Success Story

Here is a letter we recently received from one of our past clients

In December 2009, mired in the depths of the Great Depression, Aston Martin of San Diego closed its doors for the last time. Simultaneously, doors closed on my employment, and my second career, six mostly profitable and enjoyable years in the ultra-luxury automobile industry.

I was ready to be done with it, excited about the next opportunity that awaited me, though I had no idea what that would be, nor how foolish and naive such excitement would prove to be in the job climate I would encounter. At that point I knew little about the mostly desolate employment prospects awaiting older, displaced “white-collar” workers.

Several weeks later I found out I had been diagnosed with cancer. Thoughts of new career directions and opportunities vanished. Life-threatening illnesses have a way of altering one’s perspective and priorities. Much of 2010 was absorbed in treatment and recovery, physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Fortunately, my disease had been diagnosed at a reasonably early stage. Post treatment prognoses were favorable and have remained so until the present.

During 2010 I periodically (and, in retrospect, half-heartedly) pursued employment opportunities. In marketing. In sales. In banking.  Nothing. I joined and participated regularly in networking groups, meeting hundreds of people in situations similar to mine. Still fruitless. By late 2010 I was discouraged and rudderless.

Fortunately, though my wife had also lost her job early in 2010, we able to get by on unemployment. Our benefits were far less than our regular workplace checks of course, but we had lived within our means and were thus able to remain stable without dipping too dramatically into savings or retirement accounts. For both of us, long term unemployment benefits proved a god-send. It helped each of us transition back into the workplace. Here’s how that happened for me.

Early in 2011, I paid a visit to an old friend who was the Director of Professional Development for San Diego State’s College of Extended Studies. We discussed my qualifications, which were considerable but in no way clearly focused or directed, and explored some of the programs offered by Extended Studies to see if there might be a fit for me.

I didn’t come away from that meeting with any clear direction, but I did get some valuable advice. Tamara spoke highly of the East County Career Center and suggested I explore the resources available there. That would prove to be a genuine stroke of good fortune.

In the next few months I took advantage of ECCC’s considerable employment resources – career counseling, resume preparation, job-hunting  tips and tactics, household budgeting, aptitude testing, and most fortuitously, re-training programs for career transition. In this regard my connections would later come full circle.

At the conclusion of all these ECCC sessions I had at long last come to a decision on a new career direction. My previous careers had provided me great personal satisfaction – a considerable number of awards, recognition, a nice living. But these experiences contributed nothing toward the betterment of society, and this time around – my final chapter – I wanted my work to be about that. I chose healthcare. Specifically I wanted to pursue Medical Coding and Billing, a program offered through SDSU’s College of Extended Studies, paid for by Workforce Partnership funds.

That spring, I began the program, which was offered online and was self-paced. Though programmed as a six-month course, I finished it in three. Out of work and highly motivated, I sped through the course, and I excelled. But I knew I needed more qualifications, especially lacking work experience in my new field. At my own expense and on my own time, I studied and prepared on for national certification as inpatient coder. On the last day of September, I completed the four-hour exam and was thrilled when I learned that I scored extremely well on the exam, and was now a Certified Coding Associate through the American Health Information Management Association.

During my preparation, I scoured the internet for information about the prospects of landing a job in health information lacking any work experience. Over and over the answer came back – volunteer.  Within a few weeks I landed an excellent volunteer opportunity with Sharp Memorial Hospital, working in the Kidney Transplant Department. The staff there was appreciative, supportive, and extremely helpful. I was given wonderful on-the-job responsibilities and often devoted more than 20 hours a week there.

Early in January, I received an email regarding a job I’d applied for two months before. In matter of a few weeks I was offered a position, which I immediately accepted. Since that time, I have worked as a Medical Record Technician for the Military Sealift Command, providing Occupational Health services to civilian crews which man U.S. navy supply ships. I have very much appreciated, and enjoyed, my job, but about a year after I started, I decided that I wanted to advance further in the medical field.

So, once again, I’m a student. But this time, it’s part-time while I continue to work full-time job. My experience with my Workforce Partnership funded training had re-kindled my thirst for knowledge, and given me the confidence to pursue online education.

For the last year-and-a-half, I’ve been studying Cancer Information Management at Santa Barbara City College. It’s my goal to become a Cancer Tumor Registrar, a vital through little known role in the struggle to find a cure for cancer. Registrars analyze, collect, and disseminate cancer information regarding diagnosis, treatment and research. I’ll complete the program, one of the most highly regarded in the country, in about a year. I will, of course, still be in my newly chosen field, but with a slight detour in the route.

None of this -- none of it -- could have happened without the Workforce Partnership and the East County Career Center. I am the embodiment of someone who seized an opportunity presented, took it and prospered. But again, none of it happens without the opportunity.

I am grateful to be able to thank you for giving me that opportunity. I hope your work, and the funding that goes with it, will continue, so that others can benefit as I have.

Respectfully,

David C.

Inspirational Quotes for the Job Seeker

How to Discover Your Super Powers to Find Meaningful Work

How to Discover Your Super Powers to Find Meaningful Work

4 Tips to Discover Your Super Powers

1. Identify what you believe to be your best skills.

Think about the skills you currently use in your work, the ones you use outside of it, and the ones you’ve used in the past. Include everything that you do well—listening, writing, problem-solving, persuading,  connecting people, helping people reach fitness goals. Anything that you excel at.

2. Highlight the ones you feel passionate about.

Which ones have you done for free in the past? Which ones get you so excited you could easily write a whole blog or book about them? Which ones feel fulfilling, enriching, and maybe even healing when you do them?

3. Cross out the ones you consistently have trouble focusing on.

If you can rarely devote more than a half-hour to this skill, it likely isn’t a Super Power. You’re looking for those actions that you regularly get into the zone doing.

A lot of people want themselves to do something that they don’t actually want to do—maybe because they think they should do it just because they’re good at it and can make a lot of money with it.

I could have continued building a successful career in promotional marketing, but I a felt a slight resistance when getting ready for work. It was fun to travel and engage with people at concerts and sporting events but I didn’t feel like I was making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

For me, marketing wasn’t a Super Power unless I was marketing something that mattered to me.

If you have to force yourself to do something, cross it off the list.

4. Put a star next to the ones that other people recognize as strengths.

For a Super Power to guide your career, it has to be something you excel at. If you love writing but you struggle with communicating your thoughts, this may not be a Super Power—yet. If you’re willing to put in the time, you can change that.

Whatever you have highlighted and placed a star next to that isn’t crossed out is a Super Power that you could leverage to create meaningful, satisfying work.

How to Leverage Your Super Powers for a Career

1. Identify the long game and the short game.

If your Super Power is helping people, your long game might be to become a therapist, write a book, or run workshops. The goal here isn’t necessarily to dream big—it’s to dream of what feels right for you. It might even mean a pay cut.

My friend Angie is a successful lawyer. She recently told me that she ends up spending a lot of money to make herself feel better because she’s unhappy with her job—and that she’d rather love how she spends her time than have the means to buy away her unhappiness.

It might feel scary to think of giving up money, but it all comes down to whether or not what you gain is more valuable to you.

Your short game is what you need to do to transition into that new life you visualize. Do you need to save money to take classes? Do you need to create time in your schedule to write? Do you need to email people to get advice?

You might not be able to immediately do what will you make you feel fulfilled, but you can start planting seeds to get there. Don’t worry about how long it will take. Just acknowledge that you want to start and you’re ready to do that now.

A friend of mine once told me it’s too late for her to do something she loves. I asked her how she’d feel if in five years she was actually doing it. Would she regret having started late or would she be glad she found the courage to try in spite of the years that past before she did?

Whatever it is you enjoy, there is no reason not to start shaping a life around it now. It’s never too late until we decide it is.

2. Make a commitment to do something every day to work your goal.

The important thing isn’t to arrive at tomorrow—it’s to keep moving forward. As long as you’re moving forward, you will get there, and there might be a lot different than how you planned it.

It’s funny how opportunities have a way of evolving and surprising us when we find the courage to consistently take action. I had no idea the first day I tweeted a quote that Tiny Buddha would grow as it did. I still don’t know what exactly this might grow into. I just know I write, edit, and build every day.

3. Identify ways to use your Super Powers now.

Even though it may take you time to transition into a more meaningful work situation, you can still incorporate the things you love into your life right now.

If what you want to do is help people, but you can’t publish a book tomorrow, start a blog. If you want to become a therapist but you know it will take years, volunteer for a hotline.

It could even be to do one small thing each week, like share an uplifting comment on someone’s blog. (My new obsession is Love Bomb—I highly suggest checking it out to make a big difference with one small weekly action!)

By using your Super Power, you very well may open yourself up to professional opportunities. At the very least, you’ll make a positive difference in the world doing something that makes you feel fulfilled.

Be Your Own Hero

With all this talk of Super Powers, I had to end with a hero reference, and it’s this: find and follow the path that makes sense to you. You may find that you prefer to earn a living through something you don’t feel passionate about, and then leverage your Super Powers through your hobbies and free time.

That isn’t inherently wrong. If that’s how you want to spend your time, then what’s right is to go with your own gut.

But if you feel like you’re not filling your days in a way that feels purposeful and fulfills you, find the courage to figure out what would, and then do something about it today.

The best Super Power is the ability to be true to yourself.

Dressing for Interviews

Before you say a single word to the interviewer, you have already made an impression based on how you’re dressed. The guidelines given here are commonly accepted as appropriate for interviewing. Every company has a different dress code; how you dress at the job may have very little to do with how you dress for an interview.

Men 

• Dress in a manner that is professionally appropriate to the position for which you are applying. In almost all cases, this means wearing a suit. It is rarely appropriate to “dress down” for an interview, regardless of company dress code policy. When in doubt, go conservative.
• You should wear a suit to interviews. “Suit” means the works: a matching jacket and pants, dress shirt, tie, coordinating socks and dress shoes. A dark-colored suit with light colored shirt is your best option.
• Your suit should be comfortable and fit you well so that you look and act your best. There is a difference between not yet feeling at ease in a suit and trying to fit into the same suit you wore to your sister’s wedding when you were 15. (In the latter case, it’s time to invest in a new suit!)
• Avoid loud colors and flashy ties.
• Clothing should be neat, clean, and pressed. If you don’t have an iron, either buy one or be prepared to visit the dry-cleaner’s often. Shower or bathe the morning of the interview. Wear deodorant. Don’t wear cologne or aftershave. You don’t want to smell overpowering or worse, cause an allergic reaction.
• Make sure you have fresh breath. Brush your teeth before you leave for the interview, and don’t eat before the interview. Don’t smoke right before an interview.
• Your hair should be neat, clean, and conservative

Women 

• Generally, you should wear a suit with a skirt or pants.  When in doubt, be more conservative.
• Your suit should be comfortable and fit you well; if your waistband is cutting you in half or your jacket is too tight, you won’t look or act your best. Some stores offer free alterations when you purchase a suit, or you may want to find a tailor to adjust a suit you already own.
• Interview suits should be simple and dark in color. Anything tight, bright, short, or sheer should absolutely be avoided. (Interviewers have been known to complain about the length of interviewees’ skirts; if you have any doubts, it’s probably too short.) Knee-length skirts are suggested. Very long skirts, while modest, are also considered too trendy for an interview.
• Wear a conservative blouse with your suit. Do not wear bright colors, animal prints, or anything lacy, sheer, or low-cut.
• Make-up and nail polish should be understated and flattering; shades that are neutral to your skin tone are generally advisable. Avoid bright or unusual colors or very long nails.
• Keep your jewelry and hair accessories to a minimum, and stick to those that are not flashy, distracting, or shiny. One ring per hand is best.
• Shoes should be conservative and fairly low-heeled. They should be in reasonably good condition, not scuffed or run-down at the heels. Don’t wear shoes with an open toe or back; any shoes you would wear on a date or to a club are probably inappropriate. A basic pump is flattering, versatile, and will stay in style forever (once you own pumps, you can spend the rest of your money on fun shoes). The salesperson in the shoe store can steer you in the right direction.
• Your hose should be neutral (matched to your skin tone). Make sure the heels are not dyed black from your shoes and that there are no snags or runs. Only use the nail polish trick in an emergency; you may want to carry an extra pair of hose with you instead.
• Dress in a manner that is professionally appropriate to the position for which you are applying. In almost all cases, this means wearing a suit. It is rarely appropriate to “dress down” for an interview, regardless of company dress code policy. When in doubt, go conservative (is this starting to sound familiar?).
• Your clothing should always be neat, clean, and pressed. If you don’t have an iron, either buy one or be prepared to visit the dry-cleaner’s often.
• Shower or bathe the morning of the interview. Wear deodorant. Don’t wear perfume: you don’t want to smell overpowering or worse, cause an allergic reaction.
• Make sure you have fresh breath. Brush your teeth before you leave for the interview, and don’t eat or smoke before the interview.
• Your hair should be neat, clean, and conservatively styled. Banana clips, brightly-colored scrunchies or elastics, and cheerleader-type ponytails look out of place with a suit. You may want to wear your hair in an updo, pull it back into a low ponytail, or wear a barrette (this suggestion does not include the tiny little barrettes that only hold the front of your bangs back). The idea is to look polished and professional, not to advertise what a creative genius your hairdresser is.

10 creative job hunting tips

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate currently sits at 9.1 percent.

If you are out of work this presents a problem because there is often a large quantity of qualified applicants seeking a given job.

In these times, it is more important than ever to think outside of the box when applying for jobs.

Here are 10 creative job hunting tips:

1)  Know what positions are available at a company

Before you can try to work for a company, you need to figure out what job openings the company has.  Once you know this you can focus your energy on trying to get that specific job. You can look on a company website to see what job openings a company has. However, the best strategy would be to speak to someone who works at the company as often times companies don't update their websites with every potential and available job opening.

2)  Use LinkedIn and use it well

LinkedIn is widely recognized as the best social network for career professionals. LinkedIn can be utilized as a great resource to connect with people at a company that you are interested in working for. The key on LinkedIn is to compile as many direct connections to other professionals that you can.  More direct connections will convert into more secondary connections. 

So, if you want to work for Facebook, and you have 200 LinkedIn connections, there is a chance that one of your connections has a connection with someone working at Facebook. This secondary connection can then be leveraged by you to get introduced to the respective person that works at Facebook. And, as we all know - knowing someone who works at the company which you are applying to - can greatly increase your odds of securing the job.

3)  Take a look at resume samples

Before finalizing your resume, it is wise to take a look at resume samples. By reviewing other resumes, you can get ideas for ways to improve the content and look and feel of your resume. Looking at resume samples often helps you to identify specific areas where you can improve your expertise or enhance the way you present yourself to potential employers.

4)  Be creative about how you use Twitter

You can utilize Twitter to look for jobs in several ways, one of the most creative ways is to use Twitter to locate and contact someone at a given company. You can use Twellow to search Twitter profiles.  Search for the company that you want to work for - and you may find someone who has a profile
that says, Director of Biz Dev for company X. 

Now that you found that person, you can follow them on Twitter hoping that they follow you back so that you can DM them.Or you can mention them in the hopes they will then get in touch with you. Also, sometimes people include their email address in their profile so you can contact them that way. Either way, Twitter offers a creative way to develop a contact, as the person may appreciate your hard work and creativity in getting in touch with them.

5)  Consider different types of jobs

You don't want to have tunnel vision and only look for one type of job.  Especially with the unemployment rate being what it is - you have to think about a few different types of job titles to consider. When you have a few different areas you are considering - it will open up a wide range of options for yourself and you'll end up getting more interviews and call-backs.  And remember, each interview is an opportunity to not only get a job but also to develop key contacts within an organization.

6)  Use multiple resumes

Take advantage of resume templates  which you can then fill your information into. Take advantage of these to create multiple resumes for different types of jobs. The area where your resumes will
differentiate themselves are on the objective, resume structure, and job detail for a specific job that you had. 

The structure of the resume should be one which best highlights your accomplishments.The objective should target directly to the type of job you are applying for. The job detail which explains what you accomplished in past jobs should highlight the skills and experiences that the job you are applying for is seeking. 

7)  Consider different pay packages

Especially when applying to a startup or small company, consider offering and/or accepting different pay packages. If you offer a potential employer to pay you based on commission or based on some other type of performance measurement, the employer may be more likely to hire you as it will be less of a risk for them. And for you, it could offer a bigger reward as if you succeed in the job you could end up making more money for yourself.

8)  Check out Craigslist

Quite often, small businesses and start-ups post job listings on Craigslist.  These smaller companies do this in an effort to quickly find internet savvy candidates for a particular job. It is also very simple and cheap for start-ups to post job listings on Craigslist. This is an underrated place for candidates to find jobs.  You often won't know the company you are applying to - so it is difficult to get these jobs via networking. 

What can make you stand out to employers is following instructions closely and being detail oriented. Many people mass apply to jobs on Craigslist - so by not automating your application you
can differentiate yourself and show employers that you are about quality.  

9)  Do not focus on monster.com or hotjobs

Monster and Hotjobs use to be the best places to find jobs online. It was the place companies went to hire, and the place potential employees went to apply. However, there are so many people looking for work that you need to find ways to differentiate yourself. And Monster and HotJobs get so many applications that it becomes very difficult to stand out from the crowd so it can make sense to ignore these services all together. Also, sometimes, a company will get hundreds of applications through Monster.com and then they will end up hiring someone who found the company directly via networking through an existing employee. 

10)  Attend an industry conference

Industry conferences can be gold for job seekers. In one conference room will be influential people from hundreds of companies directly in the niche that you are in. If you are creative about how you approach people at each booth - you can make a very solid contact which you can utilize when you are applying to that particular company later on. 

You can also identify job openings that the potential company has now or could have in the future. In the age of so much networking happening virtually on the World Wide Web - there is still no replacement for good old fashioned face-to-face contact!

5 happiness tips for the Unemployed

“Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it” ~Charles Swindoll

Unemployment is up almost 10 percent and job opportunities are not necessarily speeding to catch up. It’s not always easy to stay positive when you’re dealing with uncertainty, particularly if you fell out of a comfortable situation and now have to adapt.

But if you’re willing to see the experience as a challenge, and possibly even an opportunity, you can find a sense of peace and fulfillment—not just once you find work, but while you’re in the process of looking. It’s not just cliche advice that sounds good on paper. It’s actually possible. Here’s how.

If You Are Out of Work

1. Don’t isolate.

Without work, some people become hermits. Most jobs involve some sort of social interaction, be it with co-workers or customers. For many people, the workday is also the most frequent opportunity for social interaction. Spending some time alone can be healthy; just make sure you don’t take overdo it.

A lot of people feel ashamed or embarrassed about being unemployed, and as a result avoid social situations. As tempting as it may be to dodge friends and family, it can become a dangerous habit. Youneed support to make it through this transition with minimal stress and anxiety.

Aside from that, interactions allow you an opportunity to put your worries aside and have fun. You’re dealing with enough stress—don’t you deserve a break?

2. Remember that social connections are your biggest resource.

Another reason to stay social and engaged is that it’s one of the best ways to find your next job. When you’re struggling, the intimate seclusion found searching job lists and sending out endless resumes is enticing. While there’s nothing wrong with responding to job ads, it’s not nearly as effective as using your social network to find opportunities. It’s like they say: sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

3. Maintain a positive outlook.

Negativity is an easy habit because it creates the illusion of relieving frustration, but it actually just breeds more. And unfortunately, it doesn’t get you anywhere good.

Positivity, especially when things are tough, may not be your first reaction. No worries about the future with a smile. But if you try to maintain a positive outlook you will keep yourself open to new things. If you’re convinced there aren’t any opportunities available, you won’t even try to find one—meaning you definitely won’t get one.

4. Stay open to possibilities.

It’s ideal to think that life conforms to your plans. But it doesn’t. If it did, you wouldn’t be unemployed to begin with. Once you free yourself from a rigid path you think you should be on, you will open yourself to the new opportunities and roads that will present themselves. When this happens, be ready and willing to say yes.

It may mean taking a short-term contract job, or a lower level position in a new field. When your life path hits a roadblock you need consider the alternate routes available.

5. Take advantage of the extra time.

It’s often said that looking for work is a full-time job. That certainly can be true, but it’s a full-time job with a lot of flexibility. When you take away things like a commute, business trips, conferences and everything else that comes with a nine to five job, there’s a lot of extra time in the day.

It’s a good idea to maintain as much of your normal routine as possible. If you exercise three days during the week, make sure you keep doing that. If you wanted to work out five days but never had the time, well, now you do!

This is your time to focus on yourself—what you enjoy, what makes you feel the most fulfilled.

You don’t need to spend every waking hour stressing about finding work. If you put too much emphasis on where you need to be, you may find it’s self-defeating. Just because looking for work can be a full-time job, that doesn’t mean you need to walk around with full-time pressure.

If you didn’t lose your job, odds are you know someone who did. Here’s how you can help.

15 Simple Way to Support Someone Who Lost Their Job

1. Check in regularly…

…especially if you are close to them. Be their buoy, so they don’t lose sight of the things in life they can trust.

2. Listen.

Really listen, without waiting to talk.

3. Invite them to do free stuff.

Even if they have money in the bank, with less or no money coming in, it will be easier for them to commit to free or cheap activities.

4. Exercise with them.

Or encourage them to do activities you know they enjoy. It’s easier to stay upbeat when you feel good physically. (Those endorphins help!)

5. Help them get sunshine.

A healthy dose of sunlight can improve your mood and help you get better sleep. Boost your friend’s spirits by helping them get out of the house for a walk when the sun shines.

6. Understand that their life is different for now.

It can be strange to have so much time and uncertainty, particularly if they had a lot of structure in their day previously.

7. Acknowledge their feelings.

They may or may not talk about them, but they feel something no matter what. If they don’t open up, you can share a story about a time in your life when you felt uncertain.

8. Laugh.

Humor helps everyone cope. Help them take things less seriously. They’re unemployed, not comatose. There’s still a lot to enjoy!

9. Make a list of things you value in them…

…maybe things an employer would appreciate, and give it to them.

10. Offer to review/edit/spruce up their resume.

11. Send them job posts that you think match their skill set.

12. Offer to be a reference.

You obviously know them well and like them—your recommendation may be valuable.

13. Ask them what they really want to do, what they would do if they money wasn’t an issue.

Maybe they’re considering taking this break to make a career change. That’s scary stuff, meaning they’ll need lots of encouragement.

14. Don’t complain about your job.

Okay, if you must, try to keep it to a minimum. No matter how difficult your boss is, you can at least say you have a boss. (Which is exactly what your friend will think).

15. Check in with their family to see how they’re handling the change.

Anyone who depends on your friend will be affected in some way. What better way to be a friend than to remind them you’re there for support—for anyone who needs it.

People often think of unemployment as floating adrift somewhere between A and B; and then they try their hardest to get to B so they can be happy again. Get a consistent paycheck, settle in, and feel safe, secure, and certain. You’ll get there—but life is rarely certain. You only have this moment.

Unemployment provides a great opportunity to accept, adapt, and enjoy, even if things aren't perfect. 

How to find a new job using LinkedIn