INTERESTED IN BITS OF LIFE/CAREER-RELATED INFORMATION?  READ ON.

BRANDING BIT:  Personal branding may seem like the latest job finding technique, but it has always been critical to landing a new job. It’s simply that until recently, it didn’t have a trendy buzz phrase. Consequently, most job seekers didn’t know about personal branding, and therefore didn’t do it. Even now, there’s more to it than anyone has thought to enlighten you about.

First let’s define personal branding. It’s knowing your strengths and weaknesses and how you can affect a company positively by bringing those talents to the table. It’s you as a package, and includes how you think, who you are, what your beliefs are, and how you live your life. It’s all the small things and all the big things and how they add up to equal you, rolled into one sentence — for example: transformational change leader adept at synthesizing disparate pieces into a cohesive and profitable whole.

   nhregister.com, March 7, 2010

LONGEVITY BIT:  We could easily live to 100 years, experts say.  That is, of course, if we could kick our bad habits.  Genetics play an integral part of longevity says Health Magazine, but we could up our odds of reaching 100 by eating better, exercising, and improving our work/life balance.  A few simple changes can add years to your life: 

• Eating daily servings of fruits and veggies adds 5 years
• Working out five days/week adds 2-4 years
• Having a hobby adds 2 years
• Flossing adds about 6 years
• Getting enough sleep adds 2 years
• Taking a vacation adds 1-2 years

   PostPoints, March 2, 2010

BOSS BIT:  Genuine and entirely appropriate friendships between employees and their supervisors can and do develop over time.  Because of the power imbalance inherent in reporting relationships, however, it takes longer to establish the requisite trust.  Wise supervisors therefore understand that it is best not to impose their presence on employees during breaks and after hours.  If they are invited, they err on the side of assuming that it was a gesture of politeness, make a brief appearance and leave.

   The Washington Post, February 28, 2010

YPICAL AMERICAN WORKER BIT:  Portrait of the American worker: longer hours, increased workloads, fewer resources and little to no work/life balance — all for the same paycheck. At least that’s the picture a recent CareerBuilder survey painted.  According to the survey:

• 34% of employee said their workload increased in the past six months,
• 8% said it increased greatly, and
• 21% said they took on additional responsibilities.

With the added pressure and extra hours, employers always run the risk of burning out employees.

   cfodailynews.com, February 26, 2010

LADDER CLIMBING BIT:  It’s no surprise to learn the CEO’s, CFO’s and the highest level executives in any company, did not reach this level by mere chance. The strategic planning, coupled with sheer ambition, as well as purposeful timing of upward movement within a company, result in the grooming of an ideal and superior business executive.

   hotsohbet.net, February 23, 2010

HAPPY EMPLOYEES BIT:  Fifty years ago, if you said you wanted better work-life balance, most managers would have smiled and assumed that meant you wanted to work until the balance of your life was over. Fortunately, times have changed. The best employers strive to help workers strike the right balance between work and enjoying life away from the office so they are re-energized when they return each day.  Every manager or business owner must ask, “Do my employees like coming to work or is work a repressive grind that they can’t wait to get away from, unwilling to spend an extra minute at work?”

   entrepreneur.com, February 22, 2010

LAID OFF AND LOOKING BIT:  Following are tips to help you stay focused during a job search:  Start your search as soon as possible after being laid off; network, get additional necessary training; use the job boards as only one means of job searching; volunteer--and stay positive.

   wsj.com, February 18, 2010

JOB SEARCH BIT:  Successful job seekers today are throwing out the old rules and investing their time and effort in the new ones.  The first is finding out about new job opportunities before they are posted online.  I've found that there is usually a 2-4 week period in which hiring managers are thinking about hiring before they actually initiate the process.  If you can get in front of them during this time period, you are only competing with yourself for the job.  Compare that to the 1500 people that will apply to the job once it gets posted online, and you will see the benefit of tapping into the hidden job market.  How do you find these opportunities?  Simple--you talk to lots of people each and every day.

   opposingviews.com, February 11, 2010

RESUME BIT:  These are desperate times for many job seekers. But you can avoid desperate-looking and time-wasting measures when it comes to putting together and marketing your resume. There are more than six job seekers for every job opening, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data from November. And the first mistake many of them make is sending out resumes in bulk without giving much thought to whether they are a good fit for a job.

   wsj.com, February 8, 2010

BLACKBERRY BIT:  That shiny BlackBerry that never stops buzzing might be a sign your work-life balance is a little off. A new sociological study says those with a higher level of social status are more likely to blur the line between home and the office. Fifty per cent of people reported regularly bringing their work home with them, according to a study led by University of Toronto sociology professor Scott Schieman. And people with university or postgraduate degrees were more likely than those with high-school degrees to say their work interfered with their personal lives, said the study, which surveyed 1,800 Americans in the workforce. Mr. Schieman calls it the "stress of the higher status." The study says workers who had more control over the pace of their work were better able to cope with those high-pressure situations.

   kelowna.com, February 1, 2010

BALANCE BIT:  The discussion of 'work / life balance' is inherently challenging because it pins 'work' and 'life' against each other. We often feel as though work is hard and life should be easy, or at least easier. But in reality life is filled with work and so what we are really talking about is balancing work for monetary compensation with work that satisfies one's need for personal reward or obligation.

   huffingtonpost.com, January 29, 2010

WORK-LIFE BIT:  Millennial women are optimistic about their career prospects: 94% of young (age 22-35) professional females surveyed say they can achieve a balance between a satisfying professional life and a gratifying personal life, according to a survey from Accenture.  Young women identify two primary qualities as keys to workplace success: The ability to balance personal and professional lives, and a job where they can make a difference.

   marketingprofs.com, January 28, 2010

CAREER MOVE BIT:  Got a job offer or thinking of making a career move in 2010? You would be wise to do your homework to avoid ruining your next move, new research suggests. A report published in this month's Harvard Business Review suggests that even high-ranking executives make elementary mistakes when searching for a new role.

   cnn.com, January 15, 2010

DRIVING FOCUS BIT:  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 6,000 Americans died in 2008 from crashes involving an inattentive or distracted driver. And nothing spells distraction like talking or (worse) texting on a cell phone while operating a vehicle. There are three main types of distraction: Visual - taking your eyes off the road; manual - taking you hands off the wheel; and cognitive - taking your mind off what you're doing.

   Postpoints.com, January 12, 2010

CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION BIT:  The numbers say it's so: a new survey finds more than half the U.S. population is not happy in their current jobs. The survey, done by the Conference Board research group, found only 45 percent of people are satisfied with their work.  That's the lowest level ever recorded in more than 22 years of studying the issue. The survey also found work interest has also dropped 18.9 percent, compared to 1987.  And feelings of job security have also dropped 17.5 percent, compared to 1987 responses.

  kare11.com, January 6, 2010

SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF BIT:   Minor missteps can derail your search. With U.S. joblessness still rampant, numerous hiring managers are knocking applicants out of the running over the slightest mistake. Small interview errors are becoming more common.  The incidence of nervous job candidates has doubled since 2006 causing some to commit mistakes that can ruin their chances for jobs.

   online.wsj.com, January 5, 2010

SHORT VACATION BIT:  Out of 667 employees surveyed, as many as 66 per cent did not take their full vacation in 2009, said a survey by Right Management, a division of the US-based consultancy firm Manpower, adding only 34 per cent workers availed of their full vacation.

The survey attributed employees skipping vacations to fear about job security and pressure to do more in streamlined operations.  The survey says working so hard without a break may lead to lower productivity and leave workers more vulnerable to medical conditions that may result in increased health costs.

   business-standard.com, January 4, 2010

SEARCH STRATEGY BIT:  The job search process comes down to just three steps: spotting openings, getting interviews and getting offers. The problem is that each step requires a different skill set. The first stage is research/networking, the second is sales and the third is presentation skills. If you're getting past the first two tests, you improve on the third. That's where mock interviews will be invaluable. No one would sing the national anthem at a ballgame without rehearsing, but job searchers forget to rehearse their answers.

   azcentral.com, January 3, 2010

WORK-LIFE BIT:  According to a recent ForbesWoman survey of hundreds of women — the gift females want most this season can't be purchased in a store, over the telephone or online.

ForbesWoman talked to women of all backgrounds, including stay-at-home moms and executives who put in 80 or more hours per week on the job. And what did women say they want for Christmas? The    gift of time. Time for themselves, time for their families, time to get things done.

   mysanantonio.com, December 4, 2009

COLLEGE GRAD BIT:  As graduation nears, students are getting ready to get on with their lives — and some plan on moving back home with mom and dad.  A national poll by collegegrad.com showed that 80 percent of spring 2009 college graduates moved back home, while a study by the Pew Research Center released last week found that 13 percent of United States parents say an adult son or daughter has moved back home in the past year.

That percentage increases to 18 percent for parents between 45 to 54 years of age.  Social scientists refer to these people as “boomerangers” — grown young adults who move back home after living on their own for various reasons.

   statepress.com, December 3, 2009

JOB PROSPECT BIT:  Looking for a job in this tough economy isn’t easy. Companies are getting hundreds of applications for every open position, and even snagging an interview can seem next to impossible. You are looking for ways to make an impression — a good impression that is. You want a potential employer to see you as a persistent go-getter with unbridled enthusiasm without seeming like a pesky gadfly brimming with desperation. Make sure  you  stand out for all the right reasons.

   signonsandiego.com, November 9, 2009

JOB-SEEKING BIT:  These days, a successful job search requires a focused effort. Job seekers not only need marketable job skills, they need the skills to market themselves to employers. You may be the best at what you do; but if you cannot convince a potential employer, you will not win the job. Today's successful job seekers use a variety of skills in their job search -- skills that can be learned.

   gcdailyworld.com, November 4, 2009

WORK-LIFE BIT:  These days, everyone makes work-life balance decisions. Work-life balance means making choices and trade-offs and living with their consequences. It’s that simple, and that complex.  Just remember, you are not in this alone. Your company also feels the impact of your choices and actions.

   livemint.com, October 26, 2009

MAC AND CHEESE vs. SMART FOOD BIT:  So much of today’s job search advice is like Mac & Cheese. It’s not very good for you, but it’s comfortable…it makes you feel good.  Like Mac & Cheese, this advice is very popular – you see it everywhere. Just as Mac & Cheese isn’t an efficient food source, this advice won’t make your job search efficient. But it WILL make you feel good, like you’re doing the right thing, because you see this advice everywhere. So how can you tell what advice is Mac & Cheese?

   onlinewsj.com, October 23, 2009

GIVERS GAIN BIT:  You know, of course, that volunteering is good for your community. You may even know that it’s good for you personally. Research has shown that people who volunteer tend to live longer, have lower rates of depression, enjoy better physical health, have more friends, and are more self-confident.  What you may not know is that volunteering can help you get a job, too.

   usnews.com, October 22, 2009

CAREER PERSPECTIVE BIT:  Employment experts have some advice for the many Americans either looking for work or fearing they soon will be: Consider yourself an entrepreneur — of your own working life.  The term entrepreneur is usually applied to people seeking to start their own small businesses. But those in the recruitment and employment industry say the uncertainty in the current economy means that workers need to think of their careers as their own.

   nytimes.com, October 15, 2009

SNOOPING BIT:  A study by Careerbuilder.com concludes that 45% of employers are researching candidates at social media sites compared to 22% during the same time period last year. The study, conducted by Harris International, of 2667 hiring managers, and completed in June, 2009, indicated that another 11% plan to begin screening on social media sites.

    humanresources.about.com, October 6, 2009

TWITTERSPHERE BIT:  phones, Twitter can be used to post a job, poke around for one, bone up on a potential boss, or simply keep your friends updated on your job hunt. It's free and it's fast. And while social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn focus on connecting you with people you know, Twitter makes it easier to broadcast messages widely and to form groups of common interest. By "following" others and having them follow you, the conversations quickly multiply.

    mercurynews.com, October 5, 2009

CREDIT BIT:  Along with resumes and references, many employers also examine the credit histories of job applicants.  A blemished credit report could shut the door to a job--and the income needed to pay off debts.

    Parade, October 4, 2009

WORKING MOTHERS BIT:  Women make up almost half the US workforce or 47%.  A study by the Pew Research Center found that although 59% of women work or are seeking work, many remain conflicted about the competing roles at work and at home, feeling far more guilt about how they are balancing work and children than fathers.

     reuters.com, October 2, 2009

UNEMPLOYMENT BIT:  Being unemployed is certainly no picnic, but it does present an opening for reflecting and designing your best future. Rather than pursuing a new position merely because it resembles your former job, take time to consider your deep internal drivers, so you can find a role that's an outlet for all of your best qualities. Make the more than 84,000 hours of your life that will be spent on the job both fulfilling and meaningful by pinpointing work aligned with your specific passions.

     businessweek.com, September 30, 2009

WORK-LIFE BIT:  What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term work/life balance?  Perhaps it’s the time you leave the office? Or maybe it’s the total number of hours you have worked in a week? Or is the time your colleagues leave the office compared to you?

Have you ever asked yourself whether you have achieved good work/life-balance?  What criteria do you base your answers on?  Most people tend to connect work/life balance with time or hours spent at work.  While that can be part of it, I would like to challenge your thinking on a deeper level.  I believe it’s about the quality of how you spend your time, not just time itself.  I ask myself: “How rewarded do I feel by what I did today?”

    myglobalcareer.com, September 18, 2009

RESUME BIT:  Whether you’re looking to begin your career, switch careers, or you’re seeking employment due to a layoff, having a top-notch résumé is important for making a positive impression on a possible employer and landing you the job. To have a standout résumé, you don’t just have to build it in the workplace.  A great way to build your resume is by volunteering your time for a good cause.

    noozhawk,com, September 10, 2009

BAD BOSS BIT:  Just as child experts often advise exasperated parents to provide strong parameters for their unruly toddlers, workplace experts say it's time to do the same for "bratty" bosses.  According to author Lynn Taylor, employees need a plan of action to deal with behaviors that can arise when bosses "act out" under the pressures of their job.

    sltrib.com, August 30, 2009

GEN Y BIT:  There's a very useful social networking site for Generation Y: www.brazencareerist.com.  This site makes young professionals visible to top-choice employers through an ideas-based resume, and allows them to build an invaluable network of peers with a customized professional feed, making it easy for Gen Y to level the playing field against more experienced candidates.

     earthtimes.org, August 26, 2009

SOCIAL MEDIA CAVEAT BIT:  As use of social media becomes the latest branding strategy, networking technique, job-seeking tool and recruitment vehicle, it's also becoming the latest way for people to get job offers rescinded, get reprimanded at work and even fired.  Everyone has their "I hate my job," I dislike my co-workers" and "give me more money" moments.  However, they seem to forget that as employers increase their online presence using social networking sites as recruitment and branding strategies, it might be better career management not to have these moments mentioned on the Internet.

     edition.cnn.com, August 25, 2009

AGE BIAS BIT:  With increased competition for jobs, it can be even tougher to find a position as an older worker. A 2009 survey of 258 executive recruiters indicates that 72 percent believe that age can be a negative factor in hiring decisions when a candidate is over 55 years old, according to ExecuNet, an online career management firm for executives and senior managers. And while preventing age discrimination during the job search is impossible, there are ways that you can deal with the bias.

      blogs.wsj.com, August 21, 2009

OOPS BIT:  According to a recent survey of 500 executive recruiters for TheLadders.com, the top 3 biggest mistakes made by job seekers are: 1.  Too desperate/willing to take anything; 2.  Poor interviewing and preparation and 3.  Weak resumes.

       examiner.com, August 19, 2009

SOCIAL MEDIA BIT:  If you rely on job boards or corporate Web sites for your job search, you'll find yourself unemployed for a very long time. Instead, look to your networks, both in real life and in the virtual world. A recent Jobvite survey reflects this evolution in recruitment, noting that 72% of companies plan to invest more in recruiting through social networks. By using LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as your own blog, you have more outlets to communicate your personal brand and find a job faster than the competition.

        businessweek.com, July 29, 2009

CAREER CAUTION BIT:    Things don't typically work that way on a job search in these economic times. When we get a job offer, we have to make a quick decision: take the offer, or wait and see what's behind Door Number Two? 

Because of the pesky rent-will-be-due dynamic, it is easy to fall into what I call The Vortex and take the wrong job. What is the wrong job? It's a job you hate so much that you hate yourself for working there. In a job like that, you can find it hard to muster the energy for another job search after hours. Plus, you can get depressed, and that's no good for your health, relationships or sleep -- or your next job search.

        dailycamera.com, July 28, 2009

TWITTER TIP BIT:  Although many companies have been shedding jobs, some employers and recruiters have turned to Twitter to post positions and find new talent.  But using Twitter to find new work isn't a straightforward process. Because people publish so frequently, it's easy to miss a lead in the process. Also, Twitter's search tool, while serviceable, sometimes makes it hard to narrow your job inquiries down to something specific.

        computerworld, July 24, 2009

TWITTER BIT:  Love it or hate it, Twitter is hot.  So much so that it received $48m in free media
coverage over the past 30 days according to one estimate.  But Twitter faces some major challenges and not everything is rosy in Twitterville. A flurry of job listings the company posted over the weekend hints that Twitter is looking to hire the talent it needs to keep the company from falling off the tracks.

         econsultancy.com, July 22, 2009

WORK-LIFE/MOVING BIT:  One of the most overlooked aspects of relocating is making certain that you have ample time to make that move. If you are being relocated by your company, you need to ask the boss for enough time to pack up belongings, give the kids’ teachers some notice about the move, have the utilities shut off or transferred, and a hundred little things. Then, you need enough time to actually get where you are going.. What matters is the amount of time necessary to make a safe and relatively stress-free trip.

When you arrive at the new destination, you need time to arrange for the utilities to be turned on, get the kids in school, unpack and get settled, maybe even find a place to live. If you take the first place you find as a new residence, you run the risk of being unhappy and increasing your stress levels. You need to have the time to look at enough possible residences so you can make a good decision and reduce future stress. Failing to have enough time, coupled with the natural stress of relocating, can cause health issues.

          examiner.com, June 14, 2009

JOB PERFORMANCE BIT:   Outside of an annual evaluation, what's the best way to ask for feedback on job performance?  Ask for it in a straightforward manner, preferably at the beginning or end of the day, or during some downtime.  Make sure it's an opportunity when both you and your supervisor can reflect on your performance and have the time for a quality discussion.  Avoid asking for feedback in the heat of the moment, or when you or your boss are engrossed in business issues, unless you want the conversation to be focused on a single element of your performance.

          democratandchronicle.com, July 6, 2009

RECRUITER BIT:   In the current job market it’s best to keep all of your options open, including making connections with staffing and recruiting agencies. Recruiters are on the front lines of job market and are invaluable contacts.

          examiner.com, July 3, 2009

GENERATION GAP BIT:   A new study released Monday by the Pew Research Center found Americans of different ages increasingly at odds over a range of social and technological issues. It also highlights a widening age divide after last November's election, when 18- to 29-year-olds voted for Democrat Barack Obama by a 2-to-1 ratio.

Almost eight in 10 people believe there is a major difference in the point of view of younger people and older people today, according to the independent public opinion research group. That is the highest spread since 1969, when about 74 percent reported major differences in an era of generational conflicts over the Vietnam War and civil and women's rights. In contrast, just 60 percent in 1979 saw a generation gap

           wtopnews.com, June 29, 2009

JOB TREND BIT:  Simply Hired, the largest job search engine and recruitment advertising network, today released a trend report on active job listings in Q1 2009. Aggregating job content from more than three million job listings per month from January 1 to March 31, 2009, Simply Hired outlined job trends by geography, industry and demand among job seekers.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment continued to decline sharply last month, with the nationwide unemployment rate rising from 8.1 to 8.5 percent. This means that an increasing number of job seekers are looking for a limited number of positions. Simply Hired’s Q1 2009 report reveals that:

A growing number of job seekers are looking for work in places such as Chicago (job seekers up 15 percent), San Francisco and the Bay Area (job seekers up 15 percent), Boston (job seekers up 17 percent), Milwaukee and Washington D.C.

                    prweb.com, April 28, 2009

GREEN JOB HUNTING BIT:  Going green is more than just a passing phase. It's an important topic that is finally getting the attention it deserves. Going green is not just recycling and energy conservation, it is a lifestyle choice that impacts every part of your life--including your job search. Here are some ways you can positively impact the planet and Green-UP your job search:  Green up your resume.  Green up your commute.  Green up your home.  Green up your job.  Green up your water.

                    examiner.com, April 20, 2009

JOB STAT BIT:  The national average weekly income rose 2.5%, from $598 in 2007 to $613 in 2008.  Inflation increased .1% during the same period.  56% of workers received health-care benefits through their jobs.  56% of workers participated in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. 

                     Parade, April 12, 2009

WEBSITE JOB SEARCH BIT:  Job hunters are beating the recession by using the Internet not only to search for jobs, but also by utilizing specific job hunting web sites that do the hunting for you.  Most people know about Monster.com and HotJobs.com, but there are other useful smaller sites geared towards job seeking.  The good news is that you don't have to spend hours surfing the web.  There are programs called aggregators that will search for you--simplyhired.com and indeed.com are examples.  All you need to do is tell the site what jobs you want to look for.

                      cbs4denver.com, April 11, 2009

JOB HUNTING BIT FOR THOSE OVER 50:  Update and rejuvenate, your age is not the focus--but use your age to your advantage; get connected.

                      latimes.com, April 10, 2009

JOB SEARCH BIT:  If you are in a job search right now, or are about to start one, you don't need anyone to tell you that jobs are tough to come by. More people are competing for fewer jobs, making it much more challenging to get noticed. Creating an effective personal "brand" is critical to making sure that you stand out from the crowd in the ways that employers are looking for today.

                       foxbusiness.com, April 1, 2009

OLDER WORKERS BIT:  AARP survey of 1,100 people conducted in December indicated that 16 percent of people 45 and older had postponed retirement because of the economic downturn. But the percentage of people planning to delay retirement shot up to 57 percent among respondents who were working or looking for a job and had lost money in the market during the past year. Consumer confidence held steady in March, with a slight blip upward halting three months of declines as slivers of hopes about the economy buoyed consumers. But Americans are still feeling gloomy about their future given mounting layoffs and shrinking earnings.

                         google.com, April 1, 2009

WORK-LIFE BIT:  Women in two-earner couples are contributing more to family income, but it's the men who are feeling more conflicted over work-life balance, according to a survey of 3,500 workers released today.  Asked how much jobs and family life interfere with each other, 59% of fathers in dual-income families reported conflict in 2008, while just 35% did in 1977. For mothers, reported conflict increased from 40% to 45%.

Findings from the telephone survey for the nonprofit Families and Work Institute suggest what some experts say is a "tipping point" in attitudes about gender roles, work and family.

                          usatoday.com, March 26, 2009

PINK SLIP BIT:  This news has a very negative impact on each of us, both in terms of those of us who lose our jobs as well as those for whom the fear of losing their jobs is very real. Job loss ranks as one of life's most stressful events, ranking almost as highly as divorce or death of a spouse or parent. Recent research has demonstrated that the financial pressures created by unemployment coupled with the loss of personal control can lead to varied negative outcomes, including depression   However, there are several strategies that may be utilized to regain a sense of personal control and help deal with this difficult situation.

                          ottawabusinessjournal.com, March 23, 2009

LAYOFF BIT:  If you've been laid off recently or think you might lose your job in the near future, you need to respond strategically and massively. The hard reality about layoffs, though, is that how you respond may depend on your financial and emotional state. You may have predicted this event and prepared for it, or you may view the layoff as a blessing in disguise if it forces you to make a change you've wanted to make for some time. In these cases, it's time to crank up your search efforts with focus and confidence.

                                myjournalcourier.com, March 6, 2009

JOB SEEKING TIPS:  It's grim out there, for job seekers and for workers hanging on by their fingernails at troubled companies. But, thanks in no small measure to the Internet, there are steps workers can take to soften the blow of a layoff and there are strategies for finding work than didn't exist during the recession of the early 1990s.  A sample of tips offered:

• Don't assume that a company that's laying off workers isn't also hiring certain job titles.

• Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

• Set up a personal email account.

• Make sure you're on LinkedIn.

• Learn Excel.
  
                         newsday.com, March 1, 2009