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News, Where Are The Jobs?!?

Where are the Jobs?!? (Part 3 of 7) Wanna Work for the “Man”, Consider the Federal Government

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The Federal Government is the second industry my team and I researched for the “Where are the jobs?!?” blog series. Although state and local governments across the country have been severely hit by decreased property and income tax revenues, there are opportunities at the Federal level. A number of the Federal opportunities we came across are in the law enforcement sector. Agencies such as the FBI, TSA, and Border Patrol either have openings or will in the near future.   

THE FACTS ON GOVERNMENT JOBS

The Partnership for Public Service predicts the Federal workforce will expand to 2.1 million civilian employees from now through 2012. According to their estimates, 384,000 of these new openings will be the result of baby boomer retirements. Further, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) “Career Guide to Industries” predicts the continued retirement of baby boomers in the Federal government will likely last through 2018. Although many boomers in the private sector have been forced to delay their retirements due to the financial crisis, Federal pensions tend to kick-in earlier and pay-out fairly well in comparison.

HOT SPOTS

Many of the open positions we came across tend to have a security-related focus both on financial transactions and national security. However, there are opportunities in other sectors as well. Here are a few spots to look for government positions and also get support in your Federal government job search.

  • USAJobs – Official government job search engine—special section for students
  • USA.gov – Tips for applying to government jobs
  • Partnership for Public Service – Connects the right talent to the right government jobs
  • Making the Difference - Find helpful information on how to obtain a federal job
  • Fedscope – Research which agencies are in your state and whether they hire people with your background

HOT POSITIONS

The following is a list of some of the hottest federal government positions out there:

  • Detectives/criminal investigator
  • Claims adjuster
  • Compliance officer
  • Security officer
  • Federal marshall
  • Budget/program/intelligence analyst
  • IT specialists/cyber security
  • Legal professional
  • Border patrol agent
  • Emergency management (terrorism/mass casualty)

HOT TIPS

Follow Directions: Make sure your resume and application are complete. The Federal application process can be very lengthy, so be ready for this. Also, be ready to fill out a comprehensive background questionnaire that will require information on at least 7 years of your residence and work history.

Be Patient: The application and hiring process for Federal positions can take a long time. For some positions it may take up to a year. Apply for positions that don’t require major security clearances about four months prior to your target start date and at least six to eight months in advance for national security-related positions.

GET OUT OF THE HOT SEAT!!!

Federal government positions are all over the country. In fact, only 10% are in Washington D.C. And, there are positions that require all levels of education and experience. So, if you haven’t considered this career path before, expand your horizons!

News, Where Are The Jobs?!?

Where are The Jobs (Part 2 of 7) Social Media: The New Marketing Vehicle

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The Upward Trend in Social Media Jobs

The first stop on this 7-part blog series titled “Where are the jobs?!?” is going to be social media. The world of marketing has changed dramatically with the rise of social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. These days, companies are looking for people who know how to create an online buzz and reach the masses as efficiently as possible!

So, if you have a respected blog, consider yourself a well-loved “Facebooker,” or have the right mix of writing and marketing skills, this may be the route for you. And if you have an educational background or experience in marketing, copywriting, or journalism, you have an even bigger edge in landing a Web 2.0 job.

THE EVOLUTION OF MASS MEDIA MARKETING

Consumer product marketing has always been at the forefront of American pop culture and is continually evolving. Keep in mind, the concept of mass media marketing was born during the Great Depression when radio was in its golden age and cinema was the latest innovation. During this time companies such as Procter and Gamble were desperately seeking opportunities to reach the most people possible, as inexpensively as possible. Radio seemed to be the innovative way to go. It provided a great new vehicle for reaching the masses!

So, it’s no wonder that the Great Recession has spawned an entirely new marketing vehicle in social media. Just as during the Great Depression, companies are seeking out innovative and cost effective ways to reach the masses. Social media is today what radio was nearly 100 years ago, a vehicle for reaching the masses. Consider that for the first time in 23 years, Pepsi did not run a commercial this past Super Bowl. Instead, they invested in a social media marketing campaign, a trend that is continuing to grow.

THE FACTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA JOBS

According to a 2009 study of social media marketers, 95% of respondents said they were going to increase, or at least maintain, their social media spending in the coming year.

A quick glance at Indeed’s job trending tool shows that job postings including the phrase “social media” have grown almost 2,000% over the last four years (see imbedded the chart).

If you’re still not convinced, The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ “Occupational Outlook Handbook” predicts that “the recent emergence of social media in the public relations is expected to increase job growth as well. Many public relations firms are expanding their use of these tools, and specialists with skills in them will be needed.”

HOT POSITIONS

The following is a list of some of the hottest social media positions out there:

  • Social Media Strategist/Digital Strategist
  • Community Manager
  • Blogger
  • Social Media Marketing Specialist
  • Search Engine Marketing Associate
  • Online Customer Service Representative

HOT SPOTS

Where can you go to find these positions? Here are some options:

HOT TIPS

Do Your Homework: Read up on your target companies and don’t just go to their websites. Research any relevant news, press releases, and industry publications that will help you understand their pain. Your job is to show them what you can do to make their pain go away. Companies are looking for problem solvers, so your job is to show them how your social media savvy will help make them stronger.

Engage Your Targets: Comment on their blog to get their attention. Be sure to provide thoughtful insights that also show your knowledge. Get your name out there and show that you know their brand. Here’s a real social media success story about a job seeker who used social media to land a job as marketing manager.

GET OUT OF THE HOT SEAT!!!

As the facts show, social media is a growing sector in the marketing world. So, if you want to change careers or you’re a recent grad looking to leverage your on-line skills, consider social media as a potential vocation! One perk to this industry is that you can often work remotely. On the flip side, make sure you can do more than just talk the talk, because your on-the-job results are very measurable and companies will be looking for actual results!!!

For more on Career Planning in the New Economy check out Dr. Woody’s new book: The YOU Plan on Amazon.com

Dr. Woody's Career Tips, News

The YOU Plan: Career Intrinsics – What You Bring to the Table

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In my previous post I wrote about the importance of introspection in the career planning process. I laid out a model for taking personal accountability (VIPER) and then focused on how starting out with your values (the “V” in VIPER) can play a role in the career choices you make. The next step in the introspective process is examining your intrinsics (the “I” in VIPER).

I use the word intrinsics as a catch-all to describe what you bring to the table as a unique individual. We all have our own mix of personality, experiences, training… that combine to create a unique value proposition in terms of what we are able to accomplish in the marketplace.  

In my newly released book, The YOU Plan, I describe intrinsics in the following way:

“Think of your intrinsics as a deck of cards. All of our lives are shuffled differently, which means our cards are all spread across our life decks in very different ways. Some of your cards are close to the top and readily accessible whereas others are buried somewhere near the bottom and haven’t been played in a while.”

In other words, your intrinsics are that which you have within you that can be leveraged for value by potential customers, partners, or employers. For the sake of simplicity, I have broken intrinsics down into six factors. I believe these six factors impact the pace of your career development, thus I refer to them as your career PACERS.

  • Personality
  • Affiliations
  • Contributions
  • Experiences
  • Relationships
  • Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities (KSAs)

Career success requires really knowing the value you bring to the table and how to leverage and communicate that value in a way that helps others want to utilize it. Your intrinsics are what you arrived on this planet with and everything you have gained since.

Consider the first PACERS for example, your personality. Personality is a critical part of who you are and how you operate. Think of personality as your natural disposition or tendency to want to express yourself in a certain way. Because this is such a part of who you are, you must understand how to harness this element of your intrinsics for positive gain in the career search.

Before you can successfully get out of the career hot seat and back on the market, you must have a good handle on what you bring to the table! Knowing your intrinsics is the first step.     

In the next blog I will begin to address each of the career PACERS in more depth, so stay tuned!

Cheers,

To find out more about my new book, check out The YOU Plan on amazon.com 

Dr. Woody's Career Tips, News

The YOU Plan: Values and Your Career Search

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As I mentioned in my first blog post, any good career plan starts with introspection. You have to know yourself, before you can effectively pick a direction, market yourself, and get back on track. As a coach trained in the field of organizational psychology, I am a big believer in introspection as a starting point. All too often, I come across transitioning professionals who have jumped out ahead of themselves only to outrun their coverage. If you want to stand out from the herd, you are going to have to be thoughtful and deliberate in your actions. This requires knowing yourself first.

When it comes to knowing yourself, you have to start with values. The values you espouse are vital to the choices you make and ultimately dictate the way you live. Values can be thought of as the principals you hold near and dear. Your values are the code you live by. They are the rules you follow and the ethics you adhere to when dealing with others.    

The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book The YOU Plan:

“Who you are drives how you work, play, live, and ultimately shine. Your experiences, upbringing, and culture have acted to shape the person you have become and the values you espouse. The values you espouse ultimately influence the decisions you make and the path you choose to follow. Your values are the lens you view the world through… There is no doubt that our personal values play a critical role in the choices we make and the careers we pursue. Yet, the unfortunate reality is that most of us can’t articulate our values. Often this leads us to making bad decisions. These bad decisions tend to land us on career paths that aren’t truly fulfilling and sometimes, even toxic.”

Using Values to Reset

When resetting your career focus and re-engaging in your career journey, you have to be mindful of how your values play into your decisions. Every organization has its own unique culture driven by a set of core values. It’s up to you to understand what these values are and determine how well they match with yours. However, before you can do this you must be sure to have a good handle on your values. 

Values Checklists

So, how do you assess your values? Doing a quick web search for values checklists will provide a lot of results. For a quick values checklist you can try out the career-test on-line values assessment.

The key to using any adjective checklist effectively is taking the time to narrow down your values to your top five. This is a much tougher challenge than it seems because it requires making tough choices. Whenever I have taken groups through values exercises they always struggle with this, so take your time.  

Regardless of the checklist you use, you really need to ask yourself if the values you chose are really yours. A good way to test whether or not you truly value something is to ask yourself the following questions:

  • Are you willing to fight for it?
  • Are you willing to sacrifice for it?
  • Are you willing to pay for?

 

Any good career plan starts with introspection. A critical component to the introspective process is assessing values. Keep in mind, values are a major driver in decision making. We are in uncertain times and successfully navigating the New Economy will require using your values as a compass. When it comes to stepping back and creating a YOU Plan, be sure to start with assessing your values.

Good luck,

To learn more about my new book check it out on amazon: The YOU Plan

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Transcend in Twenty-Ten: Intrinsics – Why Personality Matters

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One of the commonly missed steps in the career re-engagement process is introspection. I’m a firm believer in the power of stepping back to gain perspective on where you are presently, where you are actually going, and where you really want to go. As part of this introspective process I firmly believe you need to take stock in what you bring to the table. In other words, you have to get to know your intrinsics.

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I use the word intrinsics as a catch-all to describe what you bring to the table as a unique individual. We all have our own mix of personality, experiences, training… that combine to create a unique value proposition in terms of what we are able to bring to bear in our career endeavors.

In my last blog post I also outlined the six elements that make-up what I refer to as your career intrinsics. I call these six elements your career pacers: Personality, affiliations, contributions, experience, relationships, and SKAs.

In this post I’m going to focus on personality.

Although there are many influences on human behavior, I believe that personality is one of the most significant. Other influences include experience, culture, upbringing, education, religion, social norms, expectations, and trauma. The reason I believe personality is so critical is that your personality is really responsible for driving how you respond to those other influences. It shapes how you act and interact within your environment.

Personality is really about your natural inclinations. We all have natural leanings and comfort zones. Quite simply, you have certain actions and activities that you tend to be comfortable performing. Having a good sense of what these are is critical to your success. The last thing you want to do is put yourself in a position that requires you to spend most of your time operating outside of your comfort zone. When you are in your element, you are going to be at your best.

In my upcoming book, The YOU Plan, I talk about the role of personality in my work as an executive coach:

“Whether I’m working with corporate executives or personal clients, I always begin by assessing their personality and natural strengths. I’m certainly not unique in this approach. The study of personality and its application to the world of work has enjoyed a substantial resurgence, with many theories and approaches. What’s important is this: Personality does matter.”

When it comes to assessing personality, there are literally thousands of personality assessments on the market. The unfortunate reality is that the majority of these assessments likely provide as much intellectual insight as reading your daily horoscope or taking the latest quiz in Cosmopolitan magazine. So, when looking for a good assessment, consider the source. Simple on-line assessments can sometimes do more harm then good.

One of the most well researched models of personality is the Big Five. The Big Five consists of five high-level factors that can be remembered as OCEAN: Openness to experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion/introversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism or emotional stability. The model states that we all have varying levels of each factor that operate together to create our individual personalities. The model has gained such wide acceptance that even the psychologists at e-Harmony use it as part of the matching system. Thus, when looking for simple personality assessments, keep the big five in mind.

For more information on the Big Five and one of the more popular Big Five assessments see: http://www3.parinc.com/products/product.aspx?Productid=NEO_FFI

Some other well-known models include:

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: https://www.cpp.com/products/mbti/index.aspx

The DISC assessment: http://www.thomasinternational.net/1/Resources/DISCAssessmentTheory/tabid/4012/Default.aspx

Both have enjoyed a tremendous amount of popularity and use in the business world.

The bottom line is that career success requires really knowing the value you bring to the table and how to leverage and communicate that value in a way that helps others want to utilize it. Really knowing your personality is a good start.

Over the next couple of weeks I will address each of the other career PACERS in more depth, so stay tuned!

Cheers,

Dr. Woody

To find out more about Dr Woody’s upcoming book, The YOU Plan, check out www.TheYouPlan.com

News, Uncategorized

Transcend in Twenty-Ten: Intrinsics – What You Bring to the Table

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In my January 11 blog post I spoke about the importance of introspection in the career planning process. I focused on how assessing your values can play a role in the career choices you make. The next step in the introspective process is examining your intrinsics.

I use the word intrinsics as a catch-all to describe what you bring to the table as a unique individual. We all have our own mix of personality, experiences, training… that combine to create a unique value proposition in terms of what we are able to accomplish in the marketplace. Spending the time to really understand your intrinsics is a critical component to successful career planning. 

In my upcoming book, The YOU Plan, I describe intrinsics in the following way:

“Think of your intrinsics as a deck of cards. All of our lives are shuffled differently, which means our cards are all spread across our life decks in very different ways. Some of your cards are close to the top and readily accessible whereas others are buried somewhere near the bottom and haven’t been played in a while.”

In other words, your intrinsics are that which you have within you that can be leveraged for value by potential customers, partners, or employers. However, in order for others to be able to see the value you bring to the table, you have to be able to articulate it in a way that is meaningful. Having a good handle on your intrinsics is an important part of career planning, particularly in a tough economic environment.  

For the sake of simplicity, I have broken intrinsics down into six factors. I believe these six factors impact the pace of your career development, thus I refer to them as your career PACERS.
• Personality
• Affiliations
• Contributions
• Experiences
• Relationships
• Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities (KSAs)

Career success requires really knowing the value you bring to the table and how to leverage and communicate that value in a way that helps others want to utilize it.

Over the next couple of weeks I will address each of the career PACERS in more depth, touching on how to really identify and leverage them. So, be sure to stay tuned!

Cheers,

Dr. Woody

To find out more about Dr Woody’s upcoming book, The YOU Plan, check out www.TheYouPlan.com

News, Uncategorized

Transcend in Twenty-Ten: Start with Values

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As I mentioned in my last blog post, any good career plan starts with introspection. You have to know yourself, before you can effectively pick a direction, market yourself, and get back on track. As a coach trained in the field of organizational psychology, I am a big believer in introspection as a starting point. All too often, I come across transitioning professionals who have jumped out ahead of themselves only to outrun their coverage. If you want to stand out from the herd, you are going to have to be thoughtful and deliberate in your actions. This requires knowing yourself first.

When it comes to knowing yourself, you have to start with values. The values you espouse are vital to the choices you make and ultimately dictate the way you live. Values can be thought of as the principals you hold near and dear. Your values are the code you live by. They are the rules you follow and the ethics you adhere to when dealing with others.

The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book The YOU Plan:

“Who you are drives how you work, play, live, and ultimately shine. Your experiences, upbringing, and culture have acted to shape the person you have become and the values you espouse. The values you espouse ultimately influence the decisions you make and the path you choose to follow. Your values are the lens you view the world through… There is no doubt that our personal values play a critical role in the choices we make and the careers we pursue. Yet, the unfortunate reality is that most of us can’t articulate our values. Often this leads us to making bad decisions. These bad decisions tend to land us on career paths that aren’t truly fulfilling and sometimes, even toxic.”

When resetting your career focus and re-engaging in your career journey, you have to be mindful of how your values play into your decisions. Every organization has its own unique culture driven by a set of core values. It’s up to you to understand what these values are and determine how well they match with yours. However, before you can do this you must be sure to have a good handle on your values.

So, how do you assess your values? Doing a quick web search for values checklists will provide a lot of results. The following are some on-line values assessments:

http://www.career-test.biz/values_assessment.htm

http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/Career-Assessment/Work-Values-Check-List/article.aspx

The key to using any adjective checklist effectively is taking the time to narrow down your values to your top five. This is a much tougher challenge than it seems because it requires making tough choices. Whenever I have taken groups through values exercises they always struggle with this, so take your time.

Regardless of the checklist you use, you really need to ask yourself if the values you chose are really yours. A good way to test whether or not you truly value something is to ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you willing to fight for it?
• Are you willing to sacrifice for it?
• Are you willing to pay for?

Any good career plan starts with introspection. A critical component to the introspective process is assessing values. Keep in mind, values are a major driver in decision making. We are in uncertain times and successfully navigating these times will require using your values as a compass. When it comes to stepping back and creating a YOU Plan, be sure to start with assessing your values.

Good luck,

Dr. Woody

To learn more about Dr. Woody’s upcoming book, The YOU Plan, go to www.TheYouPlan.com

News, Uncategorized

Transcend in Twenty-Ten: Rise Up and Forge Your Own Career Path

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As the Great Recession comes to a close it’s time to wave goodbye to the dark days of 2009 and start thinking about the brighter times ahead.

In 2009 we saw a 26 year peak in the national unemployment rate. Foreclosures, bankruptcies, and all out corporate collapses hit all time highs.

There is no doubt the year 2009 exposed a lot of perpetrators and created a lot of victims. In one way, shape, or form we all felt the pain, some of it caused by others, and some of it caused by ourselves. Regardless, it’s now up to you to take the next step and rise above it all. It’s time to start thinking about thriving in the New Year.

The New Year is always a great excuse to reset and start anew. I can’t think of a year where there has been more incentive to do just that. Twenty-ten is your chance to take the reins and transcend the madness of ‘09. It’s time to transcend in ten!

So, what can we do to leave 2009 behind for good?

First and foremost, you must accept that the old rules no longer apply. For those of you feeling secure in your jobs, keep in mind that being a diligent worker and following the rules is no longer a safe haven. For those in transition, the days of pounding the pavement and chasing those great job opportunities are gone.

The New Economy is about creating opportunities, not chasing them. It’s about being innovative and demonstrating your value. It’s about being your own brand. I truly believe we are entering into an age of career entrepreneurialism, an age where it will be up to you to determine your path and then go out and make it happen.

Second, you will need to create a plan. And not just any plan, but a YOU Plan. Without a destination in mind and a roadmap for getting there, success will always be a challenge. To be fair, there is no simple straight line to any destination and life often requires detours. However, without any kind of path in mind, your actions will always be driven by those around you. In other words, when it comes to living your life, you can lead or you can follow. If you want to lead, you will need a YOU plan.

Thoughtful planning and deliberate action are the foundation for any successful endeavor. Your success is up to you; and you alone. Take the reins and start thinking like an entrepreneur. Every Monday and Thursday I’ll be posting tips, tidbits, and simple steps or creating a YOU plan, so stay tuned!

Welcome to the New Year. Good luck and transcend in twenty-ten!

Dr. Woody

To learn more about Dr. Woody and his upcoming book The YOU Plan, check out www.TheYouPlan.com

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How to Shine in 2009: Dealing with Job Loss

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We are entering a time of great uncertainty. Scare words like recession, downturn, crisis, and turmoil all evoke fear and pose challenge. With all of this uncertainty abound, it’s easy to fall prey to the trap of hopelessness and desperation. The purpose of this blog series is to help you cerate your own certaintly through planning! If you want to shine in 2009 it’s time to take control!  

  

As an organizational psychologist, I believe there are three ways you can react to the challenge of uncertain times: 

 

          – you can cower and hide,

          – you can buckle down and survive, or

          – you can step-up and thrive

 

For those looking to step-up and thrive, it’s time to start planning. Planning begins with assessing your values, intrinsics, passions, and then leveraging your essence (brnad) and creating a roadmap. I like to refer to this as the VIPER approach to re-establishing your career in the new economy. So, look out for more information on the VIPER model in upcoming blogs! 

         

Remember, if you want to shine in 2009, it’s time to step-up and start planning.

 

 

-Dr. Woody

 

To see my Shine in ’09 speech go to www.DrWoody.com