Dr. Bamster's Blog

It is quite common for many job seekers to feel that so much of their time is idle waiting for the phone to ring!  This can make for many depressing days, and therefore I suggest that you consider doing some community service work to keep you focused and busy.

Now what do I mean by community service work? For some of you, you are already volunteering through your church or synagogue.  For others, you may be active in your local Food Pantry or Homeless Shelter.  So, do alittle research the nonprofit organizations in your area and which ones are of interest to you.

How does this type of work help you with your job search?  Basically, you are doing something that gets you focused and out of your house.  It also requires that you plan your days - balancing job search time, networking and interviewing with satisfying your commitment to your volunteer assignment.  Often, you meet other people who are unemployed and together you help each other discover leads, etc.   Employers are impressed with people who are self-motivated and keep busy working in any capacity. 

So, give it a try...you may find it inspirational and your job search will benefit.

Have a great day!

Ok, we have all had bad days, and, for some of us, they can drag on to many days!  How do we break the cycle when there is great pressure to get on with the job hunting??

After working with hundreds of people from around the country, it helps to take a mental break...at least for a day.  Thorougly get into your bad day...and know that at the end of the day your trip into "feel sorry for yourself, etc." is over, and you will return to a more positive place.

Many clients tell me that on bad days it helps to do one or all of the following:

• Hug your child, dog, partner and (or) friend
• Take a long walk - appreciate your surroundings
• Read a favorite book
• Meet a friend for lunch
• Donate your service to a nonprofit organization

These are a few possibilities - share some that work for you!  Have a great day and know that things do change and coping is just part of how we take care of ourselves.

Let's hear from you bloggers!

Enjoy the first day of Spring 2009! 

Have a great weekend!

If you have recently been laid off or expect to be, then you need to take some positive steps that will help you move on and get re-employed.   First, you need to find out what city and state services, including unemployment, are available to you.  Many states have Rapid Response services that help unemployed workers with job seearch skills and job training if applicable.  Check this service out.

Next, make sure you start updating your resume.  Get some feedback on how you are presenting yourself because many people assume they can write well...and they are wrong!  Receiving some editorial help can really make a big difference. 

Use all resources available to you such as your college alumni office/website, networking websites and many websites I have cited in my journals...check the archives.  Reach out to family, former colleagues, friends, and church and organizational contacts since they can be very helpful with identifying job leads.

Even in tough times, there are jobs - so get tough and get going! 

Tell me how you are coping and share your positive comments or not so positive comments - we want to help!  Let me hear from you.

The economic times call for self-examination especially if you are looking for a job or you anticipate looking for a job.  Basic skills such as sending emails, attaching documents, using office software like WORD, POWERPOINT, etc. are critical to how most people communicate these days.

So, how current are your skills?  If you honestly do not know how to use a computer, this is the time to take some adult education courses.  Check out your local community offerings and courses at your local community colleges.   They offer a range of courses that can enhance your computer literacy and enhance your ability to compete for jobs.  Usually, the fees for adult education classes are modest and worth the investment.

I encourage you to be honest with yourself - you need to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively using a computer.  If you honestly do not have the skills and rely on your kids or friends to use the computer, then you need to get into a computer literacy course as soon as possible.  Investigate what will meet your needs and sign up now!

Continue to share your stories...and have a great day!