There are increasing programs on using Social Media offered by a plethora of resources. Some just skim the surface, some overwhelm and others are so technical that the participant goes into shut down. The following information is specifically for the novice and the technically challenged “baby boomer” who finds themselves in an unstable employment situation or job search. The focus will be exclusively on the use of Linke...

The overwhelming majority of people look for jobs; an enlightened few now realize they need to search for satisfying employment. Yes, there is a difference! As a recruiter or a hiring manager in past lives I have experienced an employer driven job market and a workforce driven market. Adjustments must be made depending on the times.We all need work/jobs to meet our needs financially, professionally and personally. Since we...

In good economic times effective leaders are an asset; in turbulent economic times these good leaders are a requirement. Many people view the concepts of management and leadership as the same thing. They are not; good managers manage things and tasks (sometimes people), good leaders lead people.An over looked group of people are the good informal leaders. They do not have official titles; nor do they necessarily want them....

Networking to find a good employer is critical in today’s environment. Everyone needs to secure satisfying employment, not just a job. While a person’s financial situation may necessitate obtaining just a job, the duration in that state of employment needs to be minimal. Finding good opportunities with good employers takes that extra effort. People already in that situation or who know how to do it are the ones you need to...

The term soft skills has been around for decades. This concept is now being increasingly highlighted in many professional development or business articles in the past few years. What does this term or concept actually mean?I have always substituted the phrase soft skills with the paradigm of effective interpersonal communications skills. Yes, there are more words; but these words better describe what’s involved in this skil...

Social networking is now all of the rage. People of a certain generation were raised on MySpace and Facebook (Gen Y or Millenials). Now many people of previous generations (Gen X and Boomers) are discovering this process through LinkedIn. It is my recommendation that Gen Y graduate to LinkedIn by the time they’re a sophomore in college or upon completion of an Associate degree. This form of social networking is one of th...

These issues are as common as which came first “the chicken or the egg”. When this discussion involves certain professions a third component is included; certifications. As usual one of the intentions of this article is to invite dialogue, not solutions “According to Kathy”. Any feedback or comments to these ideas is welcomed.What education, credentials or experience do people need to maintain employment?The answer to this...

Membership - and more importantly - level of involvement in applicable professional associations is critical for career management/progression. This article is an elaboration on three concepts in The Street Smart Approach to Job Search; Directing Your Career; Some Assembly Required, The Other Side of Networking and Life-Long Learning.Belonging to and being active in key professional associations can be viewed as the ultimat...

Recruiting for diversity goes well beyond the emerging or entry level workforce. Most companies have used colleges, universities and other training institutions for internships or new graduates for entry level positions. While this is still needed and productive, it does not tap the other available workforce: diversity in mid-management. Keeping the pipeline flowing can not be achieved if it’s skewed to the inexperienced en...

This stage in the job search process can be more stressful than the job search, resume submission and interview components. This is the stage where your decision will result in long term consequences that you will have to commit to. Here are some suggestions to consider before you get to this critical stage:Be honest with yourself as to why you started this process in the first place.As a recruiter, I preferred working with...