QuintZine

A Career and Job-Hunting Newsletter

Volume 11, Issue 10

ISSN: 1528-9443

November 1, 2010

What You'll Find: Create Opportunity Job Action Day 2010

Notes from the Editor and Publisher Job Action Day Main Feature: Welcome to the Age of Protean Careers: Encouraging Workers and Job-Seekers to be Proactive in a Transformational Workplace Bloggers Drive Home Job Action Day Message 13 MORE Special Job Action Day Features

Quintessential Site: Featured Career Web Site of this Issue Latest Additions: What's New on Quintessential Careers Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Tips to Guide Your Job Search and Work Life

Editor's/Publisher's Note: About this Issue...

Two year ago, the QuintCareers team saw a need to suggest that job-seekers focus at least one day completely on career management and action. Thus, Job Action Day was born. We didn't know then that the economy would fall into recession and the job market not only shrink, but permanently change. Thus, it is with even greater importance and urgency that we asked some of the best career coaches and experts to contribute to this third annual Job Action Day -- focused on the theme that to be successful in this new reality of employment, job-seekers must work harder and more proactively in creating their own opportunities. The 14 new articles you'll find in this QuintZine, along with the many career experts who are also blogging about creating opportunity on this Job Action Day, are designed to assist you in taking charge of your career, your job-search, your future ... your life. Jay Block's main feature sets the tone. Be sure to check out Darrell Gurney's special half-off book offer -- just for the week of Job Action Day) at the end of his article. Finally, as we mark the 14th anniversary of the founding of Quintessential Careers (with, appropriately, 14 articles!), we are already actively planning even greater ways we can help you improve your future success as we begin our 15th year of serving you. We wish you continued good fortune and success in all aspects of your job-search and career. And, as always, we thank you for visiting our site and helping us achieve our mission of empowering people to achieve their educational goals, find their true career passion, and obtain their ideal job. We invite you to visit our Job Action Day Site. One of your Job Action Day proactive steps could be to check out job listings and post your resume on our job-search portal. FOLLOW JOB ACTION DAY ON THE TWITTER HASHTAG: #JobActionDay10 -- Randall Hansen, Ph.D., Founder and Publisher, Quintessential Careers --Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., Master Resume Writer, Credentialed Career Master, Certified Electronic Career Coach, and editor at kathy(at)quintcareers.com

Job Action Day Main Feature

Welcome to the Age of Protean Careers: Encouraging Workers and Job-Seekers to be Proactive in a Transformational Workplace by Jay Block Protean Careers. Get used to the term, for it's here to stay. Better yet, we had all better get used to the concept of Protean Careers. Indeed, the American workplace has changed forever; and this transformation is presenting significant problems for many who have come to depend upon the "Industrial Age" workplace. The "Protean" workplace is the only viable solution to the transformational shift away from employers taking care of employees, to employees taking care of themselves. Read more about Protean Careers in our full article.

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Bloggers Drive Home Job Action Day Message

More than 20 Bloggers Dedicate Blog Entry to Job Action Day Reinforcing the Job Action Day message is this group of bloggers dedicating blog entries on or around Job Action Day 2010 to the event. The first four represent the Quintessential Careers family of blogs: Quintessential Careers Blog Career Doctor Blog Quintessential Resume and Cover Letter Tips Blog A Storied Career Deborah Brown-Volkman: Surpass Your Dreams Susan Guarneri, Career Assessment Goddess Wendy Terwelp, Rock Your Career Laura Labovich, Aspire! Empower! Heather Krasna, Heather Krasna's Public Service Career Blog Meg Guiseppi, Executive Career Branding Willy Franzen, One Day One Job Maggie Mistal, Career Advice Blog Deborah Shane, Deborah Shane Toolbox Debra Wheatman, Careers Done Write Blog Darrell Gurney, Career Guy Blog Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com Blog Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers The Career Management Alliance Blog Stephen Hinton, Hinton Human Capital Blog Jason Alba, JibberJobber Blog Rich Milgram, EmploymentMetrix Blog Barbara Safani, Career Solvers Blog Hannah Morgan, Career Sherpa David Couper, David Couper Blog

Job Action Day Special Features

Creating Opportunity through Job Targeting... Job Targeting: A Better Way (than Job Boards) to Create Opportunity for Yourself by Laura Levine Labovich Every job-seeker needs a strategy; it is the foundation of any effective job search. In our lives, we build planning, Strategy, and training into the fabric of the American dream. We embark on driver's education, before we are awarded a license; we draft (or hire someone else to draft) a blueprint before we build a house; and we scope out, identify, and select a wedding planner to help make our big day so special. So, why, then, are we haphazard with something as important as our livelihood? I believe it comes down to the simple fact that we don't know that there is a better way; a more effective way. We've never been told that there is, in fact, driver's education for job search. Learn a better way to conduct a job search in our full article. Creating Opportunity through Branding... Accelerate Executive Job Search With Personal Branding by Meg Guiseppi In the new world of work and executive job search, impacted by a challenging job market, it's more critical than ever to stand out and above those competing for the same jobs. There's no better way to accomplish this distinction than by defining your personal and career brand and communicating it across your paper/digital career documents (resume, biography, etc.) and online presence (LinkedIn profile, Twitter, blogs, article-writing, etc.). Learn how to brand yourself in our full article. Creating Opportunity through Changing Your Mindset... Breakthrough Belief Strategies to Bust Up Limiting Beliefs, Bolster Confidence, and Bring Opportunity to Your Doorstep! by Susan Britton Whitcomb Henry Ford said, "If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right." When it comes to job search or career transition, mindset is more than half the battle. If you say to yourself, "I'll never find a job in this economy," it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you say, "I'm no good at networking," it's not likely you'll nail your networking. If you say, "I don't have enough experience to compete for the jobs I want," you'll automatically send that message to interviewers, who will then be happy to agree with those nonverbal messages. If this type of negative self-talk is undermining your life, you know how devastating it can be. It can derail, demoralize, and de-energize you. And it can cause you to be anxious, get angry, and even give up. But there is good news: a positive mindset is a learnable skill, just like learning to ride a bicycle. You can change your thinking, and when you do, you'll change your life. Read more, including the A-B-C's of Managing Mindset in our full article. Creating Opportunity by Converting Your Temp Job to a Full-time Hire... Creating Opportunity for Full-Time Hire by Maureen Crawford Hentz You are temping. Again. Temping is a good -- no, great -- way to get a foot in the door in a company, especially in these economic times. Despite the economy, work still has to get done, and temps are a good way for companies to meet the need without increasing headcount. To convert to full-time hire, though, you've got to be both savvy and strategic, and you have to know when all the signs point to no hire. Read more about how to convert a temp job to full-time in our full article. Creating Opportunity for Freedom... Avoid Career Myopia and Create Your Opportunity for Freedom by Kristin Cardinale, Ph.D. Career myopia is an epidemic; are you one of the millions who suffer from this debilitating yet preventable condition? Myopia, commonly referred to by eye-care professionals as nearsightedness, is a condition that causes objects in close proximity to appear clear while those in the distance appear blurry. The typical American worker suffers from something along the same line that I refer to as "career myopia" whereby workers lose their ability to visualize the big picture because they are so focused on the daily grind of the 9-to-5 world. As a result, their field of vision narrows, and the big picture becomes fuzzy. They lose sight of their dreams and instead fixate on merely surviving instead of thriving. Read more about creating the opportunity for freedom in our full article. Creating Opportunity Within Your Current Job... Five Tips To Create Opportunity Without Quitting Your Job by David Couper Recent statistics on job satisfaction show that 50 percent of respondents hate their jobs even more than ever. People are hungry for change! But the recession is still with us, and even when we do come out of the economic slump, some economists point to a jobless recovery. If you hate your work, want a new job, but don't want to quit, what can you do? Our article offers five tips for creating a new opportunity with your current employer. Creating Opportunity Within Your Current Job... Are You a S.M.A.R.T. Worker? Career Strategies to Make You More Valuable at Work by Billie Sucher Are you concerned about your job? Do you wonder if you'll be downsized? If you are, you're not alone; the talk of the weak economy is a daily occurrence. In today's tumultuous workplace, no surefire strategies can guarantee that your job won't land on the chopping block. And if you choose self-employment, each day is a roller-coaster ride, to be sure. On the other hand, whether you work for someone, or for yourself, our article offers some S.M.A.R.T. career strategies to make yourself more valuable, in or out of recession. Creating Opportunity in a Nonprofit... Creating Opportunity in the Nonprofit Sector by Heather Krasna If you are committed to making a difference in the world, your career search may lead you to the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit organizations work in the realms of education, the environment, health, human services, international aid, religion, arts and culture, advocacy, philanthropy and more. The nonprofit sector can be a very creative place because it is beholden neither to shareholders to make a profit (as corporations are), nor the voters or elected officials (as government agencies ultimately are). A creative approach can work well when entering this field, as the following ideas will show. Read more about this creative approach in our full article. Creating Opportunity by Knowing Yourself... Career Assessments for Lifetime Career Management by Susan Guarneri This is a story about change, turmoil, insight, and opportunity. It's the story of one person's career journey, but it could very well be yours or mine. And it's a story about career assessments, tools for real-life career management. Read the full story. Creating Opportunity by Banishing Fear... Don't Let Fear Scare You Out of a New Job by Debra Wheatman True, the economy is not at its high point, not even close; but that doesn't mean it is all doom and gloom. It just means that perhaps it is time to dig in your heels and take a more realistic approach to your situation. In my experience, job-seekers who take the statistics to heart and follow the jobless reports too closely set themselves up for psychological torment and a sense of hopelessness. Whether you are unemployed or want to change jobs, don't let fear scare you away. After being turned down for job after job, rejection can really take a toll on your self-esteem. Shut the TV off, stop watching the news about the unemployment numbers, and start promoting yourself. Take steps to package yourself as attractively as possible. Read about more ways to eliminate fear from your job search in our full article. Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunity... Creating Opportunity Through Your Entrepreneurial Spirit by Nancy J. Miller In a previously thriving economy, most people expected financial and job security, although they often worked for years in jobs they didn't enjoy. Now that jobs are getting harder to find, it takes more research and planning to find a fit for your strengths, passions, and values. Promotions, benefits, and bonuses are no longer the norm. Finding value in your work, staying healthy, and contributing to something greater than yourself, can bring more satisfaction than working at a job that "appears" to provide security. An entrepreneurial mindset will give you the adaptability and resilience to thrive in a changing workplace. Read more about this mindset and various kinds of entrepreneurship. Creating Opportunity through Career Reinvention... How to Finance Your Career Reinvention by Randi S. Bussin You want to reinvent, and emotionally you are ready to do so, but you just don't know if you can afford to do so. The affordability of reinventing yourself is a very important concern, but one that you can overcome with the proper planning. To succeed at a career reinvention, you will need to consider the costs of preparing for a reinvention, the possible hidden costs of this reinvention, and how to work with the possibility of a reduced salary in your new field. The most important factor in a career reinvention, after realizing where your passions will take you, is to realistically prepare your financial outlook. Our full article tells how to prepare finances for career reinvention. Creating Opportunity By Being Your Own Headhunter... Backdoor Job Search by Darrell Gurney Bob Dylan sang "The times, they are a-changin'." Well folks, they have a-changed! Have you, in fact, noticed that headhunters are not as vibrant a part of your job-search toolkit recently? It's not because there aren't jobs out there. It's because in an "employer-driven market" -- in which a big talent pool floods the market -- employers try to hire directly on their own and avoid recruiter fees. Obviously, we are in a drastically different situation from 10 years ago ... which calls for different methods. Today, you must know how to be your own headhunter. Read more in our full article.

Find Your Career Future. Learn More About Yourself Career Maze is designed to help every job seeker, at every level, make smarter career choices. Individualized to reflect your unique personality and written in "plain English," it is thorough and easy to complete. Once completing the assessmemt, your 2-part report includes: A specific, career-relevant discussion of your workplace personality A list of job types compatible with your personality Career Maze encourages you to think about tapping your full potential to find your future. Get more information -- or take the test -- at CareerMaze.

Quintessential Careers Site: I Need a Freakin' Job (INAFJ)

I Need a Freakin' Job (INAFJ) INAFJ.com was founded in 2010 in support of the millions of Americans seeking employment. The site is building a movement of folks who seek to be heard by those in government that can make a difference. "We need them to create an environment that allows small-business owners to remain in business so they can grow and add more jobs," the site says. INAFJ.com also has an accompanying Facebook page. No cost to users. See all our featured Quintessential Sites.

Find a Job, Post Your Resume -- on our Job Portal!

Even in a bad economy, there are still job postings and career opportunities!! Go now to search for jobs, post your resume, build an online portfolio, receive career consultation, and learn about continuing education opportunities. Search for Jobs | Post Your Resume | Continue Your Education Check out our Career and Job-Hunting Portal.

Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Tips to Guide Your Job Search and Work Life

ExecuNet is offering downloadable guide to creating opportunity, "Uncovering Opportunities in Your Backyard." The report's intent is to help job-seekers tap the rich hidden job market through targeted research, locate and get to know the people who can help in the job search, discover the real value of job listings, better organize time for job-search productivity, and gain focus and confidence. Download the report. Sometimes it's helpful to consider the reasons employers hire. If you are alert to these reasons, you may be able to tap into them. Accenture recently revealed the percentage of U.S. employers reporting various reasons for adding employees during the downturn. (Total is more than 100 because employers reported multiple reasons.) After each reason, we've suggested a way you might tap in: 46 percent hired because they launched new products or entered a new market. Monitor business news sources to learn of possible new-product launches and new-market entrances. 45 percent hired to gain workers with more/different skills needed for future business, while 24 percent hired to ensure an appropriate mix of skills. Research the skills employers in your field seek and assess whether you possess them, and if not, consider new training. 45 percent hired to strengthen the workforce critical to business success. Research to learn what you can contribute to targeted employers' business success. 39 percent hired because they had the opportunity to add high-quality talent. Be sure you are visible -- through networking, working with recruiters, and using social media -- so employers know you are the high-quality talent they need. The final reason is probably not one you can tap into unless you happen to be at an organization acquired by another one; 28 percent assumed new employees as a result of a business acquisition. In a recent blog entry, Laurie Gentile told the story of her brother and his unique approach to interviewing and finding a job -- an approach that can help others create opportunity. "With perseverance, creativity, preparation and bit of luck," Gentile writes, "he landed the opportunity of a lifetime!" Here's a taste of what Gentile's brother did: "During the interview, he was asked to describe his first 60 days on the job. He responded by handing out copies of the 60-day plan he had written, and began to describe the various personal and professional action steps contained within. The interviewers were impressed with his commitment to keeping the interview, but more impressed with the detailed 60-day plan he had presented and discussed. After accepting [the job offer he subsequently received], my brother learned from the companyıs hiring manager that team of interviewers was blown away by his performance, and that they had never before had a candidate as creative, prepared, and focused." Read the full blog post here. See our entire collection of Q-Tips: Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips.

Quintessential Careers Press Latest Book!

Quintessential Careers Press Announces Our Latest Book: The Quintessential Guide to Job Search 2.0: Advancing Your Career Through Online Social Media. The Quintessential Guide to Job Search 2.0: Advancing Your Career Through Online Social Media, by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., and Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., provides six chapters to guide you through the next revolution in online job search. Since job boards, vestiges of the first revolution in online job search, should still be part of the job-seeker's toolkit, this book helps you navigate those while also considering the future of job boards. The book looks at building your personal brand, teaches you to make the most of social-media venues in the job search, guides you in creating a digital presence, suggests you consider blogging, and discusses ways to integrate multimedia elements into your job search.

What's Your Career Story?

Please enjoy the 12 inspiring stories we've compiled to date at Empowering Career Stories. We have filled all our targeted categories except for "teenager/high-school student planning a career." If would like to tell your story, you can complete our questionnaire. We welcome your story.

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Find Qualified Candidates Today! The Quintessential Careers Job-Hunting Portal is a great place for organizations that have job openings to post those openings and review job-seeker resumes. Our national resume database contains more than 500,000 active resumes of candidates seeking employment. Numerous job-posting packages are available. If your organization is looking to hire, use the power behind our portal! Learn more today!

Follow QuintCareers; Read the Latest Advice

Follow QuintCareers Latest Job Tips and Career News on Twitter Use this link to follow QuintCareers on Twitter. Also follow @KatCareerGal for regular career-related tweets. QuintCareers Network of Empowering Blogs What are QuintCareers empowering blogs? The Career Doctor Blog: Especially for those who miss our former regular feature, Ask the Career Doctor, this blog each day features a question and answer from The Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD. Quintessential Resumes & Cover Letters Tips Blog: Tips for effective resumes and cover letters. A Storied Career: All kinds of uses of applied storytelling, especially in the job search. Tell Me About Yourself: A blog to serialize the book, Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling that Propels Careers. And don't forget our QuintCareers blog: Career and Job-Hunting Blog. All these blogs are part of the Empowering Sites: Empowering Blogs network. Finally, Read current career and education news, with new content daily, in the Syndicated Career and Education Headlines section of Quintessential Careers.

We'd Love You to Link to Quintessential Careers!

If your school, organization, business or other entity has a Web site, we welcome you to link to Quintessential Careers. If you already have a link from your site, we want you to know we appreciate it. If you don't have a link to us, please send a request to your site's Webmaster to establish a link to Quintessential Careers. Thanks so much! For more details (including sample HTML copy), see our Link to Us page.

Quintessential Careers Media Center

The Quintessential Careers Media Center is a one-stop location for information and resources for reporters and other members of the media. Need a career expert for a story or article you're working on? Searching for college, career, and job news? Interested in learning more about Quintessential Careers? Our Press Room is your one-stop location for getting the information and resources you need.

QuintZine: Topics in Upcoming Issues

WATCH FOR feature articles on these topics in upcoming issues of QuintZine: * Job Shadowing Tips for Teens * Holiday Job-Hunting Tips * Entrepreneurship Quiz *Cover Letter Closers * Polish Your Resume Like a Pro * Warning Signs You Won't Like Your Next Employer * Contrasting Good and Bad Job-Search Techniques * New Grads: Roadmap to Work and Play * Working Night Shifts/Odd Shifts * De-Stressing Before an Interview * More Cover-Letter Components * Empty Nest Job-Seekers * How to Stay Motivated at Work * Quintessential Career Profiles of YOU, our readers * Q&As with well-known career experts * Book reviews . . . and much, much more... To view back issues of QuintZine, check out the QuintZine Archive. Don't ever want to miss another issue of QuintZine? Get a free subscription to the email version of QuintZine by completing our subscription form.

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QuintZine A publication of Quintessential Careers Publisher:  Dr. Randall S. Hansen Editor:  Katharine Hansen ISSN:  1528-9443

QuintZine... a no-cost career and job-hunting newsletter filled with timely and topical tips for springboarding careers.

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