with running so many blogs, it's just not possible to make sure I blog here or there every week day. I would actually like to expand the reach of my Christian book blog, but that will all depend on whether or not I find a job outside my home.
• Eat healthier - Ha, ha, ha. I keep saying it. I know I need to do it. I just don't like it. I'm getting older, and eating a more balanced diet will be important to me staying healthy. I guess it's just too easy to snack too often when I'm home by myself. I still plan to work on this goal next year.
• Exercise more - Here's another funny one. I hate exercise, but right now I can't stand to look at my body in a mirror. I'm only out of shape in the middle, and I'm not even considered overweight, but I am 20 pounds heavier than I used to be. I'm hoping Santa will bring me an exercise bike to get started.

Professional Goals

• Seek representation - Being represented by an agent is one of my dreams. I love the small presses that I've dealt with so far, but I want to move forward in my career. I met with an agent this year at a writers conference, even though I knew she didn't represent Christian children's fiction. I still feel it's good experience to talk to an agent face-to-face. I couldn't afford to travel to a Christian writers conference, so I chose the local one I usually attend. I'm praying I'll be able to swing at least one Christian writers conference next year. In the meantime, I'll start sending out more email and snail mail queries in 2013.
• Submit two manuscripts - I submitted one, which is now under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing. It will be my second book with them, but my third children's book when it is released. No date on that yet, but hopefully my new book, A Christmas Kindness, will be out soon.
• Finish Amelia's Mission - I love this historical middle grade novel I've been working on, but research became an obstacle. There are fourteen rough chapters completed, but I didn't get any further. The good news is that I think I've finally performed the right type of research to bring the rest of the story to life. Maybe I'll be able to complete the first draft in 2013. 
• Find a job - If this were 1987 or 1997, I would have three job offers by now. When I decided to stop working on book tours to concentrate on finding a job outside the home, I knew it would be tough. I've been home for nine years, and while I've kept up my skills, working for someone else is very different than working for another person. It's hard to give up a flexible schedule. I'm not sure what 2013 looks like in this area, but hopefully God will guide me in the right direction.

What were your goals for 2012? How did you do? 

WSJ Wednesday - Not Enough Apple Pickers

After a hiatus that lasted way too long, I hope to bring back WSJ Wednesday on a regular basis. It was a popular column, and even I miss it.

A big topic in this election cycle has been lack of jobs. Unemployment levels are high. It seems businesses are laying off or closing every time you turn around. My experience as a homeowner, however, and a recent article from The Wall Street Journal makes me wonder if that's the entire picture.

In "Many Apples, Few Pickers" by Joel Millman, the topic is the lack of workers to pick bumper apple crops in Washington state. Washington is enjoying the second biggest apple crop in its history, but some farmers are stating that up to one-quarter of their bounty will rot because there aren't enough pickers. Featured in the Wednesday, October 10, 2012 edition of the paper, the article is accompanied by three photographs: one of a farm worker, another of help wanted signs in eastern Washington, and a graph from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on fresh apple production in Washington between 2000 and 2011.

Why in such a tight economy are farmers having a difficult time finding workers? A crackdown on illegal immigration, in addition to a modest economic rebound that has provided immigrants more opportunities in construction, landscaping and restaurants is said to have shrunk the pool of potential workers.

According to the Department of Numbers, the unemployment rate in Washington state in August 2012 was 8.6%, slightly higher than the national average of 8.1%. Farmers are increasing their pay rates in Washington to attract workers, but if what is reported is true, they aren't getting bites. Why? Are the unemployed not interested in such labor? I know I'm more picky about the job opportunities I'm looking for at this stage in my life. While retail is an area I spent over 10 years in, I haven't exactly pursued opportunities in this area during my current job search. My fear is that they wouldn't offer me the flexibility I need as a working mom. Perhaps I'm wrong and should expand my search.

One other thing I'm noticing is that contractors seem to be begging for business, but are still particular about the business they want or lack proper customer service. I received a flyer in our local paper about a special promotion for lawn aeration. I've been putting it off for years, so I figured I would call up this company and see what they could do for me. As expected, they were out of the office when I called, but no one has gotten back to me in the two weeks since. If this is how they treat a potential new customer, what must their current clientele have to deal with for response time? Our church has attempted to hire four different electricians to fix an issue over at the pastor's house since early this year. No one has ever followed up and the repair remains undone.

While this is a simplistic way to look at the tight job market, it remains an important topic in the election. How do illegal immigrants influence unemployment numbers? What should be done about that situation? Do some unemployed people prefer to collect than work certain types of jobs? What can realistically be done about getting people back to work?

WSJ Wednesdays - Middle-Aged Job Seekers Finding It Tough Out There

When I decided that I would begin looking for work, I had no idea how hard it would be. That's why this front page article from the Saturday/Sunday June 23 - 24, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal caught my eye.

"For Middle-Aged Job Seekers, A Long Road Back," by Ben Casselman, discusses the obstacles middle-aged Americans are facing in this tight job market. As Casselman points out, much of the focus has been on the jobless rate among young people. For those of us attempting to support our families or those stay-at-home parents looking to re-enter the workforce, the picture isn't very bright. According to the article, 3.5 million Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 were unemployed as of May, and 39% of those have been unemployed for a year or more. This rate is higher than among young workers.

Instead of building wealth, middle-aged workers are struggling to find full-time employment. Some have stopped looking. I know that I need to find an alternative to what I was doing. I know I have valuable skills to offer, but even when I secure an interview, I don't get the call backs. That seems to fall in line with what is happening around the country. Cassleman's article states a 59-year-old Bridgeport, Connecticut resident spent a year earning his certification as a computer technician, but that hasn't helped him secure employment. His unemployment benefits ran out last year. He has been able to secure some part-time or seasonal work, but nothing more substantial.

The article also touches upon the typical frustrating moments of job searching--unreturned phone calls, lost applications, and interviews that lead to nowhere (tell me about that one). It also talks about reasons middle-aged people struggle to find work: reluctance to change industries and larger financial commitments. They also tend to work in industries in decline and are less able to move to find work.

I'm spending today and tomorrow looking into local opportunities, but not sure of what success I'll have. I'm willing to switch industries, but hope to put the skills I already have to work.

Are you looking for work right now? Is the job market tough where you are? If you're unemployed, how long has it been? Also, what do you think it will take to get this economy going again?

Diary of a Book Loving Busy Mom

June 15, 2012

I can’t believe I’m doing this. I am leaving behind the job I’ve had for the past five years and stepping into the unknown. I’m scared out of my mind. The job market is horrible.

What if I can’t find anything?

The hubby has been harping on me for months to find a less time-consuming job. I figured with us leaving on vacation at the end of the month, now is the best time to make a break. My job had always hampered my ability to seriously pursue alternatives. But, it’s comfortable. I know my job left and right, backwards and forwards. Now, I’ll be starting all over again in the most competitive job market since I was legally old enough to work.

I’m reading résumé books. I need to stand out. I’ve had a few interviews in the past couple of months, but nothing that’s turned into an offer. When I used to sift through résumés to hire for an open position in my office, you could always tells when it was someone older looking for a job. The old format of the résumé that was cutting edge decades ago was never updated. I don’t want that to be me. And yet, I feel like that is me. I’m over 40 and have been self-employed for the past eight years. Who the heck is going to hire me?

Hubby says not to worry about it. I underestimate my abilities. Maybe he’s right, but still, I don’t know how to search for a job in this market where college graduates struggle to find employment.

I want to go back to the 80s, where jobs were plentiful, and if you didn’t like what you were doing you applied at five new places and ended up with three job offers.

Sigh! Time to crack another book on finding a job in this new market.