According to a recent Facebook study, there are ‘six degrees of separation’ between any two people on Earth. Think about what that means… any two people could know each other through no more than six intermediary contacts. Social networks really bring a new whole new meaning to the saying ‘it’s a small world’.

What does this mean if you are on the job hunt? You are closer to your future boss than you know.

Think about prior jobs you have held. How many of those jobs did you get because a friend or family member introduced you or recommended you to your past employer?

With the help of social media, you can do your research online, find your dream job and then find a family or friend that can help connect you with your future employer. Start with these steps:

1. Check Your Profiles – Go through your social media account with a fine tooth comb to make sure your profile is new employer friendly.
2. Narrow Down Your Wants – Do some research on the internet and LinkedIn to find the exact job or position you are looking for and narrow down the companies you would like to work for.
3. Reach Out – Reach out to your contacts and tell them what you are looking for. Be specific with the position and company. Being too vague will be harder for your contacts to help you.

We all need a work life balance to be happy. This year make a new years resolution you can keep. When it comes to taking time off from work in 2012 make it a point to recharge and level the playing field between work stress and real-life responsibilities.

When we feel fresh and balanced, we are more likely to see opportunities to stand out from our co-workers. When used to our advantage, vacations can clear our minds to focus and accomplish more in less time allowing an all around productivity increase.

Maybe you are in the job hunt and you assume this theory does not apply to you, well you are wrong.

When actively or passively looking for a job it is important to be firmly grounded, balanced and calm internally. Taking time to recharge helps refresh your attitude. This attitude change will help differentiate you from other candidates in the job market.

In an age where companies expect employees to go above and beyond, be available 24/7 and employees expect to be over-worked, time off plays a more important role in an employee’s life than ever before.

Of course you won’t be expected to pass up that trip to Vegas, but don’t forget to give yourself time to recharge. Keeping this new years resolution will be the easiest thing you give yourself permission to do.

image created by Danilo Rizzuti

Have a friend who is struggling with their resume? Know a family member who needs to polish their interviewing skills?

Give them the gift that will brighten their New Year and boost their career potential.

A Career Find gift certificate will give your friend or family member 2-hours to work with a Career Specialist in the following areas: Resume Critique, Job Search Strategies, Interview Prep and Follow Up, and Professional Reference Checks.

We personalize each service to suit our client’s career needs. Once you purchase the gift certificate, you will receive an email with the attached gift certificate and information on how to redeem.

Click here for more information and to purchase a gift certificate. 

]]> http://yourcareerfind.com/trying-to-figure-out-the-best-holiday-gift-for-your-friends-and-family/feed 0 http://yourcareerfind.com/are-tattoos-okay-at-work?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-tattoos-okay-at-work http://yourcareerfind.com/are-tattoos-okay-at-work#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:30:56 +0000 leslie http://yourcareerfind.com/?p=274  

As the workplace evolves, so do the rules, or so you may think. While a large amount of Americans (over 45 million) have a tattoo, is the workplace more accepting of tattoos than they used to be?

Based off recent reports and surveys, the answer is no. Even though doctors, lawyers and business people like us have tattoos, that doesn’t mean they still accept them visibly in the workplace.

A 2010 Pew Research Center report says tattoos are equally common for women and men, with nearly 40% of 18-29 year olds and about a third of 30-to 45 year olds sporting at least one. The report also says most of the inked community (over 70%) keeps tattoos hidden at work or during interviews, perhaps with good reason. A survey conducted by CareerBuilder suggests that obvious ink can hurt promotion prospects.

As previously mentioned, there is no research suggesting companies are looking to hire tattooed employees. But they do have to adapt to the evolving culture to keep talent. Most of the time though, workers are the ones who do the adapting and it looks like things aren’t changing anytime soon.

So always keep this in mind when starting a new job or trying to maintain the job you have. Cover your tattoos. Whatever you might think, the law does NOT protect your ink. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission covers discrimination in the workplace and fails to mention discrimination of tattoos. So if you aren’t sure if its okay to keep your tattoos visible at your company, play it safe and keep them covered.

Reason #1: When companies have extra money in their budget, they want to use it before the end of the year.  This is a great time to hire more staff members.

Reason #2: Many people assume that companies don’t hire at the end of the year, but that’s not true. This assumption results in a decreased number of people competing for the same job, which increases your chances of getting an interview.  It’s much better to compete for a job in a smaller pool of candidates.

Reason #3: Job searching during the holiday season shows employers that you are driven, committed and serious about your career direction. These are great personality traits that companies like to see in their hired employees.  By committing to your job search during the holiday season, you are showing companies that you are willing to do what it takes for your career, even when most people are distracted.

If you have been thinking about making a career move and are considering doing so before the end of 2011, contact us to discuss your career with one of our Career Specialists. We’re here to help you navigate your career path every step of the way.

• Keep a professional image – A recent CareerBuilder survey suggests avoiding clothes that are too casual; too much perfume, cologne or makeup; fingernail chewing or even being too suntanned. Of course, not all offices are concerned with the superficial, but if your office is, either maintain your appearance or find a new workplace.

• Keep your desk in order – a cluttered desk equals a cluttered mind. If your workspace is messy, it costs only your time (while on the clock) to straighten it up. You don’t want a messy desk or office to cost you your job.

• Don’t abuse technology – sending email to the wrong recipients, texting during business meetings, griping about the boss on Facebook and other online blunders can hurt your career. You may not think it is obvious, but to others, especially your boss, it is.

• Work on Your resume – at home. While employers are increasingly using sites like LinkedIn to check credentials, the traditional resume is still important and should always be up to date. Make sure to have good references and don’t exaggerate about your skills or history.

1. Ask Questions and Listen – We start with asking the right questions and truly listen to your answers. Here are some of the questions we cover:

1. Where are you with your current job?
2. What is the direction you would like to go with you career?
3. What are your long-term and short-term goals?
4. Is your career currently meeting your needs?
5. What is your level of happiness?
6. What area do you feel you need to improve upon (interviewing, resume building, etc.)?

2. True Consultation – Once we gather information, learn about where you’re coming from and find out where you would like to go, we explain the services we offer. We then discuss how your needs and our services align to accomplish your goals.

3. Create and Execute a Plan – Working with your timeline and budget, we focus on the areas that need the most attention first. Keeping your goals in mind, we work together and give you the tools you need to be successful in your career path.