Find A New Job Regardless Of the Economy

Percentage of Employed Workers In the U.S.

2011-09-08T00:16:00.000-04:00

Being unemployed is a depressing experience. This difficult time is made worse by all the statistics everywhere blaring out the percentages of unemployed. The most recent table I could find was from the U.S. Census Bureau taken in 2009. These percentages may be a little better or worse in 2011.

Here are a few interesting facts on this subject.
20 to 24 year olds in the labor force was 75%
25 to 44 year olds in the labor force was 83.3%
45 to 54 year olds in the labor force was 81.3%
55 to 64 year olds in the labor force was 64.6%

This means that there are far more people employed than unemployed. Some of these people could have dropped out of the labor force for reasons other than being unemployed. These percentages paint a much brighter picture than the percentages daily of the unemployed. With far more people working than non-working, it means your chances are substantially higher to become one of those employed, rather than to remain in the lower percentage of the unemployed. These statistics PROVE people are working and finding jobs. So can you or I!

How can we begin to improve our chances of being in the percentages of employed rather than unemployed? Look today for those hidden opportunities. Get out and be friendly today. Contact people you haven't seen in awhile. Try to call or talk to old work acquaintances and friends. Chat it up with people when out doing your daily routines. Ask about any job openings they've heard of. If it sounds like a half-way decent opportunity, follow up on it.

While at it, carry the mental picture as you go, "There are far more people working than not working. I can be one of those working again." Now carry a smile with you. There is not a reason in the world that you or I can't also once again be one of those soon to be employed workers.

Feeling Overwhelmed...

2011-02-17T22:36:00.003-05:00

Are days turning into weeks and then months? Do you feel like you just can't handle the stress of being out of work any longer? Rest assured, many others feel the same way as you do.

Here's a suggestion to better handle the overwhelming load of stress. Sit down and make 2 lists.

On the first list write down everything that you simply have no control over. These are the things you keep worrying about but simply have no control over. Examples: losing your last job, who will or will not hire you.

On the second list write down everything that is within your control to do. Examples: searching for a new and better job or a job just to pay the bills, getting any free help available to you.

Make these lists as long as you can. Keep writing. There are no right or wrong answers. Now, take a deep breath and take yourself a break from all this writing. Now come back to your lists you just made.

# 1: Look at the first list of problems outside of your control and decide that no matter how much you worry over these things, you simply have no power to change them. Decide that for now you will simply have to let these things go till some other time or day.

#2: Look at your second list of all problems you have some control over. Pick the top 2 to 3 problems facing you today off that list. Make a decision that just for today you will put all of your energy and focus into working on these 2 to 3 problems and let the rest of them go till tomorrow or the next day.

Now, tomorrow morning get up and pick some time to look over the list you can't control, worry for 5 or 10 minutes, then put it away. Pick up your list of all those problems you can control and pick the top 2 or 3 problems facing you that day on list. Now do this EVERY DAY. Let tomorrow take care of itself. Just focus on working today's problems and see if you don't feel just a little less overwhelmed.

Paying Your Taxes This Year While Unemployed

2011-02-07T14:21:00.002-05:00

Unemployment Compensation is taxable income. You may decide to withhold 10 percent (the minimum U.S. tax) of your unemployment benefits for federal taxes (Form W-4V); you can pay estimated quarterly tax; or you can pay it all come April 15. Whichever option you choose, you will be taxed based on your gross income for the year. Chances are you will owe more for the year than the 10 percent you paid.

If you work as a contractor or open your own business, you will need to file a 1099 form and pay out for taxes, Social Security and Medicare. If you plan to work for yourself for an extended period of time and expect to pay more than $1,000 in taxes on earned income, the IRS recommends you make quarterly estimated tax payments.

Like payroll withholding tax, you may still owe money at the end of the year, or you may receive a refund.

If you sell investments and property to help pay the bills, the proceeds will most likely be considered taxable income.

If it turns out you’re obligated for taxes you can’t pay, the IRS recommends you nevertheless file a return on time and pay what you can. You will still be charged interest on the amount owed and assessed late-payment penalties, but you’ll avoid the penalty for failing to file a tax return. You can also arrange at that time for a payment plan.

These are just a few things to keep in mind this year when you file your taxes while continuing your job search.

Resume Formats

2011-01-19T12:01:00.001-05:00

Resume formats should include items such as: qualifications, experience, references, and special accomplishments. After that your information varies by the job you are applying for. If for example you are applying for a sales position, you will want to focus your attention on your accomplishments in this area or a similar one and your personality in general. This would be more along the lines of your CV. This is the document that you will be using to describe yourself on a personal level. When it comes to a job like sales any experience with dealing with people is your most important ally.

With so many formats to choose from, it can be difficult to choose between them but if you really think about it; it doesn’t have to be impossible. Just think about what is being highlighted in your resume and what type of impression you want to give. Most resumes are best served if written in 10 and 12 point, Times New Roman font. Just make sure that the headlines are bold and a bit larger so that they stand out and give the employer an easy to see outline of what they want.

Need help with your resume? A basic resume starts at $20. Writing and other services are more & by appointment only. Visit my website and send your inquiry there if interested.

How to Maintain Your Confidence?

2010-11-09T16:31:00.002-05:00

There are many articles written on how to have confidence in yourself and most of these are the same basic advice. But until you do these things all the articles in the world are pretty much worthless to you or anyone else who does not make them a daily practice.

Make no mistake about it, being out of work seriously erodes your confidence in yourself and your abilities! Anyone who has ever been without a job for an extended period of time knows this well. The only true way to regain your confidence again in yourself in this particular area of your life is to find another job and fast!

Should you take just any job you can find to make it now? Only you can decide that. Make a list of the pros and cons and then make a decision. Just making a decision helps you maintain confidence in yourself and abilities.

Look again at your list of job accomplishments and your job skill sets. If you take a low paying job for now, how can you use some of those skills on this job while continuing to search for the job you really want? Finding ways to use those skills on a lesser job can help you maintain the confidence you need to keep searching for the job you really want.

If you decide against a lesser paying job, is there a way you can use some of those job skills you have in your day to day routines that help you maintain confidence in your abilities while continuing your job search? Most jobs use a degree of customer service skills, communication and selling skills. Is there a way to use some of these skills today to improve your own life as well as those around you? What can you do today to improve the skills you already have to gain more confidence in yourself and your abilities?

This is easier said than done but if you can put your focus more on the things you already possess and improve upon those you can maintain some degree of confidence in yourself and your abilities until you find that job you've been looking for. Sit up straight. Stand tall. Walk with confidence, speak with confidence. Do it now till the feeling catches up with you.

Now plant some seeds today into yourself and the lives of others with some of the ones you already have. Continue to improve upon these skills while you search for work. Daily...repetition is the key.

Dealing With Rejection

2010-09-19T09:46:00.003-04:00

As stated in previous posts, one of the fastest ways to find a new job quickly is to call businesses to find out if they might be hiring at the present time or near future. You must make the calls then act quickly to respond to any possible jobs being offered. There will be a lot of NO's as you call till you come upon a YES. You must do the numbers of calls per day as stated previously.

This is not easy. It is not easy to feel especially good about yourself after all of the other rejections you must feel and now you've got to do this??? Yep.

Try this exercise before making your calls. (I like making lists if you have not already been able to see that in my previous posts. These lists can be mental as well but putting them down on paper helps you to see things much more clearly.) Make a list of things that make you a great person to hire, a list of those special qualities you have to offer. Look at this list each day before you begin calling and dwell on it for a while, bask in it. You are a special person with alot to offer any company but particularly the kind you would like to work for. You would be doing any business a great favor who might hire you, right? This is not arrogance. You are stating facts about yourself. You know yourself well and what you have to offer by knowing what you've offered your previous employers in the past. You are GOOD at what you do!

Hold this mental picture in your mind before you start making your daily phone calls. Even those companies not hiring at the present time can very well need someone just like you in the near future. Employment is a partnership after all!

Doing this exercise each day has a two-fold purpose. 1-It puts you in the right frame of mind to make those calls and handle the rejection. 2-It helps to build your self-esteem each day which no one can do for you but you. It builds you up at a time in your life when YOU NEED IT THE MOST. So do it now. Get going on your way to that new job!

Job Links and Interview Quotas

2010-08-25T11:38:00.006-04:00

Greenville Tech Job Openings

Furman University Job Openings

Clemson University Job Openings

BJU Job Openings

City of Greenville Job Openings
If in another city, google in your city web site and look for links. Do the same if you are looking to be hired in another city in the education field.

As stated previously in other posts, spend more time on a list of places to call and inquire about positions. Many of the job search sites and engines glean information from each other. The same positions show up on every job site! However the Internet is NOT where all the jobs are! Sending your resume randomly to 100 places hoping someone will find you is not the answer and a large waste of your time and money. Step out of the virtual world into the REAL world. Look back at your lists of past ways you got employment. Take the time to think like an employer. An employer is a busy person! How might you be able to talk to them to find out what they need?

There are more than enough sites on the internet offering interviewing tips! If you get an interview and get turned down, be aware there is a quota of people that many of these hiring managers have to interview even if they already know who they might hire. This is so disappointing and discouraging to you as a job seeker! You might do everything right from the perfect resume to perfect interview and still get turned down. Why would you want to work for a company that deceives the folks they hire like that anyways? Just move on and keep looking.

My focus on this blog is not interviewing skills. My focus is to help you locate a job you can do as fast as you can. You must do the numbers daily (contact 10 to 15 potential employers) and just keep this up for 30 days, you can stop after that if it is not working don't forget! Plant the seeds DAILY & water as well, the crop (job) will come!

On Being A Victim of the Economy

2010-08-19T13:39:00.006-04:00

Do you feel as though you've became a victim of the economy & the job market? Has your life became totally out of control? If you do, there are many others that feel exactly as you do! A predominant feeling as a victim is to feel very helpless. This helplessness leads to loss of hope. Your whole view of the world, life, God and people changes because of this unfairness & the losses! Add to this the religious teachings of the churched that "God is in CONTROL, God has His purpose for your sufferings" etc. How are you supposed to TRUST someone who would do such a thing to you??? Loss of hope then leads to depression. It is a downward spiral and it feels horrible!

One thing I have learned having been a victim of many crimes, a victim of being unemployed at certain times in my life as well is this: HOW CAN I TRUST ANYONE WHO WOULD DO SUCH A THING TO ME??? I would be as CRAZY as those who done it to me!!! However, I am not crazy and neither are you! You and you alone MUST TAKE BACK the authority, the control you've lost over your life, your future and NOT give that power to anyone else but you! Take it back from your past employer, take it back from the economy! Each and everyone of us has been given the power and the control over our own lives! Regardless of what has been done to you, regardless of how you may be feeling, that POWER belongs to YOU! (Christians see: II Timothy 1:7)

You need a balance again in your life. Find friends or family who will listen, understand and be supportive. It would be wonderful if there were support groups not just online but offline in all our communities. Sharing our hurts and pains with those who KNOW is very healing. Here is an online forum of unemployed friends you can try as well as other online support groups since there are very few groups offered offline. UNEMPLOYED FRIENDS Seek a balance between these 2 groups of people while searching for work. Try not to spend to much time discussing your employment situation as this leads to more feelings of being a victim. You must FEEL in control of your life again!

Now here is an exercise to try before you begin your job search today. Go out and take a short walk. As you walk look at the blades of grass. Can you count the number in your yard, your neighbors yard? Look at the leaves on the trees around you. Can you count the number of those leaves on just 1 tree? If near woods, can you count the number of trees in the woods? If you could, I guess you might be God! If not, then you are just one of the many creations He made and has numbered. So am I. What is the point? You are not God, you can't do it all, can't be it all enough said. That's o.k. Just see ABUNDANCE. Remember when you were employed? How did you feel? How did you see life and the world? How did you see your future? Dwell on those feelings as you walk and see the vastness around you. Now, there are an abundance of jobs out there that you CAN FILL as well! Just because the news stories are gloomy, just because you can't see them does not mean they do not exist-and for you! There is ABUNDANCE everywhere in the universe! There should be enough then to supply your need as well don't you think?

Take back control of your feelings & your thoughts, take back control of your future, take back control lost to the economy and past employers! Put it back in your hands where it belongs. You are not helpless after all! Look back at your list of job accomplishments, look back at your lists of how you got that past employment, refuse to listen to gloomy news and get busy. God is in control and then He gave it to you and wants to help you today! Dwell on thoughts of abundance, listen to uplifting things about abundance, see yourself as you were in your days of abundance. God wants you to find a good job, He wants you to prosper, He wants you to be well in every area of your life! He needs you to get up and take charge today with that POWER He gave to you over this area of your life! Get up and get going!

Re-Apply

2010-08-12T17:52:00.003-04:00

Look online for job postings for Craigslist in your area as well as local Oodle ads. Many times these sites list jobs not on the traditional job search sites for $$$. Be aware there are lots of scams! Have that anonymous email account when applying or inquiring.

Today's tip: Just because you applied 3 months ago to a place and haven't heard nothing from them does not mean that you were rejected. Many times there simply was not an opening at the time you applied. Today there might be new openings. Your application or resume has gotten lost in the shuffle!

Look back at your lists of companies you've applied for work. See whom you've applied for work that might now be hiring. Re-apply.

The news about the economy & more people out of work applying for benefits is not good news. If you've done your work from the previous posts, this will not deter YOU! Look instead to your past, focus forward...

Job Search Sites

2010-08-06T09:46:00.003-04:00

Today I will post some links for some places to search for work on the internet to help you get started on the lists you made. If you read previous posts, there were warnings about such sites as Craigslist and scam job offers. However there are valid offers as well.

My suggestion is to set up an anonymous type email account just for these sites as you will also get alot of spam email from your search on this and other sites as well.

Many job boards listed here.
Indeed & I have engine listed at bottom of blog
Find jobs by your zip code
Find non-profits here
Management Jobs Here

I'll post more later. If links are old, please email me and let me know. It's Friday. You can be employed again very soon so get going.

Churches & the Unemployed

2010-08-02T17:18:00.009-04:00

Can you find help at your local church when you are down and out? If you are extremely LUCKY, you might find a small amount of help. However, most of the pastors of these churches are to busy trying to get your $$$, or shall we say, the lack of $$$ you now have! They will pray for you however:) Alot of them are just BIG BUSINESS using religion as a tax free status for your giving. By the way, I've already prayed for you if you visited my blog! I offer resume services if you need them but you can easily do your own resume if you so choose.

I've heard that Redemption Outreach in Greenville has a program to help job seekers but don't take my word on this as I haven't checked it out. Grace Church (yep, the big megachurch with 3 campuses who held services at the Handlebar) of Greenville refused my job link on their Facebook page. I have put money into that place from time to time, I no longer will!

What is the point of this post then? If you are looking for help from God, pretty much forget the "church". Most have nothing to offer you. Some have a small food pantry you might get some assistance from. The point is to let you know that God truly does care about your financial situation, WOULD NEVER ASK YOU FOR MONEY you clearly don't have, you can tithe or give money when you get your next job. What He would do for you is come along and assist you to find what it is you need to take care of yourself with! He would offer you some help, not ignore you or tell you to give money to Him to get money from Him! How can I say this? I know Him and He has helped me and can help you to if you ask Him.

Here is a link for a free career workbook from some place in Charlotte, NC. It is free. Most of the info looks like stuff gleaned from the book "What Color Is Your Parachute" which I highly recommend but taken from a Christian perspective. It is free, what do you have to lose? FREE CAREER WORKBOOK

By the way, if you are a church in Greenville or ANYWHERE actually offering help and supportive services of ANY VALUE to those unemployed and out of work, career changers etc. (it does not cost people anything to get this help) contact me immediately on my email link. I will put your church link in bold on here free of charge!

NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS

2010-08-02T10:42:00.001-04:00

Do you feel as though the God of the Universe has let you down? Has the job market let you down as well? Does everyone get the breaks but you? If you do, many of us have felt this way at different times in life.

If you are a Christian let me make it perfectly clear, God is no respecter of persons! Whole chapters are devoted to just this subject in the Bible. If you are not a Christian, BE OF GOOD CHEER, this also INCLUDES YOU! He simply is no respecter of any particular person. Therefore He desires for you to have the resources you need to earn yourself a decent living at all times. The economy and the job market are no respecter of persons. Anyone at any time can find himself or herself out of work just like you! You might say to me, "I know that" but do you truly know that? If you do know that, then it means you will not let any setbacks in your job search deter you from finding your next great job and as soon as possible.

When you know something, you get up and ACT on it. Pretty simple. You don't sit around waiting for it to drop in your lap, praying till you are blue in the face; you get up and act on that knowledge. If you followed the instructions from previous job posts then you already have knowledge, more than enough knowledge. Your past PROVES that you can find work, you can find a great job, you have what it takes to get out of the rut, to get off unemployment, to get back out there in the race regardless of the job market, YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!

Get busy on your lists you made earlier, pretty soon you will find yourself employed again and maybe something much better than before. It's Monday, what are you going to do today? Get going!

Internet Social Networking Sites

2010-07-28T13:04:00.002-04:00

Think beyond the ordinary ways of searching for work. Be decisive. Choose the names of companies you would like to work for. Make a list of those companies. Now who is responsible for doing the hiring within that company?

There are different ways to find out the names of a person/s who are responsible for hiring within the companies you would like to work for. You could simply call and ask who you need to talk to.

Since you have access to the internet, do you have an account with Myspace, Facebook or LinkedIn? If not, set some up, particularly with LinkedIn. It is free to set up these accounts and doesn't take to long.

Link up with past employers and those you have worked with in the past. Search for companies you want to work for and key contact persons. You know what to do from there! Make a decision to get going today to find that new job quickly!

Free Medical Clinics

2010-07-13T15:01:00.002-04:00

The links listed below are to help those out of work without any medical insurance. This is provided till you can get health insurance coverage. Free clinics are volunteer-based health care organizations that provide a range of medical, dental & pharmacy health services to those economically disadvantaged who are without insurance.

With one of the nation's highest unemployment rates, there are a large number of SC residents who find themselves without healthcare coverage due to job loss.
Here is the link to SC Free Clinics if you live in South Carolina.

Use this link to find those clinics in your state if not an SC resident.

Find out if one of these agencies can link you to counseling services if needed. It is hard to focus on your job search when suffering with health issues during a very stressful time of your life. Take good care of yourself, you are worth it.

Everything changed the day I lost my job!

2010-06-18T11:37:00.004-04:00

Are you buying a home? How are you going to make the payments since you lost your job? Are you facing the very real fear of losing your home as well? Peace of mind is hard to come by when facing so many difficulties. It is hard to focus on the job search with mounting pressure of how to pay the bills as well.

Set aside time today to deal with this fear as well. You made lists of how you got previous jobs. Before beginning your job search sit down and make a list of ways you will pay bills, people you need to call to arrange payment plans, help you may need to apply for. Make a list of things you have done in the past to make it through hard times. Look for the patterns that have worked in your past. Do some of those today.

Spend the rest of your time focused on finding your next new job. Do this daily. Focus on daily goals only. Forget about tomorrow for now, just do what you can today. This is how you will make it through this. Trust God, you will!

Foreclosure may not be the only option to do with your home. Check out this link

Baby steps, daily!

2010-06-16T14:10:00.004-04:00

Every contact you make today brings you closer to finding a new job! You crawl, you stand up, then you walk. Baby steps, daily, till you get to your destination which is your new job!

What will you do today? Begin working on your resume and get it updated. You can contact me for RESUME SERVICES here, if you need those.

Look back now at the lists you made of how you found past employment, the patterns of your past, what has worked before. It can work again!

If you are presently working and feel as though you just can't make the time, add a new pattern starting today. Determine a certain time each working day, just a 30 minute pattern maybe, just 30 minutes for each day when off of work. Get online and apply to just one company of interest. Fill out their application or email your resume to prospects of interest. Stop by a prospective employer's business on your way home from work and drop off your resume. Fill out an application if required and you already have the information handy with your resume in hand.

This could be your 30 minute pattern daily of your job search. Do the same thing tomorrow. Do the same thing the next day. Do this same pattern on your working days for the next 30 days. On your days off, forget everything to do with a job or job searching, relax, take the pressure off. Now, enjoy your free time! This is your reward for sticking to your plan.

After 30 days you can stop this pattern if you want to. If you begin to see results of this new pattern after 30 days, then in 30 days update the pattern from your experience of the past 30 days. I assure you that very soon YOU WILL SEE RESULTS, so get going!

$$$ Management While Searching For Work

2010-06-01T22:06:00.004-04:00

Money and money management become a major problem when searching for work or living on unemployment. Budgeting is a word most people don't like. Maybe you found yourself in severe debt before you became unemployed with credit cards so accessible these days.

Here is something free to download and read in some of your time in between your job search. Hopefully you will find some useful information that you can use now for budgeting. Long term it can be used to better manage your finances and debt when you find your next job.

To get the free e book, right-click on this link,then hit "save target as". This e book is a pdf file to download and keep on your computer.

Good News---South Carolina's Job Market Warming Up

2010-05-26T08:50:00.002-04:00

The state has gained an average of 2,500 jobs a month since October. That was after losing 6,900 jobs a month since the recession began in December 2007.

If the state can maintain its current pace of employment growth, all the jobs lost in the recession will be recovered by mid-2014, a little sooner than previous estimates---Read here

The Power of Patience in an “I Want It Now” World!

2010-05-13T10:23:00.001-04:00

Growing prosperity and a look at the power of patience…

for a society that wants to pick-up their prosperity -

Read this on how to be patient while waiting for that job!

New Patterns

2010-05-12T20:55:00.002-04:00

If you just need any job quickly to pay the bills, make a list of jobs & places that are not currently being affected by the economy. Get phone numbers, find websites and start applying now. Make a list of jobs & places that would be likely to hire you right now in the field you are currently in. Do the same thing as previously and start applying for positions.

Factor in variables such as how your current field of work may have been affected by the downturn in the economy. Do you still want to pursue work in this field or something entirely different with that list of skills you made in earlier posts?

Now look at your list of patterns of how you got all of your previous jobs. Start using those today! You know what methods work best for you. If some of the methods you used before don’t work in a tight economy, find some new methods to apply for those positions. Keep looking at that list of how you got previous jobs; the economy doesn’t know what you know. Step forward now in faith that is based on knowledge from your past that clearly shows you that it has worked before, it can work again.

Now here is a key to getting a job very quickly. START A NEW PATTERN today! Put your FOCUS on inserting a new pattern into your life. Decide that for just 21 days you are going to find a time slot each day to spend contacting at least 10 to 15 of these businesses that you made from your list. You don’t have to do this after 21 days if you don’t want to! Just do it for 21 days. I can assure you that you will see results from this new pattern. Get going!

Predictions For Your Future

2010-05-11T11:11:00.005-04:00

The economy is the economy, nothing more, nothing less. It cares nothing for you or I. It just is what it is. Gloomy news reports do not KNOW YOU. You are you, who you are and what you are, nothing more or less. You are already everything you need to be to get a new job quickly. How do I know that? How can I make such a prediction about you?

Look at the list from your past. That is exactly who you where and are up till today! You have a pattern of always figuring out a way to make it, get a job and be employed! What if you found you have a pattern of always losing your job, getting fired, quitting?

Take the lists you made from the previous day. Did you identify the patterns that have actually worked for you in the past to secure employment? Look at the patterns that didn’t work for you or have caused you to lose jobs. Be honest with yourself. This is simply your past so you do not have to be afraid to be honest with yourself. This part of your life is already over and cannot hurt you to at least look at it.

How do you feel about yourself after looking at your lists? Good or bad? These are just feelings, you might feel better tomorrow. Forget about the economy, statistics, figures and look at YOUR patterns and not the patterns to the economy.
Whether good or bad you can learn more from your patterns than what you hear on the news about where you might be a day from now, a month from now, a year from now!

Now the good news is starting today you can project into the future where you might be a month or year from now with this knowledge about yourself. You will take charge of your future and take action to change it into what you want it to be. Next post we can and will change that future into something better for you!

Jesus Christ came to help those of us who want His help, those of us who are repentant of those things we’ve done in the past and want a new start for our future. This could be the day for you and all you ever have to do is ASK HIM and believe that He hears you. He most certainly will & wants to hear from you today.

Crystal Ball, tell me things I need to know!

2010-05-10T19:59:00.004-04:00

Today you are unemployed. This does not feel good! Can you predict the job market for tomorrow, your employment status for next week, next month? If I knew certain things about you, I might be able to predict to some degree how it will turn out for you. There is really NO BIG SECRET to this, so NO, I am not psychic nor do you need to be. That is the good news.

It is always easier to look away from ones self and see what others are doing. This just seems to be human nature for most of us. From this we make our predictions. Let’s take that nature and use it to your benefit today. Think of someone you know that eats more food than they need to. What is likely to be their outcome a month from now if they keep this up? Just 2 pounds heavier, 10, maybe even 50 pounds heavier might you conclude? If they keep this up can you predict what might happen 6 months from now? I bet you can. There was no special science or knowledge you needed to predict this. Think of the person you know who started drinking a little too much. What were the patterns in their life? Can you predict how they got to the place they are today? I bet you can with pretty good certainty. If these people keep this up what might you predict is coming for them say within the year? Now without making any judgments on anyone including yourself, turn those predictions to you.

Before you were unemployed what type of work did you do? Did you like this job or did things just happen? There are always those things we cannot predict. Maybe you felt it was a stroke of luck, an answer to prayer or it was a job you just came upon. Now examine the other jobs you’ve had. Look back and see how you got there. What worked for you? Take some time and just relax. Begin to remember what you did or did not do that worked for you. How did you go about getting those jobs? Start making a list. Keep writing down the various steps you took till you got each one of those jobs you have had.

There are patterns. You have patterns. I have patterns in my life. These were the steps you took to get to each one of those jobs so keep writing this list of what you did. Now you could even write 2 lists: a list of things that worked, a list of things that didn’t work maybe. Look across the list to find the patterns in your job search and how you became employed before. The economy does not know your patterns! Keep this list for next post we will explore how to use this knowledge to your advantage to get a great job in any economy.

Jesus Christ came to help those of us who want His help, those of us who are repentant of those things we’ve done in the past and want a new start for our future. This could be the day for you and all you ever have to do is ASK HIM and believe that He hears you. He most certainly will & wants to hear from you today.

Get Paid to Hand Out Free Samples?

2010-04-21T11:55:00.004-04:00

I have received several emails from people looking for fast ways to earn some quick cash or opportunities to make money on the internet. Not to many of us want to leave the comforts of home and get dressed and head out there to find the work.

In hard times working from home sounds like a legitimate solution to mounting debt problems. Many of the sites want money up front to find you work or to access their website. There are promises of loads of opportunities that may not exist to get your money to make their money. Be forewarned.

According to this writer, the following companies will pay you to demonstrate products, take customer surveys, collect data, and set up merchandise displays. Many of these jobs do require leaving the comforts of home + having an insured vehicle + access to the internet. Research the site to find out if you are sending your information for an opportunity that actually exists in your area.

Lastly may I suggest that since you are dressed for work, heading out the door to your insured vehicle complete with gas, you could just head down to your local job service office, to any good local business and apply for local work with possibly better hours and pay. Here is the link for information

Bogus Job Offers

2010-04-14T11:21:00.003-04:00

With rising unemployment comes many bogus job offers on the internet. There are hundreds of scams out there being offered to those who find themselves in desperate situations.

One local site to search for jobs is Craigslist. It is free and easy to search for work. Be aware that many of those offered are scams as well. Be careful with these sites before sending your personal information.

Here is a story about another internet job scam, please read.

Thousands of SC Unemployed Could Lose Benefits This Week

2010-04-12T12:17:00.002-04:00

A fight in Congress over extending unemployment benefits means more than 6,300 South Carolina unemployed workers will lose benefits this week if Congress does not take action.

Read full story details here

5 Survival Helps For The Unemployed Single Parent

2010-03-11T20:05:00.001-05:00

Single parents have many challenges to face and questions to ask themselves when applying for work. There is no second income to fall back on. Your job search focus may get lost at times trying to meet the very real needs of basic survival for yourself and children. These suggestions can help two parent households with low income also. These you may have already tried. If not, I offer some that might help you or spring forth new ideas for how to meet today's basic needs while out of work:

1-If you have lost your job, you may need to seek out federal welfare. Federal welfare is a way to get enough government support to just survive. They will require you to improve your financial situation within a certain time period. The USDA backs the Food Stamp Program. It is designed for low-income people to allow them to buy healthy foods. The program is organized on a state level, so you will apply with your state's department of health if you qualify. If you are approved for the Food Stamp Program, you will be issued a card that looks like a credit card. This provides you with a way to use the stamps without embarrassment. Most grocery stores are part of the Food Stamp Program.

To determine whether or not your family qualifies for the Food Stamp Program, this application asks questions about your assets. Even if your monthly income qualifies you for food stamps, having many assets may cause you to not be approved. Your income will also be counted when determining whether or not you are eligible for the program. Gross incomes can be 130% of the poverty level or lower to qualify. If figuring based on your net income, you can be at the poverty level or lower to qualify. The size of your family will determine whether or not you qualify. These limits are substantially lower than the limits for some other government food assistance programs, such as WIC.

2-What to do if you don't qualify but need to get some food on the table? Check local food banks and pantries which also can supply clothing as well. I've volunteered for some years at one of our local pantries that is run by local churches and charitable individuals. If you need the help, please do not feel ashamed in asking! There are so many people out of work and most of them have similar stories such as yours. You will certainly not be an oddity in asking for temporary help. Usually you will need some identification, social security card and proof of address on a recent bill in your name to fill out a form to receive temporary groceries and clothing. Most do not have a lot of funds with so many needs at this time to help pay a power bill or something. Check to see if there is other assistance in your area with heating costs and so forth.

3-Health Department: Federally-funded health centers care for you & your children, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Health centers provide:

>-checkups when you're well
>-treatment when you're sick
>-complete care when you're pregnant
>-immunizations and checkups for your children
>-dental care and prescription drugs for your family
>-mental health and substance abuse care if you need it

4-The President recently announced that unemployed workers receiving unemployment benefits may qualify for a special hand in paying for education and training. And aid can be significant: In particular, the Federal Pell Grant program can provide up to $5,350 for educational costs at community colleges, colleges and universities, and many trade and technical schools. This is only one example of several federal student aid programs available to assist unemployed workers.

5-If you need help finding affordable daycare resources, check with the "Child Care and Development Fund" for low-income financial assistance.

Even if it doesn't feel like it, Jesus Christ loves you and your children and wants to see you prospering financially and in super health even as He makes provision to prosper your soul through believing in Him & His Word. Read your Bible, He's there speaking encouragement and love to you today to carry on...

4 Important Things To Consider After Losing Your Job

2010-03-05T12:39:00.001-05:00

Amid the shock and the grief over losing your income you now have even
more problems to face. So many things going on at one time can lead to
high anxiety and stress like never before. This can and will take it's
toll on your health, both physical and mental. No matter how bad this feels, you still have more control than you think. Here are 4 important suggestions to help you take control of your situation and get you moving in the right direction after your job loss.

1. Do you get any severance pay from your previous job? If you can
draw more from unemployment, this is a better option. File for
unemployment right away. The amount you can draw depends on the state
in which you live. It will usually be about 50% of what you were
previously earning. It will last on average about 26 weeks. You must
however be actively pursuing full-time employment during this time.
Self-employed? You cannot draw unemployment. I know this one well.
You'll have to take account of any and all savings you have to make it
through this. Keep in mind that although you lost your job, you still
have to pay taxes and on unemployment as well.

2. Think about health insurance. This will be one of the most
stressful times of your life and your well-being will be subject to
this job loss. If your past company plan covered more than 20
employees look into COBRA. It is federal law that allows you to
continue to carry your health care coverage through them yourself. You
however will be responsible to pay the portion your employer paid
before, full coverage you must now pay for. You might want to opt for
a different type of insurance. Consider purchasing short-term medical
insurance through a private service provider yourself.

3. Next, you will need to sit down and make yourself a strict budget.You will find many things you once thought were necessities just ain't
so! Calculate how much you need to cover the bare minimums to make it.
Yep! I know this feels HORRIBLE! Keep in mind every day however that
this is temporary, this situation is temporary and you will once again
enjoy the things you can no longer have.

4. Look at what you have to sell for immediate cash. Do you have some things you can sell for now to get you through this rough time? Make a list. How and where will you sell them? Look at what services you could provide
someone for immediate cash to get you through while searching for new
employment. Find some temp agencies that use your type of skills and
sign up as well.

Putting these 4 steps into place will alleviate a major part of
the job loss stress so that you can now focus on finding a new job
fast! You can do this so get going!

Manage Your Job Search Time Wisely

2010-03-01T10:08:00.000-05:00

Time is money when searching for a new job. Every day that you spend not focused on your search is money you could be earning on your new job. Every job seeker is bombarded on the internet with hundreds of job search sites not available in the past. This can be both a blessing and a curse for you. Let me explain.

I found myself so relieved last year while searching for employment to find so many free job search sites! These were not available to me in my past employment searches. What a blessing! However, I found myself wasting whole days accomplishing nothing but moving from one job site to the next. How easy it became to get caught up in the clock ticking away while I SURFED THE NET. Add to this the easy distraction it offered relieved the frustration and anxiety I felt about needing a paycheck quickly. It felt real good so I needed a plan quickly to stop these FEELINGS from taking over my search and making me feel more defeated.

Today I offer some tips to help you keep your focus:

1. Plan each day just as if you were going to work as in the past. This job search is your new job for now. Have a schedule. Write down what needs to be done today only on your "job". Tomorrow you will do other things on your new "job". Set a time limit or number of job sites you will visit for the day and then STOP. SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER. Seriously! No, I'm not kidding!

2. Immediately distract yourself from these surfing activities. Reward yourself with 10 or 15 minutes of stretching, walking, a cup of tea or coffee, some small reward is the goal for both searching and stopping yourself from surfing the web. This will recharge your job hunting focus as well.

3. After this break plan your next job search activity. Directly contacting employers is one of the most successful ways to search for your job. Through library and net research, you can develop a list of potential employers in your employment field. Call these employers and check their Web sites for job openings. However, save this activity for another day on the internet. Focus on making a call list of companies in your area to call from your phone book that you call and ask about any positions open. Target a number to call or amount of time on the clock to spend on this search activity. You will call and ask about any positions and how you need to apply. That's it for today's focus. See this as good training for yourself in time management. You are learning a new skill off the unpaid job that could be used on your next paid job.

4. Again, remember to reward yourself after these activities. This will keep your spirits up and put the balance back in your life you need in a difficult situation. Spend a certain time each day for other "job" activities such as managing bills piling up, calling creditors and so forth, then STOP. Reward yourself for each step you take. The longest journey begins with one step. Daily steps are what it takes on this journey to where you want to go. Remember, your next job is just around the corner!

Dealing With Unemployment Depression

2010-02-27T12:43:00.000-05:00

Let me start by saying I am no doctor. Serious depressions need the help of professionals who are familiar with all the symptoms. Please, if your depression has gotten well beyond the grief of the loss, find help immediately. There are many free helps listed on the internet.

If in the initial stages of depression over this loss here are some simple helps to get through each day.

Accept the loss. It is normal to grieve a loss and not normal to pretend nothing happened and things are as they were before. They are not. Accept this thing you cannot change and then ask your higher power (or for we Christians, Jesus Christ) to help you to let go and to have the courage now to work on the things you can change. Stop beating yourself up over this loss. Feelings pass much more quickly when we accept rather than resist them.
Make a decision, even if it feels as though you've lost total control of your life, make a decision to focus on what you do have right now, today, that can help you move forward from the loss. Being able to make a decision about this situation puts ownership and control of your life back into your hands and helps to rid the helpless feelings that come with being out of work. Tell yourself, in spite of my situation, in spite of how anxious I might be feeling, I do great work, I am an overcomer and I accept myself and this situation and will take the necessary steps I need today to overcome!
Find time to move. Years ago when I had suffered a bout with depression my doctor told me that when I began to feel overwhelmed, get up and MOVE. Move to another area of the house, go clean something, work on something for a short time to change patterns of thinking and it works. Get some exercise. The endorphins released are natural pain killers that alleviate depression and put you in a much better mood to think more clearly.
Read something uplifting throughout the day or listen to it to keep a positive attitude. You will need that for dealing with the natural rejection that comes as you search for new employment.

Remember, there are new jobs created everyday and people retire or find new employment at other places. There are doors opening out there for jobs for you. Believe it and act on it, believe in yourself and be strong!

Take Control of Your Job Search

2010-02-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

You need to know how to outsmart the employment system! Take control today of your job search. Make your job search your job for now. Refuse to believe there is no one hiring. Use a job search engine, email, use your telephone and get busy contacting those jobs in your area that can use your skills. Find out what they need, fill that need.

A highly functioning resume is one of the first tools you need. The standard old resume forms WILL NOT work for you in this highly competitive job market. Here is a good place to start searching today for that new job you need.

Find a better job...Post Your Resume FREE at HotResumes.com

It's Monday! Plan your job hunting campaign for the week.

2010-01-25T10:26:00.001-05:00

Every contact you make today brings you closer to finding a new job. What will you do today? Begin working on your resume and get it updated.

Make a list of your skills and who hires for these positions. List them all. Now make a list of ways to make immediate income while searching for a new job. Maybe sign up today with your local Employment Security Commission.

Tuesday make a list of temporary agencies who hire people with the skills you possess. Contact at least one today.

Wednesday continue with this idea. Devote so many hours each day to the job search just as if you were going to your previous job.

Lay out your plans for each day of the week and then take action immediately to experience your success.

After doing your daily job search take time to reward yourself for work well done. Finding a job is a job!

Contact me for Resume Services here.

I highly recommend the book "What Color Is Your Parachute?" as I've used it many years in my own job searches and for helping clients in the past to find out what type of work they really wanted to do. This guy starts from the ground up and has a solid plan for finding exactly the type of work you'd best be suited to do. The price of the book is nominal compared to the benefits reaped!

Frustrated Over Your Job Loss?

2010-01-24T10:27:00.001-05:00

Laid off from your present job?
The job search is harder than ever in this economy.

You need a plan that will work and fast. If you must, take a day or two to grieve the loss of your present job. You worked hard there, gave them your best. Now you must grieve the job loss if you are to set a plan in motion to move forward.

Now take some time to sit down and write out the many skills you used on this job on a piece of paper. Ask yourself, who hires a person with these skills? Now make a list of employers who hire someone with your skills to contact. If you've been employed for awhile you probably haven't had to worry to much about updating a resume or even having one written up. You will need a list of your last 3 jobs and dates plus other information to include on it as well as for filling out employment applications.

You will also need to write cover letters for some of the resumes you submit and have a good list of references. You may also need to have your resume in a good form for emailing to potential employers. Be ready for interviews with proper interview etiquette and proper dress for interviews.

So much to do but now you are ready. Get back out there and search for new employment. You found your last job, you can find another one. Yes it is hard but you can do it!

Contact me for Resume Services in Greenville.

I highly recommend the book "What Color Is Your Parachute?" as I've used it many years in my own job searches and for helping clients in the past to find out what type of work they really wanted to do. This guy starts from the ground up and has a solid plan for finding exactly the type of work you'd best be suited to do. The price of the book is nominal compared to the benefits reaped!