This site features house keeping , baby sitting , tutoring , pet care, and senior care jobs. You begin by describing your experience, desired pay, distance willing to travel, duties you are willing to perform, hours available for work, education, and languages spoken. You can also upload a photo of yourself and record a video personal message. Then, you wait for your information to be processed. Once processed, applicants can view all jobs listed and what the details of pay, hours needed, etc are. You can email the employer to let them know you are interested. Employers can also view your profile and contact you directly. You can get job updates via cell phone, land line phone, or email. What is great about this site is that it cuts a lot of wasted time down. All the information given and requested takes the guess work out of knowing if need matches demand. 

Snagajob.com

This site features paid hourly jobs. It does have an email alert service for new job postings. There is a simple zip code search and ability to refine search by location, company, or distance. You must register to use the site. The downside is that the site sends you to online degree sites often. At first, it looks just like a job application and you don't realize that it isn't until the very bottom of the fairly long page. Once you have filled out the page and get to the bottom, you will find a “decline this offer” button. But, by then it is too late. You have wasted your time filling out the form. The site also does not have salary jobs.

Rigzone

This site features oil field jobs. It has an easy to navigate search engine, that breaks the jobs down into specific categories. Categories include: drilling, engineer petroleum, engineer maintenance, geosciences, etc.. Once in the specific category, you search the sub category jobs and find one that you are interested in. Rigzone will give you the details of the job, application deadline, and link to apply for the job directly through the company. What is great about this site is that it is international. It list jobs in every country of the world and is easy to navigate. A bi monthly new job alert is available via email.

Career Builder

This site has multiple job listings and many search options. You can search by industry, salary, location, title, key words, en Espanol , international, job category, etc… You can also refine your search by omitting key words, titles, etc.. Downside is salaries may or may not be listed and details of some jobs are not fully explained. What is great is that you can upload resumes and send directly to the employer, without typing it in every time. Also, the site has a fax option that you can use for a small charge. Some jobs list contact information that you can contact the employer via phone.

EmploymentGuide.com

This site features three easy steps: complete application, upload resume, and send . You can browse by employer or state and then refine search by keyword, specific local, distance, job category, etc. What is great about this site is that when you click on a specific job, the site also lists alternative locations for the job. It has a direct email option, if employer opts to use that feature. It has very detailed job descriptions, but most do not include specific salary info.

Monster

Search options work similar to Career Builder. However, the upload resume and create account is a rather long process. In the long run it saves you time by not having to type the same information over and over. Often when you click on apply for a job, the site sends you to specific question pages that you must fill out to apply for the job- some are short, but some are long questionnaires. The site also has a networking tool.

Indeed

Truly a one stop shopping experience. You can browse by all the categories that Monster and Career Builder have. You can sign up for email alerts. What sets this site apart is it's mass listing. Indeed collects all the job listings from most of the web sites- gov employment sites, newspapers, job agencies, etc.. and comprehensively list's them. The downside is that you are redirected to the host web site for each job. From there, you have to register for the host site, fill out application, & upload resume for that particular site. There is not an upload resume feature on Indeed. You can get job alerts and save searched jobs for latter redirection.

Nurse.com

This site features RN jobs only. You can browse by region, specialty, or state. However, the job listings are limited. Very few jobs are listed by smaller hospitals, nursing homes, etc. You must register before you can even search the data base. What is great is the site has a listing of travel nursing and contract jobs.

Dice

This site features technology and engineering jobs only. You can refine searches by commute, location, skill, job title, employment type, and required travel. The summaries are very detailed. Most job postings have salary info or at least a salary range. You can copy and paste resumes on the Dice web site or use the provided link to go directly to the employer web site. There is a job rating system (positive, neutral, or negative) in place that allows you see what others think about the particular job. The site allows you to save your resume, receive email alerts, and save job searches. There is also a tech forum for registered users.

Americas Job Bank

This site is run by the US Dept of Labor. First, you click on the state you wish to search for a job in. Each states' web site will be a little different, but they will all be the site that the local employment office uses to list jobs. For example, I am from Mississippi. So, I will click on Mississippi. The site will redirect me to MDES- the Mississippi job bank. From there, I can choose job seeker services, unemployment services, or labor market info. The job seeker services features an index of job search, federal jobs, state jobs, newspaper classifieds, job fairs, college employment, veteran services, and a host of training/education options. Once I choose an option, it can be redefined by city and job title. Most all of these jobs require an apply online. You must be registered to apply for jobs. There is an option to upload resume.

These should get any job hunter started. There are hundreds of job search engines. If you have a specific field that you are searching for employment in, it may be better to go to a site that has narrower listings. This will save time sifting through jobs that you know you don't want. However, if you have a broader field or are looking for a more general employment opportunity, the broader search engines might be best.

After you have cleaned your house past sanitary and well into compulsive, here are some ideas for keeping yourself entertained.

1. Read your spouse's books.

   I read romance and mysteries and science fiction. My husband reads Newsweek. I am becoming unbelievably current. I even read those little articles no one else even sees.

2. Don't get dressed for a week

   Go to the mailbox in your bathrobe. Your neighbors will talk about you but at least it's some attention. Potential employers certainly aren't giving you any.

3. Get really good at a computer game.

   Pick one that requires the brain power of a worm. Right now, I play a lot of Zuma. I laid down to go to sleep and see little balls moving sinuously along serpentine tracks. I think, "Wow, this is what my parents sent me to college for." They must be so proud.

4. Watch soap operas.

   These people lead slow-moving, boring lives, interspersed with wild excitement over something of relatively low import in the larger scheme of things. Wow, me too!

5. Write goofy articles.

   It's time-consuming and you think you've accomplished something. Especially when you contact everybody you know and asked them to read them. Some will actually like them. The rest, well, you'll never know because they don't post comments. They probably hated them. Why did I want to be a writer anyway?

6. Stare at the phone, willing it to ring.

   I've spent as long as ten minutes as this. It isn't working, but it is something to do.

7. Research re-tiling your bathroom.

   You know it needs it. Mine certainly does. Figuring out all the ins and outs and where to buy tile for the best value. Do Not Plan On Really Doing this. You're unemployed with no money coming in. You can't afford this. But you can spend many hours on it for free!

8. Watch the Olympics.

   Why not? How many of the competitions can you name? Isn't it nice that they put them on while you're on the bench?

Well, that's what I've got. I was hoping to get to 10, but I've run out. Maybe I'll go vacuum now.

Getting Equipped

Head for Lowe's or Tru Value.

Recommended equipment are a couple of squeegees with flexible rubber blades, one a 6-incher, the other an 18-incher. You need a wooden pole to attach the squeegees to; you might keep an eye out for a telescoping aluminum pole. You need a brush, a bucket, other items you can probably get at home like a sponge, rags, plastic scouring pads which won't scratch glass. You also need a cleaning solution. Ask around for recommendations; do some Google searching. Vinegar is a workable option. See what your supplier offere in the way of window cleaners. Talk to the clerk. A chamois can be used to blot excess water at the bottom or sides of the window. An extendable ladder can be useful, even if you target only businesses and homes with ground-floor windows.

You also need invoices and a notebook to track your accounts. A T-shirt or uniform shirt with your business name, function ("window washers"), and phone number should go on your wish list.

Again, this can run about $50, depending on how much you find around the house and what you put off to add later.

Practice

Try out your window-washing technique on your windows at home, on grandma's windows, your neighbors. You need to see what angle to use your squeegee to get the proper effect. Use the squeegee mounted on the pole.

Remember to wet down the window and dampen the squeegee blade with a sponge before wiping for the best effect. If the blade regularly leaves a streak, you may want to replace it at your earliest opportunity. Don't make yourself miserable.

Remember that these days there are some special window coatings which require you to use soft towels or cloth rather than brushes which might scratch the surface.

Getting Business

Practice should only take a few hours and you can start trying to line up customers. Your problem will be that someone is already offering the service but there may be room for someone new who is actively looking for new customers who've become available since your competition made his rounds.

You can start in your neighborhood with residential homes. You can also begin hitting local businesses, especially if you know there is no competition out there yet.

Figure on $5.00 or so for a couple standard storefront windows facing the street. Add or subtract slightly based on size or difficulty. You should be pulling in $20-$25 an hour.

Business Cards

Business cards are an early expense. You really can't put this off. Try Vista.com for 250 free business cards with just a postage and handling charge. I've gotten some nice cards from them. You can design your own, with artwork, colors, everything formatted by you.

Distribute them everywhere you go.

Write up an article announcing your business for the local papers. Do a feature using the soft-sell approach and offer window-cleaning tips while casually dropping your own name as a "professional window washer" somewhere in the article. A hard-sell will only get your masterpiece rebuffed as a blatant attempt to get free advertising. If you can't write, it's worth it to find someone who can, even if you need to contact a journalism instructor at the high school or college and hire someone. Other article ideas may occur to you in time. Be sure to capitalize on them.

In addition, you may offer a few business clients free window-washing in exchange for posting a sign in their window with a plug for your window washing service and your phone number.

Once established with money coming in, get an ad in the phone book.

Take your business on the road so you can hit nearby small towns where you'll least likely find competition. Line up regular clients for weekly window-cleaning visits. Work a different town each day. In no time, between private residences and businesses, you can have quite a going business dropping money in your lap.

In time, as your client list continues to grow, you may even decide to hire help at minimum wage or perhaps better and convert this to a sideline business you can oversee while pursuing another opportunity.

The first resource is the Federal government's official web portal. It will guide you to loans, money, funding, financial aid, food stamps almost anything imaginable. There are links to everything to help you out of a bad situation and you can even email questions through their web form and receive an answer! In addition, if you have questions, there is a National Contact Center which you can call toll-free, 12 hours a day, Monday through Friday at 1(800)FED INFO.

The second great resource is the online "Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance." It is the basic reference source of Federal programs, projects, services and activities that provide assistance or benefits to the American public. The catalog gives you access to all Federal programs available to individuals and lists more than 100 different programs available from offices ranging from the U.S. Small Business Administration to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the U.S. Department of Commerce. After you find the program you want, contact the office that administers the program and find out how to apply!

A third resource for those of you out of work is your state's One-Stop Career Center. You may be able to get money to live on and money to pay for entrepreneur training in order to run your own business! These programs are run with both federal and state monies. Each state has different rules and the main idea is that they have money for you to train to get a better job along with money to live on while you are training. And your new job can be starting your own business! These programs are run through your state One-Stop Career Center located in your state capital but will have additional offices all over your state. You can find your local office by calling 411 and asking for the state capital operator in your state capital. Ask for your local "One Stop Career Center."

The last two resources also deal with starting your own business. Wouldn't it be great if you could take that idea you've had all these years and make a dream come true?

The government supports over 1,000 offices all over the country called Small Business Development Centers. They will sit down with you and help tackle any problem you may be having with your business like: finding money, filling out forms, taxes, marketing, technical problems, contracting, etc. All their services are free or for very little cost. These Centers do not provide money for entrepreneurs, but they will know of local money sources available. For a Center near you contact 1-800-8-ASK-SBA or their website.

Finally, the government makes a great deal of money available to help you start a business in a small town. A good place to start to see what kind of money is available is your local U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office.

Unemployment is also a source of stress for those who have job but are constantly threatened with losing them. As per the research, most workers are amazingly stress hardy and pragmatic when coping with the uncertainties of corporate world. The research also showed that one measure of a worker's adjustment to today's climate of job instability is that less than half of the workers surveyed expect to spend their entire careers with one company. Among those under age 34, only one-third counted on retiring from their present employer.

As per the famous Writers “unemployment as a fact of life will continue, if not worsen. Current statistics on unemployment and layoffs underestimate the dimensions of the problem. Even with unemployment at 6 percent, there would still be 7 million people out of work. Because government statistics do not include the discouraged job seekers and those who have joined the expanding ranks of the permanently unemployed, these figures vastly underrepresented the number of people actually out of work”.

Other opinions about unemployment are given below

“The higher workers perceive the unemployment rates in their communities and/or professions to be, the more pessimistic they will be about the prospects for finding new jobs, especially ones at equal pay”.

“Now when unemployment is still an important problem in many parts of the country, idle hands are making more work for physicians. People who are out of work make more visits to their physicians for a variety of complaints. Areas of high unemployment also report a higher incidence of alcohol use, and more marital and family abuse and violence.

A Convicted Felon

Five years ago, I committed a felony. My crime was discovered. I was charged with it. I was prosecuted for it. I was convicted of it. I was sentenced for it. I was punished and incarcerated for it. I made financial restitution to the victim. I made financial restitution to the courts. I "paid my debt" to society. It was hell to get through, but it was suppose to be. I survived it.

An Applicant

Now, let's suppose I have all the required skills and qualifications to fill an opened position where you work, or at your own place of business. Would you considering hiring me?

Those of you who work for the government, at any level, in any capacity, are now excused because you either can't or will not hire a convicted felon. Those of you needing the prospective candidate to be bond able are also excused because a felon cannot be bonded.

How about those of you in the private sector? Would you consider hiring me? Isn't that why your application form inquires if the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony? It's because you would consider it, right? Be honest now. Those of you who are honest are now excused.

The Prospective Employer

And finally, we are left with those who would consider hiring me. What reason could you possibly have to do so? Either you are needing someone who is desperate enough for money to do something immoral or illegal, once again, because they can't find employment. Or, you once did something wrong or stupid in your own life, but were just never caught for it, legally or morally. Not being without sin yourself though, you are not going "to be the one to cast the first stone."

That leaves us with how many prospective employers? Approximately, two? Two kinds of people who would consider hiring a convicted felon; one for possibly committing illegal activities, and the other a rare kind of person to find.

In Conclusion

There's no question about it, my felony conviction has and always will prevent and/or severely limit my prospects of employment. Or to be more accurate, my stupid decision to commit a crime has affected my possibilities of employment.
But here is something to consider: the reluctantcy to hire a convicted felon also affects unemployment. The rise of unemployment means a rise in crime rates, not necessarily because felons have returned to a life of crime, but because the unemployed have decided to start a life of crime of their own.

So, do your country a favor. Hire a remorseful felon.

Hopefully, a job offer will come from this one. Being unemployed for 122 days (but who's counting?) is starting to make me a little crazy and restless. I know I'm getting on everyone's nerves. I'm definitely not used to having so much time on my hands.

I know, too, that the bank would love to get a mortgage payment, as would the electric company, the telephone company and numerous others.

Can a person get disability payments for being “unemployable due to being an interview failure”? I may have to check into that pretty soon and see if that's a legitimate category.

It's been 16 years since I was on a job interview. Things have definitely changed!

Years ago, I remember that you'd be asked standard, direct job related questions like “How fast can you type?”, “Can you work nights and/or weekends?”, “Do you have dependable transportation?” and “How are your math and bookkeeping skills?”

When did all of these new “Get Inside Your Head” questions start?

I'll tell you what I mean.

At an interview I had a couple of months back, I walked into a room where four people were waiting. They each had a copy of a packet that contained the questions that would be asked. No kidding, this packet was at least fifteen pages thick. I could see that there was a big box next to the question for them to record your answer in. Next to that was a box where they would, individually, give you a numeric score based on their opinion of your answer. After the interview, they would total up your scores and the applicant with the overall highest score would get the job.

These four people represented both genders and displayed various personalities. There were two males and two females. There also was quite an age range.

The first was a stern looking woman who appeared to be in her late fifties. She reminded me of my fourth grade teacher that I was always afraid of.

The second woman was young (very young in my eyes), perky and friendly, had hair and clothes in the latest style and seemed to be in her early twenties. She didn't look much older than my son.

The two men both were around my age, forty-one. One was maybe a little older, one a little younger. Again, both carried seemingly different personalities.

The first man had a quiet demeanor and appeared very kind and compassionate with softer features.

The second man, in contrast, had a face that showed stress lines and he had graying hair from years in business. He looked like he was a very serious, no-nonsense person.

Let's start this one by saying that when I walked into the room and saw those four people sitting there, packets in front of them and pens poised, I was a little taken aback. A few twinges of nervousness started to spark. I hadn't expected four people. I hadn't been nervous on the way to the interview, though. Having worked in offices for 23 years, I felt that the experience shown on my resume should automatically make me the perfect person for the job.

In those 23 years, I had typed everything, filed everything, organized thousands of meetings and answered millions of phone calls. My resume, I was sure, had already shown them that I was a seasoned professional who would require very little training. This interview process was probably just a technicality they had to go through. I'll even bet that small box from the office supply company sitting on the receptionists' desk was my new nameplate to put on my new desk.

They started out by asking the normal questions, the ones I expected.

“How fast can you type?” That one was easy.

“Why did you leave your last job?” Another easy one.

“What kind of experience do you have with Microsoft Word and Excel?” Simple.

“Are you comfortable and experienced with the Internet?” Piece of cake.

I think to myself that this isn't so bad after all.

Then, the “Get Inside Your Head” questions started.

“What do you feel have been your greatest accomplishments, both professional and personal?”

I wasn't ready for that one but I think I did OK. I answered honestly. I told about starting my own business and being proud of the amazing growth of it over the years. Good answer, I think.

For the personal part, I told about the fact that my twenty-one year old son and my eighteen year-old daughter had grown into kind, responsible young adults and have never been into trouble. I said that after being a single mom for so many years, I was very proud of the fact that they turned out the way they did. Also, I felt that another great personal accomplishment is the fact that my husband of six years is my total soul mate and best friend. (I left out the part that after being married twice before this truly was a great accomplishment for me.)

Even though those may not have been the answers they were looking for, to me those things are great. I silently gave myself a “10” on that one.

“What would you do if a co-worker wasn't doing what they were supposed to do or if a co-worker refused to do a task that you gave them?”

This one could get a little hairy. Do they want me to be the take-charge aggressor who tells the slacker to do it or else? Do they want me to be the one who follows the chain of command by observing the behavior and then “tattling” to the boss and let them deal with it? They said “co-worker”, not “subordinate” and the job wasn't advertised as managerial. This answer could be a big deciding factor. It really caught me off guard. I managed to choke out something, trying hard to sound professional, about that I wasn't sure how their office was set up and I wasn't sure who was in authority but I would react under proper office policy. I probably got a “0” for that one. I don't know because, during all of this, they don't tell you if your answer is right or wrong. They just nod their heads, scribble on their packets and go on to the next.

After I leave, I kick myself for how stupid I sounded when I said this or that. If I would have been given a couple of minutes to think about the questions, or ideally, been supplied with them before the interview, I'd have answered them better.

Driving home, I recite perfectly thought-out responses that would dazzle anyone. I want to call them when I get home and tell them that I've got new and improved answers for questions number nineteen, twenty-three and twenty-four.

Unfortunately, that can't be done and I think it would be pure suicide to do it. The interviewers give you these questions to hear your immediate, gut response. It's an attempt to see if you actually do possess any social skills at all and are a functional member of society. All I can do is log those questions, and my now great answers, in my memory bank. That way I'll be ready for them if I have to do this again.

I didn't get the job. “The Letter” came a couple of days later stating that they thanked me for my time during the interview, however they've chosen a different candidate and they wished me the best of luck to me in my job search. Evidently, I didn't do very well on those “Get Inside Your Head” questions.

I quickly found out that they all don't read the same “Interview Questions To Ask” book.

While getting ready for another interview a few weeks later, I felt very well prepared. I knew that I needed to project confidence without acting overconfident or set in my ways. An employer needs someone with skills but also someone who will adapt to their procedures. I was sure that my years of clerical, payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable experience were exactly what this company was looking for. According to their ad, some of those tasks would be part of this job.

I'd taken extra time with my hair, make-up and outfit. I'd been rehearsing my now fabulous answers to those surprise questions that I'd stumbled over from the prior interview. I wouldn't be caught off guard this time and end up babbling something foolish. Not me. This time I was ready. Remember, I'm the seasoned professional who will require very little training.

This interview was with a very large company that, I was sure, would do direct deposit for your paychecks. Before heading out the door, I made sure the checkbook was in my purse. I would need it to fill out my bank information on the forms when they hired me today.

This one started off fine. I was escorted to the manager's small, cozy office. She was a very friendly person with a constant smile and genuine warm presence. She appeared to be about ten years younger than I was. That was all right. She immediately made me feel comfortable and at ease.

What a great person she'll be to work for. I can't wait to start.

The beginning of the interview went well. She asked me a few questions about my different experience with this or that. All easy, standard questions to answer and she appeared to like my responses and seemed impressed with my years of experience. She explained a little of how the office is set-up and how they are very flexible with your hours. They, as she stated, understand that people have children and have lives outside of the office. If your hours need to be adjusted to accommodate for your children's school scheduling or personal commitments, that's fine. All they care about is that you get your work done.

This is great, I think. What an awesome place that I'll be working at! I'm planning, silently of course, what hours I'll set up with her. I'll be able to schedule my workday so I can be home in the morning to get our son on the school bus and can maybe even be there when he gets home.

She asks if it's all right if she brings another person into the interview. I tell her that's fine. Her friendly demeanor and easy manner has really put me at ease. I'm sure she's going to fetch the Human Resource person who will bring me in my employment papers to fill out.

As I wait, I wonder if I'll get an office or a cubicle. It doesn't matter to me. If I get a cubicle, I just can't bring as many family pictures with me. No problem. I wonder if they'll want me to start the next day and I try to remember what my husband's work schedule is for the rest of the week.

The manager returns to her office with not one, but two, women. She introduces all of us. I don't remember what departments they were from but it wasn't Human Resources.

One woman is, as in the previous interview, an older, stern looking woman. The other is closer to my age. She smiles but it's not a warm smile. They both appear very serious and just professionally polite. Neither one are bubbly and friendly like the manager. They each pull up a chair and the kind, warm, friendly manager recaps my skills and experience to them. The other two nod and dryly ask me a couple questions to clarify my skills. I'm getting a little nervous now, just because their demeanors are slightly intimidating.

Then, those “Get Inside Your Head” questions start:

Knowing that I had owned a company and had employees of my own, the older, stern looking woman asked,

“How do you feel about not being the boss anymore?”

“Great! I love not being the boss anymore!” was my immediate response.

Thinking back, I may have said that with a little too much enthusiasm. It was my gut response though. After running a business for 11 years, just being an employee was what I was looking for. Not having the stress of supervising everyone and having to deal with the day-to-day employee drama and decisions would be great. Letting someone else worry about paying the bills and if there's money in the bank would be great. I knew that with a larger company like this one, though, you basically just ran the checks. The higher-ups worry about when and where the money is coming from.

Possibly, though, this position did require some “boss” type supervision of co-workers. This position also could require filling in for the manager and helping her with those types of tasks. The ad didn't really state that but it's possible. This may have been the first of many mistakes I made at this one. Read on.

I think I got too comfortable with the warm, friendly manager during the first part of my interview. When the two intimidating women joined us, their demeanors threw off my rhythm. My plan for interviews is always to not babble on and on. I would just directly, professionally answer the question, no more, no less.

I found myself rattling on and on each time they'd ask me a question. I also even found myself projecting personal opinions.

Here's an example:

“What was the biggest challenge you faced running your business?”

This was not asked by the manager but by the younger of the two new, unpleasant women.

My immediate response was, “I think the biggest challenge I faced was being a woman. Believe it or not, today women still have to prove themselves twice as much as men. The industry I was in has, for the most part, been a male dominated industry.”

Babble, babble and babble. On and on I went. I recited an anecdote of a particularly unpleasant phone conversation I'd had with a male attorney from a large metropolitan area. I recapped how I finally had to get firm with him and inform him that I was the one in charge of this particular situation and he had to handle it my way. I showed him, didn't I! I even went so far as to add that most people, especially the attorneys, from that area are hard to deal with, snobbish and lack the compassion of us small town people. In hindsight, I'm sure I sounded like a psychotic woman's activist with a small town chip on my shoulder.

After that interview, I did some major kicking myself all of the way home.

Where in the world did all of that come from? How stupid could I be?

I consider myself easy to get along with and I like everyone until they give me a reason not to. I don't know where that deranged personality came from.

What if one of those three women was from that city? What if their boss was from that city? What if one of them had a husband who was an attorney? I didn't know them or where they were from.

Common sense told me that I was not the person they would hire.

I was right.

I didn't even get “The Letter” that thanked me for my time and wished me the best of luck in my job search. I just didn't hear from them again. I actually expected them to send me the business card of a psychiatrist that they'd recommend I should see.

I hung myself on that one and made a mental note to NEVER project personal opinions again! My “Not To Do” list was growing.

Another month goes by. I scour the local newspapers weekly and check the internet job sites daily. Numerous resumes are sent out. An occasional letter is received thanking me for my interest in their company, however they've chosen different applicants to interview. Some even state that the position has already been filled.

Not even an interview? With my years of experience? Is there a private website where past interviewers can post your name and warn future interviewers that you acted like a babbling moron? I'm beginning to think there is.

Maybe I can learn how to make something at home, sell it on the Internet and not have to interact with anyone. It appears that I'm failing these social skills tests I'm being given and possibly should not be allowed in public.

Raising goats in seclusion somewhere is beginning to look like the logical career path I should take.

Early one fall morning, the phone rings. It's the manager of a company that I had sent a resume to a couple of months ago. I hadn't even been called for an interview then. A letter had been received from him, thanking me for my application, however the position had been filled.

He asks if I'm still looking for work and if I'd be interested in coming in for an interview. The person they had hired two months ago was leaving to go back to a prior job.

It's obvious that he doesn't yet have access to the “People Who Bombed Their Interview” website. If he did, he wouldn't have called me. That's a plus for me.

I'm so excited!

My gut response was to say,

“Yes! Oh my God! Yes, I'm still looking for work. I'm going crazy here and need to do something. We are SOOOO broke! I really am an intelligent, kind, caring person and not a moron. Please, please, please hire me! I can start in an hour. Do you want me to pick up donuts? Pick up your dog from the vet? Your dry cleaning too?”

My actual response was to calmly, casually say,

“Well, yes, actually I am still available. Now that school has started, I've decided to start looking a little harder. I've enjoyed spending the summer with my kids but now I'm ready to get back to work.” Sounds like I've been turning down offer after offer and have chosen to be home watching daytime TV and doing word search puzzles for 122 days, doesn't it?

He asks if I can come in for an interview in two hours. I, again calmly, state that won't be a problem at all and that I'm looking forward to it.

I hang up the phone, do a little dance, say a quick prayer to the ceiling and race up the stairs to the shower.

“I will not blow this one. I will not blow this one.”

I say this to myself over and over again.

In the shower, I try to remember everything I can from those previous, disastrous meetings. I recall the questions that I now have awesome answers for and practice reciting those awesome answers to the shampoo bottle. I go over my mental “Not To Do” List. I also make mental notes as to what skills that I need to accentuate to him without appearing too confident or cocky. This will be OK. This will be good this time.

I arrive ten minutes early. The woman at the front desk greets me with a very sweet, sincere smile. She says that the manager had to step out and he hopes to be back in ten minutes. I thank her, take a seat and use this extra time to scope out the office.

It's a small, casual office. That's a good sign. It's small, friendly and not stuffy. It has a very relaxing, comfortable atmosphere. That must mean the manager is that way too. The three women I see there are all wearing jeans, sweaters and sweatshirts. Another plus. Looks like a casual, comfortable work environment.

The front desk lady starts to idly chit chat with me and I'm enjoy our small exchange. Another woman walks through and gives me a nice smile and a hello. I remind myself, though, to not get too relaxed again.

The manager comes in. My first impression is that of a friendly, easy-going man. He's in his late forties or early fifties. He has a pleasant, sincere smile. I shake his hand as he greets me and I address him as Mr. Brown. I don't call him by his first name, even though he used just his first name to me on the phone. I feel that by addressing him as Mr. Brown is a professional touch that shows respect. He leads me to a small office to start the interview.

As expected, the basic questions are asked about my skills and work history. Those are the easy ones remember? No problem so far.

He then pulls out a sheet of paper. I can see that it's titled “Interview Questions” and there appears to be about 10 of them.

Oh boy, here we go again.

Take a deep breath.

“Do you consider yourself to be a leader?”

Hey, that one wasn't too bad.

I immediately respond with, “Yes, definitely yes. I had to be a good leader to have built my business and handled employees for so many years.”

Good enough answer, I think.

“Do you like routine?”

“Yes,” I reply. “I enjoy doing the same tasks everyday.”

A thought quickly pops into my head. What if this position requires you to bounce from task to task everyday with a lot of variety and unpredictability? Will he think I'm not flexible and will freak out if I have to get off my normal routine? I'd better cover that variable if this is a trick question.

I quickly add, “But I understand when a project that wasn't a crisis suddenly becomes one. I'm very adaptable and can handle multiple projects at one time.”

I hope I covered both possible answers to that question.

“There are a lot of drivers that come in and out of the office everyday. How do you feel about being interrupted?”

Oh, so maybe my second answer to the previous question was right.

I respond with my signature answer that I give at each interview.

“Yes, I'm very used to being interrupted and can handle multiple projects with ease. In my previous career, I could be talking on the phone, have two lines holding for me, have someone put a fax in front of me to read, and be jotting down items on my grocery list, all at the same time.”

Pretty impressive, right?

“Where do you want to be in five years?”

I know this one. This one I can't mess up. Obviously, the correct answer is “Here.”

That's what I reply with.

“I can see myself still working here in five years. Your office seems very comfortable and friendly and I can see this becoming a career.”

Awesome, professional answer I think to myself.

“Why did you decide to apply here and what was it that drew you to our company and this particular job when you saw the advertisement?”

Gut response, that I fortunately did not reply with, but was thinking, was,

“Well, that's easy. I NEED A JOB! I'm out of work and we're broke. I'm going crazy being in the house everyday and I'm starting to talk to the laundry! You had a job advertised. I applied for it. I also applied for five others that week, praying that I'd get one of them.”

Actual answer:

“I saw that you were looking for someone with clerical skills and computer skills. I thought your company would be a great place for me to put my years of experience to use. Your company is also very close to where I live so the commute is short. I don't know a lot about the processing of your individual products, but I did grow up on a farm.” (This company is in the dairy industry.)

Decent answer, I think. I knew not to get out the pom-poms and start saying things like, “I've wanted to work here since I was in high school!” or “Every time I've driven by your company, I've always hoped that an opening would come for me because this is the only place in the whole, wide world I've ever wanted to work!”

I felt that this one went fairly well. He told me that he was going to be doing a couple of more interviews and he'd get back to me within a few days when his decision was made.

All of the way home, I thought of a few more things I could have or should have said, but all in all, I think it was OK. We'll see.

An hour after I got home from that meeting, I got a call from one of the other companies that I'd sent a resume to. The lady asked if I could come in for an interview the next week. They also must not have access to the “People Who Bombed Their Interview” website.

Again, that is a plus for me.

I told her that I'd love to come in. We set up a date and time. She told me which parking lot to use and how to get to their office entrance. If I get “The Letter” from the dairy company, I still may have a chance to get back in the work force and interact with the outside world.

I'm realizing that you do get better at this with practice, especially if you're somewhat ready for all of these new and modern “Get Inside Your Head” questions. They are never the same, though, so beware.

These stressful interviews aren't something that you proudly tell your friends you've been practicing, like piano or dance lessons or archery. The continuous practice means that you continuously keep getting rejected.

Gone are the days when they just hire the person with the most experience or the fastest typist. Your resume is just the start of this horrible process.

I'm wondering if, before an interview, a session or two with a psychiatrist might be useful. That would help you get in touch with your inner being and kinder, gentler self. The only problem with that suggestion is, from being out of work, you can't afford to do it!

On a more serious note:

Any of you that are older and are trying to re-enter the work force, or are changing jobs after a long time, should study the questions that I've shared with you. Of course, these are just a sampling. There are more out there, I'm sure.

Practice what you might say if asked something similar. This is what is happening at interviews now.

Everything I've shared here is true. Your skills and years of experience are just the beginning. They now want to know what makes you tick and if you can be a proper, functional member of society.

“It ain't like it used to be!”

But…don't get discouraged. Keep trying. Keep pounding the pavement.

Also, watch for my next book. It just might be a great how-to piece on “Successfully Raising Goats In Seclusion”!

To quote “The Letter”,

“Thank you for your time today and I wish you the best of luck in your job search!”

Although there are no guarantees, I can confidently say, based on personal experience, being on both sides of the fence, there are many things you can do to improve your chances of landing a quality position.

Resume

This is where it all starts. A resume is usually the first thing a hiring manager reviews when deciding if you qualify for a position. You need to be impressive and you need to sell yourself. You do not get a second chance to make a first impression, so make sure you represent yourself in a manner that makes your potential boss take notice. There are lots of free web sites out there that give examples of quality resumes and formats. I suggest looking up a few.

Here are some basic guidelines:

1. Touch upon the most important skills, tasks and responsibilities
2. Do not make the resume too long. An accepted length is three pages or less.
3. Be clear and concise; do not be too wordy
4. Try to keep the responsibility descriptions short enough to fit on one line
5. List major accomplishments. Every hiring manager wants to know what you can bring to the table.
6. List skills that can possibly set you apart from your competition. Example: speaking a different language;

References

Have a list of personal and professional references ready to go. Recruiters and companies usually won't ask for these right away, but you want to be ready. Make sure the list is professionally written and in the same format as your resume. Include such critical data as:

1. Title
2. Company
3. One or more phone numbers
4. Type of relationship (co worker, boss, friend)
5. Length of relationship

Contact everyone you are going to use as a reference before you send it out. You of course want their permission, and you want to give them the professional courtesy that a phone call may be coming. This will also give you the opportunity to discuss the call before hand.

Use a variety of contacts as references. It is impressive to have VP's, and CEO's as references, but sometimes including someone that worked under you gives a much-needed different perspective.

Network

It's all about who you know. There is no shame in making phone calls and sending emails to all of the people you built relationships with over the years. If you were good at your job and met quality people, I am sure they will be willing to help you in any way they can. Most successful professionals love the opportunity to give back.

If you are seeking your first job, reach out to professionals that your parents or friends know. Did you perform an internship or work a part time job while in school? I'm sure you came in contact with folks that would be willing to help you. You'll be surprised how many professionals you know. You never know unless you ask. So do not be too proud to ask for help.

Career Websites

There are tons of reputable web sites, like monster and career builder, that allow you to fill out a profile, post your resume and search for jobs. These are good starting points for your journey. There are four basic reasons for using these sites.

1. Job search
2. Apply for jobs
3. Potential Employers can find you
4. Recruiters can find you

To be quite honest the most valuable uses are the first and the fourth. I tell you why further down in this piece. However, I do highly recommend posting on as many sites like these you can find. Look for career sites specifically geared toward your industry of expertise. For instance, if you have a logistics background, there are several logistics career web sites. The same thing goes for trucking, railroading, food etc.

Recruiters and Headhunters

I strongly suggest working with several recruiters. The main reasons are:

1. Their services a free
2. They can help market you
3. They usually have established relationships with companies as well as a direct line to hiring managers
4. They can do the work for you
5. They will push for the highest salary possible. The higher your pay the more they make on commission.

If you are posted on career web sites, headhunters and recruiters will likely find you. If they do, do not reject their help. The more people you have working for you, the better chance you have of landing a quality job. If recruiters are not calling you, then find some yourself. Just do a google search.

If you deal with multiple recruiting companies, work with some that specialize in your industry. For example if you have a background in food there are recruiters that specialize in the food industry. If you have a logistics background, find one that specializes in logistics. At the same time, use a few general or regional headhunters.

Recruiters are ways of advertising. The more advertising you do, the more people will see you, which drastically improves your chances of getting hired.

Applying for jobs

My suggestion is if you are going to apply for a job, do not do it through the career web sites. The two best ways to apply for positions are:

1. Directly with the company
2. Through your recruiter

There is a lot of red tape in the application process. If you apply through a web site, there is no telling how long the application and resume will sit in cyber space. From there it usually goes to some general contact in Human Resources. That person then has to cipher through the resumes, sort them and then forward them to the appropriate hiring manager. Some times they will perform a basic background check even before they send it to the hiring manager, which delays the process even more. By the time the hiring manager gets it, actually reads it and then decides whether or not to make the call it could be weeks later.

By applying directly to the company you are cutting out one middleman in the career web site. You are also decreasing the chances the application will get caught in cyber space.

By talking to your recruiter you are covering your bases because they may already have a relationship with the company. Even if they don't they can make the initial call for you and try to market you. If the company does not deal with recruiters, then your personal recruiter should tell you, so you can apply directly on your own. They may even be able to get you a contact name.

Follow-up

You need to check your web sites almost every day. The market changes constantly. It only takes a few minutes to do a search or look at the jobs that are recommended for you.

Stay in touch with your recruiters by being patient but persistent. If you do not express some sort of urgency they may not push for you. However, you must be courteous and professional at all times. Discuss why opportunities are not coming your way. Ask specifically what companies they have contacted and what went wrong. Find ways to broaden your marketability. Make sure you do not price yourself out of the market.

Send follow-up notes to every company that you apply for. Make sure they received your application and resume. Try to find out who the hiring manager is. If you do, then try to send a resume directly to them.

Conclusions

• Solid professional resume and list of references
• Network; it's all in who you know
• Use the career web sites wisely, but definitely utilize them
• Get several recruiters to go to work for you
• Apply for jobs either directly with the company or through the recruiter
• Follow-up

Many of us have something that we fear will be a barrier to employment. Maybe it's being indecisive, maybe you don't socialise too well with large groups of people or maybe you have a disability that you fear will limit the work you can do. Whatever it may be, it is important to overcome these insecurities and know how to use your weaknesses to your advantage for employment.

There are two types of these "weaknesses". First, is a general weakness you feel may negatively impact your ability to get employed; the other, is a specific weakness or inability you feel may prevent you getting employed in specific jobs. Whatever it is, remember you are not the only one. Try not to focus on these so-called weaknesses and concentrate on identifying your strength. By doing so you can better understand yourself as a person; relate your strength to the jobs at hand; and a thorough self analysis and self understanding is your best weapon in employment.

Employers look at you from six general perspectives to determine your employability:

Dependability: Are you dependable? Can the company rely on your to work to your best abilities?

Attitude: Are you easy to get along with? Do you have a can-do attitude?

Ability: Why are you the best for the job? What skills can you bring the company?

Network: Are you able to work with your colleagues? Can you attract the right kind of people to the company?

Presentation: Are you dressed in a respectable manner? Do you take yourself seriously or can you be adequately presentable to clients?

Motivation: Are you self-motivated? Are you motivated enough to work to the best of your abilities?

It is through these six perspectives that you must find your strength in each, and also know your weaknesses in each so you can overcome them. It is essential that you are very honest with yourself and you do not try to justify your abilities too much. If you cannot be honest with yourself, you can't expect others to be able to depend on you.

Once you have identified your strength and weaknesses in each of the above, it's time to develop a plan of action to your barriers to employment. Be aware of the common attitudes you may come across and you must learn to defend yourself from them:

I don't think I can do anything about it - Have you been lying about your weaknesses or simply giving up on doing anything about it?

I don't think it's my problem, the employer should be able to handle it - Perhaps you've been avoiding those employers you think will have a problem with your barriers and trying to find an easy way out?

I don't think these "weaknesses" are a barrier to employment - Or maybe you have been ignoring the issues and perhaps it's true, maybe it's not a barrier to employment, however these barriers may actually be holding you back from advancing your career and you just haven't noticed?

Without help, I can't do anything about it - It's also important not to be too dependent on others. The goal is to be self sufficient and being able to overcome these issues to your advantages.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all these information? Don't be. Your competition is probably feeling about the same right now. By this stage you should understand what your strength and weaknesses are and it's now time to turn them to aid your employment. Work on your weaknesses one by one. Work on filling in the gaps between your employments histories; find your passion; start practicing touch typing or simply strengthen your emotions to cope with stress. Other ways to overcome your weakness and barriers to employment are:

1. Learn a new skill - there are plenty of community colleges and university short courses available for those looking to improve their employment skills
2. Find out all you can about the job and position you are applying for - and then match your strengths to it
3. Changing your attitude about yourself - if you have been using your weaknesses and barriers as an excuse for unemployment, then you must change that to a can-do attitude. Employer can sense your confidence level.
4. Prepare well for the interview - and develop good answers that may concern your weakness. A good advertising recently had a group of young people looking for a fashion retail job, and when asked for their weaknesses, the person who got the job did not lie about not having a weakness, but simply said "shoes".
5. Broaden your job perspectives - maybe you are not looking in the right places for jobs. Sometimes you need to broaden your job search and allow yourself to be creative. Just because you can only type doesn't mean you are stuck being a secretary. Perhaps there are other jobs out there you can do.

Finally, remember. No one else but you can create opportunities for yourself.

Good luck.

Being Unemployed Lowers the Immune System

While we understand the financial ramifications of being out of work, are we aware of what being unemployed does to our health? Dr. Edward C. Geehr, writer for Life Script reports on two separate studies conducted on unemployed individuals in his article: Can Unemployment Make You Sick? These studies conducted in Sweden and San Francisco concluded that the immune systems of unemployed individuals weaken, and as they weaken the person falls victim to a number of illnesses.

It's Tough to Find a Job & Tougher to Keep it

In a day where companies are constantly downsizing, shutting their doors, or moving to other parts of the country the chances of being unemployed have increased. With more people vying for the same job, it becomes tougher to get a job, and even tougher to keep it. How can we make our position more secure? This topic had been on my mind, when a book caught my eye “How to Keep Your Job in Hard Times: The Indispensable Employee” by Eric Weber.

I want to “beat the odds”, and become “irreplaceable”, so I bought the book, and want to share some highlights with you.

Don't Just be a Paper Pusher

Paper pushers are a dime a dozen. If we want to become the last person the boss would think of letting go, we want to demonstrate our ability to learn the tasks required of us, and perform them in a fashion that is not simply mediocre.

HOW?

Eric interviewed various company presidents to ask them just that, and here are some of their answers:

“ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COMPANY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT RATHER WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COMPANY.”

Sound familiar? I remember a rousing presidential speech with a line very close to this. Eric explains that top executives are tired of selfish employees who whine and belly ache and look out for themselves all the time. Their selfish attitude poisons the work forces, and makes the management staff wonders if this person has made a commitment to the company, or is simply there for “free ride”.

LOOK FOR WAYS TO SOLVE THE COMPANY'S PROBLEMS

Your boss most likely likes to talk, and by keeping your ears open, you can find out what issues the company is up against. By demonstrating that you are concerned about your company's welfare, you show team spirit. As a team player, you may have feedback that will assist the company in addressing these problems, and in showing yourself to be even more valuable.

DON'T LEAD THE COMPANY TO REVOLT

Do you think if you start a campaign against company policy or because you didn't get an expected raise, that management won't realize who stirred up the trouble? I have seen a company where the entire staff was fired. It can happen, but most likely, the individual who stirred up the trouble will be the first to go.

DON'T SHOW THE BOSS UP

There is no crime in being smarter than your boss, but a smart employee knows not to make his boss feel stupid.

YOU CAN MAKE SUGGESTIONS, BUT DO IT HIS WAY

Your boss is probably aware of the fact that you have performed this task hundreds of times, and may know an easier way to do it. You can make a suggestion to him, tactfully, but if he insists it be done his way, he may have a good reason.

Do not argue for the sake of arguing, and most definitely do not argue in front of others.

IF YOU DON'T GET WHAT YOU WANT, TAKE YOUR HIT AND KEEP MOVING

What good does it do to nurse grudges, because you feel that you have been treated unfairly? When energy is being expended on nursing injustices, it distracts from the work performance. Don't let that happen to you.

PERFORM WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

You've been assigned a near impossible job, do you say “No way, or I will do my best”?

Ask questions. Learn all aspects of the job expected and put your all into it.

PRIORITIZE

It is pretty common to have a number of tasks that need performed in any given day, but do one completely (if possible) before attempting to tackle the next. If a piece of paper can be handled once, and the job completed, it is more efficient, than performing small tasks on each paper, and then picking each of them up again to complete them. Stay focused.

ASK FOR MORE WORK

Suppose you find that you have completed all your tasks, do you sit down and do “busy work” trying to appear as if you are doing something? Approach your supervisor and request more work. This demonstrates your ability to complete tasks in a timely manner, your ability to be a team player, and your willingness to take on more responsibility.

Eric gives us one word of caution with this point, however. He warns that you should be certain your supervisor knows that usually you are extremely busy, and will again be busy tomorrow. You would not want him to think that there is not enough work to keep you there.

MEET YOUR DEADLINES

Supervisors give assignments to those they feel are trustworthy. By demonstrating your ability to get the job done in a timely fashion, you show yourself as being dependable.

COME TO WORK ON TIME

This should not even have to be mentioned. If an employer hires you to work from 9:00 to

5:00, they expect you to be at your job ready to perform at that time, not five minutes later.

Come in earlier, just in case something happens on the way to work. Demonstrate your ability to be punctual.

GET TO KNOW YOUR BOSS

If the boss has to decide who to let go, and you have been following all of the above tips, he would rather let a stranger go, then someone he has gotten to know.

This is just a synopsis of the 39 tips included in Eric's book. Eric Weber has had over 30 books published and sold over four million copies. He was the Vice Chairman and Creative Director at Young & Rubicam at the time of the publishing of this book.

In conclusion, these tips are provided for those who are employed in order to make them more valuable to their employee and less likely to be terminated. It is unfortunate and difficult to lose one's job, and sometimes cannot be prevented. My prayers go out to anyone who is seeking employment, especially in Michigan.