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February 25, 2009

Learning How to Bounce Back

Last week, Vickie in Ohio asked for advice about how she might transfer her skills into a new work situation which can be more manageable for her.

She received some interesting ideas from eSight members about how to bounce back into the job market.

James J. Elekes, M.Ed, MPA, CPM, for instance, suggests:

"Many hospitals are engaged in Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) efforts because of increasing mandates of insurance providers. Many of these positions require computer literacy, familiarity with medical records software and attention to detail to insure patient charts are complete and accurate. Often, QA/QC personnel work off-schedule, reviewing materials after the patient departments have concluded their primary functions for the day.
"Using this skill set, insurance providers may be in need of case managers to insure patient services are being provided efficiently and in a cost-effective fashion. This often requires review of physician recommendations, the individual's insurance coverage then, coordinating the patient service plan.
"Similar positions are routinely available as well in local/county/state government entities which are Medicare/Medicaid providers and need case management to schedule, assign allied staff and follow-up on client services."

Karla Golding writes, "I work in the business office of a Home Health Care provider in NW Ohio. Even in the current economy, this business is definitely growing. Vicki's nursing credentials would be a valued asset."

Barney Mayse offers Vickie this advice:

"She might try teaching online with Phoenix University. Many of the colleges now have online learning classes, and, in this case, her skills and knowledge would be readily transferable. By teaching online, she overcomes the issue of hearing and can use her knowledge and skills to teach students the skills they need to become better nurses."

More colleges are offering courses online. So Vicki may want to check both local junior colleges or universities to see if they could utilize her skills and experience teaching online.

Sometimes online teaching, helping with homework or working one-on-one to tutor also prepares you for a new career as a curriculum designer or an author of textbooks in a particular field of study.

For the past month in eNN, we've been looking at various ways to position ourselves as job seekers during very tough economic times.

Vicki’s situation, although not related to the current recession, reminds us that people can be remarkably resilient in adapting to changing conditions both on a personal level and as members of a larger society.

After a lay off or never getting that first job, we naturally fear for our future. And it always easy to blame ourselves for our predicament.

But, we have to bounce back.

This may be your first recession. However, your parents or grandparents and family members may have experienced something similar 20, 30 or 35 years ago. Talk to them about the commonality of your experiences then and now and find out how they weathered the storm in those times.

Somehow, they bounced back – most likely because they took positive, small steps to prepare themselves for better times.

So, now is the time to update your skills by taking one of the many courses available online or getting your GED or other certificates or degrees at a college or junior college or university near you.

It may be a good time to find out what your aptitudes are through the Myers Briggs personality assessment or other aptitude test at your school or online. You might just be surprised what you learn about yourself.

Now may be just the right time for you to seek out people who are doing work that interests you or those who work in companies you are targeting.

Why? The U.S. Department of Labor says that more than 70 percent of jobs filled last year were filled through networking.

Be sure everyone you know is aware that you are looking for a new job and understands the position you're seeking so they are better able to help you.

Here are a few other resources that may open up new opportunities for you at this particular stage in your life:

So, there are small steps you can do now that will help you be better prepared for a more favorable job market.

But, maybe one of the most important steps you can take right now is to think about what living with disability has taught you about your personal resiliency, a soft skill that will be valuable in any employment situation during this fast- moving 21st Century.

Think about it. Use the eSight Networking Forum to initially put it into words. Continue to hone it into a short but powerful narrative that you can use in job interviews, where most employers are seeking an answer to this unasked question: “What makes you the best candidate for this job, even though you have a disability?"

So, please start your journey in developing your personal narrative. Go to the eSight Networking Forum and reply to this question:

What incident involving your disability shows you have learned to bounce back in life?

Posted by Liz Seger at 06:02 PM | Comments (2)

February 18, 2009

Soft Skills Are Transferable Skills

In previous posts on the eSight Network Forum, Jake and Jennifer have wondered if the skills they use in volunteer positions are transferable to paid positions and valued by employers.

That's the burning question most job seekers wonder about in bad times or good times. How can I apply the skills I’ve developed in various situations to the job I’m currently seeking?

In other words, what do employers really want?

Here’s a list of skills employers have said are most important to them in a job candidate:

  1. Communication skills.

    This means excellent verbal or oral skills, effective listening skills and excellent written skills.

  2. Analytical and research skills.

    These skills deal with the ability to assess situations, look at and understand multiple perspectives, identify any and all key issues and do all pertinent research for the problem or proposal at hand.

  3. Computer literacy.

    This involves the basic understanding and use of hardware, software, adaptive technology, assistive devices, word processing, spread sheets, and e-mail.

  4. Flexibility, adaptability, managing multiple priorities.

    These skills look at your ability to handle many tasks at once, change direction if you need to, decide on priorities and effectively managing your time.

  5. Interpersonal skills.

    These skills involve your ability to work with others effectively, to empower and encourage your colleagues or team members, and to motivate others to participate in discussions and meetings. Interpersonal skills also include your ability to handle and manage conflict with others without taking it personally or getting emotionally involved. Are you good at conflict resolution and problem solving?

  6. Problem solving, reasoning skills and creativity.

    Such skills involve being flexible in problem solving. It's using reasoning and experience to find creative solutions. With these skills, you'll be able to spot future trends ahead of others. You will be able to use "synergy" to find practical applications to solutions that you have found.

  7. Teamwork.

    Teams have become an integral part of education, business and, of course, sports. These skills involve being able to work with many individuals or groups where you can help them and they can help you. Good teamwork eschews cliques or favorites or those with closed-minded attitudes such as "been there, done that; it doesn't work." Good teamwork skills mean you're proactive and positive and are able to pursue common goals without hoarding all the credit or trying to bully others to work the way you want to. As the old maxim goes there's no "I" in team or teamwork.

We often hear people say that employers value soft skills -- that if a person has the right attitude and is willing to learn they can teach the specific job related skills.

Employers value soft skills because they make a real difference in how well you perform a job and the added plus is that they are transferable to other jobs and work situations.

That's why I'd like to tell you about Vicky from Ohio. Vicky called Member Services this week. She has been working as a nurse for years, and, when she could not longer do her job to her satisfaction, she started teaching.

She has a hearing problem and Parkinson's. She said it is now too hard to teach because her hearing has gotten worse.

She is looking for advice about how she might transfer her skills into a new work situation which can be more manageable for her.

What advice do you have to offer her?

Posted by Liz Seger at 05:29 PM | Comments (6)

February 13, 2009

Reinventing Yourself

Do you remember the story of the little engine that could? It had to haul a huge amount of toys up a very tall mountain, even though there were bigger train engines which said to the little engine, it wasn't possible.

Slowly but surely the little engine huffed and puffed up the mountain saying to itself "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" until it crossed the top of the mountain and started downward to Toy town. Then it told itself "I knew I could , I knew I could, I knew I could."

Well that's pretty much what you're going to have to do in this job market where so many jobs are just disappearing. Like the little engine that could, you're going to have to keep affirming to yourself that you know you have the skills, the experience to find a job.

More and more people are having to reinvent themselves -- find new jobs where the skills they currently have can be transferred to another industry.

According to the book, "Reinventing Yourself - A Control Theory Approach to Becoming the Person You Want to Be" by D. Barnes Boffey, "Reinventing yourself is a process in which you consciously decide which values and principles you want to live by. It is a process through which you go beyond any present confusion and dysfunction and visualize how your ideal self might feel, think and act in the current situation."

In the reinventing process, you ask yourself "If I had the courage to be the person I want to be, how would I handle the present situation."

"The answer to the question then becomes the unifying vision of your behavior. After asking the question and visualizing the answer, the next step is to act as if you are the person you want to be, rather than acting as you are now."

In other words the old maxim from the sixties, as well as, the 12 steps programs you "fake it until you make it."

Dr. Boffey continues, "The assumption is that by focusing on the things you can directly control (thoughts and actions) you will eventually begin to feel the way you want. You will also begin to stay in control of the situations in which you previously believed caused your feelings of fear and anxiety."

You are going to feel frightened, fearful, outright scared and self critical along the process, however as Dr. Boffey states "Acting on a feeling or principle increases its strength. If you act on fear your fear will increase. If you act on courage, your courage increases."

Boffey quotes the late Eleanor Roosevelt, who indeed faked it until she made it to become one of the most revered and beloved First Ladies. She said, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, I have lived through the horrors, I can take the next thing that comes along."

Here are 6 things to remember:

  1. As the song goes, "we get by with a little help from our friends."

  2. Focus on your vision and validate yourself for what you are attempting.

  3. When it seems too hard, ask yourself, "Compared to what?"

  4. Long term changes begin with the smallest steps.

  5. Develop positive metaphors or language when speaking about yourself or thinking about yourself.

  6. Proceed with faith, your path will open up as you move forward.

I have used Dr. Boffey book to explain this to you but religious leaders, psychologists, business experts say the very same things.

Dr. Boffey tells us, "Your actions are the bricks with which you will finally build your life but your attitudes and beliefs are the tools with which you use to put the bricks together."

Please join this week's conversation:

How would you reinvent yourself if your job disappeared today? What other industries need your skills? Or how would you make a transition to an entirely new field?

Posted by Liz Seger at 05:39 PM | Comments (1)

February 04, 2009

Learning New Skills to Enhance Your Job Search

Most people under age 45 are familiar with computer technology, its' software and hardware and for those who are blind or visually impaired, the adaptive technology like JAWS, Window-Eyes, ZoomText etc.

But for many adults over 50, working on the computer can be daunting and scary. They may even have problems doing the simplest of things like e-mailing or doing spreadsheets because computers were not introduced until they were adults.

I've worked on a computer for more than 20 years. However, just recently with a new computer, I am having to learn JAWS. Luckily I have a tutor from the Canadian Institute of the Blind who comes to my home to tutor me, but I will admit it's been rough going. I have had to literally forget, for the time being, everything I knew how to do on the computer, to learn JAWS. It's taking me awhile but I am finally learning it and can see what a help it is.

Business now require computer literacy for cash registers, answering e-mails, merging mailing lists, doing desk top publishing and so much more. However, you are never too old to learn and they can indeed teach us old dogs new tricks. Being computer literate is just part of business nowadays, of almost everything, so don't be afraid to learn new programs, new ways of doing things from the way you've done it previously.

Learning something new also helps keep your brain engaged which can stop dementia or alzheimers according to neurologists and brain research scientists. So no matter your age, keep learning and don't stop because you've finished school or done the same job forever. In the current economy, knowledge is indeed power and with that power you can find work in new places.

James J. Elekes, M.Ed, MPA, CPM shares some suggestions about new resources to help you in your job search. He writes, "...Since we all know at least one other individual seeking a career, I thought I'd pass this information along.

  1. In case you haven't noticed, going to multiple job sites looking for leads can become pretty tedious. One way to avoid all the grunt work that I think is pretty cool is a service offered by MyJobHunter.

    They provide you with daily search results from loads of job boards so that you don't have to go to all of them.

    • SEARCHES: All the top career sites at once.

    • FINDS: All new jobs matching your criteria.

    • APPLIES: With your resume to new matching jobs.

    • PERSONALIZES: Your cover letter for each job application.

    • REPORTS: A history of jobs you've applied to.

  2. You may wish to take a few minutes and upload your resume to Executive Search Online

  3. Another site for Mid and Sr. Management candidates seeking new positions is 6FigureJobs

    I strongly encourage you to use this site as it updates more frequently than most in this category.

  4. By allowing employers to post their jobs for free, you get access to more jobs than many other sites offer. The Ladders is a fee based service but, the information is extremely useful. Individuals who've followed my recommendation generally sign-up for 6 months of service but, if you don't want to, at least register for the basic one where you get some access to emails and their newsletter.

    Make a stop and register with The Ladders.

  5. Search4ManagementJobs is a free site where you can search for positions at a manager level and above. As I consolidate my Career Search Reference files, I'll be sure to pass additional options on. Please feel free to share widely, as appropriate as I'm sure we all have many colleagues and friends who are having a tough time in the present economic climate.

Michele Techman wrote to tell us that the Chicago Tribune Career Fair will take place Wednesday, February 11th. You'll find details in eSight's Resource Sharing.

A New York Career Fair will take place on Wednesday, February 18 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Radisson Martinique On Broadway Hotel. It is located at 49 West 32nd Street in New York City.

RegionalHires.com is the company sponsoring that Career Fair. On their website you can also search their job listings.

If you are not in NYC, enter your zip code or city and state to find jobs near you

And last but not least are job listing that you will find in classified sections of local papers. One of our favorite sources for New York City nonprofit, advocacy and government work is City Limits.

As you discover new places to look for work or places to learn new skills please consider sharing your experiences with eSight so that we can pass them on to other member of the community.

What new resources have you found helpful either to learn new skills or to look for work?

Posted by Liz Seger at 07:09 PM | Comments (3)